Dubai-based The First Investor group, a subsidiary of Al Fardan Group, announced the purchase of the Carlton Downtown hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road. Formerly the Warwick Hotel, it is the third hotel to be operated by Carlton Hotel Management - a brand owned by The First Investor, and the ninth in the groups collection of hotels. Commenting on the strategic investment, Mr Hosni Abdelhadi, CEO of Carlton Hotel Management company stated, The Carlton Downtown hotel is an exciting addition to our portfolio of hotels as we continue to expand our presence in the region. Our strategy is to invest in high-growth markets such as Dubai and this fantastic acquisition will reinforce our market position. We are confident that the Carlton Downtown hotel will prove to be a valuable asset for us and will generate superb financial returns for the company. Brilliantly located in close proximity to the World Trade Center, DIFC and Downtown Dubai, the 47-storey spectacular tower features 357 rooms (275 suites and 82 spacious rooms). Included in the hotels fabulous facilities are 7 restaurants and bars, 10 meeting rooms, a health club and spa. Carlton Downtown hotel is also home to Dubais highest open-air rooftop pool and bar with spectacular 360 views over the city. With a strong presence in real estate, hospitality, shipping, finance, retail, security, IT, food and beverage industries, The First Investor has a diverse portfolio. Over the last few years the company has emerged as a major player in the hospitality sector with a total investment of over AED 2.2 billion in various hotel projects. Hotels owned by the company include Carlton Downtown Dubai, Carlton Palace Hotel Dubai, Carlton Tower Hotel Dubai, Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai, Villa Rotana Dubai, Four Points by Sheraton - Dubai, Imperial Palace Jordan, Sun Hotel - Czech Republic and Belvedere Hotel, Czech Republic. Foy has been nominated for Leading Actress for her role in Netflix drama The Crown which has picked up five nominations, including Drama Series. The British actress, 32, will face tough competition from Jodi Comer (Thirteen), Nikki Amuka-Bird (NW) and Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley). Her co-stars Jared Harris, John Lithgow and Vanessa Kirby are up for Supporting Actor and Actress respectively. The Leading Actor category will see Adeel Akhtar (Murdered by My Father), Babour Ceesay (Damilola, Our Loved Boy), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Hollow Crown: The War of the Roses) and Robbie Coltrane (National Treasure) battle it out for the coveted gong. Fleabag, which follows Phoebe Waller-Bridge as she tries to cope with life in a big city while coming to terms with a tragedy, has bagged three nods including Scripted Comedy and Female Performance in a Comedy Programme for Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman. Ed Balls dances to Gangnam Style on Strictly Come Dancing Ed Balls' moves on Strictly Come Dancing have been recognised with the former Shadow Chancellor up for Virgin TVs Must-See Moment for his Gangnam Style salsa. He will go up against the snake V marine iguanas chase on Planet Earth II as well as Michelle Obama's Carpool Karaoke with James Corden on The Late Late Show. BBC drama Poldark missed out on a nomination while hit series Game of Thrones only managed to bag a nomination for Virgin TVs Must-See Moment. Sue Perkins will host the star-studded event after taking over from Graham Norton. The former BBC Great British Bake Off host said: "I am thrilled to be hosting the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards this year. Not only is it one of the highlights of the television calendar, its also a superbly fun night and an opportunity to celebrate the incredible British talent we have behind our very best TV programmes. The ceremony will take place at Londons Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, May 14. The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 1 /13 The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 Doctor Who The classic sci-fi show got a new lease of life with new companion Bill Potts BBC Line of Duty The BBC's acclaimed crime drama moved up to BBC One with more twists than ever before World Productions / BBC / Aidan Monaghan Broadchurch Chris Chibnall's mystery drama came to a close with a compelling final series ITV The Moorside Sheridan Smith puts in a stellar performance as she returns to TV in the BBC's Shannon Matthews drama Stuart Wood/ITV/BBC Apple Tree Yard Emily Watson starred in the BBC's gripping psychological thriller BBC/Kudos/Nick Briggs Fortitude, Series 2 Sky Atlantic's original Nordic noir-inspired chiller is back for more bloody mysteries Sky Atlantic Sherlock, Series 4 Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return as Holmes and Watson in the BBC's mega hit PA Taboo Tom Hardy's dark thriller is unlike any period drama you've seen before FX Networks No Offence, Series 2 Paul Abbott's comedy-drama continues to walk a tonal tightrope with total ease Channel 4/Ian Derry The Voice A move to ITV has given singing contest The Voice a new lease of life ITV Full list of nominations: Leading Actor Adeel Akhtar Murdered by My Father Babour Ceesay Damilola, Our Loved Boy Benedict Cumberbatch The Hollow Crown: The War of the Roses Robbie Coltrane National Treasure National Treasure - Channel 4 - Trailer Leading actress Claire Foy The crown Jodi Comer Thirteen Nikki Amuka-Bird NW Sarah Lancashire Happy Valley Supporting Actor Daniel Mays Line of Duty Jared Harris The Crown John Lithgow The Crown Tom Hollander The Night Manager Supporting Actress Nicola Walker Last Tango in Halifax Siobhan Finneran Happy Valley Vanessa Kirby The Crown Wunmi Mosaku Damilola, Our Loved Boy Drama series The Crown The Durrells Happy Valley War and Peace The Crown - trailer - Netflix Mini-Series The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses National Treasure The Secret The Witness for the Prosecution Entertainment Programme Ant and Decs Saturday Night Takeaway Britain's Got Talent Michael McIntyre's Big Show Strictly Come Dancing Entertainment Performance Adam Hills Claudia Winkleman Graham Norton Michael McIntyre Male Performance in a Comedy Programme Asim Chaudry People Just Do Nothing David Mitchell Upstart Crow Harry Enfield The Windsors Steve Coogan Alan Partridge's Scissored Isle Female Performance in a Comedy Programme Diane Morgan Cunk on Shakespeare Lesley Manville Mum Olivia Colman Fleabag Phoebe Waller-Bridge - Fleabag Scripted Comedy Camping Fleabag Flowers People Just Do Nothing Reality and Constructed Factual First Dates Muslims Like Us The Real Marigold Hotel The Secret Life of Five-Year-Olds Comedy Entertainment Programme Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe Cunk on Shakespeare The Last Leg Taskmaster International The Night Of The People V OJ Simpson: American Crime Story Stranger Things Transparent Stranger Things - Trailer 2 - Netflix Current Affairs Inside Obama's White House Teenage Prison Abuse Exposed Charlie Hebdo Attacks Unarmed Black Male Features The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs The Great British Bake Off Travel Man: 48 Hours in... Who Do You Think You Are? Candice wins The Great British Bake Off 2016 Factual Series 24 Hrs in Police Custody Exodus: Our Journey to Europe Kids on the Edge Prosecutors: Real Crime & Punishment Single Documentary Behind Closed Doors Hillsborough How to Die: Simons Choice Hypernormalisation Live Event Centenary of the Battle of the Somme: Theipval Shakespeare Live! Stand Up to Cancer The Queens 90th Birthday Specialist Factual Alan Bennetts Diaries Attenboroughs Life That Glows Grayson Perry: All Man Planet Earth II Iguana chased by snakes on Planet Earth's Islands Virgin TVs Must-See Moment Game of Thrones Battle of the Bastards The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke with Michelle Obama Line of Duty Urgent Exit Required Planet Earth II Snakes V Iguana Chase Strictly Come Dancing Ed Balls Gangnam Style Who Do You Think You Are Danny Dyers origins Emirates has been awarded as the Best Airline in the World in the inaugural TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards for Airlines. The carrier also gets four more awards including Best Major Airline - Middle East & Africa, Best Economy Class, Best First Class and Worlds Best Airlines - Top 10. This is the first year TripAdvisor has introduced a category for airlines in its signature Travelers Choice Awards. The awards highlight the worlds top carriers based on the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for airlines worldwide gathered over a 12-month period. Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline said: We are honored to be named the Best Airline in the World at the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards for Airlines 2017. The fact that the awards are a result of unbiased reviews and feedback speaks to our commitment to deliver a superior travel experience for our customers. We want travelers to continue making Emirates their first choice whenever they think to travel. That is why we continue to invest in products and services across all classes, and why our service teams work hard and put their hearts into providing the very best experience for our customers both on board and on the ground every day. We are proud to announce the inaugural Travelers Choice Awards for airlines, to help travelers make the most well-informed air travel decisions, based on the experiences of the TripAdvisor community, said Bryan Saltzburg, General Manager for TripAdvisor Flights. Its a high honor for Emirates to be recognized as the top airline in the world by the TripAdvisor community and speaks to their continued focus on delivering fantastic customer experiences. Emirates is the worlds largest international airline, with an extensive network that has grown to offer its customers a choice of 155 destinations in 83 countries across six continents. It operates one of the worlds youngest modern wide-body fleets, and is the first and only airline in the world to operate a fleet of all Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft for its passenger flights. The airline recently announced a multi-million dollar cabin interiors upgrade programme including an enhanced Onboard Lounge for its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft which will make its debut in July. Emirates also recently underwent a product overhaul with a host of exclusive products introduced to its First and Business Class cabins. New additions include the worlds first moisturizing lounge wear in First Class, luxury blankets, skincare from organic brand VOYA and a new range of amenity kits from Bulgari. In the last year, Emirates has also introduced several new products for customers travelling in Economy including the worlds first interactive amenity kits and sustainable blankets made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. United make a mistake in calculating the number of passengers on an April 9, 2017 United Airlines flight from Chicago O'Hare to Louisville. Videos of a United Airlines passenger being forcibly dragged from his seat to make room for airline crew members go viral. Videos have been viewed more than 1 million times, and the airline's CEO on Monday called the incident "an upsetting event to all of us here at United." "I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened," United CEO Oscar Munoz said in a statement. According to the Courier-Journal,After passengers had boarded a service from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, the airline discovered that it needed to fly some stand-by employees to Louisville for a flight the following day. When no passengers accepted an offer of $400 to be placed on a later flight, it upped the ante to $800 (plus a night in a hotel). That was enough to tempt two passengers to leave. At that point, rather than raising the price further, the crew randomly selected a pair of travelers, apparently using a computer. The unlucky flyers were told to collect their things and disembark. One man, who claimed to be a doctor with patients to attend to the next day, refused to go. The airline called for police back-up. Officers boarded the plane, and forcibly removed the man to the obvious distress of both him and the other flyers. See the video below The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2018 will take place in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Al Ain is one of the worlds oldest permanently inhabited settlements and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2018 is a three-day niche event with both conference and travel mart components, bringing together public and private sector tourism professionals involved in adventure travel and responsible tourism. Key elements of this annual event are environmental protection and social sustainability with special focus on empowerment of local communities. This is the first Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) event to be held in the UAE and the only event to be staged in West Asia in the last 14 years. This is a fantastic opportunity for PATA members and for the adventure travel sector at large. Al Ain is a truly fascinating destination with a wealth of culture, heritage and opportunities for adventure travel, said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. Connectivity is easy via the award-winning Abu Dhabi International Airport. Al Ain, together with the surrounding landscape, has so much to offer travellers of all ages. This event provides an exceptional platform for travel trade professionals to learn much more about this compelling city and region. Commenting on the selection of Al Ain to host the event, HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, the government body responsible for the promotion of the emirate said: Abu Dhabi has experienced significant growth in guest arrivals from countries within the PATA region in recent years, especially from India and China, and since joining the association we have been working with PATA members to place greater emphasis on seeding growth in visitor arrivals from these priority source markets. Over the past few years, Abu Dhabi has built up a successful track record in hosting and securing international meetings, including annual congress meetings from international travel associations. Delegates attending the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2018 in Al Ain will enjoy the diversity of mountain, desert and oasis landscapes and exhilarating adventure attractions, all complemented by rich historical sites, a state-of-the-art conference centre and outstanding hotels of all categories, he added. Al Ain is known as the heritage heartland of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The city has become an increasingly popular business events destination, boasting 18 hotels and hotel apartments with over 2,000 rooms and dedicated facilities at the Al Ain Convention Centre. Located at an important historical crossroads of trade, different locations in Al Ain are now classified by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, including its six oases and the archaeological sites of Hafeet, Hili and Bida bint Saud. Al Ain oasis - with its cool, shady walkways and a 3,000-year-old falaj irrigation system - is the first component of the UNESCO World Heritage site to open to the public, Al Ain city abounds in picturesque forts, including one of the United Arab Emirates most historic and picturesque buildings, Al Jahili Fort, erected in 1891 to defend the city and protect precious palm groves; Qasr Al Muwaiji, a world-class museum and birthplace of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; Al Ain Palace Museum, the former home of the late UAE founder, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the redeveloped Al Qattara Fort which is now home to a brilliant arts centre and gallery. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the citys rich culture and heritage with a visit to Al Ain National Museum which displays various aspects of UAE life, including archaeological finds, Bedouin jewellery and traditional musical instrument collections. The city skyline is dominated by the dramatic rocky heights of Jebel Hafeet. Rising to a height of 1,240 metres, this is the Emirates highest peak and the second highest in the UAE. With the mountain as a backdrop Al Ain Zoos man-made African safari also features the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre and a dedicated mini-museum with galleries of interactive, immersive, and informative exhibits exploring themes of environmental and species conservation. Visitors can also take a trip to Wadi Adventure, the regions only man-made white water rafting, kayaking and surfing facility built in the foothills of the majestic Jebel Hafeet. The parks 3.3 metre man-made surf wave is the worlds largest and its 1.7 kilometre kayaking channel network is the worlds longest. For a taste of the fast track, Al Ain Raceway features a 1.6 km go-kart circuit. The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart is an annual event that offers a platform for sellers and buyers involved in the world of adventure travel and responsible tourism to secure new business and to consolidate existing contracting relationships via PATAs well-proven system of pre-matched appointments. It is an excellent opportunity to create new experiences and to share new opportunities with global tourism professionals. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy According to an arrest affidavit, Gering Police responded to a home at 11:24 a.m. and the girl alleged she had been assaulted by Galvan. Investigators conducted a CAPstone interview with the girl and she told police that Galvan had come into her room while she was sleeping, reached under the covers and touched her buttocks. A Gering woman is being accused of scamming her grandfather out of more than $250,000. Stacia Keener, 33, has been charged with one count of theft by deception, a Class IIA felony; and two counts of second-degree forgery, a Class IIA felony. According to an arrest affidavit, an 84-year-old man contacted police in January, reporting two forged checks on his checking account and to discuss a possible scam in which he had loaned money to his granddaughter. The man brought a spreadsheet and other documentation with the amounts of money that he told police that he had loaned Keener. According to the documentation, the man reported he had lost over $250,000 over four years. The man told police that the woman had told him that she needed to borrow money to get monies from her retirement fund, to pay the Internal Revenue Service and to pay a lawyer. Among the documentation was an email, dated Dec. 24, 2015, that purported to be from an attorney. The attorney cited in the email said he had not sent the email and no one from his firm had sent the email. The attorney provided a legitimate email from his firm and said the woman was not a client of his nor any member of his law firm. The arrest affidavit states that the woman had said she was involved in litigation involving her former employer, Lehman Brothers. The investigator contacted Lehman Brothers and an official with that company advised that there was no litigation involving the company and Keener. As part of the investigation, the officer also contacted an IRS criminal investigation division special agent and researched the tax court docket to see if any cases were pending involving Keener or her husband. No cases appear to exist. The man also reported that he had been enlisted to be a co-signer on a loan to the woman, but later found that he was the primary borrower. Family members also reported that the cars used as collateral in the loans were transferred solely to Stacia Keener, but that her husband, who she had recently separated from, denies having signed documents to transfer the title. The two checks that the victim alleged were forged totaled $13,700. Also during the investigation, it was revealed that the family had taken several vacations to Hawaii, Disneyland, Disney World and Europe. Keener is alleged to have told relatives that she was working for a Georgia company and to being compensated for the vacations. Investigators were unable to verify Keener having been compensated for the vacations. The man reported that he had been contacted by Keener and her mother, seeking the man to sign a loan agreement regarding repayment of the funds. However, he said, he refused to sign the agreement because he had already contacted police. A warrant for Keeners arrest was issued on April 6 and she was taken into custody. Keener was arraigned Monday on charges. She is being held on a $250,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court on April 18. Christians will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with Easter Sunday. Ahead of the Good News is the annual Holy Week Services at the Midwest Theater, sponsored by the Scottsbluff Noon Kiwanis Club as part of the fulfillment of spiritual aims. Each day, a different pastor will take the stage from noon to about 12:50 p.m. to deliver a message about that days gospel reading, along with featured special music. The services are being broadcast live on KCMI radio and offerings will go to help the local Police Emergency Cooperative Fund. On Monday, the guest pastor was Rev. Gary Hashley of Calvary Memorial Church in Gering. Hashley said that while the events contained in the four Gospels chronicle the life of Jesus, the majority of the books focus on his crucification and resurrection. His sermon was a meditation on the gospel contained in John 12:1-11, where Jesus comes to resurrect Lazarus from the dead. Hashley said the scripture contained three themes; the curiosity surrounding Lazarus resurrection, the contention surrounding the miracle, and the conversions to Christianity after Lazarus rose from the dead. Things changed when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Hashley told the congregation. And things really changed when Jesus raised himself from the dead. In closing his sermon, Hashley asked the congregation to consider three questions: Does Jesus resurrection elevate your curiosity level?, Does the contention and objection of others lower that curiosity level?, and Does the resurrection lead you to believe in Jesus? My hope is that we will see these seats full through the whole week, Hashley said. The Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Department has apprehended a juvenile who was in custody and walked away while awaiting transport Monday. In a press release, Sheriff Mark Overman had sought the public's help after had walked away from custody. The girl, 13-year-old Analicia Bald Eagle was court ordered to a staff secure facility Monday afternoon. She was detained at the Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Office awaiting transport to a facility in eastern Nebraska. She was secured in handcuffs and ankle shackles in one of the departments interview rooms, which do not lock. Deputies were in a nearby room discussing paperwork on her case, and discovered that she had walked away. Prior to leaving, the girl was able to remove the handcuffs and shackles and walked out of the facility shortly after 5 p.m. Monday. Overman said video showed Bald Eagle leaving the building through a south door at the Scotts Bluff County Administration building, then walking north toward the McDonalds restaurant. The girl was taken into custody at about 9:15 p.m., with the assistance of her family. Last Tuesday my priority bill, LB 432, advanced out of Select File and into Enrollment and Review for Engrossment. What this means is that the bill will be analyzed by Capitol lawyers and finalized for a final vote on the floor. LB 432 takes away the authority of tax asking entities from adding the collection of delinquent taxes into their tax asking ability. Onced passed into law, this bill will offer some much needed property tax relief to property owners in our State. On Wednesday Gov. Pete Ricketts signed Sen. Dan Watermeiers bill, LB 46, into law. LB 46 creates a special Choose Life license plate, which has yet to be designed for Nebraskas automobiles. Although the Choose Life license plates will cost an extra $5.00, the extra expense will be donated to charity. The most controversial bill of the week was Sen. Adam Morfeldss bill, LB173. This bill would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or their gender identity. I intended to oppose this bill, but in an unusual twist of events Sen. Morfeld led a filibuster against his own bill. Because no vote was taken on the bill, LB 173 will be held over for a vote in next years session. Another very rare event took place at the Capitol on Friday. A Special Committee of the Executive Board held a special hearing to determine whether or not Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omahas legislative district 11 was eligible to keep his Senate seat. Mr. John Sciara, who ran against Sen. Chambers in last years election, challenged the incumbent on the basis that he did not reside within legislative district 11 one year prior to the election. The Special Committee of the Executive Board ruled in favor of Sen. Ernie Chambers. However, the most ironic part of the hearing was that the Sen. Ernie Chambers eligibility hearing was held in the Sen. Ernie Chambers Judiciary Hearing Chamber. Pegasus Airlines has evaluated its performance for 2016 whilst disclosing its targets for the future. Despite all the developments that have put pressure on the aviation sector in 2016, Pegasus succeeded in increasing its guest numbers by 8.1% to 24.14 million, and its turnover by 6.2% to TRY 3.7 billion. Pegasus CEO Mehmet T. Nane stated that the airline expected a cautious recovery in the aviation sector for 2017, but real growth would be experienced from 2018 onward. Pegasus' growth outperformed the sector in 2016 Speaking at the press conference, Mehmet T. Nane said 2016 was rather a difficult year for the sector. There were many challenges affecting air traffic during the year, the most significant of which were the events of July 15th. Despite this, we have worked tirelessly to increase our guest numbers and our revenue, and at the same time have kept our expenses under control with clever and sometimes ingenious projects. By the end of the year, we had provided our services to a total of 24.14 million guests comprising of 15.29 million on international routes and 8.85 million on routes in Turkey. While the market as a whole grew 5.8% on routes in Turkey, we at Pegasus successfully grew our guest numbers by 10.7% with our main hub being at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Similarly, while the international flight market shrank by 15.5% we recorded growth of 3.9%. Each seat is sold about 7 times a day Mehmet T. Nane added By continuing to use our 82-craft fleet effectively and productively, we increased our number of landings in 2016 to 166,691. We ensure that each of our aircraft is utilised on average 12 hours a day. So when one of our aircraft makes 7 flights in one day, we might sell the same seat around 7 times per day. Mehmet T. Nane stated that with an average age of 5.7 years as of March 2017, Pegasus owns Turkey's youngest fleet of aircraft. We have also added the cities of Grozny, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod and Volgograd to our flight network, and now fly to a total of 7 destinations in Russia. We recently added a 12th destination to our flight network in the Middle East, that of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. With these new routes, we have expanded our flight network to reach a total of 103 destinations in 40 countries. The management decisions taken in 2016 will help us to actively prepare for the future. Mehmet T. Nane stated that they had taken some effective management decisions during the challenging year of 2016. Our priority was reducing costs. We have instigated some ingenious projects that really give us the right to be called a low-cost airline. We have inaugurated strict optimisation of all our cost items. Through strategic steps such as bringing forward our Airbus orders, with their higher fuel efficiency, and rescheduling our Boeing deliveries, we have reformed both our cash flow and our fuel cost management. We have increased efficiency and savings in our flight operations by introducing the Electronic Flight Bag/EFB throughout the fleet. By ending the use of paper in the cockpit we have achieved our goals with regard to reducing in-flight weight and increasing operational efficiency. Concluding the Aircraft Tracker project, which automatically monitors maintainance/fault status during flights in all our aircraft and helps us devise solutions before the plane even lands, allowed us to achieve important progress in operational continuity and maintenance/repair cost efficiency. We now use electronic flight maps for 60% of the airports we fly to. We will increase this rate to 100% in 2017, treating Pegasus cockpits as data centres. By using big data' in this way in the cockpit, we will achieve the most efficient flight operation conditions. Mehmet T. Nane continued In 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 we assessed our existing fleet with regard to efficiency. First, we rented out four of our Boeing B737-800 aircraft to Pakistan Airlines (PIA) and two to Flynas on a wet lease. Then, on 20th March, we sold seven Boeing 737-800NG aircraft from among the company assets to Air Lease Corporation for a total of 178.7 million USD. The income that we receive from the sale, which is expected to be completed by the end of October, will be used to pay for these aircraft, which we have added to our fleet using financial leasing and to realise new investments. With this sale, we have accelerated portfolio replacement to ensure optimisation of fuel use within the scope of our 100-craft Airbus NEO agreement from 2012 and increased the number of new A320 Neo purchases planned for 2017 from 3 to 6. Thus our average fleet age will fall and we will achieve an improvement in aircraft operating costs. New investments to improve the guest experience Mehmet T. Nane said that Pegasus is primarily guest-focussed, and stated that with their investments in technology they were aiming to give their guests a better guest experience. Technology provides us with operational cost advantages while making our guests' lives easier, thus increasing their satisfaction levels. We care about digitalisation in improving the guest experience. In this context, in 2016 we purchased Salesforce, which has an extremely competent infrastructure in the service area to manage guest notifications via a single channel and ensure more rapid and effective feedback to our guests. With Salesforce we have started to keep all guest complaints on a single platform, whether they were made via email, call centre, social media or to our website. With complaint management integration we aim to provide an instantaneous solution to more of our guests as much as possible. The figures for January-February 2017 are quite agreeable. Our target-focussed actions achieved a 90% improvement rate and the flow of information between teams has speeded up considerably. The waiting period for complaints in in-house departments decreased by 32%. We have been performing all of our own ground management operations at our main hub of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen since May. With this project, we have achieved a major improvement in cleaning and reducing delays caused by ground services and boarding/de-boarding procedures. For example, when we evaluated our 7-month ground operation results, we saw an improvement of 30% in baggage waiting times and a 35% improvement in lost/damaged baggage cases. This is reflected in increased guest satisfaction and efficiency. Mehmet T. Nane stated that they care about offering guests choices at every stage of their trips. We offer many additional products and services so that guests can personalise their flights as they wish and arrange their holidays according to their budget and preferences. We are there for our guests before, during and after their flights, and we continue to make investments in order to become a full travel brand offering services from A to Z. We are hopeful for 2017 and expect growth in 2018 Mehmet T. Nane disclosed that they aim to increase the number of guests carried by Pegasus in 2017 by between 5 and 7%, and expressed their hopes for 2017. We have declared this year as one in which we will regain our figures from before the 2016 crisis. We have great faith in the Turkish economy and its tourism potential. That is why, though we see 2017 as a period of renewal, we expect the real growth to occur in 2018 and beyond. Our affiliates have an important place in our expansion plans Emphasising that with its stakes in IzAir and AirManas, Pegasus is a regional player and he highlighted the part these affiliates have to play in Pegasus's expansion plans. Pegasus recently reached agreement with Air Berlin to purchase their 29.51% stake in IzAir for 1.2 million Euros. After this purchase has been approved by the Ministry of Transport and the competition board, Pegasus' stake in IzAir will rise to 98.63. To help more people climb out of poverty, our federal social programs must have the end goals of independence and productivity. The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, known as MIECHV (pronounced McVee), is a positive example. With bipartisan support, this program has helped improve the health and well-being of families across the country. The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources, on which I serve as chairman, is working on the reauthorization of MIECHV this year. The program was fully authorized by Congress in Fiscal Year 2010. MIECHV helps support state and local efforts to provide voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services to parents and children at risk of adverse experiences. Objectives include promoting school readiness of young children, increasing economic self-sufficiency of families, improving prenatal health and birth outcomes, and preventing child abuse and neglect. Making this upfront investment in families protects children and reduces government dependence down the road. MIECHV is also one of the only social programs in which funding is tied to proven evidence of effectiveness to do otherwise is a disservice to both taxpayers and beneficiaries. We know we must improve our anti-poverty programs by demanding results, and MIECHV provides a good example of what we should expect and receive from the use of limited taxpayer resources. For a home visiting model to be funded, an evaluation must show the program has demonstrated significant, positive outcomes in areas such as reducing child abuse and neglect, improving maternal and child health, and improving economic self-sufficiency. Many approved models are now being further studied through a rigorous random assignment evaluation to better measure their impacts so we know families are receiving real help. On March 15, our Human Resources Subcommittee held a hearing on MIECHV, where we heard from witnesses who have either worked with clients in a home-visiting program or benefited from the services provided. Rosa, a 16-year-old high school junior from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, testified how a home-visiting program provided her with the support, confidence, and skills she needed when she found out she was pregnant at age 14. Today, Rosa is the mother of a beautiful 20-month-old baby girl who captured everyones hearts at the hearing and is on track to graduate high school next year. Nebraskans are also seeing positive outcomes from home visiting. Prior to our hearing, I visited Panhandle Public Health Districts Healthy Families America in Scottsbluff to see their work firsthand. The program strives to improve the economic success and school readiness of vulnerable children and families in Scotts Bluff, Morrill, and Box Butte Counties. During my visit, I met Dawn, who was pregnant and homeless when she learned about home visiting. Through the program, she found a stable home and a steady income to provide for her growing family. Today, she is working toward a college degree. We should strive to support the efforts of parents who are working to provide a better life for their children. I look forward to continuing our work on this reauthorization and ensuring our social programs help to build healthy, independent families. LINCOLN The ACLU of Nebraska issued an ultimatum to Gov. Pete Ricketts on Monday: Take immediate action to address the states chronic prison overcrowding and staff shortages or get sued. The six-page letter gave the governor 10 days to respond. The continued pattern of inhumane treatment and deficient conditions at (Nebraska corrections) facilities present an invitation to legal action, stated the ACLU letter. Current conditions jeopardize public safety, the well being of corrections staff, and the health, safety and lives of those serving a sentence. The ACLU of Nebraska has threatened since at least 2014 to file a federal civil rights lawsuit unless conditions improved in the states prison system. But Mondays letter appeared to serve as a final written warning before a lawsuit is filed. Its more than a threat, its a promise, said State Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete, who chairs the Legislatures Judiciary Committee, which oversees prison issues. Ricketts spokesman, Taylor Gage, said Monday the state is making steady progress to reform its prison system, following a plan laid out by the Justice Center of the Council of State Governments, which has helped more that two dozen states. Gage said that the ACLUs call to declare a prison emergency, which could result in the early release of prisoners, is absurd and threatens public safety, coming on the heels of recent prison disturbances. We call on the ACLU to support our efforts to fully fund (the agencys) budget needs, including additional corrections officers who protect the public and inmates, Gage said. The letter comes three days after a violent disturbance at a Lincoln prison, and amid growing frustration among state lawmakers and front-line corrections staff. They have said that despite several studies highlighting problems within the Nebraska corrections system, little progress has been made to reduce overcrowding or reduce shortages of health care and mental health providers. The governor needs to declare an emergency and take steps to restore safety within our prison facilities, said Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, who has served on more than one committee studying problems in the corrections system. The governor has the authority to declare a prison emergency when the inmate population reaches 140 percent of capacity, which both Ricketts and previous Gov. Dave Heineman declined to do. Such an emergency requires the state to consider paroling inmates immediately unless they are deemed too dangerous for release. Among the six people signing Mondays letter from the ACLU was Michael Bien, a San Francisco attorney who helped successfully sue the State of California for overcrowded and substandard prisons. The letter stated that the continued overcrowding of Nebraska prisons they now hold about 2,000 more inmates than their design capacity has led to prison riots, assaults on staff members and failure to provide rehabilitation programs for inmates. The letter said that inmates wait months for medical and mental health care due to woefully understaffed facilities. We have reviewed mental health records of prisoners who have been taken off anti-psychotic medications and given nothing in their place, prisoners who following a serious suicide attempt have been denied mental health counseling, and prisoners who have been medicated into a nonresponsive zombie-like state, the ACLU letter said. In one case, an inmate waited half a year to get treatment for a fractured bone, according to the civil rights group. Overall, the ACLU said Nebraskas prison system is too overcrowded and too understaffed to promptly and effectively deal with inmates mental health and health care needs. In addition, the letter said the Corrections Department continues to misuse solitary confinement and has at least one prison, the Lincoln Correctional Center, that is not handicapped accessible. Ricketts has defended actions taken by his administration, which include new rehabilitation programs, some salary enhancements for corrections officers and plans to add more prison beds. He has repeatedly said that it took years of neglect for state prisons to become overcrowded, and it will take years to turn that around. Despite steps taken by the governor and the agency, overcrowding has increased slightly in recent weeks, assaults on staff have risen and staff vacancies have persisted. The agency now has about 148 vacancies for corrections officers, and the ACLU says there were 53 vacancies for medical and mental health staff. In the past two months there have been three major disturbances at state prisons, including one in March in which two inmates were killed, presumably by other inmates. On Friday, three corrections staffers were assaulted and fires were set inside a housing unit at the State Diagnostic and Evaluation Center. That is the states most overcrowded prison, exceeding its capacity by about 300 percent. Dozens of inmates sleep on plastic cots spread across floors at the Lincoln prison. With one hand holding a bottle of champagne and the other an oversized certificate declaring him the winner of $1 million from Publishers Clearing House, Bruce Saunders stood on the front porch of his western Davie County Monday and rattled off a list of things he plans spend his spend money on medical bills, fixing his lawnmower and helping family members. Five teams of Romanian students qualified into the final phase of the Astro Pi space competition, organised by the European Space Agency (ESA) and promoted in Romania by ESERO Romania, the European Space Education Resource Office a joint project of ESA and the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA). The challenge for all European students aged up to 16 years old was to design a science experiment that runs using the Astro Pi sensors of a computer on board the International Space Station (ISS) and to write the code in order for Astro Pi to execute the experiment. The five Romanian teams entering the Astro Pi space competition finals are: Astro Vianu Team and Star Gazers, Tudor Vianu National College for Informatics, Bucharest; Cosmos Dream, NicolaeBalcescu Theoretical High-School, Cluj-Napoca; Carmen Sylva Astro Pi, Carmen Sylva Theoretical High-School, EforieSud; MiBus researchers, Mihai BusuiocTechnology High-School, Pascani. The experiments of the five Romanian teams, together with codes from 12 other ESA Member States, have been selected from more than 180 applications by a professional jury of representatives from ESA and the Raspberry Pi Foundation, after two preliminary stages. In the first stage, students were invited to put forward an experiment idea that could be run on the Astro Pi computer operating on the International Space Station, and its SenseHAT sensors.In the second stage, astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who is currently on board the International Space Station, provided each selected team with a science mission that will take place on the ISS, using Ed, the Astro Pi computer. In order to accomplish the objectives of the mission, the participants had to define the steps of the scientific experiment and to write the Astro Pi code using Phyton. Applications were evaluated based on criteria such as: scientific value, innovation, feasibility of the mission on the ISS, code clarity and quality. Once sent to the ISS, the codes of the qualified teams run on the Astro Pi computer based in the Columbus module. On 15 May 2017, the results of the experiments will be published, and astronaut Thomas Pesquet will comment on the results. The data collected in outer space will be downloaded and sent to Earth, where they will be analysed by the participating teams. Promoting the Astro Pi competition at national level in Romania is the responsibility of ESERO Romania. ESERO (European Space Education Resource Office) is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and its national partners in Romania, the national partner is the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA). ESERO is the main ESA project dedicated to supporting education at secondary level in ESAs Member States. The ESERO offices promote ESA competitions at a European level and they are the main contact points for teachers and students. The ESERO project raises the awareness of the younger generation on the European space programme and over its importance for the modern society and economy. *** The Romanian Space Agency (ROSA) is a public institution entirely self-funded, operating under Government Decision no. 923/20.11.1995 and the subsequent decisions of the Ministry of Education and Research - National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation. ROSA develops the National Space Program and coordinates its implementation through research projects and space applications, being authorised to establish research and development centres. At the same time, the Agency is the lead organisation of the Programme for Research, Development and Innovation STAR Space Technology and Advanced Research. ROSA represents the Romanian Government in international cooperation programs such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and the United Nations (UN). The Agency carries out its own research and development projects through ROSA Research Centre. Since 2004 the President of the Agency is Dr. Phys. Marius-Ioan Piso. To stay up to date with the latest news from the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA) please fill out the form available here. Justice Minister Tudorel Toader claims he doesn't know if by any chance the Prosecutor's office prosecutors who build the case regarding OUG 13 suspect common law criminal offenses, but maintains his conviction that the prosecutors will not infringe the Romanian Constitutional Court's decision. "It is normal that prosecutors rule a solution in that case, as it was half way, half way through statements. (...) However, a nolle prosequi solution, be it as it may, still has to be ruled. (...) A solution must be given, but it couldn't carry on based on the ordinance's adoption circumstances, on legality, on grounds and constitutionality. I (...) have the conviction that after that decision, the prosecutor, no matter how powerful the Prosecutor's Office, cannot overrun the Constitutional Court's decision. I am convinced that it will not pursue, I repeat, opportunity, legality, circumstance, grounds or constitutionality. I cannot tell if they do not suspect common law criminal offenses, which are in the prosecutor's jurisdiction, we will see the ruling," declared Toader on Monday night at private TV broadcaster Romania TV. The former Minister of Justice, Florin Iordache was heard by the prosecutors with the Prosecutor's Office of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (PICCJ), at the end of last week, concerning the case in which investigations are carried out with respect to OUG 13/2017, have declared judicial sources for agerpres. According to the source, Florin Iordache made statements on Friday, as a witness. The Prosecutor's Office was communicating on March 13 that the investigation concerning OUG 13 was underway and it focused on several offenses having been committed, emphasising that the prosecutor "has the obligation to ensure, based on evidence, the pursuit of truth." The latest developments within the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification (MCV) were discussed on Monday in Brussels, by the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, at the meeting with the Senate president, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu. According to a press release of the Senate sent to agerpres, the two officials exchanged views on a range of issues and agreed on the "importance of an extensive consultation with interested key stakeholders" and on the democratic process for "any measures which might be adopted in the future." "Transparency and openness are essential elements for maintaining confidence and stability. President Juncker repeated his intention to conclude MCV during his tenure, provided that Romania meet the necessary recommendations. The way to achieve these recommendations is set out clearly in the Commission's reports regarding the MCV," reads the release. According to the source, Juncker and Tariceanu also discussed the economic situation of Romania and the future Romanian presidency to the EU Council in 2019. "President Juncker encouraged the Senate's president to continue implementing reforms in the interests of economic and social modernization while also developing a responsible fiscal policy. (...) President Juncker stressed the importance for Romania to hold back the reins in a crucial point, namely in the European Parliament elections' year, and reiterated the Commission's support for the Romanian authorities both before taking office as well as during the presidency of EU, so as to be a presidential success. At the same time, president Juncker confirmed the Commission's commitment to be a partner of national parliaments and stressed that these, in particular the Romanian Parliament plays a key role in debates on the future of Europe," the release further says. The two officials agreed to meet again and continue the dialogue during president Juncker's visit to Romania, who will hold a speech in front of Parliament on May 11. During his visit in Brussels, President of the Senate, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, also met with Vera Jourova, European commissioner for justice. According to the source, the recent developments in the judicial system in Romania and prospects for the completion of the MCV were discussed during the meeting. The two dignitaries tackled issues of interest for Romania concerning the ongoing debate on the future of Europe, with a focus on the need for common direction and objectives for the Member States that would bind the Union to the direct interests of its citizens. Commissioner Jourova praised Romania's efforts to become actively involved in the processes and initiatives designed to sustain the European integration providing the recent example of the enhanced cooperation for the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor (EPPO). Turkish Airlines further enhances its network to Russia by launching Istanbul Samara flights today. Turkish Airlines already flies to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Rostov, Kazan, Ekaterinburg, Ufa, Stavropol, and recently added Voronezh. With launching flights to Samara as from 11th April 2017, the global carrier reaffirms its ongoing capacity increase strategy in Russia. Roundtrip services between Istanbul and Samara will be operated as 3 times per week, as beginning from today. And special round-trip fares are available for Istanbul-Samara starting from 159 USD (including taxes). Additionally, for the first 6 months of operation to the new destinations, there is a special offer for Miles&Smiles members, with a 25% reduction in the miles needed to redeem either award tickets or upgrades. Samara flight times as scheduled from April 11th; Flight No. Days Departure Arrival TK 487 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday IST 20:30 KUF 00:55 +1 TK 488 Wednesday, Friday, Sunday KUF 02:05 IST 04:45 All times are local. Union workers at Holten Meat voted Tuesday morning to end a strike that lasted more than three weeks. The vote to approve a new three-year contract passed 125-2, according to Collin Reischman, communications director for Local 655 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents the Sauget facilitys workforce. Employees were expected to return to work Wednesday. Reischman said the company presented the union with a contract on Monday, after all-day negotiations with federal labor mediators. That offer addressed all our concerns, Reischman said. We essentially got two concessions to the workers on the issues that were most important to them. Those concessions, he said, were contractual assurances that job openings will be given to the most senior employee who bids for them, and that workers will be guaranteed one weekend off each month during the plants peak season, when it shifts to a six-day weekly production schedule. Those issues, and not a wage dispute, were cited as the main reasons for the strike, which began on March 18. The strike was the first in the approximately 30-year period that the plants workers have been represented by the union, according to Reischman. Moving forward, Reischman said the union is confident that it will have a new relationship with Holten, and that it will form a joint labor management committee with the company. They dont want to get that far apart again, Reischman said. Holten Meat representatives could not be reached for comment. FRANKFURT German industrial conglomerate Siemens and Canada's Bombardier are in talks to combine their rail operations in a joint venture, two people close to the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. "Talks are occurring and are already pretty far advanced," one of the people said, who asked not to be named because the negotiations are confidential. The news was earlier reported by Bloomberg, lifting Siemens shares to a record high of 129.80 euros. The stock later slipped back, but remained near the top of the German blue-chip DAX, which was down 0.9 percent. Siemens and Bombardier declined to comment. Bombardier, Siemens and France's Alstom three of the world's biggest rail equipment makers have talked to each other about combining their businesses in various arrangements over the past years. The drive to consolidate has taken on new urgency in light of the rising global ambitions of China's CRRC Corp. the result of a 2015 merger of the country's two top players. The deal would require clearance from antitrust authorities and face potential opposition from unions. It is not yet clear which of Siemens or Bombardier would eventually consolidate the entity in the event of an agreement, the source said. Additional reporting by Jens Hack in Munich and Allison Lampert in Montreal. Bernard A. Metzger, the Founder & Director of the highly respected Travelindex Media has come out with a strong letter of endorsement for Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Candidate for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Alain St.Ange from the Seychelles is one of the seven candidates contesting the May elections to head the UN Tourism Body. Armenia, Brazil, Columbia, Georgia, Korea, Seychelles and Zimbabwe are the countries that are in the running with candidates already accepted by the UNWTO Madrid Office. In his letter Bernard A. Metzger, the Founder & Director of Travelindex Media says:- I am following the process of selecting the next World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General and, as you well know, I am one of your greatest supporter and admirer and few in your position have achieved so much for world tourism. I humbly have the following recommendation to make which Im doing on my own accord and based on my very personal opinion. As Founder of Travelindex, one of the worlds largest travel content distribution and destination marketing platform, connecting directly over 800,000 travel companies in 241 countries and territories worldwide, I declare herewith my support for the Seychelles bid for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and stand behind Alain St.Ange without hesitation. I have seen Mr St.Ange as Head of the Seychelles Tourism Board and then as Minister and his enthusiasm and passion for tourism has never been greater. His success is a tribute to his hard work. I can think of no better person to become Secretary General of the UNWTO; Alain St.Ange is charged with an infectious energy and excitement over the future in world tourism. He places people and culture at the very heart of tourism and his fundamental belief is that tourism must be good for everyone, it must benefit every country and all people in the world. Mr. St. Ange said The world must come together. We must connect and need to embrace each others ideas. A statement perfectly aligned with our own slogan Connecting Travel People and our vision of making the world a better place by enabling universal and equitable access to data and information. Without reservation, I support and recommend Mr. Alain St.Ange for the post of UNWTO Secretary-General as I know that he is dedicated, hardworking and truly devoted to make world tourism work for everybody and a force for good. Travelindex is a PATA Preferred Partner from Kong Kong and speaks to the tourism trade at large. As a known and respected tourism partner, Mr Bernard A. Metzger has now started communicating to UNWTO Member States to make his choice of candidates for Secretary General of the UNWTO known. For more information, please visit www.alainstange.net/action-plan/ William Fleming didnt go to jail for domestic violence. He went to jail because he was poor. Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court set him free, and in doing so sent a message to judges throughout the state: Missouri has a court costs problem. This issue has been lurking for a long time, says public defender Amy Lowe, who works in the appellate division of the state public defenders office in St. Louis, and represents Fleming. I think right now, (because of the courts decision) were going to see people take this seriously for perhaps the first time. People are on notice that the situation of high court costs is a problem and the Supreme Court is paying attention. Flemings court troubles started in July 2008. Thats when he pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence in St. Francois County, a rural county about an hour south of St. Louis. Circuit Court Judge Sandra Martinez sentenced Fleming to seven years in prison but suspended the sentence. He was put on probation for five years with a few stipulations. He had to stay away from the victim in the case. He had to attend an anger management class. He couldnt be in possession of a bladed instrument in excess of 4 inches. And he had to pay his court costs in the next three years. Fleming, who is bipolar, was living on federal disability checks of about $450 a month. His court costs, which included a bill for the time he was in the county jail after being arrested, came in at $4,263.50. Even if he paid 25 percent of his income every month, the bill would remain unpaid in the time allotted. The court record shows Fleming made payments every month, first in $10 installments set up by his probation officer, then $50 payments requested by the court. He fulfilled the other requirements of his probation, but three years later there was still a balance due. The judge hauled him in and asked if he had paid the court costs in full. Fleming said no. Next stop: Algoa Correctional Center. It is the rural version of the story that brought Ferguson and the municipal courts in north St. Louis County to national attention for preying on poor people in order to fund city operations that have a tax base that cant keep up. The Missouri Legislatures response to the problem was to pass Senate Bill 5 in 2015, a bill that put new limits on the amount of revenue municipalities could collect from traffic fines. When the Legislature passed that proposal overwhelmingly only three senators voted against it lawmakers referred to the practice of using traffic fines to raise money for struggling cities as taxation by citation. Now one of those senators, Ed Emery, a Republican from Joplin, wants to repeal the bill just two years later and replace it with one that will actually raise court costs significantly. The proposal hasnt received a hearing yet, so its likely not going anywhere, but in light of the Supreme Courts decision in the Fleming case, its a stark reminder that the battle over court costs has enemies in high places. One of the reasons, Lowe surmises, is that the people often saddled with them, people like William Fleming, arent the most sympathetic characters. They have, in most cases, broken the law. They are often poor. They are at the mercy of the court. My clients cant complain very much, Lowe says. Its very easy to dehumanize them and use them to raise money for government services. Its a problem older than the law itself. Since 2013, Overland Municipal Judge Frank Vatterott has been trying to get the Missouri Supreme Court to remove from municipal court costs a $3 fee to fund sheriffs retirements. His legal argument goes all the way back to the Magna Carta, the English charter agreed to by King John in 1215 that tamped down a rebellion over high taxes. Article 40 of that document says simply that there will be no sale of justice. In other words, the courts cannot erect financial barriers that keep poor people from having access to the courts. That argument is also at the crux of the Fleming decision, written by Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge. If probation is doled out entirely on your ability to pay, then it seems you are discriminating against the poor, Lowe says. In telling Missouri judges that they cannot send poor people to jail simply because they cant afford ever-increasing court costs in the state, the Supreme Court stabs at the problem with a double-edged sword. It slices away a source of revenue for cash-strapped cities and counties, but cuts at the courts own orders that justify the high court costs in the first place. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis police union official has issued a clarification after an editorial in a union newspaper angered city firefighters. Jeff Roorda, St. Louis Police Officers Association business manager, penned a front-page editorial in the April edition of the union paper Gendarme lauding officers for their promptness and bravery, but criticizing city firefighters for the lack thereof. Who else dares to brave these neighborhoods? How many times have you or one of the cops you work with, charged into a burning building because even the fire department is slower to answer the call in the ghetto than the cops who are right there, in the trenches, hearing the shrill cry for help? Roorda wrote in the commentary titled Do Something Amazing. The St. Louis Fire Department posted a scathing response to Roordas opinion piece on Facebook on Monday. It is unfortunate that an individual such as Mr. Roorda, who is paid to represent an organization comprised of brave professional police, is continually allowed to voice and put into print his uneducated, uninformed and disparate comments without accountability or corrective action, said Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson in a statement. He continued, His baseless comments are an insult to every professional first responder, including firefighters and EMS, in our city. Jenkerson said firefighters respond to incidents across the city in under four minutes, directly addressing Roordas claims about slow response times. Roorda said Monday night that he wrote the editorial in response to the amount of criticism he believes police receive and to acknowledge the ways they exceed their public duties. As for his comments about the fire department, he said after reading them over again, he could see how the department would be put off. He said he spoke with the president of the firefighters union Monday. I told him that it absolutely wasnt meant in the way he was describing, Roorda said. In addition to planning a clarification next month in the union paper, Roorda took to Facebook on Monday to post a public apology. Every day, firefighters climb into the same foxholes that cops do. The fact that cops some times get their boots muddy first is a matter of geography not reluctance, he wrote. I spent eight years in Jefferson City as the number one supporter of firefighters in the Missouri Legislature. My commitment and admiration for our brothers and sisters who drive the red trucks hasnt changed, nor will it ever. Jenkerson's critical Facebook post appears to have since been removed. In February, then-mayoral candidate Lyda Krewson, who had the endorsement of the police union, called on the group to fire Roorda as its business manager. Her request came after Roorda published a Facebook rant calling Treasurer Tishaura Jones, who was also running for mayor, lazy, a cop-hater and a race-baiter. Jones, who is black, had earlier called for the police association to get rid of Roorda. At a mayoral debate, she cited a Roorda tweet from July when he blamed President Barack Obama for the deaths of five Dallas police officers. Roorda later deleted that tweet. Controversy also surrounded Roordas 2015 book Ferghanistan: The War on Police, for which proceeds were said to go to former Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot Michael Brown. The St. Louis County police union ended Roordas contract as county police business manager last summer. JEFFERSON COUNTY Reports of a possible car accident Thursday in Jefferson County led police to three people now under arrest in connection with pharmacy burglaries and ATM thefts across the area. A Missouri Highway Patrol trooper found Vance Shearer, 46, slumped at the wheel of his car along Highway 67 near Highway V, suffering from a possible drug overdose. A trooper searched Shearers car and found pill bottles inside containers typically found at a pharmacy , according to Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Al Nothum. The trooper remembered two pharmacies had been recently burglarized in Jefferson County and called the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department, Nothum said. Deputies then headed to Shearers home in the 4400 block of Sunrise School Road. There, authorities say, they found evidence that connected him to the theft of about $32,000 worth of prescription drugs from a De Soto pharmacy. In February and March, thieves also stole about $70,000 worth of drugs from Prescriptions Plus in Festus during two break-ins, said Jefferson County Cpl. Matt Moore. Officers say they also found evidence, including ATM parts, connecting Shearer and his wife, Melissa Shearer, 37, to the thefts and attempted thefts of ATMs in Collinsville, St. Louis and Jefferson County, Moore said. On Friday, the Jefferson County prosecuting attorney charged the Shearers with stealing of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $50,000 for each. On Tuesday, Vance Shearer was also charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of stealing and three counts of property damage with an additional bail of $29,000. The Missouri Highway Patrol also has seven counts of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon pending against Vance Shearer for the pill bottles and a gun found in his car. Vance Shearer is a felon. Also Tuesday, Melissa Shearer was charged with two counts of burglary and two counts of stealing with an additional cash bail of $16,000 added. During interviews with the Shearers, Jefferson County police say the couple admitted to using some of the drugs they stole from the pharmacies and selling others, Moore said. Police still are working to determine how many of the hundreds of stolen pills were recovered. Jefferson County deputies also identified a third suspect, John Morris, 56, of Caseyville, who has been charged with two counts of burglary, one count of stealing and one count of property damage for his role in the theft of the ATMs. Collinsville police have arrested Morris for the theft of an ATM there. His bail has been set at $50,000. Some controversy broke out at Washington High School in Franklin County this week around a petition for a transgender student to use a girls bathroom. On Monday, officials say a petition was circulating in the school to allow the transgender student, who was born a male but identifies as a female, access to the girls bathroom. The controversy was fanned by a KTVI (Channel 2) report on Monday, which featured a different student and a few parents expressing concern that the transgender student might use the girls bathroom. But district policy says transgender students can only use the bathroom of the gender listed on their birth certificate or a unisex bathroom facility, of which there are about three or four at the high school, said Washington Superintendent Lori VanLeer. VanLeer said that policy is meant to make sure the district is not discriminating against transgender students and to recognize that other students may feel uncomfortable. The policy was approved by the school board about a year ago. "The district seeks to provide all students a safe and tolerant learning environment. This includes an environment free from discrimination and harassment," the district wrote in a statement. VanLeer said the transgender student told the district that the petition is no longer in circulation. She said the district has been speaking with the student and the students parent. This is kind of a non-issue, VanLeer said. In 2015, students walked out from Hillsboro High School in Jefferson County after transgender student Lila Perry declared she did not want to be relegated to a unisex bathroom. In the wake of the national controversy, three of seven school board members resigned. The death of a third Truman State University student in the same fraternity house since August is being investigated as a suicide. The Adair County coroner confirmed the investigation Tuesday. Josh Thomas, 18, of St. Peters, was found in the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity house in the early hours of April 6. Two other men, Alex Mullins of the Kansas City area, a junior, and Jake Hughes of Eureka, a sophomore, committed suicide inside the fraternity house within three weeks of each other in August. A visitation for Thomas was held Tuesday at Baue Funeral Home, and another was set for Wednesday, followed by a funeral Mass at 2 p.m. Wednesday at All Saints Catholic Cemetery in St. Peters. Alumni of the Truman State AKL chapter started a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $7,500 in three days for a scholarship through the university in honor of the three lost members. The alumni organizer suggests that his peers not only donate, but reach out to current members and offer their support. In a Facebook post, the Truman State chapter of AKL posted a statement about Thomas death, saying that he didnt die as a result of hazing, or as a result of the culture and environment of the fraternity, but rather as a result of his mental condition. His obituary suggests donations be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in his honor. In light of Thomas death, Truman State leaders organized events this week to address suicide and mental illness. On Monday, a local speaker addressed his own struggle with suicidal thoughts. Later this week, interactive training will cover the warning signs of suicide and how to respond. On Thursday, the university is offering memorial wristbands for students to wear to support the fraternitys loss. Truman also has a free online program called Ask, Listen, Refer. In the 2016 Missouri College Health and Behavior Survey an annual survey state schools encourage students to take to gauge issues such as abuse of alcohol and drugs, as well as mental health Truman students self-identified as experiencing depression, anxiety and panic attacks at rates higher than the state average. Half of the student respondents said they had experienced suicidal thoughts in their lifetimes, and 26 percent said they had experienced those thoughts in the last year. Almost half of the student respondents said they had been concerned about a friends having suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Get help To get help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255. JEFFERSON CITY A group of Republican lawmakers pushed a proposal through a House committee Monday that would make it more difficult for Missourians to sue for workplace discrimination, fending off amendments from Democrats and one of their own. The proposal, which would require people to explicitly prove their race, sex or other protected status actually motivated their boss or colleague to mistreat them to win cases like wrongful termination, overcame a heated Senate filibuster last month. Currently, Missourians need only prove their status was a "contributing factor" to prevail in court. For example, if a black plaintiff was fired from a job for tardiness, but white employees routinely showed up late and weren't fired, the black employee could ask a jury to compare the treatment and contend that race "contributed" to the boss's decision. But if the new measure is approved and signed into law, such an employee would need to meet a higher standard he or she would have to show that race explicitly motivated mistreatment through, for example, written documentation of racist comments. The measure passed 8 votes to 5. Republican Reps. Bill White of Joplin and Don Phillips of Kimberling City joined three Democrats in voting no. The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, would also preclude suits against other employees, instead forcing suits against companies themselves. It would cap damages for successful plaintiffs based on the size of the company and curb protections for whistleblowers as well. Republicans and business groups have described the changes as a necessary to rein in unscrupulous trial attorneys filing frivolous claims and effectively extorting companies. But White and Democrats took issue with several of the revisions. White joined Democrats in voting for an amendment from Rep. Steven Roberts, D-St.Louis, allowing people to sue individuals who harass or discriminate instead of just companies. He said several people in his district asked him over the weekend why the state wouldn't want to hold bad employees responsible. "I couldn't give them a good answer," he said. Rep. Kevin Corlew, R-Kansas City, tried, saying the purpose of the Missouri Human Rights Act was meant to hold companies accountable not individuals but had little success. "The purpose of this bill is to make discrimination just a cost of doing business," Roberts said. White was also concerned that the amount of money a successful plaintiff could receive in damages was tied to the size of the employer instead of the severity of discrimination. Damages from a company with less than 100 employees would be capped at $50,000 under the bill, while those from a company with between 100 and 200 would be capped at $100,000. The penalties max out at $500,000 for a company with more than 500 employees. "The system that this bill puts forward bothers my sense of fairness and justice," White said. "If there is discrimination ... we should be looking at the incident, not how much the other person can afford." Just before the vote, Rep. Brandon Ellebracht, D-Kansas City, reminded the committee that Romine's business is currently facing a racial discrimination lawsuit. Romine has dismissed the idea that he filed the bill to help himself, noting that the changes wouldn't affect current cases, but Ellebracht nevertheless shamed his colleagues. "To have a senator introduce a bill that is so evidently self-serving is offensive," he said, "and it tarnishes our honor by participating and allowing him to advance this legislation." The proposal will now move to the House floor. Former Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed similar legislation in 2011 and 2012. But this year, Romine's measure is one of several ways Republicans hope to make the courts more business-friendly now that they control the governor's office. WASHINGTON Missouri senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt have virtually identical favorable ratings and are low on the overall Senate ranking, according to a new national survey of attitudes toward 99 U.S. senators by Morning Consult. The online polling firm, which assesses public opinion for Politico and other org-anizations, found that 47 percent of Missourians had favorable views of each senator. Meanwhile, 39 percent had unfavorable reviews of McCaskill, and 38 percent felt unfavorably about Blunt. Morning Consult said it surveyed 85,000 Americans online from January through March, and the results were broken down by states. The firm did not survey on Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., because he only recently replaced Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The Missouri findings are significant for a couple of reasons. First, the Democrat McCaskill faces a potentially tough re-election next year. The fact that her favorable ratings are higher than her unfavorables and virtually identical to a senator who just won re-election, in a state won handily by Republican President Donald Trump in November and which had a strong GOP showing up and down the ballot, challenges McCaskill's claims she enters the race as an underdog. Second, the Republican Blunt just came out of a bruising election win against former Secretary of State Jason Kander, and Blunt is a leader in a Senate wracked by partisan divisions. His positive favorable rating counters the claim that Republicans in Congress have been badly damaged by a failure follow through on promises to repeal and replace Obamacare. Even so, Blunt and McCaskill are tied for 83rd in favorability with Republicans Jodi Ernst of Iowa and Pat Roberts of Kansas, and Democrat Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. Blunt was one of two Republican senators whose favorable-vs.-unfavorable ration has fallen since late last year, according to Morning Consult. Illinoiss two Democratic senators, Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, are tied for 63rd and 71st, respectively. Duckworth had a 52-27 positive-to-negative rating, Durbin 50-34, with significant numbers of Illinois voters undecided or unaware of who they are, according to Morning Consult. Vermonts two Democratic senators, Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy, have the highest approval ratings. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis had the lowest, at 39 percent, but 30 percent of respondents in his state had no opinion of him. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was the only senator with underwater marks, with 44 percent approving of him and 47 percent disapproving. But his overall rating has turned more favorable since the election, according to Morning Consult. JEFFERSON CITY After three years of trying, the Missouri Senate passed a proposal Tuesday that would give ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft long-sought breaks from local regulation. Under a bill sponsored by Rep. Kirk Mathews, R-Eureka, the companies and their drivers would be exempt from most fees and rules such as those set by the St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission. Instead they would pay an annual $5,000 fee to the state and conduct their own background checks and vehicle inspections. Uber and Lyft were both elated at the news, calling it a victory for drivers and riders alike. Uber has promised to create 10,000 new jobs if the measure is passed and signed by Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican. But the commission and taxicab industry have criticized the measure, saying it gives ride-hailing services and part-time drivers an unfair advantage over professionals who drive for a living. Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake Saint Louis, said he tried his best to even the playing field. Ride-hailing drivers would be required to join taxis in paying the citys earnings tax and the $4 pickup fees at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Uber has been accused of dodging both in recent years. The commission could also end extensive fingerprint background checks for taxi drivers, which Uber and Lyft called too onerous for their drivers, and audit the companies driver-background checks twice a year, something the House previously granted only to Kansas City. Uber or Lyft would pay up to $5,000 for audit costs and $500 fines if they allowed someone to drive who should have been turned away. But taxicab companies wanted more. Theyve asked throughout the session for the same breaks Uber and Lyft are getting. Were not even close to parity, said Adam McNutt, president of Laclede Cab. They dont have to pay license fees and meter inspection fees or have a cap how much they can charge. Ill still be paying tens of thousands of dollars and have this laundry list of regulations on me. McNutt conceded that applying the measures regulations to taxis would make the taxicab commission unnecessary, but he said treating his company and ride-hailing services equally was the only way to foster fair competition. Commission president Tom Reeves said his organization was still processing the Senates move, and he didnt have an immediate reaction. He did note that the House still needed to approve the Senates changes to the measure before it heads to the governors desk, though its likely the House will move quickly to pass one of House Speaker Todd Richardsons chief priorities. Uber has operated its low-cost service, UberX, in St. Louis in defiance of commission regulations since September 2015, so the bills final passage wont be introducing anything new. But for taxi drivers and their companies, Tuesdays vote confirmed theyll get little help from the state in turning around falling revenues and declining dispatch calls. McNutt said companies could ask the commission to lower their fees, but his business is one of the larger ones in St. Louis and is partially insulated from ride-hailing competition thanks to contracts to ferry around business executives and take children to school. Raja Awas Naeem, one of the owners of the smaller United Cab, said he and his drivers relied much more on dispatch calls and pickups at hotels and bars. Since Ubers arrival, calls have been cut nearly in half. If things keep going like this, he said, taxis may go out of business. The proposals passage was delayed for a month because of Sen. Paul Wielands concerns about insurance requirements for ride-hailing drivers. After negotiating with Onder, Wieland, R-Imperial, got the bill changed to allow ride-hailing companies to be notified if one of their drivers loses coverage. The company would then revoke that drivers ability to give rides. Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, cast the sole vote against the proposal, which failed last year after then-Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, and two senators from Kansas City threatened filibusters. Walsh had previously expressed concern that driving taxicabs out of business would leave older people with disabilities or without smartphones out in the cold. The measure also would render a proposed charter amendment in St. Charles County establishing similar rules unnecessary. Uber already is cleared to operate in most of St. Charles County, but the company has held off doing so because the city of St. Charles hasnt agreed to create different rules for ride-hailing firms than the city applies for taxicabs. Uber wants its service to begin countywide at the same time. WASHINGTON Among St. Louis' members of Congress, Rep. John Shimkus has reacted most consistently to America's deepening involvement in Syria's civil war. Shimkus, referencing his past stance, framed his reaction to last week's bombing in historical terms. In 2013 I cautioned President (Barack) Obama about military intervention in Syria," the Collinsville Republican and Army veteran said in a statement. "I also questioned why we are always the ones to respond, and why the international community may come late, but never early or on time, to these situations." Shimkus called Syria's alleged use of sarin nerve gas a war crime. He said Russia should've enforced its promise to rid the regime of chemical weapons. But he did not say whether he thought strikes ordered by President Donald Trump were the right move: I hope President Trump will seek legislative support for any possible future actions. Shimkus' consistent reluctance to endorse military strikes in Syria stands apart from most of the other federal lawmakers who represent the St. Louis area. (Another consistent response: Rep. Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, declined in 2013 to say how he would vote on authorizing strikes on Syria; as of Monday evening, he had still not announced a stance on last week's strike.) Most members of the Republican-heavy delegation praised Trump's strikes as a necessary response to Syria's use of chemical weapons. Those weapons were supposed to have been removed as part of a 2013 deal the Obama administration struck with Russia to avert a military confrontation. But Obama and his secretary of state, John Kerry, made that arrangement only after lawmakers signaled they would reject authorization to use military force against the country. Back then, Obama's proposed strikes garnered little support from the St. Louis-area delegation. To be sure, the matter of striking Syria then and now is separated by more than time and the commander in chief's political affiliation: In 2013, the Assad regime had lost wide swaths of the country's population centers and was facing more battlefield losses; rebel fighters occupied suburban areas of Damascus, the country's capital. Military strikes could have triggered the fall of President Bashar Al-Assad's government. Since then, Russian forces have moved into the country to help prop up the government and armed forces. The regime has retaken major cities such as Aleppo, and the insurgent forces threatening Damascus seem depleted. As the risk of an American strike toppling the Assad regime has waned, it's been replaced with the chance of escalating conflict with Russia. Trump campaigned against involvement in the Syrian civil war, but he reportedly changed his mind after seeing footage from last week's attacks. There are also reports that Trump's strike was smaller than the multi-targeted one floated by Obama officials, which Kerry described at the time as a "pinprick." Sen. Claire McCaskill , a Missouri Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, praised Trump's strikes last week but wondered whether they fit into a coherent strategy. In 2013, she was still publicly deciding whether to back Obama's proposal to strike Syria; the deal with Russia came together before she announced how she would vote. , a Missouri Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, praised Trump's strikes last week but wondered whether they fit into a coherent strategy. In 2013, she was still publicly deciding whether to back Obama's proposal to strike Syria; the deal with Russia came together before she announced how she would vote. Sen. Roy Blunt , a Missouri Republican on the Intelligence Committee, said Trump's strikes were an appropriate response to the chemical attacks and sent a signal of resolve to America's allies and adversaries. In 2013, he opposed Obama's proposal because of the "unknown response it may provoke": I respect the Presidents responsibilities as Commander in Chief. In this case, the President has asked the Congress to support very specific tactics and strategies. He has asked Congress to endorse a shot across the bow and has said that Assad will stay in place while a political solution is sought, which stands in contrast to his statement more than two years ago that Assad must step aside. Im not convinced that the Presidents strategy lines up with the policy goals our country should have, or that the Administration currently has realistic policy goals in Syria." , a Missouri Republican on the Intelligence Committee, said Trump's strikes were an appropriate response to the chemical attacks and sent a signal of resolve to America's allies and adversaries. In 2013, he opposed Obama's proposal because of the "unknown response it may provoke": I respect the Presidents responsibilities as Commander in Chief. In this case, the President has asked the Congress to support very specific tactics and strategies. He has asked Congress to endorse a shot across the bow and has said that Assad will stay in place while a political solution is sought, which stands in contrast to his statement more than two years ago that Assad must step aside. Im not convinced that the Presidents strategy lines up with the policy goals our country should have, or that the Administration currently has realistic policy goals in Syria." Rep. Ann Wagner , R-Ballwin, supported Trump's strikes as a return to American leadership. In 2013, she said the classified briefings she recieved hadn't convinced her to sign onto Obama's proposal: "The president has no long-term plan, no exit strategy, and continues to project weakness both at home and abroad. This Administration still has no clear or achievable national security objectives. As a result, I simply cannot support military action in Syria, as it will only be a punitive strike that will cause more fomenting in the region. , R-Ballwin, supported Trump's strikes as a return to American leadership. In 2013, she said the classified briefings she recieved hadn't convinced her to sign onto Obama's proposal: "The president has no long-term plan, no exit strategy, and continues to project weakness both at home and abroad. This Administration still has no clear or achievable national security objectives. As a result, I simply cannot support military action in Syria, as it will only be a punitive strike that will cause more fomenting in the region. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer , R-St. Elizabeth, called Trump's strikes appropriate and proportional. In 2013, he said he opposed Obama's proposal because he didn't see America's security was threatened and he later told the Jefferson City Rotary Club that Russia's involvement complicated things: "Syrias not Afghanistan. Its not a third world country. These people have got very modern weapons. This is a Russian-backed country. You go in there without a plan to react to their reaction, youre asking for trouble. , R-St. Elizabeth, called Trump's strikes appropriate and proportional. In 2013, he said he opposed Obama's proposal because he didn't see America's security was threatened and he later told the Jefferson City Rotary Club that Russia's involvement complicated things: "Syrias not Afghanistan. Its not a third world country. These people have got very modern weapons. This is a Russian-backed country. You go in there without a plan to react to their reaction, youre asking for trouble. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said Trump's swift action sent a clear message that America would not tolerate Assad using chemical weapons. In 2013, he told the State Journal-Register that he was concerned about Obama's next steps: Before I had this classified briefing, I was leaning 'no' based upon the fact that I dont think that the administration has an effective plan of action, he said. After the classified briefing, I am still a no. By the numbers: More than 80 The number of people estimated to have died from last week's alleged chemical weapons attack. 1,400 Estimated death toll from the 2013 chemical attack in a Damascus suburb. 470,000 Total estimated deaths from Syria's six-year civil war. 1,300 Tons of chemical weapons removed from Syria under Obama's 2013 deal with Russia. On the web: They said it: President Obama, do not attack Syria. There is no upside and tremendous downside. Save your "powder" for another (and more important) day! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2013 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? The Justices of the British Supreme Court THE Supreme Court decision to reject a legal challenge to a ban on term-time holiday from school has been welcomed by Warwickshire County Council. The council has also revealed that it issued 504 fines in the 2015/16 academic year to parents for unauthorised absence, with 33 cases going to court. The court decision last Thursday brought an end to a two-year court battle by Jon Platt from the Isle of Wight who refused to pay a 60 fine for taking his daughter away out of class for a family holiday, arguing it removed parents rights. Monica Fogarty, joint managing director of Warwickshire County Council, said: The council is committed to supporting every child to achieve their full potential. "We know school attendance has a lasting effect on the life chances of children and we welcome the clarity brought by this judgement. Bamboodle in Union Street, Stratford closed its doors last July. TWO Stratford nightspots heavily criticised by the district council are to appeal against a decision to remove their licences. Back in February councillors opted to suspend the licence for Union Bar on Union Street for a month after an inspection by officers from the environmental health department. Just one week later Stratfords nightlife was dealt yet another blow when Bamboodle, also on Union Street saw its licence revoked. Both Bamboodle and Union Bar have remained open since the licencing decisions, as each business has a window in which to decide whether to launch an appeal. Union Bars appeal will be heard by magistrates on 13th June and a date has yet to be set for Bamboodles. Any temporary or permanent licence removal will only come into force once the results of an appeal have been decided. During their visit to Union Bar visit officers found a locked fire door and discovered that staff didnt know how many people were inside as they were not using clickers at the entrance. A noise limiter preventing music from disturbing nearby residents had also been set too high. last week the new general manager of the Union Bar, who took over in March, confirmed that the issues highlighted by council officers had now been addressed. Officers also paid a visit to Bamboodle in December after receiving complaints about amplified music and anti-social behaviour at the venue. During the visit it was estimated that there were around 100 people inside, 40 more than permitted, though there was no way of knowing because like at Union Bar, clickers were not in use. Officers concluded that there was a disregard for the safety of patrons at Bamboodle and little regard for the impact the bar had on those living nearby. The panel also heard that queuing outside both venues caused problems. More concerning in Bamboodles case was that officers found the premises was significantly different to the one they had granted a licence to in 2015 and was nothing like the plan they had originally been given. Vladimir Margjoka, who owns Bamboodle, said: Bamboodle has lodged an appeal with the Magistrates Court against Stratford-upon-Avon District Councils decision to revoke our licence and as such we can continue to trade under that licence until the outcome of the appeal is determined. In the coming weeks and months we will be looking to find ways of resolving this matter with all other parties. We certainly take our responsibilities to our neighbours seriously. In the meantime, regular customers can rest assured that Bamboodle remains open for business. Speaking about their decisions to appeal, Cllr Tony Jefferson, said: It is unfortunate that both Union Bar and Bamboodle have chosen to appeal the decisions. It is a serious flaw in the licensing regulations that they can continue trading whilst the appeal process drags on. This means that it will be at least six months from the start of the process to resolution. It cannot be acceptable that residents have to put up with noise and anti-social behaviour for this length of time. Even more significant is the safety risk posed by the serious level of overcrowding as reported in the licensing panel hearings. This has the potential to be dangerous. I have raised the issue with our MP. Socionext Develops Small, Low Power 4K/60p HEVC Codec New SC2M50 Designed for a Wide Range of High Image Quality Data Processing Needs for Professional Audio and Video Applications SUNNYVALE, Calif.( ) Socionext Inc., an emerging leader in advanced SoC based video and imaging solutions, today introduced the SC2M50, a new HEVC / H.265 Codec IC. Sample shipments will start in May 2017. Socionext will demonstrate the SC2M50 at the NAB show in Las Vegas, April 24-27, at booth SU13712 in the South Hall's upper level. Click here for an image of the SC2M50 Socionext delivered the world's first 4K/60p HEVC real-time video encoder, the MB86M31 and the HEVC / H.264 / MPEG Multi-format codec MB86M30, for high-end video transmission equipment. Built on the engineering expertise gained from these new products, Socionext has successfully implemented a high-image quality HEVC codec functionality into a small 25mm x 25mm package. The low power device consumes only 3.5W, which allows the IC to be utilized in battery-operated equipment. The SC2M50 supports 4K/60p video and 4:2:2 format, 10-bit input / output, which has excellent color reproducibility, making it suitable to cover a wide range of needs for professional video equipment, including portable devices. Samples come in May, with volume shipping in October 2017. Socionext's partners are developing codec devices equipped with the SC2M50. At the NAB show in Las Vegas April 24-27, Socionext will have demonstrations of 4K video encoding and decoding using the latest codec devices. NAB Show: http://www.nabshow.com Click here for the SC2M50 Block Diagram Main specifications of SC2M50 include the following: Video encoding HEVC Main, Main10, Format Range Extensions (4:2:2 / 4:2:0, 8/10bit, up to 4K 60p) Video decoding HEVC Main, Main10, Format Range Extensions (4:2:2 / 4:2:0, 8/10bit, up to 4K 60p) Stream input / output TS input x 1 TS output x 1 Video input / output 20bit Parallel I/F input x 4, output x 4 YUV 4:2:2 10bit up to 4K 60p SMPTE-435(Square Division), SMPTE ST2036-3 (2-Sample Interleave Division), SMPTE 424M (3G-SDI), SMPTE 274M, SMPTE 292M (HD-SDI), SMPTE 259M-C (SD-SDI) Audio input / output I2S x 2 Peripheral interface PCI express Gen 2.0 (4 lanes, Max payload size 512 byte) USB 2.0 Device x 1 UART x 4 I2C x 3 SPI x 2 GPIO x 64 Memory interface Serial flash interface HSSPI x 1 LPDDR4 2400Mbps 16bits x 6 (maximum) Image processing Video overlay (option) Technology 28nm Process / 1,361 pin FCBGA 25mm x 25mm Power Consumption 3.5W (Typical) About Socionext Inc. Socionext is a new, innovative enterprise that designs, develops and delivers System-on-Chip products to customers worldwide. The company is focused on imaging, networking, computing and other dynamic technologies that drive today's leading-edge applications. Socionext combines world-class expertise, experience, and an extensive IP portfolio to provide exceptional solutions and ensure a better quality of experience for customers. Founded in 2015, Socionext Inc. is headquartered in Yokohama, and has offices in Japan, Asia, United States and Europe to lead its product development and sales activities. For more information, visit socionextus.com. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto expressed reservations over sentencing Indian spy Kalbhoshan Yadav, saying that PPP is against execution on principles, as his grandfather lost his life likewise. Talking to media at the residence of Former Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood in Lahore, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that presence of Kalbhoshan Yadav in Pakistan is an open evidence of Indian enmity; hence PPP has reservations over matter of his execution. Bilawal Bhutto said that government is confused, adding that when PML-N cannot tolerate small rallies staged by PPP, then how can it tolerate bigger party programs. PPP Chairman condemned recent Indian aggression in Occupied Kashmir and strongly criticized foreign policy of government. Chairman PPP said that there are failed attempts to suppress Panama case, while the whole nation eyes at Supreme Court. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Deputy mayor Kelvin Clouts invitation to a bombing session immediately following the official opening of the new waterfront pier this morning didnt have any takers. He tried to rope in a few fellow councillors following the early morning karakia, but it was raining and there was shelter, breakfast, and a video laid on at the art gallery. Eight thirty, then, says Kelvin. About 30-40 people including Mayor Greg Brownless, CEO Garry Poole, councillors, staff, contractors and design representatives braved morning showers to attend the blessing ceremony led by Ngaitamarawaho kaumatua Tamati Tata. It marks some of the first concrete steps in a waterfront beautification programme that has kicked back into gear in recent years with the walkway and now the stairs, pier and pontoon. Now the stairs are open the line of containers and safety fences which have blocked the view of the project are in the process of being removed. It was amazing how many people were peering through and wanted to get a glimpse of what was happening here and I think everyone will be really excited to see it come to fruition, says Kelvin. One of the objectives of this of course, is to create some vibrancy in the CBD, and I believe that will happen in lots of ways that we may not even realise now as to how this whole area may be used. Im looking forward to seeing how community embraces this development. It will also be fantastic for tourists coming to visit our CBD and of course the many workers that are here during the day Im sure when its a fine day they will all come and dip their toes in the water along with their lunch. He thanked the planners, designers, contractors and council staff involved. Councillors approved the project at a council meeting on December 15, 2015, following feedback from the community, iwi and water users on the proposed concept. The project including tidal stairs, Masonic pier and pontoon, ranges between $2.6 million and $3.2 million. These costs will be refined now the detailed design is completed. Councils Long Term Plan 2015-2025 allocated $8 million, to be spent in the first five years, for city centre and waterfront development to improve the streetscape, waterfront and open spaces in the heart of the city. The access to water project has been developed in parallel with the Tauranga City Centre Spatial Framework a visual representation of what we want our public spaces and streets, and waterfront to be. A big part of this is the reconnection with water and access to the water. To learn more about the Access to Water project, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz Up to 40 people braved the rain to attend the official opening of ceremony of the new waterfront pier this morning. Photos: Andrew Campbell. Ngai Tamarawaho kaumatua Tamati Tata led this mornings blessing. ART REFLECTS TAURANGAS MARINE HISTORY AND CONNECTIONS Etched into the stairs is a karakia and story about Tauranga and it is possible to see different parts of this depending on the tide level. Artist Elliot Collins worked closely with Ngai Tamarawaho in the development of the artwork and use of the karakia. The karakia and poetry have been painted in colours reflecting the surrounding environment. The beautiful Karakia o Mauao etched into the tidal steps, which was approved for use by local tangata whenua, tells of how the mountain arrived at its present home at the waters edge and how the features of the land and harbour were formed on its journey. There is also a poem written alongside the karakia, written by Elliot Collins in English, which tells a different story of the feeling and experiences you have on the waterfront now. My artwork draws on Taurangas Maori and Pakeha history, blended with contemporary concepts, it will act as an aspirational symbol for the future of the city. The karakia for the city will be a wish or desire of hope for the future, says Elliot. Artistic lighting will be installed along the pier, designed by Marcus McShane, which adds another dimension to this whole area. People can now wander along the new pier and enjoy the fantastic view across the water, but remember Surf Lifesaving New Zealands water safety messages check the water conditions first if you want to go swimming or jump off the bombing platform. Please also keep children away from the car parking area and watch out for trains. The government has classified the flooding in the Bay of Plenty caused by ex-Cyclone Debbie as a medium-scale adverse event. Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the classification makes extra recovery assistance measures available, including recovery coordination, increased support through Enhanced Task Force Green teams and Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust, as well as tax flexibility. The supervised Enhanced Task Force Green teams will be critical to help farmers and individual households with the clean-up. Extra financial assistance is available in the form of civil defence payments and over 500 applications have been received so far. Most requests are for personal items like clothing, bedding and food. While in extreme events, Rural Assistance Payments can be made available to help with rural families essential living costs, adds Anne. The Social Development Minister along with Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy are in the Bay of Plenty meeting with primary industry businesses today. Guy says while the region is still in response mode, it is clear all primary sectors in the area have been impacted to some extent, with major damage to farm land and infrastructure due to flooding, debris and slips. Farmers and growers in the Bay of Plenty are used to managing through large rainfall events and have experienced flooding before, but this is extreme and its effects are still becoming apparent. The Whakatane District has significant flooding on the Rangitaiki Plains. There are slips and localised flooding in southern areas of the district, and slips and large areas of silt damage in Taneatua, Galatea, Murapara and Minginui. Road closures and cordons across the district also add to challenges for farmers as they have evacuated around 3500 stock, while its also crunch time for growers as kiwifruit orchards in the region are at the point of harvest, adds Guy. He says the Fonterras Edgecumbe plant is inside the cordon and currently closed, with milk being diverted to Te Rapa. Some farmers are also drying off their stock early, or moving stock to unaffected properties to continue milking. The Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust has been working alongside Federated Farmers and Urban Search and Rescue to prioritise people to be visited, and contacting those in the rural communities to identify immediate need. MPI is also working with the SPCA, Fire Service, and vets from Massey to locate and house abandoned pets, and to identify and manage pets that have died. So far more than 230 pets have been successfully reunited with their owners which is thanks to the fantastic work of these local rescue teams. The Bay of Plenty DHB issued a Boil Water Notice for the Taneatua, Ruatoki and Rangitaiki Plains areas on Saturday. It is essential dairy farmers also use boiled water for plant and silo cleaning, activate their risk management procedures and talk to their dairy company about their processes under boil water notices. WHO TO CONTACT FOR HELP: The Government Helpline (0800 779 997) is operating from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Local Rural Support Trusts are providing support where its needed on 0800 RURAL HELP. People worried about lost pets should contact the Whakatane Emergency Operations Centre on 0800 306 0500. The Crown is breaching its Treaty of Waitangi obligations by failing to prioritise the reduction of the high rate of Maori reoffending, the Waitangi Tribunal announced today. The undisputed disparity between Maori and non-Maori reoffending rates is longstanding and substantial, says the tribunal in a statement. High Maori reoffending rates contribute to the disproportionate imprisonment of Maori, who currently make up half of New Zealands prisoners in spite of being only 15 per cent of the national population. The report released today, Tu Mai te Rangi! looks at how the Crown, through the Department of Corrections, is failing to meet its Treaty responsibilities to reduce Maori reoffending rates. While the Justice sector announced in February 2017 a broad target to reduce Maori reoffending, the Department has no specific plan or strategy to reduce Maori reoffending rates, no specific target to reduce Maori reoffending rates, and no specific budget to meet this end. The Tribunal therefore concludes the Crown is not prioritising the reduction of the rate of Maori reoffending and is in breach of its Treaty obligations to protect Maori interests and to treat Maori equitably. The Tribunal says for the Crown to be acting consistently with its Treaty obligations in this context, it must be giving urgent priority to addressing disproportionate Maori reoffending rates in clear and convincing ways. The inquiry follows a claim filed by Tom Hemopo, a retired senior probation officer. The Tribunal, consisting of Judge Patrick Savage, Bill Wilson QC, Tania Simpson, and Professor Derek Lardelli, heard the claim under urgency in Wellington in July 2016. The Tribunal looked at recent efforts by the Department to reduce the overall rate of reoffending by 25 per cent. It says the most recent statistics supplied by the Crown show Maori progress toward this target has slowed dramatically, while the gap between Maori and non-Maori progress toward the target has widened. The Waitangi Tribunal finds the Crown in breach of its Treaty obligations by failing to prioritise the reduction of the high rate of Maori reoffending relative to non-Maori. But it finds the Crown has not breached its partnership obligations, given that the Department of Corrections is making good faith attempts to engage with iwi and hapu. However, the Tribunal says the Crown must live up to its stated commitment to develop its partnerships with Maori. Among the Tribunals recommendations is that the Department work with its Maori partners to design and implement a new Maori-specific strategic framework, set and commit to a Maori-specific target for the Department to reduce Maori reoffending rates, and regularly and publically report on the progress made towards this. The Tribunal also recommends the Crown include a dedicated budget to appropriately resource the new strategic focus and target. Farmers across the North Island with surplus feed are being asked to donate it to aid flooded farmers around Edgecumbe. Hay Man Limited co-owner Jason Hill is behind the drive, and is providing logistical support at no cost. He says theyve had a number of farmers come on board already, with about 15 truck and trailer loads of feed donated so far. But thats just a drop in the ocean of what the farmers are going to need around Edgecumbe. It will be ongoing, with so many farms still under water or silt, says Jason. Were also looking for any trucking companies that can contribute towards the cartage side of things. He says Federated Farmers are providing a list of farmers who need the feed, and rating them by who is most in need. Hay Man will then deliver the feed to farmers in the district. We just need more people to donate, and for farmers to put their hands up if they need it. Farmers can sometimes be bad at putting their hand up and saying they need help, so its important they do speak up. Hay Mans storage sheds filled with hay and straw were badly affected in the recent floods, but that hasnt stopped them doing what they can to help. Weve coordinated drought relief in the past, and now unfortunately its Edgecumbes turn for flood relief. If you can help out in any way, either by supplying feed or transport, contact Jason on 0274585295. Whats the name of the Wimpy Kids spoiled little brother? Where in Greece did the gods reside? What was the name of Bilbos home? These are just a sample of the questions the regions expert readers can expect to be asked at the Bay of Plenty Kids Lit Quiz heat taking place at Tauranga Intermediate School on Wednesday. More than 80 students from 10 schools will compete for one place in the national final in Wellington on May 28, where one team will book their spot in the World Final taking place in Canada this June. Founded in New Zealand 27 years ago by quizmaster and former University of Auckland Faculty of Education senior lecturer Wayne Mills, the KLQ is an annual international literature quiz for students aged 10-13 years which aims to encouraging children to read more and widely. The quiz is now held in 11 counties including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and USA. This year More than 2000 New Zealand students in teams of four will compete in 15 heats held across the country. Wayne says the event is unique in the English-speaking world, and the Bay heat is an opportunity for avid readers in the region to receive recognition. I call it the sport of reading, as it has a competitive edge and provides voracious readers with a chance to shine. The quiz is continuing to grow in New Zealand and worldwide, proving demand for a literary event that challenges and motivates readers to expand their knowledge of authors and genres. There are no prescribed reading lists or authors competitors must simply read as widely as they can, anticipating which books will be topics for questions. If organisers gave them a book list, it would be a test in disguise, says Wayne. Were increasing the reading mileage of these kids. They cant just read Harry Potter; they need to read everything from the classics, to the latest medal-winning books, to nursery rhymes. The books are all well-known and many have won national book awards. This competition recognises and rewards wide reading of all the wonderful, brilliant books that are out there. Thats what makes the Kids Lit Quiz so successful. Wayne was inspired to start the event after observing a lack of recognition for accomplished readers. The event is now a highlight on the calendar for many children, who enjoy the competition and camaraderie it provides. It brings together like-minded kids from all over New Zealand and all over the world, and gives them a life-changing experience. Teachers interested in entering a team in next years competition can find out more at kidslitquiz.com The Kids Lit Quiz Bay of Plenty heat, takes place at Tauranga Intermediate School on Wednesday, April 12, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Building apprentice Luke Dickinson can add another notch to his tool belt following a convincing win at the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Apprentice Challenge at ITM Mount on Saturday. Four apprentices from across the region donned their tool belts and safety gear for the annual test, which involved building an outdoor table and bench seating. The 20-year-old competed against other local apprentices under a fixed timeframe, and the final product was judged on his workmanship, skill and time management. The outdoor table and bench seating was one of the trickiest challenges yet, as it tested each apprentices attention to detail, with carpentry joints involved in its design not typically included in an outdoor furniture set from a retailer. NZCB Chief Executive Grant Florence notes the impressive calibre of skills on show. Fostering more quality apprentices is critical for the future of New Zealands growing building industry, especially in context of our present construction boom and current shortage of qualified builders to meet demand, and is certainly a responsibility NZCB takes seriously, says Grant. Its great to see Bay of Plentys local apprentices taking up the opportunity to participate in the NZCB Apprentice Challenge, and NZCB is pleased to give back to the community by way of donating the finished products, with materials sponsor ITM. Luke won a Makita Drill and Driver combination kit and a $300 ITM gift voucher, and will represent Bay of Plenty in the NZCB Apprentice Challenge Final to be held at the NZCB Annual Conference in Auckland on May 26-27. The NZCB Apprentice Challenge in Bay of Plenty was one of 14 events being held simultaneously across New Zealand on April 8. It is run by NZCB and its Industry Training Association Building (ITAB), in conjunction with ITM. More comprehensive than other apprentice training schemes, ITAB provides over four years of extensive practical experience and solid theoretical training, setting apprentices up for a successful career in the building industry with a broad set of professional skills. But German interiors and ceramics company Villeroy & Boch has taken bathroom opulence to a whole new level with the creation of a bath studded with Swarovski crystals. Along with the Squaro Presige Bath, the company has also created a washbasin similarly awash with Swarovski trinkets. Designed by Steve Leung, the Crystals Editions has been inspired by Shan Shui, a traditional form of Chinese landscape painting featuring mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Each of the Octagon and Squaro Crystals Editions includes a leather clad bath and a basin that is supported by a pedestal which is further emblazoned with over 6000 crystals of 5, 10 and 15 mm sizes. Each of the hand-finished Xirius Rose crystals are individually applied to the object dart bath tub and the octagonal basin. Both the bath tub and basin are freestanding pieces though wed recommend sitting down when hearing the price, which has not yet been announced. Swarovski was founded in Austria in 1895. Last month the company announced an on-going collaboration with German fashion brand Karl Lagerfeld, with two collections promised each year. Graded as the largest polished diamond ever by the Gemological Institute of America, the jewel was sold to Henry Cheng Kar-Shum, Chairman of Hong Kong jewellery company Chow Tai Fook. This isnt the first time the exotic diamond has been put on sale. Back in 2013, it was sold for $83 million at an auction in Geneva, but the buyer, New York-based diamond cutter Isaac Wolf, eventually defaulted on the deal. After its first failed sale, Sothebys decided to auction the stunning rock in Hong Kong, leading to it now officially being the most expensive rock to be sold in its category, surpassing the previous world auction record for a pink diamond $46.16 million for the 24.78 carat Graff Pink, sold at Sothebys in Geneva in 2010). The diamond has been renamed as the CTF Pink star in memory of companys eponymous founder, Chow Tai Fook, by it new owner. According to Sothebys, the mixed-cut diamond was initially mined by De Beers in 1999 in Botswana as a 132.5 carat rough diamond before being cut and polished. New EU security controls were implemented at Schengen borders with effect from Friday 7 April and as a result it is possible that there will be delays for pedestrians and motorists entering and leaving Gibraltar. In fact, there were queues of over two hours to leave the Rock and cross into Spain from Wednesday afternoon until late that night, despite the fact that the new controls had not yet officially been implemented. No explanation has been given for the delays, which brought traffic on the Rock to a standstill. As the UK is not part of the Schengen Agreement, Gibraltar does not have to introduce any further controls but Spain is obliged to do so. This means that from today onwards Spanish officials will have to check all identity documents against national and EU data bases. Although the checks take very little time to carry out, the sheer numbers of people who cross the border between Spain and Gibraltar each day is raising fears of long delays for pedestrians and motorists, although the Spanish authorities have said they will assign extra personnel to the border to prevent this. Editors note: This is the fourth of several articles describing the variety of treatment options available for alcohol and drug addicts. Several faith-based programs in the area offer help for those suffering from addiction. Some of the larger recovery programs include Chilhowie Baptist Churchs Reformers Unanimous, Highlands Fellowships Celebrate Recovery and Wytheville First Church of Gods Celebrate Recovery. Reformers Unanimous Chilhowie Baptist Church Reformers Unanimous (RU) at Chilhowie Baptist Church began in 1996 with Steve Curington, who had a burden to help some of his friends in the area who had drug and alcohol addictions. Starting with just a handful of people, his custom was to spend most of the class time preaching to them. He saw some results with this method, but something happened one night that changed his perspective. He went down to the area rescue mission to invite some men to attend the class. One man said to another after being invited, What is RU? To this the man responded, Oh, thats where people go to this class where this short redheaded guy screams at you for two hours. That weekend Steve Curington went to a resort with his wife. While at that resort, those words began to echo in his heart and mind. He walked out into a ravine where he saw many trees, some fallen, some leaning and others standing. As he pondered the program that God was developing in his heart, he asked this question, If the trees could talk, what would they say? From this time alone, he realized he needed to let them talk out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, and by letting others talk we are able to see more clearly what they are facing and their perspective, explained Jaime Bradley, director of Reformers Unanimous, including the programs in Rockford, Illinois, and Walkertown, North Carolina. From Curingtons revelation, the program adopted the currently-used class format, broken into three segments called Talk, Talk, Talk. The first talk session is used to start the class. The facilitator encourages participants to write down their prayer requests on prayer cards and turn them in. A time of testimony follows and provides an opportunity to express the victories God is giving while encouraging one another and rejoicing in what God is doing in their lives, Bradley said, adding that it also is a key opportunity for leaders to listen and learn the spiritual temperature of their students. During the second talk segment, participants break up into small groups, men with men and ladies with ladies. Here in these groups they find accountability and the chance to bear one anothers burdens. We encourage them to be transparent and share struggles from their lives. To offer biblical solutions, the leader of these groups is trained to not only offer biblical answers, but to encourage others in the group to offer support. They are encouraged to get involved in a solid biblical recovery curriculum in these groups as well. Its exciting to watch the philosophies and burdens of students begin to change as they interact and look to the Bible for answers to their struggles, Bradley said. The third talk segment includes a message from the Bible that is relevant to finding victory in Christ over sin issues the students are facing. The director of the program teaches from our ministries textbook, called Nevertheless I Live. Each week we see people challenged from Gods word and souls saved as they respond during preaching time, Bradley added. Following the class, a fellowship time allows leaders and students to interact with each other. One of the keys in finding victory is eliminating old friends and acquiring new ones, Bradley said. The most successful programs that God has used to change the most lives have followed the formula known as Talk, Talk, Talk. We believe the key to victory is first of all to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. We must help them develop this relationship by talking to God and allowing God to talk to them. Jesus said in John 8:32, And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. The second key to maintaining victory in Christ is for them to develop a relationship with others around them. We do not know of a better place for them to discover these two relationships than the local New Testament church, Bradley added. Reformers Unanimous meets every Friday at 7 p.m. at Chilhowie Baptist Church, 625 East Lee Highway in Chilhowie. These programs are outpatient; however, RU offers a residential mens and womens home in Rockford, Illinois, for inpatient treatment. RU teaches the principles of how true freedom can come from all types of addiction, including drugs, prescription abuse, alcoholism, gluttony, codependency and more, Bradley said. RU does not charge for outpatient programs, but students are asked to pay for their books. The first book is free; however, after completing the first phase, students are required to purchase the next book to continue. The cost of books is approximately $15 for a six-month curriculum. There are well over 25 million addicts in America. Every addict significantly impacts the lives of at least four people, which means that well over 100 million people in our society are impacted by the devastating results of addiction and are in search of hope and healing. At some point, the addicted will look instinctively for answers. We are ready to provide help to the addicted and their families. You are not alone. We would like to help you find the truth and for you to allow that truth to set you free, Bradley said. RU is built around helping the family, Bradley said, and offers nursery care, childrens programs and local transportation. RU has been meeting locally for over five years. In addition to the Friday night program, a second program, RU Plus, builds accountability by working closely with probation officers, the courts and employers and keeping track of the students progress, weekly structure plan, work, whether the participant is currently holding a job or seeking employment and community services, Bradley explained. RU Inside is a program held in conjunction with the Southwest Regional Jail Authority that is available to inmates. Bradley said two classes are held weekly at the jail and allow for inmates to start a recovery process and, when released, to have a continued support group established. For more information on RU, call 276-646-3011 or visit the website at http://rurecovery.com. Celebrate Recovery Highlands Fellowship Rock bottom is a great place to start a foundation, said Johnny Greene, director of Celebrate Recovery at Highlands Fellowship and Celebrate Recovery state representative for Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Celebrate Recovery at Highlands Fellowship is a 52-week-per-year program that meets at 134 Commerce Court in Bristol, Virginia. Greene said the group includes people from Smyth County. A large-group session is held every other week and alternates a recovery teaching and a testimony time. Following the large-group session, three ladies small groups meet. Those groups include Life Hurts, a group that deals with, but is not limited to grief, depression, guilt, abuse, anxiety and codependency. The addiction group deals with, but is not limited to drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, relationships and acceptance. The third group, A-Z, is an open share where there is freedom to share anything recovery-related. According to Greene, the mens small groups include A-Z and addiction, which are similar to the womens small groups with the same titles. Mens and womens 12-steps programs are also available and generally continue for 10 to 12 months. Celebrate Recovery groups can assist family members with understanding what is going on in their family members life and assist in building relationships. The program treats all addictions and includes a meal on Tuesday nights. Participants are encouraged to donate $1 per meal, but the fee is not mandatory. Materials for the 12-step classes are $20, payable in cash. Greenes advice to those considering participation in Celebrate Recovery is to never give up. You are never too far gone. Rock bottom is a great place to start a foundation. Allow Celebrate Recovery to show you a great cornerstone to start rebuilding your life. For more information on Celebrate Recovery at Highlands Fellowship, call 276-669-7400 or email jgreene@highlandsfellowship.com. Celebrate Recovery Wytheville First Church of God In the Wytheville area, Celebrate Recovery is held at the Wytheville First Church of God at 1135 Cove Road on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. Those who wish to participate in a dinner from 5:30-6:30 p.m. may do so. Donations are accepted to help cover the cost of the meal. A nursery is provided. Celebrate Recovery is an international, Christ-centered, 12-step-based recovery program for hurts, habits and hang-ups. It is used for everything from drug and alcohol addiction to depression, control, food, co-dependency, you name it because we deal with the underlying pain and trauma that drive unhealthy behaviors, said the Rev. Donn Sunshine, senior pastor. In addition to the program for adults, the church also offers The Landing for teens and Celebration Place for children. Both of these programs have curriculum designed for those age groups. Sunshine said the programs meet weekly with an open share time, mens and womens groups and steps studies accompanied by sponsors and accountability partners for both leader and peer support. Although it is a Christ-centered program, one is not required to be a Christian to participate, he added. Our program is entirely outpatient. We meet with men and women together for about 45 during which we have worship, review steps, lesson or testimony, open share and award chips. After that there is about 45 minutes of a mens and womens open share groups/step studies. There is also a Bible study for those wishing to participate. We encourage people to have a couple of accountability partners for peer support and a sponsor to help lead them. They often meet or talk with these people as they have need, Sunshine said. Celebrate Recovery addresses all addictions and deals with the issues behind the behavior. It is designed for everyone and especially for the families of those involved since addiction is a disease that affects the whole family, he added. Recovery is possible for everyone. Group support, regardless of your role in addiction, is a must. Sharing with others, breaking the power of the secret and learning are just a few of the things you will receive to help you. Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to recover. What happens here stays here, he said. All leaders have completed the Celebrate Recovery program, with a combined total of almost 50 years of experience in recovery among those working with the program. Sunshine has also had counseling training as a part of both his undergraduate and seminary degrees. For additional information on Celebrate Recovery at the Wytheville First Church of God, call Sunshine at 276-620-0565 or email him at pstdonnsun@embarqmail.com. Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous meets Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. at Royal Oak Presbyterian Church in Marion. Meetings are held in the basement so those attending should use the rear entrance. Meetings are held at no charge and are confidential and open to anyone wishing to attend, including alcoholics, friends, family, counselors, ministers, students, interns, doctors, law enforcement officers, human resources personnel, emergency first-responders and others who encounter or work with alcoholics or want to learn about the disease. Call toll free 877-NRV-AAVA to find AA meetings anywhere in the New River Valley District or go online to www.aa.org. Narcotics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous Marion survivors group meets on Sundays at 8 p.m. at Royal Oak Presbyterian Church in Marion. Meetings are held in the basement so those attending should use the rear entrance. For more information, call Mike F. at 276-646-8462. Al-Anon Al-Anon meetings for the family and friends of alcoholics are held on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church in Abingdon. For more information call 276-646-3093. SENNETT, N.Y. -- After more than nine hours of battling a lumber fire Monday, volunteer firefighters from Cayuga and Onondaga counties had finally extinguished the blaze at 11:30 p.m., Cayuga County 911 said. Someone called the 911 center at 2:11 p.m. to report a large pile of logs on fire off Grant Avenue and County House roads in the town of Sennett. The fire was contained to the logs, which sat about 100 yards from a railroad track, a 911 dispatcher said. Onondaga County Air 1, state Department of Environmental Conservation officers, Cayuga County sheriff's and county highway employees, and TLC, Four Town and American Medical Response ambulances responded. Multiple fire departments also responded or stood by, including: Sennett, Jordan, Elbridge, Skaneateles, Scipio, Sempronius, Conquest, Throop, Port Byron, Weedsport, Mottville, Aurelius, Seneca Falls, West Niles, Montezuma, Cayuga, New Hope, Union Springs, Locke, Cato, Fleming and Moravia. Homer fire department also stood by in Cortland County. Grant Avenue Road was closed during the fire. Sennett Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Holmes told The Citizen newspaper that between 200 to 300 logs were on fire, and that "it was difficult to get fire vehicles into the area where the fire was." There were several calls requesting "all available manpower" on the emergency radio system, the Citizen reported. Firefighters focused on fighting "hot spots" until the fire was reported out at 11:30 p.m. Firefighters were cleaning up and preparing to leave the scene shortly before midnight. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Check back for updates. Multiple fire departments battle large fire in Sennett. (Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen) Photos: https://t.co/F7NUHwJZGp pic.twitter.com/OlFZoHzsZd Kevin Rivoli (@KevinRivoli) April 10, 2017 Pretty big lumber fire on Grant Ave and County House Road in Sennett @The_Citizen pic.twitter.com/oPRwlVSkP1 Megan Blarr (@CitizenBlarr) April 10, 2017 Firefighters battle outdoor blaze in Sennett. Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen pic.twitter.com/Jp4bWuCL9l Kevin Rivoli (@KevinRivoli) April 10, 2017 Grant Ave to be shut down in both directions -- traffic being redirected to Chestnut Ridge and County House Roads @The_Citizen pic.twitter.com/kAA8SGG4sh Megan Blarr (@CitizenBlarr) April 10, 2017 HudsonStShooting04102017.jpg A car drives by moments after Syracuse police officers escorted a man in handcuffs to their "prisoner transport" van in the 100 block of Hudson Street after a shooting Monday, April 10, 2017. (Catie O'Toole) SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A 21-year-old woman was shot Monday night during a large gathering in the 100 block of Hudson Street in Syracuse, city police Sgt. Richard Helterline said. American Medical Response took the woman, who was shot in the lower back area, to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. Her injury is not life-threatening, police said. Syracuse police officers responded to the shooting at 7:52 p.m. Officers also received "additional reports of large fights and shots fired in the area, as well," Helterline said in a news release. Syracuse's Trauma Response Team and city police parked on South Avenue after a shooting a block away Monday night in the 100 block of Hudson Street. First responders were seen on Hudson Street and surrounding streets for more than an hour after a woman was shot in the lower back area. Lee Glover, of Syracuse's Trauma Response Team, said he saw a crowd of people running away from the shooting scene on Hudson Street. Ed Mitchell, another Trauma Response Team first responder, said he also saw "a lot of kids running" from where a crowd had gathered for a cookout to celebrate someone's birthday. The birthday celebration began around 4 p.m., nearly four hours before the shooting, he said. "As soon as I pulled up on Bellevue (Avenue) and Rich (Street), all the people were running away from Hudson," Glover said. "They said somebody got shot. There was a crowd of people running." Syracuse police also said they saw a large crowd of people in the area. In the midst of the crowd, they found the 21-year-old woman suffering from a gunshot wound to her lower back area, Helterline said. At 9:20 p.m., officers handcuffed a man and escorted him to the Syracuse Police Department's "prisoner transport" van sitting in the 100 block of Hudson Street. Police did not say why they arrested that man. "At this time, the investigation is ongoing, but there is no suspect information available," Helterline said in the news release following the shooting. Syracuse police ask anyone with information to call their Criminal Investigations Division at (315) 442-5222. Geddes, N.Y. -- There's a dragon that's 200 feet long that seems to rise out of a pond more than 20 feet in the air. Its tongue of fire swishes in the wind. There are graceful giraffes and whimsical pandas, all made of silk stretched over wire, then lit from the inside. And there are dragons made completely from tiny glass bottles of colored water, wired together. When lit from the inside, the colors glow brighter than neon or light bulbs. The hundreds of Chinese lanterns, from prides of tigers to groves of peach trees, will be at the state Fairgrounds from Friday through June 24, every day except Mondays. The New York State Chinese Lantern Festival will offer both an opportunity to see a magical light show and to take in Chinese performers. And the path offers a great chance to get your steps in: the route is a mile and a half. While it's at the fairgrounds, there's not all that walking that comes with the state fair. The festival is at gate 6, and parking is right by the festival grounds. The festival is sponsored and produced by Advance Media New York, the parent company of Syracuse.com. The lanterns are from Tianyu Arts in Zigong, China. The majority of the artists come from Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province. The region is known for its spicy food and giant pandas. Lantern making is a family tradition. Lanterns were first used in China thousands of years ago, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, to celebrate Buddha's ability to bring light in times and places of darkness. Later, the lanterns were used to celebrate spring. Tianyu Arts brings 30 craftspeople with the lanterns. It took the crew a month, and the help of a massive crane, to assemble the Syracuse show. The lantern festival in Syracuse with feature two nightly performances (6:30 and 8:30) of Chinese acrobats, face changers and plate spinners. There also will be clowns making balloon animals and Chinese artisans making authentic crafts. Food and drinks will be available along the path for purchase. The festival opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. It stays open until 10 p.m. during the week, and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $12 for children 5 to 16. (under 5 are free, over 16 are $15). Parish, N.Y. -- On Monday morning first-grader David Holst let his teacher have it. He hauled back and socked Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Elementary School teacher Dan Bryant in the face with a cream pie. It was part of his reward from the school for his hard work in raising $3,000 for the Greater Syracuse chapter of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Holst earned the right to throw a cream pie at the physical education teacher. Monday morning found Holst giggling next to Bryant, who was seated and covered by a clear plastic poncho in front of gym full of students. Then boom! Holst let the teacher have it with a cream pie, to the delight of his schoolmates. Holst was the biggest fundraiser for the school and for Central New York in the Jump Rope for Heart event. The program based around skipping rope teaches children how to be fit and healthy, while raising funds for heart disease research and education. Holst was born with a congenital heart defect and had surgery to repair the problem, according to the heart/stroke group. His mother, Natalie Holst, said her son sees a cardiologist every six months. He will eventually grow out of the repair and will need another round of surgery, she said. While many people know of her son's story, Natalie Holst said she was still surprised at the outpouring of donations he received. Because of the amount of money he raised, Holst was eligible for thank you gifts from the Jump Rope for Heart program. He donated those gifts to kids in the hospital. "I wanted to raise money because I had heart surgery and I wanted to give them toys because you don't get toys in the hospital," he said. Being the largest fundraiser isn't a one time event for Holst. After he pied his teacher, he told Bryant "I'm gonna throw the pie in your face [again] next year." Jump Rope For Heart has raised more than $818 million over 37 years to fight heart disease and stroke. Millions of students have jumped rope and learned about heart health and how nutrition and physical activity can help prevent heart disease and stroke. Jump Rope For Heart is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Contact Charley Hannagan anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2161. Blog_2016-01-26-mjg-Consensus2.JPG Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney speaks during a January 2016 news conference to discuss the government consolidation plan put forward by the Consensus commission. Mahoney will create a municipal shared services panel this year, but the panel is unlikely to follow Mahoney's lead and support metropolitan government. (Michael Greenlar) SYRACUSE, N.Y. - As public officials continue to debate the merits of metropolitan government in Onondaga County, one thing is becoming clear: It is extremely unlikely the proposal will make it to a public referendum this November as supporters had intended. The best hope for a 2017 referendum died over the weekend during state budget negotiations, when state legislators watered down a proposal from Gov. Andrew Cuomo requiring municipalities to share services. The governor's original proposal authorized county leaders to put a shared services plan to a public vote without waiting for a signoff from other municipalities. But the legislation passed only after a provision was added allowing local municipal representatives to veto any proposals involving their own communities. The local "shared services panel'' required by the new law, which must include representatives from each town, village and city, is unlikely to approve the Consensus commission proposal to create a new government to run Syracuse and Onondaga County. The idea has met stiff opposition from city leaders, including Mayor Stephanie Miner, and from some suburban officials. The Consensus commission, a 19-member volunteer group created by the city, county and several community organizations, recommended creating a metro government in February after studying local government modernization for three years. Metro government was the most ambitious among the group's 50 recommendations for shared services and consolidation. Miner immediately rejected the idea, saying it would disenfranchise city voters and saddle them with debt. County Legislature Chairman Ryan McMahon said the legislature would not consider putting the proposal on a referendum this year. Legislator Kevin Holmquist, appointed by McMahon to lead a committee on municipal consolidation, said there is "no support'' in the community for metro government. County Executive Joanie Mahoney, a vocal proponent of metro government, said she expects to face plenty of opposition to the Consensus plan when she convenes a shared services panel this year. Nevertheless, the panel must meet at least three times, which will force municipal leaders to debate the issue in public, she said. Mahoney said she considers metro government to be almost inevitable at some point in the future, because the fiscal pressures on city government are continuing to mount. "It's so easy to just say 'no,' but then what?" Mahoney said. "Well, the then what is, somewhere down the road somebody is going to have to mop up our mess.'' The best option now for getting the Consensus proposal on a referendum may be to collect petition signatures from voters, Mahoney said. But there are no plans yet for a petition drive, which would have to collect more than 13,000 signatures to force a referendum. Like Mahoney, Consensus leaders are now talking about the likelihood of conducting a petition drive. Under current state law, signatures from 10 percent of voters can require the formation of a county charter commission to revise local government rules. But there is no guarantee that such a commission, which would be appointed by the county legislature, would adopt the Consensus agenda. That's why some supporters are pushing for new state legislation to authorize a petition drive that would call specifically for the consolidation of city and county governments. State law allows such voter initiatives for towns and villages, but not for cities. "One option could be to change state law to allow any municipality -- not just towns (and) villages -- to allow its citizens to circulate petitions for a referendum,'' said lawyer Catherine Richardson, a Consensus co-chair. During a Facebook Live presentation Friday, metro government advocate Rob Simpson, president of CenterState CEO, urged legislators to smooth the way for a petition-driven referendum. "Give the people a voice,'' Simpson said. "What we're asking for is for our state legislative leaders, our county legislative leaders, our city legislative leaders to allow for a mechanism for citizens . . . to pass petitions to put something on the ballot.'' Neil Murphy, a Consensus co-chair, said a referendum on metro government would have a much better chance if more elected officials were willing to discuss the pros and cons. Otherwise, voters don't get a full appreciation of the issues, he said. This year's mayoral election in Syracuse could be a critical factor in determining whether the issue of metro government stays alive for a referendum in some future year, he said. Murphy said he expects local municipalities to quickly adopt some of the simpler Consensus recommendations for shared services. But a consideration of metro government will probably have to wait for a new mayor, he said. "We can't move forward unless we have a partnership generally with the electeds, because the electeds have to define certain things,'' Murphy said. "The electeds have to facilitate it to move forward.'' Contact reporter Tim Knauss anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-3023 Alicia Utley Taxpayers get three extra days to file their New York and federal income tax returns in 2017. (AP Photo | Brennan Linsley) Syracuse, N.Y. -- Taxpayers get three extra days to file their federal and New York tax returns this year. Normally, the deadline for filing tax returns is April 15, but this year it is Tuesday, April 18. Why the extra time? A couple of reasons. April 15 is a Saturday this year. That normally would mean that the deadline would be pushed to April 17. But the District of Columbia, home of the Internal Revenue Service, celebrates Emancipation Day on April 17 this year because April 16, the day it is usually celebrated, is Sunday. As a result, the deadline to file both New York and federal tax returns in 2017 is April 18. This is the second year in a row that taxpayers have had three extra days to file. In 2016, the deadline was also April 18. Emancipation Day fell on Saturday, April 16, last year, so it was celebrated the day before, April 15. That pushed the tax deadline to Monday, April 18. Taxpayers who need more time to complete their returns can request an automatic six-month extension by filing form 4868. (The form can be filed at no charge, regardless of income, through the IRS's Free File website.) While filing for an extension gives you more time to prepare your return, you still must pay any tax due by April 18. Contact Rick Moriarty anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get a dose of adorable in your inbox Receive local adoptable pets PLUS updates for pet lovers in your inbox every week! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. SIOUX CITY | Severing ties with its top budget chief under a cloud of controversy, the Sioux City School Board approved a deal Monday that ends John Chalstroms employment with the district and gives him about $35,000 in severance pay. Following a 1-hour closed meeting, the board voted 5-2 in open session to approve the separation agreement with Chalstrom, a former Clear Lake High School principal who had been on administrative leave since Feb. 13. Under the deal, he will resign effective June 30, coinciding with the expiration of his contract. Chalstrom, who received an annual salary of $140,255 as chief financial officer, will continue to receive his pay and health insurance benefits for three more months after that, under the agreement. The approval of the deal came a day after the Sioux City Journal published a story that detailed a series of allegations Chalstrom leveled against superintendent Paul Gausman and his administration. Two days after Chalstrom, through an intermediary, district critic Dan Greenwell, shared a list of Chalstroms concerns with school board members, Chalstrom was placed on administrative leave with pay. In the documents Greenwell shared with the board, Chalstrom accused Gausman of creating a hostile workplace and threatening his job if he shared alternative budget options with school board members outside regular board meetings. In the documents, Chalstrom alleged that Gausman used a management style heavy on "manipulation and intimidation," and exhibited "very strong bully behavior." In a statement to The Journal last week, Gausman declined to address questions about Chalstrom, saying he would not comment on confidential personal matters. But the superintendent vehemently denied the claims asserted in the documents shared by Greenwell, saying they do not in any way reflect who I am as a leader, and the allegations are not true." Under the agreement signed by Chalstrom and approved by the board Monday, Gausman agrees to write Chalstrom a positive letter of recommendation. The deal also includes boilerplate legal language that releases and discharges the board, district, officers and other employees from any future claims or liability arising from the ending of the chief financial officers employment. The language also states the agreement should not in any way be construed as an admission of wrongdoing of either parties." Under the deal, the two parties also agree: To treat each other with respect and professional courtesy and to refrain from making derogatory comments about one another, in their public and private dealings with each other. Chalstroms employment "has been positive and, that for personal and professional reasons, the parties amicably enter into this agreement." Chalstrom, who has repeatedly declined comment since being placed on administrative leave, turned down the Journals request for an interview after Monday's meeting. Neither Chalstrom nor Greenwell attended the meeting. No one from the board or the public addressed the agreement after it came up for a vote. However, earlier in the meeting, during the time when board members can address any topic, board member Jackie Warnstadt expressed frustration with some messages she received from the public after The Journal published its investigative story Sunday. During her remarks, she never referenced Gausman, Chalstrom or Greenwell by name. I am totally out of patience with an uninformed public who seems to be listening to a disgruntled employee and a disingenuous citizen who appears to be exercising a vendetta against a great superintendent, Warnstadt said. After Warnstadt finished her comments, all nine district administrators present at the meeting stood and applauded enthusiastically. Warnstadt joined board President Mike Krysl, Vice President Mike McTaggart, board members John Meyers and Paul Gorski in approving the separation agreement with Chalstrom. Board members Perla Alarcon-Flory and David Gleiser cast the two dissenting votes. None of the board members publicly explained their votes. Chalstrom's tenure with the district ends less than three years after he arrived. He was selected for the chief financial officer position by Gausman, with the guidance of an advisory committee comprised of school administrators and finance experts from the local business community. Prior to coming to Sioux City, Chalstrom served as superintendent of the Cherokee School District for 10 years. Qualcomm on Wednesday announced a collaboration with Microsoft to accelerate next-generation cloud services on the 10nm Qualcomm Centriq 2400 ARM-based platform. The collaboration will span multiple future generations of hardware, software and systems. The companies have been working for several years on ARM-based server enablement. They have been optimizing a version of Windows Server for ARM running on the Centriq 2400, which Microsoft will use in its data center. Possible Synergies Qualcomm made the announcement at the Open Compute Project Summit in Santa Clara, California, where it conducted the first public demonstration of Windows Server on the Centriq 2400. Qualcomm also submitted a server spec the Qualcomm Centriq 2400 Open Compute Motherboard to the OCP. The spec, based on the latest version of Microsofts Project Olympus, pairs the Centriq 2400 with the most advanced interfaces for memory, network and peripherals, and lets devs design ARM-based servers for the most common cloud compute workloads. The motherboard fits into a standard 1U rack server system. It can be paired with compute accelerators, multihost network interface controllers, and leading-edge storage technologies to optimize it for specific workloads. Microsofts looking for more efficient compute architecture for Azure, and Qualcomm wants a slice of the [Infrastructure as a Service] business, said Holger Mueller, a principal analyst at Constellation Research. When two vendors see synergies, good things can happen, but its too early to tell how well this spec will do, he told TechNewsWorld. Why the ARM Move? Microsoft has been running evaluations of ARM servers side by side with its Intel-based production workloads, noted Microsoft Distinguished Engineer Leendert van Doom. ARMs high Instruction Per Cycle counts, high core and thread counts, the connectivity options, and the integration that we see across the ARM ecosystem [are] very exciting. Intel has about 98 percent of the server market today, and this is a choke hold on innovation, remarked Kevin Krewell, a principal analyst at Tirias Research. The industry needs competition, or Intel will use the industry as its piggy bank to fund other projects, he told TechNewsWorld. Cavium, which collaborated with server supplier Inventec, also developed an OCP-based motherboard compatible with Project Olympus and presented a demo with Windows Server for ARM on its server processor SoCs at OPC. All About the Cloud Microsoft is looking for the cheapest solution for the cloud, suggested Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, and its working to make sure all its eggs arent in one basket. The companys Azure cloud business is going gangbusters, based on its Q2 results. Microsoft considered where ARM servers would be applicable and provide the most value, van Doorn pointed out. Those areas include search and indexing, storage, databases, big data and machine learning. Cloud systems have to be able to scale from the very large to very small almost instantly, so they need dense, high-core technology which is very similar to what AMD and ARM have been working on, Enderle told TechNewsWorld. Microsoft has been looking at optimization of servers, and this goes to its cloud first strategy, because it wants to have the best cloud on the planet, he added. In addition to Qualcomm, Microsoft is working with AMD, Intel, Cavium, Nvidia and others on the Olympus project. Linux Academy, an online training platform for the Linux OS and cloud computing, on Tuesday announced a public beta rollout of its Cloud Assessments platform, which is designed to let large enterprise firms train and assess their IT workers and prospective job candidates. The academy offers training on a variety of cloud-based platforms, including Amazon Web Services, Open Stack, DevOps, Azure and others. The Cloud Assessments platform will focus initially on training and testing of AWS, due to the strong demand for that cloud-based computing platform and the large skills gap of existing knowledge among IT workers. Since AWS is a leader in the market, companies and individuals are rushing to ensure they can handle these technologies, said Linux Academy CEO Anthony James. AWS Demand The academys current focus is preparation and validation for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate level exam, James told LinuxInsider. However, there are other in-demand areas that it is beginning to explore. Hands-on learning has been very important to professionals who have taken these courses, James said. We came to understand that not only do people want to learn, but they also want to validate their skills in a way that our industry would recognize. Another critical aspect of the Academys approach is what it calls lean learning, which involves recommending specific training based on a users specific performance, he continued. The new training efforts target specific areas that need improvement. The Cloud Assessments platform offers a different approach to teaching IT professionals by using live servers in existing work environments. Workers actually learn skills they can use on the job in real time. Theyre not limited to responding to questions in a test environment. Individuals also can use Cloud Assessments to earn micro-certfiications for AWS skills. Linux Academy and Cybrary last month conducted a survey of 6,000 IT professionals, and 35 percent said that micro-certifications would help them get a job or advance in an existing position. In addition, 85 percent said they would pursue micro-certifications if their employers helped facilitate the training. Skills Gap The launch of this program is another indication of the accelerating adoption of cloud services, noted Jeffrey Kaplan, managing director of ThinkStrategies, and there is no question that initial focus on AWS specialists is because of its dominant position in the market at this time. As the demand for multi-cloud services increases, the academys program likely will broaden to include training courses for additional cloud platforms, he told LinuxInsider. Certification programs directly from AWS are exam-based, said Paul Teich, principal analyst at Tirias Research. However, Linux Academy has created a more practical live assessment environment in which users are graded on actually using AWS rather than just answering questions correctly, he told LinuxInsider. Cloud services really dont care about certification, but enterprise does, Teich pointed out. Enterprise needs these certifications to start implementing hybrid cloud business models. Upleveling certification to demonstrate practical experience should play well with enterprise IT shops. Amazon Web Services last year announced an effort to enhance its AWS Educate program to offer additional modules, called cloud career pathways, to help educate students about cloud-based skills, as well as connect them with specific cloud-based jobs offered by various employers, including AWS, Salesforce, Cloudnexa and Splunk. Screaming sirens serenaded Dallas residents in the early morning hours Saturday after a cyberattack set off the citys emergency warning system. All of the citys 156 sirens were set off more than a dozen times, The Dallas Morning News reported. Officials have not yet identified the perpetrator of the attack, the citys Office of Emergency Management Director Rocky Vaz told the newspaper, but he expressed confidence that it was someone outside the Dallas area. The city has figured out how the system was compromised and has begun working to keep it from happening again, he added. The sirens began sounding about 12:30 a.m. Saturday and werent silenced until 1:20 a.m., when the entire system was deactivated. Despite the citys pleas not to make 911 calls about the sirens, emergency operators were swamped with 4,400 calls during the early morning hours Saturday. Inadvertent Threat to Life If the Dallas attack should turn out to be an isolated incident, its impact will be minimal, but if such attacks should multiply, they could undermine public faith in emergency warning systems. Like crying wolf too often, these attacks erode the faith in these systems critical to safeguarding human life during an emergency, said Sergio Caltagirone, director of threat intelligence for Dragos. While a single event is unlikely to cause significant damage, he told TechNewsWorld, continual attacks will most certainly have a long-term effect. Both determined and hobbyist hackers are probing and testing the nations critical infrastructure, he added. There are no indications of an imminent wide-scale attack, but these attacks will only become more common and the biggest fear is that an adversary will do great harm and possibly threaten human life inadvertently, Caltagirone explained. Dallas is a well-funded municipality with the proper resources to defend their infrastructure from attack, he added. This does not bode well for the majority of municipalities who lack the resources of Dallas. 911 System Disrupted Although Dallas is still assessing the damage of the cyberattack, its disruption of the 911 system by inciting panic calls about the sirens probably placed some citizens lives at risk. Because there were so many calls to the 911 system in a short period of time, the hack of the siren network created a sort of DDoS attack on 911. Any real emergency happening at the same time will get lost in the noise, SS8 Chief Security Officer Cemal Dikmen told TechNewsWorld. Call hold times were delayed from their usual 10 seconds to about six minutes, noted James Scott, a senior fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology. Every citizen was endangered by the inability to request emergency assistance in a reasonable amount of time, he told TechNewsWorld. Every caller who legitimately required an emergency response to an actual threat was imperiled by the significantly delayed 911 call center response time, Scott emphasized. It is difficult to measure or predict the number of residents who needed emergency assistance and hung up the phone out of frustration, or the number of citizens whose safety and physical well-being were jeopardized by this trivial cyberattack. Antiquated Systems Emergency warning systems in many cities are old, which makes them even more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Ironically, Dallas system is about to be overhauled the city council last fall approved $567,368 for the project. Many of them were first installed in the 40s and 50s, explained Mike Ahmadi, global director for critical systems security at Synopsys. Theyve been upgraded over time and most recently connected to the Internet, he told TechNewsWorld. Actually, the older systems without any connectivity are pretty safe from a hacker-proof perspective, Ahmadi added. Its modernizing them and giving them IoT connectivity thats made them vulnerable. Open information laws also can make these systems vulnerable, maintained Ed Cabrera, chief cybersecurity officer for Trend Micro. These require detailed government information to be publicly disclosed, he told TechNewsWorld. That makes things such as manuals and configuration settings openly available to potential adversaries meaning to do harm. Endemic Problem It has been recognized for some time that older, outdated emergency warning systems are susceptible to cyberattacks, noted Vijay Basani, CEO of EiQ Networks. In spite of this known exploitable vulnerability, why have our state and local governments been so complicit in their failure to fix these vulnerabilities? he asked. That is the important question, Basani told TechNewsWorld. Besides just making emergency warning systems go off randomly, hackers could have shut them down completely, crippled them temporarily, or redirected emergency personnel to wrong locations, he said. Taxpayers should demand that their government fix these systems or upgrade them. The failure of Dallas emergency warning system is endemic to the poor security across these systems, said Dragos Caltagirone. Securing systems comes down to identifying critical systems, detecting attacks and implementing real protection, he explained. Unfortunately, most organizations dont even successfully complete the first step, said Caltagirone. All security starts with knowledge of your own environment. Many systems owners lack sufficient asset inventory. Its impossible to protect what you dont understand. United Airlines self-made firestorm spread on Tuesday, as a video showing a passenger being forcibly dragged off a plane continued to make the rounds on social media. The passenger had refused to comply after being told hed been bumped off the Sunday flight. The incident sparked international outrage, including calls for a boycott of the airline and for CEO Oscar Munoz to step down. Anger has been particularly intense in China. Uniteds share price has fallen in response to the debacle, taking more than US$700 million off the companys books. Many consumers have said they wont use the airline, including Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. If I have a choice, Ill fly another carrier and Im Platinum on United, he told CRM Buyer. David Dao, a 69-year-old doctor, was bleeding from the face when he was dragged feet first down the aisle of the plane. To do that in the way they did it was too much, remarked Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research. Ive never been big on boycotts, he told CRM Buyer, but after seeing the video, I think consumers should boycott the airline. Uniteds Way or the Highway United initially claimed it had to bump four people from Flight 3411 because the plane was overbooked. In actuality, United had decided to bump four paying passengers from the flight to make room for crew members heading to another airport to crew a different flight. The airline had offered money to anyone who would give up a seat, but when there were no takers, four passengers were selected at random. Three of them complied, but Dao refused to leave the plane, because he said he had to return to see patients. The video shows three security officers setting upon Dao and forcibly removing him, as other passengers protested. The crew members then boarded and were booed by the remaining passengers. Dao managed to re-enter the plane, yelling frantically that he had to go home, with his face still bloody. A group of high school students left the plane at that point, with their escort reportedly saying they had seen enough. All of the passengers then were cleared from the plane, and Dao eventually was removed a second time on a stretcher. Reasonable Alternatives United could have made alternative arrangements with another airline to get the crew members to their destination, McGregor said. This was wrong. United was trading off customer safety for employee logistics, said Enderle. This is unacceptable to any flier. The airline should have had its employees fly on another carrier or take alternative transport, he said, because throwing customers off a plane to save on employee transport charges is very difficult to defend. Pouring Gasoline on the Flames United CEO Munoz made things worse. After a backlash on social media, he apologized for having to re-accommodate the other passengers and said the company was reaching out to Dao. In a Monday evening email to employees, Munoz claimed the crew had followed established procedures when removing Dao and described him as disruptive and belligerent, according to CNBC. That triggered another storm on Tuesday, with United shares taking a steep drop. Munozs statement was tone deaf, Enderle observed. He blamed the customer for a horrid employee logistics decision. He should have promised this would never happen again and personally apologized to Dao, Enderle suggested. There were claims Dao was singled out because of his race, and United should have made a particular effort to address this claim. Uniteds behavior was cavalier and callous, said Laura DiDio, research director for IoT at 451 Research. The deck is stacked against passengers these days, she told CRM Buyer. However, this situation is a PR nightmare for United Airlines, DiDio added, and its not going away. No, Really Were So Sorry The company appeared to have second thoughts about its response in light of the furor. Munoz on Tuesday issued a more contrite statement, saying, I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way. The airline was taking full responsibility for the truly horrific event, he said. Its never too late to do the right thing, Munoz added, promising the results of a full review by the end of April. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy If you're a fellow Nokianatic, you'd be glad to know that information about the upcoming Nokia 9 high-end Android phone are now being shared by tech bloggers and various news agencies covering technology If these details are accurate and if HMD Global as well as its OEM partner in China are keen on making sure that this model would live up to Nokia's lofty standards in crafting a cameraphone, then Nokia 9 could very well be the imaging powerhouse to watch out for this year! So far, Nokia's licensing partner had only released the midrange powerhousein China, which is now enjoying some level of market success in the said territory.Following that model, HMD Global is set to release the budget-friendlyandin even more territories - including the Philippines - within Q3 2016.While Nokia 6, 5, and 3 are all interesting and note-worthy smartphones in their own right, I'm sure big fans of the Finnish brand are waiting for HMD Global to unveil the top-of-the-line model this year, which will have the best design, build, imaging prowess, and set of technical specifications.It all started when reliable Nokia device 'leaker'shared his sketch - shown in the photo above - of the purported flagship handset earlier this week.Looking at the image, it appears that Nokia 9 will have a design language that's largely similar to that of Nokia 6 -- albeit rounder and with more tapered sides.There are two elements in the sketch, however, that got me totally excited. First, the Dual Camera module at the back of the device. And second, the word 'Zeiss' beside the optics, which indicate that they will be made by Nokia's long time imaging partner, Carl Zeiss!I own aand(both are still working) and if there's anything I can tell you, it's that the Finnish Giant sure knows how to make incredible cameraphones. That said, I can only hope that the upcoming Nokia 9 would - in more ways than one - be a solid follow-up to these amazing handsets. After all, Nokia did say back in May 2016 that they'll be guiding HMD to make sure that new devices bearing their legendary name would exemplify what consumers have come to expect from the brand.Apart from the sketch, Nokibar had not disclosed any other information about Nokia 9. Nonetheless, various sources are now claiming that the 2017 flagship would come with a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, and a price tag of $700 or around Php 35,000 when it hits store shelves in key markets come Q3 2017.These are surely exciting times for big Nokia fans. I personally can't wait to learn more about this particular model. Intriguing, definitely. Chinese electronics giant LeEco revealed in mid-2016 that it would be purchasing budget television maker Vizio for $2 billion. On Monday, the duo jointly announced that the deal was off the table. In a statement sent to members of the press, the companies said the merger agreement would not proceed due to "regulatory headwinds." Rather than part ways entirely, however, LeEco and Vizio have crafted a new agreement described as a win for both sides. As per the new agreement, LeEco's Le app will be included in some Vizio products. What's more, the two will work to bring select Vizio products to the Chinese market. When asked for further comment, Vizio sent Gizmodo a canned response saying the two companies will continue to operate as separate, independently owned and operated entities and that its operations would continue under the same management team headquartered in Irvine, California. LeEco, meanwhile, simply referred the publication to a LinkedIn post from IDC's Chris Dong discussing stricter reviews of non-Chinese acquisitions by Chinese companies. LeEco had high hopes for its US debut in 2016 but things didn't go quite as planned. In a nutshell, the company expanded too fast and burned through cash too quickly. Then there's the issue with Faraday Future (LeEco is a major financial partner of the electric startup) which has been well documented. Government employees, particularly those who work for national banks, aren't usually renowned for their sense of humor and love of gaming. But it seems this isn't the case in Canada, where workers at the Bank of Canada's website have added a Konami code Easter egg into the new $10 note page. Canada's plastic note was revealed on Friday as part of the country's 150th anniversary celebrations. The website showing off the $10 bill includes an interactive 3D experience that lets you explore the note from different angles. On Sunday, Kotaku Australia noted that the Bank of Canada's web team must contain some Nintendo fans. By entering the Konami code ( up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A) on your keyboard, you'll be rewarded with a shower of notes and a retro-tastic 8-bit version of the country's national anthem. For those who don't know, the Konami Code is a cheat code first used over thirty years ago. It appears in a number of games, even non-Konami ones, and is used to affect gameplay and reveal hidden Easter egg surprises placed there by developers. "Konami code seemed like a fun way for the web team to celebrate Canada's [150th anniversary]," a Bank of Canada spokesperson told Motherboard in an email, adding that the workers "love Nintendo and 8-bit music." If you want to see the Bank of Canada's Konami code Easter egg, and find out more about Canada and its history, head on over to the website. As commercial and hobby drone use become increasingly popular, more rules and regulations are being introduced to regulate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The latest restrictions will begin on Friday, April 14, banning unauthorized drone flights over military bases across the US. The Federal Aviation Administration's updated regulations bars any UAS from operating above 133 Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps facilities, most of which are located in the South and along the East coast. Anyone without special permission from the FAA or the military who flies a drone within 400 feet of a facility could face civil penalties and criminal charges. If you're a drone owner who's worried about accidentally invading military airspace, here's a map showing the areas to avoid. The government says that more airspace restrictions may follow. It is looking at "additional requests from federal security and intelligence agencies" to restrict drone flights over critical infrastructure and other facilities, according to Ars Technica. Aviation officials predict that there will be more than 3.5 million hobbyist drones in the US by 2021, up from 1.1 million at the end of last year. The commercial fleet is also expected to grow, from around 42,000 in 2016 up to 442,000 in four years' time. The US isn't the only country where rising drone ownership is causing problems. In the UK, the number of police reports involving a UAS has increased twelve-fold over the last two years. Drones are increasingly being used for drug smuggling, spying, and to plan house robberies. You can find out more information about drone regulations on the FAA's UAS website. Cephalopods - the family of invertebrate many-legged sea creatures to which octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish belong - are notorious for their astounding skills. Octopuses, in particular, seem to master Houdini-like escape artistry, as shown last year by Inky the octopus. But cephalopod intelligence goes beyond getaway tricks and camouflage finesse. These smart creatures are capable of solving intricate puzzles, like unscrewing glass jars from the inside or learning to use a camera. Some octopuses even change their skin color to look like lion fish or sea snakes and thus scare off predators. A new study featured on April 6 in the journal Cell indicates cephalopods possess even more complex abilities that allow them to disregard the normal rules of genetic information. The investigation revealed octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish are able to edit their genes, extensively rewriting their RNA to adapt to their environment. Other fellow mollusks haven't reached this level of sophisticated neural development and still create proteins by converting DNA into RNA. This process allows certain genes to produce specific proteins. However, more advanced cephalopods are able to tweak their RNA, recoding it so that one gene can create several types of proteins from the same DNA. Editing RNA Sequences The research, authored by Joshua Rosenthal from the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, together with Eli Eisenberg and Noa Liscovitch-Brauer, from Tel Aviv University in Israel, continues the team's previous study on squids. Two years ago, the scientists discovered these creatures can edit their RNA coding to diversify cellular protein production in their nervous system to a much greater extent than other animals. Compared with fruit flies, which can edit only 1 percent of their RNA, squids are able to reconfigure more than 60 percent of their RNA coding regions. Now, the team observed other cephalopods also have high levels of RNA editing. The new paper focuses on two species of octopus - Octopus vulgaris (the common octopus) and Octopus bimaculoides (California two-spot octopus) - the Doryteuthis pealeii squid, and one type of cuttlefish (Sepia oficianalis), which belong to the coleoid class of cephalopods. These species were shown to have tens of thousands of RNA recoding sites, which allows the animals to edit their RNA frequently in almost half of their transcribed genes to expand the codes through which neurons produce proteins. "Recoding by editing effectively creates a new protein sequence, and thus it's expanding the protein repertoire at the organism's disposal," says Eisenberg. Proof Of Octopus Intelligence This extraordinary ability is only present in coleoids, which are considered the smartest subclass of cephalopods. This special trait allows them to edit the RNA in their nervous system, tweaking the way their neurons function, explained Rosenthal. In a past study, the scientist details how octopuses living in the Antarctic edit their RNA to beat the cold and keep their nerves firing at freezing temperatures. The researchers also found that more primitive cephalopods, like the nautilus, have much lower rates of RNA recoding. This suggests coleoids are "fundamentally different," since many of their editing events "are highly conserved and show clear signs of selection," says Rosenthal. Although the study doesn't establish these cephalopods have become smarter because of their advanced RNA recoding, it does indicate this ability "might have contributed to the exceptional intelligence." Fewer DNA Mutations Widespread RNA editing comes at a cost. Tweaking the codes at a cellular level means the editing site can't support DNA mutations, necessary in the natural process of evolution. Most animals undergo changes in their DNA in order to evolve and adapt, but celoid cephalopods have prioritized RNA recoding instead, which means they have lower DNA mutation rates. As Rosenthal explains, these animals are suppressing DNA mutations to maintain their flexibility of RNA recoding, essentially "giving up the ability to evolve in the surrounding regions." To further investigate how the animals curb their DNA mutation rate in favor of RNA recoding, and what environmental conditions influence this process, Rosenthal plans to manipulate cephalopod genetics using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is a gorgeous, top-notch powerhouse ready to shake the smartphone market, but it does have an annoying design flaw and Samsung is well aware of it. The latest Android flagships from Samsung boast sleek designs with a premium touch and feel, sporting a new curved, edgeless display called "Infinity Display." This bezel-free display covers the entire front panel of the device and eliminates the home button, offering extra screen real estate while also allowing for a comfortable grip even though the smartphone is quite tall. Samsung Galaxy S8 Design Flaw As amazing as the Galaxy S8 looks, it's not without a flaw. Since Samsung eliminated the physical home button from the equation in order to obtain that all-screen front panel, it had to come up with another solution for the fingerprint scanner and it's far from ideal. Instead of being embedded into the home button below the display like on previous iterations, the Galaxy S8 fingerprint scanner is relocated on the back of the device, oddly placed near the camera lens. Having the fingerprint reader adjacent to the camera does not only lead to an unnatural and uncomfortable grip, but it's also highly inconvenient for a couple of reasons. First off, the Galaxy S8 is already tall and reaching the fingerprint sensor that's as high up as the camera often requires holding the device with both hands. In some cases, it's even necessary to turn the handset over to make sure you tap the fingerprint reader and not the heartrate sensor, which is located on the other side of the camera. Needless to mention, this awkwardness is even more intense with the larger Galaxy S8+ model. Secondly, if that wasn't inconvenient enough, having the fingerprint reader right next to the camera also means frequent smudges on the camera lens, as it's nearly impossible not to touch the camera by accident when trying to use the fingerprint scanner. Well aware of this design flaw and the inconvenience it brings, Samsung is actually displaying a warning message on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, prompting users to clean the camera lens on a regular basis. Beyond Simple Inconvenience This Galaxy S8 design flaw has more serious implications beyond just simple inconvenience, as it takes a toll on user experience and security as well. The smartphone has several security features, but the fingerprint reader would be the preferred measure. For instance, the Galaxy S8 also comes with an iris scanner that allows users to safely unlock the smartphone, but the iris scanner is not very fast, it doesn't work in the dark and it doesn't work if the user wears glasses. For some, having to take the glasses off each time you want to unlock the smartphone is frustrating and annoying. Alternately, the Galaxy S8 also comes with a facial recognition feature, but it's not secure enough just yet and it can be easily tricked using a high-quality photo. Consequently, with a less-than-ideal iris scanner and facial recognition, the fingerprint scanner remains the most reliable security feature on the Galaxy S8. It's the fastest way to unlock the smartphone and the most secure way to protect it, but the position of the fingerprint scanner severely mars the experience. The ideal placement would be at the center of the device's rear panel, away from smudgeable camera lenses, where the user's fingers can comfortably reach it. Tough Choices For Samsung While it's pretty obvious the location of the Galaxy S8 fingerprint reader is far from ideal, Samsung didn't really have much of a choice. Simply put, the reason for this design flaw is that Samsung didn't have enough time to perfect the flagship so it rushed it to market as best as it could. The sleek Infinity Display and the removal of the physical home button posed some design challenges and Samsung initially wanted to embed fingerprint scanning technology into the display, but it ran out of time. An in-display fingerprint scanner would've taken far longer to produce and Samsung would've had to delay the Galaxy S8 launch until the summer or even fall. After the whole Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, Samsung couldn't really afford to wait that long. Pressured to launch the smartphone sooner, Samsung had to find another solution and as a last-minute effort, it embedded the fingerprint scanner where the heartrate sensor was supposed to be, moving the latter to the other side of the camera. Consequently, Samsung didn't really have any choice but to compromise in this aspect and launch the smartphone as it is, as finding a more convenient location for the fingerprint scanner would've delayed the Galaxy S8 release even further. Samsung already had to skip the Mobile World Congress 2017 and postpone the Galaxy S8 unveiling for another month, so something had to give. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 To Make Up For It? While Samsung ran out of time and rushed the Galaxy S8 to market, the company is expected to do things right with the upcoming Galaxy Note 8 expected to hit the scene later this year. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 should take things to the next level and feature what the Galaxy S8 lacks, including a dual rear camera setup and in-display fingerprint authentication. The Galaxy Note 8 will not only have to make up for the Galaxy Note 7 disaster, but it will also hit the scene around the same time as the iPhone 8, so it will have some heavy competition right off the bat. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Following a 173-day mission in space, three astronauts from Expedition 50 returned home on Monday morning (April 10). The trio who made it safely back to Earth from the International Space Station are NASA's Shane Kimbrough expedition commander and Roscosmos' Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko. After a journey of about three hours and 20 minutes in a Russian Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft, the astronauts landed in Kazakhstan, near the town of Dzhezkazgan, at 7:21 a.m. EDT (5:21 p.m. Kazakhstan time). According to the schedule posted by NASA, the capsule closed hatch at 12:40 a.m. and undocked three hours later, at 3:57 a.m. Deorbit burn took place at 6:28 a.m., the agency informs. Undocking and landing activities were streamed live by NASA TV, which started broadcasting the event as early as 3:30 a.m. On April 11, the channel is set to cover a post-landing interview with Kimbrough in Kazakhstan. Upgraded MS Soyuz Capsule Expedition 50 was launched Oct. 19, 2016 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The crew spent 171 days aboard an orbiting laboratory on the ISS, engaging in hundreds of experiments in the fields of biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science. The capsule that brought the astronauts home is only the second MS variant of the Soyuz to return to Earth, after the veteran spacecraft underwent a series of upgrades. The MS Soyuz was fitted with "more efficient solar panels, a new Kurs NA approach and docking system weighing less than half that of its predecessor, additional micro-meteoroid debris shielding, and a modified docking and attitude control engine," NASA states. Expedition 51 Under Way On April 9, Kimbrough handed over the command of ISS to NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who will continue working on the space station as leader of Expedition 51. Her flight engineers Oleg Novitskiy from Roscosmos and Thomas Pesquet from the European Space Agency are expecting the upcoming arrival of Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikin and NASA's Jack Fischer, whose departure from Earth is scheduled on April 20. Expedition 51 will only have five crew members due to Russia's decision to reduce the number of participating cosmonauts in 2017. This means Whitson, who holds the record for the most spacewalks by a woman, will remain aboard the ISS through Expedition 52 as well, to ensure the six-member crew prerequisite. The highly experienced spacewoman went to the ISS in November 2016 and was due to journey back to Earth in June this year. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A rare parasitic worm that infects people's brains is causing concern in Maui, where a number of similar cases have been reported during the past few months. Two residents and two visitors have become infected with the parasite, and another four cases are under investigation. Before the cases recorded this year, there have been only two other infections on the island in the last 10 years. The Rat Lungworm The parasite is called rat lungworm or Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and it can infect the brain, causing meningitis, according to the CDC. People who are suffering from this infection can experience neck stiffness, headaches, nausea, abnormal sensations in arms and legs and even vomiting. While most of the people recover without a treatment, rare cases of the infection can result in serious neurological problems or even death. Dr. Lorrin Pang, Maui district health officer, explained in a live-streamed Facebook presentation the reasons why this parasite is so dangerous. The rat lungworm can live in the host's body for months, and it can cause inflammation from the body's immune response, which can ultimately damage the nervous system. Additionally, the infection can be accompanied by pain. The parasite has been prevalent in parts of Asia and the Caribbean for decades, as the first case was encountered in Taiwan in 1944. However, recently it has started to spread across the United States to Hawaii, Alabama, California, and Louisiana. Additionally, according to a study carried out in 2013, whose findings were published in the Hawaii Journal of Public Health, the geographical distribution of the disease "changed dramatically" over the past decades. Causes And Prevention Of The Infection A possible reason that would explain the rise in the global spread of this disease is the lack of boundaries in transportation. The disease can be carried by infected rats on container ships, as well as by intermediate hosts such as snails or slugs. The ingestion of uncooked snails or slugs can, therefore, transport the parasite into the human body. As a result of eating contaminated food, people can get the infection. Additionally, according to the CDC, hands can be contaminated too. "[...] contamination of the hands during the preparation of uncooked infected snails or slugs could lead to ingestion of the parasite," notes the CDC page. As a means of prevention, people who live in areas that are more exposed to this parasite should be educated not to eat snails or slugs that are not properly cooked. Potentially contaminated vegetables, shrimps, and land crabs should also be boiled as a precautionary method. According to Dr. Constantine Tsigrelis, an infectious disease specialist with University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, treating this disease can be complicated, as doctors don't wish to exacerbate an immune response that could kill the parasite. The reasoning behind this reluctance is that the immune response could also injure the nervous system or the brain in the process of attacking the parasite. "An anti-parasitic drug could kill the worm but the problem is that the dying organisms can create a very severe inflammatory response and the patient can get worse," noted Tsigrelis. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Google Home connected speaker is getting smarter and new tricks include Google Keep lists, as well as upcoming support for multiple users. Smart speakers are rapidly gaining ground and getting increasingly smarter, with more skills and options to make them more useful. The Amazon Echo line of speakers powered by Alexa are among the most popular options, but Google Home is catching up and becoming more exciting as well. Google Home Shopping Lists Come April 10, users who have been storing shopping lists in the Google Keep app will see some changes. For instance, those who have been relying on Google Assistant to add items to shopping lists will now notice that the lists will be relocated from Google Keep to the Google Home and Express apps. Google is trying to make Express more useful by adding an ordering and delivery feature, so it's adding Keep shopping lists to facilitate integration and make the whole shopping experience easier across Google apps. Until now, when asking Google Assistant to add milk to your list, for instance, it would've added the item as a Google Keep shopping list that you could access when shopping for groceries. With the update, however, the default shopping list is now moved to Google Home and Express when adding items with Google Assistant. Google Home has been gradually becoming more useful for shopping over the past few months, allowing users to shop and order items through Express by uttering voice commands. More than 50 retail partners are already on board and more will join the fray, likely aiming to rival Amazon. This is not the only change in tow to improve the whole Google Home experience. The smart speaker will soon support multiple users as well, making it easier and more convenient to share the device with family or friends. Google Home Multi-User Support News surfaced back in March that Google was working on multi-user support for the Google Home smart speaker and it now looks like the feature will hit the scene soon enough. The Google Home Android app now notes that multi-user support will become available soon, albeit it doesn't specify just when the feature will go live in various countries where Google Home is available. The accompanying Google Home app just displays a card notifying Google Home owners that multiple users are now supported, but the feature has not actually gone live yet. Nevertheless, Google did confirm that it will soon add multi-user support to Google Home so it should become available shortly. Previous rumors indicated that once it gets multi-user support, Google Home will also be able to distinguish between users's voices to automatically figure out who's speaking. Google made no mention of this option just yet, however, so it remains to be seen whether it will indeed be in the mix. Amazon is rumored to be working on similar technology for the Echo. Multi-user support is expected to start rolling out to Google Home devices in the next few days. Google will surely make an announcement once the feature becomes officially available and we'll let you know as soon as we learn more. Are you excited about the latest changes to the Google Home experience? Drop by our comments section below and tell us what you think about these new updates. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the wake of the 2014 JO25 asteroid that will approach Earth next week and is expected to fly past our home planet as close as 1.1 million miles away or 4.6 times the distance from us to the moon astronomers are weighing the possibility and outcome of a potential critical collision in the future. The April 19 event marks the asteroid's closest fly-by in at least 400 years, and its calculated trajectory poses no threat of the celestial body colliding with our planet. Although we are not in any immediate danger, researchers are wondering what would happen if a large-sized asteroid not only flew close to Earth but also actually crashed into the planet's surface. Small Asteroids Are Stopped By Earth's Atmosphere The majority of asteroids in our solar system fly in a simple circular orbit between Mars and Jupiter. Occasionally, their path is disturbed either by each other or more frequently by Jupiter's activity, sending them on trajectories that cross that of Mars or even Earth. Thousands of minuscule debris particles rain down on our planet every day, but the Earth's surface is shielded from any minor impact thanks to air friction. In fact, most asteroids up to 10 meters (or around 33 feet) in diameter are destroyed upon contact with the Earth's atmosphere. On rare occasions, some asteroid fragments reach the ground, accounting for damaged property. Such was the case of the 27-pound stony meteorite that fell in New York in 1992, jabbing a hole in a parked car. According to NASA, 33-feet celestial bodies falling from the sky typically have "the kinetic energy of about five nuclear warheads of the size dropped on Hiroshima." This means the created shock wave can do sizeable damage even if only small fragments reach the ground. In the case of same-sized iron meteoroids, even more fragments are likely to survive the atmospheric contact and land on the surface. The effect of larger pieces falling on the ground would be equivalent to "having a car suddenly drop in at supersonic speeds," NASA states. This happens almost once every ten years, but the events are seldom recorded since they usually occur at sea or in remote, unpopulated areas like Antarctica. Big Asteroids Threaten Us Once In A Million Years Things begin to change when one considers a potential collision with a higher-class asteroid. Once or twice in 1,000 years, a celestial with a 100-meter diameters (or about 330 feet) falls on Earth with the potential to create serious damage. NASA cites the famous Tunguska (Russia) event in 1908, as well as the asteroid impact in northern Arizona, which left behind a 4,000 feet wide crater made by a nickel-iron meteorite with a presumed diameter of slightly less than 200 feet. The chances of an even higher-class asteroid or comet hitting Earth are once in a million years. The most notable example is the 15-miles-wide Ries Crater in Bavaria, which harbors the city of Nordlingen in its center. This crater was created 15 million years ago, when a 5,000-feet celestial body crashed on our planet's surface. By comparison, the asteroid that is expected to fly past us on April 19 is only 2,000 feet in size. The largest crater ever discovered is the one at Chicxulub, Mexico, produce by a massive celestial body which brought forth the dinosaur extinction. This type of collision is likely to happen once every 50 to 100 million years the Chicxulub crater is 65 million years old. 33,000-Feet Asteroid: What Are The Chances? Researchers at NASA Ames Research Center are monitoring the activity of large-sized asteroids and investigating the likelihood of one of them hitting Earth. Their estimates indicate the presence of 2,100 asteroids wider than 3,300 feet and suggest there may be up to 320,000 other asteroids in the solar system with a diameter exceeding 330 feet like the ones that caused the Tunguska and Arizona craters. "An impact by one of these larger meteors in the wrong place would be a catastrophe, but it would not threaten civilization," reports NASA. In the even an asteroid wider than 1 or 2 kilometers (3,300 to 6,560 feet) collided with Earth, it could potentially create a worldwide calamity. Impact with such a large-scale body could deteriorate the global climate and place the entire population of the planet in jeopardy. Widespread crop failure would ensue, as well as loss of life. The risk of such a catastrophic event comes around a few times every million years. Mass extinction is a possibility only if our planet collides with an even larger object, five to 10 times this size. A 33,000-feet asteroid crashing down on us would vaporize "a large amount of the Earth's crust, creating a crater more than one hundred kilometers across," reports Cornell University. As per the scenario the university's astronomer team imagines, the displaced rocks would be projected into the atmosphere, heating it up, triggering forest fires, and blocking the sunlight. In the absence of light, Earth's vegetation would fade, leading to the demise of many animal species including humanity, which would succumb "either in the initial catastrophe, or in the ensuing years due to lack of food and the general devastation of the environment." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MASON CITY | Two offices of County Social Services will be consolidated to provide better access for clients and more efficiency in serving them, according to chief executive officer Bob Lincoln. The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors approved the action at its meeting Tuesday. The change will put most everything under one roof at 3 Fourth St. N.E., which currently is home to the coordinator of disability services and six integrated care coordinators. The other office is at 355 Eisenhower Ave., which houses administrative offices and also houses rental space for Next Generation Technology, which provides information technology support to County Social Services. Lincoln said in February, AmeriHealth, the agency's customer for case management, notified him it intends to handle case management cases in-house. That has resulted in two of his case managers leaving and more departures are anticipated, he said. With space opening up at the Fourth Street location, Lincoln said it makes sense to consolidate the operation, creating a savings of a little more than $20,000 in annual staff and occupancy costs. Microsoft announced Monday, April 10, that it will officially acquire Deis, the company responsible for some of the most well-known tools for building and managing applications on top of the open-source Kubernetes container orchestration system. Microsoft Acquires Deis For Container Innovation Both companies failed to disclose specific details about the acquisition, including how much Microsoft bought Deis for. The inked deal marks Microsoft's continued interest in container orchestration. Containers, as Microsoft notes, have been at the forefront of cloud innovation and transformation in years, primarily because the platform allows organizations and enterprises to build, deploy, and move applications to and from the cloud. "At Microsoft, we've seen explosive growth in both interest and deployment of containerized workloads on Azure, and we're committed to ensuring Azure is the best place to run them," wrote Microsoft in a blog post. To that end, Microsoft has shopped up Deis, describing the company as one that's been "at the center of the container transformation." For some who might not be aware, Engine Yard already acquired Deis back in 2015, so Microsoft is purchasing it directly from Engine Yard, although it made no mention of such in the official announcement. Jumping Aboard The Kubernetes Trend The move further highlights Kubernetes as the de facto choice for container systems, even though Microsoft's own Azure Container service supports all the major container orchestration frameworks. More than anything else, the purchase spells the company's intent to stay shoot atop the Kubernetes trend, especially since containers are rapidly altering and dictating how companies build and deploy their applications. The purchase is obviously for Microsoft to leverage the technology, but as with any other acquisitions, it entails the talent behind the technology, too. As such, experts with a lot of knowhow on Kubernetes will now be available at Microsoft's disposal. But What Even Is A Container? Containers aren't discussed much, but they are incredibly crucial. Developers know all too well about the grab-bag terms: Docker, Kubernetes, Mesos, and a slew of others but a large group of people don't. Major tech companies the likes of Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft seems to have participated in this trend years ago, so what exactly are containers? For starters, containers pack codes and their dependencies into one container so they can run anywhere, instead of shipping a full operating system and a specific software. Because containers are also typically very small, developers can pack lots of them onto a single computer. Simply put, containers make it easier for developers to determine if their software will run, irrespective of where it's deployed. Deis Deis has three key open-source tools for executing Kubernetes deployments: Workflow, Helm, and Steward. Of course, much like the companies similar to it, Deis relies on providing paid support and training for its applications. The company will resume development of these open-source tools even now that it's about to nest at Microsoft's neck of the woods. Thoughts about Microsoft's decision to acquire Deis? In what ways do you think will this amplify the Kubernetes trend? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below! 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Seeing as there are more than 1 billion websites online right now, being visited by 40 per cent of the worlds population, it is clear that plenty of commercial opportunities exist on the Internet. One of which is reseller hosting, a business model that continues to gain traction and popularity among several enterprises. But what is reseller hosting and who could benefit from it? Why should you consider this venture and what features do reseller servers need to have? The answer to all of these questions can be found below. What is reseller hosting? Reseller hosting is the practice of buying server resources from a web hosting company and then selling them off as your own for a profit. In most instances, a reseller is already a client of the hosting provider but will have substantial storage and bandwidth allotted to them. This allows the reseller to divide up their resources into smaller segments and make money out of any surplus. But even if this is the case, the host will always be the actual vendor, not the reseller. Who could benefit and why? Resellers have been known to include digital marketing agencies, IT consultancies, software application providers, and freelance web developers, as they already have a direct connection with the product. Benefits you can expect to enjoy include: More business - If you are able to provide web hosting to your customers, you could attract more business due to the one-stop-shop nature of your offering. Customers are more likely to choose your comprehensive, tailor-made solution over a mishmash of different vendors. An additional revenue stream - By adding reseller hosting to your complement of web-related products or services, you will receive another steady revenue stream on a monthly or annual basis. Reseller hosting tends to be a high margin service with high retention rates. Greater control and management - With control over your customers storage space and bandwidth, you can easily scale their requirements during busy and quiet periods. You can also build a strong relationship with your own hosts customer service and technical support teams for better management too. What features should your reseller servers have? To offer your customers a fast, reliable, and flexible solution, the following features are somewhat essential: Security - The latest security measures such as SSL certificates and two-factor authentication will protect the sensitive and confidential information of both you and your customers. Scalability - Your reseller provider should enable you to scale up or scale down the requirements of your own customers automatically and on demand. Uptime - Look for self-healing hardware and servers that can guarantee at least 99 per cent uptime to ensure customers never suffer from prolonged periods of downtime, which could tarnish your own reputation. What traits should your reseller host have? To make a success of reseller hosting, look for a provider that offers: Discounted services Premium support Sales and marketing tools On-the-go flexibility So, if your core business is related to web design and development or wider IT services, dont let the opportunity of reselling pass you by. Master Image Credits technology MASON CITY | Officials say building safety features and a quick response kept a fire at a Mason City senior living complex from turning into a tragedy. Firefighters learned of the blaze at 5:56 a.m. Saturday at Shalom Tower II, 321 Fourth St. N.E. They were dispatched to investigate an automatic fire alarm controlled by the building's sprinkler system. The fire was located in an apartment on the fifth floor. Crews performed search and rescue on the sixth and seventh floors, and made sure three floors -- the fifth, sixth and seventh -- were evacuated, according to a Mason City Fire Department statement issued Monday. The rest of the building also was evacuated. Firefighters say the blaze was contained to bedding and a bed, although there was smoke damage throughout the apartment. Mason City Fire Marshal Jamey Medlin said the fire would have been far worse had it not been kept in check by the building's sprinkler system. The quick actions by emergency responders, which also included the North Iowa CERT, also made a difference, he said. "There were no life-threatening injuries to occupants of the building, and residents were able to return to their apartment(s) later that morning or by early afternoon," he said in the statement. Owned by Good Shepherd, Shalom Tower 2 a 48-unit complex with residents who are age 55 and older. Officials say 44 residents were assisted during the fire. The environmental imbalance and crisis created in nature are comparable to the conditions of inequality and injustice that capitalism has created against humanity, he said. | Read More MASON CITY | The tree at the heart of a fiery crash that killed five young North Iowans early Monday morning was transformed into a shrine by nightfall. Approximately 150 people flocked to a vigil staged Monday night by one of the victims family members, placing balloons, candles and signs at the base of the tree stump. Police say a Jeep Liberty carrying the victims was going east about 2:30 a.m. when it veered off the 400 block of Sixth Street Southwest, hit the tree and then burst into flames. All five occupants died at the scene. Police on Monday did not release the names of the victims, but their names were not a secret among Mason Citys high school students and young adults. At the vigil, someone wrote the names of five people in black permanent marker on the shorn-off branches of the tree. Rod. Sydney. Donte. Alex. Zach. Mourners passed around the marker and took turns writing sayings next to the names: "Rest Easy. Love Nana." "Mom and Dad love you." Travis Wiebke, of Mason City, said the Alex written on the tree was his son, Alex Wiebke. He said Alex, 19, had a huge heart, was a big Green Bay Packers fan and was always looking out for other people. He was over 7 feet tall and the reason (and), I told my mom, is because, for someone to have a heart that big, you had to have something to hold it, Wiebke said after Mondays vigil. Thats how he is. He always cared about other people other than himself. Word of the crash spread quickly among Mason City teens. Bree DeFord, 17, knew all five victims. Shed gone to high school with some and met the others through friends. They were all really cool people, said DeFord, of Mason City. They were always there for me no matter what. Deoshea Foster was one of the first to leave memorials at the stump. She staked five crosses into the ground. She and a friend tied five balloons that said Youre So Special onto the metal stands. One of the crosses was for her 17-year-old cousin, who she said was killed in the crash. And, out of respect for the other families, too, I made sure I got (a cross) for all for them, said Foster, of Mason City. Itd have been selfish, you know? Authorities plan to release the names of the victims Tuesday morning. Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said officers were aware that word of the crash and the victims' identities were starting to filter around the community, but the department will wait until Tuesday morning to release names of those involved. A couple of families have asked for just a few more hours to reach some additional relatives, he said. He declined to speculate on what may have caused the crash, citing the ongoing investigation. Investigators towed the Jeep away to a secure location. We want to make sure that weve done our due diligence in evaluating everything before we draw any hard-line conclusions about what happened, he said. MASON CITY | A Mason City woman who graduated from Cerro Gordo County Drug Court Tuesday said the program "saved my life." "I couldn't have done it without drug court," said Theresa Pennington, 37. She also said she couldn't have made it without her fiance, Shane Godden, who graduated from the program earlier this year. Godden was one of the drug court participants who reached out to Pennington when she first started the program. The goal of drug court is to rehabilitate drug offenders without sending them to prison. Participants approved for drug court meet with District Court Judge James Drew once a week for 12 to 18 months. The other members of the drug court interdisciplinary team the county attorney, a probation officer, a substance abuse counselor and a defense attorney as well as other drug court participants are present during these meetings with the judge. Participation in drug court is a condition of probation. One they graduate, participants return to regular probation. Pennington, who has seven children, said she wants to provide a better example for them. Candi Schickel, the drug court defense attorney, said Pennington "had a big struggle" more than a year ago, but ended up making the right choices. She said Pennington had to leave a relationship and stay at a women's shelter. Drew said he was impressed with Pennington's work ethic. She is currently working at Aeron Advanced Manufacturing. "You have been an excellent employee," Drew said. He noted not everyone who graduates from drug court stays on the right path. Drew told Pennington if she finds herself struggling, she should remember "there are people out there who love you" and reach out to them. "You are a valuable, precious human being," he said. "Don't ever forget that." She said her future plans include "just doing better and better." Dock10 has recruited Hannah Entwistle as senior producer in its vfx department. She joins from McCann Manchester where she was agency producer, and her previous roles include post production producer at 422 and producer at Equinox Film. At dock10, Entwistle will work with and manage clients, collaborating with dock10s vfx creatives and operators. Hannah brings a significant amount of experience to the business, bolstering what is already an established and creative team, says Chris Baker, head of vfx at dock10. dock10 provides post production and vfx services to a range of agencies, commercial production companies and corporates. It is the UKs largest post production business outside of London, with credits including Happy Valley, Dragons Den, Match of the Day, Last Tango in Halifax and Blue Peter, and for agencies on behalf of brands including Missguided, Bensons for Beds and Magnet Kitchens. Share this story TV and multimedia content producer Zinc Media Group has appointed Roy Ackerman as MD of Films of Record and Director of International Strategy, TV. His new role is to grow Films of Record, while working with the rest of the senior management team at Zinc Media to build and accelerate its business in the US and the wider global market. Ackerman joins Zinc Media from Pulse Films, where he was MD and rebooted its TV division with a slate of big commissions, says Zinc. Before Pulse, Ackerman was MD at Jamie Olivers Fresh One Productions and led the company from a celebrity vehicle into a global multi-genre indie. Prior to Fresh One, he was Creative Director at Diverse Production, overseeing programmes such as Man vs Wild, Operatunity and a raft of big documentaries. Ackerman will be working closely at Zinc Media with Films of Record exec producer and director Katie Buchanan. Share this story The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement MASON CITY | A Mason City woman was given a 10-year suspended prison sentence Tuesday on a felony methamphetamine conviction. Toleka J. Juenger, 33, was put on probation for five years for felony possession of meth with intent to deliver. As a condition of probation, she is required to complete the Cerro Gordo County Drug Court program. A $1,000 fine was suspended, but she was ordered to pay a $125 surcharge and court costs. Juenger had a clear, crystal-like substance believed to be meth with an unofficial weight of 14.7 grams in her possession on Sept. 8, according to the Mason City Police Department criminal complaint. She pleaded guilty in February. -- Mary Pieper MASON CITY | The entry period has begun for this year's Extreme Makeover: College Edition contest, which provides two people with a free year of tuition to North Iowa Area Community College. The other three finalists will receive half-price tuition to NIACC for the 2017-18 academic year. In the past those finalists have received $1,000 NIACC scholarships. For more than a decade, NIACC has been providing adult students with an opportunity to return to college at no cost. In addition to free tuition, the top two finalists receive free textbooks and more. Winning the Extreme Makeover not only paid for the classes and books I needed, but also allowed me to save up for my following semester at NIACC," Sam Whipple of Mitchell, a 2016-17 winner, said in a press release. "Ive been thankful every day for winning and have worked hard at accomplishing my goals," he stated. The contest is open to adults at least 23 years old who haven't taken a NIACC credit class the past three years. Those who meet those qualifications can complete the online form and explain why they need and deserve an educational makeover. For more contest rules and to enter, call 888-466-4222 or visit www.niacc.edu/admissions/extreme-makeover. Entries must be received by noon April 21. MASON CITY | Looking at a crowd filled with tear-streaked faces, hearing the sobs as teens hugged each other and poured out their grief in the wake of Monday mornings crash that killed five young Mason City residents, Nick Kmoch felt the depth of their pain. As ministry director for North Iowa Youth For Christ, he knew all five victims Roderick Lemeual Lewis, Sydney Nikole Alcorn, Alex Parvon-Charles Wiebke, Zachary Wolf Hartley and Donte William Foster. All were killed when the Jeep Liberty they were riding in hit a tree on Sixth Street Southwest. Police found the crash about 2:40 a.m. All died at the scene. Its going to take time, said Kmoch, after a vigil service Tuesday in Georgia Hanford Park. This is going to rock our community and I would encourage everyone out there and give them a hug, because you never know. You never know. Police released the names of the victims on Tuesday morning. The crash is still under investigation, which will likely take weeks, but officers believe the Liberty was the only vehicle involved in the crash. Officers are checking with area businesses to see if any security cameras at nearby businesses can offer clues to what happened, said Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley. The crash scene is near a power pole on the north side of Sixth Street Southwest on the edge of the Great Clips parking lot. It's about 300 feet from the Mason City Fire Department. A police officer discovered the incident while investigating a power outage. Brinkley didn't know if the crash was reported to 911 before the officer found it. The deaths prompted an outpouring of emotion from friends and classmates. Two hundred people attended the sunset service Youth For Christ organized Tuesday in Georgia Hanford Park. Many teens took to the microphone to share memories. The night before, approximately 150 people including many students from Mason City High School attended a vigil on Monday night at the crash site. Foster, 17, was a senior at Mason City High School. Wiebke graduated in 2016 and Hartley, 20, the driver, was a 2015 Mason City graduate. Fourteen-year-old Alcorn lived in Mason City, but was a freshman at Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock. Lewis wasnt attending school at the time of the crash, but had previously attended local schools. The Mason City School District called in additional counselors and support staff to be on hand to help students through their grief It also contacted the Area Education Agency 267 crisis team, which provides additional support for school districts, students and staff dealing with situations like the crash. Police have not released any information about what led to the crash, and Brinkley wouldnt speculate about the matter Tuesday night. I think theres a lot of rumors. Theres a lot of scuttlebutt, speculation on social media, what have you, Brinkley said. I dont think this is the time or the place for it. He urged the community to put its focus on the families of the victims, not on rumors. A Louisiana law enforcement officer charged with murder in a 6-year-old boy's fatal shooting had engaged in a pattern of abusing his badge to "satisfy his sexual desires," prosecutors claim in a court filing disclosing the lurid allegations. The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office fired Norris Greenhouse Jr. after the mother of a 14-year-old girl complained in 2012 that she found him lying on a sofa with her daughter while he was dressed in his sheriff's office uniform, prosecutors said in Friday's filing. Prosecutors also claim Greenhouse made "sexual advances" toward the then-girlfriend of Christopher Few before the November 2015 shooting that critically wounded Few and killed his son, Jeremy Mardis. Few led Greenhouse and three other officers on a 2-mile (3-kilometer) car chase before the deadly shooting in Marksville. Prosecutors argue that jurors for Greenhouse's trial should hear these allegations because they could help explain why Greenhouse initiated the pursuit. Greenhouse "has established a pattern of approaching women or teenage girls while 'on the clock' as a law enforcement officer and using the means at his disposal due to said employment to solicit those victims in an effort to satisfy his sexual desires," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes wrote. George Higgins III, Greenhouse's attorney, said in a statement that prosecutors' allegations are a "thinly veiled attempt to tarnish my client's reputation prior to trial by using clearly inadmissible and unfounded allegations." "We know the public is smart enough to know a distraction when they see one, but apparently (Attorney General Jeff Landry's office) believes this to be helpful in determining what happened the night of the shooting. (Landry's office) is well-aware that these allegations are irrelevant, and inadmissible at trial," Higgins said. Greenhouse, 25, and a second officer, 33-year-old Derrick Stafford, were indicted on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. A judge sentenced Stafford to 40 years in prison after a jury convicted him on March 24 of lesser charges of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. Greenhouse's separate trial on murder charges is scheduled to start June 12. Stafford, who was a Marksville police lieutenant, and Greenhouse, a former Marksville police officer, were moonlighting as deputies for the city marshal on the night of the shooting. Greenhouse, whose father is a longtime prosecutor in Avoyelles Parish, resigned from the Marksville Police Department in 2014. Last Friday's court filing says the sheriff's office fired Greenhouse "for abandoning his job" shortly after the January 2012 incident involving the 14-year-old girl. Greenhouse had placed his gun belt and jacket on the floor but was wearing his full sheriff's office uniform when the girl's mom walked in and found him on the couch with her daughter just after midnight, the filing says. After the mother ordered him to leave, Greenhouse drove off in the patrol vehicle he had parked out in front of the girl's home, prosecutors said. When investigators from the sheriff's office questioned him about the incident, Greenhouse said he had been at the girl's house three times when her mother wasn't home. "He claimed they would just talk when he went there, but denied any physical or sexual contact," prosecutors wrote. The girl told investigators that Greenhouse didn't touch her or "talk to her about anything sexual," but she said the incident made her feel uncomfortable. However, Greenhouse told investigators that he had sent a text message soliciting a 16-year-old girl to send him a photo of her breasts, according to prosecutors. Greenhouse said he deleted a string of Facebook and text messages with the girls because he didn't want his girlfriend to see them, prosecutors said. In Friday's filing, prosecutors say "more than one" of Greenhouse's sexual advances toward Few's ex-girlfriend happened while he was in uniform and driving his patrol car. Greenhouse made the advances "under the guise of wanting her to work as a confidential informant (but) would quickly transition to wanting some sort of sexual contact," they wrote. Video from a police officer's body camera shows Few had his hands raised inside his vehicle while Stafford and Greenhouse collectively fired 18 shots at it. Stafford testified at trial that he didn't know the boy was in the car when he fired and didn't see his father's hands in the air. But he said he shot at the car because he feared Few was going to back up and hit Greenhouse with his vehicle. Two other officers at the scene a third deputy city marshal and a Marksville police officer didn't fire their weapons that night. Prosecutors said the officers weren't in any danger and shot at the car from a safe distance. Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald. BILOXI A crowd followed Baton Rouge rapper Lil Boosie into Dillards department store Sunday afternoon, where he was shopping in the Polo Ralph Lauren area when a loss-prevention officer whipped out a can of pepper spray and doused the rapper in the face. Before the afternoon ended, several men associated with Lil Boosie were arrested miles east of the mall on simple assault charges. Lil Boosie, now known as Boosie Badazz, had performed the night before at the Coast Coliseum for the busiest Biloxi Black Beach Weekend on record. Fan Crystal Whitmore said he was just trying to get in a little shopping when she spotted him at Edgewater Mall. Whitmore, who is from Altheimer, Arkansas, was one of the fans trailing Lil Boosie and his crew through the mall into Dillards. She said 100 fans must have been gathered in the store, all calling out to the rapper, whose real name is Torence Hatch. He was just really quiet, she said. Everybody was saying, 'We love you Boosie, we love you Boosie. Whitmore pulled out her phone and started shooting video when a Dillards security officer yelled at Boosie and his group, Go, out, out. She posted on her Facebook page three short video clips, taken over about a minute, she said. Not seeing the video below? Click here. He was just in the mall shopping, Whitmore said. He can't help it because he has fans that want to see him. . . . On the first video, you can see he was very calm. The security guard just kept saying, Leave, leave, leave. When he didn't leave, the security guard just Maced him. Read the Sun Herald article here. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The longtime personnel director for the Central school system was fired Monday, after what the school superintendent described as a 1-year-long evaluation process. Gavin Vitter has been Centrals Human Resource director for more than seven years, most of the district's almost 10-year history. Central broke away from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system in 2007. Superintendent Michael Faulk said that Vitters termination was 18 months in the coming. He said he placed Vitter on administrative leave on March 10 and that Vitters termination is effective Tuesday. He would not say why Vitter was fired, instead pointing to the school systems dismissal of employees policy, which says only that noninstructional employees like Vitter shall be subject to dismissal upon the written recommendation by the Superintendent to the School Board. With little comment, the board voted 7-0 to uphold Faulks recommendation. Vitter spoke briefly before the board voted. Vitter said hed enjoyed his time in Central, a time during which he got to make a lot of friends in the school district, went through three cars and adopted a child. He noted that he is the president of the Louisiana Association of School Personnel Administrators and even handed a check Monday with the proceeds from a LASPA fundraiser to Julie Stevens, principal of the flooded Tanglewood Elementary. +11 Inside look at first day back at Tanglewood Elementary after flood Ryleigh Rogers spent just one day of first grade at Tanglewood Elementary before several fee Vitter opted not to make a strong public case to stay Monday, noting hed given the board a long letter laying out his side of things. Its a very tough decision, Vitter told the board sympathetically. Vitter, however, said he did object strongly to a section of a recent job evaluation that found his professional ethics were ineffective, something that he said he'd dispute until the day I die. There is no one more professionally ethical than me, Vitter said. When approached for comment afterward, Vitter declined to elaborate on what hed told the board. Vitters firing was barely noted on the agenda for Mondays meeting. The only indication that anything was happening was item 7A, which featured just one word Termination, with no more detail. Bob Hammonds, an attorney representing the school system, said the agenda language could have been worded better, but he said it was enough to comply with Louisianas open meetings law in terms of providing sufficient notice of the boards planned action. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser has been using a Lower Pontalba Building apartment and space in other state museum buildings in the French Quarter for his personal benefit and has engaged in a pattern of political interference with the agency's operations, the Louisiana State Museum's interim director said Monday while resigning in protest. Nungessers interference includes attempting to override museum officials and board members who objected to plans to loan U.S. Sen. John Kennedy artworks for his office in Washington, D.C., and threatening to sell museum works of art on eBay to raise funds, said Tim Chester, a museum consultant who took the interim position in October. I have never encountered anything like this in the 40 years Ive worked in the field, ever, Chester said. Ive seen some pretty strange crap come down in museums, but this one takes the cake. Nungesser denied the allegations and blasted Chester, who he said had not been moving quickly enough to find a permanent director or make other changes to the museum. Some of the things in there are bald-faced lies, Nungesser said, referring to Chester's resignation letter as cowardly. "I think hes an agitated old man who was not moving quickly enough in anything I wanted done at the museum," Nungesser said. "I wanted accountability. I wanted to know where people were, what they were doing." These incidents represent a growing threat to the health and prosperity of the Louisiana State Museum, Chester said as he stepped down at a meeting of the museum's board at the Old U.S. Mint. Chester was hired last fall as an interim replacement for Mark Tullos, who headed the museum from 2013 until Nungesser dismissed him in May 2016. At the time he was hired, Tullos was the fourth person to hold the job in five years. When he was lieutenant governor, Mitch Landrieu pushed through legislation giving him, rather than the board, the power to hire and fire the museum director. Not long afterward, he forced out David Kahn, who had been hired two years earlier. The State Museum is a part of the state's Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which is overseen by the Lieutenant Governors Office. But the museum which includes the historic Cabildo, Presbytere, Old Mint and Lower Pontalba Building in the French Quarter, plus other buildings in Baton Rouge and elsewhere also has a semi-independent board. In announcing his resignation, Chester laid out a laundry list of issues with Nungessers oversight of the museum, including interference in staffing and management decisions. Nungesser also has used the museums property for his own personal use, Chester said. That includes a vacant apartment in the Lower Pontalba Building on Jackson Square, which had previously been used for housing guest speakers. Keys to the museum apartment were taken away from our staff, and staff was told scheduling and use of that apartment would happen out of Baton Rouge, Chester told the board. Nungesser said the request to turn over the keys stemmed from a tour he took soon after his term began in January 2016, when he was told that nobody was staying in the apartment. But when he went inside with a maintenance person, they found someone in the apartment, he said. I dont think I ever found out who that someone was staying there, he said. Nungesser said he had personally used the apartment two or three times and noted that Chester had stayed there for several weeks when he was first hired. It also has hosted legislators, tourism officials, musicians and the grandson of the person who donated the building to the state, he said. The museum has never been denied use of the apartment when it has asked for it, he said. In addition, Chester said, Nungesser has been seeking to convert another, more desirable apartment in the mid-19th century building into a personal pad, which would involve construction that would alter the units historic character. Nungesser said his office had considered swapping the apartment for a more desirable, two-bedroom unit in the Pontalba that had become vacant. But he said it was Chester that began renovations on the unit against his wishes. Im trying to redirect our efforts to do the critical repairs and maintenance, Nungesser said, adding that there isnt a need to do renovations on apartments that have a long list of people interested in renting them. Chester also accused the lieutenant governor of attempting to intimidate museum staff to avoid paying the normal rental fees for hosting private, after-hours events at museum facilities. When asked to pay the fees, an official in Nungessers office replied, Tim Chester doesnt own that museum. The lieutenant governor does, according to Chesters resignation letter. Nungesser said he has not held an event at any museum facilities and never received an invoice from the museum. He said the allegation may refer to a time when his staff requested to host a seafood event at the museum something the office routinely does at other museums around the state and was told they would have to pay. "It was probably good that he resigned because if I had known that, he wouldnt have had to resign," he said. Chester also alleged Nungesser has been interfering with the lengthy waiting list used to select new tenants for the much sought-after Pontalba apartments. Chester said his resignation was driven by those issues as well as others, including demands from Nungessers staff for keys to the museum buildings so they could use them at their discretion, something that Chester said violated the museums security policies. Another major issue was a request by Kennedy to take 14 pieces of art to Washington, D.C., that had been in his office in Baton Rouge while he was state treasurer, Chester said. Nungesser requested the loan of that artwork be approved, though Kennedy withdrew the request last week, Chester said. Nungesser said the loan would have been a way to show off artwork that would otherwise be in warehouses. He said Chesters reluctance to send the artwork to Washington stemmed from Kennedys senatorial campaign last year, which included attacks on the states public arts program. I didnt agree with him in the campaign when he attacked the art program," Nungesser said, "but I didnt think it was proper to punish him because of his stance on one issue. Hes our senator, and I really believe that we should embrace whats best for the museum, the collection and the whole state of Louisiana. Chester's comment about selling off state artwork was a reference to Nungesser's proposal to sell some pieces that are in storage, an idea that was floated before Chester was appointed. Nungesser said he still supports that plan. Board members on Monday reacted with sadness to Chesters resignation, with Chairman Lawrence Powell saying he wished he could refuse it. Others said the resignation was needed to bring attention to the issues between Nungesser and the board. These problems have been going on for months and months. ... Its will and power on one side and, except in some areas, our lack of power, board member Harry Hardin said. This (resignation) exposes them to public scrutiny, which is what politicians sometimes pay attention to. But, Chester said, he couldnt continue, given all the issues that had built up. I dont have any skin in this game. My long-term future is not tied to kowtowing or saying politically correct things, Chester said. It gives me an odd sort of authority that allows me to call things as I see them. Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a lawsuit against Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration, accusing the governor of improperly blocking a $4 million transfer needed to fund the state Department of Justice. According to the suit, which was filed in the 19th Judicial District Court Tuesday morning, the Edwards administration has repeatedly refused to sign off on a request that would give the attorney general's office access to money from an escrow fund tied to a 2013 pharmaceutical settlement. The AG's office claims it is the rightful recipient of those funds. "Receipt of these funds by DOJ is necessary to ensure continuity of operations, to make payroll, to cover expenses of ongoing litigation and to avoid a deficit in the DOJ budget," the AG's office wrote in the lawsuit. Edwards, who had previously proposed putting the money into the state general fund for other uses, has maintained a position that the fund shouldn't go toward the Department of Justice. During a special session earlier this year, he asked lawmakers to direct the money elsewhere, but the Republican-controlled House blocked that plan. House leaders said at the time that remaining out of the dispute over the escrow fund was one of the critical pieces they sought in the eventual budget agreement. In an acerbic statement on his decision to file the lawsuit over access to the fund, Landry accused Edwards of being an "emperor" who is "a predictable and vindictive Washington-style politician more concerned with political points than the peoples business." By playing petty partisan politics, the Governor is jeopardizing the operations of the Louisiana Department of Justice," Landry said. Since taking office last year, Democrat Edwards and Republican Landry have engaged in several rounds of high-profile sparring. The two are also locked in a legal battle over an executive order that Edwards signed to bar discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in state government based on the sexual orientation or gender identity. Landry is considered a possible candidate for governor, when Edwards is up for reelection in 2019. Edwards said in a statement that the media was notified about the latest lawsuit before his office was. He called it "nothing more than another dog and pony show from the Department of Justice." "Jeff Landry is going to great lengths at the taxpayers expense to protect an escrow account that doesnt belong to his department while the rest of state government is taking a spending cut," Edwards said in a statement. "Only Jeff Landry thinks he should be shielded from any spending cuts while students are at risk of losing TOPS, while higher education is at risk of taking a cut or while lifesaving health care services are in jeopardy." Liz Murrill, director of the Attorney General's civil division, said that the fund had not become a point of contention in the past. "This has never been in question until John Bel Edwards wanted to take the money away from us," she said. She said that the AG's office has repeatedly tried to make its case privately to the Edwards administration, that the Legislature assigned those funds to serve as self-generated revenue to operate the office. "That part of our budget is not supplied with cash, we have to supply the cash for it," she said. Edwards said on Tuesday that he had not yet read the lawsuit. He said that Landry "went to the media with a statement before he ever approached me and tried to work this matter out." I dont think there is a basis, at all, for the lawsuit, Edwards said. He said he thinks it's "very, very clear" that the money shouldn't go to the attorney general. Murrill said that the issue isn't over whether the money is considered state funds. "We've never said they aren't state funds, but they are appropriated to us," she said. Murrill said state lawmakers passed legislation last year that Edwards signed into law on the use of certain funds funds that specifically eliminated a prior prohibition on the money being used to fund the attorney general's office. "The language is so clear and unambiguous," she said. "We shouldn't have had to file this lawsuit." "This is about the easiest decision for a court that it could ever make," Murrill added. Read the AG's lawsuit below. Nearly three-fourths of Louisiana residents approve of the state's decision to expand Medicaid, a new poll suggests, even as President Donald Trump, who remains widely popular in the state, continues his quest to repeal the federal Affordable Care Act that made expansion possible. The 2017 Louisiana Survey's findings on health care suggest a disconnect in the relationship between Medicaid health care coverage and the ACA. Louisiana road to Medicaid expansion long, winding but finally here Against all odds, Louisiana has become the 31st state perhaps more noteworthy, the first s While even a majority of Republicans (51 percent), and most Democrats (91 percent) and independents (73 percent) support the expansion of the health care program for the poor, which Gov. John Bel Edwards implemented last year after taking office, more than half of the state has an unfavorable opinion of President Barack Obama's signature health care law. The poll found that 80 percent of Louisiana Republicans have an unfavorable view of the ACA. Researchers began earlier this month releasing the findings of the latest Louisiana Survey, an annual poll on residents' views on various topics. Tuesday's release, which focuses on Medicaid expansion and the Affordable Care Act, is the fifth of six reports anticipated. The Louisiana Survey is based off responses from 1,012 residents in live interviews by cellphone or landline from Feb. 23 to March 23. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points. Edwards, a Democrat, signed an executive order expanding Medicaid through the Obama-backed Affordable Care Act shortly after taking office in January 2016. The expansion took effect July 1. In the months since, enrollment has continued to climb past 415,000, with thousands of patients reportedly seeking care for chronic conditions and severe illnesses. Under the expansion, which is an opt-in provision of the ACA, adults who make less than 138 percent of federal poverty level about $33,500 a year for a family of four or $16,200 for a single adult can qualify for free health care coverage. While attitudes toward Medicaid expansion are largely united in support across demographics, the poll found deep divides on the Affordable Care Act. "There are large cleavages by race, household income and partisanship," the researchers note. "Most whites have an unfavorable opinion of the ACA, but most blacks and most residents of other races have a favorable opinion of the law. Slightly more than half of state residents with household incomes below $50,000 have a favorable opinion of the ACA, but an even larger share about 60 percent of residents with household incomes of $50,000 or more have an unfavorable opinion." In a proposal sure to spark arguments, the state would enjoy total regulatory control over Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing services under legislation that backers promoted Monday. The measure, House Bill 527, is sponsored by House Transportation Committee Chairman Kenny Havard, R-St. Francisville. A coalition of supporters, called "Let's Geaux Louisiana," was on hand for a press conference to call attention to the measure. The two-month session began at noon. Backers said the legislation would give the state a single, regulatory framework over Uber and other services rather than relying on a wide range of rules among parishes. The bill would put the state Department of Transportation and Development in charge of enforcing the rules, including permits, driver requirements and disclosure of fares. The state would collect 1 percent of the gross receipts from the services. That money would then be sent to local governments where the rides originated, minus DOTD overhead expenses. What is likely to spark controversy, however, is the part of the proposal that would ban local governments, special districts, airport authorities or port authorities from imposing taxes on firms that operate the services, drivers or vehicles, including any licensing requirements. Officials of local governments may resist any effort to nullify chances for them to exercise oversight and collect revenue. New Orleans Councilwoman Susan Guidry, who authored the citys ordinance regulating ride-hailing services, said just a quick overview of the proposed law showed it fell short of the citys ordinance in a number of ways. It has fewer insurance requirements, less stringent background checks, does not require random drug tests or drug tests after crashes and does not prohibit surge pricing in emergencies. The proposed state law also does not include prohibitions on discrimination in pick-ups and drop-offs and would not require the ride-hailing services to provide data that could be used to verify whether such discrimination is occurring, something that is including in the city ordinance. Why would you create a law that was less protective when they have already agreed to operate under our citys law which is more protective? Guidry asked. Havard said current rules governing Uber and Lyft are a patchwork of regulations. The advantage of a state plan, he said, is that it would ensure the same quality for riders whether ride sharing services are used in New Orleans or Bossier City. Todd Murphy, president of the Jefferson Parish Chamber of Commerce, said the New Orleans area alone includes 10 parishes, including five municipalities in Jefferson Parish. "It is confusing to the driver, it is confusing to the passenger," Murphy said of existing rules. "This will just eliminate some of that confusion." Under the bill, airports could charge Uber and others pickup fees similar to those charged taxis. Backers include the Louisiana Retailers Association, One Acadiana and the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. They also said 40 other states have similar laws. A spokeswoman for Lyft said market data, including how many use the service in Louisiana, is not publicly disclosed. Lyft provides nearly 19 million rides monthly nationwide, she said. (Some information for this story was provided by Jeff Adelson, reporter for The New Orleans Advocate) . Gov. John Bel Edwards is tinkering with his proposal to the Legislature to have the state begin taxing corporate sales, not corporate profits, the governor told reporters and editors with The Advocate Monday. Edwards said he is trying to make sure that his proposal which would establish what he calls a commercial activities tax does not unduly penalize high-volume, low-profit businesses, such as grocery stores. We are looking at formula where we can make sure its more fair for those types of businesses, Edwards said, adding that he might need as long as two weeks before he nails down the version that he wants lawmakers to consider. Some states choose to have a different rate for different businesses, depending on their sector in the economy. He added, We cant pass something people dont understand or that overwhelms the process. Edwards wants legislators to have the commercial activities tax replace the one-cent increase in the state sales tax that legislators approved last year but that will expire next year. It would be about an $880 million swap. Under his plan, businesses would pay a 0.35 percent on their sales only above $1.5 million per year. The governor would keep the corporate income tax while phasing out the separate corporate franchise tax meaning the commercial activities tax would act as a alternative minimum tax to make sure companies pay something. Companies would have to pay one or the other. Edwards made his comments a day before the House Ways and Means Committee begins taking up tax measures in a 60-day legislative session where the effort to revamp the states tax system will take center stage. Bills that would increase revenue or take away tax exemptions have to begin before the committee, the first step in the legislative process. The next step would be the House floor. On Tuesday, the committee is scheduled to take testimony on 26 different bills dealing with individual income taxes. Many of them would take away tax breaks and lower tax rates. A blue-ribbon task force created by the Legislature last year issued a report in January calling for repealing certain individual and corporate income tax breaks in exchange for lower tax rates. Last year, the Legislature rejected doing this for individual income taxes but approved doing it for corporate income taxes. Voters in November rejected the corporate tax swap, however. On Wednesday, Ways and Means will consider corporate income tax measure, and on Thursday the focus will be on sales tax bills. State Rep. Jim Morris, R-Oil City, the committees vice chair, said he expects the panel to hear arguments for and against the measures without voting on them since the Legislative Fiscal Office hasnt had time yet to determine the cost or savings for each one. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters on Air Force One while in flight from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., to Palm Beach International Airport, Fla., Thursday, April 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) MASON CITY | North Iowa Area Community College is hosting a Retirement Planning Expo 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 29. This event, which is being produced by Inspiration 97.9 KCMR and the Globe Gazette in partnership with NIACC, will be in the college's gym The event is designed to bring together the essential businesses and services retirees need, along with opportunities to engage, learn and give back to the community during retirement. The expo will feature exhibitors, speakers and workshops. Topics include senior living, social and recreational opportunities, learning opportunities, retirement careers, investments, health care, legal matters and volunteer opportunities. Businesses and organizations who want a booth at the expo should contact Greg Wilderman at 641-421-0545 or greg.wilderman@globegazette.com. Non-profit organizations who want a booth at the event should contact Ozzie Ohl from KCMR at ozzie@kcmrfm.com. The first 10 non-profits to sign up will receive a free booth. Tom Benson to buy Cadillac of New Orleans in latest big-name deal for Saints owner Tom Benson to buy Cadillac of New Orleans in latest big-name deal for Saints, Pelicans owner You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Former Destrehan High School teacher Kimberly Naquin admitted in St. Charles Parish court on Tuesday that she had sex with a student. The national pesticides authority's move to Armidale is a signature policy of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The cold is creeping in and winter is on its way, with minimum temperatures forecast to drop later this week. It feels like only a few weeks ago Canberra had 40 degree heat. But today is not so bad: 21 degrees, partly cloudy . The boss of the national pesticides authority won't say if she's moving with her agency to Armidale. When she was asked about her own plans at a Senate inquiry hearing into the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority's move to Armidale, she said the matter was 'private'. While her decision remains a mystery, the agency has been hit by a surge in resignations by its scientists which industries say could take years to recover from. Here's my report on the inquiry hearing. Forrest's record smashed The typical Canberran is Lucy, a 35-year-old woman with a mortgage on the three-bedroom home she shares with her husband and two children. Classic Lucy! According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census snapshot, "Lucy" is who we could describe as the typical person in Canberra. The ABS says both of Lucy's parents are of English ancestry, were born in Australia and everybody speaks English at home. Lucy is a year older than the typical Canberran from the 2011 and 2006 censuses, but the fact she has a mortgage on her house remains the same. United Airlines, which once encouraged passengers to fly its "friendly skies," is now in danger of becoming the air carrier that says: "Do what we say or we'll beat you up." Talk about your unusual corporate message. Nevertheless, that's a signal United is sending to the world in the aftermath of a huge customer service debacle. On an overbooked United Express Chicago-to-Louisville flight Sunday, a passenger who seemed to be minding his own business was ordered to leave the plane. After refusing, he was yanked out of his seat, roughed up and then literally dragged - yes, dragged on his back - from the plane by security personnel. There's video shot by his fellow passengers all over the internet. Seven West Media has moved to again beef up its senior female ranks with the appointment of Katie McGrath as its head of HR for the culturally beleaguered group. McGrath joins the company at what would no doubt be a very interesting time in the human resources offices of Kerry Stokes' Seven. The company has been racked with a spate of staff-driven scandals including alleged rampant credit card spending, alleged inappropriate affairs, as well as an alleged fraud and also strenuously denied claims staff have a case of "white line fever" on the weekends. The most high-profile scandal was the nasty fall out of chief executive Tim Worner's affair with junior staffer Amber Harrison, accused of inappropriately spending hundreds of thousands on the company credit card. TPG will build its own mobile network in a move set to shake up the Australian telecommunication landscape, having paid the government $1.26 billion for a slice of the nation's 4G mobile spectrum. The company says it will spend $600 million over three years building a network that will cover 80 per cent of the population. Telstra's share price plunged on the news, falling 6.5 per cent in early trade. By mid-morning, the country's largest telco's shares had shed 30 and were trading at $4.26 the lowest price since December 2012. TPG currently buys network access for its mobile products from Vodafone. The move will make it the country's fourth network operator, competing with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Woolworths' disastrous foray into hardware continues to haunt the retail giant after law firm Maurice Blackburn revealed plans for a $100 million class action against Australia's biggest supermarket chain. Despite closing the doors on its loss-making Masters Home Improvement business last year, the proposed class action relates to alleged breaches of the Corporations Act dating back to Woolworths' shock profit downgrade in early 2015 and attempts to stem big losses from its hardware operation. By late 2014, analysts were reporting Woolworths was putting up margins at the supermarket chain, cutting staffing levels and leaning on suppliers in an attempt to make up burgeoning losses at its failed Masters Home Improvement chain and Big W. Shopper backlash to price increases and a broader deterioration across the supermarket chain gained momentum between December 2014 and January 2015, eventually forcing the retailer's management to cut its full-year earnings outlook in February 2015. Woolworths' shares dived 13.7 per cent in the wake of the profit downgrade. Waiting that long might not be an option and it's quite depressing to see governments fail even in attempts to manage housing affordability. We hear so much from the young and, yes, being forced out of the property ownership market is tough. You see your own parents in their own homes and wonder if you can ever make that happen for you. Yep, but you might need to wait until they die. This is not a story about the young and the way they have been crushed by boomers, who own all of the houses. It's a story about the old. The average retired renter spends one-third of their income on housing. Credit:Michelle Mossop People my age and older, who never bought a house. Or women on the terrible end of a divorce and the worse end of a property settlement. People who might have lost their jobs through illness and were forced to sell. Families whose circumstances are so beset with poverty and disadvantage that any kind of property ownership is completely unlikely. All those people? They are renting and they are in trouble. In some cases, in much worse trouble than the under-40s. Why? There is no appetite to hire the old. If you are young, you are far more likely to get an interview and a subsequent job. The under-40s, at least, have the capacity to earn and to save. It looks like the Turnbull government will try to take this on, as it finally recognises that we have a cradle-to-the-grave housing problem. That might be good news for the future but not so good for those struggling right now. Australia has the second-highest rate of poverty among those on pensions in all OECD nations and it would be hard to find any group of politicians who actually care. The Australia Institute's senior economist, Matt Grudnoff, has tried to make poverty even more explicit by calculating the number of households where all occupants were aged over 55 and not in the paid workforce. Maybe some were looking for work but, really, were unlikely to find it at that age. "We see these beautiful pictures at night from the decks of these two US Navy vessels in the eastern Mediterranean," Brian Williams of MSNBC extolled on Thursday night, as the bright arc of a missile launch flashed across the screen. "I am tempted to quote the great Leonard Cohen, 'I am guided by the beauty of our weapons'." Williams was not alone in viewing the Syria bombing as a moment worthy of solemn praise. CNN's Fareed Zakaria who, like Williams, has been sharply critical of Donald Trump said as the bombs fell, "I think Donald Trump became president of the United States" that night. Illustration: Andrew Dyson At the New York Times and the Associated Press, the missile strike did more than crater the Al Shayrat airfield. It carved out a new Trump doctrine, a foreign policy based on flexibility. Which is one way of describing the president's abrupt about-face on his America-first foreign-policy prescriptions. According to the White House, televised images of gassed children caused Trump to shed his Syria-skepticism, transforming him into a hero of neoconservatives and liberal interventionists. But is this the start of a Trump doctrine? It's understandable that people would be searching for one. Doctrines rationalise and provide structure, something sorely needed in an administration thus far defined by its unpredictability and incoherence. 4. COMEDY: THE WORLD FAMOUS COMEDY STORE SHOWCASE A plethora of quipsters take to the stand-up mic in a two-hour show featuring Australian and international wits such as Mickey D, James Smith, Liza Treyger (US), Cameron Duggan, Georgie Carroll and Christian Elderfield. LAL FRIDAY, APRIL 14 AND SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 8.30PM, SYDNEY COMEDY STORE, MOORE PARK, $27.50 (FRI)/$32.50 (SAT), COMEDYSTORE.COM.AU 5. STAGE: THE DOG/THE CAT Xavier Samuel takes a break from the world of film (Whit Stillman's Love & Friendship, and The Death and Life of Otto Bloom) to reprise his role as a funky cat in the return season of this quirky two-part comedy penned by Brendan Cowell and Lally Katz. EB UNTIL MAY 7, BELVOIR, SURRY HILLS, $37-$72, BELVOIR.COM.AU 6. FILM: DENIAL A courtroom drama that recounts the sensational real-life case that saw American academic Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz) defending the Holocaust in a lawsuit brought by denier David Irving (Timothy Spall). GM SELECTED CINEMAS 7. ART | COAST: PETER POWDITCH Powditch rose to prominence in the 1960s and '70s, appeared in the 1st Biennale of Sydney and has exhibited around Australia and internationally in more than 100 shows, so it's surprising Coast is the first survey of his career. SW UNTIL MAY 21, TUESDAY-SUNDAY (EXCEPT GOOD FRIDAY), 11AM-5PM, S.H. ERVIN GALLERY, THE ROCKS, SHERVINGALLERY.COM.AU 8. STAGE: KINKY BOOTS The big-hearted musical walked all over the West End and Broadway. Now it's gonna walk all over you. Previewing ahead of its Sydney opening night on April 19, this story of a factory owner and drag queen who join forces has songs by Cyndi Lauper and a cast led by Toby Francis, Callum Francis and Sophie Wright. EB SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2PM & 8PM; SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 6.30PM, CAPITOL THEATRE, HAYMARKET, $55-$160, KINKYBOOTSTHEMUSICAL.COM.AU 9. ART | SYNAPSE Five past and current residents of Waverley Artist Studios present works with sound, robotics and other technologies. Tully Arnot's large kinetic installation Meadows a field of swaying plastic straws explores the idea of digital "nature". SW UNTIL APRIL 23, DAILY, 10AM-5PM, BONDI PAVILION GALLERY, BONDI BEACH, WAVERLEY.NSW.GOV.AU 10. MUSIC: SWEET CREEPS & OUTLAWS This three-headed alt-country monster features two locals in Henry Wagons and newly relocated to the US Ruby Boots, with American Johnny Fritz. It will be a raw and funny Good Friday. BZ Former prime minister Tony Abbott says there is nothing "sacrosanct" about Australia's immigration numbers and the government should reduce the migration program to ease housing pressures. As the government forms its housing affordability package ahead of the May budget, Mr Abbott also endorsed a proposal that would allow people to access their retirement savings to pay for a home deposit. "There are supply factors and there are demand factors. And one thing the federal government could do that would ease some of the demand pressure is to scale back immigration at least until land release and infrastructure can keep up," Mr Abbott told reporters on Monday night. "And frankly there is nothing sacrosanct about any particular immigration number. The Howard government scaled back immigration its first few years for a whole host of reasons." Students at Australia's top universities are among the least satisfied with their educational experience, according to government data that also paints the most detailed picture yet of how employers rate the skills of recent graduates. The data, to be released by the federal Department of Education on Wednesday, shows that six of the elite Group of Eight (Go8) universities performed below the national average when students were asked to rate the quality of their experience. The University of NSW, University of Sydney, University of Western Australia, University of Adelaide, Australian National University and the University of Melbourne all scored below the national average of 80 per cent student satisfaction. Private institutions the University of Notre Dame and Bond University had the most satisfied students, with more than 90 per cent rating their experience positively. 11 April 2017 - Dhamani, the award-winning jewelry house, is pleased to announce a global Affiliate Partnership with YPO, the premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world. YPO members will now have exclusive access to expert consultation, custom jewelry design and concierge services from Dhamani. As a global Affiliate Partner of YPO, Dhamani will provide private, complimentary consultations with their expert gemologists and jewelry designers to source, or design, any one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. In addition, Dhamani is providing exclusive concierge jewelry services by offering expert reviews of all quotes and specifications to ensure YPO members are receiving a quality piece at a fair price, regardless of where they are purchasing. The jeweler will additionally offer free shipping on all Dhamani jewelry purchased by members. Dhamani is offering these exclusive services to more than 24,000 YPO members in more than 130 countries, diversified among industries and types of businesses. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 15 million people and generate USD6 trillion in annual revenues. "YPO is a community of business leaders across more than 130 countries," said YPO CEO Scott Mordell. "Dhamani, YPO and our more than 24,000 incredible leaders are all aligned. We are committed to excellence and we appreciate the unique possibilities within each person." "YPO's guiding principle of first, last and always a uniquely personal experience is aligned with Dhamani's mission to bring timeless exoticism to the world of fine jewelry and why we are excited to partner with YPO and to have participated in the recent YPO EDGE conference in Vancouver," said Amit Dhamani, CEO of Dhamani Jewels and a YPO member. ### About Dhamani The Dhamani brand has been adding a brilliant sparkle to the lives of its clients for forty five years, offering the finest quality jewels set in world-class designs. Dhamani is the exclusive right holder of the exceptional 99- faceted Dubai Cut Diamond and is the Exclusive Atelier for beyond rare Argyle Pink Diamonds in the Middle East. As a premium brand, we strive to satiate the appetite of contemporary and luxury- loving connoisseurs from across the globe through intricately crafted jewelry. To find out more, visit us at www.dhamani1969.com or contact us at dhamani1969@dhamani.ae . About YPO The premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world. Today, YPO empowers more than 24,000 members in more than 130 countries, diversified among industries and types of businesses. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 15 million people and generate USD6 trillion in annual revenues. YPO is the global platform for chief executives to engage, learn and grow. YPO members harness the knowledge, influence and trust of the world's most influential and innovative business leaders to inspire business, personal, family and community impact. Leadership. Learning. Lifelong. For more information, visit YPO.org. CONTACT: press@ypo.org One of Australia's most prestigious universities has become the centre of a movement that believes Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has been framed by the West for last week's chemical weapons attack. The University of Sydney is standing by a controversial senior lecturer, Tim Anderson, who has dismissed the sarin gas attack in the Idlib Province as a "hoax" and called Syria's six-year civil war a "fiction" perpetrated by the US "to destroy an independent nation". Fairfax Media can reveal Dr Anderson is just one among a number of Australian academics who have formed a pro-Assad outfit called the Centre for Counter Hegemonic Studies, based in Sydney, to counter "censorship" by their universities. The centre was formed "after concern that many Western academic bodies constrain, censor and marginalise counter-hegemonic or anti-imperial research and discussion, due to their close ties with government and corporate sponsors". He had been rumoured to be a contender from the beginning, but most people didn't believe it would ever happen. Not because Edward Enninful, the renowned image-maker, friend of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, isn't supremely talented, but because he is a black man, born in Ghana, raised in London and working in New York. To give Enninful the reins of one of the most storied woman's fashion magazines would be to make a statement about diversity and gender that would resonate far beyond hemlines, upending decades of tradition and assumptions about men's and women's roles and reaffirming the importance of a global viewpoint for the fashion industry at a time when barriers are going up around the world. Edward Enninful with fashion designer Mary Katrantzou. Credit:AP But on Monday, Jonathan Newhouse, the chief executive of Conde Nast International, did just that, naming Enninful the first male editor of British Vogue since its founding in 1916, and the first black editor of any edition of Vogue. When a child reading a sentence comes across a word they don't know, their eyes either linger on it or quickly move on to the next word. "They either sound out c-a-t or they just move on," said Professor Anne Castles, who is leading a Macquarie University program that uses brain-imaging technology to map how children learn to read. Conversely, it's brighter children who are more likely to speed along through sentences because they are better at memorising words. But these students tend to suffer down the track, according to UK Schools Minister Nick Gibb, who has overseen the administration of phonics tests to year 1 students that Australia is set to adopt. Australia's health authorities are scrapping the use of chaperones to oversee doctors accused of serious sexual misconduct after an independent review found it was not protecting patients from abuse. The Medical Board of Australia and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency have revealed they will scrap the system in all but exceptional circumstances. Now, in cases where allegations of sexual misconduct are made, regulators will restrict which patients a doctor can see including gender restrictions or suspend them. Under the changes, in cases where doctors are already being chaperoned, or in those exceptional cases where it's still considered an appropriate means to protect the public, the chaperone must be independent and not an employee of the doctor. The driver of a bus for students with special needs has been charged with sexually assaulting one of his teenage passengers in Sydney's south-west, police say. Police will allege in court that the 51-year-old man sexually and indecently assaulted the schoolgirl when they were alone on the bus earlier this year. Detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad launched an investigation into the bus driver after receiving a report that the girl had been assaulted. On Monday night, detectives executed a search warrant at a house in Bass Hill and seized a bus that will be forensically examined. The 51-year-old man was arrested at the house and taken to Bankstown Police Station, where he was charged with aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of aggravated indecent assault (victim under 16 and under authority). NSW's top roads bureaucrat believes the state's pricing regulator is not needed to oversee price increases on Sydney's toll roads and insists an "incredibly robust" process is in place to ensure value for money for taxpayers in deals with private operators to build motorways. Fronting the first day of an inquiry into toll roads, Roads and Maritime Services chief executive Ken Kanofski said it was unnecessary to involve the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in either the lead-up to the signing of concession deeds with toll road operators, or later when tolls increased under so-called escalation rates. Tolls will be reintroduced on Sydney's M4 motorway. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer "There is an incredibly robust process to ensure that value for money is being sought or maintained," he said. "We have an enormous amount of scrutiny after the fact. It would be a misguided use of taxpayer money." In a submission to the inquiry, IPART chair Peter Boxall has said the regulator was keen to review road tolling in Sydney to determine how they are set and how they should change over time. Sydney's trains will increasingly struggle to run on time unless "sustained and substantial investment" is made in the existing heavy rail network, the state's Auditor-General has found. While a new $20 billion metro rail line and upgrades to the train fleet will help, the Auditor-General found that rail patronage growth was nevertheless outstripping both the government's forecasts and the rail system's capacity to cope. In a report released on Tuesday, the Auditor-General said it was likely that by 2019 there will be "virtually no scope to run additional trains through the city", increasing the risk that over-crowded trains will not be able to run according to their timetable. When it developed plans for the train system in 2011, Transport for NSW predicted rail patronage would grow by 3.3 per cent a year. But patronage has grown by 4.3 per cent per year since then, and for the past two years has increased by 6.6 per cent. Divers from the army and police have been called in to search for clues into the presumed murder of Brisbane man Wayne Youngkin as police revealed they were considering whether the killer could be dead. Family members, while not considered suspects, were also not being ruled out as police kept all options open in a major investigation into the 31-year cold case, only reopened when Mr Youngkin's skeleton was found in the septic tank of his former home last year. Police circulated this image of Wayne Youngkin, who went missing in 1986 and whose remains were found in Brighton in November. Credit:Queensland Police Service It has emerged there was more than a six-year gap between the 29-year-old's last public sighting, in 1986, and him being reported missing. Following a post-mortem, Detective Inspector Tim Trezise said the skeleton was found with "significant trauma". The Port of Melbourne is pushing for upgrades to the West Gate Bridge and truck curfews to be scrapped. In an exclusive report by Adam Carey, the port is struggling to cope with a fivefold increase in container traffic. Read the full article here. Mandatory minimum sentences will be introduced for repeat violent offenders under a state government led by the Liberals. Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy is promising to crack down on crime if he is elected to government, unveiling a suite of changes to sentencing laws. Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has unveiled a suite of changes to sentencing laws. Credit:Simon Schluter Under the proposed plan, violent criminals who reoffend will face minimum jail sentences of at least six years. But the changes have been slammed by legal experts as a "superficial approach" that will weigh heavily on the public purse. NEW YORK, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Its no secret that the publics demand for cosmetic surgery procedures around the world continues to expand rapidly. The vast majority of procedures such as breast augmentation and liposuction are still performed on women. However, one statistic has remained surprisingly small and that is the number of female plastic surgeons working in this highly-specialized field. According to the American Board of Plastic Surgery, 23% of all board-certified plastic surgeons are women, while the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that 12% of its members are women. The numbers are less favorable overseas. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) female board-certified plastic surgeons comprise just 10% of its global membership base. Thats a number that ISAPS President Dr. Renato Saltz is determined to grow. We recognize that while women are steadily streaming into other areas of medicine around the world, in many countries making up close to 50% of the classes in medical schools, the field of cosmetic surgery continues to be dominated by men, says Dr. Saltz. At ISAPS, we are lucky enough to include many notable female plastic surgeons among our members who have made ground-breaking contributions to our specialty. But having them as members isnt enough we also want to tap into their learning and insights to help grow the number of women who are attracted to our specialty, as well as to provide a mentoring and supporting structure for our women members. Dr. Saltz recently appointed New York plastic surgeon, Dr. Nina Naidu, to chair a new committee, ISAPS Women, to advocate for female plastic surgeons. Were excited to embark on this new directive, says Dr. Naidu, providing networking, mentoring, support and an open forum to discuss the issues faced by women plastic surgeons. It is the first global initiative of its kind in our specialty. As women, we do face unique challenges and obstacles, but by forming ISAPS Women, were going to be combining the skills, experience, expertise and insights of women in our specialty in over 50 countries. Thats very powerful. Male surgeons who are members of ISAPS are welcome to join ISAPS Women also, and can expect to see more discussions and presentations at the ISAPS Biennial Congress being held in South Beach Miami in 2018. Topics include subjects such as overcoming barriers to career success, pregnancy and the plastic surgeon, financial planning and retirement, and wellness and physician burnout. For more information please visit www.ISAPSMiami2018.com About ISAPS The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) is a premier global organization of 3500 board-certified plastic surgeons in 105 countries. Considered the platinum standard in aesthetic plastic surgery, ISAPS members undergo a rigorous approval process and help facilitate the most comprehensive series of educational courses and symposia for aesthetic plastic surgeons around the world. ISAPS is dedicated to its two-fold mission of raising the bar in aesthetic plastic surgery and helping patients make educated decisions in choosing the best surgeon for their safety and peace of mind. The ISAPS website contains extensive explanations about plastic surgery procedures, as well as detailed information about all its members in its Find-a-Surgeon section. For more information about how to select a qualified cosmetic doctor and to understand why ISAPS plastic surgeons possess the highest level of training and credentials in aesthetic surgery, please visit isaps.org or contact www.PremierPhysicianMarketing.com for more information. About Renato Saltz, MD, FACS Dr. Saltz is one of the most respected and accomplished board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. Saltz is considered one of the early pioneers of endoscopic surgery and his expertise in aesthetic plastic surgery, facial rejuvenation and breast and body contouring, is highly praised and sought after. Dr. Saltz presents lectures to colleagues all around the world and is the current President of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). He is also past President of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and is the founder of the non-profit organization Image Reborn, which holds all-expense paid retreats for women recovering from breast cancer. Dr. Saltz has been featured in a variety of media including Forbes Magazine, Allure, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. To learn more about Dr. Saltz, please visit www.SaltzPlasticSurgery.com. About Nina Naidu, MD, FACS Dr. Naidu is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. In 2008, she launched her own skin care line, Anokha, a natural line formulated from botanicals and actives native to South Asia. Ten percent of proceeds from sales of Anokha are donated to Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders). Dr. Naidu is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She is a reviewer and an Associate Editorial Board Member for the international aesthetic journal, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. To learn more about Dr. Naidu, please visit www.NaiduPlasticSurgery.com. The Nazis did not use chemical weapons against Western foes. Depending upon the account, though, this is either because their program wasn't sophisticated enough, they were worried about its impact on their horses, or because they feared the Allies had much more deadly chemical weapons. A Syrian doctor treats a child following the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, Syria. Credit:EMC/AP Minimising Hitler's actions - even a little - represents a glaring gaffe by a White House that the press previously has scrutinised for being slow to address bomb threats against Jewish Community Centres and for failing to mention Jews, specifically, in a statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Later on Tuesday, Spicer apologised and said he should not have made that comparison. White House press secretary Sean Spicer speaking to the media. Credit:AP "It was a mistake. I shouldn't have done it and I won't do it again," Spicer told CNN in an interview. "It was inappropriate and insensitive." "My goal now and then is to stay focused on Assad and I should have, and I'll make sure to stay in my lane when I talk about that." In his CNN interview, Spicer did not directly answer when host Wolf Blitzer asked if viewers "could assume" Trump had told him to publicly apologise. "You can assume that I realised that I had made a mistake and I did not want to be a distraction to the president's agenda," Spicer said. "When you make a mistake, you own it." Shortly after the White House briefing, Spicer emailed a statement to reporters in response to their queries, but had stopped short of offering an explicit apology. "In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust. I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centres. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable," Spicer said in the statement. The US Holocaust Museum did not mention Spicer's comments directly, but sent out a tweet shortly after the briefing that showed graphic footage of dead bodies US forces found while liberating the Buchenwald concentration camp. The video was retweeted more than a thousand times, with many Twitter users referencing Spicer's comments. US House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called on Republican President Donald Trump to reject Spicer's assertion. "Sean Spicer must be fired, and the President must immediately disavow his spokesman's statements," Pelosi said in a statement. The White House did not immediately respond when asked to comment on Pelosi's statement. Transcript of Spicer's comments Spicer was asked about the US response to Bashar al-Assad using chemical weapons in attacks in Syria last week. This is what he said: Spicer: You look - we didn't use chemical weapons in World War II. You know, you had a, you know, someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons. So you have to, if you're Russia, ask yourself, is this a country that you, and a regime that you, want to align yourself with? You have previously signed onto international agreements rightfully acknowledging that the use of chemical weapons should be out of bounds by every country. To not stand up to not only [inaudible] but your own word should be troubling. Russia put their name on the line, so it's not a question of how long that alliance has lasted, but at what point do they recognise that they are now getting on the wrong side of history in a really bad way, really quickly. And again, look at the countries that are standing with them: Iran, Syria, North Korea. This is not a team you want to be on. Reporter: I need to clarify something you said that seems to be getting some traction right now. Quote: "Hitler didn't even sink to the level of using chemical weapons". What did you mean by that? Loading Spicer: I think when you come to sarin gas, there was no, he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Ashad [sic] is doing. I mean there was clearly - I understand your point, thank you. Thank you, I appreciate that. There was not in the, in the, he brought them into the Holocaust centre, I understand that. But I'm saying in the way that Assad used them, where he went into towns, dropped them down into the middle of towns. So the use of it, and I appreciate the clarification there, that was not the intent. Experts believe that North Korea may be preparing to conduct its sixth nuclear test on Saturday, to coincide with the birthday of its founder, Kim Il-sung. North Korean official newspaper Rodong Sinmun said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States. North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un, has threatened to respond to a US show of force. Credit:AP "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the US invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland," it said. South Korea's acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and ensure close communication with Washington. "It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Mr Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. China's ambassador to the United Nations, Liu Jieyi, repeated China's call for a return to dialogue with North Korea. "The situation is tense and we certainly want a peaceful solution and we believe that it is highly important to move toward denuclearization, to maintain peace and stability and it's time that different sides sit down to talk about achieving these objectives," he told Reuters. Asked about Mr Trump linking a trade deal to China's help with North Korea: "We need to look at the situation on the Korean Peninsula as something that we should work together on." North Korea convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions attended by leader Kim Jong Un, and reported a successful national budget execution and personnel appointments, the official KCNA news agency said. The agency made no mention of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme or being under threat from the United States. South Korean officials sought to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis. "We'd like to ask for precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Assad sends congratulations to North Korea A military parade is expected in Pyongyang to mark Kim Il-Sung's birthday. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of UN Security Council resolutions. Men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on the streets of Pyongyang, illuminated by better lighting than seen in previous years, apparently practising for the parade. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent congratulations, lambasting "big powers" for their "expansionist" policy. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Credit:AP "The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," the North's KCNA news agency quoted his message as saying.. US officials said at the weekend the carrier group would take more than a week to reach waters near the Korean peninsula. A statement from US forces in South Korea on Tuesday said General Vincent Brooks, commander of United States Forces Korea, would not attend a Congressional hearing expected for later this month because of the "security situation on the Korean Peninsula." The statement said the step was not unprecedented. North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. North Korea regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and its main ally, the United States. Russian Worries The North has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States. The Trump administration has been reviewing its policy towards Pyongyang and while it says all options are on the table officials say non-military pressure on Pyongyang with China's help is the preferred path. Russia's Foreign Ministry, in a statement ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said it was concerned about many aspects of US foreign policy, particularly North Korea. "We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario," the ministry said. "It's important to understand how that would tally with collective obligations on denuclearising the Korean peninsula, something that is underpinned in UN Security Council resolutions." Russia condemned US cruise missile strikes on Syria on Friday, calling them an illegal attack on a sovereign state. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. U.S. Crude Oil Imports Increased in 2016 Including 40% From OPEC (So What Happened To Energy Independence?) Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly Gross U.S. crude oil imports in 2016 rose to an average of 7.9 million barrels per day (b/d), 514,000 b/d more than the 2015 average. Net crude oil imports increased by a smaller amount (460,000 b/d), as U.S. crude oil exports rose despite a decline in U.S. crude oil production. From a longer term perspective, gross crude oil imports in 2016 were still 22% lower than their 2005 high of 10.1 million b/d. Crude oil imports have also been affected by other major changes since 2005, when the United States was the worlds largest net importer of refined products and crude oil. In 2016, the United States was the worlds largest net exporter of refined products, with a significant portion of crude oil input to U.S. refiners supporting those exports. Canada continued to be the largest source of U.S. crude oil imports in 2016, providing a record 3.3 million b/d, or 41% of total U.S. importsmore than all Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) combined. Among non-OPEC suppliers, 2016 marked the seventh consecutive year of increasing crude oil imports from Canada and the sixth consecutive year of decreasing crude oil imports from Mexico. Imports from Mexico have declined as Mexicos crude oil production, its total crude export sales, and the share of its exports sold in the United States have all fallen. Increased U.S. imports of heavy Canadian crude oils are replacing some imported Mexican crude oils of similar quality. Canadas share of U.S. crude oil imports declined slightly from 2015, as both imports and import shares from countries such as Iraq and Nigeria grew, according to annual trade data from EIA's Petroleum Supply Monthly. OPEC supplied 40% of the crude oil imported to the United States in 2016, up slightly from 36% in 2015. Nevertheless, OPECs share in 2016 was lower than in any year between 1973, the earliest year for which EIA has country-specific crude oil import data, and 2014. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Note: OPEC is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly OPEC is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Imported crude oil from Iraq and Nigeria were the largest contributors to the increase in U.S. crude oil imports in 2016. Imports from Iraq increased from 229,000 b/d in 2015 to 418,000 b/d in 2016, and imports from Nigeria increased from 54,000 b/d to 210,000 b/d. Nigerian crude oil is of similar quality to that produced in the Bakken region in parts of North Dakota and Montana. As production in the Bakken region (and the United States as a whole) declined, refiners may have increased imports from Nigeria to replace these barrels. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Note: OPEC is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly OPEC is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Principal contributors: Owen Comstock, Matthew French Altice USA Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering April 11, 2017 - Altice N.V. (Euronext: ATC, ATCB) announces today that Altice USA has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for a proposed initial public offering of shares of Class A Common Stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are serving as joint book-running managers for the proposed offering. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, toll-free: (866) 803-9204, email: prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com ; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, via telephone at 1-800-831-9146; or Goldman, Sachs & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, or by telephone at (866) 471-2526, facsimile at (212) 902-9316, or email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com . A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Contacts Chief Investor Relations Officer, Altice Nick Brown: +41 79 720 15 03 / nick.brown@altice.net Chief Communications Officer, Altice Arthur Dreyfuss: +41 79 946 49 31 / arthur.dreyfuss@altice.net About Altice Founded by telecom entrepreneur, Patrick Drahi, Altice is a multinational cable, fiber, telecommunications, contents and media company with presence in four regions - Western Europe (comprising France, Portugal and Switzerland), the United States, Israel, and the Overseas Territories (currently comprising the French Caribbean, the Indian Ocean regions and the Dominican Republic). Altice provides very high speed based services (high quality pay television, fast broadband Internet and fixed line telephony) and, in certain countries, mobile telephony services to residential and corporate customers. Altice is also active in the media space with a portfolio of channels (News, Sports, Lifestyle etc.) as well as providing Premium content on nonlinear platforms; it also produces its own original content (Series, Movies etc.). LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- International Spirit and Beverage Group Inc., (a Nevada Corporation) (OTCPK:ISBG) announced today growth initiatives for the brand management company, as well as its flagship product, Besado Platinum Tequila, which is expected to achieve a 300% increase during Q1-2017 compared to the previous quarter as the Company prepares to fulfill a significant number of outstanding purchase orders for Besado Platinum Tequila from distributors. With these revenues, added to the revenues from growing online sales (www.besadotequila.com), ISBG is well positioned for significant growth in 2017 and 2018. Most importantly, for ISBG and its shareholders, the company has successfully managed through a series of 'toxic' financing facilities with investment groups that converted over 1.27 billion shares, which ultimately placed downward pressure on the company's market price, dropping it from a high of $0.024 in 2015. ISBG is proud to announce that there are no additional, only what has been published in the financials, outstanding toxic financing facilities that would allow debtors to convert any more Company stock as of this writing. Recently, the Company increased the number of authorized shares to 4.95 billion shares with the purpose being to have available, only if necessary, some additional restricted shares to be utilized as part of the acquisition of profitable entities as well as to satisfy the shares owed to the Top Shelf Brands shareholders of record. ISBG prides itself in working hard to ensure the long term success of the company and seeks to comply with all regulatory rules to file financials in a timely manner and to report material events accordingly. As such, all investors will be responded to in a public forum by way of press release or public recording. No individual emails or calls will be responded to with regards to any Company updates. About ISBG: ISBG is a Nevada-based alcoholic beverage company specializing in the development, marketing and global sales of innovative wine and spirits brands. The Company's expertise lies in the strategic development and aggressive early growth of its brands and establishing these brands as viable and profitable. ISBG intends to build its own brands while seeking out individual acquisition candidates to continue to develop its pipeline of new brands into the ISBG portfolio. For more information visit: www.isbg.global Forward Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "could", "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential" and the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested in this report. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements so as to conform these statements to actual results. Investors should refer to the risks disclosed in the Company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. Dear editor We have the pleasure of inviting you to the following events on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, hosted by our CEO Ton Buchner and CFO Maelys Castella. Media Call: Q1 2017 Results 07.15 - 07.45 CET (06.15 - 06.45 BST) The Q1 media release and financial report will be available at www.akzonobel.com at 07.00 CET. Please note that the latest independent VARA analyst consensus is available at https://www.akzonobel.com/investor_relations/analysts_consensus/ Webcast: Investor Update 11.00 - 14.00 CET (10.00 - 13.00 BST) The Investor Update will outline plans for the creation of two focused businesses and enhanced long-term value creation. The company will provide updated financial guidance and growth plans demonstrating the benefits of two focused businesses. You can join the Investor Update via webcast in listen-only mode. The media release about the Investor Update will be available at www.akzonobel.com at 08.00 CET Press Conference and Webcast following Investor Update 14.30 - 15.30 CET (13.30 - 14.30 BST) Etc.venues, 155 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3YD If you are not able to attend in person, it is also possible to follow the press conference via a live webcast or conference call. Note: Dial-in/login details for these events will follow in a subsequent email. If you would like to attend any of these events, please let us know by Friday, April 14th via email (media.relations@akzonobel.com) Best regards Diana Abrahams Global Director Media and Public Relations Non-interventionists have a new reason to fear escalation this week: In the wake of President Trumps decision to punish the regime of Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons, calls for regime change are mounting. United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley had said as recently as March 30 that "our priority is no longer to sit and focus on getting Assad out. Sunday, though, she told NBCs Meet the Press that In no way do we see peace in that area with Assad as the head of the Syrian government. Senate and Congressional leadership echoed Haleys new sentiment. I dont see how there can possibly be any settlement in Syria that includes Bashar al Assad, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Friday. There is no such thing as Assad, yes, but ISIS, no, Sen. Marco Rubio averred on ABCs This Week. You cant have stability with Assad in power, agreed Texas Rep. Will Hurd. And Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said, I think its time for Assad to go. These comments, coupled with questions from the media premised on the notion Trump should have a long-term strategy for stopping the Syrian civil war (and doubts as to whether a Trump doctrine even exists)also serve to incentivize further involvement. Trumps decision to strike Assad was well-executed, and perfectly rational. But the danger is that these things have a tendency to snowball. Now, maybe theres a way to negotiate a deal whereby Russia persuades Assad to exit. A more likely scenario, though, is that he clings on, potentially to part of a partitioned Syria. But the worst-case scenario could well be that America helps topple the regime, only to see a vacuum created where Syria descends into utter chaos (see: Libya)potentially requiring further intervention in order to avert a new humanitarian crisis and augmented terror threat. Instead of going down any of these rabbit holes, Trump should stop while hes ahead. And, in so doing, he would find himself in good company. Fridays strikes reminded me of President Reagans retaliation against Libya in the wake of the 1986 West Berlin discotheque bombing. It sent a message to the world that crossing the line would result in being caught in crosshairs, so to speak. It didnt lead to war, regime change or occupation. Heres hoping that Donald Trump learns the lessons of recent history. It seems that by now we should have learned that toppling evil and horrific regimes has violent and unintended consequences. There are numerous reasons for this, but the primary one is likely that western civilization, from the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 until today, required hundreds of years of societal evolution before institutions such as the rule of law flourished and matured into liberal democracy. Spreading democracythe notion that toppling a tinhorn dictator will suddenly empower people to rise up and behave like responsible citizens of the worldisnt merely quixotic and dangerous; it defies historical observation. President Donald Trump should avoid replicating the false choices of George W. Bush (whose adventurism ironically created an isolationist backlash) and Barack Obama (whose weakness and unenforced red line invited provocation) and instead look to Reagan. Just as Reagan had to restore optimism and overcome the Vietnam syndrome that had crippled America psychologically, Trump can help America overcome its Iraq syndrome by (A) putting bullies in their place and (B) not getting bogged down in nation building. These things are neither opposites nor mutually exclusive. Turning America around will require recognizing the traumatizing effect war-weariness has on the national psyche. Last week, I was perturbed by the hand-wringing coming from people who were worried that punishing Assad for gassing his own people might go wrong. (Its always possible for things to go wrong, but this sort of paralysis of analysis is equally dangerous.) I thought their reactions were both negative and weak. America swiftly demonstrated that there was a price to pay for using chemical weapons, and I think that it was a small, if symbolic, step toward restoring our leadership role in the wake of the anemic Obama presidency. This week began with me being horrified by the number of people who wanted to escalate this situation into some sort of regime change. To be sure, not all of them think we should go in there, guns blazing, and make it happenbut thats irrelevant. Getting rid of Assad is no panacea, and the fact that so many voices are now calling for that makes me wonder if theyve fallen asleep in history class. Again, while I may criticize the isolationists, they do have a point about those hawks who wish to engage in perpetual saber rattling. Give them an inch, and theyll take a mile. In that vein, give them an air strike, and theyll take a dictator. In the month since Charles Murrays scheduled talk at Middlebury College was thwarted by violent demonstrations on campus, several student groups at elite universities like Columbia and Harvard are courting Murray and other controversial speakers in attempt to challenge what they view as ideological intolerance on college campuses. At Harvard University, the newly established Open Campus Initiativedubbed the free speech club on campushas booked Murray for a speaking engagement next semester and is hosting another campus pariah, University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson, for its first official event tonight, Monday. Harvards Open Campus Initiative spent roughly $1,000 on security reinforcements surrounding Petersons arrival on campus, which has provoked backlash from LGBT students. Peterson has been targeted by student protesters for speaking out against a proposed law in Canada that would mandate the use of gender-neutral descriptors like they as part of a broader push for transgender rights. Professor Peterson is an accomplished psychologist who has a lot more to talk about than gender pronouns, but I think idea of institutionally-backed efforts to force people to use certain words is worth debating, Conor Healy, a sophomore at Harvard and head of the Open Campus Initiative, told The Daily Beast. The Harvard Crimson recently reported that Healys Open Campus Initiative, which became an officially recognized student organization in December, is aiming to test the limits of free speech and has been criticized on campus for courting right-wing speakers. But Healy said the group is more interested in testing the universitys policies on free speech, and plans to host more conventionally liberal speakers in the future. He stressed that they want to be a non-partisan political group, but are opening with libertarian and conservative-leaning speakers because they represent viewpoints that he believes are repressed in the current campus environment. Some people have labeled us a hate group, but I think the majority of students at Harvard are pleased that were introducing some ideological diversity to campus, said Healy, who is gay and describes himself as a moderate libertarian. Still, he insisted that more than half of the groups 35 members identify as Democrats. One of them is Akash Wasil, a sophomore who is also a member of the Harvard College Democrats. He joined the Open Campus Initiative because he believes Harvard needs more diverse viewpoints on campus. A lot of student groups who are hesitant to invite these speakers or engage these ideas argue that by inviting them to speak we condone their views, he said, but the point of the Open Campus Initiative is to show that we can engage these viewpoints without validating them. Helene Lovett, a sophomore who is affiliated with Harvards Trans Task Force, is one of roughly thirty students expected to protest outside the event tonight. They will hand out fliers for a half hour to people attending the event before gathering together in a separate space. [Professor Peterson] is using a marginalized, vulnerable population to advance his views and thats completely irresponsible, Lovett said of Monday nights speaker, adding that she was particularly critical of his failure to take responsibility for threats against trans students that reportedly resulted from lectures he gave at the University of Toronto. Gender identity and the failure to recognize essential components of gender identity are not the place for debating whether free speech is at risk, because in exposing this population to more violent people who think that non-binary identities dont exist you expose those people to extreme harm, Lovett said. Kirsi Anselmi-Stith, a junior at Harvard who has helped organize the attendant gathering in response to Open Campus Initiatives event, said that some students plan to engage Professor Peterson directly. Its really frustrating that free speech often translates to means an attack on X group, said Anselmi-Stith. I think debating this particular issue is weird because its debating someone who denies that gender non-conforming trans people exist. Still, she added, she believes the students behind Open Campus Initiative are good people who mean well in their own way. Enjoy trying to sleep tonight, wondering if tonights the night our SWAT team blows your front door off the hinges." Thats the warning a newly-minted sheriff in Lake County, Florida had for local heroin dealers , relayed via a video of him flanked by four officers in bulletproof vests and balaclavas. To the dealers that are pushing this poison, I have a message for you: were coming for you, Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said sternly into the camera. As a matter of fact, our undercover agents have already bought heroin from many of you. Were just waiting for the arrest warrants to be finalized. The video, posted last Friday, has racked up more than 600,000 views on Facebook and re-ignited a debate about small-town sheriffs social media presence. Commenters have criticized the videos portrayal of the Lake County Sheriffs Office as a militarized unitmore than one commenter compared the masked officers to ISIS fighters. The Lake County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Its also a strange deviation from the offices usual social media presence. Only 15 videos have been posted to the Lake County Sheriff Offices Facebook page since 2015, most of which have a far more lighthearted tone, like this video, uploaded without commentary, of people dancing to the Cupid Shuffle." The shift could be explained by the fact that Grinnell only recently became Sheriff; according to his LinkedIn page, he was promoted in January. This isnt the first time a Florida sheriffs office turned to social media to send a tough-on-crime message. Last November, the Pasco County Sheriffs Office received a wave of criticism after posting a picture of a man crying while being arrestedcaptioned SAD CRIMINAL OF THE DAYon its Facebook and Twitter accounts. We definitely add a little fun to our social media and to our Twitter feed, Pasco Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melanie Snow told the Tampa Bay Times in November. Last week, the office posted a video called Think Before You Post, intended to warn teenagers about the dangers of posting pictures of themselves partying online (not much is said about the actual dangers of partying itself). The video features a group of kids pretending to drink out of red Solo cups, posing for selfies next to a urinal. The strangest video released in recent memory by a Florida sheriffs office is, hands down, this 2015 gem of Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan sharing his thoughts on race, racism, and so-called thug culture. Morgans video begins with a meditation on what it means to be American: I am fourth-generation Welsh. I or my family do not pretend, nor do we say we are Welsh-American. We are Americans. I was not born in Wales, and the blacks that currently reside in the United States of America are not from Africa, he said. If were such a racist nation, why do we currently have an African-American president? Morgan asked later in the video. We have, unfortunately, in the black community, embraced thug culture, Morgan added. Morgan was re-elected to his position in November 2016. Conservative lawmakers in over a dozen states are pushing a bill that would force consumers to pay a ransom to access pornography. The Human Trafficking Prevention Act, if passed, would apply a pornography filter to any device, from laptops to cellphones to routers, that connects to the internetand would levy a $20 tax to remove it from each one. The bill mandates all manufacturers of internet-connected devices maintain separate, 24-7 call centers to make sure obscene material is appropriately labeled. The American Civil Liberties Union is calling the legislation a violation of the First Amendment, while critics at the Electronic Frontier Foundation argue that the bill would help kill innovation and present potentially insurmountable barriers to entry for both consumers and small businesses that use the internet. And the only thing more bizarre than the Human Trafficking Prevention Act itself might be the man behind it. Chris Sevier, 40, who sometimes goes by Mark Sevier in court and Chris Severe in communications with state legislators, has a contentious and often intentionally provocative relationship with the American court system that is news to at least some of the bills co-sponsors. He once famously tried to legally marry his computer to protest same-sex marriage, and was charged with stalking and harassing both country star John Rich and a 17-year-old girl. Sevier has helped push and draft the bill in 13 states and says hes trying to introduce it at the federal level during meetings in Washington, D.C., next week. In an interview with The Daily Beast, he readily acknowledged each case in his personal history, and sometimes jokingly referred to himself as the mentally ill stalker who wants to marry his computer, in reference to the national news coverage his exploits often invite. The Daily Beast has also learned that Sevier has a warrant out for his arrest in Tennessee for failure to appear at criminal contempt proceedings. Sevier had failed to pay child support and violated a restraining order by communicating with his former wife. The restraining order stems from Seviers 2011 arrest and conviction for assaulting his father-in-law during a fight over a visitation rights of his then-7-month-old son, whom Sevier tried to take during a supervised visit. Seviers baby was also injured in the altercation and taken to the ER. Sevier said he hadnt heard of the warrant, denied facing any penalty for the assault, and said his legal woes were because he was subject to a fake prosecutorial campaign in Tennessee and Texas, waged in part due to his Christian faith. Its not the only time Sevier, an EDM musician who trained as a lawyer, shared memories of his past with The Daily Beast that conflict with firsthand accounts and paperwork that prove otherwise. Sevier claims that the Human Trafficking Prevention Act was hatched in part due to the horrors he saw as a volunteer in Asian countries, where he was physically fighting human trafficking as a rescue worker with an organization called Orphan Secure. He said the organization is based out of Texas near the border and does extractions [of child sex slaves] in Malaysia and Cambodia. Theyre actually physically rescuing people. Its not as rogue sounding as Im making it out to be. Every scenario was different. We were working with the governments of their countries, he said. In these places, you can engage in the right of self-defense. You have a transferred right of self-defense. He said the often fruitless missions led him to try to create legislation back home. Traffickers would leave. Theyd get tipped off about a raid. Theyd let the girl be taken, and the traffickersthey would just go and get a new girl, he said. The president of Orphan Secure, Ronaldo Lopez, told The Daily Beast that Sevier never went on any missions with the organization. Never. No, no, we never took him, said Lopez. Lopez said that Seviers time with the group was short-lived and amounted to a few broken promises. He offered Orphan Secure some fundraising help, said Lopez. It was probably a matter of weeks. He said he was going to do some stuff, and he didnt, so the contact just broke off. We didnt stay in contact. If it lasted more than a month, I would be surprised. He never did any work with us. When asked about Lopezs denial, Sevier told a reporter that Orphan Secure was only one of a number of groups with whom he had worked to rescue human trafficking victims, but declined to provide any further contacts who might verify those claims. Despite repeatedly claiming he can legally practice law in two states, official records suggest Sevier is not licensed to practice law anywhere. According to documents provided by the Tennessee Supreme Courts Board of Professional Responsibility, a petition against him for ethical violations was pending in 2011 when the court temporarily inactivated his license based on a mental disability. When pressed on which two states he believes he can legally practice law, he declined to answer. According to military records, Sevier joined the Tennessee National Guard in 2002. He shipped out with his unit to Iraq, working as a staff judge advocate in February 2010. Though he was slated to remain in Iraq for one year, Sevier was home by March, 10 months earlier than the mission called for. Military records quoted in court filings from Tennessees board of professional responsibility reported his release was due to a finding of mental illness, but Sevier claims it was a reprisal for whistleblowing. (He claims he was going to report one of his supervisors for sexual misconduct and they locked him up in Germany before sending him home against his will.) The Tennessee National Guard was unable to comment on Seviers records but confirmed he had been honorably discharged in June 2011. In an official inquiry, Tennessees board of professional responsibility found that Sevier had lied to the court and the media about a cases opposing counsel being under criminal investigation. The board also uncovered disciplinary misconduct by Sevier in that case. Further, the board wrote that Seviers pleadings, including one in which he compared country music star John Rich to Adolf Hitler, demonstrated a lack of legal proficiency, competency, and professionalism. The boards petition also noted an event in 2010, in Houston Texas, where his wife had relocated, during which Sevier had tried to take off with his infant son during a supervised visit with his in-laws. According to police records filed as part of the divorce proceedings, a fight ensued at a local McDonalds when Seviers in-laws refused to let him leave with the child, during which Sevier physically attacked his father-in-law, and was arrested for assault. Seviers 7-month old son was also injured and treated in the ER for a large knot on his forehead. In a petition during the divorce proceedings, Sevier described the attempted abduction of the infant as a self help measure to rescue his son, and describes hiring a former Navy SEAL and Army Ranger to surveil the fast food eatery while he carried out his plan. Though the charges were initially dismissed, Sevier was later found guilty of misdemeanor assault in the event and sentenced to 58 days in a Texas county jail. Sevier called the incident a fake assault case in a conversation with The Daily Beast, and said his state-appointed attorney was throwing the case big time. As part of the final divorce ruling in 2013, the judge issued a restraining order barring further visitation between Sevier and the child, and he was later charged with criminal contempt for failure to pay child support and communicating with his ex-wife against court orders. In August 2015, a court issued a warrant for Seviers arrest for failing to appear at criminal contempt proceedings. The judge in his divorce case called the intimidation of his wife during the proceedings part of a patternif he does not get his way, he is going to stop at nothing to smear people that oppose him. The same can be said of the officers that served within his military division, regiment, whatever the group is called. Sevier repeatedly called some of these decisions fake news by courts that he believes were railroading him. I dont give a damn about what anybody thinks about me, he said. I know all about what fake news is. I know all about how courts can be abused. In 2014, four years after his license was inactivated for comments against John Rich, Sevier was arrested and accused of stalking and harassing Rich, and in a separate incident, a 17-year-old girl who worked at a Ben & Jerrys, then lying about his identity to police. The charges were later reduced to misdemeanor harassment, to which Sevier pleaded guilty. Sevier has tried at least twice to get his Tennessee law license reinstatedthe courts revocation states he can return to the practice of law upon showing clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removedbut his petitions have been repeatedly denied. In his second petition to the state Supreme Court in 2013, Sevier wrote, I want to be able to say that I deactivated my TN law license out of protest[and] to remove the public stigma that the TNSC helped create in conjunction [with] John Rich that I am a mentally ill stalker, so that my efforts to fight the hell out sex trafficking and child porn will not be interfered with, given the pending Apple/HP lawsuit in Federal Court. While Sevier cant technically represent others, the constitution still gives him the right to file lawsuits in his own interestswhich he wields with a passion. In the six years following the change in his law license, Sevier has sued dozens of people and companies in federal court including, but not limited to Apple Computers, Google, BlackBerry, Android, Microsoft, Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Planned Parenthood, Samsung, Verizon, xBox, A&E Networks, his ex-wife, several state governors, the U.S. government as a whole, and former President Barack Obama specifically. Most of the cases have been dismissed. Others are still open. There has never been a lawsuit that Ive been engaged in where I did not get exactly what I wanted. Whether I win or lose, I got what I wanted, said Sevier. To date, a review of his federal pleadings shows he hasnt won any. In 2013, he sued A&E for religious persecution over the networks decision to drop Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson for a series of anti-gay remarks. Seviers colorful complaint, illustrated with Duck Dynasty memes and dotted with lyrics from The Postal Service, was ultimately dismissed in 2014 after he failed to serve any of the defendants. His failure to serve was partly due, he explained in court documents, to his involvement in several other cases. At the same time, Sevier was suing Apple for selling him a device without pre-installed pornography filtersan omission that Sevier argued led to an addiction, which in turn caused the breakup of his marriage. The Plaintiff began desiring, younger more beautiful girls featured in porn videos than his wife, who was no longer 21, Seviers complaint stated. (Hundreds of documents filed in his divorce proceedings failed to mention pornography as a contributing factor.) The case was dismissed by a district court as devoid of legal merit and upheld by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which wrote that despite Seviers voluminous filings, he has not identified any plausible legal theory in support of his accusations. Undeterred, in 2016, Sevier filed a federal lawsuit against Harris County, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the right to marry his pornography-filled laptop computeradding to challenges protesting same-sex marriage Sevier filed in Tennessee, Florida, and Utahall of which have been dismissed or are heading toward dismissal. Sevier says he is in the process of filing yet another lawsuit against the federal government, this time for putting up a rainbow flag in the halls of a government building. The rule of law is a joke to some of these district court judges, he said. Its all really about who you draw. When I file stuff its usually on the right side of reality. Sevier believes internet pornography usage to be a public health crisis, for example, and thats why he thinks the best answer is a bill that would charge a pornography filter removal fee on every internet-connected device. He said a $20 fee would be mandatory, but recommends retailers and manufacturers up the cost to $60 apiece to make up for costs and maintenance of the 24-7 call centers. Its a vicious cycle. [Exposure to pornography] proliferates so many bad things, Sevier said. Were definitely not anti-sex, Sevier said, referring to his group of like-minded advocates championing the bill. Sex is good. God made it. But when humans are getting off to child pornography images, it doesnt promote human flourishing. The immediate impact of the bill on low-income consumers has Dave Maass, a researcher at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, dumbfounded. The way its written, it would cover your router. It would cover your modem. If theyre buying their two kids a computer and they dont want a standard filter on there, thats going to cost them $80, said Maass. Plus, now Best Buy is sitting on a database of people who wanted their porn filters removed. Maass says hes been calling every co-sponsor of the bill to tell them about both the impact of the bill and Sevier himself. I was calling every one of these states telling them, Hey, listen, youre probably thinking about introducing this bill. This guy, hes lying about his name. Hes a disbarred attorney charged with stalking a country music star and a 17-year-old girl. Hes a confessed porn addict and wants to marry his computer, he said. Nobody has been aware of this when I talked to them. State Reps. Bill Chumley and Mike Burns co-sponsored the Human Trafficking Prevention Act in South Carolina. Chumley called human trafficking an issue that hes really concerned with, so he helped introduce the bill along with Burns. Yes, hes working with us on this, said Chumley of Sevier. I dont know anything about [him] so much. It didnt really matter to me. I know about as much about him as anybody else who calls me. I dont want to be associated with people who have a past thats questionable. Unfortunately, Im in politics. Otherwise, Id be sitting at home. Burns said hes still behind the premise of the bill, despite hearing about Seviers past. The centerpiece of the bill, the $20 fee, is now up for debate. We do not want more taxes. Period, he said. But we are trying to make a statement, and $20 aint gonna kill anybody. Sevier, for his part, insists that the press can and must scrutinize this bill. I dont want to get it abused at all, he said. Thats a perfect use of the press. He says he simply wants the press to try to separate him and his past from the bill. I know The Daily Beast. I know you love to smear me, he said. Well, Ive got good news. I dont really care about being famous. President Donald Trumps pick to lead the Justice Departments antitrust division could be barred from participating in significant portions of that divisions work unless Trump waives ethics rules at the center of his efforts to drain the swamp in Washington. The president tapped White House lawyer Makan Delrahim to lead DOJs antitrust unit late last month. If confirmed by the Senate, he will oversee all DOJ enforcement of antitrust rules as a number of high-profile mergers and acquisitions vie for regulatory approval. This would be finehad Delrahim not spent the better part of a decade lobbying on the types of antitrust issues he will oversee at the the DOJ. Under an January executive order signed by President Trump, Delrahim is barred by an ethics pledge from participating not just in decisions specifically affecting former clients but in more general matters related to the issues on which hes spent years lobbyingin this case, the precise legal matters that he will now be tasked with enforcing. A registered lobbyist since 2008, Delrahim has represented major corporations including Qualcomm, Pfizer, and Anthem in discussions with legislators and regulators regarding antitrust laws and enforcement proceedings, according to disclosure forms. The result could be a clash with language in the ethics pledge that limits work by former lobbyists on general issue areas on which they lobbied. Appointees who were registered to lobby within two years of their appointments may not participate in any particular matter on which [they] lobbied within the 2 years before the date of [their] appointment or participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls, the pledge states. According to the Office of Government Ethics, that language doesnt just restrict work that benefits a former client; it bars covered employees from working on any aspect of the specific policies on which they lobbied. If an appointee lobbied her agency against a proposed regulation focused on a specific industry, an example in recent OGE legal guidance explained, her recusal obligation as an appointee is not limited to the section of the regulation on which she lobbied, nor is it limited to the application of the regulation to her former client. Instead, she must recuse for two years from development and implementation of the entire regulation, subsequent interpretation of the regulation, and application of the regulation in individual cases, OGE wrote. The language of the pledge, OGE guidance, and applicable federal regulations is often murky, but the permissibility of a lobbyist-turned-federal-appointees work turns on the question of how broad the likely beneficiaries of his work will be, legal experts say. While all appointees are barred from participating in matters directly affecting former clients and employers, Delrahim will be forced to recuse himselfor have provisions of the pledge waivedin matters affecting far larger portions of private industry that happen to include his former clients. Though less specific than the regulation mentioned in OGEs example, the issues on which Delrahim lobbied fall squarely in the areas he will oversee if confirmed to the DOJ post. In 2016 alone, Delrahim, formerly a lobbyist with the firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Scheck, represented insurer Anthem in talks with the government about its proposed merger with Cigna, and drug company Pfizer regarding its failed merger with Allergen. The latter fell through after U.S. tax rules on income derived abroad made it financially unworkable. But Anthem is still challenging a federal court ruling blocking its Cigna merger. Trumps Justice Department remains opposed to the deal. Delrahims new post will require confirmation by the full Senate, and his previous lobbying work is likely to come up as Judiciary Committee Democrats probe potential conflicts of interest. Barring a waiver, which hasnt been announced yet, Mr. Delrahim should not be able to participate in any matter involving competition and antitrust issues and participate in any matters involving his former clients, according to Scott Amey, general counsel for the Project on Oversight and Government Reform. Other legal experts said he would not be quite so restricted, but stressed that the spirit of the pledge would seem to preclude such a blatant spin of the revolving door. Republican administrations naturally want to constrain the amount of enforcement, said Richard Painter, the top attorney in George W. Bushs White House. But those calls shouldnt be made by the guy who was lobbying to convince the Obama administration not to enforce those laws. Federal laws governing conflicts of interest are less stringent than the presidents ethics pledge, but that pledge is the centerpiece of Trumps stated efforts to combat the revolving door between special interests and the federal agencies that oversee and regulate them. The White House previously told The Daily Beast that all executive branch officials covered by the pledge had signed it. A spokeswoman said last month that she was not aware of any instances of the president exercising his authority to waive the provisions of the pledge. Delrahim did not respond to questions about his previous lobbying work and his compliance with the ethics pledge. DOJ deferred to the White House, which did not respond to questions about compliance with the pledge and the existence of any waivers. Legal experts say Delrahim would unquestionably be prohibited from participating in any DOJ decisions regarding the Anthem-Cigna merger, by both the terms of the ethics pledge and bar association rules preventing an attorney from accepting employment adverse to a former client. They also say that prohibitions on Delrahims work could be far more broad due the general language of his reported work on behalf of Qualcomm. That work focused on competition policy, including issues related to domestic and foreign antitrust enforcement, according to disclosure filings. He also reported lobbying DOJ directly on Qualcomms behalf. The general language in those disclosures regarding antitrust issues could implicate far larger portions of Delrahims work at DOJ, according to Painter. The issue area is the actual discretionary decisions about the enforcement of antitrust laws, he noted. If Delrahim were working on approval of a specific merger, it might not bar him from participating in more general antitrust matters. But the guys who were previously lobbying trying to get the DOJ not to enforce shouldnt be the ones making that judgment call. ATHENSOutside a cafe just blocks off Omonia Square, a bustling marketplace in downtown Athens, Greeks in puffy jackets and worn blue jeans struggled to stay awake on a Spring afternoon, even as they sipped espresso and chain-smoked. One could walk right past the place without knowing its where old Greeks go to hang out and snort heroin. Inside the cafe, called The Meeting, stale cigarette smoke hung from the ceiling. I sat on a rickety chair against a wall facing a dark-haired Greek man who sat facing the door at the head of a long table. His eyes moved from his small black cell phone to the door as customers appeared. Below the table, he expertly handled a large baggie stuffed with several dozen smaller baggies containing low-quality heroin. Aging Greeks walked in and handed the dark-haired man five, sometimes 10 euros. Then theyd walk downstairs to the cafes basement, which they call cockroaches, where theyd snort the brown powder that smelled a little like vinegar. Then theyd find a chair and light a cigarette. Some dozed off. Others stared toward their toes. A few kept up conversation, gossiping about friends. The heroin is shit, Marios whispered. *** Marios Atzemis is a former customer of the cafe. Between 1998 and 2009, Marios bought his heroin and cocaine up and down the narrow brick roads of downtown Athens. Now, at 42, hes a public health advocate for Positive Voice, also known as the People Living with HIV Association. Marios is one of few people in Athens who is vocal about both his injection drug use and being HIV positive. His streetwise acumen is an asset for agencies trying to contain HIV infections, which tends to spread from prostitution and injection drug use. No one would ever take you here, Marios told me as we sat down. He ordered me an orange Fanta from the cafes owner, a bald man who walked around with an apron and a notebookjust like any other cafe. I wondered why Marios was set on showing me The Meeting. *** As an American journalist, I cover drug policy with a focus on Americas ongoing opioid crisis. Despite sympathetic awareness campaigns with bipartisan support, Americas opioid problem has only worsened over the years. The death toll rises higher and higher while legislators entangled in American mortality form more task forces and commissions. Meanwhile, heroin overdose deaths have more than quadrupled since 2010. As a former opioid and heroin user myself, its become both a personal journey and journalistic endeavor to understand the sharp rise of addiction and mortality. Global drug trends and policy form one piece of the puzzle. But getting to know drug users, how they live and who they are, which tends to be an afterthought in policy debates, provides the clearest window into the epidemics causes and conditions. I came to Athens from America with firsthand knowledge. But Greece has many crises of its own. The latest estimates of the countrys debt load rings in at nearly 300 billion ($319 billion). Part of every debt relief package comes with harsh austerity measures. Since the 2008 crisis, Greeks have seen 12 tax hikes and 12 cuts to their pensions. Older Greeks, like the ones inside The Meeting, have seen pensions theyve paid into their whole lives nearly vanish. As a result, Greeces elderly population has seen a rise in drug use and suicide. Deaths now outpace births. Doctors and engineers are fleeing for greener pastures and theyre not coming back. The country shrinks in its despair. *** The United States is seeing a similar decline caused by so called deaths of despair. Suicide, overdose and alcoholism among white, middle-aged Americans has been so high that for the first time since the turn of the century, after decades of progress, America saw a decline in overall life expectancy, according to the research of two Princeton economists, Anne Case and Angus Deaton (PDF). Their explanation? Cumulative disadvantage over the course of ones life, which they write is triggered by progressively worsening labor market opportunities for whites with low levels of education. Essentially, income protects people from disease and other social ills. A generation of 45-54 year olds who thought theyd be financially better off find themselves adrift in a global economy thats left them in the dust of industrial obsolescence. It turns out counties across New England, the Industrial Midwest and the Rust Belt, slow to recover from the 2008 crisis, are dying these deaths of despair. The same counties also overwhelmingly supported President Trump. In Greece, this sense of a society in extremis is even more profound. When someone is without a job they feel a loss of meaninghopeless and worthless, said Babis Poulopoulos, a professor of social work at the University of Thrace, whose recent book, Crisis, Fear and the Breakdown of Social Cohesion, showed the way Greeces financial problems are undoing society. These older people feel like a burden to their familiestheyve lost their human dignity, he said. This, in part, explains why Greeces suicide rate rose overall by 35 percent between 2010 and 2012. Researchers have also found a significant correlation between the increase in suicide with a rise in unemployment, which hovers around 23 percent. Its even higher among young people. But the suicide statistics do not capture the whole picture. Its not suicide unless theres a note, so when somebody falls from a fourth floor without leaving a note, its an accident, Poulopoulos said. And if the next of kin want the deceased to have a Christian burial, theres another issue: Since the Orthodox Church doesnt permit suicide, doesnt accept suicide, it doesnt give the opportunity for the family to have a formal funeral. Suicide is a major sin for Greeces conservative Orthodox Church. But in 2015, the Holy Synod, a 12-member body of clerics that oversee church affairs, drew up new guidelines that allow priests to bury suicide victims so long as the person was not sane when the act was carried out. Known as the suicide clause, its broad enough for most metropolitans or bishops to allow the burial of suicide victims. Still, the stigma remains so strong that many suicides are not counted as such. *** Those who dont commit suicide opt for a slower version of it. Poulopoulos is also the former president of Greeces Center for Therapy of Addicted People, otherwise known as KETHEA. He wasnt surprised to hear that theres a cafe where old Greeks hang out to do heroin. Young people with a university degree have difficulty finding a job, he said. Drug users, former prisoners, all unemployed and uneducated, dont have a chance. Aside from the dark-haired dealer, everyone inside the cafe is unemployed. These people dont have a lot. Theyre some of the most socially excluded people in Greece, Marios said. Looking around the smoky room, Marios explained that if you have a history of drug use, are HIV positive or have Hepatitis C, no one wants to touch you, let alone hire you while a hundred thousand other unemployed Greeks without such problems compete for jobs. Marios is tragically lucky. Hes gainfully employed at Positive Voice while being vocal about having HIV, Hepatitis C (though his liver enzymes are healthy) and a drug using history. Positive Voice was one of the first organizations to hire gays, transgender people and drug users, Marios said. Nikos Dedes founded Positive Voice in 2009. Dedes was angered by a Greek Supreme Court decision that ruled in favor of letting employers fire someone solely because of their HIV status. Because it disrupted workplace tranquility, said Dedes. Positive Voice also emerged at the same time as an HIV outbreak caused by prostitution and injection drug use. By 2011, HIV among injection drug users increased 16-fold, according to the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Seventy percent of those cases were traced back to Athens, Omonia Square in particular, not far from The Meeting, where prostitution also is prevalent. Now we give away condoms, needles and most of all, information to people on the street, Marios said. Ever since 2013, HIV rates attributed to drug use have been decreasing (PDF). *** In March 2015, a small conservative county in southeast Indiana saw its very own HIV outbreak triggered by rampant injection drug use. Vice President Mike Pence, then-governor of Indiana, was forced to confront a moral quandary. Would he lift the states ban on syringe exchange programs in order to contain the infection, which was caused by drug users sharing needles? Some used the same needle until it broke inside their arm. Governor Pences response? He said he had to pray about it. What he could have done as well was consult nearly 40 years of evidence supporting the efficacy of syringe exchange programs in reducing blood-borne disease. Pence eventually lifted the ban on syringe exchange programs, but in the case of emergencies. Hundreds of syringes were eventually doled out, and the problem, which researchers have said was entirely preventable, was contained. But theres something else unique about rural Scott County Indiana, where the outbreak occurred. In a county of 24,000 people, nearly 500 were regularly injecting drugsa whole 2 percent of the residents. Of Indianas 92 counties, Scott County at the time had the lowest life expectancy and one of the highest unemployment rates. A total of 19 percent of its residents lived below the poverty line, and 21 percent never finished high school. Centers for Disease Control spokesperson John Brooks, during a conference on retroviruses and opportunistic infections, noted all the startling statistics above while discussing the HIV outbreak. *** Its no coincidence that a county left behind in the United States, full of the forgotten people that President Trump refers to in his populist speeches, suffers from the same social and medical ills experienced by the lowest rungs of Greek society. But theres also a difference I recognized while I was hanging out at the heroin cafe. Rather than seeing its naked despairold Greeks nodding their days awayI saw its allure. Its a place for people to feel a sense of belonging in a society that rejects them. If it werent for the cafe, these people would sit on their couch alone in their tiny apartments, Marios said. And it dawned on me, thats where most of the overdoses in rural-America occur: inside a bedroom or on the couch, when people are alone. Theyre often found when theyre cold and blue, long after they overdosed. At least the old Greeks have a place to go, I thought, even if its The Meeting, down to a basement they call cockroaches. The dark-haired Greeks tiny black phone buzzed. He answered it and his eyebrows raised. He hung up after saying a few words. Then he stood up and clutched the bag stuffed with other tiny bags and walked out the front door. Greek Police on motorbikes showed up minutes later. Someone had tipped him off that they were coming. Whoever it was, I thought, just wanted to protect the product. But in doing so, is also preserving The Meetinga place for old Greeks. Its not hard to get my friends talking about small batch bourbon or single malt Scotch. Nobody is shy about sharing their opinions about which bottles are underrated or over-hyped. And forget about mentioning Pappy Van Winkle, unless you want to be there all night. But, curiously, when it comes to cinnamon-flavored whiskey Fireball, everybody immediately clams up. The only thing theyll say on the topic is that theyve never tried the liquor, but I dont believe them. In my home state of Virginia, Fireball ranks third in total sales of all spirits. People buy a lot of Jack Daniels, they buy a lot of Smirnoff and they buy a lot of Fireball. In fact, according to industry newsletter Shanken News Daily, Americans were estimated to drink an astonishing 4.5 million cases of the stuff by the end of 2016, which makes it one of the biggest sellers in the country. The first time I bought someI dont think it was the first time Id ever had it, but it might have beenI was in a liquor store in Dickinson, North Dakota, stocking the bar on a hunting trip. (Read: Buying about 90 gallons of bourbon.) It was like that scene in Thelma & Louise when Geena Davis is buying snacks, before theyve really committed to their life of crime. She grabs a small bottle of Wild Turkey, then another, and then finally grabs the whole display of minis. As the sun set over the farm fields, we drank the airplane-size bottles of Fireball I bought. It was the perfect thing. Easy, sweet, a little funny. Theres a reason they sell the stuff in three-and-a-half-liter party boxes. Everyone likes it. Even if they pretend theyve never had it. Its so popular that its inspired a raft of copies as well as even some ironic homemade versions served at craft cocktail bars. My friend Toby Cecchini, who runs Long Island Bar in Brooklyn and is author of bartending memoir Cosmopolitan, recently tried one of these concoctions being offered at the Melrose Umbrella Company in California. Cecchini can certainly spot trends, and he will, begrudgingly, admit that he created the modern version of the Cosmopolitan cocktail, which went viral before viral was a thing. While he insisted hed never drunk any actual Fireball, his head was swimming with possibilities for producing his own take on it. Where would the heat come from? I was thinking Sichuan pepper corns, cinnamon, some actually fierce peppers like cayenne or whatever and maybe some base note stuff like mace or cardamom, then a bunch of sugar. That did, indeed, sound good. But I had a better (and easier) solution for him. A couple of years ago, right after my book Chasing the White Dog came out, I was in a diner, eating grits with a moonshiner. Not one of those guys who pays taxes, but an honest outlaw moonshiner. This particular guy produces a dizzying array of flavors of shine. Well beyond your typical damson and apple pie. Were talking mango, Creamsicle, banana, peach cobblerhes like the Baskin-Robbins of mason-jar hooch. I had, over the course of the previous night, had an opportunity to try a fair number of those flavors. We are talking about real talent and a high degree of technique. But talking to moonshiners about their techniques is about as much fun as trying to modify a botched college schedule in the registrars basement office with an administrator who proudly displays a plaque reading, Your lack of preparation is not my problem. Lets just say moonshiners arent forthcoming. However, sometimes you get lucky. That cinnamon stuff, I said. Thats Red Hots, right? And by his telling smile I knew Id caught him. So, when Cecchini started dreaming up his multi-step recipe for a Fireball concept, I suggested that there might be a simpler path: We would flavor whiskey with Red Hots candy. To which he answered: Thats redneck brilliance. I chose Fighting Cock Bourbon as my base because its a solid product and at a price that wouldnt cause regrets if my experiment went awry. It has some oak muscle and is a very respectable 103-proof. I admit its name didnt hurt, either. The initial attempt was OK. I just sort of shrugged and dumped a whole bag of Red Hots into a pint Ball jar, topped it off with whiskey, and shook. (This cant count as infusing, can it?) My first observation, which came to me rather quickly: Candy dissolves. Fast. Believe me when I say that you can think of making this after lunch, and have it ready for when your guests show up for dinner. I brought that first pint over to a friends house with a pocket flask of the real thing. Ive never had Fireball, he said, predictably. Looking thoughtful he added: But I see why people would drink it. We tasted both whiskies, and while we all agreed that my Red Hots version was fun, it was also way too sweet. Side by side, where Fireball is slick, my attempt was rough-hewn. I suspect that if Id used a softer bourbon, say Four Roses Yellow Label, or, as Fireball does, a Canadian whisky, my drink would soften a bit. But I like the 103-proof booming warmth and the oaky punch of the bourbons char coming through the sweet-cinnamon flavor. The proper proportions were easy to figure out after my original attempthalf of a five-and-a-half-ounce bag of Red Hots infused in a 16-ounce mason jar filled with Fighting Cock Bourbon. I like to keep it in my freezer. Its a great icebreaker, its a laugh, it tastes really goodits like Fireball, in other words. The Russian computer programmer detained in Barcelona last week was the king of spam, according to a civil complaint released by the Department of Justice on Monday. The complaint is part of the DOJs plan to dismantle the botnet network, and alleges that Pyotr Levashov has spent at least the last seven years as a Russian botnet kingpin. The complaint makes no link to the Big Question that has dominated American politicswho and what, precisely, was involved with Russian hacking of the U.S. elections that aimed to help Donald Trump win them. But, oddly, the state-funded propaganda organ RT (formerly Russia Today) raised the issue in an interview with Levashov's wife, who called the arrest "a nightmare." The Spanish police "broke down our door at night, and put us on the floor in front of our 4-year-old son, Maria Levashova told reporters. They talked of some virus that my husband created, that helped Trump win. She was allegedly informed by local police that he was suspected of various cyber crimes, including hacking related to the U.S. election. But those allegations have not been confirmed by the U.S. government. The Kremlin is portraying all this as nothing more or less than a witch hunt for Russians. If so, by any standards Levashov is something of a warlock. He operated a software known as Kelihos under his alias Peter Severa, the complaint alleges. It infected computers and turned them into bots run by Severa, who could then use them to drum up spam emails for various fraud schemes. Emails drummed up by Levashov could be sold to anyone looking for lists to target with false advertisements, job offers, and other traps. Kelihos is also used to generate phishing emails, harvest user credentials, and to download additional malware onto victim computers, including ransomware and banking Trojans, according to the complaint. Levashov was previously charged in a D.C. federal court in 2009 for operating another botnet, according to documents released by the Justice Department on Monday. But that complaint was dismissed in 2014 because the U.S. couldnt catch Levashov. This time, Levashovs case is playing out in Alaska, because his software has affected thousands of people there, according to an FBI affidavit. At any given time, as many as 100,000 computers can be affected by the botnet. Levashov has operated Kelihos since 2010, according to the complaint, and used it to harvest user credentials from victim computers. The program searched infected computers for files containing usernames and passwords, which Levashov then sells. Levashov paid affiliates higher rates for U.S. victims, FBI special agent Elliott Peterson wrote in an application for a search warrant. I believe U.S. infections are prized by Levashov because many of his schemes are directed against an English speaking audience, and U.S. IP addresses tend to be trusted by many firewalls and spam detection systems. A million spam messages with adult advertisements go for just $200, according to the complaint, while spam attempting to recruit job-seekers goes for $300 per million. I have been serving you since the distant year 1999, and during these years there has not been a single day that I keep still, by constantly improving quality of spamming, Levashov allegedly posted in an advertisement bragging about his abilities. Now at your service there is the only one in the world unique technology of spamming via electronic mail, which provides maximum possible probability of delivering your message to the final recipient. According to The New York Times, those emails werent just used as an annoyance. The Kelihos botnet was allegedly used to interfere in the 2012 Russian election, where emails linked to the program sent out fake news stories about Mikhail Prokhorov, a Kremlin-tolerated Putin opponent in the election, coming out as gay. The civil complaint asks for an injunction and restraining order to stop Levashov and associates from their online proclivities. A request for comment to the Department of Justice about possible criminal charges was not immediately returned. The operation announced today targeted an ongoing international scheme that was distributing hundreds of millions of fraudulent emails per year, intercepting the credentials to online and financial accounts belonging to thousands of Americans, and spreading ransomware throughout our networks, said acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco. The ability of botnets like Kelihos to be weaponized quickly for vast and varied types of harms is a dangerous and deep threat to all Americans, driving at the core of how we communicate, network, earn a living, and live our everyday lives. Anna Nemtsova also contributed to this article French English PRESS RELEASE 11 April 2017 Aeroports de Paris SA March 2017 traffic figures In March 2017, Paris Aeroport welcomed 7.8 million passengers, an increase of 3.8% compared with March 2016. 5.3 million passengers travelled through Paris-Charles de Gaulle (+3.2%) and 2.5 million through Paris-Orly (+4.9%). International traffic (excluding Europe) was up (+3.8%), due to growth in all the destinations: Asia-Pacific (+6.8%), the Middle East (+4.4%), Africa (+3.7%), Latin America (+2.9%), the French Overseas Territories (+2.4%) and North America (+2.2%); European traffic (excluding France) was up (+4.5%); Traffic within France was up (+1.8%); The number of connecting passengers decreased by 4.0%. The connecting rate stood at 23.4%, down by 2.6 points compared with March 2016. Since the beginning of the year, Paris Aeroport passenger traffic has grown by 5.0%, with a total of 22.0 million passengers. The number of connecting passengers has decreased by 3.9%. The connecting rate was at 24.2%, down by 2.4 points. Passenger traffic at TAV Airports, 38%-owned by Groupe ADP, increased by 1.9% in March 2017 and has decreased by 2.1%(1) since the beginning of the year. Passenger traffic at Santiago, 45%-owned by Groupe ADP, rose by 9.8% in March 2017 and has risen by 9.7% since the beginning of the year. Passengers Mar. 2017 % change 2017/2016 Jan.-Mar. 2017 % change 2017/2016 Last 12 months % change 2017/2016 Paris-CDG 5,301,769 +3.2% 14,900,436 +4.3% 66,543,200 +0.9% Paris-Orly 2,536,176 +4.9% 7,082,551 +6.6% 31,676,638 +6.0% Total Paris Aeroport 7,837,945 +3.8% 21,982,987 +5.0% 98,219,838 +2.5% Santiago de Chile 1,713,405 +9.8% 5,512,987 +9.7% 19,678,424 +11.0% Istanbul Ataturk 4,730,323 -1.2% 12,788,210 -7.0% 59,151,292 -4.7% Ankara Esenboga 1,101,944 +9.3% 3,137,106 +5.6% 13,210,650 +7.1% Izmir 939,803 +3.0% 2,665,033 -0.6% 11,936,423 -3.6% Milas Bodrum 101,237 +12.9% 265,231 +4.3% 3,235,446 -17.3% Gazipasa 30,498 -3.8% 81,037 -3.3% 739,888 -19.9% Medinah 644,690 +6.2% 1,820,680 +10.3% 6,743,314 +15.1% Tunisia 41,328 -45.7% 118,743 -23.5% 1,557,382 +19.1% Georgia 225,645 +52.5% 550,878 +39.7% 2,717,084 +27.5% Macedonia 130,997 +4.9% 369,177 +7.2% 1,819,286 +11.2% Zagreb (2) 192,533 -3.3% 516,000 +1.3% 2,772,700 +5.9% Total TAV Airports (1) 8,138,998 +1.9% 22,312,095 -2.1% 103,883,465 +0.3% (1) TAV Airports started to operate the international terminal of Milas Bodrum Airport in October 2015. To be compliant with TAV Airports' presentations, the % change presented above does not take into account at this terminal in 2016. Taking into account traffic at the international terminal of Milas Bodrum on a like-for-like basis for 2016, total TAV Airports passenger traffic would have decreased by 1.2% over the last 12 months. (2) Groupe ADP and TAV Airports have,a shareholding of 21% and 15%, respectively, in Zagreb Airport. To be compliant with TAV Airports presentations, Zagreb Airport traffic figures are integrated into the TAV Airports group traffic figures. Aircraft Movements Mar. 2017 % change 2017/2016 Jan.-Mar. 2017 % change 2017/2016 Last 12 months % change 2017/2016 Paris CDG 38,008 +0.9% 107,452 +0.6% 473,611 +0.9% Paris Orly 18,519 0.0% 52,200 +0.2% 234,554 +1.6% Total Paris Aeroport 56,527 +0.6% 159,652 +0.5% 708,165 +1.1% Santiago de Chile 11,314 +7.8% 35,184 +8.3% 128,448 +6.1% Istanbul Ataturk 35,493 -4.5% 97,691 -8.3% 442,930 -2.4% Ankara Esenboga 7,876 +0.8% 22,758 +1.1% 94,590 +4.9% Izmir 6,166 -0.6% 17,729 +0.1% 80,032 -1.0% Milas Bodrum 680 +9.1% 1,773 +1.6% 23,281 -11.7% Gazipasa 226 -14.1% 601 -12.3% 5,706 -12.2% Medinah 4,461 -3.5% 12,829 -3.3% 54,009 +8.3% Tunisia 552 -38.0% 1,603 -15.8% 12,331 +3.5% Georgia 2,450 +45.8% 6,344 +32.7% 29,352 +16.4% Macedonia 1,195 -3.6% 3,383 -2.4% 16,801 +5.2% Zagreb 3,144 -2.2% 8,512 -4.4% 40,402 +1.2% Total TAV Airports (1) 62,243 -2.3% 173,223 -4.6% 799,434 +1.1% (1) TAV Airports began operating the international terminal at Milas Bodrum Airport in October 2015. To be compliant with TAV Airports presentations, the % change presented above does not take into account traffic at this terminal for 2016. Taking into account traffic at the international terminal of Milas Bodrum, on a like-for-like basis for 2016, total TAV Airports passenger traffic would have decreased by 0.1% over the last 12 months. Geographic split Paris Aeroport (Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly) Mar. 2017 % change 2017/2016 Share of total traffic Jan.-Mar. 2017 % change 2017/2016 Share of total traffic France +1.8% 17.1% +1.6% 17.0% Europe +4.5% 42.8% +6.7% 41.7% Other International Of which +3.8% 40.0% +4.8% 41.3% Africa +3.7% 11.2% +6.0% 11.6% North America +2.2% 8.6% +3.0% 8.3% Latin America +2.9% 3.6% +2.5% 3.9% Middle-East +4.4% 5.2% +8.8% 5.4% Asia-Pacific +6.8% 6.9% +6.2% 7.2% French Overseas Territories +2.4% 4.6% +1.1% 5.0% Total Paris Aeroport +3.8% 100 % +5.0% 100 % Paris Aeroport (Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly) Mar. 2017 % change 2017/2016 Jan.- Mar. 2017 % change 2017/2016 Connecting Passagers(1) 915,071 -4.0% 2,656,935 -3.9% Connecting rate 23.4% -2.6 pt +24.2% -2.4 pt Seat load factor 85.9% +2.7 pt 84.7% +3.6 pt (1) Departures passengers Press contact: Elise Hermant, Medias and Reputation Department Manager +33 1 74 25 23 23 Investor Relations: Aurelie Cohen, Head of Investor Relations +33 1 74 25 70 64 - invest@adp.fr Groupe ADP builds, develops and manages airports, including Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Paris-Le Bourget. In 2016, Paris Aeroport handled more than 97 million passengers and 2.2 million metric tonnes of freight and mail at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly, and more than 42 million passengers in airports abroad through its subsidiary ADP Management. Boasting an exceptional geographic location and a major catchment area, the Group is pursuing its strategy of adapting and modernising its terminal facilities and upgrading quality of services; the group also intends to develop its retail and real estate businesses. In 2016, Group revenue stood at 2,947 million and net income at 435 million. Registered office: 1, rue de France, 93290 Tremblay-en-France. Aeroports de Paris is a public limited company (Societe Anonyme) with share capital of 296,881,806. Registered in the Bobigny Trade and Company Register under no. 552 016 628. groupeadp.fr Syrians seem to have learned at last the most important lesson in geopolitics: when to be cynical about American intentions. The Trump administrations airstrikes on Bashar al-Assads Shayrat air base after Assads suspected use of the nerve agent sarin against the people of Khan Sheikhoun was followed by an instant round of jubilation among anti-Assad rebels and activists. Some took to referring to the Donald as Abu Ivanka al-Amriki, which literally means Father of Ivanka, the American in an admiring way. Others named their restaurants after him in the liberated city of Kobane, no doubt prompting the Trump Organizations legal team to dig up Arabic translations of its licensing-fee agreements. A Syrian-American friend who had campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008 but had grown increasingly frustrated, not to say more politically incorrect, with the passage of time and the murder of half a million of his countrymen texted Orange is the new black late on Thursday night as footage of the Tomahawks being fired from U.S. destroyers in the Mediterranean began airing on CNN and getting Brian Williams excited on MSNBC. Id seen a similar crescendo followed by a crashing anti-climax before, in September 2013, when it looked as if Obama really would retaliate for the regimes use of sarin, that time in the East Ghouta suburb of Damascus. I had just gotten off a long trans-Atlantic flight in Istanbul, expecting to cover a war that never came. Instead, all the newspapers announced, there would be peace in our time. The U.S. president had rescued the country from another foolhardy intervention in a combustible region by striking a deal with his Russian counterpart to rid Syria of all of its stockpiles of chemical weapons. John Kerry would later go from comparing Assad to Hitler to praising him for his professionalism in de-proliferation, an assessment that looks slightly premature in hindsight. And so, my beat in southern Turkey changed to mapping the rebel reaction to this stark about-face. Never have so many bearded men with guns gone from giddy and anticipatory to angry and resentful so quickly outside of an American Civil War re-enactment canceled due to weather. The United States, ran the mood within the Free Syrian Army barracks in Antakya, had betrayed us yet again. If gassing 1,400 couldnt convince Obama to wage unbelievably small airstrikes against the perpetrator, as Kerry meekly put the case to Congress, nothing would. Now there was nothing left to do but fight by any means necessary, and to hell with America. Jihadis, meanwhile, were understandably thrilled at the dejection experienced by their moderate counterparts because theyd been trying to convince the latter for years that America and NATO were not on their side in this fight. (A year later, ISIS would storm into Mosul, dashing Obamas expectation that hed be the first commander in chief to permanently reduce Americas footprint the Middle East.) So, imagine my relief in discovering that the Syrian opposition has learned a thing or two about American exceptionalism since then. Perhaps because Trumps humanitarian intervention in Syria was over before anyone was sure it had even begun, many rebel fighters and media campaigners are refusing to be duped this time around. While its true that everyone who has suffered from the joint Baathist-Iranian-Russian extermination campaign indulges the possibility that Trump continues what he started, even U.S.-backed rebels arent quite ready to start writing checks they cant cash on the battlefield. Up to this minute, there has been no change or increase in support from our allies, Major Jamil Saleh, a commander in the Al Ezzeh Army, which operates in Idlib, Hama, and Homs provinces, told The Daily Beast on Monday. Nobody has contacted us saying that theres going to be any increase in support at all. Saleh noted that his men still receive regular supplies of TOW wire-guided anti-tank missiles, the signature weapon of the CIAs Operation Sycamore Timber, or its (not so covert) program of arming of FSA groups. But the Ezzeh Army isnt waiting on Washington to deliver anything else. A recent and so-far impressive rebel offensive in Hama is not because the U.S. has shifted policy; its because Assad has not, according to Saleh. The morale of the fighters on the ground has gone up based on regime atrocities, he said. They have no choice but to fight to the death. They cant risk losing. Most of these Syrianspleased though they say they are to see anything at all done to impede Assads killing machineare not overly impressed by the implied distinction between slaughter by chemicals and slaughter by any other of the myriad means available to the regime and its partners. Bahaa al-Halabi, a media activist currently based in Aleppo province, put the point to The Daily Beast in starkly personal fashion: My own father was martyred in an airstrike using internationally banned cluster munitions, he wrote in a WhatsApp message Monday. Was my fathers death normal because it wasnt due to chemicals? Describing the general mood among locals in his neighborhood, al-Halabi said, Honestly, the people no longer believe any promises when strikes begin in an intense way on Assads bases, and those of the terrorist militias that support him, there will be great joy among the people. Similarly, Abdulkafi Alhamdo, an Idlib-based former resident of East Aleppo, which the regime, Russia, and Iran sacked two months ago, was interviewed by CNN last Friday. Whats the benefit of such strikes? he asked. Its a political message, yes. Its a warning message, yes. But its really a popularity message. Trump is trying to have popularity with Americans by making these strikes. But they didnt achieve what Syrian civilians, what these innocent people, want. And Hadi al-Abdallah, an opposition-affiliated journalist who has survived numerous airstrikes and assassination attempts, conducted a video report from the ground in Khan Sheikhoun on Friday. None of the 20 or so residents he interviewed seemed under any illusions. One car driver told him, We received this news with a sort of joy but of course its not sufficient. We hope the international community will target all the airbases. A man on a moped added: They [the strikes] are good, but it wont debilitate the regime, because it has numerous airbases. Two of Abdallahs interviewees were conspicuously unimpressed. What would affect the regime would be strikes either on the coast[], the Hmeimim airbase, or Damascus, argued the first. The regime only struck with chemicals after getting a green light from Russia, and America didnt strike the regime until it tipped off Russia; its something internal, added the second, hewing quite close to the reporting that would emerge over the weekend. We hope its not theater, like in the past, said another man. Before this time, you saw the navy ships going to the Mediterranean as though they were going to strike the regime, and it all amounted to a lie. And this time it could be a lie again; just theater. His message for Trump is unlikely to be heeded: Dont let it be theater, dont lie to us. We no longer have any trust in this world, all of it. Abdallah also helpfully carried out a poll on Twitter before the strikes, asking his mostly Arab followers: With the escalation in American statements, do you expect an American strike to topple the Assad regime after the chemical massacre in Khan Sheikhoun? Answers were: 43 percent There will be limited strikes; 37 percent No; and 20 percent Yes The Pentagon deserves credit for managing expectations. It announced that the overnight bombing of one airbase was not a prelude to broader intervention but rather a proportional response and a one-off, albeit a one-off that appears to have reduced Assads operational aircraft capability by a fifth. A senior administration official told The Daily Beast Thursday that it hadnt yet been decided in the White House if further military action will be taken against the regime, but clarified that the cruise-missile attack was designed to deter the use of chemical weapons onlynot to necessarily stop Assad from his conventional means of mass murder and displacement. Only Sean Spicer was able to turn Trumps own red line into a Jackson Pollock painting. If you gas a baby, he said at his daily press conference Monday, if you put a barrel bomb in to innocent people, I think you will see a response from this president. Spicer mentioned barrel bombs three times, indicating that one of the most frequently used improvised munitions of Assads war was also now a game-changer, before adding that this government wasnt going to telegraph a response to every corresponding action because that tells the enemy what youre going to do and whether or not that response is worth taking. Coming from the administration that informed Moscow and therefore Damascus of when and where the airstrikes were coming before it informed Congress, this means everything and nothing all at once. Swift came the clarification, too. Spicer was only referring to chlorine-laden barrel bombs, apparently. Syrians are wise not to count on Abu Ivanka. With additional reporting by Alex Rowell When the same idea espoused by different parties leads to opposite reactions, is that reaction driven by principles or by fandom? The millennial left has had to deal with some uncomfortable truths since Donald Trumps election. That they dont live in a country with the same ideological makeup of their peer groups. That, while wokeness may be a virtue on their favorite media, its certainly not among vast swaths of the population they may never have met. That millions upon millions of people do not give a shit about things like sitcom diversity or ads that dont photoshop models or using correct pronouns for a persons chosen gender. That each person gets only one vote, no matter how ugly their reasons for casting it. Another one of the more unmooring truths millennial progressives have had to confront post-Nov. 8 is the fact that when it comes to issues like immigration and foreign relations, many of the actions that President Obama took, and many of the actions that President Hillary Clinton would have taken are not necessarily in line with what they think those candidates values are. For example: Last week, when President Trump ordered an airstrike against a Syrian Air Force base, many on the left were disturbed. President Trump didnt seek authorization from Congress in order to attack a sovereign country, as he should by law. Plus, war isnt something the left wing is supposed to traditionally favor. But hours earlier, Trumps former rival Hillary Clinton expressed a similar view to Trumps at a Women in the World event in New York City. I really believe that we should have and still should take out his airfields and prevent him from being able to use them to bomb innocent people and drop sarin gas on them, the former Democratic nominee for president said. Now, the difference between Hillary Clintons words and Donald Trumps actions are pretty stark. Trump is president, Clinton is not. Trump actually sent bombs, Clinton did not. What Trump did is real, what Clinton says she would have done is speculative, and pointing fingers of blame at her based on what might have happened in an alternate reality is the very definition of a waste of time. But the similarity in their stances presents an important truth that people who consider themselves left-leaning should consider. What young people on the left think their leaders are, isnt necessarily in line with reality. For example: America wasnt letting in many Syrian refugees to begin with, even when Obama was president. Those who have been admitted to the U.S. have undergone extensive vetting that takes years. One might even call it extreme. The legal thumb war over Trumps Muslim ban isnt over whether its legal for the president to turn an open-arms policy into a cold and closed one. Its not about turning off a gushing faucet; its effect would be more like stopping a drip. We werent being great to immigrants to begin with. During Obamas presidency, deportations spiked. Trump is making it worse, but we werent doing great to begin with. Its possible that those on the left are comfortable with the amount of deportations that were occurring during the Obama era, or with the idea of bombing Syria. Its also possible that when peoples preferred party is in power, they project their expectations onto those individuals and then rest on their laurels rather than paying close, critical attention. And its pretty easy for a young person living comfortably in the U.S. to go about their day not thinking about foreign relations or immigration at all. Lately, Ive been thinking a lot about the general eight-year space out young Obama voters were able to enjoy before election day, how Obamas place in the White House gave his young voters something that, in retrospect, seems like a false sense of security at best, a smokescreen at worst. During his presidency, state house after state house fell to Republicans. A 2010 mid-term election blowout during a redistricting year means Dems dont have a shot at taking back the House for another few cycles, at the very least. It was eight years to kick back and relax and not pay attention, and now all the bills are coming due at once. The Republican party isnt exactly a welcoming place for anti-war millennial progressives, either. Back in 2014, then-President Obama sought congressional approval for missile strikes on Syria after a sarin gas attack killed 1,400 people. A Republican-controlled Congressthe same party thats now lauding Trumps advanced presidentingblocked him. To political moderates, all of this is probably fine. To paraphrase Louis Armstrong, I say tomato, you say tomahawk. But to the young and anti-war faction of voters who supported Obama and then Clinton, perhaps without spending much time considering what his ideological peers would do in Syria, they must now reckon with the fact that no major party represents their views. And maybe no major party ever really did. Time magazines 2016 Person of the Year was elected president, as the magazines headline writer waggishly put it, of the divided states of America. Donald Trump did not, of course, cause Americas long-standing divisions of class, culture, education, income, race, and politics, which have been baked into our geography and demography for a long time. But he has certainly brought them into stark relief. As the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt remarked, We have to recognize that were in a crisis, and that the left-right divide is probably unbridgeable. Polarization is here to stay for many decades, and its probably going to get worse, and so the question is: How do we adapt our democracy for life under intense polarization? The answer lies not in enforcing uniformity from left or right but in embracing and empowering our diversity of communities. The best way to do that is by shifting power away from our increasingly dysfunctional federal government and down to the local level, where partisan differences are more muted and less visible, and where programs and policies can actually get things done. This is hardly the first time the United States have been so divided. Yet with the exception of the Civil War, America has always been able to surmount its differences and change as needed over time. Often the most powerful and lasting innovationsfrom both the left and righthave percolated up to the national level from the grassroots politics of state and local governments, the places Justice Louis Brandeis famously called the laboratories of democracy. Far from promoting unity, centralizing power at the national level drives us further apart. This is something that the Founders recognized at the very outset of the American experiment when they designed a federalized system, and it is very much in tune with our current national mood. Almost half (49 percent) of Americans view the federal government as an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens, according to a 2015 Gallup poll. And nearly two-thirds (64 percent) believe that more progress is made on critical issues at the local rather than the federal level, according to a separate 2015 Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor poll. The issue isnt just the dysfunction of our national government, but how we can best and most efficiently address our economic needs and challenges. The United States is a geographically varied place. No top-down, one-size-fits-all set of policies can address the very different conditions that prevail among communities. Back when he was governor, Bill Clinton understood that pragmatic responses by local governments to key social and economic issues were critical in a country as complex and diverse as ours. Until recently, local empowerment was mostly a theme of the right, for example when Yuval Levin characterized President Obamas use of executive orders as intrusions on local rights. Now some progressives, horrified about the orders that might come down from a Donald Trump administration, are also seeing the light. Progressives have not always been hostile to local control, as anyone whos studied the grassroots radical movements of the 1960s well knows. But now a growing chorus of them, including Benjamin Barber and Bruce Katz, are on board with the idea. Indeed, strange times make for strange bedfellows, and we have come to a pass where conservatives and progressives can work together to reinvigorate our federalist state. The United Kingdom, long a highly-centralized country, has been making moves in this directioneven before the Brexit vote showed widespread opposition to meddling from an even more distant government in Brussels. In 2015, a blue-ribbon panel of British business leaders, policymakers, economists, and urbanists outlined four key steps to empower cities, including shifting decision-making authority from the national government to cities and metropolitan areas; giving cities greater tax and fiscal authority; placing city leaders on national representative bodies and giving them a permanent seat on the national cabinet; and creating new mechanisms to coordinate major investments in infrastructure, talent, and economic development across metro areas. We would be wise to follow their cue. It is time for American mayors and community leadersfrom small towns, suburbs and midsized burgs to great metropolitan capitals like New York City, LA, and Chicago to press for a similar devolution of power. Such a strategy recognizes both the advantages that come from local innovation and problem solving and the substantial variations in local capabilities and needs. This need for devolution and local empowerment does not just apply to the federal government; it applies to the relationship between the states and municipalities as well. A greater recognition of local differences may be particularly helpful for suburbs, which often have little voice in regional decision-making compared to either big city mayors or the rural and small town interests that dominate many statehouses. In the America that emerged after the Second World War, unity of purpose was the watchword. In the more geographically-varied world of today, it makes sense to allow for a greater variation of policy approaches. Rather than pursuing a single vision of national greatness, its time for us to embrace and empower the countrys wondrous local diversity of cities, suburbs and communities of all kinds. Vive le difference! Richard Florida is author of The New Urban Crisis, University Professor at the University of Toronto, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at NYU, and editor-at-large of The Atlantics CityLab. Joel Kotkin is the author of The Human City: Urbanism for the Rest of Us, Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University and executive director of the Center for Opportunity Urbanism. The Trump administration is driving home its case alleging possible Russian complicity in Syrias poison gas attack last weekand directly accusing Moscow of spreading disinformation to cover it up ahead of Secretary of State Rex Tillersons meetings with the Russian foreign minister and other officials this week. Russias allegations fit a pattern of deflecting blame from the regime and attempting to undermine the credibility of its opponents, one of three high-level White House officials said in a briefing to reporters Tuesday. Russia and Syria, in multiple instances in 2016, have blamed the opposition for chemical use in attacks. The officials laid out in detail why they blame the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad for an alleged sarin nerve agent attack that killed between 50 and 100 people on April 4 in the town of Khan Sheikhoun. The officials shared newly declassified U.S. intelligence from satellites and intercepts that they say showed a Syrian regime SU-22 fixed-wing aircraft dropped at least one sarin-laden weapon onto Khan Shaykun "approximately 20 minutes before reports of the chemical attack began," according to an additional statement following a briefing by the White House. Turkish officials have said that autopsies of some victims have confirmed the nerve agent used was sarin, a weapon of mass destruction that is not known to be in the hands of any organization in Syria except the government, which had pledged in 2013 to destroy all of its stockpiles. The Russians had offered themselves as guarantors of that pledge. The officials spoke to reporters on condition they not be named in what appears to be a full-court press, with the White House briefing followed later by diplomatic and military briefings, speaking to the hardening attitude of the Trump White House toward Moscow. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said U.S intelligence still wasnt certain the Russia knew ahead of time that sarin was about to be used. But the officials said it was highly questionable that Russian military advisors co-located with Syrian forces at the Shayrat Airfield, the point of origin for the deadly strike, were unaware of the payload. The Kremlin has sought to obfuscate the perpetrators of last week's gas attack, but Spicer roundly dismissed the contention, which was floated even by some prominent Assad-friendly conspiracy theorists in the United States, that anyone but the Syrian regime was behind it. "I think that anybody who doubts that ... wouldnt just be doubting the intelligence, but would be doubting the entire international reporting crew that was there to document all of this," he told reporters. "There have been doctors, intelligence communities, media ... Its not a question of doubting [the U.S. government position], its a question of doubting everyone but Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Russia." "The Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and the attack itself," Defense Secretary James Mattis said of the suspected sarin attack on Tuesday, adding his voice to the multiple senior officials speaking out. Ahead of last weeks U.S. strike against the Syrian airbase with 59 Tomahawk Cruise missiles, some U.S officials had argued that Moscow must be left with a face-saving way out of the controversy. But Russia responded to the strike with multiple attempts to deflect blame from its Syrian regime ally, leaving little room for either Washington or Moscow to maneuver a diplomatic way out. At what point do they recognize they are getting on the wrong side of history? Spicer said, berating Russia for aligning with what he called the failed states of Syria, North Korea, and Iran. Tillerson would be "going to let Russia know they have to live up to their obligations, vis a vis chemical weapons treaties, Spicer said. Unlike the White House, Mattis refused to make any rhetorical denunciations of Russia, even making certain to point out that last week's Tomahawk strike was carefully aimed away from Russian military personnel. "It was very clear that the Assad regime planned it, orchestrated it and executed it. Beyond that, we can't say anything right now," he said. Neither he nor Central Command's Gen. Joseph Votel would confirm that it was a Russian military drone circling the Syrian hospital treating gas attack victims before the regime bombed it at the Tuesday Pentagon briefing. The Russian military cut military deconfliction channel with the U.S.-led coalition in Syria, leading to the potential for a deadly accidental clash between the two nuclear powers. It will not spiral out of control, Mattis insisted. We maintain communications with the Russian military and with the diplomatic channels, he said, adding that hes confident Russians will act in their own best interests, which means keeping a lid on the tension. Officials said they believe Khan Sheikhun was hit by sarin on April 4, in particular, to protect the regimes military infrastructure including a nearby airfield. We think the regime has consistently used chemical weapons over time, not necessarily all sarin, to be able to fill up conventional voids in its skirmishes against the opposition, one of the White House officials said. Attacks using chlorine, a commonly available industrial chemical, were largely ignored by the Obama administration and, until this month, by the Trump administration as well. Only days before the Khan Sheikhoun attack, Tillerson himself had suggested the fate of Assad was a matter for the Syrian people, the line commonly used by Russia to defend the Syrian president as he massacres his people. Mattis tiptoed confusingly when asked if Assad's chlorine-filled chemical weapons were as bad as sarin ones. "As far as barrel bombs with chlorine, chemical weapons are chemical weapons," he said. "President Trump has made it exceedingly clear where the United States stands on that." But he wouldnt say if using them would trigger the same muscular U.S military response. When reporters told him that seemed contradictory and confusing, he said, I really dont want to clear it up, perhaps to leave Assad wondering. A senior defense official later explained, speaking anonymously in order to discuss Mattis thinking. We want to leave it vague and keep Assad guessing. The senior national security officials said there were up to 200 incidents of suspected chemical weapons use by the Assad regime since it supposedly gave up its WMD stockpiles in 2013, as part of a deal brokered by Moscow to avoid punitive military strikes by the Obama administration. As for the U.S. war on ISIS, Mattis also denied that the strike might signal mission creep toward regime change, insisting the coalition remains focused on the so-called Islamic State. "We knew we could not stand passive on this, but it was not a statement that we could step full bore," into what the retired Marine general described as the most complex conflict on the planet. "It was not a harbinger of some change in our military campaign." Lachlan Markay also contributed to this article The shocking allegation is that a U.S. presidential candidate colluded with a foreign power in order to win the White House. The parallel breathtaking allegation is that a U.S. president ordered the surveillance of a presidential candidate in order to prove he was in cahoots with a foreign power in order to win the White House. The verdict of history looks to be guilty for all parties, including two presidents. Importantly the year was not 2016, in the depths of the New Cold War with Russia, but rather it was 1968, in the depths of the Old Cold War with Russia. I learn from new reporting by John Farrell, in his biography, Richard Nixon: The Life, that Richard Nixon guessed correctly from a telephone conference call with President Lyndon B. Johnson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1968, that Johnson was looking to announce a bombing halt in the Vietnam War in order to boost Democratic candidate Vice President Hubert Humphreys chances. It was three weeks to the election. Nixons thin lead was fading. American Independent Party candidate George Wallace of Alabama was losing credibility with union Democrats in the Midwest, who were now rallying to the earnestly liberal Humphrey of Minnesota. Nixon aide H.R. Haldemans notes from the day illustrate Nixons analysis: RN thinks attempt by LBJ to get pause before election danger is attempt to build up idea war is at an end. Nixons counter was to direct campaign manager John Mitchell to use a cut-out, Anna Chennault, to communicate to South Vietnam President Nguyen Van Thieu that he should not go along with Johnsons gambit. Chinese-born Anna Chennault, then 43, was the widow of World War II war hero General Claire Chennault of the Flying Tigers. She was also a Republican partisan known as the Dragon Lady. At Nixons direction, Chennault worked secretly with South Vietnam Ambassador to the U.S. Bui Diem to convince Thieu that he would get a better deal once Nixon was in the White House. On Oct. 22, Haldemans notes of Nixons orders to Mitchell indicate the plan was in train: Keep Anna Chennault working on SVN. Late at night, Nixon asked Haldeman about Johnsons bombing halt plan, Any other way to monkey wrench it? Johnson, a match of Nixons ruthless genius, heard talk of the conniving and ordered everyone wiretapped, from the untrusted ally Thieu in Saigon to the conspiring South Vietnam embassy in Washington to Anna Chennaults homeand to vice presidential candidate Spiro Agnews campaign, perhaps even to Agnew himself. Johnson read the wiretap reports: Anna Chennault contacted Vietnam Ambassador Bui Diem. Also, She said the message was that, Hold on. We are gonna win Please tell your boss to hold on. Over the next days, the NYT headlines recorded the Nixon vs. Johnson contest like an Allen Drury thriller. On Nov. 1, we can read Johnsons ploy to assist Humphrey to gain the peace vote: Attacks on North Vietnam Halt Today: Johnson Says Wider Talks Begin Nov. 6. On Nov. 2, we can see Nixons ploy to wreck Humphreys late momentum: Thieu Says Saigon Cannot Join Paris Peace Talks Under Present Plan; U.S. To Step Up Bombing In Laos. Johnson was volcanic and called Republican Minority Leader Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois on Nov. 2. This is treason. Nixon learned immediately of the Johnson charge and told Congressional Republicans, through Haldeman, how to treat Johnson and the Democrats: Kick them hard Cooly, Nixon called Johnson on Sunday, Nov. 348 hours to the voteand acted chagrined at the allegation. My God, I would never do anything to encourage Saigon to come to the table. Johnson suspected the worst and was urged to expose Nixons arguably Logan Act felonious game. Johnson and Humphrey chose silence. Why? Perhaps, Farrell reasons, because they did not have direct proof of Nixons involvementsuch as can be found in Haldemans notes. Perhaps, too, exposing Nixon would mean revealing that Johnson had used the FBI to wiretap a presidential campaign. Nixon also remained silent and worked to his death in 1993 to keep Haldemans notes out of the news. The U.S. government, which had taken possession of Nixons files in 1974, did not make the necessary documents available until 2007. John Farrell reports in a footnote that he found Haldemans notes on the Chennault affair while conducting research for this book. Even without those notes as proof, it has not escaped ironic observers the last 50 years that Nixon learned from the scrap with Johnson that there was a thrilling pay-off to fighting your opponents without limits of law or common sense. Did the same kind of high-stakes intrigue show itself in the Watergate affair of 1972-74? Farrell quotes from Johnsons aide Walt Rostows 1973 memo about the Chennault affair, They got away with it. As the same men faced the election of 1972 there was nothing in their previous experience with an operation of doubtful propriety (or, even legality) to warn them off Thanks to Farrells delightful labor, what I have learned from the Chennault affair is that it can take decades to unpack the chicanery during presidential elections. How I celebrate you who will read the facts of the allegations of collusion and surveillance of 2016 in the year 2066. English French Revenues of 57 million euros in Q1 2017 New orders in Q1 2017: 4 FSRUs and 1 LNG carrier 6.6% increase in revenues from services 2017 targets confirmed Paris, April 11, 2017 - GTT (Gaztransport & Technigaz), an engineering company specialised in the design of membrane containment systems for the maritime transportation and storage of liquefied gas, announces its first quarter revenues for 2017. Key figures for Q1 2017 (in thousands of euros) Q1 2016 Q1 2017 Change Revenues 58,555 56,872 (2.9%) From royalties 55,360 53,468 (3.4%) LNG carrier/ethane carrier 49,922 46,647 (6.6%) FSRU 4,435 6,310 +42.3% FLNG 633 435 (31.3%) Onshore storage 192 - nm Barge 177 76 (57.1%) From services 3,195 3,404 +6.6% Philippe Berterottiere, Chairman and CEO of GTT, commented: "The first quarter of 2017 saw GTT win four new FSRU orders, reflecting the entry of new importing countries into the LNG market, which confirms the long term growth perspectives on this market. We are pleased to have positioned ourselves at the right time on this activity segment, a real complement to the LNG carrier segment. We continued to prepare for the future by presenting our brand-new dedicated LPG membrane system, GTT MARSTM, at the Gastech conference and exhibition. At financial level, our revenues in the first three months of the year are in line with our expectations and we are carefully monitoring our cost base in order to safeguard our competitiveness." Business segment performance First quarter 2017 revenues amounted to 56.9 million, down 2.9% on the first quarter of 2016. Revenues related to royalties stood at 53.5 million, down 3.4%. Royalties related to LNG carriers and ethane carriers decreased by 6.6% to 46.7 million, while those from FSRUs rose 42.3% to 6.3 million. Other royalties, for 0.4 million, derived from FLNGs, and for 0.1 million from the LNG barge. Revenues related to services amounted to 3.4 million, up 6.6 % compared with the first quarter of 2016, mainly generated by maintenance contracts for ships in service, by engineering studies and supplier approvals. Highlights of the quarter - Increase in FSRU orders Anticipating market developments, GTT decided in recent years to design new solutions for the offshore LNG industry, in particular for Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs). Today, this is a particularly dynamic sector and one that is preferred by the new importing countries for which FSRUs provide a flexible solution and an economical alternative to onshore regasification terminals. The four new orders booked in the first quarter confirm the relevance of this strategy. - Presentation of our new, dedicated LPG transport containment system At the Gastech 2017 conference and exhibition, GTT officially launched GTT MARSTM, its new containment system specially designed for transporting LPG, after receiving General Approval from the Lloyd's Register classification society. This innovation is driven by an environment where it is necessary to minimize ship ownership costs. GTT wanted to deliver an optimal response to the expectations of multi-gas ship operators by increasing vessels' operational flexibility and efficiency while guaranteeing high safety levels. Being lighter and more compact than competing systems, the GTT MARSTM system can be used to design a smaller, more efficient vessel, offering lower fuel consumption and optimised loading capacity. Order book Since January 1, 2017, GTT's order book, which then stood at 96 units, has evolved as follows: 1 LNGC order 4 FSRU orders 12 LNG and ethane carrier deliveries 2 FSRU deliveries As at March 31, 2017, the order book stood at 87 units: 72 LNG and ethane carriers 10 FSRUs 2 FLNGs 2 onshore storage tanks 1 LNG bunker barge Outlook for 2017 Subject to any significant delays or order cancellations, the Company confirms its targets for 2017, namely: 2017 revenues in a range of 225-240 million, a net margin ratio above 50% , a 2017 dividend amount at least equivalent to those of 2015 and 2016, and, for the two subsequent years, a payout ratio of at least 80% of net income available for distribution. *** Financial agenda Annual General Meeting of Shareholders: May 18, 2017 Payment of balance dividend (1.33 per share) for 2016: May 31, 2017 Release of H1 2017 results: July 20, 2017 (after market close) Investor Relations Contacts information-financiere@gtt.fr / + 33 1 30 23 42 26 / + 33 1 30 23 20 87 Media Relations Contacts press@gtt.fr / +33 1 30 23 42 24 About GTT GTT (Gaztransport & Technigaz) is an engineering company expert in containment systems with cryogenic membranes used to transport and store liquefied gas, in particular LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). For over 50 years, GTT has been maintaining reliable relationships with all stakeholders of the gas industry (shipyards, shipowners, gas companies, terminal operators, classification societies). The Company designs and provides technologies which combine operational efficiency and safety, to equip LNG carriers, floating terminals, and multi-gas carriers. GTT also develops solutions dedicated to land storage and to the use of LNG as fuel for the vessel propulsion, as well as a full range of services. GTT is listed on Euronext Paris, Compartment A (ISIN FR0011726835 Euronext Paris: GTT) and is notably included in SBF 120 and MSCI Small Cap indices. For further information, please see: www.gtt.fr. Important notice The French language version of this press release shall prevail. The figures presented here are those customarily used and communicated to the markets by GTT. This message includes forward-looking information and statements. Such statements include financial projections and estimates, the assumptions on which they are based, as well as statements about projects, objectives and expectations regarding future operations, profits, or services, or future performance. Although GTT management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and GTT shareholders should be aware that such forward-looking information and statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties that are generally difficult to predict and beyond the control of GTT, and may cause results and developments to differ significantly from those expressed, implied or predicted in the forward-looking statements or information. Such risks include those explained or identified in the public documents filed by GTT with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF), including those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of the GTT base document (in French) registered with the AMF on April 27, 2016 under number R.16-028, and the half-yearly financial report released on July 21, 2016. Investors and GTT shareholders should note that if some or all of these risks are realised they may have a significant unfavourable impact on GTT. French English Nanterre, April 11, 2017 Faurecia'S board of directors appoints new chairman Meeting on April 11, 2017, Faurecia's board of directors agreed to appoint Michel de Rosen as its new chairman. The appointment will take effect at the close of the shareholders' meeting on May 30. Michel de Rosen will succeed Yann Delabriere, who will step down as Chairman and Member of the Board after presiding over the shareholders' meeting. Yann Delabriere joined Faurecia as a Director in 1996 and held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from February 16, 2007, to June 30, 2016. He stepped down as CEO and remained Chairman on July 1, 2016, following a decision by the Board on April 13, 2016. Meeting on April 11, 2017, the Board expressed its deepest thanks to Yann Delabriere for his extensive contribution and commitment to the development of Faurecia. During his time with the Group he has helped turn it into a strong and profitable company with a solid international reputation. As such, the board of directors has the pleasure to announce the appointment of Yann Delabriere as Honorary Chairman of Faurecia, starting on June 1st, 2017. Michel de Rosen is a French citizen. He has been a CEO and Member of the Board of companies in France and the United States. He has been Chairman of Eutelsat Communications since 2013 and was CEO of Eutelsat from 2009 to 2016. He was CEO of ViroPharma in the US from 2000 to 2008, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer in the US from 1993 to 1999, and Rhone-Poulenc Films & Polymers in France from 1988 to 1993. He began his career at the French Inspection Generale des Finances in 1976 and was then chief of staff for the minister for industry and telecommunications from 1986 to 1988. Contacts Media Eric Fohlen-Weill Head of Media Relations Tel: +33 (0)1 72 36 72 58 eric.fohlen-weill@faurecia.com Analysts/Investors Eric-Alain Michelis Director of Financial Communications Tel: +33 (0)1 72 36 75 70 eric-alain.michelis@faurecia.com About Faurecia Faurecia is one of the world's largest automotive equipment suppliers, with three key Business Groups: Seating, Clean Mobility and Interior Systems. The strength of its technology provides automakers with solutions for the cockpit of the future and sustainable mobility. In 2016, the Group posted total sales of 18.7 billion. At December 31, 2016, Faurecia employed 100,000 people in 34 countries at 300 sites and 30 R&D centers. Faurecia is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris stock exchange and trades in the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) market. For more information, visit: www.faurecia.com Octopus Apollo VCT plc Final Results 11 April 2017 Octopus Apollo VCT plc, managed by Octopus Investments Limited, today announces the final results for the year ended 31 January 2017. These results were approved by the Board of Directors on 11 April 2017. You may, in due course, view the Annual Report in full at www.octopusinvestments.com. All other statutory information can also be found there. Financial Summary Year to 31 January 2017 Year to 31 January 2016 Net assets ('000)* 141,799 127,741 Return on ordinary activities after tax ('000)* 5,172 2,831 Net asset value per share (NAV) ** 63.2p 82.3p Cumulative dividends paid since launch** 54.0p 32.5p NAV plus cumulative dividends paid** 117.2p 114.8p Proposed final dividend - Ordinary share 1.7p 2.5p * Comparative figures include the combined Ordinary and D Ordinary share classes ** Comparative figures are for the Ordinary Share class only Note that all comparative figures relate only to the Company, prior to the merger with Octopus Eclipse VCT plc, and are therefore not a true comparison to the period under review. The final proposed dividend of 1.7p per Ordinary share for the year ended 31 January 2017 will, subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting, be paid on 28 July 2017 to all Ordinary shareholders on the register on 30 June 2017. Chairman's Statement Introduction I am pleased to present the Annual Report of Apollo for the year ended 31 January 2017 and I should like to welcome all new shareholders following the recent fund raising and acquisition of the assets and liabilities of Octopus Eclipse VCT plc ("Eclipse"). Performance On a total return basis, after adding back the 5p of ordinary dividends paid in the year as well as the 16.5p special dividend paid, the NAV has risen 2.9%. The NAV plus cumulative dividends has risen from 114.8p per share as at 31 January 2016 to 117.2p per share as at 31 January 2017. However as the special dividend was partly funded by the repayment of loans to companies, the NAV of the Ordinary share class has fallen from 82.3p per share as at 31 January 2016 to 63.2p per share as at 31 January 2017. Fund Raising During the year 31.4 million was raised under the Offer for Subscription which was launched in November 2015, to raise up to 30 million with an overallotment facility of 10 million. This offer closed in September 2016, fully subscribed having raised approximately 40.9 million. A new Offer for Subscription was launched in November 2016 to raise up to 20 million. Up to 31 January 2017, 4.5 million had been raised under the Offer. The Offer was fully subscribed and closed in March 2017, eight months ahead of schedule. Further details can be found in the Directors' report and in note 16 of the full Annual Report and Accounts. Conversion of D Ordinary Shares and D Ordinary Share Dividend In August 2016, the Company completed the Octopus VCT 2 plc ("OVCT 2") merger by converting the D Ordinary shares into Ordinary shares and by paying a dividend of 92.3p to those D Ordinary shareholders who elected to exit. Those shareholders who converted their D Ordinary shares did so at a conversion ratio of 1.11205, resulting in a total of 3,850,093 Ordinary shares being issued. 15,620,519 D Ordinary shareholders elected to receive the D share dividend, resulting in a total cash dividend of 14.4 million. Merger with Eclipse On 19 December 2016 the Company acquired the assets and liabilities of Eclipse, increasing the net assets of the Company by 21.6 million. Eclipse was established in 2004 as an evergreen VCT seeking to deliver absolute returns on its investments primarily in unquoted and AIM listed companies. Board Following the acquisition of Eclipse's assets and liabilities ("the transaction") I am delighted to welcome Alex Hambro, the former Chairman of Eclipse, to the Board. Alex brings with him a wealth of knowledge of VCT investing and smaller companies in general. I am also pleased that Christopher Powles and James Otter have continued as Directors of the Company, retaining their considerable experience. I should also like to take this opportunity to thank Ian Pearson, who resigned following the transaction, for his contribution to the Company. Resolutions to appoint Alex Hambro and to re-elect James Otter will be proposed at the forthcoming AGM. Dividend and Dividend Policy It is your Board's policy to maintain a regular dividend flow where possible in order to take advantage of the tax free distributions a VCT is able to provide. Given the performance of the Ordinary share portfolio your Board has proposed a final dividend of 1.7p per Ordinary share in respect of the year ended 31 January 2017. This is in addition to the 2.5p interim dividend and the 16.5p special dividend, both paid in December 2016, and will bring the total dividends declared on the Ordinary share class to 20.7p for the year. Excluding the special dividend, this represents a similar return of capital in previous years of 5.1%. The dividend will be payable on 28 July 2017 to Ordinary shareholders on the register at 30 June 2017. Dividend Reinvestment Scheme (DRIS) In common with a number of VCTs, the Company has a dividend reinvestment scheme which was introduced in November 2014. This is an attractive scheme for investors who do not need income, but would prefer to benefit from additional income tax relief on their re-invested dividend. I hope that shareholders will find this scheme beneficial. During the year to 31 January 2017 8,288,612 shares were issued under the DRIS, returning 5.2 million to the Company. Share Buybacks Your Company has continued to buy back shares as required. Subject to shareholder approval of resolution 10 at the forthcoming annual general meeting this facility will remain in place to provide liquidity to investors who may wish to sell their shares. Details of the share buybacks undertaken during the year can be found in the Directors' Report in the full Annual Report and Accounts. Investment Portfolio The transaction with Eclipse on 19 December 2016 resulted in the Company acquiring its 21.6 million investment portfolio which had been invested under a similar mandate to Apollo's current investment strategy. During the 12 months to 31 January 2017, Apollo made the following disposals: Initital Cost Sale Proceeds Gain/(loss) on Sale CSL Dualcom 10,806,000 12,277,000 1,471,000 SCM World* 5,000,000 5,722,000 722,000 Project Tristar 798,000 2,191,000 1,393,000 3AM 2,000,000 1,742,000 (258,000) Atlantic Screen International 1,877,000 1,500,000 (377,000) Callstream Group** 472,000 938,000 466,000 5AM 850,000 622,000 (228,000) 21,803,000 24,992,000 3,189,000 *SCM world proceeds and gain on sale have increased since interim report by 297,000, relating to additional proceeds due under an earn-out arrangement that was agreed when the business was sold. **Callstream proceeds have decreased since the interim period due to a reduction in the expected deferred consideration. SCM World was acquired by Gartner Inc, a US quoted company with strategic overlap in the supply chain advisory sector. The majority shareholders of the business took the decision to sell, based on the valuation offered. The overall annualised return to Apollo, including loan interest and dividends was 22%. The other disposals related to investments that had been in the portfolio for several years. In the case of Callstream, Tristar and CSL Dualcom the annualised returns received over the lifetime of the investments were 19%, 17% and 12% respectively. In March 2016 the Company invested 9 million into eight companies seeking to develop solar farms in Sardinia. The transaction is attractive to Apollo given the element of contracted revenue streams and the underlying demand of the macroeconomic environment. Nine sites have been identified (one company will own two sites) and detailed due diligence has been conducted on the first two sites. No material concerns arose and construction work is due to start in April with revenue generation expected at the end of 2017. In July 2016, Apollo completed its 5 million investment in ISG Technology, a specialist service provider to multi-site organisations such as supermarkets, which installs and maintains WiFi and related connectivity systems. This investment was made through the investment company Coupra Limited. Another investment completed in July was into Spectra Care Group, a manufacturer and distributor of medical equipment for elderly or obese patients being cared for in their homes. Apollo invested 2.5 million alongside 2.2 million from Eclipse and so, following the VCT merger, Apollo now has a 4.7 million investment in the business. Both Apollo and Eclipse made these investments through the investment company Dyscova Limited. More recently, Apollo has also made a number of small follow-on investments into assets previously held as part of the Eclipse portfolio. Between the merger on 19 December 2016 and 31 January 2017, Apollo invested 360,000 into Artesian, CurrencyFair, MIRACL and Ecrebo. Investment Strategy As set out in the prospectus, the aim of the Company is to make investments to achieve an appropriate balance of income and capital growth, having regard for venture capital legislation. To date the Manager has been successful in achieving this aim, as evidenced by the positive return on ordinary activities. Typically the structure of the investments is weighted more heavily towards loan based instruments as opposed to equity. Such investments provide fixed returns and payments are generally ranked above most other creditors, allowing for future visibility and security. This strategy also reduces the downward risk that is an intrinsic element of an equity investment. VCT Qualifying Status PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provides the Board and Manager with advice concerning ongoing compliance with Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs ('HMRC') rules and regulations concerning VCTs. The Board has been advised that the Company is in compliance with the conditions laid down by HMRC for maintaining approval as a VCT. A key requirement is now to maintain the 70% qualifying investment level. As at 31 January 2017, over 85% of the portfolio, as measured by HMRC rules, was invested in VCT qualifying investments. Further information on VCT regulation is detailed in the Directors' Report within the full Annual Report and Accounts. Annual General Meeting The Company's Annual General Meeting will take place on 12 July 2017 at 4.00 p.m. I look forward to welcoming you to the meeting which will be held at the offices of Octopus Investments Limited at 33 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT. Directions to their office can be found by visiting their website at: www.octopusinvestments.com. Electronic Communications Based on feedback from shareholders, and in order to reduce the cost of printing and the consequential impact on the environment, we now offer shareholders the opportunity to forgo their printed report and account documents in favour of receiving electronic or mail notification with details of how to view the documents online. If you would like to change the format in which you receive this report, please contact Octopus or Computershare using the contact details provided in the annual report and accounts. Outlook and future prospects Since the Company's launch the returns to shareholders have shown low volatility year on year, which is testament to the prudent investment approach adopted by the Manager. The portfolio has generally been performing well and your Board and Manager believe we can continue to find suitable investments to support the Company's mandate Murray Steele Chairman 11 April 2017 Investment Manager's Review Personal Service At Octopus we focus on both managing your investments and keeping you informed throughout the investment process. We are committed to providing our investors with regular and open communication. Our updates are designed to keep you informed about the progress of your investment. Octopus was established in 2000 and has a strong commitment to both smaller companies and to VCTs. We currently manage six VCTs, including this one, and manage over 600 million in the VCT sector. Investment Policy The majority of companies in which Apollo invests operate in sectors where there is a high degree of predictability. Ideally, we seek companies that have contractual revenues from financially sound customers and that will provide an opportunity for the Company to realise its investment within three to five years. Performance The Company made a total return per Ordinary share of 2.9% between 31 January 2016 and 31 January 2017. Whilst the NAV per Ordinary share decreased from 82.3p to 63.2p, 21.5p of dividends were paid over the period, bringing cumulative dividends paid to date to 54p and the total value (NAV plus cumulative dividends) to 117.2p per share. Portfolio Review The fund is comprised of 59 portfolio companies with a total valuation of 112.9 million. The 21.6 million portfolio of assets of Eclipse VCT acquired in December 2016 was made up 32 of investments in unquoted and AIM listed companies. This includes 10 quoted AIM investments representing c. 22% of NAV, 14 Titan VCT coinvestments (31% of NAV), with the balance (46% of NAV) being more typical Eclipse/Apollo investments. In the year under review the Company invested 9.0m into eight companies alongside 29.6 million of EIS funding to provide construction finance for solar power generation activities in Sardinia. It also used the investment company Dyscova Limited to invest 4.7 million in Spectra Care Group, a manufacturer and distributor of medical equipment for elderly or obese patients, and used the investment company Coupra Limited to invest 5 million in ISG Technology Limited, a specialist service provider to large organisations such as supermarkets, which installs and maintains Wi-Fi and related connectivity systems. There were a number of exits of portfolio companies during the year, including the last of the longstanding investments in media assets. Other notable disposals were SCM World, Callstream, Tristar and CSL Dualcom. The annualised returns received over the lifetime of these investments were 22%, 19%, 17% and 12% respectively and, in the case of SCM World, further proceeds are expected during 2017 in relation to an earn-out arrangement agreed with the buyer of the business. To date, three of the eight Investment Companies have been invested: Aquaso (TSC), Coupra (ISG) and Dyscova (Spectra). Three of the remaining five companies (Byena, Emercor and Finnavor) were wound up in December 2016, returning 14.9 million in cash to Apollo. Shortly after 31 January 2017, the Company invested 33 million in the Octopus Portfolio Manager ("OPM") funds, 4.5 million from each of the two remaining investment companies, Galvara Limited and Haravar Limited, and 24 million from Apollo's cash reserves, in order to keep the money in liquid investments rather than cash until new deals are completed. OPM offers 10 different investment categories (1-10), where at the lower-risk end of the scale, investment is in bonds, and at the high-risk end in equities. An investment of 9 million was made in OPM1, 10 million in OPM2 and 14 million in OPM3. The latest VCT rules permit cash to be invested for liquidity management purposes so long as it can be accessed within seven days, which is the case with the OPM funds. Octopus has waived its management fees in relation to OPM to ensure it is not taking fees twice on the same funds under management. The Company's investment portfolio continues to hold appropriate investments to meet all the requirements for it to fully qualify as a VCT. The Manager now has the opportunity to make a number of further investments with the aim of accelerating the NAV of the Company over the foreseeable future. Outlook and Future Prospects Following another strong year of exits in 2016 we remain optimistic about the outlook for the portfolio and future investment prospects. The Company has a large and diverse portfolio, has weathered the difficult economic conditions of the past few years and has continued to grow. The investment team has been increasingly active in the search for new opportunities and has been focused on ensuring that its nationwide network of contacts understands the impact on strategy of the VCT investment rule changes introduced in November 2015. We are now seeing the pipeline of potential deals steadily increase and we expect to complete some exciting new investments during 2017. The recent investments and exits during the last twelve months have further raised the profile of the investment team, resulting in more inbound opportunities. The strong take up in the fundraising and the recent exits provide significant financial capacity for new investments and, as one of the largest VCTs in the country, Apollo has the ability to pursue larger deals than most VCTs and provide significant follow-on investment, which is a strong competitive advantage. If you have any questions on any aspect of your investment, please call one of the team on 0800 316 2295. Grant Paul-Florence Octopus Investments Limited 11 April 2017 Directors' Responsibilities Statement The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, Directors' Report, Directors' Remuneration Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable laws) including FRS 102 - "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs and profit or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business; and prepare a Strategic Report, a Directors' Report and Directors' Remuneration Report which comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements and the Directors' Remuneration Report comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Directors confirm that: so far as each Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditor is unaware; and the Directors have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Directors in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information. The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Having taken advice from the Audit Committee, the Directors consider the annual report and the financial statements, taken as a whole, provide the information necessary to assess the Company's position performance, business model and strategy and is fair, balanced and understandable. The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. To the best of our knowledge: the financial statements, prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable laws), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 - "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland", give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company; and the annual report, including the Strategic Report, includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it faces. On behalf of the Board Murray Steele Income Statement Year ended 31 January 2017 Year ended 31 January 2016 Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total '000 '000 '000 '000 '000 '000 Realised gain on disposal of fixed asset investments - 2,658 2,658 - 1,112 1,112 Change in fair value of fixed asset investments - 4,525 4,525 - 1,776 1,776 Investment income 4,128 - 4,128 4,524 - 4,524 Investment management fees (647) (2,844) (3,491) (595) (2,182) (2,777) Other expenses (2,654) - (2,654) (1,625) - (1,625) FX translation - 6 6 - - - Return on ordinary activities before tax 827 4,345 5,172 2,304 706 3,010 Taxation on return on ordinary activities - - - (615) 436 (179) Return on ordinary activities after tax 827 4,345 5,172 1,689 1,142 2,831 Earnings per share - basic and diluted 0.5p 2.5p 3.0p 1.2p 0.8p 2.0p The 'Total' column of this statement is the profit and loss account of the Company; the revenue return and capital return columns have been prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations The Company has only one class of business and derives its income from investments made in shares and securities and from bank and money market funds Note that all comparative figures relate only to the Company, prior to the merger with Octopus Eclipse VCT plc, and are therefore not a true comparison to the period under review. Comparative numbers reflect the 2016 audited statutory income statement which combined the Ordinary and Apollo D Ordinary share income statements. The Company has no other comprehensive income for the period. Balance Sheet As at 31 January 2017 As at 31 January 2016 '000 '000 '000 '000 Fixed asset investments* 112,884 116,628 Current assets: Debtors 4,077 5,305 Cash at bank 29,229 10,275 33,306 15,580 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (4,391) (4,467) Net current assets 28,915 11,113 Net Assets 141,799 127,741 Share capital 22,603 13,896 Share premium 34,231 48,893 Special distributable reserve 76,144 60,748 Capital redemption reserve 2,832 2,557 Capital reserve realised (1,537) (1,866) Capital reserve unrealised 7,520 3,510 Revenue reserve - 3 FX Translation Reserve 6 - Total shareholders' funds 141,799 127,741 Net asset value per share - basic and diluted 63.2p 82.3p *Held at fair value through profit or loss Note that all comparative figures relate only to the Company, prior to the merger with Octopus Eclipse VCT plc, and are therefore not a true comparison to the period under review. Comparative numbers reflect the 2016 audited statutory balance sheet which combined the Ordinary and Apollo D balance sheets The statements were approved by the Directors and authorised for issue on 11 April 2017 and are signed on their behalf by: Murray Steele Chairman Company number: 05840377 Cash Flow Statement Year to 31 January 2017 Year to 31 January 2016 '000 '000 Cash from operating activities Return on ordinary activities after tax 5,172 2,831 Adjustments for: Decrease/(increase) in debtors 1,228 (2,423) (Decrease)/increase in creditors (76) 102 Debtors acquired in the transaction 848 382 Creditors acquired in the transaction (157) (123) Gain on disposal of fixed assets (2,658) (1,112) Gain on valuation of fixed asset investments (4,525) (1,776) Cash from operations (168) (2,119) Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of fixed asset investments (9,269) (53,650) Sale of fixed asset investments 40,531 57,271 Cash acquired in the transaction 622 303 Dividend paid to exiting D Shareholders (14,418) - Net cash flows from investing activities 17,466 3,924 Cash flows from financing activities Purchase of own shares (1,955) (3,597) Share issues 41,152 30,670 Dividends paid (37,541) (39,867) Net cash flows from financing activities 1,656 (12,794) Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 18,954 (10,989) Opening cash and cash equivalents 10,275 21,264 Closing cash and cash equivalents 29,229 10,275 Cash and cash equivalents comprise Cash at bank 29,229 10,275 29,229 10,275 Note that all comparative figures relate only to the Company, prior to the merger with Octopus Eclipse VCT plc, and are therefore not a true comparison to the period under review. HOUSTON, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uberrito announced today that Peter Ortiz joined the company as Chief Development Officer, where he is leading the effort to establish Uberrito as the premier concept in the fast casual Mexican food segment. Ortizs hiring reflects the companys commitment to national franchise development. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b8a2d720-4f9b-43b6-94f5-bf9916d47255 The company operates five Houston-area locations and two Phoenix locations, which includes three new restaurants since 2016. Uberrito most recently opened its second Phoenix location in the Arcadia Gateway shopping center on March 23, 2017, building on the momentum of successful expansion efforts in Phoenix and the Southwest. Prior to joining Uberrito, Ortiz was Vice President of Franchise Development and Recruitment at FOCUS Brands, where he was responsible for recruiting, awarding and onboarding new franchisees for Moes Southwest Grill, Schlotzskys and Carvel Ice Cream concepts. Ortiz has executed the sale of nearly 2,000 franchises throughout the United States and Internationally, resulting in millions in revenue for corporations and franchisees. We are excited to have Peter join the Uberrito executive team as we launch franchise development efforts for the concept and plan for substantial growth this year, said Marcus Jundt, CEO of Uberrito. His track record and depth of experience will be a huge asset to Uberrito and the entire Mexican Restaurants Inc. family. As Chief Development Officer, Ortiz brings nearly 30 years of experience in senior franchise development and brand management to Uberrito. His role with Uberrito covers all aspects of franchise development, real estate, design and construction, franchise administration and legal. Im thrilled to join the company at such an exciting time of growth and opportunity, stated Ortiz. I look forward to building upon Uberritos successful foundation and driving franchise growth for us and our future franchise partners. Uberrito is part of Mexican Restaurants Inc., which currently operates 47 Mexican restaurant locations across five brands: Uberrito, Casa Ole, Montereys Little Mexico, Tortuga Mexican Kitchen and Crazy Joses. Additionally, the company runs ten franchise locations for Casa Ole. About Uberrito Uberrito, the companys fast-casual concept, offers highly customizable burritos, bowls, salads and nachos made with more than 40 fresh ingredients and toppings. Along with menu favorites like 10 Tasty Tacos, Uberrito delivers on its promise to go above and beyond the basic burrito and encourages customers to try something nu. Additional information on Uberrito franchises can be found at http://uberrito.com/franchise. About Mexican Restaurants Inc. Mexican Restaurants, Inc. operates and franchises 55 Mexican restaurants in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The current system includes five brands: Casa Ole, Uberrito, Montereys Little Mexico, Tortuga Mexican Kitchen and Crazy Joses, each offering authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex food that is made from scratch daily. An 18-year-old convicted of capital murder last month has been appointed an attorney to represent him during the appellate process. A Burleson County jury found Gavin Snow guilty of capital murder on March 10, after five days of testimony and nearly seven hours of deliberation. Snow was convicted of killing 47-year-old Steven Bryant by shooting him in the head in his mobile home in March 2015. Judge Carson Campbell handed down Snow's sentence -- life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 40 years -- on March 24. Snow was 16 at the time of Bryant's murder and was certified to stand trial as an adult. His appellate attorney, Josh Clover, said the transcript of the juvenile certification hearing is "the first thing I want to read." "There's the possibility of him getting parole much earlier, if they re-certify him," said Clover, who was appointed as Snow's attorney April 4. Clover estimated that he won't file his brief for about 90 to 120 days, after which the state will have 90 days to file its own. He said he thinks the case will be in the 10th Court of Appeals in Waco, and the entire process should take about 15 months. Should the appeal be successful, Snow likely would be granted a new trial. Snow remains in the Burleson County Jail awaiting transfer to a prison within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system. -- Eagle staff report Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk will release new information next week on a 35-year-old cold case involving the murder of a real estate agent in College Station. Virginia "Ginger" Freeman, a 40-year-old mother of two, died in a secluded area on Greens Prairie Road on Dec. 1, 1981. According to a story in The Eagle at the time, a man with a "country-sounding accent" had called Bryan Real Estate Mart around 3 p.m. asking to be shown a home. The man said he had $73,000 in cash to pay for the home. A half-hour after the call, Freeman had been stabbed 11 times in her neck, which had been broken as a result of strangulation. Investigators later learned Freeman had been sexually assaulted. The television series National Geographic Explorer fronted the roughly $3,600 for an analysis known as Snapshot DNA Phenotyping, which "predicts the physical appearance of ancestry of an unknown person from DNA," according to the website of the company that did the analysis. Freeman had DNA under her fingernails that could have been from her killer; the analysis used that DNA to create a sketch of a face, which Kirk will release next week. Kirk will release two images: one of the face of the possible killer at the time of Freeman's death in 1981, and one that, through the use of age-progression technology, will show what the potential killer's face could like today. The case holds special relevance for Kirk: Freeman's slaying was the first he assisted with after joining the sheriff's office in 1980. In the years since, the agency, under multiple sheriffs, has followed up on leads and suspects, questioning men such as Henry Lee Lucas, who killed 100 women in 17 states, and Eugene Watts, who killed 11 women in the Houston and Galveston area, among other mass killers. Last year, investigators flew to Florida to follow a tip; it didn't lead anywhere. Kirk said the inability to find Freeman's killer wasn't for lack of trying. "Certain technologies weren't available back then," he said, and the killer likely was from outside the state and possibly a serial killer. The sheriff's office sent DNA to the state lab and checked it against a forensic DNA database from cases involving violent crimes. Given that there was no match in the database, Kirk said it's likely the DNA recovered from Freeman belonged to someone who had not been convicted of a crime. Kirk said Freeman's case was among the top 12 Texas Ranger cold-case investigations. "We're anxious to release this composite to see what it might generate for us," Kirk said. In exchange for paying for the Snapshot DNA Phenotyping, Kirk consented to National Geographic Explorer making a documentary about the case and his office's investigation. Kirk said he wanted "to help National Geographic do their story, but we won't hold up our investigation," so he will release the composite images to the public next week. Kirk, who has seen innumerable leads on this case fall through in the more than 35 years since Freeman died, could yet find justice for the College Station resident's death. "Things haven't fallen in place for us to solve this one," Kirk said, pausing for a few seconds. "Yet." The Hearne school board voted Monday night to challenge a Texas Education Agency decision to seek the removal of trustees and the superintendent. With trustees Tina Rocha and Quila Robinson opposing, the board authorized the district to pursue a formal review of TEA's decision by the Thursday deadline. The TEA move to replace the board with state-appointed managers was based on the findings of an investigation last year. In a letter notifying the Hearne school board of the decision to replace the board with a board of managers, TEA commissioner Mike Morath cited a March report that found the board of trustees and the superintendent failed to work together, the district failed to collect criminal history information, the district lacks "internal controls in the business office," and trustees act "in their individual capacities on behalf of the board." Superintendent Adrain Johnson said the investigation's findings do not reflect his time with the district. He said the investigation was based on events that happened more than a year ago, and the TEA's decision to lower the district's accreditation status was based on last year's standardized test scores. He said the district's response to the TEA's decision is a democratic right. "All we want is to be treated fairly," he said. The Hearne school district requested a review of the findings outlined in a draft of the report with mixed results. Sharesa Alexander, one of the attorneys representing the district, said the next review will look at the final report. The TEA has not yet released a timeline for the possible takeover, and school board candidates continue gearing up for the May 6 election that will decide who takes seats held by board president James Taylor and trustees Michael Washington and Mary Jane Ramirez. Early voting begins April 24. TEA spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said the election will take place regardless of TEA's actions. Culbertson said applications are available to anyone in the community, including current board members. "Anyone can apply, and the commissioner will take a look at those applications. He'll look at all the factors, and he'll make his decision," Culbertson said, adding that it would be "too speculative" to say to say if a current board member could be appointed to a board of managers. Three of the four people who spoke during an open forum Monday night asked the school board not to appeal the TEA decision. "Maybe TEA will consider removing only the board president," said Michael Washington, one of the speakers. Washington said Taylor has been a common presence throughout all of Hearne's problems. One of the speakers, Sheridan Ely, said she will apply for a position on the board of managers. In the meantime, she said, she is going door-to-door campaigning for Taylor's seat. She said the TEA taking over the district would be the best thing for students. Johnson said requesting a formal review is about sending a message to students who are feeling "let down and deflated" by Hearne headlines. "That's the kind of commitment we need to make to our kids -- that we're going to be there for them," Johnson said. The Mays Family Foundation announced Monday it has committed $25 million to the family's namesake Mays Business School at Texas A&M University -- the largest single donation in the college's history and a move that dean Eli Jones said he considers a show of support for the college's vision for the future. Donated through the Texas A&M Foundation, Jones said the money will go toward a new Lowry Mays Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy program, as well as growth for the college's study abroad program and a proposed $15 million expansion of the Wehner Building. Jones said each of the areas tie into a strategic plan developed in 2016 -- a process that Lowry Mays himself was involved in. "We took 2016 as a year for us to step back and think about the big picture, where we want to go from here," Jones said. "We wanted to develop a new vision for the Mays Business School, respecting the past while writing the future." With an over-arching goal of "advancing the world's prosperity," Jones said areas of focus include a greater multicultural awareness and a push to further address the topics of energy, health care and entrepreneurship. In a statement announcing the gift, Mays said he is honored to support the business school's renewed goals and mission. "I am especially grateful to support Mays Business School's vision to develop transformational leaders and to tackle the challenges of entrepreneurship and innovation," he said. While Jones said the college has previously expressed the goal of creating "ethical leaders" out of its students, the new strategic plan is pushing the concept further in line with Texas A&M President Michael K. Young's goal of promoting "transformational" leadership throughout the university. Building off of the principles he said the college has been teaching for years, Jones said faculty and staff are expanding to focus on teaching a more holistic, globally aware mindset to students. "We want to develop leaders who are ethical, have an appreciation for the global experience and business environment, but who can also look at societal impact," Jones said. "How can we, as big organizations, impact society in positive way?" Jones said he hopes the Mays family's support will encourage others to help further finance the college's vision. The Mays family's support of the business school began in 1996 with a $15 million commitment, resulting in the school being renamed. Jones praised Mays as a great example of leadership and a dedicated supporter who has made a significant impact on the college. "We appreciate his commitment to our school's vision to help advance the world's prosperity," Jones said. "We continually strive to live up to the honor of bearing his name." The gift also helps push the university's "Lead by Example" campaign over $2.5 billion, more than halfway to its $4 billion goal. Officials with the Texas A&M Foundation said the gift -- which brings lifetime giving to $47 million -- puts the Mays family into the top five all-time donors to Texas A&M University, alongside prolific donors such as the Mitchell family, which has given nearly $100 million. Representatives from the Mays Family Foundation were unavailable for comment Monday. El Salvador made history last week by becoming the first country ever to ban metal mining. The success of this decades long struggle is proof that people can take on corporate interests and win. This is the story of how the people of El Salvador took on mining giants. Mining has a dark history in El Salvador. Years of unregulated, pro-investor policies coupled with rapid industrialization has led to the widespread contamination of rivers and surface water, poisoning people and destroying farm lands. Even boiling or filtering the water does not always make it safe to drink. An environmental study showed that the proposed Pacific Rim mine would use 10.4 liters per second, enough to provide water for thousands people. The dream that failed: mining-led development Mining was imposed on the Salvadoran people as a dream industry that would aid development, create jobs and taxes to pay for much needed school and hospitals. The government developed a range of mining friendly policies together with the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) between Central American countries and the US. Signed by El Salvador in 2004, the agreement allowed transnational corporations such as Holcim, Monsanto and Pacific Rim to intensify their operations in the country. Supported by local ruling elites, these companies began extracting El Salvador's natural resources for export. Foreign investment increased from US$30 million in 1992 to US$5.9 billion in 2008. Much of this investment was in mining, despite fierce opposition from communities. El Salvador is a small and densely populated country. Yet by 2012 the government had 22 requests for gold exploration, allowing gold mines to monopolize 4.23% of the land. The appropriation of land for mining often takes the form of land grabbing, with no proper consultation or compensation. From the start local communities resisted through protests, court cases, meetings and land occupation. A number of communities marched across the country to the presidential palace to demand their rights. Friends of the Earth El Salvador / CESTA supported community resistance. In 2008 alone, 60 community leaders learned about the impacts of mining and strategies for resistance at CESTA's Political Ecology School. People started challenging corporate power. The mining companies respond with violence and murder Tragically companies responded with violence. The President of Friends of San Isidro Cabanas (ASIC), a hub of anti mining resistance, was murdered, followed by 3 more anti-mining activists, and many more were threatened and harassed. Their families are still demanding justice today. LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Indonesian Infrastructure Partnership has awarded Morrison Knudsen a $1.2 billion contract in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The contract is for the engineering and construction of a new harbor and load out facilities for the country's expanding pulp and paper industry. Included in the work is the construction of a 600 acre load out/storage yard, 35 miles of new resource roads, 12 stationary dock cranes and a standalone power station to sustain the new harbor. The project is a vote of confidence for the aggressively expanding pulp industry in Indonesia. After its completion it will increase the country's pulp and paper export capacity by 7 percent. Additionally it will open up close to 1200 square miles of country for further development in the mining and energy industries. The Company anticipates hiring 1200 Indonesians for the 3 year project. ABOUT MORRISON KNUDSEN Founded in 1912, Morrison Knudsen is a recognized world leader in heavy civil construction, energy, mining, transportation, power, defense, naval facilities, environmental cleanup and engineering. Signature projects include the Hoover Dam, the Alaska Pipeline, the Kennedy Space Center and the Grand Coulee Dam. The Company has constructed world class projects in 65 countries and is a premier construction and engineering leader. From 2004 to 2014, the China Export-Import Bank played a leading role in funding $10 billion in East African railway projects, many of which were constructed by Chinese corporations. The Chinese are now helping fund and build major rail networks in Kenya and Uganda, one leg of which is planned to pass through Nairobi National Park. Even in the remote interior of the Congo Basin, Chinese companies are heavily involved in road-construction, mining, and logging projects, as I recently observed in Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. Thinking big China also is proposing a 3,000-mile railway that would slice completely across South America, cutting through remote forests and savannas to transport soy, timber, and other goods to the Pacific coast, where they can be shipped to China. The $60 billion price tag has given Peru pause, but the project is still under discussion. China is the world's biggest financer and builder of hydroelectric dams, many of which are being constructed in biologically diverse regions where the dams and their associated roads and power lines will open up new lands for exploitation. China is involved in the planning, financing, or construction of major dams in Africa, including the massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, now nearing completion. A consortium of Chinese companies is bidding to help construct the Grand Inga dam project on the Congo River, a series of dams that could become the largest hydroelectric project in the world. Although construction could begin later this year, the Democratic Republic of Congo has so far done no environmental impact studies. The scale of China's international ambitions is stunning, as evidenced by the country's 'Belt and Road' and '21st Century Maritime Silk Road' schemes. These two initiatives would involve the creation of a massive network of transportation and other infrastructure projects designed to accelerate development and advance China's economic and political interests. They will stretch across Asia to Europe and Africa, providing access to 64% of the world's population and 30% of its gross domestic product. Developing nations clearly need better infrastructure, and Chinese investments are yielding sizeable benefits in some countries, such as the recently opened passenger line between the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa and the port of Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden. Equitable, sustainable development? Forget it Unfortunately, Chinese companies and investors rarely advance the type of equitable economic and social development, improved governance, and environmental sustainability that would promote stable, long-term growth in developing economies. An in-depth report by the Global Canopy Program, a UK scientific group, concluded that Chinese companies and financial organizations are among the worst enterprises in the world in terms of driving tropical deforestation. China has long been a black hole for the illegal wildlife trade, the biggest global consumer of everything from pangolins, to tiger parts, to shark fins and rhino horn. The promised ban on public trading of ivory in China is a good sign, but it's only one facet of a thriving illegal wildlife trade that drives intense levels of poaching internationally. And China is a heavy consumer of illegal timber, despite belatedly taking steps to staunch the flow into its markets. In western Africa, rosewood forests are being illegally denuded, almost exclusively to feed high demand in China. The impacts are even heavier across the Asia-Pacific region, where native forests from Siberia to the Solomon Islands are being overexploited to feed Chinese timber markets. Fueled by demand for tiger parts in China, where the endangered animal's bones and skins are regarded as exotic luxury items, poaching of tigers is on the rise in India. More generally, there is little demand in China for eco-certified palm oil, timber, beef, seafood, and agricultural products, weakening global efforts to manage these resources more sustainably. And although China is one of the world's biggest importers of palm oil - a major driver of tropical deforestation - the Chinese government charges import tariffs on environmentally certified palm oil, further undercutting domestic demand for its use. Not that Europe and the US have anything to crow about ... Of course, China is not alone in promoting its own economic interests over those of other countries and their environmental health. This is a story that goes back to the colonial era and beyond, when European nations ruthlessly exploited resources and local populations from Africa, to South America, to India. More recently, Western corporations - such as Shell Oil in Nigeria, Union Carbide in India, and Texaco in Ecuador - have caused numerous environmental crises. The difference with China is one of scale. With nearly one-fifth of the world's population (1.35 billion people), a highly competitive business culture, little tolerance of criticism, and a stunning capacity to make decisive shifts in course, China is unmatched as a global force. No nation has ever changed the planet so rapidly, on such a large scale, and with such single-minded determination. It is difficult to find a corner of the developing world where China is not having a significant environmental impact. The factors that might restrain a US or European country in foreign resource-development projects - intense press criticism, or laws governing foreign business practices - are largely lacking in today's China. For example, while US companies are bound by the anti-bribery laws in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, there is no comparable legislation governing the conduct of Chinese business people and corporations. Europeans in Africa frequently complain about the scale of Chinese graft. "They go straight to the top officials and bribe them lavishly, and then nobody can stop them", a Dutch forester in the Republic of Congo told me. "We used to offer small 'gifts' to many people, but now the money is all concentrated at the top and corruption is out of control." Lax controls and 'streamlined safeguards' According to a major World Bank analysis of nearly 3,000 projects, Chinese foreign investors and companies often predominate in poorer nations with weak environmental regulations and controls, causing those nations to become "pollution havens" for Chinese enterprises. The magnitude of China's international resource exploitation is only likely to increase. The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is heavily capitalized and is moving rapidly to fund overseas projects with 'streamlined' environmental and social safeguards. Alarmingly, last year the World Bank announced that it was softening its own environmental and social safeguards, in a move that was widely seen as an effort to remain competitive with the AIIB. As I argued recently, the AIIB and other Chinese development banks could force a 'race to the bottom' among multilateral lenders - with potentially grave consequences for the global environment. Over the last decade Chinese government ministries have released a series of 'green papers' outlining lofty environmental and social guidelines for China's overseas ventures and corporations. The Chinese government readily admits that compliance with its guidelines is poor, but accepts no blame for this. Instead, it insists that it has little control over its corporations and blames the host nations themselves for not controlling Chinese corporations more carefully. The truth is that while China's private firms enjoy significant autonomy from the Central Communist Party, China is among the most centrally controlled societies in the world. If China really wanted to reign in its freewheeling corporations, it could easily do so by making some strong official statements and visibly punishing a few extravagant sinners. It hasn't done this for one simple reason: Despite their often-egregious environmental activities, China's corporations operating overseas are enormously profitable. China's own environment also suffering massive degradation Domestically, China's environmental impact is also profound. In terms of climate change, for instance, in recent years China has blown past the United State as the world's biggest carbon polluter - and now produces twice the greenhouse gas emissions of the US, as well as larger amounts of dangerous air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Yes, China is investing in new wind and solar technologies, but it is plowing far more cash into big hydropower, coal, and nuclear energy projects. In addition to its monolithic Three Gorges Dam, the world's biggest hydropower project, China is building or planning to build 20 mega-dams along its stretch of the Mekong River, which could have serious impacts on biodiversity, fisheries, and water users in downstream nations, such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Many have lauded China's incredible tree-planting spree, which began in 1978 and has reforested roughly 100,000 square miles, mostly in western China. Yes, those trees are storing carbon, helping to stabilize soils and reduce sediment runoff into streams, and producing wood for China's domestic sawmills. But nearly all of the planted trees are monocultures of exotic species such as eucalyptus and aspen, which have little value as habitat for native wildlife. Further, in southern China, large expanses of biologically rich rainforests have been cleared for exotic rubber plantations. China is paying increasing attention to its air, water, and soil pollution, which is among the worst in the world, especially in scores of cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Xingtai. But progress has been limited and large expanses of eastern and central China have become unhealthy places for people and biodiversity alike. China's leaders and scientists acknowledge that its impressive biodiversity has suffered greatly. Is China leading the world to ecological suicide? As China's environmental impact continues to grow domestically and internationally, the Trump administration - with its anti-environmental agenda and nationalist, inward-looking nature - has already pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. China and its overseas investment banks are leaping into the Pacific vacuum. The Trump Administration seems barely cognizant of these pressing realities. And that leaves conservationists in a very tough bind. We never expected Trump to get elected, much less to support our views. But the weaknesses of the Trump administration could be leading to a broader US decline that will hasten environmental degradation worldwide. For me, the worst-case scenario plays out something like this: Two years ago, I was discussing with a researcher from the Wildlife Conservation Society in Cambodia whether the society should advise a German development bank on how to build a paved road through the heart of the Seima Forest, a haven for rare wildlife. He hated to do it, but he didn't see much choice. "If we don't help the Germans", the scientist said, "a Chinese corporation will just come in and blast the road through anyway - and that would be an ecological disaster." William Laurance is a Distinguished Research Professor and Australian Laureate at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia, and also holds the Prince Bernhard Chair in International Nature Conservation at Utrecht University, Netherlands. He received the Heineken Environment Prize and BBVA Frontiers in Ecology and Conservation Biology Award for his efforts to promote tropical nature conservation. This article was originally published by Yale Environment 360 by kind permission of the author and e360. 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 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 ... WALNUT CREEK and OAKLAND, Calif., April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BayCom Corp, (OTCQB:BCML) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Bay Commercial Bank and First ULB Corp (OTCPK:FUBP) and its wholly owned subsidiary, United Business Bank today announced the receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals of the merger of First ULB Corp. with and into BayCom Corp, and the subsequent merger of United Business Bank with and into Bay Commercial Bank. The mergers are expected to close on April 28, 2017. Bay Commercial Bank also announces that it will change its name to United Business Bank once the merger is consummated. George Guarini, President and CEO of BayCom Corp., and Bay Commercial Bank, stated We are pleased with achieving both regulatory and shareholder approvals and look forward to the closing in April. We are excited about the name change as we expand beyond the San Francisco Bay Area. With the closing we will broaden our market to 18 offices including 16 offices in California, one in the state of Washington and one in New Mexico. We welcome the clients of United Business Bank and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service to all of our clients under our new name. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and are based on managements expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as expects, anticipates, plans, believes, scheduled, estimates and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. BayCom Corp and First ULB Corp do not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release. What issue do Iowa voters most often say is critical? You might be surprised This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY In a move that will expose its high-end furniture to millions of customers, Ethan Allen Interiors will create a design studio and offer its products on Amazon. Ethan Allen, which is based in Danbury and manufactures the majority of its furniture in the U.S., said the online studio will launch this summer. It is the second collaboration in as many years for Ethan Allen, which last year launched its Ethan Allen-Disney collection. The partnership with Disney was the first time the 85-year-old company had joined forces with another company. We are pleased to combine Ethan Allen quality and our vertical integration, from manufacturing and logistics to interior design service and our 200 design centers in North America, together with the vast customer base of Amazon, Farooq Kathwari, chairman and CEO of Ethan Allen, said in a statement. The Ethan Allen Design Studio established on Amazon.com will display and offer furniture and decorative home accessories. Amazon currently has a user base of more than 300 million people and had net sales of $136 billion in 2016. Ethan Allen products sold on Amazon will be shipped by Ethan Allens in-home delivery operations. It is the second online venture announced this year for the traditionally brick-and-mortar based Ethan Allen. The company in early April said that its Ethan Allen-Disney collection is now available at DisneyStore.com. The Ethan Allen-Disney collection launched last November in Ethan Allen Design Centers throughout North America. Kathwari said making the products available on the internet is in line with the companys marketing efforts to be digital and traditional. We want to make sure consumers can experience our brand in a meaningful way, whether visiting our design centers in North America and interacting with our design professionals or on our digital platform, Kathwari said. Ethan Allen has 200 retail stores throughout the U.S., including a design center at its Danbury headquarters. Last year it closed its Norwalk location at about the same time it opened a new store on Broadway in New York City. cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Giuseppe Bonaiuto has been following the heady aroma of roasted coffee all his life. Growing up in Naples, Italy, he fondly remembers walking home with friends from school and following the rich smell of roasting coffee wafting out of a cast iron pot atop a stove in his grandmothers kitchen. Now 60, Bonaiuto has a huge roaster painted Ferrari-fire engine red at his East Side business, BonJo, where about 300,000 pounds of beans are roasted each year. The name was easy, said Bonaiuto, who now goes by Joseph. But the name also means good, as in bon, and joe, as in coffee. After years of importing beans from Italy, Bonaiuto got the idea to duplicate the perfect Italian espresso coffee here. I really decided to start roasting coffee because people were telling me that there will never be anyone that will be able reproduce an Italian espresso in the United States, so that was a challenge to me, he said. So, Bonaiuto, who came to the U.S. when he was 18, began buying imported green coffee beans and special ordered the handsome 5,000-pound roaster from the Giuseppe Balestra company, which has been making roasters for more than a century. The machine, capable of roasting 90 pounds of coffee at a time heats the beans up to about 400 degrees before they are dropped into a bin where they are stirred with metal bars and brushes while being cooled with air piped into the bin with a fan. I said there is no reason why I couldnt duplicate what they did in Italy, he said. And I did it. I accomplished it. BonJos showroom coffee shop, which opened in 2013 between a Dunkin Donuts and Donut Delight, offers a strong, but smooth espresso. Bonaiuto said the espresso he grew up with was even stronger. In Naples, they like it dark and stormy, he said with a grin. A good espresso, Bonaiuto said, should be smooth. But you should feel the impact of the coffee on your mouth and it shouldnt be bitter or attack your palette. Its a good cup of coffee, retired police Sgt. James VanAllen said simply as he sat at the counter. Angelo Grieco, who runs Sunny & Frankies Restaurant on Hope Street, also praised BonJos selection. They are great. I cant tell you enough about them. Its the best around. It cant be beat, said Grieco, who has been buying the coffee since he ran Michelangelos Deli on Cove Road about 18 years ago. Their American brew and espresso are just top notch. Bonaiuto and his wife, Maria, began their business in the late 1970s in Yonkers, N.Y. Bonaiuto said he has since sold coffee to about 20,000 restaurants, schools, country clubs and companies. He estimated nearly all of his business is wholesale and the company roasts between 20,000 and 30,000 pounds of coffee each month. BonJos coffee roaster, Jim Bradshaw, said he listens closely to hear the beans turning over in the heated metal drum begin to crack. He waits for the beans to exude what he described as a rich bread smell before he knows the coffee is nearing its peak. After hearing the beans crack, Bradshaw, 26, said he continues roasting for three to eight minutes depending on the batch, which loses about 15 percent of its weight to evaporation. I love it. It is something that I wanted to do and Im doing it, said Bradshaw, who began working at BonJo as a barista in the showroom. I go out to restaurants in the area and when I look in back and see the BonJo logo on their coffee, I know I did that. I roasted it, I packaged it. Its a sense of pride. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com; This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY - By his early 20s, the young man was dealing with psychological disorders so severe that they required regular hospitalizations and several medications to manage. So when a Danbury man named Robert King offered to help him, the young man welcomed the friendship. But by the time he realized what was happening, he was trapped in a predatory cycle of cocaine addiction, prostitution and threats of death if he told anyone, said police, who charged three suspects this week in a trafficking ring that preyed on more than a dozen similarly vulnerable young men. He still needs therapy regarding this period of his life, reads a police report, which does not identify the young man or the 14 other victims involved in a ring thought to been operating at least 20 years. The young mans courage in sharing his trauma with a heath care worker at Ability Beyonds group home in Danbury launched a 15-month investigation by city detectives and the FBI. His plight is one of a half-dozen victims accounts outlined in court records concerning King, an unemployed 51-year-old resident of a Danbury trailer park, and two alleged conspirators - Waterford Speedbowl owner Bruce Bemer of Glastonbury and convicted sex offender William Trefzger of Westport. King did compel and induce (the young men) to meet with Trefzger and Bemer under the guise that the men would simply give them money or engage in other innocuous activities, which was untrue, and the victims were in fact required to submit to sexual acts in exchange for money, so that King would continue to provide them addictive substances and to provide significant portions of the money to King on demand, the police report read. Victims told police that they never would have gotten involved in the prostitution ring if they werent tricked into friendship with King, hooked on drugs he supplied, and coerced into repaying drug debts to King by having paid sex with his friends. Several of the young men told police they were traumatized by the experience. One victim overdosed and nearly died due to what the police report called Kings extreme indifference. Another victim might have committed suicide as a result of being coerced into prostitution, the police report suggests, citing a remorse-filled note of anger, shame and disgust written before his death. Police executing a search warrant found the note in Kings home. King, who was arrested in August on charges of promoting prostitution and witness tampering, pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was charged on Friday with human trafficking. He has yet to enter a plea on the new charge. Bemer and Trefzger, who were charged Thursday with patronizing a trafficked person, also had not entered pleas. King told police in an interview before his arrest last year that I didnt know I was causing any harm, and My only crime is trying to help people, police reports show. One of the victims went to Kings home with a recording device to say that he had been contacted by investigators about the prostitution ring and asked King what he should say. King told the young man not to say anything and offered him money to keep quiet, the police report shows. Observers said they were horrified the allegations. Who could imagine that human beings would be capable of targeting such a vulnerable population and doing something like that? said Danbury attorney Edward Baron, the court-appointed conservator for one of the victims. Who could conceive of that? State officials said they could not comment about the specific case, citing privacy laws. A spokeswoman for Connecticuts Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services said state oversight of the Danbury group home where two of the victims lived was strong. There is very close contact between our department and the providers, said DMHAS spokeswoman Diana Lejardi. An official at Ability Beyond, which owns the Danbury group home where two victims lived, said staff have cooperated with the investigation. Maintaining the safety, well-being and privacy of all of our clients is our top priority, said Paul Bernetsky, vice president of development and community engagement for the agency. Wed like to publicly thank and commend our staff members, who after becoming aware of this situation, took swift action to protect our clients. Predatory pattern The entrapment of vulnerable young men with drugs into sexual exploitation always began with King befriending a potential victim, police said. In one case, King earned the confidence of a victim by offering him money to cut his lawn and do small jobs around his trailer home near the Danbury Airport, police records show. The young man was soon buying cocaine from King and getting into such debt that he had no way out but to consent to sex with Bemer and Trefzger, police said. The young man, whose affairs are managed by a conservator because of his mental disorders, told police he wouldnt have been exploited if it werent for being vulnerable, broke and hooked on cocaine. Jordon Scheff, the acting commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services, said he could not comment on any specific people in the case, but said the story was a horrible tragedy. When any individual facing challenges like that gets exploited it is absolutely disgusting, Scheff said. Sexual trafficking is horrible as it is, but taking a vulnerable population like that and exploiting them is just awful. Prosecutors agreed. Although several young men in the police report admit to buying illegal drugs and taking money for sex, prosecutors never considered charging them. Looking at all the circumstances of the case, we have always considered them victims, said States Attorney Stephen Sedensky. The allegations come at a time when the state is looking for any savings it can find to close a billion-dollar budget deficit. As part of the process, the DMHAS plans to close the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network in Danbury and privatize its services. The 300 people from greater Danbury who get help managing mental health and addiction afflictions would be referred to services at charities and private-sector providers, saving the state about $1 million. The DMHAS spokeswoman said the department is confident that the same level of services would be available. But Baron, the Danbury attorney, said the mentally vulnerable should be better protected. It is outrageous after a story like this that they are planning on subcontracting these services out to private agencies, where these services are so desperately needed, he said. rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY The arrests earlier this month of two men accused of patronizing a sex trafficking ring mark the first time the charge has been leveled since Connecticut adopted the law in 2013. Advocates for stronger enforcement of the law hailed the arrests as a long-overdue effort to address the demand-side of the equation when it comes to human trafficking. For years, we havent focused on the patronizing side, but if there wasnt any demand then, we wouldnt have any trafficking, said Jillian Gilcrest, chairperson of the Connecticut Trafficking in Persons Council. Hopefully this case will put a renewed attention and focus on the wealthy men in the state who have been purchasing children and other vulnerable individuals. The two men arrested were William Trefzger, a previously convicted sex offender from Westport, and Bruce J. Bemer, of Glastonbury, the owner of the Waterford Speedbowl. They were accused of paying for sex with men sent to them by Robert King, of Danbury, who authorities said had been supplying eight wealthy men with young male prostitutes for more than two decades. King was charged with human trafficking under a law that has been on the books since 2006. Connecticut was one of the first states to adopt its own trafficking statute, but there have been only two successful prosecutions under it, both last year. About 20 cases have been prosecuted under federal law during that period, advocates said. Michael Connelly, of Waterbury, a former judicial marshal, was sentenced to one year in prison on the trafficking charge in August 2016 after coercing prostitutes to have sex with him. Dean Allen, a co-defendant in an unrelated case in Milford, was convicted of holding a woman against her will when she was sold to other men for sex. Allen received a 90-day prison sentence in January 2016, although the law calls for up to 10 years in prison. Assistant States Attorney Alex Beck, who prosecuted Allen, declined to comment on the sentence, but said he believes mandatory minimum sentences should be handed down in trafficking cases. To subject someone to repeated acts of rape is one of the worst things someone can do to another human being, Beck said. Its something the victims will have to live with for the rest of their lives. Advocates say heavier sentences are needed, and there are proposals before the state Legislature to increase the penalty for human trafficking to 20 years. Alicia Kinsman, co-chairperson of the Connecticut Coalition Against Trafficking, said her organization strongly supports these measures. We need to send a clear message that this crime wont be tolerated and will be punished by the fullest extent possible, she said. Gilcrest said she has been told traffickers and their clients are watching the Danbury case closely. There are chat rooms online, that anyone can have access to, where men discuss how to buy sex, which locations are dangerous and rate (for) the women and children they purchase, she said. When Connecticut lawmakers have introduced legislation to increase the penalty for patronizing a trafficked person or a minor to a felony charge, men on chat rooms were outraged, and some expressed apprehension about buying in the future. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center, which runs a national help line, said it has received more than 800 calls since 2007 from victims seeking help in Connecticut. Last year, it fielded 193 calls and identified 54 instances that qualified as human trafficking. Human traffickers lure their victims through coercion, fraud or threats and force them into slave labor or prostitution. There is still this lingering misconception that human trafficking means foreign-born people being brought into the United States against their will, Kinsman said. But most of the cases that are reported are domestic minor sex trafficking. The case in Danbury sends a clear signal that victims of this crime are vulnerable and can be anyone. The case Danbury has attracted national attention and the interest of NASCAR officials, who last week terminated their relationship with Bemers Waterford Speedbowl. NASCAR has terminated the NASCAR Whelen All-American series sanction and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race Sanction with the New London Waterford Speedbowl, effective immediately, read the statement from the national racing organization. The Speedbowl is one of several businesses Bemer owned, and one of several places authorities said he met prostitutes brought by King. Ive spoken with people who were customers at the Speedbowl who are just horrified that this isnt some random crime but something that happened here, Gilcerst said. NORWALK The Rev. Carleton Giles will discuss plans at for an upcoming trip to Israel at the Norwalk Police Departments Community Room, 1 Monroe St., at 6 p.m. Monday, April 17. The trip is planned for March 11 to March 20, 2018. Giles, a former Norwalk police officer, has led tours to Israel in the past and will talk about his experiences. Anyone interested in going on the trip or members of the public who would like to hear about Giles previous visits to the Holy Land are invited. In this ongoing series, we are sharing advice, tips and insights from real entrepreneurs who are out there doing business battle on a daily basis. (Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.) Who are you and whats your business? We are Jason Payne (CEO) and Lindsay Reinsmith (COO), the husband-wife team that launched Ada Diamonds, a Silicon Valley bespoke fine jeweler of lab-grown diamonds. We deliver ethical and sustainable fine art. What does the word entrepreneur mean to you? LR: An entrepreneur is an optimist and a problem-solver; someone who views the world without rules, without barriers, and without "no". Someone who imagines that a solution exists for any problem; then asks "how" rather than "if". JP: And -- most importantly -- someone that just gets shit done. Related: Being an Entrepreneur Means Finding Profit in Your Passion What trait do you depend on most when making decisions and why is that useful for you? LR: We have a wonderful set of checks and balances when it comes to attitudes and ideas. Jason is the visionary; he's always looking ahead, thinking of the future, and optimistically planning for growth. Im the small business owner; viewing the problem analytically and in great detail, asking, "How can we make this happen with the budget allowed?" Whats the problem are attacking now? LR: Increasingly, we have more demand for large diamonds than available inventory in the world. For example, we have a client looking for a 2.75 to 3.25 carat Princess Cut lab-grown diamond of exceptional quality. Today, that diamond does not exist. The primary reason that we are raising a Series A is not that we need the capital to grow our company, but instead that we need the capital to commission the growing and cutting of spectacular diamond gemstones to meet client demand. JP: And opening a second showroom in downtown San Francisco. While we have had our Silicon Valley location for a little less than a year, we realized it was not convenient for our SF clients who work full time. As a result, we knew we were losing potential clients simply because in-person sales weren't possible in the city. Our clients have specific needs and not a lot of free time. Understanding how to best serve those needs in a convenient, inviting, and an accommodating way for our clients has proven a fun challenge! Related: Entrepreneurship Is All About the Fight Is there a particular quote or saying that you use as personal motivation? LR: "Nothing worth having was ever achieved without effort." -- Teddy Roosevelt. To me, nothing feels as good as achieving client satisfaction by going the extra mile, putting in that extra effort, to deliver happiness. JP: "Some days are diamonds some days are rocks" -- Tom Petty. The majority of days, entrepreneurship sucks. It's stressful. It's lonely. You have rocky patches where you think that your company may not survive another month. You get let down by third parties almost every day. You miss that birthday party, ski trip, or just a day off because said third party failed you and you are forced to do their job for them. But then you have the diamonds -- those are the days that every entrepreneur knows are worth dozens of days of rocks. How has your leadership style evolved? JP: The first time I was a lead in a professional environment I was 25 and I failed miserably. I then had the good fortune of a new boss who was a decorated Army Ranger. He rode me hard but took the time to teach me many tenants of small unit leadership that have made me an effective leader in a rapidly evolving organization. My three most important lessons/evolutions: The overarching mission of a good leader is to make themselves as irrelevant as possible as soon as possible. That means that the leader has empowered their team to succeed, and has freed themselves up to take on bigger, broader, and more important missions. The biggest mistake a young leader can make is holding on to ownership of a task/relationship/deliverable too long. If you do that, you will fail at the worst possible moment and your team will not be prepared to rise to the occasion Interviewing and (more importantly) onboarding are the highest return on investment you can possibly get for your time. On the flip side, the wrong hire can irreparably damage your organization. Related: 22 Qualities That Make a Great Leader What is it like to start a company with your spouse? JP: It's incredible. My wife is my favorite person in the world, and I feel incredibly lucky that I get to spend more than seventy-five percent of my waking hours working with her, either side-by-side, back-to-back, or occasionally hand-in-hand. She is my partner who complements my skills, makes up for my weaknesses, regularly calls me out on my bullshit and above all busts ass right along side of me day after day after day. I would have already failed three times over if she was not in this journey with me. Related: For This Entrepreneur Couple, Some Days Are Diamonds and Some Days Are Rocks Entrepreneurship Is About Solving Problems, Not Getting Fixated on Them Being an Entrepreneur Means Being a Risk Taker, Dreamer and Having a Fire in Your Belly Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Financial struggles, tech experiments and the rise of online shopping -- those are the dominant narrative elements of today's retail industry. But just because people are less likely to walk through the doors of certain stores nowadays does not mean theyre not interested in stores in general. The problem, many analysts argue, is that certain retailers are not interested enough in their customers. Theyre interested in what their customers end up buying from them, sure. But they have a harder time determining what those customers want in the first place. Big stores try to be something for everyone, says Marshal Cohen, chief industry retail analyst of the NPD Group, and they end up being nothing for anyone. Related: These 5 Retail Innovations Could Actually Make You Want to Shop in a Store Again The Limited, Wet Seal, Gander Mountain and Payless have all filed for bankruptcy. The head of Sears Holdings has admitted substantial doubt about the companys ability to stay in business amid closing 150 stores. There are too many big-box stores in suburbs, and today the U.S. urban population is increasing faster than the national population overall. Meanwhile, Amazon is planning a three-day summit to try to lure consumer packaged goods brands away from their retail partners. Amid these shifts, smaller players cant simply look the other way. They should be watching and learning from big retails shortcomings -- and viewing this moment as one filled with opportunity. The shadow of ecommerce is overblown. Its an oversimplification to suggest that the reason big-box stores are closing is because people are shopping online. The truth is more complicated. For one, a group of traditional retailers is actually growing its ecommerce business faster than the U.S. retail ecommerce market is growing overall, according to the 2016 Deloitte Retail Volatility Index report. When we think of ecommerce sales replacing brick-and-mortar sales, we dont often think of it happening within a company. Retailers who pursue omnichannel strategies may just be taking business away from themselves. Unless you are stealing someone elses business by selling online, youre not going to grow your business, Cohen says. Macys online business represents 15 percent of their total sales, and yet theyre now closing 13 percent of their stores. That numbers too close to be coincidental. You also cant generalize the state of the retail industry down to one ratio that represents all online sales vs. all in-store sales. Purchasing behavior varies too much from industry to industry. For example, Cohen explains, 30 percent of transactions for technology products or services happen online, compared with only 16 percent of apparel sales. Selling online isnt the key to success -- even the big, struggling retail giants are doing that. At the same time, off-price retailers (think T.J. Maxx and Nordstrom Rack) have been thriving by comparison, competing on price and convenience even though they dont have much of an online presence. Moodys analysts expect the sectors sales to increase by about 7 percent this year. The landscape is fragmented. The conventional wisdom of whats going on actually doesnt bear itself out when you look at the data, says Kasey Lobaugh, chief retail innovation officer and omni-channel retail practice leader for Deloitte Consulting LLP, as well as a co-author of the Retail Volatility Index report. The barriers to entry for retail have fallen. Online sales arent the only tech development shaking up retail. Today, you can sell nationally without a chain of stores and without owning any of your inventory or assets. You can outsource your call center and marketing campaigns. You can reach a large audience via social media. Or you can manufacture and sell your own products rather than selling through a third party. Look across industries, and youll recognize tech-driven increased competition in the sharing economy, online marketplaces, digital publishing, you name it. Related: Are Retail Brands Ready to Compete in the New Normal? If youre one of countless fish in the pond, what can you do? Reframe your thinking, Lobaugh suggests. He notes that one category of retailers that are performing well today is made up of those that are competing on whats cheaper, faster or easier. Its difficult to achieve success in this way if you dont have scale, he explains. At the other end of the spectrum, there are retailers who have differentiated themselves by offering an exclusive product or experience. The way you win is you find opportunity, you find where theres an unmet need, where theres scarcity or where you can build perceived scarcity, and you go after it in an unapologetic, very focused way, Lobaugh says. But recognize that those windows of opportunity open and close at a faster rate when the competitive fervor is high. So being nimble, to me, means being able to find those, take advantage of them, move out of them and move on to new ones, fast. Small retailers, because of their size, are more likely to find a niche and be nimble. But the big question is: How do you stand out? How do you create a unique experience in a sea of competitors trying to do the same thing? Get to know your customers. If youre an independent retailer with at least one brick-and-mortar store, thats an advantage. But you have to make the most of that physical space. Farla Efros, president of HRC Retail Advisory, says she buys all of her casual clothing from a small store in Toronto. The woman who owns the store keeps a customer book and stays in close contact with her patrons via email blasts, Instagram posts and even text messages. Shell sometimes text Efros to say shes set aside a few items she thinks she might like to try on. Its more intimate, like shopping in somebodys closet, Efros says. That is the difference between success and not in todays world. Even larger retailers are always working toward that. This approach fosters loyalty, something that is hard to come by in a fragmented marketplace. Efros emphasizes that competing on price will work in the short-term, but that a long-term relationship is the ultimate differentiator. Establishing a dialogue with your customers also helps you serve them better. As Cohen explains, A merchant is someone who can go in, scour the market and pick the best products to fit the personality of their store that openly matches the personality of the consumer who wants to shop in that store. To help you cater to that personality, you have to listen to your customers. A shopkeeper who strikes up a conversation with everyone who comes in their store might notice a pattern, say, of multiple people who come in looking for a pair of cowboy boots. When this happens, that entrepreneur might decide, Id better start selling cowboy boots, this seems like the hot new trend. Thats the difference, Cohen explains, the ability to drive your business based on the pulse of the consumer. Bob Phibbs, CEO of The Retail Doctor, argues that struggling stores are reaping years of poor customer service. Generally, people want someone to greet them and they want the store to be clean. But serving them beyond those bare minimum requirements is a prime opportunity to gain insights into what they want -- and seal the deal if theyre on the fence about a purchase. Phibbs and Cohen both stress the importance of maintaining a dialogue with customers before, during and after each transaction so theres no guesswork as to whether theyre satisfied with the selection. Related: You Need to Stop Making These 5 Customer Service Mistakes Yes, there are going to be some customers who dont want your help, Phibbs says. But at the end of the day, if youre not curious about each and every one who you have coming in the door, youre settling for crumbs when you could have the whole feast. Image Credit: Lydia Belanger Customers shop for experiences. Personalization is key, but that goes beyond offering a combination of products that your customers want. Nordstrom and Converse are among the retailers that have installed customization workshops within their stores. Efros, who studies the shopping behaviors of Generation Z, notes that a desire for uniqueness is especially true of younger customers. Not every retailer can offer made-to-order sneakers, but every retailer should work to curate a one-of-a-kind experience, rather than a one-size-fits-all one. Experience, in and of itself, is what todays customers desire more than material possessions. Research shows that doing makes people happier than owning. Cohen explains that the Great Recession and the internet are two factors that have created a dynamic in which customers no longer aspire to own the latest, greatest products for materialistic reasons. They instead seek items that are going to foster an experience -- think computers, widescreen TVs and even stand mixers in the kitchen. People have started building memories, not wardrobes, Cohen says. If you want your customers to buy stuff from you, one strategy might be to frame it around an experience a customer might be gearing up for. At a big store, the luggage department is not going to say, You can put your dresses in my luggage department. No way, theyre not giving up their floor space. Theyre so structured in their way of doing things, they cant get out of their own way, Cohen says. A specialty retailer has the ability to say, If youre going on a trip, here are all these things together in one place. This all works together. A holistic attempt at creating this full package. Know what youre adding is adding. Technology has enabled many retailers to start up, but it also presents a dizzying number of options. In-store beacons? Self-serve kiosks? Smart mirrors that enable virtual try-ons? Retailers should be wary of being lured by these shiny objects. Why the hell would I go out of my house to go have an alone experience in a mall or in a store? Phibbs says. Why in the world would I go to find a robot when I could do that with Alexa or Siri or Google just as easy from my home? Dont feel like you have to add bells and whistles just because another store is. Ask yourself: What value is this really adding for the customer? Like a chatbot, Phibbs says. Its going to answer common questions, like, Wheres the bathroom? and Where are the mens socks? You really think thats a differentiator? If you know your customers, youll be less likely to experiment with irrelevant gimmicks that many customers will find pathetic, such as a DJ in the middle of a mens department. Then theres data. The internet is what has led customers to expect hyper-personalization, and as a niche retailer, you might benefit more from targeting tools than someone who sells to the masses, Lobaugh says. I think the small retailer is more empowered today than they once were in terms of reaching the consumer, he says. Say my products appeal to women between 35 and 40 who have two kids and live in the Kansas City area. If you went back 15 years, my ability to get to that consumer wouldve been very difficult. I probably wouldve marketed in a very generic way out to Kansas City. But today, I can be very, very specific, and I can target those consumers in a really formal and sophisticated way. The question is whether you have the skills and expertise to use those tools. If you think this type of targeting, or any other type of technology, truly has the potential to take your business to the next level, learning how to leverage that technology could give you a leg up on your competitors. Youre better off being a leader than a follower, or doing something others arent, Lobaugh says. You have to find the solution that works for you. Beacons are not disrupting anybody -- today. Artificial intelligence is not disrupting anybody -- today, Lobaugh says. Those things will take time, and as they become real, you evaluate them and determine how, when and where you can apply those to win. Related: Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved WESTPORTAs the weather warms up town residents should be particularly wary of ticks when enjoying the outdoors. It looks like we are going have quite a few ticks this year because of the weather. Because it was a pretty mild winter, said Monica Wheeler, director of community health for the Westport Weston Health District. Back in November, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he'd brokered a handshake deal between real estate interests and construction unions, in order to revive a controversial developer incentive with affordable housing provisions. Branded as the "Affordable New York Housing Program," the plan increases construction wages and extends tax breaks in certain parts of the city, while requiring between 25 and 30 percent of apartments in new developments be rented below market rate. The plan passed as part of the 2018 fiscal year budget this weekend, and will be effective until 2022. Developers and some local and state politicians, including Mayor de Blasio, have argued that incentivizing developers is the only way to ensure enough affordable housing to meet New York City's demand. Affordable New York will create "substantially more affordable rental housing that is critical to New York City's growth and future," John Banks, president of the developer and landlord lobbying group Real Estate Board of New York, stated this week. Tenants and their advocates, meanwhile, argue that developer incentives accelerate gentrification. Affordability requirements are set as a percentage of the median income across the entire metropolitan area, which is significantly higher than the median income in many of New York City neighborhoods. "The state legislature approved a giveaway to billionaires in exchange for almost nothing that will be provided to the communities they will build in and the people they will displace," said Delsenia Glover, campaign manager for the Alliance for Tenant Power. The shelf life of Affordable New York is of particular concern to critics, since the bill will sunset three years after New York City's rent laws do. The latter, tenants say, are their most powerful weapon against gentrification. New York City currently has close to 1 million rent regulated apartments, housing 2.5 million low-income New Yorkers. However, loopholes in the rent laws cause tens of thousands of apartments to lose their stabilization status each year. In 2015, 421a and the rent laws sunset simultaneously, leaving open the possibility that pro-tenant and pro-development legislators could horse-trade. Thousands of tenants marched over the Brooklyn Bridge, denouncing 421a and calling for stronger protections against deregulation. (The final budget that year, it's worth noting, left tenants dissatisfied.) "They were on the same budget clock," recalled Cea Weaver, research and policy director for New York Communities For Change, a coalition of housing advocates for low-income New Yorkers. "The benefit was that tenants could go into the most important fight of their lives with an added benefit that something Republicans want [the tax incentive] needs to be debated at the same time." Weaver also lamented this logic, describing it as pessimistic. "In the world of Albany people of color are being forced to horse trade each other's issues," she said, using this spring's negotiations as an example. In recent weeks, "[The Senate was] demanding something that would harm low income people of color in exchange for something that will help them. It's so hard to get ahead." As recently as last Wednesday, Governor Cuomo told reporters that two issues were still unresolved: Raise the Age, to protect 16 and 17 year olds from being tried as adults, and Affordable New York. "If you are a Republican conservative, you see it one way. If you're a Democratic Liberal, you see it a different way," Cuomo said, referring to Raise the Age. "These are critical issues. And we've gotten very good at resolving, closing, and moving on." Speaking on the Senate floor this weekend, Manhattan Senator Brad Holyman (D) bemoaned the "big ugly" budget approach. "There's nothing funny about the fact that we're voting on issues as disparate as raising the age, real estate tax breaks, and ending the possibility of regulations on taxable cigarettes [all together]," he said. "These are all stand alone issues that deserve our attention one by one. We shouldn't be forced to vote on omnibus legislation." Advocates for the homeless were pleased with one aspect of Affordable New York: the plan allocates funding for 6,000 units of supportive housing, two years after it was first promised. "You shouldn't have to tie the needs of homeless people to the needs of luxury housing developers, but we are happy, and we are celebrating outside of the Governor's Office tomorrow morning," said Coalition for the Homeless policy director Shelly Nortz. WASHINGTON Every day, travelers climb aboard trains and planes in rural Nebraska and Iowa with an important assist from Uncle Sam. In fact, millions of federal dollars flow into the states to support rural air and train service that would otherwise likely disappear. But those subsidies are under renewed assault, with President Donald Trump proposing their elimination in his budget blueprint. Essential Air Service helps pay for planes flying in and out of seven Nebraska and four Iowa communities. The loss of those subsidies would hit Scottsbluffs Western Nebraska Regional Airport hard, said airport director Darwin Skelton. It would be devastating, Skelton said. Any of these small communities youve just killed them, because so many businesses rely on airline service. Critics say Essential Air Service is a waste of money, supporting flights that arent particularly necessary or in some cases even desired often serving areas where few people live and where residents can simply drive to a larger airport. Trump echoed those criticisms in his budget proposal, noting that the nearly 40-year-old program was intended to be temporary transitional support in the wake of the 1978 airline deregulation. EAS flights are not full and have high subsidy costs per passenger, according to the budget proposal. Several EAS-eligible communities are relatively close to major airports, and communities that have EAS could be served by other existing modes of transportation. Trumps budget blueprint also targets Amtraks long-distance services, which it says have long been inefficient and are responsible for the vast majority of Amtrak operating losses. This would allow Amtrak to focus on better managing its state-supported and Northeast corridor train services, according to the proposal. The air service programs elimination is projected to save $175 million in federal appropriations per year. Thats what the taxpayer contributes to the program on top of funding from the collection of overflight fees paid by foreign airlines. Those amounted to $108 million in 2015. Its not the first time EAS, which covers more than 170 airports nationwide, has come under assault. Seeing it land in Trumps cross hairs might come as a surprise, however, given that many of the areas affected voted for Trump by wide margins in November. He needs to remember who elected him and it was rural America that really went out and voted and got things going for him, Skelton said. And the first thing, he goes after rural America to cut the EAS? As for the level of usage, Skelton said his own airports 400 boardings a month represent an improvement but still arent where they need to be. The per-passenger subsidy at the airport is $242, according to the most recent data from the Federal Aviation Administration. Service is now provided by the carrier PenAir. Skelton said that many passengers may have felt burned by the previous carrier, Great Lakes, which had to cancel flights at times because of a shortage of pilots. And others would just rather drive to Denver, he said, even if that takes longer. Some people dont seem to put a value on their time, Skelton said. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., said presidents always put their budgets into the starkest of terms and then Congress has to deal with reality. And he said the wholesale elimination of programs such as EAS and long-range Amtrak service isnt going to fly. The California Zephyr operates daily from Chicago to San Francisco with stops along the way in Iowa and Nebraska. Combined boardings and alightings on that line in 2016 were 55,157 in Nebraska and 54,763 in Iowa. That line has stops in Creston, Iowa, and Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Holdrege and McCook in Nebraska. Cutting rural air and train service doesnt sit well with Fortenberry, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. I think an intercontinental passenger railway is important to our country, Fortenberry said. So I always will vote against that. That is not me being parochial. It is actually saying I think its important for America. Well have the same conversation in terms of Essential Air Service. Or else youre going to just have major hubs and thats it, and again that harms rural America. But there are other members of Congress who have been gunning for Essential Air Service for years, and watchdog groups opposed to those subsidies are expected to keep up the pressure. The utterly unessential Essential Air Service doesnt stand up well to scrutiny, said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. Ellis said many of the EAS routes would be serviced better and cheaper through bus service to the closest hub. This nearly 40-year relic of deregulation should be eliminated, Ellis said. But I guarantee it will be a fight. Indeed, even conservative lawmakers who talk about the need to keep a tight grip on the federal purse strings have stood up for the program as an appropriate use of taxpayer money to support the countrys transportation networks. Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Adrian Smith, both Nebraska Republicans, have been outspoken in their defense of the subsidies. Of course Essential Air Service is vital for our rural communities in Nebraska to keep us connected, Fischer said. I can assure you that Congressman Smith and I will continue to be strong proponents of maintaining that Essential Air Service. Mike Olson, Grand Islands airport director, said the goal has always been to get off the subsidies, and the per-passenger subsidy at the Grand Island airport has fallen to $24, according to the latest FAA figures. The airport finished with just over 69,000 boardings last year, Olson said. Boardings at the airport include both its twice daily service to Dallas, which is subsidized, and the twice-weekly service to Las Vegas and Phoenix, which is not subsidized. Hes hoping for a similar performance this year, although its hard to tell how a couple of developments will play out. On one hand, the airport lost its service to Orlando, Florida, in January, but the flights to Dallas have been upgraded to planes with more seating. Were trending the right way, Olson said. The Nebraska Legislature has a very tough job ahead of it in adopting a balanced budget. A lot of tough decisions are yet to be made in order to account for the full $900 million budget shortfall legislators were presented when they began their session in January. Last Tuesday, when the Appropriations Committee debated Gov. Pete Ricketts recommendation that the budget include funds for 48 new corrections officers in each of the next two fiscal years, it became more clear just how far some senators think theyre going to have to go. Ricketts proposal would cost $3.1 million in 2017-18 year and $8 million the following year. Sen. Kate Bolz actually recommended not funding any additional corrections officers. The committee ultimately approved a modification of her proposal, providing $1.5 million for new officers in the 2017-18 fiscal year and $3 million in the following year. Thats less than half of Ricketts request, at a time when the state is continuing to struggle with staffing shortages that have played a big part in the increased violence in our prisons. High employee turnover and a large number of vacancies have been forcing officers to work overtime, and that works against the goal of an experienced staff. The numerous attacks on corrections staff by inmates in recent months make it even harder to find qualified staff members who are willing to work for the state of Nebraska and then keep them working in our prisons. Bolz contended that since the state is having so much trouble just hiring enough people for its current staffing level, it shouldnt set aside even more money for positions it cant fill. But if we want to staff our prisons with high-quality officers, something has to be done to address officer fatigue and low morale. The work environment isnt going to become any more attractive to corrections workers if we dont increase the staffing. With our corrections workers regularly putting in overtime, they become so tired and frustrated with their jobs that they are bound to make mistakes that threaten their safety and the safety of the inmates we are housing. The Appropriations Committee has approved funding for more health care professionals, more education and treatment staff and more staff in transportation, training, grievances and food service. Thats good news. But front-line corrections workers are needed as well. The committees corrections budget cuts just raise more questions about whether state government is serious about spending what it will take to adequately staff its corrections facilities. As the full Legislature begins debating the budget, someone must stand up and insist that the state fully staff its prisons. If no one does, the safety of our prison officers will continue to be at risk and it will become even more difficult to find staff. Hall County should not allow the placements of feedlots so close to Grand Island city limits. Now there is talk of expanding those feedlots. We, in the northwest area of Grand Island, have to endure the feedlots heavy stink, which frequently permeates our air. Because of this stench, we do not want to open our windows and we cannot enjoy being outside in our yards. One feedlot owner quipped, Just stay in Grand Island if the smell bothers you. Well, we do, and in Grand Island, his feedlot smell reaches us. Our air is being polluted while feedlot owners are reaping profits at our expense, robbing us of clean, healthy air. I sometimes wonder if feedlot owners live close to their feedlots, subjecting themselves and their children to that foul smell. Furthermore, it isnt healthy for cattle to be raised in such a confined area. The meat that is produced is toxic and often smells of ammonia, just like the runoff from these feedlot operations. Because the concentrated feeding environment is so full of disease, antibiotics must be used to keep these cattle alive, so the consumers then get toxic meat filled with antibiotics. I remember my grandfathers farm where his cows were raised in pastures, and I also remember the cow smells on that farm they were tolerable, not overpowering like the reek from feedlots. Ideally, if there has to be feedlots, they should be positioned miles away from a city the size of Grand Island. At least when you visit Kearney or Hastings, you are not subjected to such a repugnant odor. Our city prides itself on having the State Fair. Hall County and Grand Island should also pride itself on providing clean air and clean water for its citizens. Keep Nebraska, the Good Life. Live election coverage: All eyes on PA as voters head to the polls The nation is closely watching PA as it could decide the balance of power in Washington. Check back regularly for statewide coverage updates. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Office of the Provost announced that McKenzie Ferguson, PhD, is the recipient of the annual Teaching Excellence Award for tenure-track faculty. It is the most prestigious teaching award for an SIUE faculty member. Two additional faculty members were saluted for their teaching skills and accomplishments with Teaching Distinction Awards, and five more received Teaching Recognition Awards. Ferguson is an associate professor of pharmacy practice in the SIUE School of Pharmacy (SOP) and director of the Drug Information and Wellness Center. She received a $2,000 prize as part of the award. I am honored to receive this recognition, said Ferguson, a Waterloo native, who joined the SIUE faculty in 2009. Much of my success is due to the support and mentorship I received from others. I have truly been fortunate to work alongside some outstanding mentors and faculty at SIUE. Ferguson will be recognized during SIUEs May commencement ceremony and speak at the 2017 fall commencement ceremony. She will be nominated for the Council of Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for the National Professor of the Year Award. Teaching Excellence Awards committee chair Mary Lee Barron, PhD, an associate professor in the SIUE School of Nursing, cited Ferguson as an outstanding educator. The committee noted her innovative teaching methods and excellent time management skills. Ferguson impressed the committee with her engagement of students in active learning by utilizing standard and new technologies to enhance difficult concepts. The committee noted that Ferguson upholds the ideal of the teacher-scholar through her professional activities such as research, obtaining National Institute of Health grant funding, and consistently attending workshops and conferences. Dr. McKenzie Ferguson is an exceptional teacher and mentor, said Gireesh Gupchup, dean of the SIUE SOP. Students have commented that her innovative teaching methods keep the class enthralled and help with making class material extremely relevant to pharmacy practice. She is a true role model, and we are very fortunate to have a teacher of her caliber at SIUE. Ferguson teaches both drug information and biomedical literature courses. Her research interests include evidence-based medicine and patient safety in vulnerable populations and professional development for students, residents and preceptors. I believe it can be a challenge for pharmacists to stay current with new research and medical information as new information is published daily, Ferguson said. I teach students necessary skills to be life-long learners and how to properly find and evaluate medical literature. In my practice setting within the Express Scripts Drug Information and Wellness Center, I respond to drug information requests that help our faculty, preceptors and alumni provide the best care possible to the patients they serve. Providing drug information to patients and healthcare providers is a key role for pharmacists. Pharmacists are accessible, extremely knowledgeable and an integral component of the healthcare team. Ferguson earned a bachelors in biology from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., in 2002, and achieved a PharmD from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2006. In addition, Teaching Distinction Awards went to Mary Plocher, and Amelia Perez, PhD, who will receive $1,500 and $500 prizes, respectively. Plocher is an instructor in the Department of Social Work in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and her credentials include a masters in social work from Aurora University in 1979 and a license in clinical social work. The Highland native first joined the SIUE faculty in 2000 for a six-year stint and returned in 2013. The committee complimented Plocher as a thoughtful, energetic educator who draws on her wealth of experience in education and professional practice. She also impressed with her ability to create safe spaces for students to share their views, upholding SIUEs values of openness and inclusion. By facilitating respectful dialogue, she builds great rapport with students. Students need to know and understand basic facts and concepts, but are most likely to best comprehend what they have experienced, Plocher said. The application of knowledge is essential to the students mastery of skills and their capacity to critically think. As an instructor, I focus on the acquisition of skills in order to help my students feel confident and well equipped for their future practice in the real world. Focusing on the students needs first and foremost is a recipe for success in the classroom. Perez is a recipient for her work as an associate professor in the School of Nursing (SON). She is the coordinator of the Simulation Learning Center for Health Sciences in the SON. In 2015, the Illinois Nurses Foundation and Illinois Healthcare Action Coalition named her as a 40-Under-40 Emerging Nurse Leader. The committee acknowledged Perez as an accomplished and reflective educator who embraces the SIUE values of openness and inclusion. She is considered a role model for both students and faculty in coordinating the Simulation Learning Center with the goal of teaching students through hands-on cases and critical thinking exercises. A native of the Dominican Republic whose family moved to Decatur during her childhood, Perez has been a faculty member for nearly 15 years. She has held numerous leadership positions in the School, as well as with regional and national associations dedicated to advancing the roles and interests of Hispanic nurses and communities. Five Teaching Recognition Awards were bestowed upon Johanna Schmitz, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Theater and Dance within CAS; Nader Panahshahi, PhD, professor of civil engineering within the School of Engineering (SOE); specialist Brent Vaughn in the SOE; instructor Jean LaFollette in the School of Nursing; and Miranda Wilhelm, PharmD, associate clinical professor of pharmacy practice in the SOP. All awardees receive $250. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin H.S. Dillon (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 The International Conference on Human Rights Protection in the Fishery Industry hosted by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry on March 27 provided an opportunity for Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to lay out the thinking behind the new regulations she has introduced. The horrific reality and practice of modern day slavery in Benjina and Ambon that the Associated Press laid bare two years ago had to be addressed, of course, but not a knee-jerk reaction to appear to be taking action. The whole process of exploitation of fishery resources in Indonesian waters needs to be carefully examined and weaknesses in prevailing regulations addressed in light of the demands of current times. Considering the complexities of the whole situation, the minister brought on board experts respected for their integrity and competence to solidify her bureaucracy. The first step was to regain control of the fisheries industry in Indonesia, which was accomplished through an initial moratorium and relicensing of vessels permitted to operate in its waters. That Indonesia would no longer tolerate illegal fishing was publicly demonstrated by the arrest and ultimate destruction of unlicensed fishing vessels operating within Indonesian territorial waters. This was no mean feat, as she was confronting deeply entrenched interests, with far reaching tentacles. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Elly Burhaini Faizal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 With a sharp deficit recorded in its three years of implementation, we cannot do anything but look back at what expectations we had of the national health insurance (JKN) program. A deficit of Rp 9.7 trillion (US$727.98 million), as reported in the implementation of the JKN-Indonesia Health Card (KIS) program in 2016, reveals the financial limits we should have anticipated from the very start. The start of the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), which runs the JKN, was quite ideal, with 96.4 million low-income people covered by the government when it took effect on Jan. 1, 2014. Coverage is unlimited in amount, nor is it restricted to specific illnesses. There is no other insurance policy with coverage as large as BPJS Kesehatan, which, much more importantly, is not for profit. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 The primary lesson we learned from living under the New Order regime is that a concentration of power in the executive branch of government can lead to systemic abuse. Without an effective system of checks and balances from the legislative and judicial branches of government, then president Soeharto was able to accumulate great power and use it to effectively run the country without any accountability. The democratic system that was put in place following the demise of the New Order regime was designed not only to distribute power horizontally among the three branches of government, but also vertically between the central and local governments through the decentralization program. The horizontal distribution of power goes as far as to divide judicial power between the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court (MK), with the latter being given the role to basically hit the brakes if the three branches of government go too far in the opposite direction. What the MK decided last week perfectly captured how such a democratic arrangement works. On Wednesday, the MK stripped the central government of its authority to annul problematic bylaws passed by local governments. The MK gave the authority to revoke a bylaw to the Supreme Court instead. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adhitya S Ramadianto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 Depression is more than just sadness or a low mood. Depression distorts ones view of the world, making it seem bleaker than it actually is. It engenders feelings of worthlessness, helplessness and hopelessness. It prevents people from doing their best at work, school or home. For some, depression leads to self-harm and, ultimately, suicide. On a more global scale, depression is a major disability and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While some conditions, such as poverty and severe illness, do increase the risk of depression, it can happen to anyone from all walks of life. However, different people experience depression differently, and this difference can determine their outcome. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans David Tampubolon (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 12:43 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde89c9b0 4 Art & Culture theatrical-play,theater,teater-gandrik,hakim-sarmin,butet-kartarejasa Free Directed by seasoned theater director Djaduk Ferianto and based on a script written by Agus Noor, Hakim Sarmin fails to deliver a satiric punch line describing Indonesias society. It instead relies heavily on triggering cheap laughter by using excessive amounts of shallow, sexist jokes, most of which center on the exploitation of a womans body. The play portrays a fantasy realm in a time when nearly all of the nations judges are being treated in a mental institution. Those who were not institutionalized are rumored to have been murdered and their bodies thrown into a lubang buaya (crocodile pit) clearly a reference to the infamous site of a mass grave containing the remains of Indonesian army generals who were murdered during the 1965 massacre. The head of the institution, Dr. Menawi Diparani (Susilo Nugroho), believes that all judges were overcome with madness and therefore need to be institutionalized. Meanwhile, inside the institution, judge Sarmin (Butet Kartaradjasa) is planning a revolution to topple the government with his fellow patients. Sarmin believes that as judges, they have a moral obligation to become the sole owners of truth and justice, and people outside the hospital are endangering the country because they are no longer monitored by judges. Read also: Jakarta theater group all set for 'West Side Story in May Revolutions are always triggered by the mad, Sarmin says as he leads his fellow judges in singing a revolutionary song with the tagline Demi Bangsa dan Negara (For the Nation and the State). Mad judges: Judges go mad in Hakim Sarmin, a play by Yogyakarta-based troupe Teater Gandrik.(JP/Bagas Rahadian) For Sarmin, madness has become the way of life in todays society, which continuously demands for justice but also keeps breaking laws. Therefore, for the sake of the country, he and his fellow judges must do their best to ensure that madness stands firm in the nation. Separately, village leader Mangkane Laliyan (Djaduk), fellow politician Bung Kusane Mareki (Arif Wijayanto) and Mangkanes lawyer Sudilah Prangin Angin (Citra Pratiwi), suspect that Menawi has nefarious reasons for putting the nations judges into his mental institution. They then ask security officer Kunjaran Manuke (Very Ludiyanto) to investigate what is really going on inside the hospital. What follows is a bellum omnium contra omnes (war of all against all) among the main characters. Treason, conspiracy theories and the formation or breaking of new alliances take place based on each characters self-interests and agenda. Eventually, the play depicts a situation in which the lines between justice and injustice, sanity and madness, and heroes and villains are completely blurred. Conspiracy theory: Chief security officer Kunjaran Manuke (Very Ludiyanto) (left) reports to town leader Mangkane Laliyan (Djaduk Ferianto) (second left).(JP/Bagas Rahadian) Visually, the play is indeed delightful to watch. The stage boasts bamboo art works depicting gigantic humanoid figures by Bagong Gonk & Froghouse, which take audience into a dark, dystopian realm of a broken-down society. Music by Purwanto successfully complements the acting, including some impromptu improvisations delivered by the cast. Read also: 'Tri Mbak Kentir': Witty production from Regeneration Theater However, the plays overall narration does not really present an impactful satire of todays society. Sex jokes are utilized excessively without giving any further context into what the play is trying to convey. Numerous references to ejaculation, sexual intercourse, the vagina and womens buttocks are repeated over and over again. [gal:3] What is also lost in judge Sarmin is integrity. Casting Butet who was recently lambasted by environmentalists and activists for promoting mining company Freeport as an environmentally friendly corporation as the main character of a play that aims to criticize the morality of todays society is probably not the wisest decision. How can a critique of todays morality be justified when it is uttered by a man who put an environmental tag on a corporation that is widely held responsible for the destruction of Papuas forests and the gentrification of the provinces indigenous people? Butets defense of Freeport gave him such a bad reputation that activists and environmentalists placed him on a blacklist of artists whose integrity can no longer be trusted. Overall, with its shallow sex jokes, Hakim Sarmin offers nothing more than juvenile angst and anxiety. It is the type of play that belongs in a senior high schools pensi (art fair), because its satire and jokes would only be considered as edgy material in the teen segment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 08:42 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8933e0 1 Science & Tech energy,innovation,hawuku-stove,electricity,recycled-metal Free Brought up in a family with limited resources, Ujang Koswara, 48, a former lecturer at the Swiss Polytechnic Institute of the Bandung Institute of Technology, has been innovating for community welfare. His latest invention is a stove capable of producing electricity. Ujang has built an energy-saving stove out of used paint cans that utilizes dry trash as fuel. To generate heat, he added a used computer fan of 1.2 watts. While some stoves previously used electricity, this Hawuku stove produces power with trash, he said recently at the Universitas Kehidupan Otonom, an empowerment community in Bandung. He was inspired by an iron, which uses electricity to generate heat. For his stove, Ujang has reversed this process. Hawuku means a blower stove in Sundanese. Its not an acronym just to make it sound like a Japanese product, Ujang added with a smile. He uses metal plates between the fuel stove and the used computer fan. The extreme difference in temperature between the two plates produces voltage that is utilized for conversion into electricity, said Ujang. The fan also becomes an indicator for power consumption. As soon as it spins, the electrical energy can be utilized. It can be used to turn on lamps, charge cell phones, or be stored in a battery, he explained. Read also: Medals for 2020 Tokyo Olympics to be made of recycled metal To prove his stoves capacity, Ujang asked his peers to fill it with scrap wood and paper to start a fire and use it for cooking. After two to three minutes, the blower began to spin. Thereafter, he plugged in a lamp and cell phone cables. They all worked. The output is 12 volts at 1.5 amperes, he said. Born in Cicadas, Bandung, the man plans to hand over the stove to Bukit Barisan Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Cucu Somantri. Hopefully it will be delivered to the Indonesian Military Commander and President Joko Jokowi Widodo for further introduction to society, he said. He also cooperated with the military when he launched Listrik Mandiri Rakyat (Limar). A self-supporting electricity system in the form of light emitting diode (LED) lamps with motor vehicle battery power for limited-energy illumination. His first Limar lamps used 19 LED lights in a circle. The 1.5-watt lamps are as bright as 10 watts, said Ujang. In creating these lamps, he worked with military men, who are to later give instructions to local communities on how to prepare such illumination by means of automobile batteries. With a 35-ampere-hour battery capacity, people can fix five Limar lamps for 12 days, at a daily rate of 12 hours. Read also: From trash to healthcare in Malang If fewer lamps are used, battery recharging is only done once a month. Ive toured nearly all regions, even sometimes visiting areas around Bandung, to promote Limar lamps, said Ujang, who referred to micro-hydro, windmill, or solar energy generators as options for recharging, with the use of original motor vehicles as the simplest way. Ujang has developed Limar lamps since 2008, eventually spending as much as Rp 1 billion (US$75,058). To make the lamps last 50,000 hours, he partly uses United States-made components. Unless theyre durable, people will have to spend a lot more money to buy lamps, he pointed out. His spirit of sharing with others is channeled into the empowerment community. This spirit has become an independent movement to activate public empowerment and spread productive and collaborative initiatives for the development of an intelligent and self-reliant society, said Ujang. The empowerment community, according to him, consists of people from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds and is guided by the motto: Not helping but empowering. We therefore dont sell various products, but we teach people how to create our innovations, he indicated. Apart from Limar and Hawuku, Ujang and his community have also developed a motor that uses three kilograms of LPG as fuel. Weve tried it for operation in ponds. A generator needs four to five liters of fuel for one pond. By using three kilograms of LPG three ponds can be covered, which is more economical, he concluded. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 11:29 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8997d3 1 Food sake,sparkling-sake,tradition,alcohol,#alcohol,drinking-culture,Japan,food,#food,drink Free Sake, a beverage made from fermented rice, is a symbol of Japanese tradition, having been around for more than 1,000 years. However, in life change is inevitable. For Japan, change comes in the form of sparkling sake. Sparkling sake is the new wave of sake, Takara Shuzo Asia Pacific sales and marketing manager, Yusaku Shimizu, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. Based in Kyoto, Takara Shuzo is the producer of Mio Sparkling Sake, which currently has about 80 percent of market share in Japan. Shimizu said the trend began six years ago in Japan. In regards to Mio Sparkling Sake, the brand is seen to be revolutionary as it can last up to 10 months. Previously, other companies had created sparkling sake. However, its short shelf life became a challenge, said Shimizu. In the beginning, we only launched [sparkling sake] in restaurants. As the popularity increased, we expanded to retailers, said Shimizu, adding that the brands sparkling sake could be stored at room temperature, making it easy to handle. Mio Sparkling Sake is currently also available in Indonesia. Read also: Jay-Zs new A2 champagne costs $850 a bottle Since the trend spreads, other sake distilleries have started to add sparkling sake to their line of products. Tatenokawa is one of them. Founded in 1832, Tatenokawa is recognized as the producer of junmai daiginjo, an A-list type of sake. Naomi Obata, Tatenokawa representative for sales and planning department, told the Post that although the company still focuses on selling junmai daiginjo, it started to produce sparkling sake about one year ago because of the high demand. During a friendly dinner at Sake+ restaurant in South Jakarta, Natsuki Tanaka, a representative of Ozeki Corporation's overseas business department, even recommended sparkling sake for a first-time sake drinker. Tanaka said that the low alcohol content in sparkling sake makes it a safer bet for first-timers. Beginners to sake may not be fond of the strong taste of the classic sake. The alcohol level [in sparkling sake] is only about 5 percent, said Tanaka, adding that this low alcohol percentage makes sparkling sake popular among women too. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 The countrys immigration agencies have in the last three months prevented the departure of more than 2,000 Indonesian workers seeking employment overseas through illicit channels, officials say. As many as 2,328 Indonesians have had their passport requests blocked by immigration agencies across the country, according to a statement from the Immigration Directorate General at the Law and Human Rights Ministry. Directorate General of Immigration spokesperson Agung Sampurno said the operation to foil the departure of non-procedural workers was carried out in 92 regional immigration agencies nationwide. "The preventive measures taken to prevent non-procedural migrant workers is a priority program of the Immigration Directorate General in 2017," Agung said in the statement on Tuesday. He said the majority of blocked requests were recorded at the Batam Immigration Office in Riau Islands province with 223 rejected applications, followed by the Jember and Tanjung Perak agencies in East Java, with 157 and 120 rejected applications, respectively. Parallel operations occurred at 20 immigration checkpoints, which include airports and seaports, across the country. The majority of blocked departures at checkpoints came out of Surabaya's Juanda Airport, with 124 workers prevented from traveling overseas, followed by Batam Port, with 104 people, and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport near Jakarta with 94 people. The Foreign Ministry's director for the protection of Indonesian nationals and entities abroad, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, welcomed the initiative to prevent non-procedural migrant workers from going abroad. "[These operations] are in line with the Foreign Ministry's position that any attempts to clamp down on problems involving migrant workers abroad must start with preventive measures," he said on Tuesday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11 2017 Southeast Asian diplomats are confident that ASEAN will come to a consensus on the adoption of a region-wide instrument on migrant worker protection, but experts have argued that a bilateral approach is equally important in overcoming this cross-border conundrum. ASEAN is currently in talks to introduce a follow-up mechanism to a decade-old declaration on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers, also known as the Cebu Declaration. Efforts to move this agenda forward have stalled due to differences of opinion between countries that send migrant workers and countries that receive them. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11 2017 A discussion panel on marine debris highlights the high cost of excessive plastic consumption. Most of us living in this industrialized world might find it very difficult to let go of our dependence on plastic packages. Without realizing it, we create a terrifying amount of plastic debris that makes its way to the ocean. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Deepti Hajela and Jennifer Peltz (Associated Press) New York Tue, April 11, 2017 The New York Daily News and ProPublica won the Pulitzer Prize for public service Monday for uncovering how police abused eviction rules to oust hundreds of people, mostly poor minorities, from their homes. In a year when the tumultuous presidential campaign dominated US news, David A. Fahrenthold of The Washington Post was honored with the Pulitzer for national reporting for exposing questionable practices at Donald Trump's charitable foundation. The award for commentary went to Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal for columns that the judges said "connected readers to the shared virtues of Americans during one of the nation's most divisive political campaigns." The New York Times' staff received the international reporting award for its work on Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to project Moscow's power abroad. Times writer C.J. Chivers won the feature writing award for a story about a Marine's descent into violence after returning home from war, told "through an artful accumulation of fact and detail." Winners ranged from journalism partnerships spanning hundreds of reporters to small newspapers. Art Cullen of The Storm Lake Times, a twice-weekly, 3,000-circulation family-owned paper in Iowa, won the editorial writing award, with the judges saying his "tenacious reporting, impressive expertise and engaging writing" successfully challenged powerful corporate agricultural interests in the state. In troubled times for newspapers, "the work that wins Pulitzer Prizes reminds us that we are not in a period of decline in journalism. Rather, we are in the midst of a revolution," with new partnerships, technology and media taking the field in new directions, prize administrator Mike Pride said. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, McClatchy and the Miami Herald which amassed a group of over 400 journalists to examine of the leaked "Panama Papers" and expose the way that politicians, criminals and rich people stashed case in offshore accounts won the Pulitzer for explanatory reporting. Eric Eyre of The Charleston Gazette-Mail won the investigative reporting prize for writing about the scourge of opiate painkillers in poor parts of West Virginia. The staff of the East Bay Times in Oakland, California, received the breaking news reporting award for its coverage of a fire that killed 36 people at a warehouse party and its follow-up reporting on how local officials hadn't taken action that might have prevented it. The staff of The Salt Lake Tribune received the local reporting award for its work on how sexual assault victims at Brigham Young University are treated. Hilton Als, a theater critic for The New Yorker, won the prize for criticism, with judges praising how he strove to connect theater to the real-world, "shifting landscape of gender, sexuality and race." The award in editorial cartooning went to Jim Morin of The Miami Herald for work "that delivered sharp perspectives through flawless artistry, biting prose and crisp wit." Freelancer Daniel Berehulak won the breaking news photography award for his images, published in the Times, of the toll of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's crackdown on drug dealers and users. Berehulak won the feature photography Pulitzer in 2015 for his work on the Ebola outbreak in Africa. This year's feature photography winner was E. Jason Wambsgans of the Chicago Tribune, for his portrayal of a 10-year-old boy who had been shot. Considered the most distinguished awards in American journalism, the Pulitzers are handed out in 14 categories of reporting, photography, criticism and commentary by newspapers, magazines and websites. Arts prizes are awarded in seven categories, including fiction, drama and music. This is the 101st year of the contest, established by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer. Public service award winners receive a gold medal; the other awards carry a prize of $15,000 each. (**) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11 2017 From child marriage to social inequality, a group of Indonesian female Muslim clerics and their counterparts from other Muslim-majority countries are set to convene in Cirebon, West Java, to draft fatwas to address the many challenges that Muslim women face. The organizers of the first national congress of female Muslim clerics in the country believe that Islam has never taught that women are inferior to men. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 19:26 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8b1f11 1 City crime,stealing,foreigners Free Two foreigners from China and Taiwan have been apprehended for allegedly stealing money from an ATM in Mangga Dua Market in North Jakarta, a police officer has said. The crime was uncovered after two ATM guards found that the suspects could withdraw money without any receipts. The suspects were then reported to officers from the East Jakarta Police, who happened to be guarding the money supplies to ATMs in the area. East Jakarta Police spokesman Comr. Wasiem said the officers immediately followed up on the report. "When the police officers checked them, they had the transaction receipt but it was blank," Wasiem said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Monday evening. The cops immediately took them in along with a cellphone, the blank transaction receipt, a black bag, nine ATM cards from Taiwan and some cash, Wasiem added. (agn) Topics : crime stealing foreigners Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 15:53 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8a9e6d 1 National KPK,#KPK,#KPKAcidAttack Free Following mounting condemnation of an acid attack on senior corruption investigator Novel Baswedan, former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officials have called on the President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo administration to provide better protection for KPK staff. I urge the government to ensure protection for those on the front line in combating corruption. If it doesnt, then everyone will be afraid to fight corruption, former KPK chairman Abraham Samad said on Tuesday. Abraham made the statement in connection to a recent incident in which an unidentified person hurled acid in Novels face, resulting in burns and blurred vision. The incident took place earlier Tuesday when Novel was about to return home after morning prayers at a mosque near his home in North Jakarta. He is in the intensive care unit of a hospital. The country must have a concept on how to protect them, Abraham said, adding that the attack was obviously a criminal act aimed at silencing Novel. (Read also: Novel in good condition despite injuries: Presidential spokesperson) Another former KPK chairman, Busyro Muqoddas, said the President should establish a joint team to investigate who instigated and carried out the attack. There must be a relation between the assault [and a particular case], and the government should not let it continue. The perpetrators should not be allowed to go free, Busyro said. Novel is a KPK investigator who could be perceived as a threat by people involved in corruption. He is currently heading up an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of e-ID card procurement funds, a case in which prominent political figures have been implicated, including House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto. (dan) Spring is here, finally, which means iced coffee and bike rides and so many dogswhere did they all come from, all these very good dogs? It also means that you can no longer lean on frigid weather as an excuse to stay in bed and politically inactive. Here are some notable protests, dance parties, and organizing events happening this week and weekend. Interfaith Seder for Solidarity With Families Facing Deportation This interfaith Seder, held outside a downtown Manhattan building where immigrants check-in with ICE, will serve as a way to show solidarity with those facing detention and deportation. Attendees are encouraged to use the hashtag #LetMyPeopleStay, and people of all religionsand knowledge of the Passover storyare welcome to attend. FREE with ticket, Tuesday, April 11, 8:15 a.m. | 26 Federal Plaza Take Action Tuesdays at Tip Top As far as protest locations go, you could do much worse than a cozy Bed-Stuy dive bar with a reliable jukebox and $5 beer and shot special. Tuesdays at Tip Top is especially worth the trip then, as organizers have put together a weekly postcard writing event for you to tell your elected officials and government agenciesfrom Chuck Schumer to NASAwhat you really think of them. Stamps included! FREE, Tuesday, April 11, 6 p.m. | Tip Top Bar & Grill, 432 Franklin Ave Kill the Deal: March to Stop the Bedford Armory Deal The effort to redevelop the Bedford Union Armory into a mixed use building continues to face resistance, with many Crown Heights residents arguing that the lot should be handed over to the community, rather than to private developers. Many of those residents have organized under the banner of "Kill The Deal," and they'll be marching to Council Member Laurie Cumbo's office on Wednesday to demand that she do just that. FREE, Wednesday, April 12, 4:30 p.m. | Fort Greene Park, Washington Park St to St Edward St, Brooklyn NYPD Is Not Above The Law Last week, police accountability activist Jose LaSalle released portions of audio secretly recorded at an NYPD precinct, which he claims show officers tampering with evidence and fabricating charges against him. On Thursday, LaSalle, along with Bronx Show Up and the Copwatch Patrol Unit, will release additional excerpts of that audio during a community rally held at the Bronx District Attorney's office. Protesters will demand indictment of all those involved in the incident, and call on the DA to investigate past arrests made by the officers. FREE, Thursday, April 13th, 5 p.m. | 198 E 161st Street, Bronx Women's Town Hall: Speak Up, Speak Out Against Violence Part of a weekly series hosted by the National Organization For Women (NOW), this town hall will seek to amplify the voices of those who have been impacted by the Violence Against Women Act and other programs aimed at helping survivors. The collected stories will be presented to congressional leaders, who will soon have the opportunity to accept or reject the Trump administration's attempt to cut funds from the Violence Against Women Act. Those interested in sharing their own stories can sign up on the site. FREE, Thursday, April 13, 6:30 p.m. | YWCA Brooklyn, 30 3rd Avenue Dance Party for LGBTQ Immigrant Bond Fund Starr Bar, the sister venue to Bushwick's Mayday Community Space, has made a name for itself over the past few months as a regular host of social justice oriented programming. The latest effort: a dance party to benefit LGBTQ folks in immigration detention centers. The party runs late, and all proceeds go to the Trans Queer Migrant Freedom Fund. $10 before 11 p.m., Friday, April 14, 9 p.m. | Starr Bar, 214 Starr Street, Brooklyn Tax March As the Trump administration continues to argue that people just don't care about his taxes, tens of thousands of people have RSVP'd to a protest on Saturday with the explicit purpose of proving him wrong. The NYC event will take place on Tax Day as part of a nationwide effort months in the making. There will also be an enormous inflatable chickenthe third of life's certainties, after death and taxes. FREE, Saturday, April 15, 1 p.m. | Bryant Park between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Stop Endless War In the wake of the Trump administration launching 59 missile at Syria last week, a diverse range of anti-war groups are registering their dissent and warning against further attacks in the region. Those opposed to the administration's Syria policy run the ideological gamut (one reason why the protest response has been pretty minimal?) so it'll be interesting to see whether any sort of convergence happens during these anti-intervention protests. This one begins with a speak-out at Washington Square Park, followed by a march to the Navy Recruiting Station in Lower Manhattan, where a second rally will take place. FREE, Saturday, April 15th, 4 p.m. | Washington Square Park Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 13:35 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde89ff63 1 National setya,setya-novanto,travel-ban,e-ID,#e-ID,KPK,#KPK,graft,corruption Free Indonesias immigration authorities have banned House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto from traveling abroad following the Corruption Eradication Commissions (KPK) investigation into his alleged involvement in the e-ID graft case. The Law and Human Rights Ministrys immigration directorate general confirmed on Tuesday the KPK had requested it to impose a travel ban on Setya. The Immigration Office received the travel ban request on Monday evening, [which led to the issuance of a travel ban], please ask the KPK investigators, said the offices spokesman, Agung Sampurno. (Read also: Heat is on Setya in e-ID graft case) Setya said separately he had just received information about the travel ban and promised he would obey all the legal processes. "As a citizen who adheres to the law and hopes this matter can be solved soon, I'll be patient to do the best I can," Setya said. Setya is currently under public spotlight for his alleged involvement in a graft scandal related to the e-ID procurement project. Setya has been mentioned several times on the cases indictment documents. He allegedly received hundreds of billions from a project worth Rp 5.9 trillion (US$440 million) that had potential to cause more than Rp 2 trillion in state losses. The KPK has questioned him several times as a witness in the case. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 21:59 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8b7c12 1 National Criminal-Code-amendment,prison,imprisonment Free The House of Representatives working committee for the amendment of the Criminal Code (KUHP) is looking into alternative forms of punishment in addition to imprisonment. The alternative punishment could be in the form of community service or fines instead of putting all criminals behind bars. It could be applied to crimes in which the [sentence] is one year or less in prison, committee member Arsul Sani of the United Development Party (PPP) said as quoted by kompas.com. The alternative punishment, he added, would be a way to reform to the countrys criminal justice system. Arsul said another option was partial imprisonment, whereby the convicts would stay in jail three days a week while partaking in community service on the other days. They could work at nursing homes or as public service cleaners. Well discuss the specific concepts with the government during the amendment deliberation, Arsul said. Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly told the House recently about unresolved prison overcapacity problems. He revealed that between January and March this year, the country saw an addition of 12,000 convicts. Yasonna said alternative forms of punishment could solve the overcapacity problem and save hundreds of millions of rupiah in the state budget. (foy) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 13:50 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8a0b20 1 Business palm-oil,CPO,ISPO Free Indonesia kicked off on Tuesday the first international conference on the country's sustainable palm oil (ISPO) scheme in an effort to push for its implementation. Various challenges in ISPO implementation should be accommodated by guiding smallholder farmers and cooperation among all stakeholders, Agriculture Ministry director general for plantations Bambang said in his opening speech. The conference runs until Wednesday. The first international forum for smallholder farmers also takes place on the sidelines of the event. Bambang noted only 12 percent of Indonesias 11.9 million hectares of oil palm plantation land are ISPO certified. On the same occasion, 38 firms and two smallholder groups obtained ISPO certificates, making a total of 266 institutions obtaining the certificate to date. (Read also: Powerful lobby sought to ease Indonesia palm oil exports) Indonesia, the worlds biggest oil palm producer, has been increasing its efforts to practice sustainable oil palm cultivation amid a mounting push from the international community to reduce the rate of deforestation caused by the commodity. On April 4, the European Parliament issued a resolution to only import sustainable palm oil after 2020. The parliament has called for a single international sustainable palm oil standard, which has raised objections from Indonesia and Malaysia, the latter being the worlds second biggest oil palm producer. Local businesspeople deem the call to be unfair and alleged the resolution was merely a business strategy to suppress the lucrative palm oil exports to the European Union, which also produces rapeseed and sunflower oil. (hwa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Nusa Dua, Bali Tue, April 11, 2017 17:40 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8adbd1 1 Business islamic-finance,fund,IDB,investment,factories,fisheries,Brunei,Japan Free SBI Islamic Fund (Brunei) Limited, a joint venture between Brunei Darussalams Ministry of Finance and Japans Strategic Business Innovator (SBI) Holdings, is looking for opportunities to invest in Indonesia. SBI Islamic Fund (Brunei) Limited CEO Amran Mohammad said the fund would build fish processing factories in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, and in Aceh. The facilities would be used to process tuna to be exported to Japan. "The one in Aceh will be much bigger than that in Maumere. We are sealing the agreement for [the project in] Aceh," he told The Jakarta Post during the 3rd IDB Member Countries Sovereign Investment Forum in Nusa Dua on Tuesday. (Read also: SMI inks US$1 billion deal with IDB) The investment for the development of the two facilities would come from its second sharia fund totaling US$60 million. Both Bruneis Ministry of Finance and SBI Holdings contributed $25 million each to the fund, while the remaining $10 million comes from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). SBI Islamic Fund (Brunei) Limiteds first sharia fund worth $75 million was created three years ago and invested in Indonesias logistics firm Pandu Logistics, among other investments. However, Brunei Ministry of Finance deputy permanent secretary for investment Khairuddin Abdul Hamid said the fund was still looking for another $40 million from private investors. "We have already talked with some prominent parties during this forum and are still waiting for the reply," he said. (lnd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 13:34 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde89f4ae 1 National novel,novel-baswedan,Jokowi,KPK,acid-attack,#KPKAcidAttack Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has strongly condemned the acid attack against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan and ordered the National Police to bring the perpetrators of the terror act to justice. This is a brutal attack and I strongly condemn it. I order the National Police Chief [Gen. Tito Karnavian] to find the perpetrators, Jokowi told reporters at the State Palace on Tuesday. Jokowi expressed his condemnation after inaugurating Saldi Isra, a law professor from Andalas University, as the new Constitutional Court justice. Novel suffered severe burns when he was hit in the face with acid on his way home after he performed morning prayers at a mosque near his house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Tuesday. He is currently receiving medical treatment in Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kelapa Gading. Hydrochloric acid was splashed onto Novels face, but he remained conscious after the incident. Jokowi said that Novel was a KPK investigator who had good integrity and thus he did not want to see similar incidents in the future. Dont let people like [Novel] who have strong principles get hurt in inhumane ways. [The attack] must not take place again in the future, the President said. Jokowi further said that other KPK investigators should not be discouraged by the attack, and he urged them to continue their jobs as usual to crackdown on corruption in the country. Go ahead, continue working as usual, and the attack will be handled by the police, Jokowi said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 11:12 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde89908f 1 National KPK,#KPK,#KPKAcidAttack Free Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) is urging the government, particularly President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and the National Police, to take firm action in responding to the attack against Novel Baswedan, a senior investigator with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). "KPK personnel have several times got attacked. The president and police must take it seriously," ICW coordinator Adnan Topan Husodo said Tuesday in a written statement. Novel suffered burns to his face from an acid attack by an unidentified person on Tuesday morning. The person reportedly hurled acid at Novel after the investigator joined a morning prayer in a mosque near his home in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. He is now receiving intensive medical care in Mitra Keluarga Hospital's emergency room. Novel is currently leading an investigation into an e-ID embezzlement case, a huge scandal that involves many prominent political figures. In 2011, Novel participated in the investigation of corruption related to the procurement of driving simulators, which eventually put former police traffic division chief Djoko Susilo behind bars. "All people must know who is responsible for this attack. The government should protect all people who are working to combat corruption," Adnan said. (Read also: KPK investigator suffers burns in acid attack) ICW said that Novel had received several threats and had been attacked in recent years. In a recent incident, he was hit by a car. He was also previously accused of participating in an assault that led to the death of a convict in Bengkulu. In a hearing of the e-ID case trial on March 30, Novel testified that graft suspect Miryam S. Haryani had told him that five House of Representatives members had threatened the Hanura Party politician so she would not report to the KPK that she and several other politicians had improperly received money from the Rp 5.9 trillion (US$440 million) project. "This attack is likely related to the investigation of the e-ID graft case and this terrorism is a serious threat to the country's agenda of combatting corruption," Adnan said. (dan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 06:33 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde88b57a 1 National Diversity,intolerance Free Top women activists issued a warning on Monday about the increasing threat of intolerance toward minority groups in the country. Former first lady and womens rights activist Shinta Nuriyah Wahid warned of the impact of radical thoughts and teachings that are increasingly accessible to Indonesians. I feel that kebhinnekaan [diversity] is being torn apart as radical and fundamentalist groups have been trying to brainwash Indonesian people, especially the younger generation, Shinta told the media after addressing a seminar on women and diversity in Jakarta on Monday. She quoted results of a survey co-held by the Wahid Foundation and the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) in August last year, which revealed that 59.9 percent of the surveyed 1,520 Muslim respondents disliked minority groups and disapproved of members of these groups holding public office. Another activist Omi Komariyah emphasized that diversity should be a uniting factor for Indonesians. Kebhinnekaan should be a uniting factor for all of us and difference should not be used to mock each other. We should unite to build the nation, Omi, wife of prominent Muslim thinker the late Nurcholis Madjid, told the seminar. Meanwhile, University of Indonesia psychology professor Saparinah Sadli called on Indonesians to respect differences. Kebhinnekaan is [a form of] difference. If we believe that every human is different, then kebhinnekaan is us. That is the true manifestation of kebhinnekaan, Saparinah told the same seminar. Shinta suggested that in real life parents and teachers should be at the forefront in preventing children from coming in contact with such radical and intolerant ideas. (mrc) Topics : Diversity intolerance Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra Tue, April 11, 2017 17:46 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8ade03 1 National national-exam,suicide,student,North-Sumatra Free The Culture and Education and Ministry has sent a team to investigate the death of Amelia Nasution, a 12th-grader at a vocational school in Padang Sidempuan, North Sumatra, who committed suicide after exposing alleged exam malpractices at her school. The student reportedly drank poison after she was threatened by a teacher who had allegedly leaked answer keys to the national exams to some final-year students at the school. Daryanto, the ministrys inspector general, said the team would investigate the case and punish any perpetrators. If it is proven that [a teacher] threatened Amelia and caused her death, there will be sanctions against them, he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. Amelia and two of her friends took to Facebook after discovering that there appeared to have been a leak of the exam materials at the school. They alleged that the leak came from a fellow student who was also the daughter of one of the teachers. The students mother later threatened the three students, saying that they would be jailed and fined Rp 750 million (US$56,460) for exposing the cheating at the school. (wit) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurni Sulaiman (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra Tue, April 11, 2017 21:56 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8b7891 1 National North-Sumatra-governor-Tengku-Erry-Nuradi,North-Sumatra,French-Ambassador-to-Indonesia,Jean-Charles-Berthonnet,renewable-energy,electricity Free The North Sumatra administration is looking to cooperate with the French government in renewable energy-based electricity projects in the province. North Sumatra Governor Tengku Erry Nuradi expressed his administrations interest during a meeting with French Ambassador to Indonesia Jean-Charles Berthonnet in Medan on Monday evening. North Sumatra is in dire need of renewable energy sources, such as solar cells and wind- and sea wave-powered electricity. I heard that the country [of France] has valuable experience in it. It would be good if we could cooperate in developing renewable energy based in electricity because, here, the sun shines 12 hours a day. We are waiting for renewable energy companies with French technology to invest here, Erry said. The governor said five French companies were operating in North Sumatra. Of them, four companies work in the services field while one specializes in water treatment. Seeking opportunities: North Sumatra Governor Tengku Erry Nuradi and French Ambassador to Indonesia Jean-Charles Berthonnet discuss various cooperation potentials in their meeting in Medan on April 10.(JP/Nurni Sulaiman) Erry expressed interest in having a sister city between North Sumatra and France in economy, tourism, trade and services, as well as education. With North Sumatra's crude oil palm plantations, there could be economic cooperation; Lake Toba is a potential tourist destination, [...] Maimun Palace [is] a Deli Sultanate heritage building; and [there is] culinary potential; all of which make expanding cooperation worth it. Berthonnet agreed there was potential for further cooperation between the two countries. I realize the economic potential of North Sumatra. Many contracts were signed by the President [Francois Hollande] on his official visit to [Indonesia] recently. I hope this visit [by the French Embassy] produces areas of cooperation," he said. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 15:21 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8a7324 1 National novel,novel-baswedan,KPK,#KPK,acid-attack,graft,corruption,johan-budi,#KPKAcidAttack Free Presidential spokesperson Johan Budi Saptoprabowo said senior Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan was conscious and able to talk despite injuries he suffered during an acid attack on Tuesday morning. Johan was speaking to journalists after he visited the antigraft investigator at Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Hes fine and could talk, but he said his vision in his left eye was blurred. I also observed a lump on the left side of his forehead, Johan told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. He said he continued to update President Joko Jokowi Widodo on the developments in the case. (Read also: Police begin investigation into acid attack on KPK investigator) Jokowi said earlier he condemned the violent act. I have ordered National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian to investigate the perpetrators of the attack, he said at the State Palace on Tuesday. The President asked KPK investigators to stay alert and maintain their spirit for eradicating corruption in the country. Dont let people with firm principles [like Novel Baswedan] be hurt in inhumane ways. It shouldnt happen again in the future, said Jokowi. Novel suffered burns from an acid attack perpetrated by unidentified persons when he was walking home after he performed morning prayers in a mosque near his house in Kelapa Gading, on Tuesday. The police are still investigating the perpetrators and the motives behind the attack. Separately, National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the police would handle the case. The police are collecting statements from witnesses and information related to the chemical substance, Boy told journalists on Tuesday. (hol/mrc/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 15:10 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8a57e5 1 National novel-baswedan,acid-attack,investigation,#KPKAcidAttack Free The Jakarta Police began investigating the assault on an investigator from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Novel Baswedan, who was doused with acid by two unidentified men after engaging in morning prayer in a mosque near his house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Tuesday that the police are currently delving into the evidence and questioning witnesses of the incident. We are currently searching for any surveillance cameras [that might have recorded the incident], said Argo. Hydrochloric acid was splashed onto Novels face, but he remained conscious after the incident. As the assault took place within a guarded residential complex, the police would interview the security guards of the area, he said. Police investigators would also question Novel once the doctors allowed them, Argo added. Jakarta Police and the National Police would cooperate to protect the other KPK investigators who are working on the same case as Novel. Meanwhile, several KPK officials, including KPK deputy Laode Syarif and former KPK chiefs Taufiequrachman Ruki and Abraham Samad, paid a visit to Novel, who is currently being treated in Mitra Keluarga Hospital, North Jakarta. He [Novel] is recovering and has regained consciousness. We are going to transfer his care to the Jakarta Eye Center in Central Jakarta to accelerate his recovery, said Laode. For now, only the doctors can conclude how badly he was affected, but so far we know that Novel already has eyesight problems. (dea) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 11:53 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde89aff5 1 National JAD,Jamaah-Anshar-Daulah,Jamaah-Ansharut-Daulah,terrorists,TerroristAttacks,terrorist-attack,#Terrorism,terrorism Free The decline of Jamaah Anshar Daulah (JAD), a home-grown radical group blamed for a spate of terrorist attacks in recent years, has been attributed to the arrests of top leaders and the loss of military-style training camps . In the latest blow, the group known as a major supplier of fighters to the Islamic State (IS) movement apparently lost six of its fighters in a shoot-out with personnel of the National Polices Densus 88 counterterrorism squad in Tuban, East Java, on Sunday. The way they missed their targets in Sundays exchange of fire showed they did not undergo any military training, National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said in a media briefing in Jakarta on Monday. He showed the pictures of six locally made revolvers found on the dead attackers. They [the JAD cells] are not strong enough, but they are still disturbing. Police noted that terrorist groups lost their last training camp in Poso, Central Sulawesi, following the death of Santoso, the leader of the East Indonesia Mujahidin terrorist group in July last year. The polices claims were confirmed by terrorism and radicalism researcher Rakyan Adibrata. It is true that the quality of an attack is in line with the length of military training a combatant has undergone. However, it does not mean that a terrorist attack must be carried out by a well-trained person, he said. Rakyan said terrorist attacks that occurred over the last two years in various places across Indonesia showed that the perpetrators did not have skills typically obtained from military training. He said he considered several terrorist attacks, such as a bomb attack on Jl. Thamrin in Jakarta in January 2016, the stabbing of a police officer in Tangerang in October 2016 and the recent use of a pressure cooker bomb in an attempted attack in Bandung, West Java, to be reckless and amateurish. In the Thamrin incident, you could see from the way they reloaded and aimed their guns at their targets that they were not well trained. The attack was executed simply to show the world that they still existed, said Rakyan. These could not compare to the attacks launched by the first generation of JAD who spent years in military training in Afghanistan, he said. However, the number of terrorist attacks, which has been increasing in the last two years, indicates that radicalization is on the rise. (hol/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 06:36 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde88bedb 1 National prisoners,increase Free The number of prisoners being held in Indonesia increased by 12,000 within two months this year, raising concerns about unresolved prison overcrowding problems. Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly revealed on Monday that in January the country recorded a total of around 202,000 prisoners. In March, the number had jumped to 214,675, most of whom are drug-related criminals. What will happen if we keep putting people behind bars? Yasonna said during a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing human rights, security and legal affairs. The more prisoners inside jails, he said, the more difficult for the ministry to handle problems in the prisons, such as sanitation and food supply, as well as illegal levies by prison guards on visitors. Not to mention the riots that frequently break out among prisoners as they have to share very confined spaces. One cell could accommodate around 40 prisoners, while it was supposed to accommodate only five, he said. Yasonna said the problem would remain unresolved if the government only built new prisons every year. Well never afford to keep establishing new prisons to accommodate them. The money would be better going into infrastructure development, he said. We should reform our criminal system. Instead of putting them in jail, its better to make them do social work. Our Criminal Code revision should include alternative punishments. He also considered an amnesty for drug convicts and moving them to rehabilitation centers. Topics : prisoners increase Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ahmad F. Bayuny (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 17:47 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8aebfe 1 Business Soekarno-Hatta-airport-train,payment-system,operation Free Airport train operator PT Railink has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 10 local banks to support the payment system of a Soekarno-Hatta airport train, the operation of which is scheduled to start in July. Among the banks are state-owned lenders Bank Mandiri, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) as well as private lenders Bank Central Asia (BCA) and Bank CIMB Niaga. The cooperation will become part of the Airport Railway Ticketing System (ARTS) that the firm developed together with state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia. We will implement a 100 percent cashless payment system for the ARTS and for users convenience. We signed the MoU with the ten banks to support it, Railink president director Heru Kuswanto said Tuesday after the signing of the agreement. Heru added the firm would integrate existing bank cards already used by customers instead of issuing exclusive cards for the payment system. (Read also: Soekarno-Hatta airport train to start operating in July) To ease the reservation process, Railink plans to establish a web reservation system on its website as well as mobile apps. Furthermore, passengers will also be able to purchase tickets directly using machines installed at stations, all of which are supported by the partner banks. In addition to domestic travelers, Railink also aims to facilitate foreign visitors by integrating its payment system and credit card providers, including Master Card, American Express, Japan Credit Bureau (JCB) and Credit Union Bank (CUB). (lnd) The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agus Maryono (The Jakarta Post) Banyumas, Central Java Tue, April 11, 2017 19:00 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8b1298 1 National IS,Islamic-State,extremism,Extremists,attack,Banyumas,police Free A young man suspected of being a member of terrorist group Islamic State (IS) attacked police personnel at Banyumas Police headquarters in Central Java on Tuesday, leaving three officers injured. Riding a motorbike at high speed, the alleged perpetrator, identified as Mohammad Ibnu Dar, 22, a resident of Karangaren village in Kutasari district, Purbalingga regency, Central Java, broke through the front yard of the police office at 10 a.m. and assaulted Adj. First Insp. Ata Suparta. Both Mas Ata Suparta and the perpetrator fell headlong, said Driyanto, 45, a journalist from Yogyakarta-based daily Kedaulatan Rakyat, who had witnessed the incident. I helped Mas Ata. Another police officer, Pak Karsono, aimed to help him, but suddenly he was attacked by the perpetrator with a machete. He was injured on his hand, said Driyanto. A third police officer, Chief Brig. Irfan, attempted to help the wounded Karsono, but he too was attacked and sustained injuries to his thigh, Driyanto added. It was Pak Karsono who suffered most. He got slashed not only on his hand but also on his back, said Driyanto. (Read also: Police warned of rise of not well-trained terrorists) Only after several minutes did dozens of police personnel manage to incapacitate the perpetrator and take him into custody for an investigation. Banyumas Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Azis Andriyansah said the perpetrator was wearing IS attributes when he launched the attack. We are investigating and tracking down who this perpetrator is. Azis said the motive for the attack remained unknown. (ebf) Arrested: Police personnel encircle Mohammad Ibnu Dar (center), 22, a Purbalingga resident, after he allegedly attacked three Banyumas Police officers with a machete on Tuesday.(JP/Agus Maryono) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 12 2017 Angola has announced after bilateral consultations in Jakarta that it will support Indonesia in its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019 to 2020 period. The vote of confidence was jointly announced by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and her Angolan counterpart, Georges RP Chikoti, after a bilateral meeting on Tuesday, which saw the two countries ink agreements encompassing a wide array of cooperation initiatives. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Winny Tang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 12 2017 Publicly listed plantation firm PT Astra Agro Lestari is seeking to strengthen its palm oil downstream sector and explore other related business opportunities to overcome challenges in the palm oil sector. Astra Agro, a subsidiary of diversified conglomerate group Astra International, has allocated up to Rp 100 billion (US$7.5 million) this year to build a fertilizer blending plant with a prodution capacity of 100,000 tons per year in Sulawesi. It also plans to construct a palm kernel oil (PKO) refinery in Central Kalimantan with an output capacity of 400 tons per day and investment cost of Rp 200 billion. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Wed, April 12 2017 The government says it is upbeat about its food self-sufficiency target, claiming success in increasing the production of several commodities over the past two years. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Agriculture Ministry planning bureau head Kasdi Subagiono said Indonesia had carried out effective food reform and the government had used necessary funds in an effective and efficient manner. Indonesia managed to boost strategic food production throughout 2016 so that import volumes fell, he said, adding that the country had already ceased to import rice, shallots and chili. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hermawan Kartajaya and Ardhi Ridwansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, April 12 2017 The market is a meeting place for supply and demand. It is where companies as value suppliers compete to win the minds and hearts of customers as value demanders. In the business world, the market is also like an estuary for changes that occur at the macro scale. The technological revolution further drives economic, political-legal and sociocultural changes, all of which culminate in the market. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 The Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the Riau Islands provincial administration, plans to make the archipelagic province a hub for Indonesias economic diplomacy. Riau Islands province comprises 2,408 islands, including Natuna Islands, a stretch of resource-rich islands jutting at the frontiers of the South China Sea and bordering Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia. During a promotional event highlighting the province on Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir announced that the government would make Riau Islands a hub for Indonesia's foreign dealings. "Last year we organized the first ever event in Riau Islands, where we managed to gather ambassadors from Jakarta and Singapore," Fachir said in his opening remarks. "This will become our annual event, with the blessing of Pak Governor," he added, referring to Riau Islands Governor Nurdin Basirun, who will host a gathering of envoys in October. Fachir stressed the important role foreign ambassadors played in helping promote Indonesia in their home countries. Jakarta and the Riau Islands provincial administration would continue brainstorming new ways of packaging the regions economic potential and improving ease of conducting business, he said. Meanwhile, Nurdin said his administration was well aware of its proximity to Indonesia's neighbors, particularly its maritime borders in the South China Sea. He thanked the ministry for helping them to promote Riau Island's potential in a green economy, tourism and other business sectors such as the maritime industry. "We would like to support the nation's movement," he said, referring to a global maritime fulcrum plan launched by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Singapore Tue, April 11, 2017 08:41 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8923fb 1 News breitling,record-breaking,world-tour,aviation Free The vintage passenger jet, Douglas DC-3, which is attempting to become the oldest aircraft to circumnavigate the globe in its record-breaking world tour, has made a stop at Seletar Airport in northern Singapore. Singapore is the first country in Southeast Asia that has been encompassed by the twin-engine propeller-driven plane, after its kick off in Geneva, Switzerland on March 7 and journey from the Middle East to India afterward. The DC-3, which flies under Breitling colors, took VIP customers and media on an exclusive 20-minute flight around Singapore and Malaysia last Tuesday. The non-air conditioned World War II relic, which is fully restored and updated with modern flying instruments, flew at the low altitude of 400 meters, indulging its 14 passengers with beautiful views of the Johor Strait. The landscape as seen through the wooden paneled window enabled the passengers to forget about the heat and noise emanating from the old engine, which has clocked more than 74,500 flight hours. The passengers seemed to enjoy the flight by taking photos. Read also: Five innovations that could transform air travel Captain Francisco Agullo and his copilot Paul Bazeley even let the passengers, one by one, see how they controlled the aircraft from the cockpit and take photos there. Flying with the passengers inside that plane, Agullo said, were 500-piece limited edition engraved Navitimer Breitling DC-3 timepieces, kept in a secured place. The 1952 Navitimer is the oldest mechanical wrist chronograph, made during the era in which the jet engine replaced the propeller aircraft. We only produced 500. We take them around the world to give them history, Agullo said. The watches, which will be completed with a certificate signed by the captain and logbook, will be available for sale after DC-3 complete its journey by hitting around 55 cities across 28 countries within six months. From Singapore, the plane that made its maiden flight in the United States on March 9th 1940, will head to Malaysia, Philippines, China, Taiwan and Japan where it has received a special invitation to take part in the Iwakuni Friendship Day Air Show. Agullo said in Japan, Breitling would invite earthquake victim children to enjoy the flight inside the DC-3. He added that the plane would help raise money for the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), with the watchmaker offering US$2 for every nautical mile the aircraft flew. The plane nicknamed Normandy landings plane will cross the ocean to hold a grand tour in the US before returning to Europe through Greenland and Iceland. In September, the plane is scheduled to complete its journey in the Breitling Sion Airshow 2017 in Switzerland. Alvin Soon, Breitling Groups general manager for South-East Asia and Greater China, said Breitling wished to make history on the world tour. This is part of history. If we complete this journey, DC-3 will be the worlds oldest aircraft to ever tour the world, Alvin said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 18:16 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8b0a00 1 News TripAdvisor,Airlines,#airlines,Garuda-Indonesia,Travelers-Choice-Awards Free National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has been included in the list of the Top 10 Airlines Worldwide released by travel site TripAdvisor. The airline clocks in at number ten. The list is part of the site's Travelers Choice Awards, which are "based on the quantity and quality of airline reviews and ratings submitted by travelers worldwide over the last 12 months, according to news.com.au. Flying with Garuda Indonesia is always a treat, mainly due to the service that they provide, which is beyond five-stars. Everything from the food to the drink service always makes the trip enjoyable, said TripAdvisor user danielrp97. Joining Garuda Indonesia on the list are other Southeast Asian companies including Singapore Airlines and THAI Smile, in second and eighth place, respectively. Indonesia is also acknowledged in the Top 25 Destinations Worldwide, with Bali topping the list at number one, and Top 25 Hotels Worldwide, where Ubuds Mandapa comes in second place, after Aria Hotel Budapest in Hungary. After recent improvements, Garuda is no stranger to such awards. Last November, the company was named Most Improved Airline. (sul/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 14:35 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde8a2e33 1 News muslim-tourists,Muslim-travel,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,tourism,#tourism,halal-destination Free Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation, is aiming to become the leading destination for halal tourism by 2019 and it hoped that by participating in Malaysia Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2017, which ran from April 5 to 8, it can achieve its goal. Located in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, the 14th MIHAS was said to be one the biggest halal events in the world, hosting 580 exhibitors from 33 countries, including China, Brazil and Japan. This year, the event was estimated to have welcomed 25,000 visitors from 67 different countries, an increase from last year's total of 22,027. Representing Indonesia were six hotels, 19 travel agents and representatives from West Java and Karangasem, Bali. An estimated 1,000 visitors reportedly visited the Wonderful Indonesia booth, including the deputy prime minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. (Read also: Aceh setting itself up as Muslim-friendly destination for tourists) Overall, were expecting 3.1 million Muslim tourists to visit Indonesia in 2017. Taking part at MIHAS 2017 definitely increases the awareness of Indonesia as the leading halal destination in the world and also creates business opportunities that can help contribute to the increase of Muslim tourists to Indonesia, said Tourism Ministrys Halal Tourism Department Acceleration head Riyanto Sofyan. Moreover, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said he believes that the country will overtake Malaysia by 2017 and Thailand by 2019 in terms of Muslim tourist arrivals. Right now, Singapore and Thailand have more Muslim tourists than us. This is due to the fact that they already have halal certification and offer excellent services; we ought to do the same thing, said Arief. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 13:32 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde89f3fd 1 News Vietnam,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,travel,Vietnam-International-Travel-Mart,tourism,#tourism,exhibition Free Indonesia took home an award for having the national booth with the most impressive decorations at the 2017 Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) held from April 6 to 9. Occupying a 54-square-meter area, the Tourism Ministry creatively decorated its booth in the theme of a phinisi (the traditional two-masted sailing ship of the South Sulawesi Bugis people). The moment you enter the venue, your eyes will immediately catch onto the traditional Indonesian boat. Its very creative and it makes you want to visit the booth, said VITM spokesperson Le Dinh Chien during the closing ceremony. (Read also: Two Indonesian airports receive international awards) The award was received by the ministry's General Tourism Exhibition sub-head for Southeast Asian market, Nurdiansyah. Also attending the event was Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi, who said that he felt proud as an Indonesian ambassador to see his home country win the award. Ive seen the booth and its very sophisticated and authentic. Were very proud of receiving this award." Prior to this recognition, Indonesia also received the best booth award at the Marine Diving Fair in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 10:27 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde896d4b 1 News Jin-Air,Korean-Air,Lombok,travel,traveling,tourism,low-cost-carrier,#traveling,#SouthKorea,South-Korea,Airlines,#airlines Free South Korean low-cost carrier Jin Air is reportedly set to fly to Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara using Boeing 777 aircraft. On Monday, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Thomas Tom Lembong told Antara news agency that he had received confirmation regarding the plan from the chairman of Jin Air's parent company, Korean Air. "The presence of a low-cost carrier is very important for boosting tourism in Indonesia," said Tom, adding that although tourism was not a large-scale investment, it served as a very strategic one as it opened work opportunities and created foreign exchange income through foreign tourist visits. Read also: AP-2 promises incentive for airlines that RON outside Soekarno-Hatta airport Good teamwork is needed because many tourists depend on air connectivity. We need this kind of connectivity, particularly low-cost carriers, so that there will be many cheap flights from South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, India and other countries, he said after a meeting at the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry building in Central Jakarta on Monday. Tom also mentioned the government's role in providing infrastructure as an important factor in supporting the strategy. We also need to make improvements in the airports, as well as the navigation system, so that airplanes will be able to fly even in bad weather." (mas/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 11, 2017 11:18 2037 a291276806121264c0bd211cde89935f 1 News Education,chemical-engineering-students,Malaysia,Sepuluh-Nopember-Institute-of-Technology-Surabaya,chemistry,chemical-powered-car,#education,#chemistry,Science,#science,students,#students Free A team of Indonesian students has won a chemical engineering competition held at Universiti Malaysia Pahang on Saturday. The Spektronics team, consisting of students from the 10 November Institute of Technology (ITS) in Surabaya, East Java, won the 2017 National Chem-E Car Competition with the Spektronics Aerio Superior (AS), a mini-sized prototype car powered by a chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and ferric chloride catalyst. Spektronics non-technical manager Ika Yuni Rachmawati told Antara news agency that the team had to tackle two challenges prior to winning the competition. First, the car had to be able to shoot a ball into a goalpost and stop at a designated distance. Second, the prototype was required to topple down bowling pins and stop at another designated distance. The contestants were only given two minutes to finish the challenges and thus a fast chemical reaction was needed, she said. Read also: Future of Asian luxury cars, electric vehicles at auto show Students from Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Monash University Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Pahang were said to be among the toughest competitors faced by the Indonesian team in the event. The 12th Chem-E Car national competition was participated in by 72 teams from 30 universities. (mas/kes) Spektronics A.S. first run. Yeay! . . . #SpektronicsA.S. #firstrunning #SpektronicsITS #SpektronicsTeam A post shared by Spektronics ITS-Chemecar Team (@spektronics.its) on Jan 31, 2017 at 12:19am PST The Armenian Genocide is an atrocity that has been denied by the Turkish government for nearly 100 years. The US, UK, Israeli and many other countries have not formally recognised this horrendous event either. There are even those who have only adopted this position within the last twenty years, despite the fact that the actual events took place in the early 1910s to 1923. In the last century, two different works intending to depict the truth of the Armenian Genocide were shut down before theyd even had a chance to be made. To combat this, The Promise was mostly privately funded. We were fully backed by the Kerkorian Foundation. And we had an Armenian-American production company, George explained. The Kerkorian Foundation was founded by the late Kirk Kerkorian, an Armenian businessman whose intention was to fund a truthful story of the Armenian Genocide. Because of the sensitivity of the issues The Promise seeks to bring to the screen, this film was kept quiet.We tried to fly under the radar as much as we could so that we didn't have to deal with outside pressure. So we shot in Spain and Portugal and Malta. We were crucially aware of what we were trying to do, so we said, let's get this thing made and put it out there, and then have the political debate and the conversation that we need to have. With The Promise, George stated that he intended to "entertain as well as educate. I wanted to make something that would appeal to audiences with no particular interest in the war or the conflict, that would stand on its own, because this is one of the most contentious subjects out there. Even now, they're locking up journalists who speak up on the matter. This makes the character of Chris Meyers (Christian Bale) so important. George stated that by introducing an American journalist it allowed him to move into the history outside of the characters of Mikael and Ana, to see how and what information was being sent across the world around this period of time. The presence of Meyers also allowed for the introduction of historical figures, such as Henry Morgenthau, who was Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and published his memoirs about his dealings during that time. Although The Promise is no doubt going to meet opposition, whether in the form of denial, or by those who see exploitation for money, or those who cannot understand the importance of this story, George doesnt seem deterred. I wanted to make a film that moves and enrages, that really evokes the spirit of rage, because that's what the events called for. If we can do that, then we've succeeded. In a region beset by bloody and pointless conflicts, this one is especially disgusting. And yet it has largely escaped our attention, it being in a poorer and smaller and blacker part of the world than Syria, with less of the traditional Cold War appeal. Sana, Yemen I speak of Yemen, which has been engulfed in what is nominally a civil war since early 2015. In fact, and much like Syria, to call it a civil war is to do truth an injustice; it is, rather, a world war in microcosm. Local factions include (but are not limited to) the insurgent Houthi rebels, allies of the corrupt former President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, one of the lesser-known victims of the Arab Spring; government forces loyal to incumbent President Addrabuh Mansour Hadi; al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and Islamic State. The Houthi rebels have allied with the forces of the ex-President, and that side allegedly receives support from Iran, and Irans allies principally Eritrea in North Africa. The government forces are backed by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, which includes Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and others, and that coalition has been lent military, logistical, tactical and financial support by the United States and the United Kingdom. I say that the conflict lacks traditional Cold War appeal, yet in truth it is reminiscent of the worst aspects of that conflict. Whilst Russian influence is subtle and slight when compared to the role it plays in Syria, the Putin regime enjoyed warm relations with Ali Abdullah Saleh, and has been a reliable ally to Iran, often representing its interests on the UN Security Council. It is unwise to put such contrivances down to coincidence, and the support lent by the UK and US to the Saudi-led efforts in support of the incumbent regime complete the homage. Yemen, like so many before it, is being pulled apart by competing imperial interests. That the world is so easily enraged by atrocities and war crimes being committed in Syria is somewhat surreal to those of us who strive to look beyond the headlines, for the people of Yemen can tell many stories of ordeals at least as cruel and vicious as those inflicted upon the people of Idlib. This is not to make the best the enemy of the good; rather, it is a reminder that our hysteria is selective, and that true evil is camera-shy. Some 80% of Yemens population are thought to qualify for humanitarian assistance. 17 million people, out of a population of 28 million, are judged by the UN to be one step away from famine, a disaster for which the war is almost certainly the sole cause. As of March this year, the UNs appeal for relief funding had amassed just 20 million of the estimated 1.6 billion required to redress the crisis. Even if these figures are inflated, as they often are in appeals for charity, it is impossible to underestimate the scale of the disaster; a disaster about which we know little and say nothing. It is a conflict to which we should be offering nothing but condemnation. And yet, our government is amongst those leading the effort to prosecute it. This is despite the fact Parliament (and the US Congress) have never held a meaningful vote on the issue, hiding behind a technicality. We are not, they say, at war in Yemen; we are merely lending support to the wars of other people. Yes, the Saudis may use our planes and our bombs. We might give them targeting information. We might train their pilots. We might refuel their jets. We might even indulge in the odd drone strike. Last month, the US carried out 45 airstrikes in just eight days. But we are not at war in Yemen. This is nonsense. It is British weapons that are being used on the people of Yemen, British advisors helping plot the bombing raids from Riyadh, British diplomats making the excuses for a campaign indiscriminate killing on the part of our dear, sinister allies. Accusations of war crimes have been levelled against all sides, yet particularly at the Saudi-led coalition the people we fund, support, arm and assist. Given its actions, this is not surprising. This is the coalition which declared the whole of Saada governorate (population 838,000) a military target, which routinely bombs hospitals and medical facilities, humanitarian convoys and refugee camps. Again and Im not at all sorry to bang on about this they do so with our bombs, our planes, our training, and our guidance. Were told that our relationship with Saudi Arabia is essential. Were told its fantastically successful, that its incredibly lucrative and that we reap huge gains by its sustenance. Moreover, we are told of the importance of trade in general, and of being open and outward looking, and of spreading our values around the world. It was in aid of this image that Theresa May visited the kingdom of fanatics and grotesques earlier this week, where she found time to weigh in on a debate about Easter eggs. She said nothing of Yemen or the atrocities committed there daily. Some glib fools praised her apparent refusal to don a headscarf, and on another day, in other circumstances, this gesture might have been worth something. But our continuing subservience to these stunted monarchs has never been a matter of fashion. Like the rivers and tributaries of black gold which so entice us, our chains to the Saudi oligarchy run deep. So it is that, at a time when we are complicit in war crimes, our Prime Minister can return from the culprits lair having committed us to even closer defence ties and contracts. Doubtless these are worth some considerable amount of money. You might then think that the very least we could do, having secured these contracts for the small price of driving the people of Yemen to famine and disease, is to spend some of our profits on alleviating the suffering there. We might, as it were, do something to clean up the mess were complicit in creating. We might, for example, lead a vocal and passionate and committed international campaign to provide the basic medicines and foodstuffs and they are so staggeringly basic; 14.4 million people have been denied clean drinking water by the Saudi naval blockade the people of Yemen so desperately need. And we might pursue these ends at least as deliberately and with no more compromise than that with which we defend our support of Saudi Arabias actions. But, of course, we dont. And we wont. And we might one day ask why it is that these people are so lame and unresponsive to our values and good intentions, and become incensed by their ignorance and their intolerance of our ways. Well, the answer is already there, for those with the wit to see it. (Clouds Architecture Office) (Clouds Architecture Office) (Clouds Architecture Office) (Clouds Architecture Office) Thats pretty much the idea put forward by the designers of the Analemma Tower.Rather than building from the ground up that would be too simple this concept skyscraper from New York designers would use a high-strength cables to hang suspended from an asteroid orbiting the Earth. According to its designers from Clouds Architecture Office, the Analemma would be the tallest building ever built .A residential building, its proposed the giant would follow a figure eight-pattern orbit across the planets surface, moving in a daily loop between the northern and southern hemispheres. The shape of this figure eight would mean it moves more slowly in the northern loop, allowing people to land on the planets surface at these points with the slowest part of its trajectory calibrated to be above New York City.They say they would do this from Dubai to lower costs before moving the asteroid to its orbit centred on New York. This control over asteroids isnt science fiction or something too far in the future to think about either. The company point out the European Space Agencys Rosetta mission successfully put their lander onto a comet in 2015, while Nasa have plans for an asteroid retrieval mission in 2021.Thats 32,000 metres above New York too of course. The designers say this is the limit of where the building would be an acceptable height to live. This height would apparently give an extra 45 minutes of daylight on the building and be in conditions of a near vacuum and -40C temperatures. The asteroid itself meanwhile would sit at around 50,000 km (31,000 miles).So if people are essentially living in the sky, how do they get down? Aside from flying vehicles, the company say parachutes offer a quick way down to the surface.The Analemma would apparently be powered by space-based solar panels, which could receive much more energy form the suns rays exposed above the atmosphere. Meanwhile water would be recycled within the skyscraper and replenished from the capturing of moisture from clouds. 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Name: Pam Attardo Age: 52 Address: 433 Clarke Street Phone: 443-6057 Education: B.A., History, University of Vermont; J.D., Syracuse University College of Law; M.S.E.L., Vermont Law School Occupation: Heritage Preservation Officer, Helena/Lewis and Clark County Years lived in Helena School District: 14 Do you have or have you had kids in the school district? If so, which schools? Yes, I have 2 children in the school district. Both went to Hawthorne Elementary; one is now a Junior at Capital High School, and one is in 8th grade at C.R. Anderson Middle School. Why are you running for school board? I am running for school board because I am committed to my community, and I view our schools needs as being amongst the most significant in Helena. I recognize that the community has other pressing needs as well, but educating our children is a paramount need that ensures an educated, responsible populace in the future. What makes you a good choice for this position? I have been involved in Helena schools since my children were small as a volunteer, community member supporting school interests, and as a professional. I think that creative solutions can be crafted for facilities and infrastructure that can be funded and shared by more than one entity, resulting in financial savings for all involved. I fully support collaboration among stakeholders in our community, including Helenas schools, as well as public involvement and transparency in decisionmaking. In December 2016, I was invited by the non-profit 21st Century School Fund to attend a Pre-K through 12 School Facilities Summit in Washington, DC. This program brought attendees together from all across the nation to discuss the status of public school facilities in all states present (my attendance was funded by the Kellogg Foundation). What are the three key issues you believe are facing the school district? In my opinion, student suicide, school facilities (including fiscal responsibility and procedural transparency), and teacher morale are the three most important issues facing the district. Suicide awareness has to permeate all aspects of student life at home and at school, in peer groups and activities, etc. So often a friend or teacher is the one that notices changes in a students behavior, grades, or creative writing, and all need to recognize these signs. The district is taking steps to implement suicide prevention programs, and it is something that will have to be monitored for effectiveness. School facilities, for the reasons that I outline elsewhere in this questionnaire, must clearly be addressed. We have an entire elementary school that has been displaced to an inadequate facility since March 2013, and all schools are in significant need of repair or expansion. Not to mention employee working conditions for teachers. These need to be addressed in a fiscally responsible and timely manner, and with awareness of the limitations of Helenas tax base. The equity of school repairs and expansions also needs to be taken into consideration; if one school is going to benefit from improvements, we need to have a realistic plan and priority list that all other schools will receive similar treatment in a reasonable amount of time and assurances that funding will be available. Lastly, we need to ensure that teachers are valued and their voices heard, and that they are allowed the freedom to develop curriculum that keeps teaching rewarding and stimulating. Do you support the Helena Public Schools May 2 building bond to build three new K-5 schools at Bryant, Central and Jim Darcy schools, which are slated to be demolished? Why or why not? Yes, I support the proposed school bond. However, in my opinion, demolishing repairable schools and building new ones is not the most cost-effective or environmentally responsible way to improve school conditions. What is the district doing well? The school district has some of the best teachers I have ever had the privilege to know, and the district has understood their need for creativity and individuality in curriculum. Academic rigor has been increasing, and graduation rates are rising, all good things. Time has been created for collaborative educator sessions, with positive results. What could the district do better? Improvement of school facilities is certainly a priority, which means addressing years of deferred maintenance and establishing a protocol for regular maintenance. Like so many schools throughout the U.S., our school buildings have reached a critical mass for needed improvements, and we need to get working on it now. Investigating the efficacy of behavioral standards for elementary students is something the district could consider, and its connection to academic rigor. Funding, which is inadequate on both federal and state levels, is something that the district needs to investigate further as well. There are a number of grant opportunities for schools that could be researched and pursued for a number of needs, and the district could consider the hiring of a grant writer, possibly as an independent contractor or part-time employee. How will you come up to speed on school board issues? As mentioned above, I have been involved in a number of school issues since my children were small. I am an attorney by training, and although I no longer practice, my research and critical thinking skills developed in my former practice will prove helpful in getting myself up to speed. I will also look to existing trustees on the board for explanations and guidance on school issues. "War is the health of the state. It automatically sets in motion throughout society those irresistible forces for uniformity, for passionate cooperation with the government in coercing into obedience the minority groups and individuals which lack the larger herd sense." -- Randolph Bourne (1886-1918) WASHINGTON -- One hundred years ago, two events three days apart set the 20th century's trajectory. On April 9, 1917, in Zurich, Vladimir Lenin boarded a train. Germany expedited its passage en route to Saint Petersburg -- known as Leningrad from 1924 to 1991 -- expecting him to exacerbate Russia's convulsions, causing Russia's withdrawal from World War I, allowing Germany to shift forces to the Western Front. Lenin boarded the train three days after the United States, responding to Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare and other provocations, declared war. Soon 2 million Americans would be in Europe. They, and the promise of many more, compelled Germany to accept an armistice at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. PBS' "American Experience" is presenting a six-hour documentary, "The Great War." Watch it and wince. It covers familiar diplomatic and military events, before and after America's bloodiest battle, the Meuse-Argonne offensive, in which American fatalities averaged 550 a day for 47 days. Woodrow Wilson imposed and incited extraordinary repressions: "There are citizens of the United States ... born under other flags ... who have poured the poison of disloyalty into the very arteries of our national life. ... Such creatures of passion, disloyalty and anarchy must be crushed out. ... They are infinitely malignant, and the hand of our power should close over them." His Committee on Public Information churned out domestic propaganda instructing the public how to detect pro-German sympathies. A 22-year-old Justice Department official named J. Edgar Hoover administered a program that photographed, fingerprinted and interrogated 500,000 suspects. Local newspapers published the names of people who were not buying war bonds or otherwise supporting the war. People were fired or ostracized for insufficient enthusiasm. The Espionage Act of 1917 made it a crime to "collect, record, publish or communicate" information useful to the enemy. In Illinois, Robert Prager, a German-American coal miner suspected of spying, was stripped, marched through the streets and hanged. The Washington Post deplored such "excesses" but applauded the "healthful and wholesome awakening in the interior part of the country." Josef Hofer and his two brothers were South Dakota Hutterites whose faith forbade any involvement in war, including wearing a military uniform. They were arrested in March 1918, and a week after the armistice they were sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Arriving at the military prison around midnight, they stood naked for hours in a 17-degree November night. Then they were suspended naked from the bars of their cells, their feet barely touching the ground, refusing to wear the uniforms left in their cells. Fed only bread and water, after two weeks David Hofer was allowed to telegraph to Josef's wife, telling her that her husband was dying. He died the morning after she arrived. Prison guards mocked his corpse by dressing it in a uniform. The U.S. military was the world's 17th largest in April 1917, smaller (less than 250,000) than Romania's, and smaller than Britain's casualties in one battle. America's military became a melting pot for a nation in which one-third of the population had been born abroad or whose parents had been. Forty-three languages were spoken in one Army division raised in New York. One group was ineligible for melting: Printed at the bottom of draft registration cards were these words: "If person is of African descent, tear off this corner." The African-Americans from around the nation who joined New York's 15th National Guard Regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters, included Leroy Johnston from Phillips County, Arkansas. He spent nine months in French hospitals recuperating from wounds suffered in the Meuse-Argonne, then in 1919 returned to an Arkansas seething with fears of an African-American insurrection because a returning African American veteran had formed a union of black sharecroppers. The narrator of "The Great War" says that as groups of white men "roamed the countryside, killing hundreds of black people, a train pulled into the station. A crowd rushed aboard and dragged out four unsuspecting black men. They were Leroy Johnston and his three brothers." After a melee, "the mob shot the Johnston brothers to pieces." The war unleashed a flu pandemic that killed more people in a year -- somewhere between 20 million and 50 million -- than the war killed in four years. The flu's victims included Randolph Bourne. George F. Will is a columnist for The Washington Post. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Please join me in supporting Jeff Hindoien as he seeks to serve on the Board of Trustees for Helena Public Schools. As a former Fire Chief for the City of Helena, I worked closely with Jeff during his tenure as City Attorney. I always found him to bring a very intelligent, experienced and helpful approach in addressing issues affecting our municipality. I know that he will bring that same approach to the Helena School Board. He has extensive experience in providing legal advice and representation to many school districts in Montana, including Helenas, and understands the challenges facing those districts. As a father with a middle school student in the Helena Schools, Jeff has a vested interest in helping fellow Trustees to make the best possible decisions for our districts future. Please support Jeff with your vote on May 2nd. A state lawmaker wants to dig into the functions of the "often-silent partner" in the state's alcohol system the distributors who get beer and wine from manufacturers to retail outlets such as bars and grocery stores. But distributors say that their role in the states three-tiered system is unfairly being singled out after a parting of ways in the 2013 legislative session over a disagreement about stacking licenses, which would have allowed people to hold both liquor or beer licenses and brewing licenses. I do get that distributors have fallen into disfavor with a handful of legislators, said Kristi Blazer, executive director of the Montana Beer and Wine Distributors Association. Senate Joint Resolution 26 is carried by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R- Great Falls. Its one of many resolutions to study issues before the next legislative session. Studies are ranked by lawmakers to set top priorities to spend limited funds on. Fitzpatrick said he brought his bill because of all the legislation hes see in past sessions looking at the distribution of alcohol. Were getting a large number of bills. They seem to be coming every session. Its time to step back and take a look at all of our alcohol distribution systems, how well distribution laws are working, tweaks and changes to be made, are distribution laws meeting public policy objectives. In opposition to the bill, Blazer said she felt it singled out distributors and the only fair way to look at the alcohol distribution system would be to examine each of the three tiers those who make alcohol, the distributors and those who sell it, such as bars and stores. Brian Clark, who runs Fun Beverage in Kalispell, said the bill wasnt necessary. It seems to be included to dismantle a system just to see what happens." Sen. Ed Buttrey, who chairs the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee that heard the resolution, was the only one to speak in support of it. Buttrey, who owns a bar, said may of the states alcohol laws are outdated. He cited as examples a law that does not allow bars to take merchandise worth more than $300 from brewers to promote their products. Buttrey said that conflicts with another law that does not allow more than six signs from one brewery to promote their projects, saying most of those signs cost more than $300 each. I think weve got outdated code and we need to look at that, Why are we getting into that minutiae? Why are we telling one business what they can give to another business to promote their product? He also questioned why bars are prevented from buying beer and wine at retail stores. In the case of a rural tavern, if they have a big Friday night or Thursday night and they run out of a certain type of beer theyre out of luck. Theyre going to have to wait until whatever that scheduled date for delivery is next week. South Dakota gubernatorial candidates hold rallies ahead of Election Day Throughout campaign rallies in the final week before Election Day, Gov. Kristi Noem and Rep. Jamie Smith spoke to their base and encouraged others to get out the vote. A group of farm and ranch owners, along with two environmental advocacy groups, are suing the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation over rules that allow oil and gas companies to keep secret the chemicals they use for hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. But the timeline for the lawsuit has been pushed back as a bill that could change disclosure laws works its way through the Legislature. The suit alleges that the boards rules, which dont require companies to provide specific information on the chemicals they use until after fracking is complete or in some cases not at all if companies claim the mix of chemicals is a trade secret, violate the rights of Montanans under the states Constitution, which guarantees a right to know and the right to a clean and healthful environment. The Montana Environmental Center, a state-level nonprofit environmental advocate; Natural Resources Defense Council, a national environmental advocacy organization; and a handful of landowners filed the lawsuit in January in Lewis and Clark County District Court. They agreed to extend the timeline for the board to respond to the suit as Senate Bill 299, carried by Sen. Tom Richmond, R-Billings, is deliberated by the 65th Montana Legislature. On Monday, the bill cleared an initial vote in the House 70-30, moving it one step forward to the governor's desk. The bill clears up Montana Environmental Information Center's concerns over what constitutes a trade secret, but does not go nearly far enough on requiring companies to disclose the chemicals they use in fracking, said Derf Johnson, center's clean water program director. The bill does not call for baseline testing of wells, which Johnson said is necessary to monitor any contamination from fracking. And while it does require disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking, it does not require that be done before the fracking occurs, making it impossible to track the source of any contamination, he said. If this legislation passes, its potentially going to prevent meaningful disclosure because the board can point to the Legislature and say were preempted from doing anything because the Legislature acted and now theres a law in place, Johnson said. Jim Halvorson with the board said he could not comment on the lawsuit, but said the Senate bill would allow the board to do the majority of what was in the centers request last July to change its disclosure rules. In the lawsuit, the center and others said they want information about the chemicals used in fracking so they can understand the risks fracking operations may pose to property, human health and the environment and take steps to safeguard their water supplies. The practice of fracking involves pumping fluid into wells to crack rock formations and release gas and oil. The practice is highly controversial. Those who support it say it it makes wells more productive, while opponents claim it contaminates ground and surface water and increases seismic activity. Last July the group that filed the lawsuit petitioned the board to change its rules. The group asked for disclosure of chemicals to be part of the application process for drilling a well and the information be made public at least 45 days before fracking occurs. The board rejected that petition in September in a decision the lawsuit calls factually erroneous, unsupported and irrational. The group wants Lewis and Clark County District Court to throw out that decision and force the board to reconsider. There have been somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 wells fracked in 132 different fields in Montana. In 2015, 65 percent of oil production and 39 percent of natural gas production in the state involved fracking. Under rules set by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation in 2011, oil and gas operators do not have to tell the board or public about the specific chemical ingredients it uses for fracking until after operations are complete. The board does require the disclosure of the brand name or generic name of fracking fluids, which consists of industry labels such as DWP-621 or Slick Frac, but disclosure of the specific chemical ingredient list is not required before fracking occurs. The generic information is effectively useless for landowners because it does not provide enough information for landowners to conduct baseline testing. Even after fracking occurs, the rules also let oil and gas companies withhold any chemical information operators claim to be a trade secret. In Wyoming, operators have to disclose the specific ingredients of their fracking fluids to a state official before they are approved for use. There is no legitimate reason why Montanans should have less access to chemical information than their neighbors, the lawsuit states. BILLINGS It's not just ladies. Robert Fox, 42, contracted and survived cancer that developed from an HPV infection, the virus best known for causing cervical cancer in women. And he wants men to know they can get it, too. "It was a shock," he said. "It's a cancer I never thought I'd get." Fox was diagnosed with throat cancer two years ago. He had a really raw sore throat for weeks that showed no signs of abating. He went to his family physician, who prescribed a round of antibiotics. "I didn't think it was going to be anything more than an infection," he said. When nothing changed, his doctor sent him in for scans, which pointed to cancer, and then in for a biopsy of his throat tissue, which confirmed it. The doctor's office called him while he was at work to give him the diagnosis. Fox told his boss about the phone call and asked if he could have a few minutes to absorb the news. "I just sat in my truck and had my moment," he said. "And I called my wife, and she had her moment." The diagnosis was stark; the cancer was real. The good news, Fox said, was that they caught it relatively early and that it was treatable. What surprised him, if anything can be surprising after a sore throat turns into a cancer diagnosis, was the cause. His throat cancer was caused by a strain of human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted disease. The disease is so common that most sexually active men or women contract HPV at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only a few end up with cancer as a result. Sean Demars, Fox's doctor and an ear, nose and throat specialist with St. Vincent Healthcare, wasn't as surprised as Fox with the diagnosis. Men contracting HPV-associated cancer "has increased significantly," Demars said. And specifically, he's seeing it in the throat. HPV infections in the throat are almost always contracted through oral sex, he said. So for adults who are sexually active, it's important to check the mouth and throat on a monthly basis. Tonsils and the base of the tongue are the two areas most likely to be infected, Demars said. He tells people to look for lumps, bumps and sores that seem to persist. "Basically, anything abnormal that's not going away," he said. Most adults need to be aware of throat cancer in general, Demars said. Sure, people with multiple sex partners are at risk, but so too are those who smoke or chew tobacco and those who regularly drink good amounts of alcohol, he said. It's considered a high-risk behavior group, and those in that group need to be regularly checking for the warning signs, Demars said. "If you catch it early, it's easy to get it cured," he said. Drug makers have developed an HPV vaccine and the CDC recommends all boys and girls between 11 and 12 get vaccinated. Catch-up vaccines are available for men up to the age of 21 and for women up to the age of 26. For Fox, it's pretty straightforward: Men need to be aware, and they need to be proactive. Fox considers himself lucky. He's cancer-free and in relatively great health. His cancer treatments included chemotherapy and radiation, which killed one of his saliva glands and zapped a number of his taste buds. Still, it's preferable to the alternative, he said. "Don't be hard-headed about it," he said. "It's not just women." Bollywood thespian Dilip Kumar was on Tuesday felicitated with a Living Legend Lifetime Award from the Punjab Association at his residence here. "Mr Ranbir Singh Chandok and Mr Anand of the Punjab Association visited me today. God is kind. Humbled at receiving the Living Legend Lifetime Award from Punjab Association this afternoon," a post from the 94-year-old actor's official Twitter handle read on Tuesday. The post was accompanied by photographs in which Dilip Kumar looking frail but in good spirit could be seen posing with the plaque. Also seen in the pictures is his wife Saira Banu and the officials who felicitated the actor. Earlier this month, there was buzz that Dilip Kumar's health was not up to the mark. Regarding that, he commented: "God's grace and your prayers with me. I am much better. Slight discomfort and an irritating back pain." In another tweet, he wrote, "So much love from Asif Farooqui. Thank you for this beautiful wall mural on Hill Road in Bandra. God bless you," referring to a piece of work inspired by the Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu-starrer Gopi by the artist. Last seen on the big screen in "Qila" in 1998, the actor was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015. He is known for films like Devdas, Mughal-e-Azam and Karma. Nargis Fakhri will soon be seen in a Hollywood film 5 Weddings opposite Rajkummar Rao and the actress says she has become a better performer after working with him. The film, directed by Namrata Singh Gujral, features Nargis and Rajkummar opposite each other for the first time. If someone says I am not a good actor and if I work with someone who is also not a good actor then I will be a disaster. If I work with a good actor it makes me a better actor as he (referring to Rajkummar) helps you. When you have a good actor by your side, it rubs on you, Nargis told on the sidelines of an app launch here. Rao comes across as a serious person having worked mostly in hard-hitting films. But Nargis says he has a good sense of humour and is an easy-going person in real life. I have worked with different kinds of actors and I had a lot of fun working with Rajkummar. We did a lot of goofy Instagram videos. We were on similar wave length and had good matching humour, she adds. The movie is reportedly based on weddings in Bollywood and is narrated from the perspective of an American journalist who comes to India to cover them. The story has a lot do with my character's family, her father and going back to her roots. I'm looking forward to seeing the trailer, Nargis says. ST. IGNATIUS Marita GrowingThunder has spent the year raising awareness about missing and murdered Native American women with her hands. This weekend, she added her feet to the cause. The Polson High School senior began walking across the Flathead Indian Reservation Saturday morning. Monday, she had about 15 miles to go before she would be done. GrowingThunder, along with her friends and family, will have walked just under 75 miles in four days by the time they reach Arlee Tuesday evening. GrowingThunder grew up hearing the stories of women murdered within her own family. Since she was a child, she has known about the violence Indigenous women face in their lives. "I want Native women to be aware, to protect themselves, because they are vulnerable," she said. GrowingThunder has worked throughout her senior year to bring awareness to the problem of violence against Indigenous women. She has sewn a new dress almost every night in honor of either a murdered or missing Indigenous woman. Her work came out of an arts advocacy project she developed over the summer at the Center for Creative Youth at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She's gotten donations from across the world for her project and posts photos on her Facebook page of the dresses, along with the names of some of the women she has honored. In Montana, where Native American women make up about 3 percent of the overall population, they made up about 6 percent of homicide victims between 2011 and 2015, according to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services' 2015 vital statistics report. White women make up about 44.5 percent of Montana's population, but accounted for about 21 percent of homicide victimes between 2011 and 2015. Sunday Plant, who marched with GrowingThunder Monday, said she has known at least two women in her family who were murdered. Plant's eldest daughter, now attending college in New Mexico, is friends with GrowingThunder. Plant said she was walking in part for her. "I called her after the second day, and said, 'Well you know, I did two days,'" Plant said. "She said, 'Well, you can push through.'" Raising her two daughters, the fear of violence against them was never far from her mind, Plant said. When her eldest daughter left for college, she made her get GPS on her phone. "So I'd always know where she was," Plant said. Briana Lamb, 28, walked with her dog, Benny. Lamb has followed what Canada has done in the past year to try to better understand and address the death and disappearances of the country's indigenous women. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls movement began in Canada about 20 years ago, Lamb said. It wasn't until December 2015 that the Canadian government established a commission to launch an inquiry into the situation. The commission was given a budget of more than $50 million (Canadian) and is expected to release a final report on its findings in 2018. Nothing like it exists in the U.S., Lamb said. The number of marchers ranged from three to 30 people over the first three days of the march. It started at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Flathead reservation sign, just outside Dayton. The group covered about 20 miles on the first day, walking south on U.S. Highway 93 until they reached Polson. On the second day of the march, GrowingThunder rode horseback while the rest of the group walked beside her. People honked and some flipped her off, GrowingThunder said, citing racism in Polson. The group continued on to Ronan, where the second day of the march ended. By Monday morning, the group had made it to St. Ignatius and marchers planned to finish their day at the St. Ignatius Mission. Tuesday, the group plans to reach Arlee, where the march will be concluded with a prayer. Dr. Annjeanette Belcourt is an American Indian Assistant Professor in the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Montana. Belcourt has studied the impact of trauma and resiliency within tribal communities. People have grown more aware in the last decade of the issue of violence against all women, Belcourt said. Still, there is always room for improvement when it comes to the prevention of violence in all communities. "It is a crucial question, what can we do?" Belcourt said. What GrowingThunder has done is courageous, Belcourt said. The persistence she has shown, making a dress everyday to honor these women is admirable and helps survivors, Belcourt said. Belcourt's own sister was shot and killed in 2001. "Speaking as a family member of someone who was murdered, it is meaningful to see a young person do something that is cultural and very respectful," Belcourt said. Belcourt is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes and grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. When Belcourt's sister died, her family turned to their culture for comfort and healing. She sees GrowingThunder sewing ceremonial dresses in honor of those who have been murdered or are missing women as a powerful example of native resilience. "It is like a healing ceremony for the community," Belcourt said. Australian minister Simon Birmingham on Tuesday awarded a three-year scholarship worth AU$1.1 million (Rs. 53,315,968.06) to 11 Indian students while leading a high-level delegation visit to the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC) here. The visit marked the celebration of the Indo-Australian academic and research alliance. The TERI Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, the most advanced in the world, was inaugurated by the Indian and Australian Prime Ministers on Monday. The scholarships are awarded to Ph.D students engaged in research programmes at the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre. These students are currently enrolled at Deakin University under the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), which was launched in India in 2009. DIRI builds on Deakin University's world-leading expertise in material sciences, nanotechnology and biotechnology. While addressing the gathering, Education and Training Minister Birmingham said: "The TERI Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre facility is not incredible because we are commissioning bricks and mortar, it's incredible because of the brains, the students, the knowledge that is embedded within the facility, and the potential that they (students) are going to realise in so many different ways." Under the program, each student is provided with a full tuition fee waiver from Deakin University up to an amount of approximately AU$100,000 for a period of three years. During the program, the students travel to Deakin University in Australia for a period of six to eight months during their Ph.D to work closely with their Deakin supervisor. Elaborating on the scholarship programme, Vice Chancellor of Deakin University Jane den Hollander AO said, "The three-year scholarship programme is predominantly designed to equip the best of the talent with advanced research facilities. Under this programme, Deakin University and TERI will provide joint supervision to the students. TDNBC envisions meeting the demand for a global, skilled workforce in nanobiotechnology." TERI Director General Ajay Mathur further added, "Within five years, the Centre aims to have a number of researchers, including Ph.D students, enrolled at Deakin. With its cutting edge technology at the disposal of these bright minds, this Centre will help India make a mark on the global map for building new capabilities and bringing new innovations in the field of science and technology." Besides this, researcher's residences at TDNBC with an accommodation for 50 residents, was also inaugurated by the minister on Tuesday. Around 3.5 per cent of children between the ages of 11 and 14 years, and 13.5 per cent between the ages of 15 and 16 years were dropouts, while over 25 per cent of children in Grades I to VIII were absent from school on the day a team visited the school. These are the findings of the 2016 Annual States of Education Report (ASER) survey of schooling and learning levels in rural India. The survey included over 560,000 children between three and 16 years, in 589 districts of India. India's almost universal enrollment in school hides these two major challenges of school education high dropout and low school attendance. Children dropping out or not attending school, has consequences: It results in loss in productivity of the education system as a high dropout rate increases per unit cost of school education, and reduces human resource development. Dropouts are likely to be in semi-skilled and unskilled employment, according to a 2011 study by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration. In the policy context, for the present government's "Skill India" and "Make in India" programmes to see even a modicum of success, it would have to address these two issues related to school education. Enrollment in school does not necessarily translate into attendance. At the all-India level, only about three-fourths of enrolled children attended primary (Grade I to Grade IV/V) or upper primary school (Grade V to Grade VII/VIII) on the day an ASER team visited the school in 2016. The problem of students dropping out, and absenteeism, is particularly acute in the less-developed states of Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh that together have over 51 million children, or 46 per cent of India's total child population between the ages of 11 and 16 years, according to Census data. This story also considers, Uttarakhand, Chhatisgarh, and Jharkhand states carved out of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, respectively. Though the reason cited for dropouts in secondary schools is often access (such as "school is far", especially for girls), evidence shows that one of the most important reasons for dropping out is "lack of interest", according to the ASER Centre's Middle School Study, conducted in Nalanda district in Bihar and Satara in Maharashtra, between 2013 and 2015. A higher proportion of children in the age group 11-16 years who dropped out of school between 2015 and 2016 lacked basic reading and arithmetic skills, as compared to children who continued to be enrolled in school in 2016. It is possible that many students' knowledge level is much below grade level, but that teachers teach students only at grade level, as one study from 2017 suggests. If children are being left behind in school and if no one in school engages with them at their level of knowledge, they might drop out. Though data on absenteeism are difficult to collect, and the relationship between learning and absenteeism is not verified empirically, it is reasonable to expect that those who attend school regularly have better learning outcomes than their peers who do not. Only 3.1 per cent children in the age group 6-14 years were out of school, according to the 2016 ASER report, but there were variations in out-of-school children depending on the age group. ASER, a household survey, captures the enrollment status of all children, including out-of-school children, who have dropped out or never been to school. While only 1.7 per cent of children in the age group 6-10 years who would have been in primary school were out of school, a higher proportion (4.6 per cent) of children in the age group 11-14 years, who should have been in upper primary grades, were out of school. Dropouts are a bigger problem than children who never enroll in school. While 1.1 per cent of children between the ages of 11 and 14 years never enrolled in school, 3.5 per cent were dropouts, the ASER 2016 survey found. In the age group 11-14 years, Uttar Pradesh (6.3 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (5.8 per cent) and Rajasthan (5 per cent) have dropouts higher than most other states. The proportion of dropout children in Chhattisgarh (4 per cent) and Jharkhand (3.7 per cent) is also above the all-India average of 3.5 per cent. At the all-India level, the proportion of dropouts has remained stable it decreased from 3.9 per cent in 2012 to 3.5 per cent in 2016. In contrast, 5.8 per cent of sampled children in Madhya Pradesh were dropouts, according to ASER 2016, an increase from 3.7 percentage points in 2010 the only state to see an increase in dropouts. As many as 15.3 per cent of children aged 15-16 years were out of school, compared to 4.6 per cent of 11-14 years old children. Majority of out-of-school children in the age group 15-16 years (13.5 per cent) were dropouts, according to ASER 2016 survey. Across India, Madhya Pradesh had the highest proportion of children in ages 15-16 years (23.6 per cent), who were dropouts. Uttar Pradesh (18.7 per cent), Chhattisgarh (17.5 per cent) and Rajasthan (16.5 per cent) are among the top five states with the highest proportion of dropouts in the age group 15-16 years. Gujarat, an economically advanced state, has the second highest proportion of dropouts in India 19.3 per cent for reasons that are unclear at this point. Across India, the proportion of dropout children in the age group 15-16 years declined from 14.1 per cent in 2012 to 13.5 per cent, according to 2016 ASER data. For instance, dropouts in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand increased between 2010 and 2014, but declined in 2016. In the other states, no trend is discernible. The proportion of dropouts in Madhya Pradesh, on the other hand, has steadily increased from 11.6 per cent in 2010 to 23.6 per cent in 2016. Reasons behind the varying trends are difficult to understand, and we need further studies to understand the pattern of dropouts across states. Girls in the age group 11-16 years in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are more likely to drop out of school as compared to boys. In Madhya Pradesh, 28 per cent of girls in the age group 15-16 years were dropouts, compared to 19.4 per cent of boys. In Gujarat, 22.5 per cent of girls were dropouts compared to 16.3 per cent of boys. In Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand, boys in the age group 15-16 years were more likely to drop out of school than girls. The reasons for differential gender trends across states is not clear and needs further research. Traditional 9 am lectures should be scrapped and students should be allowed to start their day later, experts have claimed, following new research that suggests early mornings interfere with young adults body clocks. According to researchers at The Open University, lectures should start no earlier than 11am for students to be able to perform at their best. Working with researchers at the University of Nevada, experts analysed the study patterns of 200 students and found academic performance was at its best between 11am and 9:30pm. Paul Kelley, of The Open University, said, Students do better if they can target their study time to align with their personal rhythm and at the time of day when they know they are most effective. Having to get up early might be linked to the rise in students mental health problems. According to the study, biological changes beginning in puberty shift natural wake and sleep times by up to three hours later in the day. This shift is at its greatest at age 19, before reverting to an earlier pattern when adults hit their mid-20s. Traditionally, education and work start at fixed times, however, meaning young adults are likely to struggle with learning at a time which feels unnatural to them. The temporal misalignment between the sleep timing shift and educational institutions usual hours causes significant sleep loss, the reports authors said. Sleep loss, in turn, impairs academic performance and also elevates risks of obesity, depression, and drug abuse. While genetic factors lead to variations in circadian rythms of up to four hours from the average, age and gender can also play a part in determining how easily a person can learn early in the morning. The findings conflict with another recent study that suggested students should readjust their biological clocks to cope with early mornings by avoiding the lights from smartphones and laptops at night. Academics from Surrey University and Harvard Medical School argue that delaying school start times would simply cause most teenagers internal clocks to drift later, and in a matter of weeks they would find it just as hard to get out of bed. In 2009, Monkseaton High School in North Tyneside partook in an experiment by delaying the schools start times from 8:50 am to 10 am. This led to an increase in the percentage of pupils getting five good GCSEs from around 34 per cent to about 50 per cent. Among disadvantaged pupils, the increase had been from about 19 per cent to about 43 per cent, it was reported. Education and work generally start at fixed times, mostly early and with no adjustment for different chronotypes among those who study and work, researchers from the Open University study said. However in adolescence and early adulthood optimal wake and sleep times are shifted two to three hours later in the day, and yet this group are still required to conform to education start times more appropriate to young children and older adults. If universities were to choose a new standard starting time, the group suggested anywhere between 11am and 1pm would be close to optimal for the average undergraduate student. The Independent Education New Zealand is welcoming more high-quality Indian students who are pursuing higher level qualifications in New Zealand. Its institutions are investing to attract students to study with enrolments at universities rising by 53 per cent so far in 2017. To encourage the best students from India, ENZ is announcing several initiatives focussed on specialist subject areas, scholarships, and short-term internships, to name a few. India remains New Zealands second largest market, as students are attracted by the high-quality education experience and welcoming, safe environment that New Zealand offers. This April is a focus month for ENZ with a range of activities planned across tier 1 and 2 markets, targeted at students, parents, influencers and education agents. The month kick-starts with the launch of a special series called Welcome2NewZealand across multiple cities. The session in Delhi was attended by over 20 education agents from the National Capital Region. The interactive session aims to support the great work being carried out by the local agents on behalf of New Zealand institutions and also arm them with tools and techniques to provide the right guidance to the prospective students. India has played a pivotal role in developing a diverse and multicultural pool of students on our campuses. With more than 25,000 Indian students choosing New Zealand for higher education in 2016, we want to continue to welcome Indian students to our world class institutions, and to live in our safe and welcoming country, said Joanna Kempkers, New Zealand High Commissioner to India. The Welcome2NewZealand series offers a platform for New Zealand government agencies in India to interact and provide guidance to local education agents and consultants. Indian students are embracing New Zealands world class education offerings, with a 53 per cent increase in first-time student visa approvals for our universities already in 2017. Students are choosing New Zealand over more traditional markets such as the United States and United Kingdom because New Zealand offers a safe, welcoming and high quality education environment. For instance, all of New Zealands universities are ranked in the top 3 percent worldwide, said John Laxon, regional director, South and South East Asia and Middle East, Education New Zealand. A decision by the Supreme Court to disallow compensatory tariff jolted Adani Power and Tata Power shares on Tuesday. The Adani Power Ltd shares dipped by 16.12 per cent to Rs.37.20 at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), while, the Tata Power Ltd, shares slumped nearly 2 per cent to Rs.85.40. The shares of both the power companies slumped to the red zone after the Supreme Court on Tuesday overruled the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) order of compensatory tariff to Adani Power and Tata Power. On April 2016, the tribunal had said that these companies be granted compensatory tariff after coal import by them increased due to change in Indonesian law and regulations. The health ministry has asked the finance ministry to do away with tax exemptions traditionally given to the bidi industry and impose a uniform 28 per cent tax when the GST regime is rolled out. The health ministry welcomed the step to keep aerated drinks, tobacco products, luxury cars and pan masala in the demerit goods category and placing it in the slab of highest tax-28 per cent and over and above a cess to be imposed on all these demerit goods, without any exception. However, the ministry expressed concern that despite regular tax increases on most tobacco products both at central and state levels, affordability of these products has been increasing even among the poorest of the poor. It is therefore suggested that the cess levied under the GST should be high enough to make these demerit products unaffordable over a period of time. The tiered tax structure for cigarettes needs to be done away with as these slabs are open to manipulation for products substitution and promotion, the ministry said in a letter to the finance ministry. The letter also referred to Health Minister JP Nadda's earlier letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley regarding the possibility of levying a 'sin tax' on all demerit products and earmarking the funds for health sector investments. The letter also referred to the suggestion that the proceeds of the health cess be used to fund the Rashtriya Swastha Bima Yojna. The letter highlighted that under the GST it is proposed that the business having an annual turnover below Rs.20 lakh will be exempted from this tax. The health ministry recommended that such exemptions should not apply to those producing demerit goods like tobacco, aerated drinks and pan masala. It argued that such an exemption was earlier given to bidi industry wherein units producing less than 20 lakh bidis were exempted from paying Central Excise Tax. Taking advantage of this exemption, bidi manufacturers closed bigger units and started producing on small scale under different names in a clandestine manner, resulting in huge tax evasions. Further, this policy has shifted the production base to the homes of the poor and disadvantage that are rolling bidis in their homes, at abysmally low wages, devoid of any labour welfare benefits and being at the mercy of middlemen, the letter said. It is therefore recommended that this tax exemption should be done away with and all bidi manufacturing units be duly licenced to ensure enforcement of both tax and labour welfare laws, the letter said. Categorising bidis in the demerit goods category and imposing a high enough cess on all tobacco products to keep it at current levels of taxation may be one of the most critical public health and revenue decisions that the central and state governments can take which will impact the health and well-being of Indians. India and France will sign an agreement for technical collaboration in the civil aviation space on April 13. The agreement will be signed in the presence of visiting French Minister of State for Transport, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Alain Vidalies and Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju. The agreement is for promoting cooperation for the exchange of expertise and technical trainings between Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the French Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC). Last week, the Cabinet cleared the pact between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and France's DGAC for technical collaboration in the civil aviation space. Mission Indradhanush to infuse capital in public sector banks is not the last step as far as their recapitalisation is concerned, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday, asserting that the government was fully supporting them. Replying to questions on the grave concern expressed by the opposition over the growing non-performing assets (NPAs) in these banks, he said the government was making all efforts to ensure that the health of the banking sector improves and the banks are repaid. He, however, said that the NPA problem related to some big accounts, which are not unduly large in numerical terms, and people have to realise that banks have to be paid back. There are 20 to 30 large accounts where people have to realise that banks have to be repaid. If the current promoters are not in a position to repay back, then they have to develop alternate corporate strategies so that the companies pay back, he told the members. The government will fully support the public sector banks because it believes they have a very important role to play. The Indradhanush plan which envisages Rs.70,000 crore being given from the central budget is not the last step as far as recapitalisation is concerned, he told the members during the Question Hour. Jaitley said the assessment was that the public sector banks would require about Rs 1.8 lakh crore of capital to be infused in them. As part of the Indradhanush scheme, the government, from the budgetary resources, had decided to infuse Rs 70,000 crore. This means Rs.25,000 crore each in the first two years and Rs. 10,000 crore this year and another Rs.10,000 crore the next year. The Rs.70,000 crore is to be infused in a phased period of time from the budget, he said. Jaitley, however, noted that the problem of NPAs was due to some people not paying up the banks for the loans taken and the burden comes on to the taxpayer. As far as the action plan is concerned, several actions have been taken. These include empowering the banks by statutory changes, all laws have been amended and the Reserve Bank has come out with various schemes from time to time. There are some other steps which are now being contemplated, he added. Jaitley said the government believes the public sector banks have a very important role to play in supporting a large number of social programmes and extending the reach of banking and supporting infrastructure in the country. He said once the market conditions with regard to the valuation of these banks improves, then the bank shares itself will be used for their further capitalisation. He also noted that banks as lenders and creditors have to act in larger public interest and ensure that the economy and growth itself is supported, he said, adding that whatever arrangement with loans are made, these have to be on a commercial basis. In his written reply, Jaitley said, For resolution of stressed assets, RBI has introduced a number of tools such as Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR), Strategic Debt Restructuring Scheme (SDR) and Scheme for Sustainable Debt Stressed Assets (S4A). He also said the government has carried out the exercise of capitalisation of public sector banks to conform with regulatory capital norms as well as for driving credit growth to cater to the needs of a growing economy. Earlier, Minister of State for Finance Santosh Gangwar said the new S4A scheme of RBI was launched in July 2016 and its results will come soon. It is a new scheme and will bear good results, he added. Keeping aside weak Asian equity markets, domestic benchmark indices traded marginally higher in the early morning trade on Wednesday with Midcaps and Smallcaps leading the gains. At 9.45 am, the Sensex was trading 23 points or 0.08 per cent higher at 29,342 while the Nifty50 was trading six points or 0.06 per cent up at 9,112. Broader markets again outperformed the front liners. BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap indices gained 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively. Among the BSE sectoral indices, Power index registered the biggest gain with a jump of 0.8 per cent. IT (up 0.8 per cent), Teck (up 0.6 per cent) and Healthcare (up 0.4 per cent) indices were other notable gainers. Metal index dropped 0.5 per cent. On Tuesday, the BSE Sensex closed 102 points or 0.35 per cent down at 29,312 while the NSE Nifty ended 34 points or 0.37 per cent lower at 9,105. Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Power Grid (up 1.7 per cent), Sun Pharma (up 1 per cent), Adani Ports (up 1 per cent), TCS (up 0.9 per cent) and NTPC (up 0.5 per cent). Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: Axis Bank (down 1.1 per cent), Tata Motors (down 0.7 per cent), ONGC (down 0.6 per cent), Tata Steel (down 0.6 per cent) and ICICI Bank (down 0.4 per cent). Meanwhile, the Rupee was trading six paise higher at 64.62 against the US Dollar. With the summer on and just months away from the monsoon season, mosquitoes are breeding again and incidence of chikungunya is slowly increasing in the national capital. In 2016, the cases of dengue and chikungunya gave sleepless nights in the capital as it was reported as one of the worst cases in the last 10 years. However, this year may not be any different, but much worse if experts are to be believed. The incidence of chikungunya cases has been rising at an alarming rate, according to officials. Till 8 April this year, hospitals in Delhi have reported 79 cases of chikungunya. Out of the 79 cases, eight of these were detected in April, while 34 in March. Around 20 cases were recorded in January and 13 in February. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on 24 March held a review meeting with the three municipal commissioners to combat vector-borne disease in the national capital. The LG with all stakeholders reviewed preparation for combating the disease last month. He urged for strict monitoring of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and public awareness for complete understanding, prevention and treatment of the disease. Health Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain on 16 September 2016 issued a notification stating chikungunya as a deadly disease, shortly after meeting with Union Health Minister JP Nadda. A month after declaring the mosquito disease to be chikungunya, Jain on October said that the Delhi government was prepared for handling any outbreak on the vector-borne diseases as there were sufficient number of beds in Delhi hospitals. The Delhi government has 10,000, beds out of which 1,000 beds were available for public in the hospitals, Jain said, according to reports. The Delhi government also permitted private hospitals which collectively have 25,000 beds to temporarily increase number of beds by 10 to 15 per cent to ensure no fever patients are turned away, he added. The municipal corporation also held an all-hands workshop on public awareness of vector-borne diseases to tackle the mosquito mayhem in the city. Around 4,431 cases of dengue were reported till the end of 2016, according to the report prepared by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation on behalf of all municipal corporations in the city. There were as many as 15 deaths in 2016 at various hospitals in the city due to complications by chikungunya. However, the civic bodies denied any death reports. The mosquito menace last year reignited the blame-game between the BJP-led municipal corporation department (MCDs) and the AAP-led Delhi government. The AAP-led government was of the view that the corporations had failed their job while the corporation rued such claims as due to lack of funds. Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) chief MK Meena for allegedly violating the courts order. The Delhi government on July 29, 2015 had urged the high court to punish Meena for violating the courts order by removing a station house officer (SHO) from the anti-graft body and restricting work. The AAP governments plea against Meena comes nearly a month after the Delhi High Court declined its plea to remove Meena from the ACB chiefs post. Earlier, on 29 July, 2015 the High Court had issued a notice to Meena and SHO Brij Mohan seeking their replies. The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal for 24-hour power supply in cities and 18 hours in villages in the state. The Power Department proposal to replace burnt/damaged electricity transformers within 48 hours instead of existing 72 hours was also approved by the Cabinet in its second meeting here, which was chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Special vehicles fitted with global positioning system will ensure prompt change of malfunctioning transformers expeditiously. It was also decided that all works with over Rs 10 crore expenditure so far would be investigated. From now on, works of developmental authorities and the state Housing Board will be audited by the Auditor General. The Cabinet also approved the purchase of one lakh metric tonnes of potato from farmers at Rs 487 per quintal under a market intervention scheme. Briefing the media on Cabinet decisions, Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh, who is also the state government spokesman, said the earlier government led by Akhilesh Yadav had not prepared any road map for the purchase of potatoes because of which growers were left to fend for themselves. The Cabinet also approved changes in funding pattern of border area development programme. Now on, the state will bear 40 per cent of the cost while the union government will take care of the remaining 60 per cent. A decision was also taken to make all state roads pothole-free by June 15. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the Budget Session as a "winner" for the treasury benches, saying the BJP put up an impressive show in state polls while the government was able to secure passage of many key bills in Parliament. Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting a day before the session ends, Modi also pitched for pushing reform and development agenda, asserting that there is a "positive" public mood in the favour of the ruling dispensation as it completes its third anniversary the next month. "This is a golden opportunity for us to lift the lives of the poor, the deprivedThis is the time for doing more development and reforms," he said. The BJP MPs were also informed about a one-month programme to celebrate the government's third anniversary from May 24. Briefing reporters following the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said that Modi called the session very constructive with the Lok Sabha passing 21 bills and the Rajya Sabha 14. These include the GST bills and also the politically important OBC bill. The Prime Minister said the BJP notched up a massive win in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls during the session. The hope his government had generated among the masses in 2014 has turned into confidence, he said. Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu also spoke and outlined the one-month programme to celebrate the government's third anniversary, Kumar said. Heaping praise on Modi, Naidu referred to the last night's meeting of 33 NDA constituents in which important allies like Parkash Singh Badal of Akali Dal and Chandrababu Naidu of TDP spoke about his "transformative" leadership. "Modi has emerged as the poor's messiah," he claimed. On the occasion, Modi noted that it was the birth anniversary of Hanuman, a devotee of Lord Rama, and said he was a living example of a "dedicated social worker" which should inspire one and all. The Centre is committed to ensure 247 affordable, quality and uninterrupted power, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said while inaugurating a rural feeder monitoring scheme here on Tuesday. Goyal said the Centre has asked power distribution companies to devise a system so that consumers can be intimated about expected power cuts and their duration. They should also be intimated after the power cuts end. In this system, the consumer could also view real time power outages in any part of the country and lodge a complaint on power outages in his area, the minister said. I would like to urge all the states to join in this excellent initiative to be a part of this effort so that anywhere in the country, if there is a problem of power outage, the people know about it in advance. It will help save many lives in hospitals, help people better plan their lives, the minister said. Goyal said it would monitor the quantity and quality parameters of power supply in rural areas of the country. The entire data would also be hosted on National Power Portal (NPP) on real time basis and may be accessed by various stake holders through web services. In order to facilitate real time communication of faults appearing in power supply, the government has set December 2017 as the deadline to achieve cent per cent rural feeder monitoring by installing additional meters and modems on all feeders across the country, he said. These meters would be geo-tagged to pinpoint the cause and location of the fault and address it at the earliest, the minister said. BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday demanded that senior Congress leader P Chidambaram should be relieved as Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs as he was being investigated by the CBI. Swamy raised the issue through a point of order after Deputy Chairman P J Kurien called Chidambaram to lay on the table, a copy of the panel's report on border security. As Chidambaram was not present, another committee member, Majeed Memon, did the job. Swamy, however, said if Chairman of a parliamentary committee is being investigated by CBI, he should not take up the post. As Congress members protested, the BJP member said the former finance minister was being investigated by CBI for the clearance he gave to Malaysian firm Maxis to buy 100 per cent of Aircel. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme was launched from Haryana with much fanfare by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an aim to focus on the development of the girl child and her education. Now, two years later, the government has become a victim of its own scheme as several frauds are being committed in the name of the government's flagship programme. Data from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which was instrumental along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and others in introducing the scheme, reveals that so far over three lakh fake forms have been received by the Ministry which were reported to have been fraudulently sold in many cases across various states. These forms were sold on the pretext of submitting them with the Ministry of Women and Child Development for ensuring cash disbursal under the scheme. Official sources said some of the agents who sold these forms fraudulently and caught the attention of the Ministry officials, had falsely promised to provide INR 2 lakh to a girl child between the age 8-32 years on the basis of the forms filled. A large number of these forms actually made their way to the Ministry. Officials said it all started in some districts of Uttar Pradesh and gradually spread to Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Bihar. Sources said in UP alone more than 1000 families have already been fleeced by agents claiming to be activists and complaints have been filed with the police. Recently, Parliament was informed that the case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which will investigate the complaints and take the matter to its logical conclusion. To safeguard the interests of hundreds of innocent girls and irked by the recurring complaints of alleged frauds, the ministry has had to come up with clarifications and rejoinders on its website and was forced to shell out a separate budget towards publicising that BBBP scheme has no provision for individual cash incentive/cash transfer by the Government of India and thus, is not a DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) scheme. A disclaimer has been uploaded on the ministry website and a full-fledged media publicity campaign was launched. Officials said the scheme was introduced to change the mindsets of society to value the girl child and empower her. The scheme also focuses on strict enforcement of Pre Conception & Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC &PNDT) Act besides advancing education of the girl child. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition challenging the validity of Article 370 of the Constitution that gives a special status to Jammu and Kashmir. A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath dismissed the plea saying the case had been earlier dismissed by the Supreme Court. The petition was filed by one Vijayalakshmi Jha, who argued that Article 370 was a temporary provision that had lapsed with dissolution of the state's constituent assembly in 1957. Continuance of temporary provision of Article 370, which had never got the assent/approval of President of India or the Parliament, regarding matters like citizenship, amounted to fraud on the basic structure of our constitution, and was against the sovereignty, integrity, unity of the nation. The apex court in 2014 dismissed the similar plea of Jha and asked the petitioner to move the high court. With India's tallest flag on the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar getting frequently damaged due to its height and weight, Punjab government will now take a call if it is feasible to continue furling the tricolour there or not. The flag weighting 100-kilogram and hoisted on 105-metre high flagpole at the Attari border is supposed to be visible from Lahore as the place is just a few kilometers away from Pakistan. But since its inauguration on 5 March, the flag 36 metres in length and 24 metres wide was damaged five times. One such flag costs Rs 1.25 lakh. The deputy commissioner (DC) Amritsar, Kamaldeep Singh Sangha said the flag is not being hoisted anymore but as it is a matter of national pride, the government needs to take a call whether the flag could be hoisted at its present height or not. "I have written to the additional chief secretary (ACS), ACS (local bodies) and director general of police to take a call in the matter. As the flag is repeatedly getting damaged due to its height and material, it needs to be ascertained by a committee of experts if this project is feasible or not," he said. Sangha said as large number of tourists, domestic and foreign, visit Attari border, the frequent damage to the flag is a serious issue as it is related to national prestige. Built at an approximate cost of Rs 3.50 crore, the post was a project of Punjab government's Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) Authority. Now the AIT has suggested the use of smaller sized flag (72 feet long and 48 feet wide) instead of 120 feet long and 80 feet wide flag, but the DC said given the height and high velocity winds, there is no guarantee if a smaller sized flag would sustain. "A committee of experts needs to examine this issue and give its opinion on the feasibility of this project," Sangha said. India on Tuesday warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it went ahead with the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. "The government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha. The minister added that the Indian government "will go out of the way to save him (Jadhav)". "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter." She reiterated India's stand that Jadhav, arrested in March 2016 from the restive Balochistan province and accused of espionage and waging war against Pakistan, has been framed under false charges. She said Pakistan was doing all that to divert global attention from its activities of sponsoring terrorism in India. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. He is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. "We have no choice but to regard this sentence if carried out as an act of premeditated murder," the minister said. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, appealed to the government to appoint a strong lawyer who can fight Jadhav's case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. "This is a matter of the entire nation. I appeal to the government to appoint a competent lawyer to fight his case in Pakistan's Supreme Court. So that his case is won in the apex court," said Azad. The minister assured the House that the government would appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and would petition the President of the country to save "the son of the nation". "Not just the Supreme Court We will do everything possible to save him. Appealing in the Supreme Court or appointing a lawyer for him is a very small thing. We will even approach the President of Pakistan to save him," said Sushma Swaraj. The matter was raised in the house with opposition and the treasury benches jointly expressing solidarity with Jadhav, who was awarded the capital punishment by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial. Army chief General Qamar Javed has confirmed the sentencing. The issue was raised by Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agrawal, who said Pakistan has challenged India by sentencing Jadhav to death. He said New Delhi's "Pakistan policy is weak". "It's a challenge to the country," he said. Agrawal was supported by former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who termed the issue "very serious" and said India "must convey it to Pakistan in strongest terms". With a military court in Pakistan awarding death sentence to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jhadav in an alleged espionage case, the countrys powerful Army appears to have yet again brought to nought all attempts aimed at reconciliation between India and Pakistan. New Delhi believes that the Nawaz Sharif-led civilian regime was not even kept in the loop as Chief of the Pakistan Army Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed the sentence awarded to the Indian national by a military kangaroo court. This is not the first time the army leadership in the country has scuttled peace overtures which were very much visible following the assembly elections in India in March. Jadhavs conviction comes at a time when India had given clear signs of softening its stand by sending three senior MPs to attend a conference of Parliamentarians and a delegation of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) to attend the talks on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) to Pakistan. Speculation was also rife in diplomatic circles that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Sharif, who are expected to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kazakhstan in June, might meet on the margins of the summit. Coast Guard personnel of the two countries were scheduled to meet in New Delhi just about 10 days from now. One can safely say that this event stands cancelled in the wake of extreme provocation by Pakistan. India has already put on hold the release of about a dozen Pakistani fishermen after yesterdays development. It is common knowledge that it is not the civilian leadership but the Pakistan Army which runs the countrys foreign policy, especially with regard to India and the United States. The verdict of the military court runs contrary to what Pakistans Foreign Policy Advisor Sartaj Aziz had told the Senate in December last year. His statement that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that Jadhav was linked to RAW had angered the military establishment to an extent that the next day the foreign ministry was ordered to issue a clarification. India is likely to go all out in the coming days to name and shame Pakistan. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has already made it clear to Pakistan to be prepared for the consequences, should it carry out the sentence awarded to the Indian national. India is expected to make Jadhavs conviction by a kangaroo military court in Pakistan a human rights issue. The fact that Jadhav was not given a free trial and all requests for consular access to him were denied to the Indian authorities would also be highlighted. The military courts in Pakistan have unbridled rights and unmatched jurisdiction. However, these military courts do not have trained judges or judges with mandatory legal training. Human rights activists in Pakistan have also questioned the very existence of military courts, contending that the accused undergo questionable interrogation and are tortured to make favourable confessions. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan armed forces, nearly 90 per cent of the accused confessed to the charges framed against them in 2016. Jadhavs confession was one of them. This website is intended for U.S. visitors only. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday condemned Pakistan for awarding the death sentence to Kulbhusan Jadhav and assured the Parliament that justice will prevail. "The government strongly condemns Pakistan military court's verdict awarding death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav. I want to assure the House that justice will prevail," the Home minister said in Lok Sabha. Rajnath also questioned Pakistan's reasoning behind calling Kulbhushan a spy as the country's media had itself reported he was carrying a valid passport with him. This is a serious question which Pak government must answer, Rajnath said. "Kulbhushan Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistani agencies from Iran and put through trial as RAW agent," he said, adding, the country has denied consular access to Jadhav. This death sentence has exposed Pakistans action. The way Pakistan military court has awarded death sentence to Jadhav, not only the Parliament but the whole country is worried, he said. Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha witnessed an uproar as the opposition raised the Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence issue and demanded action from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India on Monday summoned the Pakistan envoy saying proceedings that led to the sentencing of Kulbhushan Jadhav are 'farcical'. "If basic norms of law and justice are not observed, the government and people of India will regard it as premeditated murder," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said a Field General Court Martial awarded the capital punishment and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had confirmed the death sentence. Jadhav was reportedly arrested on March 3, 2016 in Balochistan's Mashkel area for 'involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, the ISPR said. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday warned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to "mend your ways", and accused her of dividing and oppressing the Hindus and kindling separatism among Muslims. "No matter how many cases you lodge, no matter how many people you arrest, Hindus will not stop, they will not be beaten up. We challenge her and warn her, you mend your ways. If you don't, then Bengal's public will not accept Mamata (who shows affection for jehadis) for long," Surendra Kumar Jain, VHP's International Joint General Secretary, said. "She had the time to hike salaries of Imams. Imams were hale and hearty while the Hindu pundits were not. It seemed as if there was Aurangzeb's rule in Bengal. She detested Ram's name. She even changed the word Ramdhenu to Rangdhenu. I think she will also change names of people who are named after Ram," he said. Taking on Banerjee's accusations against the VHP for putting weapons in hands of children during the grand Ram Navami celebrations and processions, Jain countered that the Trinamool Congress supremo is misusing the child rights protection commission. "In Muharram processions, weapons are brandished. So how can you single out Ram Navami? You should see the pictures where children carry weapons during Muharram, how children slaughter goats during Eid. Is it not a violation of child rights? Do you not see that? Why are you silent then?" he asked. In response to allegations of VHP promoting polarisation, Jain lashed out at Banerjee for indulging in polarisation instead. "You can hike Imam's salary, you will not lodge case against perpetrators of violence in Malda, you will shorten the duration of Durga Puja immersion due to Muharram, isn't this polarisation? You have indulged in polarisation, against the country, against Bengal, against Hindus," Jain said. "But if there was any polarisation on Ram Navami, this was for patriots, this was for 'Ram bhakts' and we are proud of such polarisation in favour of the nation, polarisation of the patriotic persons of Bengal," he asserted. Dismissing allegations of VHP promoting religious politics, Jain pointed fingers at Banerjee for promoting "divide and rule" among the Hindus and Muslims in Bengal. "She is committing an injustice against Muslim society by kindling separatism. She has made Bakhtiyar Khilji the role model for Muslims in Bengal." "Due to appeasement politics, she has fanned fundamentalism. You have divided the Hindu society. Before that you have divided Hindus and Muslims. You have promoted fundamentalism," he added. Ruling out any legal hurdle in building the Ram temple at the disputed site in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya town, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday caleld for enactment of a law to facilitate the construction. "There is a provision where joint session of Parliament is called and bills are passed. I don't think there is any legal hurdle. We have all faith in the present government There can be a bill on Ram Mandir. It is their commitment also," said Surendra Kumar Jain, VHP's International Joint General Secretary. Addressing the media here, Jain said: "Ayodhya is in Uttar Pradesh and Yogi (Chief Minister Adityanath) is there, who soon after his oath-taking said that building Ram temple is the mission of his life and 'I will fulfil it at any cost'. I think Modi and Yogi will very soon realise that dream." On the Supreme Court's recent suggestion for an out-of-court settlement through dialogue, he said the three top institutions of the Muslim community had ruled out any dialogue. "You need two people to talk. When one person talks to oneself, you can understand what that means. When the apex court said it, immediately the three pillars of Muslim society Muslim Personal Law Board, Sunni Waqf Board and Babri Masjid Action Committee said 'no dialogue'." "when it comes to triple Talaq, they say the court should not interfere, but when it comes to Ram Janmabhoomi, they say court should decide What a joke," he said. "Ultimately, the ball lies in the court of Parliament," he said referring to the VHP's stand on building the temple in Ayodhya similar to the Somnath temple. Separatists on Tuesday withdrew their strike call for Wednesday a day after the Election Commission postponed the Anantnag Lok Sabha by-poll to May 25. "We have withdrawn tomorrow's strike call as the so- called election has been put off," the separatist leaders said in a statement. The Election Commission had yesterday decided to postpone the Anantnag bypoll to May 25, after eight persons were killed in a firing by the security forces during polling for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday. The statement issued jointly by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik also called on people to march to Budgam district headquarters on Friday. "To pay homage to the young martyrs (youth killed on April 9) and express solidarity with their families, the joint resistance leadership and people will offer joint Friday prayers in Budgam," the separatists said. Commenting on the 7.14 per cent voter turnout in Srinagar constituency, they said the people's verdict has been loud and clear as to their "commitment to achieving their fundamental political right". "Government of India's own index of treating elections as a gauge of people's faith in Indian democracy stand completely exposed as they were completely rejected and resisted by the people in one part of the valley and forced to postpone the elections in another," they added. The separatists had called for a strike Wednesday, the day on which polling was scheduled to be held for Anantnag seat. Virtually ruling out a water sharing deal over the Teesta, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said India and Bangladesh will study the possibility of tapping into other rivers for a water sharing deal with the neighbour. "We have cooperated with Bangladesh on the Land Boundary Agreement, and since we have surplus power in West Bengal and since our neighbour needs power, we can give power to Bangladesh. There is some problem on Teesta. There are rivers like Torsa, Dharla, Mansai that can be tapped. The governments of India and Bangladesh will study it and take a decision," Banerjee told the media here on her arrival from New Delhi. Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, was invited for talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi during the latter's four-day visit to India from April 7 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the Teesta water sharing was discussed, but no headway made. Banerjee's comments come as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said in Dhaka that nobody can stop the water flow towards Bangladesh. "We are in the downstream and thus water will come down. No one will be able to stop the flow of water," she said in response to a query over Teesta water sharing, according to the Daily Star newspaper. Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon has blamed the West Bengal Chief Minister for "spoiling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit". Referring to Mamata's no change of stand on Teesta water sharing, Menon said Teesta has no alternative to save desertification in the northern region of the country. "Tears cannot make a river, likewise, Torsa river cannot replace Teesta," Menon, who is also the president of Workers' Party, told the the Daily Star in Dhaka. "Teesta is an international river. Its water is our right. It is not up to anyone's pity to give us the water. It is our right," he asserted. "Mamata has besmirched the Prime Minister's otherwise successful tour to India," the Bangladesh Minister said. Modi has assured Hasina of an "early solution" to the Teesta waters sharing issue. In September 2011, Banerjee had caused embarrassment to the then government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by pulling out of his delegation to Bangladesh at the last moment over the proposed water sharing agreement, forcing India to drop it from the agenda. Kangana Ranaut started a debate on nepotism in the film industry, but the actress said her remark on Karan Johar's chat show was an observation and she does not have any objection with star kids joining Bollywood. The actress said she is not on a mission against star kids as everyone in the industry is working to make good cinema. If you're talking about nepotism, it's not an objection, it's an observation. As an individual, it is my prerogative to leave my footsteps behind for the ones who will follow me. It is important they know where I fell, where I walked, stayed and ran We should all work on it and not point fingers and make it sound like a fight to make the society more democratic for everyone, Kangana told reporters here. The 30-year-old actress said the film industry has become more welcoming towards outsiders and the credit for the same goes to artistes coming from unconventional background and making it big in Bollywood. 'What is an outsider?' We are all working to make cinema. Anyone working for some other intention is an outsider. I don't consider myself an outsider. Whoever comes from an unconventional background, they should work towards it and not say, 'Oh we have been lucky enough that we didn't face any discrimination or we are the chosen one, the industry has accepted us with open arms', she said. Kangana said the industry has a democratic environment today where actors can choose to openly say 'they cannot talk in English' and will still not be looked at differently. The fact that today in the industry we have a lot more democratic environment is also because of people like us who have been working at it. I see newcomers easily say 'I can't talk in English I will only talk in Hindi.' It's because we have made it appear cool. We are going to make outsiders feel and appear cool. Kangana was speaking at the launch of Spring Summer collection of Melange by Lifestyle. It is a curious phenomenon of the twenty first century that the world is going global but many inhabitants of our planet are turning inwards, protectionist and provincial. The United States under President Trump is certainly and surely turning ultranationalistic, and the United Kingdom has already reverted to small island status separated from Europe with its vote in favour of Brexit. Many right wing political parties in France, who command considerable public support, wish to exercise an option to leave the European Union. Right wing parties throughout Europe are gaining strength. Globalisation, that has been to the benefit of many countries, is in many parts of the planet turning to localisation. Some major countries, including those famous for their melting pot cultures as a result of open societies, are advocating a policy of closing their doors even to close neighbours. It appears that President Trump of the USA has forgotten that his countrys immigrants include not only his own father but persons like Albert Einstein, the pioneer of modern physics. Isolationism in the US is strong and getting more visible, and stems, of course, from insecurity and fear that foreigners, from wherever they come, will take away jobs and livelihoods. This is the worst disease to which any civilized nation can succumb. Recent history has shown that enmities need not be ever-lasting. With a Schengen visa, one can travel from one European Union country to the other in an almost borderless continent, but with individual nations retaining distinct cultures of their own. For example the Greek culture can hardly be more different from the Norwegian. Germany, that fought three bloody wars in Europe in the space of one hundred years, with France as its leading victim, now finds itself closely allied to France politically. The same Germany, defeated in two devastating World Wars has turned out to be the engine of European prosperity and a protagonist of socalled Western values. France and England having fought with each other for long centuries, now have amicable relations, as shown by the large number of British people who now live in France, and a similar number of French people who work in the UK, mainly in the financial and cuisine sector. But the distant rumble of UK leaving the European Union and France doing likewise may reset the clock by a few centuries. There is one leading example of how hostile nations can eventually work together for a common goal. The concept of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) was born in 1954 after World War II. Germany, the one-time traditional enemy, now turned into a formidable scientific and technological force, helped to build CERN, while non-European countries such as India and Pakistan, themselves perpetually at loggerheads, are associate members. In his own time, Jawaharlal Nehru, with his lofty idea of a world Utopia echoed Wendell Willkie in calling for global government which eventually took the form of the United Nations. Nehru took upon himself the leadership of the developing nonaligned world, with the goal of peaceful coexistence and living in friendly harmony. But he was frustrated, first by Pakistan whose two wings were separated geographically by India, and more comprehensively by Indias war with China that could have been avoided if Nehru had showed greater awareness of Chinas internal dynamics and flexibility towards Chinas offers of compromise. Despite the world of today and tomorrow being far from Nehrus dreams of peaceful coexistence and global government, the trends towards globalisation have spurred India to abandon much of its traditional inheritance, prejudice, and religious superstitions, helped by greater fluidity of movement of citizens between different parts of the country and migration abroad, especially to the USA. India has started aspiring to become a global power, with a growing economy and possibilities of surpassing Japan to become the worlds third largest. This is an example how changing attitudes of a people can shape the countrys destiny. The changes that are evident in the Western world however are in the reverse direction, towards provincialism and xenophobia. The world is, as always, continuously in flux, and it remains to be seen if the current trends towards insularity and mercantilism prove long-lasting or evanescent. The writer, a Padma Bhushan awardee, was a Homi Bhabha professor at the Dept of Atomic Energy. Chechyna has opened the world's first concentration camp for homosexuals, where campaigners say gay men are being tortured with electric shocks and beaten to death, the media reported. It comes after it was claimed 100 gay men had been detained and three killed in Chechnya last week, the Daily Mail online reported on Monday. A report by Novoya Gazetaon said authorities had set up several camps where homosexuals are killed or forced to promise to leave the republic. One of the camps is reportedly at the former military headquarters in the town of Argun. Svetlana Zakharova, from the Russian LGBT Network, told the Daily Mail: "Gay people have been detained and rounded up and we are working to evacuate people from the camps and some have now left the region." "Those who have escaped said they are detained in the same room and people are kept altogether, around 30 or 40. They are tortured with electric currents and heavily beaten, sometimes to death," Zakharova added. One of those who escaped told Novoya Gazeta that prisoners were beaten to force them to reveal other members of the gay community. Alexander Artemyev, from Amnesty International in Russia, told the Daily Mail: "We can only call on the Russian authorities to investigate the allegations. Homosexuals in Chechyna are treated very harshly and prosecuted daily and they are afraid to talk about it." According to sources, President Razman Kadyrov allegedly ordered the clampdown, although officially his regime denied the arrests. Kadyrov, who introduced Islamic rule in the Muslim-majority region, has been accused of earlier human rights violations. Enraged Chinese netizens are calling for a boycott of US carrier United Airlines after footage of an Asian passenger being dragged off an "overbooked" flight went viral online. A Sina Weibo microblogging website tag "United Airlines forcibly bumps a passenger" was viewed over 150 million times and garnered more than 90,000 comments, making it the top trending topic of the day on the platform, reported Global Times daily on Tuesday. The elderly doctor was manhandled after he refused to give up his seat on the flight before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport on its journey to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. Videos posted online showed police dragging him from his seat, injuring his face, throwing him on the floor and dragging him along the aisle by his arms, while his glasses slid down his face and his shirt rode up his chest. The doctor, who had identified himself as Chinese according to passenger accounts in the media, returned to the aircraft with his face bleeding. He collapsed and was taken away on a stretcher, according to a passenger. The incident sparked outrage on the Chinese Internet with many Net users condemning the airline for being brutal or even accusing it of being racist. "The company may think that Asian Americans are always obedient but this incident has crossed the line too much," a Weibo user commented. "Although it is legal to sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane, violently forcing a passenger to leave the plane regardless of his dignity and rights is horrible. Is this the way United Airlines boasts the spirit of contract and human rights?" another user wrote. A Chinese aviation industry insider told the Global Times on Tuesday that it was routine for airlines to oversell flights to avoid empty seats and compensation is often offered to passengers who voluntarily give up their place on the plane. The outrage over the incident was not reduced by a letter written by the United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz, which was circulated to employees and later leaked on the social media and translated into Chinese. Munoz made no apology for the way the passenger was treated and just emphasized that he had "refused to comply" with staff. North Korea on Tuesday condemned the deployment of a US nuclear aircraft carrier and its strike group near the Korean peninsula and warned that it was prepared to respond to a "pre-emptive strike", according to authorities. "If the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for pre-emptive attack and removal of the headquarters, North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US" a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The statement came after the Pentagon announced Saturday that it was deploying the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and a Navy strike group to waters off the North Korean coast in response to the latest missile provocations by the Pyongyang regime, on April 5. "We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms," the statement added. Following President Donald Trump's inauguration in January, the US government has called for a tighter approach of dealing with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programme, Efe news reported. The ministry also highlighted the fact that Washington has analyzed different scenarios for carrying out a pre-emptive strike at the hermit state or eliminating its leader Kim Jong-un. "We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions." the spokesperson said, adding "The prevailing grave situation proves once again that (North Korea) was entirely just when it increased in every way its military capabilities for self-defence and pre-emptive attack with a nuclear force as a pivot." Tension on the Korean peninsula has been increasing amid suspicions that Pyongyang may be preparing a new missile or nuclear test this month. North Korea convened its annual parliamentary session on Tuesday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il's transition to power. In addition, the country will also celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il-sung, this Saturday and the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army on April 25. DECATUR The prognosis for a group of unionized prison nursing jobs across Central Illinois hangs in the balance as last-ditch efforts are made to save them. The correctional facility nurses seven in Decatur, 12 in Vandalia and four in Lincoln are among 124 nurses statewide who have been told by Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration their state jobs will end in June 15. All these nursing jobs are being privatized and will be filled by a medical care vendor called Wexford Health Sources Inc., which already provides the rest of the state prison network's nurses. Among those supporting the effort to save the jobs is state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, who is among the sponsors of new legislation that would prevent the nurses from being laid off and their work from being outsourced. All that is needed is for Rauner to sign the bill, a hope that appears to be on life support given the governor's oft-stated anti-union stance. Nicole Wilson, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, has previously said that privatizing the nursing jobs would save taxpayers $8 million a year. Scherer, however, says there is still time for the governor to see sense: Well, my hope is that maybe he didn't see all the negative repercussions that were going to happen and maybe he will sign the law, she told the Herald & Review Monday. I just can't imagine him vetoing it. Scherer lists those negative repercussions as the risk of substandard care for inmates and the chance that no money will be saved anyway. She says the state will be at financial risk from inmate lawsuits and huge overtime bills as she claims Wexford has a reputation for staffing shortages and substandard care. A spokesperson for Pittsburgh-based Wexford did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Scherer says she also feels for the union nurses, all members of the Illinois Nurses Association, who are having their lives disrupted in what she sees as a pointless exercise with no good outcome. This is just all around not a good deal for the state of Illinois: it's not good for our workers, it's not good for our unions and it's not good for fiscal soundness, she added. And Wexford is not a good company to work with. The Department of Corrections did not return a call in time for its comments to be included in this article, but has previously stated that most of the laid off nurses would likely be hired back by Wexford. And the department has said it will work with nurses who wish to remain employed by the state by trying to find them jobs in other state agencies. The Illinois Nurses Association says the state's response is not good enough. It says Wexford will offer the nurses their old jobs back for less pay and more seasoned nurses, who had planned retirement, will not see the full state pension benefits they had been counting on after years of service in difficult conditions. The INA has filed claims of unfair labor practices against the state and accused Rauner of planning the layoff in retaliation after INA's membership overwhelmingly rejected a previous tentative labor agreement reached last spring. INA executive director, Alice Johnson, says the state is handing out shabby treatment to dedicated workers, sometimes called to work for 24 hours at a stretch, who endured a tough job for the promise of a comfortable retirement. Nursing is a very physical job and I think a lot of nurses look at the (state) pension and that retirement security as something that makes the job attractive, she added. Wexford now provides health care services to some 97,000 inmates in 120 institutions scattered across the country. It offers medical, behavioral health, dental, vision and pharmaceutical care, according to its web site, as well as health-related products and services including chemical dependency treatment. The G7 group of nations has failed to reach an agreement over threatening new sanctions against Russia and Syria over last week's chemical attack. The group was seeking a common position on the Syrian conflict, before US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flies to Russia later on Tuesday to try to persuade it to abandon its Syrian ally, BBC reported. The G7 nations during a meeting in the Italian city of Lucca agreed there was no solution to the Syria crisis with President Assad in power. Sanctions against Russia and Syria will not be put in place until after an investigation into last week's apparent chemical attack, British government sources said. Syria denied it carried out any chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun last week that left at least 89 people dead. Members of the G7 group of leading industrialised nations agreed to delay implementing sanctions until there was "hard and irrefutable evidence" over the alleged chemical attack, said the report. The meeting brought together Foreign Ministers from the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the G7 had broadened consultations in Italy on Tuesday morning, with key regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey. He declared the talks "a political success". South African President Jacob Zuma has warned against "a resurgence of racism" in the country where "racists have become more emboldened". "We have sadly not yet succeeded in building the non-racial society that we envisaged," Zuma said at the Chris Hani Wreath Laying Ceremony and handover of the Chris Hani heritage site in Boksburg, Gauteng province, on Monday. The late Hani, South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, was assassinated at his Boksburg home on April 10, 1993. His death almost derailed the reconciliation talks that led to the end of apartheid in 1994. Zuma lauded Hani as a real fighter against racism, who lost his life at the hands of hard-core racists, Xinhua news agency reported. The President linked last week's massive protests to racism, saying it demonstrated that "racism is real and exists in our country". Thousands of South Africans marched in parts of the country to press their demand for the resignation of Zuma last Friday. Although SACP leaders shared the same stage with Zuma in memory of Hani, the SACP said it has not changed its plea for Zuma to resign. Zuma has come under mounting pressure after he reshuffled the cabinet on March 31, sacking or replacing 10 ministers and 10 deputy ministers, notably Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Zuma said many placards and posters carried by the protesters "displayed beliefs that we thought had been buried in 1994". Some posters depicted black people as baboons, Zuma said, adding that "it is clear that some of our white compatriots regard black people as being lesser human beings or sub-human". "The racist onslaught has become more direct and is no longer hidden as was the case in the early years of our constitutional democratic order," said Zuma. "We cannot allow and assist racists to take our country backwards." At a legislative level, the South African government has published the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, according to Zuma. Once it becomes law, the law will criminalise several forms of discrimination including on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and nationality. British Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump have agreed there is a "window of opportunity" to persuade Russia to abandon its support for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, the media reported. According to a Downing Street spokesman, the two leaders spoke about the crisis on the phone on Monday, days after a US air strike against a Syrian airbase on April 6. The air strike came as a retaliation to a chemical attack in which over 80 civilians, including children, were killed, reports the BBC. The spokesman said Trump thanked May for her support in the wake of the US air strike. "They agreed that US Secretary of State (Rex) Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement," he said. "They also discussed the broader Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran throughout the region." The spokesman added, "The Prime Minister and the President also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses." Meanwhile, Syria has denied using any chemical agents and Russia says the US has failed to provide evidence that the country has chemical weapons, the BBC reported. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said on Monday that further action would be considered in certain circumstances. But Russia and Iran Assad's two principal international backers have warned that they would respond "with force" to any fresh attack on their ally. Two people were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in San Bernardino city of California on Monday, media reported. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said that four people were shot and the victims included a teacher and two students. Citing the fire officials NBC Los Angeles reported that it was not immediately clear whether the teacher and two students were among the deceased. Fire officials confirmed that two people were dead. The shooter was "possibly down," said Chief Jarrod Burguan. At least two students were among the wounded, the chief added. Monica Garcia of the San Bernardino Unified School District said the shooting appeared to stem from a domestic violence dispute involving the injured teacher. The school, North Park Elementary, remained under lockdown till late Monday morning. Details about the shooter were not immediately available. A US state governor has resigned after fighting for over a year against allegations that he used public resources to carry out and conceal an affair with his former top aide, the media reported. Pressure built on Alabama Governor Robert Bentley to step down over the sex scandal as state lawmakers opened impeachment hearings against him this week and state Republican officials called for him to leave the governor's mansion, the Washington Post reported. Bentley also pleaded guilty on Monday to two misdemeanour charges related to covering up the alleged affair one for failing to file a major contribution report, and the other for knowingly using campaign contributions for personal use, according to the state's attorney general office. "I love the people of this state with all my heart," he told the media as he announced his resignation inside the Alabama State Capitol. On his way to officially resign, Bentley showed up to the Montgomery County Jail and posed for a mug shot. The events leading to the end of Bentley's career were spelt out in the 3,000 pages of a report released by the House Judiciary Committee attorney on April 7. It detailed various indiscretions the Governor allegedly tried to keep secret as he carried out an affair with his married aide, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. The report said Bentley texted heart-eyed emojis to Mason texts that were linked up to his now former wife's iPad and made threats to the first lady's staff to keep the affair secret. The report also detailed what allegedly went on behind closed doors when Mason, according to the report, left the office "with her hair tousled and her clothing in disarray", reports The Washington Post. Under the plea deal, Bentley will face up to a year of probation and 100 hours of community service, which he is expected to perform in his capacity as a licensed dermatologist. He must turn over some $37,000 in campaign funds to the state. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. For the second day in a row, not enough MPs showed up in Armenias parliament to form a quorum. This time only ten were present. Yesterday, only 16 showed up. Prosperous Armenia Party MP Naira Zorabyan took the floor and said that given the situation one could assume that those MPs who were present live due to honest work, implying that those absent had commercial and other interests outside the legislature. Deputy Speaker Edward Sharmazanov took the opportunity to thank those MPs with whom hes worked with over the years, but who will not be in the countrys new parliament. Some are here now and some are not, but I would like for us to give them a round of applause, said Sharmazanov. Today, as yesterday, the session was delayed until 3p.m. to allow absent MPs to show up and thus form a quorum. It didnt happen. (66 MPs are needed to form a quorum) Currently, Armenias National Assembly is comprised of 131 MPs who each receive an annual salary of 6.3 million AMD ($13,000). By Markar Melkonian Some members of Armenias opposition are crying foul, citing instances of vote-buying and undue influence in the April 2 National Assembly election, in which the current party of power, the Republican Party, won 49% of the 1.58 million votes cast. The allegations, of course, are not entirely without merit. The party of power was able to exert pressure on public employees and other voters, and more than one party probably bought votes. But this time around, the international observers do not believe that these entirely expected irregularities played much of a role in the outcome of the election. For decades, opponents of incumbent administrations in Yerevan have been obsessed with talk about free and fair elections. By official standards, the April 2 election, which the OSCE described as well administered, appears to have been an improvement of over past ones. Cameras and voter authentication devices operated in polling stations; election observers arrived on cue, the Central Election Commission published signed voter lists, and, of course civil society (a buzzword that does not appear to designate anything three-dimensional) is said to have participated. The election, then, conformed to the requirements of the champions of what one commentator has described as the fetishization of elections. (Armine Ishkhanian, Armenias Election: The Status Quo Wins at the Expense of Democracy, 4 April, 2017.) Every few years eligible voters in Armenia are permitted to choose among pre-selected candidates for the National Assembly and the chief executive. The leading candidates are those with connections and access to enough money to finance a high-profile national campaign. Whether or not the election is technically free and fair, it will bear out the voters assumption that the rich will always rule. In other words, electoral democracy in countries like Armenia, at least at the national level, amounts to a ritual to legitimize plutocracy. Pro-democracy activists, the big NGOs, the corporate media, and leaders in Western capitals extol this ritual as the epitome of democracy. In countries like Armenia, the question seldom arises whether a free and fair election can take place when the poor and the working class majority are not represented. The big NGOs have played their role to ensure that neither election campaigns nor public discourse will stray from the prescribed pro-capitalist vocabulary and options. Many of the very same agencies that fetishize elections also do what they can to ensure that citizens view the passing scene only through the pinhole of pro-capitalist propaganda. Voters are expected to limit their attention to debates about whether Capitalist Clique A will rule Armenia, or Capitalist Clique B. They are expected to look no further than debates as to whether pensions and public lands will be privatized sooner or a little later. Or whether cuts to public education, healthcare, and social programs will be deep or even deeper. Or whether those cuts will take place immediately or a little later. Or whether bus and electricity rates will rise now or only eventually. Or whether the mining companies get to continue to poison lots of rivers and aquifers or lots and lots of them. Decisions, decisions. From time to time our compatriots have taken to the streets, sometimes by the thousands, to protest these policies. But the protesters themselves have seldom questioned the free market assumptions that justify the objectionable policies. Not even the protest leaders have raised the question: What kind of economic efficiency is it, exactly, that Armenias return to the free market has wrought over the past twenty-seven years? What kind of economic science is it that has failed for decades to deliver much more than misery to the majority, and yet continues to claim the status of unquestioned truth? Armenia is a country with an official thirty percent poverty rate, more than forty percent youth unemployment, and wave after wave of emigration. Commentators have been puzzled why, in a country like that, voters would return an incumbent administration to office. Fear of change might well have played a role in the victory of the Republican Party. Many voters, perhaps, were unwilling to cast ballots for the several parties and alliances that they associated with dangerous anti-Russian agendas. But perhaps, too, as in so many other elections, the outcome had much to do with the perceived absence of a realistic alternative. Reviewing the list of the leading parties, alliances, and personalities that competed in the 2 April election, it is striking that none of them offered an alternative to the same old neoliberal orientation that has impoverished and depopulated the country for the past twenty-seven ears. The Armenian Communist Party is the party that has most consistently addressed the interests of the countrys long-maligned workers and the long-neglected poor. But the Communists received 0.74% of votesfewer than 12,000 votes in all--and as a consequence it has no seats, zero, in the new National Assembly. Of course, most of the parties and alliances advertised themselves as agents of change. Both ruling and opposition parties had campaigned on populist promises such as jobs, wages, pensions, a pollster in Armenia recently observed. Thats what matters to the voters in Armenia. (Gevorg Poghosyan, in an interview with AFP, quoted in Euractive.com, 4 April 2017.) But the kind of change that most of the contenders recommended was mega-doses of the same neoliberal kool aid that Armenians have been drinking for the past three decades. Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the second-place alliance bearing his name, proposed a technocratic government that understands the modern world. In recent decades, voters in a dozen countries from Argentina to Iceland have repudiated self-described technocratic regimes that, as it turns out, bankrupted their countries, in the service of a small circle of plutocrats and their international patrons in G-7 capitals. At this point, a Mexican politician would loose an election by promising a technocratic government. Mexican voters, it seems, understand the modern world considerably better than the Tsarukyan admirers do. At a time when electorates in dozens of countries are repudiating neoliberalism, Armenias largest parties and alliances continue to uphold the very same dogmas that have registered such a dismal record of failure for most of our compatriots. The leaders of Armenias largest parties and blocs continue to support the same neoliberal dogmas that impoverished Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal, and that provoked Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Indeed, even voters in the USA repudiated neoliberalism in the last presidential electionor at least they imagined they were doing something like that. But it looks as though, even after American voters have tried (unsuccessfully, as we will see) to jump off the neoliberal train, Armenians are determined to stay on that broken-down contraption and ride it to national oblivion. In Armenia, the poor, the working class, the unemployed, the underemployed, the self-employed, and their dependents make up the overwhelming majority of the population. After the April 2 elections, this majority will still lack representation in the National Assembly. As long as the majority has no representation in the National Assembly, there is no pluralism in the national legislature, and it is not an institution of representative democracy. Under the new constitution ratified in 2015, Armenia is making a transition to a parliamentary system and proportional representation. This might open the door a crack for electoral inroads by genuine representatives of Armenias workers and poor. Whether it will or not, and whether or not this will make a difference for the poor and working-class majoritythese are open questions. Markar Melkonian is a teacher and an author. His books include Richard Rortys Politics: Liberalism at the End of the American Century (1999), Marxism: A Post-Cold War Primer (Westview Press, 1996), and My Brothers Road (2005). Armenias Lake Gosh today looks like a large pool of muck. The Vendor company has brought in heavy construction equipment into the Dilijan National Park, widening the road to the lake and removing mud from the lakes basin. The mud is being dumped around the lakes perimeter. The local rumor going around is that the lake has been purchased by a son-in-law of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in order to build a hotel nearby. Vendor was formed in 2014 by Yerevan resident Ashot Haytyan. On July 3, 2015, Haytyan and Dilijan National Park Director Sahak Mouradyan signed an agreement by which a parcel of land in the parks Gosh branch was allocated to Vendor for commercial use. 3.18hectares was leased to Vendor, at an annual rate of 1.330 million AMD, and a construction permit issued with an expiration date of July 2075. The contract stipulates that construction must not upset the lakes ecosystem and that motorized boats would not be permitted without approval by the environmental ministry. The company would also have to restore a pedestrian walkway around the lakes shoreline. Vendor has brought in an excavator without notifying Dilijan Park management in advance. Park Director Mouradyan told Hetq that he was on vacation for over one month, and would still be away from the office for a few days due to personal issues. Deputy Park Director Vaghinak Vasilyan said that the company hadnt notified them, but that construction work had been put on hold. They told us that the work was legal, but we asked that they stop work for now until we understand what is going on, Vasilyan told Hetq. Vendor representative Edward Melkonyan, who told Hetq that hes the brother of Ashot Haytyan, described the work as cleansing the lake of waste water. The level of mud in the lake has risen. There are spots where the water is only 20-25 centimeters deep. Plants are starting to grow there. Its turning into a swamp. The excavator is deepening the lakes basin so that the water doesnt warm, Melkonyan said. Melkonyan said the company has won a bid announced by the environmental ministry, but that they dont have the finances to make any substantial investments on the site. When asked what the company is planning to build in the park, he answered, We have no plans at the moment. We havent constructed anything yet. We just decided to halt the silting process and clean the lake. Our long-term plan is to build wooden cottages near the lake to spur eco-tourism. The contract stipulates that Vendor invest 300 million AMD (US$618,200) within five years. Cleaning the lake, roadwork, and building the cottages are included in the investment. Vasilyan believes that the construction will not damage the environment. They will not damage the forest. Theyre simply fixing the road to Lake Gosh, he says. While Vasilyan says the company doesnt have a permit to dredge the lake, Melkonyan, his boss, says the opposite. When asked if the company had a permit to dredge the lake, Vasilyan said, I knew the muck shouldnt have been removed. But I checked, and found out that the company merely removed dead trees that had fallen in. Vasilyan, however, hasnt visited the site in the past few days, and hasnt seen whats going on with his one eyes. He relies on what others tell him. So, whats the fate of Lake Gosh? Can the current construction actually spur eco-tourism? The environmental ministry has given the go-ahead to a company that has, as Melkonyan confesses, no experience in eco-tourism. The fate of the lake, like so many other cultural and historical landmarks in Armenia, is in the hands of non-professionals. To make matters worse, Dilijan National Park management seems to have no clue about whats taking place under its nose. Organisation: UN Resident Coordinators Office Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Communication Officer About US: The United Nations is an impartial and trusted partner in Uganda, supporting the Government to achieve its development goals. The United Nations Country Team (UNCT), is comprised of 22 resident and non-resident UN agencies. The UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative (RC/RR) leads the UNCT and is the highest representative of UNDP in Uganda. The RC/RR is also the Designated Official for security for UN Uganda. The UN Resident Coordinator is assisted in her coordination role in the field by United Nations Area Coordinators (UNACs) in the areas where the UN has a strong presence on the ground. The UNAC system is a UNCT-integrated coordination system at the field level that convenes UN agency representatives through regular Area Coordination Team meetings. The UNAC system seeks to accelerate the implementation of Delivering as One at the field level in Acholi and West Nile, Karamoja and South West. Job Summary: The Communication Intern will support the UN Resident Coordinators Office in achieving Delivering as One objectives. The intern will be working closely with the UN Communication Group (UNCG), responsible for joint UN internal and external communication, in supporting the implementation of the Uganda UN Development Assistance Framework Advocacy and Communication Strategy. The strategy supports the implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016-2020 and focuses on supporting advocacy and communications of joint UN programming and initiatives implemented by several UN agencies, and popularizing and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Uganda. The UN Communications Group also contributes to Upstream Advocacy to the Government of Uganda and development partners on development issues. The UNCT relies on the UNCG for a wide range of advocacy and communication products and services including preparation of key messages, fact sheets, press releases, joint statements, policy briefs, newspaper supplements, talking points on important issues of joint UN importance, organisation of public events to disseminate advocacy information; planning and executing media and social media campaigns targeting a variety of audiences as required. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall guidance of the Coordination Specialist and the direct supervision of the Communication Officer, the Communication Intern will support the Resident Coordinators Office with several tasks. Under theoverall guidance of the Coordination Specialist and the direct supervision ofthe Communication Officer, the Communication Intern will support the ResidentCoordinators Office with several tasks. Assist the Communication Officer at RCO by doing the following: Contribute to researching and writing RC speeches, talking points, statements articles, opeds, blogs etc; Preparing and circulating minutes of meetings and follow up on actions; Hard and soft copy filing of documents; Photography of events involving the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN in Uganda; Systematic storing of the photographs systematically on the shared drive for future us in publications;. Significantly contribute to the design and production of publications, branding and visibility items for the UN in Uganda; Actively contribute to organizing events for UN in Uganda; Engage with a diverse group of partners and close collaboration with all UN entities in the country; Contribute to posts on social media platforms and website of the UN in Uganda; Internship training benefits: The intern is expected to develop excellent secretariat skills including meeting planning and preparation, organization, minute taking and follow up; The intern is expected to learn the structures of the UN coordination mechanisms at country level; The intern will have the opportunity to participate in various high-level meetings coordinated or organized by the RCO. Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The ideal candidate for the UN Resident Coordinators Office Communication Intern should be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher from a recognized institution) in Mass Communications or other relevant fields; Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelors level or equivalent) in any of the fields listed above; and Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation; The ideal candidates must be able to adapt to an international, multicultural, multilingual environment, have good communication skills and can work in a team; Previous experience from volunteering or extra-curricular activities linked to the Vision and Mission of the UN would be considered an asset. Language: Fluency in English is essential. Personal Competencies: Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UNs values and ethical standards; Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; Treats all people fairly without favoritism; Functional Competencies: Consistently approaches work with professionalism, energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Demonstrates strong ability to manage relationships with diverse stakeholders; Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt to diverse audiences and stakeholders; Demonstrates strong planning and organization skills; Contributes to teamwork within RCO and displays flexibility about assigned tasks; Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure; Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view. How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested candidates desiring to serve the UN Resident Coordinators Office as an Intern should express their interest by visiting the UN recruitment website and clicking Apply Now. st April 2017 Deadline: 21April2017 Today Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian issued a statement after negotiations with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidzei. Below is the statement. Dear colleague, Ladies and gentlemen, I am glad to welcome my good friend Mikheil Janelidze, Foreign Minister of Georgia, who is paying an official visit to Yerevan. It is symbolic that a year ago Mr.Janelidze was the first high-ranking foreign guest, whom we welcomed at the new premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since that we have had numerous meetings both in Tbilisi and in the framework of international forums. Our permanent intensive dialogue with Mr.Janelidze provides an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of the bilateral agenda, and to further our efforts aimed at strengthening and deepening our cooperation. During the meeting we discussed the process of implementation of agreements reached by the leaders of our countries. In recent years the Armenian-Georgian relations have been on a significant rise and are moving forward in a spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation. Both sides regularly repeat that there are no problems between Armenia and Georgia, there are issues that are being solved through joint efforts. Our meeting today is yet another proof of that. The stakeholder dialogue on stability in the region is an important component of our collaboration. We have noted with satisfaction the progress that has been registered in economic cooperation. The work of the Joint Intergovernmental Committee is quite productive. We have discussed numerous issues related to the expansion of cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, energy, development of transport infrastructure, tourism.We have touched upon the issue of improving further the existing comprehensive legal basis between our two states: today it includes more than 80 documents. During the talks, we have reflected upon the concerns of the Georgian-Armenians and the steps being undertaken towards their resolution. I have briefed my Georgian counterpart on the efforts exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to create conducive conditions for the advancement of settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this regards, we consider important Georgia's continuous support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs efforts. We have also discussed a number of urgent regional and international issues. Now, I would like to pass the floor to Minister of Foreign Affairs Janelidze. United Airlines sparked outrage on Monday for the treatment of a passenger who was physically dragged off a plane the airlines had overbooked, and one of the security officers involved in the incident was placed on leave pending an investigation. Videos posted online by other passengers showed a man screaming as officers yanked him from his seat on United Flight 3411 before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. The man, who appeared to be Asian, was seen being dragged down the aisle on his back by his hands, body limp, bleeding from the mouth, glasses askew and shirt pulled up above his navel. The videos sparked outrage on social media, the second time in less than a month that United was criticised for its treatment of passengers. In a letter circulated to employees and seen by Reuters, United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz did not apologise for the way the passenger was handled, writing that the passenger had "defied" security officers. Munoz said there are lessons the company can learn from this situation, though he impressed that he "emphatically" stands behind his employees. "We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation)," Munoz wrote. "When we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions." The Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement that one of the officers did not follow protocol and added that he had been placed on leave pending a review for actions not condoned by the department. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) said it was reviewing whether United complied with overbook rules that require airlines to set guidelines on how passengers are denied boarding if they do not volunteer to give up their seats. "While it is legal for airlines to involuntarily bump passengers from an oversold flight when there are not enough volunteers, it is the airline's responsibility to determine its own fair boarding priorities," a DOT spokesperson said in a statement. The incident was one of the top-trending topics on Twitter as users took to the website to express their anger towards the airline. Video of the incident posted to Twitter account @Tyler_Bridges shows three security officers huddling over the seated passenger before dragging him to the floor. @united @FoxNews @CNN not a good way to treat a Doctor trying to get to work because they overbooked pic.twitter.com/sj9oHk94Ik Tyler Bridges (@Tyler_Bridges) April 9, 2017 Bridges said the man told United staff that he was a doctor and had to return home to his patients. The airline said it had asked for volunteers to leave because additional flight crew needed to get to Louisville. Many social media users criticized United for how it handled the situation. In Bridges' video, a woman asks: "Can't they rent a car for the pilots and have them drive?" Two uniformed men then reach into the man's seat and snatch him from his chair. Fellow passenger Jayse D. Anspach, who goes by @JayseDavid on Twitter, wrote: "No one volunteered (to leave), so @United decided to choose for us. They chose an Asian doctor and his wife." @United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Here's how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017 "It looked like he was knocked out, because he went limp and quiet," Anspach wrote, "and they dragged him out of the plane like a rag doll." Another video shows the distressed man, still dishevelled from the wrangle, returned to the cabin, clinging onto a curtain at the back of the plane and repeating: "Just kill me. Kill me," and "I have to go home," as blood streaked down his mouth. Much of the online uproar surrounded the appropriateness of removing a paying customer in order to accommodate airline staff. Bless our families and our children, and choose from our homes those who you desire for this holy work. Heavenly Father,your divine Son taught usto pray to the Lord of the harvestto send laborers into His vineyard.We earnestly beg youto bless our Diocese and our worldwith many priests and religiouswho will love you fervently and gladlyand courageously spend their livesin service to your Son's Church,especially the poor and the needy.Teach them to respond generouslyand keep them ever faithfulin following your Son Jesus Christ,that under the guidance of the HolySpiritand with the inspiration ofSaint Damien and Blessed Mariannethe Good News of redemptionmay be brought to all.We ask this through Christ our Lord. Some are quick to throw out the label Big is bad when it comes to farm size. Dairy producers Ron and Zoey Brooks believe the opposite is true for them. The father-daughter duo own and operate Brooks Farms 1855 LLC, in Waupaca, Wis. They currently run 1,200 crop acres and milk 250 cows, but a new freestall barn and parlor are nearing completion. The herd has been growing internally for the past few years, and their goal is to be in the new facility and milking about 700 cows in the very near future. Ron and Zoey spoke about their growing farm at the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) Agricultural Community Engagement meeting held late last month. The farm was founded in 1855 by Rons great-great-grandfather. Why did they make the decision to expand, amid all the challenges that dairy farmers face? We believe in this industry. Its our passion, said Ron. Zoey, who came back to the operation a year and a half ago, said, Bigger is allowing us to be better. She went on to explain that this expanded herd size and upgraded facilities will allow them to be better managers of cows and people, and better managers of manure and nutrients. Features such as sand-bedded freestalls, rubber flooring, properly designed ventilation, and cow brushes will provide a better environment for the cows as well. The Brooks also believe the upgrades will create a better culture for their family and their employees. Finally, the addition of a welcome and education center will be better for their community as it makes their farm more transparent. We want to create a culture in our community that sheds a positive light on dairy, Zoey said. The farm expansion also leaves room for opportunity. Ron has three other daughters not working on the dairy at this time, but the business structure keeps the door open if any of them change their mind, or if anyone from the next generation wants to join the farm in the future. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2017 March 13, 2017 Unsuitable: FCA chairman John Griffith-Jones The whistleblowing scandal at Barclays, together with fresh disclosures suggesting a cover-up at the highest level of Lloyds over the scandal at HBOS's Reading branch, means the Financial Conduct Authority finds itself at the centre of two highly sensitive probes. Both investigations will test the public's faith in the integrity of the financial system. No one doubts the ability of the highly respected chief executive of the FCA, Andrew Bailey, who was drafted in from the Bank of England, to conduct the most thorough inquiries. But as a result of remarkable complacency in the Treasury and the City, it is astonishing that at such a sensitive time that the chairman of the regulator is John Griffith-Jones, the former senior partner at auditors KPMG. It was on his watch at KPMG that HBOS came within a hair's breadth of failure without the auditor blowing the whistle ahead of the rescue bid by Lloyds. KPMG was also the Co-op Bank's auditor, and suffered heavy criticism by MPs over its lack of due diligence at the time of the bank's takeover of the Britannia building society. The Co-op Bank currently stands on the brink of failure. Matters have been brought to a head by disclosures relating to the fraud which took place at HBOS's Reading branch where the costs are soaring. The scandal has cost Lloyds some 245million and it has set aside a further 100million to compensate victims. Griffith-Jones, of course, bears no responsibility for the high jinks at the Reading branch. But what we now know is that executives at HBOS may have been aware of a fraud there as long ago as 2008 when it was merged with Lloyds, and as far as we know executives were anxious 'not to disclose'. Auditors KPMG, who might have been expected to raise a stink, did nothing. The FCA has been clear that Griffith-Jones stepped aside from the various inquiries into HBOS so there is no conflict of interest. That is not good enough. The integrity and independence of Britain's top financial regulator, responsible for protecting the consumer from wrongdoing, needs to be beyond reproach. It makes a mockery of the post-crisis regulatory regime that someone who held high office in a firm so deeply involved in two banking collapses should be occupying such a role. Chancellor Philip Hammond should ask for Griffith-Jones's resignation. A chairman who has to excuse himself from inquiries into some of the most troubling events in the banking system is no chairman at all. Pay hypocrisy One of the dirty little secrets of the City is how the backwater of fund management became so well paid. It is even more remarkable given that these financial gurus are the very people who are meant to hold wealth-creating FTSE 100 executives to account over remuneration. Analysis by the FT shows there were big pay cuts in the sector in 2016, led by Andrew Formica of Henderson, who saw his income slashed 65 per cent to 2million. Martin Gilbert, who is seeking to cement a merger with larger Standard Life, saw his pay reduced by 35.5 per cent to a mere 2.8million. A smaller reduction was recorded at Jupiter. It would be nice to think that the pay cuts reflected greater scrutiny by remuneration panels, and recognition of the hypocrisy involved. The reality is more about changes in financial conditions. Many managers, such as Aberdeen, were affected badly by a switch in investor fashion, which saw emerging market outflows. As significant is a loss of confidence in active management. Investors have grown restless with high charges which eat into returns. Charges were the subject of a critical report recently from the Financial Conduct Authority. Inappropriate management fees, which enrich managers at the expense of clients, have become a huge irritant. These have sent investors scurrying into lower-cost vehicles such exchange-traded funds and passive funds such as Vanguard. Investors may be willing to pay a premium for performance, but they don't want to see returns gobbled up by yachts for the bosses. Freedom festival Last night Jewish people and friends from other faith groups sat down to recount the ultimate Brexit story. The Israelites, having delivered all manner of perils upon Egypt's ruler Pharaoh, were given the nod to leave oppression and economic subjugation and head across the Sinai to the promised land in the Exodus story. Once in the wilderness, many, like modern-day Remainers, wanted to turn the clock back and return to Egypt, despite the loss of sovereignty and freedom. Sound familiar? It's been hailed as a miracle material that could cure serious illnesses, transform plane travel and make sea water drinkable. Graphene, the purest form of carbon, is 200 times stronger than steel, harder than diamonds and the world's thinnest material. On top of all that it's also the best electrical conductor known to Man. For years, scientists have studied its astonishing properties, many of which were revealed last week, but big companies are only just starting to cash in. Samsung, Airbus and drug maker GlaxoSmithKline are scrambling to harness it to create futuristic new products. Inside graphene molecular structure. The material, the purest form of carbon, is 200 times stronger than steel, harder than diamonds and the world's thinnest material From phone screens that bend to graphene-coated vehicles that appear invisible on radar and tiny implants that cure debilitating diseases, a host of innovations could change our lives. 'Graphene is rapidly being developed by companies for all sorts of products and applications and that could result in significant industries in the future,' says James Baker, of the National Graphene Institute, a research division of the University of Manchester, which is working to develop the material for use in industry. So, with the graphene revolution around the corner, how can investors turn a profit? The next generation of phones? Electronics firm Samsung reckons graphene could solve our biggest frustrations with smartphones. In 2015, scientists at the Korean giant created a phone battery containing graphene that lasted nearly twice as long as current power units. While not yet used in the mobile phones we carry around today, future models might need charging only once a week, rather than once a day. Samsung is also using graphene to develop flexible screens that bend without breaking the glass. Chinese start-up Moxi Group last year launched a smartphone made with graphene that can be worn on the wrist like a bracelet. JP Morgan Emerging Markets, a fund recommended by broker Hargreaves Lansdown, invests 3.02 in every 100 in Samsung. The fund, which mostly invests in Asia, has turned 10,000 into 13,300 in five years. The graphene rollercoaster Applied Graphene Materials shares trebled on listing but have suffered since The last time graphene was big news in the UK investing world was when Applied Graphene Materials shares listed on the stockmarket in 2013. The company was spun out of Durham University in 2010 and tempted investors with its novel way of producing graphene. Excitement surrounding it saw shares treble from the placing price of 155p in just three days on Londons junior market AIM. But while graphene as a material may have a very bright future, experts told This is Money at the time that investing in individual small companies specialising in it may not be the best way to profit. Applied Graphene Materials share price has reflected that since. From its level above 450p in those early days on the stock market, it has then sunk and a rollercoaster ride later, shares are currently trading at 187.5p. Just after that, watchdog the FCA warned that consumers should be wary of dubious investments in the miracle material, as unscrupulous boiler room brokers aimed to cash in on the excitement generated by it. The Financial Conduct Authority posted a warning spotlighting brokers who appear to be taking advantage of the hype surrounding graphene and are using uncertainty about its future as a way to entice consumers to invest. The FCA said it decided to take action after finding details relating to a graphene investment firm on the computer servers of a suspected UK boiler room operation that it investigated. - Simon Lambert, This is Money Stronger and lighter planes The aerospace industry could also benefit from graphene's strength and remarkable ability to conduct electricity. Airbus, the French aerospace firm, has joined forces with the National Graphene Institute to develop cutting-edge technologies to use in its planes. Graphene could be used to strengthen plane wings, which come under intense pressure during flight. And it is very light, so an aircraft made with graphene would save fuel. Experts believe it could be an essential part of passenger planes within a decade. An unmanned prototype aircraft with graphene-covered wings made its first public flight at Farnborough Air Show last year. Poll The annual Isa allowance is now 20,000. If you had a 20k windfall, what would you do? Blow it on a holiday or car Give it to charity Put it in your pension Pay off any debts Invest it in an Isa Use it for kids' education The annual Isa allowance is now 20,000. If you had a 20k windfall, what would you do? Blow it on a holiday or car 179 votes Give it to charity 53 votes Put it in your pension 153 votes Pay off any debts 272 votes Invest it in an Isa 393 votes Use it for kids' education 57 votes Now share your opinion For investors looking to cash in, Maike Currie, of fund broker Fidelity International, tips Invesco Perpetual Global Equity Income, which in the past five years has turned 10,000 into 19,680. Airbus is one of the fund manager Nick Mustoe's main picks, accounting for 2.56 in every 100 of savers' money. Ben Yearsley, of adviser Shore Financial Planning, says the JO Hambro UK Dynamic fund should also profit from the graphene revolution. The fund has returned 19,900 from 10,000 in the past five years. The fund invests 3.81 in every 100 in Qinetiq. The science and engineering firm set up a graphene research unit a year ago to investigate how the material can be used to make objects invisible to radar. It's thought graphene could be used to absorb radar waves, so they don't bounce back to antenna. It means military vehicles such as tanks and planes, coated in a lightweight graphene layer, would be invisible to enemy radar. Qinetiq is also looking at whether graphene could be incorporated in soldiers' uniforms due to it being so tough and lightweight. Taking off: Airbus, the French aerospace firm, has joined forces with the National Graphene Institute to develop cutting-edge technologies to use in its planes Wind turbines and fighting diseases Another potential use is to coat wind turbines in graphene to stop them interfering with nearby airport radar stations. One problem with the turbines is that they create a blinking dot on radar screens that can be confused for a plane. As graphene absorbs microwaves, it's thought it could be sprayed on to the turbines to stop the spinning blades being picked up by air traffic controllers. Being just one atom thick and an exceptional electrical conductor, biomedical firms believe graphene could be used in tiny implants in the human body to combat chronic illnesses such as arthritis and asthma. These implants, smaller than a grain of rice, attach themselves to nerves to regulate the electrical signals that travel between the nervous system and the body's vital organs. GlaxoSmithKline, the British drug giant, is a leader in this field, having set up a research facility with Alphabet, the parent company of Google, to research new technologies. For investors wanting to share in its future profits, Jason Hollands, of fund broker Tilney, tips Evenlode Income, which has turned 10,000 into 20,200 in the past five years. It invests 4.70 in every 100 in London-based GSK. p.thomas@dailymail.co.uk Anti-fracking campaigners have targetted Bell Pottinger due to its links with Cuadrilla Public relations firm Bell Pottinger was targeted yesterday by anti-fracking campaigners Reclaim The Power, who were angry about the company's association with energy firm Cuadrilla. Protesters dressed as animals apparently 'threw leaves, spread manure and sprayed squid ink' in the lobby of the firm's Holborn offices. Wouldn't their cause would be better served by reasoned debate than puerile stunts? Bell Pottinger spinners might wish to advise. Billionaire US financier Steve Cohen is to auction a painting by Jean-Michele Basquiat, called La Hara, at Christie's next month, which could fetch as much as 22million. Mere folding money to dome-headed Cohen, 60, (no oil painting himself, I fear) whose formidable art collection is worth around 800million. He paid Charles Saatchi 6.4million for Damien Hirst's ridiculous embalmed shark in 2004, which he had to repair at a cost of 54,000 after it began to rot. Goldman Sachs's London-based head of foreign exchange derivatives, Manikandan Natarajan, is to retire. As a Goldman partner, Indian-born Natarajan will have earned an annual seven-figure remuneration to last him through his dotage. If that's not enough to make the molars grind, try this: the jammy rascal has barely turned 38. Last night's Panorama raised the tantalising prospect of ex-Barclays chief Bob Diamond being summoned to appear again in front of the Treasury Select Committee over his role in the Libor scandal. His last appearance in 2011 was not a success. He irritated MPs by addressing them by their first names in a misplaced attempt to be chummy. Word was he'd received serpentine advice from Lord Mandelson. The mega-merger between City law firms CMS, Nabarro and Olswang is due to complete next month. Due to on-going 'synergies', the firms have offered all 46 trainees arriving in September 10,000 to defer their start date for six months. Only half the influx have agreed to this bite-your-hand-off proposition. Students don't know they're born, do they? Recruitment firm Robert Walters has seen a significant rise in City hiring following a Brexit-linked slowdown after last year's referendum. The professional hiring consultancy said in today's first-quarter trading update that its net fee income in the UK rose 27 per cent to 23.9 million in the first quarter. The company said this had been driven by 'a notable upturn in financial services recruitment activity in London plus good performances in legal recruitment and the UK regions.' Rising high: net fee income in the City rose 27% It comes after the firm, along with other recruiters, said last June's Brexit vote saw recruitment in Britain's powerhouse financial services sector drop last year. Spain, Germany and the Netherlands also produced strong rates of growth for the firm, all increasing net fee income 25 per cent or more.France also performed well increasing net fee income by 20 per cent. Chief executive, Robert Walters is confident about the group's prospects for the full year, and said: 'It's been a positive start to the year with group net fee income increasing by 20 per cent.' Overall the firm, which also has international operations in Asia and North America, said net fee income was up 20 per cent in constant currency terms to 78.3 million in the period. Shares in Robert Walters are up 2.67 percent to 443 pence. Investment banks are scrambling to hire more staff in London thanks to a resurgence in the global economy, a headhunting firm has said. Staff at recruitment group Robert Walters saw demand for workers from banks and other financial firms rise 50 per cent in the first three months of the year. The hiring spree comes as the world puts the financial crisis behind it and will be seen as a huge vote of confidence in the City following the Brexit vote. City jobs boom: Investment banks are scrambling to hire more staff in London It has been suggested that jobs will be move abroad because of Brexit. But chief executive Robert Walters said that so far the only discussions hed had on office moves were with three banks which had categorically ruled out relocating to France because of its restrictive labour laws. SKYSCRAPER COSTS SOAR London is the worlds fifth-most expensive city in which to rent a skyscraper, claims a report by Knight Frank. The agent ranked the costs of office space in towers across the globe, finding the average cost in the capital is 84.08 per square foot. Hong Kong topped the list at 243.36, with Manhattan second at 127.87, Tokyo third at 108.07 and San Francisco fourth at 90.52. The closest European rival was Paris, down in 12th position at 43.28. There were reports that rent growth had cooled in the wake of the Brexit vote, but the figures suggest high rises remain in demand. He said banks that do move will have to take their staff with them because of a shortage of skilled workers in other European cities. But he added that many bankers would be totally unwilling to uproot their families and swap the UK for Paris or Frankfurt. Youve got to look at the reality of it the people who have to move will be in their mid-30s, living in the Home Counties with a wife who likes horse riding and cant speak German, said Walters. The problem with Frankfurt and Dublin and other places is there are no schools available, the housing shortage is intense and there are problems with transport. Some of the most blood-curdling rhetoric before the vote came from JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon, who threatened to sack 4,000 British workers if Leave won. But he has since U-turned, writing last week that not many employees would have to shift abroad. SHOE FITS Timpson said dry weather has meant shoes require fewer repairs. But fashion cycles and warm weather did not stop Offerhappy, the business behind the High Street cobbler and locksmith, posting a 10million revenue boost to 205million. Profits were up 5million to 20.1million in the year to October 1. BOSS EXITS Majestic Wine said John Colley, managing director of Majestic Retail, is leaving. Colley is taking over as boss of arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft. Shares grew 3.9 per cent or 14.25p to 376p. WEATHER BOOST Warm weather drove sales at John Lewis Partnership. Sales in Waitrose were up 7.6 per cent to 133.57million, while John Lewis reported a 3.5 per cent boost to 81.9million. Sales of burgers and coal rose by 33 per cent and 200 per cent respectively, while Pimms jumped 232 per cent. NEW LEVEL More than 100,000 tickets have been sold on British Airways' low-cost airline. Level, launched by BA owner IAG, has also had more than 700,000 hits on its website since take-off on March 17. ADVISOR FLOAT Company sales advisor K3 Capital Group has listed on the AIM market. The firm matches sellers of small businesses to possible buyers. Shares closed at 110.5p on their first day of trading. PLAN APPEAL Oil and gas explorer Egdon Resources is appealing against Lincolnshire County Council's decision in January to refuse permission for the development of the Wressle oil field. Shares were up 2.6 per cent or 0.25p to 9.75p. PEDAL POWER Dutch bicycle firm Pon Holdings has made an offer for rival Accell Group. Pon's bid values Accell at 720million and the deal would see a number of well known brands, such as Raleigh and Gazelle, come under one roof. OIL PAYMENT Oil and gas company Genel Energy and its partners have received a payment of 21.6million from the Kurdistan Regional Government for oil sales at its Taq Taq field in the region during January 2017. Shares climbed 5.6 per cent or 4.25p to 80.25p. MINE TIE-UP Miner Vedanta has merged with Cairn India to form a natural resources giant worth 12.5billion. Shares fell 1.1 per cent or 9p to 818p. HEALTHY BOOST Shares in Fitbug jumped more than 23 per cent yesterday after the group now trading as Kin Wellness announced a key contract had been renewed. Dialog Semiconductor supplies computer chips for iPhones More than 1.2billion was wiped off the value of a British tech firm in less than an hour yesterday over fears it would lose a key contract with Apple. Investors in Dialog Semiconductor, which supplies computer chips to the iPhone maker, were spooked after reports Apple was building its own in-house design team. Dialog gets about three quarters of its revenue from Apple meaning losing this key contract could be catastrophic. Last week fellow tech firm Imagination said Apple was designing its own computer chips and no longer needed to use them. Using its team of 1,300 engineers Dialog designs chips that control the iPhones battery life. But reports yesterday that Apple had built a team of 80 engineers to work on a power management chip of its own sparked fears Dialog would be dropped. Investors agreed, and shares tumbled more than 36 per cent in early trading, though they recovered to end the day down 14.4 per cent or 6.86p to 40.92p. One source told Reuters that Apple was recruiting top Dialog engineers in Munich. However, the share slide eased when other analysts, including at Credit Suisse, said they saw no reason why Apple would build the chip in-house. MALKERNS Local film and theatre will soon take over European stages, if the EU Ambassador to Swaziland has his way. The EU Ambassador to Swaziland Nicola Bellomo pledged to promote the Amarula Eswatini and This is My Swaziland documentary films which were screened at House on Fire on Thursday night. The ambassador made this pledge and also promised to find people that would partner with the SWAWOLI team to promote Swaziland abroad. Bellomo added that the creative industry in Swaziland has an important role to play in disseminating factual information about the country. He added that he hopes to explore more authentic Swazi projects and work together with those who produce such material. The ambassador commended the hosts of the event Bongekile Shiba and Miss Swaziland Tourism Nadia Nascimento on their work. During her thank you speech, SWAWOLI Director Bongekile expressed profound gratitude to the European Union as she revealed that when she took the decision to quit her formal job and pursue her passion in film they were the first people who gave her an opportunity. She then participated in the European Film Festival in 2012 as a result. Support She told guests about how hard it is to take such a risk but with a burning passion, she was fuelled by the support she received from the people she first started working with. One of these is SIFTPAs Nhlanhla Nxumalo who also sang Shibas praises during the screening of the Amarula Eswatini film. He said a lot of Swazis live in the country but are unaware of most of the customs, giving acknowledgement to the fact that this documentary in particular educated him about facts he previously didnt know. He went on to say that Miss Swaziland Tourisms This is My Swazilanddocumentary presented Swaziland as many people know it as it featured the MTN BUSHFIRE Festival, motor sport and scenes from Sibane Hotel. He said in contrast the Amarula Eswatini film shows a different side to the country, one that Swazis are not fully accustomed to. We are unaware about a lot of things in Swaziland because we are not exposed to them, this is why I found this film so educational, he said. EZULWINI MTN Swaziland has done it again. The countrys mobile service provider though its foundation has made sure that pupils get to know more about arts while still young. The company has since pumped in a sum of E390 000 towards the 8th edition of the MTN Schools Bushfire Festival. The sponsorship was unveiled yesterday morning at the Mahlalekhukwini House. Announcing the sponsorship was MTN Swazilands Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ambrose Dlamini. The money will be spread into two with E350 000 being used towards the high schools pupils while the primary schools will get a sum of E40 000. Dlamini said they were pleased to continue being partners in the festival and they were looking forward to seeing the pupils being fully involved in art and culture. Improvement Ever since the festival started, we have seen a great improvement and we are happy with the progress we are seeing in the festival, he said. What makes it important is the fact that the pupils are fully participating. We have an interest when it comes to arts and culture and it pleases us when we see the pupils gathered in this fashion, he said. The CEO pledged that the company will continue to support the initiative We definitely have a huge interest when it comes to issues involving arts and culture especially because pupils are involved. Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training Pat Muir said the ministry was proud to be associated with the MTN Bushfire Schools Festival. Initiative It pleases us that we are part of this initiative. The fact that pupils are involved, it makes us even happier. We believe such an initiative will continue as the pupils get to learn more about arts and culture. They will discover their talent while still young, he said. The schools festival will begin on May 22-25th at the House on Fire Amphitheatre. NTSHANINI It took a terrified young girl to wet herself repeatedly in front of her classmates for her teachers to realise she is a survivor of sexual abuse, which occurred within the school premises. According to the Grade I pupil, she was sexually violated by another pupil in the Ntshanini Primary School toilets in an incident that has sparked security concerns at the remote rural community, situated about 45km east of Hlatikhulu in the Shiselweni region. The incident left authorities at the school seeking answers on who could have been responsible for the dastardly act among the male pupils at the school. It is believed that the abuse might have occurred about three weeks ago when the minor started showing changes in her behaviour pattern. The young girl said the perpetrator pounced on her while she was alone in the toilet. She revealed that the boy ordered her to close her eyes before he proceeded to rape her. Once done with the abuse, the alleged rapist threatened to deal with the young girl in the event she told anyone about it. Terrified, the girl also did not report the abuse until she felt able to confide in her own mother at home last Monday, following numerous visits by teachers and a psychologist to the girls homestead. The matter first came to light when a vigilant teacher noticed a drastic change in the girls behaviour. Information gathered was that the girl had become withdrawn and apprehensive about going to the toilet with other children during recess. A source close to the matter said the girl would just remain in class alone when the children were allowed a short break to visit the toilet. Apparently, this had been going on for a while over the past three weeks, until her teacher confronted the young girl in order to find out what was troubling her. What particularly drew the teachers attention to the child was that while she would be reluctant to go to the toilet, she would then suddenly wet herself in front of her classmates moments after the other children had returned. Parents of the minor were approached but nothing came close to solving the girls mystery. LOBAMBA If the words of Prime Minister (PM) Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini are anything to go by, then the country is ready to bow down to the eight demands of the United States of America in order to regain its AGOA status. The PM, speaking during a meeting for the Senate Portfolio Committee, assured senators that the country was closer to meeting the demands that were made by the United States of America (USA) government. During the meeting, the PM formally requested the portfolio committee to halt the finalisation of the Public Order Bill, 2016 and Suppression of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2016 for a few days until government was done with sorting the eight demands which were made by the Americans. He mentioned that from the consultations and meetings that they had with the American representatives, the prospects of retaining AGOA looked positive. We are here to request that the Bills not be passed until we come back to present the additional amendments that were demanded by the Americans. We will be meeting them again on Wednesday (tomorrow) so it is promising, he said. He said after the meeting, his office would be ready to make a presentation at Senate anytime and said even if they suggested Thursday this week there was no problem. Senators agreed to the request and suggested that the PMs office would be given the opportunity to make its presentation after the Easter Holidays. The eight concerns which were raised by the US Government included that the notification time should be reduced from seven days to a maximum of 48 hours. Currently, unions have to notify government within seven days before their planned activity. According to the US government, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on freedom of association and assembly together with the African Commission, the international best practice appears to recommend a maximum of 48 hours notice prior to an assembly. The Americans further complained about the size of the group that triggers the notification requirement. They said in the Bill it was not clear how many people could form such a group. It argued that as per the reports of the UN Human Rights Council, notifications should not be required for assemblies that do not require preparation by state authorities and assemblies with fewer than 50 participants. LOBAMBA Members of Parliament (MPs) were yesterday reminded who is boss when Prime Minister (PM) Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini minced no words in telling them that Cabinet would not be bringing any Bill aimed at legalising dagga. Asingafihlelani kute nje i-draft lesitoyenta, said the PM, which loosely means he did not want to beat about the bush, but the Executive arm of government would not consider doing such. This news was not received well by the MPs, who felt that the pm was keen on not implementing a possible House resolution. The PMs response followed a motion moved by Manzini North MP Jan Sithole, who, speaking on Standing Order No.58 said he was disturbed that the PM had last week during the breakfast meeting with the Editors Forum put it clear that Cabinet would not implement any law legalising cannabis. MP Sithole said the PM had disregarded the Privileges Act in that he repeated statements or spoke on issues that had been discussed in Parliament at another forum. He was making reference to the five member select committee which was chosen in the House to investigate the possible use of cannabis in the medical and manufacturing sectors to boost the economy. Sithole said at no point did the Members of Parliamnet talk about legalising dagga. Even the national commissioner of police addressed the same issue just the next day. what does this say about the integrity of this House when another member can analyse and put it to finality? wondered Sithole. He was supported by Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, who said he was also called by a colleague who told him to switch on his radio as the PM went on to say that the 10th Parliament would not deal with such issues. MP Dlamini said it was common that the pm and national commissioner always responded in other avenues on issues discussed in Parliament. The Nkwene MP said as MPs they had the powers to recall a law for amendment. He further said they had an oversight role over the executive and said the PM needed to go back to the media and withdraw his statements. We will be afraid to come here and submit other motions, the PM must let us work on the issue as the select committee as it has now been clouded, said the MP. Times of Swaziland Managing Editor Martin Dlamini (R) shaking hands with MTN Swaziland CEO Ambrose Dlamini at the launch. (Pic: Sibusiso Shange) EZULWINI Its E150 000 in cash, cellphones and airtime up for grabs in the Swazi MTN/Times of Swaziland competition. Swazi MTN and the Times of Swaziland have continued to show their commitment in changing the lives of Swazis. The two companies yesterday launched a new competition where clients will stand to win prizes worth E150 000 in a space of 12 weeks, starting today. The prizes include money, airtime and data bundles in each of the four draws that would be conducted fortnightly. Customers who want to try their luck in the competition are encouraged to fill in the competition form found in this publication and send it to the Times of Swaziland offices or Swazi MTN officers. Speaking during the launch that was held at the company headquarters in Ezulwini, Swazi MTN Chief Executive Officer Ambrose Dlamini sent his profound gratitude to their partner company (Times) for their continued healthy relationship. The CEO said the competition was aimed at improving the companys products and services. He said the competition was a continuation of the community projects that were operated through the MTN Foundation across the country. The MTN Foundation projects specialise in three sectors which are education, health and enterprise development. In appreciation of the companys good works, an individual was quoted on social media saying, If this is what MTN is doing, I do not mind the money they are taking from me, said the Swazi MTN CEO in jest. He also thanked the Times for its continued support as they provide their services to the nation. We hope to see happy faces as we interact with the public, he said. Martin Dlamini, the Managing Editor of the Times of Swaziland, registered his hope that the interaction between the two companies will yield fruitful results. He said judging from the experience the company had when working with other enterprises, especially the commercial sector, MTN included, the competition will reach the desired impact. If MTN was a proposed woman, I would liken it to a hard to get woman. We are grateful of the relationship as we work towards improving the lives of the people in the country, Martin said. Now that we're well into 2017, 2016 may seem like a distant memory. But you shouldn't be too quick to let go of the past year -- at least not until you've maxed out your tax-advantaged retirement and healthcare savings account contributions. For several tax-advantaged accounts, the contribution deadline isn't Dec. 31, as you might expect, but rather the tax filing deadline. This year, that is Monday, April 18 -- three days later than the traditional deadline of April 15, to accommodate the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. For some tax filers and savers, "a few extra days are going to be helpful," said Ken Tumin, the founder and editor of the website DepositAccounts. What may also be helpful is that, when it comes to tax-advantaged retirement contributions and HSA contributions, little has changed since last year. "The changes regarding retirement plan contributions that were made from tax year 2015 to 2016 were super modest," said Mike Piper, a certified public accountant who runs the investing blog Oblivious Investor. "The changes that would affect most people would probably just be the changes to the income thresholds." Let's take a closer look. Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) Individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, allow workers to make tax-advantaged contributions to save for retirement. More than one-third of American households owned IRAs last year, according to research by the Investment Company Institute. For 2016, as with 2015, anyone under the age of 50 can contribute up to $5,500 to IRA accounts per year. That's total, meaning if you have both a Roth IRA and traditional IRA account, you could contribute a combined $5,500 to the two accounts, not $5,500 to each. Those aged 50 or older may contribute up to $6,500. But people of all ages face a second ceiling: Contributions can't exceed your taxable income. In addition, if you own a traditional IRA and are covered by a retirement plan through your employer, depending on your income, you may not be able to claim a tax deduction for the full amount of your IRA contribution. To figure out what, if any, deduction you can claim, check out the table provided by the IRS here. Individuals have until the tax filing deadline to open and make 2016 contributions to traditional and Roth IRA plans, even if you can't take a deduction for those contributions. Read more about IRAs, including the differences between traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, here. Self-employed retirement accounts In the case of self-employed retirement plans, several deadlines have already passed, but here are some instances in which the tax filing deadline still applies: Solo 401(k)s: If you opened a solo 401(k) account during the 2016 calendar year, you may make 2016 contributions to it until the tax filing deadline. SIMPLE IRAs: If you opened a SIMPLE IRA account by Oct. 1, 2016, you may make 2016 employer contributions to it until the tax filing deadline. The deadline for making employee contributions has already passed. (Learn the difference between SIMPLE IRA employee and employer contributions here.) SEP IRAs: You can both open and make 2016 contributions to a SEP IRA until the tax filing deadline. Health savings accounts (HSAs) A health savings account is a tax-exempt account that allows individuals and families with high-deductible health plans to pay for qualifying medical expenses. Contributions to HSA accounts are tax-deductible, and earnings in HSA accounts grow tax-free. For 2016, the IRS limited HSA contributions to $3,350 for individuals (which is unchanged from 2015) and $6,750 (up $100 since 2015) for families. Would-be HSA account holders have until the tax filing deadline to open and fund an account and claim their contributions as tax deductions for 2016. To learn more about health savings accounts, check out The Alert Investor's ABCs of HSAs and FSAs. The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry When the popular Queens International Night Market returns to Flushing Meadow Corona Park later this month, the first two nights will be ticketed to help alleviate traffic, enormous crowds and any disruption to the surrounding community.The crowds for opening night last year at the Queens Hall of Science parking lot were more than double the average of 8,000 visitors who normally attend each night with a long line stretching several blocks down 111th Street. The food-focused festivals creator, John Wang, has devised a plan to offer limited $5 tickets April 22 and April 29, donating half of the ticket proceeds to three non-profit organizations the New York Police and Fire Widows and Childrens Fund, the Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and the New York Immigration Coalition. Tickets for the so-called sneak peaks can be found online at queen snigh tmark et.ticke tleap.com/ sneak -prev iew-1 and sneak-preview-2. Based on how those two go, we expect the third night will be open and free to the public again starting May 6, Wang said. When he announced the new plan at Community Board 4s monthly meeting March 21, Wang drew applause for each non-profit. The New York Police and Fire Widows and Childrens Benefit Fund is thrilled to be a part of this years Queens International Night Market, said Rachel Trotta, Answer the Call program manager. We greatly appreciate that the Night Market is showing their support for the brave men and women of New York City, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, by pledging a donation to help the families these fallen heroes have left behind. With more than 200 vendors representing more than 60 countries, confirmed food offerings include the always popular Burmese palatas, Romanian chimney cakes, Middle Eastern stews and new entries including Vallencian paella, Ecuadorian bollos and corviche, Barbadian fishballs and Puerto Rican jibaritos and mofongo. One of the most remarkable things about New York City is its diversity and this embodied through immigrants and the many businesses they create that add to this citys vibrancy, New York Immigration Coalition Executive Director Steven Choi said. The Queens International Night Market is just one more example of the New York that we know and love; one that values inclusion, dignity and more respect for immigrant contributions. Wang also announced that he was elected chairman of the community advisory board to the Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park. He told the crowd at the CB4 meeting to e-mail him at john@ queen snigh tmark et.com if they have questions or if they wanted to get involved. Flushing Meadows Corona Park is one of the jewels in New York City, and now it has its own alliance to represent the diverse communities who know and love it best, Alliance Executive Director Janice Melnich said. We welcome everyones involvement, and we want to thank John Wang for leading the way with his donation from the Night Market. While the Night Market will maintain its general $5 cap on food items, a few vendors will be permitted to sell at a $6 price point this year to help out where margins are razor-thin, according to Wang. The mission of the Night Market has always been to cater and attract the broadest possible demographic, both in our visitors and vendors, he said. I think the last two years have shown that affordability and diverse representation are two of the most important factors, and those have been hard-wired into the event ever since it was just an inkling of an idea. Heres what to know in Beaver County this Election Day If youre a registered voter in Beaver County planning to vote in person today, heres what you need to know. Troy A 35-year-old city man pleaded guilty Monday in Rensselaer County Court to dealing drugs and tampering with evidence, District Attorney Joel Abelove said. Shakeim Francis of 15th Street pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance and tampering. Francis was charged with selling cocaine and heroin and flushing the heroin down the toilet when he was arrested by Troy police, the district attorney's office said. State Supreme Court Justice Andrew Ceresia is to sentence Francis on May 16 to 5 years plus 3 years post-release supervision as part of a plea deal. Kenneth C. Crowe II Lucca, Italy Seeking support from abroad, the U.S. struggled Monday to explain a hazy Syria strategy that has yet to clarify key questions: Whether President Bashar Assad must go, how displaced Syrians will be protected and when America might feel compelled to take further action. Successive attempts by top Trump administration officials to articulate a plan have only furthered the appearance of a policy still evolving, even after the U.S. broke with precedent last week by attacking Assad's forces. In the absence of answers, other countries seem to be moving ahead on their own terms. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, after a meeting in Italy with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, floated the possibility of new sanctions on both the Syrian and Russian militaries, an idea the U.S. has only briefly mentioned. In an unusual announcement for a foreign government, Johnson also said the U.S. could launch more cruise missiles into Syria like the ones President Donald Trump ordered last week in reaction to Assad's use of chemical weapons. "Crucially, they could do so again," Johnson said. Tillerson himself raised fresh expectations for aggressive U.S. action and not only in Syria as he visited Sant'Anna di Stazzema, a Tuscan village where the Nazis massacred more than 500 civilians during World War II. As he laid a wreath, he alluded to the Syria chemical attack. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson said. Albany A last-minute addition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's college affordability plan will obligate students who receive the aid to work in New York state for up to five years, or pay up. What was originally branded a "free-tuition" plan for middle-class students was passed by both houses of the Legislature over the weekend as one element of a revenue bill known as this year's "Big Ugly" a thick omnibus measure that also included language boosting the state's age of criminal responsibility to 18, a new mechanism to help the state deal with potential cuts in federal aid, and more. Dubbed the "Excelsior Scholarships," the tuition awards will starting this fall cover the marginal cost of tuition that isn't already covered either by the existing state Tuition Assistance Program or a federal Pell grant two of the most popular sources of aid for economically disadvantaged students at SUNY and CUNY institutions for students from households earning $100,000 or less. In the fall of 2018, the household income cutoff will rise to $110,000, and then top out a year later at $125,000. The Excelsior Scholarships can provide up to $5,500 per year for eligible students for a four-year program, or for five years in a course of study requiring an additional year. "A recipient shall agree to reside exclusively in New York State, and shall not be employed in any other state, for a continuous number of years equal to the duration of the award," the legislation states. Recipients must also sign a contract that would convert the scholarship into a student loan in the event that they decide to take a job out of state within the period of obligation. Exceptions can be made for students who continue to pursue an undergraduate education after the five-year maximum runs out, or begin pursuing a graduate degree full or part time. The state Higher Education Services Corp., which administers higher education student aid, is empowered to draw up regulations that could, for example, cover the case of scholarship recipients who sign up for military service after graduating. Also, "Any obligation to comply with such provisions ... may be canceled upon the death of the recipient," the new law notes. Speaking Monday morning on a conference call with members of newspaper editorial boards, Cuomo said the rationale for the residency requirement was clear: "Why should New Yorkers pay for your college education, and then you pick up and move to California?" he said. "The concept of investing in you (and) your education is that you're going to stay here and be an asset to the state. If you don't want to stay here, then go to California now let them pay for your college education." The provision was added at the urging of the Senate's Republican majority, which includes a large contingent of lawmakers from upstate districts concerned about brain drain. "We took the governor's original plan and made it better, by requiring students to maintain a certain GPA and to live and work in New York after they graduate," said Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif in an email. "In addition, we ensured all students are treated fairly, whether they attend a public college or a private university." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Indeed, a private-school option called the Enhanced Tuition Awards will boost what a student could receive in TAP aid up to a total of $3,000, which must then be matched by the institution. The tuition rate for that student must also be locked in by the school. The proposal for private institutions was also added late in the negotiation after those schools complained about being frozen out of the affordability drive. Cuomo had initially rebuffed such an option by arguing that private tuition was generally too high to make such a plan worthwhile. Critics worried about the impact of the residency requirement, which applies to the private plan as well. "Forcing college graduates to live and work in New York is wrong," wrote Tom Hilliard, a senior researcher at the progressive Center for an Urban Future, in an analysis. "A grant should be a grant, not a loan with an escape clause. ... The provision is also dangerous. Students may not understand what they are getting into when they accept the money. And, to be clear, they are not simply agreeing to live in New York for up to five years after graduation. They are also agreeing to work in New York. So a graduate who lives in Chatham and four years later gets a summer job in Pittsfield (Mass.) could suddenly face a student loan burden of up to $27,500." Election day information: voting times, polling centers and races Residents will have their final chance to cast votes in local races on Nov. 8, including seats on both the NLCS and MCS boards and Sheriff. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a very innovative and exciting foldable phone, but Samsung doesnt justify the high price for this first-generation device. Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test . The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a phone that elicits mixed emotions. On the one hand, theres the sheer wonder and excitement of holding a foldable phone and seeing it transform from a 4.6-inch handset to a 7.3-inch tablet and back again. That excitement continues when you see an app that's running on the front screen instantly pop up on the larger display, and when you start running three apps at once on the bigger canvas. The other emotion is trepidation. Even though Samsung has made several enhancements to make the Galaxy Fold more durable since it delayed the devices launch, the company strongly suggests that you use a light touch when pressing on the display. Then theres the emotional sticker shock when you realize that this phone costs nearly $2,000. As I used the device for this Samsung Galaxy Fold review, I vacillated between all of these emotions and kept coming back to a single question: Who is the Galaxy Fold made for? The answer is: Very brave and very well-off early adopters who are willing to live with a product that feels like a refined prototype. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Cheat sheet Galaxy Fold specs Starting Price: $1,980 OS: Android 9.9 with One UI CPU: Snapdragon 855 RAM: 12GB Storage: 512GB External display (closed): 4.6 inches (HD+) Main display: 7.3 inches (QXGA+) Rear cameras: 12-MP wide-angle (f/1.5 to f/2.4); 12-MP telephoto (f/2.4); 16-MP ultra-wide (f/2.2) Front camera (closed): 10-MP selfie (f/2.2) Front camera (open): 10-MP selfie (f/2.2); 8-MP RGB depth (f/1.9) Fingerprint sensor: Bixby button Colors: Space Silver, Cosmos Black Battery: 4,380 mAh Battery Life: 10:01 Size: 6.3 x 2.5 x 0.66 inches (62.9 x 160.9 x 17mm) Weight: 9.48 ounces Samsung has durability improvements to the Galaxy Fold, including extending the top display, adding caps to the hinges, and putting a metal layer beneath the screen. The 7.3-inch display is very immersive and lets you run three apps on the screen at once, but the front 4.6-inch screen is quite small. When folded, the Galaxy Fold is considerably thicker than other phones, which means its best stored in a jacket pocket or purse. The Galaxy Fold lasted 10 hours on the Tom's Guide web-surfing battery test, which is not great, but you can save power by using the front screen for checking notifications. AT&T is the only carrier that is selling the Galaxy Fold directly, but you can also buy it unlocked. And that's not a bad idea; the AT&T version comes with lots of bloatware. A Galaxy Fold case comes in the box to further protect the device, along with a pair of wireless Galaxy Buds. The Samsung Galaxy Fold went on sale through AT&T (opens in new tab) and Best Buy (opens in new tab) on Sept. 27, as well as through Samsung.com . The Fold is one of the most expensive phones ever. It costs $1,980 in the U.S. and 1,800 in the U.K. (2,000, $2,214), or about double the price of most premium flagships. (For context, the Galaxy S10 Plus starts at $999, and you can get a model with 1TB of storage and 12GB of RAM for $1,599. The iPhone 11 Pro Max with 512GB of storage costs $1,449. In essence, youre paying about a $380 to $530 premium for the Folds ability to fold. For those scoring at home, the Fold would cost you $66 per month, at least if you pay off your phone in 30 months using one of AT&T's Next plans. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Design Even though this is my second go-around with the Samsung Galaxy Fold, theres still a real Wow factor to this device. Thanks to a sophisticated, 20-part, dual-axis hinge, you can open this clamshell just like a book, transforming the Fold from phone to tablet mode. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The motion is fairly smooth and natural; Ill admit I felt a bit like a secret agent as I used the Fold in public, surfing the web or watching a video and then closing the whole thing up before I walked away. But I also felt nervous that someone might try to steal the device from me. It's worth noting that the main display is plastic, not Gorilla Glass, like the outer cover display. But Samsung has fortified the larger panel by placing a metal layer beneath the screen. (See more on the Galaxy Folds durability below). (Image credit: Tom's Guide) When closed, the Galaxy Fold feels like a throwback phone, and a chunky one at that. Its quite tall and narrow, and 0.66 inches thick. Thats about double the thickness of the Galaxy S10 and iPhone 11 Pro Max. This size was not optimal for the front pocket of my pants; its a better fit for a blazer pocket or a purse. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The Galaxy Fold weighs a hefty 9.5 ounces, compared to 7.97 ounces for the iPhone 11 Pro Max and 6.9 ounces for the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. And I felt this weight strain my hands and forearms a bit when playing games for more than 10 minutes at a time; but if youre watching a movie or TV show, you can lean the Fold on your lap. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Im not a fan of the Galaxy Folds button layout: Samsung decided to separate the power button and fingerprint reader on the right edge of the Galaxy Fold. It would have made more sense to combine them, which would have enabled users to power on and unlock in one fluid motion. Instead, the fingerprint sensor doubles as the Bixby button, which you can program to open other apps, as well. Even though its less secure, I wound up using facial recognition to unlock the Fold because its simply faster. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The device comes in two color options: Space Silver and Cosmos Black. That's a bummer, because Samsung was going to offer funkier colors like Astro Blue and Martian Green through its site before it redesigned the phone. The other important thing to note is that the Fold doesnt have a headphone jack, but this isnt a huge deal because Samsung includes wireless Galaxy Buds in the box. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Durability (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Samsung made several changes to the Galaxy Fold's design to address durability concerns before it launched for the public. Top display extended: Some reviewers accidentally removed this protective layer, so now it goes all the way to the edge; users are much less likely to accidentally damage the device. Some reviewers accidentally removed this protective layer, so now it goes all the way to the edge; users are much less likely to accidentally damage the device. Hinges now have caps on them: This move should prevent debris from getting caught behind the screen. This move should prevent debris from getting caught behind the screen. Samsung narrowed the gap between the two sides: There's still a small space for stuff to get inside the Fold when closed, but it's improved. There's still a small space for stuff to get inside the Fold when closed, but it's improved. Metal layer added underneath the display: This increases rigidity and makes touch interactions feel more solid. All of these tweaks add up to a foldable that feels much closer to a $2,000 phone. Closing the phone still has a reassuring clap, like a book, and the hinge system feels pretty smooth. However, Samsung still treats this as a different class of phone when it comes to how it wants you to handle it. The company cautions that you use a light touch when touching the 7.3-inch display and to keep the Fold free of water and dust. One reviewer from TechCrunch (opens in new tab) reported that his Galaxy Fold was damaged after one day of use. The center of the screen became pixelated with a blob, but the cause is not clear. Thus far, we have not encountered issues with our review unit. Samsung claims that the Galaxy Fold can withstand 200,000 opens. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Displays Its best to think of the front display on the Samsung Galaxy Fold as an at-a-glance screen for quick interactions. Thats because its just 4.6 inches, which is Lilliputian compared to even the best small phones (typically 5.5 inches and up). Because the screen is narrow, its also difficult to type on. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) During my testing, I used the front display maybe 15% of the time, which included checking Gmail (but not responding), reading a news story with one hand while on the subway, and changing tracks on Spotify. Anything more made me feel that I needed the larger screen. Samsung Galaxy Fold (left) and Apple iPad Mini (right). The interior 7.3-inch display is where the real action is an oversized Super Active Matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) canvas thats sharp and colorful but with a couple of trade-offs. On the plus side, I really enjoyed watching the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer; it really felt like I was using a tablet. I could even access and edit articles in our site's CMS because of how wide the display is. This is something I cant do as easily on the 6-inch-plus-size screens of the Galaxy Note 10 and iPhone 11 Pro Max. (Image credit: Future) During one commute home, I watched The Boys on the Prime Video app and felt like I had a mini movie theater in front of my eyes. If youd rather not have big bars above and below the display you can choose which apps go full screen in the Settings app. However, the crease in the middle of the Folds display is noticeable when you use apps with a white background, such as Chrome and Gmail. Its not ugly, just distracting. And you can feel the crease when youre using various apps. The good news is that the crease isnt as noticeable when viewing head-on movies, photos or anything with lots of colors. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) On our testing, the Galaxy Folds display averaged 525 nits of brightness, which is not as bright as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus (686 nits) and nowhere near as bright as the iPhone 11 Pro Max (761 nits). The OLED panel on the Fold of the color gamut registered 124.8% of the sRGB color gamut in Natural mode, which is about the same as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus and a bit higher than the iPhone 11 Pro Max (118.6%). The notch in the top right corner of the display can cut off videos should you decide to watch in full-screen mode; you can hide this notch by turning on an option in Software, but this just creates a black bar across the top of the screen. My bigger problem with the Folds notch is that you cant swipe down from the right side of the screen to reveal your notifications and quick settings. Instead, I had to shift my finger toward the middle of the display. However, you can also use the fingerprint sensor to open and close the notification shade with a swipe down and up. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Software To make the most of its foldable design, Samsung worked with Google to devise a couple of clever software features. The first is App Continuity, which enables you to open an app on the cover display and then have the app immediately fill the larger screen when you unfold the phone. One of the coolest features of the Galaxy Fold is App Continuity. If you're using an app like Google Maps on the front screen, you can open the display and it will instantly fill the larger display. This feature worked really well in my testing, with most apps popping up instantly.But you will need to tweak a setting if you want a given app to keep running on the small screen when you close the phone again. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The other handy feature is Multi Active Window, which allows you to run up to three apps at once on the Galaxy Folds large display. You swipe in from the right side of the screen to open additional apps, and can also easily resize the apps and move them around with your finger. A decent number of third-party apps already support this multitasking mode, such as Spotify and Slack, but I noticed that Skype does not. It will take time for more developers to update their software for foldable phones like this. By default, the big-screen keyboard offers a split layout to speedup thumb typing on such a large canvas, but I found myself switching to a regular layout because it felt like less work. No matter which mode you choose, swipe typing is supported. If youre not a fan of carrier bloatware, I recommend that you buy the unlocked version of the Galaxy Fold. The AT&T model I reviewed had 19 apps from AT&T and AT&T-owned brands, including everything from DriveMode and Visual Voicemail to Bleacher Report and AT&T TV. I would prefer a much cleaner canvas for a $2,000 smartphone and I think Fold owners would, too. (Image credit: Future) Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Cameras Having six cameras on a phone seems like overkill, but it isnt given the Samsung Galaxy Folds unique design. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 10 , theres three shooters on the back of the Galaxy Fold: a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 16-MP ultra-wide lens and a 12-MP telephoto lens. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Up front when the Fold is closed theres a 10-MP camera for selfies. And when unfolded, the Galaxy Fold has another 10-MP main camera plus an 8-MP depth camera for portraits. Shooting with the Fold closed feels borderline sneaky because its so compact. You just double press the power button and start firing away. Its particularly good for selfies, as you dont have to stretch your thumb far at all to shoot. The problem is that the 4.6-inch screen is pretty small for framing shots; I found myself using the larger 7.3-inch panel when I wanted to make sure that I liked what I was capturing. Surprisingly, I didnt find shooting with a tablet-size display in front of my face embarrassing, which is probably due to the small bezels around the screen. But, in this mode, it is a two-handed affair. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) The Galaxy Fold is capable of delivering gorgeous photos with saturated color and a stunning amount of detail, as evidenced by this flower close-up. The rich purple really shines through, and the veins in the petals are well defined. Image 1 of 3 Galaxy Fold (standard lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) Galaxy Fold (wide-angle lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) Galaxy Fold (zoom lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) I also had fun playing with the multiple lenses in Times Square. The standard wide-angle camera captured the myriad signs with crisp detail, and I could easily make out details on the signs as I zoomed in. The wide-angle shot resulted in a noticeable fish-eye effect toward the edges, but it got a lot more of the surrounding buildings into the frame. Like the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy Fold comes with artistic new Live Focus modes, including spin bokeh, zoom bokeh and color print. I especially like the latter option, as it colorizes the main subject while leaving everything else black and white. However, the Fold fell flat compared with the iPhone 11 Pro Max in this portrait of my two colleagues, Henry and Kate. The camera washed out both of the subjects faces and made Henrys jeans look like pants. Adam Ismail, who reviews lots of phones for Toms Guide, said of the Folds shot that Henry and Kate looked like they needed medical attention. You can also make out more texture and details in Kates shirt on the iPhone 11 Pro Maxs shot. The Galaxy Fold also offers a dedicated Night mode, which I put up against the Night mode of the iPhone 11 Pro Max. When I snapped a photo outside around 7:30 p.m. in almost complete darkness, the Fold produced a brighter image, as you can make out more of the tree in the foreground. The iPhone 11 Pro Maxs shot also has more of an orange cast to it, especially in the street, it's image also provides better contrast in the bricks and better detail. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The front camera on the Galaxy Fold can take sharp selfies. Theres a fair amount of detail here in my hair and in the folds in my shirt. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Video The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a very capable phone when it comes to shooting video. It can record in 4K at up to 60 frames per second. And the device can shoot super steady video when you press the hand icon in the camera app. In our footage shot near Bryant Park, the Galaxy Fold kept stead as I walked, but the camera had some trouble with the bright sunlight, as some faces looked washed out. However, the fountain looked pretty sharp, and the Fold did a good job rendering the surrounding buildings when I activated the ultra-wide camera. When I engaged the telephoto lens on the Fold to shoot a nearby Le Pain Quotidien, I could make out small details like the Pick Up Here sign. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Performance Given that the Samsung Galaxy Fold has the same Snapdragon 855 processor as the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 line of phones, its not a surprise that it offers comparable performance. The main difference is the whopping 12GB of RAM included in the Fold, which did seem to help juggle having multiple apps open on screen at once. I didnt notice much lag as I ran three apps simultaneously. On Geekbench 5, a relatively new benchmark that measures overall performance, the Galaxy Fold scored 728 on the single-core portion of the test and 2,619 on the multi-core portion. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus scored 736 and 2,691 respectively, which is pretty much identical, while the OnePlus 7T scored a slightly higher 744 and 2,802. The iPhone 11 Pro Max blew away the field with a single-core mark of 1,334 and a multi-core score of 3,517. We'll be running additional tests throughout our time with the device. To gauge graphics performance on the Galaxy Fold, we ran GFXBench; the phone turned in a score 1,038 frames on the high-tier version of the Aztec Ruins Vulkan test (offscreen). The iPhone 11 Pro max notched a higher number 1,657 frames. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Battery life With a 4,380 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has pretty good staying power given its huge display, but other phones last longer on a charge. On the Tom's Guide battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over 4G LTE (we used AT&T's network) at 150 nits of screen brightness, the Galaxy Fold's battery lasted 10 hours and 1 minute. This runtime is pretty good when you consider that we used the larger 7.3-inch display for the entire duration of this test. (We will be retesting where we use the smaller front display for a quarter of the time.) By comparison, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus lasted an average of 11:09 on our test, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max averaged 11:54. Best phone battery life: Longest-lasting smartphones On a day with intermittent usage, which included snapping photos, streaming music, watching video clips and checking email, the phone still had 60% capacity left at 9:15 p.m; I had unplugged the phone at 6:30 a.m. On a day when I used the Galaxy Fold more heavily, which included watching two full TV episodes on Netflix, the Fold was down to 25% come 9 p.m. Thats still more than a full days worth of endurance. (Image credit: Future) I loved being able to fire up the Wireless PowerShare feature on the Galaxy Fold, which allows you to charge other phones and accessories by simply placing them on the back of the Samsung handset. This includes the wireless Galaxy Buds, which Samsung throws in for the $1,980 price. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Verdict The Galaxy Fold feels like a phone from the future, and yet from a practical perspective it falls a bit short. When I was using Slack in one window, Gmail in another and Spotify in yet another on the 7.3-inch screen, I could see myself using my laptop less and a device like this more. I also liked being able to review and edit large documents on the go. And its just cool to close the whole thing up when youre ready to walk way. But that doesnt mean you should invest $2,000 of your own money. Even if you put aside the lingering durability concerns around the Galaxy Fold, I find the overall design bulky and heavy, and the front display is too small. And while the cameras are solid, the iPhone 11 Pro has leapt ahead with its better HDR and night mode. So as much as I appreciate what Samsung has accomplished with this first-generation foldable phone, I would suggest that most people wait for the sequel and for other foldables to hit the market before they take the foldable plunge. A curved OLED display, augmented reality features and wireless charging all sound exciting for the iPhone 8, but they don't really address the elephant in the room. iPhones and all smartphones don't last long enough on a charge. Now Apple is apparently doing something about it, as it is reportedly taking a key component of the iPhone in house. (Image credit: The iPhone's endurance could improve greatly with Apple-made power chips. Credit: Bloomicon / Shutterstock.com) According to Reuters, by way of a research note by Bankhaus Lampe, Apple is ditching Dialog Semiconductor as the supplier of its power management circuits as it looks to create its own battery-saving chip. As a result of this new analyst support, Dialog's stock is down more than 15 percent on the Frankfurt stock exchange, according to Bloomberg. As 9to5 Mac notes, "power management chips manage voltage and charging across the components in the device," so Apple's move could help create iPhones with significantly longer endurance. MORE: iPhone 8 Rumors: What to Expect from the 10th Anniversary iPhone On the Tom's Guide Battery Test, which involves continuous 4G web surfing, the iPhone 7 Plus lasted a very good 10 hours and 35 minutes, but it wasn't enough to crack our list of the smartphones with the longest battery life, all of which lasted more than 11 hours. The iPhone 7, which has a smaller battery, lasted 9:03. However, Apple apparently won't be ready to make this transition until 2019, as it reportedly is still building a team that will create the new chips. That means you won't see this tech in the iPhone 8. We're talking iPhone X, if that's what Apple winds up calling it. Apple announced a similar strategy recently for graphics, as it is leaving Imagination Technologies behind in order to create its own mobile GPU. The timing for this shift is going to be about two years as well. So, within the next couple of years, it's very likely that you'll see iPhones where all of the key components, including CPU, GPU and battery circuits, are made by Apple. And given that Apple controls the software side of the equation, too, the company could create more distance between itself and its competitors. We're still waiting for wireless charging at a distance, though. Fittingly, for a man who revolutionised the use of the instrument, Chuck Berry was buried with his Gibson guitar, at a public service in his hometown of St. Louis over the weekend. The service began with a letter from President Bill Clinton, read by Missouri Congressman Lacy Clay: He is one of Americas greatest rock n roll pioneers. He captivated audiences around the world. His music spoke to the hopes and dreams we all had in common, the letter read in part. A guitar-shaped flower wreath was on display, a gift from The Rolling Stones, while a surprise eulogy was given by Gene Simmons. I hadnt planned on coming saying up here and saying anything, Simmons said, as he took to the podium. These shades are going to help me a lot, because in the back of them are real tears. Simmons went on to impersonate Berrys famous stage moves, after commending his importance in the civil rights movement. Although I never heard Chuck talk about it in his lyrics, or in interviews, or on television, he was breaking down barriers that nobody suspected. Chuck, he changed more little white boys and white girls lives than all the politicians with their big talk and stuff, just by making them move like this. Check out the speech,the wreath, and the open casket, below. In the post-Grammys haze, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone magazine that Lady Gaga was the quintessential perfect fifth member of this band, a statement which no doubt caused late bassist Cliff Burton to start spinning furiously in his grave. Her voice, her attitude, her outlook on everything is so awesome, Ulrich gushed at the time. [It] was so effortless and organic and she just has the spirit of hard rock and metal flowing through her veins. It comes really easy for her. Theres nothing contrived; she just has this super warm, easy energy. James Hetfield isnt so sold on the idea, telling Chilean newspaper La Tercera, I have no interest in working with the pop star again. But just being with her gave me a different energy, she conceded, she goes beyond the limits, like us. Revisit their performance, below. While it may not be on the scale of the Oxford Art Factory or the also-departing Newtown Social Club, its still sad to see Marrickville mainstay The Newsagency closing its doors after a final show last week, following a disagreement with the landlord over proposed renovations. Proprietor of The Newsagency, Alison Avron, took to social media to make the sad announcement and express her gratitude to everyone whos contributed to the venues success in its five-year lifespan, Music Feeds reports. My lease is up in July and my landlord doesnt want me to renovate so I gotta go elsewhere, she said on Facebook. Five-and-a-half years is a pretty incredible stint for essentially a one woman operation. It hasnt been easy at times but I have poured every ounce of love and passion I could possibly muster even through adversity. I have learnt SO much as an artist and human being. Its hard for me to express just how grateful I am to the artists and audiences who have latched onto this space and made it their own. I have made so many beautiful friendships I will treasure forever! For a place so tiny, the surrounding community has made such a big impact on the independent Australian music scene. She also took the opportunity to throw some shade at the landlord last month, lamenting the dead end posed by the disagreement. While its over for the venue as it currently stands, Alison intends to push on in another direction, after a well-earned break to regroup. Stay tuned, she assures us. Alison Avron on The Newsagencys closure: 5 and a half years is a pretty incredible stint for essentially a one woman operation. It hasnt been easy at times but I have poured every ounce of love and passion I could possibly muster even through adversity. I have learnt SO much as an artist and human being. Its hard for me to express just how grateful I am to the artists and audiences who have latched onto this space and made it their own.I have made so many beautiful friendships I will treasure forever! For a place so tiny, the surrounding community has made such a big impact on the independent Australian music scene. Thank you to my patrons on Patreon for being legends and supporting the space financially. You have no idea how helpful that monthly income is at times! Thank you to my mum (miss you so much)and dad for supporting this crazy vision and helping me renovate way back when. (My dad is honestly the smartest and handiest man I know!) Thanks to Marrickville Council for letting me fly under the radar in this very colourful grey area for so long. Thanks to the surrounding venues for being friends -not enemies- and listening to/answering any questions whenever I needed! (Camelot, Django, Gasoline Pony, The Vic Lazybones to name a few) Thanks to AMP Foundation for allowing me to take this next step into the future! Im excited and scared and tired and sad and happy all at the time but thats totally LIFE! Do I know whats happening next? Kinda. Can I announce anything? Not really. All I know is I need a break & a chance to work out my next move. Stay tuned. Were in for an incredible couple of gigs pretty soon, as some of Australias best emerging female acts are teaming up for a series of shows named Electric Lady, celebrating the swathe of local talent were currently being treated to. Brought together by Holly Rankin aks the talented Sydney muso Jack River, the shows will also boast none other than Alex Lahey, Ali Barter, Bec Sandridge, Gretta Ray, Body Type and Rackett, all of whom have been putting out some impressive work in the last year. The shows will be heading to Melbourne and Sydney, and Electric Lady will be launching as its own platform @electricladyworld for interviews with women from a range of backgrounds, not just music. The last year in music, politics and culture made me realise the time is now for this idea, Rankin says. Girls are ready to amplify their talent alongside each other, and the world is ready for diversity in female role models. People were pretty up in arms earlier today when it came to light that a Canberra venue was playing host to a gig with an 11-band lineup of male acts, to the point that headliners Regurgitator pulled out of the show, and its a situation that continues to arise far too often. Now, we can already hear the complaints about this all-female gig, and the supposed hypocrisy behind fighting exclusion with exclusion. But the fact remains that, until we stop seeing such a gender divide on festival lineups and across the music industry as a whole, events and initiatives that take the focus off male acts for a moment are a necessary step to promote more diversity in what is still an undeniably male-dominated profession. Tickets for the first Electric Lady shows go on sale this Thursday April 13 at 9am, and with a lineup like this one, youd be silly to miss out. Electric Lady dates Friday 30 June Metro Theatre, Sydney (18+) Saturday 1 July The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (18+) Alex Lahey Ali Barter Bec Sandridge Gretta Ray Jack River Body Type Rackett STL Public Radio: Missouri State Auditor calls for overhaul of Transportation Development District laws The average citizen is getting taken advantage of here, Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway said at a news conference to release the report. Its outrageous that theres almost $1 billion in project costs that taxpayers are on the hook for. They dont know about it and they didnt vote for it. KANSAS CITY TAX FIGHTERS HOPE LOCAL VOTERS WILL HELP THE EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE TDD REFORM!!! "We've been requesting TDD reform since 2013, and it sounds like someone is listening. Folks should write their state legislator and state senator to let them know we support reform of these laws that allow for legal gerrymandering, voter suppression, taxation without representation, third party collection and management of public funds, and a host of other questionable practices." Again, under the radar there's athat has been kept secret from most of the voting public.Yesterday,Quote:Now . . .Money line . . .While the City Council is skeptical of the current vote and there are more than a few challenges with fewer options for Federal funding available for the. . . The debate against the streetcar extension persists.Developing . . . Hammer-wielding man attacks employees, steals car Police are searching for the suspect of an armed carjacking following an attack in the parking lot of an administrative building on the Crittenton Children's Center campus in the 10900 block of Elm Avenue. The carjacking happened shortly before 6 a.m. Tuesday morning and the suspect reportedly used a hammer in the attack. Rough start to this local morning . . . As police say at leastRead more: One killed, three injured in detonation at Lake City Ammunition Plant in Independence One person has been killed and three others injured following a detonation at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence. The incident happened Tuesday afternoon. Officials with the Army Joint Munitions Command said the explosion happened in a mixing building on site. Husch Blackwell: "Members of the Husch Blackwell team have helped clients navigate the complex and ever-changing regulations governing the state legal sale and use of cannabis. Additionally, the entire firm serves as a resource when the team is dealing with highly complex and novel legal issues on behalf of cannabis clients." KANSAS CITY CANNABIS LAW THE BEST GROWTH INDUSTRY IN TOWN!!! - An opportunity to use college level Spanish on somebody besides housekeepers and lawn care professionals... - Colorado road trips... - Drug dealers are actually a lot more honest than most Kansas City developers... MONEY!!! GREEN For our Kansas City lawyer friends tired of slugging out in the world of boring corporate clients . . . We offer a peek at a more exciting local legal life that's nearly asGiven that, more than anything,take a look at one Kansas City law firm already leading the way in cannabis litigation . . .That's right . . .The benefits include but aren't limited to:Best of all . . .And so . . . As the digital economy proves far too difficult for most Kansas City denizens to cash in on . . . The neweconomy looks far more promising for both legal and illegal pros alike.Developing . . . "It was built in 200203, and its on 4 acres in Mission Hills, which is the nicest area of Kansas City, says listing agent Susan Fate. The home is basically Old World craftsmanship with all sorts of modern amenities. Its just phenomenal." "Georgian Style Gated Estate in Mission Hills on 4 acres. Attention to detail thru-out. Exterior is Antique Reclaimed Brick, Roof is Vermont slate, hand planked Flooring, Walnut drs, Venetian hand-plastered walls, imported European Flrs, Amish craftsman carved archways & moldings, heated flrs, Limestone patios 2-story CABANA, w/Entertain Area, Kitch, Bdrm & Bath, Screen Por, Gazebo, Infinity Pool/Hot Tub, FP. Overlooking lush grounds is a Spring-fed Lilly Pond w/Entertaining area." If Kansas City locals get a good education, work and save for most of their lives . . . Most people will still never come close to living or even visiting something as nice alocal listing that's garnering renewed attention amid the selling season.Take a look at a reminder that capitalism has failed:Check the slap in the face quote to most local residents:Language from theNow, a closer look shows us that this house has been vacant for about a year. Still, the plush views and opulent interior shouldn't inspire envy from Kansas City residents . . . Instead, it's probably more productive to simply file this one away as a counter-argument whenever locals talkers start blathering about the evils of "socialism" and wanting to keep wages down or strip away healthcare.You decide . . . Police say child hit by car at 31st and Prospect KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police say a car hit a child at 31st and Prospect Monday afternoon. The child was last listed in serious condition. UPDATE: The grandfather of 4-year-old Kanory Hill tells me he was dragged. The boy is at Children's Mercy Hospital in the ICU. Police are searching for a driver inand this report rounds-up the tragedy: German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble expressed his concern in the event Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was victorious on the April 16 referendum. Mr. Schauble said that if the Turkish President prevailed in the referendum the danger of a dictatorship being implemented in the country was real. During a discussion organised by magazine Der Spiegel, the German politician said Erdigan was attempting to install an authoritarian regime, namely a dictatorship by transferring power to himself through constitutional reforms. Mr. Schauble said he had spoken to many Turks who expressed fears of reprisals if they openly criticised Erdogan. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The two top priorities for Greece's foreign ministry are to push for a new EU social rights protocol during the discussion on the future of Europe and to protect the rights of Greeks and Greek-Cypriots living in the United Kingdom after Brexit, Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs George Katrougalos said on Tuesday. Briefing journalists covering the foreign ministry, Katrougalos noted that two important milestones for the first goal will be the European Commission's reflection paper on the social dimension of Europe by 2025, due to be released on April 26 as part of the White Paper process, and the EU Summit in Goteborg on November 17. Katrougalos admitted that adopting such a protocol would require modifying EU treaties. "The discussion can begin now, we can have the first steps on the social pillar, then seen what can happen intergovernmentally, so we arrive at a protocol," he said. Part of this effort were his recent visits to Sweden and Estonia, where Greece's proposals were well received, the minister added. Greece wants the discussion on the future of Europe to put great emphasis on the social dimension, Katrougalos explained. Its proposals to the Commission included action to make economic governance more social and democratic, as well as the introduction of European social targets, such as European social insurance against unemployment and protecting the social acquis. "Either we will succeed in making Europe more social or it will cease to exist," he concluded. Regarding the protection of some 70,000 Greeks and 250,000 Greek-Cypriots currently living in the UK after Brexit, Katrougalos said that Greece "wants to negotiate together with the other 27. We do not want this process to take on a punitive dimension. We want a discussion to begin on the method of departure and to discuss the future relationship as soon as possible." Finally, Katrougalos announced that Greece plans to put in a bid for the European Medicines Agency when this is transferred from its current base in the United Kingdom, saying that he would be meeting officials at the health and economy ministries, Attica Region and pharmaceutical companies to discuss the plan. 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 MOUNT PLEASANT An Illinois woman was arrested for retail theft at the Walmart in Mount Pleasant after reportedly picking up receipts off the ground and returning items for cash from the stores own inventory. Ashley Burgdorf, 24, of Spring Grove, Ill. was charged Monday with theft, resisting or obstructing an officer, and bail jumping. According to the criminal complaint: A responding Mount Pleasant police officer had to hold Burgdorf at Taser point to take her into custody. A Walmart employee told police she saw Burgdorf walk into the store without anything, pick items of the shelf and then return them for $72.36. Police said they found receipts in her purse to Walmart stores in Kenosha, Lake Geneva, Zion and Racine. She allegedly admitted to police that she selected items she did not purchase and then usedthe discarded receipts and a Walmart app to return the items for cash. Police said she lied about her identity but they ran her fingerprints and found her real name and that she had a warrant out of Kenosha and an open felony case on another matter. ^pBurgdorf was arrested and her bond was set at $200. As of Monday evening Burgdorf remained in the Racine County Jail, 717 Wisconsin Ave., according to online jail records. ^pIf convicted of her most serious charge , Burgdorf could see up to three years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The Greek tourism sectors continuing efforts to attract more Chinese tourists hinge, according to experts, on increasing the scope and number of so-called Chinese-friendly holiday packages and infrastructure. Although some 120,000 Chinese holiday-makers were recorded as visiting Greece in 2015, the goal is to double that figure by 2020, or so relevant state and sector groups maintain. In terms Europe as a whole, an impressive figure of 23 million Chinese tourists is expected to visit the continent by 2025, with Greece obviously vying for a greater share of the figure. Based on the most recent figures, Chinese tourists, on average, enjoy overseas holidays of between six to eight days, spending an average of 3,000 euros per person. Excluding air fare, the figure is between 1,500 and 2,000 euros for hotel accommodations and shopping. In terms of ensuring a Chinese-friendly vacation, the Feel Like Home company, for instance, rates businesses using a five-dragon system, beginning with the lowest rating (one dragon) for businesses that at least have information on their website in Chinese. The rating is also accompanied by a FLH Accredited stamp. A five dragon rating, the highest, requires, among others, that a business field at least one employee that speaks perfect Chinese. Other Chinese-friendly amenities, beyond website information in Chinese, are electrical sockets (in hotel rooms) that accommodate appliances used in mainland China, menus and brochures in Chinese, a tea set in every room with at least three varieties that are ubiquitous to the Chinese consumer, an employee that speaks Chinese and even hot water for consumption. The challenge for the Greek tourism sector, and for the global sector by extension, is to attract what is expected to be an exponentially increasing market, given that of Chinas 1.4 billion residents only five percent at present retain a passport. According to the World Economic Forum much laxer travel restrictions and an increase in disposable incomes generated 67.5 million overseas trips by Chinese citizens in 2014. At present, Chinese tourists produces 13 percent of tourism revenues, with Asian and Pacific destinations preferred. In terms of Greek destinations, Mykonos and Santorini are the preferred choices for Chinese holiday-makers, according to Nikos Kavoulis, the head of Feel Like Home operations for the Mediterranean and Middle East. He points to the international promotion and exposure that the two islands enjoy as resulting in this preference. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The proposed legislation makes it easier for farmers to purchase state land The Greek chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has slammed the leftist-led government for tabling a bill which, it said, effectively rewards illegal interventions in forests and forest areas. In a letter sent to Greek MPs Monday, the environmental group also criticized the government for failing to put the legislation up for public consultation. There are justified concerns that the emergent and non-transparent procedure aims to disguise not only serious violations of the Constitution, but also numerous tailor-made and scientifically groundless regulations, WWF Hellas said. The proposed legislation makes it easier for farmers to purchase state land that has been encroached upon and cultivated. Parliament will vote on the legislation Tuesday. Opposition parties have expressed misgivings about the bill. 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 Total cement sales in Saudi Arabia fell 19 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y), but grew 16 per cent month-on-month (m-o-m) to 4.7 million tonnes in March. Clinker production came in at 4.6 million tonnes during March, down three per cent y-o-y, a report said. Historically March has generally seen the highest monthly sales in a year, according to the study Saudi Cement Sector Monthly released by Al Rajhi Capital, a top financial advisory services provider. Total inventories continued to rise 37 per cent y-o-y and 1.2 per cent m-o-m driven by current mismatch between supply and demand, representing 59 per cent of the last 12 months sales. Surprisingly, City cement was the only producer that reported positive y-o-y growth for the fourth month in a row, however, we believe that this growth was driven by offering deep discounts on sales, Al Rajhi said in the report. On the other hand, Northern and Hail cement witnessed the sharpest decline in sales of -53 per cent and -47 per cent y-o-y, respectively. Key findings: In Q1 2017, cement sales volume fell 20 per cent y-o-y to 13.5 million tonnes, while clinker production declined 6.7 per cent y-o-y. Northern and Najran cement witnessed the sharpest drop during the quarter by 55 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively. Despite the stiff competition in the sector, three cement companies namely, City, Yanbu and Qassim were able to improve their market shares by 2.4 per cent, one per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively. In Q2 2017, Al Rajhi expects cement dispatches to decline by 18 to 20 per cent y-o-y as current modest demand wil continue given that construction activities are bound to remain weak for the foreseeable future as the government spending adjusts to low oil prices through spending cuts and prioritisation of projects. Also, Ramadan season and Eid Al Fitr this year will fall in Q2, unlike last year, when six days of Ramadan were included in Q3. Notably, cement exports (mainly to Bahrain) by Saudi, Eastern and Riyadh cement declined 55 per cent y-o-y in March to 34,000 tonnes. In 2016, Saudi, Eastern and Riyadh cements exports to Bahrain constituted eight per cent, six per cent, and five per cent, respectively of their sales volumes. This drop in exports came after news reports (Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper) that Saudi cement producers have halted exports to Bahrain since mid-March, after the Saudi government raised export rates by 50 per cent. On the inventory side, Hail and Najran hold the highest level of inventories as compared to last 12month sales volume by 129 per cent and 107 per cent, while Arabian and Qassim cement hold the lowest levels of 8 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. With the continuous increase in inventories (30.2 million tonnes), we believe that balancing the market through production cuts is the best option especially for companies that hold high levels of inventory. However, some companies may tend to maintain current production levels prior to the potential impact from another round of energy price hikes in late 2017, the Al Rajhi report said.- TradeArabia News Service The US State Department has given approval for the upgradation of the Al Mubarak Airbase in Kuwait at an estimated cost of $319 million. The construction of this airbase will enable Kuwait to enhance the operational effectiveness of its military and promote security and stability throughout Kuwait, said a statement from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). As per the deal, USACE will provide project management, engineering services, technical support, facility and infrastructure assessments, surveys, planning, programming, design, acquisition, contract administration, construction management, and other technical services for the construction of facilities and infrastructure for the airbase. On completion, it will have added facilities such as a main operations center, hangars, training facilities, barracks, warehouses, support facilities, and other infrastructure required for a fully functioning airbase, said the statement. The facilities being constructed are similar to other facilities built in the past by USACE in other Middle Eastern countries. These facilities replace existing facilities and will provide autonomous airbase operations to the Kuwait Air Force, stated the USACE. The new airbase will ensure the continued readiness of the Kuwait Air Force and allow for the continued education of current and future Kuwait Air Force personnel, it added.-TradeArabia News Service The first UK to China export train departed yesterday (April 10) laden with containers full of British goods from DP World London Gateways state-of-the-art rail terminal in South Essex. The train, bound for Yiwu in the Zhe Jiang province in eastern China, will make the 7,500-mile journey in three weeks, said a statement. Products on board include soft drinks, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and baby products, it said. Liming Liang, vice governor of the Zhejiang province, joined Rupert Soames, UK Prime Minister's business ambassador for infrastructure and transport; Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group chairman and CEO; the Mayor of Yiwu, Shi Wenzhen, Xubin Feng, chairman of Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co. and other Chinese and UK regional and local government delegates, customers and staff attended a ceremony and reception at DP World London Gateway held yesterday (April 10), it added.. The gathered group watched as the last three containers were loaded onto the wagons before seeing the train depart. This inaugural export train bound for China departed just under three months after the first ever import train from China arrived in the UK. The service is part of China's One Belt, One Road programme - reviving the ancient Silk Road trading routes to the West. After passing through the channel tunnel into France and Belgium, the DB Cargo locomotive will call in Duisburg, Germany before InterRail pull the cargo through Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan before the train crosses to Yiwu, China, said a statement. Container operator OneTwoThree Logistics is overseeing the transportation and booking of cargo for the UK/China rail freight trains, in conjunction with Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co., which is running the service with China Railway Container, it said. This first consignment of cargo to go by rail which is cheaper and less restrictive than air freight and faster than sea freight comes less than two weeks after the triggering of Article 50 and the start of the formal process of leaving the European Union, which has placed an emphasis on the UK to secure trade deals with countries all over the world. Greg Hands, UKs Minister of State in the Department for International Trade, said: This new rail link with China is another boost for Global Britain, following the ancient Silk Road trade route to carry British products around the world. It shows the huge global demand for quality UK goods and is a great step for DP Worlds 1.5 billion ($1.86 billion) London Gateway Port as it also welcomes its first regular container ships from Asia, he said. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO, DP World, said: We are proud to be playing a key role in facilitating this significant trade occasion between the UK and China. DP World is a leading enabler of global trade, with its network of marine and inland terminals, industrial zones and logistics and ancillary services to ensure nations all over the world can move goods in, out and inland efficiently and reliably, he said. DP World London Gateway, one of the UKs largest logistics hubs is designed and developed to ensure products can be both imported and exported from the UK via ship or train in a faster, safer and more reliable way than ever before, he added. We look forward to enabling and facilitating more trade between the UK, China and the whole world, Bin Sulayem concluded. Xubin Feng, chairman, Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co., said: We are proud to be able to offer the first ever UK to China export train. Restoring the ancient Silk Road as a means by which China, North Europe and now the UK can exchange goods is an important and exciting initiative, he said. This is the first export train and just the start of a regular direct service between the UK and China. We have great faith in the UK as an export nation and rail provides an excellent alternative for moving large volumes of goods over long distances faster, he added. TradeArabia News Service Manitowoc, a premier provider of crawler, tower and mobile cranes for the heavy construction industry, said it has successfully delivered two Grove all-terrain cranes to Egypt-based Suez Shipyard Company. A specialist in shipbuilding and repair services, Suez Shipyard Company received the new units (Grove GMK5130-2 and a GMK4080-1) through Orascom Trading, the Manitowoc dealer for Egypt. These new additions mean the facility now has seven mobile cranes, with the latest deliveries being the companys first Manitowoc-made units. Established in 1862, the Egyptian shipbuilder is one of the most celebrated in the region, with its facilities boasting the largest floating dock in the Middle East, as well as its oldest graving dock. The company has built a wide range of ships, including bulk and general cargo vessels, as well as LPG carriers and offshore rigs. The two new cranes will help enhance the companys in-house fleet and reduce its reliance on rental cranes, said Essam Dabash, chairman of Suez Shipyard, who was part of the company delegation that travelled to the Manitowoc factory in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, to collect the cranes. He said while Manitowoc already has a good reputation in Egypt, seeing the companys factory - and especially the Product Verification Center (PVC) - gave him true confidence in the cranes it produces. The PVC provides sophisticated component-level and full-vehicle testing to verify designs and durability early in product development processes. This enables Manitowoc to launch new models faster, as well as reducing warranty and field issues. "The tour of Wilhelmshaven and the PVC was eye opening and we could understand the capabilities of Manitowoc and its determination to build first-class machines," remarked Dabash. "Efficiency is essential to our own operations so we wanted to buy cranes that have excellent customer support and to which our operators will easily adapt. With these new Grove cranes, we are confident on both these points," he added. Suez Shipyard Company, he said, will use the GMK5130-2 around its floating dock for general maintenance duties. The 130-tonne capacity crane is a successor to the popular GMK5130-1 and is powered by an eight-cylinder, turbo-charged Mercedes-Benz OM 502 LA engine. "It also has an improved cab over its predecessor that includes an ability to hydraulically tilt up to 20 degrees. The Twin-Lock boom extends from 12.9 m to 60 m in six sections and its maximum tip height is 92 m when working with jib extensions," he noted. The company will use the flexible GMK4080-1 to support general maintenance duties and lifting tasks around the yards various workshops. The 80-tonne capacity, four-axle all-terrain crane features a 290 kW Mercedes engine that provides smooth and consistent power both on- and off-road. The machine is equipped with a 51-m, six-section Twin-Lock boom that can be extended to 82 m through the addition of jib sections. Waleed Raouf, Manitowocs regional sales manager for mobile and crawler cranes, said: "Suez Shipyard Company is a world-class operation, so we are very proud to supply the first Grove cranes to the company." "We hope these are the first of many, and Im sure these two additions will bring tremendous efficiency to its maintenance operations and day-to-day activities," he added.-TradeArabia News Service ON THE MOVE: Citadel Grabs Luparello and Moves Nazarali; Moves at KeyBanc, ITG Too Citadel Securities was busy last week. First, it hired former head of the Securities and Exchange Director of Trading and Markets, Stephen Luparello, as its general counsel. At the SEC, he oversaw the adoption of Regulation Systems Compliance and Integrity (Reg SCI) and also played a key role in the Commissions efforts to enhance operational transparency and regulatory oversight of alternate trading systems (ATSs) that trade stocks listed on a national securities exchange, including dark pools. Additionally, he oversaw proposed rules that for the first time would require broker-dealers to disclose the handling of institutional orders to customers. Moreover, Luparellos spearheaded the plan to create a comprehensive database that allows regulators to track trading activity in the U.S. equity and options markets the consolidated audit trail or CAT. CAT, just approved for creation on November 15th, will greatly enhance regulators ability to monitor market behavior and reconstruct market events. Prior to his arrival at the Commission, Luparello was a partner at WilmerHale, in its Washington, D.C. office. Before that, he spent 16 years at FINRA and its predecessor, the National Association of Securities Dealers. As FINRAs vice chairman, he was responsible for its enforcement, exam, market regulation, international and disclosure programs. Also, the firm sees Jamil Nazarali, head of execution services, transition into a senior advisory role to the CEO, Peng Zhao. step away from his day-to-day responsibilities. Nazarali arrived at Citadel in 2011, after holding a similar role KCG Holdings predecessor Knight Capital Group. Lastly, Citadel appointed Sebastian Barrack as new head of commodities. Barrack had been Macquaries metals, agriculture co-head. If you have a new job or promotion to report, let me know at jdantona@marketsmedia.com Execution broker ITG promoted two new managing directors. First is Kiri Pettigrew, Head of Legal and Compliance for ITG in the Asia-Pacific region, is a 10-year veteran of the firm. She joined ITG in late 2006 after 10 years in private legal practice in Hong Kong and Australia. Also rising is Bryan Blake, Chief Executive Officer of TriAct Canada, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITG which operates MatchNOW, Canadas leading dark pool. Blake joined ITG in late 2015 after spending 17 years in a number of electronic trading sales and technology product management roles. EBS appointed Tim Cartledge as global head of FX and head of product, and Jim Iorio as head of sales and head of FX Americas. 1 2 3 next For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: MiFID II Regulations to Impact U.S. Asset Managers North American broker-dealers and asset managers domiciled in the U.S. are watching their European counterparts gear up for compliance with MiFID II. But will MiFID II affect U.S. broker-dealers and asset managers based in the U.S.? Could the massive regulation that requires asset managers to unbundle research payments from executions, and quantify the value of research for its clients, find its way onto U.S. shores? That question was the focus of an open call held by the Security Traders Association (STA) on March 2 examining the impact of MIFID II on North American broker dealers and asset managers. Under the MiFID II delegated acts, which go into effect on Jan. 3, 2018, asset managers will need to pay for research from their own P&Ls, or set up so-called research payment arrangements (RPAs), which are to be funded by a commission sharing account (CSA) or a direct payment by the client. Although the ruleset impacts firms based in Europe, U.S.-based asset managers competing for mandates against European investment firms could face competitive pressure to adhere to MiFID II rules. MiFID II is most relevant for global asset managers that are based in the U.S., but have a physical location in Europe where they serve European client, said Tom Conigliaro, managing director at Markit Brokerage and Research Services. Technically the European operations of those firms are within the bulls eye of the regulations, explained Conigliaro. While global firms can continue to operate their U.S. divisions under existing U.S. rules, operating a global business under two starkly different regulatory regimes is very challenging, says Conigliaro. Most global firms are going to opt into MiFID across the globe, and thats how the massive regulation will leak into the U.S., he said. Global asset managers would prefer to adhere to the stringent regulatory standard, so they can operate synergistically across the globe, he added. Buy-side firms that fall under the MiFID II rules on unbundling research payments from executions will need to: Track interactions with research counterparties. Regularly assess the quality of research and its contribution to the investment process. Establish a research budget. Allocate the budget to the strategy level. Manage payments either directly or through a RPA Administrator. For a U.S. asset manager that doesnt have a physical presence or any jurisdiction in Europe, these firms are not in the bullseye of the regulation, he said. However, practically speaking, U.S. managers that are managing European mandates or competing for European clients assets will face competitive pressure as clients come to expect the level of transparency they are receiving from asset managers in Europe. Most asset managers will view MiFID II as a positive due to its transparency, disclosure of prices and better reporting. For instance, a state pension fund or college endowment fund could be evaluating investment managers including a European firm that is following a MiFID unbundled research regime. That firm is providing more transparency and disclosure than a US domiciled manager is providing In this scenario, a North American asset manager that is not in compliance with MiFID II could be seen as having a competitive disadvantage, Conigliaro suggested. Rather than sit tight and watch how developments unfold, U. S. asset managers can take steps to align with best practices. A lot of U.S. asset managers are doing this already, such as setting budgets for their research, having an evaluation program, paying attention to ratings and rankings of their research, and providing data to their clients to tell a better story about performance based on the research, which the client is ultimately funding, said Conigliaro. You can do all of these things that are aligned with the spirit of MiFID to the letter of the law until either there is a seismic shift from the industry, or a client calls demanding more transparency that it gets from reports from its other managers in Europe, noted Conigliaro. Rather than being caught flat-footed, this gives asset managers a head start when they have no choice but to comply with a MiFID II-oriented regime. For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: VidaCaixa Selects SimCorp Dimension for Front and Middle Office Operations SimCorp, a provider of investment management solutions and services to the global financial services industry, announced that VidaCaixa, part of the CaixaBank Group and the leading insurance company in Spain with more than 4.5 million customers, has selected SimCorp Dimension as its new front and middle office platform. The agreement, signed in December 2016, covers IBOR (investment book of record), data management, pre and post-trade compliance, portfolio management, order management, performance measurement, and risk management. Currently managing assets of EUR 67bn, VidaCaixa has continued to grow its premiums and contributions amidst a tough and continually challenging market environment. To sustain its competitive position and support further growth, VidaCaixa has chosen to invest in an integrated investment management system for front and middle-office operations to be used across its pension funds and the companys own investment departments. Following a rigorous selection process, SimCorp Dimension stood out as the solution best suited to support VidaCaixas current and future business needs and strategy. Ernesto Moreno, Chief Investment Officer at VidaCaixa, commented: The implementation of SimCorp Dimension will enable us to scale for growth by implementing a high level of integration and automation across a wide range of business functions. Equally important, the solution will enable us to comply with current and future regulations in a cost-effective manner, plus provide our front office business teams with the real-time data they need to make faster and more informed investment decisions. We look forward to working with SimCorp on this strategic project. Emmanuel Colson, Managing Director of SimCorp Southern Europe, comments: We are very pleased to welcome VidaCaixa to our fast-growing global client community. VidaCaixas decision is a strong testament to our systems ability to support investment managers growth ambitions by removing operational complexity and the associated risk and costs. As one of the leading Spanish financial institutions, VidaCaixas choice of SimCorp Dimension presents a unique opportunity for SimCorp to now establish our position further in the Spanish Market. We look very much forward to partnering with VidaCaixa. For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: You can opt out of certain types of cookies (e.g. those used in social media sharing) by choosing "I do not accept". The website will still largely function well, but with slightly less functionality in places. To manage your cookie preferences in future, visit the "Cookie Statement" link at the bottom of any page. The nation's capital is busy as ever, and touring the whole city can leave you feeling hungry by the end of the day. Granted, there are several good restaurants in Washington that fare well with those who have an expensive palate, but you don't need to break the bank just to experience good food. There are tons of food hubs and humble restaurants in Washington that are much more than what meets the eye. Who says quality food means spending hundreds of dollars? Here are some of the best places with cheap eats in Washington: Ray's Hell Burger. Every red-blooded American loves a good burger, and here at Ray's, you never have to doubt a thing. If you're picky about choices, there are over half a dozen of burgers to choose from, each one as succulent as the rest. According to Travel Pulse, you can also choose from an array of toppings and add-ons if you prefer your burger to be overloaded, all without spending more than $20. Nando's Peri Peri. If you're looking for a hearty meal with an extra kick, then by all means, head onto Wisconsin Avenue and search for the restaurant named Nando's Peri Peri. The flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken is a winner, as well as their other menu choices. Gayot says this humble eatery also excels in fast service, and the staff always recommends house favorites as soon as you sit down. If you're looking for a casual friendly place, this is the place to be. Ben's Chili Bowl. Who can forget Ben's Chili Bowl and their signature dish, the chili half-smoke, half pork and half beef smoked sausage on a steamed bun smothered in spicy homemade chili sauce, mustard and onions? This Washington staple has been around since 1958 and is a famous name all around town. Presidents, celebrities, and other big names have tried Ben's goodness, and if you're in the city, you definitely should try it out for yourself as well. Taqueria Nacional. If you're craving authentic Mexican food, Washington has a good taco place you'll definitely won't regret. Taqueria Nacional has been wowing guests with their selection of tacos, quesadillas, and other Mexican fares, and you don't have to worry eating seconds because the price is very affordable. Their beverages feature some traditional Mexican drinks and cocktails as well, and if you happen to stop by on a weekend, you should definitely try their breakfast menu. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Andy Gundlach, one of the largest Anytime Fitness Club franchise owners in the country, has opened two more locations. A club at 2045 Atwood Ave. opened March 17 and another at 737 University Row opened on March 24. Gundlach, whose headquarters is in Monona, now owns 32 clubs in southern Wisconsin. In September, at the company's annual conference in Lake Placid, New York, the Monona Grove High School graduate was named Club Operator of the Year for the global franchise that has locations in all 50 states and on five continents and claims over 3 million members. It's the third time in six years that Gundlach has received the award as the company's top franchisee. Anytime Fitness, based in Woodbury, Minnesota, was founded in 2002. It seems like the LGBT groups in Tanzania are on a lockdown, especially when their own government attacks their sexuality. HIV programs were suspended and so does any organization that supports gay people, reported NPR News. Even more so, homosexuals were threatened and placed into custody for ludicrous reasons. Being gay is against Tanzania's laws and having sexual intercourse with a person of the same gender is punishable by life imprisonment. The government plans to list names of homosexuals in their countries as nurses and doctors even prevent treatments for these minority groups. Twelve people in one night were arrested for being suspected of being gay. They spent the weekends in a jail cell until they were taken to a hospital for an anal test. There are only eight countries in the world and Tanzania only started doing these exams in December 2016. The crackdown would grow more intensely, especially when the Trump administration also fails to see the importance of LGBT rights. Deputy Health Minister of Tanzania Hamisi Kigwangalla told BuzzFeed News, "People will be arrested if there is information that people are indulging themselves in unnatural sexual activities." He continued saying that Tanzania is a country with laws and people expect to be examined. Earlier in 2017, Kigwangalla planned on releasing the names of LGBT people to which he canceled afterward. He defended his stance saying, "I was targeting only those who were promoting homosexuality." Kigwangalla took up the favor of the government on his Twitter account and often commends the efforts of the police force for rounding up gay people. When John Magufuli became president in 2015, never was there a tighter time for gay people or straight individuals who advocate LGBT rights. A #WhatWouldMagufuliDo hashtag and meme broke the internet, but it has proven to be quieter now that Magufuli started acting on his policies. Since December 2016 and the start of anal testing, LGBT people cowers in fear. They said the procedure made them feel as though they were "raped." See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Terra Engineering and Construction Corp. of Madison is evolving from family ownership to partial employee ownership. The 90-employee company announced that 25 percent ownership in the firm has been allotted to non-union employees in a new employee stock ownership plan retirement fund. Unionized employees have an existing pension fund that will not change. Terra is best known for underground foundation work. The 45-year-old firm, with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, is headed by Scott Zimmerman, president and chief executive officer, and Gary Zimmerman, who moves from vice president to chief operations officer. Their father, Gary Zimmerman Sr., founded the company in 1972. The company described other leadership changes at the firm as succession planning for the Zimmermans' eventual retirement. They include Tony Arts as executive vice president, Donna Kopp as chief financial officer, Chris Steinke as operations manager and Mark Rippe as director of risk management. A man who was stabbed to death in his apartment last month suffered 70 knife wounds, the Dane County medical examiner testified Tuesday at a preliminary hearing for the man accused in the homicide. Dane County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Vincent Tranchida said Andrew Nesbitt, 46, suffered the wounds to his head, neck, torso and extremities during the incident early March 27 in which Nesbitt was killed. Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn ordered Darrick E. Anderson, 23, of Columbus, to stand trial after finding probable cause he committed a felony. Anderson is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for Nesbitts death. Authorities have not yet said what motivation Anderson may have had for killing Nesbitt. Nesbitt was found on his bed in his North Butler Street apartment. Madison police Detective Pedro Ortega-Mendoza testified the bed had been stripped to a bare mattress and pictures were knocked over in the bedroom. But he said no other signs of a struggle were noted in the apartment. Andersons lawyer, Tim Kiefer, called Tranchida to the witness stand to press him on the kinds of wounds Anderson had suffered to his right hand, which were not seen on surveillance video taken before Nesbitts death but were present on Andersons hand at the time he was arrested the day after the homicide. A criminal complaint quoted Tranchida, after looking at a photograph of the cuts on Andersons right fingers, as saying he believed the cuts were caused by a knife sliding in Andersons hand as it was being used. But on the stand Tuesday, Tranchida conceded to Kiefer that the cuts could be consistent with wounds Anderson suffered as he defended himself in relation to a knife. Kiefer questioned whether it was possible that Nesbitt first brandished a knife, which was taken away by Anderson and used to kill Nesbitt, but Tranchida said there was no way to say who started the fight. But under cross-examination from District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, Tranchida testified Nesbitt had defensive wounds to the palms of his hands, including some cuts that appeared to indicate Nesbitt had tried to grab the knife as he defended himself. Many of Nesbitts wounds were to his back, Tranchida said, and many were very deep, indicating a lot of force was used to inflict them. That force, combined with blood, could have made the knife handle slick enough to slip through the hand of Nesbitts assailant and cause the kind of cuts seen on Andersons hand, Tranchida testified. Ortega-Mendoza said blood droplets found in the kitchen of the apartment were tested for DNA, and an oral swab taken from Anderson after his arrest confirmed the blood was his . Anderson will formally enter pleas to the charges against him at a later date. Kiefer declined to say after the hearing whether Anderson would seek to enter pleas of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. In an unrelated case against Anderson pending in Columbia County, he has sought to change his not guilty pleas to insanity pleas, but his motion hasnt been heard in court yet. Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 11 In a first, Panjab University students protesting against the recent fee hike were charged with sedition and other criminal offences after they clashed with the local police on Tuesday, leaving over 60 students, cops and journalists injured at least four of them critical on the campus. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The massive protest by all student parties, who had joined hands to call for the PU Bandh today, led to an unprecedented violence. The protest witnessed the use of force, water cannons and teargas by police, while students resorted to stone-pelting. At least 22 policemen, an equal number of students and five mediapersons were reported to have sustained injuries and had to be rushed to hospitals. However, several injured students took self-medication, went to private clinics or were discharged after first-aid. Fifty-two students were taken in police custody, out of 66 named in the FIR. The fee hike, set to come into effect from the 2017-18 academic session, is said to be necessitated in the wake of a financial crisis being faced by Panjab University, which has led to up to 1,100 per cent increase in fee of some courses. In some courses, the fee hike was steep. In the B Pharma course, the fee was raised from Rs 5,080 to Rs 50,000 and in MA (journalism) course, the fee was hiked from Rs 5,290 to Rs 30,000. For PU's dental course, the fees was increased from Rs 86,400 to Rs 1.5 lakh. The Union Ministry for Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) had been pressing Panjab University authorities to increase income from internal resources in order to raise funds. UT SSP Eish Singhal, who reached the spot, said the sedition charge was slapped on the basis of complaint received from PU Chief Security Officer Ashwani Kaul. Around 500 police personnel, including DSPs and SHOs, were deployed on the campus. The SSP confirmed that 22 police personnel received minor injuries in the violence and were given treatment at hospital. A total of 52 of 66 students named in the FIR have been arrested, he added. A case under Sections 124-A (sedition), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, has been registered against the accused at Sector 11 police station. High drama was witnessed when students holed up inside a gurdwara after clashing with cops. The gurdwara management warned police against entering the religious place even as SSP Eish Singhal's repeated requests to students to come out for talks found no takers. The impasse ended after students turned themselves in and were arrested by police. With PTI inputs Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 Three leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party--Poonam Jha Azad, Rajeev Mishra and Savita, along with their supporters--joined the Congress in the presence of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken. Offering the party scarf to them, Maken said the Congress, which had always raised the issues of Poorvanchalis and Uttranchalis, would continue raise their voices for redressal of their problems. The Congress treats its workers with respect as they are the backbone which sustains the party. Maken said nearly 90 national Congress leaders from across the country would campaign for the party in the Municipal Corporations of Delhi elections, including former Union ministers, MPs, MLAs, former DPCC presidents and former Delhi ministers. He said top leaders of the party like Jairam Ramesh, Shashi Taroor and Salman Khurshid would join the morning walkers in parks to talk about the partys plans for improving the MCDs like making the corporations financially self-reliant by raising their own resources, solid waste management, primary education and health, etc. Maken said a control room has been opened in the DPCC which will co-ordinate the campaigns of the senior leaders. Kulbhushan Jadhavs death sentence by a Pakistani military court martial has left New Delhi apoplectic and, with good reason. For months nothing was heard of Jadhav after Pakistan aired a crudely edited video, his purported confession about running a spy ring in Balochistan. It was assumed that his fate would be a long spell in prison while the case wound its way through the courts. But the suspiciously ultra-quick ruling pronounced in an ultra secret chamber has compelled India to throw the book at Pakistan, threatening it with dire consequences if it went ahead with premeditated murder. In the murky world of espionage, his death sentence may be linked to the disappearance of a former Pakistani military official near the Indo-Nepal border where Indian intelligence agencies hold sway. The situation should become a bit clearer after Jadhav gets to meet Indian diplomats who were suddenly given access after the death sentence. But on the strength of available indicators, Jadhav is the fall guy because of the deteriorating Indo-Pak ties: just last month the Pakistani Senate was informed that a case would be shortly registered against him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself widened the ambit of discord by making references to Balochistan and Gilgit & Baltistan. Is it any wonder that the Pakistanis showed his arrest in Balochistan as if to validate their accusation of Indian meddling? The stage is set for another Sarabjit-like situation: a massive public outcry coupled with fire and brimstone statements from the political class and TV anchors. India will also get the support of peaceniks in Pakistan. Back-channel talks will inevitably be held along with political, diplomatic and even military pressure. Indian diplomacy will be tested. The military courts sentence is not the end of the road for Jadhav. He has three lifelines or appeals. India needs to summon all its diplomatic ingenuity, as it has done in the past, to get Jadhav out of the death row. But in the absence of a dialogue, consciously spurned by Modi to maintain his consciously-cultivated strongman image with a pro-Hindutva hue, makes the diplomats task difficult. Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Sonepat, April 11 A motley crowd of protesters in Badkhalsa village just wont give up. Twelve long years have gone by without a glimmer of hope, yet the residents remain resolute in their struggle. They want their land, acquired for the Rajiv Gandhi Education City in November 2005, to be released. Believing they could save their land, they began a protest that stretched into weeks, months and years, but to no avail. They are now banking on Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattars assurance for their troubles to end. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) A bespectacled, toothless Dharam Singh, 80, joins the sit-in off the GT Road to mark his presence. He has one last wish: Official possession of less than half an acre of his land acquired by the government. Resting on a stick, his shoulders bent, he is one of the many faces that make up the crowd. Ours is the only village that refused to accept the award money for the acquisition. We began our dharna that very day. Many a season has gone by and many village elders have died, but we have continued with our fight, says Virender. We have never approached politicians to support our cause. Our unity has been our strength and the government has not been able to take physical possession of our land so far, explains Vijay Pal, who has 5.5 acres at stake. In a village where land-holdings are small, the villagers take turns to participate in the dharna. On any given day, 20 to 30 gather under a shed they have built with their own money. We had a bamboo shed which was set ablaze by miscreants last year. Everybody chipped in and we raised another one, says Dr Dalpat. He is all praise for the womenfolk for their role in keeping the agitation alive, participating in large numbers. Across the road, a semi-constructed shed serves as a kitchenette where women make tea for the protesters. We start gathering at 8 in the morning and a few of us are always here till 5 pm. That is our way of saying we havent given up, says Ram Chander, whom the residents address as president sahib. Oscillating between hope and despair, any movement has them overjoyed. The CM held a meeting today. Our land will be released soon, says an excited Sandeep, as others nod in agreement. The CM, at a meeting in Chandigarh on Tuesday, reportedly gave officers a piece of his mind for dragging their feet on the matter. The CM has asked the officers to take a call on the issue. But there are several complexities, which are causing the delay, claimed government sources. Back in Badkhalsa, the news of the meeting sends a wave of joy. I will believe we have made it only when I get a letter in my hand, says an elderly man with scepticism. Faces turn grim. Somebody suggests that they call it a day, and return tomorrow with hope afresh. All oblige. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 11 Thousands of commuters across Haryana had a harrowing time on the second day of the strike of Haryana Roadways employees today against the grant of permits to private bus operators under the state transport policy. Though the state government has held talks with the striking employees union, no headway could be reached with both sides adamant on their stands. A realty check by Tribune reporters: Ambala: The strike of Haryana Roadways employees continued for the second day on Tuesday, giving a tough time to commuters. Of 219 buses, 183 remained off road while the remaining 36 buses, which ply on long routes, are at present in different states. Kuldheer Singh, General Manager, Haryana Roadways, said efforts were being made to keep buses operational on long routes. The strike would cause the Ambala depot a loss of Rs 18 lakh a day. Cooperative societies are also unhappy with the situation. Ram Nath Rana, president of the Ambala Sehkari Parivahan Kalyan Sangh, said, Roadways employees want to create a monopoly so that they could pressure the government. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said in Ambala that, talks are on and the government has been making efforts to resolve the issue. The transport policy will not be withdrawn but we are ready to discuss other issues. Faridabad: All 311 buses of the local bus depot remained off road in response to the indefinite strike call given by the Haryana Roadways Workers Union. While the strike caused inconvenience to commuters dependent on the state buses, agitating employees staged a dharna in the depot seeking withdrawal of permits given to private bus operators. The local depot would suffer a daily loss of Rs 15 lakh if the strike continues indefinitely. Kurukshetra: Scores of commuters were stranded for several hours at various places due to the strike. Haryana Roadways Workers Union president Hari Narayan Sharma, who reached Kurukshetra on Tuesday, claimed the strike across the state was total. Passengers on the National Highway-1 had to travel in overloaded buses of other states. Commuters on inner roads, away from the GT Road, had a tough time due to limited bus services of other states. Karnal: People faced hardships due to the strike. All buses of the Kanal depot remained off road. Roadways employees staged a dharna against the grant of permits to private bus operators. Yamunanagar: Normal life was affected as roadways buses did not ply. Only a few buses that had gone on long routes earlier returned to the depot on Tuesday. Jhajjar: The strike was total in the district as all 159 buses of the Jhajjar depot remained off road. However, private buses and maxi cabs plied as usual and did a brisk business. Buses and jeeps were plying overloaded with passengers, putting their lives in danger. Sonepat: Activists of the Haryana Roadways Workers Union locked the main gates of the Sonepat depot and the Gohana sub depot and observed a complete strike. Passengers were forced to travel in private vehicles. Randhir Singh Malik, president, Sonepat depot, said the Roadways in the district had suffered losses of Rs 3 crore during the Jat stir for three months. Now, the buses are off road because of the strike and it is a big loss for the Roadways, he said and held the government responsible for it. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 11 The talks between Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar and representative of the Haryana Roadways Employees Union failed today with both sides sticking to their stand. Sources said while the union wanted a rollback of the state transport policy of issuing permits to private bus operators, the government was in no mood to review it. After the talks, Panwar told reporters that the interests of the department employees and the people of the state were of paramount importance to the government. He said, The unions are objecting to the transport policy dated February 17, 2017. At present, 853 private buses are operating on 273 routes and all operators have got their permits renewed. Priority was given to those who were already operating buses, including 80 per cent old permit holders. Besides, 1,669 other applications have been received. No new route has been allotted to anyone. The employees unions did not object to 853 permits issued before the new policy was announced, he claimed. Panwar said the matter relating to the new policy was pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the hearing was scheduled for April 20. The decision of the court would be followed in letter and in spirit, he added. Meanwhile, Panwar issued orders for the installation of the global positioning system (GPS) in all private buses. Once GPS is installed, if any permit holder changes his route, his security deposit of Rs 1 lakh will be forfeited. The permit holders will have to allow persons belonging to 39 categories, who have been granted the facility of free or concessional travel in the state roadways buses. If any bus operator denies them travel in his bus, his permit will be cancelled, he added. Asked about the timings of the buses on different routes, the minister said the General Manager and the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, would take the decision jointly. Panwar said the state transport at present has about 4,200 buses in its fleet. Besides, 600 new buses were being inducted. While 300 buses had been purchased, the approval for 300 more buses had been received. Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 Despite the Shimla airport being ready for flights, the Delhi-Shimla and Chandigarh-Shimla air connectivity remains a distant dream as Air-India has told the Supreme Court that the route will be commercially viable only if the state government agrees to partially fund it. Air-India counsel Gunjan Sinha Jain told a Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar, on Monday that in view of the topography of Himachal Pradesh, ATR-42, a 48-seater short-haul aircraft, was suitable to fly to Shimla. She said the airline might start flights to Shimla under the new civil aviation policy, Udan. The Udan scheme, announced by the Civil Aviation Ministry on October 21 last year, envisages providing connectivity to unserved and under-served airports through the revival of the existing airstrips and airports. It is to remain in operation for 10 years. The Bench sought to know what kind of funding it wanted. If it was a policy decision to increase the regional connectivity, it had to start air service to Shimla, it said. Asking the airline to file an affidavit explaining when it intended to commence flights to/from Shimla, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing in the last week of April. The top court is hearing a petition filed by Air-India against the HP High Court order to start scheduled flights on a trial basis between Delhi and Shimla. Other objections and viability gap funding, if any, would be sorted out later, it had said. The airline has told the court that it didnt have enough ATR-42 aircraft to commence operations. Air-India had only three ATR-42 aircraft of which one operated to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and one to the Northeast while the third one was not in the flying condition, the court was informed. The counsel said if Air-India still stuck on this route, it would have to take planes from international airlines or a domestic private airline on lease for which the viability gap funding was needed from the state government. In a status report filed in the top court, it said deficiencies at the aerodrome at Shimla had been resolved and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had found it fit to accommodate ATR-42 aircraft. It said if 20-year-old 20-seater or 7-seater planes were to be taken on a lease and the fare was kept at Rs 6,000 for Delhi-Shimla, Rs 4,000 for Delhi-Chandigarh and Rs 3,000 for Chandigarh-Shimla, the company would incur losses running into crores of rupees. The December 7, 2015, Himachal Pradesh High Court order had come on a petition filed by a local resident on the possibility of resuming the Delhi-Shimla flight service from Jubbarhatti Airport, which has remained non-operational since September 2012. Taking strong note of lack of connectivity to Shimla and other hill regions, the top court had earlier told the government, Earlier the service is resumed, the better and had directed the agencies concerned to give a categorical answer so that accountability could be fixed for non-compliance. Loss-making route, SC told Sumit Hakhoo Tribune News Service Jammu, April 11 The failure of the PDP-BJP coalition government to plug loopholes and revamp the public distribution system (PDS) has forced the Central government to stop ration to Jammu and Kashmir, creating unprecedented shortage of food grains across the state. Faced with the possibility of social unrest and growing resentment among people, a team of officials from the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department is camping in New Delhi, seeking respite from the Union Ministry of Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution. Sources said the Centre had stopped wheat supply for the past several months while the quota of rice and sugar had been scaled down, leading to scarcity of ration in urban and rural areas. A senior CAPD official said the state was not receiving wheat, rice and sugar as per the required scale due to the slow progress in overhauling the PDS system, streamline distribution process, root out pilferage and black marketing syndicate and conduct the audit of the department. Further, corruption at various levels from the department to distributors is leading to food scarcity in various parts of the state. Several depots have no ration supply for days together and people are forced to buy rice and flour from the market, which is costlier than the one supplied through the PDS. There is also resentment among distributors as they were asked to lift three months of ration in advance, creating huge logistic problems. At present, the state has 7,000 ration depots. Accepting that the state was facing scarcity of ration, Minister for Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali blamed the Centre for the crisis. We have sufficient quantity of rice in our stores but there is shortage of wheat as the Centre has not released our quota due to some administrative problems in lifting the food grains. We have taken up the issue with it so that people dont suffer, Zulfkar said. The state has been facing problems after the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Earlier, the Centre was providing 35-kg food grains per family per month, but after the implementation of the NFSA, the amount was changed to 5 kg per person per month (priority households, non-priority households). Long lines outside the ration stores bring back the memory of the old days when the country was dependent on food imports and food was scarce. Nothing has changed despite the change of governments in the state, said Rameshwar Gupta, a retired government employee. The monthly food grain allocation has been reduced to 62,590 metric tonnes under the NFSA from 63,067 metric tonnes, creating more problems. The total food grain requirement in the state is 79,567 metric tonnes. Former Education Minister and Panthers Party president Harsh Dev Singh alleged that there was chaos for the last three years and the condition was worse in rural areas. In the Ramnagar constituency, people were told by CAPD officials that there is no ration supply. There is acute shortage of essentials in the mountainous districts of the Jammu region, Harsh Dev said. At present, the state government provides ration to 19.71 lakh families as per the 2001 Census. However, the total number of the ration card holders in the state as per the 2011 census is 1.25 crore with 22.73 lakh families. There is ration shortage for approximately 3.2 lakh families. Shiv Rattan Goyal India experiencing an exponential growth in the retail industry, the development is now spreading to tier 2 and tier 3 cities apart from metro cities. This has created an opportunity pool for investors to invest in the organised retail sector. The government policies contribute remarkably to the investment opportunities in retail sector. There are 4.3 million retail outlets in India in different states, which need about 3.25 million retail personnel at present. With such a huge prospective retail management offers vast job opportunity in supply chains, exporting houses and departmental stores. Manufacturing industries also hire retail personnel to reach the customers directly. Banking and insurance companies also need professional retail managers to bring their products directly to the consumers. IT and IT enabled companies in the field of telecommunication also require large numbers of retail managers because of the recent boom in the telecommunication industries. A scope in healthcare and education industry prevails likewise. The concept Retail management is the practice of making a merchandise reach its end user in time smoothly. It involves retailers dialogue with customer on brands behalf at physical stores intending customer satisfaction. The process ensures that a customer leaves the store with a positive experience and looks forward to visit again. The intent is to treat customers time sensitivity according to the purchase type and provide them with best assistance so they convert into frequent visitors and purchase more often from the brand. Retail management also comprises activities involving procurement, sales monitoring, inventory management, executing and managing sales promotion, store display, store discipline, etc. Better managed workforce leads to better assistance which contributes to a better experience. Though every brand aims to achieve customer delight, it demands a lot of hard work. Firms have been constantly innovating and integrating required technology and activities to emerge as best service providers to its customers. This management style not only helps in attaining new customers but also ensures customer loyalty. There is specially trained workforce in a store that combats any difficulty faced by the customer so that their shopping experience does not get compromised. Diversified career paths With the consistent growth in this sector, job opportunities have opened up creating a window with spectrum of choices available for todays generation. Specialised courses for retail store managers, executive, etc are designed for an edge in the field. A few areas for a retail management student to work at are: Customer Sales Associate, Department Manager, Store Manager, Retail Operation Manager, Retail Buyers and Merchandisers, Visual Merchandisers, Manager Back-end Operations, Logistics and Warehouse Managers, Retail Communication Manager, Manager Private label Brands, Retail Marketing Executives. Uphill task Several tasks that may pose as a challenge can be covered under the following circumstances: Customer interactions Customers tend to face interruptions and indecisiveness in making the right choice and that is when they seek assistance. A retail manager must handle an angry customer with a pleasant demeanour as per retail etiquette. It is the most challenging and valuable skill to be learnt by a retail manager. Take nothing personally, try to keep your composure and listen to the customer. Festive seasons/ Rush hour It becomes a task for all the personnel handling the store during times of festivals and rush hours. This is the time that requires discipline not only in interacting with the client but also interactions among the personnel themselves. There is high possibility of store overcrowding and cheeses out customers whom we can appease through retail etiquette. Schedule disparity A person working in the retail sector must know how to log in flexible hours. Crisis management, query handling and handling on call emergencies are the qualities one must possess for a better career record. The writer is MD, Richlook Ajay Banerjee & Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 The India-Pakistan relationship today took a rather tense turn as New Delhi cautioned Islamabad about the consequences on the bilateral relationship if it carried out the death sentence to retired Indian Navy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been convicted by a Pakistani army court. Edit: Jadhavs death sentence Speaking separately in both Houses of Parliament, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said: The government and people of India would view the death sentence very seriously. I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Amid applause from MPs cutting across party lines, Swaraj said: We have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. He is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistans well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Swaraj termed the court martial proceedings as farcical and said consular access to Jadhav had been denied. She said the Pakistan Government had sought assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process. In doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position. The Indian stand was consular access was a prerequisite for verifying the facts and understanding the circumstances of Jadhavs presence in Pakistan. To make matters absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received a communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access, Swaraj said. The Inter-Services Public Relations of Pakistan had announced the death sentence through a press release from Rawalpindi on Monday. Angry MPs in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha demanded immediate action. In the Lok Sabha, Congress Mallikarjun Kharge asked the government not to be silent on the matter. He questioned why the PM could not speak directly to his Pakistani counterpart on Jadhav even though he had attended the wedding of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs daughter. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad suggested the government should appoint a competent lawyer to fight Jadhavs case in Pakistans Supreme Court. New Delhi, April 11 With an Assam court issuing a bailable warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his tweets on Narendra Modis educational background, the Congress on Tuesday shot a question at the Prime Minister asking why he was so secretive about his education. Taking to Twitter, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh asked if its a crime to question the educational qualification of the Prime Minister. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Tearing into the Prime Ministers secretive attitude, Singh asserted that it was proof that the former had lied to the nation about his education. Kejriwal waded into trouble after tweeting, Modiji 12 pass hain. Uske baad ki degree farzi hai. (Modi has studied up to Class 12. His degrees after that are fake). The criminal defamation case was filed by Assam BJP leader Surya Rongphar stating that Kejriwals comment was baseless and misleading. Last year, the Delhi University registrar said the Prime Ministers degree was authentic and he cleared the examination in 1978 and was awarded the degree in 1979. The Centre had also released copies of the Prime Ministers bachelors and masters degrees from Delhi University and Gujarat University, respectively. In response, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the documents produced by the government were forged and that they contained glaring discrepancies, including in name and year of issue. ANI Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 11 While India and Pakistan lock diplomatic horns over the conviction of a former Indian Navy officer, Commander Kulbushan Jadhav, by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial on charges of spying, the incident has also brought into focus the Pakistani military justice system. Though the militaries of both countries share a common colonial past and have evolved from the same organisational structure, the system of imparting justice and post-trial remedial options are vastly different in both countries. According to Army officers and legal experts familiar with the Pakistani military system, there may be little hope of Jadhav getting relief from the Pakistani establishment except for a presidential pardon. Jadhav, whose sentence of death by the Pakistani military court already stands confirmed by the Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff, General Qamar Bajwa, was tried at a secret location, and can present a post-confirmation petition and an appeal to the military Court of Appeals within 40 days. However, experts say that calling the said body a court can be a misnomer since it consists of serving military officers who may not be willing to overturn a verdict that stands confirmed by the Army Chief or an officer authorised by him. It is not a judicial body but merely an executive body that is neither trained in law nor independent from the Army. Further draconian is the situation that civilian courts in Pakistan, by law, cannot interfere in court martial verdicts at all. This is unlike the system in democracies such as India, UK and the US where civil courts give utmost deference to the rights of military personnel and aggrieved individuals can challenge judgments of military courts in independent judicial forums like the Armed Forces Tribunal, High Court and the Supreme Court. High Court lawyer and military law expert Major Navdeep Singh said the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) permits the trial of civilians under Section 2(d) which has been deprecated by the international community time and again. Unfortunately, the law to try civilians in military courts has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Pakistan despite many of such trials having been held in secret locations without the benefit of a counsel and in most of the trials the accused pleading guilty under duress. Even primitive forms of punishment such as death by stoning, whipping and amputation are also authorised under the PAA, he said. Such military trials do not meet the requirements of Article 14 of the International Convention of Civil and Political Rights which ordains trial by an independent, impartial and competent tribunal, he said. Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 India on Tuesday cautioned Pakistan about possible impact on bilateral relations if it carried out the death sentence to retired Indian Navy Commander Kulbhushan Jhadav, who has been convicted by a Pakistani Army Court Martial. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, If the death sentence is carried out the Government of India will view it very seriously. I would caution Pakistan about the impact it could have on bilateral relations. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Reading out from a prepared text, Swaraj said Pakistan had repeatedly denied consular access to Jhadav. He was doing his business in Iran when he was kidnapped, Swaraj said, while referring to a statement by a senior Pakistani politician who had expressed doubts over the evidence against Jhadav. Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday assured the Lok Sabha that the Government of India would make all efforts to ensure justice for Jhadav. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed all parties to speak on the issue during Question Hour which commenced at 11 am. Rajnath said, The government condemns the sentence handed by Pakistan. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan had announced the death sentence through a press release from Rawalpindi on Monday. The Lok Sabha saw angry MPs demanding immediate action. Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress asked the Government not to be silent on the matter. Anurag Thakur of the BJP said the collective anger and anguish of the House be conveyed to Pakistan while Shashi Tharoor of the Congress said this is one issue which should be taken to the global forum and also to countries which supplied weapons to Pakistan. MPs from the TMC, RJD, BJD, AIDMK and Shiv Sena joined in to express a collective anguish of the House. Islamabad, April 11 Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Jadhav, 46, was awarded death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by powerful army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, upper house of parliament, the defence minister today said Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence sparked angry reaction from India which said Jadhav's execution would be treated as "premeditated murder." Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law," he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. "It's not premeditated murder, what's happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder)," he alleged. The minister further said the trial of Jadhav went for went on "for three months", rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with "iron hands. "Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment," he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. PTI Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said Kulbhushan Jadhav had been convicted by Pakistan on concocted charges. Giving details in the Rajya Sabha, Swaraj called it a part of the Pakistan plan to divert attention from its activities. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Swaraj said the government was in touch with Jadhavs parents and had expressed complete solidarity with them in their time of distress. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad appealed to the government to appoint renowned lawyers to fight his case in the Supreme Court. Swaraj said the government would do all it could to save Indias son. Getting Jhadav the best of lawyers is a very small thing, the government would do all it could to save him, Sushma said. Legal Correspondent New Delhi, April 11 The Arvind Kejriwal government on Tuesday lost yet another case in the Delhi High Court over the division of powers between the Centre and the city administration. The high court dismissed the Delhi governments petition seeking action against two officers of the Delhi Police for allegedly committing contempt of court by interfering in the functioning of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the city administration. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) A bench comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath ruled that there was no need to consider any action against Joint Commissioner of Police MK Meena and an Inspector as the high court had already held that ACB had no jurisdiction over Central government employees. Delhi Police is functioning under the Union Home Ministry. The city government had pleaded that the HC should at least decide if the two police personnel had committed any contempt as their interference was prior to the August 4, 2016 ruling by the high court that only the Lieutenant-Governor had jurisdiction over service matters, not the elected government in the city. The HC noted that it had already ruled that matters connected with services fell outside the purview of the legislative assembly of Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had earlier lost about a dozen cases in the HC over its administrative powers and that of the Centre. The city governments appeal against the high court verdicts in these cases are pending in the Supreme Court. The apex court has refused to stay the HC judgments, pending final disposal of these cases. Mumbai, April 11 Residents of a small village in western Maharashtra are hoping that despite the odds stacked heavily against their local lad Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan, will return home. People in Jadhavs native Javli village in Satara district today condemned Pakistan and demanded the release of Jadhav, the retired Indian Navy officer sentenced to death yesterday by a Pakistan army court on alleged espionage charges. It is our request that he should be released as early as possible. The government should apply twice the pressure and efforts it did while securing the release of Armyman Chandu Chavan, a villager said. Chavan, 22, had crossed into Pakistan on September 29 last year, the day India conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC. He was handed to India on January 21, after four months in captivity. PTI Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked high courts not to allow medical and dental colleges to admit students until and unless their legal dispute over affiliation was sorted out with the government. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The order from bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra comes as a relief to candidates who used to suffer after spending lakhs of rupees on their admission to medical and dental colleges in cases where their institutions failed to get affiliation. High courts must be circumspect before permitting such colleges to admit students even before their affiliation was approved as such orders could jeopardise students future, the bench said. It is not a construction which is built at the risk of a plaintiff or the defendant which can be demolished or redeemed by grant of compensation. It is a situation where the order has the potentiality to play with the career and life of young, the bench held. The top court quashed a Bombay High Court order that had allowed a dental college in Aurangabad to admit students for its post-graduation course after the Centre refused to give it permission to run PG courses. However, the bench ordered the college to adjust three students from the 2017-18 academic session who were admitted pursuant to the HCs direction. The bench also asked the college to deposit Rs 30 lakh with its registry, saying it would decide later what to do with the money. Following a petition filed by the college for permission to run PG course in Orthodontics and Dento-facial Orthopedics, the high court had allowed it, saying the admissions would be at the risk of the institution concerned. The Dental Council of India (DCI) had contended that the order was impermissible as it brought in anarchy and chaos in the process of admission to medical courses. DCI counsel Gaurav Sharma submitted: By saying that the institution may give admission at its own risk invites further chaotic and unfortunate situations. The college could not have started a course in the absence of approval, he argued. DCI said the high court should have decided if the college had actually removed the deficiencies pointed by an inspection committee or the decision making process in not recommending the approval was perverse. Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 10 The Opposition today took on the government citing loopholes in the Aadhaar scheme raising concerns over issues of privacy, integrity of the data and charged the government with excluding intended beneficiaries of social welfare measures such as food subsidy, old age pension and MNREGA. Citing that the scheme was violated the Supreme Court order that Aadhaar could not be made mandatory for people to draw benefits of subsidies, Opposition members questioned the claim of the government that several hundred crores of public money was saved on account of linking it to Aadhaar. Rajeev Chandrashekar (Independent), who initiated the short duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha, expressed doubts over having unverified data captured before the 2016 law and raised concerns over fake identities acquiring the unique identification numbers. While stating he was not opposed to Aadhaar, he said the government must address the risk and problem in the scheme. Jairam Ramesh (Congress) doubted the claim of the government of having saved Rs 50,000 crore just on LPG subsidy due to the linking of Aadhaar card with Jan Dhan accounts. Citing CAG reports, he said the saving was on account fall in oil prices and quoted a Rajasthan Government statistics to show that a quarter of one lakh people were unable to withdraw ration through the biometric system, which reflects the exclusion of those who should have got it. IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad acknowledged the scheme was launched by the UPA government but it was the Modi government that took it forward by making improvements. He said both the World Bank and a UN body had said Indias extraordinary technological innovation needed to be followed by other countries. The minister said a robust legislation was in place that outlined the process of how biometric data had to be collected, processed and stored. Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 There is no need to have more food served than you can consume. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan is contemplating fixing standards for portions of food served by restaurants across the country. The basic idea is to minimise wastage of food, he says. He has called a meeting with industry heads for a feedback and further action. Wastage of food should not be allowed in a country where there are so many poor people. Ideally, menu cards should mention the size of the portion, for example the number of pieces of chicken to be served, so that the customer knows exactly what to expect, Paswan explains. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in a recent edition of his radio talk show Mann ki Baat expressed concern on food being wasted. The minister, denying being inspired by the Prime Minister, says several social organisations had approached him on the matter. If we stop wasting food, we can feed the poor, he maintains. The ministry is believed to be preparing a questionnaire for hotels and restaurants to help ascertain how much should be served and how much can an individual possibly consume. Wastage of food is an issue that is being taken seriously by several developed nations, such as Germany and France, that have made legal provisions to address it. Some restaurants in Germany reportedly fine consumers for the left-over food. Archit Watts Tribune News Service Muktsar, April 11 A 62-year-old man, owing allegiance to the SAD, died on Tuesday under mysterious circumstances after a police team conducted a raid at his residence at Tarmala village in Lambi Assembly constituency here. Mandeep Singh Pappi Tarmala, district president, Youth Akali Dal, Muktsar (Rural), alleged, In connection with some old complaint, ASI Gurdeep Singh, incharge, Bhai Ka Kera police post, along with five cops had come to search the house of our worker, Gurdev Singh, at 2.15 pm today. However, when the police team failed to find anything objectionable, it started thrashing Gurdev, who fell unconscious. His son and two brothers reached the house and took him to the Primary Health Centre, Khubban, where doctors declared him brought dead. Pappi added, We have brought this matter to the notice of former CM Parkash Singh Badal. He has spoken to the DIG, Bathinda range, in this regard. We will wait for the action against police party for two hours and then start protest by blocking Abohar-Sitto Gunno-Dabwali highway. He added that the deceased was a farmer and did not have any criminal background. When contacted, ASI Gurdeep Singh, incharge, Bhai Ka Kera police post, attended the phone call but did not respond to any query. Muktsar SSP Baljot Singh Rathore said, Our team had gone to the residence of Gurdev Singh, but they cant thrash anyone. I am going to the village to investigate the matter. GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 11 The traditional deepmala to beautify the Golden Temple complex on special occasions is going to be a thing of the past. Now, a hi-tech LED system worth Rs 13 crore has been installed to illuminate the grandeur of the gold-plated sanctum sanctorum and its surroundings. The SGPCs ambitious project witnessed its trial run this evening. The light effects have been synchronised with the clock. This implies that as the sun sets, it will come under operation automatically and run till the early hours. When it is dark, a permanent golden effect would automatically reflect the glory of the sanctum santorum whereas the colours keep on changing on the outer boundary of parikrama and other structures. The system is capable of emitting various colour effects which can be changed at the click of a button. The technology has been imported from Germany and Italy. SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh said: We are aiming to launch it on Baisakhi, but some equipment is still awaited. Recently, six projectors have been imported to control the operations. Around 600 more LED lights have been ordered additionally to cover some more corners. Trial run The SGPCs ambitious project witnessed its trial run this evening. The light effects have been synchronised with the clock. This implies that as the sun sets, it will come under operation automatically and run till the early hours. Vibha Sharma & Mukesh Ranjan Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 10 India calling as misguided a private members motion adopted by the legislative assembly of Ontario in Canada that termed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide today found resonance in both Houses of Parliament. The ruling BJPs ally at the Centre the Shiromani Akali Dal asked the External Affairs Ministry to immediately withdraw the statement by spokesperson Gopal Baglay and the minister concerned, Sushma Swaraj, to speak in Parliament on the issue. As Akali leaders evoked the top BJP leadership former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee and senior leaders LK Advani and Rajnath Singh who, too, termed as genocide the 1984 riots, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Manjit Singh GK asked the government to apologise in Parliament for the statement by the MEA spokesperson. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Now when we should be applauding the Ontario assembly for terming it (the riots) what it was, it is very strange that the Indian governments spokesperson called the resolution misguided, said Akali leader Naresh Gujral in the Rajya Sabha Not only does it require a closure by punishing the guilty expeditiously, but I find that our government is rubbing salt on their (riot victims) wounds by protesting to Canada when the Ontario assembly has shown immense courage by calling a spade a spade. I demand that this statement by MEA be withdrawn immediately and the Minister must make a statement in Parliament on the issue, Gujral said. In the Lok Sabha, Prem Singh Chandumajara wondered that if the 1984 carnage was not genocide, then what it could be called, recalling Vajpayee and Advanis reactions to the massacre. Amid vehement protests by Congress leaders, Gujral told the House it was not a Hindu-Sikh riot as successive Congress governments have tried to make us believe. In fact, many Hindus and Muslims risked their lives to save their Sikh friends. QUOTES There was a massacre of innocent Sikhs... an orgy of killings that went on unabated and unchecked for three horrible days and nights. Naresh Gujral, Akali MP in Rajya Sabha I demand from the government to withdraw the statement rejecting the Ontario assembly resolution terming anti-Sikh riots as genocide. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Akali MP in LS Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, April 11 Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the alleged extortion of money from two farmers by five police officials, including a former SSP, in Sangrur. The Chief Minister has also ordered all five cops to be transferred to the Police Lines pending inquiry. He has further ordered the removal of former SSP Inderbir Singhs name from the panel for the post of SSP, Chandigarh, in view of the change in his Vigilance clearance status, Media Adviser to the CM, Raveen Thukral, disclosed. Officials have been asked to ensure protection to the two farmers who claimed their families sold land and took loans to pay the extortion money. The orders came after an initial probe by the Sangrur SSP recommended an FIR and a Vigilance Bureau probe. Meanwhile, in fresh trouble for Inderbir Singh, a senior Congress leader has demanded the registration of an FIR against him and wants his links with drug dealers to be probed during his posting as SSP, Batala, in 2015. Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today forwarded a letter to DGP Suresh Arora written by Randhawa to the then IG (Border Range) Ishwar Chandar on August 3, 2015 alleging the role of touts accepting money in drug-related cases and demanding that their links with SSP, Batala, Inderbir Singh be probed. I had informed you that one Sukha Sarpanch of Talwandi Rama had taken Rs 4.7 lakh from one Lalli Malewal for getting his police case cleared. Lalli Malewal is currently lodged in Gurdaspur jail in a case related to recovery of 1-kg heroin from him. The local sarpanch was collecting money on behalf of the police and acting as a tout. However, no action has been taken so far, read the 2015 letter. I am enclosing a photograph in which Sukha Sarpanch is seen posing with Inderbir Singh and a DSP when they visited Ghania-ki-bet. It is surprising and shocking to see notorious criminals accompanying the SSP to the last check-post of BSF, reads the letter. Talking to The Tribune, Randhawa said he had again brought the matter to the notice of DGP Arora for probing the drugs nexus of these officers. The probe should follow an FIR in this recent extortion case and instead of the Vigilance Bureau, a senior officer headed team should investigate the case after registering a FIR, he stated. Meanwhile, an official spokesperson on behalf of Punjab Police stated that the VB probe would also take into account the allegations levelled by Randhawa. Trio absent from duty Sangrur: Three of the five cops who are facing extortion charges have gone AWOL (absent without official leave) the Longowal SHO, Sub-Inspector (SI) Sikander Singh; the Sangrur Zail post incharge, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Baljinder Chatha; and the Badrukhan police post incharge, ASI Gurmale Singh. When contacted, Sangrur SSP Mandeep Sidhu said he had not received any leave application so far from the trio. So, they are being considered absent from duty, he added. ASI Ravinder Pal Singh, who attended a call on the Longowal SHOs official number on Tuesday, said: The SHO is on medical leave for five days after he was taken ill this morning. The munshi of Badrukhan police post claimed that Gurmale had taken five-day medical leave. Parvesh Sharma AT the Bengal Ayurvedic Conference held at Dacca, Vaidyaratna J.N. Sen, the well-known expounder of Ayurvedic medicine, put in a vigorous plea for the study of the indigenous science on its own basis. He contended that Ayurveda was self-contained and did not require the assistance of the western system of medicine which is of recent origin. He indignantly repudiated the remarks, sometimes made by western practitioners, that Ayurvedic men were quacks, and pointed out how this science had cured many cases left hopeless by western practitioners. He pointed out how in diagnosis and treatment, the Ayurvedic system differed from Allopathy. The whole science of Hindus, he said, was based upon the subtle principles of trisutra and tridosha. The diagnosis of all disease, were based upon wind, phlegm and bile, and any disorder among these caused diseases. Lucca, April 11 US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued an ultimatum to Russia today: Side with the US and like-minded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. As he embarked on a trip to Moscow following urgent meetings in Italy with top diplomats, Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had merely been incompetent. But he said the distinction doesn't much matter to the dead. We cannot let this happen again, the secretary of state said. We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for productive talks. It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the Russia-US relationship, but for the overall atmosphere on the world stage. Tillerson is travelling to Russia several days after a chemical attack in Syria and a US airstrike on a Syrian government base that Moscow today dismissed as an act of aggression. Moscow is a staunch ally of President Bashar Assad whom the United States blamed for the chemical attack. At today's meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G-7 countries failed to agree on whether fresh sanctions should be imposed on Damascus and Moscow. AFP Lvanka influenced Trumps move to bomb Syrian airbase Washington/London, April 11 US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May have agreed that a window of opportunity exists to convince Russia to end its support for embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Trump made a phone call to May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and they discussed Americas response to the suspected chemical attack by Syrian regime in which 87 people, including 31 children, were killed. May and Merkel, in two separate calls with Trump, expressed support for the action of the US and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable, the White House said. The Prime Minister and the President agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest, Mays spokesperson said in London. They agreed that US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement. They also discussed the broader Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran throughout the region, her spokesperson said. The North Korean nuclear programme also figured on the agenda of the phone call from Downing Street. The Prime Minister and President also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses, the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the White House refuted reports that Russia had prior information about the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime last week. At this time, there is no US Intelligence Community consensus that Russia had foreknowledge of the Syrian chemical attack, a senior administration official said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US and Russia had common interest in defeating the Islamic State militant group. We have a shared interest, particularly in the area of ISIS. If we can defeat them and if we can work with them on a plan to defeat them, then were going to do it, he said. The President came into office to really focus on two fronts: keeping our country safe and growing our economy and putting people back to work, Spicer said. If Russia or any other country can help us achieve those two goals, either through market access on additional products and services from the US into a major marketplace, but more importantly help to keep our country safe through a combined effort to defeat something like the ISIS, especially in a place like Syria where theyre playing so prominently, then I think we want to work with them, Spicer said. But if we cant get a deal with them, then, the Presidents not going to be disappointed. But he would like to do what he can to work with these individuals to make it happen, Spicer said. In a letter to Trump, two Republican lawmakers Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Peter Roskam urged him to suspend aircraft sales to Iran arguing that Tehran is using commercial passenger aircraft to supply its worldwide network of terror proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria. We urge you to suspend current and future licences for aircraft sales to commercial Iranian airlines until your administration conducts a comprehensive review of their role in supporting Irans illicit activity, they said in a letter to Trump. The United States should revoke authorisations and re-impose sanctions on Iranian airlines found guilty of such support, and should bar US companies from selling aircraft to Iran until the Iranian regime ceases using commercial airliners for illicit military purposes, the letter said. Senator Jack Reed supported the US move of missile strike against the Assad regime. It was important to respond to the despicable behaviour of the Syrian regime, Assad regime, but it hasnt changed the facts on the ground, which is that Assad controls significant territory. Theres Russian support, Reed was quoted as saying by CNN. But in terms of stopping the chemical weapons attacks against the people of Syria, I hope it succeeds, he said. PTI Pyongyang, April 11 The North Korean state media on Tuesday warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of US aggression as a US Navy strike group steamed towards the western Pacific. US President Donald Trump, who has urged China to do more to rein in its impoverished neighbour, said in a tweet that North Korea was looking for trouble and the US would solve the problem with or without Chinas help. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the US gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. North Koreas official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the US. Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the US invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland, it said. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of greater provocations by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the US. It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries, including the Supreme Peoples Assembly, said Hwang, acting leader since former President Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. Trump tweeted that a trade deal between China and the US would be far better for them if they solved the North Korea problem. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! he said. The North convened a Supreme Peoples Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. It did not immediately release details. Reuters Pyongyang flays US aircraft carrier deployment Kathmandu, April 11 The Nepal government on Tuesday tabled a new Constitution amendment bill in Parliament to address the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties which are demanding more representation and re-demarcation of state boundaries ahead of next month's local elections. According to the new bill, the government may form a federal commission to recommend it on the issues relating to the number of provinces and their boundaries. The coalition government registered the new Constitution amendment bill at the Parliament Secretariat after Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajaya Shankar Nayak withdrew the previous bill tabled in Parliament on November 29 last year. A Cabinet meeting yesterday endorsed the new bill with a view to addressing the demands of agitating Madhes-based parties and bringing them on board the local polls scheduled for May 14. The new bill aims at addressing some of the key demands raised by United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF). The Parliament meeting was later adjourned for eight days, Speaker Onsari Gharti said. The Madhesi parties, that have been demanding more representation in all state mechanism, are opposing the local body elections slated for May 14. Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, launched a prolonged agitation between September 2015 and February last year against the implementation of the new Constitution which they felt marginalised the Terai community. They are demanding more representation and re-demarcation of state boundaries in the Constitution. The protest had resulted in the death of at least 50 people. PTI PYONGYANG, April 11 North Korean state media on Tuesday warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of a US pre-emptive strike as a US Navy strike group led by a nuclear-powered aircraft steamed towards the western Pacific. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States. "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the US invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland," it said. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States. "It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries, including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. It did not immediately release details. But South Korean officials took pains to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war. "We'd like to ask precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim II Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of UN Security Council resolutions. Groups of men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on street corners in Pyongyang, which was illuminated by better lighting than in previous years, apparently practising for the parade planned for later in the week. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting "big powers" for their "expansionist" policy. "The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," the North's KCNA news agency quoted the message as saying. "The two peoples of Syria and the DPRK are as ever struggling for their rights to self-determination and national sovereignty and the security and prosperity of their countries." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by KCNA, said the US navy strike group's approach showed America's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase". "We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said. North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States. Sanctions warning North Korea is emerging as one of the most pressing foreign policy problems facing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. It has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States. The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes, but US officials said non-military action appears to be at the top of the list. Russia's foreign ministry, in a statement ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said it was concerned about many aspects of US foreign policy, and particularly concerned about North Korea. "We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario," a statement said. "It's important to understand how that would tally with collective obligations on de-nuclearising the Korean peninsula, something that is underpinned in UN Security Council resolutions." Russia slammed US cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base on Friday, calling them an illegal attack on a sovereign state. The US Navy strike group Carl Vinson was diverted from planned port calls to Australia and would move towards the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a US official said over the weekend. US officials said it would still take the strike group more than a week to arrive near the Korean peninsula. Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to curb North Korea's nuclear programme. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. On Tuesday, a fleet of North Korean cargo ships was heading home, the majority of it fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return coal from the isolated state to curb coal traffic, sources with direct knowledge of the trade said. The order was given on April 7, just as Trump and Xi were set for the summit where the two agreed the North Korean nuclear advances had reached a "very serious stage", Tillerson said. Following repeated missile tests that drew international criticism, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on February 26, cutting off the country's most important export product. The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellite at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Reuters New York, April 11 A 31-year-old Pakistani man has pleaded guilty to his role in a 140 million dollar school and college diploma mill fraud run through a Pakistani company that was shut down by the countrys law enforcement. Umair Hamid of Karachi pleaded guilty on Monday before US District Judge Ronnie Abrams to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the international diploma mill scheme that collected tens of millions of dollars from thousands of customers. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and Hamid will be sentenced in July. He was arrested in December last for his role in the scheme that collected approximately USD 140 million from tens of thousands of consumers, the Southern District of New York had said. As alleged in the indictment, Hamid and his co-conspirators made false representations to consumers on websites and over the phone to trick them into enrolling in purported colleges and high schools, and issued fake diplomas upon receipt of upfront fees from consumers. Operating from Pakistan, Hamid helped fraudulently rake in millions of dollars from unwitting American consumers who paid to enroll in, and get degrees from, high schools and colleges that did not exist. As a result of his fraud, people who thought they were investing in an education received nothing more than worthless diplomas and a harsh lesson in the worldwide reach of deceit, Acting US Attorney Joon Kim said. Hamid, using the aliases Shah Khan and the Shah, and others operated a massive education diploma mill through the Pakistani company Axact, which described itself as one of the worlds leading information technology providers. Hamid served as Axacts Assistant Vice President of International Relations and made misrepresentations to individuals across the world, including throughout the US and in New York, in order to dupe these individuals into enrolling in supposed high schools, colleges and other educational institutes. Consumers paid upfront fees to Hamid and his co-conspirators, believing that in return they would be enrolled in real educational courses and, eventually, receive legitimate degrees. Instead, after paying the upfront fees, consumers did not receive any legitimate instruction and were provided fake and worthless diplomas. Axact promoted and claimed to have an affiliation with approximately 350 fictitious high schools and universities, which Axact advertised online to consumers as genuine schools. During certain time periods since 2014, Axact received approximately 5,000 phone calls per day from individuals seeking to purchase Axact products or enroll in educational institutions supposedly affiliated with Axact. Once a consumer paid for a school certificate or diploma that falsely reflected a completed course of study, Axact sales agents were trained to use sales techniques to persuade the consumer to purchase additional accreditation or certifications for such certificates or diplomas in order to make them appear more legitimate. Axact, through Hamid and his co-conspirators, falsely accredited purported colleges and other educational institutions by arranging to have diplomas from these phony educational institutions affixed with fake stamps supposedly bearing the seal and signature of the US Secretary of State, as well as various state agencies and federal and state officials. Hamid controlled websites of purported schools that falsely represented that consumers who enrolled with the schools by paying tuition fees would receive online instruction and coursework, sold bogus academic accreditations in exchange for additional fees and falsely represented that the schools had been certified or accredited by various educational organisations. As a further part of the scheme, Hamid and a co-conspirator opened bank accounts in the US in the names of shell entities that received funds transferred by consumers in exchange for fake diplomas. In May 2015, Axact was shut down by Pakistani law enforcement, and certain individuals associated with Axact were prosecuted in Pakistan. However, after May 2015, Hamid resumed his fraudulent business of selling fake diplomas to consumers in the US for upfront fees based upon false and fraudulent representations. Most recently, Hamid travelled to the US in 2016 in order to open a bank account used to collect money from defrauded consumers. PTI London: Climate change scientists are heading to the Himalayas in a bid to become the first team to drill through the worlds highest glacier in the foothills of Mount Everest. The team will spend up to six weeks on the Khumbu glacier in Nepal to drill up to 200 metres into the ice. It will be able to study the glaciers internal structure, measure its temperature, how quickly it flows and how water drains through it. PTI UK school confiscates PlayStations, Xboxes London: Game Over! One of UKs top schools has taken to confiscating Xboxes, PlayStations and mobiles from pupils homes in order to improve their behaviour and exam results. King Solomon Academy, in Marylebone, has seized the gaming devices on occasions from some pupils with their parents consent. PTI Islamabad, April 10 Pakistan is likely to appoint career diplomat Sohail Mahmood as its new High Commissioner to India in place of Abdul Basit, diplomatic sources said here today. Mahmood is currently posted as ambassador to Turkey and is expected to arrive in Islamabad next week. His appointment to India will be announced once it is formally approved by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who also has the additional charge of foreign minister, sources in the Foreign Office said. Mahmood would take responsibilities as High Commissioner from early next month if all went according to the plan, according to the sources. Mahmood will replace Basit who has already completed his three-year tenure in New Delhi. Basit is likely to be appointed as head of Foreign Service Academy (FSA) in Islamabad. Basit had earlier threatened to resign after he was overlooked and his junior Tehmina Janjua was appointed Foreign Secretary but the situation has cooled down. PTI Stockholm, April 11 A failed asylum-seeker accused of ramming a truck into a Stockholm crowd last week, killing four people, has confessed to committing a terrorist crime, his lawyer said on Tuesday. Uzbekistan man Rakhmat Akilov, wanted for deportation at the time of Fridays attack, made his first court appearance, entering the heavily guarded courtroom with a green sweater over his head and flanked by his lawyer and a translator. The police say they believe the 39-year-old hijacked a beer truck and drove it into a busy pedestrian street in the Swedish capital before crashing into a department store. Two Swedes, a British man and a Belgian woman were killed in the attack. Fifteen were injured. Eight people remain in hospital, including two in intensive care. The attack has shattered any sense Swedes had of being insulated from the militant violence that has hit other parts of Europe, but has prompted defiance from Prime Minister Stefan Lofven who says Sweden will remain an open, tolerant society. Akilov, who was asked by the judge to remove the sweater from his head, made no comment at the start of the hearing. His lawyer, Johan Eriksson, told the court that his client had admitted the crime. The judge then ordered the hearing to proceed behind closed doors. Eriksson later told reporters outside the court that Akilov has described his motives to authorities, but the judge had ordered the lawyer not to discuss details of the case in public. He has not just confessed. He has provided information, he is answering questions, Eriksson said. Akilov was arrested just hours after the truck attack on the highest level of suspicion in the Swedish legal system. He had already been wanted by police for failing to comply with a deportation order after being denied permanent residency. The judge on Tuesday remanded Akilov in custody for a month. Reuters LUCCA /MOSCOW, April 11 US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson carried a unified message from world powers to Moscow on Tuesday, denouncing Russian support for Syria and taking up America's traditional role as leader of the West on behalf of Donald Trump's administration. Tillerson took off for Russia on Tuesday from Italy, where he met foreign ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies. They were joined by Middle East allies to forge a united position on Syria, which has been catapulted to the top of the international agenda since a poison gas attack killed 87 people a week ago. Western countries blame Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the gas attack, and Trump responded by firing cruise missiles at a Syrian air base. That has put his administration in open dispute with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has stood firmly by Moscow's ally Assad, who denies blame. "It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson told reporters in Italy before departing the G7 meeting for Moscow. "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar Al-Assad." He said Russia had failed in its role as sponsor of a 2013 deal under which Assad promised to give up his chemical arsenal. "These agreements stipulated Russia as the guarantor of a Syria free of chemical weapons," Tillerson said. "It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously and whether Russia has been incompetent. But this distinction doesn't much matter to the dead. We can't let this happen again." In a statement released before Tillerson was due to arrive, Russia said it hoped its meetings with him would be productive but it was concerned about a number of areas of US policy, including on North Korea, Libya and Yemen as well as Syria. The secretary of state's role as messenger for a united G7 position is a turning point for Trump, who in the past alarmed allies by voicing scepticism about the value of US support for traditional friends, while calling for closer ties with Moscow. Tillerson himself is a former boss of the Exxon Mobil oil company, which has gigantic projects in Russia. He was awarded Russia's "Order of Friendship" by Putin in 2013. He is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin has said Tillerson would not meet Putin during this trip, although some Russian media have reported that such a meeting may nevertheless take place. On Monday, Trump discussed Syria by telephone with British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "I think we have to show a united position and that in these negotiations we should do all we can to get Russia out of Assad's corner, at least to the point that they are ready to participate in finding a political solution," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday. Britain and Canada said financial sanctions, imposed on Russia in 2014 over its annexation of territory from Ukraine, could be tightened if Moscow continued to back Assad, although France said this was not discussed deeply at the G7 meeting. Multi-billion dollar Russian oil projects by Exxon are among the biggest deals held up by sanctions. Western countries have been calling for Assad to leave power since 2011, the start of a civil war that has killed at least 400,000 people and created the world's worst refugee crisis. Assad's position on the battlefield has become far stronger since Russia joined the war in support of him in 2015. The United States and its allies are conducting air strikes in Syria against Islamic State, but until last week Washington had avoided targeting forces of Assad's government directly. Additional strikes The United States said its strike on the Syrian airbase near Homs on Friday was a one-off, and not a strategic shift. But the White House has also said Trump could authorise more strikes if Syria uses chemical weapons again. White House spokesman Sean Spicer suggested on Monday that there could be a lower bar for further US action, saying Washington could also retaliate if Syria uses "barrel bombs" oil drums packed with explosives dropped from aircraft. "When you watch babies and children being gassed, and suffer under barrel bombs, you are instantaneously moved to action," he said. "I think this president's made it very clear that if those actions were to continue, further action will definitely be considered by the United States." Retaliating for barrel bombs would require a major shift in US policy since rebels say the weapons are used almost daily. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said Syrian warplanes dropped barrel bombs on rebel-held areas of Hama province on Tuesday. Syria has always denied using barrel bombs, though their use has been widely recorded by UN investigators. A source in the Syrian military denied it used them on Tuesday. Assad's allies have been robust in standing by him. A joint command centre made up of the forces of Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia said on Sunday that the US strike crossed "red lines" the term Washington has used in the past to refer to Syria's use of poison gas. The alliance supporting the Syrian president would respond to any new aggression and increase support for its ally, it said. The missile attack has increased expectations that Trump is ready to adopt a tougher stance with respect to Russia, and that he is ready to engage in world affairs instead of following the more isolationist position he had previously taken. Until the chemical attack, Trump had said Washington would no longer act as the world's guardian, especially if it was not in the interests of the United States. Trump's previous warm words for Russia were an issue at home, where intelligence agencies accuse Moscow of using computer hacking to help him win last year's presidential election. The FBI is investigating whether Trump campaign officials colluded with Moscow, which the White House denies. On Monday, Tillerson visited the site of a World War Two Nazi massacre in Italy and said Washington would never let such abuses go unchallenged. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson told reporters in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. Reuters Will "Proudly Made By Human Workers" become the "Made In America" tag of this century? Photo: Siemans Early on in Star Wars (the original one that came out in 1976), Luke is taking R2D2 and C3PO into the Mos Eisley Cantina, when a door alarm sounds and the bartender yells, We dont serve their kind in here! Not wanting any trouble, Luke tells his droids theyd better wait outside. At the time, I figured that little scene was just a throw-away; a way to establish how alien the world were looking in on actually is. Oh, look! That bar is utterly crawling with weird and creepy aliens. But theyre all prejudiced against robots! How strange! Nowadays, Im starting to think that fictional animosity against robots makes a lot more sense. In the past couple of months, a slew of commentaries and stories have hit both the mainstream and business-to-business press, as more and more people realize that a society brimming over with robot workers may not really all that good of a thing if you happen to be a flesh-and-blood human being. And, as Ive said before, I credit the news stories over the past couple of years on autonomous trucks as the critical-mass point where many people, often for the very first time, began to seriously contemplate a future dominated by robot workers. Because if a robot can drive a truck down the road, you seriously begin to wonder if theres any job they cant do. As this CBS News report from this past weekend noted, even jobs as mundane as herding cattle, making pizzas or journalism. Because if a robot can drive a truck down the road, you seriously begin to wonder if theres any job they cant do. I wrote a pretty lengthy piece on this very thing a few weeks back, as did my boss, Deborah Lockridge, just last week. And while she makes a strong argument that trucks today, tomorrow and forever, will absolutely require some form of engaged human interaction to function safely and efficiently, there are an awful lot of business owners whod simply like to cut troublesome human workers completely out of the picture. And you cant blame them, really. If your whole reason for crawling out of bed every morning is socking back every single possible dime generated by your business, then robots are clearly the way to go. Robots dont get sick, have kids that have to be dealt with, want vacations or even lunch breaks. You dont have to give them money every couple of weeks or let them go on vacations or provide them with healthcare. They just slave away without complaint 24/7 for your enrichment. Which is why Carl Puzder, the Hardees/Carls Jr. millionaire President Trump wanted to for Labor Secretary, struck so many people as an odd choice: A guy dead-set on bringing full automation to the fast food industry didnt seem to be particularly tuned into the needs of actual human laborers. And, as more than one pundit has noted recently, unless you have an all-consuming desire to dig ditches or run a lawn mower all day, immigrants arent the big threat to American jobs. Robots are. Things are far enough gone at this point where I am making a conscious effort to forgo automation whenever I can. Usually this takes the form of skipping right past the robot operator and demanding to speak to an actual human being when Im calling a company for some reason. And I also make a point not to use the automated checkout lines in supermarkets. (Unless the actual human checkout clerks are swamped and I can save a few minutes by using the self-checkout.) And that may be what we all have to do before long, if were serious about safeguarding well-paying jobs for ourselves, our kids and our grandkids. It is possible in the near future that governments will choose to tax businesses that go the full automation route in order to make up for lost income tax revenues and fund programs to help people whose jobs were taken over by automation. I cant imagine this will be a popular move among business owners and investors. So it will likely be a long, drawn-out, political fight to win any policy changes along those lines. ...if your competitors decide to be more socially conscious and make sure theyre allowing workers to make good livings by refusing automation, what then? A more powerful counter-robot measure may simply be all of us. Robots are cheap and offer tremendous savings for business owners. But if your competitors decide to be more socially conscious and make sure theyre allowing workers to make good livings by refusing automation, what then? Will the slogan Made By Human Workers, or Made With Minimal Automation, become the new Made In America tag for the 21st Century? Its something to think about. All the robot workers in the world wont do you any good if your customers decide theyd rather spend their money with companies that keep them and their friends employed and able to lead a fulfilling life. The trend lines on this issue are clear: There is a lot of automation coming our way. And not all of it will bad. Ive said repeatedly that I think some degree of automation in commercial vehicles will be a good thing that can help drivers be more productive and reduce stress. But, as more and more people are starting realize, too much automation can benefit too few people at the expense of a majority of people and, if unchecked or unregulated in some fashion, eventually lead to societal problems we can barely conceptualize today. Photo: Evan Lockridge Swift Transportation Co. and Knight Transportation Inc. will merge via a stock swap to form a new company, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. The companies said the deal will bring together two of the largest players in trucking for a combined enterprise value of $6 billion. The Phoenix-based companies announced on April 10 that their respective boards of directors have unanimously approved the merger of Knight and Swift in an all-stock transaction that they said will create the industry's largest full truckload company. The Knight-Swift shares are expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KNX." The transaction, subject to customary stockholder and antitrust approval, is expected to close in this year's third quarter. This transaction combines under common ownership two long-standing industry leaders creating North America's premier truckload transportation company with $5 billion in annual revenue and a Top 5 truckload presence in dry van, refrigerated, dedicated, cross-border Mexico and Canada, and a significant presence in brokerage and intermodal, the companies said in a statement. The new holding company will remain headquartered in Phoenix and will operate with some 23,000 tractors, 77,000 trailers, and 28,000 employees. The companies noted that, post-merger, the distinct Swift and Knight brands and operations will be maintained. Under the terms of the agreement, each Swift share will convert into 0.72 shares of Knight-Swift by means of a reverse stock split. Each share of Knight will be exchanged for one Knight-Swift share. The companies said that based on the $30.65 closing price of Knight shares on April 7, the last trading day before the announcement, the implied value per share of Swift is $22.07. Upon the deals closing, Swift stockholders will own approximately 54% and Knight stockholders will own approximately 46% of the combined company. Based on Knights closing share price on April 7; the number of combined company shares expected to be outstanding after closing; and the combined net debt of Swift and Knight as of December 31, 2016, the combined company would have an implied enterprise value of approximately $6 billion. Knight is expected to be the accounting acquirer, and the transaction is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share with expected pre-tax synergies of approximately $15 million in the second half of 2017, $100 million in 2018, and $150 million in 2019. The Swift-Knight deal will outweigh the purchase of Con-way by XPO Logistics as the largest acquisition in trucking. In Knights 26-year history, we have built a truckload company with industry leading margins and investment returns, said Knight Executive Chairman Kevin Knight. When the two companies began discussions, we had four goals in mind: create a company with the best strategic position in our industry; identify significant realizable synergies that would create value for both sets of stockholders; create a business that over the long-term will operate at Knight's historical margins and financial returns; and agree on a leadership and corporate governance framework that will benefit all stakeholders. I am confident we have achieved those goals. Swift Chairman Richard Dozer said the combined companies will be able to capitalize on economies of scale to achieve substantial synergies. This is an exciting chapter in the Swift story and everyone who is a part of it should be both proud of what we bring to the table and excited about what lies ahead. I am confident in this new team, in the new structure and in the future of Swift in the industry. Jerry Moyes, Swift founder and controlling stockholder, said he cannot think of a better combination. The Knight and Moyes families grew up together, and the Knights helped me build Swift before starting their own company and making it an industry leader in growth and profitability. "I am confident that we have the right approach to maximizing the contribution of both teams, and I look forward to helping the Knight-Swift leadership team in any way I can to continue the legacy of both great companies, Moyes added. [Swift founder] Jerry Moyes will serve on the board of the combined entity and will be allowed to name another board member, according to an April 10 analyst update released by Stifel. Up to 10 board members will come from the current Knight Board. Effectively, this deal represents the pupil acquiring the teacher's company [Knight founder Kevin Knight launched his career at Swift] and will give the Knight team control of the new entity. Stifel also observed that Swift appears to have struggled with the retirement of its founder and spiritual leader, Jerry Moyes. Former Chief Operating Officer Kevin Knight will be in a strong position to provide strategic leadership of the combined entity. Mr. Knight is known as one of if not the best operator in the truckload industry and we believe [he] will add some operating discipline and strategic direction to the Swift organization. Given that the merger is being announced right after completion of the Schneider IPO last week, Stifel added that it may be designed to allow the combined company an opportunity to better compete with its newly financially invigorated, big orange perpetual motion machine from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Hartt Transportation runs tri-axle vans, among other things, in Maine, where such rigs may gross 100,000 pounds. Photo: Hartt Transportation The Truckload Carriers Association reiterated its support of the current five-axle, 80,000-pound federal gross vehicle weight limit for trucks in an April 5 letter to the leaders of both the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations. TCA President John Lyboldt wrote the lawmakers that the association and its trucking company members are concerned about allowing freight-shipping trucks to carry a maximum of 91,000 pounds with the addition of a 6th axle, up from the current 80,000 pounds standard. While conceding that this idea is an attempt to improve trucking productivity, he contended that it clearly would only benefit a minority of carriers, while forcing the rest of the industry either to divert critical resources into these new configurations or risk becoming obsolete. Interestingly, that is often the strongest argument put up by truckload carriers that oppose liberalizing federal rules to allow 33-foot-long turnpike double trailers to operate on Interstate and other highways regardless of state laws. T TCA was among the groups that lobbied Congress successfully to keep a measure allowing twin 33s from being passed in 2015. As to whether carriers should be allowed to run heavier when rigs are equipped with a 6th axle, about a year ago TCA did opt to ditch a two-policy position it had held since 2011 that called for increasing truck weight limits either by allowing a five-axle, 88,000-pound weight limit or six-axle, 91,000-pound limit. In the letter, Lyboldt detailed TCAs concern that changing the weight limit via a 6th axles would drive up both capital and operating costs for truckload carriers while not allowing them to recoup those costs through rate adjustments. Truckloads shift from 48 trailers to 53 trailers was exactly this issue, only in reverse, he pointed out, offering a history lesson. Shippers who filled trailers by volume before maximizing the allowable weight put pressure on industry to move to 53 trailers. Like the proposal today, there were pilot programs prior to it being legalized across the nation. Only half of the loads cubed out before they weighed out, yet the entire industry was forced to move. Lyboldt said that while the market demands ultimate flexibility from general freight haulers, those who cannot provide the service simply disappear. As has happened before, maximum capacities become the norm. Carriers are forced to adjust their equipment to accommodate 91,000/6, despite the fact that they will likely never recoup the costs of the adjustment or haul loads requiring the 6th axle. He added that truckload carriers simply cannot afford a rule that would allow 91,000 pounds on 6 axles. TCA supports a policy of no increase in truck weight, Lyboldt stated flatly in the letter. As an association, we will continue to examine components of increasing productivity as they arise. Making his message crystal-clear, he added that TCA reiterates that we are opposed to the stand-alone concept of 91,000 pounds on 6 axles; however, TCA is open to any and all discussions with key stakeholders in regards to improving overall transportation efficiency and productivity on our nations highways. 2GB broadcaster and Nine personality Ben Fordham has accused ABC of backpedalling and ABC News boss Gaven Morris of lying over the Natasha Exelby saga. They pulled Natasha aside and decided that there would be no more on air opportunities for her at the ABC for now. as a result of that mistake, Fordham told listeners yesterday. (Monday night) they released a statement saying, Natasha Exelby is a casual contributor. Not a staff member. She has been booked for occasional on air shifts when needed, and also does other occasional shifts for the ABC News channel. Contributors work out their shifts with managers on a per needs basis. Details of individual shifts are confidential to them and not something the ABC publicly comments on. So they were neither confirming not denying the fact that Natasha Exelby had been punted because of the TV blooper. But yesterday the saga had triggered a huge reaction including from viewers, politicians and fellow journalists, with the latter all tweeting their worst offences. #PutYourBloopersOut hashtag in support of Exelby has now attracted journo misdemeanours from around the globe, including the UK and USA. In a new statement yesterday Gaven Morris denied she had been sacked or banned. No one would ever be punished for a blooper and, while it isnt appropriate to publicly discuss confidential details of peoples personal work arrangements, this has not happened to Natasha, he said in a statement. But Fordham described it as backpedalling. The ABC started panicking. But instead of coming out and saying Ok, ok. Someone within the organisation made a mistake, someone over-reacted, they released a new statement today telling everyone that the reports about Natasha Exelby were wrong. Im here to tell you this afternoon the ABC is lying, he continued. I know this because I know exactly what was said to Natasha Exelby and she was being told she was being taken off the air as a result of that blooper. The ABC is spreading fake news over its treatment of Natasha Exelby. News Corps Holly Byrnes, who broke the story, also protested to Morris. I know @gavmorris that you KNOW @NatashaExelby was told she would be taken off air over the blooper For you to claim otherwise is outrageous Holly Byrnes (@byrnesh) April 11, 2017 Morris conveyed his regret to Exelby that the incident had attracted so such attention. But for Exelby any publicity has been good publicity, with the offer of a brand new gig at KIIS FM. News anchors are confessing to their most embarrassing on-air bloopers in solidarity with a presenter https://t.co/SSqnf99hQo TIME (@TIME) April 11, 2017 From Calgary, Canada a blooper from our team thanks for the laugh @NatashaExelby we get it! #PutYourBloopersOut pic.twitter.com/tMg1Qwhj3s CityNews Calgary (@citynewscalgary) April 11, 2017 A surprising addition to NITVs schedule next week with Haunting: Australia, hosted by Robb Demarest (pictured), to have its Free to Air premiere. Surprising because this was produced for the NBCU-owned Syfy Channel in 2014, and because the indigenous element isnt readily apparent to me. Perhaps it features in one of the locations? Last year Indian paranormal investigator Gaurav Tiwari died in mysterious circumstances in Dwarka. NITV recently produced its own ghostbusting series, Shadow Trackers. Hailing from all corners of the globe, six of the best ghost hunters in the business have joined forces to investigate paranormal activity in Australias most haunted locations. Led by the highly experienced and committed Robb Demarest, the Haunting: Australia team travel across the country unearthing ghostly evidence and seeking answers to often asked questions. Episode One: Woodford Academy Woodford Academy, set in the Blue Mountains, offers a dark and often chilling history. With witnesses reporting numerous sightings of inexplicable presences, the Haunting: Australia team takes to the Academy with a quest to find out who exactly is haunting the buildi Tuesday, 18 April at 8.00pm on NITV. Ads for surf lifesavers, farmers and health are amongst finalists in contention for a million dollars worth of free airtime across SBS platforms. Eight finalists have been announced in the 2017 Diversity Works Challenge for an advertising campaign that demonstrates diversity and reflect todays Australia. Shortlisted entries include KWP! for Surf Life Saving Australia, BBAM for Steel Blue Boots, Starcom for Farmers Union Greek Yoghurt, Marmalade Melbourne for the Stroke Foundation, Ikon Communications for Barnados Australia and Carat for Holden, Medibank Private Health Insurance and La Trobe University. SBS Director of Media Sales Andrew Cook said: Were thrilled with the response weve received to the Diversity Works Challenge. The eight shortlisted ideas have integrated Australias diversity into the fabric of their campaign concept, while achieving the brands overall marketing objectives, demonstrating that thinking with diversity works. With nearly a third of our population born overseas, SBS wanted to encourage the advertising industry to reflect contemporary Australia. As one of the most multicultural and multilingual nations, and we believe the Diversity Works Challenge delivers on SBSs purpose to inspire Australians to explore and celebrate diversity. The winner will be announced in May 2017, with the chosen campaign to premiere before the end of 2017. Nujeen Mustafa conquered more than the usual challenges when she fled the Syrian war two years ago. Born with cerebral palsy, the teenager became famous for making the hazardous journey to Europe in her wheelchair. Her defiance and resilience, recently documented in a memoir, have already inspired millions. Now a refugee in Germany, Nujeen has her sights fixed on an even brighter future. Armed with an extraordinary brain and an iron will, 18-year-old Nujeen is determinedly adjusting to her new life in Europe. Alongside attending school for the first time and rapidly learning German, she still finds time to use her newfound prominence as a platform for positive change. We need some optimism in the world, says Nujeen, who now lives with her family in Wesseling, a small city in western Germany. "I always believed everyones here for a mission, but I hadnt found mine yet. Now I have a voice, I can help people. "Now I have a voice, I can help people. Nujeen was born in Manbij, in northern Syria, into a large Kurdish family who moved to Aleppo when she was young. Her parents couldnt afford the fees for a school that could accommodate her, so she spent most of her early life inside, watching documentaries in her familys fifth-floor apartment. This month, she gave a talk at TEDxExeter in the UK and has re-released her book, "The girl from Aleppo". Nujeen remembers watching a news report one day six years ago when the unrest in the streets outside her window heralded the start of the Syrian conflict. She never dreamed it would kickstart the series of events that led her to a new life in Europe. Ive really grown to appreciate what I have in the last two years because I know what it means not to have these things," she says, eager to demonstrate the near-fluent German she learned in under 18 months. "If someone told me back then I was going to have this stable life, I would have said theyre crazy. I wasnt sure if I was going to wake up the next day. None of us were. Nujeen helps her 26-year-old sister, Nisreen, with her German homework. UNHCR/Gordon Welters Nujeen on a visit to Cologne with her brother Shiar, 44. UNHCR/Gordon Welters "You're in a constant test: You want to prove to be a good ambassador of your country," says Nujeen. UNHCR/Gordon Welters Daily life for Nujeen centres around the flat she shares with her brother, two sisters and four young nieces. UNHCR/Gordon Welters As the war intensified, Nujeen and her family escaped Aleppo for northern Syria, before eventually crossing the border to Turkey. There, the family split. Nujeens brother Bland went ahead to join their eldest brother, Shiar, who had settled in Germany a decade earlier. Soon after, in September 2015, Nujeen, her four young nieces and two sisters followed, leaving their parents behind. Nujeen remembers the moment she was photographed by UNHCR photographer Ivor Prickett, being lifted out of a flimsy dinghy after washing up on the Greek island of Lesvos. I had been in Europe five minutes and I was already famous, she laughs. Before long, her face was flashing up on news bulletins across the world. Youre in a constant test, you want to prove to be a good ambassador of your country, Nujeen adds. People dont realize how hard were all trying to rebuild our lives from zero. Id say to them: Try to get to know us. Theres more inside us and inside you than everyone thinks. Nujeen, then 16, is carried out of a flimsy dinghy after washing up on the Greek island of Lesvos. UNHCR/Ivor Prickett That process of rebuilding can be deeply frustrating. Nujeen had hoped to apply for her parents, still living in Turkey, to join her as part of the family reunification procedures. But her asylum application took so long to be approved that she is now too old to do so. Her residency came through in December, just a month before she turned 18. Now that shes legally an adult, Nujeens parents are no longer eligible to join her. Family reunification is generally limited to members of the core family, including spouses, parents and minor children. UNHCR calls on states to consider the individual circumstances of a refugee family and demonstrate flexibility in considering other family members eligible for family reunification, where they formed part of a household, affected by flight and separation, and are dependent on each other, says UNHCR Representative Katharina Lumpp in Berlin. "Im going to try to make people believe in a better tomorrow. Daily life for Nujeen now centres around the flat she shares with her brother, two sisters and four young nieces. Every day, a bus picks her up and takes her to a school for children with disabilities. There, she has physical therapy to help with her condition. Being disabled doesnt define me, what I am, who I am or what I can do," she says. "There are so many less lucky than I am now. I may have a nice flat and can go to school, but people are still suffering. What scares me the most is that me, my family, my people will just be a number on a forgotten page in history. Im going to do my best to work against that. Nujeen hopes to study physics at university. I love space, I want to be an astronaut, she says. Id like to look for aliens. Its the biggest unsolved mystery. I want to know, are we alone? I never give up hope. God didnt create me to be miserable. I want to find happiness in the little things I have and have others be happy, no matter how bad and dark the situation seems. Nothing lasts forever, even war. Im going to try to make people believe in a better tomorrow. Two-year old Nyanchau Teny drinks an infusion of neem tree leaves in Rumbek, South Sudan. Neem infusion is used to treat coughs, diarrhoea and vomiting. UNHCR/Rocco Nuri UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is warning today that the risk of mass deaths from starvation among populations in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria is growing. This warning is in light of droughts that are also affecting many neighbouring countries and a funding shortfall that has become so severe that an avoidable humanitarian crisis in the region, possibly worse than that of 2011, is fast becoming an inevitability. Already displacement is rising, forcing us to upgrade our displacement estimates for 2017. In Sudan, for example, where our initial estimate was for 60,000 arrivals from South Sudan this year, we are in the process of revising the expected total upwards to 180,000. Similarly in Uganda we are revising planning from 300,000 displaced to 400,000. In all, more than 20 million people in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen are experiencing famine or are at risk. The regions in which these countries sit, including the Lake Chad basin, Great Lakes, East, Horn of Africa and Yemen together host well over 4 million refugees and asylum seekers. Consecutive harvests have failed, conflict in South Sudan coupled with drought is leading to famine and outflows of refugees, insecurity in Somalia is leading to rising internal displacement, and rates of malnutrition are high, especially among children and lactating mothers. In the Dollo Ado area of southeast Ethiopia for example, acute malnutrition rates among newly arriving Somali refugee children aged between 6 months and five years are now running at 50-79 percent. Children account for the majority of refugees (62 per cent, for instance, in the case of refugees fleeing South Sudan) and in common with other refugees nearly all are dependent on food assistance via our sister-agency WFP. With no money to buy food, rations however are being cut. In Djibouti rations have been cut by 12 per cent, in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda by between 20 and 50 per cent, and in Uganda by up to 75 per cent. Many refugees are without full access to livelihoods and agriculture or food production and their ability to take matters into their own hands and help themselves is limited. In this context, the risks to children can be particularly great. Already, many are dropping out of school. In Kenya, 175,000 students in drought areas have stopped attending school. In Ethiopia, almost 600 schools have closed. In all, some five million children could in the coming weeks and months see their educations being disrupted. Inside Somalia, the internal displacement dynamics are shifting too. Of the half a million people displaced since November, 278,000 were displaced in the first quarter of 2017. More than 72,000 of these have moved to the capital Mogadishu. Some 69,000 others have headed to Baidoa in the countrys southwest. Somalia continues to see a complex situation of both outflows and returns (mainly from Yemen). In famine hit parts of South Sudan, where UN agencies warned in February that fighting, insecurity, lack of access to aid and collapsing economy had left 100,000 people facing starvation in some parts of the country, a further 1 million people are now on the brink of famine. In Yemen, which is experiencing the worlds largest humanitarian crisis with almost 19 million people in need of humanitarian help, around 17 million people are food insecure. Food needs are being cited as the lead factor in displacement at three quarters of all locations where there are internally displaced people. In northern Nigeria, seven million people are now struggling with food insecurity and need help. The situation is particularly bad in parts of Borno, Adamawa and Yobo states where by June its expected that some 5.1 million people will be in Integrated Food Security Phase classification levels of between 3 and 5 (worst). UNHCR is scaling up efforts with its partners, we remind the international community that the Horn of Africa drought of 2011 cost more than 260,000 lives, more than half of these children aged below five. A repeat must be avoided at all costs. Our operations in South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen are today funded at between 3 and 11 percent. It is now urgent that the shortfalls be addressed. UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi is attending a high-level extraordinary meeting in Berlin tomorrow, 12 April 2017. The Berlin Humanitarian Call jointly against famine meeting, called for by the German Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, will bring together donor countries and humanitarian partners, as well as local responders, to review and raise more awareness for the dire humanitarian situation in the countries affected For more information on this topic, please contact: Participants from African Union member states at first conference of State Parties to the African Union Convention on Internally Displaced Persons UNHCR/Tedenek Fantaye UNHCR welcomes the convening of the first session of the Conference of State Parties to the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons that took place from 3-5 April in Harare, Zimbabwe. The Kampala Convention was first adopted in October 2009 at a meeting of the African Union, and 25 of the AUs 54 member states have since ratified it. It came into force on 6 December 2012. Mr. Cosmas Chanda, UNHCR Representative to the AU and UNECA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia addressed the meeting stating: The international community applauded and recognized the unique and innovative contributions of the Kampala Convention..we now need to focus and invest on the effective implementation of this treaty. The Kampala Convention covers displacement from causes that include conflict, natural disasters, climate change and projects. It affirms that States have primary responsibility for their own internally displaced citizens, but also calls for national and regional actions to prevent internal displacement, to ensure that such people are protected and helped and operationalize solution strategies. Participants of the first conference of State Parties to the African Union Convention on Internally Displaced Persons in session in Harare, Zimbabwe. UNHCR/Tedenek Fantaye Countries that have ratified the Convention are required to implement it by turning its provisions into national laws. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, more than 12 million people were living in forced displacement across Africa as of the end of 2015. UNHCR believes that urgent response is required to meet the needs of IDPs and find solutions for their plight. UNHCR, which played a role in the drafting of the Convention, renews it commitment to support governments in taking measures in domesticating the provisions of the Convention through capacity building, technical assistance and predictable operational engagement at the country level. UNHCR calls upon States that have not signed and ratified the Convention to do so and those that signed and ratified the instrument to take extra steps in putting in place national mechanism and policies for its implementation. The Conference of State Parties, which was opened by the Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Mr Emerson D. Mnangagwa, adopted a plan of action for implementation of the Convention. A new study just revealed that children who are given strong early education are the ones who have higher likelihood to find full-time employment. They are also the ones who will be able to establish better relationships with their parents in the future. The scientists from Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have found that kids who are given education at an age as young as six years will have better child-parent relationships when they become adults, Science Daily reported. These are the results of a longitudinal study which was presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development in Austin, Texas. This study is called Abecedarian Project, which according to Romper, is the one that provided the children with early childhood education. It also provided the kids involved in the study health care, nutrition and social support for their families. The health care they received started from when they were six weeks old, which they were made to attend five days a week for the whole year round for their first five years. When the children were growing up, the scientists were monitoring the outcomes of their education, career, as well as relationships. It was found that the ones who were given early education were the ones who have achieved the most success in life as adults, especially when it comes to their social relationships. Craig Ramey, a professor and distinguished research scholar of human development at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, explained that the findings from the study are all about the quality of life, associated with what the children have experienced during the first five years of their lives. He added that high quality education all day for five days a week and for 50 weeks in a year which start at six weeks of age until the children begin their kindergarten can make a lifetime of difference. The scientists said they will continue to analyze the data in the study and its effects on the children while they progress through middle age. Microsoft's upcoming high-performance laptop computer, Surface Book 2, may not make it in time for the tech giant's spring event this month. The tech company may be prepping to roll out a different hardware instead. Nonetheless, the delay of the Microsoft Surface Book 2 can only give the tech company to further improve the device's specs and features. Since Microsoft confirmed that the Windows 10 Creators Update will go live on April 11, tech fans and experts have been rife with talks of a possible Microsoft Surface Book 2 launch. Nevertheless, more recent news about the Surface Book 2 and the Surface Pro 5 are claiming that the upcoming Microsoft devices would not see daylight anytime soon. Although reports are claiming that Microsoft's new Surface Book 2-in-1 laptop is not quite ready yet, the highly anticipated Microsoft Surface Book 2 will likely be competing against Apple and Samsung devices. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 along with the upcoming Microsoft Surface Pro 5 are said to perform well in connectivity, the Internet, as well as the availability of manufacturer support accessories, Daily Tech reported. Nonetheless, it has been said that the main reason for the Microsoft Surface Book 2 delay is due to Intel's Kaby Lake chip. Intel's seventh-generation Kaby Lake chip has reportedly not entered production yet. In spite of that, tech experts are expecting the Microsoft Surface Book 2 to come along with a Virtual Reality (VR) support and an improved Surface pen. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is expected to have an updated discrete GPU options, Tech Radar reported. The entry level of the Surface Book 2 is said to have a $1,299 price tag. The hybrid computer may boast a higher resolution compared to its predecessors. Also, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 should provide a better way of removing the screen from the keyboard. Watch The Video Here: Amherst College noted that the "overwhelming demand" on the graduation of President Uhuru Kenyatta has led to the decision to never answer any question again. Apparently, the public has been asking whether President Kenyatta really finished a degree at the said school in 1985 or not. According to Tuko.com, the administration of the Amherst College already confirmed via Twitter that President Kenyatta is one of their alumni. He graduated with a degree in economics and political science 32 years ago. However, President Kenyatta's critics refused to believe it and kept on sending comments blasting the public official. For one thing, the detractors ask Amherst how the President got his economics degree if he is getting every economic decision wrong. Others tweeted things like "the guy [Kenyatta] has killed our economy." The College stands by its claim that the President is one of their graduates and that they will never explain it again. As a matter of fact, per Daily Nation, even the Amherst Bulletin reporter Scott Merzbach failed to get necessary information about the President. Amherst has declined even the release of President Kenyatta's grades, saying that the school does not reveal such personal details due to strict privacy concerns. Just to clear things up, the University of Massachusetts, which has been dragged into the issue, confirmed that "Uhuru Kenyatta has no affiliation w/ UMass Amherst." President Kenyatta, born on October 26, 1961, is the fourth and current ruler of Kenya. He has been in office since 2013. Uhuru is the son of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyata. The younger Kenyatta, together with his running mate William Ruto, won 50.07 percent of the votes. On April 29, 2009, President Kenyatta faced criticisms after he presented a supplemental budget that was approved by the parliament. Reportedly, it was meant to cover the budget gap that resulted from slow economic growth. The government requested for an additional Kshs 38 billion but later settled for Kshs 22 billion. On April 22, science enthusiasts will meet in Washington, D.C. to participate in the 2017 "March for Science" event. The march in Washington will be accompanied by various satellite events in hundreds of cities all over the world. Well, these people have one purpose: Introduce science to Donald Trump. Apparently, this year's "March for Science" could be record breaking. Per Live Science, as of April 6, a total of 480 satellite events are already scheduled. To better illustrate, the march will happen on every continent except Antarctica. In the United States alone, there are 358 rallies across 50 states. Meanwhile, the "March for Science" happens on the same day as Earth Day. Nonetheless, anyone who practices any aspect of science - not just that concerning the environment - is encouraged to join. The rally in Washington kicks off at 10 a.m. between 15th Street and 17th Street. Eventually, the march begins at 2 p.m. (local time). According to Mashable, the upcoming protest hopes to raise concerns about the drastic Donald Trump policies regarding climate change. Recently, the US President has cut funding for research companies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. In 2012, Trump called "the concept of global warming" a Chinese hoax. For the record, three co-chairs are behind this global event. Valorie V. Aquino (a researcher on the relationship between human communities and the environment), Caroline Weinberg (a health educator on genetic disease diagnosis), and Jonathan Berman (also a science educator who focuses on the molecular origins of hypertension) work together for the success of the march. As of now, a total of 170 organizations has joined as event partners. These firms include the Entomological Society of America and the Society for Neuroscience. The Genetics Society of America and the Society for Research in Child Development also are also in. Lastly, the Center for Biological Diversity assured its attendance as well. South Carolina State University in partnership with the University of Phoenix, plan to offer online courses to help college dropouts return to school and complete degrees. However, it is uncertain if the program will work. The University of Phoenix has a track record of low graduation rates and high loads of student debt. Higher education community critics have questioned the S.C. State's push to enter into the partnership. University of Phoenix stands to make a big profit of the deal. S.C. State agreed to pay $395 for every online course each student enrolls, starting this fall. They have sent invitations to about 2,500 former students who dropped out of undergraduate programs. If each of these undergrads took just on online class, University of Phoenix would receive an almost $1 million payout, The Post and Courier reported. Bulldog Academic Resumption Covenant (BARC) program will offer a 50 percent discount on tuition to returning students who qualify for the program. They will also get re-admission fees waived and earn up to 24 percent of their total required credits for graduation. Any remaining credits will have to be earned in courses directly offered by S.C. State. S.C. State Interim Provost Learie Luke said they are working to create their own online course program by starting with initial training for professors this year. He said that in the long run, they might ask University of Phoenix to provide training to instructors. Luke added that it may take time to build capacity, which is why they want to work with somebody who's long-established in the field. The program comes after years of dwindling enrollment and financial distress at S.C. State, which is the only public historically black university in South Carolina. In 2016, the state legislature voted to forgive $12 million in outstanding loans to the university. It narrowly averted its closure and loss of accreditation. S.C. State must increase its enrollment. Their current enrollment is at 2,905. University of Phoenix believe that American students are best served when diverse institutions in higher education work together to improve retention and outcomes. It can be challenging for students to decide what university and college is perfect for them. The process involves research and talking with people who actually went there to get a feel of how it would be like to stay in campus for four years or so. Students can utilize their alumni networks to speak with people who went or are studying at their prospective university or college. These connections are a valuable tool for applicants who want to learn more about schools. Amy Homkes-Hayes, career development manager for the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, said that applicants can get access to information from their alumni networks. They can also get the energy or enthusiasm for the institution from these connections. While schools usually get alumni involved in recruiting students, prospective undergrads can also take the initiative to reach out. U.S. News shared four ways that college applicants can use their alumni networks to help them with their decision. Get their opinion on school's quality and sense of community. To get a feel of the daily life on campus, current students and recent graduates are an applicant's best bet. Look for graduates from your high school who went to a particular college or university that you are planning to go to and ask them about their experiences. Research on the scope of an institution's alumni network Applicants should also determine the scope of their prospective university or college's alumni network. Determine the quality and quantity of connections they would be able to gain upon graduation. Social media platforms, like LinkedIn, have made it easier to follow a school's network. Find out how the college helped its alums' careers Ask alumni about how their majors or professors helped them achieve their career goals. Applicants should also consider asking alumni what activities they were able to do outside of class and how these extracurriculars affected their careers today. Ask for personal reasons on attending the school It's also good to ask what other schools that these alumni considered when they had to make the same decision. Moreover, ask them what made them finally decide to go with the choice that they made. On Wednesday, Harvard University resumed the first day of its own Resistance School, a four-week class about how to protest against Donald Trump. As if hungry to oust the regime of a real-life Voldemort, the liberal students at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government created the course. Basically, the program aims to "train activists" through a series of formal lectures and online classes. Interactive homework and projects are also given to "strengthen" the skills of the students in resisting the Trump agenda. Well, this movement sounds pretty much like the "Dumbledore Army" in "Harry Potter", except for the secrecy and magic. According to YNaija, the organizers of the Harvard Resistance School said that they currently have more than 3,000 groups composed of 10,000 people in total. More so, this is just for the first class. The program's website, on the other hand, shows very interesting class titles such as "How to Communicate our Values in Political Advocacy" and "How to Structure and Build Capacity for Action." Meanwhile, one of the highlights of the program is a subject entitled "How to Sustain the Resistance Long-Term". Joseph Breen, one of the founders of Resistance School, told USA Today that they have already reached up to 50 states in the US and that they are already gaining attention in six continents. The group the posted via its Facebook page that people lost something bigger than just the presidency itself last November 8. For one, the Earth is now at risk because Trump withdrew the budgets of climate change research projects. To be specific, informal meetings with a group of friends, who were concerned about the outcome of the US elections, fueled up the campaign. From the private meetings, the participants started making a plan on how to stay active in their communities. Lastly, the organizers urge everybody to participate in the live-streamed workshops with political campaigners and inspirational communicators. A team of astronomers, led by a graduate student at the University of California - Davis, made breakthroughs in the study of space. They were able to discover one of the most distant galaxies in the universe. Austin Hoag, a UC Davis graduate student in physics, described the most distant objects as extremely bright and rare compared to other galaxies. They speculated that this is much more representative of galaxies of the time. Their study was recently published in the journal "Nature Astronomy." Hoag is the lead author of the paper. In a press release via UC Davis' official website, it was reported that these ultradistant galaxies were close to the beginning of the universe. The researchers found them interesting because they fall within the "Epoch of Reionization," which is a period that happened at an estimated billion years after the Big Bang when the universe became transparent. The universe was a cloud of cold, atomic hydrogen, blocking light, after the Big Bang. The first stars and galaxies condensed out of the cloud and began to emit light and ionizing radiation, which melted away the atomic hydrogen and led to the first galaxies spreading their light. The new object, called MACS1423-z7p64, is at a redshift of 7.6. This puts it at an estimated 13.1 billion years in the past. The researchers utilized giant lens in the sky to find these faint, distant objects. The process happens when light passes by a massive object, like a galaxy cluster, and its path is bent by gravity - similar to when light gets bent as it passes through a lens. If the object is large enough, it can act as a lens that magnifies the images of objects behind it. While z7p64 is similar to millions of other galaxies, it was located at the perfect spot behind a giant galaxy cluster, which magnified its brightness by tenfold and made it visible to Hoag and his team. The astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope. Researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) have discovered how sleep deprivation affects memory-making in the brain. They found out which function of the hippocampus was being hindered from doing its job. In its official website, the University of Michigan reported that meddling with sleep-associated oscillations, also known as the rhythmic firing of neurons, in one subsection of the hippocampus could be the reason for the connection. The results of the study have been published in the journal "Nature Communications." The researchers were led by UM graduate student Nicolette Ognjanovski. They recorded the baseline hippocampal activity of a group of mice as they placed the test subjects into a new environment, let them explore, gave them mild foot shock and put them back into their cages to let them sleep normally. Sara Aton, an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology who is the senior author of the paper, said that the mouse exhibited a stereotyped fear response when they were brought back to the same structure. However, depriving them of sleep after the context-shock pairing made them forget about it the next day. In normally sleeping mice, it was found that sleep-associated oscillations in a part of the hippocampus called CA1 were more robust after learning. A new group of mice, on the other hand, were given a drug to inhibit a small population of inhibitory neurons in CA1 that express parvalbumin. The researchers discovered that suppressing the parvalbumin-expressing cells led to the complete wipe out of the normal learning-associated increase in oscillations in that part of the mouse's hippocampus. It was noted that the mice forgot any fearful association with their task when their neurons were kept from firing together regularly and rhythmically. This demonstrated how memories are not stored in single cells but are instead distributed through the network. The rhythmic firings that parvalbumin cells control are linked to global network changes, or stability. Over the weekend, the New York state legislature approved legislation making tuition for all public four-year colleges in the state free. The move is said to be a part of the state budget agreement. The Washington Post reported earlier that any New York resident accepted into a four-year course to any New York community college or university must earn less than $125,000 per year. According to a Tweet by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, the plan for college free tuition for families earning less than $125,000 shows the difference that a responsible government makes. The budget was approved on Saturday by the Assembly and was put to a vote and approved Sunday evening. By this move, it effectively made New York the first state to make public colleges and universities free for middle-class students. To qualify for the program, aside from the qualifying annual income bracket, a student would have to meet certain class loads and GPA restrictions. Additionally, the benefit does not cover room and board. However, there is a catch attached to the state's initiative, which was approved last Sunday: Students must stay in the state after graduation or risk paying back the state benefit. The rule not initially part of the free college tuition proposal when it was presented last January, however, it was inserted during the final negotiations with lawmakers. The provision was added so as to protect the state's investment in a student's education by making sure they do not jump states after taking advantage of free education, said Gov. Cuomo. The length of stay is commensurate to the many years as they received the benefit, ABC News reported. If in the event the graduate decides to move and work in another state, they must repay the money, which will then be converted to a loan. Several educators view the initiative in a positive light. Gail Mellow, president of LaGuardia Community College of the City University of New York, cites the new policy is extraordinary and will attract student to community college. Nancy Zimpher, chancellor of the State University of New York, states that there will be a great impact at community colleges; she views the initiative as a move to the precipice of a new era. However, there are those who are also wary of the initiative. One such advocate and a professor of higher education policy and sociology at Temple University Sara Goldrick-Rab called the provision extortion, bad public policy, and a trick. Trying to tether students to states will not work, the group said. They believe graduates will naturally gravitate towards following lucrative jobs elsewhere. Marc Cohen, president of the SUNY Student Assembly, stated that public higher education should be free and with no strings attached. Accordingly, they would not want a recent SUNY and CUNY graduate to be obligated to pay for taking a great job out of state. Marijuana has been legalized in many places yet it remains controversial. Thank to some medical experts who are pushing it as another treatment alternative to many diseases and disorders like Crohn's disease and cancer. It will even become more controversial as the University of Denver introduces the first-ever course on marijuana. Paul Seaborn, a professor at the University of Denver said he first pitched the idea of tackling the economics of marijuana. The university approved it and it will be launched this year with the course title, "The Business of Marijuana," which will be the first AACB-accredited course on marijuana in the United States. So what will this course tackle? Seaborn said everything about marijuana - from running your own shop to the legal and political pitfalls that the cannabis industry is facing. Offering a marijuana course sounds weird and Seaborn said that there have been a lot of skeptics since they announced that they are offering such course. However, the move made by the University of Denver makes sense since Colorado is one of the states that legalize weed. Their hunch proved to be correct because enrollment was satisfactory with a diverse range of students coming in to take the course. One was Kristen Kidd, a mother of twoo teenagers and holds a Masters in Marketing. She said she wants to know how she can apply her master's degree in this fast-growing industry. Another student who enrolled in the course was Matthew Comfort who dreams of becoming the CEO of a cannabis company as big as Marlboro. Marijuana has been legalized in 26 states already with Denver and the District of Columbia two of them. More so, a new bill has been passed in Congress which allows anybody who is 21 years old above to buy and smoke pot anywhere in the United States. Science has definitely made the world and people's lives better. However, it might not be common knowledge that before these technologies can benefit the whole world, they have to undergo a series of experiments and testings, most of which are very dangerous. Here are 5 of the most dangerous experiments science has ever had. The Large Hadron Super Collider The Large Hadron Super Collider or LHC is a giant ring of superconducting magnets equipped with a number of accelerators that can boost the energy of particles. Housed at CERN in Switzerland, scientists use the LHC in hopes to understand more about the universe. That might sound harmless but many people have been accusing the organization that LHC is responsible for the earthquakes and asteroid visitations happening these days. Critics also believe that it creates more black holes in the universe, a fact that CERN scientists somewhat agree. However, they were quick to add that these black holes are very small and are harmless. The Aversion Project Sometime between 1971 and 1989, South African medical experts believed that homosexuality is a mental illness that needs to be cured. The South African military created a campaign to help cure homosexuals and placed Dr. Aubrey Levin as the head of the program called the Aversion Project. During this time, Dr. Levin forced hundreds of homosexuals and lesbians to undergo aversion therapy to cure them of their illness. The subjects had to go through untold stories of abuse, chemical castration, and hundreds of sex change operations. The Trinity Test The Trinity Test was the name of the first nuclear test that the United States had conducted. It is the fruition of the Manhattan Project and the age of the nuclear era. After the first nuclear bomb was detonated in a desert in New Mexico in July 16, 1945, the bomb created a crater and a glassy green radioactive substance scientists called the trinitite. The area was closed for many years because radiation was 10 times higher than the natural background radiation. Kola Super Deep Borehole In 1970, the Soviet scientists began drilling a hole in the Kola Peninsula which resulted in a 12-kilometer deep hole, still the deepest on record until now. The goal of the project was to get as much data about the Earth's crust and everything that lies beneath it. Sure enough, Soviet scientists were able to gather the most massive geologic data, which suggests how much little humans know about the planet they live in. The project, however, was stopped in the 1990s after scientists detected extreme temperatures. The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment In 1932 - 1972, the U.S. Public Health Service conducted an experiment to 399 African-American syphilis patients. Instead of giving medicine to combat syphilis, they injected placebo medicine to the patients making them believe that they are getting real medicine. The goal of the experiment is to study how syphilis will progress when left untreated. As a result, 28 people died because of untreated syphilis and 100 died from complications. Published: April 11, 2017 UTs Undergraduate Research Celebration Begins April 14 Though research is often thought of as something for faculty or graduate students, participating in a research project as an undergraduate gives students a better understanding of their field and the opportunity to develop relationships with faculty. From April 1428, The University of Tampa will celebrate undergraduate research with a series of events: Friday, April 14: Sykes College of Business Student Research Day. Students from the Sykes College of Business will present their current or recently completed research projects in a poster format. Poster presentations will be held in the Cass Gym from 24 p.m. Students from the Sykes College of Business will present their current or recently completed research projects in a poster format. Poster presentations will be held in the Cass Gym from 24 p.m. Thursday, April 20, and Friday, April 21: Honors Undergraduate Research Fellows presentations. The Honors Program Undergraduate Research Fellows will be officially recognized and give oral presentations of their findings. Presentations begin at 1 p.m. on April 20 and at 4 p.m. April 21 in Reeves Theater. The Honors Program Undergraduate Research Fellows will be officially recognized and give oral presentations of their findings. Presentations begin at 1 p.m. on April 20 and at 4 p.m. April 21 in Reeves Theater. Wednesday, April 26: College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education Undergraduate Research Conference. CSSME students will present original, empirical research within an area of the disciplines represented in the college. The event will be held in Plant Hall, Fletcher Lounge from 46 p.m. CSSME students will present original, empirical research within an area of the disciplines represented in the college. The event will be held in Plant Hall, Fletcher Lounge from 46 p.m. Friday, April 28: College of Natural and Health Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium. CNHS students will present their current or recently completed research projects in a poster format. The keynote presentation, Virus Hunting in the Age of Metagenomics: Exploring Active Infections, Environmental Reservoirs and Transmission Mechanisms by Mya Breitbart, associate professor in the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, will be held on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center from 23 p.m., followed by poster presentations from 35 p.m. In addition, on Saturday, April 22, the University will host its annual Human Rights Conference. Organized by UT's Human Rights Think Tank, the conference is dedicated to the understanding, analysis and promotion of the global human rights movement. Presentations will be made by students, professors and human rights activists. The keynote speakers are Amy Benson and Scott Squire, co-directors of the documentary Drawing the Tiger (watch trailer). The conference will be held on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.ut.edu/urc. Free Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing Available to UW Students The University of Wyoming Student Health Service is offering free sexually transmitted disease (chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV) testing for UW students Thursday, April 13, from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Center Ballroom. Free pizza will be available to students. Student Health Service, in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Health, Albany County Public Health, Wyoming Public Health and the Wellness Ambassadors, is sponsoring the event. According to health data, one in 17 individuals in Wyoming between the ages of 15-24 has chlamydia. And more than half of those infected with chlamydia, and many more infected with gonorrhea and those with HIV infections (until AIDS develops) may not have any symptoms, says Joanne Steane, UW Student Health Service director. At the free testing event, students will collect their own chlamydia and gonorrhea specimens in the bathroom. Males will collect a urine specimen in a cup and should not urinate one hour before testing; women will collect a vaginal sample. Students who want to be tested for HIV will have a fingerstick blood sample obtained. No physical exam is involved, Steane says. The Wyoming Union is not a confidential setting. If this is a concern, students should consider making an appointment for private testing at the Student Health Service, she adds. To make an appointment, call 766-2130. Students can obtain a voucher from www.knowyo.org for free chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV testing during a scheduled appointment. If you have symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, you will not obtain treatment at this event, Steane says. Please consider making an appointment for testing at the Student Health Service, where you can receive testing, an examination -- if appropriate -- and treatment in one visit. Students also can obtain a voucher for free testing. For more information, call Student Health Service at 766-2130. Meeting on UW Strategic Plan Draft is Today A second town-hall meeting on the University of Wyomings draft strategic plan is 1:30 p.m. today in Room 138 of the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center. The draft calls for advancements in academic quality, enrollment, statewide engagement, diversity and economic development over the next five years. Specifically, it aims to increase student recruitment, retention and graduation; degree programs offered online and at UWs regional centers; collaborations with community colleges and K-12 schools; research funding; startup companies; and private contributions to the university, among other measures. The draft plan was crafted by UWs 24-member Strategic Planning Leadership Council, following an extensive series of public meetings around Wyoming and on campus. The document may be viewed online at www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/_files/docs/stratplan_2017-2022_draft.pdf, and the council is accepting public comment on the presidents strategic planning feedback page through April 27. Todays town-hall meeting may be viewed via the WyoCast system at https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/27a097b813d64a5ca4dcdc3d9b3bf4041d. Another such meeting is scheduled Friday, April 14, from 3-4:30 p.m. in Room 133 of the Classroom Building. The WyoCast link for this session is https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/0239f5c56f904809be861822e5a4c6271d. A final such meeting is Tuesday, April 25, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Strausner Hall at Casper College. The session may be viewed online at https://zoom.us/j/322459559. UW Provost Kate Miller, who chairs the Strategic Planning Leadership Council, says the group welcomes input from all of UWs constituents. This draft is still rough in some respects, but it represents the councils best efforts to set a course by which the university fulfills its flagship and land-grant mission through the free and open pursuit of knowledge in engagement with Wyoming and the world, Miller says. Our vision is to bring Wyoming and Western intelligence, energy, grit and innovation to the economic, social and environmental challenges of today, and to create a thriving, equitable and sustainable world for tomorrow. The broad goals and objectives of the draft plan are to: -- Foster and reward excellence in teaching, scholarship, innovation and creative endeavor to enhance an intellectual community renowned for its regional, national and global relevance and impact. -- Inspire students to pursue a productive, engaged and fulfilling life, and prepare them to succeed in a sustainable global economy. -- In collaboration with constituents and partners, improve and enhance the health and well-being of communities and environments. -- Assure the long-term strength and stability of the university through a focus on infrastructure, human capital and new revenue sources. Each goal and objective includes a set of measurable performance indicators. Following revisions that may result from public and campus input, the plan will be presented for consideration by UWs Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and the Associated Students of UW. It then will go to the UW Board of Trustees for final consideration and approval. Following Board of Trustees approval, the plan will be implemented at the start of the 2017-18 fiscal year, with college and unit plans finalized in fall 2017. A website, www.uwyo.edu/president/strategic-plans/, has been established to inform the campus community and the public throughout the strategic planning process. Wyoming High School Students Receive Daniels Fund Scholarships Wyoming high school students participating in two University of Wyoming college preparatory programs are the recipients of Daniels Fund Scholarships, a competitive award that covers full college costs not met through other types of financial aid. The Daniels Fund awards scholarships to promising students from limited-income families demonstrate strength of character, a well-rounded personality and a record of accomplishment in giving back to the community. Among the Wyoming high school seniors who received awards from the Daniels Fund Scholarship Program, nine are participants in UWs Student Educational Opportunity programs that include GEAR UP Wyoming and Upward Bound/Upward Bound Math Science. The programs are federally funded through the U.S. Department of Education and serve families throughout Wyoming, with the goal of assisting eligible middle school and high school students to successfully prepare for and succeed in college. Scholarships awarded to GEAR UP students are: Lynora Kalani Anderson, Pinedale High School; Raina Marie Cederburg, Glenrock High School; Shaylene Chantel Connolly, Douglas High School; Samantha Ann Davis, Lyman High School; Charlotte Jaymie Hecht, Cheyenne East High School; Emiliano Vega, Worland High School; Colter Shea Wyse, Southeast High School; and Austin Avery Young, Star Valley High School. Michael Howard Nading Jr., from Natrona County High School, who also was awarded a scholarship, is a participant in Upward Bound/Upward Bound Math Science. GEAR UP Wyoming and the Upward Bound projects are educational assistance programs that prepare first-generation and income-eligible Wyoming students for success in higher education. The GEAR UP Wyoming program is funded 50 percent through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $3.55 million annually with an additional $3.55 million provided by in-kind and scholarship contributions from Wyomings community colleges, UW and the Wyoming Department of Education. The Upward Bound Projects are 100 percent federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education at $770,000 annually. For more information about student eligibility or program availability, call the Student Educational Opportunity office at (307) 766-6189 or email seo@uwyo.edu. Wyoming Honors Children of Military Parents Mix Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, Marine and Navy personnel in a room and you will see purple. Wearing that color -- from Army green, Marine red, and Coast Guard, Air Force and Navy blue -- celebrates Purple Up Day April 15 and recognizes children of military parents. The event is part of Month of the Military Child, says Brittany Johnson, University of Wyoming Extension 4-H military educator based in Laramie County. The nationwide effort recognizes and honors the sacrifices military children make in supporting their loved ones who serve, she says. It is an opportunity for the public to acknowledge and applaud military youths for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome. Gov. Matt Mead signed the proclamation last week in Cheyenne, declaring April the Month of the Military Child, Johnson says. She adds that more information about Month of the Military Child and the extension-military partnership is at www.4-hmilitarypartnerships.org. For more information about local events, contact a local county extension office. A complete list can be found at www.uwyo.edu/uwe, or call WYNG Child and Youth Services at (307) 772-5211. The Telangana state government has planned to set up a new airport in Warangal, for which the state will be seeking an exemption from the Centre.The Centres rule states that there can be no airport within 150km radius of a greenfield airport. The Telangana government will send the request seeking exemption to the distance rule to the Centre soon. We hope GMR Group, which developed the RGIA, would not have any objection for this. Moreover, the Centre is encouraging regional connectivity in the country, VN Bharat Reddy, director of Aviation (Infrastructure and Investment department) of Telangana told Koride Mahesh of Times of India. In 2004, the United Andhra Pradesh entered into a memorandum of understanding with GMR Group, who promoted and developed the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad. According to the report, in the agreement, a clause was incorporated that no new airport would be given permission within 150km radius of the RGIA for a period of 30 years.This was done because RGIA has been developed by the private group which has invested a huge amount of money in the project.However, after the bifurcation, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao had proposed two more airports, one in and around Ghatkesar and another, around Shamirpet Union Minister of state for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha, earlier replied to the proposal saying, no new international airport can be developed within 150km of the existing RGIA in Hyderabads Shamshabad area. Meanwhile, the state government proposed to develop Warangal and Khammam airports in the next couple of years.The Khammam airport has been reportedly proposed at Kothagudem and the Warangal airport at Mamnoor. Though the Kothagudem does not violate the rule, the Warangal airport falls within 150km radius of Hyderabad airport.In 2007, Airports Authority of India (AAI) agreed to develop the airport at Mamnoor and entered into an MoU with the Andhra government. There is no chance of upgradation of the Mamnoor airport for the next 20 years. A proposal on it would come up for consideration only after 2030. The united AP government signed an agreement with the GMR company, which built the Shamshabad airport, that it would not develop any other airport within 120 km radius of that constructed in Hyderabad, then Karimnagar MP Boinapally Vinod Kumar told Media Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger (R) and assistant Steve Bould gesture in their seats. (AFP/Glyn KIRK) Wenger has been under siege in recent weeks as angry Arsenal fans demanded his resignation and the calls for the Gunners boss to quit will grow even louder after one of the most chastening defeats of his 21-year reign. Needing a victory to keep pace with their rivals in the race for Champions League qualification, spineless Arsenal showed none of the required poise and passion as they crumbled on a woebegone Monday night in south London. Andros Townsend put Palace ahead in the first half and Yohan Cabaye doubled the hosts' lead after the break. Luka Milivojevic's penalty rubbed salt into Wenger's wounds as he digested Arsenal's fifth defeat in their last eight league games. Arsenal, beaten at Palace for the first time since 1979, were shambolic and their underachieving stars were barracked with chants of "you're not fit to wear the shirt" in the closing stages of their heaviest league defeat this season. Wenger's retort to critics who claim he's past his best is to point at his record of leading Arsenal into the Champions League for the last 19 seasons. But that crutch looks increasingly flimsy after a defeat that leaves sixth placed Arsenal languishing seven points behind fourth placed Manchester City, although with one game in hand. It is increasingly difficult to see how Wenger, who has yet to sign a new contract, can prolong his reign as his team falls apart around him. Palace, now six points clear of the relegation zone, recently won at leaders Chelsea and it quickly became clear they were capable of another famous scalp. Harrying Arsenal out of possession, Sam Allardyce's side carved out a good chance when Christian Benteke teed up Milivojevic for a powerful strike that flashed just wide from the edge of the area. Rattled by that early escape, Arsenal tried to respond as Mohamed Elneny's long-range effort was pushed away by Wayne Hennessey. But, with Laurent Koscielny again absent due to injury, Wenger's defence were a bag of nerves and it was no surprise when Palace bullied their way into the lead in the 17th minute. ANGUISHED Failing to deal with a routine high ball towards Benteke, Arsenal reacted too slowly as Townsend exchanged passes with Cabaye on the edge of the area. Cabaye found the unmarked Wilfried Zaha down the right and when he slipped a low cross towards Townsend, the Palace midfielder took advantage of more sloppy marking to lift a cool close-range finish over Emiliano Martinez. Wearing the anguished expression that has come to define a dismal season, Wenger was a picture of frustration and his mood was hardly improved when Alexis Sanchez shot tamely at Hennessey after advancing into a dangerous position. It might have been different if Mamadou Sakho had been punished with a penalty after appearing to block a Sanchez shot with his hand. But Wenger's luck was out and Arsenal's creaky defence was nearly breached again when a counter-attack ended with Benteke barging through for a shot that Martinez pushed away. Although they controlled possession, Arsenal did little with it, with Sanchez and Mesut Ozil alarmingly lethargic for long periods. When Hector Bellerin miscued wide at the far post, Wenger had seen enough and sent on Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey after an hour. It made no difference and seconds after the switch Cabaye plunged Arsenal deeper into the abyss. Townsend fed Zaha down the right and he whipped over a low cross that Cabaye met with a superb strike over Martinez and into the top corner. There was worse to come five minutes later. Martinez conceded a penalty with a foul on Townsend and Milivojevic slotted in the spot-kick to leave Wenger shell-shocked. Paper paintings, a traditional craft of the Sinh Village in Hue At the event, taking place from April 28 to May 2, villages and their artisans will have the opportunity to showcase their craft products and skills in their natural ambience, created for them in the city. Visitors are welcome to participate in the craft processes and are also allowed to take home the handmade products made with help from the artisans. The event will showcase exhibits and performances of products and artisans in 13 crafts, including embroidery, jewelry manufacturing, carpentry and bronze casting, as well as rattan and bamboo making, paper flowers and painting making, and enamel manufacturing. According to Nguyen Dang Thanh, the citys deputy chairman, the event is being held to honour villages and artisans for their efforts in maintaining the crafts. The event is to highlight the quintessential craftsmanship of Vietnamese people and will help to open links and co-operation bonds for the promotion of craft products, he said. Thanh, who is also deputy head of the events organisers, said they would connect craft and tourism by manufacturing handmade tourist souvenir items, an attempt to increase the sale of craft products and ensure craft villages survive around the country. During the five-day event, 300 Vietnamese artisans will be available as craft guides and to present performances, together with artisans from Hues sister cities Takayama, Saijo and Shizuoka from Japan; Busan from South Korea; and Yixing from China. This years event will introduce some craft villages and facilities that have never attended any of the five previous events held biennially since 2005. These include glass painting represented by young artist Duong Van Kinh and mat making showcased by artisan Nguyen Viet Nam. Kinh is the only artist of his kind in Hue and presents his work on reverse glass paintings. Nam, a middle-aged man, is skillful in making tiny sourvernirs and daily items from grey-rush-plant mattresses knitted by his home villages artisans. The event is also a means to foster ASEAN solidarity, with the display of fabric costumes designed by 19 fashion designers from Viet Nam, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as Malaysia and Myanmar. On the sidelines of the event, a food and beverage festival will offer locals and visitors a wide range of specialties from localities around the country. The highlight of the event is an ao dai fashion show that is proposed to take place on the citys iconic Truong Tien Bridge. This is the first time after 15 years that an ao dai show will take place on the bridge. Similar shows have never been held at previous versions of this event. The collection will comprise efforts of designers, artists and family members of late renowned artists in Hue, including late artists Ton That Dao, Buu Chi and Dinh Cuong. Following the proposal, paintings by 20 artists will be reenacted on the ao dai. According to designer Minh Hanh, the show manager, ao dai fashion shows have taken place in localities around the country, but the combination of costumes and paintings is unique in Hue. Deputy chairman Thanh said Hues painters contributed much to the art industry of the country and this was a chance to honour them. The combination of ao dai and paintings is expected to delight audiences, along with the exhibition of 2,000 unique craft items. HYDERABAD: It's not shortage of funds or lethargy of officials but festivals have become major hurdles in the implementation of the Rs 40,000 crore Mission Bhagiratha, the flagship project of CM K Chandrasekhar Rao.Be it Sankranti, Holi, Ugadi, Ramzan, Bakrid, Vinayaka Chavithi, Onam, Dasara, Diwali or Christmas, execution of work is slowing down considerably as technicians and workers in large numbers take leave to go back to their native places to celebrate the festivals with their families. Thousands of welders, jointers and other technicians from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and AP, in addition to Te langana, are working on Mission Bhagiratha project. Besides these workers, there are thousands of labourers from other states have been hired by the contractors of the project.While technicians such as welders and joint forging skilled workers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha have been taking a minimum of a week to 10 days leave for festivals such as Holi and Diwali, and those from Andhra vanish from work place, albeit with a permission, from the contractor and officials to celebrate Sankranti and Ugadi with their dear ones back home. "Those from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu go back to their native places for their festivals. Then Muslims take leave for Ramzan and Bakrid festivals. Thankfully, not all the technicians are leaving for all the festivals all the time as those from Telangana mainly go for Bathukamma and Dasara following which at least some workers continue to work always on the project," said an official. When contacted, chief engineer, Rural Water Supply (Mission Bhagiratha project) Krupakar Reddy confirmed to TOI that the culture of celebrating festivals with families has in fact affected the pace of work. "If 50km of work is completed daily in a couple of districts during normal working days, this work comes down to to even 10km or even less than that during festivals," he said. Mission Bhagiratha engineer-in-chief Surender Reddy said even the enrolment of contractors for intra-village work is in full swing. "We will be able to complete most of the work by year-end," he said. Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia is reportedly partnering up with two domestic firms to start an airline in Vietnam that will start operation in the beginning of 2018. This is AirAsias fourth attempt in 10 years to join in the Vietnamese air transport market. The most recent attempt was in 2010 when AirAsia bought a 30 per cent stake in Vietjet, hoping to launch the first flight under the brand Vietjet AirAsia in July or August 2010. However, this attempt failed not only because the Vietnamese authorities did not allow the use of the name Vietjet AirAsia, but because of internal reasons that the leaders of the two sides did not mention then. The previous two times was when it invested in Jetstar Pacific and when it tried to set up a new airline with Vinashin. With the aim to become a regional airline, AirAsia has partnered up with investors in many countries in Asia to set up joint ventures. In Thailand, Thai AirAsia holds the largest market share for domestic travel at 29.5 per cent of the total transported passengers in 2016. However, the carrier has a lot less success in other countries. In Japan, AirAsia partnered up with All Nippon Airways (ANA) to set up a joint venture in 2012. Only one year after the first flight, this joint venture failed. The reason was reported to be the difference in management style of the two sides. In June 2013, AirAsia announced withdrawing from AirAsia Japan, leaving ANA as the sole shareholder. ANA changed the name of the airline to Vanilla Air and returned AirAsia all of its planes. In July 2014 AirAsia tried to come back to Japan by establishing a new joint venture with four other Japanese partners, namely travel company Rakuten (18 per cent), cosmetics company Noevir Holdings (9 per cent), sporting goods company Alpen (5 per cent), and investment company Octave Japan (19 per cent), to set up AirAsia Japan again. AirAsia holds 49 per cent in this venture. This new AirAsia Japan received its license to operate in October 2015. In Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia is having a hard time. In the third quarter of 2015, the subsidiary was the main reason for AirAsias $95.9 million loss, as it recorded a 14 per cent fall in revenue. The reason, according to AriAsias leaders, was the raft of new regulations issued by the Indonesian government on air transport. In India, the joint venture between AirAsia and Tata, AirAsia India, also met some difficulties due to regulations of the Indian government, requiring airlines to have at least 20 planes in order to fly internationally. Moreover, the license to fly between Malaysia and India has already been given to Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air. In some markets, there are tight regulations on foreign ownership that limit the operation of airlines. India and Indonesia are already more open than Vietnam in this respect. On the other hand, the success of AirAsia in Thailand was mainly due to fortunate market conditions: at the time when Thai AirAisa was launched, Thailand only had one low-cost airline, Nok Air, which had a small market share and was not very successful. In Vietnam, there are already two low-cost airlines, namely Vietjet and Jetstar Pacific. Vietjet holds a big market share in the domestic market already. AirAsias return shows that the Vietnamese air transport market has big potential but competition is fierce, too. At the moment there are four airlines in Vietnam, namely Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, and VASCO. SkyViet and Vietstar were reported to have applied for the license last year but at the moment there has been no new announcement. Syrian children receive treatment in the town of Maaret al-Noman, following a suspected chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhun, a nearby rebel-held town in Syrias northwestern Idlib province, on April 4, 2017 AFP/Mohamed al-Bakour Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson set the tone for the meeting, describing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as "toxic" and saying it was "time for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is propping up". Top diplomats from the seven major advanced economies were in Italy for their annual two-day meeting which had initially been expected to focus on talks with new US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about hotspots like Libya, Iran and Ukraine. But the agenda is now likely to be dominated by last week's suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held Syrian town that killed at least 87 civilians, and the US cruise missiles fired at a Syrian air base in retaliation. It was the first time Washington has intervened directly against the regime of Assad, who is fighting a civil war with the backing of Russia and Iran, and the G7 ministers will deliberate the West's next steps. Several rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to end the conflict, which has killed more than 320,000 people since March 2011. The G7 gathering in the Tuscan city of Lucca brought foreign ministers from the United States as well as Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan to the 15th century Ducal Palace. The ministers, ushered out of the Tuscan sunshine and into the fresco-decorated palace for their first working session, were set to go on a walking tour of the city's historic centre later before a working dinner in the majestic Palazzo Orsetti. 'END ASSAD SUPPORT' Washington's retaliation was slammed by Iran and North Korea and put it on a direct diplomatic collision course with Moscow, where Tillerson heads on Tuesday for talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The US urged Russia on Sunday to rein in the Syrian regime, warning that any further chemical attacks would be "very damaging" to their relationship and suggesting any peace deal would be difficult with Assad in power. "We need to make it clear to Putin that the time to back Assad has gone," Johnson said Monday, warning that Putin was "damaging Russia" by supporting Assad. He called on Moscow to do "everything possible to bring about a political settlement in Syria and work with the rest of the international community to ensure that the shocking events of the last week are never repeated". Tillerson would "deliver that clear and coordinated message to the Russians", he said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the pressing task for the G7 was to "find a political solution, a political transition" in Syria, particularly if the West wanted to triumph over the so-called Islamic State (IS). "The fight against terrorism cannot be effective if we do not link it to resolving the Syrian situation," he said. 'CRIME AGAINST INNOCENTS' Italy has arranged a last-minute meeting on Tuesday between the G7 ministers and their counterparts from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Italian media said the aim was "to avert a dangerous military escalation". Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said he told Tillerson that Tokyo supports the US in its push to "deter the spread and use of chemical weapons", and discussed the pressing North Korean nuclear threat. Japan hopes the strong US response on Syria will also put pressure on the isolated country, which is showing signs of preparing for its sixth nuclear test and more test-firings of ballistic missiles. "We agreed that the role of China is extremely important. Japan and the United States will jointly call on China to play a bigger role," Kishida told reporters after meeting Tillerson in Lucca. Tillerson spent the morning at a WWII ceremony at the site of a Nazi massacre in Sant'Anna di Stazzema near Lucca. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," he said after he and other ministers lay a red wreath at the foot of the site's memorial. Mizuho Financial Group will set up an US$252 million investment fund early this summer to invest in small- and medium-sized companies in Southeast Asia.-Photo japantimes.co.jp The fund is targeting businesses in countries such as Viet Nam, Indonesia and Malaysia. Each selected SME will receive around $9 million (1 billion yen). Through this fund, the Japanese company may also support joint ventures between Japan and Southeast Asian nations, as well as send staffs to the firms. The group is likely to invest a total of more than 10 billion yen, while other companies such as Dai-ichi Life Insurance will contribute several billion yen. Other Japanese banks and European investors are also considering investing in the fund. Southeast Asia is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, with its rising population and growing middle-class, which are boosting the regions economic growth. Mizuho is Japans second largest financial group and among the top 20 largest financial groups in the world, with diversified investments in banking, stocks and investment funds. It has branches in Ha Noi and HCM City and is Vietcombanks largest foreign shareholder, with 15 per cent stake. Sacks of rice loaded at the Sai Gon Port. The Philippines represented the second largest buyer of Vietnamese rice in the first two months of the year.-VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue Last week, Philippine Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered a temporary halt to imports since local farmers had achieved a large rice harvest. Duterte had said that while there was a need to import rice for buffer stocks, the importation must not be done during the peak harvest season since this would affect local farmers. The Philippines was the second largest buyer of Vietnamese rice in the first two months of the year. Tran Thi Kim Nhung, director of the Dong Nai-based Kim Dong Thuan Co Ltd, which supplies rice to companies to export to the Philippines, told Nguoi Lao Dong (Labourers) newspaper her company was preparing for an export order of around 20,000 tonnes from the Philippines, and did not know what to do if that country stopped importing. Viet Nam lacks high-quality rice but has an abundance of cheap, low-grade rice, the kind that the Philippines usually imports. If the market stops imports, finding a substitute market will be extremely difficult. Lam Anh Tuan, director of Thinh Phat Food Co Ltd of Ben Tre Province, said the Philippines had changed its rice import management mechanism, switching from Government import to the private sector bidding for import quotas and increasing domestic supply. Global rice prices were falling, but paradoxically prices had increased in the Vietnamese market, making its rice less competitive. If businesses did not export, rice prices would definitely drop after the next crop, hurting farmers, he said. Dang Thi Lien, director of Long An Foodstuff Co Ltd, said she was in close contact with importers in the Philippines, and knew that the country had been hit by natural disasters and suffered from a rice shortage. Dutertes order to suspend rice imports from Viet Nam would undoubtedly have a huge impact on Viet Nams rice exports, she said. According to the Viet Nam Food Association (VFA), rice exports to that country have fallen significantly in recent years. The Philippines bought nearly 1.13 million tonnes of rice from Viet Nam in 2015, accounting for 17.2 per cent of Viet Nams exports. Last year, it fell to just 400,000 tonnes, or 8.18 per cent of exports. VFA said businesses and official agencies should keep a close eye on the Philippines market to map out a suitable strategy as there was some contradictory information from the market. The Philippines National Food Authority said last month the country needed to import 250,000 tonnes of rice as soon as possible. The VFA also forecast that the Philippines could resume imports in the period between rice crops (May-July). Viet Nam exported 1.28 million tonnes of rice for US$566 million in the first quarter of the year, a year-on-year decrease of 18.1 per cent in volume and 17.3 per cent in value. The hearse carrying the coffin of late police constable Keith Palmer, who was killed in the London attack on Mar 22, is driven over Lambeth Bridge in London. The funeral of Keith Palmer takes place at Southwark Cathedral on Apr 10. (Photo source: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Officers lined the cortege route from the Houses of Parliament, where his body lay in rest on Sunday in a rare honour normally granted to senior politicians. The service took place across the River Thames in Southwark Cathedral, with Palmer's wife and five-year-old daughter in attendance. Normally bustling streets in central London were at a standstill for the procession, led by the hearse with a floral tribute reading "No 1 Daddy". Officers wearing dress uniform with white gloves and medals stood with heads bowed during a two-minute silence at the start of the service. Some 5,000 officers from around the country took part, along with Cressida Dick, the first female head of London's Metropolitan Police. Palmer, 48, was killed on Mar 22 by a 52-year-old convert to Islam, Khalid Masood, as he stood guard outside parliament. Masood attacked Palmer after he had driven into pedestrians nearby, killing three and fatally injuring a fourth. He was shot dead by an armed officer. Parliamentary officials have ordered a security review after it was revealed that Palmer was not armed. In addition, the vehicle entrance gate to parliament which he was guarding was open, as it often is to allow MPs in and out of the building more easily. Palmer's was taken to a chapel inside parliament on Sunday, where a private service was held after Queen Elizabeth II granted special dispensation. Others who have previously been granted the honour include former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Logistics in Vietnam is gradually improving, helping domestic exporters and importers cut costs and increase their competitiveness against foreign rivals. Vietnam now has more than 1,300 logistics firms including foreign companies. The domestic logistics market is estimated at US$22 billion per year, accounting for almost 21% of the national GDP. The annual World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report shows that Vietnam is ranked below many other regional countries because of lagging transportation services. According to the World Bank, Vietnams logistics ranks 64th of 160 countries around the world and 4th within ASEAN after Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Vietnamese logistic companies are mostly small or medium-sized, scattered in different areas and lacking connectivity. A lower transportation volume makes logistic costs in Vietnam more expensive than many other countries. It costs about US$40,000 for logistics services in a populated area in the UK but the figure in Vietnam can reach US$140,000, said Tran Anh Vuong, Secretary General of the Vietnam Private Economic Forum. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Export-Import Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said Vietnam has sufficient conditions to develop its logistics industry thanks to its bustling export-import market whose revenues exceeded US$300 billion last year. Improving domestic logistic services will create a major breakthrough for exports. First, a legal framework for the logistics sector should be completed along with more policies to support its growth. Second, well upgrade transportation infrastructure ranging from bridges, roads, stations, and ports to warehouses and logistics centers, Hai said. The Prime Minister recently issued a decision to boost the competitiveness of Vietnams logistics service by 2025, under which logistics will contribute 8-10% of GDP to make Vietnam one of the worlds 50 leading logistics services providers. We hope that logistics companies will receive the most favorable conditions to operate efficiently, including access to preferential loans. This is the foundation for SMEs to run well, said Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Association (VLA) Le Huy Hiep. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung What is the purpose of your visit? This is the first time I visit Japan as the Minister of Planning and Investment. This visit aims to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan and to prepare for Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs upcoming visit to Japan in June, after the recent visit to Vietnam by the Emperor and Empress of Japan. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1973, the relationship has been growing fast in many areas and has now stepped into a new era, deepening in terms of quality, not just size. Japan is now the biggest sponsor of Vietnam, with the total committed ODA of $30 billion, and the second biggest investor, the third biggest trade partner, and the fourth biggest tourism partner. My visit was meant to enhance this cooperation and we hope that in the next period there will be breakthroughs that will increase the effectiveness of the cooperation in all these areas. Like you just said, Japan is the second biggest investor in Vietnam. During your trip, you will meet many big Japanese companies. To which fields and sectors do you hope to attract investment from Japan? We are looking to attract investment in high-technology, clean technology, source technology, manufacturing, supporting industry, and high-tech agriculture. Besides the traditional channel of direct investment, we would like to attract investment in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP) and mergers and acquisitions. With PPP, we want to enlist Japanese investors to important infrastructure projects. For mergers and acquisitions, we hope Japanese investors will join in the process of equitising Vietnamese state-owned companies by becoming strategic partners. By signing with Japanese investors, we hope not only for capital but also for technology and modern corporate governance experience. It is too soon to talk details but I can disclose this: in this trip, we are going to talk with some big Japanese corporations about large-scale projects that would help create an industry that is going to be a driver of growth for Vietnam and a basis to attract further investment from small and medium-sized companies that would develop the support industry in Vietnam. Nhat Tan Bridge, photo D.T PPP is an important investment format that Vietnam is hoping to develop. Which projects do you hope Japanese investors will be interested in? The projects of priority are the North-South Expressway, Long Thanh International Airport, and urban transport projects, such as the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Metro, and in the future, the North-South Railway. These are all big projects that will have a resounding impact on Vietnams socioeconomic development. The legal framework for investment in the PPP format already exists, but we are currently reviewing it to make it more transparent and easier for investors to join PPP projects. A few days ago, the Prime Minister announced some important changes regarding the North-South Expressway project. Now, instead of carrying it out in separate sections, we will clear the whole site at once to carry out the project in one go. Additionally, instead of four to six lanes, the project is going to have six to ten lanes. The changes are meant to meet the demand of the countrys development in 30-50 years. But that is only a vision. We cannot have eight to ten lanes at once, so at first it is still going to be four to six lanes. Maybe we will not have a big road immediately, but we will clear the whole site so that when we want to expand the road we will be able to do it faster and cheaper. The government also decided to set aside VND55 trillion ($2.43 billion) as reciprocal capital for PPP projects. These are important bases from which investors, including Japanese investors, can consider investing. The Vietnamese-Japanese relations have been good but there is still room for growth. What would be the most important factor that would push the relations to the next level? Without a doubt, the most important factor is trust. The two countries have to maintain strategic trust, and agree in views and cooperation plans. Only then will the relationship be able to reach the next level. I hope that after my visit the cooperation will be enhanced. In terms of investment, just as I said above, we hope that Japan can simplify ODA procedures, remove some criteria on the origin of goods, and decrease the cost of borrowing so that ODA projects can move fast and bring socioeconomic benefits to Vietnam sooner. This will, in turn, also increase the effectiveness of the ODA that Japan lends to Vietnam. On this occasion, I want to emphasise this: the Trump administrations announcement of withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership has fundamentally changed our outlook on the global economy. The world is rearranging into a new order, with the forming of some new supply and production chains. In this context, we want to be on the same page with Japan in terms of where we are in this new order and the global value chain. We want to cooperate with Japan to push the development of the Vietnamese economy so that it can grow faster, more stable, with more independence, and can connect to the whole world. Photo source nguyentandung.org United Overseas Bank, one of Asias leading financial institutions with 500 offices in 19 countries and territories, already had a branch in Ho Chi Minh City. Other foreign banks also opened local branches before becoming locally incorporated entities. Similarly, United Overseas Bank at one point held a 20 per cent stake in Phuong Nam (Southern) Bank, which has been merged into Sacombank in 2015. According to experts, foreign banks with experience from many other markets have quickly expanded to the domestic retail banking market. Despite having smaller market shares, their wide range of service offerings, such as card, credit, home loan, mobile banking or internet banking, might be their advantage. Here is a look back at the progress of six out of the eight foreign banks in Vietnam: HSBC Vietnam and Standard Chartered Vietnam (from the United Kingdom), ANZ Bank (Australia), Shinhan Bank (South Korea), and Hong Leong Bank and Public Bank Berhad (Malaysia). The two banks not mentioned have just opened subsidiaries in Vietnam within the last six months. Malaysian CIMB Bank was approved by the SBV in September 2016 with an authorised capital of VND3.203 trillion ($141 million). Two months later, Woori Bank made its debut and became the second South Korean bank in Vietnam. HSBC Vietnam HSBCs history in Vietnam dates back to 1870 when it opened an office in Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City. The bank returned and opened a new branch in the city in 1995. In 2009, it became the first foreign bank to have a wholly-owned subsidiary in Vietnam. HSBC Vietnam is the largest foreign bank in Vietnam. HSBC also holds nearly 20 per cent in Hanoi-based Techcombank. Continuing the mother companys international strategy to shed non-core businesses, in 2012 HSBC Vietnam sold its 18 per cent stake in leading state-run insurer Bao Viet for $340 million. In 2016, HSBC Vietnams net income was VND1.44 trillion ($63.5 million), up 54 per cent on-year, according to the banks latest financial statement. It made the lions share of its revenue, VND754 billion ($33.27 million), by dealing in foreign currencies. ANZ Vietnam One of the first foreign banks to open a branch in Hanoi in 1993, ANZ Vietnam grew its original team of 28 employees to 550 now, who work in eight locations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, according to the banks website. In 2008, ANZ won a licence to open a fully foreign-owned bank in Vietnam. ANZ Vietnam used to be the strategic investor in Sacombank and Saigon Securities Inc. before divesting its holdings in 2012 and 2014, respectively, according to DealStreetAsia. ANZ Vietnam has been working in accord with the Asia strategy of the parent bank, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd., Australias third largest lender with over 180 years of history. In 2009, in one of its biggest overseas purchases, ANZ paid $550 million to buy several Asian units, including the Vietnamese one, from British lender Royal Bank of Scotland. However, in early 2016, ANZ closed its business lending to small and medium-sized enterprises in five Asian countries, including Vietnam. Later that year, ANZ announced selling its wealth and retail businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Indonesia to Singaporean bank DBS, a departure from the previous super-regional strategy, according to Reuters. The bank will look to exit its retail and wealth assets in the Philippines and Vietnam. This year, five banks have reportedly submitted bids for ANZs Vietnamese retail unit. ANZ earned VND177 billion ($7.8 million) in net income in the first half of 2016, an increase of 30 per cent from the first half of 2015. Standard Chartered Standard Chartered was one of the first international banks to re-open a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City. Since August 2009, following the approval of the SBV, Standard Chartered became a locally-incorporated entity under the name Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Limited, with the registered capital of $61 million, according to Reuters. Since then, the bank has solidified its position as a leading foreign bank in Vietnam. In 2011, Standard Chartered became the first international bank to join the Smartlink network, enabling its customers to use the banks cards at over 5,000 ATMs and 20,000 points of sale nationwide, as reported by VIR. In 2012, the bank was the sole Sovereign Credit Ratings Advisor to the Vietnamese government. The bank exclusively distributes Prudentials life insurance products via a bancassurance partnership that began in 2009 and was extended for another 15 years in 2014. Financial results were not available on the website of Standard Chartered Vietnam. However, in early 2016, its parent bank announced a 2015 net loss of $2.36 billion, blaming bad debts from falling oil prices. The parent bank was also planning to cut 15,000 jobs. Hong Leong Bank Hong Leong Bank, one of Malaysias leading lenders, was the first Southeast Asian bank to be granted a licence to operate a wholly foreign-owned commercial bank in Vietnam in December 2008. The bank commenced operations in October 2009 with the opening of its head office and the first branch in Ho Chi Minh City. Its registered capital eventually went up to VND3 billion ($132.3 million). In 2011, Hong Leong opened its second branch in Hanoi. By 2015, Hong Leong had opened two more offices in Binh Duong Province and in Cho Lon area of Ho Chi Minh City. Shinhan Vietnam A leading South Korean lender, Shinhan Bank has a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City since 1993. In December 2008, the bank was licenced to establish a wholly foreign-owned bank in Vietnam, becoming one of the first five wholly foreign-owned banks in the country. In November 2011, Shinhan Bank merged with Shinhan Vina (a 50/50 joint venture between Shinhan Bank and Vietcombank) and changed its name into Shinhan Vietnam Company Limited. Currently, its network has one headquarter and 18 branches in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Thai Nguyen, Hai Phong, and Bac Ninh, according to the banks website. Shinhan Bank is competing by offering digital services. The Korean bank launched its mobile banking service Sunny Bank in December 2015 and Sunny Bank My Car last June, the first service in Vietnam to allow car buyers can get car loans through their mobile devices. Over twelve months after its release, the Sunny Bank mobile service accumulated 44,000 users, with 90 per cent in their 20s and 30s, according to Korea Joongang Daily newspaper. The banks net after-tax profit in 2016 was VND1.03 trillion ($45.5 million), a 15 per cent increase over 2015, according to the financial statements on its website. Interest accounts for the majority of the banks revenue. Public Bank Berhad In 2015, Public Bank Berhad became the sixth fully foreign-owned bank in Vietnam, after buying out BIDVs 50 percent stake in VID Public, their $62.6-million 50/50 joint venture. The banks website said it had seven branches in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (two branches), Da Nang, Binh Duong, Hai Phong, and Dong Nai. Public Bank Berhads latest financial statement on its website showed a 2015 net income of $4.2 million, a slight increase from the $4.1 million in 2014, with interests making up the majority of its revenue. This income, however, was 16 per cent lower than the 2012 figure of $4.97 million. Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary Laszlo Kover in Budapest yesterday.-VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan suggested to Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary Laszlo Kover that Hungary should increase investment in water resources, environment, medicine and pharmacy, food processing, bio-fertiliser production and renewable energy. During their meeting, the two sides lauded the results of the seventh session of the Viet Nam Hungry joint committee on economic co-operation in Budapest on March 23-24. They agreed on bilateral co-operation plans, including measures to strengthen trade and economic exchanges via trade fairs and exhibitions. "Viet Nam also welcomes Hungarys policy to boost bilateral economic ties, including the signing of a framework agreement on credit co-operation worth 440 million euros (US$424 million)," Ngan said. Education-training is a traditional field of co-operation between the two countries. Hungary provides 100 scholarships each year for Vietnamese students to study majors that are Hungarys strengths such as renewable energy, support industry, environmental protection, water resources treatment, information technology, economics, agriculture and health. The two legislators acknowledged the mutual support and co-ordination at regional and international interparliamentary forums. They agreed to boost high-level delegation exchanges between legislative agencies and parliamentary friendship groups. Speaker Kover agreed to share experience in building law, monitoring the State apparatus and training personnel for Viet Nam. Both sides decided to step up the implementation of co-operation agreements signed by the two countries governments and their strategic collaboration projects. Chairwoman Ngan took the occasion to thank Hungary for supporting Viet Nams candidacy for a seat in the Economic and Social Council for 2016-18 tenure and the UN Security Council for 2020-21. She confirmed Viet Nams support for Hungary to run for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council in the 2017-19 tenure. For his part, Speaker Laszlo said Viet Nam has been Hungarys strategic partner in Southeast Asia since 2010. He urged the two countries to boost co-operation in economics and trade, noting that bilateral trade hit about $266 million in 2016, a year-on-year rise of 36 per cent. The site is a future residential township development with a total site area of 198.5 hectares and was acquired with VinaLand Limited in 2007. The project is currently undergoing its first phase in construction and sales. Vietnam Opportunity Fund Limited (VOF), alongside VinaLand Limited, disposed of its entire stake in Dai Phuoc Lotus to China Fortune Land Development at a total valuation of 20.4 per cent above the March 31, 2017 unaudited net asset value. This transaction will result in net cash proceeds of $16.5 million to VinaCapital. As a result of the sale, VOFs holding in direct real estate development projects has been reduced to 5.2 per cent of the total NAV. This is a significant milestone in VinaCapitals on-going strategy to reduce direct real estate holdings, and enables VOF to remain opportunistic in market areas where we see significant upside, namely privately negotiated deals and OTC investments, Ho said. Dai Phuoc Lotus consists of 332 high-end semi-detached and detached villas. Around 200 villas of the first phase have been handed over to buyers. Located in Dong Nai, it takes only 30 minutes by river or 50 minutes by road to reach Ho Chi Minh City centre. Dai Phuoc is a perfect venue for vacations, meeting all demands of residents, such as large swimming pools and an open-door picnic area. The developer has decided to reserve a large area particularly for farming in the project. This farm will supply clean vegetables to residents at the same time as being an ideal picnic venue for visitors in the future. Dai Phuoc Island is considered a pearl in the east of Ho Chi Minh City, in the shape of a water drop, offering residents a very nice living environment. The backgrounds of garment worker transport trucks are to be put under the microscope in a government initiative aimed at stymieing reckless driving, officials have said. Interior Minister Sar Kheng said last week that his office would work with the Ministry of Transportation and National Police to create a database of drivers to increase accountability. [Drivers] must have a brief background in the system, managed by the Ministry of Transportation and the General Commissariat of the National Police, Kheng said. He added that road deaths had been high in recent years due to speeding and drivers disobeying the law. In 2016, some 271 fewer deaths were recorded on Cambodias roads, a 14 percent drop on the previous year, when 2,265 people were killed and about 15,000 people injured. In May 2015, 19 garment workers in Svay Rieng province were killed in a deadly crash with a tourist bus that made international headlines. The ministry said while the death toll so far this year was also seeing a downward trend, March was a particularly deadly month on Cambodias roads. Lieutenant General Run Rathveasna, director of the polices public order department, said the force had been working on a driver database since the start of the year and had already collected brief biographies on more than 200 truck drivers, allowing background checks to take place. If we have their biography. It is easy for us to find out what companies they are working for and when they leave from one company to another, he said. Ear Chariya, a road safety expert, said while it was a good first step to create the database, officials must ensure that all of the garment worker transport drivers have a proper license. All the transport companies must have an internal rulebook in managing the drivers and their vehicles, he said. According to Handicap International, traffic accidents in Cambodia cost the government about $337 million annually, roughly 3 percent of gross domestic product. San Chey, executive director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability Cambodia, said he doubted whether many of the garment worker drivers had passed a test before taking to the roads. I think it is good to have all the drivers to do the driving capacity test again, since we have doubts, he said, adding that some drivers are told to speed by their employers. The stoic professor taught Sanskrit and linguistics some 20 years ago to students who became Cambodias most accomplished linguists. He spent months in Cambodias most sparsely-populated province, over a period of years, to document one of the countrys minority languages, Bunong. Sylvain Vogel, a native French and German speaker who grew up in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, has written and published four books about Bunong while the languages sustained existence in northeastern Cambodia is threatened by modernization and encroachment by a growing population. Vogel has spent most of the past 25 years in Cambodia studying, researching and teaching, and helping anchor the fledgling re-birth of a culture of scholarship in this Southeast Asian country following the repressive and anti-intellectual Khmer Rouge rule of the 1970s. In the 1990s, Vogel worked at the Royal University of Phnom Penh in the linguistics department, where he taught and worked in the classroom with Chan Somnoble and Chhom Kunthea, now two of Cambodias top linguists. He began researching the Bunong language in the mid-1990s. Today he teaches linguistics and Sanskrit in the archaeology department at the Royal University of Fine Arts and is preparing to travel to Mondulkiri province later this year to spend weeks with the most experienced speakers of the Bunong language. Vogels scholarship and independent research in Cambodia recently received a boost when it was recognized by a US organization. The Fainting Robin Foundation, newly formed to support independent scholars, announced in March that Vogel would be the first recipient of a distinguished scholar award. Chan Somnoble, one of Vogels first Cambodian students, is now the deputy director of the Royal Academy of Cambodia and head of the prestigious National Council for Khmer Language. He [Vogel] is a resource that is very important to Cambodia, said Somnoble, who earned a PhD in linguistics in 2002 from Universite Paris Nanterre. In 1998, Somnoble and Vogel began a process to start a masters program in the linguistics department at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The program was launched a couple of years later with Somnoble as its head and Vogel as its program coordinator. Somnoble said Vogel was demanding of his students. He made me study linguistics harder until I became who I am today, said Somnoble, who also fondly recalled 25 years ago teaching Khmer-language grammar to Vogel. I am very happy to be his student, being taught by him. Vogel was slightly intimidating as a teacher, Kunthea recalls. When he entered the class, no one dared move or talk, recalled Kunthea, who earned a doctorate in linguistics last year in France and is now the director of the Preah Norodom Sihanouk Museum in Siem Reap. I liked his classes, both linguistics and Sanskrit, because he explained the lectures clearly. When we did not understand, we asked him, and he tried to explain until we fully understood. Kunthea attributed her enthusiasm for linguistics and the study of Sanskrit to Vogels instruction. She credited him for helping secure her a place on a masters course in India. She continued to study Sanskrit at one of the top research universities in France, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, becoming the first Cambodian since the Khmer Rouge era to earn a PhD in Sanskrit. [Sanskrit] is Gods language, Kunthea told VOA Khmer in a recent phone interview. It explains or advises people a lot about Dharma. In addition, the language is special for the Khmer language because it is related to the Khmer language for thousands of years. [We] should know both Khmer and Sanskrit to fully understand our Khmer history. Vogel arrived in Cambodia in 1991 to work with the French Embassy. He earlier had spent more than 10 years conducting research and studying Pashto in Afghanistan. He earned a PhD in linguistics at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1984. After years of living in Cambodia, Vogels passion became the language of a forest people who still lived in remote hills and plains in clans and extended families, much as they did 200 years ago, capturing and taming wild elephants up until 30 or 40 years ago. Becoming a Bunong Researcher Vogel first visited the remote northeastern province of Mondulkiri, which abuts Vietnam, in 1994. He met members of the indigenous Bunong community and became intrigued by the unwritten language and the rich folklore which was passed on orally from generation to generation. Few researchers were studying the Bunong language and culture and Vogel understood he could make a positive contribution with his research. I know Bunong is in the family of Mon-Khmer language, Vogel said. As a linguist, I had to learn Bunong to compare Khmer and Bunong languages. He gradually immersed himself in the Bunong community, its distinct way of life and a positive relationship took root. He stayed in remote villages for days and sometimes weeks at a time, eating Bunong food and drinking rice wine. Vogel, who is an avid hunter and martial arts specialist, enjoyed the work. I dont think it was hard, Vogel said. If it was, I would not have done it. I do it because I like it. Vogel noticed over the years that the Bunongs way of living in the rolling hills and jungle was impacted significantly by globalization. Bunong communities for generations were led by local elders and now are managed by administrative officers such as district governors and village chiefs, Vogel noted. Bunong children now are encouraged to attend school taught in the Khmer language, and increasingly are studying English and using computers. Vogel voiced his concerns over the potential loss of the Bunong language and traditions. Bunong language is not used much, the society is changing a lot, so I am afraid that Bunong language will disappear, Vogel said. Yun Lorang is a native Bunong and he also worries that his language is deteriorating. I am quite worried because language is related to identity, Lorang, secretariat coordinator of Cambodia Indigenous People Alliance, told VOA Khmer by phone. In a crowd, they [Bunong people] rarely speak Bunong, they speak Khmer. Vogels first book about the language translated Bunong grammar into the international phonetic alphabet. It was published in 2006 in French. Vogel has written two other books about the grammar and aspects of oral literature, such as epics, songs and chants, and one book about Bunong culture. Lorang thinks that having the Bunong language and culture documented in a written and published form can help prevent it from disappearing. History is very important for us to recover our own spirit, values, and identities, said Lorang, who lives in Sen Monorom town, the capital of Mondulkiri province. Most of Vogels research over the years about the Bunong language and people was carried out at his own expense, said Peter Maguire, chairman of the Fainting Robin Foundation. It was a project that took close to 20 years, with no outside support, with no support or minimal support, said Maguire, an author and historian who set up the foundation in Wilmington, NC, to assist independent scholars. Maguire has known Vogel for years and spent some time with him in Mondulkiri province. He praised Vogels dedication to studying a language that had received little attention from established researchers and academic institutions, Cambodian or international. Vogels work as a Sanskrit and linguistics professor, whose instruction helped nurture respected Cambodian scholars such as Kunthea and Somnoble is another key reason the foundation recognized him, Maguire said. As long as I knew him, he taught linguistics five days a week, and he taught in Khmer, Maguire said. He didn't teach in English. He didn't teach in French. He made a huge effort to learn the language, to learn it well, to learn it grammatically correct, and to learn how to read it and write it. That's a level of commitment very few scholars have. Shortly after arriving in Phnom Penh, Vogel came to believe it would be more worthwhile for his Cambodian students if he taught Sanskrit and general linguistics rather than French because of historical ties between Khmer and the ancient language. I started to teach Sanskrit to my students so that they know other families of languages, in addition to Mon-Khmer, Vogel said. Vogel said not many Cambodian students wanted to study Sanskrit but that even one was enough because more Sanskrit inscriptions may be discovered in the future in Cambodia. If there are Khmer experts on Sanskrit, they can work with international researchers to translate Sanskrit inscriptions which belong to Cambodia, Vogel said. He remembers Kunthea, between 1999 and 2001, as an outstanding student. She was interested in the links between Sanskrit and Cambodia and its language, Khmer. Only one student was interested in Sanskrit, and studied very hard, so I had to help her, Vogel recalled. To help her prepare for graduate school abroad, Kunthea said that Vogel tutored her in Sanskrit free of charge on weekends at cafes. She said Vogel helped launch her career. Fifteen years on, she successfully defended her dissertation last year in France on the role of Sanskrit in the development of the Khmer language: an epigraphic study from the 6th to 14th centuries. Russia's role in Afghanistan was questioned again Tuesday when the provincial police chief in Uruzgan told Afghan media that intelligence reports showed visiting Russian generals were providing Taliban militants with weapons and training. "Eleven Russians, including two women, dressed in doctor's uniforms and guarded by four armed Taliban, along with an Afghan translator, have been spotted in various parts of the province," Ghulam Farooq Sangari, Uruzgan police chief, told VOA's Afghan service. "They have been enticing people against the government, providing training and teaching how to assemble land mines." Russian military advisers have been spotted twice recently near Tirinkot, the Uruzgan capital, Haji Abdul Bari, a tribal elder in the province, told VOA. Taliban connections with Russia have increasingly come under the spotlight as Moscow seeks to increase its influence in the nation it once occupied and to counter Islamic State expansion from Afghanistan to neighboring Central Asian countries. Russia pledges peace effort Mounting allegations of Russian military involvement on the ground in Afghanistan have drawn concern from U.S. and Afghan authorities that Russia is working behind the scenes to help the Taliban battle Afghan forces and militant groups in the country, like IS. Russia has acknowledged political ties with the Taliban. But Russian officials say Moscow is not supplying Taliban militants with arms and training. They assert that their contacts with the Taliban are aimed at facilitating the peace process in Afghanistan. Over the weekend, the Russian Embassy in Kabul issued a statement saying the Russian military was not helping Taliban militants. "It is surprising that statesmen, deputies and high-ranking police officers, based on rumors and conjectures and without providing the public any evidence, allow themselves to publicly make irresponsible accusations against Russia in financing and supporting terrorism," the Russian statement said. But the allegations of Russian-Taliban military ties are growing. The governor of Kunduz province said last month that the Taliban were asking Moscow for weapons and training to counter the expanding influence of IS groups in various parts of the country. In Helmand province Despite the Russian denial, analysts say signs of Moscow's assistance to the Taliban have been felt in Afghanistan. Kabul-based Taliban expert Wahid Muzhda this month told VOA that Moscow had provided the Taliban with a well-equipped mobile clinic, along with a large supply of medicine to treat injured Taliban fighters in Helmand province, which borders Uruzgan. A number of Afghan lawmakers accused Russia of allowing its military personnel to visit Taliban locations near the border with Pakistan, after a Russian military delegation visited the Waziristan tribal region in Pakistan a sign of Moscow's deepening relations with Islamabad, which has been supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Afghan Foreign Ministry said it was investigating the reports. Kabul and Washington, increasingly wary of the deepening ties between Russia and the Taliban, say Moscow's alliance with the militant group could complicate an already precarious security situation in the country. "I believe what Russia is attempting to do is they are attempting to be an influential party in this part of the world," General Joseph Votel, chief of U.S. Central Command, told U.S. lawmakers last month. "I think it is fair to assume they may be providing some sort of support to [the Taliban] in terms of weapons or other things that may be there." VOA's Afghan service contributed to this report. In defending President Barack Obama's decision not to enforce his chemical weapons red line against Syria in 2013, Obama and other former officials repeatedly pointed to a U.S.-Russia agreement to remove Syrian stockpiles as proof that the president got results without resorting to a military response. While it's true that some 1,300 tons of Syria's declared chemical weapons and precursors were removed under the agreement, serious concerns always existed that not all such armaments or production facilities were declared and destroyed or otherwise made unusable. Those concerns, aired publicly and privately by United Nations and other officials almost since the deal was struck in September 2013 in Geneva, gained credence last week when President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes on a Syrian air base in retaliation for the most recent chemical weapons attack blamed on the Syrian government. Obama administration officials, starting with the president himself, often used nuanced words in declaring the 2013 deal a success. At times, they qualified their proclamations by referring only to the removal of Syria's declared or known stocks. Other times they have been less careful, as was Obama in a 60 Minutes interview just five days before he left office earlier this year. Obama: I think it was important for me as president of the United States to send a message that in fact there is something different about chemical weapons, he told the CBS program when asked about criticism of his decision not to follow through with airstrikes he had threatened. Regardless of how that played in Washington, what is true is Assad got rid of his chemical weapons. The Facts: Obama's comments glossed over doubts expressed by his own national security team and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that Syria had truly abandoned its stocks or ability to produce more. When that group announced in June 2014 that the program to eliminate the stockpiles had been completed, Secretary of State John Kerry lauded the result using a subtle caveat: With this step, 100 percent of the declared chemicals are out of war-torn Syria. Kerry also noted the continued attacks with chlorine gas, which is not an internationally banned substance but isn't supposed to be used in weapons. Chlorine was not included in the 2013 agreement. He added that the international community has questions with regard to Syria's declaration that must be adequately answered. Those questions were never addressed and Kerry's caution was well founded. Less than three months later, Kerry issued another statement in response to chlorine attacks that pointed again to deep concerns regarding the accuracy and completeness of Syria's declaration. This, he said, raises especially troubling concerns that continued chemical attacks on the Syrian people by the regime could occur. And in February 2016, James R. Clapper Jr., the national intelligence director, told Congress that we assess that Syria has not declared all the elements of its chemical weapons program. In an April 2016 report to Congress, the State Department went further, saying Syria was in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and may retain chemical weapons as defined by the treaty. Even so, in a January 16 National Public Radio interview, Obama's former national security adviser, Susan Rice, portrayed the 2013 agreement as a success. She said the Obama administration had found a solution that actually removed the chemical weapons that were known from Syria, in a way that the use of force would never have accomplished. Between June 2014, when the destruction and removal program was completed and January 30 of this year, the U.N. Human Rights Council's commission on Syria documented at least 13 instances of chemical weapons attacks in Syria, all believed to have used chlorine. Western experts say sarin, a nerve agent, was used in the attack last week that killed more than 80 people. In the ramshackle refugee camps that dot the landscape of Bangladeshs borderlands with Myanmar, the prospect of an imminent return home for the Rohingya people is growing ever dimmer. It has been seven months since a military offensive began among the Rohingya community in Myanmars Rakhine state, prompting widespread allegations of mass rape and murder and the flight of around 70,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh. Yet with recent U.N. efforts to investigate being stonewalled by Myanmar, and allegations of atrocities being downplayed, demands for justice continue to meet deaf ears. Meanwhile, fears grow that this will become the latest generation of Rohingyas forced into permanent exile. Conditions for return In Balu Kali camp situated in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district they are building for the future ahead of the coming rainy season. Alongside the recently built huts, bricks wait in piles on construction sites to be laid. Mohammed Anwar dreads the onset of Bangladeshs lashing rains and retains hope that he will see the village he fled three months ago. However, he is firm about what is required to make him return to Myanmar. If we get a fair recognition as Rohingya, and a promise to the world that we will not be tortured, then we will go back, he said. Otherwise we will not go back. Anwars conditions for return are commonly echoed here. Deprived of even the most basic rights in Myanmar, including citizenship and the freedom to move, the Rohingya are a Muslim minority group in largely buddhist Myanmar. They are labelled by many in their homeland as Bengali immigrants, despite having a presence in the region stretching back generations. Yet with hopes pinned on the international community, progress so far has been slow. Reaching stalemate Myanmars military operation was prompted by the death of nine policemen at the hands of a Rohingya insurgent group in October. But the crackdown has faced accusations of brutally targeting civilians and widespread atrocities, a charge rejected by Myanmar. Though the Myanmar military released a statement saying it had ended military operations in Rakhine in mid-February, reports indicate that few, if any, Rohingya have returned permanently. Since then, real efforts to look into what happened have come to little. While rebuffing the UN, Myanmar sent its own state-backed commission to the camps in Bangladesh, but Sultan Ahmad, who was present at the visit, told VOA they didnt hear or care what we said. We said about burning many villages, and the burning of children by locking newborn babies in the houses, said Ahmad, who is from nearby Kuptalong camp. We asked them why they were lying after what theyd done, and they said it was us that were lying. Disillusionment, meanwhile, has also set in regarding de facto Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Feted as a beacon in the country for human rights and given a role within government last year after her party won in a landslide election, she has remained largely mute on the topic of the Rohingya save an interview this week in which she denied allegations of ethnic cleansing. We do not expect any positive steps from Myanmar. added Ahmad. Stretched resources Elsewhere in Kutapalong camp, the newly-arriving refugees are welcomed with empathy. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 500,000 Rohingya live in Bangladesh, having fled what they say is persecution in Myanmar that has gone on for decades. A number of them live in the longer-established part of Kutapalong, where the houses are more firmly built and a scattering of tombstones marks a graveyard. Minuara Begum, who fled to Bangladesh in 2012, fears that as more time passes, chances grow that those who arrived recently will also end up permanently displaced. But with aid to the Rohingya already stretched, she also has another fear that the patience of the Bangladeshi government will wane. People keep on coming to Bangladesh and, like us, living here, she said. There may be a population problem, and the price of food, and other important elements are increasing day by day. One NGO source, who did not want to be identified, told VOA that though the government had publicly given the green light in helping Rohingya, it was making life difficult for NGOs leaving many without much needed assistance. Recently, the government in Bangladesh proposed relocating the Rohingya to flood-prone and remote Thengar Char island in the Bay of Bengal, an idea that has drawn condemnation from human rights groups. Requests from VOA for comment by the national government have been met with silence. But at the local level, Kazi Abdul Rahman, deputy commissioner for Coxs Bazar, referred to the ongoing presence as a concern, stating they would be awaiting a decision regarding Thengar Char. Rather stay away Some wait because they must, but there are others determined not to return. With NGOs present, some are gaining access to services like healthcare that they were deprived of back home, even if many are living on one meal a day. Rashida Begum was split from her daughter Senuara amid a military raid on her village in Myanmar, and fears she is in the hands of soldiers. If she is alive or not, I do not know, she tearfully told VOA. But while she is constantly hunting for news of her daughter from new arrivals, the prospect of returning home fills her with dread. There is no peace in Myanmar and it will never come. Ill never go back to Myanmar, even if there is peace, she said. There, I couldnt sleep at night. Here, though I am starving, I can sleep in peace. The Trump administration must decide by the end of this month whether to grant Belarus continued relief from U.S. economic sanctions despite a stiff government crackdown on street demonstrations last month. The renewal decision is considered a low-level priority for the administration, which is facing bigger questions about U.S. relations with Russia and China, and with most major diplomatic positions still unfilled. But whether the United States renews the sanctions relief or instead returns to blacklisting nine major Belarus companies is an early test for the Trump administration on the importance it puts on human rights versus efforts to coax countries in Russia's orbit to turn to the West. The sanctions waivers, which began in 2015 and were extended twice last year, were tied to domestic political reforms and intended to encourage Belarus, which has long historical ties to Russia, to move closer to the European Union and the United States. Now, however, U.S. officials are alarmed by the arrests of hundreds of people last month during an attempt to hold a street protest in the capital Minsk, and concerned if continuing sanctions relief could be seen as ignoring the crackdown. Belarus authorities last month raided a human rights group's offices and used violence against peaceful protesters, rights groups say. "This most recent crackdown sharpened people's focus," said a U.S. congressional aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Now there is a real question about whether or not they [the sanctions] should be reimposed." April deadline The decision must be taken by the end of April. If the administration makes no decision, the sanctions will be reimposed. NATO members, including Poland and the Baltic states, feel threatened by what they see as increased Russian intervention in Europe, including Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014. "Belarus is so important from a strategic point of view and it's so dependent economically on Russia that we are really very concerned," said Piotr Wilczek, the Polish ambassador to the United States. "Belarus is becoming more and more part of this wider Russian problem we have." The Trump administration is inclined to renew the sanctions relief, but likely would wait until the last minute "to make sure they don't do anything awful," said a U.S. official, also speaking on condition of anonymity. State and Treasury Department officials declined to comment in detail on the Belarus sanctions. The Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment. President George W. Bush in 2006 blacklisted top Belarus officials, including President Alexander Lukashenko, for undermining the country's democratic processes or human rights abuses. The United States later added large Belarus companies to the sanctions list. But in 2015, Lukashenko released political prisoners and indicated he was open to better relations with the West. That October, President Barack Obama temporarily lifted sanctions on nine Belarus companies, including petrochemical conglomerate Belneftekhim and tire manufacturer Belshina. Now, however, Lukashenko appears to be keeping his country firmly in Moscow's orbit. In a letter to him last week, four U.S. senators said they were concerned over the crackdown and that he decided to allow Russia to conduct "provocative" military exercises in Belarus later this year. At the actual breakup of the Beatles, it was painful, Paul McCartney said during a 1990 television interview. "We likened it to a divorce. Twenty years earlier on April 10, McCartney signaled the end of the Fab Four during his unveiling of his solo album McCartney. On April 9, McCartney released a Q&A package to the British press in which he explained his reasons for making his solo album. Compiled with the help of Apple executives, the self-interview also contained questions McCartney imagined he would be asked regarding the possibility of the Beatles splitting up. While stopping short of saying that the band was finished, McCartney stated that he did not know whether his "break with the Beatles" would be temporary or permanent. It didnt quite feel real, in part, because of the way McCartney phrased it and also, the Beatles' final album Let It Be was yet to be released. From the groups first studio contract in 1962, it was clear that John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were something special. The Ed Sullivan Show In February 1964, the group made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show during their first American tour. It took no time at all for Beatlemania to overtake America. As Billboard Magazine put it in its 2016 year end issue, under the section called Greatest of All Time: "Its hard to convey the scope of The Beatles' achievements in a mere paragraph or two. They synthesized all that was good about early rock n' roll, and changed it into something original and even more exciting. They established the prototype for the self-contained rock group that wrote and performed its own material. As composers, their craft and melodic inventiveness were second to none, and key to the evolution of rock from its blues/R&B-based forms into a style that was far more eclectic, but equally visceral. During a 1971 interview on The Dick Cavett Show, John Lennon addressed the non-stop controversy that Yoko Ono, Johns partner and wife, was responsible for the groups demise. She didnt split the Beatles because how couldone woman? The Beatles were drifting apart on their own. Business disagreements had much to do with the split, which led to an awkward legal suit filed by Paul dissolving the groups business partnership. And McCartney himself has said there were ill feelings on all sides. In the May 14, 1970 issue of Rolling Stone, John Lennon lashed out. He ((McCartney)) cant have his own way, so hes causing chaos, John said. I put out four albums last year, and I didnt say a f***ing word about quitting. All of the Beatles had begun working on their solo careers before the official split. McCartney went on to form the wildly successful band "Wings;" Lennon moved to New York City with Yoko, had a son, and recorded his one collaboration with his wife, "Double Fantasy;" Harrison also made recordings as did Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. In December 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment. He was 40 years old. Lung cancer killed 58-year-old Harrison in 2001. A Canadian man accused in a massive hack of Yahoo emails has alleged ties to Russian agents and access to significant amounts of cash, making him a serious flight risk if freed on bail, a prosecutor said Tuesday. Karim Baratov, 22, was arrested last month and faces extradition to the U.S. He was indicted in the United States for computer hacking along with three other people, including two alleged Russian intelligence agents. Officials have said Baratov has the money to leave Canada and the ability to destroy evidence while on the run. "The evidence of Mr. Baratov's connections to Russian officials exponentially elevate the flight risk in this case, Prosecutor Heather Graham said. Graham noted Baratov owned a number of luxury cars and flaunted his lifestyle on social media. She also said he has webmail and PayPal accounts with "large unknown sums of money" accessible anywhere. Graham said police seized about $22,000 ($30,000 Canadian) cash from his home and another $670 ($900 Canadian) from his wallet when he was arrested. She also said there is evidence Baratov may have been trafficking in identity information. And there are allegations he continued hacking while on vacation in Jamaica. Graham also noted Baratov faces up to 20 years in a U.S. prison. Baratov's parents have agreed to act as their son's sureties. The young man's attorney Deepak Paradkar said Tuesday that Baratov will never be alone because his father, Akhmet Tokbergenov, works at home. The father has agreed to turn off the internet in the family home if the court requests. The breach at Yahoo affected at least a half billion user accounts, but Paradkar said Baratov is only accused of hacking 80 accounts. In a scheme that prosecutors say blended intelligence gathering with old-fashioned financial greed, the four men targeted the email accounts of Russian and U.S. government officials, Russian journalists and employees of financial services and other private businesses, American officials said. In some cases using a technique known as "spear-phishing" to dupe Yahoo users into thinking they were receiving legitimate emails, the hackers broke into at least 500 million accounts in search of personal information and financial data such as gift card and credit card numbers, prosecutors said. The case, announced amid continued U.S. intelligence agency skepticism of their Russian counterparts, comes as American authorities investigate Russian interference through hacking in the 2016 presidential election. Officials said those investigations are separate. Justice Alan Whitten has said he'll reach a bail decision Tuesday. Chinas detention of a Taiwanese political activist on suspicion of endangering national security is causing a new rift in already strained relations between Taipei and Beijing. China has held Lee Ming-che for 23 days, saying he is suspected of endangering state security. On Monday, his wife found out that China had revoked her travel permit,shortly before taking a flight to Beijing, where she planned to pursue information on Lees detention. The case is straining government-to-government relations already hobbled by a 70-year-old sovereignty dispute and a freeze in formal dialogue over the past year, Taiwan officials and scholars say. We urge the mainland Chinese side to look at this issue correctly and respond immediately including with a speedy disclosure of the real reasons and location of detention as well as let family visit as soon as possible to avoid complicating matters and even causing impacts that neither side wants to see, Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement Monday. The extent of any impact on relations hinges on how long China holds Lee, a 42-year-old philosophy scholar and former worker with Taiwans ruling party, and what they eventually charge him with, scholars in Taiwan say. Its already been a few days, so many days, and theres still no clear word [on the Lee case], said Huang Kwei-bo, associate diplomacy professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. Taiwanese society, from the point of view of Taiwans rule of law, everyone will find this to be very strange. The two sides have been separately ruled since Chiang Kai-sheks Nationalists lost the Chinese civil war of the 1940s and fled to Taiwan. China still claims sovereignty over Taiwan, but government polls in Taiwan show most people prefer their autonomy. Impact on Chinese relations Whether Lees case dents broader China-Taiwan relations depends on whether Beijing offers more information and how long that takes, said Lee Li-chen, deputy secretary general of the Straits Exchange Foundation, an agency in Taipei that handles consular-style matters with China. The public hopes that safety can be guaranteed in China. If someone like Lee can be held for investigation, then they hope they can quickly know for what reason he has been locked up and where hes locked up as well as hoping family can visit, she said. So in terms of the development of cross-Strait [China-Taiwan] relations, were still observing how the mainland China side handles follow-up to the Lee Ming-che case," Lee Li-chen said. Between one and three million Taiwanese live in China, with many of them there to run factories. Under current Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, the two sides have not agreed on how to regard each other politically, stopping dialogue since she took office in May. China has passed its aircraft carrier around the island 160 kilometers away, persuaded a diplomatic ally to cut ties with Taiwan and scaled back tourism to express its disapproval, analysts in Taipei believe. Lee Ming-che disappeared March 19 after a flight from Taipei to the Chinese territory of Macau and before crossing a land border into mainland China where a friend was waiting, colleagues in Taipei say. They say he was on his way to Guangzhou to see friends and get Chinese medicine for his mother in-law. Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said on March 29 that Lee was being questioned on suspicion he took part in activities that endangered state security. Lee had visited China once a year over the past decade, sometimes to help Chinese lawyers in human rights cases, a fellow human rights worker in Taipei said. Police in China have targeted 248 Chinese human rights lawyers and activists in a crackdown since July 2015, London-based advocacy group Amnesty International says. He had also used social media to reach about 100 people in China for discussions about democracy and human rights in Taiwan, said Cheng Hsiu-chuan, president of Lees Taipei employer, Wenshan Community College. Some Taiwanese believe China is detaining the activist to answer Taiwans arrest in early March of a mainland Chinese business administration student who was suspected of spying. Others find no cause to get upset so far, said Nathan Liu, international affairs and diplomacy professor at Ming Chuan University in Taiwan. I dont see too much sympathetic reaction for this case, Liu said. We dont really know what happened and nothing like he got tortured or some unjust call. Taiwanese people may feel confused by the case. They consider democracy to be normal and see Chinas legal treatment of pro-democracy activism in the Communist country as a grey area, Huang said. In Taiwan, Lee worked as a college program manager and volunteered for a league of Taiwan human rights groups gathering information on international laws to make sure Taiwan was complying. Police in China's southwestern Sichuan province have carried out an autopsy to finalize its investigation into the mysterious death of a middle school student, ruling out the possibility of homicide or campus violence. But some observers and residents remain skeptical, questioning the investigations credibility after authorities there had once attempted to hush the incident up and put the boys family under surveillance. Liao Yaozhong, a lawyer from Hunan province, called the police autopsy into question. The ensuing investigation was done in a closed environment, which is hardly convincing, Liao told VOA over the phone. Now that this has become the focus of public attention, it should have had been investigated in an open way in order to ensure credibility with the presence of independent forensic pathologists or lawyers of the familys own choice, he added. Last week, Liao was in talks with the boys father, Zhao Tingxue, via WeChat about legal representation, who, however, told the lawyer that his family was under heavy pressure from local officials. Since then, Liao said he has never heard back from senior Zhao. On April 1, the body of Zhaos 14-year-old son, Zhao Xin, was found outside his dormitory at Taifu Middle School in Luzhou with bruises all over his body and broken limbs. Family members suspect that Zhao was beaten to death, but authorities ruled out homicide on the same day. Detailed investigation report After days of large protests and a public outcry online, the police released a more detailed report on Friday after an autopsy was performed with the familys consent. Authorities maintained that junior Zhao had died from falling off the dormitory building, according to the report posted to the police Weibo account. Its findings showed the boy climbed out of the window of his room on the fifth floor as one of his slipper prints was found on the stand near the windowsill and another on the overhang of the buildings third floor as well as finger prints on the concrete wall before he landed on the ground An autopsy further found that the boy suffered serious internal bleeding from the fall, which the police said explains the bruises on his back and broken limbs. But no open wounds were found that would have suggested he had been beaten before his death, the report added. The police also interviewed more than 150 people, including his teachers, roommates and the dorm supervisor. The school insisted the dormitory building remains locked every night after 10 pm and there was no sign of break-in the night Zhao died. Also, with thin walls and room doors that cant be locked, any fighting would have had been easily discovered by others, yet no one in the dorm reported any noise that night. But Zhao, who had a fever, did dream about being beaten up by fellow students at around 11 pm, when his nightmare caused a brief stir in the dormitory, the report said. One of Zhaos roommates told the police that he was next woken up at 1 am by Zhao, who asked for his company to go to the bathroom. But he was too slow to get up and went back to sleep after hearing Zhao had come out of the bathroom. The dorm supervisor also reiterated that Zhao remained awake in bed at around 2 am when she checked on his fever again. The police further clarified what it called a series of groundless rumors, which have been circulating online. Skepticism remains In spite of the polices full account of how the boy died, some of the 66,000 netizens, who have read the report, remain unconvinced. One Weibo user said the police needed to provide more solid evidence to prove the boy jumped off the building himself, as pictures provided by the police are vague and indirect. Another urged the police to release relevant video clips as there appeared to be surveillance cameras installed on the campus. Some residents whom VOA spoke to either claimed no knowledge of the report or said that they took the polices report skeptically. I feel it fails to clear many doubts. But anyway, [the boys body] has now been cremated, Mr. Wang told VOA, adding that I can only say that I half-believe, half-doubt. Many of our neighbors still find it hard to believe. Other residents also lamented that justice will never prevail. We will be arrested or charged with rumor mongering if we continue to argue that the boy was beaten to death, a local resident told the New Tang Dynasty TV anonymously. Authorities appear to have put in place stability-maintenance measures, including heavy censorship of online comments, or a clampdown on what it called rumor mongering. It appears that the incident may now be put to rest. But we remain resentful inside. This is the third boy, who had suffered [a similar incident]. Deep down, we know that the boy was beaten to death. But theres nothing we can do, she said. The resident believed that Zhao was bullied in school and that failing to pay protection fees was his cause of death. The police, nevertheless, provided no clue as to what pushed the boy to commit suicide, as it claimed, although its report did mention testimony by one of Zhaos classmates, who said the boy expressed deep frustration with his fathers reprimand over earlier misconduct at school. The boys parents have remained unavailable for comment after they were allowed to see their sons body and engaged in talks with local authorities. Brian Kopczynski contributed to this report. Rights group Amnesty International says China remains the world leader in executing people, while in other nations executions dropped by more than one-third in 2016. Amnesty, which opposes the death penalty in all cases, listed China, Belarus and Vietnam as governments that shield execution data, saying the figures are a state secret. But Amnesty researcher William Nee told VOA the group has used media reports, government documents and conversations with people in China to form an assessment of the situation. "There were fairly credible professors within the Chinese system who also said that over the last 10 years in which China has been trying to make reforms to its death penalty system, that it's gone from a five-digit figure, meaning above 10,000, to now a four-digit figure, in the thousands. And so we think that's probably the right ballpark," Nee said. He added that Amnesty is calling on China to "come clean" and show the world how many people it is executing and sentencing to death each year. Amnesty's data for 2016 included executions from 23 countries other than China. Iran, Saudi Arabia Iran ranked second on the list with at least 567 executions in 2016. Saudi Arabia was third with 154, followed by Iraq with 88 and Pakistan with 87. While the worldwide total fell to 1,032, Amnesty said that was still above the average during the past 10 years. Crimes punished by death included drug offenses, spying, kidnapping, rape, blasphemy, treason and espionage. The methods of execution Amnesty noted were beheading, hanging, lethal injection and shooting. The United States had 20 recorded executions, its lowest since 1991. Last year was also the first time in a decade that the U.S. has not been among the top five in terms of total executions. But Amnesty cautioned that the drop in the U.S. can partly be attributed to legal challenges over the way lethal injections are carried out, and that when those cases are resolved there could be a jump in the number of people put to death. "The debate is clearly shifting," said Amnesty Secretary General Salil Shetty. "Politicians should steer clear of the ugly 'tough on crime' rhetoric that helped drive a spike in executions in the 1980s and 1990s. The death penalty is not going to make anyone safer." Amnesty cited as positive gains in 2016 moves by Benin and Nauru to abolish the death penalty in all cases. The Senate's top Democrat said Tuesday that President Donald Trump's refusal to release his tax returns is going to make this year's promised overhaul of the tax code "much harder.'' Sen. Chuck Schumer says Trump is opening himself to second guessing about his motives for supporting different policies and that the average American will think he's making changes because "it's good for him.'' Schumer, D-N.Y., said voters are "going to say, 'Oh, he's not doing that because it's good for me, he's doing it because it's good for him.' So for his own good, he ought to make them public. And the big mystery is why he hasn't.'' Trump, a billionaire real estate magnate, is the first presidential candidate in decades who has refused to release his tax returns. Critics say Trump's lack of transparency means the public doesn't have enough information to determine whether his moves as president could represent a conflict of interest. "I think he just has an obligation to come clean. When you clean up the swamp, it's not keeping things secret and it applies to yourself,'' Schumer said. White House Press secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that Trump's financial disclosures are more revealing than his tax returns and that middle class people are more concerned with their own tax bills than with seeing Trump's taxes. Trump has promised to cut taxes for middle income workers. His administration is grappling with how to handle the tax issue in the wake of last month's failure to deliver on promises to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's health care law. President Donald Trump says he gave his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping an ultimatum in their meeting last week: Solve the North Korea crisis and you'll get a good trade deal. Trump tweeted Tuesday, "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" In a second tweet he wrote, "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A." The president made clear his hope that China will pressure its neighbor and close ally to stop its nuclear program. He has also repeatedly hammered China for exporting more goods to the U.S. than it imports. President Donald Trump gave his official approval Tuesday for Montenegro to join NATO, marking another step forward in the tiny Balkan country's quest for NATO acceptance. The White House says Trump looks forward to meeting with Montenegro and other NATO leaders next month in Brussels to welcome the 29th member of the alliance. The White House statement said Montenegro's accession will signal other countries seeking to join NATO that "the door to membership in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations remains open and that countries in the Western Balkans are free to choose their own future." The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly last month to support Montenegro's NATO bid. Trump is scheduled to meet Wednesday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House. As recently as January, Trump called NATO "obsolete" because it had not defended against terrorist attacks. He also complained other NATO countries are not paying their fair share for defense. "A lot of these countries are not paying what they are supposed to be paying, which I think is very unfair to the United States," Trump told The Times of London. "With that being said, NATO is very important to me. There are five countries that are paying what they are supposed to. Five. It is not much." Russia has described Montenegro's NATO membership as a "provocation" due to the country's geographical proximity to Russia. The Kremlin has long seen the Balkans as inside its "sphere of influence." The fraudulent account scandal at Wells Fargo has been making U.S. national headlines for months, with no end in sight. If you haven't kept up with the story since the beginning, it's worth backing up to get a fuller context for what has happened, and what is still to come. How did this all start? For years, Wells Fargo has been known in banking circles as a having an extremely aggressive sales culture. For years, the bank's management would say it doesn't have branches; it has stores. And up until this year, Wells Fargo management highlighted its so-called cross-sell ratio, which is the number of accounts or other services a Wells Fargo customer typically had at the bank. Wells was aiming for as many as eight financial products per household. In context, most big banks aim to have two to three per customer. Early problems with Wells Fargo's sales-focused culture date back to at least 2002, according to the board of directors' report released Monday, much earlier than had been previously reported. The board found a branch in Colorado was issuing debit cards to customers without their consent, and branch management encouraged the behavior. While the investigation found that Wells fired several employees at that branch, the sales problems did not stop, largely due to the intense sales pressure upper management placed on branch managers and employees to make their numbers each day. How bad was it? Since at least 2011, according to authorities, Wells Fargo employees opened as many as 2 million unauthorized checking and credit card accounts in nearly every state it does business. But most of the bad behavior happened in Sunbelt states like California, Arizona and Florida. Employees also created fake email addresses for customers to sign them up for online banking, even if they did not want nor need it. How did management react? For a lack of a better description, management appeared to not care that employees were opening duplicate accounts or issuing products to customers that they did not want, as long as employees were making their numbers. Pam Conboy, who was the regional president for Wells Fargo's Arizona business, actually encouraged duplicate accounts and that Carrie Tolstedt, the head of Wells Fargo's entire consumer banking business, held Conboy as a model of success in the company. As the problems with Wells' sales culture ballooned, management still remained callous to the problems or even actively worked to hide it. The board did not know Wells had fired 5,300 employees for unethical sales practices until it came out in news reports. In a statement, Tolstedt lawyers said they disagreed with the board's conclusions that she was heavily responsible for the sales culture problems at Wells. When did this story become national news? An investigation by The Los Angeles Times in 2013 found that employees had been opening up multiple accounts for customers in order to make their sales goals. That investigation eventually led to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office to file a lawsuit against Wells for its sales practices, which in turn caught the attention of federal authorities, most notably the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The CFPB and OCC, as well as the LA Attorney's Office, fined Wells Fargo $185 million and found the problems reported by the LA Times were actually a nationwide issue for Wells Fargo. The news became an unmitigated crisis for Wells in the next few weeks. Then-CEO John Stumpf was dragged in front of both the Senate and House of Representatives to testify, where politicians on both sides of the aisle called for criminal charges to be brought against the bank and its executives. Stumpf stepped down in late October. What has Wells done since the scandal broke? Wells has gotten rid of sales goals and redid how it pays its employees to focus less on opening checking accounts and more on how those bank accounts are actually used. The board of directors has clawed back more than $180 million in pay and bonuses to former CEO John Stumpf, Tolstedt, current CEO Tim Sloan and others. The bank has also been calling its tens of millions of customers to ask whether they authorized the creation of those accounts. It has been refunding fees that would have been paid on those accounts and, lastly, it is working to fix the credit scores of any customers who may have had a credit card opened in their name without authorization. Oh, and the bank stopped referring to its branches as stores. What comes next? Wells Fargo has several outstanding investigations pending, including Congressional investigations, lawsuits by states and consumer groups, as wells as possibly the Department of Justice. There is a chance that the Justice Department could bring federal charges against Wells, but that is still not clear. The Comptroller of the Currency's Office is currently investigating the sales cultures at each of the large banks, with that investigation expected to last at least through the summer. The OCC's goal is to see whether the problems at Wells were isolated. A huge blaze ravaged a migrant camp in northern France on Monday, destroying wooden shelters and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of migrants, hours after a clash involving up to 150 migrants, the prefecture of the region said. Riot police moved into the camp outside the port city of Dunkirk to break up a clash that one migrant said pitted Afghans against Kurds. Five people were injured in the fight among 100 to 150 migrants, three of them hospitalized with knife wounds, the prefecture said. Officials linked the fight with the fire that broke out hours later but stressed that an investigation is needed to determine the fire's cause. Police refused all comment on the clash and the fire. No injuries were immediately reported because of the blaze. Documents lost in fire Firefighters worked to contain the flames lapping the night sky and devouring the fragile shelters of migrants who were evacuated bit by bit to local gymnasiums. The prefect, or highest state official in the region, rushed to the scene. I lost all my documents, said an Iraqi migrant who identified himself only as Albidani, standing outside the camp. I just have only this paper that says I'm a refugee in France. He said Kurds and Afghans had clashed before the fire erupted. We don't know exactly for what they fight but just look at what happened today, he said, speaking English. We are refugees here in France. We don't have any place... We don't know what to do. We lost everything, Albidani said. Up to 1,500 migrants were living in the over-populated camp, the prefecture estimated, Clashes, fires have occurred before The camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe was set up a year ago by Doctors Without Borders. The neat rows of wooden shelters replaced a squalid makeshift tent camp nearby rife with traffickers preying on migrants. Humanitarian groups said the original camp was filthier and more dangerous than a huge makeshift camp in Calais, about 30 kilometers to the west, that was dismantled by the state in October. The population of the new Dunkirk camp swelled after the camp in Calais was torn down. Clashes, as well as small fires, have occurred in the past in the La Liniere camp. French officials decided last month that the camp population must be reduced to 700 and security increased to keep out traffickers. Authorities said the camp must be dismantled bit by bit with migrants housed in special centers, like the thousands of migrants evacuated from the Calais camp. At least nine people were killed Tuesday in a gun battle between Philippine forces and suspected Abu Sayyaf militants on a central resort island, far from the extremists' southern jungle bases and in a region where the U.S. government has warned that the gunmen may be plotting kidnappings, officials said. Military officials said at least five gunmen, three soldiers and a policeman had died in the ongoing gun battle in a village in the coastal town of Inabanga in Bohol province. The island province is known for its beach resorts and wildlife and lies near Cebu province, a bustling commercial and tourism hub. Sporadic firefights continued by nightfall in Inabanga's Napo village and two outlying villages, where residents have fled to safety. Commando troops flew to Bohol to reinforce government forces, officials said. National police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said troops and policemen attacked the gunmen early Tuesday in Inabanga, where the gunmen had arrived aboard three boats. The gunmen took cover in three houses as the firefight broke out. Government forces seized control of two of the houses, and the rest of the gunmen either were in the third house or had fled the area, dela Rosa told reporters. If it is proven that the gunmen were from the Abu Sayyaf, it may be the group's first known attempt to carry out ransom kidnappings deep in the heartland of the central Philippines, far from its jungle lairs in the southern provinces of Sulu and Basilan. Bohol island, where one of the world's smallest primates, called tarsiers, are found, drawing many tourists, lies about 640 kilometers (397 miles) southeast of Manila. Bohol is about an hour away by boat from Cebu province, across the busy Cebu Strait, which is crisscrossed daily by ferries, cargo ships and fishing vessels. Abu Sayyaf militants have crossed the sea border with Malaysia on powerful speedboats and kidnapped scores of foreign tourists in past years. In 2001, they sailed as far as western Palawan province, where they seized 20 people, including three Americans, from a resort. If we were not able to monitor this and engage them with our government forces, it's a cause for alarm if they were able to carry out kidnappings, dela Rosa said. Military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano told The Associated Press that military intelligence operatives had been trying to track down the movements of the suspected militants, who first traveled from Sulu to southern Zamboanga peninsula. Intelligence later indicated the gunmen landed ashore in Inabanga, prompting military and police officials to deploy their forces, he said. The gunmen traveled on board motor boats along a river to Inabanga's Napo village, where government forces assaulted them, military spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said, adding that troops recovered four rifles and a homemade bomb from the slain gunmen. The U.S. Embassy in Manila recently advised Americans to take precautions amid unsubstantiated yet credible information of possible kidnappings by terrorists in Bohol, nearby Cebu province and other central areas. The United States and the Philippines have separately blacklisted the Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organization for bombings, kidnappings for ransom and beheadings. Some Abu Sayyaf commanders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered troops to destroy the extremists in Sulu and in outlying island provinces, and has threatened to declare martial law in the country's south if the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf and other extremist groups aligned with the Islamic State group gets out of control. Although the Abu Sayyaf militants have been weakened by years of battle setbacks, they came back to international attention when they separately beheaded two Canadians last year and a German hostage earlier this year after ransom deadlines lapsed. The militants are still holding at least 29 captives in Sulu's jungles, many of them foreign tugboat and cargo ship crewmen seized at the sea border between the southern Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. The arrest of an ex-governor of the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas caps a five-year, seemingly desultory search for the ruling-party politician accused of organized crime and money laundering. It may have been one of the least serious searches in history. Analysts say the government was loath to arrest one of its own, a man who both reflected badly on the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, and who may have held sensitive information on other corrupt officials. U.S. prosecutors have publicly alleged since 2012 that Tomas Yarrington accepted millions of dollars in drug cartel bribes and invested it in Texas real estate. But Mexico didn't offer a reward for his capture until last November. The current Tamaulipas governor, Francisco Garcia Cabeza de Vaca, said that Yarrington who left office in 2005, and has faced charges since 2012 still had a government-provided bodyguard assigned to him until late last year. The farcical nature of a policeman assigned to guard him while he was on the lam ended only because Garcia Cabeza de Vaca won the 2016 elections and belongs to the opposition National Action Party, or PAN, the party said in a statement Monday. Detained in Italy Yarrington's long-cold trail finally led to Italy, where he was detained Sunday in Florence. Alberto Elias Beltran, the chief Mexican prosecutor in charge of extraditions, said Yarrington was found carrying false documents suggesting he was living under a fake name. Elias Beltran said both Mexican and U.S. prosecutors had provided intelligence information that lead to the arrest and that both Mexico and the U.S. have requested Yarrington be extradited. Italy will decide which country he is sent to. In a statement, the PRI praised the arrest, but acknowledged it had taken the party four years to expel him after the allegations first surfaced. Yarrington is the first of a triumvirate of PRI fugitive governors accused of corruption to be arrested. The other two are Cesar Duarte and Javier Duarte no relation the ex-governors of Chihuahua and Veracruz states, respectively. Both supposedly have international detention notices, but despite being very well-known and recognizable figures, no trace of them has been seen since they left office last year. Phone trace key to arrest But few well-known politicians have been on the lam as long as Yarrington, who allegedly took bribes from the Gulf and Zetas cartels to allow them to operate in his state. In the ensuing years, the gangs essentially took over Tamaulipas, killing thousands of people, instituting a reign of terror of widespread kidnapping and extortion. The state was left littered with mass graves and burned-out homes. Raul Benitez, a security expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said the key to catching Yarrington came when authorities traced phone calls he made to his family in Mexico. But Benitez also thinks politics came into play, and perhaps Yarrington's disastrous dealings with drug gangs. The government had protected a lot of PRI governors, and now has to go after some of the corrupt ones, Benitez said. The mixture of corruption and drug trafficking is explosive, and it was very hard for the government to stand by. Two governors still on run The chief prosecutor of another PRI-governed state, Nayarit was arrested in the United States on drug charges last month. But it doesn't necessarily mean that the other two fugitive governors will be caught soon. Both are accused of embezzlement and other crimes. Edgardo Buscaglia, an international organized crime expert and consultant, noted that governors of Mexico's 31 states have traditionally enjoyed a sort of de-facto immunity because they are major sources of illegal financing for their party's campaigns. They traditionally take money from state coffers, bribes from legitimate businesses and cash from drug gangs, and use it to ensure the election of a successor who won't investigate them. With few checks and balances in place, the governors face little accountability. The governors are the main architects of this mafia-style financing for electoral campaigns said Buscaglia. When they become public embarrassments, like Duarte and Yarrington, the prosecutors will act under international pressure, but they have a lot of information that could bring down half of the ruling class. He suggested that their long periods on the lam allow the ex-governors to negotiate exactly how much prison time they will face and how much of their illegal fortunes will be seized. They are negotiating their apprehension, their fortunes. That is why, miraculously, the ex-governors can't be found. Google said it's "taken aback" by the government's claim that it doesn't compensate women fairly. The company said it conducts "rigorous analyses" that its pay practices are gender-blind and found "no gender pay gap" in 52 major job categories it analyzed last year. Google added that analysts who calculate suggested pay don't have access to employees' gender data. Google also said that beyond gender pay equity, the company recently expanded the analysis to cover race in the U.S., as well. The U.S. Department of Labor had accused Google of shortchanging women doing similar work to men, saying it found "systemic compensation disparities" across the company's workforce. Google responded in a blog post Tuesday that the department's assertion "came without any supporting data or methodology." The company said it had already produced hundreds of thousands of documents in response to 18 separate requests, and the government is seeking thousands more, including contact details of employees. The department had no comment, saying the case is ongoing. The difference between Google's and the Labor Department's claims might come down to how each side defines pay discrimination, Tim Worstall, a fellow at the Adam Smith Institute in London, wrote in a recent post for Forbes. "Google is using a strict definition of 'same job' to find no gender pay gap. The Department of Labor is using a looser definition of 'similar job' to find that there is one," he wrote. "Who you think is right here is entirely up to you, but that's where the disagreement is." Guatemalan police arrested one of the top leaders of the Salvadoran criminal gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) on Tuesday and confiscated arms and vehicles, a police spokesman said. Mara Salvatrucha and rival gang Barrio 18 control entire neighborhoods in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Their feuds, extortion rackets and fights with security forces make the three countries among the world's deadliest nations outside a war zone in terms of murder rates. Hundreds of thousands of people flee the gang violence every year, migrating to the United States and Mexico, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Pedro Benjamin Rivas Zelaya, also known as Jose Isaias Flores De Paz, was on El Salvador's 10 most-wanted list after escaping a police raid in his home country, where he is accused of aggravated homicide and being a member of a terrorist organization. "Flores De Paz, alias 'Sniper,' was wanted internationally," said police spokesman Pablo Castillo. Rivas will be handed over to Salvadoran authorities, he said. Guatemalan police arrested at least six other people and seized rifles, pistols, grenades and stolen cars during the operation, he said. More than half of Iraqi families are at risk of going hungry, a U.N. agency said on Monday, warning of unprecedented levels of vulnerability faced by the population due to years of conflict. Most families in the country will no longer be able to feed themselves if basic food prices increase or fighting escalates, according to the World Food Program (WFP). They can't absorb any more shocks, said WFP spokeswoman Dina El-Kassaby. Conflict and instability have stifled food production in Iraq, according to the United Nations. Farmers face shortages of seeds and fertilizers and many have been forced to abandon their land or sell their animals. Numbers could increase A study by WFP and the Iraqi government found that 2.5 percent of the population, or more than 800,000 people, are going to bed hungry every night. There are concerns this figure could increase, as two thirds of internally displaced people and more than half of Iraqis living in their homes have barely enough to feed themselves, said El-Kassaby. Almost 75 percent of Iraqi children under the age of 15 are working to help their families put food on the table instead of going to school, WFP said. Anything that changes the status quo of those families that are on the verge of food insecurity would push them over the edge, El-Kassaby told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. Study based on survey of 20,000 families The study, which El-Kassaby said was the most comprehensive on food needs ever conducted in Iraq, was based on surveys of more than 20,000 families in urban and rural areas across the country. It was carried out before the launch of a U.S.-backed campaign to dislodge Islamic State from the northern city of Mosul and didn't capture the situation of those fleeing fighting there, WFP said. More than 300,000 people have fled Mosul since the start of the offensive began in October last year, according to the office of the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq. One issue that President Donald Trump's hard-line supporters care most about is immigration. While the president has signed three executive orders on the subject, he has said nothing about the so-called dreamers, undocumented young people who were brought to the U.S. as children and protected under the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program or DACA. The immigration restrictionists are not happy. DACA must be ended, wrote Ronald W. Mortenson last month for a Center for Immigration Studies blog. We fully expect them to do so, wrote Roy Beck of Numbers USA, announcing an end-DACA Twitter campaign in January. In Raleigh, North Carolina, William Gheen is taking protest a step further. President of his own political action committee, Americans for Legal Immigration, Gheen says he was an early endorser of the president. But if Trump does not end DACA in a matter of days, ALIPAC will withdraw its support. If he can't be trusted to keep his promises on immigration, he can't be trusted on anything, Gheen said. And that was the issue that put him over the top. While Trump promised unequivocally to undo DACA during his campaign, he later said as president that it was a very, very tough issue for him. Gheen is giving the president until April 15th to do away with DACA, not an arbitrary deadline since April 15th is the annual deadline for Americans to file their taxes. It makes the symbolic point that Gheen does not want any DACA recipients getting any benefits paid for by taxpayers. We want DACA illegal immigrants prevented from receiving jobs, government benefits, welfare, and any other taxpayer resource, and we want them deported when detected by law enforcement during their routine duties, he said. DACA recipients don't, in fact, receive taxpayer-funded benefits. They don't have access to means such as welfare benefits or anything like that, confirms Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration policy analyst for the Cato Institute. They, of course, have to pay taxes like they usually did before. Power of issue Gheen grew up in mountainous western North Carolina. In college, he was a Democrat, actively helping to register minority voters. But concerns about immigration turned him into an independent, and he has been fighting illegal immigration for the past 12 years. No one since (the) 50s and beyond has ever campaign(ed) on this, he told VOA. I saw the power of the issue. The ALIPAC website says the PAC has fewer than 20,000 members and Gheen's is the only name associated with it. But as the president of a registered federal PAC, he can solicit donations. Like many immigration hardliners, Gheen sees the DACA issue as one of fairness since DACA recipients are being singled out from other undocumented immigrants. We have a DACA amnesty that's in place. That's not backed by legislation, which means the voice of the American people has been completely override (sic) with the actual policies of the United States, he said. To Nowrasteh, DACA is not an amnesty program as it does not give recipients a path to permanent residency or a chance to get citizenship. It merely defers them from deportation, and it grants them work permits in the meantime, Nowrasteh told VOA. Since the program's implementation in 2012, at least 750,000 undocumented immigrants have been protected from deportation under DACA, signed by former President Barack Obama. A disproportionate number live in North Carolina. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shows almost 50,000 DACA recipients registered in the state. Out of the smoke When ALIPAC endorsed Trump, it broke a 10-year policy of not endorsing presidential candidates. Gheen says with admiration that Trump took "ownership" of the immigration issue. He came out and said some things about illegal immigrant crimes, and the press and everybody jumped on him and he came out of the smoke stronger every time they fight (sic) him. Gheen has been surprised, given his background as a Democrat and champion of minorities, to find himself jumped on over his current anti-immigration stance. He says defiantly he won't back down in the face of threats to his job and his life or because of being labeled a racist. As an American, I belong to the most racially inclusive and tolerant civilization that has ever existed in human history and that I deserve some credit for me and my family's part in that, he says. And even if I was a racist, this is the United States of America, you can think what you want to think. It's the dead children that still haunt Abu Ghassan, who was blinded for more than a month and paralyzed for weeks by a nerve gas attack four years ago in a Damascus suburb. He recovered; 37 members of his family were among the hundreds of dead. Last week, when another gas attack killed at least 87 people hundreds of miles to the north, the memories rushed back, hard. When he learned of it, he wept "like a child," the 50-year-old recalls in Ain Tarma, one of three towns hit by poison gas in 2013 in areas near Damascus collectively known as the Ghouta. Last week's attack in the northern town of Khan Sheikhoun was the first time Western countries say the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad again used the banned nerve gas sarin since the attack four years ago in the Ghouta. Damascus denies it was to blame for either attack, but the diplomatic effects of both were dramatic. Four years ago, the United States nearly bombed the Syrian government, only to pull back when Assad agreed to give up his chemical arsenal and submit to U.N. inspections. After last week's attack, President Donald Trump fired U.S. cruise missiles at Syrian government targets for the first time. Unending fear Survivors of the Ghouta attack four years ago never lost the fear they could be gassed again at any moment, said Amer Zaydan, a 28-year-old school director from another part of eastern Ghouta. The new strike hammered it home. "After the Khan Sheikhoun massacre, we've gone back to that first moment, as if we are the ones who went through it," he said. "The people here are terrified." Since last week's attack which like those four years ago came just before dawn when the wind is the calmest and poison gas most effective residents have activated a night watch, staying up to warn others in case of another attack. Zaydan recalls seeing hundreds of dead people before falling unconscious himself as he tried to help victims. He was blinded for days. "It was like the end of days. I don't know what happened to the child I was holding at the time," said Zaydan. Seven members of his family were killed. One of his cousins, presumed dead, was being prepared for burial when it was discovered he was still alive. "We have not forgotten this thing. It cannot be forgotten. When you see hundreds of people dying, it's a scene that cannot possibly be forgotten," he said. "You walk through a district, you remember that here an entire family died, or here an entire district died." Vinegar by his side Abu Ghassan in Ain Tarma also lives with the constant fear of another strike. He says he was saved only by his military training covering his face with a wet shirt when he first sensed the poison while none of the friends he was with survived. Since then, he has always kept cloth and vinegar at hand in case of another attack. Pieces of a rocket that bore the poison still litter the rubble-strewn floor of the apartment that it struck. Some parts were taken by U.N. inspectors, but the rest was kept in case it can one day be used in a war crimes tribunal, Abu Ghassan said. Residents have returned to live in most of the apartment block. Abu Ghassan remembers returning home to the sight of dead birds and chickens in the street by the house. Today, Syrian government forces are in a much stronger position than they were four years ago, and the opposition-held areas are even more vulnerable. The western Ghouta, where one of the strikes hit, is now under government control. The eastern Ghouta, where two towns were hit, has been effectively under siege for years and more vulnerable than ever, say doctors, who have never been able to replenish supplies of atropine, the medicine used to treat nerve gas patients. "After the massacre in Khan Sheikhoun, it's like the Ghouta is on high alert. We feel as though we are next," said Abu Ibrahim Baker, a surgeon who treated victims of the attack four years ago at two hospitals. "If God forbid a massacre happens like the 2013 one, there will be three or four times the deaths, because we no longer have as much atropine or capacities to resist at all." 'Lost hope in everything' Hammam Daoud, a doctor who was in western Ghouta during the 2013 attack, said he was immediately struck on seeing the images last week of bodies gone limp and patients foaming at the mouth. "The pictures we saw from Khan Sheikhoun were similar to what we saw. The pictures of the victims, the symptoms were almost identical," said Daoud, speaking from Turkey, where he moved a few months ago as part of a negotiated withdrawal that gave Assad's opponents safe passage out of the area. "It is hard to talk about, it was greater than anything you expect. Medically, the thoracic symptoms did not cease, no one was 100 percent better, and we were unable to treat them well, because we had no tools," he said in a phone interview. Seeing footage from Khan Sheikhoun, he said he felt "the same level of despair." "This despair will not leave us. The helplessness you feel because of these cases, it is unmatched," he said. "I lost hope in everything." India has warned Pakistan to consider the consequences on bilateral relations if a death sentence handed to a former naval officer by a Pakistani military court is carried out and said it will do whatever it takes to ensure justice for him. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke in the upper house of parliament Tuesday after lawmakers demanded justice for Kulbhusan Jadhav, an Indian national who has been found guilty of espionage and sabotage in Pakistan, but who New Delhi maintains is innocent. Calling the verdict against Jadhav indefensible, Swaraj said he had been sentenced on concocted charges. I repeat, on concocted charges. The Indian foreign minister also said, If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistans well known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. I would caution the Pakistani government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter, she said. The Pakistan government Tuesday defended the death sentences awarded to Jadhav, however, and dismissed assertions that if he is executed India will regard it as a premeditated murder. We have followed all the rules and regulations and laws of the land, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told the parliament while delivering a policy statement on the issue. Asif reiterated that the condemned Indian naval officer was operating a terrorism network in Pakistan at the behest of Indian state and anyone involved in such activities to destabilize the country will meet the same fate. The minister explained that Jadhave has 60 days to challenge the verdict in a appellate military court before filing mercy petitions to the army chief and president of Pakistan respectively. Both countries have given conflicting accounts of how the Indian national came into the custody of Pakistani authorities. India has maintained since Jadhavs arrest that he was kidnapped in Iran, where he was doing business and taken to Pakistan. Minister Swaraj said that since Islamabad repeatedly turned down consular access to him, the exact circumstances are unclear. Arrest, confession Islamabad has said Jadhav was arrested in March of last year in Pakistans restive Baluchistan province, alleging he had been tasked by Indias foreign intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing, to plan, coordinate and organize espionage-sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan. After Jadhavs arrest, Islamabad released a confessional video in which he was shown admitting his involvement in spying. India has questioned the alleged confession, saying it was extracted under duress. Calling him Indias son, Swaraj said New Delhi will bring him back at any cost. Premeditated murder She reiterated in parliament what India told the Pakistani high commissioner soon after the sentence was announced on Monday that if carried out, the sentence will be tantamount to an act of premeditated murder. The latest spat between the nuclear-armed neighbors has fueled tensions that have been running high since an attack by armed militants on an Indian army camp in September of last year. New Delhi also accuses Pakistani-based militant groups for a surge of violence in Indian Kashmir, which has witnessed violent protests. Indian officials told media that they have put on hold the release of a dozen Pakistani prisoners who were to be repatriated this week, apparently in retaliation for the death sentence handed down to Jadhav. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that young men from North Africa migrating to Libya or Europe in search of jobs increasingly are being caught up and auctioned off as cheap labor, in what has become a booming slave trade in Libya. Testimony from dozens of young men who have survived their ordeals presents a shocking and destructive picture of a slave trade operated by smugglers in Libya profiting from the misery of others. The IOM reports that many young men mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, and Senegal are targeted as potential victims when they arrive in Agadez, Niger, on their way to Libya. The IOM says they often pay traffickers several hundred dollars to be transported to Libya and once they arrive, they are handed over to smugglers for sale. In other cases, the IOM says, young men are kidnapped en route to their destination, held for ransom and then auctioned off to the highest bidder in Libya. IOM Chief of Mission for Libya Othman Belbeisi says the migrants are treated as commodities to be bought and sold on the slave market. If a migrant is being killed, sometimes it is considered normal and many of the migrants are buried without identification. We have many families who do not know where their family members are. All they know is they left the country toward Libya or Europe or somewhere, but across the route and along the route, they do not know what has happened because there is no clear identification of those people, and many of them die and they are buried without any real identification. Belbeisi tells VOA the slave trade has been going on for some time, and it has become a flourishing enterprise over the last year. For example, if you go to the market and you can pay between $200 and $500 to get a migrant that will work with you on your daily jobs or support your work. Many of them escape. Many of them are kept in bondage, and many of them are even imprisoned inside an area where they are forced to work on a daily basis, Belbeisi says. The IOM says that migrants often are abused, tortured, and discarded when they have outlived their value. It says women tend to be bought by private Libyan individuals, and then brought to homes where they are forced to be sex slaves. Iran's exiled crown prince wants a revolution. Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah to rule before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has seen his profile rise in recent months following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, who promises a harder line against the Shi'ite power. Pahlavi's calls for replacing clerical rule with a parliamentary monarchy, enshrining human rights and modernizing its state-run economy could prove palatable to both the West and Iran's Sunni Gulf neighbors, who remain suspicious of Iran's intentions amid its involvement in the wars in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. But the Mideast is replete with cautionary tales about Western governments putting their faith in exiles long estranged from their homelands. Whether Pahlavi can galvanize nostalgia for the age of the Peacock Throne remains unseen. "This regime is simply irreformable because the nature of it, its DNA, is such that it cannot," Pahlavi told The Associated Press. "People have given up with the idea of reform and they think there has to be fundamental change. Now, how this change can occur is the big question." Pahlavi left Iran at age 17 for military flight school in the U.S., just before his cancer-stricken father Mohammad Reza Pahlavi abandoned the throne for exile. The revolution followed, with the creation of the Islamic Republic, the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the sweeping away of the last vestiges of the American-backed monarchy. Yet the Pahlavis and the age of the monarchy have retained their mystique in Iran, even as the majority of its 80 million people weren't alive to experience it. Television period pieces have focused on their rule, including the recent state TV series The Enigma of the Shah, the most expensive series ever produced to air in the country. While incorporating romances or mobsters into the tales, all uniformly criticize the royal court. Alleged longing for past But Pahlavi, 56, insists young Iranians increasingly look toward Iran's past. He pointed to recent demonstrations at the tomb of the pre-Islamic King Cyrus the Great, which have been claimed by a variety of anti-government forces as a sign of unrest. Under his father's secular and pro-Western rule, Iran experienced a rapid modernization program financed by oil revenues. "If you look at the legacy that was left behind by both my father and my grandfather ... it contrasts with this archaic, sort of backward, religiously rooted radical system that has been extremely repressive," Pahlavi said. Since the U.S. election, Pahlavi has given a growing number of media interviews, including with Breitbart, the website once run by Trump's chief strategist, Steve Bannon. Pahlavi also has sent letters to the Trump administration. Gauging national sentiment toward restoring the monarchy in Iran is impossible, especially after the crackdown that followed the country's disputed 2009 election. Iranian state media routinely refer to the Pahlavi monarchy as "despotic," but there has been some reassessing of history in other quarters. A book published last year, The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Last Days of Imperial Iran, offered a revisionist view of the shah. While acknowledging the abuses of his feared SAVAK intelligence service and the corruption surrounding his rule, the book portrays him as a fatalist in an era of disappearing Mideast monarchies. "The regime has repressed discussion of the Pahlavis for so long that it has had the opposite effect of making young Iranians inside the country curious about what they don't know," said historian Andrew Scott Cooper, the book's author. "There's an interesting generational divide going on here to where young Iranians are saying to their parents and grandparents, the same people who marched against the shah and Pahlavis, 'Why did you get rid of that system and put this one in place?'" He added: "The family name still retains a lot of magic, more than ever today among Iranians. How that translates practically into support for Reza as a credible alternative leader, I just don't know." Key to revolution: No Western interference Asked how his envisioned peaceful revolution could play out in Iran, Pahlavi said it would need to begin with labor unions starting a nationwide strike. He said members of the hard-line Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary organization established to protect the clerical system, would be assured they wouldn't be "all hung and shot." Most importantly, he said Western governments need to keep their distance and not threaten military action. That's an exceedingly optimistic vision, especially considering the amount of power the Guard and other hard-liners wield in Iran's economy. It also largely ignores the concerns many in Iran have about Western meddling. Pahlavi's father took power following a 1953 coup engineered by Britain and the U.S. Pahlavi, who still resides in the U.S., said he hasn't had any "side occupation" since 1979, and has received financial support from his family and "many Iranians who have supported the cause." "My focus right now is on liberating Iran, and I will find any means that I can, without compromising the national interests and independence, with anyone who is willing to give us a hand, whether it is the U.S. or the Saudis or the Israelis or whomever it is," he said. Pahlavi said he had yet to meet with the Trump administration despite his letters. Another Iranian exile group, the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, previously paid a member of Trump's Cabinet $50,000 for giving a speech. However, the MEK's siding with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s and its killing of Americans before the revolution, which the group now denies, makes it an unsuitable partner, Pahlavi said. "It's pretty much a cult-type structure," he said. For now, Pahlavi said he looks forward to meeting with Trump and his administration. But he pins his hopes on Iran's sense of history, something Cooper also acknowledged. "For many Iranians, the revolution is unfinished business," the author said. The Islamic State group has steadily lost ground in Iraq and now controls less than seven percent of the country's land area, an Iraqi military spokesman said. Brigadier General Yahya Rasool says IS now controls less than a quarter of the land it held at its peak in the summer of 2014. At that time, the jihadist group controlled more than 40 percent of Iraq. Rasool said, "As of March 31, they only held 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory." The IS group seized Mosul in June 2014, before spreading its reach throughout the region, taking over large swaths of area in Iraq and Syria. Since then, the coalition forces have removed the IS militants from several towns and cities. Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, began a massive operation to retake Mosul in October 2016. In January the coalition was able to secure the east side of the city, which is divided by the Tigris River, and has been battling on the west side of Mosul since mid-February. The terrorist group still controls the towns of Qaim, Tal Afar and Hawija in Iraq, as well as Raqqa, in Syria, which serves as its de-facto capital. The lawyer for the main suspect in Friday's truck attack that killed four people in Sweden says the man "admits to a terrorist crime" and accepts he will be arrested. Johan Eriksson spoke Tuesday before a Stockholm court at hearing for 39-year-old Uzbek national Rakhmat Akilov. Authorities say Akilov drove a stolen truck into a crowd at the Ahlens department store in Stockholm. In addition to the four people killed, the attack also injured 15 others. Akilov was arrested early Saturday. He had been known to intelligence services since last year when he disappeared before he could be deported after his application for asylum was rejected. Authorities knew he had pro-extremist sympathies. Police say they have arrested a second person in connection with the attack, but have given no further information. Photos taken at the scene Friday showed the vehicle was a truck belonging to beer maker Spendrups, which said its truck had been hijacked earlier in the day. Witnesses say the truck drove straight into the entrance of the Ahlens Department Store on Drottninggatan, the city's biggest pedestrian street, sending shoppers screaming and running. Television footage showed smoke coming out of the store after the crash. Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced a new government on Tuesday stocked with loyalists seen as helping him prepare for a re-election bid next year. The government, announced in a presidential decree, includes 10 new ministers and 25 holdovers from the previous cabinet. Tieman Hubert Coulibaly, a former defense minister and close Keita ally, was handed the crucial post of minister of territorial administration, charged with organizing presidential and parliamentary elections late next year. The shake-up follows Keita's nomination at the weekend of Adboulaye Idrissa Maiga, another close ally and the defense minister in the previous government, as prime minister. Mali's government is struggling to contain militancy in its north, where rival tribal militias frequently clash and Islamist groups launch attacks on civilians, Malian soldiers, U.N. peacekeepers and French forces there. Islamist fighters, some linked to al-Qaida, seized northern Mali in 2012 before being driven out of major cities and towns by a French-led military intervention a year later. Tiena Coulibaly, ambassador to the United States, was named the new defense minister. A refugee camp in northern France burned down Monday night after a massive brawl involving more than 150 migrants broke out between rival groups of Kurds and Afghans, French authorities said. The fire destroyed most of the Grande-Synthe migrant camp near Dunkirk and the fighting left several people injured, according to the regional prefect, Michel Lalande. As many as 1,600 migrants were living in the camp at the time of the fire, many of whom lost all the meager possessions they had, Lalande said. Around 500 migrants were taken to nearby gymnasiums, but the rest are unaccounted for, Lalande and Damien Careme, mayor of Grande-Synthe, told reporters Tuesday. "There is nothing left but a heap of ashes," Lalande said. "It will be impossible to put the huts back where they were before." Grande-Synthe was set up last year by the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders and housed mostly Kurdish refugees. Its population swelled in October after the notorious Calais refugee camp, located about 25 miles away, was shuttered and destroyed. A large number of migrants arrived from Afghanistan recently, further increasing the camp population. Corenne Torre, head of the group's French operation, told the Associated Press that authorities are scrambling to find the unaccounted-for migrants. "We just don't know where they are," she said, adding that some could be hiding in fear of authorities or fear of rival gangs at the camp. Investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of the fire, though Lalande and Careme said authorities believe it was set intentionally as part of Monday night's brawl. Torre said 10 migrants went to the hospital with injuries sustained during the fire. At least six migrants were wounded during the brawl, three of whom suffered stab wounds. Another migrant was left in critical condition after being hit by a car outside the camp. Riot police intervened in the brawl, which led to further fighting between migrants and authorities. Migrants have gathered for decades along the coast in northern France, with hopes of reaching Britain. The Grande-Synthe camp has seen several violent incidents in recent months, with the most recent coming last week when migrants tried to block traffic and climb onto vehicles on a nearby highway. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is set to meet Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with a focus on Syria, Ukraine and U.S.-Russia relations. Tillerson arrived in Moscow with less ammunition than Washington and London had hoped he would have in his bid to convince Russia to abandon Syrian President Bashar al Assad. But he does have a tough ultimatum in hand, following reports quoting unidentified senior U.S. officials as saying that Russia had prior knowledge of the attack that killed scores of people including women and children. Watch: Tillerson Has Tough Talk for Russia's Role in Syria G7 ministers meeting Tuesday in the Italian city of Lucca failed to agree on targeted sanctions against the Russian and Syrian military, arguing that an investigation would first have to confirm who in Syria used chemical weapons against civilians in the country last week. We cannot let this happen again, Tillerson told reporters before flying to Moscow. We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role, he said. Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term. The chemical attack prompted a world outcry and a U.S. missile attack that marked a turning point in the Trump administration's approach to the seven-year-old conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May had agreed to press Russia to distance itself from Assad following the chemical attack by imposing targeted sanctions, but Germany and Italy, both leading G-7 nations, disagreed. Russian President Vladimir Putin must not be pushed into a corner, said Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said Tuesday. For his part, Putin called Tuesday for a U.N. probe of last week's attack. Without elaborating, he also said Russia has received intelligence about planned provocations using chemical weapons that would put the blame on the Syrian government. The G7 ministers' decision in Italy now means the prospect of sanctions is dim. The process of launching an investigation would be long and complex, requiring a U.N. resolution and an agreement by the Assad government for weapons inspectors to access sites in territory under Assad's control before establishing who was responsible and whether there was Russian complicity. As the ground rapidly shifted regarding the U.S. approach to Syria, Tillerson made it clear that Washington hopes Assad will not be part of Syria's future. He told the foreign ministers in Lucca U.S. missile strikes were necessary as a matter of U.S. national security, and indicated the Trump administration may not be done with Assad. We do not want the regime's uncontrolled stockpile of chemical weapons to fall into the hands of ISIS or other terrorist groups who could, and want, to attack the United States or our allies. Nor can we accept the normalization of the use of chemical weapons by other actors or countries in Syria or elsewhere, Tillerson said. North Korea's parliament convened Tuesday, with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, taking the center seat. The parliament meeting came amid heightened tensions on the peninsula, with the United States and South Korea conducting their biggest-ever military exercises and the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier heading to the area in a show of American strength. North Korea, for its part, has recently test-launched a long-range ballistic missile, and experts say it could be preparing for its sixth nuclear test. The Supreme People's Assembly, nominally the highest organ of government, usually meets once or twice a year. It consists of approximately 600 deputies from around the country who usually confirm new domestic policies, changes to the constitution, budget decisions, laws and official appointments. Economic, organizational matters Initial reports from state media said the meeting went through various domestic issues, with North Korean Premier Pak Pong Ju speaking about the latest five-year economic plan, which was announced last year. Another closely watched category on the official agenda was organizational issues, which can mean new appointments of officials to senior positions. According to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Pak told deputies that the country had "overfulfilled" its goals on virtually all fronts of the economy and marked successes in everything from increased coal production to the development of a "new type of tractor, truck and various high-performance farm implements." Pak said that the Cabinet this year was prioritizing improving the people's standard of living and noted, among other things, the need to solve the "acute shortage of electricity." Foreign media are not allowed to attend the meetings. Like other attendees, Kim was shown on the North Korean news late Tuesday, holding up his assembly membership card to vote on state business. Anniversary celebrations This year's meeting kicks off what are expected to be major celebrations, including a large-scale military parade and fireworks, to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's first leader and "eternal president," and Kim Jong Un's late grandfather. Though the details of the April 15 anniversary, known as the "Day of the Sun," have not been officially confirmed, Pyongyang residents have been out every day, diligently practicing in the city's squares and parks for their roles in the mass event. Pyongyang is always extremely sensitive to the annual U.S.-South Korea war games, which it sees as an invasion rehearsal, and has significantly turned up the volume of its rhetoric that war could be on the horizon if it sees any signs of aggression from south of the Demilitarized Zone. In the capital, however, there has been little sense of urgency, other than that required to get ready for the big events later this week. Though the North Korean parliament is often dismissed as a rubber stamp group because it tends to approve, rather than formulate, policies and laws, its role is a bit more complex than the facade and the spectacle presented to the nation by state-run media. Cross section of public For one thing, the regularity of its meetings is, in itself, a sign of stability. "The SPA gatherings completely undercut any analysis or prognostications that the country is going to collapse. If they failed to convene an SPA session, that would be an indication that there is a fundamental problem among DPRK elites," said Michael Madden, editor of the North Korea Leadership Watch website. North Korea's formal name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "If there was an existential problem with the [ruling] Workers' Party of Korea and the political culture, then they wouldn't be convening so many people at one time in Pyongyang," Madden said. He said the parliament's members are a cross-section of the country's population, and not necessarily a collection of the elites, adding that assembly deputies get an administrative assistant, or "technical secretary," and receive a stipend for their work. They are generally brought into the capital for a week of tours and visits to politically important sites that pay homage to the Kim family. Back home, Madden added, being an assembly member also has its own perks and "bragging rights." Pakistan executed two militants Tuesday who officials said were convicted of terrorism-related offenses by military courts. The deaths by hanging took place on a day when Amnesty International in a worldwide report noted Pakistan reduced the number of executions by 73 percent in 2016 compared to the year before. The men were active members of the anti-state Pakistani Taliban and were found guilty of staging deadly attacks on security forces, aid workers and polio vaccination teams, according to an army statement. The militants were executed at the high security prison in the central city of Sahiwal, it added. Even though the country carried out fewer executions last year, the number of recorded death sentences alarmingly rose to over 360 compared to 121 death sentences in 2015, noted the Amnesty report. With at least 87 executions carried out in 2016, however, Pakistan remained among the worlds top executioners, it said. Pakistan reinstated controversial military courts in March after a lapse of two months, ignoring opposition by local and international rights groups. While officials maintain the special tribunals are an effective deterrent against terrorism, rights defenders question transparency of the trials because of complete secrecy surrounding military courts as well as suspects tried by them. Separately, authorities said Tuesday that counterterrorism forces raided a militant hideout in the city of Multan in the early morning and captured seven militants linked to the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the outlawed Pakistani Taliban. A spokesman for the provincial counterterrorism department in Punjab said the raid also seized hand grenades, explosives, computers and weapons from the suspects' possession. Officials allege that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which the United States has also designated as a terrorist group, plots attacks against Pakistan from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. Professors were among the workers who turned up on Monday to clear away rubble and prepare for a resumption of classes at the renowned University of Mosul, wrecked by the militants of Islamic State. The Sunni Islamists looted the university after seizing Iraq's second largest city in 2014. They set faculties and a treasured library on fire during days of fighting with government forces who pushed them out of the campus in January. The sprawling campus has been mostly deserted since then as soldiers painstakingly removed booby traps planted by the group. But on Monday professors, administrative staff and cleaners joined hands to sweep away debris and assess the damage. We want to resume teaching soon. We want to do what is possible after all this destruction and war, said Atta Allah Fahad Mikhlef, a biology professor. He was collecting glass flasks which had survived a fire set by the militants in a laboratory, and loading them into boxes to take to classrooms. Waiting on electricity Officials have not given a date for the resumption of studies and there is still no power. But the scene is one of the signs of normality returning to eastern Mosul as displaced people return home and shops reopen. That contrasts with life in western Mosul, 700 meters from the university on the other bank of the Tigris. Artillery fire could be heard on Monday from the Old City, where Islamic State fighters are still holed up. Laboratory equipment has been destroyed and will be difficult to replace inside Iraq. Priceless books have been destroyed, Mikhlef said. But we have some materials left. Forbidden ideas The militants set the ground floor of his faculty on fire. In one room, they had poured tar over three chairs but appear to have perhaps been in too much of a hurry to torch them before leaving. Algebraic formulas written years ago, during one of the last teaching sessions, remained on a white board. Another room was full of biology books, still in their plastic wrappers, which had luckily survived the destruction despite containing such forbidden ideas as evolution. With the library gone another professor, Abdelaziz Safhan, had brought in a few books and materials downloaded from the internet. If we get electricity we can resume work, he said, standing in front of his empty old classroom. The chemistry ovens work fine. In an administrative building, cleaners threw charred furniture out of a first-floor window. Not all buildings safe Some buildings remain off limits as the army has yet to clear all booby traps. Others were destroyed in an air strike in 2016 against a suspected Islamic State chemical weapons laboratory. During the Islamic State occupation, Baghdad stopped money transfers to Mosul to prevent the group from seizing the funds. The government seems to have forgotten us. We haven't been paid for three years, Mikhlef said. But we want to work. The university is my home. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is heading to Moscow for talks Wednesday with Russian leaders amid a spike in tensions over attacks in Syria. Tillerson accused Moscow of complicity or incompetence in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians, while Russia called the U.S. response, a missile attack on a Syrian air base, an illegal act of aggression with negative consequences. Before his first visit to Russia as U.S. Secretary of State, Tillerson in Italy for G7 meetings attended a ceremony to mark a 1944 Nazi massacre of civilians. "We remember the events of Aug. 12, 1944. that occurred in Sant'Anna. And we rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," he said. Tillerson's pointed comment came just days after U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian air base allegedly used to launch gas attacks last Tuesday that killed up to 100 Syrian civilians. The top U.S. diplomat has accused Russia of failing to prevent the attack and is urging the Kremlin to rethink its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a call likely to be refused, say analysts. "But, right now, off the U.S. strike, it would be very difficult for Moscow to change its support for Assad. Because any change as ... any change can be perceived as something which is done under the U.S. pressure," said the Russian International Affairs Council's Andrei Kortunov. "The official Russian position is that it's for Syrians to decide who will be the boss there," said Victor Kremenyuk, of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of USA and Canada Studies. "Indeed, the business of the Syrian people [is] to elect their own leader, be it Assad or somebody else." 'Dangerous development' Damascus, and its Russian backers, deny any chemical weapons were used. Russia's Ministry of Defense claims the poison gas was being stored by Syrian rebels and released after the warehouse was bombed. Russia accused the U.S. of illegal aggression with the Friday missile strikes on Syria. Russia cut off Syrian air safety cooperation with the U.S., and a joint command center for Syrian operations run by Moscow, Tehran and Damascus threatened to respond to any further U.S. attacks. "That's quite possible that American or coalition aircrafts and missiles in Syria would be attacked by Russian and, probably, Syrian or Iranian anti-aircraft defense or fighter bombers," said Kremenyuk. "And that's, indeed, a very dangerous development." 'Mistrust on both sides' Despite tensions, and unlike his British counterparts, Tillerson's Moscow visit was not canceled a good sign, some say, for efforts to prevent a U.S.-Russia conflict. "But, I think it's clear that the starting position for these discussions are not that good," said Kortunov. "There is a lot of mistrust on both sides. And I'm sure that emotions will fly high at these meetings." The British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, canceled his April 10 trip to Moscow after the poison gas attack. Johnson and Tillerson met Monday in Italy ahead of the G7 summit. Even if little progress can be made on Syria, say analysts, Tillerson and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have much to talk about. "Syria is not the only issue here," Kremenyuk said. "[The] Korean peninsula, South China Sea, for instance, the so-called Islamic State, international terrorism, Ukraine, and so on." Tillerson's Moscow meetings, say analysts, could set the tone for U.S.-Russia relations. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed to crack down on unauthorized immigrants during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border at Nogales, Arizona, Tuesday. Using language that was at times blunt, the nation's top law enforcement official promised to use existing laws to step up criminal immigration enforcement. For those that continue to seek improper and illegal entry into this country, be forewarned: This is a new era. This is the Trump era," Sessions declared to an audience of Customs and Border Protection personnel. "The lawlessness, the abdication of duty to enforce our laws, and the catch and release policies of the past are over, Sessions added. Watch: AG Jeff Sessions Promises Hard-line Approach Sessions said he was issuing a memo mandating prosecutors to prioritize immigration enforcement on offenses that were not prosecuted in the past. His directives already exist under U.S. law, the order only mandates U.S. attorneys to make such enforcement a priority. And it won't be the first time U.S. officials have taken a hardline approach. These are definitely all laws on the books, but their use has been up and down a bit. The illegal entry and reentry is nothing new at all. Previous administrations have taken a very hard line on border prosecutions over the past several years, says Sirine Shebaya, a lawyer and immigrants rights activist. The American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) Policy Counsel on border and immigration issues, Chris Rickerd, says a mandate like the one Sessions issued Tuesday can conflict with the priorities in a federal district. Federal prosecutors are in the best position to know what their community needs, and while that may be to prioritize immigration-related crimes, it isn't necessarily, says Rickerd. "Each U.S. attorney has a finite quantity of resources that should be expended on the most important offenses," says Rickerd. Session's directive also included requiring federal prosecutors to take action against those who harbor or transport an undocumented immigrant. "We are going to shut down and jail those who have been profiting off this lawlessness people smuggling gang members across the border, helping convicted criminals re-enter this country and preying on those who dont know how dangerous the journey can be," Sessions specified. But the directive opens the door to wider interpretation. It could be a substantial change in practice, depending on how the harboring issue is handled by prosecutors moving forward. Harboring can be a good Samaritan or someone trying to provide basic human necessities to the migrants," Rickerd explains. Prioritizing immigration enforcement In addition, Sessions directed that undocumented immigrants be charged with committing document fraud and aggravated identity theft, the latter carrying a two-year minimum mandatory sentence, he said. Those detained at the border trying to cross into the U.S. will face civil action, and deportation is set to be the only punishment. Undocumented immigrants who illegally re-enter the country after prior removal will be referred for felony prosecution. Sessions added that each U.S. Attorneys Office will designate an Assistant United States Attorney as the Border Security Coordinator for their district. It will be this experienced prosecutors job to coordinate the criminal immigration enforcement response for their respective offices, he added. Sessions also said the Department of Justice will hire 50 new immigration judges this year and streamline the hiring process; that increase will come in addition to 26 judges appointed by former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who were sworn in since the beginning of the year. A notorious Somali pirate leader is missing following an attempt Saturday to hijack a cargo ship, maritime sources and villagers said. Abdikarim Salah "Aw Koombe" and two other pirates were last seen on board a Lebanese-registered cargo ship, OS 35 near Socotra Island, as they attempted to intimidate the crew and steer the vessel to the direction of the Somali coast, sources say. Two pirates who remained in the ship have escaped and reached land, sources told VOA's Somali service. The surviving pirates told residents in the Red Sea town of Alula that Aw Koombe and two other pirates who boarded the ship had been left behind. They believe Aw Koombe and the two other pirates were likely captured by the Chinese navy who rescued the crew of the ship Saturday. The Chinese navy was not available for comment, but internal information shared between international maritime forces off the coast of Somalia indicated that at least three pirates were arrested during the operation. Aw Koombe is a known, notorious, wanted pirate leader who authorities believe was involved in the hijacking of at least 10 ships over the course of several years. Meanwhile, Somali pirates are still holding nine Indian sailors who they moved to land after abandoning the boat Al Kausar following an operation by Somali regional security forces off the coast of Hobyo port town Monday night. The sailors, including the captain of the boat, are being held in a village called Qararrow. Two Russian servicemen were killed and a third wounded in a mortar attack in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Tuesday. "Russian professional servicemen who were in a unit of Syrian forces as instructors ... came under a mortar attack from a group of rebel fighters," the Defense Ministry said in a statement quoted by Interfax news agency. "As a result of a mortar explosion, two Russian servicemen died." A third officer was badly wounded. The soldiers were embedded with a Syrian army unit along with a Russian military adviser. The ministry did not specify when or where the attack took place. This incident brings the Russian death toll in Syria to 29, according to the ministry. Donald Trump last week ordered airstrikes to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a suspected chemical weapons attack. This week, Trump repositioned an aircraft carrier strike group to send a message to North Korea. The moves have many wondering: is Trump moving away from his "America First" foreign policy toward a more mainstream stance? U.S. President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that "North Korea is looking for trouble" with its nuclear weapons development program and implored China to help rein in Pyongyang. Trump, in a pair of comments on his Twitter account, said, "If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!" He did not elaborate on what actions the U.S. might take. Trump said that he told Chinese President Xi Jinping at last week's summit between the two leaders that a Beijing trade deal with Washington "will be far better" for China "if they solve the North Korean problem!" China is North Korea's main benefactor, with the Council on Foreign Relations describing Beijing as North Koreas "most important ally, biggest trading partner, and main source of food, arms, and energy." But China has also grown weary of North Korea's repeated missile tests in violation of United Nations sanctions and five nuclear tests. Some analysts believe North Korea is preparing a sixth nuclear test. Trump last weekend dispatched a U.S. Navy strike group to the northern Pacific waters near North Korea to send a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea said that the U.S. missile attack last week on Syria for its use of chemical weapons justifies its nuclear development program for fear of a U.S. attack. Trump also urged Xi to help close the yawning U.S. trade gap with China, with Chinese interests last year exporting $347 billion more in products to the U.S. than American businesses sent to China. The U.S. imports consumer electronics, clothing and machinery from China, while U.S. manufacturers send raw materials to China for low-cost assembly of some consumer products. Trump has suggested he will try to impose tariffs on goods made overseas by U.S. companies who then bring the products back to the U.S. for sale to American consumers. But he has not made any tariff proposal to Congress, which would have to approve a new levy, which in turn could initiate a trade war with foreign governments and also boost the price of consumer goods in the United States. The United States has sharply rejected Russian claims that the nerve gas sarin, the agent responsible for scores of deaths in Syria last week, was the inadvertent result of an airstrike on a rebel-held munitions depot. A U.S. report says it is clear the chemical-weapons assault was a deliberate attack on civilians. The National Security Council released a report at the White House Tuesday declaring that Syria's unacceptable use of outlawed chemical weapons is a clear threat to the world. It accused both Syria and Russia of attempting to confuse the world community about who is responsible for using chemical weapons against the Syrian people, both on this occasion and previously. The NSC called on the international community to speak out and make clear that this behavior will not be tolerated, although it did not specify possible consequences. Security Council prepares to vote At the United Nations, the United States, Britain and France look set to go ahead with a revised Security Council resolution on Wednesday even though such an effort is expected to be vetoes by Russia. At a White House briefing in Washington, U.S. national-security officials said Moscow, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in engaged in a very clear campaign to obfuscate the nature of the attack. They cited evidence, such as images of charred roadway showing that the gas shells dropped from the sky on April 4 landed in the middle of a street, not on a building, as Damascus and the Kremlin have claimed. The American officials said Syria has ignored its agreement in 2013 to dismantle its stockpiles of chemical weapons. We know the Syrian regime has sarin gas, one official said, speaking on background. We are confident the rebels (fighting Assad's government) don't have sarin. The clear-cut nature of this month's sarin attack should be seen as an opportunity for Russia to end its disinformation campaign about Syria's use of banned weapons. Separately, Turkey announced Tuesday that its test have confirmed the deadly nerve gas sarin was used in the attacks that killed about 90 people and sickened hundreds more. What of Russia's role in attack? Ankara's health minister said blood and urine samples were examined during autopsies on three victims of the gas attacks whose bodies were brought in from Syria's Idlib province. The World Health Organization and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the post-mortem examinations. Despite the growing agreement about Syria's tactics, there was no clarity on the question of whether, or to what extent, Russia colluded with Syria in carrying out the attack. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said U.S. intelligence officials have not been able to come up with a consensus on that issue. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a U.N. investigation of the chemical-weapons attack, which prompted U.S. naval forces to fire 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian air base believed to be the source of the sarin. President Donald Trump approved the missile attack last week. Putin contended the U.S. staged provocations to bolster its charges against Syria, although gave no details or evidence for his statement. The Kremlin leader also claimed Washington is planning a new missile launch against Syria, which supposedly would target an area south of the capital, Damascus, where they (the Americans) are planning to again plant some substance and accuse Syrian authorities of using chemical weapons. Tillerson-Putin meeting uncertain Putin's condemnation of the United States came as the American secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, arrived in Moscow Wednesday for talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Tillerson said he hopes Moscow will withdraw its support for Assad as a consequence of last week's chemical attack. We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people, Tillerson said. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role. Or Russia can maintain its alliance with Syria and Iran. There are no scheduled plans for Tillerson to meet with Putin, but Russian media outlets, citing unnamed sources, said such a meeting will occur. At the United Nations, Britain, France and the United States worked on a revised draft resolution condemning the chemical weapons attack. A similar attempt last week ended in acrimony between the three powers and Russia, and was followed by the U.S. missile strike on the Syrian air field. Wednesday UN vote seen A revised version of the proposed resolution has been circulated among council members, and diplomats said they expect a vote Wednesday afternoon. Our draft resolution seeks first of all to condemn the heinous attack on the 4th of April; second, to require full cooperation by all the parties with the investigations being run by the OPCW and the JIM (Joint Investigative Mechanism); and thirdly, to ensure that there is full accountability, British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters. He said they drafted the resolution with the intention of achieving consensus among the 15 council members. I find it very hard to understand how any member of the Security Council could vote against any part of that resolution, Rycroft said, but diplomats said a Russian veto is likely, even if China abstains. If Russia blocks the measure, it would be the eighth time it has used its council veto to protect Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the six-year-long civil war. Veto or not, an international investigation is already fully mandated under existing council resolutions, and could go ahead. The proposed resolution seeks to strengthen Syrian government cooperation with investigators. "No one should ever be treated this way," reads part of a new public statement issued Tuesday by United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, following Sunday's incident when a passenger was bloodied after being dragged off an overbooked United airliner at Chicagos OHare Airport. "I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight," the Munoz statement also says. The incident has gone viral through social media after being captured on other passengers' cell phones. Munoz added that the company will conduct a review of how the airline handles overbooking situations and how it interacts with airport authorities and law enforcement. He said the company will release the results of its review April 30. Munoz released two earlier statements staunchly supporting the crew, saying in a statement late Monday that United attendants "followed established procedures" when the passenger was forcibly removed. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump has seen what Spicer describes as the "troubling" video recorded on the United Airlines flight. Besides the global social media firestorm, the incident also has stirred up threats of a boycott. Spicer told reporters at a White House briefing Tuesday the incident was "unfortunate" but does "not necessarily need a federal response," adding there are "plenty" of law enforcement agencies available to conduct an investigation. Because the Chicago to Louisville flight was overbooked, the crew asked passengers to voluntarily take another flight in exchange for financial compensation. According to media reports, the airline needed to make room for four of its employees. No one volunteered, so the airline randomly selected four people, one of whom refused to leave - resulting in his forced removal by three men who were identified as Chicago aviation security officers. Video showing the man, who appeared to be of Chinese descent, being dragged from the plane and later returning with a bloodied face was widely circulated on social media, drawing angry reactions. One passenger, Audra Bridges, who posted video of the incident, said the passenger was very upset when he was chosen and explained he was a physician who needed to get home in order to see patients the next morning. Bridges said the man appeared disoriented when he ran back onto the aircraft moments later. Crew members eventually ordered everyone off the plane and did not let them return until the injured passenger was removed again on a stretcher. Bridges said the passengers were "shocked and appalled" at the incident, which prompted threats of a boycott as the busy summer travel season begins. The online backlash intensified when CEO Munoz used the euphemism "re-accommodate" in a Twitter posting Monday to describe the forcible removal of the passenger. Munoz. However, he also said the airline was reaching out to the passenger "to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation." In the letter to employees, Munoz said the passenger "raised his voice and refused to comply" when he was initially asked to leave, and became "more disruptive and belligerent" in response to subsequent requests. Crew members had "no choice" except to call Chicago Aviation Security officers to help remove the passenger, Munoz wrote. In a statement late Monday, the Chicago Department of Aviation said the incident was "not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officers are obviously not condoned by the department." The statement added one officer involved has been placed on administrative leave, pending a review of the incident. Munoz admitted to employees that the airline could learn from the incident but reiterated on his support of his employees' actions. "I emphatically stand behind all of you," he wrote. Sunday's incident follows another controversial occurrence in late March in which two girls, one estimated to be about 10 years old, were prevented from boarding a flight in Denver because they were wearing leggings, a violation of the airline's dress code under a program for United employees. The negative publicity may be adversely affecting the value of the airline. United's stock price dropped nearly 4 percent during late morning trading Tuesday in New York, but by the close of the market it had dropped only about 1.1 percent. For United Airlines, a global carrier that launched nonstop service to China in 1986, and bills itself as offering "more nonstop U.S.-China flights" to more cities in China "than any other airline," comments on China's lively social media were just one more problem Tuesday. One commentator said: "Reading the news of the United Airlines' violent removal of a passenger reminds me of three nightmarish trips with United Airlines. [It] provides the world's worst service ever, not just one of the worst." Another commented: "I would like to give the passenger thumbs up. Although lots of American Chinese are discriminated against, they are afraid of speaking out due to [losing] face." Tourists' remarks VOA's Mandarin service interviewed some Chinese tourists visiting Washington. "I feel very angry. I feel this shouldn't have happened in the U.S.," said Xiaotian Liu. "It happened to be an Asian-American. I do not think they had a target." "I hope [United Airlines] can improve its service after this incident," said Liu. "We will probably choose different airlines next time." "We happened to fly [United Airlines] on this trip," said Xuhai Lu. "We flew a Chinese airline last time. Chinese airlines provide better service than American ones." VOA's Mandarin service contributed to this report. They trace their founding to the voyage to Alexandria of St. Mark, the apostle of Jesus and New Testament author. Just a decade or two after the original Easter, which Christians celebrate around the world, tradition states that Mark founded their church, one of the earliest in the Middle East and the first in Africa. It was to become a pillar of early Christendom. Some 2,000 years later, Egypt's Coptic Christians have become the preferred target of the Islamic State group, an apocalyptic cult seeking religious war. Inside the Arab world's most populous country, IS seeks to sow discord, undermine President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and split the country. It's a strategy the group has used before in Iraq, undermining trust in the government and inciting Shiites against Sunnis to provoke a backlash. That strategy looks unlikely to work in Egypt, where Sunnis vastly outnumber the Coptic minority, who make up some 10 percent of the population of 92 million and who are overwhelmingly dedicated supporters of el-Sissi. But it does whittle away at the Christians' sense of security. A look at Egypt's Coptic community, its traditions and challenges in the Middle East: What Copts Believe Like Catholics, Copts believe in the Ten Commandments, practice sacraments such as baptism, confession and confirmation and the intercession of the saints. But the Coptic Orthodox Church split from other Christians in 451 A.D. over a dispute about the nature of Christ. Unlike Roman Catholics, they do not believe in the infallibility of the Pope or in purgatory. They believe in the immaculate conception of Jesus, but not of the Virgin Mary. Their priests can marry. Copts celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, meaning it falls on Jan. 7. The run-up to the holiday is marked by a 40-day period of fasting when red meat, poultry and dairy products are forbidden. Copts break the fast with feasting and celebrations after a Christmas Eve liturgy that ends near midnight. Easter is preceded by a 55-day fast where no meat, fish or dairy is eaten. Persecution in Modern Times In modern times, relations with Muslims have been generally good, although changes started to come about since the hyper-nationalism of the 1950s stoked by military strongman Gamal Abdel-Nasser. In Nasser's drive to liberate the country from Western influence and purify the Arab nation, Christians whose religion is more often practiced in the West began to take on a less favorable light among the majority Muslim masses. Many Copts consider themselves to be descendants of the ancient Egyptians, with a direct connection to pre-Arab times hardly a view that made them popular in the days of pan-Arabism. As conditions in Egypt worsened following a series of Middle East wars, the Copts began an exodus. President Anwar Sadat's overtures to Islamists and his addition of references to Islamic Law, or Shariah, to the constitution spurred on the departures and millions of Copts live as expatriates today. Although generally allowed to practice their religion inside Egypt, Copts face restrictions on inter-religious marriage and converting Muslims. Activists say Copts are discriminated against and kept from high office, and have thus campaigned to have religions removed from Egyptian ID cards. Coptic Christians Targeted by Extremists While sectarian killings did happen as early as the 1970s, they have been mostly sporadic over the years, with the exception of the 1990s, when the state battled an Islamic insurgency and Copts faced some retaliation. On New Years' eve 2011, a bomb in an Alexandria church killed over 20 people the first major assault with a high death toll in living memory and a crime still unsolved to this day. Attacks picked up in the aftermath of the army's overthrow of an elected but divisive Islamist president in 2013. The next major milestone came in December 2016, when an IS suicide bomber killed 30 people at Cairo's Coptic Cathedral. The group subsequently called for more attacks on the minority and pledged more of its own. In February, a series of murders and killings claimed by IS in northern Sinai led hundreds of families to evacuate the area, fleeing west. The most recent major attack came on Palm Sunday. Did Donald Trump, who was elected for his programme promising the end of imperialism, and for service of the interests of his people, suddenly change his mind only three months after his arrival at the White House? This is the ultra-majority interpretation of the bombing of the base at Chayrat on 6 April 2017. All of the allies of the United States approved the action in the name of humanitarian principles. Every one of the allies of Syria condemned it in the name of International Law. And yet, during the debate at the United Nations Security Council, the argument of a chemical attack perpetrated by Damascus was not considered by the representative of the Secretary General. On the contrary, he stressed the impossibility of knowing, at this stage, how the alleged attack could have occurred. Bolivia even raised doubts about the very existence of the attack, which was only reported by the White Helmets, in other words the al-Qaida group that MI6 supervises for the needs of its propaganda. Moreover, all military experts emphasize that combat gases must always be delivered by shell-fire, and never, absolutely never, by aerial bombing. In any case, the US attack against the base in Chayrat was characterised by its apparent brutality the 59 BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles had an accumulated power almost twice that of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. But the aggression was also characterised by its inefficiency although there were in fact several martyrs who died attempting to extinguish the fires, the damage was so slight that the base was functioning again the next morning. We are obliged to conclude either that the US Navy is a paper tiger , or that the operation was no more than a sham. If this hypothesis should be true, it is easier to understand why the Russian anti-air defence failed to react - supposing that the S-400 anti-missile missiles, which are triggered automatically, were deliberately de-activated beforehand. Everything played out as though the White House had imagined a trick aimed at dragging its allies into a war against anyone who uses chemical weapons - which means, in fact, against the jihadists. Indeed, according to the United Nations, the only proven cases of the use of these weapons in Syria and Iraq to date have been attributed to them. Over the last three months, the United States have broken with the politics of Republican George Bush Jr. (who signed the declaration of war which was the Syrian Accountablity Act) and Barack Obama (who supported the Arab Spring , which was in reality the replay of the Arab Revolt of 1916 organised by the British). However, Donald Trump has so far been unable to convince his allies, in particular the Germans, the British, and the French. Jumping on what seems to be a radical change in US policy, London has multiplied its declarations against Syria, Russia and Iran. The British Minister for Foreign Affairs, Boris Johnson, cancelled his visit to Moscow. But heres the thing - if Washington has really changed its policy, why has Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on the contrary, confirmed his own visit to Moscow? And why did Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was the guest of his US opposite number during the bombing of Chayrat, react so half-heartedly, when his own country used its veto six times at the UN Security Council in order to protect Syria? In the midst of all this speechy unanimity and factual incoherences, President Trumps advisor, Sebastian Gorka, claims that the White House still considers President el-Assad as legitimate and the jihadists as the enemy. Gorka is a very close friend of General Michael T. Flynn, who drew up the Trump plan against the jihadists in general and Daesh in particular. On 8 April 2017, Daesh attacked the At-Tanf base (on the Syrian-Iraqi border). This base is home to the special forces of the international coalition that revolves around the United States. Daesh is a terrorist organization, that for the most part, was put together by elements of the US administration, the United Kingdom and various multinational companies. The At-Tanf base had already been attacked when it was in the hands of the Iraqi army. Yet, for the first time, Daesh is making a direct attack on the US Coalition. After the US missile attack on Syria, Alfano, the [Italian] Minister for Foreign Affairs, declared Italys concern about the Mediterranean regions security and stability. Yet the facts are very clear on how Italy contributes to this: The two US warships, the USS Porter and the USS Ross, that attacked the Syrian base of Shayrat, form part of the Sixth Fleet; and the Sixth Fleets principal base is Gaeta, Lazio; The Sixth Fleet depends on the Command of the US Naval Forces. The latter directed the attack, ordered by President Trump, from Naples; Admiral Michelle Howard heads the Command of the US Naval Forces and she concurrently commands the Nato Joint Forces, headquartered at Lake Patria (Naples); and The military operation was supported by two US bases in Sicily: one is the air naval base at Sigonella, and the other, the Muos station (part of a system for naval transmissions) at Niscemi, supported by the Augusta base where ships belonging to the Sixth Fleet and Nato are resupplied with fuel and ammunition, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, the very weapons used against Syria. The USS Porter and the USS Ross are equipped with the Aegis vertical launchers with interceptor missiles, which have also been installed in the land base of Deveselu in Romania and another base which is being built in Poland. They form part of the so-called anti-missile shield, which the US has lined up in Europe, for an anti-Russian purpose. But the Aegis launchers as Lockheed Martin, the very company that built them reports, can launch missiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles for any mission. These can also be armed with nuclear heads. The Command at Naples, has sent in rotation, four Aegis launch missile ships, deployed at the Spanish base of Rota in the Atlantic, to the Baltic and the Black Sea, going right up to the border with Russia. The USS Porter had participated in a drill in the Black Sea, before the attack on Syria. Minister Alfano had defined the military action proportionate in duration and manner, as a deterrence against the most recent use of chemical arms by Assad. Then today, he summoned a special meeting to relaunch the political process on Syria at Lucca, at the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers Summit. This meeting was expanded to Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and Jordan. In other words, those countries that, in the context of an international coalition organized by the CIA, provided billions of dollars, weapons, training camps, and safe passage to terrorist groups, including Isis, which have been attacking Syria for years from within. Just as this operation, which Italy is participating in through the Friends of Syria, was failing, and a deal was on the verge of being opened to bring an end to the war, the Syrian government, supported by Russia, was accused of massacring civilians, including many children, by means of a deliberate chemical attack. On the other hand, a comprehensive report authored by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky and published on the website GlobalResearch [1] demonstrates that it was the Pentagon that from 2012, used a contractor to provide chemical weapons and the relevant training to terrorist groups in Syria. The UN Commission of Inquiry led by Carla Del Ponte proved in 2013 that these terrorists groups have used them. Evidence that Italy paid no heed to and instead, with a view to relaunching the political process on Syria, summons those that are the most committed to bring down the Syrian state by attacking it from within. Meanwhile Admiral Howard, after directing from the headquarters of Naples the launching pad for the Italian aircraft carrier the missile attack on Syria, defines it as the example of our strength and capacity to project power across the whole world. Cars on Mars. Photo: Universal Pictures Chris Morgan, the writer of the past six Fast and the Furious movies (including the new one), has made one thing clear about the future of the Fast franchise: Literally anything could happen, even a trip to space. But if you think that sounds like an intergalactic shark jump, Morgan told Uproxx that he wont be all frivolous about it, The only way Id go to space is if I had something so good. What idea could be so good that it warrants taking this heretofore-earthbound franchise into space? Morgan didnt share any specifics, but considering how much gravity defying the series has done so far (turns out cars can fly), going to space would only be a technicality at this point. Besides, when youve reached your maximum terrestrial capacity for speed and fury, theres only one frontier left to explore, and thats the final one. Here are some top suggestions for what a Space of the Furious could look like. Road of the Furious Road might sound general, but we mean a very specific road, the Rainbow one. What if Dom and company ended up in a high-stakes race on a super-secret Russian or Chinese re-creation of the Rainbow Road from Nintendos Mario Kart? It would have to be hidden on the dark side of the moon or something, because nothing is secret about an interminably long racetrack in near-Earth orbit. If Team Toretto wins, one of those global superpowers will reanimate Han, and while were at it, Gisele, too (because Gal Gadot was only getting started when she nobly gave her life in Furious 6). The loser gets something we havent worked out yet, but when you have space in the plot, you dont really need an ending, so its fine. Guardians of the Furious The franchise is already green-lit through 10, which has a 2021 premiere. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has not yet been officially announced, but is a likely part of Marvels phase 4. These two worlds will both definitely exist past 2020, meaning one of the next two Furious movies will just have the Guardians enlisting the Gang for a heist mission to retrieve an Infinity Stone. This is how Marvel will get Jason Statham and the Rock into the MCU. The Fate of the Passengers The movie Passengers is retconned when Toretto and the Family show up to save Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence) from her rapey captor, Jim (Chris Pratt). In this movie, the Fast cast have become temporarily authorized Intergalactic Marshalls, sent by Kurt Russell to save a passenger vessel thats about to explode with thousands of souls and crucial plans from Chechen terrorists onboard. Details to come, but its possible that the Rock will just the punch the ship so hard it starts working again. The Fate of the Hidden Figures The log line will be something about, The most furious space race the galaxy has ever seen. Janelle Monae, Octavia Spencer, and Taraji P. Henson will join the cast, not as their historical counterparts from Hidden Figures, but as new cool characters who become franchise regulars. This movie will win a SAG for Best Ensemble and 400 actors will rush the stage. The Fast and the Furious: Cosmic Drift This is the origin story of Han, which means Sung Kang really will come back, and well finally learn the origins of his Han Seoul-Oh nom de guerre. (Hint: It will have something to do with completing the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs in a souped-up 2000 Acura Integra.) Fast and the Furious Wars This is the ultrasecret next Star Wars movie after The Last Jedi. And heres the thing: If Last Jedi is Episode VIII, and Fate of the Furious is also its own kind of episode eight, that means the ninth and tenth installments of Star Wars and the Fast franchise will be coming out in fairly similar release windows. For the sake of giving proper lead time well say 10 and 10 line up, meaning Earth and space will collide in 2021. Everything else is TBD, but the whole movie will be built around a podracing scene that will make Phantom Menace look like it was made with paper cutouts and melted crayon wax. After 20 years, Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) rises to become the hero she was always destined to be. This race will happen on another planet, meaning Letty will likely save everyone on it by winning the race. She also fights Gina Carano again, because anything is possible in space Fast, and that bout deserves a rematch. Panic! At the theater. Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Because he hasnt already contributed enough drama to the world, Brendon Urie is making his debut on Broadway. The Panic! at the Disco front man is joining the cast of Kinky Boots to play Charlie, the heir to a shoe factory in industrial England, who ends up teaming up with a group of drag queens to start a new boot-making business. Urie will star in the show from May 26 through August 6. Now, how good is his Northampton accent? Faith Erin Hicks. Photo: First Second Books, Nathan Boone The comics medium has been undergoing a revolution in the past decade, and Faith Erin Hicks is in the vanguard. Superhero fiction has long been the dominant mode for sequential art, but in recent years, female-led literature targeted at younger readers has been experiencing a spectacular rise in both visibility and sales. The past few years have seen sensational releases from youth-oriented creators like Raina Telgemeier (Ghosts), Hope Larson (Compass South), and Hicks, a Vancouver-based writer-artist with an animation background and a crackerjack eye for action and emotion. Shes been cranking out ace work both in webcomics and the printed page since the turn of the millennium, and her greatest work yet is currently underway. Hicks has mapped out a three-part YA novel series, colored by Jordie Bellaire, titled The Nameless City. Its second installment, The Stone Heart, will be released in the first week of April, and its even better than the first. It follows a handful of young people in a world built on a base of ideas and imagery from China during the first half of the last millennium, specifically during the Yuan Dynasty, a period when the Mongols held the Imperial throne. Those conquerors were of a different ethnicity than the majority of the people they ruled, and The Nameless City plays with the notion of multiethnic coexistence and tension by establishing a fantastical burg without a name where a tense peace could unravel at any moment. Against that backdrop, we meet Rat and Kaidu, a poor child and the child of the ruling elite, respectively. Their friendship is heartfelt but threatened by their differences of race and class, and they stumble upon plots to destroy the detente that people from each of their groups have died for in the past. The story is compelling enough to garner an animated-series adaptation, slated for 2018, meaning Hickss tale will soon be spreading far beyond the book market. We caught up with her to talk about why YA is booming, incorporating criticisms of the first volume in the series, and how being Canadian helps her produce good work. What was the first part of the story that appeared in your head? I wanted to do a story about two kids on the opposite side of a complicated political conflict. Then I wanted to bring them together and, hopefully, have them to build a relationship but a relationship that wasnt easy because of the environment that they lived in. But, man, it was years in the making. I have sketches of the characters in sketchbooks that go back to like 2007. Why translate that idea into Yuan Dynastyera China? Its a pretty specific and unusual setting. Im not sure, exactly. Initially, it was more of a generic fantasy setting, but I just happened to be reading books about the silk road and also a biography of Kublai Khan, whos the founder of the Yuan Dynasty. So when that started to influence me, I was like, I should do something inspired by Middle Eastern and Asian history, because I cant have old white people. What kind of feedback have you gotten from Chinese readers? Ive gotten feedback from friends, and some have really enjoyed the setting, but others have had criticisms of it. Sometimes readers get confused about the first book and feel like, This is historical, when in reality its not. One thing I possibly shouldve done was bring the fantasy element more to the forefront in the first book, to make it more obvious this is a fantasy world, that this is not a historical world. So in later volumes, the fantasy element is more emphasized. We find out more about the origins of the city, the mysterious cultures that built it, this mysterious power that they have. Excerpt from The Stone Heart. Art by Faith Erin Hicks and Jordie Bellaire. Photo: First Second Books That makes sense. Which character seems to speak most for themselves? Whose lines and decisions just flow into you? Probably Rat. Shes a character that I wanted to write for a long time: a girl whos so angry underneath it all. Shes gone through some stuff, and shes very angry as a result. Thats something we dont see very often in fiction. I know from myself, growing up and reading a lot of fantasy and a lot of stories were targeted at boys, I felt there werent a lot of characters that resonated with me, so this was definitely a character that I wanted to see in books. Angry and tough and strong, but also still emotional. You talk about not having stories like this available to you as a kid, and thats true there werent many young-adult comics targeted at girls until recently. Now theyre becoming a rising force in the medium. I mean, Raina Telgemeier has often had half the spots on the New York Times best-seller list for comics. Why do you think it finally happened? There are a number of different factors. There was a huge manga boom in the early aughts that brought in a lot of female readers. And Raina, of course, her work is tremendous. She also deserves credit for bringing in a young, female reader that maybe wasnt being served up. I feel like there have always been young women that want to read comics, but it took so long for publishers to get behind the idea. I remember being a teenager and desperate to read comics and being attracted to this medium, and then going to my local comic store that I was kind of terrified of, because it was like dark and scary. There was nothing there for me. I would buy X-Men comics and feel so dissatisfied. The internet has also played a big part in expanding the medium. Lots of women do webcomics, and theyre very accessible. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a good local comic store or library or bookstore, but most people have the internet, so thats another way to reach readers. The book is very physical theres a lot of slapstick comedy and the fight scenes are kinetic. How does one block out a fight scene in a comic? A lot of looking at Donnie Yen fight scenes. [Laughs.] Hes my favorite. I also draw from a lot of manga. The great Hiromu Arakawa, who did Fullmetal Alchemist theres something so good about her fight scenes. Shes so many levels above me, but I try and do my own pale imitation of her work. And then just drawing those pages over and over again. Those are definitely the most complicated and time-consuming pages, cause its not only getting the posing right, but its figuring out the flow of the action. Thats something in comics thats important: the clarity of storytelling. Especially when you have an action scene, figuring out characters actions from panel to panel. That can really make or break a fight scene. Excerpt from The Stone Heart. Art by Faith Erin Hicks and Jordie Bellaire. Photo: First Second Books This may be an odd question, but how does being Canadian affect your work? In terms of my Canadian identity, Canadas very multicultural, and that was a part of the inspiration for The Nameless City. I loved the idea of a city that was filled with so many different kinds of people, all living and working side by side. But to be more serious, I feel like being Canadian has contributed to me being able to work full-time in comics. Our health-care system, for example. Because Im self-employed, the fact that I dont have to worry about health care thats been a big part of what allows me to do my work. Canada also has a grant system for artists that can be very generous. Early in my career, I got a grant that really helped me through those early shaky financial years. I get stressed and concerned for my American cartoonist friends, with all the stuff going on in the States right now. This interview has been edited and condensed. The Daily Show has argued against the good guy with a gun theory of stopping mass shooters for a while, and on Monday nights episode correspondent Roy Wood Jr. decided to join an anti-gun movement. After speaking to a firearms activist promoting a Texas law that allows concealed handguns on campus and in the classrooms at universities, Wood followed up with a student enrolled at one of these colleges who was less than thrilled with the legislation. The student, Jessica Jin, led a group of her peers in strapping gigantic dildos onto their backpacks with the message cocks not glocks. Were fighting absurdity with absurdity, Jin explained. The only problem: Its illegal to openly brandish a dildo in the state of Texas. Still, that didnt stop the intrepid Daily Show correspondent from waving a large phallus and joining the student march. Bring your oxygen tank. Photo: Alison Buck/Getty Images for Atlantic Record You took a pill in Ibiza, but in the mountains of Nepal, youre going to want to take an oxygen tank, a yak, and a very patient sherpa with an extremely high tolerance for deep house tracks. To celebrate his journey to Ibiza 30 years ago, a move that in part precipitated the British club scenes Second Summer of Love and the rise of electronic music, DJ Paul Oakenfold is taking everything you love about a sweaty, pulse-pounding Spanish nightclub and transporting it to Mount Everest base camp, performing a set at 17,600 feet today. Oakenfold, apparently a mountain-climbing novice, trained for four months for the show; his audio equipment was transported via a convoy of yaks and porters. He will be joined by Nepali DJ Ranzen Jha, who noted the practical hurdles inherent in the plan.The audience will probably be sitting mostly. The air is so thin here, you will run out of breath quite quickly, Jha explained. Oakenfold discussed his hopes for the trip, which is one stop on his multi-location SoundTrek tour, in a video series on YouTube. If you can conjure the Ibiza experience while sitting quietly on a freezing mountain side, then finally you will understand what DJ Paul Oakenfold has known all these years: The rave was inside of you this entire time. Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) shredding. Photo: BBC When the Doctor made his Doctor Who season-9 entrance aboard a tank, shredding his ax, Peter Capaldi further solidified his legacy in the Whoniverse. In an interview with the New York Times in front of the shows next season (premiering April 15), which will be Capaldis last as the iconic character, the actor explained how he was responsible for bringing the electric guitar to the Doctor. According to Capaldi, after his first season, he had a little list of things that might be interesting to have a go at in the next season, and one of them was guitar playing. He was surprised that the guitar not only made its way into the scripts, but did so in quite a big way. In addition to channeling Jimi Hendrix in front of the cameras, Capaldi also chose the instrument. I thought he should have a Fender Stratocaster, Capaldi said. But every time I tried one on, it looked like I was having a midlife crisis. And then we found this one Yamaha guitar, which was the one we ended up with, which looks like someone had described a Fender Stratocaster to somebody else, and made it without ever seeing a picture of it. Stratocaster or not, the British actor successfully pulled off sunglasses and a rocking guitar solo. Hasan Minhaj. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Natural Res Plans for the the White House Correspondents dinner are still moving forward, despite the fact that the president himself is not planning to attend the event. The White House Correspondents Association announced that comedian and Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj will host the dinner on April 29. It is a tremendous honor to be a part of such a historic event even though the president has chosen not to attend this year. SAD! Minhaj said in a statement. Now more than ever, it is vital that we honor the First Amendment and the freedom of the press. Trumps administration has routinely gone after the press, once calling it the enemy of the American people, during his time in office. Despite that enmity, WHCA president Jeff Mason said on MSNBC this morning that the dinner, which raises money for journalism scholarships, will focus on celebrating the First Amendment and the free press, not just going after Trump in absentia (though Minhaj has made his negative thoughts on Trump pretty clear in the past). Meanwhile, Full Frontals Samantha Bee is planning to host an event dedicated to sending up the presidency, and probably everything else. The Not the White House Correspondents Dinner will also take place the night of April 29. Photo: Clemens Bilan/Getty Images The only appropriate way to celebrate the following news is with some tasty Venezuelan beaver cheese. John Cleese will be returning to British television in a starring role the first time since his seminal series Fawlty Towers ended in 1979 for the new BBC sitcom Edith. The six-part series will find Cleese starring opposite fellow British comedy bigwig Alison Steadman as a couple named Phil and Edith who live across the street from each other; after a long pursuit, the widowed Edith agrees to marry Phil and they plan to follow the sun and move abroad. However, when Ediths 50-year-old son unexpectedly moves back home after leaving his job and his wife, the lovebirds plans are tarnished for the time being. These are the most enjoyable scripts Ive been sent in the last 100 years, Cleese, who had previously vowed to never work with the BBC again, said in a statement. It will also be particularly nice to work with Alison again. (The duo previously starred as husband and wife in the 1986 comedy Clockwise.) While no time frame has been established for when Edith is expected to air, theres a nice connection to Cleeses other monumental sketch series, Monty Pythons Flying Circus: All six episodes will be written by Charles McKeown, whos been intertwined with numerous Python members since the 70s, perhaps most prominently as the co-writer of the acclaimed Brazil with Terry Gilliam. Getting your ass handed to you by Charlize Theron is a small price to pay for a safe and stabilized Europe. In the new Atomic Blonde trailer, Theron plays Lorraine Broughton, a British spy who is tasked, alongside station chief David Percival (James McAvoy), with rescuing a valuable dossier out of Berlin in order to halt the assassination of her fellow agents. And thats not even getting into those coats. Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro. Photo: HBO Sunday nights episode of Girls was sadly Shoshannas final episode on the show. That means the last well ever see of her is when Hannah inadvertently crashes her engagement party in the penultimate episode. But thats not nearly enough. How can we not go to Shoshannas wedding? Dont worry, we imagined just what the day would be like when our favorite girl finally becomes Mrs. Byron Long. Shoshanna Shapiro had so much to keep track of on the last day before she could forget her maiden name forever. There was the choreography for walking down the aisle, where the bridesmaids and groomsmen would march to Katy Perrys Unconditionally and make a sort of trellis with their outstretched arms as Shoshanna walked down the aisle under them, her head slightly bowed as if she were protecting her eyes from a hailstorm of imaginary rose petals falling from heaven. The video of it would go viral, if only in her mind. But that would be easy. The real choreography was what she and Byron had been practicing for months with a professional ballroom dancer. She had to keep her top frame stiff and high and her face turned slightly to the side as they waltzed around the dance floor at the St. Regis, the short train of her dress tickling the parquet as she swept in circles like a former gymnast on Dancing With the Stars. Those were just the dance moves. There were her vows, in both English and Cantonese, which she learned phonetically so that the Longs, who had traveled all the way from Hong Kong, would know exactly how deep and abiding her love is for a man that she met only a short time ago at a Sprinkles cupcake vending machine. She sat in her plush hotel suite only wearing her Spanx and a bra, worrying now about the cupcake tower that would very fittingly serve as their wedding cake. Would there be enough? Will everyone get one or will they have to share? Or, wait. Will they be too big? Will Grandma Long try to eat an entire Sprinkles cupcake, have a diabetic attack, and need to be rushed to the hospital? Does Grandma Long even have diabetes? And what is her first name? Is it Meiwah or is it Wahmei? How do you say grandma in Cantonese? Will she have to? What if she has to? Shoshanna got up from staring at her face in the vanity and paced around the room, taking deep breaths with loud, slow exhales and fanning her freshly manicured nails in front of her face. It wasnt calming her down. Would anything? She took some comfort in the chill of the room as she walked back and forth in her foundational garments, as all her favorite blogs called them. There was so much to do. The glam squad, as she insisted on calling them, would be there any minute and then she would squeeze into the dress, then the whirlwind of ceremony, the dancing down the aisle, the chuppah made of red flowers, her husband stomping on a glass, then cocktails and dinner, more dancing, and the cupcake tower. Would there be enough? There had to be enough. Just then there was a knock on the door and Shoshanna did a little sprint toward it. Rachel and Ziva were there, her old college friends, each carrying their bridesmaid dresses in a Jamba Jeans branded garment bag. They had been so great over the past year, welcoming her back into their lives and installing her as head of social-media outreach at Jamba Jeans. They even planned the bachelorette party where Shoshanna had her first Jell-O shot in New Orleans, in between a ghost tour and group mani-pedis. Are you ready for your big day? Rachel or Ziva she couldnt focus on which said in a tone you use when asking a dog if shes ready to go on her walk. Its my big day, Shoshanna said, as a smile cracked on her face and her head tilted to one side. Its my big day. The inflection in her voice on the last word went up, like she was asking a question. It was like this day couldnt be possible at all, like it was all just some kind of dream, like she was getting everything she ever wanted and she still wasnt quite sure she deserved it. While Rachel and Ziva were her old friends, it somehow seemed like they were new, part of this new life she had dreamed up for herself like a Pinterest board made flesh. The other bridesmaids, Robin and Jill, filtered in, new friends she had met through Byron and taken as her own. They had gone Whole 30 with her in solidarity as she winnowed down to her wedding weight and booked a group SoulCycle class with Mantas, her favorite instructor, just two days ago so they could get one last sweat in under the dim lights and oppressive sloganeering. It was like everything was the future for Shoshanna and she had put the past behind her. Well, not entirely. Marnie was the last bridesmaid to arrive, a little frazzled but taking charge in a way no one entirely asked her to. All the other girls smiled strained smiles, wondering what it was that Shosh saw in this girl, and Shosh wondered the same thing. Marnie had practically asked herself to be a bridesmaid, and there was something in Shoshanna that wanted it to work. She was dating a guy she had met at their engagement party, a colleague of Byrons who worked at the same bank. She thought Marnie could be the bridge to her old life, but it didnt seem like that would work. As Marnie tried to give the glam squad pointers, Shosh wished for the first time that she had asked her cousin Jessa to be in the wedding party, but they werent really speaking. She invited her to the wedding, but the invitation was returned. It was always hard to find Jessa, even when she was living in the same city. She always moved around like a shark, worried that one minute of stagnation would lead to her death. Hannah wasnt coming either. Shoshanna didnt even have her address anymore. She would be glad not to see her there, wearing something inappropriate and scoffing at her well-rehearsed entrance. It was funny to her that she was closer to her Japanese friends from her time in Tokyo, two of whom were flying all the way to New York, than she was to Hannah who was just a Metro-North ride away. Its funny how upstate feels like another planet, like that New Yorker cartoon where the country ends at the Hudson that Shosh had a poster of in her NYU dorm sophomore year. Shoshanna was seated in a directors chair, her face relaxed and passive as a professional applied her makeup. She closed her eyes as instructed and, for the millionth time, imagined how the day was going to go. She saw all the faces looking back at her as she started to dance down the aisle, but there was only one she could really see vividly: Ray. How comforting it would be to have him there, the former love of her life. How sweet that he would smile that crooked grin of his. He would stand up and button his blazer that doesnt really fit and he would reach for Abigails hand and Shosh would smile back at him and it would all be perfect. Ray didnt think this was a mistake. He didnt think they had rushed things. He didnt think a cupcake tower was stupid, even though he didnt eat cupcakes for some stupid reason that she couldnt remember. Shosh! she heard Marnie shout, snapping her out of her reverie. Are you ready to put on your dress? Yes, she said, feeling the warmth of Rays smile follow her into the now-crowded suite and infusing it with a sort of glow you usually only get from the best Instagram filter. Its my big day. John Ridley. Photo: Jerod Harris/Getty Images Earlier this month, Oscar winner John Ridley told Vulture that representation is a primary concern in his filmmaking. The thing that I want to do more than anything else is represent: both in front of the camera and behind it. I owe every good thing I have to Hollywood, but theres a lack of representation of traditionally disenfranchised people, he said. That position was challenged at the recent premiere of Guerrilla his mini-series for Showtime and Sky Atlantic about the rise of black revolutionaries in 1970s London when the black writer-director was asked about being complicit in the erasure of black women from black history by casting an Indian woman, Freida Pinto, as one of the shows stars. My parents were a part of [the black power movement], an audience member said to Ridley after Guerrillas first episode was screened. I want to understand why you decided [to make] an Asian woman the main protagonist. In telling the story of black British activists, Ridleys drama focuses on an interracial couple Marcus and Jas, played by Babou Ceesay and Freida Pinto liberating a political prisoner played by Idris Elba. Ridley was asked why there wasnt a black woman character at the center of a show thats about black revolution, and why the only black woman character included was a spy for a racist white police officer. I understand the contribution of Asians to this, but having an Asian protagonist making all the big decisions, the audience member continued. Does that get explained in subsequent episodes? We cant ignore that. At first, Ridley joked with the questioner (later identified by the i Paper as a Black Lives Matter U.K. activist), suggesting that her question was evidence of Pintos importance to Guerrillas narrative. If everybody understood racism, oppression there would be no reason to be doing this show. We would be doing Dancing With the Stars, Ridley responded, according to Screen Daily. He then launched into an impassioned defense of Pintos casting, offering up his own interracial relationship as evidence of the importance of including other races in stories of black revolution. Im sorry I cannot entertain a dialogue about whether the lead character in this show should be black or Asian the lead character in this show should be a strong woman of color, Ridley said, eliciting applause from the audience. But Ridleys answer pivoted away from the central question about the representation of black women on Guerrilla, which was asked repeatedly: The female lead of a show about black revolution isnt black, and the most prominent black woman in the first episode is working to support racism. Multiple accounts of the panel report a back and forth between Ridley and the audience that eventually left Pinto tearing up. (A journalist present at the event told The Independent that the actress seemed to tear up in response to Ridleys words, not the critique of the show.) When a questioner said Guerrillas plot was a historically inaccurate portrayal of Londons black revolutionary movement, actor Babou Ceesay seemed to doubt her information, according to Screen Dailys account: Babou Ceesay, who plays one of the male leads in the show alongside Idris Elba, was taken aback by the suggestion: Wow, really? You know this because you read about it? No, we know this because our parents were a part of it, responded the second questioner. The debate surrounding Guerrilla and the very question neither Ridley nor Pinto responded to has little to do with Pintos talent or the shows interracial relationship. The question of erasure and misogynoir and why Guerrillas first episode includes a negative depiction of black women remains unanswered. By making its most important black female character (in the first episode, at least) a spy for white racist interests, the audience members argued, the episode carries the implicit suggestion that not only were black women uninvolved with Londons black revolutionary movement, but that they actively worked against it. Ridley pointed to a handful of Asian activists who were part of the black revolutionary movement, while ignoring the larger and longer history of black womens political organizing for racial justice. Agents Scully and Mulder. Photo: FOX For X-Files fans who still want to believe theres more supernatural mystery stories to be told, the truth is out there. And by out there, we mean another X-Files mystery in the form of an audiobook. According to Variety, The X-Files: Cold Cases is an upcoming Audible Studios original production starring the voice talents of Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as (who else?) Dana Scully and Fox Mulder. The story takes place after the 2008 movie The X-Files: I Want to Believe but before the events in 2016s six-episode tenth season. As Scully and Mulder set out to solve the F.B.I. cold case, which might just have a sci-fi element to it, theyll also run into returning characters Assistant Director Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), Cigarette-Smoking Man (William B. Davis), and the Lone Gunmen (Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, and Bruce Harwood). The audiobook drops July 18, which is plenty of time to make your way through the 208 television episodes to brush up on the mythology. The General Dynamics Information Technology call center in Lacy Lakeview, which assists those seeking health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, will close on May 31, eliminating about 840 jobs, the company has confirmed. As required by law, General Dynamics sent a warning notice to the Texas Workforce Commission, informing the agency of its plans to shutter operations that have been ongoing since 2013. Meanwhile, the company Monday released a statement by email, saying, As of May 31, we will cease contact center operations performed in support of our customer in Waco, Texas. We regret that the closure of this facility will impact employees, their families and the community at large. A separate release identified centers in Waco and in Coralville, Iowa, as those in the system that are scaling down. But the local facility will go beyond seasonal staffing adjustments, according to the statement, and will permanently close. That is certainly disappointing. That is a blow because those are the kinds of jobs were trying to attract through our Prosper Waco initiative, Waco Mayor Kyle Deaver said. Through economic development, were wanting to create jobs paying above $12.50 to $13 an hour. But we also have begun to attract some in the $10 to $12 range because youve got to get on the ladder to get to those higher wages. General Dynamics did not provide information about the hourly rate it pays its staffers. But when the center opened in 2013, it indicated its pay likely would average $12 an hour. Steve Howk, business development manager at Total Placement Solutions, a temp agency, said he could not comment specifically about General Dynamics but estimated that local call centers pay $9 to $13 an hour, and some also offer commission. I do know that center has seen a lot of employment activity since it opened, Howk added. Word is that anyone under age 35 without a college degree has gone through there. I understand their pay is on the higher end of the scale. Mike Elliott, owner of Express Employment Professionals, estimated pay for call center employees hovers around $10 to $12 an hour. Hopefully, we will get some applicants from the closing, he said. We dont necessarily get a lot of requests for call center work, but we do for administrative, clerical or customer service skills, and it is not unusual for call center employees to have those. Karr Ingham, an Amarillo-based economist who prepares a monthly snapshot of local trends, said losing more than 800 jobs at one time certainly is not good news for the community. That represents about seven-tenths of 1 percent of the workforce, but I dont think it is reason for spending to go negative or for a general economic downturn in Greater Waco. It should not be an economy killer, Ingham said by phone. Waco has created 2,000 to 3,000 jobs over the past year. This may slow down that number a little bit, but if this had to happen, you would want it to happen in a place that is economically dynamic, growing and adding jobs, which Waco is doing. Still, Ingham added the loss of that many jobs has a negative psychological effect on the community, which has a sense that something big has happened. Obviously, the households themselves will be much more dramatically affected. David Davis, operations manager for the Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas center on New Road, said a rapid response team will provide outplacement services for those losing jobs. They will provide information sessions and customized workshops to help them with transitioning into the next job, Davis said. They also will be setting up a job fair for those workers, though a date has not yet been set. Any employers who might be interested in those kinds of skills can call our office about participating. He said the number to call is 296-5201. Arriving in 2013, General Dynamics Information Technology signed a 31/2-year agreement to have a subsidiary, Vangent Inc., manage the facility under a $28 million government contract. It scheduled job fairs and announced it would employ 440 people in the beginning and add hundreds more as demand dictated. Blue Cross & Blue Shield invested more than $10 million to convert a former Kmart building at North Loop 340 and I-35 into a call center in 2002. Its lease expired in early 2013, and it chose to let its nearly 300 employees work at home with computers. Waco real estate agent Brad Davis, who secured a lease with General Dynamics IT, said he is marketing the 68,000-square-foot building but said he could not comment on whether he has a prospect to fill the space. Waco police shot a robbery suspect Monday night after he wrecked his vehicle while fleeing police, threatened them with a shotgun and refused commands to get out of his vehicle, according to a press release from Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton. Waco police say Christopher Antwon Blackwell, 37, robbed the Corner Stop at 2524 Colonial Ave. with a shotgun at about 9 p.m. Monday. Officers saw a Chevrolet SUV fleeing the scene and pursued it, Swanton said in the press release. After a brief chase, Blackwells SUV crashed into a light pole at Valley Mills Drive and Waco Drive, he said. Police said Blackwell refused to get out of his vehicle and pointed a shotgun at officers. Several officers fired at Blackwell, but he continued to ignore officers commands to get out of the SUV, Swanton said. Blackwell cursed at officers, said he had a handgun and that the officers were going to die, according to Swanton. SWAT officers fired a less-than-lethal round to break the back window of the vehicle so they could see in. Blackwell continued to refuse to get out of the SUV, so officers used what Swanton described as a distraction device and pepper spray to force him from the vehicle. Swanton said Blackwell was arrested after a brief struggle and taken to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center for gunshot wounds to his lower left leg and left buttock. He was taken to the McLennan County Jail after his wounds were treated and charged with first-degree felony aggravated robbery, first-degree felony aggravated assault on a peace officer, third-degree felony evading in a vehicle and third-degree felony possession of a firearm by a felon. Bond had not been set for Blackwell by Tuesday afternoon, according to jail records. Blackwell has previous felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, evading arrest, theft, forgery, theft of service and assault of a public servant, according to Texas Department of Public Safety records. His first felony conviction was in 1998, and his most recent conviction, on the assault of a public servant charge, came in July. The Texas Rangers have joined Waco police to investigate the incident, Swanton said. Officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure. Tribune-Herald reporter Kristin Hoppa contributed to this story. At first, I thought McLennan County Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Dutys April 1 column championing Democrats while pondering their obvious disconnect from voters was an April Fools joke. Then I realized she was serious. As such, a few comments are in order: History: Pretty much all of the Southern Bible Belt voted Democratic during most of my life, mainly because the Republican Party was in power during the War of Northern Aggression, sometimes called the Civil War, which cost the lives of hundreds of thousands and just about destroyed the South. Feelings were so strong that they continued to support the Democratic Party even though it was responsible for getting us into two World Wars, again taking the lives of untold thousands of American youths. Latter-day changes in voting patterns have not been caused by others labeling Democrats. The real reason is the Democratic Party has left the voters; those voters did not leave the party. Most folks who love this country can no longer support what Mary Dutys party has come to stand for. A quick run-down: Yes, anti-Christian: Which translation of the Bible gives authority to human beings to define sin? Which one teaches that it is permitted to steal by force of taxation from those who work to give to those who refuse to work, illegal aliens and even foreign countries? Charity is required of the individual but this is not charity, it is government-sponsored stealing. Where can be found a definition of universal moral principles of justice, truth and goodness which are Ms. Dutys strong beliefs? Who gave these principles to the world and when? She says she does not seek the endorsement of God for what she does. Whose endorsement does she seek? Yes, anti-gun: The Democratic Party is constantly trying to water down this God-given right to self-defense. She asks for common-sense and reasonable requirements. Who defines what is reasonable? Government? This right was recognized in the Constitution as a defense against government. Yes, pro-gay: No one cares what one does in the bedroom. It is Democrats support of political measures to force the rest of us to accept these perverted lifestyles. Ms. Duty brags about her support of same-sex marriage because its love. There are those who claim they are sexually attracted to little boys. Is this another of those universal moral principles? All of this is condemned in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Yes, in the end Democrats are defined by their actions. Ms. Duty still does not understand what happened in November. The miracle is not that Donald Trump was elected, though even she must admit this was something of a miracle with all the Demoncrats against him as well as many in his own party and the almost total support of Hillary by the controlled news media. To overcome so many well-known politicians in the primaries and then take the general election who would have believed it? The real miracle is that in spite of all Ms. Dutys propaganda, so many have not been taken in by what her party supports: destruction of Christianity; one-world government, open borders and illegal immigration, which costs the taxpayers billions of dollars, causes welfare for able-bodied individuals; acceptance of perversion; legalization of murder of the pre-born for convenience and to sell body parts; and destruction of free trade and jobs. With these and many other policies, Democrats have defeated themselves. Not that the Republican Party is perfect, not by any means but the Democrats are so much worse. The way Ms. Dutys party has taken defeat is another mark against it. Women in vagina hats marching in Washington in support of legalized murder, others breaking into businesses to steal merchandise, riots against our duly elected president, false news and on and on. Responsible citizens do not act like this. The Equal Rights Amendment was passed because it was believed it meant equal rights. Thanks mostly to the Democrats, it has come to mean special rights for some over the rights of others. Now we have come to the silliest part of all, God help us. Somewhere in the Constitution, you have found the right of men to go into womens restrooms because they feel they are women. Another universal moral principle? In the past those who felt like they were Napoleon or someone else were recognized as mentally ill. How would any man know how a woman feels or a woman know how a man feels? You can only know how you feel, and if you still cannot decide which sex you are, look in the mirror. WAVERLY - Waverly area postal carriers have seen an increase in the number of encounters with dogs recently and theyre asking dog owners for help. Were very concerned about the increase in the number of close calls involving dogs as carriers attempt to deliver the routes safely, said Postmaster Bryan Perez. Were asking pet owners to please restrain their dogs for the safety of letters carriers and the community. Perez says the request for restraining dogs includes those who live in rural areas. We take the safety of our employees very seriously, said Perez. We will not wait until a carrier is bitten before taking preventative action. A dog that runs loose not only affects the delivery of the dog owners mail, but often the delivery of their neighbors mail as well. National Dog Bite Prevention Week is April 9-15. Nationwide, 6,755 postal employees were attacked by dogs in 2016, including 40 in Nebraska. Many of the bites resulted in medical attention beyond first-aid, and several resulted in postal carriers being unable to return to their normal duties for a period of time, including a carrier who was attacked when a customer opened the door to his house and a pit bull charged past him biting the carrier on her thigh, as well as cuts and bruises on her leg, arm, and elbow. So far in 2017 there have already been 12 dog attacks to Nebraska postal carriers. Perez shares the following tips on this important issue. If a postal carrier delivers a certified letter or a package to your front door, place your dog into a separate room and close the door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to get at strangers. Dog owners should remind their children about the need to keep the family dog secured. Parents should remind their children not to take mail directly from postal carriers in the presence of the family pet as the dog may see handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture. The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a postal carrier feels threatened by a vicious dog or if a dog is running loose, the owner may be asked to pick up the mail at the Post Office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If the dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owners neighbors may be asked to pick up their mail at the Post Office as well. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. By Mike Deep To say the scale of Sun n Fun is staggering doesnt quite do the annual fly-in and airshow justice. For one week in April, over one thousand aircraftand hundreds of thousands of guestsvisit the Sun n Fun campus. Held for one week in April at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Florida, the event is larger than any other in North America, excepting only EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Whats more, the organization is a nonprofit benefiting aviation education and outreach. Of the over 1,000 aircraft on-site Saturday, more than 130 were warbirds. Guest attendance, still to be fully tabulated, is expected to exceed last years count of roughly 200,000, with visitors from over 70 countries. Its a testament to the professionalism of aviators, the Sun n Fun volunteer staff, and the Lakeland Linder airport team that an event of this scale runs so smoothly. At no point during Sun n Fun are things ever still. When the airshow isnt on, aircraft are constantly arriving and departing, while ultralights, powered paragliders and helicopters buzz about to the South of the airport. Air traffic at Sun n Fun runs the gamut, from homebuilt aircraft to fighter jets and tankers. When watching the skies, it doesnt take long to spot something interesting. By early afternoon, the airspace closes, and the performers take over. This years headlining act in the airshow was the US Navys Blue Angels, along with performances by the US Air Forces F-16 demonstration team, the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, the Geico Skytypers, Michael Goulian, Julie Clark, Jessy Panzer, and more. However, center stage this year belonged to the warbirds, led by a vanguard of P-51 Mustangs. Mustangs Sun n Fun has long included a sizeable warbird section in its static displays and in its airshow, with frequent appearances by T-28 Trojans, T-6 Texans, P-40 Warhawks, and B-25 Mitchells. This years addition of ten P-51 Mustangs in Thursdays airshow was special. The iconic World War II fighters flew together and in formation with period bombers, sights few were likely to ever see in this century. The Mustangs (17 in total, with only a subset participating in the airshow) were gathered at Sun n Fun in celebration of the fighters 75th anniversary, having entered service with the RAF in 1942, and also in recognition of Stallion 51s 30th anniversary. The Kissimmee-based Stallion 51 offers P-51 demonstrations and flight training, and many of the Mustang pilots flying in the show learned to fly with the organization. There are two dual-cockpit TF-51 Mustangs in Stallion 51s care, Crazy Horse and Crazy Horse. Both planes are a familiar sight at Sun n Fun, with Stallion 51 owner and pilot Lee Lauderback frequently performing his solo routine in the airshow. Notably, this years show marked Lauderbacks final heritage flight, a program in which he was one of the first civilian pilots. In that flight, Lauderback flew Crazy Horse in formation with an F-16 Fighting Falcon, an A-10 Warthog, and a second P-51 Mustang. Other Warbirds Art Nalls performed in his Sea Harrier, the only such privately operated plane in the world. Nalls demonstrated the Harriers characteristic thrust vectoring capability, slowing to a hover at show center before bowing the aircraft to the crowd and performing a vertical landing. The Air Force F-16 demonstration team pounded the airspace with a series of high-speed, high-G maneuvers, before transitioning seamlessly into the heritage flight with an A-10 and P-51. An assortment of privately owned L-39 Albatros were flown to the show for static display. Sneaking in amongst them were several F-5 Tiger IIs from the Navys VFC-111 aggressor squadron, two jet black T-38 Talons from the Air Forces 9th Reconnaissance Wing, and a privately-owned CF-5 Freedom Fighter. Nearby MacDill AFB provided a KC-135 from the 6th Air Mobility Wing for display and cabin tours. Alongside it were a C-17 from the 97th Air Mobility Wing out of Atlus Air Force Base and a WC-130 from the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters. The Navy also provided two F/A-18F Super Hornets from VFA-11, a P-3 Orion, and a P-8 Poseidon for display. Flight to Honor On Thursday, the Polk County Veterans Council conducted its third Flight to Honor mission. The program flies World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C. Each veteran is accompanied by a volunteer sponsor, and the group is taken on a tour of memorials around the capital. The flight returned that evening to a heros reception on the Sun n Fun Warbird Ramp. There, friends, family, volunteers, JROTC, Scouts, local law enforcement, and a live band welcomed to the veterans home, as the setting sun and rows of aircraft provided a dramatic backdrop. About the Weather One of the hazards associated with hosting a week-long event in Florida is the weather. Potentially severe weather, associated with an approaching cold front, threatened to disrupt the event mid-week. Sun n Fun is no stranger to adverse weather: In 2011, a tornado struck during the event, damaging dozens of aircraft. With the threat of stormy weather looming, the gathered Mustangs cleared the Warbird Ramp and sought shelter. Luckily, the frontal passage was uneventful, with rain limited to the overnight hours and no severe weather reported. Cool, breezy weather with clear skies took hold for the rest of the show. Theres a Night Show, Too As if there wasnt enough to take in, Sun n Fun also puts on a night airshow each year, complete with fireworks on the ground and on the planes. This years performers included AeroShell, Gene Soucy, Julie Clark, Manfred Radius, and Bob Carlton. Brightly lit planes flew loops and launched fireworks, providing a beautiful backdrop against the gathered aircraft on the Warbird Ramp. 2. Stocks to watch: Also keep an eye on BHP, which saw good buying in late trade yesterday, with its London listing gaining 2.2%, but its American Depository Receipt (ADR) is suggestive that the stock could fall 1% this morning. One to watch, but ironically its oil exposure is likely to support the price today, with spot iron ore falling 1%, and iron ore and steel futures down very modestly. 1. ASX: There is new focus on Korea, where the Korean won and Kospi have found sellers easy to come by of late on concern that North Korea could be a future US target. The Nikkei 225 looks set for a touch of selling on open, with USD/JPY pulling back below 111. Our ASX 200 call sits at 5915, so the bulls are just getting the edge here, but one should keep an eye on SPI futures (-2 points) which really needs to convincingly break the 5900 ceiling. So the ASX 200 could be led by the futures market today, so that's where I would be taking my inspiration. 3. Wall Street: US equities have shrugged off reports that China have deployed 150,000 troops on the border with North Korea, although as a far as I can see this is coming from a Twitter source (@DEFCONWSALERTS). There is chatter that this was spurned out of an article from a Korean news article, either way, this in itself shows how technology is shaping first mover advantage, or what some will feel is actually a disadvantage. 4. Energy: If we look at moves in S&P sub-sectors by way of a guide for Asia, the lead really comes from energy, which won't surprise when US crude has put on a further 1.4%. Real estate has performed fairly well, while financials and materials stocks have closed on a flat note. Volumes through the S&P 500 have been poor and some 22% below the 30-day average. On the theme of crude strength, most have put this down to Libya temporarily shutting an export terminal, although there is already real momentum in the rate of change in price. A 12.6% rally in the barrel since 27 March suggests a certain caution around chasing the market here, as we are approaching a potential point of exhaustion and a pullback of sorts becoming a higher probability. Shorting oil seems a high risk strategy here though. 5. Europe: One other interesting issue to point out has been the moves behind the scenes in various European financial markets. If we look at the CAC index, a 0.5% sell-off is hardly concerning, neither is the moves in EUR/USD which is eyeing a move back into $1.0600, although to be fair has come off 300 pips from late March, driven by the European Central Bank. What we can see though is French two-year bonds trading on a yield premium of 51 basis points to that of German bunds, with a punchy nine basis point increase of the session, taking it to the biggest differential since May 2012. This spread stood at one basis point in November. We can also see EUR/USD one-month implied volatility at 12.43%, the highest since June 2016 and traders will be watching for a break of June 2015 highs of 14.25%, where we start getting into levels not seen since the Greek debt drama Grexit. Cbus Property has entered into an agreement with Randwick City Council to construct a minimum of 10 apartments for affordable housing on the site of the Newmarket Big Stable area, near Randwick Racecourse, which has been designated for community use. The plan to offer the more affordable units comes from negotiations with Randwick City Council for Cbus Property to dedicate the community facilities under a voluntary planning agreement. The Moreton Bay Fig at Newmarket Stables, will be retained as part of the Cbus project. Cbus, as part of the agreement, will also offer the council, what is known as the stable area, being a 5000-square-metre public park and six new roads. It is all part of the redevelopment of the William Inglis & Sons property, to be marketed as Newmarket Randwick. The five-hectare Newmarket property in Randwick was sold to Cbus Property for $250 million in 2015, and there are plans to build more than 750 apartments on the site. Australia should consider a tax plan being pushed by Donald Trump's Republican Party which could stop multinational corporations avoiding tax, prominent economist Ross Garnaut says. Professor Garnaut said that while it was difficult to know what President Trump intended to with corporate tax rates, despite campaign promises of a cut to 15 per cent, there was merit to the Republican Party leadership's proposal to fund rates cut of between 15 and 25 per cent by scrapping deductions. "Our existing tax base for the corporate income tax is in deep trouble," Professor Garnaut told the Melbourne Economic Forum on Tuesday. "It's subject to egregious avoidance or evasions, with two of the main instruments of avoidance being arbitrary use of interest on debt to reduce taxable income and, more importantly, arbitrary use of payment for import of services as deductions. Illustration: Dionne Gain At the end of the two-day summit, reporters pressed Trump's Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, on whether Xi had promised to make some infrastructure investments in the US, at least. The American side had been expecting such a "gift". "The best gift was [Xi's] presence," Ross replied. The Chinese agreed to a "100-day plan" to address the trade imbalance, the Americans said, but with no specified goals or outcomes. The Obama-era dialogue initiative between the two powers was terminated and a replaced with a similar one with a different name. That was about it. Not only were China's alleged past transgressions forgotten, a fresh provocation was overlooked. On Thursday, the day the two leaders sat down for their first meeting, a US think tank reported that a Chinese air force jet had been photographed on one of the islands of the South China Sea. A satellite photographed a Chinese J-11 fighter on Woody Island in the Paracel Island group. "This isn't a first, but it's the first time in a year," said Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), part of Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. Only one jet was visible on the Chinese-built runway. "There are likely more in the hangars nearby", he said." It was photographed on March 29. Its significance? This is one of the islands that Xi promised, in a press conference with Barack Obama, would not be militarised. Now it has an airstrip, radars, and reinforced concrete hangars big enough for the biggest bombers in the Chinese air force. And the air force evidently is making use of it. The Trump administration's reaction? The revelation went unremarked. It received very little media coverage. Nor was the administration pressed by reporters to comment. Everyone was busy with the Syrian missile attack. The two leaders did discuss the South China Sea in private. According to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Trump told Xi that the US was opposed to the militarisation of the islands. He urged China to observe norms of international conduct in the area. But neither US nor Chinese accounts of the meetings referred to any comment by Xi. In other words, China does as it pleases as the US reads out obsolete talking points. China built all the islands it wanted, installed all the facilities it wanted. It has completed its "iron triangle" of air force bases that straddle the world's biggest commercial artery and Australia's main export route. China is now deploying forces as it chooses, with no hindrance and no comment from the US. So much for Obama's much-ballyhooed "pivot to Asia", or "rebalancing". The contest over the South China Sea is over. China defied the US and it won. China was determined, swift and effective. Trump continues in the Obama mode in the South China Sea indecisive, distracted and ineffectual. US allies feeling anxious about America's reliability in the face of China's assertiveness have reason to worry. Trump brings a new level of fickleness to US policy in Asia. Trump initially signalled a dramatic shift in US intentions when he took a phone call from Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in January. No US president had had direct contact with a Taiwanese leader in 40 years. It was a moment that rocked the Asia-Pacific. He was girding to confront China by favouring Taiwan. But then he meekly retreated to the orthodoxy in a phone call with Xi in February. And now that the two men have stood toe-to-toe and looked each other in the eye? There was no public reference to Taiwan from either side. Taiwan, which seemed to be a bold new US priority in January, doesn't even get a mention in April. What about Trump's message to North Korea? Didn't the missile attack on Syria contan a warning for China's client state? So far the Trump administration is having the greatest difficulty sorting out the meaning of its message to Syria, with officials contradicting each other over the strategy to flow from the strike. Will they or won't they? The burning question was answered Monday when Kensington Palace announced that royal toddlers, Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, will be in aunt Pippa Middleton's May wedding. "Miss Pippa Middleton and Mr. James Matthews are pleased to confirm their wedding will take place at St Mark's Church, Englefield, on the morning of 20th May," the palace statement said. "Prince George (who is three) will be a page boy, and Princess Charlotte (two on May 2) will be a bridesmaid." Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive to attend the morning Christmas Day service at St Mark's Church in Englefield last year. Credit:Andrew Matthews Also attending will be the children's parents, Prince William and Duchess Kate of Cambridge, and uncle Prince Harry. The British royal media pack has been speculating on what role the royal children would play in the wedding since Middleton, 33, and Matthews, 40, announced their engagement in July. It is in many ways a luxury to live so close to the sea. Yet Australians may be paying for that luxury, not just with the ridiculous cost of living, but with our faces. Our sunburnt country, hot gold hush of noon and pitiless blue skies have little mercy on our pale skin, which is ageing by as much as two decades faster than our counterparts in Europe and America. Our outdoor lifestyles have a downside. Credit:Stocksy A new study by dermatologists at Monash University explained that Australia's proximity to the equator, the high sun elevation and generally clear skies mean we face higher levels of UV radiation than those in Europe and North America. "These high UV levels put Australians at particular risk of photoageing, especially when combined with Australians' traditionally outdoor, sun-seeking lifestyle and a predominantly fair-skinned population," they added. "But it will be better for my daughters." This is what I tell myself every time I read yet another report about the gender pay gap. Or sexual harassment in the workplace. Or the poor representation of women in leadership roles. Or the increasing rates of poverty and homelessness among older women. Or violence against women. Or the continued legislative threat to our reproductive rights. Drawing on other data, the long-term trend from the mid '90s onwards is bad news for gender equality. Credit:Stocksy I tell myself that generations of women have laid the groundwork for real gender equality as distinct from the go-girl feminism co-opted to sell us junk we don't need. We just need the dinosaurs to retire. Executive offices and halls of power will then be filled with younger men who grew up with strong female role models. They will think women have as much right to the c-suite as they do, and will not block their entry. And with true equality in the workplace we will finally realise true equality in the home. Potentially boosting fibre to the home speeds 100-fold, NBN's latest fibre trials also promise a backend overhaul to ease traffic jams across the entire network. While the switch to the Multi-Technology Mix has fragmented the nationwide rollout, NBN is looking to the future with plans to upgrade several of the broadband technologies used to reach Australian homes and businesses. Those with fibre running all the way to the premises still look destined to enjoy some of the fastest speeds, with Next-Generation Passive Optical Network 2 (NG-PON2) fibre trials underway but no firm commitment as to if or when the technology will be introduced in Australia. NBN's NG-PON2 fibre trials promise to benefit all NBN users, not just those relying on fibre to the premises. Credit:Glenn Hunt NBN's current GPON fibre technology delivers up to 2.5Gbps download speeds over a single fibre strand, with 1Gbps uploads. As a wholesaler NBN already offers 1Gbps fibre to the premises download speeds but Retail Service Providers (RSPs) such as Telstra and Optus are yet to embrace them and only offer 100Mbps consumer plans. The next generation XGS-PON fibre technology can hit speeds of 10/10 Gbps over the same fibre strand but NBN is already trialling NG-PON2 which quadruples the speeds of XGS-PON by sending multiple wavelengths of light down a single strand of fibre a technique known as Time and Wavelength Division Multiplexing (TWDM). When Daniel Ek first marched into record label offices in 2006, they must have thought he was off his rocker. Here was a 23-year-old telling them that their future wasn't going to be CDs or even digital downloads, but streaming music over the internet. What's more, they were going to offer it for free. The internet was a different beast back then. Superfast broadband meant being able to get a picture on to Facebook, Wi-Fi was not yet ubiquitous, and the iPhone didn't exist. YouTube was in its infancy and Netflix was a DVD rental service, so streaming was still an untested concept. So Mr Ek's idea, an unlimited song selection available instantly, and supported by adverts, would have elicited some head-scratching. Besides, even if such a strange future were to exist, why would it be entrusted to a no-name company called Spotify, rather than a giant like iTunes or, indeed, the labels themselves? But it was a desperate time for the music industry. Revenues were entering their fifth year of decline, and piracy was rife - especially in Sweden, Spotify's home nation. At this point, they were willing to try anything. A Malaysian airline pilot has been found guilty of repeatedly raping a woman at knifepoint after he broke into her Perth home 21 years ago. Alfred Gerard Eravelly, 50, broke into the victim's Scarborough home in the early hours of March 9, 1996 by cutting the fly screen on her en suite bathroom window. A Malaysian airline pilot has been found guilty of repeatedly raping a woman at knifepoint. Wearing a stocking over his head, he tied her up and sexually assaulted her, leaving behind DNA that was later analysed and led to his arrest. He was charged with five counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent and one count each of burglary, unlawful detention and unlawful wounding after he flew back to Australia from Malaysia in February last year. People gather outside the St. George's Church after a deadly suicide bombing, in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, Egypt. Credit:AP The horror is not limited, as the far-right would have you think, to Muslim countries. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Catholics are fleeing into the forests to escape militias targeting church workers and property. But "Islamic extremism" is the dominant force behind the oppression of Christians in nine out of 10 of the worst countries surveyed by Open Doors. In Nigeria, the murder of Christians by Boko Haram jumped 62 per cent in one year. Some calculate that between half and two-thirds of Iraq's Christians have died or fled. Up to one million Christian Syrians are now refugees. Those that stay behind in the Middle East face religious taxes, torture, destruction of their temples and rape. There are eyewitness accounts of crucifixions. We ought to be outraged. Instead the strangely academic tone of Western reaction was captured in an online BBC report about the Egyptian bombings. It read: "The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country. Many believe that continues to this day." Many believe? What an odd choice of words. I wonder how many Copts have to die before this torment is upgraded from a belief to a self-evident fact. Why do Westerners behave oddly when it's Christians being murdered abroad? Political correctness is partly to blame - that secular form of Christian guilt about things we've done, failed to do, and did a long time ago to foreign people (which means, we seem to assume, that they can do no wrong today). But also PC allied to realpolitik - the fear that by calling this a religious war on Christians, we confirm the radical Islamist's narrative of Christianity vs Islam and ramp up the sectarian divide. This anxiety rudely assumes that fundamentalists do indeed speak for an unspoken Muslim tendency towards genocide - even though it contradicts Islamic teaching. The Pope is due to visit Egypt later this month and has been told by Imam Ibrahim Mogra, the assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, to raise the subject of Christian persecution. Good for Mogra; the Pope should take his advice. If Francis does, he won't be lodging a subjective complaint but pointing out the blindingly obvious. We should call what's going on in some Muslim countries a war on Christianity because that's what it is. If we refuse to do this to avoid causing offence, we are allowing our worst enemies to police our language. There is one other reason why we're so nervous about engaging with this fight: the West is reluctant to identify itself as Christian. Our spirit has become so weak, our culture so vapid, that we struggle to see that the rights, the democracy, the religious pluralism that we all enjoy in our part of the world were not invented yesterday but are part of a historic, global story of Christian social progress. We've forgotten who we are. No wonder that when we see members of our religious family suffer, we don't realise the responsibility that we have for them. We need more religion in our policy. More religion in arts and education so that we can all understand each other better. More willingness to encourage the moderate - and authentic - voices within Islam; more willingness to condemn those financing extremism. Less Western intervention in parts of the world that simply want to be left alone, for sure, but that shouldn't stop us aiding the desperate. Take more refugees, both Muslim and Christian. And let's use our leverage to get regimes such as Egypt's to provide better security for its minorities. WSU Hosts Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk April 11, 2017 OGDEN, Utah Weber State University will host the third annual American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Campus Walk, April 15 from 8 a.m.-noon in the Shepherd Union Atrium. The WSU Honors Program and Honors Student Advisory Board will sponsor the e vent, which includes a 1-mile walk around campus, guest speakers and suicide prevention resources. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. in the Shepherd Union Atrium, where participants can visit booths from local mental health agencies and listen to speakers. At 10 a.m., participants will meet at the Stewart Bell Tower Plaza to begin the walk. For quite some time, Utah has had alarmingly high suicide rates, said Tanner Telford, Honors Student Advisory Board member. This means that many people from our school and community are impacted by the issue. The Honors Program is proud to contribute to such a worthy cause because we realize the impact it has on our students, community and state. The first Out of the Darkness walk at WSU was held in 2015. WSU alumnus Corbin Standley was inspired to help others after he lost his brother to suicide in 2010. He brought the walk to campus during his term as the Honors Student Advisory Board president, and the program has continued to sponsor the event since then. Since graduating, Standley became a board member for AFSP and now serves on the Out of the Darkness planning committee. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people ages 10-24 in Utah, Standley said. Particularly on college campuses, suicide ideation is a huge issue. We hope that by walking we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. In the past two years, the WSU event has raised almost $10,000 for AFSP. Throughout the country, Out of the Darkness walks have raised more than $1 million for suicide prevention efforts. There is no cost to take part in the walk. Participants may pledge to raise any amount, but those who raise $100 or more will receive a T-shirt. To pre-register, visit AFSP.org/Weber. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 10, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 10, 2017 | 12:35 PM | PADUCAH, KY A former Paducah furniture store owner has been sentenced to probation and community service, after pleading guilty to several felony charges. Danny Kelley, former owner of Fleming Furniture was sentenced Monday to 18 months probation. He pleaded guilty in December to 12 felony counts related to not ordering furniture that customers had paid for. Raymond McGee with the McCracken County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office says Kelley will also not be allowed to run a business that collects deposits from customers in advance to order items. "He can't operate any business where he is given funds to purchase for other people. He was accepting deposits to buy furniture for people, and he was using those deposits to try to catch his business up on bad debt rather than using that money to order furniture." McGee said. Kelley will also have to serve 20 hours of community service per month while on probation. Fleming Furniture closed last May, after 35 years in business. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 10, 2017 | 09:21 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY A man was arrested on multiple charges Monday after a disturbance outside a McCracken County business. According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Office, deputies were contacted around 3:30 pm by an employee of Amtrol in reference to 45-year-old James Mayfield cursing at employees and charging the fence between him and the employees. Police said Mayfield was threatening the employees with bodily harm and they were afraid to leave. Deputies found Mayfield walking down the railroad tracks near his home on Cook Street. Police said Mayfield immediately became disorderly, yelled and cursed, clenched his fists and showed signs of combativeness. Mayfield reportedly refused to answer deputies' questions about making threats and continued yelling and cursing. Mayfield was taken into custody and charged with menacing and disorderly conduct. Upon arrival at the jail, deputies say Mayfield was combative and bit a deputy jailer on the arm while attempts to subdue him were being made. Mayfield was additionally charged with 3rd degree assault on a corrections officer. Fatal semi crash on I-57 backing up traffic onto I-24 Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By The Associated Press Apr. 10, 2017 | 09:53 PM | LOUISVILLE, KY A judge has signed an order to keep Kentucky's last abortion clinic open until a lawsuit aimed at preventing its closure is resolved. U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers issued a preliminary injunction to keep EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville open pending the suit's outcome. Stivers previously issued a restraining order to prevent the state from revoking EMW's license. American Civil Liberties Union attorney Brigitte Amiri praised the judge's action Monday but said doctors shouldn't have to go to court to ensure they can provide care. Gov. Matt Bevin's administration agreed to renew EMW's license until the lawsuit is resolved. The state told the clinic it was out of compliance with laws related to its agreements with a hospital and ambulance service. Loading... Set in the early '70s in a studio apartment in Boston, USA (the play's title refers to the street address), 46 Beacon is a simple but affecting tale of coming out and growing up. English actor Robert - on the emotional run from a failing relationship in London, and on the professional run from a 'juve lead' career on the skids back home - seduces gauche, theatre-obsessed kid Alan. So far, so straightforward, but writer Bill Rosenfield gives the two characters such interesting, all-too-human quirks and contradictions that we are kept fully engaged for the play's entire 85 minute duration. It helps of course that the two actors in Alexander Lass's intimate, expertly paced production are so strong. As Robert, Jay Taylor impressively suggests both a soul in turmoil and somebody painfully aware of the passing of time underneath the predatory suaveness and surface vanity. Oliver Coopersmith brilliantly captures the sense of Alan being an essentially sweet person, uncomfortable in his own skin but longing to break out and make a real connection with another human being. The lovely moment where he goes to make the bed he has just been deflowered in is quietly heartbreaking. Rosenfield's dialogue is often sharply funny, and sometimes excruciatingly raw in its accuracy, except for the final moments where Alan looks back on his sexual awakening with an acceptance and lack of rancour that, to me anyway, seemed a little too good to be true. As an American living in London, Rosenfield unerringly captures both the British and the American speech patterns and phraseology, so that both characters sound completely convincing throughout. The large age gap between the men - man and boy really - is depicted without judgement - something that may have needed to be addressed less perfunctorily had the play featured more than just the two characters. As it stands, it is a gently gripping, unexpectedly humorous glance at a pair of adrift souls finding a brief, mismatched connection. It also has more truth and heart in it than many plays of twice the length. 46 Beacon runs at Trafalgar Studios until 29 April. Loading... "If music be the food of love", it's also at the heart of Paul Hart's jaunty jazz-age production. Onstage at the Elephant Jazz Club his tight ensemble of actor-musicians take it away with their big brassy sound - no wonder Jamie Satterthwaite's sexy Orsino commands them to 'play on'! Their heart-catching rendition of "Mad World" takes you into the play's disconcerting world of disguises, cross-dressing and wicked practical jokes. The cast take partners from the audience onto the dance floor of Katie Lias' golden speakeasy set, flanked by lamp-lit tables, with mysterious alcoves behind, where musicians and lovers linger. On the balcony above, Offue Okegbe's resourceful Feste, more ringmaster than clown, orchestrates the madness. Almost anticipating Prospero, he oversees the wreck that separates Rebecca Lee's determined Viola and Stuart Wilde's virile Sebastian, darkly imagined below him. So the scene is set for the daisy chain of yearning lovers and mistaken identities. Gender-blind casting makes it all the more provocative. The National Theatre has its Malvolia, but Lauryn Redding's expansive Sir Toby, doesn't change her name her sex is a given and her marriage to Maria needs no explanation. Nonetheless, the notable pirate' who rescues Sebastian is Antonia, not Antonio. It gives a different spin to Emma McDonald's feisty and ardent Antonia, risking her life for his love, in the country where she is a wanted woman. In this febrile atmosphere, it's only natural for Aruhan Galieva's sprightly Olivia to become coquettish once she has Viola in her sights. In this age of prohibition, Malvolio's mission is to stand guard over all that's forbidden in Olivia's house. Since forbidden fruit is sweeter, it's no wonder Toby and Feste join forces with Mike Slader's gangling Aguecheek to rope Victoria Blunt's brisk and bossy Maria into a boisterous, alcohol-fuelled jamming session. Blunt's double bass serves as the unlikely box hedge behind which these conspirators hide to watch her letter lure Malvolio to his destruction Peter Dukes' steward is a terrific tragi-comic creation, morphing from snooty steward to posturing wannabe squire, to pouting transvestite, channelling The Rocky Horror Show's Frank-N-Furter in little more than those yellow stockings. You could argue it's too crude, but with the addition of artfully-crossed suspenders, it makes sense. Ironically, Malvolio's descent into madness is actually an ascent, stranded and exposed on a platform centre-stage. In a thought-provoking coup de theatre, even as Feste goads him into madness from above, Sebastian also appears on the balcony, wondering if he is mad to imagine Olivia might love him a mad world indeed. By the time all is resolved with a final glorious jamming session, the audience is begging the brass to 'play on' long after the last curtain call. Twelfth Night runs at The Watermill Theatre until 6 May, then in repertory with Romeo and Juliet to 22 July. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/04/2017 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Mayors, reeves and municipal councillors from across the province are going to be in close proximity this week to be able to hold provincial politicians feet to the fire as the Pallister government presents its budget today. Thats because starting today, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities will be holding meetings in Winnipeg that will bring roughly 600 municipal officials together. Mayors, reeves and chief administrative officers will be meeting today, ahead of the big municipal officials seminar on Wednesday and Thursday. Chris Goertzen, chairman of the AMM and the mayor of Steinbach, said the Pallister governments initiative to reduce red tape is something his membership is keenly interested in. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Association of Manitoba Municipalities chairman Chris Goertzen. We continue to look for partnerships, Goertzen said. That comes in a variety of ways. It can be financial or it can be working on red tape and reducing regulations that impede municipalities. It will be an interesting time to look at the budget and then meet with so many municipal officials from across the province in one place. In a recent survey, the AMM asked members where they would like to see the province cut red tape. The organization used those responses for a submission to the government, highlighting the issues that were of most concern to its members. They included lots of issues around drainage regulations, including better consistency in drainage licence applications, as well as hassles with Municipal Board hearing scheduling and, Public Utilities Board matters. Its an opportunity for our members to dialogue, AMM executive director Joe Masi said. We support regulations but they have to be reviewed from time to time and this government is prepared to do that. We are pleased with that. We want to make sure our members have the opportunity to fully discuss any concerns with regulations that get in the way of them becoming better and stronger communities. The municipal officials seminar will tackle tricky issues such as privacy breach planning and management from a municipal perspective, social media strategies, developing workplace harassment prevention plans as well as strategizing on issues like maximizing the impact of the arts and culture industries and the value of tourism. But likely all eyes will also be on todays budget, which Goertzen points out will be the first that the Pallister government can put its full stamp on. He is encouraged by its commitment to reduce red tape. We have seen a real partnership develop with the provincial government on that front, he said. We want to continue to see that transpire. We think it can save municipalities money and if we can find solutions that are more effective it will actually save the province money as well. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/04/2017 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. RCMP scoop them up and screen them as soon as they cross into Canada and there have been no reports of them committing crimes as they await their refugee hearings. But many Canadians fear asylum seekers like those crossing on foot at Emerson pose a security risk, a new national poll says. When asked whether Canada should put more emphasis on assisting the new arrivals walking across the border in places like Emerson and Lacolle, Que., or on monitoring and patrolling the border to deter future crossings, nearly three-quarters of Canadians (72 per cent) prefer a focus on border security, the Angus Reid Institute survey released Monday said. The public opinion poll does not ask how Canadians think patrolling the border would deter future crossings or if they think patrols should use force to keep asylum seekers out. Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times/ Tribune News Service Files A new national poll finds Canadians would rather the government focus on security than assisting new arrivals who enter the country illegally. The survey, called Canadians prioritize border security over aid to those crossing illegally said more than a third (37 per cent) are worried about the security threat asylum seekers pose, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) think Canada should be focused on helping them and most (38 per cent) think Canada is torn between the two. The online survey included 100 Manitobans, most of whom said they think the number of asylum seekers crossing into Canada irregularly will continue to increase after a surge arrived this winter risking life and limb in the deadly cold. The survey found that 60 per cent of Canadians believe their country should be an example for the world when it comes to generosity toward refugees. That generosity wasnt as apparent after a surge of refugee claimants from the U.S. drifted over the border into Canada this winter following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, who tried to impose a travel ban on eight mostly Muslim countries. The March survey found almost three in four Canadians agree with the statement Its not fair that people can cross into Canada illegally and apply for refugee status here. It also found that those who voted Conservative in the last federal election were more leery of asylum seekers than others. Two-thirds of those who voted Conservative in 2015 say the security risk they pose is significant or huge while past Liberal and NDP voters lean almost as heavily in the opposite direction, the poll found. Younger Canadians and those with university degrees (65 per cent) are much more likely than older and less formally educated groups to say the risk of a criminal element entering Canada this way is minimal, the survey said. Slightly more than half of Canadians believe the asylum seekers are genuinely in need of refugee protection and not just economic migrants looking for a better life. Among those who voted Conservative in the last federal election, the survey found that 60 per cent think most are not genuine refugees. Who are these asylum seekers crossing into Canada? A snapshot of some was provided Monday by one Winnipeg lawyer who has represented dozens of refugee claimants before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Last week, Bashir Khan had eight such clients appearing for their IRB hearings in Winnipeg. Of those eight refugee claimants, five were accepted, two were rejected and one decision was reserved. A bisexual man from Ghana, where sex between men is outlawed, was accepted. A woman from Turkey who was accused by Turkeys government of being sympathetic to those who plotted last years coup attempt was also granted protection in Canada. Three men from Djibouti who were persecuted for their political beliefs or for being members of an ethnic minority also had their refugee claims accepted. Two men from Ghana had their claims rejected and, in the case of a man from Djibouti, the decision was reserved, Khan said. When it comes to the federal governments overall handling of the issue of asylum seekers, Canadians are of mixed opinion, the national survey found. Almost half say the government has done a poor or very poor job while only three per cent of Canadians and just five per cent of those who voted Liberal in 2015 said it has done a very good job on the file. Most Liberals (54 per cent) say the government has done a good job overall. When asked about their confidence in the governments ability to deal with security risks posed by people crossing the border illegally, half express confidence and half do not. Only 11 per cent said they are very confident. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/04/2017 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Andrew Moreau was a farm labourer who signed his name with an X when he joined the army in Treherne and went to fight for his country in northern France during the First World War. A century later, a lake in Manitoba bears the name of the private who didnt know how to read or write, but knew what it meant to put his country and fellow Canadians ahead of himself. Its a tremendous honour, Maj. Jason Graveline, Moreaus great-grandson, said at a ceremony at the Manitoba legislature Monday. CAROL SANDERS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Danielle Burr (left to right), with her son, Carson Burr, as well as nephew Ethan Graveline and brother Maj. Jason Graveline, hold a plaque commemorating their ancestor, Pte. Andrew Moreau, who fought and died in the First World War. The ceremony commemorated the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge. Thirteen Manitobans who died during the First World War were honoured by the premier and the lieutenant governor. Family members of the fallen soldiers for whom Manitoba lakes in the Flin Flon area have been named were presented with plaques by Lt-Gov. Janice Filmon and Premier Brian Pallister. We felt kind of overwhelmed with emotion, Moreaus great-granddaughter, Danielle Burr, said after the ceremony. Her son, Carson Burr, as well as his cousin, air cadet Ethan Graveline, watched as Maj. Graveline accepted the plaque showing where to find Moreau Lake on a Manitoba map. After the solemn event, Moreaus great-grandson said visiting Moreau Lake is on his bucket list. Maj. Graveline says he wants to see the lake named for his maternal great-grandfather, a man whose history hes researched. Moreau was born in North Dakota in 1891 and moved to Treherne, where he worked as a farm labourer and married a local woman named Emma. From his attestation papers when he signed up I knew he wasnt able to write because he actually made an X rather than a signature, said Graveline. Before leaving Canada, Moreaus son Gravelines Grandpa Mike was born in 1914. Moreau joined the 222nd Battalion in Treherne, then transferred to the 8th Battalion made up of many Manitobans, said Graveline. Overseas, Moreau survived the Vimy campaign but was killed during a battle shortly afterward at a town called Arleux, he said. He has no known grave. He was just 26 years old. Moreaus name was inscribed on the Vimy National Memorial in France. Now its on the map as the name of a lake in Manitoba, a province that has 100,000 lakes, 90,000 of which have names. In 1995, the province completed the naming of lakes, islands and bays after the more than 4,000 Manitoba casualties from the Second World War. Now Manitoba is matching the lakes, bays and islands with the names of casualties from the First World War. The databank for Manitobans killed in the First World War now tallies about 8,200. Sisters Marjorie Fortier and Louise Thomas arent sure if they will ever get to remote Evared Wright Lake north of Flin Flin, named after their great-uncle, Pte. Evared I. Wright. What is important, the sisters said at Mondays ceremony, is that the sacrifice of those who died serving their country is not forgotten. Hes remembered, Fortier said after the ceremony in the legislatures regal Manitoba Room. What the soldiers went through was horrendous, Thomas said. Its touching, Maj. Graveline said. Amongst the slaughter of World War I, here we are taking time to commemorate 13 Manitobans that none of us knew. By 1917 they were all dead these Manitobans who willingly gave everything and here we are 100 years later commemorating them. I think its incredibly special. In terms of lives, Manitoba gave more per capita than any other province during the First World War, Pallister said at the ceremony. That spirit of giving has continued, the premier told the crowd that included British Consul General Caroline Saunders from Calgary and Frances honorary consul, Bruno Burnichon. When Manitobans see a problem, we are the first to lend a hand, Pallister said at the ceremony. We see a challenge, we face it together. We never turn our back on those in need. We consistently lead the country of Canada in volunteerism and in supporting charities. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/04/2017 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. More than 200 protesters gathered outside Concordia Hospital Tuesday for the first of what health-care workers promise will be many demonstrations in opposition to drastic health-care changes across Winnipeg that include closing three emergency departments. The crowd was made up of hospital workers, community members and local politicians. The mood toggled between concern and anger. Were going to fight back every step of the way, Canadian Union of Public Employees Manitoba president Kelly Moist promised. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Concordia Hospital workers, concerned citizens and CUPE members rally in front of Concordia Hospital Tuesday. On Friday, the province and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority announced sweeping changes that will be rolled out over the next two years, including the consolidation of emergency care and general surgery to Health Sciences Centre, St. Boniface General Hospital and Grace Hospital. ERs at Victoria and Seven Oaks hospitals will transition to urgent-care centres for patients requiring serious, but non-life-threatening care. Concordias ER will be closed. Protesters chanted slogans targeting Premier Brian Pallister a couple of hours before the provincial government tabled its 2017-18 budget. The demonstration was timed so hospital workers could attend on their lunch break. Code blue in health care, read one sign, a nod to the hospital code for a patient in cardiac arrest. Some cuts dont heal, warned another. Its sending a signal that the entire northeast part of the city, including some of our southern neighbourhoods, that we dont matter, said Kim Pohl, a longtime health worker at Concordia. I could have a stroke or a heart attack at the Dollarama just across the street, but Ill have to go to St. Boniface which, in high traffic, might be 40 minutes 40 minutes too late. Hospital X-ray tech Garett Hoare said he doesnt understand why Concordia isnt going to have the same sort of role in Valley Gardens as Seven Oaks and Victoria will have in their areas of the city. Theres nothing east of the river, he said. I understand why they want to streamline critical services but we dont understand why we dont (at least) have urgent care. Concordia MLA Matt Wiebe, the NDP health critic, said the province is doing the opposite of whats required. There needs to be an investment in this emergency room and other front-line services, not a removal of service from communities, he said. This feels personal right now. The Progressive Conservatives have begun to chop other programs introduced by the previous NDP government and there are fears of more to come, he said. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Concordia Hospital health-care worker Kim Pohl isn't happy about the closure of the hospital's ER ward. This is just one of the latest in a number of hits that weve taken in this community, he said, referring to QuickCare clinics (the province closed one of the citys six in January), an inadequate number of personal-care home beds and cancelling the Hospital Home Team program that kept some geriatric patients out of the hospital. Union representatives said details of the changes are in short supply. We dont have any more concrete information as to timing or anything, or what numbers will look like, said Sandi Mowat, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union. Mowat said shes heard that changes at Victoria and Concordia are in the initial phase of the overhaul, but even that doesnt help establish a timeline. We dont know what that means, she said, adding the union has received a commitment from the WRHA to keep it in the loop. The MNU plans to hold a rally outside the legislature on April 26. jane.gerster@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/04/2017 (2038 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A creepy, dark underpass bisecting the citys North End and downtown is being rehabilitated thanks to the ongoing efforts of concerned citizens. Step one: lights that dont look like theyre one flicker away from burning out. Its been a very ugly, scary, dark passageway, Sel Burrows, chairman of the Point Douglas Residents committee, told reporters Monday morning. He gathered a few community members at the CPR underpass on Main Street near Higgins Avenue to show off new LED lighting. JEN DOERKSEN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Hydro workers installed light bulbs and clear-glass covers Friday under the Higgins underpass. Manitoba Hydro workers installed the light bulbs along with new, clear-glass covers Friday, completing the first phase of the committees plan to make pedestrians feel safe as they make their way through the underpass after dark. Were very excited, said Burrows, adding that he hadnt yet walked through the newly lit tunnel at night, but had already heard positive reports from neighbours who had. Bianca Ramos, safety co-ordinator with the North Point Douglas Womens Centre, said shes hopeful the bright lights will instil a sense of safety and security in people particularly women who actively avoid the underpass because of safety concerns. You hear of different people being assaulted in isolated areas with poor lighting, Ramos said, this would be an ideal territory for that. Ramos observation is in keeping with the focus of the Winnipeg Police Services downtown safety strategy, which the cops launched last December. The Centreline strategy focuses on increasing police visibility, with more officers walking city streets and riding city buses. It came about as a result of the latest police survey, which showed that more than 90 per cent of women felt unsafe walking around downtown on their own after dark. A number of initiatives focusing on improving peoples actual safety and their sense of safety have sprung up in recent years in the area. The Downtown Winnipeg Biz Watch Team partnered with Impark to increase patrols in parking lots and parkades. The team also has a group of volunteer ambassadors who provide a free downtown walking companion most hours of the day. Ramos has long been involved in helping create a community strategy to reduce violence on Main Street, part of which included conducting a needs assessment. Inadequate lighting repeatedly topped the list of concerns. Because people avoid the underpass, it has become a physical barrier that separates the North End from downtown, she said. Neither Ramos nor Burrows could think of a single incident that spurred the community into taking action, but they said its not uncommon to hear disturbing stories. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Hydro recently replaced the light bulbs in the fixtures underneath the Higgins underpass in an attempt to increase the ambient light which had been very low and raised safety concerns for pedestrians. Resident Josh Peterson, who regularly walks and cycles through the underpass, said hes hopeful the lighting will help improve safety, as well as peoples concept of the North End. Its the gateway in and out of the north, he said. Its an unsightly mess; its dark and uninviting, gloomy. Burrows said the city and Manitoba Hydro have expressed a willingness to install more lights, if necessary. Burrows said residents can expect more details within the next month on additional rehabilitation measures for the tunnel. jane.gerster@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/04/2017 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. How much money wage controls are saving Manitobans from paying out this year remains a mystery. Finance Minister Cameron Friesen has not calculated nor would he venture an estimate Tuesday of the impact that his governments public sector wage controls have had on his second provincial budget. The wage control legislation is not a measure that drops a number on the table, he told reporters. Finance Minister Cameron Friesen has not calculated nor would he venture an estimate Tuesday of the impact that his governments public sector wage controls have had on his second provincial budget. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) Asked three times, Friesen would not be pinned down on whether any public sector worker will be out of a job. Many areas within many departments outside of health and education are looking at lower budgets than last year, regardless if workers are frozen or have collective bargaining agreements still in effect. We are standing up for front line workers, said Friesen, who pointed out, A lot can be done simply by vacancy management. Premier Brian Pallister told reporters hes protecting front line workers, but, I would never guarantee that no one in the civil service would never lose their job. Government is too big, Pallister declared. There is a hint of an impact: costs in the health care system are up less than overall government spending, and 30,000 health system employees now have their wages frozen this fiscal year and next. But government officials say theres been no calculation made of how much more it would have cost the treasury had workers currently frozen received an increase this year. Labour leaders charged that the government is leaving jobs open with no indication theyll be filled, while forcing employees with frozen wages to do more work. Fewer dollars means theyre not filling jobs its a theme coming through, said Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck. Theres no indication of them being filled or not filled. Manitoba Government and General Employees Union president Michelle Gawronsky said her health system members are being told to do more to cover for jobs left vacant as a money-saving strategy: Theres no thought its going to end. A lot of them are going home in tears, a lot of them are going home exhausted. Wage control legislation will be proclaimed no later than June 1. It subjects 120,000 public sector provincial employees to a two-year wage freeze on their next collective bargaining agreement, with a maximum of 0.75 per cent in the third year, and 1.0 per cent in the fourth year. The bill is retroactive to March 20, so it will apply to the 30,000 health care workers whose deals expired March 31. Many other collective bargaining agreements have years to run. The MGEU civil service master agreement has two years to go, and 15,000 teachers wont need a new deal until July 1, 2018. Until then, theyre all paid the increases for which they bargained several years ago. Pallister has said repeatedly that public sector wages and benefits cost Manitoba $10 billion a year, about 70 per cent of all government spending. Each one per cent not paid is a savings of $100 million, the premier reckons, but that much money wont happen annually, since some collective agreements have so many years to go that workers wont see their freeze years start until 2019 or 2020. This rolls over four years, said Friesen, and a portion of the public service will roll into wage freezes each April 1 for the next several fiscal years. The Tories plans to freeze wages came out incrementally over the past few months, and there had been fears among labour leaders that the government would even try to reopen existing agreements. The first overt sign of the freeze came last fall when the University of Manitoba and the U of M Faculty Association announced that the province had ordered them to take a one-year pause. They did agree on a wage freeze in a one-year deal, but not before the union went on strike for three weeks over working conditions. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/04/2017 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Flood control projects will get substantially more money this year but infrastructure spending is dropping in most areas of highways, health, education and housing. The Pallister government kept its promise in Tuesdays provincial budget of spending at least $1 billion annually on strategic infrastructure. Water-related infrastructure spending was $40 million last year, and this year Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen has $60 million to spend. We inherited a mess, said Finance Minister Cameron Friesen said. You can subtract schools and overpasses you could have done if you werent paying money lenders in Toronto." (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) Finance Minister Cameron Friesen said in his budget speech that the province will invest in flood protection, drainage, and other water control infrastructure. We are committed to addressing the vulnerabilities, most notably with the completion of the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin outlets project, said the minister. Infrastructure capital spending in health and education has so far concentrated on maintenance and repairs to existing buildings and structures to the exclusion of the large-scale new projects promised by the former NDP government. I wont go line-by-line on an infrastructure list, Friesen said. What else may be coming, Friesen isnt saying, but he vowed not to run up debt as the NDP did. We inherited a mess, Friesen said. We indicated in the first year of our mandate that we had to put the brakes on. You can subtract schools and overpasses you could have done if you werent paying money lenders in Toronto. When capital projects come, Manitobans are likely to see some public private partnerships already in use in several provinces companies bid, build a project, and the province repays them over decades. Youll see a salute to P3s, said Friesen, who cited hundreds of successful projects across Canada financed through public private partnerships. Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman welcomed municipal infrastructure funding being consistent with last year he had no problems not getting more. Thats something we should welcome I certainly appreciate the financial circumstances they inherited, Bowman said. We wanted to see a very strong sign of partnership. We saw that today. Manitoba Heavy Construction Association president Chris Lorenc would have preferred more emphasis on roads, bridges, and sewers. Its very much a transitional budget, Lorenc said. Its not a shock and awe budget people feared the worst. Lorenc noted that P3s can be a good way to go: Theyre a good return to the economy, he said. Education Minister Ian Wishart has publicly shown interest in Saskatchewans use of P3s to build new schools. The government can call for proposals on P3 projects late this year the red-tape reduction bill will become law in November, which includes a clause repealing the former NDP governments strict controls which discouraged P3 projects. The message I would have to Manitobans is, were on a journey together, Friesen said. We dont take an ideological approach, we value results over ideology. We might say no to a new gym, but approve another project of value, the finance minister said. The Business Council of Manitoba has beseeched Pallister and Friesen to spend capital dollars to avoid an economic downturn and to encourage skilled workers not to seek employment elsewhere. Earlier this year, the Tories postponed opponents say cancelled $1 billion worth of health care capital projects promised by the former NDP government, most notably the new $300 million CancerCare Manitoba building and a $32 million personal care home in Lac du Bonnet. The NDP had promised new schools in northwest Winnipeg and south Brandon, but there was no sign Tuesday of money for new schools. Nor is there a sign of the $150 million the NDP promised to the University of Manitoba for its $500 million Front and Centre fundraising campaign. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca He may be the only man in Minnesota ever to call for bids on a Tanzanian birthing chair. But for Rushfords Bertram Boyum, it was all in a days work. At 98 years old, he was recently recognized as the oldest living auctioneer in the state by the Minnesota Auctioneers Association.Inducted into the Minnesota Auctioneers Hall of Fame in 1995, Boyum has been a member of the association for many years, but he had not been to its conferences in a long time. One day, he received a call from the association and was asked to attend. When I asked them why I had to go, they just told me they would let me know when I got there, Boyum said. Recently he looked back at a long lifetime of working the crowd; looking for bids. Before getting into auctioneering, Boyum worked on a farm for 15 years, but he said he always had in the back of his mind that he would do something different in his life. His first experience with the auction business came when an acquaintance got him started doing auctions at church bazaar. He found he enjoyed it. Afterwards, he just needed someone to give him a little push down that path. The encouragement he needed came from his aunt, who told him, You could be an auctioneer; you are good at it and you would make a good one. That was all I needed, Boyum said. For formal preparation, he attended a community college in Mason City, Iowa, for a week in 1966 and received the training he needed to hold auctions professionally. Boyum said auctions in the 1960s and 1970s were not like todays auctions. Auctions used to be outside, Boyum said, and some of the challenges he had to deal with involved calling auctions in either freezing or broiling temperatures. One auction was held at 15 degrees below zero, north of Rushford. Boyum called the night before to cancel the auction but the organizer wanted to have it anyway. There were not a lot of people that day, Boyum said, but they still made it happen. Another auction was held at 90 degrees. Boyum recalled two people passing out from the burning summer heat. Things have changed a lot in the auction business, he said. Auctioneers used to call people by names and not numbers, he said, and PA systems often werent used, so he had to talk clearly, with a strong voice. One of the best qualities of an auctioneer, he said, is having a chant that allows people to understand what you need to communicate to them. Younger auctioneers today, he said, talk too fast. After five decades, Boyum does not remember all of the auctions he called, but he surely cannot forget one item the most unusual he ever sold. It was a birthing chair from Tanzania; brought back to Minnesota by a pastor. The chair is a common piece of equipment in Tanzania, used by pregnant women to give birth, he said, but he had never seen one before that time. Boyums legs keep him from standing to sell now, but he still feels like he could use his voice sometimes to draw out a bid and make a sale. Boyums son, Murt, has followed in his footsteps an auctioneer, like his dad, since the 1970s. Sometimes, the two worked together, but Murt is now on his own. He got his start by hearing his dad and participating at auctions with him. He is a good auctioneer, Boyum said. As a Baby Boomer, I was weaned on the righteous glory of World War II, then chastened by Vietnam, a misguided, confused conflict that still haunts many Americans, as well as many Vietnamese. Since 1945 our military forces have done what theyve always done, discharged their duties with loyalty, courage and skill. But their dependability hasnt always been matched by the quality of their civilian leadership. This breeds in some of us a reflexive skepticism about military action, and the wars of the 21st century havent helped. The attack on Afghanistan in 2001 was justified but poorly executed. After years of combat a successful outcome still eludes us. And Iraq? After 14 years of suffering and cost, one of our greatest foreign policy miscalculations is far from resolved. Thus the irresistible satisfaction generated by our missile attack against Syrias Bashar al-Assad last week no one deserves it more is tempered by the same ominous feeling that many had in March of 2003, when George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld were mounting the assault on Baghdad. Skepticism about the Tomahawk missile strike against Assads Al Shayrat airfield seems particularly justified since it is in such startling contrast to policies that the Trump campaign ran on and that seemed to inform Trumps administration until only a couple of days before the attack. Furthermore, President Trumps decision to launch 59 Tomahawks against Assad seems to have been driven partly by emotion rather than by a well-considered strategy with clear goals. Trump isnt known for his appreciation of subtlety and nuance. In fact, hes more likely to be moved by impulse than by careful calculation. Hes not inclined to listen to experts, and he has often expressed more confidence in his instincts than in their advice. In addition, the ancient Shia versus Sunni divide serves as a complicating backdrop to Syrias civil war, and any steps we take can easily be seen as choosing sides in a conflict over which we have no control. And then theres ISIS. How carefully were these factors weighed during the 63 hours between Assads chemical weapons attack on his own people and the Tomahawk attack on Al Shayrat by the Trump administration, which has yet to find its footing in the White House? Of course, none of this means that the missile attack was a mistake; Trumps instincts could be correct. But how could he have assuaged the well-founded concerns of citizens who have witnessed our record of futility when we attempt military intervention in parts of the world we dont understand? Heres where our nations current hyper-partisanship is so damaging. Indulge a fantasy: a phone call from President Trump to former President Obama. Few have spent more time thinking about Syria, Iran, Russia and ISIS than Obama. Indeed, the complaint against Obama is that he spent too much time thinking and not enough acting. But Obama had his reasons for choosing a diplomatic course rather than a military attack against Syria in 2013, after Assad perpetrated a much larger chemical attack against his own people. I suspect they had nothing to do with indecision, incompetence or timidity. Obama was unrelenting in his pursuit of Al Qaeda and ISIS leaders, and he was willing to risk his presidency to kill the SOB who took down the WTC. But things have changed in Syria since 2013. Assad is winning and Russia is more deeply involved. A missile strike may have been his best option, but Trump could have built confidence in the attack with public coordination between his fledgling, inexperienced administration and the one that has been grappling with the Syrian civil war since its beginning. Alas, we do not live in the happy land where this kind of bipartisan coordination is possible. Indeed Trump may never have been elected without his brutal, personal attacks on his predecessor. But the campaign is over, and weve traded a president characterized by caution, deliberation and diplomacy for one inclined toward emotion, impulse and instinct. President Trump should accept help in finding a prudent middle path between these two poles wherever he can find it. The great social and medical mystery of the early 21st century in America is this: What is killing the white working class? The leading detectives on the case, indubitably, are two Princeton economists who happen to be married to each other, Ann Case and Angus Deaton, winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in economics. They in fact were the first to detect the condition. Two years ago they published an academic study that you probably remember because it garnered so much attention. They discovered that from 1998 to 2013, the mortality rate got worse for one and only one demographic group in America: non-Hispanic, middle-aged whites. It was a stunning and disturbing finding because for generation after generation, mortality rates the most basic measure of public health steadily fell for all Americans of all demographic description. Some groups clearly fared better than others; whites have had lower mortality rates than blacks, for example, and still do. But all groups got better year after year except middle-aged whites early in the 21st century. Their death rates from cancer and heart disease, the two biggest killers, declined as with the rest of the population. But they were offset by sharp increases in suicide, drug overdoses (mostly opioids) and alcohol-related liver disease. Deaton and Case called these deaths of despair. The phrase stuck. The Deaton and Case duo published a troubling follow-up paper recently that showed that mortality rates continued to go up through 2015 for non-Hispanic whites, men and women, without college degrees of all ages, not just for the middle-aged. Mortality rates for everyone else continued to move in the right direction for blacks, Hispanics and educated whites. For white Americans without college degrees, deaths of despair are epidemic across the country. Deaton and Case found this to be an American phenomenon, not a white or Western one. In Europe, mortality rates are falling for everyone and even faster for people with less education than for their better-educated compatriots. Deaton and Case have discovered the what in the mystery: opioids, alcohol and suicide. The real mystery is why? The case of the white deaths of despair has taken on a life of its own, like a grand metaphor that could unlock what ails America and even explain the election of Donald Trump. So there has been a natural temptation to come up with vast, metaphoric explanations. One follows the standard explanation of Trumps rise. Because of globalization and automation, employments and wages have declined since the 1980s for a white working-class Americans who previously could expect to earn good livings without higher education. While this might be a pat accounting for why Trump won, Deaton and Case didnt find evidence this caused more disease and mortality. Another take is that the white working class came of age expecting that they would (and should) do better than their parents doing the same kinds of jobs and imbibe in the classic American Dream. That expectation has been dashed by economic reality. Deaths of despair arise from that sense of loss, not just unemployment or underemployment. Historically unprecedented economic inequality aggravates all these wounds. Minorities in America, of course, never experienced even the illusion of economic equality. They never had the same great expectations for the American Dream. And so, these theories surmise, they are not as susceptible to early 21st century deaths of despair. Its like a variant of Bob Dylans line, When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose. This is too tidy and vague for me. Deaton and Case are suspicious of single concept explanations. Instead, they propose a tentative, combination theory: For many years, poorly educated white men and women entering the labor market faced worse and worse economic prospects, which triggered a vicious cycle of cumulative disadvantage over the rest of their lives dysfunctions in employment, marriage, religiosity, parenting and social life. In the short hand of social science, the expectation of declining economic capital triggers behavior that diminishes social capital (meaningful connection to family, community, value traditions and institutions). Traditional structures of social and economic support slowly weakened, they write. Marriage was no longer the only way to form intimate partnerships, or to rear children. People moved away from the security of legacy religions or the churches of their parents. With that came illness and the deaths of despair. Minorities, especially blacks, must think yes, obviously when they hear this kind of thinking. White mortality rates might be getting worse, but theyre still better than black mortality rates. Dysfunction in black families and communities was a hot academic topic in the 1960s and a worsening problem today, as are their economic disadvantages. Whether black or white, mysteries like the deaths of despair have not been solved. Politics makes for an especially depressing subplot of the current mystery. In the last election, Donald Trump preyed on losses experienced by the white working class, offered no honest prescriptions and no realistic course of treatment. Instead, Trump and his party exploited the pain of the white working class and some better educated, wealthier whites that feel and remember their pain and channeled into resentment and anger at blacks, Mexicans, Muslims, immigrants as well as the establishment elite who rig the system. That is a prescription that ensures no one will get better. A University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County professor has earned a top position among mathematicians in the state. UW-Baraboo mathematics professor Kirthi Premadasa will be appointed chair of the Mathematical Association of Americas Wisconsin Chapter during its annual meeting on April 22 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The organization is the nations leading body for mathematics instruction, and its Wisconsin chapter covers all the two-year and four-year campuses in Wisconsin. Premadasa was nominated for the position by the groups executive committee and elected by its members during last years annual meeting. Hell serve one year as chairman and an additional year as past chair. The Mathematical Association organizes several important events for state mathematicians each year. It trains new mathematics instructors through its project NeXT program, sponsors a high school math competition and scholarship and organizes a jeopardy-inspired math contest for undergraduate college students called Face Off. As chairman, Premadasa will help organize and oversee the events, along with many other programs. In addition to appointing a new chair, the groups annual meeting features presentations on academic papers delivered by leading mathematics researchers and instructors. As chairman, Premadasa will be in charge of reaching out to presenters for the meeting. Premadasa said hed like to create an online archive so group members can revisit the lectures after the meeting. I would like to make some changes to the conference, he said. Because when people leave the talk, they forget some things. I would like that knowledge to be accessible at any time that year or afterwards. UW Colleges Regional Executive Officer & Dean Charles Clark congratulated Premadasa on his achievement, which he said speaks to the quality of UW-Baraboos professors and puts the university on the map. It both raises the profile of the UW Colleges, but more importantly it acknowledges the excellence of our faculty especially the record and credentials of professor Premadasa, he said. He is a significant leader on campus among the faculty. Premadasa said his new title will provide transferring students with a more high-profile reference for four-year campus admissions offices. When students apply to a math-related major at a four-year campus, they need a reference letter, he said. If the reference letter comes from me, someone from Platteville or Stout will know me from speaking at conferences and forums. While he said extensive networking with the states mathematics community was essential to earning his new role, Premadasa was quick to add that support from UW-Baraboos faculty and staff was essential to his success. I always have the fullest support from the campus, he said. Thats why Im able to do all of this Im very grateful for it. Alaska owns a well-earned reputation as a last bastion of liberty in these over-regulated United States, a place where the liberty-minded flee to escape the nannyism that has infected much of the lower 48. That reputation might be in danger. Anchorage is preparing a regulation that would effectively outlaw drone operation in any place with any population density in the state that has the lowest density by a factor of 4 of any state in the country. In the process, the city risks putting the kibosh on a growth market for commercial and personal use. Consumer Reports has noted, were seeing drones that fit in your pocket and could soon be priced as low as $299. But in Anchorage, the new rules would prohibit the operation of drones within 50 vertical feet of any private property without the express permission of the property owner, under penalty of a fine of up to $300 for a first offense. Its likely unfeasible for anyone with more than two or three neighbors to go around and get the express permission of all of them. Also, the rule almost certainly conflicts with federal law. Its the province of the Federal Aviation Administration to regulate almost all airspace and certainly airspace 50 feet over a building. As Anchorages KTUU reported, Indemnis president Alan Erickson said its the opinion of his lawyers that the proposed ordinance is illegal, and the municipality has no jurisdiction over enforcing rules in federal airspace. Erickson said the FAA is in charge of rulemaking on all airspace more than one inch off the ground. When you have your local legislative body trying to regulate something that you know for a fact that theyre not able to, that causes some concern, Erickson said. The proposed rules are ostensibly pro-privacy, but its a meaningless, toothless ordinance that the Anchorage Assembly the city council is proposing purely for the spectacle. If Anchorage were to implement the rules as written, Erickson told KTUU, I can literally guarantee that at some point it will put the city in a lawsuit that will cost the taxpayers money, and the city will lose. WAUPUN Ive been at this so long, Ive been out of style five or six different times. Perhaps unwittingly, rock, pop and folk-music legend John Sebastian thus recapped his career and summarized his talent Saturday night at Waupun City Hall Auditorium. What made Sebastian popular 50 years ago and secured his place in the pantheon of American popular music was obvious Saturday night: An ability to absorb that which is essential and apply it when opportunity arises. As much raconteur as recording artist, Sebastian began his career in the early 1960s in New Yorks Greenwich Village. Growing up in Manhattan where he lived with his mother, a native of Dayton, Ohio, and his father, a second-generation Italian-American, Sebastian gravitated toward the folk revival in New York. While other folkies were reviving Appalachian roots music, Sebastian found himself artistically immersed in the Mississippi Delta, admiring bluesmen like John Hurt and Lightnin Hopkins. He wasnt mired there, however. Martha and the Vandellas Heat Wave was all over the radio in 1963 and Sebastian showed the crowd Saturday how Heat Waves chords and blues finger-picking combined in his guitar subconscious to re-emerge as Do You Believe in Magic? the first hit of his quartet the Lovin Spoonful. Often considered Americas answer to the British Invasion brought on by the Beatles, the Lovin Spoonful was more than a group of Yankee mop-heads; it was a laboratory in which Sebastian, guitarist Zal Yanovsky, bassist Steve Boone and drummer Joe Butler mixed innovative, catchy music. Pursuing a continued commitment to refining and renovating the Spoonfuls sound, Sebastian admitted a growing fascination with jug-band music in the mid-1960s. With a nod to Gus Cannons Prison Wall Blues, Sebastian Saturday demonstrated how that tunes fundamentals led to Spoonful hits like the lilting Younger Girl. Although Yanovsky was the Spoonfuls acknowledged lead-guitar, Sebastian proved his own picking prowess Saturday with an instrumental rendition of Sonny Curtis Walk Right Back that would have made Waukeshas Les Paul proud. By 1969, Sebastian had left the Lovin Spoonful and although they played together at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, the group never reunited and Yanovsky died about two years later. We had extra magic because of a guy named Zal Yanovsky, Sebastian said Saturday to the fairly full house. Sebastian completed his main set with Spoonful hit What a Day for a Daydream and closed in encore with Darlin be Home Soon, a tune he made famous when opportunity brought him to Woodstock in 1969. Sebastian appeared solo at Woodstock and hadnt planned to play the historic music and art event until being called upon to fill in for another act on the afternoon of the festivals second day. He released a number of solo recordings during the 1970s and, as he noted Saturday, composed and recorded themes for two Canadian childrens television shows; Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears. Those gigs, Sebastian said, won him a Canadian Emmy. They may also have created the opening for his biggest solo success when, in 1975, he wrote Welcome Back, the theme for the hit television show Welcome Back Kotter. Perhaps the most commercial of any Sebastian song the single topped the charts in May, 1976 Welcome Back nonetheless celebrates self-discovery during a return to ones roots. Kotter was about a teacher who returned to his old high school to teach a gang of New York miscreants called the sweathogs. Before he strummed Welcome Back Saturday night, Sebastian recalled he wrote the song within a day after taking the assignment from the shows producers. When asked by them how hed created the tune so quickly, Sebastian replied, Hey, I was a sweathog. HORICONThe Wisconsin DNR and Conservation Congress held its annual Spring Hearing Monday night at the Horicon Marsh Education Center. There were more than 80 people on hand to vote on proposed rule changes and advisory questions, as well as to elect delegates to the Conservation Congress. Harold Drake of Juneau and Scott Strook of Mayville were re-elected unopposed for two- and three-year terms respectively. Dodge County Congress Chairman Dale Maas said he was proud of the delegates who wear a lot of hats and do one heck of a job representing the sportsmen and women of Dodge County. There were more than 80 rule change proposals and advisory questions to be voted on. Among them were proposals to extend turkey and pheasant hunting into to the first weekend of the new year, decrease the size of the Theresa Marsh refuge, create a muskie tag system instead of a daily limit, and establish sandhill crane hunting. There was also an advisory question asking if the spring hearing voting should be available online. Some in attendance favored the convenience, while others thought it was a way for out-of-county residents with hidden agendas to sabotage the process. Three citizen resolutions were also introduced. In order to take heavy pressure off deer during the rut, Mark Zuelsdorf of Horicon proposed altering the crossbow season to extend from the Saturday nearest Sept. 22 to the Saturday nearest Oct. 15, re-opening with the traditional gun season. To combat the overwhelming population of channel catfish in Beaver Dam Lake, Bill Boettge and Mike Gade of the Beaver Dam Lake Improvement Association offered a resolution to increase the catfish limit from 10 to 25. And Scott Zimmerman, president of the Wisconsin Trappers Association, who have a cooperative educational program with the DNR, proposed making the DNR representative that the WTA works with a permanent position. Zimmerman said currently they get a lot of good people through the DNR to work trapper education, but it is a limited term job and those people often leave after a year to move up in the DNR ranks. Zimmerman stressed the need for continuity for the strength of their educational program which is required for first-time trappers. All input collected from the meeting will be used by the Natural Resource Board to set policy. Results on the voting are available at dnr.wi.gov. Search for Spring Hearing. For its second anniversary, the Books & Beer monthly gathering will welcome back local author Valerie Biel on April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Black Kettle, 139 N. Ludington. Biel was the featured author at the first Books & Beer event in April of 2015 and is happy to reprise her role to mark the fun anniversary. Its wonderful that were still going strong and have a long list of authors waiting to be scheduled for a visit to our book club, Biel explained, noting that in addition to being a local author, she is a regular attendee and organizer of Books & Beer. We set out to have a different kind of book club. One where we could talk with the author directly and ask questions about what wed just read. We had no idea that so many authors from Wisconsin and around the Midwest would want to join us, Biel said. If a book sounds interesting to a majority of attendees, we reach out to the author to set up a date. The book club has read books from genres that include biography, memoir, mystery, contemporary, suspense and historical. The featured book for April is the conclusion to Biels Circle of Nine series, Circle of Nine: Sacred Treasures. The series mixes Celtic mythology, pagan ritual and magic within a contemporary story. In this final book, Brigit Quinn has survived a year full of both good and bad surprises after learning the truth of her unique heritage as a descendant of a powerful Celtic tribe. As she trains for her eventual place in the Circle of Nine that guards the ancient stone circles of Ireland, Brigit embraces the rich, mystical history of her people and the responsibility to protect their extraordinary way of life. But everything Brigit holds dear is in jeopardy when a mysterious packet warns of an evil force seeking to steal the legendary weapons known as the Sacred Treasures and use them to destroy the Circle of Nine. Plagued with worry about her own magical capabilities, the motivations of those around her, and her familys lineage, Brigit is catapulted on a mission to discover exactly who is threatening her people. Will Brigit and the rest of the Circle learn the truth in time to destroy this enemy for good? Obviously, you have to read the book to find out the answer to that question, Biel joked, also noting that you might want to read the first book in the series before continuing with this one so you start at the beginning of Brigits story. Both books and a set of novellas are for sale at the Black Kettle this month for the special book club price of $10 each. The first book in the series, Circle of Nine: Beltany, was a finalist for the Kindle Book Award, the Readers Favorite Book Award and the Gotham Writers Young Adult Novel Discovery Contest as well as winning a Book Readers Appreciation Group Gold Medallion. So far, the final book in the series has received a five-star review from Readers Favorite, and Biel says she has her fingers crossed for possible awards that will be announced later in the year. Biel grew up in the area and was a graduate of Fall River High School before earning her degree in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin. She works with other authors who need assistance with their publishing journey and publicity through her company Lost Lake Press. Additionally, she teaches at schools, writing conferences and libraries whenever possible. She emphasizes that the book club is for anyone interested in good conversation and encourages those interested to give the group a try. We arent formal at all and have a lot of excellent conversations with the authors in attendance. Oh, and I have to add, Biel said laughing, even though our name is Books & Beer, you dont have to drink beer! We actually have gotten that question, but no, beer drinking is not a requirement. We just liked the sound of the name and felt it showed that we werent going to be too stuffy. In addition to the April 27 event, upcoming featured authors include Angie Stanton, author of Waking in Time on May 18, and the award-winning mystery writer Patricia Skalka who authors the Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery series on June 15. More information can be found on the groups Facebook page Books and Beer Columbus. The village of Necedah could receive a large amount of funding for its safe drinking water program. Dan Greve, from MSA Professional Services, presented the news during the village board meeting April 10 at village/town hall. Greve said the village could become eligible for a $500,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to help fund its well No. 5 project. Greve said about $4 million should be available for municipalities across the state and Necedah is seventh on the list. Eligibility is based on a municipalitys population and income. Right now, it looks really good, Greve said. Youre in a really good position to get $500,000 of principal forgiveness funding, which you dont have to repay, so its a grant of $500,000. To be eligible for funding, the village must apply by June 30 of this year and close on the loan by June 30, 2018. Greve said the DNR will publish the finalists by late August/early September of this year. The village is working on a well plan with the Marquis Ethanol plant in Necedah. The question is will the ethanol plant participate? Greve said. If we dont get an agreement in place by September, it will be a challenge to get the application through in a month to be eligible. The village hopes to have an answer from Marquis soon to discuss the grant further at its next board meeting May 8. Wastewater treatment discharge Greve, along with Peter Pfefferkorn, an engineer with the DNR, presented an update on the villages wastewater regulations. Pfefferkorn said Wisconsin has heavy phosphorus regulations put in place from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The village, along with many other municipalities in the state, has to abide by strict runoff regulations. Pfefferkorn said the village is in good compliance and could be eligible for future grants as it continues to improve its watershed. Greve said there is no verifiable evidence that phosphorus runoff comes from municipalities. But he said industries are likely to contribute, along with large farm operations. Maybe in 10 years we will have a better discharge regulation plan, but Im not too confident about that, Greve said. Right now I dont think there is much you can do to address phosphorus regulation with little gain. Greve believes Wisconsins stringent regulation was brought on by a lawsuit against the state from environmental groups. There are places on the East Coast that are also very low, Greve said. Necedah village president Scott Carter said its odd neighboring states such as Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, all heavy agricultural states, dont have to meet the same standards. That might change in the next 10 years, but well see, Greve said. Support for high-speed internet The village approved its support for a plan to bring high-speed internet to Necedah. Village Administrator Roger Herried said areas in rural Juneau County still dont have access to high-speed internet. State leaders, such as Assemblyman Ed Brooks, are looking into ways to bring fast, reliable internet to rural Wisconsin. Benefit for Needles The Necedah community is planning a benefit/fundraiser for longtime village employee Bill Needles on May 20. Needles has lived in Necedah for 35 years and has worked for the public works department for more than 28 years, including time as director. He has also served as a volunteer firefighter. In late December, Needles was diagnosed with mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia. The disease is in remission, but he is waiting for a bone marrow transplant. The benefit will be held at Veterans Memorial Hall beginning at 2 p.m. and lasting into the night. For more information, call David Baldwin at 608-387-9006. Josh Kaul, an attorney who successfully challenged Wisconsin voting laws and the son of former attorney general Peg Lautenschlager, announced on Monday his plans to challenge Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel for the job. Kaul, 36, is an attorney with Perkins Coie in Madison, where he focuses on voting rights and election law. Perkins Coie represents the Democratic National Committee and its candidates, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Kaul is the first Democrat to declare candidacy for attorney general. Schimel announced in December his plans to seek a second term in 2018, after defeating Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ in 2014. "We deserve an attorney general who is focused on protecting Wisconsin families, not on partisan politics," Kaul said in a statement. "We havent had that kind of leadership under our current attorney general, and that needs to change." Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Kaul served as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore and as an attorney in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, and graduated from Stanford Law School. He and his wife have two sons. "Josh Kaul has built his entire career as an attorney for liberal special interests and Washington insiders like Hillary Clinton," said Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman Alec Zimmerman in a statement. "By contrast, Attorney General Brad Schimel has fought for Wisconsin families by improving public safety, upholding the rule of law, and stopping federal overreach from Washington." Lautenschlager, also a Democrat, served as attorney general from 2003 to 2007 and resigned from the state Ethics Commission on Friday ahead of Kaul's campaign launch. Kaul represented plaintiffs last year in a challenge to voting changes signed implemented by Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Republicans. A federal judge ruled restrictions on early and weekend voting, along with a handful of other changes, were unconstitutional. The case is now under consideration by a federal appeals court. As the sky began to turn gray Monday with incoming thunderstorms, an artist was putting the finishing touches on Portages new downtown mural welcoming visitors coming in from the east. The mural on the west-facing wall of Wilz Drug is the fifth of its kind around Portage, and the largest, with representatives from across the nearly two centuries of the citys history a fur trader, Native Americans, steam-powered industrialists, the creation of the canal and the Victorian era. Muralist Kelly Meredith, of the Butternut-based Fanatical Fish Art Gallery and Studio, poured over historic photos developing the concept before applying it to the aluminum sheets that were attached to the side of the building. I think it is mural 108 for me, said Meredith. The bulk of my work is in the Upper-Great Lakes area, with community-oriented pieces in various towns in Wisconsin, Minnesota and some in the Upper Peninsula (of Michigan). The former art teacher was not originally intent on being a muralist. It began in the 1990s with creating a design for her and her husbands home-based screen print shop, which drew attention. She then saw a notice requesting proposals for a project in Ashland and after sending in her portfolio, she was on her way to painting No. 1 of 108. I wasnt planning on becoming a muralist, said Meredith. It just happened that one opportunity went so well that it just snowballed from there. After giving a last once-over to a few spots and applying an extra coat of paint over the screws holding the mural to the building, Meredith will return to an ongoing project in Baraboo, People Are the Fabric of Our Community. In that project, she is on installment number three in which she is given a hand-written testimonial about an extraordinary community member, projects and drafts the text in the background and then paints a composite portrait based off a stack of photos of the person. It was a way to illustrate how our local history is made up of everyones own anecdotal history, said Meredith. In Portage, there are discussions and negotiations ongoing to expand on Merediths installment or to add murals to new locations. We are at three or four locations that are interested, said Portage Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marianne Hanson. And what we would like is for the artist to be able to work with the building owner to reflect what style they would like on the building and what information they would like included, but that takes a little bit of time. The project came together through a coalition of the Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District, City of Portage Tourism Promotion Committee, Parks and Recreation Department and H&M Contracting, whose scissor lift was helping Meredith get to the harder-to-reach spots on her mural Monday afternoon. The overcast weather really is ideal for painting, said Meredith, who had to postpone work on the project last week because of poor weather. When they were putting it up I was watching them when they first started and they had people photographing them and sitting in cars, said Hanson. The nice part of it is that it is a welcome to Portage. Its really showing when youre driving in or walking in, that the city is so beautiful and we can showcase it. And every person can take their own account of what that history is by looking at it. Its a good reflection. Former city Alderman Rick Taylor believes more can be done a lot more to make Portage cleaner and more attractive to residents and outsiders. Taylor, whose overarching concern is that the city of Portage is becoming an eyesore, last month sent a letter to city personnel, businesses and residents, urging action for such things as tenants leaving out large items like mattresses in yards, the appearance of deteriorating homes along the citys main corridors and residents performing car repairs in the streets. We cant just turn our back or ignore the situation, said Taylor, who owns Bonded Collectors of Wisconsin and is also a landlord for five rental properties in Portage. Im not saying the city isnt doing anything, I just think the amount of eyesore is growing, and I think its detrimental to the advancement of the city. The responses from residents and businesses to his letter, such as the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce, have been positive, Taylor said. Among the possible solutions hes proposed is advocating for stronger enforcement of city ordinances, increasing the fines associated with them, educating property owners and focusing on the here and now rather than planning so many projects for the future. If Im looking at this community as a whole, Im seeing a lot of beautiful areas, and some others that could use a little TLC (tender loving care), said Chamber Executive Director, Marianne Hanson. Hanson shared Taylors letter with the Chambers board of directors, which is expected to discuss his concerns at its next meeting later this month. Hanson said she has also spoken recently with city officials about Taylors concerns, a conversation that, generally, was about everyone needing to become more aware of the situation. If someone has a concern, they should express those concerns to city officials so they can check it out, Hanson said. Lets get a handle on this now, to improve what we have and ensure it gets better. City Administrator Shawn Murphy said the city is aware that some properties are not being kept up and understands how such properties ultimately detract from the property value in a neighborhood. The city approach, he added, is a complaint-driven process, where the city sends personnel to inspect the subject of complaints, case by case. We do not have the resources or staff to do a proactive inspection of residences or commercial properties, Murphy said. A problem often discussed in Portage is its many landlords who arent readily available or dont live in the city, he added, and how that hurts in getting problems addressed. Registering complaints Residents can make complaints by contacting two Community Service Officers at Portage Police Department Kevin Todryck and Jerilyn Jerome. Their principal function, Murphy explained, is to respond to quality of life issues, sometimes leading to fire/health inspections, depending on the situation. We get calls related to anything from mold, to junk cars, there could be a variety of things, Murphy said. One of Taylors suggestions regards more use of the city ordinance that allows for the city to clean up properties and recoup the money in property taxes. Murphy said such an approach, however, is a last resort, done only after trying to work with the property owner and tenant. Such measures would only apply to the situations affecting public health or safety and are infrequently used. Murphy estimated that the number of times the city has addressed public health/safety issue by taking such action, charging the property owner through taxes, is fewer than three incidents in the past year. Id say the vast majority of property maintenance complaints we get are resolved by meeting with property owners or tenants, Murphy said, an approach he said that works 80 percent of the time. If its a simple matter of debris or junk in a yard, we basically say, here are the resources, well give you X days (to dispose), and if its not done, well issue a citation. Opportunities to get rid of stuff Twice a year the city does spring and fall cleanups, events designed to reduce residential waste of all kinds and, as Murphy noted, an opportunity for people to dispose of their large and bulky items. The next cleanup is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 6 at the Municipal Garage, 6116 Washington St., next to the fairgrounds. While some items like tires and air conditioners require fees for disposal, Murphy said, the event is popular and also provides pickup of items for disabled and the elderly. Taylor would like to see the city consider investing in trailers that residents could use, year-round to dispose of large items, a program he remembers in Portage in the 1970s and 80s. He also suggests considering a three strikes and youre out policy regarding property maintenance, instead of issuing warning after warning. But more than anything, Taylor wants to start with the trash. I know it costs money to pick up these items, to pay staff to pick up those items, but if we pick that up, will it help values of properties, raising the tax dollars (coming in) because of higher property values? Would it help in recruiting people here? Bringing in businesses? We know better landscaping could take place, but that costs money. It doesnt cost money to put your garbage in garbage bags and put them in garbage bins. Landlord challenge Many landlords in Portage do a great job in regards to maintenance, Murphy said, but the ones who dont present the city with a unique challenge. About 50 percent of the citys residential properties are non-owner occupied, a fairly large figure compared to other places. The city has been looking at implementing a rental licensing program, a fee-based program that would either be annual or biannual and would allow the city to be more proactive in working with that segment of our housing. But the 2015 Wisconsin Act 176 prohibited such practice by municipalities, throwing the citys plan into disarray. This has most affected places like La Crosse and Milwaukee and other university towns that had fairly aggressive license inspection programs, Murphy noted. Oshkosh is fighting the act in court, a case Portage city officials are watching very closely. We would like to do it, Murphy said of a rental licensing program, noting he believes it would at a minimum ensure theres basic safety and health provisions in place. Such annual fees would help the city create an inspector position. The program itself, he added, would also work to educate property owners and would ultimately improve the value and affordability and attractiveness of Portage. Room for improvement The Chambers Hanson and JoAnne Genrich of Portage Pride a volunteer group that does work like picking up trash on Earth Day agreed that property maintenance in Portage is not a crisis, necessarily, when compared with other areas, but both stressed theres always room for improvement. Because we all live here, Genrich said. You choose to live here, and its a public responsibility to always do better; why not try to make it better in some way? Thats part of being a citizen. I think for us as a community, this is our opportunity to take action, Hanson said, to continue to take Portage to the level we want. We do that by taking initiative so it doesnt snowball and grow. Taylor, who has lived in Portage for 55 years, thinks upkeep started getting worse in Portage about five years ago, and admits that much of that is related to the recession in 2008 and limited funds overall. Have we always had it? Yes, youre always going to have some, Taylor said, but I think (right now) people have less pride, less concern for their neighbors and their neighborhoods. I think we need to take greater action to clean this stuff up. But thats up to our elected officials, our police department, et cetera, to determine that. Associated Bank in Reedsburg was among a handful of locations nationwide to win $1,000 to support local veterans. The business presented a check to American Legion Post 350 April 8. The celebration, as well as a brat fry, were held in conjunction with Vet Fest. The bank is located near Nishan Park, which was the center of Vet Fest activities. Local branch manager Heather Kannenberg said the bank competed by setting up a display of military uniforms, pins and other related items, most provided by customers and Reedsburg residents. Some pieces dated back to the Civil War. The corporate office judged each display and chose the best ones in honor of Veterans Day. Were so excited, she said. Its a really tough competition. The brat fry drew a steady stream of traffic, and all parking spaces were full throughout the event as Vet Fest participants wandered to buy food. At times cars parked near the drive-through lanes and along driveways because of a lack of parking spaces. Kannenberg said the turnout probably means Associated Bank will continue holding a brat fry during Vet Fest. Like the Associated Bank donation, all funds from the fry supported the local American Legion. The money will go toward the organizations numerous efforts, said William Mead, commander of American Legion Post 350. Its very much appreciated, he said of the support. The uniform stands for what those who served gave to all of us. According to information provided at the event, the local post donated $11,817 in 2015. Contributions included initiatives through the post and the auxiliary. Causes include aid for struggling veterans, scholarships for college students and health care and wellness programs for vets and youth. The group also contributes to Badger Honor Flight as well as general community features such as homeless shelters, food pantries and special events. We have many different things that we do, Mead said. An on-duty Wisconsin State Trooper may have been attempting to catch up to another vehicle when he lost control of his patrol car and was killed early Tuesday morning on I-90/94 near Wisconsin Dells, Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said Tuesday afternoon. The trooper, Anthony J. Borostowski, 34, of Tomah, was killed instantly when he apparently lost control of his car, which left the interstate and crashed into a tree, Meister confirmed during a somber news conference at the Sauk County Sheriffs office in Baraboo. Borostowskis death was felt throughout the states law enforcement community and beyond Tuesday afternoon, with Gov. Scott Walker ordering statewide flags flown at half staff as a mark of respect for the fallen trooper, who had served as a member of the Wisconsin State Patrol since 2014. I stand here today with deep sorrow with the loss of one of ours, Wisconsin State Patrol Lt. Col. Steven Krueger said as he joined Meister during the 20-minute news conference. Law enforcement is all one big family. The Sauk County Sheriffs Department is the lead agency investigating the accident, Meister said, and investigators will seek to reconstruct the accident. The department already has determined that the patrol car, a marked 2009 Crown Victoria, was going at a high speed, Meister said. We are still investigating to determine if the trooper was attempting to catch up to a violator and what caused him to lose control of the patrol car, the sheriff said. High speeds were a factor in the crash. Borostowski apparently pulled onto the east-bound lanes of the interstate from the median about a mile from where the crash occurred, Meister said. A semi-truck driver who witnessed the accident reported that the patrol cars emergency lights were not activated at the time of the crash. Anyone else who may have seen the crash or events leading up to it is urged to contact the Sauk County Sheriffs Department at 800-377-1195. Whether weather or road conditions played a part in the crash was unknown as of Tuesday afternoon, the sheriff said. The older squad car was not equipped with a video camera. Walker, whose office released the fallen officers name late Tuesday morning, said in a statement he met Borostowski in 2015 when the officer received the Wisconsin State Patrols Lifesaving Award for saving a mans life by performing CPR. Tonette and I send our prayers to Anthonys family as they grieve the loss of their loved one, Walker said. Anthony will never be forgotten. In addition to his meritorious service as a state patrolman, Borostowski had served since 2004 in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, Krueger said. He was single and had lived in Tomah since his assignment with the state patrol began. He is the second officer from what Krueger referred to as the Trooper Academys 60th Recruit Class of 2014 to lose his life in the line of duty. He was a true public servant, he didnt just serve the people of Wisconsin with our agency, Krueger said. I can tell you one thing, this young man made a difference. Fellow 60th Recruit Class member Trevor Casper was slain in Fond du Lac in March 2015, during in a shootout with a bank robber. The emerald ash borer has arrived in Wisconsin Dells, and at least some local ash trees already are suffering as a result. The tiny green bugs arrival was confirmed Monday by city officials and members of the Dells Tree City Advisory Committee, who in turn recently were notified of the long-feared-but-anticipated development by a local Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources forestry specialist. Flecking from the beaks of local woodpeckers foraging for emerald ash borer (EAB) larvae emerged this spring high on the trunks of several ash trees lining the River Road parking lot at River Walk Pub. Mike Hillstrom, a forest health specialist based in the DNRs Dells office, also on River Road, noticed the flecking recently and worked with the citys Public Works department to take a sample limb for a full investigation. That investigation revealed an infestation that means the EAB has arrived, after several years of anticipation and preventative measures taken by the city and led by the Tree City committee. Approximately 100 ash trees on city property two years ago were pre-treated to fight off the EAB, once the creatures inevitable arrival became apparent. Those trees should survive the insects presence, said Public Works Director David Holzem. An investigation in cooperation with the citys Public Works department followed, and all the signs of the EAB infestation were uncovered within one of the trees limbs. Neither Holzem nor Hillstrom could say how many ash trees exist across the Dells-Delton area, but Wisconsin surely is home to millions, Hillstrom said. Infected trees can still fight off the EAB if treated in time, according to both Hollstrom and long-time local arborist Fred Westerfeldt. An infestation of approximately 30 percent is the ash trees point of no return, the two estimated. If more than 30 percent of the canopy is died back, its probably too big of an infestation to save the tree, Hillstrom said. Both store-purchased, do-it-yourself treatment products as well as professionally administered ash tree treatments are available, Hillstrom said. (Westerfeldt is one such professional and was hired two years ago by the city to treat its ash tree population accordingly.) Homeowner products last one year, and they would get you through the summer, Hillstrom said. Professional applications last two years. In addition to what Hillstrom calls woodpecker flecking, a tiny d-shaped hole in the bark, a dying tree canopy or tree-top, and, underneath the bark, an s-shaped channel carved by the bug, also are tell-tale signs of the EAB, he said. If its dead three feet down from the top, an EAB infestation may be underway, Westerfeldt said. Meanwhile, the citys recent discovery means the bugs have been here two or three years, the local arborist said. It takes awhile till you get damage and somebody starts to notice, he said. For more information regarding the EAB, its effects and what steps can be taken to combat them, go to http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ForestHealth/EmeraldAshBorer.html. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. In addition, the company offers maintenance products, such as antifreeze and windshield washer fluids; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; brake and power steering fluids, and oil and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, cabin, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paints and accessories; refrigerants and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wipers. Further, it provides air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, interior and exterior accessories, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products, as well as towing services. Additionally, the company provides a sales program that offers commercial credit and delivery of parts and other products; sells automotive diagnostic and repair software under the ALLDATA brand through alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through autozone.com. As of August 27, 2022, it operated 6,168 stores in the United States; 703 stores in Mexico; and 72 stores in Brazil. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee. The following companies are subsidiares of Aramark: 1ST & Fresh LLC, AIL Servicos Alimenticios e Participacoes Ltda., AIM Services Co. Ltd., AMP Limited Partnership, ARA Catering and Vending Services Limited, ARA Coffee Club Limited, ARA Coffee System Limited, ARA Food Services Limited, ARA Marketing Services Limited, ARA Offshore Services Limited, ARAMONT Company Ltd., Active Industrial Unif, Alcatraz Hospitality, AmeriPride Services, American Snack & Beverage LLC, Aramark (BVI) Limited, Aramark Airport Services Limited, Aramark American Food Services LLC, Aramark Asia Management LLC, Aramark Aviation Services Limited Partnership, Aramark B.V., Aramark Beverages Limited, Aramark Business & Industry LLC, Aramark Business Center LLC, Aramark Business Dining Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Business Facilities LLC, Aramark CCT Trustees Limited, Aramark Campus LLC, Aramark Canada Ltd., Aramark Canadian Investments Inc., Aramark Capital Asset Services LLC, Aramark Catering Limited, Aramark China Dining Services (Shanghai) Limited, Aramark China Holdings Limited, Aramark Chugach Alaska Services LLC, Aramark Cleaning S.A., Aramark Cleanroom Services (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aramark Cleanroom Services LLC, Aramark Co. Ltd., Aramark Colombia SAS, Aramark Concessions Services Joint Venture, Aramark Confection LLC, Aramark Construction Services Inc., Aramark Construction and Energy Services LLC, Aramark Consumer Discount Company, Aramark Correctional Services LLC, Aramark Defence Services Limited, Aramark Denmark ApS, Aramark Distribution Services Inc., Aramark Educational Group LLC, Aramark Educational Services LLC, Aramark Educational Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Educational Services of Vermont Inc., Aramark Entertainment LLC, Aramark Entertainment Services (Canada) Inc., Aramark Executive Management Services USA Inc., Aramark FHC Business Services LLC, Aramark FHC Campus Services LLC, Aramark FHC Correctional Services LLC, Aramark FHC Healthcare Support Services LLC, Aramark FHC Kansas Inc., Aramark FHC LLC, Aramark FHC Refreshment Services LLC, Aramark FHC School Support Services LLC, Aramark FHC Services LLC, Aramark FHC Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, Aramark FSM LLC, Aramark Facility Services LLC, Aramark Food Service LLC, Aramark Food Service of Texas LLC, Aramark Food and Support Services Group Inc., Aramark Global Group S.a.r.l., Aramark Global Inc., Aramark GmbH, Aramark Gulf Limited, Aramark Gulf Limited Catering Services LLC, Aramark Healthcare Support Services LLC, Aramark Healthcare Support Services of the Virgin Islands Inc., Aramark Healthcare Technologies LLC, Aramark Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aramark Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Aramark Holdings Ltd., Aramark Industrial Services LLC, Aramark Intermediate HoldCo Corporation, Aramark International Finance S.a.r.l., Aramark International Holdings S.a.r.l., Aramark Inversiones Latinoamericanas Limitada, Aramark Investments Limited, Aramark Ireland Holdings Limited, Aramark Japan Holdings Limited, Aramark Japan LLC, Aramark KSA LLC, Aramark Kazakhstan Ltd., Aramark Lakewood Associates, Aramark Limited, Aramark Management GmbH, Aramark Management LLC, Aramark Management Services Limited Partnership, Aramark Manning Services UK Limited, Aramark Mexico Group, Aramark Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Monclova Manufacturing de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Monclova Support S.A.de C.V., Aramark Norway SA, Aramark Organizational Services LLC, Aramark Partnership Limited, Aramark Personnel Services, Aramark Peru S.A.C., Aramark Peru Servicios de Intermediacion SRL, Aramark Processing LLC, Aramark Property Services Limited, Aramark Qualified Opportunity Fund, Aramark Quebec Inc., Aramark RBI Inc., Aramark Rail Services LLC, Aramark Receivables LLC, Aramark Refreshment Group, Aramark Refreshment Services LLC, Aramark Refreshment Services of Tampa LLC, Aramark Regional Treasury Europe DAC, Aramark Remote Workplace Services Ltd., Aramark Restaurations GmbH, Aramark S&E/QCF Joint Venture, Aramark S.A., Aramark S.A. de C.V., Aramark S.R.O., Aramark SARL, Aramark SCM Inc., Aramark SM Management Services Inc., Aramark SMMS LLC, Aramark SMMS Real Estate LLC, Aramark School Catering Facility Ltd., Aramark Schools Facilities LLC, Aramark Schools LLC, Aramark Senior Living Services LLC, Aramark Senior Notes Company LLC, Aramark Service Industries (China) Co. Ltd., Aramark Services Inc., Aramark Services SA, Aramark Services of Kansas Inc., Aramark Services of Puerto Rico Inc., Aramark Servicios Industriales S. de R.L. de C.V., Aramark Servicios Integrales S.A., Aramark Servicios Mineros y Remotos Limitada, Aramark Servicios SRL, Aramark Servicios de Catering S.L., Aramark Servicos Alimenticos e Participacoes Ltda., Aramark Sports Facilities LLC, Aramark Sports LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Group LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Sub Investments Limited, Aramark Technical Services North Carolina Inc., Aramark Togwotee LLC, Aramark Trademark Services, Aramark Trustees Limited, Aramark U.S. Offshore Services LLC, Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel Group Inc., Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel LLC, Aramark Uniform Holding de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Uniform Manufacturing Company, Aramark Uniform Services (Canada) Ltd., Aramark Uniform Services (Matchpoint) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Rochester) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Supply Chain), Aramark Uniform Services (Syracuse) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Texas) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (West Adams) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services Japan Corporation, Aramark Venue Services Inc., Aramark WTC LLC, Aramark Workplace Solutions (UK) Ltd., Aramark Workplace Solutions Yonetim Hizmetleri Limited Sirketi, Aramark Worldwide Investments Limited, Aramark-Clarksville Club, Aramark-FINCO of Texas LLC, Aramark-Gourmet DPS LLC, Aramark-KWAME of St. Louis LLC, Aramark-SFS Healthcare J.V. L.L.C., Aramark/Dasko Restaurant and Catering Services S.A., Aramark/GM Concessions Joint Venture, Aramark/Giacometti Joint Venture, Aramark/Globetrotters LLC, Aramark/Gourmet HE-1 LLC, Aramark/Gourmet HE-2 LLC, Aramark/HF Company, Aramark/HMS LLC, Aramark/Hart Lyman Entertainment LLC, Aramark/Martin's Stadium Concession Services OPACY Joint Venture, Aramark/QHC LLC, Aramark/SFS Joint Venture, Avendra, Avendra Canada Inc., Avendra Gaming, Avendra Replenishment, Avoca, Avoca Handweavers Designs Limited, Avoca Handweavers Limited, Avoca Handweavers NI Limited, Avoca Handweavers Shops Limited, Avoca Handweavers UK Limited, Beijing Golden Collar Dining Ltd., Boompjes Hotel BV, Brand Coffee Service Inc., BuyEfficient, CDR Mantenimiento Integral S.A., Campbell Catering (Belfast) Ltd., Campbell Catering (N.I.) Ltd., Campbell Catering Holdings Limited, Campbell Catering Limited, Campbell Catering Ltd., Campbell Catering Services, Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Co., Canyonlands Rafting Hospitality LLC, Catering Alliance Limited, Caterwise Food Services Limited, Central Multiservicios S.R.L., Central de Abastecimiento Limitada, Central de Restaurantes Aramark Limitada, Central de Restaurantes Aramark Multiservicios Limitada, Central de Restaurantes S.R.L., Centrapal S.R.L., Centro de Innovacion y Servicio S.A., Cliff House Hospitality, Comertel Educa SLU, Comertel Residencia SLU, Comertel SA, Complete Purchasing Services Inc., Corporate Coffee Systems LLC, Crater Lake Hospitality, D.G. Maren II Inc., Delicious on West Street LLC, Delsac VIII Inc., Distributor JV Limited, Dongguan Best Property Management Co., Doyon/Aramark Denali National Park Concessions Joint Venture, Effective Partnerships Limited, Filterfresh Coffee Service, Filterfresh Coffee Service LLC, Filterfresh Franchise Group LLC, Fine Host Holdings LLC, Food JV Limited, Freedom Ferry Services, GTB Gastro Team Bremen GmbH, Gestion de Alimentacion y Limpieza Colectivadades SLU, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Concessions LLC, Glen Canyon Rafting Hospitality, Glenrye Properties Services Limited, Golden Collar, Good Uncle Services, Gourmet Aramark Services LLC, Guaranty Energy Group 1981, HPSI Purchasing Services LLC, Harrison Conference Associates LLC, Harrison Conference Services of North Carolina LLC, Harry M. Stevens Inc. of New Jersey, Harry M. Stevens Inc. of Penn., Harry M. Stevens LLC, Hunters Catering Partnership Limited, Institutional Processing Services, Instituto ICS S.A., Inversiones Aramark Chile Limitada, Inversiones Centralcorp Limitada, Inversiones Palm Limitada, Inversiones en Aseo y Mantenimiento S.A, Irish Estates (Facilities Management) Limited, L&N Uniform Supply LLC, Lake Tahoe Cruises LLC, Landy Textile Rental Services LLC, Lifeworks Restaurant Group LLC, Lotus Facilities Management, MESA, Masterplan, Medical Equipment Solutions & Applications Sagl (MESA), Mill Mount Weavers Limited, Muir Woods Hospitality, MyAssistant Inc., New Aramark LLC, Nissho Linen, North Rim Hospitality, Old Time Coffee Co., Olympic Peninsula Hospitality LLC, Orange Support Services Limited, Overall Laundry Services Inc., Paradise Hornblower LLC, Pelican Procurement Services Limited, Philadelphia Ballpark Concessions Joint Venture, Prem Hospitality Limited, Premgroup Franchise Services Limited, Premier Management Company (Dublin) Limited, Premier Partnership (Catering) Limited, Quebec Linge Co., ReMedPar, Restaura Inc., Rocky Mountain Hospitality LLC, Rushmore Hospitality LLC, SeamlessWeb, Seguricorp Servicios S.A., South Rim Hospitality LLC, Spokesoft Technologies Limited, Stuart Cabeldu Catering Limited, Sun Office Service Inc., Tarrant County Concessions LLC, The Aramark Foundation, The Original Food Company Limited, Travel Systems LLC, Trinity Hospitality Services GmbH, Trinity Hospitality Services SARL, Trinity Purchasing N.V., Vector Environmental Services Limited, Vector Workplace and Facility Management Limited, Veris Plc, Veris Property Management Limited, Veris UK Limited, WearGuard, Wilderness River Adventures, and Yosemite Hospitality LLC. Read More Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through three segments: MedSurg, Rhythm and Neuro, and Cardiovascular. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems. It also provides medical technologies to diagnose and treat rate and rhythm disorders of the heart comprising 3-D cardiac mapping and navigation solutions, ablation catheters, diagnostic catheters, mapping catheters, intracardiac ultrasound catheters, delivery sheaths, and other accessories; spinal cord stimulator systems for the management of chronic pain; indirect decompression systems; and deep brain stimulation systems. In addition, the company offers interventional cardiology products, including drug-eluting coronary stent systems used in the treatment of coronary artery disease; percutaneous coronary interventions products to treat atherosclerosis; intravascular catheter-directed ultrasound imaging catheters, fractional flow reserve devices, and systems for use in coronary arteries and heart chambers, as well as various peripheral vessels; and structural heart therapies. Further, it provides stents, balloon catheters, wires, and atherectomy systems to treat arterial diseases; thrombectomy and acoustic pulse thrombolysis systems, wires, and stents to treat venous diseases; and peripheral embolization devices, radioactive microspheres, ablation systems, cryotherapy ablation systems, and micro and drainage catheters to treat cancer. The company was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The Sherwin-Williams Company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells paints, coatings, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. It operates through three segments: The Americas Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group. The Americas Group segment offers architectural paints and coatings, and protective and marine products, as well as OEM product finishes and related products for architectural and industrial paint contractors, and do-it-yourself homeowners. The Consumer Brands Group segment supplies a portfolio of branded and private-label architectural paints, stains, varnishes, industrial products, wood finishes products, wood preservatives, applicators, corrosion inhibitors, aerosols, caulks, and adhesives to retailers and distributors. The Performance Coatings Group segment develops and sells industrial coatings for wood finishing and general industrial applications, automotive refinish products, protective and marine coatings, coil coatings, packaging coatings, and performance-based resins and colorants. It serves retailers, dealers, jobbers, licensees, and other third-party distributors through its branches and direct sales staff, as well as through outside sales representatives. The company has operations primarily in the North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Australia. As of February 17, 2022, it operated approximately 5,000 company-operated stores and facilities. The Sherwin-Williams Company was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Music professor encourages originality, personal expression Music maker David Dominique, assistant professor of music, in his studio. Photo by Andrea Wright Photo - of - Hide Caption Quietly, if not quite silently, students file through the rows in the Ewell Recital Hall. After passing one another, stepping over backpacks and returning to their seats, they ruminate as directed. David Dominique, assistant professor of music at William & Mary, asks them to write down their observations. The exercise is based on one of composer Pauline Oliveros Sonic Meditations advocating deep listening, which says: Take a walk at night. Walk so silently that the bottoms of your feet become ears. Subtle distinctions between sounds are what drew Dominique to playing and composing music. They are all around, and before there is music, he insists, there is ambient sound of all kinds. The two things are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but rather completely related. In his first year at W&M, Dominique is using his unconventional view of music, and what goes together or constitutes it, to challenge students in the music department. He teaches composition and has spoken several times in other campus venues this semester to encourage original composition as part of personal expression. My goal is to try to help [students] build the tools to pursue whatever interest it is that they come to that class with, Dominique said. So for me, teaching composition is not about training them to write in any particular style. Its about deepening their relationship with the music that they already love and figuring out how to build critical, thoughtful techniques for realizing artistic projects. He uses his own playing and composing to show the range of possibilities. It has ranged from pop to chamber music and centers around the jazz on his 2013 album Ritual and on the latest album he is completing with his Los Angeles-based octet. I just love sounds, Dominique said. I love playing with sounds, and I love playing with sound in a way thats not idiomatic. So if you take a pot and a pan and some wooden utensils, you have some potential there. And if you take it seriously, you have the potential to create your own practice that doesnt have an idiomatic precedent. An early start He got his start as a toddler having to pull out every possible pot and pan in the kitchen to bang on with wooden spoons. Fast forward to today when an entire room in his Richmond home is filled with electronic keyboards, which he cant winnow down because each one is unique. Dominique started off playing the trumpet in fourth grade, though he wanted to play the drums, and soon learned tuba, trombone and baritone horn and was involved in every band group high school had to offer. He was in a ska scene band on Long Island, New York, as a teenager when he started writing music with this bandmates, playing trombone and singing as the group incorporated ska, reggae, rap, punk and metal into rock. Not agreeing on whether to sign record label offers and going off to college, the band members parted ways. Dominique decided to work by himself and bought recording equipment and learned computer software to start experimenting. I was just making experimental soundscapes with some voice and keyboards and some horns, Dominique said. For like seven or eight years, I recorded just hundreds of kind of small expressions of strangeness that mostly just embarrassed me, which I regret because I wish I had just been forward. Conceiving of the material not as something for performance but as recordings, Dominique said he should have gone out and performed it live. It wasnt notated music, he said. It had nothing to do with notes on a page or classical music at all. It was just putting sounds and recordings together. He worked with a friend on similar music before eventually going back to playing in other peoples bands again at age 22 in Los Angeles. After working in film scoring, he decided that a career as a composer was an area he could work in much longer than trying to be a touring performer. I met a teacher who introduced me to non-tonal contemporary composition in a very formal way, like orchestra music and chamber music, Dominique said. And it spoke to me quite a lot because some of the stuff that I was hearing in that music was pretty similar to some of the stuff that I was hearing in experimental jazz from the 1960s. That led to his writing contemporary chamber music, completing his masters in it and getting a doctorate in contemporary non-tonal chamber composition. Spreading the word Recently speaking to Associate Professor Max Katzs class Music in the Liberal Arts, Dominique featured several different types of music by various composers. He led students in the silent walking exercise and talked about his own music. In February Dominique discussed his 2010 short theatrical work This Was Ordos in a brown bag discussion organized by the Department of Theatre, Speech and Dance. The piece weaves the reading of quotes from Padgett Powells novel The Interrogative Mood, which consists entirely of questions, with the text of an architectural video that Dominique found at the Art Institute of Chicago, along with Dominique performing on a prepared piano, which is one that has screws and other metal pieces attached to the hammers to produce augmented tones. This intersects with one of Dominiques areas of music theory research, which is aesthetic syntheses in contemporary music and Austrian composer Beat Furrer. Furrers music and This Was Ordos both draw from multiple styles of music, yet aim to recombine diverse techniques in ways unique and personal to the composer, Dominique said. Pushing the limits, or not seeing them at all, is what allows him to expand the possibilities for all of the various types of music he works on. Im interested in composers who can find unlikely intersections among contrasting types of musics and combine them seamlessly without irony, Dominique said. Not to make a collage or as a joke or as a mashup or a pastiche, but to completely interweave styles and make it compelling and create new styles from that. W&M has healthy resources for supporting students to take risks and to collaborate with each other and with faculty on ambitious projects, whether creative or scholarly, he said. Our hope right now is to expand the possibilities for students to have department-sponsored performances of works that theyre creating both in composition courses and for their final projects, Dominique said. If a student decides to be a music major here or double major in music here, and that student commits herself or himself to engaging with ideas and the field and personal expression, there are going to be opportunities for that person to dream big and to create something special and personal and unique. And thats a big part of my job here is to help the students locate those potentials and to see what theyre capable of. Or to think beyond maybe what they think theyre capable of and to see how far we can go to take those kind of risks. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Mumbai, Apr 11 (IBNS): Mobile phone network Vodafoneas latest campaign brings alive benefits of this Data Strong Networka through slice-of-life moments. An old couple Bala Krishnan and Asha Krishnan, both in their late 60s finally decide to embark on their overdue second honeymoon that they could never go on in the last 35 years perhaps being busy with their work and life commitments and bringing up their children and grandchildren. The TVCs show different stages of their trip and how the network keeps them going backed by the Data Strong Network. The campaign beautifully highlights the effect reach and proliferation of Data and Network has had on the lives of people across all age groups. The campaign showcases the Old couples rendezvous with the data and enabled services throughout their journey including using maps for navigation , HD movies on-the-go, making group video calls , upload albums from crowded places or perhaps just download heavy files without being worried or irritated about by the technicalities and the network experience. The latest campaign by Vodafone is the testimony of how the #Networkeffect and increasing adoption of smartphones and mobile internet has changed the consumer behaviour. From social media, messaging apps, online shopping to videos, Indians are exploring this digital world at a tremendously fast pace. Not just millennials or Generation Z or X ...The #NetworkEffect brings solutions and access to everyone. Backed by its global expertise of the worlds largest 4G network, Vodafone SuperNet4G is built data strong to give fast and consistent internet experience for the most data-heavy activities, in the most crowded of places and even while on-the-go. The 360 degree campaign, which went live on 8th April, will create awareness about Vodafone SuperNet 4G Data Strong Network through OOH, digital, and on-ground activations. Siddharth Banerjee - Executive Vice President, Marketing, Vodafone India: Our research and consumer insights indicate that mobile internet is increasingly being used by customers across age groups for multiple applications like live streaming, maps, movie download, group video calls, etc. Vodafone continues to invest in building Vodafone SuperNet 4G The Data Strong Network to provide a fast and consistent mobile internet experience for our customers. Our latest campaign captures moments from the life of an old couple who are young at heart and out on a trip to MAKE THE MOST OF NOW with the Data Strong Network. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Australian PM says exports to India soon 11 April 2017 Share Australia wishes to export uranium to India "as soon as possible", Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said today. Turnbull made his comments during an official visit to India. Turnbull and Modi make their statements (Image: Prime Minister of India) India has an ambitious nuclear power program but few indigenous uranium resources, and could provide a significant market for Australian uranium. Australia is the world's third-largest producer of uranium behind Kazakshtan and Canada. All of its production - over 6000 tU in 2016 - is exported under strict controls to ensure that it is only for civilian use. Australia is a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but also requires any countries to which it sells uranium to put in place a rigorous bilateral safeguards treaty. While India has an impeccable nuclear non-proliferation record it is not a signatory of the NPT, and was effectively isolated from world nuclear trade until 2008, when it signed a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group subsequently agreed to exempt the country from rules prohibiting trade with non-members of the NPT, opening the door to the possibility of nuclear trade with India. Since then, India has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with several countries. A bilateral agreement between Australia and India for the supply of uranium was signed in 2014, and came into force in November 2015, although Australia's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) recommended that uranium sales should begin only after conditions concerning India's nuclear regulatory regime, routine inspections and reactor decommissioning plans were fulfilled. A bill on Civil Nuclear Transfers to India was passed by both Australian houses in November 2016. Welcoming Turnbull on his first visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the passage of Australian legislation meant the country was now able to export uranium to India. Responding to Modi's welcome, Turnbull said: "We've worked closely with India to meet our respective requirements for the provision of fuel for India's civil nuclear program, and we look forward to the first export of Australian uranium to India as soon as possible." Turnbull said the trading relationship between the two countries was delivering significant benefits to both nations, with two-way trade in goods and services worth nearly AUD20 billion ($15 billion) in 2016. This was "a fraction of the level it could and should be," he said. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics WIPP waste shipments resume 11 April 2017 Share The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) yesterday received its first shipment of transuranic waste since reopening after almost three years out of action. WIPP shared a video of the shipment's arrival (Image: WIPP) The shipment from Idaho marked an important milestone for the New Mexico facility, which was out of operation from February 2014 until January of this year following two unrelated underground incidents. Until now, host communities have had to store TRU waste, which consists of clothing, tools, rags, residues, debris, soil and other items contaminated with small amounts of plutonium and other man-made radioactive elements. WIPP is the USA's only repository for the disposal of TRU wastes from the country's military program. Operations at the facility, where sealed drums of waste are placed in underground rooms mined out of an ancient salt formation, were suspended in February 2014 following an underground truck fire and the rupture of a waste drum in separate incidents. The DOE commissioned two investigations into the incidents and in October 2014 embarked on a stepwise recovery plan estimated to cost $242 million up to the restart of operations. Additional costs included new permanent ventilation, about another $65 million to $261 million, and a new exhaust shaft, at between $12 million and $48 million. Waste emplacement operations restarted in January 2017 with waste that had been stored at an on-site facility. Two shipments per week will now arrive at the facility, ramping up to four per week by the end of this year. Initial shipments are expected from Idaho, Savannah River and Waste Control Specialists, whose Texas facility has been used for the temporary storage of TRU waste from the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) since 2014. Shipments from Oak Ridge and LANL are expected later in the year. The DOE estimates that by the end of next January WIPP will have received 61 shipments from Idaho; 24 from Oak Ridge; 24 from LANL; eight from Savannah River and 11 from Waste Control Specialists. The exact allocation and sequence for shipping will be adjusted depending on the emplacement rate at WIPP, operational needs at WIPP and generator sites, and logistical issues that may affect shipping. Generator sites are responsible for verifying that their TRU waste meets requirements for safe transportation and disposal. Todd Shrader, manager of DOE's Carlsbad field office, said: "To see shipments arriving again at WIPIP is celebrated not only by the WIPP workforce and the Carlsbad community, but also by our DOE host communities that support the critical missions of the Department." Jack Zimmerman, deputy manager for the Idaho Cleanup Project at the DOE's Idaho Operations Office, said "I speak for all of us when I say that we are pleased to be shipping to WIPP again." Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Contents: Where Is Polynesia? A map showing the various parts of Oceania including Polynesia in green. Image credit: Rainer Lesniewski/Shutterstock.com Polynesia is a grouping of over one thousand islands in the Pacific Ocean. In fact, the name Polynesia means many islands in Greek. These islands form a triangle with Hawaii in the north, Easter Island in the east, and New Zealand in the south. Within this region are many other well-known islands, including French Polynesia, Samoa, and the Cook Islands. To the west of Polynesia are the Micronesia and Melanesia islands, also in the Pacific. Polynesia includes six independent nations (New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands), two political bodies part of larger nations (Hawaii with the United States and Easter Island with Chile), two self-governing bodies with ties to former colonial powers (Niue and the Cook Islands with New Zealand), and five territories administered by other nations. Here is a complete list of the countries/territories/dependencies that are part of Polynesia: Polynesia does not experience annual seasonal changes. Instead, the temperature hovers around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) for most of the year. Each island typically contains a mangrove forest along the coast, followed by palm trees, and then rainforest further inland. The region is also home to numerous volcanic islands and some of the highest mountains in the world. Historical Overview Moai Statues, Easter Island, Rapa Nui National Park, Chile. Image credit: Olga Danylenko/Shutterstock The history of Polynesia generally spans four eras: exploration and settlement (1800 BCE to 700 CE), pre-European growth (700 to 1595), European exploration (1595 to 1945), and modern times (1945 to the present). Between 3000 to 1000 BCE, speakers of the Austronesian languages ventured from Taiwan to Micronesia and Melanesia. There, the prehistoric Lapita culture began to develop. Its people continued to spread eastward and by 700 CE, they had settled within the Polynesian triangle. Each local population established their own society and political structures. War tended to break out among tribes separated by natural defences like mountain ranges, whereas conflict was rare when different people could openly co-exist on flatland islands that allowed for easy communication. In 1595, Spanish navigator Alvaro de Mendana de Neira became the first European to reach Polynesia, but it would be Captain James Cook of the British Royal Navy who made the first attempt to explore the region, in the mid-18th century. By the early 1900s, almost all of Polynesia had been conquered by western powers. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, many of the islands were used as Allied military bases. Once the war ended, political change started to occur due to the dissemination of anti-colonial sentiments. In 1962, Samoa became the first Pacific nation to gain its sovereignty. Today, most Polynesian Islands have some degree of independence. Sea Life and Diet Traditional Tahitian raw fish salad. Image credit: Maridav/Shutterstock Over the years, most Polynesians adapted to their ocean environment to become excellent mariners. They frequently left coastal waters for the high seas, exploring for hundreds of miles in every direction. Some voyages from Easter Island went as far as 300 miles (500 km) away. They favored this lifestyle because it provided the most protein to sustain their diet. Fishing was conducted both individually and in groups. Oftentimes, religious rituals were performed to help with these efforts. Tuna and various types of crustaceans were common catches. Seaweed was also collected for its salty taste. Other common food sources included fruits and vegetables such as bananas, coconuts, and yams. The Tahitians in particular relied on breadfruit, whereas the early Hawaiians ate taro root. Also, the pandanus fruit was widely used as a type of chewing gum. The first Polynesian cultures did not possess a market system. Rather, all exchanges occurred by bartering. Fishermen would take a portion of their daily catch and move to the inland villages where they would trade for items gathered out on the land. Social Class Statue of King Kamehameha, Hawaii, United States. Image credit: Charles Lewis/Shutterstock Traditional Polynesian communities focused on shared spaces, whether for social or ceremonial purposes. Regardless, a clear social hierarchy existed. For example, Marquesan houses were built on platforms, the height of which depended on the status of the owner. Chiefs, warriors, and religious figures might have lived seven to eight feet off the ground, while people of lower status might have been no more than a few inches high. Also, every person within a community possessed personal property, but upper-class individuals tended to have better items such as sleeping mattresses and carved furniture. Lastly, marriage was often prohibited among people from different social tiers; the children of these couples were killed at birth in some Polynesian societies. Gender Norms Polynesian Women. Image credit: Deborah Kolb/Shutterstock The status of women in Polynesia depended on the individual island. In Marquesas, for example, women were considered nearly equal to men, while in other Polynesian societies, they held lower positions. Labor was traditionally divided by gender, with the men responsible for fishing, construction, and protection while the women collected food, wove baskets, and made clothes. On many islands, men and women also ate separately. Unlike most global societies, polygamy was very common, but it was the woman who could have more than one husband. It was less common for a man to marry more than one person. Clothes And Tattooing Traditional Tahitian headdress. Image credit: Raquel Pedrosa/Shutterstock Before the arrival of westerners, both men and women wore sections of bark cloth around their waists. Ornaments and feathered headdresses were also worn by both genders at ceremonial events. Such ornaments were often made from mollusk shells that could also be made into a variety of tools. In many Polynesian cultures, tattoos carried immense cultural and symbolic significance as they were inspired by the rich mythology of the local people. Heroic figures were usually incorporated in some way. Puberty was often marked by the adolescents first tattoo. Religion Traditional Tiki guards, Hawaii, United States. Image credit: George Burba/Shutterstock During the pre-colonial era, there was a variety of religions that existed throughout the Polynesian Islands. Most of these religious ideas and practices involved what is known as Mana, a life force or sacred power that all thingsanimate and inanimatepossess. Women were especially known to have great Mana as proven by their ability to reproduce. In some cultures, chiefs also possessed great Mana as they were thought to be related to the gods. The concept of Tapucommonly known as taboowas also very important. Many Polynesian societies had strict rules to protect against certain sacrilegious actions or anything that was considered forbidden. Western Colonialism Haapiti Catholic Church, Moorea, French Polynesia. Image credit: angela Meier/Shutterstock The various Polynesian cultures and traditions changed drastically as a result of colonialism. The first westerners made contact in the 1500s. At that time, there were roughly 500,000 inhabitants scattered throughout the region. European influence grew more prominently during the 1700s when the first missionaries arrived. As Christianity spread, so too did western power. The land was eventually seized by Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, among other countries. These powers competed for ownership of the islands, leaving the local populations to suffer the consequences. Traditions and resources were lost and discrimination flourished. In fact, the inhabitants of Easter Island were almost entirely decimated by slavery and newly introduced European diseases. Little remains of their original culture. In 1962, French Polynesia was even turned into a nuclear test site after France lost Algeria, their previous testing grounds. The introduction of English and Spanish threatened the survival of the various Indigenous languages. Religion was also severely impacted, with missionaries converting most Polynesians to Christianity. Many of the traditional beliefs that continued to exist were largely incorporated into Christian ideology. This type of incorporation was not uncommon during the colonial era. For example, European hymns were combined with Tahitian drone-style singing to create new vocal music known as Himene. Over time, Polynesians even adapted to more western fashions, wearing traditional garb only during special ceremonies. The Current State Of Polynesia Bora Bora, French Polynesia, a popular tourist destination. Image credit: Marcelo Alex/Shutterstock Today, there are approximately two to three million ethnic Polynesians worldwide. Of these, the islands with the largest ethnic Polynesian populations are New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti, or in the American territories of Hawaii and American Samoa. With the exception of New Zealand, most of the independent Polynesian Islands receive the majority of their income from foreign aid. Tourism also provides a stable income. There is no overarching Polynesian culture; it differs from island to island. However, these differences are subtle and are most noticeable to insiders. With that said, in the eyes of Westerners, the region is currently divided by its two distinct cultures: West Polynesia and East Polynesia. The former is largely defined by its large populations, while the latter is relatively contained to the smaller islands. Despite the erasure of their collective cultures, there are current efforts to revitalize the various practices of pre-colonial Polynesia. For example, education programs in elementary schools and universities are attempting to teach a new generation the original Hawaiian or Maori languages. Ritual tattooing has made a significant comeback. Whether these efforts will succeed remains to be seen, but as of right now, Polynesia exists as a fusion of the old ways and western influence. Mumbai, Apr 11 (IBNS): Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited ('Jio') on Tuesday announced that the Jio Summer Surprise has been fully withdrawn, following the advice of Telecom Regulatory authority of India (TRAI). Jio further announced new unlimited plans with special benefits, exclusively for its Jio Prime members and aimed at encouraging Jio subscribers to live the Digital Life without restrictions- Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan. The plans start with the most Rs. 309 plan, which provides Unlimited SMS, calling and data (1GB per day at 4G speed) for 3 months on first recharge. The company also announced the Rs. 509 plan for daily high data users offering Unlimited SMS, calling and data (2GB per day at 4G speed) for 3 months on first recharge. Considering the special benefits that are available to Jio Prime members, customers who were unable to subscribe to Jio Prime for any reason, can continue to do so by paying Rs. 408 or Rs. 608 (Jio Prime + recharge price) to avail these benefits. These plans will be available starting from Tuesday. Existing Jio customers who have not done their first recharge so far, need to do so by April 15 to avoid degradation and/or discontinuation of services. When planning a vacation, weather conditions are an important factor to take into consideration. The following are ten countries where warm weather is most likely to occur year-round. 10. Portugal Portugal is a European country located on the westernmost edge of the continent, bordered by Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. The country is regarded as the fifth most peaceful country in the world. Portugal is located in the region where the Mediterranean climate is most profound, giving the country long dry summers and wet winters. The average temperature of the Portugal ranges between 8 degrees and 12 degrees Celsius. 9. Mexico Mexico is a North American country bordered by United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the south. The countrys 119.5 million people make it the world's most populous Spanish-speaking country. Mexico is divided by the Tropic of Cancer into two main climatic zones: the temperate zone and the tropical zone. The majority of the country enjoys extended periods of sunshine with the average temperature reaching a balmy 28 degrees Celsius. 8. South Africa South Africa is an African country located in the southern part of the continent. The country has a population of 56 million. South Africas climate is temperate thanks to the presence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The countrys location in the Southern Hemisphere gives it less oppressive heat than countries countries in sub-saharan areas. 7. Spain Spain is a European country located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. The country occupies an area of 195,360 square miles and is home to a population of 46.4 million people. Spain boasts some of the most pleasant weather conditions in Europe, a fact attributed to its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. The majority of the country lies in what is known as the "Csa Zone" which is characterized by long hot summers. 6. Kenya Kenya is an East African country with a population of 48 million people and a land area of 224,445 square miles. Kenya is famed all over the world for its safaris and spectacular endemic wildlife. The country lies on the equator and has a warm, humid tropical climate, particularly along its coastline where temperatures hover around 28.05 degrees Celsius. However, these temperatures decrease in the central part of the country due to its mountainous landscape which includes the snow-peak of Mt. Kenya. The country only has two seasons: the March-to-June long rains and the October-to-December short rains with the temperatures being relatively high throughout the two seasons but with peaks experienced in February and March. 5. Uganda Uganda is a landlocked country located in East Africa that is bordered by Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country is relatively small with a population 37 million people residing within its 93,065-square-mile area. It is the second most populous landlocked country in the world after Ethiopia. Uganda is located on the equator, meaning it enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 21 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius. This excludes the Ruwenzori and Mt. Elgon regions where the snow-peaked mountains alter the surrounding climate. The warm, dry season spans from December to March which is followed by the wet season from March to May. 4. Malta The Republic of Malta is an island country located in the Mediterranean Sea. Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with its 0.45 million people inhabiting the country's 122 square mile area. The small country has some of the most pleasant weather in Europe with its Mediterranean climate offering long, warm summer months which begin in April and end in November. The country also has the highest duration of sunshine hours anywhere in Europe with an average of 3,000 hours per year. 3. Greece Greece is a country in southern Europe, occupying an area of 50,949 square miles with total population of about 11 million. The landscape of the country is primarily mountainous with mountains covering 80% of the entire country. Greece is located along the Mediterranean Sea where it has one of the longest coastlines in the world and hence has a primarily Mediterranean climate comprising on wet winters and dry summers. However, rain is almost non-existent in the southern part of the country and weather is sunny almost all of the time. 2. Cyprus Cyprus is an island nation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It covers an area of 3,572 square miles. The country is the third largest island in the Mediterranean by population, with over 1.1 million inhabitants. Cyrus enjoys one of the most diverse climatic conditions in the region ranging from sub-tropical climate to semi-arid. However, in average the country enjoys warm climates with the average temperature being about 24 degrees Celsius. Cyprus enjoys a long, warm summer lasting for eight months from April to November. 1. Costa Rica The Republic of Costa Rica is a country in Central America. It is relatively small, with an area of 19,700 square miles. It has a population of over 4.5 million people with the majority living in the metropolitan area of San Jose, the nations capital. Costa Rica is located close to the equator, a fact that allows it to enjoy a tropical climate throughout the year. However, the country does have some microclimates which are determined by the differences in altitude, topography, and geography in distinct regions of the country. In general, Costa Rica enjoys abundant sunlight throughout the year. Melanesia is located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is made up of 2,000 islands stretching from the Arafura Sea in Indonesian waters to the eastern side of the western Pacific Ocean, and from the island of New Guinea in the north to New Caledonia and the surrounding waters to the south. About 12 million people call Melanesia home. In fact, the region has been inhabited by humans for tens of thousands of years. The name Melanesia is taken from Greek and literally means black islands, denoting the dark skin tone of the local inhabitants. In terms of political divisions, the region is divided among six independent countries and one colonial dependency. They are as follows: Geography And Climate Melanesias 2,000 islands have a combined geographical land area of around 386,000 square miles (1 million square km). Vegetation in the region consists of forested areas and jungles. Melanesia has a humid, tropical climate year-round. The weather becomes even hotter and more humid between the months of November and April, but gets cooler and dryer between the months of May and October. Melanesia is separated from Polynesia in the east and from Micronesia in the north by a geographical feature known as the Andesite Line, on which major earthquakes and volcanic activity occur. Historical Overview Artwork depicting traditional cooking on New Caledonia as Western colonizers look on. Published in France in 1867. Image credit: Marzolino/Shutterstock Human settlement in Melanesia dates as far back as 70,000 thousand years ago when the first inhabitants reached what are now the Torres Strait Islands. They are thought to have migrated from the Indonesian archipelago. Human habitation in New Guinea, the largest island of Melanesia, began around 40,000 years ago, with migrants who came down from the Southeast Asian peninsula. It was these settlers who brought one of the earliest forms of agriculture. A subsequent wave of migration, this time from Taiwan, brought seafaring skills, allowing Melanesias inhabitants to navigate the vast waters of the region. While the Maluku Islands (now part of Indonesia), the Bismarck Archipelago (islands to the east of New Guinea controlled by Papua New Guinea), and the Solomon Islands have been inhabited for the past 32,000 years, the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu were settled later, between 1500 and 1000 BCE. The first Europeans began arriving in the 17th century, with colonization beginning in the late 18th century. By the late 1800s, all of Melanesia was controlled by European powers. The peoples of the region began pushing for independence from their European colonizers after World War II. The Maluku Islands and the western part of New Guinea eventually became part of the new, independent state of Indonesia. Fiji gained independence in 1970, Papua New Guinea in 1975, the Solomon Islands in 1978, and Vanuatu in 1980. The people of the Torres Strait Islands became full Australian citizens in 1967, while New Caledonia remains under French rule, though it has gained greater autonomy over the years. There are many New Caledonians who desire outright independence, though in a referendum that took place in 2020, the territorys residents narrowly rejected a break with France. Sea Life And Diet A boy of the Yang tribe in Papua New Guinea paddles on a boat. Image credit: Tetyana Dotsenko/Shutterstock History records that the widely-spread communities in the region of Melanesia had trade relations with each other and were even politically integrated as far back as 3,000 to 3,500 years ago. Trade activity involving shell ornaments and obsidian was particularly prevalent. The ancient Austronesian people that first settled in Melanesia had sophisticated technology that allowed them to be capable seafarers. Indeed, the Melanesians ability to navigate the vast waters of their region explains their affinity for fish and other seafood in their traditional diet. To this day, fishing remains at the center of economic life in much of the region. The traditional Melanesian diet also consists of root crops, leaves, coconuts, and fruit. The effects of globalization, however, have caused Melanesians to change the way they eat. Their diets now include more red meat and processed foods. Social Class As in the contemporary world, social standing in traditional Melanesian society depended on how much wealth a person, family, or group could amass. Hence, polygynous marriages (two or more wives sharing a husband) were common since they could produce more labor, and therefore, could accumulate more wealth. In fact, polygynous marriages of people with high status served as a tool for creating political alliances. Traditional societies in New Guinea were organized on a patrilineal basis, whereas societies on the smaller Melanesian islands were generally matrilineal. But the principle that a persons first loyalty should be to their family was universal throughout the region. Political leadership in traditional Melanesian society generally went to those with entrepreneurial success and those who had gained prestige through war. At the time of European contact, however, many Melanesians were ruled by hereditary chiefs, while some achieved leadership through a combination of heredity and ability. In general, local Melanesian leaders were people who had a monopoly over trade, or who achieved dominance on the battlefield. Gender Norms Historically, gender relations in Melanesia, especially New Guinea, have been defined by the belief in the potency and sacredness of reproductive fluids, such as semen and menstrual fluids, which were also considered dangerous. Therefore, any activity or ritual involving members of the opposite sex was considered risky. Women were responsible for producing food and also had a respected role in aspects of domestic politics. Status in some groups and rituals was sometimes passed on maternally. Women were also important in certain rituals as healers, elders, and ancestors. In contrast, men in parts of New Guinea were to engage in other activities, which included ritualized homosexuality as a means for them to supposedly control the supernatural, as represented by bodily fluids and substances that the Melanesians considered powerful. These cults would also undertake initiation rituals and rituals that celebrated warfare. Within residential communities, it was common for men and women to be segregated. Women and children lived in dwellings of their own, while men lived together with fellow members of their community. Such a living arrangement could easily be described as the traditional Melanesian version of a fraternity house. Pre-Colonialist Culture Traditional straw clothes, Tanna, Vanuatu. Image credit: Katya Tsvetkova/Shutterstock When Europeans arrived in Melanesia, they found that the people of the region wore very little clothing at all. In parts of New Guinea, for example, men walked about naked, wearing only a so-called penis sheath made from the gourd of a vine. The body has always represented a kind of art canvas for Melanesians. Many adorn themselves with tattoos, paint their faces and bodies, wear various headdresses or wigs, and don unique costumes. In other parts of Melanesia, many people wear what is known as a Laplap, which is basically a cloth that is worn around the waist or under the armpits to cover ones body. The cultures in Melanesia have been influenced by colonial rule, and so modern Western styles such as shorts or t-shirts can easily be found in many parts of Melanesia. Religious worship in pre-colonial Melanesia generally centered on the importance of ancestors, or more specifically, the ghosts or spirits of those ancestors. Traditional Melanesian religious practices involve praying, making sacrifices, and rituals involving so-called magic or spells. Two important concepts in Melanesian religion are the concepts of Mana, which means efficacy or potency, and Tapu, which means sacred or forbidden. Traditional Melanesian society lacked full-time religious leaders, so those who acted as priests or magicians (traditional Melanesian spirituality incorporated magic) were no different than others who performed regular, daily activities. Western Colonialism Memorial to European missionaries, Isle of Pine, New Caledonia. Image credit: PomInOz/Shutterstock The arrival of Europeans radically changed Melanesian society. Firstly, the encroachment of the European powers resulted in radical religious changes, such as the advent of so-called cargo cults. These were cults formed by people who believed that their ancestors were withholding material goods from Europe. They set about destroying old ceremonial objects and prepared themselves morally, socially, and logistically for the arrival of vast quantities of European goods. Secondly, the introduction of Christianity led to fundamental changes in Melanesian societies. Melanesians who were educated in Western Christian schools became the regions new leaders. These same schools and missions also trained Melanesian missionaries and evangelists. Thirdly, as was the case during the European colonization of the Americas, Europeans introduced new diseases to Melanesia, for which the local population had no immunity. Many Melanesians succumbed to these diseases. In addition, the European powers exacerbated the warfare between local groups by providing firearms to warring parties. Indigenous political, economic, and trade structures collapsed and were replaced by colonial administrations and economic infrastructure. Contemporary Melanesia A Meke dance performed in Fiji. Image credit: ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock Todays Melanesia is markedly different from the one that existed before the arrival of Westerners. For example, virtually the entire region is now accessible by modern transportation networks. Urbanization in the region abounds, and with it, the growth of shantytowns on the outskirts of cities, which are a common sight in developing countries, as more Melanesians leave their traditional rural communities to find work and educational opportunities in urban centers. Christianity is now the prevailing religion in Melanesia. In fact, Melanesians are among the most devout Christians on Earth. Christianity has been able to spread and maintain a hold on the local population in part because the people charged with spreading the faith had knowledge of local languages and customs. The economics of Melanesia have also changed through Western influence. For better or worse, the region is now part of the global economy. Multinational corporations and mass industry have made their way into the region. Logging and mining, for example, are important industries in Melanesia. As in many other countries around the world, economic interests have clashed with the interests of local communities who want to maintain their way of life and their environment. Society and politics in Melanesia have also been westernized. Those who possess a Western education are now the upper class of society, as well as the leaders of their respective countries. There is, however, a prevailing ideology in Melanesia that calls for maintaining the regions traditional customs, which some call the Melanesian way. As a result, Melanesia is seeing a revival of old customs and traditions that were long suppressed by Western colonial interests. Chennai, Apr 10 (IBNS): Eminent corporate healthcare pioneer Dr Prathap C Reddy lauded the role of robotic surgeons in ensuring better outcomes among cancer patients in India. The use of robotic technology has been resulting for a better quality of life for even those afflicted with cancer. Dr Reddy said that Apollo Hospitals will set up a Minimally Invasive Robotic Institute by extending the pioneering work being done among cancer patients using the da Vinci Surgical Robot within the Apollo group beyond the current four large metros of Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Kolkata. Referring to India as the world capital for debilitating conditions like diabetes, cancer and heart ailments, Dr Reddy exhorted Indian doctors to find technological solutions to bring relief to millions of afflicted people. Every life is priceless. We must endeavour to protect every life," Dr Reddy said, urging Indian doctors who have made a mark for themselves with their exceptional skills, compassion and care. Speaking to an audience of 150 experienced Robotic Surgeons who were attending the two-day Robotic Surgeons Conference that concluded in Chennai on late April 9, Dr Reddy repeatedly stressed the need for early detection of cancer. This he said was possible by making available healthcare facilities for all sections of society. Practicing robotic surgeons from a wide range of specialisation fields such as Urology, Gynaecology, Thoracic, Gastro-intestinal, Head & Neck ailments, shared their results and findings based on their experience in Robotic Surgery and learning from international faculty and young surgeons who have invented new methods to handle complex surgeries. Dr Mahendra Bhandari, CEO, Vattikuti Foundation, that is committed to skilling super specialist surgeons into competent robotic surgeons said, Its proven beyond doubt that computer assisted surgery using Surgical Robots is precise. It ensures quicker recovery and drastically reduces pain as opposed to a major open surgery with long and protracted period of recovery. Surgeons presenting at the bi-annual conference were unanimous in their opinion that Robotic Surgery scores over conventional surgery, as it minimises blood loss, dramatically reduces post-operative recovery time, and brings precision in executing the procedure, thus saving healthy tissue from damage. The quick healing and lower pain-levels translate to shorter hospital stays and faster return to a happier home environment. Best video presentation awards were presented to Dr Ashwin Mallya, Vattikuti Fellow, Fortis Escorts Kidney and Urology Institute; Dr Ashwin Tamhankar, Vattikuti Fellow, Max Super Specialty Hospital and Dr Arun Prasad, Senior Consultant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. The Jury for the best video presentation included Dr Alessandro Volpe, Maggiore Della Carita Hospital, Novara, Italy and Dr Jagdeesh Kulkarni, Asian Institute of Oncology, Mumbai. Twenty surgeons chosen through a competitive process were awarded Vattikuti scholarships by Dr Reddy to initiate them in their journey to become Robotic Surgeons: Dr. Ramesh Kumar Aggarwal and Dr. Mahendra Kumar Sharma, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi Dr. Souvik Chatterjee and Dr. Kanishka Samanta, National Medical College, Kolkata Dr. Hindustanwala Adnan Mustafa, Asian Institute of Oncology, Mumbai Dr. Ruchir Aeron, Dr. Sunny Goel and Dr. Rohan Patel, King George Medical College, Lucknow Dr. Ankur Bhatnagar, SMS Medical College, Jaipur Dr. Rohit Juneja, SS Institute of Medical Science & Research Centre, New Delhi Dr. Gotam Pipara, St Johns Hospital, Bengaluru Dr. Siddharth Yadav, AIIMS, New Delhi Dr. Sachin Ravindra Sarode and Dr. Umesh Ravikant Shelke, KEM Hospital, Mumbai Dr. Indraneel Banerjee, Fortis Escort Kidney and Urology institute, New Delhi Dr. Lalit Kumar, ESI Hospital, Bhiwani Dr. Sakshi Agarwal Dr. Georgy Joy Eralil Dr. Sneha Jayaramaiah Dr. Garima Chaudhry, SBAMI These Vattikuti scholars got a much better appreciation of Robotic Surgery and its benefits as they touched and felt the da Vinci Surgical Robot and experienced the use of advanced technology from the world leaders in the field--Intuitive Surgical Inc., USA--that helps improve outcomes in cancer surgeries. 4.3m Project Supporting Business Growth in North Wales Gets Off to Flying Start This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Apr 11th, 2017 A multi-million pound project supporting business growth across the region has got off to a flying start. North Wales Business Academy a 4.3 million collaboration between Wrexham Glyndwr University, Bangor University, Grwp Llandrillo Menai and Coleg Cambria was launched six months ago and is already educating dozens of professionals across the region. Backed by the European Social Fund (ESF), the further and higher education institutions joined forces to supply modules on a wide range of industry topics, from sales and social media to strategic thinking and digital futures, as well as offering mentoring and advice. Andrea Hall, NWBA Business Development Associate, said the three-year initiative is building momentum and gathering interest from different arenas. Andrea (picture front, centre) pointed to the people management sessions as an example of how the Academy is supporting and building the skillsets of members, including representatives from companies such as Direct Line Communications, AVOW, UCML, Coveris, Unimaq and Hadlow Edwards. The Academy has enjoyed a good start, the aim now is to spread the word even further, she said. We are supporting growth and competiveness in an increasingly tough environment, so the question isnt whether companies and individuals in business should join us, the question is when. The programme was announced in the autumn by Welsh Government Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford, with the aim of delivering university-accredited management qualifications to more than 1,000 employees over the next three years. Professor Chris Jones, Head of North Wales Business School at Wrexham Glyndwr, said the project will make a difference to the local economy. All four partners recognise the paramount importance of qualifications, and we all agree that to create a positive legacy for the region, knowledge and skills must be utilised. He added: We are offering the unique opportunity for every business in North Wales to get the up-skilling their company needs to grow, not as part of a rigid programme of learning, half of which may be irrelevant to them. The Academy is aimed for all private sector companies with growth ambition and particularly key sectors, including advanced manufacturing, tourism and outdoor activities, the food and drinks industry and energy sector. Supported by 2.8 million of EU funds, the scheme will enable employers to access subsidies of up to 70% for training and staff development opportunities in areas including financial management, sales and marketing, business strategy, governance and operational skills and management. Among its successful programmes is the North Wales Young Talent Academy, which aims to boost skills and succession planning in the workplace. Learners will achieve a tailored Level 4 qualification, celebrated at an award ceremony this summer. Iwan Thomas, regional skills and employment coordinator for the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, says the NWBA can have a major influence on the future of business training. Having a collaborative approach amongst providers further demonstrates how working as part of a Team North Wales approach, our collective vision for a confident, cohesive region with sustainable economic growth, capitalising on the success of high value economic sectors and its connection to the economies of the Northern Powerhouse and Ireland can move closer towards becoming a reality, he said. For more information on the project, visit www.glyndwr.ac.uk. Follow @NWBizAcademy on Twitter or email andrea.hall@glyndwr.ac.uk For more on the North Wales Young Talent Academy, call Gaenor Roberts or Rachel Allen on 01978 293375 or email gaenor.roberts@glyndwr.ac.uk First Season For Storyhouse Revealed New 37m Theatre 12 Miles Away This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Apr 11th, 2017 The inaugural touring season has been announced for Storyhouse the brand new 37m theatre, cinema and libraryin Chester. Storyhouse is in the old art deco Odeon in the city centre, and features a 800/500 seat-theatre; a 100-seat cinema; a 150-seat flexible studio theatre; library spaces; digital production and broadcast facilities; a cafe bar and restaurant. Today has seen the first programme of events revealed including musicals, international drama, stand-up comedy, dance and opera. West-End hit, Footloose, the musical based on the 1984 movie opens the autumn season from 59th September. Another musical Blood Brothers, starring Maureen Nolan, can be seen the following month from 914th October. Storyhouses promo team notes: Dance lovers finally have a reason to travel to Chester as the acclaimed all male dance company BalletBoyz perform their new show on 30 October. The sound of Buenos Aires comes to Chester on 18 October with the hit show Tangomotion, featuring world-class tango dancers and live music from the acclaimed quartet Tango Siempre. The programme release continues with details of comedians including Stewart Lee (BBC 2s Comedy Vehicle) with his new show Content Provider and 8 of 10 Cats does Countdown regular Jon Richardson, on 3 October and 19 September respectively. More laughter will be on offer as the smash-hit musical Spamalot! inspired by the classic comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, comes to Storyhouse from 31 October 4 November, featuring comic delights including killer rabbits and a very expensive forest. Brassed Off, the play that tells the story of the miners strike through the travails of a colliery brass band, is on stage in October and will feature a locally-based brass band alongside the company of professional actors. Artistic Director of Storyhouse, Alex Clifton said We are delighted with the range of our opening touring season. This is a programme that tells stories in so many guises: through dance, music, comedy and drama. We are thrilled to be welcoming some of the countrys leading producers and after so many years without a theatre, Chester is once again at the centre of great culture. To provide a home for these wonderful shows that all pack an emotional punch, and to open our doors to audiences of all ages and tastes is exactly the reason were here. See you soon at Storyhouse! Storyhouse opens its doors for the first-time on 11 May with the inaugural home-produced season includes a brand-new version of The Beggars Opera, Alice in Wonderland, and Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream and Julius Caesar. All four productions will be performed in rep by a company of 26 actors -the largest rep company in the UK outside of the RSC and National Theatre. Storyhouses 37m build cost has been made possible via investment from Cheshire West and Chester Council, with support from Arts Council England and major local employer MBNA. Funding has also been attracted from major national trusts and foundations. You can find out more via the Storyhouse website here. Animal activists in Rajasthanas Sirohi district have launched a unique campaign to provide water through tankers to wildlife animals to tide over acute water shortage in its forests. But conservationists say there is no need to intervene in these natural processes of variations in mortality, reports Rakhee Roytalukdar The air is already hot, the sun is scorching, the temperature is touching over 40 and the watering holes are running dry. And this is early summer yet. In fact, March this year has been sultrier than usual. The script is running as predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department, saying that India is expected to experience a hotter-than-normal summer this year. Water shortage in summer months is a perpetual problem in the desert state of Rajasthan. More so for its wildlife in its numerous famous sanctuaries. Most of the watering holes dry up in the extreme heat from May onwards. But this year, the intensity of heat has brought on the summer earlier. Water scarcity in the sweltering summer has often made wild animals stray leading to incidents of animal-human conflicts. In 2012, a panther died of thirst in the Devdungari forest in Bhilwara district, one of the first such recorded occurrences. There could be more, but unreported. Environmentalists accuse the government of not making adequate arrangements for water, forcing wild animals to stray into human habitats to quench their thirst and hunger. The state wildlife department, however, claims otherwise. State Chief Wildlife Warden, G V Reddy confirmed: Rs one crore has been set aside for making water arrangements during the summer months for wild animals. But probably even this huge amount is not enough. To ride over the crisis, animal activists of Sirohi district have found a unique way. They have initiated a massive campaign called Pyaas Bujhao Yaaro, in the Vadakhda forest area (about 415 km from Jaipur and 10 km from Sirohi town) stretching from the Aravalli hills to over 35 square km. The district is one of the most backward regions of Rajasthan. The forest hosts birds and wild animals like panther, leopard, neelgai, wild cat, rabbit, deer, peacock, etc. Fearing that many could die due to dehydration, a few animal activists under the banner of People For Animals ( PFA), Sirohi, have built at least six water reservoirs throughout the forest and are filling it up with water from tankers. Amit Deol of PFA, Sirohi, says : At least 10,000 litres of water is being supplied everyday to fill up six water tankers, so that animals dont have to come out of the forest in search of water. These reservoirs have been built with the permission of the forest department and they have helped to identify the places for building them. Deol says that the idea of building the water reservoirs germinated after he receive calls to rescue injured wild animals. The forest is next to a four-lane highway which wild animals often cross to enter villages in search of water and food and fall victim to accidents or conflict with humans. . But fulfilling the watering needs of the animals is a costly affair as little help comes from the government. PFA spends about Rs 12,000 per month for filling up the reservoirs every day managed through donations. Rajasthans most famous Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve has about 200 watering holes, informs Y K Sahu, field director of the park. When the wildlife population was lesser, these watering holes sufficed. But now with the tiger count reaching 62 and about another 100 leopards and other wild animals crowding in the limited core forest area of 392 sq km, water shortage is bound to be a problem in summer. Till now theres no plan to supply water from outside, he says. Many conservationists are not in favour of providing water from outside. One of the guiding principles of wildlife management in conservation areas is that the natural population dynamics of animal populations should not be interfered with. Experts say, wildlife populations are entirely different from domestic animals which have to be fed, watered and maintained through human interventions for human consumption. Karnataka Forest Departments decision to replenish drying waterholes in Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves with water brought by water tankers has been opposed by several experienced conservationists, who have worked in these areas for several decades. Nagarahole and Bandipur reserves have attained high density of tigers and other large mammals after 1974, owing primarily to the strict measures taken by the forest department during the past decades. The overall density of nearly 40 to 50 large herbivorous animals per sq km now observed in Nagarahole-Bandipur are among the highest ecological densities of large mammals in India. However, the density varies greatly within the 1500 sq km of Bandipur and Nagarahole habitats, from as low as five animals per sq km in the driest parts to more than 100 animals per sq km in more moist forest patches. The density in drier areas is generally lower due to lower forage ability during the peak dry season. On the other hand, wildlife populations must undergo natural stress such as droughts, disease etc. and should get impacted by cycles of lower survival rates and densities as well as increases in these. Successive and massive habitat modifications in the form of continually providing water sources over the past three decades have already caused huge unnatural interference in these natural population dynamics in Nagarahole and Bandipur leading to artificially high densities of some species and shrinkage of others. Thus, from an ecological perspective, conservationists believe that there is no need to intervene in these natural processes of variations in mortality. But because Karnataka and Rajasthan have different climactic conditions, the desert states requirements for its wildlife are different. Consisting of approximately 10% of land area, 5% of the total population, Rajasthan has only 1% water of the country. A 2012 report of Rajasthan State Action Plan on Climate Change reveals that Rajasthan has the highest probability of drought in India. However, Rajasthans belief in traditional methods of water harvesting like Jhalara, talab, bandis, baolis, paar, tankas, johads, nadis and others, have helped it tide over water crisis for ages. But rapid urbanisation and water pollution are putting enormous pressure on the quality and quantity of surface and ground water. With rainfall pattern changing every year, it is imperative to revive and maintain these traditional systems of water harvesting, otherwise water tankers for wild animals seems the only plausible solution for now, environmentalists say. New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): Popular search engine Google on Tuesday designed its homepage with a doodle to pay tribute to Indian artist Jamini Roy on his 130th birth anniversary. The doodle is inspired by artist's Black Horse painting. Roy was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1955. Jamini Roy was born on 11 April 1887 into a moderately prosperous family of land-owners in Beliatore village of the Bankura district, West Bengal. When he was sixteen he was sent to study at the Government College of Art, Kolkata. Abanindranath Tagore, the founder of Bengal school was vice principal at the institution. He was taught to paint in the prevailing academic tradition drawing Classical nudes and painting in oils and in 1908 he received his Diploma in Fine Art. However, he soon realised that he needed to draw inspiration, not from Western traditions, but from his own culture, and so he looked to the living folk and tribal art for inspiration. He was most influenced by the Kalighat Pat (Kalighat painting), which was a style of art with bold sweeping brush-strokes. He moved away from his earlier impressionist landscapes and portraits and between 1921 and 1924 began his first period of experimentation with the Santhal dance as his starting point. NHS FightBack calls on health workers, patients and local residents to attend our meeting in Bournemouth on April 23 (see details below) to oppose redundancies, the withdrawal of hospital services, rationing of treatment and accelerated privatisation of the National Health Service (NHS). This fight must begin by opposing Bournemouth Councils sacking of 13 community rehabilitation assistants (CRA) who work for the Dorset Health Care University Foundation Trust (DHUFT) in the Bournemouth Intermediate Care Service (BICS). The BICS team includes physiotherapists, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacy technicians, CRAs and administration staff. They help thousands of people in the Bournemouth area. BICS is being gutted, after the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (DCCG) announced it will withdraw 426,000 in funding. Such is the scale of cuts that in January the British Red Cross issued an alert that the NHS faced a humanitarian crisis, just as it said of Greecethe country that is the European Unions experiment in imposing savage levels of austerity. Cuts totalling 20 billion have been wiped from the NHS budget since 2010. Plans for a further 26 billion of cuts by 2021 are being finalised. The latest cycle of cuts is being imposed through Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs). The implementation of further efficiency savings will require such a level of cuts to frontline services that the NHS will be unable to provide universal health care free at the point of use. One in six of the UKs 175 A&E (Accident and Emergency) units face closure or downgrade in the next four years. The situation confronting the NHS in Dorset is representative of this sweeping attack. Faced with a 158 million deficit by 2021, the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group has started a Clinical Service Review into Dorset health services. As part of the rolling out of STPs nationally, the DCCG has drawn up proposals that include: 1. Downsizing two of the three Accident and Emergency units at Dorchester and Poole; 2. Closure of the maternity unit in Poole; 3. Shutting the Special Baby Unit and Kingfisher childrens ward in Dorset County Hospital; 4. Closing 8 out of 13 community hospitals and replacing them with hubs without beds. Even this is not the complete picture. Under a separate Primary Care Commissioning Strategy, the DCCG has outlined plans to slash the number of GP surgeries across the county by two-thirds. In an attempt to prevent BICS workers from making a public appeal in defence of their jobs, management has demanded confidentiality and threatened that non-compliance could put redundancy payments at risk. However, these threats only hold sway because the trade unions are isolating the BICS workers and enforcing managements nine-step redundancy process. The GMB and Unison said nothing at the March 20 management meeting at which the redundancies were announced and have not made contact with the workers since. Unison, with an NHS membership of 500,000, isolated last years junior doctors strike, assisting the British Medical Association (BMA) to betray it. The BMA overruled the memberships rejection of a draconian contract and enforced the Conservative governments diktats. The consequences of this defeat go beyond the inferior pay, terms and conditions enforced on junior doctors. It provided the green light for a further dismantling of the NHS. The governments demand for a seven-day service was never about improving health provision, but rather providing private companies with greater access to NHS assets within the hospitals. It will allow them to cherry-pick the more profitable services and to destroy the existing terms and conditions of NHS staff. In April, the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) opened a new private unit, including a ward, two consulting rooms and a treatment area. Managed by the Trust through its Bournemouth Private Clinic, this is only privatisation by other means. That this is promoted as a way of increasing patient choice is how public health provision is being transitioned towards privatisation. The unit was built with public Trust funds to the tune of 800,000. The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital Trust (RBCH) argues that the money will be recouped from consultants using the facility to treat private patients, with revenue raised reinvested in NHS provision. This is a fraud. In fact, the RBCH cited the Health and Social Care Act 2012 as its model, which raised the cap on funding of Trusts through private patient care from 2 percent to fully 49 percent! The RBCH praises other NHS hospitals with private patient units such at Poole, University Hospital Southampton and Queen Alexandria Hospital in Portsmouth, adding, In many ways, RBH is catching up with many other Trusts. The Sustainability and Transformation Plans and the Health and Social Care Act 2012 are fundamental turning points in a decades-long assault on the NHS, reaching back to the 1997 Labour government. It was Tony Blair who first opened up the NHS to corporate profit through the Private Finance Initiatives, which have placed a debt millstone around the neck of hospital Trusts ever since. While NHS staff and the public are continually told there is no money for health care, PFI repayment costs now amount to 65 billion. The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader has not signalled any fundamental shift in Labours position on the NHS. Corbyn has kowtowed to his partys right wing on every issue, refusing to mount any fight against its policies of imposing private health care and austerity and supporting militarism and war. A genuine fight to defend the NHS cannot be conducted through the Labour Party or the trade unions. To fight this assault, a new perspective is required. NHS FightBack was initiated in 2012 to begin a counteroffensive in the working class against the destruction of the NHS, including the formation of independent action committees to fight the closure of hospitals and other health facilities. The right to free, high-quality and universal health care means the fight for socialism. The interests of patients and the vital jobs of doctors, nurses and other health workers must be placed before the insatiable profit drive of the financial and corporate elite. We urge workers to attend this public meeting to begin a discussion on the way forward. NHS FightBack public meeting details: Sunday, April 23, 2 p.m. Townsend Youth Centre Jewell Rd. Bournemouth, BH8 0LT For further information visit NHSFightBack.org Last week, just hours before a scheduled vote to decide whether Chicagos 27,000 public school teachers would carry out a one-day walkout to protest school cuts, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Karen Lewis announced to local media, No, were not striking. She added, Theyre [teachers] going to be asked to participate in May Day activities, because May Day is a really important day. CTU had planned to hold a vote on April 5 to decide on a May 1 walkout after organizing work-to-rule protests at some schools. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) filed a request for a state injunction to prohibit any strike. Shortly after Lewis made her comments on April 5, another CTU official, staff coordinator Jackson Potter, stated that debate and discussion were still planned on the proposed vote to strike, saying I just dont think its a done deal. But Lewiss announcement meant the official decision had already been made and the question would not go before the union delegates. Instead, CTU delegates voted on two resolutions that represent a low even for CTUs bureaucratic cowardice. The first resolution is for teachers to take a personal business day off to participate in May Day protest events. The second resolution commits CTU to an emergency house of delegates meeting to decide on what the unions response will be if the Democratic administration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel imposes additional furlough days. Teachers are furloughed already four days this year and CPS has proposed to end school three weeks early to make up for a budget shortfall. The latest round of threatened cuts comes as former hedge fund mogul and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner continues to withhold $215 million in state funds to CPS until state legislators finalize a plan to gut state worker pensions. Last year CPS officials, fully anticipating Rauners intransigence and expecting to impose mid-year cuts, passed a school budget incorporating $215 million Rauner had yet to allocate. Based on that budget, CTU teamed up with the Emanuel administration to push through a concessions agreement for teachers last October. The CTU pushed through the contract despite overwhelming support for a strike to oppose the introduction of a two-tier pension system, wage losses and increased health care costs. At that time, teachers had been working without a contract for nearly 16 months. In recent days, International Socialist Organization member and CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey commented that the union was having a hard discussion internally on whether to walk out. Sharkey and some other union delegates remarked there was not very much support for the measure. This should come as no surprise after CTUs April Fools Day stunt last yeara one-day walkout that many teachers vocally opposed as an unserious response to the severe situation they and their students face. Since it shut down the nine-day strike in 2012 on terms set by Emanuel, the CTU has done everything it can to prevent any significant mobilization of teachers against the attack on public education being carried out by both big business parties. In recent days, Lewis has also indicated that discussions are being held between CTU and CPS on reversing some of the four planned furlough days in exchange for cutting teacher pay. While issuing rhetorical protests, the CTU has functioned as one of Mayor Emanuels chief collaborators, facilitating the dismantling of public education through cuts and layoffs, and the continued funneling of desperately needed resources to for-profit charter school operators and investors. Far from opposing this, the CTU and its parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), are seeking to cash in by collecting dues from the miserably paid and miserably treated charter school teachers. An AFT-aligned outfit, the Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, has already organized teachers at UNO Charter School Network, the ASPIRA chain of charter schools, and is currently seeking recognition at the Noble Network of Charter Schools, which is backed by Governor Rauner, the billionaire Pritzker family and Chicago Board of Education President Frank Clark. With Trumps appointment of Betsy DeVos, whose ideological and corporate commitments pose a grave threat to students and teachers across the country, an intransigent and sharply political defense of public education is needed. New avenues of struggle must be developed, including rank-and-file teacher committees, in opposition to the CTU and the Democratic Party. Securing the social rights to high quality education and secure jobs are political struggles, pitting the interests of the working classblack, white, native-born and immigrantagainst the corporate and financial aristocracy and both corporate-controlled parties that defend it. On March 26, approximately two million Chileansover 11 percent of the countrys total populationtook to the streets around the country to participate in a national day of protest against the system of privatized pension funds, known as Pension Fund Administrators (Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones, AFP). AFPs, similar to 401k investment schemes in the US, are a cornerstone of the free-market measures imposed by the US-backed fascist dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, which ran Chile from 1973 to 1990. According to the organizers, 800,000 marched in the capital Santiago, while the police gave a far lower estimate, with over a million demonstrating elsewhere across the country. The wide turnout is a reflection of the opposition and anger towards not only the current Michelle Bachelet government (whose approval rating is 22 percent), but the maintenance of the Pinochet-era framework. The march followed three other mass demonstrations late last year that attracted mostly young people who are clearly concerned over the news that those who gave contributions to AFPs in their youth are getting a pension equivalent to only 22 percent of their wages during their last decade of work, according to the Fundacion Sol NGO. Though last months march was peaceful, the November 2016 demonstration expressed the anger towards Bachelets socialist-led governments refusal to comply with the Chilean peoples demand to scrap Pinochets AFPs, going beyond the cosmetic changes she implemented in the past trying to appease the frustration of AFP beneficiaries. The November demonstration was marked by violent confrontations with the police, who responded by using tear gas and water cannon. Students occupied schools, and two buses were burnt by the demonstrators who also set up road blocks in Santiago and several other Chilean cities. The Santiago subway suspended service for several hours affecting the transport of millions of people. Santiago and Valparaiso were the centers of the most violent acts, which have been increasing in size over several years of confrontations between students, workers and Chileans economically affected by the still prevailing Pinochet policies. In spite of having a relatively high annual per capita income of US$ 22,000, Chile remains one of the most economic unequal countries in the region. After violently overthrowing the bourgeois regime of Salvador Allende with the help of the CIA, Pinochet's reign of terror served as a testing ground for imperialisms free market measures that, in the following decades, would be implemented in other countries in the region. As with most of the economic measures enacted by Pinochet on behalf of his imperialist patrons, no government after the transition to democracy has had any serious intention of reforming, let alone eliminating, the AFP system. It is a major source of revenue for the Chilean bourgeoisie and, as one of the march organizers described it as, covert banks for the wealthy and the multinationals so that they can expand their investments () and build real monopolies on assorted economic sectors. Luis Mesina, leader of the largest organization behind the marches, which is known as No+AFPs (No more AFPs), made statements regarding a possible alternative to the existing privatized AFPs. Mesina declared that No+AFPs which orbits around the Nueva Mayoria coalition of Bachelet would not support any candidate in the coming November elections that does not address the AFP problem. Other members of No+AFPs have voiced their support for a return to the pre-Pinochet system of state pensions that lasted until 1981. The demand is to turn towards a Solidarity-based Sharing System with tripartite contributions, that is, with money from workers, the employers and the state, leaving behind the model of individual capitalization imposed by Finance Minister Jose Pinera and the Chicago Boysfollowers of Milton Friedmanduring the dictatorship, declared Mesina. The Spanish daily El Pais cited Fundacion Sol's findings on the present status of the AFP business: In the century's last quarter AFPs paid in pensions just a third of its earnings (...) while in 2015, their earnings rose 68 percent. How do AFPs function? Chileans deposit 10 percent of their monthly earnings into an AFP of their choice, in addition to paying an administrative cost. The amount workers will receive at retirement will depend on how well AFPs investment did in the national and world financial markets. Under the pre-Pinochet system, workers made contributions deducted from their monthly pay to finance the pensions of retirees. The monthly pensions were constant and guaranteed. Today, retirement payments are at the mercy of the capitalist world finance markets, mainly stocks and bonds. In 2015 Chileans savings in the AFP system were more than US$ 160 billion, most of which were reinvested in the national financial markets. In essence, the original idea was to use the savings of the Chilean workers and employees to fuel the so-called Chilean miracle. Today, the system has 10 million beneficiaries, a very large number for a country with a population of 17.6 million that is, an astonishing 60 percent of Chileans have their retirement money in the hands of AFP financial speculators. The militarywhich played a role in writing the law under the dictatorship of Pinochetexempted itself and state officers from being forced onto the AFP scheme in 1981 when the law was enacted. The modest returns to beneficiaries, meanwhile, are at risk due to Chile subservient position as a commodity exporter on the world market. With the recent drop of commodity prices in world markets, as well as transnational mining shares trending downward, AFP returns on investment are diminishing. At retirement, the military today receive generous pensions, which are quite near to their monthly earnings while on active duty. In contrast, an unskilled worker on an AFP receives US$ 233 per month, just over half the US$ 400 minimum wage, while the companies in AFP portfolios are reaping large profits. According to researcher Gonzalo Duran of Fundacion Sol, AFP year-on-year profits grew by 71.4 percent in the first nine months of 2015. The Bachelet government seeks to protect the Pinochet-era scheme and the Chilean stock market. With lower share returns due to the economic downturn, raising the retirement pay above the minimum wage would force the AFP to sell assets. As most portfolio assets are invested in the Chilean stock market, which by international standards is small, thus lacking the necessary liquidity, these assets would be sold at a heavy discount. The result is that AFP returns would collapsewith results not too different from those of the US housing bubble crash in 2008. This could massively hurt the share value of Chilean companies, an outcome that goes against the purpose for which the AFPs were created in the first place. The Chilean miracle was established by draining the retirement savings of the Chilean workers through the AFPs to transfer billions of dollars to the Chilean capitalists. Egyptian dictator Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced in a televised speech Sunday night the imposition of a three-month state of emergency. The immediate pretext was provided by the attacks on two Coptic churches on Palm Sunday, which killed at least 40 and injured more than 120. The first attack took place at the St. George church on Sunday morning during the service in Tanta in the Nile delta. Reports say that the blast was caused by explosives concealed under a seat. At least 29 people died in the attack and 70 were injured. Shortly afterwards, someone sought to gain entry to the St. Markus Cathedral in Alexandria, where the Coptic Pope Tawadros II was giving the mass. When security forces blocked the attacker, he blew himself up and killed 11 people. Many more were severely injured. On Sunday afternoon, the Egyptian branch of Islamic State, Wilayat Sinai, claimed responsibility for the attacks. Its fighters carried out the two attacks on the churches, according to the IS platform Amak. It also threatened more attacks on Egypts Christian minority. There has not yet been an independent investigation into the attacks. Following past attacks on the Coptic community in Egypt, there were repeated rumours about the countrys intelligence service being involved. The notorious interior minister in the Mubarak government which was overthrown shortly afterwards, Habib al-Adli, was considered to have been the mastermind behind an attack on the al-Qiddissine church in Alexandria on 1 January, 2011. Whoever was behind the attacks, they are playing directly into the hands of the most reactionary forces. General al-Sisi literally drowned the Egyptian revolution in blood. The junta, headed by the US-trained general, has incarcerated, condemned to death or shot thousands of regime opponents since it took power in a 2013 coup. With the imposition of the state of emergency, it is now creating conditions for an even broader crackdown against all opposition. Al-Sisi warned in his speech, Various steps have to be taken. The first is the declaring of a state of emergency in Egypt for three months, according to which the necessary legal and constitutional processes will be executed. We are declaring this state of emergency to protect and secure our country, and prevent potential disturbances. The general also ordered the mobilisation of the military to support the security forces. The state of emergency allows both the armed forces and the police to execute those procedures necessary to combat the threats of terrorism and its financing, maintain security around the country and protect public and private property, as well as preserving the lives of citizens, he added. The Egyptian parliament gave its stamp of approval to the state of emergency on Monday. The state of emergency enables the army and police to carry out measures which for the combatting of terrorism, the maintenance of security throughout the country and the protection of private and public property [] are necessary, it declared. The imposition of a national state of emergency illustrates how far the counter-revolution has developed since the bloody July 2013 military coup against Islamist President Mohammed Mursi. Under Hosni Mubarak, who was brought down by the Egyptian revolution on 11 February, 2011, a state of emergency was enforced almost without interruption for three decades. This formed the basis of the Western-backed dictatorship under Mubarak. Its lifting was one of the revolutions central demands. Now, two weeks after the former dictator was freed from prison, his notorious state of emergency is once again in force. It permits arrests without a warrant, house searchers without a judicial order and nightly curfews. Wiretapping and spying are made easier, decisions from special courts cannot be appealed and media outlets can be censored or banned. The online magazine al-Monitor reported, citing an Egyptian parliamentary deputy, that the state of emergency enables the police to detain suspects who are known to the security forces but against whom suspicions are insufficient for proceedings in court for up to 45 days. With these measures, which are being sold as part of the fight against terrorism, the junta is responding above all to the deepening social catastrophe, which could produce a new revolutionary explosion among the workers and impoverished masses at any moment. At the beginning of March, protests broke out over the regimes decision to ration subsidised bread. February saw a strike of 3,000 textile workers in Mahalla al-Kubra. In January, 19 oil workers in Suez were charged because they called for a strike. Under these conditions, the imperialist powers are demonstratively strengthening their support for their man on the Nile. US President Donald Trump, who just last week welcomed the dictator at the White House, used the attack to once again show his strong support for al-Sisi. I have great confidence that President al-Sisi will handle situation properly, he wrote on Twitter. The American embassy declared, The United States stand firmly by the side of the Egyptian government and population in order to defeat terrorism. Following the declaration of support by the German government for the US attack on Syria on Friday, Germanys media launched a campaign at the weekend for a massive expansion of aggression against the country. The editorial of the current edition of Der Spiegel demands: What is needed is more than just the half-hearted rearmament of the rebels or peace negotiations. Why not send a military warning to Assad, for example, by bombing the runways of his air force? Why not set up protective zones for civilians? Why not carry out cyber war against Damascus? There are other alternatives to military deployment, alternatives to an uncontrolled escalation. They are partly risky, but not unthinkable. In its Saturday edition, Suddeutsche Zeitungs editor Kurt Kister pleaded for the imposition of a no fly zone. The European Union could make a serious attempt to make the recalcitrant partners Russia and the United States sit down together. Then he adds: First stepssecurity zones, bans on flights, secured aid convoysare possible. Germany could not play an independent role, but it could be a driving force in the EU. The newspapers, which criticized Trump, did so from an even more right-wing perspective. Die Welt foreign correspondent Ansgar Graw demanded Trump bomb North Korea in addition to Syria. He writes: A clear warning shot against Assad was long overdue. And reaction to Pyongyangs missile program does not have to be limited to a show of force, a pure demonstration of power. Thinking about preemptive military action against North Korea is not only legitimate, but imperative. Graw criticized the US president for lacking a genuine war strategy and instead was tossing bombs as a response to his poor showing in opinion polls. We would welcome a stronger US engagement in Syria, as well as North Korea, if we were sure that both cases would be integral parts of a clear strategy. But the fear remains that the desperate Trump is just trying to polish up his image. The journalists and scribblers baying for war with Syria and North Korea are well aware of the catastrophic consequences. Kister writes about the military attack in Syria, which he supports: Nevertheless, this violent symbolic action harbours the danger of escalation between Russia and the US. This is such a great danger, because many thousands of Russian soldiers are stationed in Syria. Der Spiegel comments: But if Trump really wants to set up a no-fly zone or a protective zone for civilians, this could not realistically be done from the air. It would probably require a significant number of ground troops and a massive military and logistical operation. In his election campaign, Trump clearly opposed such plans and warned of a Third World War. And indeed, even in the case of a limited military strike, there is a danger of a confrontation between the US air force and Russian jets and air traffic control. What is behind the hysterical campaign by the German media for a war, which could quickly escalate into the Third World War? The answer lies in the deep crisis of the capitalist system. Like the Trump government, the ruling class in Germany is reacting to the collapse of post WWII economic and political relations, the disintegration of the EU and growing social polarization with the drive to war and rearmament As early as 2014, the Socialist Equality Party wrote in a resolution on the return of German imperialism: The revival of militarism is the response of the ruling class to the explosive social tensions, the deepening economic crisis and the growing conflicts between European powers. Its aim is the conquest of new spheres of influence, markets and raw materials upon which the export-dependent German economy relies; the prevention of a social explosion by deflecting social tensions onto an external enemy; and the militarization of society as a whole, including the development of an all embracing national surveillance apparatus, the suppression of social and political opposition, and the bringing into line of the media. When German politicians and the media now line up behind the US attack on Syria and go so far as to demand even greater military aggression, they are not doing so as adherents of Trumps war policy. Rather they seek to advance Germanys own aims. In order to once again turn Germany into the leading military power in Europea power capable of asserting its economic and geostrategic interests using militarily measures, when necessary, against its rivalsthe ruling elite is intensifying its offensive for war and militarism. Under the title The Cold War sends its regards the weekly magazine of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the Defence Ministry is planning a massive upgrade of its military forces. In addition to last weeks announcement that a new unit would be established to fight cyber wars the government also plans to establish three fully equipped field divisions, consisting mainly of tanks and mechanised infantry. Their strength could vary from 10,000 to 30,000 soldiers. Artillery strength is to increase from the current three to 14 battalions. Military experts reckon that the additional needs could only be met in the long term by the introduction of compulsory military service for men and women. Last weekend the business daily Handelsblatt devoted a section to The new armaments race. The paper reports that the Bundeswehr will receive 100 additional Leopard combat tanks. The new acquisition is part of a gigantic upgrade, which will devour around 130 billion euro by 2030. In addition to expanding the navy, new combat bombers, tankers, submarines and warships are to be acquired. In Berlin There is talk about the acquisition of nuclear weapons, a so-called D-bomb. The author also recommends: The return of German militarism and the tasks of the Partei fur Soziale Gleichheit (Socialist Equality Party of Germany) [20 September 2014] American society is dominated by social inequality. A handful of people control the vast majority of wealth. But the media and much of the academic world insist that race and gender, and not social class, are the critical divisions in society. This outlook extends into art and culture. Phrases like white privilege, white savior movies, and cultural appropriation are frequently used. Artists are criticized for not sticking to their own lane. Where does this kind of thinking lead? What is its history? This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, a turning point in modern history, when the working class and oppressed took power for the first time. The lessons of that revolution and its fate have great importance in helping find a way out of the current crisis of culture and politics. David Walsh, arts editor of the World Socialist Web Site, will speak at San Diego State University on these issues on April 18. Walsh is an expert on contemporary culture and its relationship to politics and social life. He is the author of thousands of film reviews and essays on art and history, some of which are collected in The Sky Between the Leaves. Meeting Details: San Diego, California Tuesday, April 18, 7:00 pm San Diego State University Arts and Letters 101 Map Facebook Event Page Last weeks US missile strike on Syria is shaking up the French presidential campaign, as international events again intervene to shift the poll numbers of the leading candidates. Right-wing candidate and former favorite Francois Fillon has collapsed since he was targeted on corruption charges in January after calling for a Paris-Berlin-Moscow axis against Washington. For a time, the race was dominated by neo-fascist candidate Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, a former banker and economy minister backed by the ruling Socialist Party (PS) and supported by Berlin. He is calling for deep austerity and a revival of the military draft. Now, both Le Pen and Macron are fading after the Syrian strike and last week's presidential debate. Jean-Luc Melenchon, a former PS minister and leader of the Left Front who is now heading up the Rebellious France (France insoumise) campaign, is rising in the polls, from 12 to 18 percent, overtaking Fillon. PS candidate Benoit Hamon has said he would endorse Melenchon in the second round. Were Hamon's voters (9-10 percent) to vote for Melenchon, he would easily qualify for the run-off, facing either Macron or Le Pen for the presidency in the second round of voting. The most significant aspect of Melenchons rise in the polls is the fact that it is in response to his criticisms of war and the pervasive anti-Muslim sentiment stoked by the PS under Frances state of emergency, as well as by Le Pen's National Front (FN). Melenchon held an election rally over the weekend in Marseille that attracted 70,000 people, according to organizers. He devoted much of his speech to criticizing war and the abuse of refugees. Melenchon attacked Trump and European leaders, including French President Francois Hollande, who have supported the strike on Syria. I am the candidate of peace, he said. Remember these days when you go vote, these people went behind him to hail Trumps intervention, which has no foundation, no international legitimacy, which was done by a single person and could drag you into a war, Melenchon declared to applause from the crowd. Think well about it: if you want peace, do not pick the wrong ballot in the voting booth. If you choose one for war, do not be surprised it war finally comes to you. He also referred to the drownings of thousands of refugees fleeing the war in Syria in the Mediterranean due to the callous and reactionary anti-migrant policies of the European Union. Good sea, how is possible that you have become the graveyard of 30,000 people who perished under the waves? he asked, observing a minute of silence for the dead, and adding, Listen all of you, that is the silence of death. On the stirring up of hatred against immigrants, Melenchon said that it is up to us to reply that emigration is always a forced exile, it is suffering. The surge in support for Melenchon reflects deep opposition within broad sections of the population to PS policies of war, austerity and appeals to racist and law-and-order sentiment. That these sentiments are coming to the fore refutes the narrative that the rise of the FN reflects a constant and accelerating shift to the right by an irredeemably racist French population. In fact, powerful left-wing, socialistic sentiments exist, above all in the working class, though they have been suppressed throughout Hollandes presidency. Five years of war and austerity under Hollande and 17 months of a state of emergency have produced an explosive social and political crisis. A poll last year found that two-thirds of the French population believes that class struggle is a daily reality of life. Despite constant official appeals to anti-Islamic hatred under the state of emergency imposed after terror attacks in 2015 in Paris, there is powerful opposition to nationalism. After last years mass protests against the Socialist Partys regressive labor law, there have been protests and riots this year against police brutality, including the police rape of Theo in Aulnay-sous-Bois and the murder of Liu Shaoyo in Paris. At the same time, the sharpest warnings must be made: Melenchon cannot serve as a vehicle to advance workers social aspirations. He has a long record, both inside and outside the PS, of betraying the sentiments he is now seeking to exploit, including popular opposition to the 1991 Gulf War and the launching of the euro. His promises to be an anti-war or pro-immigrant candidate are false. His anti-Marxist populismwhich rejects socialism, a politically independent role for the working class, and even the distinction between left and righthas proven to be a reactionary tool of the propertied classes. In power, he would prove an enemy of the working class. Melenchons Greek ally, the Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left) government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, won an election in January 2015 based on promises to end EU austerity programs that had devastated Greece. Tsipras utterly betrayed his election promises, beginning with his alliance with the right-wing Independent Greeks. He extended the EU austerity memorandum only weeks after taking office and imposed deep social cuts in the summer of 2015, defying a referendum he himself had organized in which over 60 percent of the Greek people voted no to austerity. His Spanish allies, Podemos, are recruiting significant sections of Spains officer corps and obtaining numerous posts in local and regional government, where they are proving to be tools of the banks, religiously paying back debts while smashing workers strikes. While Melenchon claims to be a candidate of peace and tolerance, he is running based on calls to reinstate the draft. He is relying, moreover, on the support of the Left Front, whose deputies voted for the state of emergency in the National Assembly in November 2015. The significance of his call for a return to the draft, now that Trumps strike on Syria has directly raised the danger of a clash between NATO and Syrias nuclear-armed backer, Russia, is clear. He is seeking to prepare France for what Macron called an era of major wars. The tears he is shedding over the fate of refugees in the Mediterranean are particularly hypocritical, in that he aggressively backed the NATO war drive against Libya and Syria in 2011 that has forced millions of people to flee their homes to Europe. The Left Front has also been a leading force in stoking anti-Muslim racism, supporting laws banning the veil and the burqa. Despite his invocations of opposition to xenophobia, Melenchon is himself a nationalist politician. His program can do nothing to halt the drive to war, which is rooted in the outmoded character of the nation-state system and the deep contradiction between the division of the world into nation states and the international character of economic relations. At his Marseille rally, he proposed to address the war threat by holding a conference of security in Europe [regarding] all the problems that are emerging or have emerged from the Atlantic to the Urals. This, he said, would allow us to repulse the horrific threat that is coming into view thanks to the light of reason and discussion We, the French, we would have to say that we want no wars, not small, medium sized, or big ones, on the Old Continent. This only begs the question: On what could Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the European heads of state agree if they sat down at such a conference? The US Democratic Party and the leading European governments pushed Trump to turn 180 degrees from his earlier talk of good relations with Russia and the Syrian regime and launch air strikes on Syrian forces. This points to the irreconcilable character of these antagonisms, rooted in the conflicting material and strategic interests of the major capitalist powers. The decisive development today, however, is not Melenchons rise in the polls, but the growing opposition in the working class, in France and internationally, to war and the social depredations of capitalism. What is urgently required is the building of an anti-war movement and a Marxist political leadership in the international working class. This, in turn, necessitates a careful analysis and exposure of the bankruptcy of Melenchon's anti-Marxist politics. The reaction of the New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA) to the Trump administrations missile strikes against Syria marks a new and deep shift to the right in the evolution of this pro-imperialist, middle-class party. Having supported the imperialist proxy war for regime change in Syria since it began in 2011, it is now aligning itself with a direct imperialist intervention and announcing its hostility to protests against the dangerous spiral of military escalation now underway. In a campaign statement virtually indistinguishable from CIA propaganda, NPA presidential candidate Philippe Poutou makes no criticisms of the US aggression against Syria, but shamelessly equates opposition to war with support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and mass murder. (All quotes from Poutou are taken verbatim from the very poor English translation posted by International Viewpoint, the web publication of the Pabloite international to which the NPA is affiliated.) Poutou begins by applauding the Trump administrations claims that the strike is retaliation for an alleged chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun: For the first time in six years, the army of the war criminal El Assad has been the target of air strikes. 59 US missiles destroyed the Shayrat air base, from base of the aircraft responsible for Tuesdays attack on chemical weapons against the civilian population of Khan Sheikhoun, which killed at least 86, including 27 children. Butcher El Assad with the Iranian and Russian armies has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians, constantly bombarding the civilian population and resistance forces with his bloodthirsty regime, Poutou continues, concluding: Therefore, without any support for or hope in the American army strikes, we will not join the protests of the French political parties, who, in order to advocate a reasonable peace with El Assad and his minions, close their eyes to the hundreds of thousands of deaths killed by the dictator and the millions of displaced and refugees. This amounts to declaration by the NPA that it will bitterly oppose an antiwar movement and defend the war drive of the Trump administration, supported by the European Union (EU) and the Democratic Party in the United States. The US bombing threatens to escalate into a war directly between the NATO powers and Syrias backers, Iran and nuclear-armed Russia. Even though such a war could lead to the incineration of the planet, the NPA still defends the war drive. Poutous pro-war argument is based on lies and unsubstantiated assertions. He takes as fact the claim that Assads forces used chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun, which no investigation has verified. In fact, there is little doubt that this attack was carried out by CIA-backed forces. Poutou does not say that the last major chemical attack in Syria, in Ghouta in 2013, was carried out by Islamist opposition militias who at the time blamed the attack on Assad, and who now control the area of Idlib province in which Khan Sheikhoun is located. Poutous slanderous claim that opposing an imperialist war to destroy the Assad regime means sanctioning mass murder is based on political lies. Firstly, the main responsibility for the mass killings and devastation in Syria lies not with Assad or his backers in Russia and Iran, but with Washington, the imperialist powers in Europe and their political supporters, including the NPA. The CIA, European intelligence and the Persian Gulf oil sheikdoms poured billions of dollars into opposition militias in an attempt to topple Assad. Above all, it is a political slander to claim that millions of people in France and around the world oppose the drive to a horrific new war because they support Assad and his minions. Workers have had bitter experiences over a quarter century with Middle East wars, from Syria to Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen, which cost millions of lives and trillions of dollars. They sense that a new imperialist war, let alone one that escalates into all-out nuclear war between Russia and NATO, will only lead to disaster. The NPAs nod to mass antiwar sentiment, saying it does not place hope in US air strikes, is deceitful and false. In fact, it is attacking Trump not from the left, but from the rightfor not having been consistent enough in threatening Syria, Iran and Russia. Based on the lie that Assad ordered the Khan Sheikhoun attack, Poutou blames Trump for it, implying that Assad would not have carried it out if Trump had immediately taken a more aggressive stance. Poutou writes, Just a week ago, his team amplified its previous position by indicating that an agreement with Bashar Al-Assad was envisaged within the framework of the war on terror, and also with other oppressive powers like Putin, Sisi or Netanyahu. These signals were clearly interpreted by the Syrian regime as an encouragement to pursue its course, and after Obama, Trump therefore has his share of responsibility in the atrocious chemical attack and the deaths of Khan Cheikhoun. In this, the NPA is speaking for layers in the affluent middle class who support the most aggressive factions of the foreign policy establishment in Europe and the United States. Trumps bombing of Syria was the outcome of months of bitter factional infighting in Washington, as the CIA, the Democratic Party and its European allies denounced Trump for his alleged ties to Russia and Syria, and his refusal to threaten them with military action. These forces ultimately won the factional struggle, and Trump ordered the bombing last week, setting into motion vast political and military conflicts on an international scale. This is in particular exposing the role of affluent middle class left parties like the NPA, who have been among the most rabid defenders of the imperialist war drive launched in Libya, Syria and across the Middle East in 2011, in response to the Egyptian Revolution. When protests with close links to Islamist circles began in Benghazi, the NPA and its international co-thinkers, prominently Professor Gilbert Achcar, stepped in to promote imperialist wars for regime change as democratic revolutions. Achcar wrote, If Gaddafi were permitted to continue his military offensive and take Benghazi, there would be a major massacre. Here is a case where a population is truly in danger, and where there is no plausible alternative that could protect it. The attack by Gaddafis forces was hours or at most days away. You cant in the name of anti-imperialist principles oppose an action that will prevent the massacre of civilians. Achcar subsequently went on to plan the escalation of the Syrian conflict later that year, meeting with the CIA-linked Syrian National Council (SNC) in October 2011 before boasting of the meeting in an article he published the next month in Al Akhbar. Nothing more clearly illustrates the class gulf separating the NPA from the working class in France and internationally than its role in planning and promoting imperialist wars that have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, shattered entire countries and now threaten to provoke world war. Poutous statement repeats the NPAs constant, provocative demands, over six years of war, that the imperialist powers step up their arming of opposition militias fighting the Syrian regime and its allies. He declares, We have always demanded the lifting of the embargo on arms sales to the secular resistance, an embargo that left it without real defence, only the fundamentalist jihadists have been able to procure armsand not in anti-aircraft weaponsfrom the Gulf countries and Turkey. Here, Poutou is again deceiving his readers, to present the war for regime change as progressive. There has been no embargo on arms to opposition militiaswhether Islamist ones like Ahrar al Sham or the Al Qaeda-linked Al Nusra Front, or nominally secular ones like the Free Syrian Army or the majority-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. They were defeated not because the imperialist powers did not arm them, as Poutou claims, but because they had no popular support, and the NPAs claims to be supporting a democratic revolution were a fraud. Poutous statement is a warning that workers and youth can oppose war and defend their most fundamental interests only in a ruthless struggle against the NPA. On April 1, 2017, body parts of three terrorists, including a woman, were found lying scattered at a terrorist hideout in the Borohat area of the Moulvibazar District, when a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team wrapped up their 82-hour 'Operation Maximus' there. SWAT members suspected that the extremists killed themselves by exploding bombs. Some powerful explosives including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered and defused inside the building. On March 30, 2017, parts of seven bodies, including one male, two females and four children, were found scattered by SWAT and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) personnel after the conclusion of 'Operation Hit Back' at a Neo-Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) den at Nasirpur village in the Moulvibazar District. Monirul Islam, the CTTC chief stated that the terrorists might have blown themselves up inside the hideout after having failed to flee. On March 27, 2017, six terrorists, including five males and a female, were killed inside a terror den at Atia Mahal in Sylhet city, in an Army-led operation codenamed 'Operation Twilight'. After the Operation, Brigadier General Fakhrul Ahsan, spokesperson of the operation, at a press conference near Atia Mahal, disclosed that the terrorists were killed when Army personnel fired at them, as their suicidal vests were still on their bodies. The use of suicide explosions in Bangladesh's intensifying struggle between Government Forces and Islamist extremists started on December 24, 2016, when a teenage boy and a woman had blown themselves up with suicide vests during a Police raid on a Neo-JMB hideout in the capital, Dhaka, to avoid arrest. Indeed, there is increasing evidence of desperation in terrorist actions, as they have been forced on the run by the Police and other Security Forces (SFs) aggressively hunting them down after the Gulshan Cafe attack . Since the Gulshan Cafe incident on July 1, 2016, according to partial data collected by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), 78 Islamist terrorists have been killed and another 907 arrested across Bangladesh. Prominent among those killed were the Neo-JMB leader and mastermind of the Gulshan Cafe attack, Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury aka Shaykh Abu Ibrahim Al Hanif aka Amir (30); JMB 'military commander' for the northern region Khaled Hasan aka Badar Mama (30); Neo-JMB 'military commander' Murad aka Jahangir Alam aka Omar; JMB 'regional commander' Tulu Mollah (33); JMB 'regional coordinator' Abu Musa aka Abujar; Neo-JMB 'military chief' Aminur Islam aka Alam (23); and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B) 'regional commander' Tajul Islam Mahmud aka Mama Hujur (46) (data till April 9, 2017). Disturbingly, suicide attacks have also intensified in Bangladesh. On March 24, 2017, a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the Shahjalal International Airport intersection in Dhaka city; on March 18, 2017, a man carrying bombs was killed in Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) firing when he tried to penetrate a RAB check post on a motorcycle in the Khilgaon area of Dhaka city; and on March 17, 2017, a suicide bomber sneaked into a RAB barrack and blew himself up in the Ashkona area of Dhaka city, injuring two RAB personnel. According to investigators, Lokman Ali aka Sohel Rana (40), the 'chief' of Neo-JMB's Chittagong chapter, who was killed at the Nasirpur hideout in Moulvibazar District, was in charge of recruiting members for Neo-JMB's suicide squads and training them to become suicide bombers. Their training was carried out at a mud house located in the remote and hilly Baishari area of Bandarban District. Sohel convinced one of his associates, Selim, to purchase land in Baishari's Lombabil Khorolia Mora area, where he then set up his operations in a four-room mud house. In Baishari, he identified himself as Mosharraf Hossain, a rubber plantation worker and fabrics trader. Meanwhile, on March 30, 2017, Police revealed that the Neo-JMB had adopted a new strategy of setting up its hideouts in Hindu-populated neighborhoods across Bangladesh, aiming to deceive law enforcement agencies. According to the Police, Neo-JMB members Kamal and his wife Arjina, who were arrested from a hideout at Sitakunda in Chittagong District on March 16, 2017, confessed that their top leaders were moving into secret hideouts set up in areas where Hindu communities lived. Further, the group's high command has instructed terrorists at each hideout to inflict as much damage as possible in a suicide operation, if they are discovered. Two Neo-JMB hideouts neutralized recently fit this description. At the Atia Mahal den in Sylhet District, of the 28 families in the neighborhood, 20 are Hindu. Similarly, the Sitakunda den was located in a predominantly Hindu neighborhood. Significantly, M. Moniruzzaman, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Headquarters, observed, on April 8, 2017, that the Government was in the process of banning Neo-JMB following a formal request by the CTTC unit to Home Ministry through Bangladesh Police Headquarters. Currently, seven terrorist groups are banned in the country, including Ansar al-Islam, which was banned on March 5, 2017; Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) in 2015; Hijb-ut Tahrir in 2009; and JMB, HuJI-B, Shahadat-e al-Hikma (SAH) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) were all banned in 2005. If banned, Neo-JMB would be the eighth such group. Speaking at a rally on the grounds of the Government Rajendra College in Faridpur District on March 29, 2017, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, urged the people to resist terrorism and extremism: "All will have to resist terrorism and militancy. Be sure that not a single child resorts to terrorism and militancy. The path of terrorism and militancy isn't ours. Islam never permits killing of innocent people and suicide attempts." Further, during a mammoth rally of Islamic religious leaders and scholars in Dhaka city's Suhrawardy Udyan on April 6, 2017, the Prime Minister reiterated "Everybody who believes in peace should be united against terrorism." Similarly, calling for unity against militancy for the sake of the country, Inspector General of Police (IGP) A.K.M. Shahidul Haque noted, on April 4, 2017, "We should raise our voice against militancy. We should be more aware and responsible against militancy. We are watching every step of terrorists." Separately, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, talking to journalists at the Mymensingh Police Media Centre on April 5, 2017, asserted that there was no space for terrorists and militancy in the country, and the enforcement agencies could combat terrorists with a strong hand with the help of the people. He added that the Prime Minister had adopted a 'zero tolerance policy' against militancy. Despite major Government successes against Islamist groups in Bangladesh, a dangerous new phase of Islamist radicalism, marked by a spate of suicide bombings, appears to be crystallizing. Nevertheless, it is now clear that the exaggeratedinternational fears on the entry and proliferation of the Islamic State (IS, also Daesh) into Bangladesh, were misplaced. The threat in Bangladesh remains local and is rooted in the decades of unchecked Islamist radicalization under preceding regimes. Crucially, despite a rash of purportedly Daesh-linked incidents, Dhaka has demonstrated the efficacy of determined and relentless action against terrorist formations. The possibility of occasional incidents - including suicide bombings - cannot be entirely excluded, but recent incidents suggest that terrorist capabilities have been enormously degraded, and the occasional acts of desperation have proven fairly ineffectual, in terms of inflicting casualties and damage. Bangladesh's "war on terror" may not end any time soon, but it has already had enormous impact. Image: Wikimedia Commons Nearly 16 years after the beginning of the war on terror and more than a quarter-century after the first Gulf War in 1991, the unending imperialist war drive is entering a new and more dangerous stage. In the aftermath of the Trump administrations air strikes against Syria, the US media and political establishment, parroting the official propaganda line used to justify the attacks, is demanding even more aggressive action against Syria and Russia. There is the very real danger of a direct military conflict between the US and nuclear-armed Russia, with incalculable consequences. And yet, fourteen years after the mass protests against the Iraq war in 2003, there does not exist any organized anti-war movement. With each successive war, accompanied by ever more brazen propaganda and lies, the level of organized popular protest has diminished. This is despite the fact that among broad sections of the population there is profound disquiet and hostility to the warmongering of the government. How is this to be explained? It is impossible to answer this question without analyzing the role of the nominally left political parties and publications that have become vocal cheerleaders for US regime-change operations. Included among them are the International Socialist Organization (Socialist Worker) and the Pabloite International Viewpoint. For years, these organizations have been among the leading proponents of the United States destabilization operation in Syria, and, before that, in Libya. To the extent that they opposed the foreign policy of the Obama administration, it was to criticize it for being insufficiently committed to removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power. A similar line is now being developed under Trump. Between Tuesday, when the entire US media initiated a campaign to blame the government of Assad for the Khan Sheikhoun attack in preparation for a military strike, and Thursday, when the Trump administration ordered an air strike against Syrian government forces, both Socialist Worker and International Viewpoint maintained radio silence. Immediately after Trumps air strikes, they both sprang into action. While nominally opposing the air attack, their response was characterized by 1) promotion of the lies of the CIA as good coin and 2) criticizing the Trump administration for not really seeking regime-change. Their aim, above all, was to demobilize opposition to American imperialism. Writing in International Viewpoint on April 9, Frieda Afary and Joseph Daher threw their full support to the fraudulent narrative about Assads weapons of mass destruction. Their article states: The chemical bombing of innocent civilians perpetrated by the Assad regime and its allies, Russia and Iran, on April 4 is yet another step in the murderous campaign to destroy what is left of the popular opposition to the Assad regime. As with the bourgeois media and political establishment in the US and Europe, they present no evidence for this blanket assertion. They add, Clearly, no peaceful and just solution in Syria can be reached with Bashar al-Assad and his clique in power. The target of their invective is not the US government, which is seeking to subjugate the people of the Middle East, but any and all political organizations that criticize the CIA-backed revolution in Syria, equating opposition to the US imperialist war for regime-change with support for Assad. Thus, Daher and Afary conclude with a chant: Not Leftists, Not Leftists, Those Who Stand with Bashar al-Assad. Along the same lines, Philippe Poutou, the presidential candidate of France's Pabloite pseudo-left New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA), made clear on April 8 that his organization will oppose any effort to build an anti-war movement in opposition to US intervention in Syria. We will not join the protests of the French political parties, who, in order to advocate a 'reasonable' peace with El Assad and his minions, close their eyes to the hundreds of thousands of dead killed by the dictator and the millions of displaced and refugees. This reactionary justification of the NPA's de facto endorsement of French intervention in Syria entirely ignores the basic distinction, upon which Marxists insist, between imperialist states and their former colonial possessions. The attitude of a genuine French socialist movement is not determined by cataloguing the crimes of Assad, but, rather, by the economic nature and historical role of French imperialism. The removal of Assad cannot be assigned to blood-soaked representatives of the French Bourse or, for that matter, Wall Street. Their alternative to Assad is the partition of Syria, whose various parts are to be ruled by hand-picked agents of imperialism. The reckoning with Assad can be achieved only through the revolutionary struggle of the working class of Syria and the entire Middle East on a clearly defined socialist, internationalist and anti-imperialist program. Tellingly, International Viewpoint calls for the formation of antiwar movements in Russia and Iran, but not in the US. Such movements would be the incubators for regime-change operations in those countries, paralleling the CIA-backed Islamist organizations they support in Syria. Their opposition to the Putin regime is not from the revolutionary socialist left, but from the pro-imperialist right. They do not oppose the regime as the end result of the Stalinist betrayal and destruction of the October Revolution, or as the representative of a capitalist oligarchy whose wealth is based on the conversion of state assets into private property. The pseudo-left, rather, frames its opposition to Putin virtually exclusively within the fraudulent "human rights" rhetoric of the CIA. In Socialist Worker, the ISOs Ashley Smith writes that no one should be surprised by Assads willingness to violate the agreement [of 2013] and use chemical weapons. Adopting the line of the Democratic Party, Smith declares that it is hard to take Trumps humanitarian pretensions seriously because until recently Trump supported some kind of rapprochement with Assad and Russia. In doing so, the ISO complains, the Trump administration made explicit what had been implicit under Barack Obamathat the US would tolerate Assad staying on in power as a de facto ally for the sake of the war on ISIS. The main problem with the policy of the US is that it has turned a blind eye while Russia, Iran and Hezbollah intervened in support of Assads counterrevolutionary war to save his dictatorship. Thus, the ISO, along with International Viewpoint, aligns itself with the CIA and those factions of the ruling class that have criticized Trump not for his extreme right-wing and warmongering policies, but for being too close to Russia. The position of these organizations is the outcome of broader social and political processes going back a half century. The anti-war movement as it emerged in the 1960s was predominantly middle-class in character, drawing in radical sections of young people opposed to universal conscription and dissatisfied with the conservative cultural environment that predominated. The organizations that led this movement sought to prevent the fight against war from developing into a movement of the working class against capitalism. Over the course of the ensuing five decades, the leaders of the anti-Vietnam War protest movement have traveled far to the right, in many cases themselves becoming leading figures in bourgeois politics. Ideologically, these social layers have ever more openly repudiated Marxism and embraced post-modernism and identity politics. Politically, they have taken up the human rights justifications of US imperialism. This noxious concoction of right-wing political and intellectual trends finds expression in a visceral hatred of Russia, a form of cold war anticommunism now directed at capitalist Russia. The denunciation of Russia, China and Iran as imperialist by these groups serves as a cover for their support for CIA-sponsored regime-change operations all over the world, including in Russia and China themselves. The International Committee of the Fourth International has referred to such organizations as the pseudo-left. They use populist phraseology and identity politics to promote the socio-economic interests of affluent sections of the upper-middle class. They are pro-war and pro-imperialist, using the slogan of human rights to legitimize neo-colonial military operations. Their political evolution reflects a social differentiation. Over the past 50 years, the top 10 percent of income earners have benefited substantially from the phenomenal rise in the value of stocks and other financial instruments, due in large part to the relentless decline in the wages and living conditions of the working class as a result of decades of betrayals by the labor unions. Whatever their grievances with the top 1 percent, their interests are separated by a vast gulf from those of the broad mass of the population. Their stock market portfolios are dependent on the continued exploitation of the working class and, most critically, the global domination of US imperialism. The increasingly affluent position of this social milieu is reflected in its intellectual, cultural and, one might add, moral degeneration. The renewed anti-war movement will emerge not from these middle-class layers, but from the working class. The most urgent task in the building of a genuine movement against war is the political exposure of these right-wing, middle-class political outfits and the social interests they represent. A shooting at an elementary school in San Bernardino, California Monday left three people dead in an apparent murder-suicide. The police identified the shooter as Cedric Anderson, 53, who took his own life after killing his wife Karen Elaine Smith, also 53, in a classroom with fifteen students and two other adults. Smith was a teacher at North Park Elementary School, working in a special needs classroom with students in first through fourth grade. Two children standing near Smith were also struck, but were apparently not specifically targeted by Anderson. Both were airlifted to hospital, 8-year-old Jonathon Martinez died from his injuries, the second boy, a 9-year-old, is reportedly in stable condition. Anderson and Smith were married in January, but their relationship turned sour within the last month, according to media reports. However, no one that knew the couple suspected things would turn violent. School staff knew Anderson, who checked in at their office shortly before 10:30 a.m. claiming he had come to drop something off for Smith. Cedric entered the classroom andfrom what we understand, without saying anythingarmed with a large caliber revolver, opened fire on his wife, said San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan. Approximately 530 students between kindergarten and sixth grade attend North Park Elementary, mostly from low-income Latino families. They were evacuated to the nearby Cajon High School where distraught parents came to pick up their children. North Park will be closed for two days, the school district stated. School shootings and other mass killings are, sadly, frequent occurrences in America, where the military and destruction of other countries is glorified in the media. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization that compiles statistics on gun violence, there have been 220 school shootings since 2013, with 48 last year alone. On average, seven people under the age of nineteen are killed by guns every day. Less than two years ago San Bernardino was the site of the attack by Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeed Malik in December 2015 that left 14 people dead. In response to Mondays killings, United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos issued the formulaic and empty platitudes that have become routine from government officials. As a mother and grandmother, todays senseless violence is a tragedy no parent should ever have to face. I ask everyone to join me in keeping all the victims and those impacted in your prayers. As of this writing, President Donald Trump, a frequent user of Twitter, had not issued a statement. However, nothing will be done to help prevent similar crimes in the future. If anything, the government will use this latest incident to justify further attacks on democratic rights, such as increased surveillance of the public and accelerating the militarization of police forces nationwide. Least of all will the social conditions in San Bernardino or around the country which contribute to the countrys all too frequent mass killings and other outbursts of violence be addressed. These types of tragic events have now become so common that many young people in the area have become numb when they occur. Patrick Kahler, a math teacher at San Gorgonio High School told the Los Angeles Times, Its not, 'Oh my gosh. Its like students are now becoming jaded to it, which is really sad. Last May, a report based on statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by criminal defense attorney Graham Donath found San Bernardino to be the most dangerous city in California. It is no coincidence that San Bernardino is one of the many cities in the state facing financial trouble. After the city filed for bankruptcy in 2012 with $45 million in debt, a court approved a restructuring plan in January. Social services have been slashed including to the fire department and garbage collection. City fees, which do not require voter approval, are being increased, forcing the burden of the bankruptcy on the poverty stricken working class. Sewer collection and treatment fees, for example, have already begun rising in a city where the median household income is $38,778, much lower than the national median income of $53,482. The unemployment rate is eight percent, nearly double the national rate. Under these types of economic stress and hardship, it is not surprising that some people snap. A study released in November 2014 by the US Bureau of Justice Statistics analyzing poverty and domestic violence between 2008 and 2012 found that persons in households at or below the official poverty line were victims of violent abuse at a rate more than double those living in high-income homes: 39.8 per 1,000 people compared to 16.9 per 1,000 respectively. These numbers cut across regional and racial lines with similar numbers for poor households in urban and rural areas as well as for poor white and black households. Big business, however, has moved into such areas to exploit the desperate conditions workers face. San Bernardino, like other cities facing bankruptcy such as Stockton, is home to several Amazon fulfillment centers where employees face strict and demanding conditions for only $12 or $13 an hour, laboring for ten hours or more a day. Workers are constantly tracked and are not even allowed to use their phones while on the job. Highlighting the extreme theft taking place is Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who at the beginning of 2016 was the fourth richest man in the United States, with a net worth of $47 billion. By March of this year, Bezos had surpassed Warren Buffett as the second-richest person on the planet with $75.6 billion. The wealth produced by the working class is going into the pockets of multi-billionaires whose parasitic existences rely on the economic devastation of cities like San Bernardino where people are forced into ever lower paying jobs. Mondays attack is a further indication of the devastating impact of declining social conditions in the United States, particularly in economically troubled cities like San Bernardino. The Trump White House ratcheted up global tensions further on Monday with a threat to carry out new air strikes against Syria, expanding on its attack last Thursday in which the US fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a government airbase, killing 14 people, most of them civilians. The sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action, White House spokesman Sean Spicer stated at a press conference Monday. The statement, invoking barrel bombs, the fairly crude explosive devices employed by the Syrian military, raised the prospect that the Pentagon could seize on any military action by Syrian troops against the Al Qaeda-linked Islamist rebels as a pretext for further direct US military intervention. The White House spokesman subsequently told the media that his statement did not signal a change in policy, but did so in a manner implying that President Trump could launch military action as he saw fit. The president retains the option to act in Syria against the Assad regime whenever it is in the national interest, as was determined following that governments use of chemical weapons against its own citizens, he said. Previously, Trump and others had issued statements suggesting that last Thursdays attack had been justified by Syrias alleged use of a chemical weapon against civilians in the Islamist-held town of Khan Sheikhoun. Both Syria and its main ally, Russia, have denied the use of such a weapon. Washington has presented no evidence to support its charge, much less any rational motive for the Assad government to carry out such an attack. The alleged incident has all the earmarks of a provocation staged by the CIA and its Islamist proxies to provide the pretext for the first-ever direct US military attack on Syrian government forces. The new threats from the White House, which follow similarly provocative statements by Washingtons ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, advocating regime change in Syria, came on the same day that Russia and Iran issued their own warning that any new act of US aggression would be met with retaliation in kind. The statement came from the joint command center of the Russian and Iranian militaries, the two principal allies of the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad. What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines, it warned. From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is, and America knows our ability to respond well. The warning from the Russian and Iranian military followed a somewhat milder statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, declaring that the US air strike was not permissible and violated international law, constituting a clear violation of Syrian sovereignty. It called for an objective investigation of the alleged April 4 chemical weapons attack and warned that US actions could create a division among the countries in fighting terrorism. Conflicting statements emanating from both Washington and Moscow have created an atmosphere of increasing uncertainty, under conditions where relations between the two major nuclear powers are more tense than at any time in over half a century. In Washington, the Trump administration has yet to spell out a coherent policy in relation to Syria, while its actions appear to be increasingly guided by a group of generals who control virtually all the top national security positions within the administration. For Russias part, there are no doubt divisions within the ruling elite. Sections of the capitalist oligarchy with ties to US and international capital are likely fearful of a confrontation, while elements within the military and more nationalist layers may be drawing the obvious conclusion that the promised rapprochement with the coming to power of Trump has proven a dead end and retreat in the face of US aggression will only invite its escalation. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met on Monday with his G7 counterparts in Lucca, Italy, at the opening of a two-day meeting of the body, which represents the major capitalist powers. The conflict in Syria emerged as the overriding issue. Tillerson and the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada and the European Union were reportedly seeking to hammer out a joint position presenting Russia with an ultimatum to accept the Western demand for regime change in Damascus in advance of Tillersons meeting Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. It is not clear whether Tillerson will also meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, who had earlier accepted a US order that he cancel his own planned trip to Moscow so as not to upstage Tillerson, was among the most bellicose voices at the outset of the G7 meeting, declaring that the body had to make it clear to Putin that the time to back Assad has gone, and warning that Putin was damaging Russia by continuing to back the Syrian government. Johnson suggested that the G7 could reach an agreement to impose the first-ever sanctions against Russia over its role in Syria. Punishing economic sanctions have already been put in place in response to Russias annexation of Crimea following the Western-orchestrated coup in Ukraine in 2014. The British Guardian reported Monday, citing a G7 source, that Tillerson plans to offer the Putin regime a bald choice, between cutting Bashar al-Assad loose and being rewarded with a thaw in relations with the West, or continuing to back him, and risking a Libyan-style outcome. In 2011, the US and its NATO allies carried out a war for regime change in Libya involving massive bombardments and the use of Islamist rebels as proxy ground forces. The neo-colonial aggression ended with the toppling of the government and the lynch mob murder of its leader, Muammar Gaddafi. On Tuesday, the G7 is set to meet with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, the regional powers that, along with the CIA and other Western intelligence agencies, organized, armed and funded the Al Qaeda-linked militias that have been unleashed on Syria over the past six years. On the eve of the G7 meeting, Tillerson participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the village of SantAnna di Stazzema, where the Nazis carried out an infamous massacre in 1944. There, he appeared to invoke the human rights pretext for global US militarism that Trump had opposed during the 2016 election campaign. We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against innocents anywhere in the world, Tillerson said. Washingtons continuing slaughter of civilians in its military operations in both Iraq and Syria and its support for the near-genocidal war being waged by Saudi Arabia and its allies against the people of Yemen expose the utter hypocrisy of this statement. Men, women and children continue to diewith virtually no reports in the Western mediain the US-backed siege of Mosul, where a single American air strike killed 300 people last month. Over the weekend, a US warplane bombed a boat ferrying 40 civilians attempting to escape fighting near the ISIS-held Syrian city of Raqqa. The bodies of a woman and her six children were recovered. Others are still missing. In a separate attack, the US-led coalition killed 14 civilians, including children, in the northern ISIS-held village of Hneida. Statements of support for Trumps attack on Syria continue to be made by leading Democrats and former members of the Obama administration most associated with human rights imperialism. Typical was the response of Anne-Marie Slaughter, the former director of policy planning at the State Department. She tweeted: Donald Trump has done the right thing on Syria. Finally!! After years of useless handwringing in the face of hideous atrocities. The bellicose mindset prevailing within both US capitalist parties was exposed Monday in the ferocious reaction to one Democratic member of Congress who dared to question the official story about the Syrian chemical weapons attack and issue a warning over the immense danger posed by the escalating US-Russian conflict. Howard Dean, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, demanded the ouster from Congress of Representative Tulsi Gabbard after the Hawaii Democrat questioned whether the Assad government was behind the chemical weapons incident and revealed that the Trump administration had presented no evidence to Congress to support this claim. Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran who came under fire after meeting with Assad during a trip to the Middle East, warned about the potentially catastrophic consequences of the US escalation in Syria. What were talking about here really is the very high potential for a direct military conflict between the United States and Russia, the two worlds nuclear powers, risking, therefore, whether intentional or unintentional, nuclear consequences, she warned. This is a disgrace, Gabbard should not be in Congress, Dean responded, taking to Twitter to demand that Hawaii Democrats throw her out in 2018. The danger of escalating tensions spinning out of control and producing a direct conflict between the US and Russia is continuing to mount. The US military command in Syria acknowledged Monday that the pace of its air strikes had slackened since Fridays attack on the Syrian government airbase because of beefed-up defensive measures to protect the approximately 1,000 US troops on the ground in Syria. This means that US warplanes are being deployed to respond to potential attack by either Syrian or Russian fighters. Moscow, for its part, has sent a warship armed with cruise missiles to join the Russian battle group sailing off the coast of Syria, enabling it to retaliate against another US attack. Smartphone videos shot by passengers on a United Airlines flight showing a man being violently dragged from the plane Sunday evening quickly went viral on social media Monday, provoking widespread outrage against the airline and police. On Facebook, one of the videos of the disturbing incident was viewed nearly 9 million times in a little over 24 hours. The United flight had been scheduled to depart Chicagos OHare International Airport for Louisville, Kentucky, at 5:40 p.m. Sunday. However, United sought to bump several passengers from the flight, a practice which has become ubiquitous in the airline industry and a frequent source of stress and anxiety for travelers. United staff initially said the flight was overbooked and offered those boarding a $400 voucher if they chose to voluntarily be bumped from the flight. When no one took the offer, employees then told passengers that four people would need to disembark in order for the plane to leave, and the voucher was raised to $800. It was also revealed that United was seeking to use the seats in order to transport four of its off-duty staff to their next shift. After no one took the final voluntary offer, four passengers were selected, seemingly arbitrarily, to be forced from the flight. Three of them left reluctantly, while the fourth refused, telling staff that he was a doctor and had patients to see in Louisville in the morning. Police were then called on to the plane, several in uniform and one in plainclothes. Videos of the incident begin with the officers standing around the man, who is sitting quietly. Within moments, two of the cops grab the man, who begins screaming, as do other passengers. He is ripped from his seat and shoved face-first into one of the hard plastic armrests. As the plainclothes officer drags the man, now limp and bleeding from the mouth, up the aisle, a woman nearby shouts, No, this is wrong! What are you doing? Look at what you did to him! Another video indicates that the man seemingly attempted to get back to his seat sometime later. It shows him dazed and disheveled, jogging up the aisle and repeating, I have to go home, I have to go home, I have to go home. The man, who has not yet been identified but was revealed to be 69 years old by the Chicago Police Department, was taken to Advocate Lutheran Hospital in nearby Park Ridge, Illinois. The plane eventually departed for Louisville, two hours late. Tyler Bridges, one of those who shot footage of the event, wrote that the video felt like something the world needed to see. Initial statements by United displayed a callous indifference to the mans well-being and only fueled more indignation. On Sunday, the company wrote in a statement, After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate. We apologize for the overbook situation. Further details on the removed customer should be directed to authorities. Charlie Hobart, a spokesman for the company, told the New York Times, We had asked several times, politely for the man to leave. Since that customer refused to leave the aircraft, we had to call law enforcement. Uniteds CEO, Oscar Munoz, first sought to present a more contrite image to the public, calling it an upsetting event, while nevertheless only apologizing for having to re-accommodate these customers. However, in a letter to employees which was leaked to the press, Munoz castigated the man as disruptive and belligerent, and sought to raise suspicions over his motivation, writing that the facts and circumstances are still evolving, especially with respect to why this customer defied Chicago Aviation Security Officers the way he did As the letter indicated, police who were called to the plane operate under the aegis of the Chicago Department of Aviation, not the Chicago Police Department. The Department of Aviation sought to carry out its own damage control Monday, saying that one of the officers involved had been placed on leave pending a thorough review of the situation, and that The incident on United flight 3411 was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the Department. A Chicago Police Department statement, on the other hand, predictably sought to blame the victim of the polices abuse, stating that the man was irate and yelling to voice his displeasure. Blatantly contradicting the scene depicted in multiple videos, they claimed that the officers attempted to carry the individual off of the flight when he fell. His head subsequently struck an armrest causing injuries to his face. Overbooking, in which carriers sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane, has become widespread throughout the airline industry. Airline companies use the practice in order to pack as many passengers onto each flight as possible, squeezing out every last dollar in profit, regardless of the disruption it causes to travelers. Industry load factor, a measure of how full each flight is, has steadily increased to approximately 85 percent, following a low of 72.2 percent in 2009, following the economic crash. There has been a commensurate growth in the number of bumps from flights recently, with the number rising to over 500,000 in 2015, with nearly 50,000 being involuntary, as with Sundays incident. United, based in Chicago, earned $2.26 billion in profit in 2016 and is the third-largest airline in the world by revenue, and has raked in billions in recent years due to low fuel prices, attacks on the wages and working conditions of pilots and other airline workers, and monopolistic collusion and price-fixing with the other major airlines. The four largest domestic airlinesAmerican, Delta, United and Southwestcollectively control 80 percent of the US market. There is widespread opposition to the layoff of 1,500 educators and school staff by the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). Claims by district officials that there is no money for the schools in the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country in the world are simply unbelievable. District officials say the $124 million deficit is caused by declining attendance, along with rising health care costs. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Federal, state and local officials have siphoned money from the public schools to boost investment opportunities and charter school operators. This has led to deteriorating school conditions and falling student enrollment. The new layoffs and budget cuts will only accelerate this destructive process. As for rising health care costs, this is not the fault of teachers. It is due to primarily to price-gouging by the large pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies and hospital chains, whose private profit interests the Democrats and Republicans defend. Governor Jerry Brown, California Democrats and the unions claimed the passage of Proposition 55 would save public education and prevent the firing of teachers, custodians, counselors and others. This was a lie. The regressive sales tax on working people and token tax increase on the wealthy has resolved nothing. The states general fund for education has reached its lowest level since 1973. Some $8.1 billion has been stripped away from public education, and another $2 billion from higher education since the financial collapse of 2008. While both political parties bailed out Wall Street and the financial criminals who crashed the economy, most US states are spending less on schools today than in 2007. Thirty-nine California school districts have indicated they will be facing financial hardship over the next two years, but the same is true across the country. In response to budget deficits in Chicago, school officials have threatened to close schools three weeks early, furloughing teachers and staff and forcing hundreds of thousands of households to scramble for childcare. To fight the layoffs and defend the right to public education, teachers, parents and students in San Diego must understand what they are up against. Whether a Democrat or Republican has sat in the White House or controlled the state government, the assault on education has continued unabated. During his eight years in office, Obama went even further than Bushs No Child Left Behind scheme and accelerated the scapegoating of teachers, the shutdown of public schools and expansion of charters. This laid the foundation for Trump and Betsy DeVos, who are proposing a $1.4 billion school voucher program to hand public money to private and religious schools. The elevation of the billionaire DeVos, who carried out a wrecking operation in Michigan schools, to the highest education office in the nation makes it clear the Trump administration is determined to destroy public education. As far as Americas wealthy elite are concerned, high quality education should be available for only those who can afford it. And when it comes to working class children, they should be piled into overcrowded and under-funded classrooms, before being dumped into low-paying jobs or onto the battlefields of the next war. The San Diego Education Association (SDEA), the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) are aligned with the Democrats. They tell workers to appeal to the courts and political establishment to protect their jobs but this will do absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, the unions are welcoming the opportunity to collect union dues from the growing pool of highly exploited teachers in the expanding charter school business. The priorities of the Democrats and Republicans are clear: unlimited resources are available for Wall Street bailouts, corporate tax cuts and subsidies for the super-rich and endless and escalating wars to plunder the worlds resources and wealth. When it comes to schools, health care, affordable housing, decent-paying jobsthe answer of both parties is the same: We dont have the money! The WSWS Teacher Newsletter urges educators and other school workers to organize rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions and both big business parties, to mobilize students, parents and the entire working class population to oppose all budget cuts, school closings, and attacks on teachers jobs and living standards. We call for: The immediate revocation of all layoff notices! The right to free, high quality public education, and higher education for all! Sharp reductions to class sizes and increases in school funding! Restoration of all wage, health care and pension cuts and permanent status for all teachers! Securing the social right to quality education is, above all, a political struggle, which pits the interests of the working classblack, white, native-born or immigrantagainst the financial oligarchy and the corporate-controlled parties that defend the ruling class. The Socialist Equality Party is leading the fight for the building of a mass political movement of the working class, which is opposed to war, social inequality, and the attack on immigrants and democratic rights. Only the political mobilization of the working class and the fight for a workers government can break the dictatorial grip of the corporate and financial oligarchy, and create the conditions for the socialist reorganization of society, which places human needs, not private profit, first. The SEP calls for the dismantling of the Pentagon war machine, the closure of US foreign bases, and the transfer of the nearly $1 trillion annual military budget to socially useful purposes, including a crash program to hire millions of teachers, to repair and construct school buildings and to provide all the necessary resources to raise the educational and cultural level of all children, regardless of socioeconomic background. We call for a radical redistribution of wealth through a sharp increase in taxes on the billionaires and millionaires. This includes a genuinely progressive taxation program that places the burden of taxation on the rich, while lowering taxes for the vast majority of the population, and a sharp increase in taxes on the profits of all major corporations. We urge teachers, parents and students who are looking to fight the layoffs and attacks on education to contact the WSWS Teacher Newsletter and the Socialist Equality Party today. The Liberal-National government of Malcolm Turnbull last week revoked the visa of Bassem Tamimi, a well-known Palestinian activist, in a flagrant attack on democratic rights aimed at preventing him from addressing public meetings in Australia. Tamimi was granted a visa on April 4, but it was cancelled by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) within hours. He was about to begin a speaking tour at the end of this week, organised by the Friends of Palestine, the Social Research Institute, the Palestine Action Group and Socialist Alternative. In its decision, the DIBP explicitly confirmed that Tamimi had been blocked from entering Australia because of his political views. It stated: The department has recently been made aware of information that indicates there is a risk that members of the public will react adversely to Mr Tamimis presence in Australia regarding his views of the ongoing political tensions in the Middle East. When questioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) about the specific grounds for withdrawing the visa, the DIBP refused to provide any details of the information it had been made aware of. Instead, the DIBP elaborated on a deeply anti-democratic rationale for the ruling. Invoking draconian provisions of the Migration Act, it asserted: The exercise of this freedom [of speech] does involve a responsibility to avoid vilification of, inciting discord in, or representing a danger to, the Australian community. In other words, voicing opposition to Israels oppression of the Palestinians is illegitimate, as it could incite discord. The decision underscores the reactionary character of immigration laws set in place by successive Labor and Liberal-National governments. The ruling, however, has broader implications. The logic of the governments position is the suppression of dissenting and anti-war views, whether voiced by foreign nationals or Australian citizens. The grounds for the exclusion of Tamimi could be used against any opponents of Australias central role in the US wars in Syria and Iraq, Washingtons military build-up in the Asia-Pacific, or virtually any other government policy. In comments to the Guardian on Saturday, Tamimi denounced the government ban, stating that it was an attack on freedom of speech. He pointed to the support of the Australian political establishment for Israels attacks on the Palestinians, and the influence of the pro-Israel lobby in Australian politics. The decision is disappointing, [it] means that the Israeli occupation and the Zionist lobby succeed and their allies dominate the decision in all the world countries, Tamimi said. Petitions have been launched opposing Tamimis exclusion, with a number of Palestinian, Jewish and other political and civil liberties organisations opposing the ban. Tamimi and the organisations that sponsored his tour, including the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative, are proponents of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. The nationalist BDS perspective is for a boycott of Israeli companies and citizens to pressure Israel to recognise the unviable capitalist mini-state in the Palestinian territories, which has proven to be incapable of resolving any of the social or democratic issues facing the Palestinian masses. The BDS campaign cuts across the fight to unify the Jewish, Palestinian and Arab working class in a common struggle against imperialist domination and the ruling classes of the Middle East. Tamimi has been particularly targeted for persecution by Israeli and US authorities for opposing Israels ongoing illegal expansions of Jewish settlements on Palestinian territory. The activist has been arrested over a dozen times by Israeli authorities for his role in organising demonstrations, including in Nabi Saleh, a small West Bank village that has been subjected to years of Israeli police raids and attacks because of its residents opposition to the expansion of settlements. In 2011, Tamimi was arrested by Israeli authorities and charged with crimes including holding a march without a permit and incitement. Detained for 13 months, he was labelled a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, which said he was being held solely for organising peaceful protests. Tamimi was again arrested for protesting in 2012 and detained for a number of months. In March 2016, US authorities cancelled a visa for Tamimi, preventing him from addressing audiences there. The attacks on Tamimi by the US and Israeli governments raise a number of questions about the Australian governments revocation of his visa. The most obvious is whether US or Israeli authorities, or the intelligence agencies of the two countries, were involved in the backroom machinations that led to the rapid cancellation of Tamimis travel rights. The government decision coincided with a marked escalation of the war drive in the Middle East by the US and its allies, including Australia. Since being inaugurated in January, the US administration of Donald Trump has called into question the previous framework for the ongoing oppression of the Palestinians, the so-called two-state solution. The Trump administrations move, accompanied by ever-closer ties between the US and Israel, was a signal of Washingtons unalloyed support for stepped-up attacks on the democratic rights of the Palestinians, including through the expansion of illegal settlements. At the same time, the US has escalated its criminal wars in Iraq and Syria. Just days after the ruling against Tamimi, Washington launched airstrikes on a Syrian air base, in a reckless act of aggression that was also directed at Russia, Syrias closest ally in the Middle East. The Australian political establishment unanimously endorsed the US attack, with Turnbull declaring his strong support for the strikes and his governments backing of plans for regime-change in Syria. Labor Party opposition leader Bill Shorten likewise labelled the missile attack as appropriate and proportionate. The response was in line with Australias role as a central partner in all American imperialisms wars and military preparations around the world, including in the Middle East, and in the Asia-Pacific region, against North Korea and China. Tamimis exclusion is part of a broader attempt to suppress anti-war sentiment. Tim Anderson, an academic at the University of Sydney, is being subjected to a vicious witch-hunt by the Turnbull government and the Murdoch media for pointing to the fraudulent character of the official pretext for the US attack on Syria. Anderson, a supporter of the nationalist Syrian regime, referred to the highly dubious character of claims that the Syrian government was responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Idlib last Tuesday. He suggested it was the Al Qaeda linked opposition forces, backed by the US, who had the most to gain from the attack, and the capabilities to orchestrate it. Today, the Murdoch-owned Daily Telegraph published a front-page article attacking Anderson, while the federal governments education minister, Simon Birmingham, called for the University of Sydney to investigate his postsa signal that opposition to the predatory US operations in the Middle East will come under ever greater persecution. On April 8, 2017, two Policemen were killed in an encounter with cadres of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), at Mahabung village in Simdega District. On April 4, 2017, two youth, identified as Birsa Purti (25) and Bandeya Munda (22), were shot dead at Toner village under Murhu Police Station in the Khunti District of Jharkhand. Police claimed that Bagrai Champia, an 'area commander' of the PLFI, was involved in the twin killings. However, the reason behind the killings is yet to be ascertained. On March 27, 2017, PLFI cadres killed a civilian, David Soy (20), outside his house in Gompilla under the Torpa Police Station in Khunti District. They suspected him of being a 'police informer'. On March 24, 2017, three cadres of the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), another splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, were killed in an internecine clash at Seeta Chuan under the Mohammadganj Police Station in Palamau District. One of the killed TPC cadres was identified as 'zonal commander' Ajay Yadav, carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on his head. The other two killed were identified as 'area commanders' Krishna Kharwar and Ravindra Mahto. Police recovered one AK-47 rifle, one INSAS rifle, one semi automatic rifle, one .303 rifle, along with 630 live bullets, 23 magazines, 11 cell phones, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 50 meters of Codex wire, and six back packs. On March 20, 2017, a group of CPI-Maoist cadres killed a teacher, identified as Charku Yadav aka Sandip Yadav (30), at Jori village in Gumla District. CPI-Maoist cadres also left a pamphlet which labelled Yadav a 'police informer'. According to partial data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 22 persons, including 13 civilians, two Security Force (SF) personnel, and seven Left Wing Extremists (LWEs), have been killed in LWE-linked incidents in Jharkhand in 2017, thus far (data till April 9, 2017). During the corresponding period of 2016, there were 30 such fatalities (seven civilians, seven SF personnel, and 16 LWEs). The spike in fatalities among civilians in the recent past is worrisome. Civilian fatalities through 2015 stood at 16, the lowest number of such fatalities recorded in the State during the course of a year since the formation of the CPI-Maoist on September 21, 2004. The number doubled, at 32, in 2016. Though no fatality has been registered in the SF category so far in the current year, SF fatalities had also doubled to 10 in 2016, as compared to five in 2015. Significantly, as in the case of civilians, 2015 had recorded the lowest ever fatalities in the SF category since the formation of the CPI-Maoist. A previous low of six SF fatalities was recorded in 2007. Though the number of militants killed increased from 37 in 2015 to 40 in 2016, there was a significant dip in the kill ratio achieved by the SFs, which dropped to 1:2 in 2016, from 1:5 in 2015. Out of 37 LWEs killed in 2015, at least 25 were killed by the SFs, while 12 were killed in internecine clashes. Similarly, out of 40 LWEs killed in 2016, at least 20 were killed by the SFs while remaining the 20 were killed in internecine clashes. Overall fatalities in 2016 increased by 39.65 percent, as compared to 2015, from 58 to 81. Overall fatalities in 2015 were the lowest to be recorded in the State since 2006, when they were 94. Unsurprisingly, other parameters of violence in the State also registered a significant surge in 2016. According to SATP data, the state recorded at least eight major LWE-linked incidents (each involving three or more killings) resulting in 36 fatalities, including 10 civilians, seven SF personnel and 19 LWEs in 2016, as compared to three such incidents in 2015, resulting in 18 fatalities, including three civilians and 15 LWEs. LWEs also triggered at least 12 bomb blasts in the State in 2016, as against seven such incidents in 2015. Further, the Maoists gave bandh (total shut down) calls on 11 occasions in 2016, as compared to six such bandh calls in 2015. The number of Districts from where killings were reported also increased through 2016 as compared to 2015. Out of a total of 24 Districts in Jharkhand, fatalities were reported from 13 in 2016: Gumla(14); Khunti and Palamu (13 each); Ranchi and Latehar (11 each); Giridih and Simdega (four each); West Singhbhum (three); Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Lohardaga (two each); and Chatra and Seraikela-Kharsawan (one each). 12 Districts recorded such fatalities in 2015 - Palamu (15); Khunti and West Singhbhum (six each); Gumla and Hazaribagh (five each); East Singhbhum, Lohardaga and Ranchi (four each); Latehar (three); and Chatra, Giridih and Godda (two each). Another dimension of concern is the fact that activities of Maoist splinter groups also increased through 2016. The prominent among these include PLFI, TPC, Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC), Jharkhand Sangharsh Jan Mukti Morcha (JSJMM), and Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP). Out of the 31 civilians fatalities recorded in 2016, while 14 civilians were killed by the CPI-Maoist, 16 were killed by these various groups - 12 by PLFI, two by JPC, and one each by JJMP and TPC. One civilian was killed during cross firing between CPI-Maoist and PLFI. All the 10 killings in the SF category were, however, carried out by CPI-Maoist. The 40 LWEs killed belonged to four groups - PLFI (18), CPI-Maoist (15), JJMP (three), TPC (three), and JSJMM (one). In 2015, CPI-Maoist was responsible for all the 16 civilian and five SF personnel deaths. 35 of the 37 LWEs killed belonged to four groups - CPI-Maoist (26), PLFI (five), two each from JPC and TPC. The group identity of the remaining two could not be ascertained. Reports indicate that there were, in fact, around 19 LWE groups operating in and out of Jharkhand. The surge in LWE activities in Jharkhand was in conformity with the rising trend recorded across the country through 2016. Though the recent surge gives legitimate cause for concern, SFs have managed to keep the situation well under control. It is useful to recall that, at the peak of Left Wing insurgency in 2007, Jharkhand had recorded a total of 217 fatalities. The highest number of civilian fatalities stood at 79 in 2011, while the maximum of 67 deaths among SF personnel was registered in 2009. SFs have arrested a significant number of Maoists in Jharkhand over the past years. According to data provided by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) at least 462 LWEs were arrested in 2016 in addition to 381 such arrests in 2015. At least 396 Maoists were arrested in 2014 and 332 in 2013. Mounting SF pressure also resulted in the surrender of 40 Maoists in 2016, as against just 14 such surrenders in 2015. There were 19 surrenders in 2014. Meanwhile, in addition to several measures taken in the past to strengthen the security apparatus in the State, the Central Government increased the existing strength of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed in the State in 2016. According to reports, as on November 30, 2016, there were 40 battalions of CAPS in Jharkhand - 22 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalions, 10 Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) battalions and eight Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) battalions. This apart, the Jharkhand Cabinet, on special instructions from State Chief Minister Raghubar Das, approved the formation of Civil Defense Volunteers units in 19 Districts. 100 volunteers would be roped in for each District and would receive five sessions of training for six days each. The volunteers are to be trained to handle law and order issues arising at the local level, and would be paid INR 250 for each training day and the same amount for each day of service. The districts to be covered under the scheme included Chatra, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Dumka, Garhwa, Giridih, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Jamtara, Khunti, Koderma, Latehar, Lohardaga, Pakur, Palamu, Ramgarh, Saraikela, Simdega and West Singhbhum. The successes of such measures, however, heavily depend on the strength and quality of the State Police Force as it is the Police Force that constitutes the first line of defense against any kind of internal threat. Regrettably, however, Jharkhand continues to suffer significant deficits on this count. According to the latest data provided by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the State had a police-population ratio (policemen per hundred thousand population), as on January 1, 2016, of 167.92, significantly lower than the sanctioned strength of 229.19, though much higher than the national average of 137.11. The Police/Area Ratio (number of policemen per 100 square kilometers) stands at 70.49, as against the sanctioned strength of 96.21 (the national average is 54.69). At least 20,503 Police posts are vacant in the State, against a sanctioned strength of 76,692. Moreover, there were just 113 apex Indian Police Service (IPS) Officers in position as against the sanctioned strength 149, undermining the effectiveness of operations and decision making. Jharkhand has been the second worst Left Wing Extremism affected State since 2007 (Chhattisgarh leads the table), with the exceptions of 2013, when Jharkhand topped the list followed by Chhattisgarh in 2013; and 2010, when West Bengal led the table followed by Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, but has succeeded in controlling the menace to a large extent. As compared to the situation between 2006 and 2011, when overall fatalities, on year on year basis, increased every year with the exception of 2010, such fatalities have declined between 2011 and 2015, with an aberration in 2013. However, in view of the recent spike in LWE activities in Jharkhand, it will be premature to suggest that the problem is on a consistent path to resolution. It is useful to keep constantly in mind the fact that LWEs have, on several occasions in the past in almost all the areas of their influence, fought back successfully to revive flagging capacities, and this has been the case in Jharkhand as well. There is, consequently, need to urgently address capacity deficits and retain both political and operational focus to ensure that the relative gains of the past years are not dissipated as a result of any neglect or complacence on the part of the state and its agencies. Image: Wikimedia Commons BROOKS COUNTY, Ga. (WTXL) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified the man they suspect was murdered by his roommates in Brooks County. On April 7, 2017, the GBI Thomasville Field Office was requested by Brooks County Sheriff Mike Dewey to initiate an investigation regarding a murder that took place at 1789 Dewberry Short Road in Brooks County. Brooks County deputies were called to the scene where Martin Solis was discovered dead inside his residence. During the investigation, it was learned Solis had two other roommates who were now missing. Following an investigation, agents were able to piece together that a fight had broken out between the three men the previous night. Deputies also learned that there was an incident at a local Quitman business as well. Saturday afternoon, agents got a tip that led them to believe the roommates, Jaime Lopez Martinez and Luis Felipe Mollinedo Lopez, were in the Lowndes County area, possibly around I-75 and the Madison Highway. Agents and Lowndes County Sheriffs Deputies conducted surveillance and ended up arresting three individuals which included the two roommates at about 7:45 p.m. in the parking lot of the Pilot Truck Stop on Madison Highway. The third individual arrested was identified as Andres Mollinedo Lopez who drove from Virginia to pick the other two men up. Jaime Lopez Martinez and Luis Felipe Mollinedo Lopez are both being charged with murder, aggravated assault, and armed robbery. Andres Mollinedo Lopez has been charged with giving false information and hindering the apprehension of a fugitive in Lowndes County. Anyone with information concerning this investigation is asked to call the GBI Thomasville Office at 229-225-4090. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - As cigarette makers continue facing a barrage of lawsuits in Florida, state Supreme Court justices this week rejected arguments by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company that federal law should shield it from liability. Ruling in a Broward County case that involved the lung-cancer death of a smoker, the Supreme Court ruled that federal law does not prevent strict-liability and negligence claims in what are known as "Engle progeny" lawsuits in Florida. Thousands of such lawsuits have been filed and are linked to a 2006 Supreme Court ruling that established critical findings about the health dangers of smoking and misrepresentation by cigarette makers. In Thursday's ruling, the Supreme Court rejected R.J. Reynolds' contention that strict-liability and negligence claims are "preempted" by a federal law. "Reynolds contends that Congress, through decades of legislation, has established its intention to regulate cigarettes while foreclosing their removal from the market, and that any state law that conflicts with this objective is implicitly preempted," the Supreme Court opinion said. "Reynolds argues that imposing tort liability for the sale of ordinary cigarettes amounts to a ban, and therefore such claims are preempted." But in ruling for the estate of late smoker Phil Marotta, the Supreme Court disagreed with the cigarette maker's argument. "While Congress did expressly preempt state and local regulations pertaining to the labeling and advertising of cigarettes, there is no indication that Congress had a 'clear and manifest purpose' to insulate the tobacco industry from state tort liability," said the 33-page opinion, written by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga. "Strict liability and negligence claims, such as those brought by Marotta under Engle, do not interfere with the regulation of advertising and promotion of cigarettes and, therefore, do not clearly conflict with congressional objectives." The opinion was fully joined by justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince.Justices Charles Canady and Ricky Polston agreed with the result but did not sign on to the opinion. Justice Alan Lawson, who joined the court Dec. 31, did not take part. A jury ruled in favor of Marotta's estate and awarded compensatory damages of $6 million. The amount R.J. Reynolds would be required to pay, however, was reduced to $3.48 million because the jury said Marotta was 42 percent at fault. As part of Thursday's ruling, the Supreme Court also overturned a lower-court decision that said the estate could not pursue punitive damages. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A progress report recently released says more than 2,300 previously unprocessed sexual assault kits have been tested over the past year and a half by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, resulting in hundreds of hits in a national DNA database. FDLE's goal is to have 8,600 kits tested by June 2019. Processing untested rape kits has become a priority since the 2016 legislative session, when $2.3 million was approved by lawmakers to pay for the tests and additional staffing to eliminate the backlog. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, most of the untested kits were from cases where a victim did not cooperate or the evidence was not needed to see a case to its conclusion. Bondi feels more old crimes will be solved and new ones will be prevented as the testing continues. Under the 2016 law, all new sexual assault kits must be processed within 120 days. Prior to the law, there was no requirement for rape kits to ever be tested. GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A West Gadsden High School math teacher is under investigation after deputies found a white, powdery substance in his belongings. According to documents from the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the high school by the principal who said that the teacher, Rashid Ormsby, was acting abnormally. Deputies were told that students and staff had also reported Ormsby's behavior to the principal. The principal suspected that the teacher may have been under the influence. Deputies then went to Ormsby's classroom to go watch him. When they did, they found that he was sweating profusely and disheveled, had trouble focusing, and couldn't multi-task. They also noticed a white colored residue on his shirt sleeve, noting that his classroom did not have chalkboards. Deputies also noticed that Ormsby's eyes were glossy and he had "a white type foam or coating" on his lips. The report says the officers also noticed what seemed to be a bluish colored injection mark on the inside of the teacher's right arm. Eventually deputies got Ormsby to admit to not feeling well, and escorted him out of the classroom. GSCO said that when they took him to the resource deputy office, Ormsby continued to sweat despite the office being cooled. They said he also kept closing his eyes while talking as if they were heavy. Eventually deputies contacted EMS because they were concerned for Ormsby's health. As EMS arrived, a security officer told deputies that Ormsby ad admitted to using drugs over Spring Break and asked the security officer to give him a urine sample so he could pass a drug test requested of him by the Gadsden County School Board. The security officer also told them that he asked the school counselor and student were were waiting in the area once the officer declined. Ormsby was eventually brought to Patient's First in Tallahassee after signing paperwork. While waiting outside, deputies discovered a Zip Loc bag with a white substance inside on top of Ormsby's belongings in the patrol car he was transported in. A field test on the substance tested positive for meth/MDMA. It was sent to the FDLE crime lab to be analyzed. Ormsby was not arrested on March 24. Deputies say that this case is still under investigation. For two decades, Mark Wiener has been the man Portland politicians turn to when they're in a jam. As the city's top political consultant, he helped Vera Katz, Randy Leonard, Sam Adams and many others get elected, then advised them when they faced trouble in office. "Mark Wiener is the premier political consultant for City Hall candidates," says Jim Moore, a political science professor at Pacific University in Forest Grove. "Working with Wiener is the way to get elected to City Hall." But new information continues to surface about Wiener leveraging his connections to lobby some of those same people on behalf of Uber. WW previously reported Wiener was hired last December as a lobbyist for the ride-hailing company trying to change Portland's taxi rules. By playing two rolespolitical consultant and lobbyistWiener wielded extraordinary clout, since he was urging rule changes to officials whom he helped get elected and was seeking to re-elect. Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Steve Novickboth Wiener clientsreversed their opposition to Uber after Wiener began representing the company. Wiener has said he did nothing wrong, because he wasn't being paid by Hales and Uber at the same time. But newly released emails show that while Wiener lobbied for Uber, he was communicating with Hales about the mayor's political interests. The emails show Wiener moving between representing Uber and strategizing with Hales. That dual representation raises questions about whose interests Hales and Novick's reversal on Uber served. Observers say when political consultants lobby their clients, the public loses. "It looks bad when someone is serving two masters and that leads to a change in policy," says Ben Gaskins, who teaches political science at Lewis & Clark College. "It's impossible to know why they changed their minds, but it could give the appearance of being inappropriate." Professor James Thurber, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, has written about political consultants who also lobby their own clients. "It's not illegal, but it's unethical," Thurber says. "There's an inherent conflict of interest, it's usually not transparent, and it can really distort the candidate's position if it results in pushing a special interest over the public's interest." Hales says there's no conflict. "Mark Wiener has never lobbied me on this or any issue," Hales says. "And while I have not hired him to help me on my re-election campaign, he, like many others, gives me advice, of which I'm free to take or not. He has not been compensated by me or my campaign committee since I have been mayor." Wiener also makes a distinction between advising Hales and getting paid by Hales. "At no time during my engagement with Uber have I been paid by or in a contract with Mayor Hales," Wiener says. Wiener undertook his representation of Uber at a crucial time for the California-based companyand for Hales. Uber was facing a hostile reception in Portland last December. Portland was the only major city on the West Coast where Uber wasn't operating. Hales was preparing for a re-election bid, and he needed to shore up flagging support. On Nov. 25, 2014, Hales wrote to Wiener, who was on a cruise, under the subject line "ahoy!" "I want to get onto your dance card in two ways upon your return," Hales wrote. "Once for the two of us to meet, and the other for that strategy session that I have tentatively set for the evening of December 29th." Wiener wrote back about 90 minutes later. "Let me know when you want to do the 2 of us12/29 is fine," he said. Hales, who lives near Wiener in Eastmoreland, responded with a breakfast invitation for Dec. 10. On Dec. 5, Uber crashed into Portland, launching its service illegally. Eight days later, as WW has previously reported, Wiener hosted a peace gathering in his dining room between Uber managers, Hales and Novick. The two sides agreed that Portland would review its taxi rules if Uber backed out of the city temporarily. On Dec. 17, emails between Wiener, an Uber policy adviser and one of Hales' top staffers show the trio preparing to make a formal announcement of the deal. Josh Alpert, a Hales aide, wrote to Wiener and Caitlin O'Neill of Uber that day about a draft news release. "Mark and I talked a few minutes ago about media, etc., so I think we'll all be on the same page once we figure out timing," Alpert wrote. Wiener chimed in 18 minutes later. "This looks good to me," he wrote. "I'll leave it to you two to solidify the tick tock of the media strategy; what Josh outlined to me on the phone seemed right." Two days later, Wiener signed a contract with Uber. He has declined to say how much he's being paid for what he calls "strategic advice." Alpert continued to email Wiener about Uber, sending him a list Jan. 5 of Portlanders who'd been appointed to serve on the mayor's task force on taxi rules, and a draft agenda Jan. 9 for the task force's first meeting. Then, Wiener turned to Hales' re-election bid. On Feb. 25, Wiener responded to an email message from Hales' pollster in Oakland, copying the mayor, his then-chief of staff Gail Shibley and Alpert. "Adding Team Hales," he wrote. "We should think about how to distinguish the difference to voters between issues that are 'important' and mission critical." In April, Hales, Novick and City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, also a Wiener client, voted to legalize Uber and its competitor Lyft, over the objections of local cab companies. Broadway Cab president Raye Miles says Wiener's close relationship to both Hales and Uber helped give the company what it wanted. aThe whole landscape changed over the course of a weekend last December,a Miles says. aIt just went 180 degrees. [Wieneras] ability to sway at least some city commissioners is obvious.a WWeek 2015 Washington, Apr 11 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump spoke to Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven over the recent terror attack which hit Stockholm city. According to a readout of the two leaders' conversation issued by the White House, Trump has expressed his condolence to the PM. "President Donald J. Trump spoke by phone yesterday with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden to express condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed in Friday's terrorist attack in central Stockholm, and to wish a speedy recovery to those who were wounded," read the statement issued by the White House. "The two leaders agreed to maintain and strengthen the already close partnership between the United States and Sweden in the global fight against terrorism," it said. image: Michael Vadon/Wikipedia You are the owner of this article. Taya Kyle, widow of U.S. Navy SEAL marksman Chris Kyle, speaks about her life experiences during the YWCAs 23rd annual leadership luncheon at the Yakima Convention Center in Yakima, Wash., Monday, April 10, 2017. (SHAWN GUST/Yakima Herald-Republic) Submit An Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Go to form Image: Screen Grab from LSTV New Delhi, Apr 11 (IBNS) : Condemning the death sentence awarded to retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday told Parliament that the Government will do its best to ensure justice to him. Singh's statement came as members of the Lok Sabha, cutting across political lines, expressed their concern and anger over the way Jadhav has been branded a "spy" and awarded death penalty by Pakistan. "India strongly condemns the death sentence. Basic norms of law and justice were violated. I want to tell the House that the Government will do whatever it takes to make sure Kulbhushan Jadhav gets justice," Singh said. "The way he has been awarded death penalty has triggered anger, not only in Parliament, but also across the country," he said. "All the norms of law and justice were disregarded by Pakistan," Singh said in an apparent reference to the Geneva convention rules and added that Jadhav wasn't even given consular access despite India asking Pakistan for it as many as 13 times. The Home Minister told the House that Jadhav had a small business in Chabahar, Iran. Pakistani security agencies kidnapped him and presented him to the country as an Indian spy. As proof, they said Jadhav has an Indian passport. "How can he be a spy and carry an Indian passport, I don't understand" Singh said. Earlier, the Congress demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to save Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying. He was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Pakistan has sentenced Jadhav "on lies and false allegations of spying." "If Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan Jadhav, then it is murder. The Government will be seen as weak if it cannot free him," Kharge said Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi said, "The Government has influence, please use it. Will the government make every effort to save him? It is our joint responsibility to save him." Biju Janata Dal's Jay Panda said, "We are all united on this issue. No one is opposition or government. We are all Indians on this...India must take this up at UN." According to reports, Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests to let the Indian consulate deiplomats to meet Jadhav. India has also reportedly decided against the release of 12 Pakistani prisoners who were cleared to return home on Wednesday. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. New Delhi, Apr 11 (IBNS) : As protests and anger flew thick in Parliament over the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan, top ministers of the Narendra Modi Government on Tuesday promised all out efforts to save the retired Navy officer, while sounding warning against the possible consequences on bilateral relationship if the neighbouring country goes ahead on the matter. According to reports, the issue of death penalty, awarded to Jadhav on the charge of being an "Indian spy" rocked both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha as members in unison demanded the Government's intervention. In a statement in the upper House, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the way Jadhav has been sentenced to death is nothing short of "an act of premeditated murder." "The Government will go out of the way to save him, Swaraj, who called Kulbhushan Jadhav a son of India, said. "I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter, she said. Swaraj said the charges of spying levelled against Jadhav are "concocted" and "there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by him." Earlier, in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the death sentence awarded to Jadhav and asserted that the Government will do its best to ensure justice to him. His statement came as members of the Lok Sabha, cutting across political lines, expressed their concern and anger over the way Jadhav has been branded a "spy" and awarded death penalty by Pakistan. "India strongly condemns the death sentence. Basic norms of law and justice were violated. I want to tell the House that the Government will do whatever it takes to make sure Kulbhushan Jadhav gets justice," Singh said. "The way he has been awarded death penalty has triggered anger, not only in Parliament, but also across the country," he said. "All the norms of law and justice were disregarded by Pakistan," Singh said in an apparent reference to the Geneva convention rules and added that Jadhav wasn't even given consular access despite India asking Pakistan for it as many as 13 times. The Home Minister told the House that Jadhav had a small business in Chabahar, Iran. Pakistani security agencies kidnapped him and presented him to the country as an Indian spy. As proof, they said Jadhav has an Indian passport. "How can he be a spy and carry an Indian passport, I don't understand" Singh said. Earlier, the Congress demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to save Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying. He was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Pakistan has sentenced Jadhav "on lies and false allegations of spying." "If Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan Jadhav, then it is murder. The Government will be seen as weak if it cannot free him," Kharge said Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi said, "The Government has influence, please use it. Will the government make every effort to save him? It is our joint responsibility to save him." Biju Janata Dal's Jay Panda said, "We are all united on this issue. No one is opposition or government. We are all Indians on this...India must take this up at UN." According to reports, Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests to let the Indian consulate deiplomats to meet Jadhav. India has also reportedly decided against the release of 12 Pakistani prisoners who were cleared to return home on Wednesday. When a fly harasses a lion at the safari, the lion roars nervously, lifts one of his feet and lands it on the flys estimated location. The lion is unharmed, and neither is the fly. The 59 cruise missiles which US President Donald Trump fired at the runways of the al-Shayrat airbase have not changed the face of the civil war in Syria. On Saturday, in fact, Syrian President Bashar Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putins air forces continued to bomb the rebels enclaves, including the suburb which was attacked with chemical weapons last week. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The American bombing was a penalty measure, not part of a strategic move. The Trump administration has no strategy, neither in Syria nor elsewhere in the world. Its strategy is a lack of strategy. Trump has been tweeting about the civil war in Syria since its very beginning, in 2011. Most of the tweets have expressed a strong objection to an American intervention in the war. The most significant tweet was written on June 2013, after the previous chemical attack, which was much more extensive, against civilians in the rebel areas. We should stay the hell out of Syria, Trump tweeted. The rebels are just as bad as the current regime. What will we get for our lives and billions? Zero. US President Trump being briefed by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford via secure video teleconference after a missile strike on Syria (Photo: AFP) According to reports published by the American media over the weekend, Trump changed his mind after seeing the images of the children who were killed in Idlib. Beautiful babies was the term he used. The term was problematic, but his shock was genuine. There was another motive here, which is as significant. From his very first day at the White House, Trump has been consistently driven by one goal: To be the opposite of former US President Barack Obamain terms of health insurance, the environment, the selection of cabinet members and the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court; in terms of his fling with Saudi Arabia, a regime Obama despised, and with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Netanyahu government, whose policy in the territories Obama publicly denounced. It seems that there has never been an American president who is so busy shaking off the actions, failuresand even the imageof his predecessor. Obama pledged to take military action against the Assad regime if and when it used chemical weapons. When Assad ignored him and began bombing, Obama was deterred and settled for a Russian promise to remove all the chemical arsenal from Syria. Obama backtracked, and Putin rushed to take his place. The decision-making center in the Middle East shifted from Washington to Moscow. Trump bombed Syria because Obama didnt. On the way, he distanced himself from the reports about secret ties between his people and Putins people. The spat with Putin will make the FBI investigation into those ties seem irrelevant. Its good for Trump, and it might even be good for Putin. Naturally, military action of this sort raises expectations. What remains of the Syrian opposition is now expecting a direct American intervention in the war. The Saudis and their Sunni allies are expecting the same. The Israeli government is expecting Trump to take aggressive measures against Iran. If chemical weapons justify the firing of Tomahawk missiles, why should nuclear weapons be deprived? It may happen and it may not. Trump said last week that he was a very flexible person. Indeed, he has been revealed as a remarkably flexible leader, a real contortionist. For better or for worse, Trump is bringing the worlds leaders to a period of uncertainly. For better, because it increases Americas leeway. There is no leader who can now afford to treat Americas moves as expected and obvious. In Beijing, Moscow, Berlin, Tehran and the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, governments are racking their brains in a bid to try to understand Trump and deal with him. For worse, for the exact same reason: A world living in a state of uncertainty is a more dangerous, more conflicted and less stable world. Trump is playing with fire. (Translated and edited by Sandy Livak-Furmanski) A suicide bomber blew himself up at a military academy in the western part of Somalia's capital, killing at least five soldiers, said a military officer. Two military colonels were among those died as well as the camp's chief trainer, said Col. Abdi Hassan. The bomber dressed in a military uniform walked into the Somali military training camp on Monday morning and detonated explosives strapped to his waist near soldiers and officers, said Hassan. The bomber, posing as a military trainee, had crossed the gate checkpoint and targeted soldiers and officers resting under a tree after their daily military exercises, he said. Somalia's Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab, have claimed responsibility for the attack. On the eve of the holiday of Passover, Israeli archeologists discovered a fragment of a finger in the City of David made of dark stone from an imported Egyptian statue believed to date back approximately 3,500 years. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter According to Temple Mount Sifting Project Director Dr. Gabriel Barkay, the 3.5-centimeter-long fragment represents a human little-finger as can be seen from the fingernail designed on the topside of the fragment. The sculpture is made of hard black stone composed of schist and gneiss rocks, which were the stones most commonly used by sculptors in ancient Egypt. Finger from an Egyptian Statue (Photo: Temple Mount Sifting Project) Barkay surmised that since the underside of the finger was flattened, the hand it belonged to was positioned along another object or along the body represented by the statue, apparently an image of a god or a king. Dr. Barkay said that the fragment of the statue may be representative of Egyptian art from the Late Bronze Age. The Land of Israel was controlled by the ancient Egyptians during the era known as the New Kingdom of Egypt (15751087 BCE). Jerusalem was known at the time as a semi-independent city in the Egyptian province of Canaan, controlled by Egypt through a series of local rulers. Scarabs from the Temple Mount (Photo: Temple Mount Sifting Project) The fragment joins other important evidence found of the Egyptian presence in Jerusalem during the Late Bronze Age, such as an ostensibly broken shoulder from a statue of a human figure, scarab amulets, seals, and Egyptian-style jewelry. In addition, a 3,500-year-old hieroglyphic fragment was recently found in the collections of the Ecole Biblique, which are part of the St. Etienne French Dominican monastery, located north of the Old City. These findings may indicate the existence of an Egyptian temple in Jerusalem in the area of the monastery near the Damascus Gate, dating approximately back to the 13th century BCE. The Temple Mount Sifting Project was founded in 2004 by Dr. Gabriel Barkay and Zachi Dvira under the auspices of Bar-Ilan University in response to the illegal removal by the Islamic Waqf of tons of earth filled with antiquities from the Temple Mount in 1999. Since then, volunteer and professional sifters have unearthed thousands of artifacts, including more than 600 colored stone floor tile segments, more than 100 of which have been conclusively dated to the Second Temple period. The finger fragment represents another of the significant finds discovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project that help piece together the history of ancient Jerusalem. WASHINGTON -- The United States has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week, a senior U.S. official said Monday. The official said a drone operated by Russians was flying over a hospital as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons. The senior official said the U.S. has no proof of Russian involvement in the actual chemical attack in northern Syria. But the official said the presence of the surveillance drone over the hospital couldn't have been a coincidence, and that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming and that victims were seeking treatment. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced that the US cruise missile attack in Syria caused significant damage to the air capabilities of Bashar Assad's armed forces. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter According to Mattis, the strike "resulted in the damage or destruction of fuel and ammunition sites, air defense capabilities and 20% of Syria's operational aircraft." Photo: ISI Additionally, the Shayrat airbase itself was rendered effectively useless by the strike. Mattis elaborated, saying, "The Syrian government has lost the ability to refuel or rearm aircraft at Shayrat airfield and at this point, use of the runway is of idle military interest." Mattis concluded his remarks by noting that Assad and Syria would be "ill-advised to ever again use chemical weapons." With the ripples of the attack still being felt around the international community, the White House doubled down on a change of policy vis-a-vis Syria, by announcing that the possibility of further strikes remains viable. Trump and advisors in session during US strike on Syria (Photo: AFP) "The sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action," said White House spokesman Sean Spicer. The more aggressive posture of the White House comes at a time when Western leaders such as British Prime Minister Theresa May, are attempting to persuade Russia to sever ties with the Assad regime. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit Moscow this week in an attempt to restore relations and dialogue between the two powers. "I hope we can have a constructive dialogue with the Russian government, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and make Russia support a process that will lead to a stable Syria," said Tillerson. Following rocket fire directed at communities in the Eshkol Regional Council Monday morning, Arab media outlet Al Jazeera reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacked a house in southern Rafah, killing one person. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The report did not mention who the UAV belonged to and the IDF has refused to comment on the report. Image of ISIS launching rocket at Israel In addition to Al Jazeera, local media outlets in the Sinai reported that an unidentified UAV fired two missiles at a structure and vehicle, killing and wounding civilians. The reports come amid a period of unrest not only in the Sinai, but the rest of Egypt, prompting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to declare a state of emergency. ISIS in the Sinai Penensula claimed responsibility for the attack, which struck a greenhouse in Israeli territory. Photo: Roi Idan Remains of the rocket fired by ISIS (Photo: Roi Idan) Hours prior to the attack, the Taba Crossing between Israel and Egypt had been closed in an unprecedented move, due to an alert for a possible terrorist attack in Israel, forcing thousands of Israelis who had planned to vacation on the peninsula during Passover to change their plans. Minister of Intelligence Yisrael Katzs office said that his decision was influenced by the severity and seriousness of the threat. In a statement, the Counter-Terrorism Bureau said that Katz had taken the decision in consultation with Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman. Taking immediate effect, the crossing was shut down for those travelling to the Sinai Peninsula until the end of Passover on April 18, provided that the security situation improves. (Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg) New Delhi, Apr 11 (IBNS): The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it would hear after summer vacation the batch of pleas seeking grace period for exchanging demonetised currency notes, according to media reports. The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar will decide whether there can be a window or not for the exchange of banned notes. Even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech on implementation of demonetisation and the currency ban on old rupees five hundred notes and rupees one thousand notes, had said that the notes could be exchanged until Mar 31, 2017, rules for the submission of banned notes were changed several times since Nov 8. Early March, the Supreme Court sought response from the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding allegations that people are not being allowed to deposit demonetised notes despite the March 31, 2017, deadline promised earlier. According to media reports, nearly a month later, the government strongly defended its stance of not allowing the exchange of notes beyond December 30. NEW DELHI -- India has warned Pakistan of serious consequences for their bilateral relationship if it executes a retired Indian naval officer convicted of espionage and sabotage. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told agitated lawmakers in Parliament on Tuesday that India would take up the issue with Pakistan at the highest level to ensure that justice was done to Kulbhushan Jadhav. He was arrested by Pakistan last year and convicted by a Pakistani military tribunal this week. Tel Aviv will become the first city to employ inspectors to enforce traffic laws for those riding electric bicycles. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The decision comes after debate in the Knesset's Subcommittee for Road Safety after an uptick in traffic accidents and fatalities involving electric bicycles. Photo: Motti Kimchi In accordance with the new powers granted to an authorized municipal inspector, they may demand identification, detain the offender, levy fines, remove air from the tires and even seize the vehicle. The ministry emphasized that the new procedures will be implemented gradually. During the first two months, local authorities will act to inform the public about the new laws and their enforcement. Starting in the third month, enforcement will be carried out through warnings only, before tickets are handed out starting in the fourth month. Electric bicycle accidents In additional efforts to rein in traffic accidents, the Transportation Ministry raised fines for both underage riding and riding on sidewalks. Deputy Director of the Supervision Department of the Tel Aviv Municipality, Yair Amor, presented a plan according to which the new procedures will be enforced in the city. In May and June they will work to explain the traffic laws pertaining to bicycles and in July, warnings will be distributed and finally, tickets will begin to be assessed in August. "At last, a national enforcement procedure has been approved for a law that allows municipal supervision to enforce the ban on riding on sidewalks," said deputy mayor of transportation Meital Lehavi. "We hope that we will be able to restore personal safety to pedestrians on the sidewalks of the city, without detracting from the safety of the roads, and we hope that enforcement will change norms and generate road safety." (Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg) MOSCOW -- The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that two of its soldiers had been killed in a mortar attack in Syria and a third was fighting for his life, the RIA news agency reported. The ministry said that the Russian military instructors were embedded with a Syrian army unit andalong with a Russian military adviserhad come under mortar fire from a group of militants. MOSCOWUS Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow Tuesday with an ultimatum for Russia: Side with the US and likeminded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter It wasnt clear what the punishment would be for a Russian government that has used its military might to help Assad and his array of allies score a series of battlefield successes in their six-year war with Syrian opposition groups. Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately showed that he wouldnt back down, saying Russia knew about planned provocations to blame Syrias government for using chemical weapons. He said the UN should first investigate the attack. Assad and Putin (Photo: AP) It reminds me of the events in 2003 when US envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq, Putin told reporters on Tuesday. We have seen it all already. Tillerson is in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It is the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trumps cabinet. Its unclear if Putin and Tillerson will meet. Before heading to Russia, Tillerson told reporters that Moscow had either failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had been incompetent. But, he said, the distinction doesnt much matter to the dead. His trip follows Mondays claim by a senior US official that Washington has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syrias chemical weapons attack. The official, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity, didnt offer concrete proof and others in the Trump administration cautioned that no final determination of Russias foreknowledge had been made. We cannot let this happen again, Tillerson said of the chemical attack. We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role, Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. Or Russia can maintain its alliance with Syria and Iran. Russias foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for productive talks. It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the US-Russian relationship, but for the overall atmosphere on the world stage. The trade of accusations followed a long-set pattern for Syrias civil war. Under President Barack Obama, the United States accused Russia of supporting Assad in war crimes against civilians and of employing a sophisticated disinformation campaign to protect its ally. Assad and Russia have accused the US of supporting terrorist groups, whove staged atrocities to gain international sympathy for their cause. Tillerson (R) at G7 meeting (Photo: AFP) There was one key difference: After the recent launch of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a Syrian air base, President Donald Trump can now offer each a credible threat that the US will use force in Syria if the stalemate persists. The Trump administration, however, has offered mixed messages about whether Assad must surrender powerand when. Tillerson said it was clear the US saw no role for Assad in Syrias future, given that he had lost legitimacy. It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, he said. But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria. Such clarity on Assads future isnt shared by Russia, which insists that Syrias leadership cannot be a matter for outside powers. Tillerson said Russian-sponsored cease-fire talks could generate momentum toward broader talks about a political transitionif they create a durable cease-fire. The idea is for political talks to follow, but Tillerson acknowledged the lack of progress so far. Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the likeminded countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialized economies in Italy. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assads strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The US and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscows role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. That accusation will hang over Tillersons visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russias foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say if Putin would meet Tillerson. The United States has sought to minimize expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the US will leave with any Russian concessions on Syria. Instead, the US is hoping to use the visitthe first by a Trump cabinet official to Russiato convey expectations to Moscow and allow Russians time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the US strikes last week served to refocus the worlds attention on the bloody war in Syria. In Italy, diplomats spoke of possible new sanctions on Syrias and Russias militaries, and additional US military action if Assads forces continue attacking civilians. ABOARD INS HANIT (ISRAEL) White specks appear on the horizon and a voice crackles over the radio with a warning: The speed boat is acting independently. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Two boats on suicide bombing missions had been spotted either side of the INS Hanit, one of the Israeli navys top warships. We recognize the target. This is an immediate enemy, a voice says in Hebrew over the loudspeaker. Ready for action. Israeli sailors onboard the INS Hanit take part in the Novel Dina 17 training session in the Mediterranean Sea. (Photo: AFP) A siren rings out and young recruits rush to the back, hurrying to put on helmets and bulletproof vests before manning machine-guns. An Israeli sailor takes part in a fire evacuation exercise. (Photo: AFP) The Hanits engines go full throttle, dragging it rapidly from three to 27 knots (50 kilometers per hour). The speedboats rush forward but cannot catch up. An Israeli sailor onboard the INS Hanit reads after a training session. (Photo: AFP) The attack last week was in fact part of a series of war games with Greek and US forces to prepare for a range of threats, from submarines to more immediate risks from Hamas and Hezbollah. Israeli sailors onboard the INS Hanit maneuver the ship. (Photo: AFP) The Hanit holds a prominent place in Israeli consciousness. It was struck by a Hezbollah missile off the Lebanese coast in the 2006 war with the Lebanese Shiite militant group, killing four soldiers. An Israeli sailor onboard the INS Hanit prepares food. (Photo: AFP) It was the first direct strike on an Israeli warship in decades and Hezbollah celebrated it as among its biggest victories of the 34-day war. An Israeli sailor onboard the INS Hanit prepares food. (Photo: AFP) More than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 120 Israelis, the majority soldiers, died during the conflict but many in Israel consider the war a failure as Hezbollah was not defeated. The strike on the Hanit symbolized for many how overconfidence fed into that failure. An investigation found that the missile hit because officials didnt believe Hezbollah had such sophisticated technology and so didnt turn on anti-missile systems. Israeli sailors onboard the INS Hanit and a Greek S-70B Sea Hawk helicopter take part in the Novel Dina 17 training session. (Photo: AFP) Big shock The Israeli head of the current training mission insists they are still learning the lessons. The hit of the Hanit was such a big shock to Israel, a trauma, that I am sure no one would let it happen again, he told AFP aboard the ship, speaking on condition of anonymity under military rules. Israeli sailors onboard the INS Hanit take part in a fire evacuation exercise. (Photo: AFP) The ship could have sunk if the missile had struck directly rather than hitting a crane, he said. The reason that it happened from my point of view was that we were not prepared for this kind of missile. Israelis do compulsory military service at 18 and many on board during the recent training exercise were under 10 back in 2006. Nimrod, a young sailor who already has more than 6,000 hours of experience on board during his nearly three years of service, said they were regularly reminded of the deaths. In the corridor near the sleeping quarters, a picture of the four men killed hangs on the wall. The ship is now equipped with Barak missile defense systems, as well as advanced missiles. In the control room, around 20 men are stationed at attack, defense, sonar, radar and operations desks. Decisions on incoming missiles must be made in seconds, one said. Israeli sailors onboard the INS Hanit attend a medical training session. (Photo: AFP) Overconfidence is the biggest enemy at war, the commander added. I think we need to be alert more for any kind of threatsnot to be sure we know everything. An Israeli sailor onboard the INS Hanit uses a video system called POP to identify ships and airplanes in the distances of several kilometers. (Photo: AFP) In future potential conflicts with Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, the commander said, the threat of suicide boats is more of a concern than submarines. Any kind of threat Israels navy had historically been one of the smaller and less well-known parts of its military. Although more than 90 percent of Israels imports come via sea, in the wars with Arab neighbors in the 1960s and 1970s, the air force and ground troops played the primary roles. Israeli sailors onboard the INS Hanit take part in a fire evacuation exercise. (Photo: AFP) But in the years since the 2006 war, a key change has occurred: Israel has discovered major gas fields off its coast. Protecting the non-moving easy targets of gas platforms, the commander said, provides a new challenge. For that reason the country is investing in new warships, the Saar 6. Israeli sailors prepare an inflatable boat. (Photo: AFP) If it is located by one of the platforms, it should be safe from any kind of threatasymmetrical threat, any kind of missile and any kind of rocket, he said. Israeli sailors prepare an inflatable boat. (Photo: AFP) Shaul Chorev, a former deputy chief of naval operations, said Hezbollah and Hamas still pose a threat to the navy. Officers onboard the INS Hanit practice new rope-nodes during the Novel Dina 17 training session in the Mediterranean Sea on April 5, 2017. (Photo: AFP) In January, two people were killed aboard a Saudi frigate when it was hit by a missile fired by Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen, a group that is, like Hezbollah, supported by Iran. The Huthis supported by Iran and using the same technology (as Hezbollah) are hitting Saudi warships and also threatening US navy ships, he said. US President Donald Trump broke with the 8-year tradition of his predecessor and elected not to participate in the White House Passover Seder on Monday night. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Barack Obama actually began holding Seders in 2008 during his presidential campaign. According to the Washington Post, Trump, like Obama before him, was the official host of the Seder. Unlike Obama, however, the current president did not attend, and neither did his Jewish daughter or son-in law. White House Seder (Photo taken from Sean Spicer's Twitter account) The picture that Ivanka Trump tweeted with her Passover message White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer did tweet a photograph of the official meal, though he did not provide an explanation for his bosss absence. He simply wrote, This evening, @WhiteHouse staff held a Passover Seder, marking first night of Passover. Ivanka Trump, like her father, also posted a tweet for the holiday, writing, During #Passover, we reflect on the significance of the exodus from Egypt and celebrate the great freedoms we enjoy today! #ChagPesach. The severe travel advisory and the closure of the border crossing from Israel to Egypt did not prevent many Israelis from ignoring their countrys pleas to return home from the Sinai Peninsula. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Neither did the rocket fire from Sinai into Israel nor the report that an unidentified aircraft attacked Egyptian Rafah. Families with children still head to the traditionally popular vacation spot with its pristine beaches and Red Sea coral reefs. Gil Lahav, an Israeli who entered Sinai before the closure of the crossing, told Ynet, For the first time in 15 years, Israelis really passionately want to come to Sinai, despite the advisories. Overnight, anyone who had the option came to Sinai via Jordan, even though you need a foreign passport for that, not an Israeli one. Israelis dont want anyone to take their piece of heaven from them. Some Israelis couldn't stay away. (Photo: Tiki Golan) Crossing through Jordan was the only practical way for Israelis who were in the Jewish state to get to Egypt after the closure of the Taba crossing. One of the vacationers said that she did not intend to return to Israel, despite the advisories. Its quiet and calm here. Theres a guard hereyou see them guarding all the time. Its just as important to the Bedouins as it is to us to be protected and safe, she said, referring to the ethnic group that runs the resort where she was vacationing. Im sad for them because its their livelihood. Theyre really trying. Resort owners are disappointed by the cancellations. (Photo: Tiki Golan) The owner of a beach in Sinai expressed his frustration at the situation, saying, We are depressed. We live from Passover; its a blow for us. On Sukkot, when masses of Israelis came, we hadnt prepared, but this time we prepared the beaches, renovated, ordered equipment, and now everything is wasted. Meanwhile, the Israelis who stayed at home are disappointed. Ira, from Tel Aviv, said she was scheduled to arrive tomorrow by plane: I waited for this trip a lot, took time off from work and ordered a flight ticket to Eilat. I dont believe this happened. Well probably go to Aqaba, since we already have a plane ticket. (Translated and edited by J. Herzog) White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer compared Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler favorably to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a briefing Tuesday, saying that Hitler did not sink to the level of using chemical weapons as Assad did. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Nazis infamously used gas chambers in concentration camps in their attempt to commit genocide against the Jewish people and other targeted minority groups. Spicer in the uncomfortable briefing The presidents spokesman was commenting on the apparent sarin-gas attack in Syria last week that killed scores of civilians and that has been largely attributed to the Assad regime. Online backlash was immediate, which ABC News' Cecila Vega noted when she asked Spicer in that same briefing if he wanted the opportunity to clarify his comments. He seemed to do quite the opposite, responding, I think when you come to sarin gas, there was nohe (Hitler) was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing. X "He brought them into the Holocaust Center," Spicer continued after stammering somewhat on his words and thanking Vega for her question. One was left to presume that Spicer had intended to say extermination camps rather than Holocaust Center. He continued, But I'm saying that in the way that Assad used them where he went in towns, dropped them down, into the middle of townsit was broughtso the use of itI appreciate the clarification. That was not the intent. After the briefing, Spicer emailed a statement to reporters: "In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust. I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable." An anonymous online campaign aimed at Hezbollah leaders seems to goad them to address the allegations that they were responsible for the assassination of the former commander Mustafa Badreddine. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter At the beginning of the month, a video of a woman claiming to be Badreddines lover surfaced on an anonymous YouTube channel and accusing Hezbollah of having taken out the former terrorist leader. That explosive claim ostensibly lends credibility to the Israeli position that it had no part in the assassination. A picture of Badreddine beneath Your silence is an admission. The recent online campaign, which has also posted a billboard, includes the accusation, Your silence is an admission. On various Twitter and Facebook accounts, the sentence was shown with a picture of Badreddine in uniform. The apparent goal is to have Hezbollah respond to the claims that the assassination was carried out as a result of tension between the organization and Iran. In those accounts, a video clip and pictures of the billboard campaign were included. On the Lebanese news website Beirut Observer, which is known for its critical coverage of Hezbollah, an article was published called, Are the signs Your silence is an admission intended to condemn Nasrallah for the assassination of Badreddine? A billboard in Lebanon The article quotes exclusive sources according to which the campaign is aimed at the silence of Hezbollah Secretary General Nasrallah, despite an investigation by the Saudi Al-Arabiya network that brought the assassination back into public discussion. The same sources added that they cannot identify the source of the funding of the signs, but most likely they are people who are loyal to Badreddine in the ranks of Hezbollah who wanted to condemn the organization for failing to punish the murderers or prosecute them. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot has said that an internal Hezbollah conflict led to the assassination, which took place in the Damascus region on May 13, 2016. Eisenkot cited a report on the incident by the Al Arabiya network claiming that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani gave the order. (Translated and edited by J. Herzog) It is important for the farming and ranching community as well as the general public to know about the efforts of the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) as they continue to move forward to uncover what is truly going on with the National Cattlemens Beef Associations (NCBA) use of Beef Checkoff funds. The following are some excerpts from an April 3 news release put together by OCM staff and sent out by OCM media contact, Angela Huffman, March 31, 2017 was the USDAs court-ordered deadline to choose transparency or secrecy in a lawsuit over records from an audit initiated in 2011 of the federal Beef Checkoff Program. It chose secrecy. Out of a total of 12,341 pages of financial records from the audit and sought by the OCM through the Freedom of Information Act, USDA released less than 175 pages, most of which are already public tax forms. The remaining nearly 12,200 pages of checkoff-related records, however, were completely blacked out USDA is claiming they are confidential. The bottom line is that USDA is withholding a staggering 98.5% of federal Beef Checkoff Program spending records from the cattle producers who are required to pay into the government program. . . . OCMs fight to get to the truth about Beef Checkoff Program spending began in 2010, after a small independent audit uncovered more than $200,000 in wrongdoing by the NCBA. With this evidence, OCM, along with others, pressured the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the USDA to audit the Beef Checkoff Program, the release explained. OIG conducted a full audit of the Beef Checkoff Program in 2011. Despite the previous independent audit evidence to the contrary, OIGs 2014 initial audit report made no claims against NCBAs management of the beef checkoff funds, and contained a statement that NCBAs administration of the beef checkoff funds was in full compliance. A USDA email from 2013 establishes that the audit had turned up issues that would give USDA heartburn, but these issues appear to have been scrubbed from the final audit report. Further, a central finding of an early draft audit report by OIG determined that as much as 25 percent of checkoff funds were vulnerable to misuse and that producers lack assurance that the Beef Board could protect those funds, the release went on. There is evidence NCBA used beef checkoff funds to grow and develop its organization and its influence on policy, a clear conflict of interest. Through the advancement of its policies, NCBA has almost single-handedly destroyed the cattle price. NCBA lobbied to abolish Country of Origin Labeling on behalf of packers so cheap imported South American beef could be co-mingled with U.S. beef . . . Since NCBA has been administering the lions share of beef checkoff funds, the U.S. has lost nearly half of its cattle producers, the release explained. The OCM investigation is exposing a bigger issue in agriculture. It is also exposing an opportunity. There are ag systems and ag organizations operating today that were designed to serve a need generations ago. Some of these organization and systems, like NCBA, have morphed into something else. So, as farmers, ranchers and consumers, we need to ask questions. We also need to recognize that we have, at our disposal, an opportunity to work together differently. There is no reason why we shouldnt be able to redesign or bust apart whats not working anymore. There are more farmers and ranchers marketing their food direct. There are others coming together to form new systems and organizations with a more progressive vision for markets in the future. They are fed up with archaic, good old boy thinking that is limiting opportunities for all of us to have access to the healthiest food grown right here in the United States on the local and regional level. NCBA, whats your beef against producers who just want to know what is going on with their money? Whats wrong with labeling beef produced in the USA? If they were alive today, I believe some of the founders of your organization would say they dont even recognize the association at all that was formed to support U.S. beef producers. Farmers and ranchers are waking up to some of the major ag system and ag organization errors that need to be corrected, reformed or dismantled. Consumers are waking up too. NCBA, what side of history do you want to be on? I am siding with farmers, ranchers and the public who deserve to know whats going on with the food and food systems that feed their families. Thiruvantapuram, Apr 11 (IBNS) : The Kerala Government has issued an ordinance making Malayalam a compulsory subject in schools, media reports said. The Government clarified that students from other states studying in Kerala schools are exempt. The ordinance, to be effective from the next academic session, applies to schools affiliated to the state, CBSE and ICSE boards. It says that schools that do not comply will lose their NOC. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that in some schools in the state, speaking Malayalam is against the rules. He said that such rules cannot be allowed and ordered a fine of Rs 5,000 against the principal of one such school. YORK The first-ever Sip & Stroll went over well. How well? Michaela Stuhr, administrative and marketing assistant at the sponsoring York Chamber of Commerce, speaking Monday morning, answered the question indirectly, saying she is 98 percent sure the festive evening will return next year. Thirty-two businesses welcomed 170 people to explore downtown and sample a variety or two of wine at most locations while others served non-alcohol beverages. The price of a ticket included a commemorative wine glass and special meal prices for participants at Chances R. It was a great event, reported Stuhr, to which reactions were all positives. People really enjoyed it and we had a great night for it, she said, then added the aforementioned educated guess that the Yorks first Sip & Stroll will almost certainly not be the last. Sponsoring the event were: Chamber of Commerce, Baer Furniture, Wagner Decorating, Western Edge, The HairBenders Salon, McNeill Floral, Slack Auto/Carquest, Region 5, The Quilt Basket, Eakes Office Solution, Community Title Company, Crossroads Awards, York Jewelry, Prim & Proper Too, Marlas Choice Consignment, EyeCare Associates, Pixie Sticks Childcare Center, Kirtsey Dancewear and Gifts, Towne House Salon, Grand Central Foods, Asera Care, Sun Theater, Ginnys Hallmark, Yorkshire Playhouse, The Person Touch, York Massage Therapy, Sequoia Wealth Partners, Ameriprise Financial Services, Lichtis TV, Appliance & Furniture, Dragonfly Solutions, Nebraska Medical Mart, J & R Heating/Air Conditioning. Airmen at Work: Preflight inspection preps aircraft for takeoff Master Sgt. Dan Scott, 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Dedicated Crew Chief (DDC), performs the upper wing portion of a preflight inspection on a C-130H Hercules aircraft here, April 3, 2017. Preflight inspections help ensure safety for the aircrew and aircraft. Scott is the DDC on this aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Polly Orcutt) Force Generation Center relocates The initial movement of Air Force Reserve Command personnel to the AFRC Consolidated Mission Complex took place April 6 when Reserve Citizen Airmen of the Force Generation Center moved into Building 554 here. The FGC's new home at 693 Lakeside Circle is a 22,000 square foot facility initially constructed in December 2012 as the AFRC Deployment Readiness and Training Center, but later housed the Band of the Air Force Reserve. After the deactivation of the band, the FGC's expanded mission and employee growth were a fit for the space. Brig. Gen. James Fontanella commands the FGC, and the functional divisions which include support, forces, security cooperation and exercises, and operations. The FGC also houses the headquarters AFRC Crisis Action Team and a 24 hour/7 battle watch. The new facility will enhance operations and enable improved real-time coordination between AFRC facilities and its Citizen Airmen and missions worldwide. Continued construction of the complex and phased movement of personnel will continue through 2022. When completed, the complex will allow HQ AFRC to consolidate approximately 965 employees into a campus setting in one area of the base. Airman attains rare ACE award Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. Jason Britten, a resident of Springdale, Arkansas, and an aerospace ground equipment apprentice assigned to the 913th Maintenance Squadron, 913th Airlift Group, here received the prestigious ACE Award March 20, 2017 while training at Sheppard AFB, Texas. The ACE award is the highest academic honor a student can receive and is earned for exceptional performance by maintaining a perfect 100 percent through an entire course, said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Goetze, the Air Force Reserve Command Training Liaison and Superintendent at Sheppard AFB. To give you an idea of the difficulty involved, there have only been four others in ten years who have achieved such academic excellence. He was the only Reservist in his class and left a lasting positive impression on the other Airmen and the school staff. Brittens class consisted of 12 students who spent 95 academic training days in the Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) Apprentice Course. During that time, 14 exams in 15 blocks of instruction were administered. All exams were computer based, while hands-on-training and testing were done in the classroom. My goal was to do the very best that I could, said Britten, who had never heard of the ACE Award until the class started. Mechanics has always been a passion and I wanted to excel. Excelling required Britten to dedicate his time to constant study. The secret to my success was studying, said Britten. I would study every night and review class notes and homework for sections I wasn't confident in. However, his time wasnt always his own. As the ranking class member and class leader, Britten often sacrificed his personal study time to help others succeed. Being the class leader requires additional time to mentor and provide advice to the other classmates, said Goetze. In so many situations involving pipeline students, they often need simple life and career advice that our more mature Reservists, such as Staff. Sgt. Britten, are well postured to provide. Britten admits that he started to feel pressure building as he aced each exam, but he used it to narrow his focus. Additionally, he knew he had the encouragement of his peers. After every test, my classmates would ask what my score was. They were all very supportive of my efforts, Britten said. Even had he missed a few points here and there, Britten said he would have maintained the self discipline to stick with his goal to excel. No matter where youre at, you should always do your best to succeed and strive for perfection, said Britten. If you do your best, even if you stumble, you won't be far from the top. Britten, now back at his unit, plans on continuing to mentor others and perfect his craft. Ill take this new knowledge, share it, and apply it to upgrade training. Doing so will allow me to dive more in-depth into the flight line equipment we use to directly support the mission. 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. Happy shootin' my friends! Buying Guides: Firearms Firearm Accessories Ammunition Gun Safes Scopes & Optics Hunting Air Rifles Best AR-15 Best AR 15 Scope Best Hunting Rifle Best Gun Safe Best AK 47 Best AR 10 Best Glock Triggers Best Glock Best Home Defense Shotgun Srinagar, Apr 11 (IBNS): Internet services on landline broadband connections were restored after three days in the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, officials said. Fearing violence and rumors by anti-social elements, authorities suspended mobile internet services, including Broadband on landline connections, on Apr 9 midnight, a day before by-elections on Sunday in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts. Senior Police Official in Srinagar Told IBNS only Broadband Internet Service has been restored in the Valley. However, mobile internet services will get restored by evening today, the official said. Eight youth were killed during day-long clashes on polling day with security forces in central Kashmir. Several other civilians were injured. Expert Advice with Philippe Brach 17/04/2017 Sydney looks set to record another year of solid growth this year. While the city may not smash through the double-digit figures its been achieving for the last few years, Sydney property owners will likely see their assets move forward in value before the year is through. For those who already own property in Sydney, this is fantastic news. To those people reading along who dont have a Sydney property in their portfolio, I urge not to despair just yet! Many investors have recently expressed their frustration to me, lamenting that they feel they are locked out of our capital city property markets. Sydney is getting too expensive with low yields, they complain, and Melbourne is catching up. Adelaide is in a low growth phase and Perth is in the doldrums, while Brisbane is at risk of over-supply So where are they meant to invest? Not where, but what The answer to this question isnt where, but what. All too often, people get caught up worrying about where to invest. Which suburbs are in a high growth phases? Which cities are set to boom? Which locations are showing strong signs of population growth? These are great questions to ask and theyre certainly important to your investing success. But rather than focusing on exactly where you want to buy, investors would be far better served by concentrating on what financial fundamentals they want to see before they invest. This will ultimately dictate where to invest. These fundamentals include: Capital growth. This is what will create wealth. It relates to population expansion, economic drivers, amenities (schools, shops, childcare facilities, medical facilities, sporting grounds, etc), infrastructure, transport, etc Cash flow. This is what will allow you to afford these properties until you can cash in capital growth. So yield is important (and is lacking in Sydney and Melbourne), especially if you are looking at building a property portfolio. Investment triple winners For many people, the truth is that Sydney is priced well out their reach, or the structural low yield is too punishing to their cash flow. It will probably remain that way for the near future. However, fortunately, Australia is comprised of thousands of individual property markets and Sydney is just one of them. When you begin looking for your next property with structured criteria at the back of your mind, you can start to see that Sydney isnt the only location in Australia that provides capital growth. In addition, better yields than Sydney will make these locations a lot more attractive for you in the current market. Kolkata/Birbhum, Apr 11 (IBNS): Supporters of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) affiliated Hindu activists group, Hindu Jagran Mancha (Forum for Hindu Awaking), on Tuesday clashed with police during an alleged 'unauthorized' rally in West Bengal's Birbhum district, reports said. According to reports, activists of Hindu Jagran Mancha at a large number took part in a procession to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti (A Hindu ritual/festival, celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Sri Hanuman) at Suri in Birbhum. As local administration did not give permission to hold the rally, police stopped the march by setting up barricades near Suri Bus Stand area. After breaking police barricades, activists of the Hindu organization engaged in a scuffle with the policemen there and beat two civic volunteers, who were assigned to film the rally, as a senior police official claimed. A heavy police force along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) rushed to the scene and police restored to lathicharge to bring the situation under control. A local leader of Hindu Jagran Mancha alleged that a large number of activists of the religious group were injured in the 'unprovoked' lathicharge by police force while several members of the organization have been arrested. Since last Wednesday (Apr 5), right wing organization and the ideological mentor of BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and its sister organizations have been holding several religious processions to celebrate Ram Navami (A spring Hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of god Rama) across West Bengal. As swords and some other sharp weapons were allegedly carried publicly in few of those rallies, police have lodged FIRs against the organizers at several police stations in the state. (Reporting by Deepayan Sinha, Image: TV Grab.) Dhaka: The father of a Maldivian model who was found dead in her college in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, last month has accused her best friend, a student from India`s Jammu and Kashmir, of murder, a media report said. Muhammad Atif, father of Raudha Atif, lodged a case with the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on Monday afternoon accusing her daughter`s classmate Sirat Parveen Mahmud, 21, who hails from Kashmir, Prothom Alo reported. In his complaint, Muhammad Atif mentioned that the classmate broke open the door of Raudha and lowered the hanging body. Atif wrote in the complaint that Sirat might have strangled Raudha. Raudha, an MBBS second year student of Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshsahi, was found dead in her college dormitory room on March 29. The college authorities had informed Shah Makhdum police station that Raudha committed suicide by hanging herself. Sirat was one of Raudha`s closest friends at the dorm. They lived in adjacent rooms. According to her earlier testimony, she was the last person to see Raudha alive, Dhaka Tribune reported. Athif said: "I am certain my daughter was murdered. There were fingerprints around her neck. From the looks of these prints, Raudha was choked to death by a right-handed person. "If she had committed suicide, then why was her body taken down before the police arrived? This is a murder," he is quoted as saying. Advocate Kamrul Monir told reporters that the court has taken cognisance of the case and directed the Shah Makhdum Police to act on it. The lawyer said that about a week before Raudha died, she had told her mother that Sirat had given her fruit juice spiked with sleeping medication. According to college authorities, Sirat claimed to be the first person to discover Raudha`s body on March 29. She had claimed to have seen her hanging body through the window, after which she allegedly broke the door down and brought down the body. But the door showed no signs of forced entry, and the fan was too high for a person to reach even if they got on a chair, the daily said quoting college authorities. The most suspicious fact in the whole affair is the revelation that the CCTV camera outside Raudha`s room seemingly malfunctioned on the night of March 28. The camera was functioning properly throughout the day, choosing only that particular night to fail to work, the daily said. Raudha and Sirat were both living in a separate building for international students on the campus. The college authorities claimed to have advised Raudha`s family of the developments. The autopsy was carried out at Rajshahi Islami Bank Medical College Hospital on March 31. The autopsy report said suicide as the cause of death. Raudha was buried on April 1 in Rajshahi by her family after they received the autopsy report. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Iftekhar Alam had said the police also suspect the cause of death to be suicide, brought on by depression. Last Thursday, two police officers arrived in Rajshahi from Maldives to look into the circumstances surrounding Raudha`s death, the daily reported. Raudha, an international model, was on the cover of the October 2016 issue of Vogue India magazine. She was considered a rising star and was an MBBS student in her sophomore year at Rajshahi Islami Bank Medical College. Washington: Pakistan may not get the remaining USD 350 million of the USD 900 million coalition support fund from the US as it has not done enough against the dangerous Haqqani terror network to get the required certification from the Defence Secretary, officials said. As mandated by the Congress, the Pentagon has started the process of reviewing the steps being taken by Pakistan against the Haqqani network, which the US believes poses a grave threat to its forces in Afghanistan. Given the initial review and the feedback received from Pakistan, sources told PTI that Pakistan is unlikely to get the USD 350 of the USD 900 million of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) this fiscal as sanctioned by the Congress. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis needs to issue a certificate to the Congress in this regard by June-end to become eligible to get USD 350 million from the Pentagon. The Pentagon said no decision in this regard has been made yet. "The Secretary of Defence has not yet made a decision regarding the Haqqani certification requirement associated with USD 350 million of the FY-16 CSF appropriation for Pakistan," Adam Stump, a Defence Department spokesman, told PTI. The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. The Deputy Secretary of Defence signed the authorisation to disburse USD 550 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Coalition Support Funds (CSF) to Pakistan for logistical, military, and other support provided to the US?operations in Afghanistan for the period of January-June 2015. "The Department recognises the significant sacrifices the Pakistan military has made in the fight against terrorism and appreciates Pakistan's continued support for transit of materiel to coalition forces in Afghanistan," he said. The disbursement which was wired to Pakistan last month uses CSF funds that are not restricted by the Secretary of Defence certification of Pakistan's actions on the Haqqani Network. As per the fiscal 2016, National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), Pakistan is authorised to receive up to USD 900 million in FY-16 CSF. "Disbursement of the remaining USD 350 million will require the Secretary of Defence to certify that Pakistan has taken sufficient action against the Haqqani Network. The Secretary has not yet made a decision on certification," Stump said in response to a question. According to a defence official well aware of certification process, the Pentagon needs "to make sure that Pakistan is providing us evidence" with regard to the actions it is taking against the Haqqani network. "We ask for evidence that they have gone after those groups," the official told PTI, who requested anonymity. Once the information is received from Pakistan, the Pentagon reviews and verifies those claims through its own network. A initial review is conducted by a team of defence officials who then submit its recommendations to the Defence Secretary. It is a part of an ongoing discussion, the official said. However, Stump said that Pakistani people have made significant sacrifices over the last three years in order to counter terrorism. "We continue to be encouraged by Pakistan's operations in North Waziristan and elsewhere in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)," he said, adding Pakistan's efforts have reduced the ability of some militant groups to use North Waziristan and the FATA as a safe haven for terrorism. "It is in the interest of Pakistan to eliminate all safe havens and reduce the operational capacity of all militant organisations, particularly Al Qaeda, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Afghan Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) and other militant groups that pose a threat to US and Pakistani interests and regional stability," Stump told PTI. For the first time in 2016, then Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter had declined to certify that Pakistan met the Haqqani certification requirement, resulting in the loss of USD 300 million of fiscal year 2015 CSF. This amount was reprogrammed by the Pentagon for Department of Defence's Overseas Contingency Operations Funding, a second defence department official said. "The USD 300 million of Coalition Support Funds you asked about were reprogrammed, with Congressional approval, through Reprogramming Actions - Prior Approval, FY 16-22 and FY 16-27, to help meet Department of Defence needs for Overseas Contingency Operations funding," the official said. Notably, the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) authority is not security assistance, but reimbursements to key cooperating nations for logistical, military, and other support provided to US combat operations. "Pakistan is the largest recipient of CSF reimbursements, receiving roughly USD 14 billion since 2002," he said, adding that CSF is just one component of America's broad and enduring partnership with Pakistan. New Delhi: The merger of cash-rich oil producer Cairn India into its debt-ridden parent Vedanta Ltd is now complete, the two firms announced on Tuesday. "This merger consolidates Vedanta's position as one of the world's largest diversified natural resources companies, with world-class, low-cost assets in metals and mining and oil and gas," a statement by the two firms said. After absorbing its cash-rich subsidiary, Vedanta will have a larger pro forma market cap of USD 15.6 billion and higher free float of 49.9 per cent. The two companies announced plans of the merger in June 2016, which would give the metals and mining company Vedanta access to the cash of Cairn India, helping it cut debt. In July last year, Vedanta had sweetened its merger proposal to win over minority shareholders like LIC. Shareholders of Cairn India will get one equity share of Vedanta and four redeemable preference shares of face value Rs 10 and coupon 7.5 per cent, as against the proposal of one equity share and one preference share earlier. April 27 has been set as record date for the share swap. "Cairn India shareholders as on said Record Date, who will become shareholders of Vedanta, would also receive an interim dividend of Rs 17.70 per equity share as approved by the Board of Vedanta on March 30, 2017," the statement said. Also, no shares will be issued to Vedanta or any of its subsidiaries for their shareholding in Cairn India. Vedanta will arrange for a third-party facility enabling a cash exit for Redeemable Preference Share (RPS) holders at par within 30 days from issuance, the statement said. Navin Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Limited said:?"We are pleased to have completed the Vedanta Ltd - Cairn India merger and are very excited about the future of the combined company. With world class assets in metals and mining and oil and gas, Vedanta will fuel India's economic growth and generate value for all stakeholders." Sudhir Mathur, Acting CEO of Cairn India, said the merger with Vedanta Ltd will de-risk Cairn India by providing access to a portfolio of diversified tier-I, low cost, long-life assets to deliver significant near term growth, while retaining the substantial upside from oil and gas business. Tom Albanese, CEO of Vedanta Limited, said:"Our continued focus to remain a low-cost operator with low leverage will provide us the financial flexibility throughout the cycle and help us create long term value for all stakeholders." The merger, he said, will increase the appeal of Vedanta Ltd to global investors as it simplifies the structure and increases the size and free float of the company. Islamabad, Apr 11 (IBNS): Amid growing outrage in India over the death sentence given to Kulbhushan Jadhav,Pakistan on Tuesday defended the move by saying it followed 'due legal process' in prosecuting the Indian national. During a senate briefing, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was quoted as saying by Dawn News: "There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law." "The trial went on for three months," he said. Asif referred to India's response to the sentencing of Jadhav and said: "They used the term 'premeditated murder'. As a reply, all I want to say is that we have followed all the rules and regulations, and the laws of the land." As protests and anger flew thick in Parliament over the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan, top ministers of the Narendra Modi Government on Tuesday promised all out efforts to save the retired Navy officer, while sounding warning against the possible consequences on bilateral relationship if the neighbouring country goes ahead on the matter. According to reports, the issue of death penalty, awarded to Jadhav on the charge of being an "Indian spy" rocked both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha as members in unison demanded the Government's intervention. In a statement in the upper House, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the way Jadhav has been sentenced to death is nothing short of "an act of premeditated murder." "The Government will go out of the way to save him, Swaraj, who called Kulbhushan Jadhav a son of India, said. "I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter, she said. Swaraj said the charges of spying levelled against Jadhav are "concocted" and "there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by him." Earlier, in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the death sentence awarded to Jadhav and asserted that the Government will do its best to ensure justice to him. His statement came as members of the Lok Sabha, cutting across political lines, expressed their concern and anger over the way Jadhav has been branded a "spy" and awarded death penalty by Pakistan. "India strongly condemns the death sentence. Basic norms of law and justice were violated. I want to tell the House that the Government will do whatever it takes to make sure Kulbhushan Jadhav gets justice," Singh said. "The way he has been awarded death penalty has triggered anger, not only in Parliament, but also across the country," he said. "All the norms of law and justice were disregarded by Pakistan," Singh said in an apparent reference to the Geneva convention rules and added that Jadhav wasn't even given consular access despite India asking Pakistan for it as many as 13 times. The Home Minister told the House that Jadhav had a small business in Chabahar, Iran. Pakistani security agencies kidnapped him and presented him to the country as an Indian spy. As proof, they said Jadhav has an Indian passport. "How can he be a spy and carry an Indian passport, I don't understand" Singh said. Earlier, the Congress demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to save Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying. He was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Pakistan has sentenced Jadhav "on lies and false allegations of spying." "If Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan Jadhav, then it is murder. The Government will be seen as weak if it cannot free him," Kharge said Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi said, "The Government has influence, please use it. Will the government make every effort to save him? It is our joint responsibility to save him." Biju Janata Dal's Jay Panda said, "We are all united on this issue. No one is opposition or government. We are all Indians on this...India must take this up at UN." According to reports, Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests to let the Indian consulate deiplomats to meet Jadhav. India has also reportedly decided against the release of 12 Pakistani prisoners who were cleared to return home on Wednesday. Image: AIRNews Twitter New Delhi: More than 50% parents, after being surveyed, all across the country, opined that the school fees of their children have witnessed a hike of nearly 20% in 2017. And, this led to protests and sending memorandums to state governments seeking immediate help against the fee hike. According to a study, done in September 2016 by localcircles.com, 15% of parents reported a hike of more than 20-30%. As reported by the Hindustan Times quoting localcircles.com, the more the schools become privatised and government institutes fall behind, affording quality education for the middle-class families faces a tough challenge. Private schools have been hiking their fee without stating any genuine reason for it. We are fighting for fee regulation, but private schools are running a monopoly since the government schools are not up to the mark, HT quoted Ajay Rai, president, Jharkhand State Parents Association, as saying. Regional variations were also observed from the study. According to localcircles.com as quoted by HT, 75% of the parents from Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and West Bengal said that they have come across a hike of more than 10%. While from Delhi, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh 50-75% of the parents reported a fee increase of more than 10%, barring parents from Bihar and Gujarat who said that the schools' fee has increased by less than 10%. The Uttarakhand government came up with a decision of acting on the complaints lodged by the parents. We will regulate the fee hike by public schools and fix a cap for the same to provide relief to parents, HT quoted state education minister Arvind Pandey, as saying. Reportedly, almost all schools based out of Madhya Pradesh had increased fees citing improvement in facilities. The types of facilities provided, maintenance of infrastructure and high salary of teachers make it necessary to hike fee, HT quoted Prem Kashyap, president of Principals Progressive School Association, as saying. School education minister for state Deepak Josh assured the parents by saying that the cabinet will soon give consent to a bill in order to regulate the fees. HT quoted an organisation of parents Jago Abhibhavak Jago, Amit Taksali, as saying, The schools are increasing fees every year without consulting the parents. I have read the bylaws of CBSE and it clearly states that the schools' administration should consult the parents before taking a decision on fees hike. Some parents have admitted their students in low profile schools due to the fees hike. The high profile schools are behaving autocratically and creating trouble for middle-class families, HT quoted him as saying. New Delhi: The gorgeous Deepika Padukone stole the limelight at the recently held private bash hosted by industrialist Mukesh Ambani for Mumbai Indians IPL Team and friends. Bollywood diva Deepika was seen attending the party and that too looking super sleek and classy! She even shared her party look on Instagram and we must say after checking out her picture you sure will go WOW! Dippy can be seen wearing a beautiful white see-through Dolce and Gabbana lace shirt with high-waisted black Balenciaga pants. The actress was styled by Shaleena Nathania, who shared her look on Insta which was later reposted by Deepika. A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on Apr 10, 2017 at 8:08am PDT The Mumbai Indians won against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday and therefore the bash was thrown to celebrate their big win. Ahmedabad: In a strange accident off the Gujarat coast, three Pakistani personnel belonging to Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) were killed, while two others were rescued by the Indian fishermen. Notably, captured by PMSA personnel who illegally entered Indian waters, Indian fishermen did not dither in saving their tormentors after one of the Pakistani boats capsized off the Gujarat coast in Arabian Sea on Sunday. In the incident, the captured Indian fishermen who were being taken to Karachi saved two PMSA officers after one of the small fast Pakistani boats collided with an Indian fishing boat and capsized in Indian waters, sources said. The Indian Coast Guard retrieved the bodies of three of the four other Pakistani personnel who drowned in the incident and returned them to PMSA, they said. Meanwhile, the PMSA released seven boats and around 60 fishermen last night as a reciprocal gesture for saving the lives of Pakistani officers, National Fishworkers Forum secretary Manish Lodhari said. It was an attempt to capture Indian fishermen that turned into a tragedy for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency which entered the Indian waters up to 10 nautical miles, a source familiar with the incident said. "Around 10 boats were fishing in the area when PMSA rounded them up in the high seas. When they were taking them to Karachi, one of their small fast boats collided with one of the Indian fishing boats and capsized in Indian waters," the source said, as per PTI. Two of the Pakistani officers were saved by Indian fishermen who were in captivity of PMSA at that time, the source said. The two rescued persons went back to the Pakistan side with their other officers and the captured boats, he said. However, four PMSA personnel in the capsized vessel went missing in waters, he said. An Indian fishing boat, identified as "Mehnoor", too got damaged and suffered a breakdown, he said. Later, the PMSA released an Indian fisherman and asked him to head to the Indian coast towing away the damaged boat. All the other fishermen were taken away by the Pakistani authorities at that time. On learning about the incident, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship 'Arinjay', which was stationed at Okha, rushed to the site. The Coast Guard started its operation in the sea late Sunday night and has so far recovered three bodies from Indian waters while search is still on for the remaining one. They said the Coast Guard handed over the bodies of the Pakistanis to the PMSA yesterday. Lodhari also claimed that Indian fishermen spotted the three bodies in the sea and then handed them over to Indian Coast Guard. "Earlier, we received reports that PMSA had captured seven boats and 42 fishermen. However, there were actually 10 boats and 60 fishermen in that area. Since our fishermen saved lives of their officers and recovered the bodies, PMSA decided to release the 60-odd fishermen yesterday," Lodhari told PTI. "Out of the 10 boats, two (including a damaged boat and another one towing it) had reached Jakhau yesterday with one fisherman while one is still lying unattended in Pakistani waters. Efforts are on by ICG to take its custody," he said. Though it has been almost two days since the incident, there was no official statement from the Indian Coast Guard yet. All the officials of North-West command here remained tight-lipped and refused to share any details. Meanwhile, India today warned Pakistan to consider the "consequences" on their ties if Kulbhushan Jadhav is hanged in the alleged espionage case and vowed to go "out of the way" to save him amid an outrage in this country. The death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court after declaring him a "spy" echoed in both Houses of Parliament where all parties came together to condemn the "indefensible" verdict and pressed the government to take every step to help him. In Parliament, the government as well as the Opposition, saw the capital punishment as an attempt to defame India and to deflect the attention of the international community from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, asserting that India will go "out of the way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian". Jadhav's execution will be taken by India as a "pre-meditated murder" and Pakistan should "consider its consequences" on bilateral relations, if it proceeds on this matter, Swaraj warned. She said the charges against Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, are "concocted" and the trial against him was "farcical", leading to an "indefensible verdict". (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Pakistan's 268 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 12 months led to nine deaths, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the Indian Army retaliated appropriately to the ceasefire violations. According to data given by the minister, a majority of these violations happened in just two months -- 78 in October 2016 in which two persons died, and 88 in November that killed five others. "All ceasefire violations are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate levels through established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings and weekly exchanges between the Director Generals of Military Operations of the two countries," Bhamre said. New Delhi: The ruling NDA has claimed that Narendra Modi has become India's most popular leader after independence. NDA claims are backed by BJP's performance in the recent state elections. "BJP's performance in the recent state elections has established Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India's "most popular leader" after independence," NDA said. The resolution adopted by the BJP and its 32 allies, including Shiv Sena, which has often criticised the Modi government, at their last night meeting credited his pro-poor and welfare policies for the saffron party's "win" in four states. BJP's big win in UP and other states The BJP notched up unprecedented victories in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand but won fewer seats than the Congress' tally in Manipur and Goa. It formed governments by stitching up alliances with local parties, with the Congress crying foul over the development. Its president Amit Shah Shah had made the claim of Modi being the most popular Indian leader after independence soon after the state election results were announced. The endorsement of Shah's statement by all the allies indicate Modi's sway over the ruling alliance which is looking at him to deliver another victory when the country votes for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "This mandate (state results) has established Modi on the people's mind as the most popular leader after independence," the resolution said. It said India has emerged as a leading developing economy under Modi's "extraordinary" leadership and economic experts and institutions have acknowledged it as a "great achievement". 'NDA much better than UPA' While the previous Congress-led UPA government left behind a "corrupt and supine" governance structure, the Modi- led NDA government changed it and took every section of the society along as it worked on its development agenda, it said. Underlining the government's commitment to taking India forward, it called upon the people to re-elect the ruling alliance again to power under Modi in 2019. The idea of people's welfare and overall development is the identity of the government, it said highlighting a number of government schemes. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the Budget Session as a "winner" for the treasury benches, saying the BJP put up an impressive show in state polls while the government was able to secure passage of many key bills in Parliament. Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting a day before the session ends, Modi also pitched for pushing reform and development agenda, asserting that there is a "positive" public mood in the favour of the ruling dispensation as it completes its third anniversary the next month. "This is a golden opportunity for us to lift the lives of the poor, the deprived...This is the time for doing more development and reforms," he said. The BJP MPs were also informed about a one-month programme to celebrate the government's third anniversary from May 24. Briefing reporters following the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said that Modi called the session very constructive with the Lok Sabha passing 21 bills and the Rajya Sabha 14. These include the GST bills and also the politically important OBC bill. The Prime Minister said the BJP notched up a massive win in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls during the session. The hope his government had generated among the masses in 2014 has turned into confidence, he said. Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu also spoke and outlined the one-month programme to celebrate the government's third anniversary, Kumar said. Heaping praise on Modi, Naidu referred to the last night's meeting of 33 NDA constituents in which important allies like Parkash Singh Badal of Akali Dal and Chandrababu Naidu of TDP spoke about his "transformative" leadership. "Modi has emerged as the poor's messiah," he claimed. On the occasion, Modi noted that it was the birth anniversary of Hanuman, a devotee of Lord Rama, and said he was a living example of a "dedicated social worker" which should inspire one and all. New Delhi: Expressing dissent over veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani's assertion that tension in Kashmir is created by Pakistan, senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz blamed India for the unrest in Valley. "I differ from Ram Jethmalani; current problem in Kashmir is created by India not by Pakistan," Soz said during the 'Improving Indo-Pak Relations' event here. Jethmalani had said that Kashmir problem was not created by India, but unfortunately by Pakistan. The duo made their respective statements during the event held in national capital today at IIC building. Soz maintained his stand even while emerging out of the venue, where the discussion was held as he reiterated his words when media asked him about his controversial remark. Reports of ruckus also surfaced during the event attended by former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyyar, PDP MP Muzzaffar Beg, CPM MP Mohd Salim, Jethmalani, former foreign minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and many others. Amidst the furore over the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, the discussion, which was to be inaugurated by Kasuri, was under the scanner as questions were raised over the timing of the event. Speaking with ANI, the organiser of the event, O.P. Shah, defended the program stating that the event was scheduled well in advance. "Till now, no one has expressed the sentiment that this program should be cancelled. I would say that a program like this should be organised again and again," O.P. Shah said. "Program was scheduled weeks back; such Programs needed as Indo-Pak relations aren't good currently. Till now, no one has expressed the sentiment that this program should be cancelled. I would say that a program like this should be organised again and again," he added. Tawang: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Tuesday wrapped up his week-long tour of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing had strongly objected to. The Dalai Lama left by helicopter for Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, on Tuesday morning from Tawang helipad. Thousands of people lined up along the road to see him off. Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries also saw him off at the helipad, a government official told IANS. "The Chief Minister thanked the Dalai Lama for his visit and requested him to visit Arunachal Pradesh again in the near future," the official said. On Monday, the Nobel Peace laureate, who Beijing has called an "anti-China separatist", described his visit to Arunachal Pradesh as a "memorable one" that he would cherish forever. He also thanked the people, particularly from far off villages, who gathered in large numbers to welcome and listen to him at all the places that he visited. In fact, this is not for the first time that the 81-year-old Tibetan leader is visiting Arunachal or Tawang. In 1959, he escaped from China via Tawang and visited the state in 1983, 1997, 2003 and 2009. The Dalai Lama was to start his week-long religious visit to Arunachal Pradesh from Tawang on April 4. But bad weather forced him to travel by road as his helicopter couldn't take off from Dibrugarh airport in Assam. The Tibetan spiritual leader reached Tawang - the high point of his visit to this mountainous state -- on April 7 after traversing over 550 km from Assam's Dibrugarh and crossed the 13,700 feet Sela Pass. The Dalai Lama stayed at the Tawang monastery belonging to the Gelugpa school of Mahayana Buddhism, which had a religious connection with Lhasa's Drepung monastery that continued during the British rule. Beijing refers to this connection to claim Tawang as part of China after invading and taking over Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama had stayed in the Tawang monastery for some days before he reached Assam after fleeing his homeland in 1959. During his religious tour to Arunachal Pradesh, the spiritual leader consecrated the Thupsung Dhargyeling monastery at Dirang on April 6. On Sunday, he also consecrated the Tara Temple 'Dolma Lhagang', Guru Padhmasambhava Statue cum Temple (Lumpo), and laid the foundation stone of Gyalwa Jamba (Kuber) statue to be built at Buri near the India-Bhutan border. He gave the name Jamtseling for the Jamba (Kuber) statue besides donating Rs 50,000 from his side for its construction. New Delhi, Apr 11 (IBNS): Malcolm Turnbull, MP the Prime Minister of Australia called on President of India Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Monday. Welcoming the Australian Prime Minister to India, the President said India values its growing cooperation with Australia. Bilateral relations between India and Australia have become multi-faceted and grown considerably in the last few years. Our fruitful cooperation in multilateral fora reflects the growing mutual understanding and closer cooperation between the two countries. The President said it is a matter of satisfaction that our people have a regular dialogue on the challenges of terrorism. India has been consistent in its position that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations needs to be rooted out by urgent and comprehensive action by peace loving nations in all parts of the world. The President said India could be an attractive option for long term investment. The Make in India Conference and Invest in India Conference programmes have been designed for enhancing economic cooperation and investments. The President said India is keen to ramp up the nuclear energy component of our total energy mix plans as part of our efforts to enhance the use of clean energy and save fossil fuels. India sees a key role for Australian uranium supplies in this process. India appreciates Australias efforts in this direction. The President said there are more than 60,000 Indian students studying in Australia. There is huge potential for cooperation in the education sector. Our institutional frameworks have the potential to broaden bilateral cooperation in this sector. Islamabad: A day after Pakistan's powerful Army chief approved the execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Islamabad wants good relations with its neighbours. It was reported on Monday that a Pakistani military court has found Jadhav guilty of "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" against the country. Amid rising tensions with India, Sharif today described Pakistan as a peace-loving country. Pakistan is a peace-loving country. It has maintained good relations with its neighbours. We want cooperation, not conflicts. Pakistan will not hesitate to extend a hand of friendship, Sharif said. The Pakistani PM, however, added that his country's armed forces were fully capable of and prepared to respond to any threat. Sharif said the concept of national security has undergone a transformation and wars are no longer an exclusive sphere of military forces, Radio Pakistan reported. The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by Pakistani Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) found him guilty of "all the charges", said the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to the ISPR statement, Jadhav, a Commander in the Indian Navy, "confessed" before a Magistrate and the court that he was "tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi." Jadhav was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistani security forces in the restive Balochistan province after he reportedly entered from Iran. Pakistan has alleged that Jadhav was "a serving officer" in the Indian Navy and deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The Pakistan Army had released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India has acknowledged that Jadhav served with the Navy but denied he has any connection with the government. "The individual has no link with the government since his premature retirement from Indian Navy," the External Affairs Ministry had said in a statement in March last year. India had demanded Consular access to Jadhav, but Pakistan repeatedly denied Indian officials access to him. The ISPR statement, however, said Jadhav, alias Hussein Mubarak Patel, was "provided with defending officer as per legal provisions". (With Agency inputs) Khunti: As a part of 'ghar wapsi', at least 53 families have returned to Hindu fold as a part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs 'Christianity-free' campaign in Jharkhand. The tribals were lured into Christianity by the missionaries, according Munda, who is also the BJPs deputy president of Khunti district. The 'Christianity-free' is being run by RSS in Jharkhands Arki, according to a report in Hindustan Times. According to RSSS, this is not conversion as they are only coming back their religion. RSS Saiyojak Laxman Singh Munda, who is spearheading the campaign, says, "We want a Christianity-free block. The villagers will soon return to their roots. In the past few years, several tribals in Jharkhand have embraced Christianity. Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das has warned of strict action against forcing tribals into changing their faith. Reportedly, RSS workers go house to house to convince the tribals and also held public meetings to expose how the missionaries were taking them away from their roots. Panaji: The Goa Forward Party (GFP), at the NDA meeting held in Delhi on Monday, raised the concern of the state's tourism industry arising from a ban on loud music at night and a SC order on liquor shops. "The imposition on ban on music after 10 PM has been affecting the state's prospects to be developed as a wedding destination," GFP leader and state minister Vijai Sardesai told PTI on Tuesday. "Goa is an important tourist and wedding destination where such kind of ban affects the trade," he said. He said the issue was raised during the meeting of NDA constituents which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday. The GFP, after the recent state Assembly elections, entered into an alliance BJP and is a partner in the Manohar Parrikar led state government. Sardesai said currently the state allows exemption from the ban on loud music for 15 days in a year, but it is not enough. "The relaxation is given during festivals like Easter, Christmas and New Year. But these 15 days are not enough to salvage the wedding and tourism industry from the affects of the ban," he said. The Town and Country Planning Minister demanded that the relaxation be extended to six months in a year to save the tourism industry that provides employment opportunities and generates revenue for the state. He said the Centre should allow the state to enact a legislation in this regard. The GFP also sought the Centre's intervention to save thousands of liquor outlets along the national and state highways which have been closed following a Supreme Court order. Sardesai also expressed apprehension over the Centre's decision to nationalise inland waterways in the coastal state. He said the issue was raised in the meeting and later a memorandum was handed over to Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari listing their reservations over the issue. Sardesai had earlier also raised objection to the nationalisation of rivers claiming that the rights of fishermen would be curbed. New Delhi: Amid the outrage over the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian 'spy', India on Tuesday warned Pakistan to consider the "consequences" on their ties if Kulbhushan Jadhav is hanged in the alleged espionage case. At the same time, it vowed to go "out of the way" to save him. The death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court after declaring him a "spy" echoed in both Houses of Parliament where all parties came together to condemn the "indefensible" verdict and pressed the government to take every step to help him. In Parliament, the government as well as the Opposition, saw the capital punishment as an attempt to defame India and to deflect the attention of the international community from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, asserting that India will go "out of the way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian". Jadhav's execution will be taken by India as a "pre-meditated murder" and Pakistan should "consider its consequences" on bilateral relations, if it proceeds on this matter, Swaraj warned. She said the charges against Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, are "concocted" and the trial against him was "farcical", leading to an "indefensible verdict". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she said. Also Read - Kulbhushan Jadhav can appeal against his death sentence to Army Chief within 60 days: Pakistan Defence Minister "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism," the EAM pointed out. Questioning the trial, she said Pakistan had sought India's assistance to obtain evidence for its investigation and levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, Pakistan linked providing consular access to India's acceptance of its position and Indian response was constructive in the hope that some forward movement could be made, Swaraj said. "We pointed out that consular access to Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence" she said, as per PTI. Also Read - Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav "To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she asserted. On the other hand, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said New Delhi would do everything required to secure justice for Jadhav. "We condemn this act of Pakistan. I would like to assure the house that whatever needs to be done to provide justice to Jadhav, we will do." Singh accused Pakistan of ignoring "basic norms of law and justice" in sentencing Jadhav. "Pakistan has said a valid Indian passport has been found from Jadhav. If he was having a valid passport, how can he be a spy?" he asked. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, urged the government to appoint a "strong lawyer" who can fight Jadhav`s case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor too slammed Pakistan. "What Pakistan is doing is not only an assault on India, it is an assault on international laws, international conventions that affect everybody. "There are certain countries that finance and arm the Pakistani military. Those countries must be told by us that if this can be done to an Indian today, it can be done to one of their nationals tomorrow," Tharoor said in the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, Pakistan justified the death sentence and said it was capable of defending itself against external aggression. "We cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence," Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said. Pakistan was "fully equipped" to deal with all such "elements with an iron fist", Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the Senate in an obvious reference to Indian warnings, as per IANS. "We will defend our country at all costs," he said and insisted that Jadhav`s trial followed due legal process. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: As the news of the sentencing of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death by a Pakistan military court surfaced, many posts started to appear on the social media linking the development with the recent disappearance of a retired Pakistani Army officer from a town in Nepal near the Indian border. According to The Times of India, Lt Col (retd) Muhammad Habib Zahir went to Nepal on April 05 for a job interview. His family says that Zahir went missing from Lumbini, around 6 km from the Indian border, on April 06. Expectedly, the Pakistan media was quick to pin the blame for Zahir's missing on Indian intelligence agencies. The Dawn claimed in a report that the Indian spy agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) could have been behind the abduction of the retired officer. Indian authorities have, however, denied any knowledge about Habib, reported TOI. Also Read: Kulbhsuhan Jadhav death sentence: This is how Pakistani media reacted India Today said the Indian side believes Pakistan quickened the sentencing of Jadhav to prompt India to declare its course of action vis-a-vis Lt Col Habib. Pakistanis on social media, meanwhile, are blaming India for kidnapping Habib to put pressure on Islamabad to release Kulbhushan Jadhav. The news of the disappearance of Lt Col Habib surfaced on Sunday after media found the news circulating on WhatsApp groups. He was allegedly in Nepal for a job interview. He had flown from Lahore to Kathmandu on April 05 and flew to Lumbini the next day. As soon as he landed, he sent his picture to his family. His family and friends claimed that they could not get in touch with him after that. New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for the death sentence on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, terming it an "assault" on international laws and conventions. "What Pakistan is doing is not only an assault on India, it is an assault on international laws, international conventions that affect everybody. "There are certain countries that finance and arm the Pakistani military. Those countries must be told by us that if this can be done to an Indian today, it can be done to one of their nationals tomorrow," Tharoor said in the Lok Sabha. "The extremely important thing for us is to uphold the principles. Thirteen times this gentleman was denied consular access, which is a basic right. "Geneva conventions have been violated by Pakistan... This is an extremely serious matter," he added. The opposition and the treasury benches in Parliament on Tuesday jointly expressed solidarity with Jadhav, who was awarded capital punishment by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial on Monday. India has warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it goes ahead with the death sentence. Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday announced that Indian 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested last year, has been sentenced to death for espionage and waging war against Islamabad. India reacted angrily, saying Jadhav had been sentenced to die "without observing basic norms of law and justice" and if this was carried out, it would amount to "premeditated murder". On Monday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said a Field General Court Martial awarded the capital punishment and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had confirmed the sentence. The Pakistani media today described the death sentence to Jadhav as "unprecedented", with experts weighing in the diplomatic fallout of the move. Right-wing English-language newspaper 'The Nation' in its front page lead 'Death to spy spikes tensions' observed that "a military court on Monday sentenced a high-profile Indian spy to death, ratcheting up long-standing tensions between the nuclear-armed states." The paper also quoted political and defence analyst Dr Hassan Askari that the decision to execute Jadhav would "further increase tension between the two countries". "The military has given a severe punishment which is according to Pakistani law," Askari said. "But we will have to see if Pakistan can sustain the political and diplomatic fallout." The Nation is owned by Nawa-i-Qawt group, which is traditionally aligned with Pakistani establishment and is known for India bashing. The story was also published by other leading newspapers, mostly focusing on the sentence given to the alleged spy. The Express Tribune in the front page headline 'Self- confessed Indian spy awarded death sentence' termed the decision as "unprecedented". It reported that the decision immediately sparked a bitter diplomatic spat between the two "hostile" neighbours. It further said that Jadhav has been operating in Pakistan disguised as Hussein Mubarak Patel. The Dawn newspaper termed the decision as a "rare move". The daily said that the development comes at a time when tensions between Pakistan and India are already running high. It published a full column on what experts feel about the decision. Some feel the reaction from India will be strong, others maintain there will be no dramatic shift in the relationship, it said. "For a long time now Pakistan has struggled to prove India's involvement in Pakistan's destabilisation. Our ambassadors have gone to various countries looking for help in that matter and showed them proof but to no avail. Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for India's retaliation," the paper quoted Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood as saying. "The decision is right, it is by the law and justified in legal terms, however, we should brace ourselves as there will be a reaction, on international forums and Pakistan should even be prepared for a spike in Line of Control violations," Masood said. Political analyst Air Marshal (retired) Shahzad Chaudhry said, "I do not think our ties with India would change as a result of this decision". Hamid Mir, the senior journalist at Geo News, said, "First of all, Pakistan should make the evidence found against the spy public, share it with the country and also internationally." "Secondly, why is everyone talking about an Indian reaction already? My belief is that India should be sensible and not react to the news at all. If people remember when Ajmal Kasab was sentenced, Pakistan had remained silent about the whole thing. Our prerogative was simple, if there is evidence against Kasab then he should be sentenced according to the Indian law. "So India should be sensible, not react to the news, not try to paint Jadhav as a hero, the media should take that same tone," he said. Senior PPP leader and former interior minister Rehman Malik said, "If the law has found Jadhav guilty, we have the right to sentence him to death and the sentence should be carried out. We should not back down to any pressure, Indian or international and make sure that the sentence is carried out." (With Agency inputs) Delhi: Amid outrage in India over Kulbhushan Jadhav issue, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that the Indian national has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. However, he also justified the death penalty given to Jadhav. Speaking in the Senate (Upper House of Parliament) Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. "There was nothing in the (legal) proceedings that was against the law," he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. At the same time, in an attempt to deflect attention from the matter, Asif stated Pakistan's often repeated rant on Kashmir. "It's not premeditated murder, what's happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder)," he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went for went on "for three months", rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. Asif maintained that those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with "iron hands." "Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment," he said, as per PTI. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. India warns Pakistan: Meanwhile, India today said it will go "out of way" to ensure justice to Jadhav and warned Pakistan that his execution will have consequences on bilateral ties. The death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court after declaring him a 'spy' resonated in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, where all parties came together to condemn the development and pressed the government to take every step to help him. The government, as well as the Opposition, saw the sentence as an attempt to defame India and to deflect the attention of the international community from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in both the Houses, asserting that India will go "out of way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian". Jadhav's execution will be taken by India as a "pre-meditated murder" and Pakistan should consider its consequences on bilateral relations, if it proceeds on this matter, Swaraj warned. Also Read - Kulbhushan Jadhav sentencing: India warns Pakistan of consequences, vows to bring him back She said the charges against Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, are "concocted" and the trial against him was "farcical", leading to an "indefensible verdict". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she said, as per PTI. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Questioning the trial, she said Pakistan had sought India's assistance to obtain evidence for its investigation and levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, Pakistan linked providing consular access to India's acceptance of its position and and Indian response was constructivein the hope that some forward movement could be made, Swaraj said. Also Read - Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav "We pointed out that consular access to Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence," she said. "To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. "That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she asserted. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. While condemning the action, Singh said that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. Yesterday, a Pakistan military court had sentenced Jadhav to death after he was convicted of "espionage and sabotage activities". The award of the death sentence to the 46-year-old former Naval officer at a court-martial was confirmed by Pakistan's Army Chief after the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) found him guilty of "all the charges", the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said. The court martial was closed to the public and consular access was not provided to Jadhav. "The spy was tried through FGCM under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Today Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," it had said. Reacting strongly, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar in New Delhi had summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and had given him a demarche, which had said that the proceedings that had led to the sentence against Jadhav were "farcical in the absence of any credible evidence" against him. He had added that Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been "explained credibly". Demarche issued by MEA to Pakistan High Commissioner today. Pl see press release at https://t.co/K55zof27it pic.twitter.com/PLZCv5B3gD Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) April 10, 2017 Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the Navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. (With Agency inputs) Delhi: Even as India on Tuesday warned Pakistan to consider the "consequences" on their ties if Kulbhushan Jadhav is hanged in the alleged espionage case, BJP MP and former home secretary RK Singh said that it was quite possible that the Indian national is already dead. "Suspect it's a story. No military trial conducted, he has been tortured and murdered. If not then Pakistan must give us consular access," Singh said, as per ANI. At the same time, the BJP MP also underscored the need for adopting a policy of "strict reciprocity" with Pakistan. Singh said that a number of Pakistanis are arrested every month while carrying out terror activities in the country and if India started behaving the same way, all of them will hang. "International relations are carried out on the basis of reciprocity. And strict reciprocity, in my view, is the best course to adopt. In this (Jadhav) case also, we need to adopt the course of strict reciprocity," Singh said, as per PTI. He said Pakistan needs to understand that India arrests a number of Pakistanis every month with weapons. "Pakistanis will come across to the valley to carry out terrorist attacks with Ak-47s, grenade launchers etc. They are put on trial, they are put on 10-12 years and then they go back. If this (Jadhav) sort of thing happens and we (India) start behaving the same way, all of them will hang. We will set up a special court, we will change the law. Pakistan needs to keep this in mind," he said. Meanwhile, India today vowed to go "out of the way" to save Jadhav. The death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court after declaring him a "spy" echoed in both Houses of Parliament where all parties came together to condemn the "indefensible" verdict and pressed the government to take every step to help him. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, asserting that India will go "out of the way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian". Jadhav's execution will be taken by India as a "pre-meditated murder" and Pakistan should "consider its consequences" on bilateral relations, if it proceeds on this matter, Swaraj warned. She said the charges against Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, are "concocted" and the trial against him was "farcical", leading to an "indefensible verdict". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she said. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism." Questioning the trial, she said Pakistan had sought India's assistance to obtain evidence for its investigation and levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, Pakistan linked providing consular access to India's acceptance of its position and Indian response was constructive in the hope that some forward movement could be made, Swaraj said. "We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence" she said. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: Sending out a strong message to Pakistan, India on Tuesday warned of serious consequences if authorities there went on to execute Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav on charges of being a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) spy. Speaking on the matter in Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, ''There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. The charges pressed against him are ridiculous.'' Condemning Pakistan government's move to award death sentence to him, EAM Swaraj said, ''This is an act of premeditated murder by Pakistan.'' Warning Pakistan, the EAM said, ''I would caution Pakistan govt to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter.'' Calling Kulbhushan Jadhav as Hindustan ka beta, EAM Swaraj said, ''we will go out of the way to save him.'' She said the government would appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and would petition the President of the country to save "the son of the nation". The entire House is one and is standing with the government in whatever decision it takes, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien assured Sushma Swaraj. Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said New Delhi will do everything required to secure justice for Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan. "We condemn this act of Pakistan. I would like to assure the house that whatever needs to be done to provide justice to Jadhav, we will do," Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha. Singh said that Pakistan ignored "basic norms of law and justice" in sentencing Jadhav. According to Singh, Jadhav was kidnapped from Tehran and cannot be a spy as claimed by Pakistan. "Jadhav was produced as an Indian spy in front of the Pakistani media," Singh said. "Pakistan has said a valid Indian passport has been found from Jadhav. If he was having a valid passport, how can he be a spy? This question does not arise," the minister said. Importantly, the MPs unanimously condemned Pakistan's decision to award death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav and urged the government to take every step to save his life. Raising the matter during Question Hour, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said if Pakistan hangs Jadhav it will be a "pre-planned murder". "No one was allowed to meet Jadhav. He was not even provided a lawyer to fight his case. No international norms were followed," Kharge said. "If Jadhav is hanged, India should have the courage to retaliate in the same way," he added. According to Kharge, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi can visit Pakistan without any invitation, why cannot he go to talk over the issue of Jadhav. "The government should take every step to save Jadhav. If he can't be saved, it will prove this to be a weak government," Kharge said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister accused Kharge of doing politics over the issue. "You should not do such a low politics over the issue," Kumar said. BJP member Nishikant Dubey demanded a resolution be passed in the House to declare Pakistan a terrorist nation. He said that India has cornered Pakistan on the issue of terrorism and that is the reason the neighbouring country is trying to demean Indian. Reacting to the issue, AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi said, "India should do everything to save Jadhav. The military court of Pakistan, which has given death sentence to Jadhav is a banana court as it takes decision without any evidence. India should use every international forum to save him." Condemning the act of Pakistan TMC member Saugata Roy also praised India's stand over the issue. "Pakistan is taking vindictive action against India and Indians. The government should take every step to save the life of Jadhav," he said. Describing Pakistan as not a normal country, BJD's B.J. Panda said that India should approach the world court and United Nations over the issue of Jadhav. "Pakistan is not a normal nation. It is run by the military establishment and they are deliberately trying to destabilize our country by such acts," he said. Guwahati, Apr 11 (IBNS): The sleuths of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (V&AC) of Assam police on Tuesday arrested an official of agriculture department in Guwahati, while the official was taking bribe from a person in his office. According to the reports, the V&AC team arrested red handed Durgaram Baruah, an agriculture inspector with Rs 7,000 cash from the office of District Agriculture Ofiicer in Kamrup. A top official of V&AC said that, the agriculture department official had taken bribe for giving a permit of fertilizer selling shop. Meanwhile, the V&AC has registered a case against the government official. The V&AC sleuths also raided at the house of the arrested official. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption team had recently arrested Kejendra Doley, secretary of Irrigation department from his office at Dispur Janata Bhawan after taking bribe of Rs 15,000 from a contractor for releasing his departmental bills. The investigation agency has arrested 31 government officials from different parts of the state in past nine months. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) New Delhi: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday demanded that senior Congress leader P Chidambaram should be relieved as Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs as he was being "investigated" by the CBI. Swamy raised the issue through a point of order after Deputy Chairman P J Kurien called Chidambaram to lay on the table, a copy of the panel's report on border security. As Chidambaram was not present, another committee member, Majeed Memon, did the job. Swamy, however, said if Chairman of a parliamentary committee is being investigated by CBI, he should not take up the post. As Congress members protested, the BJP member said the former finance minister was being investigated by CBI for the clearance he gave to Malaysian firm Maxis to buy 100 per cent of Aircel. New Delhi: Calling for "stringent action" against Pakistan for awarding death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav, firebrand BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said that India should declare Balochistan as an independent country if the Indian national is executed by the neighbouring nation. If Pakistan hangs Jadhav then India must recognise Balochistan as an independent country, Swamy tweeted this morning. If Pak hangs Jadhav then India must recognise Balochistan as an independent country Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 11, 2017 Swamy had earlier said that Government of India must warn Pakistan of serious consequences after it awarded death sentence to Jadhav on suspicion of being a RAW agent. "We should prepare to take stringent action against Pakistan. Today, we should give warning that consequences would be bad for Pakistan if Jadhav is executed," Swamy had told reporters outside the Parliament. He said India should discard the "wrong perception" that an India-Pakistan friendship is necessary to have Hindu-Muslim unity in the country. Swamy comments came in reaction to the Pakistan Army chief approving execution of Jadhav for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" in that country. Pakistan security officials had "arrested" Jadhav on March 3 last year in Balochistan after he reportedly entered from Iran. Pakistan has alleged that Jadhav was a serving officer in the Indian Navy and deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). India has acknowledged Jadhav as a retired Indian Navy officer, but denied the allegation that he was in any way connected to the government. Islamabad: "There is not much worse that India can do," a Pakistani newspaper said on Tuesday as New Delhi warned Islamabad against hanging alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. "It can be argued that the peace process between the countries will take a hit, but in reality there is no peace process," The Nation said in an editorial. "By all statements of BJP stalwarts, India wants Pakistan to be destroyed," it said. "Why should Pakistan pull any punches, when it is constantly demonized and humiliated by its violent neighbour?" The daily, however, described as "shocking" the Pakistani military`s decision to award death sentence to Jadhav, who was arrested last year in Balochistan on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad. "This is a very strong message by Pakistan to India and the international community that it will not take Indian interference lightly," it said of the death sentence. New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Tuesday said that practice of triple talaq will be abolished in 18 months. The statement was given by AIMPLB vice president Dr Sayeed Sadiq. While commenting on the contentious issue, Dr Sadiq said that AIMPLB will do away with triple talaq and there is no need for government's interference. Interestingly Sadiq's statement comes two days after AIMPLB claimed that the Muslim community has a low rate of divorce and that it has received 3.50 crore forms from Muslim women around the country favouring Shariyat and triple talaq. Meanwhile, over a million Muslims from across India, have called for the end of controversial divorce practice of triple talaq. A petition started by the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an Islamic organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calling for the abolition of triple talaq, has received signatures of more over a million Muslims from across India with women in majority. Several women have filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of the triple talaq practice. Triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy violate Muslim women's right to equality and dignity and are not protected by the right to profess, practise and propagate religion under Article 25(1) of the Constitution, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday. During the earlier hearing, the AIMPLB had strongly opposed the pleas challenging triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims in the apex court. While putting forward its arguments before the apex court bench, the AIMPLB had said that triple talaq mode of divorce can't be termed illegal as if such casual denunciation of the verses of the holy book is permitted, then soon Islam would cease to exist. The Board said the plea challenging the practices like the polygamy were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary. AIMPLB further contended that divorce is a private matter and it cannot be enforced by bringing it under the ambit of fundamental rights. Under the triple talaq, a Muslim man can instantly divorce his wife by repeating 'talaq' thrice. As per 'nikah halala', a woman divorcee, has to marry someone else and consummate this marriage before getting a divorce to remarry her earlier husband. Describing triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy as repugnant to the guarantee of secularism -- an essential feature of the Indian Constitution -- the Centre on Monday said that lopsided development and pockets of social backwardness is not in the larger interest of the integrity and development of the nation. New Delhi: The Centre has told the Supreme Court that practices like triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy impact the social status and dignity of Muslim women and are not protected by the right to profess, practise and propagate religion under Article 25(1) of the Constitution. While putting forward its argunets before the SC bench, the government reiterated its earlier stand saying these practices render Muslim women "unequal and vulnerable" as compared to men of their community as well as women belonging to other communities. The Centre described triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy as "patriarchal values and traditional notions about the role of women in society". "There are unreasonable classifications which arise from practices such as those under challenge in the present petition, which deny to Muslim women the full enjoyment of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution," it said. "The practices which are under challenge, namely, triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy are practices which impact the social status and dignity of Muslim women and render them unequal and vulnerable qua men belonging to their own community, women belonging to other communities and also Muslim women outside India," the Centre said. "There are unreasonable classifications which arise from practices such as those under challenge in the present petition, which deny to Muslim women the full enjoyment of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution," it said. Pointing out that gender justice was a constitutional goal of overwhelming importance and magnitude, the Union government said the Fundamental Right to Equality takes within its fold, equality of status and the gender equality, gender equity and gender justice are values intrinsically entwined in guarantee of equality under Article 14. The practices of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy impact the social status and dignity of Muslim women and render them unequal and vulnerable qua men belonging to their own community; women belonging to other communities and also Muslim women outside India, it added. Referring to reforms by several Islamic countries, including those have overwhelming Muslim population, the Centre said Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt and Iran have undertaken significant reforms and the practices of instant triple talaq or automatic polygamy at will is not permitted in most of these countries. Describing triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy as repugnant to the guarantee of secularism -- an essential feature of the Indian Constitution -- the Centre said that lopsided development and pockets of social backwardness is not in the larger interest of the integrity and development of the nation. Under the triple talaq, a Muslim man can instantly divorce his wife by repeating 'talaq' thrice. As per 'nikah halala', a woman divorcee, has to marry someone else and consummate this marriage before getting a divorce to remarry her earlier husband. One million Muslims, with women in majority, sign petition against triple talaq In a significant development, over a million Muslims from across India, have called for the end of controversial divorce practice of triple talaq. A petition started by the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an Islamic organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calling for the abolition of triple talaq, has received signatures of more over a million Muslims from across India with women in majority. The Centre had on October 7 last year opposed in the apex court the practice of 'triple talaq', 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism. The AIMPLB had told the court that pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary. However, the AIMPLB today said that practice of triple talaq will be abolished in 18 months. The statement was given by AIMPLB vice president Dr Sayeed Sadiq. While commenting on the contentious issue, Dr Sadiq said that AIMPLB will do away with triple talaq and there is no need for government's interference. Interestingly Sadiq's statement comes two days after AIMPLB claimed that the Muslim community has a low rate of divorce and that it has received 3.50 crore forms from Muslim women around the country favouring Shariyat and triple talaq. While putting forward its arguments before the apex court bench, the AIMPLB had earlier told the SC said that triple talaq mode of divorce can't be termed illegal as if such casual denunciation of the verses of the holy book is permitted, then soon Islam would cease to exist. New Delhi: United States National Security Agency (NSA) is spying on India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a report said on Tuesday. According to a report published in news agency ANI, WikiLeaks claimed that apart from BJP, NSA is also spying on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Hundreds of NSA cyber weapons variants publicly released including code showing hacking of Pakistan mobile system, WikiLeaks had tweeted. WikiLeaks, headed by whistleblower Julian Assange, last month posted a series of seven batches of leaks, called "Vault 7" and of which the group entitled "Year Zero" including 7,818 pages with 943 attached files had already been published, Efe news reported. The non-profit organisation published the huge batch of secret alleged CIA files, in which hacking tools the government uses to crack users' computers, mobile phones and other devices are discussed in detail. New Delhi: Ahead of the Congress party meeting on late Tuesday evening, party national president Sonia Gandhi evaded the question on escalation of son and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi as the party president. "People will come to know of the matter when it happens," she said. Sonia Gandhi had called a dinner-meeting of MPs and office bearers. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and MP Shashi Tharoor, among others, were present at the dinner. There have been speculations that a reshuffle in the party is likely to happen after the Parliament Session that is to end tomorrow. New Delhi: The government is now planning to fix the amount of food served in restaurants and hotels in a bid to contain food wastage. Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has told news channel NDTV that he has called a meeting of people associated with the food industry to contemplate and standardise how much should be served. "I noticed when I went to restaurants that food was being wasted. We cannot see this happening in a country where there are so many poor. I asked the industry and restaurants to come to the meeting and discuss if there is any legal provision to fix portions," Paswan said. "(They should) write that in one portion, there will be three prawns... or four, whatever, so we know how much to order." When asked if it would deem as an interference by the government, Paswan said, "We don't want to control anything. We are doing this in the interest of consumers. We just want the portions to be uniform." The minister added that restaurants will have to submit in writing that how much will be served in a portion, "whether one piece of chicken or two, one chapati or two or one idli or two..." The ministry will come up with a questionnaire which will ask hotels and restaurants on how much they think they should serve and how much a customer can consume. They are the experts. They should tell us the maximum amount of a dish a person can eat. You go to a Chinese restaurant; they give you so much (of food). We are going to call them (stakeholders) for a meeting. The PM is concerned about food wastage and so we are going to issue instructions to these hotels (about the amount of food to be served), Paswan told Hindustan Times on Monday. He has, however, cleared that the instructions would be applicable to standard hotels and not dhabas that usually serve thalis. In last month's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concern about food being wasted. He had termed food wastage as an injustice to the poor. New Delhi, Apr 11 (IBNS): India supports better international cooperation in cyber security to fight against growing cybercrime and cyber terrorism. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Electronics & IT and Law and Justice expressed these views at the bilateral meeting held in Germany during G20 Digital Ministers meeting on Digital Economy. He also offered to share Indias experience in carrying out digital India initiatives with other digital economies. He said that India is also of the view that multi stakeholders model is the best option for the spread of digitalization and added that border should not be an impediment in the way of mobility of professionals and information. Bilateral engagements were held with representatives of Russian federation, Indonesia, Germany, United Kingdom, Argentina, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and International Telecommunication Union ITU) The G20 Digital Ministerial Meeting was held in Dusseldorf, Germany. G20 cooperation on the Digital Economy has become a special priority, subsequent to the adoption of Digital Economy Development and Cooperation Initiative in the 2016 Hangzhou Summit, under the Chinese Presidency. The German Presidency has carried this forward, and, realizing the potential of digital technologies and its wide impact on the overall economy, has elevated the Digital Economy Task Force to the Ministerial level. The G20 Ministers expressed their warm appreciation for the accomplishments of the Digital India programme. They noted how Digital India is provisioning a unique digital identity cheaply, securely, and with privacy to 1.1 billion citizens via Aadhaar. They appreciated Indias historic digital payment push through innovative and indigenous solutions like UPI, DBT, BHIM and AADHAR enabled payment systems, based on easily accessible mobile platforms. They observed how India has leveraged 250,000 Common Service Centres to drive digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, digital services, and productivity across rural Indias grassroots, empowering Indias less privileged citizens. The G20 Ministers particularly noted how Digital Indias digital literacy mission is transforming digital accessibility for 60 million households. OECD, as an invitee, made a special mention of how India has emerged as one of the worlds most vibrant e-commerce environments and startup nations. The Minister, in his interventions, highlighted how India as the worlds fastest growing major economy was harnessing digital technology as a major inclusion and growth mechanism. He emphasized how Digital India is bringing a transformative change through various schemes, harnessing the potential of a young Indian demography, and so driving a successful Digital Economy. He explained the Governments driving motivation in advancing the Digital India programme, Digital technologies and the internet, which represents some of the finest creations of the human mind are today a global common good; which we can harness for bridging the digital divide, empowering and improving the quality of life for our citizens. The Minister also highlighted Digital Indias unprecedented effort to drive affordability in digital technologies, including creation of low cost digital identity infrastructure called AADHAR, laying down an optical fibre infrastructure to reach all Gram Panchayats under BharatNet, developing Apps and solutions for digital payments, ensuring participative Governance through MyGov and using these digital technologies while ensuring privacy and security through a robust cyber infrastructure. The Minister emphasized how India is advancing in the knowledge economy by catalyzing innovation. He said: We believe that innovation is key to our success as a digital economy. India today has one of the most vibrant startup ecosystems with over 4000 startups every year working in emerging technology areas including IoT, data analytics, Block Chains and machine learning. Many of these startups are also in the forefront of developing solutions to many of our grand challenges in areas such as health and education. The Minister particularly emphasised that India, as a leading supplier of IT/ITeS services and skilled technology manpower to the world, would be happy to share its experience and knowledge with its partners across the developing world. He noted that the Digital India model engaging, as it does, issues of digital inclusion and divide that are experienced across the developing world may offer insight and input to emerging nations digital programmes. Noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's description that cyber attacks are akin to a bloodless war, Honble Minister called for G20 countries to actively cooperate in combating cyber crimes and cyber terrorism. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday assured the Parliament that Indian government will go out of the way to save Kulbhushan Jadhav. Responding to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament, Swaraj called him 'bhaijaan' and assured that she is in touch with the Jadhav's family and will leave no stone unturned to save him. WATCH video from 1.30 for 'bhaijaan' clip:- Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, appealed to the government to appoint a strong lawyer who can fight Jadhav's case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. "This is a matter of the entire nation. I appeal to the government to appoint a competent lawyer to fight his case in Pakistan's Supreme Court. So that his case is won in the apex court," said Azad. Also, India warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it went ahead with the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. "The government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha. "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter." She reiterated India's stand that Jadhav, arrested in March 2016 from the restive Balochistan province and accused of espionage and waging war against Pakistan, has been framed under false charges. She said Pakistan was doing all that to divert global attention from its activities of sponsoring terrorism in India. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. He is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. "We have no choice but to regard this sentence if carried out as an act of premeditated murder," the minister said. New Delhi: A Zambian student, who was found dead in Gujarat last week, had committed suicide, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday. "I have got the report on the death of a Zambian national Zite Shakala from Government of Gujarat. "Police investigations prima facie suggest that this is a case of suicide. A suicide note has been found at the scene of occurrence," she said in a series of tweets. Jeetey Shakala, 21, who was a third year engineering student at Parul University in the Waghodia area of Vadodara, was found dead in his room in the international students' hostel on the campus on Saturday. The incident comes in the wake of attacks on some Nigerian nationals last month in New Delhi's satellite township of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. African envoys described the attack as "racist" and even threatened to move the UN and other international bodies over the issue. The government has maintained that the attack cannot be dubbed racist pending completion of an investigation into the matter and described the African envoys' statement as "unfortunate". New Delhi: Pakistani security forces violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir 268 times in the last one year, as per the government. Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said "appropriate retaliation" to the ceasefire violations was carried out by the Indian Army. "All violations of ceasefire are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings as well as weekly talks between the Directorate Generals of Military Operations of the two countries," he said. As per details provided by Bhamre about ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops between April 2016 and March this year, the maximum of 88 violations were witnessed in November followed by 78 in October and 22 last month. Nine fatal casualties were reported during the period. To a separate question, he said a total of 25,472 posts of Junior Commissioned Officers and those of equivalent ranks are lying vacant in the Army, while the number of vacancies for officers is 7,986. The number of posts lying vacant in Navy is 14,041, while that in Indian Air Force is 13,614. Replying to another query, the Minister said government has given in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment of some Central Public Sector Enterprises including the BEML Ltd. "Disinvestments through strategic sale are being considered based on recommendations of the NITI Aayog after taking into consideration all aspects of the matter. However, after completion of the process, specific approval of government would be sought again," Bhamre said. To a query on defence indigenisation, he said 20 Indian vendors have been introduced to the Russian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to find out the feasibility of transfer of technology for manufacture of spare parts of Su-30 MKI aircraft. As part of artillery modernisation approval (acceptance of necessity) has been accorded for procurement of artillery guns including Ultra-Light Howitzers for which orders have already been placed, he said. New Delhi: A war of words broke out between the Home Ministry and the Election Commission over the holding of the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-poll, which saw large-scale violence on Sunday. The MHA claimed that it had suggested the EC that atmosphere was not conducive for the polls, however, its advice was "ignored". The Election Commission hit back, saying it is not bound to consult the central government before holding any election. Massive violence and a very poor turnout marred the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-poll on Sunday. At least eight civilians were killed and scores injured in firing by security forces as mobs tried to attack some polling stations in Srinagar parliamentary constituency that on Sunday recorded a poor seven percent voting in a by-poll -- the lowest in the state in three decades, officials said. The by-poll to the Lok Sabha constituency -- spread across three districts of Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal -- was marred by widespread violence with police claiming that nearly 200 incidents of violent protests took place in central Kashmir. Immediately after the announcement of the schedule for the by-elections on March 10, the Home Ministry had sent a strongly worded letter to the Commission, saying there was no prior consultation with it regarding the by-polls in Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies. The Home Ministry had advised that polling should be delayed and preferably held after panchayat elections are conducted in the next few months. However, the Election Commission ignored the Home Ministry's advice and went ahead, sources in the ministry said on Monday. Later, the Commission sought to reject the claims of the MHA, saying it was its constitutional obligation to hold the by-poll for Srinagar parliamentary constituency before April 16. "State government was consulted on the subject as it is responsible for law and order and security issues. MHA is only responsible for providing central paramilitary forces. ECI is not bound to consult MHA before holding any elections," an EC source said. The source said the state government had apprised the Commission that the preparation for free, fair and peaceful elections are being made and a comprehensive deployment plan was also worked out by Jammu and Kashmir police. "ECI is responsible for the overall assessment of the prevailing situation for holding elections. In the assessment of EC, if prevailing conditions were conducive for holding of Panchayat Elections by the state government, then holding of parliamentary elections is also possible," the source pointed out. The EC sources said in the case of Manipur, the MHA had wanted to postpone the Assembly Elections there. "That too was unsolicited advice. But EC went by its own assessment and held peaceful polls recently. Even the Supreme Court had observed that it is the EC, not the MHA who would make an assessment of environment of conducting elections," the source said. There were 190 incidents of stone pelting, 120 polling booths were made dysfunctional, 24 EVMs were looted, two schools burnt down, eight people were killed and 150 others were injured in Srinagar on Sunday. In the wake of violence in Srinagar, the Election Commission yesterday deferred the election in the Anantnag parliamentary constituency till May 25. Sources in the Home Ministry said for holding the by-polls in both the constituencies, the Election Commission held a meeting with a Joint Secretary on March 17 and sought 300 companies (30,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces and the request was duly accepted and fulfilled. The number of paramilitary personnel sought by the EC was very high. But despite the presence of huge security personnel, the violence on Sunday was unusually high, they said. There is an atmosphere of fear in both the constituencies following the poll boycott call given by the separatists. Besides, such large-scale violence had not taken place in the Kashmir Valley in a single day in last 15 years, the sources said. Normal life has been affected in the Kashmir Valley due to the strike called by separatists. Shops, fuel stations, and other business establishments were shut, while attendance in banks and government offices was low. Internet services remained suspended for the second day yesterday. Public transport was off the roads, while private transport was minimal. (With Agency inputs) Kolkata: The Calcutta Beef Dealers' Association plans to meet the Kolkata civic body regarding a change in cow slaughter timings to check illegal abattoirs in the city. "In the state-owned Tangra slaughterhouse, cows are slaughtered between 1.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. The meat is delivered to shops in the night... So for consumers who want to have access to fresh beef, the option before them is beef sold by illegal slaughterhouses," Mohammed Ali, President, Calcutta Beef Dealers' Association told IANS. Ali said the body will recommend to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation that the timings be shifted to early in the morning. "If the slaughter process takes place between 5.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. then the beef can be delivered during the same day to consumers. So this means, illegal abattoirs will not get a chance to ply their business," Ali said. In addition, Ali said it would also ease the availability of beef during festive season when the demand is high. "We will seek an appointment with KMC officials soon," he added. Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to ban plastic/polythene carry bags across the state from May 1 saying that its consumption results in large number of cow deaths. "The state cabinet, chaired by the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has accorded nod to the proposal of imposing the ban on plastic/polythene bags across the state from May 1," State Public Relations Department Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters here after the meeting. "The cows eat polythene/plastic bags, which leads to their death. Banning of polythene use will protect their lives. Besides, the plastic/polythene bags are also harmful for the environment," he said. When asked that how this ban would be implemented, Mishra said other modalities of this ban are yet to be chalked out. However, this ban would not be meant for bucket and other plastic materials. It is restricted to plastic carry bags only, he clarified. Pune: Bringing Sindhi language on to the digital platform, the National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing released software tools and e-books in Sindhi to mark the 50th Sindhi Basha Diwas here on Monday. The Graphic and Intelligence based Script Technology, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune is executing a project titled 'Tools & Technologies for Development in Sindhi language' under the aegis of NCPSL. A host of software tools like Sindhi language Unicode typing tool, Sindhi Unicode compliant fonts, Sindhi Office software, eBooks, Sindhi web browser etc were released to mark Sindhi Basha Diwas yesterday. According to a press release issued by C-DAC, the two year project, software like Sindhi typing tool on Android devices and desktop platform, Sindhi fonts, Sindhi eBooks, children software, graphics artists tools etc are being developed/localised in the regional language. Dr Hemant Darbari, executive director, C-DAC said that the organisation was committed to the proliferation of Indian languages on the digital medium. "We were the first to recognise its potential to actively preserve the cultural heritage of a community which is more or less embedded within its language. At the same time, we also realised that Indian languages would be our best ally in bridging the digital divide in a country like India that has around 22 official Indian languages," he said. Puri: Curfew has been relaxed till 2 pm on Tuesday in Odisha`s Bhadrak town, which was rocked with violence over alleged abusive comments against Hindu deities on Facebook. Curfew continues to see-saw between being relaxed and re-imposed in Bhadrak as Odisha Police`s Crime Branch has begun its probe into the recent violence. The Centre has rushed 2,000 paramilitary personnel to Odisha to assist the local administration. 20 companies of the paramilitary personnel were dispatched to Odisha to help restore normalcy in the district. Fresh violence erupted in some areas earlier this week after talks failed to resolve the row triggered by alleged abusive remarks on social media against a particular community. Mobs resorted to violence a day after prohibitory orders were imposed in the town on Thursday. Though Section 144 was imposed in the town, the officials had to clamp curfew as the situation deteriorated further. With ANI inputs Mumbai: In an innovative way to raise awareness about the aftermath of sexual harassment, megastar Amitabh Bachchan will be featuring in a promo urging people to support the victim. In a public service awareness initiative by Star Plus, Bachchan will urge families, authority figures and citizens to reflect upon the need to break the tolerance towards how victims of sexual assault are treated. This campaign is an extension of a show "Kya Qusoor Hai Amala Ka" which is already on air on Star Plus. "The idea that a woman loses her dignity if she is sexually assaulted is instilled strongly in our cultural mindset. The shame should be on the perpetrators instead of the victim. "We need to foster a safe, secure and supportive environment where victims can seek refuge especially from those who they turn to for protection like authority figures, family and society," Bachchan said in a statement. "There is a strong need to step forward and talk about this through stories which can trigger this change in mindset of the people," he added. The campaign advocates that society needs to place the guilt rightfully with the perpetrators by putting them on trial instead of shaming the victims. The show "Kya Qusoor Hai Amala Ka?" is an official adaptation of the acclaimed international Turkish series called "Fatmagul" which has been remade with an Indian cultural backdrop. "The story is not just about Amala but representative of every woman who lives in fear, measuring her every move to keep herself safe thereby giving power to the perpetrator to dictate her life on his terms," Narayan Sundararaman, General Manager-Star Plus said. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra will next be seen in 'Meri Pyaari Bindu' opposite Ayushmann Khurrana. The film has been helmed by Akshay Roy and produced by Maneesh Sharma. The YRF venture is slated to hit the screens on May 12, 2017, and the audience can't wait to watch the fresh jodi on-screen. Pari recently shared the picture of her photo shoot for Cosmopolitan magazine cover. The chirpy actress has lost oodles of excess flab and looks super amazing in the pictures shared on Twitter. Her svelte figure can be an inspiration for many. The actress hogged the limelight for shedding all the extra kilos and achieving an hourglass healthy body last year. Professionally, Parineeti is currently busy shooting for Rohit Shetty's 'Golmaal Again' with Ajay Devgn. Check out the clicks here: New Delhi, Apr 11 (IBNS): Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy is on a goodwill visit to Malaysia from Apr 11 to 15. The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral maritime relations between India and Malaysia and is expected to provide a major boost to defence relations between India and Malaysia. During his visit, the Admiral will hold discussions with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Chief of Royal Malaysian Defence Forces along with the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force of Malaysia. The Indian and the Royal Malaysian navies cooperate with each other in terms of training, operational interactions as well as interacting at various multilateral forums like Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, MILAN and ADMM Plus. Warships from both navies visit each others ports to build Bridges of Friendship. The Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) along with RMN corvette KD Lekir participated in the International Fleet Review-2016, at Visakhapatnam in February 2016. An inaugural Field Training Exercise is also scheduled between both navies in June this year, coinciding with the visit of Indian naval ships to Malaysia. The Admiral, in addition to holding important bilateral discussions with various dignitaries, will also visit major naval establishments of the Royal Malaysian Navy including the submarine base. He will also address the participant Officers and faculty of the prestigious Royal Malaysian Armed Forces Command and Staff College. Image: Wikimedia Commons Mumbai: Actress Kangana Ranaut today refrained from directly commenting on filmmaker Vikas Bahl, who is accused of sexual harassment, but said women should be encouraged to speak up about such issues. There were reports that Vikas allegedly harassed a female worker of his production house Phantom Films, who then brought the issue to the company's notice. Kangana, who has worked with Vikas in the blockbuster "Queen", said it is a serious issue which requires discussion. "It is a very serious issue. I can only say that whoever faces a situation like this, it's very courageous of a woman to come out and speak about it. I say this not regarding this particular event because I am not the party involved. "But generally speaking, women who face this should be encouraged to talk about it by their families, colleagues and they shouldn't be shamed," Kangana told reporters here. The 30-year-old actress said women should be encouraged to speak up so that an awareness is created. "More and more women should come out and talk about whatever they feel because that's how awareness will come about these issues. Of course, there will always be other side of the story. There are authorities who can decide what the right thing is. "But people should speak up about whatever they feel, whether they are right or wrong, they must speak up and discuss it," she said. She was speaking at the launch of Spring Summer collection of Melange by Lifestyle. New Delhi: A Parliamentary panel has recommended amendments in social security schemes run by retirement fund body EPFO to include unemployment insurance and gratuity benefits. At present, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation provides retirement fund (EPF), pension and group insurance under its three schemes. These schemes are Employees' Provident Fund Scheme 1952, Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 and Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme 1976. The Public Accounts Committee in its report tabled in Parliament today said, "The scheme should be reviewed/modified so as to include unemployment insurance and gratuity under the scheme." However, the Labour Ministry in its response to the panel said that unemployment insurance is not under the present EDLI Scheme in which insurance is linked to the deposits and thus it is not feasible at this juncture. The ministry has also explained that the payment of gratuity is governed by the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 which is administered by labour departments of states. However, the panel said that all benefits related to superannuation/death/sickness/disability of the employees should be covered under one scheme. Flagging long delays in annual valuation of the Employees' Pension Fund, the committee has recommended exemplary disciplinary action against those responsible for such huge delays and disclosure of annual valuation reports for ensuring transparency. It also recommended that whenever an establishment (firm) is set up, they should be compulsorily be registered with the EPFO also as they register with sales tax/VAT departments etc. The panel was of the view that making restoration mandatory at the time of setting up would ensure coverage of all establishments and consequently maximum number of workers would be covered under the scheme. However, the ministry apprised the panel that this would require an amendment regarding coverage of establishments under the EPF & MP Act. At present all those firms which employ 20 or more employees come under the purview of the EPFO. However, the ministry has told the panel that a bill to amend the Act to provide for reducing the 20-employee threshold for coverage under the EPFO to 10 has been sent to the Union Cabinet for approval. This is also expected to bring a large number of workers under the EPFO social security net. New Delhi: Banking operations at IDBI Bank may be impacted on Tuesday as a section of its employees have given a strike call to press for their wage related demand. The bank has received strike notice from United Forum of IDBI Officers and Employees in support of their demand, IDBI Bank said in a filing to the BSE. The association also shot off a letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, seeking his intervention in the matter. Chandigarh: Around 50 people, including students, police personnel and even journalists, were injured as students, protesting a massive fee hike for various courses, clashed with police on the Punjab University campus here on Tuesday. Police took over 50 students into custody and slapped sedition charge on those indulging in violence. Tension prevails on the campus following the clashes. Some of the nearly half-a-dozen media persons injured in the clashes had to be rushed to hospitals here with serious injuries. Police resorted to baton charge, use of water cannons and tear-gas to disperse the agitatators who had gathered near the Vice Chancellor's Office complex. The protesting students pelted stones at the police and broke window panes and flower-pots and damaged other university property. Later, a few students, who were being chased by the police, entered a gurdwara on the campus and took refuge there. Police officials surrounded the shrine to get the students out. Teaching was affected in several departments on the Sector 14 campus of the university due to the protest shutdown called by the students. The fee hike was being opposed by the Students for Society (SFS) and other student organisations, including Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), Students of Panjab University (SOPU) and Students Organisation of India (SOI). The fee hike, to be applicable from the coming (2017-18) academic session, is over 1,000 per cent in some courses. University authorities said that they were forced to hike the fees for various courses following directions from the Union Human Resource Development Ministry and the University Grants Commission. The university has been grappling with financial crisis for the last two-three years with grants from the Centre and the Punjab government not coming regularly. New Delhi: Space aficionados, rejoice! Among all the opportunities NASA has to offer to the public, this will definitely be one of the best! Through the highest resolution video ever broadcast live from space, NASA has decided to take viewers on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Peggy Whitson who is currently aboard the ISS as a part of Expedition 51 will take viewers through the video at 1:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 26. During this event, Whitson will speak with Sam Blackman, chief executive officer and co-founder of AWS Elemental, via an ultra-high-definition (UHD) broadcast transmitted in 4K from the 2017 National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas. Exploring how advanced imaging and cloud technologies are taking scientific research and filmmaking to the next level, the conversation with Whitson will take place as part of a panel called Reaching for the Stars: Connecting to the Future with NASA and Hollywood. It will be moderated by Carolyn Giardina, technology editor for the Hollywood Reporter. The livestream can be viewed here! As per NASA, to experience the full effect online, devices capable of viewing 4K UHD content will be required, however, lower resolution streams of the live broadcast will be available on NASA Television, NASAs Facebook page and the agencys website. New Delhi: NASA is set to reveal its new discoveries this week on ocean worlds in our solar system. NASA will discuss new findings about ocean worlds in our solar system from the agency's Saturn probe Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope at a new conference on Thursday, April 13, at 2 p.m. EDT (11.30 p.m. India time). The briefing will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's website. According to NASA, these new discoveries will also help inform future ocean world exploration - including NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper mission planned for launch in the 2020s - and the broader search for life beyond the Earth. NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which was launched in 1997 and arrived at Saturn in 2004, is set to end its 20-year journey on September 15 this year with a planned plunge. The agency's planned Europa Clipper would place a spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter in order to perform a detailed investigation of the giant planet's moon Europa - a world that shows strong evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust and which could host conditions favourable for life. NASA is exploring the ocean worlds in our solar system as part of their search for life outside of Earth. New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien on Tuesday asked the government to talk to drought-hit farmers of Tamil Nadu to end their agitation for crop loan waiver. Trichy Siva (DMK), who had given a notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of the day's business to discuss the plight of Tamil Nadu farmers, said no one from government had given the agitating farmers an audience and listen to their grievances. The farmers, he said, are demanding crop loan waiver and linking of Cauvery river to help them overcome difficulties arising from drought in the state. While his notice was disallowed, Siva was allowed to make a brief mention of the issue. Since crop loans have been extended by the public sector banks, the central government has to give an assurance, he said. "Assurance should be given by Prime Minister or a senior minister .... (But) they are not even giving an audience," he said alleging that the Centre had no sympathy for the Tamil Nadu farmers. While AIADMK's A Navaneethakrishnan supported him saying the central government must respond, D Raja (CPI) said the government was insensitive to the plight of Tamil farmers. Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said newspapers had carried reports of the agitating farmers being forced to eat rats for survival. Kurien said he too has seen the reports of agitating farmers agitating carrying human skulls and eating rates. He said one of representatives of government should meet and talk to them to convince them to end their agitation. Agreeing with the feelings of the members, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it is a sensitive and important issue and he will convey to the concerned minister the feelings of the House. Mumbai: Its been a little less than a month since we have seen Sunil Grover in The Kapil Sharma Show. And it looks unlikely that he will return to the show! Nonetheless, fans of the ace comedian can watch him do live commentary for UC News App. But speculations are rife that the actor, who became a household name as Gutthi, may host a show for the same channel which airs TKSS. According to a report in Bombay Times, the channel is in talks with Grover for a new show. Talks are on and several meetings have taken place, but Sunil is biding his time. He is getting offers from other channels too. He would be happy to take Chandan Prabhakar along as well. Chandan was also treated badly by Kapil on the same flight, which is why he too left the show, BT quoted a source as saying. Sunil appeared as Dr Mashoor Gulati and Rinku Bhabhi on the grand finale episode of the tenth season of Indian Idol a few days back. And we are sure, fans of Grover are eager enough to see him on TV again. Lucknow: After successfully providing uninterrupted 24-hour power supply at all the 'shaktipeeths' during Navratri recently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday ordered 18-hour power supply in villages and 20-hour at tehsil level and in Bundelkhand region. A meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Adityanath, the second since he assumed office last month, also decided that district headquarters will get 24-hour power supply, Power Minister Shrikant Sharma told mediapersons here after the three-hour-long meeting. The Chief Minister directed the power department to ensure that defective or burnt transformers should be replaced expeditously in rural areas so that agricultural operations do not suffer, he said. Sharma said the ambitious 'Power for All' pact will be signed by Adityanath and Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal on April 14 to meet the Centre's target of making the state energy efficient by 2018. "It was the order of the Chief Minister that all Shaktipeeths are supplied 24-hour power during Navratris and we have been successful in it...Examinations are on and students should get power during the night so that they do not have to suffer," Sharma said. The Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure uninterrupted supply to the villages from 6 in the evening to 6 in the morning so as to help the students prepare for exams. "It is the dream of BJP chief Amit Shah and the Chief Minister that every house, every poor, and every village get power by 2018," Sharma said. The second meeting of the Yogi Cabinet was held nearly a week after the newly-appointed Uttar Pradesh government gave its approval on the farm loan waiver scheme and decided to procure almost entire wheat produce of farmers at the minimum support price (MSP) this season. The farm loan waiver scheme will benefit around 2.15 crore small and marginalised farmers in Uttar Pradesh. During today's meeting, the Yogi Cabinet decided to buy the potato produce of farmers at the rate of Rs 487 per quintal. The potato procurement would start immediately. The Cabinet also gave its approval to the proposal to make the entire roads of the state pothole free by June 15, reports said. Among other decisions, the Yogi Cabinet approved the electricity sharing proposal with the Centre. As per new decision, the electricity department would have to replace non-working transformers within 48 hours, instead of the previous deadline of 72 hours. In the first meeting Yogi Adityanath took a series of decisions, including the loan waiver for farmers of the state. In his brief tenure so far, Adityanath has made it clear he will take bold yet calculated steps. The Cabinet also reviewed the performance of anti-Romeo squads, which were set up across the state to save girls from harassment. . CM Adityanath had earlier formed a committee of ministers, which will visit different states to study their industrial policies Meanwhile, key developmental projects of the previous Samajwadi Party and BSP governments have come under the scanner of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has ordered several probes to ascertain if funds were misused. Guwahati, Apr 11 (IBNS) : The sleuths of Chief Ministeras vigilance on Tuesday had raided at the office of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) in Guwahati for consecutive third day in connection with a multi crore rupees scam. The CMs vigilance team had seized several files from the DIPR office and grilled the director Ranjit Gogoi and few other officials of the office. According to the reports, five officials of CM vigilance had raided the office in connection with Rs 31 crore scam under DIPR during the previous Congress led state government tenure. The CM vigilance sleuths led by SP K Choudhury had grilled director Ranjit Gogoi at his office for several hours. A top official of CM vigilance said that, the previous Congress government had allocated Rs 31 crore in budget for Vision Assam Mission Assam project to make publicity the government schemes. Earlier, the sleuths of the CMs vigilance had seized five trunks of files from the office in connection with the scam. The vigilance official said that, Ranjit Gogoi had siphoned several crore of rupees in the name of a firm Nandita Creations, which firm was created in his wifes name. Following the government directives, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations had called tender for publicity the government schemes, works by advertising in print and electronic media and showing hoardings in various locations. Out of 15 agencies, which participating in the tender process, only four agencies were awarded the works, the top official said. The top cop also said that, the works order awarded to Tatua agency for hoarding, Brahmaputra Television Network, Delta Publicity and Pradip Advertising for advertising in print and electronic media. Among the four agencies, alone Pradip Advertising was awarded Rs 10 crore work order. But the initial probe cleared that 90% fund was siphoned, the official said. We have collected vital documents, which revealed irregularities and siphoning government money as the schemes implemented only in official paper works, the official said. Meanwhile an official of DIPR said that, the Vision Assam Mission Assam project was implemented only in papers and it was done just before the last assembly poll in the state. On the other hand, the CM vigilance sleuth has prepared to grilled more persons including the owners of the four farms in connection with the scam. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath,Image: Google Maps) Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered 18-hour power supply in villages and 24 hours in district headquarters of the state. This decision was taken in the second Cabinet meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath earlier in the day. "It is the dream of BJP chief Amit Shah and the Chief Minister that every house, every poor and every village get power by 2018," Uttar Pradesh`s Power Minister Shrikant Sharma told the media after the Cabinet meeting. Sharma said the BJP government had successfully provided uninterrupted 24-hour power supply at all "shaktipeeths" during the Navratri festival that ended last week. Besides ordering 18-hour power supply in the villages and 24 hours in district headquarters of the state, Adityanath has also directed the officials to ensure there is uninterrupted supply to villages from 6 pm to 6 am to ensure that students preparing for the exams are not disturbed. Fulfilling its promise of waiving off farmers` loans, Adityanath-led government had in the first Cabinet meeting announced a Rs. 36,000-crore waiver package for small and marginal famers with a land holding of five acre and less. Kolkata: The Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in West Bengal's Birbhum came to an abrupt end after the police lathi-charged devotees for taking out a procession without official permission. TV visuals from the clash site showed the police baton-charging groups of young men carrying saffron flags. As per the organisers of the Hanuman Jayanti procession, they had approached the district authorities and police seeking permission to take out a procession to mark the occasion but were repeatedly denied the same. Left with no option, they took out a peaceful procession, only to be lathi-charged by the police. Last week, the Calcutta High Court had to step in to ensure that a group of residents in Kolkata was given permission to perform Ram Navami puja. The court asked the Trinamool Congress-run South Dum Dum Municipality to grant permission immediately. The court had also expressed displeasure at the civic body's failure to act on the group's plea pending for several days. Organisers Lake Town Ram Navami Puja Committee had moved the High Court seeking direction to the municipal body to grant necessary permission, stating that its application had not been acted upon since it was made on March 22. Kolkata: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday warned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to "mend your ways", and accused her of dividing and oppressing the Hindus and kindling separatism among Muslims. "No matter how many cases you lodge, no matter how many people you arrest, Hindus will not stop, they will not be beaten up. We challenge her and warn her, you mend your ways. If you don`t, then Bengal`s public will not accept Mamata (who shows affection for jehadis) for long," Surendra Kumar Jain, VHP`s International Joint General Secretary, said. "She had the time to hike salaries of Imams.... Imams were hale and hearty while the Hindu pundits were not. It seemed as if there was Aurangzeb`s rule in Bengal. She detested Ram`s name. She even changed the word Ramdhenu to Rangdhenu. I think she will also change names of people who are named after Ram," he said. Taking on Banerjee`s accusations against the VHP for putting weapons in hands of children during the grand Ram Navami celebrations and processions, Jain countered that the Trinamool Congress supremo is misusing the child rights protection commission. "In Muharram processions, weapons are brandished. So how can you single out Ram Navami? You should see the pictures where children carry weapons during Muharram, how children slaughter goats during Eid. Is it not a violation of child rights? Do you not see that? Why are you silent then?" he asked. In response to allegations of VHP promoting polarisation, Jain lashed out at Banerjee for indulging in polarisation instead. "You can hike Imam`s salary, you will not lodge case against perpetrators of violence in Malda, you will shorten the duration of Durga Puja immersion due to Muharram, isn`t this polarisation? You have indulged in polarisation, against the country, against Bengal, against Hindus," Jain said. "But if there was any polarisation on Ram Navami, this was for patriots, this was for `Ram bhakts` and we are proud of such polarisation in favour of the nation, polarisation of the patriotic persons of Bengal," he asserted. Dismissing allegations of VHP promoting religious politics, Jain pointed fingers at Banerjee for promoting "divide and rule" among the Hindus and Muslims in Bengal. "She is committing an injustice against Muslim society by kindling separatism. She has made Bakhtiyar Khilji the role model for Muslims in Bengal." "Due to appeasement politics, she has fanned fundamentalism. You have divided the Hindu society. Before that you have divided Hindus and Muslims. You have promoted fundamentalism," he added. Beijing: China executed more people in 2016 than all other nations combined, Amnesty International said Tuesday, even as death penalties in the world decreased overall. The human rights organisation estimates the Asian giant alone killed "thousands" of people, a figure based on examinations of court records and news reports. All other countries together executed at least 1,032 people last year -- a decline of 37 percent compared to 2015. Of those, 87 percent took place in just four countries - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan. Amnesty`s report found that hundreds of death sentences, including cases involving foreign nationals, had been omitted from China`s public database of court verdicts, suggesting a concerted effort to hide the extent of the country`s killings. The ruling Communist Party considers the death toll a state secret. "China is really the only country that has such a complete regime of secrecy over executions," Amnesty`s East Asia director Nicholas Bequelin said at a press conference in Hong Kong. "Probably the reason is the numbers are shockingly high, and China doesn`t want to be a complete outlier in the world," he said. Despite local media reports saying at least 931 individuals were executed between 2014 and 2016, only 85 of them were in the online database, Amnesty said. In 2013, China`s Supreme People`s Court ruled that legal judgements should be made public, but the decision included many exceptions, including cases involving "state secrets" or personal privacy. Previous estimates from other rights groups also put the number of annual executions in China in the thousands. Chinese courts have a conviction rate of 99.92 percent, and concerns over wrongful verdicts are fuelled by police reliance on forced confessions and the lack of effective defence in criminal trials. The nation`s top judge, Zhou Qiang, apologised in 2015 for past miscarriages of justice and said mistakes must be corrected. In December 2016, a Chinese court cleared a man executed 21 years ago for murder, citing insufficient evidence in the original trial. However experts say recent reforms have not been widely implemented. "For example, coerced confessions are supposed to be excluded from evidence. In practise, however, the police have unchallenged discretion to...extract confessions by detaining and torturing suspects for long periods," New York University professor Jerome Cohen told AFP. "Yet even the late Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong, perhaps the greatest executioner in human history, recognised the likelihood of mistakes when imposing the death penalty," Cohen noted. "Mao admonished his officials to bear in mind that, once someone`s head is cut off, it cannot grow back." A 2016 report from the US-based Dui Hua Foundation said China`s average death row prisoner waits only two months for execution. Only a handful of countries still use the death penalty with regularity. The United States executed 20 last year, the lowest figure for the country since 1991. Lucca: The Group of Seven major global powers will be joined by Middle East allies on Tuesday in a push to isolate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, hours before the US secretary of state flies to Moscow, Assad`s top backer. G7 foreign ministers hosted by Italy invited their counterparts from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar - all of whom oppose Assad`s rule - to sit down in the morning and discuss Syria. Pressure on Russia to break its ties with Assad, who stands accused of launching a nerve gas attack on a rebel-held town last week, appeared to be building on Monday. Britain and Canada said sanctions could be tightened on Moscow if it continued to back Assad as the civil war, now in its sixth year, drags on. "I think we have to show a united position and that in these negotiations we should do all we can to get Russia out of Assad`s corner, at least to the point that they are ready to participate in finding a political solution," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday. "It is the right moment to talk about this, how the international community, with Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Europe, with the US, can drive forward a peace process for Syria and avoid further military escalation of the conflict." On Friday, the US fired missiles at a Syrian air base in retaliation for the alleged chemical weapons attack by Assad`s government on civilians, including many children. That has increased expectations that President Donald Trump is ready to adopt a tougher stance with respect to Russia, and that he is ready to engage in world affairs instead of following the more isolationist stance he had previously taken. Up until the chemical attack, Trump had said Washington would no longer act as the world`s guardian, especially if it was not in the interest of the United States. But on Monday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited the site of a World War Two Nazi massacre in Italy and said Washington would never let such abuses go unchallenged. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson told reporters in Sant`Anna di Stazzema. G7 efforts to build a united front against Assad come just ahead of Tillerson`s planned trip to Moscow, the first for a high-ranking Trump administration official. Russia has rejected accusations that Assad used chemical arms against his own people and has said it will not cut its ties with the Syrian president. That means Tillerson, who has significant business experience with Russia as a former chief executive at Exxon Mobil but none in government, is about to face his toughest test yet in international diplomacy. Besides Syria, the ministers will talk on Tuesday about Libya, where people smugglers operate with impunity and rival governments and militias vie for power. Growing tensions with North Korea are also expected to be on the agenda, as the United States moves a navy strike group near the Korean peninsula amid concerns over Pyongyang`s nuclear ambitions. Grande-Synthe: Authorities and aid workers are searching for several hundred migrants who disappeared after a fire ravaged their camp in northern France, a shocking blaze that exposed anew the challenges and tensions around Europe's migrants just 12 days before France's presidential election. Police cordoned off the largely destroyed camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe on Tuesday and investigators inspected the site to try to determine the cause of the fire, which broke out last night following a fight between rival groups of migrants. Three mobile police units were deployed in the area to head off tensions prompted by the camp's demise, the government said in a statement. The interior and housing ministers headed to the scene in a sign of the government's concern about the issue. Most of the camp near the English Channel is now reduced to the charred remains of wooden shelters and sparse belongings of the migrants, who converged on northern France in hopes of reaching Britain as part of waves of recent migration to Europe. As many as 1,600 people were in the camp when the blaze broke out, according to Grande-Synthe Mayor Damien Careme and prefect Michel Lalande, the top government official for the region. Some 500 were taken to three local gymnasiums, including one set aside for children and families, but most of the other migrants remain unaccounted-for, the mayor and prefect told reporters today. Doctors Without Borders, which set up the site a year ago to replace filthy makeshift camps in the region, is holding meetings today to decide what to do next. Other aid groups are planning to distribute meals among the migrants in the gymnasiums and anywhere else they are found around town. The first priority is to find migrants dispersed by the blaze, said Corenne Torre, head of the humanitarian group in France. "We just don't know where they are," she told The Associated Press. She estimated that at least 600 migrants remain unaccounted-for. Some are believed to be hiding because they fear the authorities or because they fear rejoining a camp with rival gangs, she said. She said that 10 migrants are in local hospitals with light injuries following the fire. The prefect and mayor said authorities believe the fire was set intentionally and was linked to a fight earlier yesterday between Kurdish and Afghan migrant groups involving up to 150 migrants. The camp will remain closed during the investigation, and local authorities will consider whether to open a new camp to replace it. It's a sensitive issue in France ahead of the two-round April 23-May 7 presidential election in which immigration is a key issue. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and conservative candidate Francois Fillon reiterated calls today for stricter border controls. The prefect took the opposite stance. "The issue today is to shelter those people who live outside at the moment, and to build a future for them," Lalande told reporters. France sheltered migrant populations in the past, he said, "so we are not going to stop the march of history. To the contrary, it is in the name of this history that we are going to build a future for these people". Baghdad: The Islamic State group now controls less than seven percent of Iraq, down from the 40 percent it held nearly three years ago, a military spokesman said Tuesday. "Daesh controlled 40 percent of Iraqi land" in 2014, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, the spokesman of the Joint Operations Command coordinating the anti-IS effort, told reporters. "As of March 31 (this year), they only held 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory," he said. Stockholm: Rakhmat Akilov, the main suspect in the truck attack in Stockholm that killed four people and injured 15, has admitted to committing a terrorist crime, his lawyer told a court on Tuesday. Police believe Akilov, a 39-year-old from the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan, was the driver of the hijacked beer truck that mowed down pedestrians on a busy street in the Swedish capital on Friday before crashing into a department store. "His position is that he admits to a terrorist crime and accepts therefore that he will be detained," Johan Eriksson, the lawyer representing him said in a court hearing to decide whether he should be kept in custody. Akilov, who entered the courtroom with a green sweater over his head before being seated between his lawyer and translator, was arrested just hours after the attack. He was arrested on the highest level of suspicion in the Swedish legal system. Akilov was already wanted by police for failing to comply with a deportation order. Security services said he had expressed sympathies with extremist organisations, among them Islamic State, but had not viewed him as a militant threat. Akilov had asked for his defence lawyer to be replaced by a Sunni Muslim, but a court denied his request, documents showed. The attack shattered any sense Swedes had of being insulated from the militant violence that has hit other parts of Europe but politicians have taken a defiant stance, saying Sweden will remain an open, tolerant society. Yangon: Myanmar has started shutting down three displacement camps in strife-torn Rakhine state, a senior official said Tuesday, although it was not immediately clear where the inhabitants would go. Tens of thousands of people from Rakhine`s Muslim and Buddhist communities ended up in internal displacement camps after sectarian violence ripped the impoverished region apart five years ago. The move to shutter the first of those camps comes after a commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan last month called on the government to close them as part of a series of measures designed to heal simmering ethnic tensions. National Security Advisor Thaung Tun said the government had begun with three camps named in the commission`s report, including one sheltering ethnic Rakhines and one that houses Kaman Muslims. The largest of the three includes more than 200 houses full of Rohingya Muslims, a heavily persecuted minority. "We have initiated the process to close down three IDP (internally displaced persons) camps," Thaung Tun told a briefing, without giving details of where people would be moved to. "In Kyauk Phyu, there are IDP camps for Rakhines... Sittwe for the Rohingya group and Ramree... mostly for Kamans." Myanmar has long faced international condemnation for its treatment of Rakhine`s more than one million Rohingya, who many from the Buddhist majority reject as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The vast majority are not granted citizenship and face severe restrictions on their access to education, healthcare, food and movements despite many living there for generations. The issue has reached boiling point in recent months after the army launched a bloody crackdown in the north of Rakhine thought to have claimed hundreds of lives after attacks on several police border posts in October. United Nations investigators say Myanmar`s security forces may have carried out crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya during that crackdown. De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week rejected the accusations, telling the BBC that the term ethnic cleansing was "too strong an expression". Thaung Tun also defended the government on Monday, saying authorities were doing their best to push forward the citizenship verification process. "We want to dissolve the issue of statelessness. We need the cooperation of all stateholders in order for us to go forward," he said. "It has nothing to do with discrimination... It has nothing to do with ethnic cleansing." Guwahati, Apr 11 (IBNS) : Indian Police Service (Central) Association has rallied around suspended Superintendent of Police of CID Dr N Rajamarthandan, who was arrested by the Assam police for leaking the information of investigation report of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) office attack incident in Silapathar on Mar 6 last. The IPS offices association urged Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay to initiate a CBI probe into the issue leading up to the arrest of the IPS official. Sending to a letter to the Assam DGP, the IPS officers association also urged the Assam police head to consider recommending for the inter-state transfer of the arrest IPS officer until the legal processes against him are not completed or for a minimum period of three years. In the letter, the IPS officers organization said that the recent arrest of N Rajamarthandan under unusual circumstances has caused dismay members of the service across the country. Information available in the public domain indicates that the officer was arrested within a short time after an offence was registered under the sections of law for which maximum punishment prescribed is up to seven years. The allegations do not indicate corruption, moral turpitude or heinous offence. The circumstances do not indicate that section 41A notice could not have served the purpose. The cadre officers shared with us that the accused officer holds a reputation of being honest and hardworking, the association said. The secretary of the IPS officers association PV Rama Sastry said in the letter that, the association has constantly upheld the concept of functional autonomy to the investigating officers. Such autonomy however, in our humble opinion is contingent upon strict adherence to the law of arrests and bails. We are constrained to observe that the present situation leaves us with a feeling that the action taken by the investigating and supervising officers is disproportionately high and harsher than the usual response in such cases. If such examples recur and slowly become a norm, it will put a question mark on our ability to handle the power of arrest and treatment of officers of the service, which will indeed be against the best interests of the service, said in the letter. N Rajamarthandan, who was the supervising officer of the special investigating team constituted by the Assam government following the AASU office ransack. Assam police had arrested the IPS officer after proving that he had leaked the information of the investigation report of the incident through RTI and provided the information to the general secretary of Nikhil Bharat Bangali Udbastu Samanvay Samiti (NIBBUSS). It has been reported that the complainant is a senior officer of the state CID. As a senior officer of the premier investigating agency of the state has taken a position in the matter, principles of natural justice warrant that investigation may be entrusted to the CBI which will be in a position to take a dispassionate view, the IPS officers association said. The organization also urged the Assam DGP that, when the matter comes before the court for hearing on bail, it may be ensured that the response is not a mechanical opposition but a well-considered and fair one, taking into consideration the case law on bails which is against unnecessary incarceration in pre-trial custody. Earlier, a local court in Guwahati had sent the arrested SSP (CID) to 14-day judicial custody. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath,Image: Google Maps) Moscow: Russia said Tuesday it was hoping to avoid confrontation and engage in "constructive cooperation" with Washington as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson headed to Moscow. "We are not set on confrontation, but on constructive cooperation," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "We hope that this is also what the American side wants." Tillerson`s visit -- the first by a senior member of US President Donald Trump`s administration -- comes after Moscow vehemently rebuked Washington for missile strikes against a Syrian air base last week in response to an alleged chemical attack the White House blamed on the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Moscow has sought to deflect blame from its long-time ally Assad over the incident and says Syrian jets struck a rebel arms depot where "toxic substances" were being put inside bombs. Russia`s foreign ministry said it hoped for "productive talks" with Tillerson to understand "to what extent the United States understands the need for stabilising and normalising bilateral relations." "For our part we proceed from the fact that a standstill (in relations) is unacceptable given the specific responsibility of our countries in maintaining international security and strategic stability," it said. Russia`s hopes of improving relations under Trump have already dimmed as ties to Moscow have become politically toxic for his administration, after allegations the Kremlin conducted a hacking and influence campaign to help get him elected. Relations between Moscow and Washington slumped to their lowest point since the Cold War under former president Barack Obama after the Kremlin`s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine. Tillerson is set to meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not confirm whether Tillerson would also meet President Vladimir Putin during his two-day trip. Dushanbe: After a 25-year break, fractious Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have reestablished regular connecting flights, a spokeswoman at Tajikistan's international airport told AFP on Tuesday, paving the way for improved relations. "An Uzbekistan airways flight (from Tashkent) landed at Dushanbe international airport at 8:03 am (0303 GMT)," the airport spokeswoman told AFP by telephone. "The plane and the passengers were very well met." Doubts were cast over an apparent rapprochement between the two countries that have a traditionally fraught relationship when a long-awaited flight from Dushanbe to Tashkent was abruptly cancelled in February. Uzbekistan first banned flights from Tajikistan in 1992 after the outbreak of civil war in its smaller neighbour to the east. The ban remained in place after the war's end, as long- reigning autocrats Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan regularly clashed over water and other issues. Karimov was buried in his native city of Samarkand after a suspected stroke in September last year and successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev has moved to smooth ties with neighbours in the majority-Muslim ex-Soviet region. Washington: US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May have agreed that a "window of opportunity" exists to convince Russia to end its support for embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Trump made a phone call to May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and they discussed America's response to the suspected chemical attack by Syrian regime in which 87 people, including 31 children, were killed. May and Merkel, in two separate calls with Trump, expressed support for the action of the US and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable, the White House said. "The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest," May's spokesperson said in London. "They agreed that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement.?They also discussed the broader Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran throughout the region," her spokesperson said. The North Korean nuclear programme also figured on the agenda of the phone call from Downing Street. "The Prime Minister and President also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses," the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the White House refuted reports that Russia had prior information about the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime last week. "At this time, there is no US Intelligence Community consensus that Russia had foreknowledge of the Syrian chemical attack," a senior administration official said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US and Russia have common interest in defeating the Islamic State militant group. "We have a shared interest particularly in the area of ISIS. If we can defeat them and if we can work with them on a plan to defeat them, then we're going to do it," he said. "The President came into office to really focus on two fronts: keeping our country safe and growing our economy and putting people back to work," Spicer said. "If Russia or any other country can help us achieve those two goals, either through market access on additional products and services from the US into a major marketplace, but more importantly help to keep our country safe through a combined effort to defeat something like the ISIS, especially in a place like Syria where they're playing so prominently, then I think we want to work with them," Spicer said. "But if we can't get a deal with them, then, the President's not, going to be disappointed. But he would like to do what he can to work with these individuals to make it happen," Spicer said. In a letter to Trump, two Republican lawmakers Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Peter Roskam urged him to suspend aircraft sales to Iran arguing that Tehran is using commercial passenger aircraft to supply its worldwide network of terror proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria. "We urge you to suspend current and future licenses for aircraft sales to commercial Iranian airlines until your administration conducts a comprehensive review of their role in supporting Iran?s illicit activity," they said in a letter to Trump. "The United States should revoke authorisations and re-impose sanctions on Iranian airlines found guilty of such support, and should bar US companies from selling aircraft to Iran until the Iranian regime ceases using commercial airliners for illicit military purposes," the letter said. Senator Jack Reed supported the US move of missile strike against the Assad regime. "It was important to respond to the despicable behaviour of the Syrian regime, Assad regime, but it hasn't changed the facts on the ground, which is that Assad controls significant territory. There's Russian support," Reed was quoted as saying by CNN. "But in terms of stopping, the chemical weapons attacks against the people of Syria, I hope it succeeds," he said. Washington: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is ready to solve the North Korean "problem" without China if necessary. "North Korea is looking for trouble," Trump wrote on Twitter. "If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! USA," he added. New Delhi: United States President Donald Trump has said that it would be great if China decided to help in solving the impending threat of a nuclear North Korea, but if it did not, then the United States would solve the problem without them. "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A," Trump tweeted. Trump said he had explained to the Chinese President Xi Jinping he would negotiate a far better trade deal with Beijing if it solved the North Korean problem. "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" Trump said in a tweet. The remarks by Trump come days after he had hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at his private Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump administration has always highlighted its concern over the North Korean nuclear threat. Moreover, Trump has always argued that China is responsible for the continued nuclear proliferation in North Korea. North Korea has warned Washington of "catastrophic consequences" over any further provocations after a U.S. navy battle group was sent to waters off the Korean peninsula recently. The decision to divert the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and other battleships came after tensions soared over ongoing military drills involving American and South Korean forces that Pyongyang regards as a precursor to an invasion, reports the Guardian. "We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions. North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.," North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying. The spokesman further noted Washington's refusal to rule out a pre-emptive strike against North Korean missile sites as justification for its nuclear programme. "The prevailing grave situation proves once again that (North Korea) was entirely just when it increased in every way its military capabilities for self-defence and pre-emptive attack with a nuclear force as a pivot," the spokesman said. He asserted that North Korea would take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend itself. North Korea had yet again defied UN resolutions banning it from developing ballistic missile technology with another test-launch on the eve of Trump's summit with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, in Florida last week. Meanwhile, China has downplayed reports that Beijing has deployed 1,50,000 troops to its border with North Korea. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that she was "not aware" of such a step taken by the People's Liberation Army along the 880-mile border. Moscow: President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had information that the United States was planning to launch new missile strikes on Syria, and that there were plans to fake chemicals weapons attacks there. Putin was speaking hours before U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was due to arrive in Moscow for talks with Russia`s foreign minister and days after denouncing last week`s U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base as illegal. Standing alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella who was in Moscow for talks, Putin, when asked by a reporter if he expected more U.S. missile strikes on Syria, said: "We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using (chemical weapons)." He did not offer any proof for that assertion. Russia has defended the Syrian government, a staunch ally, against U.S. allegations it was behind the nerve gas attack in Syria`s Idlib province last week which killed scores, saying there is no evidence to underpin such an allegation. Putin said on Tuesday Russia would be urgently asking the global chemical weapons watchdog -- the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons -- to investigate the incident. Speaking after Tillerson said earlier on Tuesday he hoped Russia would conclude it was wrong to align itself with the Syrian government, Putin said Moscow would tolerate Western criticism of its role in Syria but hoped that attitudes would eventually soften. Putin`s spokesman has said there are no scheduled plans for Putin to meet Tillerson on Wednesday, but Russian media have cited unnamed sources as saying that such a meeting will happen. YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on April 10 held a meeting with newly appointed Ambassador of Mongolia to Armenia (residence in Moscow) Banzragch Delgermaa on the occasion of presenting copy of her credentials, the MFA told Armenpress. Minister Nalbandian congratulated Banzragch Delgermaa on her appointment and wished her success in her important mission. FM Nalbandian expressed hope she will direct her activity towards developing the bilateral cooperation. The Ambassador thanked for the reception and congratulations and assured that Mongolia is interested in expanding relations with Armenia, and she will make all efforts aimed at strengthening the mutual partnership. A number of issues related to the cooperation development between the two countries in various domains, the intensification of cooperation within the frames of international organizations, formation of legal framework, holding regular consultations between the Foreign Ministries, boosting mutual partnership in trade-economic ties, cultural exchange, scientific-educational fields were discussed. Both attached importance to facilitation of visa regime. Minister Nalbandian and Ambassador Delgermaa exchanged views on development of mutual partnership between the EAEU and Mongolia. The sides also discussed a number of regional and international issues. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. A bipartisan letter signed by 84 Members of the US Congress was sent to President Donald Trump urging him to affirm the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) spearheaded the letter asking the White House to honor the United States' historic leadership in defending human rights and to properly characterize the events of 1915 as a genocide in this year's presidential statement on April 24th, the Armenian Assembly of America told ARMENPRESS. "More than 100 years have passed since the start of the Armenian Genocide and the time is long overdue to acknowledge the atrocities committed against the Armenian people for exactly what they were - genocide," Rep. Pallone stated. "It would be a powerful statement by President Trump in his early presidency to commemorate this anniversary and remember the lives of the one and a half million Armenians who were needlessly slaughtered by Ottoman Turks during the 20th century's first genocide," he added. The letter to President Trump states: "In leading an honest and accurate American remembrance of this known case of genocide, you will stand with 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." During his time in office, President Ronald Reagan squarely acknowledged the Armenian Genocide stating that "Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it - and like too many other such persecutions of too many other peoples - the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten." YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Around 7500 hectares of land in the Ararat Plain will soon be provided with reliable irrigation; the construction of the Vedi reservoir has kicked off, PM Karapetyan said on Facebook. This 29 mln m total capacity reservoir is the first of its kind to be built from zero in the history of independent Armenia. This project will also be essential for restoring the ecological balance of Sevan Lake. The 90 million Euro worth project is being implemented with the credit resources of the French Development Agency and co-financing of the Armenian government, he said. New Delhi, Apr 11 (IBNS): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said a Zambian student who was found dead last week in Gujarat had committed suicide. The deceased person has been identified as Zite Shakala. A suicide note has been found at the scene of occurrence, said Swaraj. Reacting on the issue, Swaraj tweeted: "I have got the report on the death of a Zambian national Zite Shakala from Government of Gujarat. /1." "Police investigations prima facie suggest that this is a case of suicide. A suicide note has been found at the scene of occurrence. /2," she said. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Georgias Ministry of Infrastructures and Territorial Development told Armenias Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies that on April 11, as of 11:00, the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open only for light passenger vehicles. The Ministry told Armenpress at the moment the highway is closed for cargo vehicles. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Emergency Situations Davit Tonoyan held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran to Armenia Seyed Kazem Sadjadi on April 11, the Ministry told Armenpress. The meeting aimed at discussing the expansion of Armenian-Iranian cooperation volumes in the fields of emergency situations and reduction and prevention of disaster risks. The sides agreed to further intensify the cooperation in the emergency situation field stating that the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Emergency Situations and Irans Ministry of Interior Affairs on cooperation in the respective filed opens a new page for deepening and expanding the joint activity. Minister Tonoyan attached importance to the role of Armenia-Iran joint activity in the South Caucasian region on the issue of disaster risk reduction and prevention. South Caucasus must be safe as much as possible in terms of natural and man-made disaster risk since the economy and tourism cannot be developed without reduction of disaster risk. We must build a resistant future in the region through our joint efforts, Davit Tonoyan said. In his turn, the Iranian Ambassador highly appreciated the Ministrys experience on engaging disabled employees in the state sector. At the end of the meeting agreement was reached to carry out joint works aimed at developing crisis response cross-border mechanisms. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Famous oenologist Michel Rolland is currently in Armenia at the invitation of the Karas wine factory. He studied at Tour Blanche school of oenology in the French city of Bordeaux, than became one of the 5 successors who continued their studies at the very popular oenology institute of Bordeaux. Now he is one of the most internationally famous oenologists and cooperates with more than 14 countries by providing consultation and making country-specific wines. Chateau Le Bon Pasteur, Chateau Bertineau Saint-Vincent, Chateau Rolland-Maillet, Chateau Fontenil, Chateau La Grande Clotte products belong to him. He is also co-owner of other famous wine products (Valde Flores, Campo Eliseo, Yacochuya and Clos De los Siete). The French oenologist gave an interview to Armenpress speaking about the purpose of his visit, as well as his activity. -Mr. Rolland, what is the purpose of your visit? -It is already 5 years we are engaged in the Karas factorys program. One of my assistants visits here for at least 3 times a year. I come here to implement the final stage of the process, to summarize the works done, in other words, my assistants make wine, and I do the final steps. -How often do you personally visit Armenia? -I am cooperating with a lot of countries, and I have 7 assistants. At least once I manage to visit here since the most important steps are being made at the final stage where experience is necessary. -Are there any other economic entities in Armenia engaged in wine production to which you also provide consultation? -No, there arent, I cooperate only with Karas. -What can you say about the quality of Armenian wine? What characteristic features will you identify? -You know, when I arrived in Armenia for the first time, it was 2011 I guess, I was thinking that wine is not so good in Armenia, and we will be able to make a good wine in 5-6 years as firstly the region is very favorable for it, and people work better than before. We dont make wine with the same methods everywhere. Wine must be unique in each place. My goal is to find how to make a really good wine. As for the Armenian wine, I can say that it is yet not completely revealed. When Eduardo Eurnekian invited me to visit Armenia, initially I was a little surprised, but I said I will come, and we launched this program. Winemaking in Bordeaux is almost simple, but in Armenia the path of good winemaking is full of challenges, but I like it. Today we are confident that it will be possible to make a very good wine in Armenia. -You are in this field for quite a long time, it can be said you devoted your entire life to this field. You said it is possible to make a good wine in Armenia. In your opinion, what are the criteria that will enable to make a really good quality wine? -I really dont know. My goal is one: wherever I am, I am trying to do the best I can. Sometimes I told people with whom I cooperate that we are not here to make a Bordeaux wine: for instance, we are in Armenia to make an Armenian wine, in Argentina an Argentine wine, in India an Indian wine. We need to understand the type of grape, vine cultivation process, eventually the place where we are, and after that we can make a good wine. I think it is a little early for Armenia, but it has a very beautiful future in this field. -Mr. Rolland, you tasted different kinds of wine in your life, and what is the most impressive wine you have ever tested? -I dont know exactly how many kinds of wines I have tasted in my life, but yes, they were many for sure. As such, I will mention the old wines which I like very much, and there are few countries where it is possible to have old wines. For instance, in Armenia it is yet impossible to speak about 45-50 year-old wine, maybe it will be possible in future. Even in Italy they are few, there are some types in California. -Mr. Rolland, your father, grandfather also were engaged in this field. What do you think, whether a person must have inherited the respective skills for being a wine expert? -In my case it definitely is. You know, I always made jokes in this regard since when I was a child, I thought everyone in the world is engaged in wine production, I mean I saw the whole world as such since I grew up in the vineyard, and we didnt travel as now we do. I have always been in this field, and I didnt imagine anything else in my mind. My goal was to continue the work of my family. Interview by Syuzi Muradyan YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament Khosrov Harutyunyan says PM Karapetyans approval rating significantly contributed to RPAs victory in the parliamentary election. Harutyunyan told a press conference on April 11 the advantage of the ruling party was that it had initially announced the name of its candidate for Prime Minister. I think during the campaigning period political forces must note the names of their candidates for key positions. The Republican Party announced Karen Karapetyan is their candidate for Prime Minister. This was the advantage of the Republican Party, Harutyunyan said. Harutyunyan also commented on vote buying rumors, stressing that often this type of rumors are heard from the very parties which are engaged in vote buying. I say this is a deplorable and vicious phenomenon, he said. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. The first parliamentary elections in Armenia (2 April) since the constitutional reform referendum of 2015 went quite unnoticed abroad, despite the vote being decisive for the small Christian country on Europe's eastern fringe, landlocked between Georgia and Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan, Michael Kambeck - Co-Founder of European Friends of Armenia and Diogo Pinto - Director of European Friends of Armenia published an article at EU Observer, Armenpress reports. The result was a victory for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. Armenia has arguably become an undeclared testing ground for how the current frictions between the big blocs, Russia and the EU, can be set aside. The country was among the first of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) nations to conclude negotiations for an Association Agreement with the EU, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. The authors state that the Armenian government nevertheless did not lead the country down the path of Ukraine, nor that of Georgia, and certainly not that of Azerbaijan. It chose its own path, seeking to profit from good relations with all of the big international players, trying to avoid suffering from the frictions between them. This balanced and rational foreign and security policy was used as a selling-point by the winning Republican Party during the election campaign, the authors of the article said. In response to a question did the elections pass the democracy test of the EU which invested more than 7 million Euros in the elections, the authors write the examples of the EU's spending can be seen in a nation-wide fingerprint identification system to exclude double voting, and large-scale camera installation in polling stations and counting rooms. The first signals indicate that the EU will react constructively and appreciate this outcome. This means that during the last year of Serzh Sargsyan's term, the new chapter of intensified cooperation between Armenia and the EU can begin, the authors said, adding that much more actions are necessary for that. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. The director of the Levon Arisyan #127 high school of Yerevan was summoned to the ministry of education and science regarding a report that two students of the schools attempted to commit suicide in the school yard, Ashot Arshakyan, head of the public education department of the ministry told ARMENPRESS. First of all, lets not characterize it that they attempted to commit suicide. Police are looking into the case, in addition the director of the school was summoned to give clarifications. If we receive clarifications as to what happened, we will be able to present details, he said. The Police HQ told ARMENPRESS circumstances of the incident are being clarified and an investigation is underway. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. During a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan, Georgias Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze expressed satisfaction over the talks aimed at developing the bilateral cooperation and expressed his readiness to contribute to the implementation of agreements reached, reports Armenpress. Edward Nalbandian arrived in Georgia on an official visit on August 1, 2016, and I am happy that today I had a chance to visit here during which we have discussed issues related to bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries. I want to state that I and Mr. Nalbandian have an opportunity of regular meetings at various international platforms. Armenia and Georgia are linked with centuries-old friendship and friendly traditions, however this year is especially unique since the two countries celebrate the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. During these years thanks to our joint efforts the mutually beneficial partnership has been developed based on trust, the Georgian FM said. He said in a meeting with Armenias FM they have discussed all possible ways of cooperation development, as well as highlighted the desire of both countries to make the political dialogue more intensive. We have also discussed the development prospects of the current trade-economic ties, the cooperation development directions such as energy, transportation, tourism, education, art fields. It was stated that Georgia and Armenia have a great potential which is still not utilized. We have highlighted the importance of utilizing the transit potential of both countries, implementing joint projects in transportation and logistics fields, as well as the use of Black Sea port infrastructures. In line with bilateral relations-related issues, a special emphasis was paid on expanding the cooperation within the framework of international and regional organizations, as well as the existing threats in the region. We have discussed issues related to maintenance of security and peace in the context of establishing stability in the region. It was emphasized with satisfaction about the completion of talks on Armenia-EU new framework agreement, as well as issues related to Georgias European integration, Mikheil Janelidze said. On April 11 the Georgian FM arrived in Armenia on an official visit at the invitation of FM Edward Nalbandian. Mikheil Janelidze is expected to have meetings with Armenias high-ranking leadership. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received on April 11 the Foreign Minister of Georgia Mikheil Janelidze. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, greeting the guest, the President of the Republic hoped that the official visit of Minister Janelidze to Armenia will be productive and will foster inter-state relations. Both the Armenian President and the Georgian FM were satisfied to note that Armenian-Georgian relations dynamically develop with active political dialogue, deepening economic relations and existing humanitarian cooperation. Serzh Sargsyan stressed that Armenia values the relations with friendly Georgia and Armenia is interested in developing and further strengthening these relations. The interlocutors recalled with warmth the meeting and the productive talks that took place nearly a year ago in Yerevan. Minister Mikheil Janelidze highly appreciated the significant work done to strengthen bilateral inter-state relations during the 25 years of independence, noting that particularly in the recent years the relations on all levels have intensified. He specially pointed out the cooperation in the sphere of energy, stating the necessity to do everything to fully utilize the existing potential in the sphere. The meeting also addressed the opportunities for developing partnership in a multi-level format, dialogue and cooperation projects with the EU, regional issues and challenges, Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process. The Armenian President and Georgian Foreign Minister highlighted stability and peace for regional development. Minister Janelidze congratulated President Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of holding parliamentary elections in Armenia in line with international standards and the victory of the Republican Party of Armenia. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. A Memorandum of Understanding on joint implementation of strategic projects will be signed between the Government of Armenia and the Investors club of Armenia non-public contractual investment fund. Armenpress reports the issue of approving the signing of the memorandum is included in Cabinets agenda of April 13. The aim of the memorandum is to further develop and deepen public-private cooperation. The main cooperation directions of the Government and the fund are the following development of touristic infrastructures and services, development of energetic infrastructures, development of mining industry, development of municipal infrastructures and services, development of ICT and development of processing industry. The fund will become the partner of the Armenian Government in the implementation of public-private cooperation, will participate in investment projects by its own resources sharing the risks. The fund will become the catalyst for attracting foreign investments, creating real opportunities for the funding of major projects and positively influencing on the economic growth and creation of new jobs. The fund will also create favorable conditions for private investors. The launch of activities of Investors club of Armenia non-public contractual investment fund was officially heralded on March 25 with the participation of the Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan and over 3 dozens of Diaspora Armenian businessmen from the Russian Federation. New Delhi, Apr 11 (IBNS): WeAreHolidays on Tuesday said it has brought in Urrshila Kerkar as a new investor into the company. Kerkar led the Series B Round at WeAreHolidays where she has bought out the existing shareholders to gain a majority stake in the company in her personal capacity. Kerkar is a Director on the board of Cox & Kings Ltd. The company WAH Holidays Private Limited owns and operates a travel marketplace under the brand WeAreHolidays and a travel social app called BIA that helps travelers record their trips while travelling. Founded in 2012, the company counts some of the most prominent angel investors on its cap table namely - Vijay Shekhar, Anupam Mittal, Rajesh Sawhney, Sachin Bhatia amongst many other members of Mumbai Angels and GSF. Alongside angels, the company also raised money from Blume Ventures as part of the seed round. In 2014, the company raised its Series A round from Matrix Partners India. According to Urrshila Kerkar, User generated content, peer reviews and traveler recommendations are exciting spaces to be in and WeAreHolidays has made rapid strides in capturing the aspirations of this segment. Real-time travel experiences help customers to make quick decisions and thereby offers a profitable ecosystem for WAH to operate in. The company in its new avatar will focus on the social aspect of travel and will re-launch a version of their app BIA on App Store and IOS. The app will help people record real trips while travelling and will serve as a one-stop concierge for travelers to search for information, upload vouchers and get shopping deals on their mobile. As per the CEO Deepak Wadhwa, Next phase of our growth is going to be centered around mobile. With affordable data plans available at holiday destinations, for most travelers, today mobile has become the default and only choice to manage their travel bookings, shop, click pictures and stay connected socially. Through BIA we intend to cover this lifecycle and give great user experiences while traveling. We are happy to have Urrshila Kerkar as part of our growth story. As per Harkirat Singh (Co-Founder & Head of product), The app is designed for great user experience. To name a few, the app has a unique feature of working in offline mode i.e. it continues to capture the trip even in case where there is a drop in network while traveling (say Ladakh in India or Black forests in Germany). We are happy with initial closed group results of the app and are excited about the full launch that will happen very soon. SAN FRANCISCOIt's been a long, hard-fought slog, but the Erotic Service Providers Legal Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) today announced that as of April 3, it had met its Tilt fundraiser target of $10,000, to be used to continue its groundbreaking lawsuit, ESPLERP v Gascon, which challenges Californias current anti-prostitution law. Getting rid of Penal Code 647(b) is the lawsuit's target, with the plaintiffs alleging that this law violates sex workers right to sexual privacy, right to associate, right to right livelihood and due process. Our court case is mostly funded by individuals making small contributions, although we have also had significant contributions from funds like the Craigslist Charitable Fund, said Maxine Doogan, President of ESPLERP. In contrast, our opponents, the State of California and various District Attorneys, have very deep pocketsessentially using our taxpayer dollars to deny us our rights. So we are very grateful to everybody who has dug deep and contributed, and have helped us get all the way to the Ninth Circuit. Our supporters recognize the central point that private consensual behavior between adults should be constitutionally protected, said Claire Alwyne of ESPLERP. That applies to all areas of the adult industry, whether prostitution, porn production, adult classifieds, video clip production, etc. In the current climate, where government is coming after a whole range of adult industry players, we really need to support each other, to protect sexual privacy and sexual freedoms for everyone. ESPLERPs case is now before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, where 36 civil rights and LGBT organizations have filed amicus (friend of the court) briefs supporting it. The next stage is for the Ninth Circuit to schedule oral arguments. But whichever way the decision goes, there are likely to be yet more legal stages, whether that is an appeal to the Supreme Court, or a remand back to the District Court where the whole cycle will start again. This case will run and run... This legal process requires money, so ESPLERP has now started a second Tilt fundraiser, this time looking to raise a further $12,000 for the case. Contributions can be submitted here. Companies in the EU and China have been caught offering to commit fraud to launder sales of mass surveillance weapons to Al Jazeera reporters posing as representatives of autocratic regimes under sanction for gross human rights abuses; these weapons would allow their users to target and round up political dissidents for arbitrary detention, torture and murder. Al Jazeera documents this in "Spy Merchants," a new series that shows two Italian companies (IPS and AREA) and a Chinese company (Semptian) conspiring with their reporter to launder cyber-weapons into Iran and South Sudan. The vendors promised to strip all logomarks off their products to make it impossible to trace them back, and offered ways of circumventing sanctions, such as selling surveillance tools to shell companies in Tunisia, who could then make a "gift" of them to South Sudan. AREA offered the use of a Turkish partner, BTT, to help launder its sales: BTT proposed that the weapon be labelled as "telecom testing equipment" to beat sanctions. The companies later said that Al Jazeera misunderstood their offers to break the law, and denied any wrongdoing. Offered for sale were IMSI catchers and IP intercept systems. The companies our undercover reporter approached seemingly had no problem in forging documents to make sure the deal would go ahead. "First, we are ok with Iran. Of course, it's subject to export restriction. But this is something that we can manage," said IPS sales manager Ugo Castillo. By using a sister company and describing the hardware sold by IPS as a "traffic management system", IPS said it could sell IP intercept systems to Iran. In response to these allegations, IPS told Al Jazeera that they operate with full respect of the regulations. They added: "We had no intention of completing this or any deal with the individual our staff met with. Any deal that we may have discussed with him would have to be dependent on obtaining the full legal authorisation from the authorities." Exclusive: Spyware firms in breach of global sanctions [Al Jazeera Investigative Unit] (via Naked Capitalism) Accused Yahoo hacker Karim Baratov was denied bail Tuesday and will remain in custody until the end of the extradition process that could see him sent to the U.S. to stand trial on charges related to computer hacking. Justice Alan Whitten made the decision in Hamilton court Tuesday afternoon. He said the 22-year-old had not met the onus to be granted bail. "Sir, you will be detained," Whitten said to Baratov. The Crown said Tuesday that prosecutors would be ready to start the extradition hearing as early as June 12, should all the necessary documents from the United States be received in May. Baratov's defence team said they were disappointed with the result but would read the judge's decision and decide whether to appeal. Whitten found the borderless nature of the allegations against Baratov particularly compelling in calling him a flight risk. "Baratov would appear to be a valuable operative for the (Russian) FSB," Whitten wrote in his nine-page decision. "These are interests which would value his services." "Why would he stick around?" Whitten continued. "He can continue his wealth-generating activities anywhere in the world." The judge said the contrast between the prospect of 20 years in jail and Baratov's "youthful, affluent existence" could provide some motivation to flee the country, he said. But after the proceedings, one of Baratov's lawyers, Deepak Paradkar, disputed that. "There's no evidence he had access to false documents, false passports," he said. "He's not a citizen of Kazakhstan. He's never been in the Soviet Union or Russia. He's a Canadian citizen." Could the parents control their son? The arguments about Baratov's bail prospects focused on whether his parents could understand and control their son's activities and whether they were capable of doing so. To begin the bail hearing Tuesday, Baratov's lawyers said the alleged Yahoo hacker had nowhere to flee and would not abandon his family. Story continues But assistant Crown attorney Heather Graham said that if the allegations are true, then his parents either didn't understand what he was up to or didn't want to know. "If that's true, and he's that good at presenting to them only what he wants them to know and to see, then they're clearly not able to exert the control that this case requires," she said. Whitten appeared to agree and was not convinced the parents were up to supervising their son and limiting his activities. "The parents were obviously prepared to turn a blind eye to their son's activities on the internet and they all benefited in turn by his financial contribution to the household maintenance," Whitten wrote in his ruling. Outside court, Paradkar said he respected the judge and his ruling, but took issue with that assertion. "At the end of the day what was the evidence of that, in terms of enjoying the benefits [of Baratov's income]?" Paradkar said. The hearing began last Wednesday with testimony from Baratov's parents, immigrants from Kazakhstan who said they'd cut off their house from the internet and lock up all electronics if it would mean freeing their son from custody. Russian ties The prosecution suggested Baratov has ties to international spies and the resources to flee. One of his co-accused fled the U.S. and is now in Russia. Those ties "exponentially elevate the flight risk in this case," Graham said. "There'd be no good reason to doubt that there'd be the same interest in protecting Mr. Baratov from prosecution," she said. Baratov was among four men indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges related to computer hacking, economic espionage and other offences. According to U.S. officials, the four are alleged to have hacked into Yahoo's systems and stolen information from more than 500 million user accounts. Paradkar suggested that Canadian justice officials had been pressured by American counterparts. "The case law says you shouldn't placate and give way to the Americans under political pressure," Paradkar said. "I'm not sure that had anything to do with [the judge's] ruling, but there was pressure by the U.S. the FBI and so forth to placate them in terms of his detention." FBI investigators described Baratov in court documents as a "hacker-for-hire," a flight risk and a "danger to the community," who has more than $210,000 in "just one of his multiple" online accounts. The other three men were in Russia when Baratov was arrested in Ancaster, Ont., on March 14. Russia does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S. Baratov's lawyers say they plan to fight the extradition, which could take 18 months to three years to unfold. The U.S. must file its paperwork by mid-May, and then Baratov is expected back in court near the end of May for an update. The extradition hearing could begin in June, the Crown said. See how the hearing unfolded in the tweets below. On mobile and can't see them? Click here. kelly.bennett@cbc.ca Why airlines overbook flights and what bumped passengers can do about it Video of a screaming man being dragged down the aisle of a United Airlines plane is a wake-up call for improved consumer protection, says a Canadian passenger rights advocate. The video shows the man refusing to leave the plane in Chicago after the airline randomly bumped four passengers from the flight. He was hauled out of his seat by three security guards and dragged bleeding to the front of the plane. "I found the scene disturbing, disheartening, shocking," said Gabor Lukacs, a self-styled critic of the airline industry in Canada. The rights of airline passengers in Canada is a grey area, leaving air travellers vulnerable to abuse, Lukacs said. "It could have happened in Canada for sure. Overbooking is happening all the time. Airlines are way too police- and security-happy, even with peaceful passengers," Lukacs said in an interview with CBC Radio's Edmonton AM. That United Airlines called police shows how willing airlines are to criminalize disputes with passengers, he said. There is no bill of rights for airline passengers in Canada and most policies for reimbursement and dispute resolution are established by individual airlines, Lukacs said. 'These are not criminal disputes' Though United Airlines guidelines indicate that company officials have the right to bump passengers, most Canadian airlines fail to outline whether personnel can forcibly remove passengers from flights. Flights are routinely oversold and it's not unusual for airlines to offer travel vouchers to encourage people to give up their seats, but the situation should never have escalated to "excessive force," he said. "What troubles me is that if you have a dispute with the airline, you have to take it to court. If the airline has an issue with you, apparently they're going to call police. "That is wrong. The airline should not be allowed to rely on police unless there is actually a criminal activity these are not criminal disputes." Story continues The federal government says rules around bumping will be included in a new passenger bill of rights to be introduced this spring. For Lukacs, industry-wide standards can't come fast enough. "Here, the airlines set their rules on an airline-by-airline basis and it's subject only to an oversight by the Canadian Transportation Agency," he said. "That regulatory body used to do its job very well until 2013. Since then they have been going downhill. "The regulatory agency has turned from a watchdog into a lap dog." Lukacs recommends that passengers who end up in a dispute of any kind with their airline document every detail they can. "I commend the passengers who took out their cellphones and recorded a video of this," he said. "In the cases of such incidents, documenting what is happening is the best way to protect yourself and your fellow passengers." MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine troops killed at least five suspected Abu Sayyaf militants and suffered three fatalities during a firefight in Bohol province on Tuesday, the military said, days after Western travel warnings about visiting the holiday island. The clash took place after the United States and Canadian embassies in Manila warned citizens against traveling to Central Visayas, which includes Cebu and Bohol, where rebel groups may attempt to conduct kidnappings during Holy Week in the predominantly Catholic nation. Cebu and Bohol are two of the country's most popular tourist destinations, far away from the island strongholds of Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic State-linked group known for extortion, piracy and kidnaps for ransom. Abu Sayyaf is currently holding more than two dozen captives on the southern island of Jolo. "We have received a report that five of the enemies were killed and we have also recovered from them four high-powered firearms," said military spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo. "But sadly, three on the government side were also killed while two others were wounded." Security forces launched the operation after receiving intelligence that a heavily armed group of 10 people was seen on three boats along the riverside of Sitio Ilaya in Inabanga town, Armed Forces chief General Eduardo Ano said. The group's motive for traveling to Bohol was not known. They were cornered in an isolated section of the town. Early this month, government troops killed more than 10 Abu Sayyaf militants in an attempt to free Vietnamese captives. Abu Sayyaf, which means "bearer of the sword", earlier this year beheaded a German hostage and two Canadian captives suffered the same fate last year. They were executed when deadlines to pay ransoms expired. President Rodrigo Duterte says Islamic State is trying to gain a foothold in the restive southern Philippines, an impoverished, underdeveloped and predominantly Muslim region fraught by insurgency. He has pleaded with Philippine separatist groups to reject advances of extremists. The military has been engaged in large-scale offensives with Abu Sayyaf but progress has been hampered by the presence of civilians in its strongholds in Jolo and Basilan islands. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Martin Petty) By Ed Cropley PAGARINYA, Uganda (Reuters) - A year ago the view from Ugandan teacher Richard Inyani's mud hut was wilderness, land untouched since the 1990s and the murderous rampages of Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. Now it's a sprawl of tarpaulin shacks housing thousands of South Sudanese, refugees fleeing a three-year civil war that has triggered the biggest cross-border exodus in Africa since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. And they keep coming: Last week, more than 3,000 people arrived at the border in a single morning after an alleged massacre by South Sudan government troops in Pajok, a South Sudanese town with a population of some 50,000. Pajok is now empty, refugees say. The influx of refugees is testing Uganda's generosity. While Inyani is happy to help fellow Africans in their hour of need - many Ugandans, including President Yoweri Museveni, were once refugees themselves - he is less enthusiastic about the sea of U.N. blue-and-white on his doorstep. One top government official said that Uganda's system of accommodating refugees, routinely touted as one of the world's most progressive, was on the brink of "explosive" collapse. Uganda's system allows villagers in impoverished border regions to donate land to refugees on the expectation that the foreign donor funds that support the refugees will also help the villages in the form of shared public services such as schools, roads, wells and clinics. The problem is that aid flows are not keeping up with the scale of the exodus from South Sudan - at least 832,000 have arrived in Uganda since fighting erupted in July last year - and the system is tottering. Inyani's village is one of those that donated hundreds of hectares of land expecting lots of investment in return. Some of it - like the new clinic on the edge of the Pagarinya settlement - has appeared. The clinic was paid for by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR and built by the Lutheran World Federation, a Christian charity. Two Ugandan nurses working inside said they were paid by Medical Teams International, a U.S. Christian aid group. But the new school in Pagarinya is massively overcrowded, the new bore-holes are too far for the Ugandans to use, there are no new jobs and, with refugees having cut down most of the trees in the area for firewood and shelter, the wind is whipping across the plains, churning up dust. Throat infections are on the rise and Inyani says the ancestral spirits are upset. "We looked at the refugees as a positive thing because it was meant to bring development," he told Reuters, as he mixed mud cement for a relative's hut. "Instead, it's just another headache." He is not alone in his frustration. Last week, South Sudan's Tamazuj news agency said four South Sudanese in Bidi Bidi, a 250-sq-km (100-sq-mile) settlement housing nearly 300,000 people, the world's largest refugee camp in terms of numbers, were attacked by machete-wielding members of their Ugandan "host community". "We have been given only one primary school and it is accommodating nearly 5,000 children. You can imagine how difficult the situation is," refugee elder Simon Lado was quoted as saying. "The problem began when rumors circulated around that a woman refugee poisoned a child, and then the fight began. No one has died but four refugees were wounded seriously." Bidi Bidi camp commandant Robert Baryamwesiga said he was unaware of the incident. "BREAKING POINT" Under a Ugandan law passed in 2006, refugees are granted freedom of movement, employment rights and access to public clinics and schools. Each family is also given a 30m x 30m plot of land on which to build huts, and a larger 100m x 100m plot on which to grow subsistence crops, to make them self-sufficient as quickly as possible. The system has made Uganda a frequent sanctuary for those fleeing the many conflicts that have roiled Africa's Great Lakes over the last three decades. "It's inherent in our traditional, historical and cultural practices to support and assist a neighbor in need," Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda told Reuters. But without money, the system breaks down. The United Nations refugee agency says it has secured just 10 percent of the estimated $300 million required for the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda this year, leaving it unable to meet the basic needs of refugees or locals. "We are at breaking point. Uganda cannot handle Africa's largest refugee crisis alone," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said. UNHCR officials said Uganda's crisis was also competing with other humanitarian disasters in Africa, most notably drought in Somalia and food shortages in northeast Nigeria stemming from Boko Haram's six-year jihadist insurgency. "There is a continuous influx and there are no corresponding resources from the international community," said the top Ugandan government official. "If we don't get the support, I think the situation will reach explosive levels." "THE LAND IS OURS" Kampala is in talks with the World Bank for a $50 million 5-year loan to help refugee-hosting communities, the official said. In the meantime, it has begun to curb its generosity. Dozens of refugees interviewed by Reuters said they or friends had missed out recently on the standard monthly food ration of 12 kg of maize and 4 kg of beans. Furthermore, none of the refugees interviewed by Reuters, including some who had been in Uganda since 2014, said they had received more than the standard 30m x 30m housing plot. "It's getting tougher," said Mark Manyuon, a 26-year-old South Sudanese who has been in Uganda for nearly three years. "You have to decide to eat just once a day." Without access to fertile land for cultivation - the soil in Pagarinya is stony and poor - they will remain reliant on handouts coordinated by the U.N.'s World Food Programme. Ugandan officials acknowledge shortcomings but said farmland would be allocated once the immediate crisis had been dealt with. "In an emergency, you're just thinking about saving lives. The rest can come later," said Godfrey Byaruhanga, commandant of the Palorinya camp 40 km (25 miles) away that houses 148,000 South Sudanese, more than the Ugandan population of the district in which it sits. But with South Sudan's civil war producing weekly reports of ethnic atrocities, there is little chance of the 'emergency' ending any time soon. Overall, the fighting has uprooted more than 3 million South Sudanese, and by July 5.5 million - nearly half the population - are unlikely to have a reliable food supply, according to the United Nations. Some will inevitably end up in Inyani's back yard. "We don't want money. We just want small things: boreholes, schools, roads, development," Inyani said. "We have the power to stop this. This is our land. One time, we will act. We will stop UNHCR. The land is ours." (Additional reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall) Marketing 11 Ways to Make Your Online Course Go Global as a Freelance Professor Author, speaker and qualified educator Sarah Cordiner explains how to get started as a freelance educator and reach a global student base online. A recent article by Fast Company interviewed three futurists about what they believed will be the most in-demand jobs in 2025, and the freelance professor made it solidly to this list. Joe Tankersley, a futurist and strategic designer at Unique Visions, said, The continued growth of online courses and the introduction of alternative accreditations will spawn a growth in freelance or independent professors. By 2025, all you need to start your own university is a great online teaching style, course materials and marketing plan. The booming demand for self-study, on-demand and access-anytime training and education is evident through the popularity of platforms like Udemy and Coursera. Whether you teach K12 math, train aviation engineering or lecture on English literature, the online learner is ready and waiting for your course. Many educators are shifting away from their traditional teacher, trainer and professor roles at brick-and-mortar institutions and realizing the benefits of freelancing, such as sharing their expertise beyond the walls of their classroom and earning extra compensation. By adding online courses to their teaching portfolio, they can go from an employee to their own walking, talking, passive income-earning university; and now is the perfect time to start building it. As soon as you put your professional training into an online format, you immediately open it up to a global marketplace. However, while many educators are sensational in their field of work, marketing may not be something they have had the opportunity yet to master. Up until now, the institution they have been working for has provided a room full of students and its brand power. Going online and become a freelance edupreneur means learning how to get your course out to the world yourself. And there is a lot more to that than simply pressing publish. I have more than 40 online courses of my own, have built close to 1,000 courses for other people and currently have more than 9,000 students enrolled in my online courses in more than 130 countries. In this article, I will share 11 tips that I have used to grow my global student base, so that you can grow yours too. 1) Break it Up Into Its Smallest Parts Consumers are in control of their knowledge because now they can Google search how to XYZ and quickly find an answer. With this in mind, a great way to rapidly go global is to start providing your audience with those answers. You also need to keep in mind that in the big, open online market, your potential customers may not know if they want your course yet. (They might not even know it exists yet.) This means that you need to simplify any over-technical or academic language to the search terms that they might be using to find information like yours on the internet. If your content appears as one of the top results for every how to question that your audience has, then it is your online courses that they are going to buy. Heres what to do: TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Many teens with autism want to hit the open road on their own, and new research shows that about one-third are following through on those dreams and getting a driver's license. "We know that driving can increase mobility and independence for adolescents with ASD [autism spectrum disorder], but little was known about their rates of licensure," said study principal investigator Allison Curry. She's a senior scientist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Injury Research and Prevention. "Our results indicate that a substantial proportion of adolescents with ASD do get licensed, and support is needed to help families make the decision whether or not to drive before these adolescents become eligible for a learner's permit," she added in a hospital news release. For the study, researchers reviewed data on New Jersey teens. The investigators found that one in three teens with autism but no intellectual disability obtained an intermediate driver's license. Most did so when they were 17 years old. Nearly 82 percent of teens with autism who obtained a learner's permit received their intermediate license within one year. For teens without autism, the rate was 94 percent. Within 24 months of getting a permit, the rates were nearly 90 percent for kids with autism and 98 percent for those without the disorder. An intermediate license permits drivers to travel with restrictions. These rules vary by state, but usually include driving curfews and regulations on the age and number of passengers. "For teens on the autism spectrum, the decision to pursue a driver's license is one of several milestones that other families might take for granted," study co-author Benjamin Yerys said. He's a scientist at the hospital's Center for Autism Research. "Independent means of transportation contributes to other long-term opportunities, such as post-high school education or employment, and being socially involved and connected within their community," he said. But Yerys pointed out that "ASD can affect decision-making, information processing and attention to varying degrees." Yerys said experts need to understand what resources, specialized instruction, and other support might help teens with ASD who want to drive. Study co-author Dr. Patty Huang suggested that parents of teens with autism spectrum disorders should talk to their child's doctor about any concerns, such as attention issues, that might interfere with driving ability. She's a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at the Philadelphia hopsital. "Parents may also want to seek the advice of an occupational therapist who specializes in driving or a driving educator who has training in working with individuals with special needs," she added. The study was published April 11 in the journal Autism. More information Learn more about autism and driving from the Modern Driver Institute. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Hours after two bombs ripped through packed Palm Sunday services in Coptic Churches in Alexandria and Tanta on April 9, killing nearly 50 people, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced a three-month state of emergency. The measure is in many ways an extension of what has already been in place in parts of the Sinai Peninsula since 2014, and a further sign of Sisis determination to control the flow of information in the country. Sisi has hinted that the measures, which parliament approved today, will include further restrictions to the press, saying, The media discourse [on attacks] has to be responsible, The New York Times reported. The state of emergency grants the government power to review and censor all local media reports before publication, and to confiscate newspapers deemed to be in violation of the law, the independent outlet Mada Masr reported. Already, al-Bawaba has reported that authorities twice this week seized physical copies of its newspaper. The paper, which has traditionally been pro-government, did not say why the copies were confiscated. Egypts use of laws and emergency measures to silence critics is not new. A law passed in 2015 to criminalize the spread of false newsbroadly defined as publishing any news that contradicts the government narrativehas already affected the press. At least 10 journalists were imprisoned on false news charges at the time of CPJs last prison census and Al-Jazeera news producer Mahmoud Hussein, whose arrest CPJ covered in December, recently marked 100 days in detention on accusations of spreading false news. Accusations of terrorism are also used against many of the other journalists imprisoned for their work, including two who cover Sinai, CPJ found. This use of legislation to target journalists reporting on unrest in the region shows how the government can, in effect, shut down independent reporting. Bound by the Suez Canal on one side and Egypts land border with the rest of the Middle East on the other, Sinai, has long been an area of strategic concern for the country. After a series of terror attacks in recent years, the Egyptian military stepped up its operations in Sinai and authorities introduced legislation giving the Ministry of Defense power over the flow of information. Under Article 35 of the law, publishing or sharing false news about terrorism or government response to it punishable by a 250,000 to 500,000 Egyptian pounds (US$14,000 to US$28,000) fine and gives courts authority to bar any journalist ruled to be in violation of the law from working in Egypt for up to a year. The legislation defines false news as reports contradicting official Ministry of Defense statements. Egyptian journalists with whom CPJ spoke said that since the state of emergency was passed in Sinai in 2014, harassment and detentions have increased. A fear of arrest and threats from pro-military supporters has further deterred some journalists from reporting on the region. The emergency measure was passed by Sisi and his cabinet immediately after Wilayat Sinai, a group aligned with the militants Islamic State, attempted to take control of the town of Sheikh Zuweid in North Sinai in July 2015. The impact of this law was immediate, Mohannad Sabry, an Egyptian journalist and author who reports on the region, told CPJ. At the time the measure was passed, media outlets in Egypt were reporting that the military suffered 61 casualties in the Wilayat Sinai attack, but as soon as the military command decided it was 17, almost of those outlets were forced to change the figure, with the exception of a few who are mainly international outlets, he said. The law has codified a repressive atmosphere for journalists in the region, Sabry said. He told CPJ that an editor at an Egyptian newspapers told him that while they were aware of what was happening in Sinai through their reporters, none of them could publish the reports, either because of the law specifically or because of threats more generally from the security apparatus or military. Sabry, who did not name the editor, said that the journalist told him, Being fired from your job is the least that could happen if you piss off the authorities when it comes to Sinai. The Egyptian Embassy in Washington D.C. did not immediately respond to CPJs email requesting comment about claims that authorities harass and threaten journalists. Ahmed Abu Deraa, a reporter for Al-Masry al-Youm who has been arrested three times for his work, told CPJ he stopped covering stories involving the military a year ago. In used to be somewhat possible to cover the region, Abu Deraa said, but now any news report must reference a military source, and cities such as Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid are almost totally off-limits. Abu Deraa was first arrested on accusations of reporting false information about the military in September 2013, before the terror law was passed. A military court sentenced him the following month to a six-month suspended prison sentence and 200 Egyptian pound fine. In November 2015, authorities detained the journalist for three days before releasing him without charge, while Abu Deraa was attempting to cover parliamentary elections for Al-Masry al-Youm in Sinai. The journalist, who is from Sheikh Zuweidan area that has been the scene of several attackssaid he was arrested for a third time at a checkpoint earlier this year and detained for eight days, while in possession of his press pass. Every journalist is banned, Abu Deraa said. They have no exceptions. We cant cover Sinai except through some statements that hide more [information] than they reveal. Abu Deraa said that although his reporting has been restricted by the 2015 terror law, the legislation formalized restrictions already in place that target journalists. Mona El-Zamlout, who reported from the region for Al-Jazeera from 2013-2016, told CPJ she believes the situation in Sinai is bad for journalists, not because of the anti-terror law, but because the military is more determined to cut off access to information as its campaign in Sinai intensifies. While others journalists reporting from parts of Syria and Iraq that are under Islamic State control faced the risk of kidnap or murder, el-Zamlout said the group allowed her to operate relatively freely in Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, a situation she attributes to her being of Bedouin background from North Sinai. That access may have made her more of a suspect in the eyes of the government, she said, adding that she has received threatening phone calls and social media posts because of her work. Screenshots of some of the threats, viewed by CPJ, showed menacing comments about the journalist that were posted to a pro-military Facebook page and which included a link to her Facebook account. El-Zamlout said that threats were behind her decision to stop reporting under her own name last year. Her Facebook account is no longer active. She added that the military is increasingly trying to control the narrative in Sinai by harassing and threatening journalists. She said that journalists face the risk of arrest if they are carrying a camera when stopped at a military checkpoint or if they get too close to a military watchtower near the border. The harassment experienced by Sinais press shows how emergency measures and anti-terror legislation can be used by authorities to try to control coverage. Sisis new state of emergency could further allow the government to crackdown on independent reporting. [CPJ Middle East and North Africa intern Marwa Morgan contributed to this blog post.] New York, Apr 11(Just Earth News): Warning that deepening food insecurity in Iraq could leave more than half the population facing aunprecedented levelsa of vulnerability, the United Nations emergency food relief agency on Monday called for improving nutrition awareness and strengthening social safety nets and livelihoods in rural areas, to avoid a hunger crisis in the country. In its Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis, prepared jointly with the Iraqi Government, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) also underlined the need to improve access to education, especially for girls, as an important component in the fight against hunger. [The Analysis] should guide the work of the Government, policy makers, and humanitarians across the country to improve the food security and nutrition status of every Iraqi so that no one is left behind, the WFP Representative and Country Director in Iraq, Sally Haydock, said in a news release. The study one of the most robust technical food security studies ever conducted in Iraq was conducted prior to the recent offensive in Mosul and does not capture the food security situation among people fleeing these conflict areas. Data collection was concluded in 2016 and included first hand surveys with more than 20,000 families in urban and rural areas as well as with those who are internally displaced. Findings revealed that 2.5 per cent of the countrys population is already food insecure a level of need that requires support. On top of this, rather than going to school, nearly 75 per cent of children under the age of 15 work to help their families put food on the table. Analysis also showed that 53 per cent of residents and 66 per cent of internally displaced people are vulnerable to food insecurity. The prevalence of food insecurity was twice as high among internally displaced families compared to those remaining in their homes, noted WFP in the news release. The highest concentration of food insecure families was found in the southern portion of the country, particularly in northern Muthanna and portions of Salah al-Deen, it added. The recommendations of the study will also be used by the UN agency and the Government of Iraq to work towards the implementation of the food-security related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 2 on ending hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition. It will also provide the basis for five to 10 years of strategic development planning. WFP assistance in country The UN agency has been operating in Iraq since 1968, providing emergency food assistance during crises as well as investing in development initiatives such as school meals, nutrition support for babies, pregnant and nursing mothers, tree planting, and assisting the Government with technical capacity building and reform of its food deliver syste It has also been providing nationwide support to families displaced by the conflict through cash assistance programmes and monthly family rations. However, lack of funding continues to pose a serious threat to such operations. In Iraq, WFP urgently requires $113 million to continue to provide full monthly rations and cash-based assistance to cover the needs of 1.5 million vulnerable Iraqis until the end of September 2017. Photo: WFP/Mohammed Al Bahbahani Source: www.justearthnews.com Malaysia was placed 10th among the world's top executioners after carrying out 9 death sentences last year, human rights watchdog Amnesty International Malaysia (AI-M) said in its report. AI-M Executive Director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said the number of executions in Malaysia has also considerably increased from the previous years, according to the Death Sentences and Executions Report 2016 launched today. "The Home Ministry in October last year had informed the Parliament that Malaysia had executed 6 people in 2014, 1 in 2015 and 9 last year. "The disclosure was the 1st time executions have been disaggregated by year in recent memory and the revelation provided an insight into the magnitude and true extent of Malaysia's use of the death penalty," she told reporters here. According to the report, 23 countries were known to have carried out executions. China lead the list of top executioners, followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Pakistan. However, she praised Malaysia for being "slightly more" transparent with death penalty data, after urging Putrajaya to do so over the years. "The October announcement proved that Malaysia has been executing more than we were previously aware of. The government should continue to make public information on the death penalty while it is still in use," she said. In the previous parliamentary session, minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said revealed that the government had agreed to review Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and allow courts to decide on the penalty for drug offences. Currently, the law only provides for one sentence for those convicted of drug-related offences - death. While the government has agreed to review drug laws in the country, it should also explore its options in entirely abolishing the death penalty, Shamini said. "On March 15, the hurried double executions of brothers Rames and Suthar Batumalai while clemency application was still pending is symbolic of the lack of transparency that surrounds executions in Malaysia. "It is a perfect example of why the death penalty must be abolished in totality. The government must go further and immediately establish a moratorium on all executions as first steps towards full abolition of the death penalty." | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: Yahoo News, April 11, 2017 FILE PHOTO: The Logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MOES 2017) in Manama, Bahrain, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo By Ron Bousso, Dmitry Zhdannikov and Rania El Gamal LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and international oil companies have discussed gas venture opportunities inside the kingdom and abroad as part of the top crude-exporting country's drive to diversify investments before the listing of national energy giant Saudi Aramco. Saudi officials explored investment opportunities with firms including BP (BP.L) and Chevron (CVX.N) to help develop its gas reserves, the world's sixth largest, at a time of booming energy demand at home, four industry sources told Reuters. Aramco has also looked into investing in gas ventures abroad, including with Italy's Eni (ENI.MI), the sources said. The development revives memories of talks between Aramco and global majors at the end of the 1990s and early 2000s, known as the Saudi gas initiative. Most of those talks collapsed as the parties disagreed over returns on investment. This time, Aramco is gearing up for a share listing next year, aiming to get a valuation of up to $2 trillion in what could be the world's biggest initial public offering (IPO). Chevron, BP, Aramco and Eni declined to comment on talks. "We have a long-standing relationship with Saudi Arabia, so it is not uncommon for us to talk to them. We're always having discussions about business development. I don't have anything particular to say about Saudi Arabia," Chevron CEO John Watson told Reuters last week. BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley, who traveled to Saudi Arabia at the end of last year, said this year he wouldn't rule out "creative partnerships" with Aramco but that an outright investment by BP in the IPO was unlikely. The kingdom has a long-term goal of increasing the use of gas for domestic power generation, thus reducing oil burning at home and freeing up more crude for export. This could help increase Aramco's valuation as it generates more revenue from exports than selling oil at lower domestic prices - Saudi Arabia is the world's fifth-biggest oil consumer despite being only the 20th-biggest economy. Story continues Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, who is also Aramco's chairman, said last year that Aramco was interested in investing in international upstream ventures, particularly gas, and could invest in importing gas into the kingdom. Diversifying gas assets abroad would help Aramco achieve a better valuation and is attractive for investors, industry sources said. Riyadh also plans to raise domestic gas prices, a move seen as an incentive for foreign companies. NEW GAS STRATEGY Aramco is preparing to reveal in the next few months a new gas strategy aimed at developing resources to keep pace with rising domestic demand, sources familiar with the discussions said. It comes as part of the kingdom's push to diversify its economy away from oil, a strategy known as "Vision 2030", amid a global drive to phase out the most polluting fossil fuels. Aramco wants nearly to double gas production to 23 billion standard cubic feet a day in the next decade. "IOCs (international oil companies) are waiting for that (strategy) to make their decisions," one industry source familiar with the matter said. Another industry source said Energy Minister Falih had said in private meetings with Western oil executives that he wanted Aramco to partner with other companies in upstream projects. Two Saudi-based industry sources familiar with the discussions said BP's Dudley had expressed an interest in investing in gas exploration in the Red Sea. However, the two sides have yet to hold any talks on the project. Aramco controls gas reserves in excess of 8 trillion cubic metres, according to BP's annual energy review. The Saudi company has said it wants to explore for gas in the shallow waters of the Red Sea as well as onshore shale gas. SOUR MEMORIES Since gradually renationalizing the industry in the 1970s, Saudi Arabia has not allowed the majors to develop its oil. The Saudi gas initiative of the 1990s was effectively an effort by the then-minister for oil, Ali al-Naimi, to thwart attempts by companies such as Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) to partner with Riyadh in oil developments. In a book published last year, Naimi said he was convinced that as part of gas talks during that decade, oil majors hoped to acquire cheap Saudi reserves of gas condensate, a high-quality form of crude oil. The $25 billion gas initiative offered in 1997-98 had some of the world's top oil companies such as Exxon and Shell expressing interest but struggling to agree terms. Riyadh later invited investors in 2003-2004 to find and produce gas in Rub Al Khail, a desert in the country's southeast. Companies including Russia's Lukoil (LKOH.MM), Shell and China's Sinopec formed ventures with Aramco but have failed to find commercially viable deposits. They also complained about low domestic gas prices and high extraction costs. Russia's Lukoil (LKOH.MM) was the most recent foreign company to quit Saudi Arabia's search for gas. However, Saudi Arabia last month slashed income tax on energy companies operating in the kingdom to make energy investments more attractive. "The terms will be better now," an oil executive said. (Editing by Dale Hudson) English Lithuanian Mindaugas Ubartas, current CEO of Tcell, a Telia Company owned mobile operator in Tajikistan, has been appointed as Head of B2B at Telia Lietuva, a Lithuanian subsidiary of Telia Company. He will take up the new position by latest 10 June 2017. After years of extensive international experience in telecommunications business, Mindaugas Ubartas is heading back to Lithuania to join the Telia Lietuva team. After challenging and rewarding career abroad, I am looking forward to continue my journey with Telia and to ensure that Lithuanian business customers get the most technology can deliver. In Lithuania Telia has excellent fiber and mobile networks. Complemented with Telia IT competences, it offers unique growth opportunities, no matter whether it is a start-up or a well established international corporation. Our aim is to match the needs of any enterprise, said Mindaugas Ubartas. In 2001, Mindaugas started his career in telecommunications at Lietuvos Telekomas (now Telia Lietuva). Later on he worked for the Lithuanian mobile operator Bite Lietuva and Tele2 subsidiaries in Lithuania, Estonia and Kazakhstan. In August 2015, he became CEO of Tcell in Tajikistan. Washington, 11 (IBNS): Two child a child were killed in a shooting incident at a classroom in California's North Park Elementary School. The incident has been described by the police as murder- suicide. "Two adults are deceased in a classroom, believed to be a murder suicide. We believe the suspect is down and there's no further threat," San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan tweeted. According to the police, the suspect shot and killed his estranged wife in the classroom. The police said the suspect then turned the gun towards himself. Two students were injured in the murder-suicide; one child later died at a hospital, Burguan was quoted as saying by CNN. San Bernardino PD tweeted the identity of the suspect was Cedric Anderson, 53, of Riverside. "Suspect in shooting identified as Cedric Anderson, age 53, resident of Riverside, CA," San Bernardino PD tweeted. The victim in school shooting has been identified as Karen Smith. Image: San Bernardino PD Twitter page English Lithuanian Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB (hereinafter the Company), identification code 304151376, registered office placed at Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 894 630 333; ISIN code LT0000130023. The Company informs that on 11 April, 2017, Company received a letter from the Companys shareholder Lietuvos energija, UAB (Lietuvos energija), holding 94,98 percent of Company shares containing information on decisions adopted by the Supervisory Board of Lietuvos energija. According to the Letter, at its meeting of 7 April, 2017 the Supervisory Board of Lietuvos energija approved the nomination of Saulius Vaicekauskas (area operation of networks) to the Board of Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB. The Company reminds that on 8 March, 2017 the Supervisory Board of Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB, considering a notification of resignation of Dalius Svetulevicius from the member of the Companys Board, submitted on 28 February, 2017, adopted the decision to recall D. Svetulevicius from the Board of Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB. The Supervisory Board of the Company in accordance with the procedure set out by legal acts will decide regarding S. Vaicekauskas candidacy to the Board of the Company. Currently S. Vaicekauskas is the head of the Company's Metering management department. The Company will inform about any further decisions regarding the election of a Member of the Board in accordance with the procedure established by law. HOPKINTON, Mass., April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClearGov, a leading municipal transparency and benchmarking platform, today launched a comprehensive analytics solution for school districts. The new ClearGov Insights for Schools platform enables school districts to better communicate with their constituents through easy-to-understand, interactive infographics on student demographics, staffing headcount and salaries, student test performance, district financials and much more. The platform also empowers district administration with back-office tools to quickly compare district performance against similar districts to identify opportunities for efficiency and make more informed and data-driven budgetary and policy decisions. Building public support is critical in todays society. There is so much data on schools available to the public that it is overwhelming for the average parent and taxpayer. Telling our districts story in a clear and compelling manner can help proactively address the publics increased appetite for information and get everyone on the same page, said Michael Welch, Superintendent of Dedham Public Schools. In addition to Dedham Public Schools, twenty school districts across Massachusetts, including Easton Public Schools, Framingham Public Schools, and Wayland Public schools are now leveraging the ClearGov for Schools platform for increased transparency. Utilizing publicly available data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), ClearGov has created easy-to-understand transparency websites for over 300 school districts across Massachusetts, which are available to the public for free today. Taxpayers can not only compare expenditures for districts year-to-year, but also have the ability to break the budget down into specific categories of spending to see exactly how their tax dollars have been used. School Districts can choose to upgrade and enhance their publicly available transparency site with additional dashboards, including: Detailed Funding & Expenditure Analyses : Allow visitors to drill down into funding and expenditure subcategory details. : Allow visitors to drill down into funding and expenditure subcategory details. Student Body Analysis : Offers insights into changing student demographics, including enrollment trends, high needs students, student diversity, and more. : Offers insights into changing student demographics, including enrollment trends, high needs students, student diversity, and more. Employee Analysis : Informs visitors on trends in staffing with a particular emphasis on educators. : Informs visitors on trends in staffing with a particular emphasis on educators. Test Performance Analysis : Communicates complex test scores in an easy-to-understand format with powerful benchmarking metrics. : Communicates complex test scores in an easy-to-understand format with powerful benchmarking metrics. State Aid Analysis: Provides a comprehensive view of state funding sources, including Chapter 70, Circuit Breaker and more. Education spending can comprise a large portion of municipal expenditures and there are many factors that drive school district budgeting. ClearGov for Schools helps school districts better communicate not only financial and test performance, but also the ever-changing dynamics they must consider when budgeting, said Chris Bullock, CEO of ClearGov. In addition to providing the public access to easy-to-understand financials, the platform also provides a set of benchmarking analytical tools to assist district and school administration and school committees in making more informed policy and budgetary decisions. Data analysis and benchmarking have become a critical, yet arduous component of our budgeting and planning process. ClearGov for Schools delivers time-saving analyses and powerful insights for our administration, said Dr. Andrew Keough, Superintendent of Easton Public Schools. ClearGov Insights for Schools is currently available in Massachusetts and will become available in additional states in the near future. About ClearGov ClearGov transforms city and town financial statements into accessible, easy-to-understand infographics to help citizens better understand how their tax dollars are being put to use. Local governments and school districts use ClearGov's SaaS solutions to reduce operational inefficiencies, make informed budgetary decisions, and improve communication with citizens. MADONA, Latvia, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quest Management Inc. (OTC-PINK:QSMG) announces the signing of a Letter of Intent (the Agreement) to acquire immunotherapy Biotech company Stemvax, Inc., from Dr. Dwain Morris-Irvin PhD. Upon Closing, Dr. Morris-Irvin will simultaneously become CEO of the newly formed Biotech division of Quest. Los Angeles based Stemvax, Inc., founded in 2014 and doing business as StemVax Therapeutics is a Translational Biotechnology Company that develops novel therapies for brain tumor patients. Stemvax focuses its efforts on developing immunotherapeutic approaches to treating patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), a devastating brain cancer. Stemvax simultaneously focuses research efforts on novel drug development to target Cancer Stem cells and other multi-resistant cancer cells. Dr. Morris-Irvin received his PhD from UCLA School of Medicine, MPH, from UCLA School of Public Health, and trained at The Wallenberg Neuroscience Center at Lund University in Lund, Sweden. He was also a Professor, Faculty member at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery. His PhD is in Pharmacology and Developmental Neuroscience with an emphasis on neural stem cell fate and differentiation. His research focused on neural development and Notch Signaling in mammalian neural stem cells. He also worked as an NIH/NINDS Post-Doctoral Fellow in Dr. Anders Bjorklund laboratory in Lund, Sweden. There, his focus was on research projects that investigated the potential role of cell replacement therapy for patients with Parkinsons disease. They developed several protocols for the efficient generation of dopaminergic neurons from forebrain and ventral midbrain stem and progenitor cells. Additionally, Dr. Morris-Irvin worked as a Research Scientist, Assistant Professor, and Faculty member at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery. He led research investigations in the role of adaptive immunity in Parkinsons disease. He also developed two patents in the area of immunotherapy for brain tumor patients, specifically Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). His research team focused on molecular mechanisms that impart therapeutic resistance in cancer cells, including cancer stem cells. They utilized this data to develop novel immunotherapies for brain tumor patients. Quest Management believes that the Stemvax acquisition, and integration of Dr. Morris-Irvin into the Quest family will give Quest an immediate presence in a Biotech field that is not only working, but tremendously appreciated by those whose life it impacts. Dr. Morris-Irvin and his team are a foundation for many opportunities Quest will have, that will provide Quest the potential to be a significant stalwart in global Biotechnology pursuits. http://www.questmgmtinc.com Safe Harbor Statement: This news release contains "forward-looking statements", which are statements that are not purely historical and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development stage companies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Once you register as a student you will be assigned a careers advisor based on the industry you want to work in. The careers advisor will work with you on your CV and alert you to specific opportunities. You will also have access to both the School's and the University's careers portals." - Teddy Sun, MBA Recruitment Manager, Oxford (Said) Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Teddy_Oxford: Chat Transcript Attachment: Phew, Its been a tough last few months for me personally.I would like to share my experience, so that it can be beneficial to some one who is having a tough time while preparing . I had given GMAT for the 1st time in May 2016 and got a score of 690. Though this score wasn't that bad but it wasn't really suitable for the colleges i was aiming for.I had tried to prepare for the best part of 2 months using and Manhattan Guide for SC. At the same time though i must admit that i was very distracted as i had been engaged and marriage beckoned in about 3 months. Finally i tried to delay my GMAT to the last possible day and gave it just one day before my engagement.. Wham! 690 (Q49,V34).. before it could sink in i was preparing for the next step of my life which was marriage. All i knew was that this course was not enough and i had to give another shot at GMAT as soon as possible as i had aimed to apply to the class starting in 2017 so i had to complete most of my applications by Oct-November to apply in the first round. I got married in July and started preparing for the next GMAT.My quant was okay, the main problem was verbal. I could not get a hang of CR questions and was always confused with SC and more than less went ahead with the choice which sounded right to the ear. I needed some prep material which could specifically help me with VERBAL. I thought of joining some classroom course but half of them were too costly and half of them were not that good. I also have a demanding job , so i wanted a course which i could complete at my own convenience and pace. This is when i head about and decided to go ahead with it. Everything felt pretty smooth and i had made up my mind to give GMAt in October end.But, God always has some surprise in store for you. I was getting sick very often for the past 2 or 3 months and went for a full body check in a nearby hospital. In the X ray of the chest , there was some mass near the lungs. Initially i thought it was TB or Pneumonia but the doctors were not certain. They wanted to do more tests. The lady doctor who was diagnosing me told me that this looked like a tumour. "Be prepared for the worst"- These were her words. I was totally shaken up. I was not even thinking about GMAt in my wildest dreams. I just hoped that this was nothing serious. After other tests were run , the doctor told me that i had a very rare type of testicular cancer which generally happens in young adults.I would have to undergo chemotherapy sessions for the next 2 or 3 months and then they would assess my situation.So here I was , just 1 month into married life, happy with everything going on and then this happened. I decided that since this is something that has to be done anyway then instead of blaming fate or blaming any one for that matter , the best thing to do would be face the battle with cancer head on. I wanted to beat it. One thing i dint know was how tough chemo would be . Let me tell you. Its the closest feeling that you can have to death. Chemo literally kills you and slowly brings you back to life. My chemos lasted for about 3 months. During this period I contacted and told them that i would be unable to go ahead with the course. They offered to freeze my account indefinitely . After my chemo was over i was left half dead. But the important thing was that I was alive. I had for now defeated cancer. There was no tumour any more in the X Rays or the CT Scan. after recuperating somewhat for about half a month, I joined my job back. But, I found it really tough to cope up with work post chemo. I had developed a painful condition known as anal fissure which made it impossible for me to sit. It healed then came back again multiple times between December and Jan 2017. At the same time i started with my GMAT preparation and decided to give GMAT in MArch before i would be going for my first followup with the doctor. Slowly my Fissure subsided and some of my strength returned. I was able to focus on studies as well as work. My preps were going okayish. I gave GMAT prep exam again and got 690 again. I was not at all amused. I prepared some more through and slowly started to feel confident in SC. I was now understanding the patterns in questions and solutions and not just going with what "felt right on hearing" . In my first attempt i had exhausted all Mocks . I had even bought during the failed attempt but only given 2 of the 5 mocks.I decided with going ahead with KAPLAN mocks and i also purchased GMAT prep extra mocks. I prepared RC from KAPLAN (just the theory). Everything was slowly falling into place due to my hardwork and perseverance. But as fate would have had it, there was another twist in the tale. I had another fissure flare up one week before my exam . This was more severe than any one of the earlier flare ups. I was not able to sit for a week. I started eating less so that i did not have to poop much. ( For those of you who don't know relation between pooping and pain in an anal fissure case ... go google) . The final week of preparation was all done lying down. Now there are people who like to sit and study and there is a group who wouldnt mind lying down and studying . I can say i am a core member of the former group.So anyways, come exam date i was still not able to sit. I ate 2 brufen tablets in morning to kill the pain somewhat and went ahead with the test. I was under some pain during the AWA and IR sections. Went out and popped 2 paracetamol tablets in the 8 min break. Finally after the test ,i was more relieved because of the end of agony than my score. But now, the score has started to sink in. This was a very arduous journey and finally the end result has been sweet.Following are my score chronologically.GMAT Prep Test 1 - 690KAPLAN CAT1 - 710GMAT Prep Test 3 - 750KAPLAN CAT 3- 730Veritas Free CAT- 720KAPLAN CAT 5-720GMAT Prep Test 5-770*Final GMAT- 750What resources I used-- FOR SCKAPLAN Book for RC (theory)- Scholaranium for SC and CR questionsVeritas Prep free queston bank for CR questions (some really high quality questions - This really improved my CR.)EDIT 1: I am happy to tell you guys that I have secured an admit from Duke Fuqua. Looking ahead to the future with positivity and optimism. 2022 MBA prospect. Currently working on a a BBA from Texas Tech. 6 years active duty, 2+ years of which as an NCO.I am an American born Hispanic. So I believe I fall in the "URM" category.Currently working part-time in the resturant industry. I will likely stay with this employer till I leave for my MBA school since I intend to request a LOR from my general manager.I also plan on receiving a LOR from my former platoon leader that oversaw our platoon in Afghanistan.I have been looking at 4 programs to apply to in R1 for the 2022 class. Wharton/Columbia/Johnson/Tuck.I will also apply to a few public universities in Texas as fall back plans in R2. To utilize the Hazelwood act if I am not admitted to any R1 schools.Planning on taking the GMAT with a few months preparation. Aiming for a 730+ and will take multiple attempts in order to maximize my chances of a high score.Along with my BBA I will add a minor in Chinese. For this minor I will spend spring 2018 in a language intensive program in Shanghai sponsored through my University. I aspire to become fairly fluent in Mandarin by the time I submit my applications.I spoke with a Veteran Admissions rep from Johnson who recommended I spend some time volunteering to help with my application. I will start that process this summer. Hoping to volunteer for a woman's or animal shelter seeing how these are two concerns I care about deeply.What other areas can i focus on to make myself as competitive as possible?Given my work experience, and a likely 3.35+ GPA from Texas Tech, and a 700+ GMAT. Is this a potentially competitive resume for my target programs?My goal is to receive fellowship offers to offset the high cost of tuition. I would prefer to minimize the amount of student debt I take on.I would likely choose McCombs with Hazelwood covering my tuition over admittance into Wharton with no scholarship.I also plan on enlisting the services of "Military To Buisness" when I am a year away from R1 admissions in fall 2020.Any and all advice is welcome. Thanks!Sent from my SM-G935P using GMAT Club Forum mobile app New York, Apr 11(Just Earth News): Warning of increasing risk of mass deaths from starvation in many countries in Africa and in Yemen due to worsening drought and conflict, the United Nations refugee agency has called for international support to prevent the repeat of the 2011 tragedy in the Horn of Africa that claimed more than 260,000 lives. An avoidable humanitarian crisis in the region, possibly worse than that of 2011, is fast becoming an inevitability, Adrian Edwards, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told journalists at the regular bi-weekly media briefing in Geneva. A repeat must be avoided at all costs. According to estimates, some 20 million people are living in areas hit hard by drought. About 4.2 million among them are refugees and the number of the displaced is rising as a result of consecutive harvest failures, famine and insecurity. Worst affected are children and lactating mothers. In southeast Ethiopia, for example, acute malnutrition rates among newly arriving Somali refugee children aged between 6 months and five years is reported in the range of 50-79 per cent. Similarly, in South Sudan, children account for the majority of the refugees (about 62 per cent). An avoidable humanitarian crisis in the region, possibly worse than that of 2011, is fast becoming an inevitability Nearly all refugees, including these children, are dependent on food assistance, such as those provided by the World Food Programme the UN's emergency food relief agency but with lack of funds to buy food rations are being cut. Worst hit are those in Uganda where rations have been cut by up to 75 per cent. Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda (by between 20 and 50 per cent) and Djibouti (by 12 per cent) are also witnessing this decrease. Many refugees are without full access to livelihoods and agriculture or food production and their ability to take matters into their own hands and help themselves is limited, noted Edwards. Drastic situation turning worse in countries The daunting humanitarian scenario has been further complicated by a range of challenges including new displacement, economic hardships, crop failure and conflict. In Somalia, of the half a million people displaced since November, 278,000 were displaced in the first quarter of this year and the country continues to see a complex situation of both outflows and returns, mainly from Yemen. Furthermore, in famine hit parts of South Sudan, increase in fighting, insecurity, lack of access to aid and a collapsing economy have left 100,000 people facing starvation and a further one million people are now on the brink of famine. The humanitarian situation in Yemen, too continues to decline. Already the world's largest humanitarian crisis, food needs are being cited as the lead factor in displacement at three quarters of all locations across the war-torn country where there are internally displaced people. UN efforts scaled up but resources extremely scarce Responding to the growing crisis, the UN refugee agency and its partners have been scaling up their efforts. However, UNHCR operations in these countries are facing considerable constraints due to limited funding. It is now urgent that the shortfalls be addressed, underscored the UNHCR spokesperson. Almost five million children could be out of school The severe food insecurity is also causing many students, such as those in Kenya, to drop out of school. Some 175,000 students in drought areas in the country have stopped attending school and almost 600 schools have closed in Ethiopia. In all, some five million children could see their educations being disrupted over coming weeks and months. Photo: UNHCR/Rocco Nuri Source: www.justearthnews.com A hunter, Isah Anavberokhai, has become the hero of his village in Edo state after he killed a huge buffalo. Legit.ng gathered that the hunter who is from South Ibie, Etsako West local government area of Edo state gunned down the buffalo on Monday, April 10. Hunter becomes a hero after he gunned down HUGE buffalo in Edo state READ ALSO: Pastor TB Joshua predicts another World War, says it would end the whole world (video) A Facebook user, Prince Danesi Muktar Ninje, congratulated the strong hunter on his page. He wrote: "Congratulations goes to the youngest and the highest hunter for now. Hon Isah Anavberokhai of Iyakpi South Ibie Kingdom Etsako West Edo state, who kill bull fallow yesterday 10 april 2017. Congratulations the great hunter isah anavberokhai for now till record break. Hunter kills huge buffalo in Edo state READ ALSO: Don't allow a poor man marry you - Ghanaian counselor Some Nigerians blasted the hunter for killing an animal while others supported him for what he did. Read comments below: Watch Legit.ng's interview with strongest man in Nigeria Watch Legit.ng's music weekly below: 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 Islamabad, Apr 11 (IBNS): Pakistan have executed two terrorists, media reports said on Tuesday. According to reports, the execution were carried out in Sahiwal prison on Tuesday. Both the convicts had been awarded the death sentence by military courts, IG Prisons Punjab was quoted as saying by Geo News. Roland Despeines looks for shelter inside a mountain cave when heavy rains fall in southwestern Haiti. Despeines and many other Haitians have been taking shelter from storms in the cave since October 4. On that day, Hurricane Matthew destroyed their homes and changed their lives. Food for the Poor is an aid group in the American state of Florida. Last month, its workers found that 240 people were spending nights in two caves. The workers were searching for land to plant food crops, the aid group said. It called the situation a humanitarian crisis. The group said the cave dwellers included 84 women and 62 children. "Whenever the rain is about to fall, all of us come to stay here," Roland Despeines said. A VOA reporter visited the cave in late March and saw kerosene lamps and sheets made from tree leaves. Jovenel Moise is Haitis new president. He and Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant also visited the caves at the end of March. They have promised to provide food and shelter. The United Nations has reported that at least 70 percent of crops were destroyed in one area the department of GrandAnse. "The children are crying all the time because they are hungry," Despeines said. " When a vehicle comes to the area, the people run after it," hoping for food, he added. "If a car brings a bag of rice, we cook it right away, and it isn't enough to feed all of us." A young woman named Bernie Josee also spoke about the problem of hunger. "Sometimes, visitors come to this area and they bring us food, she said. But this week, we have nothing to eat." Some people were so hungry that they were eating poisonous plants, The Miami Herald recently reported. Government workers and aid groups have provided food such as rice and beans to the Haitians. A low-cost government-operated restaurant is planned. And, Moise has ordered plans to build new homes. The United States Agency for International Development provided emergency supplies such as plastic coverings after Hurricane Matthew hit. Also, it partnered with a local organization to pay workers for home repairs. After the hurricane, the U.N. Development Program asked for $138 million in aid for Haiti. The agency has made two-thirds of its financial goal. Im Alice Bryant. VOA's Creole Service reported on this story. Alice Bryant adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cave - n. a large hole that was formed by natural processes in the side of a cliff or hill or under the ground kerosene - n. a type of oil that is burned as a fuel often used before another noun sheet - n. a large piece of cloth that is used to cover something dweller - n. someone who lives or stays in a special or particular place hurricane - n. an extremely powerful and destructive rainstorm with very strong winds Human exploration of Mars is now an official goal of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill to increase NASAs budget. The law sets spending at $19.5 billion for the 12-month period starting on October 1, 2017. Congress will need to approve the money. And for the first time, the NASA budget adds human exploration of Mars as an official goal for the agency. The president spoke at the signing ceremony. Trump said he was happy to sign the spending plan into law. He added that for almost 60 years NASA has inspired millions of Americans to imagine distant worlds and a better future on earth. It's been a long time since a bill like this has been signed, reaffirming our national commitment to the core mission of NASA: human space exploration, space science and technology." Working with private companies Sending astronauts to Mars is the next great test for NASA. Space agency officials hope to have people on Mars by the 2030s. The agency is expected to develop new technology to carry out the mission by working with private companies. SpaceX, owned by businessman Elon Musk, is working on its own plan to get to Mars. His company plans to launch an unmanned spaceship to the red planet as soon as 2018. When sending anyone into deep space, one of the biggest problems is how to deal with damaging radiation. The spacecraft has to be built with materials that protect against the effects of radiation. But more work is needed. Working to protect against radiation Scientists are working on ways to protect astronauts from the radiation they will face while traveling outside Earths atmosphere. The atmosphere and Earths magnetic fields protect us from the damaging and possibly deadly effects of cosmic and gamma rays from our sun and outer space. High levels of radiation can lead to cancer and sometimes death. If there were a nuclear disaster here on Earth, it would take several meters of lead or thick concrete to keep us safe from the radiation. The same is true for astronauts in space. The thin atmospheres of the moon and Mars will not provide protection for the people who might travel or live there. So shielding human beings from radiation is a critical part of colonizing space. Scientists are working on several methods of protection. Radiation vest One involves a vest to be worn by astronauts. Called the AstroRad Radiation Shield, it is a product of an Israeli company called StemRad. Gideon Waterman is StemRads chief technology officer. "From the worst case of a nuclear disaster, to the best case of humans walking on Mars, we're providing the best possible radiation protection." The vest is designed to protect vital human tissue, like reproductive organs and lungs, from radiation. It will also protect stem cells. These are simple cells in the body that are able to develop into different kinds of cells, such as blood cells, cells for making skin or other body parts. The vest may get its first test in space in 2018. It may travel into space when NASAs Orion spacecraft makes its first test trip around the moon. StemRad says it will provide the same protection as a shielded safe room traveling on the Orion. Oren Milstein is the companys CEO and Chief Scientific Officer. "Based on our simulations we're sure it works, but, you know, to be one hundred percent sure, we're sending this up EM-1 (Exploration Mission 1) which is NASA's next launch of the Orion space capsule." The vest is lightweight. It is made of many small cells. These cells are grouped together, so the device looks almost like a honeycomb made by a bee. Every vest will be made individually for each astronaut. NASA options under development NASA is also exploring other ways for dealing with the radiation. One idea is building a storm shelter deep inside the floor of the Orion spacecraft. Astronauts would hide there in the event of a solar flare storm. Solar flares are sudden bursts of energy from a small area of the sun's surface. The space agency is also working on developing drugs, like anti-oxidants, to fight the effects of radiation. This medicine could be taken to reverse some of the effects of severe radiation exposure from solar flares. Im Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English based on VOA news reports and additional material. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. See how well you understand the story by taking this reading quiz. Quiz - Humans to Mars Now NASA Goal, But What About Radiation? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story inspire v. to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create reaffirm v. to formally state (something) again in order to emphasize that it is true core n. the most important or basic part of something mission n. a task or job that someone is given to do vital adj. extremely important honeycomb n. a group of wax cells with six sides that are built by honeybees in their hive and that contain young bees or honey reverse v. to change (something) to an opposite state or condition Chinese smartphone maker Elephone is showing off pictures of a new phone that looks more than a little like rival Xiaomis Mi Mix. Like the Mi Mix, Elephones new device has super-slim left, right, and top bezels with a bit of a bezel below the screen. But the Elephone model has one thing Xiaomis phone does not: a physical home button. Elephone hasnt said anything about the new phones specs, but GizmoChina reports that it has an 18:9 display, much like the LG G6. And thanks to the slim bezels, it should be possible to squeeze a large screen into a phone with the same physical dimensions as a smaller model with thicker bezels and/or a 16:9 screen. Theres no word on the price or release date for the phone. But for me the phone is mostly interesting as a showpiece that demonstrates the type of hardware Chinese manufacturers can produce these days. While you can buy some Elephone devices outside of China, most of the companys phones lack support for 4G LTE networks in the United States. via @rquandt Our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys understand that medical errors can often be grouped into two categories. First, there are harms that are caused simply by an (HealthDay)Botox, long used to smooth wrinkles, may come to the rescue for people with a painful condition called burning mouth syndrome. A new study finds that Botox (botulinum toxin) "might be an effective, long-lasting, and safe treatment" for the disorder, says a team of Italian researchers. According to the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, burning mouth syndrome is a chronic condition characterized by burning pain in the tongue, and sometimes the lips or roof of the mouth. This pain "can last for months or years," the institute says. "Some people feel constant pain every day. For others, pain increases throughout the day. For many people, the pain is reduced when eating or drinking." Certain medical conditions, such as allergies, thyroid issues or drug side effects, can cause burning mouth syndrome. But in many cases, the condition is caused "by damage to the nerves that control pain and taste," the institute said. Now, a team led by Dr. Domenico Restivo, of Garibaldi Hospital in Catania, says Botox might help ease the condition. The small study involved three women and one man, all in their 60s or 70s. All had endured burning mouth syndrome on their tongue and lower lip for at least six months. Each patient received a total dose of 16 Botox injections into the tongue and lower lip. "In all patients, pain disappeared within 48 hours," Restivo's group reported. "The beneficial effects lasted up to 16 weeks after injection in all but one patient, in whom they lasted up to 20 weeks." In a separate experiment, two additional patients received "sham" treatmentssaline injections and saw no improvement in their symptoms, effectively ruling out a "placebo" effect, the researchers said. No side effects from the treatment were noted, the team added. Restivo's team said the positive results from this small pilot study are encouraging. "We believe that these findings should lead to a [larger] randomized trial," they concluded. The study appears April 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A widely shared story that U.S. health officials are recommending a delay in breast-feeding to improve vaccine effectiveness is false. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency named in the false reports, encourages breast-feeding . The CDC says breast milk is best for all infants except in rare cases such as when a mother has active, untreated tuberculosis. "There is no recommendation from the CDC or the (American Academy of Pediatrics) that mothers delay breast-feeding to enhance vaccine efficacy," said Dr. Joan Younger Meek, a Tallahassee, Florida, physician who chairs a breast-feeding panel for the pediatricians group. "Breast milk contains multiple immune protective factors, including whole cells which fight infection," Meek said. All breast-fed infants should receive vaccines according to the regular schedule, and there is no need to interrupt or delay breastfeeding, Meek said. Breast-fed babies sometimes respond better to immunizations than do infants on formula, she said. Versions of the false story posted by healthywildandfree.com and foodrenegade.com link to a 2010 study published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Researchers were looking into why a vaccine against rotavirus wasn't working as well in developing countries as in industrialized countries. Rotaviruses cause half a million deaths each year in children worldwide, so improving a vaccine's effectiveness would save lives. The small study, published in 2010, looked at how the vaccine interacted with breast milk samples in a test tube or culture dish. Based on results on tests of breast milk from women in India and other countries, researchers suggested it was possible that the milk could make the vaccine less effective. But the study wasn't the final word. Later studies showed no reason to restrict breast-feeding in the hours before and after rotavirus vaccination. The World Health Organization has said that breastfeeding doesn't significantly impair the response to the rotavirus vaccines. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Credit: McGill University For most people, the end of a war offers relief, hope, and an end to violence. This may not be the case for children born of wartime rape, however, who often endure continued brutality in the post-war period. That finding emerges from a new study of children born to mothers who were abducted, held captive, and sexually violated by members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group led by Joseph Kony during the civil war in northern Uganda from 1986 to 2007. Because little attention has been paid to the perspectives of children born of wartime rape, researchers from McGill University joined forces with Watye Ki Gen, a collective of women who were abducted by the LRA and held in captivity. Together, they interviewed 60 children and youths born within the LRA and currently living in northern Uganda. Participants in this study were between the ages of 12 and 19 at the time they were interviewed. Many had spent their formative years in captivity, ranging from a few months after being born to 7 years. To supplement interviews and focus groups and to enable participants to express themselves in multiple forms, the youth were invited to participate in an arts-based workshop. When asked to draw their family before and after the war, children often drew themselves and their siblings with sad faces in post-war drawings. When questioned about this, children explained that in many ways they felt their lives were actually better during the war. Credit: McGill University This surprising finding, published in Child Abuse & Neglect, is a result of multiple forms of violence, stigma, rejection, social exclusion, and socio-economic marginalization endured by children born in LRA captivity, explains Myriam Denov, lead author of the study and professor at McGill's School of Social Work. "The fact that children and youth identify the state of war and captivitywhen violence, upheaval, starvation, deprivation and ongoing terror were at its heightas better than life during peacetime is highly disconcerting and demonstrates the extent of their perceived post-war marginalization," says Professor Denov, a leading expert on war-affected children and author of Child Soldiers: Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front. "Life is hard" Youths interviewed for the studysome of whom shared the same father, LRA leader Joseph Konyoften articulated that "war was better than peace" because during the conflict they felt a greater sense of family cohesion and status within the LRA. "Life is hard here because people stigmatize us ... they have turned their hate against us ... In my family, they hate the three of us who were born in captivity ... My uncle beats us and said he would kill us. He doesn't want rebel children, Kony children, at home," explained one of the participants. The findings underscore the need for support services to reverse the perception that war is better than peace. Specifically, youths stressed the need for livelihood programs targeting their socioeconomic marginalization, support for school fees, psychosocial support and community sensitization and reconciliation programs More information: Myriam Denov et al, When war is better than peace: The post-conflict realities of children born of wartime rape in northern Uganda, Child Abuse & Neglect (2017). Journal information: Child Abuse & Neglect Myriam Denov et al, When war is better than peace: The post-conflict realities of children born of wartime rape in northern Uganda,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.02.014 (HealthDay)Wrist-worn activity trackers such as Fitbit don't reliably assess heart rate, a new study finds. While the devices may have some legitimate benefits, they shouldn't be used for medical purposes, researchers suggest. Evaluating four wearable activity trackers from Fitbit, Basis and Mio, the investigators compared results to those from an electrocardiograph (EKG). The researchers found results varied among the different models, and were much less accurate during exercise than at rest. "These devices are probably good enough to inform consumers of general trends in their heart ratehigh or low[but] it's important to have more accurate information when physicians are relying on this data to make decisions on medications or other tests and treatments," said Dr. Mitesh Patel. Patel is an assistant professor of medicine and health care management at the University of Pennsylvania. He wasn't involved in the study. However, the study's lead author cautions against making too much of the discrepancies. "At any moment, the tracker could be off by a fair bit. But at most moments, it won't be," said Lisa Cadmus-Bertram, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "The heart-rate feature performed better at rest," she said. "They're not as precise during exercise." A 2014 survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that 20 percent of American adults owned a wearable activity tracker. For the new study, 40 healthy adults, aged 30 to 65, were recruited to test the Fitbit Surge, Fitbit Charge, Basis Peak and Mio Fuse. Generally, when compared with the EKG results, the activity trackers were near the correct mark, Cadmus-Bertram said. But occasionally, their estimates of heart rate could swing too high or too low. At rest, the Fitbit Surge was most accurate; Basis Peak was least accurate, the study authors said. During exercise on a treadmill at 65 percent of maximum heart ratedefined as 220 beats per minute minus ageaccuracy suffered more. The monitors could overestimate heart rate by as much as 39 beats per minute (Fitbit Surge), or underestimate it by as much as 41 beats per minute (Fitbit Charge), the study found. The findings support those of a study released last month at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting. Depending on the type of activity, the wrist devices were up to 34 beats per minute off, those researchers found. Again, the devices were least accurate during exercise. Some wrist-worn activity trackers use a light-emitting diode, or LED, that measures heart rate by detecting changes in the amount of blood in the skin. Patel said accuracy may be a problem because the devices move around on the arm, especially during exercise. Meanwhile, Fitbit's maker said its fitness trackers aren't intended to be medical devices. The company issued a statement in response to the new study. "We conducted extensive internal studies which show that Fitbit's PurePulse technology performs to industry standard expectations for optical heart rate on the wrist," the statement said. Moreover, "Fitbit devices were tested against properly calibrated industry standard devices like an EKG chest strap across the most popular activities performed worldwideincluding walking, running, biking, elliptical and more." Cadmus-Bertram cautioned that the data for the new study were collected about a year ago. "Not only have newer models since been released, but the algorithms behind the data are presumably being updated and improved on a regular basis," she said. "So the results we found might be different if we did the study again now." In general, she's remains a fan. "On the whole, fitness trackers still provide a tremendous amount of useful information to the average user who just wants some feedback to help them to increase their exercise level," Cadmus-Bertram said. The study findings were published online April 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. More information: Lisa Cadmus-Bertram, Ph.D., assistant professor, kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Mitesh Patel, M.D., M.B.A., M.S., assistant professor, medicine and health care management, Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Fitbit, statement, April 10, 2017; April 11, 2017, Annals of Internal Medicine, online. Lisa Cadmus-Bertram, Ph.D., assistant professor, kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Mitesh Patel, M.D., M.B.A., M.S., assistant professor, medicine and health care management, Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Fitbit, statement, April 10, 2017; April 11, 2017,, online. For help staying active at any size, see the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Around two in every five GPs in the South West have said they intend to quit within the next five years, exposing the magnitude of the region's impending healthcare crisis suggesting that the picture for the UK may be particularly challenging. The University of Exeter's recent largescale survey of GPs across the region also found that seven out of ten GPs intend to change their working patterns in a way that would mean less contact with patients. This included leaving patient care, taking a career break, or reducing their hours. More than 2,000 GPs responded to the survey, in research which involved collaboration with Bristol University. It was funded by the National Institute for Health Research and published today in BMJ Open. The data provides a snapshot of low morale which, if echoed in other regions, could point to a deeper and more imminent crisis than previously anticipated in relation to the worsening shortage of GPs nationwide. Professor John Campbell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the research, has called for a move away from "sticking plaster solutions" towards robust, joined-up action to avert the crisis nationwide. Professor Campbell, a practising GP, said: "We carried out this survey because of a nationally recognised crisis in the shortage of GPs across the country, and our findings show an even bleaker outlook than expected for GP cover, even in an area which is often considered desirable, and which has many rural communities. If GPs have similar intentions to leave or reduce their hours in other regions, as many are reporting, the country needs to take robust action more swiftly and urgently than previously thought." Over the past four years, a crisis has been developing around the national GP workforce. The number of unfilled GP posts quadrupled between 2012 and 2014, while the numbers of GPs fell substantially. The national situation has prompted political action, with the Government announcing measures to train 5,000 new GPs in 2015, and to increase the proportion of medical students who choose general practice as a career. In response, and to get a true picture of the scale of the problem in the region, the research team sent surveys to 3,370 GPs across the South West, and received responses from 2,248. The study found that more than half of GPs (54%) reported low morale. This group was particularly likely to indicate that they intended to leave the profession. The researchers conclude that the findings highlight the magnitude of the potential GP shortage crisis that is imminently facing the region, and reflect the current state of general practice in the UK. Professor John Campbell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the research and who is a practising GP, said: "We know that there's an ageing workforce in general practice, with 30 per cent of GPs being over 50 years old. Previous research has found that GP morale is low because of workload pressures, and many younger GPs do not want the financial risk and responsibilities of taking on a practice. Yet if the GPs we surveyed fulfil their intentions to leave or to cut back their patient contact, and no action is taken to address the issue, the South West will experience a severe shortfall of GPs in the next five years." Professor Campbell said: "Whilst numerous government-led initiatives are underway to address recruitment, there is a need to address the underlying serious malaise which is behind this data. We are in a perilous situation in England, with poor morale of the current GP workforce, and major difficulties with recruitment and retention of GPs reflected in the stark overall reduction in the GP workforce. Reactive, sticking-plaster approaches are not the answer. "GPs and their teams deliver nine out of every ten patient contacts with the NHS but attract just seven pence in every pound of NHS resource; that is unsustainable. The government needs to work with the Royal College of General Practitioners, the British Medical Association, and Universities to obtain evidence on the causes of the problem, to develop and implement relevant strategy, and to effect fundamental change in healthcare resourcing and planning nationwide." More information: Quitting patient care and career break intentions among general practitioners in South West England: findings of a census survey of general practitioners, BMJ Open, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-015853 Journal information: BMJ Open Quitting patient care and career break intentions among general practitioners in South West England: findings of a census survey of general practitioners, Cardiothoracic surgeons are fully invested in the patient-centered, team-based model of care, guiding patients through the entire transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) experience, from the decision to undergo TAVR to discharge from the hospital and return to normal activities, according to a new survey published online in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Key findings include cardiac surgeons are highly engaged and actively involved in all aspects of the TAVR patient process, the heart team model for TAVR works well in improving the efficiency and quality of care for patients, and cardiologists and cardiac surgeons are working together at three out of four centers performing TAVR. "Not only are cardiac surgeons actively participating during the preoperative and intraoperative phases of TAVR, but they also are involved in the postoperative care of TAVR patients," said Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD, from Houston Methodist, who is STS Treasurer. "We have a proven proof of principle that the team concept works and works well." The Society of Thoracic Surgeons surveyed surgeon participants in the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database to learn the extent of their involvement in TAVR. Approximately 500 surgeons completed the survey. Among the respondents whose institutions offered TAVR, 84% said that they were involved in the heart team. In addition, more than three-quarters (77.5%) said that their TAVR programs were either jointly administered by cardiology and cardiac surgery divisions/departments or administered exclusively by cardiac surgery. The survey also showed that 86% of surgeons continue to care for TAVR patients post procedure. The TAVR heart team generally includes cardiothoracic surgeons and interventional cardiologists working together on selecting, planning, and performing the TAVR procedure. Other health care providers such as primary care physicians, imaging specialists, and anesthesiologists also may be part of the team. This approach leverages the expertise of these advanced practice providers in an effort to improve the efficiency and advance the quality of care for patients. With TAVR, the heart team is not just a potential benefit, but an absolute requirement for Medicare coverage. "I was surprised but pleased to see that a majority of patients were managed by some sort of combination of cardiac surgeons and cardiologists," explained STS Past President Joseph E. Bavaria, MD, from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. "I didn't expect it to be such a team effort." TAVR is a relatively new, minimally invasive procedure most commonly used to treat patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at moderate or high risk of death or complications for open-heart operations. The TAVR procedure involves opening the diseased valve with a balloon from a catheter placed through a large artery in the groin, followed by placement of a new valve. Once the new valve is expanded, it pushes the old valve leaflets out of the way and the replacement valve resumes the job of regulating blood flow between the heart and the body. Now that the paradigm has been set for the heart team approach in the treatment of aortic valve disease, Drs. Bavaria and MacGillivray are advocating for expanding the heart team concept to other areas of structural heart disease. "Cardiac surgery is the quintessential medical team sport," said Dr. MacGillivray. "We have multidisciplinary teams that take care of patients for all kinds of cardiac problems. It makes sense for patients to rely on cardiac teams that are designed to manage different comorbidities and other problems." More information: Joseph E. Bavaria et al, Surgeon Involvement in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States: A 2016 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Survey, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery (2017). Journal information: Annals of Thoracic Surgery Joseph E. Bavaria et al, Surgeon Involvement in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States: A 2016 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Survey,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2017.03.055 A microscopic corn-and-shrimp cocktail could eventually make DNA-based vaccinations and cancer-treating gene therapies an easier pill to swallow, according to new research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In a recent study, the researchers demonstrated that nesting a specialized nanoparticle inside a microparticle could protect engineered genes or virus-derived DNA against the rigors of the stomach and ensure safe passage to the intestine. Once there, that synthetic DNA could potentially enter cells to trigger the production of either disease-fighting proteins or antibodies essential to building immunity, the study found. The authors built the microparticle from a corn-based protein called zein (ZEEN') and assembled its corresponding nanoparticle from chitosan (KY'-tuh-san), a derivative of the shells that house shrimp and other crustaceans. If further refined, its design could eventually help the pill join the syringe as a delivery system for DNA, the team said. "The overall idea is to be able to produce vaccines that can be distributed globally," said Deb Brown, associate professor of biological sciences and member of the Nebraska Center for Virology. "An oral route of administration could circumvent many of the barriers to global vaccination strategies." Among those barriers: the refrigeration needed to maintain a vaccine's potency and the medical personnel necessary to deliver it. By reducing or eliminating those needs, ingestible versions would expand the geographic reach of vaccines while potentially accelerating their delivery by months, the researchers said. "You can use a gene in the (viral) pathogen to produce the vaccine," said Angela Pannier, associate professor of biological systems engineering. "You take that gene, sequence it, put it into your synthetic piece of DNA and deliver it. Cells take up that pathogen gene and (manufacture) its product to generate an immune response. "DNA can be easily and quickly synthesized, so once we identify the strain ... we could go into the lab and within weeks have a vaccine mobilized. Right now, we have to produce (some) vaccines way in advance - usually six to 12 months out - given the time it takes to manufacture them. And if it's a pill, you don't need a nurse or a doctor to give a shot." Pannier and her colleagues previously looked at whether a standalone zein microparticle could ferry DNA into the intestine. Though the zein maintained its integrity through the stomach, the enzymes of the intestine degraded it and left the DNA "just floating around," Pannier said. "But targeting the vast amount of immune tissue present in the intestinal tract was a priority," said Amanda Ramer-Tait, assistant professor of food science and member of the Nebraska Food for Health Center. So the team decided to add the chitosan chestnut, using a compound called sodium tripolyphosphate to help it encapsulate the DNA. After optimizing the bi-particle's ability to carry, protect and deliver DNA, the team tested it by exposing it to conditions resembling those of the stomach and intestine. The bi-particle maintained between 50 and 70 percent of its DNA cargo when placed in a gastric fluid for 45 minutes, the average time it would spend in the stomach before moving to the intestine. The researchers then gave it an enzyme-heavy intestinal bath and introduced it to cultured cells, finding that the remaining DNA managed to enter the cells and initiate protein production. When the team later fed the particle to mice, they began showing initial signs of the desired immune response. That antibody production approximated the levels found when the mice were instead injected with a traditional protein-based vaccine. Though doctoral student Eric Farris acknowledged that the team needs to boost the design's carrying capacity and delivery in order to generate a "full-on, robust" immune response, he said it compares favorably with other reported approaches to particle-based DNA delivery. No DNA-based vaccines currently exist for humans, but their potential advantages - along with their emergence in veterinary settings - are propelling efforts to perfect them. According to Pannier, the team's design boasts an overlooked but important advantage that should become more apparent as DNA vaccines become a reality. "Other engineers in the field have made some pretty amazing, fantastic polymers that are highly complicated," said Pannier, a member of the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience. "But simple things are probably what are going to make it to the clinic - for scale-up, for production - so we're (looking at) two highly abundant materials." Even as the team considers how ingestible vaccines and gene therapies can benefit developing countries, Pannier envisions them appealing to anyone with a fear of needles. "If anyone's ever been to the flu clinic with children..." she said with a laugh. Pannier, Brown, Ramer-Tait and Farris reported their findings in the Journal of Controlled Release. They received support from the Nebraska Research Initiative; the National Science Foundation; the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, under grant number P20GM104320; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the American Heart Association. More information: Eric Farris et al, Chitosan-zein nano-in-microparticles capable of mediating in vivo transgene expression following oral delivery, Journal of Controlled Release (2017). Journal information: Journal of Controlled Release Eric Farris et al, Chitosan-zein nano-in-microparticles capable of mediating in vivo transgene expression following oral delivery,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.01.035 (HealthDay)When a bedside alarm goes off in a child's hospital room, anxious parents expect nurses to respond pronto. That rarely happens, however, and a new study helps explain why. Researchers found that nurses are usually quick to react when alarms are urgent. But, they're slower to respond at the end of the workday or when they suffer from "chronic alarm fatigue." Also, having parents present doubled the response time on average, the study found. But, delayed response time didn't threaten any of the 100 patients evaluated in the study, the researchers said. And just half of 1 percent of more than 11,000 alarms analyzed were deemed "actionable," or crucial. "The nurses were overall doing a great job predicting which alarms were going to be important," said study lead author Dr. Christopher Bonafide, an assistant professor of pediatrics with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Their intuition was correct." The high number of false alarms in U.S. hospitals has led to "alarm fatigue" among nurses. As a result, the Joint Commissionthe organization that accredits American hospitalsissued new guidelines for managing alarm monitors. The beeps and buzzes alert staff to medical problems facing patients such as high heart rates, dips in oxygen levels in the blood and dangerous heartbeat patterns, Bonafide said. But, many false alarms are caused simply by babies moving around and disrupting sensors, he said. "When an alarm goes off and the nurse is already in the patient's room, they can immediately look up, check on the patient, and make sure everything is OK," Bonafide said. "When a nurse isn't in the room, some hospitals like ours have the ability to send them a text message to the phone that they are carrying." For this study, researchers analyzed video of 38 nurses caring for 100 patients at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from 2014-2015. Almost all of the 11,745 beeps and buzzes that sounded were valid. And 50 were deemed critical, "the important ones we would not want anyone to miss," Bonafide said. Nurses responded in about a minute, on average, to these alarms. However, overall, half of the total alarms took 10.4 minutes or more to address, the study found. Years on the job and caseload accounted for some differences in response time. "Nurses with under one year of experience responded faster than nurses with one or more years' experience," Bonafide said. "Nurses taking care of just one patient responded faster than those caring for more than one patient. And for each hour that passed in a nurse's shift, their response time got a little bit slower." Other factors appeared to contribute, too. "If family members were absent from the bedside, response time was faster than if parents were there," he said. The median response time was six minutes when family members weren't there, and 12 minutes when they were. Also, "more complex" patients got faster responses, Bonafide said. "And patients who had prior alarms that required interventions to be taken got faster responses than those who had not had those experiences." Marjorie Funk, a professor at Yale University School of Nursing, praised the study. She said the findings shouldn't worry parents about leaving their child's side at hospitals. "Alarms for serious events sound different, and nurses respond immediately," Funk noted. "Other alarms may require their attention, but they can finish what they are doing for another patient before responding or can ask a colleague to respond." Bonafide said there are no guidelines that tell nurses how quickly they should response to various alarms. But, he thinks the system needs improvement. "There's quite a lot we can do to improve the safety and performance of these systems and make them work for us and provide truly useful information that helps nurses identify patients who are getting into trouble," he said. When a child is hospitalized, Bonafide and Funk agreed that it's appropriate for parents to ask questions. These might include asking physicians and nurses, "Why is my child being continuously monitored? What problems are you looking for?" and "What should I do if an alarm goes off?" The study appears in the April 10 issue of JAMA Pediatrics. More information: Christopher Bonafide, M.D., assistant professor, pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Marjorie Funk, Ph.D., RN, professor, nursing, Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Conn.; April 10, 2017, JAMA Pediatrics. Christopher Bonafide, M.D., assistant professor, pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Marjorie Funk, Ph.D., RN, professor, nursing, Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Conn.; April 10, 2017, For more about helping your child tolerate a hospital visit, see the University of Rochester Medical Center. Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. An estimated 10 percent of all patients undergoing euthanasia in Belgium could potentially donate at least one organ, according to a study published by JAMA. The practice of organ donation after euthanasia is controversial and currently only allowed in Belgium and the Netherlands. It requires patients to undergo euthanasia in the hospital, and organ donation is performed after circulatory death. Donation after euthanasia could potentially help ease the shortage of organs for transplantation. It is unknown how many of these patients would be medically suitable to donate organs. Jan Bollen, L.L.M., M.D., of Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands, and colleagues calculated the number of potential organ donors among persons undergoing euthanasia by excluding patients because of certain criteria (age, medical condition). In 2015, 2,023 patients underwent euthanasia in Belgium and 1,288 people were on the Belgian organ transplantation waiting list. The researchers found that an estimated maximum of 10 percent of all patients undergoing euthanasia could potentially donate at least one organ, with 684 organs potentially available for donation. In 2015, 260 deceased donor kidneys were donated; if 400 kidneys were donated by patients undergoing euthanasia, the potential number of kidneys available for donation could more than double. The authors note that medical suitability only implies that a patient is a possible organ donor. "Whether the patient is also willing to donate, and is willing to die in hospital, must be carefully ascertained." "Even if only a small percentage of the patients undergoing euthanasia donated an organ, donation after euthanasia could potentially help reduce the waitlists for organ donation. Nevertheless, it is essential that the primary goal of organ donation after euthanasia remains the same as for any patient donating an organto enable patients to carry out their last will of donating organs to help other people, after their own death." Sadikshya Bhandari, a Ph.D. student in molecular and cell biology, passing cells, or feeding them, to keep them from overgrowing. Credit: Taylor Hudak 18 (CLAS, ED)/UConn Photo UConn molecular and cell biologist Michael Lynes and an international team of researchers have been awarded a patent for a novel antibody therapeutic that may prove to be safer in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) than other antibodies currently available. Existing antibody treatments for IBD are ineffective in some IBD patients and pose a risk to the normal functioning of the immune system. The new antibody, co-invented by the UConn researchers together with a team from Ghent University in Belgium, is designed to prevent the patient's immune system from attacking its own body and potentially causing irreversible damage. More than 1.6 million Americans have IBD. Two of the most common forms of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, chronic but treatable conditions that affect children and adults. One in 10 people with IBD are under 18, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. More than a decade ago, Lynes, professor and head of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UConn, and his research team discovered a novel and important role that a protein called metallothionein (MT) plays in influencing the body's immune function. The body produces MT when cells are under stress, and extended periods of stress cause MT to be released from the cells that produced it, Lynes says. MT is an unusual protein that holds onto chemicals in the body both those that are beneficial, such as zinc and copper, and those that are harmful such as cadmium and mercury. While studying MT, Lynes and his research team noticed that MT released from cells could mimic some of the signals that the immune system uses as cues to tell cells to go to one place or another in the body. Under normal circumstances, immune cells use these signals to guide them to local infections or other tissue damage. When cells are stressed over prolonged periods, this can mean that there is persistent inflammation accompanied by damage to nearby healthy tissue. About 50 million people, or 20 percent of the U.S. population, suffer from some form of autoimmune disease or chronic inflammation, according to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. More than 80 autoimmune diseases have been identified, and autoimmune diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent, for reasons unknown, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. While causes of autoimmune diseases also remain largely unknown, scientific consensus is that autoimmune diseases are probably triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. A team of Belgium doctors and scientists studying IBD had published a paper saying that their sickest patients were those whose bodies produced the most MT. The MT protein, which serves as a normal part of the cell's internal machinery inside the cell, was getting outside the cell and causing damage. That paper by Dr. Martine DeVos, Debby Laukens, and Lindsey Devisscher led to a collaboration with Lynes. Since the protein serves an essential purpose, researchers can't shut it off all together; so they had to find a way to stop MT from prolonging inflammation and damaging healthy cells. Lynes and his team produced an antibody protein that basically attaches itself to MT when it is outside the cell and inactivates it preventing the body from attacking its intestinal system. This approach dramatically reduced IBD in mouse models of the human disease. "It's like we have created a partner for MT that binds it and hugs it and won't let it go," Lynes says. The UConn team has been testing this treatment on mice, and is working on creating a form of the antibody that their collaborators can test in humans. Since one form of stress on cells comes from environmental triggers, Lynes and his team have received funding support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. He and his team have also received funding from UConn and from the state's quasi-public investment agency, Connecticut Innovations, to commercialize the anti-MT therapeutic. This includes $50,000 from UConn's SPARK Technology Commercialization Fund, and $500,000 from the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund managed by Connecticut Innovations. He has also worked with the External Advisory Board and received funding for the project from Yale University's Program in Innovative Therapeutics for Connecticut's Health (PITCH). "This is a prime example of cutting-edge research from a UConn lab being translated into a potentially life-changing treatment for patients," says Jeff Seemann, vice president for research at UConn and UConn Health. "The exciting research being conducted by internationally recognized faculty at UConn is not only important for the scientific community, but also for our citizens and our state's economy." Lynes' research is significant, because while there is a great deal of research being done to try to keep autoimmune diseases at bay, his work seeks to learn more about the causes. Autoimmune diseases are increasing in both industrialized and developing countries, so his work has strong public health and commercial potential. Meanwhile, Lynes is also working with Ciencia Inc., an East Hartford-based biotech company, to develop a test that could measure 1,000 different kinds of molecules in a drop of blood to find patterns of molecular biomarkers that can serve as red flags for the early onset of autoimmune disease. "We are excited about the opportunity presented by Dr. Lynes' innovative work," says Arturo Pilar, president of Ciencia. "UConn has been a great partner, and university support for this effort has been critical to the substantial progress made to develop a commercial product." Early detection can mean that treatment can begin earlier in the disease, thus improving people's chance for better health. "It appears this has the potential to identify someone's propensity to develop an autoimmune disease, and to enable treatments that are more effective," Lynes says. Often, by the time people have symptoms of autoimmune disease that brings them to their doctor, irreparable damage has been done to their bodies. Developing these biomarkers won't cure the disease, he adds, but will allow for medical intervention early, minimizing the damage. Two Spanish university professors and three other suspects have been charged over the alleged sale of a "fake" cancer drug that raked in more than 600,000 euros, police said Tuesday. In a statement, police said there were "more than a dozen complaints from victims who bought this substance"a product that had no "curative effects." One of them "paid more than 25,600 euros ($27,200) to treat his daughter," they added. Among those detained last week are two professors at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), a police spokesman in Palma de Majorca told AFP, without giving their identities or detailing what they teach or research. The three other suspects include two people who worked in the research department of a foundation, he added. They have been charged with fraud and released pending further investigation. The suspects are accused of having promoted their anti-cancer drug in ad campaigns on social networks, "taking advantage of the academic and professional recognition brought about by their posts." But the drug was merely a "placebo" with no sales authorisation, police said. They added the substance was sold to patients or their families via a non-profit foundation that "covered up the sale of the product as a voluntary donation from relatives for research." The academics are also suspected of having tried to sell another "fake drug" against Alzheimer's disease, police said. Jaume Carot, vice chancellor of UIB, said the university had received a written complaint about the issue in April last year, and brought the matter to authorities. He added the university was "extremely concerned by all this." 2017 AFP Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life! Remgro is in talks to sell Dark Fibre Africa to Internet Solutions, according to a report by Bloomberg. The report stated that Remgro, which owns 51.9% of DFA, and investment partner New GX Capital want up to R10 billion for the business. The acquisition of Remgros stake would give Internet Solutions access to as much as 10,000km of fibre networks, which will help the telecommunications provider extend broadband access in South African cities, said Bloomberg. Dark Fibre Africa is South Africas second-largest fibre network company behind Neotel, stated the report. Remgro and Dark Fibre Africa did not comment on the speculation, but Internet Solutions stated it will continue to explore opportunities in the market. The news follows Internet Solutions recent rebranding, which included a new logo. Now read: No gender pay gap at Google Businessman Zhong Shanshan becomes richest man in China Banks are searched in Germany in case of money laundering by Russian businessman Armenia increases trade with EEU member states by $1.2 bln Cavusoglu: Sweden and Finland have not yet fulfilled all Turkey's conditions Oldest member of Rothschild dynasty die in Britain Armenian National Security Council head and Polish Secretary of State discuss regional security issues Stepantsminda-Lars highway faces restrictions Kyiv realizes if China starts supplying ammunition to Russian troops it will be terrible State Department: U.S. remains committed to supporting peace in South Caucasus region Iran condemns thousand protesters and calls for retaliation against rest Delegation from Israel visits Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide Media: London is close to agreement with Washington on LNG supplies Aliyev in fact confirms fact of Azerbaijani aggression against sovereign territory of Armenia Toivo Klaar: Important meeting held in Washington between Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs Aliyev switches from threatening Armenia to insulting foreign leaders Karabakh ombudsman: Todays occupation does not change status of Shushi Envoy briefs Kazakhstan human rights commissioner on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Armenia Dollar, euro continue to rise in Armenia U.S. Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield arrives in Kiev EU partners welcome justice sector reforms in Armenia Armenia government to have academic city project development working group Rybar: Publication of Iranian film about 'skeletons' of Aliyev family is blow to positions of Aliyev family Zelenskyy to attend G20 leaders' summit Voting for midterm elections to Congress begins in U.S. Russian MFA offers Tehran and Riyadh to mediate dialogue Survey: Georgia residents say Armenia is their friend Arman Yeghoyan to Poland colleague: Armenia needs support from European platforms State Department official: American side is impressed by Armenia Police reforms Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte: I realized that this project is the right one Heads of general staffs of CSTO countries armies to discuss military cooperation development President: Climate change agenda continues to remain priority for Armenia despite challenges, security concerns Armenia discusses issue of EEU citizens' stay in country for more than 180 days Economy minister: 74% of Diaspora Armenians ready to invest in Armenia Constitutional Court of Georgia revokes ban on pornography 158 people die in Philippines storm Close to $7.5M allocated for Armenia scientific infrastructure, material, technical base modernization Byblos Bank Armenia finances the construction of two major solar parks Bloomberg: EU mechanism to provide Ukraine with $18 billion implies conditions Turkey voices its full and unconditional support for Azerbaijan Ombudsperson attends Armenia-EU Human Rights Dialogue session, presents facts recorded in her ad hoc reports Israeli embassy congratulates Azerbaijan on 'Victory Day' World gold prices going down Ankara offers its storage capacity for Russian grain Zelenskiy calls key conditions for talks with Russia Bitcoin price goes down Copper price goes down World oil prices dropping Blinken: Armenia and Azerbaijan are taking courageous steps to achieve peace Newspaper: What changes expected in "Brussels package" of Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization talks? 13 billion cubic meters of natural gas found off Israel coast State Security Service of Azerbaijan is scared by YouTube video about situation in Nakhichevan Newspaper: There were serious problems in organizing Global Armenian Summit MFA: Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs agree to expedite their negotiations President: UAE is a responsible energy supplier as long as the world needs oil and gas EU has serious concerns about US inflation reduction act Head of IMF: The global surge in consumer prices may be close to the high point Germany wants EU to resume trade talks with US as soon as possible Pashinyan's closed meeting with MPs of ruling Civil Contract faction is over Hungary will not support EU efforts to help Ukraine with joint funds Greece to soon ban sale of spyware U.S. military delegation arrives in Turkey German industry calls for postponement of global minimum corporate tax Podolyak: Ukraine has never refused to negotiate Elon Musk calls on 'independent-minded' voters to vote for Republicans Bezos Earth Fund pledges $1 billion by 2030 to protect carbon stocks and biodiversity 7 people killed in collision between truck and passenger bus in Turkey Nikol Pashinyan holds closed meeting with members of ruling party faction Qatar's foreign minister calls criticism of West 'arrogant' and 'racist' Algeria officially applies to join BRICS group Delegations headed by Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs meet in Washington French Finance Minister calls on EU to oppose U.S. Armenian President: Aliyev's statements about intentional destruction of mosques have nothing to do with reality German MFA reports constructive talks in EU on new sanctions against Iran Kazakhstani President Tokayev instructs to increase oil supplies bypassing Russia President of Artsakh holds expanded working meeting Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports to receive more than 250 billion drams in 2023 Borrell says EU is dependent on supplies from China Armenia official: Peace treaty implies restoration of sovereign territory Guterres thinks mankind is heading for climate hell Dollar, euro gain value in Armenia General: Iran riots were US plan to derail nuclear deal Minister: 'Lydian Armenia' may start exploitation of gold mine on Mountain Amulsar Armenia political scientist: Balance is formed in region thanks to Iran Minister: 70 schools will be repaired or newly built in Armenia in 2023 UAE lifts most COVID-19 restrictions for tourists Political scientist: There is no Armenian-American agenda President of Finland says country has no plans to host nuclear weapons Russian Ambassador to Armenia: We are not used to making PR and playing games Flight restrictions extended to 11 airports in Russia Kopirkin: Spiritual core will help Armenia, Russia overcome difficulties, challenges Armenia ranks among top 5 CIS countries for winter tourism Envoy: Russian president awarded Armenian philologist with medal Iranian intelligence arrests 26 terrorists: an Azerbaijani citizen among them Russian Defense Ministry confirms: Azerbaijan fired at Khramort village in Artsakh Number of oil and gas drilling rigs is up in US Economy minister: Azerbaijan aggression prevented increase of Armenia wheat sowing areas Gegharkunik governor: There are observers who recorded that Azerbaijan carried out aggression against Armenia The National Interest: Iran turns attention to the Caucasus Tokayev: Kazakhstan is ready to use other measures, besides diplomacy, for its defense Economy minister: Primary agricultural products ensure 11%-13% of Armenia GDP YEREVAN. According Hraparak (Square) newspaper of Armenia, opposition Consolidation Party Chairman and former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanianwho one of the leaders of the Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian (ORO) Bloc also comprising former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, and opposition Heritage Party Chairman and ex-FM Raffi Hovannisianpicked up his overcoat and flied to the US, exactly one day after the parliamentary election on April 2. His office informed that, He is in the US on personal matters; in all likelihood, he will be back in three weeks. The ORO sources claim that, He will come [back]; we will continue our political activities. However, according to our sources, even before the elections, when a broad consolidation () of the opposition did not happen, Oskanian had said among close circles that he was leaving politics after the elections. According to our information, [US-born] Raffi Hovannisian (), who likewise has serious personal problems, also has left for the US, wrote Hraparak. The Chairmen and Ranking Members on both the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees joined today with the leadership of the Armenian Caucus and more than eighty of their U.S. House colleagues in calling upon President Trump to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide in his April 24th White House statement, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In a bipartisan letter calling upon the President to appropriately mark April 24th as a day of American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, signatories noted that, by commemorating the Armenian Genocide, we renew our commitment to prevent future atrocities. We join with Members of Congress in calling upon President Trump to reject Turkeys gag rule and embrace an honest American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. Its long past time for America to stop outsourcing our national policy on the Armenian Genocide to Recep Erdogans increasingly authoritarian and anti-American regime. In calling upon President Trump to properly mark April 24th, the signatories highlighted the U.S. record of past recognition, 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. These actions, as well as resolutions by the House of Representatives in 1975 (H.J.R.148) and 1984 (H.J.R.247), while clearly constituting U.S. recognition, just as clearly did not translate into either consistent official annual Armenian Genocide commemorations or sustained U.S. pressure on Turkey to end its denials of this crime. The letter specifically cites Christian populations targeted by the Ottoman Empires genocidal campaign, including Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Greeks, Pontians, Syriacs, and other persecuted peoples. YEREVAN. Armenia and Georgia are discussing the implementation of joint projects in transport sector. Mikheil Janelidze, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, on Tuesday informed about the aforementioned at the briefingin Armenias capital city of Yerevanafter his talk with Edward Nalbandian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. Also, the Georgian FM congratulated the Armenian people on the recent parliamentary election. In Janelidzes words, the two ministers conferred on Armenia-Georgia cooperation. We celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations [between the two countries], he added. Over the course these years, [and] thanks to the joint efforts, we managed to achieve the development of mutually beneficial cooperation. In addition, the Georgian FM noted that they discussed all the main domains of cooperation. We conferred on the prerequisites for economic cooperation, said Janelidze. It was noted that Georgia and Armenia have great potential that is not used; its important to use this potential. In the Georgian FMs words, during the talk special attention was paid to regional conflicts as well as to the need for maintaining stability in the region and the world. Also, as per Mikheil Janelidze, the interlocutors spoke about the European integration process of both Georgia and Armenia. What will happen to the rights of journalists who fight for your rights? By India Today Web Desk: Newsmakers bring news to your doorstep, work for the benefit of the nation and risk their lives in order to keep you informed but it is quite shameful when the same newsmakers are assaulted, abused and attacked for no reason. After the haunting attack on the Delhi journalist Aparna Kalra who is now battling for life in the hospital, government released some hard-hitting facts and figures about how unsafe our journalists are. During the year 2014-15, 142 incidents of attacks on journalists took place in different parts of the country, Lok Sabha said. advertisement Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said that in 2014, 114 incidents of attacks on journalists took place but only 32 people were arrested. In 2015, there were 28 incidents of attacks registered on record with 41 people being arrested, he said during Question Hour. The Minister said the existing laws are adequate for protection of citizens, including journalists. The Press Council of India takes prompt action on receipt of specific complaints from affected persons. Representations on providing security are received from or on behalf of individuals, including journalists, and all such representations are examined. Based on inputs received regarding threat assessment, necessary action is taken, he said. Ahir said since police and public order is a state subject, it is the responsibility of the state governments to provide security to journalists. He said as of now, there was no provision for providing compensation by state or central governments to journalists or their family members in cases of attacks. Also read: Delhi journalist Aparna Kalra attacked in public park, battling for life with multiple brain injuries Also read: Nirupam demands SIT probe into attack on journalist Also watch: Cauvery dispute: India Today journalist rushed to hospital after goons attack her in Bengaluru --- ENDS --- Vote buying and widely-spread electoral corruption cloud the entire picture of parliamentary election of Armenia, these phenomena tainting the image of Armenia and development of democratic processes in the country, head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Piotr Switalski, said at the meeting with journalists in Gyumri Tuesday. The Ambassador remains optimistic despite the fact that Armenia has an issue. According to him, he spends all his time on the analysis of what practical measures can be taken to prevent these acts of political corruption in the future. In his words, the Armenian politicians should start serious discussions on what legal and administrative measures can be taken to prevent vote buying and abuse of administrative resources, he said. Noting that the EU observers have already given their assessment to the election, Switalski thanked the Armenian partners for introducing the project funded by the EU. In his words, EU is satisfied with the way their funds were used during the election. Thanks to the introduced innovations, the Armenian voters can be confident that their votes cannot be stolen, he added. Furthermore, the Ambassador mentioned that although there were certain issues with technology and not everything worked properly, this project had never been introduced in such a short period of time. Meanwhile, in Armenia it worked even better than the EU could expect, and even better than in other countries, where it had been introduced. Switalski added that reports were received on cases of vote buying, as well as pressure on and abuse of administrative resources. Nevertheless, he expressed hope that all these issues will be dealt with in the future, and the election in Armenia will be very transparent and clean in the future. In the words of the head of the EU Delegation, they are currently analyzing all the existing data and will later present their final conclusions. The Ambassador stressed that democracy is a process, a constant movement and that an important step was made on April 2. This process will thus be continuous: it is irreversible, he noted. Switalski also highlighted the activeness of the Armenian youth during the election, thanking the civil society, which conducted a monitoring mission. Parliamentary election was held in Armenia on April 2. EU provided technical support to Armenia in organizing the election. YEREVAN. - Georgia highly appreciates the position of the Armenian prime minister on moving forward together towards specific programs and results. Foreign Minister of Georgia, Mikheil Janelidze, said the aforementioned at the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on Tuesday. The Armenian PM welcomed the visit of the Georgian FM and the delegation led by him to Armenia, stressing that Armenia and Georgia have reliable and friendly relations, the press-service of the Armenian Government informed Armenian News NEWS.am. Karen Karapetyan expressed satisfaction with the results of his official visit to Georgia in February, within the framework of which specific issues aimed at enhancing the bilateral economic ties were discussed with his Georgian counterpart. In this context, the Armenian PM underscored the importance of promotion of business ties, integration unions and implementation of projects aimed at increasing exchange of experience in the sphere of cooperation, tourism and IT sector within the framework of free trade zones, and raising mutual recognizability among youth and other directions. Mikheil Janelidze, for his part, reconfirmed the interest of the Georgian PM to implement the aforementioned arrangements reached during the Armenian PMs visit. He stressed that Georgia is already making certain steps in that direction. Apart from this, the Georgian FM congratulated Karen Karapetuan on holding the parliamentary elections on high level. Furthermore, the interlocutors exchanged views on the process of economic cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats, referring to the further steps. Karen Karapetyan and Mekheil Janelidze underscored the importance of creating the Meghri free trade zone on the border with Iran, as well as holding of Georgian business days in Armenia in the future. The sides agreed that these initiatives will serve as an efficient platform for learning about the opportunities to enter the markets of third countries and make them more accessible. The Armenian PM and Georgian FM also underscored the importance of ensuring regional security and stability. YEREVAN. - A new EU grant scheme with an overall budget of 2.9 million euro has kicked of in Armenia. The objective of the scheme is to contribute to the development of local communities and enable them to disclose their potential, head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski said at the meeting with journalists Tuesday. Projects aimed at the development of local communities through sport, cultural, tourist and educational events can take part in the grants competition, each of which can be in the amount ranging from 300 000-600 000 euro. The scheme projects can, for instance, include summer and winter sport games, which can contribute to the development of tourism and additional educational programs for Armenian schools and universities offering innovative approaches and platforms. Cultural associations contributing the development of art, literature, theatre and other directions of culture in Armenia can also take part in the competition. Ambassador Switalski expressed hope that these programs will benefit the communities and NGOs of Shirak province. Another 1.5 million euro grant scheme of EU, Reinforcing civil society in Armenia, was announced in the country Monday. To learn more about both schemes follow these links: http://bit.ly/2mMybQ2, http://bit.ly/2nr8npC. By Press Trust of India: Chandigarh, Apr 11 (PTI) Fifty two students were arrested after a protest against fee hike turned violent at the Panjab University campus here today as the agitators clashed with police, forcing the latter to use force, resulting in injuries to both sides. Some mediapersons were also injured during the protest. After registering a case of rioting and damage to public property against the protesting students, police have arrested 52 students out of the 66 identified by the university authorities, police said. advertisement The agitating students wanted to hold talks with Vice Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover on the fee hike issue as they were observing "PU Bandh" against the recent hike. When the students were not called for discussion, they tried to forcibly enter the VC office in the varsity campus by jumping the barricades set up by police. Police resorted to water cannons to disperse the angry students. The situation turned violent when students allegedly started pelting stones and flower pots at cops, forcing the police to lathi charge and lob teargas shells, leading to injuries to several students including girls. Several student bodies including Students for Society (SFS), National Students Union of India (NSUI), Punjab University Students Union (PUSU) had given a joint call for Panjab University Bandh in protest against the fee hike. "We resorted to use force after students turned violent," UT Chandigarh SP Eish Singhal said, adding that some police vehicles were also damaged. "On our side 22 cops sustained injuries," SP said. "We have arrested 52 students so far for rioting and damaging public property," he said. After police used force, some protesting students took shelter in a Gurdwara situated on the campus. Earlier, the protesting students boycotted classes. Some students could also be seen forcing the shops to close. Some photo journalists and reporters who were covering the protest have also sustained injuries allegedly caused by police cane charge. Chandigarh Press Club strongly condemned the alleged lathicharge by the police on photographers and journalists. In a release issued here, the Press Clubs president Jaswant Rana and Secretary General Barinder Singh Rawat alongwith the governing council members demanded inquiry into the incident and registration of FIR against those police personal who were involved in lathicharge. A delegation of the Chandigarh Press Club will meet the UT Administrator, UT Adviser and UT IGP in this regard to take strict action against those involved in this incident, the release said. The students have been protesting against the "significant" hike in tuition fee announced by the PU senate last month for the 2017-18 academic year. advertisement In some courses, the fee hike was steep. In the B Pharma course, the fee was raised from Rs 5,080 to Rs 50,000 and in MA (journalism) course, the fee was hiked from Rs 5290 to Rs 30,000. For PUs dental course, the fees was increased from Rs 86,400 to Rs 1.50 lakh. With the students demanding rollback of the fee hike, the PU had justified the average 12.5 per cent hike while considering the financial condition of the university as the it has anticipated a deficit of Rs 244 crore for the financial year 2017-18. PTI CHS ASV --- ENDS --- NIST Competition Hunting for Indoor GPS Apps The Commerce Department agency is sponsoring a competition, PerfLoc, to generate the best apps from the developer community. Developers have until Aug. 17, 2017, to submit their entries. A new NIST Challenge seeks smartphone apps for indoor navigation -- apps that would analyze data from smartphone sensor readings, radio frequency signal strengths, and GPS fixes to help firefighters and other users find their way inside unfamiliar buildings. The Commerce Department agency is sponsoring a competition, PerfLoc, to generate the best apps from the developer community, with developers given until Aug. 17, 2017, to submit their entries. There are no smartphone apps for indoor navigation, but new data collected by the National Institute of Standards and Technology may help to solve the problem, according to the agency, which reports that a NIST-headed research team spent more than 18 months collecting data from four different smartphone models to facilitate the development of indoor navigation apps. Indoor localization tools could help emergency responders find victimsor each otherwhen seconds count and could assist with locating specific works of art in large museums or misplaced equipment in hospitals, factories, or warehouses, according to NIST's announcement of the competition. "The user community has expressed the need for careful testing of indoor localization solutions," said Nader Moayeri, NIST's principal investigator on the project. "Fire departments, for example, strongly desire ways to find a comrade who's fallen inside a burning building and who may die because he cannot determine the exit location due to low visibility from smoke or some other reason. Fire departments need to know how well these solutions are going to work before they invest their limited financial resources in them." The announcement reported the Federal Communications Commission has estimated more than 10,000 lives can be saved annually with better and timely location information for 911 calls placed from cellphones, many of which are made from indoor locations. NIST is offering cash prizes of $20,000, $10,000, and $5,000 to the top three submissions. The grand prize winner will be flown to a conference in Japan to present the winning idea and do a live demonstration of the app. "Of course, the biggest reward will not be the cash prize," Moayeri said. "The prestige that goes with it will matter to the designer." We hope you all had fun celebrating National Beer Day earlier this month. But do you know what's better than a whole day dedicated to beer? Seven whole days dedicated to beer! Milwaukee Beer Week is currently in the midst of its annual celebration of local and national craft beer tastings, tappings, pairings and collaboratings, running now through April 29 at numerous bars and restaurants across the city. "Milwaukee Beer Week is a celebration of the history of our city, and its growth and success over the past eight years is a testament to the incredible amount of passion and knowledge for craft beer that still exists today," said Dave Cartwright, craft sales manager for New Berlin-based beer wholesaler Beechwood Sales and Service, in a press release. "We are grateful for the creativity and participation of our local and national partners who come together each year to help make this event a success. From sit down dinners to rare beer samplings, there is truly something for everyone." To keep up with Milwaukee Beer Week's filled-to-the-brim list of tappings, tastings and more, follow the festival on Facebook or Twitter. Or download the app, which features real-time event updates and confirmations, the full event list mapped out by date, location or brewery, and other helpful tools to make the most out of your Milwaukee Beer Week. But to help out, here is just a sample of some of the events lined up for the rest of Milwaukee Beer Week: Tuesday, April 25 Beer and Bourbon: Palomino, 9 a.m. Throughout Milwaukee Beer Week, enjoy a pint of Surly Xtra Citra and a shot of Old Forester for $6 while you're filling up on Southern-inspired cuisine. Surly Vintage Bottle Raffle: Discount Liquor, Milwaukee, 4-7 p.m. Throughout Milwaukee Beer Week, Surly Brewing Company will serve up samples of its core brands, and every time a customer buys a four-pack, they earn a ticket for the vintage Surly bottle raffle. Guinness Beer Social: Red Lion Pub, 6-8 p.m. This free social event features Guinness Brewery ambassador Jimmy Callahan in attendance as well as samplings from Guinness' new additions. The first 20 people will also receive a free pint of Guinness. Explorium Brewpub Beer Dinner: Explorium Brewpub, 6-9:30 p.m. The new Hales Corners hotspot will host a five-course feast paired with its own house-brewed and special release craft beers. For menu and ticket information, visit The Explorium's website. Central Waters Beer Dinner: Morel, 6:30-9:30 p.m. For the third annual year, the Milwaukee Beer Dinner will hit Morel for five courses and six beers paired together by chef/owner Jonathan Manyo. Reservations required. Then stick around after for the afterparty at Camino, running until midnight. Wednesday, April 26 Central Waters + Burnhearts: Burnhearts, 3 p.m.-2 a.m. The Bay View establishment and Central Waters Brewing Company team up to celebrate Wednesday during Milwaukee Beer Week with a tap takeover. Bites N Brews: Parkside 23, 5-8 p.m. Another tasty beer and food pairing event, with special appetizers served up alongside Milwaukee Brewing Company brews. Operation Beer Fest: The Brown Bottle, 5-10 p.m. A special food menu, silent auction items and live music from Joe Wray will work to raise money for the Center for Veterans Issues. Hugs and Handshakes: Hi Hat Garage, 6-8 p.m. Milwaukee Beer Week comes to the popular Brady Street bar for a special event. For the first time, Milwaukee Brewing Company and Steny's will team up for a beer dinner, featuring special food and brew pairings. Reservations required. Thursday, April 27 Mr. Brews - Sierra Nevada: Mr. Brews Taphouse, 5-10 p.m. Celebrate Thirsty Thursday with this Sierra Nevada-themed beer fest. DFH Beer Dinner: Juniper 61, 5-8:30 p.m. Join Milwaukee Beer Week at Juniper 61 for a special beer dinner featuring Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales. Central Waters Firkin Night: Honeypie, 6-10 p.m. Enjoy a slice of pie with your suds, as Central Waters teams up with Honeypie to celebrate Milwaukee Beer Week's annual Firkin Night. Supplier Karaoke Throwdown: Fixture Pizza Pub, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Milwaukee Beer Week celebrates its second annual Supplier Karaoke Throwdown, the best of Midwest beers edition. Watch the event suppliers sing to the stars. Friday, April 28 Surly Vintage Bottle Raffle: Total Wine, 3-6 p.m. Throughout Milwaukee Beer Week, Surly Brewing Company will serve up samples of its core brands, and every time a customer buys a four-pack, they earn a ticket for the vintage Surly bottle raffle. For the IPA of It!: 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Enjoy a selection of year-round and seasonal IPAs. Location yet to be announced. MKE Brewing In-Store Sampling: Discount Liquor, 4-7 p.m. Milwaukee Brewing Company serves as brewery of the month, meaning Discount Liquor's Oklahoma Avenue location will dish out samples of Lo-Gii Wit, Louie's Resurrection, Weekend @ Louie's, Hop Freak Double IPA and Citrus Happy Blood Orange Hibiscus. A New-Bell's-Gium Experience: Sugar Maple, 6-10 p.m. Sugar Maple plays host to this taste of Italy-themed event featuring specialty beers, beer cocktails, bocce ball, silent films and custom on-site printed gear for MKE Movember. Saturday, April 29 Sierra Nevada Beers & BBQ: Sugar Maple, 12-5 p.m. It's exactly as it sounds: Sugar Maple will close out Milwaukee Beer Week with an event of Sierra Nevada beers and barbecue. Central Waters Wild Rumpus: The Rumpus Room, 3-10 p.m. Close out Milwaukee Beer Week with this special finale, featuring new beers, cellared favorites and other sudsy surprises. Let us go on the record, right from the start, that I dont think artistic competitions are of much value or importance. I just dont think art, as in theater, is a competitive sport. There are no objective measures (unless you use attendance figures) by which to judge who is the best actor or the best director or the best costume designer. It is a purely subjective decision, one that each person makes for him or herself. Subjective, like this commentary. Yet this is germane because we are on the precipice of the 2017 Footlights Performing Arts Awards. The contest comes sponsored by Footlights Magazine, which creates programs for over 150 companies in Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago. The balloting has been underway for a year, with public nominations, and now the results are in. The semi-finalists have been announced, and the three top finishers in each category will be announced in May, with the winners announced at a ceremony on June 22, hosted by John McGivern. The awards are co-sponsored by the United Performing Arts Fund, which is celebrating its 50th birthday. And to say that the process is a bit underwhelming is a generous but accurate description. Lets begin with the flood of nominations Footlights received between April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017. In that period of time, there were at least 120 professional plays in Milwaukee. I have no idea how many community theaters stage plays, but add those in, and Id guess the total is somewhere near 200. As Footlights reported in announcing the semifinalists, they received "over 500 submitted nominations." If you do the math, it seems as if there was hardly an overwhelming response from audience members who could vote. However, as is common in things like this, certain theaters almost certainly made sure that their subscribers got out and voted kind of like the Milwaukee Brewers urging their fans to vote for Brewer players for an All-Star Game. That's how it works. What this has done, as you will see from the list of nominees below, is create some vastly divergent competitions. Take the category of Best Choreography. Melissa Meier did the choreography for "Chicago," presented by Musical Masquers, which describes itself as "West Bends Longest Running Community Theatre." Meier is competing against John de los Santos, a New York native who has designed all over the country in big theaters with big budgets and did the work in "La Cage aux Follies" at Skylight this year. It just seems like an impossible mismatch. There are other, even more dramatic examples. In the "Best Leading Performance, Male in a Play" category, amateurs Mark Neufang ("The Odd Couple" at Delafield's Summer Stage) and Randall T. Anderson ("Fawlty Towers" at Waukesha Civic Theatre) are competing against Anthony Crivello, Chris Klopatek, James Ridge, C. Michael Wright and Matt Zambrano. Now Neufang and Anderson have performed in professional shows at Off The Wall, for instance but they're up against a crowd of Equity actors who have spent years taking classes, studying, perfecting their art and, in some cases, winning Tony awards. I don't mean to diminish the work of the amateurs. Community theater is a wonderful hobby, bringing fun, art and passion to those on stage as well as those family members and adventurous theater lovers in the crowd. But while the quality can be solid, the gulf between what they do and what the professionals do is like comparing the Milwaukee Bucks to a pickup game at your local YMCA. They just don't belong on the same court, or awards show. If Footlights wants to make these even moderately meaningful, they might want to consider having two categories: one professional and one for community theaters. And they need to get a lot more than 500 votes. Steve Marcus, the president and publisher of Footlights, said he recognized the inequality in some of the categories. "This is our first year," he said. "Sometimes I don't think the public knows the difference between community and professional theater. "The point about having a category for each level is a good idea. What we want is to help bring more attention to the performing arts in Milwaukee. We hope that these awards will eventually do just that." Late Monday night, Marcus said they would have separate categories for the pros and amateurs next year. Good for them. If we have to have awards, let's make them as fair as can be. Complete list of semi-finalists Best Costume Design Roger Bochek - "Christmas Carol," Presented by Falls Patio Player Roger Bochek - "My Fair Lady," Presented by Falls Patio Players Andrea Bouck - "A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Chris March - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Kimberly O'Callaghan - "The Few," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Shima Orans - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Shima Orans - "Pirates of Penzance," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Rhonda Schmidt - "Anything Goes," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Kathy Smith - "Ernest in Love," Presented by In Tandem Theatre Alex Tecoma - "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Best Technical Design, Lighting & Sound Holly Blomquist - "Anon(ymous)," Presented by UWM Peck School of the Arts Holly Blomquist - "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Jason Fassl - "Genesis," Presented by Milwaukee Ballet David Gipson - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Chris Guse - "The Few," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Jonathan Leubner - "Holiday Hell: The Curse of Perry Williams," Presented by In Tandem Theatre Jonathan Leubner - "Time Stands Still," Presented by In Tandem Theatre Katrina Smith - "Little Shop of Horrors," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Noele Stollmack - "A Lovely Sunday for Creve Couer," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Noele Stollmack - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Best Scenic Design Steve Barnes - "Holiday Hell: The Curse of Perry Williams," Presented by In Tandem Theatre Roger Bochek - "My Fair Lady," Presented by Falls Patio Players Chris Flieller - "Time Stands Still," Presented by In Tandem Theatre Todd Edward Ivins - "A Christmas Carol," Presented by Milwaukee Repertory Theater Joe C. Klug - "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse," Presented by First Stage Nick Korneski - "Anything Goes," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Courtney O'Neill - "A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre James Ortiz - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Liliana Duque Pineiro - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Sarah E. Ross - "The Drowning Girls," Presented by Renaissance Theaterworks Best Choreography Ryan Cappleman - "The Pirates of Penzance," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Jill Echo - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Megan Hohnl & Tricia Hohnl - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Hartford Players Pam Kriger - "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Dani Kuepper - "Molehill Stories," Presented by First Stage Melissa Meier - "Chicago," Presented by Musical Masquers Community Theatre John de los Santos - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Krislyn World - "Violet," Presented by Skylight Music Theat Best Direction Jerry Becker - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Hartford Players Breanne Brennan & Sandra Renick - "Parade," Presented by Lake Country Playhouse Jane Flieller - "Ernest in Love," Presented by In Tandem Theatre Leda Hoffman - "A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Pam Kriger - "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Mary MacDonald Kerr - "Luna Gale," Presented by Renaissance Theaterworks Dustin J. Martin - "33 Variations," Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre Mallory Metoxen - "The Drowning Girls," Presented by Renaissance Theaterworks Tommy Lueck - "Little Shop of Horrors," Presented by Sunset Playhouse C. Michael Wright - "The Few," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Best Supporting Performance, Male in a Play Marques Causey (Peter) - "Luna Gale," Presented by Renaissance Theaterworks Sean Duncan (Alonso de Corazon) - "Bonny Anne Bonny," Presented by Theater Red Nicholas Callan Haubner (Mike) - "33 Variations," Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre Di'Monte Henning (William) - "Lobby Hero," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Josh Scheibe (Wilde) - "Dancing With Hamlet," Presented by Off-Book Players Sam Sherman (Mad Hatter) - "Wonderland," Presented by Outskirts Theatre Co. Andrew E. Voss (Officer Bill) - "Lobby Hero," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Scott Ziolecki (Jem Finch) - "To Kill A Mockingbird," Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre Best Supporting Performance, Female in a Play Ruth Arnell (Clara Brandt) - "33 Variations," Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre Alyssa Falvey (Duchess) - "Wonderland," Presented by Outskirts Theatre Co. Molly Rhode (Saunders) - "Fallen Angels," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Molly Rhode (Liz) - "UnSilent Night," Presented by Next Act Theatre Rana Roman (Cassandra) - "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Bette Von Gunten (Bertha) - "Boeing Boeing," Presented by Hartford Players Jennifer Vosters (Virgilia) - "Coriolanus," Presented by Voices Found RepertoryBEST Best Supporting Performance, Male in a Musical Michael Accardo (The Barber) - "Man of La Mancha," Presented by Milwaukee Repertory Theater Tim Dondlinger (Colonel Pickering) - "My Fair Lady," Presented by Falls Patio Players Thomas Hess (Igor) - "Young Frankenstein," Presented by Lake Country Playhouse Shawn Holmes (Jacob) - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Colte Julian (Jean-Michel) - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Tom Kamenick (Harry McAfee) - "Bye Bye Birdie," Presented by Imagination Theatre of Germantown Jerry Krajewski (Billy Flynn) - "Chicago," Presented by Musical Masquers Community Theatre Connor Martin (Ryan Evans) - "High School Musical," Presented by Brookfield Center for the Arts Nick Nestorak (Ali) - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Jeff Schaetzke (Father) - "Violet," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Best Supporting Performance, Female in a Musical Rhonda Rae Busch (Jacqueline) - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Carol Greif (Marie) - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Kylee Hennes (Young Violet) - "Violet," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Angela Iannone (Lady Bracknell) - "Ernest in Love," Presented by In Tandem Theatre Katie Katschke (Tzeitel) - "Fiddler on the Roof," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Ella Rose Kleefisch (Young Violet) - "Violet," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Samantha Sostarich (Granny) - "Holiday Hell: The Curse of Perry Williams," Presented by In Tandem Theatre Erin Sure (Fatme) - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Stephanie Staszak (Anne) - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Sarah Thompson Johansen (Lisbe) - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Best Leading Performance, Male in a Play Randall T. Anderson (Basil Fawlty) - "Fawlty Towers," Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre Anthony Crivello (Al McGuire) - "McGuire," Presented by Milwaukee Repertory Theater Nicholas Callan Haubner (Oscar) - "The Odd Couple," Presented by SummerStage of Delafield Chris Klopatek (Jeff) - "Lobby Hero," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Mark Neufang (Felix) - "The Odd Couple," Presented by SummerStage of Delafield James Ridge (Bryan) - "The Few," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Josh Scheibe (Robert) - "Boeing Boeing," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Kelly Vance (Atticus Finch) - "To Kill a Mockingbird," Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre C. Michael Wright (Vanya) - "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Matt Zambrano (Charlie Baker) - "The Foreigner," Presented by Milwaukee Repertory Theater Best Leading Performance, Female in a Play Madeline Conway (Alice) - "Wonderland," Presented by Outskirts Theatre Co. Marti Gobel (Patricia/James Madison) - "The Taming," Presented by Next Act Victoria Hudziak (German Stewardess) - "Boeing Boeing," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Angela Iannone (Brutus) - "Julius Caesar," Presented by Optimist Theatre Mary MacDonald Kerr (QZ) - "The Few," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Beth Perry (Dr. Katherine Brandt) - "33 Variations," Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre Jennifer Vosters (Richard III) - "Richard III," Presented by Voices Found Repertory Jenny Wanasek (Sonia) - "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Tami Workentin (Caroline) - "Luna Gale," Presented by Renaissance Theaterworks Anna Marie Zorn (Lottie) - "Enchanted April," Presented by Falls Patio Players Best Leading Performance, Male in a Musical Ryan Charles (Jesus) - "Jesus Christ Superstar," Presented by Greendale Community Theatre Ray Jivoff (Albin) - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Alex Mace (Monty) - "Violet," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Nathan Marinan (Leo Frank) - "Parade," Presented by Lake Country Playhouse Norman Moses (Georges) - "La Cage Aux Folles," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Ben Johnson (Billy Crocker) - "Anything Goes," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Jason Powell (Ko-Ko) - "The Mikado," Presented by Milwaukee Opera Theatre Rick Richter (Tevye) - "Fiddler on the Roof," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Nathaniel Stampley (Don Quixote/Cervantes) - "Man of La Mancha," Presented by Milwaukee Repertory Theater Chaz'men Williams Ali (Azor) - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Best Leading Performance, Female in a Musical Kelli Cramer (Rose) - "Gypsy," Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre Marann Curtis (Rizzo) - "Grease," Presented by NewTheatre on Main Karen Estrada (Woman 1) - "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Gillian Hollis (Zemire) - "Beauty and the Beast," Presented by Skylight Music Theatre Katie Katschke (Audrey) - "Little Shop of Horrors," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Chantae Miller (Brooke) - "Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium," Presented by First Stage Rae Elizabeth Pare (Reno) - "Anything Goes," Presented by Sunset Playhouse Sarah Tajnai (Lucille Frank) - "Parade," Presented by Lake Country Playhouse Alicia York (Eliza Doolittle) - "My Fair Lady," Presented by Falls Patio Players Best Performance, Ballet, Concert, & Music "Back to Bach" - Presented by Wisconsin Philharmonic "Billy Joel & Friends" - Presented by Sunset Playhouse "Comicality 2017" - Presented by Hartford Players "Glorious Gershwin" - Presented by Sunset Playhouse "Into the Gardens" - Presented by Wild Space Dance "The Magic Flute" - Presented by Milwaukee Opera Theatre MSO Student Concert - Presented by Cedarburg Performing Arts Center "Sensational Cinema" - Presented by Wisconsin Philharmonic "The Story of the Nutcracker" - Presented by Studio of Classical Dance Arts "'Til Traveling Days Are Done" - Presented by Chant Claire Chamber Choir Best Performance, Best Play "33 Variations" - Presented by Waukesha Civic Theatre "Coriolanus" - Presented by Voices Found Repertory "Fences" - Presented by Milwaukee Repertory Theater "The Few" - Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre "The Glass Menagerie" - Presented by Carroll University "Luna Gale" - Presented by Renaissance Theaterworks "The Other Place" - Presented by Next Act Theatre "The Taming" - Presented by Next Act Theatre "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" - Presented by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre "Wonderland" - Presented by Outskirts Theatre Co. Best Performance, Best Musical A composite image of the Western hemisphere of the Earth. Credit: NASA Researchers have found signs of fault displacement at well-known rock outcrops in Colorado that mark the end-Cretaceous asteroid impact that may have hurried the extinction of the dinosaurs. They will present their results in a poster at the 2017 Seismological Society of America's (SSA) Annual Meeting. Norm Sleep of Stanford University and colleagues suggest that the impact, which occurred near the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, could have generated massive seismic waves that triggered earthquakes as far away as Colorado, in the center of a tectonic plate where no previous fault had existed. Sleep and his colleagues found evidence for the fault in two areas in Colorado's Trinidad Lakes State Park, where a layer of iridium generated by the asteroid impact clearly marks the boundary between Cretaceous and Tertiary-age rocks, at the time of the dinosaurs' extinction about 65 million years ago. At the Long's Canyon and Madrid Canyon roadcuts, "there is a fault that slipped about a meter at the time of the impact," Sleep said. "It offset the material below the impact layer but not above, but it's not something that would be obvious to the casual observer." The researchers suggest that the Colorado earthquake may have been as large as magnitude 6. Very strong seismic waves from the impactmuch larger than would be generated by a regular earthquake, Sleep saidwould be necessary to trigger an earthquake in this location, in the middle of a tectonic plate with no previous faults. The end-Cretaceous asteroid strike, however, could have generated ground velocities of a meter or two per second, Sleep said. "The ground would be moving up and down and sideways like a ship in a strong storm." At the time of the earthquake, the area in Colorado was a swampy, delta-like environment, crossed by large braided streams that ran from the young Rocky Mountains. Sleep and his colleagues saw signs that the earthquake had diverted a small stream in the area. This summer, the researchers will be checking in New Mexico near the Raton Basin for further signs of intraplate quakes that may have been triggered by the asteroid strike. More information: "Induced Intraplate Earthquakes in Colorado from Extreme Seismic Waves from the End-Cretaceous Asteroid Impact" will be presented at the SSA Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 18. All presentation abstracts for the 2017 SSA Annual Meeting can be accessed at meetings.seismosoc.org/abstracts By Rakesh Ranjan: AAP found ammunition to gun for the BJP on Monday after it emerged that the saffron party's Inderpuri candidate for this month's municipal polls, who was touted as a slum dweller and the face of the city's urban poor, happens to be a millionaire. Meet Sunita Kaushik, who was handpicked by the party's city chief Manoj Tiwari. advertisement The BJP went on the defensive after she told the state election commission in an affidavit that she has assets worth Rs 1.35 crore, including three residential houses in west Delhi. However, Kaushik is not an income-tax payer. Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Dilip Pandey termed the BJP's support for the slum dwellers and residents of unauthorised colonies in Delhi "hypocrisy" and "fake". By portraying a millionaire candidate as a slum dweller, the BJP has hurt the sentiments of the poor," he said. "It is an insult to lakhs of people living in Delhi's slums and unauthorised colonies in a pitiable condition." KAUSHIK'S PLUNGE INTO DELHI POLITICS Kaushik's plunge into Delhi politics was no less than a scene out of a Bollywood movie. Tiwari, who was on a visit to the Inderpuri slums this New Year's Eve, met the woman who came to the BJP president alleging that "politicians never listened to the problems of the poor". straight talk, Tiwari assured her of a "solution" and it surprised many when he declared Kaushik as the BJP's candidate from the local municipal ward. It was Tiwari's first visit to Delhi's slums after taking charge of Delhi BJP last year. He had spent the night of December 31, 2016 with the residents of Todapur slums where he also met Sunita Kaushik. "During the BJP president's visit, she had said that politicians don't listen to the poor. To this, she was promised a solution. Today she is a BJP candidate," the party's city unit had said in a statement after announcing her candidature. A senior leader said the BJP had also ensured her ticketkeeping in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to strengthen the weaker sections. "My visits were a reality check on the condition of slums and unauthorised colonies under the AAP government. I was pained to hear that politicians do not listen to the poor," Tiwari said about the interaction at the shanties. PROPERTIES OF SUNITA KAUSHIK Kaushik is a millionaire with two houses and jewellery worth Rs 97 lakh. She disclosed that she owns two residential properties measuring 720 square feet and 553 square feet at Dasghara in Inderpuri whose market price is pegged at Rs 50 lakh and Rs 32 lakh, respectively. Her husband, Shashi Bhushan, also owns a house worth Rs 10 lakh. The couple possesses jewellery worth Rs 7 lakh. Kaushik's share in it is valued at Rs 6 lakh. advertisement The affidavit also disclosed that she has Rs 50,000 in cash while her husband carries Rs 85,000. However, she only has Rs 1,000 in her bank account, a little more than her spouse's Rs 576. BJP leaders refused to comment on the assets declared by its candidate but said its pick was aimed at supporting the less-privileged. "While no other party has ever stood with the slum dwellers, the BJP is the only party to have chosen its candidate from the weaker sections. It has been done with a strong intent to strengthen the poor," said a party leader. Also Read: Ahead of MCD Polls, AAP slapped with another grievance by RWAs Manoj Tiwari queues up star campaigners for MCD elections Also Watch: Delhi Dangal: 10 reasons why the MCD poll is important for voters --- ENDS --- Credit: CC0 Public Domain Hackers are able to decipher PINs and passwords just from the way we tilt our phone when we are typing in the information. Cyber experts at Newcastle University, UK, have revealed the ease with which malicious websites, as well as installed apps, can spy on us using just the information from the motion sensors in our mobile phones. Analysing the movement of the device as we type in information, they have shown it is possible to crack four-digit PINs with a 70% accuracy on the first guess - 100% by the fifth guess - using just the data collected via the phone's numerous internal sensors. Despite the threat, the research shows that people are unaware of the risks and most of us have little idea what the majority of the twenty five different sensors available on current smart phones do. And while all the major players in the industry are aware of the problem, no-one has yet been able to find a solution. Publishing their findings today in the International Journal of Information Security, the team are now looking at the additional risks posed by personal fitness trackers which are linked up to our online profiles and can potentially be used to interpret the slightest wrist movements as well as general physical activities such as sitting, walking, running, and different forms of commute. Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad, a Research Fellow in the School of Computing Science and lead author on the paper, explains: "Most smart phones, tablets, and other wearables are now equipped with a multitude of sensors, from the well-known GPS, camera and microphone to instruments such as the gyroscope, proximity, NFC, and rotation sensors and accelerometer. "But because mobile apps and websites don't need to ask permission to access most of them, malicious programs can covertly 'listen in' on your sensor data and use it to discover a wide range of sensitive information about you such as phone call timing, physical activities and even your touch actions, PINs and passwords. "More worrying, on some browsers, we found that if you open a page on your phone or tablet which hosts one of these malicious code and then open, for example, your online banking account without closing the previous tab, then they can spy on every personal detail you enter. "And worse still, in some cases, unless you close them down completely, they can even spy on you when your phone is locked. "Despite the very real risks, when we asked people which sensors they were most concerned about we found a direct correlation between perceived risk and understanding. So people were far more concerned about the camera and GPS than they were about the silent sensors." Access without permission Sensors are now commonplace in smart devices and are largely responsible for the boom in mobile gaming and health and fitness apps, and soon in all devices in the Internet of Things (IoT). The data provided by them combined with the growing computational ability of mobile phones and tablets has transformed the way we use them. In total, the team identified 25 different sensors which now come as standard on most smart devices and are used to give different information about the device and its user. Only a small number of these - such as the camera and GPS - ask the user's permission to access the device. The study found that each user touch action - clicking, scrolling, holding and tapping - induces a unique orientation and motion trace. So on a known webpage, the team were able to determine what part of the page the user was clicking on and what they were typing. "It's a bit like doing a jigsaw - the more pieces you put together the easier it is to see the picture," explains Dr Siamak Shahandashti, a Senior Research Associate in the School of Computing Science and co-author on the study. "Depending on how we type - whether you hold your phone in one hand and use your thumb, or perhaps hold with one hand and type with the other, whether you touch or swipe - the device will tilt in a certain way and it's quite easy to start to recognise tilt patterns associated with 'Touch Signatures' that we use regularly. "So the internal sensors each provide a different bit of the jigsaw. Personal fitness trackers which you wear on your wrist and, by their very nature, are designed to track the movement of your hand and pass information to your online profile pose a whole new threat. "Potentially, they are able to provide additional information which, when combined with this sensor data, will make it even easier to decipher personal information." So are we able to protect ourselves? The team has alerted all the major browser providers - including Google and Apple - of the risks but for the moment, says Dr Mehrnezhad, no-one has been able to come up with an answer. "It's a battle between usability and security," she says. "We all clamour for the latest phone with the latest features and better user experience but because there is no uniform way of managing sensors across the industry they pose a real threat to our personal security. "One way would be to deny access to the browser altogether but we don't want to lose all the benefits associated with in-built motion sensors." As the result of the research, some of the mobile browser vendors such as Mozilla, Firefox and Apple Safari have partially fixed the problem, but for an ultimate solution, the Newcastle team is still working with industry. Dr Mehrnezhad, who together with her colleague and co-author Ehsan Toreini run the Cyber Security: Safety at Home, Online, In Life course, part of Newcastle University's series of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), say there are some simple rules people should follow: Make sure you change PINs and passwords regularly so malicious websites can't start to recognise a pattern. Close background apps when you are not using them and uninstall apps you no longer need Keep your phone operating system and apps up to date Only install applications from approved app stores Audit the permissions that apps have on your phone Scrutinise the permission requested by apps before you install them and choose alternatives with more sensible permissions if needed More information: Stealing PINs via Mobile Sensors: Actual Risk versus User Perception. Maryam Mehrnezhad, Ehsan Toreini, Siamak Shahandashti and Feng Hao. IJIS - International Journal of Information Security - (10207/IJIS) More information on how to stay safe can be found here: www.futurelearn.com/courses/cy urity/2/steps/160839 In recent years, science and the media have been buzzing with the term CRISPR. From speculation around reviving the woolly mammoth to promises of distant cures for cancer, the unproven potential for this genome editing tool has been stretched far and wide. It's therefore no surprise that CRISPR has piqued the interest of many scientists and the public alike. So in this post we'll be exploring this innovation by answering some of the most common questions that pop up. 1. What is CRISPR? CRISPR, or more precisely CRISPR-Cas9, is a molecular toolkit that scientists have developed to make precise edits to DNA our code of life. It was actually borrowed from bacteria, where in its original form it was used to protect microbes from attack by viruses. 2. How does it work? The system is made up of 2 parts. The first is a strand of RNA DNA's chemical cousin which matches up with a region of DNA inside a cell that a scientist may want to target. This then acts as a shepherd to guide the second component a pair of 'molecular scissors' called Cas9 to the site of action, where it makes a snip across the DNA. 3. What can it do? Once scientists have chopped their target region of DNA, a number of possibilities are opened up: they could disrupt the function of a particular gene, cut it out, make precise spelling changes to the DNA sequence, or slip in an entirely new gene. It's an extremely precise method of genetic modification. 4. Is it worth the hype? CRISPR allows scientists to edit DNA in a way that's quicker, cheaper and more accurate than ever before. So it's an exciting development that's opening up new possibilities for scientists across the globe working in a number of different fields. But looking beyond the lab it's still very early days. Ideas for how the technology might be adapted to treat diseases are only just beginning to be considered. So it's important to be wary of premature promises made in the media when there is a lot of research to be done, and risks to be measured. 5. What are the concerns over safety as the tech develops? Although CRISPR is hailed for its precision, concerns lie with what might happen if it misses its target, which it can. DNA is complex and many genes are intricately linked, so it could well be that modifying one gene has the scientists' desired outcome, but also inadvertently affects the function of other genes and molecules. DNA is also written using an alphabet of just 4 chemical letters, meaning stretches of DNA that look very similar might both be targeted by CRISPR, which again may cause unintended effects. So scientists need to thoroughly scrutinise the consequences of their edits in these early lab development stages to ensure that they're not accidentally disrupting something important, which might not immediately be apparent. 6. How is it used in cancer research? Cancer is caused by faulty genes, so recreating these in the lab with CRISPR allows researchers to explore the underlying biology of the disease and understand more about how it develops. That's what our scientists are doing for a type of brain tumour called glioblastoma. Tweaking genes in cancer cells could also help identify those that are essential for the cells' survival, and therefore could be targeted with new treatments. On top of that, scientists could use the technique to explore ways that cancer cells become resistant to drugs, potentially opening up new ways to stop this from happening. 7. Could it help cure cancers? Cancer isn't a single disease in fact, it's a group of more than 200 unique diseases so it's unlikely that any single treatment could act as a one-size-fits-all panacea. That includes CRISPR. And while there's no evidence yet that CRISPR can be used to treat cancer, it's possible that as the technology develops it could be used in treatments in some way. The most promising idea so far is to use it in cell therapy, where patients' own immune cells would be taken out and tweaked, giving them a 'power-up' so that they can better attack the cancer when given back to the patient. But this idea still needs testing in clinical trials. 8. What can't it do (yet)? With the advent of gene editing came the idea that this technique could potentially be used to correct faulty, disease-causing genes in people, therefore curing their illness. This remains a long way off, and would be an incredibly complex area to study, but it's not impossible. Much more research is needed first and where the desired edits might involve correcting inherited faulty genes, there are huge ethical questions to address, particularly around editing human embryos. These kinds of public debates, discussions and expert recommendations are already underway. 9. So, where are we now? In the context of cancer, CRISPR is beginning to move from lab bench to bedside. Last year scientists in China began trialling CRISPR-edited immune cells in lung cancer patients, where they'd snipped out a gene that produces a stop signal, called PD-1, for the immune system. They plan to test if this edit will boost the cells' cancer-killing abilities, but we won't know the results for a while. A team in the US is also nipping at their heels, launching a similar trial this year but for several different cancers. These could mark the beginnings of a new wave of cancer treatment. And those clinical trials will hopefully provide some early answers. Whether or not CRISPR will ultimately match its promise is unknown. But it's an exciting time for science. Of that there is no doubt. Credit: Scott Meltzer/public domain Drivers who slow down while using mobile phones have the potential to increase on-road conflicts, a new QUT study warns. Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios, from QUT's Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), said distracted drivers reducing their speed might sound favourable in terms of safety, but it could also lead to other types of crash risk. "Drivers frustrated by following slow moving vehicles whose drivers have reduced speed to keep talking on their phones may perform aggressive overtaking manoeuvres, increasing the crash risk for other road users," he said. The results of the study Effects of road infrastructure and traffic complexity in speed adaptation behaviour of distracted drivers have been published in the leading road safety journal Accident Analysis and Prevention. Mr Oviedo-Trespalacios said using a mobile phone while driving had been shown to increase crash risk four-fold. "Young drivers are particularly at risk as there is a greater prevalence of driving while using a mobile phone in this age group. "While it's illegal to use a handheld mobile phone while driving in Australia research has shown drivers continue to adopt the dangerous practice." In a bid to highlight the dangers but also identify possible solutions, Mr Oviedo-Trespalacios' research has looked at the way drivers react and respond to mobile phone use behind the wheel. "We found that on average distracted drivers travel at about 5km/h slower when following another vehicle and almost 3km/h slower in free-flowing traffic. "The negative consequences this has on other road users include increased risk of nose-to-tail crashes as a result of sudden stopping, perception of discourteous or aggressive driver behaviour, as well congestion to the transport system," he said. "I guess the question needs to be asked, do we really want to sacrifice safety, efficiency and courtesy just to have a conversation?" Mr Oviedo-Trespalacios said the research also suggested ideas for safe ways to use mobile phones while driving. "We need to consider that if we can't stop drivers using their mobile phones, is there a way to make it safe? "For example, changing the design of mobile phones so they are context-aware and only work when it is safe to do so. "Other options maybe looking at advances in technology and developing warning systems that alert drivers when they are distracted, or advise drivers of when it is safe to use their phone handsfree." More information: Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios et al, Effects of road infrastructure and traffic complexity in speed adaptation behaviour of distracted drivers, Accident Analysis & Prevention (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2017.01.018 A team of volcanologists and engineers from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol has collected measurements from directly within volcanic clouds, together with visual and thermal images of inaccessible volcano peaks. During a ten-day research trip, the team carried out many proof-of-concept flights at the summits of both Volcan de Fuego and Volcan de Pacaya in Guatemala. Using lightweight modern sensors they measured temperature, humidity and thermal data within the volcanic clouds and took images of multiple eruptions in real-time. This is one of the first times that bespoke fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used at a volcano such as Fuego, where the lack of close access to the summit vent has prevented robust gas measurements. Funding from the Cabot Institute has helped the team to develop technologies to enable this capability. The UAVs were successfully flown at distances of up to 8 km away, and at a height of over 3 km above the launch site. The group plan to return to Guatemala later in the year with a wider range of sensors including a gas analyser, a four-stage filter pack; carbon stubs for ash sampling; thermal and visual cameras, and atmospheric sensors. Dr Emma Liu, a volcanologist from the Department of Earth Sciences at Cambridge, said: "Drones offer an invaluable solution to the challenges of in-situ sampling and routine monitoring of volcanic emissions, particularly those where the near-vent region is prohibitively hazardous or inaccessible. "These sensors not only help to understand emissions from volcanoes, they could also be used in the future to help alert local communities of impending eruptions particularly if the flights can be automated." Dr Kieran Wood, Senior Research Associate in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Bristol, added: "Even during this initial campaign we were able to meet significant science and engineering targets. For example, multiple imaging flights over several days captured the rapidly changing topography of Fuego's summit. These showed that the volcano was erupting from not just one, but two active summit vents." Taking time out from their sample flights, the research group also used their aircraft to map the topology of a barranca and the volcanic deposits within it. These deposits were formed by a recent pyroclastic flow, a fast-moving cloud of superheated ash and gas, which travelled down the barranca from Fuego. The data captured will assist in modelling flow pathways and the potential impact of future volcanic eruptions on nearby settlements. Dr Matt Watson, Reader in Natural Hazards in the School of Earth Sciences at Bristol, said: "This is exciting initial research for future investigations, and would not be possible without a very close collaboration between volcanology and engineering." Molecular structure of C-Naphox. Credit: Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) A new dye might allow researchers to view natural processes in extremely small components of living cells over a prolonged period of time; a previously unattainable feat. Optical microscopy allows researchers to see and distinguish between objects that are about 200 nanometres (nm) apart. In comparison, a human hair is about 90,000 nm thick. Unfortunately, most objects of interest in biology, such as organelles in cells and proteins, are much smaller than 200 nm. Biologists have been looking for ways to improve the resolution of microscopes, pioneering the field of super-resolution microscopy. Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy is one such improvement: a source of light focuses on a point of interest while the surrounding zone is kept in the dark and toned down, so to speak, using a special laser to form a background without interferences. This technique is fluorescence-based, using special dyes to tag the cells or structures of interest. STED microscopy is very effective, allowing researchers to detect objects that are only tens of nanometres apart. However, it does come with its own set of challenges: most importantly, that the special laser used to tone down the background is, counter-intuitively, very intense. Not many dyes can withstand this intensity without losing fluorescence so quickly that only a few images can be taken, which is much too fast for the needs of researchers. (Above) STED microscopy images of cells with C-Naphox remained stable. (Below) STED microscopy images with a commercially available compound. Credit: Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) Professor Shigehiro Yamaguchi and Professor Tetsuya Higashiyama from the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules at Nagoya University in Japan have developed a dye, called C-Naphox, that, thanks to a carbon-bonded structure, is very stable and does not dim even under the harsh conditions of STED microscopy. It is also non-toxic, so it can be used in live cells. The researchers found that the dye remained stable after two hours of irradiation. When taking multiple images in successiona key part of super-resolution microscopy as it allows researchers to follow live cells undergoing their natural processes over timethe team found that C-Naphox remained stable after five images. Even after taking 50 images, more than 80 percent of the C-Naphox signal remained. In comparison, one of the best options available commercially, a compound called Alexa 488, dimmed almost to invisibility after taking only five images. Once widely available, C-Naphox should enable prolonged recording of live cells using STED microscopy; a previously unattainable feat. A "self-heating" boron catalyst that makes particularly efficient use of sunlight to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) serves as a light harvester, photothermal converter, hydrogen generator, and catalyst in one. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, researchers introduce a photothermocatalytic reaction that requires no additives beyond water. This could form the basis of a new, more efficient process for converting the greenhouse gas CO2 into a useful carbon source for the production of fuels and chemical products. The ideal route for making CO2 useful is considered to be reduction aided by a photocatalyst to use sunlight as the only source of energya process that corresponds to the first step of photosynthesis. Despite decades of research, processes for converting CO2 are still too inefficient. "This is largely due to the insufficient utilization of solar light, the high energy barrier for CO2 activation, and the sluggish kinetics of the multiple electron and proton transfer processes," explains Jinhua Ye. Working with a team for the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, and Hokkaido University in Sapporo (Japan), as well as Tianjin University and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (China), Ye is now pursuing a strategy that uses both the light and thermal energy provided by sunlight. When the sun shines on a surface, it is heated. The researchers want to use this ordinary photothermic effect to increase the efficiency of catalytic systems. Their material of choice is powdered elemental boron, which very strongly absorbs sunlight and efficiently converts it photothermically, heating itself up remarkably. This allowed the team to carry out the efficient reduction of CO2 to form carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) under irradiation in the presence of water, with no additional reagents or co-catalysts. Irradiation causes the boron particles to heat up to about 378 C. At this temperature it reacts with water, forming hydrogen and boron oxides in situ. The boron oxides act as "traps" for CO2 molecules. The hydrogen is highly reactive and, in the presence of the light-activated boron catalyst, efficiently reduces the CO2 by providing the necessary protons (H+) and electrons. "The key to our success lies in the favorable properties of the boron powder, which make it an all-in-one catalyst: light harvester, photothermic converter, hydrogen source, and catalyst," says Ye. "Our study confirms the highly promising potential of a photothermocatalytic strategy for the conversion of CO2 and potentially opens new vistas for the development of other solar-energy-driven reaction systems." Provided by Wiley Researchers in London have investigated 1151 psychology journals and found that just 3% state that they welcome scientists to submit replication studies for publication. In replication studies, scientists try to replicate the findings of previous studies to verify that their results are robust and correct. Publishing research findings in scientific journals is a career yardstick for many scientists, where the number and perceived impact of their publications are considered important measures of career success. This view is also frequently taken by the funding bodies and tenure committees that provide academic researchers with hotly contested research funding and job security. Scientific journals provide a platform for scientists to communicate their research. The impact of published papers is often gauged by how many times they are cited (or referenced) by other papers, the idea being that such citations indicate that other scientists are building on the original work. Scientific journals are also judged on the citations their published manuscripts receive, leading to metrics such as the impact factor. Put simply, the impact factor represents the average number of citations an article in a journal receives in a year. Journals with higher impact factors are often considered to be more desirable places to publish, although the impact factor has sometimes been criticized as an inaccurate measurement of quality. The tendency for many journals to accept only papers that report positive and original findings has been termed publication bias. In traditional academic publishing, a small minority of submitted studies are accepted for publication, based on their perceived significance or originality, or if they confirm an existing hypothesis. Studies that are thought to provide only a small advance, or those that present "non-impactful" or negative results are frequently rejected. In fact, many journals explicitly state in their aims or guide to authors that high levels of significance or originality are a prerequisite for publication. Journal editors often enforce extremely high rejection rates, the idea being that selective publishing will increase the journal's impact factor. However, this traditional publishing model has drawn criticism that it may exclude studies with perceived low impact, but which are valuable for scientific integrity and development. Replications are one such type of study, where researchers attempt to replicate the findings of previous studies to verify that their results are robust and correct. It is important that scientific experiments are repeatable and produce identical or similar results if repeated. Otherwise, it is difficult to know if experimental results are correct and reveal a real phenomenon, or if they are merely a one-off caused by experimental error or highly specific conditions that are difficult to recreate. "Science progresses through replication and contradiction. The former builds the body of evidence, the latter determines whether such a body exists," explains Professor Neil Martin, of Regent's University London, lead author on the study, recently published in Frontiers in Psychology. Recently, a so-called "replication crisis" has been brewing in science. This is occurring across various fields, but the issue has recently come to a head following some high-profile failed replications in psychology. "Researchers have been accused of various creative methodological misdemeanors which may have led to false-positive results being published," says Martin. "We're still uncovering questionable research practices in some well-known historical studies, and I would not be surprised to see many others emerging." There is a growing awareness and discussion in the wider scientific community that replications are not performed or published enough. This could potentially result in whole areas of scientific research being constructed on foundations of sand. There are many reasons for the lack of replication studies in various fields of science. The overriding scientific culture is one of innovation, originality and discovery, and scientists may be reluctant to conduct "housekeeping" replication studies, when resources are limited. Another potential reason is the perception that replications have limited impact, and will therefore be difficult to publish. "Journals have been criticized for not readily accepting replications, but the basis for this criticism is anecdotal," explains Martin. To begin to quantify this phenomenon, Martin and Richard Clarke, a research student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, investigated how welcoming psychology journals are to publishing replications. "We wanted to investigate whether journals specifically rejected (or did not recommend) the submission of replications. We did this by examining the aims and instructions to authors of 1151 journals in psychology," says Martin. The team found that only 3% of the psychology journals on their list explicitly stated that they accepted replications. There was no difference between high and low impact journals and no difference between the different branches of psychology. 33% of the journals emphasized the need for scientific originality in submissions, which discourages scientists to submit replications, while 63% neither encouraged nor discouraged replications. The remaining 1% actively discouraged replications. So how do we make psychology journals more welcoming to replications? "We've suggested that all journals in psychology should state that they accept replications that are positive and negative," explains Martin. "Researchers could also submit two papers for publication when they submit original research: one which reports the original results and one replication which acts as a test of the original findings." An alternative approach to traditional publishing, in the form of impact-neutral publishers, could also help to increase the number of published replications. Impact-neutral publishers, such as Frontiers, PLOS ONE and many BMC journals, don't make value judgements on perceived impact, and instead assess the scientific validity of a submitted study, when deciding whether to publish it. "If a study tests a hypothesis based on sound reasoning, using sound methodology with appropriate data analysis, those should be the absolute criteria for publishing," says Martin. Provided by Frontiers Wood scientist Solace Sam-Brew envisions a future where Canadian homes are furnished with products made from flax and hemp. "Both flax and hemp are widely available in Canada, especially in the West," said Sam-Brew, a recent PhD graduate from the University of British Columbia's faculty of forestry. "It's worth considering their viability as alternative raw materials to wood for particleboard production." Particleboards are used in products like countertops, shelves and flat-packed furniture. For her PhD, supervised by professor Gregory Smith, Sam-Brew evaluated the characteristics of flax and hemp residues. She determined their physical and mechanical board properties by soaking and breaking hundreds of particleboards to test their strength and durability. While Sam-Brew found flax and hemp residues were technically better, she hit one snag. The current economics of manufacturing flax and hemp particleboards in Canada are too high for it to flourish as a competitive material. "The resin, or glue, needed to produce flax and hemp particleboard is a financial barrier," she said. Resin holds the particles in the board together and flax and hemp products use expensive resin, called pMDI, as the substitute for cheap urea-formaldehyde. Sam-Brew was able to show in her PhD research that the amount of resin needed for flax and hemp particleboards could be reduced, which would help lower the cost. Substituting lignin, a plant binder, for a portion of the pMDI resin, could also reduce the cost. Credit: University of British Columbia According to Sam-Brew, a burgeoning niche market for flax and hemp particleboards exists in Europe. Decades of flax and hemp processing there and the number of companies in business have led to more competitive pricing. Sam-Brew said the business case for a similar industry in Canada lies in a facility willing to take a chance on the sustainable alternative considering the growing competition for wood residue. Wood residue is wood waste from sawmills and joinery manufacturers, like wood chips, shavings, sawdust and trims, all highly sought after for use by multiple industries, including biofuel, pellet, pulp and paper. "They're all fighting over one resource, which can sometimes be in short supply," said Sam-Brew. "If a company has to travel long distances to collect the wood waste they need to make their products, that costs them money. The particleboard industry could benefit from using non-wood resources if the price is right." For now, flax and hemp particleboard production is at a standstill in Canada. But Sam-Brew remains optimistic. "Flax and hemp particleboards are lighter than wood," she said. "The downstream impacts of making a lighter product could mean faster production rates and significant energy and transportation savings." "The economics don't look good now, but they could later." This Oct. 20, 2015, file photo, shows a sign outside Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. Google says it is "taken aback" by the Labor Department's claim that it does not compensate women fairly. The company says it conducts "rigorous analyses" that its pay practices are gender-blind and analysts who calculate suggested pay do not have access to an employee's gender data. The company says it analyzed 52 major job categories in 2016 and found "no gender pay gap." (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Google said it's "taken aback " by the government's claim that it doesn't compensate women fairly. The company said it conducts "rigorous analyses" that its pay practices are gender-blind and found "no gender pay gap" in 52 major job categories it analyzed last year. Google added that analysts who calculate suggested pay don't have access to employees' gender data. Google also said that beyond gender pay equity, the company recently expanded the analysis to cover race in the U.S. as well. The U.S. Department of Labor had accused Google of shortchanging women doing similar work to men, saying it found "systemic compensation disparities" across the company's workforce. Google responded in a blog post Tuesday that the department's assertion "came without any supporting data or methodology." The company said it had already produced hundreds of thousands of documents in response to 18 separate requests, and the government is seeking thousands more, including contact details of employees. The department had no comment, saying the case is ongoing. The difference between Google's and the Labor Department's claims might come down to how each side defines pay discrimination, Tim Worstall, a fellow at the Adam Smith Institute in London, wrote in a recent post for Forbes. "Google is using a strict definition of 'same job' to find no gender pay gap. The Department of Labor is using a looser definition of 'similar job' to find that there is one," he wrote. "Who you think is right here is entirely up to you but that's where the disagreement is." 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Russias ecovillagers want to revive the cultural traditions of their ancestors. Credit: De Visu / shutterstock Green politics is associated with the left these days, but that doesn't rule out an eco-friendly turn at the opposite end of the spectrum. After all, nationalist worries over finite resources and talk of "threats to tradition" have been echoed throughout the history of the green movement. So, is a far right environmentalism possible? And if so, given climate change is hugely disruptive for any form of traditional nationalist idyll, how long before far right groups join the likes of Greenpeace on the frontlines? Modern forms of green activism emerged in the 1960s in a context of threats like acid rain or increasing pesticide use which transcended national boundaries. The EU in the early 1970s also began to grapple with environmental problems that could no longer be effectively managed by individual states. This form of green activism thus showed that the nation state had failed to protect citizens against environmental problems. As such, it drew upon an older tradition that in the 1800s reacted against the perceived attacks on humanity and nature by capitalist interests by calling for a return to the land. This could give early environmentalism a left-wing flavour, as in the Winter Hill trespass of 1896 when thousands of people in Bolton reclaimed an ancient right of way through private land. But the disruption that modernisation brings also produced a range of responses that could be termed "green nationalism". The far right feels threatened The far right respond to threats they perceive to custom, culture, identity and locales posed by cosmopolitan elites. They usually have settler value systems that express pessimism and victimhood, emphasise threats rather than opportunities and see conspiracies as explanations for the degradation of their personal and group life-chances and local environment. This leads to a green nationalism of defensive parochialism in which degradation of local features are opposed because they negatively affect customs such as tending allotments, or the retention of the village green threaten the familiar locale, and represent the effects of distrusted outsiders. How this plays out in practice seems to depend upon which outsiders they distrust. In the US there are Tea Party environmentalists who have been mobilised, for instance, by the impact of polluting energy companies. However, a tradition of blaming government not business, along with diversionary nationalist propaganda (Drill here! Drill now!) funded by wealthy oil barons, has meant these same activists are often vehement opponents of better environmental regulation. In contrast, right-wing groups in Britain seem simply to ignore the environmental threats posed by extreme energy extraction such as fracking. Nationalism needs landscape The landscape is a key element in national identity throughout the world. A defence of that landscape against perceived threats can so become an environmentalism focused on preserving the distinctive characteristics of a nation's land, from the rolling green fields of England to the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland. This has often been accompanied by other ways of reasserting identity. Myths of a pagan past in harmony with nature have been a feature of green nationalism, from its beginnings through to the Anastasia ecovillages in contemporary Russia where, unlike their equivalent hippy communes found in the West, sustainable living is combined with a "reactionary eco-nationalism". Such myths give identity and meaning to some groups attracted to the far right, such as the skinhead movement that emerged in Britain in the 1960s, while also providing imagined alternatives to the drudgery associated with modern capitalism or the compromises of democracy. 'They come here, use our finite resources ' The other aspect of the green movement that is appropriated by the far right is the concern about the depletion of key resources by unchecked usage. At its most cynical, this can be a far right equivalent of business "greenwashing". However, it also reflects a tendency to see economics and society as a zero-sum game in which every gain for others is a loss for the victimised groups they see themselves as. Concerns about finite resources therefore align with anxieties about immigration. Far right groups and their media supporters are swift to exploit fears of threats to the local animals allegedly posed by immigrants. Such baseless hostility is then compounded by the widespread and equally erroneous view that England's green and pleasant land has already largely disappeared under concrete. Green causes are not usually the main motivating factor for those attracted to the far right. This does not mean, however, that their espousal is mere greenwashing. The far right tends to think of green issues differently from their left-wing counterparts. Their approach focuses on the local, not the global, and reflects the centrality of landscape to national identities. Their defensive parochialism means that these threats are usually seen in cultural terms through the appropriation of victimhood, hence the tendency to focus upon immigration as opposed to the emphases of left-wing environmentalists. Green issues tend to be seen by the far right through the distinct lenses of cultural identity and the land. That does not necessarily prevent, however, the emergence of a green nationalism. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. RWAs expressed dismay over the introduction of mohalla sabhas and sidelining them. By Sneha Agrawal: As the municipal polls draw near, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government has been slapped with yet another grievance by Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) that play an important role in the elections. The RWAs are disappointed that the state government has taken no steps to empower them in the form of RWA Act as promised ahead of the assembly elections. advertisement PROMISES MADE BY THE AAM AADMI PARTY Under the AAP's citizen empowerment vision document, RWAs were to be empowered so that they do not have to depend entirely on councillors, MLAs or MPs to cater to minor civic issues. RWAs were to be a made a legal sanctity and allotted `4 crore annually to carry out local development, repair and welfare work without external interference once the Act came into force. BS Vohra, president, East Delhi RWAs Joint Front, has also shot off a mail to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy CM Manish Sisodia seeking an update on the promise made. Speaking to Mail Today, Vohra said, "RWAs are a big community in itself that work without any political motive. We are critics of the work being done by our representatives. In a meeting held in 2014 with Arvind Kejriwal, he had promised streamlining RWAs and empowering them, but after that meeting, nothing has been heard about the promise." "We have to run to councilors and MLAs for every small thing. Had we been allotted the said funds, we could have addressed several minor civic problems such as covering up potholes or begin rain water harvesting ," Vohra added. AAP and state government spokespersons were unavailable for comment despite several calls and messages from Mail Today. DISMAY OF THE RWAs RWAs expressed dismay over the introduction of mohalla sabhas and sidelining them. Saurabh Gandhi, general secretary, United Residents of Delhi, said, "Though AAP is credited with mohalla sabhas, sadly, they do not recognise RWAs now. The deputy CM himself questions about us in the meetings." "This is when the truth is that RWAs are the only non-profit organisations working unselfishly for last-mile governance. They remember us only during elections," Gandhi added. The RWAs are also of the view that both the state government and MCDs are ill-equipped to handle some of the most pressing problems in the city and excluding RWAs in decision making cannot bring change. Ashutosh Dikshit, CEO, United Residents' Joint Action of Delhi, echoed his views, "We are disappointed with all political parties on this issue. Whether it is 'resident ward committees' that the erstwhile BJP government promised or AAP's 'RWA Act,', we have been neglected." Also Read: Delhi MCD polls: State Election Commission rejects 40 per cent nominations during scrutiny Delhi MCD elections: Nomination of 4 BJP candidates rejected Also Watch: advertisement Delhi Dangal: 10 reasons why the MCD poll is important for voters --- ENDS --- The study used Great Barrier Reef sponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Credit: University of Queensland Humans have a lot in common with the humble sea sponge, according to research that changes the way we think about animal evolution. University of Queensland School of Biological Sciences researcher Dr Milos Tanurdzic said a collaborative study found sponges use a complex gene regulation toolkit similar to much more complex organisms such as humans. Gene regulation refers to how and when a gene is activated. "The research implies this complex mechanism was present at the evolutionary dawn of multicellular animals and across animal species as far apart as sponges and humans," Dr Tanurdzic said. "Until very recently we thought increasing complexity in the animal kingdom was due to an ever-increasing number of genes that encode information about animal development and growth. "However, the genomics explosion of the last decade taught us most animals have a similar number of genes encoded in their DNA. "The alternative, and today the prevailing explanation, is that gene regulation is responsible for the evolution of animal diversity." The study was largely undertaken by former UQ PhD student Dr Federico Gaiti, now at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, USA. Dr Tanurdzic said a key mechanism responsible for regulating genes in multi-celled organisms was how the DNA was packaged within the genetic material, or genome. "DNA associates with special proteins - called histones - in the nucleus," he said. "Histones can bear certain chemical marks, which in turn determine if the DNA associated with them is going to be turned on or off." Histone marking gone awry is also responsible for some of the more insidious genetic errors, such as when a normal cell becomes cancerous. "Our study, which used a Great Barrier Reef sponge, Amphimedon queenslandica, set out to discover if this particular mechanism of gene regulation is present in the oldest multicellular animal lineage the sponges," he said. "Through analysis of DNA with certain histone marks we determined that histone-based gene regulation is part of the sponge gene regulatory tool kit. "As the common ancestor of humans and sponges probably lived 700 million years ago, this implies that gene regulatory complexity relying on histone marks was fundamental for the evolution of animal multicellularity and diverse animal forms and functions." The study, published in eLife, brought together a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the Degnan and Tanurdzic labs at UQ. More information: Federico Gaiti et al. Landscape of histone modifications in a sponge reveals the origin of animal-regulatory complexity, eLife (2017). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.22194 Journal information: eLife Atafu Village, Tokelau. Credit: Victoria University Ants in New Zealand might be annoying, but in the Pacific, invasive ant species are tiny terrors that are destroying food crops, blinding pets and livestock, and forcing people off their land. Pacific Biosecurity, a non-profit organisation operating out of Victoria University of Wellington's School of Biological Sciences and supported by Viclink, Victoria University's commercialisation office, is halfway through a five-year project funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme to improve capacity to deal with invasive ants. The researchers involved say the results so far are positive. "We've been collaborating with regional and in-country partners over the last two years to control yellow crazy ants on Atafu, Tokelau and eradicate them in Kiritimati, Kiribati," says Dr Monica Gruber, Pacific Biosecurity's programme manager. "We are delighted to report that we have significantly reduced ant numbers so that they are no longer causing problems." The acid-spraying yellow crazy ants are capable of mass attacking and killing animals over 500 times their sizeincluding crabs, and nesting seabirds and their chicksposing a significant threat to local ecosystems. "Despite the huge impact of these pests, communities weren't able to do anything to manage the ant populations because they couldn't afford pesticides or other methods of ant control," says Dr Gruber. The New Zealand Aid Programme funding enabled Pacific Biosecurity to help with control of the ants, and develop the Pacific Invasive Ant Toolkit (PIAT), a website and a collection of resources designed to help biosecurity staff, consultants, village councils and homeowners to prevent and control invasive ants in the Pacific. Currently, the toolkit is being rolled out to in-country and regional agency partners through a series of workshops. The workshops cover how to prevent ant problems, including community awareness-raising and biosecurity improvements, and how to manage problems when they occur, including determining the best practice method of treatment and the safe and effective use of pesticides. "The results we've experienced, and the feedback we've been getting, show that our work is having a positive impact," says Dr Gruber. "Our in-country partners appreciate the resources we've created to enable them to more easily identify invasive ants, carry out risk assessments, and undertake programmes to control invasive ants." Pacific Biosecurity will also be using some of the New Zealand Aid Programme funding to deal with the yellow crazy any problem in Tuvalu. Additionally, later in the year, the team will work with colleagues from the Biosecurity and Trade Support Team at the Pacific Community (SPC) to implement an integrated pest management programme for mealybugs in Fakaofo, Tokelau. Dr Gruber says the team is grateful for support from Viclink. "It was Viclink that advised us to set up our group as a distinct entity, and then helped us to apply for funding. There's always a risk involved in any new initiative, but they've shown complete faith in us all along, and given us the freedom to be creative about designing and implementing solutions." The fine art transporters lift the glass pane with suction handles... Credit: Sabine Schrenk Until now, a heavy glass pane weighing approximately 80 kilos has prevented a valuable, centuries-old silk tunic attributed to Saint Ambrose from being restored in Milan. With a team of restorers and art transporters, an archeologist at the University of Bonn has now managed to free the work of art, the tunic, from its heavy load, preserve the fabric and thus retain it for posterity. Already in the early Christian church, relics were widespread. The religiously revered legacies of the saints also include, for instance, textiles. Valuable silk garments in Milan are thus attributed to Saint Ambrose. The patron saint of the city lived in the fourth century, and his remains rest there in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, which bears his name. As bishop of the imperial residence of Milan, Ambrose pushed for the veneration of relics, and the Ambrosian chants, for instance, also date back to his time. "The silk garments that are venerated as relics of the saint also include an exquisitely beautiful tunic," says Prof. Sabine Schrenk from the department of Christian Archeology at the University of Bonn. The ravages of time have taken their toll on the valuable textile, yet it was not possible to perform new preservation work because the silk tunic has been stored in Milan for many years under a heavy glass pane weighing around 80 kilos. "The glass was intended to protect the relic," reports Schrenk. "However, the silk textile created waves underneath, and the great weight of the glass pane thus damaged the centuries-old fibers." The valuable silk tunic is now accessible for the upcoming conservation work. Credit: Sabine Schrenk Experts have extensive experience with valuable silk textiles Preserving the garment was a major challenge: how can the glass be removed from the silk cloth without it breaking or it tearing the fibers that have adhered to it? As Sabine Schrenk and the Colgne-based textile restorer Ulrike Reichert had already successfully preserved numerous silk fabrics in Sant'Ambrogio both of the experts have long been considering how such a tricky venture could succeed. Schrenk and Reichert devised a plan with those in charge at Sant'Ambrogio, Abate Erminio de Scalzi and Monsignore Biaggio Pizzi, as well as with the curators of monuments from the diocese and city, Dr. Carlo Capponi and Dr. Antonella Ranaldi. The art transporting company APICE from Milan played an important role in this: well accustomed to shipping heavy paintings and sculptures, the experts led by Fabiano Panzironi took on the heavy task of transporting and lifting the glass pane installation. The silk tunic measuring an impressive approx. 170 x 280 centimeters was stored in a drawer cabinet in the gallery of Sant'Ambrogio. However, this room was unsuitable for the preservation work. The transporters thus packed the glass panes with the valuable cargo between two large wooden boards, and the huge artwork was then carried vertically along the narrowest, winding corridors into the basilica's archive, which was transformed into a workshop for a month. "This transportation was highly risky," reports the restorer Ulrike Reichert. In some places, the art transporters had to proceed millimeter by millimeter to ensure the transit was ultimately successful. A sandwich made from wood, glass and silk tunic Once they arrived in the workshop, the six art transporters heaved the glass, silk tunic and wood sandwich onto a large table. The most dangerous moment of the preservation was now imminent. While the art transporters lifted the glass pane very slightly using suction handles, Ulrike Reichert used a flat stick to very carefully separate adhering parts of the silk tunic from the glass pane square centimeter by square centimeter. "This work took a long time - for the helpers, it was a feat of strength to keep the heavy pane in the air the whole time," says Schrenk. Then came the key moment: will the upper glass pane break when lifted and tear the tunic? Very carefully, the specialists lift the heavy pane centimeter by centimeter using the suction handles. The silk fibers remain intact! The carriers quickly lift the glass pane to one side and place it down on the table. The valuable fabric is now accessible for preservation. The fine silk fibers are carefully freed from dust and the valuable tunic is then protected against environmental influences with a lightweight acrylic glass. "The success shows that it was right to take the gamble," says Schrenk. "The great team mastered this challenge together." The project was sponsored by the Gielen-Leyendecker Foundation. Credit: NASA NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has eased into a long summer's nap, entering a hibernation phase on April 7 that will last until early September. Mission controllers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, verified that New Horizons acting on commands uplinked to its main computer the week before entered hibernation at 3:32 p.m. EDT. With the spacecraft now about 3.5 billion miles (5.7 billion kilometers) from Earth, the radio signals carrying that word from New Horizons needed just over five hours traveling at the speed of light to reach the APL mission operations center through NASA's Deep Space Network. Before today, New Horizons had been "awake" for almost two and a half years, since Dec. 6, 2014, when the team began final preparations for Pluto approach and encounter operations. The 852 days since the end of its last hibernation period is the longest by far New Horizons has remained in active operations since it was launched in January 2006. But that's because New Horizons was in the throes of its prime mission: conducting a six-month flyby of the Pluto system that culminated with close approach on July 14, 2015; that was followed by 16 months transmitting the data from that flight back to Earth. The spacecraft then began an extended mission in the Kuiper Belt, making distant observations of several Kuiper Belt objects setting up for a close flyby on Jan. 1, 2019, of one particular object known as 2014 MU69 and sampling the space environment in the outer reaches of the solar system. "We're looking forward taking advantage of the reduced mission operations workload during this hibernation, as well as one early next year, to plan much of the MU69 flyby," said Alice Bowman, New Horizons mission operations manager, from APL. This hibernation period will last 157 days ending on Sept. 11 but mission activity won't necessarily stop. The science and mission operations teams will be developing detailed command loads for the MU69 encounter, shaping the science observations for much of nine-day flyby. Their plans currently accommodate two potential flyby altitudes; the team will narrow its choice to the final altitude as it learns more about the properties and orbit of MU69, which was discovered less than three years ago. A Hibernation Refresher During hibernation mode, much of the New Horizons spacecraft is unpowered. The onboard flight computer monitors system health and broadcasts a weekly beacon-status tone back to Earth, and about once a month sends home data on spacecraft health and safety. Onboard sequences sent in advance by mission controllers will eventually wake New Horizons to check out critical systems, gather new Kuiper Belt science data, and perform course corrections (if necessary). New Horizons pioneered routine cruise-flight hibernation for NASA. Not only has hibernation reduced wear and tear on the spacecraft's electronics, it also lowered operations costs and freed up NASA Deep Space Network tracking and communication resources for other missions. Provided by NASA Are robocalls driving you mad? Last year, U.S. consumers received about 2.3 billion automated, unwanted phone calls every month, according to YouMail National Robocall Index. That's 51,523 calls every minute. Isn't it time you did something about it? While the Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov has long been available for home and mobile phones and helps a bit, bad guys ignore it. And rule carve-outs for charities, drug stores, and political organizations are often misused. Phone assaults will likely pick up this summer, when prerecorded representatives of the "IRS" resume their highly agitated, send-money-or-go-to-jail pitches from seemingly legit "202" (Washington, D.C.) area-code numbers. Come fall, phone fakesters will beg again in the name of the Cancer Fund of America. Or the Veterans Fund. Or the Kids Wish Network. Seemingly benign, but actual con artists who loom large on the "50 Worst Charities in America" list, taking as much as 95 percent of the donations as "service fees." Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission announced new moves to stop "IRS debt scam robocalls and other malicious caller ID spoofing." A proposed rule change would finally allow phone carriers to summarily block calls identified as nefarious. Just a couple days later, T-Mobile jumped on board with two new protective features for its wireless customers. In milliseconds, Scam ID analyzes an incoming call against a global database of known scammers and flags the worst with a warning symbol. The opt-in Scam-Block feature blocks a bad guy's call even before it gets your attention. And they're hardly the only mobile vigilantes. Last December, AT&T announced Call Protect, a complimentary service for iOS and Android smartphones that offers the same options. Customers can activate the feature on their My AT&T account or by downloading the AT&T Call Protect app. Flagship Samsung phones - including the just-introduced Galaxy S8 - integrate the Smart Call developed by Hiya, a former division of Whitepages. Users can help sharpen the database by identifying unsolicited calls as general spam, debt collector, political, nonprofit, telemarketer, survey, scam, fraud, or IRS scam. The iPhone iteration of Hiya and other apps such as TrueCaller work differently. Not willing to divert your incoming calls even momentarily for third-party analysis, Apple's CallKit framework requires the app supplier to download a list of known offenders, which are then flagged as "suspected spam." Home phones par excellence. While the regulations could soon change, the FCC's Call Completion rules have tied the hands of home-phone service providers. This explains why Verizon Fios Digital Voice and Comcast Xfinity have recommended that irate phone customers sign up for such third-party services as Nomorobo. Offered by the Telephone Science Corp., Nomorobo was the grand-prize winner of an FCC-sponsored call-blocking competition and boasts 750,000 users. Doesn't hurt that it's free for users of all voice-over- Internet delivered phone systems - so Ooma and Vonage customers can exploit it, as well. The mobile-phone version for iOS devices carries a $2.99-a-month fee because of its higher maintenance. Want to take the law into your own hands? "Landline" (home/small office) phone systems from Panasonic that feature both LCD screens and Voice-Caller ID are particularly helpful - a sanity saver in the Gizmo Guy's house and getting better every year. Traditionally, the ubiquitous Caller ID service sends a digitally coded packet of the caller's name and phone number, between the first and second rings, to be converted into alphanumeric symbols that show up on the phone screen. But in Panasonic phones, the information also undergoes a text-to-voice conversion, even in bargain models lacking an LCD screen. So the incoming call is also announced in a robotic-female voice as "Private Caller" or "Anonymous." And what's brand new in models such as the KX-TG785SK and KX-TGD563G hitting stores and sites in the next few months? "Text-to-voice conversion in Spanish as well as English, your choice," detailed Nick Monaco, Panasonic's senior product manager for telephones and connected home. "Nobody else has that." If your hearing ain't what it used to be, land on Panny's current KX-TGM-series amplified phones, which can even slow down what the other person is saying. The maker has also upgraded its call-blocking feature. Now there's a dedicated activation button on each handset. Tap it once when a telemarketer interrupts dinner and the offender will never fool you again. The number is thereafter blocked after just half a ring. Yes, other cordless phone makers also build in call blocking, but with smaller memory chips that limit recognition to 30 numbers, at most. New Panasonic phones can store and block 60, 100, or 250 undesirables. Do most or all of your communicating on a mobile cellphone? Take a look at the Panasonic phone systems which also feature link-to-cell. Calls that come in on mobile are automatically transferred (by Bluetooth) to the base station and then to cordless handsets. And yes, the talking caller-ID feature works with transferred calls, as well. 2017 The Philadelphia Inquirer Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Researchers working in Wyoming have deployed a full suite of technologies, including seismic data acquisition and multi-attribute processing originally developed for shallow fault imaging, to locate the hazardous underground voids left behind by coal mining in the state. At the 2017 Seismological Society of America's (SSA) Annual Meeting, Jamey Turner of Fugro will discuss his team's efforts to locate mining voids, which can pose a risk to buildings, roads and other infrastructure. Turner, Jeff Nuttall of Tetra Tech, and colleagues hunt for these voids as part of the federally- and state-disbursed Abandoned Mines Lands program, which seeks to remediate the effects of mining activities. Most of the sites that haven't been remediated were mined prior to the implementation of mining-related land use restrictions and environmental protections in the United States. The underground voids, some of them from mines abandoned more than 100 years ago, can collapse or subside over time. "Historically, practitioners have been poking holes with drill rigs trying to find voids, using old historic maps," Turner explained. "Seismic and geophysical approaches have been applied to void detection before with variable success. This year we started applying shallow high-resolution 2D and 3D seismic approaches that were developed for shallow fault imaging and seismic hazard characterization, which successfully identifies anomalous and low velocity zones, and provides drilling targets that optimize remediation efforts." To locate the voids, the team uses up to five different types of seismic data processing, historical mining maps, a remote sensing technique called LiDAR, geomorphic analysis, borehole cameras, downhole sonar, and laser scanners to generate 3D void maps of the subsurface. By combining information from all these sources, the researchers can determine the size, orientation, and shape of mining voids, and sometimes even if the void is filled with water or rubble. If open voids are identified, remediation efforts ensue. "In one instance, our team encountered a void filled with combustible gases, which required rapid borehole plugging," he said. There are also numerous active underground mine fires in Wyoming, some of which have been burning for decades, that could be active in some of these voids. The integrated techniques used by Turner and colleagues can be more cost-efficient than simply drilling to detect voids in areas known or suspected to have abandoned mines, he said, particularly because historic mine maps are rarely accurately referenced to the ground surface. The team is helping the state of Wyoming work through an inventory of historic mining sites, and creating a list of high-priority sites that need remediation before construction or other development and to maintain existing infrastructure. More information: All presentation abstracts for the 2017 SSA Annual Meeting can be accessed at meetings.seismosoc.org/abstracts Credit: Penn State According to the Pew Research center, the majority of adults on the internet have more than one social networking profile on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Although the core purpose of these sites are similar to digitally connect with peers and loved ones new research conducted by researchers in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) and King's College in London, England, found users often adopt different personas unique to each social network. The research team, co-led by Penn State's Dongwon Lee, associate professor of IST, and Nishanth Sastry, senior lecturer of King's College, theorized that these different personas stem from a desire to fit within the distinctive culture or etiquette of each site. For instance, a photo of someone's colorful Starbucks drink may be popular on Instagram, but the same image post to LinkedIn would be frowned upon. Lee explained, "The users tend to portray themselves differently in these different worlds." The research compiled information on over 100,000 social media users by utilizing About.me, a site that acts as a social media directory. "On the site, users volunteer their own profiles, which makes it an extremely reliable dataset," Lee said. Nisanth Sastry, senior lecturer in the department of Informatics at King's College and one of the collaborators on the research, said, The use of about.me was the big breakthrough, as it allowed us to go from pairs of social networks, which we had been studying recently, to all the major social network platforms today: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram." Upon analyzing the profile pictures and biography information provided by these users, the team also found some surprising differences in how different demographics portray themselves. For example, the research showed that women were less likely to wear corrective eyewear, like reading glasses, in their profile pictures and users under the age of 25 were less likely to be smiling in their profile picture. In fact, when given a profile description and photo, the model could identify the platform it was created for 60-80% of the time. The study, "Wearing Many (Social) Hats: How Different are Your Different Social Network Personas?" was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study different phenomena in social media. King's College received funding from the ESRC (Economic and Social Sciences Research Council) in the United Kingdom. Their collaborative study will also be presented at the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) in May. The researchers don't believe that users are explicitly modifying their profile, but rather subconsciously adapting the behavior modeled to fit in. Sastry commented, "[The data shows that subtly], despite our best efforts, we do still fit stereotypes of gender and age in the way we tailor our personas." "Social media consumes an increasingly large portion of our lives," Sastry explained. "Therefore, understanding how we interact with each other on social media is important to understanding who we are in the online world, and how we relate to each other in virtual but still meaningful ways." Lee agreed and said, "In the social media era, without realizing it, people are leaving their marks. If we can tap into these digital footprints, then we can learn a lot about their behavior." Further research in this area could provide social media users' ways to engineer the 'perfect' social media profile. By understanding exactly what's popular on the site, Sastry said, "We should be able to choose and suggest the best images from their personal collections for putting up on each of these platforms." Researchers also want to encourage the locals to develop practical evacuation plans to help them feel less pessimistic about their survival odds. Credit: Katsushika Hokusai An effective communication approach incorporating computer simulations could help people find practical means to evacuate in the event of a tsunami. The extent of damage caused by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan demonstrated that the outcomes of disaster mitigation research were not fully applied in reality. Computer simulations are normally used to develop effective evacuation strategies. However, a gap remains between computer-generated results and what is actually feasible for people, since simulations are not usually tested in real life. Led by Professor Michinori Hatayama, researchers at Kyoto University combined computer simulations with fieldwork done in partnership with the residents of Mangyo, Kuroshio in Kochi prefecture in southern Japan. It is thought that the Kuroshio area will be the most affected in the event of a long-anticipated earthquake and tsunami originating in the Nankai Trough, a depression at the bottom of the ocean about 900km off the southern coast of Japan's mainland. The team's aim was to facilitate effective communication between disaster mitigation professionals and society at large so that research outcomes are better utilized. They also wanted to encourage the locals to develop practical evacuation plans to help them feel less pessimistic about their survival odds. Some residents had previously expressed hopelessness to the media should such a disaster happen. Tsunami refuge tower. Credit: tkaiworks / 123rf Hatayama and his colleagues interviewed the residents to find out how they would react in the case of a tsunami warning and what issues make them feel pessimistic. They then put the responses into a computer simulation system that includes geographical information and tsunami hazard data. The output, which was shared with the locals in workshops, showed an animation of how they would react to a tsunami, allowing them to identify what challenges they faced in order to evacuate successfully. This was followed by discussions about what the locals perceived to be issues, such as an elevated shelter being too far away, and possible alternative plans, such as using a much nearer evacuation tower. The researchers conducted evacuation drills so that the residents could experience the alternative plans. They found that this method made evacuation drills more efficient. Contrary to previously practiced drills, the researchers placed problem awareness ahead of practice, which helped shorten the time needed to determine possible alternative solutions. The field activities also allowed some residents to realize evacuation was possible; something they were unsure of before. They regarded alternative plans as feasible evacuation options. However, some locals tended not to accept the alternative plans as they might involve some risks. For example, they preferred to evacuate by car rather than on foot, despite the fact that roads are often blocked by debris or are congested in a disaster. New research should look into real life examples in order to find a solution to these problems, the researchers conclude. Credit: Alfred Wegener Institute When, in the foreseeable future, a tabular iceberg nearly seven times the size of Berlin breaks off the Larsen C Ice Shelf in the Antarctic, it will begin a journey, the course of which climate researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) can accurately predict. The researchers have now succeeded in modelling how Antarctic icebergs drift through the Southern Ocean, and in identifying the physical factors behind their movement and their melting. Which factors are most important tends to depend on the size of the iceberg in question. Their findings were recently released on the online portal of the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. Polar researchers around the globe are currently watching the Antarctic Peninsula with bated breath. On the Larsen C Ice Shelf, a massive iceberg has begun to break off from the rest. The future iceberg will be roughly 175 kilometres long, and will measure 50 kilometres across at its widest point. As such, it will have a total surface area of nearly 6,000 km2, making it seven times the size of the greater Berlin metropolitan area. Further, at ca. 1,300 gigatonnes, the colossus will weigh nearly as much as all of the new icebergs formed in the Antarctic in the course of an average year. It is virtually impossible to predict exactly when ice masses of this size will calve. However, climate researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute can now better predict how small, medium-sized, and large icebergs will drift through the Southern Ocean once they have broken off from their ice shelf, and which physical factors are responsible for their movements - these factors can vary greatly, depending on their size. Winds blow the dwarfs out to the open sea, while the giants remain near the coast "Icebergs that aren't longer or wider than two kilometres normally drift away from the ice shelf edge and out of coastal waters within a few months. The wind pushes them out to the open sea, where they ultimately break up into smaller pieces and melt in the course of two to three years," explains Thomas Rackow, a climate modeller at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven/Germany and first author of the new study. When it comes to mammoths on the scale of the Larsen C candidate, the wind is largely irrelevant. Instead, the icebergs' motion is chiefly driven by their own weight, and by the fact that the surface of the Southern Ocean is not flat, but instead leans typically to the north. As a result, sea level can be up to 0.5 metres higher on the southern edge of the Weddell Sea or along the Antarctic Peninsula than at its centre. As Rackow elaborates, "When large icebergs drift, they initially slide down the inclined ocean surface, but not along a straight line; they tend to veer to the left. This is due to the Coriolis force, which is a consequence of the Earth's rotation and ultimately puts the icebergs on a course parallel to the coast, one similar to the Antarctic Coastal Current." Heading north - on one of four highways The deflecting effect of the Coriolis force also explains why large tabular icebergs linger near the coast for the first three or four years. Many only make their way to the open sea once the Antarctic Coastal Current leads them away from the coast - or once they become trapped in pack ice, and the wind drives pack ice and iceberg collectively away from the coast. "In this way, even the large tabular icebergs end up in more northerly ocean regions with warmer water," says Rackow. Once in warmer waters, especially the tabular icebergs start to melt at the bottom and, depending on their point of origin, follow one of the four "highways" that transport all floating ice in the Antarctic northwards. One of these iceberg highways follows the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, leading from the Weddell Sea toward the Atlantic. There is a second "exit" at the Prime Meridian, on the eastern edge of the Weddell Sea - at roughly the same point where Germany's Antarctic research station Neumayer III is located on the Ekstrom Ice Shelf. The third exit is at the Kerguelen Plateau in the eastern Antarctic, while the fourth leads the ice northwards from the Ross Sea (see graphic at https://www.awi.de/nc/en/about-us/service/press.html). Once they have begun their journey north, some large icebergs make it as far as the 60th parallel south, covering thousands of kilometres before they disappear. Some have even been sighted off the coasts of South America and New Zealand. How far the future Larsen C iceberg will drift depends on whether it remains intact after calving, or quickly breaks up into smaller pieces. Further, the iceberg may run aground for a time. According to Rackow, "If it doesn't break up, chances are good that it will first drift for about a year through the Weddell Sea, along the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Then it will most likely follow a northeasterly course, heading roughly for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands." Given its massive weight, the Larsen C iceberg will likely survive for eight to ten years; according to the computer model, that's the maximum life expectancy for even the largest "white wanderers". For the new study, Thomas Rackow and his colleagues fed actual position and size data of 6,912 Antarctic icebergs into the Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model FESOM, which they combined with a dynamic-thermodynamic iceberg model (both of which were developed at the AWI). The researchers subsequently simulated how the icebergs would drift and melt over a twelve-year timespan. The potential routes produced by the model were then compared with actual data on large icebergs from the Antarctic Iceberg Tracking Database, and with positioning data from GPS transmitters that the AWI had installed on various icebergs in the Weddell Sea in the years 2000 and 2002. "The primary goal of our study was to understand in which region of the Southern Ocean the large icebergs melt, adding massive quantities of freshwater in the process. The fact that we have now also succeeded in unravelling the fundamental mechanisms so thoroughly is a wonderful extra bonus," Rackow concludes. More information: Thomas Rackow et al, A simulation of small to giant Antarctic iceberg evolution: Differential impact on climatology estimates, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2016JC012513 Do you wear runners, drink coffee or own a mobile phone? The chances are that these products cruised to you on a ship. In 2015, the global merchant fleet carried a record 10 billion tonnes of cargo, a 2.1% increase from the previous year. However, while it's an essential part of international trade, shipping also poses serious risks to the environment. Apart from damage caused by dredging shipping channels and the spread of marine pests around the world, there is also growing concern about pollution. According to a report from the European Union, international shipping contributes 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually. This is predicted to rise by between 50% and 250% by 2050. As well as contributing to global warming, ship pollution includes toxic compounds and particles that cause a host of other health hazards. A 2016 Chinese-led study found the shipping boom in east Asia has caused tens of thousands of premature deaths a year, largely from heart and lung disease and cancer. Commercial ships are designed to be used for a long time. As a result, their engines are typically older and less efficient than those used in many other industries, and replacing them is prohibitively expensive. But there are some immediate solutions to this problem that use existing technology: increasing fuel quality, treating engine emissions, and adopting other energy-conservation measures so that ships burn less fuel. Improve fuel quality When diesel ship engines burn poor-quality fuel, their smoke stacks release oxides of nitrogen and sulfur as well as carbon. These pollutants, as well as contributing to greenhouse warming, are highly toxic. Sulfur dioxide readily dissolves in water, creating acid rain that causes harm to both people and the environment. Refinement of crude oil removes sulfur, which reduces the amount of sulfur dioxide produced when the fuel is burned. Higher-grade diesel also reduces the volume of heat-trapping nitrous oxide, but is more expensive to produce because it requires more purification at the refinery. The International Maritime Organization, the UN body that regulates the safety and security of shipping, is planning to reduce the amount of sulfur allowed in fuel. However, it is currently considering whether the change will take place in 2020 or will be deferred to 2025. Install exhaust scrubbers Clean fuel is an important part of reducing emissions, but the higher cost of low-sulfur fuel will deter many companies. Another way for ships to meet clean-air requirements is by capturing engine exhaust and passing it through scrubbers. These scrubbers convert nitrous oxide gases into harmless nitrogen and water. This process requires retrofitting older ships, and updating the design of new ship exhaust systems. One advantage of this approach is that it allows ships to meet the different pollution regulations around the world without having to swap fuels. Another way to reduce production of nitrous oxide is by reducing the temperature at which diesel fuel burns, but this leads to decreased fuel efficiency and increased fuel consumption. Scrubbers are potentially a cheaper and more accessible option. Reduce energy use overall Ships don't just burn diesel fuel to propel themselves through the water. Fuel also generates electricity so that people on board can do things like use computers and read at night. To increase fuel efficiency, other energy conservation measures can be adopted so that ships burn less fuel and decrease their emissions. The US Navy's Green Fleet has, for example, replaced their old light fixtures with energy-saving LEDs. They have also undertaken a temperature control initiative, where thermostats have been checked to ensure they are in proper working order and faulty parts in their water cooling systems replaced. Some ships have gone further, and installed stern flaps that modify the flow of water under the ship's hull to reduce drag, thus increasing fuel efficiency. All of this means the shipping industry can lower its fuel bill through conserving energy, and at the same time reduce its negative impacts on the health of humans and the planet. With more than 20,000 ships in the global fleet, these immediate solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other types of pollution will make a real difference. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Cancellation of his bail and the flight of his cadre could spell doom for the politician. The CBI's prosecutors allege Jagan flouted his bail conditions besides attempting to vitiate the judicial process. Trouble has always lurked around the corner for Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. But this time could well be the endgame for the 44-year-old president of the YSR Congress and leader of the opposition in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. On April 2, chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inducted into his cabinet four of the 21 MLAs, from among the 67 elected on the YSR Congress ticket in June 2014, who have switched loyalties to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) over the past two years. advertisement Naidu acted just days after the Central Bureau of Investigation moved the special CBI court in Hyderabad seeking cancellation of the bail Jagan was granted in September 2013 in a disproportionate assets case. The CBI's prosecutors allege Jagan flouted his bail conditions besides attempting to vitiate the judicial process. The CBI cited interviews of former AP chief secretary P. Ramakanth Reddy-a key witness in the assets case-published in Sakshi, a Telugu daily owned by Jagan, and aired on Sakshi TV as well. The CBI counsel told the court that the sole motive of publishing and airing the interviews, which contradicted earlier statements to the CBI, was to dissuade other witnesses from testifying against Jagan. The CBI has filed 11 charge-sheets against Jagan and 12 others, including his auditor and YSR Congress Rajya Sabha member V. Vijaya Sai Reddy, accusing them of amassing disproportionate wealth. "Is it the CBI or Chandrababu who wants the bail cancelled," asks Sai Reddy. Jagan and the others are alleged to have received crores of rupees as investments from individuals and firms as quid pro quo for favours granted to them when his father, the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was the chief minister. Political observers say both-the CBI demand that his bail be cancelled as well as the continuing attrition within his party's ranks-could well spell doom for the young AP politician. "When TDP MLAs defected to the ruling TRS in Telangana, Naidu called the act political prostitution, and now what is he doing?" asks Jagan, seeking disqualification of MLAs who have defected from his party. Withdrawal of bail could see Jagan back in jail where he spent 16 months from March 2012 to September 2013. If that happens, it will be a daunting task for him to retain YSR Congress cadres in most districts. And with CM Naidu inducting rebels into his cabinet, it may prove to be impossible. --- ENDS --- In Yellowstone National Park, wolves cautiously stalk bison. Utah State University ecologists report wolves seldom hunt bison, though plentiful, because the latter is dangerous prey. Instead, wolves pursue elk, a scarcer yet safer target. Credit: Daniel Stahler, NPS Ecologists have long observed predators pursue disproportionately more of a plentiful prey species, and less of scarce prey, but change to the latter if it becomes relatively more abundant. Known as "prey switching," this phenomenon is ecologically important, because it helps to stabilize wildlife populations. But what if the more abundant prey is more dangerous? Utah State University researchers Aimee Tallian and Dan MacNulty report Yellowstone wolves seldom hunt bison, though plentiful, and, instead, pursue elk, a scarcer, yet safer target. Tallian and MacNulty, along with colleagues from the Yellowstone Center for Resources, the University of Montana and Oregon State University, discuss findings gleaned from long-term data collected from northern Yellowstone National Park in the April 11, 2017, issue of Functional Ecology. A 2012 recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Tallian's research was performed under a NSF Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide grant. MacNulty is supported by a grant from NSF's Long-Term Environmental Biology program. "Prey switching has been observed in natural systems, where prey are small and generally helpless when attacked by a predator," says Tallian, who completed a doctoral degree at USU in 2017 and is lead author of the paper. "Imagine, for example, a lynx preying on snowshoe hares and squirrels." But the playing field becomes decidedly unlevel for wolves in their pursuit of much larger bison. An adult male bull, after all, typically weighs nearly a ton. "Our data reveal wolves maintained a strong preference against bison, even when bison were twice as abundant as elk," says MacNulty, assistant professor in USU's Department of Wildland Resources and the USU Ecology Center. Utah State University wildlife ecologist Aimee Tallian, pictured at a campsite in Yellowstone National Park's Pelican Valley, reports the ability of wolves and other predators to shift between hunting and scavenging is an under-appreciated behavior that may play an important role in the dynamics of ecological communities with dangerous prey. Credit: Joel Ruprecht "Hunting is hazardous business for wolves," says MacNulty, who's witnessed wolves kicked, gored and stomped to death by bison and other large prey. "Wolves minimize the risk of injury by focusing on more vulnerable prey, which are generally rare." For this reason, he says, risk-averse wolves spend a lot of time on the move searching for the safest target. Any injury that slows them down may eventually kill them. Tallian says the study further revealed wolves were increasingly resistant to hunting bison as relative bison abundance increased. "Wolves seldom hunted bison because their hunting success was limited to a narrow set of conditions, including larger wolf packs chasing smaller bison herds with vulnerable calves," she says. "Instead, wolves tended to scavenge bison carrion and did so more frequently as bison abundance increased." Tallian says wolf scavenging on bison carrion may divert predation away from elk, helping stabilize elk population dynamics. "The ability of wolves and other predators to shift between hunting and scavenging is an under-appreciated behavior that may play an important role in the dynamics of ecological communities with dangerous prey," she says. A Toast to improved restaurant and bar management 7shifts teams with Toast Restaurant POS to improve efficiencies April 10, 2017 Toronto: 7shifts today announced an app integration with Toast, the all-in-one restaurant technology platform and one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the U.S., to provide continued efficiencies in restaurant operations management. The new integration aims to largely reduce restaurant labor costs by streamlining employee clock-ins and schedule enforcement. Toast is an all-in-one restaurant technology point of sale (POS) solution, while 7shifts is a employee scheduling and labor management app designed specifically for restaurants. The new integration will aid in ensuing fair shift compensation, ease of time tracking, and variance reporting. It will also boost adherence to shift schedules by disabling the ability of staff to clock in prior to or beyond their scheduled shifts, saving establishments money and headaches. Our commitment to integrated restaurant technology is mirrored in Toasts philosophy, said Jordan Boesch, founder and CEO of 7shifts. As we continue to innovate, our goal is to team with forward-thinking partners like Toast, and we believe that together, were able to offer an optimal solution to the hospitality market. 7shifts is the most intuitive employee scheduling and management app for the restaurant industry. Managers of single or multi-location restaurants use 7shifts to reduce the time it takes to do schedule staff from several hours down to just a few minutes each month. The app also helps food service managers reduce labor costs with more effective shift strategies and streamline communications with their workforce. How the integrated solution works When an employee clocks in/out through Toast, the shift is cross-referenced with the schedule in 7shifts, preventing an employee from punching in unscheduled shifts, and eliminating unbudgeted overtime and unbalanced staffing. When new employees are added to either platform, they will be automatically synced between the two. Toasts best-in-class API partner program empowers our customers to achieve true restaurant success by streamlining operations and growing revenue, said Chris Comparato, CEO of Toast. 7shifts is a true partner in helping us amplify this vision for our customers. Toast offers advanced functionality to manage the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, including quick menu modifications, real-time enterprise reporting and labor management on an easy-to-use interface. The platform also features revenue-driving tools including physical and digital gift cards, loyalty programs and online ordering. About 7shifts With offices in Toronto and Saskatoon, 7shifts is a leader in employee scheduling software designed specifically for restaurants, cafes, bars, and other foodservice operations. 7shifts tools empower restaurateurs to save time on staff scheduling, reduce labor costs and streamline team communications. 7shifts offers a 28-day free trial and a no-contract subscription. Additional information is available atwww.7shifts.com. About Toast, Inc. Toast is an all-in-one restaurant technology platform. Built specifically for restaurants, Toast offers a mobile, cloud-based point of sale (POS) system that incorporates key facets of the guest experience into one platform, connecting the POS system with integrated online ordering, gift card and loyalty programs, and labor and sales reporting. Since launching Toast in 2013, the company has grown to hundreds of employees and thousands of restaurants, ranging from fine dining to fast casual, from independent businesses to national chains. Learn more about Toast at www.toasttab.com or on their Facebook page. More articles: (Bloomberg) -- Hedge fund manager Jamie Rosenwald is excited about tax reforms, but it has nothing to do with Trump trades. While U.S. politicians grapple with partisan rancor, Japanese bureaucrats at a ministry once renowned for overseeing the nations industrial policy have been rolling out tax changes that might have gone under the radar of global investors. In the land of the original zaibatsu industrial groups, companies -- starting this month -- are able to spin off businesses tax-free, under new rules. The change follows the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industrys removal of taxes last year on restricted stock -- a form of management compensation tied to a companys long-term performance. The tax measures are part a broader initiative by Prime Minister Shinzo Abes administration to increase focus on returns to shareholders. Theyre music to the ears of Rosenwald, who heads the $3.1 billion hedge fund Dalton Investments in California. Both spinoffs and stock-based pay have been less common in Japan than other major markets. Here you have probably one of the worlds largest fields of conglomerates that all trade at massive discounts, Rosenwald said in an interview during a visit to Tokyo. The government has now given management the tools to make a lot of money for themselves -- as future restricted shareholders -- along with the existing stock owners, he said. The rationale is that spinning off unrelated businesses will allow managers to unlock their value -- while aligning executives interests with those of shareholders through stock holdings will encourage management to take that approach. U.S. experience indicates that spun-off companies outperform, one sign of the potential for Japan. For the past two decades, Japanese firms have had extremely low profitability, and their market value hasnt been growing at all compared to overseas counterparts, said Genta Ando, a trade ministry official who works on corporate governance. Were laying the groundwork for management that takes profitability into account. Story continues Its yet to be seen how effective the new measures will be in a country where tradition and decades-old or even centuries-old corporate-network relationships are valued for nonfinancial reasons. And Rosenwald says banks have tended to oppose spinoffs because they reduce the collateral available for loans. Even so, other corporate-governance changes instituted since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office are having an impact. Dividend increases and stock buybacks are surging, and firms are putting more outsiders on boards. Pressure is rising on companies to deploy cash stockpiles in excess of $2 trillion -- read more about that here. More broadly, investors are citing increased engagement between corporate managers and shareholders -- creating a channel for advocating spinoffs that wasnt previously as available. Ando says that before the tax changes, corporate management had no incentive to look at spinoffs. Thats even as some Japanese conglomerates trade at levels close to, or even below, their book values. Company Price-to-Book Ratio Mitsui & Co. 0.8 Mitsubishi Corp. 0.8 Hitachi Ltd. 1 Outside Japan, spinoffs have long been viewed as a way to increase the total value of a group of disparate businesses. Back in 1997, hedge fund manager Joel Greenblatt published You Can Be a Stock Market Genius, considered a bible for investing in such separations. The analysis found spinoffs often increase in market value after listing, and that the parents shares sometimes rise, too. Stock-based pay is also less widespread in Japan, partly due to taxes on the receipt of stock options, and because the equity market basically fell for more than 20 years. Some 65 percent of executive compensation in Japan was fixed salary in 2015, while medium- to long-term incentives accounted for 13 percent, according to Deloitte. In the U.S., just 10 percent was fixed and 67 percent was based on longer-term performance. Restricted stock can be used to tie a person to a company for a number of years, by making it only transferable once such a condition is met. But unlike stock options, the recipient gets dividends and voting rights from the start. Its a step in the right direction, Takeyuki Ishida, director of Japan research at proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. in Tokyo, said of the tax-treatment change. Japanese management usually dont feel as if they are shareholders. Twenty-four of the 3,000 companies ISS covers, or about 1 percent, have sought shareholder approval for restricted-stock compensation since last June. They include the brewer Kirin Holdings Co. and tractor-maker Kubota Corp., Ishida says. Some firms were already increasing stock-based pay anyway. Shiro Hayashi, who heads Daltons Japanese advisory arm, says the hedge fund invested in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., another conglomerate, after screening showed that it had become one of the biggest issuers of stock options. Fifteen years ago, the CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy clearly stated in front of analysts and journalists that the company had nothing to do with ROE, Hayashi said. But in the last five to seven years, there have been dramatic changes. Ishida at ISS sounds a note of caution. On spinoffs, he questions whether the tax exemption can really bring major change, and says companies should design compensation systems that fit their situations, rather than just following bureaucrats lead. It would be pointless for a firm thats restructuring to increase performance-linked pay, he says. But Rosenwald, whose firm has about $1.4 billion in Japanese equities, says the changes will allow Dalton to broaden its range of holdings, because it only invests in companies where management owns a significant amount of shares. He expects more shareholder proposals for spinoffs, though he declined to comment on whether hes preparing to do that for Mitsubishi Heavy. The company itself praises the new tax measure. Spokesman Genki Ono said by email the firm now has more choices, since the previous tax burden made spinoffs difficult in Japan. Its just, like, phenomenal, Rosenwald said of the ministrys plan. Abenomics seems like its changing from the top down. (Updates prices throughout.) --With assistance from Chris Cooper To contact the reporters on this story: Tom Redmond in Tokyo at tredmond3@bloomberg.net, Nao Sano in Tokyo at nsano3@bloomberg.net, Yuki Hagiwara in Tokyo at yhagiwara1@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Divya Balji at dbalji1@bloomberg.net, Christopher Anstey, Jeff Sutherland 2017 Bloomberg L.P. Nine people including four Philippine security officials were killed Tuesday during clashes with suspected Islamic militants on a popular resort island as millions prepare to travel for the Easter holiday. The incursion allegedly by the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group on Bohol island would be the first on a key Philippine tourist destination in recent years by militants who pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters and often targets foreigners in the lawless south. Five gunmen were killed while four assault rifles and an improvised explosive device were recovered in the fighting, officials said. Just days earlier the US and Australia warned their citizens about possible "terrorist" kidnappings in Bohol or nearby Cebu island. Britain on Tuesday issued a similar travel advisory. "We're quite worried... we are afraid of hostage situations," said Khent Guimalan, who works at the upscale Bohol Beach Club. "The mayor and police have tightened security. There's a checkpoint everywhere," Guimalan told AFP by phone from the Panglao tourist area, where she said hotels were fully booked until next week. Following the clash authorities distributed photos of suspected Abu Sayyaf members asking locals to report any suspicious activity, according to Guimalan. Local officials said the militants had used fast boats Monday to reach a village where they squared off against security forces early Tuesday. - Whale sharks and tarsiers - A Filipino photographer in the area saw a hut burning and about 20 soldiers armed with a machine gun and automatic rifles trading intermittent fire with unseen snipers all afternoon at a cornfield near the Inabanga river. At one point, loud blasts rang out as a military plane flew over the area followed later by a helicopter, said the photographer, who asked not to be named. He added that residents said they saw two uniformed soldiers who looked to be either dead or wounded being evacuated aboard a military helicopter. Security forces have been on alert for "potential activity on the part of some lawless elements" during the peak Easter tourist season, military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said. "Our forces who were acting on this information were able to engage these lawless armed groups that are believed to be part of the Abu Sayyaf group from Mindanao," he said on ABS-CBN television. The armed men sailed upriver from Inabanga, a farming and fishing coastal community some 780 kilometres away from the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Jolo in the southern Philippines, local police told AFP. Bohol, about 600 kilometres south of Manila, is a mere 30 minutes' boat ride away from the major port of Cebu on Cebu island, which is also among the country's top tourist draws. The island is famous among foreign tourists who swim with docile whale sharks and marvel at tiny primates called tarsiers, go on cruises aboard boats on crystal-clear rivers and lounge on its beaches. - Containment - Three soldiers and one policeman were killed in the fighting, according to a joint statement from the region's military and police. "We are doing our best to make sure the conflict will not spread out," regional army spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar told AFP by telephone. "We are clearing the area," said Aguilar but did not give a timetable. "We have deployed enough forces to accomplish the mission." Bohol provincial governor Edgar Chatto said the violence was isolated in one village, where he said hundreds of residents had already fled to safety in nearby areas. "I am very disappointed that these elements coming out of nowhere are trying to destroy the lives of people living in peace," Chatto told AFP. The Abu Sayyaf, also blamed for deadly bombings, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement that holds large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Over the past year the Abu Sayyaf has been expanding its activities, boarding commercial and fishing vessels off their southern island stronghold of Jolo, near Malaysia, and abducting dozens of foreign crew members. They beheaded a German tourist in February and two Canadian tourists last year. All three were snatched at sea. JAKARTA, April 11 (Reuters) - Indonesia and Malaysia will send a joint mission to meet with European Union officials next month, aiming to prevent the implementation of a parliamentary call to curb the use of palm oil, officials from the two countries said on Tuesday. A resolution by the European Parliament last week called for the EU to phase out by 2020 the use of vegetable oils in biodiesel that are produced in an unsustainable way leading to deforestation. The resolution includes palm oil, an important commodity for Indonesia and Malaysia. "We will do whatever we can to convince the European parliament and European countries not to implement it. We don't want to think of the middle ground just yet, we will negotiate in full force," Indonesia's coordinating minister for economic affairs, Darmin Nasution told reporters. The European parliament's non-binding motion calls for a single Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) scheme for Europe-bound palm and other vegetable oil exports to ensure they are produced in an environmentally sustainable way. "The joint mission will mainly convey the perspective of palm oil producers, especially to the European Parliament, that what is being said about palm oil is not true," Nasution said, calling the resolution discriminatory. Malaysia's Plantation Industries and Commodities minister Mah Siew Keong, who met with Nasution in Jakarta, said the European resolution was unfair and could harm the livelihood of many small farmers in Malaysia. Indonesia has been critized by environmental groups for its forestry policy and for failing to stop the damaging haze that envelops much of the region each year due to forest burning to clear land for palm oil. Nasution argues that palm oil is a highly productive crop that uses less land than rival vegetable oils such as soy oil. Indonesia and Malaysia are the world's top producers of palm oil, accounting for around 85 percent of global output, while EU countries are the second largest buyers for both countries after India. Indonesia exported 4.37 million tonnes of palm oils to EU countries last year, according to data from the Indonesian Palm Oil Associaton (Gapki), while Malaysia exported 2.06 million tonnes of the commodity. (Reporting by Fransiska Nangoy; Additional reporting by Emily Chow in KUALA LUMPUR; Editing by Richard Pullin) (Bloomberg) -- Japan had one main objective when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the White House in February: Deal with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on major economic disputes. Ahead of the meeting, President Donald Trump had lashed out at Japan for keeping the yen weak and exacerbating the trade deficit with barriers for U.S.-made cars. For Abe, the criticism threatened to sour relations with an ally that is crucial for Japans defense against threats from North Korea and China. Japan wanted the deputies to take the lead in this dialogue, because even if they have a conflict over individual trade deals, we can always fix Japan-U.S. relations if the leaders keep good chemistry," Akira Amari, a former economy minister and Japans top negotiator in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks, said in an interview last month. The plan worked: Pence arrives in Japan on April 18 for talks with Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso as part of a new bilateral dialogue on everything from monetary policy to trade to infrastructure. The arrangement lets Abe focus on befriending Trump while giving Japan the best shot at avoiding a clash with the U.S. that could hurt Asias second-biggest economy. With anemic demand at home, its crucial for Japan to head off any barriers to its exports, particularly to the U.S. -- its biggest market. The yen has dropped about 23 percent since Abe came to power, and Japans $63 billion trade surplus with the U.S. makes it a target for Trump. One of Abes main goals in the dialogue is to prevent Trump from commenting on the weaker yen, which has lifted the competitiveness of Japanese goods in international markets and helped the governments reflation program. Japan also wants to revive some elements of the TPP that Trump abandoned, according to officials in Tokyo familiar with preparations for the dialogue, who asked not to be identified. The U.S. told Japan that it considers the trade deficit to be a primary agenda item in the talks, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified government officials. Aso also said in parliament Wednesday that drafting free trade rules was a key goal of the dialogue. Story continues China has similarly sought to avoid Trumps wrath on Twitter. President Xi Jinpings summit with Trump last week produced a new negotiation framework led by the two leaders that also brings together cabinet members for talks on issues including security, the economy and cultural issues. Aso, a former prime minister, traveled with Abe to the U.S. in February. Currently finance minister, Aso has decades of experience at international economic summits. Pence, on the other hand, is a relative newcomer on the global stage. Its Easy In the U.S., Japanese officials sensed that Pence was reluctant to head the bilateral dialogue. Aso then turned on the charm, said Amari, who is in the same political faction as Aso and was once considered among the most important people in Abes administration before stepping down last year. Its easy, Aso told Pence, according to Amari. Youve been doing a lot of deals with Japanese corporations as governor. Its just Indiana, multiplied 50 times." Pence only wanted to ensure the talks were held within the framework the president had in mind before agreeing to the role, according to a White House official, who asked not to be identified. The vice president looks forward to returning to Japan to build upon the profound and enduring alliance and friendship between our two countries, Pence spokesman Marc Lotter said in a statement this week. The visit will touch on our mutual goals of strengthening our two economies and the security of the region. While governor of Indiana, Pence made two visits to Japan to promote economic development. Indiana has the largest amount of Japanese investment per capita among U.S. states, with companies employing more than 50,000 people, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Trump Empathy In the U.S., Abe focused on building personal ties with Trump. The prime minister had calculated that early approaches -- including a stop at Trump Tower right after the election -- would be an effective way to show respect and underscore the importance of the relationship, according to Masahiko Shibayama, one of Abes advisers and a lawmaker. In the U.S., Abe told Trump that he could relate to his battle with the New York Times, saying he had similar clashes with Japans Asahi Shimbun newspaper, according to a person who traveled with the prime ministers delegation. Mariko Kaneko, assistant press secretary for Japans foreign ministry, had no comment on details of the discussions. The ministry was responsible for arranging the trip by Abe and Aso to the U.S. Late last month, Aso downplayed expectations for the talks. He told parliament that many U.S. officials beyond the cabinet secretaries have yet to be approved. In the early stages of the talks, Japan is preparing some sweeteners to ensure he doesnt go home empty-handed. They are likely to propose importing more liquid natural gas from the U.S. and investing in infrastructure such as high-speed train projects and energy deals, according to a Japanese official. Certainly the U.S. side is going to be looking for short-term wins," said Matthew Goodman, senior adviser for Asian economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The Pence team that goes over is going to feel some pressure to bring back something each time they meet." (Updates with Abe comments in sixth paragraph.) --With assistance from Justin Sink To contact the reporters on this story: Maiko Takahashi in Tokyo at mtakahashi61@bloomberg.net, Connor Cislo in Tokyo at ccislo@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Daniel Ten Kate at dtenkate@bloomberg.net, Brett Miller at bmiller30@bloomberg.net, James Mayger 2017 Bloomberg L.P. After a 25-year break, fractious Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have reestablished regular connecting flights, a spokeswoman at Tajikistan's international airport told AFP Tuesday, paving the way for improved relations. "An Uzbekistan airways flight (from Tashkent) landed at Dushanbe international airport at 8:03 am (0303 GMT)," the airport spokeswoman told AFP by telephone. "The plane and the passengers were very well met." Doubts were cast over an apparent rapprochement between the two countries that have a traditionally fraught relationship when a long-awaited flight from Dushanbe to Tashkent was abruptly cancelled in February. Uzbekistan first banned flights from Tajikistan in 1992 after the outbreak of civil war in its smaller neighbour to the east. The ban remained in place after the war's end, as long-reigning autocrats Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan regularly clashed over water and other issues. Karimov was buried in his native city of Samarkand after a suspected stroke in September last year and successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev has moved to smooth ties with neighbours in the majority-Muslim ex-Soviet region. While Brexit may not have an impact on Singapores economy, digging deeper, it could strike a blow close to home, in terms of trade with the EU Singapores second largest trading partner after China With Theresa May having now officially announced Britains intention to leave the European Union, both the UK and countries on the continent are braced for the potential fall-out. This is understandable, of course, as the UKs exit will have an immediate impact on its European partners and fellow EU-member nations. Beyond this, however, the UK must also redefine global relationships and carve out a new place within a constantly changing world order. This means that the UKs relationships with other countries across the globe may also be impacted over time, with Singapore offering a relevant case in point. Exploring the long-term impact of Brexit on the UKs relationship with Singapore At first glance, Brexit will have little impact on Singapore and the nations trade relationship with the UK. After all, the UK is only 22nd on the overall list of Singapores trading partners, while the economic ripples caused by Britains departure from the EU will barely resonate outside of the continent. So aside from causing currency fluctuations and the sustained devaluation of the pound, which according to brokers continues to trade currency within a narrow range, Brexit will have limited impact around the world during the coming months. This is confirmed by the import and export figures relating to the two nations, with non-oil domestic exports from Singapore to the UK accounting for less than 1 per cent of total shipments. Similarly, imports from Britain constitute for around 2 per cent of Singapores total, while the value of trade between these two countries equated to S$4.94 billion (US$3.52 billion) during the first five months of 2016. Altogether, this means that any negative impact from Brexit would be negligible for Singapore and other nations in the Asia-Pacific region. Story continues Also read: Brexit: Will London remain a fintech hub? Beyond these headline numbers, however, there are concerns that Brexit may have a far greater impact on Singapore and its relation with the UK (and, to a lesser extent, Europe). Economists believe that Singapores economy would suffer if UK companies scaled back their investments in manufacturing, which could well happen if Brexit takes its toll on the British economy. A continually weak pound will also exacerbate this issue, particularly if it continues to struggle against the Singapore dollar. The bottom line: Will Singapore suffer from the potential break-up of the EU? Not only this, but Singapore would also incur significant losses if Brexit were to trigger a mini-exodus and the eventual break-up of the EU. After all, the EU remains Singapores second-largest trading partner after China, and there are two major elections scheduled in France and Germany later this year (both nations have right-wing, anti-Europe parties challenging in the polls). With Europe gripped by populism and engulfed by nationalist politics, Brexit could trigger the break-up of the union and strike a blow to the heart of the Singapore economy. This amounts to mere speculation for now, of course, but there is no doubt that Brexit could have significant consequences for Singapore (while impacting on the nations trade relationship with the UK). This is certainly something to watch for as the negotiations between the UK and the EU begin to take shape, as the true impact of Brexit on the global economy begins to play out on the world stage. - Want to be part of the ecosystem? Register for your Echelon Asia Summit access pass now! Enjoy +10% off Echelon Asia Summit Startup, Investor and Corporate passes just for being our favourite e27 reader. The views expressed here are of the authors, and e27 may not necessarily subscribe to them. e27 invites members from Asias tech industry and startup community to share their honest opinions and expert knowledge with our readers. If you are interested in sharing your point of view, submit your post here. Featured Image Copyright: rabbit75123 / 123RF Stock Photo The post With Brexit underway, Singapore economy might feel the impact if EU breaks up appeared first on e27. By India Today Web Desk: The appalling news of Arjun Bhardwaj's suicide was an eye-opener to the blindfolded society refusing to accept depression as a serious mental condition. We are surrounded with people who fail to understand depression, or lend support to those who need it. Arjun Bhardwaj, a young engineering student ended his life by jumping off the nineteenth floor of a hotel. The departed left us with a sad reality staring back at us--he could have been saved. advertisement Also Read: Depression, let's talk: Why it's time to shed prejudices around mental illness While most of us expressed grief and shock over the loss of a young life, actor Anupam Kher decided to do his bit about the deep-rooted issue. He shared his email id in a tweet telling people suffering from depression to reach out to him; only if someone had told Arjun the same. Also Read: One-fourth mental illness arises due to workplace pressure, suggest experts Kher believes that depression is common among the youngsters these days, and they need support. According to the Hindustan Times, the actor received over 300 mails from people who wanted to talk their hearts out, after he shared his email address. Anupam Kher is all set to launch a website called Anupamcares.com. The website will be a platform for everyone and anyone battling with depression to reach out for help, support and guidance. Picture courtesy: Instagram/anupamkher He told the Hindustan Times, "For the last four years I am suffering from sleeplessness and my doctor said that I am also depressed for some reason. So personally I have an idea about the medical reasons and symptoms, which is why I can't just do one or two tweets and move on with life. I am creating this website, Anupamcares.com that will have my email address. The website will be dealing with people in grief, depression, setback and sadness. In a month and a half, it will be ready and I will personally connect to people via the same. I plan to have one or two professional psychiatrists on the website. Many have also written to me that they want to help. I might take them in as well." Also Read: World Health Day: Signs to identify depression in your loved ones The actor's initiative will be a beacon of hope for many who are battling with depression, and here's hoping we all make little efforts like Anupam Kher, before another Arjun gives in to depression. --- ENDS --- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday praised the normalisation of relations with Norway, six years after a dispute over the Nobel Peace Prize, as Norway's prime minister said she was glad to be back. The visit by Erna Solberg is the first high-level exchange since December, when the two countries normalised ties that soured after the Oslo-based Nobel Committee awarded the 2010 Peace Prize to the still-imprisoned Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo. Solberg's visit, the first to China by a Norwegian prime minister for a decade, began Friday and will end Tuesday. "Your visit this time holds a lot of significance," Xi told her at a meeting in the Great Hall of the People. He noted that Norway had been one of the first Western countries to recognise the People's Republic of China, and one of the earliest to recognise its status as a market economy. Solberg said she was "delighted to be back" in China and Norway's king was also happy to accept Xi's invitation to visit in the autumn of 2018. On Friday she met Premier Li Keqiang, signing numerous cooperation documents including an agreement to resume negotiations on a free trade pact. Liu Xiaobo was sentenced in 2009 to 11 years in jail for "subversion", after he co-wrote a text calling for democracy in China. His wife Liu Xia remains under house arrest. Diplomatic relations and trade talks were frozen after Liu was given his Nobel. Norway's salmon industry suffered as exports to China were halted. Exchanges only resumed last December after Norway pledged its commitment to the one-China policy and respect for China's territorial integrity. The Western media often blamed China for "converting its economic power into strategic influence", but cooperating on economic goals was ultimately more beneficial than clashing over human rights issues, an editorial in the Global Times newspaper, which often takes a nationalistic tone, said Monday. AYUTTHAYA, Thailand (AP) Frolicsome elephants sprung a huge surprise on motorists and passers-by in Thailand on Tuesday, when they lined streets and doused them in gallons of water. The jumbos from an elephant camp in the old capital Ayutthaya were brought out to welcome the Buddhist New Year, known here as "Songkran." The elephants raked passing traffic, soaked passengers in open vehicles and sprayed anyone foolish or brave enough to venture within range. The holiday, the longest in the Thai calendar, starts later this week and runs officially for three days. Cities empty out as workers head home to see family and celebrate by cleansing images of the Buddha, washing the hands and feet of elders, and throwing water on each other in what is sometimes called the world's biggest water-fight. The festival -- which is also celebrated in neighboring Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos -- falls at the hottest time of the year, when temperatures often creep above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). A huge fire has gutted one of France's biggest migrant camps housing 1,500 people, which started after a brawl involving hundreds of Afghans and Kurds, officials and police said Tuesday. The Grande-Synthe facility near the northern French port of Dunkirk was the only one in the area and provided hundreds of wooden huts for shelter, as well as cooking facilities and showers. Michel Lalande, a senior local official in France's Nord region, told reporters that authorities were working to find alternative accommodation for the migrants, most of whom want to travel to Britain. "Three gymnasiums have been put to use to provide shelter," he said. Firefighters said at least 10 people were injured in the inferno overnight, which was visible several kilometres away. It followed an outbreak of fighting that required riot police to intervene. Only around 70 of 300 huts and a handful of communal buildings were still intact on Tuesday morning. The others were smouldering embers or burned beyond repair, along with their contents. - Scramble for other accommodation - The camp, built by the humanitarian group MSF (Doctors Without Borders), opened in March 2016 over the objections of the central government, which announced plans to close it in March. For more than a decade France's northern coast has been a magnet for refugees and migrants trying to reach Britain, causing tension between the two neighbours. Ahead of the presidential election in two weeks' time, the fire quickly became a campaign issue, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen saying it underlined the need to control immigration. "This chaos must stop," she said. "All migrants' camps will be dismantled after my election if the French people elect me as head of state." Her main rival for the presidency, Emmanuel Macron, has pledged to scrap a treaty with Britain under which France has secured its northern border to stop migrants crossing the narrow Channel sea. "We will need to take up discussions with Britain again on the situation which leaves us acting as border guards for this country," the secretary general of Macron's party, Richard Ferrand, told the LCI channel. As politicians discussed solutions in Paris, local authorities and police were investigating the cause of the brawl and whether the fire was started deliberately, as alleged by some local officials. One camp resident, Emal, told AFP that the fighting had started after a football game among Afghans when the ball struck a Kurd from Iraq "who insulted the Afghan people". - Spate of violent incidents - The Afghans tried to catch him but he managed to escape before returning with a gang of armed friends, Emal said. A Kurdish man, Kawan, told AFP that some Afghans had kicked a Kurd "and in the evening Kurdish people, all coming, and starting to fight again." A police source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said there had been several bouts of fighting that culminated in a massive brawl involving around 600 people at 9:30 pm (1930 GMT) Monday. Lalande said six people had been injured with knife wounds. Local association Auberge des Migrants and the mayor of Grande-Synthe, Damien Careme, said that strains from overcrowding were the underlying cause of the violence. Europe has faced its biggest migrant crisis since World War II over the last few years as millions of people have fled war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. "Our volunteers were telling us that there had been tensions for weeks linked to the overpopulation of the camp," Auberge des Migrants vice president Francois Guennoc said. The number of mostly male inhabitants in the Grande-Synthe camp swelled after the destruction last October of the squalid "Jungle" camp near Calais, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) away. According to several witnesses, disagreements arose after an increase in the number of Afghans who arrived from the "Jungle". "I thought it was normal that the Kurds were here, it was their camp, and we (Afghans) had Calais," Emal told AFP. "But Calais doesn't exist anymore." Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux announced plans to close the camp in March, citing public order problems after a spate of fights and stabbings. The government also believes the camps encourages people to travel to northern France where they seek to break into trucks heading to Britain or pay smugglers to help them get across the Channel. Migrants have been encouraged to register asylum applications in France, but many are determined to travel to Britain for family, language or work reasons. burs-adp/gd/pdw KKday is taking advantage of the looser visa processing requirements, in the aim of boosting travel and tourism between Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries In September 2016, the Taiwanese government passed a visa amendment based on President Tsais Pedoman New Southbound Policy, aiming to partner with ASEAN to increase Taiwans international recognition and boost domestic economy. A visa amendment is part of this policy. The amendment states that any Southeast Asian country with visas to developed countries such as Korea and Japan would no longer require visa to enter Taiwan. The policy relaxation is expected to stimulate a slumping tourism industry, which is largely due to a decrease in Chinese visitors, by attracting travelers from Southeast Asia. In the past decades, applying for Taiwanese visa was extremely difficult for most Southeast Asian citizens, except for Singaporeans, because of ingrained concerns about the illegal stay and unpermitted work. The stereotypical prejudice towards the weak economic development in Southeast Asia resulted in the longstanding stagnation in the mutual interaction for Taiwanese and those Southeast Asian countries, and Vietnam is no exception. Also read: After Ubers pullout amid tough regulations, is there hope for Taiwans startup ecosystem? Most of Vietnamese hold a positive image toward Taiwanese and Taiwan. We love Taiwanese culture and desire to have a trip in some of the spectacular national parks, discovering Taipei streets or try some typical Taiwanese food at those famous night markets The visa amendment just comes as a perfect timing, said Viet Tu Nguyen, Brand Manager of KKday Vietnam, in an exclusive interview. Simplifying a previously complex process Before the policy amended the visa requirement, a Vietnamese citizen would have to go through a complex process in order to obtain a Taiwanese visa. The steps required official document, health statement, and labor contracts. And even if one followed all the steps, showed a strong financial background, and submitted all the paperwork, getting a visa was far from a guarantee. In most cases, these applicants would still be rejected. Story continues Notably, the number of Vietnamese visitors outbound to Taiwan increases significantly. The surge in the growth of Taiwan travel, in fact, starts with the appearance of local budget airlines, Vietject Air, more precisely, and the increasing expansion of regional airlines, prominently assisting in the transportation with other countries. Moreover, with more and more affordable flight tickets available, people begin documenting their travel experience online and writing blogs which share the invaluable tips and disclose inaccessible information resulting from the language barrier. With that said, it is believed that the visa amendment and new governments policy are the primary reasons leading the travel trend to an even higher level. Due to the looser visa regulations, the number of Vietnamese visitors traveling to Taiwan has broken the historical record. Currently, planning a vacation to Taiwan is becoming one of the major choices and a sought-after experience for Vietnamese in terms of outbound travel, according to an insider with knowledge of Vietnamese tourism. Likewise, more and more Taiwanese are expected to travel to Vietnam, owing to the implementation of visa on arrival in Vietnam and other policies aiming to attract international visitors. One of the reasons why KKday choose Vietnam as a part of expansion plans lie in the great extent of similarity between Taiwanese and Vietnamese cultures. There are about ten thousand of Vietnamese immigrants living in Taiwan, acting like an evangelist preaching the amazingness and wonder of Vietnam, she continued sharing the rationale. In addition to that, the young dynamic demographics in Vietnam are the important determinants as well. Online travel on a growth trajectory in Southeast Asia According to a research conducted by Google and Temasek Holdings, online travel spend in Southeast Asia will account for US$76 billion. More than 70 per cent of the population are younger than 40. Vietnam, of course, is within one of them, plus an amazing characteristic that juniors are more technology adept and craving for convenience brought by new technologies and creative business models. Nowadays, traditional packaged tours offered by travel agencies could no longer satisfy young people, millennials and Generation Z in particular. Also, the notoriously hidden cost and compulsory shopping activities in unbelievably cheap tour packages are often reported. Whats more, with the emergence of growing number of independent backpackers, which is made up of young adult mostly, across this region, the inflexibility in packaged tours deters young customers away and may become the last straw that breaks the camels back lose trust in the traditional travel agency. Unsurprisingly, new types of travel agencies spring up like mushrooms in response to the aforementioned phenomenon. Bold pioneers and the incoming entrants have been working on the innovation in trip preparation and information discovery, trying to make customer journey of travel closer to their real needs and optimising their offering. Also read: Before you start your own travel startup, check out these top 10 online travel activity outfits The travel industry, in essence, is a cut-throat industry which scale and cost are the major factors determining the remaining winners. Nevertheless, under no circumstances does it mean small startups cannot stand out in the fiercely competitive market. With innovative products and differentiated service, there are still niche markets for startups to survive in the overcrowded space. Startups competing with established enterprises As a startup holding limited capital, we deeply understand the only way to be outstanding is to have an unfair advantage in your products and services. Thats how you could compete with global enterprise or deep-pocket players. I have a strong faith in our offering and our unbreakable team. KKdays strength comes from its localisation strategies. Firstly. KKday recruits local talents into its local management team to deal with all the business development. Next, the localised content is also something KKday take pride in. Even though creating unique and localised content for different countries costs more budget, KKday is determined to implement a real localisation tactic by producing what local customers like rather than simply making a direct translation from the original content, which is not appealing to readers at all most of the time. From January 2016 to March 2017, KKdays fans number derived from Vietnamese on Facebook has accounted for 10 per cent of the total number, growing from 15,000 to 70,000. The Vietnamese customers using KKday s platform has also increased by approximately sixfold during this period of time. While everything ahead looks wonderful, we know we shouldnt feel satisfied. We will try our best to maintain the momentum and provide the best travel experience to our customer, told Ms. Viet Tu Nguyen in the end of the interview. - Want to be part of the ecosystem? Register for your Echelon Asia Summit access pass now! Enjoy +10% off Echelon Asia Summit Startup, Investor and Corporate passes just for being our favourite e27 reader. The views expressed here are of the authors, and e27 may not necessarily subscribe to them. e27 invites members from Asias tech industry and startup community to share their honest opinions and expert knowledge with our readers. If you are interested in sharing your point of view, submit your post here. Featured Image Credit: KKday The post KKday expands to Vietnam, just in time for the Taiwan visa amendment enabling easier travel for Southeast Asia neighbours appeared first on e27. Tang Koon Huat pleaded guilty at the State Courts on Tuesday (11 April). (Yahoo Singapore file photo) Upset that a Briton was fined instead of being jailed for assaulting a Singaporean student, Tang Koon Huat called for the creation of a vigilante group targeting white people. The 62-year-old Singaporean, who was then a lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic, vented his feelings on Facebook about the assault on January 2016 using the moniker of Emet Haqq. Writing on his Facebook page, Act For Singapore (AFS), Tang wrote in a post, Its about time to form a Singaporean vigilante group to go to beat up troublesome drunk WHITE bastards in the drinking joints. Teach these bumps (sic) a lesson. The post was in reference to an assault case involving 34-year-old Alan Benjamin Maybury, who was fined for punching 19-year-old Lum Kwok Weng in the face on 30 November 2014. The altercation happened after Lums car rear-ended the taxi that Maybury was in, according to the statement of facts. Tang, who was represented by lawyer Alfred Dodwell, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (11 April) before District Judge Matthew Joseph at the State Courts to one charge of making an online post that contains an incitement to violence. A second similar charge was taken into consideration. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Thiagesh Sukumaran said that a member of the public lodged a police report after he came across two such posts on Facebook on 19 January last year. During investigations, police traced the posts through the internet protocol address of the account holder of the AFS Facebook page. Tang was later identified as the person behind Emet Haqq and arrested on 15 April 2016. Tang admitted that he would use the AFS page to post articles that he deemed to be of public interest. He said that he posted about the assault because of his perceptions about the influx of foreigners and the declining population of native Singaporeans, and felt that Maybury should have been jailed and caned. His case has been adjourned until 16 May to allow both prosecution and defence to submit written submissions. If found guilty, Tang faces a jail term of up to five years, a fine or both. Poland said Tuesday it was launching a new festival in Britain to celebrate the contribution of Polish immigrants as the country's biggest minority community at a time when many are rattled by Brexit. Warsaw's ambassador to London, Arkady Rzegocki, told AFP that events in more than 30 locations around Britain will not only celebrate Polish traditions but attempt to promote greater cultural understanding. The events, which include folk dancing, film screenings and picnics will take place on May 6 and 7, the weekend after Poland's Constitution Day. "I hope this event will encourage Polish and British people to celebrate together because we should know each other better and the best way of integration is to know more about our neighbours," Rzegocki said. There are just under a million Poles in Britain -- population 65 million -- making them the biggest minority community. But their status, along with other EU migrants, is up in the air as London and Brussels negotiate Britain's exit from the European Union. London wants to guarantee the rights of EU nationals already in Britain, but is waiting for Brussels to do the same for UK citizens in the rest of the bloc. Immigration, particularly from southern and eastern Europe, was one of the central themes of last year's EU referendum campaign. Rzegocki said the uncertainty caused by Britain's vote to leave the EU was the biggest problem facing the Polish community. The ambassador said the situation meant more Poles are considering returning home, creating a headache for businesses worried about labour shortages. "Freedom of movement is very important for Poles. I hope that our governments -- the EU and the UK -- will remember that during the negotiations," he said. The Polish Heritage Day symbol is the red and white checkerboard used by Polish airmen in the 1940 Battle of Britain -- a reminder that the history of Poles in the UK pre-dates the post-2004 immigration wave, which took numbers from 44,000 to 984,000. MANILA President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to return to the country on April 16 from his state visit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Bahrain and the State of Qatar. The President said that upon his return, he will be with many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were stranded in the Middle East, particularly in the KSA for not having the proper documents. In Jeddah, Those who are given the permission of clemency to whatever it was my clearance, about 5,000 of them, well start bringing them back. The first batch when I returnsome will be here, he said. READ: Repatriation ongoing for stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia Based on data from the Department of Foreign Affairs, some 760,000 overseas Filipino workers are in the KSA. About 15,000 of these OFWs are undocumented. They may take advantage of the 90-day amnesty granted by the Saudi Arabian government for foreigners without proper documents. One of the objectives of the Presidents visit to Saudi Arabia is to have cooperation with the Saudi government to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs in Saudi Arabia. Aside from cases of abuse, 31 Filipinos to date are on death row in KSA. President Duterte, however, refused to detail the agreement he targets to be signed in KSA to prevent more cases of abuse among OFWs in the region. Those were the things that we discussed the other day and no, I cannot make it public. Im sorry, the President said. Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue The post President Duterte to return home with OFWs from Middle East appeared first on UNTV News. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The army was allegedly cheated by revenue officials into paying rent for land parcels which were in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Rajya Sabha was informed today. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told the house that nine such instances have come to light and investigation is on. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said the CBI has already filed FIRs in two cases, while the State Vigilance Organisation registered an FIR in another. advertisement He said remaining cases are under confidential verification by the CBI. "There are all together 9 reported cases relating to alleged payment of rent for land in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Out of these cases, the State Vigilance Organisation has filed FIR in one case and CBI has filed FIR in two cases," he said. As per details placed by the defence minister, a total of 265 Karnals and one Marla (local measurements) of land in village Khamba in Rajouri district is "under occupation" since April 1, 1972 and rental has been paid upto march 2003. The state vigilance in its probe has found that documents were forged by the state revenue officials to show it was in Indias possession though it was either under occupation of Pakistan or located in no mans land. According to the details provided by Jaitley, the second case involves a plot of land measuring 122 Karnals and 18 Marlas, also in Khamba village. The case is pending in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court after one of the suspects approached it in the wake of the CBI registering an FIR in January. The CBI has also filed an FIR in another alleged cheating case involving a plot of 258 Karnals and 13 Marlas. This piece of land is also in Khamba village in Rajouri district. In three other cases too, the land in question was in Khamba village, while two others were in Sarya village in Nowshera, also in Rajouri district. PTI MPB SK SK --- ENDS --- By Sue-Lin Wong and David Brunnstrom PYONGYANG/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korean state media warned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression, as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed towards the western Pacific - a force U.S. President Donald Trump described as an "armada". Trump, who has urged China to do more to rein in its impoverished ally and neighbour, said in a tweet that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and the United States would "solve the problem" with or without Beijing's help. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula amid concerns that reclusive North Korea may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test and after Washington said at the weekend it was diverting the aircraft carrier strike group Carl Vinson towards the Korean peninsula in a show of force. "We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump told Fox Business Network. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. That I can tell you. Referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Trump said: He is doing the wrong thing. Asked if he thought Kim was mentally fit, Trump replied: I dont know. I dont know him. North Korea said earlier it was prepared to respond to any U.S. aggression. "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focussed on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland," its official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said. In spite of the military rhetoric, U.S. officials have previously stressed that stronger sanctions are the most likely U.S. course to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme. At the same time, Washington has said all options - including military ones - are on the table and that a U.S. strike last week against Syria should serve as a warning to Pyongyang. The strike group heading towards Korea includes the nuclear-powered flagship aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, two destroyers and a cruiser. Such a strike group is generally accompanied by submarines, although the Pentagon does not normally publicise this. "PRUDENT" MOVE U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the deployment was not tied to a specific event but a matter of prudence. "She is just on her way up there because that is where we thought it was most prudent to have her at this time," he said at a Pentagon news conference. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump had put North Korea "clearly on notice" that he would not tolerate certain actions but dismissed Pyongyang's nuclear attack threat. "I think there is no evidence that North Korea has that capability at this time," he said. "Threatening something that you don't have the capability of isn't really a threat." North Korea remains technically at war with the United States and its ally South Korea after the 1950-1953 Korean conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. It regularly threatens to destroy both countries. However, North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States, presenting Trump with perhaps his most pressing security headache. South Korea's acting president, Hwang Kyo-ahn, warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea, including a possible nuclear test, given a meeting of the country's Supreme People's Assembly and upcoming national anniversaries. He ordered the military to intensify monitoring and ensure close communication with Washington. North Korea convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of twice-yearly sessions attended by leader Kim Jong-un, and reported a successful national budget execution and personnel appointments, the official KCNA news agency said. The agency made no mention of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme or being under threat from the United States. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, North Korea's founding father and grandfather of the current ruler. A military parade is expected in Pyongyang to mark the day and North Korea often marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities. Men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on the streets of Pyongyang, illuminated by better lighting than seen in previous years, apparently practising for the parade. TRUMP PRESSES CHINA Trump said a trade deal between China and the United States would be "far better for them if they solved the North Korea problem". "If China decides to help, that would be great," he tweeted. "If not, we will solve the problem without them!" Trump pressed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to do more on North Korea at a meeting in Florida last week. China's U.N. ambassador, Liu Jieyi, called the Korean situation "tense" and repeated China's call for a return to dialogue with North Korea. We believe that it is highly important to move towards denuclearisation, to maintain peace and stability, and its time that different sides sit down to talk about achieving these objectives, he told Reuters. Asked about Trump linking a trade deal to Chinas help with North Korea: We need to look at the situation on the Korean Peninsula as something that we should work together on. South Korean officials sought to quell social media talk of an impending crisis, and Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun urged people "not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation". North Korea's foreign ministry said the approach of the U.S. Navy strike group showed Washington's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase". "We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said. U.S. officials said at the weekend the carrier group would take more than a week to reach waters near the Korean peninsula. A statement from U.S. forces in South Korea on Tuesday said General Vincent Brooks, commander of United States Forces Korea, would not attend a Congressional hearing expected this month because of the "security situation on the Korean Peninsula." The statement said the step was not unprecedented. Russia's Foreign Ministry, ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said it was concerned about many aspects of U.S. foreign policy, particularly North Korea. "We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario," the ministry said in a statement. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. On Tuesday, a fleet of North Korean cargo ships headed home, mostly fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return coal, sources with direct knowledge of the trade said. China banned all imports of North Korean coal, the country's most important export, on Feb. 26, but Washington has questioned how well the sanction was being implemented. (Additional reporting by Ju-min Park and Jack Kim in Seoul, Idrees Ali, David Brunnstrom, Ayesha Rascoe and Eric Beech in Washington, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; Editing by Tom Heneghan and James Dalgleish) Shrouded by fumes and surrounded by spray cans, Vietnamese graffiti artist Kong conjures his latest masterpiece, a monkey clutching an aerosol, a colour-splashed act of rebellion in a communist country where the youth are expected to follow strict social mores. "Young people want to break the rules," said the 21-year-old, his fingers speckled with paint. "We want to see more interesting things on the street or on the wall, so we do graffiti to express ourselves." Kong belongs to the growing ranks of graffiti artists in Ho Chi Minh City, where subcultures -- BMX biking, skateboarding and breakdancing -- jostle for space on the hipster scene. For many the spray can is a tool of rebellion -- illicit spray-painting is a way of defying restrictions in an authoritarian country where artists must have their work approved before exhibitions, shows are routinely shut down, and works deemed controversial are replaced by a black 'X' on gallery walls. But Kong knows better than to dabble in politics, opting instead to paint playful images less likely to incur the wrath of censors in the authoritarian nation. Yet many artists like him believe there is something almost political in the very act of spraying a wall -- and rejecting parents' expectations to find a stable job. Kong fell into graffiti as a teenager, bored with online gaming and looking for a creative outlet. But his parents didn't approve, hoping instead he might find a steady office job. "They still don't like it... they think it's a dangerous game and it's bad for my health because of the spray paint," he said with a chuckle. - From colonial to cool - Ho Chi Minh City is now a graffiti hotspot, thanks to pioneering artists -- both local and foreign -- eager to fill blank wall space. "It has become a part of Saigon, you can't imagine Saigon without graffiti," said independent curator Nguyen Nhu Huy, using the city's former French colonial name. Today, the city has several hubs for graffiti and street art, such as '3A Station', a collection of colonial buildings that were reportedly occupied by the CIA during the Vietnam War. The walls are bursting with colour and plastered with art -- including Kong's wide-eyed primate and a massive rooster wearing sunglasses -- luring tourists taking Instagram-worthy selfies. Though not technically allowed, police tend to turn a blind eye. And residents have come to love the free art for the most part, said Danny Daos, a local graffiti artist. "The government doesn't like us... They (used to say) that we make the walls dirty, but the people like us so we do our graffiti," he said. - Building bonanza - Yet even some seemingly tame images have been subject to vandalism. One mural promoting environmental safety was defaced in the central city of Danang, though the artist doesn't know who took issue with it. Acts like these may deepen the reluctance of some young artists to take on controversial topics. "In school they've been taught how to think and what to think, so I think there's some ingrained censorship for sure," said Dan Nguyen, a California-born Vietnamese artist and DJ who moved to Ho Chi Minh City about five years ago. But perhaps the biggest threat to the artwork today is a construction boom, which some public pieces have already fallen victim to. "Now the city is growing up, development with a lot of building, a lot of security, so it's really hard for us to paint masterpieces," said Daos. Hemmed in by towering high-rises on all sides, the colonial properties home to '3A Station' have been sold to developers hungry to get their hands on the valuable downtown land. Occupants have been told it will be demolished within weeks. Though heartbroken, 3A's coordinator Mai Do believes Ho Chi Minh's graffiti culture will grow, even after her space is gone, as artists are finding new spots showcase their work. She added: "That's a good way for them to survive." Gunmen have kidnapped two Turkish nationals from their hotel in southern Nigeria's oil-rich Akwa Ibom state, police said Tuesday in the latest unrest to hit the restive Niger Delta. "Two Turkish nationals working for a construction company in Onna local government area were abducted from their hotel rooms on Sunday," state police spokesman Chukwu Okechukwu told AFP. He said the men, who work for BKS Construction Company which is based in Onna, were seized by gunmen from a hotel in Eket, an industrial city which is home to Mobil, the Nigerian subsidiary of US oil giant Exxon. He said efforts were under way to free the pair. It was not immediately clear why they were kidnapped and so far no group has claimed responsibility. In January, a Turkish teacher was abducted from a school just outside Lagos along with another two staff members and five students, police said, indicating that they were freed two weeks later. No group claimed responsibility. Kidnapping for ransom was rife in the Niger delta until a 2009 government amnesty drastically reduced unrest in the region. Most kidnap victims were released unhurt after ransom payments. But the region has seen a resurgence of militancy since 2016, cutting Nigeria's oil output at a time of global low crude prices, hurting government revenue and forcing Africa's most populous country into a recession. An ongoing government truce with the rebels has significantly ramped up the nation's oil production. HAVANA (Reuters) - Venezuela's leftist, regional allies pledged to support its embattled government at a summit in Havana on Monday, where President Nicolas Maduro accused the opposition of resorting to violence to lay the groundwork for a foreign invasion. The show of solidarity comes as Maduro faces intensifying criticism abroad, as well as the first sustained wave of anti-government demonstrations in three years, fueled by an economic crisis and erosion of democracy. "We reject the aggressions and concerted manipulations against our ally," read the statement published by the leftist ALBA bloc of 11 Caribbean and Latin American countries. The association was founded by Communist-ruled Cuba and its top ally Venezuela 13 years ago as a counterpoint to U.S. influence in Latin America. It singled out the Washington-based Organization of American States, which has been bitterly critical of Maduro, for what it called attempts to undermine Venezuela's sovereignty. The OAS chief, Luis Almagro, called for elections to restore full democracy in Venezuela, given the political and institutional crisis roiling the country. Venezuela's Supreme Court decided in late March to take over the functions of the opposition-led Congress before an outcry forced it to retreat. On Friday, Maduro banned opposition leader Henrique Capriles from political office for 15 years. "We condemn the interventionist, illegal and pro-imperialist behavior of the OAS secretary general," the statement read. To preserve Venezuela's independence was to "preserve the independence, unity, and development of the region", said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. "This is the time of unity, peace and hope," said Rodriguez. Latin America has shifted away from leftist populism toward more centrist policies in recent years and so the ALBA bloc has lost heavyweight regional allies, such as Argentina and Brasil. Venezuela has come under increased pressure over the past weeks not just from the OAS, but also American and European countries that have condemned its crackdown on the opposition. During a 1-1/2-hour speech, Maduro said he was open to dialogue but the opposition was not. "The only way to reach peace is through words, through dialogue," he said. "But the reality is the order has come from Washington for zero dialogue in Venezuela, to make our country explode and give way for a foreign intervention". Opposition leaders slammed the government for arbitrary use of force in breaking up Monday's demonstrations, pointing to tear gas being fired into one Caracas clinic. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) The Manchester Connects SkatePAL Fundraiser will take place on April 27th at the Indigo Bar, with DJ sets all evening and a suggested donation at the door of 5. Head down from 7pm onwards to have a night out for a good cause! More details can be found by clicking on the image below, and check out some of SkatePALs work here. Music all night with live sets from: Sunken:https://soundcloud.com/sunken-band Carl Blarx: https://soundcloud.com/carlblarx More TBA The night will be in support of SkatePal a non political charity that aims to separate Palestinian children from the ongoing conflict with Israel. By working with communities to build skateparks and through providing equipment and tuition the volunteers at SkatePal have created a safe environment in an area where educational and sporting opportunities that children here take for granted are severely limited. The charity aims to expand to be able to provide these opportunities to kids across the territory but relies on donations to do this, so as the nights FREE give a little (or a lot)!!! Suggested donation: 5 on the door or Online: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Alex-Adetiba If youre looking for a business with a lot of opportunity and growth potential, you might want to consider a commercial cleaning franchise. With our list of cleaning services franchise opportunities to choose from, youre sure to find one that fits your interests and abilities. And with the right preparation and marketing, you can turn your cleaning services franchise into a successful business. Lets get into this article about franchise opportunities in the cleaning industry. What is a Cleaning Franchise? A commercial cleaning franchise business is one that provides cleaning services to businesses, organizations, and sometimes residences. These services may include cleaning carpets, window washing, pressure washing, and general cleaning. Some commercial cleaning franchises also offer other services such as janitorial services, floor care, and security. READ MORE: 10 Dry Cleaning Franchises The Commercial Cleaning Services Industry in 2022 The cleaning industry is growing every year and is expected to be worth a lot of money in the near future. By 2025, the residential cleaning market is expected to be worth about $40.3 billion with the global commercial cleaning market reaching about $468.2 billion by 2027. Why You Should Consider a Franchise Cleaning Business Here are five reasons why you should start a business from our list of commercial cleaning franchises in 2022: High-demand service. This industry is always growing and is expected to be worth almost half a trillion dollars in the not-so-distant future. Lower barrier to entry. Starting a service-based business in cleaning is a low-cost investment compared to other businesses. You have many options. You can choose from a variety of services to offer, so you can tailor your business to your interests and abilities. The sky is the limit. With the right preparation and marketing, you can make your franchise a successful cleaning business. You call the shots. With your own franchise business, youll have the opportunity to be your own boss and have a flexible schedule. Top Cleaning Franchises Lets jump into our list of the top cleaning franchise opportunities for you to consider in 2022: 1. Anago Cleaning Systems The Anago Cleaning Systems franchise opportunity seems like a great investment. The initial investment range is between $219,000 and $339,000, with a 5% royalty fee on gross revenue and an initial subfranchise fee of $98,000. 2. Stratus Building Solutions The Stratus Building Solutions franchise opportunity costs will vary depending on the region you choose to purchase the franchise in, the type of franchise you choose to invest in, as well as the population of that region. Your investment costs fall somewhere between $3,450 and $1,113,000. 3. Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning The Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning franchise opportunity looks like a solid investment. The initial franchise fee is $41,900, and the flat, monthly royalty fee is only $395. Additionally, the National Advertising and Technology Fee is a reasonable 3% of sales per month, with a $150 per month minimum. The Scheduling Center fee is also very reasonable at only $15.00 per completed job. 4. Chem-Dry This franchise opportunity from Chem-Dry has an initial franchise fee of $23,500. The estimated total initial investment ranges from $67,645 to $179,000. 5. Merry Maids If youre looking for a cleaning franchise opportunity for home cleaning services, then the Merry Maids franchise could be a good option. With an initial franchise fee of $37,500 to $51,500 and an estimated total initial investment of $89,616 to $125,023, its a relatively affordable option. 6. College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving To get started with a franchise with this brand, your total investment will be between $158,700 and $288,500. This includes the franchise fee of at least $45,000 to $65,000. Youll also need to have $75,000 in liquid capital (cash, home equity, sellable assets, 401(k) or IRAs, etc.) and a net worth of $200,000. 7. Vanguard Cleaning Systems The initial franchise fee for Vanguard Cleaning Systems is relatively low, starting at about $5,000, but can go as high as $350,000 for a Master Franchise. The estimated total initial investment also depends on the type of franchise you buy and your area of operation. 8. PuroClean The PuroClean franchise opportunity looks like a great investment for those interested in the cleaning industry. With an initial franchise fee of $50,000 and an estimated total initial investment of $71,190 to $99,305, PuroClean appears to be a reasonably priced option. 9. Jan-Pro The Jan-Pro franchise opportunity looks like a solid investment for those interested in starting their own green cleaning services business. There is a wide range of initial franchise fees, from $1,000 to $20,000, and estimated total initial investments range from $1,000 to $768,000. 10. ServiceMaster Clean The ServiceMaster Clean franchise opportunity has an initial franchise fee that is relatively low starting at $31,500. The estimated total initial investment is also not too bad starting at $86,500. READ MORE: See our Franchise Guide How to Choose the Best Franchise to Set Up Your Commercial Cleaning Business When youre looking at different cleaning franchises, its important to do your research to find the best one for you such as reading a franchise business review. Here are four ways to choose the best franchise for you: Consider the start-up costs. A low-cost investment is always better than a high-cost one. When youre looking at different franchises, consider the initial investment and make sure you can afford it. Look at the training and support provided. When youre starting a business, its important to have access to training and support. Make sure the franchise youre considering provides both of these things. See Also: 10 Ways to Take Advantage of New Business Opportunities in 2021 Check the reviews. Before you make any decisions, be sure to read reviews of the franchise youre interested in. This will give you an idea of what other people think of the franchise and whether or not its a good fit for you. Talk to the franchisor. The best way to get a feel for a franchise is to talk to the franchisor. Ask them any questions you have and get to know them and their business. READ MORE: Top Commercial Cleaning Supplies for Your Small Business How Much Does It Cost to Open a Cleaning Business Franchise? Opening a commercial cleaning business can cost anywhere from about $3,500 to over $1 million. This includes the initial franchise fee. The cost really depends on whether the business comes with vehicles, a location, advanced equipment, etc. Are Cleaning Franchises Profitable? They most certainly can be, but this will depend on many factors such as the cleaning franchise brand, how well you run the business, your location, etc. Marketing your business well is essential to making it profitable. Can You Make Money with a Carpet Cleaning Franchise? Yes, you can make money with a carpet cleaning franchise. Carpet cleaning is a service that is always in demand and will continue to be so in the future. If you offer quality services and market your business well, you can certainly make a profit cleaning carpets with this business model. READ MORE: According to an EU report, Slovakia show the least amount of trust in the independence of courts within the EU. Font size: A - | A + As legal systems in individual EU-member states have become ever more effective, it seems that Slovakia has the least independent courts among all countries. This stems from a report by EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova issued on April 10. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The fifth EU Justice Scoreboard confirms that an effective judiciary is of key importance for building trust in business and an appropriate investment environment on the single market, Jourova said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. I call on member states to carry out their reforms of the judiciary in line with the rule of law and the principles of an independent judiciary. The Slovak public shows the least amount of trust in the independence of courts in the EU, with the main factor being interference by the government and politicians in general in the work of courts, according to the Justice Scoreboard. Slovakia was also placed last in this respect on a list drawn up by the World Economic Forum, TASR reported. Meanwhile, the country is among the member states with the longest processes in civil and business legal disputes. In February, the European Commission reproached Slovakia for deficiencies in the independence of courts, too little progress towards greater effectiveness in the legal system and relatively poor law enforcement, TASR wrote. Thanks to the project, about 4,000 children aged six to 18 will be able to visit school facilities in the Middle East. Font size: A - | A + Non-governmental organisations launched a project aiming to renovate and extend school facilities in places with a high number of Syrian refugees. The Slovak agency for international development cooperation, SlovakAid, provided a grant amounting to 200,000 to the Habitat for Humanity organisation, which deals with development aid in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Thanks to the money, it will be able to renovate and modernise eight schools in the cities of Amman and Irbid in Jordan, as well as in their surroundings, the SITA newswire reported. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The project will enable about 4,000 children aged six to 18 visit the facilities. Currently, the quality of education in Jordan is endangered by an inadequate teaching environment, said Zuzana Letkova, head of SlovakAid, as quoted by SITA. Many pupils study in overcrowded classrooms and schools, particularly in the urban areas. This is the reason why Slovakia considers it important to support this project. The long-term crisis in Syria has had an extreme impact on the education system in Jordan, as well as on the future of refugee communities. More than 200,000 Syrian children of school age were registered in the country last year, SITA reported. Schools have problems with accepting new pupils as many of the facilities are overcrowded and the whole school infrastructure is in bad condition. Moreover, since the refugees do not have equal access to education, their results are worse than that of their Jordan peers, according to SITA. SlovakAid and Habitat for Humanity are also participating in the project of renovating schools in Lebanon which together with Jordan servers as a shelter for the most Syrian refugees. In Lebanon, the NGO is renovating and expanding six school facilities. The only country more vulnerable is Hungary. Font size: A - | A + Slovakia is the second most vulnerable country towards Russian influence in the Visegrad Group (V4) region, after Hungary. The reason is the cultural proximity to Russia as well as a naive perception by the countrys political elites of Russian foreign policy, according to the analysis published by the non-governmental organisation Globsec published on April 11. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Globsec focused on five public life areas that are linked to the resistance of countries towards Russian influence. Slovakia ranked as the second most vulnerable country, with an overall score of 51 out of 100. Hungary, which is the most vulnerable to the Russian influence got 57 points, while the Czech Republic received 38 points and Poland 30 points, the Sme daily reported. Transactional and opportunistic attitudes towards the EU and NATO, widely shared by political elites and the public, persistent energy ties to Russia and political elites naive perceptions of the Kremlins geopolitical goals in central Europe put Slovakia in a very vulnerable position, reads the analysis. A small push could change the course of the country in either direction. Views and attitudes of the Slovak public ranked 53, which is the highest among the V4. They differ to a certain extent from the rest of the V4 countries, reflecting different nation-building narratives, contemporary history and public perception of Russia and the West. Slovaks are still among the most EU-positive V4 nations, but at the same time are the least supportive of NATO and their level of anti-American sentiments is the highest in the region, the analysis reads. Some activities praised Such attitudes create fertile ground for further erosion of the pro-western orientation of Slovakia and political forces trying to capitalize on such sentiments. This is also reflected in the results from the political landscape category, where Slovakia ranked as the second most vulnerable after Hungary with an overall score of 50. The position of the main ruling party, Smer, towards the Russian Federation is referred to as friendly pragmatic and is characterised by pursuing economic interests and avoiding open criticism of Russian domestic and foreign policy. Slovakias high level of energy dependency on Russia and the economic profitability of providing transit for Russian gas into western Europe also play a role. Another coalition party, the Slovak National Party, is known for its long-term sympathies towards Russia and open disdain for NATO and the United States, although this type of rhetoric changed recently with the change of party leadership, according to the analysis. Slovakia also scored relatively high in the media and state countermeasures categories, (40 and 78 respectively). The lack of effective state counter-measures to hostile foreign influence and the lack of public recognition thereof contribute significantly to Slovakias vulnerability. As for the media, it is possible to observe two tendencies in the mainstream media in Slovakia. Firstly, the government attempts to influence the public media and therefore it undermines its perception of impartiality and accuracy to report on domestic and international affairs. Secondly, apart from a few exceptions, a majority of the Slovak private media are currently owned by a few local financial groups and businessmen. The analysis also pointed to the recent cooperation between the TASR newswire and the Russian news agency Sputnik, which was later cancelled. It praised the attempts of the Slovak media to fight conspiracy theories. Regarding state counter-measures, Slovakia is almost as vulnerable as Hungary, with a score of 78. There are several factors driving such a high level of vulnerability. First and foremost, the existing security related public policies do not reflect the new realities created by Russian intervention in Ukraine and the use of hybrid warfare and disinformation by the Kremlin. The Slovak National Security Strategy was adopted in 2005 and has not been updated since then. In the civic society area, Slovakia ranked as the least vulnerable within the V4 region, with the score of 39. The analysis pointed to a small number of civic organisations and think tanks that have started to address the influence of disinformation and Russian propaganda in Slovakia. Despite their number, the most visible counter-measures and activities resonating among the public are those of individual activists or representatives of these organisations, according to the analysis. Among the institutions that collaborated on the analysis were the Polish Institute for Public Affairs, Hungarian Political Capital Institute and Czech think tank European Values. The evaluation was attended by altogether 38 specialists who answered 40 questions, Sme reported. Lucknow held its first Pride Parade on Sunday and it was a huge success. Lucknow's first Pride parade was a phenomenal success. (Image via Facebook) By India Today Web Desk: 18 years after India put together its first Pride Parade (in Kolkata), Lucknow has now joined the club. Lucknow held its first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Asexual - Pride Parade on Sunday. In a proud moment for the state, LGBTIQA members were also joined by their family members, who came out in support of the participants. (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) advertisement "Lucknow was the epicentre of gay culture in the Gangetic plain which was evident in even its literature such as Umrao Jan Ada and was suppressed by the British. We are only keeping the tradition alive though the modern Indian political class is ashamed of it," Ashok Row Kavi, chairman of Humsafar Trust, told The Times of India. (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) A lot of people were "surprised" at the size of the turnout. Kavi called the participation "fabulous". (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) Rainbow flags fluttered on the streets of Awadh as a huge crowd marched for 1.5 km from Sikanderbagh Crossing to Gandhi Park at Hazratganj. (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) People from Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Jaipur showed up to give Lucknow support (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) And MAAAAAN were they dressed to kill (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) This dude slayed (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) And a LOT of fun was had (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) At the end of the day though, their message was clear (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) And the Pride flag flew high. (Image via Facebook/AWADH PRIDE Lucknow) --- ENDS --- STEM Students Compete in Finals of World's Largest Rocket Contest This May, 100 teams of middle and high school students will compete in the 15th annual Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) National Finals outside Washington, D.C. The students will represent 28 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Theyll travel to Washington with the goal of taking home a national trophy and a chance to represent the United States internationally later this year. The finalists have already outscored more than 700 other teams to earn one of the coveted spots to compete at the Final Fly-Offs Saturday, May 13. The competition challenges students across the development and design process, where, in addition to building a rocket that flies to exactly 775 feet and safely returns a payload of one raw egg undamaged within 41-43 seconds, teams must include a transition piece that joins two different diameters of body tube. Reflecting the innovative and curious nature at the heart of the aerospace workforce, some teams have met the mark while still managing to include 3D printing and other innovative strategies into their designs, according to a TARC news release. At the National Finals, as many as 42 teams will advance to a second round with new height and time requirements (800 feet and 42-44 seconds). Teams must rely on their knowledge of physics to adequately adjust their rockets on the fly in order to meet the new scoring parameters in an unfamiliar launch environment. Finalists will compete for scholarships and prizes totaling more than $100,000 and the chance to travel to the Paris Air Show, courtesy of the Raytheon Company. The winning team will represent the United States in the International Rocketry Challenge, facing off against teams from the United Kingdom, France and Japan. TARCs structure mirrors that of the aerospace industrys design, engineering and testing processes, with many TARC participants carrying the lessons they learned in the TARC competition through to joining a thriving and innovative aerospace workforce in the future, the release said. According to TARC, among the hundreds of students invited, approximately one in three are female rocketeers, including six all-girl teams. In addition, the students offer experiences from a number of different socioeconomic backgrounds. The teams hail from both rural and urban America, encompassing first-time rocketeers and program veterans. They also feature teams that were completely self-funded and student run, as well as those who have some support from sponsors. Ultimately, these middle and high school students are proof that STEM and aerospace are for everyone, and the push for a strong, diverse workforce is happening now. TARC is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the National Association of Rocketry and more than 20 industry partners. Since its inception in 2002, TARC has inspired more than 65,000 middle and high school students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), AIA said. This year, nearly 5,000 students representing 46 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands designed, built and launched rockets in hopes of qualifying for the National Finals. For a list of finalists, go to this site. For more information about TARC, visit the competition website. For more information about AIA, visit that organizations site. Marketing 11 Ways to Make Your Online Course Go Global as a Freelance Educator A recent article by Fast Company interviewed three futurists about what they believed will be the most in-demand jobs in 2025, and the freelance professor made it solidly to this list. Joe Tankersley, a futurist and strategic designer at Unique Visions, said, The continued growth of online courses and the introduction of alternative accreditations will spawn a growth in freelance or independent professors. By 2025, all you need to start your own university is a great online teaching style, course materials and marketing plan. The booming demand for self-study, on-demand and access-anytime training and education is evident through the popularity of platforms like Udemy and Coursera. Whether you teach K12 math, train aviation engineering or lecture on English literature, the online learner is ready and waiting for your course. Many educators are shifting away from their traditional teacher, trainer and professor roles at brick-and-mortar institutions and realizing the benefits of freelancing, such as sharing their expertise beyond the walls of their classroom and earning extra compensation. By adding online courses to their teaching portfolio, they can go from an employee to their own walking, talking, passive income-earning university; and now is the perfect time to start building it. As soon as you put your professional training into an online format, you immediately open it up to a global marketplace. However, while many educators are sensational in their field of work, marketing may not be something they have had the opportunity yet to master. Up until now, the institution they have been working for has provided a room full of students and its brand power. Going online and become a freelance edupreneur means learning how to get your course out to the world yourself. And there is a lot more to that than simply pressing publish. I have more than 40 online courses of my own, have built close to 1,000 courses for other people and currently have more than 9,000 students enrolled in my online courses in more than 130 countries. In this article, I will share 11 tips that I have used to grow my global student base, so that you can grow yours too. 1) Break it Up Into Its Smallest Parts Consumers are in control of their knowledge because now they can Google search how to XYZ and quickly find an answer. With this in mind, a great way to rapidly go global is to start providing your audience with those answers. You also need to keep in mind that in the big, open online market, your potential customers may not know if they want your course yet. (They might not even know it exists yet.) This means that you need to simplify any over-technical or academic language to the search terms that they might be using to find information like yours on the internet. If your content appears as one of the top results for every how to question that your audience has, then it is your online courses that they are going to buy. Heres what to do: Write down every question that your audience has on your topic; Write a simple tip answer to each question; Record that tip as a video; Keep each video as close to the 2-9 minute mark as you can. Please note that it is not wrong to film longer videos than this at all. Its just that the modern day online learner may not watch the entirety of a video that exceeds this length and therefore may not get the full value of your content; Add the video to YouTube, your own blog and social media, ensuring it has a how to title that is the most likely to be searched by your audience. Every video you add increases your chances of being found by your audience as the one who has all of the answers. If you achieve this kind of recognition, your future courses will become a no-brainer for them to take. 2) Add Smaller Pieces of Your Courses to Marketplaces Online course marketplaces are like the supermarkets of online courses. They are big, powerful, have huge reach and big customer numbers. One downside to using them, however, is that you (as the course owner) do not own the student data, or have full control over your course pricing. However, many of them have millions of users all of whom you have the opportunity to get your course in front of if you have a course on the shelves. Because these marketplaces can highly discount your courses, I advise you to only use a smaller (high-quality) taster version of your course on these sites and use them as a way to get yourself in front of millions of customers from around the world that otherwise wouldnt know you. Marketplaces like Udemy, also have a corporate membership option which can have your professional and academic training courses offered to businesses to train their staff increasing your income and your exposure significantly without any extra effort. 3) Add Your Courses to Marketplace Discount Websites The online course marketplaces have now become so big, they have markets within their own market! There are hundreds of websites and social media groups that are dedicated to sharing discount coupons and promotions for marketplace listed courses. Create a discount coupon and add them to these promotion sites (I have a whole downloadable document of these available in my online course) and you will see a huge influx of international students 4) Start Blogging and Guest Blogging Every online course is essentially a collection of learning outcomes, key points, tips, advice and strategies for something. Pull out every single key learning point, tip and strategy one by one from your course and for each one write a short blog post about that tip. Not only will your own website be more discoverable in search engine results due to the keyword content and data (meaning that more people will be able to find you), but you can also repurpose those blogs as articles that you can send out to industry-relevant magazines. Getting your article into a popular online magazine could get your course in front of hundreds of thousands of highly-targeted readers and could even win you a regular column as a writer. Hawra, 4-years-old, who was badly burned in the March 17 airstrike in western Mosul, sits on her bed at a hospital in Erbil, Iraq, Saturday, April 8, 2017. The fight for western Mosul is proving more brutal and destructive than the battle for the citys eastern sector, and Iraqi civilians are being caught in the middle. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) IRBIL, Iraq (AP) Since she got struck by mortar shrapnel in Mosul just over a week ago, 10-year-old Nabaa has not been able to speak. A shard in her skull damaged part of her brain and doctors aren't sure if she'll ever be able to speak again. The girl's family had been forced to flee their home in the northern Iraqi city because fighting was raging around them, government artillery and helicopters were bombarding their neighborhood, and their food supplies were running out, said Nabaa's mother, Umm Abdul-Rahman. But as they neared Iraqi military lines the night of March 31, mortars hit, wounding Nabaa and her two brothers, 7-year-old Basem and 11-year-old Abdul-Rahman. The mother said she saw three others lying wounded on the ground after the strike but she didn't know their fate. The family is among a large number of civilians who have been caught in the middle of what appears to be a far more brutal battle over the western half of Mosul than the preceding fight for the east. In the west, Iraqi government forces trying to wrest back the city from Islamic State fighters are relying on heavier firepower, including extensive barrages with mortars, rocket launchers and some improvised systems without guidance mechanisms. While the east was retaken by Iraq's special forces, much of the fighting in the west is done by militarized police units that have less experience in urban battle. Iraqi forces recaptured the east at the end of January and moved against the west in mid-February. "They see resistance and implement a carpet-bombing approach to advance. They do this to reduce their own casualties. This is disastrous for the civilians," said Col. Ahmed Shawki, a military analyst and retired Iraqi army officer based in the northern city of Irbil. At the same time, IS fighters in some cases are preventing civilians from leaving, keeping them in harm's way as shields. The number of casualties is hard to establish because only some of the wounded reach hospitals and most of the dead are buried immediately. At least 300 people were killed in western Mosul up to the beginning of April, according to the U.N. The World Health Organization says 1,683 wounded civilians were referred to hospitals between February 18 and April 8. Johannes Schad, a doctor in West Irbil Emergency Hospital, said that about 60 percent of the victims have blast injuries, mostly from shelling. Story continues Some 1,600 civilians were killed or wounded during the 100 days of fighting to recapture Mosul's less densely populated east. Dr. Shalan Ali, the Health Ministry official in charge of Ninevah province, thinks up to a thousand have already been killed in the west. The worst single attack came on March 17, when an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition hit a building in the New Mosul neighborhood, killing more than 100 civilians who were sheltering inside. The U.S. military is investigating the strike, and officials say IS militants who have been seen elsewhere forcing civilians into buildings to use them as shields may have played a role. The shelling in western Mosul has been much more intense than in the east. One police artillery unit based outside the city said they alone fired up to 200 shells a day. Police Lt. Col. Younis Sultan Jadalla told The Associated Press that they use drone footage to choose targets and only fire if there are no civilians nearby. Drone footage taken by the AP in the Dawasa neighborhood of western Mosul on April 5 shows entire streets reduced to rubble, with deep craters dug up by airstrikes. By comparison, eastern Mosul was generally preserved, with damage mainly concentrated on individual buildings and road junctions. Basem Mohammed, a resident of western Mosul's Nablous neighborhood, said IS fighters had a position in a nearby park from which they fired at Iraqi forces. In an apparent response from government forces, his street was hit by mortars on March 8, with shells hitting his neighbors' houses, wounding several people. He was wounded in the leg by mortar fire a week later, as he and his family fled. Much of the destruction is wrought by Iraqi and coalition air power. An analysis of bombing in western Mosul between March 8 and 25, conducted by Human Rights Watch and using satellite imagery, identified 780 impact sites that may have been caused by large, air-delivered munitions, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of buildings. The analysis called the destruction comparable in intensity to the Russian-Syrian air attacks on Aleppo in September and October last year. IS militants, too, are shelling the areas that have slipped out of their control. Among their victims is Nashwan Jamal, 25, who was hit on March 11 in the Tel Alruman neighborhood, four days after it was taken by Iraqi special forces. Jamal, his brother and a friend were sitting on the roof of their home when a mortar landed, wounding him in the leg. Several people who escaped western Mosul told the AP that IS forbade people to leave. Omar Marwan said IS fighters told people on his street that they had planted a bomb so that they wouldn't flee. "They told us, stay in the house, you can't get out. One of them even said, you have to stay until it is destroyed. No one can leave," said Alaa Hassan, 27, from the New Mosul neighborhood. "We tried to escape when they were busy fighting. But then we ran into them and they shot at us." Alaa Hassan's wife was killed in the March 17 airstrike, and his 4-year-old daughter, Hawra, was badly burned. Hawra's grandmother, Alia Ali, said the militants would not let them leave even after the airstrike on their house. "I went to them and told them we have a burned child and we need to take her out and they said no. They said, you have to stay here with us. And you will die here with us." They reached Iraqi lines two days later. By Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil and the head of the Organization of American States (OAS) called on Monday for elections to restore full democracy in Venezuela, raising diplomatic pressure on the Socialist state during its most sustained opposition protests in years. After a meeting in the Brazilian capital, OAS head Luis Almagro said elections were the only solution to a political and institutional crisis roiling Venezuela after the delay of state votes and a crackdown on opposition parties. The government has not officially called the next presidential election, which is scheduled for 2018. In some of the strongest comments to date from South American diplomatic heavyweight Brazil, Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes said the international community must hold Venezuela to confirming an electoral calendar. "We must insist on the urgency of confirming the electoral calendar in Venezuela," Nunes told journalists. "Brazil supports an honest and effective international political dialogue to guarantee the full restoration of democracy." Brazil has kept a relatively low profile in the Venezuelan crisis as it dealt with its own contentious politics, economic downturn and corruption scandals. Venezuelan opposition supporters took to the streets again on Monday to protest a grinding economic crisis and what they call the erosion of democracy under leftist President Nicolas Maduro. The demonstrations were part of the longest wave of anti-government protests in three years. Maduro quashed a petition for a recall election last year. On Friday, he upended the next presidential race by banning two-time opposition candidate Henrique Capriles from political office for 15 years. The move fuelled anger from opposition protesters on Saturday after a string of violent marches, spurred by the Supreme Court assuming control of congress last week before an outcry forced it to retreat. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Brad Haynes; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Andrew Hay) THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The Dutch government says it won't be offering any assistance to a high-ranking Eritrean official planning to visit the Netherlands for a congress of young Eritreans. In a statement Tuesday, Dutch authorities say they will not facilitate the visit of presidential adviser Yemane Gebreab, citing concerns about the human rights situation in Eritrea. A United Nations commission of inquiry last year said that officials "at the highest levels of state" bear responsibility for crimes against humanity and that abuses in the country should be investigated by the International Criminal Court. Eritrea accused the commission of bias. Rights groups say that Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, who has been in power since 1991, has become increasingly repressive. In 2015, nearly 50,000 Eritreans applied for asylum in Europe. Souda refugee camp on Chios is one of two camps on the Greek Island. Around 800 people live in a tented city. Most of them are from Syria. The rest are migrants from North Africa, Afghanistan and Iran. All of them escaped the Turkish coast in the region of Cesme, on the other side of the Aegean sea and visible from the shoreline. According to the EU refugee deal, the number of migrants from Turkey to Chios was planned to decrease by 25 %. But official UN Refugee Agency data shows an increase. In February there were 270 arrivals, in March over 800. This is a worrying trend for the 51,000 inhabitants and the mayor of Chios, Emmanouil Vournous. Maybe it is the weather, maybe it has political reasons. I am not so interested in why this is happening. I know what is happening and this is very hard for the locals and the refugees and immigrants as well. I can not be complaining or saying things about what Turkey is doing. Turkey is an independent state. It is acting by itself. We in the EU, we should have our own policy, he says. Volunteer with the #RLCs in #Greece! Refugee Law Clinic #Chios https://t.co/flZw2Bxh7A Refugee Law Clinics (@LawClinics) April 11, 2017 The two camps are full. Living conditions have become unbearable. The Asylum procedure is a bureaucratic process that forces the migrants to wait here for many months. There are more and more protests, riots and stabbing incidents in the camps. People are frustrated. The food is not good, says one man. What we drink is not good. And the hospitals are bad. One Syrian refugee who set himself on fire here on Chios just a week ago in protest has reportedly died of his injuries. It is a very dangerous place, agrees one of his compatriots. My story: I got stabbed here by a knife. Three times, says Majid. One in the heart, one in my back, one in my leg. Three times. I stayed in the hospital for 15 days. The UN didnt come to visit me. #vial #euturkeyagreement more than 3,500 people in limbo on the island of #Chios #refugeecrisis pic.twitter.com/J5wcrxbrmR Sofia Kouvelaki (@SofiaKouvelaki) April 7, 2017 Majid is 25 years old and a migrant from Sudan. He came here three months ago. His family is still in Turkey, caught five times already by the Turkish police in Cesme, on the Anatolian coast only eight kilometres off Chios . Turkey has strict policies it says it is applying, and the authorities in Cesme are claiming to take very seriously. Unfortunately escapes are happening from here. But as a state, we try to prevent this with our security forces and coast guards every time. Every day we try to collect them before they are on the sea and we collect them from the sea, insists Mayor Muhittin Dalgic. Turkish politicians have already threatened to tear up the refugee deal and even send up to 15,000 refugees a month into Europe. The refugees and also the Greek authorities here in Chios are complaining about the living conditions in the camps and the resources definitely are at their limits, reports euronews Senada Sokollu. "I did not go India for any demand, I went there for friendship and I got that," said Sheikh Hasina. By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina today said that her recent India tour has been concluded successfully and was fruitful. She expressed it in a press conference at her Ganobhaban official. "I am satisfied at this visit and it has been fruitful. On the context of respect we are equal, it is a matter of satisfaction. Nothing is here for dissatisfaction. This tour totally is successful," said the prime minister. advertisement Sheikh Hasina left for Delhi on Friday and came back home on Monday. Thirty six documents have been signed including agreements and MoUs. Sheikh Hasina said, she will not commit anything wrong for the country indicating that the agreement signed with China on defense agreement during BNP tenure. The importance of Sheikh Hasina has been expressed to New Delhi for this tour. PM of India Narendra Modi welcomed PM Hasina at the airport breaking the rules of protocol. Hasina stayed at the Rastrapati bhaban during her state visit which is a rare feat for the chief executive of any country. "I did not go India for any demand, I went there for friendship, I got that," Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh PM honoured the Indian martyred soldiers during the 1971 liberation war. On the other hand, PM inaugurated a road named after Bangabandhu, the father of the nation and released a cover of a book on the unfinished life sketch of Bangabandhu. A NEW DIMENSION OF BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS The prime minister thinks that a new dimension of bilateral relationship has been opened intended for this tour. The connectivity of the both countries have been built stronger and a new innovative challenge has been set up between Bangladesh and India. Hasina also said that nothing can be achieved on rivalry, the special significance is always carried out by the relationship of both the neighbouring countries. She said that she has come back home from India with pride and honour. Sheikh Hasina said all the agreements with foreign countries are signed after approval of the cabinet. "So, these are open documents," she said. Responding to her government policy to maintain relation both India and China Sheikh Hasina said that policy of Bangabandhu- 'Friendship with all, Malice to None,' is the "guiding factor of our foreign policy". GOOD RELATION WITH EVERY COUNTRY "I am trying to comply with the policy word by word and establish good relation with every country," she said. The premier added India and China might have problems in their bilateral relations but Bangladesh would maintain good relation with every country. She said Bangladesh needs to have good relations with all countries for its cherished prosperity as quick as possible since as a nation "it has lost much time after the killing of Bangabandhu in our expedition for development". advertisement WATCH | How Sheikh Hasina became one of world's most powerful Muslim leaders Also read: Menace of terrorism should be dealt with iron fist, Sonia Gandhi tells Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina With Sheikh Hasina listening, PM Modi says India wants neighbours to progress, but some nurture terror --- ENDS --- This photo provided by the US Army shows Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar, who was killed Saturday, April 8, 2017, in combat in Afghanistan. (US Army via AP) BALTIMORE (AP) The Pentagon has identified the soldier who was killed over the weekend while conducting an operation against Islamic State militants in Afghanistan. Military officials said in a news release Monday that 37-year-old Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar of Edgewood, Maryland, died Saturday of wounds sustained when his unit encountered enemy small arms fire in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province. De Alencar was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. De Alencar's remains will be returned Monday evening to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. One person has been killed and several wounded in an explosion in a police compound in Turkeys southeastern city of Diyarbakir. Diyarbakirs governor said the blast happened while an armoured vehicle was being repaired. A large plume of smoke could be seen billowing over surrounding buildings and a crater has been left in the ground. What has Turkeys Interior Minister said? Suleyman Soylu said the explosion appears to have been an accident. The blast was in a part of the building for riot police, where maintenance is carried out on vehicles, Soylu is quoted by media as saying during a speech in Istanbul. At the moment, it seems there is no outside interference and the explosion came from the vehicle under repair, he added. Diyarbakir The city is the largest in Turkeys southeast. Kurdish PKK militants have fought an insurgency for more than three decades to press demands for Kurdish autonomy. Violence has flared since a ceasefire collapsed in July 2015. The context The explosion came ahead of a hotly contested referendum on Sunday aimed at broadening President Tayyip Erdogans powers. The constitutional change is opposed by many in Turkeys predominantly Kurdish southeast. The blast was in the central, largely residential district of Baglar, where a car bombing by suspected PKK militants wounded scores of people last November. A soldier lays on a stretcher and is carried by his comrades inside the Camp Bautista hospital after sustaining wounds in a gunfight with Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in Talipao town, Sulu province, Philippines. REUTERS/Nickee Butlangan Thomson Reuters MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine troops killed at least five suspected Abu Sayyaf militants and suffered three fatalities during a firefight in Bohol province on Tuesday, the military said, days after Western travel warnings about visiting the holiday island. The clash took place after the United States and Canadian embassies in Manila warned citizens against traveling to Central Visayas, which includes Cebu and Bohol, where rebel groups may attempt to conduct kidnappings during Holy Week in the predominantly Catholic nation. Cebu and Bohol are two of the country's most popular tourist destinations, far away from the island strongholds of Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic State-linked group known for extortion, piracy and kidnaps for ransom. Abu Sayyaf is currently holding more than two dozen captives on the southern island of Jolo. "We have received a report that five of the enemies were killed and we have also recovered from them four high-powered firearms," said military spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo. "But sadly, three on the government side were also killed while two others were wounded." Security forces launched the operation after receiving intelligence that a heavily armed group of 10 people was seen on three boats along the riverside of Sitio Ilaya in Inabanga town, Armed Forces chief General Eduardo Ano said. President Rodrigo Duterte reviews police academy graduates as he arrives to attend the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) graduation in Camp Castaneda, Silang town in Cavite city, south of Manila, Philippines March 24, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco Thomson Reuters The group's motive for traveling to Bohol was not known. They were cornered in an isolated section of the town. Early this month, government troops killed more than 10 Abu Sayyaf militants in an attempt to free Vietnamese captives. Abu Sayyaf, which means "bearer of the sword", earlier this year beheaded a German hostage and two Canadian captives suffered the same fate last year. They were executed when deadlines to pay ransoms expired. President Rodrigo Duterte says Islamic State is trying to gain a foothold in the restive southern Philippines, an impoverished, underdeveloped and predominantly Muslim region fraught by insurgency. Story continues He has pleaded with Philippine separatist groups to reject advances of extremists. The military has been engaged in large-scale offensives with Abu Sayyaf but progress has been hampered by the presence of civilians in its strongholds in Jolo and Basilan islands. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Martin Petty) NOW WATCH: 'I have done this before, why would I not do it again?': Philippines president says he once threw a man out of a helicopter See Also: By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The risk of mass starvation in four countries - northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen - is rising rapidly due to drought and conflict, the U.N. refugee agency said on Tuesday. About 20 million people live in hard-hit areas where harvests have failed and acute malnutrition rates are increasing, particularly among children, it said. In South Sudan, where the United Nations declared famine in some areas in February, "a further 1 million people are now on the brink of famine", UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards said. "We are raising our alarm level further by today warning that the risk of mass deaths from starvation among populations in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria is growing," Edwards told a news briefing. "This really is an absolutely critical situation that is rapidly unfolding across a large swathe of Africa from west to east," he said. People are on the run within their countries and greater numbers of South Sudanese refugees are fleeing to Sudan and Uganda, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. A preventable catastrophe, possibly worse than that of 2011 when 260,000 people died of famine in the Horn of Africa, half of them children, "is fast becoming an inevitability", Edwards said. TOO LATE "Always the problem that we have with humanitarian crises in sub-Saharan Africa is that they tend to get overlooked until things are too late," he said. "A repeat must be avoided at all costs." "There's acute malnutrition, very high rates, if you don't help people with worsening rates of malnutrition, people die." Seven million people in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin are suffering from food insecurity, Edwards said. Food security in 4 countries is expected to continue to deteriorate until at least mid-year, he said. UNHCR is scaling up its operations but has a funding shortfall, with some country programmes only funded at between 3 and 11 percent, he said. Overall the United Nations has appealed for $4.4 billion for the four countries but has received less than $984 million to date, Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. In northeast Nigeria, especially Borno state, aid workers had "almost zero access" a year ago, due to Boko Haram militants, Laerke said. "Now that access is opening up. That is one of the reasons why the numbers have grown. Because as we have pushed into these areas we have simply discovered more and more need of an extreme nature including extreme food insecurity so that there is a risk of famine," he said. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned in late March that the world had three to four months to stop starvation in the four countries. David Hermann, ICRC operations coordinator for Somalia, told the briefing: "If it doesn't happen now, there will be no escaping a situation that this country already experienced a few years ago, meaning probably people are going to die from starvation and disease." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt and Janet Lawrence) By Marton Dunai and Gabriela Baczynska BUDAPEST/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hungary faced criticism from Washington and Brussels on Tuesday over a new law they believe targets a Budapest university founded by U.S. financier George Soros that is viewed as a bastion of independent thinking in eastern Europe. The top U.S. diplomat in the region said the impact of the legislation on the Central European University (CEU) was a concern, while the European Union's executive Commission said it would be the subject of a debate on Wednesday. Domestic opponents of the new law, which on Sunday triggered some of the largest demonstrations against Prime Minister Viktor Orban's seven-year rule, consider it part of a wider crackdown on dissent and a political drift towards Russia. The law requires foreign universities to maintain a campus in their home countries and secure a bilateral agreement between Hungary and their governments. CEU, which is accredited in New York state as well as Hungary, has said both rules were prohibitive as costs would be too steep and Washington had no jurisdiction over it. "The United States is concerned by this legislation ... because it targets (CEU) very clearly and threatens ... this important American Hungarian institution," U.S. State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Hoyt Yee, said in Budapest. Orban has for years criticised Soros, a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor and philanthropist who has spent billions of dollars campaigning for an open society at odds with the more authoritarian social model the prime minister favours. Speaking in Brussels after talks with Commission officials, Hungary's State Secretary for Education Laszlo Palkovics said his government did not want to close down any university and sought only to protect students against unverified institutions issuing fake diplomas. CEU has rejected similar claims by Orban that the university "cheated" with its diplomas. Grievances between Brussels, some EU capitals and Budapest go beyond the higher education law to issues such as migration and energy policy, as well as moves by Orban to put independent media, NGOs and the judiciary under more state control. "These are issues that have a certain degree of connection amongst themselves," the European Commission's spokesman said on Tuesday. Yee told Reuters that, while the new law hurt the university and academic freedoms, Hungary remained a key U.S. ally. Asked whether it pushed Budapest closer to Moscow, he said the departure of the university would be a loss firstly to Hungarians. "We are of course... quite vigilant about what Russia is doing in the region... In terms of the trend in Hungary, we're still very close allies... I expect that is going to continue." (Reporting by Marton Dunai and Gabriela Baczynska, editing by John Stonestreet) Bihar completes one year of prohibition on April 5, find out how the state fought its battle with alcoholism. Bihar completes one year of prohibition on April 5. The decision to go dry left the state with a Rs 5,000 crore hole in its tax revenue but won laurels for chief minister Nitish Kumar, earning him the tag of 'India's Prohibition Man' and gaining him a surprise following across the country. Kumar has made rich political capital from his fight against alcoholism, using the prohibition drive as a vehicle for his future political plans. Effusive praise from PM Narendra Modi has been the cherry on top of his non-alcoholic sundae. 1,000,000 litres of illegal liquor seized in 2016. Bihar's prohibition laws prescribe the death penalty for manufacturers, suppliers and sellers of hooch. But even this hasn't stopped career criminals from taking up bootlegging. Last year's haul of illegal liquor-510,000 litres of IMFL (Indian made foreign liquor), 455,000 litres of country liquor, 10,000 litres of toddy and over 12,000 litres of beer-offers a measure of the problem advertisement 584 raids a day -Cops and excise officials in the state conducted 213,000 raids in the past year to break up bootlegging networks and seize illegal stocks of liquor. This led to over 44,000 arrests. These numbers indicate a staggering average of 584 raids in Bihar every day last year, or 25 raids every hour. Ending bootlegging appears to be a top priority for cops in the state, but even their evident zeal has not achieved this target. 11,400 km long human chain- 'the world's longest'-formed by the people of Bihar on January 21. Nitish Kumar led the event to drive home his message of prohibition and give people a chance to express solidarity with his social aims. The exercise involved over 30 million people. Major political parties, including the BJP, also participated. 4,000 crore (approx.) estimated worth of liquor smuggled into the state in the past year, of which liquor worth over Rs 100 crore was seized. It is evident that bootlegging has edged past gunsmuggling to become the crime of choice for Bihar's underworld. --- ENDS --- By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council is due to vote on Thursday to close a 13-year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti this year and replace it with a smaller police operation, which would be drawn down over two years as the country boosts its own force. The closure of the $346 million mission, recommended by U.N. chief Antonio Guterres, comes as the United States looks to cut its funding to U.N. peacekeeping. Washington is the largest contributor, paying 28.5 percent of the total budget. "We regard the transformation of the Haiti mission, including the withdrawal of the military, as a strong example for how peacekeeping missions can and should change as a country's political situation changes," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told the council.\ There are currently 2,342 troops on the ground in Haiti, who would withdraw over the coming six months. The 15-member Security Council is due to vote on the U.S.-drafted resolution on Thursday. While Russia had some concerns about spelling out when the successor mission could use force, diplomats said those issues were likely to be overcome. "We see a reason to reconfigure MINUSTAH (the U.N. mission) to the new situation but that has to be done in a most cautious manner. It's important to prevent a security void," Deputy Russian U.N. Ambassador Petr Iliichev told the council. "We are convinced that the situation remains quite tenuous." U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 when a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It is the only U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Americas. Haiti suffered a two-year political crisis until the recent election and inauguration of President Jovenel Moise. It has suffered major natural disasters, including an earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Matthew last year. But the impoverished Caribbean country has not had an armed conflict in years. U.N. peacekeepers have been accused of sexual abuse and blamed for a cholera outbreak. Haiti was free of cholera until 2010, when peacekeepers dumped infected sewage into a river. The United Nations does not accept legal responsibility for the outbreak of the disease that causes uncontrollable diarrhea. Some 9,300 have died and more than 800,000 people sickened. Deputy British U.N. Ambassador Peter Wilson said he was "gravely concerned" about the continued presence of cholera, as he announced Britain would give $600,000 to help with the response. Deputy French U.N. Ambassador Alexis Lamek said the time had come to move toward a new U.N. presence in Haiti, "one which is better adapted to the country's needs and the conditions on the ground, which have significantly changed." "The United Nations still has work to do in Haiti," Lamek told the council. China's U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyi said he supported the recommendations by Guterres. (Editing by James Dalgleish) By Chris Mfula LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been detained and questioned by police for committing treason, his lawyer said on Tuesday. Hichilema, an economist and wealthy businessman known as "HH", was defeated by President Edgar Lungu in an election last August, which he described as fraudulent. His attempts to mount a legal challenge have so far been unsuccessful. On Tuesday Hichilema was taken in for questioning after his house was raided by the police. "They have detained him for having committed treason along Limulunga road by obstructing the presidential motorcade," his lawyer Jack Mwiimbu told Reuters. "We are definitely challenging the police action. We expect a formal charge tomorrow morning." Police did not say why they had detained Hichilema. "Obviously he will remain in detention," police spokeswoman Esther Mwaata Katongo told Reuters without elaborating. A spokesman for Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND), Charles Kakoma, said police broke doors before raiding the opposition leader's house in an exclusive suburb of Lusaka. He said police had blocked the access road to the residence but did not say what they were looking for. "They broke the doors and teargassed the house," Kakoma said. "They left the home after picking him." Mwiimbu said Hichilema was unwell after the raid. "He is not well because of the tear gas. His wife fainted three times last night because of the tear gas," he said. On Sunday, presidential spokesman Amos Chanda said Hichilema had obstructed Lungu's motorcade, saying Hichilema's motorcade maintained its lane instead of getting off the road. Hichilema was granted bail in October after being charged with sedition, a move his team said was an attempt by the ruling party to silence dissent. The opposition leader had been accused of assembly without a permit after he gave an impromptu address in the rural town of Mpongwe, police said. (Writing by James Macharia, editing by Pritha Sarkar) On May 5, 6 and 7, families and friends of graduating students at the University of North Georgia (UNG) will join to celebrate their students' accomplishments and hear words of congratulations and encouragement from distinguished speakers. Ceremonies will be on both the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses. Students attending the Cumming and Dahlonega campuses will participate in ceremonies on the Dahlonega Campus in the Memorial Hall Gymnasium. Students attending the Gainesville and Oconee campuses will participate in ceremonies on the Gainesville Campus in the Hugh Mills Physical Education Center. The first ceremony will be on May 5 at 6 p.m. on UNG's Dahlonega Campus, and will honor graduates of the College of Health Sciences & Professions. State Senator Renee Unterman will speak during this ceremony. Unterman began her service in the Georgia General Assembly in 1999. She was elected to the House of Representatives where she served two terms before becoming the region's state Senator in 2002. She now represents District 45, part of Gwinnett County. During her tenure in the Senate, Unterman has concentrated on healthcare policy and issues affecting seniors, children and disadvantaged Georgians. She has been successful in passing major legislation in areas such as healthcare, sex trafficking prevention and many elderly and child protection measures. The second ceremony will be on May 6 at 10 a.m. on the Dahlonega Campus, and will honor graduates of the Mike Cottrell College of Business and the College of Science & Mathematics. Steve Vande Loo, founder and owner of Advanced Beverage Concepts, will speak at this ceremony. Vande Loo founded Advanced Beverage Concepts in 2012 after a 33-year career with the Coca-Cola Company. He held key executive leadership roles with Coca-Cola in business development, strategic planning and operational marketing groups in markets across the U.S. and Europe. Today, he uses his industry knowledge and experience to drive growth for beverage sales and distribution clients. The third ceremony will be on May 6 at 2 p.m. on the Dahlonega Campus, and will honor graduates of the College of Education. Dr. Steve Dolinger, president of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education since 2002, will serve as the guest speaker at this ceremony. The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education is an Atlanta-based non-profit organization that leads education reform across Georgia through research and communication, including strong advocacy for higher standards. Prior to joining the partnership, Dolinger served as the superintendent of schools in Fulton County for seven years. During that time, he was recognized as Georgia Superintendent of the Year. The fourth ceremony will be on May 6 at 6 p.m. on the Dahlonega Campus, and will honor graduates of the College of Arts & Letters and University College. Ronda Rich, a best-selling author and syndicated columnist, will speak during this ceremony. Rich made the national stage more than a decade ago with "What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should)," a book now in its 33rd printing. The book's popularity launched her as a storyteller who rivets audiences with tales of the South as seen through the eyes of its people. Her latest book, "There's A Better Day A-Comin'," is a personal accounting of dozens of people famous and non-famous who triumphed over tribulation and setbacks to push through adversity and find a better day. The fifth ceremony will be held on May 7 at 2 p.m. on the Gainesville Campus, and will honor graduates of the Mike Cottrell College of Business, College of Education, College of Health Sciences & Professions and the University College. Jennifer Herring will serve as the guest speaker at this ceremony. As the senior vice president for college affordability initiatives at Georgia Student Finance Commission, Herring ensures dreams of college are both attainable and affordable for Georgia's students. She joined Georgia Student Finance Commission in 2016 after a 20-year banking career. Herring's passion is to provide Georgia's economically disadvantaged children with the encouragement and resources they need to dream big and focus on a brighter future regardless of their current circumstances. The sixth and final ceremony will be held on May 7 at 5 p.m. on the Gainesville Campus, and will honor graduates of the College of Arts & Letters, College of Science & Mathematics and the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis. Michelle Prater, president and CEO of the North Georgia Community Foundation and a UNG alumna, will speak at this ceremony. The North Georgia Community Foundation serves 15 counties and is dedicated to enhancing the spirit of the community and the quality of life in northeast Georgia by building, preserving and distributing philanthropic assets. With Prater at the helm, the organization has achieved its longtime goal of $50 million in assets. Tickets are required for each ceremony. Students who have applied for spring graduation can pick up graduation packets, which include their allotment of tickets, at their home campus bookstore the week before graduation. Graduates should read through all information and instructions given in the graduation packets, and should arrive 45 minutes prior to graduation to prepare and line-up for the ceremony. Graduates and guests should also allow extra time for traffic and parking when arriving for ceremonies. Those unable to attend the ceremonies in person can watch UNG's livestream via the university's official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/UnivNorthGeorgia. Graduates and guests also are asked to share their success via social media using #UNG17grad; posts and photos using the hashtag can be viewed before, during and after the weekend's ceremonies at www.ung.edu/UNG17grad. To find more information about fall commencement, including details and instructions for graduates and guests, visit UNG's commencement website. HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Connecticut police say a man wearing a T-shirt that said Hold My Beer And Watch This has been arrested for driving under the influence after he crashed into a graveyard. The Hartford Courant reports (http://cour.at/2oSwJfo ) state police say 25-year-old Woodstock resident Harrison Wootton crashed his car into a graveyard's low stone wall in Putnam early Monday. A mug shot shows Wootton wearing a black shirt with Hold My Beer And Watch This printed on the front. Police say Wootton was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failing to drive in the proper lane and misuse of plates. It's unclear whether Wootton is represented by an attorney who could comment on his behalf. A phone listing under his name has been disconnected. Information from: Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham has raised nearly $893,000 in cash to support her campaign for New Mexico governor a robust figure at this point in the election cycle. Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, is the highest-profile candidate in the race to succeed Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, whos in her second term. She reported having $741,000 in cash on hand. Plenty of other Democrats are also weighing whether to enter the race including state Attorney General Hector Balderas, Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales, state Sen. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, media executive Jeff Apodaca and Santa Fe businessman Alan Webber. Monday was the first of two deadlines this year to report fundraising. Balderas reported about $212,000 in contributions and $683,000 in cash on hand. Cervantes reported about $192,000 in contributions and a balance of $245,000. The others didnt file reports with the state by 5 p.m. Lujan Grishams fundraising total, in any case, shows donors are ready to donate now rather than wait, said Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc., which does scientific surveys for the Journal. The thing that makes it notable, he said, is it shows that many contributors arent hedging their bets and waiting to see what other formidable Democratic candidates may enter the Democratic primary election. The primary is in June 2018. The field on the Republican side is wide open. Potential candidates include U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry and Lt. Gov. John Sanchez. Sanchez reported $14,000 in contributions and a cash balance of $232,000. The others didnt file. Lujan Grisham announced her campaign in mid-December, seeking to establish herself as the favorite in the race. She won election to the U.S. House in 2012 and represents an Albuquerque-based district. Before that, she served on the Bernalillo County Commission and worked as a state Cabinet secretary under three New Mexico governors. I am humbled that so many have responded to my message and invested in my candidacy, Lujan Grisham said in a written statement Monday. SANTA FE A Santa Fe man has been charged with vehicular homicide and two counts of great bodily harm by vehicle following a Sunday night accident in which a passenger in the car he was driving was killed. Dominic Friedlein, 24, who is suspected of being drunk at the time of the accident, told police he thought he had enough time to make a left turn from north-bound St. Francis onto San Mateo Road in front of an oncoming car shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, according to police reports. But the two vehicles collided, causing the 1999 Toyota 4-Runner with Oregon license plates that Friedlein was driving to strike another car waiting at the intersection, roll over onto its top and catch fire after coming to rest against a utility pole at the southwest corner of the intersection. Officers arriving at the scene said it was apparent a man who was sitting in the front passenger seat, 29-year-old Stefan Siegmann, was already dead. Neither Friedlein nor another passenger in the car, Hanna Young, were seriously injured. However, two people in a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt, the car Friedlein tried to make a left-hand turn in front of, were taken to a Santa Fe hospital with injuries. The driver, Pamela Reyes, broke both her wrists and three ribs, and her 7-year-old son suffered a fractured eye socket and internal bleeding of his nose. According to Santa Fe police reports, Friedlein failed field sobriety tests and he consented to two blood draws to test the amount of alcohol in his system. One officers report says that while at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center where his blood was drawn, Friedlein said he had three beers on an empty stomach prior to the accident and How do you not blame yourself for something like this, I killed someone today. The accident took place about one block from Friedleins apartment. According to online jail records he was being held at the Santa Fe County jail without bond as of Monday evening. Yes, that Pepsi ad was an insult. But if you think it was the worst insult Black Lives Matter suffered last week, then you werent paying attention. Not that the ad wasnt revolting. Imagine that, three years after the police shooting of a black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., ignited protests by African Americans sick of seeing their sons and daughters killed without cause or consequence, you turn on the television and see a protest march. Except, its a curiously color-coordinated crowd carrying curiously color-coordinated signs that say almost literally nothing. Join the conversation!? What does that even mean? Then Kendall Jenner, a junior member of the famously vapid Kardashian clan, joins in. She plucks a Pepsi from a convenient cooler. Because, yeah, they have Pepsi coolers at all the great protests. If you look closely, you can even see one in footage from the Edmund Pettus Bridge an Alabama state trooper knocks it over while clubbing an old woman who wants the right to vote. Sigh. So anyway, Jenner approaches a police line and hands the pop to a cop. He takes a long swig. The crowd cheers. Understanding and tolerance ensue. It was a naked attempt to co-opt the methods and message of Black Lives Matter to sell carbonated sugar water and the internet, predictably, went guano. If only daddy would have known about the power of (hashtag)Pepsi, tweeted Martin Luther Kings daughter, Bernice. Pepsi was forced to yank the ad and apologize. But if many of us were angered and energized by that, comparatively few noticed as, at roughly the same time, Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered a sweeping review of consent decrees reached by the Obama Department of Justice with police departments around the country. These decrees are agreements for federally monitored reform of training, policy and procedure of troubled cop shops. They are in effect in 14 cities, including Ferguson and Cleveland, Albuquerque and New Orleans. Four other cities Miami is one made agreements to reform. In a memo released last week, Sessions worries about tarring police with the actions of a few bad actors. Yet DOJ investigations repeatedly found that, far from being isolated events, police abuse unlawful stops, searches, harassment and beatings targeting African-American citizens were endemic to the very culture of these departments. They were not flaws in the system. They were the system. Sessions also frets over how consent decrees affect the morale of these departments. The morale of African-American people goes unmentioned. It is unclear what, if anything, he can do to reverse the agreements. But the very fact that he has placed them under review is an ominous sign that, henceforth, protecting black folks from police excesses will not be a priority. That sobering truth makes even more jarring the sight of Jenner flouncing up to a cop with a Pepsi in hand. Did the last three years not actually happen? Did the primal scream rising from the streets of Baltimore, Ferguson and Any Black Neighborhood, USA, reach human ears or was it just flung into the indifferent ether? The words of 17th-century theologian Matthew Henry seem apropos: They know not because they will not understand, he wrote. None so blind as those that will not see. He could have been speaking about Sessions or Pepsi. Once again, in response to black folks fears, people choose to be ignorant. They choose to be blind. Now African Americans must make some choices of their own. Copyright, The Miami Herald; e-mail to lpitts@miamiherald.com. A Wikileaks report claims that the US National Security Agency is spying on Bhartiya Janata Party. By Asian News International: Global whistleblower agency Wikileaks has claimed that the United States National Security Agency (NSA) is authorised to spy on foreign-based political organizations including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a report, Wikileaks claimed that apart from BJP, NSA is also spying on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The report even claimed that the NSA has hacked into Pakistan's mobile networking systems. advertisement "Hundreds of NSA cyber weapons variants publicly released including code showing hacking of Pakistan mobile system," Wikileaks tweeted. Wikileaks shared a link in the tweet which pointed to a Github repository containing the decrypted files pertaining to NSA cyber weapons. This is not the first time that reports of NSA spying on other countries has surfaced. According to the Express Tribune, a classified document revealed that US spy agency NSA had been sanctioned to spy on most countries and some international bodies and political parties under the FISA court certification. The Washington Post report said that under a 2010 certification approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA), NSA had the permission to spy on 193 foreign governments and foreign factions, political organisations and other entities. While Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand remained same from NSA's spying program following the US' no-spying arrangements with the four countries, two factions of foreign nations Palestinian Authority; Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on NSA's radar was also spied on. Moreover, the NSA was also authorised to spy on international bodies such as the UN, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank and many others. --- ENDS --- In Greek mythology, sirens were beautiful creatures that lured sailors to their doom with their hypnotic voices. In Homers epic, The Odyssey, ships came to ruin on jagged reefs, following the siren song, the pull of the beautiful voices so strong that the hero Odysseus, in order not to succumb, commanded that his crew lash him to the mast of his ship and not untie him until they were in safe waters. Thats a lesson American presidents might have learned. After repeatedly criticizing President Obama for his Middle East policy from which candidate Donald Trump said America got nothing in return, President Trump ordered a missile strike on a Syrian airbase reportedly used to launch chemical weapons attacks. Some on the right are beating their chests claiming this is a demonstration of leadership. To what end? Does anyone believe that Bashir al-Assad will not continue killing Syrians by other means? Last week during meetings with King Abdullah of Jordan, the New York Post writes, a report revealed that the administration wants to host a Mideast summit between Israel and the Palestinians as soon as this summer. Trump said he and Abdullah would advance the cause of peace in the Middle East, including peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Since Palestinian leaders dating back to Yasser Arafat, along with terrorist groups like Hezbollah (and the Islamic State), have vowed never to make peace with Israel, that can only mean one thing: pressure on Israel to do more by relinquishing additional territory to her enemies and watching as those enemies use that territory to advance their timetable for the eradication of the Jewish state. When I asked Sarah Stern, president of the Endowment for Middle East Truth, a pro-Israel think tank and policy center based in Washington, D.C., about this, she responded in an email: After all of these years of experience in the Middle East, it is about time that we realize that the Israel-Palestinian dispute does not lay at the root of the problem. It is rather the growth of radical Islam and a 14-century-old Sunni versus Shiite divide, coupled with the breakdown of the arbitrary lines drawn by the Sykes-Picot agreement, which amalgamated various tribal, feuding factions into nation states, where there was no common denominator. The Sykes-Picot Agreement, commonly known as the Asia Minor Agreement, was a secret 1916 deal between Britain and France, with the assent of the Russian Empire, to arbitrarily carve up the region into spheres of influence should the Triple Entente succeed in defeating the Ottoman Empire. In 1921, Winston Churchill, Herbert Samuel, the head of Britains Liberal Party, and Abdullah I of Jordan met in Jerusalem and redrew the lines of the Levant, ensuring the conflicts that have raged even before the 1948 re-establishment of Israel in its ancient homeland where Jews have always lived, despite Palestinian and Arab efforts to rewrite history. Every American president since Dwight Eisenhower has tried to reduce conflict and bring peace to the region. But peace can only be achieved when people decide not to fight and kill each other anymore. Thats what happened in Northern Ireland, but its a long way from happening in the Middle East, especially when those committed to Israels destruction find hope in summits and meetings they use to pressure Israel into, in effect, committing suicide by making agreements her enemies, who believe they have a religious mandate, have not and will not live up to. Only a president with the power God gave Moses to part the Red Sea could do something as miraculous as bring peace to the Middle East. Even a brief review of history proves the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is not the cause of instability. Arabs were fighting Arabs before 1948 and conflicts between Sunni and Shia Muslims have nothing to do with Israel. If Trump thinks he can be the ultimate peacemaker, hes listening to a siren song, and heading for the reef. Email: tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Copyright, Tribune Content Agency LLC. It was the horrific televised scenes of dead and dying children being carried by frantic civilians after the Syrian air force reportedly dropped sarin nerve gas on the town of Khan Sheikhoun last Tuesday that prompted President Donald Trump to reverse his earlier stance that the United States should stay out of Syria. Instead, he ordered a retaliatory strike Friday by 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on Shayrat Air Base, the purported source of the attack. It was a strong but measured response that quickly drew praise from Canada, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Australia and Japan. Perhaps even more important, there was clear support in the region from not only Israel but Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Now comes the hard part. What happens next? Theres no question those photographs and video were heart-wrenching. To Trump, and presumably the rest of the civilized world, the use of chemical weapons particularly against ones own people crossed a line and demanded a response with the clear message that it will not be tolerated anywhere, anytime, by anybody. The U.S. air strikes signaled to Syria as well as Russia and Iran, which have backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with direct military intervention that certain red lines can no longer be crossed with impunity. On Monday, Trump added Syrias use of barrel bombs to his list of lines. Assad, who has waged war on his people for years, denies using the deadly nerve agent on his own people as he continues his countrys bloody six-year civil war with defectors from his regime known as the Free Syrian Army. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have each funded the rebels, and terrorist group al-Qaeda has capitalized on the war-torn country as a safe have and recruiting ground and has aligned with the rebels. On the other side, Iran depends on Syria to get weapons to its proxy militias and allies, and Russia has been an ally since the Cold War. Assad says the retaliatory bombing crossed a line that, if crossed again, will result in unspecified repercussions for the United States. Russia, which has curried favor with Trump that until now was reciprocated, has claimed the bombing of the Syrian air base was illegal and immediately suspended cooperation with the U.S. regarding air space over Syria. Russia claims the gas may have been stored by rebels and released during an air raid against rebel forces. The U.S. air strikes were an appropriate response, and one Trump had the authority to order without Congress involvement. But given the serious players involved as well as the potentially serious repercussions of future action, Trump should involve Congress and U.S. allies when possible going forward. 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. CIUDAD JUAREZ A journalist is murdered and a newspaper stops its presses for good. Last week, the scrappy daily El Norte shut down after nearly three decades after the murder of one of its longtime correspondents. A black cloth is draped over the entrance to El Nortes headquarters, a red-painted building on a street corner not two miles from the U.S. border. Online, a ticking clock of sorts blocks out the papers home page, www.nortedigital.mx. Each day the clock ticks one higher: 19 days since the assassination of Miroslava Breach Velducea. And her case remains unsolved! I find El Nortes founder and publisher, Oscar Cantu Murguia, at a conference table inside a quiet newsroom. He is poring over past issues dating back to the 1990s, many of them with explosive headlines that encompass some of the papers investigations into abuses of power, drug trafficking, inequality and injustice. I lived firsthand the assassination of a journalist that collaborated with us, someone very close, he said. It hurt so much it was such an emotional blow, this experience. And in the cruelest way they shot her eight times in the head, in front of her children. This, for me, was the breaking point. It was the moment to say, This is unacceptable. Breach Velducea was one of three journalists slain last month in Mexico, one of 21 journalists murdered with impunity in Mexico the past decade. She worked for both El Norte and Mexico Citys La Jornada in Chihuahua City, the capital of Chihuahua state. She wrote El Nortes political column and frequently covered the intersection of politics, corruption and crime an especially dangerous mix in Mexico. The Committee to Protect Journalists ranks Mexico No. 6 in the world on its impunity index of countries where journalists are killed and the killers go free. The group tracks unsolved slayings in which journalism is the confirmed motive. Alfredo Corchado, a longtime Mexico correspondent for the Dallas Morning News, describes El Norte as a hard-hitting, scrappy newspaper that provided competition, which made the journalism landscape that much more effective in holding the powerful accountable. As long as the vast, vast majority of crimes go unpunished, the silencing of journalists will continue to burn a hole in society, he said. This is a devastating, shameful admission that Mexico cannot guarantee the protection of journalists and freedom of expression. In Mexico, that freedom is often compromised by a system in which government agencies pay for a lot of publicity and politicians often buy more ads in media outlets considered politically friendly. El Norte was suffering financially long before Breach Velduceas death dealt what for Cantu Murguia was the final blow. Like most traditional news outlets in Mexico, El Norte also accepted government publicity but received considerably less than competitors in recent years. The paper had a roughly $1.3 million contract with the previous Chihuahua state government last year, compared with top competitor El Diario de Juarez, which had a $3.7 million contract, according to a state transparency website. Cantu Murguia is from a well-to-do Ciudad Juarez family; he is an attorney and developed industrial properties before dedicating himself to his passion, journalism. As he puts it, he has never lived by this newspaper, but journalism, especially the investigative kind, takes resources. (He says none of his staffers has been laid off; they were absorbed into some of his other media projects.) Some journalists in Mexico publicly criticized his decision as insincere or opportunistic more about money than the murder. But one longtime colleague, Keith Boone, told me that closing the paper in this way, at this time, gave Cantu Murguia a chance to bring attention to this heinous crime and what is happening to reporters in Mexico. Oscar doesnt look at his paper as a business, said Boone, vice president of Grupo Mega Radio, which operates dozens of radio stations throughout Mexico, including Ciudad Juarez. He looks at it as his personal mission to tell the truth. He has confronted stiff opposition by not subordinating to presidents, governors and mayors, which many other successful press outlets have. The papers splayed on El Nortes conference table bear headlines like Drug lord buys impunity. Another describes a former governor as marked by crime. Prosecutor threatens Norte reads another. There are multipage investigations into wrongful convictions, the sad state of the citys public schools or the misuse of public funds and often the stories come with sidebars pointing the finger at the politicians and powerful people. How do they dare assassinate journalists? Because nothing happens,Cantu Murguia says. The issue is impunity. We dont have the physical security or judicial security. The law doesnt come down on those who commit these acts. When you attack a journalist, he says, you are attacking society itself and its institutions and democracy, a system that we should protect. UpFront is a regular Journal news and opinion column. Comment directly to Las Cruces Bureau reporter Lauren Villagran at lvillagran@abqjournal.com. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Copyright 2017 Albuquerque Journal The decision by New Mexicos governor to erase higher education funding from the states budget could scare away candidates from University of New Mexicos presidential opening, according to the former head of UNMs governing board. Gov. Susana Martinez last week vetoed a proposed $744.8 million in state spending for public colleges and universities next fiscal year, eliminating at least temporarily appropriations vital to their existence. It was a move deemed largely symbolic amid a budget impasse with lawmakers, and Martinez herself stressed Monday the schools would have funding when the fiscal year started July 1. But Jamie Koch, former president of UNMs Board of Regents, said it appeared Martinez was playing hardball with higher education, which shouldnt be done. Koch said it sends the wrong message during a search for the schools 22nd president. The UNM job is already tough, Koch said, with heavy turnover. Counting interims like current acting president Chaouki Abdallah, UNM is on its seventh leader since 1998. He said the governors political decision to veto funding, even if only temporarily, could turn off quality candidates. It means those people that are really qualified theyre going to look and say, Wait a minute. Do I want to go to New Mexico?' said Koch, who retired in 2015 after 13 years as a regent. Two current regents disagreed, saying they did not believe the governors veto would affect the search. And the governor denied her decision to defund higher education was politically motivated, calling it a thoughtful way to balance the budget without making a million cuts throughout the budget in ways that would really impact the rest of the operations of the state. She also noted that UNM had already extended its presidential search before the veto. The original timeline aimed for a spring hire, but the search committee announced last month it would wait until at least this fall. I know were going to fund higher education. There is no way were going to leave them without any funding next year. Thats impossible, Martinez said in a news conference in Las Cruces. Rob Doughty, regent president and chairman of the presidential search committee, said a forthcoming special session would resolve any budget questions and the veto would have no impact. Jack Fortner, the boards secretary/treasurer and its longest-serving member, said the defunding will not be permanent and it should therefore not hinder a presidential search. Plus, he noted, interested candidates would already know that UNM has funding challenges given the statewide budget crisis and steady drops in appropriations. Anyone who comes in is going to know theyre in a difficult situation, he said. Journal Staff Writer Lauren Villagran contributed to this report. Last month was the warmest March on record in New Mexico, but an abrupt return of cool, wet weather late in the month rescued the states snowpack, promising a healthy spring runoff, the National Weather Service reported. The average statewide temperature for March was 51.4 degrees, which smoked the March 1910 record of 49.8. For Albuquerque, the average temperature in March was 55 degrees well above the normal of 48 and the citys highest on record for March. But starting March 23, a storm track that hammered Colorado all winter shifted farther south, bringing a series of winter storms to New Mexico, said Kerry Jones, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Albuquerque. Those storms included a March 23-24 blizzard that dumped 21 inches of snow on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. We had a great turnaround at the end of March, Jones said Monday. Cool nights also have helped keep the snowpack intact, he said. In the near term, eastern New Mexico could be hammered with severe thunderstorms on Wednesday, with large hail and damaging winds possible, the agency reported. Central and western New Mexico probably will get little of that rainfall, if any. Albuquerque can expect a high of 74 today, with winds picking up this afternoon, but no rainfall forecast. The rest of the week should be mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s in Albuquerque, with no rain expected through the weekend. A plump snowpack in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado bodes well for the spring runoff, which typically peaks in mid-May. Thats good news for farmers and the endangered silvery minnow. In New Mexico on Monday, snowpack in the Rio Chama Basin was 146 percent of normal, and in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, it was 104 percent. In Colorado, snowpack in the Animas and San Juan river basins was 128 percent of normal, and in the upper Rio Grande Basin, it was 120 percent. U.S. Border Patrol agents shot a man Sunday at an Interstate 25 checkpoint after he allegedly fired a handgun while being questioned, the agency said. Hundreds of vehicles cross the internal Border Patrol checkpoint between Las Cruces and Hatch every day. Agents typically ask drivers whether they are U.S. citizens; when a vehicle or driver arouses suspicions, agents may send the vehicle to a secondary inspection. Around 6: 15 p.m. on Sunday, a man drove his vehicle up to the checkpoint and was directed to a secondary inspection. According to Border Patrol, the man pulled a handgun on agents as he was being questioned and fired one shot through the vehicle toward the agents. Agents returned fire at the driver, Border Patrol said in a statement. Agents secured the scene and initiated first aid. The man was air lifted and transported to a local hospital. Border Patrol reported the man was receiving medical care on Monday, but did not update his condition. A spokesman declined to provide additional information on other aspects of the encounter. U.S. Customs and Border Protections Office of Professional Responsibility, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Mexico State authorities, are investigating the incident. FOR THE RECORD: This story has been updated to reflect that Mary Pat Abruzzo died in 1997. Copyright 2017 Albuquerque Journal State District Judge Alan Malott on Monday took the unusual step during a trial involving the Abruzzo family of warning that anyone in the courtroom who leaked confidential financial information about the case even if it was discussed in open court would be charged with contempt and jailed. He denied a Journal motion to lift his order, after attorney Greg Williams argued that restricting the publics ability to report and disclose information presented at trial amounted to an unconstitutional prior restraint. The petition said the U.S. Supreme Court has held that such prior restraint constitutes the most serious and the least tolerable infringement on First Amendment rights. Malott said the order he made in court was tailored as narrowly as possible and was intended to balance the publics right to know with the parties rights to privacy. The trial, which started Monday with opening statements, is the second in a complicated yearslong financial dispute between two members of the Abruzzo family and their dead sisters widower. The trial started just days after Malott ordered Victor Kearney, formerly the husband of Mary Pat Abruzzo, who choked to death during a cruise in 1997, to pay a $100,000 sanction to two local charities. In an unusual and sharply worded order, Malott said Kearney was an individual who bears no allegiance to the truth, but who will say whatever he thinks will achieve his goals. He also said Kearney had disobeyed and disregarded court orders, including a confidentiality order and verbal confidentiality instructions. In the first trial in July 2015, Kearney alleged that his brothers-in-law werent paying him his share of income from a family business. According to Malotts order regarding the sanctions, Kearney receives distributions from a trust in the range of $1 million annually. Malott in that case granted a directed verdict against Kearney, saying he failed to prove his case and there was no need to send it to a jury. The bench trial underway now focuses on a counterclaim, filed under seal, by Louis and Benjamin Abruzzo against Kearney for breach of fiduciary duties and damages. The trial continues this morning. Malott said the list of topics not to be discussed outside of the courtroom included: financial information about ARCO, also known as Alvarado Realty, financial information about the Mary Pat Abruzzo trust and specific financial and personal information about the shareholders of the trust. He said names and addresses had been previously leaked in this case by other parties. Attorney Pat Rogers, who is representing Benjamin and Louis Abruzzo, said in court that he did not have a problem with Malotts order, and noted that over the life of the case, his clients sensitive corporate and trust information has been wrongfully disclosed over and over again. Pete Domenici Jr., Kearneys attorney, said his clients financial information should also be kept confidential. In denying the Journals motion, Malott said the items he ordered should be kept confidential and would not prevent the public from being reasonably informed of whats going on in this case. Earlier in the day, Malott said that he would bring criminal contempt charges against anyone found to have disseminated any confidential information presented at trial. If I find out that any of you have leaked any of the information you see and hear as a member of the audience, I will bring criminal contempt charges against you, he said. That will mean a trip out to the MDC. For those of you who have been there, you know its unpleasant. For those of you who have not been there, I suggest you avoid the experience. Williams argued that the media should be able to report on information presented in an open trial. Because what we are talking about here is open court testimony which has a presumption of openness in our system, Williams said, to restrict the ability of attendees, including the media, to report and disclose that information constitutes an unconstitutional prior restraint. In his order regarding sanctions against Kearney, Malott wrote that Kearney had engaged in significant dishonesty. He said that Kearney provided specific shareholder and financial information along with documentation to people not involved in the case, in specific violation of both written and verbal confidentiality orders in this case. Kearney asserted that he was consulting with other parties to determine the value of his interests for purposes of settlement or trial, which the order permits. But Malott said he adamantly rejects that contention. Domenici could not be reached for comment on the order Monday evening. Mr. Kearney released the protected confidential information in each case brought to the courts attention for the primary if not sole purpose of furthering his agenda to gain control of ARCO, Malott wrote. Malott ordered that half of Kearneys $100,000 sanction go to Animal Humane New Mexico and half to Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless. IRBIL, Iraq Since she got struck by mortar shrapnel in Mosul just over a week ago, 10-year-old Nabaa has not been able to speak. A shard in her skull damaged part of her brain and doctors arent sure if shell ever be able to speak again. The girls family had been forced to flee their home in the northern Iraqi city because fighting was raging around them, government artillery and helicopters were bombarding their neighborhood, and their food supplies were running out, said Nabaas mother, Umm Abdul-Rahman. But as they neared Iraqi military lines the night of March 31, mortars hit, wounding Nabaa and her two brothers, 7-year-old Basem and 11-year-old Abdul-Rahman. The mother said she saw three others lying wounded on the ground after the strike but she didnt know their fate. The family is among a large number of civilians who have been caught in the middle of what appears to be a far more brutal battle over the western half of Mosul than the preceding fight for the east. In the west, Iraqi government forces trying to wrest back the city from Islamic State fighters are relying on heavier firepower, including extensive barrages with mortars, rocket launchers and some improvised systems without guidance mechanisms. While the east was retaken by Iraqs special forces, much of the fighting in the west is done by militarized police units that have less experience in urban battle. Iraqi forces recaptured the east at the end of January and moved against the west in mid-February. They see resistance and implement a carpet-bombing approach to advance. They do this to reduce their own casualties. This is disastrous for the civilians, said Col. Ahmed Shawki, a military analyst and retired Iraqi army officer based in the northern city of Irbil. At the same time, IS fighters in some cases are preventing civilians from leaving, keeping them in harms way as shields. The number of casualties is hard to establish because only some of the wounded reach hospitals and most of the dead are buried immediately. At least 300 people were killed in western Mosul up to the beginning of April, according to the U.N. The World Health Organization says 1,683 wounded civilians were referred to hospitals between February 18 and April 8. Johannes Schad, a doctor in West Irbil Emergency Hospital, said that about 60 percent of the victims have blast injuries, mostly from shelling. Some 1,600 civilians were killed or wounded during the 100 days of fighting to recapture Mosuls less densely populated east. Dr. Shalan Ali, the Health Ministry official in charge of Ninevah province, thinks up to a thousand have already been killed in the west. The worst single attack came on March 17, when an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition hit a building in the New Mosul neighborhood, killing more than 100 civilians who were sheltering inside. The U.S. military is investigating the strike, and officials say IS militants who have been seen elsewhere forcing civilians into buildings to use them as shields may have played a role. The shelling in western Mosul has been much more intense than in the east. One police artillery unit based outside the city said they alone fired up to 200 shells a day. Police Lt. Col. Younis Sultan Jadalla told The Associated Press that they use drone footage to choose targets and only fire if there are no civilians nearby. Drone footage taken by the AP in the Dawasa neighborhood of western Mosul on April 5 shows entire streets reduced to rubble, with deep craters dug up by airstrikes. By comparison, eastern Mosul was generally preserved, with damage mainly concentrated on individual buildings and road junctions. Basem Mohammed, a resident of western Mosuls Nablous neighborhood, said IS fighters had a position in a nearby park from which they fired at Iraqi forces. In an apparent response from government forces, his street was hit by mortars on March 8, with shells hitting his neighbors houses, wounding several people. He was wounded in the leg by mortar fire a week later, as he and his family fled. Much of the destruction is wrought by Iraqi and coalition air power. An analysis of bombing in western Mosul between March 8 and 25, conducted by Human Rights Watch and using satellite imagery, identified 780 impact sites that may have been caused by large, air-delivered munitions, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of buildings. The analysis called the destruction comparable in intensity to the Russian-Syrian air attacks on Aleppo in September and October last year. IS militants, too, are shelling the areas that have slipped out of their control. Among their victims is Nashwan Jamal, 25, who was hit on March 11 in the Tel Alruman neighborhood, four days after it was taken by Iraqi special forces. Jamal, his brother and a friend were sitting on the roof of their home when a mortar landed, wounding him in the leg. Several people who escaped western Mosul told the AP that IS forbade people to leave. Omar Marwan said IS fighters told people on his street that they had planted a bomb so that they wouldnt flee. They told us, stay in the house, you cant get out. One of them even said, you have to stay until it is destroyed. No one can leave, said Alaa Hassan, 27, from the New Mosul neighborhood. We tried to escape when they were busy fighting. But then we ran into them and they shot at us. Alaa Hassans wife was killed in the March 17 airstrike, and his 4-year-old daughter, Hawra, was badly burned. Hawras grandmother, Alia Ali, said the militants would not let them leave even after the airstrike on their house. I went to them and told them we have a burned child and we need to take her out and they said no. They said, you have to stay here with us. And you will die here with us. They reached Iraqi lines two days later. CHICAGO Many teens spend their summers lifeguarding or ice-cream scooping. Not Evon Lopez. Lopez, at 16, spent the summer between her sophomore and junior years of high school interning at Abbott Laboratories. At graduation from the eight-week program last August, she delivered a PowerPoint presentation detailing, among other things, corporate safety initiatives at the health care company headquartered outside Chicago. Sound like a snooze? To the contrary, Lopez said the experience reinforced her interest in architectural engineering. Asked to name the highlights of the program, the teen described a visit to Abbotts nutrition facility in Ohio where employees explained how they created formula to save infants lives. It just shows that their goal is to help as many people as they can in any way possible, Lopez said of the company, and thats a place that I would like to work in. An interest in jobs with a greater social purpose is a hallmark of the millennial generation. But Lopez is a member of Generation Z, the post-millennial group that is just starting to graduate from high school and college and catch the interest of employers. Gen Z is composed of the kids who were born, roughly, between 1995 and 2010 and came of age during the Great Recession. Though its too soon to say how Gen Z might shape the workplace, early surveys paint a portrait distinct from the wide-eyed, self-involved image of their millennial predecessors. Gen Zers, an emerging trove of research suggests, are entrepreneurial yet pragmatic, hardworking yet easily distracted, with a streak of realism running through their desire to make a social impact. Some employers are trying to appeal to Gen Z early, with versions of internships normally reserved for college students now being extended to high schoolers to create a pipeline of talent. At Abbott, which started its high school internship five years ago, starting younger also is meant to address the shortfall of women and minorities in the STEM science, technology, engineering and math workforce, which is important as it serves an increasingly diverse customer base. What we want to do is increase the possibility that they will enter STEM, be successful at it and be able to go on and have meaningful careers in these areas, said Corlis Murray, Abbotts top engineer and leader of the high school internship program. The younger we reach them, the higher we increase that probability. With the rise of early professional exposure, members of Gen Z are positioned for powerful careers, said Jeanne Meister, partner at Future Workplace, a human resources research firm in New York. They are definitely more serious and mature entering the workforce than millennials, Meister said. Assigning sweeping generalizations to a generation of 60 million people is, at best, an inexact exercise, but that doesnt stop a steady drip of research from offering varied takes on Gen Z. They are radically different from millennials, said David Stillman, co-author, with his 17-year-old son Jonah, of the book Gen Z @ Work, released in March. If everyone-gets-a-trophy millennials, reared by baby boomers during flush times, prioritized passion and teamwork, then Gen Z, raised by independent Generation Xers during times of financial distress, learned that you have to fight hard to win, Stillman said. We have a generation entering the workforce that is extremely competitive, said Stillman, who has written several books on how generations interact in the workplace. Some Gen Z traits seem old-school. Three-quarters of Gen Zers say they are willing to start at the bottom and work their way to the top, implying a respect for paying dues, Stillmans research found. More than 60 percent said they are willing to stay at a company for 10 years, suggesting a return to employer loyalty after the job-hopping tendencies of millennials. Only 8 percent said they want an open-office concept, despite workspace design trends that have been knocking down walls to emphasize collaboration. But other traits are less traditional. For example, more than half of Gen Zers want to write their own job description, reflecting a desire for a hypercustomized career experience that could be driven by the personal branding that social media has pushed since they were kids, Stillman said. That preference could draw them to small and medium-sized businesses, where employees can more easily wear multiple hats than at large companies, he said. Indeed, a survey last year by Accenture of the 2016 graduating college class, by some measures the vanguard of Gen Z, found they are three times more likely to want to work at a small or medium company than a large one, presenting big companies with a recruiting challenge. Some employers are being proactive by planting a seed early. Southwest Airlines last summer hosted its third class of high school interns, who worked for eight weeks at the companys Dallas headquarters. This fall it plans to host its first aviation day for kids in third through eighth grade, a free event that will include guest speakers and a tour of an aircraft maintenance hangar. Anticipating a massive skills shortage as baby boomers retire, Greg Muccio, a senior manager in Southwests people department, said the airline industry needs to drum up excitement among youth. We have consciously set down a path to start reaching a much younger audience to encourage them and make them aware of a career in aviation, he said. Some of the industrys biggest needs are in hourly entry-level jobs that dont require higher education, so Muccio wants to appeal to high schoolers who may not be interested in or ready for college. Southwest this summer also will host its third summer camp for the high-school aged children of employees across the country. The three-day event of tours and games in Dallas, which last year drew 150 teens, aims to steer those already familiar with the company to careers there by showing what it takes to be a pilot or a mechanic. The camp left an impression on Chicagoan Kyle Norbut, who participated just before starting his freshman year at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana last year. The 18-year-old acting major, who was impressed by the family atmosphere and the sense that employees were having a ball, intends to pursue a career in theater but now is considering a flexible side job at Southwest. Hitting Gen Z early can set both teens and employers up for success. At Abbott, about 97 percent of those who complete the high school internship go on to work or major in a STEM field, said Murray, the engineer who leads the program. She has found that kids who do the high school internship are more mature and able to take complex assignments when they start the companys college program, and she is studying whether the early work affects college academic performance. The demands are sophisticated. High school interns get meaningful assignments no making copies and have to deliver results. That can be terrifying. On my first day I was very freaked out, said Emily Voigt, who was among 35 interns in last summers high school intern class, her second year in the program. Abbott recruits interns with at least a 3.0 GPA from 10 schools in seven markets, including two in Chicago. Voigt, who is now a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studies civil and environmental engineering, said she avoided talking to her manager at first for fear that that she would be dismissed because of her age or wouldnt know the answers to technical questions. But Voigt, who exuded confidence as she gave a presentation at the program graduation, said her interpersonal skills improved once she realized it was OK to ask questions and make mistakes. I think that creates an environment that allows the most growth, because you feel comfortable doing those things you might not do and asking the questions you might not ask, she said. Murray said a consistent thread she sees among the interns is an interest in the companys sustainable and socioeconomic responsibilities. But some surveys paint Gen Z as a practical, hardworking generation with money on the brain. Monster.com, the job search site, found Gen Zers are motivated by pay more than other generations are, and are more willing to relocate for a good job and work nights and weekends for a better salary than their older counterparts. They are also more entrepreneurial: Nearly half of Gen Zers want to own their own business, compared with a third across all generations, Monsters survey found. Some companies are considering how to put emergent Gen Z research to use. Meister, from the consultancy Future Workplace, said one distinctive quality employers can count on is that these young workers, who grew up teaching themselves through massive open online courses and other online tools, will expect to have growth opportunities at their fingertips. Investment in on-demand learning and development is going to be critical to attract and keep talent, Meister said. This is going to be seen as the make or break benefit as to whether to join a company or not. Other studies suggest pay transparency will be a must. Equity in pay and promotion was cited by those in Gen Z as the most important factor for gaining trust in an employer, according to a survey last year by EY, the accounting firm once known as Ernst & Young. That differs from the general population, which cited an employers ability to deliver on promises as No.1 perhaps because of media and celebrity attention to gender and racial pay gaps. In addition, market researchers say Gen Z will be the last generation in the U.S. to have a white majority, so diversity and inclusion are core values, according to BridgeWorks, a consultancy that helps employers overcome generation gaps. BridgeWorks prefers to call the group Generation Edge, in part because its on the cusp of a demographic shift. Back at Abbott, the company is starting to see the fruits of its high school investment. Nick Urh, who was in Abbotts first high school internship class, went back as a college intern and now is in its professional development program, rotating through various divisions at the company. He is currently in the diabetes division in Alameda, Calif., working on glucose meters that will no longer require finger pricks. It really opened my eyes to the potential we had to impact so many lives, he said. Urh, 23, who grew up in Gurnee, Ill., and graduated last year from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is on the generational cusp. He says he identifies with both the millennial eagerness to make a social difference and the Gen Z appetite for job security and, thanks to the internship, sees a path to achieve both. Urh expects to be hired as a permanent employee at Abbott once the program finishes in June and hopes to pursue a career there in manufacturing operations. Why should I leave? Urh said. Music to an employers ears. HARTFORD, Conn. A Colorado man police say traveled to Connecticut to have sex with a 13-year-old girl has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. Federal prosecutors say 30-year-old Nathaniel Smith, of Aurora, Colorado, was also sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Hartford to 15 years of probation. He pleaded guilty in December to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Authorities say in January 2016, Smith used his cellphone and internet-based messaging and video chatting services, including Kik and Skype, to entice a 13-year-old female to engage in sexual activity. He was arrested in New London that month after he traveled from Colorado to meet the girl. The BSF conducted the raid after receiving intelligence about movement of the consignment from across the border in Bangladesh into India. By Indrajit Kundu: The Border Security Force (BSF) has seized a huge consignment of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) from the Indo-Bangladesh border at Kaliachak in Malda district. The 24th Battalion of the BSF has confiscated a bag of counterfeit notes of the new Rs 2000 notes worth Rs 6.96 lakhs in an ambush late on Monday night. The security agency carried out the operation at Gate Number 179 at the Chori-Anantapur border observation post (BOP) based on specific intelligence inputs. The BSF conducted the raid after receiving intelligence about movement of the consignment from across the border in Bangladesh into India. advertisement When BSF officers reached the spot, they recovered a packet of notes which was apparently thrown inside Indian territory from the other side. The BSF has now launched a joint probe into the case along with the Malda police and other central agencies. INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER- HUB OF FAKE CURRENCY The raid comes just three days after the district police arrested a youth with fake currency notes worth Rs 1 lakh. The 26 year-old Amajuddin Sheikh was arrested by officers from Baishnabnagar police station with a consignment of 50 fake notes of the new 2000 denomination notes near National Highway 34. Similarly, earlier this month, two others were also nabbed from the same area by the police for carrying four fake Indian currency. The Indo-Bangladesh border in Malda and Murshidabad district is infamous for being the fake currency hub of India. Recently, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, in a written reply to a query in Rajya Sabha, had informed that FICN worth Rs 14.76 lakh have been seized from the Malda district til then. ALSO READ| More Rs 2,000 notes in fake seized, 1 held in West Bengal's Malda at India-Bangladesh border ALSO READ| BSF seizes fake new 2,000 denomination notes worth 2 lakh rupees from West Bengal's Malda ALSO WATCH| Pakistan route blocked, now fake currency comes to India from Bangladesh --- ENDS --- FORT COLLINS, Colo. Police say a Colorado woman who was thrown to the sidewalk before being arrested allegedly hit an officer multiple times and grabbed an officer by the throat. The allegations were contained in a court document explaining why 22-year-old Michaella Surat, a Colorado State University student, was arrested Thursday night. It also identified the arresting officer as Randall Klamser. Police told the Coloradoan newspaper that he was the officer shown throwing Surat down Thursday in a video by a bystander. The arrest affidavit was written by another officer who said Surat required force to be arrested after police responded to a fight and detained her boyfriend. Surats attorney Andrew Bertrand says she suffered several bruises and a concussion. He says the polices claim that a standard procedure was used is disturbing. Police are reviewing what happened. ___ Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan, http://www.coloradoan.com SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico In a story April 11 about 26 suspects charged with trafficking cocaine at Puerto Ricos main international airport, The Associated Press reported erroneously that authorities seized jewelry, property and a tiger that authorities said the alleged drug leader kept as a pet. Authorities are seeking to seize those items. A corrected version of the story is below: 26 charged with trafficking cocaine at Puerto Rico airport Federal law enforcement has broken up a $4 million drug-trafficking ring at Puerto Ricos main international airport that relied on bathrooms and garbage chutes to smuggle cocaine to the U.S. mainland, authorities say. By DANICA COTO Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Federal law enforcement has broken up a $4 million drug-trafficking ring at Puerto Ricos main international airport that relied on bathrooms and garbage chutes to smuggle cocaine to the U.S. mainland, authorities said Tuesday. Indicted in the case are 26 suspects including airline employees, airport staff and restaurant workers. The majority were arrested before dawn at the Luis Munoz Marin airport in the capital of San Juan that authorities said serves as the biggest drug distribution center in the Caribbean. Today we have brought their operations to a grinding halt, said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez. Authorities are seeking to seize jewelry, property and a tiger that authorities said the alleged drug leader kept as a pet. Rodriguez said federal agents nicknamed him Tony the Tiger. She said the suspects smuggled drugs aboard flights headed to New York, Miami, Philadelphia and Orlando. Among the planes targeted were those operated by American, JetBlue and Southwest airlines. Authorities said mules would pick up the cocaine in bathroom stalls after going through TSA checkpoints. The drugs also were smuggled aboard DHL planes and by American Airline employees who would place stickers on luggage indicating it had been cleared by TSA when it hadnt been, officials said. American Airline employees also would send the drugs as cargo themselves free of cost, they added. American Airlines said in a statement that it was cooperating with authorities. We take this matter very seriously, the company said. Our top priority is the safety and security of our customers and employees. A spokeswoman for DHL did not respond to a request for comment. Authorities said workers at the Air Margaritaville restaurant inside the airport also smuggled the cocaine via garbage chutes. They said the suspects would retrieve the cocaine from the garbage, place it inside their locker, take it to the dishwashing area and then deliver it to mules inside coffee bags, with up to 9 pounds (4 kilograms) of cocaine stashed per bag. The arrests come just months after security screeners and airport workers at the same airport were charged with helping smuggle 20 tons (18 metric tons) of cocaine through Puerto Rico during an 18-year operation that ended last year. A man was found dead after a reported shooting at a motel near Interstate 25 and Candelaria on Tuesday morning, according to Albuquerque police. APD spokesman Fred Duran said officers were dispatched to Motel 76, in the 2000 block of Candelaria NE, around 7 a.m. for a reported shooting. When they arrived, they found a man was dead. The call was deemed a violent crimes call out due to the suspicious nature of the males death, Duran said. Preliminary reports were that the male was possibly shot however detectives are still trying to determine if this was the cause of death. Detectives are working to determine when the man was killed. The parking lot of the motel remained roped off Tuesday afternoon, and a Vietnamese restaurant at the front of the building closed down for the day. Two officers could be seen going in and out of a second-story room. Duran did not identify the person killed or say if he was from out of town. He did not say if detectives are looking for a suspect. Detectives are actively investigating the case, he said. SANTA FE U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce says Donald Trump is a good negotiator. But he twice told him no when the president wanted Pearce to support the repeal and replacement of Obamacare, at least not the version proposed last month. Pearce told business leaders this week that he was called to the principals office along with other members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus to see Trump at one point in the negotiations. In the end, Pearce said, he simply couldnt support the proposed health-care law backed by Trump and Republican leaders in the House. It was too similar to whats already in place under Obamacare, Pearce said Monday during a luncheon sponsored by the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. But Pearce, a Republican from southern New Mexico, said he believes the effort to replace Obamacare isnt over. Sure enough, negotiations have continued, he said. PHOENIX Lawyers for former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio have asked a federal judge to reconsider her order denying dismissal of his criminal contempt-of-court case. Earlier Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton rejected another request by Arpaio to have a jury trial rather than a bench trial. Bolton concluded the requests were made after a deadline for pretrial filings had passed and noted she had already rejected an earlier jury-trial request. Nonetheless, Arpaios attorneys on Tuesday evening requested oral arguments on their latest motion to have the case dismissed and Arpaio get a jury trial. Arpaio is scheduled to stand trial April 25 and faces up to six months in jail if convicted. Hes charged with contempt for ignoring a court order in a racial-profiling case to stop his immigration patrols. SANTA FE There will be no free tacos for casting a ballot today, as early voting begins in a special election on whether Santa Fe should impose a 2-cents-per-ounce tax on the distributors of sugar sweetened beverages. Pre-K for Santa Fe, a political committee supporting the tax estimated to generate more than $7 million for early childhood education programs, had been promoting on its Facebook page Free Tacos for First 100 I voted Stickers. Ballot workers often offer I Voted, or I Voted Early stickers to people who show up and cast ballots. The free-tacos event was to take place between 3 and 6 p.m. today at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, one of the voting sites for the May 2 special election. But the free food was cancelled Tuesday after Pre-K for Santa Fe got calls from reporters about the propriety of offering incentives to voters. A spokeswoman for group noted that the free tacos were being offered anyone who voted, not just those who said they voted for the tax. This is a special election so we really want to encourage people to go out and vote and make your voice heard. Its not about how a person votes, just that people vote, Pre-K for Santa Fes Sandra Wechsler said in a statement. Providing food is standard at events like this. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are canceling the food truck we had scheduled to be there. Instead families will be invited to come early to vote with the Mayor. Mayor Javier Gonzales, who is leading the pro-tax effort, will vote today at 4 p.m. at the community center, she said. A spokesman for a political committee opposing the tax, Better Way for Santa Fe and Pre-K, which receives almost all of its funding from the American Beverage Association, said he didnt think offering an incentive to vote would make any difference. We dont think people will go for a massive new tax on hundreds of beverages that theyll pay for the rest of their lives in return for a free taco, David Huynh said in a phone interview. Huynh said his group had no plans to offer free sodas to early voters. Early voting continues through April 28. Voting at the Genoveva Chavez center, 3221 Rodeo Rd., runs 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, except on Good Friday, April 14, when voting stops at noon, and on Friday, April 28, when it stops 5 p.m. Early voting also takes place at the City Clerks office in City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through April 28. U.S. customs officers working a New Mexico port of entry seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition and semi-automatic rifle magazines headed into Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers typically conduct outbound inspections at the Santa Teresa port of entry, where they question drivers leaving the U.S. for Mexico. Last Wednesday, officers stopped a woman driving a 2008 Dodge Durango who was headed south of the border. There were three children in the vehicle, CBP said in a statement. Officers noticed irregularities in some baggage inside the vehicle, CBP said. A canine team screened the vehicle and a dog alerted to the presence of ammunition. Altogether officers found 14 boxes containing 700 bullets, plus 16 high-capacity semi-automatic rifle magazines. The contraband was concealed in a backpack, duffle bag and a case of soft drinks, CBP said. While illegal drugs head north, cash and weapons from U.S. proceeds of drug sales often head south further empowering criminal organizations in Mexico. Smugglers will use any means and anybody to attempt to mask their illegal activities, said CBP Santa Teresa Area Port Director Ray Provencio. Unfortunately this includes sordid tactics such as hiding ammunition in a childs makeshift diaper bag and traveling with two children and a toddler in the vehicle. CBP officers arrested the driver, a 33-year-old female U.S. citizen to face charges in connection with the failed outbound smuggling attempt. happn, the French meet-up app, has just announced its partnership with Superstar Hrithik Roshan. happn created the very first 100% mobile meet-up experience to offer a facilitator and help its users to interact with those that already share a part of their world. happn has revolutionized the industry by bringing back real-life in the user experience thanks to the unique combination of hyper-geolocation in real-time. On the street, at work, at a party... it could be anywhere.happn puts real life experiences first and favors everyday coincidences. happn simply provides the answer to a universal desire: how can we find that handsome stranger again, the one we didnt dare approach? Because it seemed inappropriate, impolite or wasnt the right time. The app gives users a second chance, the chance to discover, to find a person that caught their eyes. happns concept is very straightforward yet universal: in big cities, you cross paths with so many people everyday, with whom you already share the same environment and potentially many other things by living or going out in the same areas. Why not actually meeting and getting to know them? Great people are around you. In showing you whos been in the same place at the same time as you, happn acts as a tool to provide people with second chances at missed connections. happn was co-founded by Didier Rappaport, also Chief Executive Officer of the company, and Antony Cohen.The app first launched in February 2014 in Paris, followed by London in May 2014 and New York City in September 2014.Today the app operates worldwide mainly across 40 major cities - including London, New York City, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Madrid, Sydney, Moscow and Mumbai to name a few - and has amassed 28 million users. In 2016, happn has grown at a pace of 2 million new users each month. As the 4th edition of the Kyoorius Creative Awards draws closer the star-studded jury panel for the Digital category has been made public. The prestigious awards celebrate creative communication brilliance in the fields of Digital, Advertising and Media. The Digital Jury panel is going to be led by Tim Malbon (Founding Partner, Made by Many). Tim has been creating innovative online community work since 2000 and was named amongst Revolution Magazines Future 50 as one of the marketers, authors, entrepreneurs, and thinkers who will shape the digital industry of tomorrow. It also called him disruptive and challenging. He is an Agilist, strategist, dad and a designer of social software. The jury comprises of an impressive roster of creative virtuosos like Eric Cruz (Executive Creative Director, AKQA Shanghai), Lyndon Hale (Executive Creative Director, DigitasLBi APAC), Preethi Mariappan (VP Executive Creative Director, Emerging Experiences EMEA, SapientRazorfish), George Kovoor (Senior Creative Director, OgilvyOne Worldwide), Roopak Saluja (Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The 120 Media Collective and Sooperfly) and Prashanth Challapalli (Chief Integration Officer, Leo Burnett South Asia). Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder and CEO of Kyoorius, said, Over the last five years, the advertising and media industry as we know it, has seen dramatic and evolutionary transformations. The advent and growth of digital together with technology, has led to changes in the way we think, act and communicate with the modern day consumer. In this sea of change, the concept and execution of creative communications too has evolved leaps and bounds. And it is this outstanding creative excellence and innovation that Kyoorius aims to recognize and honour. The Kyoorius Creative Awards 2017, has innovation and ingenuity at its epicentre. The awards are spread over 17 main categories and 156 sub-categories. The awards invite participation from advertising, digital, media and mobile agencies, production houses, event management companies, photographers, brands, corporates, NGOs and even individuals. The Awards felicitate outstanding talent that seamlessly integrates idea and craft to create superior artistry and craftsmanship. The Jurys exceptional calibre and experience acknowledges the importance our awards and its place in the creative arts, said Kejriwal. The Open Jury Sessions will be held between May 11th and 13th, 2017 at Ecole Intuit Lab, Mumbai. This novel session by Kyoorius will invite people from the industry and media to attend the jury sessions, to learn and benefit from the discussions and the entries showcased. While entries for awards will close on 19th April 2017, 26th April 2017 will be the last day to submit physical entries. The Kyoorius Creative Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, June 2nd 2017 at the Dome, NSCI in Mumbai. In an environment where peoples attention span is a mere 8 seconds, attracting consumers attention and retaining it is becoming increasingly difficult. According to Juhi Kalia, Head of Facebook Creative Shop India & Global Accounts APAC, the amount of information an average person is fed is equivalent to 174 newspapers a day. However, the flip side is that the human brain is adapting to this shift and evolving. We now register information at a faster rate and process information in different ways than before. The brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than text, it gets coded in long term memory and, therefore, has more recall. Kalia further noted that the way people consume content is also evolving. Consumption is no longer linear. It is customised, frequent and fast. Even our bodies have adapted to this shift, wherein our postures reflect what kind of content were consuming. She elucidated on how the different platforms elicit different mindsets and perceptions. Instagram gives its users the perception of discovery, inspiration and transportation, while Facebook is known for connection and recognition. In the end though, it all boils down to the content. A great creative is a great creative regardless of the platform. What we need to understand is how to tell stories based on how people are interacting with the platform. We are at that point in time where we have to find new ways to tell stories, Kalia concluded. Kalia was speaking a Knowledge Seminar on the final day of the recently concluded Goafest 2017. On the sidelines of the festival, Adgully caught up with Juhi Kalia to know more about the operations of Facebook Creative Shop in India, the team, India as a market for Facebook, strategy to woo SMEs on to the platform and more. Excerpts How different is it working for Facebook than for agencies? I think it is similar in many ways, because I still do what I know which is ideas, creativity, brand building, strategic thinking, all of that. But it is a whole shift in terms of mindset and has been a bit of a very steep learning curve for all of us. Even if you are doing digital advertising and you are doing work on Facebook and mobile in an ad agency, it is still quite a huge learning curve when you work and really internalise all the science, data and tools. And its not just the knowledge, but intuitively sort of changing the way you think, and that has been interesting. Also, the one thing that is different I feel is that we have the choice to say we will work with people who are leaning in, which is a good place to be in because sometimes in an agency you are doing what you have to do as that is your job, thats the nature of the business. But we have the luxury sometimes to say which agency or brand we would want to collaborate with on business terms. So we spend more time and energy on them. Therefore, to be in that position, to be able to sort of choose what you want to focus on is quite a nice place to be in for a creative person. How challenging has India been as a market for Facebook than the rest of the APAC market? Interestingly, India has not been that challenging, it is very interesting here. Every country is different on the curve and every market has its own challenges and strengths. But for India, to be very honest, we have sessions, agencies and brands who just want to know how and they want to be on the platform and figure out how best to do it. In that sense it has been great. We actually have been doing more work here. The only challenge is that while we are a very lean team on purpose, we want to obviously reach, work and collaborate with everyone who wants to. So, sometimes thats a bit hard to be able to prioritise, but other than that, there has been no challenge because most of my experiences in sessions have always been positive. The one thing is the storytelling mindset, which needs to change a bit, but thats a challenge not just for India, but for everyone and everywhere which is, how do we start. Why opt for a small team for such a big initiative? We dont want to be an agency. We are not equipped to start making everyday ads. We want to focus on choosing the best work; we dont get paid to do all the work. Our goal really is to ensure that the best work comes out. We help partner with clients as well as agencies, so when you get too big and have many people in the team, you sometimes lose that momentum and vision. I always love working in smaller teams and the calibre of the people in our team is very senior. So, it is a lean team, but our people are stars. We have Ram Jayaraman in Mumbai, he used to be ECD and Creative Head at Grey. Please tell us more about Facebook Creative Shop Team India. Right now there are three creative strategists Ram Jayaraman (joined Facebook Creative Shop in August 2016), who is based out of Mumbai; Parul Arora, who came on board in May 2016. She was Executive Creative Director, L&K Saatchi and Saatchi before joining us; and we also have Nasheet Shadani in Delhi as one of the creative strategists. And I am based in Singapore. How do you strategise to bring SMEs on to the Facebook platform to advertise? A lot of work goes into SMEs and there is someone who heads the business for small and medium businesses on our behalf. They do a fantastic job. It is a great team. In terms of creative support, we dont have the bandwidth to give it yet. But it is simple. They have a lot of tools, sessions and workshops. Obviously it is not like an agency. What we do is we try to scale and enable it. You know I will give a link to Facebook for business, sometimes we do events where we have tutorials and hands-on working sessions, where you learn how to do it yourself. A lot of effort goes into those kinds of endeavours. If there is a special case or a really interesting brief, then we take it on. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The Income Tax department today said it has issued Permanent Account Number (PAN) within a day to 19,704 newly incorporated companies till March 31, 2017. In addition to physical PAN card, CBDT has introduced the Electronic PAN (e-PAN) card, which is sent by email to all applicants, including individuals. advertisement "Applicant would be benefited by having a digitally signed E-PAN card which they can submit as proof of identity to other agency electronically directly or by storing in the Digital Locker (https://digilocker.gov.in)," CBDT, the apex policy making body of the Income Tax department, said in a statement. It said that newly incorporated companies have also been issued Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) simultaneously with PAN as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has tied up with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) under which companies can submit a common application form. Applicant companies submit a common application form SPICe (INC 32) on MCA portal and once the data of incorporation is sent to CBDT by the MCA, PAN and TAN are issued immediately without any further intervention of the applicant. "The Certificate of Incorporation (COI) of newly incorporated companies includes the PAN in addition to the Corporate Identity Number (CIN). TAN is also allotted simultaneously and communicated to the company," the statement added. Till March 31, 2017, 19,704 newly incorporated companies were allotted PAN in this manner. During March 2017, of the 10,894 newly incorporated companies, PAN was allotted within 4 hours in 95.63 per cent cases and within one day in all cases. Similarly, TAN was allotted to all such companies within 4 hrs in 94.7 per cent cases and within 1 day in 99.73 per cent cases. "CBDTs initiative in starting of a business is expected to significantly improve the ranking of India in the Ease of Doing Business Study conducted by World Bank by reducing the number of processes of registration before various authorities under law, reducing the time taken for allotment of the registration number (CIN, PAN, TAN) and making the entire registration process for new companies much simpler," it said. PTI JD BAL --- ENDS --- We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are some of the most talked about smartphones of 2017, and theres no doubt that they are going to be some of the best-sellers of the year. These two smartphones have a lot going for them, but they are also glass-backed smartphones, which might look and feel great, but that means they are fragile. So there are plenty of cases you can pick up to protect your new smartphone. But there are also some great chargers, wireless chargers, USB-C cables and so much more to pick up for your new device. Lets have a look at some of the best Galaxy S8 accessories. Lumion Nova Series Case Advertisement Lumion has a pretty inexpensive but definitely useful, case for the Galaxy S8. This is a rugged case that will protect the Galaxy S8 from drops and falls, but also keep it from getting scratches and stuff. Now its a slim rugged case, so its not going to add a ton of bulk to the device, but still worth picking up. MoKo Tempered Glass Screen Protector Advertisement The Galaxy S8 has an incredible display, but it is still prone to scratches. And many people are going to want to pop a screen protector onto their new smartphone, and MoKo has a great option here. This is a tempered glass screen protector, so itll still feel like glass (instead of plastic) and also keep the screen from looking worse than it should. IVSO Fast Wireless Charger Stand Advertisement The Galaxy S8 will feature Qi Wireless Charging, so you can set your phone down and allow it to charge. IVSO has a great looking wireless charging stand here, and it also does fast charging. So you wont have to sit around and wait for hours while that large 3000mAh battery charges on the IVSO Fast Wireless Charging Stand. Buy the IVSO Fast Wireless Charger Stand TUDIA Ultra Slim Case Advertisement Those looking for an ultra slim case for the Galaxy S8, need to look no further than the TUDIA Ultra Slim Case. This is a very slim case for the Galaxy S8. And while it may not be the prettiest case out there, it will protect your Galaxy S8 from getting damaged. Now it may not protect it from being dropped from a tall height, but it will offer plenty of protection for most falls. Buy the TUDIA Ultra Slim Case Advertisement WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Car Mount Heres a great car mount for people to use in the car for their new Galaxy S8. Its a magnetic one, so it will work with any smartphone thats on the market currently. It allows you to attach the mount to the air vent in your car and then pop your phone on it. Allowing you to use your phone for navigation, streaming music and so much more, while you are still focused on the road. Advertisement Buy the WizGear Air Vent Magnetic Car Mount Anker USB-C (male) to Micro USB Adapter (female) Advertisement With the Galaxy S8 featuring a USB-C connector, youll need to replace all of your micro USB cables, or will you? Thanks to this adapter from Anker, you wont need to. And Anker is selling this adapter in packs of two, so you can pick one up and take care of a few of your existing micro USB cables. Buy the Anker USB-C to Micro USB adapter iOrange-E Type-C 3-Pack Cables iOrange-E has a 3-pack of USB-C cables that will work well with the new Galaxy S8, as well as other devices with USB-C (like the HTC 10, LG G6 and even the MacBook Pro). These come in varying lengths, so there is a 1-foot long cable, a 3.3-foot and a 6.6-foot long cable included. With the 3.3-foot long cable being great for a car charger. Buy the iOrange-E Type-C 3-Pack Cables AUKEY Car Charger AUKEY has a great looking car charger here. This one is so short that many people may think that your car came with USB ports included. This is a dual-port car charger with 2.4A in each port. Now it doesnt do any form of quick charging, but it does output at up to 2.4A, which is still plenty fast for most smartphones and most people to charge their devices quickly. Buy the AUKEY Car Charger iPulse Journal Series Case How about a good looking wallet case for the Galaxy S8? iPulse has you covered with the Journal Series, which features a leather wallet case, with room to store all of your credit cards likely the ones that dont work with Samsung Pay just yet. Its also a folio case, so you can stand it up in landscape mode and watch your favorite videos with ease, on that beautiful, large display. Buy iPulse Journal Series Case Samsung Wireless Charging Pad Samsung also has their own wireless charging pad, which is around $20. This charging pad looks great, and also does fast charging, which is definitely important. This means that you can put your phone down on your desk and have it charging, while youre at work, and have a full battery for the rest of the day. Buy the Samsung Wireless Charging Pad Anker Fast Wireless Charger PowerPort Qi 10 The PowerPort Qi 10 from Anker is another great one to take advantage of. This is also a fast wireless charger, and it looks amazing. It has a LED ring on the bottom which shows when it is plugged in, as well as when it is charging your device and finally, when it is fully charged, so you can see when your Galaxy S8 is fully charged without even needing to pick up the device. Buy the Anker Fast Wireless Charger PowerPort Qi 10 SanDisk Extreme 128GB microSDXC Need some extra storage for your Galaxy S8? No problem. Since it has a micro SD card slot, you can easily add another 256GB of storage, or in the case of this SanDisk micro SD card, another 128GB of storage. This allows you to offload your pictures, videos, music and more onto the SD card and keep the internal storage for apps and games (which typically cant be stored on a micro SD card for piracy reasons). Buy the SanDisk Extreme 128GB microSDXC V-MODA Crossfade Wireless Over-Ear Headphone Whether you are an audiophile or not, youll appreciate the sound coming out of these headphones from V-MODA. These are their Crossfade Wireless headphones, which means you dont need to plug these into your Galaxy S8, since it does connect over Bluetooth. They come in a few different colors, and also offer around 12 hours of battery life, which is pretty impressive for such a lightweight pair of headphones. You can also fully charge them in about an hour and a half. Buy the V-MODA Crossfade Wireless Over-Ear Headphones The FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai has said that he opposes plans to allow cellphones to be used on flights in the US. A ban has been in place for around 22 years to prevent travelers from making in-flight calls. The FCC said in 2013 said it would consider lifting the ban, enabling travel to fully use their smartphones while the plane was in the air. However, these proceedings are now to be terminated immediately according to the Chairman, who recently also criticized net neutrality calling it a mistake. Mobile phone use on US airlines was originally banned by the FCC because of concerns that it would affect ground stations, effectively jamming them and causing serious danger to airplanes. In 2013 they said that as a result of modern technology, it would now be safe for passengers to use their devices to make calls during flights, along with potentially permitting the use of other devices such as iPads. In 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration started to permit the use of electronic devices during take-off and landing, leading many to assume that full cellphone use would also soon be allowed. This has now effectively been quashed, with Ajit Pai stating he doesnt believe allowing calls on flights is in the publics interest and that he stands with airline pilots, flight attendants, and the American flying public against the plan. Some travelers dont want the ban on cellphones in-flight to be lifted, pointing out that they enjoy the respite from calls and texting while flying, and fear they will be forced to overhear loud conversations and cellphones constantly ringing if the ban was to be lifted. However, Michael Planey, co-founder of H&M Planey Consultants, a consulting company which specializes in new technology in the travel industry, points out that cellphones have been used in-flight for quite some time now on many airlines in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and that the issues that people are concerned about havent really been a problem in those regions after in-flight calls were allowed. He puts this partly down to the cost which can be fairly steep, with many airlines charging between $2-$5 per minute for calls, leading most people to simply use their phones for texting. The Samsung Galaxy S7 has received its Android 7.0 Nougat update, but its users, at least from the US wireless carrier Verizon, are fuming over problems resulting from the update. The Verizon community forum for the Galaxy S7 is filled with numerous topics containing different sorts of complaints about the Nougat update. Among the list of issues from the Android Nougat update is the bug-filled Galaxy S7 camera app. A user at the Verizon forum complained that the camera app shows no settings and the resolution is stuck at a measly 352 x 480 resolution, a problem that can only be solved by restoring factory settings. Other users are also experiencing troubles with the software update for the Galaxy S7, with the severity of problems ranging from slightly annoying like LED notification lights not working to devastating like the inability to make calls and even worse, bootloops. Verizon, for its part, has been replying to the posts on its community forum, asking for more information from its affected subscribers. It is advisable, though, that people hold off from downloading the software update for their Galaxy S7 units until the bugs are resolved. The Android Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 is only rolling out to subscribers now after reports of Samsung halting the release of the software update emerged last January. The update was pulled back due to reports of bug issues experienced by users in China, forcing Samsung to release the update six months after Android 7.0 Nougat was made available. Just last month, Galaxy S7 users in several countries received their Android 7.0 update, including Canada, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Assuming all goes well for the Verizon owners of the Samsung Galaxy S7 later on, they will experience a good number of new features built into Android 7.0. Among the new features are the improved notification system which allows users to do certain actions like replying to messages directly on the notification shade, and a native multi-window feature that supports more applications than the TouchWiz implementation of the same feature. There are changes under the hood as well, like the improved Doze mode, which acts as soon as the phone goes into a state of rest. Owners of the Galaxy S7, and its sibling, the Galaxy S7 Edge will have another major software update next year, but for now, they should expect more updates that could kill the bugs present in the Nougat update. There had been rumors that the new Samsung Galaxy S8 was doing well in preorder sales, but Samsung has just made it official according to the Korea Herald 620,000 units were sold in just five days, with the 128GB Galaxy S8 Plus accounting for 150,000 units. This is great news for Samsung as those figures top the record preorders garnered by the Galaxy Note 7 and easily more than the Galaxy S7. This surge in preorders could spell trouble for Samsung as they indicated that preorders have already matched up with their inventory meaning that there could be delays in shipments from the official April 21st release date. Much of the delays can be attributed to the low yield rates of the 10nm chips the Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895 used in the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. Samsung makes the chips for Qualcomm and part of the deal was to allow Samsung first dibs on using them in their new Galaxy S8 series, but with the low yield rate of the chips, it could spell trouble in meeting the demand. This might have played a part in why HTC and LG went with the Snapdragon 821 in their new flagships. It is easy to see why the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are selling in record numbers. Samsung redesigned the all glass flagship with a brand new, futuristic, and sexy look, and at the same time made it more functional and more secure. The new Infinity Display that literally wraps around the sides of the device with no bezels and introduces us to the 18.5:9 aspect ratio, gives the user a slightly taller and thinner device cramming more display in the same physical area as the Galaxy S7 (more or less). The top-of-the-line processors and GPUs make it lightning fast and capable of the most demanding graphics any movie or game can throw at it. The Home button, Back key, and App key are now on the display under a 3D Touch area gone when not needed and only appearing when needed. It has the fingerprint sensor on the back and oddly close to the camera lens, but Samsung provides facial recognition and iris scanning to unlock the device without having to resort to the fingerprint sensor. The Galaxy S series offers up Samsung Health, Samsung Connect, Bixby, and Samsung DeX. The physical camera area stayed the same as Samsung decided to work on upgrading the camera software this time around. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is a very intriguing device and given its preorder popularity, it may hit 1 million units before it is even released. Samsung can only hope that yield rates improve on the processing chips so there is no shortage to slow down this Galaxy juggernaut something Samsung could use after the problems with the Galaxy Note 7. Googles default text-to-speech tool has received a new update that adds in six new languages, improvements to voices across the board, an option to turn off number processing and hear a more literal reading of things like dates and values, and intonation control for text in a wider range of languages and voices. The new languages are Bangla, Czech, Khmer, Nepali, Sinhala and Ukrainian. Google does not go into detail about the under the hood improvements, nor do they say what new languages and voices get intonation control. The newest update to Google Text-To-Speech brings many features, but not a fixed version number; different devices will still get different versions and sizes depending on their Android version and other aspects of their hardware and software, but all versions should have these new features. The addition of the new languages brings the total number of supported languages for Google Text-To-Speech up to 35, including various dialects, with English having the most variants. The new languages also mean that the tool has near-worldwide coverage at this point, with the new languages bridging a gap in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia. Intonation control is slowly spreading, and is already available for most variations of English. While most languages are covered, Googles text to speech tool is still missing some more obscure languages and dialects, as well as languages and dialects that could be useful in an academic setting, such as ancient languages and Latin. Google Text-To-Speech has been around since the Android 1.6 (Donut) days in some form, and has been updated constantly behind the scenes. The tool hit the Play Store and began getting updates there back in 2013, at which time it was revamped, boasting better quality than most other solutions on the market and serving as a de facto replacement for the packed-in text to speech engines that most OEMs packaged with their phones. Recent updates have seen the tool gain new languages, read users Google Play Books collections aloud, and sound more natural and clear. With intonation control rolling out alongside pitch and speed control, users will eventually be able to customize exactly how their device reads things to them in any language. Ride-hailing company Lyft debuted The Weather Channel integration for its app developed through the Made for Samsung Developer Program. The support allows Lyfts customers to request a ride directly through The Weather Channel app, in addition to allowing users to synchronize their calendars with forecasts and receive suggestions to call a Lyft when bad weather is about to strike. Given how Lyfts support for The Weather Channel was created through Samsungs developer program, the functionality will initially only be available on Galaxy-branded devices including the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and the Galaxy Note 5, as well as the upcoming Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. A Lyft spokesperson told Venture Beat that the feature is also in the works for other Android devices, describing its Samsung-only debut as just the beginning of the companys efforts to provide riders with more choices. The Weather Channel itself also has an exclusive partnership with Samsung that allows its services to be better integrated into Galaxy devices thanks to a special app, so its Lyft support on Samsung devices can be seen as an extension of that collaboration. Refer to the screenshot below to see how Lyfts newly added support for The Weather Channel works in practice. The feature should already be live for all users located in markets where Lyft is operating. The move marks yet another step in Lyfts attempts to pair its ride-hailing service with as many third-party products and solutions as possible in an effort to increase its market presence. The companys list of supported third-party services grew by a significant margin in recent months, a trend thats likely to continue as Lyft continues to fuel its startup-like growth. The company should have no trouble doing so in the short term seeing how it just raised $500 million in private funding earlier this month, an achievement that boosted its valuation to $7.5 billion, recent reports indicate. While the company still has a long way to go to match the financial power of its main competitor Uber, Lyfts advantage lies in the fact that the firm managed to present itself in a more positive manner and has so far evaded major scandals while following the same business model Uber is. Motorolas Moto C smartphone has just surfaced in a couple of color variants, this leak is coming from Weibo. If you take a look at the provided image, which is placed above this article, youll be able to see Black, Gold and Red variants of the upcoming Moto C smartphone. As you can see, the Moto C will sport three capacitive keys below its display, while the phones loudspeaker will be placed on the back of the device. The oreo camera is protruding a bit on the back of the Moto C, and an LED flash is also included on there. The phones branding is placed above the display, and on the back of this smartphone. Now, this is not exactly the first time weve seen the Moto C, Motorola actually leaked this smartphone in their YouTube video a while back, that was a celebratory video, as Motorola was celebrating their 44th anniversary of a first mobile phone call. For those of you who still dont know in which category will the Moto C belong, this handset will probably be the most affordable Moto-branded devices this year. The Moto C will be more affordable than the Moto E4, and if the previously leaked info is to be believed, this phone will be fueled by MediaTeks MT6737m 64-bit quad-core processor. The Moto C will also pack in 1GB of RAM and 16GB of native storage. You will also get a 5-inch F2VGA Display (854 x 480), while a 2,300mAh removable battery will be included on the inside of this phone. A 5-megapixel snapper will be placed on the back of the Moto C, while a 2-megapixel shooter will be available on the front. Android 7.0 Nougat will come pre-installed on the device, and according to the source, the phone will cost somewhere in between $50 and $80. Now, we still dont know when will this handset become official, but Motorola is actually expected to announce the Moto E4 in the coming weeks, and the same applies for the Moto C as well. In any case, do stay tuned, well report back as soon as some useful info pops up. Xiaomi has just officially confirmed that the Xiaomi Mi 6 is coming on April 19. Some sources misinterpreted Xiaomis Weibo (Chinese social network) post yesterday, and assumed that the Mi 6 will be announced today, but that wont be the case. Xiaomi has now official announced the Mi 6 event which will be held in Beijing. If you take a look at the provided image, youll be able to see Xiaomis official teaser image. The Xiaomi Mi 6 has been leaking for a long time now, and the same goes for the Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus, actually. Those two handsets are expected to land at the same time, and if rumors are to be believed, the Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus will not only be a larger device, but also one with more powerful specs. The Xiaomi Mi 6 is rumored to sport a 5.15-inch fullHD (1920 x 1080) display, while the Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus will, allegedly, sport a 5.7-inch fullHD or QHD panel. Both of these smartphones will be made out of metal and glass, most probably, and both of them will sport a fingerprint scanner up front. It seems like Xiaomi intends to stick to capacitive buttons (which you will be able to customize through Mi 6s software) this time around, though the fingerprint scanner / home button of the phone will be considerably larger this time around, at least compared to the one included in the Xiaomi Mi 5. Now, both the Xiaomi Mi 6 and Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus will be fueled by the Snapdragon 835, at least thats what the rumors are saying. These two handsets will be Xiaomis all-new flagship devices, of course, and both of them are expected to hit India soon after their announcement in China, not to mention that some other markets will probably also get it soon after its launched. All in all, Xiaomi will try to compete with other companies out there with their Mi 6 flagships it seems, and the Xiaomi Mi 6 and Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus seem very interesting, at least on paper, but well see, the announcement is only about a week away at this point, so stay tuned, were sure that more leaks will surface before the Mi 6 becomes official. Advertisement Buy the Xiaomi Mi 5 South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics will soon start testing the prototype of its dual-screen smartphone that industry sources refer to as the Galaxy X, people with knowledge of the matter told The Investor. The device thats been rumored about for several years now allegedly features two separate organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels that can be folded open by 180 degrees and are connected by a single hinge in the middle. The Seoul-based consumer electronics manufacturer is apparently planning to manufacture between 2,000 and 3,000 prototypes of the device by June, sources said, once again reiterating that the Galaxy X is the initial result of Samsungs mysterious Project Valley thats been in development for years. Regardless, the ultimate goal of Project Valley is to deliver a foldable smartphone with a single flexible panel that can be bent and folded, while the aforementioned prototype Samsung is preparing to start manufacturing is only meant to serve as an intermediary step towards the final product. As such, it seems unlikely that the company will ever commercialize the dual-screen prototype that its looking to make in the coming months, one thats likely based on a 2015 patent Samsung secured in the United States. While industry sources didnt speculate on the origins of the technology Samsung is now using to create its latest foldable prototype, all of them seemingly agree that the company is still somewhat away from commercializing such a device. Previous reports indicated that the South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer was planning to commercially release its first foldable device in late 2017, but the company allegedly decided to postpone that launch until 2018 as its still trying to determine whether the average consumer is interested in an experimental handset like the Galaxy X would certainly be. Even if Samsung ends up being the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the world to commercialize foldable smartphones, the company is unlikely to drop its regular handsets anytime soon. The rumored Galaxy X likely wont even be designed to replace the Galaxy S flagships as industry sources previously said Samsung is just looking to create an alternative flagship lineup for the time being. Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh made the announcement of liquor prohibition, after his meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna today. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has announced that he will follow the footsteps of Bihar and prohibition of alcohol will be imposed in Chhattisgarh, though in a phased manner. Raman Singh made this announcement in Munger, after his meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar earlier in Patna today. Singh is on a two-day personal visit to Bihar and had gone to Munger Yogashram to meet Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati. advertisement Singh said that he was in favour of liquor prohibition and the first step towards this will be to impose it in villages with a population of 3,000 and more. "Prohibition will be imposed first in villages in Chhattisgarh having population of 3,000 and more," said the chief minister of Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh has now become the second state to declare imposing alcohol prohibition in the state after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan made a similar announcement earlier in the week. Also read: All liquor shops across Madhya Pradesh to be shut down in phases: Chouhan Also read: 'This ruling will save lives and protect families' --- ENDS --- Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro, a mid-range smartphone released by Samsung in China last month, has made it through the FCC certification process and might be available soon in the United States. A smartphone with the FCC ID number A3LSMC5010 has been tested for certification last January, but it later underwent some modifications that led to the second round of certification. According to the documents submitted to the FCC, the Galaxy C5 Pro will support GSM, UMTS, and LTE networks, so the smartphone will most likely be available at AT&T, T-Mobile, and their MVNOs. The FCC documentation published earlier this month also reveals the Galaxy C5 Pro will have Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, NFC support, ANT+, and WiFi support at 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. While the Galaxy C5 Pro has not made it to the United States just yet, it has already been released in China, so its specifications are already well-documented. From the outside, the phone is more akin to the previous-generation Samsung Galaxy phones, with a fingerprint scanner integrated into its physical Home button, buttons for volume controls located on the left side and the power button found on the right side of the device. Unlike its high-end counterparts, the Galaxy C5 Pro has a metal construction. Internally, the Galaxy C5 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 626 14 nm octa-core SoC, a mid-range S0C offering from Qualcomm, coupled with the Adreno 506 GPU and 4GB of RAM. While its 2600mAh battery might seem small for some smartphone enthusiasts, a conservative processor and the relatively low resolution of the 5.2 inch 1080p Super AMOLED display could still be enough for the smartphone to last a whole day on a single charge. Both the front and the back cameras have 16-megapixel sensors with f/1.9 aperture. Other notable features of the handset include a bottom speaker and a USB-C port. On the software side of things, the Galaxy C5 Pro launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow on top of the usual Samsung skin. The phone launched in China last March for $360, a price that might make the handset seem like a good value purchase. While there is still no word regarding its US release, its FCC certificate suggests ones coming in the near future. Privacy concerns have existed with regard to the internet since people first started logging in and the creation of virtual private networks (VPNs) are one method users have found to ease their minds, but there exist several complications to what otherwise looks like a simple solution. In effect, VPNs act as a buffer between your device and other entities, such as your ISP, through the use of encryption and by masking your IP address. The data remains encrypted until it reaches the chosen VPN providers server, where the data itself is sent out to the Internet. That means that the ISP and anybody sitting near you will need to find a way to decrypt the information if they somehow manage to snag it in transit. Though it obviously isnt a perfect safeguard against the theft or use of anything a user posts directly to the internet via social media or otherwise, if theyre set up correctly and, in some cases, if the appropriate secondary tools are also used, VPNs can serve to meet the needs of users with privacy concerns both for PC users and for Android users. However, not all VPN are created equal and ones data is not safe just by using one. There is also no guarantee that any is held up to any kind of standard at all since VPNs are unregulated. By using a VPN service, a user is effectively deciding to trust that virtual networks provider over trusting the ISP they are currently using, whether it is for their home internet or the free Wi-Fi provided at their local coffee shop. Thats because a VPN provider will still be able to see all of your web traffic and data, with all of the same risks associated with data leaks, misuse, or shoddy encryption. In fact, some research has shown that many VPNs either dont encrypt at all 18 percent of VPN apps on Android or use outdated encryption methods. Around 84 percent of the VPN Android apps studied were shown to have leaked data. VPNs can also log the data themselves for their own use, so it is a good idea to research the various offerings before committing and to include research into whether any logging is done by a given VPN. That way, you will be well aware of any policy about what is being logged and who will or may have access to those logs. Although a services total number of users does not always correlate with safety or privacy, it is also a good policy to use a VPN that many others are using. It is far easier for a large group to hold a services providers accountable than it is for a small group or a single user. A more prominent problem with the use of VPNs is that they can and sometimes do leak data. That data can, unfortunately, include a users IP address. That, in turn, can be used to find all of the data associated with that IP address, nullifying the point of a VPN entirely. Thankfully, there is a relatively easy way to see if a users VPN is leaking their IP address. A number of sites, a quick google search for What is my IP address? provides a wealth of free options, provide a good means for checking. If a user first checks his or her IP address through one of those sites without the VPN service enabled, a second check with VPN enabled should return an IP address that is different from the first. Advertisement It should be also noted that VPNs do not serve as protection against ad-tracking. There are secondary tools that help accomplish that. They also can, but dont always, affect the apparent speed of the users internet because of latency from the added stop to the datas route namely that it has to make a pit-stop at the VPNs server first, slightly increasing server response times. The change isnt drastic by any means but is worth noting. The recent uptick in concerns about privacy may be attributable to changes in policy of the incumbent administration and Internet-associated external governing bodies. Internet service providers (ISPs) have previously had some limitations in place, preventing the direct selling of their users data for a profit without the users consent. The U.S. House of Representatives changed that with a vote earlier this year. So, if youre looking for a way to protect your online data a bit more securely, looking into using one of the vast numbers of VPNs available is probably the place to start. That said, it is only as effective as the amount of research a user is willing to conduct to find one that is reliable and whose history and logging policies better suit the needs of the user. Xiaomi is launching a new mobile service in China today called Xiaomi Mi Loan. As its name suggests, Xiaomi Mi Loan is an application designed to allow customers in China to apply for micro-credit directly from their smart devices. The application was announced earlier today via Xiaomis official MIUI page on Chinas social media website Weibo. It is currently available for download on Android smartphones in China, but theres currently no information on whether the app will also make its way to other platforms, though its unlikely to ever be launched outside of Xiaomis home country. According to the official announcement, users will have to go through a verification process before they will be able to use the Xiaomi Mi Loan application as it was intended to be used. Its currently unclear how long the approval process lasts, but once its completed, a user can apply for a loan which will reportedly be processed in less than two minutes. The minimum amount of money allowed for a loan is reportedly 100 Chinese Yuan (roughly $14 at todays conversion rate) but the maximum amount is currently unknown. Nevertheless, a loans interest will be calculated on a daily basis and according to Xiaomi, the rates are flexible and the service puts no pressure on the customer. Its also worth noting that there is no need for any form of collateral in order to make a loan using the companys new mobile service. As some readers might recall, last December Xiaomis subsidiary Sichuan Yinmi Technology together with agribusiness enterprise New Hope Group have established an online bank in China, called the Sichuan XV Bank. However, in its recent announcement, the Chinese tech giant didnt specify whether the new Xiaomi Mi Loan application has any connection with the Sichuan XV Bank. It was previously revealed that the online bank will primarily focus on serving private individuals along with small and medium firms in the agricultural field, whereas Xiaomi Mi Loan appears to have been designed primarily for individuals who are looking for micro-credits. In any case, more details on the companys new mobile service will likely follow shortly. The human rights organisation estimates the Asian giant alone killed "thousands" of people, a figure based on examinations of court records and news reports. By Indo-Asian News Service: China remained the world's top executioner, putting more people to death in 2016 than all other countries combined, an Amnesty International report revealed on Tuesday. The human rights organisation estimates the Asian giant alone killed "thousands" of people, a figure based on examinations of court records and news reports. At least 1,032 people were executed in 2016. In 2015, the Amnesty International recorded 1,634 executions in 25 countries worldwide, a historical spike unmatched since 1989. advertisement However, the number of executions globally fell 37 per cent in 2016, excluding figures from China, whose data is a state secret. The ruling Communist Party in china considers the death toll a state secret. China was one of four countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, that were responsible for 87 per cent of all executions last year, the activist group said. EXECUTIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES For the first time since 2006, the US was not one of the five biggest executioners, falling to seventh behind Egypt. The 20 executions in the US was the lowest in the country since 1991. In 2016, 23 countries, about one in eight of all countries worldwide, are known to have carried out executions, according to the Amnesty report. This number has decreased significantly from 20 years ago (40 countries carried out executions in 1997). Belarus, Botswana, Nigeria and authorities within the State of Palestine resumed executions in 2016; Chad, India, Jordan, Oman and United Arab Emirates - all countries that executed people in 2015 - did not report any executions last year. Two countries, Benin and Nauru abolished the death penalty in law for all crimes. In total, 104 countries have done so - a majority of the world's states. EXECUTIONS IN NUMBERS Meanwhile, Amnesty International recorded 3,117 death sentences in 55 countries in 2016, a significant increase on the total for 2015 (1,998 sentences in 61 countries). At least 18,848 people were on death row at the end of 2016. The methods that were used across the world for executions are beheading, hanging, lethal injection and shooting. The countries like Iran and North Korea have carried out public executions, the report added. ALSO READ| Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence ALSO READ| Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: What Pakistani media said --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: From K J M Varma Beijing, Apr 11 (PTI) China is the worlds biggest executioner with the communist giant executing more people last year than the rest of the world combined, Amnesty International said in its report today, describing the country a "complete outlier" when it comes to death penalty. "Chinas horrifying use of the death penalty remains one of the country?s deadly secrets, as the authorities continue to execute thousands of people each year," Amnesty International said in itsglobal review of the death penaltyreleased today. advertisement The human rights group said a new in-depth investigation carried by it showed that the Chinese authorities enforce an elaborate secrecy system to obscure the shocking scale of executions in the country, despite repeated claims that it is making progress towards judicial transparency. Even as executions have dropped by more than a third globally, Chinas death penalty rate is shockingly high although the full extent of the secretive practice is unknown, it said. ?Amnesty International found public news reports of at least 931 individuals executed between 2014 and 2016 (only a fraction of the total executions), but only 85 of them are in the state database," it said. "The Chinese government uses partial disclosures and unverifiable assertions to claim progress in reducing the number of executions yet at the same time maintains near absolute secrecy. This is deliberately misleading,? it said. China is a "complete outlier" in the world community when it comes to death penalty, it said. "China executed more than all other countries in the world put together," it said. The group said it believes China executed thousands, but it didnt offer a more precise estimate due to a lack of accurate information. Excluding China, all other countries together executed at least 1,032 people last year, a decline of 37 percent compared to 2015. Of those, 87 percent took place in just four countries - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan. The US recorded 20 executions, a historic low in its use of the death penalty in 2016. Despite the significant decrease world-wide, the overall number of executions in 2016 remained higher than the average recorded for the previous decade, the Amnesty report said. The Amnesty report on China is contrary to Chinese Supreme Court report last month which said that death sentences were being given to extremely small number of criminals in the last 10 years. In a work report delivered to National Peoples Congress, Chief Justice of Chinas Supreme Court Zhou Qiang said the capital punishment had been strictly controlled and applied prudently since 2007. advertisement In2011 China dropped thedeathpenaltyfor 13economic- related non-violentcrimesincluding smuggling cultural relics. Later in 2014 China had removed capital punishmentfor ninemorecrimes includingsmuggling weapons, ammunition, nuclear materials or counterfeit currencies. In 2015 China had banned the harvesting oforgansfrom executedprisonersfororgantransplantsand orderedall hospitals stop usingorgansfromdeath-rowprisoners. The ban came amid criticism over the high rate of executions to cater to the heavy demand for organs. PTI KJV PMS AKJ PMS --- ENDS --- What were Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall for, and how did they influence everyday life in their shadow? As questions about modern borders continue to make the headlines, Matthew Symonds investigates Romes land frontiers in Britain. Borders are big news at the moment. We all know that a great wall is planned along the US border with Mexico, albeit one with a big beautiful door to funnel people through. Closer to home the relative merits of hard and soft borders are being debated as national governments respond to refugees and the UK ponders its new relationship with the European Union. This surge of interest in borders reflects the simple truth that changing their nature often changes peoples lives. Observing that borders have consequences is not the same, though, as echoing the terse justification offered for a new US border barrier: Walls work. Whether or not they do indeed work is just as important for understanding our past as our future. Two of Britains most celebrated archaeological monuments are also two of Romes greatest or at least most robust and visually spectacular frontiers: Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall. Current discussion of hard and soft borders finds a parallel in the longstanding attempts to determine whether these Roman frontiers were geared towards controlling or blocking movement. Just as this research could help inform modern views, so too the powerful passions these issues provoke today, among both proponents and detractors, may be relevant to students of Romes frontiers. After all, neither the Roman soldiers tasked with the slog of building and then operating the border systems nor the local groups whose land they crossed are likely to have been neutral on the matter. Naturally, history never repeats itself wholesale, and the dual role that the Roman frontiers served as barriers to movement and baselines for military action beyond them is one that distinguishes them from modern counterparts. Equally, today the talk is of reinforcing existing national boundaries, rather than the Roman technique in Britain of carving them out from scratch across previously open ground. While some modern soft borders are so innocuous that you barely realise you have crossed them, it is a fairly safe bet that this experience was not shared by anyone travelling through Hadrians Wall or the Antonine Wall. Despite these differences, though, the single surviving Roman explanation of what Hadrians Wall was for sounds increasingly familiar: to separate the Romans and barbarians even passes the test of being a tweetable number of characters. But what did it mean in practice? Wonderwall? A popular modern perception of Hadrians Wall is that the Roman army advanced as far north as the TyneSolway isthmus linking Newcastle and Carlisle, and then halted to build a frontier. In reality, the decades leading up to the construction of Hadrians Wall were a more dispiriting experience for the Roman army. During the AD 80s Roman military units were operating on the very edge of the Scottish Highlands, seemingly poised to administer what they believed would be the coup de grace to resistance in Britain. Instead, trouble on the Danube resulted in about a quarter of the Roman force being sent to the Continent. A gradual withdrawal from Scotland ensued, and by AD 105 the army had returned to the TyneSolway isthmus, a region where Roman soldiers had first been stationed three decades earlier. The whispers in the ancient literature of serious warfare in Britain at the beginning of Hadrians reign may be aftershocks from a concerted attempt to persuade the army to retire even further south. Against this backdrop of retreat and warfare, the curiously tenacious view that Hadrians Wall was essentially a make-work scheme to keep soldiers hands from becoming idle seems unlikely. That the frontier was essentially an arbitrary imposition on the landscape does, though, find some support in a famous and radical design quirk. Rather than following the usual technique of placing small garrisoned posts at the points where they were needed, the milecastles and turrets along the Hadrians Wall curtain were built at regular intervals of about 495m. As the name milecastle implies, these small stations were placed approximately a mile apart. They also housed big beautiful doors through the frontier indeed, Paul Bidwell has noted that these gateways were larger than those found in some forts. Originally, the milecastles and turrets were intended to be the only manned installations along the frontier, meaning that passage was only possible either through the milecastle gates or at two points where major roads crossed the frontier. The spacing system itself makes most sense as a technique to minimise opportunities to cross the curtain unobserved, and it may even have been partly a response to the comparatively high local population numbers to the north and south of the Wall. This is an extract from a feature published in CA 326. Read on in the magazine. Click here to subscribe. They have spotted a Cooper S model while it was being tested. As you can observe, the vehicle was not as covered as you would expect a prototype to be.Instead, it had camouflage around and on its headlights, as well as the front grille and parts of its hood. Similar bits of vinyl were present on the hatchs ornament, rear bumper, and rear lights.We have seen this situation before with BMW Groups recent facelifts, which include the 1 Series . In the case of the German hatch, we are referring to a second Life Cycle Impulse in the range, and it did not require that many changes.The same can be said for MINI, as its hatchback has been dramatically changed in some ways with the introduction of t he new generation , and it does not need to be significantly altered to remain fresh.Instead, a few changes here and there will bring the desired effect on the British model, hopefully without making the ongoing cars look outdated. That is a tricky thing to ask from a car designer, and few facelifts manage this accomplishment, but it all depends on how the automobile was drawn up in the first place.The 2018 MINI Cooper S will continue to ride on the UKL platform, which it shares with several models from BMW, including the X1 and the 2 Series Active Tourer. Expect improvements to the engine lineup, more technology, and new equipment options for the interior.Driver assistance systems are supposed to be enhanced, and the multimedia unit might get an overhaul of its interface and functional features.MINI could apply changes to its driving modes, suspension, and steering, but these would only be subtle modifications that have to be thoroughly detailed to be observed by a regular person.Those of you who have not driven the ongoing generation of the MINI hatchback, regardless of the fact that it is a Cooper S or another version, already know that sound proofing, comfort, and interior space have been improved significantly with the new generation. The latest unofficial news on the Mk IV Ford Focus ST talks about the go-fast machine being animated by a 1.5-liter mill delivering 275 hp (make that 280 PS).According to autocar , the Blue Ovals aims to play the downsizing card, moving from the 2.0-liter turbo-four that powers the current ST to a 1.5-liter engine. The main aim would be to allow the spicy compact to pass the new Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test along with the 2021 average vehicle fleet CO2 standards of 95g/km.The British magazine sometimes like to act as a rumor engine, compressing air and turning it into news, so we'll have to get our hands on more details before trusting this info.Even so, the idea does seem to make sense, especially if we look at what lies inside the engine compartment of the 2017 Fiesta ST. The machine is animated by a new member of Ford's 1.5-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder turbo, which delivers 197 hp (200 PS).And while the specific power required for the expected 275-pony output of the Focus ST might seem unbelievably high for a road car, we'll remind you that, for example, the 2017 Peugeot 308 GTI packs 268 hp (270 PS) while using a 1.6-liter powerplant.As for the diesel Focus ST, since 47 percent of the Ford Focus sales in Europe are covered by oil burning models, such a flagship should still make sense. In fact, the Brits mention that Ford Performance project engineer Tyrone Johnson used last month's Geneva Motor Show to drop an important clue on the matter, starting that "The diesel is important for the Focus ST,"Nevertheless, with the Old Continent lawmakers appearing to pay more attention to NOx emissions in the wake of the real-world emissions scandal that kicked off with the VW Group's Dieselgate fiasco, spreading to a long list of carmakers, it remains to be seen whether the industry will continue to sustain oil burners.As opposed to the CO2 emission area, which has been the main focus of lawmakers so far (the superior efficiency of the Diesel cycle allows these engines to top gas units), oil burners have much more serious issues as far as NOx emissions are concerned.So yes, Ford could change its mind on the diesel Focus ST. The German motorcycle manufacturer brand is continuing along its upward curve in 2017, fueled by its ongoing model offensive in the premium motorcycle and maxi scooter markets. Fourteen new and redesigned models are set to be introduced up to the end of 2017.BMW Motorrad announced it is showing various models at Auto Shanghai 2017, including the latest versions of the ultra-sporty BMW S 1000 RR and BMW S 1000 XR. But the highlight of the manufacturers stand is the world premiere of one of the most exclusive models ever offered by BMW Motorrad.What could that possibly be? It certainly cant be another R nineT variant, nor an adventure model as the R1200GS only got facelifted. Also, the special K1600B is the newest most exclusive tourer and was specially made for Americas open highways.This can only mean one thing - a high-performance sportbike! And if you remember, BMW Motorrad unveiled the HP4 RACE model in concept phase in November last year.At the time, the company was describing it as the most advanced, most exclusive motorcycle BMW Motorrad has ever built, so this should put it on the top spot on our suspects list.The 2017 BMW HP4 RACE will be an ultra-premium version of the S 1000 RR superbike, coming with a lot of carbon fiber components meant to drastically lower the bikes weight.Although there is still a lack of information on the model, we can tell you the HP4 RACE will come with a full carbon fiber main frame and carbon fiber rims, pursuing to be a worthy rival for other models like the Ducati 1299 Superleggera. Stick around for more details as they become available. Its story was revealed on a Russian website, where it was explained that the entire film was a performance in honor of an artist, Marina Abramovic. She is a Yugoslavia-born performance artist, and she has been described as the grandmother of performance art .It is fair to note that the film was not shot on the birthday of the artist, and that she had nothing to do with drifting . Instead, she focused on a different type of art, which was turned into a career that has spanned over three decades.The clip was first published on the website of the 360 TV channel, which portrayed images from surveillance cameras and a few images shot at floor level in the Viasna shopping center.It was claimed that the incident depicted below took place about 10 minutes before the mall was closed, so almost all of the visitors had left, and nobody was in danger.The clip shows guards attempting to stop the driver from doing donuts in a mall, but it looks like he stopped because the stunts seemed enough. It was later announced that the driver of the Ferrari California was Alexander Donskoi, who the Russians at Auto.Mail.Ru identified as the former mayor of Arkhangelsk.This is not clear if it was supposed to be a publicity stunt for the politicians career, or just an attempt at making a viral video. Regardless of the motivation behind this celebratory donut session, we cannot help but wonder if anyone takes this Top Gear-inspired video for granted.If this would have been a compilation made by merging several videos from security footage, the video had a shot of being legitimate. Instead, this appears to be a scripted moment that was carefully timed. The driver was not fined in any way, and the officials of the shopping center do not seem bothered by the idea. Do not try this at home. Dalai Lama said the India-Tibet relationship is special. "India is historically our guru and we Tibetans are the chela (disciple)," he said. By Manogya Loiwal : The 14th Dalai Lama calls India a 'guru' and Tibet a 'chela' (disciple) but then there are moments when a 'chela' cries on meeting his guru. This is what happened in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, when a disciple of Dalai Lama gave him a tearful welcome. The location was Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery in Dirang. Thupten Rinpoche was in tears as he read out the welcome speech for Dalai Lama. In a moment, his throat choked and he stopped reading, and started crying inconsolably. advertisement Within minutes, half of the gathering was in tears as they saw Dalai Lama in the prayer hall. TEACHINGS OF RAMA AND BUDDHA Thupten said, "Bodh Gaya teachings and message are being spread across the world by Dalai Lama. We are lucky to have you here. Thanks for coming." "We welcome you with a heavy yet happy heart. You are (our) guru... We are blessed to listen to you. The temple and the monastery have been built only because of your blessings," Thupten said, who is the in-charge of the monastery. At the monastery, teachings of Lord Rama and Buddha are taught as is the Gita. These teachings--monastery has teachers from South India too--are delivered thrice a week and anyone can attend the sessions. Dalai Lama visited the Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery. Photo: Tapas Bairy INDIA LOSING ITS SPIRITUALITY Phurpa Tsering, MLA Dirang and parliamentary secretary for health in Chief Minister Pema Khandu's cabinet, also gave an emotional welcome to Dalai Lama. "We are blessed to learn words of wisdom from His Holiness. It was the sudden change of programme to travel by road instead of air that has given an opportunity to everyone to get your blessings," Phurpa Tsering said. Governor of Arunachal Pradesh P B Acharya harped on the need for spirituality and spiritual leaders. "We are a secular country but we are losing our spirituality. Without spirituality, we will become demons. There are 500 universities which provide knowledge but don't produce human beings who can share," the Governor said. "You are an 82-year-old young man who travels extensively. Please give us your time; you are a living god and saint. India will lead with you," P B Acharya said. "Modi is a great man and India has the potential to become a world leader. We share borders with countries like China and Myanmar. We need you in the Northeast. We want peace and you can guide us," Acharya said. INDIA-TIBET RELATION IS SPECIAL Dalai Lama talked abut the guru-chela relationship between India and Tibet. "India is historically our guru and we Tibetans are the chela," he said. advertisement "India is the land of Buddha... India and Tibet relationship is very special," Dalai Lama said. ALSO READ: These VVIPs in Dalai Lama's preaching sessions are all below the poverty line, on wrong side of 80 Dalai Lama in Tawang: The other mission of Tibetan spiritual leader in Arunachal ALSO WATCH --- ENDS --- We're talking about the pixel play above, which brings us the customer racing incarnation of the brand spanking new 812 Superfast The 812XX render we have here was delivered by Evren Milano and, alas, we don't expect this to become four-wheeled reality. That's because the program is currently spearheaded by the FXX K, which is the track confined incarnation of the LaFerrari.With that in mind, we have to add that a checquered flag-only 812 wouldn't be all that strange and we can look in the XX gene pool to tell you why - before the FXX K and the Enzo FXX, the program allowed the Prancing Horse clientele to fly around the track in the mental 599 XX.Oh, and let's not forget the 575M-based racecar. Wearing the 575 GTC moniker, this came around in 2003. However, unlike the XX animals, which only race among themselves, the GTCs battles machines coming from other brands and, unfortunately, they were less than successful.Speaking of racing inside Ferrari's golden cage, we'll remind you that, last year, Google VP Benjamin Treynor Sloss spilled the beans on a strategy shift.The aficionado, who enjoys the charms of the XX program with his SO (you might know her as becauseracewife), said that the Italian automaker no longer forces customers to offer it full custody of the vehicles.Returning to the rendering realm, we'll remind you that the FXX K has received its fair share of pixel play, which is how we ended up with the... pickup truck and shooting brake versions of the thing.And, given the effervescent development of the rendering world, we don't expect things to stop here. While the first badge would stand for the mid-cycle facelift of the M2 (that's Life Cycle Impulse in Bimmer talk), the latter, which hasn't been officially confirmed, should bring us a spicier incarnation of the compact M Division machine.It's worth noting that the German automaker still hasn't released the mid-cycle revamp for the standard 2 Series, with the LCI-touched 2er set to be released by the end of the year as a 2018 model.As such, it seems a bit early to expect the CS version to hide underneath the camo on the prototype spied here. Instead, a more reasonable pathway would see the M2 CS debuting next year.Regardless, the Clubsport version of the M2 should be animated by a downtuned incarnation of the S55 twin-turbo heart of the M3 and M4 , which is expected to deliver at least 400 hp.Other spicy additions will target the suspension, while the aerodynamics will also be touched by the CS treatment.Returning to the "normal" M2 LCI, we expect its N55 3.0-liter straight-six to be taken past its current output, which sits at 365 hp. And that's because the 2017 M240i, which packs a new B58 engine with 335 hp and matches the M2 unit's 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) maximum torque value, is dangerously close to the M car in terms of straight-line battles.Until we get to find out more about BMW's plans for the M2, you can enjoy the flying Nurburgring laps of the test car in the clip below. SUV Unlike other limitations imposed on Uber in various places across the world, this includes Black, Lux,, X, XL, Select, and Van, all from the same company. Furthermore, Uber is banned from promoting or advertising its services in the country, and all of its phone applications cannot be used by the firm or its contractors.According to the court, the American start-up turned giant was acting as an unfair competitor to the countrys major traditional taxi associations. The latter were the plaintiffs in this case, and you can understand that they felt that their livelihood was at stake.The same can be said about many taxi drivers across the world, but they have not joined up to file lawsuits as big as this one, Business Insider reports.The American business has pledged to appeal the decision, in the hope that some of its services , if not all, will be allowed once again to operate in Italy. According to reports, officials of the firm has stated that they were shocked by the decision.Several cities and countries have banned, suspended, or restricted some of Ubers services, but Italy is the first to forbid everything related to it.The Netherlands, Western Australia, the city of Brussels, and Germany have applied restrictions to Ubers services. South Korea, Spain, and a few cities in the USA have suspended the operations of the company.Thailand has a full suspension in effect on Uber services. A ban was implemented in several cities in India, the state of Nevada, Fukuoka (Japan), and the town of Eugene, in Oregon. While it is forbidden in Cape Town, Taiwan, and Queensland, among others, Uber is still operating in some places.The main idea is that traditional taxi companies are struggling to halt Uber to protect their businesses , while various states have legislation in effect that is not entirely prepared to handled this firms business model.Meanwhile, it applies promotions and low prices in some places, only to use surge rates when the service gets enough users on board, while its drivers do not have to pay the same fees as taxi drivers to operate, which brings the situation back to the unfair competition part. Available in the United States with a Buick badge, the Cascada features one too many buttons on the dash, too little zest under the hood, and the unmistakable styling of the former-generation Astra. Bearing in mind the newest Astra of the lot started production in 2015, I dont know how I feel about the Cascada. Opel can do much better, as proven by the 2017 Insignia Four years after the first example arrived at dealers, Opel thought to itself, Dyou know what the Cascada lacks? Ill tell you: an exaggeratedly named equipment package! And thus, we get down to business. Called Supreme for whatever reason and priced at 2,500 in Germany, the Supreme equipment package can be had in models from the Innovation trim level upwards.Available in Lava Red, Snow White, and Onyx Black, the defining feature is a blacked-out grille crossbeam. 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels are on the menu too. Inside, red seams and decor trips finished in piano lacquer are pretty much the only remotely special bits and bobs the Supreme has to offer.Now heres an excerpt from the release for the Supreme, the sort of quote that makes you think thoroughly if Opel needs to polish its marketing skills or if Cascada owners are elitists. Here goes: In contrast to many convertibles, Cascada passengers can comfortably chat or listen to Vivaldis Four Seasons even at higher speeds. What was wrong with, oh I dont know, AC/DC?The example is even more ridiculous considering Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi has even 'quieter' works. Heck, why not turn the stereo off? After all, thats what the Opel Cascada is good at: enjoying the clear blue sky. Case in point with the 2017 Porsche 911 R we have here, which showed up for grabs on Instagram. The rear-engined delight was listed yesterday, on a profile whose description reads "Car lover, Racer. My business is all about buying/selling hard to get cars,"The machine packs a clean spec, mixing its white main hue with black stripes, while its cabin uses the full bucket seats shared with the 918 Spyder and the 911 GT3 RS.It didn't take long before an Instagrammer delivered the obvious question: "How's the market for one of these with the 991.2 gt3 coming with a manual option as well?"The price for this Neunelfer? Well, the financial side of the deal isn't mentioned in the Insta-ad.While the speculation market has brought prices to infuriating levels (read: up to $1 million), you might be lucky enough to meet a seller who isn't determined to generate a black hole in your bank account.However, don't expect to pay anywhere near the $184,000 MSRP of the vehicle (for starters, decent options would take the factory price past the $200,000 level). In fact, last time we talked about a somewhat reasonable price for a 911 R, the Porscha was offered for $420,000.And the answer from the seller, which is just as obvious given how the Neunelfer realm works, came promptly: "market is still good for the R. Not the same buyer/user as the GT3,"And speaking of the 2018 GT3, which, by the way, also borrows the 911 R's underbody diffuser, we'll remind you that the six-speed manual incarnations of the thing won't enter production until September. So the clutch-loving part of the Porsche community is going to have a cruel summer President Trump took to Twitter Tuesday morning to make clear that the U.S. is drawing a hard line on the North Korea "problem," and will take action with or without help from the Chinese: A new Washington Post-ABC poll on President Trump's missile strike in Syria has an interesting partisan breakdown when compared to hypothetical support for strikes by President Obama in 2013: Democratic support: 38% support in 2013, 37% support in 2017 38% support in 2013, 37% support in 2017 Republican support: 22% support in 2013, 86% support in 2017 Why it matters: Overall, 51% of Americans support Trump's strike, but that majority is due to the massive swing in support among Republican voters. A better look at how the strike affected Trump's support: Gallup's daily approval ratings show POTUS gained a single point since Thursday. The White House is convinced that the Syrian government used sarin gas on its own citizens, according to senior administration officials. In a background briefing on Tuesday, they laid out their evidence, including why they think Russia is conducting a "disinformation" campaign. Why they are convinced it was the Syrians, and was sarin: The "immense" quantity of video and eyewitness evidence, as well as intelligence all pointing toward a chemical weapons (CW) attack is too massive and consistent to have been fabricated. Personnel affiliated with the CW program had previously been spotted at the base from which the attack was launched, and were there the day before the attack. Victims showed symptoms of sarin exposure, and the regime is the only actor in the area with access to sarin. Why they are convinced Russia is lying: "Level of cooperation" between Russia and Syria and holes in Russian narrative make it "clear that the Russians are trying to cover up what happened here." Russia says the deadly gas was released after a bomb hit a munitions depot, but the munition the US has seen containing sarin landed in the middle of the street. "We do think that it's a question worth asking the Russians, about how is it possible that their forces were co-located with the Syrian forces that prepared and carried out the chemical weapons attack and did not have foreknowledge." Why Syria would carry out such an attack: A rebel offensive in the area had threatened a key air base: "They were losing in a particularly important area and that's what drove it." "At that point the regime, we believe, determined that with its manpower spread quite thin... chemical weapons were necessary to make up for the manpower deficiency." They wanted to hit the civilian area to put pressure on rebels operating nearby. On the potential for further attacks: 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 By India Today Web Desk: Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh quashed break-up rumours when the two arrived together for Karan Johar's bash recently. The rumoured loverbirds, who have staying away from the prying eyes for a long time, did not shy away from walking in together at the bash. But Ranveer decided to give Mukesh and Nita Ambani's party to celebrate 10 years of Indian Premier League (IPL) team, Mumbai Indians. advertisement Despite Ranveer's absence, Deepika stole the limelight as she posed for the shutterbugs at the bash. Clad in black pants and white shirt, Deepika looked gorgeous. On the work front, she is currently busy shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama Padmavati. The film also stars Ranveer and Shahid Kapoor. (Photos: Milind Shelte, Yogen Shah) ALSO READ: Jhanvi Kapoor's rumoured boyfriend parties with Sachin Tendulkar's daughter Sara ALSO READ: Ranveer avoids Deepika, parties with Katrina at Shahid's birthday bash? ALSO WATCH: Madhuri and Deepika discuss marriage, acting, change in Bollywood --- ENDS --- Due to the shortage of ventilators, many critically ill patients had been put on ambu bags - a manual, handheld resuscitation device that has to be pressed continuously to move air into and out of lungs of a patient. By Priyanka Sharma: Even though the Delhi government has operationalised 125 new ventilators at most of its hospitals, lack of trained professionals to operate these have put the hospital authorities in a fix at a time when there is a huge demand from needy patients. Ventilators is a life-supporting medical equipment for critically ill patients by which they can breathe. advertisement Due to the shortage of ventilators, many critically ill patients had been put on ambu bags - a manual, handheld resuscitation device that has to be pressed continuously to move air into and out of lungs of a patient who cannot breathe on his or her own. This medical facility costs huge chunk of money at a private set-up. But now, when there are ventilators, patients are kept away from it due to lack of trained experts to use it. Requesting anonymity, a senior doctor at Lok Nayak Hospital told Mail Today, "Earlier, we were lacking with ventilators at our hospital, but now when we have this medical equipment available here, hospital authorities are short of trained professionals to use it." As many as 35 ventilators have been added to the total number of 45 in LNJP Hospital. Health experts said every ventilator needs two trained technician. "We are struggling with the same manpower with the increased number of 80 ventilators," he said. When contacted, Dr JC Passey, medical director of LNJP Hospital, said: "We have written to the government for more manpower to operationalise ventilators which has been increased till 80 now. There are about 10-12 per cent of vacant post for the technicians as of now. Meanwhile, I have directed the anesthesia department to cooperate with us." The situation is same in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. "Our hospitals have about 40 ventilators in total, but the number of technicians is just half of it," a senior hospital staff informed Mail Today. Last month, 125 ventilators were distributed among GB Pant, DDU, LNJP, Ambedkar and other hospitals. Also Read: Hospital says Vinod Khanna is stable, after viral photo sparks cancer rumours Medical apathy at Delhi's GTB hospital: Two dozen diabetics get wrong jab --- ENDS --- Chinese Christians forced to set up surveillance cameras in their churches Authorities in China's coastal Zhejiang province carried out violent attacks against churches refusing to install surveillance cameras in late March, according to persecution watchdog China Aid. The Zhejiang provincial government had instructed local authorities to install security cameras in churches with the aim of helping them monitor religious activities. According to China Aid, churches were told that if they refused to set up the surveillance system voluntarily, they would be forced to do so. Several churches in the city of Wenzhou protested the measure and sent a petition to the local government. However, says China Aid, despite church members' insistence that these actions have no legal precedent, authorities in the Tengqiao region of Wenzhou have been forcibly executing their threats. At 8am on March 30, officials invaded Anshan Church in Wenzhou and beat back the protesters, causing an elderly Christian woman to be admitted to the hospital from her injuries. Authorities also rammed bulldozers and an ambulance into the church's fence, demolishing it. On the same day, security guards hired by the government raided many other churches, including Chengan Church. Construction workers commissioned by officials also drove a bulldozer into Zhuxia Church's fence because the members refused to install the cameras. Meanwhile, members of Jinma Church were beaten and hospitalised for refusing to cooperate with the order, says China Aid. According to local Christians, authorities installed cameras in every church within the Tengqiao area, and older members of these churches were hospitalised after resisting. Christ with a barbed wire crown: St Paul's Cathedral installs Wallinger statue to highlight plight of prisoners A life-size stone figure looking out from the steps of London's St Paul's Cathedral is designed to highlight the plight of people suffering for their religious and political beliefs. Ecce Homo, by renowned sculptor Mark Wallinger, has been installed in collaboration with the cathedral and Amnesty International and will remain there for six weeks. The life-size sculpture shows the figure of Jesus Christ, hands bound behind his back and wearing a crown of barbed wire, as he awaits judgment moments before he was sentenced to death. Famously the first sculpture to appear on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in 1999, Ecce Homo presents Christ as a lone man standing before a hostile crowd, being judged for his beliefs. Wallinger, who won the Turner Prize in 2007, said: 'This vulnerable figure stands at the top of the steps outside the entrance to St Paul's Cathedral as we approach Easter to highlight the plight of people around the world who are imprisoned and whose lives are threatened for speaking the truth, for what they believe. 'It is an enormous privilege to work with St Paul's and Amnesty International to shine a light on human rights abuses.' Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, said: 'The phrase "Ecce Homo" means "Behold the man", and as we behold the sculpture of Jesus of Nazareth, so we also urgently bring to mind people in our own day who are imprisoned and under sentence of execution for their belief and conscience. 'Amnesty has a long history of opening the world's eyes and hearts to those whose human dignity is being abused in this way. We are delighted to join with them in enabling Mark's remarkable work to be placed at St Paul's both for quiet reflection and as a call for justice.' United States President Donald Trump said that he tried to persuade China's president to put pressure on North Korea against a good trade deal with US. By AP: President Donald Trump today said that he tried to convince China's leader last week to put pressure on North Korea to stop its nuclear program in exchange of a good trade deal with the US. Trump tweeted Tuesday, "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the US will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" advertisement In a second tweet he wrote, "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! USA" Donald Trump's tweet. The president made clear his hope that China will pressure its neighbour and close ally to stop its nuclear program. He has also repeatedly hammered China for exporting more goods to the US than it imports. The US last week sent a naval strike group to the region in a show of force against Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme. China is North Korea's sole major ally and economic lifeline. The tweet indicated that the meeting might not have been as successful as is being claimed by senior White House officials. Also read: Donald Trump, Theresa May agree Russia should break ties with Syrian President Assad At US-China summit, Trump presses Xi on trade, N Korea; progress cited WATCH | Donald Trump signs revised immigration order, leaves out Iraq from list --- ENDS --- Despite bombings, Pope Francis to go ahead with Egypt trip and show solidarity with besieged Coptic Christians The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will go ahead with a trip to Egypt later this month, despite the twin bombings of Coptic churches on Palm Sunday and a subsequent state of emergency being declared in the country. The attacks are expected to give fresh impetus to the visit, which is partly aimed at showing solidarity with the country's beleaguered Christian minority. Pope Francis is visiting Cairo on April 28 and 29 at the invitation of the Coptic Pope, Tawadros II, and the grand imam of the mosque of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb, as well as Catholic bishops and the Egyptian government. Catholics make up less than 0.5 per cent of Egypt's population of 95 million. About one in 10 are Christian and they are overwhelmingly Coptic Orthodox. The country's three-month state of emergency began yesterday at 1pm following the attacks in Alexandria and Tanta, which killed at least 47 people and injured more than 100 at the weekend. The bombings were the latest in a string of attacks on Coptic Christians in recent years. Egypt is now undergoing the first state of emergency since president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi seized power in 2013, in a move which will increase the powers of Egyptian security forces. Islamic State claimed that two Egyptian suicide bombers were responsible for the blasts and threatened further attacks. Sisi warned that the war against Islamic extremists would be 'long and painful'. Egyptian Christian leaders have been warning of inadequate protection in the face of attacks. Bishop Anba Angaelos, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK, warned before Sunday's bombings: 'At the highest level, a lot of attention and care is given to this issue. But the problem is at the local security level.' He told the Guardian: 'Reports [of attacks] are not taken seriously or investigated robustly. There are a lack of prosecutions and people not being held to account. That almost reinforces a sense of impunity.' Under Egypt's new state of emergency, the government has been granted expanded powers including the ability to raid homes without a warrant, curtail political opposition, convene emergency courts, curb press freedoms and monitor private communications. Meanwhile, monitoring groups have redoubled their efforts to track government violations of human rights and civil liberties. They are concerned that a lack of clarity around the wording of the law would allow the government to target critics and political opponents rather than the perpetrators of the attack. 'We see dozens of reports of enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings occurring in Egypt, even without the emergency law,' said Ahmed Abdallah, the head of the board of trustees of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, which monitors forced disappearances in Egypt. 'If this law is intended to harass us or frighten us we are not afraid.' Gen Yehia Kidwany, the deputy head of Egypt's parliamentary defence and national security committee, said the state of emergency 'aims at disabling any legal excuses that would let a suspect escape security'. He added: 'Ordinary peaceful citizens won't feel any difference unless a state of curfew is declared, which is a decision more easily taken under a state of emergency.' The Pope's visit is 'very significant' for both Catholic and Orthodox communities, said Bishop Angaelos. 'It's a wonderful chance for Francis to practically show support for Christians in Egypt and in the Middle East.' The bishop has said that lists of churches and individuals have been released as 'desirable targets' by terrorist groups. 'Innocent men, women and children have had their lives brutally and tragically ended for no other reason except that they are Christian.' Last December, 29 people were killed in a bombing at St Peter's church, near the main Coptic Christian cathedral in Cairo. In February, 40 Christian families fled Al Arish in northern Sinai after the murder of seven people. According to Jantzen Garnett, an expert on Isis with the Navanti Group analytics company, it was not until December 2016 that the Islamic State began a systematic campaign to target Coptic Christians in Egypt. He told Agence France-Presse: 'As the Islamic State is squeezed in Iraq and Syria it often conducts spectacular attacks elsewhere in an attempt to regain the narrative, boost morale and win recruits.' Security is expected to be tight for the Papal visit, which includes a speech to an international peace conference and a celebration of Mass with the small Catholic community in Cairo. Angaelos said: 'The world we live in now means there is always a risk. Someone of the profile of Pope Francis both the head of a church and a head of state means there will be security protocols in place to protect and safeguard him.' Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee could be in place this week Donald Trump's nomination for the Supreme Court could be in place by the end of this week if he survives a tough grilling by the Senate. Democrats are expected to question the conservative candidate on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, transgender bathrooms and Trump's controversial travel ban. Although Gorsuch is well respected and will have the support of all 52 Republican senators, he needs to win support from eight Democrats to be appointed. Bad blood hangs over the process after Republicans blocked Barack Obama's nominee, leaving one place empty on the nine seat panel. If successful Gorsuch would fill the vacancy left by renowned conservative Justice Antonin Scalia's death last year. A Colorado appeals court judge, Gorsuch would tilt the influential court's lean back to a conservative 5-4 bias. The 49-year-old has shown a strong conservative track record with a particular dispensations towards religious liberty rights. In two landmark cases, Hobby Lobby Stores v. Sebelius and Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged v. Burwell, Gorsuch ruled that the employers and organisations were allowed exemptions from Obama's Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate on the grounds it violated their religious beliefs. But Democrats also accuse him of ruling in favour of business interests. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said last week: 'Judge Gorsuch may act like a neutral, calm judge but his record and his career clearly show he harbours a right-wing, pro-corporate special interest legal agenda.' It is unclear whether Democrats will actually block his appointment with their options limited and Republicans threatening to change the rules to allow Gorsuch a safer passage. But his nomination has drawn widespread praise from conservative Christians. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, hailed Gorsuch as an 'exceptional choic'. In a statement he said: 'I heartily support President Trump's excellent appointment. I look forward to Judge Gorsuch's voice on the Court for decades to come and pray that he will be an articulate and stalwart advocate for religious liberty and human dignity at all its stages.' Christian author and Kairos Company CEO Johnnie Moore went further and praised Trump for not only fulfilling 'his most important promise to the evangelical community in this selection, he has gone over and above by repeatedly doubling down on those issues most important to the community during his first 10 days as president.' Moore added: 'His endorsement of, and the administration's participation in the March for Life, coupled with his prompt attention to the Mexico City ruling were precursors to tonight's very good news. 'Should this nominee be confirmed, Scalia's legacy will live on for at least another generation. Evangelicals are ecstatic.' Egyptians honour the Muslim woman police officer who died saving Christians Egyptians have been paying their respects to a female police officer who was killed when she stopped an Islamic extremist suicide bomber from entering a Coptic church in Alexandria on Sunday. At least 44 people died in two bombings targeting Egypt's Christian minority on Palm Sunday, the first at St George's Church in Tanta, followed by the explosion during Mass at Alexandria's Saint Mark's Cathedral. Nagwa Abdel-Aleem, 55, was guarding the entrance to the church when the suicide bomber attempted to pass her. The attacker then detonated the bomb at the main gate. It is believed that the attacker's primary target was Pope Tawadros II, who had left the site a few minutes earlier. Ms Abdel-Aleem is the first woman to die in the line of duty in Egypt's police force. Egyptian media reported that one of her two sons, also a police officer, also died in the attack. Egypt's Christian minority around 10 per cent of the 90 million strong population is the frequent target of Islamist groups around the country. The government has declared a state of emergency in the country for the next three months, which is will increase its powers. Pope Francis is visiting Cairo later this month. Wahby Lamie, one of whose nephews was killed and another injured in the Tanta blast, said to Reuters: 'How much longer are we going to be this divided? Anyone who's different from [the Islamist extremists] now is an infidel, whether they're Muslim or Christian. They see them as infidels. 'How much longer are these people going to exist? And how much longer will security be this incompetent?' Following the attacks on Sunday, ISIS claimed responsibility, saying that two of its fighters wearing suicide vests carried out the bombings, and warned of more to come. 'Crusaders and their apostate allies should know the bill between us and them is very big and they will pay it with rivers of blood from their children, God willing. Wait for us, for we will wait for you,' the group said in a statement. The organisation has previously released a video vowing it would 'cleanse' Egypt of Christians. Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 7 rumors: New photos from Vietnam show smaller battery pack The refurbished version of the ill-fated Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been spotted in Vietnam. The South Korean electronics and mobile manufacturing giant recently confirmed its plans to refurbish the Galaxy Note 7 device after it was pulled out of the market during the third quarter of 2016 due to the defect in the device's batteries that caused a number of them to explode. The confirmation came after Samsung discussed its plans to properly recycle the returned Galaxy Note 7 units. "Regarding the Galaxy Note 7 devices as refurbished phones or rental phones, applicability is dependent upon consultations with regulatory authorities and carriers as well as due consideration of local demand. The markets and release dates will be determined accordingly," the tech giant states. After the confirmation, photos of the rumored refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 7 taken from Vietnam began to circulate online. The photos, which reportedly came from the Vietnamese website Samsungvn, show a Galaxy Note 7 model with a smaller battery pack. Based on the photos, the refurbished product line will now be called the Samsung Galaxy Note 7R, and it will come with a 3,200 mAh battery pack unlike the earlier released units that features 3,500mAh batteries. This could be the company's way of fixing the problem that caused several units to end up in flames. Aside from the changes in the device's battery pack, there are no details yet if the prominent features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will still return, including its 5.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass 5, the Snapdragon 820 or Exynos 8890 chipset, 4 GB of RAM with 64 GB of internal storage, the iris scanner and fingerprint scanner, and Android 6.0 operating system. However, reports reveal that Samsung will not offer the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 in the US, Canada, or India. There are also no reports yet regarding the pricing details of the rumored product at the moment. Roe Vs Wade Landmark Abortion Ruling Plaintiff Dies Aged 69 Norma McCorvey, the anonymous plaintiff known as "Jane Roe" in the US Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade ruling legalising abortion, died on Saturday at the age of 69. McCorvey died on Saturday morning of heart failure at an assisted living home in Katy, Texas, Joshua Prager, a journalist who is writing a book about the ruling, said in an email. Her lawsuit, filed under the pseudonym, resulted in the court's 1973 decision that established a woman's right to an abortion. McCorvey lent her real name to supporters of the abortion-rights movement in the 1980s. But she later did an about-face and later spoke out on behalf of anti-abortion campaigners. In an article titled "The Accidental Activist" published in Vanity Fair magazine in February 2013, Prager wrote that McCorvey had never set out to further a cause when the Roe v Wade lawsuit was filed in Dallas, Texas, in 1970. Unwed and poor, she simply wanted an abortion after becoming pregnant for the third time and could not get one in the state. Prager, who retraced her life through family, friends and advisers, said McCorvey told her doctor she did not want to bring the pregnancy to term. But she could not afford to travel to any of the six states where abortion was legal at the time: Alaska, California, Hawaii, New York, Oregon, and Washington. McCorvey never actually had the procedure, Prager said. Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred, who represented McCorvey when she supported abortion rights, said she was very proud to have been 'Jane Roe.' 'Even though at the end of her life Norma thought women should be prevented from having an abortion and that abortion should be criminalized, her legacy will be Roe v. Wade, which has provided millions of women the legal right to choose abortion,' Allred said in a statement. The 1973 Supreme Court ruling has for decades been the focus of a divisive political, legal and moral debate. It established that the US Constitution protects the right of a woman to have an abortion until the point of viability. The court defined that point as when the fetus 'has the capability of meaningful life outside the mother's womb,' generally at about 24 weeks into pregnancy. The court also recognized a right to abortion after viability if necessary to protect the woman's life or health. Efforts to overturn the decision are heating up with the election of Republican Donald Trump as president and a conservative US Congress. Trump has said abortion should be largely banned and has pledged to defund Planned Parenthood, a healthcare provider that draws the ire of many Republicans because it provides abortions, in addition to other services. If the Supreme Court were to overrule Roe v. Wade, the procedure would remain legal only where state laws allow it. Saeed Abedini launches bitter attack on Franklin Graham, says evangelist 'used him' for fame and fortune Pastor Saeed Abedini, who was released from an Iranian prison last year, has hit out at the 'life-style'and alleged hypocrisy of Franklin Graham, the evangelist who has supported Abedini in the past. Abedini, who was arrested in Iran in 2012 and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for preaching the gospel, was released along with three other Americans last January in exchange for seven Iranians. Now he has written on Facebook that he was 'used' by the likes of Graham, the president of the charity Samaritan's Purse, saying that 'persecuted' Christians such as himself have 'always have been used with famous and rich pastors and preachers who used us for fundraising and recently because of special media attention on me some of them tried to show themselves as saviors of the persecuted churches and me which it wasn't true and right but their own benefit'. He added: 'One of theses pastors is Franklin Graham, who has about 1000,000 $ salary and so many planes and private jets and every time he flies his gas price is just 10,000$ means tides of 300 teachers with 3000$ salaries and he flies a lot with his jets. He tries to show he is helping persecuted a lot and he has some speech about them but this kind of life style shows he doesn't have any idea of life of persecuted churches. 'This kind of people ask others to come to repentance nationally but first themselves needs to start the real repentance which starts with changing their life-style.' The pastor, who is based in Boise, Idaho, continued: 'A week after I got released and Franklin Graham welcomed me home (because of the huge international media attention on me he badly wanted to be involve) he knew I don't have any place to go but he left me alone in Boise until I was forced to call him to ask money to rent a place. 'When all cameras and social media attention were gone in my life, all the famous pastors and lawyers were gone too, and just a week after my freedom, I saw myself so alone with my family while still news were talking about me.' Abedini claimed that Graham refused to help him find a job to pay the bills or to meet Donald Trump. He added that the subject of the 'persecuted Church' is 'always hot' in the media and makes 'people's heart melt to give financially' but ultimately only benefits 'famous rich pastors' such as Graham. He concluded: 'I believe our country is ready for revival but church leaders and pastors are the first group should start repenting and at this time they are stoping the true and biblical revival. Revelation 2:5...Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its placeunless you repent.' Abedini is a former Muslim who grew up in Iran and converted to Christianity in 2000, moved to Idaho in 2005 and became a dual US-Iranian citizen in 2010. While in Iran, he organised underground 'house churches' where groups of Christians worshipped together. In 2009, while on a family visit to Iran, Abedini was detained at the airport and he agreed to cease all house church activities. He travelled back and forth to Iran to build an orphanage over the next few years. But he was again detained in July 2012 on charges of evangelising and sentenced to eight years in prison. Abedini, who said he was imprisoned for 'being a Christian and refusing to renounce my faith in Jesus Christ', suffered internal injuries from beatings he endured and was denied medical care during his imprisonment in Iran. In February, Abedini pleaded guilty to violating a restraining order taken out by his estranged wife, Nagmeh, who had campaigned for his release from prison. Graham has been criticised for his annual compensation of $880,000 for his work with Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Samaritan's Purse has its own planes to carry out mission work. Graham, who is 64, has said that he wants to make enough money to be able to work for free when he turns 70. Strip Buckfast Abbey of charity status over alcoholic drink 'linked to crime', demand secularists Monks at Buckfast Abbey in Devon have been targeted by secularists calling for the Abbey to be stripped of its charitable status because the monks make an alcoholic drink that has been linked to violent crime in Scotland. Buckfast Tonic Wine, known commonly as 'Buckie' in Scotland, contains caffeine as well as 15 per cent alcohol and has been subject to growing controversy over its apparent links to criminal incidents. Now the National Secular Society (NSS) has hit out at the Buckfast Abbey Trust for not paying tax on its income because of its charitable status, which the society claims is an 'abuse of the charitable system'. The NSS has called on the Charity Commission to remove the Abbey trust's charitable status 'unless they change their activities'. Its vice president Alistair McBay said: 'The monks should be setting an example as a religious organisation but the opposite is happening'. The Abbey has made about 88m since 2004 from royalties made on each bottle of Buckfast sold, according to the Charity Commission. The trust justifies its existence as a charity in its annual report, stating that its aim is the 'advancement of the Roman Catholic religion'. Last year, a Scottish sheriff said that there was a 'very definite association between Buckfast and violence'. In 2007, the Scottish Prison Service found that 43.4 per cent of inmates had consumed Buckfast before their last offence, despite it accounting for less than one per cent of total alcohol sales nationally. The Charity Commission said it took 'all complaints about registered charities seriously' and would 'assess the information about the Buckfast Abbey Trust to determine if there is a regulatory role for the Commission'. Buckfast Abbey this morning did not return calls from Christian Today. In its letter to the Charity Commission, the NSS described the Abbey as 'an organisation set up to advance religion operates as a religious community whose small number of members and the trustees derive significant personal benefit from the lavish property they reside in, financed by their trading activities, which are extensively interwoven with the operation of a commercial company'. It concluded: 'To be granted charitable status is a secular reward; where a grateful public grants favourable tax treatment to an organisation due to the good works carried out for the benefit of all. Where harm outweighs the good or where the good is simply not good enough, public confidence in supporting charities risks being undermined. We therefore request that the Commission investigates the appropriateness of Buckfast Abbey Trust maintaining its charitable status.' What might Neil Gorsuch's appointment as Supreme Court Justice mean for conservative Christians? Donald Trump yesterday appeared to be in his element during a White House ceremony for the swearing in of his Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch, the conservative judge whose pivotal appointment has been welcomed by traditionalist Christians. The Republican-led Senate voted to confirm the Colorado-based federal appeals court judge to the life-long job on Friday despite Democratic opposition, enabling Trump to say he had fulfilled a crucial campaign promise. The appointment means that the court now has five conservative justices and four liberals, a majority that could bear heavily on issues including abortion, gun control, the death penalty and religious rights. 'Together we are in a process of reviewing and renewing and also rebuilding our country,' Trump told an audience that included conservative activists as well as officials. 'A new optimism is sweeping across our land and a new faith in America is filling our hearts and lifting our sights.' Conservative Christians were quick to welcome the appointment of Gorsuch, who was raised a Catholic but now worships with his wife and two daughters at St John's Episcopal Church in Boulder, Colorado. The church is seen as relatively liberal, representing what some commentators have said is Gorsuch's own 'complicated' relationship with the faith. Nonetheless, Ashley McGuire, senior fellow with The Catholic Association, said: 'As Catholics, we welcome the confirmation of a judge whose record adheres to the Constitutional right to free exercise of religion without government bullying and whose scholarship affirms the inherent dignity in all people.' Gorsuch fills a vacancy left on the bench by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016. The former president Barack Obama had nominated Merrick Garland, chief judge of the DC circuit court, to fill Scalia's seat, but the Republican-led Senate refused to vote on his confirmation. Though Trump refused to answer directly whether he supported the repeal of the 1973 ruling Roe v Wade which effectively legalised abortion, he had promised on the campaign trail to nominate a pro-life judge. Trump said in the final presidential debate in October: '[If] that [repeal] would happen, because I am pro-life and I will be appointing pro-life justices...it [the legality of abortion] will go back to the individual states.' Pro-life campaigners leaders praised the confirmationof Gorsuch's appointment. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B Anthony List, said that 'the swift fulfilment of President Trump's commitment to appoint pro-life Supreme Court justices is a tremendous win for the pro-life movement'. Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, added: 'November exit polls showed that one in five Americans prioritized the Supreme Court nomination when casting their vote, and with a majority of 57 per cent of those voters casting a vote for Donald Trump, it is clear that the majority of American voters wanted a strict constructionist.' Religious liberty campaigners also said that Gorsich would redress the 'erosion' of religious freedom. 'A Supreme Court justice, like Judge Gorsuch, who understands and values our founding documents, and hews closely to their meaning will help ensure that all Americans can continue to prosper and that we, as Catholics, remain free in exercising our religious principles,' said Dr Grazie Pozo Christie, policy adviser with The Catholic Association. The evangelist Franklin Graham in February described Gorsuch as 'an excellent choice' for the Supreme Court. 'He said he was going to appoint a conservative, and that's exactly what he has done in selecting Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court,' Graham wrote on his Facebook page. 'From all that I have read and from his track record, Judge Gorsuch is an excellent choice whose decisions will be guided by the original intentions of the US Constitution and who will not try to legislate from the bench.' Conservative campaigners hope that Gorsuch will make an immediate impact. He will hear his first religious liberty case on April 19 with oral arguments in Trinity Lutheran Church v Pauley. The case involves a church's eligibility for a state reimbursement programme as it seeks to make safety upgrades to its playground which is used by members and non-members of the church. Opponents say that according to a Missouri state law, churches cannot benefit from taxpayer funds in such cases because doing so would be an unconstitutional establishment of religion. But Trinity Lutheran Church and its lawyers are arguing that the Constitution does not require religious entities to be penalised on the grounds that they are religious. They say that the playground is for the entire community, not just members of the church. Gorsuch himself said yesterday: 'To the American people, I am humbled by the trust placed in me today. I will never forget that to whom much is given, much will be expected. And I promise you that I will do all my powers permit to be a faithful servant of the Constitution and laws of this great nation.' And Trump said of Gorsuch: 'He will decide cases not based on his personal preferences but based on a fair and objective reading of the law'. What that means in practice remains to be seen, but conservative Christians this week have reasons to rejoice. After serving as a cheerleader for disgraced district attorney Mike Nifong during the Duke lacrosse case, the New York Times even more aggressively championed Barack Obamas crusade to erode due process for college students accused of sexual assault. It was probably naive, therefore, to expect a fair review from the Times when Stuart Taylor and I published our book on the topic, The Campus Rape Frenzy. The review, written by Times contributing opinion editor Jill Filipovic, confirms the papers inability to address the issue fairly. In a few hundred words, Filipovic made at least three factual errors in describing the book, and she misleads the reader regarding several crucial points. Our book sourced tens of thousands of pages of legal filings, documents from campus disciplinary policies, and previously secret training materials given to investigative panelists in campus sexual-assault cases, in order to describe a system in which students accused of sexual assault are effectively presumed guilty and then denied the tools necessary to prove their innocence. Filipovic nonetheless faults a book based on this extensive material for failing to adhere to a standard of telling both sides of the story. The authors, she notes, choose a handful of egregious examples to make the case that campus sexual assault isnt all that common and that the bigger problem is innocent young men railroaded by promiscuous women who get drunk and regret their choices, or flat-out lie at the behest of conniving campus feminists. The four-dozen cases we explored constitute more than a handful. While Filipovic characterizes them as egregiousan accurate descriptionher implication that they were atypical of the usual campus disciplinary process, and improperly chosen in order to support a tendentious argument, is false. In the event, what does it say about our current campus justice system that accused students can be found guilty, even where they assemble clear evidence of their innocence? Because college investigations typically are so shoddy, and the standards of evidence and recordkeeping so low, we do not impute motives to the accusers in most of the dubious or even wrongful campus claims that we analyze. As a result, The Campus Rape Frenzy uses the word lie (or a derivative thereof) to describe only one accuserthe infamous Jackie, from the University of Virginia, protagonist of the retracted Rolling Stone article; her confabulations have been extensively detailed in many publications. That Filipovic nonetheless came away with the sense that we consider these accusers to be flat-out liars speaks more to her implicit biases than anything else. The word lie does appear in our book in other contexts. We quote a text message sent by an accuser from Amherst College, who confessed dismay that the male student (her roommates boyfriend) she would eventually accuse was too drunk to make a good lie out of shit to cover up their embarrassing encounter. And we note that Mike Nifong was convicted for having lied to a judge in the lacrosse case. After attacking the book for using questionable statistics and quotes massaged beyond their original meaning (none of which she identified), Filipovic complained about descriptions of the sexual histories and relative state of drunkennessoften according to bartenders or other observers not conducting breathalyzer testsof the various female accusers, as well as the flirtatious nature with which those women either talked to or texted the men they later charged with sexual assault; the men are given no such treatment. Contrary to this claim, the book never discussed the relative state of drunkenness . . . according to bartenders. In fact, we explicitly criticized universities for not seeking out bartenders, who might have provided neutral testimony in three deeply troubling casesat Vassar, Ohio State, and Duke. (These are the only instances in which we referenced possible testimony from bartenders.) Indeed, colleges far too often use the accusers non-corroborated recollections (months or even years after the fact) of her drunkenness, and thus inability to consent, as sufficient evidence for a finding of guilt against students accused of sexual assault. It would be salutary if colleges demanded breathalyzer tests in campus disciplinary casesthough it seems likely the Times would strongly oppose such a move. The book uses the word flirtatious to describe text messages sent by three accusersan accuser at Amherst, telling a potential hookup that he had a military trained bod; an accuser at St. Joes, telling a potential hookup to come cuddle with me and sleep over!!!!; and an accuser at CaliforniaSan Diego, telling a potential hookup that as long as I dont get in trouble you can do what you want haha. Could anyone contend that flirtatious inaccurately describes any of these texts? (The Times review chose to quote none of them.) Despite Filipovics odd claim that the sexual histories and relative state of drunkenness of the men are given no such treatment, the book provides pages and pages of such discussion; it cites either college disciplinary findings or legal filings to describe the sexual histories and relative state of drunkenness of no fewer than 25 male students accused through college disciplinary tribunalsat Amherst, Auburn, Brandeis, Brown (three cases), Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Findlay, Georgia Tech, Harvard Law School, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Middlebury, Montana, Occidental, Ohio State, Swarthmore, Temple, Tennessee-Chattanooga, UCSD, Vassar, Xavier, and Yale (two cases). Did Filipovic read our book? Extracting an imaginary moral from the book, Filipovic muses: Being falsely accused of rape, it seems, is just as common, and just as terrible, as being actually raped. But the book makes no assertion about the commonness of being falsely accused of rape, though the best recent study on the general issue, by UCLA professor John Villasenor, revealed that as many as one in three students found guilty in college sexual assault tribunals is actually innocent. Whether being falsely accused of a heinous crime that could lead to a decades-long prison sentence is just as terrible as being the victim of this heinous crime is a value judgment. I have never taken a position on the matter, but Filipovics apparent belief that it is unacceptable to compare the horror of these two situations reveals more of her biases. Filipovic contends that for Taylor and me, the only way . . . for men to truly defend themselves from women who have been propagandized and lobbied to believe that they should make claims against you whenever they end up unhappy about sexual contact, even if it was clearly consensual, is to be celibate or to videotape all sexual encounters. In fact, we say no such thing. The framing of this quote from the book is: One of us (Stuart Taylor) would also tell a son (if he had one) . . . [emphasis added]. That Filipovic imputes to me views the book explicitly lists as only Taylors suggests (at a bare minimum) an unacceptable degree of intellectual sloppiness. But Filipovic also avoids the actual argument of the passage: that given the arbitrary nature of the campus judicial system, male students can absolutely defend themselves only through such absurd means as videotaping, or by refusing to engage in romantic activity. More broadly, she never challenges the books basic argument: that in the current environment, students accused of sexual assault face disciplinary systems that are fundamentally unfair, for both ideological and procedural reasons. It seems as if, in the end, even the New York Times could not find a reviewer to deny this obvious reality. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images The Fundraising Regulator has urged the Information Commissioners Office to make an urgent amendment to the wording of its consent guidance in relation to the Fundraising Preference Service. As part of its consultation submission to the ICO in regards to the data watchdogs guidance on consent in relation to GDPR, the Fundraising Regulator said that the ICO should update its guidance to more accurately reflect how the Fundraising Preference Service will work in practice. The response written by Stephen Dunmore, chief executive of the Fundraising Regulator and published on the organisation's website on 4 April, said: Regarding our forthcoming Fundraising Preference Service, the guidance states that: 'The Fundraising Regulator has set up the Fundraising Preference Service (FPS). The FPS operates as a sector-wide withdrawal of consent to charity fundraising. If an individual wishes to stop receiving marketing from charities, they can use the FPS to withdraw consent from all charities at once. Dunmore said this was not how the FPS would operate, and claimed it was not the first time he'd informed the ICO of this. As previously discussed with Richard [Marbrow, group manager, corporate governance at the ICO] this paragraph requires urgent amendment on the following basis: The new service will not allow individuals to use the FPS to withdraw consent from all charities at once. It will allow individuals to withdraw consent from specific charities that they name. The guidance should be updated to reflect this. The ICO have yet to confirm whether they will amend their guidance in relation to the Fundraising Regulators request. The Fundraising Regulator and the ICO agreed a memorandum of understanding on 24 October 2016. Regulator calls for clarity around notion of opt-out consent The Fundraising Regulator also noted that the GDPR consent guidance from the ICO said there is no such thing as opt-out consent, a phrase it thought might be confusing given pre-GDPR guidance issued by the ICO last year. Dunmore said that the ICOs pre-GDPR Direct Marketing guidance, published in May 2016, could be misinterpreted by fundraisers moving forward as it discussed positive action and explicitly provided some limited examples of where opt-out consent could potentially be legitimate under pre-GDPR regulations. In Fundraising Magazine As a result, the regulator said that the ICO should consider adding a line in its guidance pointing fundraisers to this change in language. "While we appreciate and support the need for stronger wording in the new guidance under the stricter GDPR, we would advocate that a statement is provided acknowledging a change in language used and contextualising this, to avoid the risk of being seen to contradict previous guidance. This could be as simple as adding that there is no such thing as opt-out consent under GDPR. The regulator also said that the ICO should change its wording about which organisations can process data under legitimate interests, given that some charities may be able to do so, as they can meet the conditions. At the moment, the guidance says that only "private sector organisations" can process under legitimate interests. Civil Society Media is hosting two breakfast seminars discussing the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ahead of its introduction in May 2018. Booking is now open on both events: click here to book for May and click here to book for June. The White House said in a statement that May and Merkel expressed support for the U.S. action in Syria and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding President Assad accountable. By Reuters: British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke on Monday to U.S. President Donald Trump and agreed that "a window of opportunity" exists to persuade Russia to break ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, May's office said. A spokeswoman for the prime minister said Trump had thanked May for her support following last week's U.S. military action in Syria against the Assad regime. advertisement The White House later on Monday said Trump had spoken with May and separately with German Chancellor Angela Merkel by telephone about the U.S. attack and thanked them for their support. It said in a statement that May and Merkel expressed support for the U.S. action and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable. In a shift in Washington's strategy, U.S. missiles hit a Syrian air base last week in retaliation for what the United States and its allies say was a poison gas attack by Syria's military in which scores of civilians died. The Syrian government has denied it was behind the assault. Trump had previously appeared disinclined to intervene against the Syrian leader and the attack raised expectations that he might now be ready to adopt a tougher-than-expected stance with Russia, Assad's main backer. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to travel to Moscow this week and the spokeswoman for May said the two leaders had agreed during their conversation that the visit was an opportunity to make progress towards a solution. "The prime minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest," the spokeswoman said. "They agreed that U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement." The spokeswoman said the two leaders had also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses. Also Read: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's allies say US attack on Syria air base crosses 'red lines' Syria: Who is fighting who as United States rains missiles at Assad's airbase Also Watch: US launched over 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria airbase in retaliation to chemical gas attack --- ENDS --- Charities, and private companies, with over 250 employees, must publish details of the difference between how much men and women earn on their websites by April 2018. NCVO estimates that for charities with an income over 500,000 there are 672 which have more than 250 employees. Nearly 300 of these are housing associations, independent schools or universities and the rest are classed as general charities. Regulations on gender pay reporting for the private and voluntary sectors came into force last week and organisations have one year to comply. According to the government 9,000 employers and covers 15 million employees. Across all sectors the gender pay gap is 18.1 per cent. The gender pay gap is a measure of the difference between average earning for men and women. Since the Equal Pay Act it has been illegal to pay men and women different salaries for the same job. However womens groups have argued that the gap in average earnings persists because women are typically expected to take on more caring responsibilities preventing them from taking on the most senior roles. What employers must publish By next April employers will need to publish six key figures. average gender pay gap as a mean average average gender pay gap as a median average average bonus gender pay gap as a mean average average bonus gender pay gap as a median average proportion of males receiving a bonus payment and proportion of females receiving a bonus payment proportion of males and females when divided into four groups ordered from lowest to highest pay They can also publish a narrative to explain what they are doing. Justine Greening, minister for women and equalities, said: We have more women in work, more women-led businesses than ever before and the highest proportion of women on the boards of our biggest companies. This has helped us to narrow the gender pay gap to a record 18.1 per cent but we want to eliminate it completely. Helping women to reach their full potential isnt only the right thing to do, it makes good economic sense and is good for British business. I am proud that the UK is championing gender equality and now those employers that are leading the way will clearly stand out with these requirements. Acas has published is guidance and resources for complying with the requirement. Charities: Pay reporting alone is not enough NCVO has said that it intends to voluntarily comply with reporting, even though it has fewer than the 250 employees, but said that publishing a figure should be accompanied by other measures to tackle inequality. Susan Cordingley, director of planning and resources at NCVO, said: This is a welcome piece of legislation that will be a useful tool for tackling gender inequality in the workplace. To be truly effective, however, it must be complemented by other measures, such as flexible working, part-time roles and shared parental leave, which increasing numbers of voluntary organisations offer to their staff. Organisations need to start capturing data now and think about how they can provide a narrative of what the statistics mean for their organisation. Although NCVO is not required to comply with the new legislation, as we have fewer than 100 staff, we will be publishing information on pay by gender next April and encourage others to do likewise. Womens groups have also endorsed the new measures, but said that there is still more to do. Sam Smethers, chief executive at Fawcett Society said: "This is the most significant legal change since the Equal Pay Act and we strongly welcome it. For the first time large employers will be required to calculate & publish their gender pay gap. "Employers should see it as an opportunity not a threat. Through gender pay gap reporting they can address the productivity gap & get the best person for the job at the right level." Carole Easton, chief executive of the Young Womens Trust, said the move was a great step forward and that: Pay transparency alone will not change the gender stereotypes that often determine the types of roles men and women take and the industries they work in. We need action to support young women into male-dominated areas if we are to close the gender pay gap. Making apprenticeships work for women, including by providing more part-time and flexible apprenticeships to help them balance work and family life, would be a great start. From our magazines Who are the largest charity employers? The Charity Commission publishes data on the top 100 charities ranked by the number of employees. Those that appear in the top 20 are mostly those that provide services. Eleven of the top 20 make no reference to gender in their latest annual reports and eight of them do so as part of a statement about their equality or diversity policies. Part of Oxfams programme work includes promoting gender equality around the world and in its annual report it has said that 50 per cent of its staff are female. It also published details of ethnicity. Save the Children International 16,082 Marie Stopes International 12,426 The British Council - 9,624 Lloyds Register Foundation 8,892 Barnardos 8,342 Mencap - 8,260 Nuffield Health 7,984 United Church Schools Foundation 6,740 Anchor Trust 6,626 National Trust 6,211 Methodist Homes 6,053 Cardiff University 5,510 Oxfam 5,238 Action for Children 5,143 Community Integrated Care 5,137 Leonard Cheshire Disability 4,566 Marie Curie 4,314 Halo Trust 4,111 International Medical Corps 3,975 St Andrews Healthcare 3,761 Civil Society Media is hosting the Charity People and Culture Conference on on 20 September 2017. For more information, and to book, click here Islamic Relief has been criticised by The Times newspaper over a decision to invite a hardline Muslim preacher to star in a fundraising tour of Britain. The Charity Commission is looking into Islamic Relief over its decision to invite Yasir Qadhi, a Saudi-educated American academic, to give lectures to raise funds for the East Africa Crisis Appeal. The Times described Qadhi as a hardline preacher who told students that killing homosexuals and stoning adulterers was part of their religion. The paper also reported that Muslim Aid and the Read Foundation a not-for-profit body working to provide schooling for children in the Islamic world are also under scrutiny over their decision to sponsor a speaking tour involving Qadhi. But Islamic Relief has said the Qadhi had spoken out against terrorism and was thoroughly vetted through a two-stage screening process, including checking him against 540 global anti-terror watchlists. It said it was considering its action against the newspaper. And Muslim Aid said it did not sponsor the event its logo appeared against, and had asked for its logo to be removed from all marketing materials. A Charity Commission spokesman said: The Commission has contacted all three charities regarding the information provided and their involvement in the respective events. We will assess the responses we receive to determine what regulatory action may be required. Islamic Relief response Dr Yasir Qadhi is a high-profile speaker with a large international following who has spoken out consistently against terrorism, extremism and anti-Semitism, Islamic Relief said in its statement. Islamic Relief has invited Dr Qadhi to the UK to help the Muslim community here prepare spiritually for Ramadan, and to raise funds to fight famine in East Africa. Like all our speakers, Dr Qadhi has been through a two-stage screening process that involved checking him against over 540 global watch lists of proscribed individuals and organisations to ensure no terror links. Muslim Aid response Muslim Aid was recently approached by the Charity Commission regarding the alleged sponsorship of an event which featured the international speaker Yasir Qadhi. "Muslim Aid did not sponsor the fundraising event advertised on social media and its logo was wrongly included on the poster which was circulated to promote the event. Once this came to our attention we requested that the logo be removed from all marketing materials. Forty one per cent of people donated to charity in November, compared to annual average of 33 per cent, according to a giving survey published today. The Charities Aid Foundation, which published its annual UK Giving Report today, said November is likely to be the most popular month for giving because a number of high-profile appeals take place that month, including the Poppy Appeal and Children in Need. December also saw a higher percentage of people saying that they had made a donation, with 38 per cent of respondents saying that they had. CAF puts this down to Christmas appeals, Giving Tuesday and the Disasters Emergency Committees Yemen appeal. The report found that 9.7bn was donated in 2016, slightly up on the previous year when it was 9.6bn. CAF said there appears to have been a decline in regular giving. One quarter of those surveyed said that they gave on a monthly basis, down from 31 per cent in 2015. However it said those giving on an ad-hoc basis had increased from 41 per cent to 51 per cent. The median average donation was 18 and cash is still the most common way to give with, 58 per cent of people donating in this way. 26 per cent donated using online channels. Unaffected by Brexit According to CAF, Brexit does not appear to have affected giving trends. John Low, chief executive of CAF, said: While huge change was taking place all around us last year, one thing which remained consistent was the reliable and enduring generosity of people in the UK in their support of good causes. The consequences and impact of the EU referendum result are likely to become increasingly apparent over the months and years ahead. Our research shows that there has been no Brexit-effect on charitable donations so far, but there has been a noticeable increase in people engaging in social and political issues. Numbers of people who said they signed a petition or took part in a protest or demonstration last year are the highest recorded in more than a decade of us producing this report. Other types of civic engagement In 2016 17 per cent of people said they volunteered over the year, 4 per cent than the previous year, with full-time students most likely to do so. The report highlights a large increase in people taking part in public demonstrations or signing petitions. In 2016 56 per cent said they signed a petition. CAF suggests this could be partly down to Brexit and Donald Trump. Some 6 per cent said that they had taken part in a protest. This rises to 11 per cent for people living in London. 50 per cent say charities are trustworthy Since May 2016 CAF has been asking people whether they think charities are trustworthy and overall 50 per cent say that they believe charities to be trustworthy or very trustworthy. Trust peaked in November when it was 53 per cent and was at its lowest in December when it was at 47 per cent. Popular causes CAF said that medial research was the most popular cause, with 26 per cent saying that they had given to that kind of charity in the previous four weeks. One quarter said that they had given to animal welfare charities and 24 per cent to children or young people organisations. Methodology CAF changed its methodology during the year and from May 2016 began interviewing 1,000 people per month. This report is based on 8,000 interviews and it expects next year's report to based on 12,000 interviews. It worked with YouGov, which carries out the interviews, and has "factored up" results for 2016 so it can present a full calendar year. Civil Society Media is hosting a breakfast seminar discussing the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on 15 June. For more information, and to book, click here Chris Wright, chief executive of Catch22, responds to criticism about large charities' relationships with smaller ones and sets out how his charity sets out to work collaboratively with others. These past few weeks we have been exposed to media focusing on the lack of support for small charities and how these organisations are being shut-out and used as bid candy by big charities. William Shawcross, chair of the Charity Commission, said in a public speech the other week that small charities were often eclipsed by the big brand organisations. This is clearly a problem, and not something that I am denying, but wheres the argument for how big charities can be supporting the smaller ones in the right ways? How can it be done really well and how can big charities lead the way in creating a culture of collaboration? Catch22 is a large charity, a social business, that is to say that we have the heart of a charity and the mind-set of a business. We deliver public services right across social welfare, from childrens social care and alternative provision education, to youth justice and apprenticeships. We bid for contracts, we deliver services designed to build resilience and aspiration in individuals and communities. We have adaptability, an ability to work across sectors and a willingness to draw from what works in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Central to all of this is collaboration. Our responsibility as a large charity As a large charity we believe we have a responsibility. Where we have the scale and capacity, we should be at the forefront of transforming the landscape and enabling change. Its not just about money and contracts, its also about collaborating and being creative. If we all believe in a good society, we should be using our assets and networks for the greater good. Sometimes that might mean stepping back from the spotlight and into a more supportive role nurturing or building a platform for others who share our vision but perhaps not our resources. Smaller scale charities, for example, might have great ideas and scalable models but lack the capacity to bid competitively, or lack the networks and resources to be seen and heard in the right places. They should not be left to sink or swim. Sometimes they just need a leg-up. Working together The Owen Jarvis and Ruth Marvel Clore Social Leadership 2013 report, When Bees Meet Trees epitomises this way of thinking. Large and small social sector organisations need each other to thrive. Bees and trees each play important roles that the other cant. Collaboration helps build on their respective strengths and compensate for their weaknesses the larger organisation strong in methods, management and scale, the smaller organisations energetic and flexible in generating new opportunities. If we all want the same thing, we should be figuring it out and finding solutions together. Society and the social sector is becoming ever more fragmented. But there is so much potential and capability if we put our heads together. Together we have the opportunity to really challenge systems and affect far-reaching change. Sure there will be compromises ensuring that organisations maintain their own values and identity while collaborating with a partner (or so-called competitor) will be a challenge but surely this is better, more effective, than competing over the same piecemeal contracts to deliver small, separate parts of the whole. It means government, charities, business and communities putting self-interest aside to work out how best we can build resilience and ambition in individuals, and deliver value for money services most effectively. Examples of our collaboration At Catch22 we have a strong history of collaboration, and are learning all the time. We are soon to launch a new Public Service Lab in Liverpool, working in partnership with Interserve and Big Society Capital using our scale and balance sheet to help create capacity and sustainability for a range of great local voluntary organisations. Using the scalable citizen services and back office functions of The Lab, local VCSEs will be able to compete with the big private sector players for important public service contracts. It will also encourage collaboration between VCSEs as well as nurturing innovation and creativity in tackling social challenges. We see this as being truly collaborative, truly local and ultimately delivering better outcomes for the people and communities it reaches. At the end of 2015, Catch22 acquired a small (but mighty) charity called Only Connect. Only Connect was on a journey to move away from unpredictable funding streams, and needed a big brother to support it, financially and with expertise. Only Connect didnt want to merge. Catch22 didnt want to merge. So we worked together to come up with a solution that represented a new type of relationship between larger and smaller charities, where the smaller organisation is able to learn and lean on the bigger organisation, and work to economies of scale while remaining independent. Its not about being predatory, its about sustainability. Its the recognition that Catch22 has a responsibility to do whatever we can to reach that higher goal; a strong society. We need more people and more organisations to step forward and show leadership, to protect and support others. Support doesnt always have to be financial. There are lots of other assets and resources we can share: infrastructure, scale, networks, contracts, relationships, brand and credibility. Catch22 last year incubated a new social enterprise called Unlocked Graduates, a Teach First style scheme to recruit the best and brightest into prison officer roles. This wasnt about providing money, just a springboard for a great idea. And, most recently, we partnered with Community Links. Community Links is a social action charity providing support and opportunities for over 5,000 people a year across London. At a time of challenge and opportunity for the sector, Catch22 and Community Links are trying to reimagine how partnerships could and should work. Local charities should be enabled to keep their identity and autonomy but to operate at scale through this kind of relationship, for the greater social good. Showing leadership Collaboration has many faces, from partnerships to incubation and leadership. Im not claiming that it is easy, or that we have all the answers - we are certainly not the saviour of any sector or trying to brag. There are some real challenges but these examples Ive just given you, we do these things because we believe in them. And we learn from them. As a sector we need to understand and acknowledge the challenges that we are all facing, but also be able to think positively about what we can do in our own roles or organisations to support others to survive and flourish. If we want to build a good society, we cant do it alone, we need a collective vision, and a collective approach to leadership. We need to cast ego aside and build a platform for others to be heard. We need to build capacity for others to deliver. So its on us all of us to show some generous leadership. Civil Society Media's annual Charity People and Culture conference takes place on 20 September. For more information, and to book, click here Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, and markets biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, neuroscience, and covid-19 diseases. The company's products include Revlimid, an oral immunomodulatory drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma; Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; and Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis. It also provides Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia; Yervoy for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma; Abraxane, a protein-bound chemotherapy product; Reblozyl for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with beta thalassemia; and Empliciti for the treatment of multiple myeloma. In addition, the company offers Zeposia to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; Breyanzi, a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma; Inrebic, an oral kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with myelofibrosis; and Onureg for the treatment of adult patients with AML. It sells products to wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, retailers, hospitals, clinics, and government agencies. The company was formerly known as Bristol-Myers Company. The company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in New York, New York. 04/11/2017 Photo (c) University of Hawaii Travelers who visit Hawaii love the beaches and numerous tourist attractions, but consumers would do well to be mindful of what they eat and which areas they visit. The Hawaii State Department of Health has confirmed nine cases of rat lungworm disease that have surfaced in the state six in Maui and three on the Big Island. The disease, which is caused by a parasite known as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, affects the brain and spinal cord of consumers who catch it. This can lead to serious medical complications like eosinophilic meningitis, coma, and nervous system damage. In rare cases, the disease can even result in death, though mild symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting can develop in other patients until the parasite runs its course. The investigation is fluid and the cluster of cases, though not all confirmed, are very concerning, said Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo, per CNN. Causing internal harm Though state officials are not certain how each affected consumer developed the disease, they do note that people can acquire the parasite by consuming raw or undercooked snails and slugs. While that seems like a specific circumstance, consumers should keep in mind that they can accidentally consume these products by eating poorly washed lettuce or other raw produce that was in contact with snails or slugs. University of Florida assistant professor Heather Stockdale Walden explains that the parasite can usually be found in rats, a creature in which it can fully mature and thrive. However, when consumed by humans, the parasite is not able to fully grow into adulthood and can cause many health issues before it eventually dies and is passed from the body. What happens is that the parasite gets into humans humans are not the host that it can complete its life cycle in, as opposed to being in a rat so when it gets in a human, it can get lost, and it will go to the brain, and itll stay there, she says. [The parasite] can also move to the eye, and you can get ocular Angiostrongylus. . . if the parasite goes to the eye, sometimes you can surgically remove it, she adds. How to prevent infection Unfortunately, the detection rate for the parasite is fairly low due to the fact that there are no readily available blood tests for it. Officials note that approximately 80% of Hawaiis snails are carriers of the parasite, which perhaps explains why the state usually sees 1-9 cases of the disease per year. To prevent infections, consumers are advised to ensure that all of their food is properly cooked and cleaned prior to consumption. [Make] sure that the foods you eat are cooked properly, your vegetables are washed that would help you prevent infection, said Walden. Its important to appropriately store, inspect, and wash produce, especially leafy greens, added Okubo. She also advises that young children be watched when playing outside to make sure they dont put a snail or slug in their mouth. The health department further recommends that consumers avoid handling snails and slugs with their bare hands and that all snails, prawns, crabs, and frogs be boiled for 3-5 minutes before being eaten. Consumers should also be sure to check rainwater catchment tanks to ensure that no snails or slugs have gained access. Any consumer who suspects they have contracted the parasite should speak to their healthcare provider for treatment. The Puerto Rico Ports Authority confirmed that it would upgrade the Pan American II Pier in San Juan in partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises in supporting the deployment of the Freedom of the Seas to San Juan for the 2018 cruise season. The project is estimated to have a value of $2.8 million. The Freedom of the Seas will re-position to San Juan in 2018, offering seven-day Eastern Caribbean Cruises from the Pan American Pier Terminal II. For fiscal year 2015-2016 Royal Caribbean Cruises brought a total of 574,140 passengers to Puerto Rico and is expected bring roughly 700,000 passengers by 2018. Work includes improvements to the boarding bridge, safety checkpoints, and adding more check-in desks. In addition will be upgrades to the baggage inspection area, improvements to restrooms, and dredging near the pier, plus upgraded bollards. Credit union professionals learned about NCUA supervisory exams, field-of-membership regulations, share insurance requirements and more Monday during the first day of NAFCUs Regulatory Compliance School in Arlington, Va. Mondays program began with a welcome address and an update on NAFCU by association President and CEO Dan Berger. Individual School sessions were led by NAFCU, NCUA and other industry experts. NAFCU Regulatory Affairs Counsel Ann Kossachev presented on the legislative and regulatory process, provided an overview of the Federal Credit Union Act and discussed the regulatory duties of the NCUA and the CFPB. NCUA Director of Supervision Scott Neat updated attendees on the agencys supervisory priorities and its examination system, areas of risk evaluation and the CAMEL rating system. Andy Keeney, partner at Kauffman & Canoles, P.C., spoke at length about the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, explaining federal share insurance for single and joint accounts and revocable trust accounts. NAFCU Regulatory Affairs Counsel Andrew Morris talked to attendees about federal credit union bylaws and the FOM rules, particularly as they affect community-charter credit unions and low-income credit unions. By Press Trust of India: From Youssra El-Sharkawy Cairo, Apr 11 (PTI) The Egyptian parliament today voted unanimously in favour of a three-month state of emergency declared by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi following the Palm Sunday terror attacks that left 46 people dead. The decision comes two days after twin bombings that hit Egypts St George Cathedral in Tanta and St Marks Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday, killing 46 and injuring more than 120 others during prayer services. advertisement The state of emergency is now in effect following parliaments approval. According to the Egyptian constitution, any state of emergency must be confirmed in parliament by majority vote within seven days of its declaration by the president. Egypts Cabinet earlier approved the measure - which allows authorities to make arrests without warrants and search peoples homes - and explained the reasons for the imposition of emergency. President al-Sisi in a brief television appearance on Sunday had announced the state of emergency for three months. Sisi had said a top-level council for fighting terrorism and extremism will also be set up. Before making the announcement, he had called a National Defence Council meet. The first blast took place in the Coptic church of Mar Girgis, also known as St George, in the Nile delta city of Tanta, about 120 kilometres from Cairo, and killed 27 people and injured 78, according to the Egyptian Health Ministry. Hours later, a suicide bomber struck the Saint Marks Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandrias Manshyia district, killing at least 18 people and wounding 41 others. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks. Coptic Christians make up about 10 per cent of Egypts population of 85 million. Egypts Christian minority has often been targeted by Islamist militants. In December, a suicide bombing claimed by an IS affiliate killed 29 people during Sunday mass in Cairo. Egypt has seen a wave of attacks by militants since 2013 when the military toppled president Mohammed Morsi, an elected leader who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood, and launched a crackdown against Islamists. Palm Sunday falls on the Sunday before the Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels. PTI YES ZH --- ENDS --- 60 credit union leaders convened last week in Palo Alto, California to kick off our annual research colloquium with Filene Research Fellow, Huggy Rao, a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. What follows is a summary of the meeting, links to presentations and additional information. A more in-depth report of the proceedings will be available shortly. Huggy kicked off the day with two bright Ph.D. candidates to discuss how knowledge management can help improve credit union performance. In addition to the presentation, you can contact Andrew Downin to learn how your credit union can participate in a study to better understand knowledge sharing in credit unions. Next up, Darren Brabham, a communications scholar from the University of Southern California introduced a framework for crowdsourcing and how credit unions might leverage this new tool for their benefit. You can bank on Bengalis to be discreet. Quite unlike the widely circulated images of blatant cheating in school and college exams in neighbouring Bihar, students in Kolkata are rather craftily misusing social media platforms like WhatsApp to get by examinations. And the student unions on campuses affiliated to Calcutta University, Barasat University and Jadavpur University are, according to some sources, in on what threatens to become even bigger than the legendary cheating scandals of Bihar. advertisement The annual exams in Kolkata's Ashutosh College in March saw 'Mass Com Family', a group on WhatsApp, helping students write answers inside the examination halls. Precise answers to the questions in the exam paper sent out minutes after the start of the exam were freely available to the group's members-in this instance, a significant number of the students taking the exam. University regulations barring mobile phones inside examination centres are routinely flouted, says a mass communication student of the college. Requesting anonymity, the student shockingly reveals that "teachers hardly ever invigilate".Instead they leave the task to the non-teaching staff, peons and laboratory attendants. It's extremely easy to sneak a smartphone into the examination hall, says a Students Federation of India (SFI) member. "Where the authorities are more vigilant, mobile phones are conveniently hidden in toilets where examinees can access them without fear," says the Left Front union member. He claims that Trinamool Congress-backed unions have been supporting student admissions on 'loyalty' rather than merit "so they have a responsibility to help their flock pass exams too". Ashoke Mukhopadhyay, principal of the Seth Anandaram Jaipuria College in North Kolkata was taken aback but promised to investigate the misuse of WhatsApp by the students' unions. Students at Ashutosh College, who first reported the cheating via WhatsApp in March, say departmental WhatsApp groups, which benefit students who have missed lectures, are being misused to cheat during exams. On March 8, the day of the exam, the 'Mass Com Family' group sent this message to its followers: "Don't Worry. Keep your Cool. We are always with you from the day you have stepped in the college." Perhaps embarrassed by the disclosures that her own ilk were involved in large-scale cheating in exams, Trinamool Chhatra Parishad chief Jaya Dutta has vowed to intervene. "Forming a WhatsApp group is a good thing, but we will not allow it to be used for unfair activities. We are investigating in colleges, from where we have received complaints," she says. --- ENDS --- A study has recently revealed that exercise has better results when done on an empty stomach. By Indo-Asian News Service: Many of us have had this little riddle to solve--should I eat that banana or smoothie before or after my gym session? If you have been wondering whether it is better to eat or fast before a workout, researchers now have an answer. A new study has found that exercise on empty stomach is better for your health in the long term. advertisement The study analysed effects of eating versus fasting on gene expression in adipose (fat) tissue in response to exercise. After eating, adipose tissue "is busy responding to the meal and a bout of exercise at this time will not stimulate the same (beneficial) changes in adipose tissue", explained corresponding author of the study Dylan Thompson from University of Bath in Britain. Also Read: Not money, this cafe lets you buy food in exchange of a quick workout "This means that exercise in a fasted state might provoke more favourable changes in adipose tissue, and this could be beneficial for health in the long term," Thompson added. "We propose that feeding is likely to blunt long-term adipose tissue adaptation to regular exercise," the researchers noted in the study published in the American Journal of Physiology -- Endocrinology and Metabolism. The study participants were a group of overweight males who walked for 60 minutes at 60 per cent maximum oxygen consumption on an empty stomach and, on another occasion, two hours after consuming a high-calorie carbohydrate-rich breakfast. The research team took multiple blood samples after eating or fasting and after exercising. The researchers also collected fat tissue samples immediately before and one hour after walking. Gene expression in the adipose tissue differed significantly in the two trials. Also Read: Bipasha Basu on this exercise bike is all of us on a Monday The expression of two genes, PDK4 and HSL, increased when the men fasted and exercised and decreased when they ate before exercising. The rise in PDK4 likely indicates that stored fat was used to fuel metabolism during exercise instead of carbohydrates from the recent meal. HSL typically increases when adipose tissue uses stored energy to support increased activity, such as during exercise, Thompson said. These results reinforce the view that "adipose tissue often faces competing challenges," Thompson wrote. "This is the first study to show that feeding prior to acute exercise affects post-exercise adipose tissue gene expression," the study said. --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Agartala, Apr 11 (PTI) Five Bangladeshi youths have been arrested from Jogendranagar railway station here for travelling without valid documents, Police said today. Acting on a tip-off, the Mobile Task Force (MTF) of Tripura police yesterday arrested the five Bangladeshis from the railway station. The arrested youths hail from Chittagong in Bangladesh. They entered through Sonamura, a sub-divisional town, bordering Comilla district of Bangladesh, SP (Police Control), Dilip Roy said. advertisement During preliminary interrogation, the arrested youths disclosed that they were on their way to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh to study in a Madrasa there. Further investigation is on, the SP added. PTI JOY RG --- ENDS --- Days after the RBI's November 8 withdrawal of high-denomination currency notes, Kerala's hawala network went into complete paralysis. The illegal hawala pipeline funnels what the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Kerala police estimate to be Rs 40,000 crore between the Gulf countries and India's southern-most state. Overnight, this parallel banking network was stuck with useless currency worth thousands of crores. A body blow had been dealt to a network with incestuous ties to the gold smuggling, builder and the fake currency network as it would never be able to mobilise enough currency from the market for distribution. Or so the authorities believed. But as it now emerges, the effects of demonetisation wore off quickly. Hawala, banned by the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 2000, and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, is thriving again. It's not the first time that the hawala syndicate, which operates almost exclusively in South and West Asia, has thwarted efforts to shut it down. It had beaten a post-9/11 global crackdown (hawala routes were used to fund the terror attacks) and more recently a clampdown by the Saudi interior ministry which, since last May, has been freezing bank accounts suspected of transferring funds to Al Qaeda. To beat that, hawala operators started smuggling Saudi rials in bulk in vegetable trucks to Dubai, the headquarters of the illegal money trade. In post-demonetisation India, the syndicates soon teamed up with banks to source large amounts of new currency, and later, made a killing exchanging it for old notes. An India Today investigation reveals why it will take more than just note bans to eradicate the hawala trade. advertisement Fake Currency On November 12, just four days after demonetisation, 65-year-old Mariyamma from Kondotty in Malappuram district tried to deposit Rs 49,500 at the local State Bank of India branch. However, Rs 37,000 of this was found to be fake currency notes of Rs 1,000 denomination. During interrogation, she told the police that the money had been sent through the hawala network by her Gulf-based son. Security agencies have always known that the network is a crucial channel for distributing Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN). As far back as in 2009, a report by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) had cited two high security printing presses run by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in Karachi's Malir Cantonment as the source of the FICN. And now an Intelligence Bureau report from January 2017 says around Rs 4,000 crore worth of high-value fake currency has reached Kerala after demonetisation. Had the presses been recalibrated to print the new currency notes? The new fake Rs 500 currency notes seem to be of inferior quality and can be easily detected. The fake Rs 2,000 notes, though, are worryingly close to the original, mimicking 11 of the 17 security features. So strong were the reports that fake currency was being shipped through containers that raids were conducted in the Chennai, Thoothukudi and Cochin ports. In fact, the Chennai port was reportedly closed for a week to scan containers. Just how inextricably linked the fake currency and hawala networks are had been proved after the 2013 arrest of Abid Chullikalavan Hassan at Kochi airport. Hassan was arrested with a relatively small sum, Rs 9.5 lakh in FICN, but he identified a Jeddah-based Indian national, Abdul Salam of Malappuram, as the mastermind of the fake currency racket. Salam was deported by Saudi Arabia and arrested by the NIA at IGI airport in New Delhi on December 23 last year. He revealed that he had smuggled "high quality" fake currency worth an astonishing Rs 3,000 crore in a five-year period (2009-14) using carriers to Kerala. A senior NIA official says that "most of the fake currency that was being distributed through hawala chains was used for real estate investment". Hawala distributors slipped counterfeit currencies in a 60:40 ratio while making payments (40 per cent being the share of fake notes). Most of these notes are of such high quality that they escaped micro scrutiny. The Hawala laundry 'Hawala' is derived from the Arabic word for trust, a key attribute that oils a parallel banking network involving many strangers, few of whom even meet face to face. But the currency exchange operation is a minor cog in the wheel nowadays. As Nizar Mohammed, a hawala operator based in Malappuram, says, "Our money laundering operations are much more profitable. When you consider the risk factor, it's the safest business." Mohammed, 48, worked as an accountant in Saudi Arabia for eight years before learning the tricks of the trade from his brother-in-law and switching careers in 1996. He now specialises in laundering black money. His operations take advantage of the Dubai free trade zone where promoters do not have to disclose their source of income to run a firm. Mohammed locates a local sponsor in Dubai, helps his Indian clients get a business visa and float a trading company or join one of his many firms as a partner. As the client holidays in Dubai (for 181 days, the mandatory period to be declared a non-resident Indian), his black money is turned into white and transferred into his 'NRI' account as tax-free Indian rupees. This modus operandi continues, unaffected by demonetisation. advertisement "If someone has Rs 100 crore in black money, we help them launder it for a 20 per cent fee," Mohammed says. Businessmen are not the only ones using his service. He claims to have many politicians and bureaucrats as his clients. "They float companies in the name of family members or relatives in Dubai to launder the money," he says. advertisement Another hawala dealer claims his network pays protection money to police officials and politicians across Kerala. "We take care of their interests. It's part of our 'operational expenses'," he discloses. These expenses take the form of hefty bribes, liquor, holidays in Dubai and even women. "Nothing can stop it. Hawala will continue as long as Keralites work in the Gulf," says a grinning Jaleel, 37, who claims he transacts hawala money worth Rs 10 crore every day. The 'tube money' hub Koduvally town in Kozhikode district is the state's ground zero for the hawala trade. Over a thousand people, of the town's population of 53,986, are said to be directly linked to the kuzhal panam or 'tube money' operations, as hawala is known locally. "It's socially accepted and the economy is based on it," says C. Sunilkumar, an official at the Koduvally municipality. A senior Enforcement Directorate official estimates that Koduvally's hawala operators do transactions worth around Rs 150 crore a day, among the largest such underground cash operations in the country. Hawala took root in the early 1970s in this predominantly Muslim municipality. Villagers working in the Gulf wanted a banking channel which could funnel earnings to families back home and offer a better exchange rate (sometimes as much as 20 per cent more). Most workers were poor and semi-skilled with limited knowledge of banking operations, and whose womenfolk, from conservative families, were discouraged from visiting banks. A hawala operator would collect remittances from workers in the Gulf, and his local distributor in India would deliver the exchange in rupees to the worker's family back home. At its peak, in the 1970s, Kerala's hawala kings controlled 70 per cent of the transactions in India. But over the years, in the aftermath of globalisation and Dubai becoming the hub of operations, transactions in Kerala account for only 30 per cent of Indian operations, mostly as source money from NRKs working in the Gulf. Over time, the network has segued from phone calls to WhatsApp or Instagram messages, but the modus operandi has essentially remained the same. advertisement Terror and gold What has complicated matters since the '90s are the linkages with gold smuggling networks and terror finance. Hawala today is the medium of choice for terror networks as it is anonymous, leaves no electronic trails and is difficult to trace back to the source, making it ideal for terror sponsors in countries like Pakistan. Besides the international hawala links, domestic channels further facilitate internal transfers, obfuscating the trail. Nearly a decade ago, in July 2007, then Kerala intelligence chief Jacob Punnoose had warned of the nexus between the fake currency racket, hawala networks and radical Islamist networks like the National Development Front (NDF), the parent organisation of the Popular Front of India (PFI), in a five-page secret report to the home secretary. He had even listed case studies of hawala operators with close ties to the NDF. No action was taken on this report. Even in the latest case of 21 missing Kerala youths joining the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, the NIA suspects that hawala networks were used to secure funds for their travel. Police officials say the jewellery trade too feeds off hawala money and its ancillary gold smuggling activities. Gold smuggling operations help hawala networks double their profit margins. Anwar, a hawala operator based in Koduvally, explains the link. "Hawala networks earnRs 7 lakh for every Rs 1 crore they invest in gold smuggling. Rs 1 crore in Dubai can buy you three gold bars weighing a kilogram each. With the help of customs and airline crews, gold can be smuggled to airports in Kerala or Mumbai," he says. Over the past five years, gold smuggling between Dubai and Kerala has surged. Couriers come in all forms-on January 23, 2017, Kochi customs even arrested a Catholic priest, Fr Isaac Kizhakaeparambil, with 300 grams of gold bars concealed inside chocolate bars in his baggage. Post-demonetisation, the network turned to laundering the old currency notes at a 30 per cent premium. Operators offered Rs 70 lakh for every Rs 1 crore in old currency. The money was laundered through banks, with the operators splitting the commission-10 per cent to crooked bank officials and pocketing the remaining 20 per cent. "Hawala transactions as such are not as profitable now, compared to the risk we are taking. But subsidiary operations like gold smuggling, money laundering, real estate and the fake currency racket give good returns," reveals Anwar. The gold-hawala links are openly visible in Koduvally-89 retail jewellery shops are lined up astride a 400-metre stretch on National Highway 766, a novelty even in gold-crazy Kerala. Intelligence reports warn that several hawala operators work with the gold smuggling network, too, reinvesting the money in the real estate sector. "We have the state's largest number of retail jewellery shops," says Abdul Nasser, owner of Arabia Jewellers, proudly. The jewellery shops employ some 1,400 families. Nasser, however, vehemently denies any link between the jewellery business and the hawala operations, pointing to the village's tradition of being an abode of goldsmiths. Koduvally's gold trade, which dropped from 140 grams a day to almost zero post-demonetisation (most purchases were in cash), is now limping back to normal. But despite its corrosive influence, hawala is primarily seen as a white-collar crime which does not interfere with law and order in the state. Weak laws and corrupt officials help further. "We have only a limited role in hunting down hawala operators. Whenever a huge amount of currency is seized, we hand over the case to the Enforcement Directorate. Loopholes in the FEMA rules ensure that most hawala operators go free by paying a fine," a senior police official says. The hawala operators produce statements which show proof of income or they pay a fine and get away with it. Police can't register the crime and investigate the case. Kerala's dark money web remains safe in the shadows. --- ENDS --- The Centre is planning to curb food wastage by fixing portion sizes of dishes served in hotels and restaurant and Twitter can't get enough of the jokes. By India Today Web Desk: In an attempt to curb wastage in the form of food leftovers, the Centre is planning to fix portion sizes of dishes served by star hotels and restaurants, an English daily reported. "If a person can eat only two prawns, why should he or she be served six? If a person eats two idlis, why serve four! Its wastage of food and also money people pay for something that they don't eat," Ram Vilas Paswan, minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, told the Hindustan Times. advertisement To determine what portion size fits which dish, the ministry is preparing a questionnaire for hotels and restaurants. "They are the experts. They should tell us the maximum amount of a dish a person can eat. You go to a Chinese restaurant; they give you so much (of food). We are going to call them (stakeholders) for a meeting. The PM is concerned about food wastage and so we are going to issue instructions to these hotels (about the amount of food to be served)," Paswan told HT. Prime Minister Modi had talked about food wastage at "home, feasts and social gatherings," in last month's episode of Mann Ki Baat. He urged people to think of all the poor people that can be fed with the leftover food. Paswan clarified to HT that "instructions" on food portions will be applicable only to "standard hotels" and not dhabas that "usually serve thalis." It remains unclear how the government plans to enforce these portion sizes. But Twitter has already got on the government's case: The government is in your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, restaurant...its everywhere except in the parliament. https://t.co/QMC0wFLs9V- Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) April 11, 2017 Other ideas- elasticity of roomali roti- inner & outer diameter of medu wada- radius of poorihttps://t.co/6r7qIbgpIl- Ameya (@khabri_lal) April 11, 2017 Ridiculous!!! Are we heading towards a nanny state? Aren't there better ways to control food wastage?? https://t.co/XeM4UaZiD1- Sumit S Suneja (@sumitssuneja) April 11, 2017 That's it. This is where the redline is. No amount of reforms can justify authoritarianism. https://t.co/tAscMwM1XT- Ajinkya (@ajinkya_koshti) April 11, 2017 @narendramodi said "minimum govt maximum governance" before elections, and now govt wants to control your appetitehttps://t.co/MbvPI37Ux5- Sachin (@sacsubr) April 11, 2017 Can I get extra if I show my Aadhar card? https://t.co/vYRoWmCldW- Ivan Mehta (@IndianIdle) April 11, 2017 From this month on, similar guidelines have kicked in in Jammu and Kashmir, where the state government has ordered a number of restrictions on weddings and other functions "to curb the misuse of resources". A statement issued in February said that April onward, the number of guests to be invited on marriage of daughter (barat), marriage of son and small functions like engagement of son or daughter and other small functions should be restricted to a maximum of 500, 400 and 100 respectively. advertisement Government also restricted the number of non-veg, veg dishes to be cooked in such functions to a maximum of seven each, with two stalls of sweets and fruits. Finally, the order also includes a complete ban on sending dry fruits, sweet packets extra with invitation cards by any person to relatives, friends, guests, invitees etc. --- ENDS --- De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Je, 9 Mar 2017 11:15 Sujet :Would you tell me more about yourself too ? My dear How are you today? I like to be open, i am a woman that have seen life, i have been in the social circle for many years, It really does not matter one's age or color or achievement, what matters in our life is nothing but care and expression, expression of the heart. This is the most important thing in life, to me the most beautiful thing created by God, is never seen, only felt in the heart, I have been hardworking all my life now, i must think of something better, to enjoy my life and probably have a family ,maybe relocate and start investing in other things Anyway, i like to tell you little about me. My name is Chloe Abi, i'm British, i lost my only daughter at child birth, Am working as an Senior Audit / banker in Al Rayan Bank formerly Islamic Bank of Britain United Kingdom. i was married but my ex-husband got married to another woman, which caused our divorce, but is ok, since he accused me of been so busy with my work and the bank and its accounting/auditing, that i was not having time for him, but he refused to understand that i was pursing a goal, i told him that soon i would resign and we have enough time for each other but he was impatient, But is over between us, I am happy alone because I have everything i need, This is why I think of relocating to your country to get into investment and maybe own a small company which i can be able to manage. Enough of myself, would you tell me more about yourself too ? I like to know you better, what you really do and your position in your work, your marital status and where you reside now, I would like to hear from you soon, De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Me, 15 Mar 2017 10:27 Sujet : The fund will be shared 40% for you I am very happy to see your letter. How are you? I have a strong feeling after my prayers today with fasting, I have a feeling that you are an honest person because of that honesty I choose you TO HAVE THIS CONFIDENTIAL DEAL WITH. Dear, I want to inquire from you if you can handle a transaction for mutual benefits / life opportunity for you and me, You know, I am the Chief International Relation Foreign Remittance Unit and the chief Auditor to my bank here in United Kingdom. I have an opportunity to the sum of Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars US$15.500.000.00 to transfer into your bank account in your country, I will provide the full details of this business transaction when once we known each other as business is with trust, I personally contacted you and you alone, Because of the love and trust i have bestowed on you, That is why i took some days to know little about you, Now we must solidify our relationship with trust and this trust we must start it now, i would not like you to betray this trust i have in you, my heart told me that you are the right person for me and that would handle this proposal well for two of us. The fund will be shared at the ratio of 58% for me, 40% for you and 2% will be set aside to cover any expenses and tax in your bank. We will use the fund, there in your country to build companies and for investment which both of us would manage. Please this is an honest request for you and i to keep this deal between us alone, please dear, make this transaction a top secret because we do not have to trust anyway, unless you and i alone. Please treat this business proposal with utmost confidentiality and send me the following Informations if you are interested. . 1. Full Name, address 2. Identification copy Note do not call me when am at work, you can SMS me, or wait when i close from work, you call the number. Thanks and best regards, Chloe +447342164377 De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Me, 22 Mar 2017 11:00 Sujet : Send the letter below to this bank How are you doing together with your family ? I hope all is well. Please remember here is my phone number +447342164377 please do not call me when am at work here in Bank, you can SMS me, or wait when i close from work, thanks for your understanding. Kindly make sure that this information will be between you and me until we realized the success of this transaction. What i want you to do now is to apply for the release of the fund into your account. Make sure you keep a top secret of this transaction because i don't want any staff of the bank to know that i am responsible for this transaction This is where i lay the future survival hope of our future ,family and its was the reason I tried to explain for your best understanding. You should not change your name and nationality in this transaction because you are going to apply as the business partner to the deceased customer Note, if you send this letter to the bank, the bank will not delay to contact you, but you should not respond back to the bank until i direct you on what to do. T his is to avoid mistake from your part, see the official letter below, send it through to the bank through the bank email address as follows. . Al Rayan Bank PLC formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Sultan Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer and Director PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom +44 129 889 0137 al_rayan.b@accountant.com Immediately this fund is transferred into your account, then i will obtain visas to your country for the disbursement of the fund according to my proposal ratio, Immediately you send the application letter to the bank , call me to update me that you have sent the letter to the bank +447342164377 My best regards to you and your family, Love from your Chloe Abi COPY THIS APPLICATION LETTER BELOW AND SEND IT TO THE BANK = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = To The Chief Executive Officer and Director Al Rayan Bank PLC Formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Al Rayan Bank PLC Formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Sultan Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer and Director PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom +44 129 889 0137 al_rayan.b@accountant.com APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM Sir / Madam, My name is . . . . . . . ., from . . . . . . . the business partner to late Dr. Benjack Dennis who was assassinated on February 06, 2008 when Gun men shot him while still inside the Libya capital, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. $15.5 Millions deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $ 15.5 Millions into my nominated bank account. Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim this above mentioned sum without delay. I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred. Yours sincerely, . . . . . . . De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Sa, 25 Mar 2017 11:26 Sujet : No risk involved, it's 100% safe My darling, How are you today ? I am reallyhappy each time i think of you, I wish you do the same as i do. al_rayan.b@accountant.com Meanwhile, have you made the application to this bank today Like I told you in my proposal that one of our deceased customer left this fund in our bank for some years past and no body has ever come for the claim since that time, that's why I have decided to contact you as a foreign partner to solidly stand on the claim as the next of kin so that the money will be transferred to your private account because the bank want to move the money into banking treasurer as unclaimed fund after a given period if nobody comes for the claim and end of this year will complete the period of the years as they have started making meeting concerning it. Please, I don't want the money to enter into bank treasurer because I believe that this is the only opportunity God has giving me with the position I have in the bank. So I wouldn't like to loose it. I have perfected all strategies to ensure a hitch free transaction without any risk involved but I beg your indulgence to keep all matters relating to this transfer confidential until the fund hits your account. Note that y ou are entitled to receive your 40% of the total sum for your assistance as my foreign partner while 2% will cover any unforeseen expenditure and the remaining 58% will be for me as the initiator at the completion of this transfer. However, we will incur some soft expenditure during the event of this transfer with the bank hence I advise you keep a record of any expenses incurred on your end as it will be properly addressed according to percentages stated in my proposal immediately the fund hits your account. This project means everything to me. NOTETHERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED, IT'S 100% SAFE. I'm working here in the bank and i will stand to protect you and give you all line, i will delete all your information from the bank system after we have successful claim the fund from the this bank, i assured you that no risk involved. This transaction is not risk because Dr. Benjack Dennis was assassinated with his family on February 06, 2008, when gun men shot them while still inside the Libya capital, Tripoli. Don't make this transaction to look childish, do not be afraid because I am working here in bank, Iam ready to give you any information and line to follow to make sure that we successful transfer this money. Make every efforts to send the application letter to the bank today : al_rayan.b@accountant.com Meanwhile, I would like to see your responds Love from Chloe De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Ve, 31 Mar 2017 11:43 Sujet : COPY THE LETTER BELOW AND SEND IT COPY THIS APPLICATION LETTER BELOW AND SEND IT TO THE BANK = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = To The Chief Executive Officer and Director Al Rayan Bank PLC formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Al Rayan Bank PLC Formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Sultan Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer and Director PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom +44 129 889 0137 al_rayan.b@accountant.com APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM Sir / Madam, My name is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , from . . . . . . . . . . the business partner to late Dr. Benjack Dennis, who was assassinated on February 06, 2008, when gun men shot him while still inside the Libya capital, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account Fifteen Millions Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars $15.5millions deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $15.5millions into my nominated bank account. Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim this above mentioned sum without delay. I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred. Yours sincerely Chloe De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Lu, 3 Avr 2017 9:58 Sujet : COPY THIS LETTER BELOW AND SEND IT TO THE BANK From abic2900@gmail.com COPY THIS APPLICATION LETTER BELOW AND SEND TO THE BANK = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = To The Chief Executive Officer and Director Al Rayan Bank PLC formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Al Rayan Bank PLC Formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Sultan Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer and Director PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom +44 129 889 0137 al_rayan.b@accountant.com APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM Sir / Madam, My name is . . . . . . . ., from . . . . . . . the business partner to late Dr. Benjack Dennis, who was assassinated on February 06, 2008, when gun men shot him while still inside the Libya capital, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars $15.5m. deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $15.5m.into my nominated bank account. Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim this above mentioned sum without delay. I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred. Yours sincerely, . . . . . . . . . . . De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Ma, 4 Avr 2017 10:09 Sujet : My Dear Love How are you doing ? Where are you ? I am not happy because with the way you are handling this deal. Did you send the application message to the bank ? al_rayan.b@accountant.com Make sure that you send the application message to the bank so that the bank will proceed with the transfer ; i want to make sure that the bank transferred this money to your account so that i will resign from banking work love from abi chloe DearHow are you doing ? Where are you ? I am not happy because with the way you are handling this deal. Did you send the application message to the bank ?Make sure that you send the application message to the bank so that the bank will proceed with the transfer ; i want to make sure that the bank transferred this money to your account so that i will resign from banking worklove fromabi chloe De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Me, 5 Avr 2017 8:39 Sujet : COPY THIS APPLICATION LETTER BELOW AND SEND TO THE BANK COPY THIS APPLICATION LETTER BELOW AND SEND IT TO THE BANK = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = To The Chief Executive Officer and Director Al Rayan Bank PLC formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Al Rayan Bank PLC formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Sultan Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer and Director PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom al_rayan.b@accountant.com APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM Sir / Madam, My name is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the business partner to late Dr. Benjack Dennis who was assassinated on February 06, 2008, when gun men shot him while still inside the Libya capital, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account Fifteen Millions Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars $15.5millions deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $15.5millions into my nominated bank account. Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim this above mentioned sum without delay. I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred. Yours sincerely, Chloe De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Lu, 10 Avr 2017 12:47 Sujet : COPY THIS LETTER AND SEND IT TO THE BANK COPY THIS APPLICATION LETTER BELOW AND SEND TO THE BANK = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = To The Chief Executive Officer and Director Al Rayan Bank PLC formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Al Rayan Bank PLC formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Sultan Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer and Director PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom Phone +44 129 889 0137 al_rayan.b@accountant.com APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM Sir / Madam, My name is . . . . . . . ., from . . . . . . . the business partner to late Dr. Benjack Dennis, who was assassinated on February 06, 2008 when gun men shot him while still inside the Libya capital, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand US dollars. $15.5m. deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $15.5m. into my nominated bank account, Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim this above mentioned sum without delay. I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred. Yours sincerely, Chloe De : Chloe Abi < abic2900@gmail.com > Envoye le : Lu, 5 Jun 2017 23:59 Sujet : APPLICATION for REQUEST of CLAIM COPY THIS APPLICATION LETTER BELOW AND SEND TO THE BANK = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = To The Chief Executive Officer and Director Al Rayan Bank PLC Formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Al Rayan Bank PLC Formerly Islamic Bank of Britain Sultan Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer and Director PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom Phone +44 129 889 0137 al_rayan.b@accountant.com APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM Sir / Madam, My name is . . . . . . . ., From . . . . . . . the business partner to Late Dr. Benjack Dennis, who was assassinated on February 06, 2008 when Gun men shot him while still inside the Libya capital, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIMSir / Madam,My name is . . . . . . . ., From . . . . . . . the business partner to Late Dr. Benjack Dennis, who was assassinated on February 06, 2008 when Gun men shot him while still inside the Libya capital, Tripoli.After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars $15.5 Million deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $15.5 Millioninto my nominated bank account, Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim this above mentioned sum without delay. I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred. Yours sincerely If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) Tech major HP today said it has elevated Rajiv Srivastava to the newly created regional position of chief operating officer and head of sales strategy and operations for its Asia Pacific (APAC) and Japan operations. Sumeer Chandra will replace Srivastava as managing director and general manager of HP India, it said in a statement. advertisement Srivastava and Chandra will report to HP President Asia Pacific and Japan Richard Bailey in their new roles beginning in May 2017, it added. "As outstanding leaders with proven track records, I am confident Srivastava and Chandra will deliver innovation that drives growth and business results for our customers and partners across India and the region," Bailey said. Chandra, who was earlier serving as the India COO, will now be responsible for helping customers in India capitalise on the growing market opportunities through HPs range of solutions spanning personal systems, printing systems, graphics solutions and managed services, the statement said. He joined HP in 2006 and has held multiple local and global senior management positions across HPs personal systems, printing and graphics solutions businesses. Prior to joining HP, Chandra was associated with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). PTI SR ABI --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Dubai, Apr 11 (PTI) An Indian man has left the UAE after he was sacked from a company in Dubai following his abusive post against a compatriot woman journalist on social media and offensive remarks against Islam, according to a media report. The 31-year-old employee, who worked at Alpha Paints - sister company of National Paint, left the UAE at 7 PM on Monday and returned to India, Khaleej Times reported, citing a human resources manager at the company. advertisement The manager said the employee was sacked after the management launched an investigation based on complaints they received from UAE residents. The employee then requested to leave the country immediately before serious legal action was taken against him. "Hes a newlywed man, and he knew the seriousness of the mistake he has committed. He broke the cybercrime law and was afraid that a serious legal action would be taken against him, so he asked to leave the country immediately," said the manager, stressing that the company had no influence behind his decision of leaving. The employee sent abusive messages to Rana Ayyub, an investigative journalist based in New Delhi. Ayub exposed the vulgar messages on Twitter sent to her by the man, following which some of her followers reported the matter to the management of the UAE company where the Indian worked, Gulf News earlier reported. The employee identified as B B, from Kerala, joined Alpha Paint in Dubai in 2015. He worked as a customer service employee. Under the United Arab Emirates cybercrime law, any form of misuse of a computer, smart device or an electronic network could fetch the violator, if found guilty, a stern punishment that could go up to a life sentence and/or a fine varying between Dh50,000 and Dh3 million. The mans visa was cancelled yesterday. Ayyub told Gulf News that she will be filing a police case against the accused in New Delhi. PTI AMS ZH AKJ ZH --- ENDS --- The system includes digitisation of processes like bill submission, inspection, dispatches, receipt, bill passing and bill payments. By Mail Today Bureau: The Indian Railways will be launching digital contract, a system of digitisation of its entire supply chain across all zones. The step is aimed at improving the ease of doing business and transparency. With 100 per cent e-tenders and e-auctions already assimilated into the system, railways are further planning to build on these initiatives to achieve seamless flow of material, finances and information. advertisement WHAT IS THE DIGITAL CONTRACT? Digital contract, a seamlessly integrated digital supply chain, to be launched by railway minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday, envisages involving stakeholders including industries, financial institutions, customers and inspecting agencies to create an efficient, responsive and transparent system. The system includes digitisation of processes like bill submission, inspection, dispatches, receipt, bill passing and bill payments and enabling use of analytics for increasing supply-chain efficiencies in real time. Digitisation of supply chain should be seen as a tool for generating efficiencies, reducing entry barriers and transaction costs and increasing transparency, said a senior railway ministry official. "Railways have a vast supply chain to maintain, sustain and build its huge asset base, to run the system, and to provide transportation service which is safe, secure and efficient. The supply chain of railways has a large number of stakeholders and involves huge recurring expenditure of the order of `50,000 crore annually. This supply chain of railways generates large volumes of business and employment upstream, hence it is critical in railway functioning. Digitisation of processes can also help in linking budgets directly with the outcomes," the official said. Such digitisation will enable use of analytics for decision-making, reduce inventories and reduce procurement cycle time leading to reduced cost of products/services. "We intend to usher into a new era by switching over to paperless contract management system, where not only the bids are invited online but the entire process leading to award of a tender is also done electronically." Also Read: Indian Railways set new records of increase in passengers and earnings Turnaround for Indian Railways: Reforms lead to record Rs 1.67 lakh crore freight revenues Also Watch: 1 lakh crore allocated for safety fund, highest in history of railway: Suresh Prabhu --- ENDS --- Eleven eminent scientists and exceptional early career researchers have been honoured in the annual Biochemical Society Awards. The Awards recognise excellence and achievement in both specific and general fields of science from established researchers, as well as scientists in the early stages of their career. Each winner exemplifies the very best of the bioscience community in fields ranging from bioenergetics and electron transport to lipidomics. This year, the winners' list includes a number of high-profile international scientists from the UK, Austria, France, Germany and USA. These include Professor Frank McCormick, PhD, FRS, a Professor of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Professor McCormick is renowned for his transformative discoveries in RAS Biology and Biochemistry. Dr Anne Bertolotti, has become the first woman to win the GlaxoSmithKline Award in the Award's 13 year history. The GlaxoSmithKline Award is given in recognition of research leading to new advances in medical science. Dr Bertolotti has made outstanding contributions to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning neurodegenerative diseases and has translated her findings towards the therapeutic arena by developing a new drug candidate (Sephin1) that brings hope for the treatment of age-related diseases. Professor Colin D Bingle, Acting Chair of the Awards Committee, said: "The Biochemical Society Awards are the perfect way to honour exceptional scientists within the bioscience community. As ever, the entry criteria are tough and the standards high and the awards are a real tribute to the talent within our community. On behalf of the Society, I'd like to congratulate the winners, all of whom have made outstanding contributions in their fields. Well done." The 2018 Biochemical Society Award winners: The Centenary Award Professor Frank McCormick, University of California San Francisco, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA The Colworth Medal Dr Matthew Johnson, University of Sheffield, UK GlaxoSmithKline Award Dr Anne Bertolotti, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, UK Industry and Academic Collaboration Award Professor Stefan Knapp, Goethe University, Germany International Award Professor Job Dekker, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA Keilin Memorial Lectureship Professor Neil Hunter, University of Sheffield, UK Morton Lectureship Professor Michael Wakelam, Babraham Institute, UK The Novartis Medal and Prize Professor Laurence Pearl University Sussex, UK Teaching Excellence Award Dr Deirdre Scadden, University of Cambridge, UK Early Career Research Award: Cells Dr Yasin Dagdas, Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austria Early Career Research Award: Molecular Structure & Function Dr Wojciech Galej, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, France ### For more information on the Biochemical Society Awards, please visit: https://www.biochemistry.org/Awards All of the award and medal lectures will take place in 2018 and award winners will be invited to submit an article to a Society-owned publication. CATONSVILLE, MD, April 11, 2017 - Firms sharing social responsibility for the social good with customers is generally seen as a win-win - more patronage from socially responsible customers and larger benefits to society. A forthcoming study in the INFORMS journal of Marketing Science, a leading academic marketing journal, however, questions the premise. The study finds that when a firm shares social responsibility with customers by asking them to "pay what you want," promising a certain percentage of revenues to be donated to charity, consumers respond to whether firms give, but very little to how much they give. A firm only needs to donate very little for customers to open up their wallet - a win for firms, but not for charities and society. The study titled "Signaling Virtue: Charitable Behavior under Consumer Elective Pricing," authored by Minah Jung of NYU, Leif Nelson of University of California at Berkeley, and Uri and Ayelet Gneezy both from University of California at San Diego examine consumer behavior under the broad umbrella of "shared social responsibility" - where firms and consumers take joint responsibility for the social good. They operationalize shared social responsibility creatively as a variant of "pay what you want pricing," at a major supermarket retailer in which over 27000 customers were offered the option of how much they would pay for the retailer's reusable shopping bag, when a certain portion of their payment goes to a charity. The surprising finding that customers are very sensitive to whether a portion of their payment goes to charity, but seemingly insensitive to how much goes to charity has critical implications for the design of shared social responsibility programs. In the field experiment, customers paid more than twice as much for a reusable shopping bag when told that 1 percent of their payment would go to charity relative to when nothing would be offered to charity. But they did not pay much more when donations increased to 50 percent, 99 percent or even 100 percent. A little charity goes a long way; a lot more does not go any further. Digging deeper into this surprising behavior, the researchers found that consumers felt the same level of "warm glow" - the emotional happiness from having done a good deed, irrespective of how much of their money went to a charity. "Consumers feel about the same whether 1 percent or 99 percent of their payment went to charity," said lead researcher, Jung. The authors dub the pattern that consumers are sensitive to whether firms give to charity, but not how much as "scope insensitivity." Scope sensitivity sounds anodyne, but it is by no means innocuous. Notes Ayelet Gneezy, "It gives firms perverse incentives in how they frame their corporate social responsibility programs. Offering a minimal contribution can increase profit dramatically. But as the charitable contribution increases consumers don't give more, so profits go down. The most profitable strategy for the firm is to give to charity, but the smallest possible amount." Nelson cautions, "Sharing social responsibility with one's customers sounds like a sure multiplier for the social good. Not so fast. When all customers care is for the warm glow of giving, sharing responsibility with them may not be the promised manna for the social good." ### About INFORMS With more than 12,500 members from around the globe, INFORMS is the leading international association for professionals in operations research and analytics. INFORMS promotes best practices and advances in operations research, management science, and analytics to improve operational processes, decision-making, and outcomes through an array of highly-cited publications, conferences, competitions, networking communities, and professional development services. Visit http://www.informs.org or @informs. Classical correlations are part of our everyday life. For instance, if one always puts on a pair of socks of the same color and shape, looking at the color or shape of one sock determines the color or shape of its pair. Even more, by observing the color and shape of one sock and we can simultaneously know the color and shape of the other one. Now, in the quantum realm, the entangled states of particles actually defies a basic uncertainty principle. That is, the sensitivity of being able to measure two properties at the same time is somehow limited by Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, which states that accurately measuring a pair of properties of, say an atom, puts a limit to the precision of measurement you can obtain on the pair of properties of another atom. Therefore, if the socks are said to be entangled, observing the color of one sock would allow us to predict the color of the other. However, if we also observe the shape of the sock, this would "disturb" the color, making it become completely unpredictable to a certain extent. This weird "synchronization" between particles is defined as "quantum entanglement" and is one of the intrinsic features of the quantum world. In nature, there exists a much stranger form of correlations known as nonlocal, which are manifested by some entangled states between atomic particles. By making the minimal assumptions that properties of objects (shape/color) exist regardless of our knowledge of them, and that information cannot propagate instantaneously, one finds that quantum physics can generate correlations that are incompatible with these two apparently reasonable principles. Although extremely fascinating to study, these nonlocal correlations are very hard to characterize in systems composed of many particles, mainly due to three reasons. First, classical correlations are mathematically very complex to study; second, quantum many-body states are very complex to describe as well due to the exponential growth of their description; and, third, currently available experimental techniques are rather limited, constraining the measurements that can be performed in the laboratory. In order to explore the role of nonlocal correlations in many-body quantum systems, one thus has to address these three problems at the same time. In a recent paper published in Physical Review X, a team of scientists from MPQ in Munich, ICFO in Barcelona, University of Innsbruck and the Center for Theoretical Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences have proposed a new simple test to study nonlocal correlations in quantum many-body systems. They have studied whether nonlocal correlations appear in natural systems, more precisely, as ground states of some spin Hamiltonians, such as electrons (described by their spin degree of freedom) in a system of one spatial dimension. By combining numerical and analytical results, they have shown that some Hamiltonians that have been studied by physicists for some decades have a state of minimal energy which can display nonlocal correlations. As the first author, Jordi Tura, has commented, "We provide a set of tools to study a problem that has always been complicated on its own. The techniques we developed are much simpler than they were until now. If you wanted to implement them in the lab, one would just need to ensure that the system is prepared in a state of sufficiently low energy." The results sheds some light onto this fascinating problem, hopefully sparking further progress in our understanding of nonlocality in quantum many-body systems. ### Reference: J. Tura, G. De las Cuevas, R. Augusiak, M. Lewenstein, A. Acin, J. I. Cirac, Energy as a detector of nonlocality of many-body spin systems, Phys. Rev. X, 7, 021005 (2017) (BOSTON) - A team led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers has identified a novel therapeutic target for retinal neovascularization, or abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, a hallmark of advanced diabetic eye disease (proliferative diabetic retinopathy). According to a report published online today in Diabetes, the transcription factor RUNX1 was found in abnormal retinal blood vessels, and by inhibiting RUNX1 with a small molecule drug, the researchers achieved a 50 percent reduction of retinopathy in preclinical models. These findings pave the way for new therapies that address diabetic retinopathy and other conditions involving abnormal vessel growth within the retina. "Current treatments to control retinal neovascularization require injecting very large proteins, including antibodies, into the eyes of patients, as often as once a month. Our study opens the door for novel modalities of treatment based on small molecules that could cross biological barriers on their own. Such a treatment could be self-administered by patients and eliminate the need for intravitreal injections," said co-corresponding author Joseph F. Arboleda-Velasquez, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. Neovascularization is a feature of various health conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinopathy of prematurity, and cancer. In the case of diabetic retinopathy -- the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults -- blood vessels in the retina (the structure in the back of the eye that senses and perceives light) become damaged and leak fluid. Accumulation of fluid into the retina can lead to swelling at the center of the retina (macular edema) and growth of pathological blood vessels on its surface. As diabetes-related damage progresses, these vessels can leak, rupture, or cause retinal detachment leading to impaired vision. In the Diabetes report, the authors studied tissue from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. They identified the presence of RUNX1 in the diseased blood vessels but not in the normal blood vessels. Next, they used a small molecule drug originally developed as a cancer therapy to inhibit the activity of RUNX1 in the eye, which led to a significant reduction of abnormal blood vessels. Current strategies for treating abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina for proliferative diabetic retinopathy include laser treatments or eye injections targeting a growth factor (VEGF). While these therapies have been remarkably successful in saving vision in many patients they can, in rare instances, trigger complications such as retinal hemorrhages, detachments or retinal atrophy. The study authors are hopeful that inhibiting RUNX1 may present a more targeted opportunity for managing the retinopathy of certain eye conditions -- perhaps earlier in the disease process, before the abnormal blood vessels develop. Future studies will test whether the drug can be delivered through topical eye drops rather than by injection, and further explore the relationship between RUNX1 and VEGF, as these factors seemingly both play a role in angiogenesis. "We're hopeful that we may have an opportunity to change the treatment paradigm for these conditions," said co-corresponding author Leo A. Kim, M.D., Ph.D., a retina surgeon at Mass. Eye and Ear and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. "Instead of treating patients after these abnormal blood vessels form in the eye, we may be able to give patients eye drops or systemic medications that prevent their development in the first place." ### In addition to Drs. Kim and Arboleda-Velasquez, authors on the Diabetes report include co-corresponding author Patricia A. D'Amore, Ph.D., M.B.A., and first authors Jonathan D. Lam, M.D., and Daniel J. Oh M.D., of Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear. Additional co-authors include Lindsay L. Wong, Dhanesh Amarnani, Cindy Park-Windhol, Ph.D., Angie V. Sanchez M.D., and Jonathan Cardona-Velez M.D., also of Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear, Declan McGuone, M.D., and Anat O. Stemmer-Rachimov, M.D., of the Kubik Laboratory for Neuropathology of Mass General, Dean Eliott, M.D., and Tave van Zyl, M.D., of the Retina Service of Mass. Eye and Ear, Diane R. Bielenberg, Ph.D., of Boston Children's Hospital, and Xiaowu Gai, Ph.D., and Lishuang Shen, Ph.D. of Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Support for the study includes National Institutes of Health grants R01EY005318, R00EY021624, UH2NS100121-01, R21EY027061, K12EY16335 and P30EY003790. Additional support was provided by the American Diabetes Association Innovation Award, the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, the E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for the Blind, the Karl Kirchgessner Foundation, the Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Research Fellows Program. About Massachusetts Eye and Ear Mass. Eye and Ear clinicians and scientists are driven by a mission to find cures for blindness, deafness and diseases of the head and neck. Now united with Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass. Eye and Ear is the world's largest vision and hearing research center, developing new treatments and cures through discovery and innovation. Mass. Eye and Ear is a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and trains future medical leaders in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, through residency as well as clinical and research fellowships. Internationally acclaimed since its founding in 1824, Mass. Eye and Ear employs full-time, board-certified physicians who offer high-quality and affordable specialty care that ranges from the routine to the very complex. In the 2016-2017 "Best Hospitals Survey," U.S. News & World Report ranked Mass. Eye and Ear #1 in the nation for ear, nose and throat care and #1 in the Northeast for eye care. For more information about life-changing care and research, or to learn how you can help, please visit MassEyeAndEar.org. About the Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology The Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Ophthalmology (eye.hms.harvard.edu) is one of the leading and largest academic departments of ophthalmology in the nation. More than 350 full-time faculty and trainees work at nine HMS affiliate institutions, including Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Joslin Diabetes Center/Beetham Eye Institute, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, VA Maine Healthcare System, and Cambridge Health Alliance. Formally established in 1871, the department has been built upon a strong and rich foundation in medical education, research, and clinical care. Through the years, faculty and alumni have profoundly influenced ophthalmic science, medicine, and literature--helping to transform the field of ophthalmology from a branch of surgery into an independent medical specialty at the forefront of science. For most people, the end of a war offers relief, hope, and an end to violence. This may not be the case for children born of wartime rape, however, who often endure continued brutality in the post-war period. That finding emerges from a new study of children born to mothers who were abducted, held captive, and sexually violated by members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group led by Joseph Kony during the civil war in northern Uganda from 1986 to 2007. Because little attention has been paid to the perspectives of children born of wartime rape, researchers from McGill University joined forces with Watye Ki Gen, a collective of women who were abducted by the LRA and held in captivity. Together, they interviewed 60 children and youths born within the LRA and currently living in northern Uganda. Participants in this study were between the ages of 12 and 19 at the time they were interviewed. Many had spent their formative years in captivity, ranging from a few months after being born to 7 years. To supplement interviews and focus groups and to enable participants to express themselves in multiple forms, the youth were invited to participate in an arts-based workshop. When asked to draw their family before and after the war, children often drew themselves and their siblings with sad faces in post-war drawings. When questioned about this, children explained that in many ways they felt their lives were actually better during the war. This surprising finding, published in Child Abuse & Neglect, is a result of multiple forms of violence, stigma, rejection, social exclusion, and socio-economic marginalization endured by children born in LRA captivity, explains Myriam Denov, lead author of the study and professor at McGill's School of Social Work. "The fact that children and youth identify the state of war and captivity--when violence, upheaval, starvation, deprivation and ongoing terror were at its height--as better than life during peacetime is highly disconcerting and demonstrates the extent of their perceived post-war marginalization," says Professor Denov, a leading expert on war-affected children and author of Child Soldiers: Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front. "Life is hard" Youths interviewed for the study--some of whom shared the same father, LRA leader Joseph Kony--often articulated that "war was better than peace" because during the conflict they felt a greater sense of family cohesion and status within the LRA. "Life is hard here because people stigmatize us ... they have turned their hate against us ... In my family, they hate the three of us who were born in captivity ... My uncle beats us and said he would kill us. He doesn't want rebel children, Kony children, at home," explained one of the participants. The findings underscore the need for support services to reverse the perception that war is better than peace. Specifically, youths stressed the need for livelihood programs targeting their socioeconomic marginalization, support for school fees, psychosocial support and community sensitization and reconciliation programs ### A new study assessing the underwater soundscape off Southern California found that blue, fin and humpback whales experience a range of acoustic environments, including noise from shipping traffic as well as quieter areas within a national marine sanctuary. The study appeared in a special issue of Endangered Species Research focusing on ocean noise. "Our research provides a framework that can be used to evaluate how shipping traffic affects acoustic environments and a tool to explore existing and future management strategies," said Jessica Redfern, a research biologist at NOAA Fisheries' Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, Calif., and the lead author of the study. Other authors include scientists from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Office of Science and Technology, the National Park Service and private consulting companies. The analysis is a case study in NOAA's Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap, which describes methods of measuring and assessing the impacts of ocean noise. Blue whales feed in Southern California waters from about June to October, while humpback whales feed in the area from March to November and fin whales have been found there year-round. Underwater shipping noise occurs at low frequencies and these three species of large whales are low frequency hearing and communication specialists. Therefore, the potential for low frequency noise to mask communication has been identified as a primary concern. The study used U.S. Coast Guard data on ship traffic from 2009 to estimate sound levels throughout Southern California waters, including areas south and west of Point Conception and in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The analysis found that about 95 percent or more of the study area (see the maps) contained noise exceeding references for preindustrial levels. The analysis also found elevated noise levels in important whale feeding grounds and other areas expected to have higher whale densities, especially the Santa Barbara Channel, areas offshore of Point Conception, west of San Miguel Island and south of San Miguel Island and Santa Rosa Island. The analysis also found that some important blue and humpback whale feeding areas overlap quieter coastal waters near Point Conception and in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The analysis found both noisy and quieter areas in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Noisier areas occur primarily where an established shipping route intersects the Sanctuary's boundaries. Apart from this area, the sanctuary is relatively quiet compared to the rest of the study area (see the maps). Although the Sanctuary does not regulate noise, the quieter areas occur where the Sanctuary is designated as an area for ships to avoid to reduce risks of grounding and pollution. This designation demonstrates that there may be effective strategies to mitigate the risks of noise to marine species, researchers said. "Noise levels appear to be lower within some areas of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, perhaps providing some respite to whales who have to live in an increasingly noisy ocean," said Chris Mobley, Sanctuary Superintendent. "This analysis framework will help guide our on-going effort to protect whales from direct and indirect interactions with ships." ### Today, the National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), named 10 finalists for the third annual Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC). CCIC fosters development of crucial science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) innovation skills in students at community colleges by challenging them to propose innovative, STEM-based solutions to complex, real-world problems. "For the third year in a row, CCIC raised the bar," said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, NSF's acting chief operating officer, who helped launch the competition. "CCIC illustrates the kind of STEM talent and creativity available in the nation's community colleges. It provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for stimulating STEM innovation among students and fostering entrepreneurial and professional skills." CCIC teams consist of three to five students, a faculty mentor and a community or industry partner. Teams submit written and video entries proposing solutions associated with one of three themes: Maker to Manufacturer Energy and Environment Security Technologies Finalists have the opportunity to attend an NSF-AACC-sponsored Innovation Boot Camp in Arlington, Virginia in June. At the boot camp, students will learn how to put their proposals into action to make real-world change. "AACC is proud to partner with the NSF in recognizing the 10 CCIC finalist teams and their exemplary efforts in advancing STEM solutions to address national and global challenges around sustaining energy pathways, supporting Maker to Manufacturer practice and securing cyberspace," said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC president and CEO. "Community college students are today's innovators in contributing to a more sustainable and secure future." NSF's Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) funds CCIC. "We asked teams of community college students, alongside faculty mentors and industry partners, to propose innovative, STEM-based solutions for real-world problems," said Jim Lewis, acting head of EHR. "They responded with revolutionary projects that redesign solar panels, address issues of homelessness and defend against cyberattacks. With creative thinking like this, we are confident that our investment in community colleges will produce a vital return in building up the U.S. science and engineering enterprise." The 10 finalists are: Maker to Manufacturer Del Mar College, Texas: Slowing Antibiotic Resistance with EnteroSword The Slowing Antibiotic Resistance with EnteroSword project advocates the use of tailor-made viruses that target bacteria that are resistant to conventional antibiotics treatment methods. The Slowing Antibiotic Resistance with EnteroSword project advocates the use of tailor-made viruses that target bacteria that are resistant to conventional antibiotics treatment methods. Laney College, California: Laney College Pocket House Project The Laney College Pocket House Project aims to overturn homelessness by using digital fabrication methods to create safe, inexpensive homes that are quick to manufacture and simple to assemble with minimal waste. Energy and Environment Corning Community College, New York: Project WaterFED Project WaterFED aims to give people in communities with limited access to drinking water the tools to create water filters and other products by recycling discarded plastics. Project WaterFED aims to give people in communities with limited access to drinking water the tools to create water filters and other products by recycling discarded plastics. Oakton Community College, Illinois: Evaluation of Baking Oven Exhaust Recovery The Evaluation of Baking Oven Exhaust Recovery project contributes to development of innovative technology by evaluating exhaust potential from various bakery processes that waste water and energy. The Evaluation of Baking Oven Exhaust Recovery project contributes to development of innovative technology by evaluating exhaust potential from various bakery processes that waste water and energy. Forsyth Technical, North Carolina: Renewable Energy Roof Tile System Forsyth Technical proposes a renewable energy, roof tile system that offers a realistic alternative to fossil fuels and traditional solar panels by using energy not only from the sun, but from changes in temperature and physical forces like wind or hail. Forsyth Technical proposes a renewable energy, roof tile system that offers a realistic alternative to fossil fuels and traditional solar panels by using energy not only from the sun, but from changes in temperature and physical forces like wind or hail. Henry Ford College, Michigan: Veteroil: An Alternative Energy from Yard Waste The Henry Ford College proposal seeks to replace fossil fuel with a biofuel, saving cities thousands of dollars by reducing the amount of yard waste fill disposed in landfills each year. The Henry Ford College proposal seeks to replace fossil fuel with a biofuel, saving cities thousands of dollars by reducing the amount of yard waste fill disposed in landfills each year. El Paso Community College, Texas: Paso Del Norte Solar Innovators Team El Paso Community College created a material for all standard solar panels that will reduce the point in time that energy production is negatively affected by high temperatures. Team El Paso Community College created a material for all standard solar panels that will reduce the point in time that energy production is negatively affected by high temperatures. Frederick Community College, Maryland: Recycled Solar Stations for Energy The Frederick Community College team plans to piggyback off recent research to experimentally determine the energy output of bacteria. The team will work toward building a better bio-solar cell by changing the materials used in bio-solar cell creation. Security Technologies Bucks County Community College, Pennsylvania: Simply Secure The Simply Secure project would produce a low-cost, portable device that small businesses and everyday consumers could use to confidently and securely connect to any wireless network, regardless of whether that network has been compromised. The Simply Secure project would produce a low-cost, portable device that small businesses and everyday consumers could use to confidently and securely connect to any wireless network, regardless of whether that network has been compromised. Red Rocks Community College, Colorado: Attackerspace Learning Attackerspace Learning allows students to take a holistic approach to cybersecurity and learn how to defend against real-time attacks in a small enterprise network. ### How criminals can steal your PIN by tracking the motion of your phone Hackers are able to decipher PINs and passwords just from the way we tilt our phone when we are typing in the information. Cyber experts at Newcastle University, UK, have revealed the ease with which malicious websites, as well as installed apps, can spy on us using just the information from the motion sensors in our mobile phones. Analysing the movement of the device as we type in information, they have shown it is possible to crack four-digit PINs with a 70% accuracy on the first guess - 100% by the fifth guess - using just the data collected via the phone's numerous internal sensors. Despite the threat, the research shows that people are unaware of the risks and most of us have little idea what the majority of the twenty five different sensors available on current smart phones do. And while all the major players in the industry are aware of the problem, no-one has yet been able to find a solution. Publishing their findings today in the International Journal of Information Security, the team are now looking at the additional risks posed by personal fitness trackers which are linked up to our online profiles and can potentially be used to interpret the slightest wrist movements as well as general physical activities such as sitting, walking, running, and different forms of commute. Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad, a Research Fellow in the School of Computing Science and lead author on the paper, explains: "Most smart phones, tablets, and other wearables are now equipped with a multitude of sensors, from the well-known GPS, camera and microphone to instruments such as the gyroscope, proximity, NFC, and rotation sensors and accelerometer. "But because mobile apps and websites don't need to ask permission to access most of them, malicious programs can covertly 'listen in' on your sensor data and use it to discover a wide range of sensitive information about you such as phone call timing, physical activities and even your touch actions, PINs and passwords. "More worrying, on some browsers, we found that if you open a page on your phone or tablet which hosts one of these malicious code and then open, for example, your online banking account without closing the previous tab, then they can spy on every personal detail you enter. "And worse still, in some cases, unless you close them down completely, they can even spy on you when your phone is locked. "Despite the very real risks, when we asked people which sensors they were most concerned about we found a direct correlation between perceived risk and understanding. So people were far more concerned about the camera and GPS than they were about the silent sensors." Access without permission Sensors are now commonplace in smart devices and are largely responsible for the boom in mobile gaming and health and fitness apps, and soon in all devices in the Internet of Things (IoT). The data provided by them combined with the growing computational ability of mobile phones and tablets has transformed the way we use them. In total, the team identified 25 different sensors which now come as standard on most smart devices and are used to give different information about the device and its user. Only a small number of these - such as the camera and GPS - ask the user's permission to access the device. The study found that each user touch action - clicking, scrolling, holding and tapping - induces a unique orientation and motion trace. So on a known webpage, the team were able to determine what part of the page the user was clicking on and what they were typing. "It's a bit like doing a jigsaw - the more pieces you put together the easier it is to see the picture," explains Dr Siamak Shahandashti, a Senior Research Associate in the School of Computing Science and co-author on the study. "Depending on how we type - whether you hold your phone in one hand and use your thumb, or perhaps hold with one hand and type with the other, whether you touch or swipe - the device will tilt in a certain way and it's quite easy to start to recognise tilt patterns associated with 'Touch Signatures' that we use regularly. "So the internal sensors each provide a different bit of the jigsaw. Personal fitness trackers which you wear on your wrist and, by their very nature, are designed to track the movement of your hand and pass information to your online profile pose a whole new threat. "Potentially, they are able to provide additional information which, when combined with this sensor data, will make it even easier to decipher personal information." So are we able to protect ourselves? The team has alerted all the major browser providers - including Google and Apple - of the risks but for the moment, says Dr Mehrnezhad, no-one has been able to come up with an answer. "It's a battle between usability and security," she says. "We all clamour for the latest phone with the latest features and better user experience but because there is no uniform way of managing sensors across the industry they pose a real threat to our personal security. "One way would be to deny access to the browser altogether but we don't want to lose all the benefits associated with in-built motion sensors." As the result of the research, some of the mobile browser vendors such as Mozilla, Firefox and Apple Safari have partially fixed the problem, but for an ultimate solution, the Newcastle team is still working with industry. Dr Mehrnezhad, who together with her colleague and co-author Ehsan Toreini run the Cyber Security: Safety at Home, Online, In Life course, part of Newcastle University's series of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), say there are some simple rules people should follow: Make sure you change PINs and passwords regularly so malicious websites can't start to recognise a pattern. Close background apps when you are not using them and uninstall apps you no longer need Keep your phone operating system and apps up to date Only install applications from approved app stores Audit the permissions that apps have on your phone Scrutinise the permission requested by apps before you install them and choose alternatives with more sensible permissions if needed ### More information on how to stay safe can be found here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/cyber-security/2/steps/160839 The party has formed a co-ordination committee with local volunteers and social activists from Assam following a meeting in capital Guwahati on Monday. By Indrajit Kundu: Civil rights activist Irom Sharmila's party People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) is gearing up to launch the party's unit in neighbouring Assam. Sharmila, who had announced her decision to quit politics after the debacle in last month's Manipur Assembly elections is currently on a break to introspect and explore new avenues to continue her fight against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). advertisement The party has formed a co-ordination committee with local volunteers and social activists from Assam following a meeting in capital Guwahati on Monday. PRJA will formally announce the formation of its Assam unit in a month's time and aims to contest in the state Panchayat polls later this year. According to party spokesperson James Mayengban, the entire region reels under similar problems and therefore it was important join forces for the same cause. PLANS FOR MEGHALAYA, ARUNACHAL PRADESH Not just Assam, PRJA is also aiming to expand in other North Eastern state like Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh too. PRJA, which was launched in October last year, failed to make a mark in the Manipur assembly elections, with party's star candidate Irom Sharmila getting barely 90 votes against former chief minister Ibobi Singh against whom she contested from Thoubal. However, the party believes that it has been able to make a positive start despite its poor show and hopes to build on from here. Shamila, who announced her decision to quit politics after the state elections have been camping in Kerala. She has since attended several events organised by various rights groups in her campaign against AFSPA. WATCH | Irom Sharmila to India Today: Don't want to be Jesus or Mahatma Gandhi; I'm a normal person Also read: Irom Sharmila to get married after Manipur assembly election, apologises for boyfriend's behaviour Manipur Election Results shocker: 90 votes for Irom Sharmila's 16 years of fast forces her to quit politics --- ENDS --- CORVALLIS, Ore. -Not all Latinos face the same health challenges, suggesting that public health approaches may need to be tailored based on needs of the diverse groups within the Latino population, new research from Oregon State University indicates. Much of the health research today tends to focus on Latinos as a single racial/ethnic group. But in reality, that group includes people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Central American and South American, and the health risks they face may vary from group to group, said lead researcher Daniel Lopez-Cevallos, assistant professor of ethnic studies in OSU's College of Liberal Arts. "What we found is that it's important to be careful not to make assumptions that everyone who is considered Hispanic or Latino can be put into the same basket," he said. "There are differences within the group that are important to take into consideration when it comes to addressing public health issues such as cardiovascular health." The study was published this month in the journal Ethnicity and Health. The findings underscore the need for further examination of differences within the Hispanic/Latino population, particularly when developing medical treatments or public health interventions, said Lopez-Cevallos, who also is associate director of research for the Center for Latino/a Studies and Engagement at OSU. "As the Latino population continues to grow, these differences between groups will be more and more important to addressing health needs," Lopez-Cevallos said. The Hispanic/Latino population is the largest and one of the fastest-growing racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death among Hispanic/Latinos. Lopez-Cevallos set out to examine the relationship between wealth and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including obesity and high blood pressure, and wealth among Hispanic/Latinos of diverse backgrounds. Past research has shown that increased wealth - defined as the accumulation of property such as homes and cars, savings and more - has been linked to better cardiovascular health across various racial and ethnic groups. But among Hispanic/Latinos, the association between wealth and heart health has been inconsistent. An analysis of health data for nearly 5,000 Hispanic/Latino people ages 18 to 74, collected for the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos and the Sociocultural Ancillary Study, showed that on whole there was no strong association between wealth and cardiovascular health among Hispanic/Latinos. More than a third of the participants, about 37 percent, had low wealth, while 45 percent were in the middle wealth category and 18 percent were in the high wealth category. Among Hispanic/Latinos with high wealth, Mexicans were the largest group represented, with 55 percent, and Central Americans had the lowest share of high wealth, at 4 percent. As researchers began to examine the links between health and wealth among subgroups of the Latino population, they found that health and wealth were closely associated for some groups but not others. For example, wealthier Central Americans were less likely to be obese, while wealthier Puerto Ricans were more likely to be obese. "Within this group, there is a diversity of experiences," he said. "What is it about the experience of wealthy Puerto Ricans that is different from the experience of wealthy Central Americans? Unless we explore those differences further, we won't be able to understand and address health risk factors appropriately." Further research is needed to understand and tailor public health messaging and health interventions for sub-groups within the Hispanic/Latino population, Lopez-Cevallos said. "As the Latino population continues to grow, these differences within groups will become more and more important," he said. "We really need to amp up our study of these deeper differences." ### Researchers have found signs of fault displacement at well-known rock outcrops in Colorado that mark the end-Cretaceous asteroid impact that may have hurried the extinction of the dinosaurs. They will present their results in a poster at the 2017 Seismological Society of America's (SSA) Annual Meeting. Norm Sleep of Stanford University and colleagues suggest that the impact, which occurred near the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, could have generated massive seismic waves that triggered earthquakes as far away as Colorado, in the center of a tectonic plate where no previous fault had existed. Sleep and his colleagues found evidence for the fault in two areas in Colorado's Trinidad Lakes State Park, where a layer of iridium generated by the asteroid impact clearly marks the boundary between Cretaceous and Tertiary-age rocks, at the time of the dinosaurs' extinction about 65 million years ago. At the Long's Canyon and Madrid Canyon roadcuts, "there is a fault that slipped about a meter at the time of the impact," Sleep said. "It offset the material below the impact layer but not above, but it's not something that would be obvious to the casual observer." The researchers suggest that the Colorado earthquake may have been as large as magnitude 6. Very strong seismic waves from the impact--much larger than would be generated by a regular earthquake, Sleep said--would be necessary to trigger an earthquake in this location, in the middle of a tectonic plate with no previous faults. The end-Cretaceous asteroid strike, however, could have generated ground velocities of a meter or two per second, Sleep said. "The ground would be moving up and down and sideways like a ship in a strong storm." At the time of the earthquake, the area in Colorado was a swampy, delta-like environment, crossed by large braided streams that ran from the young Rocky Mountains. Sleep and his colleagues saw signs that the earthquake had diverted a small stream in the area. This summer, the researchers will be checking in New Mexico near the Raton Basin for further signs of intraplate quakes that may have been triggered by the asteroid strike. ### Among patients with acute low back pain, spinal manipulation therapy was associated with modest improvements in pain and function at up to 6 weeks, with temporary minor musculoskeletal harms, according to a study published by JAMA. Back pain is among the most common symptoms prompting patients to seek care. Lifetime prevalence estimates of low back pain exceed 50 percent. Treatments for acute back pain include analgesics, muscle relaxants, exercises, physical therapy, heat, spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) and others, with none established as superior to others. Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., Ph.D., of the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Los Angeles, and colleagues conducted a review and meta-analysis of previous studies to assess the effectiveness and harms associated with spinal manipulation compared with other nonmanipulative therapies for adults with acute (six weeks or less) low back pain. Of 26 eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs) identified, 15 RCTs (1,711 patients) provided moderate-quality evidence that SMT has a statistically significant association with improvements in pain. Twelve RCTs (1,381 patients) produced moderate-quality evidence that SMT has a statistically significant association with improvements in function. No RCT reported any serious adverse event. Minor transient adverse events such as increased pain, muscle stiffness, and headache were reported 50 percent to 67 percent of the time in large case series of patients treated with SMT. Heterogeneity (differences) in study results was large, and was not explained by type of clinician performing SMT, type of manipulation, study quality, or whether SMT was given alone or as part of a package of therapies. The authors write that the size of the benefit of SMT for acute low back pain is about the same as the benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to the Cochrane review on this topic. ### (doi:10.1001/jama.2017.3086; the study is available pre-embargo at the For the Media website) Editor's Note: Please see the articles for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc. Until now, a heavy glass pane weighing approximately 80 kilos has prevented a valuable, centuries-old silk tunic attributed to Saint Ambrose from being restored in Milan. With a team of restorers and art transporters, an archeologist at the University of Bonn has now managed to free the work of art, the tunic, from its heavy load, preserve the fabric and thus retain it for posterity. Already in the early Christian church, relics were widespread. The religiously revered legacies of the saints also include, for instance, textiles. Valuable silk garments in Milan are thus attributed to Saint Ambrose. The patron saint of the city lived in the fourth century, and his remains rest there in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, which bears his name. As bishop of the imperial residence of Milan, Ambrose pushed for the veneration of relics, and the Ambrosian chants, for instance, also date back to his time. "The silk garments that are venerated as relics of the saint also include an exquisitely beautiful tunic," says Prof. Sabine Schrenk from the department of Christian Archeology at the University of Bonn. The ravages of time have taken their toll on the valuable textile, yet it was not possible to perform new preservation work because the silk tunic has been stored in Milan for many years under a heavy glass pane weighing around 80 kilos. "The glass was intended to protect the relic," reports Schrenk. "However, the silk textile created waves underneath, and the great weight of the glass pane thus damaged the centuries-old fibers." Experts have extensive experience with valuable silk textiles Preserving the garment was a major challenge: how can the glass be removed from the silk cloth without it breaking or it tearing the fibers that have adhered to it? As Sabine Schrenk and the Colgne-based textile restorer Ulrike Reichert had already successfully preserved numerous silk fabrics in Sant'Ambrogio both of the experts have long been considering how such a tricky venture could succeed. Schrenk and Reichert devised a plan with those in charge at Sant'Ambrogio, Abate Erminio de Scalzi and Monsignore Biaggio Pizzi, as well as with the curators of monuments from the diocese and city, Dr. Carlo Capponi and Dr. Antonella Ranaldi. The art transporting company APICE from Milan played an important role in this: well accustomed to shipping heavy paintings and sculptures, the experts led by Fabiano Panzironi took on the heavy task of transporting and lifting the glass pane installation. The silk tunic measuring an impressive approx. 170 x 280 centimeters was stored in a drawer cabinet in the gallery of Sant'Ambrogio. However, this room was unsuitable for the preservation work. The transporters thus packed the glass panes with the valuable cargo between two large wooden boards, and the huge artwork was then carried vertically along the narrowest, winding corridors into the basilica's archive, which was transformed into a workshop for a month. "This transportation was highly risky," reports the restorer Ulrike Reichert. In some places, the art transporters had to proceed millimeter by millimeter to ensure the transit was ultimately successful. A sandwich made from wood, glass and silk tunic Once they arrived in the workshop, the six art transporters heaved the glass, silk tunic and wood sandwich onto a large table. The most dangerous moment of the preservation was now imminent. While the art transporters lifted the glass pane very slightly using suction handles, Ulrike Reichert used a flat stick to very carefully separate adhering parts of the silk tunic from the glass pane square centimeter by square centimeter. "This work took a long time - for the helpers, it was a feat of strength to keep the heavy pane in the air the whole time," says Schrenk. Then came the key moment: will the upper glass pane break when lifted and tear the tunic? Very carefully, the specialists lift the heavy pane centimeter by centimeter using the suction handles. The silk fibers remain intact! The carriers quickly lift the glass pane to one side and place it down on the table. The valuable fabric is now accessible for preservation. The fine silk fibers are carefully freed from dust and the valuable tunic is then protected against environmental influences with a lightweight acrylic glass. "The success shows that it was right to take the gamble," says Schrenk. "The great team mastered this challenge together." The project was sponsored by the Gielen-Leyendecker Foundation. ### Link to the video: https://youtu.be/KP4ZTXDZwi4 Media contact: Prof. Sabine Schrenk Christian Archeology Department University of Bonn Tel. +49-228-737454 E-mail: schrenk@uni-bonn.de Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland, have uncovered a mechanism through which a mutation in the STAT3 gene leads to a disorder in the development of the pancreas and to infant diabetes. Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM), or diabetes among infants less than six months of age, is a rare form of diabetes caused by a mutation in genes crusial to the development or function of beta cells. In about half of such cases, the disease becomes permanent (PNDM). Mutations in more than 20 genes have thus far been identified as causing the permanent variety of neonatal diabetes. Unlike in type 1 diabetes, NDM patients typically do not have the autoantibodies normally associated with diabetes. However, it was recently discovered that mutations which activate the STAT3 gene may result in neonatal diabetes that includes a strong autoimmune phenomenon. The mutation that activated the STAT gene most intensely (K392R) was found to cause the most severe form of neonatal diabetes. The mutation was discovered in 2014 in a Finnish patient, who had high levels of beta cell antibodies at birth and underdeveloped pancreas. The patient later developed several autoimmune manifestations in different organs. A new study, led by Professor Timo Otonkoski, examined the impact the STAT3 mutation has on the development of the pancreas by using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) derived from the patient's skin cells. The study was published in Cell Reports. The iPS cells produced from the skin cells were made to differentiate into pancreatic islet cells through a complex in vitro method that mirrors the normal development of the pancreas in humans. Before differentiation, the point mutation in the patient cells was repaired using CRISPR-CAS9 genome editing. After this, it was possible to compare the differentiation of the patient's cells during pancreatic development in two kinds of genetically similar cells: ones sick carrying the disease mutation and ones made healthy after being repaired through genome editing. The results showed that the mutated STAT3 protein produced by the patient's cells led to the premature differentiation of the pancreatic progenitor cells into endocrine cells that produce insulin or glucagon. The results were clearly apparent in both cell cultures and in cells transplanted to mice, which allowed the researchers to study the development of the cells for much longer. "The impact of the mutated STAT3 protein mechanism we discovered accounts for the underdeveloped pancreas and the early onset of diabetes, even without the damage done by autoimmune mechanisms," states Jonna Saarimaki-Vire, postdoctoral researcher and first author of the article. Professor Otonkoski and researcher Diego Balboa, who was in charge of genome editing, point out that even though the mutation is rare, the study has broader impact. "These results reveal the previously unknown significance of the STAT3 gene to pancreatic development. We also successfully used new stem cell technologies and genome editing methods that enable high-precision analysis of the mechanisms underlying disease mutations. We intend to use the same approach to study other diabetes genes in the future." ### Great Cold Spot comparable in scale to famous Great Red Spot (24,000 km west-east and 12,000 km north-south) The phenomenon, only recently observed, may have existed for thousands of years First direct evidence of a sustained weather system generated by polar aurorae and opens possibility on other planets A second Great Spot has been discovered on Jupiter by University of Leicester astronomers, rivalling the scale of the planet's famous Great Red Spot and created by the powerful energies exerted by the great planet's polar aurorae. Dubbed the 'Great Cold Spot', it has been observed as a localised dark spot, up to 24,000 km in longitude and 12,000 km in latitude, in the gas giant's thin high-altitude thermosphere, that is around 200K (Kelvin) cooler than the surrounding atmosphere, which can range in temperature between 700K (426C) and 1000K (726C). The results are published today (11 April) in Geophysical Research Letters. Dr Tom Stallard, Associate Professor in Planetary Astronomy and lead author of the study, said: "This is the first time any weather feature in Jupiter's upper atmosphere has been observed away from the planet's bright aurorae. "The Great Cold Spot is much more volatile than the slowly changing Great Red Spot, changing dramatically in shape and size over only a few days and weeks, but it has re-appeared for as long as we have data to search for it, for over 15 years. That suggests that it continually reforms itself, and as a result it might be as old as the aurorae that form it - perhaps many thousands of years old." The Great Cold Spot is thought to be caused by the effects of the magnetic field of the planet, with the massive planet's spectacular polar aurorae driving energy into the atmosphere in the form of heat flowing around the planet. This creates a region of cooling in the thermosphere, the boundary layer between the underlying atmosphere and the vacuum of space. Although we can't be sure what drives this weather feature, a sustained cooling is very likely to drive a vortex similar to the Great Red Spot. The astronomers used the CRIRES instrument on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to observe spectral emissions of H3+, an ion of hydrogen present in large amounts in Jupiter's atmosphere, which allowed the scientists to map the mean temperature and density of the planet's atmosphere. They then used images of H3+ emission from Jupiter's ionosphere taken by NASA's InfraRed Telescope Facility between 1995-2000 to compare. Through combining images taken over a period of time, including over 13,000 images taken over more than 40 nights by the InfraRed Telescope Facility, the astronomers revealed the presence of the Great Cold Spot as an area of darkness amongst the hot environment of Jupiter's upper atmosphere. Dr Stallard, who is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, added: "What is surprising at Jupiter is that, unlike weather systems on Earth, the Great Cold Spot has been observed at the same place across 15 years. That makes it more comparable to weather systems in Jupiter's lower atmosphere, like the Great Red Spot. "Observations and modelling of Earth's upper atmosphere have shown that, on the short term, there may be changes in the temperature and density of the upper atmosphere. "The two main differences are firstly that Earth's aurora sees dramatic changes caused by activity from the Sun, whereas Jupiter's aurora are dominated by gases from the volcanic moon Io, which are relatively slow and steady, and secondly that the atmospheric flows generated by Earth's aurora can drive heat quickly across the whole planet, making the upper atmosphere ring like a bell, while Jupiter's fast spin traps this energy nearer the poles." Dr Stallard added: "The detection of the Great Cold Spot was a real surprise to us, but there are indications that other features might also exist in Jupiter's upper atmosphere. Our next step will be to look for other features in the upper atmosphere, as well as investigating the Great Cold Spot itself in more detail. "The Juno spacecraft is currently in orbit around Jupiter and the observations of Jupiter's aurora and upper atmosphere by the JIRAM instrument that have been released so far already provide a wealth of new information about the planet. When combined with our ongoing campaign of observations using telescopes on Earth, we hope to gain a much better understanding of this weather system in the next few years." ### The full study in Geophysical Research Letters is available online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016GL071956/full Notes to editors: For more information contact Dr Tom Stallard on: Tel: 0116 252 3589 E-mail: tss8@leicester.ac.uk Watch a video interview with Dr Tom Stallard about the 'Great Cold Spot': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auDuqsulWYA Download visualisations and video of the 'Great Cold Spot': https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dm399mjhipr0mii/AACSVpyhkBvTd30kWcB4hJWEa?dl=0 The Science and Technology Facilities Council is keeping the UK at the forefront of international science and tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society such as meeting our future energy needs, monitoring and understanding climate change, and global security. The Council has a broad science portfolio including supporting UK work in space and ground-based astronomy technologies and research. http://www.stfc.ac.uk/ The University of Liverpool has been awarded 850,000 from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to further develop an award-winning device that could save the lives of women all over the world. Professor of International Maternal Health, Andrew Weeks from the Institute of Translational Medicine received the funds from NIHR's Innovation for Innovation programme (i4i) for the Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) Butterfly. PPH is often defined as the loss of more than 500ml or 1,000ml of blood within the first 24 hours following childbirth. It is a common maternity emergency affecting 40,000 British women each year. Although it can usually be treated in the UK, many suffer long-lasting complications. Major cause of death Globally, however, it remains a major cause of death and is responsible for around 25% of the 289,000 maternal deaths annually. Although common, its management has changed little over the last 30 years. But now Professor Weeks has developed the PPH Butterfly, a device that not only stops the bleeding immediately, but also helps to diagnose its source. Professor Weeks' collaboration with the University's Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Universities Hospital NHS Trust, Liverpool Business Gateway units, Protolabs, Plastribution and Pelican Feminine Health Care, led to the Research Innovation Award in the NIHR NW Research and Innovations awards in 2015. They were also shortlisted for the prestigious Plastics Industry Award in 2015. The first clinical trials of the device have now been successfully completed. The next phase will see the device tested this summer on women identified as suffering from PPH. Strong partnerships Professor Weeks, who is also a consultant obstetrician at the Liverpool Women's Hospital, said: "This funding is vital in helping us to take the development of this device forward. It is also a testament to strong partnership working with the University, the NHS and Industry partners. "Going forward we are currently developing a training package for those who will be using it with view to the clinical trials this summer." ### A paper regarding the development on the device, entitled 'PPH Butterfly: a novel device to treat postpartum haemorrhage through uterine compression', has been published in British Medical Journal Innovations and can be found here http://innovations.bmj.com/content/early/2017/01/30/bmjinnov-2016-000144 A video about the device can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlo4SoItJ1c LOGAN, UTAH, USA - Ecologists have long observed predators pursue disproportionately more of a plentiful prey species, and less of scarce prey, but change to the latter if it becomes relatively more abundant. Known as "prey switching," this phenomenon is ecologically important, because it helps to stabilize wildlife populations. But what if the more abundant prey is more dangerous? Utah State University researchers Aimee Tallian and Dan MacNulty report Yellowstone wolves seldom hunt bison, though plentiful, and, instead, pursue elk, a scarcer, yet safer target. Tallian and MacNulty, along with colleagues from the Yellowstone Center for Resources, the University of Montana and Oregon State University, discuss findings gleaned from long-term data collected from northern Yellowstone National Park in the April 11, 2017, issue of Functional Ecology [DOI #10.1111/1365-2435.12866]. A 2012 recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Tallian's research was performed under a NSF Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide grant. MacNulty is supported by a grant from NSF's Long-Term Environmental Biology program. "Prey switching has been observed in natural systems, where prey are small and generally helpless when attacked by a predator," says Tallian, who completed a doctoral degree at USU in 2017 and is lead author of the paper. "Imagine, for example, a lynx preying on snowshoe hares and squirrels." But the playing field becomes decidedly unlevel for wolves in their pursuit of much larger bison. An adult male bull, after all, typically weighs nearly a ton. "Our data reveal wolves maintained a strong preference against bison, even when bison were twice as abundant as elk," says MacNulty, assistant professor in USU's Department of Wildland Resources and the USU Ecology Center. "Hunting is hazardous business for wolves," says MacNulty, who's witnessed wolves kicked, gored and stomped to death by bison and other large prey. "Wolves minimize the risk of injury by focusing on more vulnerable prey, which are generally rare." For this reason, he says, risk-averse wolves spend a lot of time on the move searching for the safest target. Any injury that slows them down may eventually kill them. Tallian says the study further revealed wolves were increasingly resistant to hunting bison as relative bison abundance increased. "Wolves seldom hunted bison because their hunting success was limited to a narrow set of conditions, including larger wolf packs chasing smaller bison herds with vulnerable calves," she says. "Instead, wolves tended to scavenge bison carrion and did so more frequently as bison abundance increased." Tallian says wolf scavenging on bison carrion may divert predation away from elk, helping stabilize elk population dynamics. "The ability of wolves and other predators to shift between hunting and scavenging is an under-appreciated behavior that may play an important role in the dynamics of ecological communities with dangerous prey," she says. ### The Human Vaccines Project and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) today announced that they joined forces with Illumina, Inc., to decipher the human immunome, the genetic underpinnings of the immune system. Illumina will provide the genetic sequencing technologies and expertise required to process the massive amounts of data required to decode the human immunome. The Human Vaccines Project is a public-private partnership of academic research centers, industry, non-profits and government agencies that aims to decode the human immune system to accelerate development of next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies. A core initiative of the Project is the Human Immunome Program, an internationally led effort by VUMC to determine key principles of how the human immune system prevents and controls disease by illuminating the complete set of genes and molecular structures known as the human immunome. "By decoding the human immune system, we have the potential to uncover novel diagnostic biomarkers for a wide range of diseases," said James Crowe Jr., M.D., director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center and lead investigator of the Human Immunome Program. "This will enable the development of highly targeted vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious and non-communicable diseases like AIDS, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and cancer." Due to its scale and complexity, the human immunome is estimated to be billions of times larger than the human genome. With recent technological advances from biomedical and computational sciences, it is now possible to undertake such a mammoth genetic sequencing and data analysis program. "We are very pleased to collaborate with the Human Vaccines Project, Vanderbilt and its partners, by bringing Illumina's state of the art genetic sequencing and bioinformatics technologies to help solve this major challenge," said Gary Schroth, Ph.D., distinguished scientist and vice president for product development at Illumina. "Successfully defining the human immunome will provide the foundational knowledge to usher in a new era of vaccine, diagnostic and therapeutic development." "Illumina's involvement exemplifies the value of public-private partnerships in advancing medical science," said Wayne C. Koff, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Human Vaccines Project. "Collaboration offers significant opportunity to harness the human immune system and transform our ability to fight disease across the globe." The launch of the Project's Human Immunome Program was announced in June 2016. The long-term global study, which is coordinated by the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, will genetically sequence the receptors from B and T immune cells from individuals varied by age, gender, genetics, geography and disease states. Results will be shared as an open-sourced database to the global scientific community. "Sequencing the human immunome is the next frontier of genetic medicine. This important collaboration with The Human Vaccines Project and Illumina marks an exciting step in Vanderbilt's distinguished history and leadership in vaccine research and personalized medicine," said Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of VUMC and dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "Insights about the genetic underpinnings of the human immune system gained from this study will help guide future generations of biomarker and therapeutic development." This multi-institutional effort is also supported by the Human Vaccines Project Bioinformatics and Data Management Core, located at the J. Craig Venter Institute and the San Diego Super Computer Center at the University of California, San Diego. The Core will analyze the enormous data sets generated by the effort. ### About the Human Vaccines Project The Human Vaccines Project is a nonprofit public-private partnership with a mission to decode the human immune system to accelerate the development of vaccines and immunotherapies against major infectious diseases and cancers. The Project brings together leading academic research centers, industrial partners, nonprofits and governments to address the primary scientific barriers to developing new vaccines and immunotherapies. Support and funding for the Project includes the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, GSK, MedImmune, Sanofi Pasteur, Crucell/Janssen, Regeneron, Pfizer, Moderna, Boehringer Ingelheim, Aeras, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, UC San Diego, The Scripps Research Institute, J. Craig Venter Institute and La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology. To learn more, visit http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org and follow us on Twitter @HumanVacProject. About Illumina Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as the global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit http://www.illumina.com and follow @illumina. About Vanderbilt University Medical Center Managing more than 2 million patient visits each year, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is one of the largest academic medical centers in the Southeast, and is the primary resource for specialty and primary care in hundreds of adult and pediatric specialties for patients throughout Tennessee and the Mid-South. The School of Medicine's biomedical research program is among the nation's top 10 in terms of National Institutes of Health peer review funding, receiving more than $500 million in public and private awards during 2016. The Medical Center is the region's locus of postgraduate medical education, with over 1,000 residents and fellows training in more than 100 specialty areas. Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt are recognized each year by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals rankings as national leaders, with 19 nationally ranked adult and pediatric specialties. Through the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network, VUMC is working with over 60 hospitals and 5,000 clinicians across Tennessee and five neighboring states to share best practices and bring value-driven and cost-effective health care to the Mid-South. A "self-heating" boron catalyst that makes particularly efficient use of sunlight to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) serves as a light harvester, photothermal converter, hydrogen generator, and catalyst in one. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, researchers introduce a photothermocatalytic reaction that requires no additives beyond water. This could form the basis of a new, more efficient process for converting the greenhouse gas CO2 into a useful carbon source for the production of fuels and chemical products. The ideal route for making CO2 useful is considered to be reduction aided by a photocatalyst to use sunlight as the only source of energy--a process that corresponds to the first step of photosynthesis. Despite decades of research, processes for converting CO2 are still too inefficient. "This is largely due to the insufficient utilization of solar light, the high energy barrier for CO2 activation, and the sluggish kinetics of the multiple electron and proton transfer processes," explains Jinhua Ye. Working with a team for the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, and Hokkaido University in Sapporo (Japan), as well as Tianjin University and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (China), Ye is now pursuing a strategy that uses both the light and thermal energy provided by sunlight. When the sun shines on a surface, it is heated. The researchers want to use this ordinary photothermic effect to increase the efficiency of catalytic systems. Their material of choice is powdered elemental boron, which very strongly absorbs sunlight and efficiently converts it photothermically, heating itself up remarkably. This allowed the team to carry out the efficient reduction of CO2 to form carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) under irradiation in the presence of water, with no additional reagents or co-catalysts. Irradiation causes the boron particles to heat up to about 378 C. At this temperature it reacts with water, forming hydrogen and boron oxides in situ. The boron oxides act as "traps" for CO2 molecules. The hydrogen is highly reactive and, in the presence of the light-activated boron catalyst, efficiently reduces the CO2 by providing the necessary protons (H+) and electrons. "The key to our success lies in the favorable properties of the boron powder, which make it an all-in-one catalyst: light harvester, photothermic converter, hydrogen source, and catalyst," says Ye. "Our study confirms the highly promising potential of a photothermocatalytic strategy for the conversion of CO2 and potentially opens new vistas for the development of other solar-energy-driven reaction systems." ### About the Author Dr. Jinhua Ye has been working on advanced photocatalytic materials for 20 years. She is now a Principal Investigator at the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), and the appointed director of TU-NIMS International Collaboration Laboratory, Tianjin University, China. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and among the 2016 Highly Cited Researchers in Materials Science. http://www.nims.go.jp/units/erm/project_1/JYE/yejinhua.htm Jadhav, 46, was awarded the death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the Army Act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif today said that retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on Monday on charges of spying, has a right to appeal against his verdict within 60 days. Asif, however, justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. Jadhav, 46, was awarded the death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the Army Act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. advertisement Speaking in the Senate, the upper house of parliament, the defence minister on Tuesday said that Jadhav had the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence has sparked a nationwide outrage in India, which said that Jadhav's execution would be treated as a "premeditated murder". THE ENTIRE STORY IN 10 POINTS Asif dismissed India's concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. "There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law", he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. "It's not premeditated murder, what is happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder)", Asif alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went on "for three months", rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said that those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with an "iron hand." "Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment," he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed to his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered its territory from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the Navy but denied that he had any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further worsen the already-strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after the deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. Also read | Fear Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tortured, killed in Pakistan: BJP MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh Also read | Amid growing cries to free Kulbhushan Jadhav from Pak, Kashmiri leader says wrong for India to point fingers Kulbhushan Jadhav a terrorist, should meet his fate: Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit Kulbhushan Jadhav sentence linked to Pakistan Army ex-officer vanishing in Nepal? WATCH VIDEO --- ENDS --- Young researcher in Changchun University of Science and Technology, Dr. Fei Yan, has published the comprehensive review on quantum image processing in World-Scientific-International Journal of Quantum Information with his co-researchers, entitled, "Quantum image processing: A review of advances in its security technologies". Quantum image processing (QIP) is an emerging sub-discipline that is focused on extending conventional image processing tasks and operations to the quantum computing framework. It is primarily devoted to utilizing quantum computing technologies to capture, manipulate, and recover quantum images in different formats and for different purposes. Due to some of the astounding properties inherent to quantum computation, notably entanglement and parallelism, it is anticipated that QIP technologies will offer capabilities and performances that are, as yet, unrivalled by their traditional equivalents. These improvements could be in terms of computing speed, guaranteed security, and minimal storage requirements, etc. In this study, the authors present an overview of the advances made in QIP comprising of the image representations, the operations realizable on them, and the likely protocols and algorithms for their applications. In particular, they focus on recent progresses on QIP-based security technologies including quantum watermarking, quantum image encryption, and quantum image steganography. This study is aimed at providing readers with a succinct, yet adequate compendium of the progresses made in the QIP sub-area. Hopefully, this effort will stimulate further interest aimed at the pursuit of more advanced algorithms and experimental validations for available technologies and extensions to other domains. The objectives of the discussions presented at the end of this study are twofold. First, targeting researchers already in the area, a few of the open questions emanating from the published literature are enumerated. The second objective of the discussion is focused mainly on the upcoming researchers that may be interested in pursuing advanced research in the area. In this, the authors' focus is on enumerating some considerations that should guide them in their pursuits. Hopefully, the study presents a compendium of relevant literature needed to invigorate more advanced research in the area. ### Co-researchers of this work are Dr. Abdullah M. Iliyasu (Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Dr. Phuc Q. Le (NetMile Inc., Japan). This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61502053) and the Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia via the Deanship for Scientific Research funding for the CIIS Research group project number 2016/01/6441. The paper (http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0219749917300017) can be found in the International Journal of Quantum Information (http://www.worldscientific.com/worldscinet/ijqi). A police team dedicated to serving rural communities is celebrating its first anniversary and its 100th arrest. The North Yorkshire Polices Rural Taskforce have pledged to keep up the pressure on rural crime over the coming 12 months. In 2015, the National Rural Crime Survey discovered that rural communities were not only living in fear of crime being committed against them, but that they were under-reporting crime by up to a third. In response to this, and following a meeting involving more than 100 stakeholders, North Yorkshire Polices Rural Taskforce was established in April 2016. North Yorkshire is not the only county who have created a rural task, Derbyshire, Hampshire and Suffolk have also. The North Yorkshire Rural Taskforce, however, builds on the work already carried out by North Yorkshire Polices Neighbourhood Policing Teams, response officers and proactive policing colleagues in tackling rural crime head-on. In its first year, Taskforce officers made 101 arrests, reported 71 people for summons and seized 39 vehicles. Officers and PCSOs have attended more than 100 community events across the county including the Great Yorkshire Show and regularly frequent local livestock markets and sales. 'Very productive' Inspector Jon Grainge leads the Rural Taskforce. He said: The team have had a very busy and very productive first year of operation. Crucial to our success is working with the community, talking to local residents and businesses, understanding the issues that affect them and offering advice wherever possible. There have been thousands of conversations over our first year and this year well have thousands more. That two-way communication is vital, and we need people to continue to tell us about suspicious incidents. Particularly in rural areas, local residents and businesses can act as the eyes and ears of the police, helping us clamp down on crime and anti-social behaviour whenever it occurs. Local people know when something or someone is suspicious, out of place or unusual in your community and we need you to tell us about it. Rural well-being The Taskforce has also been addressing well-being issues, recognising that that people in rural communities can be vulnerable. Officers and PCSOs have been distributing leaflets to make people aware of the support available, and are working with partner agencies to ensure appropriate interventions take place, and help is provided where necessary. Other successful campaigns pioneered by the Taskforce in the last 12 months include 'Horse Watch' a campaign ensuring expensive tack and equestrian equipment is protected against thieves and Call It In a campaign urging residents to report suspicious activity in rural areas to the police. The campaign 'Dot peen', a sophisticated property marking machine, is used to engrave farm equipment to deter thieves and help police recover stolen property. The Taskforce says they are working on more initiatives, with further operations and campaigns planned throughout 2017. All poultry in England will be allowed outside from Thursday 13 April following the latest updated evidence on the risk posed by wild birds. The requirement to keep poultry in Higher Risk Areas of England housed or completely enclosed in netting, introduced to minimise the risk of them catching avian flu from wild birds, will be lifted, the UKs Chief Veterinary Officer has announced. However, all keepers in England will continue to be required to comply with strict biosecurity measures. A ban on poultry gatherings also remains in force until further notice. The decision to lift the additional requirements in the Higher Risk areas is based on the latest scientific evidence and veterinary advice, which concludes that the level of risk to poultry in the Higher Risk Areas has now reduced to the same level as that across the rest of England. This is because of changes in the wild bird population: the majority of over-wintering migratory birds have now left the UK, and resident wild waterfowl are at their lowest levels and entering the breeding season when they become less likely to move long distances to forage for food. However, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has begun lobbying the EU Commission for a solution to the marketing of free range eggs if there is another outbreak of Avian Influenza later this year. Risk remains heightened Nigel Gibbens said that this years outbreaks have been ?unprecedented The risk of poultry becoming infected from H5N8 remains heightened and countries across Europe continue to experience outbreaks and observe cases in wild birds. Defra is stepping up surveillance of wild birds across the UK to inform our risk assessments. All poultry keepers are being urged to take steps to reduce the risk to their birds, including minimising movement in and out of bird enclosures, cleaning footwear, keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy and feeding birds indoors. Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said: "We continually review our disease control measures in light of new scientific evidence and veterinary advice. "Based on the latest evidence on reduced numbers of migratory and resident aquatic wild birds we believe that kept birds in the areas we previously designated as Higher Risk are now at the same level of risk as the rest of England and may now be let outside. "However, all keepers must still observe strict disease prevention measures to reduce the risk of contamination from the environment, where the virus can survive for several weeks in bird droppings. "This does not mean business as usual: the risk from avian flu has not gone away and a Prevention Zone remains in place, requiring keepers across England to take steps to prevent disease spreading." Allowed outside once again Lifting the housing requirement in Higher Risk Areas means free range birds across every part of England can now be allowed outside again. H5N8 avian flu has been found in wild and farmed birds in the UK since December 2016, including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. Where avian flu has been confirmed, the Government has tried to limit the spread of disease with restrictions around affected premises and full investigations to determine the source of infection. H5N8 can be spread indirectly via the contaminated environment, for example in wild bird droppings, contaminated feed or bedding, as well as being passed from wild birds to poultry directly from bird to bird. The UK has seen its fair share of bird flu cases throughout winter. There has been a case on a Suffolk duck farm on the 3 March, on a chicken farm in Northumberland on 24 February, in a pheasant farm in Suffolk on 13 February, Lancashire on 30 January, in a turkey farm in Boston, Lincolnshire on 26 January, in a flock of farmed pheasants at a premises in Preston, Lancashire on 24 January, in a backyard flock in North Yorkshire on 6 January, in Carmarthenshire, Wales, on 3 January, at a turkey farm in Lincolnshire on 16 December and in a number of wild birds across England, Wales and Scotland. Time is running out to enter this years NFU Cymru and Principality Welsh Rural Community Champion Award which recognises the vital role farmers play in their local community. The award, sponsored by the Principality Building Society, champions farmers throughout Wales who use the small amount of spare time they have away from the farm to help their local community thrive, as well as those who are digital ambassadors for the industry and champion farming and local farming related issues online. The winner of the NFU Cymru/Principality Welsh Rural Community Champion Award will receive 500. John Davies, NFU Cymru Deputy President said: Farming plays such an important part in rural community life and we want to champion those lynchpins at the centre of it all helping to bring people together. Potential award winners could be involved in all sorts of things which play an important part in making a thriving rural community, for example, organising traditional community events such as local shows, to embracing modern technology to promote food, farming and rural life to the wider community. The industry is moving forward and more is moving online. Anyone who uses the internet to champion farming through the online communities should also apply. 'Passion' The closing date for entries is Monday, 17 April 2017 and the winner will be announced on the Sunday of this years Royal Welsh Spring Festival. Principalitys Chief Executive, Steve Hughes said: We pride ourselves on supporting the communities in which we operate and out members live and we are delighted to have the opportunity to recognise individuals that share this passion. Farmers play an important role in adding value to the local community and rural life and we believe, along with NFU Cymru, that their contribution should be both celebrated and rewarded. If you are interested in entering the award, or want to nominate someone who you feel is a community champion, email Daniel.johns@nfu.org.uk or telephone 01982554200. Farmers have criticised the Government for the delays of the long-awaited two 25-year-plans for agriculture and the environment. Further delays to the publication are set to take place, having initially supposed to be published last summer. The Government has been seeking farmers' views on a post-Brexit farming and environment policy. But Ministers have constantly changed their language surrounding the publication, saying the plans will be published 'soon', to 'during this parliament' - meaning it could be published any time from now to 2020, the UK's next general election. Defra says the Government agrees with the need for a 25 year plan and intends to deliver on the commitments it says it has already made to protect the UKs environmental assets, including: putting in place a new Blue Belt to protect precious marine habitats; spending 3 billion from the Common Agricultural Policy to enhance Englands countryside over the next five years; planting an additional 11 million trees; launching an ambitious programme of pocket parks; tackling air and water pollution; and ensuring the value of Green Belts and AONBs, National Parks, SSSIs and other environmental designations are appropriately protected. Avoiding policy suggestions The vote to leave the EU has forced a rethink of some of the content of the 25 year plan. In fact, it has made the plan even more important, since it must now set out the direction of the governments environmental policy once the UK is no longer a part of the EU. The BBC has received a leaked draft version of the 25-year plan for the environment. It was strongly criticised for avoiding policy suggestions. ClientEarth chief executive James Thornton told BBC News: To protect nature, we need targets, investment and accountability, not grand promises with zero detail. We have been waiting for the 25-year plan for over a year. This version is 46 pages of empty words, and now it seems the final plan might not even be published. This is not good enough. A Defra spokesman said: We are committed to publish both a 25-year environment plan and food and farming plan. We are engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to inform development of the full plans. Police are urging rural residents to be vigilant after cattle hurdles and farm gates were stolen. Dorset Polices rural crime team have had three separate crimes reported over the past few days in the Marshwood Vale area. A police spokesman said: Please lock up all unused gates and hurdles, mark them with paint or weld the farm postcode on them. Remove them from view of main roads and areas where the public have access. Cap hinges of Field gates to prevent the removal of the gate. In March, farmers were warned to be extra vigilant after eight 12ft-wide steel gates were stolen from farms in Newport, Pembrokeshire and Cardigan in Ceredigion, Wales. Sgt Gareth Jones said the thefts were probably pre-planned due to the size of the gates. He urged residents to be extra vigilant of suspicious behaviour around farms. Scrap metal dealers are also asked to call the police if anyone tries to sell them the gates. Sgt Jones said: "The loss of equipment, metal and livestock may not be noticed immediately, and its detection can often be difficult and it has an impact on people's livelihoods." UK sheep producers should 'assume' their flock has been exposed to a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis and aim to protect young ewes, according to vets. Toxoplasma gondii is apparently the world's most common parasite. It has been estimated that over 90% of sheep flocks in England, Scotland and Wales have had some exposure to it. Sheep producers who are not already vaccinating against it should assume it's only a matter of time before new ewes succumb to an infection. The disease can also cause abortion and weak lambs. "If you've had more than 2% of your flock aborting during the 2017 lambing season you should ask your vet to investigate while the issue is still in the front of your mind," said Dr Fiona Lovatt from Flock Health Limited. "Now is the time to work out what caused this years problems with a view to avoiding similar next year. "But your real focus should be on preventing infection in pregnant ewes in the first place and the best way to do that is to vaccinate replacement ewes well before they go to the ram." Vaccination The complex Toxoplama gondii parasite lifecycle presents significant disease management challenges to sheep producers. The sheer volume of infectious oocysts produced by the parasite and their resistance to destruction leads to widespread environmental contamination. According to MSD Animal Health livestock veterinary adviser Stephanie Small, this is one of the main reasons why toxoplasmosis is so prevalent in GB flocks. "Sheep are very vulnerable to picking up the toxoplasma parasite from the environment, so normal biosecurity measures are not enough to control the disease. "Fortunately, toxoplasmosis can be controlled effectively by a simple vaccination regime. "What's more, an investment in vaccination will payback handsomely by a reduction in future flock barren and abortion rates. "The clear industry advice now is that every ewe should have been vaccinated before it breeds, but we estimate that less than one in five female flock replacements actually get protected before they go to the ram for the first time." Intervention Ms Small points out that ewe lambs can be vaccinated from five months of age. Shearlings and older ewes can be vaccinated anytime between four months and three weeks before tupping. "Immediately post lambing and up until the typical autumn breeding season theres a very wide window of opportunity to vaccinate most female breeding sheep against toxoplasmosis, so it makes sense to schedule this crucial intervention as soon as possible, alongside other routine summer procedures. "Correct pre-tupping vaccination will protect ewes for two breeding seasons," she says. Farmers needing a differential diagnosis for the cause of any abortion issues during the 2017 lambing season should contact their vet for advice as soon as possible. Scottish farmers have expressed the need for permitted development rights to be extended to larger farm sheds to reflect the needs of modern agricultural businesses. The current allowance is 465 sq. metres for farm sheds under permitted development. In its submission to the Scottish Governments planning review, farming union NFU Scotland has outlined the key issues concerning Scotlands planning system identified by its membership in response to the consultation this week. As well as seeking an increase in the size allowed for sheds for permitted developments to reflect modern machinery sizes, NFU Scotland requests for permitted development rights to be extended to traditional farm steadings for conversion to residential and small business use. The union says this could provide farmers with an additional income stream, whilst safeguarding rural heritage and play a valuable role in assisting towards the shortfall of housing in rural areas. 'No longer reflective' Jamie Smart, Legal and Technical Committee Chairman, stated: It is clear that the current allowance of 465 sq. metres for farm sheds allowed under permitted development is no longer reflective of agricultural needs of today. We have asked Scottish Government to consider extending this to 1,000 sq. metres to help provide resilience to the farming sector, and to ensure the legislation is reflective of modern machinery sizes. Members also reported encountering issues with planning officers who have an urban focus and do not appear to understand agriculture. The continuing application of Section 75 occupancy restrictions on farmhouses has also been raised as an issue. Once these are in place they are very difficult to remove, and as properties tied by these cannot be borrowed against they can have a real effect on the farm businesses ability to raise finance. They can prove a substantial hurdle for farm succession too, precluding the younger generation from coming back to farms where there is limited accommodation. We have also raised the grey area of polytunnels in this consultation. NFU Scotland has been working with Scottish Government to try to protect its soft fruit growers from a requirement for full planning permission. The U.S. airline industry has experienced a renaissance in recent years. As a result, the top U.S. airlines are finally getting around to investing in upgraded seats and service standards for business travelers -- their most valuable customers. In recognition of their new business class cabin designs, Delta Air Lines (DAL 0.69%) and United Continental (UAL 0.12%) were both named finalists for this year's Crystal Cabin Award for "Cabin Concepts." This is the most prestigious international award for innovative aircraft interiors, and, earlier this month, Delta took home the grand prize. U.S. airlines try to get better Delta and United have long been two of the largest airlines in the world, with route networks spanning the globe. Traditionally, they have relied upon that broad reach to attract customers. Many business travelers are willing to put up with lower service standards for the sake of flying nonstop. As a result, U.S. airlines have often skimped on their business class sections. Big losses in the U.S. airline industry in the decades following deregulation also contributed to a pattern of under-investment and inconsistent service. Meanwhile, numerous foreign carriers have become known for offering luxurious accommodations for road warriors and wealthy leisure travelers. These days, the legacy carriers recognize that they need to do a better job of catering to high-fare business travelers, as competition from budget airlines is driving leisure fares lower and lower. Furthermore, stronger profits in recent years have given them the financial flexibility to make the necessary improvements. United Airlines makes its move Nearly a year ago, United unveiled its new "Polaris" business class concept, named for the North Star. Management has said that every aspect of the Polaris cabin is designed to promote a better sleep experience. For example, the seats are custom-designed suite-like "pods," each one has direct aisle access, and United partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue to create custom bedding for them. Most of United's new widebody aircraft are being outfitted with the Polaris seating concept. Additionally, the company plans to retrofit most of its current widebody fleet with Polaris seats in the next few years. While United has only installed its new Polaris seats on a few aircraft so far, it is already receiving higher customer satisfaction scores. It also became one of just three nominees for the coveted Crystal Cabin Award for Cabin Concepts. Delta strikes back Never one to be left behind, Delta Air Lines revealed its own upgraded "Delta One" business class seats just after United unveiled the Polaris concept. Delta moved to an all-aisle access business class configuration years ago, but it is now going further with an all-suite Delta One cabin on certain aircraft. Each suite has a full-height sliding door. The seats themselves feature memory foam cushions. Customers can control the lighting for their suites. Other amenities include dedicated compartments for shoes, laptops, and headphones; an 18" TV; and a universal power outlet and USB power port at each seat. These customer-oriented features sealed Delta's victory in the Crystal Cabin Awards. The new Delta One cabin will debut this fall after Delta receives its first A350 aircraft. It will also be retrofitted on the company's eighteen 777 widebodies in the future. In addition to upgrading its business class seats, Delta is introducing a premium economy section on its A350s and 777s. The new "Premium Select" section will represent a mid-range option with wider seats and more legroom than regular economy seats, along with other enhanced amenities. Of course, these seats will come at a much more affordable price than the Delta One suites. Two different philosophies Executives at Delta and United both hope that by upgrading their premium seating on long-haul flights, they will be able to differentiate themselves from competitors and gain share among business travelers and other higher-paying customers. However, these cabin improvements will surely increase costs. Because of this trade-off, Delta and United have adopted different philosophies about how broadly to roll out these highly anticipated new cabins. United plans to retrofit most of its widebodies with the new Polaris business class seats. By contrast, Delta has only committed to introducing the Delta One suites and Premium Select sections on its A350 and 777 aircraft, which together represent a small fraction of its international fleet. As a result, United will offer a consistent premium experience across most of its international routes. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines will have the best business class cabin in the industry, but it will only be available for certain flights. Most of Delta's international routes will continue to offer the current business class configuration -- and no premium economy option. If it is the vacuum control module/hub it is right behind the trash hook (or ash tray). It has multi-colored vacuum lines coming off it like an octopus. Drop the glove box all the way down, and you will see it off to the left. Other than that, just the ***** on the panel at the bottom like proSHO said above. I wouldn't pay anyone $500 to replace anything in the dash. Too easy to do myself. Kulbhushan Jadhav's family flat was found lock and deserted in Mumbai. His family is believed to have shifted to Pune. By Press Trust of India: As the news of the sentencing of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death by a Pakistan military court surfaced, people flocked to his family's apartment in the city but found it locked. It was later revealed that Jadhav's family members had moved to Pune and no one was staying in the flat. "The family has moved to Pune and no one lives here. The flat is empty and is generally locked," a neighbour said. advertisement A dozen police personnel reached the building in suburban Powai soon after the news of the 46-year-old's death sentence spread. A large number of media persons also rushed to the spot. Locals too gathered outside the residential complex. WHO IS KULBHUSHAN JADHAV? However, the managing committee members of the housing society prevented people from going inside the building. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." He has been accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country, a charge strongly denied by his family members. They have maintained that Jadhav may have strayed into Pakistan or lured to the place with some business proposal. JADHAV'S FATHER IS AN EX-COP Jadhav's father Sudhir is a former assistant commissioner of police. The Indian government has maintained that proceedings leading to the sentence against Jadhav are "farcical in the absence of any credible evidence" against him. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been "explained credibly". India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the Navy, but denied that he had any connection with the government. Also read: Day before Kulbhushan Jadhav got death penalty, Indian Coast Guard saved two Pakistani sailors Also read: Kulbhushan Jadav death sentence: India stays release of 12 Pakistani prisoners Also read: Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot challenge Pakistan military court's verdict, but he has some options --- ENDS --- Research and development across several locations for the first time For more than 20 years, the Fraunhofer institutes within the Group for Microelectronics and the Leibniz institutes have supported German industry with application-oriented research and development for high-tech products. In order to be able to offer even smaller companies top technology under optimum conditions, eleven Group institutes*, as well as the Leibniz Institute for Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics (IHP) in Frankfurt/Oder and the Ferdinand Braun Institute, Leibniz-Institut fur Hochstfrequenztechnik (FBH), in Berlin will combine their technology research into a joint, cross-location technology pool called the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany, and expand on it. The institutes existing locations will be retained, while expansion and operation will be coordinated and organized in a shared business office. The aim is to be able to offer customers from large industry, small and medium enterprises, and universities the entire value chain for microelectronics and nanoelectronics in an uncomplicated manner and from a single supplier. Pooled expertise bundled in four technology parks The focus of the cross-institute work will lie on four future-relevant areas of technology Silicon-based technologies, Compound semiconductors and special substrates, Heterointegration, and Design, testing and reliability. Having a knowledge edge in these areas is one of the basic prerequisites for important areas of application and will provide Germany and Europe with the necessary clout among international competition. Thematically and logistically connected processes and infrastructures will be pooled, organized, and developed in each of these technology parks, as they will be known. This will allow the member institutes, together, to serve all areas of technology that are essential to the research, development, and (pilot) manufacture of microsystems and nanosystems whether it is for information gathering and processing, telecommunications, or power electronics. New jobs will also be created: The Microelectronic Fab for Research Germany will represent a reorganization of more than 2000 scientists and the necessary equipment for technological research and development under a single, virtual roof. In the medium term, the measure is expected to create an additional 500 jobs for highly qualified candidates. Research for the future The funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is a measure that accompanies the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for microelectronics that has been applied for at the European level. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy intends to use this project to strengthen Germanys semiconductor industry for the next product generations. While the IPCEI is focused on expanding industrial production capacities, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, in cooperation with the Leibniz institutes IHP and FBH, will use the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany to provide the accompanying research and development. The activities will cover both contemporary topics such as FDSOI technology (Fully Depleted Silicon on Insulator) and power electronics and future themes such as creating the technological basis for the industrial use of quantum technologies, integration of functional blocks at the atomic level, developing systems for the THz range, continued reduction in power requirements, and the storage and transmission of huge quantities of data (petabytes). The establishment of the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany will be a unique offering available to the German and European semiconductor and electronics industry. The cooperation of a total of 13 research institutes and more than 2000 scientists is already the worlds largest pool for technologies and intellectual property rights within the area of smart systems. This new form of cooperation will make a major contribution to strengthening European industrys competitiveness internationally. * Fraunhofer Research Institution for Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFT, Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS, Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR, Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute, HHI, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB, Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS, Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS, Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT, Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM By India Today Web Desk: Born on April 11, 1887 in West Bengal's Beliatore village in Bankura district, Jamini Roy is often called the father of Modern Indian Art. On his 130th birth anniversary, Google India honoured him with a Google Doodle. In 1903, at the age of 16, Jamini Roy joined the Government School of Art in Kolkata. Despite beginning his career as a painter in the Post-Impressionist genre of portraits and landscapes and following it for quite some time, Jamini Roy, by 1925, began experimenting. Jamini Roy was influenced by the bazaar paintings sold in Kolkata. In another five years, Jamini Roy switched to using indigenous materials and painted on woven mats, cloth and wood coated with lime, says a profile of the artist on saffronart.com. advertisement Here are 10 things to know about the impeccable artist: Jamini Roy was determined his work be affordable and accessible to all. He used to produce 10 paintings on a daily basis but never sold any of them for more than Rs 350. Jamini Roy sold his paintings for as low as Rs 50. His art was a mix of themes which attracted the Indian buyer as well as international art connoisseurs who were starting to see Indian art with renewed respect. Jamini Roy once refused to meet Jawahar Lal Nehru (then Prime minister) because he thoroughly believed in his theory of people being more important than the government. He was awarded with the honour of 'national artist' in 1972 by Indira Gandhi. Jamini Roy was quite inspired from the 'bazaar' style paintings and chose to promote traditional folk art of Bengal instead of western art. Jamini Roy also rejected training in western art and constantly looked for Indian roots to imbibe in his works. Jamini Roy never signed a painting so that any store could not claim that they have the 'original' painting. Jamini Roy used inexpensive materials like eggs, tempera, board, paper and canvas to create his works of art. Jamini Roy made 20,000 paintings in his entire lifetime. Indira Gandhi converted Jamini Roy's house to an art gallery displaying 227 paintings which the government bought from his sons. Also read: Facelifting the canvas Also read: An Indian sensibility Also watch: Italian Artisan Crafts World's First 24-Carat Gold Shoes --- ENDS --- Farmings annual open day, Open Farm Sunday (OFS), is taking place on 11 June 2017, so there is still plenty of time to sign up and make preparations. Its not just an event for the large farms, either. Businesses of all sizes can open their gates to proudly show local communities the valuable work they do. The event is a chance to bang the drum for farming and do your bit to bridge the town and country divide. Since the first OFS in 2006, over 1,500 farmers across the UK have opened their gates and welcomed 1.8 million visitors. See also: Open Farm Sunday: Myths, information and advice We ask three businesses about their experiences of running small, community-focused events. James Taylor, Broughton Grounds, Oxfordshire Andrew and James Taylors farm is a traditional mixed family farm on the Broughton Castle estate running sheep, cattle and poultry, and growing wheat, barley and oats. The farm is in Natural Englands higher tier Countryside Stewardship scheme and encourages wildlife. They have hosted four OFS events. What type of event do you host? We aim for between 100 and 200 visitors who we take on a guided walk, field by field. Its about sharing some of the things we are most passionate about, including how our rotation builds up organic matter in the soil and how the different habitats we have created protect and enhance wildlife. What advice would you give to any farmer who wants to keep their event small? I use targeted Facebook advertising to reach the immediate area, as well as placing information in our parish magazine and calling the local paper who are always keen to help promote events. I also get in touch with our primary schools nearby to attract local families to our event. Talk us through what you show people during the day. A key feature of our farm walk is a field where there are 135 grassland species. We also talk about our six-year crop rotation visitors are interested to learn about legume crops like clover and how they fix nitrogen in the soil. People are hungry to learn about the natural world. We also show how the many thousands of earthworms that live here are an invaluable workforce, helping to keep our soil in good condition. In the yard we include demonstrations such as sheep shearing and visitors can have a go at rolling a fleece and assessing whether lambs are ready for market in the sheep race. Let visitors get hands-on if at all possible. How do visitors react? People love to have the opportunity to spend some time on a real farm and enhance their knowledge. We always get a really positive reaction. What support do you get from Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf)? They provide a host of really useful information for farmers planning their events and also lots of great material to give to visitors on the day. The team is always at the end of a phone if I need anything and my regional coordinator is also very supportive and good to bounce ideas off. Why do you think inviting people onto farms is so important? As farmers, we cant expect people to care about what we do if they dont know about it. People have a big appetite to learn all we have to do is to fulfil that appetite by sharing what we know. Showing people around is a really enjoyable thing to do. Jake Freestone, Overbury Enterprises, Gloucestershire Overbury Farms Enterprises is an arable and sheep farm in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a Leaf Demonstration Farm that meets the rigorous environmental standards of the Leaf Marque. Covering 1,590 hectares, there is an emphasis on conservation and maintaining traditional values while embracing modern technology, and a passion for educating the public about farming and rural life, which is why they have hosted IFS events since it began in 2006. Farm manager Jake Freestone explains more. What advice would you give to any farmer who wants to keep their event small? Decide how many people you can manage at a time, then organise timed walks or tours and ask visitors to pre-book. You need to make it clear in your entry on the OFS website how people can book. We usually hold three farm tours, each with space for just under 30 people, all booked by telephone. Some farmers are using free online platforms like Eventbrite to take bookings. If you want to keep it really local, then promote it just in the immediate area or village this can be as simple as delivering flyers to the local primary school or homes near your farm. Talk us through how your event works. We organise three tractor and trailer tours throughout the day at 9am, 10.30am and midday. These are hosted by myself and Penelope, the farm owner. We try to give a really good overview of what we do from the food we produce to the way we care for the countryside. Visitors will see some of our livestock, have a look at the crops, visit our stud farm and learn about the many different conservation measures that are all part of the way we farm sustainably. How do visitors react? Really positively. The tours are always full and many people come back again and recommend the day to their friends. They particularly value having the opportunity to talk directly to a farmer and ask all the questions they have about food and farming. What sort of questions do visitors ask? Typically, about what is in the news or what issues are current. They are also very interested in how we use all the technology on the farm. What sort of support do you get from Leaf? They provide a host of support. To help you plan your event, there are webinars and a comprehensive handbook. There are regional coordinators who are always on hand to offer advice and support, and the Leaf team is at the end of the phone to answer queries. For the day itself, Leaf provides lots of collateral, including banners, posters and leaflets, and in addition many of the sponsors also provide excellent material that you can give to your visitors. Angela Rhodes, Wormleighton Grange Farm Wormleighton Grange Farm in Warwickshire hosted its first OFS event in 2016. This family-run dairy farm milks 300 cows twice a day supplying milk to Arla and Tesco. Angela Rhodes gives tips on preparation, and advice for farmers considering opening. How many people attended your event? We had 150, many of whom were families with children. We only opened for three hours in the afternoon but found that this was more than enough time for guests to see everything, as well as enjoy a (wholly essential) cream tea. What could visitors see? As it was our first year, we didnt make any plans that were too ambitious, but stuck to what we know and activities we carry out every day. The most popular activity was the afternoon milking. Visitors were invited inside our herringbone milking parlour to see it in action. Outside they could see feed and silage in barrels, plus some static machinery. We also ran a competition to guess how much milk four cows on the farm could produce. What support did you get? The support Leaf offered was great and included help with risk assessments, checklists and a comprehensive Host Farmer Handbook. We worked with third parties including Arla, who provided product for visitors to taste, Tesco, who had a pop-up stand, and Red Tractor, who provided us with leaflets for our visitors. You can also order dairy resources direct from AHDB. What advice would you give to any farmers thinking of opening up? Dont worry that you may not have a lot to show visitors. Remember that many have never been on a farm before and there will be plenty for them to explore and learn about. Everyday activities that we take for granted are fascinating to the public. Why is OFS so important? Before visiting our event, many people did not understand the scale of the job and that farming is a 365-day-a-year job. All our visitors were thoroughly interested to know more about our farm and everything that takes place here. It was a real pleasure to share our farm with them. About OFS More than 200 farms are already registered and all size and type of events are being planned from simple, private farm tours for local residents to larger-scale open days attracting hundreds. Annabel Shackleton, manager of Leaf, who organises the event, says: Open Farm Sunday is fully flexible. If its the first time a farmer is hosting an event they can keep it as small and as simple as they want. Even in remote rural areas many people dont fully understand or value the work farmers do. There really is a place, and a need, for every farm to take part. As we prepare to leave the EU, it is so important for farmers to gain public support for the vital work they do. Open Farm Sunday provides the perfect platform for all sectors to unite and together shine a light on the whole British farming industry. For more information and to register your event online visit the OFS website. Haiti - FLASH : Legislative Agenda 2017, 50 draft laws and proposals Monday, President Jovenel Moise, accompanied by Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant and the Presidents of both Houses, Youri Latortue (Senate) and Cholzer Chancy (Chamber of Deputies), went to the Convention Center of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) for the presentation of the Legislative Agenda 2017. The Prime Minister handed over to the President of the Senate 50 draft laws or proposals around 14 axes for the Legislative Agenda between the Executive and the Legislative. Each axes contains a number of priority texts for the country's development that focus on improving the business climate and economic development, State organization, land-use planning and environment and national security. They are called upon to create the legal framework in support of the Prime Minister's Policy Statement and the government's action plans. In his speech, the Head of Government said he relies on thefull cooperation of the Parliament for the outcome in a timely manner of this Legislative Agenda during this year. Excerpts from the speech of President Jovenel Moise : "[...] If there is one area where the need for innovation is particularly desired, it is that of the organization of the work of the institutions of State power, first of all within their own sphere, but above all in the relations they maintain between themselves, in their approach to promoting collective well-being. I repeat, the only reason that justifies the organization of State power as it is in a Republic like ours is the promotion of collective well-being. It is through innovation, that is to say, by our ability to do things differently and to do better when we do not have more resources than we will come out as a people. This country has forged itself into the clay of these unfavorable circumstances. After decades, what I say, after centuries of turpitude and destructive disorder, we have today, together, the possibility to restore it standing in the honor and dignity of each of its daughters, each of its son. [...] Today we are on the tightrope. We are at the crossroads. We are not entitled to error. We can not pretend that we did not know. We must and can move the country forward. Through stubborn work and humility in the memory of our ancestors and our responsibilities in relation to our offspring, we must ensure that the law brings stability for the Nation and security in the management of public affairs. By taking the right direction and making the right decisions, the future generation will appreciate the actions we are going to take in the direction of the national interest. The impartial story will acknowledge that we have deserved well of our country. [...] We all know that the Haitian legislative production is very low. This is one of the sources of the weakness of our institutions. To be sustainable, public policies must be supported by legislation voted by Parliament. I must thank Parliament for agreeing to include 50 draft laws and/or proposals on the legislative agenda of this parliamentary year. Various aspects of the country's social life are affected by these proposals and draft laws. The State and the Nation rely heavily on this little revolution that you are about to do in the way Parliament works. With this menu voted published, this legislature will enter in the history as one of the most productive. On behalf of the Haitian State and the Haitian Nation, I would like to say a big thank you to you. So let's act together to modernize the country and restore Haiti to its place in the concert of nations !" Download the Legislative Agenda 2017 (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/agenda-legislatif-10-04-2017.pdf SL/ HaitiLibre Planning Board recommends City Council deny HHS plan Ken Fitch, an opponent of a new HHS, speaks to the Planning Board. The Hendersonville Planning Board in a split vote on Monday recommended that the City Council deny a rezoning for a new Hendersonville High School, saying that the plans raised safety and traffic concerns and were incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood. The Planning Board also recommended denial of a special-use permit in a 5-3 vote. The board took the action, which is not binding, after the countys architect of record and engineers explained the $54 million new school, which has been strongly opposed by HHS students, faculty and alumni. Architect Chad Roberson said after the meeting that as far as he knows the county plans to go forward with the application before the City Council on May 4. The meeting seemed for the first hour to be the watched pot that failed to boil. The county made a straightforward presentation of the rezoning and special-use permit application, going into detail about traffic, parking and security. Opponents raised the same objections they had been making for nearly two years on traffic, failing to use the historic Stillwell building and neighborhood concerns. After the public hearing was closed, Planning Board members had only four questions for Roberson. But then, when it came time to discuss the application, Steve Johnson asked to have his three minutes, as the public had been given, to air some things that may not sound relevant. He recounted that his hometown in Tennessee spent five years to site and build a new school, reaching an agreement on the "perfect spot" after much public discussion. But the situation here is a little bit different, he said. Were talking about building a new high school thats larger than the one we have now on top of it, I know its not literally on top of it. Among his concerns were areas the Planning Board is allowed to consider namely safety, traffic, neighborhood compatibility and just acreage, he said. Its a beautiful looking concept if it were in the right place. I have a hard time going along with it with all the consternation that has been drummed up about it. Given the concerns, "Im not sure its time to make this decision, he said. I dont why the city and county cant get together on this and come up with something thats suitable. John Coker seconded Johnsons motion to recommend the City Council deny the development applications. Supporting the motion were Jay Thorndike, Aaron Black and Jon Blatt. Ray Mundy, Peter Hanley and Ben Pace voted no. Planning Board Chair Steve Orr does not vote. When it came to the concerns about the acreage, Mundy said the Planning Board had raised the same issue when Ingles applied for a permit to build a new store on Spartanburg Highway. They put a large building on a postage stamp, he said. He was dubious, but it looks really good. Somewhere along the line it comes to the point where its time to proceed or put it to bed, Mundy said of the long HHS debate. Now the future of HHS is anything but put to bed. The Planning Boards no vote revived the spirits of HHS alumni and other supporters who want the county to maintain original Stillwell building as an integral part of the school and it set up a big decision for the City Council on May 4. HHS Alumni Association President Bill Orr said the Planning Board decision was the first time he'd seen an attempt to stop "a wagon running downhill without brakes." "We don't need something crammed down our throats like a law enforcement center," he said. "I've told City Council members, 'Don't let county commissioners kill your elected body like they did the Board of Education." City police arrest man on child exploitation charges Related Stories Hendersonville police detectives and agents with the Department of Homeland Security arrested an Arden man after an investigation involving child exploitation. Detectives charged Johnathan Cody Alexander, of Arden, with solicitation of a child by a computer to commit an unlawful sex act resulting in an appearance at a meeting location, and dissemination of obscene material to a child under 16. Mr. Alexander was taken into custody without incident and was jailed at the Henderson County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond. The Hendersonville Police department continues to conduct proactive investigations into Internet crimes against children . The public is asked to contact the Hendersonville Police Department at 828-697-3025 or Henderson County Crime Stoppers at 828-697-STOP with any information involving the exploitation of minors. 5 Insights for Reaching Business and Leisure Travelers In a survey conducted by The GO Group, respondents said they planned on traveling more for business (15%) and leisure (21%) in 2017 than in 2016. Peoples reason for travel plays a significant role in their search and booking patterns. So, if you are primarily trying to reach one traveler type over the other, youll need to market to them in different ways. In a survey conducted by The GO Group, respondents said they planned on traveling more for business (15%) and leisure (21%) in 2017 than in 2016. Peoples reason for travel plays a significant role in their search and booking patterns. So, if you are primarily trying to reach one traveler type over the other, youll need to market to them in different ways. Here, we have 5 insights that can help you reach these travelers at the right time, with the right message. Search is a must for both According to Google, 60% of leisure travelers and 55% of business travelers use search engines to plan their trips. A solid SEO and SEM strategy is crucial to ensuring that your brand is well-positioned in the results page. Need help refining your search strategy? We have some tips and tricks to set you on the right track. Business travelers tend to book last minute Our report, From Search Engine to Booking Engine, shows that 49% of all business flights and 72% of business hotels are booked less than 7 days before travel. If you are focused on business travelers, your potential customers will make purchase decisions quickly. Consider using dynamic creatives across display and Facebook with real-time availability and rate information that will lead them to book with you. Business travel isnt that bad but theres room to improve According to Skift, three in four business travelers say their business trips feel like adventures. But they also report a lack of access to healthy food as a top gripe. For hotels, consider highlighting your fitness centers in your creatives, or upselling a healthy buffet option for those looking to keep in shape during their business travel. Leisure travel is booked at a leisurely pace On the flip side, leisure travelers tend to experience longer planning periods. Our data shows that 46% of flights and 30% of hotels are booked more than 60 days ahead of leisure travel. For travel brands looking to target leisure travelers, the good news is that you have more time to inspire them to visit your destination. The bad news is that your competitors will also have more time! Stay ahead of the competition with captivating videos and engaging social media formats, like Facebook Canvas, to inspire those just starting to plan their travel. The leisure travel market is growing According to Deloitte, the US leisure travel market is expected to experience stronger growth in 2017 than in previous years. This is an incredible opportunity, but also a challenge for travel brands searching for their target market. Leveraging data is the key to developing a killer marketing plan, to reach your audience and engage with them in the right way. Looking for ways to put these insights into action? Were here to help! Get in touch now. About Ashley Ashley is Sojern's Marketing Manager, EMEA & APAC and works in the London office. Originally from Canada, she's been living in London for over four years, and is actively trying to fill all the pages in her passport. She has never met a cheese she didn't like. By Devarsi Ghosh: Kaatru Veliyidai is the rare love story where at the end of its two-hour-plus running time, you are most likely to feel no empathy or sympathy for its hero and heroine, unless, of course, you are a Mani Ratnam character yourself. Because, only characters inside Mani Ratnam's head can make a stab at understanding why a (supposedly) sane woman would want to stay in an abusive relationship with a first-rate jerk for years. Wait. Actually they cannot. Because in the film when a character wonders this question out loud, he gets the answer, "It's love. It's like that". advertisement Here's the thing: Love is the laziest excuse for a screenwriter when he or she has nothing to explain character motivation and this kind of shenanigans can only be pulled off in Indian commercial cinema. A corollary to this: Providing no internal logic for your characters' actions does not make for an intelligent screenplay. Withholding answers to unlock multiple levels of a narrative is one thing, which Stanley Kubrick was a master in, and simply writing a paper-thin character-sketch and passing it off as a screenplay is another which is what Mani Ratnam has done with Kaatru Veliyidai. (SPOILERS AHEAD: READ FURTHER ONLY IF YOU HAVE WATCHED THE FILM OR YOU DON'T WANT TO WATCH IT) A little plot-synopsis before we go further. Varun Chakrapani aka VC (Karthi) is an army pilot. Leela (Aditi Rao Hydari) is a doctor who meets VC in Srinagar at the time of the Kargil war. VC is a complete 'Dark triad': he is severely narcissistic, exhibits a cavalier disregard for other people's, including his partner's, feelings and well-being. He will say whatever he has to to get his way. After VC and Leela begin dating, VC, time and again, humiliates, belittles and physically pushes around Leela but Leela tolerates everything and continues to stay with VC. During a mission, VC's jet is shot down in Pakistan and he is captured and jailed. While in captivity, he begins to feel remorseful about his attitude towards Leela and then it is his love for Leela - or so Mani Ratnam would like us to believe - that motivates him to break out of a Pakistani jail not once, but twice in the most outlandish way possible... seriously, the final escape sequence feels like a 20-minute-long ad for Mountain Dew but let us not digress. Kaatru Veliyidai is not at all a complicated film unlike what Mani Ratnam fanboys, no offense, would like to believe. Looking from the lens of craft, Kaatru Veliyidai is a gorgeous, stylish film, Well, of course, Mani has assembled one of the best filmmaking teams currently working in India - DOP Ravi Varman (Barfi!), editor A Sreekar Prasad who needs no introduction, production designer Sharmishta Roy and the maestro himself, AR Rahman. Mani Ratnam is still India's finest director of song sequences only challenged by Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the top spot. Kaatru Veliyidai is a technical marvel, without a doubt. Now, looking from the lens of content... An abusive brute of a hero (or let's use the buzzword you were looking for - 'misogynist') does not necessarily make a bad, misogynistic film. That happens when the filmmaker tries to justify and make a hero out of an indecent man which is what Aanand L Rai did with Raanjhanaa; he made Kundan a martyr for love. advertisement Kaatru Veliyidai's failure lies elsewhere. Mani Ratnam believed that a romantic relationship between a man so heinous as VC and a woman as regular and commonplace as Leela would make for great cinema. It would have, had Mani given a reason for the proceedings. Perhaps, it's the sex. Maybe, there's something in Leela's childhood that makes her want men like VC. Even VC doesn't seem sincere about his love except for the time he screams "I love you, I love you, I love you" to make Leela believe that he is truly apologetic about his thuggish behaviour and what happens right after this scene? VC brings Leela along to his army friends and he declares, "See? Didn't I tell you she will come back? That's my girl. Will you ever find a girl like this? You guys owe me a single malt." VC feels that men and women are made differently, a man's job is to hunt and a woman has to appear beautiful, first and foremost, before she sets out to do anything else. VC gives Leela a time and date to come to the marriage registrar's office and then stands her up. When Leela confronts him, it turns out that VC had totally forgotten about the appointment. Okay, a sexist and an inconsiderate man does not make the film so. Also, women can fall for such men and even continue to stay with them for years before they come to their senses or not. The problem is that Mani Ratnam could not make an engaging movie out of this. advertisement A narrative movie does not work, most of the time, if there is a problem on the screenplay-level. Every character has a journey. At the start of the film, the character does not have something - it can be money, a prize, the key to the galaxy or love. The character has to now rise above himself or herself, defeat his/her baser tendencies, become a stronger, better person and finally get what he/she wanted and/or needed in the first place. This is how a character arc is completed. advertisement Leela, throughout the film, is treated like a doormat not only by VC but also by the screenplay. Good for her she gets a great wardrobe though. VC, then, is the hero, the protagonist of Kaatru Veliyidai. This is established further when Mani makes a feeble attempt at tying up the loose ends in the film. VC, having escaped the clutches of Pakistan years ago, has since become a war-hero and has been roaming about, searching for Leela, and he thinks to himself, "After being captive, I have realised how to live with others, how to share a life, Leela." So, this is the character arc then: VC is a insert crass synonym for the male member, he falls in love with girl, continues to make her life hell, gets captured, is treated badly, comes back to his senses, escapes and becomes a changed man. If this is the crux of Kaatru Veliyidai (because it for sure ain't a love story 'cause there is no love to look at), even then Mani Ratnam has failed to do justice to his characters. Looked at from every angle, apart from craft, Kaatru Veliyidai is a massive misfire, a colossal failure in filmmaking and the further you isolate the film from Mani Ratnam's legacy and oeuvre, the worse Kaatru Veliyidai will appear to be. (The writer tweets as @devarsighosh.) ALSO READ: KAATRU VELIYIDAI MOVIE REVIEW WATCH: An affair to remember with the master storyteller, Mani Ratnam --- ENDS --- Sushi-making robots churning out 3,600 pieces in an hour. Facial recognition systems identifying customers the moment they enter a hotel lobby. Wearable devices alerting restaurant servers and hotel staff that guests need prompt service. These innovations arent in the realm of science fiction anymore. They exist today and hospitality leaders, including F&B operators and hoteliers, already are capitalizing on some of them to distinguish their brands and gap the competition. Anticipating consumer trends and seeking innovations that enhance the guest experience are vital exercises that need to be practiced diligently. Now, more than ever, taking these steps helps ensure success tomorrow. Are you ready? At Oracle Industry Connect, held March 20-22 in Orlando, Fla., Oracle Hospitality leadership and the industrys top practitioners discussed the urgency of embracing technology to innovate. At the annual, cross-industry summit designed to promote peer-to-peer sharing of best practices key themes focused on identifying game-changing technologies and the preparation needed to deploy them effectively. Oracle Hospitality also previewed its latest industry research reports, Hotel 2025 and Restaurant 2025, which examined top technologies destined to reshape our business during the next eight years. (The just-released reports can be downloaded here: Restaurant 2025 Report | Hotel 2025 Report. At OIC, discussions revolved around innovations that help create personalized, individualized experiences, automate processes, and deliver predictive capabilities for optimal forecasting. And nearly everyone emphasized the importance of making the time to take advantage of disruptive technologies or risk being disrupted by them. You dont have the luxury of saying, Im only going to focus on today, said Mike Webster, senior vice president and general manager of Oracle Hospitality. The pace of change youre living with is going to continue unabated . The range of guest expectations is not getting easier. Its getting harder because we as consumers are now conditioned to having information at our fingertips in any format, when we want it. Webster, however, cautioned against the indiscriminate adoption of individual, discrete technologies. Instead, he urged the embrace of platforms that offer interoperable solutions and that take some of the integration pain and cost out of your business. The ability to strategically deploy new technologies rests squarely upon corporate leaderships commitment to innovation. Several OIC speakers highlighted the growing role of the IT steering committee within their organizations and its emergence as an innovation driver. In fact, at a time when many companies acknowledge drowning in meetings, Dunkin Donuts streamlined its schedule, converting some monthly meetings into quarterly ones. But one meeting that maintained its frequency? The IT steering committees, which underscored the companys commitment to it, according to Jack Clare, chief information officer and strategy officer for Dunkin Brands Group. Fostering an organizational culture that places a premium on innovation also ensures recruiting and engaging essential employees who will have the necessary skills to compete. If you think we have a war for talent going on today, we think there is a (talent) famine ahead, said Oracles Webster. There will be haves and have-nots as we go forward in our ability not just to manage talent, but to access the talent to mobilize the capabilities weve talked about. We need to start thinking about what are the skills required to compete tomorrow, he added. We think it will become most acute in the area of science and analytics. There is such an incredible demand in every industry for these skills. The consequence for being unprepared could be severe. Said Olivier Chavy, CEO of Movenpick Hotels and Resorts: Those who are not ready will be in the cemetery of brands. But by building the right team and adopting best-in-class platforms, a hospitality enterprise can augment its capabilities to meet every guest expectation. After all, the goal is convert experiences into connections. We believe experiences are becoming commodities, Webster said. How do you build a deeper, richer connection so that I become not a loyal guest, but a brand ambassador? *Next years Oracle Industry Connect will be held in New York City, April 9-11, 2018. Mark your calendar now, and join us for the event where the hospitality industry comes together to innovate. Employee Benefits Conference to Open with Highly Anticipated Keynote Session on Workplace Wellness Posted by Press Releases on Tuesday, 04-11-2017 12:43 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes Cypress University kicks off in Las Vegas today for its annual conference focused on cost control in self-funded health plans. The two-day event is hosted by Cypress Benefit Administrators and is returning for its sixth year.LAS VEGAS, NV (PRWEB) APRIL 10, 2017In session at SLS Las Vegas today, Cypress University is back for the sixth consecutive year with a comprehensive curriculum to provide real-world strategies for controlling the costs of employee benefits via self-funding and the flexibility these plans offer.The conference is hosted by Cypress Benefit Administrators April 10-11, and will kick off with a highly anticipated keynote presentation by Andy Core an award-winning author, speaker and wellness expert. Core will address the why workplace wellness? question so many employers are asking today, and he will share the latest trends and future direction of these programs along with ways to measure value.Workplace wellness continues to be a hot topic in the employee benefits... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile EzPaycheck Payroll Software Reminds Clients To Backup and Update to Latest Version Before Tax Season Posted by Press Releases on Tuesday, 04-11-2017 12:39 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes Halfpricesoft.com reminds customers to backup and restore data with the latest ezPaycheck software before tax season, rather than having to re-creating the data from scratch if the computer gets a virus. ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) APRIL 10, 2017Halfpricesoft.com developers encourage employers to backup data with the latest ezPaycheck2017 payroll software. This will prove helpful before tax season, if reprinting past stubs becomes necessary or If the computer crashes. Backups are a way to protect the investment in a business's data. The latest ezPaycheck 2017 payroll software offers a backup and restore option for crashed computers. With these features, business owners can avoid several hours of extra work if the computer crashes.Latest ezPaycheck 2017 payroll software backup and restore features will save time and effort in recreating lost data if the computers crashes. said Dr. Ge, the founder of halfpricesoft.com.ezPaycheck software was created to less expensively automate the paycheck an... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Ideagen announces acquisition of PleaseTech Ltd Posted by Press Releases on Tuesday, 04-11-2017 12:46 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes Ideagen Plc, the Nottingham-based information management software provider, has announced the acquisition of PleaseTech Ltd. UK-based PleaseTech specialises in the development of software solutions for collaborative authoring and review of corporate documentation. PleaseTech has over 180 customers worldwide using its PleaseReview software product including 70% of leading pharmaceutical and biotech organisations and four of the largest defence organisations globally. PleaseTech also has a significant customer base in government, transport and manufacturing. Ideagen CEO, David Hornsby, said the acquisition would consolidate the companys position in several industries, particularly within Life Sciences. He stated: PleaseTech brings to the Group outstanding intellectual property in the form of its PleaseReview software which will complement our existing product suite, particularly helping to strengthen our position in Life Sciences. The acquisition will also see the integration of ... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Poets&Quants Names Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors For 2017 Posted by Press Releases on Tuesday, 04-11-2017 12:45 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes The top 100 undergraduate business majors in the Class of 2017SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PRWEB) APRIL 10, 2017Poets&Quants For Undergrads, the must-read website for undergraduate business education, has released its second annual Best & Brightest Business Majors feature, which honors 100 of the most accomplished seniors majoring in such fields as business administration, marketing, accounting, operations, and human resources.This is a first look at some of the leaders wholl be shaping the discussions and decisions around business in the coming decades, says John A. Byrne, founder and editor of Poets&Quants and the former executive editor of Businessweek magazine and former editor-in-chief of Fast Company.They are already so informed, creative, and versatile. I cant wait to see what they do after they graduate.If this years Best & Brightest class could be summarized in one word, it would be impact. They were the scholars, advocates, volunteers, and mentors who often... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile The human brain is arguably the most superior engine on Earth. As cognitive scientist Louise Barrett so articulately put it in her book Beyond the Brain, The mind/brain has also been compared to an abbey, cathedral, aviary, theatre, and warehouse, as well as a filing cabinet, clockwork mechanism, camera obscura, and phonograph, and also a railway network and telephone exchange. The use of a computer metaphor is simply the most recent in a long line of tropes that pick up on the most advanced and complex technology of the day. But the human brain is not a machine, and sometimes it gets overwhelmed with the bombardment of information thrown at it every single day. From the rise of the Internet to the ubiquity of smartphones, we are constantly asking more of our brains to remember facts and figures. Did you know that the entirety of known information doubles every 18 months, with that number narrowing to 13 months by some approximations? And to add fodder to the fire, it would take someone 60,000 years of non-stop viewing to watch all the video content presently on YouTube. In our fast-paced world, it can be a challenge for employees to keep up with all the new knowledge required for success in their work and to stay up to date in their skills. Forgetting Information Hurts Productivity Forgetting critical information can be not only detrimental to the employees career development, but catastrophic to businesses. A re... Despite the boom in open office floorplans, repeated calls for collaboration and increasingly integrated teams, every workplace has its share of office hermits. Businesses shouldn't be surprised to find that their workplace is home to scores of introverts; widespread adoption of collaboration technologies like Slack, Favro and Google Hangouts has made it easier than ever for reclusive workers to contribute from the safety of their favourite sofa or coffee shop. But companies are missing out on the skills their most introverted workers bring: a recent study by the Quiet Leadership Institute found that 64 percent of workers believe their organization doesnt fully harness the talents of introverted employees. Office hermits need more than a place to sit and office snacks to flourish, and HR executives should play a more active role in cultivating a nurturing habitat for their less social denizens. Promoting Individualized Management Styles Its well-established that some learn better through visual instruction, while others excel when given audio or tactile information. In the same way, managers must learn to tailor their interactions with employees based on their social dispositions. Less social employees may at first glance appear reluctant to contribute to a discussion or offer their feedback on a project, but are simply more cautious when sharing their opinions. HR should work with managers help them identify quieter colleagues and det... Arrest warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he failed to appear before Assam court. By Manogya Loiwal : An Assam court has issued an arrest warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he failed to appear before it in connection with a defamation case concerning his tweet on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW "Modiji 12 pass hain. Uske baad ki degree farzi hai," (Modi has studied up to class 12. His degrees after that are fake), the Delhi chief minister had tweeted. The Diphu Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Assam earlier had summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to appear in person on a complaint alleging that he made defamatory remarks against Modi. Deputy Chairman of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Surjo Rongphar had filed a complaint against Kejriwal in Diphu court accusing him of making defamatory remarks against the prime minister on his educational qualifications. A case has been registered against Kejriwal under section 499, 500 and 501 of the Indian Penal Code. The court has fixed May 8 as the next date of hearing. advertisement ALSO READ | Will file an FIR against Arvind Kejriwal if needed: Ajay Maken Take away office, AAP will function from streets, says Kejriwal --- ENDS --- Burma Mandalay Residents Concerned Over Reported Rise in Violent Crimes Campaigners took to the streets handing out stickers with the message Save our Mandalay on April 11. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy MANDALAY The message Save our Mandalay, printed on an illustration of images of injured persons and silhouetted against the old palace wall, has been spread widely over social media in the last week, particularly by locals from the ancient capital. The online campaign began as an effort to appeal to the chief minister, the local police chief and administration officers to ensure security in the city, following news of a reported increase in violent crime in the city in recent weeks. We feel unsafe in our city. We are handing out stickers to create awareness and to urge the people of Mandalay to join hands to help eliminate crimes, the campaigners told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday as they distributed information in downtown Mandalay. Mandalay had a reputation in the past as being one of Burmas most secure cities. However, following news of people being robbed and seriously injured late at night and early in the morningand, at times, even in broad daylightthe streets of Mandalay have become nearly deserted after 10 p.m. Men on motorcycles reportedly have been targeting locals also traveling by motorbike late at night, stealing money, mobile phones, and even their transportation. According to witnesses and the families of the victims, they work in a group and carry iron rods and bamboo sticks. Weve witnessed many robbery cases in the past, but now, the robbers getting more vicious, because they are using weapons to hurt the victims more, said Ma Haymar Tun, a local who said her brother suffered a serious head injury after being robbed in March. She explained that he was driving a motorbike and talking on his phone when five men on two motorbikes attacked him and grabbed his mobile phone. The act caused him to lose his balance and fall off his bike, at which point he was beaten, and the perpetrators fled with his motorcycle. Passersby found him laying in the road and helped him to the hospital. The police officer at the hospital took record of the incident, however, we never found out if the robbers were arrested or where my brothers motorbike is. We dont want any problems in filing for legal action, because we dont know who [the perpetrators] are, so we just carry on and never inquire about the case, Ma Haymar Tun added. In another recent incident in Chanmyathazi Township, a teenager was stabbed in the neck and his motorbike was stolen, again attacked by men on motorbikes. He is in critical condition at Mandalay General Hospital. In Pyigyidagun Township, a man on a motorcycle was killed in broad daylight when he was hit by a bullet, the origin of which remains unknown. The police said that the bullet was a stray, and had accidentally hit the unlucky man. The comment became the subject of ridicule over social media, as locals questioned the assurance of their security in the city. A murder on Saturday has also shocked locals. A woman in her sixties was killed in her home in Chanayetharzan Township, and around 30 million kyats were reportedly stolen. Police reported that they arrested two suspects in the motorbike robberies and that they had admitted to eight such acts in Chanmyathazi and Maha Aung Myay townships. After all of this news, I have to be cautions while riding my motorbike alone. When other motorbikes approach me, I am so afraid, even in daytime, that they might hurt me or rob me, said Ma Chaw Kalyar, a resident of Maha Aung Myay Township. The regional Minister of Security and Border Affairs told The Irrawaddy that while the deployment of police officers in the city has increased, the manpower of the police force is not yet strong enough. There is only one policeman for every 1,700 locals here in Mandalay, so we are still weak in providing security for the whole city. However, we are now forming special forces, patrolling and deploying at specific points to fight crime, said Gen Aung Naing Moe, Mandalay regional minister of security and border affairs. The minister said that the rate of crimes in the city has not actually increased, but greater access to social media has meant that news spreads more quickly. According to records from the Mandalay district police office, more than 4,000 varying crimes were reported and recorded from January to March. The cases include robbery, theft, murder, rape, and assault. Nearly 3,000 of the cases reached the courts. Most of the criminals who were arrested were youth and they were drunk [at the time that the crimes were committed]. Some were found using drugs. I believe that they admitted to committing the crimes because they were able to make easy money from the robberies, while a few of them did it for pleasure as they were drunk or stoned, said the minister. As the country is about to celebrate Thingyanthe Burmese New YearMandalay is expecting visitors from across the country, and locals are worried that the crimes could affect the image of the city. The crimes are getting more malicious and we feel that the weakness of rule of law and negligence of the authorities, said Mandalay resident Hsu Ngat. To bring back the Mandalay nights where we can go out safely, we would like to urge the local authorities to take the matter seriously, and the locals too, to join hands in eliminating the crimes, he added. Burma Burma Police Chief: We Will Go to the Ends of the Earth to Find Aung Win Khaing Aung Win Khaing / Presidents Office handout) NAYPYIDAW Police are going above and beyond to find Aung Win Khaing, the suspected conspirator in the assassination of National League for Democracy (NLD) legal adviser U Ko Ni, said chief of police Maj-Gen Zaw Win. The former Burma Army lieutenant colonel was last seen in administrative capital Naypyidaw last month, according to CCTV records. But since then, he has mysteriously disappeared. Weve combed through all eight townships and villages in Naypyidaw for Aung Win Khaing. We have also distributed his photo [to police and administrators] in other divisions and states, the police chief told reporters at an annual Home Affairs Ministry press conference in Naypyidaw on Monday. We are not just doing police work according to procedure. We will go to the ends of the earth to find him, the police chief told reporters. The Burma Police Force has informed fellow Asean countries about Aung Win Khaing, and about half have replied that the fugitive has not entered their countries through legal entrances. Aung Win Khaing served as a battalion commander in Thanphyuzayat. He may have contacts at the border. We have distributed his photos to all Asean countries so that we can arrest him whether he is at home or abroad, said the police chief. The Burma Police Force has also issued a red notice to INTERPOL to assist in the event that Aung Win Khaing has fled beyond the Asean region. According to INTERPOL procedures, if a member country asks the international police network for assistance in finding a fugitive, other member countries are obliged to find him and transfer him back to the concerned country, said the police chief. Member countries have to reply. If a country spots him but cant transfer him, it has to inform the concerned country about his hideout and movements. This is the pledge between police forces, he added. According to a press release from the Presidents Office, Aung Win Khaing, 45, hired gunman Kyi Lin to shoot U Ko Ni, the legal adviser to Burmas ruling NLD party, outside Rangoon International Airport on Jan. 29. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Burma Reiterates No Ethnic Cleansing in Arakan State, As Investigations Go On Burma National Security Advisor Thaung Tun meets heads of diplomatic missions and UN agencies in Rangoon on April 11, 2017. / Stringer / Reuters RANGOON A senior Burma government official on Tuesday denied there was ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in the troubled northwestern state of Arakan, where a military operation aimed at the minority has forced 75,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. Attacks on Burma border guard posts in October last year by a Rohingya insurgent group ignited the biggest crisis of country leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyis year in power. A UN report in February said Burmas security forces had committed mass killings and gang rapes against Rohingya during their campaign against the insurgents, which may amount to crimes against humanity. The military has denied the accusations, saying it was engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. Thaung Tun, a recently appointed National Security Adviser, reiterated the claim made by Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during a recent interview when she said ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening. There is no ethnic cleansing of [the] Muslim minority in Rakhine, Thaung Tun told a group of diplomats in Burmas largest city, Rangoon. It is a matter of people on different sides of the divide and the government is striving to overcome the situation and to close the gap. His comments come amid several ongoing investigations into the allegations, including one mandated by Daw Aung San Suu Kyis government and chaired by the vice-president and former head of military intelligence, Myint Swe. Last month, the top UN human rights body agreed to send an international fact-finding mission to investigate the allegations a move that Burma has opposed. While the UN February report stopped short of explicitly labeling the actions of the security forces as ethnic cleansing, it said the violence committed against the Rohingya has been described in other contexts as ethnic cleansing. It also expressed serious concerns that the attacks were a result of a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas. Thaung Tun said the government needed time and space to address the issues and where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing, we will take firm action in accordance with the law. He added the government had initiated the process of closing down some of the camps where tens of thousands of Rohingya internally displaced people have lived since clashes with ethnic Arakan Buddhists in 2012, but did not provide any specifics of what is likely to be an extremely complex process. Burma China Says Accord Reached at Last With Burma on Oil Pipeline China President Xi Jinping greets Burma President U Htin Kyaw during the Burma leaders recent visit to Beijing. / Myanmar President Office / Facebook BEIJING, China China and Burma have reached an agreement on an oil pipeline between the neighboring countries after almost a decade of talks, with the project due to start very quickly, Chinese vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin said on Monday. The new oil gateway fits with Chinas One Belt, One Road ambitions, linking it with central Asia and Europe, and will provide a more direct alternative route to sending Middle Eastern oil via the crowded Malacca Straits and Singapore. Lius remarks, at the end of a visit by Burma President U Htin Kyaw, mark the official launch of the 770-kilometer pipeline, which Beijing regards as essential to securing its oil needs. Dogged by sensitive relations between Naypyidaw and Beijing, the US$1.5 billion pipeline has been sitting empty for two years. The first tanker carrying oil to Burma for delivery to China was expected on April 8, however a Burma government official told Reuters the ship may not have the official go-ahead to enter Burma. It was unclear whether the ship had delivered its cargo. The oil pipeline will very quickly begin operation, said Liu. An agreement between Chinas PetroChina and Burmas government will allow the state energy giant to import overseas oil via the Bay of Bengal and pump it through the pipeline to supply a new 260,000-barrels-per-day (bpd) refinery in landlocked Yunnan province. The announcement wraps up Burma President U Htin Kyaws six-day state visit to China, the first since he was elected, where he met President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang, as well as visiting a number of Chinese cities including Shanghai and southwestern Chengdu. When asked if the two sides also discussed the Myitsone Dam, work on which has been suspended since 2011, Liu said China and Burma had basically reached an agreement. [We should] move towards an appropriate solution that is advantageous for the development of bilateral relations and realizes win-win benefits for both sides, he said. China has shifted its position in the dispute over the building of the $3.6 billion dam, sources told Reuters earlier, signalling its willingness to abandon the project in exchange for other economic and strategic opportunities in Burma. The two sides also agreed to work together to better manage security in northern Burma, saying that the conflict was an issue for both countries. Fighting last month in Burma pushed thousands of people into China to seek refuge, prompting Beijing to call for a ceasefire between ethnic militias and the security forces. The ordinance will be applicable up to Class X in all government, aided, unaided, self-financing institutions, including those affiliated to CBSE and ICSE streams. By Press Trust of India: Kerala government today promulgated an ordinance making Malayalam a compulsory subject in all schools in the state up to Class X. The ordinance will come into effect from the coming academic year, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters. It will be applicable up to Class X in all government, aided, unaided, self-financing institutions, including those affiliated to CBSE and ICSE streams, he said. advertisement However, Malayalam subject would not be made compulsory for other state and foreign students to pass Class X, Vijayan said. The ordinance was issued after Governor P Sathasivam gave his approval. MALAYALAM MANDATORY TO GET NoC Detailing the other directions in the ordinance, he said teaching Malayalam would be made compulsory for awarding No Objection Certificate (NoC) for schools. "The law (ordinance) clearly states that schools should not impose any direct or indirect ban against speaking Malayalam. It also states that no boards should be erected in the campus directing students to use any language other than Malayalam", Vijayan said. The NoC of schools, where Malayalam is not taught, would be cancelled, he said. A fine of Rs 5,000 would be imposed on principals of schools which fail to follow the new instructions, the chief minister added. ALSO READ| Rajasthan: Students made to sweep classrooms due to shortage of cleaning staff in Bharatpur school ALSO READ| California school shooting: Gunman kills wife as she teaches, student dies of wounds ALSO WATCH | RSS leader relieved of duties after offering Rs 1 crore to behead Kerala CM --- ENDS --- Burma Ethnic Alliance Pulls Out of Summit Due to Thingyan Holiday Gen. N Ban La (left) and Nai Hong Sar at the UNFC meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the beginning of April. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy CHIANG MAI, Thailand The ethnic alliance bloc United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) will not join the fourth summit of ethnic armed organizations, which takes place at the headquarters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Panghsang this week. Burmas largest non-state armed group, the UWSA, will host the fourth summit since November 2015 for non-signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). UNFC vice chairman Nai Hong Sar said they could not travel to the Wa Self-Administered Zone on April 13. We wont be able to go if it is during the water festival [from April 13-16], he said. Also, we are going to have further meetings between our bloc after the holidays. Earlier this month, Nai Hong Sar said representatives of the UNFC would visit the Wa region to talk with the UWSA. U Kyi Myint, the secretary of the Mongla National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), said the summit is a follow up to Februarys meeting in which the armed groups in the northeast of Burma agreed to form a Wa-led committee to negotiate with the government. They dismissed the NCA path, urging its replacement with a new agreement. U Kyi Myint told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that his group, the UWSA and three members of the Northern Alliancethe Taang National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Armyhave listed their representatives for the formation of the political negotiation team. The Wa and Mongla groups are still adamant they do not need to sign the NCA as they already had bilateral ceasefires with the government, adding they are ready for political dialogue. Two UNFC membersthe Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)joined the Panghsang meeting in February, but the southern groupsthe New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)did not participate. Earlier this month, the UNFC said it was united despite an alleged rift in the bloc as the comprising groups disagreed over signing the NCA and its role in the peace process. The UNFC stresses that it remains on the NCA path and would sign the NCA when the government agrees to its terms. The government plans to hold the second session of its 21st Century Panglong Conference in May. Burma Findings in Regional Embezzlement Investigation Submitted to Presidents Office Former Magwe Division Chief Minister U Phone Maw Shwe / Magwe News / Facebook NAYPYIDAW Findings have been submitted to the Presidents Office after an investigation into a missing 7.459 billion kyats in regional development funds collected from small-scale crude oil producers under the previous government. Under the instruction of the Presidents Office, the Bureau of Special Investigations under the home affairs ministryin collaboration with officers of the divisional auditor-generals officeprobed the alleged embezzlement of 2.8 billion kyats (US$2.1 million) by former Magwe Division chief minister U Phone Maw Shwe and others from funds allocated for regional development. They submitted the findings to President U Htin Kyaw, along with a remark from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Union, the home affairs ministrys permanent secretary told reporters on Monday in Naypyidaw at a press conference on its work over the past year. Regarding the findings, we asked for comments from the Attorney-Generals Office from a legal point of view. Then we submitted the findings along with the remarks to the Presidents Office, which, however, has not yet given any instructions in response, U Tin Myint, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs said. I do not have any comment [on the matter]. It is up to the decision of senior leaders, said U Zaw Htay, spokesperson of the Presidents Office, referring to President U Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The investigation was launched after Lower House lawmaker U Tun Tun of Magwes Pwintbyu Township asked the Parliament in May 2016 about the alleged embezzlement of regional development funds by the previous Sagaing Division government. The investigation then found that missing funds amounted to 7.459 billion kyats. U Nay Myo Kyaw, the Magwe Division immigration and population minister as well as a spokesperson for the divisional government, told The Irrawaddy: What I can say is that money was not the money of the previous chief minister and [other] ministers, but the tax dutifully paid by citizens. We will find out in collaboration with the Union government where the money has gone. The previous Sagaing Division government levied 5,000 kyats per barrel of crude oil from small-scale crude oil producers in the division to raise regional development funds. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko Burma National Security Adviser Highlights Development Plans for Arakan Conflict Zone National Security Affairs adviser U Thaung Tun holds a press conference at the NRPC office on Tuesday. / Chan Son / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Burmas National Security Adviser U Thaung Tun emphasized the governments plans for development in Arakan State and downplayed international reports of crimes against the Muslim minority in the region, when speaking to the press on Tuesday in Rangoon. U Thaung Tun held a closed-door meeting with several foreign diplomats on Tuesday at the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, as well as with dozens of representatives from international non-profit organizations, none of whom could be reached for comment. Before the meeting, he told reporters at a press conference that the government would draw upon a development fund of US$140 million to invest in health and education facilities in conflict-torn northern Arakan State, and would employ more Muslim minority staff members in these sectors, but did not provide specifics on their potential roles or a timeframe for implementation. The government is currently setting up vocational schools and working out plans to to provide eight townships with electricity which are currently off of the national power grid. The security adviser highlighted current government activities in Arakan State, such as the issuing of national verification cards (NVCs), the provision of humanitarian assistance, and access to mediain the form of government organized reporting trips to Maungdaw Townshipand collaboration with international relief organizations. The government is very challenged in continuing the NVC project, he said of the controversial initiative which has served as a replacement for white cards, or temporary identification cards, which were abolished in 2015 by the previous U Thein Sein-led government. Many self-identifying Rohingya have rejected the new NVCs, pointing out that they do not recognize the holders ethnicity. Conversely, many Buddhist Arakanese have protested against NVC securitization bodies for wrongly issuing citizenship to Muslim residents, who they say are actually interlopers from Bangladesh. U Thaung Tun blamed problems with NVC issuance on international organizations intervention, without elaborating on how these groups could have disrupted the process. We will put in twice the effort to take care of our civilians but our capability is very limited in Rakhine State, said U Thaung Tun. Reuters reported on Tuesday that the U Thaung Tun also repeated State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis statement made last week to the BBC that ethnic cleansing had not taken place against the Muslim population in Arakan State. As a result of the clearance operations in the northern part of the state, about 75,000 people have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, where there are reports that they live under inhumane conditions. International rights groups have reported that Burmese security forces committed rapes, arson, torture and extra judicial killings during these clearance operationsthe United Nations Human Rights Commission has called for an independent fact-finding mission into the allegations, a move which has been rejected by the Burmese government. The call by the UN does not reflect the situation on the ground, U Thaung Tun said, adding that he was dismayed that there had been no consideration for the governments efforts to stabilize the situation and address the root causes [of conflict]. Regarding the outside allegations, he said that the government had already responded sufficiently, by forming its own investigation commission into reports of abuses by security forces; the commission is headed by military-appointed Vice President U Myint Swe. Where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing, we will take firm action in accordance with the law, U Thaung Tun said. The security adviser also played some videos at the press conference published by a Rohingya Muslim insurgent group calling itself the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, stating that the organization is prepared to carry out further attacksa reference to coordinated attacks on police outposts in Octoberuntil the government takes action to protect the Muslim minority. Burma Opposition Parties, Nationalist Group Denounce Ministrys Defense of Journalist Ko Swe Win talks to the media in March at the Myanmar Now office in Rangoon. / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Burmas opposition parties and a nationalist Buddhist group denounced the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture for saying that a Myanmar Now journalist who has been sued for criticizing Burmese nationalist monk U Wirathu has not contravened any law. The ministry letter was issued last week in response to a request by the journalist Ko Swe Win for a summary of its views on the lawsuits against him, filed under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Lawin Mandalayand Article 295(a) of Burmas penal codein Rangoon. Both are charges of defamation. The response states that the chief editor of Myanmar Nows criticism was based on facts and could therefore not be classified as defamation, and did not insult the Buddhist religion. On Saturday, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and eight other political parties released a statement warning that the ministrys response could somehow encourage more people to insult Buddhism, potentially leading to conflict that would undermine the countrys stability. The statement also said the ministrys comments intervened with the judiciary process of the cases. We condemn the ministrys letter, and announce that the ministry will be responsible for any outbreak of conflict [related to the letter], said the statement of condemnation. The National League for Democracy (NLD) heavily defeated all nine parties responsible for the statement in the 2015 general election. One of the statements signatories, ultranationalist Nay Myo Wai, the chairman of the Peace and Diversity Party, was detained last year for allegedly defaming the countrys top leaders on social media. Burmas largest nationalist group the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion, known by the Burmese acronym Ma Ba Tha, also attacked the ministrys letter. In a statement on Monday, the group accused the ministry of taking sides with the journalist, adding that the ministrys job was to support Buddhism and not those who want to damage the religion. We totally reject the ministrys response, and the ministry, the minister and the current government are responsible for any outbreak of unnecessary consequences relating to the letter, the statement said. One of the leading members of Ma Ba Tha, Ashin Sopaka, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the association plans no further actions as there are plans by many other people and nationalist groups who are not happy with Ko Swe Wins actions. So we wont need to do any more, he said. Even ordinary Buddhists feel insulted by his actions, not to mention monks like us. The ministrys director U Aung San Win told The Irrawaddy the ministrys stance remained the same as the follow-up statement they released on April 6 after the letter. The statement stood by the ministrys comments and denied it intervened in the judiciary process of the cases. Burma USDP Congratulates Newly-elected KNU Leaders The USDP congratulates newly-elected KNU leaders. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) congratulated newly-elected leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU), Burmas oldest ethnic armed organization last weekend. With the signature of USDP chairman U Than Htay, the party released the congratulation notice on Saturday, stating that the party was pleased and proud of the leaders who were elected during the KNUs 16th Congress. It specifically named the top five KNU leaders, including chairman Saw Mutu Say Poe and vice chairman Saw Kwe Htoo Win. Saw Mutu Say Poe and Saw Kwe Htoo Win have established relations with U Thein Sein, former president and former USDP chairman. During his administration, the two KNU leaders repeatedly met with the former president in Naypyidaw. They have also met with Burma Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing several times in the capital. The USDP is a political party comprised primarily of former Burma Army officials and backed by the Burma Army. It won the general election in 2010, but was defeated by the National League for Democracy (NLD) in the 2015 general election. The statement from the USDP came the same day that the KNU elected its top five leaders in its headquarters in Lay Wah, also known as Law Khee Lar, in Pa-an District, Karen State. The KNU wrapped up its 16th Congress last week where it elected the five senior leaders along with 55 central standing committee members. It also formed an 11-member central executive committee (CEC) to act as a decision-making body. Gen Saw Johnny, chief of the KNUs military wing the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and member of the KNUs CEC, along with CEC member Saw Roger Khin, have also met with former President U Thein Sein. Observers say the newly elected KNU leaders are not new faces to the USDP or former government officials. Commentary Behind the KNU Election Results Representatives of the Karen National Union at the organizations 16th Congress in Lay Wah this month. / KNU Headquarter / Facebook CHIANG MAI, Thailand As predicted by a leaked document that The Irrawaddy received last week, there was little change to the Karen National Union (KNU) leadership in its recent election. The document from KNU officials that was circulated among the groups members and observers was largely correctKNU chairman Saw Mutu Say Poe was re-elected, former general secretary Saw Kwe Htoo Win was elected as vice chairman, and former central executive committee member Saw Ta Doh Moo was elected general secretary. Experienced leaders such as former vice chairperson Naw Zipporah Sein, former joint secretaries Saw Thaw Thee Bwe and Padoh Mahn Mahn, and Gen Saw Baw Kyaw Heh, vice chief-of-staff of the KNUs armed wing the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), were not re-elected to the KNUs central standing committee. The results from the organizations 16th congress arent all that surprising in some peoples eyes. Analysis of the circumstances behind the election would show two competing groupsone whose members raise doubts over the governments peace process, and another larger group who are seen to be closer to Naypyidaw. Both groups had their own line-up of ideal candidates for the top five positions. The bigger group, aligned with Saw Mutu Say Poe, realized its plans, while the smaller group, aligned with Naw Zipporah Sein, failed. Exemplifying the KNUs split over the peace process, five of its seven brigades and five of its seven districts supported the KNU chairmans group while the remaining units supported Naw Zipporah Seins faction. One source within the KNU said, It is simple, when the stronger group competes with the smaller group, the stronger group always wins. Some think that having a majority is a democratic feature and the minority must agree with the majority. But not all of what the majority does is necessarily right. Although the election was free, said one observer, it was arguably prejudiced because each of the 217 votes was advised on which candidate to choose by their teams before voting. We shot the targets as advised, said one voter. As we are united, we hit the targets. Voters favoring the larger group chose 41 candidates drawn up in a list by planners close to Saw Mutu Say Poe. As a result, all 41 candidates won posts in the central standing committee, purging members from the smaller clique such as Naw Zipporah Sein, Saw David Thakapaw, Saw Paul Sein Twa, and Gen Baw Kyaw Heh. In their line-up, Naw Zipporah Sein was earmarked for chairperson, Gen Saw Johnny for vice chairman, Saw Thaw Thee Bwe for general secretary, Padoh Mahn Mahn for joint secretary 1 and Saw Paul Sein Twa for joint secretary 2, according to sources. Both sides were reportedly well prepared, but as supporters of Saw Mutu Say Poes faction outnumbered that of Naw Zipporah Seins, the bigger group came out on top. According to the elections records, 139 out of 217 eligible voters balloted for candidates from the majoritys line-up for the first time on electing the 41 central committee members. Candidates like Saw Thamein Htun, Saw Johnny, and Saw Kwe Htoo Win received the highest votes, according to a source. The competing factions implemented well-thought out strategies in an attempt to win the election, but the recent showdown stems from ideological differences reported within the KNU since Saw Mutu Say Poe signed a ceasefire agreement with Burmas previous government in 2012. Back then, a KNU committee led by Naw Zipporah Sein announced the dismissal of Saw Mutu Say Poe, but it did not come into effect. After the attempt failed, cracks between the two leaders became more apparent. Saw Mutu Say Poe will lead the KNU again for another four years, a period which observers say will see little shift on the organizations approach to the peace process. Some have expressed concerns that the KNU leadership will continue its activities without sufficient transparency. The top five leaders of the KNU elected another six to form an 11-member central executive committee, all of whom are associates of the KNU chairman. They include Gen Saw Johnny, chief of the KNLA, Saw Issac Poe, Saw Thamein Htun, Mahn Nyein Maung, Saw Roger Khin, and Padoh Naw Dah Dah. Leaders of the losing group were allegedly disappointed but accepted the election results without anger. The ballots are being kept for two weeks so that anybody who disagrees with the results can show up and complain within that timeframe. Unless any official complaints are made, Saw Mutu Say Poe and his allies stand unopposed in the groups leadership. Reddit Email 101 Shares TeleSur | While he was allowed back on the flight, the mans face was bleeding from the force the guards exerted. A viral video has yet again stirred controversy around United Airlines after footage showed security personnel dragging a screaming man off a plane Sunday evening. The flight, from Chicago OHare Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, had been overbooked. During boarding, flight attendants offered passengers travel vouchers and hotel stays if they would give up their seats to accommodate four United staff people. When no one volunteered, the crowd was told a computer would randomly choose four people to give up their seats. The man in the video was the only one chosen who refused to leave, and he became visibly upset after explaining that he was a doctor and needed to be in Louisville for his morning appointments. @United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Heres how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017 Soon, three security guards arrived to pull him off his seat and off the plane. "Everyone was shocked and appalled," Audra Bridges, a passenger who witnessed the entire scene told the Courier-Journal. "There were several children on the flight as well that were very upset." Bridges told the outlet the man eventually made it back onto the flight, but that his face was bleeding from the force of the guards. The airline has since issued a statement, saying, "Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked. After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate. We apologize for the overbook situation. Further details on the removed customer should be directed to authorities." Related video added by Juan Cole: The Young Turks: Airline Passenger Brutalized And Dragged Off Plane (VIDEO) Reddit Email 212 Shares By John Feffer | ( Foreign Policy in Focus) | Can one determined and willfully ignorant man both stem the green tide and push the world over the brink into ecocide? In Pittsburgh, where I worked for two months in 1986, I breathed clean air. The steel mills along the rivers leading into town were mottled with rust. The Steelers still played in Three Rivers Stadium in those days, but it was the glass towers of PPG Plaza originally the headquarters of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company that symbolized the citys future: clean, energy-efficient, and sparkling in the sunlight. All of this was a far cry from the 1940s, when sunlight rarely penetrated the dome of smog over Pittsburgh, so much so that the streetlights stayed on during the day to help people navigate the gloom. Pittsburghers proudly described their city as hell with the lid taken off. Smog, after all, meant jobs, and many even believed that it was good for the lungs. In Tokyo, where I lived for three years beginning in 1998, I breathed clean air. The city was a marvel of modernity with its huge neon billboards, monumental skyscrapers, and well-groomed parks full of cherry trees. But not that long before, the air quality in Tokyo had been so bad that pedestrians suddenly overcome by near-asphyxiation could, in desperation, get oxygen from vending machines on the streets. The impending arrival of the Olympics in 1964 helped to persuade city authorities to do something about the environmental damage before it made Japans capital completely unlivable. Every city, indeed virtually every place touched by modern hands, conceals two contrary pasts. The first is a prelapsarian memory of jungle and forest and rivers teeming with fish that existed before the advent of humans and our disfigurements of farming and manufacture. The second is the period of peak pollution, when the production of things trumped all other considerations, whether the natural environment, human health, or even common sense. Modern man didnt invent the exhaustion of the natural world. Other cultures Easter Islanders, Mayans farmed themselves to the point of extinction. But civilized man has taken things to the extreme. The evidence of Pittsburgh or Tokyo today would suggest that we have avoided the fate of the hapless Eastern Islanders, who left behind nothing but an array of enormous heads as evidence of their misspent energies. Environmentalists might beg to differ, pointing to India, where air pollution is the countrys second biggest killer, or China, where air pollution is responsible for one out of three deaths. Indeed, the same air stations once common on Tokyo streets can now be found in Chinas most polluted cities. The club of industrialized nations seems to require all aspiring members to go through an identical hazing process. Its likely that China and India will go through the same greening as earlier industrializers. Economies become post-industrial, wealthier societies produce fewer children, and quality of life becomes more important than owning more and more things. This virtuous circle for cities can become win-win solutions for countries and for the planet as a whole. But just when you might persuade yourself to be optimistic about this inevitable march toward environmental sustainability, along comes global warming. The clean skies over Pittsburgh are deceptive. Gone are the most of the smog-belching factories, but Americans still own way too many cars, use way too many electronic gadgets, and live with an energy hog of a military thats way too large. Industrialized countries, like the United States, emit just as much if not more carbon as late industrializers like India and China. As a country, the United States produces 14 percent of the worlds carbon dioxide emissions, putting it in the middle between China (29 percent) and India (about 7 percent). But in per-capita emissions, Americans produce double what Chinese do, and eight times the level of Indians. Yes, the United States reduced overall greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent since 2005, and other countries like Denmark and Uruguay have done a great deal better. But the overall temperature increases with 2016 the hottest year on record are not at all encouraging. So, the world is caught between these two seemingly inexorable yet contrary trends. We are becoming greener, and we are becoming hotter. Optimists believe that the world will be saved by the economic determinism of the first trend: We will green ourselves out of the predicament. Pessimists believe that the world will be destroyed by the environmental determinism of the second trend: Humans have already plunged the planet into a destructive feedback loop. Then there are those who believe that determined leadership one way or the other can make the difference. And thats where Donald Trump comes in. Not only does he not believe in climate change. He actually wants to bring Pittsburgh and the rest of the rust and coal-mining belt back to their glory days. Can one determined and willfully ignorant man both stem the green tide and push the world over the brink into ecocide? What Trump Wants In March, Donald Trump assembled a group of coal miners to serve as the backdrop to his signing of new executive orders on the environment. These directives allow coal mining to take place on federal lands, repeal several Obama-era environmental regulations, and in general prioritize jobs and energy independence over environmental considerations. Trump also wants a review of the Clean Power Plan, the Obama administrations signature effort to reduce the U.S. carbon footprint. As with Trumps attempt to keep Muslims out of the country, his latest executive order will likely end up in court. After all, even the Clean Power Plan entered legal purgatory when 27 states filed suit to block implementation and the Supreme Court last year suspended the act in a controversial 5-4 decision (the case is still tied up in the courts). Trumps move has naturally attracted the outrage of environmentalists. But hes also going up against powerful businesses that continue to back Obamas initiatives, including Staples and Levi Strauss. Even if the battle shifts to Congress, this kind of opposition would mean that extremists whod like to declare that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant just wouldnt have enough votes. Trumps move comes at the same time that the administration is attempting to gut the Environmental Protection Agency by cutting a quarter of its staff and eliminating 50 programs. The cuts would make it very difficult for the agency to ensure compliance with whatever regulations remain on the books, such as fuel efficiency standards for cars. Even though Trump hasnt formally signed the United States out of the Paris Accord on climate change he promises to make a decision next month the executive orders will, if successfully implemented, make it very difficult for the United States to meet its commitments under the agreement. Trump has some powerful global allies in his effort to unwind international commitments. Vladimir Putin, who has a history of going back and forth on the issue of climate change, most recently argued that humans cant stop global warming, only adapt to it. Adaptation, for Putin, means finding economic and geopolitical profit from all that melting ice up north opening up areas for navigation, trade, and drilling. Expect Trump to make a similar set of arguments in the near future (Trump Resort Point Barrow?). Much of the rest of the world, however, is appalled by Trumps America First approach to global warming. The EU and Canada will continue with their already better-than-average policies. The bigger surprise is China, which is taking the exact opposite approach from Putins Russia: seeing geopolitical and economic advantage in a clean energy future. Back in the fall, one of Chinas top climate change negotiators already anticipated how his country would benefit from Trumps short-sighted efforts: Chinas influence and voice are likely to increase in global climate governance, which will then spill over into other areas of global governance and increase Chinas global standing, power, and leadership. But there are also more immediate economic benefits for China, as John Light explains: By 2020, the country hopes to get 15 percent of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources, a push that the government will fund with a $361 billion investment in renewables and nuclear energy that will create 13 million jobs for Chinese citizens. The odds seem quite long for Donald Trump and his efforts to revive the Satanic mills of the industrial revolution that so poisoned Pittsburgh and its polluted cousins. No one believes that he can defy the laws of modern economics to resurrect the coal and steel industry any more than gold bugs can bring back the gold standard or the Amish can replace SUVs with horse and buggies. His efforts to gut environmental standards could indeed have some specific, short-term impact, but the courts, environmental groups, and community activists are likely to prevent him from doing the worst. On climate change, Trump faces not only serious opposition from powerful institutions and even he cant call Staples part of the deep state but from an international community that has achieved a rough consensus on the multiple benefits of reducing carbon emissions. But these are very slender reasons for optimism. Trump vs. the Ecosystem Ecosystems can be quite resilient. They can maintain or regain equilibrium in the case of disruptive events, such as the extinction of a species. It all depends on how critical that species was in the complex interdependency within the ecosystem. Ecosystems can also adjust to the introduction of invasive species. Honeybees were reintroduced into the United States in the 17th century, and the ecosystem not only adjusted to the newcomers but became dependent on them in a positive way. On the whole, however, invasive species are bad news, as Nature explains: Invasive species have contributed directly to the decline of 42 percent of the threatened and endangered species in the United States. The annual cost to the United States economy is estimated at $120 billion a year, with over 100 million acres (an area roughly the size of California) suffering from invasive plant infestations. A new theory of Easter Islands collapse, for instance, puts the blame on rats that stowed away on incoming canoes and ate through much of the islands palm trees. Its been common to talk of Donald Trump as an outsider. Perhaps it would be more accurate to call him an invasive species. He is non-native to Washington, DC. He is a super-predator introduced into the international community. His supporters think of him as the Great Pollinator, an example of a positive invasive like the honeybee whose transactional politics will make America bloom again. But the odds of that are next to nothing. In reality, Donald Trump is kudzu. He is out to strangle anything and everything in his path. If the global ecosystem were in good shape, it could deal with an invasive species like Donald Trump. But the ecosystem has been compromised by any number of factors. The global economy remains addicted to fossil fuels and over-consumption more generally. Weve seen massive species die-offs. And the human population has yet to plateau. The bottom line: Were not getting green enough, fast enough, to made a big enough difference on the seemingly inexorable increase in global temperatures. By 2016, the world desperately needed a game changer who could drain the swamp of Big Energy. Instead, it got a reverse game changer. Trump will be a problem more for what he doesnt do than what he does do. There will be significant opportunity costs connected with his failure to continue much less improve upon Obama-era initiatives. Those who anticipate that judicial and legislative institutions will block much of what Trump wants to do might be right. But as Jeremy Brecher writes in his critically important new book, Against Doom: A Climate Insurgency Manual, its too late for politics as usual. It will take nothing less than mass, global, nonviolent action to challenge the legitimacy of the public officials in the U.S. and elsewhere who are perpetrating climate destruction. That movement needs to begin here in the United States in stopping the kudzu known as Donald Trump before he spreads out of control. Reddit Email 251 Shares David Tyfield | (The Conversation) | The Trump administrations hostility towards climate action and research leaves a void in global climate politics. Could China step up? The worlds largest absolute emitter could certainly use US inaction as an excuse to backslide on its promises of greenery. But China could instead see this as an opportunity to project itself as our planets leading custodian. Evidence suggests the latter course is far more likely. Opening the annual National Peoples Congress in March, premier Li Keqiang pledged to make the sky blue again. Both the report he presented and the legislation and decisions reached continued to stress environmental issues, albeit perhaps not as emphatically as in recent years. Meanwhile, in January at the annual World Economic Forum pow-wow in Davos, president Xi Jinping took advantage of Trumps economic nationalism to affirm Chinas commitment to globalisation. As the US rejects the very idea of global responsibilities, China is thus apparently aiming to reap the rewards of positioning itself as the polar opposite. This isnt just empty rhetoric. Chinese investment overseas in green technology increased by 60% last year to US$32 billion. More importantly, the broader context of Chinese domestic politics has created strong incentives for further environmental efforts. This suggests an authentic medium to long-term commitment. And in China, it is the dog of domestic politics and regime legitimacy that wags the tail of geopolitical strategising. Domestic pressure for climate policy The environment is already a massive and potentially explosive issue within China. The increasingly powerful urban middle classes are becoming ever-more aware of environmental issues, particularly those that affect their health, such as air pollution or food, soil and water safety. The governments key programme to make manufacturing more innovative is also intimately tied to environmental goals and the opportunities of cleantech such as electric cars). Even Chinas digital giants including Alibaba and Tencent are more interested in the environment than their equivalents in Silicon Valley. Restoring Chinese greatness There are even broader factors at play too. As the country has grown in both domestic prosperity and global stature over the past 40 years it has gradually been compelled to address with ever-greater urgency its own central question. This is: how will China once again be the unquestioned centre of the world? Restoring civilisational preeminence is easier said than done, however, especially given the starting place for these efforts. The past 200 years have seen a violent repudiation of traditional cultures and painful engagement with Western-dominated modernity. This remains a sensitive wound. For central to the Chinese concept of a unique Chineseness is both its unsurpassed cultural greatness and its unrivalled longevity. Embryonic soft power efforts have proven problematic, which calls into question the universal appeal of Chinese culture. Meanwhile, traditional ideas such as Confucianism occupy only peripheral roles in contemporary life. This exposes both the comparative youth of modern China and the unresolved legacies of its traumatic breaks with its past. The situation creates twinned dissonances: between Chinas actual and rightful standing in the world and between its actual and desired relation to its own traditional culture. Crucially, though, protecting the environment is seen by the government as a key opportunity in both cases. Hence Beijings leading slogan of ecological civilization significantly a civilizational project that also, inseparably, has environmental sustainability at its heart. The idea here is to draw on and renew distinctively Chinese ideas of Confucian harmony between humans and nature. This, it is hoped, could present a China to the world whose culture uniquely qualifies it to be the global environmental saviour. And it could reconnect the Chinese themselves to their traditional cultures, updated for a contemporary world of environmental responsibility. Progress is unlikely to be smooth. Chinas one-party state does allow for the massive mobilisation of resources crucial to the major projects of sustainable transitions. But that same political structure best described as fragmented authoritarianism also makes it harder to foster cutting-edge innovation and harder to implement environmental regulations and to involve different stakeholders in decision-making. As such, China still lags behind the US in the global game of cultural hegemony. Yet its grand project of ecological civilization is so important in contemporary domestic politics that the environment will likely be seen as Chinas trump card for some time yet. If America chooses to play its hand badly in the meantime, this will simply be welcomed in Beijing as a further stroke of good luck. David Tyfield, Reader in Environmental Innovation & Sociology, Lancaster University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. - Related video added by Juan Cole: NewsBytes TV: China Leading the World on Clean Energy : NBEp04 Reddit 60 Email 1K Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Russia is not going to yield its sphere of influence in Syria to Donald Trump or anyone else. Russia has all but won the Syrian War as we speak. There is no longer any feasible pathway for the rebels to take the capital of Damascus. The non-ISIL groups have lost all major urban areas except for Ghouta near Damascus. They are bottled up there and in rural northern Idlib province, and likely the regime will overwhelm them in both places over the next year, with Russian air support. ISIL itself is on the verge of losing everything in Iraq and of being rolled up, over the next year or two, in Eastern Syria. BBC Monitoring translated from Interfax for April 10, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov . . . said . . . The American side has thus demonstrated its complete unwillingness to cooperate on Syria in any form or take account of each others interests and concerns. . . The return to pseudo-attempts to settle [the Syrian conflict] in the spirit of reciting Assad must go mantras cannot bring anyone closer to political settlement in Syria, he said. Peskov was commenting on remarks by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who earlier called on Russia to distance itself from Assad. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1015 gmt 10 Apr 17 I think we should take Moscow seriously on this. What can be said is that there are four major local forces in Syria: 1) the western urban regime stretching from Damascus to Latakia and Aleppo; 2) the fundamentalist rebels, whether moderate Muslim Brotherhood or Salafi Jihadis such as the Freemen of Syria or the Syrian Conquest Front; 3) The YPG leftist Kurds in the northeast and 4) ISIL. Updated Control & Influence #Map #Syria 15 April 2017 by #Data Shows % of Gains & Loses in the last 15 Days PDF: https://t.co/y4h9tls02P pic.twitter.com/6RsF5oD4Tk Nawar Oliver (@Nawaroliver) April 1, 2017 The West and Northwest are a Russian sphere of influence, and the Bashar al-Assad regime and the Russians have, as I said, all but defeated the fundamentalist rebels there. (There are non-fundamentalist rebels, especially in Ghouta, but they frankly have never amounted to anything on the battlefield). The regimes occasional use of poison gas is intended as a force multiplier, since at a low 50,000 or so men under arms they can barely control the country, much less take back big swathes of territory, even with intensive Russian air support. The other force multiplier is total war tactics such as starving out civilian populations among whom guerrilla groups hide out, or deliberately hitting hospitals and other essential service-providers in rebel areas. While the regime may become more cautious about the use of gas, it may simply double down on indiscriminate bombing. A caution: on the map above, the reddish areas under regime control look geographically small. They actually contain about 75 percent of the population. The east is an American sphere of influence, where the US is backing leftist Kurds to take on ISIL. There is also a small strip of land north of Aleppo that is a Turkish sphere of influence, where fundamentalist rebels are still operating, but it doesnt amount to much and Turkey backed off challenging either Russia or the US-Kurdish alliance in any frontal way. The Syrian conflict is a challenge to economic theories of imperialism, whether that of J. A. Hobson or that of Vladimir Lenin. It is not about markets. It is not about monopoly capital. It is not about oil or hydrocarbon resources. It is not about pipelines. Other Middle East conflicts have taken place that could be explained that way. But todays Syria isnt such a case. There simply is not much money to be made in Syria. Before the war it had a small population of 22 million. Its gross domestic product of $77 bn is less than that of the island of Puerto Rico and less than half that of Peru, one of the poorer countries in the Western Hemisphere. Syria was pumping about 400,000 barrels a day of petroleum, which is next to nothing. One fracked field in North Dakota does that. Saudi Arabia does 10 mn b/d and Iraq does 3. Nor is the conflict about pipelines. Nowadays both oil and liquefied natural gas can be inexpensively exported by supertanker and while a pipeline might be nice it wouldnt be worth fighting a war over. Syria is important to Russia because 1. It is near to Russia and Chechen fundamentalist rebels are operating there in alliance with al-Qaeda and with Daesh (ISIS, ISIL). It is unacceptable to Russia for the fundamentalist rebels to win and sweep into Damascus, since this development would potentially destabilize the Russian Caucasus. 2. Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, is a neo-nationalist who feels as though Russia got a raw deal from the US and NATO after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia was reduced to a weak joke, and lost the spheres of influence that characterize a Great Power. It has lost even nearby assets such as the Ukraine. It lost Libya. Syria was a place where Putin could show the flag and bring home some victories. Syria on the other hand is not important to the US. Syrias alliance with Iran makes it inconvenient for both of the major US allies in the region, Saudi Arabia and Israel. But the Israeli security establishment is divided about whether it is better to leave al-Assad in power or to welcome the Sunni fundamentalists into Damascus in order to weaken the Shiite Hizbullah in Lebanon. After all, an al-Qaeda state next door would be much worse than a little isolated militia like Hizbullah. Saudi Arabia has no such reservations, but its proxies in Syria have mostly been defeated and it cant do anything more there except play spoiler and encourage what will amount, after the war is over, to mere terrorism. Aside from the Iran consideration, the US has no stake in Syria except to deprive Daesh/ ISIL of a base there from which to attack Europe. But the US cannot defeat ISIL without de facto strengthening the al-Assad regime. All this is why Russia will remain in Syria and will have most of it as its sphere of influence. Russia has clear motivations and clear goals there, a strong ally with most of the population under its control, and a practical plan for accomplishing them, which has worked well if sanguinarily so far. In contrast, the US has no obvious motivation to be in Syria except fighting Daesh. Its policies are therefore muddled. It is damaging its relationship with a big important country, Turkey (pop. 78 mn., GDP $800 bn), by its alliance with the small PYD Syrian Kurdish population of some 2 million, for the instrumental purpose of rolling up Daesh. Maybe the military-industrial complex in the US would like a war just to make some money, and maybe the Neoconservatives would like a war to contain Iran. But neither of them is likely to be able to dictate to Trump, who likely hasnt given up on better relations with Putin and doesnt need either of those groups to be reelected. My guess is that the Tomahawk strikes were impulsive and a one-off. The Russian-dominated status quo is not significantly affected, and there isnt an early prospect of it so being. Related video: CGTN: Iran, Russia agree on more coordination in Syria, says Iranian president The woman was groped and molested after she attempted to protect her husband from being beaten up by two goons over a parking row. By Manogya Loiwal : A woman was molested and her husband beaten up in Kolkata on Tuesday as their child stood by traumatised with what was happening to his parents. The incident took place near the Gol Mandir on Elgin Road where the family had come on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. After prayers at the temple, the woman, her husband and her child made their way to their car, which was parked at Hotel Victerrace. advertisement The car had been tagged with a no-parking certificate by the Kolkata traffic police, with the couple admitted that they had illegally parked their car near the hotel. However, as they reached the car, two men, one of whom appeared to be intoxicated, came out of the hotel and started beating up the husband for parking the car near the hotel. He was punched, kicked and left bleeding and when the woman tried to intervene to save him, the goons turned their ire on her, molesting and groping her. Shockingly, a traffic sergeant present on the scene refused to intervene even though the woman, who clicked pictures of the goons, reached out for help. The sergeant said he could not do much and instead advised the woman to wait for local police to arrive. Cops from the local police station finally reached the spot around 30 minutes later, but strangely, took the two suspects into the hotel. The woman has alleged that the miscreants disappeared after the cops took them inside the hotel on the pretext of questioning the duo. "We have filed an FIR with the Bhawanipore police station. (But) the role of the police personnel who came to spot is questionable. How come the accused disappeared after the police came there and took them to interrogate. I am in a state of shock," she said. The incident comes within days of a molestation case in Kolkata's Park Street. (With inputs from Shyam Sundar Ghosh) ALSO WATCH | Kolkata horror: 30-year-old woman molested, husband choked in Park Street's posh bar --- ENDS --- VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR) ( NYSE : EXK) reports its production results for the First Quarter, 2017 from the Company's three silver-gold mines in Mexico: the Guanacevi mine in Durango State and the Bolanitos and El Cubo mines in Guanajuato State. Silver production in the First Quarter, 2017 was 1,076, 974 ounces (oz) and gold production was 11,724 oz resulting in silver equivalent production of 1.9 million oz using a 70:1 silver gold ratio. Production was lower in Q1, 2017 compared to Q1, 2016 due to significant differences in the annual mine plans. Last year, production was highest in Q1 and lowest in Q4 due to the decision at low metal prices in January 2016 to cut spending on exploration and development at all three mines, which reduced mine access to reserves and therefore reduced metal production. Operational issues at the Guanacevi mine also had an impact on production in the second half of 2016. Production in 2017 is expected to rise throughout the year. Over the past nine months, management has implemented operational changes and made investments to improve the pumping, ventilation and electrical systems at Guanacevi to remediate the operational challenges encountered in 2016. Exploration and development programs resumed last July in order to steadily regain full mine access to the reserves. Production Highlights for First Quarter, 2017 (Compared to First Quarter, 2016) Silver production decreased 29% to 1,076,974 oz Gold production decreased 27% to 11,724 oz Silver equivalent production was 1.9 million oz (at a 70:1 silver: gold ratio) Silver oz sold down 18% to 1,235,594 oz Gold oz sold down 26% to 11,290 oz Bullion inventory at quarter-end included 116,108 oz silver and 292 oz gold Concentrate inventory at quarter-end included 32,995 oz silver and 764 oz gold Endeavour CEO Bradford Cooke commented, "From a production standpoint, we are still recovering from the reduced mine development and operational challenges we faced in 2016. Our plan is to increase production throughout the year as we improve ore grade controls at El Cubo, slowly return Guanacevi to good health, optimize throughput at Bolanitos and regain access to reserves at each mine in order to achieve our production guidance. "We expect 2017 to be a transformative year for Endeavour as we move to develop two new mines. We recently made a decision to develop the El Compas as our fourth mine and we look forward to giving the green light soon to develop Terronera into our fifth mine. The emergence of our exciting new Terronera discovery and the acquisition of the El Compas and Parral mine projects have positioned us for significant growth over the next three years." At Guanacevi, slower mine development resulted in lower mine output than planned, while grade variations and excess dilution of the ore resulted in lower than planned grades. In the second half of 2016, the Company initiated improvements to underground infrastructure including investments in expanded pumping, ventilation and electrical systems to remediate access issues. The mine operations are expected to slowly improve in 2017. At Bolanitos, silver grades were significantly lower than plan due to grade variations in the LL-Asuncion vein. As mining increases from the new Plateros zone during the year, silver grades should improve. At El Cubo, both silver and gold grades were below plan due to excess dilution of the ore. Management recently made changes to both mining methods and grade control personnel to reduce the dilution and provide higher grade material to the plant. Grades and production are expected to improve in Q2, 2017. Production Tables for First Quarter, 2017 Production Tonnes Tonnes Grade Grade Recovery Recovery Silver Gold by mine Produced per day Ag gpt(1) Au gpt(1) Ag % Au % Oz Oz Guanacevi 87,599 973 213 0.49 88.5% 86.4% 530,683 1,192 Bolanitos 94,351 1,048 66 2.40 84.3% 85.4% 168,723 6,218 El Cubo 121,272 1,347 111 1.31 87.2% 84.5% 377,568 4,314 Consolidated 303,222 3,369 126 1.41 87.4% 85.2% 1,076,974 11,724 (1) gpt = grams per tonne Q1 2017 Highlights Three Months Ended March 31 2017 2016 % Change Throughput (tonnes) 303,222 408,553 (26%) Silver ounces produced 1,076,974 1,510,065 (29%) Gold ounces produced 11,724 15,960 (27%) Payable silver ounces produced 1,054,110 1,473,682 (28%) Payable gold ounces produced 11,459 15,518 (26%) Silver equivalent ounces produced(1) 1,897,654 2,627,265 (28%) Silver ounces sold 1,235,594 1,511,319 (18%) Gold ounces sold 11,290 15,255 (26%) (1) Silver equivalent ounces calculated using 70:1 ratio. The prior year's silver equivalents have been re-stated using the 70:1 ratio for comparison purposes. Release of First Quarter, 2017 Financial Results and Conference Call The First Quarter, 2017 financial results will be released before market on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 and a telephone conference call will be held the same day at 9:00am PDT (12:00pm EDT). To participate in the conference call, please dial the numbers below. No pass-code is necessary. Toll-free in Canada and the US: 1-800-319-4610 Local Vancouver: 604-638-5340 Outside of Canada and the US: +604-638-5340 About Endeavour Silver - Endeavour Silver is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns three high grade, underground, silver-gold mines in Mexico. Since start-up in 2004, Endeavour has grown its mining operations organically to produce 9.7 million ounces of silver and equivalents in 2016. We find, build and operate quality silver mines in a sustainable way to create real value for all stakeholders. Endeavour Silver's shares trade on the TSX (EDR) and the NYSE (EXK). TORONTO, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ - Avesoro Resources Inc. ("Avesoro" or the "Company") (TSX: ASO), the TSX and AIM listed West African gold producer, is pleased to announce production results for the quarter ended 31 March 2017 (the "Quarter" or the "Period") from its New Liberty Gold Mine ("New Liberty") in Liberia. The Quarter has seen continued improvement in both mining and processing operations as management continue the turnaround in operations at New Liberty. Total gold production for the Quarter was 14,906 ounces, which is aligned with expectations for the Quarter and as previously guided. Full year production guidance of 90,000 100,000 ounces is maintained as is previously advised cash cost guidance of US$750 US$800 per ounce and all in sustaining costs ("AISC") guidance of US$925 US$975 per ounce of gold produced. Further to the 76% increase in total material movement (waste rock and ore) achieved between Quarters 3 and 4 of 2016, material movement continued to increase by an additional 28% during the Quarter to 4,295kt of which 351kt tonnes was ore and 3,944kt was waste rock. This represents an increase of 54% in ore production and 27% in waste movement respectively, and is a direct result of the operational efficiencies put into place by the management team since taking control of mining operations during Q3 2016. In addition, the run of mine ("ROM") ore stockpile increased by 23kt to 142kt during the Quarter and plant utilisation for March reached 95%. The end of the Quarter saw the installation and commissioning of the two new PSA Oxygen plants that will deliver additional oxygen to the process plant, which is expected to improve gold recovery levels and the efficiency of the detoxification circuit. Parameter Unit Q3 2016 Q4 2016 Variance Q1 2017 Variance Ore Mined kt 303 228 -25% 351 54% Waste Mined kt 1,598 3,115 95% 3,944 27% Strip Ratio Waste:Ore 5.3 13.7 158% 11.2 -18% Total Material Movement kt 1,900 3,342 76% 4,295 29% Plant Utilisation % 73.0 91.5 25% 92.3 1% Ore Processed kt 221 269 22% 280 4% Recovery % 77.3 87.6 13% 90.0 3% Gold Production Ounces 14,139 18,872 33% 14,906 -21% Throughout the Period, the Company focused on opening access to, and the stripping of a new pit, whilst catching up on the previously postponed waste pushbacks. During the Quarter, the strip ratio at New Liberty was 11.2:1 (Waste:Ore) compared to an average of 9:1 throughout 2016, highlighting the Company's focus on catching up on waste stripping. The Company will continue to focus upon catching up on the waste cutbacks throughout Q2 2017 in preparation for the onset of the wet season, which will result in gold production for 2017 being weighted towards the second half of the year. The emphasis on waste stripping throughout the Period resulted in a decrease in the average head grade of ore mined from the open pit from 2.61g/t to 2.21g/t, a decrease of 17% over the previous quarter. Mined ore grades are forecast to return towards the average reserve grade during Q2 2017 now that access to the new pit has been completed. The New Liberty process plant operations continued to stabilise throughout the Period, with plant utilisation for the Quarter continuing to increase, with 92% plant utilisation achieved throughout the Quarter, and 95% plant utilisation being achieved during March 2017. As a function of this, ore processed during the Quarter totalled 280kt, at a feed grade of 1.97g/t, with gold recovery levels increasing from 88% in Q4 2016 to 90% in Q1 2017. This resulted in gold production of 14,906 ounces for the Quarter. As anticipated, this was a 21% decrease on that achieved during Q4 2016 and is a result of the increased focus upon catching up on the previously postponed waste stripping and the resulting lower feed grade during the Period. Notwithstanding this decrease from Q4 2016, gold production has increased steadily throughout the Quarter corresponding with the increases in process plant operating stability and gold recovery levels. Serhan Umurhan, Chief Executive Officer of Avesoro Resources, commented: "I am pleased that we have continued to build upon the operational improvements delivered during the second half of 2016 throughout the first Quarter of 2017. Although, as expected, gold production for Q1 2017 is lower than that delivered across Q4 2016, total material movement has continued to increase month on month and we are beginning to catch up on the waste shortfall from H1 2016. The process plant is now operating in a consistent and stable manner and we remain confident of delivering our production guidance of 90,000 100,000 ounces of gold for the year". About Avesoro Resources Inc. The Company's assets include the New Liberty Gold Mine in Liberia (the "New Liberty Gold Mine," "New Liberty" or the "mine") which has an estimated proven and probable mineral reserve of 8.5 Mt with 924,000 ounces of gold grading 3.4 g/t and an estimated measured and indicated mineral resource of 9,796 Kt with 1,143,000 ounces of gold grading 3.63 g/t and an estimated inferred mineral resource of 5,730 Kt with 593,000 ounces of gold grading 3.2 g/t. A Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") has been completed, the first gold pour has taken place and commercial production has been declared. The foregoing mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and additional information in connection therewith are set out in the Company's technical report dated March 25, 2015 and entitled "New Liberty Gold Project, Bea Mountain Mining Licence Southern Block, Liberia, West Africa, Definitive Project Plan. The New Liberty Gold Mine is located within the Southern Block of the 100% owned Bea Mountain mining licence. This licence covers 478 km and has a 25 year, renewable, mineral development agreement. The Bea Mountain mining license also hosts additional gold projects of Ndablama, Gondoja, Weaju and Leopard Rock which are the focus of exploration programs during 2016. Ndablama has an indicated mineral resource of 386,000 ounces of gold grading 1.6 g/t and inferred mineral resource of 515,000 ounces of gold grading 1.7 g/t and Weaju has an inferred mineral resource of 178,000 ounces of gold grading 2.1 g/t. The Yambesei (473 km2), Archaen West (56 km2), Mabong (36.6 km2) and Mafa West (15.6 km2) licences will also be subject to preliminary reconnaissance geological work. The foregoing mineral resource estimates and additional information in connection therewith are set out in the Company's technical report dated December 1, 2014 and entitled "Ndablama and Weaju Gold Projects, Bea Mountain Mining Licence, Northern Block, Technical Report on Mineral Resources" ("Ndablama and Weaju Technical Report 2014"). The Company also has a gold exploration permit in Cameroon. Qualified Persons The Company's Qualified Person is Mark J. Pryor, who holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology & Mineralogy from Aberdeen University, United Kingdom and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists and a registered Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. Mark Pryor is an independent technical consultant with over 25 years of extensive global experience in exploration, mining and mine development and is a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43 -101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" of the Canadian Securities Administrators and has reviewed and approves this press release. Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Canarc Resource Corp. (TSX: CCM, OTC-BB: CRCUF, Frankfurt: CAN) announces that it has received an updated, independent, resource estimate for the Fondaway Canyon property located in Churchill County, Nevada, USA. A technical report (technical report) documenting the new resource estimate will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Fondaway Canyon is an advanced stage gold exploration property located in Churchill County, Nevada, USA, part of an 11-property package acquired by Canarc in March 2017. The property includes 136 unpatented claims covering 900 hectares, and has a history of previous surface exploration and open pit gold mining in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Canarc commissioned Techbase International of Reno, Nevada to complete a technical Report for the Fondaway Canyon Project. The updated resource estimate included in the technical report is shown in the table below. Resource Category Tonnes1(t) Grade(g/t) Au Ounces2(oz) Au Type Indicated 2,050,000 6.18 409,000 UG/Sulfide Inferred 3,200,000 6.40 660,000 UG/Sulfide 1 Resource based on cut-off of 1.8m horizontal width >= 3.43 g/t 2 Rounding differences may occur 1. CIM Definition Standards were followed for reporting the Mineral Resource estimates 2. Mineral Resources are reported on a dry, in-situ basis. A bulk density of 2.56 tonnes/m3 was applied for volume to tonnes conversion. 3. The reporting cutoff grade of 3.43 g/t was based on capital and operating costs for a similar project, the three-year trailing average Au price of $US 1,225/ oz Au , a metallurgical recovery of 90%, and an underground mining method suitable for steeply-dipping veins. 4. Mineral Resources are estimated from surface to approximately 400 m depth. 5. The quantity and grade of Inferred Resources in this estimate are uncertain in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Environmental, geotechnical, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant issues could materially affect the mineral resource estimate. The Resource Estimate was prepared by Michael Norred, SME Registered Member 2384950; President of Techbase International, Ltd (Techbase) of Reno, Nevada and Simon Henderson, MSc, MAusIMM CP 110883 (Geology); Consulting Geologist with Wairaka Rock Services Limited of Wellington, New Zealand, both Qualified Persons (QPs), as defined by NI 43-101. The Fondaway Canyon mineralization is contained in a series of 12 steeply dipping, en-echelon quartz-sulfide vein-shear zones outcropping at surface and extending laterally over 1200m and vertically to depths of > 400m. The Paperweight, Half-moon and Colorado zones host the bulk of the resources, with the remainder in parallel veins or splays of the major vein-shears. A total of 591 historic drill holes were validated for resource estimation, with coordinate information and down hole assays. These included 8411m of core drilling in 49 holes and 40,675m of RC drilling in 551 holes. Drill core was inspected at the Fallon, NV storage facility and assay certificates were viewed to verify gold intercept grades used in the estimate. Check assays were run systematically on approximately 5% of the total assays, including 23% of assays greater than 3.43 g/t. Duplicate assays were run on slightly less than 1% of the total assays, including 14% of assays greater than 3.43 g/t. Consistency was good for the check assays and duplicates, with correlations greater than 98% in each case. A Mineral Resource was estimated for each vein using polygonal estimation on drill intercepts projected onto a vertical long-section parallel to the average strike direction of that vein. The polygons were truncated at faults that were interpreted to limit the extent of the mineralization. The Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off of 3.43 g/t, over a minimum horizontal width of 1.8m, based on projects of similar size, a gold price of $US 1,225 per oz, a metallurgical recovery of 90%, and an underground mining method suitable for steeply-dipping veins. A processing method has not yet been selected. Metallurgical testing showed that acceptable recoveries could be obtained from the sulfide material by using an oxidizing pre-treatment, followed by CIL leaching, with recoveries up to 86 to 95%. Further metallurgical testing and design work will be needed in order to design the most cost-effective method No capping or cutting of grades was applied. The assayed grades were found to be very consistent when compared to check assays and duplicates, as well as between twinned holes. The consistency in assay results was interpreted as being due to the very fine-grained nature of the gold mineralization (1 to 10 m). This consistency provided confidence that the higher-grade assays were reasonable. Figure 1 shows the location by zone of the Fondaway Canyon resources. The current Mineral Resource estimate relates only to the eastern half of the 4000m east-west striking mineralized system, and does not include any estimates for near-surface, oxide mineralization. Significant exploration potential remains both in the eastern section, and relatively untested western zone. Multiple exploration targets have been identified along favorable structural extensions that have potential to host additional significant gold resources. A 30-hole drill program, estimated to cost $2.0 million, has been recommended by Techbase International to explore these identified targets as well upgrade more of the resources into the indicated category. During April, with the support of two very experienced Nevada based geologists, Canarc will initiate a comprehensive review of all of its newly acquired Nevada properties to evaluate the potential of and prioritize exploration plans for each property. Mr. Catalin Chiloflischi, CEO of Canarc, stated: The confirmation of previous resource estimates for the Fondaway Canyon project marks another important step forward for Canarc towards expanding our gold resource base. During 2017, Canarc is planning to allocate additional resources in order to further advance its Nevada projects. We are very excited about Canarcs new focus and oportunities in Nevada. Qualified Persons: (1) Michael Norred, SME Registered Member 2384950; President of Techbase International, Ltd (Techbase) of Reno, Nevada is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific information on the Fondaway Canyon Project contained in this release. Michael Norred is independent of Canarc. (2) Simon Henderson, MSc, MAusIMM CP 110883 (Geology); Consulting Geologist with Wairaka Rock Services Limited of Wellington, New Zealand both Qualified Persons (QPs), as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific information on the Fondaway Canyon Project contained in this release. Simon Henderson is independent of Canarc. (3) Garry Biles, P. Eng, President & COO for Canarc Resource Corp, is the Qualified Person who reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Garry Biles is not independent of Canarc by the nature of his position with the company. About Canarc Resource Corp. - Canarc is a growth-oriented, gold exploration and mining Company listed on the TSX (CCM) and the OTC-BB (CRCUF). The Company is currently focused on acquiring operating or pre-production stage gold-silver-copper mines or properties in the Americas and further advancing its gold properties in Nevada and BC. VANCOUVER, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ - GREAT PANTHER SILVER LIMITED (TSX: GPR; NYSE MKT: GPL) ("Great Panther"; the "Company") announces production results for the first quarter ("Q1") 2017 from its two wholly-owned Mexican silver mining operations: the Topia Mine in Durango and the Guanajuato Mine Complex ("GMC"), which includes the San Ignacio Mine. First Quarter 2017 Production Highlights (Compared to First Quarter 2016) Topia processing plant was suspended for the quarter to facilitate planned plant upgrades and the transition to new tailings handling and storage facilities. processing plant was suspended for the quarter to facilitate planned plant upgrades and the transition to new tailings handling and storage facilities. This primarily accounted for a 28% decrease in metal production to 727,372 silver equivalent ounces ("Ag eq oz") Silver production decreased 32% to 364,995 silver ounces ("Ag oz") Gold production decreased 8% to 5,177 gold ounces ("Au oz") Ore processed decreased 7%, with 82,456 tonnes milled "The planned suspension of milling operations at Topia was in effect throughout the entire first quarter and had an obvious impact on our overall metal production," stated Robert Archer, President & CEO. "However, we continued mining at Topia throughout this period, and with the commissioning of the upgraded plant and the new tailings handling facility now underway, we have commenced the processing of ore stockpiled during the shutdown. This will continue through the balance of the year, such that we anticipate meeting our annual guidance." Consolidated Operations Summary Q1 2017 Q1 2016 Change Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Change Ore processed (tonnes milled) 82,456 88,683 -7% 82,456 92,869 -11% Silver equivalent ounce production1, 2 727,372 1,009,828 -28% 727,372 883,772 -18% Silver ounce production 364,995 539,472 -32% 364,995 460,571 -21% Gold ounce production 5,177 5,599 -8% 5,177 5,206 -1% Lead production (tonnes) - 282 - - 213 - Zinc production (tonnes) - 424 - - 315 - (1) Silver equivalent ounces for 2017 were calculated using a 70:1 Ag:Au ratio, and ratios of 1:0.0559 and 1:0.0676 for the price/ounce of silver to price/pound of lead and zinc, respectively. (2) Silver equivalent ounces for 2016 were calculated using a 70:1 Ag:Au ratio, and ratios of 1:0.0504 and 1:0.0504 for the price/ounce of silver to price/pound of lead and zinc, respectively. Guanajuato Mine Complex In Q1 2017, metal production at the GMC increased 4% compared to the previous quarter, but decreased by 4%, to 727,372 Ag eq oz, when compared to the same quarter in the previous year. Ore processed in the first quarter of 2017 increased by 12%, compared to the first quarter of 2016, partly offsetting the lower head grades and gold recovery. GMC Operations Summary Q1 2017 Q1 2016 Change Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Change Ore processed (tonnes milled) 82,456 73,649 12% 82,456 81,518 1% Silver equivalent ounce production 1 727,372 755,555 -4% 727,372 702,351 4% Silver ounce production 364,995 375,273 -3% 364,995 347,415 5% Gold ounce production 5,177 5,433 -5% 5,177 5,071 2% Ag grade (g/t) 155 179 -13% 155 149 4% Au grade (g/t) 2.30 2.58 -11% 2.30 2.25 2% Ag recovery (%) 88.8% 88.5% 0% 88.8% 88.7% 0% Au recovery (%) 85.0% 89.0% -4% 85.0% 85.9% -1% (1) Silver equivalent ounces for 2017 and 2016 were calculated using a 70:1 Ag:Au ratio. San Ignacio accounted for 57% of the total ore processed at the GMC in Q1 2017, compared to 53% in Q1 2016. Lower grades at both the San Ignacio and Guanajuato mines continued through January and February but returned to projected levels for the month of March. During the first quarter of 2017, exploration drilling continued from both surface and underground. The emphasis of underground drilling has been on increasing definition in the mineral resource, mainly in the areas currently being mined, while surface drilling at San Ignacio has focused on expanding the resource through step-out drilling along strike of the current mine workings. An updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the GMC was announced on February 21, 2017 that reported a 15% increase in Measured and Indicated Resources, after replacing what was mined in the previous year. Topia Mine The suspension of milling operations to facilitate plant upgrades and the transition to dry stack tailings storage continued through the first quarter of 2017. The majority of the upgrades and installation of the tailings handling equipment has now been completed, under budget. Commissioning of the plant is presently underway, with temporary use of the old Phase I tailings storage facility ("TSF"). The Company has submitted all of the technical information required by the Mexican Federal Environmental Authority (Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, or SEMARNAT) for the Phase II TSF permit. SEMARNAT's response is expected before the end of the month. In February 2017, in connection with test work related to the plant upgrades, Topia processed 200 tonnes of lower grade ore (282 Ag eq g/t), yielding 2,814 Ag eq oz of metal production. Mining has continued since the mill was shut down in early December 2016, with a greater focus on increasing head grades through selective mining and dilution control measures. The Company expects to process all of the ore stockpiled during the shutdown, through the balance of 2017. Surface drilling at Topia commenced in February, testing the strike extension of the more productive veins. OUTLOOK The Company is maintaining its guidance of 4.0 4.1 million Ag eq oz (based on a 70:1 silver:gold ratio) for 2017. The lower production for the first quarter was largely as planned, and expected higher rates of throughput at Topia will allow for the processing of ore stockpiles within the year. The Company is also maintaining its previously issued cash cost and all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") guidance for 2017 of US$5 6 per payable silver ounce, and US$14 16 per payable silver ounce, respectively1. It is expected that cash cost and AISC for the first quarter of 2017 will be high due to the lower production and higher sustaining capital costs incurred in connection with the Topia plant upgrades and tailings facility expansion. Although there may not be a basis for computing Topia's costs due to the shutdown during Q1 2017, sustaining capital expenditures associated with the plant upgrades and tailings facility expansion will be accounted for in the computation of the Company's consolidated unit costs. Completion of the previously announced acquisition of the Coricancha Mine in Peru is now anticipated to take place before the end of the second quarter 2017 (originally expected to take place closer to the end of the first quarter). The delay in closing is primarily due to local legal and regulatory processes and requirements to complete the transaction between Great Panther and Nyrstar NV. Once the transaction is complete, the Company's plans include further evaluations of the current mine and processing infrastructure, approximately 7,800 metres of underground drilling, environmental studies and initiation of a preliminary feasibility study (PFS). Depending upon the outcome of the PFS, development in support of operations could commence in 2018. A resource update is underway and is now expected to be completed in the second quarter. In addition to finalizing the acquisition of the Coricancha Mine in Peru, the Company continues to seek and evaluate additional acquisition opportunities to meet the Company's growth objectives. The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Robert F. Brown, P. Eng., who is the Qualified Person (QP) for the Guanajuato Mine Complex and the Topia Mine under the meaning of NI 43-101. Aspects relating to mining and metallurgy are overseen by Ali Soltani, Chief Operating Officer for Great Panther. (1) Cash cost and AISC are non-IFRS measures. Refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section of the Company's MD&A for an explanation of these measures and reconciliation to the Company's reported financial results in accordance with IFRS. As these are not standardized measures, they may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by others. ABOUT GREAT PANTHER Great Panther Silver Limited is a primary silver mining and exploration company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol GPR, and on the NYSE MKT trading under the symbol GPL. Great Panther's current activities are focused on the mining of precious metals from its two wholly-owned operating mines in Mexico: the Guanajuato Mine Complex, which includes the San Ignacio Mine, and the Topia Mine in Durango. In addition, the Company has signed an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Coricancha Mine Complex in the central Andes of Peru and is pursuing additional mining opportunities in the Americas. MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - Osisko Mining Inc. (TSX:OSK) ("Osisko" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce new results from the ongoing drill program at its 100% owned Windfall Lake gold project located in Urban Township, Quebec. The current 400,000 metre drill program combines definition drilling above the Red Dog intrusion ("Red Dog"), expansion drilling above and below Red Dog, expansion drilling to the NE of the main deposit, and exploration drilling on the greater deposit and Urban-Barry Project area. New analytical results from six drill holes in the Caribou, Underdog and Lynx zones are reported in this release and in the table below, with significant assay results including: 585 g/t Au over 2.8 metres (including 5.45 kilogram/t Au over 0.30 metres containing spectacular visible gold veinlets; main interval averages 11.5 g/t Au over 2.8 metres cut to 100 g/t) in hole OSK-W-17-743-W4; 19.4 g/t Au over 7.9 metres (including 29.7 g/t Au over 4.5 metres; main interval averages 16.4 g/t Au over 7.9 metres cut to 100 g/t) in hole OSK-W-17-789; and 24.9 g/t Au over 3.1 metres in hole OSK-W-17-W-802. Maps showing hole locations and full analytical results are available at www.osiskomining.com. Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Au (g/t) cut to 100 g/t Zone Corridor OSK-W-17-743-W4 796.2 799.0 2.8 585 11.5 CS1 Caribou including 796.2 796.5 0.3 5450 Caribou OSK-W-17-786 652.3 660.1 7.8 5.17 CS3 HW Caribou including 652.3 656.0 3.7 9.85 Caribou OSK-W-17-780-W1 1074.0 1091.0 17.0 5.97 FW0 Underdog including 1079.0 1082.8 3.8 19.7 Underdog OSK-W-17-789 853.0 860.9 7.9 19.4 16.4 FW1 Underdog including 853.0 857.5 4.5 29.7 24.5 Underdog 883.9 885.9 2.0 9.15 FW1 FW Underdog including 884.9 885.6 0.7 24.1 Underdog OSK-W-17-802 363.0 366.1 3.1 24.9 VNCR Lynx including 365.3 366.1 0.8 73.2 Lynx 378.7 381.3 2.6 3.99 VNCR Lynx including 379.3 380.5 1.2 6.77 Lynx OSK-W-17-803 137.0 139.3 2.3 5.23 HW Lynx including 137.0 138.5 1.5 7.74 Lynx 169.0 171.9 2.9 19.1 Lynx Notes: 1. True Widths for Caribou and Underdog Corridors are estimated at 65 - 80% of the reported core length interval. True widths in the Lynx Zone are yet to be determined. See "Quality Control" below. 2. Definitions: HW = hanging wall; FW = footwall. VNCR = crustiform vein. Hole Number Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) UTM E UTM N Section OSK-W-17-743-W4 334 -64 1477.5 452651 5434237 2525 OSK-W-17-786 337 -55 718.5 452673 5434412 2625 OSK-W-17-789 316 -38 1075 452546 5434390 2500 OSK-W-17-780-W1 330 -60 1264.5 452929 5434378 2850 OSK-W-17-802 330 -54 400.5 453376 5434896 3475 OSK-W-17-803 331 -64 412.5 453305 5434943 3450 Caribou Corridor OSK-W-17-743-W4 returned 585 g/t Au over 2.8 metres (11.5 g/t Au over 2.8 metres cut) from the CS1 Zone. The hole is part of the 30 metre infill program in the Caribou Zone and mineralization includes two gold veinlets 2-5 millimetres thick within a semi-massive pyrite stringer. The host rock is a strongly sericitized andesite in contact with a felsic dike. OSK-W-17-786 returned 5.17 g/t Au over 7.8 metres from the CS3 Zone hanging wall (CS3 Zone in same hole returned 6.64 g/t Au over 4.9 metres, see March 22, 2017 press release). The CS3 hanging wall is 3.6 metres above the CS3 Zone. Mineralization is composed of up to 4% pyrite stringers. Underdog Corridor OSK-W-17-780-W1 is part of the Underdog 50 metre infill program. The hole returned 5.97 g/t Au over 17.0 metres including 19.7 g/t Au over 3.8 metres in the FW0 zone. Mineralization is comprised of up to 3% pyrite stringers in a strongly silica altered hosted in a felsic fragmental dike. The intersection contains grey quartz veins, 10-15 millimetres wide, with local visible gold. This interval is located 50 metres west of previously reported 3.3 g/t Au over 4.0 metres intersected in OSK-W-17-780 (see April 6, 2017, press release). OSK-W-17-789 previously intersected the Caribou Corridor (see April 6, 2017, press release) and also intersected two parallel zones inside the Underdog Corridor. New results from this hole in the Underdog Corridor include 19.4 g/t Au over 7.9 metres (16.4 g/t Au over 7.9 metres cut) and extend the FW1 Zone 50 metres west from previous intersections. Mineralization contains up to 4% pyrite stringers and local visible gold hosted in a strongly sericitized and silicified felsic porphyry. A second intersection associated with the FW1 footwall returned 9.15 g/t Au over 2.0 metres, including local visible gold in a semi-massive pyrite stringer. Lynx Corridor OSK-W-17-802 intersected two crustiform veins returning respectively 24.9 g/t Au over 3.1 metres and 3.99 g/t Au over 2.6 metres in the Lynx Corridor. Pyrite-tourmaline stringers are composed of up to 7% pyrite and local visible gold at the vein contact. This intersection is located 60 metres north-west of previously reported OSK-W-17-760 which returned 14.1 g/t Au over 3 meters (see January 11, 2017, press release). OSK-W-17-803 intersected two mineralized zone in the Lynx Corridor. The first intersection corresponds to the hanging wall of Lynx Zone, and returned 5.23 g/t Au over 2.3 metres. Mineralization is composed of sulphide-rich silica bands including local visible gold. The second intersection corresponds to the Lynx Zone and returned 19.1 g/t Au over 2.9 metres in the similar mineralization. Both intersections are located 60 metres north-west of OSK-W-17-802 (described above). Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Mr. Louis Grenier, P.Geo. (OGQ 800), Project Manager of the Windfall Lake gold project, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Quality Control and Reporting Protocols True width determinations in the Caribou and Underdog zones are estimated at 65 - 80% true core lengths. True width determinations in the Lynx Zone have yet to be determined. Assay are uncut except where indicated, and calculated intervals are reported over a minimum length of 2 metres using a lower cutoff of 3 g/t Au. All NQ core assays reported were obtained by either 1 kilogram whole rock metallic screen/fire assay or standard 50 gram fire-assaying with AA or gravimetric finish at ALS Laboratories in Val d'Or, Quebec or Sudbury, Ontario. The 1 kilogram metallic screen assay method is selected by the geologist when samples contain coarse gold or present a higher percentage of pyrite than surrounding intervals. All samples are also analyzed for multi-elements, including silver, using an Aqua Regia-ICP-AES method at ALS laboratories. Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards and blanks are included with every 20 samples for Quality Assurance/Quality Control purposes by the Corporation as well as the lab. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to secondary laboratories for check assays. About the Windfall Lake Gold Deposit The Windfall Lake gold deposit is located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in the Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada. The current mineral resource comprises 2,762,000 tonnes at 8.42 g/t Au (748,000 ounces) in the indicated category and 3,512,000 tonnes at 7.62 g/t Au (860,000 ounces) in the inferred category (sourced from a technical report dated June 10, 2015 entitled "Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Windfall Lake Gold Property, Quebec, Canada" with an effective date of April 28, 2015, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101). The Windfall Lake gold deposit is currently one of the highest grade resource-stage gold projects in Canada. The bulk of the mineralization occurs in the Main Zone, a southwest/northeast trending zone of stacked mineralized lenses, measuring approximately 600 metres wide and at least 1,400 metres long. The deposit is well defined from surface to a depth of 500 metres, and remains open along strike and at depth. Mineralization has been identified only 30 metres from surface in some areas and as deep as 870 metres in others, with significant potential to extend mineralization up and down-plunge and at depth. About Osisko Mining Inc. Osisko is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Osisko holds a 100% in the high-grade Windfall Lake gold deposit located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in Quebec and holds a 100% undivided interest in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area (82,400 hectares), a 100% interest in the Marban project located in the heart of Quebec's prolific Abitibi gold mining district, and properties in the Larder Lake Mining Division in northeast Ontario, including the Jonpol and Garrcon deposits on the Garrison property, the Buffonta past producing mine and the Gold Pike mine property. The Corporation also holds interests and options in a number of additional properties in northern Ontario. Osisko continues to be well financed with approximately $190 million in cash and investments. Montreal, Quebec / TheNewswire / April 11, 2017 - St-Georges Platinum and Base Metals Ltd. (CSE: SX) (OTC: XOOF) (FSE: 85G1) is pleased to present further information on its Thor exploration & development project in Iceland. Please refer to our March 16, 2017 news release posted on the CSE or our website at www.st-georgesplatinum.com for additional information on location and terms. Thor Joint-Venture Gold Project The Thor Project is part of the recent string of acquisitions by St-Georges. The project is located in the southwest portion of Iceland, about 20 km east of the city center of Reykjavik. This area is an active rift zone. A new internal report completed for St-Georges by Dr. Natasha Henwood, as part of the due diligence process for the acquisition of Iceland Resources, summarizes the previous work programs including the most recent work conducted in 2013. The report includes recommendations to bring the project forward to a resource estimate. St-Georges management is in contact with independent consultants in order to commission a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report later this spring for the Thor project. The work Dr. Henwood reviewed confirms the existence of high grade gold values contained in a low sulphidation epithermal system. The mineralized system is comprised of early banded chalcedony-ginguro veins cut by later silica-feldspar veins, and then remobilized faulting with clay gouge and disseminated sulfides. The previous work program included detailed geologic mapping, petrography, stream sampling and core re-sampling and assaying. Geologic mapping proved difficult because of thick vegetation. Less than 10% of outcrop is available for mapping. Much of the outcrop is limited to ridge tops, cliffs and stream bottoms. The field works in conjunction with structural interpretation from aerial photos have given some limited perspective to geologic and structural controls for mineralization. A review of past core drilling provided additional important information, Dr. Henwood determined that: True thickness on the vein intercepts ranged from 2.2 to 11.4 meters. Current length is 560 meters based on drill intercepts (Figure 2). Depths of mineralized intervals in core are from surface to 80 meters. Gold to silver ratio is approximately 2:1 with some variations. The work completed on petrology, stream sampling, and core logging and re-assaying provides a strong argument for multiple episodes of gold deposition. Dr. Greg Corbett visited the property in 2004. He postulated plunging, high grade shoots of gold mineralization associated with extensional faulting (Figure 1). His work and drilling conducted on the vein system have shown the vein is open to the north. Stream sampling suggests the vein system may also extend to the south even though drilling appears to cut it off. The core resampling program indicated substantial repeatability of higher grades of gold. However, no resamples were conducted on low and moderate grade samples in 2013. Historic sampling of the low and moderate grades was generally less than 10% difference. This problem will likely require twinning of past high grade drill holes with larger core. Figure 1: Structural model for Iceland (Corbett 2004) The poor repeatability of the higher grade samples can be attributed to nugget effect and the current condition of the available core. Much of the resampling (12 of 15 samples) exceeded a 10% difference between the original 2006 sampling and the 2013 sampling. Eight of the samples measured significantly higher (24% to 286%) while 3 were significantly lower (-27% to -42%). Table 1 below shows the results of the sampling of best grades correlation of resampling of these intervals. Table 1 - Results showing 2006 assays and 2013 re-assay Figure 2: Plan map of Thor project with drilling and vein intercepts. Past work along with Dr. Henwood's summary analysis provides an excellent framework for St. Georges upcoming work programs. The company is determining the best geophysical methods to test for extensions of the known mineralization along strike and at depth. A drill program will then be permitted to test the results. The drilling will target specific high grade gold shoots based on past drilling and Dr. Corbett's model. Deeper drilling will assess the gold encountered at depths of 420 meters with the goal of identifying additional high grade resources. Financing Management has been approached by different parties to finance the company. Conditional to regulatory approval the Company is proposing an equity financing of up to $500,000 that could be increased by a 20% over-allocation under certain conditions. Terms $0.03 per unit. Each unit includes one common share and one unit special warrant. Each unit's special warrant will have an execution price of $0.06 and an 18 months life span. When executed the special unit warrants will enable the warrant holder to acquire one common share and one standard warrant. The standard warrant will be valid for 18 month concurrently to the special warrant and bear an execution price of $0.12. This warrant will allow the holder to receive one common share. All securities issued under this financing will be restricted from resale for 4 months. If all warrants are executed, the holder of the units would have acquired 3 common shares for each unit subscribed at an average of $0.07 per share. Related Parties Participation Insiders and related parties, including geological contractors in Iceland may decide to participate in this financing. Insiders and related parties will participate on the basis of a voluntary 18 months restriction on the common share subscribed. Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Given the proposed participation of the insider holders, the proposed financing constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). St-Georges is relying on an exemption to both the formal valuation and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Units to be distributed to, nor the fair market value of the consideration to be received by St-Georges from the insider holders in connection with the proposed financing exceeds 25% of St-Georges' share capitalisation. The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Herb Duerr, P. Geo. a 'qualified person' as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About St-Georges St-Georges is developing new technologies to solve the biggest environmental problems in the mining industry. If these new technologies are successful, they should improve the financial bottom line of current mining producers. The potential success of these technologies would also involve upgrading certain current known metal resources to economic status while addressing the environmental and social acceptability issues. The Company control directly or indirectly all of the active mineral tenures in Iceland. It also explores for Nickel on the Julie Nickel Project & for industrial minerals on the Quebec's North Shore and for Lithium and rare metals in Northern Quebec and in the Abitibi area. Headquartered in Montreal, St-Georges' stock is listed on the CSE under the symbol SX, on the US OTC under the Symbol SXOOF and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 85G1. For additional information, please visit our website at www.st-georgesplatinum.com RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - Puma Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE:PUM)(SSE:PUMA) (the "Company" or "PUMA") has launched a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its high-grade Zinc Murray Brook Deposit (the "Deposit") located in the Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick. PUMA has appointed P&E Mining Consultants Inc. ("P&E") of Brampton, Ontario to lead the study and prepare an NI 43-101 technical report on the project by year end. P&E has previously completed an initial Mineral Resource Estimate and a positive PEA in 2013 on the high tonnage (17 M tonnes) lower grade open pit scenario of the Deposit and prepared an National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Mineral Resource Estimate on the underground high-grade Zinc portion of the deposit in December 2016. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) The updated PEA will assess the best means of extracting the mineralization and examine whether, owing to the current prices of metals, the project should commence as an open pit whith later transition to underground operations or only as an underground scenario. The capital expenditures and operating costs will be evaluated as well as the different options to monetize the oxide Mineral Resource located on the top of the Deposit. Different mining scenarios are possible at Murray Brook, since the Deposit starts at surface to 300 metres in depth with the higher grade zone is located between 200-300 metres. The Deposit remains open at depth. "The completion of the PEA will be a truly defining milestone for PUMA with the Murray Brook project. The potential to grow the Mineral Resource is significant according to the drill ready targets located along strike and toward the Caribou Mine" notes Marcel Robillard, PUMA's President. Open Pit Mineral Resource Estimates The Deposit contains sulphide historical resources of 1.078 Blbs of zinc ("Zn"), 183 Mlbs of Copper ("Cu"), 390 Mlbs of Lead ("Pb"), 23.9 Moz of Silver ("Ag") and 338 Koz of Gold ("Au") within historical measured and indicated resources of 17,884,000 tons at 2.73 % Zn, 0.47 % Cu, 0.99 % Pb, 41.7 g/t Ag and 0.59 g/t Au. The historical Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared for Votorantim Metals Canada in accordance with 43-101 in 2012 from 132 drillholes and used terminology compliant with the current reporting standards. PUMA has not made any attempt to reclassify the Mineral Resource Estimates according to current standards of disclosure, and is not treating the estimate as a current Mineral Resource. Investors are cautioned that historical Mineral Resources are considered conceptual in nature, and there is no guarantee that historic potential Mineral Resources will be able to be converted into current NI 43-101 Mineral Resource categories or demonstrate economic viability. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current Mineral Resource. Underground Mineral Resource Estimate The underground Sulphide Mineral Resource Estimate is comprised of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources totaling 5.28 million tonnes averaging 5.24% Zn, 1.80% Pb, 0.46% Cu, 68.9 g /t Ag and 0.65 g /t Au. It contains 610 Mlbs of Zn, 209 Mlbs of Pb, 54 Mlbs of Cu, 11.7 Moz of Ag and 111 Koz of Au at a C$85 per tonne net smelter return (" NSR") cut-off in the Sulphide Measured and Indicated categories. The National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for sulphide and oxide mineralization at an $85/t NSR cut-off was used. The drilling database of the Deposit contains 10,045 samples, all of which were analyzed for Zn, Pb, Cu, Ag and Au. A total of 7,964 assays from 141 drill holes have been utilized for the Mineral Resource Estimate. The drilling was carried on between 2010 to 2013. About Puma Exploration Inc. Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company with advanced precious and base metals projects in Canada. The Company's major assets are the 67.9-per-cent beneficial interest in the Murray Brook Property, the Turgeon Zinc-Copper Project, the Nicholas-Denys Project in New Brunswick and an equity interest in Black Widow Resources with the Little Stull Lake Gold Project in Manitoba. In 2017, PUMA will direct all of its efforts on the Company's three (3) main base metals projects in New Brunswick which are the Murray Brook, Turgeon and Nicholas-Denys projects with special emphasis on the Murray Brook Property. Learn more by consulting www.pumaexploration.com for further information on Puma Exploration Inc. The contents of this press release were prepared by Marcel Robillard, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - ANGKOR GOLD CORP. (TSX VENTURE: ANK) ( OTC PINK : ANKOF) ("Angkor" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement. The Private Placement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The Company completed the sale of 1,506,250 shares of the Company at a price of C$0.32 per Share for gross proceeds of C$482,000. No commissions were paid on the private placement. Of the total, approximately 337,500 shares were purchased by management of Angkor. The Common Shares acquired by the subscribers are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day and may not be traded until August 11, 2017. The Company intends to use the funds raised from the issuance of the shares for general working capital and to continue to fund the on-going exploration programs at its properties located in Cambodia. The Company also announces that pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan it has granted 2,990,000 stock options at a price of C$0.38 per common share to directors, officers and consultants of the Company. The option grants will vest immediately. As per the Company's Stock Option Plan, the options granted are exercisable until April 10, 2022. Grant of the options is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Angkor will be applying to the TSX Venture Exchange for approval to extend the expiry date of 1,563,000 common share purchase warrants that were issued as part of a non-brokered private placement completed by the Company in July, 2016. The Warrants are exercisable for common shares of Angkor at a price of $0.50 per share. The Company is proposing to extend the expiry date of the warrants by an additional twelve (12) months to 4:30 p.m., Alberta time on July 29, 2018. All other terms and conditions of the warrants, including the exercise price, will remain the same. The proposed extension of the expiry is conditional upon the receipt of Exchange approval. ABOUT ANGKOR GOLD CORP. ANGKOR Gold Corp. is a public company listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange and is a leading mineral explorer in Cambodia with a large land package and a first-mover advantage building strong relationships with all levels of government and stakeholders. VANCOUVER, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ - Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM; NYSE MKT: NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") announces that its 100%-owned US subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership ("Pebble Partnership") has received notice of approval of a Miscellaneous Land Use Permit ("MLUP") from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources ("DNR") for its ongoing activities at the Pebble Project in southwest Alaska. "The Alaska Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies have had an active oversight presence at the Pebble Project site for more than a decade, and have confirmed that Pebble is a well-managed exploration project," said Tom Collier, Pebble Partnership CEO. "We will continue our site operations in 2017 in full compliance with the State's permit conditions, and in a manner that protects the broader public interest in the lands and resources surrounding the Pebble property." The Pebble Partnership is in the process of reviewing in detail the state land use permit received today. However, Collier confirmed Pebble will be advancing a program of work in Alaska in 2017 to prepare the project to initiate permitting under the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act. Given the extensive work undertaken at the Pebble Project over the past decade or more, and anticipated future activity, the 2017 MLUP includes a requirement for a performance guaranty in the amount of $2 million related to any potential reclamation liability. The Pebble Partnership maintains an operations base in Iliamna, Alaska with full-time staff responsible for care and maintenance of Pebble Project equipment, facilities and installations. Each year, Pebble staff undertake a program of inspections, and where necessary make repairs to ensure public safety and enhance reclamation, at the 1,300+ borehole sites on the property. About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset, owned through its wholly-owned Alaska-based US subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership and other wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 2,402 mineral claims in southwest Alaska, including the Pebble deposit. The Pebble Partnership is the proponent of the Pebble Project, an initiative to develop one of the world's most important mineral resources. Following Pakistan's death sentence against Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, Centre has stayed the release of 12 Pakistani prisoners. By India Today Web Desk: Retaliating to Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence, Centre on Monday stayed the release of 12 Pakistani prisoners, who were to be repatriated on Wednesday. "The government feels that it is not the right time for the release of Pakistani prisoners," official sources told PTI. The prisoners were to be released as part of the practice by India and Pakistan to repatriate nationals lodged in each others jail after they complete their sentence. advertisement The decision came hours after Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, and issued a demarche saying that if the sentence is carried out, India will treat it as a "case of premeditated murder." FOUR BIG DEVELOPMENTS IN THE KULBHUSHAN JADHAV CASE 1. The Pakistan Army on Monday sentenced Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav to death, alleging espionage. Jadhav is a former Indian Navy officer and he was arrested in March 2016. Following his arrest, India had alleged that Jadhav had been abducted from Iran. 2. In response to the death sentence, India issued a strongly worded demarche saying that if the sentence was carried out, India will treat it as a "case of premeditated murder." "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," the External Affairs Ministry's demarche to Pakistan read. 3. Later in the night, the Pakistani civilian establishment called Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence a warning to Pakistan's enemies. "No leniency will be given to those with anti-Pakistan sentiments. His (Jhadav) death sentence is a warning to the enemies of Pakistan," said Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif, according to a report in The Nation. 4. Speculation was rife on social media that Kulbhushan Jadhav's hurried death sentence could be a pre-emptive move by Pakistan, fearing Indian action against a retired Pakistani Army officer who has gone missing from a Nepali town near the Indian border. Many Pakistanis have alleged that the retired Pakistan Army officer, Lt Col Mohammad Habib, who reportedly went missing on April 6 from Nepal's Lumbini, is in the custody of the Indian authorities. --- ENDS --- North Korea plans to hold its key parliamentary meeting this week amid attention over whether its leader Kim Jong-un will deliver a message targeting the United States, experts said Monday. The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) will hold the fifth session of the country's 13th assembly Tuesday, the first parliamentary meeting since Kim was elected the head of a new state body last year. The SPA, the country's legislative body, is the highest organ of state power under the North's constitution, but it actually rubber-stamps decisions by more powerful organizations, such as the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Since Kim assumed power in late 2011, he has attended the SPA on five occasions out of seven parliamentary sessions held under his leadership. Every April, the SPA holds a plenary session, attended by hundreds of deputies, to finalize the country's budget spending and overhaul cabinet organs. But the North's parliament held a smaller meeting led by its presidium in March last year ahead of the WPK's party congress held in May. The North's last parliamentary meeting was held in June 2016, when the North's ruler was elected as the chairman of the newly created State Affairs Commission (SAC), which replaced the National Defense Commission. South Korea's unification ministry said that there is a small possibility that North Korea would send an external message on the occasion of the SPA. "At the parliamentary meetings, North Korea mainly discusses internal policies. There seems to be a relatively small chance that (the North's leader) would deliver a message targeting the external world," Lee Duk-haeng, ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing. The parliamentary meeting comes amid growing speculation that North Korea may carry out its sixth nuclear test or launch a long-range rocket launch this month. U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster told Fox News that President Donald Trump has ordered him to prepare "a full range of options" to nuclear and missile threats North Korea poses to Washington and its allies. North Korea is expected to fill its spy chief vacancy left by the dismissal of Kim Won-hong earlier this year during the upcoming assembly, experts said. Jo Yong-won, a senior official at the WPK, is highly likely to become the minister of state security at Tuesday's meeting, according to Cheong Seong-chang, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute. In April, North Korea plans to mark two key anniversaries -- the 105th birthday of Kim Il-sung, which falls on April 15, and the 85th anniversary of the creation of the Korean People's Army on April 25. (Yonhap) South Korea played down the possibility of a pre-emptive U.S. attack on North Korea on Monday, saying it wants to settle North Korea's nuclear issue peacefully, and the U.S. supports that position. "There's no need to be worried much," Lee Duck-hang, spokesman at the Ministry of Unification, said on the prospect of any pre-emptive U.S. attack on Pyongyang during a press briefing. "The U.S. has said it supports South Korea's policy on North Korea, and our government intends to solve all the problems peacefully," Lee said. "It is important to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula by resolving the issues of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles wisely," the spokesman noted, adding that the government will consult closely with the U.S. and other neighbors to that end. With the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration in the U.S. this year, the possibility of a pre-emptive attack on the North has been suggested as a way to rein in North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile programs. By Jun Ji-hye High-ranking U.S. officials are ratcheting up pressure on North Korea by hinting at a possible pre-emptive strike against Pyongyang to remove its nuclear and missile threats. Their hawkish remarks come as Pyongyang is reportedly gearing up for an additional nuclear test as well as the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said Sunday that President Donald Trump has ordered him to prepare "a full range of options," which experts say would include military action as well as economic and diplomatic sanctions. McMaster added it was a "prudent" decision to send a U.S. Navy strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Carl Vinson to waters close to the Korean Peninsula to rein in the increasing nuclear threats by the North. The Carl Vinson Strike Group is moving toward the western Pacific region after stopping in Singapore as the U.S. Pacific Command changed its itinerary from sailing to Australia to the Western Pacific. For his part, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said U.S. military strikes on an air base in Syria in response to its use of deadly chemical weapons against civilians were a warning to other nations, including North Korea, that "a response is likely" once any nation poses a threat. The U.S. officials made the remarks during U.S. media interviews after summits between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Thursday and Friday, during which the two leaders shared the understanding of the seriousness of the North Korean nuclear issue. "North Korea has been engaged in a pattern of provocative behavior," McMaster told Fox News Sunday. "This is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear capable regime, and (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) and President Trump agreed that that is unacceptable, that what must happen is the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." McMaster continued: "And so, the president has asked us to be prepared to give him a full range of options to remove that threat to the American people and to our allies and partners in the region." Secretary Tillerson told ABC's This Week, referring to the U.S. missile attack on Syria, that "the message that any nation can take is if you violate international norms, if you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken." Former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested by Pakistan on charges of spying for India, has been awarded death sentence by the country's military court heightening tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbouring countries. By India Today Web Desk: The Pakistan Army on Monday sentenced to death former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav on espionage charges. While New Delhi has rubbished allegations against Jadhav, Islamabad insisted that he has confessed to spying. The Field General Court Martial (FGCM) sentenced Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on the charges of "espionage and sabotage activities", a press release by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. advertisement "Today, (army chief) Gen Qamer Javed Bajwa has confirmed his death sentence," a military statement said, without stating when the execution would take place. Pakistan's move has not only added to tensions between the two nations, but has also served a big blow to back channel efforts to normalise situation between the two nuclear-power neighbouring nations. WHAT PAKISTANI MEDIA SAID OVER JADHAV'S SENTENCING The news about Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence was covered prominently by all Pakistani newspapers and websites. Most of the news portals have given major space to India's strong reaction over the sentencing. Sushma Swaraj-led Foreign Ministry has described Pakistan military court's verdict as "premeditated murder." "Be ready for more acrimony from India," said the headline of an article in Pakistan's Daily Times . "The Indian government's attitude had stiffened immediately after the news of Kulbhushan Jadhav's arrest became public nearly a year ago. Its attempts to "isolate" and run-down Pakistan on international fora such as the BRICS summit, the G-20 summit or the Heart of Asia in December were a few striking examples of the ascendant mood in New Delhi," the article said. The piece by Imtiaz Gul, editor, strategic affairs - Daily Times, argued that New Delhi will try to pressurise Pakistan on the international stage over the issue. "New Delhi will certainly ratchet up pressure to prevent any harm to Jadhav. It has a voice in the world that is heard - even if it may be on wrong side of the fence. Through strategic communication offensive, New Delhi will not only bring pressure upon Pakistan but also sully its image across the globe in whatever way it can," it said. Another article in The Nation titled 'Death to spy spikes tension' highlighted how Jadhav's sentencing has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The article described Jadhav as 'high-profile Indian spy'. "He (Jadhav) confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by the Indian intelligence agency to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi," it said. The Dawn published a reaction copy 'Will Pak-India relations be affected by the Jadhav sentence?' compiling views of analysts. "For a long time now Pakistan has struggled to prove India's involvement in Pakistan's destabilisation. Our ambassadors have gone to various countries looking for help in that matte and showed them proof but to no avail. Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for India's retaliation," the website quoted Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood, as saying. advertisement It also gave prominence to Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif's remark. "If India takes the matter up internationally Pakistan will defend its decision. Kulbhushan's sentence is a warning for anyone with anti-Pakistan sentiment. The justice system will come down on people working to sabotage Pakistan with full force," Asif said while speaking to Geo News. WATCH: Pakistan sentences Kulbhushan Jadhav to death accusing him of espionage ALSO READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot challenge Pakistan military court's verdict, but he has some options Day before Kulbhushan Jadhav got death penalty, Indian Coast Guard saved two Pakistani sailors Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence --- ENDS --- The New York Times, Monday, April 10, 2017 8:22 AM Spanish authorities, acting on an FBI request, have arrested Peter Levashov, a Russian identified by Spamhaus as one of the top ten spammers in the world, according to The New York Times. If officials confirm that Levashov is Peter Severa, his arrest could prove a significant break in prosecuting Russian spam and computer crime, the Times said. Severa allegedly used malware to influence an election in Russia in 2012, but reports did not say if he was suspected of meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, the Times continues. Read the whole story at The New York Times by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 10, 2017 Contact lens seller 1-800 Contacts' efforts to control the use of its trademarks in search ads harmed consumers as well as Google and Bing, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The agency makes that assertion in new legal papers outlining the ways in which the retailer allegedly violated antitrust laws by prohibiting rivals from using its name in search ads. The FTC's complaint against 1-800 Contacts, filed last August, deals with business practices that allegedly began in 2004 -- when the company first threatened to sue a competitor for allegedly infringing trademark by purchasing the term 1-800Contacts as a trigger for pay-per-click search ads. From 2004 through 2013, the company allegedly sued or threatened to sue at least 15 competitors over trademark infringement on search engines. Only Lens.com fought the lawsuit, which ended in a ruling largely in Lens.com's favor. advertisement advertisement Fourteen other retailers targeted by 1-800 Contacts entered into agreements to restrict the use of the company's trademarks in search ads. Those agreements "unreasonably restrain both price competition in search advertising auctions and the availability of truthful, non-misleading advertising," the FTC alleged in its original complaint. After the FTC filed suit, several consumers brought separate antitrust class-actions against the contact lens seller. The retailer is fighting the FTC allegations as well as the class-actions. The FTC spells out some of its theories this week in papers filed with an administrative law judge. "1-800 Contacts bidding agreements have resulted in actual harm to search engines by distorting the search engines advertising auctions, diminishing their revenues, and, perhaps most importantly, diminishing the quality of the search engines product," the FTC argues in its 90-page pre-trial brief. "Specifically, 1-800 Contacts bidding agreements distorted the search engine auctions by removing many relevant (and willing) advertisers from the pool, even in instances where the search engine itself determined that an advertisers offering was directly relevant to the users query." The FTC also contends that restricting search ads led to higher prices for consumers, arguing that 1-800 Contacts charges more than other online contact lens retailers, but that consumers "are generally unaware of this, and believe that 1-800 Contacts prices are comparable to that of other pure-play online retailers." The agency adds that evidence developed for trial shows that some consumers will stop searching and "settle for whatever price is offered by 1-800 Contacts" if that company is the only advertiser in the search results. The FTC also says the agreements between 1-800 Contacts and other retailers reduce competition and likely result in "higher average prices than what would otherwise prevail." Santa Clara University professor Eric Goldman -- who has frequently criticized 1-800 Contacts' position regarding search ads -- describes the FTC's position as "radical." "The FTC is taking the position that it was anticompetitive to prevent competitors from bidding on trademarks," Goldman tells MediaPost. "Taking that position is radical. Now, the FTC is executing on that audacious assertion." Goldman blogged last August that he believes "competitive keyword advertising is pro-competitive and should be legal." But he added that the issue "is still being hotly contested in the courts." "While I wish the state of competitive keyword advertising law was definitively resolved, the FTCs implied factual claim is aggressive," he wrote. In the past, judges have struggled over the use of trademarks in search advertising. Google and Yahoo have prevailed in several lawsuits alleging that they wrongly allowed a trademarked term to trigger pay-per-click ads, as have several advertisers. But judges have allowed several lawsuits between advertisers to proceed to jury trials. by Tanya Gazdik , April 12, 2017 NEW YORK Acura gave two for the money at the New York Auto Show, not only unveiling its new TLX performance luxury sedan, but the marketing campaign to go along with it. Themed What A Ride, the mobile-first campaign was created entirely using vertical video. The multi-platform effort, from Mullen Lowe, introduces the refreshed and enhanced TLX. It is slated to go on sale at Acura dealerships nationwide in June. Creative takes viewers on a colorful and unexpected journey filled with fast imagery and thought-provoking language. The campaign is set to hip-hop recording artist and producer Kid Ink's hypnotic anthem, "The Movement." It almost has the sound and feel of a tech-forward video game. The 2018 TLX marketing campaign continues the brand's Precision Crafted Performance messaging but also aims to broaden the appeal of the TLX to younger buyers by showcasing performance, technology and styling enhancements inside and out. advertisement advertisement The campaign features several commercials illustrating the many new aspects of the performance sedan, culminating with the theme: "What a Ride. The overall brand tagline remains "Precision Crafted Performance," says Ed Beadle, Acura senior manager integrated marketing. "While there is a theme for the individual vehicles, we don't want to detract from the overall brand messaging," Beadle tells Marketing Daily. The spot "Geek + Chic" highlights Acura's approach to performance. "Wild + Things" introduces the sleek TLX A-Spec model alongside the NSX supercar for a high-performance family outing. "Warp + Speed" shows off the TLX's precision handling and superior control and "Force +Field" focuses on active safety and driver-assistive features through both symbolic imagery and unique demonstrations that align with the tryptic story arcs. With content on digital platforms largely mobile set to outpace traditional TV in 2017, Acura's creative approach has evolved based on consumer habits, according to the automaker. The entire "What A Ride" campaign was shot with vertical cameras, leading with social media creative techniques to generate content that is not compromised when translated to mobile. This same content works across horizontal formats, like television, by dividing the screen into three, relying on triptych story arcs and provocative word pairings to express the multi-faceted and dynamic nature of the TLX and the Acura brand. Media will focus on raising widespread awareness for the new model, while targeting will drive consideration among TLX's best prospects. Consumers will see TLX across Acura's premium networks in cable and premium environments in online video. Local TV efforts will boost awareness in Acura's key sales markets and among Hispanic consumers. Acura will continue to employ a data-driven approach to reach key shopping prospects by pinpointing in-market households through Addressable TV. Digital and social efforts surrounding the 2018 TLX will also be targeted to custom shopper profiles on mobile and social. Through immersive opportunities such as Tapad's mobile vertical video, Facebook canvas and carousel ad units, and Snapchat's Snap Ads Web view ad opportunity where users can actually learn more about and engage with the TLX, Acura will have the ability to not only prioritize messaging based on consumers' interests and needs, but also to connect with them in an entirely new way, according to the automaker. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, April 11, 2017 Republicans in Congress who spearheaded a repeal of the broadband privacy rules are now asking the Federal Communications Commission to police Internet service providers' data policies. In a letter sent to the FCC late last week, the lawmakers argue that the Telecommunications Act empowers the agency to protect consumers against "unjust and unreasonable practices." House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (Oregon), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee) and 48 other Republicans argue in the letter that the telecom law currently "provides the necessary authority to protect consumers in a similar manner to how the FTC protects consumers under its authority to prevent unfair and deceptive acts and practices." advertisement advertisement They go on to call the FTC the "standard-bearer for striking the right balance of consumer protection within a pro-innovative construct." The FCC's rules -- which a Republican-controlled Congress invalidated last month -- would have required broadband carriers to obtain consumers' opt-in consent before drawing on their Web-browsing data or app usage history for ad targeting. By contrast, the FTC recommends only that Web companies allow people to opt out of the collection and sharing of most types of online browsing data. (The FTC suggests that companies obtain opt-in consent before sharing a narrow category of "sensitive" data -- including health information and precise location data.) The repeal of the FCC's privacy rules is unpopular with the public, according to a recent survey by YouGov, which found that the vast majority of Americans wanted President Donald Trump to veto the repeal. The federal rollback also prompted lawmakers in states like Minnesota to consider passing their own pro-privacy laws. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 11, 2017 Google denied allegations by the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) that a pay gap exists across the company. The response published Tuesday focuses on wanting to know the reasons behind the allegation and asserting that its practices are "blind" to gender when compensating an employee through their base salary, bonus and equity based on the role, job level, location and performance rating. Google says the analysts who calculate the compensation have no access to gender information about the employee. The information is fed into an equity model to determine compensation, wrote Eileen Naughton, VP or people operations at Google, in a blog post. The response follows a claim by the Labor department at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs that it has "evidence of systemic compensation disparities." advertisement advertisement Now the U.S. department is seeking thousands of employee records, including contact details of our employees, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of documents the company already produced in response to 18 different document requests, Naughton wrote. Naughton details the pay equity model, writing that the model "looks at employees in the same job categories, and analyzes their compensation to confirm that the adjusted amount shows no statistically significant differences between mens and womens compensation." The Guardian brings up the point that "Google is a federal contractor, which means it is required to allow the DoL to inspect and copy records and information about its compliance with equal opportunity laws." But Google is not the first company to face discriminatory legal action, according to one report. In September, the DoL filed a lawsuit against the Palo Alto data analytics company Palantir, and in January, the department sued Oracle. by Larissa Faw , April 11, 2017 While women may be the face of caregiving in America, men represent four in 10 unpaid family caregivers in the U.S., totaling 16 million. And many say that they don't feel comfortable discussing this aspect of their lives. Now, AARP, its agency DDB New York and the Ad Council are introducing their first-ever public service awareness campaign designed specifically to address this largely unrecognized population. The creative combines humor with emotion by showing actor Danny Trejo, best known for playing gruff men, demonstrating his own toughness by shaving with a machete and knitting a chain link scarf. Those images are juxtaposed with a male caregiver shown shaving, lifting and feeding his dad. The ad ends with the message that caregiving is tougher than tough, and directs viewers to aarp.org/caregiving for practical tools and guides. The media buy includes :60, :30, and 15-second spots distributed by more than 33,000 media outlets nationwide and running exclusively in donated time and space, per the Ad Councils model. They are available in TV, radio, print, outdoor and digital formats. Social media creative will also soon debut on Facebook, courtesy of Facebooks donated media support for the Ad Council. advertisement advertisement Trejo was the obvious spokesperson for this project, says the agency. His onscreen persona embodies the traditional toughness and strength that is often expected of men in a way that lets the creative upend expectations of masculinity and celebrate the dedication and devotion of male caregivers. Additionally, Trejo has seen firsthand what it takes to be a caregiver, having helped care for a friend who was going through cancer treatment. In the name of greater simplicity, Instagram is relaunching its Direct messaging service. Most notably, the new Direct will present permanent and disappearing messages in one thread. Texts and reshares will now appear in the same thread with disappearing photos and videos, so you can seamlessly go back and forth with your friends, the company notes in a new blog post. By most measures, Direct appears to be performing well. Since its last update in late 2016, the number of people using the service has grown from 300 million to 375 million, per internal figures. Instagram, however, is facing increasing competition from Snapchat and similarly playful messaging services. Ahead of its big IPO, Snapchat joined the ranks of the Top 10 most popular apps in late 2016, according to comScore. advertisement advertisement Snapchat went from being a very popular app among the younger demographics to being one of the most popular apps among the general population, Adam Lella, senior analyst at comScore, recently toldMediaPosts Moblog. As of March, Instagram's global community exceeded 600 million users. At the end of 2016, Snapchat counted nearly 160 daily active users. Consolidated Edison, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.5 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,555 customers in parts of Manhattan. The company also supplies electricity to approximately 0.3 million customers in southeastern New York and northern New Jersey; and gas to approximately 0.1 million customers in southeastern New York. In addition, it operates 533 circuit miles of transmission lines; 15 transmission substations; 64 distribution substations; 87,564 in-service line transformers; 3,924 pole miles of overhead distribution lines; and 2,291 miles of underground distribution lines, as well as 4,350 miles of mains and 377,971 service lines for natural gas distribution. Further, the company owns, operates, and develops renewable and energy infrastructure projects; and provides energy-related products and services to wholesale and retail customers, as well as invests in electric and gas transmission projects. It primarily sells electricity to industrial, commercial, residential, and government customers. The company was founded in 1823 and is based in New York, New York. EPAM Systems, Inc. provides digital platform engineering and software development services worldwide. The company offers engineering services, including requirements analysis and platform selection, customization, cross-platform migration, implementation, and integration; infrastructure management services, such as software development, testing, and maintenance with private, public, and mobile infrastructures for application, database, network, server, storage, and systems operations management, as well as monitoring, incident notification, and resolution services; and maintenance and support services. It also provides operation solutions comprising integrated engineering practices and smart automation; and optimization solutions that include software application testing, test management, automation, and consulting services to enable customers enhance their existing software testing and quality assurance practices, as well as other testing services that identify threats and close loopholes to protect its customers' business systems from information loss. In addition, the company offers business, experience, technology, data, and technical advisory consulting services; and digital and service design solutions, which comprise strategy, design, creative, and program management services, as well as physical product development, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality. It serves the financial services, travel and consumer, software and hi-tech, business information and media, life sciences and healthcare, and other industries. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Minister of State for Information and Broadcast Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore expressed concern over Pakistan awarding death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Rathore and Jadhav were batchmates at the National Defence Academy (NDA). By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The issue of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav awarded death row in Pakistan evoked strong response from Members of Parliament. MPs both from the ruling and opposition camps while condemning Pakistan demanded the government to take strong action to ensure justice to Jadhav. Though Minister of State for Information and Broadcast Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore chose not to spoke in Lok Sabha, he was concerned in particular. Only a few know that Rathore was Kulbhushan Jadhav's batchmate at the National Defence Academy (NDA). advertisement "We were batchmates at the NDA. It will be inappropriate for me to speak on him. But all I can say is that the government of India will be taking all possible diplomatic and other steps to prevent Pakistan from carrying out the execution," Rathore told India Today. "The government will be taking up this issue at appropriate platforms," he added when asked whether India has time to prevent Pakistan Army from carrying out Jadhav's execution. Kulbhushan Jadhav is said to have joined NDA in 1987 and was commissioned in the engineering branch of the Indian Navy in 1991. After 14 years of service, he took retirement to established a small business in Iran's Chabahar from where he was allegedly kidnapped by Pakistani agencies. WATCH: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Sushma Swaraj warns Pakistan of dire consequences ALSO READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Sushma Swaraj warns Pakistan of dire consequences, Opposition corners govt Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: What Pakistani media said Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot challenge Pakistan military court's verdict, but he has some options Day before Kulbhushan Jadhav got death penalty, Indian Coast Guard saved two Pakistani sailors Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence --- ENDS --- BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. MarineMax, Inc. operates as a recreational boat and yacht retailer and superyacht services company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Retail Operations and Product Manufacturing. The company sells new and used recreational boats, including pleasure and fishing boats, mega-yachts, yachts, sport cruisers, motor yachts, pontoon boats, ski boats, jet boats, and other recreational boats. It also offers marine parts and accessories comprising marine electronics; dock and anchoring products that include boat fenders, lines, and anchors; boat covers; trailer parts; water sport accessories, which comprise tubes, lines, wakeboards, and skis; engine parts; oils; lubricants; steering and control systems; corrosion control products and service products; high-performance accessories, including propellers and instruments; and a line of boating accessories, such as life jackets, inflatables, and water sports equipment. In addition, the company provides novelty items, such as shirts, caps, and license plates; marine engines and equipment; maintenance, repair, and slip and storage accommodation services; and boat or yacht brokerage services, as well as charters yachts and power catamarans. Further, it offers new or used boat finance services; arranges insurance coverage, including boat property, disability, undercoating, gel sealant, fabric protection, and casualty insurance coverage; and manufactures and sells sport yachts and yachts. Additionally, the company operates vacations in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. It also markets and sells its products through offsite locations and print catalog. The company has 79 retail locations in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. MarineMax, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Clearwater, Florida. The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 17111 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Services China Ltd., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Aurora LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Chelton Avionics Holdings Inc., Chelton Avionics Inc., Chelton Limited, Cobham Aero Connectivity, Cobham CTS Limited, Cobham Defence Communications Limited, Cobham Defense Products Inc., DART Aerospace, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, European Antennas Limited, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, Hytek Finishes Co., ILC Holdings Inc., IRVIN AEROSPACE LIMITED, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Korry Electronics Co., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Corporation, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Germany GmbH, Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Mexico Holding LLC, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., Mason Electric Co., Mastsystem Int'l Oy, McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., NAT Seattle Inc., NMC Group Inc., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, Nordisk Aviation Products LLC, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas LLC, Norwich Aero Products Inc., Palomar Products Inc., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Aerospace Co., TA Mfg Limited, TDG Bavaria GmbH, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Telair International, Telair International GmbH, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm Technologies India Private Limited, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Defence UK Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, Young & Franklin Inc., and exas Rotronics Inc.. Read More 11.04.2017 LISTEN The I8th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is over and as usual controversies are unfolding after the event. Hottest Ghanaian female traditional/Afro pop music sensation, Lily M has cautioned the organizers of the award scheme; Charter House to stop underrating traditional Artistes. Speaking in an intriguing interview with razzonline.com , Lily M who is noted for her hit song Strength Of a Woman featuring Sherifa Gunu, accentuated that, she cant fathom why the organizers of the scheme dont focus much on traditional musicians who are really depicting the real Ghanaian culture: Seriously Im not happy at all this is very bad how can we call this Ghana music Awards? What is really Ghanaian about the scheme? You put much emphasis on the music genres which were borrowed from other countries at the expense of our very own Why are they underrating and frustration traditional musicians?Lily M opined passionately. She continued agitatedly that: At the moment, traditional musician like King Ayisoba is playing over 30 shows in Europe Atongo zimba is also an internationally acclaimed musician. Think of Wiyaala and Sherifa Gunu, tell me if they are not great musiciansyet we are being underrated. My Strength Of a Woman hit song is being played around the world but was not nominated for any category in the scheme. Born in real life as Mavis Akuamoah Boateng,Lily M who is currently out with her hit single track Odo Dea featuring Okyeame Kwame advised the organizers of the scheme to rather focus on Tradional musicians because its only when the international community sees that we are depicting our real culture that they would take Ghana Music Award scheme seriously. Fancy Gadam, winner of the Best New Artiste of the Year award at the 2017 Ghana Music Awards returned to his base, Tamale to a heroic welcome. Hundreds of people met him at the Airport to welcome him home for making the town proud. Gadam beat Medikal, Nii Funny, Article Wan, Feli Nuna, Ebony, Rudebowy Ranking and Eugy to win the award. The 18th edition of the awards scheme was held at the Accra International Conference Center, and hosted by Anita Erskine. Photos and video below. Full list of winners below. Artiste of the Year Joe Mettle Album of the Year Counsellor 1 by Nacee Most Popular Song of the Year Christy by Dobble Best Record of the Year Too Late by Adina Best New Artiste of the Year Fancy Gadam Best African Artiste of the Year RunTown Best Rapper of the Year M.anifest (100%) Best Music Video of the Year Small Small by Okyeame Kwame ft. MzVee (Dir. Phamous Philms) Best Group of the Year VVIP Best Male Vocalist of the Year Joe Mettle Onwanwani Best Female Vocalist Adina Too Late Best Collaboration of the Year VVIP ft. Patoranking Dancehall Artiste of the Year Stonebwoy SongWriter of the Year Kofi Kinaata Confession Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year Sarkodie Highlife Artiste of the Year Kofi Kinaata Gospel Artiste of the Year Joe Mettle AfroPop Song of the Year Kaa Bu Ame E.L Highlife Song of the Year Go Low by FlowKing Stone Hip Hop Song of the Year M.anifest Highlife Artiste of the Year Kofi Kinaata 10.04.2017 LISTEN Several people were drawn to the Accra High Court 12 on Thursday March 16, 2016 when some litigants in a land case engaged each other in insults which nearly resulted in a fight but for the intervention of some passersby. The two have been locked up in litigation over plot number 13 at Shiashie since May 2013. It was gathered that, the Defendants Mrs. Comfort Korkor Kwashie and her representative Sandy Kwashie were intentionally playing hide and seek in the case just to buy time to cover their fraudulent Judgment they received in the court in 2009. Mrs. Comfort Korkor Kwashie had told the court that all the processes could be given to her lawyers. But Mrs. Darko was also of the opinion that some of the processes should be served to the Defendant herself. After the proceedings on the 20th of April, 2016, the court Presided over by Justice Merley Wood ordered the Defendants to give the Plaintiff the direction to her new residence with the support of a Bailiff, this is because her representative Sandy Kwashie told the court she had not received any of the several substituted services granted the Plaintiff by the court because she had relocated from her previous residence. But after sitting, the Plaintiff said the Bailiff and herself made several attempts to have Sandy Kwashie give them their new address but to no avail. Mrs. Darko has been in the tussle with the Defendants Mrs. Comfort Korkor Kwashie and Emmanuel Tetteh Kwashie alias Nene Azago I of Manya Krobo, now being represented by their son Sandy Kwashie, and Nii Tetteh Opremireh and co over plot number 13 at Shiashie since May 2013. Mrs. Comfort Korkor Kwashie claimed she lives in America and asked that her son Sandy Kwashie to represent her whenever the case is called. But, she continued, in order to deceive the court and not have his (Sandy Kwashie) name come on record at the court, he would always sneak out of the court when the case is about to be called and reappear only after the case is called making it appear as if he was not in court. Counsel for the defendants their lawyer managed to garnishee all Mrs. Darkos accounts even though she was not a party to the suit number AL/27/2008. She then contested that the judgment was fraudulently obtained since some foreign documents were added as part of their exhibit which was hitherto not part of their original exhibits and their evidence in chief given by Emmanuel Tetteh Kwarshie to reach judgment, hence the whole judgment is tainted by fraud. By the case in court now, which has gone even beyond direction and both parties have filed their witness statements and need to move to case management then the trial, but surprisingly, the Defendants have now presented a motion to strike out the whole case knowing that the trial process could uncover their fraudulent deal, hence that attempt to delay the case. Since this case has a serious human interest angle, we shall be following it keenly. Famine is stalking Africa, threatening unprecedented levels of starvation. Famine has already been officially declared in parts of South Sudans Unity State, Somalia, and sections of the Borno State in Nigeria. Somalian officials reported 110 human beings perished from hunger in forty-eight hours in one region in the first days of March. One cannot imagine how parents cope watching their children slowly, painfully expire. Famine in Africa is not only unconscionable, but a crime against humanity, because it can be prevented. Only through an entirely new paradigm, that eliminates poverty through infrastructure led development, which can and must be done, will death by starvation finally be eradicated from the entire continent. In over 30 years China has lifted 750 million of its people out of poverty, and has pledged to help Africa eliminate poverty from its vast continent as well. Nothing less than this is acceptable. What is urgently required is; intention and vision for a better future. A Partial Overview The United Nations humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien told the UN Security Council that the world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since the United Nations was founded in 1945. More than 20 million people in four countries are facing starvation and famine, O'Brien said, and that "without collective and coordinated global efforts, people will simply starve to death" and "many more will suffer and die from disease." The four nations facing immediate catastrophe are; Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and northeast Nigeria. The Africa Center for Strategic Studies reports that nineteen African countries are facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. This includes 17 million people in the Horn of Africa; Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, and millions more in Central African Republic, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique are also in danger of acute food insecurity. According to international food organizations, famine is declared if more than 30% of the population is acutely malnourished; one in five households within a vicinity face extreme food shortages; and two or more people or four children die per 10,000 daily. *Somalia Of its 6.2 million population, more than half are in need of aid, with 2.9 million requiring immediate assistance, and 270,000 children suffering acute malnutrition. Somalia has suffered two consecutive years of drought. In the 2011 famine, Somalia lost 260,000 people; over half were children under the age of five. Many experts fear that unless immediate action is taken there is the potential of a full blown famine, possibly exceeding the 2011 death totals. *South Sudan As this poor landlocked nation is approaching its sixth anniversary of independence, its living conditions are horrific. The UN reports: almost 5 million people- 40% of the population are in desperate need of food; and 100,000 people in Unity State are presently struggling to survive the reality of famine. UNICEF reports that 1 million children are estimated to be acutely malnourished, and 270,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition. Northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin In the four nations of Lake Chad Basin; Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, the UN estimates that 10.7 million people require assistance, with 7.1 million categorized as food insecure. In the Northeastern Nigerian states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, the UN reports that 400,000 children are at risk of from famine, with 75,000-90,000 facing immediate danger of dying from hunger. Humanitarian Aid Is Insufficient To avert the further spread of famine, UN Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres has requested upwards $5.6 billion, with a majority of the funds needed as soon as the end of March, the New York Times reported. Guiterees also appealed for $825 million in aid to address drought and cholera in Somalia. So far only a small portion of these goals have been met. In response to drought, famine, and other disasters, emergency aid is necessary to save lives, and is a moral responsibility. However, we must have the courage to admit to ourselves that simply providing aid is an inadequate response by the UN and international community. Yes, many of these nations suffer from the interrelationship of civil strife, and famine. A paramount underlying cause of both is the inability to provide the basic necessities of life due to severe underdevelopment of their economies. This essential and fundamental truth has been overlooked or deliberately ignored for over five decades, until the recent extension of Chinas Silk Road onto the African continent. In the years following the Winds of Change as African nations freed themselves from the yoke of colonialism, many became food self sufficient or nearly so due to abundant fertile soil. Objectively, there is no justifiable reason for hunger to exist anywhere in Africa. Given the large areas of uncultivated, but arable land available in Africa (the most abundant on the planet), Africa not only has the potential to feed its own expanding population, but also become a net food exporter to Asia. Thus to die from hunger is not only criminally immoral, but actually un-African at its roots. The not so secret missing ingredient for Africa to achieve its agricultural potential is: physical economic development of vital infrastructure. What is Actually Required to Prevent Famine All functioning, i.e. growing economies depend on a platform of integrated infrastructure especially in categories of rail, energy, roads, and water projects, because of their essential, irreplaceable contribution in raising the productivity of the labor force. It has been the failure of Western institutions to assist the emerging nations of Africa in securing the necessary infrastructure across the continent that is the long term cause for the crisis that African nations face today. Some may object to such an analysis, but history has proved that it is the long waves of policy that shape the present and the future. After suffering hundreds of years of slavery that ripped the social fabric of the continent apart and tortured the cultural soul of Africa, it was followed by another century of brutal-exploitive colonialism. The best form of justice would have been to assist these newly formed nations in becoming economically sovereign. Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Kennedy had this vision, but tragically it was not shared by other leaders. Lack of economic growth has a great deal to do with ethnic warfare and the spread of terrorism. Poor people, reaching to find enough water, food, and land for the very survival of themselves and their loved ones become desperate, and desperate people become victims of manipulation in violent conflicts, as well as easy recruits to extremist groups. Economic growth that provides the citizens with means to exist, and hope for a better future, is the great mitigator against desperation and alienation that leads to violence. So far mankind has not been able to prevent draughts, but mankind can prevent draughts from causing famine. How? With infrastructure, nations can mitigate the deadly effects of draughts; by utilizing irrigation, and water management projects, generating sufficient energy to pump water; railroads for transporting food to the needy from other parts of the state and from other countries not as severely affected, and by creating integrated industrialagricultural sectors capable of producing a surplus of food. Can one deny that the extreme poverty rampant throughout the nations of the Lake Chad Basin is not a major factor for the spread of Boko Haram? Can anyone deny that the paucity of electrical power for Nigerias 190 million people along with sky high rates of youth unemployment are not contributing factors to the multifaceted crisis in north-east Nigeria? Was it not patently obvious that the creation of the new nation of South Sudan without first establishing a stable economy providing the basic needs for its people, especially food, was at serious risk from the beginning? For example, had the East-West railroad, connecting the Horn of Africa along the Gulf of Eden and Indian Ocean across West Africa to the Atlantic Ocean been built Africa would have achieved new levels of economic growth for all the nations involved. A similar effect would have occurred, had the SouthNorth railroad along Africans eastern spine had been developed. If the great inter-basin water transfer project known as Transaqua, capable of transferring billions of cubic feet of water from the Congo River Basin to Lake Chad, while creating an economic corridor between the nations of the Great Lakes and the Lake Chad Basin, been built thirty years ago when it was first proposed, how much suffering and death could have been prevented. Finally, in December 2016, ChinaPower signed an agreement with Nigeria for a feasibility study on a portion of the long overdue Transaqua project. A New Opportunity to End Famine and War In this century, infrastructure projects are being built across the African continent for the first time, as an extension of Chinas Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road policy, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative-BRI. China is collaborating with African nations to build railroads at a rate never seen before on the continent. Discussing the importance of railway development, the Chinese Minister of Commerce recently stated: Africa is an important part of the One Belt rail initiative. Chinas five biggest foreign railroad projects are in Africa. Premier Li Keqiang announced Chinas intention to help Africa connect all its capital cities by modern rail lines. What effect will this have on the economies of Africa? Nothing short of an economic revolution spurring unprecedented levels of trade and commerce! As the expression says, China is putting its money where its mouth is, when the West has firmly rejected financing any significant investment in infrastructure for Africa. Between 2000 and 2014 China made $24.2 billion in loans to finance transportation projects in Africa, according to the China Africa Research Initiative-(CARI). China financed the recently completed Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Djibouti electrified train at $4 billon. China will provide $13 billion to finance construction of the Standard Gauge Railroad-(SGR) in Kenya. The first phase of a rail line for passengers and freight from Mbassa, the largest port in Africa to Nairobi, Kenyas capital and further north to the major market in Naivasha is to be completed by the end of this year. The Horn of Africa will be transformed as the SGR is extended to the capitals of Kenyas five neighboring states; South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania. The longer term vision is for the Addis Ababa to Djibouti rail line and the SGR to become eastern part of the East-West railroad. With Chinese financing and Chinese construction companies, Nigeria is building a standard rail gauge from Lagos to Kano for $7.5 billion with stops in Ibaden, llorin, Mina, and Kaduna. China has signed an agreement with Nigeria for $12 billion to construct a coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar. China has also financed the light rail system in Addis Ababa, and light rail lines in Nigerias capital Abuja, and its former capital and largest city, Lagos. China has already financed $22 billion in infrastructure projects in Nigeria, with another $23 billion on going, and $40 billion more are in the pipeline according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, when he spoke last month in Abuja. For Nigeria, a country filled with mega cities inhabited by its huge and expanding population, rail transportation is a game changer. In addition to funding rail construction, Chinese companies are involved in other important infrastructure across the continent, including new ports, highways, and airports, reaping $50 billion a year on their investments reports CARI. Aboubaker Omar Hadi, chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zone Authority stated bluntly: We approached the U.S., and they didnt have the vision. They are not thinking ahead 30 years. They only have a vision from the past as a continent of war and famine. The Chinese have vision. It should be emphasized that these rail projects along with other infrastructure projects being built and financed by China will generate hundreds of thousands of skilled jobs for Africas unemployed. It is vital that the Chinese Silk Road take up the task of creating electrical power for Africa. A pitable 100,000 megawatts of electrical power for the sub-Saharan population of almost one billion, is literally a death sentence for Africa. Without hundreds of thousands of additional megawatts of power, Africas future; its very existence is in jeopardy. While the West is infatuated with off grid, lower technologies like wind and solar; construction of hundreds of nuclear power plants, which offer the best and most reliable form of energy is the next challenge. If the expansion of nuclear power follows the rate of growth of rail development, then famine, abject poverty, and war will become a distant memory of the past. If the new Washington administration breaks from previous US policy, and decides to collaborate with China with its win-win approach for all nations to join the Silk Road, then the long overdue industrialization of Africa is eminently feasible. [email protected] March 20, 2017 The Teachers of Technical Universities and Polytechnics, have expressed concern over what they say is a deliberate attempt by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), to frustrate the process of conversion of Polytechnics into Technical Universities. According to the Association, the NCTE is usurping the powers of University Councils, and acting arbitrarily to run the various Technical Universities. It said the development has caused some unrest among the various teacher unions within the Polytechnics and Technical Universities. In a statement copied to citifmonline.com, the Association also accused the Minister of Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, of conniving with the NCTE to violate the Provisions of the Technical Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922), which called for a constitution of a University council to run the various Technical Universities for one year. It said the various Councils have since been dissolved by the NCTE and the Minister to enable the NCTE exert authority over the Technical Universities. The Association observes and believes same to be true that the NCTE has a hidden agenda and hence has resorted to a deliberate feet-dragging strategy to frustrate the transition process and destroy the very fine idea of Technical University introduced by the previous Government. ..The Association also believes that the deliberate feet-dragging is a Machiavellian tactic of the NCTE being employed in the Transitional arrangements to secure the ambition of some of their top Management and cronies from the Traditional Universities to take up key positions in the newly converted Technical Universities. POTAG views these acts as diabolical and shall resist them vehemently, the statement said. It further accused the minister of refusing to grant them an audience to discuss the matter which they say is likely to lead them to hold a massive demonstration to express their resentment. POTAG has however called on the government to among other things reconstitute the Governing Councils of the Technical Universities and Polytechnics to enable the Technical Universities to operate as effectively as mandated. It has also called on the government to convert of the two (2) remaining Polytechnics (Bolgatanga and Wa) to Technical University as soon as possible. It also reminded government to expedite action on the payment of their Book and Research Allowances for the 2016/2017 Academic year which payment they say is long overdue. By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @jnyabor Shashi Tharoor said that India's message to Pakistan should be that there would be serious consequences including kicking out their ambassador and their can be worst if Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence is carried through. By Supriya Bhardwaj: Amid the outrage over the death sentence awarded to former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani military court, the issue resonated both inside and outside Parliament. The issue will be raised in Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs Dr Shashi Tharoor while talking exclusively to India Today said, "For us important issue is that whole house is standing in a united manner on Jadhav's issue. Whole country is united and demanding that Pakistan should take back death sentence." advertisement 'KICK OUT THEIR AMBASSADOR' On being asked as to what all options does the government have to send a strong message to Pakistan, Tharoor replied, "Our message should be that there would be serious consequences including kicking out their ambassador and their can be worst if this sentence is carried through." Congress MP added, "We will have to put international pressure on Pakistan. Because what Pakistan has done is not just assault on India but an assault on international laws which keep us all safe. Pakistan can kidnap an Indian citizen, try him in a military court and hand him down death sentence despite no shred of evidence against him." Also Read: All not over: Pakistan says Kulbhushan Jadhav has right to challenge death sentence within 60 days Amid growing cries to free Kulbhushan Jadhav from Pak, Kashmiri leader says wrong for India to point fingers Kulbhushan Jadhav a terrorist, should meet his fate: Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit Fear Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tortured, killed in Pakistan: BJP MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh Kulbhushan Jadhav sentence linked to Pakistan Army ex-officer vanishing in Nepal? --- ENDS --- Photo illustration by Jeff Boyer / Times Union 11.04.2017 LISTEN John D. Rockefeller was incensed. It was the 1880s, and oil drillers had struck such enormous wells in Baku that Russia was selling oil in Europe at prices that undercut Rockefeller's Standard Oil. Having ruthlessly swallowed his American competitors, Rockefeller now schemed to destroy Russian competition. He lowered prices for Europeans, raised prices for Americans, spread rumors questioning Russian oil's safety and barred cheaper Russian oil from U.S. consumers. Greed and rivalry tainted U.S.-Russian relations from the start. Despite Rockefeller's unscrupulous tactics, he saw himself as virtuous and his competitors as vicious scoundrels. The product of a religious mother and swindling father, Rockefeller perceived Standard Oil as a savior of sorts, "rescuing" other companies like boats that would have sunk without him, ignoring the fact that he was the one who had pierced their hulls. And for a century, we see a hypocritical pattern of U.S. thinking that, like Rockefeller, interprets its own behaviors as innocent and those of Russia as malicious. Consider U.S. reaction to Russia's signing of the 1918 Brest-Litovsk Treaty to withdraw from World War I. Nine million Russians were dead, wounded, or missing. It was Lenin's promise to withdraw Russia from World War I that gained him mass Russian support. Did the U.S. perceive Russia as peace-loving? Not a chance. The U.S., absent for most of the war, called Russia's withdrawal traitorous. In 1918, 13,000 U.S. troops invaded Russia to topple the Bolsheviks. Why? To force those Russians back into World War I. Rockefeller's contemporary, banker magnate Jack P. Morgan Jr., had his own reasons to hate Communism. The Communist International had singled out bankers as archenemies of the working class, and a hateful underdog mentality spawned the ignorant belief that murdering the elite would promote justice. Morgan's valid fears, however, were skewed by prejudice and rivalry. He perceived striking workers, Communists and Jewish business rivals as conspiratorial traitors while he, who had earned a $30 million commission selling munitions to World War I Allies, was but a vulnerable target. Like Morgan, Americans held valid criticisms against the USSR, including Bolshevik ruthlessness and Stalin's brutal totalitarianism. Yet, significantly, U.S. Cold War policy was directed against neither brutality nor oppression. Instead, it targeted those whose land and labor reforms for the poor threatened wealthy U.S. businessmen's profits. Like Morgan, the U.S. falsely elevated business rivalry to moral rivalry. In 1947, President Harry Truman adopted diplomat George Kennan's belligerent policy of Soviet containment and dressed up paranoia with a mantle of holy mission. In Greece, Korea, Guatemala and beyond, the U.S. indiscriminately directed violence against leftists, regardless of whether leftists observed humane and democratic ideals. Not all U.S. officials agreed that slaughtering thousands of Greeks and millions of Koreans was a step toward the light. Nonetheless, in the dogmatic spirit of anti-democracy, dissenters were fired or resigned. Remarkably, Kennan himself later admitted that the U.S. imagination had run wild and falsely "reconjured daily" a "totally malevolent adversary" so deceptively real, "to deny its reality appears as an act of treason. ..." Currently, alleged Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee's underhandedness is accused of marring U.S. democracy, yet while this receives indignant attention, the hypocrisy is hard to stomach, for Americans have corrupted democracy at home and abroad far more than any Russian hacker. Like Rockefeller, the U.S. sees dishonesty only in its rivals. One century-old undemocratic U.S. tradition is the appointment to key government posts in the departments of Defense and State, CIA and National Security Council of individuals intricately linked with Rockefeller and Morgan affiliations. It's a dangerous practice: When a single stratum of society dominates, it's more likely that policymakers will share identical blind spots that warp policy. Consider Rockefeller and Morgan's tunnel vision. Obsessed with rivalry for railroad ownership, neither one considered how railroads were destroying Native American life and millions of bison, slaughtered in sickening railroad hunting excursions. These powerful men were incapable of comprehending so much. Why, then, should this mentality be granted enormous influence over U.S. policy, which needs to consider broader implications for everyone, not just the rich and powerful? Yet if Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former CEO of Standard Oil descendant ExxonMobil, ally with Putin to litter the land with pipelines and seize oil from the Caspian Sea, it will be a rerun of Rockefeller, Morgan and the railroads: greed mixed with obliviousness to human and environmental suffering. And if Trump joins Putin to pummel the Middle East in war, Cold War self-righteousness will be recycled, with an acute sensitivity to U.S. fears and an obtuse insensitivity to enemy fears. Undeniably, the U.S. and Russia are both guilty of belligerency and injustice. To evolve, we must ensure that neither alliances nor animosities feed greed, provoke fear, or inflict suffering. Kristin Y. Christman has degrees in Russian and public administration from Dartmouth, Brown and the University at Albany. This article was first published in the Albany Times Union Go and sin no more, Ghanas Speaker of Parliament tells a lawmaker. Is the Speaker a Messiah Mr. Writer? No he is not. So by what authority does he have to make such pronouncement when he knows, its impossible for Mahama Ayariga to go without sinning any more or not to repeat what he did to bring shame upon himself and to the august house in general? Good question honourable Jomo. I think you know better than I do as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Asem mpe Nipa. But let me try if I can answer your double-barrel question. First by which authority does he (the Speaker)Its by the power vested into him by the executive or the president. And per that authority he oversees and moderates the proceeding and deliberation of the house. The Speaker used the verse or phrase figuratively, which can be found in John 5:1-18. Jesus told a man to stand up and walk after being crippled for 38 years. But sin as used in this context is euphemism for misbehaviour. Remember it was his seemingly stubborn disposition that invited all this controversy. That said, the Speaker used the phrase as a note of caution. He understands the infallibility of Man. Go and sin no more else something worse will happen to you. It could also imply that this is your last chanceyour next offense would be a red card. Lest I forget, the Speaker has the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the chamber. I hope that answered your question. Sure, you did. Well , Hon. Jomo, there will always be crumbs on the dinning or kitchen table, because thats where the foods---breads, grits, sugar, eggs, bacons, rice, vegetables, spaghetti, meat and many more get served. And mind you where there are crumbs insects and rodents are likely to thrive. They do so for the simple fact that we allow it to happen per our negligence and carefree attitudes. If your house is infested with guys like mice, roaches and rats, then youve a big problem. Trouble is you may need non-toxic foods to lure them into traps or get rodenticide poison baits to kill them. Otherwise youd become their food. For insects such as black flies and ants youre more than likely to see them once in a while nipping on your fruits etc. Nonetheless, all it takes to get rid of these little ones is total upkeep or be vigilant. Keep the house clean, disinfect it and vacuum the dining room, kitchen and anywhere you sit to eat after breakfast, lunch or brunch and dinner. Did you miss that? Well, they say who the cap fits let him wear it. I still havent mentioned any names right but you already know who Im talking about here. So stay with me. I wasnt soliloquizing! I needed that dialogue with my architect. Yes, in the writers mind dwells an architect who makes things happen. And my inspires me, directs me and motivates me. Through him I draw my inspiration day in day out. Im indebted to him and my gratitude to him will never cease because I owe it all to him. Seriously I had closed the chapter on the Ayarigas Saga. After all, the former information minister and a legislator failed to prove to the Ghartey Committee that there was a bribery scandal. No evidence, no testimony except rumours. I knew from day one that it was all meant to draw blood blood. Let the sleeping dogs lie, I told myself. No you arent done yet, the architect told me. Youve got to deal with the crumbs. Until you do that your sunken image and the perception about you as a corrupt institution would linger on. And I heard it loud and clear from the wilderness. It was from Eminent Justice Emil Short, (an authority not a spurious source) the former chairman of Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). The way the bribery allegation made by Mahama Ayariga was handled may not erase the perception in the minds of Ghanaians that the legislature is corrupt, Justice Short said. Magnanimity So, why did Ghanas Parliament fail to disinfect its house? I didnt mean that. I meant this: Why did Ghanas Parliament fail to purge its house when it realised that one of its members had broken the laws or no law was broken? Last Friday the House of the Legislature stretched its arm of magnanimity or the mercy arm to a member whod dragged the image of the noble house into disrepute. Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga had found himself neck deep in a sea of shame breathless. But for the Speakers life jacket tossed to him hed have gotten drown. The Joe Ghartey Committee, in its final report, said it found no evidence to support allegations of bribery made by the Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga. Presenting the report of the committee to the House, Mr. Joe Ghartey, the Chairman of the Committee, said Mr. Ayariga failed to adduce any evidence to substantiate his claim bribery. Everything he said was nothing more than rumours," Mr. Ghartey said, adding: Multiplicity of rumours does not constitute a fact. Speaker of Parliament Mike Oquaye warned Mr. Ayariga not to peddle falsehood in the legislature after the ad-hoc committee found him in contempt. The Committee came to the conclusion that the MP (Mr. Ayariga) failed to prove that Mr. Boakye Agyarko, the Energy Minister, gave money to Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, to be distributed to the committee members with a view to bribing them to approve his nomination (by consensus). Over the weekend the former CHRAJ Boss Short weighed into the issue. According to him the probe did little to clean up parliaments image. He wasnt sure if Parliament did enough to allay the corrupt perception people have about the institution: There are those who may not still be satisfied about the credibility of parliament because of the many previous bribery allegations levelled against the institution, he told Class FM an Accra-based radio station. Port Harcourt (Nigeria) (AFP) - Gunmen have kidnapped two Turkish nationals from their hotel in southern Nigeria's oil-rich Akwa Ibom state, police said Tuesday in the latest unrest to hit the restive Niger Delta. "Two Turkish nationals working for a construction company in Onna local government area were abducted from their hotel rooms on Sunday," state police spokesman Chukwu Okechukwu told AFP. He said the men, who work for BKS Construction Company which is based in Onna, were seized by gunmen from a hotel in Eket, an industrial city which is home to Mobil, the Nigerian subsidiary of US oil giant Exxon. He said efforts were under way to free the pair. It was not immediately clear why they were kidnapped and so far no group has claimed responsibility. In January, a Turkish teacher was abducted from a school just outside Lagos along with another two staff members and five students, police said, indicating that they were freed two weeks later. No group claimed responsibility. Kidnapping for ransom was rife in the Niger delta until a 2009 government amnesty drastically reduced unrest in the region. Most kidnap victims were released unhurt after ransom payments. But the region has seen a resurgence of militancy since 2016, cutting Nigeria's oil output at a time of global low crude prices, hurting government revenue and forcing Africa's most populous country into a recession. An ongoing government truce with the rebels has significantly ramped up the nation's oil production. I have observed with utter sadness the current unpleasant happenings under the watch of HE. President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo. It is worth noting that few days into the Akufo Addos government, a lot of inhumane treatment has been meted out to innocent Ghanaians in which certain lives were bitterly lost and other victims leaving with life threatening injuries. These gory and reckless incidents were perpetrated by wicked Invisible Forces and Delta Force members; a para-military wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the guise of protecting state propertieys. Not too long ago, we were in this country under the leadership of Nana Addo when some sixteen men wielding AK47 riffles believed to be military personnel, and others from the National Security, under the orders of some hidden faces at the presidency ransacked the home of Kofi Adams, National Organiser of the NDC party in a rambo style and confiscated five vehicles rightly belonging to him. As if that was not enough, homes of Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, A former minister of state, James Agyenim Boateng, an aide to the former Vice President, HE K.B Amissah Arthur and other appointees of the erstwhile NDC government were not spared the unlawful invasion in search of allegedly missing state cars. During these lawless operations the Serbian and South African trained hooligans did not spare the same state properties they claimed to be protecting. State properties including tool booths, NHIS, NADMO, DVLA, RCC offices were not spared the wrath of these NPP thugs. Workers who were going about their normal duties in the above mentioned state owned institutions has been harassed and molested by these vigilante groups but who cares? The brutal ejection from office of Mr. George Adjei, a security capo appointed by HE the president as Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator by Delta Force has cast a slur on Nana Addos government. These unprovoked attacks on Ghanaians and government officials by NPPs own blood-thirsty vigilante groups is highly dangerous and a serious threat to the integrity of our democracy and must not be tolerated for Ghanaians will not sit down aloof for such inhumane treatment be meted to them in their own God-given land. The general Ghanaian public and the international community are yet to come to terms with what could have motivated Delta Force to free its members from lawful custody. No, this is unacceptable! Vigilantism under Nana Addo supported by senior members of the NPP cannot be allowed to continue because we cannot contain its dire consequences as a country if we look on unconcerned for it to escalate. Nana Addo is the Commander-In-Chief of the Republic of Ghana so one will expect him to be on top of issues concerning Ghanaians and give directives to stop this behaviour from the Delta Force but he looks on unconcerned. This at least vindicates Kofi Koomson, a very good friend of Mr. President that he cannot sleep under his roof and feel safe should the old man become president of the republic. It is evidently clear that in the 100 days of Nana Addos government, the only significant achievement gained is the promotion of lawlessness in Ghana. If this lawlessness continues in this country under his watch, where are we heading to as a country? HE President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo, Ghanaians have voted for you based on the message of hope you presented but alas! I have to say this with a heavy heart, that, Ghanaians are in a state of disarray and hopelessness due to the leadership of deceit. The youths, women, and the aged are being threatened by the activities of the para-military wing of the NPP. Again, when the National Security Minister, Hon. Kan Daapah stands to correct the wrongs in the national interest, you hear senior NPP apparatchiks calling a bluff of him. Is Nana Addo turning a lawful state he inherited into a banana republic? I cant think far. From the above, no one needs a rocket scientist to tell him/her that the old man is not in charge of affairs of our country. You can agree or disagree with me, but that is the blatant truth. If you use your powers as the President of the Republic to appoint and a group of lawless thugs you have recruited to assault the pillars of power say No we shant agree and to the point of sacking your own appointee then who is in charge now?. I am by this release calling on all .well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn in no uncertain terms the lawless activities being perpetrated by the para-military wing of the NPP Also, I am calling on the National Peace Council, the National Chief Imam, the Christian Council, and all Civil Society Organisations to let their voices be heard in condemnation of this violent acts for their continues silence in this worrisome situations is not helping matters after all no one is more Ghanaian than the other. ...signed... Victor Quarshie Adonoo (NDC Greater Accra Regional Secretary) 0243603147 Players in the agric sector have made fresh appeals to develop other export yielding ventures to increase Ghana's export revenue. The renewed calls also come at a time that export revenue from cocoa is expected to drop due to declining global market prices. They contend that the increased options will shield the country from impacts of revenue losses and help diversify the country's exports. The President of the Ghana Agricultural Chamber of Commerce, Philip Abayori explains to Citi Business News crops such as cassava, soyabeans and maize could be harnessed for the overall diversification project. Currently, the country produces about 60 million metric tonnes of cassava and an increase in its cultivation is expected to increase revenue particularly from Asian countries where there is high industrial demand. Cassava is one crop that is also widely used and also in high demand across Asia especially in China for industrial purposes. We can increase the growing of cassava from the 60 million tonnes and also bring technology on bare so that we could put it in good use for exports, Philip Abayori stated. He added, We can increase production of soya beans for oil foods and poultry industry which is also another crop needed highly. Maize is also another crop that is widely needed for food security within the sub-region. The Bank of Ghana's latest summary of economic and financial data showed that export revenue from cocoa dropped by 10 percent in a year-on-year comparison between February 2016 and the same period this year. In addition, Agric Minister, Dr. Afriyie Akoto has predicted of a further dip in export revenue from cocoa due to signals of a further decline in prices. But Mr. Philip Abayori is highly hopeful that developing the other alternative crops should reduce the impacts of such distortions on the economy. All these are things that could be done to ensure that we have other supporting crops which will at least help cocoa. So at the time cocoa prices are dropping we could rely on these other trade crops knowing that they can also support the economy, he further observed. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana The CEO of Kofi Vinyo and Company limited, Mr Kofi vinyo has said that Ghanaian youth do not need a kobo in venturing into certain area of businesses. He said this in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region during a conference to launch the Brong Ahafo Regional Chapter of the Ghanas Young Entrepreneurs (GYE). The conference, which was on the theme: Beyond Take-Off was to inspire young entrepreneurs in the region and also encourage them to join the Ghana Young Entrepreneurs. Speaking on the topic key issues in starting a business, Mr. Vinyo said, in starting a business, one needs to be determined and hard working enough to come against all odds because it's not as easy as it seems. The 2016 National best maize farmer stated clearly that, though issues of funding are definitely going to come up, Young Entrepreneurs should not allow that be a hindrance, saying jokingly that even a 1,000ghc would not be enough to start a snail farming business, however one can make it with determinations and the will power to make a change in his life and his community. In accounting his true life story, He said, i was once rejected by my father when i got paralyzed at age 6 through the injection by a quack doctor. What to eat was a problem. My mother didn't have and so i have to survive on oranges most of the times, And this gave me a serious stomach ulcer. He told the audience that at a point, he was nearly thrown into the river because he was believed to be a river child. Mr. Vinyo in his presentation observed that, Ghanaian youth should not mostly depend on Government or the Banks for capital because most Banks are largely not interested in investing in areas like agriculture which happens to be the back bone of our economy. He ended his presentation by saying if a disable like me can create over 1000s of jobs and be able to do what am doing, how much more you a strong young man. I charge you to rise above all challenges and make it in life. Do not wait for government to create jobs for you, you should rather create unique enterprises which will create jobs and generate revenue through payment of taxes for national development. I entreat you (Young Entrepreneurs) to go into agric business such as soya beans farming, ginger farming, maize farming, etc He also used the opportunity to invite aspiring entrepreneurs who want to venture into agriculture to the launching of Mechanization of Agriculture Where farmers will be introduce to organic farming and machinerys to help them boast productivity. Speaking at the conference, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Young Entrepreneurs (GYE), Sherif Ghali, advised upcoming entrepreneurs to share ideas and experience to help sustain businesses of their colleagues. He noted that businesses of young entrepreneurs in the country have collapsed because they did not get the right information before they set up their businesses. Mr. Sherif Ghali therefore, urged all young entrepreneurs in the Brong Ahafo Region to join GYE as they can get the needed information to run their businesses. He revealed that other regional chapters of GYE will soon be launched in the other regions. Peduase (E/R), April 10, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the nation that government is systematically addressing political vigilantism, saying; 'it will be brought under control the way it should.' He said the Government would not renege on its promise to serve the country with the rule of law and would ensure that such lawlessness was halted. President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he addressed the media at the end of a four-day retreat of central government appointees at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region on Monday. He said though the Kumasi incident where a vigilante group freed some of its members who were facing prosecution in court for vandalism and causing harm was unfortunate, he would ensure that those occurrences were brought to a stop. The retreat was to review the activities of the Government in the past three months and make plans for the future. President AKufo-Addo said the retreat enabled his appointees to determine the things they needed to do to realise the agenda they had set for the country. He noted that the meeting also provided an opportunity to strengthen the bond of co-operation among the ministers who would be assisting him to deliver on his promise to Ghanaians in his four-year term of office. 'It cannot be one person or group of individuals acting at their own little corners. It has to be a group of people coming together with a common programme, common ideas and working to realise those ideas in a spirit of team work and co-operation,' he said. President Akufo-Addo said the programme, which was attended by the Vice President, Chief of Staff, Senior Minister, and all the ministers, had given his team a sense of oneness. 'I believe these retreats are going to be a normal and regular feature of my government because collectively, we are determined to deliver. We want the Ghanaian people to know that all those things we said we were going to do, which we have begun to do, we are determined to do them,' he said. President Akufo-Addo told the media that the policy where government officials bought vehicles assigned to them when leaving office had been halted. He expressed unease with the development where, after transition from one government to another, there was always the issue of retrieving missing vehicles from government appointees who had purchased the vehicles at ridiculously low prices, thereby grossly abusing the policy. Thus, per the new policy, ministers and other appointees would be required to use the existing vehicles as they are banned from purchasing new vehicles. 'No matter how dilapidated the vehicles in our fleet, we are going to have to make do with them. These are difficult times for the Ghanaian people and we should be seen to be acting and respecting that,' he said. GNA By Ken Sackey, GNA 11.04.2017 LISTEN Renowned banker Mr Jude Arthur has been appointed Board Chairman of GCB. His appointment takes effect from the 6th of April, 2017. He takes over from Mr Daniel Owiredu who resigned as board Chairman of the bank on the 3rd of April, 2017. Mr Jude Arthur graduated from the University of Ghana Business School with a B.Sc. Administration, Accounting major in 1976. He is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Banking Ghana. His working career has been mainly in the Banking Industry. His banking career commenced in Merchant Bank Ghana Limited in 1978 as a Project Officer and a Relationship Manager. In June 1994, he joined a group of Investors with a shared vision to set up First Atlantic Merchant Bank Limited (FAMBL) now First Atlantic Bank and was appointed the first Managing Director of the Bank. Two others persons Mrs. Lydia Essah and Mr. Ray Sowah have also been appointed as members of the board. Their appointment also follows the resignation of two other members of the board Mrs Mona Quartey a Former Deputy Finance Minister and Moses Asaga a former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority. Mrs. Lydia Essah joins the Board bringing a wealth of banking experience. She enjoyed a career with GCB that spanned over thirty years, beginning at the branch level and culminating in the position of Chief Manager and Area Manager of the Tema Zone, responsible for all operational aspects of 19 Branches. Mrs. Essah holds a Masters Degree from GIMPA (Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, MPHIL), a Bachelors Degree from the University of Ghana (English/History Honours). While Mr Ray Sowah has been a Banker in the City of London for 30 years and has worked extensively in the erstwhile Ghana Commercial Bank London Branch, Ghana International Bank London and Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, London. Mr Ray Sowah attended Mfantsipm School, Cape Coast, and has a BA Honours Degree in English & Philosophy from the University of Ghana, Legon. He is a Barrister at Law and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana and a member of the British Banker Association, Business Council for Africa and the Association of Foreign Banks, all in London. By: Vivian Kai Lokko/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana It is important that the anti-galamsey campaign mounted by the media in Ghana and other elements of our civil society should not descend into the realms of hysteria. We need to engage the Chinese in a rational discussion whose parameters are set entirely by objective considerations. No-one wants to create enmity between the people of China and the people of Ghana, for sure. But such an objective discussion will not be possible unless we tell each other the truth including unpleasant truths. Yes, there are many highly-placed Ghanaians involved in galamsey. For instance, the King of Akyem Abuakwa, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin (whose state is one of the worst affected by galamsey) disclosed to the the DailyGraphic on 7 April 2017 that in 2013, the Mahama Administration rolled out a big crackdown on illegal mining, which resulted in hundreds of illegal foreign miners being deported. But the campaign lost steam midway because there were 'big boys' in the galamsey chain, who put their interest over that of the Ghanaian environment. While he could not mention names, the Okyenhene said: Trust me. There are big boys. He went on: The galamsey boys around here dont have money to buy excavators and they dont have money to pay for the rent, which is about GH2000 per day.Every one of them has sponsors, big ones coming from Accra. They have party affiliations. Im not singling out any party but what I am saying is there is a wholemafiaaround this galamsey... The Okyenhene added that since 2009, he had made several attempts to rid his land of illegal mining without success, because whenever the excavators were seized, there was always an excuse to hand it back to the owners. Only last October (he revealed) he had caught up with the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and got him to send 350 soldiers down to the state. Within four days, the whole galamsey area was shut down. [But] on the sixth day, the soldiers were called back to Accra... [on] orders from above... This scenario is occurring all over the country. Rural unemployment makes it easy for the galamsey entrepreneurs, the mafia to obtain cheap labour for their galamsey operations. Some team up with Chinese entrepreneurs, who provide heavy earth-moving equipment and other machines, as well as chemicals, for refining the gold once it's been brought up from the riverbeds and the deep pits dug underground. So it's a collaborative effort. No-one is saying that if all the Chinese left, galamsey would automatically stop. But it would make it more difficult for the Ghanaians to obtain excavators and other machines, as well as seed-money, for the galamsey operations. More important, however, is the policy decision which ought to be taken in Beijing, that henceforth, Chinese nationals would no longer be allowed to engage in galamsey in Ghana. The Chinese leaders understand only too well, the harm that can be done to humans through the pollution of rivers and streams by mining activities. Indeed, as a result of experience gained from such operations as copper mining in Fujian Province (which has badly polluted the Ting River) and other serious instances of water and land poisoning caused by mining, the Chinese Government declared war on polluters in 2013. It has drawn up new laws, standards and punishments, aimed at forcing firms and local governments to observe new stricter standards. One report on pollution in China: The mining sector has been a crucial part of China's rapid economic expansion in the last three decades, but poor regulation and weak enforcement of standards has contaminated much of the country's soil and left parts of its land and water supplies unfit for human use, threatening public health. Just as galamsey has done in Ghana. According to the draft rules published on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) ( www.mep.gov.cn ) miners will be forced to treat more than 85 percent of their waste-water, and they must put systems in place to achieve the "comprehensive utilization" of tailings and other solid waste. Firms will also be forced to implement measures to remediate land and minimize emissions while mines are still in operation, rather than treating soil and water long after it has been contaminated. Mining firms will also be pressured to implement measures to protect or even relocate valuable ecosystems. Producers of toxic heavy metals like lead or cadmium also need to make use of biological or chemical technologies to remediate contaminated soil . As much as 16 percent of China's soil exceeds state pollution limits, according to environment ministry data published in 2015 and farming on 3.3 million hectares (8.15 million acres) of contaminated land across the country has been banned indefinitely. Knowing all this, unless the situation in Ghana is hidden from the Chinese Government, it should show sympathy towards the Ghana problem and help to end it, instead of seeking to protect its nationals who take part in making the situation worse. Of course, there is no doubt that the Ghana mining situation is very confusing and therefore easy to exploit for selfish ends. First, there are the large mining companies, which have been given concessions by the Government. But sometimes these companies, in trying to protect their concessions, go to lengths that incur the displeasure of the local population on whose land they carry out their operations. This resentment can incite the local population to plough something back for themselves by engaging in illegal mining on the concessions of the mining companies. Simply put,n they encroach on the concessions given to the mining companies by a Central Government that did not care to consult them before granting the concessions, and which of course gobbles up the greater part of the royalties paid by the companies, in addition to taxing the companies. Next, there are the so-called small-scale miners, who do obtain licencesto mine in areas (sometimes) quite close to the concessions of the big companies. Encroachment on concessions often occurs here, too, leading inevitably to conflict. But over and above both the legally-licensed large-scale miners and the small-scale miners are the galamsey operators, who move into any land that they believe to contain gold either with the approval of the traditional owners of the land, or (more likely) without their approval. Galamsey at first started as a very limited operation in which crude instruments like pick-axes, hand-pans and shovels were used. But the operators have now branched out into the big time. They have expanded beyond belief using techniques that involve the utilisation of excavators and other sophisticated machinery, imported into Ghana at a cost of thousands of dollars. And, of course, these major operators have no scruples about how to get money quickly to defray their costs. They dig for their gold and move on leaving huge, ugly craters and deep pits dotted all across what used to be Ghana's green and fertile forests. Plus rivers and streams killed stone dead, coloured yellow and smelling the abode of algae and malaria-carrying mosquitoes . The evil effects of galamsey are there for everyone to see, and Ghana and China cannot engage in a blame game over who caused what or permitted it to happen. Untold harm has been caused and must be quickly brought to an end. The only sensible way to do that is for Ghana and China to sit down together, examine the situation scientifically and come to a workable agreement on how they can co-operate to repair what has been done if possible and to stop the damage from continuing. And the earlier this is done, the better. For understandably a groundswell of anger is building up in Ghana over the issue. The Chinese mission in Ghana has already begun to feel the heat of this anger. And last week, the mission attempted to defuse the anger by issuing a statement outlining its position. But unfortunately, the mission's statement was a total disaster, in terms of public relations. The best place to sample the Ghanaians' anger which at times went overboard and bordered on racism is at www.ghanaweb.com (Google Ghana+China+mission+statement). The wording of the Chinese statement is taken to town and totally shredded. Some of the comments ask: How dare China demand that the Government of Ghana should tell the media what to say about galamsey? Doesn't the mission realise that there is freedom of the press in Ghana? Other comments ask: Can Ghanaians go to China and engage in activities like galamsey that leave the Chinese landscape vandalised and which wantonly destroy Chinese rivers and streams ? Ghana and China have been friendly for a long time since Ghanaians and the Chinese encountered each other, politically, at the Bandoeng Conference of Non-Aligned States in 1955, in fact. We cannot allow such a long period of friendship to be jeopardised by a phenomenon that can be ended through human ingenuity and co-operation. If China was able to build and operate the biggest dam in the world the Three Gorges Dam (capacity 22,500 MW) then helping Ghana to end her galamsey calamity should be child's play. So to speak. Over the last three weeks, the activities of the Delta Force and the Invincible Force, both believed to be pro-NPP, have occupied important place in public discourses in Ghana. Experts, social commentators, and other well meaning Ghanaians have expressed deep-seated concerns about these vigilante groups. Typical of multiparty politics, the discussions have not been immune from politicking and political spinning. Sympathisers of both the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party the two dominant political parties - have discussed the issue from a very partisan point of view. These politically skewed discussions, blur and obfuscate our understanding of the extent vigilante groups could jeopardise our efforts at consolidating democracy in the country. It is ubiquitously clear that democracy however nebulous and confusing the concept is has largely come to be accepted as the way to go in mans quest for progress. In other words, we may have several issues with the tenets of democracy, but I agree that it is at least better than dictatorship. In any case, the challenges associated with democratic political regime are very akin to every human institution. Thus, even with the best of intentions, since we dont have the omni-attributes of God, we are handicapped in our attempt to establish an institution that would be roundly flawless. This gives credence to our continuous efforts to work to improve upon the democratization of our country. As far as I can remember, this vigilante groups started in our politics as footsoldiers. Footsoldier, a term that was coined sometime in 1996 in Ghanaian politics, was used to describe the youth wing of political parties in the country. The footsoldiers, as young, energetic men, provided the physical strength demanded by political parties. The elites provided the ideological logic or superstructure that inspired footsoldiers into action. Considering the viciousness in our politics, and the lack of professionalism in our police serve, political parties depend on footsoldiers for security. In some cases, politicians believe that footsoldiers contribute to the democratization process in Ghana, because it is footsoldiers who prevent the subversion of democracy in Ghana. Here, political parties train their footsoldiers to guard ballot boxes from being snatched away or stuffed with foreign materials, protect candidates from physical abuse, engage in intensive political education, which is usually effective because they communicate in the language of the electorate whom they live with etc. Similarly, footsoldiers are good mobilisers. If, indeed, partisan politics is about mobilization of the electorate, then footsoldiers, if well managed, could contribute to our democratic processes. My observation is that footsoldiers go to hard-to-reach areas, where the political elites would dare not go, to campaign, and mobilise people for elections. Mounting of billboards, printing of party paraphernalia etc. All this if well managed could significantly contribute to our democratization process. The role of footsoldiers syncs with indigenous political system in centralized societies in Ghana. In pre-colonial Ghana (then Gold Coast), the youth constituted an important part of the political process. They served as the warrior group, and were very instrumental in consolidating political gains. Carrying the king in palanquin had dual functions first it marked the peak of political power and second, it marked the most vulnerable part of the king the paradox of power! In the Akan cosmogony, the king was not supposed to walk barefooted. And so, if the king was thrown over from the palanquin, and his feet touched the ground, it was a good basis to destool him. So, if a king was not favourably disposed to the youth, who carry the palanquin, they would deliberately throw the king off. Also, since warfare was necessary for welfare, and the youth constituted the army or warrior group (asafo), there was no way the youth could be sidelined in indigenous politics. Thus, in centralized societies, like Asante, several measures were put in place to ensure that the energy of the youth was functionally utilized to boost the political system. Even in acephalous societies, like the Talensi, which has been extensively studied by colonial anthropologists, the youth were responsible for defending the society. Ideally, it is, therefore, not out of place for political parties to engage the service of the youth in the aspect of politicking that is labour intensive. Unfortunately, the negative activity of footsoldiers, which has now metamorphosed as vigilante groups, has blighted the benefits that could be gleaned from the group to advance the democratic journey of Ghana. There is every reason to believe that the youth have become very disillusioned about the prospects of our democratic regime serving their interest. There are several reasons for this development. I would touch on a few of them. First, our democracy feeds the greedy, not the needy. The political regime in Ghana is structured in such a way that it makes the elites richer and the party footsoldier poorer. The footsoldier is given crumbs that fall from the table of the bourgeoisie, and are promised better lives so-called changing lives mantra when the party comes to power. However, it becomes clear that the political party they supported is unable to fulfill the promise of a better life, which had so much spared the footsoldier into action. In consequence, footsoldiers take advantage of the situation of greed to claim their share of the national kenkey, even if it means using violence. Second, sharing the spoils of politics focuses on only the political patrons and platform campaigners at the expense of footsoldiers. In the organization of political parties, there are three groups that contribute to the success of such an organization. First, there are the party patrons, who provide resources money and ideology to run the party. In the Marxist conceptualisation, they provide the superstructure the realm of ideas. Patrons are usually not known to the public for obvious reasons. As financiers and ideologues, the opposing political party could harm them so easily. Because of this development, they are usually not known in the public and to party footsoldiers, who are far removed from the center of the party organization. Patrons are card-bearing members of the party. When the party they support comes to power, they are given ministerial appointment or business contracts as reward. Because party patrons are usually not known to footsoldiers, their appointment as ministers incur the ire of footsoldiers, who would usually see the appointment of such persons as a betrayal of the cause of the party. This situation has been a major bone of contention in the running of political parties and governance in Ghana, and by extension Africa. There are also the platform campaigners. These are usually university students or graduates, who mount political platforms, go on radio stations, TV stations, and utilize social media to explain the policies of the political party. They explicate the ideas of the ideologues to the electorate. They are also card-bearing members of the party, and contribute dues to the running of the party. When the party they supported comes to power, they are given positions such as deputy ministers, assistants to ministers, heads of state institutions etc. Some are also given scholarships to further their education, both home and abroad. The last group is the footsoldiers or vigilante groups. This group is usually made up of the youth, who usually have very little or no formal education. They are usually not card-bearing members of the party. They also hardly pay dues. But the effective running of the party depends on their energy. They organise keep fit or health walks, set platforms up for the elites, go to the interior to campaign, serve as the bulwark against the subversion of the democratic process, such as protecting the ballot boxes, threatening to unleash violence if there is cheating in elections etc. Because of their low level of education or the lack of it, most of them do not enjoy the booty enjoyed by the patrons and platform campaigners. Footsoldiers usually get their reward, immediately and indirectly, through the monies that are given to them in the heat of elections. But because the party promises jobs, they always look forward to securing some work when the party they supported comes to power. Unfortunately, the political elites, since Ghanas Fourth Republic, have not been successful enough in providing jobs for footsoldiers. Footsoldiers, therefore, are always aggressive, rightly or wrongly, in seizing public institutions that they can easily manage. They would, therefore, seize public toilets, toll boots etc. In the absence of these public facilities, they would close party offices or frustrate the appointment of a particular patron. Here, footsoldiers are unable to separate party politics from national governance. Third, the security agencies, particularly the police service that is mandated to provide security, as part of the consolidation of the democratic process have been very sluggish in their responsibilities. Usually, the police have been very unprofessional: They act based on the whims and caprices of the political party in power. This development has always meant the denial of justice to opposition parties. As a solution, opposition parties would rely on party footsoldiers and vigilante groups to seek justice and fairness. The lack of professionalism on the part of the police service is historically rationalized. The colonisers established the police service to achieve two things: maintain law and order, and suppress political dissidents, who were at the forefront of the campaign for political independence. The police service was, at best, established to protect the colonial structure. In postcolonial Ghana, the police service has not seen much reform. The pendulum of their responsibility shifts based on the party in party. This is sad! But it also gives reason to the phenomenon of vigilantism in our politics. The solution to all the above challenges is for Ghana to embark on rapid industrialisation drive. This would create jobs. Thus, while we cannot guarantee that everyone would act conventionally, since deviation is a fact of life, it would minimise the extent vigilantism is undermining our democratic credentials. The police service should also be reformed. Recruits should be highly educated, well resourced and assured of job security so that they can act professionally. Could we also formalise political clientelism? Satyagraha Charles Prempeh ( [email protected] ), African University College of Communications, Accra India has issued stern warning to Pakistan after its military court handed death sentence to former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. Speaking in Parliament, Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned Pakistan of dire consequences. By Supriya Bhardwaj: The issue of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav being sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court reverberated in the Parliament today as a combined Opposition led by the Congress while condemning Pakistan demanded stern response from the Modi government. Speaking in Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the House that the government will do 'whatever it takes' to ensure justice to Kulbhushan Jadhav. advertisement HERE ARE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Pakistan has ignored all norms of law and justice, said Rajnath Singh. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice forJadhav. He will get justice," the Home Minister added. External Affairs Minister adopted a further strict stance over Jadhav's death sentence, saying Islamabad will have to face dire consequences for what she described as 'premeditated murder.' "I would caution Pakistan govt to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder," Swaraj said. "To save this son of India, getting him an excellent lawyer is just a small thing...we will take the issue all the way to the President," she added. Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge questioned government's silence over Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence. "Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue," Kharge said referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to visit Pakistan to attend the marriage of Nawaz Sharif's daughter near Lahore. Kharge's remarks attracted the ire of BJP members who said the government has already condemned the incident. AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi urged the government to use its influence for the release of the Indian citizen. We have to save Mr Jadav. There is a difference between our courts and Pakistan's banana courts. We follow rule of law, they don't, he said. BJP's Subramaniam Swamy said that the only way out to teach Pakistan a lesson is to start the disintegration of the neighbouring country. "Declare Balochistan an independent state. Pakistan is a junglee state. There is no civil government there," Swamy said. Describing Jadhav's death sentence as 'war crime', Congress's Deependra Hooda said, "We have to send a strong message to Pakistan. We are with the government of India. And we want our government to take action against Pakistan. We have to put pressure on Pakistan through international community." The DMK has demanded the government to snap all trade ties with Pakistan in view of the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav, who Islamabad claims worked for India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). "Apart from raising the matter with International court, we should snap trade ties with Pakistan. This will send a strong message," DMK MP TKS Elangovan said. WATCH: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Sushma Swaraj warns Pakistan of dire consequences ALSO READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: What Pakistani media said Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot challenge Pakistan military court's verdict, but he has some options Day before Kulbhushan Jadhav got death penalty, Indian Coast Guard saved two Pakistani sailors Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence --- ENDS --- Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. An environmental buzzword, Water is Life has been used to describe how essential water is to the sustenance of life. It is also common knowledge that mining is a major contributor to water and environmental pollution. Mining operations destroy both surface and ground water. Among the human activities that threaten water, mining is counted as most common casualty of water. According to the European Environmental Bureau (2000), problems related to mining waste may be rated as second only to global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion in terms of ecological risk. The release to the environment of mining waste can result in profound, generally irreversible destruction of ecosystems. In many cases, the polluted sites may never be fully restored, for pollution is so persistent that there is no available remedy (EEB, 2000) . One major polluter of water in mining areas is mine waste generation and management. Surface mining has many facets of water pollution. Mining activities such as processing of ore depends on heavy use of water in addition to the problem of dewatering which depletes ground water. In the end, some effluents from the processed ore which contains cyanide and heavy metals, spill into the environment and community Rivers in the form of cyanide spillages or the seepage of pollutants into the environment. Sometimes, cyanide spillages occur at the blind side of regulators. Ghana has recorded a good number of cyanide spillages by multinational mining companies. The increasing incidence of Cyanide spillages which were hitherto uncommon with underground mining has become associated with the surface mining operations and some of the incidences of cyanide spillages in the country include but not limited to the following; Cyanide spillage at the Obenemase mine which contaminated the Owerri River. The cyanide spillage of Billington Bogoso Gold in 1991 An accident involving a truck conveying sodium cyanide to Billington Bogoso Gold at Samahu in 1994 causing cyanide to spill into the environment. Cyanide spillage of Teberebie Goldfields on 18th June 1996 causing cyanide solution into river Angonaben stream, a main tributary of the Bonsa River. The cyanide spillage of Ashanti Goldfields Company, Obuasi mine, which occurred in 1999 and affected many communities. The spillage affected two major rivers, Supu and Fina and other small rivers in the Obuasi area. Some communities were forced to relocate to new settlements. Cyanide spillage of Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL) on October 16th, 2001 which polluted river Asuman. Cyanide spillage of Satellite Goldfields Limited into wetlands at Akyempim on 28th October 2001. The cyanide spillage of Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL) which occurred on 18th May 2003. GGL claimed that the spillage was contained and did not spill into the en-vironment. The cyanide spillage of Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL), a Canadian Company, which occurred on Saturday 23rd October 2004. The spillage was from the new tailings dam of Manse. The affected rivers flow into the big river Ankobra. The cyanide spillage affected Dumase town, and other communities like Goloto, Juaben, Kokofu, Egyabroni. Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) Ahafo mine spilled cyanide from its pro-cessing plant at Kenyase into river Asunua which flows into river Subri. The spillage was identified on the dawn of Saturday 10th October 2009 by community people when they found many dead fishes floating on their river. They then reported the inci-dent to officials of the company immediately. Handling of mine waste is a major problem of mining operations and rock waste facilities become sources of effluent and pollutant generation that seep into water bodies. Acid Mine Drainage(AMD) describes how the excavation of rocks that contain sulphides when exposed to weather conditions of water and oxygen ends up producing sulphuric acids which are carried by rainwater and surface drainage to nearby streams and rivers. Through this, acidic rivers and water bodies polluted by heavy metals enter the food chain through the fishes and other aquatic life that absorb the heavy metals as well as the long term ingestion of the acidic water by people in the host mining communities. These have serious health implications on host communities and the society. The Third Gold Rush (Third Jungle Boom) Ghana is currently experiencing a third gold rush which is sometimes described as the third jungle boom which started in the early 1980s to date. The gold rushes are marked by foreign investment and control of gold mining though artisanal mining by indigenous people which pre-dates the period of contact with foreigners who landed on our shores to trade in gold, ivory and slaves was carried out as an off-season economic activity on marginal lands by people who were mainly farmers. The indigenous methods of gold mining used then have been described as superior because of the zero usage of chemicals and the absence of heavy machinery. Rivers and sacred sites were adequately protected through religious beliefs and the conflict between mining and other land use systems was very minimal because the Farmer-Miners did not want their off-season mining activities on marginal lands to destroy their capacity to sustain their farming activities. The third gold rush has been different in terms of technological change from mainly underground mining to surface mining in addition to the use of heap leach method of gold extraction by using cyanide and reliance on heavy machinery for excavation. The surface mining operations create a major land use conflict between farming and mining where large tracts of fertile farmlands are ceded to mining companies for surface mining operations. For example, AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi Mine) control almost 400km2 land as its concession. This leads to displacement of community people who are paid low compensations that do not restore their livelihoods leading to the worsening of poverty in mining communities. Apart from the illegal mining operations, it is estimated that about 70,000 landlords have been displaced by multinational mining companies in the third gold rush. With the loss of livelihood, some of the economically displaced people especially the youth who do not have the skills required for permanent employment in mining companies are compelled to undertake employment in mining companies on contract basis. The introduction of mining in farming communities has worsened the unemployment situation in mining communities and the hitherto farming communities are compelled to abandon farming to undertake mining activities, mainly Galamsey mining, with its attendant environmental problems especially pollution of rivers. Water as a casualty of mining James Lyon describes water as minings most common casualty indicating that the decision to mine should be considered alongside the associated high price that the society has to pay in terms of water pollution. Sadly, section 17 of the Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703 of 2003 grants that a mineral right holder upon receiving requisite approvals or licences under the Water Resources Commission Act, 1996 (Act 552) may for the purposes of or ancillary to the mineral operations, obtain, divert, impound, convey and use water from a river, stream, underground reservoir or watercourse within the land the subject of the mineral right. This is a carte blanche for water pollution and destruction by mining operations of multinational mining companies. We do not have adequate provisions in the Minerals and Mining Act to protect water bodies and to hold the mining companies to strong environmental standards based on the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP). Quite disappointingly, companies that violate the Minerals and Mining Act are required to pay a fine of not more than the cedi equivalent of $US 5,000 and the law permits that if a defaulting company is unable to pay the penalty, it must be treated as a civil debt owed to the state (Section 108 and 109 of Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703, 2006). The penalty as provided in the Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703, 2006 does not prescribe strong provisions to hold mining companies to clean up cost when a mining company could pay about US$ 100 Million as clean-up cost for cyanide spillages in countries with strong environmental laws . It was only a strong advocacy by NGOs such as Wacam that exposed the cyanide spill by Newmont Ahafo Mine in 2009 and compelled government to impose a fine of about US$ 5 million on the company. Newmont exploited the weakness of the Minerals and Mining Act and argued that the fine imposed on the company for the cyanide spill had no legal basis. As a nation, we have permitted official mining lease for mining companies like Newmont Akyem mine to mine the Ajenua Bepo Forest reserve when we know that the Ajenua forest reserve protects about 12 rivers including Afosu River and other rivers such as Yaayaa, Alotosu, Adenkyem, Aboabo, Adentem, Akrawasu among others. The mining operations of Newmont Akyem mine has sounded the death knell to these rivers that were of importance to the people in the area. A research commissioned by Newmont before commencing surface mining operations in the Ajenua Bepo forest reserve showed that the forest reserve contains ten plant species which are new to science. It amounts to lawlessness by the state to strip the forest reserves of its protection and permit surface mining operations in such important national heritage sites which protect our water bodies and biodiversity. Water pollution has become a systemic human rights violation in Ghana. According to the report of CHRAJ (2008) , 22 out of 28 mining communities had polluted rivers. Again in 2009, Wacam commissioned Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis (CEIA) to analyse 250 Rivers and water forms in the Tarkwa and Obuasi areas which had been listed by Wacam . The baseline study revealed that out of the 156 streams/rivers in Obuasi mining area, 145 are polluted by the operations of mining companies and Galamsey operators. Similarly, all the 114 rivers/streams in the Tarkwa mining area are polluted by mining companies and Galamsey operators. Most of the alternate sources of water provided for residents of mining communities by mining companies were not of good quality. The report confirmed that the rivers and water forms are polluted with elevated levels of heavy metals and the continuous ingestion of these polluted rivers by community people has serious health implication. Further research by CEIA based on the results of 2009 of Wacam to establish the effects associated with ingesting contaminated water bodies on human health of residents of mining communities in Tarkwa and Prestea areas gave a startling result which in summary indicates that eight out of every hundred adults in the Tarkwa area were prone to cancers . Though Wacam has been sounding the alarm of the connection between mining and water pollution about two decades ago, it is only recently when the problem has reached catastrophic proportions that there is public outcry on the issue. Probably we looked at the short term economic benefits of mining and overlooked the long-term social, economic and environmental costs of mining. The blame game between the so-called legal and illegal (Galamsey) on water pollution rages on. The simple truth is that both legal and illegal mining operations have contributed to the pollution of our river bodies. Indeed, artisanal mining especially Galamsey has seen tremendous change in the period of the third gold rush. Artisanal mining which used to be a pick axe and shovel activity with the use of mercury for gold extraction on a lower scale has become a medium to large scale mining operations based on heavy machinery and the use of the heap leach method which goes with the use of cyanide has become the standard practice for Galamsey operators. The lessons on the use of cyanide for processing of gold and heavy machinery for excavation have been learnt by artisanal miners from the operations of large surface mines by multinational mining companies. The Level of displacement of indigenous people from their lands and the payment of low compensation by mining companies have served as push factors for many agrarian based communities especially the youth into illegal mining operations. In effect, the scale of destruction of water bodies caused by Galamsey operations have been born out of our liberal laws to attract mining investment and our failure to regulate the mining companies. Conclusion The extensive damage to our river bodies alone in the third gold rush is an indication of our inability to compute the cost of mining which outweighs the benefits gained from mining. It is time to have a comprehensive look at our mining sector laws, policies, benefits and costs through a national consultative forum. The World Bank advised the country to increase dependence on our minerals for development and poverty alleviation and the same World Bank made the following statement in 2005: It is unclear what gold minings true benefits are to Ghana. Large scale mining by foreign companies has high import content and produces only modest amounts of net foreign exchange for Ghana after accounting for all its outflows. Similarly, its corporate tax payments are low due to various fiscal incentives necessary to attract and retain foreign investors. Employment creation is also modest given the highly capital intensive nature of modern surface mining techniques. Local communities affected by large scale mining have seen little benefits to date in the form of improved infrastructure or services provision because much of the rents from mining are used to finance recurrent, not capital expenditure. A broader cost-benefit analysis of large-scale mining that factors in social and environmental costs and includes consultations with the affected communities needs to be undertaken before granting future production licences. As a way forward, Ghana should place a moratorium on the granting of mining lease to mining companies for the country to undertake a cost-benefit analysis which would consider the full cost of mining including social, environmental and economic costs of mining as against the benefits. According to a report of Ministry of Finance (2015), the contribution of mining to GDP in 2014 was 0.8%. Illegal mining constitutes a crime, a social problem and an economic crisis of the third jungle boom. The fight against it should be a mix of strategies. Undoubtedly, there is a powerful network of politicians, traditional rulers, security agencies, business people that serve as a strong backbone for illegal mining operations. The captains of Galamsey operations are the people who sometimes fund political parties. It takes a strong political will to deal with the crime associated with the illegal mining activities. The legal solution should be combined with sensitisation, alternative livelihood and skill development programmes to equip the host communities that had lost their lands to mining with incomes that could restore livelihoods. The state should be prepared to make substantial investment in the alternative livelihood programme which can attract and sustain community people that had been exposed to the cash economy of Galamsey. Active participation of communities where Galamsey operations are prevalent is important in ensuring the sustainability and ownership of solutions to the Galamsey problem. Government must invest in environmental education in the country especially among the youth and students in mining communities in order to gain the support of community people in all programmes to address the Galamsey problem. The entry of illegal immigrants especially Chinese into the country to carry out criminal activities of such magnitude against our country in the full glare of security agencies is an indictment on our security agencies and our immigration laws. Our nation is at the end of a cliff with mining and water problems and a step forward would be disastrous. About the writers Daniel Owusu-Koranteng is the General Secretary of Maritime and Dockworkers Union. He is also a Volunteer Executive Director of Wacam. Hannah Owusu-Koranteng (Mrs) is the Associate Executive Director of Wacam. A tax analyst, Isaac Nyame, has asked government to come clear on the new tax administration measures that will be put in place to ensure that employers comply with employment income tax requirements. According to him, the employment income tax have not been effectively enforced over the years. Mr. Nyame made this known during the Tax Seminar on the 2017 National Budget Statement at the Pentecost University College Graduate School last Friday. The Finance Minister, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, indicated in the recent budget that only about one third of individuals in employment are captured by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The government said it would address the problem by ensuring that all employers file Annual Tax Deduction Schedules. The government also intends to reconcile relevant records at SSNIT and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). This, according to the Minister, would help reduce the tendency of employers deducting SSNIT and PAYE payments from their employees' salaries without remitting such amounts on timely basis. However, the tax analyst believes that the Finance Minister was not clear on specific measures that would be put in place to deal with the situation. It is important for the government to come clear on the new tax administration measures that will be put in place to ensure that employers comply with this requirement since this requirement has been in our tax laws for a long time without effective implementation, Mr. Nyame said. Implementing Self-assessment Regimes Mr. Nyame, who is also the Managing Consultant of Ikern & Associates, charged the GRA to intensify tax education and also build its own capacity for enforcing tax compliance, performing tax audits and investigations that go with successful self-assessment regimes. The Finance Minister said government intends to pilot the self-assessment system in five selected Small Taxpayer Offices. However, Mr. Nyame said many existing and potential taxpayers under the current self assessment system, which is presumably successful, are not aware of the compliance requirements of self assessment. The three percent turnover-based presumptive income tax regime as contained in the Second Schedule of the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) as amended should be implemented and punitive measures applied to non-compliant taxpayers to deter defaulters, added. [email protected] By Cephas Larbi Tigo Ghana's flagship Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Shelter for Education, has partnered Raising Readers Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), to encourage children to read. At an official ceremony in Accra to launch the initiative, CEO for Tigo, Roshi Motman, was optimistic that together with Raising Readers Foundation, Tigo's Shelter for Education team would be able scale up and have a wider impact on children. Reading is priceless it opens up doors beyond our imagination. It opens our eyes and minds to the world and it helps us improve on vocabulary and dictation. Language is the foundation of learning and development and reading helps us get the language right, she said. She gave the assurance that Tigo will continue to support Ghana's socio-economic development through various initiatives under the Sustainable Development Goals. She said Tigo has developed several basic schools in rural areas and partnered various organisations, including Street Library Ghana and Reach for Change, just to mention a few. Touching on the vision of Raising Readers Ghana, Founder, Nana Aba Anamoah, said the goal is to create a mobile literacy outreach initiative focused on recreational reading beyond the classroom. We have started off by creating reading clubs in various communities. In partnership with Tigo and other donors, we hope to expand in future and make use of the various community libraries dotted all over Ghana that are not currently in use, she said. The Chairperson of Ghana's Electoral Commission (EC), Charlotte Osei, who was the guest speaker at the launch, said a nation without readers is a nation without a future. A business desk report Dr Nortey K. Omaboe hands over recommendations from GCNet to Mr Ken Ofori-Atta on ways to improve revenue mobilisation at the ports immediately after presenting the cheque. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on Friday lauded the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet) for being consistent with the payment of dividends to government. Officials of the company were at the Finance Minister's office to present a cheque for GH17 million to government as GCNet's final dividend payment for the 2016 fiscal year. This brings the total dividends paid for 2016 to GH27 million. The company had earlier paid a dividend of GH10 million to government. Mr Ofori-Atta, who received the cheque, said government needs a critical revenue mobilisation measure to reduce the budget deficit of 8.9 percent, which the previous administration bequeathed it. He said for that to be achieved, there was the need to ensure human interventions were limited as much as possible through the use of technology, adding that the role of customs and the port were indispensable. Executive Chairman of GCNet, Dr Nortey K. Omaboe, who presented the cheque to the Minister, said last year the company paid GH35 million in corporate tax to government. He said shareholders were bent on supporting government revenue mobilisation efforts in the several sectors of the economy. We have been extremely consistent in the area of statutory declaration and have also pursued a fairly aggressive dividend policy to ensure that dues are paid to government. A business desk report The former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Very Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, has sternly cautioned university lecturers that demand sex from their female students in exchange for marks to quickly shun the wicked and ungodly act. There have been reports that lecturers demand sex from female students, it's an uncouth action that should not be tolerated in modern society. The pressure is even more on female students and workers who have to resist all kinds of nuisances, aggravations and provocations, including sexual harassments from male superiors and peers. In some instances, it is made clear to the female student to choose between failure in exams and giving in to such pressures. Such wicked and unethical acts in our schools ought to stop. They may lead to suicidal and other tendencies. The outspoken man of God disclosed this in an address at the second graduation ceremony of the Christ Apostolic University College (CAUC) at Kwadaso in Kumasi on Saturday. The historic occasion was under the theme, 'Maintaining High Moral and Ethical Standards amongst Graduates-The Role of the Private Universities.' Two hundred students, who offered different progranmmes, graduated during the event. Very Rev. Prof. Martey was of the view that the recent spate of suicide cases among university students can be meaningfully addressed if moral and ethical behaviour and standards are promoted in the various universities. He suggested that universities need to reward high ethical and moral standards. Ghana, he stated, needs ethical graduates from the universities who would be ethical leaders to correct the corruption mess that the immoral and unethical leaders in the past have created for Ghana. Very Rev. Prof. Martey said the emergence of vigilante groups such as Delta Force, Invisible Forces, Bolga Bull Dogs and Western Crocodiles, is a severe dent on the image of the country so government should put a halt to this national shame. President of CAUC, Prof. Philip Owiredu Yeboah, announced that the university intends to add the Faculty of Engineering that would offer courses in electrical and computer engineering to increase the school's faulty base to five in the near future, adding that the school's population now stands at 679. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, announced that government plans to increase the book and research allowance for lecturers, this year, adding it would also support the private sector to employ many graduates from the universities. From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi The bust of the late queen mother Manye Nueki Carboo, sat with some regal pride in its bronze hue. Fingers embracing each other in some statement of authority. This was the commissioning of a new junior high school (JHS) building of the New Ningo District Assembly, D/A Primary 'B'. It was constructed by the siblings of the late queen mother and donated to the community last Saturday. The JHS block has an ICT laboratory, a lavatory, Staff Common Room and a store-room. "This happens to be one of the most beautiful school building in the whole of the district," she hailed the effort which was endorsed by applause. It was the late queen mother who cut the sod for the building of the re-located school in 2000. But cutting the tape for the new school block it was another woman, the Second Lady, Samira Bawumia who was the special guest of honour. In a way, it felt like what the late queen mother could not achieve in class, another of her kind, Mrs Bawumia who had compensated her and taken over to commission the block. And so on the sunny Saturday of April 8, 2017, right in front of the new JS block, late queen mother of Ningo Manye Nueki Carboo was immortalised in a piece of a solid brass bust. Unlike many a moody bust, this one had a broad buoyant smile - a smile of satisfaction of one who and completed a task - a kind of 'it is finished smile'. We were later to understand through the speeches that indeed this woman had lived a full and fulfilled life. The CEO of Multimedia Group Limited, Kwasi Twum, captured this fulfilment in his speech. "Life may throw rotten maize at you, don't give up, gather it and prepare delicious "Apapransa or Medaa," he told the students at a ceremony to mark the handing over of the building. Before the bust and the building would be unveiled, Mr Twum, led his audience to unveil a life that said no and never in the midst of life's difficulties. The late queen mother did not complete elementary school but she didn't settle for elementary dreams. Feisty as a boxer, impatient with the lax and lazy, she dragged herself out through her entrepreneurial spirit. Counting from the CEO's speech, she did at least 10 different buying-and-selling activities from charcoal to supplying goods to the Ministry of Defence. As he testified to his mother's business acumen, he perhaps uncannily exposed his own attributes confirming that this spirit was a genetic inheritance from his mother. A 'gidigidi' type of woman, she bullishly picked up other women's fight even before women's rights became official and trendy. She died in the United States on March 2, 2016. In life she was a gift to entrepreneurship, in death she is now a gift to children. In 894 words, the CEO told the school children how his mother was "a woman who did not let any circumstance rob her of her big dreams and ambitions". Limited by her education but with unlimited confidence, it was common to see his mother debate lawyers and politicians finding great faith in her own maverick and streetwise understanding of issues. From the remarks of the headteacher Patience Osei Poku, life has thrown quite a number of rotten maize at the school established in 1968. The school had moved a number of times until it settled in its current location in 2000, having been more than 30 years in the wilderness. Reading culture among students in the community and "it is eating deep into the fibre of our students leading to poor performance of our students", the headteacher pointed out. Yet when life threw family life at Samira Bawumia, then a nursing mother, she made out if it, an overall best student in her MA class at GIMPA. When life threw hardship at Auntie Gifty she made several businesses out of it. When it threw death at the Kwasi Twum family, they made a school building out of it. Now life has thrown an ultra modern school block at New Ningo community, it is now their turn to make leaders out of it. Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|Edwin Appiah|[email protected] A Circuit Court in Kumasi has fine the 13 members of pro-NPP group Delta Force, who escaped from court GHS2,400 each. They were convicted on their own plea and fined 200 penalty units. A penalty unit is 12 cedis and they are to pay this amount of face a three-year jail term. They are also to sign a bond of good behaviour for a period of six months or face a two-year jail term. Judge Ekow Mensah delivered this judgment Tuesday morning after the 13 pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping lawful custody. The 13 members of the Delta Force were on trial at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly court last week when some 50 members of the group raided the court and freed them. They were arrested for last month for vandalizing a state institution and attacking a security advisor of the NPP. The Judge had announced that the suspects were going to be remanded for two weeks pending further investigation, a move that did not go down well with the members of the vigilante group who were on the court premises. In anger, they charged at the judge and demanded the immediate release of the suspects. Later, however, they turned themselves in and were detained in prison custody. They were sent to Court Tuesday to face a separate charge of escaping from lawful custody. But their lawyer, Gary Nimako pleaded for leniency on their behalf, urging the judge to consider the fact that they were first time offenders and in fact turned themselves in after escaping custody. Joy News Mohammed Nurudeen who was in court on Tuesday reported that the 13 were visibly remorseful and appeared sombre. They are to remain in police custody pending payment of the fine. Mohammed also said lawyers for the accused have filed an application for bail for the 13 at the High Court. That case will be heard on Wednesday. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | [email protected] Lusaka (AFP) - Armed police on Tuesday held Zambia's opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema after raiding his house overnight, an AFP correspondent witnessed. No official reason was given for the arrest, but Hichilema is suspected of having obstructed President Edgar Lungu's motorcade when he was travelling to the Western province for a traditional ceremony at the weekend. Following an hours-long standoff and after firing teargas, an AFP reporter saw police driving out with Hichilema in a van to a police station Tuesday morning. Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND) secretary general told AFP police had been looking for their leader all night. "They broke the house, tear-gassed the family including small children," said Stephen Katuka. "This is really barbaric." Hichilema, a wealthy businessman who has run for president five times and who narrowly lost last August's elections to Lungu, alleged the vote was rigged. Last year, Hichilema and party vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba were arrested for unlawful assembly and sedition when they tried to visit supporters in jail. Indian fishing vessels informed ship ICGS Samrat about two Pakistan sailors who were rescued from the sea in a very bad shape by them. In this photograph taken on March 29, 2016, Pakistani journalists attend a video conference with Kulbhushan Jadhav who was arrested on suspicion of spying. By Ajit Kumar Dubey: A day before Pakistan awarded death sentence to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav for allegedly spying in Balochistan, the Indian Coast Guard and fishermen saved the lives of two Pakistani sailors, who had inadvertently crossed over to the Indian waters off the coast of Gujarat. "A small Pakistani Coast Guard boat with six sailors was checking fishing boats in their own waters when they drifted away from their mothership towards Indian waters near the Sir Creek area and toppled here with all its six personnel," said government sources. advertisement The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency chief, who was in China at the time of incident, called up his ICG counterpart in New Delhi for help after which a major search and rescue mission was launched by the Indian government by launching several vessels of the maritime agency in the night time itself. "A request was also sent to the maritime search and rescue centre in Mumbai for locating their missing sailors," said the sources. HOW INDIAN FISHING VESSELS SAVED TWO LIVES After a thorough search in the area near the Sir Creek, Indian fishing vessels informed ship ICGS Samrat about two Pakistan sailors who were rescued from the sea in a very bad shape by them. "The coast guard officials on board provided proper medical care to the Pakistan sailors whose other four colleagues had already lost their lives after their boat toppled in mid-sea," said the sources. Later, the Indian vessels also helped in recovering the four bodies. On Monday, the Indian ships took the bodies along with the two rescued and handed them over to naval warship PNS Alamgeer in Pakistan waters across the International Maritime Boundary Line off the coast of Gujarat. However, the Indian gesture in saving the lives of Pakistani military personnel was not reciprocated by their higher ups as on Monday morning Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by an Army military court for alleged espionage and sabotage activities in a farce trial. INDIAN NAVY OFFICER KULBHUSHAN JADHAV'S STORY Jadhav, 46, was found guilty by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) of all the charges, said Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations. Reacting strongly, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and gave a demarche, which said the proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. He said Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly. Pakistan claimed its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. advertisement It also claimed that he was a serving officer in the Indian Navy. The Pakistan Army had also released a confessional video of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. India has repeatedly sought consular access to him, as provided for by international law and 13 such requests were formally made between March 25, 2016 and March 31, 2017, the demarche said. This was not permitted by the Pakistani authorities, it said. The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him, it said, adding it is significant that Indian High Commission was not even informed that Jadhav was being brought to trial. According to the ISPR statement, Jadhav alias Husein Mubarak Patel a commander in the Indian Navy, confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi. advertisement Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot challenge Pakistan military court's verdict, but he has some options Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence Also Watch: Pakistan sentences Kulbhushan Jadhav to death accusing him of espionage --- ENDS --- The fight for supremacy among sections of students on the various university campuses in Ghana over the years has rather been a headache and a shame to the institutions they belong to than a pride. In Ghana, there are few highly celebrated university halls. Notable among them are: CASELY HAYFORD HALL (CASFORD) - UCC, THE UNIVERSITY HALL (KATANGA) - KNUST, MENSAH SARBAH HALL (OKPONGLO) UG LEGON, UNITY HALL (CONTINENTAL) - KNUST, COMMON WEALTH (VANDALS) UG LEGON etc. These halls over the years have produced key and prominent personalities in this country that have occupied great leadership positions and have gone ahead to play both political and nonpolitical roles in the development of this country. Leaders like Mustapha Hamid, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Abraham Amaliba and Seth Terkper spent their school days in the CASELY HAYFORD HALL of UCC, President John Dramani Mahama, Tsatsu Tsikata and Honorable Samuel Okujeto Ablakwa also spent their school days in the COMMON WEALTH H hall of UG- LEGON and others like P.V. Obeng, Abubakar Ahmed (Blakk Rasta) and DCOP Kofi Boakye spent their days back in school at the UNIVERSITY HALL (KATANGA) of KNUST, just to mention a few. From the above list, one would expect that inhabitants of these great halls will rather not engage in vandalism but encourage academic excellence among themselves through healthy academic competitions. Unfortunately, this hasnt been the case. On the 17th of March, 2017, a section of students from the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology stormed the University of Cape Coast campus as part of their sister halls week celebration and ended up vandalizing properties of OGUAA HALL of UCC (not to stir up emotions) and even stubbed a student in the process (an injury reported to possibly paralyze the student permanently) and prior to that, a group of students believed to be from the CASELY HAYFORD HALL had also attacked their colleagues in the ATLANTIC HALL when CASELY HAYFORD HALL embarked on their usual procession through the university of Cape Coast. Many more examples of such attacks on the various campuses can be cited and their results have always been scary, gory and bloody. This had led to the postponement of the 2017 hall week of OGUAA hall and the nearly cancellation of the 50TH hall week of CASFORD. But the question is will the cancellation of a particular years hall week permanently solve this problem that has existed for almost 50 years? This has long been an inheritance from one year group to the other of the halls involved and remains an issue whose impact must not in any way be taken with a pinch of salt but rather, a serious attention ought to be given to it to ensure its eradication in the shortest possible time. To deal with this problem, the authorities of the various universities will first of all have to liaise to ascertain why these students visit sister halls the way they do and also the timing for this visits. Two main hall alliances exist in this country and they are the UNICASSAR (made up of KATANGA, CASFORD AND SARBAH HALL) and the PAWA (made up of VANDALS, CONTINENTALS and ATL hall). During the hall weeks of these halls, sister halls visit to participate in their singing and drumming (morale), which in most cases are on Fridays. It will therefore be prudent on the part of the various universities to draw up their calendar for the hall week celebrations in such a way that KATANGA, CASFORD AND SARBAH halls celebrate their hall weeks at the same time on their campuses and VANDALS, CONTINENTALS and ATL hall also celebrate their hall weeks at the same time on their respective campuses. This will go a long way to prevent sister halls from visiting during hall weeks in the manner they have always been doing since they will also be busy with their own hall week activities and hence help prevent future occurrences as the aforementioned. This may just be one of the many options and in as much as it may not completely do away with the rivalry, it will surely present some light at the end of the tunnel. It will ensure that the very visits that keep igniting this rivalry each year will be curbed. As students, our aim should always be learning in order to impact on our country positively and we must do so in unity even as we have fun on our campuses. Lets value the lives of our colleagues and desist from inflicting injuries that may damage them for the rest of their lives. Lets say NO to hooliganism and vandalism. May God help us all. By: Anamoah Alex Kofi Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0205878660 11.04.2017 LISTEN They see us as cannibals; they see us as prostitutes; they see us as drug addicts. Ghanaian student Mina Wumbey If you are black, they consider you as trash. Nigerian student Sadiq Bello My experience is that its everywhere. Indian photographer Mahesh Shantaram They see us as cannibals; they see us as prostitutes; they see us as drug addicts, says Mina Wumbey, a Ghanaian student in Hyderabad, referring to how she feels stereotyped as an African in India. Wumbey told The Stream that not all Indians are racist, but in her experience the majority are. If you are black, they consider you as trash, echoed Sadiq Bello, a Nigerian student in New Delhi. Wumbey and Bello were speaking to The Stream on Al Jazeera about the spate of attacks on Africans in India. In the most recent, Nigerian brothers Endurance and Precious Amalawa were strolling with a friend through a shopping mall in a New Delhi suburb, when suddenly a mob of Indian students violently assaulted them. The three young men were punched, kicked, and attacked with objects like steel dustbins and tables as Endurance cried for help and people stood by and watched. Cellphone video of the incident went viral after being posted on the Association of African Students in India Facebook page. The attackers were among hundreds of people who went on a violent rampage targeting Africans in Greater Noida, after Indian teenager Manish Khari died of a suspected drug overdose. Mobs formed after rumours circulated that Nigerians supplied him with drugs, with signs springing up overnight calling for Nigerians to go back to Africa. When Indian students at a vigil for Khari spotted a group of Nigerian students nearby, they attacked. Black students are frequently targets of assaults and beatings, particularly around Indias universities, where tens of thousands of Africans from Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya and other countries come to study and find a better life. Last July, Masonda Ketada Olivera, a Congolese man, was beaten to death in a fight over hiring an auto rickshaw, prompting a flurry of statements and promises from the government amid outrage from African embassies. African envoys said that case and others are frequently unresolved. Now, they have written a sharply worded letter urging the Human Rights Council of the United Nations to investigate. The Indian government and the police have assured African embassies they are taking necessary steps to protect African nationals. Police have opened an investigation into the Amalawas case and made multiple arrests. Police have also dispatched security to hostels and universities, amid reports of threats to African students in the wake of the beatings. But officials say the attacks are not racially motivated, something echoed by another guest on The Stream, Tarun Vijay. Wumbey says this denialism is unhelpful. If they keep denying it its going to keep happening and getting worse day by day. Indian photographer Mahesh Shantaram, another guest on The Stream, agrees. My experience is that its everywhere. Ive met Africans all over India and we see the same or similar incidents repeating themselves. He says addressing the issues in isolation doesnt help solve the root causes. Wumbey calls on the African embassies to do more and to stop focusing only on the interests of their countrys citizens. When an attack is going on, Indians dont say this person is from Tanzania, or this person is from Nigeria, or this person is from Ghana. They attack you because they see you as an African. So when an African is attacked, I expect our ambassadors to come out and condemn the act. She is releasing short videos on Facebook to try sensitive the Indian population to Africans. We are trying to educate people, to let them know that Africa is not a country; Africa is a continent. Watch the full discussion at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_yz0dQmxak. For more information, visit http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201704060105-0025413 . 11.04.2017 LISTEN Meetings in secret and behind closed doors have become common these days in Nigeria. The media had had enough hot titles, though the political permutations and realignments for 2019 are not yet to be. Why such meetings are going on is simple. There are wars of interest amongst the political gladiators in Nigeria. Relationships between them are frosty; the interest of the Nigerian populace mortgaged; the war on corruption sabotaged and the democratic institution in Nigeria is seemingly being overwhelmed. Because of all these, the top shots in Nigerian governance have opted to meet and see themselves in secret to strike deals for themselves or for the people. Many cases that have nearly held governance to a halt are unresolved. There are forgery cases at the highest level. There are corruption cases; there are impunity cases and there are many ethno-religious collocations in national issues. In the senate leadership, in the house leadership, in the presidency, in the judiciary, the tussles to be on the threshold of power against all odds and norms are crushing. Some heads of government agencies claim superfluous rights to citizenship and freedom. At the level of the ruling party, the music is cacophonic. And as for the opposition party, things are falling far more apart. So the meetings have continued with some yielding no smiles for the nations progress. However, democracy allows such struggle for the balancing between the executive and the legislature as both are created by the law. In Nigeria, the individualistic personal interests of powerful have often scuttled democratic processes and grounded conventional governance in its entirety. The 2017 budget proposal has not been passed five months after the President presented it to the National Assembly in December 2016. The Senates amendment of the Electoral Act and many other national issues that directly affect the people of Nigeria are hanging. The intricacies of personal relationships and political meanderings by top politicians are awesome indeed. The masses can go to hell. In the nutshell, the senate has been angry with the alleged mishandling of matters involving it and top senior government officials particularly Comptroller General of Customs, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and acting chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who has been rejected twice by the senate. The acting EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, is said to have a heap of repulsive documents against senior members of the National Assembly and others, though resisting compromise or tit for tat. The senate refused to approve the nomination of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in protest. These worsening relationships pushed President Buhari to set up a committee to look into the causes particularly that between the two arms of government as hinted by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The committee was chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo with all ministers who were once members of the National Assembly as the committee members, including special assistants to the President on National Assembly Matters and House of Representatives, Ita Enang and Samaila Kawu respectively. Furthermore, President Buhari, in the move to mend fences with the lawmakers met separately, behind closed doors, with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and the Senate President Bukola Saraki. He had earlier in the month met the security chiefs behind closed doors. Both the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, were happy to have met with the president to discuss and resolve matters of national interest. Senator Saraki revealed that the president engaged them very well. He said activities of the National Assembly during the absence of the president were major points of discussion, including the 2017 budget, the economy, CBN, Euro bond, the issue of the ambassadorial list, the stability in the Niger Delta. He the senate will pass the budget in April. Diplomacy championed the meeting as if nothing of national interest was at risk. But for Speaker Dogara, it was not in considerable order that the legislature should engage the executive in war of wit. According to him, the fight on issues of national interest and on behalf of the people was not out of order for the purpose of progress. He assured of one government because if the president fails, the National Assembly fails. So it is in realization of this that we always extend the needed support to ensure that he succeeds, so that the government will be rated as a success, he said. The national working committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by its chairman, John Oyegun, after about five hours closed-door meeting with the Senate Caucus, called for a ceasefire between the senate and the executive for sustainable development. On the other hand, the senate caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is seriously furious over perceived technical exclusion from the scheme of things by President Buharis administration. The caucus, which met with the national working committee (NWC) led by the national chairman at the National Assembly, said that the party had offended them by failing to consult with them on critical issues of governance since APC took over power two years ago. Some of the senators blamed Oyeguns weak leadership of the party for not mustering the courage to speak the truth to Mr. President and called for his removal. The meeting was the first of its kind by the party and its caucus in the 8th Senate inaugurated on June 9, 2015. The lawmakers had complained bitterly that the government had failed to appoint boards of parastatals, as well as failed to fill existing vacancies in many of the agencies. That has made civil servants occupy many offices in acting capacities, thus negatively affecting governance. They also expressed anger over non-appointment of APC supporters to boards of parastatals and agencies. Besides, some senators were said to have been unhappy with the Buhari-Saraki closed door meeting because they alleged that the burning issues were not thoroughly thrashed. It would be recalled that the senate wanted the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, to appear before it in full uniform of the agency on some allegations. Ali declined appearing in uniform. The senate passed a resolution that Ali is unfit to hold office and the battle line was thus drawn. The holding of secret meetings, if for national interest, is not over because Nigerians are waiting for the positive results of such. Many Nigerians are confused over their daily fate as things continue to get harder. The greenback which is accused even by sachet water producers of being the cause of escalation in the prices of even local commodities is being controlled by the CBN, yet the Nigerian market remains a scaring place for the common Nigerian nowadays. Let there be real change, immediate palliatives for that matter. Muhammad Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja. E-mail [email protected] 11.04.2017 LISTEN Yesterday, I, Jones Nhinson Williams, wrote US Senate Majority Leader McConnell and other top Congressional leaders to halt all foreign assistance to Liberia and perhaps put a visa freeze on all Liberian lawmakers and some officials unless they agree to reduce their salaries and use the money for development purposes, such as ensuring we have good roads, better healthcare facilities and schools for Liberian kids. Many Liberians applauded the idea and in fact, every single US congressional staffer I spoke to yesterday thought it was an excellent move. Equally, only two Liberians thought it was a bad move and the two persons were: one individual who works for a Liberian lawmaker and other individual known as Mr. S. Kokpar B. Wohwoh, a House of Representatives aspirant for Grand Bassa County... Mr. Wohwoh registered his disagreement in writing as seen below verbatim: S. Kokpar B. Wohwohs Disagreement This situation for the most part is not spicific to Liberia as a nation. I am of the conviction that your proposal should be the last nail on the coffin, if you truly love Liberians and Liberia. To say that funds sent to Liberia has made no tangible impact is imaginary and counterproductive. Furthermore your recommendation calling on the "US goverment agencies responsible for international assistance to immidiately halt all aid to Liberia unless the exorbiting salaries and other benefits are drastically reduced in line with the financial capacity and cost of living of the country" is also counterproductive and is most likely to affect the majority of the people whom you love. So, if we are causing our own problem, why are you in defence of the causative agents (Liberians) in particular? Now my next question, do you have a solution to Liberia's problem? My brother, siting in your comfort zone in the US and recommending the discontinuation of assistance to Liberia is wickness and inhumane. This suggests that you are not informed considering where Liberia came from since the war and up to present. Besides, when last where you in Liberia, and what did you do? My (Jones Nhinson Williams) Response to Mr. S. Kokpar B. Wohwohs Disagreement Brother Wohwoh, thank you for your concerns and the passionate argument you made herein about my letter to the US Senate Majority Leader, a man who I personally lobbied during the Ebola crisis in Liberia for congressional support to the US aid in mitigating the epidemic. Your differing opinion is good. That is the kind of Liberia I want and I think that's what every civilized person will want; a nation where we can disagree on issues amicably. However, there are few things I need to indicate here. 1. I am not going to elevate your personal status here by engaging in a personal argument with you. You have to find a way to do that. So I wouldn't argue with you as a trend. 2. There is equally something in philosophy called "Situation Ethics." And people who study philosophy are called philosophers. In short, they love wisdom and try to make sense of reasoning through inquiries and investigation as to why certain things are what they are, and what are the options for ramifications or changes. That said, I studied systematic philosophy and the rest is yours to deduce. Now, back to educating you more. In "situation ethics" (which I briefly taught in AME Zion Community College in Liberia in the mid-1990s and in other higher institutions after completion of my philosophical studies), tough choices are a requisite to obtain good. Also, according to "situation ethics," there is a reason why certain tough actions are necessary to obtain a greater good. For example, doctors who amputate arms and legs and the breasts of cancer patients are not evil. They do so to save the life of the patient because when the cancer spreads the patient will die. Liberia is currently a patient that has a cancer of bad governance, corruption, greed, nepotism, poverty, arrogance, and of course, ignorance. Based on your prevailing mentality that we leave the status quo as is, when every possible opportunity available has been tried to make the lawmakers and the leadership see reason to reduce their salaries failed, when in fact the more Liberians complain the more some lawmakers like Jewel Howard Taylor defends why they (lawmakers) need to be paid more in a country with no durable electricity, healthcare facilities, good roads and better educational system, is dangerous. So, call it evil or anything you want, but in earnest our option to urge the US to act in ensuring that Liberian lawmakers and officials reduce their salaries or make the country forfeit US aid is a morally reflective decision which is applauded not just by decent Liberians, but by decent people around the world with interest in Liberia. Every single Congressional staffer on Capitol Hill I spoke to about this strategic move applauded the decision and you are not more intelligent nor kind-hearted than these people in anyway. Imagine you were a poor Liberian working hard every day as a sweeper in a cook shop in Slipway, Monrovia, Liberia and your government collects tax money from your pay check every two weeks to send millions of dollars in foreign aid to the Republic of Careless Leaders, what will you think and do when you learn that the careless leaders in that country where your tax money goes live in luxury and make more money than your own lawmakers and officials in your state or county in Liberia? Will you be happy and sing kumbaya? This is what many poor U.S. citizens go through every day. Many of these people are Group Homes' workers like yourself when you lived in the US before you went back to Liberia in an attempt to run for elected position in Grand Bassa County. When you left your job and family to go to Liberia the only job you set your eyes on was to run for the position of representative for Grand Bassa County. Do you know why? Like you, many educated and non-educated Liberian leaving the US and other countries around the world all want to be lawmakers because there is money there. None of them talk about the private sector because they will not get free US$12,000 plus free benefits. Lastly, some of us who are trained in morally authoritative settings such as Catholic seminaries don't go around broadcasting what we do for humanity nor Liberia but the records are there. For your information also, beside what I have done and continue to do for our country Liberia in the humanitarian and diplomatic arenas, I recently took thousands of dollars to establish a registered political party (of which you became a member and not just member, but an official until you backslide because you wanted me to personally finance your campaign in Bassa, a thing I could not do because it is against my ideals for candidates to give out food and money for political favors) to support serious-minded Liberians for Legislative seats. I could have taken that money and use it for myself. Instead, I tried to give you and others a platform. If that is anything, what else will be? I mentioned this because some of you make statements asking what others have done. Giving items to buy vote is not a good sign nor good politics. It is equally bad public policy. That is exactly why Liberia is behind. It is not the role of politicians and lawmakers to give scholarships and build edifices. The role of politicians is to make good laws and enforce sound regulations that enable institutions to work properly, or be established. When I was in Liberia last July (2016), I gave the Liberian government many proposals to create jobs, improve the criminal justice system etc. I also brought the Liberian judiciary to the US on a retreat (without any cost to the Liberian government) so as to help improve judicial clarity and independence. I also founded many projects activities to help Ebola victims through my Foundation www.newliberiafoundation.org . Every opportunity I have had over the years, I speak for Liberia in international settings. And for a decade, as a former director of the U.S.-based Jewish International Refugee Resettlement and Immigrants Integration Service, I worked to benefit refugees and asylum seekers around the world, including thousands of Liberians, and I still do that today in my private role. President Sirleaf knows the role I played in making all of us (you and many other Liberians) to have a Liberia where no one has to run away because of government tugs chancing after them, even though people are now running away from the country because of food insecurity, massive unemployment, widespread chronic and organized corruption, and the lack of better healthcare and good roads. Just yesterday, I was in DC talking with some US officials about the need to extend or make permanent the status of Liberians on TPS. Do you think these TPS Liberians want to live in the United States because they dont love their country like you do? No. They are afraid of Liberia because you want them to close their eyes to open and organized public theft through unreasonable salaries for lawmakers, a position you are also seeking in October 2017. I don't have to trumpet what I do for Liberia and our people because I am not doing so to run for elected office. By the way, the only job I ever wanted as a child and a student was to become a Catholic priest and for that I spent almost a decade studying, or in preparation, but had to abandon that noble vocation, calling to help make Liberia a better land of freedom the freedom you enjoy today. Finally, like you, we all love Liberia and want to see the country better. But since the leaders we have are dumb, we must apply certain global peaceful actions that will yield the most effect. We all cannot do what some people: political humanitarianism, which doing something for your district in Liberia just because you want political position. Have a blessed day and may God bless our nation. About the Author: Jones Nhinson Williams is a Catholic educated Liberian philosopher and an American trained public policy professional. He can be reached at: [email protected] Lusaka (AFP) - Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who has refused to accept the result of last year's presidential election, was detained Tuesday on treason charges, his lawyer said. Police were not immediately available to confirm the charges, which came after a dispute over Hichilema's vehicles allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu's motorcade on a main road. More than 100 armed police surrounded Hichilema's house outside Lusaka overnight, and tear gas was fired before a raid when he was taken into custody, AFP reporters witnessed. "They have detained him on the basis that he committed treasonable charges," Jack Mwiimbu, Hichilema's lawyer, told reporters at the property. Hichilema -- who says he does not recognise Lungu as president -- allegedly refused to give way to Lungu's convoy as they were both travelling to Western province for a traditional ceremony at the weekend. Hichilema, head of the United Party for National Development (UPND), has launched several legal attempts to challenge the August election result. He says that the vote was rigged and accuses Lungu of an unprecedented bout of political repression in Zambia, which has been known for its relative stability. The election campaign was marked by clashes between supporters of Lungu's Patriotic Front (PF) party and the UPND. Election aftermath UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka told AFP that police had mounted a violent operation to detain their leader. "They broke (into) the house, tear-gassed the family including small children," said Katuka. "This is really barbaric." Hichilema, known as "HH", was taken to a police station for questioning. Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of death. "The PF party demanded action against HH after the motorcade situation," independent political analyst Neo Simutanyi told AFP. "HH is still trying to challenge the result through the courts, but Edgar Lungu is president in theory and in practice. "There is a lot of mistrust between the two sides. "Under the treason charge, HH could be detained for some time, so this will suit the ruling party who want to silence the dialogue of the election result not being recognised." Hichilema, a wealthy businessman, has run for president five times and narrowly lost last August's elections to Lungu. Last October, Hichilema and party vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba were arrested for unlawful assembly and sedition when they tried to visit supporters in jail. The progressive Peoples Party (PPP), has described as undiplomatic the tone of a letter addressed to the government by the Chinese Mission in Ghana on the illegal mining menace in the country. The party said the contents of the letter was an affront to Ghana's sovereignty and must be disregarded. The Chinese mission in Ghana over the weekend issued a strongly-worded letter to Ghanas Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, over Ghana's fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. The mission in its letter expressed anger at the manner in which Ghana is dealing with the issue of illegal mining and has criticized the media for targeting China in their reportage on the matter. It said if nothing changes about the nature of campaigns against illegal mining in the country, bilateral relations between Ghana and China would be affected. It also served a strong caution to the Government that it will be extremely harmful to the bilateral relations between the two countries if there are reports of a casualty during the arrest of Chinese involved in illegal mining in Ghana. The Mission said the government must minimize the mass arrest of illegal miners and deal with culprits on individual basis. Campaigns against illegal mining in the country have in the last few months intensified with Citi FM championing a #StopGalamseyNow campaign, that is gaining momentum, rallying various stakeholders to address the menace which has left devastating effects on the country's environment. Evidence from media reports and CSOs, including police arrests, suggest the high involvement of Chinese in the activities, but according to the Chinese mission in the country, its [Chinese] government attaches great importance to the illegal mining issue, and is firmly against the involvement of Chinese in illegal mining in Ghana. The Chairman of the PPP, Nii Allotey Brew-Hammond, said the government must indicate to the Mission that it cannot dictate to the country how it must approach the fight against galamsey. It was not very diplomatic. They have channels to our government. And for them to write a letter and have it out in the public, I believe it is a sign of disrespect to our government and our government should take it as such that a letter is coming from an Embassy telling them what to do and what not to do. I believe that we should not take that letter seriously, but we should let them know that they have erred. By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @jnyabor 11.04.2017 LISTEN A number of weeks ago, I had posted a very brief analysis of the on-going struggle for power within the Nigerias rapacious political elite on my Facebook page. In the brief but cold analysis, I had put aside my dislike for Senator Bukola Saraki and noted that from information this writer is able to garner and from the way things have been unfolding and ones understanding of how people who want power would likely behave, predicted with a caveat that Senator Saraki may win this battle. It is the only way to do it hoping that coming to terms with this reality will cause truly positive forces to checkmate him. I had explained that a battle is just a face of a war. There are still so many battles to be fought before 2019. But as Saraki continues to win battle after battle, it would be foolhardy to dismiss the possibility of him winning the war. Winning the war may be that he would be the decider of the eventual president in 2019 or he might go for it himself. Whichever would be the case remains to be seen. But this is how things currently stand. The APC is currently divided into four warring camps as follows: a) The Aso Rock Cabal Camp (ARC) b) The Buhari Political Friends Camp (BPF) c) The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Camp (BAT) d) The Bukola Saraki Camp (BS) a) The Aso Rock Cabal Camp (ARC) currently is about the most powerful of all the four camps. The reason this camp is the most powerful is that they are the family members of the President. The President is loyal to them 120%. The President would rather die than question their decisions. They determine who sees the President and who gets the favours of and from the President. This group is led by Mamman Daura, the invisible visible hand who is actually doing the governing of this country in practical terms. Other members include the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari who was raised by Mamman Daura. He would defend Daura with his blood. In this inner circle is the boss of Directorate of State Security (DSS) Lawal Daura. They are so powerful that they sent out the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari out of United Kingdom, away from her sickly husband and she could not bat an eyelid. They did it and nothing happened and President Buhari was very happy about it. It is being suspected that General Yusuf Buratai and Minister of Internal Affairs, retired General Dambazzau are members of this camp. For the ARC, the fear of Bola Tinubu is the beginning of wisdom. This camp lives in perpetual fear of Bola Tinubu and is ready to go to any length to emasculate him. The members believe that Tinubu has to be rendered ineffectual by all means, especially with eyes on 2019. For this reason, they are keeping more than an eye on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. They are praying that President Buhari does not give up the ghost for obvious reasons. The ARC has made an alliance with Senator Bukola Saraki. And they bent on convincing the President to come out for him and support him publicly regardless of the cost to the faked integrity of the President. President trusts the ARC more than any group. The DSS already told Nigerians that Senator Saraki is not corrupt. The ARC hates Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the EFFC, with passion. That passion could only be matched by Senator Saraki who has been humiliated repeatedly by Magu. They have common interest to see that Magu never emerges as the de facto and de jure chair of the EFCC. The need to keep Bola Tinubu ineffectual is another common interest between the ARC and the BS camp. More on this issue later. b) The Buhari Political Friends Camp (BPF). These are political friends of Buhari who are considered no threat to the control of the presidency by the ARC. They are largely tolerated and allowed their space to do what they wanted to do as long as they understood their boundaries. This group have no influence whatsoever on the President. The president does not show any dislike for them but he is in no way committed to any of them. He has not expressed any form of lack of confidence in them but has not expressly showed any form of confidence in them. Members of these group include Ministers such as Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola and their ilk. Some of them are not antagonistic to the Bukola Saraki camp. Though, they have not shown openly their loyalty to Bukola Saraki. This group is secretly interested in clipping the wings of BAT camp but is not openly expressing that desire. This has put them in the good book of the ARC. For those of them that are of Yoruba extraction, they are in a quandary. They have no choice but to tread carefully because the Yoruba consensus now is that Bola Tinubu should not be allowed to be humiliated by the ARC and others gunning for him. It is not clear if this current protective support of Bola Tinubu by the Yoruba leadership would translate to votes in 2019 across Yoruba land, but it would be better to allow time to tell, as things continue to unravel. c) The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Camp is arguably the smartest but currently the weakest of all the groups. This camp has been suffering from lack of vision and proper planning and is paying dearly for it. In the days leading to the election, the leadership of the group failed to pay attention to a lot of pointers showing them that the group could be at risk in a Buhari administration. Right now, the leadership of the group is playing good boy to the administration as much as it could. It recognizes the threat of ARC and it is not willing to dare the cabal. This group is compelled to show its loyalty to the President at all times even in absurd situations such as the killing of the Yoruba people in Ile-Ife in Osun State. Even when one of the leading members of this group, Senator Ali Ndume was suspended from the Senate by the Saraki camp, there was not a whimper from any other member of the group or its leadership. The leadership of this group is busy trying to save itself and its political relevance rather than worry excessively about a member suffering only suspension for six months. This group has been on a losing spree since Buhari took over power despite its enormous contribution to installing this administration. It lost the Senate Presidency to its rival Saraki camp that described the Vice President Osinbajo as an ordinary commissioner. It lost many of the principal positions in the Senate and has been reduced to spectators in the body. The group also suffered the same fate in the Lower House as all its candidates were left in the rain soaked without recourse. It won some negligible principal positions in the lower chamber and that was it. The lower house is more loyal to the Saraki camp without any question and the leadership of that arm of the government is working with the ARC too as an extended arm of the Saraki camp. Even in the appointment of Ministers, many nominees of the group often hit the swimming pool with their clothes on. They could not be considered seriously because of the stance of ARC against the leader of this group. This group also seems to have become an albatross on the neck of Ibrahim Magu because of its support for the EFCC acting chairman. The Saraki camp and the ARC seemed to believe that Magu is a pawn in the playbook of Bola Tinubu and are determined to frustrate him. It is however believed that this group could bounce back in 2019. How this would turn out is not clear yet as Bola Tinubu has been going around begging for forgiveness for disrespecting the Afenifere leadership and some Yoruba Obas. Indications are that he has been listened to in order to save him from humiliation by the ARC. Olomo buruku, the Yoruba often say, ko lee fi fun ekun paje. Whether this forgiveness would lead to votes from the suffering Yoruba people who are now asking themselves whether Tinubus judgment could be trusted, remained to be seen. d) The Bukola Saraki camp in comparison to the ARC may not appear to be the strongest of all the groups, but without any question, it seems to be the most formidable of all. It is the only camp that has a leg in every group except the BAT camp. It is amazing that despite the media war against him, he has been able to survive, resurge, recalibrate and realign his forces to become more formidable than he was at the beginning of Buhari administration. A major factor for his survival is his ability to plan ahead, unlike the BAT camp that keeps exuding embarrassing naivety about politics. This is because, the BAT camp believed their own lies that Buhari has integrity and is incorruptible. Hmmmmmm! But Saraki camp did not give and still does not give a damn about any stupid war on corruption. He probably knows that Buhari is a pretender as this writer has been pointing out for years. He must have recognized that Buhari is a dedicated and committed member of the family of the corrupt political leadership and went for the jugular. He was right. And Buhari, the Mr. Integrity has his DSS come out to endorse Saraki publicly, insisting that the Senator is not corrupt. While the BAT camp engaged in media war against Bukola Saraki, the latter knowing the truth about Buhari as a committed comrade in corruption and thievery, allied with him with the help of the ARC. From that point, he had an excuse made for him as the DSS provided the template for him and his ilk to refuse to confirm Magu as the EFCC chair. Other members of the Senate who see themselves in their leader, Saraki, became blindly loyal to him. They worship him. They adore him. They daily seek his footsteps and walked in them. They banded with him and fought back Magu and the media which they concluded were biased against them. With Saraki firmly in control of the Senate, he has the power to do a few things to Buhari. But he did not. Rather he went for the soft spot of Buhari and hemmed in. He came out with an alliance with ARC. Meanwhile, he was carrying the Speaker of the House along with him and they became a formidable force together. The members of the BPF, mostly Ministers, would not do anything to antagonize the Senate leader otherwise the budget of their Ministries could be in jeopardy. They know where their bread is buttered so they could also help themselves while the parody lasts. INTANGIBLES: Other variables in the staying power of Saraki, is the silent but very effective and strong support of the Northern Emirs across the board. They do not consider him corrupt. He takes care of them. They had supported him from the beginning and were instrumental to his becoming the Senate president. There are also other party big wigs silent but in active support of Saraki. They are operating from behind the scenes. The way Saraki has been able to hold everything together, so far, explains why he has been so strong in Kwara state for so long. It is difficult to place former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku. Available information shows that the ARC does not see him as an enemy. In fact he has kept communication with the President and they speak not infrequently. He is also reported not to be unfriendly with the Saraki camp. The BAT camp is playing hide and seek with him. And some members of the BPF are friendly with him as with some powerful members of the Northern establishment. Nasir El Rufai is a loser all round in this. He shot himself in the foot with that secret memo to President Buhari. The ARC is gunning for him. He has also stupidly engaged in open fight with Vice President Atiku. The Saraki camp has no love lost for him. The Emirs are also not very impressed with him the way he has handled the Southern Kaduna imbroglio in which he has shown flagrant and dangerous zealotry. Senator Shehu Sani has also done his own damage to Rufais fragile reputation. While the BAT group still has the loyalty of some Northern political big wigs, it is difficult to gauge their political value as of now. Things would become clearer as events unfold. Many believe that it would be unwise to write off the BAT group as a factor in 2019. . Time, as usual, always tell! In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility I welcome it. - John F. Kennedy, in his Inaugural Address January 20, 1961 Please, follow me on Twitter: @OyeyemiRemi The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on April 7, 2017 met with the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms. Otiko Afisa Djaba at her office to discuss ways of promoting womens rights online. In his submission, Executive Director of MFWA, Sulemana Braimah said the organisation is keen on empowering women and girls offline and online. He warned that if men were allowed to crowd out women in cyber space, the latter risked lagging further behind. Although there have been many interventions in the area of womens empowerment, much of the effort has been in physical space. The MFWA has realised that the gender gap in opportunities offline is being replicated online as well. Given the indispensable role of the internet in our lives today, the social and economic marginalisation of women could worsen if men are allowed to dominate the online space as well, Sulemana Braimah said. In line with that, the Executive Director indicated that the MFWA, in partnership with the Web Foundation, has produced a Report Card on Ghanas progress in bridging the gender gap online which provides useful findings and recommendations to inform policy intervention. He, therefore, used the opportunity to invite the minister to a Stakeholders Forum on Promoting and Protecting Womens Rights Online in Ghana, slated for May 24, 2017. The MFWA team presented the Minister copies of the Report Card on Ghanas progress in bridging the digital gender gap as well as copies of two Policy Briefs produced by the MFWA- Policy Brief on Child Online Protection and Gender Dimensions of Internet Rights in Ghana . In response, Ms. Otiko Djaba affirmed her commitment to empowering women through ICT and internet literacy. The Internet and ICT generally are powerful tools that can empower women and help solve many of the social challenges which hold back progress for women and girls child trafficking, child marriage, the kayaye problem, prejudice and discrimination against women in education, in employment and so on. I will therefore give premium to helping bridge the digital gender gap, the minister said. The minister said her Ministry is carrying out an intervention that will seek to link successful women in industry, in Science, Technology and Engineering with girls and young women so they could mentor them. She added that the project would be complemented with entrepreneurial skills to encourage more women start-ups, especially in IT. Ms. Otiko Djaba thanked the MFWA for its womens rights interventions and pledged her personal support. She also encouraged the organization to continue to support the media in Ghana through capacity building so they can contribute meaningfully to Ghanas development. President Nana Akufo-Addo, has urged one of the worlds leading airlines, British Airways, to upgrade the quality of the services it offers on the Accra-London-Accra route. He says, people complain about the movement (of flights to and from Accra) from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 at Heathrow. Terminal 3 is not so convenient place as Terminal 5. As the airline prepares to commemorate 80 years of flying into Ghana, there have been complaints about the quality of the planes (on the route) and the service. In some quarters, there is a feeling that you are taking us a little for granted in the way in which we are receiving your services. I think on an occasion like this, for when friends are speaking, I think we should speak frankly. I think am I am the proper person to let you know what the pre-occupations of our people are. These are matters that will be easy for you to rectify, he added. President Akufo-Addo made this known on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 when the Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales at British Airways, Paolo De Renzis, paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency, to congratulate him on his election as President of the Republic, and also to reinforce the commitments of the airline to growth of the aviation industry in Ghana. The President noted that the co-operation between British Airways and Ghana has been good, explaining that the patronage you have tells you about the confidence the Ghanaian people have in the airline. I want to congratulate you very warmly. 80 years of service is worth commemorating. In the presence of the Minister for Aviation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah; and the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company, John Attafuah, President Akufo-Addo stated that the vision of his government is to make Ghana an important aviation hub for the region and the continent. The aviation hub, he added, will ensure that Ghana becomes the place where aviation services will be guaranteed efficiently and competitively, and, that, we will have the infrastructure which will allow us to increase the volume of traffic that we have here, and expand the reach of our facilities at the airport. This is an important priority of our government. To this end, President Akufo-Addo hoped that the long, unbroken period of service between Ghana and British Airways will continue, hoping that the years ahead of us will see the same level of fidelity on both sides. On his part, Paolo De Renzis stated that Ghana is one of the most important markets for British Airways, especially in Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. We have a longstanding relationship with the country. We are strongly committed to the market, and we appreciate your feedback. We will work very hard to improve the products and services to Ghana all the time, he assured. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Joy Business Minister for Business Development has revealed plans to engage tertiary graduates to train small and medium business operators to be able to write good business plans. Ibrahim Awal Mohammed says between 1,000 and 2,000 young graduates will be trained for the project by end of the year. He observes the capacity of businesses to produce good plans, especially, for financial support is very low. We want to train a lot of graduates about 1000 to 2000 young people, who will go round and help businesses to do their business plans. Business plan is the basis for every business The project which is expected to begin by end of 2017 will be free. The Minister says the move has become necessary because most banks complain businesses are unable to secure loans because they come with poorly written business plans. According to him, the Ministry will place premium on the initiative to make Ghanaian businesses more globally competitive. We are going to support young people, train them on how to do business. They will go round all the regions and support our mothers, brothers and sisters and sons to do very good biz plans. This he says will help businesses to get support from banks and other donors. Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Osei Assibey Antwi observes it is the reason Ghanaian businesses cannot secure foreign contracts compared to other African counterparts. If there is any country that succeeds in getting businesses because of the way they are able to get businesses is Nigeria. They pay a lot of attention in reshaping their business plans and that guides them. Ghana Manager for Invest in Africa, Sam Brandful says it is encouraging that government has put in efforts to address the challenge. BJP MP and former home secretary RK Singh said that it is a possibility that Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court, is no more. By Supriya Bhardwaj: BJP MP and former home secretary RK Singh said it is quite possible that Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage, is already dead. "Pakistan must have tortured and murdered Kulbhushan Jadhav and now Pakistan is making all this trial story to cover its sham," said RK Singh, the MP from Arrah. "If not, then Pakistan must give us consular access," he said, adding that India sought consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav at least 13 times. advertisement India's repeated requests for consular access to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav were turned down by Pakistan, the former home secretary said. "It is a possibility that Kulbhushan Jadhav is no more" he said. He demanded that the Indian government takes note of this concern and immediately ask Pakistan again for consular access to "ensure he (Kulbhushan Jadhav) is fine". "I am concerned. We should immediately seek Kulbhushan's consular access," RK Singh said. Given the current scenario, he said, "Tomorrow Pakistan might announce that they have executed the capital punishment and hung him (Kulbhushan Jadhav)." NO EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING, SAYS SUSHMA Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, while speaking in Parliament today, warned Pakistan of dire consequences for sentencing Kulbhushan Jadhav to death. Stating the Narendra Modi government's stand on the issue, she said there was no evidence of wrongdoing against Kulbhushan Jadhav. "If anything, he (Kulbhushan Jadhav) is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism," Sushma Swaraj told Parliament and called it an "act of premeditated murder". CHARGES AGAINST KULBHUSHAN JADHAV A Pakistan military court on Monday sentenced Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for "for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan". "The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act and awarded death sentence," the Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan security officials from Balochistan in March last year. ALSO READ: Kulbhushan's death sentence: After Sushma Swaraj, Amnesty says Pakistan military courts unreliable Kulbhushan Jadhav a terrorist, should meet his fate: Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit Kulbhushan Jadhav and the league of extraordinary men: 5 'spies' you need to know about ALSO WATCH: Sushma Swaraj warns Pakistan of dire consequences --- ENDS --- 11.04.2017 LISTEN The Board of Directors of GCB Bank Limited (GCB) has appointed Mr. Anselm Raymond Sowah, a seasoned banker and lawyer as the Managing Director of the Bank. He replaces Mr. Ernest Mawuli Agbesi who resigned as MD of the Bank last week. Mr. Sowah was a Banker in the City of London for 30 years and worked extensively in the erstwhile Ghana Commercial Bank London Branch, Ghana International Bank London and Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, London. He is a commercially astute Business Banker and Lawyer with a consistent record of success in optimising the market, revenue, profit and service performance of organisations operating in challenging environments. He has held senior management positions in Compliance, International Trade Finance, Retail Banking, Business Development and in the UK Capital Markets. Mr. Sowah has many achievements to his credit including liaising with James Capel and Lonrho in the sale of shares in Ashanti Goldfields Corp, drafting Foreign Exchange Retention Agreements involving Ghanaian gold mining companies, advising Ghana Commercial Bank, Ghana (now GCB Bank) and Social Security Bank on the sale of their shares to the Ghanaian diaspora and interpreting various financial legislation and their effect in practice. Other achievements are building relationships with the Prudential Regulatory Authority and Financial Conduct Authority, UK and building significant relationships with money transfer companies. He also played a lead role in the annual syndication of Ghana Cocoa Boards receivables backed loans, the development of new correspondent banking relationships throughout West Africa and structured finance for the purchase of oil for Ghana. Mr. Sowah attended Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, and has a BA Honours Degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Ghana, Legon. He is a Barrister at Law and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana and a member of the British Bankers Association, Business Council for Africa and the Association of Foreign Banks, all in London. Tataouine (Tunisia) (AFP) - More than a thousand people demonstrated Tuesday in the southern Tunisian city of Tataouine during a general strike to denounce marginalisation and demand development and jobs, an AFP correspondent said. The city some 500 kilometres (200 miles) south of Tunis on the edge of the desert has been the scene of several protests over the past fortnight. The general strike went ahead despite measures announced Monday by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed after meeting ministers, industry and union leaders and regional representatives. A ministerial delegation had visited Tataouine on April 4 but with no tangible effect. On Tuesday, cafes, shops and public buildings closed, although pharmacies, bakeries and hospitals remained open. Demonstrators chanted slogans including "Employment is a right, not a favour" and "No to the decline of our rights". "I am famished. I eat dry bread. I am needy. I can't take it any more. I'm fed up. We no longer have any alternative," Fathi Azlouk, an unemployed man in his 50s, told AFP. The measures announced by Chahed on Monday include opening up of petroleum companies' representations in the region, asphalting roads and a cabinet meeting in Tataouine next month. Six years after Tunisia's revolution sparked the Arab Spring, the country has yet to resolve problems such as poverty, unemployment and corruption that led to the ouster of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged British Airways to upgrade its quality of services to customers on its Accra-London-Accra route. According to him, the numerous complaints about the movement of Accra-London flights from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 at the Heathrow Airport make it imperative for the airline company to review its services to give value for money. The President also stressed the need for the British flyer to revamp some of its planes whose quality have been of much concern to passengers who patronize the services. In some quarters, there is a feeling that you are taking us a little for granted in the way in which we are receiving your services, the President said. President Akufo Addo made the remarks when the Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales at British Airways, Mr. Paolo De Renzis, paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency on Tuesday. The visit was to congratulate the President and reinforce the commitments of the airline to growth of the aviation industry in Ghana. I think on an occasion like this, for when friends are speaking, I think we should speak frankly. I think am I am the proper person to let you know what the pre-occupations of our people are. These are matters that will be easy for you to rectify, Nana Akufo Addo added. The visit was also used to announce preparations ahead of British Airways' 80th anniversary celebration in Ghana. For his part, Mr. Paolo De Renzis stated that Ghana is one of the most important markets for British Airways, especially in Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. We have a longstanding relationship with the country. We are strongly committed to the market, and we appreciate your feedback. We will work very hard to improve the products and services to Ghana all the time, he assured. Reiterating his objective of achieving an aviation hub within the short to medium term, the President was of the view the move will ensure that Ghana becomes the place where aviation services will be guaranteed efficiently and competitively, and, that, we will have the infrastructure which will allow us to increase the volume of traffic that we have here, and expand the reach of our facilities at the airport. Present at the meeting were the Minister of Aviation; Cecilia Abena Dapaah and the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company, John Attafuah. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/Sammi Wiafe/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana Nairobi (AFP) - Drought and conflict have pushed the Horn of Africa, Nigeria and Yemen to the brink of famine, and a lack of aid funding means many could starve to death, the UN said Tuesday. More than 20 million people are at risk of famine in Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria, a tragedy already affecting 100,000 people in war-torn South Sudan. Worldwide, Africa has been hardest hit by famine in recent decades, with repeated cycles of drought and conflict leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths due to starvation. Here is a list of some of those famines: Nigeria - 1967-1970: War between the separatist Ibos group and government forces in the southeastern region of Biafra caused more than a million deaths from famine and sickness after federal troops blockaded the region. Ethiopia - 1973-74: Famine in 1973-74 killed around 200,000 people in the northern Wollo region and contributed to the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie. - 1984-1985: Wollo was hit again by a drought made worse by a conflict that pitted the Marxist regime of Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam against Eritrean and Tigrayan rebels. Around one million people died according to UN reports. Images broadcast worldwide mobilised public opinion, and the renowned Live Aid concerts ushered in a new form of celebrity fundraising. The government's policy of forced displacement was identified as another key factor in the catastrophe. Somalia - 1991-1992: Around 220,000 people died during a famine that followed the fall of president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Somalia was ravaged by a civil war that required the intervention of UN and US forces. - 2011: After suffering four droughts between 2000 and 2006, the entire Horn of Africa was hit by a crisis of historic proportions that affected more than 12 million people. Southern Somalia was worst affected, with almost 258,000 deaths, more than half of them children under five, according to the UN and the US-based Famine Early Warnings Systems Network (FEWS Net). Sudan - 1993: An image of a baby crawling on the baked earth watched by a vulture, taken in southern Sudan by photographer Kevin Carter, came to symbolise the horrors of famine. Tens of thousands are reported to have died in the 1993 food crisis -- five years after a famine which killed some 250,000 in the same region -- mainly in areas straddling tribal boundaries between the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups, whose rivalry continues to stoke fighting to this day. - 1998: Famine stemming from drought and fighting that prevented people from tending their fields afflicted a million people, in particular in the Bahr el Ghazal region in what is now South Sudan, according to aid groups. Tens of thousands of people were reported to have died. - 2003: The start of a civil war in the western Sudanese region of Darfur provoked a humanitarian crisis made worse by a poor harvest and the onset of drought. Ethnic minority insurgents rebelled against President Omar al-Bashir, and the United Nations said at least 300,000 people died due to fighting, famine and disease. Khartoum maintains that the death toll stands at around 10,000. The Hague (AFP) - The Dutch government voiced concern Tuesday over a visit by an Eritrean presidential advisor to The Netherlands, where large numbers of refugees have sought shelter after fleeing the repressive nation. The visit by Yemane Gebreab, advisor to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, "is awkward," the Dutch cabinet said. Gebreab is due to address a youth congress of Eritrea's sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), taking place from Thursday to Monday, the group said on its Facebook page. The Dutch government said in a statement that it "is concerned by the situation of human rights in Eritrea and considers the visit by Mr Gebreab to be awkward, since a top Eritrean official will be addressing Eritreans who have left their country". Eritrean refugees make up the second largest group of refugees taken in by The Netherlands in recent years, after Syrians, and some have voiced fears of being intimidated. Eritrea researcher Mirjam van Reisen, from the University of Tilberg, told AFP Gebreab had arrived Monday "a day earlier than expected". "He's organising the youth part of the party and also more generally the long arm which includes the churches, the women's organisations," she said. "The purpose of these organisations is to spy on anyone who does not agree with the dictatorship." Isaias's regime is accused of jailing thousands of political prisoners since he came to power in 1993 in the Horn of Africa nation, one of the world's poorest countries. No general elections have been held since the ex-rebel Marxist leader took power after a three-decade independence war against Ethiopia. Intimidation, spying In 2016, the Dutch took in some 2,800 Eritreans, some 9 percent of all refugees welcomed into the country, according to the official Dutch asylum-seekers' organisation. The University of Tilburg said many of the 20,000 Eritreans now living in The Netherlands still feel intimidated. Eritrean organisations here "report on people who are not loyal to the regime and... make sure that this is known so that measures can be taken," said Van Reisen. Back home "people are punished. They don't get food vouchers. They are fined. They are put in prison. So their lives are really made impossible and very miserable." The government said "Gebreab's visit will be treated as a private matter and we will not facilitate it," stressing no top Dutch officials would meet with him. According to the youth movement of the PFDJ, some 650 people are expected to attend the congress, the 13th such event held in Europe, which aims to persuade "young Eritreans to become more active in serving their communities and the interests of Eritrea". The UN last year estimated some 5,000 Eritreans were risking their lives every month to flee the country, making them one of the largest contingents of people risking dangerous journeys to seek a new life in Europe. 11.04.2017 LISTEN With South Africa and Nigeria being Africas two biggest economies, the recent credit rating downgrades by global ratings agencies, will negatively affect both nations and hit Africas overall economic growth, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) South Africa Country Manager, TC Chetty. He also expressed concern that the downgrades will have a ripple effect on the built environment sector and the cost of infrastructure development. South Africas downgrade to sub-investment or junk status is a setback the economy can ill-afford, especially in this already low growth environment. South Africa joins the majority of African countries currently rated below investment grade, including Nigeria, which in September 2016 was downgraded by S&P further into junk status, with a B rating, five levels below investment grade. Fitch also revised its outlook for Nigeria to negative in January this year, he said. Both S&P and Fitch downgraded South Africas sovereign credit rating to below investment grade last week, while Moodys put the country on review for downgrade, with a decision expected between 30-90 days. Besides capital outflows from South Africa as a result of the downgrade, the countrys debt servicing costs are set to increase. Chetty said: South Africa finds itself in uncertain territory having been above investment grade for 17 years. We cannot underestimate the impact, especially because South Africa has a well-developed financial and investment sector compared to the rest of Africa. While Nigeria has always been rated below investment grade, its ratings have deteriorated since 2012 and last year its economy contracted. These downgrades are not good, not just for South Africa and Nigeria, but for Africas overall GDP growth prospects. We heard at the recent RICS Africa Summit in Johannesburg, that the economies of these two countries account for about half of Africas GDP. Referring to Nigeria and South Africa as Africas big brother economies, keynote speaker at the RICS Africa Summit, Bennet Kpentey, said the economies of these two nations needed to perform for Africas sake. Kpentey, the Chief Executive and Managing Consultant at Ghanaian-based Sync Consult Management Consultants, said the poor economic performance of Africas two largest economies was the main contributing factor to the continents slowing overall growth. When South Africa and Nigeria dont perform well economically, it affects Africas overall performance To put the rest of Sub Saharan Africas economic performance into perspective, you just have to exclude Nigeria and South Africa to see Africa actually still shows a good economic growth picture. Yes, five years ago it was higher, but much of the slowing growth also has to do with a multiplicity of external shocks, such as low commodity prices, weak global trade and political instability, he explained. Citing African Development Bank research, Kpentey said between 2012 and 2016, the world economy grew by a modest average of 2.5%, while Sub Saharan Africas economic growth averaged 3.7%. When Nigeria and South Africas GDP growth is excluded, Sub Saharan Africas economic performance increased to 5%. This is still world leading economic growth, much higher than the 1.6% growth of advanced economies during this period, and still higher growth than that of the group of Emerging and Developing Economies, which averaged 4.2%, he added. With Sub Saharan Africas economic growth slowing to just 1.5% in 2016, Kpentey acknowledged that Africas growth has fallen the fastest. But, he said Africa was in no recession. It is not a disaster. We need to deal with the issues and get strategies in place to mitigate the drop. This also illustrates why Africas big brother economies of Nigeria and South Africa need to perform, and why Africas economy overall needs to diversify, reducing its reliance on commodities, he said. Kpentey said Africas hurdles included the continents huge infrastructure gap; declining manufacturing; high poverty and inequality; government inaction and bureaucratic delays; climate change; and, the major issue of corruption. However, he said there was still shine beyond the gloom, including Africas resilience; its labour force and young population; urbanisation and growing middle-class; its overwhelming adoption of information and communication technologies; increased business and foreign direct investment; and, its rich natural resources. Speaking at the RICS Africa Summit, Amanda Clack, President of RICS, and Head of Infrastructure Advisory for EY in the UK & Ireland, said collaboration was key to meeting the demands of Africas rapid urbanisation and growth. She also said policy uncertainty was a major threat to infrastructure investment in Africa. RICS is collaborating with construction and property organisations from across Africa. We are working together to accelerate the professionalism of land, construction, property and infrastructure in the region, she said. Clack said RICS was committed to Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to its offices in South Africa, RICS has increasing its presence with new office hubs opening in Kenya and Ghana. These new locations, which will services East and West Africa, were chosen because of a high level of development and economic stability RICS sees our position in Sub Saharan Africa as that of an international body fitting into the jigsaw of local associations, she said. London-based RICS is a global professional body that promotes and enforces the highest qualifications and standards in the areas of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. As a public benefit organisation, it operates in all the worlds major financial hubs in delivering international standards and policy influence. The 2017 RICS Africa Summit was sponsored by Colliers International, Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate and the Green Building Council of South Africa, and supported by the International Facilities Management Association. Accra, April 11, GNA - Hajia Adams, first prosecution witness, the case of the murder of the former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has told the High Court hearing the case that she never gave her statement to the police. Gregory Afoko, a farmer is alleged to have killed Mr Adams Mahama, the NPP Upper East Regional chairman. He is being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder, he has pleaded not guilty before a seven-member jury at the court. Hijia Adams wife of the deceased said 'even though the police came to her house after the incident, they never took my statement'. Answering questions from the lead defence counsel, Mr Osafo Boabeng, during cross examination on Tuesday, Hajia Adams said she reported the incident to the police, the very day the incident happened and was issued with a medical form, for treatment. Asked when the medical form was issued to her by the police, she told the court that it was the same day and not July 13, two months after the incident. Mr Boabeng, asked why her face did not show in the pictures of her burnt breast and arm she showed to the court on the last adjourned date, she told the court that, she could not tell why it did not appear, because it was the police who took the pictures of her acid burn body. She said her deceased husband sustained injuries all over his body as a result of the acid, and so in pulling him out, I also sustained burns on my left arm and breast. Whilst pulling my husband, he told me that acid had been poured on him, and he mentioned the names of the accused person and one Asake as the people who poured it on him. Asked whether she was the only one at home on the said day, she said she lived in the house with only her husband since their four children were all at school. Mr Boabeng asked how she was able to see the alleged gallon of acid she gave to the police, since the place was dark; Hajia Adams said she was able to see it because the light of her husbands' vehicle was still on. The matter was later adjourned to May 15, 16, 18 and 19, for continuation of cross examination. At the last adjourned date, the witness identified to the court, the dress and shoes of her deceased husband and gallon containing the substance that was poured on him. She identified the brown shirt, ash trousers and the black shoe her husband wore on the day the incident happened to the court. The prosecution intends to call 14 other witnesses, aside Hajia Adams to make their case. It is alleged that Afoko is alleged to have carried out the act with one Alandgi Asake who is on the run. A third accomplice, Musa Issa, was granted bail after the Attorney-General opined that there was not enough evidence to put him on trial. GNA files indicate that on February 23, last year, an Accra District Court committed Afoko to stand trial at the High Court to answer to the charges against him. The State indicated at committal proceedings before the Magistrate Court and tendered over 17 exhibits in respect of the trial. The exhibits include Afoko's caution and charge statements as well as a post mortem report of the deceased conducted on November 25, 2015, by Dr Lawrence Edusei; a medical report on the deceased wife who also sustained injuries in her bid to assist the deceased when the incident occurred. Other exhibits are a gallon containing the alleged residue of acid found at the crime scene, a cup believed to have been used by the assailants in pouring the acid on to the deceased, the deceased's pair of shoes and attire and a piece of carpet in the deceased car. The rest were various reports from the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), a pair of blue-black track suit belonging to Afoko and photographs of the crime scene. Prosecution is being led by Mr Amponsah, Chief State Attorney, who told the court that the deceased was a contractor who lived at Bolgatanga SSNIT Flats in the Upper East Region and also the NPP Regional Chairman. According to Mr Amponsah, Afoko also lived in Bolgatanga and was the younger brother of Mr Paul Afoko, former National Chairman of the NPP. The State said the accused is also a party activist, and was close to the deceased. On May 20, 2015, the deceased left his house to his construction site in his pick-up truck with registration number NR 761-14. The Chief State Attorney said the deceased returned to the house in the night and at the entrance of his house, two men signaled him to roll down the window of his car. The deceased obliged and the two men, however, poured acid on the deceased and fled on a motorbike. Mr Amponsah said Mr Mahama shouted for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams went to his aid. He said Mrs. Adams also sustained burns on her chest and breast in her bid to assist the victim. According to Mr Amponsah, the deceased told the wife that it was Gregory and Asanke, who poured the acid on him. The deceased also mentioned the two accused persons, in the presence of neighbours, as the people who poured the acid on him. The Chief State Attorney said Mr Adams was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Bolgatanga Hospital where he passed on. Mr Amponsah said the Police proceeded to the crime scene and collected a gallon containing the residue of the alleged acid, a cup and clothes of the assailant. He said the passenger and driver's seats were soaked with the acid and a pair of track suit used by the accused was also picked up. The items retrieved were sent to the Ghana Standard Board. Afoko was picked up at about 02:00 hours in his house and he led the Police to Asake's house. Asake was, however, not available. A postmortem conducted on the deceased by Dr Edusei indicates that Mr Adams died of extensive acid burns. GNA By Hafsa Obeng, GNA 11.04.2017 LISTEN Accra, April 11, GNA - Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the Minister of Health has launched an improved facilitating technology known as the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2) Dashboard, for programme tracking and improving cause of death statistics. The DHIMS, which was first deployed by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in 2012, had been used for the collection and analysing of routine health service data, and operated in all the 216 districts. It is currently available to all health facilities and service delivery points. Over 10,000 users from government, quasi-government, private and faith-based facilities currently submit their service reports each month through the DHIMS 2 Dashboard. The system was responsive to the needs of the service and users and could be used to track key performance indicators within the health sector. Mr Agyeman Manu, who launched the facility at the first GHS Senior Managers' Meeting in Accra on Tuesday, appreciated the hard work done by the Team that improved upon the DHIMS. He said the improved facility was important for accurate data, particularly on death, which was crucial for population planning and estimation, accountability, and evidenced-based decision making for the health sector. He called for effective supervision of the entire process, to ensure that health workers and professionals impute data accurately and timely to ensure the achievement of the expected objectives of the DHIMS. The Health Minister used the opportunity to officially introduce himself to the Ministry's stakeholders and health care professionals. He pledged his commitment to sustain the collaboration that had existed between their institutions over the years, to ensure quality health care delivery. He also presented his position outcomes as the new sector Minister, which included ensuring equitable and affordable access to health care, staff motivation and client satisfaction, and appealed to the health partners for support in achieving the expected results. He promised to make use of his training background as an accountant to look for the needed funding to facilitate the work of the health sector for growth. Mr Agyeman Manu said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had already demonstrated his commitment to improving access to health healthcare. The Health Minister said President Akufo-Addo at the weekend charged the Minister of Finance Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, to immediately look for money to reimburse all service providers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and sustain such payments monthly, to save the system from collapsing. Dr Anthony Nsia Asare, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said the meeting would discuss among other things, the performance of the health sector in the previous year and strategise on addressing the challenges that confronted it. He said funding remained a major setback to access to quality health care in Ghana, citing the challenges currently confronting the NIHS as worrying, and appealed to the ministry to quickly intervene to address the 'panic' situation. The GHS he said was currently consulting with the MOH to engage Part-time health professionals at the Regional health facilities, strengthen the use of Information and Communications Technology and its governance. Introduce Tele-medicine and mobile health via the use of phones and connect the Community Health Care Planning and Services (CHPS) programmes to health Centres and teaching hospitals. There was a joint presentation on the highlights of the DHIMS2 Dashboard and cause of death statistics by Mr Dominic K. Atweam, the Head of the Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation of the Centre for Health Information Management (CHIM), and Dr Samuel Buabeng also of the same Unit. They explained that all health facilities collect service data from the community level and impute into the DHIMS2 online daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly per given schedules. The benefits of the DHIMS, they said included the reliance on local data rather than international estimates and create a platform for information exchange. GNA By Christabel Addo, GNA Microphone and US Flag View Photos Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) delivered this weeks Democratic address, calling on President Trump to release his tax returns as Tax Day nears. Jeffries was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Im Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and its my honor to represent the hardworking people of Brooklyn and Queens in one of the most diverse districts in the nation. Almost a third of the people I serve were born outside of the United States. People from all over the world come to Brooklyn and Queens to pursue the American dream. Growing up in Brooklyn, my Grandmother often told my younger brother and me that if you get a good education, work hard on your job and play by the rules, you can make a life for yourself in this great country. Ive never forgotten those words. Abraham Lincoln once said, we deserve a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Everyone, including the President of the United States, should play by the rules. Thats the American way. Unfortunately, Donald Trump sees things differently. As we approach tax day, its important to remember that every President since Gerald Ford, Democrats and Republicans, have released their tax returns to the American people. Before the election, Donald Trump repeatedly promised to release his tax returns, just like Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama before him. But as President, Donald Trump has broken this promise. Is he hiding something from the American people? I certainly hope not. Heres what I do know. The American people deserve an answer to that question. The tax return issue is about fairness. Its about being straight with the American people. Its about playing by the rules. There is a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the White House when it comes to our President. He came to Washington on a promise to drain the swamp. But instead, by failing to keep his word and release his tax returns, Donald Trump is a living, breathing conflict of interest. Seventeen different United States intelligence agencies have concluded that Vladimir Putin and his Russian operatives interfered with our election in order to help Donald Trump. The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into the Russian hacking scandal, including possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Putins Russia. This is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. This is an American issue. Our Democracy was attacked. The release of the Presidents tax returns will help the American people better understand the extent of Trumps financial ties to Putins Russia. The American people have a right to know whether financial conflicts of interest exist between the President of the United States and a hostile foreign power. The American people have a right to know whether the decisions being made by President Trump are in the best interest of America, or are benefiting other countries and corporations with whom he has a business relationship. The American people have a right to know whose side the President is on. His tax returns will help provide the information necessary to figure that out. To whom much is given, much is expected. Donald Trump has been given the opportunity to lead this great nation. The least we can expect is that President Trump play by the rules and share his tax returns with the American people. 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. Sharif said maintaining friendly relations with neighbouring countries was Islamabad's policy. But this should not be mistaken for weakness. By Indo-Asian News Service: Pakistan is a peace loving country but this should not be seen as a sign of weakness, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday. "Cooperation rather than conflict and shared prosperity instead of suspicion are the hallmark of our policy," Geo TV quoted Sharif as saying. He was addressing cadets at the Asghar Khan Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur. advertisement Sharif said maintaining friendly relations with neighbouring countries was Islamabad's policy. "But this should not be mistaken for weakness. We cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence," Sharif said. Sharif's remarks came a day after Pakistan awarded death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad. India has warned that if Jadhav was hanged, it would have consequences on bilateral ties. Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav: Robert Vadra takes a dig at PM Modi, says his peace overtures have failed Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence Sushma warns Pakistan of dire consequences, Opposition corners govt Watch Video: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Sushma Swaraj warns Pakistan of dire consequences --- ENDS --- California Department Of Education View Photos Sacramento, CA High school graduation rates in the Mother Lode are markedly higher than across the state, according to data just in from state education officials. The latest figures indicate that, across California, out of 489,036 enrolled seniors during the 2015-16 school year, 401,957 slightly more than 83 percent graduated and just under ten percent dropped out. Interestingly enough, when compared to the previous school year, the graduation rate improved by one percent and the dropout rate declined by roughly the same amount; encouraging since the statewide enrollment over the two school years remained largely the same. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson reports that Californias graduation rate is up for the seventh year in a row and at a record high for the class of 2016 Calaveras: Grad Rate Over Ten Percent Higher Locally, of 538 Calaveras County seniors enrolled during the 2015-16 school year, 506 just over 94 percent graduated with just over two percent dropping out. The graduation figure is roughly equivalent to the previous school year when out of 550 seniors, 516 graduated, but dropouts were slightly up at over three percent. The Calaveras graduation rate these past two school years shows a definite four percent improvement from the previous four school years (the period from 2010-11 through 2013-14), over which the graduation rate averaged about 90 percent from generally declining enrollments of well under 600 seniors. During this time the average dropout rate was about five percent. Interesting, going back to the 2009-10 school year with 624 seniors, the highest enrollment year of the past seven the graduation rate was just over 88 percent with dropouts of nearly seven percent. Tuolumne: Also Trending Ahead Of State In Tuolumne County, the graduation rate among high school seniors shows a slight decline for the 2015-16 school year, during which 461 of 523 graduated or roughly 88 percent with an eight percent dropout rate. The previous school year, with 588 seniors enrolled, 523 or 89 percent graduated and the dropout rate was under seven percent. However the results are improved when compared to the previous four school years (2010-11 through 2013-14), during which senior enrollment ranged the high 500s with graduation rates hovering near 84 percent and dropout rates averaging over 11 percent. Sonora, CA Convicted of several violent and domestic abuse crimes, under the three strikes law a Tuolumne County man is set to serve a stiff state prison sentence that law officials say reflects the severity of his offenses. District Attorney Laura Krieg shares today that yesterday Groveland resident Joshua Power, 28, was sentenced to 33 years and four months in state prison by Judge Donald Segerstrom. In handing down Powers punishment, the judge called the defendant incredibly violent and dangerous to society and everyone around him. Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Novelli, who prosecuted the case, remarks, The People are pleased justice was served, and such a violent individual who posed a particular danger to women will not be able to terrorize Groveland or Tuolumne County for a long time. Multiple Offenses Against Three Victims As reported here, Mr. Power was convicted Feb. 15 following a four-day jury trial before Judge Segerstrom of eight felony counts and one misdemeanor, with the charges stemming from offenses that occurred over three separate days involving his estranged wife, a friend and a former girlfriend. Powers crimes included: kidnapping; corporal injury to a spouse; residential first degree robbery and person present burglary; two counts of false imprisonment by violence; criminal threats; resisting a peace officer; also corporal injury to a person with whom the defendant had or previously had a dating relationship. When his prior conviction for battery causing serious bodily injury was considered it was enough to create a three strikes scenario, which effectively doubled his exposure to a stiff sentence, according to the DA. She adds that, under state penal code, since the California Legislature grants a 15 percent conduct credit for violent offenders, Power should serve 85 percent of his sentence. If that turns out to be the case, he will be about 56 years old at that time twice his current age. The biography of Audu Abubakar, despite his continuance in office as a governor of Kogi State, is full of intriguing and interesting facts. He was born in the Royal family. So, he was a hereditary prince. Keep reading to learn about his personal life and wives. Prince Audu Abubakar He received education in the sphere of banking and personnel administration. His career in this direction lasted for more than 25 years. He had a possibility to become the first black senior staff manager of Standard Chartered Bank in London and New York. The first place where he found himself in public service was in the Old Benue State. There he received the post of Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning. After a while, he decided to take part in the elections for the post of the Governor. As a result, he won and became the leading person in the Kogi State. This took place in January 1992. READ ALSO: Audu Abubakar Confirmed Dead, Buried Amid Tears In Kogi It should be also mentioned that due to his achievements people made the decision to re-elect him. Under the All Nigeria People's Party guidance, he occupied the post of the second Executive Governor of the same State. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2015 because of the heart attack. Audu Abubakar As we have already mentioned above, his biography is interesting not only due to his career as a politician but also owing to his love affairs. First Audu Abubakar wife The first Audu Abubakar's wife was Aisha Abubakar. Currently, she is a mother of three. However, she and her children had to flee a country and go to the US. The reason is that the First Lady of the Kogi State was accused of infringement on the Prince's life. In response, she accused him of assault in the US court. Second Audu Abubakar wife The second Abubakar's wife was Fatima. Nowadays she is engaged in civil trials concerning the division of the Prince heritage. She is a mediocre person. Abubakar Audu new wife Well, it would be better to tell about Audu Abubakar new wife Olivia. It can be even better to say the last one. Audu Abubakar's last wife The most obvious difference between the previous marriages is the age gap. You have a unique possibility to assess the photos. Its a very interesting thing to discuss. Their marriage has lasted only a few months. As you may know, it was broken because of the Prince's death. There is confirmation that this girl was conceived for him. Nevertheless, not for nothing, she can be called the youngest First Lady in the overall history of Kogi State and in whole Nigeria. READ ALSO: Tragic Passing Of Prince Abubakar Audu Source: Legit.ng The difference between urban and rural development in Nigeria is significant despite the efforts of the country government. Regarding physical facilities, social opportunities, quality of living and overall score rural area standards still stay very low in comparison with urban ones. Agriculture plays a major role in country development, but Nigerian rural area weakness creates drawbacks in the overall economic. Rural development in Nigeria since independence responded actively to rapid urban expansion and rural-urban migration. Traditionally, Nigeria was a dominantly rural country. Even if city-types settlements existed in the North Yoruba in the past, an actual city like settlements was created along the coast as a response to retail trades with Europe. It explains the emergence of port towns, like Calabar, Port Harcourt, and Lagos. The colonial government had difficult times in calculating the precise amount of Nigerian population at that time. The 1963 National Census reported that over 80% of the national population were residing in the rural areas. In 1985 this proportion dropped to 70%. In 2005 the numbers dropped to 51%. Agriculture is the main sector of the economy for rural development. Still, due to poor development of physical facilities, Agriculture in Nigeria can`t reach its potential. Rural Development in Nigeria since Independence READ ALSO: Agriculture in Nigeria 2017: Can it help to overcome recession in Nigeria? Since the 1960s, various governmental strategies were implemented into the development of the rural areas in Nigeria. Still, despite colossal amount of money invested and numerous professional agencies created it has not provided much effect on the rural development. Each and every planning period of rural life in Nigeria remained unchanged since 1960. The First National Development Plan 1962-1968 prioritized Agriculture as the main branch for the country`s development, but this plan provided only 42% of the capital budget to Agriculture. The Second National Development Plan 1970-1974 prioritized reduction of differences between rural and urban development, but the plan was only partially executed. The Third National Development Plan 1975-1980 implemented the Integrated rural development in the framework of the Agricultural Development Programmes sponsored by the World Bank. Since the early 1970s, rural development has involved a strategy of improving rural and agricultural sectors of the economy. Some rural development was established by various agencies, the programs for National Development Plan can be broadly listed: Rural Water Supply Schemes River Basin Development Authorities Agricultural Development Programmes Rural Banking Schemes Rural Electrification Scheme Adult Education Scheme The Low-Cost Housing Scheme The Universal Primary Education Scheme Operation Feed the Nation Primary Health Care Programmes The National Accelerated Food Production Programme Accelerated Crop Production Scheme Pasture and Grazing Reserves Artesian Fishery and Small Ruminant Production Programme Research Programme National Agricultural Land and Development Agency National Orientation Agency Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reconstruction The Natural Better Life Rural Women Programme Health Schemes Transportation Schemes Credit Schemes Since the early 1980s, there were a lot of national agencies included by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture: Family Economic Advancement Programme National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria National Agricultural Insurance Company Community Bank People`s Bank Flood and Soil Erosion Control Programme Federal Environmental Protection Agency Low-Cost Housing Estate Scheme Ferry Transport Schemes State Assisted Transport Schemes Federal Assisted Mass Transit Schemes Adult Support Basic Education Programme The Nomadic Fishermen Programme Disease Eradication Scheme The National Directorate of Employment The Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure Review of Agricultural Economics Agencies The National Accelerated Food Production Programme The Federal Ministry of Agriculture created this agency in 1973. The primary goal of the agency was increasing staple food production through promotion of the small-scale farmers in rural areas of the country. The programme provided an effective research-based linkage and increased food production. The River Basin Development Authorities This programme was shown to the world in mid-1970s as result of the negations between the United Nations and the Food and Agricultural Organization. These authorities were created to deal with the use of water resources of rivers for agricultural and domestic purposes. The production was mainly concentrated around crops and fisheries. In 1986, the authorities` functions were narrowed to monitoring of water resources. While some experts believe that the authorities provided some impact on the agricultural development of Nigeria, other suppose that they did not worth huge amount of funds channeled to them. The Agricultural Development Projects In 1972, the World Bank, the State Governments of North West and North Central together with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture started investigations for searching the best suitable lands for the Agricultural Development Projects. These investigations resulted in creating three enclaves for ADP, like in Gussau, Funta, and Gombe. Main objectives of ADPs were: Raise rural income Raise standard of living in rural areas Increase production The success of these projects helped in the further establishment of 31 state wide ADPs in Nigeria. The program dominated in the 1980s and 1990s. It contributed to a major growth of agriculture in Nigeria. The Operation "Feed the Nation" This programme was introduced by the Federal Military Government in 1976 with a major idea to increase awareness about the importance of agriculture. The programme was designed to involve all the segments of the population. Students were also engaged in seasonal works during their long vacations. The programme naturally ceased from living with the Federal Military Government Regime. The main problem of the Operation Feed the Nation was the unclear definition of its goals. Therefore, it`s hard to measure up the overall impact of the program on the rural development in Nigeria. The Green Revolution Programme The program was introduced during the reign of the Second Republic. The main idea was to accelerate Nigeria towards self-sufficiency in term of food production. The River Basin Development Authorities was used as the basis for the Green Revolution Programme. One of the pioneering decisions for that time was granting of agricultural credits to the owner of small-scale businesses in rural areas. Still, the programme did not use its whole potential as it became a victim of Federal-controlled and State-controlled programmes discussion. It was heavily politicized and criticized. Therefore, it died with the exit of its founders. The Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme This programme was created and supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria. It provided guarantees to small commercial banks` loans taken by owners of small business if they used these loans for agricultural purposes. Therefore, the scheme created an Agricultural Credit Guarantee Fund supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government. This scheme dictated commercial banks to channel a minimum portion of their funds towards agricultural loans. The scheme was not successful as it was predicted. The main problem was a risk of granting loans to the owners of small-scale businesses in rural areas. The Directorate of Food, Roads, and Rural Infrastructure The Babangida`s Government established the programme in 1987. It stated that without proper governmental attention, institutional infrastructure, social help it was pointless to expect the agricultural development of the country. The directive was to help rural communities in establishing necessary social, industrial and economics infrastructure. It provided financial and technical support through the development stages of agricultural projects. The Directorate failed to show its whole potential in 1985-1993. In 1994 it became a department in the Ministry of Agriculture. The main functions of this unit were in the monitoring of the projects, rather than providing actual help. The Directorate of Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reconstruction The Directorate was created with the main objective of mobilizing human, agricultural and natural resources of Nigeria towards the recovery of political and social order in the country. In other words, it was created to mobilize, unify and utilize human resources for the transformation of the economy. The main branches included: Mass literacy Political education Social injustice Despite drawbacks, the Directorate managed to make the impact in mobilizing of human resources in Nigeria. It was characterized with the development of social infrastructure, integrity, rational distribution of resources. National Orientation Agency This Agency was created in 1983 as a successor of the Directorate of Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reconstruction. Still, it was formally established in 1993 with its objectives: Encourage formal education Ensure Governmental programmes Mobilize human resources Establish proper framework for social and economic infrastructure in rural areas The agency`s influence is felt by many Nigerians even today. Importance of Agriculture The agriculture sector in Nigeria is one of the main sectors in the economy. It holds the second place after Oil & Gas production in the Country. More than half of population of every state of the country involved in the Agricultural sector. Agricultural and rural development in Nigeria since independence faced a lot of drawbacks which slowed the evolution of this sector of life for Nigerians. Still, the results of governmental programmes can be seen today. Statistically, it influenced the life of every citizen in Nigeria. READ ALSO: TB Joshua wife and children Source: Legit.ng After four years of striving against all odds to excel in school, Uzoma Miracle Chinonso, made himself and his parents proud by emerging as not only the best student in his department, but also the best graduating student in University of Port Harcourt's 2015/2016 session. Uzoma Miracle Chinonso delivered the valedictory speech at UNIPORT's 2015/2016 convocation ceremony Legit.ng had a chat with the trailblazer who graduated with a 4.82 CGPA, where he revealed his background and shared his success story. Read his story below: Can you give a brief rundown of your background? I am Uzoma, Miracle Chinonso, a 21-year-old Imolite...born on 27th June, 1995. The first son of two (boys) born to Mr Sampson Uzoma, a tailor, and Mrs Felicia Uzoma, a trader. Though being an Imolite, I see myself more as an Abian, as I was born and bred in Aba, Abia state. Share your educational background: I am a recent graduate of Plant Science and Biotechnology (PSB) from the University of Port-Harcourt (UPH). I did my Elementary education at Cameroun Barracks Primary School, Aba...then my Secondary education at Ngwa High School, Aba. I now have a BSc in Plant Science and Biotechnology (PSB) from the Unique University of Port-Harcourt. READ ALSO: Meet Uzoma Miracle Chinonso, University of Port Harcourt's 2015/2016 best graduating student A tree was planted in Uzoma's honour within the school compound Did you ever think you would become the best graduating student of your school? "Best Graduating Student"? NO. "Top of my class"? NO. I did not apply for PSB...I never knew such a course existed. I applied for medicine (which was the only science-related course I knew then, aside Nursing and Engineering). When the admissions list came out, I saw my name as the second to the last name in the third list for PSB. It was the first time I came across the word "BIOTECHNOLOGY". I wasn't happy with the course...but my dad advised that I take it up...I had to take it up after I made him promise to sponsor my masters degree immediately after my B.Sc. He promised, so I took the course. I intended writing JAMB again...but then a lecturer and cousin of mine, Dr. Achugasim Ozioma, suggested that if I could get up to 4.0 CGPA after my first year, that I could switch to Medicine. That propelled me...and also owing to the fact that I wanted to prove a point to myself that despite my meagre school fees in high school, that I could compete favorably with those rich kids from rich schools if we're placed in the same study environment...learning with the same facilities. READ ALSO: Female corp member drowns inside swimming pool in Enugu After my first year, I came out already on first class...but I had already developed a liking for PSB. It was then that I decided not to switch to Medicine (which I later discovered was not my passion)...rather to channel all the energy and enthusiasm I'd have used to study medicine to get the best of PSB (my new found love). Uzoma graduated with a 4.82 CGPA despite having insufficient funds to buy textbooks and most of his reading materials When did you start thinking you could actually top the class? I started thinking I'd be top of my class during my third year, but I was not sure. It was under a 50% probability. My class was full of super brains...Sonia, Prince (both graduated first class too), Austin, Oluchi, Cindy etc...and when I saw these people studying, it would send shivers down my spine that made me sit up and up my game. READ ALSO: Don't allow a poor man marry you - Ghanaian counselor Was there ever anything that happened while you were in school to make you doubt your ability to eventually top your class? The finances were a problem. I always saw myself as being financially disadvantaged...I never got the money for textbooks and other materials as at when needed (more like when wanted)...and I was not living on my own...I stayed with my aunt's family all through my schooling (and I stay there now; though not out of necessity now, but out of habit). I told my dad, that if he wanted me to graduate with a first class, that he should meet just two conditions: First, get me a place to stay on my own. Second, get me my study materials as soon as I call for them. So bad..he didn't meet anyone of them. That didn't deter me...instead I took solace in what my friend and senior prefect in high school told me, "poverty provides the best environment for academic success". So, I changed my mentality and started seeing my financial disadvantage as a blessing....though it's a blessing I'm fighting so hard to deny my children. Hahaha. Uzoma did not allow poverty get the better of him in his quest to succeed academically How did you avoid distractions? Did you have a girlfriend in the four years you were a student? Hahaha...please, allow me to laugh out loud. I didn't mention that, apart from being financially disadvantaged, I was also socially disadvantaged. I never had a girlfriend...and that was because of my social disadvantage. First, I don't have a sister, and my family upbringing never smiled at such boy-girl relations. Secondly, I'm a very shy person. My shyness is quite unique in that I'd rather face an audience of a million persons than face an audience of just one girl. I call it "single-person shyness". I think this developed because of my schooling...I attended a boys-only school. Thirdly, I associate girls with time consumption and money consumption...and it so happened that TIME and MONEY were two things I never had. So, I never had a girlfriend... READ ALSO: Jesus Christ spotted in sky above World Trade Centre during commemoration of victims of 9/11 terror attack (photos) What's the next move for you? Where do you go from here? I intend going into the academia...establishing in UniPort, hopefully. I'll have to further my studies...in a more relaxed environment, hopefully outside Nigeria...then come back to apply my skills in full service to my fatherland...and probably do some politics. Hahaha. At what level do you want to do politics? State and national levels...haha..it's sounding funny, but I believe I can make a difference. In what way do you believe you can make the difference? Hahaha...I'll leave that question unanswered until I breathe life into my political being. I still have seven (7) years to voice out my answer to that question...and that's seven more years left to study the Nigerian political climate. Uzoma reveals plans to go into politics later in life What advice do you have for undergraduates and people seeking admission into the university? My advice for admission seekers and undergrads: A man who has a target, even when he misses, does not go far from it. When you have an aim and you pursue it diligently, pushing aside all distractions, that aim will surely materialize...God willing. Then, some students set low targets for themselves...why will you aim to graduate with a second class upper when it is possible to grab a first class? Even if you miss the first class, you end up with a 2:1. "Why be a king when you can be a god?" Set high standards for yourselves...that's prayer; then work towards it. I did...I slept for two (2) hours everyday for four years to rectify my academic disadvantages. READ ALSO: Police arrest man during his wedding in Ibadan As universities open their doors to let in more students each year, this former student has set a standard and has become a shining example to both intending students and undergraduates. Meanwhile, the president of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, recently awarded foreign scholarship to two students from Kwara state, for bagging First Class in the university. Legit.ng recently met with some Nigerians who were rewarded by the British Council, for distinguishing themselves during their course of study in the UK: Source: Legit.ng Awarding of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan shows how the country's military court system rides "roughshod" over international standards, Amnesty International said. By Balkrishna: Sushma Swaraj has warned Pakistan that before going ahead with the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, it should think seriously about the consequences that it will have on the bilateral relations between the two countries. Kulbhushan Jadhav has been awarded death sentence by a military court in Pakistan. He has been charged with spying for India in Balochistan. Sushma informed the Parliament that Kulbhushan Jadhav was actually doing business in Iran and was abducted to Pakistan. She said that ignoring the international law, Pakistan denied consular access to Jadhav and a chance of fair trial was not given to him. advertisement She said that if Pakistan goes ahead with execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav it will be nothing but a murder. Sushma said that Pakistan is doing this just to deflect attention from well known record of Pakistan regarding supporting and sponsoring terrorism. Incidentally what Sushma Swaraj said in Indian Parliament on Tuesday, has been underlined by the just released report of well known organisation Amnesty International. The report regarding executions in all the countries in 2016, reveals shocking things regarding judicial trial system in Pakistan and how casually death sentences are awarded and carried out there. SHOCKING FACTS According to the report, while the world is gradually moving towards total abolition of death penalties, Pakistan remains in the top four countries regarding number of execution. Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq along with Pakistan carried out 87% of the global total of execution in world.( Although, the highest number of executions are done in China it never releases its report publicly.) While no one was executed in India in 2016, 87 people were executed in Pakistan in the same year and more than 6000 were on death row till December 2016. The Amnesty International report noted that Pakistan is among the few countries where juvenile offenders convicted in previous years remained on death row. Pakistan remains oblivious to the fact that the imposition and execution of the death penalty against people who were aged under 18 when the crime was committed is a violation of international law. According to the report, Pakistan also executed people for crimes which did not meet the standard of "most serious crimes" like "insulting the prophet of Islam". Different forms of "treason", "acts against national security", "collaboration" with a foreign entity, "espionage", "questioning the leader's policies", participation in "insurrectional movement and terrorism" and other "crimes against the state", whether or not they led to a loss of life, were punished with death sentences in Pakistan. UNFAIR EXECUTIONS IN PAKISTAN The Amnesty International report says that the many prisoners in Pakistan were are also executed on the basis of death sentence awarded by the military courts. But it emphasises that proceedings under these military courts did not meet the international fair trade standards. This is exactly what India and social Swaraj have been saying regarding Kulbhushan Jadhav. advertisement Still at least 133 people were sentenced to death by these military courts during the year. Denouncing Pakistan further, the Amnesty International report says that in Pakistan and few other countries the death penalty was used in contravention of international law and standards, including on people with mental disabilities. ALSO READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav victim of plan to deflect attention from Pakistan-sponsored terror: Sushma Swaraj Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian sentenced to death in Pakistan? Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence Kulbhushan Jadhav sentence linked to Pakistan Army ex-officer vanishing in Nepal? Kulbhushan Jadhav and the league of extraordinary men: 5 'spies' you need to know about Pakistan's death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav: Why no action on designated global terrorists? --- ENDS --- - A Lagos matron has been declared missing - The matron had left her hospital for Yaba to renew her licence - But she was said to have disappeared shortly after calling her daughter There was a confusion in Lagos on Monday April 10 as a senior nursing sister, Mrs Winnifred Alofoje reportedly disappeared shortly after she called her daughter. Punch reports that the family of a 58-year-old matron, Mrs Winnifred Alofoje, were afraid she may have been abducted after she went missing last Friday April 7. Legit.ng gathered that efforts to reach her on her telephone were said to have proved abortive, as the line was switched off. The missing matron, Mrs Winnifred Alofoje READ ALSO: Dame Patience Jonathan storms bank after court unfreezes her account Winnifred, a matron at Blue Sky Hospital, Egbeda, Lagos state, was said to have left her house in Hand of Fire City, Igando, at about 9am, for Nurse and Midwifery Council in Yaba to renew her medical licence. However, her name was said to be missing in a register for people who visited the centre for licences on that day. At about 12pm that Friday, Winnifred had reportedly called her ailing daughter on the telephone to know how she was faring. The womans son, Itua Alofoye, according to Punch, said that he was notified about her disappearance in the night when his father and sister did not hear from her. Itua said he visited the centre on Saturday April 8, but could not verify whether she got to the place. He explained that further efforts to locate her had been futile, adding that she might have been abducted. He said: She works with Blue Sky Hospital in Egbeda. Her medical licence expired and she went to the centre to renew it. My sister, Onor, said she spoke with her around 12.45pm on Friday. She just asked about her (Onors) health. Since then, her line has been switched off. I went to the centre on Saturday, but was unable to meet with any official. I went back today (Monday; they checked the register to know whether she actually came to the centre. Her name was not in the register. The family moved into Igando on Wednesday, but I dont live with them. We learnt there was an accident in the Maryland area on Friday, and we were told to go to the Gbagada General Hospital. But she was not there. READ ALSO: Falae reacts after court sends his kidnappers to life imprisonment "We also went to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. We reported at the Igando Police Station and the police collected all her details. She has been practising as a nurse for over 30 years now. Nobody has contacted us about her whereabouts, but I have a feeling she was abducted. The Chief Medical Director, Blue Sky Hospital, Dr Femi Olofinshawo, said the matron had gone to the centre for the licence renewal the previous week but could not obtain it due to insufficient funds. He said: I was told on Saturday morning that she was missing and I advised her family to check some hospitals because I learnt there was an accident in Maryland. She didnt come to work at all. She took permission to go to renew her licence and the permission was granted. She was not supposed to spend more than five minutes at the centre because she had already filled the necessary forms the first time she went there. She was supposed to make the payment and get the licence. READ ALSO: Fayose takes over from Melaye as he turns DJ (See Video) The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, promised to get back to our correspondent with comments on the incident. He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report. Watch this Legit.ng video of a Nigerian complaining about All Progressives Congress: Source: Legit.ng - The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola urges stakeholders in the power sector to adhere strictly to all conditions in their contract with federal government - The minister notes that to have efficient power supply nationwide requires everybody to play his or her role honestly, accountably and efficiently - Fashola cautions electricity consumers to refrain from attacking service providers, energy theft and vandalisation of facilities The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, has called on players in the power sector to discharge their responsibilities to the consumers. The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, has warned that the federal government will impose sanctions on players in the power sector if they fail to discharge their responsibilities to the consumers. READ ALSO: FRSC sector commander chops off female officers' hair (photos) Babatunde Fashola issued the warning on Monday, April 10, at the opening session of the 14th monthly power sector operators meeting hosted by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) held at the national control centre, Osogbo, Osun state, Guardian reports. The minister said to have efficient power supply nationwide requires everybody to play his or her role honestly, accountably and efficiently. He said all investors in the power sector were aware of opportunities and challenges before entering into agreement with federal government and investing in the sector, stressing that the present administration is prepared to implement to the letters, all conditions stipulated in the contracts, signed with it by investors in the sector. Vanguard reports that the minister however, assured investors in the sector of the commitment of the federal government towards provision of conducive environment that will enhance their businesses. Legit.ng learnt that the minister said the government was verifying debts owed to power distribution companies (Discos) and had paid N374,551,00 owed Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) by the federal secretariat, Abuja. READ ALSO: Dame Patience Jonathan storms bank after court unfreezes her account But he noted that that operations in power sector is largely in the hands of private operators and must be made to fulfil their mandate to Nigerians. Fashola also cautioned electricity consumers to refrain from attacking service providers, energy theft and vandalisation of facilities as such actions amount to criminality, which the government will not allow to go unpunished. Meanwhile, the minister of power, works and housing, has assured Nigerians that power generation would ramp up to 4,000 megawatts within the next six days. Fashola made the assurance on Sunday, April 9, when he spoke on Arise Television, a sister broadcast arm of This Day newspapers. The minister said: "In six days time, we will restore generation to 4,000MW, promising: By the time you have the hydro station back during the raining season, you will get more. Fashola also clarified that the N701 billion power intervention fund recently announced by the federal government would be spread over the next three years to give comfort to the operators, explained that the outages were due to low water levels at the nations hydro power stations. As a result, he said, power generation had gone down to 3,400MW. In the Legit.ng video below, Nigerians lament about the little amount allocated for health in the budget. Source: Legit.ng "For the sake of entire nation, the government should take every step to save Jadhav's life," Robert Vadra said. By India Today Web Desk: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra has criticised the Narendra Modi government at the Centre over former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav being awarded death sentence by Pakistani Army on Monday. In a Facebook post Vadra said, "Kulbhushan Jadhav has been given the 'death sentence' by Pakistan. Five Indians before Jadhav, were arrested by Pakistan on charges of spying and they died, awaiting justice, in Pakistani jails according to media reports. In retaliation, our government has decided to not send back 12 Pakistan prisoners. Is that all we can do for the Indians held by Pakistan? For the sake of entire nation, the government should take every step to save Jadhav's life. I thought with the stop overs and celebrations of our premieres, we would have closer relations. There is only one voice in India right now... #SaveKulbhushanJadhav." advertisement Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, reportedly in Balochistan, for "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan". "He confessed before a Magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage, sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi," the statement said. India on Monday said that if Pakistan hanged alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, it will be considered "a case of premeditated murder". An official statement said the sentence against Jadhav, who Islamabad says was an Indian intelligence agent, was "awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice". If the sentence "is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder", it said. Meanwhile, the Congress-led Opposition is planning to corner the government in the Parliament over the issue of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav being awarded death sentence by a military court in Pakistan. ALSO READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: What Pakistani media said Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot challenge Pakistan military court's verdict, but he has some options Day before Kulbhushan Jadhav got death penalty, Indian Coast Guard saved two Pakistani sailors Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence Also Watch: Pakistan sentences Kulbhushan Jadhav to death accusing him of espionage --- ENDS --- I rise to share my concern with the House regarding the report that an Indian citizen, Kulbhushan Jadhav, has been awarded a death sentence by a Pakistani military court martial on concocted charges, I repeat on concocted charges. I would like to inform the House that Kulbhushan Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him. Accordingly, from the time his abduction was known, our High Commission in Islamabad has continuously pressed Pakistani authorities for such access. Although this is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations, the Government of Pakistan did not permit it. That itself should tell us much about the strength of the case against Kulbhushan Jadhav. Members would also recall that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in this case. The Pakistan government sought our assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process. In doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position. Nevertheless, in the hope that some forward movement could be made, our response was constructive. We pointed out that consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday (Monday), a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence. To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian. Our position on this matter is clear. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder. Yesterday, Foreign Secretary conveyed our position to the High Commissioner of Pakistan. Let me state clearly that the government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter. - The Kano state has arrested 489 people for street begging - The beggars were arrested around France road, Dangi junction, Lugard road, Murtala Mohammed way and Magwan junction - Out of the 489 beggars, 314 were adults, both male and female, while 175 were children The Kano state Hisbah Board said it had arrested 489 beggars in February and March for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the state. Malam Musa Tsangaya, head of the Anti-begging Unit of the board, said in Kano that 192 of those arrested were children while 228 were adults. READ ALSO: Efe and Bisola speak to Nigerians about their time on BBNaija Our men arrested the street beggars around France road, Dangi junction, Lugard road, Murtala Mohammed way and Magwan junction violating the law banning street begging in Kano metropolis. The beggars were arrested around France road, Dangi junction, Lugard road, Murtala Mohammed way and Magwan junction Out of the 489 beggars, 314 were adults, both male and female, while 175 were children who engaged in begging by the road side and in the premises of major businesses, Tsangaya said. He stated that 300 of the arrested beggars hailed from Kano city, while 237 were from Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna. READ ALSO: PDP crisis: David Mark speaks on defection to APC According to him, the remaining nine are from Cameroon and Niger Republic. Tsangaya said some of them had been charged to court, while four of them suffer mental disorder. The issue of street begging has been a huge problem in the Northern part of the country. Legit.ng recently reported that the Sokoto state Government decried the increasing incidence of street begging in spite of many intervention schemes to assist the less-privileged members of the society. Alhaji Mani Katami, the state commissioner for Religious Affairs said that the preponderance of street begging was a concern to the state government. It is highly regrettable that street beggars had virtually taken over major streets, road intersections, markets, private and public offices. Meanwhile, despite much criticism of the just ended Big Brother Naija reality show, Legit.ng has been able to capture reactions of Nigerians as a winner finally emerged. Watch the video: Source: Legit.ng - Photos of FRSC sector commander in Rivers state, Andrew A. Kumapayi, cutting the hair of some female officers has caused a lot of outrage on social media - Kumapayi had carried out general inspection on the officers at the FRSC headquarters - The inspection has been frowned upon by Nigerians, with many people calling out him for molesting the female officers Nigerians were surprised when photos of the Rivers state sector commander, Andrew A. Kumapayi, publicly cutting the hair of some female officers surfaced online. Kumapayi carried out general inspection on the officers at the FRSC headquarters in Rivers state, which included inspection of fingernails and hairdos of mostly female officers. READ ALSO: FRSC boss in trouble for cutting female officers' hair The hair of female officers who allegedly flouted the rules of the command were chopped off. Photos of a Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) commander cutting the hair of some female officers has sparked social media reactions The photos were shared on Facebook by FRSC Rivers sector with the caption: The sector commander RS6.1, Rivers CC Andrew A Kumapayi conducting a general (hair, uniform and finger nails) inspection on staff of RS6HQ, Port-Harcourt and RS6.1, Rivers during the parade on Monday 10th April, 2017. This has sparked outrage on social media with many condemning the FRSC sector commander for cutting the officers hair like they were secondary school students. Legit.ng has gathered some of the reactions. READ ALSO: Efe and Bisola speak to Nigerians about their time on BBNaija READ ALSO: Opinion: BBNaija 2017: Television as madness by Reuben Abati However, some others are in support of the sector commander. According to them, rules are rules and sentiment should be put aside. This Facebook user has a question for all those saying rules are rules. Meanwhile, Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has ordered the recall of Kumapayi for cutting the hair of some female officers. The spokesman of the Corps, Bisi Kazeem, said other officers concerned were also recalled. According to him, the recall became necessary to pave way for proper investigation into the matter. The man in the Legit.ng video below is of the opinion that the ruling All Progressives Congress is the worst party in Nigeria. Source: Legit.ng - Oil producing communities in the Niger Delta have alleged that Niger Delta governors are embezzling the 13 percent derivation funds - The communities have therefore said the money should no longer be paid through the governors of the region - They say the communities are not feeling the impact of the fund as needed infrastructure are not being provided Oil and gas communities in the Niger Delta have revealed that from 2007 to 2014, a total of seven years, not less than one trillion, seventy-four billion, fifteen million, five hundred and eighty-two thousand naira (N 1,074,015,582,000.00) have been remitted to the oil and gas producing communities in the Niger Delta from the 13 percent derivation funds. But Legit.ng learnt that chairmen of the host communities say despite the huge wealth from the 13 percent derivation, there is minimal or no impact in the lives of the average dwellers in the coastal areas of the volatile region. Following the discovery, chairmen of the host communities, led by Sheriff Mulade have resolved that the federal government stop forthwith paying the money through the state governors as they are allegedly embezzling the money to the detriment of the coastal community dwellers. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state They claimed that the 13percent derivation meant to develop host communities has become a conduit pipe for governors in the region to embezzle and shortchange the host communities. Speaking in Warri, Delta state on behalf of flow stations and well head host communities of Nigeria, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Chairman of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu kingdom, lamented lack of federal and state governments presence in the coastal oil and gas producing kingdoms. READ ALSO: FRSC boss in trouble for cutting female officers' hair Mulade said lack of government presence was the main cause of the protests and agitations, justified further by the suspension of the Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko, the only presence of federal government in Gbaramatu kingdom. "Gbaramatu kingdom is host to over eleven onshore and offshore oil fields and flow stations, which include Abiteye, Otunana and Makaraba oil fields and flow stations operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited; Jones Creek, Egwa I &II and Odidi I & II oil fields and flow stations, operated by the SPDC. "It is clear that Gbaramatu kingdom is really a major oil and gas producing kingdom and it is therefore entitled to accelerated development from the federal and state governments, as well as multinational oil and gas companies operating in the area. There are seven Ijaw kingdoms that are oil and gas producing in Delta state; these are Gbaramatu, Ogulagha, Ogbe-Ijoh, Egbema, Iduwini and Kou kingdoms. These Ijaw kingdoms have a total production quantum of 27% of the oil production capacity of Delta state and are therefore, entitled to 27% of the 13% derivation fund due to Delta state from the Federation Account, he added. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state Mulade said: "However, in Delta state, there is the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) established by laws of the Delta state government. 50% of the 13% derivation fund is allocated to DESOPADEC to bring development to the oil and gas producing kingdoms of Delta state. READ ALSO: Female corp member drowns inside swimming pool in Enugu "From the year 2007 to 2014, the total monies from federal government in respect of the 13% derivation fund was One trillion, seventy-four billion, fifteen million and five hundred and eighty-two thousand naira (N 1,074,015,582,000.00). Only 50% of this amount, (537,007,791,000) was due to DESOPADEC which is over one hundred and thirty five billion (N 135,000,000,000.00) naira only. He further said: "It is therefore clear that the Ijaw oil and gas producing kingdoms have been short-changed in the disbursement of the 13% derivation fund. Similar situations led to series of agitations by other oil and gas producing communities in Nigeria. The oil and gas producing communities therefore insist that the 13% derivation fund should be paid directly to them through appropriate structures for the building of hospitals, construction of roads, provision of clean drinking water, provision of electricity, access to job opportunities, safe water ways for transportation, as well as environment matters such as management and control of spills and pollution Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state "The oil and gas producing communities also affirm that paying the 13% derivation fund through the governors is illegal and unconstitutional, as only the President has the prerogative and jurisdiction on such matters as provided for in the Exclusive Legislative list. For emphasis, no state governor and state assembly can legislate or act on any matter in the exclusive legislative list. 13% derivation fund as enshrined in section 162 (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) confirms that 13% derivation fund is first-line charge on the Federation Account. READ ALSO: Pastor TB Joshua predicts another World War, says it would end the whole world (video) The communities resolved that the present system of paying the 13% derivation fund through the governors should stop and the fund should be paid through appropriate structure of the Oil and Gas Producing Kingdoms in Nigeria. Mulade added that payment of 13% derivation fund will end militancy, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering and it will give host communities a sense of belonging and guarantee security, peace and so create the enabling environment for development and make the paramount rulers responsible to government at all levels. Meanwhile, Nigerians have reacted to the landslide victory of Efe at the BBNaija contest. Watch the video below Source: Legit.ng - The Ekiti state House of Assembly slammed the fine on Dr Kayode Fayemi as the minister and Governor Ayodele Fayose continue with their battle - Fayemi had earlier said he would not respond to Fayose's allegations just as he also refused to honour the Assembly's invitation The Ekiti state House of Assembly on Tuesday, April 11 slammed a fine of N1 million on former Governor Kayode Fayemi. The fine was imposed on the former governor for refusing to honour three invitations by the lawmakers. The Punch reports that fine was imposed as a result of the resolutions reached by the lawmakers at their plenary on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti. Fayemi has been in a running battle with his successor, Ayodele Fayose Legit.ng reports that Fayemi, currently the minister of Solid Minerals Development under President Muhammadu Buhari, has been in a running battle with the government of Ekiti state as well as its House of Assembly. READ ALSO: Dame Patience Jonathan storms bank after court unfreezes her account Yinka Oyebode, the spokesperson of the minister did not take his call when Legit.ng contacted him. However, Fayemi had earlier said he was not prepared to respond to all the antics of Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose, who is his successor in office. Reacting to Fayoses allegations in various fora that the minister was working with some justices of the Supreme Court to sack him via a review of the ruling of the apex court, Dr Fayemi told journalists in Ado-Ekiti that he would rather not comment. You know that I would never join issues with Governor Fayose. He is entitled to his opinion and he is free to entertain himself, so let him continue to entertain himself. At the appropriate time, he would meet his comeuppance. READ ALSO: FRSC sector commander chops off female officers' hair (photos) I dont belong in the mud, so he cannot drag me to the mud. Truth is always constant and I know posterity is there to judge, he added. Watch this video of a man regretting his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC): Source: Legit.ng Despite the physical limitations of this physically challenged young woman, she joined up a choir to sing and praise her creator. In this video obtained by Legit.ng, the young girl, singing a Yoruba gospel song, shows God a devotion that is above her tribulation. Source: Legit.ng Basit's remarks came a day after he was summoned by the Indian government and told in clear terms that Jadhav's execution would be a case of "premeditated murder". By India Today Web Desk: Amid a nationwide outrage over a Pakistani military court declaring Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav a spy and sentencing him to death, Pakistan's High Commissioner to New Delhi Abdul Basit today called Jadhav a terrorist and said he should meet his fate for whatever he did. Basit made the statement while talking to Pakistani news channel, Samaa TV. The Samaa TV report also called Jadhav - who was arrested in Pakistan in March last year - an agent of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), an allegation India has repeatedly denied. advertisement "First they indulge in terrorism on our land. And now that we have punished a terrorist, why the protest?" Basit is reported to have said. The report also said Pakistan has done nothing wrong by sentencing Jadhav to death. Basit's remarks came a day after he was summoned by the Indian government and told in clear terms that Jadhav's execution would be a case of "premeditated murder". INDIA WARNS PAKISTAN Earlier today, making a strong statement in Parliament, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asserted that India will go "out of way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian". Pakistan should consider its consequences on bilateral relations, if it proceeds on this matter, Swaraj warned. "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she said. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supportingterrorism," the minister added. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said Pakistan wants good relations with all the countries, particularly its neighbours, a day after its military court's order to execute Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav spiked the India-Pakistan tensions. On a defiant note, Sharif said Pakistan's armed forces are fully capable and prepared to respond to any spectrum of threats. "The nation has full trust in the country's armed forces," he said, assuring the government's full support in equipping the forces to address modern day challenges. Watch the video here Also read: India cries murder after Pakistan Army sentences Kulbhushan Jadhav to death; Basit summoned Also read: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Pakistan will face dire consequences, says Sushma Swaraj --- ENDS --- Jadhav is a retired Indian navy officer who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of spying. This after a delegation of BJP leaders also met the chief minister demanding justice for Jadhav. By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has written a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, requesting her to take concerted steps to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a retired Indian navy officer who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of spying. This after a delegation of BJP leaders also met the chief minister demanding justice for Jadhav. advertisement Speaking to reporters after meeting the delegation, Fadnavis said, "Centre is already taking steps to secure Jadhav's release. Even international pressure is building in this issue." Condemning Pakistan's move, Fadnavis called the action 'immoral and illegal'. "It is evident that Pakistan is trying to divert the attention of the global community from its terrorist activities. This is immoral and illegal. We condemn it", Fadnavis added. BJP LEADERS MET FADNAVIS OVER ISSUE Mumbai BJP President Aashish Shelar led a delegation of party leaders, requesting the chief minister to get in touch with the Centre over the issue. "We wanted to send a message that we stand firmly behind Kulbhushan. He has been denied justice. We have requested the chief minister to convey our feelings to the Centre", Shelar said. Meanwhile, political parties have started their campaigns for Kulbhushan's release. The BJP launched a signature campaign in the city's Lalbaugh area. Maharashtra Congress too launched a similar signature campaign across the state. But the Congress also attacked the Centre for reacting late to the issue. "The Centre woke up only after the Pakistani court sentenced him to death. The Centre should now pile up international pressure to secure Jadhav's release", said Sachin Sawant, spokesperson of Maharashtra Congress. Also read | Fear Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tortured, killed in Pakistan: BJP MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh Also read | Amid growing cries to free Kulbhushan Jadhav from Pak, Kashmiri leader says wrong for India to point fingers --- ENDS --- The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a scheme for graduates from various Nigerian tertiary institutions, as such one would expect the NYSC to be made up of properly educated young men and women. However, it is sad to note that this is not always the case. There have been reports of cases where members of the corps behaved in manner that could be termed disgraceful. While this is not always the case, a recent Facebook post shows that it still happens. A Facebook user whose name has been kept hidden to protect his privacy posted the following about the state where he currently serves: A member of the NYSC made the badly written Facebook post about recent rain fall in Gombe Many have said it would have been better if he wrote in his native language, than very bad English language. Below is a comment on the post: READ ALSO: NYSC releases new 2017 Batch A timetable (See registration date) However, we have had some inspiring NYSC members. A good example is that of Cynthia Eseosa Eghe-Nova who now has her name etched in gold in Abuja. Legit.ng reported that charity is like a lifestyle for Cynthia, before she renovated the classrooms of the school where she was serving, she had donated 10 mattresses, medications and conducted free medical check-ups for an Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Gurku, Mararaba in Nasarawa state. She also conducted skill acquisition training on cake baking and decoration for students of Government Day Secondary School in Bwari, Abuja. Legit.ng also has a video of some other inspiring NYSC members: Source: Legit.ng - Three men allegedly teamed up to kill an Uber taxi driver in Lagos - One of the suspects revealed to the Lagos police that they strangled the victim with a belt - The aim of the killing according to the arrested suspects was to make away with the car - They then tried to sell the car, but were arrested in the process The anti-kidnapping squad of the Lagos state police command have successfully arrested two men who posed as passengers in order to kill an Uber driver and steal his vehicle. One of those involved in the gruesome crime is still at large. The three men strangled the driver, Innevosa Emmanuel and stole his car. According to Vanguard, the suspects mode of operation was to request Uber rides with the intention of killing the drivers and stealing their cars, to resell them to new buyers. The Uber taxi is slowly taking over business from the traditional yellow cab drivers in Lagos This time they boarded the vehicle from Ikeja to take them to Ogba, Oke-Ira during which they suddenly ordered the driver to make a U-turn and take them to Oremeji Street, Obawole area of Ogba. READ ALSO: Bisola speaks on her greatest regret in the Big Brother Naija house There, he was strangled with a belt by the robbers and the vehicle was driven away. The suspects showed the police the murder weapon during interrogation One of the suspects had this to say: I and Michael met at Ogba where I went to drink and we became friends. I told him how difficult things were for me that I needed to relocate to Benin to start all over again. It was at this point that Michael told me about a deal that could fetch me some money that we could get a car and then sell it to his boss. Michael then told me about one Alex (Emmanuel) who had a vehicle and we agreed to meet the following day. "Since then we had been meeting and discussing how to buy the vehicle. On the fateful day the Uber driver came, I was with Michael in his office and his friend Destiny was with him but I dont know if he discussed the vehicle deal with Destiny. Around 9:30p.m, we called the Uber driver to come and pick us at Tantalizer eatery at Ogba. I and Destiny were inside the vehicle with the driver, but Michael was outside while I was holding the belt. Immediately I put the belt across the drivers neck, Destiny dragged the belt and we strangled him. When we were satisfied that he was dead, we took his corpse to Oremeji Street and dumped him in front of a church around 10:30 p.m., without anybody noticing us. After killing the driver, we took the vehicle to Michaels boss to sell it. The buyer then inquired from us where we got the vehicle from and Michael told him that we killed the owner. The buyer then said we should take the car away and Michael said we should take it to his house and park it outside, before taking it to another buyer in Benin. Later we were tracked to Benin, arrested and brought back to Lagos." READ ALSO: Police warn Lagosians about Boko Haram in Lagos Mr Fatai Owoseni, the Lagos state commissioner of police, who paraded the suspects, said the command received a report of a missing Uber driver, whose car was stolen and the driver missing. They successfully apprehended two of the suspects during the investigation. He said: The suspects posed as passengers, strangled the Uber driver and dumped his remains at Ogba and the vehicle was taken to Delta State, where it was recovered and the suspects arrested. Meanwhile, the police have warned Lagosians to be careful when getting the service of house helps or security guards as there was intelligence report that fleeing Boko Haram terrorists were infiltrating cities. Yet, what has led to this life of crime? Legit.ng recently interviewed a Lagosian, and this is what he had to say: Source: Legit.ng - Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the House of Representatives, has released his pay slips for six months - The documents showed the breakdown of the speakers salary for October, November, December 2016 and January, February, March 2017 - According to the documents, Dogara earns about N300,000, after tax deductions Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, April 11, released his pay slips for six months, through his spokesperson, Turaki Hissan. The documents showed the breakdown of the speakers salary for October, November, December 2016 and January, February, March 2017. READ ALSO: PDP lawmaker, others defect to APC in Ondo According to the document, Dogara earns about N300, 000 after the deduction of taxes, The Cable reports. Dogara releases pay slip, earns N300,000 Dogara's October pay slip Dogara's November pay slip Dogara's December pay slip Earlier, Legit.ng had reported that Dogara on Friday April 7, in response to calls by Kaduna state Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai disclosed that the leadership of the National Assembly had directed the bureaucracy and all other agencies under the National Assembly to make available details of their annual budgets beginning from 2017 budget which is still under consideration in the parliament. Dogara's January pay slip Dogara's February pay slip Dogara's March pay slip Besides, Dogara had requested the governor, who he said is known for his consistent advocacy for openness in the budget of the National Assembly, to, in the spirit of good governance, transparency and accountability extend his campaign to other arms and tiers of government beginning from the Judiciary, to State Governments and Local Governments. Watch man complaining about the APC Source: Legit.ng Pakistan has obeyed the law. Not correct for India to point fingers, being the largest democracy, National Conference (NC) leader Mustafa Kamal said. By Asian News International: Following External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's stern warning to Pakistan on bilateral relations, National Conference (NC) leader Mustafa Kamal spewed a shocker by supporting Pakistan on the Kulbhushan Jadhav sentencing issue, saying that it is not correct for India to point fingers at another nation's legal proceedings. "Pakistan has obeyed the law. Not correct for India to point fingers, being the largest democracy", Kamal told ANI. advertisement However, Kamal stated that Pakistan is the biggest threat not just for India, but also for South Asia, and said that anyone accused of crime deserve a hearing. "The government should reintroduce a bill to declare Pakistan a terror state. Pakistan is the biggest threat not for India but for South Asia as well", Kamal said. UPROAR IN PARLIAMENT OVER ISSUE Meanwhile, Parliament witnessed uproar over the issue, as Sushma Swaraj asserted that India's position on this matter is clear and there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. Swaraj said that Jadhav had his business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. Stating that the Pakistani government sought India's assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process, she informed that in doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. The External Affairs Minister further said that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar has conveyed India's position to Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Monday. JADHAV ARRESTED BY PAK IN MARCH 2016 Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. Basit was summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. Also read | Pakistan Army has tried Kulbhushan Jadhav under section 59 Army Act. All you need to know about the section Also read | Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Sushma warns Pak of dire consequences, Opposition corners govt Also read | Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: What Pakistani media said WATCH VIDEO --- ENDS --- (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: As you know right now, terrorists entered a hotel in Bamako and took hostages. I am constantly in touch with Mali authorities. I just spoke on the phone with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from Mali and I assured him that France is available and ready to support Malis forces and needed help. The assault occurred and we will do what has to be done with our forces on the ground to free those hostages. Once again, terrorists want to mark with their barbarous presence on every location where they can kill, where they can impress and murder. So we need once again to be firm and show our solidarity towards our friend, the country of Mali. Especially that in this hotel in Bamako there are tourists, people in charge of businesses, of different nationalities, because the country (Mali) needs their support to rebuild and develop. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, LAURENT FABIUS, SAYING: These attacks will not go unpunished and our response is and will be strong. And at the very moment when I am speaking we know that another attack has taken place in Bamako in Mali and obviously I am in close touch with our ambassador in Mali and with my staff in Paris. If you were to look for one ingredient that binds together the nations chief executives, top managers and boards of directors, youd find a remarkably consistent commonality, now and in generations past: A disproportionate number of them are graduates of Harvard Business School. An M.B.A. from H.B.S., as those in the know refer to it, has long been the ultimate Good Housekeeping stamp of approval on any resume. Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, Jeffrey Immelt of General Electric, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook and the list goes on and on. The number of Fortune 500 chief executives who earned their business degrees at Harvard is three times the total from the next most popular business school, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. It is hard to overstate the schools influence on corporate America. Thats why a new, exhaustive history of the school is causing a stir before it is even out. The book, The Golden Passport, by the veteran business journalist Duff McDonald, is a richly reported indictment of the school as a leading reason that corporate America is disdained by much of the country. The Harvard Business School became (and remains) so intoxicated with its own importance that it blithely assumed away one of the most important questions it could ask, which was whether the capitalist system it was uniquely positioned to help improve was designed properly for the long term, Mr. McDonald writes in the book, to be released in two weeks. The red flags were all there, waiting for somebody to stitch them together. An increasing number of Wells Fargo customers were opening accounts and neglecting to make a deposit. By 2012, only 80 percent of newly opened accounts were being funded, compared with 90 percent in 2005, according to a report that a panel of the banks board members issued on Monday after an investigation into the banks sham accounts scandal. Some of those unfunded accounts were ginned up by bankers without customers permission to goose their sales numbers. As early as 2004, a manager with Wells Fargos internal investigations group noted a sharp increase in sales gaming cases instances in which bankers tinkered with customer accounts, moving money into and out of them, to and from authorized accounts. Employees feel they cannot make sales goals without gaming the system, said the manager, whose name was not provided in the report. The incentive to cheat is based on the fear of losing their jobs. Shares in Whole Foods jumped by nearly 10 percent after the public announcement to the commission to close at $34.17 on Monday. In recent years, Whole Foods has been criticized by Wall Street for its poor share price performance, and passed over by shoppers who have turned to competitors including Costco, Safeway and even Walmart, all of which are now offering similar products for lower prices. It went from being a darling of Wall Street and so culturally important that it was parodied on The Simpsons, said Joe Dobrow, the author of Natural Prophets, a book about the history of health foods. In one Simpsons episode, Homer walks into a store that looks like Whole Foods and complains about the lack of sodas and chips and the high cost of the products. Whats happened in the natural food sector is that the world has changed very fast around it, Mr. Dobrow said. Now there isnt very much that is unique to Whole Foods anymore. In November, it announced plans to get rid of a dual chief executive structure and reported an annual drop in comparable sales for the first time since 2009. Walter Robb stepped down as co-chief executive in December but remains on the board of directors. Whole Foods Market is not a well-run, modern day retailer at the moment, analysts at Credit Suisse wrote in a note to investors on Monday, responding to Janas investment in the company. Our biggest criticism is that management has not moved fast enough to reposition the company, the analysts said, adding that there was still a lot of uncertainty around the succession of top management. They noted that one way to fix some of the problems would be for Whole Foods to sell itself. A tall man in a pinstriped suit sat alone on Monday on an orange-painted wooden bench, eating a yogurt-and-granola parfait handed to him by a staff member, but attracting little attention from the other passengers on the Staten Island Ferry. The tourists taking pictures of the Statue of Liberty paid little heed until reporters informed them of the mans identity: Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City. A few ferry riders then asked to take photographs with the mayor, which he agreed to do. Such was the modest beginning of Mayor de Blasios Staten Island Week, five days of conducting the citys business from the borough. It was a chance, he said, to get in touch with Staten Islanders, a group that often complains of being neglected by a Manhattan-centric government and one that voted for Donald Trump for president. After disembarking from the John F. Kennedy (the oldest of the ferry systems vessels), Mr. de Blasio walked with long strides to Borough Hall in St. George, where he entered Room 125, his City Hall for the week. Later he walked across the hall to Room 122, decorated with blue wallpaper and sepia photographs of past borough presidents, for a meeting with his commissioners, whom he regularly confers with in Manhattan. Still, the approbation for the bill was not universal. After weeks of hard-fought negotiations, the resulting bill left some who had sought the law disappointed in its many subsections and stipulations. This is real simple, and we made it complicated, State Senator Kevin S. Parker of Brooklyn said, adding that this pattern of behavior was all too common in Albany. The result, he said during remarks on the floor during the bills passage on Sunday night, was a law that was half a loaf. Mr. Parker, a Democrat, added: All we had to simply do is say that were going to take 16- and 17-year-olds and were going to treat them just like 15-year-olds. Thats all we had to do, right? All we had to do. And we messed that up. Some sections of the new law are simple: 16- and 17-year-olds accused of misdemeanors who make up the vast majority of juveniles arrested would have their cases handled in Family Court. The picture gets more complicated, however, with nonviolent felony cases, which would still start in Criminal Court, albeit in a new section known as youth part and in front of judges trained in Family Court law. Once there, the 16- and 17-year-olds would be automatically sent to Family Court after 30 days unless a district attorney proved extraordinary circumstances, a term that is undefined in the law. Those arrested in violent felony cases which make up about 1 percent of the more than 20,000 juvenile charges in New York per year could also be diverted from youth part if they pass a three-part test: whether the victim sustained significant physical injury, whether the accused used a weapon, and whether the perpetrator engaged in criminal sexual conduct. A weekend of official explanations for President Trumps airstrikes on a Syrian air base has only deepened the confusion over his intentions, next steps and the legal basis for his unilateral use of force in the middle of that complicated, intractable civil war. The administration will have to do better than this. Presidents have an obligation to explain military operations to the American people and the world, and, when possible, most begin making their argument well before they take action. In Mr. Trumps case, the need for clarity is even greater given that the attack on Thursday, in retaliation for President Bashar al-Assads use of chemical weapons on civilians, was a reversal of the position he campaigned on just months ago. Now that Mr. Trump has ordered a strike against the Assad government, how far is he prepared to go to end the six-year-old civil war? What does the operation say about his willingness to use force beyond Syria? One troublesome answer may be found in Secretary of State Rex Tillersons comments on Monday. We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world, he said on a trip to a World War II memorial in Italy, a trip aimed at rallying allies and Russia around a strategy to end the Syrian war. SAN FRANCISCO Fingerprint sensors have turned modern smartphones into miracles of convenience. A touch of a finger unlocks the phone no password required. With services like Apple Pay or Android Pay, a fingerprint can buy a bag of groceries, a new laptop or even a $1 million vintage Aston Martin. And pressing a finger inside a banking app allows a user to pay bills or transfer thousands of dollars. While such wizardry is convenient, it has also left a gaping security hole. New findings published Monday by researchers at New York University and Michigan State University suggest that smartphones can easily be fooled by fake fingerprints digitally composed of many common features found in human prints. In computer simulations, the researchers from the universities were able to develop a set of artificial MasterPrints that could match real prints similar to those used by phones as much as 65 percent of the time. The researchers did not test their approach with real phones, and other security experts said the match rate would be significantly lower in real-life conditions. Still, the findings raise troubling questions about the effectiveness of fingerprint security on smartphones. Its almost certainly not as worrisome as presented, but its almost certainly pretty darn bad, said Andy Adler, a professor of systems and computer engineering at Carleton University in Canada, who studies biometric security systems. If all I want to do is take your phone and use your Apple Pay to buy stuff, if I can get into 1 in 10 phones, thats not bad odds. Several years ago, federal agents traveled to Moscow to enlist the help of their Russian counterparts in arresting one of the worlds most pernicious email spammers. They were rebuffed, a former American law enforcement official who was there said. The spammer, who used the pseudonym Peter Severa, was protected, probably by the Russian government, and could not be touched. The agents went home and waited for their target to make a mistake. Last week he did, traveling for vacation to Barcelona, Spain, where the agents who had been following him for years were ready. Early last Friday, Spanish police burst into the hotel room where the spammer was staying with his family and arrested him. Simultaneously, cybersecurity operatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and several private companies took down his online network of tens of thousands of virus-infected computers. On Monday, the Department of Justice unsealed court papers accusing the spammer, whose real name is Peter Levashov, of wire fraud and unauthorized interception of electronic communications. Mr. Levashov, 36, is expected to be extradited to the United States. Officials said Mr. Levashovs arrest and the takedown of his network ended a vast criminal enterprise. For more than a decade, Mr. Levashov used his online empire to enrich himself and help others drain bank accounts and commit stock fraud, officials said. He has flooded computers with millions of spam email messages advertising counterfeit pharmaceuticals and remedies for erectile dysfunction, using subject lines like No amorous failure risk. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to reduce deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for certain low-income consumers. The cost-sharing subsidies, which total $7 billion a year, compensate insurers for these discounts. Seven million people selecting marketplace plans for 2017 qualified for cost-sharing subsidies. They account for 58 percent of the people signing up for plans this year. House Republicans sued the Obama administration, saying that the spending in the absence of an appropriations law was unconstitutional. A Federal District Court judge agreed and ordered a halt to the payments, but suspended her order to allow the government to appeal. Democrats and consumer advocates say millions of people could lose coverage if the Trump White House reversed the position of the Obama administration, dropped the appeal and accepted the argument of House Republicans. The Trump administration has not clearly indicated its position on the appeal. Asked to clarify, the Department of Health and Human Services sent a written statement on Monday: The precedent is that while the lawsuit is being litigated, the cost-sharing subsidies will be funded. It would be fair for you to report that there has been no policy change in the current administration. Its offer to continue paying subsidies could help stabilize insurance markets and provide some assurance to health plans that are deciding now whether to participate in 2018. But the lawsuit still hovers like a menacing cloud over the insurance marketplaces. Many insurers, having lost hundreds of millions of dollars on Affordable Care Act business, have withdrawn or announced plans to do so, creating concern that people in some counties might not have health plan options next year. WICHITA, Kan. Congressional Republicans knew next years election could prove difficult, as the first midterm campaigns for the party controlling the White House often are. But not until a few days ago would they have believed that their immediate challenge would be hanging onto a House seat they have controlled for over two decades, in a district that President Trump carried by 27 points and that just happens to be home to that most nefarious of liberal boogeyman: Koch Industries. Yet that is exactly what has happened since last week, when the House Republican campaign committee received a poll showing its candidate here in south-central Kansas winning by only single digits. Rushing to save the seat vacated by Mike Pompeo, now the C.I.A. director, before a special election on Tuesday, Republicans blasted out automated phone calls from Mr. Trump, hastily crafted an ad attacking the Democratic candidate on abortion, and dispatched Senator Ted Cruz of Texas for an 11th-hour rally on Monday afternoon with their own nominee. Our enemy right now is complacency, Mr. Cruz told a lightly filled airplane hangar, picking up where he left off from his own presidential campaign last year. But this time, he was on a Republican rescue mission for Ron Estes, a House candidate. As Kansas state treasurer, the mild-mannered Mr. Estes, an engineer by trade, has twice been on a statewide ballot. And he was initially not expected to have any difficulty keeping the seat in Republican hands in the race against a political newcomer, James Thompson, a Wichita civil rights lawyer. WASHINGTON President Trumps order for a cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base, which has alienated some of his supporters, has fueled speculation of hidden motives and hoaxes. Websites like Infowars are calling the chemical attack that drew United States fire a false flag operation, while liberal blogs have pointed to the strike as evidence of wag the dog diversion tactics. Ian Bremmer, the founder of the Eurasia group, said he was not buying any of them and pointed out that the theories conveniently fit preconceived notions and motives, but dont really make sense. Heres an assessment of some of them. Information Clearing House argued that President Bashar al-Assad had no reason to use chemical weapons With the Syrian Army and its allies in a comfortable position in Syria, making advances across the country, and recovering lost points in rural Hama, why would they now resort to using chemical weapons in Nusra Front-occupied Idlib? It is a very simple question with no clear answer. THIS IS MISLEADING. There are numerous reasons Mr. Assads forces would conduct a chemical attack. WASHINGTON The Trump administration will temporarily stop publication of a weekly report spotlighting cities and counties that fail to cooperate with federal immigration officials, people briefed on the change said, after several jurisdictions questioned the accuracy of the data. The report, required by an executive order signed by President Trump in January, shows localities that decline requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to hold undocumented immigrants so they can be picked up later for deportation. ICE officials say the lack of cooperation endangers Americans, but cities and counties named in the reports say they are an attempt to force them to collaborate with the immigration authorities. Sarah Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for ICE, confirmed the temporary suspension of the report, saying it would allow the agency to analyze and refine its reporting methodologies. The Trump Organization announced on Monday, for the second time in four days, that it had settled a lawsuit with a celebrity chef who had backed out of plans to build a restaurant in its luxury hotel in Washington. The chefs Geoffrey Zakarian, whose settlement was announced Monday, and Jose Andres, whose announcement came Friday had both abandoned plans to set up shop in the Trump International Hotel, in Washingtons Old Post Office building, shortly after President Trump began his campaign in 2015. In response, Mr. Trump sued both. In backing off his plans to open a restaurant in the hotel, Mr. Zakarian, who noted that more than half his team was Hispanic, said in a written statement that Mr. Trumps comments about some Mexican immigrants being rapists and drug dealers do not in any way align with my personal core values. Mr. Andres had said earlier that Mr. Trumps comments made it impossible for my company and I to move forward. Mr. Andres, who was born in Spain, became an American citizen in 2013. Mr. Zakarian, who was born in the United States, has Armenian and Polish ancestry. CAIRO Grief and rage flowed through Egypts Christian community on Monday as tear-streaked mourners buried the victims of the coordinated Palm Sunday church bombings that killed 45 people in two cities. The cabinet declared that a state of emergency was in effect. A newspaper was pulled off newsstands after it criticized the government. It was just the reaction the Islamic State wanted. Routed from its stronghold on the coast of Libya, besieged in Iraq and wilting under intense pressure in Syria, the militant extremist group urgently needs to find a new battleground where it can start to proclaim victory again. The devastating suicide attacks on Sunday in the heart of the Middle Easts largest Christian community suggested it has found a solution: the cities of mainland Egypt. Since December, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has signaled its intent to wage a sectarian war in Egypt by slaughtering Christians in their homes, businesses and places of worship. Several factors lie behind the vicious campaign, experts say: a desire to weaken Egypts authoritarian leader, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi; a need to gain a foothold in Egypt beyond the remote Sinai deserts where jihadists have been battling the army for years; and a desire to foment a vicious sectarian conflict that would tear at Egypts delicate social fabric and destabilize the state. Theres a significant propaganda factor to this, said Mokhtar Awad, a militancy expert at George Washington University. ISIS wants to show that it can attack one of the Arab worlds most populous countries. The first new Boeing commercial jetliner to be purchased by Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution could be delivered in a month a year earlier than expected an Iranian news agency reported on Monday. The jetliner, a Boeing 777, originally ordered by Turkish Airlines but now apparently no longer wanted because of a slowdown in air travel to Turkey, will be used to start fulfilling an 80-plane order between Boeing and Iran finalized in December, according to the Mehr News Agency, which quoted a deputy minister of roads and urban planning, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan. If confirmed, the delivery would have at least the symbolic effect of expediting the most significant business transaction between Iran and the United States since relations were severed 37 years ago. A Boeing spokesman, Tim D. Neale, declined to comment on the news agency report, which comes as the aerospace company is dealing with a strong backlash in Washington over its plans to sell planes to Iran. Turkish Airlines officials did not return emailed messages seeking comment. WASHINGTON In the days since President Trump ordered a cruise missile strike against Syria in retaliation for a chemical attack on civilians, his administration has spoken with multiple voices as it seeks to explain its evolving policy. But one voice has not been heard from: that of Mr. Trump himself. As various officials have described it, the United States will intervene only when chemical weapons are used or any time innocents are killed. It will push for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria or pursue that only after defeating the Islamic State. Americas national interest in Syria is to fight terrorism. Or to ease the humanitarian crisis there. Or to restore stability. The latest mixed messages were sent on Monday in both Washington and Europe. Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson during a stop in Italy on his way to Moscow for a potentially tense visit, given Russian anger at last weeks missile strike outlined a dramatically interventionist approach. We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world, he said. Hours later, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, said at his daily briefing that Mr. Trump would act against Syria not just if it resorted to chemical weapons, like the sarin nerve agent reportedly used last week, but also when it used conventional munitions. If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you will see a response from this president, Mr. Spicer said. Julian Stanczak, a Polish-born American abstract painter who rose to fame as a leading figure of the popular Op Art movement but slipped into obscurity when its reputation flagged, died on March 25 at his home in Seven Hills, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. He was 88. His death was confirmed by his New York gallery, Mitchell-Innes & Nash. His family said that he had died after a short illness. Mr. Stanczak was a firmly optimistic artist, despite injuries in a Soviet labor camp during World War II that rendered his dominant right arm useless. He helped name the art movement to which he was linked in 1964 when his New York debut at the Martha Jackson Gallery was titled Julian Stanczak: Optical Paintings. Reviewing that exhibition in Arts magazine, Donald Judd, then an emerging Minimalist sculptor, coined the phrase Op Art in a sardonic closing sentence, linking the upsurge in perceptual abstraction, as it was sometimes called, to the Museum of Modern Arts plans to survey the trend. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. What do you think of it? What else are you interested in? Let us know: thearts@nytimes.com. Remembering Rickles Last week Jimmy Kimmel paid an emotional tribute to the comic Don Rickles, who died on Thursday. On Monday nights Jimmy Kimmel Live! he welcomed Bob Saget and John Stamos, the former stars of Full House and close friends of Mr. Rickles, to remember the famed insult comedian. His way of roasting was like nobody elses; it was not done meanspirited, Mr. Saget said. He did it out of love. But then when he was mean to you, it was like a privilege. It was like a gift. When Chanda Yadav was appointed on the Board of Directors of Delight Marketing Pvt Ltd, she had furnished 1, Anne Marg, the address of CM house as her official address. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Upping the ante on RJD Chief Lalu Prasad and his family over acquiring benami property in Patna of Rs 500 crore, BJP leader Sushil Modi has made a fresh disclosure on Lalu's daughter Chanda Yadav. Modi has alleged that Chanda Yadav was not only a on the Board of Director Delight Marketing Pvt Ltd but she also used the address of "Chief Minister's House" in the officials documents of the company. advertisement "It's not only Tejaswi and Tej Pratap who are involved in acquiring benami property but when Chanda Yadav was appointed on the Board of Directors of Delight Marketing Pvt Ltd, she furnished 1, Anne Marg, the address of CM house as her official address", alleged Sushil Modi, BJP leader. It may be noted that according to documents presented by Modi, Chanda was appointed as Director in Delight Marketing on June 26, 2014. However, Lalu has denied that none of her daughters were ever on the Director's list of the company. "None of my daughters, whether Chanda or Ragini have been Director of Delight Marketing ever. It's a wrong allegation leveled on my family members to tarnish their image", countered Lalu Prasad. Interestingly, the documents which was shown by Modi of Chanda being appointed Director of Delight Marketing was signed by Tejaswi and Tej Pratap, who were already directors in this company. This document was later submitted to the Registrar of Companies. It may be noted that Delight Marketing which was owned by Lalu's close aide and RJD Rajya Sabha MP, Prem Gupta had purchased the controversial two acres land in Patna on which the mall is being constructed. After 2014, Prem Gupta and his family transferred all the shares of the company in name of Lalu's family members who are now the sole owners of the company. None in Lalu's family has become chief minister since 2005 after Rabri Devi lost power. --- ENDS --- LOCKING UP OUR OWN Crime and Punishment in Black America By James Forman Jr. Illustrated. 306 pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. $27. James Forman Jr. divides his superb and shattering first book, Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America, into two parts: Origins and Consequences. But the temptation is to scribble in, before Consequences, a modifier: Unforeseen. That is truly what this book is about, and what makes it tragic to the bone: How people, acting with the finest of intentions and the largest of hearts, could create a problem even more grievous than the one they were trying to solve. Image Credit... Patricia Wall/The New York Times Forman opens with a story from 1995, when, as a public defender in Washington, he unsuccessfully tried to keep a 15-year-old out of a juvenile detention center with a grim reputation. Looking around the courtroom, he realized that everyone associated with the case was African-American: the judge, the prosecutor, the bailiff. The arresting officer was black, as was the citys police chief, its mayor and the majority of the city council that had written the stringent gun and drug laws his client had violated. Image Prince the raunchy sylph eventually became a Jehovahs Witness who would bowdlerize his more explicit material in concert. The effect was hardly virginal; now he just seemed like a raunchy sylph winking about it. Even early on, though, he expressed a kind of worship of, if not chasteness, then at least a not-just-bedroom variety of commitment. (I never wanted to be your weekend lover, he sings in Purple Rain. I only wanted to be some kind of friend.) He sold sex without menace, Greenman writes, and even his debauched early songs were innocently filthy, all tugged-at zippers and hastily rearranged sweaters. They could have come from some alternate-universe production of Grease. Greenman, on Twitter and elsewhere, can be very funny. He can also be punny. His penchant for wordplay sometimes gets the best of him in this book. (The album was alive on arrival, he writes of Princes self-titled 1979 release.) But hes focused and convincing where it counts, on the music, as when he writes of When Doves Cry: The horizon line of the song wasnt straight, and psychological tension was everywhere. There was a kind of astringency in the vocals, a choked-up or choked-off quality; it was a song that said plenty but was still mostly filled with what could not be said. Prince made a dizzying number of aesthetic decisions that the less flighty among his fans would have found unforgivably cheesy in anyone else. Perfectly typical was the list of images he sent to guide the cover-art designer for the album Around the World in a Day. They included a tearful old woman, a clown juggling the earth, and a ladder ascending to heaven. When he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol for a time, newspapers were at a loss to reproduce it in print. So Prince mailed out hundreds of floppy disks containing the symbol in multiple resolutions and variations. During his contractual struggles with Warner Brothers, he wrote the word slave on his face. The reason he could remain so respected and beloved despite all his goofiness and more serious distractions is a pure tautology: because he was Prince. The stingy Prince that Greenman recounts in a chapter titled Call the Law the stern copyright enforcer who targeted YouTube clips and other unauthorized uses of his work, to no real effect other than to alienate fans was difficult to square with the performer who gave of himself so generously in concert and could even be self-deprecatingly funny. (In the 2010 song Laydown, the diminutive star referred to himself as the purple Yoda.) Perhaps his attempts to control the internet were a way of overcompensating for having felt powerless against Warner Brothers. Greenmans book is not a straight path, but it doesnt aspire to be. It mostly succeeds on its own terms, as an overview of the talent, the excesses, the adoration. But with the loss of Prince still fresh, the compelling question lingers as to whether he can be written about in a way thats fully and traditionally satisfying; whether anyone 20, 30 or 40 years from now will be able to look back and write a life of him that some review might call magisterial. Certainly hes worthy of one. But the mystery of him the prodigious one given to him seemingly at birth, and the coy one manufactured by him might be too profound a barrier. For now we have discerning, still-grieving fans like Greenman, shining light where they can. The devastating suicide attacks in Egypt on Sunday suggested that the Islamic State had found a new battleground. Experts say that Cairos greatest challenge lies in reforming the security agencies, which have ruthlessly stifled dissent but have had limited success in penetrating new Islamist cells. _____ Do you have the next big story? If you think you have a credible tip, our newsroom wants to hear from you. Click here for secure, encrypted ways to share messages and materials with our journalists. In todays 360 video, learn how proposed budget cuts to the cleanup effort could affect a larger ecosystem. London, an international capital in limbo. Our reporter visited the city she called home for 15 years and found that, after the Brexit referendum, the British capitals future is far from certain. New York Times wins three Pulitzers. The Times collected journalisms highest honor for breaking news photography, feature writing and international reporting. Here are the winning pieces. The New York Daily News and ProPublica shared the prize for public service. Partisan writing you shouldnt miss. Why its O.K. that President Trump has no doctrine, and the case for liberals to defend the Second Amendment. We scoured the internet for political writing from the right and the left that you might not have seen. Can this man revive the Yankees? Brian Cashman has led the team to four World Series titles as its general manager, but it has appeared in only one playoff game in the past four seasons. (Promisingly, the Yankees won Mondays home opener.) Best of late-night TV. On Mondays Jimmy Kimmel Live, John Stamos and Bob Saget, the former stars of Full House, remembered Don Rickles, the famed insult comedian who died last week. 1. The White House accused Russia of trying to cover up the Syrian governments role in last weeks chemical attack. Officials released a declassified report that details the American intelligence on the attack, asserting that the Syrian government was responsible and accusing Russia of using disinformation to obscure the facts. Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson struck a harsh tone at a Group of 7 meeting in Italy, saying that President Bashar al-Assads reign was coming to an end. Now hes in Moscow, above, for what will be a closely watched meeting with Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov. The White House spokesman, Sean Spicer, caused outrage when he contrasted Mr. Assad with Hitler and said incorrectly that Hitler didnt use chemical weapons. Some of his Daily Show commentary about the president has been scathing, and personal. The day after the election, Mr. Minhaj described his anxieties about Mr. Trumps policies toward Muslims, saying that his mother had asked if she would be allowed back into the United States after a foreign trip to visit relatives. The fact that I cant tell her yes with 100 percent certainty is heartbreaking, Mr. Minhaj said. That is my mom, and I need her back home. Because I love her and she owes me $300. In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Minhaj called it a tremendous honor to be a part of such a historic event even though the president has chosen not to attend this year. SAD! Now more than ever, it is vital that we honor the First Amendment and the freedom of the press, Mr. Minhaj added. Officials at the correspondents group say the dinner will be focused on promoting journalism, with the famed writers Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward to present awards for White House reporting. Scholarships funded by the association will also be at the forefront. Alec Baldwin, who caricatures Mr. Trump on Saturday Night Live, called Mr. Mason at one point to talk about the possibility of an appearance, according to two people familiar with the discussion. The actor would likely have appeared as himself, and not in his Trump guise, the people said, in part because Saturday Night Live would have to give permission for Mr. Baldwin to reprise the impression outside of the show. But some journalists in the Correspondents Association felt that awarding a featured spot to Mr. Baldwin could inject a blunt partisanship into the proceedings. Would network news anchors, for instance, feel comfortable laughing along with Mr. Baldwin live on camera if no one from the White House administration was there to reciprocate? United Airlines on Tuesday faced a spiraling crisis from videos showing a passenger being dragged off an airplane, as consumers threatened a boycott of the airline and lawmakers called for an investigation. By the afternoon, after more than a day of changing statements, Uniteds chief executive apologized and promised a review of its policies. No one should ever be mistreated this way, Oscar Munoz, the companys chief executive, said in a statement. But the videos had already cast an unwelcome light not just on United, but on the airline industrys efforts to maximize profits. As companies push to make money from baggage fees, seat reservations and other services that were once included with a basic plane ticket, the videos added the potential for an even harsher indignity: sitting in a seat with a ticket and getting physically ejected from the airplane. The passenger, Dr. David Dao, was identified late Tuesday in a statement from his lawyers, who said he was undergoing treatment in a Chicago-area hospital for his injuries. Some videos had showed him with a bloody face. A group of Chinese political activists filed a lawsuit in federal court against Yahoo on Tuesday, saying the company failed to properly oversee a $17 million fund it created a decade ago to help Chinese writers, democracy advocates and human rights lawyers persecuted for standing up to the countrys government. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court in Washington, accuses Yahoo senior executives of turning a blind eye as the funds manager, Harry Wu, illegally spent millions of dollars on high-end real estate, inflated staff salaries and a museum documenting the history of forced labor camps in China. According to the lawsuit, Mr. Wu, a veteran Chinese dissident who died last April, spent less than 4 percent of the money on humanitarian aid. The lawsuit demands that Yahoo replenish the trust, which has been significantly depleted. Suzanne Philion, a spokeswoman for Yahoo, declined to comment, saying the company does not discuss litigation. Thats not to say it is without the zing of surprise. Where would you wear these? wondered Hannah, the girlfriend I enlisted to vet the Saks womens assortment with me. She had in her hands a pair of Miu Miu slides, upholstered in a faux fuzz the color of Cookie Monster and topped with imitation pearls ($950). They were never meant for the touch of the subway platform. But they would be perfect for a spin around Saks, which resembles a clean, well-lighted spacecraft, with rack after rack of clothes in the round. The shoe salon radiates concentrically outward from an enormous bubbled chandelier, and the designer fashion section orbits around a central bank of escalators and a kicky display that changes monthly. (It is currently given over to the exuberant designs of Rosie Assoulin, a riot of deck chairs on a packing-peanut beach. Summer share!) The point of this Saks is bounty: the way the racks groan with clothes, one leading seamlessly, and slightly disorientingly, to the next. For many journalists, there is life after The New York Times. Few, however, have led a life as strange and rich as Mark Hawthorne did. Better known as the beloved and respected Hate Man of Berkeley, Calif., Mr. Hawthorne died this month at 80 after living for decades on the streets of Berkeley and in Peoples Park. His death became international news when it was reported by The Guardian. An admission of hate, for Mr. Hawthorne, was a necessary prelude to love. He had come to believe that dialogue, understanding or trust between people can only be established if they admit what separates them, or, as he put it, why they hate each other, Michael T. Kaufman, Mr. Hawthornes best friend at The Times, wrote about their reunion, in 1990, after more than two decades apart. Negative emotions, he insisted, are true and real, while positive feelings are intrinsically hypocritical. As we sat together, once more enjoying conversation and argument, Mr. Kaufman recalled, students would occasionally approach and good-naturedly call out, I hate you. My friend would reply, I hate you, too. As the afternoon wore on, he told me he had to go join a group of conga players, tapping out his rhythms on an upturned plastic pail. I think everybody has their own rhythm, and I have found mine, he said. Actually, he seemed to have found that rhythm many years earlier. As a news clerk in 1962, Mr. Hawthorne wrote breezy, counterintuitive articles for the Sunday Real Estate section. Like much else in the newspaper those days, the section was dutiful and dull. But there were always a few sparkling facets. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) Engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubros construction arm has secured its single-biggest order worth Rs 5,250 crore from Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation for power transmission and network expansion. "The power transmission and distribution business of L&T Construction has won its single-largest order from its esteemed customer Kahramaa, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation for its ongoing Qatar electricity transmission and network expansion," the company said in a BSE filing today. advertisement The contract involves engineering, procurement and construction of 30 new gas insulated sub-stations of varying voltage levels of 220 kv, 132 kv, and 66 kv, it added. It also includes 132 kv and 66 kv underground cables for approximately 560 km under various definitive and framework packages. L&T Deputy MD and President, S N Subrahmanyan, who is set to take over as MD soon, said: "We have been associated with Kahramaa for over a decade, which has put in place a programme well ahead of the times to provide sufficient power and water for the Sultanate." The project work is spread across the state of Qatar, including both freshly developed as well as already developed areas. The project is scheduled for completion in phases in 15-32 months. The L&T stock was down 0.51 per cent at Rs 1,677.90 on BSE today. PTI PRJ ARD --- ENDS --- On a blustery day in SoHo, Jessica Hong entered the Hat Shop on Thompson Street with a determined look on her face. Im traveling to Japan and Korea, Ms. Hong said as she shook off the rain and took off her puffy coat. I need a hat. She picked up a $300 maroon felt number with a very wide brim. Linda Pagan, the owner, did her thing: Are you going to wear this coat? I think this hat is wrong for this kind of coat, she said. This hat is hard to travel with. Youll need a hat box. You are going to look crazy. Ms. Pagan handed Ms. Hong a smaller topper, waterproof and foldable, with a $110 price tag. This is perfect for you, she said. According to Ms. Kalman, the officer told her during the meeting, Im sorry, Im getting pressure because my title is deportation officer my job is to deport people. Immigration agency officials insist that they still focus on the deportation of people who were convicted of crimes and pose a threat to their community. However, Rachael Yong Yow, a spokeswoman for the ICE New York field office, said, All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States. That is what should be happening, said Daniel Stein, the president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which supports stricter immigration controls. If you are here and removable, you are living on borrowed time, he said. Mr. Stein said prosecutorial discretion, generally used in criminal law, should not technically cover ICE check-ins since ICE was not giving people legal status to stay in the country at these meetings, only granting them an administrative delay. Cheryl R. David, a New York immigration lawyer, sees the chances for such a delay dwindling. Theres definitely been a culture shift, she said. ICE is more inclined to enforce, from their perspective, the immigration law, Ms. David added, and if you have a final order of removal, youre going to have to try and rectify it. Or else, she said, deportation will follow. There seems to be no consistent policy from one field office to the next, lawyers say. The immigration agency was not immediately able to provide statistics regarding those who were detained or deported as a result of their check-ins, or how the frequency of those check-ins had changed. Its not enough that the Trump administration has no coherent plan to rebuild the country as the president repeatedly promised to do. It is also working against useful projects that would actually improve the nations needy roads, bridges and other public works. Two derailments at New Yorks Penn Station have just provided a vivid reminder of Americas broken infrastructure. Though minor, the derailments disrupted regional and long-distance trains for several days and delayed hundreds of thousands of commuters in the countrys largest metropolitan region. They also gave President Trump an ideal opportunity to deliver on his promise of a $1 trillion infrastructure plan. He did not do so. Nor has his administration committed to providing money for projects that have long been on the drawing boards, including one meant to ease travel through Penn Station by building a new rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York. The clearest sign of the hollowness of Mr. Trumps trillion-dollar promise came in the budget released last month. It ends subsidies for Amtraks long-distance train service, which will hurt the most in the parts of the country Mr. Trump promised to help. It gets rid of popular federal transportation programs like Tiger grants that provide money to cities and states to repair and expand highways, bridges and transit systems. Many of the programs Mr. Trump would cut were authorized by Congress with large bipartisan majorities. These cuts will have real consequences. Even if Congress disregards the budget and appropriates funds, the administration can use its discretionary power to withhold all or part of them. For example, the budget blueprint says the Department of Transportation will decide not to award new federal grants authorized by Congress for transit programs, but instead ask localities that use and benefit from these localized projects to foot the bill. Lets assume for now that this support for a carbon tax is genuine. (More about this later.) In the age of Trump, this is a gift that shouldnt be wasted. Could it actually happen? Im not proposing to bet on its success, but a carbon tax plan written by the Climate Leadership Council, a group of prominent Republicans that includes George Shultz, James A. Baker III and Henry Paulson, has at least started a debate. The group proposes taxing each ton of carbon emissions and then returning all the money to Americans by sending everyone a quarterly dividend check. The organization claims that if the plan is fully implemented, it would alone achieve twice the reductions of all Obama-era regulations combined, allowing America to meet the high end of its obligations under the Paris climate accord. So the plan would scrap the Clean Power Plan and other regulations it says would become superfluous. Because it reduces regulation and relies on the market, the idea intrigues conservatives. Nearly half of voters for President Trump support a carbon tax that reduces other taxes by an equal amount. Ted Halstead, the founder of the leadership council, said that in a few weeks the group will announce its initial corporate supporters, including energy companies. Dozens of editorial pages, liberal and conservative, have endorsed the proposal. As for the White House, last week an official said the administration was considering a carbon tax but hours later, a spokeswoman said it wasnt. Tillerson and Ivanka Trump want the United States to stay in the Paris climate accords. If that happens, the administration must have a way to meet Americas obligations. Oil companies that support a carbon tax do so because they are also gas companies, and carbon pricing would help gas replace coal in the power generation business. They also know that the likely alternative is a patchwork of regulations. If you accept that society is going to deal with this problem, you want approaches you can understand, manage and work, said Nicolette Bartlett, director of carbon pricing at CDP, a global organization through which companies disclose their environmental impacts. Market-based approaches give you this. To the Editor: Re Man Is Dragged From a Full Jet, Stirring a Furor (front page, April 11): My question to United Airlines is this: After seeing footage of a bloodied man being dragged against his will off your plane for refusing to surrender his seat to accommodate your employees, how can any United passenger ever again feel that in a genuine crisis or air disaster United personnel will act in the best interest of passenger safety? LISA CALEF, PORTLAND, ORE. To the Editor: The OHare incident reveals the true corporate attitude of many airlines, especially United, toward their passengers: contempt. Cram your customers into tight spaces, throw a bag of peanuts at them, and nickel-and-dime them for everything that used to be included in the fare while leaving your own employees holding the bag on this deplorable service. Older people still remember what a delightful experience it was to fly. After that, the airline industry was deregulated. For our benefit. Sure. To the Editor: Re Michigan Is Forced to Do Right by Flint (editorial, April 3): The lawsuit settlement does not begin to undo the full extent of the damage created by the state. It is neither final nor complete. The contaminated water damaged not only the pipes that deliver water to homes, businesses and schools, but also plumbing and fixtures within the structures. Property values were destroyed. The settlement fails to address the extensive physical and emotional injuries incurred by the exposure to the contaminated water and the trauma of the continuing plight of living with contaminated water as a result of misrepresentations by state and federal officials to the citizens of Flint regarding the toxicity of the water. Nor does the settlement address the fact that the residents of Flint were denied equal protection of the law. The settlement to replace pipes going forward is an important step, but it does not provide for either known injuries from the poisoned water or injuries that may become apparent only in the future. Numerous class actions and individual lawsuits have been filed to address these issues. This week Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is making his first diplomatic visit to Russia, where hes likely to press Moscow on its handling of Syria, which he has called incompetent. But Mr. Tillerson should recognize that Russias involvement in Syria is only one example of the increasingly active, and disruptive, role that President Vladimir Putin has been playing on the world stage since Donald Trumps inauguration. In January, Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, most likely at the direction of Mr. Putin, ramped up their fight against Ukrainian government forces, bringing the violence there to its highest level in a year and a half. This is a direct challenge to the Minsk Agreements signed by Russia and Ukraine, engineered by Germany and France, and backed by the United States designed to freeze the war and pave the way to restoring peace. In mid-February, Mr. Putin decreed that Russia would recognize the passports issued by two separatist governments in eastern Ukraine. Later that month, in a move approved or at least condoned by Mr. Putin, the breakaway territory of Luhansk in Ukraine announced that the Russian ruble would become its official currency. Both actions are examples of the creeping assertion of Russian sovereignty over parts of eastern Ukraine. Thomas Groomes op-ed, To Win Again, Democrats Must Stop Being the Abortion Party, argued that Hillary Clinton lost the Catholic vote in part because of her stance on abortion, which did not do enough to address moral and religious concerns. If Democrats want to regain the Catholic vote, they must treat abortion as a moral issue, work for its continued reduction and articulate a more nuanced message than, We support Roe v. Wade, Groome wrote. More than 2,500 people commented on the op-ed. Groome and Steven Krueger, president of Catholic Democrats, are addressing some of the most popular comments and questions, edited for length and clarity: RBC: Many of these Catholics somehow voted for Barack Obama, many of whom did it twice, and he was pro-choice. Hillary Clinton didnt lose because of abortion. She lost because her campaign was horrible. Groome: Barack Obama was more nuanced than simply saying, I strongly support Roe v. Wade. He talked about it as a moral issue not just legal and highlighted his commitment to social services and put them in place, most effectively through his Affordable Care Act to help reduce the incidence of abortion. From 2008 to 2014, the rate dropped by 25 percent. All Democratic candidates could take a similar position and then highlight it on the campaign trail. Krueger: Yes, her loss was attributable to other factors as well. However, we estimate that Secretary Clinton received about 1.5 million fewer votes from Catholics than President Obama did in 2012 a continuation of a long-term trend of Catholics (mostly white) defecting to the GOP since 2009. She used more one-sided rhetoric than he did at the expense of the moral dimension of this issue as well as proposing to repeal the Hyde Amendment. This cost her with many Catholic voters and in all likelihood did not win one additional vote for her. Two years after nine churchgoers were shot to death in a horrific gun spree in Charleston, S.C., tone-deaf state lawmakers are considering a measure to allow South Carolina residents to carry guns openly or concealed without the need to obtain a state weapons permit. Representative Bill Crosby supports gun rights but felt obliged to warn the House as it approved the measure last week that all it does is it makes these good ol boys who like to have guns strapped to their hips not conceal them. The Republican-controlled House passed the dangerous laissez-faire gun bill only after limiting debate. They thereby demeaned lawmakers First Amendment rights in the rush to further enshrine the Second Amendment. The carnage at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church against African-American worshipers was carried out by a racist gunman who was able to buy his weapon because of shoddy enforcement of gun control laws. Yet, rather than focus on tighter gun safety, lawmakers yielded once more to the National Rifle Associations agenda to freely arm the public and enrich the gun industry. The toll the proliferation of guns takes on the nation was made clear yet again on Monday when gunfire broke out at an elementary school in San Bernardino, Calif., leaving two adults and one child dead and one student critically injured. The defense ministers enthusiasm was heightened by a White House celebration of Greek Independence Day last month, at which President Trump declared: I love the Greeks. Oh, do I love the Greeks. Dont forget, I come from New York. Thats all I see is Greeks. They are all over the place. He noted that his really terrific and hardworking chief of staff Reince Priebus is one of the top Greeks in the country and mentioned other members of his staff with Greek roots. This love of freedom and democracy has formed a lasting bond between our two countries, Mr. Trump said and, regarding the 1821 war of liberation against the Ottoman Turks, added: American President James Monroe and the great American statesman Daniel Webster both supported Greeces struggle for independence. And it was a tough, tough struggle, you know that. Television footage showed Mr. Kammenos beaming and stretching out a hand to greet the president. He also met with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to discuss the two countries alliance and common challenges, including migration, terrorism and instability in the Balkans, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Secretary Mattis thanked Greece for being one of five NATO allies that invests 2 percent of its G.D.P. on defense, and expressed his appreciation to Minister Kammenos for hosting U.S. forces at Souda Bay, Crete, a Pentagon spokesman, Capt. Jeff Davis, said. Regarding Souda Bay, Secretary Mattis noted that maybe there was some need to expand it a little bit. Well certainly look at that. He added: There is a clear and present danger on the southern flank, which puts Greece as a front line nation in dealing with terrorism, and concluded, weve got to stick together. The United States and Greece have been friends since the founding of the modern Greek state (when a combined British-French-Russian fleet defeated an Ottoman-Egyptian fleet at the Battle of Navarino in 1827). fter World War II, American support kept the Greek economy functioning and prevented a Communist victory. But United States officials were far more worried about supporting the dysfunctional Greek state than Mr. Kammenoss recent comments would suggest. In February 1947, the chief of the American Economic Mission to Greece, Ambassador Paul A. Porter, in a dispatch to the under secretary of state for economic affairs, William L. Clayton, expressed fear that unless the Greek government took necessary measures, it would face financial collapse. Ambassador Porter commented on a widespread belief that our job really is to bail out Greece irrespective of the cost. He concluded: We will probably recommend in our final report that American financial aid be conditioned upon effective efforts of the Greek government to carry out minimum economic reforms such as foreign exchange controls and adequate taxation, and we will recommend that these efforts be judged by several Americans sent to Greece for that purpose. Not only should this lead to a wiser expenditure of the money, but it will give the Greek government the added benefit of absolutely necessary reforms, which it is apparently incapable of imposing itself. Greeces partners in the European Union, which have provided 226.4 billion euros of the 258.2 billion disbursed so far in the bailout programs, would see the irony in Mr. Porters observations. They would also note that this time around, the United States has contributed only through its participation in the International Monetary Fund, which has lent Greece 31.8 billion euros. Whereas European officials have tried to keep Greece in the eurozone and have pressed successive governments to implement reforms, Mr. Trump, unlike Mr. Obama, has said Greece would be better off leaving the euro. Challenges and dangers in Greeces region and the rest of the world are growing, especially as fellow NATO ally and traditional rival Turkey grows increasingly unpredictable. However simplistic the slogans that get leaders elected from Athens to Washington the nations may quickly see the need, as Secretary Mattis put it, to stick together. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has announced an amnesty scheme for corporate groups who owe the state-run MP State Industries Development Corporation (MPSIDC) for loans it extended under the Inter Corporate Deposit Scheme (ICDS). When Uma Bharti became MP chief minister in 2003, the ICDS scam was the stick she used to beat the previous Digvijaya Singh government with. More than a decade later, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has announced an amnesty scheme for corporate groups who owe the state-run MP State Industries Development Corporation (MPSIDC) for loans it extended under the Inter Corporate Deposit Scheme (ICDS). Between 1995 and 2001, MPSIDC borrowed money from banks and forwarded them as loans under ICDS to 42 corporate groups. Not only did this violate a 1994 cabinet decision forbidding MPSIDC from disbursing loans, public servants also flouted rules in sanctioning such loans. Amounting to about Rs 400 crore then, the dues have now gone up to Rs 4,000 crore, including interest. At least 20 of these corporates have cases by the state's Economic Offences Wing pending against them. advertisement Under the new amnesty scheme announced by the state industries department last month, corporate defaulters have been asked to submit proposals to repay the MPSIDC. If approved, it would ensure no further criminal action is to be taken against them, provided dues were repaid before June 30, 2017. "It seems unfair that criminal action should be taken against someone willing to repay the money," says state industries minister Rajendra Shukla. "We have corrected that. A one-time settlement scheme was brought in earlier too, we have just fixed a final date to it." He was referring to the earlier 2004 settlement scheme, under which 18 companies had paid up money. Facing criticism that immunity from criminal action would weaken ongoing cases, Shukla said, "There'll be no impact on cases already in court." The 18 corporate groups that had repaid dues under the earlier scheme had not been given immunity. "Why won't they ask for it now," asks an EOW officer. In the legal opinion he had given at the time, then state advocate general R.N. Singh had said settlement and criminal action were separate things. The state government seems to have overlooked that piece of advice. A handy political tool, the EOW was tasked with trying to find out if former CM Digvijaya Singh and former industries ministers Rajendra Singh and Narendra Nahata had a role in the ICDS scam. Chouhan used it to cut short former chief secretary Vijay Singh's tenure. A number of senior civil servants too have been booked in the case. Yet, 13 years on, there has been no conviction. The state government seems more keen on settling matters rather than raking them up. Could the ICDS scam have outlived its political utility. --- ENDS --- Of all the tropes about the Vietnam War, one stands out far above the rest in American memory: It was the baby boomers war. By the spring of 1967, most American soldiers being killed in combat had been born in 1946 or after. To understand the war, we have to understand what motivated that generation of Americans not only to protest but also to fight, and later to seek some sort of closure. Wars are far easier to initiate than to conclude. And for those who serve, the memories endure long after the fighting stops. At his inauguration in January 1961, President John Kennedy said, Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. Those born after the boomers may find it quaint to read about a president asking citizens to sacrifice, to pay any price. Nonetheless, their parents or grandparents, the baby boomers, will most likely remember a brief shining moment of energized promise and of unfulfilled dreams. It was the echo of that call, just a few years later, that motivated hundreds of thousands of young men to enlist for Vietnam, for the chance to ensure the success of liberty and many others back home, at least at the outset, to support the fighting. In the first place, public thinkers now conceive of themselves as legislative advisers. Drezner writes a book called The Ideas Industry, but he is really writing about public policy. When George Orwell, Simone de Beauvoir or even Ralph Waldo Emerson were writing, they were hoping to radically change society, but nobody would confuse them with policy wonks. Second, there was a greater sense then than now, I think, that the very nature of society was up for grabs. Call it a vestige from Marxism or maybe Christianity, but there was a sense that the current fallen order was fragile and that a more just mode of living was out there to be imagined. Finally, intellectual life was just seen as more central to progress. Intellectuals establish the criteria by which things are measured and goals are set. Intellectuals create the frameworks within which politicians operate. How can you have a plan unless you are given a theory? Intellectuals create the age. Doing that sort of work meant leading the sort of exceptional life that allowed you to emerge from the cave to see truth squarely and to be fully committed to the cause. Creating a just society was the same thing as transforming yourself into a moral person. For George Orwell, this meant being with the poor and the oppressed living as a homeless tramp in England, a dishwasher in Paris, getting shot through the neck as a soldier in the Spanish Civil War. It meant teaching himself how to turn political writing into an art form. For the Italian Communist Antonio Gramsci, it meant committing fully to ideas, even if it meant years in prison, and doing the rigorous mental work required for a life of hard thinking. He was as left as can be, but he believed in traditional school curriculums, the tough grinding of learning Latin and Greek grammar. It will be necessary to resist the tendency to render easy that which cannot become easy without being distorted, he wrote. To the Editor: Re Lets Go for a Win on Opioids (column, April 4): I agree with David Brookss rationale for a comprehensive nationwide response to the opioid epidemic, which is devastating American communities. For too long weve attacked this problem piecemeal, with tragic results. Many cities and states, including New York City and New Jersey, are tackling the problem with their own initiatives. But all too often, the blueprint for action is incomplete and stymied by inadequate funding. One unspoken problem is that efforts routinely focus on emergency response to overdose and short-term, medication-based treatment to stabilize the patient, and ignore behavioral therapies that must accompany them to provide the best guarantee for long-term recovery. The addict who is resuscitated from an overdose is still in mortal danger unless he or she is given follow-up therapy. To the great distress of Ukraines Jewish community, these cases remain unsolved. In fact, law enforcement here often denies that a problem exists. On Jan. 1, a torch-lit march through central Kiev in honor of the O.U.N. leader Stepan Bandera rang out with cries of Jews out. Seven hundred police officers were mobilized to provide security to the march, and yet the next day when journalists asked the police to comment on the chants, officers denied hearing anything anti-Semitic. The climate of anti-Semitism can be found elsewhere, too. Jewish cemeteries and synagogues have been vandalized. Nadia Savchenko, a member of Parliament who became a national hero when she was a pilot captured by Russia, recently appeared on television and delivered an anti-Semitic screed. I have nothing against Jews, she said. I do not like kikes. She added: Jews possess 80 percent of the power when they only account for 2 percent of the population. During my more than 20 years as a Ukrainian Jewish activist, I have proudly witnessed our Jewish community revive itself after 70 years of Soviet persecution. Even though many Jews have emigrated to Israel and the West, we remain a vibrant community of approximately 300,000. We love and support our country, and many Jews participated in the Euromaidan revolution. The majority of Ukrainian Jews share the desire to build a modern, democratic state, free from the endemic corruption we have lived with for the past 25 years. We support Ukraines choice to integrate with the West which is why the Kremlins attempt to turn Ukraines Jews against Kiev during Moscows takeover of Crimea failed and we have no more desire to live under Russian domination than other citizens. Ukrainian Jews are not the only ones concerned about this anti-Semitism. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., the Simon Wiesenthal Center and 70 leading scholars have condemned the 2015 memory law. In his speech during commemorations last year at Babi Yar, President Reuven Rivlin of Israel told the Ukrainian Parliament that many collaborators to the crimes were Ukrainians. And among them, the fighters of the O.U.N. who mocked the Jews, killed them and in many cases handed them over to the Germans particularly distinguished themselves. Poland, too, has been rankled by the glorification of the O.U.N. In February, the leader of Polands ruling party reportedly told President Poroshenko that Ukraine wont make it to Europe with Bandera. Sadly, the movement to rehabilitate the O.U.N. continues. This raises the concern that some Ukrainian politicians may be willing to sacrifice our countrys relations with the United States, Poland and Israel not to mention the safety of Jewish citizens here in exchange for peaceful coexistence with the far right. Over the past three years, the United States and Europe have provided Ukraine invaluable support in its quest for independence. Part of that support was intended to help ensure that Kiev does not stray from the goal of becoming a Western nation. For example, newspapers, including this one, and politicians, like former Vice President Joe Biden, have not been shy about condemning corruption. Western leaders must also stress that the glorification of organizations like O.U.N.-U.P.A. remains incompatible with Western values. We need the United States and the worlds help for the memory of the slaughtered Jews and for Ukraines future. On todays episode: We talk with Ben Hubbard, who covers the Middle East and is based in Beirut, Lebanon, about how a twist of fate put Mr. Assad in charge of a violent Syrian government. Why Mr. Trump is rejecting Mr. Assad, even as he embraces another Middle Eastern leader with a reputation for brutality. Rukmini Callimachi discusses the situation in Egypt, where two suicide bombings at churches on Palm Sunday killed 44 people. Background reading: Mr. Hubbards profile of Mr. Assad from 2016. Reporting by Magdy Samaan and Declan Walsh on the attacks in Egypt, for which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility. Tune in, and tell us what you think. Email us at thedaily@nytimes.com. Tweet me at @mikiebarb. And if that isnt enough, we can even text. How do I listen? If you dont see an audio player on this page or to subscribe to The Daily for free, follow the instructions below. Los Angeles conjures a particular image in the popular imagination: sprawling and spacious, dotted with single-family homes and riddled with traffic. But Angelenos have signaled that they are ready for a change, most recently by voting down a measure that would have slowed new construction for two years. The effort to slow construction, known as Measure S or the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative, was financed mainly by Michael Weinstein, the president of the Hollywood-based AIDS Health Foundation. Mr. Weinsteins office is on the 21st floor of a Hollywood skyscraper with a view of the hills, next to the future site of two 28-story mixed-use residential towers. Mr. Weinstein said that kind of development was out of character for the neighborhood. He and other supporters of Measure S have contended that new luxury developments can contribute to rising rents. The Measure S campaign pitted slow-growth factions, who called the citys planning process corrupt, against a coalition of public officials, developers, labor groups and others who conceded that while reform was necessary, so was growth. I wouldnt sell something I couldnt live with myself, says Michael Bargo, a furniture dealer and interior designer who works, in the very literal sense, from home a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn Heights where nearly everything is for sale. If youre living with things that you love, it will always work together beautifully. The 34-year-old Bargo began his career decorating, which he still does from time to time, but now prefers more detail-oriented work: finding singular objects and sharing them with others whether its an ormolu desk or a Noguchi lamp. I have to have an emotional reaction, he says of his choices. This, and not any more formal philosophy, shapes his eclectic vision. Bargo started about five years ago, by casually sourcing items for friends and clients, but now this intuitive style has become a way of life. It is a hyper-personal approach to dealing furniture, both in terms of the goods and their environs, and one that his clients which include aesthetes like Marc Jacobs, Mirabelle Marden and Billy Cotton trust and appreciate for its warmth. In the age of 1st Dibs, One Kings Lane and other curated platforms, the real thing guided by one sensibility is seductive. And when so much shopping can be done remotely, its hard not to enjoy time spent at the apartment, which is available to visit by appointment, and filled, at the moment, with walls of bookshelves, a leopard-print sofa inspired by a couch Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge had in their Marrakesh home and the smell of Astier de Villattes Opera incense. Theres also a pink Thomas Barger pressed-paper chair and a Joseph Algieri coffee table made of textured, corporate-style ceiling tiles. Really, everywhere ones eye lands, there are surprises: Switch on a lamp with an unassuming beige paper Brooks Williams shade and an erotic line drawing adorning it is illuminated from Bemelmans to Cocteau in an instant. Nearby, a waist-high green classical pillar is actually a petite side table made of powder-coated metal by the artist Samuel Farrier. Just before the Rei Kawakubo exhibition opens at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute next month, Barneys New York will unveil its own tribute to the designer with a window installation pairing archival Comme des Garcons looks with the sculptures of the late Louise Bourgeois. Viewed alongside each other, the works reveal a striking coherence of form. Take Bourgeoiss Echo I, a sweatshirt turned inside out, stretched vertically from sleeve to sleeve and cast in bronze, next to a drapey Kawakubo knit wool dress with elongated sleeves bundled at the wrists. The works also share a preoccupation with psychology and the passing of time. For Bourgeois, clothes were tokens of the past, a place she often returned to; accompanying the installation will be a recording of Bourgeois, in her 90s, singing songs from her girlhood. Meanwhile, Dennis Freedman, the former Barneys creative director who conceived of the project, talks of the profundity of watching the Comme des Garcons fall 2015 show: They narrowed the runway so the models had to turn and face each other before going their separate ways, he says. One fashion writer quoted Dickens, saying Life is made of ever so many partings welded together. KATE GUADAGNINO In Jewelry: Antique-Inspired Brooches On Balenciagas spring runway, grandma-chic brooches were paired with bright, neon-hued, 80s-looking tops to great effect. To get the playful and surprisingly sophisticated look, consider a yellow-gold-and-pearl design. Ever wonder how spam emails find their way into your inbox? It turns out they may be part of a possible criminal enterprise that has its roots in Russia. At least that is what federal officials claimed on Monday, when they unsealed an indictment against Peter Levashov, a Russian who is suspected of being a mastermind behind an enormous spam email operation that officials said also committed stock fraud and drained peoples bank accounts, writes Michael Schwirtz, a reporter for The New York Times. The first trouble came in September 2011, when she sought help from the police after her boyfriend, Robert S. Hennings III, broke down the front door and punched her in the face, according to the suit. She called the police again on three other occasions through February 2012, after Mr. Hennings hit, choked, shoved, and argued with her, it says. Mr. Hennings was arrested but released after at least three of those encounters, and in August 2012 he was sentenced to 200 days in prison after pleading guilty to domestic assault, court records show. He died in 2013, the lawsuit says. According to the lawsuit, Ms. Watsons occupancy permit, a document required of city residents, was revoked in April 2012 under the nuisance policy. The citys reasons were that a high magnitude of harm had been caused in the four incidents, and it said police officers had been put at risk from the peace disturbance and domestic violence. Unable to live in Maplewod, Ms. Watson left and moved multiple times to try to find permanent housing, and was homeless for a while, the lawsuit said. At one point, while she was living in St. Louis, Mr. Henning tracked her down and stabbed her in the legs, the lawsuit says. Ms. Watsons housing subsidy was returned to her in July 2016, according to the lawsuit. She is now living in St. Louis County, Ms. Park said. The lawsuit, which was published on the A.C.L.U. website, said the Maplewood nuisance policy discriminates against domestic violence victims by punishing them for calling the police. Blaming and stereotyping of domestic violence survivors, the majority of whom are women, as responsible for the violence perpetrated against them is a form of discrimination that many women domestic violence survivors experience when seeking police and emergency assistance, the lawsuit said. Ms. Park said similar nuisance ordinances in other American cities have disproportionately worked against domestic violence victims. Some, like a 2015 case in Surprise, Ariz., and a 2013 case in Norristown, Pa., led to landlords threatening to evict renters who called the police in domestic violence cases because they faced nuisance fines. Devendra Fadnavis was furious. Usually unflappable, the Maharashtra chief minister reportedly upbraided state marketing minister Subhash Deshmukh and rural development minister Pankaja Munde at a state cabinet meeting on March 30. Not mincing words, Fadnavis advised them to show quicker results in governance. Fadnavis's evident impatience to project a government that delivers is causing speculation about the BJP's plans in Maharashtra, where it uneasily shares power with an adversarial Shiv Sena. The agenda at the hastily convened meeting of the BJP's core committee on March 23 may offer some pointers. Insiders say two issues were discussed threadbare. One, a list of 29 MLAs-15 of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and 14 from the Congress-who could be encouraged to defect and join the BJP, which is 22 MLAs short of a simple majority in the state assembly. The other, the feasibility of holding mid-term elections to end the BJP's dependence on other parties. advertisement "Twenty-one of the 29 names in the list can win by-elections if they contest on BJP tickets," claims a BJP minister, adding that a recent survey commissioned by the party's central leadership has indicated that the BJP would win 200 of the 288 assembly constituencies if it opts for mid-term polls. The NCP's Dhananjay Munde, leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, says the BJP is bullying opponents with talk of mid-term polls. Fadnavis, meanwhile, is projecting his government's achievements in infrastructure, agriculture and attracting investment. Besides a media blitzkrieg, he plans to tap social media to reach out to people across Maharashtra. For the moment, the only issue that could foil Fadnavis's plans seems to be the waiver of farm loans. The Opposition has been crying itself hoarse with this demand ever since the BJP promised a similar waiver to the farmers of Uttar Pradesh during the recent assembly elections in the state. The demand from Maharashtra is yet to find takers in Delhi. Analysts predict the BJP will observe the situation until July and the arrival of the monsoon. If the rains are normal, they expect Fadnavis to make some major announcements in the monsoon session of the assembly, in preparation for early polls, which could be held as early as November alongside elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. --- ENDS --- Maybe it was the ski masks that did it. Or it could have been the steely look in the eyes of Lake County, Fla., Sheriff Peyton Grinnell as he deadpanned: We are coming for you. Run. Perhaps it was the muted background music: an eerie melody that wouldnt have been out of place in a Batman movie. In the end, what could have been an unremarkable public service announcement about opioid abuse in Lake County spread widely on the internet, garnering about a million views on the Facebook page of the sheriffs office, where it was first posted Friday. It sparked concerns about police militarization and drew more than a few comparisons to Islamic State recruitment videos. But many residents of Lake County seemed to respond positively, thanking the sheriff for drawing attention to a deadly scourge that has altered communities beyond recognition. WASHINGTON Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives used a secret, off-the-books bank account to rent a $21,000 suite at a Nascar race, take a trip to Las Vegas and donate money to the school of one of the agents children, according to records and interviews. Agents also used the account to finance undercover operations around the country, despite laws prohibiting government officials from using private money to supplement their budgets, according to current and former government officials and others familiar with the account. The revelations highlight the lax oversight at the A.T.F. that allowed agents and informants to spend millions while avoiding the normal accounting process. The Justice Departments inspector general, who is investigating the secret account, criticized the A.T.F. recently for mismanagement and said the agency did not know how many informants it had or how much they were paid. The New York Times revealed the existence of the bank account in February, prompting an investigation by the House oversight committee. The Justice Department, which oversees the A.T.F., has denied any wrongdoing, and the department has refused to say whether the bureau continues to operate such secret accounts, which the government called management accounts. Representative Joe Wilson, the South Carolina Republican who gained a measure of infamy after shouting you lie at President Barack Obama during a joint session of Congress in 2009, had that memorable catchphrase hurled back at him by a group of his constituents at a town hall event on Monday. The audience at the event, held at Aiken Technical College in Graniteville, S.C., near the states western border, was antagonistic from the start, booing audibly as he stepped to the lectern. But the conflict between Mr. Wilson and the crowd came to a head toward the end of the 40-minute question-and-answer period, when he responded to a question about Mr. Obamas health care law. After he said the law was delaying and denying health services to its intended recipients, the rest of his comments were drowned out, as the crowd began to chant you lie in unison. The cheer continued for about 20 seconds. A video of the event was posted on Facebook Live. The political news cycle is fast, and keeping up can be overwhelming. Trying to find differing perspectives worth your time is even harder. Thats why we have scoured the internet for political writing from the right and left that you might not have seen. Has this series exposed you to new ideas? Tell us how. Email us at ourpicks@nytimes.com. From the Right WASHINGTON The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, set off an intense backlash on Tuesday when he suggested that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria was guilty of acts worse than Hitler and asserted that Hitler had not used chemical weapons, ignoring the use of gas chambers at concentration camps during the Holocaust. Mr. Spicer later apologized. During his daily briefing for reporters, Mr. Spicer was defending President Trumps decision to order a missile strike on Syria by trying to lend gravity to the actions of Mr. Assad. American officials accuse the Syrian president of using sarin gas, a lethal chemical weapon, in an attack on a rebel-held area of Idlib Province last week that killed dozens, many of them children. But in misconstruing the facts of the Holocaust Nazi Germanys brutally efficient, carefully orchestrated extermination of six million Jews and others Mr. Spicer instead drew a torrent of criticism and added to the perception that the Trump White House lacks sensitivity and has a tenuous grasp of history. We didnt use chemical weapons in World War II, Mr. Spicer said. You know, you had someone as despicable as Hitler who didnt even sink to using chemical weapons. Private schools that participate in McKay are not required to demonstrate that they use any type of specialized curriculum to meet disabled childrens needs. Still, many private schools say they go beyond the letter of the law in an effort to serve McKay students. Trina Angelone, chief executive of the Virtual Schools of Excellence, said the school employed state-certified special-education teachers in both its online program and its in-person learning center, even though this is not required by law. A disabled child going to a typical public school classroom is going to be with maybe 20 or 25 students, using textbooks, following along at the pace of the class, she said. In the virtual space, she said, the child is really getting one-on-one attention, moving at their own pace. But ultimately, there is no guarantee that students will receive the same level of disability services in private schools that they were entitled to in public school, a limitation that parents may not fully understand. The state affidavit that parents sign in order to receive a McKay scholarship, for example, says nothing about forfeiting IDEA rights and services. It also does not explain that parents are responsible for any additional fees a private school may charge on top of a voucher, which can range from $5,000 to $23,000. The Florida Department of Education website provides other materials with more detail on the legal implications of participating in McKay, but the documents are difficult to find and decipher. District-level documents are often similarly opaque. In a statement provided to The New York Times, the Port St. Lucie school district said, Every effort is made to fully inform parents of the difference between public school services and private school services when a child utilizes a McKay Scholarship. The Florida Department of Education declined requests for a phone interview. In an email, a department spokeswoman said there had been very few complaints on this issue. Robyn Rennick, a board member of the Coalition of McKay Scholarship Schools, said that private schools should be transparent with families about the services they provide but that the onus was on parents to ask detailed questions. This is a buyers market, she said. You go and say, I love your big building, but what is the expertise of your teachers? MANILA Philippine soldiers clashed Tuesday with members of a militant group known for beheading foreign hostages, leaving five rebels and four members of the security forces dead at a popular tourist destination in the central Philippines, the police and military said. Soldiers and the provincial police clashed with rebels on the island of Bohol, about 400 miles south of Manila, after spotting 10 armed members of Abu Sayyaf on three boats, the military said in a statement. The firefight came a day after the American and Australian Embassies warned their citizens against traveling to areas in the central Philippine region of Visayas, particularly the islands of Cebu and Bohol. They said they had received unsubstantiated yet credible information that terrorist groups may attempt to conduct kidnapping. The embassies did not identify the source of the information, nor did they cite Abu Sayyaf, a small group of Islamic militants that once was an affiliate of Al Qaeda but that has since pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, according to Philippine intelligence officials. In 1994, not long after the nuclear crisis first flared with North Korea, President Bill Clinton considered launching an attack on the Norths main nuclear complex in Yongbyon north of Pyongyang, the capital, according to the South Korean president at the time, Kim Young-sam. Panic swept through South Korea, with people stocking up on food. Mr. Kim later said he had personally protested to Mr. Clinton, persuading Washington to drop the plan to strike Yongbyon. After conducting five nuclear tests since 2006, North Korea is now widely believed to have several to as many as a dozen nuclear weapons, making a pre-emptive strike far riskier than it was in 1994. The North is also one of the worlds largest owners of chemical and biological weapons and apparently has no qualms in using them, as in the Feb. 13 assassination in Malaysia of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Malaysia has said Kim Jong-nam was killed by the nerve agent VX. Since Kim Jong-un took power five years ago, North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests and nearly 50 ballistic missile tests. And in his New Years Day speech, Mr. Kim said his country was in the final stage of preparing for its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Mr. Trump retorted at the time: It wont happen! Defense analysts said there were too many constraints for the United States to launch a pre-emptive strike against North Korea without expecting a major retaliation. North Korea keeps most of its crucial military assets in tunnels, and it remains unclear whether the United States and South Korean military planners have located them all. There are also 200,000 American civilians, as well as 28,500 United States troops, living in South Korea, and their neighborhoods would probably be among the first targets of any North Korean retaliation. On Tuesday, North Koreas main state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said that if the United States tried a pre-emptive strike, it would be as foolish as putting its own neck on the chopping block. In another sign that North Korea has no intention of forsaking nuclear arms, top North Korean officials in Pyongyang gathered on Tuesday, the fifth anniversary of Mr. Kims election as leader of the ruling Workers Party, and vowed to uphold his policy of strengthening the Norths nuclear arsenal, the state news media reported. Also on Tuesday, Ri Su-yong, an 82-year-old Politburo member, former foreign minister, and adviser and childhood mentor to Mr. Kim, was given another powerful position in Parliament. Last year, Mr. Ri told Chinese officials that North Koreas nuclear weapons expansion was permanent. With less than one month left before the presidential election in the South, how to deal with North Korea has become a dominant campaign issue. WASHINGTON President Trump, frustrated by Chinas inaction on North Korea, opened the door on Tuesday to concessions on his trade agenda with Beijing in exchange for greater Chinese support in pressuring Pyongyang. In doing so, he lashed together two sharply different issues in an already complex relationship. I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! Mr. Trump declared in a morning Twitter post. Minutes later, he warned: North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Mr. Trumps threat rattled nerves in South Korea, where the government reassured the public that the United States would not launch an attack without first consulting Seoul. But the American presidents suggestion of a grand bargain with Beijing crystallized his quandary in dealing with North Korea. Only China, with its vast economic leverage over its reclusive neighbor, can realistically force a change in the behavior of North Koreas dictator, Kim Jong-un. Yet despite its own rising frustration with Mr. Kim, the Chinese government has so far been unwilling to tighten the vise on him. BEIJING A day after the forced removal of a passenger from a United Airlines flight provoked a social media furor in the United States, a similar outcry followed in China, after state-run news outlets here described the man as being of Chinese descent. Long before the mans name was widely known, another passenger on the flight on Sunday said that he had complained of being singled out because he was Chinese. The passenger, Dr. David Dao, was later identified publicly by his lawyers. By Wednesday morning, the hashtag United forcibly removes passenger from plane was the most popular topic on Weibo, Chinas equivalent of Twitter, garnering more than 550 million views and more than 240,000 comments. Many Chinese social media users accused United of racism, while others called for a boycott. The outrage was furious and sustained over the passengers being dragged from his seat by security officers after refusing to be bumped from an overbooked flight from Chicago to Louisville, Ky. According to sources, Mamata will be visiting the dragon nation in the first week of June. "Our party has got invitation from the Chinese Communist Party", she said. By Indrajit Kundu: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has chosen China as her second foreign destination to woo investors for the state. According to sources, Mamata will be visiting the dragon nation in the first week of June. "Our party has got an invitation from the Chinese Communist Party. I have been invited several times. China is interested in investing in Bengal. We may visit the country for a few days in June", Banerjee told journalists after arriving in Kolkata from New Delhi this evening. HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Earlier in February, China had extended a formal invitation to Banerjee to visit the country in order to boost economic and cultural exchanges between the two nations. The Chinese Consul-general in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu had invited the chief minister for a visit to Jiangsu and Yunan provinces. A massive Chinese business delegation attended the annual Bengal Global Business Summit organised by the state government in Kolkata this year. Bengal has always had historic ties with China, given that a large expat Chinese community, which fled the country during Mao Zedong's cultural revolution, still resides in Kolkata. China has also shared close relations with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which has ruled the state for more than three decades. In fact, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury met Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in Beijing while attending the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) organised by the Communist Party of China in 2015. Earlier in 2006, Yechury led a CPI-M delegation to the neighbouring country to hold discussions with the Communist Party there. advertisement Also read | Mamata meets PM Modi, demands release of Rs 10,000 crore 'due to' West Bengal Also read | Mamata denying BJP permission to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti in Bengal: Rijiju --- ENDS --- Carme Chacon, Spains first female defense minister and a leading Socialist politician, was found dead on Sunday at her home in Madrid. She was 46. The Spanish Socialist Party confirmed her death, saying emergency services had discovered her body. An autopsy was to be performed. Ms. Chacon was known to have had a congenital heart condition. Until she narrowly lost a contest to lead the Socialist Party in 2012, Ms. Chacon was talked about as one day becoming Spains first female prime minister. She is most widely remembered as having become a symbol of Spains progress toward gender equality when she was named defense minister in what was the first female-dominated cabinet in Spanish politics, under Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. PARIS It began with an argument, the latest between Afghan and Kurdish migrants living side by side in a camp in northern France. This dispute, however, was different. After the fight Monday night came a fire that devastated the collection of wooden barracks on the outskirts of Grande-Synthe, near the port of Dunkirk, and forced 1,500 people to flee into the surrounding fields. By dawn, all that remained were a few makeshift homes among smoldering ashes and a plume of smoke. Observers say the law is part of a clampdown on free expression and an effort to create a powerful enemy in this case, Mr. Soros, a financier who embodies, for Mr. Orban, the influence of global capitalism. Almost the only success story the government has at home, I think, is that it built a fence and is not letting in migrants, said Andras Loke, president of the board of Transparency Internationals branch in Hungary, referring to Mr. Orbans hard-line policy on refugees. That is to say the people like it, and they say, Finally, somebody has done it. Mr. Orban has also embraced the term illiberal democracy, essentially arguing that majority rule is more important than minority rights. Here is a government that proclaims itself as illiberal, and if it says its illiberal, liberals are its natural enemy, especially if they are backed by funds the government has no control over, Mr. Loke said, referring to organizations funded by Mr. Soros. The Soros Foundation and later the Open Society Foundations, both founded by Mr. Soros, have financed projects in Hungary and the region in areas like health care and the study of democracy. Some of the organizations have found themselves unwillingly at the center of attention and framed as part of the opposition. In pointing out corruption and the erosion of freedoms under Mr. Orbans government, nongovernmental organizations are simply doing what they have always done, said Zsuzsanna Szelenyi, an opposition lawmaker who in the 1990s was a member of Fidesz, Mr. Orbans conservative political party. They dont see themselves as opposition or political organizations, but as civil rights defenders. LUCCA, Italy Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said on Tuesday that President Bashar al-Assads reign in Syria was coming to an end, and he warned that Russia was at risk of becoming irrelevant in the Middle East by continuing to support him. His remarks, five days after the United States carried out missile strikes in retaliation for a chemical attack for which Washington and its allies blamed Mr. Assad, illustrated the extent to which the Trump administration has, in just one week, substantially rethought its approach to Syrias future. Before the April 4 chemical attack, the administration appeared resigned to letting Mr. Assads government, backed by Russia and Iran, continue gaining the upper hand in a six-year-long civil war that has claimed at least 400,000 lives. Even after the attack, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, said the administration would look rather silly not acknowledging the political realities of Mr. Assads grip on power. But then, late last week, Mr. Trump declared that efforts to change Mr. Assads behavior had failed very dramatically. Mr. Tillerson said that Mr. Assad could no longer remain in office, and that steps are underway for an international effort to remove him. On Tuesday, Mr. Tillerson seemed close to embracing the very policy the Obama administration had decided on: that Mr. Assad would eventually have to cede power, though the timeline remains unclear. Ending a sexual abuse case in which Pope Francis intervened three years ago, a Spanish court on Tuesday cleared a parish priest in Granada who had been accused of molesting an altar boy. The court found no evidence that the Rev. Roman Martinez had sexually abused one of his former altar boys more than a decade ago. An investigation began after David Ramirez Castillo wrote to Pope Francis in 2014, detailing the sexual abuse that he said he and others suffered repeatedly when they were teenagers at the hands of a group of priests led by Father Martinez. Pope Francis phoned Mr. Ramirez Castillo and urged him to pursue his complaints. The pope also ordered a church investigation into the case, demanding complete transparency. STOCKHOLM The man accused of killing four people by steering a stolen beer truck into a crowd in Stockholm last week intends to plead guilty, his lawyer said in court on Tuesday. Appearing in public for the first time since his capture, the suspect, Rakhmat Akilov, entered Swedens largest secured courtroom, a subterranean space in Stockholm District Court that is only three-quarters of a mile from the pedestrian street where the authorities say he rammed the truck into a crowd shortly before 3 p.m. on Friday. He was arrested about five hours later in a suburb north of Stockholm. Accompanied by a lawyer and a Russian-language interpreter, Mr. Akilov was led into court by two police officers who gripped a black belt secured around his waist. Mr. Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek of medium build, was not handcuffed, and he wore a green fleece jacket wrapped around his head. The judge ordered him to remove it. Mr. Akilovs court-appointed lawyer, Johan Eriksson, said the defendant admits to having committed the terrorist crime and did not oppose his continued detention. But will they? The newfound freedom could also benefit both parties as Russian policy makers, clearly surprised that Mr. Trump ordered the cruise missile attack, will probably demand to know if the move was part of some larger change in United States policy toward Russia or just a one-off warning to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria not to launch another chemical attack on his countrys residents. I have a feeling that both Mr. Lavrov and Mr. Tillerson understand the situation well and, while the U.S. had to react to the chemical weapons attack, nobody wants to escalate this situation further, said Aleksei V. Malashenko, head of research at the Dialogue of Civilizations, a think tank. I think despite the heated atmosphere, they will try to achieve positive results. Ever since Mr. Trump was elected, the Kremlin has hoped that joint action against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria will be a positive starting point for future cooperation between Russia and the United States over the fate of Syria and beyond. However, the American cruise missile strike at minimum delays those plans, and leaves the United States and Russia with few points of agreement to build on at Wednesdays meeting between Mr. Tillerson and Mr. Lavrov in Moscow. It also seems to have put Russia more firmly in the Assad camp. In the event that Russia wants to lessen the rift with the United States, it would have to distance itself to some degree from Mr. Assad, the Kremlins key ally in the Middle East and outside the post-Soviet world. This would involve joint investigation of the chemical weapons attack, or the support of an international investigation and complete destruction of all chemical weapons, said Vladimir Frolov, a foreign affairs analyst and columnist for Republic.ru. A new complete cease-fire and the return to the Geneva agreement would then create a basis for a joint military center that would coordinate operations against the Islamic State and mutual actions in Raqqa. By Press Trust of India: Chennai, Apr 10 (PTI) The vice chancellor of Tamil Nadu MGR Medical University today moved the Madras High Court seeking annulment of the Income Tax Departments summons to her over a tax evasion probe. The IT Department had issued summonses yesterday to the Universitys Vice Chancellor Dr S Geethalakshmi besides Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar and actor politician Sarath Kumar, asking them to appear before it today to join the probe. advertisement Income Tax sleuths had conducted searches at her home on April 7 and completed the exercise on April 8. The raid at the premises of the VC was over allegations related to "some transfers." Dr Geethalakshmi said the IT summons seeking her appearance before the IT Department today was not as per Section 131 of the Income Tax Act as no mention was made about the IT Act proceedings in it and hence the summons was not valid legally. She further argued that as no probe was pending against her, the issue of summons under the above section amounted to "non-application of mind" by the IT officials. Claiming that the penal provisions can be invoked only in case of failure to produce documents required by the officials, she said nothing was mentioned about the production of documents required by the Department. Dr Geethalakshmi also said the searches had commenced at 6 AM on April 7 and was completed only at 6.30 PM the next day. The summons were issued on April 7 before the searches were completed and hence not valid under law, she said. PTI COR SS APR RAX --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) Electronics maker Micromax expects its consumer durables vertical to contribute 25 per cent of total revenue in three years and has roped in Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor as its brand ambassador. "Consumer electronics currently contributes about 10 per cent to the overall revenue and the company expects the consumer durables vertical to contribute up to 25 per cent of its revenues by the end of 2019," Micromax said in a statement. Micromax said it has invested close to Rs 200 crore to build channel and infrastructure capabilities and has a vision to be a complete consumer electronics brand in next three years. In a statement, Micromax said it has roped in Anil Kapoor as its new brand ambassador. Micromax said it will roll out a campaign with TVC, print, digital and OTH advertisements. advertisement In April 2016, Micromax diversified its product portfolio and announced shift to non-mobility segments as well. PTI SVK MR --- ENDS --- Mumbai Police formed a special team of officers to catch a fake Interpol agent- cum-diamond merchant Chetan Shah who created a fake ID card of Interpol agent 'just for a fun'. By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: 10 days after the Mumbai Police formed a special team of officers to catch a fake Interpol agent- cum-diamond merchant Chetan Shah, it succeeded in its mission on Monday night. Chetan Shah has been absconding since the day when the enforcement directorate (ED) conducted searches at Shah's three premises. Shah and his company Decent Diamonds Pvt Ltd., is under ED's probe for a bank loan default case of about Rs 356 crore. advertisement Pravin Padwal, DCP-Zone 3, Mumbai Police confirmed Shah's arrest to India Today. He said, "On Monday night Shah himself visited Worli police station with his advocate. We arrested him and interrogated for some hours seeking answers behind making fake identity card with a logo of Interpol. On Tuesday, he was produced in the court." Shah, today, got bail from the local court in a bailable offence of cheating case under section 419. On April 1, the ED officials had filed a cheating complaint at Worli police station against Shah for possessing fake Interpol agent under section 419 of IPC. During the searches, the agency had recovered a fake Interpol ID card from Shah's iPad. To search the diamond merchant, a special team was formed by Mumbai police, but got little success. In his interrogation, Shah admitted to police that he had created a fake ID card of Interpol agent "just for a fun with few friends". Shah claimed that he did not use the fake ID card for any activities. "We do not believe his version. His statement has been recorded. Our team would now go for a forensic analysis and also take the help of our cyber team," Padwal told India Today. Shah also told the police that, due to fear of arrest, he was hiding for last 10 days. Currently, the iPad is with the Enforcement Directorate team as one of the crucial evidences against Shah in the bank loan default case. This time the Mumbai police has added Section 66 in The Information Technology Act, 2000 to Shah's case. This section is related to cyber offences of dishonesty and fraudulence. "If required, we would again call Shah for further investigation," Padwal said. Also Read: Mumbai Police forms special team to catch fake Interpol agent --- ENDS --- Articles Listed By Date List By Popularity Search Title Date Between Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 and Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Page 1 of 2 First Last Back Next 2 View All (1 comments) SHARE City-States of Ancient Greece? Looking for bottom-up empowerment ideas, which keeping profits local in Public City Banks offers much potential for reinvestment. Public Banks, Worker-Community-Coops Public City Utilities of local services. . Sunday, November 28, 2021Looking for bottom-up empowerment ideas, which keeping profits local in Public City Banks offers much potential for reinvestment. Public Banks, Worker-Community-Coops Public City Utilities of local services. . (1 comments) SHARE Is the Year 2021 of 21st Century the 21 Days of Daniel 10? Trying to explain that these latter days are all to happen in the flesh this time too, all of it, even the wrath comes from people and the establishment beast that oppress the people. . Sunday, October 31, 2021Trying to explain that these latter days are all to happen in the flesh this time too, all of it, even the wrath comes from people and the establishment beast that oppress the people. . (2 comments) SHARE The Nightmare is Almost Over Article in "The News Letter" I publish and snail mail around for more hand-to-hand reading. Found 3 rare copies of mine at start of these Corona Blues Reckoning Times (hopefully to correct much), and think is positive message in these dark times written by John Smallman- coming my way 2010 October 17. Saturday, August 29, 2020Article in "The News Letter" I publish and snail mail around for more hand-to-hand reading. Found 3 rare copies of mine at start of these Corona Blues Reckoning Times (hopefully to correct much), and think is positive message in these dark times written by John Smallman- coming my way 2010 October 17. (1 comments) SHARE A Second Shot of Liberty and Freedom Looking around today I see a broken promised land. Yes, I believe the American Dream is what the good news is supposed to be about. Have thoughts from founders in this article and wondering what they would do today. Friday, June 5, 2020Looking around today I see a broken promised land. Yes, I believe the American Dream is what the good news is supposed to be about. Have thoughts from founders in this article and wondering what they would do today. (6 comments) SHARE Call To Vote For A World Court To Sit A call to the people of the world to call for a world court to sit, so as for nations to never wage war again. Feeding the people with year of jubilee party until we have a system where everyone has enough food and time for as much fun as they can have. With possible Bomb Bomb Iran seeming close, why not? Tuesday, October 1, 2019A call to the people of the world to call for a world court to sit, so as for nations to never wage war again. Feeding the people with year of jubilee party until we have a system where everyone has enough food and time for as much fun as they can have. With possible Bomb Bomb Iran seeming close, why not? (2 comments) SHARE Advice Quotes Needed Applied In These Times Some quotes of great importance to me that applied today could really help set us free. Monday, April 10, 2017Some quotes of great importance to me that applied today could really help set us free. (2 comments) SHARE Rocking Down Angels from the Promised Land Above A Rock and Rollish view about these latter days we are l;iving in, whether you believe it or not. It is all about fulfilling the peace, love and civil rights dreams of the 60's, so that 50 years from now they will not have to still be fighting for them. Sunday, February 12, 2017A Rock and Rollish view about these latter days we are l;iving in, whether you believe it or not. It is all about fulfilling the peace, love and civil rights dreams of the 60's, so that 50 years from now they will not have to still be fighting for them. (12 comments) SHARE If I Were the Blue Collar Prince of America. Ideas of things that I think need to be done to help make America an example of how things are done right, which will never come from a barrel of a gun. Bring all the troops home, starting to take a apart the nuclear bombs, public banks funding worker owned companies. Wednesday, October 21, 2015Ideas of things that I think need to be done to help make America an example of how things are done right, which will never come from a barrel of a gun. Bring all the troops home, starting to take a apart the nuclear bombs, public banks funding worker owned companies. (1 comments) SHARE How About America Holding a Year of Jubilee? Though the Bible is mentioned in here that doesn't make me very religious. A year of Jubilee just seems like the only way we will ever get down to the swing-town Steve Miller sang about back in the 70s, from our overworked life of then and now. Friday, January 3, 2014Though the Bible is mentioned in here that doesn't make me very religious. A year of Jubilee just seems like the only way we will ever get down to the swing-town Steve Miller sang about back in the 70s, from our overworked life of then and now. (14 comments) SHARE World Peace Becomes Possible A world at peace would have solved problems or be actively working on solving them. We are reminded what Rock and Roller Jackson Browne says, 'Every bullet is a mouthful of food stolen from a starving child.' Friday, February 3, 2012A world at peace would have solved problems or be actively working on solving them. We are reminded what Rock and Roller Jackson Browne says, 'Every bullet is a mouthful of food stolen from a starving child.' (6 comments) SHARE OWS is going to be what the people make it. Some issues about State Banks helping fund States. State Public Options for Healthcare. And Foreign Policy changes needed to rebuild this Broken Promised Land. Monday, January 2, 2012Some issues about State Banks helping fund States. State Public Options for Healthcare. And Foreign Policy changes needed to rebuild this Broken Promised Land. (9 comments) SHARE Thoughts Ron Paul's Monetary Plans, Foreign Policy, and Why I like how Ron Paul has solutions from thinking outside the box, of the left-right status quo which has us in this mess. Sunday, December 18, 2011I like how Ron Paul has solutions from thinking outside the box, of the left-right status quo which has us in this mess. (3 comments) SHARE Worker Ownership Cooperatives are Our way out of This Mess OWS has not yet the group consciousness to create Democratic Social organizations to serve the nation. But Vermont and Montana are creating citizen operated health insurance. And North Dakota has it's State Bank which bypasses Wall Street. And Ithaca, New York has a Democratic Social town bank. And the national media is Showing their shameful censorship for the whole country to recoil from. Thursday, October 13, 2011OWS has not yet the group consciousness to create Democratic Social organizations to serve the nation. But Vermont and Montana are creating citizen operated health insurance. And North Dakota has it's State Bank which bypasses Wall Street. And Ithaca, New York has a Democratic Social town bank. And the national media is Showing their shameful censorship for the whole country to recoil from. (1 comments) SHARE Occupy Wall Street Sieges New York City An article from a friend on Restore The Republic rtr.org, which describes well the feelings burning inside of mankind, with these protests springing up all over. Tuesday, October 11, 2011An article from a friend on Restore The Republic rtr.org, which describes well the feelings burning inside of mankind, with these protests springing up all over. (13 comments) SHARE The Time Is Now I've heard throughout most of my life that we were living in the latter days, which I prefer to call, 'The Dawning of a New Age.' Some told me that people all over the world can feel it in the air. Others have told me that its not going to happen the way we thought it was. You may not have ever heard that its all going to happen in the Flesh this time too. Wednesday, August 10, 2011I've heard throughout most of my life that we were living in the latter days, which I prefer to call, 'The Dawning of a New Age.' Some told me that people all over the world can feel it in the air. Others have told me that its not going to happen the way we thought it was. You may not have ever heard that its all going to happen in the Flesh this time too. (23 comments) SHARE There is a Time For All There is a time for every event under heaven. Even the stone throwing which I hate. It all has a way in this boiling melting pot called mother earth, of making us stronger for better times to come. The cream will rise to the top, with the peaceful solution it has to offer. Thursday, May 26, 2011There is a time for every event under heaven. Even the stone throwing which I hate. It all has a way in this boiling melting pot called mother earth, of making us stronger for better times to come. The cream will rise to the top, with the peaceful solution it has to offer. (1 comments) SHARE Why we Must Fix Health Care. Simpler Solutions for Health Care Monday, February 28, 2011Simpler Solutions for Health Care (3 comments) SHARE Evolution Number Nine A hard to believe story, which I guess only time will tell if its true or not about times like these latter days being all played out in the flesh this time too. Thursday, February 17, 2011A hard to believe story, which I guess only time will tell if its true or not about times like these latter days being all played out in the flesh this time too. (1 comments) SHARE An Awakening is Going to Come Trying to rekindle a hopeful message of times like these, which will refine us all for times to come. Thursday, January 20, 2011Trying to rekindle a hopeful message of times like these, which will refine us all for times to come. (3 comments) SHARE Listen to the Children Kids speaking their Minds. Sunday, August 2, 2009Kids speaking their Minds. Page 1 of 2 First Last Back Next 2 View All 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 Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "The world is seemingly full of disconnected crises, but Rob Kall begs to differ. An exceptional pattern thinker, he connects a range of contemporary challenges through a framework of bottom-up solutions in a world dominated by top-down thinking. Mining extensive interviews with thought leaders and exploring an eclectic mix of leading-edge ideas, Bottom-Up describes a variety of latent and emergent characteristics of an evolutionary paradigm shift that's changing the world. Whether your focus is in business, leadership, activism, or organizations, Kall offers a practical conceptual map and toolset to engage the planetary evolution taking place all around us. If you want to make a difference and need inspiration for how to participate in this global transformation, there is plenty in this book to draw from." Antonio Lopez, author of The Media Ecosystem Do not sit still like a United Airlines passenger in a video when an injustice is happening. If the other passengers had simply blocked the aisles, corporate thugs could not have dragged their fellow passenger away. If everyone on board had demanded that the airline offer higher compensation until someone volunteered to take a later flight, rather than being violently "reaccommodated," then it would have done so. Passivity in the face of injustice is the greatest danger we face. This fact does not mean I'm "blaming the victims." Of course United Airlines should be shamed, sued, boycotted, and compelled to reform or "reaccommodate" itself out of our lives entirely. So should the government that has deregulated the industry. So should every police department that has come to view the public as an enemy in a war. But one should expect corporations and their thugs to behave barbarically. They are designed to do so. One should expect corrupt governments that lack popular influence or control to abuse power. The question is whether people will sit back and take it, resist with some nonviolent skills, or disastrously resort to violence themselves. (I've not searched yet for proposals to arm airline passengers, because I really don't look forward to reading them.) The one nonviolent skill that seems to be advancing most encouragingly is videotaping and livestreaming. People have got that down. When police blatantly lie, such as by claiming to have carried a passenger who fell, rather than dragging a passenger whom they assaulted, video sets the record straight. But we often lack video of events far away that the U.S. military blatantly lies about, events locked out of sight that prison guards blatantly lie about, and events that happen over long periods -- such as the willful destruction of the earth's climate. When it comes to those injustices that can't be videotaped or sued in court, too often people fail to act entirely. This is extremely dangerous behavior. We're collectively being dragged down an airplane aisle, and we're failing to act. A U.S.-Saudi war is threatening millions with starvation in Yemen. In Syria, the U.S. is risking a nuclear confrontation with Russia. The Pentagon is considering attacking North Korea. Baby steps toward slowing down the destruction if the earth's climate are being reversed. Warrantless spying, lawless imprisonment, and presidential drone murder have been normalized. What can we do? We can educate and organize. We can confront Congress members while they're home. We can pass local resolutions. We can divest from horrible businesses. We can build global alliances. We can go and stand in the way of deportations, of weapons shipments, or of the broadcasting of corporate "news." We can put a stop to injustice wherever we see it and require diplomatic negotiation and resolution from dying domestic industries and killing foreign service officials alike. Civil disobedience is not something we should shy away from. Civil obedience should horrify us. There is an epidemic. marijuana (Image by keep_bitcoin_real) Details DMCA Many of the federal laws on drugs are unconstitutional. It's worth nothing as the marijuana legalization expands across the US, and as the movement against mass incarceration and prison reform pick up steam. But what of the constitutionality of the war on drugs, and on the legislation passed against drug use? This is of concern to the marijuana industry, particularly as Jeff Sessions is the new attorney general and he has expressed hatred of marijuana. According to the commerce clause, "The Commerce Clause refers to Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes." What does that mean? While Congress is free, according to this, to ban the importation of drugs from other countries or trade between states, Congress nor the federal government in general have authority over drugs locally produced, sold, and consumed. Gonzalez vs Raich was argued in 2005, and Gonzalez won. The Supreme Court had that time upheld the constitutionality of the federal controlled substance act. Raisch just wanted to be allowed to use medical marijuana. But there is no real reason why the entire federal controlled substance act cannot be challenged. As per the commerce clause, the federal government only has the power to regulate foreign commerce and interstate commerce, and any powers not enumerated by the constitution to the federal government belong to the states. So the spreading marijuana legalization will ultimately lead to a constitutional showdown. Why is this important? The US has only 5% of the world's population, but 22% of the prison population. No other country in the world has so many people locked up, and much of it is for non violent crimes. The war on drugs is a huge part of this ,and this war on drugs must be ended. ..." of Black men have been or will be imprisoned. All this because of an unconstitutional overreach of federal government power and authority. A raid has killed members of a frontier family. Ethan Edwards, portrayed by an angry, unforgiving John Wayne, was secretly in love with one of the victims. The quick burial in a nearby hillside cemetery is conducted by a family friend, the Reverend Captain Samuel Johnston Clayton (Ward Bond). Mourners sing, "Shall we gather at the river". The Reverend Captain Clayton, formerly of the Confederate army, stands beside three wooden crosses. He prays. Ethan Edwards abruptly ends the service with an angry shout, "Put an amen to it. There's no more time for praying." A posse prepares to ride out in search of the raiders. These moments below from John Ford's 1956 classic western film, The Searchers, begin a long search driven by the dark emotions of hatred and revenge. It is now Holy Week in America, a time when Christian America prays in its solemn assemblies. "Putting an amen" on those prayers, our angry new president has ordered his navy to fire 60 Tomahawk missiles at an airbase in Syria. It was from that base the U.S. claims Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched a deadly chemical attack on a rebel-held town in northern Syria. What prompted this first American attack on Assad's forces in the seven-year civil war? The official rationale: "Vital national security interests". Main stream media responsed to the Tomahawks by praising President Trump for finally acting "presidential". Even New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, a media champion for oppressed children worldwide, concluded the Tomahawk attack was the right thing to do: President Trump's air strikes against Syria were of dubious legality. They were hypocritical. They were impulsive. They may have had political motivations. They create new risks for the United States. But most of all, they were right. I'm deeply suspicious of Trump's policies and competence, but this is a case where he is right and Barack Obama was wrong. Indeed, many of us believe that Obama's worst foreign policy mistake was his passivity in Syria. Nicholas Kristof's newspaper, the Times, published a lead story on Friday, by Michael R. Gordon and Michael D. Shear, which described the American missile attack on Syria's Al Shayrat airfield. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). SYRIA CRISIS (Image by a.anis) Details DMCA On April 6, 2014, the Frederick News-Post published my op-ed in which I wrote about the previous lie by our government claiming that the Assad government had unleashed a chemical attack outside Damascus in August, 2013 killing 1,400 or more: "Kerry and Biden are the characters who vehemently proclaimed at the end of last August [2013] that Syria had to be bombed immediately because of their 'certainty' that the Syrian government had perpetrated the chemical attack of Aug. 21, 2013 near Damascus. "In December, 2013, Pulitzer prize winning Seymour Hersh exposed that the intelligence coming into the White House leading up to the chemical attack of Aug. 21 was that the 'rebels' were in possession of sarin gas. Hersh's piece was published in the London Review of Books, because no mainstream publication in America would touch it. "In January, Richard Lloyd, a former U.N. weapons inspector, and Theodore Postol, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published regarding the design of the rockets that delivered the sarin gas. Their conclusion: It would have been impossible for the rockets to have been fired from inside areas controlled by the Syrian government. "That is, the chemical attack of Aug. 21 that was the basis for Obama's decision to bomb Damascus came not from the Syrian government but from the (al Qaida-linked) 'rebels,' on whose behalf we continue to intervene in Syria." Hersh also exposed that British intelligence had obtained a sample of the sarin used in the Aug. 21 attack and analysis at Porton Down (England's Fort Detrick) demonstrated that the gas used didn't match the batches known to exist in the Syrian army's chemical weapons arsenal. On Dec. 10, 2015, Turkish Member of Parliament Eren Erdem testified about how Turkey's intelligence service helped deliver sarin precursors to the rebels in Syria. Later, Erdem stated that the sarin attack of Aug. 21 probably was carried out by Western-supported jihadists with sarin gas smuggled through Turkey. This confirmed Hersh's account. Hersh has also substantiated involvement of our close allies, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which have been supporting regime change in Syria continually since before 2011, partly for the sake of a desired pipeline from Qatar and Saudi Arabia across Syria to Turkey. The recent "attack" of April 4 has many of the hallmarks of the Aug. 2013 fraud, as well, for that matter, as the WMDs in Iraq fraud of 2002-2003. Within two days of the April 4 attack, we first have Tillerson before the strike and then Trump just after expressing certainty ("no doubt in our mind") that the Syrian government was responsible. This without presenting any verifiable evidence and despite the obvious fact that there had been no time for any kind of objective investigation. It is already coming out that CIA Director Mike Pompeo on April 6 (before the strikes) briefed President Trump that Assad was likely not responsible for the chemical attack. This explains why neither Pompeo nor any other intelligence official was in the photo released on April 7 of the 17 advisers gathered around Trump helping him to decide to strike. There is a very obvious, huge problem with pretending Assad did this. Why would he?? Assad's government is now prevailing against the rebels. There is only one way for the rebels to rebound -- that is with the U.S. attacking Assad. The deal after the August 2013 attack was that Syria would destroy all of its chemical weaponry. Why now would Assad risk openly violating that agreement by chemically attacking civilians (not combatants) in a town controlled by (al Qaida-linked) al Nusra? Ron Paul on April 5: "It doesn't make any sense for Assad, under these conditions, to all of a sudden use poison gas. I think it's zero chance he would have done this." Former British Ambassador to Syria Peter Ford on April 5: It is "highly unlikely" that Russia or the Assad regime was behind the attack. In fact, Syria did destroy all its chemical weaponry as agreed. Wikopedia: "Within a month of the attacks, Syria agreed to join the Chemical Weapons Convention and allow all its stockpiles to be destroyed. The destruction began under [Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons] OPCW supervision on 6 October 2013 " By 18 August 2014, all toxic chemicals were destroyed aboard the US naval vessel MV Cape Ray." Just this past January, during an interview on National Public Radio, former National Security Adviser Rice had occasion to state: "We were able to get the Syrian government to voluntarily and verifiably give up its chemical weapons stockpile." In June, 2014, Secretary of State Kerry stated: "We struck a deal where we got 100 percent of the chemical weapons out." From the Washington Post of April 5: "Clearly emotional, Trump said the chemical attack in Syria that killed scores of civilians, including children, 'crossed a lot of lines for me' " at least 72 people were killed." Trump thus justified the "humanitarian intervention" that he ordered the next day. This itself smacks of contrivance. Reports from the ground in Yemen, Mosul, and Syria all share a consistent theme. Our military's "rules of engagement" under Trump are being relaxed, directly resulting in increased civilian deaths. Merely two weeks before the April 4 chemical attack, U.S. airstrikes in western Mosul neighborhoods killed at least 200, "among them children and women," according to the chairman of Nineveh Provincial Council in Iraq. CNN: "The US military is investigating whether it was responsible for the deaths of nearly 300 Syrian and Iraqi civilians in three different sets of airstrikes [in the month of March] " the US is not contemplating a pause in military operations." There our very powerful forces in our society that want more and more war to the insane extent of provoking a Russian military response, going so far as to include in the lies the accusation that Russia was "complicit" in the attack of April 4. Secretary of State Tillerson stated Russia had either been "complicit or simply incompetent." Neocon Senators Rubio, McCain and Graham, truly representing the "deep state" and our military-industrial complex, echoed the baseless accusation of Russian complicity. The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, himself either complicit or simply incompetent, stated on ABC News: "Absolutely [the Russians were] complicit." Trump's campaign promises to reject the goal of "regime change" in Syria and so to avoid a confrontation with Russia are thus already abandoned. (Trump during campaign: "We should stay the hell out of Syria, the 'rebels' are just as bad as the current regime." "You're going to end up in World War Three over Syria if we listen to Hillary Clinton.") Once again we blithely violate the most fundamental norm of modern international law, the law against aggression in the absence of self-defense. And once again the executive department violates the U.S. Constitution by ignoring the required declaration of war by Congress. (On August 30, 2013, citizen Trump tweeted: "The President must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria-big mistake if he does not!") Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The police have arrested one person on charges of kidnapping in connection with the case. The teenager said that he left home after being fed up of taunts from his parents. By Saurabh Vaktania: The Mumbai Police has traced a 14-year-old, who had gone missing almost three months ago. The police have arrested one person on charges of kidnapping in connection with the case. The teenager said that he left home after being fed up of taunts from his parents. The teenager had gone missing after he left for tuition. The teen's father had filed a kidnapping case with the Mulund police station. advertisement A senior police officer said, "We tracked the boy's route, the one he usually took for tuition classes as told by his parents. We questioned several people including his neighbours, friends at school, father's friends among others. But we could make no headway in the case. We set up several teams and even checked the CCTV cameras, but were clueless." CID PROBE ORDERED INTO THE MATTER A CID probe was ordered into the matter. A cop deployed at the Mulund police station said, "We were under tremendous pressure to solve the case. Half the cops at our police station were working on this case." Early morning on Tuesday, the cops received a tip-off and traced the 14-year-old from Goregaon. The teenager was staying with a person called Shankar, who works for a private company. The cops first detained Shankar and later arrested him on charges of kidnapping. Shankar told the police that he had not kidnapped the teen. He added that the teenager was staying with him willingly. The teenager told the police that he was not happy with his upbringing by his parents and their taunting him regularly. After he left home, he started missing his mother very much. Sometimes he would go to Mulund, watch her and leave. The boy had planned to do something good, earn good money and make his parents proud. Also read | Mumbai Police forms special team to catch fake Interpol agent --- ENDS --- When you think of gambling in Nevada, the first place that comes to your mind is probably Las Vegas. The southern Nevada town has made a name for itself in the gaming (and drinking) space, but its not the only game in town. In northern Nevada, close to iconic Lake Tahoe, lies Reno, Nevada. Another, albeit slightly older, gambling destination that offers some of the same perks as its southern counterpart at a fraction of the cost. A northern California resident myself, I recently made the trip to Reno (via train!), and found that the city has a lot to offer in the form of some pretty great craft breweries and micro-distilleries as well as, of course, your standard casino bars. Here are a few tips for where to drink while youre in town. This spot is a favorite amongst my friends, but its a brewery I had never heard of until we visited the area. The small brewpub makes its own line of craft beers, and they have a number of guest taps with selections from other breweries on draft as well. If you want to try out their lineup, your best bet is to come around 9am on a Saturday or Sunday. Then, the brewery has a Kegs & Eggs promotion. For $20, youre able to select any entree youd like from the breakfast menu and then enjoy unlimited draft beers from the brewerys stash. A few of the high ABV options are excluded from the deal, but you can still have a pint of the majority of their lineup (as many as you want) during the three-hour promotion (the deal is only valid until noon). Of all the breweries and places to drink I checked out in Reno, Imbibe was my favorite. Theyre doing some fantastic stuff when it comes to sours, and they won three medals at the 2016 Best of Craft Beer Awards: a gold for their Berliner Weisse, silver for their 100% Brett beers and a bronze for their Apricot Berliner Weisse. After trying it personally, I can confirm that the Berliner Weisse is definitely gold-worthy. The space at Imbibe is typical of your average taproom, with bar space to sit as as well as a few tables for larger groups. Hungry patrons can purchase salami and other small snacks to enjoy on-site. The Depot is both a craft brewery and distillery and offers beers as well as some whiskeys and other spirits. Theyre new, so most of their spirits havent had a chance to really age. Thats pretty evident when you get one of the flights available; honestly, the booze is at a point where Id suggest waiting a little longer before trying a flight. That said, its a beautiful space, and theres a great selection of beer as well as food to enjoy while youre there. Definitely worth stopping in! Brasserie Saint James has both beer and spirits, as well as some of the best Argentinian food around. Most of the brewerys year-round beers are always on draft, as well as some of its seasonal selections. A full liquor bar can take care of the non-beer drinkers in your bunch, and the food is something that even non-drinkers will enjoy. If youre staying in Reno chances are good your hotel either has a casino or theres one nearby. If youre not a super-picky drinker, or youre looking for a quick nightcap on your way home, the casino can be a decent place to grab a drink. Casinos in Reno all offer free drinks to customers who are gambling. If thats your thing, saddle up to a slot machine or poker table and wait for the waitress to come by and take your order. Whats on the menu? For the most part, the free drink menu at casinos is pretty limited. Bars can typically do your standard fare like a rum and coke or vodka cranberry, and have a house white and red wine, a sparkling wine, and a few, mostly domestic beer options. In Reno I found that some had Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Lagunitas IPA available, but not all. If youre interested in beer, you can always ask whether theres an IPA or brown options available, although in many cases youre going to be stuck with a Miller or Budweiser product. If youre not a gambler, check out some of the deals at the bars inside your hotel. Many offer 2-for-1 deals at different points during the day, or specials on buying several drinks at once, which is perfect if youre traveling with a group. Marcin Chmielewski Wins WSOP International Circuit Main Event April 10, 2017 Will Shillibier Executive Editor E.U. After a back-and-forth heads-up battle between Marcin Chmielewski and Boris Kotleba, Chmielewski emerged triumphant shortly before 3 a.m. local time in the WSOP International Circuit Main Event at King's Casino Rozvadov. Coming into the final day, the Polish player navigated a tricky field to take home the gold ring as well as over 180,000 in prize money. "This tournament was difficult for me," he told PokerNews shortly after his victory, "But the heads-up maybe the most difficult. I was tired but my opponent played well and he had three times as many chips as me...I gave him pressure a lot of times, maybe that's why I won. I tried to play my best, and I have definitely enjoyed my experience." Position Name Country Payout (EUR) 1 Marcin Chmielewski Poland 183,350 2 Boris Kotleba Slovakia 115,520 3 Michal Schuh Czech Republic 82,745 4 Jiri Horak Czech Republic 65,170 5 Chi Quay Hoang Germany 51,205 6 Lukasz Wasek Poland 39,995 7 Przenyslaw Piotrowski Poland 30,115 8 Jeremy Williams United States 20,995 9 Markus Prinz Germany 16,625 The day started with German Markus Prinz in the lead, but over the course of the day and across the tournament as a whole, there was never a runaway chip leader. The lead would swing between a number of players as the levels ticked by. Sickening hands littered the day, with Jorg Peisert rivering a gutshot to crack the aces of overnight chip leader Prinz, before Ngoc Bui Hai shoved his top pair into the rivered straight of Chi Quay Hoang to bust just as the final two tables were confirmed. At this point it was eventual runner-up Kotleba who led proceedings, but was pushed by Polish player Lukasz Wasek, especially after Wasek eliminated home favorite Martin Kabrhel when they both flopped sets, with Waseks set of eights ahead of his opponents set of fives. As the players approached the final table, there was no real action by anyone to grab proceedings by the scruff of the neck. In fact, the six eliminations leading to the final table of nine were done by six different players, such was the dynamic at the tables. By the time the final table did come around, it didnt take long for our first casualty one hand in fact, before Prinz ran his pocket queens into Wasek's pocket kings. Jiri Horak boosted his standings by eliminating Jeremy Williams, and was later joined by Michal Schuh with the pair contributing to most of the raising, and thereby putting pressure on their tablemates. Wasek stuck around, but exited in sixth place for 39,995, closely followed by Hoang (fifth 51,205) and Horak (fourth 65,170). The final three consisted of Schuh, Kotleba and Chmielewski. In the beginning, it looked like Schuh was going to walk away with it. In the beginning, it looked like Schuh was going to walk away with it. A combination of good cards and well-timed aggression brought him to the head of proceedings. However, he would exit in third for 82,745 after he ran queen-ten into the pocket aces of Kotleba to give the Slovakian the chip lead heads up. He came into the contest with a 2-1 chip lead, which would soon grow even bigger and at one point touched on a 5-1 lead. After a short while, however, it appeared as if Kotleba faded as the night drew on. With fatigue creeping in, Chmielewski pounced, albeit somewhat luckily. Kotleba moved all in holding two-pair, and Chmielewski held only pocket tens and a gutshot. The Polish player hit his gutshot, but Kotleba did not realize and celebrated before being brought back to reality. From then it appeared only a matter of time. Kotleba seemed deflated and Chmielewski looked to turn the screw. In the final hand, Chmielewski spiked a jack on the river to make a straight, crack the pocket threes of Kotleba and take down the tournament. Sharelines Chmielewski spiked a jack on the river for a straight, cracking Kotleba's threes to win it. If you're like us, you're already missing the characters of the new Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. But fans got excited last night when Selena Gomez, executive producer of the show (and originally billed to play Hannah Baker), posted a picture of her new tattoo. Gomez and friends Alisha Boe and Tommy Dorfman showed off their new matching tattoos: a semicolon inked on each of their arms. Gomez shared a photo on her IG story last night and Dorfman posted his own Instagram photo that shows the three actors (Dorfman played Ryan and Boe played Jessica on the show) in the tattoo shop with semicolons on their forearms. Boe posted a closeup later that shows a better view of the ink: The tiny semicolons were a mystery to some but Boe's caption explains their inspiration. Project Semicolon is an awareness and fundraising campaign started in 2013 by Amy Bleuel as a tribute to her father, whose suicide inspired her to try to inspire others. The project aims to give hope to people suffering from depression, addiction and suicidal thoughts. The semicolon has become a symbol that declares a new beginning rather than an end. The background of the Project Semicolon website is full of pictures of people who have tattooed the semicolon on their arms as messages of support to themselves and to others. The 13 Reasons Why cast members' decision to get their own tattoos has another reason: their tattoos are tributes to Bleuel, who died by suicide last month but whose project continues its mission of awareness and support. The series is a personal mission for Gomez, too, after she entered rehab last year for depression stemming from her battle with lupus. Gomez said that her Disney fame amplified her own high school experiences, helping her emphasize with Hannah Baker's story. She spent ninety days receiving professional help for her depression and talks about it in the short documentary, "Beyond the Reasons," on Netflix. In it, the cast also discusses the most important and difficult issues addressed in the show. Just a few weeks after its release, 13 Reasons Why has definitely begun important discussions about suicide, mental health and bullying. Its thirteen episodes graphically and honestly illustrate the struggles of a person suffering from depression, a victim of bullying who struggles with loneliness. The show, based on Jay Asher's bestselling novel, deserves praise for its dedication to the goal of showing what it's like to feel depressed, to have suicidal thoughts and to search for help. Now Asher has hinted at the possibility of a second seasonor, at least, said he'd be happy to see one. "I'd just like a continuation of all those characters," he said in an interview. He said he'd gotten as far as brainstorming a sequel book at one point but decided against writing it. But with all the bonus material added for the Netflix series and the many loose ends left after the last episode fades out, he's not the only one hoping for more ( Warning: spoilers below ). The show only reveals a few clips from the depositions, where some characters finally decide to tell the truth and others continue to hold up their lies. Tyler spills the secret about the tapes but some of the others still aren't willing to admit that they know anything about them. Even Mrs. Baker remains silent during the depositions as she holds the USB drive in her hands. What happens when the lawyers finally play the tapes? And then there's the terrifying glimpse into an ambulance rushing to the hospital with a seventeen-year-old boy who suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and the principal's devastating words in the last episode: "Alex Standall shot himself in the head last night." Does he survive? Does Bryce receive the punishment he deserves and where does Justin go with the liquor and the gun? Tyler looks like he's putting his own stockpile of weapons away for good, but is he (don't forget the ominous shot of Alex seeming to organize his revenge targets in the darkroom, only removing Alex after Alex stand up to a bully for him)? And what happens to Clay, the only name on the tapes whom Hannah didn't blame directly but who nevertheless failed her? Clay and Tony will still be involved in the lawsuit when (if) the tapes are revealed. These are major plot points that the show intentionally (and wisely) leaves unanswered in its finale. 13 Reasons Why is a series about Hannah Baker and the months leading up to her suicide. Now that her tapes have ended and her storythe story she wanted to tell and the very reason she made the tapesis finished, the show should be, too. Hannah's story is the reason for and the driving force behind the novel/series. The finale, with all of its unaddressed questions, is more satisfying than a second season of explaining would be. Nothing is certain in the characters' futures but the show uses this uncertainty to continue the many dialogues started by the show's difficult subject material. Talking about Bryce's actions and the potential punishments mean having conversations about rape. Wondering if Tyler is going to shoot people at school means talking about gun violence. These are necessary conversations and the show's finale helps to start them. The author clearly made a decision not to write a sequel novel, even after brainstorming it. Though he sounds open to the idea, that doesn't make it a good one. As much as we would all love to see what happens to each of the characters after a finale full of cliffhangers, the show, as it stands, deserves to remain its own work of art without the pressure of a second season having to live up to the first. Selena Gomez has called it her "passion project," and hopefully her influence will be enough to keep it out of the hands of greedy studio execs. Do you want a second season of 13 Reasons Why? Let us know why in the comments and share your opinion with your friends. If you or someone you know is suffering from depression or having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Follow 13 Reasons Why on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow Selena Gomez on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. READ MORE ABOUT FILM/TV Must-watch: '13 Reasons Why' is an extraordinary series about young adult life, consequences and tragedy Watch: the new 'Justice League' trailer and how it makes the Avengers feel Can La La Land be both an homage film and Best Picture? Writings on the Wall Many years ago, I got a phone call from Troy Torres at a political candidates office. He had seen an election estimate I had written and didn Read morePower of polls and weekend talks PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 10:01:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 404 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Ashburton Ventures Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Ashburton Ventures Inc. (TSX Venture:ABR). has issued a press release with the following headline:Ashburton Ships Zeolite Samples to BC Bud Depot for Research and Development of Zeolite in Marijuana GrowingTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Ashburton Ventures Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Ashburton Ventures Inc.Source: Ashburton Ventures Inc. (TSX Venture: ABR, FWB: ARB, WKN: A1J3M5, ISIN: CA0437832086)Date: April 11, 2017Time: 4:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Ashburton Ventures Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 14:03:01 COVINGTON, Kentucky, April 11, 2017 - Ashland (NYSE: ASH) today said it plans to report financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 after the New York Stock Exchange closes Tuesday, April 25, 2017, and to host a webcast with investors the following morning. Ashland plans to issue its second-quarter earnings news release at approximately 5 p.m. EDT on April 25. At the same time, the company will post a slide presentation and prepared remarks in the Investor Relations section of its website at http://investor.ashland.com. The live webcast with investors, which will include an executive summary and detailed remarks, will take place at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. Among those participating in the webcast presentation will be: Bill Wulfsohn, chairman and chief executive officer; Kevin Willis, senior vice president and chief financial officer; and Seth Mrozek, Ashland's director of investor relations. The webcast will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of Ashland's website at http://investor.ashland.com, along with supporting materials. Following the live event, an archived version of the webcast and supporting materials will be available on the Ashland website for 12 months. About Ashland Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a premier global specialty chemicals company serving customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including adhesives, architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. At Ashland, we are 6,000 passionate, tenacious solvers - from renowned scientists and research chemists to talented engineers and plant operators - who thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Ashland also maintains a controlling interest in Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), a premium consumer-branded lubricant supplier. Visit ashland.com to learn more. C-ASH FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Investor Relations: Seth A. Mrozek +1 (859) 815-3527 samrozek@ashland.com Media Relations: Gary Rhodes +1 (859) 815-3047 glrhodes@ashland.com This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Ashland Inc. via Globenewswire Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Branded Generics Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016- 2026" report to their offering. Branded Generics Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 13:08:14 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 523 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 A recent research conducted by Future Market Insights predicts that the global market for branded generics will witness a steady growth in terms of revenues. Over a ten-year forecast period from 2016 to 2026, the size of global branded generics market has been estimated to expand at a steady CAGR of 7.3%. Brand-name prescriptions will continue to be ubiquitous among aged people in the world, and since geriatric demographics account for a large portion of global drug-consuming population, demand for branded generics will also rise substantially. In 2016, the global branded generics market has been valued at nearly US$ 200 billion, and is projected to reach US$ 413.8 Bn market value by the end of forecast period.Some of the leading manufacturers of branded generics are based in Asian countries, and are extending their production capacity to keep up with the surging global depend. In Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region, about US$ 150 billion revenues are expected to be procured by the end of 2026. During the forecast period, branded generics market in the APEJ region will attain fastest growth, registering a 10% CAGR, contributing over 35% of global branded generics revenues. North America, Eastern Europe and Latin America are also expected to be lucrative for growth of branded generics sales, while revenues in Western Europe, Japan and Middle East & Africa (MEA) are likely to incur a considerable dip by 2026-end.Request For Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1260 Competitive Timeline in Global Branded Generics MarketSince 2015, Abbott Laboratories, a leading drugmaker in the global pharmaceuticals industry, has aimed at capitalizing from branded generics businesses in developing regions.Teva Pharmaceuticals acquired Allergans branded generics vertical, while Pfizer Inc. bought Hospira Inc. both acquisitions have been strategically carried out for repositioning market standings of Teva and Pfizer respectively.In December 2016, India-based Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. agreed to buy Swiss drugmaker Novartis AGs branded generics portfolio on cancer medications.Another leading branded generics manufacturer, Mylan N.V. recently launched anti-allergy devices which are expected to be half the price of its branded EpiPens.Other prominent companies partaking in the growth of global branded generics market include, Aspen Pharmacare Holding Ltd. and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1260 Research Highlights on Global Branded Generics MarketThe report includes a segmental analysis of the global branded generics market, fragmenting its growth on the type of drug formulation, major drug classes, therapeutic applications, and distribution channels. Based on such segmentation, some of the key findings compiled in the report are:Nearly three-fifth of the global branded generics revenues estimated in 2016 are expected to be accounted by oral-type formulations, with parenteral, topic and other formulation types collectively accounting for 8% market value share.Hospital pharmacies & retail pharmacies will remain as the largest distribution channels for branded generics throughout the globe.In 2016 and beyond, the demand for branded generics in therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular diseases will be significant, revenues from which are expected to increase at more than 8% CAGR over the forecast period.Global revenues of branded generics accounted by anti-hypertensive drug class are predicted to surpass US$ 25 billion by 2026-end.Browse Full Report@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/branded-generics-market Dimer Acid-Based (DAB) Polyamide Resins Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 08:26:23 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 546 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Dimer acids which are also known as dimerized fatty acids belong to the group of dicarboxylic acids. Dimer acids are viscous fluids that are transparent and non-toxic in nature. Dimer acids are manufactured by dimerizing unsaturated fatty acids that are obtained from oleic acid, canola oil, tallow, cottonseed, tall oil and rapeseed among others. Dimer acids are widely used to synthesize polyamide resins and hot melt adhesives. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins have varied properties which makes them either reactive or non-reactive in nature. Reactive polyamides are primarily used as curing agents for epoxy resins that are generally used in the manufacturing of adhesives and surface coatings. On the other hand, the non reactive polyamides are predominantly used in the manufacturing of printing inks and hot-melt adhesives. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins exhibit physical properties such as heat resistance, cold resistance, film flexibility, fast curing, oil resistance, excellent adhesion and good compatibility among others. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins are widely used as decorative coatings, fabrics, interlining, shoe stretch, fold plastic and Baotou glue.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-337 Growing economies of developing countries coupled with rising disposable income has boosted the overall demand for residential properties which in turn is expected to augment the overall growth of construction industry. Construction industry is the major application of adhesives and surface coatings. Thus, the growing demand for adhesives and surface coatings from various end-use industries such as construction is expected to drive the overall dimer acid-based polyamide resins market. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins are also mainly consumed in the manufacturing of printing inks. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins exhibit improved freeze thaw characteristics to the printing ink compositions. Thus, the use of dimer acid-based polyamide resins plays a crucial role in improving the overall quality of the printing inks. Thus, growing demand for printing ink is expected to augment the overall growth of dimer acid-based polyamide resins market.China is the major consumer of dimer acid-based polyamide resins owing to the presence of huge demand for adhesives and surface coatings from construction and automobile applications. North America is expected to be the next largest consumer of dimer acid-based polyamide resins owing to the presence of huge demand for printing inks in the region. The demand for DAB polyamide resins is expected to grow rapidly in Europe owing to the huge demand for surface coatings from the automobile industry present in the region. Rest of Asia Pacific is anticipated to experience huge demand for dimer acid-based polyamide resins owing to the growing construction industry in countries such as India, Japan and Korea present in the region. Rest of the World is expected to exhibit sluggish growth in the demand for dimer acid-based polyamide resins market in the near future.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-337 Arizona Chemical, Anqing Hongyu Chemical Co., Ltd., The Dow Chemical Company, Jinan Tongfa Resin Co., Ltd. and RITEKS are some of the major participants of the dimer acid-based polyamide resins market. The companies are mainly focused towards achieving economies of scale. Hence, most of the leading players are striving towards increasing their production capacities for manufacturing dimer acid-based polyamide resins market. The companies are also hugely investing in research in order to develop innovative products having superior qualities. By Press Trust of India: (Eds: Updating with White House spokesmans quotes) From Lalit K Jha Washington, Apr 11 (PTI) North Korea is looking for trouble, US President Donald Trump today said, asserting that America will solve the North Korean "problem" unilaterally even if China does not help. "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!USA," Trump tweeted, toughening his stance on North Korea. In another tweet, Trump also gave an insight into his talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, whom he met last week at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. advertisement "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the US will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" Trump wrote in an earlier tweet. The US last week sent a naval strike group to the region in a show of force against Pyongyangs nuclear weapons programme. China is North Koreas sole major ally and economic lifeline. The tweet indicated that the meeting might not have been as successful as is being claimed by senior White House officials. "I think we had an unbelievably helpful and productive meeting with the Chinese,? the White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer had told reporters at his daily news conference yesterday. Trumps tweets on North Korea came as Pyongyang said it is ready for war with the US. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the behavior of North Korea with respect to the missile launches was not tolerable. "He (US President Donald Trump) has made it clear with respect to North Korea, that their behaviour and their actions with respect to the missile launches, that its not tolerable," Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference. "The last thing we want to see is a nuclear North Korea that threatens the coast of the United States or, for that matter, you know, any other country and any other set of human beings. So we need stability in that region and I think he has put them clearly on notice," Spicer said in response to a question. "I think he has been very clear that he will not tolerate some of those actions by North Korea. But the President is not one whos going to go out there and telegraph his response," Spicer said. The President keeps all options on the table and he keeps his cards close to the vest, he said As he showed last week with respect to Syria, when the President is willing to act, it is going to be decisive and proportional to make it very clear what the position of the United States is, Spicer said. advertisement Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies in Washington, said that there might be another provocative behaviour from North Korea. "April 15th is Grandpa Kim Il Sung 105th birth anniversary; April 25th is Korean Peoples Army?s 85th founding anniversary. So North Korea likes to test and blast during this month,? he said. However he said Trump and Xi managed to set a constructive tone to their relationship. This, he said, will be necessary because the issues that divide China and the US are deep-seated. "But in no way did the meeting signal a G2 approach to managing regional issues, much less multilateral issues," he said. "In no way either did Trump signal that he would work over the heads of his allies in Asia to secure favourable outcomes for the US, although there is some consternation in Seoul over the relative paucity of consultation over North Korea policy," Gupta said. PTI LKJPMS AKJ ASK --- ENDS --- Fruit Snacks Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 08:10:53 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 617 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Fruit snacks is the type of processed food eaten as a snack in various countries. Fruit snacks includes various types of candies that are usually high in sugar content and includes apple and grape juice. Fruit snacks market is increasing drastically especially among kids due to the health benefits associated with the consumption of fruit snacks. Fruit snacks imparts high nutritional value to the consumers especially kids.Fruit Snacks Market SegmentationGlobal fruit snacks market is segmented on the basis of application, distribution channel and region. Based on the application fruit snacks market segmentation includes beverages, dairy, sweets and savoury and others. Among all the segments of the fruit snacks market sweet and savoury is expected to be the dominating segment over forecast period ,followed by other fruit snacks segments owing to the high preference of consumers for the processed food that are rich in nutritional content in comparison to other regular processed food. However, dairy segment of the fruit snacks market is anticipated to witness significant growth in comparison to other segments of the fruit snacks market over the forecast period. On the basis of distribution channel fruit snacks market is segmented into supermarkets, convenience stores, general stores, online and others. Among all the segments of fruit snacks market general store is expected to be the dominating segment, followed by other segments over the forthcoming years. However, online distribution channel for the fruit snacks market is expected to experience noticeable growth in the coming four to five years. Global fruit snacks market is segmented on the basis of region into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East and Africa and Japan.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-896 Fruit Snacks Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global fruit snacks market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period due the high nutritional content present in the fruits added to the various products. Globally, among all regions, North America is expected to be the dominating segment in terms of revenue contribution ,followed by other regions especially Europe during the forecast period. In North America, U.S. is the most dominant country that contributes the maximum market share to the overall fruit snacks market in North America. However other regions especially Asia Pacific is expected to show fast growth owing to rising disposable income of the consumers in the developing regions coupled with health awareness among consumers related to the consumption of the food rich in nutritional content.Fruit Snacks Market: DriversMajor factors that fuel the growth of fruit snacks market includes the health benefits related to the consumption of the snacks rich in fruit content and rising consumer awareness related to the consumption of fruit based products such as snacks. Other factor that is expected to boost the growth of the fruit snacks market is the rising disposable income among consumers in the developing region such as India. Major restraint that hinders the growth of fruit snacks market is the increasing perception among consumers related to the harmful effects of the consumption of various processed food.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-896 Fruit Snacks Market: Key PlayersMajor companies operating in fruit snacks market are Welch Foods Inc., General Mills Inc., SunOpta, Kellogg Co., Sunkist Growers, Inc., Crunchies Food Company. Companies operating in the fruit snacks market are promoting product innovation by investing huge amount in the product development activities in order to cater the demand of the existing and also potential customers. For instance company such as SunOpta are investing huge amount for launching new products in order to increase its market presence and also grab the potential untapped market Genetically Modified Foods Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 08:06:52 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 461 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 The global genetically modified food market has been significantly growing due to the rise in demand for healthy and nutritional food products by consumers of different age group. Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods which are derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in such a way that it does not occur naturally, e.g. through the introduction of a gene from a different organism (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms). Foods produced from by using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods. The major advantages of genetically modified foods are better texture, flavor and high nutritional value along with longer shelf life. However, unusual taste over non-GM food and safety concerns as it might interfere with the body normal functioning are some of the disadvantages of genetically modified food.Genetically Modified Foods: Drivers and RestraintsThe major factors driving the genetically modified food market are high nutritional content in the food, high production quantity and less requirement of pesticides. However, damage to beneficial insects and soil fertility coupled with genetic pollution, absence of any centralized government regulation and lack of awareness about the benefits of GMO are factors which are restraining the market potential growth. Rising demand for healthy food products, year round and easy availability of genetically modified food are main trends in the genetically modified food market globally.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-889 Genetically Modified Foods: SegmentationGenetically modified food market is segmented on the basis of type and region. On the basis of type genetically modified food is segmented into crops, vegetables, fruits and animal products. Corn and Soya are widely cultivated in genetically modified form as compared to other crops in the US. Furthermore, on the basis of region the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-889 Genetically Modified Foods: Key PlayersMajor players operating in this category are Monsanto US, DuPont US, Syngenta Switzerland, Bayer Crop Science Germany, Sakata Japan, BASF Gmbh, Group Limagrain France to name a few. The global players are focused on partnership and collaboration with other companies in order to increase its product portfolio, industry offering and global presence. The global giant in genetically modified food are actively involved in collaboration with the Advanced Research Institutes (ARIs) in the industrial countries such as Brazil, Argentina, China, India, Malaysia and the Philippines for significant R&D program in biotechnology and transgenic crops. Companies are also increasing their R&D in some of the African countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mali, Nigeria, Egypt and Uganda in order to cater the growing demand for genetically modified food in Africa Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Online Clothing Rental Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016- 2026" report to their offering. Online Clothing Rental Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 13:06:57 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 582 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Future Market Insights delivers key insights on the global online clothing rental market in a new report titled, Online Clothing Rental Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026. In terms of value, the global online clothing rental market is expected to register a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period owing to various factors, which are analysed in detail in this report.Growth of the global online clothing rental market is driven by increasing preference for fashion and brand consciousness among people across the globe along with rising internet penetration. Consumers are preferring online purchase of clothes due to availability of a large variety at a discounted price. This is fuelling the demand for online rented clothes globally. Changing consumer lifestyles and increasing demand for designer dresses, party wear, and dinner suits is expected to intensify the growth of the global online clothing rental market in the next 10 years. Increasing urbanisation along with rising personal disposable income in regions such as the Asia Pacific are driving the overall growth of the global online clothing rental market.High profitability margins, ease of resource availability, and rising economic opportunity in developing nations are some factors encouraging new players to venture into the global online clothing rental market. Established players in the global online clothing rental market are expanding their product portfolio and are focussing on product innovations and change in target segments, which is creating robust competition in the market.Request For Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1452 Segmentation highlightsThe global online clothing rental market is segmented on the basis of Demography (Women, Men, Kids); Price Range (Premium, Mid, Low); Type (Western Wear, Ethnic Wear, Others); End User (B2C, B2B); and Business Model (Peer-to-Peer Model, Standalone Model, Hybrid Model).The Women demography segment is expected to register a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast periodThe Peer-to-Peer business model segment was valued at US$ 656.4 Mn in 2015 and is expected to account for US$ 712.2 Mn by the end of 2016, witnessing a Y-o-Y growth rate of 8.5% over 20162020Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1452 Regional projectionsThe global online clothing rental market is segmented into the seven key regions of North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, and MEA. Markets in North America, Western Europe, and APEJ are expected to record high growth rates in terms of value between 2016 and 2026. Amongst all the regions, North America is estimated to account for a comparatively higher value share in 2016. Western Europe is another major market for online clothing rentals. The entry of online luxury fashion due to rising internet penetration is expected to drive market growth in this region. In the APEJ region, increasing personal disposable income is a key driver for sustained growth of the online clothing rental market, and the APEJ market is expected to register a CAGR of 10.1% during the period 2016-2026. The online clothing rental market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period in countries such as India, the ASEAN countries, Australia, and New Zealand.Vendor insightsThis report covers detailed profiles of key players operating in the global online clothing rental market. The report presents key strategies, key developments, product offerings, and market performance of leading companies. Some of the top companies profiled in the global online clothing rental market report are Rent the Runway, Poshmark, Elanic Services Pvt Ltd., Dress & Go, GlamCorner Pvt Ltd., Envoged, Etashee, Secoo Holdings Ltd, and Secret Worldwide.Browse Full Report@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/online-clothing-rental-market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 15:11:02 OutSystems Unveils Global Partner Program, Forms Alliances to Drive Digital Transformation with Low-Code Solutions Worldwide Media Contacts: Paula Elliott C8 Consulting paula@c8consulting.co.uk +44 (0) 1189 497736 OutSystems today unveiled its new Global Partner Program, which connects systems integrators, technology consultants, and resellers with its industry-leading low-code development platform. This new alliance program builds on the current OutSystems partner program and now serves both global and regional partners. In the past 12 months, OutSystems saw a 51 percent increase in contributing partners and a 78 percent increase in revenue generated from partners. OutSystems has been recognised as a low-code leader for both general-purpose low-code development and mobile low-code development. Most recently, OutSystems was named a Leader in The Forrester WaveTM: Mobile Low-Code [..]. The OutSystems Global Partner Program gives members access to global sales, marketing and technical resources across OutSystems. This includes training and enablement, marketing content and assets, competitive intelligence reports, OutSystems certification, developer sandboxes, deal registration and additional benefits based upon contribution level. The program brings best-in-class regional practices to the worlds leading technology experts, unlocking new opportunities for digital transformation. With the launch of the OutSystems Global Partner Program, we are providing alliance members with expanded access to OutSystems tools, technologies and domain expertise, said Bob Wilson, VP of Global Channels and Alliances, OutSystems. The new partner program is also designed to take us to the size and scale required to truly drive digital transformation, by certifying thousands of developers, implementers and consultants to give OutSystems the largest ecosystem of qualified technical capacity. We are excited to work closely with some of the most forward-thinking companies in technology to unlock unprecedented value for our customers. As part of the OutSystems Global Partner Program, OutSystems also unveils new collaborations with Cognizant, Deloitte, Persistent Systems, Carahsoft Technology Corp., Transnational E-Business Solutions, Inc., L&T InfoTech, PwC, CapGemini and KPMG. Cognizant and OutSystems are partnering to help mutual clients re-platform and modernise their infrastructure to achieve greater productivity gains from their application development cycles. Certified Cognizant developers, utilising OutSystems platform and low-code approach as a principle, are helping clients accelerate their digital transformations. Deloitte continues their partnership with OutSystems to free customers from the bimodal IT trap. Using OutSystems to replace customers legacy systems over time, Deloitte is providing extended solutions as they help customers move to more agile architectures. Clients are moving to more agile models because they need to make their legacy system more responsive to constant change and evolution, says Rui P. Vaz, Partner with Deloitte Consultores. The era of monolithic legacy core systems is over. For modernisation projects, from B2B applications that extend existing ERPs, to B2C projects for custom-made apps, Deloitte is partnering with OutSystems to lead the market toward digital transformation. Persistent Systems is partnering with OutSystems for their digital and continuous transformation projects. Across industries, our clients need the ability to capitalise their data and be future-proof, explains Jacque White, Chief Customer Officer at Persistent Systems. With low-code, we can rapidly design, develop, and deploy solutions that give our clients an immediate competitive advantage. Carahsoft serves as OutSystems master government aggregator, supporting OutSystems public sector channel partners and driving demand for the companys solutions throughout federal and state and local governments. When we look at the digital transformation challenges facing the government today, from federal agencies to state and local organisations, we consistently see the need for agile strategies that will realise results fast, explains Michael Shrader, Vice President of Innovative and Intelligence Solutions at Carahsoft. Our partnership with OutSystems gives us and our reseller ecosystem the ability to be nimble and increasingly digital. Transnational E-Business provides leading logistics and technology projects in South East Asia. Investing in OutSystems as a platform has allowed our organisation to accelerate our initiatives towards digital transformation, explains Renvi R. Martinez, President and General Manager of Transnational E-Business Solutions, Inc. Were leveraging the OutSystems platform to identify new enterprise opportunities across the continent, where low-code gives us an advantage amongst both local and global organisations. L&T Infotech (LTI) is collaborating with OutSystems for global IT projects, with a relationship aimed at driving business value for mutual customers. Our clients are looking at us to create rich experiences, transform processes and build new businesses and as the low-code leader, we believe the partnership with OutSystems will help us partner with our clients in their digital transformation efforts, says Rohit Kedia , Chief Business Officer, Manufacturing and ERP Services, Americas, LTI. PwC has built an OutSystems competence centre in Portugal to serve both European and American projects. By building a central team of certified developers, PwC can easily use the OutSystems platform for digital transformation projects around the world. Were embracing low-code for both new business opportunities and for new projects within existing accounts, explained Miguel Pinto, Advisory Director of PwC Portugal. The speed of development and delivery is unmatched, and without any compromise on the quality of the enterprise applications. CapGemini continues to focus on IT innovation and Digital Transformation as a means to enable their clients business growth. With OutSystems, were able to build proof of concept web based and mobile native sound applications across different sectors of business activities like financial services, manufacturing and life sciences. By building them quickly, and designing them to scale from the start, were able to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of both the challenges and opportunities our clients face, explains Luis Batista, Principal at Capgemini. OutSystems is the ideal partner for the agile project development we practice. KPMG and OutSystems are aligning digital transformation efforts in highly regulated industries, including banking and telecommunications. By combining our respective domain expertise in complex industry verticals with the agility that OutSystems enables, we believe we can achieve a competitive advantage, explains Rui Gomes, Partner from KPMG. We believe KPMG professionals can deliver enterprise applications to some of the most highly regulated industries, and OutSystems can improve time to market and flexibility in adjusting to changing market conditions. About OutSystems: Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. With OutSystems, you visually develop your entire application, easily integrate with existing systems, and add your own custom code when you need it. Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201704110056 Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Point of Use Water Purifier (POU) Market: MENA Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014- 2020" report to their offering. Point of Use Water Purifier (POU) Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 13:12:38 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 560 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Future Market Insights (FMI) announced the release of a latest report titled, POU Water Purifiers Market: MENA Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020. FMI estimates that the Point of Use (POU) water purifier market in Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach US$ 471 Mn at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2014 to 2020.Residential water purification system includes point of use water purifiers (POU), point of entry (POE) water purifiers, portable water purifiers. Moreover, the demand for POU water purifiers is high among consumers in MENA region as compared to POE and portable water purifiers.In the POU water purifiers market, products with high purification capabilities such as combination of reverse osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet (UV) technologies are more preferred. It has also been observed that a majority of the demand is coming from urban centres in GCC when compared to the entire MENA region.Market SegmentsThe POU water purifiers market is segmented on the basis of technology which includes RO, UV and media-based. RO technology based water purifiers segment is estimated to account for slightly over 40% of the total POU water purifiers market in MENA region in 2014. Media-based water purification, which is a conventional water purification technology has also witnessed technological advancements, and is estimated to display a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period, in terms of volume. The third technology, UV based water purifiers, is estimated to exhibit a sluggish growth rate during the forecast period due to its limitation in removing only organic contaminants from water. Additionally, UV-based water purifiers are also priced higher in comparison to media-based water purifiers and hence the product preference for UV based water purifiers is comparatively low.Request For Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-ma-30 Region-wise, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Algeria are the promising markets for POU water purifiers. In addition, a cumulative scenario has been highlighted for rest of MENA (includes smaller countries like Kuwait, Jordan etc.). Among the aforementioned regions, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to be the prominent market for POU water purifiers, followed by Turkey, due to its growing population and rapid urbanization, and increasing awareness for safe drinking water forecast period.In addition, penetration of bottled water is a challenge for the POU water purifiers market in Anatolia. As a result, Anatolia is estimated to demonstrate a sluggish growth rate in the near future. Furthermore, POU water purifiers market in UAE is anticipated to reach 149.2 thousand units by 2020, exhibiting a CAGR of 10% between 2014 and 2020.Drivers and RestraintsDeteriorating water quality, rising cost of bottled water, increasing population coupled with increasing per capita income are some of the prominent factors which will catalyse the point of use water purifiers in the region. Though the MENA market is attractive in terms of absolute dollar opportunity, low awareness about safe drinking water and product unavailability are major challenges for the MENA POU water purifier market.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-ma-30 Competitive LandscapeKey players operating in the MENA water purifier market are LG, Eureka Forbes, Strauss Water, Panasonic, WaterLife and Coolplex. The report sheds light on their key growth strategies and recent developments. In addition, the report also discusses the value chain followed by multinational companies in MENA for POU water purifiers.Browse Full Report@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/mena-pou-water-purifiers-market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 14:12:01 Shareholders approve the 2016 results: consolidated revenues 1,153.9 million (+10.1% vs 2015) , operating income 327.4 million (+17.6%) , net income 237.4 million (+19.4%). Dividend for 2016 0.70 per share (+16.7% vs 2015) , of which 0.35 already paid in November 2016. Appointment of the Board of Directors, composed of 9 members, 6 of which independent, for the 2017-2019 three-year period. Appointment of the Board of Statutory Auditors for the 2017-2019 three-year period. Remuneration policy approved. Authorization to buy-back and dispose of Recordati shares renewed. Renewal of the five-year authorization for the Board of Directors to increase capital and to issue convertible bonds for a maximum amount of 50,000,000 and 80,000,000 respectively . First quarter 2017 consolidated revenues 342 million (+13% vs the first quarter of 2016). Milan, 11 April 2017 - Today the Annual and Extraordinary Meeting of Recordati S.p.A. Shareholders was held. Recordati S.p.A.'s Annual Shareholders' Meeting approved the company's 2016 financial accounts, which were prepared according to IAS/IFRS. In addition, the group's consolidated statements, which were also prepared according to IAS/IFRS, were presented. The tables attached contain a summary of the 2016 financial statements which were commented in the press release issued on 1 March 2017. In 2016 consolidated revenues were 1,153.9 million (+10.1%), operating income (EBIT) was 327.4 million (+17.6%), and net income was 237.4 million (+19.4%). International sales account for 79.4% of total sales. As proposed by the Board of Directors, the shareholders approved a dividend of 0.35 per share, in full balance of the interim 2016 dividend of 0.35, to be paid to all shares outstanding at ex-dividend date, excluding those in treasury stock, as from 26 April 2017 (record date 25 April 2017), with ex-dividend on 24 April 2017 (against presentation of coupon no. 19). The full 2016 dividend is therefore of 0.70 per share ( 0.60 per share in 2015). Further shareholder resolutions Appointment of the members of the Board of Directors and Board of Statutory Auditors The shareholders appointed the Board of Directors for the years 2017-2019 (until the Annual Shareholders' Meeting which will approve the 2019 financial statements) which is composed of nine members, by approving the proposal made by the majority shareholder FIMEI S.p.A. to confirm Alberto Recordati, Andrea Recordati, Fritz Squindo, Rosalba Casiraghi, Michaela Castelli, Marco Vitale, Mario Garraffo and Paolo Fresia and to appoint Elisa Corghi as a new member. The shareholders, furthermore, appointed the Statutory Auditors for the years 2017-2019 (until the Annual Shareholders' Meeting which will approve the 2019 financial statements) by electing Marco Nava (Auditor), Livia Amidani Aliberti (Auditor) and Patrizia Paleologo Oriundi (Alternate Auditor) from the list presented by the majority shareholder FIMEI S.p.A., and Antonio Santi (President) and Andrea Balelli (Alternate Auditor) from the list presented by other institutional shareholders who hold 0.7591% of the share capital. The professional resumes of the members of the new Board of Directors and the new Statutory Auditors are available on the company's website under the Shareholders Meetings title in the Investors section. The shareholders also approved the remuneration for the Board of Directors and the Statutory Auditors. Remuneration policy The Shareholders' Meeting also approved the remuneration policies for the year 2017 in accordance with article 123ter of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24February 1998 which is the object of the Board's explanatory report on the fourth item of the agenda of the Shareholders' Meeting and can be found on the company's website under the Shareholders Meetings title in the Investors section. Authorization to buy-back and dispose of Recordati shares The Shareholders' Meeting authorized the buyback and disposal of Recordati shares until the Annual Shareholders' Meeting that will approve the 2017 financial statements. The objective of the proposal to renew the authorization to buy back and dispose of Recordati shares until the Annual Shareholders' Meeting which will approve the 2017 financial statements is, as in previous years, to grant the Board the possibility: of using shares for equity acquisitions or as consideration for strategic agreements; of allowing the company to invest in its own shares; and of constituting a stock of own shares to service current and future stock option plans. The company would be allowed to purchase up to 10,000,000 Recordati existing ordinary (common) shares, which includes those shares held in Treasury stock at any given time, for a maximum cash outlay of 300,000,000. The purchase price must be at least equal to the shares' nominal value ( 0.125) and must not exceed the average official Stock Exchange price recorded over the 5 trading days prior to the transaction, plus 5%. Possible purchases will be made on regulated markets and must comply with article 132 of Legislative Decree 58/1998 and with article 144-bis, paragraph 1.b) of the Issuers' Regulations as approved by CONSOB's resolution 11971/1999 and with market practice allowed and recognized by CONSOB. At 10 April 2017 the company has 3,091,261 shares in Treasury stock which amounts to 1.478% of the current share capital. *** Extraordinary Meeting Today's Extraordinary Meeting resolved to renew the authorization, which is about to expire, for the Board of Directors to increase the company's share capital on one or more occasions, gratuitously or against payment, by issuing ordinary shares and/or share subscription warrants, for a maximum nominal amount of 50,000,000, and to issue, on one or more occasions, for a maximum nominal amount of 80,000,000, bonds convertible into ordinary shares, or with share subscription warrants, for a period not exceeding five years from the date of the resolution, with the consequent modification of article 6 of the company's by-laws. The previous authorization granted by the Shareholders Meeting of 19 April 2012, which will expire on 19 April 2017, is therefore revoked. Meeting of the Board of Directors following the Shareholders' Meeting The new Board of Directors, in a meeting held following the Shareholders' Meeting, confirmed Alberto Recordati as Chairman and Andrea Recordati as Vice Chairman and CEO, and confirmed the same powers granted previously to the latter. The Board therefore confirmed, taking into account their functions, Alberto Recordati, Chairman, Andrea Recordati Vice Chairman and CEO, and Fritz Squindo, Managing Director e CFO, as executive directors. The Board, using as a basis the Directors' statements and available information, verified the effective existence of the independence requisites, pursuant both to Legislative Decree 58/1998 and to the Corporate Governance Code adopted by the company (see the Corporate Governance and Ownership Structure Report for 2016), concerning the Directors who declared to possess such requisites (Rosalba Casiraghi, Michaela Castelli, Elisa Corghi, Paolo Fresia, Mario Garraffo, and Marco Vitale; all qualifying as independent). The Board therefore comprises 6 independent members out of the total of 9 members. On the basis of the Auditors' statements and available information, the Board also verified the effective existence of the independence requisites, pursuant to Legislative Decree 58/1998 and to the Corporate Governance Code adopted by the company, of the Statutory Auditors and confirmed that all the Statutory Auditors, including Mr. Nava who has held this position for more than nine years, are independent, by sharing the result of the verification of the effective existence of the independence requisites undertaken by the Statutory Auditors following their appointment. The Board proceeded to nominate the Audit, Risk and Sustainability Committee, integrating the functions previously assigned to the Audit and Risk Committee, additionally attributing to said Committee the supervision of the sustainability issues related to business activities and the dynamics of their interaction with all stakeholders. The Audit, Risk and Sustainability Committee is composed of the independent and non executive members Marco Vitale, President, Michaela Castelli and Elisa Corghi. Finally, the Board of Directors resolved to nominate the Remuneration Committee, composed of the independent and non executive members: Mario Garraffo, President, Rosalba Casiraghi and Michaela Castelli. The activities which the Corporate Governance Code assigns to the Nomination Committee will be carried out by the entire Board of Directors. First quarter 2017 Revenue performance in the first quarter 2017 is positive. Group sales are 342 million, an increase of 13% over those in the first quarter of the preceding year and include those generated by the Italian company Italchimici S.p.A. and the Swiss company Pro Farma AG, acquired in 2016 and consolidated respectively as from 1 June and 1 July of that year. Excluding the new acquisitions sales growth would have been of 8%. Recordati, established in 1926, is an international pharmaceutical group, listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (Reuters RECI.MI, Bloomberg REC IM, ISIN IT 0003828271), with a total staff of more than 4,100, dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Recordati has operations in the main European countries, in Russia, in other Central and Eastern European countries, in Turkey, in North Africa, in the United States of America, in Mexico and in some South American countries. An efficient field force of medical representatives promotes a wide range of innovative pharmaceuticals, both proprietary and under license, in a number of therapeutic areas including a specialized business dedicated to treatments for rare diseases. Recordati is a partner of choice for new product licenses for its territories. Recordati is committed to the research and development of new specialties with a focus on treatments for rare diseases. Consolidated revenue for 2016 was 1,153.9 million, operating income was 327.4 million and net income was 237.4 million. For further information: Recordati website: www.recordati.com Investor Relations Media Relations Marianne Tatschke Studio Noris Morano (39)0248787393 (39)0276004736, (39)0276004745 e-mail: inver@recordati.it e-mail: norismorano@studionorismorano.com Statements contained in this release, other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements are based on currently available information, on current best estimates, and on assumptions believed to be reasonable. This information, these estimates and assumptions may prove to be incomplete or erroneous, and involve numerous risks and uncertainties, beyond the Company's control. Hence, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All mentions and descriptions of Recordati products are intended solely as information on the general nature of the company's activities and are not intended to indicate the advisability of administering any product in any particular instance. This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: RECORDATI via Globenewswire The Board of Directors of RomReal Ltd has approved today Tuesday 11 April 2017, the 2016 annual report including the 2016 audited financial statements, and the 2016 audit report. Please see attached the 2016 annual report and audit report. Please note that the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at Burnaby Building, 16 Burnaby street, Hamilton, HM11, Bermuda on 21 April 2017 at 13.00 Bermuda Time. Please find attached the complete notice and proxy form. New Director summary CV as proposed in the AGM notice and proxy: Heidi Srensen Austb (1982) Mrs Austb is a State Authorised Public Accountant from Handelshyskolen BI in Oslo. Mrs Austb has 14 years' experience from both financial auditing and fund management with Norwegian and global equities, working for KPMG and long equity funds at Terra Fondsforvaltning and Arctic Fund Mangement. Mrs Austb also has directorship and CEO experience from privately held companies. She is a Norwegian citizen and resides in Oslo. For further information, please contact: Harris Palaondas, Investor Relations +40731123037 investors@romreal.com PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 09:03:01 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. (TSX-V:STMP) ("Stamper" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Sasko (Sashko) Despotovski to its board of directors. Mr. Despotovski is a seasoned investment banker and an active investor in both private and public companies. He is a Canadian national living in the Nordics, with international corporate finance experience in the energy, real estate, and technology sectors. Sashko has held posts within several funds and hedge funds in the investment banking capacity in USA and Canadian markets, as well as on the operational side as management and as a director for a number of companies. Sashko until recently was an M&A Director at one of the Big Four, and currently serves as Special Advisor to the firm, focusing on cross border transactions. His specialties are fundraising and fund dissemination. Sashko holds advisory board seats at Smart Plants AS, Excitus AS, Memobase AS and Teaja Inc. and is a board member of Vidom AS and Stamper Oil and Gas Inc. In 2006 he was inducted into the Golden Key Society of Canada as an honorary member. Sashko's peer reviewed manuscripts can be found in various medical and science journals; he was historically an editor and editor-in-chief of JEM. Sashko is a University of British Columbia (Jack Bell Research Centre) and University of the Fraser Valley science graduate and has held various alumni posts within both institutions. Mr. Despotovski has also been appointed to the Corporation's Audit Committee. David Greenway, President of Stamper commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Sashko to the team at Stamper as we move forward to better position the Company to refocus its efforts on international opportunities in the energy sector and evaluate projects in undervalued jurisdictions. Sashko has experience in North America and Europe with corporate finance, and working with companies implementing change strategies and improving corporate performance." "Stamper management has timed this transaction beautifully to coincide with the global oil and gas market trends. I'm thrilled at the opportunity to work with such a strong team, as we build value for our shareholders," stated Sashko Despotovski. About Stamper Oil and Gas Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. is a publicly traded junior development stage international oil and gas company. The Company is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas properties with the current focus on Latin America. The Company's strategy is centred on generating sustainable long term shareholder value by exploring and developing cost effective growth of light oil reserves. For further information on Stamper Oil and Gas please visit www.stamperoilandgas.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "David C. Greenway" President & Director 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 certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. 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 may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Stamper Oil and Gas Corp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. By Brijesh Pandey: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed his satisfaction on successful budget session, which he said had been "very meaningful and useful". Wishing everyone on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, PM said just like Hanuman ji who went on his own to find jadibuti to cure Lakshman, in the same way MPs should not wait for an order and take initiative to take government work to the masses. advertisement "Take inspiration from Hanuman, He never took anything from anyone but he kept giving. You also need to give to people like him," Modi said. Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, Modi advised them not to wait for his instructions before carrying out government's work among the people of the nation. "When Lakshman slipped into coma, Hanuman ji went on for a cure without any prodding. Similarly, MPs must go ahead without waiting for instructions. They need to carry forward the government's work among the masses", a BJP MP who attended the meeting quoted PM Modi's saying. Asking MPs to go their Parliamentary constituencies, he asked them to establish their own identity despite banking on him. While talking to reporters, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said the Prime Minister dubbed the budget session as 'Vijay Prapti Satra' (Winner Session) for the government. He congratulated the MPs for the passage of 21 bills in the Lok Sabha and 14 in the Rajya Sabha including the Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST). BJP sources said Modi also spoke about the positive mood among people reflected, the clean sweep by the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the recently held assembly elections. The Prime Minister said there was an environment in the country in favour of the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) it leads. On April 26, the NDA government will complete three years and this was also discussed by Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu as to what should be done to take the message of the government to the masses. The NDA leaders also discussed the inspiring leadership of the PM and said that he has emerged as savior of the poor in this country. ALSO READ: Why BJP may surprise again with its pick for President of India's post PM Modi and PM Malcolm Turnbull's day out in New Delhi: Metro ride, selfie, trip to Akshardham US National Security Agency spying on BJP, says Wikileaks report --- ENDS --- PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 05:38:12 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Press: press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 630 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Surface mount technology is a method through which electronic circuit is produced. In this technology, components of electronic circuits are placed directly onto the surface of printed circuit boards (PCBs). An electronic device made with surface mount technology is called as surface mount device. In present time, all mass produced electronics hardware are manufactured by using surface mount technology.Surface Mount Technology Market: Drivers and RestraintsGlobal Surface Mount Technology market is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period. Factors which are driving the growth of global Surface Mount Technology market are growing electronics industry, increasing use of flexible materials printed circuit boards, increasing mass production of electronics hardware devices and rising miniaturization trend & need for mounting electrical & mechanical components. On the other hand factors which are restraining the growth of global surface mount technology market are high cost of surface mount equipment system, surface mount technology is unsuitable for high power or high voltage parts such as power circuitry.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-654 Surface Mount Technology Market: SegmentationGlobal surface mount technology market is segmented on the basis of application, equipment, component and region. By application the global surface mount technology market can be segmented into telecommunication, consumer appliances, automotive, medical, defence & aerospace and Industrial sectors. Out of all these applications, global surface mount technology continuous to encourage the demand of telecommunication, consumer appliances and computing sector. However the market is expected to witness significant opportunity during forecast period for specific applications such as automotive, medical and defence.By equipment, the global surface mount technology market can be segmented into screen print equipment, soldering equipment, placement equipment, inspection equipment, cleaning equipment, and repair and rework equipment. Out of all these equipments, screen print equipment market is expected to grow rapidly during the period of forecast. Surface mount technology equipment manufacturers are focusing on diversification of product offerings. Increasing demand of high quality SMT equipment from contract manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers expected to benefit the growth of surface mount technology market.By component, global surface mount technology market can be segmented into passive surface mount devices, transistor & diodes and integrated circuits. Passive surface mount devices are available in range of package sizes. Though, majority of passive surface mount devices are either resistor or capacitors for which package sizes are relatively standardised. Transistors & diodes are often enclosed in a small plastic package. For integrated circuits variety of packages are used. The package used for integrated circuit is dependable on level of interconnectivity required.Visit for TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-654 By region, the global surface mount technology market can be segmented into seven regions such as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan as separate region and Middle East & Africa. Out of all this region, Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly during the period of forecast because of booming electronic contract manufacturing into this region. Additionally, rapid growth of industrialization, GDP growth and growing infrastructural development into this region offers great growth prospects for the growth of surface mount technology market. Latin America region is expected to be second fastest growing market, followed by Asia Pacific region. Western Europe market is affected severely due to volatile economic conditions. However European government started focusing on development of hardware & manufacturing industry by supporting innovative start-ups and electronic manufacturing clusters in the region.Surface Mount Technology Market: Key PlayersKey market players in global surface mount technology are ASM Assembly Systems GmbH & Co. KG, CyberOptics, FUJI MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD., Juki Corporation, Hitachi High Technologies Corporation, Nikon Metrology NV Tioga Limited, Allen Organ Company LLC., Omron Corporation and Panasonic Corporation. Key players are primarily focusing on research & development activity in order to develop innovative technology. PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-11 10:13:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 386 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Voltaic Minerals Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, BC (FSCWire) - Voltaic Minerals Corp. (TSX Venture:VLT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Voltaic Minerals Corp. and Lithium Selective Technologies, Inc. Process UpdateTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Voltaic Minerals Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Voltaic Minerals Corp.Source: Voltaic Minerals Corp. (TSX Venture: VLT, FWB: 2P61)Date: April 11, 2017Time: 3:05 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Voltaic Minerals Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) 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. These new discoveries will also help inform future ocean world exploration - including NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper mission planned for launch in the 2020s - and the broader search for life beyond the Earth. By Indo-Asian News Service: NASA is all set to reveal a news conference this week with new results about ocean worlds in our solar system. The announcements will be related particularly to findings from the agency's Saturn probe Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble space telescope, NASA said in a statement. These new discoveries will also help inform future ocean world exploration -- including NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper mission planned for launch in the 2020s -- and the broader search for life beyond the Earth. advertisement The event, to be held at the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Thursday at 2 p.m. EDT (11.30 p.m. India time), will include remote participation from experts across the US. NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which was launched in 1997 and arrived at Saturn in 2004, is set to end its 20-year journey on September 15 this year with a planned plunge. The agency's planned Europa Clipper would place a spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter in order to perform a detailed investigation of the giant planet's moon Europa -- a world that shows strong evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust and which could host conditions favourable for life. Also Read: NASA delays super pressure balloon launch due to bad weather NASAs Saturn probe begins Grand Finale of 20-year journey Watch Video: --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba today embarked on a five-day visit to Malaysia which is aimed at enhancing bilateral maritime cooperation. During the visit, he will hold talks with the top brass of the Malaysian defence establishment including the chief of Royal Malaysian Defence Forces and the chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force of Malaysia. advertisement The Indian and the Royal Malaysian navies cooperate with each other in terms of training, operational interactions as well as interact at various multilateral forums. "The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral maritime relations between India and Malaysia and is expected to provide a major boost to defence relations between India and Malaysia," the Defence Ministry said. Warships from both navies visit each others ports quite regularly. An inaugural Field Training Exercise is also scheduled between both navies in June, coinciding with the visit of Indian naval ships to Malaysia. The Admiral, in addition to holding important bilateral discussions with various dignitaries, will also visit major naval establishments of the Royal Malaysian Navy including the submarine base. PTI MPB ZMN --- ENDS --- CBRE Global Investors has announced the appointment of Ronald van der Waals as Fund Manager of the CBRE Dutch Office Fund (DOF). He succeeds Sophie van Oosterom, who acted as the interim Fund Manager of DOF. Ronald van der Waals, joined CBRE Global Investors in 2008, and is currently the portfolio di... [] In what could be seen as a rerun of issues experienced by the London property market in recent years, the Brazil government is under extreme pressure to tackle the problem of secretive companies operating in the property market. This is an issue which was successfully tackled by the UK authorities when it was found that billions of pounds of London prime real estate were owned by offshore companies. The fight against potential money-laundering and other criminal activities obviously goes on but the UK government could be seen as something of a blueprint for their Brazilian counterparts. Is this a major problem in Brazil? A report by Transparency International found that $2.7 billion worth of property in Sao Paulo is owned by secretive offshore companies. Of the 3452 properties highlighted it was found that they were controlled by just 236 companies, the majority of which are registered in either Panama, the British Virgin Islands, Switzerland, the USA or Uruguay. Historically these areas have been strongly connected to alleged money-laundering and other criminal activities although it is worth reiterating that it is not illegal to own real estate via an offshore company. This comes at a time when Brazil is under extreme pressure after an array of politicians were prosecuted for money-laundering and criminal activity surrounding one of the countrys largest oil producers. In many ways this call by Transparency International could not have come at a better time for bone fide real estate investors or a worse time for the Brazilian government. Strong link to shell companies Again, the fact that an offshore company owns real estate does not necessarily mean there is anything untoward. However, when you consider that 70% of large corruption cases analysed by the World Bank revolved around shell companies being used to mask the true owner of various assets, this does not bode well. It is also worth mentioning that real estate assets have been a favourite of money launderers for some time now with properties bought and sold relatively quickly and the sale proceeds reintroduced into the system as bona fides funds. In many cases it is almost impossible to identify the underlying owners if assets are held offshore via shell companies. However, it is possible for the Brazilian government to pass new regulations which would legally oblige parties acting for buyers and sellers to identify the underlying parties. What kind of impact would this have on the Brazilian real estate market in the short term? Nobody really knows.. Transparency is important Transparency is very important in all investment markets because not only does it allow the authorities to identify potential criminal activity but it also boosts investor sentiment. Investor sentiment should never be underestimated because it can literally move markets and lead to the switching of significant funds in and out of a particular market. The Brazilian government has been under pressure for some time to make the political arena more transparent and now it seems that the real estate sector has joined that list. Will the Brazilian government react to this call for great transparency? In reality they cannot afford to ignore it If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. Canal Decasa has started producing its first Ultra HD shows, set to premiere in June when the networks 4K feed will go live. AMC Networks International Iberia has announced that its first in-house 4K shows for Canal Decasa have entered the production phase. The programming will focus on decor, fashion and beauty, following the themed lifestyle line-up of the pay-TV network.The fourth season of Reciclarte, the new series Visteme Laura and the new episodes of Decorar con flores will lead the revamped 4K schedule.The Ultra HD programming is the spearhead of AMC Networks 4K strategy in Spain. Last month, the group announced its intention to increase its UHDTV footprint throughout 2017 Reciclarte, Visteme Laura and Decorar con flores will premiere along with Canal Decasa 4K , a feed set to go live exclusively on Vodafone TV next June.As part of the strategy, Canal Cocina will also launch an Ultra HD signal during summer, though no 4K shows have been unveiled so far.Both premium networks will be joining documentary channel Odisea 4K, which was the first channel owned by AMC Network International Iberia to be available in UHD resolution. The opposition election bloc comprising former President Levon Ter-Petrossian's Armenian National Congress (HAK) and the People's Party of Armenia (HZhK) headed by Stepan Demirchian announced on April 7 it will appeal to the Constitutional Court to annul the outcome of the April 2 parliamentary elections, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. The bloc claimed that "large-scale and systematic violations of the electoral process," including widespread vote-buying and the intimidation of voters by government loyalists, precluded the free expression of the people's will. According to the official preliminary election results, just four of the five political parties and four electoral blocs that participated will be represented in the new legislature, in which the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) retained its majority. The Congress-HZhK bloc was not one of them: it polled just 1.65 percent of the vote, far less than the 7 percent minimum required for electoral blocs to win representation. The bloc's allegations of malpractice, and specifically vote-buying, are partially corroborated by the preliminary assessment of the election by observers deployed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Parliament, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Their joint statement assessed the vote as "tainted by credible information about vote-buying, and pressure on civil servants and employees of private companies." Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan on April 3, Heidi Hautala, who headed the observers from the European Parliament, similarly expressed regret that the election "process was undermined by credible, recurring information of vote buying, intimidation of voters, notably civil servants in schools and hospitals and employees of private companies, as well as abuse of administrative positions." Allegations of vote-buying surfaced soon after the election campaign formally got under way on March 5. Just days later, senior HShK member Levon Zurabian described how a group of voters showed up at Congress headquarters in Yerevan on the mistaken assumption that it was a government office, and asked to sign up for the financial aid they had been promised in return for voting for the HHK, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. Environment Minister Artsvik Minasian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun, the HHK's junior coalition partner, similarly said "various candidates or individuals have promised money or services [to voters]." Varuzhan Hoktanian, the head of Armenia's leading anticorruption watchdog, which is affiliated with Transparency International, was more specific, telling RFE/RL that reports his NGO had received "lead us to conclude that vote bribes are mainly paid by the ruling party." He described vote-buying as "a really serious problem." Other Armenian media, too, reported suspected widespread vote-buying and decried as lacking credibility pledges by senior officials -- such as police chief Vladimir Gasparian -- to combat such abuses. The HHK was, however, not the only party that sought to win over voters by offering material incentives. Bargavach Hayastan, which is headed by wealthy businessman Gagik Tsarukian, also promised such benefits, for which the party received a formal reprimand in early March from the Central Election Commission. The newspaper Hraparak described how "desperately poor" people "besieged" Tsarukian at his meetings with voters to beg for financial assistance. (The party placed second, with 31 parliament mandates.) The initial assessment of the election by the international observer mission said that "some government officials indicated that vote-buying had become an entrenched part of political culture, stating that accepting money or other benefits in exchange for votes was often justified by extreme poverty and lack of economic opportunities." In the wake of the vote, HHK spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov implicitly admitted that vote-buying had taken place, while insisting that it did not have "a substantial impact" on the outcome of the ballot. That latter assertion is open to question, however. The opposition bloc Yelk (Way Out), which placed third with nine parliament mandates, claimed in an April 4 statement that "tens of thousands of citizens were involved in the chain of vote-bribe distribution and acceptance." The HHK polled enough votes to give it the 54 percent of parliament mandates that constitutes a stable majority (58 of 105) and thus obviates the need to form a new coalition. In 2012 and 2007, the HHK garnered 69 and 64, respectively, of the 131 parliament mandates. Even if the HHK victory was not the direct result of malpractice, this election represented a shift in the prevalent pattern of procedural violations that had led international observer missions to characterize the parliamentary ballots in 1999 and 2003 as falling short of Armenia's OSCE commitments and of other standards for democratic elections. In previous ballots, the most frequent and egregious violations registered by international observers took place during the actual vote (multiple, proxy, or absentee voting) or the vote count and tabulation. In 2012, for example, there were major glitches in the use of the ink used to mark voters' fingers in an attempt to preclude multiple voting, which faded shortly after application. And observers assessed the vote count as "bad" or "very bad" in almost 20 percent of the polling stations where they were present (24 of 125.) The corresponding figure in 2007 had been 17 percent. Two factors may have contributed to the change in the incidence of various forms of fraud. The first is the disastrous economic situation (a World Bank report released late last year assessed the number of Armenians living below of the poverty line of $2.5 per day at almost one in four) and the eclipse of ideology as a factor motivating voters. A commentary posted on JAMnet opined that "there is an ongoing process in Armenia, where forces lacking ideology are winning over ideological ones.... People tend to vote not for words, but rather for a road to be built in a village, for doors or windows to be installed in a house, for a salary; they tend to vote depending on the affiliation of their employer to this or that party, depending on where they live." In other words, given only minor differences in the programs of the various parties seeking election, economic necessity may have been deciding factor determining which party people voted for. The second was the installation of technology, financed largely by the European Union and the United States, intended to make the voting procedure more transparent and thus minimize the opportunities for fraud. Those measures, codified in amendments to the election law drafted jointly last year by the HHK and the parliamentary opposition, include the use of electronic voter-authentication devices in all the country's 2,000 or so polling stations and the installation of web cameras in some 1,500 of them so that the voting and ballot count could be broadcast live. Those measures may, however, have proven counterproductive if, as seems possible, they impelled the HHK to rely more heavily on alternative measures of influencing the election outcome that are more difficult to detect and prove. (The then prosecutor-general was quoted in the OSCE final report on the May 2007 parliamentary elections as making the point that vote-buying is not, per se, a criminal offense, and that any attempt to bring a court case on charges of bribery would be contingent on the recipient of the bribe incriminating himself by admitting receipt of it.) This time, as the newspaper 168 Zham noted, "irregularities were mainly committed outside polling stations. Within the polling stations themselves there were no falsifications that affected the election results." In this sense, the paper concluded, the newly formed parliament will be "'technically' legitimate." In February 2008, Ter-Petrossian similarly appealed to the Constitutional Court to annul the results of the presidential election in which (according to official returns that he claimed were falsified) he placed second to then Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian. Protests by Ter-Petrossian's supporters against that ruling escalated into violent clashes with security forces in which 10 people died. Five years later, former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovanisian likewise appealed his defeat to Sarkisian in the 2013 presidential ballot, with similar lack of success. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL A Polish government commission says a plane carrying Polands president may have disintegrated due to an explosion shortly before it crashed in western Russia in 2010, killing all people on board. The preliminary finding from a government-appointed commission was released on April 10, the 7th anniversary of the crash near the Russian city of Smolensk that killed President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others. The delegation, which included Kaczynskis wife, Polands top military leadership, and the governor of Polands central bank, was traveling to Russia to commemorate thousands Polish officers who were executed in the Katyn Forest by Soviet secret police in 1940. An investigation by Poland's previous, centrist government ruled that the crash of the governments Soviet-made TU-154 airplane in heavy fog during an attempt to land was the result of pilot error. But Kaczynskis twin brother, Jaroslaw, has said an onboard explosion could have caused the crash. The ruling party that he leads, Law and Justice, launched a fresh probe into the incident. The commission now investigating the crash was created by Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz, who last month accused Polands former President Donald Tusk, who is the current European Council president, of committing "diplomatic treason" in connection with the earlier probe. The accusations have been dismissed as ridiculous by both Tusk and Russia. "Much indicates that on April 10, 2010, an explosion took place on board the government Tupolev plane," said the commentary accompanying a video released by the commission on April 10. "As a result of the conducted experiments, we can say that the most likely cause of the explosion was a thermobaric charge initiating a strong shockwave," it added. Waclaw Berczynski, who leads a team of Polish investigators, told public broadcaster TVP Info on April 10 that the TU-154 "started to break up and lose parts in the air and that the tree that the plane clipped with its wing "had no impact on the crash." The commission also repeated allegations made by Polish prosecutors last week that Russian air traffic controllers had deliberately directed the plane to the incorrect descent path. The prosecutors said they would press charges against the two air-traffic controllers, while Russia rejected those charges. The claims by the commission are likely to heighten tensions between Warsaw and Moscow, which has rebuffed Polish requests to return the planes wreckage. Russia says it will do so only after it has completed its own inquiry into the crash. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Over the past five years, Iranian officials and state media have touted the "indigenous" ingenuity in the Islamic republic's mass-produced Mohajer-6 combat drone, which Russia has deployed in its war against Ukraine. But a new investigation by Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, has found that electronic components underpinning Tehran's production of the Mohajer-6 are far from homegrown. The Mohajer-6 drones contain components produced by companies from the United States and the European Union, both of which have sanctions restricting the export to Iran of such technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes dual-use technology. The presence of these components in the Mohajer-6 does not mean their producers are in violation of U.S. or EU sanctions, and RFE/RL does not have evidence that this is the case. The investigation also found Mohajer-6 components produced in China, including a real-time mini-camera made by a Hong Kong firm that said it was "very sorry" that its products were being used in war. At least one major foreign-produced component of the Mohajer-6 has previously been identified by reporters in a Mohajer-6 recovered from the battlefield by the Ukrainian military: an engine made by the Austrian manufacturer BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, a subsidiary of the Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products. But Ukrainian intelligence assesses that the Iranian combat drone contains components from nearly three dozen different technology companies based in North America, the EU, Japan, and Taiwan, the Schemes investigation has found. A majority of these companies are based in the United States. A Schemes reporter who personally inspected the foreign-made drone parts identified components produced by at least 15 of these manufacturers. These include parts made by the U.S. technology firm Texas Instruments, which said in a statement that it does not sell into Russia or Iran and complies with applicable laws and regulations. To identify these components, Schemes reporters examined parts of the Mohajer-6 drone that the Ukrainian military shot down over the Black Sea near the Mykolayiv region coastal town of Ochakiv. They also reviewed Ukrainian intelligence records on the sources of these components. The drone also contains a microchip bearing the logo of a California technology company and a thermal-imaging camera that Ukrainian intelligence says may have been produced by a firm based in Oregon or China. Both Western officials and experts on illicit technology transfers say Iran has built a broad, global procurement network using front companies and other proxies in third countries to obtain dual-use technology from the United States and the EU. "Exporters will look at the request coming from the [United Arab Emirates] or another third country, and they'll think that they're selling to an end user based there, when really the end user is in Iran," Daniel Salisbury, a senior research fellow with the Department of War Studies at King's College London, told RFE/RL. In September, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions specifically targeting Iranian companies that Washington links to the production and transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia for deployment in its war on Ukraine. Fighting rages with no sign of an end more than eight months after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion on February 24. "Non-Iranian, non-Russian entities should also exercise great caution to avoid supporting either the development of Iranian UAVs or their transfer, or sale of any military equipment to Russia for use against Ukraine," U.S. Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement announcing the sanctions. Chinese Cameras, California Chips Development of the Mohajer-6, the latest model in a series of drones Tehran has used since the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, began in 2017, while mass production began the following year. During a ceremony commemorating the Islamic Revolution, then-Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said that the new tactical drone could perform surveillance, reconnaissance, as well as help destroy targets. Hatami extolled what he described as the drones domestic design, a portrayal echoed in later reports by Iranian media. "The homegrown drone was made through cooperation among the army, Defense Ministry, and Quds Aviation Industries," the English-language Tehran Times quoted an Iranian military official as saying in July 2019. The dismantling of the Mohajer-6 drone recovered by the Ukrainian military shows that the UAV is packed with foreign components. One of these parts is a bright-orange real-time mini-camera produced by the Hong Kong-based company RunCam Technology. Documents seen by Schemes show that Ukrainian intelligence has also identified RunCam as the producer of the camera, which likely assists in remote guidance of the drone. Founded in 2013, RunCam is involved in the development and production of so-called "first-person-view" real-time cameras. "Our users are our friends," the company's website states. The site says that RunCam has two authorized Iranian dealers. Reached by Schemes for comment about the use of its camera in the Iranian drone deployed by Russia in its war on Ukraine, RunCam said in an e-mailed response: "We are very sorry to know that RunCam's products were used in warfare. RunCam is specialized in producing products for model aircraft hobby. We never contact any customer related to military." The provenance of the Mohajer-6 drone-s thermal-imaging camera is more difficult to determine. A Ukrainian intelligence assessment reviewed by Schemes indicates it could be the Ventus Hot model produced by Sierra-Olympic Technologies, based in the U.S. state of Oregon, but that it also resembles a cheaper analog available for sale by the Chinese company Qingdao Thundsea Marine Technology. Qingdao Thundsea Marine Technology said in an e-mailed statement that the company did not "have any business with Iran," because "it will affect our business." The company said it specializes in marine services and is not involved in manufacturing. It also said that it did not have a single successful order for its online advertisement of the thermal-imaging camera resembling the one recovered from the Iranian drone. Sierra-Olympic Technologies did not respond to a request for comment on the possible use of its thermal-imaging cameras in Iranian combat drones in time for publication. Microchips recovered from the drone also featured the logos of the California-based company Linear Technology Corporation and its parent company, the Massachusetts-based semiconductor company Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI). ADI did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment on the possible use of its technology in the Iranian combat drone. Schemes reporters also observed among the components of the Iranian drone a voltage step-down converter produced by Texas Instruments. The company said in an e-mailed statement that it "does not sell into Russia, Belarus, or Iran." "TI complies with applicable laws and regulations in the countries where we operate, and does not support or condone the use of our products in applications they weren't designed for," Texas Instruments said. Schemes reporters also saw several components produced by the California-based technology manufacturer Xilinx, whose parent company is the multinational semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), also based in California. According to Ukrainian intelligence, one of these Xilinx components was integrated into a video data-link module located in the wing of the Mohajer-6 that helped carry out attack missions. "This module transmits information from the board to the missile head. That is, guidance for the missile. With the help of this module, it was possible to guide the missile to the target," a Ukrainian military intelligence representative told Schemes. AMD did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. 'No Authorization' Previous media reports about the components of the Mohajer-6 drone, including by CNN, have shown evidence that its engine was produced by the Austrian manufacturer BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, whose parent company is the Quebec-based Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). The Canadian company responded to the reports on October 21, saying in a statement that it "has not authorized and has not given any authorization to its distributors to supply military UAV manufacturers in Iran or Russia." "As soon as we were made aware of this situation, we started an investigation to determine the source of the engines," BRP said. . But Schemes reporters found that the authorized Rotax distributor listed on the Austrian manufacturer's website advertised itself as a Rotax aircraft engines distributor for Iran as recently as December 2020. The distributor, the Italian company Luciano Sorlini S.p.a., has posted multiple magazine advertisements on its websites in which it describes itself as a Rotax distributor for numerous countries. Prior to January 2021, Iran was listed among these countries. The Rotax website also lists a Tehran-based company -- MahtaWing -- as an official service center for its engines. The company, known in Persian as Mahtabal, conducts repairs of Rotax engines, including the Rotax 912 iS, the engine that was found in the Mohajer-6 combat drone recovered in Ukraine. BRP said in an e-mailed statement on November 4 that while Luciano Sorlini S.p.a. is the appointed distributor of Rotax aircraft engines in Iran, "since 2019, no Rotax engines have been sold in Iran, and we will not sell any engines to Iran moving forward." The Canadian company said it had "internal controls" that "significantly" restrict the sale of its products for military purposes. "For example, the sale of any BRP product to operators with any military activity in Iran, Turkey, and Russia is strictly prohibited," BRP said. "We conduct our business in compliance with all EU, Canadian, and U.S. applicable regulations." BRP described the Iranian company MahtaWing as a "local service center" that "offers maintenance services for previously sold aircraft engines." Shahriar Siami of RFE/RL's Radio Farda contributed to this report. Serbia and the United States agreed to conduct six or seven joint military and police training drills, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on April 10 after meeting with U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain in Belgrade. During his one-day visit, McCain attended a training exercise involving the country's elite police and NATO military forces from Slovenia and the United States. "Joint drills are important" to show the Balkan nations are ready to deal with militant fighters returning from the MIddle East, where U.S.-backed coalition forces are on the verge of recapturing Mosul and Raqqa from the Islamic State, McCain said. Vucic said Serbia will not join NATO as it seeks to strike a balance between developing closer ties with the West through membership in the European Union and maintaining friendly ties with Russia.. Even so, last year Serbia conducted 206 joint military activities with NATO, versus 17 with Russia. It will later this year participate in a training drill in Kazakhstan staged by the Russia-controlled Collective Security Treaty Organization. Vucic said he and McCain also discussed talks between Serbia and Kosovo on normalizing relations, and the political crises in neighboring Macedonia and Bosnia. Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS DUSHANBE -- Uzbekistan's national airline has resumed flights from Tashkent to Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, some 25 years after such flights were halted. A plane from the state-run Ozbekiston Havo Yollari landed at Dushanbe's international airport on April 11 with 29 passengers aboard. The resumption of regular commercial flights between the two Central Asian countries originally had been scheduled for February, but was postponed several times due to what both sides said were "technical" and "bureaucratic" reasons. Ozbekiston Havo Yollari said earlier that it plans to operate regular Tashkent to Dushanbe flights twice a week using Airbus A-320 passenger planes. The April 11 flight was the first direct civilian passenger flight between the two capitals since 1992. Relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been strained for years over disputes about transportation transit routes, border security, and the sharing of water resources. What pushes a teenager to suddenly drop out of high school? The answer: any number of very stressful "trigger" events that occur in their final few months in class, researchers at Universite de Montreal's Public Health Research Institute have found. In fact, adolescents exposed to severe stressors are more than twice as likely to drop out in the following few months compared to similar schoolmates who are not exposed, says the study led by UdeM pyschoeducation professor Veronique Dupere. The stressors are not always school-related. In fact, most occur away from school and can involve family members (divorcing parents, for example), conflicts with peers, work issues (being laid off), health issues (a car accident) and legal issues. Previous studies of high-school dropouts have concentrated on individual triggers, such as teen pregnancy. The UdeM study, published in late March in Child Development, looked at a wide array of severe events across the spectrum of adolescent experience, in and away from school. "That's how we were able to show for the first time that the prevalence of these events is quite high in the months preceding a student dropping out of school," Dupere said. "It happens quite frequently, and it's not just one type of event they're exposed to; there are many." Dropping out is usually seen as the result of vulnerabilities a student has exhibited in school over a long period, including learning problems at an early age. What is less well-understood is why students with no history of difficulty in school quit suddenly, or why vulnerable students who quit do so at different times, some earlier than others. The UdeM study looked at 545 adolescents of about 16 years of age at 12 public high schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in and around Montreal between 2012 and 2015, where the average dropout rate was 36 per cent, more than twice the Quebec average. The students were interviewed at length about stressors in their life over the previous year. One third of the participants had just dropped out, another third were schoolmates with a similar academic profile and family background, and a final third were average, not-at-risk students. The interviews focused on two types of stressors: "discrete" events (e.g., the relapse of a bipolar parent) and chronic difficulties lasting at least a month (e.g., incapacitation due to a concussion). Adolescents were asked about stressors in school, at work, in housing, with money, involving criminal or legal issues, accidents or health problems, personal relationships (with friends, family and romantic partners), and more. Specific questions then honed in on areas such as education: course failures, program or school changes, conflicts with teachers, suspensions and such. The study found significant differences between dropouts and the two other groups in their exposure to severe stressors in the three months before the interview. In those three months, exposure to at least one severe stressor spiked among dropouts and reached nearly 40 per cent, more than twice as high as that of at-risk and average students (18% and 16.8 %, respectively). Moreover, the results showed that exposure to two or more severe events was 12 times higher among dropouts (6%) than among at-risk (0.5%) and average (0.6%) schoolmates. About one-third of the severe difficulties that dropouts faced were school-related (23% involved protracted course failure, 6% involved chronic conflicts with school personnel), whereas one-quarter (25%) involved recurring family conflicts. Chronic health problems made up 18% of the overall total, distributed about evenly between the participants themselves and their significant others. Problems with peers and romantic relationships accounted for 16%, recurring criminal or legal problems were rare (2%), and the final 10% were miscellaneous problems. Other studies have suggested that disruptive events like pregnancies, arrest, hospitalization or changing schools are associated with increased chances of dropping out. The UdeM study goes further, showing that about two out of every five dropouts are exposed to some kind of significant stressful event several months before quitting school. In other words, recent stressors are quite common among dropouts, more so than previously thought. The new study also clarifies when stressors matter for dropping out: in the few months following exposure. "These findings show that the risk of high school dropout is not predetermined over the long run," Dupere said. "Rather, it fluctuates and becomes higher when adolescents have to deal with challenging situations in their lives. School personnel thus need to be aware of their students' changing needs in and out of school to provide them with the right kind of support at the right time." By Press Trust of India: From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Apr 11 (PTI) The Nepal government today tabled a new Constitution amendment bill in Parliament with a view to addressing the concerns of the agitating Madhes-based parties which are demanding more representation and re-demarcation of state boundaries. According to the new bill, the government may form a federal commission to recommend it on the issues relating to the number of provinces and their boundaries. advertisement The coalition government registered the new Constitution amendment bill at the Parliament Secretariat after Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajaya Shankar Nayak withdrew the previous bill tabled in Parliament on November 29 last year. A Cabinet meeting yesterday endorsed the new bill with a view to addressing the demands of agitating Madhes-based parties and bringing them on board the local polls scheduled for May 14. The new bill aims at addressing some of the key demands raised by United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF). The Parliament meeting was later adjourned for eight days, Speaker Onsari Gharti said. The Madhesi parties, that have been demanding more representation in all state mechanism, are opposing the local body elections slated for May 14. Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, launched a prolonged agitation between September 2015 and February last year against the implementation of the new Constitution which they felt marginalised the Terai community. They are demanding more representation and re-demarcation of state boundaries in the Constitution. The protest had resulted in the death of at least 50 people. PTI SBP CPS AKJ CPS --- ENDS --- Pest management professionals battling the ongoing resurgence of bed bugs are wise to employ a well-rounded set of measures that reduces reliance on chemical control, as new research shows the early signs of resistance developing among bed bugs to two commonly used insecticides. In a study to be published next week in the Entomological Society of America's Journal of Economic Entomology, researchers at Purdue University found significantly reduced susceptibility to chlorfenapyr among three out of 10 bed bug populations collected in the field, and they found reduced susceptibility to bifenthrin among five of the populations. The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) already shows significant resistance to deltamethrin and some other pyrethroid-class insecticides, which is viewed as a main cause of its resurgence as an urban pest. In fact, 68 percent of pest management professionals identify bed bugs as the most difficult pest to control, according to a 2015 Bugs Without Borders survey of pest management professionals conducted by the National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky. Little research had yet been done, however, to examine potential resistance to bifenthrin (also a pyrethroid) or chlorfenapyr, a pyrrole-class insecticide, which led the Purdue researchers to investigate. "In the past, bed bugs have repeatedly shown the ability to develop resistance to products overly relied upon for their control. The findings of the current study also show similar trends in regard to chlorfenapyr and bifenthrin resistance development in bed bugs," says Ameya D. Gondhalekar, Ph.D., research assistant professor at Purdue's Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management. "With these findings in mind and from an insecticide resistance management perspective, both bifenthrin and chlorfenapyr should be integrated with other methods used for bed bug elimination in order to preserve their efficacy in the long term." They tested 10 populations of bed bugs that were collected and contributed by pest management professionals and university researchers in Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, DC, measuring the percent of bed bugs killed within seven days of exposure to the insecticides. Generally, populations in which more than 25 percent of the beg bugs survived were deemed to have reduced susceptibility to the insecticide based on statistical analysis performed in comparison to the susceptible laboratory population. Interestingly, the researchers found a correlation between chlorfenapyr and bifenthrin susceptibility among the bed bug populations, which was unexpected because the two insecticides work in different ways. Gondhalekar says further research is needed to understand why the bed bugs that are less susceptible can withstand exposure to these insecticides, especially chlorfenapyr. In any case, adherence to integrated pest management practices will slow the further development of resistance. "There is a plethora of research that has shown that if insecticides are integrated with additional control measures such as vacuuming, steam or heat, mattress encasements, traps, and desiccant dusts, effective bed bug control can be accomplished and theoretically this should reduce the risk of resistance build-up in populations," Gondhalekar says. After years of attempts, passing of Philadelphia's "soda tax" came down to appealing to people's purse strings, not their health, according to a new Drexel University study. Jonathan Purtle, DrPH, assistant professor in the Dornsife School of Public Health, led the study that took a behind-the-scenes look at the strategy undertaken to make Philadelphia just the second U.S. city at the time to pass a sugar-sweetened beverage tax. And it appears that that was accomplished through focusing pre-kindergarten education, which enjoyed wide support, rather than the tax's health impact. "The tax was conceptualized and framed as a revenue-generation ordinance, not a public health ordinance," Purtle explained. "Thus, it appears it was rather easy to avoid health messaging. Pretty much everything was focused on how the revenue from the law would be used -- not the potential health benefits." Purtle was joined by colleagues from the Dornsife School of Public Health Brett Langellier, PhD, and Felice Le-Scherban, PhD, to publish the study in Public Health Management & Practice. Between April and June 2016, Purtle and company interviewed nine people behind the policymaking process or who had followed the strategy of it. Among those officials were a pair of city council members, city agency officials, a community-based advocate, a news reporter and a researcher. Additionally, the study team monitored news coverage in the months leading up to the passage of the tax on June 16, 2016 (which put a 1.5 cent per ounce levy on sugar-sweetened beverages beginning this year) to help assess findings from the interviews. They found that the arguments for health benefits -- which had played a prominent role in two previous, failed attempts at a sugary beverage tax -- were deemed too controversial to successfully pass the tax this time around. Although health benefits are undeniable when less sugar is taken in -- lowered obesity and occurrence of diabetes -- any arguments framed around that were largely left untouched. advertisement "I think there's an analysis in this administration that [the tax] failed twice before in Philadelphia because it appeared to be too much of 'nanny state' politics," an official with a city education agency told the researchers during the policymaking process. With that in mind, the policymakers decided to pin the tax to something that already had broad support: prekindergarten education. A poll around that time showed that 84 percent of Philadelphians felt that prekindergarten education was "very important." With such support for that issue, the messaging around the tax almost exclusively centered on it being a revenue stream for funding prekindergarten education across the city. "[Jim Kenney] framed it as not a health debate, but he framed it as a debate over the source of tax revenue for pre-K [education] and expanded recreation facilities," the local news reporter the study team interviewed told them. "He obviously knew that [sugar-sweetened beverage tax proposals] had lost any number of times in any number of cities before, most of which tried the health argument." Purtle and his team found that avoiding health-related discussions allowed for a "wide-range" of research to be applied to the tax, such as studies that presented the long-term benefits of prekindergarten on education-related outcomes and cost-savings related to it. Framing the tax as an education-based policy allowed for its proponents to use slogans like "Our Kids Are Worth It" to counter arguments related to economic concerns. It was only toward the end of the process -- just three weeks before the council vote -- that policymakers decided to use messaging regarding health benefits. advertisement "Interviewees felt that the press conference served to 'health-ify' the sugar-sweetened beverage tax proposal at the very end of the policy debate and infuse health research into the policy discourse surrounding the proposal," Purtle, Langellier and Le-Scherban wrote. "This could have been influential earlier, too, but it also could have been counterproductive and amplified the outcry against the bill as opponents could then run with the 'don't tell me what to eat and drink' nanny state argument," Purtle added. Ultimately, the tax passed by a 13-4 margin. "It was exciting to see things play out after systematically collecting different perspectives," Purtle said. Estimates since the passage of the tax put the total of revenue derived from it at $32 million for both Philadelphia and the state over the next five years. And in last November, similar taxes passed in four cities: San Francisco, Oakland and Albany, California, and Boulder, Colorado. Purtle believes the strategy used to pass the Philadelphia tax could be used elsewhere -- though he is unsure whether or not the results of a current Commonwealth Court battle over the tax will affect the attractiveness of it. "Other cities might want to consider how revenue will be used as opposed to potential health benefits when they're trying to pass a tax like this," Purtle said. "But I'm not sure whether the court ruling will affect the strategies used to pass similar, future taxes." Honesty plays a key role in social and economic life. Without honesty, promises are not kept, contracts are not enforced, taxes remain unpaid. Despite the importance of honesty for society, its biological basis remains poorly understood. Researchers at the University of Zurich, together with colleagues from Chicago and Boston, now show that honest behavior can be increased by means of non-invasive brain stimulation. The results of their research highlight a deliberation process between honesty and self-interest in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC). Occasional lies for material self interest In their die-rolling experiment, the participants could increase their earnings by cheating rather than telling the truth (see box below). The researchers found that people cheated a significant amount of the time. However, many participants also stuck to the truth. "Most people seem to weigh motives of self-interest against honesty on a case-by-case basis; they cheat a little but not on every possible occasion." explains Michel Marechal, UZH Professor for Experimental Economics. However, about 8% of the participants cheated in whenever possible and maximized their profit. Less lies through brain stimulation The researchers applied transcranial direct current stimulation over a region in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC). This noninvasive brain stimulation method makes brain cells more sensitive i.e., they are more likely to be active. When the researchers applied this stimulation during the task, participants were less likely to cheat. However, the number of consistent cheaters remained the same. Christian Ruff, UZH Professor of Neuroeconomics, points out "This finding suggests that the stimulation mainly reduced cheating in participants who actually experienced a moral conflict, but did not influence the decision making process in those not in those who were committed to maximizing their earnings." Conflict between money and morals The researchers found that the stimulation only affected the process of weighing up material versus moral motives. They found no effects for other types of conflict that do not involve moral concerns (i.e., financial decisions involving risk, ambiguity, and delayed rewards). Similarly, an additional experiment showed that the stimulation did not affect honest behavior when cheating led to a payoff for another person instead of oneself and the conflict was therefore between two moral motives. The pattern of results suggests that the stimulated neurobiological process specifically resolves trade-offs between material self-interest and honesty. Developing an understanding of the biological basis of behavior According to the researchers, these findings are an important first step in identifying the brain processes that allow people to behave honestly. "These brain processes could lie at the heart of individual differences and possibly pathologies of honest behavior," explains Christian Ruff. And finally, the new results raise the question to what degree honest behavior is based on biological predispositions, which may be crucial for jurisdiction. Michel Marechal summarizes: "If breaches of honesty indeed represent an organic condition, our results question to what extent people can be made fully liable for their wrongdoings." Obesity raises the prevalence of high blood pressure among adolescents but the increase is particularly pronounced among Hispanics compared to white, African-American or Asian ethnic groups, according to a study by researchers at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Results were published in the journal Pediatrics. While increasing body mass index (BMI), a measure of obesity, was associated with increased risk for high blood pressure in all four examined ethnic groups, the prevalence of high blood pressure was almost 6 times higher among obese Hispanic adolescents compared to normal weight Hispanics. Almost 25 percent of the Hispanic adolescents in the study were obese. Here is what the researchers found when they compared the prevalence of high blood pressure between obese and normal weight adolescents in the other ethnic groups: Obese white adolescents had an approximately fourfold increase; Obese Asian adolescents, though few, had an approximately threefold increase; Obese African-American adolescents had an approximately twofold increase. "We believe we are the first to compare adolescent blood pressures to body mass index in these four major ethnic/racial groups," said Joshua Samuels, M.D., M.P.H., the study's senior author, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School and an attending pediatric nephrologist at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. While researchers are not sure what is behind the elevated rates for Hispanics, they believe health care providers can use this information to assess more accurately the health risks of Hispanic adolescents. "This is also information parents need to know," he said. High blood pressure affects about 75 million adults in the United States and contributes to about 1,000 deaths a day. It damages the arteries, which can lead to issues with the kidneys, heart and eyes. Findings were based on an analysis of 21,062 adolescents participating in a high blood pressure screening program. Tests were conducted at 27 secondary schools in Greater Houston between 2000 and 2015. McGovern Medical School conducted the on-going screenings through the Houston Pediatric and Adolescent Hypertension Program. Previously, the researchers had established that almost 3 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 19 have sustained high blood pressure and that obesity contributes to high blood pressure. "The prevalence of high blood pressure among Hispanic adolescents rises sharply with weight gain," Samuels said. "Normal weight Hispanic adolescents had the lowest level of high blood pressure among the four groups but obese Hispanic adolescents had the highest." For purposes of the study, high blood pressure was defined as having blood pressure at the 95th percentile or higher for three consecutive screenings. Students in the 85th to 94th percentile of BMI were considered overweight and children at the 95th percentile or higher obese. Samuels said additional studies are needed to gauge the impact of adolescent obesity on other cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea. Cardiothoracic surgeons are fully invested in the patient-centered, team-based model of care, guiding patients through the entire transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) experience, from the decision to undergo TAVR to discharge from the hospital and return to normal activities, according to a new survey published online in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Key findings include cardiac surgeons are highly engaged and actively involved in all aspects of the TAVR patient process, the heart team model for TAVR works well in improving the efficiency and quality of care for patients, and cardiologists and cardiac surgeons are working together at three out of four centers performing TAVR. "Not only are cardiac surgeons actively participating during the preoperative and intraoperative phases of TAVR, but they also are involved in the postoperative care of TAVR patients," said Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD, from Houston Methodist, who is STS Treasurer. "We have a proven proof of principle that the team concept works and works well." The Society of Thoracic Surgeons surveyed surgeon participants in the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database to learn the extent of their involvement in TAVR. Approximately 500 surgeons completed the survey. Among the respondents whose institutions offered TAVR, 84% said that they were involved in the heart team. In addition, more than three-quarters (77.5%) said that their TAVR programs were either jointly administered by cardiology and cardiac surgery divisions/departments or administered exclusively by cardiac surgery. The survey also showed that 86% of surgeons continue to care for TAVR patients post procedure. The TAVR heart team generally includes cardiothoracic surgeons and interventional cardiologists working together on selecting, planning, and performing the TAVR procedure.. Other health care providers such as primary care physicians, imaging specialists, and anesthesiologists also may be part of the team. This approach leverages the expertise of these advanced practice providers in an effort to improve the efficiency and advance the quality of care for patients. With TAVR, the heart team is not just a potential benefit, but an absolute requirement for Medicare coverage. "I was surprised but pleased to see that a majority of patients were managed by some sort of combination of cardiac surgeons and cardiologists," explained STS Past President Joseph E. Bavaria, MD, from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. "I didn't expect it to be such a team effort." TAVR is a relatively new, minimally invasive procedure most commonly used to treat patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at moderate or high risk of death or complications for open-heart operations. The TAVR procedure involves opening the diseased valve with a balloon from a catheter placed through a large artery in the groin, followed by placement of a new valve. Once the new valve is expanded, it pushes the old valve leaflets out of the way and the replacement valve resumes the job of regulating blood flow between the heart and the body. Now that the paradigm has been set for the heart team approach in the treatment of aortic valve disease, Drs. Bavaria and MacGillivray are advocating for expanding the heart team concept to other areas of structural heart disease. "Cardiac surgery is the quintessential medical team sport," said Dr. MacGillivray. "We have multidisciplinary teams that take care of patients for all kinds of cardiac problems. It makes sense for patients to rely on cardiac teams that are designed to manage different comorbidities and other problems." A study among over 7000 women in 11 European countries shows the proportion of women in Europe who drink alcohol when they know they are pregnant is lowest in Norway and highest in the UK. The countries with the highest proportion of women who reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy were the UK (28.5 %), Russia (26.5 %) and Switzerland (20.9 %). This is the first study that compares alcohol consumption during pregnancy across 11 European countries. The study uses the same method for collecting data, thereby making the results comparable between the countries. Results On average, 16% of women in the 11 European countries reported that they drank alcohol after they knew that they were pregnant. The countries with the highest proportion of women who reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy were the UK (28.5 %), Russia (26.5 %) and Switzerland (20.9 %). The countries with the lowest proportion of women who reported alcohol consumption were Norway (4.1 %), Sweden (7.2 %) and Poland (9.7 %). Women who reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy were more likely to be older, more highly educated, in employment, and had smoked before pregnancy than women who did not report this consumption. Why do so few women in Norway drink during pregnancy compared to the UK? Although the British population in general drink more than Norwegians, the study found that countries with a comparable drinking culture to the UK -- like Poland and France -- had relatively low proportions of women drinking during pregnancy. Therefore, the drinking culture in the overall population may not necessarily apply to those who are pregnant. advertisement "Differences in pregnant women's drinking behaviour between countries can have many explanations besides variations in willingness of women to provide information about their alcohol consumption during pregnancy. There could be differences in national guidelines or educational campaigns about drinking during pregnancy, differences in prenatal care and attitudes towards alcohol use in pregnancy, or a combination of all these factors," saysProfessor Hedvig Nordeng from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, who is the principal investigator of the study in Norway. Who drinks most? Of those women who said they drank alcohol during pregnancy, 39 % consumed at least one unit of alcohol per month. Those who drank most frequently (more than one to two units per week) were in Italy (7.8 % of the women said they drank during pregnancy) and the UK (2.8 %). Those who drank the least (1-2 units during the whole pregnancy) were in Norway and Sweden (over 80 % of the women who said they drank during pregnancy) and France, Poland, Finland and Russia (70-80 %). Therefore, even though a larger proportion of Russian women continue to drink during pregnancy, compared to the other countries they do not actually drink that much. The women who drink during pregnancy in Italy seem to drink a lot more than the women in the other countries. Again, this may be due to a combination of factors. advertisement Post doc Angela Lupattelli from the University of Oslo, who coordinated the study in Norway and Italy, explains, "We can speculate that both social and cultural factors play a role. Women's attitudes on the one hand, and national alcohol-related guidelines and policies on the other, may influence women's drinking behaviour during pregnancy," saysLupattelli. Smokers and highly educated women drink most The association between smoking before pregnancy and alcohol use during pregnancy has been observed in earlier research. A plausible explanation for this association is the underlying risk-taking health behaviour among these women. It seems like a paradox that older and more highly educated women were more likely to drink during pregnancy, which also confirms prior research on the topic. This study did not look at the relationship between education and the amount or frequency of drinking during pregnancy. The study authors speculate whether older, more educated women might be more critical towards guidelines that recommend complete abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy. The authors wonder whether older women are less exposed than younger women to the health campaigns that warn against alcohol use during pregnancy, especially if they drank a little during previous pregnancies and had healthy children. The study authors believe it is important for national campaigns to target all women of childbearing age: "There is no defined safe minimum amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. We therefore recommend that all pregnant women should adhere to the guidelines for total alcohol abstinence during pregnancy," says Nordeng. Data The study consisted of 7905 women, 53 % were pregnant, and 46 % were new mothers (with a child up to one-year-old). The countries included were Croatia, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The women completed an anonymous online questionnaire, which was available on selected websites intended for pregnant women in the respective countries. Since the questionnaire was anonymous, the authors believe that underreporting was minimal. The study was jointly led by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the School of Pharmacy at the University of Oslo in Norway, in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden. The latest study by researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) delivered the first-ever comprehensive population assessment of the Chinese white dolphins that inhabit Hong Kong waters, and what they found differs from the common public belief. In fact "it differs very substantially from the estimates reported in Hong Kong for the past many years," said Dr. Leszek Karczmarski, Associate Professor at the Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, HKU, who has instigated and supervised this study. "Contrary to statements frequently repeated by various Hong Kong media, there is no such thing as 'Hong Kong dolphin population' " he added. "The dolphins seen in Hong Kong waters represent an integral part of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) population; they are not aware of the administrative border between Hong Kong and Mainland waters, frequently traverse these waters, and there are at least 368 dolphins that rely on Hong Kong waters as part of their home range," said Mr. Stephen Chan, a Ph.D. student in Dr. Karczmarski's Lab and the lead author of the study that was published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE. How does it compare to the frequently advocated estimates of the apparently last remaining 60-something Hong Kong dolphins, reported by the dolphin monitoring program contracted annually by Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD)? Dr. Karczmarski explained: "There are several reasons for these considerable differences. The AFCD-funded monitoring program applies a sampling technique called line transect sampling which differs from photographic mark-recapture technique applied by the HKU team. These two techniques address a different albeit mutually relevant research question, and therefore the estimates they generate have different meanings, each with their own merits. While the line-transect approach estimates the number of animals that are present in the area at a given time, the mark-recapture analyses estimate the overall number of animals that use Hong Kong waters during the study period. The heart of the matter is how one interprets the results, and this is the part that has been highly problematic with the AFCD's data over past years." Mr Chan said: "Take the number of people in Hong Kong for example, counting every person in Hong Kong on any particular day does not represent the population of Hong Kong, because there are lots of tourists, visitors and even residents travelling in and out. Similarly, counting dolphins without acquiring their identities can tell the number of dolphins in an area during that particular time, but it is not the same as quantifying the population as some dolphins may be just outside the border at the time." The HKU team therefore applied the photo-identification mark-recapture technique, to acquire the individual identity of dolphins. "Dorsal fins of dolphins bear natural markings which tell us who they are, just like our fingerprints," said Mr. Chan. The study concludes that the numbers of "Hong Kong dolphins" have long been misinterpreted and wrongly advocated, and has underrepresented the real number of dolphins that depend on Hong Kong coastal waters for their daily lives. As result, the Hong Kong management authorities have failed to adequately monitor the population processes and could not detect the change in population figures up until the dolphin numbers dropped alarmingly low. Dr. Karczmarski emphasizes that the higher number of dolphins indicated by the HKU study "does not imply that the dolphins are better off than what the AFCD reports (just over 60 individuals) suggest. It simply shows the critical importance of Hong Kong coastal habitats to the entire PRE dolphin population; yet another indication that these habitats, especially of west-southwest Lantau Island, should be given the highest conservation priority." Dr. Thomas Jefferson of Clymene Enterprises, California, USA, who in mid-1990s conducted early studies of Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong, has congratulated the HKU team on their "nice piece of work!" and added that "it brings up many important points about some of the deficiencies of the current long-term monitoring program that the Hong Kong Government uses to manage these dolphins in Hong Kong." Dr. Jefferson was not involved in the study, but has independently reviewed the article upon the journal's request. It has taken the HKU team over 6 years of intensive field surveys with every good-weather day spent out at sea photographing dolphins. It has been a very labour-intensive project, says Dr. Karczmarski, and we had to start from a scratch, with none of the earlier AFCD data made available to us, but our goal was well worth the effort and we can only hope that the Hong Kong management authorities will make a good use of the study to revise the current population monitoring strategy. A previous study by Dr. Karczmarski and his collaborators, published in 2012 in the journal Biological Conservation indicated that the PRE dolphin population, including Hong Kong, is rapidly declining in a rate of 2.5% per year; meaning that if this process continues, more than 70% of the current population will be lost in the next 60 years. Another recent study by both Dr. Karczmarski and Mr. Chan, published last month in the journal Scientific Reports pointed out that the current conservation measures in the PRE are severely inadequate and the PRE dolphin population is doomed to become extinct unless management pitfalls are acknowledged and new effective conservation measures rapidly reverse the current population trend. The small African nation of Djibouti will soon be home to China's first major overseas military base. In fact, several world powers have outposts in Djibouti, which turns out to be one of the most valuable patches of real estate on the planet. In today's Seeker Daily video, we take a look at why this small republic on the Horn of Africa is so popular on the international scene. As Jules Suzdaltsev explains, it really boils down to three things: Location, location, location. Djibouti is close to multiple conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East, including Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Iraq. Strike forces staged out of Djibouti can reach trouble spots within minutes. The U.S. military base in Djibouti, Camp Lemonnier, is critical to maintaining U.S. interests in the region. The country remains a major hub for counterterrorism operations. A 2013 Washington Post report estimated that upwards of 16 drone flights each day were deployed out of Camp Lemonnier. RELATED: What Is Al-Shabaab And What Do They Want In East Africa? Djibouti is also close to the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest shipping routes and a constant target for pirates. Several countries stage their own anti-piracy operations out of Djibouti. The country also shares a border with Somalia, home to what some term a regional piracy industry. In addition to the U.S. and China, France and Japan have large military facilities in the country. So what does Djibouti get out this arrangement? Rent, for one thing: The U.S. pays the country about $70 million per year and China is likely to pay upwards of $100 million, according to recent reports. Djibouti also enjoys the security of having multiple military allies heavily invested in the country's well-being. The downside of the arrangement is a familiar one. Western powers greatly value Djibouti's strategic location and relative political stability. As such, they tend to look past the country's autocratic government. Despite recent elections, Djibouti is a de facto dictatorship: The national parliament has no opposition legislators and current president Ismail Omar Guelleh recently extended his own term limits. -- Glenn McDonald Learn More: BBC: Why are there so many military bases in Djibouti? NPR: China Breaks Ground on Naval Base in Africa The Diplomat: Confirmed: Construction Begins on China's First Overseas Military Base in Djibouti Washington Post: Remote U.S. base at core of secret operations Page Content Defeating whistle-blower claims often requires a significant investment of time and resources in protracted litigation. But a recent decision in New Hampshire provides some hope that employers will be able to dispose of meritless whistle-blower claims in the early stages of a case. In Cluff-Landry v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire upheld the dismissal of an employee's claims under the state Whistleblowers' Protection Act (Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 275-E:2) because her complaints, when reasonably construed, implicated only the employer's internal policies. Background According to the employee's complaint, she was a pre-kindergarten and visual arts teacher at a Roman Catholic school from 2008 through 2012. In late 2011, she reported to the principal "her concerns that the school was not adequately set up to handle [a student] due to his unsafe behaviors and the school's inability to keep the other students safe, and that the behavior was in violation of the student-parent handbook." The principal "simply laughed" in response. Though the teacher continued to report her concerns regarding the problematic student, the principal did not address the situation. Instead, the principal took a series of actions that the teacher characterized as retaliatory, such as placing her on an improvement plan and issuing a letter of insubordination to her for walking out of the school before classes were scheduled to begin. The principal's allegedly retaliatory actions culminated in April of 2012, when the principal sent the teacher a letter informing her that her contract would not be renewed for the 20122013 school year. Just over three years later, the teacher filed suit against the school. One of the teacher's claims was that the school violated the whistle-blower act by failing to renew her contract after she reported violations of "school and public policies." The trial court dismissed the teacher's claims. The teacher appealed to the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, which upheld the dismissal. State High Court's Analysis With respect to the teacher's whistle-blower claim, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire began its analysis by following the lead of jurisdictions with similar whistle-blower protections and finding that the act protects only employees who complain about actions that they reasonably believe violate local, state or federal law. The court then held that "to the extent the plaintiff's whistle-blower claim is based upon her reports of violations of the school's internal policies, such as the school's student-parent handbook, she failed to allege facts that show that she engaged in an act protected by the act." Likely recognizing that the Supreme Court of New Hampshire would find that internal policies are unprotected under the act, the teacher bombarded the court with a variety of laws that she allegedly complained about. First, the teacher contended that her complaints concerning the student's defiant behavior were reports of a violation of the simple assault statute (RSA 631:2-a). The court rejected that argument, adopting the trial court's reasoning that a reasonable employer would not have understood the teacher's complaints about a four-year-old student's behavior as implicating a criminal statute. Second, the court rejected the teacher's contention that her complaints related to compliance with New Hampshire Administrative Rules (Ed 403.01(a)(2)(o)(1)), which requires private schools to provide a copy of their grievance policy concerning bullying in their initial application for accreditation, because the teacher did "not argue that the school failed to comply with it." Finally, the teacher argued that by complaining about the student's behavior she reported violations of the Workers' Compensation Law (RSA 281-A:64), which guarantees employees "safe employment." The court found this argument deficient for two reasons: The teacher never alleged that the student's behavior jeopardized her safety or the safety of other employees. Even if she had, a reasonable employer would not have construed her complaints as involving violations of the Workers' Compensation Act. Accordingly, the court found that the teacher failed to allege that she had engaged in protected activity under the act. Key Takeaways Cluff-Landry is notable for two reasons. The first reason is obvious from the face of the decision. In finding that complaints about internal management matters do not qualify for protection under the act, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire gave effect to the ordinary meaning of the statute and confirmed that New Hampshire, like other jurisdictions to have considered the issue, requires a report of unlawful activity to trigger the protections of the act. The second reason is less obvious but more significant. The court rejected several of the plaintiff's arguments based on findings as to what the plaintiff or defendant reasonably believed. Factual questions, like whether a belief is reasonable, are typically reserved for later stages in litigation. Cluff-Landry suggests that, in certain circumstances, a court may resolve those questions early on in a case. As a result, employers may want to seriously consider the potential benefits of filing a motion to dismiss when facing a whistle-blower claim. Francesco A. DeLuca is an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Boston. Ogletree Deakins. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission. By Press Trust of India: Madhesis demands From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Apr 11 (PTI) The Nepal government today tabled a new Constitution amendment bill in Parliament to address the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties which are demanding more representation and re-demarcation of state boundaries ahead of next months local elections. According to the new bill, the government may form a federal commission to recommend it on the issues relating to the number of provinces and their boundaries. advertisement The coalition government registered the new Constitution amendment bill at the Parliament Secretariat after Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajaya Shankar Nayak withdrew the previous bill tabled in Parliament on November 29 last year. A Cabinet meeting yesterday endorsed the new bill with a view to addressing the demands of agitating Madhes-based parties and bringing them on board the local polls scheduled for May 14. The new bill aims at addressing some of the key demands raised by United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF). The Parliament meeting was later adjourned for eight days, Speaker Onsari Gharti said. The Madhesi parties, that have been demanding more representation in all state mechanism, are opposing the local body elections slated for May 14. Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, launched a prolonged agitation between September 2015 and February last year against the implementation of the new Constitution which they felt marginalised the Terai community. They are demanding more representation and re-demarcation of state boundaries in the Constitution. The protest had resulted in the death of at least 50 people. 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To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. In early 2017 Britain ordered another thousand Hellfire II AGM-114R1/R2 missiles. This is the version with a height of burst sensor for use as an anti-personnel weapon. These will cost $150,000 each and be taken from U.S. stocks so delivery can be immediate. Back in 2013 Britain ordered 500 Hellfire IIs N4/P4 models. This is the one with a thermobaric (fuel-air explosive) warhead that is optimized for destroying structures. Britain has found Hellfire an exceptionally effective counter-terrorism weapon and has been a heavy user. The Hellfire II weighs 48 kg (106 pounds), carries a 9 kg (20 pound) warhead, and has a range of 8,000 meters. The Hellfire is fast, travelling at about 450 meters a second, meaning that it can hit a target at maximum range in less than 20 seconds. Hellfire is popular for use in urban areas because the small warhead (with only about a kilogram/2.2 pounds of explosives) reduces casualties among nearby civilian (collateral damage). The missile is accurate enough to be sent through a window (OK, you have to be really good, and lucky, to do this) because of its laser guidance. Hellfire is the most frequently used missile during the war on terror and especially in battles with ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), which frequently uses civilians as human shields. . In addition to UAVs, Hellfire is most commonly used by the AH-64 helicopter gunship. An AH-64 can carry up to sixteen Hellfires at once. Hellfire launchers are also available for AH-1W, AH1Z attack helicopters, MH-60R, and MH-60S naval helicopters, OH-58D/Fs, and Harvest HAWK equipped KC-130J gunships. The heaviest user since 2008 has been UAVs, like the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, and MQ-9 Reaper. Britain uses AH-64a and MQ-9s. Britain also uses its own version of Hellfire, Brimstone, which can be used on jets. The latest version of Brimstone uses its own radar to keep track of the target. The British 55 kg (110 pound) Brimstone was originally developed as an upgraded version of the American Hellfire. Brimstone ended up as a Hellfire in general shape only. Weighing the same as the Hellfire, Brimstone was designed to be fired by fast movers (fighter-bombers), not just (as with Hellfire) from helicopters and UAVs. Aircraft can carry more of these lightweight missiles. These are perfect for small targets, including vehicles that need to be hit without causing injuries to nearby civilians or friendly troops. This is what made Brimstone so popular during the 2011 operations in Libya. A major factor in the success of Brimstone is its superior guidance system. In 2008 Britain added a dual-mode (radar and laser) seeker to Brimstone. Originally, Brimstone was to be just an American Hellfire with a British seeker (a miniature, millimeter wave radar) and configured to be launched from jets. Brimstone did that but never got a chance to show how effective it was until Afghanistan and Libya. The performance of Brimstone was particularly impressive in Libya because the missile was used so frequently. That got the Americans and French interested in using it as a highly effective anti-vehicle weapon for their jets. The government has maintained close ties with Russia despite the volatile situation in Syria. The Russians, despite anger at the recent American missile attack on a Syrian Air Force base (which the Russians sometimes used) continues to back Israeli efforts to get Iran to withdraw all its forces from Syria once the fighting is over. Iran is openly recruiting a force of Islamic terrorists to establish a presence along the Israeli border, as Iran-backed Hezbollah has done in Lebanon. Israel has the support of most Gulf Arab oil states against Iran and United States is becoming more active in Syria against ISIL and the Assad government (which Iran and Russia supports). Egypt The government is unable to eliminate the Islamic terrorist groups and these groups are concentrating on wrecking the economy to create more unrest. This is the same strategy used in the 1990s and it eventually failed. It is unclear what motivates the latest crop of Islamic terrorists to use the same strategy but it will probably have the same result. The government is having more success bringing peace to neighboring Libya. Egypt gets a lot of help from Algeria in this peacemaking effort. At the same time there is a lot of pressure from the UN to get behind the GNA (Government of National Accord) which the UN organized in 2015 but has been unable to convince all Libyans to support. Egypt sees GNA as too cozy with Islamic conservative groups. Algeria feels the same way as do many Tunisians. These attitudes have been made public as leaders from Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt have met several times since 2012 to discuss Libya and continue to agree that none of them wants to intervene militarily (on a large scale) to deal with the chaos next door. But at the same time all three nations, which have long borders with Libya, will cooperate with whatever faction is controlling the Libyan side of the border and will work to keep Islamic terrorists from freely moving back and forth across the border. Thus Egypt has become very close to the HoR (elected House of Representatives that GNA replaced) government while Tunisia is on good terms with both the GNA and pro-HoR groups who have worked with Tunisia to control Islamic terrorism, especially ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). Tunisia noted that general Hiftar (the HoR military leader) keeps ISIL out of eastern Libya while pro-GNA militias drove ISIL out of their new base in Sirte by the end of 2016. All this greatly reduced ISIL activity in Tunisia. Algeria noted the same thing and all three neighboring countries have increased their border security to contain the lawlessness that still predominates throughout Libya. The GNA has not ignored neighborhood politics and has recently sent officials to Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Russia to make their case for being the only national government in Libya. These officials came back with vague promises to help and some blunt assessments by foreigners about what HoR does right especially compared to GNA efforts. The GNA is also advised to make more of an effort to reconcile their differences with HoR, especially when it comes to general Hiftar. And there is Russia which has, this year, stationed a small (about 22 men) group of special operations troops in western Egypt, near the Libyan border. Russia is apparently getting ready to back Hiftar in a big way. Libya may turn out to be another Middle East victory for Russia, but only with the help of Egypt and Israel. April 10, 2017: Israel closed Taba the main border crossing with Egypt because intelligence indicated a major threat against non-Moslem foreign visitors, especially Israelis, in Egypt. The Egyptians agreed with this risk assessment and declared a state of emergency (martial law). This gives the government nearly unlimited power to investigate anyone any way they can, arrest and hold people without warrants or obligation to bring charges and basically run the country like a dictatorship. The three decades of Mubarak rule, which ended in 2011, was made possible by a permanent state of emergency and getting rid of that was one of the main demands of the 2011 rebels. In the south (Eshkol) a rocket fired from Sinai hit a greenhouse, damaging it. There were no injuries and no retaliation by Israel. In southern Egypt (Assiut province) police killed seven ISIL members, seized weapons and documents indicating the group was planning another attack. April 9, 2017: In Egypt ISIL attacked two Christian (Coptic) churches with bombs, killing 45 people and wounding over a hundred. One attack, in the coastal city of Alexandria, involved a suicide bomber who has halted by police outside the church and detonated his explosive best there. The other bomb went off inside the church a hundred kilometers north of Cairo. ISIL likes to hit Copts on major religious holidays, like Palm Sunday when more worshipers show up. Its not just ISIL, Egyptian Islamic radicals, many of them let out of prison after the 2011 revolution, soon began calling for violence against Israel and non-Moslems in Egypt. This includes the Egyptian Christians, mainly the Copts, who converted to Christianity more than 500 years before the Islamic invaders arrived in 639. Copts are still over ten percent of the population. The stubbornness of the Copts in refusing to convert to Islam has led to centuries of persecution. By 300 AD most Egyptians were Christians, nearly all of them belonging to the local Coptic sects. When the Moslems invaded threats and incentives were used to encourage conversion to Islam. By 1000 AD Moslems were the majority in Egypt. Ever since, Egyptian Moslems have sought, often with violence, to convert the remaining Egyptian Christians. Some converted, but increasingly over the last century, Copts have simply fled the country. This is accelerating as it becomes obvious that the new government cannot or will not halt the growing persecution of the Copts. Its not just ISIL, even more moderate Islamic radicals like the Moslem Brotherhood, regularly organize attacks (often non-fatal) against Copt communities. This is often part of a growing effort to forbid Copts (or other Christians) to build new churches. April 8, 2017: Russia canceled the deconfliction agreement they with the United States regarding each others warplanes operating over Syria. This agreement avoids accidental clashes and the U.S. observed the agreement by informing Russia shortly before the American cruise missiles were launched yesterday. The Russians are expressing their anger at the American attack on Syrian forces and the implied criticism of Russia for not enforcing the 2013 agreement that was supposed to eliminate all Syrian chemical weapons. Russia has a similar deconfliction deal with Israel which is apparently still in force. April 7, 2017: The United States retaliated for the recent Syrian use of nerve gas by launching 59 cruise missiles (from two warships in the Mediterranean) at the Syrian Shayrat air base in Homs province. Most of the Syrian air strikes in northern Syria are flown out of Shayat, which was inoperable for a day or two because all but one of the Tomahawks hit their targets. This was all about t he Syrian government being held responsible for using nerve gas in a recent attacks on a rebel village in Idlib province. This would be a clear violation of the 2013 Russian brokered deal where Syria surrendered all its chemical weapons in return for no foreign intervention (as the U.S. has promised) because chemical weapons were used. An August 21 2013 attack used nerve gas to kill over 1,400 people in a rebel controlled village outside Damascus. The evidence was overwhelming for the 2013 attack and this latest one in Idlib is equally incriminating. The Syrian government, Russia, Iran and Iraq condemned the American attack and supported the Syrian Assad government denials that they had anything to do with the use of nerve gas. But the rest of the world either openly supported the attack or were undecided. Most Western nations openly supported the attack as did Middle Eastern nations Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE (United Arab Emirates). This American action was a big deal in Israel which had hoped the newly elected American government would be more supportive of Israeli efforts to deal with Islamic terrorism (both Sunni and Shia) in the region. Israel and its new Sunni Arab allies are particularly concerned about the growing threat from Iran, which the previous U.S. government did not take as seriously as the Middle Eastern nations (particularly Israel) that Iran openly threatened. April 6, 2017: In the West Bank one Israeli soldier was killed and another wounded in an Islamic terrorists attack involving a car ramming. The attacker, a Palestinian, was shot and wounded and arrested. This is the first Israeli terror fatality since January. Since September 2015 when the Palestinian knife terrorism campaign began 42 Israelis and two Americans have been killed along with at least 250 Palestinian attackers. Most of the attacks fail but the Palestinian government continues to encourage the attacks and uses foreign aid money to pay rewards to the families of dead attackers and monthly payments to the families of imprisoned attackers. Attacks have declined in the last year so the Palestinian increased the payments this year to keep the campaign going. In Gaza Hamas executed three men (by hanging) it had accused of spying for Israel. This makes 22 such executions since 2010. Three days ago Hamas declared another amnesty (for one week) in which Palestinians who had, or were, working for Israeli intelligence could reveal themselves and be forgiven. Hamas periodically declares these amnesties (often month long ones) but they rarely produce results. Israel has long maintained a large, and pretty effective, informer network inside Gaza and the West Bank. India signed a deal to buy $2 billion worth of air defense systems from Israeli firms. This is the customized (for India) Israeli Barak 8 SAM (surface-to-air missile). India is getting a modified naval version (LRSAM) and land version (MRSAM) of the Barak 8. This deal has been in the works since 2016 but encountered technical and political problems, mainly on the Indian side. April 5, 2017: Israeli intelligence officials revealed that they believe the Assad government still had several tons of chemical weapons, including the type of nerve gas used in the attack in Syria yesterday. The Israelis had kept quiet about this, in part to protect its sources and partly because they knew many nations in the regions would not believe it. April 4, 2017: In the northwest (Idlib province) Syrian warplanes apparently used chemical bombs to attack a rebel controlled village. The attack killed 85 people, most of them civilians, including 20 children. The victims showed symptoms of nerve gas being used. The Syrian government accused the rebels of making the attack or having stored chemical weapons in one the buildings the bombs hit. But the U.S., NATO and Israel soon confirmed that it was the Assad forces who delivered the nerve gas. April 3, 2017: In Egypt the army admitted that since September 2015 the security forces had actually killed about 500 Islamic terrorists in Sinai. That comes out to about 27 a month but when you consult the claims made over that 18 month period the death toll is several times that. This reveals two unpleasant truths about Sinai; many of the counter-terror attacks kill civilians not involved in terrorist acts and that the government still does not control all of the Sinai Peninsula. Bedouin supported Islamic terrorists are increasingly able to strike all over the peninsula by travelling in small groups and planning attacks with the help of Bedouins who know the area. Most soldiers and police are not familiar with the area and often arrest anyone in the vicinity of recent criminal or Islamic terrorist activity and hold them without charges. Some are murdered in an effort to obtain information and simply disappear from police records. In Sinai the victims are usually Bedouin tribesmen, who are easier for a soldier or policeman from the Nile River region to spot when ordered to round up the usual suspects. For thousands of years the Sinai tribes (usually Bedouin) have been unruly subjects of Egyptian governments. Moreover the Sinai Peninsula is a big place (60,000 square kilometers) with only about 600,000 people, mainly in a few urban areas. Lots of places to hide out. Most Egyptians oppose Islamic terrorism, if only because it tends to kill lots of innocent civilians and cripple the economy. But in a few rural areas, mainly in northern Sinai, there are populations (usually Bedouin tribesmen) willing to support, or at least tolerate, Islamic terrorists. That support is dependent on how well the tribes get along with the Islamic terrorists and what benefits (like cash) outside terror groups bring with them. At first ISIL sought supporters in Egypt and had a hard time of it. ISIL is opposed by Hamas in Gaza but in Sinai ISIL eventually formed a working relationship with local Bedouin backed Islamic terror groups. The Egyptian security forces have been concentrating on ISIL since late 2015. In the beginning (2014) Bedouins, who have long supported armed opposition to the government, were openly hostile to ISIL because ISIL tried to impose harsh Islamic lifestyle rules on the Bedouins. That is one thing you do not try to do and the Bedouins forced ISIL to back down on several occasions over this issue. By late 2015 ISIL learned how to behave among the Bedouin and were able to work with them. This has made it possible for ISIL to survive there and even send small teams to the Nile River valley, where most Egyptians live. ISIL is still planning to become the only Islamic terror group in Sinai (and eventually the world). April 2, 2017: In Egypt a high court affirmed the government decision to give Saudi Arabia two Red Sea islands. April 1, 2017: In Jerusalem a Palestinian man with a knife wounded two civilians and a policeman before being shot dead. In Egypt a bomb went off at a police training center near the coastal city of Alexandria, killing 16 people, 13 of them trainees. Islamic terrorist group Lewaa Al Thawra took credit. March 29, 2017: In Jerusalem a Palestinian woman was shot dead as she attempted to attack some border guards with a knife. A bomb was discovered in a Coptic church near the coastal city of Alexandria. Police successfully defused the bomb. March 28, 2017: Israel warned its citizens visiting Egyptian Red Sea resorts to leave because of the imminent threat of Islamic terrorist attacks. March 27, 2017: In the West bank a Palestinian attempted to attack an Israeli soldier using a screwdriver. The attacker was subdued and arrested. An Arab-Israeli (Fadel Tzaber Knaneh) was indicted for supporting ISIL after having been arrested several weeks earlier. The accused had a brother who went to Syria after he joined ISIL in 2014 and was later killed. The accused knew another Arab-Israeli who had gone to Syria to join ISIL and earlier this year the Knaneh was caught sending $1,300 to his ISIL friend in Syria. Knaneh was known to support ISIL but that alone will not get you prosecuted. As many as thirty Arab Israelis have gone off to join ISIL since 2013 and about a third of them are believed to have been killed. Most of these Israeli ISIL men keep in touch with their families vis cell phone or Internet and provide information on the extent of Arab Israeli activity within ISIL. March 26, 2017: Iran imposed sanctions on fifteen American firms because they were doing business with Israel. None of the sanctioned firms do business with Iran. The Iranian move is a response to the March 24th American announcement of sanctions on 30 companies and individuals for illegally transferring weapons technology or weapons to Iran, North Korea or Syria. Those sanctioned were from China, North Korea or the UAE (United Arab Emirates). March 25, 2017: Syria threatened, in writing (via Russian diplomats), to launch hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel if Israel carried out any more air attacks on Syria like it did most recently with a series of four airstrikes over several days with the last one on the 22nd. That attack was fired on (ineffectively) by Syrian air defense system missiles and the Israelis warned that any more of that and the Israelis would destroy the Syrian air defense system. March 24, 2017: In Gaza Mazen Faqha, a senior Hamas terrorism official, was shot dead by someone using a pistol equipped with a silencer. Hamas blamed Israel but the Israelis denied any involvement. Faqha was in charge of Hamas terror operations in the West Bank. Many believe Faqha was killed by one of the many Palestinian groups in Gaza that oppose Hamas rule. There are also factions within Hamas that are feuding and those feuds sometimes turn violent. Two days later Hamas banned anyone from leaving Gaza in order to assist the search for the killers of Faqha. The ban included foreign aid workers and the Red Cross and UN protested because this halted the scheduled departure of six of their staff. When Hamas refused to allow aid officials to enter and leave the UN suspended aid operations. Since over 60 percent of the people in Gaza are dependent on that aid Hamas agreed on the 31st to lift the travel ban for aid officials. March 23, 2017: In the West Bank a group of Palestinians attacked an Israeli settlement using fire bombs. One of the attackers was shot dead and three others wounded. March 21, 2017: In the south, on the Gaza border, Israeli troops fired on a group of Palestinians approaching the border fence to plant a bomb. One of the Palestinians was killed and two wounded. Iranian military officials accuse Russia of providing Israel with technical information about Russian made air defense radars and air defense control systems used by Syria and Iran. Iranian experts say that this explains how Israeli aircraft always manage to avoid being spotted or effectively fired on by Russian made Syrian air defense systems. Specifically Iran accuses the Russians of providing IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) codes to the Israelis. The IFF beacon every combat aircraft carries broadcasts a coded message to friendly aircraft and anti-aircraft systems. The Iranians say they can prove this because they secretly helped the Syrians change some of their IFF codes without the Russians knowing and suddenly the Israeli aircraft were being spotted. Russia denies the accusation and Israel has no comment. March 20, 2017: Israel officially commented on the March 17th incident where an Arrow 3 anti-missile missile was used to shoot down a Syrian SA-5 anti-aircraft missile that had been fired at four Israeli jets bombing a target (new weapons for Hezbollah) in eastern Syria near Palmyra. Apparently several SA-5 SAMs (surface-toair missiles) missed the Israeli jets and instead of detonating anyway (as these missiles are built to do) were headed into Israeli air space and Arrow 3 was fired just in case it was a ballistic missile. The implication was that Syria might have deliberately modified some of their SA-5 missiles to operate as a surface-to-surface missile. This has been done before with Russian SAMs, usually as an unofficial (and crude) modification by Arab users. But there have been some modern SAMs with a built-in surface-to-surface mode. This was done for the U.S. Nike-Hercules system used during the 1960s and later. Other users of the Nike-Hercules (like Taiwan and South Korea) have made this modification and produced an accurate, if expensive, surface-to-surface short range ballistic missile. The Nike-Hercules was designed to be used in surface-to-surface mode. In American service that meant the standard anti-aircraft warhead was replaced with a nuclear one set for air burst over a distant surface target. The March 2017 incident was the first time the Arrow 3 has been used in a combat situation and it was also implied that the Arrow fire control system was programmed to automatically assume that anything resembling a ballistic missile headed for Israel, whether intentional or by accident, was a danger to Israel and should be shot down just to be on the safe side. Syria responded by announcing that if Israel continued carrying out these air raids in Syria then the Assad government would use hundreds of ballistic missiles (most SCUDs and other Russian designs) against Israel without warning. This is what Arrow was designed for and what the Israeli forces constantly prepare for. For the Assads this sort of attack would be suicidal and apparently Iran forced the Syrians to make the threat and promised to join in. Iran is not normally that adventurous so there is yet another mysterious situation in the Middle East. How to curtail your natural operational losses via Project Management Software Maximizing Efficiency Human error. The only way to get rid of it is to get rid of humans, and then youre squarely in Agent Smith territory. Complete automation will be a nightmare if it ever comes. Such machines will have been designed by human beings, meaning even their finest fail-safes will be subject to human error! The best solution is a balance between man and machine. People do the thinking work that they are good at, and the machines to the repetitive and detailed work that they are good at. But heres the thing about well-designed machines: theyre only as smart as their operators. Computers are extremely literal. You tell them what to do, and they do The computer cant calculate for the fact that your finger is going to slip and press the wrong key, causing a subroutine to open during a major CPU-draining program that ends up freezing your user terminal and forcing a restart. The computer just does what its told and so occasionally its going to freeze when the unexpected happens. As it usually does! You can obviously factor into some extent the unexpected but you can never account for all possibilities that the world might throw at you. As the old project managers saying goes: Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised. Make It Look Like Theres No Cushion One thing that makes sense is to manage as though youve established no cushion for human error. However, at the same time make projects based on including that error. This will put some pressure on those being managed to hit the deadline. It also means that when the inevitable errors do occur unless they are bigger than expected the project can continue without issue. It is rare for a large project to not experience a delay, dependency issues, unexpected circumstances or political shenanigans. So look at your project inception and delivery over the last several years and plot the numbers. Are more projects getting delivered near the scheduled date, or are fewer projects? If youre on a positive trend, good! Throw software like Microsoft Project at it and see those margins increase positively. If the trends bad, examine the reasons behind losses and concentrate on fixing them in future projects. Again, something like Microsoft Project will give you the best shot at brining your project in on budget and on time. When you have such double fail safe solutions in place, youre still not going to have the ability to properly curtail all human error; but you can get past much more of it with greater speed, and statistically eliminate its instances. Future Possibilities The great possibility that detailed project management brings overtime is the learning that it drives. A detailed review of past project and the issues that they had means that these issues can be addressed and hopefully solved ahead of time. Incorporating this learning into each project should mean that future projects run more quickly and efficiently. This is at the heart of the Japanese concept of kaizen that allows their factories to run so efficiently. Comparison between Nokia 9 and OnePlus 5 flagship Android smartphones It is a known fact that in the battle of supremos, smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung rule the roost. However, over the years, we saw some smartphone manufacturers who not only came out of the shadows of these biggies but also managed to make a niche for them. One such company is the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, OnePlus who in the last few years has released smartphones, such as OnePlus One, OnePlus 2, OnePlus X, OnePlus 3 to the latest OnePlus 3T. Also, last year, we witnessed the revival of mobile king of yesteryears, Nokia under the Finnish company, HMD Global. HMD Global that manufactures devices under the Nokia brand has released smartphones such as Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3 along with feature phones such as Nokia 150 and the iconic Nokia 3310 (revamped version). In the past, we have written many articles comparing the features and specs of smartphones manufactured by Apple and Samsung. However, in this article, we are going to bring to you the features and specs of the upcoming Nokia and OnePlus flagship smartphones that are making headlines of late. Here, we are talking about Nokia 9 and OnePlus 5 smartphones, which are expected to be premium smartphones with high-end specifications but with a reasonable pricing. The current rumors indicate that the Nokia 9 and OnePlus 5 might be unveiled sometime this quarter. While we recently reported about the rumored specs and features of Nokia 9, the OnePlus 5 concept imagined with the Never Settle wallpaper also discloses some of the possible specs. So, we have drawn a possible list of specs and features of the two upcoming flagships based on the current info, which are likely to change until the official announcement is made. Display It is rumored that the Nokia 9 may come with a 5.5-inch QHD (1440 x 2560 pixels) OLED display. On the other hand, the OnePlus 5 is claimed to have a 5.5-inch dual-curved edge QHD (1440 x 2560 pixels) AMOLED display, quite similar to the ones already released by Samsung. Design While there is no news about Nokias design, the OnePlus 5 might come with a ceramic build as in the Xiaomi Mi Mix. There are also rumors that OnePlus might choose an all-glass design to give the new flagship a premium look as possible. Software and Innards The Nokia 9 and OnePlus 5 are rumored to make use of the most recent Snapdragon 835 octa-core processor under their hood. Also, these devices are likely to make use of 6GB of RAM hi quality multitasking.On the storage front both the smartphones might come out in 2 variants 64GB or 128GB. Besides the hardware aspects, these smartphones will work on Android Nougat out-of-the-box. Camera The Nokia 9 is rumored to come with a 22MP dual lens camera with Carl Zeiss optics at the rear along with a 12MP front facing camera for selfies. As far as OnePlus 5 is concerned, it is likely to come with a 23MP main snapper at its rear and a 16MP selfie camera with wide-angle lens. Battery The Nokia 9 is expected to powered by 3,800 mAH battery, whereas OnePlus 5 will feature 4,000 mAH battery, claim rumors. Both devices will have Quick Charge 4.0 support. IP68 rating The IP68 rating has become a mandatory feature for smartphones, especially for the flagship smartphones. Hence, we can expect the Nokia 9 and OnePlus 5 smartphones to come with IP68 water and dust resistance certification. Besides the above, Nokia 9 may be the first device to feature Nokia OZO audio enhancements system. It is basically, a software-based technology that promises to enable any camera or smartphone to record 3D audio or spatial sound. The 3D audio technology will be compatible with smartphones with two or three microphones. Since, all the features and specs provided above are all based on rumors and leaks, we request you to take this information with a pinch of salt. However, keep watching this space for more details of Nokia 9 and OnePlus 5 in the coming days!!! The shooting is believed to be a result of personal animosity. By Abhishek Anand, Arvind Ojha: A woman and her son were killed while another two people, including the woman's husband, were injured after a person opened indiscriminate firing at his business partner's home at a posh locality in Noida's Sector 39 Tuesday night. Police say the accused, Rajesh Jolly, a resident of Mayur Vihar of Delhi, reached the Sector 39 residence of his business partner Ajay Khurana at about 10:30 pm advertisement As soon as Khurana's servant Raju opened the door, Jolly attacked him with a knife. Jolly then entered the home started firing indiscriminatly with two pistols. Ajay, his wife Anju and son Ankush, who were eating dinner at the time, were shot in the incident. Neighbours came in to help and rushed the four to Noida's Kailash Hospital, where Anju and Ankush succumbed to their injuries. "We have recovered the weapons and a forensic team was sent to the spot. Two persons had died in the hospital while two others are admitted in a critical condition. The accused also tried to kill himself, he is also admitted in the hospital. The matter is under investigation," said Dharmendra Singh, SSP, Gautam Budh Nagar. Police say Jolly attempted to kill himself by cutting gashes on his head in order to avoid arrest. Cops reached the spot immediately, detained Jolly and took him to a hospital. A case has been registered in the matter and Jolly will be interrogated as soon as he is discharged from the hospital. Police suspect that the incident was motivated by personal animosity. ALSO READ | Man burnt alive in Yogi Adityanath's Gorakhpur, unknown assailants flee spot ALSO WATCH | CM Yogi gets cracking, pays surprise visit to UP police station --- ENDS --- Taryn and Jenna Choquette like to say that they have two dogs - Brady and Tuukka. But in reality, Brady is the only actual dog in the family. Tuukka is really a cat, although he doesn't seem to know it. Taryn and Jenna Choquette "We always joke that Tuukka is more like Brady - more of a dog than a cat," Taryn Choquette told The Dodo. "So we just call them 'the dogs.'" Over two years ago, Tuukka was found clinging to the branches of a tree in a neighborhood near Austin, Texas. Taryn and Jenna Choquette "A friend of a friend found him in the tree and took him home, and she fostered him for a couple days," Choquette said. "And then we were like, 'We need him. He's adorable.'" Tuukka was a month old and weighed "about a pound," according to Choquette. And when they first brought him home, Tuukka was scared of everything and everyone - including Brady. Taryn and Jenna Choquette To help Tuukka adjust to his new surroundings, the Choquettes kept him in a separate room with a sliding glass door. But Brady lay by the door each day, waiting for Tuukka to like him. "Brady loves all creatures great and small," Choquette said. "He wants everyone and everything to be his best friend." Each day, Tuukka got a little braver, and a little closer to the glass. After about a week, the Choquettes decided it was safe to introduce them to each other. Taryn and Jenna Choquette Their first interaction was a nose bop. Tuukka tiptoed up to Brady, and touched his little wet nose against Brady's large snout. Then he did it again, and again. Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Rescued Animals Melt Into This Woman's Arms When She Sings To Them Taryn and Jenna Choquette The pair quickly became inseparable. Brady happily took on the 'mommy' role with Tuukka, said Choquette, and he didn't even mind when Tuukka tried to nurse from him. Taryn and Jenna Choquette "Since Tuukka was so young, he wasn't actually fully weaned when he got lost, so he started to suckle on Brady," Choquette said. "It was the cutest thing ever." Taryn and Jenna Choquette Brady also loved teaching Tuukka things, although he probably taught Tuukka how to be more of a dog than a cat. Taryn and Jenna Choquette "Brady would also show Tuukka how to drink water from his own bowl," Choquette said. "And to this day, Tuukka will still not drink out of a tiny cat bowl - he only drinks out of Brady's giant water bowl." Taryn and Jenna Choquette Brady also taught Tuukka how to go outside with him and eat grass, and how to beg for food. Taryn and Jenna Choquette "As soon as we have food, both 'pups' are right there trying to get a taste," Choquette said. Taryn and Jenna Choquette Another thing the duo loves is roughhousing. Taryn and Jenna Choquette "Every morning when I get ready for work, they chase each other around the house," Choquette said. "Tuukka likes to launch off to wall to get a head start, and Brady is kind of giant and cumbersome, and he'll chase him around. And they'll jump on the bed and wrestle forever. They'll always do it late at night when I'm trying to sleep, or wake me up in the morning." Taryn and Jenna Choquette They also make a great team for mischief. Tuukka loves knocking food off the kitchen counter, and Brady loves eating it. And this exact scenario has happened too many times for the Choquettes to count. "They're in cahoots," Choquette said. "That's like the exact definition of them." Taryn and Jenna Choquette Tuukka loves playing with Brady so much, he gets jealous when the Choquettes' friend's dog, Wyatt, has Brady's attention, and he tries to scare him off. Brady and Wyatt having a play date | Taryn and Jenna Choquette "Tuukka is very protective of Brady," Choquette said. "He growls like a dog, and he actually sounds like a dog - it's so funny." Taryn and Jenna Choquette When Brady is gone for the day, Tuukka mopes around. And when Brady returns, Tuukka glues himself to him. Taryn and Jenna Choquette "Whenever we come back, Brady lies down and Tuukka sniffs all around, like 'Tell me where you've been. Tell me all the things that you've done,'" Choquette said. Taryn and Jenna Choquette "I think he thinks he's just like Brady," Choquette added. "He's actually never met another cat, so I think he assumes he's a dog, just like Brady's brother." Taryn and Jenna Choquette Jo-Anne McArthur has never forgotten the sound of rattlesnakes trapped inside a killing pit in Sweetwater, Texas. It was 2015, and she was attending the city's annual rattlesnake roundup festival, where thousands of rattlesnakes are kept in tiny pits inside an arena, then brutally slaughtered in front of the public. People talked and kids screamed - but the snakes rattling their tails seemed to be the loudest sound out of everything. Rattlesnakes in the holding pit | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "When they're in the pits, one on top of the other, they're all rattling," McArthur, a photojournalist and author of "We Animals," told The Dodo. "It doesn't mean, 'I'm about to attack.' It means, 'I'm afraid. Don't step near me.' It's the sound of a thousand snakes screaming." Snakes are often viewed with fear and disdain, and people sometimes find it hard to relate to them. Yet Melissa Amarello, cofounder and director of education for Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP), told The Dodo that snakes are social animals who form strong family bonds. Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "It's surprising how similar they are to us," Amarello told The Dodo. "Rattlesnakes give birth to live babies, and they take care of their babies for the first couple weeks of their lives, keeping them warm and safe from predators. In some rattlesnakes, the mothers will come together in the latter parts of their pregnancies and gestate together. And then they'll give birth at the same spot and they'll help take care of each other's babies." Warning: Graphic photos below Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals But each year, rattlesnake families are torn apart when people capture thousands of animals to slaughter them at roundup festivals in Texas, Oklahoma and other U.S. states. They capture them by dumping gasoline into their dens, which makes it impossible for snake families to breathe underground. The roundups started 50 or 60 years ago to keep rattlesnake populations down and protect livestock, although Amarello argues that these killings are unnecessary. Dead snakes in the killing area of the Sweetwater roundup | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "The roundup proponents say that the snakes are overpopulated, and that they're overrunning town, so they had to do something about the snakes," Amarello said. "But they're in no danger of being overpopulated. There's no science to suggest that there are too many rattlesnakes, or that we need roundups to control them." The real purpose of the rattlesnake roundups appears to be financial gain, according to Amarello, as each event brings in a large flow of tourists. The event in Sweetwater, Texas, which is the largest rattlesnake roundup in the country, attracts about 30,000 people. The Sweetwater rattlesnake roundup festival | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "If you can picture a typical, small town American county fair - there's all of that stuff," Amarello said. "There's fried bread and funnel cakes and amusement park rides. There's a flea market. There's a gun show. And then there's the area that's focused around the snakes." After spending weeks - if not months - in boxes without food or water, the rattlesnakes arrive at the festival weak, hungry and dehydrated. Dodo Shows Foster Diaries Guy Falls In Love With His Little Meatball Of A Foster Dog Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals While every rattlesnake roundup works a little differently, Amarello explained that the snakes tend to be moved through different stations. The first station is the processing area, where snakes are measured and weighed, Amarello said. "There are prizes for who brings in the biggest snakes, and the most number of pounds per hunting group," Amarello said. After their initial weigh-in, the snakes are tossed into a communal pit. Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "While they're in that pit, the roundup guys are constantly wading through it, and kicking the snakes around, which they claim they need to do to turn them over, because the snakes are 'too stupid' and they'll just smother each other, which is ridiculous," Amarello said. "They will smother each other in that pit because there are just too many in there, and they're just crushing each other." Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals It's here that the snakes really start rattling their tails. "The rattle that we all associate with being a warning, that's the sign of fear," Amarello said. "When they think that death is imminent, they rattle. It means they're scared." Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals But it's not just their rattles that give away their fears - it's also the smell, according to Amarello. "Rattlesnakes will emit a pheromone that's a sign of fear," she said. "That smell was overwhelming at Sweetwater. For me, that was even more upsetting than seeing them killed, because I know that smell means that they're scared, and they're trying to tell others that there's something frightening going on, and something dangerous. It was overwhelmingly strong." From the holding pit, some snakes are briefly taken into an educational area, although Amarello refutes the educational value of what's done there. Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "A lot of the roundups really push that they're all about educating the public about snakes, but it looks like more of a show," Amarello said. "They have the snakes bite balloons and pop them to show how far they can strike. They were doing things at Sweetwater like poking the snakes with sticks until the snakes were so stressed out that they hide their head beneath their coils. And when they're in that position, they like to pick them up with their bare hands to show people like, 'Look, they can be very docile.'" Kids touching a decapitated snake body | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals After that, the snakes are taken to the venom milking area, where people force snakes to spit out their venom, which they collect in vessels. According to Amarello, the roundup organizers claim that this is necessary for antivenom research. Yet some research companies refuse to take venom from roundups on the grounds that the events are harmful to snakes. A man 'milking' venom from a rattlesnake | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Then the snakes arrive at their final destination - the killing pit. The killing method is decapitation, but this doesn't instantly kill them, according to Amarello. A snake right after decapitation | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "Decapitating a reptile is not a humane way to kill it," Amarello said. "Because of their very slow metabolisms, they basically remain alive, and can probably feel things for minutes to hours after decapitation. And when you're there, you can see this - the mouth is still gasping for breath, the body is still writhing around." Some festivals now require snakes to be shot in the head with a bolt gun (a tool commonly used in commercial slaughterhouses) before decapitation, which is supposed to decrease suffering. But this doesn't always work, according to Amarello. Discarded rattlesnake heads | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "Apparently, to be effective the bolt gun has to hit a precise spot," Amarello said. "Otherwise, you're just causing more pain instead of stunning." No matter how they're killed, McArthur believes that all of the snakes have one thing in common - they're all terrified. Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "Their bodies are fighting with all of their might," McArthur said. "They're twisting and turning and they're rattling because they want to get away." After decapitation, the snakes' bodies are skinned. The event organizers encourage the public to get involved - including children. To McArthur, this is one of the most disturbing parts of the events. A child skinning a snake | decapitation "The kids can skin the animal, dip their hands in the blood, and put their handprints on the white wall and sign their name next to it," McArthur said. "It's very gruesome. The parents are like, 'Pull, pull on that skin. Get your hands dirty!'" Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Afterwards, the snake skins are made into boots, wallets and a ton of trinkets, according to Amarello. And the snake meat is cooked up and served at the snack bar. Snake meat for sale | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals The Oklahoma rattlesnake roundups, many of which take place this month, are run in a similar manner to the one in Sweetwater, but with a few differences. First of all, the Oklahoma events are much smaller than Sweetwater, and fewer people attend. Secondly, a lot of the killing takes place out of public view. But this doesn't make the Oklahoma festivals any less cruel, Amarello explained. In fact, she thinks what they do at the Oklahoma festivals is much worse. A snake with his mouth sewn shut at an Oklahoma roundup | Advocates for Snake Preservation "They'll throw the snakes in a fridge freezer until they can't move," Amarello said. "Then they sew their mouths shut so they can basically hand these snakes to the public, so that people can pose for pictures and have snakes in their laps. It's a pretty clear violation to animal cruelty laws in Oklahoma." A snake with his mouth sewn shut at an Oklahoma roundup | Advocates for Snake Preservation Unfortunately, there is no official count of snakes at each event - instead, the organizers just measure them in pounds. But Amarello believes that thousands of snakes are killed at each festival, and this could have a devastating effect on rattlesnake populations. In fact, roundups have been indicated as a cause of decline in at least one type of rattlesnake - the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. A snake skinning area at the Sweetwater roundup | Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Other rattlesnake populations haven't been researched as extensively, but Dr. David Steen, a professor of wildlife ecology and conservation at Auburn University Museum of Natural History, believes that roundups would have a negative effect on these species, too. Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals "Snakes are secretive and highly camouflaged and this makes them difficult to study; we know little about how their populations change over time and in response to the many different ways we disturb them, including collection for rattlesnake roundups," Steen told The Dodo. "The removal of snakes from a population clearly reduces the number of animals, but we don't know how this affects the population overall over the long term. However, I think it is common sense that intensive collection of snakes in a given spot over many years is likely to be detrimental to the affected rattlesnake population." Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Instead of rounding snakes up for these events, McArthur believes that the organizers should learn to live with nature. "If the snakes are bothersome, then put on some high rubber boots when you go into your backyard," she said. McArthur also suggested a potentially easy way to save snakes, but not hurt local economies that depend on the roundups - run the festivals with the amusement park rides, the gun shows and parades, but get rid of the snake killing events. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) State-owned power giant NTPCs joint venture BIFPCL has tied up funds to the tune of USD 1.6 billion to set up 1,320-mw Maitree Super Thermal Power Project in Bangladesh. "We wish to inform that Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) (BIFPCL) achieved financial closure on April 10, 2017, to set up 1,320 mw (2x660 mw) coal based Maitree Super Thermal Power Project at Rampal in Bagerhat district of Khulna division, Bangladesh," NTPC said in a BSE filing today. advertisement BIFPCL is a 50:50 joint venture company between NTPC and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) for setting up this coal-fired thermal power plant. The company further stated that an agreement was signed with Indian Exim Bank to provide loan up to USD 1.6 billion for financing this project. BIFPCL is a private company duly incorporated in Bangladesh under the Companies Act 1994 and was registered with the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), Dhaka, Bangladesh on October 31, 2012. During an earlier visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister to India, an MoU was signed on January 11, 2010, in New Delhi to bolster traditional ties between the two through co-operation. PTI KKS ARD --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, Apr 9 (PTI) A retired Pakistan Army officer has gone missing while visiting a Nepalese town on the Indian border for a job interview. The ex-officer, identified as Lt Col (Rtd) Mohammad Habib, has been untraceable since Thursday from Lumbini in Nepal soon after his arrival there. He last contacted his family on Thursday afternoon and since then his phone numbers have not been reachable, the Dawn reported. advertisement Habibs family reported his disappearance to the Foreign Office after not having been able to reach him. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammed Nafees Zakari said the ministry has asked authorities in Nepal to look into the disappearance of Habib. The story about the disappearance of the former military officer first surfaced in WhatsApp groups of retired military officers and was subsequently picked up by the media. Habib, who retired in October 2014 and belonged to artillery, was currently employed with a private firm in Pakistan and had posted his CV online in search of employment. Somebody by the name of Mark Thompson had reportedly contacted him both via email and telephone for a job interview in Nepal for which he was also provided an air ticket, the daily said. He departed from Lahore on Wednesday and reached Kathmandu next day from where he immediately flew to Lumbini. "In Kathmandu, the information coming from retired army officers groups and verified by military sources revealed that he was provided a Nepalese cellphone SIM card by one Javed Ansari, who received him there," the daily said. The last message that he sent from Lumbini said that he had reached his destination. PTI SH PMS --- ENDS --- Starbucks will provide Chinese workers with health insurance that extends coverage to their parents, a unique offering by the coffee house chain that may be used by more than 10,000 people to treat cancer, heart disease and Alzheimers. The plan is a response to traditional values in China, the company said, as children often care for their parents and grandparents in a society that doesnt have a comprehensive safety net for the elderly. The plan, covering 30 critical illnesses and some surgeries, will be available starting in June, executive chairman Howard Schultz said. This is the first time weve done anything like this, and the reason for that is that it was clear there was an emotionally driven concern among partners about their ability to take care of their parents, Schultz said in an interview in Beijing. I heard first-hand very emotionally driven, tragic stories about whats taking place with the parents who got sick, and many passed away. The program addresses a critical need for an aging population thats contending with increasing rates of major diseases from cancer to heart ailments. Its also a strategic move to retain employees, many of them recent college graduates in low-skill jobs, and create goodwill toward the company at a time of increasing political tensions between the U.S and China. This insurance move is about recruiting and retaining talent but also about creating an image of Starbucks that is pro-China, pro-Chinese, said Shaun Rein, managing director of the China Market Research Group in Shanghai. If there are bilateral tensions and Starbucks doesnt have good public relations and a good image in China, they become a target for protests. The swelling burden to pay for illnesses is stressing Chinas government-run health insurance programs, which provide basic coverage for 95 per cent of its 1.4 billion people. Families in China can still face catastrophic medical bills for costly treatments not covered by public insurance, and the government has long sought private companies to fill that gap. When Starbucks approached the countrys insurers on the plan, they were often met with surprise, said Belinda Wong, chief executive officer for Starbucks China business. There wasnt such a program in place and one had to be customized for Starbucks, according to the company. Read more: Starbucks plans to hire 1,000 refugees in Canada Howard Schultz leaves Starbucks with its cup half-empty: Wells The Starbucks plan complements the existing China Social Medical Insurance Program. Families are given a lump sum upon diagnosis of a covered illness, and the patient will receive subsidies for treatments for as many as three years. The program will cover a significant percentage of total medical costs, according to the company. Parents must be younger than 75 and reside in mainland China to qualify, the company said. Starbucks will pay the full premiums for eligible workers those whove been employed by the company for at least two years. The company has about 40,000 employees in China, Schultz said. The plan was devised after employee surveys found that 70 per cent of workers were concerned about the health of their elderly parents, according to the company. The company also noticed an increasing number of requests for financial assistance from employees to help cover parents health costs. Once we sit down and listen to those stories, we could not be a bystander, Schultz said. The private health-insurance sector in China is expanding rapidly: premium income for commercial health insurers jumped by almost 68 per cent in 2016. Policies offering a one-time payment in case of specified major illnesses, such as when the customer is diagnosed with specific types of cancer, currently dominate Chinas commercial health-insurance market, according to an August report by the Boston Consulting Group and Munich RE. The plan is a multimillion-dollar investment annually, the company said. Starbucks said it was designed by one of Chinas biggest insurance companies, though it didnt name the insurer. The move is a strategic one for Starbucks as many multinational companies in China are planning how to contain the fallout if President Donald Trump implements policies that affect business ties or trade with China. Trump and China President Xi Jinping met last week for the first time in Florida, and the leaders agreed to a 100-day plan to discuss trade. Trump previously vowed to close the trade deficit with China that reached $347 billion last year. Schultz reiterated that China is the most important market for the company ahead. Starbucks generated about 14 per cent of last fiscal years revenue in Asia including China, compared with about 6 per cent three years earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. We are playing a long game, Schultz said. Starbucks is here to stay. We believe that theres a very significant opportunity to build long-term growth. Read more about: SHARE: CALGARYA director has walked away from the Calgary Operas production of South Pacific saying his understanding was that a white actor was going to be cast in the role of a Polynesian character in the Second World War musical. Mark Bellamy says the production includes themes of racial intolerance and the lead characters struggle with bringing Polynesians into their lives. He says he felt strong the show should be cast in a way that accurately represented the characters. Bellamy says he resigned after being informed a white actor would play Bloody Mary, a Tonkinese woman from what is now northern Vietnam. He says he made several suggestions for actors he believed had a more appropriate ethnic background for the character, but whose singing abilities didnt quite satisfy the Calgary Opera. Bellamy says he understood why thats the operas focus, but thats not what the musical is about. Oscar Hammerstein created this piece of theatre to have this discussion about racism, (he) didnt create it to showcase voices of sopranos and mezzo-sopranos necessarily, Bellamy says. A designer and a performer also quit in reaction to the casting decision, and Bellamy says other colleagues wont sign contracts to be part of the production. SHARE: OTTAWAFears that a Supreme Court of Canada decision would lead to thousands of cases being tossed out of court nationwide dominated the Canadian political stage Monday, but they have not been borne out in reality according to a new analysis by a Dalhousie University law professor. Stephen Coughlan and Jessica Patrick, a student at the Schulich law school, took a hard look at the criminal court decisions reported in legal databases for the six months prior to last Julys Jordan decision, and the six months after it. They found Canadas judges are not tossing out cases left, right and centre, rather they are halting trials under the new legal framework that would have been halted under the old framework, too. Their analysis generated a list of 69 cases pre-Jordan, where a court was asked to issue a stay of proceedings due to unreasonable delay. Of those, only 26 were granted, or 38 per cent. The analysis shows that post-Jordan, there were 101 cases where a judge was asked to decide on an unreasonable delay application by an accused. Of those, 51 applications were granted, or 50 per cent. Its a higher rate overall, said Coughlan, but its not the tidal wave that many feared. Jordan has made everybody involved in the criminal justice system worried about delay and doing things in order to make sure cases that are brought to trial quickly and that there will not be successful stay applications, said Coughlan. But it hasnt resulted in very many successful stay applications. So from my point its done exactly what it should: its given us the benefit of making everybody work to speed up the system, without the cost of lots of cases being thrown out. In the Jordan ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada rewrote the ground rules for expectations about what a speedy trial looks like, and what constitutes an unreasonable and therefore unconstitutional delay. In a 5-4 decision it said most trials in lower provincial courts should be wrapped up in under 18 months, while charges in superior trial courts should be completed in 30 months. That decision comes up for review in a separate appeal this month at the high court. The high court anticipated a period of transition. For cases already in progress when the new expectations were suddenly set out, the high court provided transitional considerations or exceptions in effect directing judges to look at the cases under the old framework, said Coughlan. It was precisely to avoid what happened in the 1990s when another ruling on unreasonable delays, known as Ascov, led to thousands of cases being withdrawn by Crown prosecutors, or stayed by judges. And judges have taken that to heart, said Coughlan. Based on their analysis of all the cases decided in the first six months after Jordan, he said there has not been a single decision where a trial judge has granted a stay solely because of Jordan. Defence counsel are more emboldened to bring delay applications, said Coughlan, because it seems worthwhile again, but theres not all that much more in terms of successful applications. Most of the successful efforts to have criminal charges stayed because of unreasonable delay were in Ontario. Coughlan said of 49 undue delay applications in this province, the number of stays granted was 23, or 47 per cent. Coughlans analysis takes account of cases up to Jan. 8, 2017. (Their national analysis omitted 13 cases that were available only in French, they said.) The picture Coughlan paints is similar to what Ontario said it has found in its internal reporting. In Ontario, the attorney generals office said its internal reporting from its criminal law division, between July and Dec. 31, 2016 shows there were approximately 250 applications filed, with 48 stays granted a success rate of 19 per cent. Thats even lower than Coughlans analysis. Coughlan said the difference may be explained by a lag in judicial decisions being reported in the case law database that they relied upon for their analysis. What is surprising is the federal Justice Department is not tracking the impact of the ruling. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said shes trying to work closely with provincial and territorial counterparts to understand its impact. But an accurate up-to-date national picture is almost impossible to come by. When the Jordan ruling was handed down, the dissenting minority of high court judges warned that the majority decision risks thousands of judicial stays. The four judges who signed the minority decision pointed to a limited record before the court that indicates that, in the British Columbia Provincial Court, as of March 31, 2010, there were over 2,000 adult criminal cases pending for over 18 months. As of 2011, this represented 13 per cent of the caseload of the Provincial Court. However, a spokesperson for B.C.s attorney general told the Star only seven B.C. criminal cases have been stayed since the high courts Jordan ruling. Albertas attorney general provides an updated online tracking of Jordans impact in that province, where seven applications were granted. It said from Oct. 25, 2016 to April 6 (slightly overlapping the time period of Coughlans analysis) there were 79 so-called Jordan applications filed in Alberta courts. Of those, 20 were dismissed, seven were granted, 19 were abandoned by the defence, nine were proactively stayed by the Crown (on the basis that they wouldnt survive a Jordan application), and 14 are still pending. Another 10 were resolved in ways unrelated to Jordan. A similar picture emerges for Manitoba, where the attorney generals office told the Star that defence counsel brought 48 motions to halt proceedings because of undue delay, as of April 7, only one of which was successful. Of the rest, 13 were dismissed by the court (three of which are under appeal), nine were withdrawn by counsel, 13 are still outstanding, and in the others, matters were resolved without a determination made on the delay motion. Correction April 11, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled Schulich. SHARE: OTTAWAMarijuana is a dangerous drug, Conservative leadership hopeful Kellie Leitch said Tuesday as she promised to undo the Liberal governments efforts to legalize it, should she become her partys leader and eventually prime minister. There are too many public health and safety concerns surrounding marijuana for it to be legal, Leitch told The Canadian Press as the government prepares to table legislation later this week to legalize and regulate its sale. Political Ottawa has been buzzing for weeks about what will be in the bill, expected Thursday. One key task-force recommendation that the government could act on is imposing an age limit of 18 on those who seek to buy it. Read more: Trudeaus pot promise is about to be put to the test: Hebert Experts warn taxes on legalized pot must stay as mergers expected to heat up Look, I will be reviewing it, but Im a pediatric orthopedic surgeon I have personal views on this that I feel very strongly about, Leitch said in a roundtable interview. I dont think that we should be legalizing this drug; this is a dangerous drug and I dont want it in the hands of children. Scientific evidence shows the drug can have damaging effects on the brains of those under the age of 25 and should only be available from pharmacies for patients with prescriptions, Leitch added. I have young people come to me as a physician and say You know, I dont understand, Dr. Leitch Im told not to do drugs, but can I do this drug now? she said. These are the kinds of messages Canadian parents do not want portrayed to their kids. In an August submission to the federally appointed task force on marijuana, the Canadian Medical Association recommended a minimum age of 21, as well as limits on quantities and potency for those aged 21-25 to discourage use and sharing among underage friends. The driving purpose of the Liberal governments plan is to address Canadas very high rates of cannabis use among young people among the highest rates in the world, Health Minister Jane Philpott said Tuesday. Criminalizing cannabis has not deterred its use by young people, Philpott said in an interview. Other products known to be harmful, including alcohol and tobacco, are available with restrictions for legal consumption, she added. As we legalize cannabis and make a decision about what age it can be accessed, we know that regardless of the age of the person consuming, that it is a product that has potential risk associated with it, Philpott said. Thats why we are taking a public health approach with a strong focus on public education. One of the current challenges is a shortage of information on products like cannabis, she added, insisting that legalization should in no way be taken as a signal that pot can be used with impunity and without an understanding of the potential risks. This is a way of responding to the reality of the fact that rates of use are extremely high in young people and we need to take an approach that acknowledges public health, acknowledges the approach of criminalization has not deterred young people from using it, Philpott said. Benedikt Fischer, a University of Toronto psychiatry professor and senior scientist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, said there are clear risks and harms associated with cannabis, but a strong upside to legalization from a public health perspective. Trying to restrict its use to people aged 25 and up will only drive young people to the black market, he added. What will those people under 25 do if they are not allowed legal access? Chuck Rifici, a co-founder of Canadas first publicly traded marijuana company who now chairs National Access Cannabis a company that works with patients navigating the medical marijuana system said Tuesday said he will look at whether the government acts on task force advice, allowing mail-order marijuana sales. Selling through the mail would help the government achieve its election promise on pot, Rifici said, noting it also ensures Ottawa is not beholden to provincial distribution systems yet to be established. If it is hard to access legal product, like any controlled substance, if theres not a legal option, people will turn to another option, Rifici said, a former treasurer for the Liberal partys national board of directors. I think it makes more sense to make it easier for Canadians to access safe, tested, federally licensed product. The task force, which issued a 106-page report in December, also recommended storefront sales to people 18 and older with personal growing limits of four plants per person and a 30-gram limit on personal possession. SHARE: MONTREALCanada will introduce new legislation this spring that will address the problem of travellers being bumped from flights, the federal government said Monday, as the violent dragging of a passenger off an overbooked flight in the U.S. unleashed anger over the practice. A spokesperson for Transport Minister Marc Garneau said bumping rules will be included in an air passenger bill of rights that was promised last fall to establish clear, minimum requirements for compensation when flights are oversold or luggage lost. Marc Roy declined, however, to say if the legislation would set industry-wide standards or raise compensation to levels offered in the United States or Europe. Garneau would not comment directly on the incident aboard a United Airlines flight Sunday in Chicago, where police officers were seen on video grabbing a man from his seat and dragging him down the aisle. He said he did not know whether a passenger in Canada can be forcibly removed from a flight because of overbooking. I certainly have seen what happened in the case of the United Airlines flight and that is why last November I announced that we would be putting in place what we call a regime of rights for passengers, Garneau said. We recognize that when a passenger books a ticket, they are entitled to certain rights. Read more: United Airlines, Chicago face continued wrath over passenger removal Video shows security dragging United Airlines passenger off overbooked flight Passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs said the troubling video highlights the need for greater consumer protection. Sadly, people realize what bumping actually means only when an incident so extreme happens, he said. Lukacs said all airlines should be required to conform to the same compensation limits, with thresholds rising to a maximum of $1,500, in line with the U.S. In 2013, Lukacs won a Canadian Transportation Agency case against Air Canada over the issue of bumping that required the airline to raise compensation to a maximum of $800 depending on the length of delay. Passengers are usually only removed forcibly from flights if they are intoxicated or deemed by crew to be a threat. However, Lukacs said airline staff can legally use their power to bar passengers. United Airlines sparks outrage for the treatment of a passenger who was physically dragged off a plane the airline had overbooked. If for any reason the airline tells you you need to leave, you have to leave, he said. You dont get a choice, you cannot argue about whether you have to leave or not because it is their aircraft. He said airlines overbook flights as a hedge against people not showing up. Air Canada said bumping is rare. We appreciate this is inconvenient for customers and we do take a very conservative approach to avoid this situation arising and when it does, we pay significant compensation, spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick wrote in an email. WestJet Airlines and Air Transat say they dont intentionally overbook flights. WestJet said it can be forced to assign passengers to a later flight if it faces an operational issue such as a mechanical problem or when a plane is replaced with a smaller one. Rick Seaney, CEO of U.S.-based FareCompare.com, said hes never seen something like what happened on board the United Airlines plane. You should never let somebody board that youre going to toss, he said from Dallas. He said airlines typically raise the financial incentive until someone voluntarily agrees to take a later flight. The Canadian Transportation Agency said passengers can minimize their chances of being bumped by pre-paying for a selected seat, checking in online up to 24 hours in advance of the flight and arriving at the airport early. The agency said it received 55 complaints about overbooking in 2015-16, less than four per cent of all air travel complaints filed. Read more about: SHARE: Ontario parents on social assistance will no longer have their benefits slashed when they temporarily lose their kids to childrens aid societies. The policy change by the Ministry of Community and Social Services lets these parents keep their full benefits until a court decides whether their children will be kept permanently in care. The benefits will only get reduced if the children are made Crown wards. The ministry will also reinstate full benefits to parents whose children are currently in temporary care, according to a ministry fact sheet obtained by the Star. The ministry says the change took effect April 1 and parents on Ontario Works or disability benefits will be notified by May 1. In recognition that decisions on permanency may take up to two years or longer, during that time full assistance is to be provided to support the childs possible return to his or her parents, the ministry document says. The change rectifies what parents, childrens aid societies and Ontarios Social Benefits Tribunal considered a perverse policy. Slashing benefits forced parents deeper into poverty and made it, according to one tribunal decision, very difficult, if not impossible to get their kids back. The change comes after the Star highlighted the gap in a story last fall, part of an ongoing investigation into the provinces child protection system. Were delighted the change has been made, said Caroline Newton, spokeswoman for the Ontario Association of Childrens Aid Societies, which represents all but four of Ontarios 47 societies. It helps us reunite families. It takes a huge stress away from parents, who are extremely fearful that involvement with childrens aid is going to penalize them economically, said Newton, who described the practice of slashing benefits as a kind of punishment. Michael Coteau, Ontarios minister of children and youth, applauded community and social services minister Helena Jaczek for making the change. Its about fairness, Coteau said in an interview. I want to make sure at the end of the day that children are in homes where they are loved and the system doesnt create outcomes that make it harder for families to get back together. Almost all children who enter care do so on a temporary basis. The goal is to reunite them with their families once parents have been helped with mental health, parenting, addiction or other issues. Childrens aid officials say it becomes far more difficult for parents to improve their lives when their social assistance cheques are sharply reduced. The biggest concern is housing. The Social Benefits Tribunal has dealt with at least one case of a parent evicted and forced to move to a smaller apartment after she lost the housing allowance Ontario Works provided for her children. Childrens aid wont return children to their parents if apartments arent a suitable size. A single mother with three children would lose $353 a month in housing benefits alone if her children are taken into care. A Scarborough mother interviewed by the Star was evicted from her apartment after her benefits were reduced. Her legal battle to regain her three children has dragged on for three years. She was being punished for being caught up in the system, said the mothers lawyer, Anum Malik, referring to how her clients case has dragged on in the courts. Were genuinely pleased that the ministry has made these changes, Malik added in an interview Monday. When the Star first reported on the problem last fall, the social services ministry told the Star it would not change its policy, even though the Social Benefits Tribunal had overturned such benefit cuts three times in the last three years. The ministry had no idea how many parents annually get their assistance slashed due to kids being temporarily placed in foster or group homes. On average, 15,625 Ontario children were in foster or group-home care in 2014-15. A recent study found that parents who ran out of money for food, housing or utilities were twice as likely to have their children apprehended. The policy change was announced in a March 21 fact sheet sent to childrens aid societies. In efforts to support family reunification, a child who is placed in the temporary care of a society must be maintained as a dependent in the parents benefit unit pending a decision of permanency for the child, the ministry document says. SHARE: HALIFAXAn American woman has pleaded guilty in a plot to kill shoppers at a Halifax mall on Valentines Day, a potential massacre avoided by a Crime Stoppers tip to police. Lindsay Kantha Souvannarath of Geneva, Illinois, was one of three people involved in the 2015 plan to use rifles and gas bombs on people at the Halifax Shopping Centres food court. Chris Hansen, a spokeswoman for the public prosecution service, says the 25-year-old woman caught prosecutors off guard when she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder Tuesday during a routine appearance before the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. This removes the burden of conducting a lengthy trial ... I can say it was unexpected, said Hansen, adding sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 5 and 6. One of the trio of plotters, Randall Steven Shepherd, 22, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to a decade in jail. An agreed statement of facts in that case said that Souvannarath and James Gamble, a 19-year-old friend of Shepherds, had planned to attack the mall. Gamble had started an online relationship with Souvannarath in December 2014, and they exchanged explicit images. Ms. Souvannarath had a pre-existing interest in school shootings and Nazism. The two quickly bonded over their shared interest in Columbine and other mass shootings, it said, adding that Gamble revealed his desire to commit a mass shooting to Souvannarath. He said Shepherd, his only friend, wasnt overly interested in a mass murder and asked her if shed take his place. Souvannarath was interested in being his partner and was eager to participate. They planned their attack in great detail throughout January and early February of 2015, said the statement, noting they planned details such as the time, place, weapons to be used and whether they would taunt the victims. The statement of facts says the location was selected because they believed it would cause the maximum amount of panic. Gamble had obtained his fathers firearms a lever-action hunting rifle and a single-action, 16 gauge shotgun which he and Souvannarath planned to use. Both carefully selected death outfits to be worn during the shooting, which included wearing masks ... A musical soundtrack was created and they agreed to post a video of the shooting on the Internet to document the massacre. The pair named their plan Der Untergan, which is German for the downfall, and the massacre was to end with their own suicides. During a preliminary hearing last July, court heard that the crime was foiled thanks to a Crime Stoppers tip that indicated a threat to a group or individual. A detective tracked down Gamble at his home in nearby Timberlea on Feb. 13, 2015. Instead of having uniformed officers approach the residence to make an arrest, investigators decided it would be best, for safety reasons, to talk to the teen over the phone. When Gamble was reached by phone around 9 p.m., an officer said he informed the teen that he would be arrested and taken to the police station for questioning regarding alleged threats made through social media. As their five-minute conversation concluded, the officer said he heard a gunshot, then some clicking sounds on the phone. It took an emergency response team three hours to evacuate nearby homes before they entered Gambles house and found his lifeless body. Officers sent online photographs of Souvannarath to the Canada Border Services Agency at the Halifax airport, instructing agents there to detain anyone matching her description arriving on a flight that night from Chicago, via New York. When Souvannarath arrived, she was detained by border agents. Police said she had very little in her luggage, except a book on serial killers and her death suit. Halifax regional police Const. Robert Fox testified Souvannarath told him the plan was for her and her boyfriend to kill themselves in a mall or a library. She said she had come to Canada to meet her boyfriend and they would kill themselves, Fox told the hearing. She said there were no other targets. SHARE: Ontario must urgently introduce pay transparency laws to tackle a gender wage gap that has remained virtually unchanged for 30 years the legacy of inadequate enforcement and funding, according to equal pay advocates. The changes proposed by the Toronto-based Equal Pay Coalition would require employers to report and post hourly wage and pay arrangements, including the breakdown of part-time, contract and temporary agency employees as women increasingly bear the brunt of precarious work. Canada and Ontario are no longer on the leading edge on this. Canadas standing in global ranking has been falling because of the failure to address womens economic inequality, said Fay Faraday, co-chair of the Equal Pay Coalition. The reality is that having discrimination-free wages is a non-negotiable. There is no other starting point for this discussion. The gender pay gap in Ontario is 30 per cent, according to the Equal Pay Coalition's calculation a gap that narrowed by just 6 per cent since the late 1980s. To put the figure in perspective: if a man were to retire today at 65, a woman would have to keep working until she was 79 to quit with the same earnings. The gap sharpens considerably based on race and origin. The pay gap for indigenous women is 57 per cent, for immigrant women it is 39 per cent, and for racialized women it is 32 per cent. Women also make up the majority of minimum-wage earners and part-time workers. Recently, Iceland became the first country in the world to force employers to prove they pay men and women equally. Advocates want Ontario to follow suit and on Monday sent the Ministry of Labour a ready-draft piece of legislation as a template. I think theres consensus amongst experts in this area that pay transparency knowing what women are paid compared to what men are paid is really critical, said Jan Borowy, a Toronto-based lawyer and fellow chair of the coalition. It imposes an obligation to actually expose what youre doing, Faraday adds. But amongst equal pay advocates, there is frustration at perceived foot-dragging. Ontarios Pay Equity Act, instituted in 1987, was once hailed as trailblazing the world over. But after its establishment 30 years ago, the Pay Equity Commission budget has decreased by half from around 6 million to about 3 million, according to its annual reports. Many of the cuts came under Mike Harriss Conservative government including the elimination of the publicly funded pay equity legal clinic, which helped low-income, non-unionized women enforce their rights. Commission staffing has dropped from around 70 employees in the early 90s to 25. Employers and parties need to know the act exists. Without having resources to do massive educations campaigns, that puts people at a disadvantage, said Emanuela Heyninck, who heads the Pay Equity Office. Kathleen Wynnes government has ordered the Ministry of Labour to tackle the gender wage gap and in the fall of last year, it appointed a working group on the topic but it has taken until this week to mobilize its first ever meeting, according to the Equal Pay Coalition. Meanwhile, critics say female-dominated sectors such as caregiving continue to be systematically undervalued. Nancy John, a caregiver from Tillsonburg, Ont., says it took the threat of legal action to get her employer to settle a longstanding pay equity dispute and at the rate the wage adjustments will now be paid, she will never reach full pay equity with equivalent male-dominated jobs in her lifetime. You dont feel as valued as if someone says, thats just not right, she told the Star. People see caregiving done by women as something that at one point in time it was expected of us. There is still some connotation that women are just natural caregivers. People dont necessarily see it as a career. Even though pay equity is a legal obligation in the province, Borowy calls the commissions enforcement system woefully inadequate despite widespread employer non-compliance. (According to the Commissions own statistics, more than half of employers probed in 2013/2014 were in violation of pay equity laws.) Heyninck says her team has done its best given limited resources but says a lean staff can make robust enforcement difficult. If you want robust enforcement, obviously the more folks you have the better, she told the Star. Stronger measures, Faraday says, must zero in on precarious work, which research shows is more likely to impact women. Advocates say they are disappointed that an ongoing government review of workplace standards, the so-called Changing Workplaces Review, has not been focused on gender inequities. In a statement to the Star, Minister of Labour spokesperson Michael Speers said the government believes that considerations of gender are an essential component of our policy development process. In their Interim Report on the Changing Workplaces Review, the Special Advisors noted the widespread agreement that a growing number of women are working in low-wage jobs, many of them temporary, many of them unstable with little or no security, and mostly without benefits, Speers added. We are committed to creating laws in this province that help address this, and truly advance womens equality in the workforce. That task is essential, according to Faraday, because the cult of flexibility in the workplace is about making work more precarious. And women racialized women in particular overwhelming predominate precarious work. This is a once generational opportunity to look at our legislative protection for decent work and decent lives. To not have that deep equity based analysis of who is impoverished in our society is inexcusable in this day and age, she added. Theres still real resistance to taking this seriously, Faraday said. Because its just cheaper to pay discriminatory wages. Correction-April 11, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that said, on average, women in Ontario are paid 30 per cent less for doing the same job as men. The 30 per cent figure cited in the study refers to the gender pay gap in Ontario, based on average annual earnings of men and women. SHARE: By Santosh Chaubey: India today warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it went ahead with the death sentence awarded to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. A Pakistani statement claimed Jadhav, who allegedly used the alias Hussein Mubarak Patel, was attached to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). According to an ISPR press release, a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) found Kulbhushan guilty of espionage and sabotage activities and for waging war against Pakistan by fomenting unrest in Balochistan and Karachi. advertisement The Pakistan Army has sentenced Jadhav to death under Section 59 of Pakistan Army. But what is Section 59. HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SECTION 59 OF PAKISTAN ARMY ACT: Section 59 of the Pakistan Army Act sounds death knell for anyone tried under it. Defined as the Section for Civil Offences, it categorically lays out conditions for it to become an overarching legal intrusion into the fundamental rights of humanity. And when read in conjunction with other supporting sections and sub-sections of the Pakistan Army Act, Pakistan's Army so indiscriminately uses to suppress voices of human rights activists, lawyers, journalists, its own members who go against senior officials or against Indians, as has happened with Kulbhushan Jadhav. Jadhav was tried under Section 59 of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Section 3 of the official Secrets Act 1923 and was found guilty of all charges in a secret trial in a military court where no information on charges and evidence was shared. SECTION 59: Civil offences (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), any person subject to this Act who at any place in or beyond Pakistan commits any civil offence shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence against this Act and, if charged therewith under this section, shall be liable to be [dealt with under this Act], and, on conviction, to be punished as follows, that is to say, (a) if the offence is one which would be punishable under any law in force in Pakistan with death or with 1[imprisonment for life], he shall be liable to suffer any punishment 2* * * assigned for the offence by the aforesaid law or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and (b) In any other case, he shall be liable to suffer any punishment 2*** assigned for the offence by the law in force in Pakistan, or 1* rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or 1* such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned. Provided that, where the offence of which any such person is found guilty is an offence liable to under any Islamic law, the sentence awarded to him shall be that provided for the offence in that law. advertisement The sub-section further defines the powers of court-martial: The powers of a Court martial [or an officer exercising authority under section 23] to charge and punish any person under this section shall not be affected by reason of the fact that the civil offence with which such person is charged is also an offence against this Act. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force a person who becomes subject to this Act by reason of his being accused of an offence mentioned in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 2 shall be liable to be tried or otherwise dealt with under this Act for such offence as if the offence were an offence against this Act and were committed at a time when such person was subject to this Act ; and the provisions of this section shall have effect accordingly. Now, let's see what clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Pakistan Army Act says: SECTION 2: PERSONS SUBJECT TO THE PAKISTAN ARMY ACT 1952 CLAUSE D OF SUB-SECTION 1 Persons not otherwise subject to this Act who are accused of Seducing or attempting to seduce any person subject to this Act from his duty or allegiance to Government, or Having committed, in relation to any work of defence, arsenal, naval, military or air force establishment or station, ship or aircraft or otherwise in relation to the naval, military or air force affairs of Pakistan, an offence under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Raise arms or wage war against Pakistan, or attack the Armed Forces of Pakistan or law enforcement agencies, or attack any civil or military installations in Pakistan; or Provide or receive funding from any foreign or local source for the illegal activities under this clause shall be punished under this Act. advertisement The Pakistan Army Act sounds like a convoluted document that gives unbridled power and illegitimate secrecy to military courts in Pakistan and these are some of its legal jargons that Pakistan has used against an innocent Indian. Pakistan has also invoked the Official Secrets Act 1923, a British era document that has been the subject of intense debate in India for its archaic provisions. But Kulbhushan Jadhav's sham trial and punishment show Pakistan uses it with impunity. Section 3 of the OSA 1923 defines penalties for spying that can be upto fourteen years of imprisonment and goes on to say, advertisement "It shall not be necessary to show that the accuse person was guilty of any particular act tending to State, and notwithstanding that no such act is proved against him, he may be convicted, if from the circumstances of the case or his conduct or his known character as proved, it appears that his purpose was a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interest of the State." Pakistan had established military courts in 2015 with a constitutional amendment to try people for terrorism and related offences committed in civilian areas after the December 2015 Peshawar school massacre and only last month, in March 2017, its parliament voted for another two years extension to them. Since their establishment, the military courts have an absolute record of convictions with no acquittals. According to the Pakistan's military, the military courts have convicted 274 people in last two years, 161 of them being sentenced to death and 113 to varying prison terms. India has strongly protested the sentence likening it to murder and claims that the only evidence against Jadhav is his forced confession and is expected to raise the issue on internationally to expose the Pakistani sham. Since Jadhav's arrest in March 2016, India has repeatedly asked for consular access to him but the way he has been arbitrarily and summarily sentenced to death by its Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, tells us that Pakistan was never serious to the Indian demands and to the established norms of international jurisprudence. ALSO READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: What Pakistani media said Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot challenge Pakistan military court's verdict, but he has some options Day before Kulbhushan Jadhav got death penalty, Indian Coast Guard saved two Pakistani sailors Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence WATCH: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Sushma Swaraj warns Pakistan of dire consequences --- ENDS --- York Region police tracked down three teens with the help of a helicopter and a police dog after the suspects broke into Canadas Wonderland and stole candy last Saturday night. Thermal imaging video released Tuesday by police shows the trio one aged 15, the others 16 huddling under a tree, moments before officers took them into custody. Video of this incident captured by Air2 (the helicopter) is being released as a deterrent to anyone that is considering trespassing onto private property, York Region police said in a statement. Security staff called police to the amusement park in Vaughan around 10:30 p.m. after spotting the teens, who were reportedly dressed in dark clothing and had their faces covered. The group went into one of the stores on the property and stole candy before disappearing into the park, police said. York police then dispatched a helicopter which was already in service on night patrol and the canine unit to try and track them down, said Const. Andy Pattenden. Ive got one laying down, one crouched down and theres another heat source but I dont know if its a third person or not, says an officer in the video released by police. Shortly after, officers and a police dog can be seen converging on the teens hiding spot. OK, theres three, the officer says. Theyre all surrendering. Pattenden said using a helicopter for this sort of call is standard practice for York police. The call came in to officers as a break-and-enter in progress, which is considered a high-priority incident. This area is actually perfect for canine because its closed, Pattenden said. The only people that are in there are the people doing the break-and-enter. Thermal imaging cameras were also useful for the same reason, Pattenden said, and saved officers the time and safety risk of checking each building at Wonderland. Officers also set up a perimeter around the park, and eventually found the teens hiding beneath a tree next to a roller coaster. They were taken into custody without incident, police said. The youths were cooperative with police and were remorseful for their actions, police said in a statement. The teens, all of whom are from Vaughan, were released into the custody of their parents and entered into a community service program. In 2012, a one-year contract extension for the helicopter cost $568,908, excluding taxes, YorkRegion.com reported. The same year, police also spent $709,000 on service work deemed necessary by the choppers manufacturer. Canadas Wonderland opens again April 30. SHARE: Shirley Li does not understand why immigration officials would require a medical exam to be done upfront and redone later when the results expire after a long processing delay. My parents had to fly two hours to Shanghai for the medical exam, stay overnight in a hotel. The exam and the trip cost them $2,000, said Li, a financial analyst in Toronto, who applied early last year to sponsor her parents to join her in Canada from China. You dont hear anything from Immigration. When you call the call centre, nobody picks up the phone. If they do, they dont have any useful information to help you. Its frustrating. Better training of call centre agents and timely services are just some of the issues a new parliamentary committee report is hoping to address in modernizing Canadas immigration services and help the country stay competitive in attracting newcomers in the 21st century. Immigration is a life-changing journey for individuals who should not be frustrated by processes and bureaucracy, said the 48-page report released by the standing committee on citizenship and immigration. Reducing application processing times and improving client services were top priorities mandated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to his immigration minister when the Liberal government was elected in 2015. The use of technology has been a cornerstone of the Immigration Departments modernization plan, with the development of the Global Case Management System, which allows officials to move from processing paper applications to using electronic applications. Other changes include the launch of the Express Entry system to manage the timely intake and processing of economic immigration applications, as well as the use of a network of visa application centres run by private contractors. The Immigration Departments most recent clients survey in 2015 found 85 per cent of clients were satisfied with the service, with the rest complaining about a range of issues from the inability to access case status information to errors in applications. In 2016, the department received 5,000 complaints and the top three concerns related to processing times, the call centre and the operation of the applicants online accounts. The reports top recommendation was to train staff at the call centre on client service and on how to communicate with people who may have limited English or French, as well as setting a 15-minute waiting time standard for clients to talk to a live agent for inquires. The report recommends the department consider having agents specialize in particular programs or application types such as temporary residence, permanent residence, refugees, citizenship and passports. The call centre may be used to check the status of an application that is beyond the normal processing time and report changes regarding an application that is in process, suggested Toronto immigration lawyer Stephen Green. While the idea of the call centre is commendable, unfortunately the limits placed on call centre agents in terms of the information that they are permitted to disclose often result in the applicant being unable to ascertain the information required. The report said immigration officials should establish service standards and processing times for all programs and publish the information on the departments website. It said the department should simplify its forms and evaluate common patterns in mistakes and errors made on its applications. If you talk to any MP, 80 to 85 per cent of our caseload involves immigration files. The long delays and lack of information are frustrating people, said MP Jenny Kwan, immigration critic for the opposition NDP, who sits on the immigration standing committee. All we are saying is these are simple fixes that make an inordinate amount of sense. Bernie Derible, a spokesperson for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, said the department has made tremendous strides in speeding up processing times and simplifying processes, particularly for family sponsorship applications. We are reviewing the recommendations and have been improving many areas already under our government Client experience is a key focus of Minister Hussens mandate, said Derible, adding that the government has designated a director general responsible for improving client services. SHARE: Hydro One ombudsman Fiona Crean quit March 10 after less than two years in the job, leaving critics wondering why the company kept her departure secret for so long while its under heavy scrutiny. The resignation of Crean who was Torontos hard-hitting ombudsman before leaving for Hydro One blows a gaping hole in a new law requiring the utility to have an in-house consumer watchdog, opposition parties charged Tuesday. Who is this government trying to fool? said Progressive Conservative MPP Steve Clark. The former Hydro One ombudsman left over a month ago, yet her name and picture are still on the government website, and theres no media release about her replacement. When the Liberal government began the partial privatization of Hydro One to raise $9 billion, it stripped Ontarios ombudsman and other officers of the legislature of powers to oversee the former Crown utility. In exchange, Hydro One which had been the subject of a stinging investigation by former Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin over a massive billing fiasco was ordered to set up its own ombudsman office. This is something that could be corrected easily, New Democrat MPP Peter Tabuns said Tuesday. Restore the authority to Ontarios ombudsman . . . give Ontarians the protection they deserve. In his report, Marin said thousands of customers felt like they were wrestling with a slippery pig in sorting out overbillings blamed on a new computer system. One woman had $8,930 sucked from her bank account in an automatic withdrawal. The Hydro One ombudsmans office is yet to produce its first annual report on its investigations on behalf of individual consumers or on any systemic investigations undertaken. Energy Minister Glen Thibeault had no explanation for the secrecy around Creans departure but said an investigator from her staff, Sophie Petrillo, is running the office with a search for a replacement underway. The time frame is making sure you get the right person and not just a warm body. Fiona Crean did some great work, he told reporters. The former ombudsman took another job, just like other people do. We wish her well. Crean could not be reached for comment through her new employer, Indspire, a national charity that helps indigenous students complete their education through scholarships, bursaries and awards. Shes taking on the role as chief operating officer of Indspire, headed by Hydro One board member Roberta Jamieson. Hydro One, which has been under fire for the $4.84-million annual compensation paid to its new CEO, Mayo Schmidt, said in a statement that consumers with concerns about their Hydro One bills are still being served. The office of the ombudsman is fully operational and will continue to play a key role in resolving customer complaints and supporting the companys path to customer excellence, the statement said. Hydro One is still planning to open customer service centres in regional offices, said spokesperson Tiziana Baccega Rosa. Clark said Crean initially did many customer outreach meetings with Hydro One officials in smaller cities around the province where angry consumers would often congregate to vent about high bills. Her office responded well to billing issues and customer service issues. But then they started to change, Clark told the Star, adding the next round of meetings is strictly Hydro One people, not the ombudsmans office. Read more about: SHARE: MONTGOMERY, ALA.Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley resigned Monday rather than face impeachment and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanour campaign violations that arose during an investigation of his alleged affair with a top aide. In a remarkable fall, the mild-mannered 74-year-old Republican and one-time Baptist deacon stepped down as the sex-tinged scandal gathered force over the past few days. Legislators turned up the pressure by opening impeachment hearings Monday. Last week, the Alabama Ethics Commission cited evidence that Bentley broke state ethics and campaign laws and referred the matter to prosecutors. Thereve been times that I let you and our people down, and Im sorry for that, Bentley said in the old House chamber of Alabamas Capitol after he pleaded guilty. The violations were discovered during the investigation of his affair but were not directly related to it. In court, Bentley appeared sullen and looked down at the floor. He stood up and said yes, sir in a gravelly voice as the judge read out the charges he was pleading guilty to. One misdemeanour charge against Bentley stemmed from a $50,000 loan he made to his campaign in November that investigators said he failed to report until January. State law says major contributions should be reported within a few days. The other charge stemmed from his use of campaign funds to pay nearly $9,000 in legal bills for political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason last year. He did what he did, and he deserves now to be called a criminal, said Ellen Brooks, a retired district attorney overseeing the state investigation. The resignation and guilty plea were a dramatic reversal from the man who on Friday stood on the Capitol steps and said he would not leave office because he had done nothing illegal. The plea agreement specified that Bentley must surrender campaign funds totalling nearly $37,000 within a week and perform 100 hours of community service as a physician. The dermatologist also cannot seek public office again. Bentleys successor is Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, who became Alabamas second female governor. The first was Lurleen Wallace, wife of segregationist and four-term Gov. George C. Wallace. She ran as a surrogate for her still-powerful husband in 1966 when he couldnt seek re-election because of term limits. She won, but died in office in 1968. The Ivey administration will be open. It will be transparent. And it will be honest, Ivey said. Bentley said in his statement that he no longer wanted to subject his family and staff to the consequences that my past actions have brought upon them. His staff gave him a standing ovation as he entered and exited the old House chamber. Bentleys resignation follows the ouster of former House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who left office in 2016 after being convicted on ethics charges, and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was suspended from his post last year over an order opposing same-sex marriage. Bentley, a staunch family-values conservative who won two terms partly because of his reputation for moral rectitude, was first engulfed in scandal last year after recordings surfaced of him making sexually charged comments to the 45-year-old Mason. An investigative report prepared for the House Judiciary Committee and released last week said Bentley encouraged an atmosphere of intimidation to keep the story under wraps and directed law enforcement officers to track down and seize the recordings. The report portrayed the governor as paranoid and obsessed with trying to keep the relationship secret. The committee on Monday started what was expected to be days of hearings. Bentley lawyer Ross Garber had argued that impeachment should be reserved for only the most grave misconduct, noting that only two U.S. governors have been impeached since 1929, and both were indicted for serious felonies. It is not unusual for elected officials to have ethics and campaign finance issues. In fact, many governors face these things. It is very rare, though, for legislators to try to leverage those issues to impeach a governor. In fact, it is simply not done, Garber told The Associated Press in an email. The last U.S. governor to be impeached was Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009. He was removed from office and is now serving a prison sentence for conspiring to sell an appointment to President Barack Obamas vacant U.S. Senate seat. The investigative report contained text messages that the governor sent to Mason. They were intercepted by Bentleys then-wife, Dianne Bentley, who was able to read the messages because they also showed up on the governors state-issued iPad, which he had given her. I sure miss you. I need you. I want you. You are the only one, one message read. Dianne Bentley divorced her husband in 2015 after 50 years of marriage. Bentley denied having a physical relationship with his former aide, though in some of the recordings he talked about the pleasure he got from fondling her breasts. At one point, according to the investigative report, the governor sent the head of his security detail to fetch the recording from his son Paul Bentley, who responded: You aint getting it. Dianne Bentley had secretly recorded her husband by leaving her phone on while she went for a walk. The former first ladys chief of staff also charged that Bentley threatened her job because he believed she had helped his wife make the recordings. Former Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier, who a day after being fired by Bentley last year held a news conference where he publicly revealed the affair accusation, said he feels vindicated by the resignation and plea deal. GOP leaders in the House and Senate called on Bentley to resign, as has the Alabama Republican Partys steering committee. Its really time for us to look ahead and start moving forward on more pressing matters, Republican Sen. Cam Ward said. It was a constant distraction, one that was never going to change, and its time for us to get back to work. Two of Bentleys predecessors in the past three decades have been convicted of crimes: Republican Guy Hunt in the 1990s, for misusing funds, and Democrat Don Siegelman, who was convicted of bribery in 2006. SHARE: CAIROEgyptian Christians were burying their dead Monday after Daesh suicide bombers killed at least 45 people in attacks on Palm Sunday services in two cities, as a state of emergency went into effect amid fears of further violence. Women wailed as caskets marked with the word martyr were brought into the St. Mina monastery in the outskirts of the coastal city of Alexandria, the footage broadcast on several Egyptian channels. Coptic priests, boy scouts, and mourners carrying flowers joined a procession into the church, the pace set by a beat of snare drums. At least 17 people were killed at St. Marks Cathedral in Alexandria, the historic seat of Christendom in Egypt. Another suicide attack killed at least 28 people inside St. Georges Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, the Health Ministry said, updating an earlier toll. Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, claimed both bombings. Read more: Pope Francis denounces deadly Egypt attack in Palm Sunday address Church bombings in Egypt kill 44, wound 126 Rev. Danial Maher, of the Tanta church, lost his 23-year-old son, Beshoy, who was among six deacons killed in the attack. He recalled watching his son wearing white vestments and singing at the service. He was like an angel, he said. Pictures of the elder Maher, sitting helplessly in bloodstained vestments after the attack, were widely circulated online. He buried his son late Sunday. The attacks led President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to declare a state of emergency, amid fears that Daesh militants, who have been battling security forces in the Sinai Peninsula for years, are shifting their focus to Egypts Coptic minority, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. In December, a massive church bombing killed 30 people in Cairo, and a series of killings in the Sinai have caused hundreds to flee to safer areas. The rising violence has undermined the Egyptian governments claim to being a bulwark against extremism in a chaotic region as it pursues closer ties with President Donald Trump, who hosted el-Sissi at the White House a week ago. The parliament has seven days to approve or reject the state of emergency, but its approval is seen as a foregone conclusion since the legislature is packed with el-Sissis supporters. The Cabinet declared that it had gone into effect at 1 p.m. (1100 GMT). In theory, it would allow for arrests without warrants, swifter prosecution of suspects, and special courts. But authorities have already been waging a heavy crackdown on dissent for years, so it was unclear if anything would change. We wont see a change on the ground, as this decision wasnt taken to give more powers or tighten control, said political analyst Yasser Abdel-Aziz. Its a purely political decision that is meant to have a psychological impact. El-Sissi has clamped down on opponents since he led the military overthrow of an elected Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013. Thousands of people have been jailed, mainly Morsi supporters but also several prominent secular and liberal activists. The powers that the security agencies have already dont need reinforcement by the state of emergency, Abdel-Aziz said. The status quo of media and press freedoms is ideal for the security authorities to work without much noise. The Palm Sunday attacks, the single deadliest day for Egypts Christians in decades, rattled the community and prompted messages of support from abroad, including from Pope Francis, who is set to visit Egypt in the coming weeks, and President Donald Trump. Israel meanwhile closed its Taba border crossing to Egypt after its anti-terrorism office warned of an imminent militant attack there, underlining fears of more violence. The closure comes hours before the start of the Passover holiday. Southern Sinai, which has seen little of the violence plaguing the northern part of the peninsula, is a popular tourist destination. Soon after the announcement, sirens wailed in parts of southern Israel alerting residents to a rocket attack. The military said a rocket fired from Sinai struck a greenhouse but caused no injuries. IS claimed responsibility for the attack. Read more about: SHARE: LUCCA, ITALYThe Group of Seven industrialized nations on Tuesday urged Russia to pressure the Syrian government to end the six-year civil war, but rejected a British call to impose new sanctions on Moscow over its support of President Bashar Assad. Foreign ministers from the seven countries said Moscow can play a constructive role in ending the brutal conflict that has destabilized the Middle East, driven millions to escape Syria and further frayed relations between the West and Russia. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. Or, he added, it could maintain its alliance with Syria, Iran and militant group Hezbollah, which we believe is not going to serve Russias interests longer term. Tillerson flew straight from the summit in Italy to Moscow, carrying the G7s strong desire for a new start in Syria, but few concrete proposals to make it happen. The G7 blames Assads military for a deadly chemical attack last week. Ministers meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca strongly supported U.S. missile strikes that targeted a Syrian air base believed to have been used to launch the attack. But they were divided about how to deal with Syria, and Moscow. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who hosted the G7 gathering, said there is no consensus for further new sanctions. We must have a dialogue with Russia, he said. We must not push Russia into a corner. Read more: Freeland says Russia has chance to get on right side of history and help end Assad regime in Syria Rex Tillerson heads to Russia on high-tension visit over Syria: Youre with us or against us G7 ministers aim to push Russia to abandon Assad, join new Syria peace effort Instead of sanctions, the meetings final communique called for an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to determine who was responsible for the war crime. The U.S. and Britain say there is little doubt Assads forces are culpable. The groups stance was a rebuff to British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who said Monday the G7 was considering new sanctions on Russian military figures to press Moscow to end military support for the toxic Assad government. U.S. officials in Washington have also raised that prospect. Others argued for a more conciliatory approach. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Russia, and Assad ally Iran, must be involved in any peace process to end Syrias six-year civil war. Gabriel said the United States had sent a clear signal to the Assad regime by launching cruise missiles at a Syrian air base, but said other nations should reach out to Russia rather than seek a military escalation. Not everyone may like it, but without Moscow and without Tehran there will be no solution for Syria, he said. The other G7 members Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Japan and current president Italy are also trying to grasp what the U.S. administrations foreign policy is, amid conflicting signals from Washington. Tillersons trip comes after an American official said the U.S. has drawn a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of the chemical attack an allegation that heightens already acute tensions between Washington and Moscow. Until Trump ordered U.S. missile strikes in response to the nerve gas attack that killed more than 80, the president had focused on defeating Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, and had shown no appetite for challenging Assad and, by extension, his Russian supporter President Vladimir Putin. Even since the missile strikes, signals have been mixed. After the April 4 chemical attack, Trump said his attitude toward Assad has changed very much and Tillerson said steps are underway to organize a coalition to remove him from power. But Tillerson also said that the top U.S. priority in the region remains the defeat Daesh militants. On Monday Tillerson raised fresh expectations for aggressive U.S. action and not only in Syria as he visited the site of a World War II Nazi massacre in central Italy, saying the U.S. would hold to account all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world. Though such comments hint at a more activist U.S. foreign policy focused on preventing humanitarian atrocities, Trump has consistently suggested he prefers the opposite approach. His new administration has generally downplayed human rights concerns while promoting an America First strategy de-emphasizing the concerns of foreign nations. Uncertainty about objectives persisted as Tillerson met Tuesday on the sidelines of the Lucca meeting with diplomats from like-minded countries on Syria, including Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as well as G7 members. The U.S. hopes the regional countries can help ensure security and stability in Syria after Daesh is defeated. The G7 members broadly agree that Assad should go but not necessarily when, or how. European leaders are especially conscious of the disaster in Libya, where an internationally backed ouster of dictator Moammar Gadhafi was followed by a descent into chaos and factional fighting. Tillerson said Tuesday that It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end. But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria. Thats why we are not presupposing how that occurs, Tillerson added. Read more about: SHARE: PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREANorth Koreas parliament convened Tuesday amid heightened tensions on the divided peninsula, with the United States and South Korea conducting their biggest-ever military exercises and the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier heading to the area in a show of American strength. North Korea vowed a tough response to any military moves that might follow the U.S. decision to send the carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula. We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions, a spokesman for its Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. The statement followed an assertion by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that U.S. missile strikes against a Syrian airbase in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack carry a message for any nation operating outside of international norms. He didnt specify North Korea, but the context was clear enough. If you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken, Tillerson told ABCs This Week. Read more: Missile strikes are a warning to other countries, Tillerson says Pyongyang is always extremely sensitive to the annual U.S.-South Korea war games, which it sees as an invasion rehearsal, and justifies its nuclear weapons as defensive in nature. It has significantly turned up the volume of its rhetoric that war could be on the horizon if it sees any signs of aggression from south of the Demilitarized Zone. This goes to prove that the U.S. reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario, the Norths statement said, referring to the country by its formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. If the U.S. dares opt for a military action, crying out for pre-emptive attack . . . the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S. In Washington, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said U.S. President Donald Trump has been very clear that its not tolerable for North Korea to have nuclear-armed missiles. The last thing we want to see is a nuclear North Korea that threatens the coast of the United States, or, for that matter, any other country, or any other set of human beings, Spicer said at the Tuesday news briefing. Trump spoke last week with Chinas President Xi Jinping about the shared national interest in stopping its close ally, North Korea, from having nuclear capabilities, Spicer said, adding that it would be helpful if China was more outspoken on the matter. He would welcome President Xi weighing in on this a little bit more, Spicer said. Earlier Tuesday, Trump also said that he tried to persuade Xi to put pressure on North Korea in exchange for a good trade deal with the U.S. I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! Trump tweeted. In a second tweet he wrote: North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Read more: North Korea fires ballistic missile into sea ahead of U.S.-China meeting North Koreas parliament, the Supreme Peoples Assembly, nominally the highest organ of government, opened Tuesday with the countrys leader, Kim Jong Un, taking the centre seat. Foreign media are not allowed to attend parliamentary sessions. Initial reports from state media said the meeting went through domestic issues, with Premier Pak Pong Ju making a speech about the latest five-year economic plan, which was announced last year. Another closely watched category on the official agenda is organizational issues, which can mean new appointments to senior positions. Like other attendees, Kim Jong Un was shown on the North Korean news late Tuesday holding up his assembly membership card to vote on state business. This years meeting kicks off what are expected to be major celebrations, including a large-scale military parade and fireworks, to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Koreas first leader and eternal president, and Kim Jong Uns late grandfather. Though the details of the April 15 anniversary known as the Day of the Sun have not been officially confirmed, Pyongyang residents have been out every day diligently practicing in the citys squares and parks for the mass event. The North Korean parliament is often dismissed as rubber stamp because it tends to approve, rather than formulate, policies and laws, but its role is a bit more complex than the facade and spectacle presented to the nation by state-run media. For one thing, the regularity of its meetings it usually meets once or twice a year is, in itself, a sign of stability. The SPA gatherings completely undercut any analysis or prognostications that the country is going to collapse. If they failed to convene an SPA session, that would be an indication that there is a fundamental problem among DPRK elites, said Michael Madden, editor of the North Korea Leadership Watch website. If there was an existential problem with the (ruling) Workers Party of Korea and the political culture, then they wouldnt be convening so many people at one time in Pyongyang, Madden said. Read more about: SHARE: MOSCOWThe White House accused the Russian government on Tuesday of engaging in a coverup of the chemical weapons attack last week by Syrian forces that prompted U.S. missile strikes, saying that U.S. intelligence and numerous contemporaneous reports confirmed that the Syrians used sarin gas on their own people. In a declassified four-page report that details U.S. intelligence on the chemical weapons attack and contains a point-by-point rebuttal of Moscows claims, the White House asserted that the Syrian and Russian governments had sought to confuse the world community about the assault through disinformation and false narratives. The strongly worded document calls for international condemnation of Syrias use of chemical weapons and harshly criticizes Russia for shielding an ally that has used weapons of mass destruction. It marks a striking shift by President Donald Trump, who entered office praising President Vladimir Putin of Russia and seeking common ground with him and now appears to be moving swiftly to isolate him. The charges came as Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state, was preparing for meetings in Moscow on Wednesday, and as Congress and the FBI are investigating potential ties between Trumps presidential campaign and Russia. Russia is in an island on this, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, said. He said there was little dispute about Syrias responsibility for the attack except by Moscow and the failed states of North Korea and Iran. This is not exactly a happy-time cocktail party of people you want to be associated with, he said. Read more: Freeland says Russia has chance to get on right side of history and help end Assad regime in Syria G7 ministers aim to push Russia to abandon Assad, join new Syria peace effort U.S. official says Russia knew in advance of Syrian chemical attack Russia and Iran uphold support for Syrian government in wake of U.S. airstrike Senior White House officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the governments view, said Russias goal was to cover up the Syrian governments culpability for the chemical attack. They asserted that the Syrian government, under pressure from opposition forces in the strategically vital Hama province and lacking sufficient troops to respond, used the lethal nerve agent sarin to retaliate against rebels who were threatening government-held territory. Neither Spicer nor any of the officials who detailed the U.S. governments chronology of the chemical attack would comment on the possibility that the Russian government had known in advance of Syrias plan to carry it out, or to launch a subsequent assault on a hospital that was treating victims. But one official said that, given the history of close co-operation between the Syrian and Russian militaries, and that Russian forces were stationed at Al Shayrat airfield, which was used to launch the chemical attack, Moscow must answer. Moscows response to the April 4 attack follows a familiar pattern of its responses to other egregious actions, the report said. It spins out multiple, conflicting accounts in order to create confusion and sow doubt within the international community. Much of the report was devoted to rebutting Russias claim that the chemical attack last week was actually the result of a Syrian airstrike against a terrorist ammunition depot in Khan Sheikhoun that contained chemical weapons. The report also cited a video and commercial satellite imagery that showed that the chemical weapon had landed in the middle of a road, not at a weapons facility. White House officials said U.S. intelligence agencies do not believe that Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, or other terrorist groups have sarin gas. The report also rejected Moscows claim that the April 4 attack was a prank of a provocative nature and denied Russian suggestions that the substance used might not have been sarin. Victims of the attack on April 4 displayed telltale symptoms of nerve agent exposure, including pinpoint pupils, foaming at the nose and mouth, and twitching, the report said. Read more about: SHARE: SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.The man who opened fire in a San Bernardino school was a deeply religious Navy veteran who accused his newlywed wife of infidelity. They had separated and when he failed to win her back, he went to her special-education classroom and fatally shot her and one of the children she taught before turning the gun on himself, police said Tuesday. In the weeks before Mondays violence, Karen Smith told family members her new husband, Cedric Anderson, had tried to get her to return home and threatened her, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. She didnt take him seriously and thought he was just seeking attention, he said. Read more: Teacher, 8-year-old student killed in murder-suicide at California school Police say 2 suspects dead after California mass shooting Police officers stand guard outside North Park School after a fatal shooting at the elementary school on Monday in San Bernardino. Police do not know what triggered the attack or why Anderson chose to shoot Smith at the school, Burguan said, adding that she never shared any information about her marital problems with colleagues. She effectively kept her private life private, Burguan said. Hundreds of panicked parents descended on North Park Elementary School on Monday, waiting for hours for information on their children in a city that is still on edge 16 months after a terror attack that killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at a meeting of county employees. Anderson, 53, walked into the special-education classroom and fired 10 shots with a .357 Magnum, targeting his wife but also hitting two of her students. Killed was Jonathan Martinez, 8, who had a rare genetic condition known as Williams syndrome and had survived heart surgery. A 9-year-old boy also was shot but was in stable condition and in good spirits, watching cartoons in his hospital bed Tuesday, police said. Anderson and Smith had married in late January but separated in mid-March after Anderson accused her of infidelity, leading Smith to move out, Burguan said. Just weeks before the shooting, Anderson had professed his love to Smith in a series of social media posts, including one that called her an angel. Smiths mother, Irma Sykes, said her daughter had been friends with Anderson for about four years before they got married. She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all, Sykes told the Los Angeles Times. She left him and thats where the trouble began, Sykes said. She broke up with him and he came out with a different personality. She decided she needed to leave him. Anderson, a self-proclaimed pastor whose Facebook profile is filled with Bible quotes and religious references, had been unemployed but previously held jobs as a maintenance worker, police said. He had joined the Navy in 1982 and re-enlisted as a reservist from 1987 until 2003, working as a builder, according to military records. A teacher and a student were shot to death and a second student critically wounded Monday in a murder-suicide at a San Bernardino elementary school that spread panic across a city still recovering emotionally from a deadly attack 15 months ago. Anderson had been arrested four times since 1982, though none resulted in convictions, Burguan said. Those arrests included one in August 2012 on suspicion of spousal battery and another in May 2013 on suspicion of brandishing a knife, Torrance police Sgt. Ronald Harris said. Investigators who searched Andersons home after the shooting found a note that made reference to the relationship, feeling dishonoured and moving forward with no regrets, Burguan said. But outside the context of the shooting, nothing about the note would have been alarming, he said. The slain teacher was remembered Tuesday by one school parent as nothing but good with the patience and understanding to handle special-needs students. She was an excellent teacher, said Marie Cabreras, who has two young children at North Park and also has an older daughter who was Smiths student for two years at a nearby high school. She loved on kids. Her whole life was surrounded around kids and helping them, and helping them build a future, Cabreras said. Teachers hugged one another and wiped away tears as they returned to the school Tuesday to retrieve their belongings. It was to remain closed for the remainder of the week. Ruben Gutierrez, whose 7-year-old grandson Jeffrey Imbriani was friends with Martinez, said the shooting was just beyond words. Gutierrez brought his grandson back to the school to show him how community members were coming together after the shooting and to reinforce that the school is safe. You know, its not a scary place to be, and just kind of help him process more and re-experience what happened to hopefully make this as healthy and experience as can be given the circumstances, Gutierrez said. SHARE: U.S. President Donald Trumps press secretary Sean Spicer wrongly declared on Tuesday that Adolf Hitler did not use chemical weapons during the Second World War or against his own people then further insulted the Jewish community with a stammering attempt to clarify. Spicer issued three additional clarifications in writing over the course of the next hour, digging himself deeper as he tried to dig out. On the whole, it was a uniquely inflammatory and inept performance, on a major Jewish holiday, from a man paid to speak for the president. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump The gaffe-prone Spicer made his initial remarks at an afternoon White House briefing on the first full day of Passover. By early evening, Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi had called for his firing, and Israels intelligence minister had declared that he should apologize or resign. The controversy began with a question about Syria. Talking about dictator Bashar Assad, who has used chemical weapons to kill his own citizens, Spicer said, You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didnt even sink to using chemical weapons. This, of course, is incorrect. Though Hitlers Nazis largely stuck to conventional weapons on the battlefield, they infamously used gas to slaughter Jews en masse at their extermination camps. Asked later in the briefing to explain what he meant, Spicer stammered out the following. I think when you come to sarin gas, there was no, he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing. I mean there was clearly I understand your point thank you, I appreciate that there was not, in the, he brought them into the Holocaust centre, I understand that. But I was saying in the way that Assad used them where he went into towns, dropped them down to innocent into the middle of towns, it was brought, so the use of it. I appreciate the clarification; that was not the intent. There is no such thing as the Holocaust centre; the Nazis exterminated people at multiple death camps. And Hitler, as is obvious, did use chemicals to kill his own people. Spicer, remarkably, was attempting to argue that Hitlers gassing of civilians was morally superior to Assads because it was conducted in organized prisons rather than via indiscriminate bombing. After the briefing, he issued a written statement emphasizing this bizarre point. In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust, however, I was trying to draw a contrast of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on innocent people, he wrote. Within 10 minutes, Spicer issued yet another clarification, changing the words innocent people to population centres. But that hardly addressed the problem. Finally, he added a new sentence to the end of the statement: Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable. Later in the day Spicer issued another apology when he was interviewed on CNN by Wolf Blitzer, the son of Holocaust survivors. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in an appearance Wednesday that he "made a mistake" by making a comparison to the Holocaust in comments about Syrian President Bashar Assad's use of chemical weapons. Frankly, I mistakenly used an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust for which, frankly, there is no comparison, Spicer said. And for that, I apologize. It was a mistake to do that. Spicers remarks prompted astonishment from Jewish Americans, including Democratic Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin and Democratic Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz. Someone get @PressSec a refresher history course on Hitler stat #Icantbelievehereallysaidthat, Cardin wrote on Twitter. I find nothing funny about the Press Secretary bungling Holocaust history, Schatz wrote. Because Im not sure they should get the benefit of the doubt. Trump and his team have been criticized on several occasions for acts and statements many American Jews have perceived as insulting or anti-Semitic. The administration drew widespread condemnation for omitting any mention of Jewish people from its statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day; a spokeswoman explained then that they took into account all of those who suffered. Read more about: SHARE: Prime Minister Modi visited Pakistan but he failed to raise the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav with his Pakistani counterpart. Why the government is silent? Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said targeting the government in Lok Sabha. By India Today Web Desk: The Congress-led Opposition cornered the government in the Parliament over the issue of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav being awarded death sentence by a military court in Pakistan. Home Minister Rajnath Singh responded to Congress's charge with a stern message to Islamabad that New Delhi will do whatever it takes to ensure a safe release of Kulbhushan Jadhav. advertisement LATEST UPDATES: Pakistan will have to face dire consequences for awarding death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav: Sushma Swaraj There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Rajya Sabha. Kulbhushan Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistani agencies from Iran and put through trial as RAW agenct: Rajnath Singh Kulbhushan Jadhav had a valid Indian visa, how can he be termed a spy by Pakistani agencies: Rajnath Singh Pakistan has denied consular access to Jadhav: Rajnath Singh The government strongly condemns Pakistan military court's verdict awarding death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav. I want to assure the House that justice will be done: Home Minister Rajnath Singh The entire house is with Kulbhushan Jadhav. The Home Minister will reply on the issue: Ananth Kumar, Union Minister Agar usey bacha nahi paaye toh ye sarkaar ki kamzori hogi: Mallikarjun Kharge Mallikarjun Kharge PM visited Pakistan but failed to raise Kulbhushan Jadhav issue with his Pakistani counterpart: Kharge Pakistan didn't follow international laws in the matter concerning Kulbhushan Jadhav: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Pakistan military court is a banana court where they have given verdict without any evidence: Owaisi We have to save Mr Jadhav at any cost. The government should use its influence to bring him back: AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi Congress gives adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha on Kulbhushan Jadhav matter. India on Monday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche against Pakistani military court for awarding death sentence to Jadhav, who Islamabad claims was arrested during an anti-terror operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area in March, 2016. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry said. Congress leader Manish Tewari said the government must push hard to ensure Jadhav's safe return to India. "Kulbhushan Jadhav has been sentenced to death by Kangroo Proceedings in Pakistan that no one even knows ever took place. GOI must get him back," Tewari said on Twitter. ALSO READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: What Pakistani media said Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot challenge Pakistan military court's verdict, but he has some options Day before Kulbhushan Jadhav got death penalty, Indian Coast Guard saved two Pakistani sailors Amnesty International slams Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence --- ENDS --- STOCKHOLMA 39-year-old old Uzbek man has pleaded guilty to a terrorist crime after ramming a truck into a crowd in Stockholm, killing four people and wounding 15, his lawyer said Tuesday. The Stockholm District Court ruled Tuesday that police may detain Rakhmat Akilov for a month. After the court hearing, defence lawyer Johan Eriksson said Akilov is pleading guilty to Fridays attack and that his client could remain jailed as long as it takes to resolve the case. It was not immediately clear when Akilov made his plea. The Stockholm court earlier turned down Akilovs request for a new defence attorney a Sunni lawyer to replace Eriksson. Police detained Akilov on Friday after he drove the stolen beer truck into a crowd outside an upscale department store in central Stockholm in the afternoon. He was formally arrested early Saturday. Police have not given a motive for the attack and no extremist group has claimed responsibility, but police chief Dan Eliasson said that after questioning him they have become increasingly convinced that we have the right suspect. This detention order simply reinforces what we already know, Eliasson said. Police said Akilov was known to have been sympathetic to extremist organizations but that there was nothing to indicate he might plan an attack. His Swedish residency application was rejected last year. Read more: Stockholm suspects status as failed asylum-seeker saddens Sweden Sweden identifies truck attack suspect as 39-year-old Uzbekistan native Swedish PM calls deadly truck attack an act of terror, police make one arrest The four people killed were two Swedes, a Belgian woman and a British man. The British government has identified the Briton as Chris Bevington, an executive at Swedish music-streaming service Spotify. The others have not been publicly identified. A regional newspaper, Bohuslaningen, reported Tuesday that one of the victims was a 69-year-old woman from Ljungskile, in southwestern Sweden. Eight of those injured, two seriously, were still being treated in the hospital. The prosecutors office said Tuesday that the suspicions have weakened against a second man who was detained Sunday as a possible accomplice. A statement from the office said he would not be set free, but instead taken into custody due to a previous decision that he shall be expelled from Sweden. It gave no more details. Fridays attack shocked Swedes who pride themselves on their open-door policies toward migrants and refugees, and many expressed fears that something had gone badly wrong. In 2015, a record 163,000 asylum-seekers arrived in the country the highest per capita rate in Europe. The government responded by tightening border controls and curtailing some immigrant rights. SHARE: BEIRUTSyrian government forces battling insurgents in Daraa have dropped several barrel bombs on the southern city, opposition activists said Tuesday, a day after the White House suggested that the use of the crude explosive devices could bring a U.S. response. Russias Defence Ministry meanwhile said two of its army officers were killed and a third seriously wounded in a mortar attack in Syria, without specifying when or where it took place. Russia is a staunch backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad and has been waging an air campaign in support of his forces since 2015. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting in Daraa erupted Monday when rebels attacked a government-held area in the city centre. It said 16 pro-government fighters, including an army colonel, have been killed. Both the Observatory and Daraa-based activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh said warplanes carried out raids on Daraa while helicopter gunships dropped at least eight barrels loaded with explosives. White House spokesperson Sean Spicer said Monday that the use of barrel bombs, which government forces have repeatedly employed throughout the six-year-old conflict, might bring a U.S. response. His comments came days after Washington fired nearly 60 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase after a chemical attack it blamed on government forces. A Syrian official meanwhile said residents will begin evacuating two besieged areas in northwestern Syria on Wednesday, in the latest population transfer arranged by the warring sides. Hakim Baghdadi said authorities have prepared 100 buses to move 5,000 people out of the Shiite villages of Foua and Kfarya. Baghdadi, a member of the relief committee for the two villages, said they will be bused first to the nearby city of Aleppo, then on to other destinations. The predominantly Shiite villages have remained loyal to the Syrian government while the rest of the surrounding Idlib Province has come under the rule of hard-line Sunni rebels. The rebel commander in charge of two opposition-held towns in western Syria says evacuations will also begin from his districts tomorrow. The commander, who goes by the name Abu Adnan al-Zabadani, said residents and fighters electing to leave will be bused out of Madaya and Zabadani on Wednesday, before the towns are returned to government control. An arrangement between the government and rebels has linked the fate of the four besieged towns since 2015. The UN has decried the arrangement, saying it has served to obstruct the provision of badly needed assistance. The evacuations will be the latest in a string of population movements that have reshaped the demographics of the country. The government has used sieges to force populations opposed to its rule out of broad swaths of the countrys largest three cities. The UN has said the forced displacement amounts to war crimes. Read more about: SHARE: MOSCOWThe Trump administration veered toward deeper conflict with Russia Tuesday as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow, gambling that an unpredictable new president armed with the willingness to threaten military action gives the U.S. much-needed leverage to end Syrias carnage. Yet there were no guarantees Tillersons arguments would prove any more successful than the Obama administrations failed effort to peel Russia away from its Syrian ally. Tillersons mission, coming days after 59 Tomahawk missiles struck a Syrian airbase, also carries serious risks: If Russia brushes off the warnings, U.S. President Donald Trump could be forced into another show of force in Syria or see his credibility wane. I hope that what the Russian government concludes is that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad, Tillerson said before flying to the Russian capital, referring to Syrias embattled leader. The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, he confidently predicted. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump But Tillersons claim is one former president Barack Obama, too, argued for years, only to see Assad outlast his own term in office. And the Trump administrations nascent Syria policy seems to be increasingly centring on the same tactic Obama unsuccessfully employed: persuading Russia, Assads staunchest ally, to abandon him. The parallels havent gone unnoticed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as U.S. officials have accused his military of knowing about Assads recent chemical weapons attack ahead of time and trying to help cover it up. Calling for a UN investigation, Putin held to his claim that it was actually Assad opponents who introduced chemical weapons into Syrias harrowing civil war. We have seen it all already, Putin said. Jabbing at U.S. credibility, the Russian leader reminded reporters about unfounded U.S. claims of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, used to justify Americas 2003 invasion. The escalating dispute over last weeks events in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun has thrust Washington and Moscow into a level of tension rarely seen since the end of the Cold War. The animosity is especially striking given widespread speculation that Trump, who lavishly praised Putin during his campaign, would pursue rapprochement with Moscow. Even on Syria, the positions appeared to be hardening. Only a week ago, top Trump officials had spoken off deprioritizing past U.S. efforts to remove Assad from office and accepting the reality that 18 months of Russian military intervention had secured him in power. Since last Thursdays cruise missile strike, Tillerson and other U.S. officials appear to have reverted to the past administrations rhetoric of insisting that Assad is on the way out, without outlining any strategy for making that happen. The Trump administrations change of heart, apparently spurred in part by the presidents emotional response to the images of chemical weapons victims, also is serving another purpose: defanging the perception of cosiness between Trump and Moscow. As the FBI and multiple congressional committees investigate potential collusion between Russia and Trumps campaign, the president can point to his hard-line stance on Assad as fresh evidence hes willing to stand up to Putin. Asked about Putin possibly skipping a meeting with Tillerson, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said, There is a bit of irony that for all of these talks that have been perpetuated about back channels and direct links, that now its they wont meet with you. At a minimum, Tillerson will meet Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and the two are expected to take questions from reporters. As Tillerson landed in Moscow, senior White House officials briefed reporters on declassified U.S. intelligence they said disproved Russias claim that rebels were responsible for the chemical weapons. In an accompanying four-page memo, the U.S. accused Russia of a disinformation campaign and aiding Syria in covering up the gruesome attack, which killed more than 80 people. Russias allegations fit with a pattern of deflecting blame from the regime and attempting to undermine the credibility of its opponents, the report read. Read more: White House accuses Russia of coverup in Syria chemical attack Freeland says Russia has chance to get on right side of history over Syria G7 ministers urge Russia to pressure Syria to end war but reject calls for new sanctions Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon, It is very clear who planned this attack, who authorized this attack and who orchestrated this attack. Putins government has been incensed by the Trump administrations public accusations, and even more so by U.S. military intervention in Syria. The retaliatory strikes, which Obama declined to approve after blaming Assad for an even deadlier chemical weapons attack in 2013, hit an airbase where Russian troops were also present, although none are believed to have been killed. Meeting allies earlier Tuesday in Italy, Tillerson delivered an ultimatum to Russia: Side either with the U.S. and its dozens of coalition partners or face the isolation of a partnership with Assad, Iran and Hezbollah. That may hardly be punishment for the Kremlin, which dismissed many of Obamas similar warnings about Russia being sucked into a quagmire in Syria with no way out while tarnishing its international reputation. Trump may not have much to offer Russia currently. Even if Moscow co-operates, the allegations of election meddling have weakened the U.S. leaders hand to deliver on any significant carrot, such as a loosening of the U.S. and European economic sanctions stemming from Russias actions in Ukraine. And wielding the stick of potential military action is risky. Trumps cruise missile order restored the believability of Washington using its military might in Syria. But if Moscow ignores Trumps entreaties or if Assad uses chemical weapons again, bad options await Trump. He can order more military action, with the danger of an escalating America involvement in a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. Or he can hold back and risk losing face like Obama. Putin seems undeterred. Hours after Tillersons warning, his office announced Russia would host Syria and Irans foreign ministers for a three-way meeting Friday, the day after Tillerson departs. Read more about: SHARE: In his approach to the Syrian civil war, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is consistent in at least one respect. He consistently supports the dangerously inconsistent approach of Donald Trump. When Trump and his senior officials said, as they did just two weeks ago, that they had little interest in ridding Syria of dictator Bashar Assad, Canada was agreeable. But when Trump reversed himself, bombed a Syrian government airfield, and called for Assads removal, Trudeau gamely changed course too. Assad and his regime, Trudeau said Monday, must be held to account for war crimes against their own people. We need to move as quickly as possible toward peace and stability in Syria that does not involve Bashar al-Assad. Up to then, Canada had good reason not to support regime change in Syria. It wasnt clear that the armed opposition, a collection of jihadists, rebel groups and ragtag militias, would be any better. Stephen Harpers Conservative government had declined to back any side in the Syrian civil war. Trudeau continued this policy. Even reports that Assad was still using illegal chemical weapons didnt faze Ottawa. In August 2016, a joint investigation by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons concluded that Assad had broken his promise to destroy chemical weapons and used chlorine gas at least twice. No one much cared. Barack Obama, then a lame-duck U.S. president, was unwilling to go to war against Syria. Trump, at that point a contender for the presidency, was actively campaigning against such a war. Canada, which was focused on helping Syrian refugees, was willing to let the U.S. take the lead in matters military. It still is. The problem Canada faces is that Trumps military approach to the world has become crazily incomprehensible. Ever since Trump authorized missile strikes against Syria in retaliation for yet another alleged chemical assault on civilians, Washington has been a snake pit of conflicting explanations. Some administration officials say removing Assad has become a priority. Others say it hasnt. An anonymous senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that there is proof Russia knew beforehand about the latest chemical strike. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said there is no proof. Tillerson himself has given different reasons for the missile strike. At one point he suggested the U.S. was responding to a moral evil. At another he gave the implausible explanation that Washington attacked Assads forces to keep their chemical weapons from falling into terrorist hands. (In fact, as the Libyan experience suggests, terrorists would be more likely to get their hands on dangerous weapons if the Assad regime were deposed). Trumps only explanation to date is that he was horrified by the death of beautiful babies. For Trump, all of this chaos may make political sense. He is up in the polls since the missile attack. He has effectively spiked the guns of those who accuse him of being too close to Russia. His decision to reverse himself and attack Syria may help him repair relations with hawks in Americas formidable national security bureaucracy. But for Trudeau and Canada, it makes little sense to follow Trump down this particular rabbit hole. Regime change is a dangerous game, particularly when it is not clear what the alternative might be. Syria has been destroyed by war. Threatening more is unlikely to help. The best chance for peace in that country still remains a political settlement acceptable not only to the opposition but to those whose interests the current regime represents. Canada has differed politely with the U.S. before, most notably when it chose not to participate fully in George W. Bushs war to oust the monstrous Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. I know Trudeau wants desperately to remain in Trumps good books, particularly now that the North American Free Trade Agreement is about to be renegotiated. But with a U.S. battle group steaming toward North Korea and Americas Syria policy in chaos, it might be a good time to remind the president of a legal and political truth: the U.S. is powerful, but it does not have carte blanche to make war on whomever it chooses. Thomas Walkom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Read more about: SHARE: A year ago, Black Lives Matter Toronto concluded #BLMTOtentcity, our 15-day occupation of Toronto Police headquarters. Braving volatile weather and a police raid, our people demanded justice for Andrew Loku and an overhaul of the Special Investigations Unit. Twenty-seven years ago, black activists pushed for civilian oversight of the police. The SIU was created, and lauded as the provincial police watchdog, with a mission to nurture public confidence in policing by ensuring that police conduct is subject to rigorous and independent investigations. On paper, this makes sense. And while the agency was initially welcomed by our elders, reality and time have painted a different picture. The SIU matured into a secretive agency of ex-officers, who make it easier for current officers to act with impunity. Under the SIUs watch, there has been a dearth of police officers charged and barely any convicted. Of 3,400 investigations, 95 have had criminal charges laid (less than 3 per cent), 16 have led to convictions, and only three have served time. Take that in. The demand to overhaul the SIU came after three decades of the SIU failing Ontarians and instead absolving police officers of their actions. The province listened and ordered an Independent Police Oversight Review, led by Justice Michael Tulloch. Last week, the review released 129 recommendations. Most of them are what our communities have been calling on for years, including the public release of all past and future reports, demographic-based data on victims of police violence, and victims support services. These recommendations are the result of decades-long activism. These recommendations are the result of #BLMTOtentcity. Some of these recommendations would represent important steps forward, if adopted. But some just dont go far enough. The report recommends that at least 50 per cent of the nonforensic investigators on an investigative team should have no background in policing. This threshold will continue to bring to question the integrity and impartiality of the agencys investigations. Lets be real: 50 per cent of investigators being former cops is a lot of influence. The province needs to go over and above this recommendation and any former or current police officer should be ineligible to serve on the SIU. The premier should also take the bold step of committing to release the names of police officers investigated by the SIU, a step the report fails to recommend. The report considers the question and concludes that the standard for police should be the same as the standard for civilians alleged to have committed a crime; their names are released after an initial investigation and charge. But this fails to acknowledge the simple fact that police officers are not civilians. They should be held to a higher standard. What if the officer has a history of excessive force, or targeting black communities? What is there to hide? Why shouldnt we know whos hurting civilians? After all, we employ them. Our tax dollars support their inflated salaries and the weapons they use to terrorize our communities. The question remains, would publicizing the names of officers who harm decrease the number of misconduct cases? We think so. Officers who shoot, kill, and sexually assault civilians should do so with the knowledge the public will be apprised of the details; that is a tenet of accountability. These are public officials working in official capacity. The report is a much-needed first step, but simply, we need more. In the past 30 years, there have been at least seven reviews that speak directly to police accountability and the SIU, going as far back as the 1988 Task Force on Race Relations and Policing. Theyve produced similar results: promises of wide-sweeping changes, public fervour, and years of piecemeal action by policy-makers. Knowing historys knack for repeating itself, Ontarians should be cautious in their optimism. These are recommendations to fix a system predicated on stacking the cards in favour of trigger-happy cops, and this report is only as useful as its swift implementation by the province. Recommendations are nice but they mean nothing without action. Families of slain black people will not get justice from a report that sits on a shelf collecting dust. On the last day of #BLMTOtentcity, Kathleen Wynne met with protestors outside and made fervent promises of commitment to addressing anti-black violence at the institutional level. Wynne, the ball is in your court. The work has only begun. Rodney Diverlus and Pascale Diverlus are community organizers and co-founders of Black Lives Matter Toronto. Read more about: SHARE: The federal government has committed to legalize the recreational use of marijuana and is expected to table legislation this week, before Parliament rises for its spring break. Are we ready for this? Does the government have a clear and consistent message for young people and their families? Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been clear on his rationale for legalization: to minimize underage access to marijuana and to reduce criminal activity surrounding illegal marijuana trade. Our focus is on protecting kids and protecting our streets, Trudeau said at The Economist magazines Canada Summit in Toronto last June. And yet when the announcement to introduce legislation was made last April by Health Minister Jane Philpott, it happened to coincide with 4/20, the annual day of celebration for cannabis culture when thousands of people across the country, often very young people, gather to demonstrate their support for legalization by smoking joints in public places. Its been reported that the tabling of the legislation would also have coincided with this day again this year had it not been for Parliaments spring break. And the government reportedly intends that marijuana will be legalized on July 1, 2018, the day we celebrate our country. The government messaging regarding the legalization of recreational cannabis requires a delicate touch. A celebratory approach will give the impression of promoting use. Yes, the time has come to legalize recreational cannabis, but sending the right message is as important as developing a sound regulatory approach. Those of us who work in the field of addiction services know that this is a drug that, for some, can have serious consequences. There is ample research on the effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain, especially with early and frequent use. So while there may be political points to be scored by linking the governments actions to days of celebration, this link overshadows the caution we must exercise with youth when we normalize the substance. Pine River Institute is a residential treatment facility for adolescents struggling with addictive behaviours. Most of the young people we see use a variety of substances, but identify marijuana as their primary drug of choice. Before entering our program many have accessed numerous services over months and even years: from crisis visits to the ER, to individual psychotherapy, family therapy, medical intervention, day treatment and/or short-term residential programs. Our students did not respond to these less-intensive interventions, and continued to spiral down, sometimes with severe mental health symptoms, including cannabis-induced psychosis. They experienced global collapse, not functioning well socially, at home, or at school. Hospital visits and contact with police were part of life for most of them. Conversations with our colleagues who work with adolescents across North America, and what we hear from our own students, tell us that this is a common narrative. The federal marijuana task force recommendations are clear and they include: use revenue from cannabis regulation for drug prevention, education and treatment; begin public education strategy immediately. This is where our focus must be. Effective public education that informs youth and their families of the risks of cannabis on the developing brain of adolescents is an important first step, and that step needs to be taken immediately. Minister Philpott pointed out recently that Canada has the highest proportion of cannabis use by adolescents. We need to act now, well before legalization. Legislation aimed at protecting our kids and our streets is certainly worth celebrating, but lets party mutes the essential message and sends a very mixed signal. Vaughan Dowie is CEO of Pine River Institute. SHARE: Donald Trump appears to have achieved the remarkable feat of making Syrians a sideshow in their own tragedy. Now that the dust has settled from the cruise missile strike he ordered against a Syrian air base late last week, its increasingly apparent that the attack had much less to do with Syria than it did with Trumps domestic political agenda and his relations with countries of more strategic importance to the United States. In itself, hitting out at the regime of Bashar al-Assad for its role in the horrific chemical gas attack on scores of civilians was the right thing to do and certainly the moral thing to do. Barack Obama came in for well-deserved criticism when he failed to take decisive action in 2012 as Assads government launched an even more deadly chemical attack on its opponents. There is an undeniable sense of basic justice in seeing the Syrian regimes forces forcibly rebuked after this latest horror. Its no wonder that many U.S. allies including Canada applauded the strike. At the same time, its far from clear how much actual impact the missile attack had on the Syrian governments ability to control its territory and continue attacks on rebel forces. With firm backing from Moscow, Assad is in a much stronger position than he was five years ago and will be a lot harder to dislodge from power. The conservative National Review described the limited U.S. action as the very definition of a symbolic pinprick. And multiple sources reported over the weekend that, despite damage wrought by the missiles, Syrian jet fighters were flying missions from the same airfield targeted by U.S. forces against rebels in the same town that suffered last weeks chemical attack. Consider this headline in the Wall Street Journal just three days after Trump ordered the missile strike: Emboldened Syria steps up airstrikes. Far from being cowed by Trump, Assads regime actually stepped up the pace of airstrikes against the opposition, according to the report. That doesnt sound like very effective deterrence. Still, it may not matter much in Washington. Trumps senior advisers, according to other reports, saw the Syria strike as one element in a political strategy to get his struggling presidency back on track. It was part of what they called leadership week a series of events, including high-profile meetings with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and China, designed to showcase the embattled president as a man actually in charge of events rather than continuing to stumble from one fiasco to another. At the same time, Trumps people have not been shy about acknowledging that the presidents dramatic decision to launch the cruise missiles was essentially about the message he wants to send to countries far removed from Syria. This is bigger than Syria, an anonymous senior official was quoted as saying. Its representative of how he wants to be seen by other world leaders. The key targets of the attack, then, would include the likes of Kim Jong-un of North Korea, who is threatening to develop missiles capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the territory of the United States itself. They would include China, whose leader Xi Jinping found his visit to Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida upstaged by the sudden missile strike. Most importantly, they include Russia, Assads most important ally and military backer. The Trump administration now seems to have flipped from cooperation to confrontation with Moscow, a maneuver that has the benefit of countering the narrative that Trumps rise was covertly enabled by Vladimir Putin. Finally, the Trump administration still hasnt figured out a coherent approach to Syria beyond slapping Assad for his egregious use of chemical weapons against vulnerable civilians. Is U.S. policy still to focus on defeating Daesh (aka the Islamic State) and worry about Assad at some undefined point in the future? Thats what Trumps secretary of state and national security adviser suggested over the weekend. Or does the Trump administration now believe there needs to be regime change to get Assad out of power (as the presidents ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, stated)? No one including perhaps Trump himself seems to know the answer. He deserves applause for upholding basic standards of decency and calling Assad out on the use of horror weapons against civilians. But a great power like the United States needs to act on more than sporadic moral impulses. It needs a well-thought-out strategy that will reassure its allies and deter its enemies. Read more about: SHARE: Re: Airstrikes ratchet up U.S.-Russian tensions, April 8 Airstrikes ratchet up U.S.-Russian tensions, April 8 The U.S. attack on Syria was clearly a political move by Trump to shore up his flagging and chaotic presidency. It had nothing to do with morality or strategic objectives. Obviously, if Trump cared about the well-being of Syrians, he wouldve been allowing thousands of refugees into the United States. But as we all know, he has barred them. With the chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime, Trump saw an opportunity to look presidential, show the visiting Chinese president whos the boss and to prove to skeptics that hes not Putins poodle. It was a brilliant political stroke that seems to have paid off for him temporarily. Of course nothing will change in Syria, the country is still a disgusting morass of violence. And now of course Trump has embarrassed the Russians, who are hardly innocents in this deadly violence, but a country that is needed if a solution can be found. Now Russia will feel even more emboldened to support the Assad regime and the cycle of violence will continue unabated. There are no easy answers to the Syrian mess, all civil wars come to an end eventually, but this one seems a long way off. Clearly, no easy solutions here. But one thing is clear, just remember the famous nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the kings horses and all the kings men, Couldnt put Humpty together again. Syria will never again be a contiguous state. Not to make light of a horrible situation, but this is a cruel reality. Its interesting that we commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Vimy Ridge where for many, Canada become a nation. As the Star notes, obviously there is some mythology associated with this, but clearly this was a defining moment in Canadian history. Wasnt this war supposed to be the war that ended all wars and chemical weapons were banned? This is also the 101-year anniversary of Sykes-Picot, when the British and the French carved up the Middle East, which has had long standing, nasty and unending consequences. Andrew van Velzen, Toronto I did not support most of Donald Trumps policies that contain little of principle, equity and care and which were racist. But I give President Trump two thumbs up for taking necessary action on Syria for using chemical weapons to kill innocent civilians, especially babies and children. He proved that Obamas foreign policy was a disaster and Trump was right. In dealing with Assads dictatorship as well as Vladimir Putins support for Assad we must be confident and act quickly. We have seen that Obamas policy based on negotiation and peace talk was useless, instead it allowed Assad and Putin to gain more power and employ more aggressive killing of Syrian civilians. Good job Mr. Trump! Thuan Truong, Toronto SHARE: York Region trustees and senior staff including the director of education should be banned from all international travel amid growing concerns about where they are going and why many have made repeat trips, says a report to be released Tuesday on the scandal-plagued public school board. Sources told the Star the two ministry reviewers ordered to probe the troubled board found trustees lack of concern for their use of public funds astounding. The full moratorium is one of the many recommendations of a much-anticipated report by Patrick Case and Sue Herbert that will touch on a number of controversies first reported in the Star around the boards inaction on issues of racism, Islamophobia, as well as a worsening culture of fear within the organization. The reviewers heard concerns from many community members about the cost of the trips, including some staff and trustees making multiple visits to the same location with no clear purpose. They recommend that no travel be approved until plans have been discussed publicly at board meetings, with the reason for the trips clearly stated, that trips be clearly linked to the boards priorities, and that a clear approval process be put in place, sources say. Trustees will also be taken to task for failing to hold each other, and staff, to account, with the reviewers calling for travel costs to be reimbursed only after a report about the trip is posted on the boards website and presented at a public meeting. Currently, travel does not need approval at a meeting indeed, one trip by the director and former chair was largely kept secret nor are details about information gleaned on trips required to be shared publicly, though in recent weeks the board has done so for a couple of trips, due to public pressure. Education Minister Mitzie Hunter has repeatedly said the reviewers job is to help improve public confidence in the York Region District School Board, which has been shattered in recent months. She will publicly respond to the report on Tuesday afternoon. Travel troubles are not new for the board. In 2012, under then-chair Anna DeBartolo, the board was criticized after it was discovered that more than $130,000 was spent on visits to Finland, New Zealand and London. At the time, the education minister intervened and ordered a six-month moratorium on travel. The Star documented the trustees lack of transparency around travel last fall, after one trustee travelled to Europe three times, and the education director J. Philip Parappally went to the Netherlands with one staff member and DeBartolo, without informing his colleagues. Just last month, documents obtained under freedom of information legislation revealed that the board spent more than $150,000, from 2014 to 2016, on trips to London, Finland and Hawaii. Some 15 people went to London on the taxpayers dime in 2015, including the boards communications and finance directors. Parents have questioned the value of such trips, as trustees are not educators and do not create curriculum. I am hard-pressed to figure out what administrative staff can deliver to a classroom, York Region dad Todd Silverman has told the Star. In the past, the board has defended the practice of including senior staff on the trips, saying learning first-hand the services the other high-performing jurisdictions provide directly to schools is beneficial to department-based staff as well as those working directly in schools. At the end of January, Hunter appointed two troubleshooters to look into the issues plaguing the board. During the past three months, Case and Herbert have conducted more than 75 interviews involving about 140 people, including parents, community members, students, current and former staff, unions, professional associations and trustees, according to a ministry spokesperson. An additional 280 individuals and groups have reached out through email. Their report is expected to make a number of recommendations in light of a series of complaints from parents about discrimination against black students, a principals anti-Muslim Facebook posts, and concerns about the boards ineffective equity policies. Staff have also told the Star about morale issues, amid an exodus of senior staff, and a growing climate of fear at the board. Questions have also arisen around the directors unprecedented 10-year contract and job-for-life provision awarded to him by trustees in 2014. More recently, the board has come under fire after trustee Nancy Elgie used a racial slur in referring to a black parent, taking months to deal with it as frustrations in the community mounted and finally resulting in a human rights complaint filed by the parent against the board late last month. Elgie apologized for the slur and resigned in February. SHARE: European stocks sank into the red Monday as an increasingly unpredictable French election race and lingering unease in the wake of last week's Syrian missile strike led investors to take risk off the table. Benchmarks slipped across the continent with London proving the sole exception among major markets, after drawing support from a handful of index heavyweights that rose on the back of stock-specific news. The FTSE 100 was broadly flat, with a fractional loss of 0.01% to close at 7,348, while the mid-market FTSE 250 index posted a gain of 0.23% when it closed at 19,273. In Paris, the CAC 40 index was down 0.54% at 5,107 while, in Frankfurt, the DAX was down 0.20% to 12,200. In southern Europe, the FTSE MIB was down nearly 0.5% in Milan while the IBEX in Madrid was around 0.70% in the red. For individual stocks Mediclinic (MCFFY) , Marks & Spencer (MAKSF) , BHP Billiton (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) were among the top risers. Mediclinic, the private healthcare company, saw its shares rise more than 3% after legislators in part of Switzerland voted to reject a proposed tax that would have hit hard listed hospital groups at the bottom line. BHP shares surged as much as 5% early on in the session after activist investor Elliott Management urged the company to consider a spin off of its petroleum assets, comprised predominantly of shale assets, prompting the shares to rise sharply in London. Elliott said the miner should dump its U.S. oil assets, which it puts a price tag of $22 billion on, as well as its London listing. Rio rose after having released details of its annual tax bill. It has been under pressure by Australian authorities in recent times over allegations that it uses transfer pricing, known locally as the "Singapore tax sling," to reduce its tax liability in Australia. Barclays (BCS) shares were volatile after the lender told investors that its CEO Jes Staley is under investigation over his handling of a whistleblowing complaint. Among Paris-listed stocks, banking sector heavyweights Credit Agricole (CRARY) , Societe Generale (SCGLY) and BNP Paribas (BNPQY) were the foremost victims of election uncertainty, with losses of around 1.5% each. French losses came as result of a two-horse race having evolved into a situation where there are now four credible challengers to the presidency, adding complexity to what is already Europe's least straightforward electoral process. Of most concern for markets, left of centre candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon has continued his ascent to new heights in the opinion polls after coming off as the most convincing candidate in last week's television debate. Melenchon has been a champion of workers' rights, bank regulation and protectionism. He has also advocated ideas such as pulling France out of Nato and offering the French people a referendum on European Union membership. This means the French electorate now has a strong candidate in both the left and the right wings pitching an EU exit. Conservative candidate Francois Fillon was seen to regain some of his posture in opinion polls following weeks of scandal over his employment of family members in his office. Ratings gains for both Fillon and Melenchon have come at a cost for both Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, whose ratings have slipped during the recent week. In Frankfurt, Deutsche Post (DPSGY) , RWE (RWEOY) and Adidas (ADDYY) were the top fallers, although all with losses of less than 1%. These were finely balanced against gains for the likes of Deutsche Lufthansa (DLAKY) and Commerzbank (CRZBY) . The upgradation and provision of improved version of special uniforms is a continuous process for which necessary steps are taken regularly. By Manjeet Negi: After the Pathankot operations, the Indian government has swung into action and has initiated procurement of Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJs) and other necessary protective gears for soldiers. During 2016-17, 50,000 BPJs have been procured for Indian Army through the revenue route, while procurement of 1,86,138 BPJs through capital route, under buy (Indian) category, is at trial stage. Further, a contract for procurement of 1,58,279 ballistic helmet through capital route has been concluded in December 2016. advertisement The upgradation and provision of improved version of special uniforms is a continuous process for which necessary steps are taken regularly. Requirement for special uniforms for the safety of soldiers deployed on borders is assessed regularly and provision for introduction of new items and their improved version of existing items is made as per prescribed procedure. There was a shortage of more than 50,000 bullet proof Jackets in the forces but several BPJs were procured in the recent times. ALSO READ| Army to recruit civilians for 10,000 sahayaks' posts ALSO READ| Exclusive: Indian Army considering reducing strength of its 40,000 sahayaks by 25 per cent ALSO WATCH| Jammu-Kashmir: Army readies strategy to deal with stone-pelters --- ENDS --- Luxury goods maker LVMH (LVMHF) posted a massive 15% gain in first-quarter sales as demand for leather and fashion items spiked, and sales of its Hennessy cognac were so strong it could run short of bottles for the rest of the year. Shares in the Paris-based owner of Fendi, Kenzo and Louis Vuitton climbed over 2% in early trading on Tuesday to 211.70 after revenues climbed to 9.88 billion ($10.5 billion) over the first three months of the year, easily topping analyst expectations of about 9.5 billion. "Given the magnitude of the beat vs. consensus expectations and the strongest results coming in the highest margin divisions (Fashion & Leather and Wines & Spirits) we would expect consensus revisions of at least +1% to 2%," Goldman Sachs analysts including Richard Edwards noted. "We see positive read-across for spirits names such as Pernod and Remy Cointreau given the implied strength in Cognac driven by both the US and China, a potential indicator of recovering category performance in the key Asian market." Pernod (PDRDY) climbed almost 1% to 113.10 in early Tuesday trading on the Paris exchange, while Remy Cointreau (REMYF) was up 1.2% to 93.10. LVMH's results also confirmed a wider uptick in demand for luxury fashion goods after local rivals Kering (PPRUY) , which owns the Gucci label, and Hermes (HESAY) also posted strong figures on the back of growing demand out of China and the U.S., and as tourists returned to France after terrorist attacks at the end of 2015 and in 2016. "LVMH benefited from a favorable comparison base, particularly in Europe, where activity was affected last year by the impact of the November 2015 attacks in Paris," the company noted. "The trend currently observed cannot reasonably be extrapolated for the full year." Organic sales, which strip out the effects of acquisitions, rose 13% over the first quarter, led high by LVMH's Fashion & Leather Goods division, which rose 15% to 3.4 billion. Wine and spirits sales climbed 13% to 1.2 billion, driven by a spike in demand for Hennessy that "could impact the availability of stocks for the rest of the year," said LVMH. Perfume and cosmetics sales climbed 12%, watches and jewelry rose 11% and selective retailing, which includes the Sephora retail outlets as well as duty free retailer DFS, climbed 11%. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson faces his most significant test date this week as he travels for a meeting with Russian officials amid rising political tensions in Asia and the Middle East. Tillerson, a former CEO of Exxon Mobil with no previous political experience, will need to assuage concerns in Moscow that the United States is preparing military strikes in North Korea while at the same time persuading colleagues of Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw support for Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad. "It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson told reporters in Lucca, Italy during meeting of G-7 Foreign Ministers Tuesday. "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar Al-Assad." Putin has said he will not meet face-to-face will Tillerson, despite a long-standing relationship between the two men, directing instead his Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, to conduct the discussions, indicating the level to which relations between the two countries has deteriorated over the past weeks. The timing of his visit, however, illustrates not only the complexity of the task but also the spread of geopolitical tensions around the globe. North Korea will celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its former leader, Kim Il Sung, with a military parade in Pyongyang Saturday, an event that typically coincides with the testing of nuclear missiles by the government. U.S. Navy warships are en route to the western Pacific as part of a broader attempt to diffusive tensions in the region's following the firing of various rockets last year and a vow to develop atomic weapons that are capable of reaching the United States. Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement earlier this week that noted it was "really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario. It's important to understand how that would tally with collective obligations on de-nuclearising the Korean peninsula, something that is underpinned in U.N. Security Council resolutions." Russia has also criticised the U.S.'s decision to launch military strikes on an Syria airbase last week in retaliation for the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian President. Tillerson will also need to manage frayed relations among his European allies after a push by Britain's Prime Minister, Theresa May, to impose new sanctions on Russia as a result of its support for Assad was rejected by G-7 Foreign Ministers in Lucca. North Korea, for its part, said Tuesday that is is "keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland," according to a statement published by sate newspaper Rodong Sinmun. Hong Kong leader elect Carrie Liam downplayed any hopes for Hong Kong independence from mainland China, saying that the territory's economy is dependent on the mainland. Hong Kong was returned to mainland rule from Britain in 1997 and has had a fledgling independence movement ever since. (What will move markets this quarter and how should investors position themselves ahead of time? Jim Cramer sat down with four of TheStreet's top columnists recently to get their views.Click here to listen to his latest Trading Strategies roundtable with them and read their advice for stocks, bonds, forex and gold.) The FBI used a mole to secretly record employees at AmTrust Financial Services (AFSI) , a whistleblower told the Wall Street Journal Tuesday. AmTrust shares were down nearly 20% in Tuesday afternoon trading. Shares were trading at more than seven times their normal volume. An auditor at the accounting firm BDO USA LLP used a listening device disguised as a Starbucks gift card to secretly record conversations with employees at the insurer. The recordings from 2014 were part of a federal investigation being led by the Securities and Exchange Commission into the company's accounting practices. Amway has grown into the country's third largest insurer for workman's comp claims over the past 19 years. It had revenue of $5.45 billion in 2016. Editor's note: Story has been updated since 11:52 am EST. (What will move markets this quarter and how should investors position themselves ahead of time? Jim Cramer sat down with four of TheStreet's top columnists recently to get their views.Click here to listen to his latest Trading Strategies roundtable with them and read their advice for stocks, bonds, forex and gold.) Amid a persisting commodity downturn, the move over the past few years for a majority of mid- and large-cap oil and natural gas producers has been to make strategic bets in the low-cost Permian Basin of west Texas. And for some oil producers, those bets may be getting closer to paying off big, according to analysts. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey analysts noted Monday that EOG Resources (EOG) recently reported to the Texas Railroad Commission a big well in Loving County in the Delaware Basin, a subformation of the Permian. The well ranks as one of the best SunTrust has ever seen in the Delaware, the analyst said Monday, adding that it could easily impact other companies drilling in the region which have also been named as potential buys by other firms. The firm also named Concho Resources (CXO) , Energen (EGN) , Matador (MTDR) and WPX Energy (WPX) as among its favorite Permian names. Among those names, Concho is certainly the Street's favorite, but WPX Energy is perhaps the most likely to feel the residual effects of EOG's successful well. The acreage WPX picked up from RKI Exploration & Production in August 2015 is near to EOG's Loving County assets, albeit further to the northwest and nearer to the New Mexico border. WPX also bolted on acreage in Texas' Loving, Reeves, Ward and Winkler counties in January in a $775 million deal that did not sit well with the market. WPX could certainly use a win from its own Delaware assets as its shares are down nearly 7% since it announced the bolt-on in mid-January. Another producer with recently acquired Loving County acreage near to that of EOG's assets is RSP Permian (RSPP) . Coincidentally, Goldman Sachs analyst John Nelson upgraded RSP Permian to Buy this week and raised his price target for the shares to $63 from $41. Nelson pointed to the company's acquisition of privately held Silver Hill's core Delaware Basin assets, which are located in Loving County to the northeast of those owned by EOG, as a key advantage for this Permian player. RSP Permian paid $2.4 billion, or around $47,000 per acre, in October for the assets, a price tag some analysts hailed as the new high watermark for transactions in the Delaware Basin. "While investors focused initially on the high water mark RSPP made in the implied dollar per acre price paid for Silver Hill, we note the acreage abuts EOG's Loving County position where 90 day, lateral length adjusted oil rates are [about 2 times] the Delaware Basin average and significant stacked pay upside remains," Nelson wrote. Meanwhile, crossing over the southern Loving County border into northern Reeves County, another Delaware Basin hotspot, is acreage held by Cimarex Energy (XEC) and Resolute Energy (REN) . Stifel Financial analyst wrote Tuesday that Cimarex is among the large-cap stocks in its coverage that it expects expects the strongest growth this year. "Improved returns based on lower well costs and in some cases stronger balances sheets bolstered by capital infusions and non-core asset sales have positioned most companies to return to growth mode this year," the industry followers wrote. Finally, it's also worth noting that Anadarko Petroleum's (APC) massive holding in Loving and Reeves counties surrounds EOG's Loving county assets. Last month Saudi Arabia reduced its oil production to the lowest level since January, keeping output below the level it promised to maintain as part of a global deal to reduce supplies amid the global supply glut, sources told Bloomberg. Saudi Arabia is OPEC's biggest producer and cut output by 111,000 barrels per day in March to 9.9 million a day. "The Saudis are more than fully complying with the deal," London-based independent analyst Mohamed Ramady told Bloomberg. "This is good news for the market and prices." (What will move markets this quarter and how should investors position themselves ahead of time? Jim Cramer sat down with four of TheStreet's top columnists recently to get their views. Click here to listen to his latest Trading Strategies roundtable with them and read their advice for stocks, bonds, forex and gold.) The U.S. Army confirmed this afternoon that an explosion took place at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, MO. The blast has left one dead and three injured. Lake City Army Ammunition Plant provides small-caliber ammunition and operates the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) test center. (What will move markets this quarter and how should investors position themselves ahead of time? Jim Cramer sat down with four of TheStreet's top columnists recently to get their views. Click hereto listen to his latest Trading Strategies roundtable with them and read their advice for stocks, bonds, forex and gold.) Petrol pumps might remain shut on Sundays from May 14 in view of petrol pump dealers' protest across country to press for their demands. By India Today Web Desk: After notebandi, people may have to go through 'fuelbandi' as petrol pumps are likely to remain shut every Sundays from May 14. Further, the gas stations will operate for only nine hours - from 9 am to 6 pm - everyday. However, emergency services like ambulances may be spared of this petrol pump shut down. advertisement The people will get the first taste of fuel rationing on May 10, the day petrol dealers' association will observe "No Purchase Day". According to reports, the petrol pump dealers across the country have threatened to keep their petrol pumps closed on Sundays to press for their demands. The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) is cut up with the oil marketing companies for not having honoured their written commitment of giving dealer margins in line with Apurva Chandra committee report. WHAT ARE THE DEMANDS As per the committee's report, dealers should get Rs 3,333 per kilolitre on petrol and Rs 2,126 per kilolitre on diesel as margins. In contrast, the dealers are getting Rs 2,570 and Rs 1,620 for petrol and diesel respectively. An Indian Oil Corporation circular said dealer commission on petrol currently stands at Rs 2.56 per litre, while on diesel the commission is Rs 1.65 per litre as on April 1. The dealers had warned the government in January of not accepting card payments over levy on digital payments. The government was forced to intervene and order relaxations in the wake of demonetisation. The impact of the "No Purchase Day" of petrol and diesel may not be felt in most parts of the country because for the moment All India Petroleum Dealers' Association (AIPDA) has distanced itself from the decision of CIPD. While petrol dealers in Delhi and 20 other states are part of AIPDA, CIPD has its presence in only four states - Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Though AIPDA has separated itself from CIPD's move of shutting petrol pumps from May 14, it too has demanded increase in the dealers' commission. They are also of the view that a rationing of petrol and diesel is desirable to cut consumption their consumption and lessen the country's foreign exchange burden. Also read: Indian Oil declares all its petrol pump stations in Patna as cashless Also read: This private two-seater plane for Rs 1.5 crore runs on car petrol Also watch: First in over 2 months- Oil companies slash petrol, diesel prices --- ENDS --- Regional security forces rescued the Indian cargo on Monday but pirates who seized it escaped beforehand with nine crew members to try to force the release of pirates jailed in India. By Reuters: Somali forces who have surrounded pirates holding hostages taken from an Indian ship secured the surrender of 10 members of the band on Tuesday and enlisted the parents of the other three to persuade them to give up, officials said. Regional security forces rescued the Indian cargo dhow Al Kausar on Monday but pirates who seized it earlier this month escaped beforehand with nine crew members as bargaining chips to try to force the release of pirates jailed in India. advertisement Hirsi Yusuf Barre, mayor of Galkayo in Somalia's Galmudug state, said 10 of the pirates surrendered after they were surrounded, leaving just three holding the nine dhow crew. Apart from denying the pirates food and water, security forces had brought the parents of the three pirates to the scene to persuade their sons to give up, Barre said. "The remaining three pirates will be taken out by their parents in the coming hours. We shall rescue the nine crew soon and they will rejoin their two colleagues on the ship," he said. Two of the dhow crew were rescued on Monday after being left in a car that the pirates had to abandon after a chase. 3 SHIPS HIJACKED IN A MONTH The hijacking of the Al Kausar was part of a sudden string of attacks by Somali pirates after years without a reported incident. Attacks peaked with 237 in 2012 but then declined steeply after ship owners improved security measures and international naval forces stepped up patrols. This month has seen a new rash of attacks, with two ships captured and a third rescued by Indian and Chinese forces after the crew radioed for help and locked themselves in a safe room. Residents of Somalia's Indian Ocean coastline say piracy has resumed after local officials issued permits for foreign fishing vessels to fish in Somali waters. The foreign fishermen they say, have cut nets belonging to locals and run down small boats. ALSO READ| Somali pirates flee hijacked Indian dhow, take 11-member crew hostage ALSO READ| Somali pirates hijack Indian cargo ship with 11 crew members on board ALSO WATCH| Indian cargo ship Al Kausher hijacked by Somali pirates on way to Yemen's Al Mukala port --- ENDS --- Main Content For all your benefits information and updates, please go to the https://benefits.uasys.edu and select your campus. View your current Benefits elections Log onto Workday, Click on the person icon or your picture on the home page, select View Profile, Click on Benefits. All your elected benefits will show on this page. Check your Campus Bulletin and Workday In-box Cynthia A HunterU of AR at Pine Bluff1200 N University DriveMailslot 4942Administration BuildingRoom 205voice(870-575-8863fax (870-575-4653)hunterc@uapb.eduPine Bluff, AR 71601 The sum of Turkish capital in Ukraine totals more than $2 billion, and it still grows. Chairman of the Board of the International Turkish-Ukrainian Business Association Burak Pehlivan stated this during an expert meeting held in Ukrinform. "Turkish capital in Ukraine totals more than $ 2 billion. And the sum grows every year, every month, he said. Burak Pehlivan also paid attention to the development of Turkish-Ukrainian business and Ukrainian-Turkish relations. He stressed that now the foreign trade turnover between Turkey and Ukraine is $3 billion, while in 2008 it was $8 billion. The expert also specified that "the Turks are looking for new markets, not only how to sell their goods, but also where to relocate their factories." Turkish business cannot compete in some industries, and it should move somewhere. And why not to Ukraine? the expert said. . iy Competition in free markets centres on issues of product quality, customer service and price. Not in Russia. To protect markets and supply contracts, black PR is a standard weapon in the commercial tool kit used to disseminate false allegations about non-Russian competitors. Looking specifically at the nuclear sector, Russia has significant market power, and is reluctant to surrender its monopoly markets in Ukraine, which have existed since the days of the former Soviet Union. Although sanctions have to date affected only a small number of Russian enterprises, nevertheless Russia continues to discredit in the state controlled press any enterprises that might threaten its monopoly on deliveries to the Ukrainian economy. The Ukrainian nuclear industry has diversified its supply base in recent years in order to reduce its reliance on the monopoly of the Russian Federation for the supply of nuclear fuel, the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, the supply of components, modernisation work and project support. Today, Ukraine is the only country in the world which uses an alternative supplier of nuclear fuel rods for Russian designed reactor assembly blocks, namely Westinghouse. Elsewhere, there is a complete monopoly for fuel rods for Russian reactors, controlled by the Russian company TVEL. For this reason, Energoatom as the operator of all Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine, and the company which initiated its own process of diversification of suppliers, is regularly on the receiving end of Russian black propaganda. In the Russian-controlled press, false news is distributed about Energoatoms US partners; experts are quoted to give siren warnings about the operating risks associated with the use of Westinghouse nuclear fuels. They voice technical doubts about any equipment or services that are not purchased from the Russian Federation. They raise concerns about the construction of a centralised storage unit for spent nuclear fuel by the American technology company Holtec, and heap scorn on the reliability of the technology. Any European or Ukrainian competitor companies that compete with suppliers from the Russian Federation are subject to hostile propaganda. A recent target of such an attack was the Ukrainian company Impulse, which produces equipment for the automation of control processes for nuclear power plants and railways. The main reason for the black PR assault against Impulse is that the company is involved in designing and manufacturing the active zones of the Zaporizhya Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) reactors to receive nuclear fuel rods produced by Westinghouse. Impulse is actively participating in joint venture consortia with several European enterprises: the French company Areva, the Czech company Skoda and the Slovak enterpriseVUJE which between them have already won 7 tenders financed by EBRD and Euratom loans for the modernisation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Station Altogether, Energoatom is issuing more than 40 public tenders in 2017 with a total value of almost 500m under its new transparent procurement system, which aims to eliminate corruption in the award of supply contracts, thereby ensuring free and fair competition and a healthy diversification of suppliers. So it should come as no surprise that Russian state enterprises, faced with a potential threat to their historical monopoly control on supplies through anti-competitive practices, should be stepping up their commercial propaganda. Another recent target of Russian black PR is the Ukrainian state enterprise Turboatom one of the worlds leading manufacturers of turbines, and a competitor of the Russian company Power Machines. Quoting an energy business insider as an authority, Russian controlled media has tried to discredit Turboatom accusing the company of using the wrong technologies when upgrading capacitors for Ukrainian nuclear power plants. But the clumsy PR efforts were easily spotted by Ukrainian journalists, who saw through them as clearly Russian fake news, as there was an obvious commercial motive to damage Turboatom as an effective competitor to Russian suppliers. The same smear tactics have been used against the Ukrainian company Turboatomzadevstvovan which is involved as a joint venture partner with the American company Holtec in the construction of a centralised storage unit for spent nuclear fuel. This project has been championed by Energoatom in order to stop Ukraines dependence on Russia for the services of storage, processing and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. A number of Western companies that actively help Ukraine to reduce its dependence on Russia for energy supplies are also receiving similar PR attacks. For example, the Czech company Skoda is the only company, apart from Rosatom, that can help Ukraine to finish building two nuclear power units at the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant. This joint Czech-Polish-Ukrainian project, which is to provide Poland with clean electricity from the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant, is called the Energy Bridge Ukraine-EU. Efforts are also being made to discredit the French company Areva, a competitor of Rosatom. In the Russian Federation, rumours about the postponement of the construction of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant and the intentions of Rosatom to buy a controlling stake in the company have been spread. Ukrainian observers noted that this propaganda was stepped up after the Ukrainian company Energoatom signed a contract with Areva for uranium enrichment. Previously, Ukrainian uranium was enriched at the facilities of the Russian company Rosatom. Recently, such media attacks have become more frequent. According to sources in the Ukrainian government, this is due to the fact that in the near future Energoatom plans to announce its intention to install Westinghouses fuel injection system for all the reactor blocks of Europes largest nuclear power plant Zaporizhya, which includes 6 reactor blocks with a capacity of 1 million kW each. Managers of many other nuclear power plants of Russian design in Eastern Europe are watching with interest. They are also considering for themselves the possibility of switching to American fuel. The commercial stakes are high, and Russias information war about the nuclear power sector, which has so far concentrated its black PR efforts in Ukraine, is now spreading to the EU. Coupled with the Kremlins already formidable nuclear diplomacy, these activities threaten to entrench Russias market power in the nuclear sector in Europe. Corporate communications directors for the EUs major energy companies need to prepare defensive positions in anticipation of potential smear campaigns in an energy sector information war. James Wilson, Founding Director of the EU Ukraine Business Council https://brussels-express.eu/author/jwilson/ President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had a phone call with Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, former President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz. This has been reported by the press service of the Head of State. The Head of State expressed gratitude for a significant personal contribution at the post of President of the European Parliament to the issue of granting visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens. ish Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin will attend the joint ministerial meeting of the Visegrad Group and Eastern Partnership, which will be held in Warsaw on April 12. The minister stated this at the joint press conference with foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. The demonstration of solidarity on behalf of Foreign Ministers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary regarding the fight against Russian aggression is very important for us. Each of them was very firm in supporting Ukraine. Today we will fly to Warsaw so that tomorrow to take part in the joint ministerial meeting of the Visegrad Group and Eastern Partnership, he said. iy By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) DMDK womens wing leader Premalatha Vijayakanth today accused the previous AIADMK and DMK regimes in Tamil Nadu for the plight of farmers in the state. "For the last 50 years either the AIADMK or the DMK have ruled the state alternately and look at the plight of farmers protesting now," Premalatha said. advertisement It was during the regime of former Chief Minister K Kamaraj the last dam in the state was built. Not even desilting works were taken up in the existing dams after that to increase storage capacity," she said. Premalatha, wife of Actor and DMDK founder Vijayakanth, joined the agitation at the national capital and ate food off the road, one of the forms of protest taken up by the farmers for the past 29 days. "Me and my husband also belong to farmers community and we understand the hardship they are undergoing," she said. Reiterating the demands of farmers, Premalatha said unification of rivers is the only solution for preventing droughts in the state. "The state is drought-hit and unifying rivers would solve inter-state water issues. The Prime Minister has the responsibility to meet the farmers instead of ignoring them even after so many days," she said. Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva, who raised the issue in the Upper House today, paid a visit to the farmers in the noon and assured support even after the ongoing session ends tomorrow. "Even after the parliament session ends, we will ensure the farmers are safe here during their agitation," Siva said. The farmers leader Ayyakkannu, however, vows to not give up the agitation till the demands are met. "We are trying all kind of protests. The centres attitude has left with no option other than dying," he said. PTI CPB ARK --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Chandigarh, Apr 11 (PTI) A protest against the Panjab University fee hike turned violent today as agitating students clashed with the police, who had to resort to lathi-charge resulting in injuries on both sides. Several students were taken into preventive custody even as police registered a case of rioting and damage to public property against protesting students, police said here. advertisement The trouble started when agitating students tried to forcibly enter the Vice Chancellor Arun Kumar Grovers office at PU campus to discuss fee issue as they were observing PU Bandh against the recent fee hike. Several student bodies including Students for Society (SFS), National Students Union of India (NSUI), Punjab University Students Union (PUSU) had given a joint call for Panjab University Bandh in protest against the fee hike. Police, which had barricaded the area, resorted to water cannons to disperse the students. The situation turned violent when students allegedly started pelting stones and flower pots at cops, forcing the police to lob teargas shells and use cane charge, leading to injuries to several students. "We resorted to use force after students turned violent," UT Chandigarh SP, Eish Singhal said adding that vehicles of police were also damaged. "Five to six police officials have also sustained injuries," said SP. After police used force, some protesting students even took shelter in a Gurdwara situated on the campus. Earlier, protesting students boycotted the classes. Some students could also be seen forcing the shops to close. Students have been protesting against the "significant" hike in tuition fee announced by PU senate last month for the academic year 2017-18. In some courses, the fee hike was steep. In case of B Pharma course, the fee was raised from Rs 5,080 to Rs 50,000 and in case of MA Journalism course, the fee was hiked from Rs 5,290 to Rs 30,000. For PUs dental course, the fees was increased from Rs 86,400 to Rs 1.50 lakh. With students demanding rollback of fee increase, PU had justified the average 12.5 per cent hike while considering the financial condition of the university as the varsity anticipated a deficit of Rs 244 crore for the financial year 2017-18. PTI CHS ARK --- ENDS --- London, England (UroToday.com) Dr. Gutierrez started off by discussing the indications for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). He continued stating that the basic principle of going in through the papilla to prevent bleeding, as reported by Sampaio and colleagues two decades ago, still holds true1. Selecting the correct renal access site is crucial for optimal surgical outcomes. Upper pole renal access for PCNL was considered a very challenging but weve learnt not to fear the upper pole access and nowadays urologists routinely obtain their access via this approach and definitely has some advantages. Dr. Guiterrez however mentioned that in his practice, approximately 70% of procedures are performed via lower pole access. This is multifactorial process and depends on surgeons experience, patients anatomy and available instrumentation.There are multiple techniques available to gain access into the kidney. Dr. Gutierrez emphasized that ultrasound guided puncture is gaining more interest in North America, whereas this has been a routine task in European, Asian and Latin American centers. In his opinion PCNL has seen 3 major advantages lately: 1. The tract dilation with balloon or one-shot dilators, which is definitive improvement over the traditional telescopic or serial dilators. 2. The use of flexible nephroscopy, which allows you to inspect the entire kidney through one access. 3. Advantages in the field of percutaneous lithotripters, mainly dual energy modalities (ballistic/ultrasound combo) and the use of laser for dusting the stone in situ.Of course these are not the only evolutions in the field. There is continuing research on the optimal positioning in prone versus supine position for PCNL. In the end, the position elected for the procedure depends both on surgeons preference and on patient characteristics. Supine positioning may accommodate a combined approach somewhat better. Although a combined approach could be more time consuming and requires 2 surgeons, there are several benefits including accuracy of the access, less bleeding, potentially less risk of complications, a higher stone free rate, fewer tracts needed, and finally no need to reposition the patient.So how can we still improve this procedure?1. Current evolutions in kidney puncture focus on acquiring a more accurate access while minimizing radiation. Several techniques are being researched to this end such as the urodyna CT and ultrasonography combined fusion platforms.2. In order to reduce bleeding, miniaturization of the treatment tract is being explored, with tracts as small as 5F. If the pyelogram identifies narrow renal calyces, these will have difficulties accommodating a conventional sized access sheath. Choosing a smaller size then makes sense. Smaller tracts may cause less pain and may facilitate tubeless PCNL. Indications for mini PCNL are stones up to 2.5cm, upper pole access, complementary PCNL access, stone in diverticula, patients on anticoagulation, pediatric patients, as an alternative to flex URS3. Tubeless PCNL can be performed in select cases: if the patients have no bleeding and are stone free, after a single tract PCNL.Dr. Guiterrez completed his lecture by stating that in the future, we will learn how to treat patients in complex situations and also treat their complex medical conditions.Speaker(s): Jorge Gutierrez-Acevez, Winston Salem, North CarolinaWritten By: Zhamshid Okhunov, MD, University of California, Irvineat the #EAU17 - March 24-28, 2017 - London, England American journalist, who uncovered Donald Trump's false claims about his charitable fundraising and brought the 'groping women' tape out in the public, won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. By India Today Web Desk: A 39-year-old American journalist who uncovered the "Access Hollywood" footage, in which Donald Trump bragged about groping women, and also revealed that Trump had made false claims about his charitable fundraising, won 2017 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. The Pulitzer Prize is given out by Columbia University and is considered the most prestigious award in American journalism. advertisement David Fahrenthold who works for the Washington Post investigated Trump's claim to have raised $6 million for veterans. He contacted 400 charities named by Trump and only one charity confirmed that they had received money. It was after Fahrenthold's reportage that the New York Attorney General opened an inquiry into the Trump Foundation fundraising practices. The inquiry led to a 'notice of violation' issued by the Attorney General ordering Trump Foundation to stop raising money in the city. During the US election campaign last year, he dig into Trump's past and found out the infamous footage in which Trump bragged about grabbing women by their genitals to Billy Bush. Fahrenthold is a Harvard graduate and has worked at the Washington Post for 16 years now. While he was investigating, he used to give updates through his Twitter account and after receiving the prize thanked his readers and followers for "helping him along the way". Also read: Donald Trump groped, kissed us: Women come out to debunk 'locker room talk' claim Not just Washington, women around the globe protest against President Trump Welcome Trump's presidency: US Republican arrested for groping staffer's genitals --- ENDS --- In the Central African Republic, armed groups have occupied, looted and damaged schools, preventing thousands of children from getting their education, according to a report released by Human Rights Watch. The country has been in crisis since late 2012, with militias controlling much of the countryside. School buildings are preferred by armed groups for use as bases or barracks as they are typically the most solid structures in town. But according to Aboubacry Tall, the interim representative for UNICEF in the CAR, this basically means the whole country is running at a sub-optimal level. When children cannot go to school, they end up in the streets and they become vulnerable to all kinds of things, including being recruited into and pressed into service by the armed groups.... What it means is we are basically building the kind of citizen that we would not want to run into in a dark corner on a street somewhere, said Tall. Lawlessness in rural areas CAR government forces maintain little control outside the capital Bangui. In the countryside, Christian and Muslim armed militias fight between themselves for mineral resources and trade routes. Bandits and other forces like the Lords Resistance Army also take advantage of the poor security situation. Human Rights Watch researcher Lewis Mudge traveled throughout the CAR in November 2016 and January 2017 investigating access to schools. Mudge found even if the fighters were just outside the school, the students still could not, or would not, attend. Some children would have to pass by militia members who killed members of their family. We found just scores of children who spoke about how this had reduced self-worth, how they felt like they had no future, how they used to have big dreams and do not anymore, Mudge said. The Saint Francois public primary school in Bangui was occupied by anti-Balaka militia in December 2013. They used it as a barracks, said school director Edouard Pere. He said they destroyed all the material. They broke the students desks. Students have to sit on the ground. They destroyed the library. They took all the books. They left the school in a very bad state. Child recruitment Pere said the militia was also recruiting children into their ranks and giving them weapons. The militia left the school in late 2015. After rehabilitation funded by the government and UNICEF, the school reopened in February 2016 with about 2,500 students now back in class. But it is a different story outside the capital, said Eugenne-Lucienne Ngbondo, a senior official at the Ministry of Education. She said there are schools that do not work at the moment, but the government is working to liberate the schools. The Ministry of Education negotiates with armed groups, sometimes using U.N. peacekeepers as mediators, to try to get the rebels to leave the schools. Mudge said the number of occupied schools has decreased thanks in part to an initiative started last year by the U.N. mission, MINUSCA. Opposition calls for mass protests against Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila fell flat on Monday when only a handful of people showed up, undermining efforts to oust him after his refusal to quit on expiry of his mandate last year. The sparse turnout in the capital Kinshasa and other major cities pointed to the opposition's waning credibility and persistent difficulties convincing Congolese to risk frequently deadly crackdowns by security services. The normally hectic streets of Kinshasa, a city of more than 10 million people, were nearly deserted on Monday as the police patrolled heavily and fearful residents stayed home. "How was I supposed to march?" said Papy Kazadi, an opposition supporter on Kinshasa's deserted Boulevard Triomphal, where the march was supposed to begin. "There is no one here." The demonstration's prospects dimmed on Sunday when the main opposition leader, Felix Tshisekedi, flew to Ethiopia at the invitation of the African Union, just hours after holding a news conference to urge Congolese to take to the streets. Deadly protests in September and December as well as worsening militia violence across the vast, flimsily governed country in recent months have raised fears of a backslide toward the civil wars of the turn of the century that killed millions. But Kabila has successfully co-opted many opponents by negotiating the formation of a power-sharing government meant to organize a presidential election to replace him by year-end. The country's second city Lubumbashi and its eastern hub of Goma also remained calm, residents said, though police said they arrested about 10 demonstrators in Lubumbashi. The United Nations human rights office in Congo said it had confirmed at least 40 arrests of people trying to demonstrate across the country. "The precipitous departure of Felix Tshisekedi the day before the march was indeed discouraging," Desire Kapangu, a resident of Kinshasa's Kasavubu district, told Reuters. The opposition has also been wracked by infighting since the February death of longtime standard bearer Etienne Tshisekedi. Last Friday, Kabila named Bruno Tshibala, a former member of his Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the largest opposition party, as the new prime minister. The UDPS and its allies rejected his nomination, saying Kabila violated a December deal with them by not naming a candidate of the alliance's choosing and accused him of maneuvering to hold onto power. Kabila denies that charge. He says election delays are due to logistical and budgetary constraints. Vietnam is eyeing a chance to restart prized trade and security ties with the United States, while checking the persuasive influence of old rival China following a new overture from the Trump administration. A letter from U.S. President Donald Trump to Vietnamese counterpart Tran Dai Quang suggesting more two-way cooperation should ease concerns in Hanoi that Washington has paused support for the Southeast Asian country, analysts say, though it is unlikely to herald any immediate breakthroughs. There has been no official U.S. comment on the matter. Vietnam, U.S. trade Observers believe Hanoi hopes the letter, disclosed in the Vietnamese media last week, means the United States will agree to an increase in trade despite Trump's scrapping of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-country trade deal that included Vietnam. It may also signal a revival of the fledgling defense ties Vietnam formed under former President Barack Obama as China militarized a tract of ocean claimed by Hanoi. "I think Vietnam's attempt to maintain that multi-polar balance would come unstuck if Trump only deals with China and ignores Southeast Asia," said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor of politics at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Informal talks with Trump The letter from Trump follows a December telephone call between Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Trump before he took office. Trump said then he wanted to advance relations, and the two sides discussed ways they might build on their trade and investment ties. Vietnam should expect any trade perks only in the long term because Trump still advocates that American firms keep jobs onshore rather than setting up factories overseas to save money on labor, experts say. "He sees Vietnam as a chief exporter to America and causing loss of jobs in America," said Adam McCarty, chief economist at Mekong Economics in Hanoi. "Obviously, there are geopolitical considerations, but you're never quite sure how sophisticated Donald Trump thinks." Vietnam's economy Vietnam's $200 billion economy, about 40 percent of which comes from manufacturing, has grown sharply since 2011 largely on foreign investment in exports of goods from shoes to smartphones. Any U.S. deal with Vietnam to cut import tariffs or liberalize markets would require years of talks, experts say. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, took 10 years to negotiate before the member countries signed it in 2016. Trump effectively stopped the TPP by withdrawing the United States from the deal in January. The two countries, wartime rivals five decades ago, signed the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership in 2013, which covers trade, development and maritime security but without calling for specific action. Trump's letter states a "wish" to work on regional and international issues and ensure "peace" in Asia based on respecting international law, according to the Vietnamplus.vn news website. Trump is considering participation in an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leadership summit in Vietnam later in the year, the letter adds. Vietnam counts the United States as its top export market and ran up a trade surplus last year on exports worth $38.1 billion and imports of $8.7 billion. Cooperation on China The U.S. government eventually may ask for Vietnam's help resisting China, some analysts say. Obama visited the country last year and lifted an embargo against selling lethal weapons. Obama was seen using Vietnam as part of a strategy aimed at containing Beijing's reach into the South China Sea, where China has landfilled islets for military and civilian use. The Trump administration also advocates resisting Chinese maritime expansion, but has not said how Vietnam might play a part. Vietnam's claim to the 3.5-million-square-kilometer sea conflicts with China's. The two have sparred periodically since the 1970s when China took control of the Paracel Islands, which both sides call their own. In 2014, China angered Vietnam by allowing a state company to position an oil rig in overlapping waters. But over the past three years, China and Vietnam have edged closer on trade with discussion about cooperating at sea. China is Vietnam's top overall trading partner. Vietnam is unlikely to tie up with the United States in any way that would offend China, said Kevin Snowball, chief executive officer of PXP Vietnam Asset Management in Ho Chi Minh City. "At the moment, if you look at Vietnam's trade figures year to date, we're still doing extremely well with or without TPP, with or without Trump," he said. Egypt has declared a declared a three-month state of emergency in the wake of two Coptic church bombings that killed at least 44 people. "A series of steps will be taken, most importantly, the announcement of a state of emergency for three months after legal and constitution steps are taken," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said in a speech aired on state television. The first blast was in the northern city of Tanta, where a powerful explosion ripped through a Palm Sunday service at St. George's Church, killing 27 people and wounding 78 others, state TV reported. The explosive device was planted under a seat in the main prayer hall, it said. Not long after that, at least 17 people were killed and 41 others wounded in a suicide bomb attack outside St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the phone Sunday with Sissi to offer condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. In a White House statement, Trump called the attack "heinous." "President Trump condemned the attacks that killed and injured dozens of Egyptians. The president also expressed his confidence in [the Egyptian president's] commitment to protect Christians and all Egyptians," the statement said. Egypt's Christian minority, which makes up roughly 10 percent of the population, has increasingly been targeted by Islamist extremists. Bishop Suriel, a Coptic Christian leader in Melbourne, Australia, told VOA that more needs to be done to increase security to protect Christians, as well as to combat terrorism that affects places all across the world. He said attacks like the ones Sunday do not deter Coptic Christians. "In fact, after such events we find that our churches are even more full and more people are coming to pray, and we raise their hearts to God for mercy and for strength," he said. He also expressed hope that an upcoming visit to Egypt by Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, will send a "very strong message of peace and hope." Pope Francis denounced the bombings Sunday and expressed "his deep condolences" to Tawadros II and "all of the dear Egyptian nation." Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, had been attending mass inside the targeted church in Alexandria but was not hurt, state media reported. The United Nations Security Council called the attack cowardly and urged all members to assist the Egyptian government. Members said any form of terrorism "constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security." Meanwhile, Israel closed the Taba border that leads to the Sinai peninsula on Monday, amid warning by its anti-terrorism office of an "imminent" attack. Yisrael Katz, Israel's transportation and intelligence minister, urged Israel citizens to leave Egypt. The minister said intel information shows "increased activity by the Islamic State militants" in Sinai, and because the terrorist group is losing ground in Syria and Iraq, there is a restored motivation to attack other areas. The border remains open, Katz said, for those wanting to return to Egypt. The announcement came hours before the beginning of the Passover holiday, a time where Sinai is a popular destination. Bahaa Franshaw spikes pieces of meat onto a skewer, ready to sell to the passing trade. His potential customers include civilians coming through Hamdaniya from Mosul to escape the fighting there. Heading toward Mosul are military reinforcements and non-governmental organization workers trying to help get the war-torn city back on its feet. Five months on from its capture by Iraqi troops, Hamdaniya which lies between Irbil and Mosul stands as a near-deserted example of the immense task of reconstruction facing authorities not only in this area but others after clearing out Islamic State group fighters. One of the few who have returned to Hamdaniya, whose Christian majority population once numbered around 70,000, the 46-year-old Franshaw hopes to revive the farm he had to leave behind, though he is more skeptical of the country's prospects as a whole. "I want Iraq to come back as it was before, but it will not happen,'' he said. IS militants who were driven from the town retreated to Mosul from where they continue their fight against the Iraqi military. There are no official numbers on the pre-war residents who have returned to Hamdaniya, but Franshaw says he'd be surprised if more than a hundred have returned. They are in addition to the police recruits who are being trained here and military who have taken up positions in the town. Many of Hamdaniya's buildings have been destroyed. Between the coalition airstrikes, Iraqi artillery and IS forces blowing up the rest, several streets have been reduced to a pile of rubble. While Franshaw holds out hope of one day reviving his farm, for now he has reinvented himself by opening a kebab shop to serve the passing trade. The town lacks in basics. There is no water and the power comes from the generators. Franshaw's restaurant works off water tanks, and the plumbing is improvised and breaks down frequently. "It's difficult to come back because there is nothing to come back for,'' Franshaw says. Saad Hashim, a Sunni Muslim from Baghdad, eats lunch at Franshaw's place. He says the displaced people he transports to camps have all promised to return as soon as the infrastructure will allow, with power and water restored. A local commander of a Christian militia, Arkan Hasib Khidh, blames the authorities for a lack of progress in the town. "The government didn't do anything for us so far,'' he said. There are signs of normalcy, though. A makeshift hospital is about to take in its first patients and authorities will start handling legal cases. This summer, a school is expected to open its doors to students. The progress is painfully slow, however, and points to the long, difficult journey ahead for a population which has suffered under IS rule, and is now struggling without key infrastructure. Back at his home, which managed to escape the worst and was only trashed and looted, Franshaw says he fails to understand why some of the damage happened after IS fighters had gone. Stepping over his stuff, now scattered on the living room floor, he points to the broken furniture and says: "This wasn't done by the IS.'' Herbie Hancock has twice before visited Havana to perform intimate solo-duet concerts with his Cuban counterpart Chucho Valdes, but at the end of April the two renowned jazz pianists will be collaborating on a grander scale. Hancock and Valdes will be serving as artistic directors for the 6th International Jazz Day. On Monday, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization announced that Havana will be the global host city for the event, culminating with an all-star concert on April 30 at the recently renovated 19th-century Gran Teatro de La Habana. The concert will be broadcast live on Cuban television and live streamed by UNESCO. Last year, Washington was the host city with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosting the global concert at the White House. Hungary's right-wing president has signed controversial legislation on foreign universities that critics warn could force the closure of a top international institution founded by U.S. financier George Soros. The approval Monday by President Janos Ader came less than a day after tens of thousands of protesters rallied in central Budapest against the legislation, which is seen as targeting Central European University. Soros founded CEU an English-language institution of about 1,400 students from more than 100 countries in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union. At that time, the financier's move was widely hailed as helping Hungary transition from decades of communism to democracy by providing exposure to democratic ideals. The legislation signed Monday requires all 28 foreign universities operating in Hungary to have campuses in their home countries, as well. Critics have for months pointed out that CEU is the only university among the 28 with no overseas branch, fueling widespread fears the law aims to deny young people access to the Western-leaning CEU and its pro-democracy curriculum. The new law further bars colleges and universities based outside the European Union from awarding Hungarian diplomas without the consent of the respective governments. Without such consent, the law will ban the university from enrolling new students after Jan. 1, 2018, and force it to close in 2021. State media quoted the president Monday as insisting the new law "does not infringe [on] freedom of learning or of teaching" enshrined in Hungary's constitution. However, last week the U.S. embassy in Budapest issued a statement critical of the legislation, while accusing lawmakers who backed it of targeting the Soros-founded university. Embassy Charge d' Affaires David Kostelancik also said that Washington will continue to advocate for CEU's "unhindered operation in Hungary." Prime minister viewed harshly in West Right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose ruling Fidesz party crafted the legislation, is viewed in much of Europe and beyond as an autocrat and a xenophobe who has long viewed the liberal internationalist Soros as an ideological foe. Orban is an outspoken critic of EU migration policy and has loudly criticized sanctions against Russia that were imposed by the EU and the United States after Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. The online U.S. publication Politico described him in 2015 as "Europe's new dictator." Last October, thousands of demonstrators marched in Budapest to protest the sudden closure of the country's largest-selling opposition newspaper, Nepszabadsag. Those protests also targeted Orban, who has long been accused of stifling press freedoms and isolating private media outlets critical of his controversial anti-migrant stance. The newspaper's shutdown came just weeks after it published reports alleging widespread corruption within Orban's ruling party, including close allies of the prime minister. Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai has been named as a U.N. Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girls' education. During a ceremony at U.N. headquarters Monday, and streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the 19-year-old, saying, "I am a frustrated ex-physics professor facing the most famous student in the world. You are not only a hero, but you are a very committed and generous person." He read from the designation on the framed certificate that he presented to the young activist, citing her dedicated service to the ideals and objectives of the United Nations especially its vision of a life of dignity for all people. Guterres also cited Yousafzai's "courageous defense" of the rights of all people, including women and girls, to education and equality, and honored her for showing "an unwavering dedication to peace" even in the face of great danger, and her desire to foster a better world. Yousafzai is the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate, receiving that international accolade in 2014 when she was 17 years old. She is now the youngest U.N. Messenger of Peace. Early start as blogger Yousafzai became an advocate for girls' education when she was 11 years old and living under Taliban rule in Pakistan's Swat Valley. There she began to blog anonymously for the BBC's Urdu language site, campaigning for the right of girls to an education. "Education is the right of every child and, especially for girls, this right should not be neglected," Yousafzai told a packed room of diplomats and young girls Monday. "If we want to go forward, we have to give education to girls. And, once you educate girls, you change the whole community, the whole society." The role of men in effecting change in society is crucial, she said, paying tribute to her father as one who always encouraged her. "What is different in my story is that my father did not stop me," she said. "It wasn't that I was very intelligent or very clever or I had some special kind of training or something. All I had was a father and a family who said, 'Yes, you can speak out, it's your choice.'" Watch: Malala Yousafzai Honored by United Nations Shot by the Taliban Yousafzai's advocacy brought retaliation from the Taliban, which preferred to see women and girls oppressed. On Oct. 9, 2012, Yousafzai, then 15, was attacked and shot in the head while on the school bus. Yousafzai was airlifted to a Pakistani military hospital in Peshawar, and four days later to an intensive care unit in Birmingham, England. "I realized that extremists tried all their best to stop me; they tried to kill me and they didn't succeed," she said. "And it is a clear evidence that no one can stop me. This means that now this a new life, a second life, and it is for the purpose of education." Malala's father comments Malala's father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, spoke with VOA about why his daughter connects with so many people. "Its really maybe the purity of her heart, the purity of her intentions, the purity of her cause that she stands for education and especially for womens empowerment through girls education," he said. "And that cause is so sacred and it connects her to girls and adults around the world. "Many old men, old ladies, they love her. This is something you cant explain in words," he said. "I see this connectivity between Malala and the rest of the world. We receive every day, every week, bundles of school projects on her. We receive many notes from many parts of the world, Far east to Africa." Ziauddin also shared some tips. "I dont have much to tell the world about parenthood or about mentorship. Usually I tell two simple things: number one, we should believe in our children and listen to them. Usually we adults dont listen to them. Ours or others. "Most importantly, I used to listen to my children. I still listen to them very carefully. Number two: appreciate them, value them, realize they are worthy, significant, very important. Then they believe in themselves. And number three: I say to the patriarchal societies, to the fathers and brothers ask me what I didnt do I didnt clip her wings. Thats so simple. We dont have to do anything more. We dont need to do anything extra. "Simple thing is we should believe that half of our population are women, they have the same rights we have. They have same intelligence, smartness and wisdom that we have. And they have the same equal rights that we have once we believe they are amazing," said Ziauddin Yousafzai. He spoke about what he sees on the horizon. "The Fund is doing fantastic. I didnt imagine that when we started this fund in 2013, we were just three to four people. Now it has more than 30 staff, it has a lot of budget and it is working in many countries. The focus is on girls' education, secondary education," he said. "Malala has been working very effectively through her fund for the Syrian refugees. Weve been to Jordan twice, to Lebanon once. Shes opened two schools on her birthday in 2016 [in Lebanon]. The fund is doing very well. Especially, our strength lies in advocacy. We cant send every child to school we dont have that billions-of-dollars budget," said Ziauddin Yousafzai. "But Malalas strength and her voice is very effective to demand from world powers, from the governments, to invest more on education, rather than in investing on wars and ammunition, and tanks and guns," he said. Working for girls education Yousafzai lives in Britain with her parents and younger brother. There, she has become an international advocate for girls' education through the Malala Fund, which she runs with her father, Ziauddin. The fund promotes 12 years of free, safe and quality education for girls worldwide. She has visited the families of the Chibok girls in Nigeria, worked with Syrian refugees opening two schools for them in Lebanon and has invested in education for girls in her native Pakistan. According to U.N. statistics, more than 130 million girls do not go to school. Many are forced to marry early or must work or care for younger siblings, denying them their right to education. Yousafzai joins the ranks of other U.N. Messengers of Peace, including actors Michael Douglas (disarmament) and Leonardo DiCaprio (climate change), and musician Stevie Wonder (persons with disabilities). Hometown reaction In Yousafzai's hometown of Swat, people hailed her new U.N. title. Mohammad Khan, a prominent human rights activist and lawyer based in Swat, said he was pleased that the international community has appreciated Yousafzai's efforts and the ordeal she has gone through for the sake of women's rights and education. "The sacrifice she has given for humanity, it has no precedent in [the] contemporary world," Khan told VOA's Deewa service. Yousafzai's school teacher, Ahmed Shah, said he was proud of Yousafzai for being designated as the U.N. peace messenger. "It is a matter of great pride and prestige for us that Malala Yousafzai has brought these honors for our homeland," he told Deewa. A military court in Pakistan has sentenced an alleged Indian spy to death on charges of espionage and sabotage activities against the country, a rare move likely to fuel bilateral tensions. An army spokesman, while announcing details of the decision Monday, identified the man as Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav of Indias primary foreign intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Jadhav was arrested through a counterintelligence operation in Pakistans violence-hit southwestern Baluchistan province in March 2016, and the military court found him guilty of all charges, said Major-General Asif Ghafoor. The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) and awarded death sentence, Ghafoor added and said the Pakistan army chief signed off on the verdict. The spokesman reiterated that Jadhav was a serving Indian navy officer and tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organize espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan. Indian denials New Delhi has acknowledged that Jadhav was a retired Indian naval officer, but rejected he was connected in any way to the government. Shortly after Mondays announcement by the Pakistan army, India summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner and condemned the proceedings against Jadhav as farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. An Indian Foreign Ministry statement said Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been crediblyexplained. Since his arrest, India has made 13 requests, including one last month to seek consular access to Jadhav, but this was not permitted by Islamabad, it added. Pakistani officials maintain the law does not allow consular access to detainees facing anti-state spying charges. India also dismissed as clearly absurd in the circumstances the Pakistan armys assertions that Jahhav was provided, during what India called the so-called trial, with a defending officer. If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder, it warned. Confession video The Pakistan military released a confessional video shortly after Jadhav's arrest in which he gave details of anti-Pakistan operations launched from neighboring Iran. I am still a serving officer in the Indian Navy ... I commenced intelligence operations in 2003, and established a small business in Chabahar in Iran. As I was able to achieve undetected existence and visits to Karachi in 2003 and 2004, ... I was picked up by RAW in 2013, and ever since I have been directing various activities in Baluchistan and Karachi at the behest of RAW, and deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi, said Jadhav. The issue has also become an irritant in Islamabads relations with Tehran. Soon after his arrest, Pakistani officials asked Iran to investigate Jadhavs activities on its soil. Pakistani officials say they have also shared with the United Nations documents detailing Jadhavs confession and other subversive acts India is allegedly undertaking to destabilize Pakistan. Relations between the two nuclear-armed rival nations have deteriorated in recent years and a wide-ranging bilateral dialogue aimed at normalizing ties remains suspended. The two countries have lately engaged in intense military clashes along the dispute border in Kashmir, a divide Himalayan region both India and Pakistan claim in its entirety. Pope Francis' trip to Egypt this month is expected to go ahead despite twin attacks on Christian churches that killed 44 people, Vatican officials said on Monday. However, diplomats and Vatican sources cautioned that the trip could be put in jeopardy or parts of it changed if the security situation worsened. The pope is due to spend about 27 hours in the Egyptian capital Cairo on April 28-29, meeting with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, grand imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb and the country's Coptic Pope Tawadros. Archbishop Angelo Becciu, the Vatican deputy secretary of state, told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that the events on Sunday, however tragic, "could not impede the pope from carrying out his mission of peace." Tawadros was leading a congregation at Mass in Alexandria's Saint Mark's Cathedral when it was attacked. He was not hurt. That blast in Egypt's second-largest city came hours after a bomb struck a Coptic church in Tanta, a nearby city in the Nile Delta. "There is no doubt that the pope will carry out his intention to go," Becciu said. The Vatican also sent several communiques about logistics to journalists due to accompany the pope on his plane, in another indication that the trip was still on. However, a senior diplomatic source said "we will have to keep our finger on the pulse of the situation until the very last minute." In another indication of deepening worries about safety, there is no indication of the venue for a number of meetings by the pope in the latest program. Both Vatican and diplomatic sources said a number of events might have to take place in one location, such as the presidential palace, so as to limit the number of times the pope would have to move around in the city. Both of Sunday's attacks were claimed by the Islamic State, which has waged a campaign against Egypt's Christian minority, the largest in the Middle East. Egypt's cabinet said on Monday a state of emergency would remain in place for three months. Damanvir Singh, former youth Akali Dal leader who joined the Congress along with his father Sarwan Singh, is facing allegations in the multi-crore synthetic drugs racket case. By Anand Patel: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, who joined the Congress ahead of Assembly polls in Punjab, have accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of witch hunt against them. Damanvir Singh, former youth Akali Dal leader who joined the Congress along with his father Sarwan Singh Phillaur, is facing allegations in the multi-crore synthetic drugs racket case and is being investigated by the ED under money laundering act for receiving money from drug dealers. Phillaur's property in Jalandhar was attached last week by the ED. advertisement "This is just a witch hunt against us while a former minister in Badal government with far more serious allegations are being let off by the ED," said Damanvir Singh while talking to India Today. He went on to accuse a senior Union Cabinet minister from Punjab of pressurising Central Agencies to bail out her relative. "The minister is scuttling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign against black money, we demand her removal for a fair probe into the matter," said Damanvir Singh. "We have been accused of receiving Rs 11 lakhs while a former senior minister in the previous Badal government was accused of receiving Rs 35 lakhs from the alleged drug dealers, but his case is being soft peddled by the ED," he further alleged. POLITICAL VENDETTA "This is political vendetta against us; to save the bigger fish pick and choose policy has been adopted by the agency and we are being framed," alleged Damanvir Singh. Drugs is a big issue in Punjab and black money is being used to spread the nexus. The prime minister should look into this for a transparent investigation," he added. "We left Akali Dal for the Congress, which had promised to wipe out drugs menace from the state and now the agency is harassing us," said Damanvir. He accused the former minister of sheltering and helping drug dealers by misusing his authority while in the government. But when asked about why the father-son duo never raised voice against the drug menace, he said that the truth will be out soon as the new Special Task Force formed by Captain Amarinder Singh will unearth the nexus during Akali-BJP regime. "We will meet the STF chief and put before him all the facts so that proper action is taken against him," he added. PROPERTIES ATTACHED Last week, the ED in a major crackdown had attached properties of former SAD minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, his son Damanvir Singh and former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander. All three are first politicians whose properties have been attached in the multi-crore drug case, but the agency has not formally charged them so far. Action against Sarwan Phillaur comes in the backdrop of allegations against Damanvir for receiving drug money from Delhi based smuggler Varinder Raja and Chunni Lal Gaba, a businessman, who ran a drug unit in Baddi industrial area of Himachal Pradesh. The ED has already attached properties of Gaba worth Rs 150 crores. advertisement The ED's investigation is linked to synthetic drugs racket unearthed in 2013. The ED took up the investigation as there were allegations of huge sums of money changing hands and the alleged involvement of several NRIs in the case. The ED has already filed a number of chargesheets against several accused, including Jagdish Bhola, the alleged kingpin. Also read: ED summons Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh in money laundering case Also read: ED moves PMLA court seeking non-bailable arrest warrant against Zakir Naik --- ENDS --- Somali security forces have taken over an Indian-owned commercial boat held by Somali pirates during an operation overnight, officials said. The mayor of Hobyo, Abdullahi Ahmed Ali, told VOA's Somali service that his forces seized the boat after they surrounded the vessel off the coast of Hin-Barwaaqo village, south of Hobyo. He said the pirates abandoned the boat after elders warned that security forces were approaching and planning to storm the vessel. Pirates seized the boat, MSV Al Kausar, earlier this month. Mayor Ali said only two of the crew members were found on board the boat and authorities believe the remaining nine sailors were moved to land by the pirates. Officials said security forces are pursuing the pirates who are holding the Indian sailors hostage. They took the sailors to Qarafaow village; we exchanged gunfire, we have seized a vehicle carrying food and supplies for the pirates, Ali said. MSV Al Kausar and its crew members were seized in the Indian Ocean en route to the southern port town of Kismayo. The boat was chartered by a Somali businessman and was carrying commercial goods. Meanwhile on Sunday, Indian and Chinese sailors freed a cargo ship after pirates briefly seized the vessel. The incident marked the fifth pirate attack this year off the Somali coast. Security officials say piracy is reemerging in Somali waters following an increase in illegal fishing. The former director of intelligence in Somalia's Puntland region, Abdi Hassan Hussein, told VOA organized groups are preparing to conduct attacks. There are more than eight groups who want to engage piracy activities; some of them already went into the sea, some are in preparation and some have already carried out attacks, Hussein told VOA Somali. At their peak in the early 2010's, Somali pirate gangs were responsible for hundreds of attacks on commercial ships traveling in the Gulf of Aden, the western Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. In all of 2016, the International Maritime Bureau recorded only two pirate attacks near Somalia, neither of which resulted in a hijacking. South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday accused some protesters of racism after marches last week that drew tens of thousands of people demanding his resignation, while the opposition announced plans for a new protest. More than 60,000 people marched in South African cities on Friday in largely peaceful protests to demand Zuma quit after a cabinet reshuffle set off the latest crisis of his presidency. Speaking at a memorial to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the assassination of anti-apartheid and Communist Party leader Chris Hani - whose murder led to nationwide riots - Zuma said South Africa had not yet built a non-racial society decades after white-minority rule ended in 1994. In his first public response to the protests, Zuma said they "demonstrated that racism is real" in South Africa. "Many placards and posters displayed beliefs that we thought had been buried in 1994, with some posters depicting black people as baboons," the president said. "It is clear that some of our white compatriots regard black people as being lesser human beings or sub-human." A mixed racial profile of people attended the rallies. Police said about 60,000 people took part in the marches in the major cities. Opposition leader Mmusi Maimane, head of the Democratic Alliance (DA), which has strong support among white people, had called for a march in Johannesburg, and held a rally of more than 10,000 people. In the capital Pretoria, about 15,000 people gathered in a field outside the Union Buildings, the site of Zuma's offices, in a march led by civil society group SaveSA. Other marches were held in Cape Town, Durban and other parts of the country. Maimane's spokesman Mabine Seabe said of Zuma's comments: "He cannot argue based on policy and is trying to distract from the issues by using race as a scapegoat." Zuma's spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga also said there were posters in Pretoria that depicted black people as baboons. Ngqulunga sent a picture to Reuters that has been used on Twitter showing a Zuma caricature. Some placards during the protests used vulgar language against Zuma, Reuters witnesses said. "It's been proven before that if you place a racial bombshell in a conversation it clouds the issues," said Gwen Ngwenya, the chief operating officer of the South African Institute of Race Relations in Johannesburg."It's an effective spin strategy that's very shrewd ... because it plays on historical racial tensions in South Africa." New Protest The DA, the ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters and other smaller parties announced a new protest march dubbed "National Day of Action" on Wednesday at the Union Buildings, the seat of government, aimed at drumming up support for a no-confidence motion against the president in parliament on April 18. The African National Congress, which has a commanding majority in parliament, has said its members would vote against the motion. Zuma's sacking of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle on March 31 has outraged allies and opponents alike, undermined his authority and caused rifts in the ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid. The rand has tumbled more than 11 percent since March 27, when Zuma ordered Gordhan to return home from overseas talks with investors, days before firing him. Fitch on Friday followed S&P Global Ratings and downgraded South Africa to "junk", citing Gordhan's dismissal as one reason. On Monday, Zuma said he had met Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank Lesetja Kganyago and Tom Moyane, the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, to discuss the impact of the credit rating downgrades and "how we should respond adequately." Zuma reiterated plans to transform the economy to include more black people, who, he said, were passed up for promotions and had lower salaries than white people doing the same jobs. "The majority of black people are still economically disempowered. They are dissatisfied with the limited economic gains from liberation," he said. Black people make up 80 percent of the population, yet the lion's share of the economy in terms of ownership of land and companies remains in the hands of white people, who make up about 8 percent of the population. U.S. and Afghan special forces in eastern Afghanistan have cleared Islamic State fighters from much of a key stronghold IS has occupied since 2015, provincial officials and local residents told VOA. A reporter for VOA's Afghan service traveled to the remote Achin region over the last several days with Afghan forces. He found that village after village suffered destruction at the hands of IS. In the wake of a 10-day-long continuing offensive in eastern Nangarhar province that officials said killed dozens of IS fighters, the terror group left buildings crumbled, services cut off and residents traumatized. More than 200 houses have been destroyed, and hundreds of families fled their villages for secure places, locals told VOA. "We left our homes for our lives," said Mohammad Anwar, an Achin resident. "Our houses are fully destroyed and nothing has been left." Residents said they grew to believe that Afghan forces would never rid IS from the area. "Schools, markets, everything has been destroyed, and we hope everything will be rebuilt so that people can return," said Rahimullah, another local who, like most Afghans, uses a first name only. "But we are very happy that the government forces have arrived. We want peace in our country." Outside one village, the VOA reporter found a hole filled with what locals say are the bodies of IS fighters. Provincial officials said more than 120 militants have been killed in the ongoing air and ground offensive, now in its second week. "Afghan commando forces, as well as police and NATO forces, have launched the operation in the area," Achin district governor Islamiel Shinwari told VOA. Dozens of IS fighters have fled into the mountains in eastern Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan. "They [IS militants] were present in this area," Anwar said. "Afghan forces have arrived and the militants fled our areas." The anti-IS operation in Achin is part of a joint U.S.-Afghan military effort to eliminate IS from Afghanistan. "Our goal in 2017 is to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan," U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Salvin, spokesperson for Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, told VOA last month. IS's self-styled Khorasan Province branch (ISIS-K) has taken root in mountainous areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, increasing its recruiting efforts and terror attacks nationwide. Its name refers to a centuries-old description of Afghanistan and surrounding areas of Central Asia and Persia. NATO and the Afghan government say their security operations in recent months have reduced the extremists' strength in Afghanistan from several thousand to now under 1,000 fighters, and their territorial control from more than 10 districts to fewer than five. The White House on Monday made clear it sees no way that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can stay in power for the long term. Sean Spicer, U.S. President Donald Trump's spokesman, told reporters, "You can't imagine a stable and peaceful Syria with Assad in charge. I don't think that's a scenario that's possible." The White House press secretary said the U.S.'s main priority is defeating Islamic State fighters in Syria and then to "create an environment for a change in leadership." He said one goal in ending the conflict, now in its seventh year, is to create a safe place for war weary Syrians to be able to remain in the country without having to flee the country for safe harbor. Trump last week launched a missile attack on the air field U.S. officials believe Syria used as a base to assault rebels fighting the Assad regime with chemical weapons. Dozens were killed and hundreds more were sickened. Spicer described Syria's subsequent use of the field for takeoffs as "a PR stunt," adding that the base's radar, refueling facilities and more than 20 percent of Syria's overall fleet of fixed wing aircraft were destroyed. Spicer said the U.S. attack might not be the last. "We hold open the possibility of future action," he said. "I think not just Syria, but what the world saw last week was a president that is going to act decisively, and proportionally and with justification." He added, "If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb in to [kill] innocent people, I think you will see a response from the president. That is unacceptable." He said Trump would "hold cards close to the vest, but make no mistake, he will act." Still, Spicer said the U.S. has no intention "to become the world's policeman." Zambias outspoken opposition leader has been arrested for the second time in about six months, a party spokesman told VOA Tuesday. The arrest is part of deepening fallout from a contentious August presidential poll that both contenders claim to have won. Opposition spokesman Charles Kakoma said police broke through the doors of opposition leader Hakainde Hichilemas upscale home late Monday, blocked the gates and doors to prevent escape, tear-gassed the occupants and then took Hichilema away. Kakoma said police had not charged Hichilema by morning and had taken him to a police training academy for questioning. He said the party was warned that this might happen, because of an incident days before in which Hichilemas convoy crossed paths with President Edgar Lungus motorcade as the two men were attempting to attend the same ceremony in western Zambia. In the past few days, senior people in the ruling party, the Patriotic Front, have been issuing statements that President Hakainde Hichilema must be arrested for treason, he said from outside a police station in Lusaka. And what they are referring to is an incident that happened at a traditional ceremony in western Zambia, where Hakainde had gone to attend, and as he was going to attend the ceremony, the president of Zambia was also going to the ceremony in the same direction. And they are saying it was a breach of security, and want to charge him for treason. Lungu attended the Sunday ceremony. His office could not be reached for comment, but a statement on the presidencys Facebook page said the institution doesn't recognize people who come to the ceremony with the aim of disrupting it. This is Hichilemas second arrest since October, when police held him and charged him and his deputy with sedition over their claims that Augusts presidential poll was unfair. Dozens of their supporters were also arrested at the time. In Johannesburg, Human Rights Watchs southern Africa director, Dewa Mavhinga, said he was watching the situation with great concern. He said his organization has documented a deterioration in human rights and media freedoms in Zambia in recent months. We would really urge the authorities in Zambia not to abandon respect for the rule of law and peoples rights, because for a while, Zambia had been a beacon for human rights experts, he said. In recent months, this has not been the case. And Kakoma said he is worried less about the authorities than about how Hichilemas supporters might react to his arrest. This is very dangerous, because the leader that we are talking about is one that is very popular, controlling in terms of population, almost half of the country voted for him, and he is widely believed to have won the last election, he said. So by them taking this step, they are basically inciting the population. We dont know what will happen, but, it also shows that the country has gone into dictatorship because it is restricting peoples rights to movement, peoples rights to assembly and speech, and basically taking away the peoples human rights, including those of political opponents. economy Job openings increase, highest level since July U.S. job openings rose to a seven-month high in February while the pace of hiring slipped, pointing to a growing skills mismatch and a further tightening of labor market conditions. Job openings, a measure of labor demand, increased 118,000 to a seasonally adjusted 5.7 million, the Labor Department said on Tuesday. That was the highest level since July and lifted the jobs openings rate to 3.8 percent after it held steady at 3.7 percent for four straight months. Hiring, however, slipped to 5.3 million from 5.4 million in January. The hiring rate dipped to 3.6 percent from 3.7 percent the prior month. It shows you that there is one of the most gigantic skills mismatches out there across the country that we have ever seen in history, said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG Union Bank in New York. The U.S. labor market is viewed as being near or at full employment. The unemployment rate is at a near 10-year low of 4.5 percent, below the most recent Federal Reserve median forecast for full employment. Reuters TECHNOLOGY Toshiba warns survival is at stake Toshiba filed twice-delayed business results on Tuesday without an endorsement from its auditor and warned its very survival was in doubt, deepening a prolonged crisis at the Japanese conglomerate. There are material events and conditions that raise substantial doubt about the companys ability to continue as a going concern, Toshiba said in announcing bigger than previously estimated losses for the nine months through December. The filing carried a disclaimer from auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata that it was unable to form an opinion of the results, increasing the likelihood that shares in the nuclear-to-TVs company will be delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The move is a first for a major Tokyo-based firm, and puts the stock exchange center-stage as it weighs the pros and cons of forcing Toshiba to delist. Toshiba chief executive Satoshi Tsunakawa expressed regret that the auditor could not form an opinion, and said Toshiba pressed ahead with submitting its results rather than seek an unprecedented third delay. Failing to act tough with Toshiba would bring into question authorities credibility in maintaining standards for investors, but a delisting would complicate the crisis at Toshiba, increasing its financing costs and exposing it to further lawsuits from angry shareholders. Accountants have been questioning the numbers at U.S. nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co, where extensive cost overruns at four nuclear reactors under construction in the Southeastern United States have forced its Japanese parent to estimate a $9 billion annual net loss and take drastic measures. Reuters Also in Business Lyft Inc., the San Francisco-based ride-hailing company, said it has closed a $600 million round of financing, valuing the company at $7.5 billion. New Lyft investors include private equity firm KKR & Co., asset management firms Baillie Gifford and AllianceBernstein LP and the Canadian pension fund PSP Investments, the company told Bloomberg News. Lyft last raised $1 billion at a $5.5 billion valuation in a December 2015 round led by General Motors Co. Germanys Siemens and Canadas Bombardier are in talks to combine their rail operations, two people close to the matter told Reuters, a move that could strengthen their hand against Chinese state-backed market leader CRRC. The joint venture would create a company whose sales of $16 billion would be half those of CRRC, the result of a 2015 merger of Chinas top two players, and would leave Frances Alstom left out of the industrys consolidation. Yahoo has been hit with a lawsuit saying it failed to safeguard more than $17 million it pledged to help jailed Chinese dissidents in a 2007 settlement. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in federal court in Washington by a group of Chinese dissidents, accuses Yahoo of willfully turning a blind eye while Harry Wu, a high-profile political activist charged with administering the funds, used them for personal gain. Yahoo spokesman Mike Sefanov declined to comment, saying the company does not discuss ongoing litigation. Gymboree, the struggling childrens clothing retailer, is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection as it faces a June 1 interest payment on its debt, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The Bain Capital-controlled company is seeking to reorganize its debt load and may transfer control to its lenders, including Searchlight Capital and Brigade Capital Management, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the process isnt public. Representatives for Bain, Gymboree, Brigade and Searchlight declined to comment. From news services Coming WEDNESDAY 2 p.m.: Treasury releases federal budget for March. Earnings: Delta Air Lines As if flying werent stressful enough, now some passengers may be worried about being dragged off a flight. If you fly frequently, as I do, you become accustomed to overbooked flights. Its a standard practice for airlines because history shows that some people dont show up for whatever reason. When everyone does come to claim a seat, the bargaining and begging begin. Ive been on flights when people rush to the counter to give up a seat for compensation or a free future flight as soon as an overbooking situation is announced problem solved. But this week, all of us were reminded again why the fine print matters. And that flying increasingly divides the haves from the have-nots. Take boarding, for example. There is a pecking order of who gets to board first that at times makes me feel like a peasant with my lowly, economy-class ticket minus a premium seat upgrade with its teeny extra leg room. You stand there as a crew member goes through a long shout-out to the privileged passengers first class, platinum, gold, diamond, ruby, sapphire, silver or whatever. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) [Want to boycott United? Good luck with that.] Boarding first has become an economic issue. People push and shove to get a better boarding spot even within their groups. (Guilty!) You want to board as early as possible to nab an overhead bin, because youre trying to save money by avoiding the add-on fee for checked luggage. This week we passengers were also reminded that in certain situations, we arent guaranteed the seat we paid for on a particular flight. When airlines have overbooked and cant get enough volunteers to give up their seats, they can kick you off involuntarily. Or given a certain situation, the airline reserves the right to bump you. Thats what happened on United Airlines Flight 3411, originating from Chicago OHare and flying to Louisville. Passengers were told after everyone had boarded that space had to be made for four crew members who needed to get to another flight to prevent that flight from being canceled. When no one volunteered despite an offer of $800, United chose four people randomly to leave the aircraft. One customer refused to budge. Thats when the situation escalated into a hot mess, with police dragging a bloodied passenger down the aisle of the plane to the horror of fellow fliers. [United CEO orders review of policies as outrage builds] So, folks, in case you didnt know, heres what the Department of Transportation rules say about your fly rights (from transportation.gov): (The Washington Post) If youre bumped, and you can be rebooked to get to your destination within one hour of your original arrival time, the airline doesnt have to offer you anything although you might still get some perks. If rebooking gets you to your destination between one and two hours of your original arrival time, youre entitled to get 200 percent of your one-way fare, for a maximum of $675. The compensation jumps to 400 percent, or a maximum of $1,350, if rebooking delays you more than two hours. If youre offered a free ticket for a future flight, you can instead opt for a check. This could be a wise choice, because unless youre a frequent flyer, you might not get a chance to use the ticket voucher if it has the typical 12-month expiration date. United Flight 3411 is also a reminder to be mindful of check-in times and your status. Heres how that might play out in a bumping situation, according to the DOT. Last in, first out. You know those check-in times you think are just general guidelines? Not so much when flights are oversold. Airlines may use them to determine the order in which people are bumped. I make it a point to check in for a flight as soon as the window for online check-in is available. I also get to the boarding gate area early. Cheap goes first. Some airlines may bump people whove paid the lowest fare. And that makes sense if they have to bump people and then compensate them based on the price of their tickets. On reflection, even if United were within its rights, I bet the higher-ups will be rethinking how its staff handled the situation. The day after the Flight 3411 incident, Uniteds stock lost some altitude. About two hours before the stock market closed, its stock had fallen by about 3 percent. At one point #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos was trending on Twitter. My favorite: Next time my kids refuse to get out of bed, Im calling United Airlines. Read more: Do you have what it takes to be a millionaire? Yes, pro athletes often make poor money decisions early in their careers. Didnt you, too? The next face of poverty could be yours Write Singletary at The Washington Post, 1301 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 or michelle.singletary@washpost.com. To read previous Color of Money columns, go to http://wapo.st/michelle-singletary. Tension prevailed on the Panjab University campus on Tuesday as students, protesting the fee hike for various courses, clashed with the police. By Indo-Asian News Service: Tension prevailed on the Panjab University campus on Tuesday as students, protesting the fee hike for various courses, clashed with the police. Police sources said that a few students were injured after a baton charge and use of water cannons and tear-gas to disperse the agitators who had gathered near the Vice Chancellor's office complex. The protesting students pelted stones at the police and broke window panes of the offices and damaged other university property. advertisement Later, a few students, who were being chased by the police, entered a gurudwara on the campus and took refugee there. Police officials were reported to be negotiating with them to come out. Teaching was affected in several departments on the Sector 14 campus of the university due to the protest shutdown called by the students. The fee hike was being opposed by the Students for Society (SFS) and other student organisations. Also read: Jallikattu 2.0: Students agitate in Tamil Nadu in solidarity with farmers' Jantar Mantar skull protest ALSO WATCH | Protests against Punjab University course fee hike: Police use water cannons to deal with ruckus --- ENDS --- A draft budget proposal obtained by The Washington Post details how the Trump administration seeks to cut more than 31 percent of the Environmental Protection Agencys budget. The spending plan emphasizes a focus on the EPAs core legal requirements, withdrawing from state and local projects and avoiding any efforts the administration considers to be extraneous within the EPA or other agencies. Among the cuts, the budget shutters 56 programs and trims staffing by nearly 4,000 jobs. Elimination of local geographic programs Many of the programs slated to be cut are either programs focusing on specific geographic areas or federal grants that go out to states to fund specific projects. Some of these programs are part of the Clean Water Act of 1972, which charges the EPA with helping to restore the nations waterways. States may not only lose funding for these programs, but a lack of enforcement could mean environmental goals may never be reached. In addition to nearly $7 million in funding for miscellaneous geographic programs, here are all the geographic programs proposed to be eliminated. Great Lakes OPERATING COSTS $289M FULL-TIME JOB EQUIVALENTS 71.7 The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the biggest program on the chopping block, received nearly $300 million in the 2016 budget. Launched in 2010, the program has identified dozens of lakeshore areas of concern across multiple states. The EPA spearheads coordination between these states and Canada, working to restore these areas suffering environmental degradation, such as harmful algae blooms and high levels of toxic waste. Lake Champlain OPERATING COSTS $4.4M FULL-TIME JOB EQUIVALENTS 0 The EPA also spearheads coordination across country borders in the Lake Champlain Basin Program, working with local governments in New York, Vermont and Canadas Quebec province to improve the basins water quality and fish and wildlife. The program also established maximum load levels on pollutants as goals for the local governments to reach over time. Chesapeake Bay OPERATING COSTS $66.7M FULL-TIME JOB EQUIVALENTS 39.9 In 2014, the six governors of the watershed states and D.C. mayor signed an agreement along with the administrator of the EPA to set goals and track the progress of the Chesapeake Bays restoration. This agreement holds several states accountable and allows for collaboration. The program works to improve the sustainability of the bays fisheries as well as setting goals to reduce pollutants in the watershed. Long Island Sound OPERATING COSTS $3.9M FULL-TIME JOB EQUIVALENTS 0 The Long Island Sound Study was formed in 1985 as a partnership between the EPA and the governments of New York and Connecticut. The program focuses on managing the regions nitrogen hypoxia and restoring habitats for wildlife. Puget Sound OPERATING COSTS $27.2M FULL-TIME JOB EQUIVALENTS 6 The EPA distributes funding and grants to local governments for various projects in Puget Sound, such as ecosystem restoration and improvement to land-use practices. In 2002, the agency signed an agreement with Canada to establish common goals. In 2016, nine federal agencies, including the EPA, created a task force so that they could work in tangent with one another and local governments for efforts in the region. San Francisco Bay Delta OPERATING COSTS $4.5M FULL-TIME JOB EQUIVALENTS 1.9 The EPA provides oversight for projects in the delta watershed, including approval of state policies and establishment of water quality levels. The agency also provides funding for control of sources of water pollution, minimizing destruction of wetlands and such projects as superfund cleanup. Gulf of Mexico OPERATING COSTS $2.8M FULL-TIME JOB EQUIVALENTS 14.3 The Gulf of Mexico watershed expands from the states along its coast, up the Mississippi River and through the upper Midwest. The EPA has provided funding for dozens of projects in the five coastal states since the inception of the Gulf of Mexico Program in 1988, including coordination to restore water quality and promoting environmental education. South Florida OPERATING COSTS $1.6M FULL-TIME JOB EQUIVALENTS 1.4 The effort to restore the Everglades in Florida relies partially on the EPA for funding. The agency works with local governments to set and monitor water quality standards, upgrade wastewater infrastructure, restore wetland habitats and protect coral reef ecosystems. The partnership also assesses aquifer storage and recovery technology, which helps regain groundwater to increase water supplies. In addition to local geographic programs, grants going out to local regions will be cut. A $165 million grant mitigating pollution from land runoff into waterways will be eliminated, and grants for states to manage pollution and air quality are each losing one-third of their funding. Refocusing on statutory requirements More than 14 initiatives under the Climate Protection Program, including the Energy Star program, are proposed to close in an effort to refocus on the agencys core statutory requirements, according to the proposal. The budget proposal also removes funding for climate change research, some of which is conducted with the U.S. Global Change Research Program, an umbrella group consisting of 13 federal agencies. Overall, the document proposes a 32 percent cut to the science and technology appropriation operating costs and a 40 percent cut to staffing, the biggest proportional cuts in the agency. The reductions add up to more than $230 million and 900 jobs. The document also proposes a 26 percent cut to the environmental program and management appropriation. In addition to geographic programs and the Climate Protection Program, the appropriation also includes the agencys Science Advisory Board, which will see an 84 percent cut in operating costs because of an anticipated lower number of peer reviews. Additionally, the appropriation also includes a program focused on limiting childrens exposure to lead-based paint, which will be eliminated. The EPA budget proposal also echoes a continuation of the budget set forth by the Obama administration in 2016 to fund an $18 million water infrastructure program. Passed in December 2016, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act provides funding for eligible projects. Local, state and tribal governments can apply for funding for such infrastructure projects as wastewater and drinking water treatment and drought mitigation. The document also states that fee-based funding is encouraged, proposing additions to the workforce of a program to teach and monitor the proper handling of pesticides funded from fee collections as opposed to federal funding. For nearly every other program, the document proposes a cut or elimination. In an effort to roll back the EPAs responsibilities, the proposed funding cuts for local programs will have a wider reach beyond the nations capital. Sources: EPA, Lake Champlain Basin Program, Donnees Quebec, Chesapeake Bay Program, Long Island Sound Study and Everglades Restoration. Fredrick and Patricia McKissack in 2009 at their home in Chesterfield, Mo. The McKissacks were a husband-and-wife writing duo, particularly with children's literature. (Johnny Andrews/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH ) Patricia C. McKissack, a childrens author who chronicled African American history and Southern folklore in more than 100 early-reader and picture books, including award-winning works about chicken-coop monsters and a girls attempt to catch the wind, died April 7 at a hospital in Bridgeton, Mo. She was 72. The cause was cardiac arrest, said a son, Fredrick McKissack Jr. Mrs. McKissack was diagnosed several years ago with myotonic dystrophy, a muscle disorder, her son said, and was really weakened by the death in 2013 of her husband and frequent collaborator, Fredrick L. McKissack. She lived in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield. With Fredrick McKissack handling the historical research and Mrs. McKissack focused on the writing, the couple crafted nonfiction works that sought to expose elementary- and middle-school readers to varied aspects of African American history. Their books included The Civil Rights Movement in America (1987) and A Long Hard Journey (1989), about the organizing efforts of black Pullman railroad porters, as well as short biographies of black luminaries such as historian Carter Woodson (1991) and educator Mary McLeod Bethune (1985). It was like a missionary thing for them, said Fredrick McKissack Jr. There was a whole history and set of experiences that werent being taught, discussed, examined with the gaze of a writer. Mrs. McKissack, who once told her publisher, Random House, that she wrote because theres a clear need for books written about the minority experience in America, recognized that need firsthand. She had grown up in Kirkwood, Mo., and was one of the only black students at her white suburban school. By the time she returned to teach eighth-grade English, she yearned for a book that could introduce her students to African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. His work mixed conventional English diction and usage with Southern dialect, swapping the for de and employing frequent contractions and unusual spellings to mimic the contours of spoken language. Mrs. McKissack, who received a masters degree in early-childhood education and honed her writing skills in six years as a childrens book editor, wrote the Dunbar book herself and ultimately published a revised version in 1984. Like Dunbar, she frequently used Southern dialect in her picture books and short works of fiction, and often drew on memories of her childhood and stories told by her grandmothers parents on their porch in rural Tennessee. Flossie and the Fox (1986), which featured watercolor illustrations by Rachel Isadora, was based off a story her grandfather told her about a black Little Red Riding Hood who encounters an ol slickster fox while carrying a basket of eggs through the forest. Kirkus Reviews called it a perfect picture book. Mirandy and Brother Wind (1988), which won a Caldecott Honor for its illustrations by Jerry Pinkney, was inspired by a photo of Mrs. McKissacks grandparents after they had won a cakewalk dance contest as teenagers. The book told the story of a young girl named Mirandy who attempts to capture the top-hat-wearing Brother Wind the perfect dance partner in the upcoming cakewalk despite her grandmothers warning: He be special. He be free. Her most acclaimed work of fiction, The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural (1992), was awarded a Newbery Honor, the runner-up to a medal that is considered the Pulitzer Prize of childrens literature. The book was an anthology of spooky stories named for the half-hour period just before night as Mrs. McKissacks grandparents told her when the ghosts of former slaves are prone to walk the Earth and mayhem is never far away. When you feel fear tingling in your toes and zinging up your spine like a closing zipper, she wrote in the books opening pages, you have experienced the delicious horror of a tale of the dark-thirty. Patricia LAnn Carwell was born in Smyrna, Tenn., on Aug. 9, 1944, but spent most of her childhood in Missouri. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father was a civil servant whose jobs included a stint as an assistant superintendent at the St. Louis jail. Mrs. McKissacks upbringing in segregated Nashville, where she graduated from high school, inspired picture books such as Goin Someplace Special (2008). The book tells the story of a girl who takes the bus sitting in the back behind the white passengers to the library downtown, one of Nashvilles few integrated buildings. Mrs. McKissack described it as a second home. In 1964, at 19, she was awarded a bachelors degree in English from Tennessee State University. That same year, she married Fredrick McKissack, an engineer whose grandfather was among the first licensed black architects in the South. Survivors include three sons, Fredrick McKissack Jr. of Fort Wayne, Ind., John McKissack of Memphis and Robert McKissack of St. Louis; a brother; a sister; and five grandchildren. Mrs. McKissack received her masters from Missouris Webster University in 1975, and she was an editor at Concordia Publishing House, an arm of the Lutheran Church, before turning to writing. Her husband soon left his engineering job to become her collaborator. Many of their books covered religious themes or retold stories from the Bible. Her most recent work, Lets Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout; Dance, Spin & Turn It Out! (2016), included folk tales and songs such as Hes Got the Whole World in His Hands. I still to this day love that song, she told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in February. It helps me to see God not as the vengeful, smoking, angry God who could disintegrate the whole world in a minute. No, God is loving, gentle and even though huge and powerful, could just hold you in the palm of the hand, and youre safe. As a child I could just visualize this. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Mrs. McKissacks upbringing in segregated Kirkwood, Mo., inspired her picture book Goin Someplace Special. The book was inspired by her childhood in Nashville, not in Kirkwood. The story has been revised. Tea sandwiches can be simple yet stunning. Its easy to assemble a variety. (Jennifer Chase/For The Washington Post) If youd like to include savory sandwiches in your plans for an afternoon tea, some attention to detail is important. Figure on the equivalent of at least one full sandwich per guest. Tea sandwiches are crustless, often cut in half or into batons (finger sandwiches) or triangles. Fill the whole sandwiches before removing the crusts and dividing into smaller pieces it will be easier to assemble, and youll end up with neat edges. You can reserve the crusts for making croutons, bread crumbs, stratas or bread pudding. Spread the fillings with restraint. The sandwiches will look nicer and be easier to eat. You can make extra-elegant noshes by using loaves labeled as thin-sliced, such as Pepperidge Farms Very Thin white and whole-wheat loaves. Or find unsliced loaves you can slice thinly yourself. For added visual appeal, consider mixing white and whole-wheat bread in individual sandwiches. Pumpernickel is also good for added color and flavor. You can have a little fun and think beyond standard sliced bread, too mini croissants or small phyllo shells can be charming vessels, and Ive even had mini bagels served at a tea in the Orangery at Kensington Palace in London. Leave final assembly until just before serving, if you can. Fortnum & Masons The Cook Book by Tom Parker Bowles (Fourth Estate, 2016) says that if the sandwiches have to sit around for more than a few minutes, a damp paper towel on top can help preserve the softness of the bread. Filling ideas: Cucumber. Perhaps the quintessential tea sandwich. Cucumber sandwiches, often with extraneous elements added these days, are still de rigueur at any proper English tea, writes Colman Andrews in The British Table (Abrams, 2016). He suggests simply combining cucumber with salted butter on white bread. But cream cheese is also commonly used, which you can mix with a bit of fresh dill or mint. Chicken salad. Consider a Coronation Chicken rendition, created for the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Egg salad. Choose your favorite recipe; those made with mustard make for a punchy addition to the tea spread. Serving the egg with watercress is standard practice in Britain; flat-leaf parsley or arugula are acceptable stand-ins. Cheese and chutney. Make the centerpiece an aged cheddar, grated or thinly sliced. Pair it with a chutney Major Greys, made with mangoes, is an English staple and fairly easy to find. Or pick your favorite (Im partial to Virginia Chutney, which makes zesty plum and peach chutneys, in addition to Major Greys). The nuttiness of whole-wheat bread complements this combination. Smoked salmon. Pull a little inspiration from the classic bagel sandwich, with a thin layer of cream cheese, perhaps with a bit of dill, scallions or capers. The Cook Book suggests a dressing made with mayo, capers, baby gherkins, dill and chives. Ham. Keep it simple with high-quality, thinly sliced meat and a little Dijon mustard or honey mustard. Every tea has a backstory, Christian Eck, the tea specialist at Park Hyatt hotel in Washington says. (Jennifer Chase/For the Washington Post) Nicole Schwartz has 18 tea plants growing at her apartment. A year ago, I probably had 50 or 60, she says. I lose a few more every few months. Growing Camellia sinensis, or tea, plants is purely a hobby for the Blacksburg, Va., resident, so shes not upset when they occasionally succumb to pests or disease. But she is quite serious about tea. Starting as a tea blogger, about five years ago she became the owner of the Devotea USA, an online tea blending company. She refers to it as mostly a very expensive hobby, but one that has allowed me another perspective that I did not have as a blogger. Earl Grey drinkers, beware: Tea enthusiasts are deeply committed to their preferred drink and some have little patience for anyone who doesnt understand the finer points of pu-erh (a fermented, aged green tea), Darjeeling (the Champagne of teas from West Bengal, India) and matcha (a finely ground, shade-grown green tea). [Your tea types cheat sheet] Lesson No. 1: All tea is descended from the same ancient Chinese plant, Camellia sinensis. (This does not include herbal teas, which are not teas at all but tisanes.) Lesson No. 2: Dont ever forget Lesson No. 1. Blogger Nicole Schwartz has 18 tea plants including a camellia sinesis, which originated in India growing at her apartment. (Nicole Schwartz) A year ago, I probably had 50 or 60, Schwartz says. I lose a few more every few months. A Nepalese camellia sinesis grown seeds in Blacksburg, Va., is pictured here. (Nicole Schwartz) Tea lore At a recent master class in vintage and rare teas at the Tea Cellar at the Park Hyatt hotel in Washington, there was an audible groan from a few of the 20 highly knowledgeable attendees upon hearing a retelling of the legend of Monkey-Picked Golden Oolong tea, fabled to be gathered by acrobatic trained monkeys who clamber up wild tea trees to secure the tender leaves. But for the Park Hyatts tea specialist Christian Eck, such stories are part of the magic of tea. Im a history guy, Eck says. Every tea has a backstory. You can spend your entire life reading tea lore and still understand nothing. [The no-frills, very British way to host an afternoon tea] Although tea is enjoyed by billions of people worldwide each day, its nuances are perhaps only starting to be recognized in the United States, where more people are drinking green tea for its antioxidants, and 85 percent of all tea consumed is iced which is considered an abomination in many countries. Our slow journey toward tea appreciation is perhaps not a surprise; this is, after all, the country that traces its revolutionary history back to colonists rejection of a British tax on tea in 1773, rendering tea-drinking unpatriotic and leading to a rise in coffee consumption. This was once a tea-drinking nation, third-generation professional tea taster Bill Hall says. Now Im seeing much more interest in high-end and unusual teas. People want to know where their tea comes from. Hall holds a particular distinction in Americas tea industry as the founder of what is the largest commercial tea plantation in the United States, the Charleston Tea Plantation on Wadmalaw Island in South Carolina. After rigorous training in London as a tea taster which involved sampling some 800 cups of tea per day, five days a week, for four years Hall worked in the tea industry before becoming intrigued by the idea of growing tea. He began farming tea just outside Charleston in the 1980s, eventually partnering with David and Eunice Bigelow, of the family behind Bigelow Tea, in 2003 to expand to a 150-acre operation. Were a tiny fraction of the tea grown in world, Hall says. But in America, were huge. There are small-scale tea plantations scattered across the country, particularly in the coastal Southeast and Hawaii, which offer conducive growing conditions, including sandy soil, high humidity and lots of rain. Most other tea-centric businesses are focused on procuring ingredients for proprietary blends, such as those made by Schwartz of Devotea USA and by Beth Johnston, owner of Teas Etc., a wholesale tea manufacturer in Jacksonville, Fla. [How to assemble sandwiches for a proper afternoon tea] For Johnston, it was a cup of loose-leaf mango Ceylon tea that she had while on her honeymoon ski trip in 1998 that inspired her to start her own company four months later. I was hooked from that very first experience, she says. I drank tea that entire trip. With a lengthy list of offerings, including Canadian Maple Green Tea, Dulce Blanco White Tea and Fig Formosa Oolong, Johnston says, We start with raw ingredients and develop our blends and flavors from scratch. Our secret sauce is our approach. Indeed, tea flavors can be surprisingly wide-ranging when you consider that all tea is derived from one mother plant. Factors that set one tea apart from others can include terroir and growing conditions, or undeniably human elements: when its harvested; if the leaves are dried, steamed, smoked or roasted; and what other ingredients are added that affect the flavor profile. As an example, the Park Hyatts Eck points to a blood orange sencha, a Chinese green tea with dried blood orange peel added to the blend. Youll taste minerality and citrus notes, Eck says. The tea and the blood orange heighten each others flavors. To take it one step further, he makes a reduction of the same tea and pours it into a glass of sparkling wine. Its a little bit of an epiphany, that flavor combination. (Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post) Intentional happiness Troy Knapp, executive chef at the Park Hyatts Blue Duck Tavern also a tea specialist who explores tea and food pairings calls it intentional happiness. Happiness, tranquility and serenity are terms that frequently accompany conversations about tea, which is purported to have calming attributes and an equitable distribution of caffeine that releases slowly throughout the day, rather than the almost immediate caffeine jolt characteristic of coffee. As Knapp observes, Our lives are ruled by technology, but tea has a timeless quality. Tea experts agree that the best way to become educated is by sampling different varieties to assess what you like. Tea retailers generally provide samples and even classes, and online purveyors often sell small quantities. Johnston advises against shopping based on price alone. Not all teas are created equal. If something is priced too low or too high, I would pause and consider why. Within each category, youll find a dizzying array of options silky smooth matcha without a trace of bitterness, deceptively sweet white tea with the floral note of litchi blossom, and a perfectly balanced black tea called Royal Keemun, said to be a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. Some come hand-tied in silk sachets, opening up like a flower in water, while others are compressed into thick chocolate- colored bricks, stamped with intricate designs. Coffee starts to seem quite pedestrian, by comparison. Some teas can be extraordinarily expensive the Park Hyatt has one that will set you back $350 for a single pot but, unlike coffee, a quality loose-leaf tea can be brewed over and over again, and sometimes improves with subsequent brewings. Eck says he typically gets eight to 15 cups of tea from the same ounce of leaves, calling it the gift that keeps on giving. Some tea drinkers become quite competitive about how many brews they can get from their tea, claiming up to 30 cups. Once Eck thinks he has extracted as much flavor as he can, he puts the leaves in a Mason jar filled with cool water overnight to make a batch of cold brew. Schwartz, the tea blender, cautions against investing in too many gadgets. A simple strainer and normal pot to boil water will do just fine, she says. But tea aficionados will wax poetic over temperature-variable electric tea kettles, comparing notes about how to score the most coveted brands from Japan. Different types of tea require specific water temperatures, ranging from 175 degrees for white tea to 212 degrees for pu-erh. And steeping times to achieve optimal flavor vary. There are even special pots designed to keep the tea from scorching and turning bitter while steeping. Still, dont be afraid of getting it wrong. Just grab some leaves and start brewing. Tea can seem intimidating, Eck says, but every cup has elegance and a story behind it. Hartke is a District-based food writer and editor. She will join Wednesdays live chat at noon at live.washingtonpost.com. Angie Rehe for The Washington Post Whether its celebrities on the red carpet, TV anchors, a former first lady or the barista at your local Starbucks, eyes are rimmed with thick dark fringe. In this era, women of all ages have eyelashes so long and lush that a sideways glance is akin to a monologue on femininity, personal power and the irresistible pleasures of Sally Beauty Supply. What was once makeup reserved for a special occasion has become everyday glamour. False eyelashes are everywhere. Delicate butterfly wings. Furry caterpillars. Spidery appendages. Lashes that recall a long-ago era the 50s and 60s of effort and agreeable artificiality. Fussy, fake lashes are a counterbalance to todays who-gives-a-damn sweatpants and hoodies. And they are their own form of 21st-century feminism Chimamanda Adichie-style. If a girl likes makeup, let her wear it, the acclaimed novelist advised last year. Women have learned to be ashamed and apologetic about pursuits that are seen as traditionally female, such as fashion and makeup. Sorry? Not sorry. Kim Kardashians eyelashes, part of her trademark style, are among the most coveted and copied. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP) Big, spiky, dramatic ones helped turn Kim Kardashian into a reality-show mogul. Dense fluffy ones are fundamental to the retro glamour of Adele. The ABC drama The Catch would lose a smidge of its glittery, cat-and-mouse panache without the coquettish lashes of star Mireille Enos. And wispy strips are part of the makeup arsenal of any female news anchor worthy of a close-up. (Rachel Maddow once let a reporter tug on her lashes just to prove they were real.) Since 2012, false eyelash sales have grown by 75 percent. By at least one estimate, it is a $170 million market. And theres still room to grow. Adeles conspicuous fringe are key to her retro glamour. (Paul Buck/European Pressphoto Agency) MIreille Enoss lashes power the glittery panache of her show, The Catch. (Kelsey McNeal/ABC) Some wearers aim for subtlety. They dont want you to notice their lashes as much as theyd like you to simply admire how their eyes just seem so big and beautiful. Others revel in the sheer audacity of their falsies, layering two strips of lashes on a single lid. So what if one strip isnt quite tamped down? Yes, thats a cream-colored blob of errant glue. Theres glory in the fakery. According to Eyelash magazine yes, really, a trade journal the most in-demand lashes are those framing the eyes of Kardashian, her half-sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Angelina Jolie. Do false eyelashes run in the family? Kim Kardashians half-sister Kendall Jenner. (John Fredricks/AFP/Getty Images) Angelina Jolie: Not a Kardashian, but equally coveted lashes. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images) False eyelashes are ubiquitous in other countries as well, says Carl Ray, the well-traveled makeup artist to former first lady Michelle Obama. Obama may or may not be wearing false eyelashes; youre just going to have to zoom in close on all those fancy dinner and inauguration photographs and judge for yourself because Ray is definitely not going to discuss the state of her lashes. Some natural lashes look robust thanks to many, many coats of mascara. And some people use the lash-growing serum Latisse. In general, however, Ray does not recommend that clients wear false eyelashes to, say, a parent-teacher conference or the grocery store. I recommend them for pictures and special occasions. He adds: When you wear lashes, you dont have to wear much makeup. Youre always camera ready. Rays clients love them. Would you like lashes? I thought youd never ask. Only her makeup artist knows for sure. Michelle Obama at the 2016 National Christmas Tree lighting in December. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) False eyelashes change the shape of your face, says Kelli J. Bartlett, director of makeup artistry for Glamsquad, the in-home beauty SWAT team that recently opened in Washington. They elongate the shape of the eye. For those attempting the no-makeup makeup look, lashes become key. When you have a flirty lash and eyebrows, you feel on point. Bartlett confides that she has been called the lash whisperer. Tell us more, please. I can get them on in under 90 seconds. Search Amazons beauty category for false eyelashes and you are rewarded with more than 15,000 listings. There are cruelty-free lashes, reusable lashes, human hair lashes, synthetic mink ones and real mink ones. Students of popular culture might remember that Jennifer Lopez wore red fox eyelashes to the Oscars in 2001 along with a see-through Chanel dress. And Madonna wore mink and diamond lashes during a promotional tour in 2004. A watershed moment in lash history: Jennifer Lopezs red fox falsies at the 2001 Oscars. (Frederick M. Brown/AFP) Mink is considered the Rolls-Royce of lashes, Bartlett says. Theyre soft; theyre light. But, really, how heavy can even cheap lashes be? One could go to a boutique cosmetics company such as MAC and spend $17 on a single pair of lashes. Or, do what the vast majority of women and a lot of makeup artists do, and head to the nearest drugstore for a pair of Ardell lashes for as little as $3.99. Ardell is arguably the queen of lashes, in business for 45 years; its California-based parent company, American International Industries, specializes in false eyelashes as well as pretty much anything youd find in a nail salon. It distributes 60 different lash brands in all, but Ardell is its flagship line. In 2016, Ardell saw a 30 percent uptick in sales, says Marwan Zreik, vice president of marketing for AII. Zreik says the rise in sales is both because more people are adopting false eyelashes and because heavy users are wearing them more often. Some customers dont leave home without lashes on, he says. Those women are probably wearing lashes made from natural human hair and an enduring style called wispies, which have a crisscrossing pattern to mimic the random growth pattern of natural lashes. They are handmade. Theyre practically bespoke. What is driving all the lash love? Reality television. Celebrities. And social media, of course. Makeup tutorials on YouTube, including one by Adeles own makeup artist, have demystified the application process, which frankly hasnt changed since Hollywood started putting them on starlets lids during the early part of the last century. Glue and a deft touch. Think of the women in the 60s and 70s who put them on every morning, says Ray. Practice makes perfect. And people are practicing daily. According to Zreik, 99.9 percent of customers are women. Although in the age of James Charles CoverGirls first male model and eyelash fan a few fellas are buying and wearing them, too. Everyone wants to be camera ready all the time, Zreik says. Put a pair of lashes on a woman and its instant impact. White House press secretary Sean Spicer takes questions from reporters displayed on screens via Skype in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room during the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington on Feb. 1, 2017. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Dale Jackson describes himself as several things a radio personality, a TV talk-show host, an entertainer but reporter isnt on his list. In fact, it may be the last thing he wants to be known as. Jackson calls the journalists who cover the president a bunch of partisan Democrats. Yet there he was virtually among a roomful of reporters, piping in from Athens, Ala., to question White House press secretary Sean Spicer during Spicers daily briefing for the news media in February. Jackson took a quick jab at the assembled journalists (the elite media bubble, as he phrased it) before launching into a question about when President Trump planned to end two Obama-era immigration programs. The morning host at Athens radio station WVNN is among the unusual cast of characters who have joined the daily briefings. Using Skype, the video-call app, the White House has extended the daily question-and-answer sessions for the first time to people in far-flung locales. The innovation, Spicer said in an interview, has been very successful bringing in additional reporters beyond the Beltway. Except that many of the people who have occupied the Skype seat arent reporters at all. Like Jackson, many have been conservative talk-show hosts who are receptive to, or openly cheering for, Trumps agenda. Since Spicer initiated the calls, he has taken questions from the likes of nationally syndicated radio personalities Lars Larson and Michael Medved. Questions have also come from regional hosts such as Bryan Crabtree of Atlanta, Adriana Cohen of Boston, Joyce Kaufman of Miami and Steve Gruber of Lansing, Mich. (Reuters) The list further includes Jeff Jobe, a Kentucky newspaper publisher and former Republican candidate, and Jason Stevens, a visiting assistant history professor at Ashland University in Ohio. The newbies have made little attempt to conceal their points of view, their enthusiasm for Trump or simply their contempt for the news media. Jobe began his question at the inaugural Skype briefing in February with this preamble: Clearly, anyone paying attention will see that President Trump is aggressively acting on his campaign promises. This in itself gives hope to my state and particularly the region in which I grew up, Appalachia. Weve seen countless politicians make promises at both state and national levels, and not only forget us, but to turn on us. He then asked Spicer about Trumps plans to deregulate the coal-mining industry. Larson wanted to know when Trump planned to start returning the peoples land to the people. . . . Can he tell the Forest Service to start logging our forests aggressively again to provide jobs for Americans, wealth for the Treasury and not spend $3.5 billion a year fighting forest fires? Crabtree, who wrote a column in October asserting that America as we know it is done if Trump were not elected thanked Spicer for taking questions from a talk-radio host right here in Georgia and not in the D.C. swamp. Perhaps the most polemical question came from Stevens, the history professor: What are the presidents future plans for rolling back the expensive and burdensome regulations of the administrative state, most of which are the product of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats who never received the consent of the governed to do anything, let alone make law? he asked. Spicer introduced Stevens as a representative of the Federalist Paper, but that appears to be a sideline. Stevens has written for a conservative website based in Nevada called the Federalist Papers Project, though he seems not to have written much. The sites archive lists just two articles by Stevens, one of which was his account of asking a question at the briefing (Stevens didnt return calls and emails seeking comment). Several veteran White House journalists say privately that Spicer has used the Skype calls to bolster the number of Trump-friendly participants in the briefings a claim that Spicer flatly denies. He notes that some of the toughest questions he faces each day in the press room are from reporters representing conservative-leaning publications such as the Daily Caller, Breitbart News and Newsmax. Instead, including non-journalists reflects the notion that media and journalism has evolved and there are all sorts of components to it now, said Helen Aguirre Ferre, the White House director of media affairs who oversees the Skype program. Were trying to open it up a bit. This is an opportunity for a more diverse set of voices to participate. To be sure, Skype has enabled the White House to solicit questions from actual journalists who would otherwise be unable to attend a briefing in Washington. Among others, reporters from TV stations in Cleveland, Miami, Phoenix and Cincinnati have all used the technology to question the press secretary. Some of these reporters said that White House personnel recruited them as participants. John Huck, an anchor at KVVU-TV in Las Vegas, said officials contacted him via email in February and asked if hed be interested. All they said is that they thought I would be a good fit, Huck said. I have no idea how they even knew who I was, unless my credentials were on some White House file left over from the campaign or the previous administration. Huck asked Spicer about how Trump intended to address banking problems that have hurt the Las Vegas housing market. Reporter Kimberly Kalunian of WPRI-TV in Providence, R.I., said that a White House press official, Lindsay Walters, called her the day before she appeared to ask if she wanted to participate. She eagerly said yes. When I was asked to participate, I was told that my connection to Rhode Island, Mr. Spicers home state, was part of why I was selected, Kalunian said. Huck, Kalunian and another Skype participant, Neil Vigdor of Hearst Connecticut Media, said White House officials didnt ask what they intended to ask Spicer. Under no circumstances would we have agreed to that type of arrangement, Vigdor said. Spicer denied that the White House has solicited participation in the Skype calls we dont recruit people, he said but that assertion was contradicted by Ferre. The only way early on to get the message out was by talking to local reporters, she said in an interview. We asked them, Would you be interested in participating? We did it with the intention of letting people know its an opportunity. Most likely, you are one of the millions who have watched the video: A United Airlines passenger is sitting in his seat on a flight from Chicago OHare to Louisville when along come three Chicago airport police. One of the officers drags the man down the aisle as if he were a slab of beef. An uproar ensues over his forced removal and continues days after the Sunday event. Uniteds stock drops by 4 percent. On Twitter, travelers threaten to boycott the carrier. A lawsuit is a near-certainty. This is a black eye on the industry, said George Hobica, president of Airfarewatchdog.com. To a point, United was within its rights to bounce the man from the flight, thereby freeing up his seat for another passenger (in this case an employee). Read Rule 25 in the airlines contract of carriage. According to the document, if an airline overbooks, it must ask for volunteers to relinquish their seats. The agents usually sweeten the deal with a voucher, plus, depending on the wait until the next flight, a hotel room, transportation and meal voucher. However, if no one raises their hand, the airline must deny a passenger boarding. In this scenario, the passenger is entitled to a maximum of $1,350. [United CEO, facing boycott calls, defends booting passenger so crew could take his seat] United couldve made this go away by offering more money, Hobica said. Airlines can remove a passenger from the plane if the traveler exhibits aggressive or harmful behavior. But the contract does not mention roughing up a passenger because he declines to give up his seat. Its denied boarding, Hobica said of the rule. Its not ejecting you from your seat. Several authorities are investigating the debacle, including the Transportation Department and the Chicago Department of Aviation. Travelers can also learn from this unfortunate occurrence. First, airlines bump people. All carriers, with the exception of JetBlue, oversell flights. From October to December 2016, the DOT documented nearly 9,000 denied boardings, including 891 by United. Maybe its time to rewrite the contract of carriage, Hobica said. He also urges the industry to resuscitate Rule 240, which requires airlines to provide a displaced traveler with a seat on a different carrier. When an airline needs a seat for another passenger or an employee, it prioritizes its customers. At the top of the dont-bump list are passengers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 as well as members of the military. Also in the protective bubble, according to Hobica: passengers who fly first- or business-class, pay a higher fare and demonstrate their loyalty to the airline as a member of a frequent-flier program. He adds that pleading your case that you have to attend a funeral or relieve your dogsitter is useless. [Six tips to avoid getting kicked off a plane ] Passengers should prepare for the reality of an overbooked plane. Take a morning flight, so you have more options if you are left behind at the gate. (The Louisville flight was the last one of the day.) If you agree to relinquish your seat, accept only cash, not vouchers, which expire after a year. (If the airline rebooks you within an hour of your original flight, compensation is not required, though Hobica received $300 for losing his seat to an air marshal on a flight from New York to Los Angeles.) If the airline randomly ousts you, dont argue. Ask for your cash and try to enjoy an extra night of vacation. More from Travel: Air rage incidents are on the rise. First-class sections arent helping. Youre going where? Scottsdale. Im treating myself to these three standouts at the International Travel Goods Show in Las Vegas Nicole Eramo, left, and attorney Libby Locke speak with reporters outside the federal courthouse in Charlottesville in November 2016. (Ryan M. Kelly/AP) Rolling Stone has reached a confidential settlement with Nicole Eramo, a former University of Virginia associate dean who had sued the magazine alleging that it defamed her in a 2014 story about an alleged gang rape on campus, according to lawyers for both parties. The settlement brings an end to a lawsuit that had roiled the U-Va. community with a case study in the practice and ethics of journalism. We are delighted that this dispute is now behind us, as it allows Nicole to move on and focus on doing what she does best, which is supporting victims of sexual assault, said Libby Locke, a lawyer for Eramo, in a statement Tuesday. Rolling Stone called the settlement an amicable resolution. The magazines November 2014 story, A Rape on Campus, recounted the shocking story of a young womans gang rape at a U-Va. fraternity house a story that was discredited after serious flaws were revealed. (Zoeann Murphy/The Washington Post) An investigation by The Washington Post showed that aspects of the account were not true. For example, no one in Phi Kappa Psi, the fraternity in question, matched the name or description that the young woman known as Jackie gave for the person who allegedly was the ringleader in her 2012 assault. A person whom Jackie had described to friends at the time as her assailant was complete fiction, according to Eramos attorneys, and The Post found that a photo she shared of her alleged attacker was actually of someone she knew from high school, who attended a different university out of state. The magazine soon acknowledged that it had lost faith in its main source for the story and after a police investigation and a report by the Columbia University School of Journalism found that aspects of the account were false ultimately retracted the article. [Jury awards U-Va. dean $3 million in Rolling Stone defamation case] In a trial that began in October 2016, Eramos lawyers argued that the articles author, Sabrina Rubin Erdely, had arrived on campus determined to write a story about a universitys callousness to the problem of sexual assault. She did not let facts get in the way of the story, they argued, and she wrongly turned Eramo into the face of institutional indifference. Eramo testified that she faced threats, lost professional credibility and lost her ability to work as an advocate for sexual-assault prevention. Tom Clare, one of the attorneys representing Eramo, said during his closing statement that his client had become collateral damage in a quest for sensational journalism. Jackies tale had all the elements of a perfect story, Clare said. And when something appears too perfect, it usually is. Scott Sexton, an attorney for Rolling Stone, told the jurors in his closing statement that the magazine acknowledges huge errors in not being more dogged. . . . Its the worst thing to ever happen to Rolling Stone. The article cost Erdely her job at the magazine and her reputation as a journalist, Sexton said. In court documents, Erdely said she was shattered to discover that she had repeated falsehoods in her story. [Rolling Stones Erdely on experience with Jackie] This experience has been devastating to me, both professionally and personally. Never in my 20-plus years as a reporter have I had a story or a source fall apart on me after publication. After feeling so sure about the Article, and believing so strongly that it would help spur change on college campuses, losing faith in the credibility of one of my major sources post-publication took me entirely by surprise. I was stunned and shaken by the experience, and remain so to this day. In November, a federal jury sided with Eramo, awarding her $3 million in damages $1 million from Rolling Stone and $2 million from Erdely. Rolling Stone filed a motion to vacate that judgment, the first step toward an appeal, but then agreed to settle the case before a judge could rule. Maryland Del. Cheryl B. Glenn, who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, faced a last-minute defeat on the final day of the legislative session when a bill to diversify the medical marijuana industry failed. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) The leader of Marylands powerful Legislative Black Caucus knew she was facing defeat. Del. Cheryl D. Glenn (D-Baltimore) made diversifying the states new medical marijuana industry a top priority for the largest caucus in the General Assembly, and the issue is personal. Marylands marijuana-regulating commission is named after her mother, Natalie M. LaPrade, who died before she could use the drug to alleviate her cancer symptoms. As a black woman, Glenn was tired of seeing her neighbors disproportionately locked up under drug laws but shut out of the profits of drug legalization. In the waning moments of the 2017 legislative session Monday, Glenn secured the votes for a bill giving minorities a shot at five new licenses to grow marijuana under the states lucrative medical cannabis program. But she ran out of time. With 22 minutes until the midnight deadline to send bills to Gov. Larry Hogan (R), Glenn marched over to the dais as presiding officers allowed time to praise legislative staff instead of considering legislation. She stood watch, pleading for her bill to have a hearing. [Trump taxes, legalized pot, fracking: What lawmakers passed and didnt] With barely 10 minutes left, members of a health committee rushed into the hallway to vote on approving amendments to end a standoff with the Senate over giving licenses to a pair of prospective marijuana growers suing state regulators. At 11:55 p.m., the bill came up before the full House. One by one, Republican lawmakers delayed the vote by explaining their opposition and asking questions until the clock hit midnight. Confetti and balloons fell from the balcony to celebrate the end of the 90-day session. Glenn did not smile and rushed out of the State House. Asked about the failure of the medical marijuana legislation, House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) quipped, I need some. After months of fighting over who can share in the profits of marijuana legalization, Maryland lawmakers ended up back where they started. In a state that is nearly a third black, none of the companies approved to start growing Marylands first legal marijuana as early as this summer are owned by African Americans. And the state is still embroiled in a legal battle with two applicants who were rejected to make room for growers from underrepresented parts of the state; they planned to drop the lawsuit if the bill passed. On Tuesday, Glenn said she would call on legislative leaders to hold a one-day special session to pass the medical marijuana bill. And she took a shot at Busch for not bringing the legislation up for a vote earlier. Its not important to me what the speakers reasons or justifications were, Glenn said. What is important is to understand where this leaves the black community: It leaves us outside of the medical cannabis industry, and that is absolutely unacceptable. Alexandra Hughes, Buschs chief of staff, said the speaker was devoted to reaching compromise on the medical marijuana bill and was not trying to undermine it. [Final days of Md. legislative session include battle over pot licenses] A group representing the 15 cultivation companies approved last summer by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission celebrated the legislations defeat. They had lobbied against expanding the pool of growers, arguing that their business plans and pitches to investors were based on having an early and exclusive foothold in the industry. Our members never lost focus on the primary goal: getting medical cannabis to Maryland patients, hundreds of whom stepped up in Annapolis to make their voices heard, said Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for the Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association. We can now continue to move forward, confident in our ability to deliver as planned by the end of this summer. Other winners in the bills defeat included the three marijuana companies that were next in line to get grower licenses if any of the top 15 failed their final inspections or background checks. They argued that the best way to diversify the industry was to leave the process alone, because two of those companies are minority-owned and the third is led by women. The bill was derailed by the inclusion of licenses for the companies suing the state because they were originally ranked in the top 15 growers but were rejected in the name of geographic diversity. Republicans and some Democratic lawmakers balked at the idea of the General Assembly resolving a legal dispute through legislation, even though the provisions ultimately had enough support to pass. Our job here isnt to pick winners and losers, Sen. James Brochin (D-Baltimore County) said Monday. Members of the 16-member Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission also were fighting for their jobs because the legislation that failed Monday would have dissolved the body. That, they say, would have deprived the state of its most knowledgeable marijuana regulators just when the program was about to go live. Any change to the structure of the commission would result in a delay in the implementation of the program, said Paul W. Davies, the commissions chair. Critics of the legislation said it might have ended one lawsuit but would have prompted a new round of legal action from companies that stood to lose profits and market share. Theres a lot of money involved here, said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert). Big, big, big money here. When the police tried to stop the truck carrying cows, which was coming from Bandikui, the men inside the truck fired several rounds at them. By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: A group of alleged cow smugglers opened fire at police in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district after they were intercepted with a truck carrying cows. The incident took place in Kaithwara area in Bharatpur, at the time the smugglers were on their way to Haryana. The police, acting on the information, barricaded the area. But when they tried to stop the truck carrying cows which was coming from Bandikui, the men inside the truck fired several rounds at them. The police too fired in retaliation and nabbed one of the accused while remaining two managed to flee from the spot. Irshad, the accused who has been nabbed, belongs to Mewat area in Haryana. advertisement "We had received information that a truck carrying cows was on its way. We barricaded the area. We threw nails in front of the truck," mentioned Ram Naresh, Station incharge, Kaithwara police station. Bharatpur police has arrested 25 alleged cow smugglers and registered 24 cases of cow smuggling in the last three months itself. Incidentally, after the Uttar Pradesh government banned the illegal slaughter houses in the state, most of the cow smuggling in the region has been directed towards Haryana. ALSO READ| Alwar cow vigilante killing: Cattle carriers had Jaipur municipal receipts, cops booked them for smuggling ALSO READ| Haryana: Cow smugglers enter NSG camp, open fire at security personnel in Manesar ALSO WATCH| Rajasthan: Gau rakshaks beat 50-year-old man to death for smuggling cow --- ENDS --- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, second from right, walks down a staircase in the Maryland State House to speak at a news conference following the Maryland legislative session in Annapolis, Md., early Tuesday, April 11, 2017. (Patrick Semansky/AP) Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who has clashed with Democratic legislative leaders and struggled to get bills passed over the past two years, just finished his most successful legislative session since taking office in 2015. Hogan, a Republican who enjoys wide popularity in the deep-blue state, got his major win in his final legislative session before he gears up for reelection next year. In the final hours of the 2017 legislative session, which ended Monday night, the General Assembly passed a jobs bill, offered by the governor, that provides tax breaks to manufacturing companies that locate in Baltimore and other economically depressed areas. The passage of that manufacturing bill allows him to really continue on the economic- and job growth-centered message that put him in office, Mileah Kromer, a political scientist at Goucher College, said of the governor. The General Assembly also passed an ethics bill, proposed by Hogan, that strengthens the states laws, and it rolled back new transportation-funding rules that Hogan said would force his administration to cancel plans for much-needed road and bridge projects. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, center, sits between Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, left, and House Speaker Michael Busch while signing a series of bills during a ceremony following the states legislative session in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday, April 11, 2017. (Patrick Semansky/AP) House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) said the passage of the ethics bill and other bipartisan legislation were symbolic of the working relationship between Democratic and Republican leaders this year. I think it was a session we can all be proud of, he said. But Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery), who is considering a run for governor in 2018, offered a less-sanguine take on Democratic relations with the governor, saying the Hogan administration engaged with the legislature this year only on a handful of issues that are important to Hogan. They were very engaged on the manufacturing bill, he said. Theyre very engaged on the issues that he cares about. But he avoids getting his hands dirty on any issue that isnt adequately poll-tested in advance. Along with several Democratic proposals, the legislature approved Hogans plan to stem the rising number of heroin overdoses. It also changed the definition of sex abuse in state law to include sexual trafficking of a child, part of an effort by the governor to address an increase in human trafficking. It is, by far, the best session weve ever had, Hogan said Monday night, hours before the legislature adjourned. We got more accomplished in the last 90 days than we did in the last two [sessions] added together. Im not sure it could have been more successful. Hogan also failed on a number of bills he had prioritized. All these measures died in this session: an effort to establish a nonpartisan commission to draw the states voting boundaries, a measure to increase penalties for repeat drunk drivers and a bill that would have required employers with 50 or more workers to provide paid sick leave. Instead, the Democrats approved their own paid sick-leave bill, which calls for companies with 15 or more workers to provide the benefit. During a bill signing Tuesday, Hogan repeatedly praised the hard work of these two gentlemen, referring to Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert). For their part, Maryland Democrats focused much of their attention this session on another Republican: President Trump. Several bills were aimed at defending Maryland against Trump policies on health care, immigration, consumer protections, education and the environment. Democrats have repeatedly tried to tie Hogan to the less-popular Trump, often calling on him to publicly address Trumps push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, cut funding for the Chesapeake Bay and ban Muslims from eight countries from entering the United States. Hogan has largely remained silent, trying to distance himself from Trump and saying he is focused on state affairs. Hogan refused to sign several anti-Trump bills the General Assembly sent to his desk two weeks ago, instead allowing the measures to become law without his signature. Those measures include a bill that provides funds for the state attorney general to sue the Trump administration; a measure that requires the state to reimburse Planned Parenthood clinics if Congress cuts their funding, and bills to create commissions to study the impact of federal policies on health care and consumer protections. Hogan took one of his most vocal positions on the Trust Act, a bill that would have prohibited state and local police from helping enforce federal immigration efforts by asking people about their immigration status. It would have banned most Maryland jurisdictions from detaining undocumented people past their release date unless federal agents who want to deport them have a warrant or court order describing probable cause. The measure passed the House but died in the Senate after Miller warned that Maryland is not going to become a sanctuary state. Observers said Hogan can claim the death of the bill a victory. Hes managed to go through this entire session and still not be painted by the Trump brush, said Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Marys College. Still, Eberly said he thinks most Democrats were resigned during last session to think that Hogan would be reelected. After Trumps election, he said, Im not so sure they think that now. A recent poll by The Washington Post and the University of Maryland found that Hogans support for reelection lags far behind his 65 percent approval rating. About 41 percent of registered voters said they would support the governor for a second term; 37 percent said theyd prefer a Democrat. The poll also found that Hogan could be vulnerable to an anti-Republican backlash. Former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the states last Republican governor, lost to former governor Martin OMalley (D) in 2006 despite his high poll ratings, in part because of an anti-Republican backlash. Eberly said Democrats accomplished the goal to take on Trump but appeared to fall short linking Hogan to Trump. Its [Hogans] third session, and they are still trying to figure out how to take him on politically, Eberly said. Josh Hicks contributed to this report. Members of the Maryland House of Delegates meet in the House chamber on the final day of the Maryland legislative session in Annapolis on Monday. (Patrick Semansky/AP) Maryland lawmakers ended their 90-day legislative session Monday with deals and legislation to prevent price gouging by drugmakers and to combat the states growing opioid epidemic. But other progressive policy ideas faltered in the waning hours, including legislation to diversify the states medical marijuana industry and to limit the states cooperation with federal immigration authorities. [Final dispatch from Maryland 2017 General Assembly session] It capped off a session where lawmakers sent hundreds of bills to Gov. Larry Hogan (R) by the midnight deadline. This is a rundown of some of the other items that passed or failed in the 2017 legislative session: Anti-Trump bills The overwhelmingly Democratic legislature made defying President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress a defining feature of the legislative session. Maryland became the first state to agree to reimburse Planned Parenthood clinics if they lose federal funding. Another bill allowed Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) to sue the federal government without first securing permission from the governor. But lawmakers never voted on bills to require presidential candidates to release tax returns to appear on the Maryland ballot, a measure meant to rebuke Trump for refusing to abide by a decades-long tradition of financial transparency. And on Monday, a House committee killed an Internet privacy bill meant to protect consumers from legislation signed by Trump allowing Internet service providers to sell users browsing data. Hogan priorities Several of Hogans legislative priorities went nowhere in the General Assembly, including to provide tax credits for student loans, to offer 401(k) retirement plans to state employees and to create an independent commission to draw legislative district maps. But he found successes with bills to combat human trafficking, a partial rollback of a new system for scoring transportation projects and to give tax breaks to retired law enforcement and manufacturers in Baltimore City and other economically depressed areas. Lawmakers rejected Hogans proposal for a more modest paid sick leave mandate, passing a more expansive version with enough support to override a veto. They also found surprising agreement with the governor in banning the gas extraction method known as fracking. Sexual assault Prosecutors in rape cases will no longer need to prove a victim of sexual assault tried to resist to secure convictions if a bill sent to the governor becomes law. And Hogan signed legislation giving people sexually abused as children until the age of 38, instead of 25, to sue their abusers, capping off three years of effort by a lawmaker who said he was repeatedly raped by his adoptive father. But a bill requiring Maryland schools to teach a yes means yes standard of consent during sex education failed, with amendments gutting the bill added in the last hour and not enough time to combat it. Guns A late-filed bill to abolish a board of gubernatorial appointees that hears appeals of people denied licenses to carry concealed firearms never got a hearing. Legislation to ban guns on college campuses failed after Senate and House negotiators could not reach an agreement. Ethics The legislative session began and ended with corruption charges against lawmakers, with a rare public reprimand of a lawmaker for unethical behavior sandwiched in between. With that backdrop, lawmakers negotiated an ethics overhaul with Hogan that tightens conflict-of-interest rules and expands financial disclosures. And they also passed legislation subjecting Prince Georges liquor inspectors, commissioners and board staff to more stringent public ethics laws after a federal corruption investigation into the agency resulted in charges against multiple public officials. Vice bills The legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes was sidelined in favor of an attempt to overhaul the states beleaguered medical marijuana program. But the issue is likely to return next year, when lawmakers have the option to refer the matter to voters in the November 2018 ballot. While Marylanders may not be able to (legally) toke up, they may be able to enjoy a cold one at big breweries that can sell much more beer at taprooms under legislation that went to the governors desk. Education: A bill headed to the governor limits students to spending 2.2 percent of the school year taking standardized tests. Separate legislation prohibits school districts from suspending and expelling 4-year-olds, while limiting discipline for other young students. Lawmakers also passed legislation prohibiting universities and colleges from asking applicants about their criminal histories. Maryland students cant get out of cutting up fetal pigs and frogs after a bill to allow students to opt out of dissections failed. Ovetta Wiggins and Josh Hicks contributed to this report. When it comes to the gender pay gap, researchers say a root cause is simple: Women dont ask. They are less likely to make a counter offer when they are hired and less likely to ask for raises over time. Thats why on a recent weekday more than 50 women came to an after-hours session at an office building near the Navy Yard to learn how to do it. The workshop, led by the American Association of University Women, is designed to replace the anxiety that accompanies conversations about pay with proven strategies for negotiating effectively. The District, through a partnership with the association, plans to train 15,000 women in five years through the free workshops. We have a smaller gap than most places in the country, but we still have a lot of work to do, said Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), who stopped by and encouraged the women to spread what they learned to their female friends and co-workers. Giving women more opportunities and earning power at work is good for the District, because it can make it a more attractive place to live long term, she said. Participants role-play during a salary negotiating workshop. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) Many like you come to D.C. for opportunities, Bowser said. Its our challenge to keep you here. The D.C. workshop was one of about two dozen that took place across the country on Equal Pay Day, which marks the day on which women on average match the salary men earned the previous year. The Work Smart seminars are part of an ongoing national effort to close the pay gap. A growing number of cities are also passing laws that encourage salary parity. The D.C. Council is considering a bill that would ban employers from requiring job candidates to provide salary information as a basis for future pay, inspired by a similar law passed in Massachusetts last summer. Instead, employers would be required to publish salary ranges based on the skills and qualifications associated with the role. Women working full time receive 80 percent of what men earn, according to national census data from 2015. In the District, the figure is 86 percent, or $62,191 annually, compared with $72,230 for men. [Its 2016, and women still make less for doing the same work as men] The workshops along with sister workshops offered on college campuses called Start Smart were originally launched by the nonprofit WAGE project. Then the curriculum was purchased by the AAUW and has begun to expand through partnerships with cities across the country. Boston was the first to sign on. Mayor Martin J. Walsh (D) committed to funding training for 85,000 women half of the citys female workforce over five years. Since then, seven more cities, including the District, have followed suit. City leaders, angling to compete in a global economy, are looking at equal pay as an important component of hiring and retaining the best talent, said Victoria A. Budson, executive director of the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard University. This kind of training is a part of the solution, she said. The two-hour workshop session begins with a detailed picture of the wage gap. A disparity is evident the first year after college and grows over the course of a career, with far-reaching implications: Women take longer to pay off student loans; they retire with less money in the bank; and they are more likely to live below the poverty line. The gap is larger for African American women, who earn 63 percent of what white men are paid, and Hispanic women, who earn 54 percent. Career choice affects pay, with many women pursuing less lucrative professions, as do decisions to leave the workforce to care for children. But a recent study of the workforce found, after controlling for these and other variables, that there is still an unexplained gap of 8 percent or more that researchers attribute to discrimination or gender bias. The workshop guides the women through a range of activities, including writing a value statement or elevator pitch about their skills, and offers advice for finding the market value of their target job, by checking websites such as Salary.com and Glassdoor.com. The facilitators advised the group to decide the lowest salary they are willing to accept, based on their budget, and to ask for a range that goes up from there. And they highlighted potential pitfalls: When a potential employer asks for past salary information or a target salary, deflect as long as possible, they said. Do a tap-dancing act like you have never tap danced before, said Claudia Richards, branch relations senior manager at the association who co-led the workshop. [More state, city lawmakers say salary history requirements should be banned] Women often carry depressed salaries into their next jobs, and they tend to lowball when asked to name their number first, she said. The facilitators at the D.C. workshop offered suggestions for things that are negotiable that can sweeten a contract, such as a transportation allowance, professional development, or the week off between Christmas and New Years. And they provided sample language to use throughout the negotiation. The words and tone are important. Research shows that it can backfire when women ask for more money if they are seen as overly direct and assertive. It helps if they use positive language and point to objective sources of salary information, Budson said. The attendees role-played and left with homework to practice in front of the mirror or with a live person staring back at them. Rashida Moore, 36, said the workshop felt empowering. She is finishing a graduate program in arts leadership this spring and has a practicum at the National Museum of African American History. She started looking for jobs a month ago. With a new degree, she is looking to make a major jump in her career, in responsibility and pay. I fear how it is going to be received, she said, particularly since human resources departments keep requesting her salary history. The negotiation should be a dialogue. It hasnt felt like a dialogue, she said. This helps me rethink some assumptions so Im not already defeated before it starts. A print shows Benjamin Franklin, circa 1780, in a head-and-shoulders portrait, wearing a fur cap. Franklin had gray squirrels sent to England in the 1770s, when he lived in London. (Library of Congress) More than a century before Beatrix Potters Squirrel Nutkin became the most celebrated fictional squirrel in England, there was another famous squirrel in Britain. Unlike Nutkin, he was not a red squirrel the tiny, tufted-ear rodent native to the British Isles but an Eastern gray, an immigrant from the Americas. And this squirrel was not a literary creation. He was real. His name was Mungo, and his brief life and violent death inspired no less a figure than Benjamin Franklin to eulogize him. Ive become a little infatuated with Mungo. He has become a tiny preoccupation within my larger squirrel obsession. Gray squirrels are common in Britain today introduced in the 1870s and now seen by many as an invasive scourge deserving of extirpation but in the 1770s they were rare. Benjamin Franklin was himself rather rare. The Pennsylvanian had risen from apprentice printer to become a noted scientist, inventor, aphorist and bon vivant. He was also a diplomat, which is how he came to spend years living abroad as a representative of Pennsylvania. He was the most famous American in England, said George Goodwin, historian and author of Benjamin Franklin in London: The British Life of Americas Founding Father. Franklin rented rooms in a house on Craven Street in central London. (Its still there, and you can tour it.) Whenever he could, Franklin escaped the smoke of the capital to relax at the country estate of Jonathan Shipley, a bishop who lived with his wife, son and five daughters in Twyford, a Hampshire village not far from Winchester. Franklin became so enamored of the family and especially of the second-youngest daughter, Georgiana that he asked his wife back in America, Deborah, to procure some gray squirrels that he could give as gifts. You can imagine what Deborah must have thought of this. Her celebrated husband was living it up in England while she struggled to run their household. And now he wanted her to source some squirrels and send them 3,000 miles? In late 1771 or early 1772, Deborah managed to get some and ship them to England. As Joyce Chaplin wrote in The First Scientific American: Benjamin Franklin and the Pursuit of Genius: The hapless squirrels showed Franklins authority over and trust in his network of ships captains, who, agreeing to transport the animals, accepted the delicate task of keeping them fed, watered, and out of the hands of ravenous, rodent-roasting midshipmen. In January 1772, Franklin wrote to Deborah: The Squirrels came safe and well. . . . A 1000 Thanks are sent you for them, and I thank you for the Readiness with which you executed the Commission. Franklin refers to squirrels plural but it seems what eventually ended up with the Shipleys was a single animal named Mungo, also referred to as Skugg, a nickname Franklin said the English used for all squirrels. The teenage Georgiana adored Mungo. She said he was better than the native squirrels, being more Gentle and Goodhumored. In September of 1772, Mungo escaped from his cage and, in the countryside near Twyford, was confronted by a man and his dog, Ranger. As dogs will do, Ranger chased Mungo, who ran up the mans arm and perched on his shoulder. The man shook him off, and Mungo perished in Rangers jaws. When Franklin heard the sad news, he wrote Georgiana. I lament with you most sincerely the unfortunate End of poor Mungo, he began. Few Squirrels were better accomplishd; for he had had a good Education, had travelld far, and seen much of the World. Mungo was, Franklin wrote, a special squirrel, deserving of a special elegy. And that is what the soon-to-be Founding Father composed and sent to Georgiana, a lament that was monumental in Stile and Measure: Alas! poor Mungo! Happy wert thou, hadst thou known Thy own Felicity! Remote from the fierce Bald-Eagle, Tyrant of thy native Woods, Thou hadst nought to fear from his piercing Talons; Nor from the murdering Gun Of the thoughtless Sportsman. Safe in thy wired Castle, Grimalkin never could annoy thee. Daily wert thou fed with the choicest Viands By the fair Hand Of an indulgent Mistress. But, discontented, thou wouldst have more Freedom. Too soon, alas! didst thou obtain it, And, wandering, Fell by the merciless Fangs, Of wanton, cruel Ranger. Learn hence, ye who blindly wish more Liberty, Whether Subjects, Sons, Squirrels or Daughters, That apparent Restraint may be real Protection, Yielding Peace, Plenty, and Security. In 22 unrhymed lines, Franklin managed to echo Shakespeare, conjure the wilds of America, and turn a dead squirrel into a metaphor for the situation between England and her colony while revealing his (at the time) reluctance to embrace revolution: Learn hence, ye who blindly wish more Liberty. Franklin concluded his note to Georgiana by proclaiming his epitaph superior to something simpler, such as: Here Skugg Lies snug As a Bug In a Rug. Franklin also offered to procure another squirrel. In the meantime, Mungo was put to rest. Tomorrow: Squirrel Week continues as I go in search of Mungo. Twitter: @johnkelly For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly. Democrat Daniel Helmer, shown in the back yard of his Fairfax County home, announced his congressional campaign on April 11. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post) Democrat Daniel Helmer, an Army veteran and Rhodes Scholar emboldened by the election of President Trump, on Tuesday announced his campaign to challenge Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.). Helmer said he has raised $120,000 an amount he hopes will set him apart from a crowded field of candidates that is shaping up ahead of the 2018 midterm elections. This election evidences a loss of trust between our people and our government and a desire for new leadership and fresh perspectives, he said Monday afternoon as his familys cocker spaniel and English bull terrier padded around the patio of his Fairfax County home. Its important for America that we fix this. As the closest thing to a swing district in the Washington metro area, the Northern Virginia district is experiencing a surge in liberal activism. Political newcomers are registering in large numbers to challenge GOP lawmakers in state House districts that went to Hillary Clinton in the presidential race. Helmers announcement came on the same day that three other military veterans kicked off campaigns to try to unseat Republican incumbents in California, Colorado and Pennsylvania. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) celebrates her election victory in 2016. (J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post) On Monday, a political action committee called Take Back the Tenth erected a billboard near Winchester urging Comstock to hold a town hall. Members of the Indivisible VA District 10 Facebook group are planning daily demonstrations outside Comstocks Sterling district office this week while Congress is in recess. Each day they will focus on a different issue, such as climate change, immigration, health care and Russian interference in the 2016 election. Comstock is part of a House delegation spending the week in the Middle East and was celebrating Palm Sunday Mass with U.S. troops on the Sinai Peninsula at the time of the deadly bombings in Egypt, said her spokesman, Jeff Marschner. (The U.S. military organized the trip at taxpayers expense.) Comstock won a second term by six percentage points in November, despite independent analysts predictions that the race would be a squeaker. Nationally, Democrats and Republicans poured resources into the district, and outside groups spent about $15 million there. Democrats think they have a chance to unseat Comstock because Clinton won the district by double digits and, they say, Trump is unpopular with the affluent, diverse and highly educated population of Loudoun County, the heart of the district. Comstock, however, remains popular. She raised more than $500,000 in the first quarter of the year, according to her campaign. Complete reports are due Saturday. Helmer, 35, kicked off his campaign with a day-long tour of businesses throughout the district. He also planned to donate blood and knock on some doors. The sprawling district includes moderate suburbs outside the District and conservative strongholds near the West Virginia border. He lives in the Springfield section of Fairfax County. Echoing results across the congressional district, Clinton carried his voting precinct by six percentage points last year, but Comstock won it by 11 points. [ Trump budget would eliminate funding for Chesapeake Bay cleanup ] Like Comstock, Helmer denounced Trumps freeze on federal hires and the sweeping cuts in his budget proposal. This district is made up of many dedicated public servants who are seeing the potential to have their jobs undermined by whats coming, he said. A New Jersey native, Helmer moved to the district with his wife and two sons in December 2013, about the time the Army major was released from active duty. He serves in the reserves and works as a strategic adviser at the Boston Consulting Group, he said. The grandson of Holocaust survivors, Helmer graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and was deployed to Iraq in 2004. As the only Arabic speaker in his battalion, he served as an assistant intelligence officer before studying international relations at Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship. In 2007, while stationed in Afghanistan, the commanding general summoned him to Kabul to give a presentation on counterinsurgency training, he said. His advice to bring Afghan and coalition leaders together to work on problems was implemented within six weeks, he said. Helmer, who has hired media and polling consultants and has one staffer on the payroll so far, is the second Democratic candidate to announce their intentions. The other is Kimberly Adams, the immediate past president of the Fairfax County Education Association and current president of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs. As of Monday afternoon, she had raised $4,670 through Crowdpac, an online fundraising tool. State Sen. Jennifer T. Wexton, a lawyer from Loudoun County, and Lindsey Davis Stover, a communications strategist from McLean who served in the Obama administration, have met with Democratic groups and are considering running. Also thinking about jumping into the Democratic race are Dorothy McAuliffe, the wife of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe; Fairfax County Supervisor Kathy L. Smith; Fairfax County School Board member Ryan McElveen; and Jimmy Bierman, a lawyer from McLean. More than a year ahead of the contest, the field is likely to remain in flux for months. A new survey in the Virginia governors race gave former congressman Tom Perriello his first edge in public polling in the Democratic primary since he launched a surprising challenge to Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in January. Perriello has a narrow lead among Democratic-leaning voters, with 25 percent to Northams 20 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday. His edge is tenuous, falling within the range of sampling error and with more than half of voters still undecided. Perriello and Northam each drew 19 percent of voters in the organizations last poll in February. The poll also found that former political strategist Ed Gillespie had a clear edge in the three-person GOP primary field with 28 percent of Republican-leaning voters. Corey A. Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, drew 12 percent of respondents, while state Sen. Frank W. Wagner (Virginia Beach) took 7 percent. [Can Perriello win over southwest Virginia voters in Trump country?] Republican candidates for governor Ed Gillespie, standing, Corey Stewart, to his right, and Sen. Frank Wagner. Denver Riggleman, left, dropped out. (Erica Yoon/The Roanoke Times via AP) Because Virginia has no party registration, voters can cast ballots in either major partys June 13 primary. In hypothetical general election matchups, the poll found that either Democratic candidate would easily beat a Republican by double digits. But the edge in voter preferences is probably smaller because the sample leaned Democratic and included registered voters instead of likely voters. The electorates in what are usually lower-turnout, off-year races are typically more favorable to Republicans. A March poll from the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University found Gillespie in a dead heat with Democrats in a general election. Other poll findings from Tuesday suggested favorable terrain for Democrats in the general election. President Trump is unpopular in Virginia, with 36 percent approving of his performance and 57 percent disapproving. And just over half of voters approved of Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who is constitutionally barred from serving consecutive terms. About four in 10 voters disapproved of the Republican-controlled state legislature. Those findings are almost unchanged from February. McAuliffe and nearly every state and federal Democratic officeholder in Virginia is endorsing Northam for governor, but Perriello has gained steam since jumping into the race. [Northam has deep support across Virginia in bid for governor] Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam originally had been expected to coast to the nomination, but former congressman Tom Perriello is inching ahead, said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll. The survey found that Perriello has a 15-point lead among very liberal voters, who are more likely to show up for a primary. He has a similar lead among men and is tied with Northam among women. Polling was conducted after Perriello gained his most high-profile endorsement yet from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the former presidential candidate. Perriello and Northam were each seen favorably by 24 percent of respondents, while about two-thirds of voters had no opinion of either Democrat. Gillespie, who nearly unseated Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) in 2014, was the best known of any candidate. More than half had an opinion, and those who disapproved slightly outnumbered those who approved. [At Confederate ball, Virginia gubernatorial candidate dons Scottish gear] More than three-quarters of respondents were not familiar with Stewart or Wagner. The poll found that Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) remains popular in Virginia five months after his losing bid for vice president on Hillary Clintons ticket. No Republicans have announced plans to challenge him next year, but Carly Fiorina, the former GOP presidential candidate, and conservative radio host Laura Ingraham have said they are considering it. In hypothetical matchups, Kaine would defeat Fiorina by 24 points and Ingraham by 21 points. The first-term senator raised $2.9 million in the first quarter of the year. Kaine has 58 percent-to-34 percent job approval and a 57- to-36 percent favorability rating. Fiorina has a 26-to-36 percent favorability rating, and 37 percent dont know enough about her to form an opinion. Warner, who has enjoyed a high profile lately as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has a 62-to-27 percent approval rating. Pollsters surveyed 1,115 Virginians between Friday and Wednesday, with a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points. The margin of error is about 4.6 percentage points in the primary polling. Jenna Portnoy and Scott Clement contributed to this report. Illinois Judge in high-prole cases killed in Chicago A judge who oversaw criminal cases in Cook County, Ill., was fatally shot early Monday outside his Chicago home, and a woman he knew was shot and wounded, police said. Investigators are looking at the possibility that the shooting of Associate Circuit Court Judge Raymond Myles and the woman could have been part of an attempted robbery, although police said they dont think that anything was stolen from the victims or the house. A Chicago police spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, said that Myles also may have been targeted for one reason or another. The offender shot him numerous times, Guglielmi said. No arrests have been made in connection with the shootings, which happened about 5 a.m. on Chicagos South Side. Myles was pronounced dead at a hospital. Since the woman who was shot is a witness to a killing, her name is not expected to be released, Guglielmi said. Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples described the woman as a close associate of Myles and said that she was shot once and is expected to survive. Associated Press Colorado State set to prohibit marijuana co-ops Colorado was set to outlaw marijuana-growing co-ops soon after the state Senate unanimously approved a bill that makes it a crime for people to cultivate recreational pot for other people. The bill supported by the office of Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) passed 35 to 0, but it was unclear when he would sign it. There are no state estimates of how many collective recreational marijuana-growing operations exist in Colorado, though they are popular among users who share the cost of electricity, water and fertilizer to grow their pot. Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, but it has a nagging black-market problem. Law enforcement and state lawmakers attribute the black-market problem in part to weak restrictions on who may grow the drug. Associated Press Maine Officials get involved in pardon of a dog Maines conservation department is getting involved in the proposed pardoning of a dog, saying the case could have implications for the states animal welfare laws. Gov. Paul LePage (R) said last week that he was pardoning Dakota, an Alaskan husky, from a death sentence levied at a court hearing. Dakota killed a neighbors pug last year. Dakotas case is scheduled for a court hearing on Tuesday. The state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has offered to assist the court with the case. A department spokesman said that the agency has a strong interest in the case and wants to make sure animal owners are afforded due process. Associated Press Home Minister Rajnath Singh today while speaking at Aaj Tak's Lokmat said that the government will go to any extent to save Jadhav. By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan military's announcement of death sentence to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav has sparked a fresh round of debate on the fate of Indian citizens imprisoned in the neighbouring country. Home Minister Rajnath Singh today while speaking at Aaj Tak's Lokmat said that the government will go to any extent to save Jadhav. Singh raised crucial questions on the claims made by the Pakistan authorities about Jadhav. advertisement Singh said that Jadhav, who was a businessman in Iran and made frequent trips between Chabahar port and Tehran. Jadhav was kidnapped from Chabahar by Pakistan's security agency. "After kidnapping him, Pakistan in a press conference said that they found a valid Indian passport on him. I believe if Jadhav had been a spy he would not have carried a valid passport," said Singh. He added that the whole of India condemns Pakistan's death sentence for Jadhav. The home minister went on to say that the entire incident came across as a pre-planned murder. "With surgical strikes we proved that we can go beyond our territory and attack terrorists," said Rajnath when asked about how to tame Pakistan. Despite several attempts by India, Pakistan denied consular access to Jadhav. Earlier today, the BJP-led government was today cornered by the Opposition. However, leaders across the political spectrum unanimously called for an immediate action into the matter. Also read: Fear Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tortured, killed in Pakistan: BJP MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh Shashi Tharoor likely to help Modi government draft statement on Kulbhushan Jadhav Also watch India will go to any extent to save Kulbhushan Jadhav: Rajnath Singh --- ENDS --- florida Prosecutor sues to remain on murder cases An Orlando-based state prosecutor who was removed from 23 murder cases by Florida Gov. Rick Scott for refusing to consider the death penalty on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit claiming that Scotts executive order was unconstitutional and seeking to reverse it. Aramis Ayala, who took office in January as state attorney for the 9th Judicial District in central Florida, covering Orange and Osceola counties, last month said she would not seek the death penalty in murder cases. One of those cases is for the killing of an Orlando police officer. In the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Ayala claims that Scott (R) acted unconstitutionally in not allowing her the discretion to decide how she wants to run the prosecutors office. The lawsuit cites violations of both the U.S. Constitution and the Florida Constitution. Scotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The suit also names as a defendant Brad King, state attorney for Floridas 5th Judicial Circuit, who was assigned by Scott to prosecute the 23 murder cases. The suit asks that King be kept from taking over those cases. On April 3, the day of Scotts order to replace Ayala, King filed notice to seek the death penalty in the case of Markeith Loyd, the defendant in the Orlando police killing, according to the filing. Reuters missouri 1 killed, 3 hurt in blast at ammo plant One person was killed and three were injured and taken to a hospital on Tuesday after an explosion at a U.S. Army ammunition plant in Independence, a spokeswoman for the Joint Munitions Command said. The Army said no further information was immediately available at a building at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, which has a government staff of 29 civilians and one soldier. According to the Joint Munitions Command, the facility, which opened in 1940, makes small-caliber munitions and operates as a North Atlantic Treaty Organization test center. Reuters Guantanamo lawyers sue Defense Dept.: Four lawyers who work at the Guantanamo Bay prison on Tuesday sued the Defense Department, claiming it has exposed them to elevated risks of cancer and other health problems by forcing them to work in contaminated areas. The complaint said the U.S. Navy has not properly investigated whether environmental hazards at the Camp Justice complex were linked to nine cancer cases since its 2008 opening. Reuters HUNGARY Law that could close Soros school is signed Hungarian President Janos Ader on Monday signed legislation on foreign universities that could force out a top international school founded by U.S. financier George Soros, despite large protests against the move. Tens of thousands of Hungarians rallied Sunday in one of the biggest protests against nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbans seven-year-old rule, denouncing the legislation. Critics and opposition parties say it targets the Central European University, an institution set up by Soros, a global campaigner for liberal political causes. Orban, who faces elections in 2018, is not expected to backtrack on the new law, which constitutes a major plank of his political strategy to defend national interests against what he calls foreign meddling. Orban has often vilified Soros, whose ideals are squarely at odds with the Hungarian premiers view that European culture is under an existential threat from migration and multiculturalism. The new law requires foreign universities to have campuses both in Budapest and their home country. The CEU operates in Budapest but has no branch outside Hungary. CEU has said that its dual U.S.-Hungarian identity permitted it to comply with both Hungarian and U.S. laws and award both Hungarian and U.S.-accredited degrees. Associated Press PAKISTAN Alleged Indian spy sentenced to death Pakistans military sentenced an Indian naval officer to death Monday on charges of espionage and sabotage, officials said. Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, had been convicted by a military tribunal, the Pakistani army said in a statement. Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, the head of Pakistans armed forces, signed off on the sentence. Islamabad alleges that Jadhav was an Indian intelligence official who aided and financed terrorist activities in the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan and the southern port city of Karachi. Pakistans army released a video shortly after Jadhavs arrest in which he confesses to having spent years sowing unrest in Pakistan. It was not clear whether he was speaking under duress. I have been directing activities on behalf of the RAW, the Research and Analysis Wing, he says in the video. RAW is Indias premier intelligence agency. The Indian External Affairs Ministry issued a statement dismissing Jadhavs trial as a farce and saying Pakistan had ignored 13 requests in the past year for permission to offer him consular services. The ministry statement said that Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran and that his subsequent presence in Pakistan was never explained credibly. Associated Press 16 dead in South Sudan militia raid: At least 16 people were killed in the South Sudanese town of Wau, said the United Nations, as witnesses said militiamen from one ethnic group went house to house searching for people from other groups. Witnesses said the militia members were aligned with the government in the countrys ethnically charged civil war. South Sudan descended into civil war in 2013 after President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, fired his deputy, Riek Machar, a Nuer. Fighting since then has often split the country along ethnic lines. Suspect in Swedish truck attack identified: Swedish court documents have confirmed the name of a 39-year-old Uzbek man being held in Fridays truck attack in Stockholm as Rakhmat Akilov. Four people were killed and 15 injured in the attack. Akilovs application for Swedish residency was turned down last year. Georgias breakaway region elects new leader: Georgias breakaway province of South Ossetia has elected a new president. Russian news agencies quoted the local election chief as saying that Anatoly Bibilov won nearly 58 percent of the vote while the incumbent got 30 percent with more than 90 percent of the ballots counted. Both candidates campaigned for closer ties with Russia, which is South Ossetias main economic donor. 10 killed in bombings in Somali capital: A suicide bomber wearing an army uniform killed at least nine soldiers at a camp in Somalias capital, authorities said, and a government official was killed by a bomb planted in his car. Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab asserted responsibility for the suicide bombing. The group has stepped up attacks since President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed recently declared a war on the insurgency. From news services FRANCE Hundreds at large after fire at migrant camp Authorities and aid workers are searching for several hundred migrants who disappeared after a fire ravaged their camp in northern France, a blaze that exposed anew the challenges and tensions around Europes migrants just 12 days before Frances presidential election. Police cordoned off the largely destroyed camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe on Tuesday. The Monday night fire reportedly broke out after a fight between rival groups of migrants. The migrants had converged on northern France in hopes of reaching Britain as part of waves of recent migration to Europe. As many as 1,600 people were in the camp when the blaze occurred, according to Grande-Synthe Mayor Damien Careme and prefect Michel Lalande, the top government official for the region. About 500 were taken to three local gymnasiums, but most of the other migrants remain unaccounted for, the mayor and the prefect told reporters. They said authorities think the fire was set intentionally and was tied to a fight on Monday between Kurdish and Afghan groups involving up to 150 migrants. Immigration is a key issue in France ahead of the two-round April 23-May 7 presidential election. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and conservative candidate Francois Fillon reiterated calls Tuesday for stricter border controls. Associated Press FINLAND E.U., NATO members target disinformation A center to combat such things as disinformation and fake news will be built in Finland after an agreement Tuesday among nine countries from the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and the United States signed the memorandum to set up the hybrid threat center in Helsinki with the support of Finlands government. The center will become operational later this year. Lorenz Meyer-Minnemann, head of NATOs civil preparedness unit, said the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats will serve as a platform for the E.U. and NATO to pool resources and share expertise. Over recent years, campaigns to discredit, misinform and spread fake news have become an increasing problem for policymakers in Europe and the United States. Working together is essential in building resilience to hybrid threats, Meyer-Minnemann said. The Helsinki center aims to closely cooperate with NATOs existing cyberdefense center in Estonia and strategic communications center in Latvia. Nordic and Baltic governments have been particularly concerned about what they say are Russias aggressive disinformation campaigns and systematic spreading of false news about their countries. Associated Press Uzbek man pleads guilty in Stockholm attack: A 39-year-old Uzbek man has pleaded guilty to ramming a truck into a crowd in Stockholm last week, killing four people and wounding 15, his attorney said. The Stockholm District Court ruled that police may detain Rakhmat Akilov for a month. Police have not given a motive for the attack, and no extremist group has asserted responsibility, but authorities said Akilov was known to have been sympathetic to extremist organizations. Iran opens registration for presidential vote: About 126 prospective candidates submitted their names on the first day of candidate registration for Irans May 19 presidential election, Iranian media reported. Six women and seven clerics were among those who registered. Registration will remain open until Saturday, and any Iranian national can apply. The applicants will be vetted by the Guardian Council, a clerical body, and a final list of candidates will be announced by April 27. South Sudan imposes curfew after killings: South Sudanese authorities imposed a curfew across the northwestern state of Wau, the deputy governor said, a day after at least 16 civilians died in clashes in its main town. Residents said ethnic militias aligned with the government in the countrys civil war searched house to house for members of other groups in Wau town. The army said the violence erupted after a mutiny among troops guarding Waus prison. From news services IT HAS been nearly 12 years since Arkansas executed a prisoner, but Gov. Asa Hutchinson wants to kill eight in a 11-day stretch starting next week. His rationale is as harebrained as it sounds: The state needs to hurry to beat the looming expiry date of one of the drugs in its cocktail of lethal injections. Talk about turning common sense on its head. Even as a federal court granted a temporary reprieve to one of the condemned men, Mr. Hutchinson is rushing to end the lives of the other seven on an unprecedentedly tight schedule not because justice demands it; nor because the prisoners appeals have run their course; nor even because of the cost to taxpayers of maintaining the men on death row. In Mr. Hutchinsons view, the pharmacological shelf life of a particular sedative a highly unreliable one, by the way requires that deaths schedule be expedited. So hurried is Arkansass timetable that witnesses to the executions state law requires that six respectable citizens attend each one are in short supply. The director of the Department of Corrections, Wendy Kelley, was so concerned at the shortage of volunteers that she asked the Little Rock Rotary Club if it could provide some. Since 1977, when capital punishment resumed in the United States following a Supreme Court review, no state, not even Texas with its execution enthusiasts, has carried out so many death sentences in such a short span. In Arkansass case, capital punishment has been on hold since 2005 owing to court battles and, as in other death-penalty states, a shortage of drugs needed for lethal injections. That the state is by now out of practice adds to concerns about whether it can competently carry out an execution, let alone seven, over the scheduled course of four days in an 11-day span. Botched executions, resulting in agonizing, drawn-out deaths, have taken place in several states in recent years. As it happens, some of those grisly mishaps arose from problems with the same sedative whose expiration date Mr. Hutchinson cites as the pretext for his planned state-sponsored killing spree. The drug, midazolam, one of three drugs used in Arkansass lethal injection protocol, is in short supply, meaning it may be unavailable after the current stock expires at the end of this month. The drug is regularly referred to as controversial; in fact, its use has turned out on occasion to be a nightmare. Midazolam is meant to knock out inmates and render them insensate so the ensuing injections cause no pain. Yet despite the Supreme Courts 5-to-4 ruling, in 2015, that the drugs use does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, several condemned men snorted, struggled for air and were seen writhing during midazolam executions. In an execution in 2014 in Arizona, Joseph R. Wood III, the condemned man, was reported to have gasped hundreds of times before finally succumbing, after 15 injections and two hours; the procedure was supposed to take 10 minutes. Mr. Hutchinsons plan is not just unseemly. It is a scenario for subhuman suffering. If the state goes forward, it will be a blot on Arkansas, and on America. AS HE welcomed Egyptian strongman Abdel Fatah al-Sissi to the White House last week, President Trump proclaimed that Mr. Sissi has done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation. The Palm Sunday bombing of two Egyptian Christian churches, which killed at least 44 people, ought to give Mr. Trump cause to reconsider. The attacks reflected not only the inability of the Sissi regime to defeat Egypts Islamic State affiliate, but also its failure to protect a vulnerable minority that has been singled out by the terrorists. Egyptian security services had no reason to be surprised by the church attacks. Egyptian militants who describe themselves as the Sinai Province of the Islamic State recently issued a video promising to escalate attacks on Christians; a series of killings in the northern Sinai city of Arish in February prompted hundreds of Copts to flee. Big attacks on Christian churches in the past have come during services, including one in December at the Coptic cathedral complex in Cairo that killed two dozen worshippers. Yet on a holiday Sunday, the regime was unable to protect even the Alexandria cathedral where the Coptic patriarch, Pope Tawadros II, was leading a service. A suicide bomber blew himself up at the churchs gates as he was being checked at a security station. The patriarch was uninjured, but at least 17 people were killed. Preventing terrorism is challenging for any nation. But Mr. Sissis response to the latest attacks is indicative of why he has failed so exceptionally to stem the violence. Mr. Sissi declared a national state of emergency and then quickly employed it to shut down media coverage of the attacks. Its not acceptable to have the incident aired repeatedly on television, he complained, as if that were the cause of the security services failure to prevent the assaults. Since seizing power in a bloody coup against a democratically elected government in 2013, Mr. Sissi has established the most repressive regime in Egypts modern history. Human rights groups say up to 60,000 people have been jailed, including thousands of secular activists, journalists and human rights workers who have no connection to extremism. Thousands more have been killed or disappeared by security forces, especially in the Sinai Peninsula, where journalists and other independent observers are effectively banned. The intense repression has driven recruits into the terrorists ranks, particularly in the Sinais Bedouin communities. Attacks have steadily increased, averaging 70 per month last year, according to the Project on Middle East Democracy. But Mr. Sissi does not learn: One respected researcher who produced a prescient report predicting that the regimes tactics would only increase the terrorist threat, Ismail Alexandrani, was arrested in late 2015 on charges of spreading false news. He has been held without trial ever since. Mr. Trump may imagine that Mr. Sissi is a tough autocrat in the mold of Augusto Pinochet, able to extinguish opposition with brute force. The church bombings offer another warning that such a judgment is wrong. The Egyptian ruler is steadily leading his country toward chaos thanks to his massive and misguided repression. Mr. Trump tweeted Sunday that he was confident Mr. Sissi will handle [the] situation properly. If so, hes destined to be disappointed. The United States has become a combatant in Syrias horrific civil war. The Trump administration, which intervened with deadly military force, gives no sign of knowing what its doing or why. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has absurdly tried to suggest that nothing has changed. He is wrong. Fifty-nine cruise missiles constitute a policy shift. So what is the administrations strategic vision? What is its desired outcome? How does it get there? And what happens next? U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Sunday that the administration cannot envision a peaceful Syria with dictator Bashar al-Assad still in power. Tillerson went on a different Sunday show to say that Assads fate is up to the Syrian people. Neither statement had much grounding in the reality of a heartbreakingly brutal war that has killed about 400,000 people and displaced half of Syrias population. Whos going to make Assad leave? The Syrian people have been trying to get rid of him for about six years, yet he remains. The Obama administration believed it had at least negotiated the surrender of Assads capacity to use chemical weapons, but last weeks sarin attack demonstrates otherwise. There is no political process through which Syrians can express their will. There is only a grinding, multi-sided conflict that has allowed the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, to seize huge swaths of territory. Wouldnt it be nice if we got together with Russia and knocked the hell out of ISIS? Donald Trump asked during the campaign. But nice does not equal feasible. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent military forces to help Assad maintain his grip on power. Working with Russia would require the coldbloodedness to look past Assads myriad atrocities and Trumps description of the beautiful babies who were cruelly murdered was hardly the rhetoric of realpolitik. (Sarah Parnass,Julio Negron/The Washington Post) Trump seemed willing to try some sort of alliance but then came the chemical attack. And now, having bombed the Sharyat airfield near Homs from which the planes carrying chemical weapons took off, Trump has sided against Assad in deed if not in word. Careful diplomatic statements cannot disguise the obvious fact that the United States and Russia are working at cross-purposes. At least in part, Trump seems to have been determined not to follow the example of the Obama administration. In 2012, President Barack Obama declared chemical-weapons use a red line that must not be crossed. When Assad crossed it anyway, Obama prepared to strike but decided at the last minute to ask Congress to give him authorization to use force. The request never received a floor vote in Congress. Trump enthusiastically supported Obamas restraint at the time . He warned throughout the campaign against deeper U.S. involvement in Syria. Now his decision to launch the cruise missile strike is being applauded by foreign policy traditionalists of both parties the establishment figures who gave us the disastrous war in Iraq as a show of U.S. strength and resolve. That should worry us all. Red lines and symbolic displays of force do not constitute a plan. I have long opposed U.S. military intervention in Syria because I did not see how such action within the parameters of the possible would make the situation better. I still dont. A punitive strike to deter Assad from using chemical weapons does nothing to protect the millions of desperate civilians who remain vulnerable to conventional weapons wielded by the Syrian government, such as deadly barrel bombs. Indeed, Assad reportedly made a point of having warplanes take off from Sharyat on bombing runs soon after the missiles landed; while the base suffered considerable damage, runways were left intact. Civilians are also under attack by Russian forces, the Islamic State and various jihadist and non-jihadist rebel groups. I have to wonder what Assad hoped to accomplish by using chemical weapons in the first place. Could he have been trying to bait the United States into military action and thus drive a wedge between Trump and Putin? The Russian strongman is not what youd call sentimental, and he might abandon Assad if Trump made it worth his while. Such dishonor among thieves now seems less likely, at least in the short term. If the cruise missile attack was a one-and-done warning, it changes nothing. If it was an opening salvo of some kind, what follows? Either were on a slippery slope toward deeper military involvement, or we remain helpless witnesses to unspeakable carnage. Maybe Trump, having acted as commander in chief, feels good about those alternatives. I dont see why anyone else should. Read more from Eugene Robinsons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You can also join him Tuesdays at 1 p.m. for a live Q&A. A company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has fired an Indian employee for abusing journalist Rana Ayyub on social media. Rana Ayyub was sent abusive messages by the Indian man based in UAE last December. Source: Rana Ayyub/ Twiiter By India Today Web Desk: In December last year, an Indian residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent some sexually explicit and abusive messages to journalist Rana Ayyub. He probably thought he would get away with it unharmed, but it cost him his job. The expat from Kerala, who goes by the name Bincy Lal on Facebook, abused Rana Ayyub messages on Facebook messenger. advertisement Taking screenshots of these messages, Ayyub posted them on Twitter last week, triggering a wave of angered responses on social media. Just a sample of the filth i receive on my facebook page. Time to name and shame this pervert pic.twitter.com/e6xeA019JF- Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 6, 2017 When the report reached Bincy's employers, Alpha Paint, a Sharjah-based firm, the administration ordered a probe against him, and eventually found out that the allegations were true. Reports say that Bincy even admitted to sending these messages. "When we checked on his Facebook account, we saw the abusive message which was sent to that lady in addition to offensive posts against Islam," Alpha Paint's HR manager told the Gulf News. Subsequently, the company issued a termination order against Bincy. Bincy's visa was cancelled on Monday and deportation order has also been issued. Ayyub said on Twitter that she will also be filing a police complaint in Delhi against Bincy. Have reported to the police officials in UAE, will file an FIR in Delhi today. https://t.co/rQyQghdo0e- Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 11, 2017 Ayyub later tweeted that the National paints, Alpha Paints' sister company, has called her to apologise for the harassment she faced from their employee, Bincy Lal. National paints , Sharjah just called me to apologise on behalf of the company for the harassment i faced from their ex-employee Bincy lal- Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 11, 2017 Many have since applauded this step taken by the UAE company. Fantastic @RanaAyyub for standing up to this abuse. ?? https://t.co/mtPqPrjgmY- Nidhi Razdan (@RazdanNidhi) April 11, 2017 Indian companies and even MNC's need to learn from this. Zero tolerance for sexual harassment & incitement https://t.co/SmipAXVNpd- Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) April 10, 2017 Actor Vir Das, who had earlier called for strict actions against internet trolls, had also suggested that companies should take not of employees who are harassing others and should be fired. He was quite happy to see the UAE firm taking a stern decision. || Read more at FYI || From featuring a menstruation temple to UAE army, 7 reasons why you shouldn't skip the Republic Day Parade 2017 advertisement Did you know falcons in UAE have their own passports? UAE Crown Prince in India: Maritime training, defence and agricultural cooperation on top of list 41 Indian sailors stranded in leaking ships in UAE, Sushma Swaraj assures help || Watch more || --- ENDS --- As a candidate, Donald Trump promised that the instincts and negotiating skills that landed him in the three-comma club would translate to managing the macroeconomy. He was uniquely well-suited to help the nations other job creators reach their full potential, he told voters. Despite such declarations, now-President Trump is proving to be, in at least some crucial respects, unexpectedly anti-business. As a businessman, he surely knows that one of the key things companies need to plan and make investments is a clear understanding of what the policy environment will look like going forward. And on almost every major policy front tax reform, health care, immigration, even more bite-size regulations his administration continues to inject huge amounts of uncertainty into the economy. Most recently, Trump has decided to scrap the tax plan he released late last summer (which replaced yet another tax plan hed previously scrapped) and go back to the drawing board, according to the Associated Press. The latest plan, it must be said, was not exactly good. It was expensive, costing $7.2 trillion over its first decade, according to the Tax Policy Center. It was top-heavy, with three-quarters of the cuts going to the top income quintile. And it was littered with broken promises, including that investment fund managers would no longer get a special tax break (in fact, his plan would have lowered their taxes). (The Washington Post) But at least there was a plan, a set of core objectives, something on paper for congressmen to debate and companies to strategize around. Now thats going out the window, and the White House is reportedly considering dramatic revampings of the tax code that were completely absent from Trumps earlier framework, such as eliminating the payroll taxes that fund Social Security. An overhaul that was supposed to be done by August now might get pushed off to next year. Rather than showing leadership, or laying out a set of principles and acceptable trade-offs, the White House has left both legislators and companies in limbo. To be fair, tax reform is really, really hard hence the three-decade lull since it was last achieved and requires lots of complicated horse-trading. Of necessity, parts of it were bound to get negotiated away. But tax reform isnt the only realm in which this administration is struggling to figure out its vision. Health care, too, remains in the throes of great uncertainty. Having suffered from too many mutually exclusive promises about coverage, affordability and government involvement, Republicans plan to repeal and replace Obamacare died an ignominious death in late March. Or so we thought. Now its back again, more heartless than before, with the White Houses wishy-washy, noncommittal statements about its future leaving great amounts of uncertainty for insurers, providers, employers that self-insure, and of course individual enrollees on Medicaid and the exchanges. Even absent legislative repeal, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has pledged to do his best to destabilize and unravel the insurance market. In recent congressional testimony, he refused to say whether the administration will continue providing cost-sharing subsidies for insurers in the federal exchanges. No wonder more anxious insurers are dropping out, or are expected to submit higher proposed premium prices than they otherwise would. On immigration, the Trump administration has also introduced additional ambiguities for employers regarding whom they can hire, and for how long. Last month, for example, it announced it would stop allowing employers to pay an additional fee to ensure an H-1B skilled-immigrant visa application would be reviewed and given a thumbs-up or down within 15 days. Without such premium processing, employers can wait three to six months before finding out whether their chosen hires can ever start work. The administration similarly punted last week on whether it will allow certain spouses of H-1B immigrants stuck in the green-card backlog to continue working or running their own businesses; for the time being, these immigrants will effectively be given a series of two-month extensions to continue work, making it challenging for their businesses to make long-term investments. The administration has similarly delayed but, importantly, not yet announced plans to rescind implementation of other regulations, often without explanation. These cover areas as varied as energy-efficiency standards for consumer products, the kinds of advice that financial advisers may give their clients, and how much silica dust companies can expose construction workers to. In many cases, companies are explicitly rooting for these rules to get repealed. Even so, the White Houses persistent indecision on such regulatory matters still forces firms to plan for every possible policy contingency. Which is expensive. For the time being, markets remain relatively buoyant, counting on outcomes to eventually shake out their way; should the White House not be able to get its act together and offer a more coherent policy agenda, however, that Trump bump could soon deflate. Theres a playbook in Washington that presidents are supposed to follow, then-President Obama said last year, defending his decision not to unilaterally strike Syria in 2013. Its a playbook that comes out of the foreign-policy establishment. And the playbook prescribes responses to different events, and these responses tend to be militarized responses. Where America is directly threatened, the playbook works. But the playbook can also be a trap that can lead to bad decisions. Last week, by impulsively ordering a military strike against a Syrian air base, President Trump both followed the playbook and fell into the trap. To be clear, Syrian President Bashar al-Assads apparent use of chemical weapons against civilians in the town of Khan Sheikhoun is a heinous crime. Almost six years of civil war in Syria have led to nearly half a million dead and millions more displaced, a humanitarian crisis worsened by the Trump administrations cruel and senseless attempts to ban Syrian refugees. The human suffering has been horrific to watch. Yet despite the fervor of the bipartisan foreign policy establishment, which fetishizes the purported credibility that accompanies the use of force, it remains folly to think that Trumps military action will help end the carnage. It is a testament to the absurdity of the presidential playbook that perhaps the most irresponsible act of Trumps madhouse presidency has also been one of the most widely applauded. Suddenly, much of the same media and political establishment that has routinely portrayed Trump as an unstable and inept authoritarian are ecstatic that he decided to drop bombs in the Middle East. Airing footage of the assault, MSNBC anchor Brian Williams admired the beautiful pictures of fearsome armaments. Five major newspapers collectively published 18 pieces that endorsed the strikes or argued they were insufficient, according to media watchdog Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting. The decision to strike also earned Trump rare bipartisan praise in Congress. In a statement, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) declared that President Trump confronted a pivotal moment in Syria and took action. For that, he deserves the support of the American people. Likewise, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the attack the right thing to do. But there is little evidence that the strike accomplished anything beyond a temporary popularity boost for a flailing president. If Trumps goal was to punish Assad for using chemical weapons, the punishment was effectively nothing more than a timeout, as Syrian warplanes resumed use of the targeted air base less than 24 hours after it was hit. And if Trump has a coherent strategy for what happens next, he has failed to communicate it to the American people or the international community. (Louisa Loveluck, Jason Aldag/The Washington Post) At this point, the primary consequence of Trumps muscle-flexing has been to dramatically increase tensions with Assads most important ally, Russia. Defying the charge that he is Putins puppet has conveniently quieted Trumps domestic critics and distracted from the investigation into his campaign, but it has also brought the United States much closer to a dangerous confrontation with a nuclear-armed Russia. In the aftermath of the bombing, Russia quickly suspended the deconfliction agreement the countries use to prevent collisions in Syrian airspace an agreement through which the United States notified Russia of the strike in advance and dispatched a frigate toward U.S. Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, the bombing also escalated one of Trumps most troubling conflicts at home his ongoing conflict with the Constitution. By ordering the strike without seeking authorization from Congress, as the Constitution requires and as Trump himself once demanded of Obama, many legal experts say Trump violated existing law. In any case, after railing against the foreign policy establishment as a candidate, Trump has now made it plain that his non-interventionist rhetoric, like his supposed economic populism, was a farce. During the campaign, Trump pledged not to get involved in a war in which U.S. interests were not at stake. He expressed sensible skepticism of regime change after the debacles in Iraq and Libya (despite his previous support for both wars). In 2013, he said military escalation in Syria could ultimately lead to World War III. Accordingly, its no surprise that Trumps utter betrayal of his campaign promises has left many of his die-hard supporters furious. One of the few remaining pledges that Trump hasnt broken, in fact, is the one that hurts Assads victims the most. As the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said in a statement, The best way President Trump could help the people of Syria would be to immediately abandon his inhumane ban on refugees from Syria and other war-torn countries. Despite the clamoring of the bipartisan foreign policy establishment, the unfortunate reality is that their playbook does not contain a path to victory in Syria. Rather than agitating for more U.S. military intervention in a war that cannot be won, we should be calling on our government to lead a diplomatic effort to end the war once and for all. And for those who recognize that Trump cannot bomb his way to peace, it is time to revive and mobilize an antiwar movement to keep the United States from getting entangled in another Middle East war with no clear strategy and no end in sight. Read more from Katrina vanden Heuvels archive or follow her on Twitter. First 100 days narratives are great for ratings and clicks, but not much use for historians. So long as were indulging that narrative, though, President Trumps signature achievement of his first 100 days is the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. The new justice will be a fixture of originalist majorities on the court, one hopes, for decades to come. That Harry Reids demolition of the Senate filibuster for nearly all nominations was completed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is not the presidents achievement, but it was Trumps choice of a nominee as stellar as Gorsuch that made the result of applying the Reid Rule inevitable. During his hearings, Gorsuch displayed perfect judicial temperament combined with extraordinary intellectual capacity. His performance laid out a blueprint for obtaining the simple majorities needed for future Trump nominees for justices and judges, on the highest court and the crucial circuit courts and district courts as well. There are now 19 vacancies on the federal appeals courts, and only one nominee, the certain-to-be-confirmed Judge Amul Thapar, nominated to the 6th Circuit. More five-star nominees are said to be in the works, and hopefully soon: There are a hundred-plus district court and special court vacancies that also need filling. Assuming that future nominees have Gorsuch-like credentials, then only one obstacle stands in the way of a return to an originalism-driven federal bench. But that obstacle is enormous in the lore of the Senate: the so-called blue slip. The blue slip is simply the piece of paper that is sent to the senators from the home state of every judicial nominee. If a senator has no objection to the nominee, the blue slip (so named for the color of the paper) is sent back to the Judiciary Committee chairman with an indication of approval. If the senator objects, the paper is either sent back indicating disapproval or not returned at all. First used in 1917, there are various practices surrounding these slips. Some committee chairs of the past have refused to move a nominee forward without such a slip. Others have attached some significance to the slip, but not dispositive weight. But the best practice would be for blue slips not to exist at all. The blue slip isnt a law, and it would be anathema to the framers. Its a leftover of decades past, a means by which individual senators could control their regions judicial future. The non-return of a blue slip should receive no weight, or at most a trigger of a few weeks delay so as for the concerned senator to assemble a package of his or her reasons for the Judiciary Committee to review. There is no reason in the Constitution or common sense that voters from Michigan, which went for Trump, closely divided Virginia or even deep-blue New York should be denied judges because they have two senators that dont like Trumps nominees. Blue slips are simply and obviously deeply anti-democratic. The blue slip is partly why the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is such a mess. Now-retired Sen. Barbara Boxer, who was on the far left edge of the far left of the Democratic Party, held heavy influence or even a veto over 9th Circuit nominees from the Golden State. The circuit has jurisdiction over some 60 million Americans, ranging in views from deep-blue California to deep-red Idaho, yet many of the nominees to its bench often needed Boxers imprimatur to proceed to a vote of the Judiciary Committee, let alone a vote of the full Senate. Thats nonsense. The U.S. Senate is a wonderful institution. Over the centuries, however, it has developed some deeply anti-democratic and anti-republican practices, chief among them this rule of one when it comes to judicial nominations. It will be up to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) to seal his place in Senate history as a deeply committed constitutionalist by ending the Senates tradition of the blue slip. If Grassley rids the Senate of the practice forever, his place in the chambers history will be secured as a leader who sought to rebalance the institutions practices in alignment with the framers intentions. Its true that the framers explicitly carved out the Senates special role in the confirmation of presidential nominations. But they never intended one person not even the president, who is elected by the entire country to wholly control the fate of a judicial nomination, which is what the blue-slip practice has often become. Saving the federal bench from living Constitution enthusiasts likely will be Trumps big mark on American history. To be independent and vigorous, to be populated by the best and the brightest, the federal judiciary needs to be free of this hoary practice. The blue slips have to be burned. Americans would applaud such a manifestly fair and common-sense reform of a practice gone mad, and the framers would cheer from above. So it now appears that the president has deep feelings about the sufferings of infants, or, as he would say, very, very deep feelings, believe me. This was apparent when he talked about the gas attack on Syrian civilians last week. Scores of people were killed but it was the sight of dying babies on TV (it doesnt get any worse than that) that particularly moved the man to reconsider his hands-off policy toward Syria and send the USS Ross and USS Porter to the eastern Mediterranean to launch 59 Tomahawk missiles against a Syrian air base. Presumably, no infants were housed at the base. The White House denied, verbally, that his decision was an emotional response to the pictures of dead babies, but the video of an emotional president talking about innocent little babies and cupping his hands to emphasize their tininess is more persuasive to me. It has been widely reported that the White House has asked the presidents intelligence briefers to make the briefings more visual, less wordy, simple graphics rather than blocks of print. This seems problematic: Much intelligence comes in written form, digests of interviews and reports from multiple sources, which would not be accurately depicted, say, by a cartoonist, but the news surprised approximately nobody. The man is a TV viewer, not known to be interested in books. So be it. A man of 70, having lived with TV on nearby, maybe two or three going simultaneously, is not going to suddenly pick up Robert Caro or Doris Kearns Goodwin and start learning about LBJ and FDR. Nobody expects DJT to do that. But to single out babies as a separate category of humanity is interesting. King Herod slaughtered babies, hoping to do away with the Christ child, an atrocity, but it is not fundamental to our Christian faith. Babies died horribly at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but their deaths are not separate from the roughly 200,000 who were exterminated in those cities. When the story of the My Lai massacre came out in 1969, a year after it occurred, the outrage was that several hundred unarmed Vietnamese civilians had been gunned down by Lt. William Calley Jr.s company, not that a certain number of them were babes in arms. The My Lai visuals that came to light were pictures taken by U.S. Army photographers, bodies on a roadway, terrified women huddled together, one young woman in a black blouse who had, according to witnesses, been raped by our soldiers, and who was holding a little boy. The public outcry did not lead President Richard Nixon to change course in Vietnam, nor even to make an emotional speech about the horror of war. Nixon was a reader, an ambitious reader, an intellectual. There are photographs of him at his desk, stacks of paper around, and he is poring over them studiously. The photograph of the little boy lying in a ditch, waiting for an American soldier to kill him, was not going to shake Nixon. He set out to minimize the impact of the scandal and he did a good job of it. More than two-dozen soldiers were recommended for court martial, only five were tried, one was convicted and his sentence was mostly set aside. So much for babies. (The Washington Post) Many of the presidents supporters felt betrayed by his U-turn on Syria. Almost a half-million have died in that horrible war, many of them under the age of 1, and the thought that we would court direct conflict with Russia because a Syrian father was seen on TV carrying his two dead infants was dizzying to the America Firsters. On the other hand, many Democrats approved. Clearly, the way to influence the man is not to write scholarly books about climate change or health care. If he brings back coal, the smoke will harm babies and the challenge is to get video of newborns gasping under their oxygen masks. If he eventually succeeds in removing Obamacare, some people will perish as a result, including infants. Our country may someday get a national health-insurance program for everybody, but only after there is a video of a father carrying two dead babies out of an ER where they arrived too late to be saved, the father unable to pay his doctor bills. I have a friend who voted for Trump in the belief that, though he was sleazy and dishonest and inexperienced, he (unlike most Republicans) had no fixed principles whatsoever and so, under the pressure of presidency, might abandon his campaign malarkey and become a pragmatist and do the right thing. Ive met more people who support Trump on the same grounds. If theyre right, it will have a very, very big impact on me, believe me, and my attitude on Trump will change very much. Very much. Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality. In a conversation with an ambassador from Asia a few years ago, I asked why her country was still more favorably disposed to the United States than to a rising China. Because we know what you believe in, she responded. Since World War II, the United States has operated in the Pacific with a certain set of interests and values. Both, she said, are less clear with respect to China. It is predictability that builds and maintains alliances. It is constancy that enforces red lines, allowing others to accurately calculate the limits of American patience. It is vagueness and impulsiveness that invite testing and the possibility of deadly miscalculation. President Trump has now placed his own line in the Syrian sand: At the very least, the Assad regime must not use chemical weapons against civilians in its showdown assault on the Idlib province. But is this commitment the expression of a set of values with broader implications? Does it reflect an expansive interpretation of Americas global role, including the responsibility to protect civilians when feasible? Or is it the enforcement of a narrow norm against the use of weapons of mass destruction? We have no idea which interpretation is correct, because Trump himself is unlikely to know. Like on health care, he seems to be encountering these issues for the very first time. It is unlikely that he played through the scenarios of humanitarian intervention and regime change during campaign policy briefings with national security experts. Trumps Stephen Bannon-ridden inaugural address claimed that the worlds troubles are not the United States problem. But then there are the babies killed by an apparent nerve agent. [Trump is crippling his own administration] On Syria, Trumps message has gone from mixed to pureed. Apparently, engagement in Syria is both a stupid move and a moral necessity. On foreign policy, Trump is ideologically rootless. He seems to have no considered views about the world, just confidence about his own abilities as a leader. And this places an unsettling randomness at the heart of Americas global role. This inconsistency is the most consistent theme of Trumps young presidency. During the campaign, he opposed entitlement reform, yet his health-care bill contained the most fundamental entitlement reform moving federal Medicaid spending from an open-ended match for state spending to a capped amount per person that Congress has recently considered. He campaigned as a tribune for the working class, yet his economic approach seems heavily tilted toward the interests of the wealthy. This has been attacked as lying. It also indicates a complete unfamiliarity with the issues and debates at the heart of American politics. He never encountered these matters during previous government service (which he did none of). He was not forced to explain his views during primary or general election debates (a few lines from the stump speech more than sufficed). Trump was not hiding an inner sophistication. His ignorance was presented as part of an anti-establishment package as contempt for the quibbles of smaller men. In this context, the current palace intrigue between Bannon and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, actually matters. This is not the normal circumstance in which a president with developed policy views is influenced at the margins by a diverse group of advisers. What we are seeing is a president without settled or tested policy convictions, influenced by advisers with sharp knives and fundamentally different views of the world. On Breitbart this is described as a conflict between national populists and liberal NYC Democrats. It is the high-stakes struggle to provide the soul for a soulless presidency. [Our businessman president looks pretty anti-business] This inbuilt discord has turned normal West Wing tension into a red-carpeted cage fight. A Republican with recent White House interaction told me: Watching them work was frankly terrifying. They fear each other, they hate each other, they are paranoid beyond belief and it doesnt work. And it should concern conservatives that neither side in the main White House conflict ethno-nationalists or moderates related to the president is actually conservative. It would be better for the Republican Party (and for the world) if the family were to win this contest, as it almost certainly will. 1 of 83 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad See what President Trump has been doing since taking office View Photos The beginning of his term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. 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. That change would make the administration marginally more humane. But it would not, for the most part, be a victory for conservative policy ideas. More importantly: Would this divided, chaotic White House, as it stands, be ready for a major shock such as a terrorist attack or a serious military move by a rival power? There is every reason to think it would not be ready. And that makes a major West Wing personnel shake-up, costing Bannon his role, both likely and desirable. Read more from Michael Gersons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook . Last week was bad for two nations. The first was Syria, which got 59 Tomahawk missiles slammed into it, destroying part of its air force, causing some casualties and losing the confidence that it could use nerve agents with impunity. The second was the United States, which launched those missiles and then, with some exceptions, roared its approval of what its president did. That will change soon enough. It was the right decision. It was just made by the wrong person. Virtually up to the moment those missiles were launched, President Trump not only had an entirely different Syria policy, he in fact had none at all. In the preceding weeks, his White House spokesman, his secretary of state and his U.N. ambassador had all shrugged their indifference to the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It came down to this: The White House didnt give a damn. Whether those foolish pronouncements encouraged Assad to have his air force apparently drop the nerve agent sarin on the hapless civilians of Khan Sheikhoun is not yet known. What is known is why Trump retaliated. He had seen television pictures of the slaughter and he was sickened. Assad would have to pay. Trump fired up the Tomahawks. Assad had it coming. Even better, Trump reversed President Barack Obamas shameful retreat from the brink back in 2012, when he warned Assad that the use of chemical weapons would cross a red line and then, a year later, when chemical weapons were used, shockingly, said oh, never mind. Even before that, Obama had refused to intervene in the Syrian civil war when it might have mattered. American inaction allowed the war to become a humanitarian catastrophe. Roughly 400,000 have died, and half the country has been displaced. Europe still reels from a tsunami of refugees clamoring to get in. But Trump never cared about that. His stated policy was some absurdity called America First and the rest of the world last. He pivoted in a flash. Why? Because he felt like it. His feelings may have been warranted, but next time and there will be a next time they may not be. He did not consult Congress nor wonder, it seems, where the decision to punish Syria would take him. Is America First dead? Is Stephen K. Bannons desire to let the rest of the world go hang now considered foolish? Is Trumps recent declaration that he is president of the United States and not president of the world under reconsideration? I hope so. The many commentators who cheered Trumps missile strike ought to note that this is roughly what some of us feared: a cocksure president using the power of his office any way he wants. Trump will not be restrained by nettlesome constitutional questions nor the nagging examples of history. His respect for the Constitution is nil and history to him is, well, history not on television, anyway. Not only will he do whatever he wants, but the success of the missile strike and the standing O it received will only encourage him. Probably Trump will now get a bump in the polls. Presidents often do in the immediate aftermath of a military strike and none needed it more than Trump with an approval rating nosing under 40 percent. It takes a while for things to go wrong remember the banner Mission Accomplished, which later came to mock the clueless George W. Bush? In the meantime, Trump will learn what all presidents do eventually that when it comes to approval ratings, a military strike is better than infrastructure any day. It takes less time, too. Trump is a special and worrisome case. He is by far the least experienced, least knowledgeable and least stable commander in chief in American history. No one else comes close not even Harry S. Truman, who assumed office upon Franklin Roosevelts death with no knowledge of the very nuclear bomb program that would force Japan to surrender a mere five months later. Truman had at least been a senator. Trump had not a day of government or military service and, unlike the admirable Truman, is hardly a voracious reader. Trump is now being thumped on the back for the swiftness of his decision, his disregard for the bureaucracy and the purity of his emotional reaction to the killings he saw on TV so admirably American, so unlike the emotionally pinched Obama. Yet the precedent is there for a reckless presidential action by a reckless president. He will do this again because, as he just learned, he can. Read more from Richard Cohens archive. PRETTY SOON, the Trump administration may trot out 100 or 200 new appointees to high-level positions in the U.S. government that require Senate confirmation. We hope these appointees are at least well along in the pipeline. As it stands now, President Trump is falling behind the pace of his recent predecessors in filling jobs in vital areas such as public health, foreign policy and military affairs, among others. While every administration moves too slowly, a prolonged period of empty chairs could hamper crisis management and weaken U.S. policy over the long term. According to a tracker maintained by The Post and the Partnership for Public Service, of 553 high-level positions requiring Senate confirmation, only 22 have been confirmed, 24 formally nominated and awaiting confirmation, and 29 announced and waiting formal nomination. Similarly, the nonpartisan White House Transition Project, looking at historical trends and several metrics, says Mr. Trump is on track for the worst performance in three decades in terms of getting people appointed and confirmed to high-level positions. The project points out that at this point in other presidencies, there was a growing list of people nominated, a weighted historical average of 91 positions over a field of 970 presidential appointments, but in Mr. Trumps case this number has been stuck for weeks at about 40. [The struggle to give a soul to a soulless presidency] What is the problem? We hear that the Trump White House has been examining people with a business background, often with very complex commitments, and some nominees are finding the labyrinth of ethics requirements and disclosure to be too forbidding. Also, strict loyalty testing apparently excluding anyone who signed a never Trump letter or criticized Mr. Trump during the campaign may be limiting the field. The White House has already rejected, unwisely, some potential nominees suggested by Cabinet members. Another factor is that Mr. Trump started out with far fewer resumes than were on hand when George W. Bush and Barack Obama took office. Maybe it is all part of Mr. Trumps plan to starve the government. He told Fox News in February, When I see a story about Donald Trump didnt fill hundreds and hundreds of jobs, its because, in many cases, we dont want to fill those jobs. He added, A lot of those jobs, I dont want to appoint, because theyre unnecessary to have. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) Even allowing for Mr. Trumps budget-cutting ambitions, it is dangerous to leave so many positions unfilled. As Lena H. Sun pointed out in The Post recently, the lack of permanent leadership could be a serious drawback in a pandemic. The State Department, too, seems to have many lights out; as of Monday there are no assistant secretaries nominated or confirmed. Acting career officials are working hard and in good faith, but they may not have the same clout and ambition as presidential appointees. Even those who disagree with Mr. Trumps policies should not wish for a government that is hampered by inattention and vacancy. By India Today Web Desk: Before Tabu made her big screen debut, her elder sister was a popular face on 70mm. Farah Naaz worked in Hindi films back in the 80s and early 90s, but soon quit Bollywood. Rishi Kapoor, who has worked with Farah in a handful of films, took a dig at Farah's unprofessionalism and said that she could have been a big star had she been professional. advertisement Known to speak his mind, Rishi Kapoor took to Twitter to share a picture of Farah and wrote, "One of the prettiest heroines and a wonderful actor Farah Naaz,elder sister of Tabbu. Eccentric,would have been big if she was professional. (sic)" One of the prettiest heroines and a wonderful actor Farah Naaz,elder sister of Tabbu. Eccentric,would have been big if she was professional pic.twitter.com/ftM6zMBpFI- Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 9, 2017 Farah made her Bollywood debut in 1985 with Faasle. The two actors worked together in films like Naqab, Naseeb Apna Apna and Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani. ALSO READ: Meme terror strikes again, Rishi Kapoor takes a dig at Alia Bhatt ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor reveals *exactly* why he bought an award for Bobby ALSO WATCH: Rishi Kapoor's Khullam Khulla interview to India Today --- ENDS --- Dealing Texas another rebuke over voting rights, a judge Monday again ruled that Republican lawmakers purposefully designed a strict voter ID law to disadvantage minorities and effectively dampen their growing electoral power. It amounted to the second finding of intentional discrimination in Texas election laws in two months. A different court in March ruled that Republicans racially gerrymandered several congressional districts when drawing voting maps in 2011, the same year the voter ID rules were passed. Neither ruling has any immediate impact. But the decisions are significant because they raise the possibility of Texas being stripped of the right to unilaterally change its election laws without federal approval. Forcing Texas to once again seek federal permission known as preclearance has been a goal of Democrats and rights groups since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the rule in 2013. The latest ruling by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of Corpus Christi comes more than two years after she likened Texass voter ID rules, known as SB 14, to a poll tax meant to suppress minority voters. On Monday, she reaffirmed that conclusion after an appeals court asked her to reexamine her findings. The Texas law requires voters to show one of seven forms of identification at the ballot box. The list includes concealed-handgun licenses but not college student IDs, and Texas was forced under court order last year to weaken the law for the November elections. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) did not immediately react to the ruling, although the state could once again appeal, something that one of Paxtons top deputies, Brantley Starr, appeared to suggest would happen while testifying to lawmakers just as the ruling came down. The Trump administration has temporarily suspended the publication of weekly reports detailing cities and counties that refuse to honor federal immigration detainers over concerns about the accuracy of those lists. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which began making the lists public last month, is reviewing its reporting methodology after several law enforcement agencies complained that they were erroneously included in the report. While this analysis is ongoing, the publication of [the report] will be temporarily suspended, said Sarah Rodriguez, a deputy press secretary at ICE. She added that the agency expects to resume publication after the review is completed, but she did not specify a time frame. ICE remains committed to publishing the most accurate information available regarding declined detainers across the country, she said in a statement. ICE began publicizing the list of jurisdictions after President Trump signed a pair of executive orders in January to ramp up immigration arrests and deportations at the southern U.S. border and inside the country. To that end, Trump directed federal officials to publish a weekly list of declined detainers and the immigrants who were released by so-called sanctuary cities. He also threatened to block some federal grant funding to those cities that fail to comply with federal detainer notices for immigrants subject to deportation. Administration officials have said immigrants who commit crimes but are released pose a serious threat. But the weekly lists included in the Declined Detainer Outcome Report contained several errors that rankled local law enforcement officials. For instance, one report incorrectly claimed that Franklin County in Iowa, Franklin County in New York, Franklin County in Pennsylvania and Montgomery County in Iowa had ignored immigration detainers they had never received. Williamson and Bastrop counties in Texas, Chester County in Pennsylvania and Richmond County in North Carolina were also incorrectly included in the list. On Tuesday, an official said the errors were a main reason they suspended the report. Weve identified that there have been some data-processing errors, said David Lapan, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE. Thats why the decision was made: Lets take a pause and make sure that we look at this holistically and make sure that were getting it as accurate as possible. A spokesman for Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the reports suspension would not affect the Justice Departments plans to withhold federal grant money from sanctuary cities. But that timeline is unclear, Lapan said, because the agencies have not agreed on a definition of the term sanctuary. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors restrictions on immigration, said the report could be a valuable tool for Trump. I think they got out of the gate quicker and they werent quite ready yet, he said. Theyve got to go back and set up a more systematic way of gathering the information. I dont have any doubt they will. It just will take a while. But the American Civil Liberties Union, which considers immigration detainers unconstitutional, said it hoped that ICE would not issue the report again. The ACLU is pleased the administration has halted these deeply flawed and misleading reports, staff attorney Cody Wofsy said in a statement. It should reconsider its entire campaign of bullying localities for their lawful and responsible choices. Some cities have passed laws that restrict the collection of citizenship status by local law enforcement, citing concerns that immigrants who have committed relatively minor infractions, such as traffic violations, could be harassed or deported. The Trump administration has listed scores of jurisdictions including in Virginia, Maryland, California and Texas that have allegedly not cooperated with federal authorities. But last month, Seattle sued the administration over Trumps executive order on sanctuary cities, calling it unconstitutional. Rodriguez said the publication of weekly lists has already sparked important conversations between ICE and law enforcement agencies across the nation, and the revised report will add to this discussion. As James Thompson worked his way through a coffee shop, the Democratic candidate for Congress said something that got people to look up from their laptops. Weve got a lead right now. Really? said Marla Flentje, a Republican who said shed voted for him in early balloting. A trio of Democrats walked over to meet Thompson and tell him theyd vote Tuesday. I hope you do, because right now, were winning, said Thompson. Republican Ron Estes, left, Kansas state treasurer, and Democrat James Thompson, a civil rights lawyer, are competing to replace Rep. Mike Pompeo in a special election in Kansas. Pompeo is now CIA director. (Wichita Eagle via AP) Thompson was not supposed to win or even come close in this largely rural 4th District, which picked Donald Trump for president by 27 points. Rep. Mike Pompeo (R) vacated the seat to lead the CIA, and Republicans expected to hold it easily. But in the final days before Tuesdays special election, Republicans reacted to weak polling and turnout data by rushing resources to southern Kansas. A GOP super PAC rolled out robo-calls over the weekend from Vice President Pence, and on Monday from President Trump, in support of candidate Ron Estes. Ron Estes needs your vote and needs it badly, Trump said on the call. Ron is going to be helping us, big league. On Monday, Republicans also dispatched Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) for a fly-in, where he urged Kansans to vote if youre fed up with the stagnation under the Obama economy. Late Monday, the national House Democratic campaign arm announced that it was calling 25,000 households to counter the GOP influx. Readers of the liberal Daily Kos donated a total of $149,000 to Thompson over the final weekend. This the home town of Koch Industries is the last place the GOP expected to have to undertake a rescue mission. The Kansas seat is one of the reddest of the five House seats vacated in the Trump era, four of them by Republicans who joined the new administration. If Thompson ends up winning here, the national Democratic Party will claim the victory as a portent of bad things to come for Republicans in the 2018 midterms with Trump in the White House. Democrats also have an opportunity in Georgias 6th District, where Jon Ossoff is surging in the race to replace former congressman Tom Price (R), who is now health and human services secretary. [GOP begins to fret about holding on to Tom Prices district] In Kansas, Thompson, a civil rights lawyer who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the 2016 presidential caucuses, flew under the radar for weeks. Meanwhile, Estes, the state treasurer, got bogged down as his party staged an unsuccessful rebellion against deeply unpopular Gov. Sam Brownback (R). Estes rarely mentions Trump, but he did reference fair trade at the Cruz rally, smoothing over an issue that divides Kansans. As the race has tightened, Republicans, who are still favored to win Tuesday, have strained to make the election a referendum on liberalism. Brownback, invisible on the trail, didnt help matters by vetoing a bipartisan Medicaid expansion bill last month; his most favorable polling puts his job-approval rating below 25 percent, even in the 4th District. In November, as Republicans were scoring upsets around the country, they lost three state House seats in the Wichita area. Several more-conservative Republicans lost primaries to moderate candidates. People here still like Trump, said Thompson, whose campaign signs identify him not as a Democrat but as an Army veteran. Its not been a referendum on him. Its a referendum on the failed Republican leadership in the state. People dont want these policies taken to the national level. In Wichita, where turnout in early voting has been high, Brownbacks name has the force of an epithet. As she settled in for lunch at the Anchor, a downtown gastropub where Thompson stopped to shake hands, Kayla Marshall said she didnt vote in the 2016 election. She would, she said, vote for Thompson and to explain why, she talked about teachers buying pencils with their own money because Brownback had cut the education budget. Lynn Jones, who opened his door to Thompson canvassers Monday morning, was quick to say hed voted for George W. Bush. Brownback, he said, was nothing like Bush. Okay, he was trying something new with his tax cuts, but the experiment didnt work, Jones said. When the laboratory explodes, you probably ought to try a different formula. Thompson, a first-time candidate, was generally ignored by both parties for most of the race. When his campaign asked the state Democratic Party to fund a mailer, it was turned down, later investing just $3,000. In an interview last week, Democratic National Committee Chairman Thomas Perez said the national party would not be transferring any late money. We can make progress in Kansas, Perez said. There are thousands of elections every year, though. Can we invest in all of them? That would require a major increase in funds. Thompson spoke before Sanders at a February rally and has been endorsed by Sanderss group, Our Revolution. According to recent fundraising reports, Estes has raised $459,000 to Thompsons $292,000. Outside groups, which are pouring money into Georgia ahead of the April 18 contest there, have left Kansas alone. The Democrats think so much of their candidate there that theyve spent zero dollars, said Corry Bliss, executive director of the Republican-allied Congressional Leadership Fund. Well win the Kansas election by double digits. His group is now funding robo-calls targeting local Republicans, who outnumber Democrats but have been sluggish to turn out. The National Republican Congressional Committee has spent close to $100,000, multiplying Estess presence on the airwaves. Thompsons campaign reacted with delight to the robo-calls, viewing them as not just ineffective but as sign of his viability. Because hes getting so little attention no trackers from the other party were following him Monday Thompson talked freely with a voter concerned about abortion, agreeing that society should do more to lower abortion rates. He dismissed a last-minute TV ad accusing him of favoring abortions for sex selection as representing his views to a ludicrous and false extreme. His final TV spot featured him shooting an AR-15 as a narrator called him a fighter who grew up in poverty, but the National Rifle Association was not on the air to contradict him. What was on the air for Estes was rote and telling of how Republicans have struggled to find a pro-Trump rallying cry. One of Estess first commercials featured him in waders, joking that after eight years of Obama, America is weaker and the swamp is deeper than we thought, as an alligator poked its head up for emphasis. Democrats havent won here since the early 1990s; then-Rep. Dan Glickman (D) was swept out by a Republican wave in 1994. Glickman vastly outspent his opponent, but the Republicans made up for it with a grass-roots surge of antiabortion activists. In 2014, when Bliss helped Sen. Pat Roberts (R) secure victory, he got a similar late-game boost from social conservatives. Those wins came when Democrats controlled the White House. On Monday, when more than 150 Republican voters piled into the Estes-Cruz rally, some wore anti-Hillary Clinton merchandise; all cheered when Cruz recalled how his lips curled into a smile when he saw a Democratic colleague mourn Clintons defeat. The cheering was quieter when Cruz and Estes described the stakes of the election. They spoke generally about repealing the Affordable Care Act, though Estes said he opposed the GOP replacement bill that fizzled last month. Cruz talked up tax reform by staging a contrast: Unlike Obamacare, Im convinced we can get it done. Estes, meanwhile, packaged himself as an agent of common sense and disruption, without mentioning the work hed done with Brownback. Im going to Washington to change Washington, he said. When I go to Washington, I want to get to a balanced budget. The Republican majority that Estes would join does not have a balanced-budget plan. In interviews at the rally, Estess voters said they were thrilled that Neil M. Gorsuch had been confirmed to the Supreme Court, but they had little else to say about Congress. Asked what he thought of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), John Bernhardt, who sported an early-voting sticker on a red-white-and-blue polo shirt, answered with a grimace. Can I plead the fifth? he said. Joyce Wallace, who got a plum position near the rally stage, said she had no qualms about sending a Trump ally to Washington. Im all for Trump, she said. I think hes fulfilling his campaign promises. Not every Republican at the event agreed. Cathy Dowell, who like Wallace had caucused for Cruz in 2016, worried that Trump went back on a campaign pledge by attacking a Syrian airfield. Im a little worried about Trump, Dowell said. I know hes not a conservative, and I think hes making a mistake in Syria. But the two Republicans found something to agree on: Both would be happy if Carl Brewer, the Democrat who just finished two terms as mayor of Wichita, replaced Brownback in the governors office. Read more at PowerPost From mass dances to going to the zoo, a glimpse inside the Hermit Kingdom. From mass dances to going to the zoo, a glimpse inside the Hermit Kingdom. From mass dances to going to the zoo, a glimpse inside the Hermit Kingdom. The United States and North Korea are engaging in high-tension brinkmanship, with North Korea warning Tuesday that it will hit the U.S. first with nuclear weapons, but the prospects that this could escalate into an actual clash of arms are slim. The stakes remain too high for both countries, analysts say, today as they were yesterday, as they were last year. But the temperature in the region has become decidedly hotter in recent days. And theres always the chance that one side or the other could miscalculate. Expectations are mounting that North Korea will unleash some kind of provocation this week, and the U.S. Navy rerouted an aircraft carrier strike group, capable of both firing missiles and shooting missiles down, to the Korean Peninsula over the weekend. On Tuesday President Trump issued his latest tweet taking aim at Pyongyang. North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. he tweeted. Pyongyang said Tuesday that pre-emptive strikes are not the exclusive right of the United States. Our military is keeping an eye on the movement of enemy forces while putting them in our nuclear sights, declared the Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers Party. With trademark bravado, the newspaper warned that North Korea will use its mighty nuclear weapons to obliterate the United States if it made the slightest movement toward a preemptive strike. But there are good reasons to think the tension wont escalate further into an actual clash. I dont think were about to go to war against North Korea, said Ralph Cossa, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studiess Pacific Forum in Honolulu. But the United States is certainly trying to send a message that they are fed up with the North Koreans and with sending strong letters of protest. Saturday is the Day of the Sun in North Korea, the 105th anniversary of the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the states founding president and the current leaders grandfather. It coincides with Easter weekend in the United States, and theres a definite North Korean pattern of disrupting American holidays. Analysts say they think North Korea may conduct a nuclear test or another missile launch or something else to mark the day. [U.S. Navy sends strike group toward Korean Peninsula] The American aircraft carrier at the head of the strike group, the USS Carl Vinson, was the very same one that a North Korea-linked website showed going up flames in a mock attack video last month, when it was participating in drills with the South Korean military. [Will North Korea fire a missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland? Probably.] (Jason Aldag/The Washington Post) The mere suggestion of striking North Korea has been ruled out by successive American administrations. For one, its not clear where to strike. North Koreas nuclear test site is underground and its fissile material is spread among multiple sites, while its missiles are increasingly fired from mobile launches that can be wheeled out from any hangar or tunnel. Second, any attack on North Korea could be expected to unleash a devastating attack on Seoul, a metropolitan area of some 20 million people that lies within reach of North Koreas conventional artillery. I dont think there is a good option for the U.S. to preemptively strike North Korea, said Euan Graham, a former British diplomat who served in Pyongyang and is now at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. But I think coercive diplomacy like this can prevent a real escalation. Sending an aircraft carrier and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers and cruiser to the region was a classic coercive diplomatic measure, Graham said. Its straight out of the geopolitical playbook. Cossa agreed. The first thing on the checklist is demonstrate resolve, Cossa said. Try to make the North Koreans and perhaps the Chinese, too, a bit nervous. Van Jackson, an associate professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, said that he was 99 percent certain that the aircraft carrier was not moving to strike North Korea. The Carl Vinson is a big strategic asset. Look at what we did in Syria it was quick and quiet and with no posturing. We just did it, Jackson said. Were doing the exact opposite with North Korea. This is big and loud and slow. [As North Koreas arsenal grows, experts see heightened risk of miscalculation] Trumps national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said Sunday that it was prudent to have the aircraft carrier back in the region given North Koreas pattern of provocative behavior. But analysts like Jackson say they are still worried about the chance that Trump might feel emboldened after his sudden decision to strike Syria and miscalculate if North Korea does do something provocative that is not a nuclear test or long-range missile launch perhaps along the lines of a more conventional attack, such as the sinking of a South Korean naval corvette in 2010that killed 46 sailors. Maybe Trump has some deep, dark red line that he hasnt shown us, he said. Jackson noted the difference between a preemptive strike acting to stop an imminent threat, like the launch of an intercontinental missile that could hit the United States and a preventive strike against a threat that was not imminent, an option that has been historically unthinkable. But its becoming more and more thinkable with North Korea because people are frustrated with the lack of options, Jackson said. As for North Koreas actions, former British diplomat Graham warned against reading too much into Pyongyangs latest histrionics. Their diplomacy relies on being threat-based, he said. Thats their only leverage. Read more: North Koreas leader is a lot of things but irrational is not one of them Defying skeptics, Kim Jong Un marks five years at the helm of North Korea Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news By India Today Web Desk: A day after Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar and actor-politician Sarathkumar were questioned in an alleged tax evasion case, officials of the income tax department carried out searches at the office of Raadhika Sarathkumar, wife of Sarathkumar. Raids were conducted at Raadhika Sarathkumar's Radaan media works premises in T Nagar of Chennai. The celebrity couple's residence was raided on April 7, after Sarathkumar extended his support to TTV Dhinakaran from the Sasikala camp in the RK Nagar bypoll, as part of a widespread crackdown on AIADMK ministers and close confidantes. advertisement "The department is keen on getting to know the money trail between Sarathkumar and the AIADMK. In Monday's grilling, we could not get much information from Sarathkumar. We have information that the money trail could lead us to his wife's company," the Times of India quoted an IT official as saying. The bypoll had been necessitated following the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The premises of state-run Dr MGR Medical University's Vice Chancellor Dr S Geethalakshmi were also raided on April 7 by the IT officials over the allegations related to "some transfers." The searches at the premises of an associate of Vijayabaskar had allegedly revealed routing of Rs 89 crore for distribution to voters in R K Nagar Assembly constituency, where a bypoll was scheduled for April 12. Also Read: RK Nagar by-poll: Watch high voltage drama during I-T raids at TN minister Vijayabhaskar's house RK Nagar by-poll: High drama outside Vijaybaskar's house during income tax raid RK Nagar by-poll: Price of one vote is Rs 4,000, reveals Income Tax official RK Nagar by-poll: As parties face election fraud allegations, CEC to meet TN Chief Electoral Officer --- ENDS --- As politicians around the world including President Trump take an increasingly hard line on immigration, a powerful force is rallying to the side of migrants: the Roman Catholic Church led by Pope Francis. Catholic cardinals, bishops and priests are emerging as some of the most influential opponents of immigration crackdowns backed by right-wing populists in the United States and Europe. The moves come as Francis, who has put migrants at the top of his agenda, appears to be leading by example, emphasizing his support for their rights in sermons, speeches and deeds. The pro-migrant drive risks dividing Catholics many of whom in the United States voted for Trump. Some observers say it is also inserting the church into politics in a manner recalling the heady days of Pope John Paul II, who stared down communism and declared his opposition to the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The Vatican is standing in open opposition to politicians like Trump not just on immigration but also on other issues, including climate-change policy. But the focal point is clearly migrant rights. [Pope Francis to lay down a moral challenge for Europe in visit to refugee island] Eritrean migrants sit on a Proactiva Open Arms rescue boat in the Mediterranean Sea, about 56 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, on April 6, 2017. (Bernat Armangue/AP) In the United States, individual bishops, especially those appointed by Francis, have sharply criticized Trumps migrant policies since his election. They include Newark Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, who last month co-led a rally in support of a Mexican man fighting deportation. Tobin has decried Trumps executive orders on immigration, calling them the opposite of what it means to be an American. In Los Angeles, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, the first Mexican American vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which leads the U.S. church, described migrant rights as the bishops most important issue. He has delivered blistering critiques of Trumps policies, and instructed his clerics to distribute cards in English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese informing migrants of their rights in 300 parishes . Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, one of Franciss closest allies in the U.S. church, has issued orders that if federal immigration authorities should attempt to enter churches without a warrant in search of migrants, priests should turn them away and call the archdioceses lawyers. Catholic school principals were given the same instructions by the archdiocese, which Cupich said was an attempt to respond in a way that was firm but not extreme. He said Francis has helped bishops shape their response. The pope makes it a lot easier for me to be a bishop because hes very clear in his teaching, and [on] this one in particular, hes trying to awaken the conscience of the citizens of the world, Cupich said. Francis has long been an advocate of migrants kicking off his papacy in 2013 with a trip to an Italian island used as a waypoint for migrants desperate to enter Europe. In a highly public spat early last year, Francis and Trump exchanged barbs with Francis declaring that anyone who wants to build walls is not Christian. Speculation is building that Trump and Francis may meet during the U.S. presidents trip to Italy for a Group of Seven meeting in May. Since the November election, Francis has sidestepped direct criticism of Trump and other populist leaders like French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen while at the same time forcefully condemning the dangers of populism. I appeal not to create walls but to build bridges, Francis said in February on an international day of prayer against human trafficking. To not respond to evil with evil. To defeat evil with good. . . . A Christian would never say, You will pay for that. Never. Cardinal Peter Turkson, one of the Vaticans most senior voices, said last month that it was wrong to portray the Holy See as against Trump. But a day earlier, he said that the Vatican was counting on the U.S. Catholic Church as well as checks and balances to stop Trumps policies. Luckily there are dissenting voices, contrary voices, in the U.S., in explicit disagreement with Trumps positions, Turkson said at a Vatican news conference, according to Italys ANSA news service. His immigration ban was blocked by a lawyer in Hawaii. That is a sign that there can be another voice, and hopefully, via political means, gradually Trump himself will start rethinking some of his decisions. [Pope Francis takes refugees back to Rome following provocative and emotional Lesbos visit] Those who have the popes ear say Francis is seeking to counter anti-migrant policies by appealing directly to voters. I dont think the pope is challenging [the politicians]. I think he is challenging their supporters, both those who actively support them and those who passively allow their policies to happen, said the Rev. Michael Czerny, undersecretary of the Vaticans new Section for Refugees and Migrants, which opened in January, just before Trump took office. Czerny reports directly to the pope a sign of the importance of the new office. Mr. Trump or Ms. Le Pen are not the root of the problem, Czerny continued. The root of the problem is the fear, selfishness and shortsightedness that motivate people to support them. The issue is hardly limited to Trumps America. In Germany, for instance, the powerful conference of bishops last month raised eyebrows by strongly condemning the policies of an anti-migrant party in a statement that seemed to urge Germans not to vote for it. Heiner Merz, a German lawmaker from the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, said he recently tangled with a pro- migrant priest at an official event in Stuttgart. The priest, Merz said, publicly called him a right-wing extremist. I think its outrageous that priests preach party politics down from the pulpit, Merz said. Not all Catholic leaders have echoed the popes concerns. In some countries, such as Poland, prominent Catholic clerics have taken a different approach, generally supporting right-wing populists and their policies. Conservative elements in the church, already chafing at some of Franciss other statements, also say that the pope is in danger of overpoliticizing his office. [Pope Francis offers hope to divorced Catholics, says no to same-sex marriage] A small number of prominent clerics led by Cardinal Raymond Burke a longtime Vatican insider who met in Rome with Trumps chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, in 2014 when he headed Breitbart News have issued surprisingly public critiques of the popes more open stance on divorced Catholics and gays and lesbians. The popes pro-migrant stance may be feeding the concerns of those who see him as overly liberal. Roberto de Mattei, a critic of Francis and president of the conservative Lepanto Foundation in Rome, said that the church should play a balancing role in the migrant issue. But if under Pope [Francis] the church sides with unchecked immigration, what then? [Right-wing] movements will accuse the church of colluding with Islam and pro-immigration movements. Overall, U.S. Catholics tend to be generally supportive of migrants rights. But the November election revealed a strong political divide along racial and ethnic lines: Sixty percent of white Catholics supported Trump, while 67 percent of Hispanic Catholics backed Clinton, according to exit polls. Surveys also show a clear difference on immigration. Nearly 90 percent of Hispanic Catholics say that undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements should be able to stay in the United States, while 65 percent of white Catholics say the same thing, according to a 2015 Pew survey. Yet senior U.S. clerics have largely united behind the pope on the migrant issue. In the politically red state of Kansas, for instance, Catholic bishops issued a statement urging Trump to develop generous and prudent immigration laws. Even Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia, seen as conservative, held a prayer service for immigrants and stated in a column that how we treat [immigrants] will prove or disprove whether we take our Christian discipleship seriously. Senior U.S. clerics also opposed the Obama administration on a number of policies, including a health-care mandate to cover contraception. Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, described the churchs religious freedom as the raging issue under Obama, while immigration is now the raging issue under Trump. Baltimores archbishop, William E. Lori, said U.S. bishops agree with the Trump administration on some issues, including abortion and school choice. He added that previous popes have taken similar positions as Francis on immigration. But, Lori added, Francis is perhaps more dramatic. His trips, such as his 2016 visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, also connected his stance on migrants to politics. The poor is the hallmark of his papacy, Lori said. It will affect our priorities and it should. Bailey reported from New York. Stefano Pitrelli in Rome and Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin contributed to this report. Read more Italy could finally allow civil unions but what will the pope say? Pope Francis talks about love and sex Pope Francis calls for study on reinstating female deacons Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news MOSCOW As Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived here Tuesday with a demand that Moscow back away from the Syrian government, Russian Foreign Ministry officials said relations with the United States had reached their lowest point since the Cold War. Following a U.S. missile strike on Syria last week, the Foreign Ministry said it was concerned that the Trump administration might be considering a similar blow against North Korea. And even before Tillerson exited his plane in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a news conference that the Kremlin has information that provocateurs are planning to plant chemical substances in suburban Damascus and blame it on Syrian authorities. He gave no further details on the claim. He said the situation in Syria reminded him of events in Iraq before the United States invaded in 2003, an allusion to unfounded assertions of weapons of mass destruction that the George W. Bush administration used to justify the war. He also said Western countries divided over the election of President Trump were scapegoating Russia and Syria. Weve seen all this before, Putin said. And the Russian general staff has put the United States on notice, saying that another missile strike would be unacceptable. Russia and Iran back the government of President Bashar al-Assad, while rebel factions supported by the West and its partners have been largely driven back by withering attacks, including the use of a suspected nerve agent on a rebel stronghold last week that left at least 70 people dead. [The Russia-Iran bonds that Washington cannot seem to break] Putins spokesman said it remained unclear whether the Russian leader would meet with Tillerson. I cannot confirm yet, Dmitry Peskov told The Washington Post after the private Russian broadcaster RBC reported that they would meet Wednesday. Before leaving Italy where he met with like-minded allies in the Group of Seven major advanced economies and diplomats from largely Muslim nations Tillerson told reporters that the United States is aiming for a negotiated end to six years of conflict in Syria and wants Russias help in ushering Assad out of office. Claiming that Assads rule is coming to an end, Tillerson previewed his message to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad, he said. In what was in effect an ultimatum, he said Moscow must calculate the costs of remaining an ally of Assad, the Iranians and Lebanons Shiite militia Hezbollah. Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russias interests? he told reporters. Or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries that are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis? [U.S.-Russia rifts were already widening before missile strike] Russia has maintained that a Syrian government airstrike last week hit a factory where Syrian rebels were manufacturing chemical weapons in the northern Idlib province. After the U.S. missile strike, Peskov asserted that the Syrian government has no chemical arms stockpiles. Moscow says it fulfilled its part of a 2013 agreement mandating that Russia oversee the destruction of Assads chemical-weapons arsenal. On Monday, Russias general staff said two sites where chemical weapons might remain are in territory controlled by Syrian rebels. But Tillerson told reporters that last weeks attack with a suspected nerve agent shows that Moscow either did not take its obligations seriously or was incompetent. In either case, he added, the distinction doesnt much matter to the dead. We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people, he said, and issued an ultimatum: Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role. Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russias interests longer term. Tillersons visit has the potential to be an opportunity or another marker in the escalation of tensions between the two great powers. In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner rejected Russias suggestion that the poisonings were the result of a deliberate provocation or false flag operation intended to falsely incriminate the Assad government. It is crystal clear to us that this was carried out, and that this was carried out by the Syrian regime, Toner said. There was no false flag. Assads responsibility for the attack, Russias role in policing its ally and Assads political future will be discussed when Tillerson sees Lavrov on Wednesday, Toner said. If there is an invitation for him to meet with Putin, of course hell do so. I think thats a decision for the Kremlin to make and to announce, and up until now, weve not seen such an offer extended, Toner said. Tillerson is uniquely qualified to deliver a stern warning to the Russians. When he was the chief executive of ExxonMobil, he negotiated a deal with the state-controlled gas company Rosneft, leading Putin to bestow the Order of Friendship on him. Tillerson gained a reputation as being willing to walk out on energy deals that did not meet his standards. [What is the Russian Order of Friendship, and why does Rex Tillerson have one?] Diplomats at the meeting in Italy did not agree on a British proposal to impose more sanctions on Russia over Syria, on top of sanctions already in place over Ukraine. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said ministers want Russia to pressure Assad but warned, We must not push Russia into a corner. Anne Gearan in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: Trump officials defend Syria strikes, say they were in vital national interest Timeline of the U.S. strike against Syria: How did we get here? With the U.S. and North Korea saber rattling, is conflict imminent? Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news An Iraqi forces member looks at a crater made by an air strike in western area of the city of Mosul, where an intense battle is being waged against the Islamic State. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images) The Pentagon has struggled in recent weeks to effectively explain what lies behind a surge in reported civilian casualties in its air campaign against the Islamic State, fueling speculation that the new Trump administration is pursuing policies resulting in a greater loss of life. Military officials insist there has been no significant change to the rules governing its air campaign in Iraq and Syria, and instead attribute the string of alleged deadly incidents to a new, more intense phase of the war, in which Islamic State fighters are making a final stand in densely populated areas such as the Iraqi city of Mosul. But some in Iraq and Syria are left wondering whether the higher death count is a product of President Trumps bare-knuckle military stance and his suggestions that the United States should take out militants families. The recent incidents, and the attention surrounding them, have generated concern within the military that the strikes have undermined the United States ability to fight the Islamic State. [U.S. military acknowledges strike on Mosul site where more than 100 killed] It does have a negative impact on our image at least throughout the region and the world, and its probably detrimental to the strength of our coalition. And thats exactly what ISIS is trying to target right now, Col. Joseph Scrocca, a military spokesman, said in a recent media briefing. ISIS is a common acronym for the Islamic State. The militarys difficulty in accounting for the civilian casualties exacerbated by classified regulations and a complex process for airstrikes has allowed the Islamic State to advance its own version of the events. The group has accused the United States of killing hundreds of residents of Mosul and decried what it has said are continuous American-Iraqi massacres in that city and elsewhere. Were ceding space to the adversary who wants to create the perception of disregard for civilian life, said David Deptula, a retired Air Force general who heads the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Incidents that have been brought up by rights groups include a March 17 strike on a crowded building in Mosul that may have killed at least 140 people and a March 16 strike in the vicinity of a Syrian mosque. Both attacks are under investigation. The surge in reported casualties in March was so dramatic that it prompted Airwars, a respected watchdog group, to suspend its tracking of Russian air operations in Syria known to take a devastating toll on civilians to focus on U.S. actions. Since U.S. jets dropped their first bombs on the Islamic State in 2014, U.S. military leaders have called the air war in Iraq and Syria the most meticulous ever in avoiding unnecessary loss of life. But the Pentagon has scrambled to address questions about the recent spike in civilian casualties. That difficulty was apparent last month when, in the space of three days, senior military officials gave conflicting accounts about basic aspects of the air campaign. First, a three-star general in Iraq said that there had been relatively minor adjustments to rules governing air operations against the Islamic State. The next day, his four-star boss told Congress there had been no change. Amid the confusion, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq and Syria weighed in the day after and tried to split the difference, telling reporters that while rules had technically changed last year, the moves in no way reflect a lower tolerance for civilian casualties. [Mounting claims of civilian deaths after U.S. targets al-Qaeda in Syria] These military officials were referring to changes made late last year, in the final weeks of the Obama administration, when lower-level officers in Iraq were granted power to approve strikes in certain situations. But even senior officers appear to disagree over whether that decision constituted a change in the rules of engagement. Discussion of U.S. air tactics takes place as the new administration reviews the U.S. approach to the Middle East, including the larger conflict in Syria. Late last week, the Pentagon launched a missile attack on a Syrian military air base in retaliation for a chemical attack on Syrian civilians. Since taking office, Trump has directed the military to accelerate the militants defeat and to examine whether regulations that exceed the requirements of international law should be lifted. The Trump White House also is re-examining restrictions the Obama administration put in place last summer as part of its effort to avoid civilian deaths. Those rules produced frustration among some military leaders, who complained of a slow operational tempo and missed opportunities against militants. The stakes of those deliberations can be seen in Syria, where U.S.-backed forces are bearing down on Raqqa, the Islamic State stronghold. In Mosul, Islamic State fighters routinely fire from inhabited houses and appear to be positioning civilians to expose them to coalition strikes. Military officials may be struggling in part because the reality of the situation is that there will be a higher level of civilian casualties, and sometimes that really will be the outcome that military planners have to accept, said Ryan Goodman, a professor at New York University Law School and a former Pentagon official. But thats very hard to explain to the public. Officials are also having trouble addressing the casualties because the militarys rules of engagement, known as ROE, are classified, meaning that military personnel can give only general assurance that no significant guidelines have changed. But military experts point out that while the ROE, which guide when and how force may be used, are set by military leaders, they are subject to interpretation by personnel on the ground. The thing about the ROE is that theyre living documents, said Jason Lyall, an associate professor at Yale who has studied military operations in Afghanistan. Theyre not just black and white. The confusion over the ROE is reminiscent of what took place in Afghanistan in 2010, when Gen. David Petraeus sought to counter confusion about whether he had altered an unpopular set of ROE or just standardized implementation of those rules across the battlefield. [Amid reports of increased civilian deaths, military says no changes to air rules] Similarly, it has been challenging for the military to explain how last years decision to allow lower-level commanders to authorize strikes hasnt made the air operations more risky for civilians. That is in part because the process for approving strikes is so complex and varies depending on the type of target. A strike on a religious site, for instance, would require higher-level approval. Officials also have to factor in the targets importance and location and whether a potential strike involves defense of American or allied forces. Its not clear whether the Trump administration will make adjustments to these rules. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has already sent the White House a series of requests that would give military commanders increased decision-making power in conflicts in Yemen and other areas. As more U.S. forces deploy closer to the front lines in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, there is likely to be an increase in situations requiring strikes that would protect American troops. That appears to have been the case in Yemen, where a Jan. 29 raid resulted in multiple civilians deaths after U.S. forces called for air support. Ilan Goldenberg, a former Pentagon official who is now with the Center for a New American Security, said Trumps own statements may influence how the fight is unfolding. Signaling from a commander in chief goes all the way up and down the system in small, subtle ways, he said. Generally, people are feeling the vibe that they should be a little more aggressive. Loveday Morris, Karen DeYoung, Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Greg Jaffe contributed to this report. Morris reported from Mosul. Read more: Panic spreads in Iraq, Syria as record numbers of civilians are reported killed in U.S. strikes Airstrike monitoring group overwhelmed by claims of U.S.-caused civilian casualties Away from Iraqs front lines, the Islamic State is creeping back in Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed federal prosecutors across the country Tuesday to make immigration cases a higher priority and look for opportunities to bring serious felony charges against those who cross the border illegally the latest in a string of controversial maneuvers to crack down on illegal entry into the United States and expand the Justice Departments role in immigration enforcement. In a three-page memo, Sessions directed each U.S. attorney to appoint a border security coordinator to oversee immigration prosecutions and to make immigration offenses such as crossing the border illegally or harboring those who do higher priorities. He told prosecutors to consider whether they could bring felony charges against those who had entered the United States illegally multiple times and to evaluate whether they could charge illegal immigrants with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence. He said law enforcement would no longer catch and release undocumented immigrants taken into custody at the border. [Sessions seeks greater role for Justice in immigration enforcement] The directive signals a more aggressive posture on immigration issues than the Obama administration had taken. Advocates and legal analysts said it raises troubling questions about the Justice Departments intentions and its use of resources. Sessions, right, tours the U.S.-Mexico border with border officials in Nogales, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin/AP) Which prosecutors and agents does he want to divert from the growing threats like terrorism, cybercrime, the opioid and heroin trade, organized crime and cartel activity? asked Jenny Durkan, who served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington from 2009 to 2014. The surge philosophy always requires taking agents, money and prosecutors from other priorities. In fact, the cost of satisfying Washington will reduce the ability of every U.S. attorney to address the greatest threats in their communities. Sessions touted the changes in Nogales, Ariz., on Tuesday as he toured the U.S.-Mexico border crossing there, about 70 miles south of Tucson. In a speech, he derided violent cartel and gang members and those smuggling people across the border, and he promised to take a stand against them. He said illegal border crossings have declined significantly since President Trump took office dropping 40 percent from January to February and 72 percent from December to March. Such crossings, though, also have decreased in recent years, and some researchers say demographic and economic factors have more influence than border security on the volume. As you know too well, this is a booming business. No more, Sessions said. We are going to shut down and jail those who have been profiting off this lawlessness smuggling gang members across the border, helping convicted criminals re-enter the country, and preying on those who dont know how dangerous and costly this journey can be. The Trump administration and Sessions in particular has taken a hard-line stance on immigration, alarming activists who say U.S. officials are testing legal boundaries and implementing policies contrary to American values. Sessions last month threatened to strip federal funding from cities that did not communicate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and he signed a letter with Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly backing the practice of arresting undocumented immigrants at courthouses. He also announced that he would expand a program to deport undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes after they serve their prison sentences, and he said Tuesday that he would increase the number of immigration judges to speed the removal of others. Already, Sessions said, the Justice Department has posted 25 immigration judges in detention centers along the border, and he plans to add 125 more over the next two years. Those judges, though, handle deportation proceedings not criminal cases. This is a new era, Sessions said. This is the Trump era. Paul K. Charlton, the U.S. attorney for Arizona from 2001 to 2007, said Sessionss new directive would simply overburden the U.S. district court system, which is already struggling to handle the volume of immigration cases. He said that when he was U.S. attorney, his office had the highest number of prosecutions in the country, yet the number of people entering illegally did not dramatically decrease. No one understands better than I do that prosecutions have a deterrent effect, but its not a solution. Prosecution and incarceration do not adequately address the real need, which is a reform of the immigration laws, Charlton said. As a senator, Sessions vigorously opposed immigration law reform. Sessionss memo offers blanket guidance to beef up enforcement, though it is somewhat short on specifics omitting, for example, how to handle those coming to the United States with their children or those fleeing persecution, said Leon Fresco, who worked in the office of immigration litigation in President Barack Obamas Justice Department. The Justice Department, Fresco said, could slap asylum seekers with identity theft charges merely for using fake passports to get out of a country that otherwise would not have let them leave, or could jail parents who cross the border with their kids breaking up the family. That would run counter to the assertion by the homeland security secretary that officials will not separate children from their parents. Theres nothing in the memo that talks about the need to be careful about that, Fresco said. Justice Department lawyers already spend a significant amount of time prosecuting immigration offenses. In fiscal year 2015, for example, such cases accounted for 29.3 percent of the entire federal caseload behind only drug prosecutions, which accounted for 31.8 percent, according to data from United States Sentencing Commission. But the prosecutions had steadily declined in recent years and had fallen by 30.1 percent since 2011. Gregory Z. Chen, director of advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the new Sessions memo seems to be an attempt at scaring the public by linking immigrants to criminals despite studies showing that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than the native born. Sessionss massive, wasteful effort to prosecute illegal border crossers will hurt families in America, Chen said. The Trump administration took the unusual step Tuesday of unveiling intelligence discrediting Russias attempts to shield its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, from blame in last weeks deadly chemical attack. The newly released details of a U.S. intelligence assessment, which officials said demonstrated Syrian culpability in the April 4 assault that killed at least 70 people, added to rapidly escalating tensions with the Kremlin and signaled a move away from hopes for U.S. rapprochement with Russia. Officials said their case against the Syrian government included signals and aerial intelligence combined with local reporting and samples taken from victims of the attack that showed a Russian-made, Syrian-piloted SU-22 aircraft dropped at least one munition carrying the nerve agent sarin. The declassified findings formed part of a coordinated broadside against Russia from the White House, State Department and Pentagon. The choreographed critiques appeared to show a desire to impose order on what has been the administrations chaotic, often contradictory public stance on national security matters. The increasingly hostile stance toward Russia takes place less than a week after the administration, in a sign of its rapidly evolving foreign policy positions, launched a barrage of missile strikes on a Syrian air base in retaliation for the chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the time had come for Russia to rethink its support for the Syrian government, which has been blamed for repeated atrocities in Syrias ongoing civil war. In this particular case were going to be very forceful . . . to make sure that we let Russia know that they need to live up to the obligations it has made, he said. [Tillerson brings tough line to Moscow over Russias backing for Syrian regime] Spicers remarks came as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made his first official visit to Moscow, where he is expected to press Russia to choose between Syria and the West. According to U.S. officials who spoke about intelligence findings on the condition of anonymity, U.S. surveillance tracked the aircraft as it took off from a base near the city of Homs, loitered over the strike area in Idlib province and delivered its deadly yield. U.S. intelligence also detected the presence of individuals associated with Syrias chemical weapons program at the Shayrat air base in the days surrounding the attack. Dozens of people died of exposure to sarin in Khan Sheikhoun, including numerous children, officials said. Many more were injured, among them first responders. The officials said that nothing from an array of intelligence and publicly available material provided any credence to the alternative account put forward by Syria and Russia, which claimed that routine bombing struck an opposition chemical weapons depot. I have personally reviewed the intelligence, and there is no doubt the Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and for the attack itself, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon later in the day. He warned Syria that it would pay a very, very, very stiff price for further chemical attacks. But Mattis and other officials said the U.S. government has not yet reached a consensus on whether Russia knew about the assault ahead of time. U.S. officials suggested that it was unlikely that Russian troops, stationed at the air base that was singled out last week, would have been kept in the dark. [Where are Russian and U.S. troops in Syria?] We do think it is a question worth asking the Russians, about how is it possible that their forces were co-located with the forces that planned, prepared and carried out the chemical weapons attack at the same installation and did not have foreknowledge? one senior official said. Russias entry into the Syrian conflict in 2015 has proved to be a lifeline for Assad, who has relied on both Moscow and Tehran for financial and military support. The officials slammed Russian President Vladimir Putins government for a clear pattern of deflecting blame for its actions and those of Assads forces, and for trying to use disinformation to hide the Syrian governments role in what occurred. I think its clear that the Russians are trying to cover up what happened there, another official said. Officials also provided their fullest accounting so far of what they believe was the Syrian governments motivation in launching the Khan Sheikhoun attack. They said that the Syrian military had used the weapons to prevent the loss of a key airfield that was threatened by a recent rebel advance on the strategic city of Hama. They were losing in a particularly important area, and thats what drove them, said one of the senior officials. Khan Sheikhoun was seen as a rear in that assault. [American strikes against Syria prompt both praise and condemnation] The Assad regime, after six years of war, is down to as few as 18,000 soldiers, according to some estimates. Officials said the reliance on chemical weapons was intended to help make up for those manpower deficiencies. The orchestrated U.S. government message Tuesday was in sharp contrast to earlier weeks of the young administration. On key issues, such as China, North Korea and NATO, President Trumps off-the-cuff tweets and improvised pronouncements have sometimes contradicted those of his key advisers and even his own earlier statements. The mixed messages have been especially prevalent when it comes to Syria. Over the course of the past two weeks, administration officials have suggested that the White House was no longer focused on removing Assad from power, a position that held in the immediate aftermath of the attacks only to be abandoned by Tillerson on the eve of his trip to Moscow this week. Signaling a step back from Trumps earlier suggestions of warmer U.S.-Russia relations, Tillerson has had sharp words for the Kremlin in the lead-up to his Moscow visit, saying that Russia either failed to embrace its obligations as a guarantor for the Syrian regime or had been incompetent. This distinction doesnt much matter to the dead, Tillerson said. Moscow played a central role in the international process to remove chemical weapons from Syria in 2013, in the wake of an earlier chemical attack. According to the U.S. government, last weeks attack showed that the Syrian government retained stockpiles of its most deadly chemicals. Russian officials stepped up their own response to events in Syria on Tuesday, as Putin raised questions about the capabilities of U.S. intelligence agencies and asserted that rebels were planning to plant chemical materials elsewhere in Syria and blame the Assad government. The Russian military also warned the United States against further missile strikes, which it said would be unacceptable. Despite the recriminations on both sides, Mattis expressed confidence that tensions between the United States and Russia will not spiral out of control. The two governments continue to communicate, he said, and Russia is likely to act in its own self- interest to prevent a dangerous deterioration in relations. Mattis described last weeks U.S. counterstrike as an isolated incident that would not affect the U.S. campaign against the Islamic State, which has been an American priority since 2014. This was a separate issue, he said. We addressed that militarily, but the rest of the campaign stays on track, exactly as it was before Assads violation. Carol Morello and David Filipov in Moscow and Jenna Johnson, Anne Gearan and Ashley Parker in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: Expectations of a new U.S.-Russia relationship were tanking even before missile strike Rattled by U.S. strike, Assad lashes out at arrogant aggression How two weeks and one deadly chemical strike changed U.S. policy toward Syria Mary Ann Schiefelbein Audio Article Today, Mary Ann Schiefelbein is either sitting in the porch swing, drinking a cup of coffee, or being Quality Control... Mathie Richmond Audio Article Mathie Richmond, loving mother and grandmother, transcended to Gods side on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, surrounded by her family. The... Sources say the home ministry has taken no official call on their deportation but the fate of around 40,000 Rohingya, who have taken refuge in India, will be sealed soon. By Shashank Shekhar, Arvind Ojha: The runaway Rohingya from Myanmar have emerged as a serious security threat for India, intelligence sources say, with authorities running a sweeping drive to identify the refugees who could be relocated or deported. The reports come days after New Delhi urged Naypyidaw to contain violence against the Muslims living in the western part of Myanmar bordering Bangladesh. advertisement Sources say the home ministry has taken no official call on their deportation but the fate of around 40,000 Rohingya, who have taken refuge in India, will be sealed soon. Hundreds died in communal violence between Buddhists and Rohingya in 2012, worsening their plight, and in the last few years thousands from the Muslim community have fled to countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh. POLICE ACTION ON ROHINGYA Intelligence officials are closely observing the movements of the Rohingya. Delhi Police's special cell arrested two youths of the community from Kolkata last month who allegedly had links with terrorist groups and were planning to fly to Dubai on fake passports. MORE ABOUT ROHINGYA A number of Rohingya are also living in and around the national Capital. BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab claimed in the Lok Sabha last week that 40,000 Rohingya Muslims had illegally entered India from Myanmar and they are being trained as terrorists, creating an "alarming" situation. "There are too many of them living in the country and are mostly being confused as Bengali. They are vulnerable to getting radicalised and recently they have been behind terrorist activities. There were terror alerts about them in the past but now the government has initiated a check on them," said a senior intelligence officer. Sources say the identification process will be over soon with the help of state governments. However, deportation won't be easy as they are spread over large parts and many have got Indian documents now, they added. GOVERNMENT ON MYANMAR ON ROHINGYA The government of Myanmar does not officially recognise the Rohingya, regarding them as illegal Bengali immigrants, despite many being able to trace their roots back in Myanmar for generations. Today that many Rohingya Muslims have also been involved in petty crimes. "They can be a potential threat soon and it is important to identify and act against them before they become a part of the local populace," he said. advertisement This potential threat came to the notice of security agencies in 2013 after the arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Abdul Karim Tunda who travelled from Pakistan to Bangladesh over the past decade to explore the possibility of recruiting Rohingya youth for terror. Tunda had promised LeT chief Hafiz Saeed that he will train Rohingya Muslims in making bombs and in motivating them, but only if they carried out a blast in India. Saeed earlier referred to them as "brothers" and spoke against their persecution in Myanmar. Security agencies say these youths may be more prone to radicalisation than Indian Muslims. The Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Jammu last week demanded the immediate deportation of Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslims settled in the area, saying that the business community would otherwise launch an "identify and kill" operation against them. As per the J&K government's figures, a total of 5,743 Rohingya are staying in the state for the past six years and the police as well as other agencies have not reported even a single incident of radicalisation or their involvement in any militancyrelated act. Although home to numerous refugees from across South Asia, India is not a signatory of the UN Refugee Convention and does not grant refugee status. advertisement Also Watch: Centre exploring ways to deport 40,000 Rohingya Muslims --- ENDS --- Amid mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the Chinese state-owned Global Times has warned of the rising danger of US attacks on North Korea in the wake of the Trump administrations cruise missile strikes on Syria. An editorial entitled After Syria strikes, will North Korea be next? appeared in the wake of the Pentagons redirection of the aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson to waters off the Korean Peninsula. Emboldened by its success in Syria, the newspaper stated, Washington will probably become more impatient with Pyongyangs provocations. Destroying North Koreas nuclear facilities with air raids is not considered an absurd idea by the Trump team any more, but is a serious option that is frequently talked about. The Trump administration has finalised a full review of US strategy toward North Korea. According to an NBC report last Friday, the options now under active consideration include returning US nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, decapitation raids to kill North Korean leaders and covert military action to sabotage North Korean nuclear and military installations. Trumps national security adviser H.R. McMaster told Fox News on Sunday the US president had asked to be given a full range of options to remove the threat posed by North Korea. McMaster declared it prudent to redirect the Carl Vinson amid speculation that North Korea could stage a missile or nuclear test to coincide with this weeks birthday of the countrys late founding leader, Kim Il-sung. The Global Times editorial, reflecting fears in the Chinese leadership, warned that any US strike on North Korea was unlikely to be limited to nuclear facilities and related military infrastructure and could provoke devastating retaliation on US ally, South Korea. Thus, a military strike on the North will very likely evolve into large-scale bloody war on the Peninsula. According to an unconfirmed report by the South Korean Chosun news agency, the Chinese military has moved 150,000 troops to the border with North Korea to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. The units reportedly include medical and support units to train for an influx of North Korean refugees. The report was denied by the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry, and the US Defence Department told the Daily Caller there was no evidence of significant troop movements along the Chinese-North Korean border. Nevertheless, the Chinese government is nervous about the prospect of US military action against North Korea triggering an all-out war in its backyard. In talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump last weekend, North Korea was high on the agenda. Trump effectively delivered an ultimatum to Xi to force Pyongyang to accept US demands or face the prospect of US strikes on North Korea. The fact that Trump authorised the US strikes on Syria in the midst of his meetings with Xi underscored the threat. Beijing is caught in a dilemma. On the one hand, it has opposed North Korean missile and nuclear tests, which provide the US with a pretext for its military build-up in North East Asia. On the other, it does not want a collapse of the Pyongyang regime that could lead to a pro-US ally on its doorstep. China continues to call for negotiations, which the Trump administration has rejected unless its demands are met. In comments to the Global Times, Lu Chao, from the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, said: The US needs to take many things into consideration if it plans to launch a military attack on North Korea, especially whether its allies Japan and South Korea will fully cooperate and how Russia and China will respond. Otherwise, it will lead to unbearable consequences. The prospect of a US military attack on North Korea is also prompting concern in capitals around the world. Speaking on Radio 4s Today program, the ex-chief of British intelligence M-I6 branch John Sawyers warned: If you are looking for a world crisis which could bring about the dangers of a clash between great powers, then North Korea is a bigger concern than Syria. The move by the Americans to strengthen their forces in the Korean Peninsula, the demonstration to President Xi in Florida that the US was willing to use force against another state, he said. I think this is all part of a calculation that North Korea has to be treated very seriously, a very high priority and ultimately needs a joint US-Chinese approach to deal with this unless we are to avoid a further conflict on the peninsula. Sawyers added: I think what the Chinese are beginning to understand is that if this cant be solved peaceably through negotiations, through pressure, then there is a serious risk that the US will have only one option left, which is the military option. Beijings ability to apply pressure to Pyongyang, short of imposing crippling sanctions such as the cut off of oil supplies, is limited. China has already agreed to UN resolutions that impose heavy economic sanctions on North Korea and announced in February that it was suspending coal imports from its neighbour. China is by far North Koreas largest trading partner and Chinese sanctions on North Korea have already provoked a sharp deterioration of relations between the two countries. Whether the Trump administration will wait for China to bully North Korea into submission is unknown. The White House has already held discussions with its closest alliesJapan, South Korea and Australiaabout the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The presence of the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group in adjacent waters is just the most obvious indication that the US military is being primed for an attack. The Daily Telegraph in Sydney reported today that Australia and its allies have been put on standby for the possibility of the United States shooting down test rockets launched by North Korea. Citing intelligence sources, it suggested that such a test might occur on April 15, Kim Il-sungs birthday, or sooner. The Australian newspaper said the US is understood to have notified Australia that it is fully prepared to shoot down these rockets. The Australian-United States joint facility at Pine Gap monitors North Korean missile launches, and is on standby. The Pine Gap spy base in central Australia provides intelligence and targeting information to the US war machine for a broad sweep of the globe from the Middle East to North East Asia. On December 11, 2008, a meter reader stepped into the woods near Casey Anthonys home. As he looked for a place to relieve himself, he kicked a garbage bag. A skull rolled out. It was the discovery that ended a five-month long search for 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, who had been reported missing that July. The details of the discovery were gruesome: duct tape was stretched over the jaw of the skull. Items from Caylee Anthonys room, including linens and clothes, were found with the remains. Authorities combed the area, and soon found dozens of bones belonging to Caylee. Prosecutors decided to seek the death penalty against Casey Anthony. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. In a new interview, Caseys parents recall hearing the news that their granddaughters remains had been found. George and Cindy Anthony speak out for the first time in five years on Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery, a three-part docuseries on Investigation Discovery. In the exclusive preview clip above, Caseys mother they recall their devastation at the confirmation that their beloved granddaughter was dead. It was horrible, a tearful Cindy Anthony remembers. I felt like someone had punched me in the gut and taken every breath from out of my body, and my heart was just being ripped apart. All of our prayers and all of our hopes were gone. The reality hits you like a brick wall you run into, or just having every part of your body being pulled and mangled, adds George Anthony. Nearly nine years later, George and Cindy Anthony live in the same house, just a few hundred feet from where Caylee was found. Casey Anthony, who is known asthe most hated mom in America, was acquitted in 2011. She lives a lonely, guarded life in South Florida with her lead investigator. She has not been employed for several years. Story continues The Anthonys no longer speak with Casey, and have never gotten the answers they seek about what, exactly, happened to Caylee. I just couldnt understand it, Cindy Anthony says now. Its very hard to process. Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery, airs Monday, April 10 at 10 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery. This article was originally published on PEOPLE.com By Kate Murphy Its getting cold again: A chemical weapons attack, cruise missile strikes and dirty tricks in the U.S. electoral process have put a deep freeze on the possibility of warmer U.S.-Russia relations. President Trump has said, Wouldnt it be nice if we actually got along with Russia? Harrowing images from the attack sparked international outrage and a military response from the U.S. On Thursday, President Trump stated, Tonight I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. Now Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is calling on Russia, one of Syrias closest allies, to hold Syrian President Bashar Assad accountable. During the G-7 meeting in Italy, Tillerson said, I hope that what the Russian government concludes is that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad. So why does a dictator like Assad, who was previously implicated by the United Nations of committing war crimes against his own people, still have Russias backing? U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on CNNs State of the Union, The first reaction from Russia wasnt, How horrible. It was, Assad didnt do it. Assad didnt do it. Why was that the reaction? Russias connection to Syria runs deep, stemming from the Cold War era when Syria sided with the Soviets in what would become a regional proxy conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. For their loyalty, Syria was rewarded with Russian military equipment. In 1971, that relationship was reaffirmed when Syria let the Soviet Union open its sole regional naval base in Tartus under an agreement with President Hafez Assad, Bashars father, giving the Soviet Union a stable presence in the Middle East, something that remains strategically important to Russia today. In 1980, the two countries signed a 20-year Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and that diplomatic relationship continues. Bashar Assad took office in 2000 when his father passed away. He was popular with the military, but not with a majority of the Syrian people. The Syrian civil war started in 2011, after Syrians took part in the Arab Spring uprisings, and Assad cracked down violently. Story continues Feeling pressure from ISIS and the U.S.-backed Syrian rebels, Assad resorted to a chemical weapons attack, killing more than 1,400 people in 2013. That led then President Obama to say, In part because of the credible threat of U.S. military force, there is the possibility of a diplomatic solution. Russia has indicated a new willingness to join with the international community in pushing Syria to give up its chemical weapons. Russia helped broker an agreement allowing Assad to stay if chemical weapons were removed. In the meantime, Russia saw an opportunity for a stronger regional foothold, sending warplanes and troops to help Assad fight the rebels, and to some extent ISIS. Russia has also had Assads back in the U.N., repeatedly vetoing any resolutions aimed at knocking him from power. At the United Nations, Haley cracked down on Russia saying, Russia has shielded Assad from U.N. sanctions. If Russia has the influence in Syria that it claims to have, we need to see them use it. Some view Putins actions as a calculated one-two punch, regaining regional power while also showing the world its renewed military might. The question now is how much of an investment Russia will continue to make in the Assad regime. Publicly, they have sent mixed signals: On the one hand they say their support for Assad is not unconditional, while on the other hand they condemn President Trumps recent military action and refute the claims made against Assad. So as the fallout continues between Russia and the U.S. over Syria, at least when it comes to Russias relationship with Syria, you can say, now I get it. The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matter to you in your college or grad school search. Although many U.S. business schools are eager to enroll women, most have not reached gender parity within their student body. Fewer than 40 percent of full-time MBA students enrolled at ranked business schools were women in fall 2016, and female students were in the minority at 122 of the 130 ranked b-schools that provided gender-ratio statistics to U.S. News in an annual survey. [Find out the typical traits of MBA students at ranked programs.] But at the 10 full-time MBA programs with the highest proportion of women who enrolled in fall 2016, females made up at least 48 percent of students. Six of these 10 schools enrolled more women than men. The full-time MBA program with the highest representation in fall 2016 was the Missouri University of Science & Technology, where 55.6 percent of students were women. In contrast, the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University had the lowest proportion -- just 19.4 percent -- among ranked full-time MBA programs. [Consider these 10 resolutions for female MBA applicants.] Nine of the 10 b-schools where women were most highly represented in full-time MBA programs placed in the bottom-fourth of the 2018 Best Business Schools rankings. These schools are labeled as Rank Not Published; U.S. News calculated ranks for these schools but has decided not to publish them. According to a 2016 survey of business school applicants conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council, female applicants often prefer non-MBA business master's programs and one-year MBA programs instead of traditional two-year MBA programs. Story continues "Perhaps wanting to complete a program in the shortest amount of time in order to resume a career or before starting a family may make a one-year master's program or a flexible, part-time, online, or one-year MBA program more attractive," the report stated. Below are the 10 full-time MBA programs with the highest proportion of women in fall 2016. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report. Don't see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News Business School Compass to find male-female ratios, complete rankings and much more. School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights. U.S. News surveyed 471 schools for our 2016 survey of business programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News' data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Business Schools rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data comes from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News' rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The gender-ratio data above are correct as of April 11, 2017. Ilana Kowarski covers graduate schools for U.S. News. You can reach her via email at ikowarski@usnews.com. WARRI, Nigeria (AP) Nigerian police say two Turkish nationals have been abducted and there has been no word from their kidnappers. State police spokesman Chukwu Okechukwu said Tuesday that the two workers for a construction company were taken Sunday in the town of Eket in Akwa Ibom state in the country's south. Police declined to give further details but said rescue efforts were underway. Turkey's embassy has not yet commented. Kidnapping for ransom is common in southern Nigeria but generally involves no fatalities, as hostages are returned unharmed once money exchanges hands. Two Turkish nationals were kidnapped from an international school in Ogun state in January but were released after 11 days. He added that more follow-up action was taken and 18 lakh people identified whose tax profiles were not in line with the cash deposits made by them in the demonetisation period. By Press Trust of India: The income tax department conducted over 1,100 searches and surveys immediately after demonetisation and detected undisclosed income worth over Rs 5,400 crore, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. He added that more follow-up action was taken and 18 lakh people identified whose tax profiles were not in line with the cash deposits made by them in the demonetisation period and online responses were sought. Jaitley gave these details during the Question Hour, where he claimed that no other government had taken so much action against black money as the present regime. advertisement He said the Reserve Bank was verifying the exact amount that was deposited during the demonetisation period and the precise figure would be presented before the nation. NO OFFICIAL ESTIMATION OF BLACK MONEY ABROAD: JAITLEY The Finance Minister also said that there was no official estimation of black money stashed away abroad but added that information was received from different channels and action including criminal proceedings where required was taken accordingly. Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agrawal had raised the matter related to action against black money and said that people had been promised that they would get Rs 15 lakh in their accounts. In his reply, he said, "In the post-demonetisation period from November 9, 2016 to January 10, 2017, more than 1,100 searches and surveys had been conducted by the Income Tax Department, apart from issuing more than 5,100 verification notices in the cases of suspicious high-value cash deposits or related activities." These actions led to seizure of valuables of more than Rs 610 crore, which includes cash of Rs 513 crore, he said. "Seizure in cash in new currency was about Rs 110 crore. The undisclosed income detected in these actions was more than Rs 5,400 crore", Jaitley said. Jaitley said that the income tax department had undertaken "Operation Clean Money" to leverage technology and data analytics for verification of deposits during the demonetisation period. Under this, about 18 lakh people have been identified whose tax profiles were prima facie not in line with the cash deposits made by them in the demonetisation period. He said online responses had been sought in such cases and over 12 lakh replies received from more than 8.38 PANs or people. He said that the law-enforcement agencies (LEA) had made concerted efforts in the last three years. LIST OF SEARCHES CONDUCTED "Till February 2017, while 23,064 searches and surveys were conducted (IT 17525, Customs 2509, Central Excise 1913, Service Tax 1120), more than Rs 1.37 lakh crore of undisclosed income/tax evasion was detected (IT 69434, Customs 11405, Central Excise 13,952, Service Tax 42727). Simultaneously, criminal proceedings were launched in 2,814 cases (Income Tax 1966, Customs 526, Central Excise 293, Service Tax 29) and 3,893 people were placed under arrest (Customs 3782, Central Excise 47, Service Tax 64)", the minister said. The Enforcement Directorate intensified its anti-money laundering actions by registering 519 cases and conducting 396 searches. Arrests were made in 79 cases and properties worth Rs 14,933 crore were attached, he said. advertisement He said that the Benami prohibition law, which had remained inoperative for 28 years, was made operational from November 2016. "More than 245 Benami properties have already been identified. Provisional attachments of properties worth Rs 5.5 crore have already been made in 124 cases", he said. He said that the agencies had also launched a crackdown against the shell companies engaged in nefarious activities. OVER 1 LAKH NOTICES SENT TO NON-COMPLIANT FIRMS The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has issued more than 1 lakh notices for striking off names of defunct or non-compliant companies, the minister said. A high-powered group has been set up for coordinating and monitoring the actions taken by departments concerned with the objective of eliminating the conduits of black money generation and application. In his reply, Jaitley said that the investigation into the information on 628 Indians allegedly holding accounts in HSBC Bank in Switzerland received from the Government of France under the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) led to taxation of undisclosed income worth about Rs 8,400 crore in 409 cases (including protecting assessments in some cases). CONCEALMENT PENALTY OF Rs 1,287 CRORE LEVIED IN 161 CASES advertisement Besides, concealment penalty of Rs 1,287 crore was levied in 161 cases and 190 criminal prosecutions were filed in 77 criminal cases. He said that investigation into information pertaining to Indian persons allegedly linked to offshore entities based in no tax or low-tax jurisdictions put into public domain by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) had led to detection of more than Rs 8,500 crore of credits in undisclosed foreign accounts. As many as 66 prosecution complaints in 30 such cases had been filed before criminal courts, he said. As many as 648 disclosures, involving undislosed foreign assets worth Rs 4614 crore, were made in the one time three-month compliance window closed on September 30, 2015 under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015. The amount collected by way of tax and penalty in such cases was about Rs 2,476 crore, he said. Also read | Post-demonetisation, gold smugglers work out new plans Also read | India likely to grow at 7.2 per cent in 2017, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Also read | Tax officials to seek information on deposits made during demonetisation in new income tax returns advertisement MAY ALSO WATCH --- ENDS --- SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) In a story April 11 about 26 suspects charged with trafficking cocaine at Puerto Rico's main international airport, The Associated Press reported erroneously that authorities seized jewelry, property and a tiger that authorities said the alleged drug leader kept as a pet. Authorities are seeking to seize those items. A corrected version of the story is below: 26 charged with trafficking cocaine at Puerto Rico airport Federal law enforcement has broken up a $4 million drug-trafficking ring at Puerto Rico's main international airport that relied on bathrooms and garbage chutes to smuggle cocaine to the U.S. mainland, authorities say. By DANICA COTO Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Federal law enforcement has broken up a $4 million drug-trafficking ring at Puerto Rico's main international airport that relied on bathrooms and garbage chutes to smuggle cocaine to the U.S. mainland, authorities said Tuesday. Indicted in the case are 26 suspects including airline employees, airport staff and restaurant workers. The majority were arrested before dawn at the Luis Munoz Marin airport in the capital of San Juan that authorities said serves as the biggest drug distribution center in the Caribbean. "Today we have brought their operations to a grinding halt," said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez. Authorities are seeking to seize jewelry, property and a tiger that authorities said the alleged drug leader kept as a pet. Rodriguez said federal agents nicknamed him "Tony the Tiger." She said the suspects smuggled drugs aboard flights headed to New York, Miami, Philadelphia and Orlando. Among the planes targeted were those operated by American, JetBlue and Southwest airlines. Authorities said mules would pick up the cocaine in bathroom stalls after going through TSA checkpoints. The drugs also were smuggled aboard DHL planes and by American Airline employees who would place stickers on luggage indicating it had been cleared by TSA when it hadn't been, officials said. American Airline employees also would send the drugs as cargo themselves free of cost, they added. Story continues American Airlines said in a statement that it was cooperating with authorities. "We take this matter very seriously," the company said. "Our top priority is the safety and security of our customers and employees." A spokeswoman for DHL did not respond to a request for comment. Authorities said workers at the Air Margaritaville restaurant inside the airport also smuggled the cocaine via garbage chutes. They said the suspects would retrieve the cocaine from the garbage, place it inside their locker, take it to the dishwashing area and then deliver it to mules inside coffee bags, with up to 9 pounds (4 kilograms) of cocaine stashed per bag. The arrests come just months after security screeners and airport workers at the same airport were charged with helping smuggle 20 tons (18 metric tons) of cocaine through Puerto Rico during an 18-year operation that ended last year. Maintaining a positive and productive relationship with your listing agent can make all the difference in your home selling process. Just like any other relationship in your life, it requires trust and honest communication by both parties. Selling your home can be stressful, confusing and emotional. Choosing the right agent, setting your expectations up front and maintaining a professional working relationship can have a significant impact in creating a positive home selling experience. Here are four things you should do to ensure a productive relationship between you and your listing agent. [See: 10 Terms First-Time Homebuyers Must Know.] Choose the right agent. You can set yourself up for a positive experience by choosing an agent who is best suited to your goals and personality. Use a selective process and interview several candidates. Don't be afraid to ask questions about their experience, past sales, knowledge of your neighborhood and marketing plan. It's important to work with someone who you feel has the professional experience and savvy to sell your home effectively. It is also important that you connect on a personal level and have compatible communication styles. [See: 10 Must-Ask Questions When Choosing a Real Estate Agent.] Set expectations up front. The easiest way to avoid hurdles is to set your expectations up front. Let your listing agent know how you expect to be communicated with and how often. Some clients prefer text messages and emails, while others like the personal touch of a phone call. If you expect immediate feedback following each showing, let your agent know. If you prefer not to be disturbed in the morning before 9 a.m., let them know that too. You don't want to be stuck playing phone tag with your agent because you're never available at the same time -- let your agent know what time of day you're most likely able to talk. Avoid confusion and ask your agent who your main point of contact will be for each process of the sale. Some agents have assistants who they work very closely with. In addition, more and more companies are moving toward a team-based system where you may be in communication with multiple team members throughout the process. Before you move forward, ask about who you will be working with and at what stages of the selling process, to ensure communication is continuously effective with everyone on the team. Story continues Make sure you are comfortable with the answers to all your questions, and if you're not -- speak up so that you can come to a mutual understanding. Keep lines of communication open. Nothing can be more frustrating for a listing agent than a client who suddenly shuts down or goes MIA (and vice versa). Throughout the selling process there are numerous appointments that need to be made, paper work that need signatures and questions that need answering. It's imperative that both parties are able to plan ahead, communicate their availability and follow through with scheduled meetings, phone calls and agreed-upon actions. Unfortunately not every transaction is without a few hiccups along the way. If you're able to work with your agent to deal with issues as they come up, it will prevent small problems from escalating and will help to keep a productive and successful relationship. [See: 10 Secrets to Selling Your Home Faster.] Keep it professional. Trust and mutual respect are such important aspects of the agent-client relationship that it's not uncommon for sellers to work with a friend or family member when selling their home. When mixing personal and professional relationships it's important to set boundaries and expectations. Be sure you feel confident you'll get the right amount of service from a friend or relative -- you don't want to ruin a personal relationship because the professional deal went south. Whether you are working with an agent you're meeting for the first time or friend you've known for years, keeping a clear professional collaboration with your listing agent during the sale is paramount to maintaining a successful working relationship. An effective agent-seller relationship is vital to creating a positive experience and the successful sale of your home. By vetting potential candidates and choosing an agent who is right for you -- setting your expectations up front, keeping communication open and maintaining a professional partnership -- you can set yourself up for success. 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. My first few months as a yoga student, I felt a bit like a foreigner in a new land. Teachers often used the Sanskrit terminology to name a pose or a concept, and I was hardly fluent in Sanskrit, an old Indic literary language. While yoga jargon can feel alienating and annoying if you don't receive a clear English definition of the Sanskrit words or other unusual terms, using yoga language can also be a great way to provide more depth and richness to your practice. (Not to mention, it can be fun to learn new terminology.) Start by getting to know these common yoga terms: 1. Asana The word asana literally translates to "seat" and refers to the physical shape or container that your body makes in any given pose. In yoga class, each posture is referred to as an asana. Teachers will also to refer to the physical practice of yoga as your "asana practice." [See: The 10 Best Exercises You Can Do for the Rest of Your Life.] 2. A Comfortable Seat Yoga teachers will usually ask students to find a comfortable seat at the beginning and end of class. When the teacher said this in my first class, the first thing I noticed was that there wasn't any furniture at the yoga studio on which to sit. How do you sit comfortably on the floor? Well, I learned that you can sit cross-legged on your mat, but most students find that doing so is painful and awkward. If your knees go above your hips while you sit, for instance, it cuts off the blood circulation to your feet and they quickly become numb. If this is the case for you, sit on a prop like a block or a blanket. You can also sit on your calves to stay comfortable. 3. Meditation Meditation describes allowing your mind to have an experience without having an agenda. While you do not want your mind to make a mental grocery list of thoughts, you also will not be able to shut your mind off completely. You want to concentrate on your breath by counting them up to 10 and then back down to one. If you lose count, you just start again at one. A common misconception is that you are meant to not think about anything during meditation. As far as I know, that is impossible. Trying to achieve that is frustrating and disheartening, and it makes it easy to give up on meditation. Instead, when your mind wanders, notice the thoughts that come up, acknowledge them and draw your attention back to counting your breaths. Story continues [See: 8 Ways Meditation Can Improve Your Life.] 4. Namaste Namaste -- pronounced "nah-mah-stay" -- is usually part of a ritual at the end of class where you sit on your mat, close your eyes and bring your palms to touch in front of your chest. You say "namaste" as you bow your head toward your heart. This is a gesture to honor yourself, those around you and your commitment to your practice. 5. Om This sound is often chanted at the beginning and end of class. Om is broken up into three parts -- "ahh," "ooh" and "mm" -- to signify three stages of life: creation, maintenance and destruction. The om represents the cyclical nature of our existence. So, when you chant this sound in class and hear everyone's voices blend together to make one sound, the idea is to create a sense of wholeness and to signify the completion of a cycle. 6. Pranayama There are many different variations of pranayama (say "praw-nee-yaw-mah"), or breathing techniques. Ujayii pranayama, or ujayii breath, is the most common style of breathing used in yoga. Pranayama allows you to bring awareness to the subtleties in your breath, mind and body. Each type of breathing has a different focus and accomplishes different results. Pranayama helps to achieve more of an inward experience rather than a physical expression. 7. Savasana This posture, pronounced "shaw-vah-saw-nah," is typically the final pose in a yoga practice. It allows you to draw inward and let your practice sink in. Savasana translates to "corpse pose" since it involves lying on your back in an active rest. You practice this pose after you have moved your body and fully connected with your breath so that your mind is more capable of being rested and at peace. 8. Ujayii This is the most common breathing technique used throughout your yoga practice. Ujayii ("oo-jah-yee") is when you take deep, prolonged breathes in and out through your nose. Your breath should be intentional and full, but it should not be harsh or forced. Your neighbor should not be able to hear it. Your breath helps keep you relaxed and gives your practice a cadence, like a metronome. If you are breathing too heavily, or if you cannot maintain ujayii breath, you are pushing yourself too hard and it is no longer considered yoga. [See: 8 Ways to Relax -- Now.] 9. Yoga In Sanskrit, yoga means to yoke or unite. Yoga is a relationship between the physical practice, breath, meditation and philosophy. Yoga is always a conversation between these different modalities. While the goal in traditional yoga is liberation or transcendence, a more progressive philosophy suggests that enlightenment is found in everyday life. Yoga is a means to love your life with all its imperfections and to flourish in it. Geneva (AFP) - African migrants trying to reach Europe are being sold into slavery in Libya, including for sex, for as little as $200, international monitors said Tuesday, citing testimony from victims. Having paid human traffickers in the hope of finding a better life many instead were held hostage and their families extorted for ransom. The International Organization for Migration said "slave market conditions" and detention were increasingly common as criminal gangs sought to cash in. "Selling human beings is becoming a trend among smugglers as the smuggling networks in Libya are becoming stronger," Othman Belbeisi, the IOM's chief of mission in Libya, told reporters in Geneva. "Migrants ... are being sold in markets as a commodity" at a going rate of between $200 and $500 a head, he said. While some migrants sold this way managed to escape, many wallowed in captivity for months before being bought free or sold on. The UN agency could not provide statistics over how many people were affected, but relied on accounts provided to its staff on the ground. In one case, a Senegalese migrant identified only as S.C., told IOM staff he had been held captive for months after he made the perilous journey to Libya. After paying a trafficker more than $300 to arrange for him to be driven through the desert, he was apparently conned when he arrived in Libya, with a truck driver saying the trafficker never paid him the money. - Sex slaves - The driver had taken S.C. and other migrants to a parking area where a "slave market" was taking place, an IOM statement said. "Sub-Saharan migrants were being sold and bought by Libyans," the statement said, citing staff in Niger who took the man's testimony. S.C. described being bought and taken to a private home where more than 100 migrants were held as hostages. They were forced to call their families back home, and were beaten while on the phone, to try and make sure they would get the money demanded for their freedom. Story continues "When somebody died or was released, kidnappers returned to the market to 'buy' more migrants to replace them," the statement said. "Women too were bought by private individuals ...(and) were forced to be sex slaves," it added. An IOM staff member in Niger had spoken with a number of migrants in recent days who "all confirmed the risks of being sold as slaves in squares or garages" once in Libya, it said. Some migrants, mainly Nigerians, Ghanaians and Gambians, were also "forced to work for the kidnappers/slave traders as guards in the ransom houses or in the 'market' itself," the IOM staff member said. One migrant, whose name was not given, told IOM he and 25 other Gambians were taken to a "prison" in Libya, and was beaten every day for nine months before his father paid for his release by selling the family home. When he was freed he weighed just 35 kilos and was suffering from severe malnutrition and numerous torture wounds. Paris (AFP) - Wealthy countries boosted their aid spending in 2016, investing a record $143 billion (135 billion euros) in overseas development as migrants continued to pour into Europe, the OECD said Tuesday. The 8.9 percent hike in aid spending was partly driven by a 27.5 percent increase in spending on refugees, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said. The United States remained the world's biggest donor overall, spending $33.6 billion on overseas assistance, ahead of Germany with $24.7 billion and Britain with $18 billion. But the US leadership position could be short-lived. In a draft budget last month President Donald Trump proposed steep reductions in foreign aid as part of his "America first" approach. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has, by contrast, thrown her country's doors open to migrants fleeing war, persecution and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In 2016, Germany increased its aid spending by 36 percent as it attempted to absorb the more than one million migrants who have streamed into the country since 2015. Germany's spending propelled it into the small club of countries that have met a UN target to spend at least 0.7 percent of gross national income on development aid. The other members of the club are Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Luxembourg. While overall aid spending was up, bilateral aid to the world's poorest countries was down 3.9 percent over 2015. "While governments should be commended for sustaining investment in development during these difficult times, it is unacceptable that once again aid to the poorest countries is in decline," the secretary general of the Paris-based OECD, Angel Gurria, said in a statement. As United Airlines scrambles to contain a flood of public outrage this week, its competitors are happy to pile on. The company is under fire over a viral incident in which airport police violently manhandled and dragged a paying passenger from one of the company's flights. SEE ALSO: Here's United Airlines' adjusted 2017 pre-flight safety speech Some rival airlines have taken the opportunity to remind everyone that they aren't in the habit of roughing up their customers. Emirate Airlines, which TripAdvisor named the best airline in the world this week, released a 30-second ad that culminated with the message, "Fly the friendly skies... this time for real" a jab at United's famous slogan. The Royal Jordanian took a slightly subtler approach with a double-meaning tweet that stressed that "drags on our flights are strictly prohibited." While ostensibly a no-smoking message, most Twitter users picked up on what kind of "dragging" the company was actually referring to. We are here to keep you #united Dragging is strictly prohibited pic.twitter.com/CSjZD7fM4J Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) April 10, 2017 The tweets aren't the first time rivals have expressed schadenfreude over United's viral missteps. Arch-rival Delta slammed the company last month after it refused to board girls wearing leggings. Flying Delta means comfort. (That means you can wear your leggings. ) Delta (@Delta) March 27, 2017 Delta has been notably quiet in the wake of the most recent incident, perhaps because it's dealing with its own angry customers. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz apologized for the third time on Tuesday after the airline's stock plummeted in early trading. WATCH: United Airlines is in the news ... again Associated Press Concerns over the Buffalo Bills troubling loss to the New York Jets were quickly overshadowed by even bigger worries regarding the status of Josh Allens throwing elbow on Monday. Suddenly, the entirety of the organization and its fanbase is holding its collective breath while awaiting the results of medical tests to determine the severity of Allens injury sustained in the final minutes of a 20-17 loss to the Jets and what impact it will have on the second half of the season and the franchises Super Bowl aspirations. The reality, however, is bracing for the potential of having to turn over a very Allen-centric offense to journeyman backup Case Keenum to keep the AFC-leading Bills (6-2) afloat in the interim. (Reuters) - Chelsea striker Diego Costa offers more than just goals and will rise to the occasion in Sunday's trip to face Manchester United despite his recent lean spell in front of goal, wing back Marcos Alonso has said. Costa's 17 league goals have helped Chelsea build a comfortable seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table but the 28-year-old Spaniard has failed score in his last five games for the club. "Is he a big game player? Yes. Manchester United is going to be a tough game for us but it doesn't matter who scores, hopefully we will get the three points," Alonso told British media. "Diego has been massive for Chelsea this season. He has almost scored 20 goals and that is a significant contribution. But it's not just about that, with the way we play, he is very important." Second-placed Tottenham Hotspur's run of six consecutive league victories has put Chelsea under increasing pressure to pick up points and Alonso admits Costa's sense of humour often helps defuse the tension in the dressing room. "Diego is very good for the group... The pressure is there. It's good to play with this pressure because it means we are fighting for titles and trying to stay up there," Alonso added. "It's good to have someone like Diego around who is funny and provides something to enjoy. Being in this position is something that should always be enjoyed." (Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru) New York (AFP) - Telecom firm Altice USA plans to take the first steps this week towards an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, a person familiar with the matter told AFP Monday. Altice USA, the affiliate of Netherlands-based telecom giant Altice led by billionaire Patrick Drahi, plans to file papers by Wednesday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch an IPO, a banking source familiar with the matter said. That key first step would be followed by a series of "road show" presentations to investors ahead of an initial public offering and the start of trading over the summer. The funds raised would go to reduce debt and finance additional acquisitions in the United States, where Altice currently us the fourth biggest cable operator and operates in about 20 states. Altice declined comment. The offering would come amid a period of flux in the US telecom landscape, which expected to accelerate under the administration of President Donald Trump, who is expected to employ a light touch on regulation. Altice USA could acquire ventures such as Verizon's Fios or Cox Communications, banking sources told AFP. Cox has said it is not for sale, but it could potentially emerge as a corporate partner to a consolidating Altice USA. Altice plans to raise up to $2 billion with the transaction, from selling five to 10 percent of the available shares, valuing the enterprise at $25-30 billion, the source said. Drahi would maintain 70 percent of the company, with the shares for sale coming from Canadian pension fund CPPIB and BC Partners, which together now hold 30 percent. The IPO would be the second biggest of the year after Snapchat parent Snap raised $3.4 billion in March. From 'ghar wapsi to 'shuddhikaran', RSS in Jharkhand is on a "Christianity-free" block campaign. In the previous week, seven Christian families underwent conversion. By India Today Web Desk: In Jharkhand, as many as 53 families living in villages, which are part of Sindri panchayat, "returned to Hindu fold" in the last 30 days. According to an RSS worker this is part of the "Christianity-free" block campaign in Jharkhand's Arki by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The state is rich in minerals and according to RSS, which is often called the ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party that is in power in Jharkhand, the resources have been "hijacked" by Christian missionaries over the last decade. advertisement "You cannot call it conversion. We are only bringing our lost brothers and sisters back to their religion," said RSS Saiyojak Laxman Singh Munda, who is leading the Christianity-free campaign. "We want a Christianity-free block. The villagers will soon return to their roots." A Hindustan Times report cited Laxman Singh Munda saying that the tribals of the area were lured by missionaries into Christianity. Laxman Singh Munda is also BJP's deputy president of Khunti district in which Sindri panchayat falls. FROM SHUDDHIKARAN TO GHAR WAPSI Many Hindu outfits have carried out various campaigns to convert non-Hindus and "bringing them back into the fold of Hinduism," according to a Hindustan Times report. On April 7, at least seven Christian families in Kochasindhri village underwent a Shuddhikaran, or a purification ceremony. Local priests were called in and sandalwood paste was spread across their foreheads. Their feet were washed and a tilak was also observed. FYI || Kerala priest says women wearing jeans, T-shirt arouse men, wants them drowned in the sea || FYI || Jesus Christ's burial slab uncovered in Jerusalem || Also Watch: Women wearing jeans, T-shirts should be drowned, says Kerala catholic priest in sermon --- ENDS --- London (AFP) - US death penalty sentences fell to a historic low last year and executions also dropped sharply, contributing to a global slump of over a third from 2015, Amnesty International said Tuesday. The number of death sentences handed down in the US, 32, was the lowest since 1973 and the number of executions, 20, meant the country is now no longer among the world's five biggest executioners. Salil Shetty, secretary general of the London-based international human rights watchdog, said the US decline was "a sign of hope for activists who have long campaigned for an end to capital punishment". "The debate is clearly shifting," he said in the group's annual global review of the death penalty, which showed a 37 percent decline overall. Amnesty said it was "a clear sign that judges, prosecutors and juries are turning their back on the death penalty as a means of administering justice". The report also noted sharp drops in the number of executions in Iran -- down 42 percent to at least 567 -- and Pakistan -- down 73 percent to 87. There were also fewer executions in sub-Saharan Africa, although the number of death sentences handed down more than doubled to 1,086, largely due to a rise in Nigeria to 527 from 171. - China 'leading' in executions - Overall Amnesty recorded 1,032 executions worldwide last year -- a 37-percent decline from 2015. In 2015, Amnesty said worldwide executions had reached 1,634 -- the highest recorded since 1989. The statistics exclude China which Amnesty said executes more people than the rest of the world combined but keeps the precise numbers secret. "China wants to be a leader on the world stage, but when it comes to the death penalty it is leading in the worst possible way -- executing more people annually than any other country in the world. "It is high time for China to lift the veil on this deadly secret and finally come clean about its death penalty system," Shetty said. Story continues Amnesty found public news reports of at least 931 people executed between 2014 and 2016, which it said was a fraction of the total executions believed to have taken place in China. But it said only 85 of the executions were registered in a state database. The five biggest executioners in 2016 were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan. Egypt came in sixth place with a doubling of executions to 44 in 2016 from 22 in 2015. "Under (President) Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's rule Egypt has witnessed an unprecedented increase in mass death sentences after unfair trials," Amnesty said. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced a three-month state of emergency following twin church bombings by the Islamic State group that killed dozens of people on Palm Sunday, the deadliest attacks on the minority in recent memory. It was a truly magical Sunday night for the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as the play took home bronze statuettes at the Olivier Awards sweeping the ceremony, according to the BBC. Noma Dumezweni who won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Harry Potters bookish best friend, Hermione Granger, delivered a powerful speech about her life as a refugee child. I arrived in this country as a refugee child with my sister and my mother, she said. I suppose what Im trying to say - this is my little political bit, if you dont mind - I am a refugee child. The actress, who the Guardian reports has South African parents and was born in Swaziland, joins the rank of performers using their platforms at awards ceremonies to touch on political issues. Dumezwenis casting had attracted hostility from some fans who complained that the character, played by Emma Watson in the films, was white. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling took to Twitter to announce her support of the casting choice. Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione https://t.co/5fKX4InjTH - J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 21, 2015 This article was originally published on TIME.com "Concentration camps" for LGBT people have been allegedly opened up in Chechnya where men have been tortured and killed because of their sexuality, Novaya Gazeta reported. The allegations came after a few eyewitnesses and survivors said in interviews with the Russian publication that they were arrested and detained at one of the secret prisons in Argun, a town in the Chechen Republic, Russia. Around 100 gay men have been reportedly detained and at least three killed in the past week in Chechnya by the police. The "concentration camps" are being used to force homosexuals to commit that they would leave the republic, according to Novaya Gazeta. Read: Is Violence Against LGBT Community Increasing Under Trump Administration? The officials in Chechnya started torturing the homosexuals after a Russia-based NGO for LGBT rights GayRussia.ru applied for a gay rights march in the capital of Grozny, reports said. Meanwhile, Chechens President Ramzan Kadyrov, who is a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been accused of setting up the camps to torture gay people. He has denied the allegation saying, "Its impossible to persecute those who are not in the republic. The Chechen government suggested there are no gay people in their country. Russian group LGBT Network said in a statement: "No national and/or religious traditions and norms can justify kidnapping or killing of a human being. Any references to 'traditions' to justify kidnappings and killings are amoral and criminal." It also said that it is ready to evacuate people who are still trapped in the camps. The Muslim-majority nation of Chechnya falls under Russian federal powers and follows traditional Muslim values. There is a fear among the homosexuals in the region as they are still not accepted. Gay men in Chechnya have begun deleting their online accounts or have started fleeing the region, according to the New York Times. Related Articles Texas, the great gun-loving state that it is, passed a bill last year that allows concealed carry on college campuses. Some students are (omg, what!) uncomfortable with it, especially because it takes only four hours to obtain a concealed carry license in Texas. There is, however, something that's still banned from Texas campuses: dildos. So when students gathered to protest the gun laws, they did it with dicks blazing. "Our dildos are an object of political resistance," one student says. The Daily Show's Roy Wood Jr. joined the "cocks not glocks" movement, leading the student activists across a campus, dildo in hand. Glorious, glorious political resistance. Vin Diesel may be the heart of the Fast and the Furious franchise, and Dwayne Johnson its shiny new face. But in The Fate of the Furious, Jason Statham is the adrenaline coursing through its veins. The former villain nearly steals the show right out from under its leading heroes, one punch at a time. SEE ALSO: Summer movie preview: What to watch if you're an action connoisseur If you've seen a Fast and the Furious movie in the past decade or so, you basically know the drill: Dom Toretto (Diesel) and his "family" get caught up in a convoluted, not-exactly-legal adventure that mainly serves as an excuse for ever-crazier action set pieces. This time, though, the family is forced to battle Dom himself. He's has "gone rogue" and teamed up with Cipher (Charlize Theron), an ice-cold baddie who enjoys cyberterrorism and psychological warfare. The family makes its furious 'Dom has gone rogue' faces. The faces of the furious. Image: universal That leaves Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) to reassemble what's left of Dom's crew to track down their former leader. He also makes a few notable additions, including a clueless rookie sidekick (Scott Eastwood, blandly tolerating jokes at his expense) and convicted criminal Deckard Shaw (Statham). Shaw will be familiar to fans of the franchise already. He first made a cameo in the end credits for Fast & Furious 6, which revealed he was the one responsible for the death of Han (Sung Kang). He then reappeared as the big bad in Furious 7, finishing the film in a high-security prison. He's still in that prison when we first see him in The Fate of the Furious, but he doesn't stay there for long. Every time she emerges oncscreen, formerly dead Letty reminds us that no situation is too absurd. Image: universal Fate of the Furious largely eschews the martial arts that were a staple of the past few films which is a shame, since the few fistfights it does have are more energetically shot and staged than the explosive, CG-heavy extravaganzas that are the meat of this movie. (Although those CG-heavy extravaganzas are still pretty good if goofy, over-the-top action is your jam, it's hard not to enjoy Diesel driving car that's literally on fire or Johnson steering a torpedo with his bare hands.) Story continues But the film's loss is Statham's gain. The British star looks good glowering from behind a glass wall or a steering wheel, but he really shines in close-quarters combat. Shaw's jailbreak in The Fate of the Furious is one of its very best scenes, and a thoroughly convincing reminder that Statham a bona fide action star, rather than just another actor dutifully checking "superhero franchise" off of his to-do list. Letty's decision to pair thigh-high suede boots with this ensemble might actually be the most inexplicable element of this entire movie. Image: universal It helps, too, that Statham seems to be relishing every last drop of this role. He shares a surprising, and surprisingly sweet, chemistry with Hobbs, with white-hot animosity giving way to a budding bromance. Fate might not be a comedy, but the lightheartedness that Statham showed in Spy makes a return here. Statham's charisma also goes a long way toward selling the notion that the family would be so quick to embrace the man that once killed one of their own. But then again, the concept of antagonists becoming best buds has been baked into this franchise since Brian O'Connor turned his back on the cops to throw in his lot with Dominic Toretto. Cipher desperately tries to be interesting in The Fate of the Furious. Image: universal Even with Statham's contributions, though, the film can't help but suffer a bit for separating Dom from his family. The Fast and Furious movies have always served up ridiculous action with a big, heaping side of sappiness, but Fate takes things in a darker direction that doesn't entirely feel earned. Dom, we learn, does have a very good reason for betraying his family but not for failing to explain to them why. Add in the fact that not even Theron can sell Cipher's dialogue as remotely reasonable, or make speed-typing look halfway interesting and what should be a shocking turn of events for the franchise rings a bit hollow. (The film might have been better off putting Theron in a more active role, a la Mad Max: Fury Road or the upcoming Atomic Blonde.) But those are mere speed bumps in an otherwise zippy ride. While The Fate of the Furious never quite reaches the heights of the last few installments, it still goes by at a breezy pace, and on the way delivers everything we've come to expect and love from this franchise: spectacularly silly action, convoluted but surprisingly detailed continuity, a big sappy heart, and more bald beefcakes than you can shake a stick at. WATCH: Here are 7 'Fast & Furious' facts every ultimate fan should know The video of an Asian man being dragged off a United Airlines flight became the top trending story in China over accusations of racism. David Dao was pulled off a Sunday evening flight from Chicago to Louisville, Ky., when he refused to give up his seat after United overbooked the flight. Dao, a physician, was randomly selected by a computer; after he refused to relinquish his seat, three security officers dragged him off the plane. According to Bloomberg, the trending topic #UnitedForcesPassengerOffPlane was the top trending topic on the Chinese social media service Weibo, with more than 270 million views. Multiple Chinese outlets reported on the story, including the Global Times, which had an editorial on the matter. Petitions to boycott the airline circulated on the messaging service WeChat. Per the New York Times: CCTV, the state broadcaster, showed photos of the passengers bloodied face above the word, Savage! Peoples Daily, the ruling Communist Partys flagship newspaper, scolded United for failing to condemn the mans treatment. Compounding the problem was the reaction of United CEO Oscar Munoz. Munozs initial statement said he apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers, with an email to employees Monday night stating that Dao was belligerent. A spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Aviation told Yahoo News that the incident was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure, and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the department. That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation. The Chicago Police Departments statement on the incident said the man fell into an armrest and injured himself. The backlash and talk of boycotts from China is potentially troublesome for United, whose website states that the company operates more nonstop U.S.-China flights, and to more cities in China, than any other airline. United stock was down 3 percent on Tuesday, approximately $900 million of its market cap. Dao went to medical school in Vietnam before moving to the United States and establishing a practice in Elizabethtown, Ky. The gorgeous streams of light in Earths atmosphere known as auroras are not special to our planet, and now astronomers are learning more about the ones on Uranus. NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center has released an image of auroras flaring on that icy, ringed planet in our outer solar system, a composite made by images from the Voyager 2 space probe and the Hubble Space Telescope that is in orbit around Earth. They look a bit like lightning shocks, stark white against the planets blue atmosphere. uranus-auroras Photo: NASA According to NASA, auroras bring swirls of light to our sky when charged particles, such as electrons, that are blown in this direction from the Sun, for example interact with gases in Earths atmosphere. Their shape comes from how they move when they encounter our planets magnetic fields, and they can be spotted in places that are nearer to Earths poles. iss-aurora Photo: NASA A similar process takes place on other planets where there are auroras, like Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn. With the recent observations of auroras on Uranus, which NASA called the most intense auroras ever seen on the planet, astronomers are learning more about how they work out there. Read: How to See Mars without Leaving Earth By watching the auroras over time, they collected the first direct evidence that these powerful shimmering regions rotate with the planet, NASA said. They also re-discovered Uranus long-lost magnetic poles, which scientists had lost track of a few decades ago. It may sound easy to find a planets poles, but Uranus makes things more difficult because it is almost orbiting on its side, with its poles pointing toward the Sun rather than perpendicular to it. jupiter-aurora Photo: NASA Story continues saturn-aurora Photo: NASA See also: An Asteroid Is Coming for Earth The Signs of Alien Life Related Articles Neither of us imagined that getting a Ph.D. in science would turn us into climate activists, too. As scientists and as a couple in our twenties, it's been excruciating to watch the Trump administration's unrelenting attacks on climate science and our generation's future. Knowing that policy decisions made over the next four years could impact the lives of hundreds of generations to come, we're more determined than ever to do not only our best work as scientists, but our best activism as citizens. On April 29, we'll stand up for climate science, justice, and democracy in the People's Climate March. If you're appalled at the Trump administration's anti-climate agenda, we hope you'll join us. SEE ALSO: Science is already political. Get over it and start marching. Part of what brought the two of us together was our shared love of science, and our belief in its power to make the world a better place. We both wanted to help tackle climate change one of us, by understanding the problem better; the other, by engineering solutions. But the more we learned, the more afraid we became. On humanity's current path, we're likely headed for more than 4 degrees Celsius of global warming in our lifetimes. Along that path lies the extinction of the Great Barrier Reef. Mass refugee crises catalyzed by unprecedented droughts (Syria is a case in point). Submerged island nations and coastal cities among them, Bangkok, the hometown for one of us, and Boston, our home for the past six years. The possibility of a 4-degree world has forced us to grapple with whether or not to have children. I showed the results of aerial surveys of #bleaching on the #GreatBarrierReef to my students, And then we wept. pic.twitter.com/bry5cMmzdn Terry Hughes (@ProfTerryHughes) April 19, 2016 With this fear came a realization that doing science alone was not enough. Not when global greenhouse gas emissions must start falling, now, faster than they have risen for the past 160 years. Not when the fossil fuel industry spends trillions of dollars looking for new reserves they know can never be burned. Not when political ideologues and fossil fuel interests spend hundreds of millions of dollars blocking meaningful climate legislation and funding disinformation campaigns to confuse the public and attack climate scientists a 30-year-old tactic that continues today. Story continues Compelled to act Bit by bit, we began taking part in collective actions, determining that this was key to tackling such a systemic problem. It was a reluctant decision for a pair of introverted scientists with no experience in activism. But as Nobel Laureate and scientist-advocate Sherry Rowland once asked, "What's the use of having developed a science well enough to make predictions if, in the end, all we're willing to do is stand around and wait for them to come true?" And so we joined the fossil fuel divestment campaigns at Harvard and MIT. A few months later, we went to our first protest, where 398 young demonstrators chained their wrists to the White House fence in an act of civil disobedience against the Keystone XL oil pipeline. They were all arrested, one by one. Their courage brought shame to our hearts. Who were we to hide in the safety of our comfort zones while hundreds of young people risked arrest for all of us? In that moment, it dawned on us that as science seeks truth, activism speaks truth to power. Several hundred demonstrators tie themselves to the fence outside the White House to protest the Keystone XL Pipeline. Image: Susan Walsh/AP/REX/Shutterstock Of course nothing, including activism, comes with guaranteed outcomes, but it at least provides a tried-and-tested strategy for shifting the status quo and fostering social change. Years of grassroots resistance led the Obama administration to reject the Keystone XL pipeline (progress Donald Trump is trying to undo). And we've seen firsthand how fossil fuel divestment has helped to reframe the climate narrative from a technocratic problem about greenhouse gases to a moral one about fossil fuel production, climate denial, and social and intergenerational justice. Then Donald Trump was elected, and our battles to stand up for science became a war. President Trump, EPA head Scott Pruitt, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and Chairman of the House Science Committee Lamar Smith are just some of the many politicians abusing their positions of power to advance their ideological agendas. Their attacks on climate science are an affront to all the scientists working to understand and solve this singular crisis of our time. What's more, people's lives are at stake. "The War on Science is more than a skirmish over funding, censorship, and 'alternative facts,'" says scientist Jon Foley. "It's a battle for the future, basic decency, and the people we love." March and mobilize Now, more than ever, we need to demonstrate that the majority of the public understands the realities of climate science and demands clean air, clean water, and clean energy. That we wont allow our democracy to be hijacked by Big Oil and billionaire ideologues. We've already seen how concerted opposition by activists, lawyers, and journalists can stop the Trump administration in its tracks on immigration and health care. We are not powerless to change the course of history. When we attended our second climate march on Sep. 21, 2014, it turned out to be the biggest the world has ever seen. We volunteered as Security Marshals and had the privilege of leading 310,000 people through the streets of New York City, calling on world leaders to take bold climate action. Well always treasure that day, but most of all, the hours spent at the finish line, watching miles of people-power flow by. People who shared our hopes, our fears, and our resolve to do something about the climate crisis. People who cared enough to show up. On April 29, we'll march again this time through the streets of D.C. in the People's Climate March. We'll march to oppose the Trump administration's reckless anti-climate agenda, to defend climate science and democracy, and to stand up for social justice. And we'll channel that momentum into sustained and collective action. From students pushing their universities to divest from fossil fuels and mothers demanding statewide access to clean energy, to business owners building a circular economy for the fashion industry and scientists combating fake news, we all belong to social pillars that can either support the status quo, or challenge it. We can all be storytellers, innovators, fixers, or changemakers. We hope you'll join us on April 29, and in the months and years ahead, for as long as it takes to build a decarbonized, just, and sustainable world. Ploy Achakulwisut is a Ph.D. candidate in Atmospheric Science in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. Dr. Geoffrey Supran is a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in the Department of History of Science at Harvard University. He has a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from MIT. WATCH: An incredible piano concert in the Arctic, courtesy of Greenpeace The U.S. Department of Education secretary who has argued there is a place for guns in schools has condemned Monday's deadly shooting at an elementary school in Southern California. Betsy DeVos lamented the "senseless violence" of an apparent murder-suicide that also left two students injured in San Bernardino just less than months after she said she could understand why guns could be needed on school grounds. "My heart and prayers go out to the victims of this horrible act and to all students and members of the North Park Elementary School community," DeVos wrote in a brief statement released late Monday afternoon. "I want to thank the first responders, teachers and school administrators who were there to protect the students in harm's way. As a mother and grandmother, today's senseless violence is a tragedy no parent should ever have to face. I ask everyone to join me in keeping all the victims and those impacted in your prayers." Read: Alt-Right White Nationalist Richard Spencer Slams DeVos, 'Black Ghetto' Two adults were killed, one from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and two children were hurt in shootings that were apparently caused by a domestic dispute between the shooter and a teacher, NBC News reported. DeVos previously made a case for guns to be in schools while she was testifying during her Senate confirmation hearing in January. It was the states, not the country, that should be allowed to dictate policies surrounding guns in schools, she said at the time. She cited Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi , who referenced one of the state's schools that as surrounded by a fence in order to keep grizzly bears away from students. "I will refer back to Sen. Enzi and the school he is talking about in Wyoming," DeVos said at the time. "I think probably there, I would imagine there is probably a gun in a school to protect from potential grizzlies." President Donald Trump, who nominated DeVos to lead the Department of Education, continued: "If the question is around gun violence and the results of that, please know that my heart bleeds and is broken for those families that have lost any individual due to gun violence." Related Articles A Russian couple was detained by Mumbai Police after docking their yacht on Indian land. They were let off after cops verified their identities with Russian embassy officials. The Russian man who was detained by Mumbai police By Saurabh Vaktania: A Russian couple, detained in Mumbai after they mistakenly docked on Indian land while on a sailing trip, was released by Indian officials on Tuesday. The 45-year-old Russian man and his wife, 39, were detained by the Mumbai Police after they were found near the Mumbai coast in the Arabian Sea. The couple was on a world sailing tour when they ran out of food and water near the Yemen coast. After travelling around 2,600 km since, they reached a light house near the Mumbai coast, where they spotted some fishermen and reached out for help. advertisement The local fishermen, unable to communicate with the Russian couple due to the language barrier, felt suspicious and contacted the Mumbai Police. The police arrived and detained the couple, while taking custody of yacht as well. However, the police did not find anything suspicious from the couple or in their yacht, except a walkie talkie. Upon getting in touch with the Russian embassy, the couple's identity was verified, after which they and their yacht were released. The unnamed Russian woman, along with her husbaand, was detained and later released by Mumbai Police. Click here to Enlarge The unnamed Russian woman, along with her husbaand, was detained and later released by Mumbai Police. WHAT DOES THE POLICE HAVE TO SAY? Police expressed shock over the fact that the Russian couple's yacht was able to avoid Navy and Coast Guard surveillance. A Mumbai Police officer told India Today, "The couple had permission to get into Indian waters and not land. The couple left Russia for world tour on their yacht around a year back. They had permission. The couple mistakenly reached there and they are a very clean background which was crossed checked from Russian officials." Another senior IPS officer from Mumbai expressed shock at the security lapse. "We are shocked the way the couple with huge Yacht got inside Indian territory through waters," the officer told India Today. "They dodged Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, which is shocking and alarming. More measures needs to be taken." The coastal area around Mumbai is a sensitive zone ever since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. 10 terrorists, including Ajmal Kasab, had sailed from Pakistan and entered Mumbai via the sea, before going on killing more than 150 people in a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks all over the city. Just recently, a red alert was issued after the Indian Coast Guard warned Mumbai Police off suspected ISIS militants possibly infiltrating into the city via the sea. Click here to Enlarge The couple was on a sailing trip in their yacht and ran out of food near the Yemen coast. ALSO READ | 3 people die onboard wharf off Mumbai coast, Coast Guard rescues 1 ALSO WATCH | Defenders of India: The story of India's sea horses --- ENDS --- Fox News host Bill O'Reilly laughed on his show, "The O'Reilly Factor," Monday night about the brutal incident that took place at the United Airlines. A male passenger was beaten by police officers as they dragged him off the overbooked flight in Chicago the day before. "I shouldn't be laughing, but it's just so bizarre," O'Reilly said to Fox News correspondent Rob Schmitt as the incident played on the screen. Read: After Bill O'Reilly Says Slaves Were 'Well-Fed' Following Michelle Obama's Speech, Shonda Rhimes Slams Pundit "They had to get some United Airlines personnel from Chicago to Louisville ... they had to get them there and so they asked for volunteers, and obviously, this guy didn't volunteer," O'Reilly said in between laughs. It wasnt until toward the end of the segment, O'Reilly became a tad bit more serious. "Can't have this kind of stuff, it looks like a police state," he said. Unlike O'Reilly, social media users did not find the incident humorous at all. Here are some of their reactions towards the pundit: The unidentified man was already on United Flight 3411 Sunday night when three Chicago O'Hare Airport officers dragged the Asian man through the aisle, pulling him out of his seat by his arms on a Kentucky-bound flight. He screamed in agony as he bled from the mouth. "Just kill me, just kill me," he yelled. The airline announced some of its employees needed to be in Louisville to board a connecting flight, so they asked some passengers to give up their seats for the airline employees. Many people were upset at what was shown in the viral video. The incident even sparked the hashtag #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos on Twitter: Story continues OReilly is already facing scrutiny for past sexual harassment claims thrown against him. Earlier this month, at least six women have reached settlements with Fox News after accusing O'Reilly of making sexual advances toward them, according to the New York Daily News. Although the longtime primetime host has denied the accusation, he allegedly paid $13 million to settle sexual harassment claims in the past, The New York Times reported. To date, about 60 companies reportedly removed their commercials from O'Reilly's time slot. But it didnt affect the viewers on his show. The show brought more than 3.76 million viewers April 4, which was a 20 percent increase from the week before, according to data from Nielsen Media Research, cited by Variety last week. Related Articles Fox News host Bill OReilly invited a conservative author on his show Monday night to talk about her experience at Claremont McKenna College, where she was scheduled to speak, but student protests shut down the event. Heather Mac Donald, the author of "The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe," said on "The O'Reilly Factor" before her arrival at the campus last week that protesters were already on a "hysterical level." She claimed she was called a "white supremacist fascist" for saying "there is no government agency more dedicated to the idea that black lives matter more than the police." Read: Bill O'Reilly And Seth Meyers Spar Over Black Lives Matter, Gretchen Carlson Lawsuit Mac Donald described the entire event as an "exercise of brute totalitarian force." "I have to confess, without wanting to sound hyperbolic, or melodramatic, I got a little clue of what it would feel like to be in the French Revolution, waiting for the mob to bring you to the guillotine. There was a level of hysteria, and you don't know what is going to happen next," she said. OReilly said that the Black Lives Matter protesters reminded him of "Munich in the late 1920s, early 1930s, where if you went up against the Nazi orthodoxy just starting to rise, they'd beat you up. You couldn't speak." He then asked Mac Donald if there were "any difference" between the two. Mac Donald responded by saying she found it ironic that Black Lives Matter protesters "go under the moniker of antifascists," but they are "the very definition of fascist behavior." "The irony here is these people go under the moniker of antifascists. Can you imagine if conservatives tried to shut down [Democratic Senator] Elizabeth Warren from speaking? The 'fascist' term would be thrown around promiscuously followed immediately by 'misogynist.' Instead, this sort of thing gets no attention from the New York Times. But this is the very definition of fascist behavior, not only are they shutting me up, I can deal with that. But they are not allowing their fellow students to hear a range of views through the sheer exercise of brute force," she said. Story continues OReilly had also compared the Black Lives Matter movement to the Nazis in October 2015. He told his guests on his show, "Would you be comfortable with the Republican party bringing in the Stormfront, the Nazi people, and saying wed like our candidates to talk to you guys? Theyre an extreme group, the Nazi party. Black Lives Matter is also an extreme group." BET host Keith Boykin firmly disagreed with OReilly comparison and said, "The Black Lives Matter movement is not the Nazi party. Its an offensive suggestion to make that comparison, Bill. Im outraged that you would say that." Overall, Mac Donald said she wanted students to know, "The Black Lives Matter narrative is completely false. We are not living through an epidemic of racially biased police shootings," adding that minorities residents of high-crime areas, "support the police fervently" and are "desperate for more police protections." When OReilly asked her how she came up with her conclusion, she said she knows from personal experience. "I go constantly to inner city areas, attend police-community meetings, and I hear things like, 'Please Jesus, send more police,'" she said. Related Articles RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Brazil's Supreme Court announced Tuesday that corruption investigations have been ordered for eight ministers and dozens more top politicians in a sweeping decision that affects almost one third of President Michel Temer's Cabinet and many of his top allies. In total, 108 people will be investigated following Justice Edson Fachin's ruling, which was itself the product of more than 74 probes involving plea bargain deals and testimony from former and current executives with Odebrecht, a construction giant at the center of a bribes-for-contracts scandal. The list of the names was published by Brazil's top court website Tuesday night. The targets include Presidential Chief of Staff Eliseu Padilha, Lower House speaker Rodrigo Maia, Senate president Eunicio Oliveira, and the ministers of foreign affairs, agriculture and trade, among others. Also being investigated are the heads of the two major parties in Temer's coalition. The investigations will bring "a tsunami" to Brazilian politics, said Claudio Couto, a political science professor at Fundacao Getulio Vargas, a Sao Paulo-based university and think tank. "Every party and every state has someone there. Top congressional leaders of both houses are involved. This is proof that corruption in Brazil is systemic and there is a huge potential for this to disorganize the whole administration as of tomorrow," Couto told The Associated Press. The politicians have all denied any wrongdoing. Temer has temporary immunity from prosecution because Brazilian presidents can only be charged for crimes they committed during their term in office. After authorizing the investigations, Brazil's attorney-general will proceed with them and later decide whether the accused should stand trial. Temer said recently that any ministers standing trial should step down from their Cabinet posts. The judge's decision comes as Brazil's president fights to survive an electoral court trial that could remove him from office for illegal campaign financing. He is also trying to pass tough austerity measures and reforms through Congress. All this while polls show his approval rating plunging to as low as 10 percent. Story continues As soon as the list came out, lawmakers left Brazil's Congress and avoided reporters; a key vote to help financially strapped state governments was canceled. The head of Brazil's bar association celebrated the Supreme Court's announcement, but warned against considering all the accused guilty from the start. "These plea bargains include statements from people who pleaded guilty and offered to help authorities. It is still necessary to verify the authenticity of their statements," Claudio Lamachia said. Brazil's Supreme Court investigates politicians who hold office because of its special jurisdiction and is often slower than lower courts go after senior figures. Justice Fachin also sent 201 investigations to lower courts for judges there to decide whether the investigations should proceed. In that list, he included three former Brazilian presidents: Dilma Rousseff, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The accusations against them have also not been released. Fachin also decided that nine state governors would have their investigations analyzed by another court, including Sao Paulo governor and presidential hopeful Geraldo Alckmin. Odebrecht and state oil giant Petrobras are at the center of a wide-ranging investigation involving kickbacks and inflated contracts at state companies. The probe has ensnared dozens of high-level politicians and executives, and has grown into the biggest graft investigation in the country's history. Prosecutors have relied heavily on plea bargains with defendants to make cases against others. The scandal has even become a regional issue, with justice systems in other countries accusing local officials of taking bribes from the construction giant. Odebrecht has acknowledged paying almost $800 million in bribes across Latin America. Ottawa (AFP) - A Canadian court on Tuesday denied bail to a man accused of carrying out devastating cyberattacks on Yahoo as he awaits possible extradition to the United States to face criminal charges. Karim Baratov, 22, an immigrant from Kazakhstan, was arrested on a US warrant in March for alleged hacking, commercial espionage and related crimes. His lawyers said they will fight the extradition request. A hearing could begin as early as June and the process of deciding whether to extradite Baratov is expected to last up to three years. US authorities alleged Russian intelligence agents hired Baratov and another hacker to carry out attacks on Yahoo from 2014 to 2016. The data breach compromised 500 million Yahoo accounts and is one of the largest cyberattacks in history. Targets included Russian and US government officials, cyber security, diplomatic and military personnel, journalists, companies and financial firms. Baratov's lawyers had asked that he be remanded into his parents' custody. His father vowed strict supervision at home, telling the court: "Jail would look like paradise." But prosecutors said Baratov has ties to foreign spies and posed a flight risk, noting that one of his co-accused in the case fled to Russia. Ottawa (AFP) - Canada's transport minister on Tuesday announced stepped-up security measures on some international flights to the country, acknowledging a "risk" that led to the United States banning certain personal electronics in the cabin of flights from several countries. However, Minister Marc Garneau declined to elaborate on the new measures and said travelers to Canada would still be allowed to carry on personal electronics such as laptops. Garneau said he ordered "some measures to increase security for flights coming from certain countries where the destination was Canada." "Those measures have now been put in place to ensure greater security for our air passengers," he said. But, the minister added, "I'm not in a position to tell you from where for obvious security reasons, and I'm not in a position to tell you specifically the measures either." "For security reasons we don't talk about these things." Canada last month weighed prohibiting laptops and other personal electronics as carry-on items on flights from Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa after both the United States and Britain announced bans. US authorities said the measures were aimed at thwarting extremists in eight countries who planned to target planes with bombs in electronic devices. Garneau alluded to the US ban, saying that the intelligence used to support it had been analyzed and a security "risk" had been found to exist. The first portion of a three-part documentary detailing the trial of Casey Anthony, the "most hated mom in America," aired Sunday. Even though she was acquitted of first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, nearly 6 years ago, Anthony remains as fascinating as ever to the public. Now 30 years old, Anthony popped up intermittently in public since first capturing the nation's attention in 2008. Here's a full timeline: Read: Casey Anthony Murder Documentary Mocked By Twitter Jun. 15, 2008: Anthony claimed she dropped her daughter off at the home of a babysitter named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez in Orlando, but both were missing when she went back to pick them up. She said it was the last time she ever saw her daughter. Jul. 15, 2008: After allegedly not seeing her daughter for a full month, Anthony still had not reported her missing. The call to 911 eventually came from her mother, Cindy Anthony. GettyImages-118240297 Photo: Getty "I found out my granddaughter has been taken. She's been missing for a month," she said in the call. "I found my daughter's car today and it smelled like there's been a dead body in the damn car." Jul. 16, 2008: Anthony was arrested and charged with child neglect. The mother told police she had mounted her own, independent search for her daughter and claimed it was why she did not call police herself. Jul. 22, 2008: Police officially declared Anthony a person of interest in the disappearance of her daughter after finding strands of hair in the trunk of her car. Bail was set for Anthony at $500,000. Sept. 1, 2008: Police issued a statement saying they did not believe Caylee was alive. Sept. 25, 2008: Babysitter Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez filed a lawsuit against Anthony for defamation of character. Oct. 2, 2008: Anthony was officially declared a person of interest. Story continues Oct. 14, 2008: Anthony was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and providing false information to law enforcement. Oct. 24, 2008: Police announced they found chloroform and evidence consistent with bodily decomposition in the trunk of Anthony's car. Dec. 11, 2008: The skull of a small child was found near Anthony's home. Police announced they were "somewhat confident" the skull was Caylee's. Dec. 19, 2008: Caylee was declared dead after DNA testing confirmed the skull belonged to the 2-year-old. GettyImages-118409022 Photo: Getty Apr. 7, 2010: An inmate at the same prison as Anthony claimed the mother told her she often used chloroform to sedate Caylee so she could attend parties without having to pay for a babysitter. May 25, 2011: Anthony's murder trial began. Defense lawyer Jose Baez claimed that Caylee had accidentally drowned in June 2008 and that Anthony's father, George, helped her cover it up. Jun. 23, 2011: Prosecutors revealed they found internet searches for "neck breaking" and "chloroform" on Anthony's computer. Her mother, Cindy, claimed she had done the searches herself. Prosecutors claimed that Anthony had used chloroform to knock Caylee out before suffocating her with duct tape. Jul. 1, 2011: Prosecutors revealed that Anthony's mother could not have conducted the internet searches because she was at work at the time. Jul. 5, 2011: After a mere 11 hours of deliberation, the jury found Anthony not guilty of murder. She was instead found guilty of four counts of providing false information to law enforcement and given four years in jail, three of which she had already served. Most of the remainder was shortened for good behavior. Jul. 11, 2011: Anthony was released from prison. May 25, 2016: A private investigator said defense attorney Jose Baez admitted Anthony had killed her daughter and that Anthony had sex with the lawyer in exchange for his services. Baez denied all allegations. Feb. 4, 2017: Anthony is seen protesting President Donald Trump in Florida. Mar. 1, 2017: The judge who presided over the case, Belvin Perry Jr., said he thought it was likely that Anthony killed her daughter accidentally by using too much chloroform. Mar. 4, 2017: Anthony took part in her first interview since being released from prison. "I don't give a shit what anyone thinks about me, I never will," she told the Associated Press. "I'm okay with myself, I sleep pretty good at night." Apr. 9, 2017: "Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery," a three-part documentary detailing the case, aired on Investigation Discovery. Social media users skewered the existence of the documentary. Related Articles Cassini has been closely studying the Saturn system since 2004 and is now in its Grand Finale mission, making its closest-ever orbits of the gas giant and passing through the rings that make the planet so unique in our solar system. And in the process, the spacecraft has sent back breathtaking images of the rings. NASA released Monday an image captured by Cassini on Jan. 9 that shows Saturns C ring. The photograph shows the ring is not uniformly bright, with about a dozen regions within it much brighter than the rest. It also shows some regions that dont have any ring material at all. The brighter regions are called plateaus and the empty regions are called gaps. Read: Cassini Photographs Pan, Saturns Bizarrely Shaped Moon The plateaus are bright because of a higher concentration of particles that reflect more light, but scientists are yet to understand how they are created in the first place and how they stay in place. Some of the gaps are thought to be created by tiny moonlets, a few hundred meters across, that orbit the planet within the rings. SaturnCRing Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute The image above was taken in green light, from about 62 degrees above the ring plane of its sunlit side. Cassini was about 194,000 miles away from Saturn when its narrow-angle camera snapped the image, NASA said in a statement accompanying the image. Cassini was launched from Earth in 1997, and reached its destination seven years later. Its primary mission was from 2004 to 2008, and the spacecraft received two extensions. The Equinox Mission lasted till 2010, and the Solstice Mission is coming to an end in 2017 with the Grand Finale, which will see the spacecraft make a number of orbits before falling into Saturns atmosphere and burning up. This is being done to avoid possible contamination of Titan and Enceladus, Saturns moons that are of biological interest to us. Story continues Cassini is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. Related Articles Charges against a woman arrested in the brutal killing of a Kansas teenager found dead nearly 30 years ago have been dismissed, officials said. Carolyn Heckert, of Smithville, Mo., was charged in October 2016 in the murder of Sarah DeLeon, who was last seen alive while leaving her boyfriends house at about 1 a.m. on December 29, 1989. A train crew found the 19-year-old womans body stabbed numerous times and suffering head trauma along railroad tracks in Kansas City, authorities said. Her black Mustang, which was found nearby, showed no signs of a struggle and no indication of sexual assault. Heckert, a 48-year-old former realtor, was arrested after new DNA collection and testing technology led police to reopen the case in July 2014. Read: Woman, 48, Arrested In Cold-Case Killing of College Student Butchered to Death in 1989 But the first-degree premeditated murder charge Heckert faced was dismissed after Judge Aaron Roberts ruled there was insufficient evidence to tie her to the unsolved crime, Wyandotte County prosecutors announced Friday. Heckerts attorney, John P. OConner, said his client was elated that the charge was dropped. "The prosecution presented a lot on motive but had no physical evidence and no witness putting her at the scene," John Gromowsky, another lawyer for Heckert, told KCTV-TV. In May 2016, investigators said they had identified a female suspect, who they believed may have been motivated by a romantic rivalry. They did not reveal that persons name at the time, but said the suspect had been involved in incidents involving the harassment and intimidation of romantic rivals. Read: Was Sarah Killed By a Romantic Rival? Investigators ID Suspect in Teen's 1989 Unsolved Murder Police also said at the time they believed there was a link between DeLeons murder and the unsolved 1994 killing of Missouri mother-of-two Diana Marie Ault. Ault, 26, was shot to death in her Independence home near her two young children after she and her husband told police they had received threatening phone calls from a woman. Story continues "We knew Sarah was harassed and a little bit bullied and we feel like that also ties into the connection with the Ault case, too," DeLeons brother, Matt DeLeon, told KBMC at the time. The Ault case remains open. The district attorney can file a murder charge again should new evidence arise in the DeLeon case, KCTV reported. DeLeons brother told the station he felt the latest development was "just a roadblock." Watch: Duo Staged Adopted Son's Murder to Mimic 'Manchester by the Sea' Plot: Officials Related Articles: Miami (AFP) - Dozens of child and teen protesters -- mostly youths whose parents are in the United States illegally -- departed Florida for Washington Monday to urge President Donald Trump to end his policy of ramped-up deportations. "We are going to Washington on a bus. This caravan is about how us, youth, are going to stand up to President Trump's bullying," said Jasmine, a 10-year old, said at a news conference. She did not want to give her last name so as to protect her parents. "I'm going to Washington DC for my mom and dad. I'm going to stand up to defend my family," Jasmine said. She was part of a group of about 40 minors, accompanied by relatives and adult activists, who boarded a bus in Florida bound for the US capital, wearing T-shirts and carrying signs reading "We Belong Together." They were to meet up in Washington with youngsters from other US cities, stopping along the way north in Atlanta, Georgia, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The protest at the White House is planned for Thursday. Helena, a 17-year-old from Homestead, Florida, said she wanted to take part to protest against a policy that has exacted a heavy toll in her family. "Five years ago my father was deported. His deportation was unjust," the teen said. "He was a good father and a hard worker." Santiago (AFP) - Chile and China launched negotiations Monday to expand trade ties in the face of protectionist threats from US President Donald Trump. The Chilean government said officials in Beijing had started discussing expanding an existing bilateral trade agreement to include areas such as e-commerce and services. China is already a major buyer of exports such as copper from Chile, the world's biggest producer of the metal. "Our aim is to progress quickly in order to complete the process this year and meet expectations of deepening relations with our top trade partner," said the head of the government's bilateral economic affairs department, Pablo Urria, in a statement. The two countries agreed on the move during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Chile last year. Latin American countries are concerned about the impact Trump's trade policies will have on their economies. The US president has threatened to put up barriers to international trade to protect US jobs. Chile supports the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a major trade agreement that has collapsed due to Trump's opposition. China is its biggest trade partner, receiving about a quarter of all Chilean exports. Saffiyah Khan is not the first defiant woman who stood up for the right. Here are some iconic pictures of women who knew how to handle bullies with class. By India Today Web Desk: If you haven't heard of Saffiyah Khan yet, you have missed out on some major positive news. After the terror attack on the Westminster Bridge in London last month, a far-right group called the English Defence League (EDL) held a protest march in Birmingham last week. This march, as they described, was held against what they called the "Islamification of Britain". advertisement You get the picture, right? During this protest demonstration, as Saffiyah later described to BuzzFeed news, some of the EDL activists had start approaching a hijab-clad woman "aggressively," saying some not-so-kind words. When the situation started turning more threatening, Saffiyah stepped in and blocked one of the angry activists' path. "She was quite a small woman," The Guardian quotes Saffiyah. "When I realised that nothing was being done [by police] and she was being surrounded 360, that's when I came in as well." As Saffiyah stood tall, calmly smiling down at the man who looked like he wanted to chew her alive her, photo journalists made the most of the moment. That shot of Saffiyah nonchalantly smiling at an angry-red "bully" will be going down in history as a special memory of defiance, bravery, and, may we say, of sheer badassery. Who looks like they have power here, the real Brummy on the left or the EDL who migrated for the day to our city and failed to assimilate pic.twitter.com/bu96ALQsOL- Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) April 8, 2017 Later on Monday, Saffiyah had a chance to meet the woman she had defended, 24-year-old Saira Zafar. Love this - Saira Zafar + Saffiyah Khan If we don't resist - bad behaviour and EDL hatred become normalised Sisters - you make us proud pic.twitter.com/JAdHbYYIKu- Jo Phillips (@joglasg) April 11, 2017 The good news is, Saffiyah is not the first defiant woman who stood up and tall for the right. Hopefully, she won't be the last either. Here are some pictures from the past that show that, time and again, there have been women who knew how to handle bullies (sexists, racists, etc.) with class. Take a look and take a bow: @_Xas_ I love her. Unidentified Ethiopian-Israeli woman, Tel Aviv - May 2016 pic.twitter.com/fJIWfeXYX9- Joanne (@joanne_stocker) April 10, 2017 Just a wee thread of women who truly don't have any time for your shit. 1) Tess Asplund, Borlnge, Sweden - 2016 (Photo - David Lagerlf) pic.twitter.com/xjRmHfc3h5- Xas (@_Xas_) April 10, 2017 2) Jasmin Golubovska, Skopje, Macedonia - 2016 (Photo - Ognen Teofilovski, Reuters) pic.twitter.com/usNm4ItvDp- Xas (@_Xas_) April 10, 2017 3) Unknown, Santiago, Chile - 2016 (Photo - Carlos Vera Mancilla) pic.twitter.com/r5ahNBGNtO- Xas (@_Xas_) April 10, 2017 advertisement ack You can't see her properly in the cropped pic. This lassie. ??? pic.twitter.com/GMYR7uS7Xl- Xas (@_Xas_) April 10, 2017 @_Xas_ Two women kissing while an anti gay marriage demonstration in France (2012) pic.twitter.com/COOmFZXNE5- ines fp (@inesfrndpl) April 10, 2017 5) Danuta Danielsson, Vxj, Sweden - 1985 (Photo - Hans Runesson) pic.twitter.com/MaEFffSnN9- Xas (@_Xas_) April 10, 2017 --- ENDS --- Santiago (AFP) - Clashes erupted Tuesday as Chile's raucous student movement held its first protest of the year for free education, with students hurling stones and police firing tear gas. Tens of thousands of students flooded the streets of central Santiago, protesting an education reform bill they say does not go far enough in overhauling an expensive and unequal education system that dates to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990). Following the protest, the education committee in the lower house of Congress voted against sending the bill to the floor for debate. That will now force President Michelle Bachelet and her team to go back to the drawing board. "I would love to vote for education reform, but don't ask us to vote for this frustrating and disappointing bill," said independent lawmaker Giorgio Jackson, a former student leader. The bill would have expanded access to free university education, with the number of beneficiaries based on Chile's economic growth in any given year. That does not go far enough, say student protesters, who want free tuition with no strings attached. Clashes erupted as the protest got under way. Rowdy groups of students -- many wearing masks and dressed in black -- threw stones at the heavy contingent of riot police standing guard. Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse them. The protest then unfolded peacefully, but new clashes broke out at the end. Thirty people were arrested and six police officers injured, officials said. Organizers said 90,000 people had joined the protest. Police put the figure at 35,000. Bachelet won the election in 2013 vowing to reform the highly privatized education and pension systems. But both projects have drawn violent protests in recent months. With the leftist president's popularity dented by a lackluster economy and a series of corruption scandals, it is unclear whether she will manage to pass the reforms before elections in November to choose her successor. China social media users were in an uproar Tuesday over viral footage of a passenger dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, after some reports suggested he was of Chinese origin. The videos taken on the plane and posted to Twitter showed the man, reportedly identified by another passenger as ethnically Chinese, being forcibly pulled screaming from his seat by three security personnel. He said, more or less, Im being selected because Im Chinese, fellow passenger Tyler Bridges was quoted as saying by The Washington Post. The mans ethnicity and identity were however not officially confirmed. Twitter -- along with other Western websites such as Facebook and Google -- is blocked on the mainland by the country's ruling Communist Party, which fears the unregulated spread of information it deems politically sensitive. But footage of the Sunday showdown on the flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky was reposted to China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, where the subject quickly became the top trending topic, garnering over 120 million views and 80,000 comments. Many of them were highly nationalistic in tone as they decried perceived racism. "Shameless! We won't forgive them. Ethnic Chinese around the world please boycott United Airlines!" wrote one commentator. "There is a long history of discrimination against Asians. I hope Chinese people realise this reality and support domestic products," another user said. "Don't feed those who look down on us!" It is a common sentiment among many mainlanders to view ethnic Chinese living abroad -- even those with no ties to China -- as compatriots. United Airlines claims itself to be the biggest carrier to China, with more nonstop US-China flights and to more Chinese cities than any other airline, according to their website. The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, but its CEO Oscar Munoz apologised for "having to re-accommodate" customers and said the manhandled passenger was being contacted directly to resolve the situation. "Asian American or not, as a consumer who paid for his ticket, he was treated like a prisoner," one Weibo commenter said. "Things are better here at home." China executed more people in 2016 than all other nations combined, Amnesty International said Tuesday, even as death penalties in the world decreased overall. The human rights organisation estimates the Asian giant alone killed "thousands" of people, a figure based on examinations of court records and news reports. All other countries together executed at least 1,032 people last year -- a decline of 37 percent compared to 2015. Of those, 87 percent took place in just four countries Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan. Amnesty's report found that hundreds of death sentences, including cases involving foreign nationals, had been omitted from China's public database of court verdicts, suggesting a concerted effort to hide the extent of the country's killings. The ruling Communist Party considers the death toll a state secret. "China is really the only country that has such a complete regime of secrecy over executions," Amnesty's East Asia director Nicholas Bequelin said at a press conference in Hong Kong. "Probably the reason is the numbers are shockingly high, and China doesn't want to be a complete outlier in the world," he said. Despite local media reports saying at least 931 individuals were executed between 2014 and 2016, only 85 of them were in the online database, Amnesty said. In 2013, China's Supreme People's Court ruled that legal judgements should be made public, but the decision included many exceptions, including cases involving "state secrets" or personal privacy. Previous estimates from other rights groups also put the number of annual executions in China in the thousands. Chinese courts have a conviction rate of 99.92 percent, and concerns over wrongful verdicts are fuelled by police reliance on forced confessions and the lack of effective defence in criminal trials. The nation's top judge, Zhou Qiang, apologised in 2015 for past miscarriages of justice and said mistakes must be corrected. Story continues In December 2016, a Chinese court cleared a man executed 21 years ago for murder, citing insufficient evidence in the original trial. However experts say recent reforms have not been widely implemented. "For example, coerced confessions are supposed to be excluded from evidence. In practise, however, the police have unchallenged discretion to...extract confessions by detaining and torturing suspects for long periods," New York University professor Jerome Cohen told AFP. "Yet even the late Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong, perhaps the greatest executioner in human history, recognised the likelihood of mistakes when imposing the death penalty," Cohen noted. "Mao admonished his officials to bear in mind that, once someones head is cut off, it cannot grow back." A 2016 report from the US-based Dui Hua Foundation said China's average death row prisoner waits only two months for execution. Only a handful of countries still use the death penalty with regularity. The United States executed 20 last year, the lowest figure for the country since 1991. By Venus Wu and Pak Yiu HONG KONG (Reuters) - China was the world's top executioner last year, while the United States put to death fewer people than it has in more than two decades, the human rights group Amnesty International said on Tuesday. More than 90 percent of the world's executions took place in five countries - China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan. More than 3,000 people in 55 countries were condemned to death last year, marking a 56 percent surge from 2015. China is believed to have executed "thousands" of people, more than the combined figure of at least 1,023 executions in 23 other countries last year, the rights group said. "China now wants to assume a global leadership role. In respect to death penalty it is leading in the worst possible way," said Amnesty International's regional director for East Asia, Nicholas Bequelin. "Nobody executes at that scale. Nobody executes with such secrecy. Nobody executes so quickly." China does not announce the number of people executed, guarding the data as a state secret. The head of China's Supreme People's Court, Zhou Qiang, said in March China has made sure to impose capital punishment on "an extremely small number of criminals who committed extremely serious crimes," according to the official Xinhua news agency. But Bequelin called Zhou's statement "misleading and disingenuous". Amnesty's China-focused report, China's Deadly Secret, said for 2016, the group found 305 executions using a Chinese search engine, but only 26 of those cases made it to a national database. "Whatever is recorded officially is only the tip of a huge, shameful iceberg," Bequelin said. 'FLAWED AND CRUEL' For the first time in a decade, the United States dropped out of the world's top five executioners, recording 20 death sentences carried out last year, the fewest since 1991, putting it in seventh place after Egypt. Most U.S. executions took place in the states of Georgia and Texas, while 19 states have abolished the death penalty. The number of death sentences in the United States, at 32, was also the lowest since 1973. "This shows that judges and juries are less inclined to resort to this flawed and cruel practice," said James Lynch, deputy director of Amnesty International's Global Issues Programme. Support for the death penalty in the United States fell to 49 percent, the lowest in more than four decades, according to a 2016 survey by the Pew Research Center. Although President Donald Trump has supported the death penalty, Lynch said the fight against capital punishment took place mostly at the state level, adding federal authorities had not carried out any executions since 2003. "Rhetoric and tone from important political figures, not the least the president, is important and is something we would be concerned about," Lynch said. "But there is a long term trend against the death penalty in the U.S." (Reporting by Venus Wu; Editing by Robert Birsel) The video of David Dao being dragged kicking and screaming off a United Airlines flight by Chicago police set the American internet aflame Monday. Thats not a surprise: Whether you blame the greed of American airlines or late capitalism, the video struck an obvious chord. But less predictable was how massively the news took off in China. Within a few hours, it was all over both Weibo and WeChat, the two most popular social media services in China. The video racked up more than 330 million views many times the number of Chinese who have ever flown domestically in the United States and hundreds of thousands of angry comments. Why the passion? The obvious starting point is race. Dao, a Chinese-Vietnamese doctor from Kentucky, reportedly shouted, Im being selected because Im Chinese. For a public that assumes anything bad that happens to a Chinese person overseas is because of racism, this was a lit match on a pile of kindling. The online mood had already been stirred up by the French police killing of a Chinese man a few weeks ago, widely blamed on anti-Asian racism. In both cases, the assumption may be right. In the United case, while the passengers were allegedly chosen at random, Asian passengers have reported perceived discrimination from United in the past. Certainly, his status as an elderly doctor might have carried more credibility had he been white, and the escalation to force avoided. Theres an unpleasant subtext to some of the accusations of racism, though. The immigrant Chinese community in the United States tends to blame its problems not on the white power structure but on the supposed favoritism shown to blacks. (Chinese born in the United States, in contrast, tend to be far more aware of the countrys unique issues with blackness: Black Lives Matter caused a striking generational split in some families.) That attitude has spread to much of the Chinese public back home. Theres strong resentment among older Chinese in America that affirmative action costs their children college places. In China, meanwhile, thats mixed with a contempt for Africans, and African-Americans, for whats assumed to be their self-inflicted poverty and cultural backwardness. Its not that a racial hierarchy is wrong, in this worldview, but that the Chinese should be recognized as at least equal to whites within it. The notion goes back to the late 19th-century reformer and utopian philosopher Kang Youwei, who called for the white and yellow races to come together to dominate and exterminate the black and brown. Story continues In the United case, this has manifested in the popular comment on Chinese social media that They would never have done this to a black person! The logic here goes like this: Americans are sensitive about racism but only against blacks, not against the (more deserving) Chinese. American security forces would thus never dare to beat up innocent black people, only the hapless Chinese. (The answer to the obvious question is that in all those videos where American police kill black people, they deserved it.) But race isnt the only reason for the videos massive spread. For the last decade, the Chinese internet has been wracked by civil war over America, with one side increasingly aided by the heavy artillery of censorship. To listen to one side, the United States is the home of all things good: freedom, clean air, a welfare state (Europeans may boggle a little bit at this thought, but in comparison with China, the United States is a paragon of Scandinavian generosity to its needy), and pornography on tap. To listen to the other, the United States is hypocritical, torn by racial and political strife, crime-ridden, and, on top of all that, far too expensive. In both cases, the real subject under discussion is often the Chinese government and how inferior or superior it is to the U.S. system. After reading a few thousand of these comments, I am always inclined to proclaim the virtues of, say, Belgium. Its against this backdrop that the video took on its ideological power. The arbitrary use of force is common in China, particularly in the countryside and among the poor. The police themselves are rarely the main instigators; instead, the brunt of everyday thuggery is done by the chengguan urban militia tasked with cleaning up the streets, whose job regularly brings them into conflict with small traders and stall owners. In this recent video, for instance, a chengguan is casually smashing up peoples property. Apart from the chengguan, private security forces, or baoan, do their share of thuggery. Videos showing uniformed brutes kicking some poor peddlers teeth in regularly flare online inevitably accompanied by comments that this wouldnt happen in the United States. For the anti-Americans, therefore, the United video was a gift. See, they proclaimed gleefully, America isnt the great home of democracy and human rights! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Washington fans! Imagine the delight of Democrats when a Republican politician is caught soliciting sex acts in a public bathroom; the smug delight in the other sides hypocrisy exposed. This might all seem inconsequential squabbling, but its taken very seriously by the Chinese Communist Party. Belief in the American way however naive is one of the only remaining forces that can unite large swaths of Chinese across the nation against the party line. The authorities can crush churches, block environmental groups, and imprison lawyers, but they cant end the cultural hold of America over the mind of a huge number of Chinese. Thus, the two narratives around the United video come together neatly to serve the authorities ends. Not only is America hypocritical and violent, but it will never treat Chinese with the respect they deserve. Hence the video will, inevitably, be backed up by newspaper editorials proclaiming this line until the whole affair is forgotten by the weekend after next but leaving, thankfully for the government, another trace of animus in the recesses of the public mind. Photo credit: JUSTIN SULLIVAN/Getty Images The 32-month U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State, which was initiated by the Obama administration and has continued under President Donald Trump, has only recently captured the American publics attention with reports of a large increase in collateral damage and civilian casualties. According to careful analysis by monitoring group Airwars, there were hundreds of civilian fatalities tied to coalition activity in March alone, a number comparable with fatalities reported during the height of the Russian bombing campaign in Syria last year. In total, the research organization estimates that coalition airstrikes have killed at least 2,978 civilians. It would be prudent for the public to approach these reports, and any speculation about the underlying causes, with a degree of caution and healthy skepticism. But that might be impossible unless policymakers in Washington, especially Congress, take their own oversight role more seriously. The truth is that as an outside observer, it is impossible to know why there has been a reported increase in civilian casualties recently or what accounting or methodological standards would explain the huge divergence between estimates by Airwars and U.S. Central Command, which assesses that at least 229 civilians have been unintentionally killed by all 19,300 coalition strikes conducted since the war began in August 2014. Outsiders (like myself) are not allowed inside the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), the government nerve center that monitors and directs the air assets supporting the war. Without witnessing and evaluating the individual behaviors and organizational culture of those involved, you cannot truly appreciate whether the U.S. militarys policies to protect civilians are translated into actual practice. We also cannot know the sources and analyses of intelligence for particular strikes, nor are we privy to targeting guidance, command arrangements, collateral damage estimation methods, or weaponeering, which, cumulatively, would be required to understand the root causes of any civilian casualty (CIVCAS) incident and to assign blame for those who failed to follow the rules under which they were operating. The command arrangements would be particularly meaningful for any evaluation, as they were for the March 17 strike in Mosul, Iraq, that killed more than 100 people. That strike was actually a dual-key offensive in which an Iraqi commander had to simultaneously authorize the attack along with his American counterpart. Similarly, be wary of claims by civilian and military officials, like Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who said: We go out of our way to always do everything humanly possible to reduce the loss of life or injury among innocent people. Of course, neither he nor any other official is omniscient and could possibly be sure about such a categorical assertion. The U.S. military is extremely transparent about how it should theoretically conduct military operations while needlessly secretive about whether the many tactics, techniques, and procedures are actually and faithfully followed. Military commanders proclaim constantly, You wouldnt believe all the steps we take before we approve a strike! as if the sheer volume of processes was any indication of their necessity or effectiveness for preventing civilian harm. As I documented previously by assessing military investigations into CIVCAS incidents, people in the chain of command are often deployed without adequate training, skip critical steps (such as updating commanders when the environment changes), do not allow for sufficient time to review the intelligence, experience pressures from commanders to request more and more airstrikes, and make any number of other avoidable human errors. Moreover, if the Pentagon actually pursued everything humanly possible to protect innocent noncombatants, it would at least consider halting strikes completely. Of course, that is not a plausible option given the initial framing assumptions that are widely accepted within Washington and that continue to inform the war. In late September 2016, I offered a specific recommendation for how the coalition could potentially reduce civilian harm: When time is available, the underlying intelligence and operational outcome of significant strikes should be subjected to independent assessments by red teams comprised of analysts outside of the target development process. Those who plan and conduct military operations cannot review and critique their own efforts. Twelve days before this was published, American, British, Danish, and Australian planes conducted 37 airstrikes against a Syrian military convoy south of Deir Ezzor airfield. The coalition had been monitoring the target for two to three days, during which time the analysts, lawyers, commanders, and others within the CAOC positively identified the targeted ground forces heavily armed and wearing a mix of civilian and military clothing with no flags or insignias as being Islamic State fighters. This conclusion turned out to be false. After 27 minutes of bombing, Russian military officials informed their U.S. and coalition counterparts over the deconfliction hotline that the strikes were actually hitting Syrian regime forces. An investigation into the airstrikes by Brig. Gen. Richard Coe found no evidence of misconduct yet identified multiple process, information, and communications errors that resulted in the unintentional airstrikes. These include several breakdowns in the flow of information into and around the CAOC [that] led to a number of misconceptions, as well as human factors: confirmation bias, task saturation, and target fixation. After a brief, redacted version of the investigation was published, Coe conducted a press briefing. He revealed that during the target development process, an intelligence analyst watching the forces over full-motion video typed a message into a shared chat room: What were looking at cant possibly be ISIL, using an alternate acronym for the Islamic State. According to Coe, that warning was not pushed to a larger group, nor to the final decision-makers, because the people were already certain that the target was fully validated and there was no other information to be considered that overrode that input. When the investigation results were released, a reporter asked Coe, Youre saying there was no red team? Or that the red team process wasnt used in this case? To which he replied, There was no one designated to play that role. Each person is expected to do that on their own and then in the process funnel up the pros and cons to decision-makers. This is a truly dangerous assumption for any organization to make: believing that analysts immersed in finding targets can detach themselves from the process to weigh the pros and cons and then be expected to voice up their dissenting viewpoint that runs counter to everybody elses. To my knowledge, there is still no red team within the CAOC designated to review the underlying intelligence and general soundness of coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. As someone who relies on open-source information because I lack access to classified information, I cannot fully appreciate the safeguards involved in targeting processes nor fully trust insiders claims. This is why congressional oversight committees, empowered with both access and information, should act on the publics behalf to investigate and evaluate the CIVCAS prevention policies and processes being used presently in the bombing campaign. Unfortunately, in public hearings policymakers have abrogated this responsibility and expressed little interest in fulfilling their role. In fact, most of the questions asked to uniformed officers inquire whether they want looser rules of engagement in attacking the Islamic State. Members of Congress are free to adopt a hands-off approach to yet another war in the Middle East. But in doing so, they confirm that the appearance of adhering to the standards of necessity and discrimination in the use of force is as important as the actual attacks themselves. The result will likely be the unnecessary deaths of hundreds more Iraqi and Syrian civilians which the American public, and their constituents, should not let them forget. Photo credit: BRENDAN HOFFMAN/Getty Images This is part two in a three-part series on the role of Big Data in the college-search process. You can read part one on colleges year-long pursuit of students here. Check back for part three on data in an era of demographic change. A decade ago, Saint Louis University found itself in a precarious situation. About half of the universitys 8,600 undergraduates were from Missouri and Illinois, and the demographic forecast for the Midwest looked bleak: the number of high-school graduates from the region was projected to drop by nearly a third by 2028. So the university started to dig deeper for prospects in its backyard, purchasing more names of prospective high-school students from the College Board and ACT and targeting those teenagers with marketing materials. At one point, admissions officials at Saint Louis University were buying upwards of 250,000 names annually. We approached searching for students the way most schools did at the time, said Jay Goff, the universitys vice president for enrollment and retention management. We would take the demographics of the previous years freshman class and try to purchase more names that matched them the following year. Recommended: How Five Princeton Women Have Navigated Their Post-College Years Given demographic trends, university leaders knew that such a strategy was unsustainable. Like many of its peers, Saint Louis University also wanted to recruit from new geographic regions and improve the racial and economic diversity of its student body, as well as its retention and graduation rates. Those goals called for a new way of searching for potential students, and in doing so, created a new data-driven approach to admissions adopted by hundreds of other colleges and universities over the past several years. While few colleges follow the same admissions playbook, they are all taking their cues from the invisible array of algorithms that recommend music on Spotify, movies on Netflix, and books on Amazon. While colleges say the data help to target their marketing efforts, the new methods also explain why students with similar similar academic backgrounds now get varying degrees of outreach from colleges. Story continues We needed to focus on finding students who would be a good fit, Goff said. So when we looked at the demographics of the previous class, we wanted to not only look at the students who chose to enroll at the institution, but those who ended up succeeding and were satisfied. We wanted to know if we could replicate those students. The university began by analyzing three years of its most recent graduating classes, looking for students who finished on time with high satisfaction scores. Admissions officers found that almost half of the Roman Catholic research universitys students were Catholic, for instance, and they had among the highest satisfaction scores. Nearly 80 percent of the students at the top of the list were also clustered in a small group of majors: health care, business, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Recommended: The Real Scandal of That Brutal United Video With the help of data from the College Board and the ACT, the university went on a hunt to find students in existing and new geographic markets matching the profile of the most satisfied students who recently graduated. Admissions officers knew that by combing through more than 120 potential data points produced from the questionnaire high-school students completed when registering for the SAT or the ACT they could find key points of overlap between what potential students wanted in a college and where Saint Louis University succeeded the most. For example, admissions officers looked for high-school students who stated they preferred to attend a private, religiously affiliated college; performed community service in high school; and, given the preponderance of satisfied business majors on campus, had an entrepreneurial mindset (one of the questions asked of high-school students is whether they started a business or organization). Because the university was trying to expand its geographic reach, officials also wanted students who in their questionnaires indicated they had the mindset to travel. Most students attend a college close to home. The students most willing to travel tend to have the most choices in where they can go because of their high standardized test scores. According to the ACT, students who score highest on the testscoring between 33-36, the maximumgo to college farthest from their home (172 miles, on average), compared to just 45 miles for those who scored at the national average (20.8). Recommended: What in the World Is Causing the Retail Meltdown of 2017? To reach those students, Saint Louis University added three positions to the admissions team and located the additional staff in new markets, including Southern California and Texas. Recruiters focused on specific high schools with large populations of students the university wanted and deployed targeted internet advertising in the regions. Today, only about one-third of Saint Louis Universitys students are from Missouri. To see where admissions marketing is going, we need to look at marketing in the business world. Since the university began to rely heavily on Big Data to drive its recruitment strategy, it has reduced the number of names purchased from the College Board and ACT by 40 percent and enrolled five of the six largest freshmen classes in the universitys history. Whats more, the campus has increased its four-year graduation rate to 71 percentup from 62 percent in 2010and about 22 percent of the universitys students are eligible for Pell grants, meaning they mostly come from families earning less than $30,000. (By comparison, fewer than 20 percent of students at most of the wealthiest colleges in the U.S. receive Pell grants). While other universities have achieved similar success using Big Data to target and personalize their outreach, admissions deans wonder how much longer the strategy will yield positive results. For one, as more campuses copy data-mining techniques from their peers, its effectiveness is diluted if schools find and recruit many of the same students. Second, the output from data mining is only as good as the initial information students supply to the College Board and ACT. Non responses from students are becoming an issue, said Wayne Camara, the senior vice president for research at ACT. There is a drop off in students providing data. Students also give incorrect information on critical questions, like family income, because they dont know how much their parents earn. As a result, colleges are beginning to search for alternatives to the traditional route of finding potential students by buying their names. Some have turned to a Louisville, Kentucky,-based company, Capture Higher Ed, that tracks how prospective students use university websites. Using a unique email link sent to prospective students or personal information they provide on a colleges web site, Captures software can tell universities what web pages were visited, how often, and what prospective students did before and after. With that data, admissions can better understand the digital breadcrumbs students follow during the college search process, particularly what they do before they decide to apply or enroll. The data-mining enables schools to deliver personalized content on the web or send e-mails and texts to specific individuals, though critics worry it comes at the expense of student privacy. (Capture Higher Ed for its part says students are only tracked when they supply identifiable information to a school.) More than 50 colleges and universities now use Captures software, including Syracuse University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Colby College. Last year, the company tracked 20 million unique web visitors on its clients sites. Even for small schools, said Thomas Golden, the vice president of data science at Capture Higher Ed, we found there is a significant amount of inbound traffic thats organic, meaning prospective students search for colleges on the web without ever being contacted by the campuses. The pinpoint accuracy of data-driven marketing might shove aside old-fashioned name-buying among colleges in the future as admissions officials become more conscious of the cost of purchasing tens of thousands of names that result in enrolled students. To see where admissions marketing is going, we need to look at marketing in the business world, said Jim Black, the president and CEO of SEM Works, a company that assists colleges with their enrollment strategies. Businesses discovered years ago that direct marketing was too expensive to gain customers. Higher ed is just a few years behind. Purchasing a list of names is a big investment to getting people in the door. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. The idea of being your own boss may sound wonderful, but self-employment has its financial challenges. If you're thinking of leaving a full-time salaried position to work for yourself, good for you -- but if you really want this experience to be good for you, you'll want to think about these seven issues before you make the leap. As you will see, there's a lot to think about. This just scratches the surface. Taxes. If you're working for a company, you may shake your head in disgust when you see how much of your paycheck goes toward taxes, but at least it's a straightforward process. You don't, for instance, get the money and have to give it back weeks or months later to the Internal Revenue Service. Instead, your employer takes the money out before you get it and sends it to the IRS. But when you're in charge, you need to be strong enough to set aside some of the revenue you collect to later send it to the IRS. That may sound easy enough, but if your budget is tight, there's some serious willpower involved. You need to put enough aside that you have money for federal income taxes as well as your Social Security and Medicare taxes. Oh, and, yes, state taxes. [See: How to Save for Retirement on Less Than $40,000 Per Year.] Most self-employment experts say that comes to about a third of your income. "I set up a special 'tax' account so that I can write the check every quarter and cannot touch that money," says Julie Phillippi-Whitney, who has her own public relations firm in Cincinnati. How important is this to do? Brian Thompson, a certified public accountant and attorney in Chicago, says, "Self-employed taxpayers who fail to make sufficient quarterly estimated tax payments during the current year often find themselves with a $10,000-plus tax bill upon filing income tax returns the following year." Insurance. Everyone who works for themselves likely worries about health insurance (unless they're on their spouse's plan), and rightfully so. According to the broker eHealth, the average monthly premium for an individual in 2017 is $393; for a family, $1,021. Your own cost will vary, and you'll want to do your research and likely consult a health insurance agent. Phillippi-Whitney suggests you do all of that before you give up your salaried position. She points out that many cities offer insurance to members of the Chamber of Commerce, and so that may be one option for you. Story continues On the plus side, Thompson notes you can and should deduct your health care insurance as an ordinary and necessary business expense, though he adds, "Taxpayers should consult a CPA for further guidance regarding their specific circumstances." You'll also want to think about life insurance if you only have it through your employer, and you may want to get disability insurance. Jill Santopietro Panall, the owner of a human resources consulting firm in Newburyport, Massachusetts, recommends an entirely different sort of insurance. "I probably cannot overstate the importance of errors and omissions insurance for consultants who are giving business advice of any kind," says Santopietro Panall. "It's really easy to overlook, and many new business people I work with don't even know about it, but it gives you some protection from the potential repercussions of clients following your advice and not being happy with the outcome." [See: 10 Oddly Practical Things You Can Rent.] Paid vacations. Keep in mind that from here on out, you will be paying for your vacation time. That means if you go on a vacation, not only will you be paying for your airline tickets and hotel costs (just like you do when you work for someone else), you won't be making money during the week or two that you're gone. That can be an expensive week or two. Buying a house or a car. Are you planning on buying a house or a car or taking out student loans for your college-bound kid? If you have any giant life moves that you're planning on taking, in which you need to borrow money soon, it would probably be best doing that before you quit your job and become self-employed. As any banker or lender will tell you, it can be harder to get a loan when you're self-employed, and much more difficult if you're newly self-employed. Your retirement. A new survey from Small Business Majority, a national advocacy group, which polled 500 contractors, freelancers and temporary employees from Dec. 9-19, 2016, came away with the conclusion that four out of 10 self-employed workers don't have a retirement account. In other words, you have a lot of financial responsibilities as a self-employed individual. You may be personally fine with not putting money away toward retirement for some time, especially if you're confident about your company's success, but if it takes years for your business to ramp up, you could eventually do yourself a lot of harm in the distant future. [See: 25 Ways to Enjoy Retirement on a Reduced Income.] You'll want a business bank account. And a credit card for your business. If you're starting off small, you may not think about this, but it's important, says Anna Wolf, who owns SuperScript Marketing, a San Francisco-based content marketing firm for financial brands. "I didn't set up a business checking account and credit card until about six months into my first year of freelancing," Wolf says. "When tax time rolled around, I had to spend hours sifting through my personal account transactions to make sure I accounted for all the business expenses from that time." Take your work time seriously. And be prepared to work, maybe for many more hours than a typical salaried employee. "I can't even remember the last time I had a day off," says Julie Austin, who owns a Los Angeles-based business that makes water bottles that you wear on your wrist. Austin says she has been self-employed for 20 years. "People often say to me, 'It must be great to work for yourself. You can take a day off whenever you want.' Yes, you could, but you won't get paid," she says. "Don't get into this if you don't like to hustle." United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz on Monday night defended the forcible removal of a passenger as established procedure as critics ranging from late night comics to the Merriam-Webster dictionary teased or outright mocked the companys statements. As you will read, wrote Munoz in an email to employees, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. Munoz added that treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are. But he also said the man who refused to give up his seat after United officials boarded an overbooked flight Sunday and selected passengers to remove to allow four of the airlines crew members to be seated was disruptive and belligerent. Jarring video of the confrontation went viral by early Monday. Passengers said the man claimed he was a doctor who had patients to see in the morning, refusing to deplane when asked to volunteer to give up his seat on the flight from Chicago to Louisville. Passengers had to be removed from the plane and reboarded after the mans blood was splattered in the cabin. Munoz was widely mocked Monday for using the word reaccommodate to describe bloodying a man, knocking him unconscious and dragging him off the plane by his arms. The Chicago Police Department issued a statement Monday saying that the man fell and struck an armrest, injuring his face. Story continues @United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Here's how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017 The incident on United flight 3411 was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the department, a Chicago Department of Aviation representative told Yahoo News in a statement. That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel dedicated a portion of his monologue Monday night to the controversy. This is like we reaccommodated El Chapo out of Mexico, said Kimmel in response to Munozs initial statement. That is such sanitized, say-nothing, take-no-responsibility, corporate BS speak. I dont know how the guy who sent that tweet didnt vomit when he typed that out. And by the way, added Kimmel, they could have almost certainly gotten more volunteers by offering more money or travel vouchers. Maybe 800 bucks wouldnt do it, but you could have gone up to 1,000 or 5,000 or 100,000 who cares, its not the passengers fault that you sold too many seats on your plane. The editors of the Merriam-Webster dictionary also tweeted out some advice for United on how the process of volunteering works. ????'Volunteer' means someone who does something without being forced to do it. https://t.co/qNAcMyplhZ Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) April 11, 2017 Munoz and United were pilloried across social media for both their actions and Orwellian comments in the aftermath. downcast Uber CEO: I guess I probably had the worst month of any transportation executive United CEO: Please re-accommodate my beer Alex Burns (@alexburnsNYT) April 10, 2017 By Piya Hingorani: After Rekha- The Untold Story, Rishi Kapoor's Khullam Khulla and Shatrughan Sinha's Khamosh, the dancing queen of showbiz, who wore the crown of a bouffant accompanied by the winged-eyeliner, Asha Parekh, the pioneer of shimmying, is the latest celebrity to have divulged the secrets and celebrations of her life through her autobiography, penned by film critic and author Khalid Mohamed, titled The Hit Girl! advertisement The 74-year-old legend unveiled her book at a suburban five star hotel in Mumbai with a galaxy of yesteryear stars including the likes of Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Waheeda Rahman, Helen coming together on one stage, along with Salman Khan. While applauding the legend Asha Parekh, (who's filmography boasts of umpteen hits like Teesri Manzil, Dil Dekhe Dekho, Kati Patang among others) for her bold attempt to pen an autobiography, Salman Khan made an honest confession. "It's the bravest thing to write your own autobiography, I wouldn't dare write mine. Dharam ji will understand that. I've known Asha ji since we were kids, she's very dear to us. Saira aunty, my Mom, Helen Aunty, Sadhna, all the girls have been so close to each other, something our girls these days should learn from them. We don't see that anymore. It is the best quality that generation had and we've lost that in our times. We have friends, but they were never not friends," he said. With a forward by Salman Khan, The Hit Girl traces the journey of Asha Parekh's illustrious career in the film industry, which she admits is brutally honest. "My autobiography showcases the journey from black-and-white era to colour. I was blessed by God and my parents. I get recurring questions from my friends, fans and people interested in me that will there be enough masala in my book? I have attempted to be honest. The episodes are not sensationalised. Truth is what you will find." (Photos: Yogen Shah) ALSO READ: Salman Khan unveils first look of Sairat star Aakash Thosar's next, FU ALSO READ: 10 interesting facts from Rishi Kapoor's autobiography ALSO READ: Is Arpita Khan Sharma upset with brother Salman Khan for THIS reason? ALSO WATCH: 5 explosive confessions from Karan Johar's biography --- ENDS --- BERLIN (AP) Ercan Karakoyun looks twice over his shoulder when he leaves his Berlin home to make sure nobody is following him. Karakoyun is a follower of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for an attempted military coup in Turkey last summer. The 37-year-old, who is the public face of the Gulen movement in Germany, says he has received several death threats since the aborted overthrow. The hostility hasn't escalated past the anonymous threats, but Karakoyun's experience is one happening across Europe as Turkey's government tries to root out and punish the U.S.-based Gulen's supporters both within Turkey and abroad. "The witch hunt against us has reached a new level," Karakoyun, the son of Turkish immigrants and spokesman for the Gulen-affiliated Dialogue and Education Foundation in Germany, told The Associated Press. Surrounded by religious books in the foundation's Berlin office, he recounted how German police contacted him last week and warned him not to travel to Turkey. Karakoyun was among more than 300 individuals and dozens of institutions on a list the Turkish foreign intelligence agency MIT gave its German counterpart. MIT asked to have those named put under surveillance. To Ankara's irritation, German officials instead contacted and cautioned the individuals on the list, which included at least two German lawmakers. "Unfortunately, of course, intelligence organizations share such information with each other. This should not be leaked to any side. But it is clear that this information in Germany was given to government sources and they used it," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. "This is, first of all, not ethical. It does not fit intelligence practices." Gulen has been based in the United States since 1999 in self-imposed exile. His movement, centered on moderate Islamic teachings, ran schools and dormitories that grew into a worldwide network and where, Turkey says, his followers were groomed and eventually infiltrated state organs, including the judiciary, police and military. Story continues Turkish authorities say the coup-plotters arrested on the night of the coup were Gulen supporters. Among the evidence they have offered against them is an encrypted messaging application that prosecutors have claimed the coup-plotters used to communicate with each other. In Turkey, tens of thousands of Gulen's followers have lost their jobs or landed in jail. Erdogan has also called on nations to crack down on the Gulen movement's large network of schools and charities outside of the country. The tension between supporters of Gulen, who has rejected any involvement in the failed coup, and Erdogan's allies has become especially heated in recent weeks. Erdogan's government has been campaigning in Germany and other European nations to try to win support for referendum Sunday that would expand the president's powers. An estimated 3 million expatriate Turks were eligible to cast ballots in what is expected to be a close vote. About half live in Germany. Turkish officials' attempts to rally support for the referendum in other European countries caused widespread irritation in Germany. Several of their planned public events were canceled. Erdogan accused German officials of acting like Nazis, sniping that in turn prompted Chancellor Angela Merkel to publicly condemn his comment. Tensions also flared In the Netherlands when the Dutch government blocked two Turkish ministers last month from addressing political rallies. Turks in Rotterdam briefly clashed with police after the country's family affairs minister was prevented from entering the consulate and then escorted to the German border. Similar scenarios have played out elsewhere in Europe, where Gulen's supporters allege that members of Erdogan's AKP Party are creating a menacing atmosphere. In Denmark, more than 500 children have left 14 schools that the Turkish government singled out as being closely related to Gulen. Some parents said they received anonymous calls saying they would be arrested in Turkey or have their passports canceled if they didn't withdraw their children from the schools. An Austrian lawmaker presented documents last month purporting to show a Turkish global surveillance network aimed at undermining organizations loyal to Gulen. Germany's Interior Ministry said last week that prosecutors are investigating 20 people suspected of spying for Turkey in Germany on people thought to be Gulen supporters. Several calls and emails for comment on these allegations by the Union of European Turkish Democrats, which is close to Erdogan's AKP, went unanswered. Gulen followers are not the only ones complaining about threats from Erdogan supporters. Cem Ozdemir, a member of the German parliament and one of the heads of Germany's The Green party, said he has been verbally attacked by Turkish taxi drivers in Berlin who were upset about his anti-Erdogan stance. Sevim Dagdelen, a Turkish-German lawmaker with The Left party, said she received death threats and was assaulted on the street after speaking out publicly against Erdogan. She has been put under police protection and warned not to go out with her children in public. Dagdelen, the daughter of Turkish guest workers who came to Germany in the 1960s, called on the German government to help protect dissidents of the Erdogan regime both in Germany and Turkey, but expressed little hope that the situation would improve soon. "I don't believe that Erdogan will let himself be influenced by the outcome of the referendum in April," she said. "He has already made the decisions regarding his agenda a long time ago." ___ David Rising in Berlin, Jan Olsen in Stockholm, Denmark, Mike Corder in Amsterdam and George Jahn in Vienna contributed reporting. Havana (AFP) - Cuban dissidents planning to run in the communist country's local elections in November have been arrested, threatened and otherwise harassed by the authorities, one of their leaders said Tuesday. At least five would-be candidates have been charged with crimes such as robbery, had their property seized, or been threatened with losing their jobs, said Manuel Cuesta Morua, spokesman for the opposition Unity Roundtable for Democratic Action (MUAD). "They (the authorities) are taking preventive measures so that no independent citizen who doesn't fit their agenda can run," he told AFP. The local elections in November kick off an electoral cycle that will ultimately decide the successor to President Raul Castro. The next step will be the election of the 612-member National Assembly, which chooses the all-powerful Council of State, which in turn chooses the president. Opposition parties are banned in Cuba, but dissident groups are trying to sneak the maximum number of Castro opponents into the local polls. Two opposition candidates managed to stand in the last local elections in 2015. Neither won. This year, 109 opposition candidates are prepared to run, according to Cuesta Morua. Castro, 85, took over in 2006 from his brother Fidel, Cuba's leader since 1959. Raul Castro has steered Cuba toward a very gradual economic opening and restored ties with its old Cold War enemy the United States. But opponents say the only communist regime in the Americas still controls most of the economy, and muzzles free speech and political dissent. By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - If Democrats thought it was hard to stop President Donald Trump's first U.S. Supreme Court nominee, it promises to be even tougher for them if he gets to fill another vacancy, potentially to replace the most influential justice, Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy, a conservative who sometimes sides with the court's liberals in key cases such as on gay rights and abortion, is one of three justices 78 or older. Justice Stephen Breyer is 78 and fellow liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 84. Former Kennedy Supreme Court clerks said the justice, who turns 81 in July, may be pondering retirement either this year or in 2018. That would give Trump a further chance to shape the court after his first nominee, Neil Gorsuch, was sworn in on Monday for the lifetime job to replace the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia after overcoming fierce Democratic opposition in the Senate confirmation process. Kennedy administered Gorsuch's judicial oath at a White House ceremony, and Trump heaped praise on a justice who has spent nearly three decades on America's top court, calling him "a great man of outstanding accomplishment." Gorsuch is one of Kennedy former clerks. Kennedy is planning a reunion of his clerks in June rather than next year as had been expected. Kennedy, through a court spokesman, declined to comment on his plans. The implications for the court if Kennedy were to step down are enormous. For the past decade he been its swing vote in major cases. Gorsuch's confirmation restored the court's 5-4 conservative majority. If whenever Kennedy leaves the bench he is replaced by a stalwart conservative, that would move the court further to the right. Republicans possess a 52-48 majority in the Senate. In order to secure Gorsuch's confirmation, they voted to prohibit a procedural roadblock called a filibuster that had required a super-majority of 60 votes to allow a confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominees, leaving the minority Democrats with little ammunition for the next nomination fight. "I think it will be very hard for Democrats to get much traction to derail a future Trump nominee without the threat of a filibuster," George Washington University political scientist Sarah Binder said. But Democrats and Republicans still are predicting a fierce fight over the next court vacancy. 'I EXPECT ARMAGEDDON ' "For the life of me I don't understand why the Democrats made such a fuss about this one. They look stupid," Republican Senator Orrin Hatch said last week of Gorsuch's nomination. "I expect Armageddon on the next one because that's going to change, assuming Trump gets another one, the direction of the court. It would certainly keep the court in a more conservative mode for a long time." A Democratic congressional aide added, "The opposition to Gorsuch could look weak compared to what a similarly conservative nominee would face, if it would tip the balance on the court." Kennedy is the longest-serving of the nine justices. He was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1987 and confirmed by the Senate in 1988 after Democrats thwarted Reagan's first choice, outspoken conservative Robert Bork, and his second pick, Douglas Ginsburg, withdrew from consideration. Although he has sided with his conservative colleagues on many issues, Kennedy has supported liberal causes such as gay rights, culminating in writing the landmark 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. He also joined the liberals in upholding abortion rights. In 2016, Kennedy joined the court's four liberal justices in a ruling striking down a Texas abortion law imposing strict regulations on doctors and facilities in the strongest endorsement of U.S. abortion rights in more than two decades. He also authored a 2016 ruling upholding the consideration of race in college admissions, joined by the court's liberals. University of Georgia School of Law professor Lori Ringhand said Republicans may be wary of defending an extremely conservative court nominee with the midterm congressional elections coming up in 2018, if another vacancy arises. "It's not clear it would be to the electoral advantage to Republicans to have a hotly contested Supreme Court nomination right before the midterms that highlighted a nominee's extremely conservative positions on social issues that the majority of the public have actually accepted," Ringhand said. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham) Nairobi (AFP) - Drought and conflict have pushed the Horn of Africa, Nigeria and Yemen to the brink of famine, and a lack of aid funding means many could starve to death, the UN said Tuesday. More than 20 million people are at risk of famine in Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria, a tragedy already affecting 100,000 people in war-torn South Sudan. Worldwide, Africa has been hardest hit by famine in recent decades, with repeated cycles of drought and conflict leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths due to starvation. Here is a list of some of those famines: - Nigeria - - 1967-1970: War between the separatist Ibos group and government forces in the southeastern region of Biafra caused more than a million deaths from famine and sickness after federal troops blockaded the region. - Ethiopia - - 1973-74: Famine in 1973-74 killed around 200,000 people in the northern Wollo region and contributed to the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie. - 1984-1985: Wollo was hit again by a drought made worse by a conflict that pitted the Marxist regime of Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam against Eritrean and Tigrayan rebels. Around one million people died according to UN reports. Images broadcast worldwide mobilised public opinion, and the renowned Live Aid concerts ushered in a new form of celebrity fundraising. The government's policy of forced displacement was identified as another key factor in the catastrophe. - Somalia - - 1991-1992: Around 220,000 people died during a famine that followed the fall of president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Somalia was ravaged by a civil war that required the intervention of UN and US forces. - 2011: After suffering four droughts between 2000 and 2006, the entire Horn of Africa was hit by a crisis of historic proportions that affected more than 12 million people. Southern Somalia was worst affected, with almost 258,000 deaths, more than half of them children under five, according to the UN and the US-based Famine Early Warnings Systems Network (FEWS Net). Story continues - Sudan - - 1993: An image of a baby crawling on the baked earth watched by a vulture, taken in southern Sudan by photographer Kevin Carter, came to symbolise the horrors of famine. Tens of thousands are reported to have died in the 1993 food crisis -- five years after a famine which killed some 250,000 in the same region -- mainly in areas straddling tribal boundaries between the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups, whose rivalry continues to stoke fighting to this day. - 1998: Famine stemming from drought and fighting that prevented people from tending their fields afflicted a million people, in particular in the Bahr el Ghazal region in what is now South Sudan, according to aid groups. Tens of thousands of people were reported to have died. - 2003: The start of a civil war in the western Sudanese region of Darfur provoked a humanitarian crisis made worse by a poor harvest and the onset of drought. Ethnic minority insurgents rebelled against President Omar al-Bashir, and the United Nations said at least 300,000 people died due to fighting, famine and disease. Khartoum maintains that the death toll stands at around 10,000. The Hague (AFP) - The Dutch government voiced concern Tuesday over a visit by an Eritrean presidential advisor to The Netherlands, where large numbers of refugees have sought shelter after fleeing the repressive nation. The visit by Yemane Gebreab, advisor to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, "is awkward," the Dutch cabinet said. Gebreab is due to address a youth congress of Eritrea's sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), taking place from Thursday to Monday, the group said on its Facebook page. The Dutch government said in a statement that it "is concerned by the situation of human rights in Eritrea and considers the visit by Mr Gebreab to be awkward, since a top Eritrean official will be addressing Eritreans who have left their country". Eritrean refugees make up the second largest group of refugees taken in by The Netherlands in recent years, after Syrians, and some have voiced fears of being intimidated. Eritrea researcher Mirjam van Reisen, from the University of Tilberg, told AFP Gebreab had arrived Monday "a day earlier than expected". "He's organising the youth part of the party and also more generally the long arm which includes the churches, the women's organisations," she said. "The purpose of these organisations is to spy on anyone who does not agree with the dictatorship." Isaias's regime is accused of jailing thousands of political prisoners since he came to power in 1993 in the Horn of Africa nation, one of the world's poorest countries. No general elections have been held since the ex-rebel Marxist leader took power after a three-decade independence war against Ethiopia. - Intimidation, spying - In 2016, the Dutch took in some 2,800 Eritreans, some 9 percent of all refugees welcomed into the country, according to the official Dutch asylum-seekers' organisation. The University of Tilburg said many of the 20,000 Eritreans now living in The Netherlands still feel intimidated. Story continues Eritrean organisations here "report on people who are not loyal to the regime and... make sure that this is known so that measures can be taken," said Van Reisen. Back home "people are punished. They don't get food vouchers. They are fined. They are put in prison. So their lives are really made impossible and very miserable." The government said "Gebreab's visit will be treated as a private matter and we will not facilitate it," stressing no top Dutch officials would meet with him. According to the youth movement of the PFDJ, some 650 people are expected to attend the congress, the 13th such event held in Europe, which aims to persuade "young Eritreans to become more active in serving their communities and the interests of Eritrea". The UN last year estimated some 5,000 Eritreans were risking their lives every month to flee the country, making them one of the largest contingents of people risking dangerous journeys to seek a new life in Europe. What Were Following The Syria Situation: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, along with the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized nations, plans to pressure Moscow to end its support for Assad in Syria. Last week, President Trumps strike on an air base used by both Russia and Syria put an end, for now, to expectations that Trump and Putin would work together against terrorism, adding to a long history of dysfunction between the two nations. For instance, Russia played a role in the failure of Obamas 2013 deal to stop Syrias use of chemical weapons. Meanwhile, Trumps been getting good press for his military action, raising the question: What happens when a president shaped by reality television starts a televised war? Coptic Christians Targeted: Egypt, the most populous country in the Middle East, entered a three-month state of emergency today after bombs in two Coptic churches killed more than 40 people on Palm Sunday. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, which are part of an escalating strategy: The terrorist group is waging war on Christians in Egypt, and its attacks could seriously destabilize the region. Recommended: The Real Scandal of That Brutal United Video Its Official: Neil Gorsuch was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice today. The Court is already in the middle of its annual term, and Gorsuch, whose induction restores a slight conservative majority, will be going right to work to hear the last 13 cases of the term. Heres whats on the list. Snapshot Thousands of people participate in a Lovefest vigil mourning the victims of Fridays terror attack in Stockholm, Sweden, on April 9, 2017. More photos here. (Markus Shreiber / AP) Who Were Talking To Barack Obama, former president of the U.S., shares how he avoided taking public criticism personally. Recommended: What in the World Is Causing the Retail Meltdown of 2017? Julian Zelizer and Morton Keller, two historians, debate whether Trump has a chance to make deals across party lines. Michael Ignatieff, the rector of Hungarys Central European University, discusses Prime Minister Victor Orbans ongoing attempt to shut the university down. Story continues Nathan Copeland, a paralyzed participant in a mind-controlled robotic limb study, describes what its like to regain a sense of touchknowing hell only lose it again. Evening Read Rebecca Newberger Goldstein on the trial and execution of Socrates: Its all too easy to imagine, at this moment in American history, the degree of revulsion and despair Plato must have felt at the verdict rendered by his fellow Athenians on his beloved mentor. How could Plato, grieving over the loss of the best man of his time, continue to live among the people who had betrayed reason, justice, open-mindedness, goodwillindeed, every value he upheld? From his perspective, that was the enormity Athenians had committed when they let themselves be swayed by the outrageous lies of Socratess enemies. Did truth count for nothing? A despondent Plato left the city-state of Athens, whose tradition of proud patriotism and morally confident leadership at home and abroad had been recently and severely shaken. Whether he was witnessing the end of Athenian exceptionalism or a prelude to the long, hard work of rebuilding it on firmer foundations, he could not have begun to predict. Keep readingand listen to an audio recordinghere, as Goldstein follows Platos path toward making Athens great again. Recommended: When Conservatives Oppose 'Religious Freedom' What Do You Know? 1. The College Boardthe organization that administers the SAT and AP testssells students scores and contact information to colleges at a rate of $____________ per name. Scroll down for the answer, or find it here. 2. Sixty-three percent of American police cars are manufactured by the company ____________. Scroll down for the answer, or find it here. 3. Between 2010 and 2016, Amazons yearly sales in North America increased from $16 billion to $____________. Scroll down for the answer, or find it here. Look Back On this day in 1912, the Titanic set off from Southampton, England, on her first and only voyage. Two years before, in the May 1910 issue of The Atlantic, the steamship officer Charles Terry Delaney had warned about conditions that could lead to a wreck: A narrow escape happened to me about six years ago when in charge of a ship carrying a full passenger-list. The night being hazy and the ship in the icetrack, I kept hanging on, until finally almost alongside the ship was an iceberg towering up about three hundred feet. The ship passed within twenty feet of it, going at the rate of twenty-one knots; had there been a submerged trailer attached to the berg the ships bottom would have been ripped open. Cold as I was at the time, I went colder still and vowed that I would never again take such risks. But sailors are forgetful creatures Read more here. Reader Response For our series of poetry recommendations, Leo Rubinkowski shares Henrik Nordbrandts At the Gate: Im constantly amazed at the economy with which Nordbrandt expresses deep loss. The seven stanzas are each so vivid, but the third stands out. Nordbrandt questions the ability of language to encapsulate grief, but also explicitly relies on his language to express fully the scope of grief: What can I say about the world in which your ashes sit in an urn other than that? And then the sixth and seventh stanzas: a crescendo of emotion, followed by a quiet, absolute statement, both inadequate to the task and perfectly expressive of the condition of the world. Every time I read it, it kills me. More recommendations from readers and staffers here. Verbs Re-accommodation recorded, scandal unpacked, charm weaponized, whales watched. The Atlantic Daily is written by Rosa Inocencio Smith. To contact us, email hello@theatlantic.com. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Brussels (AFP) - Top officials in the remaining 27 EU member states on Tuesday broadly endorsed the Brexit negotiation guidelines unveiled last month by EU president Donald Tusk, an EU source said. The officials were meeting to review the situation after British Prime Minister Theresa May officially launched the two-year Brexit divorce process on March 29 and the guidelines Tusk put forward in response two days later. "The discussion... showed solid unity and consensus on all the main elements of the draft, including a phased approach to the negotiations," the EU source said. The source, who asked not to be named, said the 27 believed it was a priority to deal with EU citizens affected directly by Brexit, putting the blame firmly on London. "In this context, it was recalled that the uncertainty and disruption is a consequence of the British decision to exit," the source said. "But the EU 27 will engage early, seriously and substantially in limiting the damage to citizens upon the UK's leaving." Some three million EU citizens live in Britain and another million Britons have built lives in the bloc. May and Tusk have both said they are willing to do their best to resolve this key issue as soon as possible to remove uncertainty. The officials, widely known as sherpas, will meet again on April 24 to fine-tune the guidelines which the 27 EU leaders are expected to formally endorse at an April 29 summit. Another EU source said Tuesday's meeting was meant to ensure all 27 were on the same wavelength and if there were any changes made before the summit, they would be "marginal". Announcing the guidelines, Tusk said Britain would also first have to make "significant progress" on the divorce terms before any talks on the trade deal sought by May. London would also have to make progress on paying its part of the bill for the split and ensuring that the border between the Republic and North of Ireland remain open despite it becoming an international frontier after Brexit. On Tuesday, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, a sign of just how seriously world leaders are taking Moscows attempts at destabilizing Europe. Since the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of war in eastern Ukraine in 2014, things have gotten tense between Moscow and the West: Russian jets have probed Finnish and Swedish airspace; a barrage of Russian disinformation has targeted Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; and France, Germany, and the United States have all accused the Kremlin of interfering in their domestic politics. Its part of Russias embrace of so-called hybrid war, or the use of politics, diplomacy, the media, and cyberspace to destabilize opponents without necessarily having to resort to tanks and artillery. The combination of military posturing and disinformation has become the backbone of Moscows modern day military doctrine as it tries to reassert itself along its borders and beyond. Violations and provocations near borders are meant to test a neighbors resolve, while information attacks are meant to inflame internal problems and sow discord. Other operations, such as Russias cybermeddling in the U.S. election, were meant to boost Donald Trump, who as a candidate denigrated NATO, the European Union, and the liberal international order. The pact signed Tuesday is meant to establish a center to deal with those hybrid threats, which are hardly limited to the signatories. France and Germany in particular are concerned about Russian disinformation influencing upcoming elections. But for Sweden and Finland, Russias attempts at destabilization are souring relations. Neither is currently a member of NATO a throwback to both countries histories of military neutrality and complex relations with Moscow. But since the end of the Cold War, Helsinki and Stockholm cooperated more closely with the military alliance and debated joining at times. Story continues And that seems to be accelerating the more Moscow tweaks them. In May 2015, Stockholm signed a host nation support agreement with NATO, a deal that would allow the military alliance more room to operate on Swedish territory for training exercises or in the event of a conflict in the region. Helsinki signed a similar agreement in 2014. Moreover, Moscow and NATOs dueling rhetoric and actions have only further inflamed tensions in the Baltic. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania all members of NATO have sounded the alarm that their region could be the next flashpoint with Russia. After the growing number of airspace violations, Sweden remilitarized the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea in February 2016 for the first time since the end of the Cold War. Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini said Tuesday that the fight against hybrid threats is a European priority. He said the creation of the new center will help build resilience to hybrid threats in EU and NATO member states, and could get those two unwieldy bodies to work more closely to fight the growing problem. Like other, pre-existing centers dedicated to combatting hybrid threats, such as those in Latvia and Estonia, the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats is a complement to, not a substitute for, NATO. With the exception of Finland and Sweden, all of the original signatories are alliance members, and a NATO representative was at the signing ceremony. NATO issued a statement saying, While not signatories themselves, NATO and the EU will participate actively in the Centres activities. In other words, though neither country will seek formal membership in the decades-old military alliance, Helsinki and Stockholm are, thanks to the looming threat from the east, moving ever closer to the very NATO that Russia has for so long sought to keep them from joining. Photo credit: Government of Finland/Flickr By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) The Students Federation of India (SFI) today moved the Delhi High Court against the University Grants Commissions (UGC) regulations on the eligibility and manner of admission to MPhil and PhD courses in the country. The matter came up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Deepa Sharma which listed it for consideration on April 18. advertisement SFI in its plea had challenged the constitutional validity of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of MPhil and PhD degree) Regulations 2016 which came into effect from July 5, 2016. The students body termed the Regulations as "irrational, unreasonable and arbitrary" and alleged that it is contrary to the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy. Apart from SFI, three students -- one from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and two from the Delhi University (DU) -- who aspire to pursue MPhil and PhD courses from JNU have also challenged the Regulations along with the students body. The students and SFI have contended that the Regulations have resulted in a massive cut in seats for the MPhil and PhD courses for the 2017-18 academic year. Their petition says that compared to 970 seats in the last academic year for these two degrees, this year the number of seats has dropped to 102. The seats have reduced due to capping of the number of students per research supervisor for MPhil and PhD courses, the petition has said. It has contended that the cap was put without consulting or informing students and without improving the infrastructure. The petitioners have challenged various provisions of the Regulations including those laying down a minimum percentage requirement of 55 per cent for General category and 50 per cent for reserved category as well as the 100 per cent weightage given to viva-voce exam. Apart from striking down of the Regulations, they have also sought filling up of the vacancies in the posts of Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors to avoid reduction of seats in the MPhil and PhD courses in the current academic year (2017-18). As per JNUs admission prospectus for the current academic year, the last date for submitting the filled up applications was April 5. A single judge of the high court on March 17 had dismissed a plea by some students challenging the JNUs 2017-18 admission policy based on the UGC regulations. advertisement The judge had said that the varsity has to follow the regulations without any deviation. The students, however, had not challenged the regulations. They had claimed in their plea that proper procedure was not followed by JNU while adopting the UGC notification, which capped the number of students per professor for MPhil and PhD courses. The single judge had also refused to accept the students contention that the varsity can decide how to implement the regulations, saying once UGC framed the regulations the varsity was required to follow it. PTI HMP PPS RT --- ENDS --- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson landed in Moscow Tuesday for tense talks with his counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as the Trump administration accused Russia of trying to cover up a chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian regime. As Tillerson prepared for difficult discussions on Wednesday, the Trump administration leveled its most serious accusations to date against the Syrian and Russian governments, alleging the two had sought to float a series of false narratives in the aftermath of last weeks deadly sarin gas attack against Syrian civilians. The charges of collusion between Damascus and Moscow came in the form of a declassified National Security Council report, which said U.S. intelligence agencies had evidence that sarin had been used in the attack, and accused Russia of a cover-up in its aftermath. The declassified document said that the United States has gathered proof including satellite imagery, intercepted communications, and laboratory analysis. Yet Russian President Vladimir Putin, without offering any detailed evidence, insisted that rebels had chemical weapons, and were likely to use them to try to get the United States to strike Syria again. Those diametrically opposing views of whats going on in Syria and what it could mean for the fate of the Assad regime played out on the eve of Tillersons meeting with Lavrov. (Its still not clear if Tillerson will meet with Putin.) This is hardly the way most expected the meeting to go when Tillerson became secretary of state just a few weeks ago. President Donald Trump had campaigned on closer ties with Russia, and Tillerson had longtime business ties there and close relations with senior Russian officials, not to mention a Russian Order of Friendship. That created expectations that the two countries would seek to forge a more cooperative relationship on issues like fighting terrorism, but tensions over the rapidly-shifting situation in Syria not to mention the festering sore of occupied Ukraine threaten the gathering. Story continues At a news conference Tuesday, Defense Secretary James Mattis warned the Syrian regime against using chemical weapons again but insisted the administration had no plans to drastically change its policy on Syria and tried to downplay tensions with Russia, which has provided crucial air power for Damascus. Our military policy in Syria has not changed. Our priority remains the defeat of ISIS, Mattis told reporters. The Pentagon chief said he was confident the Russians will act in their own best interest and there is nothing in their best interest to say they want this situation to go out of control. Mattis also said that the United States had taken precautions to avoid killing Russian military personnel at the Syrian airfield. The State Department tried to manage expectations even before the April 6 U.S. attack on Al Shayrat airfield in Syria threw a wrench into bilateral relations. Prior to the missile strikes, a State Department official said: No decisions have been made this stage to shift towards more cooperation. This trip is an exploratory trip to see what the potential is. Asked if the U.S. attack on the airbase had changed any calculations, a State Department spokesperson told Foreign Policy, I would expect the full range of issues to be discussed and I do not want to get ahead of those discussions. Now that Washington has pulled a 180-degree shift in what passes for its Syria policy, indicating that Assad should go rather than stay as president, one big question will be whether Tillerson can convince the Russians of that. Assad for years has been a Russian client, and has since 2015 relied on Russian airpower to pummel rebel forces and turn holdout cities to rubble. But Syrias importance for Russia goes far beyond Assad; the warm-water Syrian port of Tartus, Russias only foreign naval base, is particularly important for Moscow, which has been trying for years to re-establish a military presence in the Middle East it last enjoyed in the 1970s. As long as Russia can keep its toehold in the eastern Mediterranean, it may not care who is taking orders in Damascus. Russians have long signalled an openness to moving away from Assad personally, Matthew Rojansky, director of the Kennan Institute. Indeed, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov repeated that just last week. Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute said Tillerson and Lavrov likely will speak of possible replacements for Assad that dont tilt Syria away from Russia perhaps a general without as much blood on his hands. The question is have we moved the ball on Assad enough for the Russians? said Rojansky. Still, both sides will work hard to make it a productive meeting, he said, because thats what both sides want, despite all the difficulties. (One possible monkeywrench, according to Rubin: U.S. concern over possible Russian ownership of a U.S. refiner.) But theres still Ukraine, the original irritant in relations between Russia and the West. Tillerson doesnt seem to think the illegal sundering of a European country is of much concern to the United States he reportedly asked his counterparts at the G-7 summit this week why American taxpayers should care about the conflict in Ukraine but officially, the U.S. position remains the same. In the briefing last week, the senior State Department official said Tillerson will push on the Ukraine issue for Russia to meet its Minsk commitments, and that sanctions will stay in place until that has happened. Lavrov, Rojansky expects, will respond by saying that it cant and wont meet the obligations under that accord, because the Ukrainian side wont fulfill its commitments. And the two will remain at an impasse. You have to talk about it, Rojansky said, but theres also not much to say. Photo credit: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images This article was updated with comments from Defense Secretary James Mattis at a Pentagon news conference. Diyarbakir (Turkey) (AFP) - Two people were killed Tuesday in an explosion that shook police headquarters in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, which a minister said was an accident during repair work. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said no external forces had been involved in the incident in the restive majority Kurdish city which happened during repairs on armoured vehicles. One civilian worker employed at the facility was killed in the blast, the local governor's office said in a statement. The state-run Anadolu news agency later said a second man died of his wounds in hospital. The blast, which could be heard in several areas across the city, added to security jitters just days ahead of a key referendum expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers. Grey smoke rose from the area as ambulances rushed to the scene, with medics saying at least five people were hurt. "There was no intervention from outside. An explosion happened during repairs to vehicles," Soylu was quoted as saying by the private NTV television. The statement by the governor's office however did not specify the precise cause of the blast, though it did say it took place during repairs to an armoured vehicle. An investigation has been opened, it said. A person who was trapped under the rubble was rescued, the Dogan news agency reported. Images showed that the force of the blast created a large crater and caused considerable destruction to the building. Turks will on Sunday vote on whether to approve constitutional changes giving Erdogan executive presidential powers, which critics say would drag the country into one-man rule. The southeast has been battered by renewed fighting between Kurdish rebels and Turkish security forces since a fragile truce collapsed in 2015. The outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 during which over 40,000 people have been killed. The group is designated by Ankara, the United States and the European Union as a terror group. Diyarbakir city and its region have over the last year been repeatedly hit by PKK attacks targeting the security forces. Republican Ron Estes, Democrat James Thompson and Libertarian Chris Rockhold. (Photos: Bo Rader/Wichita Eagle via AP, Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP) Voters headed to the polls Tuesday in Kansas for the first congressional election since Donald Trump won the White House. Republican Ron Estes is favored, but the race has suddenly drawn national interest as a potential test of whether the anti-Trump organizing campaigns can move voters to the polls. The special election in Kansas Fourth Congressional District pits Estes, the twice-elected Kansas state treasurer, against civil rights attorney and army veteran James Thompson. They are vying for the seat vacated by Mike Pompeo, who was picked by Trump to be CIA director. Libertarian Chris Rockhold is also running. Kansas is not a swing state in presidential elections, and the last time a Democrat won its Fourth Congressional District was 1992. This past fall, Donald Trump trounced Hillary Clinton in the district by 27 points, and Pompeo bested his Democratic rival by 31 percentage points. Yet districts that have been held for a long time by a single party can be unexpectedly vulnerable to strong challenges during special elections, which often feature unpredictable turnout among voters. And because Republicans already control both chambers of Congress and the White House, liberal voters may be more motivated to turn out than conservatives. Additionally, party get-out-the-vote machinery tends to fall into disarray when not regularly used, and safe districts with little in the way of strong general-election challenges provide few incentives to build and maintain an electoral infrastructure. Thompsons campaign in the district proved to have surprising momentum, forcing national Republicans to pitch in to bolster Estes in what should have been an easy Republican seat to hold. Colin Curtis, Thompsons campaign manager, told the Kansas City Star that Estes has taken the district for granted and the people for granted. He expects these voters just to show up and blindly vote for him because hes a registered Republican. Across the country, both parties have had surprise special-election victories in recent years. I know a lot of people just thought it would be a blow-over, Clay Barker, the executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, told the Star. We always remind people about Anthony Weiners seat going Republican in a special election. Story continues Kansas is also going through a wrenching political period after a Republican experiment with massive income tax cuts led to budgetary shortfalls, which are projected to reach more than $1 billion by the middle of 2019. That has transformed the normal political conversation in the state and led even Republican legislators to back tax increases in an effort to fix the state revenue gap, though their efforts have yet to succeed. One thing they did do, though, is give Kansas Democrats and GOP moderates more seats in the state legislature last fall, at the same time Trump was elected. Shortly after the failure of Trumps Obamacare repeal efforts last month, the more moderate Kansas state legislature voted to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. GOP Gov. Sam Brownback vetoed the expansion, and the GOP-controlled Kansas House narrowly upheld his veto. And then theres the question of the Estes campaign itself, which has been mocked for an ad featuring him in chest-high waders in a literal swamp, promising to drain the metaphorical one in Washington. His ads have focused more on reining in Washington excesses, while Thompsons have focused on biography and the struggle to get out of poverty and to live as a member of the working class in Kansas. Rons run a horrible campaign. Hasnt raised much money, his ads are abysmal no energy, a Kansas Republican operative told the Washington Examiner. Its a low turnout special, and weird things happen. That has led national Republicans to pile in to try to save the race, partly at Barkers request. I am personally reaching out to you today to help strengthen our House majority by electing Ron Estes in Kansas Fourth Congressional District, House Speaker Paul Ryan wrote in an email appeal. As a friend of Rons and as House Speaker, I can tell you that this is one of the most important House races in the country. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, stumped for Estes on Monday in Wichita, urging voters to take nine others to the polls with them and warning, Our enemy right now is complacency. Cruz, a former 2016 presidential candidate, beat Trump in the Kansas Republican presidential primary caucus last year. Vice President Mike Pence recorded a robocall over the weekend. So did President Trump, speaking out on a one-minute, five-second robocall that went out to tens of thousands of likely GOP voters Monday. I have something big to tell you. On Tuesday, Republican Ron Estes needs your vote and needs it badly, Trump said in the recording. Ron is a conservative leader whos going to work with me to make America great again. Were going to do things really great for our country. Our country needs help. Ron is going to be helping us, big league. This is an important election. On Tuesday, he followed up with a tweet: Ron Estes is running TODAY for Congress in the Great State of Kansas. A wonderful guy, I need his help on Healthcare & Tax Cuts (Reform). Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2017 Though Trump is polling at roughly 40 percent nationally, his support remains strong in solidly Republican areas as well as among party members. People here still like Trump, Thompson told the Washington Post. Its not been a referendum on him. Its a referendum on the failed Republican leadership in the state. People dont want these policies taken to the national level. That hasnt stopped Thompson from allying himself with the anti-Trump resistance in no uncertain terms, tweeting out the hashtag #resistance in thanks to the local anti-Trump Indivisible group that has been organizing on his behalf. Thompsons message has focused on working-class families, veterans, the Constitution and the need for a political change. An earlier, much less high-powered Trump team effort to buoy a candidate in the state fell flat in February, when White House-backed Alan Cobb failed to make it out of the GOP special election primary. Sam Clovis, the one-time Trump campaign co-chair, had sent a letter supporting Cobb to the 126 state party delegates that would pick a candidate, and Trump social media guru Dan Scavino tweeted on his behalf. Cobb also had strong ties to the Kochs, as the former Kansas director of Americans for Prosperity and a one-time lobbyist for Koch Industries. In the end, Estes long tenure in the district and history of winning office statewide made the difference. Voter turnout so far has been low but has seen a disproportionately high share of Democrats, given the districts historic GOP tilt. Thompson raised a quarter of a million dollars in the final days of the race, much of it in small-dollar donations via liberal fundraising sites. On Monday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which had been staying away from the contest, entered the race to do last-minute live calls to 25,000 households. Read more from Yahoo News: By Amina Ismail and Arwa Gaballa ALEXANDRIA/TANTA, Egypt (Reuters) - Families of victims of Sunday's bombing at Alexandria's Coptic cathedral gathered at the Monastery of Saint Mina under heavy security on Monday as Egypt's cabinet approved a three-month state of emergency ahead of a scheduled trip by Pope Francis. Hundreds of mourners, many outraged by what they said was the state's failure to keep them safe on one of their holiest days, carried wooden coffins to the beat of drums interrupted by the wails of those dressed in all black. "Where should we go pray? They are attacking us in our churches. They don't want us to pray but we will pray," said Samira Adly, 53, whose neighbors were killed in the attack. "Everyone is falling short...the government, the people... nothing is good." The blast in Egypt's second largest city, which killed 17 including 7 police officers, came hours after a bomb struck a Coptic church in Tanta, a nearby city in the Nile Delta, that took the lives of 28 and wounded nearly 80. The twin attacks marked one of the bloodiest days in recent memory for Egypt's Christian minority,the largest in the Middle East. Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State, which has waged a campaign against Egypt's Christian minority. The Copts, whose presence in Egypt dates to the Roman era, have long complained of religious persecution and accused the state of not doing enough to protect them. Coming on Palm Sunday, when Christians mark the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, the bombings appeared designed to spread fear among the Coptic minority. "We shouldn't stay quiet at all...it is a security failure..how did the bomb enter when there's security outside the church? They're saying now the metal detector wasn't working," Beshoy Asham, a cousin of a Tanta victim told Reuters. The attacks also raised security fears ahead of a visit to Cairo by Roman Catholic Pope Francis planned for April 28-29 intended to promote interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Christians. Coptic Pope Tawadros, who was leading the mass in Alexandria's Saint Mark's Cathedral when the bomb exploded, was not harmed, the Interior Ministry said. The nationwide state of emergency declared by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and agreed by the cabinet on Monday is expected to be approved by parliament within seven days in order to remain in place. "The armed forces and police will do what is necessary to confront the threats of terrorism and its financing," the cabinet said in a statement. Measures would be taken to "maintain security across the country, protect public and private property and the lives of citizens," it said. But anger at the state's failure to secure the religious holiday appeared to be on the rise. Youth gathered at the Alexandria funeral shouted chants rarely heard in a country where protesting has effectively been outlawed and rights activists say they face the worst crackdown in their history. "Down with any president as long as Egyptian blood is cheap," and "down with military rule!" they yelled. SOFTER CHRISTIAN TARGET In Tanta, where many families buried their dead on Sunday, members of the Coptic community expressed anger at the lack of security, saying that despite warnings of an attack, police had not stepped up efforts to protect them. A senior police official told Reuters a bomb was discovered and disabled near the Tanta church about a week ago. "That should have been an alarm or a warning that this place is targeted," said 38-year-old Amira Maher. "Especially Palm Sunday, a day when many people gather, more than any other time in the year." At Tanta University hospital morgue, desperate families were trying to get inside to search for loved ones. Security forces held them back to stop overcrowding, enraging the crowd. "Why are you preventing us from entering now? Where were you when all this happened?" shouted one women looking for a relative. Some appeared in total shock, their faces pale and unmoving. Others wept openly as women wailed in mourning. Though Islamic State has long waged a low-level war against soldiers and police in Egypt's Sinai peninsula for years, its stepped up assault on Christians in the mainland could turn a provincial insurgency into wider sectarian conflict. On Sunday, the group warned of more attacks and boasted it had killed 80 people in three church bombings since December. "They want to use Islam to tear us apart. We are brothers and sisters and religion for God is Islam, but Christians are our brothers and sisters," said Nematalla from Cairo. A Muslim pedestrian in Cairo wept over the church victims. "These people are Egyptian....These people are our brothers and sisters and we love them," said Mohamed Zeinhom. Security analysts said it appeared that Islamic State, under pressure in Iraq and Syria, was trying to widen its threat and had identified Christian communities as an easier target. "ISIS are deeply sectarian, that's nothing new, but they have decided to re-emphasize that aspect in Egypt over the past few months," said H.A. Hellyer, senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council and the Royal United Services Institute. "Christian targets are easier -- churches are far more difficult to fortify than say an army barracks or a police station. It's a disturbing development because it indicates we have the possibility of repeated and continued attacks against soft targets." (additional reporting by Osama Naguib and Mostafa Salem; writing by Asma Alsharif; editing by Luke Baker, Sonya Hepinstall, Anna Willard) Manila (AFP) - Nine people including four Philippine security officials were killed Tuesday during clashes with suspected Islamic militants on a popular resort island as millions prepare to travel for the Easter holiday. The incursion allegedly by the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group on Bohol island would be the first on a key Philippine tourist destination in recent years by militants who pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters and often targets foreigners in the lawless south. Five gunmen were killed while four assault rifles and an improvised explosive device were recovered in the fighting, officials said. Just days earlier the US and Australia warned their citizens about possible "terrorist" kidnappings in Bohol or nearby Cebu island. Britain on Tuesday issued a similar travel advisory. "We're quite worried... we are afraid of hostage situations," said Khent Guimalan, who works at the upscale Bohol Beach Club. "The mayor and police have tightened security. There's a checkpoint everywhere," Guimalan told AFP by phone from the Panglao tourist area, where she said hotels were fully booked until next week. Following the clash authorities distributed photos of suspected Abu Sayyaf members asking locals to report any suspicious activity, according to Guimalan. Local officials said the militants had used fast boats Monday to reach a village where they squared off against security forces early Tuesday. - Whale sharks and tarsiers - A Filipino photographer in the area saw a hut burning and about 20 soldiers armed with a machine gun and automatic rifles trading intermittent fire with unseen snipers all afternoon at a cornfield near the Inabanga river. At one point, loud blasts rang out as a military plane flew over the area followed later by a helicopter, said the photographer, who asked not to be named. He added that residents said they saw two uniformed soldiers who looked to be either dead or wounded being evacuated aboard a military helicopter. Story continues Security forces have been on alert for "potential activity on the part of some lawless elements" during the peak Easter tourist season, military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said. "Our forces who were acting on this information were able to engage these lawless armed groups that are believed to be part of the Abu Sayyaf group from Mindanao," he said on ABS-CBN television. The armed men sailed upriver from Inabanga, a farming and fishing coastal community some 780 kilometres away from the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Jolo in the southern Philippines, local police told AFP. Bohol, about 600 kilometres south of Manila, is a mere 30 minutes' boat ride away from the major port of Cebu on Cebu island, which is also among the country's top tourist draws. The island is famous among foreign tourists who swim with docile whale sharks and marvel at tiny primates called tarsiers, go on cruises aboard boats on crystal-clear rivers and lounge on its beaches. - Containment - Three soldiers and one policeman were killed in the fighting, according to a joint statement from the region's military and police. "We are doing our best to make sure the conflict will not spread out," regional army spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar told AFP by telephone. "We are clearing the area," said Aguilar but did not give a timetable. "We have deployed enough forces to accomplish the mission." Bohol provincial governor Edgar Chatto said the violence was isolated in one village, where he said hundreds of residents had already fled to safety in nearby areas. "I am very disappointed that these elements coming out of nowhere are trying to destroy the lives of people living in peace," Chatto told AFP. The Abu Sayyaf, also blamed for deadly bombings, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement that holds large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Over the past year the Abu Sayyaf has been expanding its activities, boarding commercial and fishing vessels off their southern island stronghold of Jolo, near Malaysia, and abducting dozens of foreign crew members. They beheaded a German tourist in February and two Canadian tourists last year. All three were snatched at sea. Fleetwood Mac bandmates Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie have officially announced the impending release of their collaborative duets album, along with the launch of a US tour to promote the record. The album, dubbed "Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie", sees the duo reunited once again, following McVie's return to Fleetwood Mac in an official capacity in 2014 as part of the bands "On With The Show" tour. The record will be released on June 9 via Atlantic with pre-order available digitally, as well as on CD and vinyl and will be led with a new single, "In My World", which is out Friday, April 14. The duo has also announced they will be doing a short tour of North America behind the new album, which is due to kick off on June 21 in Atlanta, wrapping July 27th in Denver. Tickets go on sale April 21 (via Rolling Stone). I often field questions from international students who are eager to attend medical school in the U.S. While I've touched on this in the past, the topic feels timely in light of the current U.S. political climate and stance on immigration. Many international students and other individuals in nonmedical careers have written to me about their dreams and aspirations of training for a medical career in the U.S. An underlying thread to this plan, though, is to remain flexible -- in how long it will take, where it might lead you and what career option you will eventually select. [Read three tips for international students applying to U.S. medical schools.] First, if your future plans definitely include applying to U.S. medical schools, I highly encourage you to attend a U.S. undergraduate college, even for just a year, with the caveat that even in doing so you are not guaranteed an interview for a medical school in that same university. Naturally, finances will dictate where you can apply -- both for college and medical school. Most international students already know that they are ineligible for federal student loans. Few state or publicly supported medical schools even admit international students, and the majority of medical schools that do require international students to show proof of money held in escrow to cover tuition and living expenses generally for at least a year or two. Scholarships for international students are practically nonexistent, so you should be prepared financially to attend medical school in the U.S. Still, here are three considerations if your medical career plans include earning a medical education and working in the U.S. 1. Prepare to wait: There is no predictable way to know if a medical school that has previously accepted applications from international students will continue to do so from one year to the next. Currently international students can look up each school in the Medical School Admission Requirements on the Association of American Medical Colleges' website. This is one of the best resources for prospective students to determine admission requirements, and the AAMC is required to update it each year. Story continues However, be aware that there is a fee for using this database. And keep in mind that sometimes programs within the same medical school can have different admissions requirements, all of which will be reflected in the database. You can also look on each medical school's website for admission requirements and track this information in a spreadsheet. But remember that if you need to use this information the next year, you will need to research each school again to determine whether its policies have changed. This year is particularly challenging for international students, given the fluctuating U.S. immigration policy. I have told applicants who recently contacted me that they should pay particular attention to the next 90 days, which is the current visa suspension time frame for individuals from specific countries. [Learn about key considerations for international students pursuing U.S. medical schools.] If a medical school anticipates that it will not be able to accept international students, or the school wishes to change its policy on international student enrollments, then the admissions committee likely won't seriously consider your application. We have told our admissions committee members that we will not close our doors to international applicants, if at all possible. Generally, I advise international students to submit their applications in the early summer. However, international students from one of the seven countries targeted in the second White House executive order -- Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan -- may want to wait until September to determine their likelihood of entry to the U.S. At the very least, do not submit application fees until you know the school will seriously consider your application. 2. Focus on a residency: I routinely am asked if international physicians who have graduated from medical school in their own country can attend medical school in the U.S. Although I sincerely appreciate these physicians' dedication and willingness to start over, I do not know of any U.S. medical schools that accept fully trained physicians. That said, international medical students in their senior year may be able to apply for a visiting rotation, which could place them in a better position for matching as a resident applicant. Although shrinking each year, the number of international residents is still greater than that of international medical students. Perhaps a better plan for prospective students is to find a medical school in their home country that sets them up for this path. 3. Expand your dream: Between U.S. immigration policy challenges and the ever-present financial challenges for international students, don't make attending a U.S. medical school your only dream. Consider applying to a U.S. college and then to either a nursing program, which could lead to an advanced practice nurse degree, or to a physician assistant program. [Consider the pros and cons of attending medical school in Europe.] These educational options may be more welcoming to international applicants. And as career choices, they provide an excellent opportunity to work as part of a medical team, practicing medicine and caring for patients. While you consider your options, stay up-to-date on the U.S. immigration policy and remain flexible and open to where and how you earn a medical education. Kathleen Franco, M.D., is associate dean of admissions and student affairs at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She previously served both as director of residency training and director of medical student training in psychiatry at Cleveland Clinic. She is board-certified in psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine and attended Medical College of Ohio -- Toledo. For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. Efforts to confront a heroin problem in Central Florida have gone viral after a local police department released a commercial featuring officers dressed in gear that resembled that if the Islamic State group, the Miami New Times reported Monday. The new anti-drug ad from the Lake County Sheriff's Office includes the department's top officer delivering a stern message to drug dealers while he is flanked by ski mask-clad officers, similar to many of videos that have been released by ISIS over the years. "To the dealers that are pushing this poison, I have a message for you: Were coming for you," he Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said threateningly. "As a matter of fact, our undercover agents have already bought heroin from many of you. We are simply awaiting the arrest warrants to be finalized." Read: Links Found Between Childhood Emotional Abuse And Opioid Epidemic Grinnell continued speaking to apparent criminals who he said have already been selected as targets. "Enjoy trying to sleep at night, wondering if tonights the night our SWAT team blows your front door off the hinges. We are coming for you," he added. The new ad came amid a crackdown statewide by local law enforcement to combat the growing opioid epidemic that has also widely affected the rest of the country. Most efforts have targeted those selling the illicit drug. "We had officers and deputies who were kind of seeing that we could nab the drug dealers, Dan Faggard, of the State Attorneys Office in Seminole County, told local news outlet Fox 35 last month. "It really wasnt that useful not too long ago because our heroin problem here in central Florida is kind of a recent thing." Heroin use is the U.S. has increased dramatically as of late, especially among white people, according to a report released last month in the JAMA Psychiatry journal. See the video below. Story continues Related Articles Once Congress MP Shashi Tharoor drafts the resolution, it will be vetted by the Prime Minister's Office before being presented by the House. By Reema Parashar: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is likely to help the Narendra Modi government draft the Statement of Solidarity on the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav. This statement will be adopted by both Houses of Parliament. Parliament today condemned Pakistan for sentencing Kulbhushan Jadhav to death. Once Congress MP Shashi Tharoor drafts the resolution, it will be vetted by the Prime Minister's Office before being presented by the House. advertisement VIOLATION OF GENEVA CONVENTION Tharoor, a former under-secretary general at the United Nations, is known for his lucid views on economics, politics and international affairs. He slammed Pakistan for the death sentence to Jadhav and called it an assault on international laws and conventions. "What Pakistan is doing is not only an assault on India, it is an assault on international laws, international conventions that affect everybody", Shashi Tharoor said in Lok Sabha. "The extremely important thing for us is to uphold the principles. Thirteen times this gentleman was denied consular access, which is a basic right. Geneva conventions have been violated by Pakistan... This is an extremely serious matter," Tharoor said. AN ACT OF PREMEDITATED MURDER Swaraj, in a strongly-worded speech, warned Pakistan of dire consequences if they execute the death penalty to Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been charged by a military court of espionage. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder," Sushma Swaraj said in Parliament. Earlier, Congress-led Opposition cornered the government for failing to raise Kulbhushan Jadhav issue with Pakistan. The Prime Minister visited Pakistan but failed to raise Kulbhushan Jadhav issue with his Pakistani counterpart, said Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. To this, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government will do whatever it takes to ensure release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer who was arrested by Pakistan security forces last year. Earlier it was reported that Sushma Swaraj had requested Shashi Tharoor to draft a solidarity bill. However, Swaraj later tweeted saying that there was no dearth of talent in her ministry and that she had the assistance of very able secretaries. ALSO READ: Fear Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tortured, killed in Pakistan: BJP MP and former Home Secretary RK Singh Kulbhushan Jadhav a terrorist, should meet his fate: Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit Kulbhushan Jadhav sentence linked to Pakistan Army ex-officer vanishing in Nepal? ALSO WATCH --- ENDS --- Varzy (France) (AFP) - With its deserted streets, "For Sale" signs and weeds pushing through the pavement, the village of Varzy symbolises the plight of the depressed French hinterland, a key theme in the presidential race. Standing at the counter in one of two bars left in the central village of around 1,300 people, truck driver Michel Cadour counts off the restaurants that have closed in recent years. "There is nothing left here," the ruddy-faced 58-year-old said with a resigned air. "Young people don't want to start anything because there are no customers. Nowadays the only restaurant that opens in the evening is the kebab shop." The fate of provincial towns and villages looms large over France's April 23-May 7 election, with voters in areas scarred by population decline and shrinking public services threatening to take revenge on mainstream politicians. France's countryside, provincial towns and the area between town and country are estimated by geographer Christophe Guilluy to contain 60 percent of the population. Traditionally rural areas in France have voted for candidates on the right, but many are now leaning towards the far-right. For Pascal Perrineau, a political scientist at Sciences Po university, the French election, like the US vote which brought in President Donald Trump, has revealed a rift between rural communities and the cosmopolitan cities. "If you go 20 kilometres (12 miles) north, south, east or west out of Paris you will find yourself in another France, which is far more immobile, hit by unemployment, worried about identity and marked by social and cultural divisions," he told a group of foreign correspondents in Paris. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who is running neck-and-neck with centrist Emmanuel Macron for the first round vote, according to opinion polls, has campaigned as the champion of the "forgotten French" against the "globalist" elite. Story continues "I support Marine. She is the only one we haven't tried," Cadour said, sipping on a beer. "Mainstream politicians don't care about rural voters. They're too busy looking after their interests in town," he said. - Medical malaise - A shortage of doctors, which affects parts of Paris also but is most acute in central France, has come to symbolise the malaise of the rural dweller. Situated in the Nievre department, which has lost over a quarter of its general practitioners since 2007, Varzy has struggled to attract young physicians, put off by the isolation and large caseloads of the country doctor. From four a decade ago, the number of GPs in Varzy has fallen to two. Patients also complain of long delays to consult ophthalmologists, gynaecologists and other specialists. "The politicians don't realise how people live. People here can't get proper care," said Antoine, a 52-year-old former soldier who gave up trying to see a cardiologist about a heart problem after being told he would have to wait four months. "We don't just have a medical desert in France. We have a real political desert," said the burly security guard, expressing tentative support for the "clearsightedness" of the maverick Macron. - 'Lost bond' - Pascal Gleitz, a doctor who worked for 20 years in Varzy, blamed the sense of abandonment in rural areas on cutbacks in public services. Citing the closure of many village post offices, the silver-haired physician said: "Before, there was a very strong bond between the state and the population. That has been lost." In Nevers, the region's administrative centre where he now practises, Gleitz manages to see all urgent cases within 24 hours. But the longtime Socialist stronghold of 37,000 people also struggles to attract doctors and other professionals. The population of the picturesque town on the Loire river has fallen by more than 10,000 in the past 20 years and the once buzzing centre has been abandoned by shoppers for out-of-town supermarkets and malls. On a walkabout of the town, estate agent Jerome Coquin pointed out the fake storefronts depicting thriving businesses painted by the city over shuttered shops. While acknowledging that there was "no miracle solution" for towns lacking the attractions of big cities or the country, he expressed frustration at the lack of decentralisation in France. "There's Paris and the big cities -- and there's the rest," the 39-year-old local grumbled. To Mayor Denis Thuriot, what matters most to voters in an area where the late Socialist president Francois Mitterrand took his early political steps for the top job "is that they are given proper consideration". "They believe that a lot is being done for big cities and rural areas and that no one is looking after the space in between," said the former Socialist who won office in 2014 on a cross-platform list. Like his favoured candidate Macron, Thuriot believes that the digital economy is key to attracting investment. He also shares the ex-banker's prediction that the French will avoid extremes in the run-off round of the election that is expected to pit Macron against Le Pen. "I'm convinced that the majority of the French are moderates deep down," he said. Paris (AFP) - French presidential candidate Francois Fillon responded angrily Tuesday to a new report alleging that he put his wife on the public payroll in 1982, four years earlier than he claimed. "I won't say another word about these things," the conservative contender said on French television, condemning "successive revelations, carefully disseminated by state services." The revelation comes as French voters prepare to cast their first ballots in the two-stage presidential race on April 23. Fillon, once the race's frontrunner and who denies any wrongdoing, was charged with abuse of public funds last month in a scandal that he has blamed on the outgoing Socialist government. The 63-year-old is accused of giving fake jobs to his Welsh-born wife Penelope that earned her 680,000 euros ($725,000) in salary payments between 1986 and 2013. Mediapart said late Monday that "Penelope Fillon in fact benefited from public funds from the first parliamentary mandate of her husband through contracts for studies or projects that he commissioned." Fillon, first elected to represent the central Sarthe region in 1981, went on to become prime minister under president Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012. Other accusations of financial impropriety have piled up since the claims first broke in January, including that Fillon failed to declare an interest-free loan and that he accepted gifts of bespoke suits from a wealthy friend. Fillon's lawyer Antonin Levy confirmed that investigators seized "contracts for studies" during a raid of the candidate's parliamentary offices in late January but said they were of "no interest" to the probe which he said reaches back only to 1997. - Why now? lawyer asks - "The real question is why the financial prosecutor, which has known of these documents for weeks, has not spoken of them and why this information is coming out two weeks before the first round" of the vote, Levy told AFP. Story continues Fillon has seen his poll numbers decline around six points since the scandal broke, and is now sharing third place with far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. Fillon was the surprise winner of the rightwing Republicans party's November primary after campaigning on his squeaky clean image. His two leading rivals, Sarkozy and former prime minister Alain Juppe, were both tainted by legal woes. Fillon has said that incumbent President Francois Hollande -- who decided in December not to run for re-election -- headed a "secret cabinet" responsible for the explosive fake jobs revelations. With Fillon not expected to get past the first round, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron are seen as the frontrunners for the decisive runoff on May 7. The 15-judge U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit voted on Monday afternoon to review before the full bench, instead of a three-judge panel, the legality of President Trumps 90-day suspension of entry into the U.S. of any foreign nationals from six Mideast nations. That action, taken by an unspecified majority vote, could speed up the process of moving this major constitutional controversy on to the Supreme Court. At issue in the Circuit Courts review is also whether that court will postpone, during the appeal process, a Maryland federal judges nationwide ruling barring enforcement of the 90-day suspension of entry by anyone from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. If, as seems likely, the Circuit Court rules first on the postponement question, that is the issue that could move first and quickly to the Supreme Court. Under review by the appeals court is the ruling last month by Maryland District Judge Theodore D. Chuang that the presidential order suspending admissions from the six Muslim-majority nations was a form of unconstitutional discrimination based on religion, Meanwhile, Judge Chuang refused on Monday to expand his ruling to block enforcement of the Trump initiative that suspended for 120 days any refugees from entering the U.S. from anywhere in the world. The Trump Administration had already gained review by the Circuit Court on an expedited schedule, and the case has been scheduled for a hearing on May 8. The en banc court did not change that date in agreeing to put the case before the full bench. The move to en banc review is not a common procedure, and granting it even before the normal three-judge panel had a chance to review the case, is a strong indication that a majority of the judges agreed on its importance. Expedited review also reflects the same perception. Although the hearing is not until May 8, that does not necessarily mean that the Circuit Court will wait until then to make up its mind on what is a preliminary question: should the Maryland judges order against enforcement of the 90-day suspension be put on hold while the Circuit Court considers its legality or constitutionality of President Trumps action itself. Story continues The Trump order is also under review, in a broader case, now pending before another federal appeals court the Ninth Circuit. So far, it appears that case will be reviewed there initially by the more customary mode, before a three-judge panel. A hearing has been set in that case for May 15 a week behind the Fourth Circuit Courts hearing. The Ninth Circuit case also has in it a request by government lawyers to put on hold a Hawaii judges nationwide order barring enforcement of several key parts of the revised Trump executive order. The Ninth Circuit Court is the federal appeals court that refused to allow the Trump Administration to put into effect the original version of its immigration restrictions. It was in response to that setback that the president and his aides composed the revised draft that is now under review in the lower federal courts. If and when the challenges to the revised Trump order or the issue of postponement during appeals court review reach the Supreme Court, all nine Justices including the newest member, Neal M. Gorsuch will be on hand to act. If an appeals court allows, or does not allow, enforcement of Trumps actions, it would take the votes of five of the nine Justices to reverse that. 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 this post first appeared. Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly By Steve Scherer and Andrew Osborn LUCCA, Italy/MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson carried a message from world powers to Moscow on Tuesday denouncing Russian support for Syria's Bashar al-Assad, as the Trump administration took on America's traditional mantle as leader of a unified West. Tillerson flew on the administration's first cabinet mission to Russia after meeting foreign ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies and Middle Eastern allies in Italy. They endorsed a joint call for Russia to abandon Assad. The administration of President Donald Trump, which came to power in January calling for warmer ties with Russia, was thrust into confrontation with Moscow last week when a poison gas attack in northern Syria killed 87 people. Western countries blame President Assad for the gas attack, and Trump responded by firing cruise missiles at a Syrian air base. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stood firmly by Moscow's ally Assad, who denies blame. For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. "It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson told reporters in Italy before departing for Moscow. "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar Al-Assad." He said Russia had failed in its role as sponsor of a 2013 deal under which Assad promised to give up his chemical arsenal. "These agreements stipulated Russia as the guarantor of a Syria free of chemical weapons," Tillerson said. "It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously and whether Russia has been incompetent. But this distinction doesn't much matter to the dead. We can't let this happen again." Russia says the chemicals that killed civilians belonged to rebels, not to Assad's government, and has accused the United States of an illegal act of aggression against Syria on a phoney pretext. Putin said on Tuesday he believed Washington planned to launch more missile strikes, and that rebels were planning to stage chemical weapons attacks to provoke them. Story continues "We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using (chemical weapons)," Putin said, standing alongside Italian President Sergio Matarella who was in Moscow for talks. Putin said Moscow would urgently ask the United Nations chemical weapons watchdog to investigate last week's incident. Western countries have dismissed Russian suggestions that the poison gas belonged to rebels as beyond credibility. "Russia's allegations fit with a pattern of deflecting blame from the (Syrian) regime and attempting to undermine the credibility of its opponents," a White House official said. The United States, Britain and France have proposed a revised draft resolution to the 15-member U.N. Security Council that is similar to a text they circulated last week pushing Syria's government to cooperate with investigators, diplomats said. TURNING POINT The secretary of state's role as messenger for a united G7 position is a turning point for Trump, who in the past alarmed allies by voicing scepticism about the value of U.S. support for traditional friends, while calling for closer ties with Moscow. Tillerson is a former boss of oil company Exxon Mobil which has gigantic projects in Russia. He was awarded Russia's "Order of Friendship" by Putin in 2013. He is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin has said Tillerson has no meeting scheduled with Putin this trip, although some Russian media have reported such a meeting may nevertheless take place. On Monday, Trump reached out to traditional NATO allies, discussing Syria by telephone with British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "I think we have to show a united position and that in these negotiations we should do all we can to get Russia out of Assad's corner," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. Britain floated the idea of tightening sanctions on Russia, initially imposed in 2014 over its annexation of territory from Ukraine, although no such step was agreed at the G7 meeting. France said it was not discussed in depth. Western countries have been calling for Assad to leave power since 2011, the start of a civil war that has killed at least 400,000 people and created the world's worst refugee crisis. Assad's position on the battlefield became far stronger after Russia joined the war to support him in 2015. The United States and its allies are conducting air strikes in Syria against Islamic State, but until last week Washington had avoided targeting forces of Assad's government directly. ADDITIONAL STRIKES The United States said its strike on the Syrian airbase near Homs on Friday was a one-off and not a strategic shift. But the White House has also said Trump could authorize more strikes if Syria uses chemical weapons again. White House spokesman Sean Spicer suggested on Monday a lower bar for further U.S. action, saying Washington could also retaliate if Syria uses "barrel bombs" - oil drums packed with explosives dropped from aircraft. "When you watch babies and children being gassed, and suffer under barrel bombs, you are instantaneously moved to action," he said. "I think this president's made it very clear that if those actions were to continue, further action will definitely be considered by the United States." Retaliating for barrel bombs would require a major shift in U.S. policy since rebels say the weapons are used almost daily. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said Syrian warplanes dropped barrel bombs on rebel-held areas of Hama province on Tuesday. Syria has always denied using barrel bombs, though their use has been widely recorded by U.N. investigators. A source in the Syrian military denied it used them on Tuesday. The U.S. missile strike increased expectations that Trump would adopt a tougher stance with respect to Russia, and engage more actively in world affairs instead of following the more isolationist position associated with some of his advisers. Until the chemical attack, Trump had said Washington would no longer act as the world's guardian, especially if it was not in the interests of the United States. Trump's previous warm words for Russia were an issue at home, where intelligence agencies accuse Moscow of using computer hacking to help him win last year's presidential election. The FBI is investigating whether Trump campaign officials colluded with Moscow, which the White House denies. On Monday, Tillerson visited the site of a World War Two Nazi massacre in Italy and said Washington would never let such abuses go unchallenged. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson told reporters in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. (writing by Peter Graff, editing by Peter Millership and Tom Heneghan) By Crispian Balmer LUCCA, Italy (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from Group of Seven (G7) major industrialized nations reached no agreement on a British suggestion that sanctions be tightened against Syria and Russia, Italy's foreign minister said on Tuesday. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had said ahead of the two-day G7 meeting that he wanted to discuss imposing fresh sanctions over last week's alleged chemical weapons attack in a rebel-held area by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air force. Western countries blame Assad for the attack, which killed 87 people. He has denied involvement and Russia, which is backing the Damascus government in its six-year-old war with rebels, has stood firmly by its ally. Italy, which hosted the G7 gathering in Tuscany, said the idea did not win broad support. "There is no consensus at this time for new sanctions as an efficient method to reach our goal," Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told reporters. "There are obviously different opinions, and I am referring to my colleague Boris Johnson, who raised the issue," he said, adding: "The position of the G7 is very clear. We support the sanctions that have already been introduced." Italian officials estimate that sanctions imposed on Russia after its 2014 annexation of Crimea have cost Italy some four billion euros in lost business, and Rome has pushed back on previous attempts to impose fresh penalties on Moscow. Alfano said the G7 did not want to put Russia in a corner, but rather sought a constructive relationship with Moscow. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault suggested the question was given little attention by Johnson's counterparts from the United States, Germany, Canada, Italy, France and Japan. "The question wasn't mentioned by anyone, except Boris Johnson, but we didn't talk about it any further," Ayrault said. However, speaking later to British television, Johnson said there had been an agreement on support for further sanctions if evidence can be gathered against those involved in last week's poison gas attack on a rebel Syrian town that killed 87 people. Johnson said Britain and its European partners would await the outcome of an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). "There was a very wide measure of agreement last night that ... if we can show complicity by those Russian officers who are helping the Syrian military operation, then they should also be sanctionable as well," he told the BBC. Johnson also said there was no evidence that Russia knew of plans for a gas attack. "Did they know that Assad was going to unleash chemical weapons? We have no evidence for that, we dont know whether the Russians were involved at all," Johnson told Sky News. "It may very well be that they (Russia) have simply been betrayed by their client, by the guy they have been backing." (Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan in London; writing by Crispian Balmer; editing by Mark Heinrich) Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., speaks about gun safety on Capitol Hill on March 4, 2015. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP) After two adults and one student died in a Monday shooting at an elementary school in San Bernardino, Calif., former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords weighed in, calling for stricter gun legislation, saying, We can no longer call events like this unimaginable, because they happen with alarming frequency. Elementary school classrooms should be safe places, full of kindness never horror, Giffords said. The former Arizona lawmaker became a national spokeswoman for gun control legislation after she survived a 2011 assassination attempt that left six people dead and Giffords critically injured. She founded the group Americans for Responsible Solutions with her husband, Mark Kelly. My heart is breaking for San Bernardino, which like so many communities around the country has mourned far too many innocent lives because a violent person was able to get their hands on a gun, her statement continued. We can no longer call events like this unimaginable, because they happen with alarming frequency. Its time that all Americans have the courage to truly fight this crisis by standing up and demanding the smart gun laws we know save lives. The three victims were killed at North Park Elementary School, where the suspect, 53-year-old Cedric Anderson, arrived at the school and opened fire, killing his wife, Karen Elaine Smith, also 53, a teacher, in what police called an apparent murder-suicide. Two students were wounded, one of whom Jonathan Martinez, 8, later succumbed to his injuries, authorities said. During the previous administration, advocates like Giffords and then-President Barack Obama frequently addressed mass shootings by calling for legislation to curb some peoples ability to buy guns. Such instances included the 2015 shooting in San Bernardino, inspired by the so-called Islamic State, that left 14 people dead. Giffords statement at the time was similar to her comments reacting to this weeks shooting. Once again, we wish we could use words like unimaginable and unthinkable to describe this irresponsible inaction especially as it comes in the wake of yet another horrific mass shooting in our country, she said along with Kelly. But we cannot. Read more from Yahoo News: Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - Confidence among German investors beat analysts' expectations to reach its highest level since summer 2015 in April, a monthly survey by the ZEW economic institute showed Tuesday. The institute's headline index measuring expectations for the coming months leapt to 19.5 points, from 12.8 in March. Analysts surveyed by Factset had predicted a much smaller increase, to 13.8 points. "The economic situation in Germany showed itself to be very stable in the first quarter" this year, with "positive figures for growth in industrial production, construction and retail sales," ZEW president Achim Wambach said in a statement. "Financial market experts expect that this positive development will continue," he went on. Investors' confidence has climbed back to its level from before Britons' vote to quit the EU last June, the institute pointed out. A sub-index measuring investors' view of the current economic situation in Germany hit its highest level since 2011, and the same measure looking at the eurozone as a whole also improved. But the measure of expectations for the coming months in the 19-nation single currency area showed only sluggish improvement. ZEW compiles its investor confidence index based on a survey of 204 financial players in Germany. Paris (AFP) - World wine output dropped in 2016, with volumes in France and Argentina seeing the largest declines, an international wine body said Tuesday. Bad weather in many regions was behind the 3.2 percent fall in global production to 267 million hectolitres (mhl) from 276 million in 2015, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) said at a news conference in Paris. France, the world's second-biggest wine producer after Italy, lost 3.5 mhl in output volume and Argentina, the world's number nine, 3.9 mhl. In percentage terms, the biggest losers were Brazil, where production fell 55 percent, and Hungary, where it dropped by 38 percent. Latin American production was hurt by the El Nino weather phenomenon and excessive humidity, OIV director general Jean-Marie Aurand said. Meanwhile, drought cut South Africa's production by six percent. The word's total wine-growing surface remained stable at 7.5 million hectares, the OIV said. China added to the total size of its vineyards, while wine-growing surfaces declined in Turkey and Portugal. Italy, France, Spain, China and Turkey together make up more than half of the world's total vineyard size. The world's wine drinkers guzzled a total of 242 mhl last year, a slight increase from 2015 but still well below levels seen before the financial crisis cut consumption. Google Doodle paid tribute to celebrated Indian painter Jamini Roy on Tuesday, on what would have been his 130th birthday. Born in West Bengal in 1887, Roy studied at the Government School of Art in Kolkata from 1906 to 1914 but rejected the Western, academic styles of painting that dominated at the time. Instead, he turned to the folk arts of his native Bengal for inspiration, and shepherded in a uniquely Indian style of modern painting for which he is still known today. By the 1950s, Roys work had been exhibited in London and New York City. He was awarded Indias third-highest civilian honor, the Padma Bhushan, in 1954. In the 1970s, the Ministry of Culture declared him one of the countrys nine masters whose artworks are considered national treasures. Roy died in Kolkata in 1972 at the age of 85. The Google Doodle is based on his painting Black Horse. This article was originally published on TIME.com OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) After years of trying unsuccessfully to have a baby, Derina Soles of Oklahoma said she was excited to attend her first ultrasound and find out the gender of the fetus she had been carrying about 18 weeks. But that excitement quickly turned to disappointment when Soles learned her fetus had anencephaly, a rare and untreatable defect in which a baby's brain and skull don't form properly. "There is no chance of survival," Soles, of Norman, told The Associated Press. "It would have died either in the birth canal or shortly thereafter." Soles, 31, immediately knew that being forced to carry to full term would be too emotionally difficult, and she decided to terminate the pregnancy. Under a bill the Oklahoma Legislature is considering, Soles wouldn't have had that option. The measure by Muskogee Republican Rep. George Faught would prohibit doctors from performing an abortion if they know it is being sought because the fetus has been diagnosed with Down syndrome or a genetic abnormality. The bill sailed easily through the state House on a 67-16 vote last month, but some Republican lawmakers acknowledge they are growing weary of efforts by some of their GOP colleagues to continue to push some of the most far-reaching anti-abortion measures in the U.S. That doesn't deter Faught. "I think life begins at conception, so that's my position," said Faught, a staunchly anti-abortion lawmaker. "Someone needs to speak for those children, too, and that's what I feel like we're trying to do." Earlier this year, two first-term Republican House members surprised their colleagues on a House committee when they voted against Faught's bill. One described himself as "pro-life" but said it was fiscally irresponsible to vote in favor of a bill that would draw lawsuits. Last year, after the House and Senate approved a bill that would make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion, Republican Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed it, saying that despite her anti-abortion views, the measure would never withstand constitutional muster. Story continues Sen. Ervin Yen, an Oklahoma City Republican and the only medical doctor in the chamber, described himself as a "pro-life" Catholic, but said he elected not to hear Faught's bill in his committee for the same reason. "No. 1, it's unconstitutional," Yen said. "No. 2, it jumps between the doctor-patient relationship." Faught's bill has been reassigned to a second committee, and while it may not receive a hearing before a key deadline passes on Friday, the Senate's Republican leader disputed the characterization of the bill as controversial. "I don't think it's controversial to defend life at any stage," said Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz. But Yen said some of his GOP colleagues have told him privately that they feel political pressure to vote for anti-abortion bills even though they may think they are too far-reaching. "I think there are some of our caucus that say: 'Oh, it's a pro-life bill, I have to vote yes,'" Yen said. "I guess I don't blame them, but I don't have to do that. And I won't." Only two states have passed a law similar to Faught's proposal that prohibits abortions based on fetal abnormalities North Dakota and Indiana, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. The New York-based abortion rights group has successfully sued to block seven separate anti-abortion measures in Oklahoma over the last six years. The law in Indiana has been blocked by a federal court. Soles said she found it deeply troubling that lawmakers believe someone like her should be forced to carry a fetus to term when the baby would inevitably die. "I would have been watching my body change, going through the motions of being pregnant," Soles said, fighting back tears. "What do you do? Do you go shopping for clothes? Do you have a baby shower? Do you prepare a nursery? How do you wrap your mind around it? You can't. "I wanted this baby more than anything. It's been devastating." ___ Follow Sean Murphy at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy By Press Trust of India: From K J M Varma Beijing, Apr 11 (PTI) Chinas official media today said the successful anti-piracy operation by the PLA navy in the Gulf of Aden has proved the countrys ability to protect regional peace and lashed out at the western media for criticising Beijings outreach as "maritime hegemony". The rescue operation of Tuvalu-flagged ship, with 19 Filipino crew members on April 9, "demonstrates Chinas growing strength and role in fighting against piracy and an image as a responsible major country in safeguarding regional peace and stability," an op-ed article in the state-run Global Times said. advertisement China claims the rescue mission was solely conducted by the Peoples Liberation Army Navy though an Indian naval ship rushed to the area and provided air cover with its helicopter while the Chinese soldiers entered the cargo ship to save the crew. The two Indian warships were in the region as part of an overseas deployment. The merchant ship was travelling from Kelang in Malaysia to the port city of Aden in Yemen when it came under attack from Somali pirates. "China has actively engaged in international anti-piracy operations in recent years, however, despite the countrys willingness to fulfill its international obligations as a major power in safeguarding international and regional peace and stability, the Chinese navy has not been applauded for its efforts, and instead has been subject to overwhelming suspicions," the article said. "Many Western media outlets and Western strategists have maliciously hyped Chinas intention of improving its naval strength and its military reach into the open seas, claiming the expanding Chinese naval presence is aimed at competing for the control of major waters, and establishing maritime hegemony," it said. "As a matter of fact, with China becoming the second- largest economy of the world and its overseas interests expanding, it is imperative for Beijing to build a powerful navy that can protect arterial maritime trade routes and defend the countrys growing international interests," the article said. "Besides, dealing with non-traditional security threats such as terrorism and piracy requires international joint efforts, which China, as a responsible power, has a compelling obligation to join in," it said. The article said the hijack indicates, despite strengthened international anti-piracy efforts over the past few years, which led to a drop-in pirate attacks in the region, the Gulf of Aden is far from being safe. "The fleets dispatched by relevant countries are still facing a daunting task to fight rampant pirates and to protect the security of passing ships and crews," it said, acknowledging that the presence of other navies in the region to fight menace of piracy. advertisement "Chinas constructive participation in security affairs, including peacekeeping and anti-piracy efforts, is conducive to safeguarding regional peace. With the growth of Chinas military strength, the Chinese navy will be able to offer more public security goods to the world," the article said. The growing role and contribution of the Chinese navy in the international crackdown on non-traditional threats facing the world deserves objective evaluation, it added. PTI KJV KJ AKJ KJ --- ENDS --- Federal workplace safety officials have slapped a Philadelphia gun range with more than $15,000 in fines, finding that the owner failed to protect employees from airborne lead dust. Yuri Zalzman, owner of the business on North Percy Street called the Gun Range, did not respond to a request for comment. A message left with an attorney who has represented him in his quest to sell firearms at the facility also was not returned. The citation for exposure to the toxic metal was issued March 23 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The owner has until Monday to contest it if he chooses, agency officials said. Asked what levels of lead were measured in employees blood, OSHA spokeswoman Leni Fortson said she could not comment because the case was still open. The citation, based on multiple inspections, is broken into four parts: In a Nov. 18 site visit, inspectors determined that the shooting range had not monitored employees for lead exposure. Later that month, they found that the range failed to conduct adequate air monitoring. The range failed to measure the effectiveness of its ventilation system, inspectors wrote after a Jan. 11 visit. The facility also did not properly clean its lunch table, inspectors wrote after wiping the surface during the same visit and testing the cloth for the toxic metal. Finally, the agency said the gun range did not provide employees with detailed information about lead and its health effects as required. Lead exposure is most commonly known for the danger it poses to the developing brains of small children. At higher levels, it also poses risks to adults, potentially damaging the nervous system, kidney, and other organs. OSHA standards require that adults exposed to lead in workplace settings be routinely tested to ensure that levels of the metal remain below 40 micrograms per deciliter of blood. For children, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established a stricter benchmark of five micrograms. Story continues Zalzman opened the Gun Range in 2010, according to a December 2015 Daily News article. He said he averaged 12,500 customers a year, each spending an average of $85 a visit, which includes the cost of renting a gun, a lane in the shooting range, and training from staff. The workplace-safety findings prompted dismay from Bryan Miller, head of a nonprofit that has opposed Zalzman's effort to sell guns at the facility. "Zalzmans apparent lack of care for employees is consistent with that towards the neighborhood," said Miller, executive director of Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence. Most Popular on Philly.com BOSTON (Reuters) - New Hampshire's top court on Tuesday upheld a lower court's decision banning the fraternity that inspired the movie "Animal House" from living in its house near Dartmouth College campus after the school decertified the group for branding its members. Dartmouth officials revoked recognition of the Alpha Delta fraternity's charter in 2015 after an investigation concluded that members had branded 11 new pledges with the club's letters, as part of an "overtly condoned and long-standing practice." That decision suspended the exemptions in local laws that allowed the 12 to 18 members to live in the fraternity house, and prompted officials in the town of Hanover, where Dartmouth is located, to order the house shut down as it was in violation of local zoning laws. The saga evoked the 1978 comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House" starring John Belushi in which an angry university dean kicks out an unruly fraternity. The story for that film was inspired by one of the writers' experiences being initiated into Alpha Delta. While the fictional fraternity takes revenge on the university by unleashing a custom-made "Deathmobile" to wreak havoc in the school's annual homecoming parade, the real-life fraternity sued Hanover. It argued the town had no jurisdiction over its house, which it said dates to the 1840s and was "grandfathered in" as housing for students of the Ivy League college. A lower court rejected that argument, setting the stage for review by the state Supreme Court. A Dartmouth spokeswoman said the school was "pleased" that the top court had upheld the decision. An attorney for the fraternity did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. universities have increasingly become intolerant of rowdier fraternities, linking them to problems including binge drinking and sexual assault on campus. For their part, fraternity organizations argue that they provide valuable student housing, leadership experience and promote charitable giving. (Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Frances Kerry) Paris (AFP) - With 12 days left before French voters cast their first ballots for president, far-right leader Marine Le Pen unveiled her "first 10 steps" if elected, while conservative Francois Fillon rejected the latest revelation in a litany of scandals embroiling him. Here's what happened in the campaign on Tuesday: - Le Pen's first 60 days - "Every second of my presidency will be useful to France and the French," National Front (FN) leader Le Pen, 48, said in a video setting out 10 measures she would take within two months. They include: suspending France's membership of Europe's Schengen border-free zone, deporting foreigners on a watchlist of Islamist radicals, holding a referendum on adopting a French-first policy on access to jobs and public housing and lowering the minimum retirement age from 62 to 60. - Fed up Fillon - "I won't say another word about these things," Fillon said after a new report alleged that he put his wife on the public payroll in 1982, four years earlier than he claimed. Fillon, once the race's frontrunner, was charged with abuse of public funds last month in a scandal that he has blamed on the outgoing Socialist government. He reiterated the claim Tuesday, saying "successive revelations (have been) carefully disseminated by state services." The 63-year-old is accused of giving fake jobs to his Welsh-born wife Penelope that earned her hundreds of thousands of euros between 1986 and 2013. Fillon has seen his poll numbers decline around six points since the scandal broke, followed by a string of other allegations of financial impropriety. On Tuesday he said he had sensed a "change of attitude" on the campaign trail. "I sense a mobilisation," he said, adding that his "determination is stronger than ever." - Power of the pen? - Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, languishing in fifth place in the latest polls, took pen to paper to urge supporters to keep the faith with his leftwing agenda. Story continues "The past weeks have not shaken any of my convictions, they have strengthened them," he wrote in a letter sent to some nine million voters. "I want to tell you that a Left that takes action and stays true to itself can and must win the election," the letter said. Hamon suffered a blow last month when former Socialist prime minister Manuel Valls endorsed centrist Emmanuel Macron. who is currently tipped to clinch the presidency. The 49-year-old Hamon had hinted on Saturday that he had already given up the fight by saying he would vote for Jean-Luc Melenchon if the far-left candidate gets past the first round on April 23. Polls currently suggest a May 7 runoff between far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron, who is tipped to clinch final victory. The president might not be at this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner but The Daily Show will be as Hasan Minhaj, a correspondent for the show, will host whatever festivities take place on April 29, 2017. SEE ALSO: Everyone is having a field day with news that Trump is skipping the Correspondents' Dinner Of Minhaj, White House Correspondents Association president Jeff Mason said, "Hasans smarts, big heart and passion for press freedom make him the perfect fit for our event, which will be focused on the First Amendment and the importance of a robust and independent media." Minhaj has been a regular on The Daily Show going back to Jon Stewart's time behind the desk and has continued to produce terrific clips, including a two-part story on Syria refugees in Canada which included fun sparring with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He's also already got the notable dinner host thing down, too, as evidenced by his turn at 2016's Radio and TV Correspondents Associations dinner which included plenty of barbs directed at then-candidate Donald Trump. Minhaj seems pretty upbeat about the event, president or no, saying in a statement, "It is a tremendous honor to be a part of such a historic event even though the president has chosen not to attend this year. SAD! Now more than ever, it is vital that we honor the First Amendment and the freedom of the press." He won't be the only game in town on April 29, though, as Samantha Bee is going forward with her own plans for her first annual "Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner" with proceeds benefitting the Committee to Protect Journalists. WATCH: This device can help 22 million Americans sleep better at night Photo credit: Courtesy of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals From Woman's Day This has to be the cutest (and most rewarding) volunteer gig we've ever heard of: At Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Lincoln, Nebraska, five women rock babies recovering from illness and injury in their spare time. Aptly called "Baby Rockers," Madonna started the program when it opened the Alexis Verzal Children's Rehabilitation Unit in 2010. And now, the volunteers are making headlines for their heartwarming deeds. "When these kiddos are here without their family members it's nice to know that the Baby Rockers are here for them," Jody Macke, a nurse therapist in the pediatric unit, told ABC News. "We see a lot of children who have sustained head injuries for a variety of reasons. So when the babies are fussy and irritable, it helps when the Baby Rockers are there. It helps in their recovery." Some of these babies are wards of the state, while others belong to parents who can't always be there due to work and other obligations. "As much as the nurses would like to be rocking the babies, the reality is that they have to be attending to their other nursing responsibilities, so it helps our nurses tremendously," Tami Rudder, the marketing, media, and PR specialist at Madonna, tells WomansDay.com. Here's how it works: "A baby rocker comes in, [and] we set up a calendar on their availability," volunteer resources coordinator and program founder Marla Buresh told ABC News. "Some [babies] are abused, have medical issues, have been in a car accident. They get used to their voices and their touch. It soothes them. It calms them as they're rocking and singing to them." Photo credit: Courtesy of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals And it can be just as enjoyable for the Baby Rockers, too: "I absolutely love it," said Bess Jensen, 73, who has been a baby rocker for six years now. "I won't give that up for anything. If they are a ward of the state, we rock them all the time, but we don't always have a baby in the hospital, so it's not an everyday thing. I am the first volunteer that rocked babies." Story continues Rudder recalls her first time seeing a Baby Rocker in action: "I was thanking one for coming in and she said, 'No, I want to thank you. I get so much out of this,'" Rudder says. "We have over 350 volunteers here, but that particular group of women provide such a service to the infants. Because the parents feel frustrated that they can't be there because they have to work. A lot of times the extended family can't come, so to know their children are being attended to and taken care of like that, they always comment about it." Photo credit: Courtesy of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals Though Madonna's Baby Rocker program is currently at capacity, other hospitals offer similar programs: At University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, volunteers 18 years and older who have completed 40 hours of service in the playroom and have been recommended by staff can help out holding babies in the NICU. Another opportunity is at UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's in Sioux City, Iowa. "The Cuddler is an adult volunteer who has completed extensive training," reads St. Luke's website. "The training, led by a team of physical therapists and nurses, includes infection control, hand washing, privacy, baby development and proper cuddling techniques. The volunteers also must complete a background check and have up-to-date immunizations." Volunteers at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh help soothe babies experiencing heroin withdrawal (though they're currently full and not accepting applicants), and at Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., trained "Cuddlers" help fill in for parents when they can't be with their babies. Interested in becoming a Baby Rocker? Reach out to your local hospital to see if they offer a similar program and ask how you can get involved. (h/t: ABC News) You Might Also Like The medical student shot in the stomach while coming to the aid of a woman being abducted in New Orleans is sharing his story, including the moment he was told by the assailant, "I am just going to kill you." Read: Pictured: Boy, 8, Killed When His Teacher's Estranged Husband Opened Fire in Their Classroom Peter Gold, now 27, nearly lost his life as he came to the stranger's rescue in November 2015. "I think about it every single day," he told Inside Edition. In the shocking surveillance video taken at about 4 a.m. on November 20, 2015, Gold witnessed a man dragging a woman toward his vehicle. When Gold confronted the man, the two exchanged words before the gunman opened fire and shot the Tulane medical student in the stomach. "I happen to see a man really dragging a woman across the ground," Gold recalled. "He had her in a choke hold and I immediately said to myself, 'This is not right.' I acted on my instincts and next thing I knew, I was out of the car yelling at the man. I offered him my cell phone and I didn't have any cash on me, and he turned to me and said, 'Forget it, I am just going to kill you.'" Then the assailant, later identified as Euric Cain, took aim at Gold's head and pulled the trigger three times, but each time the gun jammed. Gold was on the phone with his mother at the time and remembers the moment he told her, "Something is wrong." "She heard the entire thing happen, had it on speaker phone, and both my mom and my dad heard the gunshot go off," he said. Gold was later rushed to the hospital, where he eventually recovered. "When something like this happens to you and you wake up and your whole family is around, you know you are going to be okay," he said. Two years since the incident that changed his life, Gold has graduated from Tulane and is a orthopedics resident in New York City. Story continues Remarkably, Gold said he had not seen the harrowing surveillance video until recently. When he watched the video with Inside Edition, he said he didn't realize that the gunman was behind him. Dr. Gold is lucky to be alive and says he wants to give back. He's started a foundation called Strong City" to help kids who may be headed down the wrong path. Read: Officer Sentenced to 40 Years Behind Bars for Shooting Death of Boy, 6, With Autism As for the gunman, he fled the scene after he shot Gold. DNA evidence later linked him to the rape and kidnapping of a tourist couple less than 24 hours later. Cain was later arrested and pleaded guilty to attempted murder for trying to kill Gold and attempted kidnapping and rape and other offenses in October 2016. He was sentenced to 54 years in prison. Gold read a victim impact statement at Cain's sentencing. For more information about Strong City, click here. Watch: Dad Dies Shielding Son From Gunman in Targeted Shooting That Killed 2 Children Related Articles: Netflix has a new series in the works that's a modern reinterpretation of Shirley Jackson's classic horror novel, "The Haunting of Hill House", reports Variety. Netflix is reportedly working on an adaptation of "The Haunting of Hill House", a horror fantasy novel published in 1959 in the US, and lauded as one of the best horror novels of the 20th century by a certain Stephen King. Steven Spielberg's production company Amblin TV is joining forces with Paramount TV to bring the book to the small screen with the help of Mike Flanagan, a regular of the horror genre. The story revolves around Hill House, a mansion built in the 19th century by a rich industrialist. Now uninhabited, the house is supposedly haunted by the ghost of its first owner and is rumored to be the scene of paranormal events. Dr. John Montague, an investigator of supernatural phenomena, decides to rent Hill House for a summer, inviting guests chosen because of their past experience with paranormal events. Mike Flanagan will write and direct the 10 episodes reportedly ordered by Netflix. Flanagan has a track record in the horror genre ("Ouija: Origin of Evil," "The Mirror") and has previously collaborated with Netflix, which will screen his latest movie "Before I Wake" on April 28. The American filmmaker also previously adapted Stephen King's novel "Gerland's Game" -- due out this year -- for the big screen. "The Haunting of Hill House" has previously been adapted as two movies, both titled "The Haunting." The first black -and-white film, directed by Robert Wise, was released in 1963. The second version was released in 1999, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson and Liam Neeson. By Krisztina Than and Gergely Szakacs BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's president late on Monday signed legislation on foreign universities that could force a top international school founded by U.S. financier George Soros out of the country, triggering a fresh protest in Budapest against the move. Tens of thousands of Hungarians had rallied on Sunday in one of the biggest demonstrations against right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban's 7-year-old rule, denouncing a law that critics and opposition parties say targets the Central European University (CEU) set up by Soros, a Hungarian-born global campaigner for liberal "open society." Late on Monday hundreds of protesters walked to the state radio office, in a spontaneous rally, and put up a European Union flag on the building, according to a video posted on local website Index. Protesters faced a line of police and Index said police used paprika spray on them. The protest ended about 0020 GMT on Tuesday. Another protest is scheduled for Wednesday. More than 500 leading international academics, including 17 Nobel Laureates, have come out in support of CEU, founded in Budapest in 1991 after the collapse of communism, saying it was one of the pre-eminent centers of thought in Hungary. President Janos Ader, a long-time political ally of Orban, said the legislation did not infringe academic freedom or international laws and urged the government to hold talks with universities. "It is the interest of all of us that the value created at foreign universities in Hungary in the past years should continue and accumulate further and academic work should continue undisturbed," Ader told state news agency MTI. CEU said in a statement that it was willing to negotiate with the government to find a solution to enable it to stay in Budapest but that academic freedom was "not negotiable." "The legislation constitutes a premeditated political attack on a free institution that has been a proud part of Hungarian life for a quarter of a century," the statement said. "We will oppose this legislation to the full extent of the law." Orban, who faces elections in 2018, is not expected to backtrack on the legislation as it constitutes a major plank of his political strategy defending national interests against what his government calls foreign meddling in Hungarian affairs. Orban, whose Fidesz party has a firm lead in opinion polls, has often vilified Soros, whose ideals are squarely at odds with the Hungarian premier's view that European culture is under an existential threat from migration and multiculturalism. "DISINFORMATION" Orban told parliament on Monday that there was a "disinformation campaign" under way against Hungary similar to the criticism it received from fellow European Union countries over its tough line against refugees and migrants. "The government does not close down any universities and does not close down CEU either ... The aim of the government is to ensure that all universities are governed by the same rules and there should not be privileges," he said. The new law requires foreign universities to have campuses both in Budapest and their home country. The CEU operates in Budapest but is the only international college with no branch outside Hungary. CEU has said its dual U.S.-Hungarian identity permitted it to comply with both Hungarian and U.S. laws and award both Hungarian and U.S.-accredited degrees. It has said it is committed to staying in Hungary. After a similar protest a few years ago against a government plan to tax Internet traffic, Orban scrapped the move. But the situation with foreign universities is different, said Attila Juhasz, a political analyst at think tank Political Capital. "This is a long-form strategy that they (Fidesz) want to maintain until the elections, so it is much more difficult to backtrack on this," Juhasz said. "This is not just about CEU, this all fits into the campaign against Soros. "This is part of the political ideology that is a foundation stone of Orban's system - national interests against foreign interests." Orban's right-wing government has been tightening up on dissent in other ways as well, proposing tighter rules on non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which will have to register with authorities if they have a yearly foreign income of 7.2 million forints ($25,000). (Reporting by Krisztina Than and Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Bill Trott) The British actor is one of the stars of "Guerrilla", a mini-series to be launched on April 13, 2017, on the British channel Sky Atlantic and three days later in the US, on Showtime. Idris Elba plays a political activist in 1970s London. "Guerrilla" portrays the tense political and social climate of the 1970s, a decade in which armed groups sprung up all over the world. In early seventies London, a militant and idealistic couple's relationship is tested after they free a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell. London residents Jas and Marcus are a bohemian couple, both children of immigrants (she's from an Indian family, his parents are Nigerian), who struggle daily with injustice and prejudice. Their fight for equality pushes them on the path to radicalization. While Marcus and Jas embark on an armed struggle, Jas's ex-boyfriend Kent, who is the leader of the underground insurgent cell, believes in achieving their goal through peaceful methods. Elba, who shot to fame in "The Wire" plays Kent, alongside Freida Pinto ("Slumdog Millionaire") who stars as Jas and Babou Cessay ("Rogue One") as Marcus. Two years after the end of the crime drama series "Luther", Elba is back on the small screen, in addition to a highly successful film career. Between now and the end of 2017, the Brit will star in three movies: "The Dark Tower", releasing in August, "Thor: Ragnarok", out in the fall, and "The Mountain Between Us" with Kate Winslet, which will be released in the US in October. The buzz around organisational changes in the Congress has been doing the rounds for quite some time now. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has taken centrestage in the day-to-day party affairs of late. By Supriya Bhardwaj: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi broke her silence on party vice-president Rahul Gandhi's elevation, saying that it will be made public whenever it happens. "Pata chalega, Jab hoga (You will know when it happens)", Sonia said in Parliament House. The buzz around organisational changes in the Congress has been doing the rounds for quite some time now. In the last six months, the Congress president has refrained from attending key party functions and shouldering important responsibilities. It is the Congress vice-president who has taken centrestage in the day-to-day party affairs. advertisement MANMOHAN SINGH ALSO PRESENT Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and son Rahul were also present on the occasion. Sonia had hosted dinner for her party MPs in Parliament House on Tuesday. Clad in a blue-sari, RaeBareli MP Sonia Gandhi was seen welcoming former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh. According to sources, senior leaders discussed the party's stand on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence and Wednesday's Opposition parties' meet with President Pranab Mukherjee. Also read | Rahul Gandhi to leave for US today to be with ailing mother Sonia Also read | Menace of terrorism should be dealt with iron fist, Sonia Gandhi tells Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina --- ENDS --- JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian court on Tuesday adjourned the blasphemy trial of Jakarta's Christian governor until after the city's April 19 election, a contest pitting him against a Muslim rival that has divided the city and fanned religious tension. The trial of Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, Jakarta's first ethnic Chinese and Christian leader and an ally of President Joko Widodo, has raised questions about the role of religion in politics in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. Purnama has been allowed to campaign in the election despite his trial and prosecutors had been expected on Tuesday to call for him to be jailed on a charge of insulting Islam. Instead, judges agreed to a request by prosecutors to postpone the hearing to April 20, a day after the election for city governor. Police had also written to prosecutors to ask for a delay over security concerns. "We think the police letter can be taken into consideration due to the matter of security," prosecutor Ali Mukartono told the court, referring to the timing of the next hearing. The prosecution's main reason in asking for a delay was to have more time to prepare, he said. City police last week called for the trial to be delayed until after vote because of worries that religious and ethnic tension in the city of more than 10 million people were running high. Purnama went on trial late last year after some Muslim groups objected to comments he made about his opponents' use of the Koran in campaigning. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Muslims, led by hardline groups, have taken to the streets to call for Purnama to be sacked, and to urge voters not to elect a non-Muslim. Some anti-Purnama protesters said they were disappointed with the delay. "This hearing was delayed deliberately until after the election ... The election, a political factor, is affecting this legal process," said Pedri Kasman, a member of the moderate Islamic group, Muhammadiyah. Muslims make up nearly 90 percent of Indonesia's 250 million people but there are sizeable communities of Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and people who adhere to traditional beliefs. The state ideology, Pancasila, enshrines religious diversity in an officially secular system. Purnama has apologised for his comments and denied any wrongdoing. He faces up to four years in prison if found guilty. Despite his trial, Purnama enjoys strong public support because of his efforts to ease Jakarta's chronic traffic congestion and flooding. (Reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Ed Davies and Robert Birsel) A prominent Indonesian corruption investigator had acid thrown in his face by motorbike-riding assailants Tuesday in an attack activists believe is linked to a graft case that has implicated senior politicians. Novel Baswedan, a member of the official Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was being treated in hospital after the attack which happened in Jakarta as he walked home from a mosque in the early hours following morning prayers in the Muslim nation. "It is a brutal act, I strongly condemn it," said President Joko Widodo, urging the police to track down the assailants. The KPK condemned the "barbaric" attack and said they would not back down in their fight against corruption. "We believe that the fight against corruption eradication must not stop due to any sort of threats, intimidations or attacks," the body said in a statement. Presidential spokesman Johan Budi, who visited Baswedan in hospital, gave details of the attack, telling AFP the investigator had injuries on his forehead and blurred vision in his left eye. Anti-graft investigators in Indonesia, one of the world's most corrupt countries, have been targeted in the past and have reported having cars driven at them and receiving threats. It was not immediately clear who was behind the latest assault but anti-graft NGO Indonesian Corruption Watch said they suspected it was linked to Baswedan's role in probing a corruption scandal that allegedly saw about $170 million pilfered from government coffers. The investigation is being led by the KPK. Senior politicians, including the justice minister and ex-interior minister, have been implicated in the scandal, with investigators alleging they were among many who received kickbacks from funds earmarked for a government project to issue new ID cards. Parliament speaker Setya Novanto, who has been implicated in the case, was late Monday hit with a six-month ban on travelling outside Indonesia, said immigration authorities. Such a step is usually taken in Indonesia when people are under investigation. Indonesia was ranked 90th out of 176 countries and territories in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index last year. A number one ranking represents the least corrupt. A new pool is not for the faint of heart. This residence tower in downtown Houston comes equipped with a rare extra perk for the brave at heart: a glass-bottomed pool located precipitously on its 42nd floor. Daredevils and residents of the new Market Square Tower who dont suffer from vertigo can take a dip in the water feature, which has a glass platform that extends 10 feet out from the main pool enclosure, allowing it to look (and feel) like youre literally walking on air above the street 500 feet below. Trippy. (Its also Texass highest pool.) A video of someone walking through the pool and out onto the glass observation deck has gone viral, with plenty of viewers having very strong reactions to the dramatic footage. While some are adding the pool (which is accessible to residents only) to their bucket lists, others are adamantly opposed to its engineering. Apparently the glass bottom is composed of eight-inch-thick plexiglass, in case that helps rationalize away the fear. Now: #WhatsViral: A Hanging Pool in Market Square Tower Apartments in Houston, Texas. Would you swim in it? pic.twitter.com/YW3qZdpvjB - Smile Jamaica (@Smilejamtvj) April 11, 2017 @SteveStfler I have life insurance. I would. - Nicole (@Mimoneda69) April 9, 2017 Blue skies call for a day on our #skydeck. We have the perfect spot to enjoy this #Houston weather while it lasts! (: @manjotjawa) #marketsquaretower #views #livethetowerlife #highriseliving A post shared by Market Square Tower (@marketsquaretower) on Apr 3, 2017 at 12:31pm PDT This isnt the first time the pool has become the focus of attention this year for thrill seekers. In February, a group of YouTubers managed to make their way into the Tower (and up to the pool) by pretending they were residents, filming themselves enjoying a vertiginous night swim. The Tower did not take kindly to the trespassers, however, and intended to press charges. This article was originally published on TIME.com Tehran (AFP) - Any new US action in Syria "will not go unanswered", Iran's Defence Minister Hossein Dehgan warned Tuesday after America threatened to follow up a strike last week with more attacks. The United States last week fired a volley of cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack that killed 87 civilians in a rebel-held town. The White House on Monday warned that further use of chemical weapons or chlorine-laden barrel bombs could bring more US military retaliation. "The Americans will have to pay a heavy price if they repeat their action and they must know that their actions will not go unanswered," Dehgan said during a telephone conversation with Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. Dehgan accused American leaders of lying by saying they wanted to "fight terrorists". "Instead of bombing, the Syrian army and the Syrian people are being bombed," Dehgan said, quoted in a statement on the website of his ministry. "The resistance front will continue to fight resolutely against terrorists despite the willingness of the Americans," he added, referring to an anti-Western alliance that includes Iran, Syria and Lebanon's Hezbollah. The statement quoted Shoigu as saying that "Russia is determined to use its political and military capabilities to bring decisive blows to terrorists". Dehgan also spoke with his Syrian counterpart Fahd Jassem al-Freij, the defence ministry said. The two agreed to "strengthen their cooperation to step up operations against terrorists", it said. They also called for a commission to reveal "the truth about the Americans' false claims" regarding last week's suspected chemical attack on Khan Sheikhun. "This kind of action (by the US) will have no effect on the determination of the resistance front to fight terrorists," they added. Moscow said on Tuesday that Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, will host three-way talks with his counterparts from Syria and Iran this week. Najaf (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr on Tuesday warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that he risked suffering the same fate as slain Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi if he did not step down. The maverick cleric had last week condemned the suspected deadly use of chemical weapons by Assad's forces against civilians, becoming a rare Shiite leader to openly challenge the Syrian president's legitimacy. Sadr issued a new statement on Tuesday that reiterated his position. "I have urged him to step down to preserve the reputation of the Mumanaa and to escape a Kadhafi fate," he said, using a word that refers to a so-called anti-Western "resistance front" that includes Lebanon's Hezbollah, Iran and Syria. The Libyan strongman was captured and brutally killed in 2011 after 42 years in power while trying to flee Sirte, his hometown, as NATO-backed rebels closed in. A chemical attack which has been widely blamed on Assad's regime killed 87 civilians, including 31 children, in the rebel-held Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun on April 4. The United States subsequently fired a barrage of 59 cruise missiles at Shayrat air base in Syria to punish Damascus, despite its denials of responsibility. Sadr, who led a militia that fought the US occupation of Iraq, also condemned the American missile strike, urging all foreign parties involved in the Syria conflict to withdraw. He had similar advice for two other leaders: President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi of Yemen and Bahrain's King Hamad. "I have not only called for the resignation of Bashar, but I had already called for Abedrabbo and the ruler of Bahrain to step down because they are still oppressing their people," Sadr said in his statement. BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Islamic State has lost most of the territory it has held in Iraq since 2014, an Iraqi military spokesman said on Tuesday. At the height of its power, the militant group controlled about 40 percent of Iraq, joint operations command spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told a news conference. That area has been whittled down to about 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory after extensive military operations, which are still going on in the city of Mosul, he said. Islamic State militants still control the towns of Qaim, Tal Afar and Hawija in Iraq, as well as Raqqa, their de-facto capital in Syria. The coalition battling Islamic State is made up of tens of thousands of members of the Iraqi security forces, led by the army, and thousands of Shi'ite volunteers, many from militia groups, commonly referred to as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). The United States and other Western countries have assisted with air support, intelligence and equipment, Rasool said. The battle for Mosul, one of Iraq's largest cities, began last October and the outcome will likely determine whether Iraq's various sects can work together to keep the country from fracturing. The eastern half of the city is now completely under the control of Iraqi security forces, Rasool said. But the push against Islamic State in Western Mosul is bogged down with Iraqi security forces fighting in a warren of small streets in the old part of the city. The federal police said in a statement on Tuesday they have been reinforcing their positions in Western Mosul in preparation for a push on the al-Nuri Mosque where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate in 2014. Islamic State has used hundreds of car bombs along with drones rigged with explosives in Mosul. Its fighters have pulled civilians into the conflict by placing snipers in residential areas, using civilians as human shields and executing those who try to escape, coalition spokesman Col. John Dorrian said at the news conference. Dorrian said the fight in Western Mosul had been tough but said Islamic State fighters had no escape. "Do not lose sight of the fact that even though the fighting is going to be very hard, this enemy is completely surrounded," Dorrian said. "They aren't going anywhere." (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh and Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad; Editing by Janet Lawrence) TEL AVIV -- After speaking here last month at a conference devoted to marijuana innovation, Garyn Angel handed out cannabis-infused salad dressing and sauces to people seeking to add an extra kick to their lunch. The CannaTech conference drew high-profile speakers, including Yuval Landschaft, director of the Medical Cannabis Unit at Israel's Ministry of Health, and Sharren Haskel, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing party and one of Israel's biggest advocates of medical marijuana. The government speakers underscored the Israeli government's growing involvement in medical marijuana research and development. Such high-level participation also underscores Israel's rise as a global research destination for other countries and companies. As countries such as the U.S. wrestle with the legal status of marijuana, Israel is carving a place for medical cannabis research, an increasingly lucrative industry. "Cannabis is what brought me to Israel," says Angel, a Florida-based entrepreneur named to CNBC's "Next List" of innovators shaping global commerce. "The world's best cannabis scientists and researchers are all out of Israel. No other country comes close." Israeli research pioneered the medical marijuana industry. Angel first came here in 2015 to meet 86-year-old Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam, a researcher at Hebrew University and a leading pioneer in cannabis research. Mechoulam's research has included co-discovering the endocannabinoid system, the largest receptor system in the human body. He also found that the human brain produces its own cannabinoids -- compounds that stimulate the body's receptor system. Scientists at the NIH believe these compounds could alleviate dozens of illnesses, including schizophrenia , diabetes, cancer and multiple sclerosis, to name a few. The revelation of this endogenous cannabinoid system essentially legitimized the study of a substance previously on the margins of scientific research. Story continues "We wouldn't have the scientific interest we have now around the world without the discovery and understanding of how these constituents in the marijuana plant act on this receptor system," says Paul Armentano, deputy director of the Washington-based National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Mechoulam's research, he says, "opened the door to making the study of cannabis and cannabinoids a legitimate avenue for more conventional scientists." Those doors to research are trickier to open in the U.S., where eight states have legalized marijuana and 28 states carry some form of medical marijuana law, but using the substance remains illegal under federal law. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration labels marijuana a Schedule I narcotic, "with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse," the same classification as heroin, making cannabis more tightly controlled than cocaine and methamphetamines. This policy makes conducting marijuana research in the U.S. extremely difficult, as researchers must first obtain approval from the DEA, Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Enter Israel, which has become an international leader in cannabis research, partly fueled by the world's highest percentage of financial resources devoted to research. Israel was among the first countries to legalize medical marijuana -- it remains illegal for recreational use -- and is one of just three countries with a government-sponsored cannabis program, along with Canada and the Netherlands. The Israeli parliament recently took steps towards legalizing the export of medical marijuana. The Israeli company Breath of Life will soon open a 1-million-square-foot grow-house and research center in southern Israel. The space will be among the largest medical cannabis growth and R&D facilities in the world, according to Viridian Capital Advisors, a financial firm focused on the cannabis market. Israel has the world's highest ratio of marijuana users, with 27 percent of the population aged 18-65 having used marijuana in the last year, followed by Iceland and the U.S., at 18 and 16 percent. Such sensibilities, coupled with the country's dedication to medical research, helps explain why conducting clinical trials involving cannabis is comparatively easy. Right now, there are more than 110 clinical trials involving cannabis are underway in Israel, more than any other country, says Michael Dor, senior medical adviser at the Ministry of Health's medical cannabis unit. Many of those studies are funded by the Israeli government, Dor says. Much of the funding also comes from foreign governments, including the U.S., Canada, Australia and Germany, countries where it's more difficult and more expensive to conduct such studies. Governments and companies are also aware of the growing profits in the industry. The global market for medicinal cannabis was worth approximately $11 billion in 2015, and is expected to reach $56 billion by 2025, according to market research firm Grand View Research. Some U.S. companies are now outsourcing their research to Israel. Mechoulam, for example, works with three of them. Other companies have younger Israeli researchers on their boards, and at least 15 have set up their entire research operations on Israeli soil. U.S.-based Steep Hill Labs, which opened America's first commercial cannabis lab in 2008, recently launched a joint venture with iCan, an Israeli cannabis firm. "There are very few countries where you can do clinical research involving human beings," says Jmichaele Keller, president of Steep Hill. "Israel is the epicenter of research and development not only in growing the plant and creating extracts and different products, but also on the medical and research fronts, so we knew that we really needed to be there." The U.S. government seems to agree. The NIH has funded Mechoulam's research for the past 50 years, providing an average of $100,000 a year to study the medicinal benefits of cannabis. There are other draws to looking to Israel to outsource research. "The talent pool is very concentrated," says Angel, noting that Israel is the size of New Jersey. "I can do more in two days in Israel than I can do in three weeks in other countries, because the amount of travel that's required to meet with different thought leaders is so minuscule." Cannabis also is a bipartisan issue in Israel. Some of the biggest proponents of legalization are right-wing politicians, such as Sharren Haskel, who led the successful push for the recent decriminalization of marijuana. Haskel's explanation for bipartisan support? Witnessing its effects on people with a variety of afflictions. "When you see through your own eyes the impact that only cannabis has on these diseases ... within minutes you understand that this is a public health issue and you have to assist the citizens of your country." Yardena Schwartz is a journalist based in Tel Aviv. Israels public response to the U.S. strike on Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime last week was unambiguous. It praised President Donald Trumps decision to fire cruise missiles on a Syrian air base near the city of Homs in retaliation for the regimes use of chemical weapons to slaughter dozens of civilians in the town of Khan Sheikhoun. Israel had been critical of the Obama administrations performance in the Middle East, and the recent strike gives Israelis reason to hope that maybe, just maybe, the United States is ready to take a tougher stance against clear violations of international law. But Israeli officials public praise for the attack contrasts sharply with their privately expressed skepticism that Washington has carefully thought through its next steps in Syria. They are perfectly aware that Trumps decision may have been driven by personal motives notably his desire to prove that he is stronger than his predecessor, and his need to distance himself from allegations of Russian manipulation in the presidential election. From Israels perspective, thats no replacement for a coherent strategy for the region. Israeli officials were out in front of the Trump administration in laying the blame for the Khan Sheikhoun attack at the feet of the Assad regime and demanding a forceful response. Hours after the attack, Israeli intelligence officers already told me that they were convinced that senior members of the regime were involved in the decision to strike. On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman claimed in an interview with the Ydiot Aharonot newspaper that Assad had personally approved the use of sarin gas in the attack, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the international community to complete its effort to eliminate Syrias chemical weapons stockpile. The remarks by Lieberman, a former citizen of the Soviet Union the defense minister emigrated from Moldova to Israel in the late 1970s particularly irritated the Kremlin. According to Russian media, President Vladimir Putin called Netanyahu to complain. Israeli and Russian officials have gone to great lengths to avoid confrontation in Syria. Putin and Netanyahu met five times during the past 18 months, mainly to discuss the situation in Syria. But evidently the tone in the latest phone conversation wasnt so friendly. It is not difficult to understand why. During the first two days after the chemical attack, the Russians were busy spreading disinformation and blaming Syrian rebels for releasing the poisonous gas. Geography may have something to do with Israels more aggressive posture toward the ongoing disaster in Syria. The events are happening in Israels backyard and could have direct implications on its security. Israeli intelligence officers are obliged to remain on much higher alert about developments in Syria, and the Israeli cabinet is expected to meet this week to discuss a renewal of distribution of gas masks to the Israeli population, in light of last weeks events. In the past six years, Israels leadership has been generally wise enough to remain on the sidelines of the Syrian conflict, participating only to the extent it deemed absolutely necessary. Early in the war, Netanyahu defined Israels red lines. There would be a military response for every attack into Israeli territory, even for unintentional spillover, and the Israel Defense Forces would act to prevent any transfer of chemical weapons or sophisticated weapons systems from Syria to Hezbollah. Unlike former President Barack Obama, Netanyahu stuck to his red lines. International media outlets have reported dozens of Israeli airstrikes against weapons depots and convoys during the past several years. When asked about this, however, Israeli officials usually shrug and say nothing. The idea behind such constructive ambiguity is that the Assad regime may not be motivated to escalate further if it isnt embarrassed publicly. Russias intervention to save the Assad regime in the fall of 2015 complicated matters for the Israelis. Putin and Netanyahu decided to establish a de-conflicting mechanism in order to prevent air battles between the two sides. But the Russian deployment of anti-aircraft systems and long-range radars in the Hmeymim air base in northwestern Syria now means that it can spot any movement of Israeli planes beginning at the southern Israeli city of Beersheba. Most of Israels air bases are in the north, giving Moscow unprecedented knowledge of Israeli air activity. Israeli officials are also worried that Assads growing military strength could transform the balance of power in southern Syria. If the Syrian army tries to drive the Sunni rebels out of the Golan border area near Israel, its allies Iranian-backed Shiite militias, Hezbollah, even the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may not be far behind. This would allow Iran to double the border area it could use as a base from which to hit Israel, in addition to southern Lebanon. Netanyahu has told both Putin and Trump that such a development would be dangerous to Israels security interests. He also expressed concern about Irans apparent attempt to lease a Syrian harbor on the Mediterranean coast, the same way Russia leases the port in the Syrian city of Tartous. This seems to be part of a larger Iranian strategy. According to a Kuwaiti newspaper, the IRGC recently built an underground production line for missiles and rockets in southern Lebanon and handed it to Hezbollah. Assads regained confidence may have sparked a recent confrontation with Israel. On March 17, Israeli warplanes struck a weapons depot near Palmyra, and Syrian anti-aircraft systems shot back with SA-5 missiles. Although the missiles missed their targets, one entered Israeli airspace near the Jordanian border. Israel used its Arrow system to intercept the missile. When parts of the intercepting missile landed in the Jordanian town of Irbid, Israel embarrassed its closest ally in the region, King Abdullah. In order to prevent claims that Jordan was ignoring an Israeli attack, Jerusalem had to explain itself and publicly admitted for the first time that it was bombing weapons convoys in Syria. If Israel hopes to constrain the potential threats it faces in Syria, it needs the help of the United States. Netanyahu understands that Trump is unpredictable and may be offended by the slightest insult. This is why the Israeli premier made such quickly accepted the presidents demand over certain restraints on building West bank settlements. Netanyahu will now probably try to persuade Trump to stop leaving diplomatic negotiations on Syria entirely to the Russians. At the same time, he will emphasize Israeli priorities: blocking Irans resurgence, weakening the Assad regime, and, most importantly, preventing Iranian proxy forces from entering the border area in the Golan Heights. On Sunday, Russia and Iran threatened to retaliate against any further strikes in Syria. The joint statement should also concern Israel: Does this include strikes against Hezbollahs weapons convoys? But dont expect Israels suggestions to Trump about Syria to go beyond an insistence that Israeli interests, narrowly conceived, be taken into account. The Israeli government is well aware of the mess that Syria has become. As Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israels military intelligence, put it: [T]he Syrian cube is harder to solve than Rubiks. It seems no matter what you do at least one face would remain out of place. Photo credit: DAVID SILVERMAN/Getty Images President Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump played a major role in his decision to launch an airstrike on a Syrian air base last week, in response to a chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Bashar Assad, Eric Trump said in an interview published Monday. After the Syrian presidents regime allegedly launched a chemical attack on the countrys Idlib province, which resulted in mass casualties, Trump ordered the launch of 59 Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles, aimed at Syrias Shayrat Air Base. Read: CNN's Jake Tapper Slams Ivanka Trump Over Pro-Syria Airstrike Tweet Ivanka is a mother of three kids and she has influence. Im sure she said: Listen, this is horrible stuff, Donald Trumps son told the Telegraph. My father will act in times like that. Eric Trump has stayed out of politics even as his father took office as president and spends his time running the Trump business affairs. However, he said his father was deeply affected by those images of the children, referring to images from the chemical weapons struck area. And by the way, he was anti doing anything with Syria two years ago, Eric Trump said about his father. Then a leader gasses their own people, women and children. At some point America is the global leader and the worlds superpower has to come forward and act and they did with a lot of support of our allies and I think thats a great thing. Ivanka Trump, who recently took up a position in the Trump administration as an assistant to the president, praised her fathers decision to take military actions against Syria last week. Her husband and special adviser to the president, Jared Kushner, was also reportedly to be in favor of the airstrikes. In a tweet last week, Ivanka Trump wrote, The times we are living in call for difficult decisions - Proud of my father for refusing to accept these horrendous crimes against humanity. Story continues However, she has faced criticism from many who believe that her statement is an example of hypocrisy as her father is the same person who is pushing for a ban on Syrian refugees from entering the United States. Related: For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. Related Articles Journalists around the world are showing their support and sharing their own bloopers after an Australian on-camera reporter was caught not paying attention while live on air. Read: Dad Tells What Really Happened When His Kids Crashed His Live TV Interview Sydney-based reporter Natasha Exelby was on the air Saturday morning for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation when she apparently failed to realize cameras had cut back to her. Exelby appeared to be playing with a pen when she suddenly realized she was live. She audibly gasped before returning to the script. The hilarious moment went viral, sparking reports that she had been banned from the station. On Tuesday, News Director Gaven Morris called those reports "untrue" and confirmed that she will be returning to the role. "We take on-air standards extremely seriously, but we dont expect perfection," he said in a statement. "No one would ever be punished for a blooper... "Natasha is a freelance journalist who works as a contributor. She has been rostered for various shifts and has been assured since yesterday that we want that to continue... I have spoken to Natasha and conveyed our regret that this has attracted such attention." After the blooper, Exelby took to Twitter to thank reporters around the world who'd shown their support. Thank U all for ur generous support. Not my finest hour. Myself and my mesmerising pen honourably salute you! Natasha Exelby (@NatashaExelby) April 10, 2017 Journalists have been sharing their own stories about the times theyve been caught off guard while live. A co-host of a New Zealand morning show admitted she's accidently laughed while reporting something as serious as deaths. In 20 years on air I've giggled through two obits and a suicide bombing. I once snorted too. Not proud but kept my job. #PutYourBloopersOut Hilary Barry (@Hilary_Barry) April 11, 2017 A reporter with Sky News said she once absentmindedly started snacking during a broadcast. Story continues I started eating a Tim Tam live on air during rolling coverage of a leadership spill #putyourbloopersout Ashleigh Gillon (@ash_gillon) April 10, 2017 Read: Reporter Shrieks as Parrot Lands on Her Shoulder on Live TV A newsreader for SBS Network even tweeted a picture of her reapplying lipstick on air, captioned, "It happens." Watch: Girl With Down Syndrome Adorably Photobombs Live TV Shot, Becomes Local Star Related Articles: South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn ordered the military to intensify monitoring of the North's activities and to ensure close communication with the ally the US. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn ordered the military to intensify monitoring of the North's activities. (Reuters) By Reuters: South Korea's acting president warned on Tuesday of "greater provocations" by North Korea as tension on the Korean peninsula rises over concern the North may conduct a test of its military hardware in coming days. A US Navy strike group led by a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is en route to the western Pacific with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria. advertisement South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn ordered the military to intensify monitoring of the North's activities and to ensure close communication with the ally the United States. "It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former President Park Geun-hye was removed over a graft scandal. The North convenes a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities. The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by its KCNA news agency earlier on Tuesday, said the US navy strike group's move near the Korean peninsula showed America's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase". "We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said. SANCTIONS WARNING Delegates from around the North have been arriving in Pyongyang ahead of the assembly session. They visited statues of previous leaders Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il, state media reported. North Korea is emerging as one of the most pressing foreign policy problems facing the administration of US President Donald Trump. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States. The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes. The US Navy strike group Carl Vinson cancelled a planned trip to Australia and was moving toward the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a US official told Reuters over the weekend. advertisement Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to curb North Korea's nuclear programme. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. As well as the anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth, there are several other North Korean anniversaries in April that could be opportunities for weapon tests, South Korean officials have said. The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellites at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. ALSO READ | Kim Jong-un on Trump's radar? US Navy diverts strike group towards Korean peninsula ALSO READ | China's nuclear envoy in South Korea amid talk of Trump action against North Korea --- ENDS --- Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco cant help but gush over her boyfriend, Karl Cook, almost every day on social media. On her Instagram account, the 31-year-old actress posted a new photo of her and Cooks Monday morning stroll with their horses. Cuoco couldnt help but thank Cook for allowing her to ride Tilly. The actress even called the horse and Cook perfect in her caption. Read: What do Kaley Cuoco, Karl Cook do on date night? Over the weekend, Cuoco also posted a series of photos with Cook and their dogs. On Saturday, the couple went sunbathing by the pool while her dog, Petey, enjoyed a dip in the water. The other dogs, Ruby, Shirley and Tank just ran around the pool. On Sunday, Cuoco and Cook finally had the chance to watch Beauty and the Beast. After the movie, they also enjoyed a glass wine. The couple celebrated their first anniversary last month, but before prior to this, a source told E! News in December that the actress is madly in love with her boyfriend. They seem to be in a good spot right now. She is always traveling with him. Its not as much as her schedule but more so his. She never knows when shes going to be in town because she goes whenever and wherever he goes. She is super smitten, the source said. Prior to meeting Cook at a horse show, Cuoco admitted that she swore off dating after her marriage to Ryan Sweeting ended in divorce. While speaking on The Talk, Cuoco said, I think even when I went through my big breakup, my friends know me so well that I might have said things like, Im never going to love again. Im never going to get married again. And I knew deep down, I knew this was just not the right thing. Kaley Cuoco, Karl Cook Photo: Reuters/Danny Moloshok Related Articles Amidst rumors of her breakup with rapper Tyga, Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Kylie Jenner was seen in the arms of another guy. But theres more to the date than meets the eye. According to BBC, Jenner surprised a lucky high school student in California by agreeing to be his prom date after his crush turned him down. Albert Ochoa was the envy of all his peers at Rio Americano High School on Saturday night when he appeared at the event with Jenner on his arm. READ: Kylie Jenner shows support for Tyga despite rumors of split His sister, Selena, posted a video of Jenners appearance in the prom, which caused quite a commotion during the event. In the past, Jenner has already expressed her desire to attend a prom. Due to her fame, the reality star missed a lot of regular milestones that most kids her age enjoy. The high school prom experience is one of them. I plan on making one of my friends take me to prom. I feel like I need to go to one. I want to go to one of them, she said in a 2014 Google chat. As for her relationship with Tyga, things still remain uncertain. Sightings of the two have been scarce recently, even on their social media pages. An insider told Us Weekly that they are still together, although the rapper, 27, has decided to move out of Jenners $6 million Hidden Hills, California mansion. Tyga moved out, a Jenner source said. Tyga feels hes been belittled on the show. Another added: Theyre not broken up. Theyre just not spending as much time together. Meanwhile, a different source gave conflicting news to People. This source claimed that they are on a break, although it is temporary since the couple is determined to patch things up. They tend to take little breaks all the time and then get back together, the insider said. Its definitely possible theyll work things out again. Kylie Jenner Photo: Getty Images/Nicholas Hunt Related Articles CHICAGO (AP) The Latest on the passenger who was dragged off a full United Express flight at Chicago's O'Hare Airport (all times local): 4:45 p.m. An attorney who represents the man who was forcibly removed from a United Express flight says his client is being treated at a Chicago hospital for injuries he sustained in the incident. Chicago attorney Stephen L. Golan says David Dao's family is "focused only on Dr. Dao's medical care and treatment." He says the family "wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received." The 69-year-old from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, refused to leave the flight, saying he needed to get home to treat patients. Dao was convicted in 2004 of several counts of obtaining drugs by fraud or deceit and was placed on five years of supervised probation and surrendered his medical license, which he got back in 2015. ___ 4:30 p.m. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he has asked the Trump administration to suspend regulations that allow airlines to overbook flights. Christie, a Republican, sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Tuesday, citing a passenger who was dragged off a United Express flight in Chicago on Sunday. Christie called the practice of "bumping" passengers off flights "unconscionable." United is a dominant carrier at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport. A message left with Chao's office was not immediately returned. ___ 2:30 p.m. The CEO of United Airlines has issued a stronger apology about a passenger who was dragged off a United Express flight, calling the confrontation "truly horrific." Oscar Munoz said in a note to employees Tuesday that he continues to be disturbed by the events Sunday night in Chicago. He said, "No one should ever be mistreated this way." Munoz was widely criticized for two statements Monday about the altercation in which he described the 69-year-old man taken off the plane as "disruptive and belligerent." Story continues On Tuesday, Munoz said he was committed to "fix what's broken so this never happens again." He pledged to review the company's policies for seeking volunteers to give up their seats, for handling oversold flights and for partnering with airport authorities and local law enforcement. The company plans to share results of the review by April 30. ___ 1:30 p.m. A spokesman for President Donald Trump says it was "troubling" to watch video of a passenger being dragged off of a United Airlines flight. But White House press secretary Sean Spicer says it's unlikely the federal government will launch a separate investigation. Spicer notes that local authorities and United are reviewing the incident in which a man was forcibly removed from a full United Express flight at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Videotape of the confrontation spread across social media. Spicer says he's sure Trump has seen the video but that any comment from the president could influence a potential outcome of the investigations. Spicer adds that he thinks everyone who has seen the video can agree that the situation could have been handled better. ___ 12:30 p.m. The man dragged from a full United Express flight is a Kentucky physician who was convicted more than a decade ago of felony charges involving his prescribing of drugs. But the passenger's unflattering history quickly became the focus of attention, even though there's no indication that his past influenced how he was treated or that the airline or airport police were aware of his background. A person with knowledge of the flight who was not authorized to publicly release the information told The Associated Press that the passenger was David Dao, 69, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Dao has not returned messages from the AP. He was captured on cellphone video getting removed from a flight Sunday at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. According to state of Kentucky documents, Dao was investigated for fraudulently prescribing drugs to a person with whom he was involved sexually. He was convicted of felony counts of obtaining drugs by fraud and deceit. His license was restored in 2015. ___ 12:41 a.m. The treatment of the passenger dragged off an overbooked United Express flight at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has prompted outrage and scorn on social media. The incident risks a backlash against United from passengers who could boycott the airline as the busy summer travel season is about to begin. For Chicago, it is another public relations nightmare following a crime wave in parts of the city that has been highlighted by tweets from President Donald Trump. United Airlines' parent company CEO Oscar Munoz defended his employees, saying they followed proper procedures in dealing with the situation. But the Chicago aviation department suspended the security officer who dragged off the flight a man who refused to voluntarily leave. LUCCA, Italy (AP) The Latest on the meeting of the foreign minister of the Group of Seven (all times local): 2:05 p.m. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says there could still be new sanctions imposed on Russian military officers over their support for the Syrian government even though G-7 allies ignored his call for new punitive measures against Moscow. The G-7 has called for an independent international investigation into last week's chemical attack in Syria, and Johnson says depending on what it finds "those responsible for unleashing those chemical weapons" could face sanctions including Russian officers. He says he agrees with other EU leaders that Russia needs to be part of the solution in Syria, but must abandon its support for President Bashar Assad to do so. ___ 1 p.m. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says Russia must choose between aligning itself with the U.S. and likeminded countries or embracing Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and the militant group Hezbollah. Tillerson says it's unclear whether Russia failed to take seriously its obligations in Syria or has been incompetent. But he says that distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." He says of the recent chemical attack: "We cannot let this happen again." Tillerson says the U.S. sees no future role for Assad in Syria, but he says the U.S. isn't pre-supposing how Assad's departure will occur. Tillerson is traveling Tuesday to Moscow. He says Russia can play a role in Syria's future but that aligning with Assad won't serve Russia's long-term interests. ___ 12:45 p.m. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano says there is "no consensus" among G-7 countries for new sanctions on Russia over its support for Syria's Bashar Assad. Alfano says the idea was raised at a meeting in Lucca, Italy, by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. But Alfano said isolating Russia or pushing it into a corner "would be wrong." Story continues He says "the G-7's position is very clear supporting the existing sanctions" against Russia over its military activities in Ukraine. ___ 12:35 p.m. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano says Russia must not be "pushed into a corner" over Syria, as the Group of Seven ignored calls by Britain and the U.S. for new sanctions on Moscow over its support of President Bashar Assad. Alfano says Russia should put pressure on Assad to stop the use of chemical weapons, and should join an international push for peace in Syria. Ending a G-7 foreign ministers meeting, he says "we must have a dialogue with Russia." ___ 11:30 a.m. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are expected to call Tuesday for a new international push to end the war in Syria, but are divided on whether to threaten new sanctions or other tough measures to pressure Russia over its support of President Bashar Assad. The G-7 blames Assad's military for a deadly chemical attack last week. Ministers meeting in Lucca, central Italy, have strongly supported U.S. missile strikes that targeted a Syrian air base believed to have been used to launch the attack. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the U.S. intervention had offered "a window of opportunity to construct a new positive condition for the political process in Syria." But he said a political rather than military process was "the only solution," according to Italian news agency ANSA. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - Four lawyers who work at the Guantanamo Bay prison on Tuesday sued the U.S. Department of Defense, claiming it has exposed them to elevated risks of cancer and other health problems by forcing them to work in contaminated areas. The complaint said the U.S. Navy has not properly investigated whether environmental hazards at the Camp Justice complex were linked to nine cancer cases since its 2008 opening. By insisting that the complex is safe despite the known presence of "carcinogenic substances" such as formaldehyde and mercury, the Navy has left lawyers with the "untenable" choice between preserving their health and defending their clients, the complaint said. A Pentagon spokesman said the Defense Department does not discuss pending litigation. The complaint was filed in the federal court in Washington by Army Major Matthew Seeger, and civilian lawyers Cheryl Bormann, Edwin Perry and Michael Schwartz. All represent Walid Bin Attash, a Yemeni man and suspected al Qaeda training camp leader charged with helping plot the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon outside Washington. The lawyers are seeking an injunction requiring the Defense Department to provide accommodations that protect them from the "known and unknown risks" of living and working at Camp Justice. The complex is on the site of a former airfield, and includes temporary housing known as Cuzcos, essentially trailers, where lawyers live and work, the complaint said. Three of the nine cancer victims have died, including Navy Lieutenant Commander Bill Kuebler at age 44 in July 2015, the complaint added. Defense Department officials "have the responsibility to make sure the facilities where military and civilian personnel are working are safe, but are continuing to order them to work there despite the presence of known carcinogens," Daniel Small, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in an interview. Story continues While none of the plaintiffs has been diagnosed with cancer, "they have experienced lesser health symptoms," he added. Small said that his firm, Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll, and Venable LLP, which also represents the plaintiffs, are not being paid for their work on the case. Only 41 people remain incarcerated at the Guantanamo prison on the U.S. naval base in Cuba, down from 242 when Barack Obama became president. The Democrat had tried unsuccessfully to close the prison. But his Republican successor, Donald Trump, has said he wants to keep it open, and send more prisoners there. The case is Seeger et al v. U.S. Department of Defense et al, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, No. 17-00639. Shell CEO Ben van Beurden picked up the phone and called his chief financial officer hours after Dutch police raided his offices. I trust you have been informed about what happened at the office, van Beurden said to CFO Simon Henry on the phone on February 17 last year. So it looks as if they have some form of coordination between the Italian prosecutor, possibly with a link into the [U.S. Department of Justice], but were not sure yet, van Beurden said, not knowing authorities were listening in on the other end of the line. His suspicions were right, and their subsequent conversation sheds light on Shells complicity in one of the largest corruption scandals in Big Oils history after the company vigorously denied any role in it for years. That early morning February raid centered on an oil deal Shell and Italian oil giant Eni struck with Nigeria. They paid the Nigerian government $1.3 billion in 2011 for rights to a giant oil field off the Nigerian coast. After the deal was struck, most of that money mysteriously went missing from public coffers. New legal filings, emails, and recorded phone conversations reviewed by Foreign Policy showed top Shell executives played a hand in the huge corruption scheme, which reached the highest echelons of the government. The phone recordings and documents from European authorities were obtained by anti-corruption watchdogs Global Witness and Finance Uncovered. Buzzfeed and Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Or first broke the story. The new revelations could throw Shell into a world of legal trouble. They also shed light on the shadowy world of oil deals, and how far Shell was willing to go to nab their share of the oil field, known as OPL 245, through a network that spanned former British spies and corrupt Nigerian officials. The tendrils of the scandal reached the highest echelons of the Nigerian government, including former President Goodluck Jonathan. The latest developments come hot on the heels of the United States repealing an anti-corruption rules for extractive industry companies like Shell, a move Big Oil widely lauded. It also illustrates how resource-rich countries like Nigeria often fall victim to the resource curse where corrupt officials steal the revenue from selling off natural resources, keeping the masses mired in poverty. Story continues One of Africas largest petro-states, Nigeria is ranked 136 out of 176 countries in corruption by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International. Meanwhile, famine spurred by the Boko Haram militant insurgency in the countrys north, threatens millions of Nigerians, including some 500,000 children. The money paid by Shell and Eni for the OPL 245 field is about 1.5 times what the U.N. says is needed to resolve the famine crisis. The deal centered around former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete. While serving as oil minister, Etete secretly acquired rights to OPL 245 through a shadowy front company called Malabu, which later funneled over $1 billion of the deal away from the Nigerian people and directly into the pockets of senior Nigerian officials. (Etete was later convicted in a Nigerian court on a separate money laundering probe.) Van Beurden suspected the Dutch police must have found some dirt in the records their raids obtained. There was apparently some loose chatterparticularly the people that we hired from MI6 who, er, must have said things like, Well, yeah, you know, I wonder who gets a pay-off here and whatever, he said, referring to former British intelligence operatives Shell hired to help navigate the seedy world of West African oil politicking. But it wasnt just loose chatter. Senior Shell employees openly discussed in email how they knew over $1 billion of their money would go to Etete and others in political kickbacks, according to email records. The company decided to move forward with the deal anyway, denying for years up to this point its employees did anything wrong and claiming it only knew it was paying the Nigerian government. One email from Shell official Guy Colegate to colleagues in March, 2010 sums it up: Etete can smell the money, Colegate wrote. If, at nearly 70 years old he does turn his nose up at 1.2 bill he is completely certifiablebut I think he knows its [sic] his for the taking. I dont think he will push it away, he wrote. That email was forwarded to then-Shell CEO Peter Voser, one of the worlds most powerful oil execs at the time. No records available show he informed authorities or stood in the way of the deal. Another Shell advisor, former British intelligence service official John Copleston, wrote about Etetes graft plan to senior Shell executives in 2009 as they began laying out various deals for a share of the oil field. E[tete] claims he will only get 40m of the 300m we offering-rest goes in paying people off, Copleston wrote. For Shell, the stakes couldnt have been higher: OPL 245, one of Africas most valuable oil fields, contains an estimated nine billion barrels of untapped oil, worth nearly $500 billion even with todays bargain bin oil prices. Its eventual purchase boosted the worlds fifth-largest companys proven reserves by a third (proven reserves are a key statistic for shareholders). The field has been at the center of legal battles since 1998, when Etete first acquired rights to it through his front company. Months before it finally sealed the deal in 2011, Shell had to pay $30 million in a separate settlement on bribery charges in Nigeria. Now the Anglo-Dutch oil giant was in the lurch once again. This dawn raid is, I wont say premature, but its, we were not, we hadnt concluded our own work, van Beurden said, referring to an internal Shell investigation. They then mulled whether they should inform the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of the predawn raid, but opted against it because it would be share price sensitive. At this point in time, everything seems to be share price sensitive, Henry says on the phone, chuckling. Shell denied any knowledge of improper payments to Malabu or others up to Sunday. It is Shells position that none of those payments were made with its knowledge, Shell said in a statement Sunday. On Monday, after Global Witness issued a new report outlining the findings of the leaked documents, a Shell spokesman appeared to walk back that position in an email statement to FP. Over time, it became clear to us that Etete was involved in Malabu and that the only way to resolve the impasse through a negotiated settlement was to engage with Etete and Malabu, whether we liked it or not, the spokesman said. He added, we believe that the settlement was a fully legal transaction. Shell did not dispute the veracity of the of the leaked documents. Italian prosecutors beg to differ. According to documents from prosecutors office in Milan made public, heres who got what in the pay-off: Nigerian businessman Aliyu Abubakar withdrew $54,418,000 in cash. $466,065,965.44 withdrawn in cash and subsequently funneled to government officials including President Goodluck Jonathan, Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke, Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Defence and former National Security Advisor Aliyu Gusau. $10,026,280 to former Attorney General Christopher Adebayo Ojo $11,465,000 paid to former Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah Eni officials also received funds in retrocession (in essence, reimbursement for multiple layers of insurance after a deal goes through). One, Chief Development Operations & Technology Officer Roberto Casula, received $50 million delivered in cash. In Italy, prosecutors have recommended Casula and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi stand trial in the corruption case. The Eni board issued a statement saying they retained total confidence in Descalzi. Eni also released a statement saying it was complying with authorities but denied any wrongdoing. Representatives of Voser, Etete, and Jonathan havent yet issued any statements about the revelations. Photo credit: FLORIAN PLAUCHEUR/AFP/Getty Images (MANILA) - At least six people have been killed in battle between Philippine forces and suspected Abu Sayyaf militants on a central resort island, far from the extremists southern jungle bases and in a region where the U.S. government has warned the gunmen may be conducting kidnappings, officials said. The national police chief said a soldier died, and the military chief of staff reported that at least five gunmen were killed in an ongoing gunbattle in Inabanga town in Bohol province. National police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said troops and policemen attacked the gunmen early Tuesday in coastal Inabanga, where the gunmen had arrived aboard three boats. The gunmen took cover in three houses as the firefight broke out. The more than 10 militants have either been forced out or killed in the two houses and the others were holed up and surrounded by government forces in the third house, dela Rosa told reporters. If it is proven that the gunmen were from Abu Sayyaf, it may be the groups first known attempt to carry out ransom kidnappings deep into the heartland of the central Philippines, far from its jungle lairs in the southern provinces of Sulu and Basilan. Abu Sayyaf militants have crossed the sea border with Malaysia on powerful speedboats and kidnapped scores of foreign tourists in past years. If we were not able to monitor this and engage them with our government forces, its a cause for alarm if they were able to carry out kidnappings, dela Rosa said. Military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano told The Associated Press that military intelligence operatives had been trying to track down the movements of the suspected militants, who first traveled from Sulu to southern Zamboanga peninsula. Intelligence later indicated the gunmen landed ashore in Inabangan, prompting military and police officials to deploy their forces, the official said. The U.S. Embassy recently advised Americans to take precautions amid unsubstantiated yet credible information of possible kidnappings by terrorists in Bohol, nearby Cebu province and other central areas. Story continues The United States and the Philippines have separately blacklisted the Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organization for bombings, kidnappings for ransom and beheadings. Some Abu Sayyaf commanders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered troops to destroy the extremists in Sulu and in outlying island provinces. This article was originally published on TIME.com Beirut (AFP) - Around 3,000 Syrian refugees have left their tents in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley after oral eviction orders issued last month by the army, Human Rights Watch told AFP on Tuesday. Lebanon is home to over one million Syrian refugees, many of whom live in informal tented settlements set up on private agricultural land across the country. In late March, Lebanon's armed forces said refugees living in camps near security installations, like the Riyaq military airport, would have to leave. At the time, a security source told AFP that the decision had been "taken for security purposes". "There cannot be large population centres around military bases. We choose security -- security over any other consideration, the security of our bases over everything else," the source said. Human Rights Watch has said a total of 10,000 Syrian refugees were at risk of displacement from camps. "About 3,000 people have left their homes of their own accord after receiving oral eviction notices," HRW's Lebanon researcher Bassam Khawaja told AFP. "The orders came out starting in late March... and they gave people between 7-10 days to evacuate their camps," Khawaja told AFP. Although the deadline had already passed, HRW said the army had yet to carry out any forced evictions. "But the big issue is there continues to be a lack of clarity from the government and the army about where these people are supposed to move to," Khawaja said. "Not all areas within the eviction zone have received these notices. If they move to a different area that is still within the eviction zone, they may face a secondary eviction in the future," he said. "It is an utterly unrealistic timeline to expect people to uproot their lives in." The UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) said it did not know how many refugees had relocated but said "a number of families have already moved to nearby plots of land". Story continues "Some have managed to speak to the landlord and relocate to a nearby plot of land (owned) by the same landlord," said spokeswoman Dana Sleiman. Refugees living in camps pay rent to Lebanese landowners in order to set up their tents. Lebanon's infrastructure, already devastated by a 15-year civil war that ended in 1990, has been further strained by the influx of refugees from the conflict in neighbouring Syria. Prime Minister Saad Hariri last month warned of "huge tensions" between Lebanese and Syrians in many host communities that could implode into "civil unrest". By Richard Balmforth PARIS (Reuters) - French centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen clung on as frontrunners in France's tight presidential race on Tuesday, but the unpredictable outcome is pushing some pollsters to calculate the most extreme runoff scenarios. In a new twist in the two-round election, Jean-Luc Melenchon, a far-left veteran who for most of the campaign has been dismissed as a distant no-hoper, has surged into the top four and lies just a few percentage points behind the leaders. Though some commentators see Melenchon's challenge as a blip that may fade, his rise has injected further uncertainty into the outcome of the race for the Elysee, in which Macron has largely been seen as the favorite. Some investors are even weighing up the possibility of Melenchon making it into the second round against Le Pen, a clash between two far-left and far-right arch-rivals that would stand French politics on its head. The turbulent presidential campaign has grown increasingly bitter in recent weeks as candidates eye the finishing line. With the first round of voting due on April 23, when a field of 11 candidates will be whittled down to two, Macron and conservative rival Francois Fillon, who are each fighting for center-right votes, sniped at each other's programs. Fillon, a former prime minister who has been holding onto the third place in polls despite a scandal over payments of public funds to his family that has hurt his campaign, called Macron a liar. Macron responded on Sud Radio: "Mr Fillon is a man of little worth." Polls showed Macron and Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigrant and anti-EU National Front, still several percentage points ahead of Fillon and Melenchon in the first round - something which would send them through to a face-off with each other on May 7. Pollsters Elabe, in a survey carried out for media groups L'Express and BFMTV, saw them both on 23 percent, half a point down from a similar poll last week. The Elabe poll had Fillon on 19 percent, with Melenchon on 17 percent. Elabe projected that Macron, a former banker and economy minister in a Socialist government, would go on to beat Le Pen comfortably in the May 7 runoff. Other polls have shown a similar picture. MANY UNDECIDED An estimated one in three voters, however, remain undecided over who they will plumb for in the first round. Commentators therefore caution that the picture could easily change with the fortunes of candidates being affected by a sudden misstep on the stump or an ill-chosen word. Macron, who says he wants to transcend the left and the right in politics, leads a fledgling movement called En Marche! (Onwards!) and has never fought for, or held, elected office. But many senior Socialists have defected to his cause. Fillon, on the other hand, has the weight of the party machine of The Republicans behind him to help counter the financial scandal in the final days of campaigning. Speaking in Marseilles on Tuesday night, Fillon said he was sure of getting through the first round and urged his supporters not to heed the opinion surveys. "They are trying to dictate your choice to you with these polls. They are suggesting to you that you don't need to vote because everything is already decided," he said. Melenchon's verve as a political showman, who uses strong rhetorical skills to call for a 100 percent tax on the rich and an exit from NATO, has made him a huge success on talk shows and televised debates. Though he has picked up most of his votes from the official Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, whose campaign is in nose-dive, Melenchon also targets centre-left voters who are tilting toward Macron. Melenchon's advance in the polls has spooked financial markets and prompted a warning on Tuesday by the head of business lobby group Medef Pierre Gattaz. Calling both Melenchon and Le Pen's programs "an absolute catastrophe" for France, Gattaz warned on Europe 1 radio against a possible Melenchon-Le Pen second round. Unusually, the Elabe poll of around 1,000 voters on Tuesday tested a variety of hypothetical second-round matchups. It found that Macron would beat Le Pen, Fillon or Melenchon. Melenchon would beat Le Pen or Fillon, but lose to Macron. Fillon would beat Le Pen but lose to either of the other leading candidates. Melenchon is on the opposite end of the political spectrum to Le Pen, in particular on immigration. But they both distrust the European Union, want to renegotiate France's role in it and to hold a referendum on EU membership. Their social policies, including on workers' protection, are also close. Le Pen vowed on Tuesday to take 10 concrete measures in the first two months of winning election. These included suspending France's participation in the EU's Schengen passport-free travel zone and re-establishing national border checks, and expelling all foreigners being monitored by intelligence services as possible threats to national security. (Reporting by Sarah White, Sophie Louet and Helene Dauschy, Sudip Kar-Gupta, Jean-Francois Rosnoblet; Writing by Richard Balmforth; Editing by Mark Heinrich) The Election Commission today announced that re-poll will be held on April 13 in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar Lok Sabha Constituency. The polling stations are based in 30 locations or buildings across Srinagar. (Photo: Reuters) By Press Trust of India: Fresh elections will be held in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday which saw unprecedented poll-day violence on Sunday. The 38 polling stations are spread across five assembly segments of the parliamentary constituency. While 16 polling stations or booths are located in Chadoora, eight are in Budgam, five in Beerwah, one in Khan Sahib and eight in Chararisharief. advertisement The polling stations are based in 30 locations or buildings across Srinagar. Violence had marred the polling in the byelections and eight persons died and several got injured in firing by security forces on rampaging mobs in various parts of the constituency. The constituency recorded merely 7 per cent voter turnout. Almost 70 per cent of the polling booths in Budgam district were abandoned by the polling staff due to the spate of violent protests in several areas, officials said. Army was called out to help quell the rampaging mob which pelted stones and hurled petrol bombs to set a polling booth ablaze in the Ganderbal district of the Srinagar constituency. With the EC ordering repoll, speculation that the Srinagar bypoll could be countermanded on account of violence is now virtually ruled out. Also Read: Valley still simmering, MHA data shows atmosphere was not conducive for Srinagar bypoll Srinagar by-poll: Congress demands Mehbooba Mufti's resignation over low poll percentage Centre upset over low turnout, high violence during Srinagar bypoll Jammu and Kashmir: Infiltration bid foiled in Kupwara's Keran sector, 4 terrorists killed --- ENDS --- From Road & Track Monster Jam is a motorsport unlike any other. With the advent of Freestyle competition, the monster truck racing series took all the eye-popping stunts of BMX bikers and X-Games skateboarders and cranked 'em up with 1500 horsepower. And lately, nobody illustrates that better than Ryan Anderson, driver of the vaguely Willys-shaped Son-Uva Digger and current freestyle superstar. Anderson, son of monster truck legend and king of the Grave Digger empire Dennis Anderson, just demonstrated his freestyle dominance at the most recent Monster Jam event at the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY. Captured by monster truck fan Diane Conger and posted to Facebook, this three-minute routine will have you seriously rethinking your expectations of how a 10,000-lb. monster truck can move. The whole performance is worth watching, but the real jaw-dropper occurs at 2:05. At that moment, Anderson pulls off an astonishingly long "moonwalk"-basically a slow-motion wheelie while driving in reverse. "We could already have a candidate for Wow Factor of the year," says Monster Jam's recap of the move-thought to be one of the longest moonwalks in the history of monster truck racing. Anderson easily won the day's Freestyle event with a near-perfect 9.900 score, which looks great alongside his overall victory in the racing portion of the night. Anderson and Son-Uva Digger came out of the night's events with 28 show points, and the admiration of anyone who can appreciate just how much skill it takes to balance a monster truck on its nose with such precision. You Might Also Like Vilnius (AFP) - As Brexit puts a question mark over the rights of EU nationals in Britain, Lithuania is rushing to let its citizens keep their Baltic passports if they opt to become British. A bill tabled in the 141-seat parliament would allow dual citizenship for Lithuanians living in fellow EU and NATO countries at a time when the ex-Soviet state of three million people continues to see an exodus of workers. "The bill will allow us to keep our compatriots who left from severing their last remaining link to their homeland," Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis told public radio on Tuesday. Dual citizenship is currently an option only for those who left the country under the Soviet or Nazi occupations, with rare exceptions. Under the current law, those who left after Lithuania regained independence in 1990 automatically lose their passport when they become citizens of another country. President Dalia Grybauskaite said the law, tabled by 114 lawmakers on Friday, could breach the constitution and warned that she may use her veto -- though seventy-one lawmakers would be enough to override it. Around 370,000 Lithuanians have left the country since it joined the European Union in 2004, half of them relocating to the United Kingdom, where an uproar over Eastern European immigration was seen as a key factor in the Brexit vote to leave the bloc. British Prime Minister Theresa May promised to impose greater control on immigration from the continent, and guarantees for EU nationals currently living there will be among the issues negotiators discuss amid the Brexit divorce process. Dalia Asanaviciute, the leader of the UK's Lithuanian community, welcomed the draft law and warned that otherwise a quarter of the roughly 200,000 Lithuanians living there could choose to swap out their citizenship in order to maintain their full rights in Britain. "Lithuania does not have luxury to lose so many of its educated, tax-paying, English-speaking citizens," she told AFP. Lower Colorado River canal in the desert. (Photo: Justin Clifton) The Lower Colorado River topped this years list of the 10 rivers most in danger from pollution and environmental degradation particularly if President Trump carries out his plans to undo protections put in place under the previous administration. American Rivers annual report, released Tuesday, cites the possible consequences of budget cuts proposed by President Trump for rivers throughout the United States. The Lower Colorado provides drinking water for one in 10 Americans, in metropolitan areas including Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix. Slideshow: 10 most endangered rivers in the United States for 2017 >>> If the Trump administration and Congress dont continue to address the water issues in the Lower Colorado Basin, were facing a real crisis in that region, Bob Irvin, the president and CEO of American Rivers, told Yahoo News. We are experiencing historic droughts in the Colorado Basin, and thats a result of climate change. Unless we pay attention to that and actually address the impacts of climate change on water supplies in the basin, things are only going to get worse. The river also supplies water for over five million acres of farmland. Irvin said the water irrigates fields that provide roughly 90 percent of the nations winter vegetables. The Lower Colorado starts at Lees Ferry, a natural corridor between Utah and Arizona, and runs through Nevada, Arizona and California. So much water is drawn along the way for agricultural, industrial, municipal and recreational purposes that it dries up before it reaches its natural mouth in the Gulf of California. American Rivers calculates its annual economic value at $900 billion. Water demand in the region is outpacing the rivers capacity, and the ongoing drought, intensified by climate change, makes the situation worse. The water level in Lake Mead, the reservoir behind Hoover Dam, has been dropping at 12 feet per year on average. Farming along the Lower Colorado River. (Photo: Amy Martin) If the crisis is not addressed, the Bureau of Reclamation would need to enforce limitations on water delivery, forcing farmers and homeowners to scale back their water use. This would have harsh economic consequences throughout the Southwest. Story continues American Rivers is calling upon Trump to follow former President Barack Obama in prioritizing the sustainability of American rivers, and on Congress to fully fund the Department of Interior, the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which have provided support and resources for new water transport and conservation projects. Thats why were bringing the nations attention to this incredibly important river, as well as the other rivers on this years most endangered list, Irvin said. We can allow the progress thats been made on rivers like the Lower Colorado to be reversed or we can let Congress and the Trump administration know that were not going to stand for that. Environmentalists and scientists have denounced Trumps attacks on Obama-era environmental protections. He has signed an Energy Independence executive order that starts the process of dismantling the Clean Power Plan, which limits greenhouse gas emissions from coal-burning power plants. He also signed other executive orders advancing the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. Green groups say Trumps proposed budget cuts for the 2018 fiscal year would also undermine river preservation and restoration projects across the country. Trumps EPA is reviewing the Clean Water Rule, which has protected rivers from development and pollution. Preserving the Lower Colorado is a priority for the regions Latino population. Its important to their heritage, culture and livelihoods. Maite Arce, the president and CEO of the Hispanic Access Foundation (HAF), a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of Hispanic people in the United States and promoting civic engagement, said roughly one-third of the countrys Latino population lives in the Colorado River Basin, which includes portions of seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Lower Colorado River canal fields. (Photo: Justin Clifton) The Colorado River water has been overtapped, overused, so the future looks very bleak, Arce told Yahoo News. The HAF works with longtime residents, including farmworkers, in the Lower Colorado Basin near the U.S.-Mexico border and with other stakeholders on mitigating the harm of water shortages. Arce said preachers have been delivering sermons on the moral obligation to protect the river and be good stewards of Gods creation. There are such strong cultural connections to water and to the Colorado River. Its part of their heritage and way of life. They see it as a lifeline, Arce told Yahoo News. Their jobs are very strongly connected to the land there, but they understand the water is what makes it possible for them to grow food for America. This is where what used to be an ocean becomes a trickle, Arce said. Were encouraging the new administration to increase investment in critical water infrastructure. And, of course, that has to happen with a really strong group of local folks at the basin. American Rivers and the Hispanic Access Foundation say the president and Congress should support water management solutions throughout the country, including: The reality is the United States has tremendous thirst for clean, safe drinking water and water to irrigate our crops, and thats not going to go away, Irvin said. What we are asking Americans to do is to let Congress know that having clean and abundant supplies of water from our rivers is important and to not cut the programs that are necessary to insure that. The Morelos Dam on the Lower Colorado River. (Photo: Justin Clifton) On April 3, White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced that Trump in an apparent attempt to soften his reputation as an enemy of the environment would donate his first-quarter salary of $78,333 to the National Park Service, an agency of the Interior Department. The gesture failed to win over environmentalists, who pointed out that the administrations budget proposed slashing the Interior Department budget by 12 percent. If Donald Trump is actually interested in helping our parks, he should stop trying to slash their budgets to historically low levels, Michael Brune, the executive director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement. This publicity stunt is a sad consolation prize as Trump tries to stifle Americas best idea [the national parks]. Its a distraction that falls far short of the $12 billion needed to address the current backlog of park maintenance and does nothing to offset the almost $2 billion Trump asked Congress to cut from the Department of the Interior in his budget. _____ Here are the United States 10 most endangered rivers for 2017, according to the new American Rivers report: 1: Lower Colorado River in Arizona, California and Nevada Threat: Water demand and climate change 2: Bear River in California Threat: New Dam 3: South Fork Skykomish in Washington Threat: New hydropower project 4: Mobile Bay rivers in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi Threat: Poor water management 5: Rappahannock River in Virginia Threat: Fracking 6: Green-Toutle River in Washington Threat: New mine 7: Neuse and Cape Fear rivers in North Carolina Threat: Pollution from hog and chicken farms 8: Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Montana Threat: Oil transport by rail 9: Buffalo National River in Arkansas Threat: Pollution from massive hog farm 10: Menominee River in Michigan and Wisconsin Threat: Open-pit sulfide mining _____ Read more from Yahoo News: By custom, lieutenant governors are supposed to keep a low profile and, above all, avoid embarrassing the boss. Now, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mike Stack and his wife Tonya are drawing unwanted attention: a state inspector generals investigation into complaints they verbally abused members of their state police security detail and household staff at their official residence northeast of Harrisburg. And Gov. Wolf asked for the probe, according to two sources familiar with the matter. State troopers and employees working at the lieutenant governors mansion at Ft. Indiantown Gap complained that the Stacks often yelled at them, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss it. Stack's office didn't dispute such an inquiry was underway. It was first reported Monday by The Caucus, a weekly publication of LNP Media Group, and by ABC27 News in Harrisburg. We are in receipt of a letter from the Inspector General in regards to staffing issues, Matt Franchak, the lieutenant governors chief of staff said in a statement Monday evening. We have no further details on the investigation and have no further comment at this time. At first glance, news of the investigation looked awkward, considering Stack and Wolf are expected to run together for reelection next year. But the two men are not close. Wolf didnt choose Stack, 53, a former state senator from Northeast Philadelphia, as his running mate, Democratic voters did. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately in party primaries and then as pairs in the general election. J.J. Abbott, Wolfs spokesman, declined to comment, as did Inspector General Bruce Beemer, a gubernatorial appointee. Stack grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, the son of a ward leader. He served in the Army National Guard as a lawyer and was elected to the state Senate in 2001, representing the 5th District until he took over as lieutenant governor. Story continues When in Harrisburg, he and his wife live in a 2,500-square-foot fieldstone house on the grounds of the historic fort, home of the Pennsylvania National Guard. It has a swimming pool and a five-car garage, with a staff of six state employees who manage the property and cook. The lieutenant governor and his wife are driven and accompanied by state police troopers. It is not clear whether the OIG will issue a public report confirming the allegations or clearing the Stacks. The office is not obligated to disclose its findings, but sometimes does. The agency has no prosecutorial power but can refer cases of government waste or fraud to other law enforcement agencies. Earlier this year, for example, the OIG released the results of an investigation documenting cheating and other problems at the state police academy. Stack is no stranger to controversy. He requested language in a draft of last years budget authorizing state police who drive him and other dignitaries to use flashing lights and sirens to clear traffic. Current law allows such warnings only in emergencies. Wolf administration officials asked lawmakers to strike the provision. In 2015, Tonya Stack made headlines after an altercation with state Rep. Kevin Boyle (D.,Phila.) In the 2014 primary for lieutenant governor, Stack was the only Philadelphian on the ballot, an advantage because candidates home counties are listed with their names. He beat four other Democratic contenders with 48 percent of the vote. Stack is rarely seen in public with Wolf, a pattern that began during their campaign. By contrast, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett gave significant political and policy assignments to Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley. As lieutenant governor, Stacks duties include presiding over the state Senate and heading the Board of Pardons. Most Popular on Philly.com The following material contains graphic images that may be disturbing. Parents are advised that these images may not be suitable for young children. Actress Mackenzie Phillips joins The Doctors to discuss her battle with addiction and her new book, "Hopeful Healing." There is a solution, theres a way out of the rabbit hole, Mackenzie says. She knows firsthand not only has she survived her own struggle, but Ive gone to school so that I could be a counselor and work in treatment and recovery. Watch: Mackenzie Phillips on Overcoming Addiction "Hopeful Healing" lays out what patients and families can expect from the recovery process. Plastic Surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon wonders why were seeing a heroin epidemic now. Ill tell you why were seeing it because it happened to me, responds Mackenzie. She was prescribed opioid medication for back pain (Granted, I was also in a relapse! she adds), and when her prescription ended she went into withdrawal. You might think its a really far jump from opioid pain medication to heroin, she cautions, but its not anymore. Mackenzie believes that prescribers have to take some of the responsibility for the epidemic. She now works at Breathe Life Counseling Centers, and most of her young patients start with the contents of the home medicine cabinet. Watch: The New Heroin Epidemic Mackenzie shares three tips for recovering addicts: Create a recovery routine. Structure your life around recovery-based activities. Get into action. Find a support group of like-minded people. Dont be afraid to ask for help. We cant do this alone. Urologist Dr. Jennifer Berman adds, Dont drink or use one day at a time. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction please call the confidential and free National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP or visit their website. By India Today Web Desk: The Madras High Court today granted conditional bail to Yogendra Vasupal, founder and Chief Executive Officer of hotel room aggregator startup Stayzilla. Yogendra Vasupal, was arrested and sent to jail by the Chennai police commissioner after a case was filed against Vasupal by Jigsaw Advertising accusing him of fraud. The court ruled that Vasupal should pay Rs 40 lakh as deposit. advertisement WHY WAS YOGENDRA VASUPAL ARRESTED? Stayzilla, a Private Limited company, had an ongoing dispute with a Chennai-based advertising firm -- Jigsaw Advertising -- over deficiency of services provided. Stayzilla had asked the company to move court but instead, the company filed a criminal case against the CEO and co-founder Vasupal, in Chennai, accusing him of cheating and intimidation among others. Point to be noted here is that by law, Stayzilla, the Private Limited Company registered, owe money to the advertising firm and not Vasupal in his personal capacity. Instead of a civil case, a criminal case was filed against Vasupal and he is now behind bars. THREAT TO CO-FOUNDER'S SON'S LIFE Co-founder of Stayzilla Sachit Singhi received a box delivered to him from an anonymous source inside which there was a voodoo doll and his son's photo. The writing on the packaging said, "The most special way to say you care". Also Read: Stayzilla CEO Yogendra Vasupal arrested, co-founder gets threat to son's life Startup community defends Stayzilla CEO, says he should get bail --- ENDS --- Pakistani human-rights and education advocate Malala Yousafzai has just become the youngest person ever to be named a U.N. Messenger of Peace, an honorary title conferred by the bodys Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Yousafzai, now 19 years old, has accepted the role with a special focus on girls education, the BBC reports. Messengers are typically appointed for at least three years, and are expected to promote the work of the U.N. on a global scale. If you want to see your future bright, you have to start working now [and] not wait for anyone else, she said at the acceptance ceremony in New York City. U.N. chief Guterres described Yousafzai as a symbol of perhaps the most important thing in the world - education for all. As a young activist, Yousafzai caught the worlds attention in 2012, after she was almost killed by the Taliban for her efforts to raise awareness and achieve equal education for young girls. She has since become a symbol of the fight for equal access to schools. Read More: Malala: The Worlds Response to Refugees Has Been Pitiful In 2014, at the age of 17, she became the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate when she was announced the co-recipient along with Indian childrens-rights advocate Kailash Satyarthi. Yousafzai joins about a dozen other current messengers, including Jane Goodall, Yo Yo Ma, Edward Norton, Stevie Wonder and Paulo Coelho. [BBC] This article was originally published on TIME.com HOUSTON (AP) A Houston man will serve life in prison after being convicted of capital murder in a shooting rampage at a used car dealership that left three men dead. Jurors in Harris County deliberated more than three hours Tuesday before returning its verdict on James Tinsley IV. Since prosecutors weren't seeking the death penalty in Tinsley's case, he automatically was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the January 2015 shooting deaths. The attack happened at Immaculate Auto Sales in Houston, killing brothers Tony and Jesse Contreras and Tony Contreras' adult son, Casey Contreras. Prosecutors told jurors that Tinsley shot the three after a car he had bought from the dealership was repossessed. From Popular Mechanics A tank collector in the United Kingdom was in for a surprise when he and his mechanic opened one of his tank's diesel fuel tanks. Inside were gold bars totaling approximately $2.4 million dollars. The tank came into possession of Nick Mead, a tank collector and owner of Tanks Alot, a company that offers tanks and other armored vehicles for driving classes, private events, and television and film appearances. Mead found the tank, an ex-Iraqi Army Type 69, on sale on eBay and traded it for an Abbot self-propelled howitzer and a British Army truck. Mead and his mechanic, Todd Chamberlain, were filming the opening of the fuel tank because they had already found machine gun ammunition in the armored vehicle and wanted video proof in case more ammunition was found. They pulled out five gold bars weighing about twelve pounds worth an estimated $2.4 million. The gold was handed over to authorities, and Mead has placed a receipt for the bars of bullion in a safe deposit box. The Type 69 was a Chinese copy of the Soviet T-55 medium tank and sold in large numbers to the Iraqi Army during the 1980s. The Type 69 was armed with a 100-millimeter main gun and a 12.7-millimeter machine gun. The design, first introduced in 1949, is thoroughly obsolete but still serves in Third World armies around the world. The gold is thought to be Kuwaiti in origin-Iraqi forces engaged in widescale looting of the country after the August 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Six months after the end of the war, Iraqi authorities returned 3,216 gold bars under UN supervision. Although the story has been widely reported, the value of the gold bars doesn't quite add up. Five gold bars weighing twelve pounds each should be worth only $1.2 million at current gold prices. Whatever the case, it's still a pretty good deal. Source: Daily Mail, Guns.com You Might Also Like The Underground is a glorious network of trains and railways that connect all of London. SEE ALSO: This song naming all 270 London underground stations is pretty epic On the worst of days, it's a jam-packed, sweaty commute filled with disgruntled people. On the best of days, it's a rave. In the video above, a man whipped out his phone to record his unusual evening commute. He hopped onto the carriage to discover a full-blown rave inside. There was music blasting and passengers dancing neon lights and even a man on the mic. "Not your normal Monday night on the Bakerloo line," the man wrote about the video which was shared to Youtube. It certainly is unusual, but also, pretty spectacular. The British Transit Police Paddington eventually broke up the event and tweeted, "We've just removed a fully fledged rave from a Bakerloo Line tube! All light hearted and very co-operative. #Bakerloo running normally." (LOS ANGELES) - A brief marriage and quick estrangement came before a man walked into his wifes elementary school class and opened fire without saying a word, killing her and an 8-year-old student and wounding a 9-year-old student before fatally shooting himself, authorities said. Some six weeks earlier, 53-year-old Cedric Anderson was a newlywed calling his 53-year-old wife Karen Smith an angel in one of many social media posts professing his love. San Bernardino police have said nothing of what might have motivated Anderson to open fire in the special-education classroom at North Park Elementary School on Monday. No one has come forward to say they saw this coming, police Chief Jarrod Burguan said, though Anderson had a history of weapons, domestic violence and possible drug charges that predated the marriage. What appears to be his Facebook page features many public declarations of his love for Smith between statements of religious devotion before his last public post on March 15. She knows when to ignore me, Anderson said with a laugh in a short video posted Feb. 27. Well, it makes a happy marriage. Anderson had posted that he loved being married to Karen Smith-Anderson! and posted a photo of the two of them on March 4 in what he described as a date night. The page also had several photos of his wedding to Smith and their honeymoon among the scenic red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. But Smith left him about a month and a half after their late-January marriage, police and family members said. Smiths mother, Irma Sykes, said her daughter had been friends with Anderson for about four years before they got married. She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all, Sykes told the Los Angeles Times. He had other motives, Sykes said. She left him and thats where the trouble began. She broke up with him and he came out with a different personality. She decided she needed to leave him. She did not elaborate further. Story continues Sykes said her daughter was a dedicated teacher who took up the profession about 10 years ago after her four children grew up. School staffers knew Anderson, who followed the proper protocol and got into the school through the front office by saying he had to drop something off for Smith, school district officials said. Smith was his target and the two boys were hit as he was firing at her, Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. He emptied and reloaded the gun before turning it on himself. There were 15 students in the special needs classroom ranging from first to fourth grade, along with two adult aides, Burguan said. Eight-year-old Jonathan Martinez was airlifted to a hospital, where he was declared dead. The 9-year-old boy, whose name was not released, remained hospitalized Monday night. The 600 other students at the school were bused to safety at California State Universitys San Bernardino campus, several miles away, after many walked off campus hand-in-hand, escorted by police. Panicked parents had to wait hours before being reunited with them at a nearby high school. Holly Penalber, whose 9-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter attend the school, called it every parents worst nightmare. She said the long wait was frustrating but also understandable. The shooting came 15 months after a terror attack in San Bernardino that killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at a meeting of county employees. Husband-and-wife shooters Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik were later killed in a gunbattle with authorities. Once a major rail hub and citrus producer, the city of 216,000 people filed for bankruptcy in 2012 after struggling to pay its employees despite steep cuts to the budget. It was hit hard by the great recession, seeing rises in unemployment and violent crime. An overflow crowd gathered at sunset at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in San Bernardino to mourn and pray for the victims and survivors of Mondays shooting. One man wore a shirt that read stop the violence in SB. Sometimes all we can do is cry. And today is the day for that, Bishop Gerald R. Barnes told the gathering. Well get up again. Well move on. Well become stronger. But today is the day to cry. ___ Associated Press writers Amanda Lee Myers, Brian Melley, John Rogers and Andrew Dalton contributed to this story. This article was originally published on TIME.com By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Maryland lawmakers have passed a first-in-the-nation measure that lets the state attorney general sue generic drug makers that sharply raise prices in a move aimed at fighting what legislators call "price-gouging." The bill overwhelmingly was approved by the Democratic-controlled legislature on Monday and hailed by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh as a way to check sharply higher prices for crucial generic drugs. The Maryland measure comes as concerns about rising U.S. drug costs have been building for years. For example the 2015 decision by Turing Pharmaceuticals to increase the cost of a life-saving, anti-infection drug by 5,000 percent sparked widespread outrage. The legislation takes aim at a generic drug market that makes up 88 percent of U.S. pharmaceutical sales and totaled $75 billion in 2015, according to Frosh's office. "The market seems to bear it and so some of these manufacturers are charging as much as they possibly can," Frosh said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, has not said whether he would sign the legislation. His representatives did not respond to requests for comment. The bill allows Maryland's state authority on Medicaid, a federal healthcare program for the poor, to let the attorney general's office know when it sees patients being charged an "unconscionable increase" for essential generic drugs. The attorney general could then seek an explanation from the manufacturer and sue to protect consumers, with a fine of up to $10,000 for each violation. A judge could order the company to reverse its price increase. Generics are pharmaceuticals that are equivalent to a brand-name drug. They usually are available after patent protections for the original maker run out. The bill did not touch on branded prescription drugs new to the market since their manufacturers have development and patent costs they are entitled to recoup, Frosh said. Maryland is the first state to pass a measure to combat excessive price increases, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee have similar legislation pending, the conference said. The legislation would have a "chilling effect" on the generic market in Maryland, said Chester Davis Jr., president of the Association for Accessible Medicines, which represents generic drug makers. Use of generic drugs had saved Maryland $3.7 billion in 2015, he said. "To focus on the side of the ecosystem that is actually driving the savings and not the costs definitely seems counterintuitive to us," he said. (Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Lisa Shumaker) "A boss, an employee and a colleague walk into a bar ..." OK, so you may not want to exactly channel your inner comedian, rattling off joke after joke at the office, but sometimes laughter is the best medicine, even at work. In fact, a new Accountemps survey finds that 78 percent of CFOs consider an employee's sense of humor to be an important part of fitting into their company's culture. [See: 25 Best Business Jobs for 2017.] How to effectively, and professionally, display your sense of humor is another story -- whether you're an employee or vying to be a company's next best hire. After all, you never want to offend anyone, so you need to have comedic timing to know when it's appropriate to make light of a situation, and when it's not. Here are several tips to keep in mind when trying to display your sense of humor in professional scenarios: Diffuse (some) stressful situations. Think twice before unleashing a one-line zinger when people are discussing budget cuts. But, if there is a situation that's less directly related to money, but still somewhat stressful, light humor can bring levity to the situation. Use your judgment and ask yourself if this will strain the situation or put people at ease. Leverage the right medium. Refrain from getting your yucks in over email or on the company's instant messaging system. Not only can your humor get lost in translation without body language and inflection, but you may also inadvertently offend someone. And since demonstrating a sense of humor can highlight your personality and build rapport with colleagues, doing it over email won't be as effective as in person or on a video conference call, anyway. Of course if your team works remotely, then you really won't have the opportunity other than conference calls and video calls, but whatever you do, try to refrain from exchanging humor online. [See: Here's What You Should Know About Gen Z Workers.] Avoid racy humor. If you're questioning whether or not a comment you're going to make crosses the line, the mere fact that you're hesitating means you should not go for it. Keep things G-rated and steer away from making people feel awkward or uncomfortable as it relates to race, gender and politics. Think of it like a job interview -- there are definitely some topics to avoid overall in the workplace, but on an interview in particular, you should be on your best behavior. Poking fun at the expense of a broken printer is a much safer bet than trying to get chuckles over something inappropriate. Story continues Let your personality shine. As you channel your inner Tina Fey, it's just as important to build rapport as it is to demonstrate your wit and charm. Unleashing a sense of humor in digestible portions can show that you're approachable, as people become comfortable interacting with you. Plus, if you're about to enter an intense meeting with unhappy clients or a pitch meeting with investors, for example, breaking the ice with subtle humor can help ease tensions. Poke fun with someone instead of at them. If you're lightly poking fun at the company or their decision to keep an annual holiday party at a huge hotel but forego annual bonuses, be kind. You need to be mindful of sarcastic or demeaning comments that can tarnish someone's character. Instead of using humor to jab at a leader who made that decision, find a topic that doesn't target anyone in particular. [See: The 25 Best Social Services Jobs of 2017.] Make yourself a target instead. Overall it's best to poke fun at the larger organization or something generic than it is to make jokes at the expense of a specific individual. And in the case of doubt, always err on the side of caution. That said, if you do poke fun at someone, it's much safer to do it to yourself. It shows you don't see yourself as invincible and almighty, especially if you're a business leader. Be tactful; hold back at first and then ease into it. One of the most important things to remember about leveraging a sense of humor is that, yes, business leaders prefer to see it in a workplace culture, but you certainly need to feel it out during job interviews. While interviewers are assessing not only your skill set and experiences but also cultural fit, you need to lead up to it. You shouldn't go into your first job interview making light of a situation. You need to convey professionalism, tactfulness and seriousness. Plus, in case you're nervous and want to ease anxiety with a joke, simply tell it to yourself prior to the interview. If you are typically accustomed to showcasing a sense of humor, that's great, however in an interview session while navigating nerves and brand new contacts, the levity may fall flat. During each round of interviews, as you build rapport with the interviewer conversationally and tone lightens, you can begin to assess when it's appropriate to loosely insert a light laughing matter here or there. Use it sparingly and assess their sense of humor, as well, knowing once you're a new hire you can begin to let your inner comedian shine. Vicki Salemi is an author, public speaker, columnist and career expert for Monster, a global leader in successfully connecting people and job opportunities. Utilizing her more than 15 years of experience in corporate recruiting and human resources, Vicki empowers job seekers with insights and first-hand knowledge from the halls of HR. She is the author of "Big Career in the Big City" and a regular contributor to The Huffington Post, Forbes.com, The New York Post and SUCCESS.com. Vicki has also been quoted in many top business and consumer outlets worldwide, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NBC News, Dateline Australia, Fast Company and Women's Health. As a recognized influencer in the recruitment industry, Vicki often interviews notable names, such as Gloria Steinem, Derek Jeter and Michael J. Fox, about their own careers. She is also the former creator/host/producer of mediabistroTV's "Score That Job," and was named one of the top 25 career bloggers in the U.S. by BlogHer in 2011. Vicki previously held recruiting and HR roles at major financial institutions including Deloitte and KPMG. Vicki graduated from Lafayette College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, and earned a management certificate from Cornell University. More information can be found at www.vickisalemi.com as well as on Twitter @vickisalemi. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Sunday that the Trumps administration is "partially to blame" for Syrias chemical attack last week, which killed about 80 civilians and was apparently orchestrated by President Bashar al-Assad. "I think it probably was partially to blame," McCain said on CBS's "Face the Nation" Sunday. "And Secretary [of State Rex] Tillerson basically saying the same thing after kind of contradicting himself and then saying the same thing argues vigorously for a plan and a strategy." Read: Ashton Kutcher Blows Kiss To John McCain, Testifies In Senate To Stop Human Trafficking McCain was referring to the comments Tillerson made last month during a press conference in Turkey when he said the "longer term status of President [Bashar] Assad would be decided by the Syrian people." McCain, who supported the strikes against a Syrian airbase said they were an "excellent first step" and a "reversal of the last eight years," but stressed that Trump needed to come up with a more strategic planning going forward. "Well, I think the fact that we acted was very important, and I support the presidents action," McCain said. "And I have been told that there was some recommendations to take out all six places that the Syrian air force operates out of. But now that they are flying again, basically, within 36 hours is not a good signal," he said, adding the U.S. did not do "as thorough enough job, which would have been catering the runways. And somebody will say, Well, then they can fill in the runways. Yeah, and we can crater them again too." Trump took to his Twitter page to explain why the U.S. strikes didnt crater the runways. "The reason you don't generally hit runways is that they are easy and inexpensive to quickly fix (fill in and top)!" he tweeted Saturday. McCain also said he does "not agree" with Tillersons idea that the U.S. needs to focus on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) before they deal with Assads actions, saying ISIS and Assad are "totally connected" matters. Story continues "You cant to a large degree, Bashar Assad, by polarizing the Syrian people have also given rise to ISIS and Al Qaeda," McCain said. "So they are both connected. And I believe that the United States of America can address both at the same time. We can walk and chew gum. We have the capability to do both." Related Articles Sunil Grover is working on a new concept for his upcoming show on Sony TV, set to air in June this year. By Amit Tyagi: Sunil Grover, who has been making a lot of news these days after the mid-air feud with his TKSS co-star Kapil Sharma, is back, and this time with his own team and own brand of humour. So, yes, the much in news Sunil Grover is coming up with his own show and it will air on Sony TV. advertisement Sources confirm that Sunil Grover has been offered a new show by Sony TV and it can go on air as early as June this year. According to sources, the show will have a new slot and new artistes, and will not conflict with The Kapil Sharma Show. Sunil reportedly had a closed door meeting with Sony; and apparently the deal has been locked for the show. Also read: Sunil Grover still being wooed by channel to return to TKSS? We also hear that the show will be produced in association with the creative director of TKSS, Preeti Simoes--who is also rumoured to be the ex-girlfriend of Kapil Sharma. Meanwhile, on The Kapil Sharma Show, the only original members left are Kiku Sharda and Sumona Chakravarty, and Kapil is getting in place a new team. Also read: Sunil Grover to team up with Sunny Leone for his next project? Along with Sunil Grover, there will be many others who will be seen in the new show. Reportedly, Ali Asgar who used to play Naani in Kapil's show will also be part of this new show. Joining Sunil and Ali will be Sugandha Mishra who has been been an integral part of The Kapil Sharma Show. There is another ex-TKSS member who will join this show and he's Kapil's school friend Chandan Prabhakar. Apparently, all these people had witnessed Kapil and Sunil's mid-air feud that happened en route Mumbai (from Melbourne) last month around Holi . Also read: Good news for Kapil fans, Preeti Simoes is back after break Meanwhile, Sunil will be seen doing live IPL commentary with Bollywood's Baby Doll Sunny Leone for a news app on April 13. He has also been busy doing live events including the one he did in Delhi recently. Besides, he also put up an amazing show in the grand finale of Indian Idol. So, it looks like Sunil Grover is all set to fly high once again this time without Kapil Sharma. Sunil has been a seasoned comedian and three years back also he had quit another Kapil show Comedy Nights With Kapil that used to air on Colors. At that time, he started his own show called Mad in India. However, the comedy show failed to strike a chord with the audiences. advertisement Hope this time Sunil makes a mark. For now, he is building his team and working on a new format. --- ENDS --- DETROIT (AP) A Michigan lawmaker was charged Tuesday with putting a no-show employee on his office payroll to repay her for $14,000 in personal loans. Sen. Bert Johnson, a Detroit-area Democrat, was indicted on charges of conspiracy and theft, two weeks after FBI agents raided his Highland Park home and Lansing office. Johnson listed the employee as a "community liaison," but she was actually a ghost employee who had lent money to the lawmaker, according to the indictment. The grand jury said the person was paid $23,000 for no work over nine months. Johnson's lawyer denied any crime. "Based on what we looked at and who worked for him, he has not had any ghost employees," attorney Cyril Hall told radio station WWJ. The person who lent the money to Johnson is identified in the indictment only as a "cooperating witness" and the owner of a company called M.A.D.E. The owner is Glynis Thornton. Dates listed in the indictment match state payroll records, which show she was a Johnson employee in the Senate for much of 2014. In a separate case, Thornton is awaiting her sentence for paying bribes to a Detroit school principal in exchange for tutoring work. A phone message and email seeking comment weren't immediately returned by her attorney. Theft of public money "by elected public officials, as these charges allege, is disheartening and will not be tolerated," said Daniel Lemisch, the acting U.S. attorney in Detroit. After the March 27 search of his home and office, Johnson told reporters that he's "an open book." He's been a state lawmaker since 2006, first in the House. "I've worked very hard to build a reputation I think people trust," Johnson said. He is the fifth Michigan lawmaker to be charged with a crime since May 2015. Three resigned from the Legislature and one was expelled. ___ AP reporter David Eggert contributed to this story. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteap NAIROBI (Reuters) - At least 16 people were killed in the South Sudanese town of Wau on Monday, said the United Nations, as witnesses said ethnic militiamen went house to house searching for people from other groups. Streets were deserted as families hid inside, residents told Reuters by phone. Some reported seeing killings. Witnesses said the militia members were aligned with the government in the country's ethnically charged civil war. They accused army soldiers of blocking the main road to a civilian encampment protected by U.N. peacekeepers. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said two U.N. peacekeeping patrols had been sent to the area on Monday and more were expected to patrol on Tuesday. The U.N. peacekeeping mission is known as UNMISS. "They saw 16 bodies of civilians in a hospital and at least 10 others were injured," Dujarric told reporters in New York. "Eighty-four people have arrived at the UNMISS protection of civilians site in Wau, while at least 3,000 people have reportedly moved to a site run by the Catholic church in town and those are mostly women and children," he said. South Sudan's deputy army spokesperson, Colonel Santo Domic Chol, said fighting had first broken out during a mutiny by soldiers at the town's prison. He was awaiting more information, he said. The fighting followed an ambush that killed a brigadier general and a colonel in Wau state over the weekend, a rebel spokesman based outside the country said. "This morning the government forces were retaliating against innocent Fertit people," he said, referring to a local ethnic group. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it is flying a surgical team to Wau. "The ICRC has received multiple requests to assist medical staff in Wau with patients wounded in the violence," a spokesman said. A staff member at Wau Teaching Hospital said all the bodies it had received appeared to be civilian and all had gunshot wounds. Five residents, all of whom asked not to be named, described members of the president's Dinka ethnic group searching for members of the local Luo and Fertit groups. The head of the military is also Dinka. "We are still inside hiding," said one man by telephone, speaking from a Wau neighbourhood called Nazareth. "I have seen four dead bodies of my neighbours." "Armed militias are moving from house to house," one resident said. "It is an ethnic crackdown." Another said he had fled an attack that had killed many people, including his cousin. South Sudan descended into civil war in 2013 after President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, fired his deputy, Riek Machar, a Nuer. Fighting since then has often split the oil-producing country along ethnic lines and created a patchwork of armed factions. The country is awash with weapons after decades of conflict with neighbouring Sudan and local feuds over land. BODIES In another part of Wau, a resident saw two bodies near a feeding centre and a couple killed beside the road as they tried to flee to a nearby civilian encampment protected by U.N. peacekeepers. More than 200,000 people have taken refuge in such sites set up across the country after widespread ethnic killings, many by soldiers. Campaign groups have accused both sides of atrocities. Two residents said soldiers had blocked off the road leading to the protected site in Wau. "I and my two sisters tried to get a way to the UNMISS protection site, but we cant because the road is blocked by government soldiers," one woman said. "I saw one woman together with her husband who was killed because they tried to run to UNMISS." The army's Chol said the mutiny had broken out on Monday morning. "Some four prison soldiers in Wau prison decided to mutiny and shot at their own colleagues. They killed two," he said. He said there had been fighting in Wau state for the past three days but had no further details on Monday's fighting, apart from the fact it was taking place along ethnic lines. "The type of the rebellion which is taking place in Wau ... it is more or less tribal," he said. The 15,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission, which has a base in Wau, has not been able to stop the killing. "We are aware of the situation in the town and we are looking into it," U.N. spokesman Daniel Dickinson said. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Larry King and James Dalgleish) ABOARD INS HANIT (Israel) (AFP) - White specks appear on the horizon and a voice crackles over the radio with a warning: "The speed boat is acting independently." Two boats on suicide bombing missions had been spotted either side of the INS Hanit, one of the Israeli navy's top warships. "We recognise the target. This is an immediate enemy," a voice says in Hebrew over the loudspeaker. "Ready for action." A siren rings out and young recruits rush to the back, hurrying to put on helmets and bulletproof vests before manning machine-guns. The Hanit's engines go full throttle, dragging it rapidly from three to 27 knots (50 kilometres per hour). The speedboats rush forward but cannot catch up. The "attack" last week was in fact part of a series of war games with Greek and US forces to prepare for a range of threats, from submarines to more immediate risks from Hamas and Hezbollah. The Hanit holds a prominent place in Israeli consciousness. It was struck by a Hezbollah missile off the Lebanese coast in the 2006 war with the Lebanese Shiite militant group, killing four soldiers. It was the first direct strike on an Israeli warship in decades and Hezbollah celebrated it as among its biggest victories of the 34-day war. More than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 120 Israelis, the majority soldiers, died during the conflict but many in Israel consider the war a failure as Hezbollah was not defeated. The strike on the Hanit symbolised for many how overconfidence fed into that failure. An investigation found that the missile hit because officials didn't believe Hezbollah had such sophisticated technology and so didn't turn on anti-missile systems. - 'Big shock' - The Israeli head of the current training mission insists they are still learning the lessons. "The hit of the Hanit was such a big shock to Israel, a trauma, that I am sure no one would let it happen again," he told AFP aboard the ship, speaking on condition of anonymity under military rules. Story continues The ship could have sunk if the missile had struck directly rather than hitting a crane, he said. "The reason that it happened from my point of view was that we were not prepared for this kind of missile." Israelis do compulsory military service at 18 and many on board during the recent training exercise were under 10 back in 2006. Nimrod, a young sailor who already has more than 6,000 hours of experience on board during his nearly three years of service, said they were regularly reminded of the deaths. In the corridor near the sleeping quarters, a picture of the four men killed hangs on the wall. The ship is now equipped with Barak missile defence systems, as well as advanced missiles. In the control room, around 20 men are stationed at attack, defence, sonar, radar and operations desks. Decisions on incoming missiles must be made in "seconds", one said. "Overconfidence is the biggest enemy at war," the commander added. "I think we need to be alert more for any kind of threats -- not to be sure we know everything." In future potential conflicts with Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, the commander said, the threat of "suicide boats" is more of a concern than submarines. - 'Any kind of threat' - Israel's navy had historically been one of the smaller and less well-known parts of its military. Although more than 90 percent of Israel's imports come via sea, in the wars with Arab neighbours in the 1960s and 1970s, the airforce and ground troops played the primary roles. But in the years since the 2006 war, a key change has occurred: Israel has discovered major gas fields off its coast. Protecting the non-moving "easy targets" of gas platforms, the commander said, provides a new challenge. For that reason the country is investing in new warships, the Saar 6. "If it is located by one of the platforms, it should be safe from any kind of threat -- asymmetrical threat, any kind of missile and any kind of rocket," he said. Shaul Chorev, a former deputy chief of naval operations, said Hezbollah and Hamas still pose a threat to the navy. In January, two people were killed aboard a Saudi frigate when it was hit by a missile fired by Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen, a group that is, like Hezbollah, supported by Iran. "The Huthis supported by Iran and using the same technology (as Hezbollah) are hitting Saudi warships and also threatening US navy ships," he said. BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian government warplanes dropped barrel bombs on rebel-held areas of Hama province on Tuesday, a day after the United States said their use could lead to further U.S. strikes in Syria. A Syrian military source denied the Observatory report and said the army did not use barrel bombs - drums or cylinders packed with explosives and shrapnel that cause indiscriminate destruction on the ground. The United States fired cruise missiles at a Syrian air base last week in response to a poison gas attack on a town in northwestern Syria, which Washington has blamed on government forces. The Syrian government denies responsibility. The Observatory said "a number" of barrel bombs had been dropped on the towns of Taybat al-Imam and Soran north of Hama city in an area where rebel groups, spearheaded by jihadist factions, launched a major offensive last month. Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said relatively few barrel bombs were dropped. U.N. investigators have recorded regular use of such bombs by government forces in Syria. The Syrian army said it had targeted "terrorist groups in the northern Hama countryside" near Soran, killing "a large number" of militants and destroying weapons including four tanks, artillery, and rocket-launching platforms. It did not say what type of weapons the army had used. White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Monday mentioned barrel bombs alongside poison gas as weapons that were causing "babies and children" to suffer. "If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb in to innocent people ... you will see a response from this president," he said. The Syrian military source said: "We do not use these barrels and they do not exist in the Syrian Arab Army." Army operations were continuing across Syria, and "will not stop", the sources said. A military commander in the alliance fighting in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the army and allied forces launched an operation north of Aleppo city on Tuesday. "The Syrian army and its allies began today a military operation, along several fronts, to gain control of the hills and some villages," said the commander, a non-Syrian, speaking on condition of anonymity. Assad has been backed in the six-year-old war by Russia, Iran and Shi'ite militias from countries including Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan. "It's a limited military operation that aims to isolate a focal point for the militants in the northern countryside" and reduce the shelling of Nubl and Zahra, two Shi'ite villages besieged by rebels in Idlib province, the commander said. The Observatory said government forces bombarded several rebel-held areas north of Aleppo and clashed with the insurgents in the countryside. (Reporting by Tom Perry and Laila Bassam; Editing by Larry King) SID, Serbia (AP) Serbian police have rounded up more than 200 migrants in the country's north following reports of alleged attacks against the local population. The raid early Tuesday morning happened in the town of Sid on the border with Croatia. The migrants, who allegedly did not register with local authorities, were packed into buses and sent to southern Serbia and the border with Macedonia. They are mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Only the elderly, women and children were allowed to remain in a local refugee center. Sid Mayor Predrag Vukovic says the migrants "stole, fought among each other and attacked the locals." Thousands of migrants seeking to reach European Union countries have been stranded in Serbia since neighboring Hungary and Croatia battened down their borders. The familiar lament goes like this: Newspapers once enjoyed monopolies on classified ads, the rivers of gold that subsidized their whole operation. Then came Craigslistweb-based, sometimes sketchy, but free!and, well, that was that. The site expanded. Newspapers collapsed. Across the country, Craigslist became our default place to buy and sell used stuff online. And yet, there is one place in America where that is not so. In Salt Lake City, Craigslist is an afterthought. If you want to buy or sell a car or a cow or a hot tub in Salt Lake City or in one of the nearby towns in Utah, Wyoming, or Idaho, you go to a local website called KSL Classifieds, which takes its name from local television and radio stations owned by an arm of the Mormon Church. KSL Classifieds works pretty much the same as Craigslist. The typefaces are a bit more modern and user profiles more structured, but theres only so much formal innovation in online classified ads. Its a bunch of listings with some photos. Recommended: How A.I. Will Redefine Human Intelligence Among several KSL Classifieds posters I talked to on a recent afternoon were: a young mother selling 2,000 ounces of extra breast milk (I bought my wedding dress, my wedding ring on KSLliterally, we use it all the timeour couch and our TV), a retiree who assembles and sells beehives as a hobby (I get more responses from KSL than Craigslistquite a bit, probably three- or four-times more), and a man selling eggs from his backyard chickens (re: Craigslist, I dont even know the concept. I dont know how it works or anything). By and large, people in Utah use KSL Classifieds because its what everyone else uses. So how did KSL Classifieds become what everyone else around Utah uses? Like most business stories, its good timing and connections. And because its Utah, it of course involves the Mormon Church. Story continues * * * To hear current KSL executives tell it, KSL Classifieds began in a backroom closet office. And like most business lore, it includes an obligatory short-sighted executive convinced it was all going to fail. The executive, in this case, was smarting over spending $800. Around 2000, Russell Banz, who at the time was working on KSL.com, the stations website, had come up with the idea to run online classified ads and needed the money to buy software for it. He kept asking and asking and, finally, the executive relented. The money came but with a vote of no confidence. You got your money, but were never getting our $800 back, Banz remembers the executive saying. What made Banzs scheme seem even crazier at the time is that he wanted to make the ads free for individual users. Newspapers were used to charging several dollars per line in print, and these web guys wanted to give it away for nothing. To Banz, though, this was intuitive. He had the bigger goal of making KSL the destination for locals, and the way to entice users was to make using it free. Whether someone was looking for news or a new car, Banzs mantra was, Heard it on KSL, saw it on KSL, got it on KSL. Recommended: An Algorithm That Hides Your Online Tracks With Random Footsteps KSL launched a classifieds section online early and aggressively in 2000, while in general, the newspaper industry was hesitant. They didnt want to cannibalize their business. They were highly, highly, highly profitable, and classifieds were the most profitable part of the business, says Peter Zollman, a consultant at Advanced Interactive Media Group whose specialties include classified advertising. KSL had the advantage of not worrying about destroying an existing business to build a new one. It also beat the competitionCraigslist didnt expand into Salt Lake City until 2004. I bought my wedding dress, my wedding ring on KSLliterally we use it all the timeour couch and our TV. Today, according to the companys vice president of e-commerce, Eric Bright, KSL Classifieds gets over 100 million page views a month, and it employs 100 full-time staff. Like Craigslist, KSL Classifieds charges for commercial listings like those from realtors and car dealers. It also charges extra to feature ads, and in a move that perfectly embodies the dense commercialization of the modern internet space, it runs display ads right next to its classifieds ads. * * * Like all things special to ones hometown, KSL Classifieds can inspire intense loyalty. We get request from out of staters all of the time who are generally Utah transplants who are like, Please can you bring KSL to Phoenix, says Bright. (True story: The Atlantic editor J. Weston Phippen sold his 64 Volkswagen Beetle on KSL Classifieds while he was living in Phoenix to a guy in Salt Lake City.) Recommended: The Real Scandal of That Brutal United Video Amelia Murdock, an artist originally from Utah, told me she paid her way through school buying and selling dozens of horses on KSL Classifieds. I've lived in NYC, LA, Cincinnati, and Chicago, she says, and I am always amazed that these cities have nothing even close to something as great as KSL Classifieds. Murdock lives in Chicago now. I still look on KSL for things for my mom to buy. I love this. Ive lived in NYC, LA, Cincinnati and Chicago, and I am always amazed that these cities have nothing even close to something as great as KSL Classifieds. Bright also likes to emphasize community as part of KSLs success. Were a community marketplace, built by locals for locals, he says. In Utah, that community means a lot of Mormons, and it helps that KSLs chain of ownership leads to the LDS church. The site is not explicitly geared toward Mormons, and it has plenty of non-Mormon users. But it steers clear of the more controversial categories that Craigslist is sometimes notorious for: personal ads, escort ads, and massage-services ads. In 2012, it also stopped selling guns. The Mormon community has always been built around community and buying and selling from each other, and I think for sure that has helped us, says Bright. Several people I spoke to said that KSL Classifieds felt less dodgy and buyers were not as flaky compared to Craigslist. It doesnt surprise me that a tight-knit community would prefer to use an online marketplace that maps to their existing networks of trust, says Lana Swartz, a media-studies scholar at the University of Virginia. Deseret Management Corporation, the for-profit arm of the Mormon Church that owns KSL, also owns the Deseret News, a paper based in Salt Lake City. Didnt this make for some awkward competition in the early days of KSL Classifieds? When I asked Banz, he demurred. It was kind of interesting, he says, though he notes that KSL and the Deseret News worked in different buildings and operated independently at the time. He didnt really have to worry about it. A corporate restructuring later, KSL.com and DeseretNews.com now share a building and even a newsroomnews and classifieds sitting side-by-side once again. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Good morning. These are todays top stories: Rex Tillerson gives Russia ultimatum on Syria Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Russia could either help the U.S. put a stop to Syrias civil war or keep siding with Syrian leader Bashar Assad. We cannot let this happen again, he said about last weeks deadly chemical attack, according to the Associated Press. We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role. Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russias interests longer term. Tillerson is heading to Moscow today following a meeting in Italy with top foreign diplomats. Student killed in San Bernardino school shooting An 8-year-old boy was among three people killed after a man gunned down his estranged wife - a teacher - and then killed himself inside her special-education classroom at an elementary school in San Bernardino, Calif. yesterday. The student, Jonathan Martinez, was standing near his teacher, Karen Elaine Smith, when Cedric Anderson opened fire, police said. Officer in United Airlines incident is under review A Chicago aviation security officer who was involved in forcibly removing and dragging a man out of his seat on an overbooked United Airlines flight has been placed on leave pending a thorough review of the situation, the Chicago Department of Aviation said. A video of the incident, which showed the bloodied passenger, sparked intense outrage against the airline. The man had been reportedly asked to give up his seat on an oversold flight for a United employee and refused. Also: North Korea is warning the U.S. about catastrophic consequences after the U.S. deployed a Navy strike fleet. Malala Yousafzai has become the youngest person ever to be named a U.N. Messenger of Peace at 19. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has resigned after a scandal surrounding an alleged affair. A judge has found that Texas voter ID law was made to stop minorities from voting. Story continues Comedian Hasan Minhaj will host the White House Correspondents Dinner. The Lower Colorado River is Americas most endangered river this year, an environmental group said. Colson Whitehead won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for The Underground Railroad. The Morning Brief is published Mondays through Fridays. Email Morning Brief writer Melissa Chan at melissa.chan@time.com. This article was originally published on TIME.com YANGON (Reuters) - A senior Myanmar government official on Tuesday denied there was ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in the troubled northwestern state of Rakhine, where a military operation aimed at the minority has forced 75,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. Attacks on Myanmar border guard posts in October last year by a Rohingya insurgent group ignited the biggest crisis of country leader Aung San Suu Kyi's year in power. A UN report in February said Myanmar's security forces had committed mass killings and gang rapes against Rohingya during their campaign against the insurgents, which may amount to crimes against humanity. The military has denied the accusations, saying it was engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. Thaung Tun, a recently appointed National Security Adviser, reiterated the claim made by Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi during a recent interview when she said "ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening". "There is no ethnic cleansing of Muslim minority in Rakhine," Thaung Tun told a group of diplomats in Myanmar's largest city, Yangon. "It is a matter of people on different sides of the divide and the government is striving to overcome the situation and to close the gap." His comments come amid several ongoing investigations into the allegations, including one mandated by Suu Kyi's government and chaired by the vice-president and former head of military intelligence, Myint Swe. Last month, the top UN human rights body agreed to send an international fact-finding mission to investigate the allegations - a move that Myanmar has opposed. While the UN February report stopped short of explicitly labeling the actions of the security forces as ethnic cleansing, it said the violence committed against the Rohingya "has been described in other contexts" as ethnic cleansing. It also expressed "serious concerns" that the attacks were a result of a "purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas". Thaung Tun said the government needed time and space to address the issues and "where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing, we will take firm action in accordance with the law". He added the government had initiated the process of closing down some of the camps where tens of thousands of Rohingya internally displaced people have lived since clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in 2012, but did not provide any specifics of what is likely to be an extremely complex process. (Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Nick Macfie) Lagos (AFP) - Nigeria handed down an astonishing 527 death sentences in 2016, three times more than the previous year, in what Amnesty International described Tuesday as a "massive and worrying spike". In its annual global report on the death penalty, the human rights group said that death sentences in Nigeria rose from 171 in 2015, placing it second only to China, a country that shrouds its executions in secrecy. "The massive and worrying spike in death sentences recorded in Nigeria in 2016 put the country at odds with the global trend towards abolition of the death penalty," Amnesty International said in a statement. "These steps by state and federal authorities are retrogressive and injustifiable as there is no evidence to suggest that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishment," said Damian Ugwu, Amnesty International's Nigeria researcher. "The danger of people being executed for crimes they may not have committed remains ever-present," Ugwu added. Still, the laws appeal to Nigerians who are fed up with high levels of crime. "There is strong public support for the death penalty," Ugwu said. In Nigeria, the death penalty is imposed for a vast array of crimes, including armed robbery, murder and treason. Some northern states practise sharia law, which imposes capital punishment for adultery, rape and homosexuality. The increase in death sentences is in part due to a resurgence of kidnappings and other crimes in the country's oil-producing south and the ongoing fight against Boko Haram Islamists in the northeast. Last May, Nigeria's senate was considering a new federal law that would make kidnapping a capital crime. Several state governments, such as Oyo in 2016 and Lagos earlier this year, have already introduced such legislation. Kidnapping for ransom, which had declined in recent years, has recently increased as Nigerians face a recession caused by the crash in global oil prices. Overall, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded more death sentences but fewer executions in 2016. At least 22 executions were carried out in five countries -- Botswana, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia. By India Today Web Desk: Sushant Singh Rajput, who joined the Rs 100 crore club with his last film MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, treated himself to a swanky car recently. His new ride is nothing less than a Rs 1.5 crore Maserati Quattroporte. And the first person he took out on a ride was none other than his rumoured girlfriend Kriti Sanon. advertisement The rumoured lovebirds were seen driving around the streets of Mumbai. Clad in a black t-shirt, Sushant looked dashing as Kriti sat next to him. Kriti and Sushant have remained tight-lipped about their relationship status, but their frequent outing have strengthened their dating rumours. Sushant and Kriti's rumoured relationship has been a hot topic for a while now. The couple brought in the New Year together in London with their friends. In fact, it was even rumoured that Kriti's growing proximity to Sushant was what led to the rift between Ankita and him. However, in a recent interview, Kriti said that she was single, although she would not mind being in a relationship with someone from the industry. A few days ago, Sushant took to Twitter to make the announcement about his new ride. I've been playing with the miniature model of this car since I was a kid. It was about time to own the beast. Who's up for a drive.?? #maserati #quattroporte ??? A post shared by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on Apr 9, 2017 at 1:05am PDT On the work front, Kriti and Sushant will be seen together in Dinesh Vijan's Raabta. (Photos: Yogen Shah) ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon still going strong? Late night meetings suggest so PHOTOS: Kriti has no qualms in dating someone from industry. Her love story with Sushant in 10 photos ALSO WATCH: Sushant Singh Rajput felt cheated at engineering college because there were no girls --- ENDS --- Washington (AFP) - Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Monday there is "no doubt" the Syrian regime was behind last week's deadly chemical strike, while US officials accused Moscow of waging a misinformation campaign around the attack. The charge that Russia is obfuscating who is responsible for the horrific events of April 4 when at least 87 civilians were killed in a rebel-held town came just as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson touched down in Moscow to confront the Kremlin over its support for Bashar al-Assad. In televised comments, Russian President Vladimir Putin not only repeated his defense of Assad, but suggested the Syrian leader's rebel opponents are preparing future faked attacks in order to encourage US intervention. Putin said Moscow also wanted to see a "thorough" probe of the attack in the town of Khan Sheikhun conducted through the UN, and slammed US accusations as reminiscent of the weapons of mass destruction claims leading up to the 2003 Iraq invasion. A senior US official said Moscow is trying to "confuse the world," while Mattis said Washington is certain Assad is to blame. "There is no doubt the Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and for the attack itself," the new defense chief said in his first Pentagon press conference. He reiterated warnings that further chemical weapons use will be met with fresh US action: "If they use chemical weapons, they are going to pay a very, very stiff price." The United Nations Security Council meanwhile is set to vote Wednesday on a resolution demanding the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation into the attack -- a measure Russia will likely veto, diplomats said. - 'A question worth asking' - Tillerson is the first senior US official to visit Moscow since President Donald Trump took office promising to seek closer anti-terrorist cooperation with Russia, but as he arrived relations were already tense. Story continues Last week, the US fired a volley of cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase in response to the alleged regime attack that left victims foaming at the mouth and gasping for air. Russia -- which along with Iran has deployed forces to help Assad in the six-year-old civil war -- reacted with fury to the US strike and continues to cast doubt on the regime's involvement in the chemical attack, to Washington's disgust. US officials have hinted strongly they believe Moscow is at least partially complicit. "How is it possible that their forces were co-located with the Syrian forces that planned prepared and carried out this chemical weapons attack at the same installation and did not have foreknowledge?" said a senior US official on condition of anonymity. "We do think it is a question worth asking the Russians." Still, Tillerson is set to hold talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, though it's unclear whether an expected meeting with Putin will go ahead. At the talks, Tillerson will challenge Russia to distance itself from Assad and his Iranian backers and to work with Washington's Western and Arab allies to find a political solution to the conflict with Syria under new leadership. - Evidence against Assad mounting - Speaking to reporters before he left a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Italy for Moscow, Tillerson questioned Russia's alignment with "the Assad regime, the Iranians, and Hezbollah." "Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russia's interest?" he asked. "Or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?" As Tillerson flew to Russia, evidence against Damascus appeared to mount. Assad foe Turkey said blood and urine samples taken from victims of the alleged attack confirmed the banned sarin nerve agent was used. Russia has remained unmoved by the international chorus of outrage. The foreign ministry called Tillerson's comments "muscle flexing ahead of the talks" and he is likely to face a chilly reception whether or not he meets Putin. In Italy, Tillerson attempted to rally the world's leading economies behind fresh sanctions against Assad's regime but, despite much outrage over the Khan Sheikhun killings, he failed to win consensus. - Regime's 'barbarism' - But Tillerson and Mattis did go some way towards clarifying the US position on Syria, which had become muddled by apparently conflicting statements from senior officials in Trump's administration about Assad's fate. Tillerson said the US goal of defeating the Islamic State group in Syria remains a priority, but that Washington hopes a UN-led peace process will allow the Syrian people to oust their own leader. Ahead of his Moscow trip, Tillerson said at a G7 meeting in Italy that he hoped for a new diplomatic push to end the conflict and create lasting peace for a unified Syria. "Our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that future," he said. In a show of defiance as it came under fire for its ties, Moscow said it would host the foreign ministers of Syria and Iran for three-way talks after Tillerson's visit. Washington's threat to carry out more punitive strikes if Assad is once again accused of using chemical weapons will likely top their agenda. Several rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 320,000 people since March 2011. Lucca (Italy) (AFP) - G7 foreign ministers have failed to agree on whether fresh sanctions should be imposed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or his ally Russia, Italy's Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said Tuesday. "At the moment there is no consensus on new sanctions as an effective instrument," he said at the close of a two-day meeting in Italy, after his British counterpart Boris Johnson raised the issue with the Group of Seven. "There are clearly different opinions," Alfano said, adding that the G7 had reaffirmed its support for those sanctions already in place. Johnson on Monday raised the possibility of "further sanctions on some of the Syrian military figures and some of the Russian military figures who have been involved in coordinating the Syrian military efforts". US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last week that the US would soon impose additional sanctions on Syria, as part of a military, diplomatic and financial response to a chemical attack blamed on the regime. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault confirmed Johnson had raised the issue on Tuesday morning but said the diplomats had not discussed the issue in any depth. Italy's Alfano stressed that for Rome "sanctions are a tool and not an end in itself" and warned against measures that would isolate Russia and back it "into a corner". PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the U.S. move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula. The statement from Pyongyang comes as tensions on the divided peninsula are high because of U.S.-South Korea wargames now underway and recent ballistic missile launches by the North. Pyongyang sees the annual maneuvers as a dress rehearsal for invasion, while the North's missile launches violate U.N. resolutions. "We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions," a spokesman for its Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by the state-run Korean Central News Agency late Monday. The statement comes just after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said U.S. missile strikes against a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack carry a message for any nation operating outside of international norms. He didn't specify North Korea, but the context was clear enough. "If you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken," Tillerson told ABC's "This Week." The North has long claimed the U.S. is preparing some kind of assault against it and justifies its nuclear weapons as defensive in nature. "This goes to prove that the U.S. reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario," the North's statement said. "If the U.S. dares opt for a military action, crying out for 'preemptive attack' and 'removal of the headquarters,' the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S." North Korea's formal name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. U.S. Navy ships are a common presence in the Korean region and are in part a show of force. On Saturday night, the Pentagon said a Navy carrier strike group was moving toward the western Pacific Ocean to provide more of a physical presence in the region. President Donald Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, described the decision to send the carrier group as "prudent." Baghdad (AFP) - The Islamic State group now controls less than seven percent of Iraq, down from the 40 percent it held nearly three years ago, a military spokesman said Tuesday. "Daesh controlled 40 percent of Iraqi land" in 2014, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told reporters, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "As of March 31 (this year), they only held 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory," said Rasool, the spokesman of the Joint Operations Command coordinating the anti-jihadist effort. Various members of the forces, Iraqi and foreign, battling the jihadists have disagreed in the past on control of territory figures but IS has been losing ground steadily over close to two years. The most brutal organisation in modern jihad shocked the world when it took over Mosul, Iraq's second city, in June 2014 and then swept across much of the country's Sunni Arab heartland. Its reach in Iraq peaked in August the same year when a second offensive saw it take over areas of northern Iraq that were home to various minorities and had been under the control of the autonomous Kurds. Iraqi forces with the backing of the US-led coalition -- which has thousands of forces deployed in Iraq and carries out daily air strikes -- launched a major offensive to retake Mosul in October 2016. They retook control of the eastern side of the city, which is divided by the Tigris river, in January and have since mid-February been battling die-hard jihadists holed up in their last west Mosul redoubts. - Coalition to stay - The full recapture of Mosul, the de facto capital of the "caliphate" IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi publicly proclaimed in the city nearly three years ago, would effectively end any IS claim to be running a state. Speaking at the same press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday, the spokesman for the US-led coalition vowed that Iraq would not be abandoned after the recapture of Mosul. "Once that task is accomplished, the coalition will be here to support our Iraqi partners as they eliminate IS from every corner of Iraq," Colonel John Dorrian said. Story continues The coalition has come under criticism following the deaths last month in west Mosul of scores of civilians in an air strike it admitted may have been its own. "Every strike that we conduct, we conduct using precision-guided munitions. Every strike that we conduct is coordinated directly with the Iraqi security forces," he said. "We are very careful. We never, ever target civilians," Dorrian said. The IS group still controls the large towns of Hawijah and Tal Afar as well as remote areas along the border with Syria in western Iraq. It also holds the city of Raqa and other areas in neighbouring Syria. Baghdad (AFP) - The Islamic State group now controls less than seven percent of Iraq, down from the 40 percent it held nearly three years ago, a military spokesman said Tuesday. Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and other support are now battling IS inside second city Mosul, after retaking much of the other territory the jihadists had seized. "Daesh controlled 40 percent of Iraqi land" in 2014, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told reporters, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "As of March 31 (this year), they only held 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory," said Rasool, the spokesman of the Joint Operations Command coordinating the anti-jihadist effort. Various members of the forces, Iraqi and foreign, battling the jihadists have disagreed in the past on figures about control of territory, but IS has been losing ground steadily for close to two years. The most brutal organisation in modern jihad shocked the world when it took over Mosul in June 2014 and then swept across much of the country's Sunni Arab heartland. Its reach in Iraq peaked in August the same year when a second offensive saw it take over areas of northern Iraq that were home to various minorities and had been under the control of forces from the country's autonomous Kurdish region's forces. Iraqi forces with the backing of the US-led coalition -- which has thousands of military personnel deployed in Iraq and carries out daily air strikes -- began a major offensive to retake Mosul in October 2016. Related: For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. - Coalition to stay - They retook control of the eastern side of the city, which is divided by the Tigris River, in January and have since mid-February been battling diehard jihadists holed up in their last west Mosul redoubts. The full recapture of Mosul, the de facto capital of the "caliphate" that IS proclaimed nearly three years ago, would end the jihadists' dreams of a cross-border state. Speaking at the same press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday, the spokesman for the US-led coalition vowed that Iraq would not be abandoned after the recapture of Mosul. Story continues "Once that task is accomplished, the coalition will be here to support our Iraqi partners as they eliminate IS from every corner of Iraq," Colonel John Dorrian said. "Though the fighting is going to be very hard... this enemy is completely surrounded. They aren't going anywhere -- they will be defeated and the people of Mosul will be free," he said. The coalition has come under criticism following an air strike in west Mosul last month that took a heavy toll on civilians, a strike it admitted may have been its own. "Every strike that we conduct, we conduct using precision-guided munitions. Every strike that we conduct is coordinated directly with the Iraqi security forces," Dorrian said. "We are very careful. We never, ever target civilians. Never. We reject anyone who says that we do, that is not happening, we only target Daesh," he said, using an Arabic acronym for IS. But even if IS members are targeted, the fact that they are operating in areas still home to large numbers of residents means that civilians can easily still end up the victims. IS still controls the large towns of Hawijah and Tal Afar, as well as remote areas along the border with Syria in western Iraq. In Syria itself, it also holds the city of Raqa and other areas. Berlin (AFP) - Former US president Barack Obama will join German Chancellor Angela Merkel to speak at a Protestant church gathering in Berlin in May, the organisers said Tuesday. Obama, a regular churchgoer, will participate in a discussion called "Engaged in shaping democracy -- taking responsibility at home and in the world" on May 25 at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. It is part of this year's Kirchentag (Church Day), which runs from May 24 to 28, and is expected to attract 140,000 visitors. Co-hosted by the Obama Foundation and Germany's Evangelische Kirchentag (Protestant Church Day), the event will also feature Reverend Thabo Makgoba, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. This year's Church Day comes as Germany commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, a seismic theological shift started by Martin Luther who criticised the indulgences of the Catholic Church and challenged the authority of the Pope and place of the saints. Luther's 95 theses, which he nailed to the door of a church in eastern Germany's Wittenberg in 1517, led to the split with the Catholic church and gave birth to Protestantism. Obama, who developed a close working relationship with Merkel during eight years in the Oval Office, visited Berlin in November as part of his last foreign tour before handing over to President Donald Trump. It was also in the German capital where Obama held the biggest rally of his 2008 watershed campaign. Although Merkel barred him from speaking at the Brandenburg Gate, Obama -- then a senator -- drew 200,000 cheering fans to the nearby Victory Column monument for a speech about ripping down walls of division. He finally spoke at the Brandenburg Gate in 2013, to an audience of invited guests. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah officials say a doctor imprisoned for drugging his beauty queen wife and leaving her to die in a bathtub may have killed himself. Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that they didn't find "any signs of foul play" in their preliminary investigation, so they're investigating Martin MacNeill's death as a suicide. The 60-year-old MacNeill was found unresponsive Sunday morning near the greenhouse of the Olympus Facility at the Utah State Prison. Corrections officers tried to revive MacNeill, but he was declared dead at the facility. MacNeill had been in prison since September 2014 after his conviction for first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Michelle. No additional information has been given about how the incident happened. Officials say it may take up to 12 weeks to determine the cause of death. CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) Authorities say an inmate stabbed a correctional officer at a maximum-security prison in western Maryland. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services said in a statement that the officer stabbed Monday at North Branch Correctional Institution in Cresaptown is in stable condition. Officials say 50-year-old officer James Vinci, who has been with the department 17 years, was stabbed in the upper body and neck and flown to a Baltimore hospital. They say an inmate was apprehended and a weapon was recovered. Department spokesman Gerard Shields said Tuesday that the inmate has not been charged. He says investigators are interviewing witnesses and reviewing videotape of the assault. "There is no dearth of talent in my ministry. I have the assistance of very able secretaries", she said in a curt tweet. The news report mentioned that Tharoor, a former Minister of State for foreign affairs, would help the government draft the 'Statement of Solidarity' on the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav. By Press Trust of India: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday rubbished reports that Congress leader Shashi Tharoor would help the Narendra Modi government in drafting a statement on Kulbhushan Jadhav to be read out in Parliament. "There is no dearth of talent in my ministry. I have the assistance of very able secretaries", she said in a curt tweet. advertisement She also posted the news report to which she was reacting. The news report mentioned that Tharoor, a former Minister of State for foreign affairs, would help the government draft the 'Statement of Solidarity' on the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav. This statement would be adopted by both Houses of Parliament. WHAT THE REPORT SAID "The request to draft the resolution came from Swaraj after Parliament on Tuesday condemned Pakistan for sentencing Kulbhushan Jadhav to death", the report said. Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan on the charges of "espionage and sabotage" activities, a move that has triggered widespread outrage in India. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism", Swaraj had told both Houses of Parliament earlier in the day. Also read | Kulbhushan's death sentence: After Sushma, Amnesty says Pakistan military courts unreliable Also read | Kulbhushan Jadhav victim of plan to deflect attention from Pakistan-sponsored terror: Sushma Swaraj WATCH VIDEO --- ENDS --- Celebrity nutritionist Keri Glassman joins The Doctors to offer recipes for date-night foods that will leave you feeling fit and frisky. Watch: The Lose Your Belly Diet Recipes! Pasta with pesto is delicious, but Carrie asks How are you going to feel after eating a big bowl of pasta? She recommends zucchini noodles instead. Add broccoli and walnuts but keep the pine nuts, which contains zinc and boosts testosterone. White Russians are loaded with sugar and fat. For a healthier libation, sip a cardamom rose cocktail. Cardamom is rumored to be an aphrodisiac and rose is romantic plus it adds a lovely color and scent. Watch: More Sex for a Better Workout? These recipes are yummy and easy to make and you might have your best date night ever. Get them here! TULSA, Okla. (AP) Prosecutors have charged an Oklahoma man with second-degree murder in the death of his disabled 8-year-old son, who was overcome by carbon monoxide last month. The Tulsa World reports (http://bit.ly/2p17LKA ) that Noel Cruz, of Tulsa, was charged Monday in the death of Noah Cruz Campbell, who had spinal muscular atrophy and used a wheelchair. According to prosecutors, Cruz was found, passed out but alive, in a running vehicle in a garage adjoining his home. The door to the family's home was left open, allowing fumes from the garage to pollute the home too. An affidavit says Cruz told authorities he'd left the door open so he could hear if Noah called. The boy died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Cruz remains jailed on $500,000 bond. Court records don't list an attorney. A political aide in President Donald Trumps administration and a former TV reality star Omarosa Manigault got married to Pastor John Allen Newman in a ceremony held Saturday morning at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. Manigault posted the news on her Twitter account where she is seen wearing a pale pink gown and her husband a Jacksonville, Florida pastor was seen wearing a brown suit with a matching pink tie. She captioned the photo with Just Married. The president was not present during their wedding as he was busy hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Manigault currently serves as an assistant to the president and also the director of communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison. She has been a former star at Trumps reality show The Apprentice in 2004 and also could be seen in several other TV appearances, Politico reported. Prior to her marriage ceremony, earlier this week Manigault tweeted photos from a bridal/going away party that included top White House staffers like White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The wedding ceremony was followed by a brunch and a reception at the Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania Ave, which was converted to the Trump Hotel. Her financial disclosures were released last week along with other White House employees and it was mentioned in the documents that she was given the bridal dress, a custom veil and other merchandise valued at $25,000 from Kleinfeld's, for an appearance on the TLC reality show "Say Yes to the Dress," according to USA Today. Story continues Omarosa was previously married to Aaron Stallworth, however she got a divorce from him in 2005. Before getting married to Newman, Omarosa dated and got engaged to The Green Mile star Michael Clarke Duncan, who died at the age of 54 after a cardiac arrest in 2012, according to New York Daily News. Related Articles All eyes are on Moscow this week as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson prepares to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, following Fridays U.S. airstrikes in Syria. After President Donald Trumps sudden change of heart on the utility of striking Syrian military installations to punish and/or deter the use of chemical weapons (something he vigorously opposed during the Barack Obama presidency), the Russian side will try to use the meeting to better understand U.S. intentions in Syria and other key global hotspots. Inside the Kremlin, there is much worry that Trumps isolationist campaign rhetoric is now giving way to interventionism, and fear that the new U.S. administration may not stick to the script of pursuing an accommodation based on spheres of interest. For the United States, the meeting is a crucial opportunity to set the tone for the U.S.-Russia relationship going forward and to telegraph intentions and expectations not just regarding Syria, but also with regard to Russias attacks on U.S. democratic institutions, Ukraine, North Korea, and on arms control. This weeks meeting is highly unlikely to generate any agreements, not only because there is nothing to agree on right now, but also because important deals in Russia are made by President Vladimir Putin dealing directly with his counterparts, not foreign ministers. (A meeting with Putin is not currently on Tillersons agenda, though it would be perfectly in keeping with Putins character to beckon the U.S. secretary of state at the last minute for a late-night Kremlin tete-a-tete, and then keep him waiting for a few hours to show the rookie diplomat whos really boss). For Tillerson, the discussion with Lavrov (and Putin, if it happens) must be used to communicate firmness, resolve, and principled positions on the core issues. Any equivocation or talk of needing Russia to solve global problems will be interpreted as a sign of U.S. weakness to be probed and exposed. In his press appearance with Lavrov, Tillerson should be prepared to speak plainly about disagreements and avoid his mistake in China of regurgitating his hosts talking points, for example by repeating Lavrovs well-worn refrain on the need for equality, mutual respect, and indivisible security. Tillerson should of course treat his counterpart with the utmost personal respect, but must also be direct, firm, and unapologetic. He must avoid using the term mutual respect for a country that just defended a chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians, and which interprets the phrase to mean respect for mutual spheres of influence. In the event that Lavrov disrespects Tillerson by reverting to his habit of lobbying for visas for shady Russian oligarchs or special treatment for Russian convicts in the United States, a polite Sergei, please dont waste my time will do just fine. The first issue on the agenda will certainly be Syria. Tillerson should ask Lavrov directly how it came to pass that Russias client state stored a nerve agent at the same facility where Russian advisors were housed. Moreover, he should make clear that Syrian President Bashar al-Assads hideous gassing of civilians is not only an affront to international norms, but directly contravenes the 2013 agreement to remove and destroy all of Syrias chemical weapons stocks, for which Russia is formally a guarantor. Tillersons first order of business is therefore to ensure that Russia understands the United States will not tolerate further use of such weapons (if in fact the administration is willing to back up that claim). When Lavrov inevitably tells Tillerson that Russia does not control Assad, the secretary would do well to push back and catalogue Russian military assets in Syria. If pressed by Lavrov on the possibility of cooperating against the Islamic State in Syria, Tillerson should let his host know that no such discussion is possible until Russia and its Syrian allies including Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps stop attacking the moderate opposition and driving them into the hands of extremists. So long as Russia keeps pouring fuel on the fire of Syrias civil war, a joint U.S. counterterrorism strategy with Russia would be about as effective as a joint strategy with either Iran or Hezbollah. On a more pragmatic note, Tillerson should indicate that the United States regrets and hopes Russia will reconsider its decision to pull out from the bilateral de-confliction channel that was established under the Obama administration to enhance the safety of U.S. and Russian forces operating in Syria. This mechanism serves as a communications channel to prevent unintended incidents from spiraling out of control, and therefore benefits both countries equally. Moscows decision to pull out of the channel is a naked test of U.S. resolve, particularly given the presence of sophisticated Russian air defense systems within close proximity of U.S. counter-Islamic State operations. If it has not already happened, it is likely that U.S. aircraft will be painted by Russian air defense radars in the coming days to probe the Pentagons tolerance for risk. This is a dangerous game. Tillerson must firmly tell Lavrov that the United States will not diminish its operations tempo in Syria and remind him that when Russia fired land-attack cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea over Iraq and into Syria, the United States never stopped communicating with Russia. He must also remind Lavrov that U.S. aircraft have a right to defend themselves at all times. While in Moscow, Tillerson must not neglect to bring up Russian interference in the U.S. election. While he belongs to an administration that directly benefited from Moscows meddling, the secretary must resist any inclination to sweep this egregious attack on U.S. democratic institutions under the rug. He has to make clear in his public and private remarks that Russia crossed the line and inflicted lasting consequences on bilateral relations that will play out over many administrations. He should also warn Lavrov that the United States and its allies are fully on to Russias covert playbook of political subversion and will seek to expose any Kremlin interference in European elections later this year. On Ukraine, Tillerson should carve out time on his agenda to signal clearly that improved relations with Russia can only be accomplished through full Russian implementation of the Minsk agreements, and that U.S. sanctions will not be lifted until the Ukrainian side of the international border is returned to Kyivs control. Tillerson should insist that the United States join France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine in the so-called Normandy group and communicate that Washington is prepared to launch a real negotiation to resolve the conflict in the Donbass directly with Moscow, not its puppets in the Donbass. Because Lavrov will not be empowered to make any decisions on Ukraine, Tillerson should avoid getting caught up in any lengthy discussion of the origins of the conflict and crisply communicate U.S. resolve to support Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, including in Crimea. He must brush off any attempts by Lavrov to recast the conflict as merely local civil strife, pointing out if necessary the thousands of Russian intelligence advisors, unit commanders, and flag officers who currently serve in the Donbass. The secretary must know that if he fails to deliver a strong message of support for Ukraine, he will be signaling a lack of U.S. commitment that will have deadly consequences. In fact, if past practice is any guide, a Russian military probe in the Donbass could well happen at the same time that Tillerson is sipping tea in the Kremlin. On North Korea, Tillerson should explain to Moscow that Russian concerns about U.S. missile defense systems in East Asia must be channeled into addressing North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns nuclear ambitions. Rather than bemoaning the defensive posture that is necessitated by the Norths technological advances, Moscow would do well to work with its partner in Beijing to exert more leverage over Pyonyang. Although the meeting will likely run long, Tillerson cannot avoid mentioning Russias violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which comes on top of the countrys ongoing violation (or unilateral suspension) of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. A succinct statement that the new administration is fully aware and confident in its knowledge that Russia is violating the INF treaty should be accompanied by a promise to apply more robust U.S. countermeasures to ensure that Russia gains no military advantage from the new missile system it is developing in contravention of the treaty. While Tillerson does not need to specify what steps the U.S. will adopt in response, he may want to consider proposing a separate, follow-up 2 + 2 meeting with Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Russian Defense Minister Shoigu to walk through in more detail the negative consequences of Russias deployment of a treaty-violating missile. Finally, while in Moscow, Tillerson must make the time to meet with opposition and civil society activists at Spaso House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador. The longstanding tradition of meeting with both government and civil society representatives extends to both Republican and Democratic secretaries of state. It is particularly important today given the tidal wave of repression against Russian civil society groups over the last few years and the assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, poisoning of fellow oppositionist Vladimir Kara-Murza, and nonstop harassment of other activists. Tillersons message of support for Russian civil society need not be controversial after all, the rights of free expression and assembly are enshrined in Russias own constitution. Photo credit: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images Videos of several law enforcement officers dragging a man off a United Airlines flight departing Chicagos OHare airport for Louisville shocked the internet on Monday. The incident was a rare result of a common practice known as overbooking, in which airlines sell too many tickets, assuming either people either will either miss or not show up for a flight - or enough customers will volunteer to be compensated handsomely to depart later. Normally, this transaction is completed before passengers enter the plane. But for reasons still unclear, United allowed people to board before realizing it needed to make room for four members of its staff. After making several offers to the seated customers but receiving no volunteers, airline staff then proceeded to the last action they can: involuntarily denied boarding. According to the Department of Transportations laws, airlines have the right to do this, as long as they pay the displaced customer for their troubles - up to a maximum of $1,350. Yet this also typically happens before the plane is boarded. The entire situation - airlines selling more tickets than they have seats, then having a ticket holder dragged off a plane for refusing to vacate a space he seemed to have paid for - struck many people as strange, especially if it was all legal. TIME spoke with to Charles Leocha, chairman and cofounder of the consumer advocacy group Travelers United, and a member of the Department of Transportations Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections. TIME: Should overbooking be illegal? Charles Leocha: If overbooking is made illegal, ticket prices are going to go up. The airlines normally do a pretty good job on overbooking. People know its coming, and they are willing to allow themselves to be bribed to get off the flight. People who are actually bumped and are really irritated about it are almost nonexistent - its a tiny percentage. But the people who want lower prices are around 100%. Story continues So were all the beneficiaries, except in relatively rare scenarios? Exactly. This whole situation has really nothing to do with overbooking. This situation has to do with total mismanagement by the airlines. For them to have a whole plane loaded and then to realize they had to move four employees, thats just ridiculous. They had to know that fifteen minutes earlier, before they finished boarding the plane. Then they couldve dealt with it like they ordinarily wouldve. The relevant Department of Transportation law says that people can be denied boarding. Can a person legally be forcibly removed after boarding the plane? Ive never seen a situation like this before in my life. But because all the rules with airlines are written with so many loopholes and caveats, I think no one in the airline is going to go to jail even though this guy got beaten up and knocked all over the place and dragged down the aisle. Are passengers legally obligated to obey airline staff once they exit the airport and get on the plane? Before you get onto the flight, youre in the general world. But airlines have control over their planes just like a captain in the old days has control over his ship. They are the ultimate authority. If you dont obey a crew member, then you can be removed or punished. However, if they violate regulations or violate the contract of carriage, then the airline is liable. And the airline has to deal with federal laws. Thats why DOT is so important: Theyre the judge and the jury. And they have not been holding airlines feet to the fire. I called them and asked if what happened was legal. They said they have to look at it more. Many people are under the impression that when they buy an airline ticket, they are purchasing a seat on the plane. What are people actually paying for? Theyre paying for transportation from Point A to Point B. And the way that the airline contracts of carriage are written, theyre not even paying for transportation to get them there at the right time. Or the same day. Theyre just getting the best efforts of the airlines. The airlines dont want a lot of people sitting at the airport - that doesnt serve good business purpose. But in the contract, youre really just buying transportation from Point A to Point B. What should United have done instead? The only reason this happened is because of the airlines incompetence. First in not being able to manage its own staff. And next, whomever made the decision to send the police on board to forcibly take people off had a lot of different options. They couldve put their own people on a different flight. They could have sent a couple of crew members across town to the other Chicago airport. They could have put the crew on a Southwest flight. And if they had offered passengers $1,350 in cash, I bet they would have had ten people jump up and take it. And there wouldve been people who wouldve rented a car and drove down to Louisville. There were a lot of things the airline couldve done, but they didnt. This article was originally published on TIME.com The passenger who was dragged off a United Airlines flight bound for Kentucky Sunday has been identified. Read: Just Plane Wrong: Uproar Erupts After Passenger Is Knocked Out and Dragged Off United Flight Dr. David Dao, 69, is a Vietnamese-American father of five and a grandfather who specializes in internal medicine. Meanwhile United CEO Oscar Munoz has gotten heat for what some see as his "tone deaf" letter he sent to all airline employees that leaked Monday and was obtained by CNBC. In the letter, he called the passenger "disruptive and belligerent" and praised the staff for going "above and beyond." Munoz said that crew members "were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight." He added: "I emphatically stand behind all of you." The shocking video of a bloodied Dr. Dao being dragged down the aisle after refusing to give up his seat for a United employee has sparked outrage worldwide. Social media has exploded with fury over the incident. 'Volunteer' means someone who does something without being forced to do it. https://t.co/qNAcMyplhZ Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) April 11, 2017 After that passenger was bloodied being dragged out of his seat, United asked if there was a doctor onboard. Awkward. George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 11, 2017 Since they're dragging old Asian guys off of planes these days, be ready with your mobile devices to watch my performance. George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 11, 2017 Story continues It happened just before takeoff on the Chicago-to-Louisville flight. The plane was overbooked and four United employees needed seats. The crew asked for volunteers to take a later flight, but when no one came forward, four passengers were chosen at random by a computer and asked to leave. Dr. Dao refused to leave, saying he was a doctor and had patients to see Monday morning. After he was dragged off the plane, he somehow wound up back on the aircraft, shouting, I want to go home" as blood poured from his mouth and streaked across his face. Every passenger was ordered off so they could clean up the plane. The aircraft eventually departed. The security officer seen dragging the doctor down the aisle has been suspended. On Monday afternoon, the airline issued an apology for the "upsetting event." "Our team is working with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened," United CEO Oscar Munoz said in a statement. He added: "We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation." United CEO response to United Express Flight 3411. pic.twitter.com/rF5gNIvVd0 United (@united) April 10, 2017 Dr. Dao comes from a highly medical household. His wife, Teresa, 69, and two of their children Tim, 34, and Christine, 33 are also doctors. In addition, two of their other children are medical graduates Ben, 31, and Angela, 27. Read: Welcome Aboard! Crew Members on Turkish Airlines Flight Deliver Baby Girl in Midair Since the incident, reports indicate that United Airlines has fallen more than $750 million in total value, according to Gizmodo. The incident has also become the number one trending topic on Sina Weibo, Chinas version of Twitter. The story titled, "United Airlines forcibly removes passenger from airplane" has been read more than 95.5 million times in the country. Many Chinese users of Weibo called the incident discrimination and expressed their anger with the company. Watch: Passenger Claims Cleavage Got Woman Booted From Florida-Bound Flight Related Articles: Residents across Southern California can breathe a sigh of relief: what you saw last night really was a meteor, not a plane crashing. SEE ALSO: Fireball video provokes UFO debate because we're desperate for aliens The meteor was spotted in the night sky across the southern portion of the state, including Los Angeles and San Diego, and even some reports from as far east as Phoenix. That was a rad little flash in the sky to end band practice, San Diego. #meteor pic.twitter.com/ktSmpA2C0i David Eli Martin (@davidmartin08) April 11, 2017 If you were lucky enough to see the meteor tonight, you can report it to @amsmeteors : https://t.co/ljHfwjFC4x pic.twitter.com/jZ8z93Avp0 THE L.A. SCENE (@TheLAScene) April 11, 2017 There were concerns in Hesperia, California, a town about 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles, that the streak may have been a crashing plane, but those worries were put to rest. Meteors are small pieces of dust, rock and ice that slam into Earth's atmosphere. Because of the intense friction produced during those collisions, the meteor leaves a streak of light in its wake. Small bits of ice and dust vaporize before ever reaching Earth's surface, but larger space rocks can sometimes produce a fragment that makes it all the way to the planet. These leftover rocks are known as meteorites. According to the American Meteor Society, a New York-based nonprofit science society focused on meteoric astronomy, there were at least 260 reports to their website across the Southwest U.S. about the meteor. Story continues Perhaps the best view was captured by a woman, Dale Demi, who was broadcasting live on the service YouNow when the meteor streaked behind her. Other than a few scares like the one above, there have been no reported injuries or damaged associated with the meteor. Additional reporting by Miriam Kramer WATCH: Footage shows a fireball during the Perseid meteor shower RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met Tuesday with King Salman in Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos work as nurses, domestic helpers, drivers, waiters and technicians. It was Duterte's first time meeting with the Saudi king. Philippine media outlets report that the Middle East is the second largest source of remittances, with Filipinos sending back home some $7.5 billion in wages from the region last year. Local media report there are 760,000 Filipino workers living in Saudi Arabia, though that figure could be higher. Before embarking on his weeklong tour of the Gulf, which includes stops in Qatar and Bahrain next, Duterte said the region is home to the largest group of Filipinos working overseas. More than 1 million Filipinos reside and work in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. Hundreds of thousands also work in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Salman hosted Duterte for lunch in the capital, Riyadh, and that the two sides signed a number of memorandums, including some dealing with labor. The report did not disclose further details about the memorandums signed. A slide in oil prices has impacted Saudi government spending and the revenue of Saudi companies relying on state-backed infrastructure projects. This has left tens of thousands of Filipinos and South Asian laborers without pay and, in many cases, without airfare or exit permits to return home. In addition to discussing labor issues, Duterte said his visit to the kingdom would also address ways to broaden cooperation in trade, investments, security, energy and anti-narcotics. Both Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have strict laws against drug dealing and drug smuggling. In Saudi Arabia, dozens of convicted drug smugglers are executed each year. In the Philippines, Human Rights Watch says 7,000 have died in Duterte's war on drugs, many of them in extrajudicial killings. Duterte has said he does not condone unlawful killings, although he has threatened criminals with death in several speeches. Story continues In Qatar and Bahrain, expatriate workers outnumber the local population. In Saudi Arabia, a third of the population around 9 million people are foreigners, many of whom take on low-wage jobs that Saudi citizens shun. Saudi analyst Khaled Almaeena said the kingdom's labor laws are good on paper, but there are concerns around their implementation. Almaeena has advocated for protecting the rights of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, and during his time as editor of the Saudi daily Arab News he started a weekly for Filipino expats called "Pinoy Xtra." "Without the contribution of the Filipino nurses the hospitals here would fall flat," he said. ___ Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The first images have been released of the 8-year-old boy fatally shot along with his teacher as her estranged husband entered her special needs classroom in California Monday and opened fire. Jonathan Martinez, 8, and an unidentified 9-year-old student were standing behind their teacher, Karen Smith, when Cedric Anderson, 53, started shooting in the North Park Elementary classroom in San Bernardino, according to reports. Anderson then turned the gun on himself. Read: Officer Sentenced to 40 Years Behind Bars For Shooting Death of Boy, 6, With Autism Martinez was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. The boy's anguished family members took to social media to speak out about his death. His life was a miracle. He almost had his life taken by health issues but only for a few yrs later it to be taken by some idiot#ripjonathan lexi (@queenlxzie) April 11, 2017 His 9-year-old classmate, who was also shot, reportedly remains in stable condition. Fifteen special needs children, in grades 1-4, were inside the classroom along with two adult aides at the time of the shooting, according to San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan. Marissa Perez, 8, was clearly distraught as she reunited with her mother. The [man] just walked in with the gun," Marissa told the Los Angeles Times. "He just shot everywhere. I went under the table and then I saw a teacher run out. So I just ran out. My friend and my teacher, they got shot." Perezs mom, Elizabeth, told the paper she was angry about the lack of information coming from the school. She said she didnt know what her daughter had seen until she arrived to pick her up and Marissa said, Mommy, I still have blood on my sweater." "I don't know how we're going to get through this. They could have at least said, Your daughter was in that classroom,'" Perez told the paper. Story continues Anderson was allowed into the school after telling office staff that he was dropping something off for his wife, Burguan said. He walked into her classroom and "without saying anything, opened fire on his wife," the chief said. He reloaded at least twice, according to reports. Read: Man Arrested in Drive-By Shooting of 8-Year-Old Boy Adopted From Orphanage 3 Years Earlier Anderson and Smith, 53, had reportedly been married for three months, but had been separated in the weeks leading up to the shooting. Anderson reportedly had a criminal record, including domestic violence and weapons charges. The school was placed on lockdown, and roughly 600 students were taken to Cajon High School for safety. The school will reportedly remain closed for at least two days. Martinez's family started a GoFundMe to help with the child's funeral expenses. Watch: Dad Dies Shielding Son From Gunman in Targeted Shooting That Killed 2 Children Related Articles: London (AFP) - Poland said Tuesday it was launching a new festival in Britain to celebrate the contribution of Polish immigrants as the country's biggest minority community at a time when many are rattled by Brexit. Warsaw's ambassador to London, Arkady Rzegocki, told AFP that events in more than 30 locations around Britain will not only celebrate Polish traditions but attempt to promote greater cultural understanding. The events, which include folk dancing, film screenings and picnics will take place on May 6 and 7, the weekend after Poland's Constitution Day. "I hope this event will encourage Polish and British people to celebrate together because we should know each other better and the best way of integration is to know more about our neighbours," Rzegocki said. There are just under a million Poles in Britain -- population 65 million -- making them the biggest minority community. But their status, along with other EU migrants, is up in the air as London and Brussels negotiate Britain's exit from the European Union. London wants to guarantee the rights of EU nationals already in Britain, but is waiting for Brussels to do the same for UK citizens in the rest of the bloc. Immigration, particularly from southern and eastern Europe, was one of the central themes of last year's EU referendum campaign. Rzegocki said the uncertainty caused by Britain's vote to leave the EU was the biggest problem facing the Polish community. The ambassador said the situation meant more Poles are considering returning home, creating a headache for businesses worried about labour shortages. "Freedom of movement is very important for Poles. I hope that our governments -- the EU and the UK -- will remember that during the negotiations," he said. The Polish Heritage Day symbol is the red and white checkerboard used by Polish airmen in the 1940 Battle of Britain -- a reminder that the history of Poles in the UK pre-dates the post-2004 immigration wave, which took numbers from 44,000 to 984,000. By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, Apr 11 (PTI) Tata Cleantech Capital (TCCL) has funded the largest solar rooftop project in the megapolis, for an amount of Rs 2.36 crore. TCCL, is a joint venture between Tata Capital and International Finance Corporation (IFC). The project at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) was established and installed by Avesta Solar Private Limited (ASPL), TCCL said in a statement. advertisement "TCCL is pleased to have funded the citys largest private Solar rooftop project," Manish Chourasia, CEO, Tata Cleantech Capital Limited said in a statement. PTI DSK NRB BAS --- ENDS --- CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) Police in Tennessee say a 13-year-old boy wounded in an accidental shooting has died. Police said in a statement that the boy died Monday evening after suffering a single gunshot wound to the head the day before. Police say the shooting occurred at a home in Chattanooga. Another juvenile at the home called emergency crews when the shooting occurred and the boy was taken to a hospital. Further details weren't immediately available. By Marcin Goettig and Pawel Sobczak WARSAW (Reuters) - The plane that crashed and killed Poland's president and 95 others in 2010 probably disintegrated in mid-air when explosives were detonated on board, a Polish government commission said on Monday - a theory that a member of a previous commission dismissed as "propaganda". The new commission presented its preliminary findings on the seventh anniversary of the catastrophe in western Russia, which killed President Lech Kaczynski and his wife, top army brass and several lawmakers. "Much indicates that on April 10, 2010, an explosion took place on board of the government Tupolev plane," said the commentary accompanying video material presented by the commission on Monday. (For a link to the video, click http://podkomisjasmolensk.mon.gov.pl/pl/1_16.html) "As a result of the conducted experiments, we can say that the most likely cause of the explosion was a thermobaric charge initiating a strong shockwave." But a member of the previous Polish official commission to investigate the Smolensk crash, Maciej Lasek, dismissed the findings published on Monday as "illusions presented by people who had never investigated air crashes before." "This is propaganda aimed at strengthening the faith ... in hypothetical causes of this accident," Lasek told private broadcaster TVN24. Lasek was head of the state body to investigate air crashes from 2012 until he was dismissed from the post by the current government of the Law and Justice (PiS) party last year. The earlier commission, created by the previous government, blamed mistakes by the Polish pilots and Russian air traffic controllers for the crash. A Russian report blamed the Poles. The PiS government last month accused European Council President Donald Tusk of working with Russian President Vladimir Putin to harm Polish interests following the plane crash. Tusk was Polish prime minister at the time. The new investigatory commission, created by Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, said on Monday that a blast most likely tore the plane into pieces, killing all 96 people seconds before it hit the ground. It repeated allegations, first made in Warsaw a week ago, that Russian air traffic controllers had deliberately set the plane on the wrong descent path. Polish prosecutors said then they would press charges against two controllers. Moscow rejected the allegations. FRAGMENTS The crash took place as pilots attempted to land a Soviet-made TU-154 at a rarely used airport near Smolensk to take part in commemorations of thousands of Polish officers executed there by Soviet secret police in 1940. The commission report said that besides large pieces of wreckage, there was a multitude of smaller fragments, a fact that could be explained by an explosion. Russia has so far refused to return the wreckage of the jet to Poland, a member of NATO and the European Union, citing its own continuing investigation. The commission also said that at least four victims of the crash had significant burns on their bodies, although they were found away from flames on the crash site. One of the plane doors penetrated the ground to a depth of one meter, suggesting it had been traveling 10 times faster than the plane's speed, it said. The commission said it had ordered a reconstruction of part of the TU-154 plane and blown it up with a thermobaric charge, adding that the damage resembled that done in the Russian crash. Polish prosecutors last year ordered the coffins of crash victims to be reopened to check for traces of explosives. This process will continue until next year, prosecutors said earlier this month. The commission's findings are likely to worsen relations with Moscow - already strained over the conflict in Ukraine - and increase domestic political tensions in Poland. (Writing by Marcin Goettig; editing by Andrew Roche, Larry King) The U.S. has a long way to go in terms of persuading Arabs that it plays a positive role in the Middle East. About 82 percent of survey participants in 12 Arab countries said they believed the U.S. poses a threat to stability in the region, according to a poll unveiled in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. The 2016 Arab Opinion Index, conducted by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Doha, Qatar, found that among foreign powers, only Israel was perceived to be a bigger threat. About 90 percent of survey respondents reported that Israel is a threat to the region's stability. The Index, an annual survey first conducted in 2011, comes on the heels of the U.S. bombing of Syria in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Of the 18,310 survey respondents contacted in 2016, 77 percent said they had negative views of U.S. foreign policy toward Syria. Imad Harb, director of research and analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC, an affiliate of the Doha-based group, said he couldn't predict how the recent U.S. military action would change regional opinion. "This is garnering some positive views," he said, adding that there is also plenty of anxiety in the Arab world about what comes next. U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East remained unpopular across the board, with 80 percent of respondents reporting negative views of U.S. actions in Palestine, and more than 70 percent reporting negative perceptions of U.S. involvement in Iraq, Yemen and Libya. Iran and Russia also didn't fare well in terms of public opinion. Of all respondents, 73 percent said Iran posed a threat to the stability of the region, and 69 percent believed Russia did so. Arab public opinion toward the Islamic State group also is negative. Of all respondents, 89 percent had poor perceptions of the terrorist organization, while 2 percent had "very positive" views and 3 percent reported perceptions that were "positive, to some extent." Favorable views of the Islamic State group did not correlate with religion. Story continues Respondents had various takes on the rise of the Islamic State group. About 60 percent attributed the group's existence to the policies of foreign powers, while 29 percent attributed it to internal conflicts in the Middle East. When asked whether the group's rise is a product of "religious extremism and fanaticism in the Middle East," 43 percent reported yes, while 35 percent blamed the policies of Arab governments. The poll found a decline in positive attitudes toward the Arab Spring. In 2012-2013, 61 percent of respondents had positive views of the Arab Spring, while in 2016, 41 reported positive views. Egypt and Tunisia had the most positive views, with 78 and 71 percent of the public expressing positive impressions, respectively. Experts said they were surprised to find that 55 percent of Saudi Arabians and 65 percent of Kuwaitis had positive views of the Arab Spring, despite events since 2011. "There is a lot of talk going on in Saudi and Kuwaiti society," Harb said. "Democracy and freedom of speech can appear in different ways." Other survey findings: -- Only 41 percent of respondents viewed the political situation in their country positively. -- Of all respondents, 77 percent reported that democracy was the most appropriate system of government for their countries; whereas 34 percent considered a government built on Sharia law to be the most appropriate. -- Out of all respondents, 70 percent disagreed that democracy is incompatible with Islam. -- A small majority, or 53 percent, believed it was best to separate religion from politics. -- A majority, or 86 percent, of respondents disapproved of their countries' recognition of Israel, citing Israeli racism toward Palestinians and the country's "colonialist, expansionist" policies. The Index, the largest of its kind in the world, surveyed people in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Tunisia. Those countries are home to 75 percent of the Arab population, and are therefore a representative sample, said Soleman Abu-Bader, a methodology consultant for the survey. Efforts to collect data in other countries was complicated by political barriers or instability, he said. The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies is an independent research institute that examines the key issues afflicting the Arab world, governments, and communities. Devon Haynie is news editor, international for U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dhaynie@usnews.com. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has the highest disapproval rating of any governor in the country, according to a new poll. The Morning Consult survey released Tuesday put the Republican governor's disapproval rating at 71 percent. Just 25 percent of those surveyed approved of Christie's job performance. Four percent didn't know or had no opinion. Christie's approval rating has been plummeting in polls in recent years, dipping into the teens in some surveys. The governor's approval peaked in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and has steadily declined amid the George Washington Bridge lane closures scandal becoming public, Christie's presidential campaign and the conviction of two former aides in the Bridgegate plot. Christie's disapproval numbers were even far above those of just-resigned Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, who pleaded guilty Monday to campaign finance violations. Bentley had been embroiled in impeachment proceedings and a criminal probe into the violations that were discovered during a probe into his affair with a top aide. In the Morning Consult poll, 44 percent of voters approved of Bentley's performance and 48 percent disapproved. The governors with the highest approval ratings were: Charlie Baker (Massachusetts, Republican): 75 percent approve Larry Hogan (Maryland, Republican): 73 percent Doug Burgum (North Dakota, Republican): 69 percent Phil Scot (Vermont, Republican): 68 percent Dennis Daugaard (South Dakota, Republican): 68 percent The governors with the highest disapproval ratings were: Chris Christie (New Jersey, Republican): 71 percent disapprove Sam Brownback (Kansas, Republican): 66 percent Dan Malloy (Connecticut, Democrat): 66 percent Rick Snyder (Republican, Michigan): 54 percent Bill Walker (Independent, Alaska): 53 percent The poll ranked all of the nation's governors and senators based on their ratings. On the list of governors, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf also fared relatively poorly, ranking 38th for his 48 percent approval rating. Forty-three percent of those surveyed disapproved of the Democrat's performance and nine percent said they didn't know. Story continues For senators, the Pennsylvania and New Jersey delegation all ranked in the bottom quarter on the approval-rating list. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker fared best, with 50 percent approving of the Democrat's performance, 32 percent disapproving and 17 percent saying they didn't know or have an opinion. For Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey (D), 49 percent approved, 29 percent disapproved and 22 percent didn't know or had know opinion. For his Republican counterpart Pat Toomey, 47 percent approved, 38 percent disapproved (the seventh-highest disapproval rating) and 15 percent were unknown. Under-indictment New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez had the third-lowest approval rating at 40 percent. Thirty-six percent said they disapproved of the Democrat's performance and 24 percent were unknown The senators with the highest approval ratings were: Bernie Sanders (Vermont, Independent): 75 percent approve Patrick Leahy (Vermont, Democrat): 70 percent John Barrasso (Wyoming, Republican): 69 percent Michael Enzi (Wyoming, Republican): 68 percent Angus King (Maine, Independent): 67 percent Susan Collins (Maine, Republican): 67 percent The senators with the highest disapproval ratings were: Mitch McConnell (Kentucky, Republican): 47 disapprove John McCain (Arizona, Republican): 43 percent Lindsey Graham (South Carolina, Republican): 40 percent Lisa Murkowski (Alaska, Republican): 40 percent Claire McCaskill (Missouri, Democrat): 39 percent Morning Consult said it interviewed 85,000 registered voters nationwide between January and April. The margin of error varied by state and was 2 percentage points for New Jersey and 1 percentage point for Pennsylvania. Most Popular on Philly.com PRAGUE (AP) Major repairs of Prague's Old City Hall have started, in a process that will see one of the Czech capital's major tourist attractions the famous medieval astronomical clock taken off site for months. Workers began Tuesday to erect scaffolding around the hall's tower to fix damage, some of which dates back to World War II. From May, the tower that offers a magnificent view of the picturesque Old Town will be closed for visitors. It's expected to reopen by December. City Hall spokesman Vit Hofman says the clock installed on the tower in 1410 will function until January when it'll be removed for restoration. Hofman says the clock will be "completely disassembled" and that it should be back in place in June or July next year. BEIRUT (AP) The statement by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the reign of President Bashar Assad's family "is coming to an end" suggests the U.S. is taking a much more aggressive approach about the Syrian leader. The remark Tuesday came after a U.S. airstrike in Syria and threats of more punitive action. Any attempt to unseat Assad faces huge hurdles and risks unleashing chaos. It could also relieve the suffering of nearly 1 million Syrians living under constant siege and bombardment. Despite six years of civil war, Assad is firmly entrenched in his seat of power, Damascus, largely thanks to powerful allies Russia and Iran who continue to prop up his government politically and militarily. Taking him out of the equation without a clear transition plan would be a major gamble with consequences that would likely resonate far beyond the Syrian borders and raises the following questions: WHAT IS THE U.S. POSITION ON ASSAD? The past week has brought about an almost seismic shift in the U.S. administration's position on Syria. Only weeks earlier, U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, were signaling a willingness to work with Russia and saying that Assad's status was not a priority for the time being. The April 4 chemical weapons attack that killed more than 80 people in an opposition-held town in northern Syria appears to have completely altered Trump's calculus, triggering the first direct U.S. airstrike on Assad's forces in the conflict. The Trump administration continues to offer mixed messages about its ultimate goal in Syria and whether Assad must surrender power and when. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." WHAT IS THE ASSAD FAMILY'S POWER BASE? Story continues The Assad family has ruled Syria for nearly five decades. So entrenched is the dynasty that die-hard supporters label the country as "Assad's Syria." In battle zones, loyal fighters have sprayed "Assad, or we burn the country." Despite the spectacular devastation he has presided over, Assad has managed to retain a level of support. He maintained, from the beginning, that his war is one against terrorism, and through a deft policy of divide and conquer, he has made the war a choice between him and the Islamic extremists. Among his supporters are members of his Alawite sect, as well as other minority sects such as the Christians and Druze who fear reprisals by extremists in case they take over the country. Many in the powerful business community also support Assad and see him as a source of stability compared to other, opposition-held parts of Syria that are run by scores of rebel factions and warlords. Syria's powerful security agencies, notorious for human rights abuses, also will back Assad until the end. WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO ASSAD? There is no obvious replacement. Assad's term has been an extension of the rule by his father and his father's predecessor, both of which stifled any form of dissent for decades. Following the uprising, which began in March 2011, opposition figures have either been jailed, exiled or killed. Some analysts say the only replacement could be an Alawite army general, since the presence of such a leader would serve as a guarantee to Syria's minorities. Such a figure is not apparent for the time being. Thus, finding an alternative to Assad has bedeviled foreign policy experts for years. More recently, as Russia helped reverse his military fortunes and left him in control of most of the country's major population centers, much of the West had appeared to come to terms with the conclusion that Assad could stay on for the time being. COULD ASSAD BE REMOVED BY FORCE? The U.S. can take any number of measures against Assad to degrade and ultimately remove him from power. That includes bombing command and control centers, grounding his warplanes and significantly increasing weapons support for rebels fighting to topple him. Any such action risks a igniting a confrontation with Russia and Iran. Such flagrant action may also become counterintuitive and risk a backlash from rebel factions who may not welcome U.S. bombing of Syria even though they want Assad out. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE WAS OUSTED? Europeans and the previous U.S. administration have been very clear that they don't want a collapse of the regime similar to what happened elsewhere, including neighboring Iraq. The concern is that a sudden unseating of Assad would lead to a collapse of state institutions, unleashing sectarian massacres and facilitating the spread of militant groups, such as the Islamic State group, al-Qaida and the Shiite militias who have fueled violence in Iraq. Russian officials often cite the U.S. failures in Iraq and Libya, where state institutions disintegrated following Western military intervention, to illustrate the perils of forced regime change in Syria. ___ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed. That popping sound you may have heard on Tuesday was made by urologists opening the champagne bottles they had chilled in anticipation of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) upgrading its recommendation about PSA screening for prostate cancer from a D (the harms outweigh the benefits) to a C (its an individual decision). Much like a teacher changing a dissatisfied students grade from a D to a C and only after much complaining the new guidelines should hardly be construed as a ringing endorsement. PSA screening remains a difficult decision for healthy men and their doctors. The test measures the amount of a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the bloodstream. A PSA level above 4.0 nanograms per milliliter of blood has been used as the traditional cutoff to suggest the possibility of prostate cancer (though experts could easily have picked a 5.0 cutoff many years ago). Screening means testing healthy individuals to see if they might have hidden cancer. The data on which the USPSTF based its new recommendation for PSA screening is similar to the data it used for its prior recommendation in 2012. No study has shown that the test saves lives or improves the quality of life. It does not reduce mortality or extend survival in any randomized trial to date, nor when all studies are combined together. Let me say that again: There is no proof that PSA screening extends your life, improves the years you have, or reduces your risk of dying. Read more: Should you get screened for prostate cancer? We break down the latest advice A large European study showed that the test reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer by about 20 percent or by 0.11 per 1,000 men per year of follow-up, though this benefit was not seen in all nations. In Finland, for instance, there was no benefit, while there was a larger one in Sweden. Unfortunately, data from this study are not shared with other researchers. That is troubling given recent high-profile reversals with data sharing and reanalysis, including other PSA studies. For matters of public health, it is not OK to keep data secret. We have to put all the cards on the table. Story continues A large American trial of PSA testing, published in 2012, has made its data widely available. This trial showed no benefit from screening but thanks to data sharing we know the trial wasnt perfect. The group assigned to PSA screening was tested appropriately, but some men in the group assigned to no screening had their PSA tested. Why? It was difficult to prevent men in the US from getting a PSA test because, quite frankly, our nation was punch drunk on the test. We were so enthusiastic in those years that it wasnt possible to do a fair trial in the US. The lesson here is that it is hard to test something in medicine that has already been broadly implemented. PSA screening still has all the harms we hear so much about: false positives, overdiagnosis which means treating a cancer that would otherwise not cause harm and the side effects of diagnosis and treatment, including incontinence, impotence, and even death. In my mind, the greatest misconception about the test is that we say it saves lives when that is uncertain. PSA testing reduces the risk of dying of prostate cancer, but there is no evidence it reduces the risk of dying. How can we make sense of this difference? A useful analogy is right under our noses: our teeth. Adults have 32 (or 28 if your wisdom teeth are gone), and most of us want to keep every last one. Prostate cancer accounts for 2 percent to 3 percent of deaths among men, or roughly 1 of 32 deaths. PSA screening isnt perfect and doesnt provide any information about other possible causes of death. PSA screening, then, is like a dentist applying a sealant to one of your 32 teeth, and that sealant reduces the risk of losing the treated tooth by 20 percent. What about the other teeth? Many experts believe the sealant has no effect not positive or negative on the other teeth. Others, including me, believe that the sealant slightly increases the risk of losing one of the untreated teeth, which would offset the small 20 percent benefit for the treated tooth. Overdiagnosis and overtreatment are common with PSA screening the USPSTF says it happens in 20 percent to 50 percent of men diagnosed by screening so even small harms may counteract any benefits of screening. For instance, some treatments for prostate cancer, such as radiation therapy, can increase the risk of getting a second cancer. Using the teeth analogy, heres the best-case scenario for PSA screening: It modestly strengthens one tooth. The worst-case scenario: It slightly weakens other teeth. Despite all of the studies to date, we have no evidence to know which of these two scenarios is true. Instead of being honest about this fact, and letting people decide, the medical profession has brushed it aside and blindly promoted screening based on rhetoric and empty persuasion. Well-meaning celebrities like Ben Stiller havent helped. Read more: As screening falls, will more men die from prostate cancer? As an oncologist who cares for cancer patients, I have no desire to trivialize cancer, and I know that prostate cancer is far worse than losing a tooth. So I use the analogy reluctantly, hesitantly, and only because I think it helps us think more clearly about screening. There is a big difference between the phrase reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer and the phrase reduces the risk of dying. Men must understand the difference to make an informed choice. The USPSTFs C recommendation for PSA screening means the decision should be individualized, something I support. Prostate cancer screening may be OK for some men those who are more tolerant of risk and uncertainty but it is surely not right for others. As for African-American men, or men with a family history, the USPSTF provides caution that there is no good evidence to show greater benefit from the test, and it is possible the harms are greater in these groups. PSA screening is OK only if doctors are honest about what the test can and cannot do. PSA screening has real harms. It reduces the risk of losing one of your 32 teeth by 20 percent, but we have no idea what it does for the other 31 (it may weaken them). For some men, the benefit and uncertainty might be worth it. But for others it may seem like so much for so little. Vinay Prasad, MD, is assistant professor in the Division of Hematology Oncology at Oregon Health and Science University and the author of Ending Medical Reversal. The views expressed in this article are the authors personal opinions and do not represent those of OHSU. Rangeela aka Param Singh is obsessed with work and all he wants to do is act. By Indo-Asian News Service: Actor Param Singh says he prefers to focus more on his professional life, and so he is not active on social media. Param is only on Twitter -- that too for promoting his show Ghulaam. "There is a line between professional and personal life. I like to concentrate more on my work and through my work build my fan base, rather than having a fan base for the selfies I put up. So, I am not on Facebook, Instagram or Whatsapp." advertisement Also read: When Ghulaam actor Param Singh refused to slap Niti Taylor for a scene "I am on Twitter largely to talk about my show and my character and nothing more," Param said in a statement. "Each morning, I look forward to putting on my make-up, rehearsing my lines and getting in front of the camera. I am obsessed about acting and all I want to do is act," he added. Ghulaam, aired on Life OK, also features Niti Taylor and Vikkas Manaktala. --- ENDS --- BOSTON (AP) It turns out Mitt Romney's "binders full of women" are actual binders after all filled with the resumes of women who hoped to land jobs in his administration as governor. The Boston Globe reports Tuesday that it was shown the binders by a former Romney aide. The two white three-ring binders contain about 200 cover letters and resumes with some handwritten notes. The former Republican presidential nominee made the awkward reference during a 2012 debate in response to a question about workplace inequality. The women in question were seeking work in Romney's administration when he was governor of Massachusetts. "I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' and they brought us whole binders full of women," Romney said during the debate. The binders and the resumes were the result of an effort to get more women into state government in Massachusetts after Romney defeated Democratic nominee and then-state Treasurer Shannon O'Brien for governor in 2002. The comment which sounded tin-eared to some became a punchline among Romney foes and late night comics. Ultimately Romney did get credit in Massachusetts for naming women to high positions in his administration and the state courts. Although the "binders full of women" comment quickly became a metaphor of sorts, the actual binders had remained out of sight until now. Romney's name has been floated as a possible candidate for U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch's seat if the seven-term Utah Republican decides against seeking re-election next year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday he'd reached out to Romney about possibly running if there is a vacancy. Romney owns a home in Park City, Utah. The food, soap operas and bouncy K-pop tunes that comprise the so-called Hallyu or Korean Wave are a global phenomenon, but no country has embraced South Korean soft power as enthusiastically as China. The communist government in Beijing had to issue a warning last year on Korean dramas after Chinese viewers became obsessed with a KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) saga, Descendants of the Sun. One woman reportedly went to hospital complaining of poor vision after an 18-episode binge and was diagnosed with acute glaucoma. The show also led to at least one divorce and inspired a viewer to undergo plastic surgery in order to better resemble the male lead and be more attractive to his wife. Chinese viewers unwilling or unable to resort to such a drastic measure to achieve the right look are snapping up Korean brands of make-up instead. The China market accounted for 36% of all Korean cosmetic sales in 2016. And with faces painted in the latest Hallyu style, consumers can show off over a red-bean shaved ice in a Korean cafe chain. Chinese interest in South Korean culture has naturally prompted a tourism boom. Since 2013, nearly half of all tourists to South Korea have been from China. From Seouls central Myeongdong neighborhood to the scenic southern resort island of Jeju, Chinese tour groups are ubiquitous. Or rather, they have been. On March 2, Beijing announced it would ban all group travel to South Korea as part of its response to South Koreas decision to deploy the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. To Seoul, THAAD is a necessary deterrent to an increasingly unstable and belligerent North Korea. To Beijing, the deployment of THAAD puts the systems highly sophisticated radar in uncomfortable proximity to Chinese soil and must be stopped. Chinese consumers are supportive of their government. When the 11,000-ton Costa Serena cruise ship recently docked at Jeju, all 3,400 Chinese passengers aboard refused to disembark. For South Korean businesses, dependent on the billions pumped into the economy by the Chinese every year, the outlook is alarming. Story continues Whole Lotte Loathing Retail corporation Lotte Group, the eighth largest company in South Korea, is a particular target of Chinese wrath on account of its agreement to a land-swap deal that would see land owned by Lotte made available to the U.S. for THAAD deployment. At least 79 of Lottes 99 supermarkets in China have been closed or are closing as a result of the row. Major online marketplaces like Alibabas Tmall have voluntarily pulled Lotte products. Pulse, the online English-language edition of South Koreas leading financial daily Maeil Business Newspaper, reported that Lotte would lose an estimated $66 million in March from the shuttering of its supermarkets alone. We have completely scrubbed the name of Lotte from our website. Wed rather die than carry its goods in future, the chief executive of Chinas largest cosmetics group-purchasing platform Jumei Youpin, recently wrote. Back in Korea, Lotte and other retail companies are also fretting about their enormous duty-free revenues. Largely thanks to the Chinese, South Koreas $10.4 billion duty-free sector is the largest in the world. Chinese travelers have been responsible for 70% of all sales at Lotte Duty Free and up to 80% at Shinsegae Duty Free, the Korea Herald reported on March 5. However, Lotte Duty Free told Yonhap News on March 28 that it saw a 40% dive in its sales from March 20 to 26 compared with the same period last year; its March 2017 revenue is set to be 30% lower than it was in March 2016. Shilla, another leading duty-free brand, saw sales during a similar period drop by 30%. Martin Moodie, the founder and chairman of the Moodie Davitt Report, a leading travel-retail-industry intelligence source, says that the travel ban represents a nightmare scenario for the worlds biggest duty-free market. Where Have All the Tourists Gone? With the sudden evaporation of so many visitors, other sectors of South Korean tourism are currently reeling. Moodie describes South Koreas reliance on the Chinese market as heavy and warns of dangerous exposure in the case of a downturn. An employee at K-guesthouse Myeongdong 1, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said only three or four of the 17 rooms in the guesthouse were occupied. Last year, the hostelry was almost always full. Now, its not so good. Finding new guests will require the development of other markets, and sudden attention is being given to increasingly affluent Southeast Asian tourists. An ambitious Korea Tourism Organization says it wants to attract 3.6 million travelers from that region this year. The government has said it will push airlines to increase flights from Southeast and South Asia. Tour groups from will be able to obtain electronic visas starting in May. Visa-free entry will become possible for shorter stays in Jeju or Seoul. More restaurants will also be encouraged to obtain halal certification, which could help sway the decision for tourists from the likes of Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. Its still early days, however. Some 546,000 Chinese visited in February - but only 19,600 Malaysians and 15,800 Indonesians. Efforts to cultivate new markets will take years to bear significant fruit, Moodie says. In the meantime, South Korea is hurting and as usual smaller players are suffering the most. The big players can rely on their corporate resources, says Lawrence Bendle, a tourism-management professor at Kyung Hee University in Seoul. But, he says, small businesses will suffer or shut down. Jobs are being lost. This article was originally published on TIME.com Russia will retaliate if its military facilities in Syria are targeted, a Russian lawmaker said Tuesday. The comments came at a time when the U.S. and its allies have held Moscow partially responsible for last weeks deadly chemical gas attack that killed nearly 100 people. In response to the chemical attack, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered firing of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting the Syrian government-controlled air base on March 6 much to the anger of Russia. However, Russian lawmaker Yury Shvytkin told Sputnik on Tuesday that any attack on the countrys military installations in Syria will lead to an immediate response. "Should there be a threat to our units there, an attempt at an attack from anyone, of course there will be no words, there will be real actions," Shvytkin, lower house defense committee deputy chair, told the Russian news agency. Shvytkin also said steps his country took after the U.S. missile strikes "were in my opinion sufficient, at least in light of what we can do within the framework of international legal relations for the Syrian army to react itself." On Monday, another Russian lawmaker Victor Ozerov said Moscow is not willing to have any military conflict with the U.S. troops in Syria and its military in the war-torn country is only to support Syrian President Bashar Assads regime in the terror fight. "Russia is not going there to conduct armed activity with the US, our task there is to support the Syrian armed forces in the fight against terrorism," Ozerov reportedly said, adding, "we have a mandate to fulfill this very task." The U.S. and its allies urged Russia to stop its support to Assad. Britain is also planning to request Western countries to bring in new sanctions on Russia, if Moscow fails to withdraw its support to the Syrian president, British newspaper the Sunday Times reported. Related Articles Russia might be able to snap up a piece of Americas energy infrastructure thanks to Venezuelas economic meltdown. It all starts with PdVSA, Venezuelas state-owned oil company. PdVSA owns CITGO, an oil refiner in the United States. And PdVSA last year put up about half of CITGO as collateral for a $1.5 billion loan from Rosneft, the Russian state-owned oil giant. PdVSA, like pretty much everything else in Venezuela, is broke, and is having trouble meeting its bond payments. (The market figures it has a better than 50-50 chance of defaulting in the next year.) If it defaults on the loan, the Russian state would have 49.9 percent of the U.S. refiner and could grab outright control, if, as many suspect, Rosneft has gobbled up other CITGO bonds on the open market. That has lawmakers from both parties and energy experts worried. Sens. Bob Menendez (D.-N.J.) and Marco Rubio (R.-Fla.) sent a bipartisan letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who chairs the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, which examines foreign investments to see if they have any national-security implications for the United States. This could leave Rosneft, a Russian company controlled by oligarchs with close ties to Vladimir Putin, in control of critical energy infrastructure in the United States, they wrote. We are extremely concerned that Rosnefts control of a major U.S. energy supplier could pose a grave threat to American energy security, impact the flow and price of gasoline for American consumers, and expose critical U.S. infrastructure to national security threats. CITGO operates 48 petroleum product terminals in 20 states, three refineries, three fully-owned Texas pipelines, and six partially-owned pipelines. It produces about 750,000 barrels per day of refined products like gasoline. Its been wholly-owned by the Venezuelan state since 1990, and despite plenty of tensions between Washington and Caracas, has never been a Trojan horse inside the U.S. energy system. Story continues Still, the possible Russian connection has spooked a Washington that is on high alert for signs of further Russian meddling in the United States, after last years successful attempt to interfere in the election to boost Donald Trumps chances. Right now, Rosneft (and its boss Igor Sechin) are still under U.S. sanctions for Russias annexation of Crimea, so it cant gobble up CITGO assets at present. But Rosneft made the risky loan last November expecting that sanctions at some point would be lifted, said Jennifer Harris, an energy expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. Rex Tillerson, formerly head of ExxonMobil and now U.S. Secretary of State, spent years lobbying Washington to ease sanctions on Russia, where Exxon did business, and President Donald Trump campaigned on restoring closer ties with Moscow. If sanctions are lifted, and if the Venezuelans default at some point as the market expects, Rosneft could be gifted control of the U.S. refiner on the cheap. (CITGO was estimated to be worth between $8 billion and $11 billion when it was on the block a few years ago.) CITGOs new owners could alter refinery production or limit distribution of products like gasoline or they could operate it as a normal company focused on the bottom line. That gives Moscow passive leverage, she said. We could wake up tomorrow if this deal goes through and everything would be the same, but its a card they hold. Photo credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images This is of Saffiyah Khan, from Birmingham, has been hailed as iconic (PA) A woman who was pictured staring down the English Defence League (EDL) leader in a now-viral image has denied she was interrupting a minutes silence for terror victims. Saffiyah Khan said she felt compelled to step in when Ian Crossland and more than 20 of his far-right supporters confronted a Muslim woman during a march in Birmingham. Khan, who was there to offer support to those abused during the march on Saturday, then found herself caught in a stand-off with Crossland but said she was not scared in the slightest. In the iconic image she is seen stood with hands in her pocket, smiling and looking down at an angry Crossland. The EDL leader later took to Facebook to claim she had interrupted a minutes silence for victims of the recent terror attacks and said she was lucky she got any teeth left. He posted on Facebook: The dirty unwashed left wing scrubber was grinning because she managed to disrupt a demo. And the disrespectful witch chose the minutes [sic] silence for the victims of the terror attack in Stockholm and Westminster. MORE: Mixed global reaction to Trumps Syria air strikes MORE: Is this the end of the Farage/Trump bromance? UKIP MEP slams US President for Syria attack Who looks like they have power here, the real Brummy on the left or the EDL who migrated for the day to our city and failed to assimilate pic.twitter.com/bu96ALQsOL Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) April 8, 2017 She said: There is no evidence supporting that I interrupted a minutes silence. Everyone that was there with me can confirm that as well as video evidence. People that know me can vouch for me that if someone was holding a minutes silence my respect for it would not be swayed because of any political party. It is just a smear [by Crossland]. Im very touched by his response but I really hope I dont meet him again, she said. If you look on his Facebook he makes various rape jokes and jokes about paedophiles. Story continues So what he said is something Im taking with a pinch of salt. Saffiyah, who was born in the UK and is half-Pakistani, half-Bosnian, was not part of an organised counter-protest against the EDL march in Birmingham city centre. The picture has been shared thousands of times across social media by celebrities and politicians. Local MP Jess Phillips wrote: Who looks like they have power here, the real Brummy on the left or the EDL who migrated for the day to our city and failed to assimilate Khan said: The reason I was there was because I am a Brummie. This was happening in Birmingham and it felt right. I am not a political activist. I wasnt in a confrontational role, I wanted to keep a low profile. I was there with a few friends to look after people because Muslims and people of colour are often abused. Nothing was really happening until a woman in a headscarf started shouting racist. In a second image, Saffiyah Khan was seen smiling at the EDL leader (PA) About 20 to 25 EDL people ran over and surrounded her. She looked absolutely terrified. I still hung back and waited for the police to sort it out. I waited two or three minutes and but the police did nothing, so I decided to go and try and get her out of there. It all happened very quickly. She left, but then I was identified as anti-fascist. The group turned on me. Ian Crossland was poking his finger in my face, but I just stood there. I didnt do anything, I wasnt interested, that wasnt my intention. This is how EDL leader Ian Crossland reacted to the photograph of him in Birmingham yesterday. #sadlittleman pic.twitter.com/5eHz5qhibH HOPE not hate (@hopenothate) April 9, 2017 I couldnt understand what was being said though to be honest, it was all very mumbled. But I wasnt scared in the slightest. I stay pretty calm in these situations. I knew they were trying to provoke me, but I wasnt going to be provoked. I was just holding out. Then I was just pulled out of there, I wasnt arrested or charged. I have lost my anonymity because of the picture, but on balance it was worth it. EDL members and anti-fascist protestors clash (PA) I have probably been profiled by them now and I have to take one for the team. I didnt realise how many people would be so supportive, so it was worth it. David Lammy MP said: So much love for this. Second photo of Saffiyah Khan staring down the EDL with a smile is even better. Solidarity, sister Saffiyah added: I have been trying to respond to most of the messages I have been getting. I havent had a single negative message. I think the best messages I have received have been from people who have told me they had daughters who were looking up to me and I didnt realised a picture could have that effect. I think Ive got an excellent platform now. I am using it at the moment with certain groups who have been interested in involving me with what they are doing. It is still in the process, they are groups that are more focused on community, I am hoping to help them. A panel of experts in preventive medicine released a draft proposal Tuesday on screening for prostate cancer. Another one? you may ask, remembering an earlier recommendation. Dont worry; were here to help you avoid whiplash: Whats new? What was emphatic before is wishy-washy now. The last time the US Preventive Services Task Force weighed in on prostate cancer screening via blood tests, in 2012, it issued unambiguous advice to physicians: discourage men of all ages from getting tested for levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Thats still the advice for men older than 70 or younger than 55. But for those aged 55 to 69, the task force, a panel of independent experts who advise the federal government, is punting: It recommends informed, individualized decision making based on a mans values and preferences. Translation: learn as much as you can, talk to your physician, then decide for yourself. Read more: Penis shrinkage, a side effect of prostate cancer surgery, is temporary, study finds Great. How do I do that? The task force created a useful graphic to help you. We hope you like numbers: If 1,000 men get PSA screening (cost: roughly $40), 240 will be told their PSA level suggests cancer might be present. Next step: a biopsy, in which a needle, usually inserted through the rectum, samples several spots in the prostate gland. Of those 240 biopsies, 140 men will be told, oops, the PSA was misleading: You have no signs of cancer. These are called false positives. Of the other 100 men, in whom biopsy shows definite cancer, up to 50 have malignant cells that will turn out to be so slow-growing indolent that the cancer would never spread or harm them. These are called overdiagnoses. Unfortunately, its impossible to tell from looking at cancer cells if theyre wimps or killers, so 80 of the 100 men with prostate cancer choose surgery or radiation treatment, either right away or after first trying active surveillance (frequent PSA tests, exams, biopsies). At least 60 men suffer urinary incontinence and sexual impotence from the treatment. Story continues Of the 80 treated men, only three benefit. In the other 77, the cancer either wouldnt have caused harm if left untreated or is so aggressive that treatment doesnt help. Of the three men who benefited at all, 1.3 who would have been killed by prostate cancer without PSA screening will not be, over a period of 10 to 15 years. Bottom line: 1,000 men screened, one prostate-cancer death averted in that time. So if I opt for PSA screening Im gambling that Ill be the 1 in 1,000? Yes. Why did the task force back off its 2012 thumbs-down on PSA screening? By 2012, studies comparing men who undergo PSA testing to men who do not had found that the harms of testing (false positives, overdiagnosis, impotence, incontinence) outweigh the benefits. Specifically, the data available then indicated that just 0.8 of 1,000 men who undergo PSA screening would be spared a prostate-cancer death over the following 10 to 15 years, said Dr. Alex Krist, a task force member and associate professor of family medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. By continuing to follow men in the studies, researchers now find that 1.3 prostate cancer deaths are prevented per 1,000 men screened. Just as important, more men are opting for active surveillance instead of treatment. That means the potential harms impotence, incontinence of screening are less than the last time the task force calculated all this, making the balance of potential benefits and harms a little more positive, Krist said. Read more: Hormone therapy for prostate cancer associated with greater risk of dementia What do other groups think? The American Cancer Society is also in the talk to your doctor camp. Because research has not yet proven that the potential benefits of testing outweigh the harms of testing and treatment, it says, men should discuss the pros and cons of PSA screening starting at age 50 (but 45 if youre African-American or have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65). Even the American Urological Association, which practically accused the task force of killing men with its not recommended conclusion of 2012, says routine PSA screening is not advised for men younger than 54 or older than 70. For those 55 to 69, it recommends shared decision making talk to your doctor, understand the risks and benefits and the odds that youll be better off and biannual rather than yearly screening for men who opt in. Read more: Ben Stiller reveals prostate cancer diagnosis, says PSA test saved his life Every time theres a medical controversy, experts seem to duck, telling me to ask my doctor who has about 13 minutes for me. Incorporating shared decision making [into a doctors visit] is difficult, Krist acknowledged. Physicians are busy, and this is a complicated topic. He suggests that men learn what they can before a visit and even print out a cost-benefit analysis. Then they ought to make an appointment to discuss PSA and nothing else, and take their time deciding. How can I tell the task force what I think? Until May 8, you can submit comments online. Eventually, the task force will finalize the recommendation. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer had a particularly Sean Spicer-y press conference on Tuesday afternoon, mistakenly telling reporters that Hitler never used chemical weapons. He's since clarified twice but as the controversial flub unfolded, MSNBC was ready with a spot-on retort in the form of a succinct breaking news chyron. SEE ALSO: Sean Spicer was once a terrifying White House Easter Bunny "You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didnt even sink to using chemical weapons," Spicer said, comparing Hitler to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who has been accused of dropping chemical weapons on his own people. Uh, not so much, MSNBC's chyron basically said. MSNBC with the winning chyron. pic.twitter.com/BxVFpBooVF Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) April 11, 2017 Spicer, given a chance to clarify his statements, followed up with this: And later, this statement: "Also, they weren't called 'Holocaust centers'" was probably too many words to squeeze into MSNBC's graphic. WATCH: Sean Spicer just cannot get the Prime Minister of Australia's name right Photo credit: Getty Images From Delish While most kids dream of having a Disney princess birthday party or a superhero-themed bash, a little girl from North Carolina decided she wanted something more unique: Costco. For her fifth birthday, Kimber Walker asked her mom to throw her a Costco-themed party. As Inside Edition reports, she had been begging her parents to let her throw a party dedicated to the retailer for two whole years. They finally relented, and the Walkers went all out. A girl throws a Costco-themed 5th birthday party, complete with memberships and food samples. https://t.co/fxbND54dmx pic.twitter.com/1dRZ4TzFKz - Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) April 5, 2017 Kimber's mom, Niki, explained that they set up their own version of the store - complete with snacks that the partygoers could "purchase" at the cash register. The Walkers also set up a booth where Kimber's friends could make a membership card. There was also a photo booth where partygoers could take their picture in front of an "Employee of the Month" sign. And of course, there were plenty of samples for the kids to eat. When employees of the Walker's local Costco found out how much Kimber loved the big box store, they gifted her an employee badge with her name on it. But the coup was definitely the cake, which was emblazoned with the big box store's logo and thanks for "five years of service." And while Niki wants to do something a little more low-key next year, Kimber is already planning for a Walmart theme for her sixth birthday. Follow Delish on Instagram. You Might Also Like By Brad Poole Nogales, Ariz. (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border on Tuesday to make his case for increased prosecutions of illegal immigrants, pressuring U.S. attorneys to prioritize cases against criminal migrants. Sessions, a long-time proponent of tougher immigration enforcement, told U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Port of Nogales, Arizona, that more illegal migrants should be prosecuted as criminals. It is normally the role of the Secretary of Homeland Security to meet border agents. But Sessions made the visit to highlight his focus on enforcing federal laws as dozens of U.S. cities try to shield illegal immigrants from stepped-up prosecution and deportation efforts. "Why are we doing this?" the former U.S. senator said. "Because it is what the duly enacted laws of the United States require." Sessions said that each U.S. attorney would be required to designate a point person on border security prosecutions by April 18. The person in that position, known as a border security coordinator, would be directed to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security, according to Sessions' memo. The directive did not go beyond existing laws, but Sessions said his order "mandates the prioritizations of such enforcement" by U.S. attorneys. The Trump administration has threatened to cut off U.S. Justice Department grants to so-called sanctuary cities that fail to assist federal immigration authorities. Police in such cities have argued that targeting illegal migrants is an improper use of law enforcement resources. Sessions has said a failure to deport aliens convicted of criminal offenses puts whole communities at risk. Under U.S. law, anyone who harbors or transports an undocumented immigrant, has crossed the border illegally two or more times, resists an immigration officer's arrest or commits travel document fraud is subject to criminal prosecution. Story continues Other immigrants apprehended for crossing the border illegally face civil procedures, with deportation the only penalty. Sessions' announcement was the latest move by the Trump administration to deter illegal immigration. President Donald Trump has also called for not releasing migrants with pending court cases, targeting more people in immigration raids and building a wall on the southwest border. Speaking just 50 yards from a border fence on the Arizona-Mexico border, Sessions said that adding more fencing to the border will be a "force multiplier" against illegal migration. He also said the Justice Department plans to add 50 more immigration judges in 2017 and 75 more in 2018. Immigration judges oversee civil immigration cases, but there is a backlog of over 540,000 pending cases due a shortage of judges. (Writing by Julia Edwards Ainsley in Washington; Editing by Dan Grebler) By Press Trust of India: New Delhi Apr 11 (PTI) Three policemen of Vijay Vihar Police Station in Rohini were today awarded by Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik for tracing 77 minors, including 43 girls, who went missing in the last six years. In the last six year, 82 cases of children going missing were reported in Vijay Vihar Police Station. Inspector Abhinendra, SHO Vijay Vihar and probationary sub-inspectors Divya Mann and Anuj worked hard and traced 77 of them, DCP (Rohini) Rishi Pal said. advertisement These 77 minors were recovered from different areas in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Awarding the three policemen with Asadharan Karya Puraskar, the Police Commissioner stressed that tackling crimes against women and children is the priority of the force. Pal said Rohini police district has unauthorised colonies like Buddh Vihar phase 1 and phase 2, and Pal Colony, where rickshawpullers and street hawkers reside. From 2011 to 2016, around 82 cases of missing children were reported. The maximum number of missing children were in the age group of 13-16 years, Rishi Pal said. Last June, the police team began a special exercise of looking for the missing children and started talking to the families. Initially, the families were apprehensive in sharing the details and they had to be convinced. Following the police teams efforts, 77 minors were recovered. Some of the families were not willing to take them back out of anger. However, the policemen convinced them to take back their children, the officer said. PTI SLB NSD --- ENDS --- London (AFP) - The rejection Tuesday of British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's proposal for extra sanctions on Russia and Syria is the latest setback for a former Brexit campaigner struggling for political relevance. The decision by the G7 meeting of foreign ministers in Italy came after Johnson on Saturday cancelled a scheduled trip to Russia in apparent deference to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's upcoming visit. "Boris out in the cold over Russia," read The Telegraph front page after the G7 rejected his sanctions proposal. British newspapers broadly took a dim view of the Conservative politician's performance on the world stage. "Johnson stung over sanctions" wrote The Times, while the Daily Mail said he had been "humiliated over Syria". They had been equally critical in their reactions to his cancellation of the Moscow trip, with The Times portraying him in a cartoon as a dog with a Union Jack collar left outside a US-Russia meeting. Russia's foreign ministry said his decision not to visit Moscow showed Britain had "no real influence on the course of international affairs, remaining 'in the shadow' of their strategic partners". - 'Lied a lot' - Johnson has long been mocked for his buffoonish antics and undiplomatic pronouncements and was always an improbable pick as foreign minister after his role in a bitterly divisive EU referendum campaign. When he was appointed in July, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Johnson had "lied a lot" in the campaign and he was booed in his first speech as foreign minister at the French embassy. At a press conference with then US Secretary of State John Kerry just a few days later he appeared to confuse Egypt with Turkey and fended off questions about his scathing past references to world leaders. As delicate Brexit negotiations loom for which Prime Minister Theresa May is keen to show goodwill towards EU partners, his gung-ho spirit appears jarring. Story continues The latest front page of Private Eye, a satirical magazine, showed Johnson wearing sunglasses on an armoured vehicle during a visit to Somalia in March. "Tally ho! Gibraltar here we come!" read the caption -- a reference to Britain's opposition to Spain having a veto over the extension of any future EU trade deal to the British territory of Gibraltar. - 'Not very successful' - On Syria, Johnson's views have proved inconsistent. In 2015, when he was still mayor of London, he argued Britain should "deal with the devil" by allying with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against the Islamic State jihadist group. He switched to a hawkish stance in October last year, calling on Barack Obama's outgoing US administration to impose more sanctions on Russia. But speaking to a parliamentary committee in London in January he appeared to change his tune, raising the possibility of Assad being allowed to run for re-election, saying the Western "mantra" of Assad having to leave power had not worked so far. He has now returned to the stance that Assad must go, although his most recent call for sanctions on Syrian and Russian military officials was not endorsed by May's spokesman at a press briefing Monday. A diplomatic source attending the Lucca meeting of G7 foreign ministers this week said Johnson was well prepared for bilateral talks and spoke persuasively but ultimately "appeared to have no firm ideas or beliefs and was not very successful". Johnson on Tuesday denied his failure to win agreement on sanctions amounted to a defeat, saying future penalties may still be possible if evidence is found to link individuals to the attack. "There was a very wide measure of agreement (at the G7) last night that, not just the Syrian generals, but if we could show complicity by those Russian officers who are helping the Syrian military operation, then they should also be sanctionable as well," he told the BBC. Sarah Lain, research fellow at the RUSI think-tank, said Johnson's earlier decision to skip the Russia visit was understandable as a way of showing Britain's commitment to US ties and the importance of foreign policy coordination. "Developing the relationship with the US is clearly more strategically important than direct engagement with Russia at this particular moment," she said. With Adam Rawnsley Welcome to Moscow! Just hours before he was due to land in Moscow for talks with Russian officials (notably, Vladimir Putin will not be among them) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson set the tone for the meetings by warning the Kremlin must choose between aligning with U.S. and its allies, or with Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah. The warning likely wont play well in Moscow, which was angered over the American cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base last week, and has pushed for more coordination with the Americans in Syria. Tillersons comments came after he met with foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations in Italy. Tillerson said Moscow can help Syrian civilians, or can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russias interests longer term. Policy questions. Since two U.S. warships rained 59 cruise missiles on a (still functioning) Syrian base last week, Trump administration officials have offered mixed messages over U.S. policy in Syria. On Tuesday, Tillerson told reporters it is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an endBut the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria. Tillerson arrives in Moscow with the full backing of the G7, including the very specific, and public, support of Germany and the U.K. But he also arrives as Moscow is rushing more warships to the Syrian coast. Did they or didnt they? The Secretarys comments will likely be compounded by the remarks of several anonymous U.S. officials on Monday, which raised the issue of potential Russian involvement in the alleged Syrian chemical weapons attack that killed over 80 civilians last week. The AP reports that one government source has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syrias chemical weapons attack, but so far has no hard proof of Russian involvement. The official said that a drone operated by Russians was flying over a hospital as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons. Story continues In that same story, another official walked that back a bit saying that there has been no final determination over Russian involvement in the strikes. That reluctance was underlined by another (again anonymous) official who told U.S. News that the Pentagon wasnt ready to conclusively tie the Russians to the strike. The White House also pushed back on Monday night, saying the intel community has reached no consensus over Russian involvement in the strike. What is the U.S. policy on Syria? The Guardians Spencer Ackerman points out that there have been five different and distinct U.S. policies on Syria articulated by U.S. officials over the past two weeks, and it remains a mystery which actually represents the thinking of President Donald Trump, who has remained silent on the issue. The New York Times Peter Baker and Gardiner Harris also note Washingtons conflicting announcements, writing, with all the murky signals, Mr. Trump has done little to clarify how he will proceed in Syria. While his cabinet and other advisers seem to be reading from different talking points, the president has not spoken publicly about Syria at all since the missile strike last Thursday night. Even his famed Twitter feed has largely avoided the subject, beyond thanking military personnel. When will the U.S. strike? The White House sent another muddled message on Monday when Press Secretary Sean Spicer appeared to broaden the range of Syrian actions that could bring more Tomahawk missiles raining down. If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you will see a response from this president, Spicer said at the White House during his daily press briefing. But after reporters questioned if Spicer was articulating a new White House policy, he issued a follow-on statement to clarify, nothing has changed in our posturethe president retains the option to act in Syria against the Assad regime whenever it is in the national interest, as was determined following that governments use of chemical weapons against its own citizens. Korea questions. The Trump administrations threats to ratchet up pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program could face a major setback next month if South Korea elects a more progressive president who has argued for a less confrontational approach to Pyongyang, FPs Dan De Luce writes. The imminent political shift in Seoul, after a decade of close alignment with Washington, will require a deft diplomatic touch from a White House that has so far shown a preference for improvising policy and military operations on the fly, and which has yet to name an ambassador to South Korea or fill key senior posts overseeing Asia policy at the State Department and the Pentagon. The Pentagon has dispatched the USS Carl Vinson strike group to the Korean coast in recent days, ratcheting up pressure on the North. Super Tucanos. The U.S. sale of A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to Nigeria is back on after the Obama administration nixed the sale on human rights grounds. Nigeria has been fighting an insurgency and terrorist campaign waged by Boko Haram, an Islamic State affiliate, but has been accused by human rights groups of carrying out indiscriminate abuses charges which lead the Obama administration to withhold the counterinsurgency aircraft from Nigeria and cancel a proposed Israeli sale of Cobra attack helicopters to the Nigerian military. The sale highlights the Trump administrations skepticism towards conditioning arms sales on human rights concerns and follows the removal of human rights conditions on the sale of American fighter jets to Bahrain. Welcome to SitRep. Send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley. China. China is following through on its ban of North Korean coal imports in the wake of Pyongyangs controversial missile tests, sending North Korean cargo ships full of coal back home, according to a scoop from Reuters. As Chinese President Xi Jinping was meeting with President Trump at his private, for-profit resort in Florida, China told its domestic trading companies to send back any coal cargo from North Korea and shipping data shows North Korean ships heading back home still laden with coal. The Trump administration has pressured China to use its leverage as Pyongyangs most powerful remaining ally to curb it provocative tests of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. Post-strike. American forces operating in Syria are on guard in the wake of the cruise missile strike on Shayrat air base ordered by President Trump, shifting to a defensive crouch in order to protect operations by the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State from possible retaliation. A Pentagon spokesman says that the move is temporary one ordered by Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of the anti-Islamic State coalition in Baghdad. So far, coalition aircraft have reduced the number of offensive strikes against the terrorist group in Syria, opting instead for defensive operations for the time being. Breaking. Agence France Presse and Russias Interfax news agency reported early Tuesday morning that two Russian troops have been killed in Syria. By the numbers. Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition forces have reduced the size of the Islamic States footprint in Iraq dramatically, according to Iraqi Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool. The group now controls 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory, down from a height of 40 percent in 2014. Libya. Americas European allies are worried that the U.S. will walk away from the Obama administrations previous support for Libyas internationally-recognized government and begin supporting warlords like the Russian-backed Khalifa Haftar. European diplomats tell the Guardian that White House advisor Sebastian Gorka, reportedly jockeying for a job as a special envoy for Libya alongside former Michigan Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra and intelligence veteran Phillip Escaravage, once proposed partitioning Libya into three separate areas based on Ottoman empire-era divisions. Cybersecurity. A Russian hacker arrested by Spanish authorities working with the U.S. Justice Department is wanted for his alleged role in creating a massive botnet and not for any involvement in hacking during the 2016 election. American and Spanish authorities accuse Pyotr Levashov, arrested on Monday, of controlling the Kelihos botnet, a vast network of infected computers used to send ransomware and millions of spam emails to thousands of unsuspecting victims. Levashovs wife had told reporters that he was arrested for allegedly participating in hacks intended to disrupt the 2016 election but U.S. sources have denied any connection between his arrest and election interference. Air Force. With North Korea lighting off ballistic missiles on an almost regular basis, the U.S. Air Force would like to use any additional money from Congress to improve radar coverage of any potential missile launches against the U.S. mainland. Defense Tech reports that Northern Command chief Gen. Lori Robinson warned the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. ability to provide actionable warning continues to diminish in written testimony submitted to the panel. When asked what she would do if Northern Command received an extra billion dollars from Congress, Robinson said shed put the money towards putting the right radars in the right place. Something you dont see everyday. A 12-ft. long Russian torpedo has washed up on a beach in Lithuania just a short kilometer from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Tensions between Baltic countries and Russia have been high as Russian naval forces have become more active in the region since Moscows invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali forces who have surrounded pirates holding hostages taken from an Indian ship secured the surrender of 10 members of the band on Tuesday and enlisted the parents of the other three to persuade them to give up, officials said. Regional security forces rescued the Indian cargo dhow Al Kausar on Monday but pirates who seized it earlier this month escaped beforehand with nine crew members as bargaining chips to try to force the release of pirates jailed in India. Hirsi Yusuf Barre, mayor of Galkayo in Somalia's Galmudug state, said 10 of the pirates surrendered after they were surrounded, leaving just three holding the nine dhow crew. Apart from denying the pirates food and water, security forces had brought the parents of the three pirates to the scene to persuade their sons to give up, Barre said. "The remaining three pirates will be taken out by their parents in the coming hours. We shall rescue the nine crew soon and they will rejoin their two colleagues on the ship," he said. Two of the dhow crew were rescued on Monday after being left in a car that the pirates had to abandon after a chase. The hijacking of the Al Kausar was part of a sudden string of attacks by Somali pirates after years without a reported incident. Attacks peaked with 237 in 2012 but then declined steeply after ship owners improved security measures and international naval forces stepped up patrols. This month has seen a new rash of attacks, with two ships captured and a third rescued by Indian and Chinese forces after the crew radioed for help and locked themselves in a safe room. Residents of Somalia's Indian Ocean coastline say piracy has resumed after local officials issued permits for foreign fishing vessels to fish in Somali waters. The foreign fishermen they say, have cut nets belonging to locals and run down small boats. (Writing by Duncan Miriri; editing by Mark Heinrich) The Trump administrations threats to ratchet up pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program could face a major setback next month if South Korea elects a more progressive president who has argued for a less confrontational approach to Pyongyang. The imminent political shift in Seoul, after a decade of close alignment with Washington, will require a deft diplomatic touch from a White House that has so far shown a preference for improvising policy and military operations on the fly, and which has yet to name an ambassador to South Korea or fill key senior posts overseeing Asia policy at the State Department and the Pentagon. There is definitely a risk of more disagreement between Seoul and Washington, said Ely Ratner, who served as deputy national security advisor to former Vice President Joe Biden. The two leading candidates for the May 9 vote are both to the left of the former conservative President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached and forced out of office last month for her alleged role in a multimillion-dollar bribery scandal linked to major Korean conglomerates. Former human rights lawyer Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party, who is leading in most polls in a suddenly tight race, is a disciple of the so-called sunshine policy of engagement pursued by previous liberal presidents between 1998 and 2008, which conservative critics argue failed to stop the Norths nuclear and missile programs. Software tycoon Ahn Cheol-soo of the Peoples Party, who also favors reaching out to the North, is running a close second and is threatening to overtake Moon, while two conservative candidates trail far behind. For the past ten years, Parks conservative party had been in lock-step with Washington, favoring a tough approach to the North and showing skepticism of diplomatic outreach or other initiatives designed to persuade Pyongyang to come in from the cold and abandon its nuclear weapons. Moon, in contrast, has long advocated a softer line on North Korea, backing investment, aid, and diplomacy along with sanctions to try to coax Pyongyang to back off of its belligerent stance. Moon has also expressed caution on the introduction of the U.S.-made THAAD radar system meant to defend South Korea against missile attacks, saying the deployment should be postponed until after the election to allow the next president to assess the risks and benefits. China has expressed outrage over the radar system and retaliated against the South with commercial boycotts. Story continues Moon has taken a number of positions that are potentially troubling to the U.S. administration, said Bruce Bennett, a fellow at the Rand Corp. who has advised the Defense Department on North Korea. The bottom line this is a very different political environment than weve been working in the last 10 years, he said. Moons appeals for dialogue offer a stark contrast to the Trump administrations emerging policy on North Korea. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said Washington will no longer pursue a policy of strategic patience, and after Pyongyangs latest missile test, Tillerson said the United States had nothing further to say. Meanwhile, White House officials, led by Trump, have pledged to prod China to squeeze Pyongyang further. With tensions rising after the North test-fired another ballistic missile last week, the administration over the weekend ordered an aircraft carrier strike group, led by the USS Carl Vinson, to cancel a planned port visit in Australia and instead head to the Korean Peninsula in a show of force. But Moon, who seemed the front-runner until his rival surged ahead over the past week, argues for both carrots and sticks instead of solely coercive measures against North Korea. We need to have two tracks of measures here. We need to be able to apply some pressure and coercion on North Korea, but on the other hand we should also start discussions and dialogue with North Korea, Moon said. One clear indicator of that desire: Moon has called for reopening and massively expanding the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a joint venture on the North Korean border that was meant to foster North-South economic ties on the peninsula, but which was closed in 2016 amid suspicions that wages paid to North Korean workers were flowing to Pyongyangs military. In calling to expand the Kaesong Industrial Complex twenty times from its current size, Moon has argued that cutting off all contact with the North made the regime more dependent on China and undercut Seouls leverage. We cant resolve the North Korean nuclear issue by completely severing exchange, he said. Moons main rival, Ahn, who has surged in recent polls, has staked out a more centrist position and favors installing the THAAD system. But he, too, supports a more nuanced policy on North Korea and backs talks between Seoul and Pyongyang. Asked about the prospect of a potentially more progressive government in Seoul, the State Department said it looked forward to working with the next president. The U.S.-South Korea alliance will continue to be a linchpin of regional stability and security, and we will continue to meet all our alliance commitments, especially with respect to defending against the threat from North Korea, Katina Adams, a State Department spokeswoman, told Foreign Policy. Current and former U.S. officials worry that a bid for renewed dialogue with North Korea could end in failure, as Pyongyang appears to have ruled out ever relinquishing its nuclear arms. And trying to engage with the Pyongyang regime could give dictator Kim Jong Un more breathing room to build longer-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Under Kim, the North pressed ahead with its nuclear weapons program and built up a formidable arsenal of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles threatening Japan and U.S. bases, while also working on an intercontinental ballistic missile that could put the United States itself within reach. The North raised alarms across the region in February when it successfully launched the Pukguksong-2 missile, which uses solid-fuel technology and could allow the regime to hide its missiles in tunnels and launch them on short notice. South Korea could try negotiations, and the North just plays for time, said a former senior U.S. official who worked on Korea policy. It could cost you time, and we dont have a lot of time right now. Any daylight between Washington and Seoul could have knock-on effects, said Ratner, the former White House official now at the Council on Foreign Relations. He said he could see a potential troubling scenario unfolding where Seoul rejects Washingtons proposals for more punitive measures against Pyongyang, thus giving China an excuse to ease off any effort to squeeze the regime. Its not a good combination. And then how does Trump respond to a South Korean ally not supporting his policy approach with tens of thousands of U.S. troops forward deployed to defend their country? Ratner said. Its easy to imagine him asking why our troops are there at all. While U.S. officials and senior officers worry about shifting political winds in South Korea, its unlikely the country will return to the kind of policies that prevailed in the early 2000s, when anti-American sentiment was running hotter, and the danger presented by the North appeared less dramatic, experts said. The Norths weapons advances, belligerent rhetoric, and provocative acts such as the sinking of a South Korean naval ship and an artillery attack on a border island, have left their mark on public opinion in the South, which has become more conservative about policy toward Pyongyang over the past several years. As a result, experts said, there are political limits to engagement with the North, and both leading presidential candidates have tempered their rhetoric to reflect that. Alan Romberg, the director of the East Asia program at the Stimson Center, said a new South Korean government will have a somewhat greater inclination to see if there is a way to reach out to the North to calm things down. But I do think they will place a lot of weight on the alliance and wont want to strike out on their own without close consultation and coordination with Washington, he said. Photo credit: CHUNG SUNG-JUN/Getty Images Madrid (AFP) - A man found guilty of murdering an American woman hiking Spain's famed Camino de Santiago pilgrims' trail and cutting off her hands was sentenced to 23 years in jail Tuesday, court documents revealed. Miguel Angel Munoz killed and robbed Denise Pikka Thiem in April 2015 but her mutilated body was only discovered five months later, after he led police to the spot where her body was buried, following his detention. Thiem, then 40, had been walking the popular trail in northwestern Spain for more than a month when she decided to deviate to visit a village in the province of Leon. According to the court in the city of Leon where the trial took place, she lost her way on leaving the village. She "followed the indications of a yellow arrow which instead of bringing her back to the official route, took her on a path that passes in front of the property" of Munoz, it said in its official sentence. Authorities suspect Munoz had deliberately put the arrow there to divert pilgrims towards his farm. When she arrived at his property, he came out and walked some way with her. But she eventually grew nervous, and he hit her with a "blunt object," killing her. He moved her to a less visible location, the court said, and slit her throat. He then cut off her hands in what prosecutors allege was an attempt to disguise her identity before burying her body. The missing hands have never been found. Munoz, 40, was also found guilty of stealing $1,132 (1,066 euros) which Thiem was carrying and which he later exchanged for euros. He originally confessed to having killed Thiem, but later retracted the confession and said he had only found her body. During the trial, Munoz refused to take questions in what his lawyer said was due to a breakdown he suffered over a string of problems. The lawyer Vicente Prieto also said his client suffered from psychiatric problems. A judge at the Leon court nevertheless sentenced Munoz to 20 years for murder, and another three years for robbery with violence. In a Facebook post last week when Munoz was found guilty, Thiem's brother Cedric said he hoped one day to "finish my sister's journey and remember the Camino as a pilgrimage in a beautiful country made up of warm loving people." Madrid (AFP) - Two Spanish university professors and three other suspects have been charged over the alleged sale of a "fake" cancer drug that raked in more than 600,000 euros, police said Tuesday. In a statement, police said there were "more than a dozen complaints from victims who bought this substance" -- a product that had no "curative effects." One of them "paid more than 25,600 euros ($27,200) to treat his daughter," they added. Among those detained last week are two professors at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), a police spokesman in Palma de Majorca told AFP, without giving their identities or detailing what they teach or research. The three other suspects include two people who worked in the research department of a foundation, he added. They have been charged with fraud and released pending further investigation. The suspects are accused of having promoted their anti-cancer drug in ad campaigns on social networks, "taking advantage of the academic and professional recognition brought about by their posts." But the drug was merely a "placebo" with no sales authorisation, police said. They added the substance was sold to patients or their families via a non-profit foundation that "covered up the sale of the product as a voluntary donation from relatives for research." The academics are also suspected of having tried to sell another "fake drug" against Alzheimer's disease, police said. Jaume Carot, vice chancellor of UIB, said the university had received a written complaint about the issue in April last year, and brought the matter to authorities. He added the university was "extremely concerned by all this." White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Adolf Hitler didnt use chemical weapons on his people in the same way Syria did in a recent gas attack on its Idlib province that killed more than 80 people, including children. We didnt use chemical weapons in World War II, said Spicer during his regular press briefing, addressing a question on the relationship between Russia and Syria. You had someone as despicable as Hitler, who didnt even sink to using chemical weapons. When asked to clarify that statement later in the briefing, Spicer expanded his response and the comparison to Hitler, causing an immediate burst of criticism on social media. I think when you come to sarin gas, he was not using the gas on his own people in the same way that Assad was doing, said Spicer. There was not he brought them into the Holocaust center, I understand that but Im saying in the way [Syrian President Bashar Assad] used them, where he went into towns, to innocents, into the middle of towns. The use of it, I appreciate the clarification there, that was not the intent. Spicer clarified his comments in a statement to NBC News immediately following the briefing, at which time his name was a trending topic on Twitter due to the volume of posts on his remarks. In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust. However, I was trying to draw a contrast of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on innocent people, Spicer said. The White House then issued another clarification shortly thereafter amending the final line: In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust, however, I was trying to draw a contrast of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Minutes after that clarification, another version was issued to the White House press pool affirming that Holocaust victims were also innocent: In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust. I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable. Story continues The Nazis killed over 3 million people in their concentration camps, primarily using chemically manufactured carbon monoxide and Zyklon B, a cyanide-based pesticide. President Trump cited the attack on Syria as the catalyst for his ordering the United States military to fire 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian air base. Late Tuesday afternoon House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called for Spicer to be fired and for Trump to disavow his statements. While Jewish families across America celebrate Passover, said Pelosi, the chief spokesman of this White House is downplaying the horror of the Holocaust. Sean Spicer must be fired, and the President must immediately disavow his spokesmans statements. Either he is speaking for the President, or the President should have known better than to hire him. As evening fell, Spicer appeared on CNN to attempt one final clarification. I was obviously trying to make a point about the heinous acts that Assad had made against his own people last week using chemical weapons and gas, the press secretary said, but frankly I mistakenly used an inappropriate, insensitive reference to the holocaust, for which frankly there is no comparison, and for that I apologize. Read more from Yahoo News: When you wrench your back, your first impulse may be to rummage through the medicine cabinet for an over-the-counter pain drug or even ask your doctor to prescribe a strong opioid painkiller such as Percocet or Vicodin. But an analysis published April 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that spinal manipulation can ease your backache and get you moving again without the risk of medication side effects. A new Consumer Reports survey of more than 3,500 back-pain sufferers reached similar conclusions: Nearly 90 percent of people who tried spinal manipulation found it helpful. Spinal manipulation involves a healthcare provider applying controlled forces to the spine to improve alignment and allow the muscles and joints to move more easily. While its usually done by a chiropractor, some doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) and physical therapists also use the technique. For the JAMA analysis, researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs and elsewhere combined results from 26 studies involving more than 3,000 patients with low-back pain lasting six weeks or less. Patients treated with spinal manipulation were able to move through daily activities with less pain than people who didnt get the therapy. On average, people treated with spinal manipulation said that their pain improved about 10 points on a 100-point scale. The beneficial effects on pain and function are real, but modestlike most other therapies for short-term low-back pain, says Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., chief of general internal medicine at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare system, and an author of the JAMA study. The Strength of a Nondrug Approach Recent guidelines from the American College of Physicians recommend trying spinal manipulation or other nondrug measures such as acupuncture and massage before turning to OTC pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and generic) or naproxen (Aleve and generic). They also strongly discourage the use of prescription opioid painkillers because of the risk of addiction and overdose. Story continues The real strength of spinal manipulation is that it is equally effective to other forms of commonly used treatments, and its safer, says Paul Dougherty, D.C., chief of chiropractic care at the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Canandaigua, N.Y., and a co-author of the JAMA review. None of the studies included in the JAMA analysis reported that spinal manipulation had serious adverse effects. Minor side effects included headaches, soreness, and muscle stiffness, but those were generally short-lived. Its common for people having spinal manipulation for low-back pain to have some soreness, similar to what you might have after a session of exercise, Dougherty says. Pain medications, on the other hand, carry more serious risks. Opioids commonly cause nausea, vomiting, and constipation, and make you feel drowsy and fuzzy-headed. And a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that taking an opioid painkiller for more than a few days sharply increases the risk of getting hooked on the drug. OTC anti-inflammatory drugs are safer than opioids for most people butespecially when taken long termthey can cause serious harm, including kidney problems, bleeding in the stomach or elsewhere in the digestive tract, and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Part of an Overall Strategy If youre interested in spinal manipulation, check with your health insurance company for a list of licensed chiropractors and doctors of osteopathic medicine in your area, and ask your primary care physician for a referral. Our survey found that health insurance provided better coverage for chiropractic care than other forms of nondrug therapies, such as acupuncture and massage. Still, more than one in four respondents said they paid for the entire cost of treatment out of pocket. At your first visit, a provider should get your medical history and do a thorough exam, says William J. Lauretti, D.C., an associate professor of chiropractic clinical sciences at the New York Chiropractic College and a spokesman for the American Chiropractic Association. He or she should ask about red flag symptoms, including loss of bowel or bladder control or weakness and loss of feeling in the legs. They can indicate a serious health problem and require a referral to an orthopedist or other specialist. Spinal manipulation is safe for most other patients, but tell your provider if you have osteoporosis (brittle bones), because he or she will adjust techniques to use less force. People with routine back pain can expect treatment to take two to three visits weekly for about three weeks. You should notice improvement after the first couple of visits, Lauretti says. If theres no change after six treatments, then its time to reassess the diagnosis and think about a different treatment approach. You should expect some homework, too. At the first visit, well show you a stretch or two you can do at home, and little by little well add to that to get you doing exercises to strengthen your back, Lauretti says. Spinal manipulation is just one part of an overall treatment strategy to get you actively engaged in taking care of yourself to get past this episode and prevent future recurrences. People who have persistent or recurring pain may require more visits. But Lauretti advises avoiding signing long-term contracts. After every few visits, the doctor should assess your progress and remaining symptoms and decide whether it's appropriate to reduce the frequency of visits, refer you to another professional, or discharge you from care, he says. Editor's Note: This article and related materials are made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by the multistate settlement of consumer-fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin (gabapentin). More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2017 Consumer Reports, Inc. By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Apr 11 (PTI) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his visit to Russia would press Moscow to honour its international commitments on Syria, Ukraine and Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty treaty, the White House said today. "Russia must fully honour the commitments it made on Syria, Ukraine, and the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and other topics of international concern. And Secretary Tillerson is going to make that clear during his visit,? White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference. advertisement The White House official slammed Russia for siding with the Assad regime that has used chemical weapons against its own people. "If youre Russia, ask yourself, is this a country that you and a regime that you want to align yourself with?" he said. "You have previously signed onto international agreements rightfully acknowledging that the use of chemical weapons should be out of bounds by every country. To not stand up... should be troubling. This is Russia putting their name on the line," he said. Look at the countries that are standing with them -- Iran, Syria, North Korea. "This is not a team you want to be on. I think that Russia has to recognise that, while they may have had an alliance with them, that the lines that have been crossed are ones that no country should ever want to see another country cross," he said. Spicer alleged that the Russians have aligned themselves with North Korea, Syria and Iran. "Thats not exactly a group of countries that youre looking to hang out with. With the exception of Russia, they are all failed states," he said. "Russia is not an island when it comes to its support of Syria or its lack of, frankly, acknowledgement of what happened. The facts are on our side. The actions of Syria are reprehensible. And I think that Russia has been party to several international agreements that Syria is not holding up to. In fact Russia needs to hold themselves up to (them)," Spicer said. Trump, he said, has been very clear with his stance on Russia. "In this particular case, were going to be very forceful, and I think as will Secretary Tillerson during his visit, to make sure that we let Russia know that they need to live up to the obligations it has made," Spicer said. Tillerson arrived in Moscow earlier in the day to confront the Russian leaders over the Syria issue. PTI LKJ ASK ASK --- ENDS --- We're hurtling towards a future where everything from cows to toasters will be internet-connected. But do we have the infrastructure to support this digital web? An Australian startup wants its nano satellites to help form the backbone of the internet of things. Founded in 2015, Adelaide-based Fleet announced a A$5 million ($3.8 million) Series A funding round Tuesday, to help build its satellite constellation. SEE ALSO: These American tech companies are heading south to list. But why? CEO and cofounder Flavia Tata Nardini said the team realised early on that the estimated 75 billion devices due to come online by 2025 couldn't do so without the right tools in place. "Our idea was to try and enable this revolution, because it's really happening, it's going to change the industry, but it's not as simple as everyone says," she explained. In the past, nano satellites have been used for scientific missions, but more recently for commercial activities like Earth observation and mapping. Plant Labs, the California company founded by Australian Chris Boshuizen, is one player in this space. But Tata Nardini wants her constellation to help network smart devices and sensors across industries. "Fleet is playing in a space device connectivity which is quite unique. We want to be frontrunners," she said. Atlassian cofounder and Fleet investor Mike Cannon-Brookes said in a statement the company was solving an important problem: "How do we bring all the devices and technology we've created together to work as one?" "Once live, Fleet will solve an innumerable amount of the world's problems as it enables the potential of technology to be turned on," he added. Of course, telecommunication companies such as Vodafone are also looking at 5G mobile networks, among other measures, to support the internet of things, but Tata Nardini thinks her tiny satellites could play a role. Story continues "Connecting people is actually quite different than infrastructure for things and devices," she said. "It's less data, different timing things need an infrastructure themselves." There's also the matter of getting the devices into space, and the team is currently working on locating launch procurement in the U.S. For now, Fleet plans to run pilot programs in different markets including agriculture, transport and oil and gas, before launching the first couple of satellites in 2018. If all goes to plan, the entire 100-nano satellite constellation should come online over the next four years. Originally from Italy, Tata Nardini moved to Australia "for a love story." She's worked with the European Space Agency, among others, but said Fleet's devices will be designed and built in Australia. After launch, they will serve a significant part of the globe. "Most of South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and in the future, we hope to cover part of the United States and Europe," she added. "Europe is well connected, however when you go into oceans, imagine cargo or shipping containers moving from one continent to the other connectivity is just not there. There's a big opportunity." But while the private space industry is taking off globally with headline-grabbing companies like America's Space X and Blue Origin, Tata Nardini is adamant Australia need its own dedicated space agency to keep pace. She called for the government to step up. "A space agency forces collaboration and innovation. I do think it's necessary," she said. "The government has to keep up support and make radical changes in the coming years." WATCH: Ford created a crib that'll trick your baby into falling asleep Stockholm (AFP) - The suspected Stockholm truck attacker Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek and a jihadist sympathiser, admitted Tuesday to committing a "terrorist crime" by mowing down pedestrians on a busy street, killing four people and injuring 15 others. Arrested just hours after Friday's attack, Akilov appeared in a special heavily-guarded high-security courtroom. Handcuffed and wearing a thick green hoodie, he kept his head bowed. "Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention," his state appointed lawyer Johan Eriksson said at a custody hearing in Stockholm. Judge Malou Lindblom ordered Akilov to remove the hoodie and he complied, revealing dark hair with streaks of grey. Akilov, a Russian speaker, had an interpreter to help him follow the proceedings. He did not address the court directly. After Eriksson's statement, the judge agreed to the prosecution's request to have the rest of the hearing held behind closed doors due to the classified nature of information in the investigation. After about an hour, journalists were readmitted to the courtroom and the judge remanded Akilov in custody. The four people killed in the attack were two Swedes -- a 69-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl -- a 41-year-old British man, and a 31-year-old Belgian woman. Eight people were still in hospital on Tuesday, including two in a critical condition. Akilov, a construction worker refused permanent residency in Sweden in June 2016, went underground last year after receiving a deportation order, police said. - 'Order' from IS - Friday's attack resembled previous rampages using vehicles in Nice, Berlin and London, which were all claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. IS has not claimed responsibility for the Stockholm attack, but Swedish media reports on Monday said Akilov had told investigators that he received an "order" from IS to carry out the attack against "infidels". Story continues Swedish police have confirmed he had expressed "sympathies for extremist groups, including IS," but disclosed no other details. The Aftonbladet newspaper reported that Akilov told investigators he was "pleased with what he had done". "I mowed down the infidels," Aftonbladet quoted him as saying, citing sources close to the investigation and describing him as a father of four whose family had stayed behind in Uzbekistan. "The bombings in Syria have to end," he was quoted as saying. Deputy chief prosecutor Hans Ihrman refused to comment on the suspect's motive, while lawyer Eriksson would only say that his client had told police why he committed the attack. The investigative news magazine Expo, which specialises in monitoring far-right activity, said Akilov's Facebook account before it was taken down on Friday reflected a "contradictory image." It said Akilov had "liked" Buddhist and Mormon websites, and supported both Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. In March 2016, he posted a video condemning Islamist terror, but shared IS propaganda films and repeatedly expressed support for the radical group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Russia. The group, which claims to be non-violent and says it wants to achieve its goals by peaceful means, aims to establish a caliphate in Muslim regions of Russia and ex-Soviet Central Asian states. Court documents seen by AFP showed Akilov, who is facing a lengthy prison sentence, had requested that Eriksson be replaced by a Sunni Muslim, saying "only a lawyer of this faith could assert his interests in the best way". The court refused the request. - 'Confession not enough' - Eriksson said the court had ordered Akilov to undergo a psychiatric evaluation as a standard procedure, and that a confession alone would not lead to a conviction. "A confession is not enough to be convicted of a crime, other evidence is needed to back this up," Ihrman told reporters at the courthouse. Police have previously said they are sure the suspect is the driver of the truck, citing technical evidence and video camera surveillance. Prosecutors also said the arrest warrant against a man detained on Sunday had been lifted but he would not be released due to a previous deportation order against him. "We will continue to investigate if Akilov had other people around him" who may have been accomplices, Ihrman said. Police have earlier said the investigation could "take up to a year to finish." STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Hot-dog seller Gilberto Rodriguez had wandered away from his stand in downtown Stockholm for a short break on Friday afternoon when he heard the roar of a truck and then screams. The 31-year-old had just avoided what Swedish police suspect was a terror attack by a failed asylum-seeker. A truck had just rammed into a crowded pedestrian street, killing four people and missing the hot-dog stand by a few centimetres. Rodriguez was back making hot dogs at the familiar red stand on Monday morning, a few metres away from a large mound of flowers laid in memory of the victims. Still shaken, he said it was important that life carried on after the attack. "I believe that in Sweden there are strong people and I am strong too and I have to continue working, for life goes on," he said on Tuesday while doing a brisk trade. The hot-dog stand, a landmark in that corner of Stockholm, featured worldwide in news images that showed it next to the truck, which had smashed into a department store behind it. "I took a break on Friday, perhaps a hundred metres away from here, when I heard the truck coming and many people scream," Rodriguez said. "My colleague called me and told me to come back quickly. I was scared something had happened to him. Everyone's fine but I'm sad for the people who died." (Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Mark Bendeich, Larry King) People who say the wildlife in Britain isn't dangerous are, quite frankly, wrong. They've clearly never come face-to-face with a surly swan. SEE ALSO: Elderly British people are using water pistols to fend off aggressive swans BBC journalist Andy Kershaw shared a video on Tuesday morning of a swan blocking traffic in Rotherham city centre. A swan is causing a traffic hold up in the centre of Rotherham. Poor thing looks out of sorts. RSPCA & Police called @BBCSheffield pic.twitter.com/HXwChNamDH Andy Kershaw (@andyksheffield) April 11, 2017 It's unclear why exactly the swan decided to sit in the middle of the road. It's possible that it was feeling unwell, but it's equally possible it was just going out of its way to make life difficult for the innocent humans of Rotherham. Either way, Kershaw said the RSPCA and the police had been contacted. Not today, swan. Not today. WATCH: We played 'Would You Rather' with Ricky Gervais and things got intense You might envision the typical college student as a cash-strapped coed, dining on ramen noodles and spending nights dozing in the library. But for many college students, food insecurity and the threat of homelessness go way beyond instant noodles and sleepless nights. "I'm talking about [sleeping in] abandoned buildings, cars, sleeping on the street,'" says Sara Goldrick-Rab, founder of the Wisconsin HOPE Lab and professor of higher education policy at Temple University in Philadelphia. "They already have jobs and financial aid, and can't make ends meet." A significant number of college students are experiencing housing and food insecurity, feeling uncertain about how they'll fund basic needs. For example, nearly 57,000 students nationally identified themselves as homeless on their 2013-14 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, according to U.S. Department of Education unpublished data. Among community college students responding to a recent survey, 1 in 3 reported going hungry while enrolled in college. Half reported housing insecurity, and nearly 14 percent were homeless, according to the study from the Wisconsin HOPE Lab. "At community colleges, it's very clearly a big deal," Goldrick-Rab says. If you're a student who's experiencing homelessness and food shortages, don't despair: There are on-campus and off-campus resources you can tap for extra cash, free food and other kinds of support. But you have to know where to look -- and whom to ask. Here's what to know. [See: How to Live on $13,000 a Year.] Reach out. First thing's first, keeping your financial situation under wraps won't get you far. "I think first and foremost, what students need to know is that they need to tell people on campus because it might not be as easy as searching for the information online," says Julie Selander, director of One Stop Student Services at the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities. The office offers a financial literacy and money management initiative for students called "Live Like a Student." Story continues Depending on the size and administrative structure of your school, you may need to reach out to one or more of any number of offices. For example, the financial aid office, academic advisor's office, student services center, residential services or even health services centers may have resources for homeless or hungry students, or they may be able to point you in the right direction. Even the Dean of Students' office may be a good resource, especially at bigger institutions, says Tadarrayl Starke, director for the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement, or CARE, at Florida State University. Speaking up can be one of the toughest steps for homeless and hungry students, experts say. The conversation can be unpleasant, embarrassing or even frustrating, depending on the response they receive. But it's a necessary step, since many resources for homeless or hungry students aren't publicized or may be spread out among various university departments. Head to the financial aid office. Your school's financial aid office may have a range of resources for students who need cash. Ask about an emergency loan or -- better yet -- emergency grant aid. "There may be a pool of emergency aid," Goldrick-Rab says. "I really can't promise it. A lot of places have it and don't advertise it." You may also be able to ask for an advance on financial aid that's coming your way. "If we need to, we can cut you a check for an emergency advance of that financial aid," Selander says. The office may be able to help you file the FAFSA if you haven't yet. Or staff can help you submit a special circumstances appeal if a financial shakeup, such as the death of a parent, job loss, divorce or disability, means that the financial aid office ought to reevaluate your aid package, Selander says. Plus, financial aid administrators may point you in the direction of state or institutional resources. For example, the state of Florida has a homeless fee exemption for qualified students, Starke says. [See: 15 Financial Steps to Take Your First Year After Graduation.] Ask for assistance funding food. The financial aid office may also be able to help you apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, Goldrick-Rab says. She warns that the application process can be frustrating for students since there is a 20-hour-per-week work requirement. Your university may run an on-campus food pantry. For example, the University of Minnesota is rolling out its Nutritious U Food Pantry after piloting it in February. "We were starting to hear more and more students who didn't have the funds for healthy food," Selander says. In fact, more than 1 in 10 University of Minnesota students reported experiencing a food shortage within the previous 12 months, according to a 2015 report from the university. More than 1 in 6 of the students surveyed reported worrying that their food would run out before they could purchase more, the study found. U of M's Nutritious U allows students to pick up healthy, fresh food in an inclusive space. Your college may organize something similar. If your college doesn't have a food pantry, try reaching out to the community, experts say. There may be a nearby food pantry sponsored by a local church or another local organization. Again, it doesn't hurt to ask. [See: 20 Tips for Saving Money at the Grocery Store.] Be kind to yourself. Try to shake off any feelings of guilt or shame associated with homelessness and hunger in college, especially if those emotions are blocking your search for financial assistance. It can be difficult for students from all types of backgrounds to make ends meet in college. "You can easily run out of the kind of money students are getting today," Goldrick-Rab says. But know that you'll be more likely to complete your degree and graduate without a crippling amount of student loans or credit card debt if you reach out for help. Advocate for yourself by sharing your story, Goldrick-Rab says. For example, if you can't find the resources you need on campus, consider writing an op-ed in the student newspaper. She hopes that students "can feel empowered to know that they did not do this, this is not their moral failing." Says Goldrick-Rab: "They've been shoved into an untenable situation by a host of things." Susannah Snider is the Personal Finance editor at U.S. News. Since 2010, she has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics, from consumer travel to college financial aid, student loans and employment. Snider previously worked as a staff writer at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. She has appeared as a personal finance expert on television, radio and in print, including on "Fox & Friends," "The Tavis Smiley Show" and Fox Business News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at ssnider@usnews.com. A California man has been taken into custody following a stand-off Sunday that ended when he surrendered to police using Facebook Live. Sean Vazquez is accused of shooting at deputies responding to an assault with a deadly weapon call at a Covina home around 10 a.m. Read: Pregnant Wendy's Employee Gets Pulled Out of Drive-Thru and Beaten Over Straws Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies allege Vazquez continued to shoot, even aiming at a police helicopter overhead. Octavio Medina, Vazquezs stepfather, told CBS Los Angeles that the man was high on drugs and in the house with a friend. That man emerged from the house partway through the standoff, was questioned and released. Meanwhile, Vazquez was talking to the sheriffs department via the live broadcast video function on Facebook. "Tell your men to stand back Ill (expletive) walk out surrendering," Vasquez reportedly said hours into the standoff. Deputies took Vazquez into custody at about 1 p.m. Read: Man Gets Arrested After Slapping Wife in Wheelchair on Live TV No one was hurt in the standoff. Now, Vazquez can get the help he needs, his family said. "Hes a good kid, hes a good kid. He just has some pain in his heart that hes fighting demons," Medina said. Watch: Fatal Shooting of 2-Year-Old Boy in Car Caught on Facebook Live Related Articles: The U.S. military's airstrikes that attacked an air force base in Syria last week did not aim to destroy the very chemical weapons that led to the bombings, a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday. Syrian government military forces launched a chemical attack against civilians there, killing dozens of people, including children. While President Donald Trump cited the chemical attack as the primary reason behind the military response from the U.S. that included 59 Tomahawk missiles, it was unclear why American forces "did not target chemical weapons storages," a spokesman for the United States Central Command (Centcom) said via Twitter. Read: Market Reacts To Airstrikes On Syria "On Tuesday, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians," Trump told the nation Thursday night. "Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many. Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack." Instead, Centcom said, the U.S. "targeted fuel reserves" and "aircraft, " presumably because that location was the air force base from where planes took off before dropping what was suspected to be sarin, a deadly nerve gas, above the city of Idlib last Thursday. "It was not our intention to make the #Syria Shayrat Airfield inoperable," the Centcom spokesperson tweeted. Instead, "It was our intention to degrade Syrian's capability to perform chemical attacks." Most people in the U.S. were in favor of the airstrikes, according to a new poll released Monday morning. Nearly 60 percent of all Americans were in favor if the surprise military action, according to a CBS News survey. In contrast, 36 percent of Americans were against the airstrikes. Story continues Russia agreed to rid Syria of its chemical weapons back in 2013, but that deal between the U.S. and Russia obviously never fully materialized. While both Former Secretary of State John Kerry and former national security adviser Susan Rice had both said publicly that Syria voluntarily surrendered its chemical weapons, that also clearly never happened. The reasons for this? "There are two possibilities," former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs and senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Andy Weber, told CBS News Monday. "One is that they held back a couple barrels of the sarin component, or and I dont know which of these two possibilities is what happened but the second possibility is they had the people and the experts." Related Articles Moscow (AFP) - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew into Moscow Tuesday to confront the Kremlin over its support for Bashar al-Assad as the US questioned if Russia was complicit in an alleged chemical weapons attack. Tillerson is the first senior US official to visit Moscow since President Donald Trump took office promising to seek closer anti-terrorist cooperation with Russia, but as he arrived relations were already tense. Last week, the US fired a volley of cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase in response to an alleged regime attack using a suspected nerve agent that killed at least 87 civilians in a rebel-held town, many of them children. Russia, which along with Iran has deployed forces to help Assad in the six-year-old civil war, reacted with fury to the US strike and continues to cast doubt on the regime's involvement in the chemical attack, to Washington's disgust. Tillerson did not cancel his visit, however, and he will hold talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday. It is not yet clear whether an expected meeting with President Vladimir Putin will go ahead. At the talks, Tillerson will challenge Russia to distance itself from Assad and his Iranian backers and to work with Washington's Western and Arab allies to find a political solution to the conflict with Syria under new leadership. As the top diplomat landed, a senior US official accused Moscow of carrying out a misinformation campaign to "confuse the world" and said Washington was investigating whether Russia was complicit in the alleged chemical weapons attack. "How is it possible that their forces were co-located with the Syrian forces that planned prepared and carried out this chemical weapons attack at the same installation and did not have foreknowledge?" said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We do think it is a question worth asking the Russians." - Evidence against Assad mounting - Story continues Speaking to reporters before he left a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Italy for Moscow, Tillerson said: "Russia has really aligned itself with the Assad regime, the Iranians, and Hezbollah. "Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russia's interest?" he asked. "Or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?" As Tillerson flew to Russia, evidence against Damascus appeared to mount. Assad foe Turkey said blood and urine samples taken from victims of the alleged attack confirmed that the banned sarin nerve agent was used. Britain, France and the United States later presented a new UN draft resolution demanding an investigation of the suspected chemical attack in Syria after the Security Council failed last week to agree on a response. Russia has remained unmoved by the international chorus of outrage. The foreign ministry called Tillerson's comments "muscle flexing ahead of the talks" and he is likely to face a chilly reception whether or not he meets Putin. The Russian leader in televised comments on Tuesday not only repeated his defence of Assad but suggested the Syrian leader's rebel opponents were preparing future faked attacks in order to encourage US intervention. Putin said Moscow also wanted to see a "thorough" probe of the incident conducted through the UN and slammed US accusations as reminiscent of the weapons of mass destruction claims that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In Italy, Tillerson attempted to rally the world's leading economies behind fresh sanctions against Assad's regime but, despite much outrage over the Khan Sheikhun killings, he failed to win consensus. He did go some way towards clarifying the US position on Syria, however, which had become muddled by apparently conflicting statements from senior officials in Trump's administration about Assad's fate. - Regime's 'barbarism' - Tillerson said the US goal of defeating the Islamic State extremist group in Syria remains a priority, but that Washington hopes a UN-led peace process will allow the Syrian people to oust their own leader. "To be clear, our military action was a direct response to the Assad regime's barbarism," Tillerson told the G7, insisting that the missile strikes were not the start of a military effort aimed at regime change. As G7 ministers urged a new diplomatic push to end the conflict and create a lasting peace for a unified Syria, Tillerson said: "Our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that future." The ministers however failed to agree on whether fresh sanctions should be imposed on Damascus -- or Russia itself. "At the moment there is no consensus on new sanctions as an effective instrument," Italy's Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said, after his British counterpart Boris Johnson had raised the issue. In a show of defiance as it came under fire for its ties, Moscow said it would host the foreign ministers of Syria and Iran for three-way talks after Tillerson's visit. Washington's threat to carry out more punitive strikes if Assad is once again accused of using chemical weapons will likely top their agenda. Several rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 320,000 people since March 2011. WASHINGTON (AP) While Syria's conflict may be the most immediate and visible crisis for the United States and Russia, it is only one item on the complex and interwoven agenda for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's talks in Moscow. President Donald Trump's missile strikes on a Syrian air base last week, launched in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack, have given fresh urgency to Tillerson's trip. But the disputes separating the countries have ramifications from Middle East to Asia and Europe. Here are the main issues confronting the former Cold War foes: SYRIA: Both sides are angry. The U.S. blames Russia for its military support of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government and its failure to deliver on a 2013 agreement to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles. U.S. officials have even suggested Russian complicity for last week's deadly chemical weapons attack. And they say Russia faces a choice: Align with the U.S. and its coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria, or stick with Assad and his other ally, Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Assad's main patron, is lashing out at the U.S. for its retaliatory strikes. He is accusing Syrian rebels of staging the chemical weapons attack. The consequences of any further U.S. action in Syria can be destabilizing. Turkey, a NATO ally, borders northern Syria. UKRAINE: Putin and his government want to soothe tensions over Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and perhaps ease U.S. and European sanctions slapped on in response. But Tillerson and other top Trump administration officials say sanctions will remain until Russia leaves Crimea and ends support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine, a NATO aspirant, has been a festering issue between Moscow, Washington and European capitals for the past three years and retains the potential to ignite a more serious East-West crisis. RUSSIAN ELECTION MEDDLING: Story continues Russia stands accused of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. As Congress looks at the extent of the interference, the FBI is investigating possible collusion between Moscow and Trump campaign associates. In addition, European intelligence services accuse Russia of seeking to influence upcoming elections in France and Germany to sow discord within two key European Union and NATO members. Russia has denied any interference but has made no secret of its desire to erode Western unity. In Moscow, the meddling may be a difficult issue for Tillerson because U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia was acting to help Trump win the election. NORTH KOREA: Despite Syria's urgency, the Trump administration sees North Korea as the greatest potential threat to the United States. Pyongyang's ballistic missile tests and nuclear advances mean it could directly threaten U.S. territory within the next few years. Trump has deployed a missile defense system to South Korea and dispatched a naval carrier group to the region to warn North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Although China holds most leverage over North Korea, Russia, as a former North Korean ally, has been a key player in now-stalled six-nation denuclearization talks with Pyongyang. The U.S. will likely need both Chinese and Russian support to persuade the North to return to the table, no matter how seriously Kim takes Trump's warnings. By Press Trust of India: From Aditi Khanna London, Apr 10 (PTI) Britains Defence Secretary Michael Fallon will arrive in India tomorrow for a four-day visit during which he will take part in the first Indo-UK strategic dialogue. Fallon will be the third UK Cabinet minister to visit India this month after Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and energy minister Greg Clark. advertisement "Sir Michael will join his counterpart, Shri Arun Jaitley, for the first India-UK Strategic Dialogue, which was agreed in November 2015 during Prime Minister (Narendra) Modis visit to London as part of the Defence and International Security Partnership," the British High Commission said in a statement. The minister will visit Mumbai and Delhi and hold meetings with senior Indian defence ministry officials, military staff and business leaders. The visit will further cement the Defence and International Security Partnership, which aims to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between India and the UK, including by enhancing mutual capabilities and effectiveness through joint training and doctrine development, the statement said. The India-UK Strategic Dialogue will look at ways of increasing cooperation in science and technology, research and development, and countering violent extremism, it said. On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary will be the special guest at a reception hosted by British high commissioner Dominic Asquith in New Delhi to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II -- which falls on April 21. PTI AK ASK ASK --- ENDS --- While Eleven Madison Park may have been proclaimed the world's best restaurant just last week, a new ranking of the top 100 restaurants in the US has relegated the Michelin-starred eatery to eighth place. You could say it's a discrepancy that shows there's no accounting for taste -- literally. Because according to the gourmands who rate and review restaurants on Opinionated About Dining (OAD), Eleven Madison Park trails far behind The Willows Inn on Lummi Island in Washington, which was named the best restaurant in the US on this year's top 100 list. Conversely, The Willows Inn didn't even make the cut on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list. No stranger to "best restaurants" lists, The Willows Inn, helmed by Noma alum Blaine Wetzel, has been called one of the most exciting dining destinations in the US over the last few years, thanks in part to its dramatic setting on a remote island on the West Coast, but mostly for its island-inspired Pacific Northwest cuisine. Sample dishes could include everything from toasted kale leaves, to sea urchin in a fermented broth, smoked mussels or geoduck kebabs. Rounding out the top five spots on the ranking are Saison in San Francisco (which held on to the top spot over the last two years), Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York state, Chicago's Alinea and The Restaurant at Meadowood in California. Overall, a scan of the top 100 list skews heavily in favor of New York eateries, which claim 32 spots compared to its nearest competitor, Chicago, which landed a dozen spots. San Francisco has 10 addresses on the list and Los Angeles a total of six. OAD is headed by influential New York-based food blogger Steve Plotnicki, whose claim to fame includes discovering Run-DMC when he was a music executive. He's also been called the "king of food bloggers" for his widespread influence. The list is based on the reviews of "highly literate connoisseurs of the culinary arts who travel the world to experience the art of food." Story continues The World's 50 Best Restaurants, the awards for which took place in Melbourne, Australia last week, compiles their ranking based on votes cast by 1,000 food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and "gastronomes" around the world. Here are the top 10 restaurants on OAD's top 100 list of best restaurants in the US: 1. The Willows Inn, chef Blaine Wetzel, Lummi Island, Washington 2. Saison, chef Joshua Skenes, San Francisco 3. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, chef Dan Barber, Pocantico Hills, NY 4. Alinea, chef Grant Achatz, Chicago 5. The Restaurant at Meadowood, chef Christopher Kostow, St. Helena, CA 6. Manresa, chef David Kinch, Los Gatos, CA 7. Per Se, chef Eli Kaimeh, New York 8. Eleven Madison Park, chef Daniel Humm, New York 9. Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, chef Cesar Ramirez, Brooklyn 10. Catbird Seat, chef Ryan Poli, Nashville, TN For the full list visit http://www.opinionatedaboutdining.com/2017/us.html. BEIJING (AP) After repeatedly bashing China on the campaign trail, President Donald Trump met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping for the first time last week at Trump's Florida estate. In speeches, Trump had labeled Beijing a "tremendous problem," accusing it of unfairly manipulating its currency and trying to "rape our country" with unfair trade policies. Shortly after his election, he upended decades of diplomatic precedent by taking a call from the president of Taiwan and suggested he might use the island China considers its own territory as a bargaining chip in China-U.S. relations. Since taking office, however, Trump has endorsed the "One China" policy that has underwritten U.S. relations with China for decades and backed off on his threats to impose a 45 percent import tax on Chinese goods and formally declare China a currency manipulator. While in Florida, Xi said the two delegations established a good working relationship, and Trump told reporters that he and Xi made "tremendous progress" in their talks, but neither leader was specific. Observers said the meeting appeared to indicate Trump recognized the importance of keeping ties stable between the world's two largest economies. Following the meeting, here's how a selection of people in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei, Taiwan, view America at this early stage of Trump's presidency. ___ BEIJING Housewife Wang Haiping, 44, said she sees frictions ahead as Trump seeks to maintain U.S. dominance over a rising China. "Trump certainly wants the U.S. to remain the most powerful country in the world, but the fact is that China might catch up with the U.S. in a few years," Wang said. Wang said she wants to send her 13-year-old daughter to the U.S. for college study, but is concerned about hardening attitudes toward foreigners under the administration. "Before I send my child to the U.S. to study, I probably need to ask again: 'Is the U.S. still a safe place?' As minority groups become less accepted in American society, the U.S. is no longer an ideal destination for Chinese students to study." Story continues Du Jiarui, 65, retired from a state-owned quality inspection company, said he thought the Trump-Xi meeting was productive and went a long way in promoting good China-U.S. relations, which also benefit other countries. "President Trump is not a person who behaves according to the rules," said Du, who helped to import American industrial technology and products during his career. As to whether Trump's policies will be good for both Americans and people of other countries, "You really need to wait and see," Du said. "There are still some potential risks over the South China Sea and trade issues, and I do hope the two governments can handle these issues properly," said Du, referencing China's increasingly robust assertions of its territorial claim to virtually the entire strategic waterway in which the U.S. navy has long operated. ___ HONG KONG Businessman Dennis Shia, 50, thinks that Trump's trade policies could be ultimately self-defeating. "For products like ours, America totally depends on imports so they should not make policies that are unfavorable (to the import countries)," said Shia, the CEO of a lighting manufacturer, most of whose products are sold to the U.S. and Canada. "This will only increase the price paid by their consumers." "We did think the U.S. might raise the import tax, but we don't worry that America will suddenly start manufacturing on a large scale what we are making," Shia said. He has been considering exporting half-finished goods to America and so the finishing process can be done there and treated as American-made under tax laws. Politics and military disputes could also upset the China-U.S. trading relationship, Shia said. "At the moment, China needs America a lot more than how America needs China," Shia said. "The U.S. buys a lot more Chinese goods than the amount of American goods sold to China. In this way, America has more bargaining power than us. I can say it is very effective for them to use an economic strategy." ___ TAIPEI Lin Fei-fan, 28, a political science graduate student at Taiwan National University, was chiefly concerned with Trump's policy toward Taiwan after he backed down over the "One China" policy in keeping with Beijing's wishes. "From Taiwan's point of view, we don't want Taiwan to become a bargaining chip at their negotiating table," said Lin, who had been a leader of the "Sunflower Movement," a group of student protesters who opposed closer relations between Taiwan and the mainland and occupied the national legislature and premier's officer in 2014. The movement helped propel Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party into the presidency in last year's elections. China has since given her the cold shoulder, cutting off contacts between the two governments in June and bringing diplomatic and economic pressure to bear in hopes of compelling her to sign on to Beijing's political formula that Taiwan and mainland China constitute a single Chinese nation. Although the U.S. State Department said before the meeting that Washington had "moved on" from the Taiwan issue, Lin said it was too early to tell what the outcome of the meeting between Trump and Xi would be. ___ AP journalists Peng Peng in Beijing, Josie Wong in Hong Kong, and Johnson Lai in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report. Follow Louise Watt on Twitter at twitter.com/louise_watt AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants the judge presiding over his upcoming criminal trial to step aside after moving the case out of the Republican's hometown. State District Judge George Gallagher made the decision Tuesday after special prosecutors argued they couldn't get a fair trial in the conservative Dallas suburb of McKinney, where Paxton lives. Paxton was indicted in 2015 on felony securities fraud charges over allegations he duped investors in a tech startup. Gallagher says he chose Harris County in part because attorneys on both sides are based in Houston. But Paxton's lawyers said in a court filing Tuesday that they won't give the consent required by state law for a judge to remain on a case after transferring it elsewhere. Gallagher did not immediately respond to the filing. By Lesley Wroughton and Yeganeh Torbati WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week will be an early test of whether the Trump administration can use any momentum generated by a missile attack on a Syrian air base to craft and execute a strategy to end the Syrian war. Even before Trump ordered last week's strike in retaliation for a nerve gas attack, Tillerson's visit was certain to be dominated by thorny issues, including Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, an apparent violation of an important arms control treaty, and seeing what cooperation, if any, is possible in the fight against Islamic State. Now, Tillerson, a former oil executive with no diplomatic experience, is charged with avoiding a major U.S. confrontation with Russia while exacting some concessions from Moscow. Those include getting rid of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's remaining chemical weapons and pressing Assad to negotiate Syria's future. The Kremlin said on Monday Tillerson was not scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, a move that could point to tensions. It may also suggest that Tillerson will instead follow strict diplomatic protocol and only meet his direct counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The State Department said last week a meeting had not been confirmed with Putin, who met with Tillerson when the Texan headed Exxon Mobil. Russia, along with Iran, is Assad's primary backer, and its intervention in Syria's war has been crucial to ensuring his grip on power, although no longer over the entire country. Tillerson said he had not seen hard evidence that Russia knew ahead of time about the chemical weapons attack, which killed at least 70 people, but he planned to urge Moscow to rethink its support for Assad in the April 12 talks. "I'm hopeful that we can have constructive talks with the Russian government, with Foreign Minister Lavrov and have Russia be supportive of a process that will lead to a stable Syria," Tillerson told ABC's "The Week" on Sunday. The U.S. cruise missile strike on Thursday, meant to dissuade Assad from using chemical weapons again, gives Tillerson more credibility with Russian officials and will boost his efforts, observers and former officials said. "The demonstration of the administration's willingness to use force has the potential to add some leverage to the diplomacy," said Antony Blinken, a deputy to former Secretary of State John Kerry. The U.S. strike - ordered less than three days after the gas attack - could make it clear to Russia that the United States will hold Moscow accountable for Assad, Blinken said. Tillerson ought to be "very matter of fact" in his meetings, Blinken said, sending Russia a message that: "If you don't rein him in, we will take further action." Tillerson said on Thursday that Russia had "failed in its responsibility" to remove Syria's chemical weapons under a 2013 agreement, which he argued showed Russia was either complicit with the gas attacks or "simply incompetent." Securing a Russian commitment on eliminating Assad's chemical weapons is likely to be first on his agenda, said Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense in the Obama administration. RUSSIAN LEVERAGE WITH ASSAD The talks will be a major test of Tillerson's diplomatic skills. As a former chief executive at Exxon Mobil, he has experience doing business in Russia, but no background in the often public negotiations that international diplomacy requires. It also is unclear if Trump, who has expressed skepticism about multilateral institutions such as the European Union and United Nations, will have patience for the protracted negotiations that a comprehensive deal on Syria would require. Russia condemned the missile strike as illegal and Putin said it would harm U.S.-Russia ties. Moscow also said it would keep military channels of communication open with Washington, but would not exchange any information through them. It was an unforeseen turn of events for Trump, who praised Putin repeatedly during last year's election campaign and said he would like to work more closely with Russia to defeat Islamic State. Just over a week ago, top administration officials were signaling that removing Assad is no longer a U.S. priority. But one senior official said it was significant that Russia suspended, and did not cancel, cooperation with the United States after the air strike. Nor did Lavrov cancel Tillerson's visit to Moscow, suggesting Russia may be willing to tolerate the single strike. As of this weekend, the talks were still on. "They're going to try to draw a line around this incident," said Alexander Vershbow, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia during the George W. Bush administration. "They are still not giving up on working with the Trump administration." The Trump administration also wants to keep the focus in Syria on defeating Islamic State rather than opening a conflict with Russia or Syria's government. Another U.S. official said one hope is that Moscow will see Tillerson's visit and a discussion about how to cooperate to stop Assad's use of banned weapons as a tacit acknowledgement of Russia's great power status, one of Putin's main ambitions. "The strikes aren't necessarily a bad thing for Russia," said Andrew Tabler, a fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Russia's had a very hard time getting President Assad to come to the negotiating table in any kind of meaningful way." Now, Tabler said, the Russians can point to more U.S. strikes as the price of further intransigence by Assad. (Editing by John Walcott, Bill Trott and James Dalgleish) Tokyo (AFP) - Toshiba on Tuesday warned its survival was at risk as the struggling Japanese industrial giant reported a loss of $4.8 billion in long-overdue financial results. One of the country's best-known firms, Toshiba had twice delayed its earnings and faced the possibility of an embarrassing delisting from the Tokyo stock exchange if it missed the Tuesday deadline for reporting. The unaudited results showed the troubled firm lost 532.5 billion yen in April-December. It has previously forecast losses could balloon to more than a trillion yen in the fiscal year to March. Japan's financial regulators had given the firm more time to assess the impact of huge writedowns at its US nuclear unit Westinghouse Electric, which filed for bankruptcy protection last month. "It's likely that the company's financial situation will turn severe" owing to problems at Westinghouse, it said in a Japanese-language statement released with the results. "There are events and circumstances that may bring about significant questions about the idea of (carrying on) as a going concern," it added. The warning comes as media reports say Taiwanese giant Foxconn is offering to pay the cash-strapped firm up to 3.0 trillion yen for its prized memory chip business. Toshiba has said it needed more time to probe claims of financial misconduct by senior managers at Westinghouse and gauge the impact on its finances. The probe was started after a whistleblower complained that one or more executives at the US unit exerted "inappropriate pressure" on its accounting. Toshiba's auditor said Tuesday it would not sign off on the latest results until it had finished "evaluating" the firm's probe, among other issues. "This evaluation process was continuing at the time of the reporting," it said in the statement. "As a result, the auditing firm was unable to judge whether the... financial statement requires amendments or not." Story continues Earlier, Japanese media said the auditor suspects the alleged wrongdoing at Westinghouse had been going on for longer than previously thought, which could mean revising earlier financial statements. - 'Stock collapses' - Toshiba shares have been hammered this year, losing more than half their value since late December when it first warned of multi-billion-dollar losses at Westinghouse. They fell 2.69 percent to finish at 223.5 yen on Tuesday, before the results. The earnings release may give Toshiba some breathing room, but its embattled stock could still be delisted depending on the results of its probe into the alleged wrongdoing. The crisis comes less than two years after the firm's reputation was badly damaged by separate revelations that top executives had pressured underlings to cover up weak results for years after the 2008 global financial meltdown. The huge conglomerate -- which has 188,000 employees globally -- 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 delays and cost overruns have hit Westinghouse's finances hard. Toshiba has sold a number of assets, including a medical devices unit and most of its home appliance business. Turkish electronics manufacturer Vestel said Monday it is in talks to buy Toshiba's television unit. South Korea's Hynix and American chipmaker Broadcom are among the firms in the running for Toshiba's flash memory business, along with Apple-supplier Foxconn, which bought Japanese electronics giant Sharp last year. Selling the division, which accounts for about one-quarter of Toshiba's 5.6 trillion yen in annual revenue, is seen as key for the company to turn itself around. Toshiba is the world's number-two chipmaker behind South Korean rival Samsung. But any foreign buyer -- particularly a Chinese suitor -- would need to pass a Japanese government review, given concerns about security around systems already using Toshiba's memory chips, which are widely used in data centres as well as smartphones and computers. Japanese media have said the government was in talks with domestic firms about putting together a bid to keep the technology from going abroad. I am a doctor who loves to use technology. But I also understand its limits. As an intensive care physician, I have great respect for the tools I have been trained to use. They have helped me rescue people from the jaws of death. But these tools can do more harm than good when used without first having an honest communication about what they cant do. Take Linda. She was born with a defective heart valve, which was replaced when she was in her 50s. She had a pacemaker implanted at the same time. But an errant pacemaker wire chafed the delicate replacement valve, which slowly began to build up scar tissue. It was a subtle undoing, not enough to be obvious but enough to cause increasingly serious health problems. Her heart problems were compounded by kidney failure and a recurring buildup of fluid in her lungs. She became increasingly fatigued and bedbound. Lindas poor medical status made a second valve replacement operation very risky. Her cardiologist recommended that she go across the country to a highly respected medical center in the Midwest that specializes in such procedures. Its cardiac surgeons were considered the A team for managing problem valves. Lindas husband, John, a civil engineer, was confident that reshaping Lindas valve would restore the rest of her body to health. It would just take cool heads, some design thinking, and the steady hands and expertise of these spectacular surgeons. John possessed the education, resilience, and ingenuity to overcome most obstacles and, when it came to saving his wifes life, he would spare no effort. Read more: Why are doctors so bad at telling patients theyre dying? John hit the ground running, inserting himself into the medical team with confidence. He was pleasant but persistent, unafraid to ask questions or express opinions. The operation was successful, but Linda encountered several severe complications afterward. The doctors included John in conversations about these complications as they cropped up, and even solicited his preferences regarding next steps for her. They continued to discuss with him the minutiae of her physiology and listen to his opinions on which drug or nutritional formula to consider next. There was always another treatment, another high-tech intervention to try. Story continues But the one thing the doctors didnt offer was the larger truth. Linda was dying. Enlarging blood clots, bleeding deep within her abdomen, the inability to breathe without the support of a machine, profound and progressive weakness, and the deficits of her sick liver: This was an avalanche no A team could prevent. In the third month after the operation, Lindas suffering growing by the day, John reached out to me through a mutual friend. I listened to his exhausted voice on the phone. It was clear that he was broken and overwhelmed, but he was still struggling to fight each of Lindas medical problems. While John knew about every medical treatment available, he was blind to the fact that his wife was dying. Even as her body was breaking down in painful and gruesome ways, even as she asked him to let her die, he felt that it was his duty to keep fighting for her life. All of Lindas specialists had, no doubt, wanted to do their best for her and for John. But they were unable to say the words that this suffering man needed to hear. There was no outright incompetence, no obvious neglect or laziness, no ill intention only doctors, the best of the best, extremely smart and eager to help, providing the world-class, organ-focused care they had been taught to provide. At my suggestion, John asked to talk with a palliative care specialist. Palliative care is a relatively new subspecialty in medicine which focuses on caring for the whole patient instead of just the failing organ. To do this, its practitioners are highly trained in the management of all symptoms that come with serious illness, as well as the communication skills required to share important information about prognosis and treatment options that other doctors often avoid. Read more: My son had a devastating, mysterious illness. The conversation about palliative care knocked me flat Although palliative care has been proven to benefit seriously ill patients in intensive care units, Lindas team hadnt offered her this option. With the support of a palliative care doctor, John acknowledged that it was time to honor Lindas request to be disconnected from the machines that were keeping her alive. She died shortly afterward. But the trauma of Lindas prolonged dying process left John with a sense of failure, profound pain, and a grief so complicated it would take years to unravel. Specialists with cutting-edge technical skills and the technology to support them are indeed a type of A team. But they often lack a different crucial skill, one I believe all doctors should hone: the ability to communicate bad news. Without that they are an A team of technicians, not physicians in the truest sense. A true physician, to my mind, tends to the whole patient, not just her organs, and cares for the human behind the disease. Unfortunately, Linda and Johns experience was another manifestation of how our system often treats patients who are dying, focusing on cure rather than care, and chasing fantasy even when cure is not an option. We physicians must come out from behind our machines and high-tech treatments and do something that can be more difficult than replace a heart valve: talk with our patients and their family members about what is really going on. We owe patients this essential information so they can understand the range of options, and their limits. Each of us physician, patient, and family member must look carefully at our collective tendency to celebrate technology and to assume that more is always better. Jessica Nutik Zitter, MD, practices pulmonary/critical care medicine and palliative care medicine at Highland Hospital, the county hospital in Oakland, Calif. She is the author of Extreme Measures (Avery Books, February 2017), and was featured in the Netflix documentary Extremis, which was nominated for an Academy Award. The Trump administration sees no hypocrisy in bombing Syria while closing Americas borders to Syrian refugees. From a humanitarian standpoint, [we are] ensuring that we create an environment that provides a safe place for them to ultimately remain, said White House press secretary Sean Spicer in press conference on Monday. The administration is ensuring that there are places that are free from violence and places free to gather safely Everyone would agree the last thing they want to do is leave. For the American aid organizations working with Syrian refugees in the U.S. and overseas, though, this tension is very real. Leaders of some of these groups, especially those who are Syrian American, feel grateful that the United States government struck a military base in Syria last week after a chemical-weapons attack killed more than 80 Syrian civilians. But theyre worried that Trumps refugee policy will simultaneously aggravate the humanitarian crisis in Syriaand fear what will happen when the worlds attention once again turns away from the country. Zaher Sahloul, a Syrian American doctor who came to the United States in 1989, has spent a lot of time in the last few months protesting Trump. I demonstrated against the Muslim ban, against the breaking up of immigrant families, about the wall, he told me. He opposed the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and disliked Trumps recent executive order on the environment. But the administrations Syria strikes stand apart. In this particular decision, he said, I felt President Trump was right. Recommended: When Conservatives Oppose 'Religious Freedom' For him, the conflict is personal: Sahloul was Assads classmate in the 1980s before Sahloul came to the United States, and his hometown of Homs has been a major site of conflict in the Syrian war. Until 2015, Sahloul led the Syrian American Medical Society, a coalition of doctors who provide medical aid in Syria and surrounding countries that are going through refugee crises. Sahloul has personally visited Syria to provide emergency medical support in the last several years, and the organization says it provided 3 million medical services in 2016. Story continues Its very difficult to see children gassed to death while theyre asleep, Sahloul said. This continued for six years without any accountability. I felt this strike was sending a clear message to [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad]. On Twitter, Sahloul called out President Obama for his inaction: How come that @realDonaldTrump was moved into military action by the images of children in Syria, while @POTUS44 was so stone-hearted?! he wrote. Lina Sergie Attar, a Syrian American who runs an education-focused non-profit called the Karam Foundation, said she felt similarly betrayed by Obama. In 2013, there was evidence that the Assad regime used chemical weapons against its people. Despite Obamas declaration that this crossed a red line that would bring consequences, he declined to take military action against Assad. When reports of a chemical-weapons attack surfaced last week, Sergie Attar expected Trump to demur as well. I was surprised and happy to know that we now have a president who is a president of action, who will be standing up to the regime, she said. On the one hand, nobody wants to welcome more bombs on their country. But on the other hand this was a strike specifically targeting the Assad regimes military base. Recommended: What Is Trump's Syria Policy? As supportive as they are of Trumps military action, both Sergie Attar and Sahloul worry about the consequences of his administrations ban on admitting Syrian refugees to the U.S. If you sympathize with the little babies who are being gassed, you should sympathize with the babies who are in tents who are the victims of Assad and ISIS, Sahloul said. Its good that President Trump seems to now recognize that refugees represent babies and not terrorists. Here lies the double-bind of U.S. aid organizations working on the crisis in Syria. What we see is this conundrum, said Erol Kekic, the executive director of the immigration and refugee program at Church World Service, a coalition of largely mainline Protestant churches in the United States that works on refugee resettlement. Some people want the government to intervene in Syria and protect people who have been directly attacked by the regime, who are also fleeing from ISIS, Kekic said. But were also closing our borders and our doors and saying we do not want to resettle any more refugees. The fact of the matter is that when theres military intervention, there has to be an accompanying humanitarian intervention, and thats where were concerned, said Mark Hetfield, the president and CEO of HIAS, a Jewish refugee-resettlement organization in the U.S. Refugees have been vilified by the current administration. After last weeks chemical-gas attacks, Trumps rhetoric on Syrians seemed to soften: Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack, the president said. No child of God should ever suffer such horror. Hetfield wasnt impressed. Its good that President Trump seems to now recognize that refugees represent babies and not terrorists, he said. Recommended: The Kansas House Race Giving Republicans the Jitters The politics of Trumps military strikes are even more complicated because hes such a polarizing figure. Sergie Attar said she felt betrayed by activists who are protesting against Trumps decision to order missile strikes. Since 2014, the Obama administration has carried out strikes in Syria in its offensive against ISIS, but she didnt see many people protesting those attacks. Theres a lot of hypocrisy on this, she said. Not all aid organizations support Trumps military action in Syria. For example, Bill OKeefe, the vice president for government relations and advocacy at Catholic Relief Services, believes on-going violence aggravated by military actions by additional players like the United States will cause more people to flee and more instability. From the perspective of his organization, which offers humanitarian aid in more than 100 countries around the world, diplomacy is superior to bombs. We, and the Catholic bishops, are always going to be the ones looking askance at military action, he said. Not because we oppose it on principle, but because the unintended negative consequences for real people are always real. Others, like the evangelical aid organization World Relief, have refused to weigh in altogether: Jenny Yang, the vice president of advocacy and policy, declined to comment on the groups position in an email, saying theres a lot that is still unknown. This wave will end and well be back where we were: left alone to watch these massacres daily. The Trump administration seems to support an end to Assads rule: On Monday, Spicer said he can't imagine a stable and peaceful Syria where Bashar al-Assad is in power. Once the region is stable, Spicer said, the administration can apply political, economic and diplomatic pressure for a regime change. But even that wouldnt come close to fixing the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The conditions have only gotten worse over the last six years, said Kekic. The devastation is so vast that even if the conflict stopped tomorrow, people wouldnt be able to go home because theres nothing to go home to. Meanwhile, said Sergie Attar, its getting harder for her small organization to do its work in Syria. The fighting has made it unsafe for volunteers and staff members to work in much of the country, so Karam is largely operating from communities on the Turkish border. From her perspective, its much less important to stand against Trump than to make sure her organization can reach people. But for the rest of America, Syria has become another highly politicized issue that will inevitably be colored by peoples perspectives on Trump. Aid workers are frustrated that the American public, and particularly the media, only pay selective attention to the Syrian crisis. Theres always media attention for military action, said OKeefe. Remember, were talking about 11 million people who have been displaced from their homes and 400,000 who have been killed. This is just the latest little blip on that larger, deeper story. Sergie Attar doesnt have much confidence that the worlds focus will stay on Syria once the news cycle moves on. We dont know what day were going to wake up and that days massacre is going to catch and suddenly were going to be in the news again, she said. This wave will end and well be back where we were: left alone to watch these massacres daily, without anybody paying attention. Every time, we hope that this is the last time. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump signed off on Montenegro's accession to NATO Tuesday, removing a potential hurdle to the Balkan nation becoming the alliance's 29th member. "Today, President Donald J. Trump signed the United States instrument of ratification of the Protocol for Montenegro's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)," the White House said in a statement. The decision had largely been expected, despite Trump's sometimes mercurial decision-making and harsh words for the military alliance. It will further strain US relations with Russia, which has described Montenegro's accession as a "provocation." Under Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has long seen the Balkans as inside its "sphere of influence." Trump's approval comes on the eve of his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House. The Republican president has repeatedly called the United States' commitment to the alliance into question, demanding allies pay more toward collective defense. But he has tempered his most incendiary rhetoric since coming to office and is likely to attend a NATO summit in Brussels on May 25. Russian President Vladimir Putin made a provocative allegation that there are plans to fake a chemical attack in Syria that would be pinned on the Bashar al-Assad regime. Russian President Putin said he has information that the US is preparing to launch fresh missile strikes on Syria (Reuters photo) By India Today Web Desk: Amid the ongoing international row over Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday made a provocative allegation that the United States is preparing to launch fresh missile strikes targeting Syria. US President Donald Trump recently ordered a missile strike on a Syrian airbase allegedly used to carry out a gas attack. Putin on Tuesday also seemed to suggest that there are plans to fake a chemical attack in Syrian capital of Damascus. advertisement The fake gas attack, Putin indicated, would be used to discredit Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his regime. Putin's comments came during a joint address with the visiting Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Moscow. President Putin was responding to a question about whether he believed the US military under President Donald Trump would launch another strike against Syrian targets. "We have information from a variety of sources that such provocations (I cannot find another word for this) are being prepared in other parts of Syria, including in southern suburbs of Damascus, where they are planning to plant certain substances and accuse Syrian authorities of using them," Putin said, according to a copy of statement published on the official Kremlin website. Putin, however, did not elaborate on the source of his information. CALLS FOR PROBE INTO US STRIKE Putin, who has strongly condemned the US strike of the Syrian airbase, said Russia plans to ask the international chemical weapons watchdog -- the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons -- to launch a probe into the strike. His comments came just hours before top US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow. The top US diplomat's visit to Russia is the first under President Donald Trump and Tillerson arrived in Moscow carrying a message from world powers denouncing Russia's support for Assad. US STRIKES SYRIA The provocative statement comes against the backdrop of the recent United States missile strike on a Syrian airbase. The strike, US President Donald Trump said, was in direct response to this month's Syrian chemical gas attack, in which scores of civilians, including children, died. The West blamed President Bashar al-Assad of orchestrating the gas attack, a charged denied by the Syrian regime. Russia, a long-time ally of Assad, has backed the Syrian regime, calling the allegations untrue. 'SEEN IT BEFORE' In his comments on Tuesday, President Putin compared the accusations against Assad to the 2003 alleged discovery of chemical weapons in Iraq. advertisement Putin said the accusations remind him "very much of the events of 2003, when US representatives in the (United Nations) Security Council showed alleged chemical weapons discovered in Iraq." "A military campaign in Iraq ensued, which ended with the destruction of the country, an increased terrorist threat and the emergence of ISIS on the international scene - no more, no less," he said. "The exact same thing is happening now, and their partners are nodding approvingly. In this connection, our remarkable writers, Ilf and Petrov, come to mind, with their famous line, "It's boring, ladies." We have seen this all before," the Russian president added. ALSO READ | Syria: Who is fighting whom WATCH | This video of a Syrian father with twin kids who survived chemical attack will move you --- ENDS --- President Trump suggested on Tuesday that he could sweeten the terms of a trade agreement with China if Beijing assists in solving the North Korea problem but that the United States is prepared to move forward in the western Pacific without Chinese help. I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! Trump tweeted early Tuesday, three days after hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. North Korea is looking for trouble, Trump wrote. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2017 North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2017 Over the weekend, Trump deployed a U.S. Navy strike group to the Korean Peninsula as a show of force, a U.S. official told Reuters. In turn, North Korea warned of tough counteraction against the United States if there is any sign of a U.S. strike against Pyongyang. The [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S., a spokesman for the Norths foreign ministry said, according to state news agency KCNA. Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theater but also in the U.S. mainland, North Koreas official Rodong Sinmun newspaper declared. Story continues North Korea is one of Trumps most difficult national security challenges. On Barack Obamas watch, Pyongyang made enough progress on nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that, experts predict, it could strike the U.S. mainland, possibly even the East Coast, in two to three years. The Obama administration enlisted China and other world powers in two rounds of international sanctions and left Trump options for further tightening the economic vise, Yahoo News previously reported, according to administration and congressional sources. China is the key to North Korea policy because its the smaller countrys patron its source of food and fuel. Reuters reported early Tuesday morning that China had ordered its trading companies to return coal shipments, a key North Korea export, to the Stalinist regime in Pyongyang. Trumps Tuesday tweets come amid simmering tensions surrounding several global hot spots, including North Korea and Syria. Last week, Trump ordered an airstrike on a Syrian airfield in response to a deadly chemical attack that was allegedly carried out by the Syrian government against its own citizens. Administration officials have warned that Russia could be held accountable for its support of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Speaking to reporters in Italy on Tuesday en route to Moscow, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pointed to Russias prior agreement to rid Syria of chemical weapons. Tillerson said it was unclear whether the Kremlin was incompetent or complicit in the attack but that the distinction doesnt much matter to the dead. We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people, Tillerson said. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role. Or Russia can maintain its alliance. Yahoo News Chief Washington Correspondent Olivier Knox contributed to this report. Read more from Yahoo News: By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's family business has reached a settlement with a second celebrity chef over a canceled deal for a restaurant at Trump's hotel in Washington, the two sides said. Trump had sued chef Geoffrey Zakarian in 2015 for $10 million after the restaurateur scrapped plans for a restaurant in the new Trump International Hotel a few blocks from the White House after Trump called Mexican immigrants to the United States rapists and criminals. "After an intense, two-year legal battle, we are pleased we were able to amicably resolve our differences and wish Geoffrey continued success," Donald Trump Jr., the Republican president's son and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said in a joint statement with Zakarian issued on Monday. Zakarian said that with the opening of a new restaurant in Florida and others in the works, "2017 is already shaping up to be a hugely successful year for us." Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Before the agreement, a pretrial conference was scheduled for May in District of Columbia Superior Court. The Trump Organization and celebrity chef Jose Andres also reached a settlement last week over a canceled agreement on a restaurant at the hotel. Andres, who was born in Spain and is a U.S. citizen, had pulled out of his deal over Trump's disparaging comments about Mexicans, saying they harmed all immigrants. The Trump International Hotel, which opened last fall in a building leased from the federal government, has become a rallying point for anti-Trump demonstrators and a focus of controversy since his election in November. Although Trump critics have contended that the hotel was a conflict of interest, the government's property oversight arm found last month that the issue had been resolved by Donald Trump Jr. taking over its management. A Washington restaurant sued the president and Trump Old Post Office LLC in March, claiming patrons had shifted business to the new establishment to curry favor with his administration. A Trump Organization attorney said the lawsuit lacked merit. (Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Dan Grebler) The White House is set to host a Passover seder on Monday night, but President Donald Trump will not attend, a White House official said. "A few details are still being nailed down but as of now it seems the President will not be attending," White House spokeswoman Natalie Strom told The Washington Post in an email Monday. Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, both practice Orthodox Judaism. However, it is not clear if they, too, would participate in the White House Passover seder. Read: What Is Passover? Torah Readings 2015: Read About Moses And The Exodus Story Of Jews Fleeing Egypt For The Jewish Holiday Other Jewish members in Trumps camp are Gary Cohn, director of National Economic Council, and Senior adviser Stephen Miller. A White House official told TIME they were still mapping out Mondays ceremonial event. "Our tradition is still taking shape but this year it will be an opportunity for observant White House staff that can't be with their families to celebrate the holiday among friends," an official said via email. The president has yet to speak on whether he would be continuing the ritual. The Passover seder is a known tradition, which started by Former President Obamas campaign staffersthree junior aides in the basement of the Sheraton Hotel in Harrisburg because they were not able to make it home for Passover during the 2008 campaign trial. The then candidate later joined them. The following year, during Obamas first year of his presidency, he made the White House seder a custom, inviting Jewish staffers and backers in the Old Family Dining Room. The Passover holiday begins at sundown Monday. Jews across the world gather for a seder, to eat symbolic foods and retell the story of Jews freedom from slavery in Egypt. In 2013, there were about 4.2 million American adults who claimed to be Jewish by religion, serving 1.8 percent of the U.S. adult population, according to the Pew Research Center. Related Articles Among the many U.S.-China summits held in the last four decades, President Trump's meeting last week with Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago was probably the most unusual - if not the strangest - affair. For one, Trump warned the Twittersphere of a "very difficult" meeting with Xi because of America's large trade deficit with China. Then he surprised his guest with news that he had just ordered a cruise missile strike on Syria. The ensuing media frenzy completely overshadowed the most important U.S.-China summit in years. Xi, who is typically obsessed with following protocols and expects others to do the same, was likely caught off guard. But while there was little doubt that Xi and his delegation were not pleased by the unexpected turn of events that ended the summit on the wrong kind of bang, they might nevertheless appreciate their host's effusive spin of the get-together. As the summit closed on Friday, Trump told reporters that he had made "tremendous progress in our relationship with China" and called the U.S.-China relationship he has developed with Xi "outstanding." He also predicted that "lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away." In reality, though, based on officially disclosed details of the summit, little substantive progress was made on the most serious and divisive issues between the two countries, such as currency manipulation and trade deficits. In fact, even Trump himself implicitly acknowledged this fact when he tweeted, after his guest was safely back in Beijing, that despite the goodwill and friendship between him and Xi, "only time will tell on trade." This rather sober assessment on trade is actually not far off the mark. To be sure, China did make two relatively minor concessions at the summit: Beijing will resume imports of banned American beef and allow U.S. financial firms to set up majority-owned subsidiaries in China. But Trump and Xi did not reach any substantive trade deals. What they did agree to do is to start a 100-day process of seeking compromises on trade between the US and China. In other words, the Mar-a-Lago summit bought both sides valuable time, but little else, in averting a potential trade war. Story continues On North Korea, arguably the central national security issue on the summit's agenda, Trump and Xi did not reach any deal, even though they agreed that Pyongyang poses a serious threat to regional peace. According to White House press secretary Sean Spicer, the U.S. and China would increase cooperation to "convince North Korea ... to dismantle its illegal nuclear and missile programs." But we do not know what such "cooperation" would be. In all likelihood, Washington and Beijing have yet to determine what specific steps China should or can take in containing the North Korean threat. For those obsessed with score-keeping, determining which leader, Xi or Trump, has improved his bargaining position as the result of the summit is a tricky exercise. In the media commentaries on the outcome of the summit, much attention has been directed to the implications of the U.S. missile strike against Syria. The conventional wisdom is that, with this unexpected shift in policy, Trump has put Xi on notice: if China fails to act on North Korea, the U.S. will take unilateral military action. Fearing the potentially devastating consequences, Beijing might now have greater incentives to cooperate with the U.S. This could be true. But a brief moment of reflection would show that, on balance, Xi could not have been displeased by Trump's volte face on Syria. For one thing, striking Russia's client state has all but ensured that a U.S.-Russian rapprochement, a development greatly feared in Beijing, will not happen any time soon. For another, Trump's opening salvo of missiles is unlikely to be a one-off shot. Further escalations could drag his young administration deeper into the Middle East's quagmire, thus distracting his attention away from China. As far as Trump's China policy is concerned, the future remains cloudy. The Mar-a-Lago summit has improved the atmospherics of U.S.-China relations and started a process that may reduce trade tensions and stabilize U.S.-China ties. But there is no evidence that the summit has produced concrete agreements that have removed the underlying sources of conflict between the two countries over geopolitical security and trade. Of course, we hope that the time bought by this summit will make it easier for Trump and Xi to keep the U.S.-China relationship on an even keel. Yet, as long as economic nationalists and establishment pragmatists in the White House wage pitched battles over the China policy and Beijing and Washington continue to see each other as potential adversaries, Trump's prediction that the "lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away" will turn out to be wildly optimistic. Minxin Pei is a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College and author of the book, China's Crony Capitalism (2016). See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com (Reuters) - Highlights of the day for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday: RUSSIA, SYRIA AND NORTH KOREA Trump's spokesman increases pressure on Russia over a chemical weapons attack in Syria last week, calling Moscow isolated and saying it is trying to shift blame away from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson carries a unified message from world powers to Moscow, denouncing Russian support for Syria and taking up America's traditional role as leader of the West on behalf of the Trump administration. Russia says it hopes forthcoming talks in Moscow with Tillerson will be productive but is extremely worried the United States might decide to unilaterally attack North Korea. The United States, Britain and France want the U.N. Security Council to bolster its support for international inquiries into the deadly gas attack in Syria that western powers blame on Assad's forces. North Korean state media warns of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression, as a U.S. Navy strike group steams toward the western Pacific. Trump says in a Twitter post that he told China's President Xi Jinping that Beijing would get a better trade deal with Washington if it helped solve the U.S. problem with North Korea. UKRAINE Tillerson asked his European counterparts why American voters should care about the conflict in Ukraine, France's foreign minister says. TAXES Trump, in a Fox Business interview, says tax reform "will be better" if legislation to dismantle Obamacare is passed first by Congress because of the tax savings from the Republican health plan. BUSINESS LEADERS Trump tells a group of chief executives that his administration is reducing regulations and revamping the Wall Street reform law known as Dodd-Frank, which might be eliminated and replaced. IMMIGRATION U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions travels to the U.S.-Mexico border to make his case for increased prosecutions of illegal immigrants, pressuring U.S. attorneys to prioritize cases against criminal migrants. CLIMATE CHANGE China, Brazil, India and South Africa have urged industrialized countries to honor financial commitments made in Paris in 2015 to help developing countries fight against global climate change, they say in a statement. SPICER White House spokesman Sean Spicer triggers an uproar on social media by saying Adolf Hitler did not use chemical weapons, which critics say overlooks millions of Jews killed in Nazi gas chambers. (Compiled by Jonathan Oatis; Editing by James Dalgleish and Cynthia Osterman) WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump's frequent questioning about the integrity of his spy agencies is coming back to haunt him. As his administration used U.S. intelligence to pressure Moscow over its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin parroted back Trump's doubts about the reliability of U.S. spy agencies. "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq," Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters Tuesday, in response to U.S. agencies blaming Syria's government for using chemical weapons. "We have seen it all already." Trump used the same argument in December, when the intelligence community issued its official assessment that Russia interfered with the U.S. election. Rejecting the assessment, Trump comparing the analyses to the false claims in the lead up the Iraq War. "These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction," the Trump transition team said in a statement. Trump has picked other fights with intelligence agencies, blaming it for the leaks about his associates' Russia ties. During the transition, he ripped the intelligence community for being behind the leaks and even compared them to Nazi propaganda. Lately, he has blamed Democrats, suggesting that they were using them as an excuse for Hillary Clinton's defeat. "Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to "leak" into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?" he tweeted in January. Those statements threaten to undermine the Trump administration's recent effort isolate Assad, in the wake of a chemical attack that killed dozens of Syrians. U.S. officials have accused Russia of knowing about the attack ahead of time and trying to help cover it up. Putin has called for a formal United Nations investigation. "Putin knows that Trump personally degraded U.S. intelligence credibility by attacking it over the Russian hacking and essentially going to war with the CIA and NSA," said Malcolm Nance, a veteran intelligence officer. He said Putin, a former director of Russian intelligence, "is now taking full advantage of the damage Trump caused with those attacks." Ankara (AFP) - Turkey said on Tuesday that tests proved the deadly nerve agent sarin was used in a suspected chemical attack in northwestern Syria which killed dozens last week. "It has been identified that sarin gas was used," Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said, quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu. The results came from analysis of blood and urine samples of the casualties from the attack in Idlib province who were brought to Turkey for treatment. Three of them died in hospital. The incident which killed 87 civilians, including 31 children in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun has been blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime by Turkey and the United States. Akdag said isopropyl methylphosphonic acid was found, which is what results after sarin is exposed to the environment. Sarin can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and kills by crippling the respiratory centre of the central nervous system and paralysing the muscles around the lungs. Images from the town where the attack took place showed victims suffering convulsions, breathing problems and foaming at the mouth. Days after the incident, the US blasted 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat air base near Homs which Washington believes Assad's jets launched the attack from. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu earlier in the day said the regime still had "chemical weapons capacity" as top diplomats gathered for G7 talks in Italy. UPDATE: 3:41 p.m. EDT -- Two people were killed Monday in an apparent murder-suicide at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California, a police public information officer confirmed in a press conference. A male died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after killing a female inside a classroom at the school. Two students remained in critical condition at local hospitals, police confirmed. They did not release the names or ages of the children, pending notification of family members. Police said they were called to the scene at 10:27 a.m. Monday morning. Officers said they would continue to investigate the incident and release the names of the students as soon as possible. UPDATE: 2:37 p.m. EDT -- San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan confirmed that two people, both adults, were dead following an apparent murder-suicide at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California. Burguan said that the suspect was down and there was no further threat. The police chief also confirmed that two people were wounded in the incident and said they were possibly students. Both were taken to nearby hospitals where their conditions remained unknown. UPDATE: 2:25 p.m. EDT -- A shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California left two students and one teacher injured. The conditions of all three were not yet known, though they were taken to a nearby hospital. San Bernardino County fire officials said the incident took place around 10:45 a.m. One teacher tweeted that she and her students were fully barricaded inside their classroom. The shooter was taken down a few blocks from the school, according to Los Angeles CBS local news. Parents were told to head to nearby Cajon High School to pick up their children, KTLA reported. Original story: A shooting at an elementary school in San Bernardino, California, Monday injured at least two children, according to initial reports. San Bernardino County Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said on Twitter that the incident was a murder-suicide. Story continues "We believe this to be a murder-suicide," Burguan wrote. "Happened in a class room. Two students have been transported to the hospital." A spokeswoman for the school said the shooter was down and the school was safe. She said that in addition to the two students, at least one teacher had been shot. The remaining students at the school were being taken to a nearby high school for safety reasons. SaveSave Related Articles It was a decision making day for the CM Yogi Adityanath-led new government. By Mausami Singh: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet lead by CM Yogi Adityanath met on Tuesday for the second time within a week. The meeting was called to take vital decisions which according to its minister are people oriented and for welfare of the common man. The cabinet meeting that lasted for about three hours. The last meeting was held on April 4. It was a decision making day for the new government. advertisement In the meeting, Bundelkhand and sugarcane farmers were also discussed. The second cabinet meeting also spelt promise for the people of the state but it will be seen how much of the promises are implemented. MAJOR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE MEETING: Power for all: Adhering to BJP's manifesto the cabinet has promised abundant electricity to the state. To be implemented from April 14, all headquarters will get 24 hours power supply, tehsils to get 20 hours, villages to get 18 hours of uninterrupted electricity. Apart from replacing transformers within a compressed 48-hour deadline, it will also sign an MoU with centre on power for all by 2018. The cabinet has also cancelled payment of surcharge on electricity and farmers with a bill of above 10,000 can pay now in four installments. Crackdown on corruption: With the UP Cabinet approving an audit by CAG audit of development authorities troubles could mount for Akhilesh Yadav. This could include authorities of Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Yamuna Expressway. Pothole-free roads: June 15 has been set as the timeline by the Cabinet for making the roads of one of the largest states pothole free. A stretch of 85,943 km roads is what the state government has identified that needs urgent attention. Prevention of Encephalitis and other diseases: Cabinet has passed a note to take immediate steps for prevention of Encephalitis malaria dengue and other diseases. This includes fogging and proper inspections and increasing 10 hospital beds in hospitals. Tackling construction material shortage: The cabinet had approved immediate measures to tackle the shortage of construction material. It has approved a short term plan for addressing shortage and e-tenders would be issued to permit mining for next six months. Budget for border districts: Funds for development work in seven districts connected to Nepal border have been approved. The state government provides 40 per cent of the money for work at the border from water, electricity to construction of toilets. However, this had been pending for some time now. advertisement WATCH | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath asks ministers to submit asset details in 15 days Also read: Yogi Adityanath meets Uttarakhand counterpart to sort out issues between states Yogi Adityanath on Vande Mataram: Need to find out ways to deal with 'prejudiced mind' --- ENDS --- By Crispian Balmer LUCCA, Italy (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asked his European counterparts on Tuesday why American voters should care about the conflict in Ukraine, France's foreign minister said. The new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has indicated it might be less engaged on the international stage than some of its predecessors, telling its allies that it would put U.S. interests first. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Tillerson had openly questioned why "American taxpayers" should be concerned about Ukraine, which has been racked by a separatist conflict for the last three years. Ayrault told reporters he had replied: "It is in the interests of the U.S. taxpayers to have a Europe that is secure and is strong politically and economically ... You don't want a weak Europe, broken into bits and feeble. The West slapped sanctions on Russia in 2014 over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and its support for the rebels in eastern Ukraine, in a conflict in which more than 10,000 people have been killed. Kiev and NATO say Moscow has fueled the fighting by supporting the separatists with troops and weapons, a charge it denies. Tillerson posed the question at a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised nations. The former oil executive flew to Russia immediately after the gathering and was not immediately available for comment. In its closing communique, the G7 said a Ukraine ceasefire agreement, struck in Minsk in 2015, had not been fully implemented, adding that Russia was not doing enough to help restore peace. "Russia's behaviour is not consistent with the rules-based international order," the G7 statement said. "We remain united in using a wide array of foreign policy tools, including restrictive measures and sanctions, with the goal of persuading Russia to return to a path of shared respect of those principles." German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters a ceasefire was due to take effect over Easter. "We must convince both sides ... that a ceasefire in Ukraine is the key precondition for getting back into a political process," he said. (Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Berlin; editing by Andrew Roche) By Steve Scherer LUCCA Italy (Reuters) - Russia should abandon its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after his repeated use of chemical weapons and join the United States to map out a peaceful future for Syria, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday. Tillerson's comments came an hour before he flew to Moscow from a Group of Seven meeting in Italy to meet with his Russian counterpart. Putin has been Assad's top international backer since 2015 amid a brutal civil war that has dragged on six years now. Washington responded to a chemical attack last week that killed dozens, including many children, with a missile strike against an Assad air base. "Russia has aligned with the Assad regime, the Iranians and Hezbollah. Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russia's interest?" Tillerson said to reporters in Lucca, Italy, calling the use of a nerve agent an act of "barbarism". "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar Al-Assad.... It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he added. Tillerson, a former Exxon oil executive, will face his biggest challenge so far as Washington's top diplomat when he is in Moscow. Assad's allies have stood firmly by him. A joint command center made up of the forces of Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia said on Sunday it would respond to any new aggression, and that its support for Assad would increase. While Tillerson's message is similar to the one espoused for years by former president Barack Obama, last week's missile attack marked the first time the United States has directly targeted Assad's military. Tillerson said Russia had failed to act as guarantor for a 2013 agreement to rid Syria of chemical weapons, which remain a threat amid the "chaotic conditions on the ground in Syria". "We do not want the regime's uncontrolled stockpile of chemical weapons to fall into the hands of ISIS (Islamic State) or other terrorist groups who could and want to attack the United States or our allies," Tillerson said. "Nor can we accept the normalization of the use of chemical weapons by other actors or countries in Syria or elsewhere," he added. The United States has been conducting air strikes Islamic State militants in the region since 2014. Tillerson repeated that destroying Islamic State remained Washington's top priority. (Reporting Steve Scherer Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council is due to vote on Thursday to close a 13-year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti this year and replace it with a smaller police operation, which would be drawn down over two years as the country boosts its own force. The closure of the $346 million mission, recommended by U.N. chief Antonio Guterres, comes as the United States looks to cut its funding to U.N. peacekeeping. Washington is the largest contributor, paying 28.5 percent of the total budget. "We regard the transformation of the Haiti mission, including the withdrawal of the military, as a strong example for how peacekeeping missions can and should change as a country's political situation changes," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told the council. There are currently 2,342 troops on the ground in Haiti, who would withdraw over the coming six months. The 15-member Security Council is due to vote on the U.S.-drafted resolution on Thursday. While Russia had some concerns about spelling out when the successor mission could use force, diplomats said those issues were likely to be overcome. "We see a reason to reconfigure MINUSTAH (the U.N. mission) to the new situation but that has to be done in a most cautious manner. It's important to prevent a security void," Deputy Russian U.N. Ambassador Petr Iliichev told the council. "We are convinced that the situation remains quite tenuous." U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 when a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It is the only U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Americas. Haiti suffered a two-year political crisis until the recent election and inauguration of President Jovenel Moise. It has suffered major natural disasters, including an earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Matthew last year. But the impoverished Caribbean country has not had an armed conflict in years. U.N. peacekeepers have been accused of sexual abuse and blamed for a cholera outbreak. Haiti was free of cholera until 2010, when peacekeepers dumped infected sewage into a river. The United Nations does not accept legal responsibility for the outbreak of the disease that causes uncontrollable diarrhea. Some 9,300 have died and more than 800,000 people sickened. Deputy British U.N. Ambassador Peter Wilson said he was "gravely concerned" about the continued presence of cholera, as he announced Britain would give $600,000 to help with the response. Deputy French U.N. Ambassador Alexis Lamek said the time had come to move toward a new U.N. presence in Haiti, "one which is better adapted to the country's needs and the conditions on the ground, which have significantly changed." "The United Nations still has work to do in Haiti," Lamek told the council. China's U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyi said he supported the recommendations by Guterres. (Editing by James Dalgleish) By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tensions between the United States and Russia will not "spiral out of control" following last week's U.S. cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday, describing it as a one-off response to Syria's use of banned chemical weapons. President Donald Trump, in his biggest foreign policy decision since taking office in January, ordered the strikes after concluding that Syria waged a nerve gas attack in rebel-held territory that killed 87 people, many of them children. Russia, which has advisers on the ground aiding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, warned the U.S. strike could have serious consequences. Syria denies involvement. "It will not spiral out of control," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon. "I'm confident the Russians will act in their own best interest and there is nothing in their best interest to say they want this situation to go out of control." Mattis has repeatedly warned that the U.S. military remained ready to act again should Assad use chemical weapons, saying on Tuesday that Assad would "pay a very, very stiff price." At the same time, he acknowledged that Trump had only authorized the single attack, meaning the U.S. military would not automatically have the authority to strike again should Washington determine another case of chemical weapons use. Mattis also sought to downplay concerns about Pentagon mission creep, saying the U.S. military's focus in Syria was still fighting Islamic State militants, not becoming entangled in Syria's messy civil war between Assad and his opponents. "The rest of the campaign stays on track exactly as it was before Assad's violation," Mattis said. U.S. CAN'T PROVE RUSSIA ROLE The incident has chilled U.S. relations with Moscow after a presidential campaign during which Trump frequently called for an alliance with Russia to fight Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. It has also led the Trump administration to harden its attitude against Assad weeks after top U.S. officials said they were more concerned with defeating Islamic State militants than getting Assad out of power. "I don't see a peaceful, stable Syria in the future that has Assad in charge," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday. "I don't see a future Syria that has (Assad) as the leader of that government." U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson denounced Russian support for Assad as he prepared to fly to Moscow on Tuesday. "It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson told reporters in Italy. U.S. intelligence indicates that Syrian Su-22 aircraft taking off from Shayrat airfield delivered the nerve agent sarin, according to a White House report given to reporters. Mattis said there was no doubt that Damascus was responsible. Although some U.S. officials have strongly hinted they suspect Russia, which has a presence at Shayrat, may have known something about the planned attack, none have conclusively linked Moscow to the incident itself. Mattis suggested the United States did not have firm evidence that Russia had foreknowledge or was complicit in the chemical attack. "It was very clear that the Assad regime planned it, orchestrated it and executed it and beyond that we can't say right now. We know what I just told you, we don't know anything beyond that," Mattis said, when asked whether Russia had a role. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by James Dalgleish) In an email to employees on Monday, the United Airlines CEO faulted a passenger who was forcibly removed and dragged from an overbooked flight for being disruptive and belligerent. The airline faced a wave of backlash on Monday, after videos showed officers dragging the passenger off United flight 3411 because it had been overbooked. The man also sustained injuries to head when he struck an armrest while being carried out. This situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help, CEO Oscar Munoz said in email to employees, reported by CNBC. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you. In an earlier statement, Munoz apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers and called the incident an upsetting event. Read more: Should Overbooking Flights Be Illegal? In recounting the sequence of events, Munoz told employees that the passenger refused to deplane and became more and more disruptive and belligerent and faulted him for running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both our crew and security officials. One of the officers involved in the incident was placed on leave Monday. Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation, Munoz added in his email to employees. This article was originally published on TIME.com Shares of United Airlines (UAL) were down as much as 4.3% in trading on Tuesday after video surfaced Monday of a passenger being forcibly removed from a flight over the weekend. The video went viral on social media on Monday, though shares of the airline actually rose to start the week, giving markets a temporary understanding that the company had dodged a major financial hit from the controversy. On Tuesday, as the controversy surrounding the video failed to die down, shares dropped as much as 4.3%, or $3.10 per share, taking upwards of $950 million in market cap value away from the company based on 314 million shares outstanding. Near 2:00 p.m. ET, the stock had pared some of its losses and was down about 2.8%, or $2.00 per share, putting its market-cap losses closer to $600 million. United shares were not having a good day on Tuesday. (Source: Yahoo Finance) And while stocks broadly were down on Tuesday, Uniteds losses far outpaced that of the broader market. After the market close on Monday, United also raised its forecast for first-quarter flight capacity and kept its passenger unit revenue guidance unchanged. United had offered a $1000 voucher to anyone willing to give up their seat on the overbooked flight, according to a letter sent by Munoz to United employees on Monday obtained by the Associated Press. But as Bloombergs Joe Weisenthal quipped on Tuesday, given the drop in Uniteds market cap it seems the actual offer price for that voucher couldve been in the hundreds of millions of dollars and the company would still be making out fine. In a statement following the video on Monday, United CEO Oscar Munoz said, This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz Munozs use of re-accomodate for how the airline dealt with the passenger was widely panned. In Munozs letter to United employees, he appeared to shift blame onto the passenger, whose face was bloodied after he was dragged off the aircraft, saying the passenger was being disruptive and belligerent. Story continues BuzzFeed News reported overnight that millions of people in China, the worlds fastest-growing air travel market, called for a boycott of the airline. The man dragged off the United flight was Asian-American. Myles Udland is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @MylesUdland Read more from Myles here: United Airlines, you may have heard, is having some public relations difficulties. United Airlines does not like public relations difficulties. How do I know this? I spoke with a man who claims to have collected tens of thousands of complaints against the airline since the '90sand now the company is suing him. "It's no surprise that United would be the airline at the center of this event, given its part and parcel of United's philosophy that passengers are not human beings, even employees are not human beings," said Jeremy Cooperstock. He was just as appalled as the next person after watching that video of police tossing a United passenger from his seat on an overbooked flight and dragging him off the plane, but I will say Cooperstock was probably far less stunned than the rest of us. SEE ALSO: United finally issues an apology that sounds like an apology He runs a website called untied.com (read that url closely). It's something of a United parody site that also collects customer complaints directed at United and helps those customers file real complaints. The top of the site says untied.com has "collected, posted and forwarded over 30,000 complaints against United Airlines." It's been around since 1997, when Cooperstock started the site after he got one of those generic corporate responses to a complaint he filed. "The management has long maintained this culture of impunity, and there's no respect for the rights of passengers," Cooperstock said. "The culture is one of 'do whatever you want and deny passengers their legal rights, deny passengers any amount of respect.'" (Mashable contacted United about the parody site, and will update the story if the company responds.) Cooperstock an engineering professor at McGill University in Montreal has heard plenty of United horror stories, but his own is up there. Story continues United is in the process of suing him over his website. They've said they want him to limit some of his site's parody elements, and to remove the contact information of United employees the company says do not have jurisdiction over customer complaints. But Cooperstock says he's always figured they were trying to shut down his site. A warning, just in case you really thought this was United's website. Image: untied.com He claims United's representatives even asked the judge presiding over the case on the last day of the federal trial still awaiting a verdict that Cooperstock's domain name be transferred to United. That doesn't seem likely to happen, but he says it proves what their intentions have been all along. The plethora of complaints compiled on his site have shown Cooperstock how United tries to drag customer complaints on long enough for the customer to lose faith that there was ever any good in the world. He's got intimate experience with just how long United can play that kind of game. For now, he's hoping he can find the money to carry on his court battle, instead of becoming yet another of the airline's "victims." WATCH: Merriam-Webster trolls United with the definition of 'volunteer' Chicago (AFP) - The online video footage of a United Airlines passenger dragged off a flight, which damaged the company's reputation, highlighted the limited options US passengers have on overbooked flights. United's problems began after security officers on Sunday dragged a 69-year-old man off a flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, because he refused to be "bumped" -- an airline practice that has gotten increased scrutiny in light of the incident. Some passengers recorded the incident and posted videos online. The resulting furor led to a public relations nightmare and battered United's stock Tuesday, sending it down 2.9 percent in afternoon trading. The Department of Transportation said Tuesday it was reviewing United's actions "to determine whether the airline complied with the oversales rule." Related: For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. "It is the airline's responsibility to determine its own fair boarding priorities," DOT said in a statement. The incident shined a new light on the practice of overbooking, which airlines increasingly rely upon to avoid losing money on empty seats when some passengers do not show up for scheduled flights. If they were to stop overbooking, "the only way of trying to compensate for that over the long term would be to raise fares on everyone else," said industry analyst Robert Mann. Instead, airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on a plane, and are generally able to properly forecast demand to avoid major disruptions in getting passengers to their destinations, Mann said. But, sometimes, they miscalculate and there are more passengers than a flight can handle. In those instances, airlines offer travel vouchers, and cash compensation that can go north of $1,000, to entice some passengers to voluntarily give up their seats and fly on later flights. When enticing does not work, airlines have wide latitude, spelled out in the conditions of carriage contract passengers agree to when purchasing a ticket, Mann said. Story continues - 'You don't really have any rights' - "If you're still in the terminal waiting to board, you can be told you can't board, even if you have a reservation, even if you have a ticket. And once you're on board, you are subject to being deplaned based on the order of the crew. So you don't really have any rights," Mann said. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) allows for all this, with some conditions. Chief among them, that airlines try to coax passengers off flights first and offer financial compensation. Last year, 434,000 passengers volunteered to be bumped off flights, while another 40,000 were bumped involuntarily and compensated. In the United incident, the airline forced four randomly selected passengers off the plane to make room for four crew members who needed to get to Louisville, after no one would give up their seat voluntarily. United said that it offered compensation of up to $1,000 on Sunday, but no passengers on the Chicago-Louisville flight volunteered, likely because the next flight would have been on the following day. The passenger who was dragged off had reportedly protested and alleged that he was being targeted due to his ethnicity, according to witness accounts, which initially identified the man as Chinese American. That caused angry condemnations on Chinese social media sites. US media on Tuesday identified the man as a doctor of Vietnamese heritage living in Kentucky, who had at one point been convicted of trading drugs for sex and had had his medical license suspended until last year. - Alienating passengers - In a written statement on Monday, United chief executive Oscar Munoz said United was "reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation." But in a letter to employees, which was obtained by US media, he appeared to cast part of the blame on the passenger, saying he "defied" authorities and "compounded" the incident. "Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this," Munoz wrote. United's should have shown more concern for their passengers, said Andy Holdsworth, a crisis management specialist at the British PR firm Bell Pottinger. "Whilst the passenger's behavior was not good, United have shown no compassion or concern for the man," he said. The PR nightmare was the second in about two weeks for the airline. In late March, two teenage girls were prevented from boarding a flight in Denver because they wore leggings. The airline defended its action at the time by saying the girls were flying on passes that required them to abide by a dress code in return for free or discounted travel. "They will need to be careful that these small incidents all start to add up and only remind us of the last incident as well as the current one," Holdsworth said. Traditional rice strains are flourishing again in West Bengal. An indigenous grain revival project at the Agricultural Training Centre in Fulia in West Bengal's Nadia district has already helped cultivate seeds for some 400 varieties for distribution to local farmers. Eight hundred lost strains of rice, including 60 of the most aromatic kind and 50 kinds of red rice with precious medicinal qualities, are set to make a comeback in West Bengal. An indigenous grain revival project at the Agricultural Training Centre in Fulia in West Bengal's Nadia district has already helped cultivate seeds for some 400 varieties for distribution to local farmers. "Once these seeds reach the farmers, Bengal will witness a Green Revolution like in Punjab," says Anupam Paul, assistant director of agriculture at the centre. Paul says the traditional strains, which were once the staple in the state, can be cultivated at two-thirds the cost of raising modern hybrid varieties. These can be grown without chemical fertilisers, and after three seasons farmers can use a part of their produce as seeds, he adds. advertisement Paul says agriculture minister Purnendu Bose has been avidly backing the project. Of the over 5,500 traditional varieties of paddy recorded through the centuries in Bengal, many may have been lost forever. The centre tracked down several strains in other states. The much-in-demand Kerala Sundari variety disappeared from its original habitat in Purulia, but still survives in faraway Kerala. Rani Akanda, a highly flavourful variety, was rediscovered on farmer Samatul Mondal's holding in Howrah district. Poised to reintroduce 58 aromatic rice varieties, including some with a big global demand, the state government is looking to transform West Bengal into the 'aromatic rice bowl of the world'. --- ENDS --- By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has not asked to meet Pope Francis during his visit to Italy next month for the Group of Seven summit, sources said on Tuesday, in what would be a highly unusual omission. Trump, who Francis suggested was "not Christian" if he wanted a wall on the Mexican border, is due in Sicily on May 26-27 for a meeting of the heads of the world's richest nations. The two men have diametrically opposing positions on immigration, refugees, climate change and unbridled capitalism. Trump called the pope's criticism of his plan to build the Mexico wall "disgraceful". U.S. presidents have in the past made a beeline for the Vatican while they were in Italy or Europe in order to meet with the head of the world's largest Christian church. Only one of them, John Kennedy, was a Roman Catholic. President George W. Bush met with a pope six times, three times each with Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict. "The situation can change but are only six weeks left so it looks unlikely at this point," said a diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. A senior Vatican diplomatic source confirmed that the White House had so far made no approaches to the Holy See about a possible meeting, which would be the first between the two men. "The ball is on their side," said another Vatican source. "We have received no request." A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican had no comment. OPEN DOOR As a matter of policy, popes meet with any head of state who requests an audience, regardless of any differences they have. Besides being leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, the pope is a head of state. Such meetings allow for an exchange of views on world affairs and a chance for the pope to encourage ethical solutions to world problems. About 21 percent of Americans, or 70 million people, are Catholic. Washington has had full diplomatic relations with the Vatican since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan saw the Vatican under Pope John Paul, a Pole, as a crucial ally against communism. Vatican officials have indicated that if the White House wants to squeeze in a meeting with the pope on Trump's schedule in Europe, they will try to oblige. Trump is due to attend a NATO meeting in Brussels on May 25 before going to Sicily for the G7. Francis visited the United States in 2015 and there are no plans for a return in the foreseeable future, so it is not clear when a meeting between the two men could take place. Last year, in response to an answer about then-candidate Trump's views on immigration and his intention to build a wall on the border with Mexico, Francis said a man with those views is "not Christian". Trump, who grew up in a Presbyterian family, shot back saying it was "disgraceful" for the pope to question his faith. In March, Cardinal Peter Turkson, a close aide of the pope, urged Trump to listen to "dissenting voices" and reconsider his position on climate change, after Trump signed an executive order dismantling Obama-era environmental legislation. Francis has made defense of the environment a key plank of his papacy, strongly backing scientific opinion that global warming is caused mostly by human activity. (Editing by Tom Heneghan) Washington (AFP) - US Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered prosecutors and judges to take a tougher line on undocumented immigrants on Tuesday, saying more severe punishment could deter illegal border crossers. Speaking in Nogales, Arizona, Sessions said anyone who crosses the US-Mexico border without legal immigration documents would now be detained and presented to a judge. In the past, most were just delivered back over the border. He also ordered prosecutors to jail people who transport and harbor illegal immigrants; to lodge felony charges against people caught a second time sneaking into the country; and to charge anyone caught using false papers with fraud and identity theft, which brings a minimum two-year jail sentence. "For those that continue to seek improper and illegal entry into this country, be forewarned: This is a new era. This is the Trump era," Sessions told an audience of border patrol agents. "The lawlessness, the abdication of the duty to enforce our immigration laws and the catch and release practices of old are over." Sessions, who came into office with a strong mandate from President Donald Trump to crack down on undocumented immigrants, described the southern US border as "ground zero" in the fight against drug smuggling and transnational gangs like the largely Salvadoran MS-13. "It is here, on this sliver of land, where we first take our stand," he said. Sessions said the Justice Department would be hiring another 125 immigration judges over 2016-2017 to handle an expected surge in cases arising from the crackdown. He added that Trump's approach was already seeing results, citing a 40 percent fall in illegal immigrant crossings from January to February. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday backed plans to shut down the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti, saying this was a 'strong example' of how missions should change to take account of the country's political situation. US Ambassador Nikki Haley made the remarks ahead of a vote Thursday at the UN Security Council on ending the 13-year mission by October 15 and replacing it with a smaller police-only force. We regard the transformation of the Haiti mission, including the withdrawal of the military, as a strong example for how peacekeeping missions can and should change as a country's political situation changes," Haley told the council. The United States, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, is reviewing UN peacekeeping missions with a view to closing or drawing down missions. In Haiti, the mission known by its acronym MINUSTAH, was deployed in 2004 after the departure of president Jean-Bertrand Aristide to help stem political violence but it has not endeared itself to Haitians. An outbreak of cholera in 2010 was introduced by Nepalese UN peacekeepers serving in the mission. More than 9,000 Haitians died in the epidemic. "Peacekeeping has made a great contribution to Haiti," Haley said, by ensuring a secure and stable environment. The mission was not a "traditional peacekeeping effort" because there was no outright conflict or peace agreement to monitor, she said. A smaller UN mission will support the Haitian police force as it takes over the task of ensuring stability and its staff will monitor human rights. UN envoy Sandrine Honore said the six-month timetable to withdraw the 2,370 soldiers serving in the mission was realistic. "We believe that with determination and with a disciplined approach to that timeframe, that six months in fact will be sufficient to achieve that goal," she said. With its annual budget of $346 million, MINUSTAH does not rank among the costliest peacekeeping operations run by the United Nations, but its closure sends a signal about the need to streamline UN peacekeeping. Demonstrators in Venezuela clashed with police Monday on the fifth day of violent protests against President Nicolas Maduros government. Protesters have called for elections in the South American nation, which is reeling under economic crisis, and is facing shortage of food and other necessities. Mondays demonstrations stemmed from the government-controlled Supreme Courts decision last month to dismiss the legislative powers of the opposition-led National Assembly. Following uproar, the court overturned the verdict. Read: China, Russia, Iran Could Take Advantage Of Likely Humanitarian Crisis In Venezuela, US Admiral Says However, the situation worsened after the national comptroller Friday banned senior politician and opposition figure Henrique Capriles from holding public office for 15 years. Capriles was seen as the opposition's best bet in a presidential election due next year. Venezuela protests Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Riot police fired tear gas at protesters who threw Molotov cocktail at law enforcement officials and burned tires. Opposition leaders criticized Maduros socialist government for arbitrary use of force to counter Mondays protests. But, the government blamed the opposition for inciting violence to destabilize the government. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said 18 people were taken into custody during the demonstrations. "These extremist sectors promote violent acts during the days that our people celebrate Holy Week, thus taking on the role of anti-Christ," Reverol said in a televised statement. Venezuela protests Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlin Apart from holding the opposition responsible for the protests, the Venezuelan government blamed a U.S.-backed business elite for the countrys worsening economic tensions. It previously alleged Washington was behind the protests to oust Maduro who assumed power in 2013 after the death of former President Hugo Chavez. Story continues Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department issued a statement late Monday expressing grave concern over Capriles ban. Venezuela riot police Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins We [the U.S.] note the largest public demonstration of the year on Saturday, as well as protests today, and echo the Venezuelan peoples calls for prompt elections, respect for the constitution and the National Assembly, and freedom for political prisoners, the department said in the statement. We urge President Maduro to reconsider the decision to bar Capriles and ensure Venezuelans can exercise their right to elect their representatives in free and fair elections in accordance with the Venezuelan constitution and consistent with international instruments, it added. Venezuela demonstations Photo: REUTERS/Christian Veron During a meeting with leftist leaders in Cuba, Maduro maintained that the U.S. is responsible for the tensions in the country, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Monday. "The order has been given from Washington that there must be no dialogue in Venezuela, to make our country explode and give way for a foreign intervention," Maduro said. Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and some Caribbean countries issued a statement backing Maduro. The countries criticized "aggression and manipulation" against Venezuela and said these "threaten its sovereignty, independence and stability," AFP reported, citing the statement. Related Articles CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's state prosecutor's office said on Tuesday a 20-year old man had been fatally shot in the neck on Monday night while he was at a protest in the city of Valencia, the second confirmed death in anti-government unrest in the last week. Opposition lawmakers said Daniel Queliz was killed by security forces while he was protesting. The prosecutor's office said in a statement it was investigating the incident. His death comes on the heels of the killing of 19-year-old Jairo Ortiz on the outskirts of Caracas on Thursday in the area of an opposition protest. A police officer has been arrested. Lawmakers also said that an elderly woman asphyxiated to death in Caracas after tear gas entered her apartment during Monday's protests. Reuters was not able to confirm the report. The deaths come as demonstrations against unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro escalate amid a grueling economic crisis and what critics say is his transformation into a dictator. Maduro counters that under a veneer of pacifism, the opposition is actually encouraging violent protests in a bid to topple his government. Venezuelans have been suffering food and medicine shortages for months, leading many to skip meals or go without crucial treatment. But after years of protesting with little results, street action had ebbed until a Supreme Court decision in late March to assume the functions of the opposition-led congress sparked outcry. The court quickly overturned the most controversial part of its decision but the move triggered condemnation at home and abroad. News that the national comptroller on Friday had banned high-profile opposition leaders Henrique Capriles from office for 15 years also drew broad criticism. LAWMAKERS PROTEST Around a dozen opposition legislators on Tuesday held another surprise protest at the headquarters of the National Guard to decry excessive use of force - including tear gas dropped from a helicopter and fired into a Caracas clinic. "Here we are... to demand elections now, an end to repression, respect for the constitution, a reversal of the coup, so that Venezuela can be in peace and we can all progress," said opposition lawmaker Tomas Guanipa, brandishing a blue constitution in his hand. State officials via social media have shown images and videos of demonstrators vandalizing public property and throwing rocks at police. "Who is taking responsibility for damage to public property and persons?" said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino on Twitter, posting pictures of demonstrators kicking police officers and breaking into an office of the Supreme Court. "What is their agenda? Terrorism, chaos, death?" Most of the protesters are peaceful and say street action is their only option after authorities last year blocked a recall referendum to remove Maduro. Local elections, due last year, have yet to be called. (Writing by Brian Ellsworth and Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Its been 50 years since a Vietnam veteran spoke to his long lost friend, but thanks to Twitter, the pair has been reunited once again. Read: Two Buddies From Vietnam War Learn They Have Lived Next Door to Each Other For Past 20 Years Charles Lacy, a U.S. Army photographer during the Vietnam War, will get the chance to reconnect with an old friend through Skype after they lost touch shortly after serving in South Korea in 1968. The reunion comes after a massive social media effort run by 19-year-old Bryce Lacy, of Texas, to track down his dads Army buddy Kermit Powers. "You can use [social media] for good things and help people reconnect and bring happiness to people," Bryce told InsideEdition.com. He said it all started when he spotted Powers picture in his dads house one summer. The next time he saw it, he decided to ask his dad about it. "He told me it was one of his good friends from South Korea when he was in Vietnam," Bryce said. "So I took a picture of it and posted it to Twitter, hoping someone would recognize him." Eventually, his message was retweeted 55,000 times, and strangers came in droves to help the family solve the mystery. One came forward with a LinkedIn page that may have belonged to Powers. Another stranger offered to search the national archives. Finally, someone was able to track down the mans Facebook profile, and Bryce was able to call up his fathers old friend using the information listed. "[Powers] said he has been looking for [my dad]," Bryce said. "He didnt know my dad moved from Texas to Louisiana when he got back [from serving], and thats the reason he couldn't find him. Read: Soldier Stands in Pouring Rain to Salute Passing Funeral Procession for Military Veteran Powers, 68, is now living in Germany, where he's lived for about 20 years. He and Charles were able to talk on the phone for the first time since serving, and the pair now plans to reconnect through Skype this weekend. Story continues "Im glad he finally found him," Bryce said. "Both of them talked about how good of friends they were when they were in South Korea. They also mentioned another person they were good friends with but neither could remember their name." Watch: Mom Finds Her 19-Year-Old Biological Son Through a Google Search After Giving Him Up for Adoption Related Articles: (MOSCOW) - President Vladimir Putin says Russia will appeal to the United Nations to investigate last weeks chemical attack in Syria. Moscow has dismissed suggestions that the Syrian government that it backs could be behind the attack in Idlib province. Putin told reporters on Tuesday that Russia would appeal to a U.N. agency in the Hague, urging it to hold an official probe. Putin also said Russia has received intelligence about planned provocations using chemical weapons that would put the blame on the Syrian government. He said the U.N. should first investigate the attack. It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq, Putin told reporters on Tuesday. We have seen it all already. Russia has defended Bashar Assads government which has been accused of launching a chemical weapons attack on the Idlib province. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is to meet U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday. This article was originally published on TIME.com Sydney (AFP) - Whale cams have revealed the secret feeding habits of the giant mammals in frozen Antarctica, details on their social lives, and even how they must blow hard to clear sea ice to breathe. Scientists attached tiny cameras and electronic tags to humpbacks to better understand what they do underwater as they study how shrinking sea ice caused by warming sea temperatures linked to climate change may impact them. "Once we have an idea about where the whales feed, how often, where they go and rest, we can use this to inform policy and management to protect these whales and their ecosystem, leading whale scientist Ari Friedlaender said Tuesday. The Australian Antarctic Division-led team said the information helped determine how the abundance of their main food, krill, affected the feeding success of whales. It also added to their understanding of how any change in krill population due to climate change, commercial fishing, or ocean acidification, may impact whales in the future. "We have some wonderful data on different feeding strategies from rolling lunges near the surface, to bubble net feeding, to deep foraging dives lunging through dense patches of krill, said Friedlaender. "We have been able to show that whales spend a great deal of time during the days socialising and resting and then feeding largely throughout the evening and night time." The cameras were attached by suction cups to each whale for between 24 and 48 hours before they fell off and were retrieved and reused. WWF-Australia, which help fund the cameras, said the work was about enabling habitats to become more resilient and thrive in the future. "Growing human impacts such as climate change and increasing krill fishing overlapping in their critical feeding areas need to be managed carefully," said Chris Johnson, WWF-Australia ocean science manager. The Antarctic remains one of the world's last wild frontiers, containing some of the most pristine marine ecosystems left on the planet. Story continues It is seen as a critical laboratory for scientists monitoring the effects of climate change. The researchers also deployed longer-term electronic tags on the smaller Antarctic minke whales, with scientist Elanor Bell saying there was little information on their feeding behaviour. "Minkes are faster and more elusive than humpback whales and often forage in areas with lots of sea ice," she said. "This makes it challenging to find and approach them to deploy tracking equipment. "So it was really exciting to be able to attach some tags on this voyage. These will transmit the location and dive depth data to satellites every time they surface for up to two months. The research, backed by the International Whaling Commission, ultimately aims to estimate the abundance and distribution of whales and their role in the Antarctic ecosystem. The rally organisers and the police entered into a heated altercation after the latter stopped them to take out the procession. By Indrajit Kundu: Police in Suri, Birbhum district of West Bengal resorted to lathicharge today after Hindu Jagran Manch supporters took out a rally on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti allegedly defying restriction and prohibitory orders. Hundreds of right wing activists with saffron flags had joined a rally which was stopped by the police in Suri town. The rally organisers and the police then entered into a heated altercation which led to a scuffle. advertisement Subsequently, Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed in the area and police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. The BJP had earlier stated that they would take out a rally on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti in the area. The rally was to be led by BJP state president Dilip Ghosh. However, the Birbhum district police had denied permission to the party for the event and imposed section 144 of the CrPC . However, while BJP leaders stayed away from taking out any procession, the right wing supporters from the Hindu Jagaran Manch congregated in Suri town to conduct the rally. The police have arrested at least 10 supporters during the clash. BJP ACCUSES MAMATA OF BEING DICTATORIAL The BJP, on Sunday, had claimed that the state government was denying the party its legitimate right to observe Hanuman Jayanti. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who was on a two-day visit to the district, had accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being 'dictatorial' and misusing state machinery to target political opponents. "Our party workers have been conducting peaceful processions on Ram Navami. But the state government has slapped false cases on BJP workers. In fact, the state government is even denying us permission for upcoming Hanuman Jayanti celebrations," he said. Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP and RSS of trying to create communal tensions in the state. In a stern message last week, Mamata had warned of police action against those who indulge in such acts, following which police had lodged suo-moto FIR against state BJP president Dilip Ghosh for taking out "armed processions" on Ram Navami last week. ALSO READ| It's Ram versus Hanuman in Bengal's BJP-TMC political slugfest ALSO READ| I believe in the equality of religion: Mamata --- ENDS --- By Steve Holland and Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's spokesman on Tuesday increased pressure on Russia over a chemical weapons attack in Syria last week, calling Moscow isolated and saying it was trying to shift blame away from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "Russia is on an island when it comes to its support of Syria," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters. The nerve gas attack, which killed 87 people, many of them children, and Russia's allegation that rebels and not Damascus were responsible have chilled U.S. relations with Moscow after a presidential campaign during which Trump frequently called for an alliance with Russia to fight Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. "In this particular case, it's no question that Russia is isolated. They have aligned themselves with North Korea, Syria, Iran. Thats not exactly a group of countries youre looking to hang out with. With the exception of Russia, they are all failed states," Spicer said. The attack led the Trump administration to harden its attitude against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad weeks after top U.S. officials said they were more concerned with defeating Islamic State militants than getting Assad out of power. "I don't see a peaceful, stable Syria in the future that has Assad in charge," Spicer said. "I don't see a future Syria that has (Assad) as the leader of that government." Earlier senior White House officials accused Russia of trying to deflect blame from Assad for the sarin gas attack. The officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said Assad's government carried out the attack in Khan Sheikhoun as part of an effort to put pressure on Syrian rebels who were making advances in the area. Russia has defended the Syrian government, a staunch ally, against U.S. allegations it was behind the attack in Syria's Idlib province, saying there is no evidence to underpin those accusations. It has blamed Syrian rebels. "Russia's allegations fit with a pattern of deflecting blame from the (Syrian) regime and attempting to undermine the credibility of its opponents," one of the officials said. The United States launched 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian air base last Thursday to retaliate against the gas attack. U.S. intelligence indicates that the chemical agent was delivered by Syrian Su-22 aircraft that took off from the Shayrat airfield, a White House report given to reporters said. The planes were in the vicinity of Khan Sheikhoun about 20 minutes before the attack began and vacated the area shortly afterward, the report said. "Additionally, our information indicates personnel historically associated with Syria's chemical weapons programme were at Shayrat airfield in late March making preparations for an upcoming attack in northern Syria, and they were present at the airfield on the day of the attack," the report said. One of the White House officials said Assad used the attack as part of an "operational calculus" to slow rebel advances. The officials had no comment on whether Russia might have colluded with Syria on the attack. The U.S. intelligence community has no consensus on whether Russia knew about it in advance, the officials said. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by James Dalgleish) Washington (AFP) - White House press secretary Sean Spicer apologized Tuesday for "insensitive" remarks in which he seemed to favorably compare Adolf Hitler's actions during the Holocaust to atrocities carried out now by strongman Bashar al-Assad in Syria. During a White House briefing Spicer sought to intensify criticism of Assad, painting the Syrian leader's suspected use of sarin nerve agent against civilians last week as historically evil. "You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons," the spokesman said during a White House press briefing, momentarily forgetting the Holocaust and prompting outraged calls for his resignation. A few hours later, a contrite Spicer appeared on US television expressing regret for the comments, which in the hours after he made them were greeting with growing outrage and demands for his resignation. "Frankly, I mistakenly used an inappropriate and insensitive comment about the Holocaust and there is no comparison," he told CNN. "For that I apologize. It was a mistake to do that." Spicer's comments, which came during the Jewish festival of Passover, sparked calls from anti-defamation groups and opposition Democrats for his ouster. "Sean Spicer must be fired, and the President must immediately disavow his spokesman's statements," said top congressional Democrat Nancy Pelosi. "Either he is speaking for the president, or the president should have known better than to hire him." Spicer -- the most public face of the Donald Trump's administration after the president himself -- has been a frequent target of ire and satirists for his angry denunciations of press coverage and sometimes loose grasp of the facts. He was pilloried for his first appearance in the press briefing room in January, when he browbeat journalists and falsely insisted Trump had the biggest inaugural audience ever. Story continues He later caused an international incident by claiming British signals intelligence agency GCHQ helped former president Barack Obama spy on Trump. Furious British spies described the claim as "nonsense" and "utterly ridiculous," forcing Spicer to explain his comments to the British ambassador. But his latest claim brought anger from across the political spectrum and looks of astonishment from the assembled White House press corps, who offered Spicer a chance to clarify. "I think when you come to sarin gas, there was no -- he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing," Spicer said, returning to the subject. As journalists shouted "what about the Holocaust?" Spicer continued, "I think there is clearly... I understand the point, thank you, thank you I appreciate that." Hitler "brought them into the Holocaust centers, I understand that. But I'm saying in the way that Assad used them, where he went into towns, dropped them down, to innocent -- into the middle of towns, it was brought... so the use of it, I appreciate the clarification, that was not the intent." Steven Goldstein, head of the Anne Frank Center, described Spicer's comments as an "evil slur" and said he now "lacks the integrity to serve." In an earlier written clarification, Spicer said he was "in no way... trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust." "I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable," he explained. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis later offered a hint at what Spicer may have meant, saying that "even in World War II, chemical weapons were not used on battlefields." "Since World War I, there has been an international convention on this." Richard Price, professor of political science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and author of The Chemical Weapons Taboo told AFP Hitler in fact came very close to using chemical weapons on civilian areas. "Hitler used gas widely in the concentration camps, but they never used them against soldiers nor against cities," he said. "Albert Speer, munitions minister, said that during the trials of Nuremberg that Hitler gave the order to use them in the last months of the war, but his generals refused, because they knew the war was over, there was no point." - Syria briefing - Tuesday's incident was not the first time this week that Spicer has found himself in rhetorical difficulty over Syria. On Monday, he suggested that Trump could take military action if Assad were to drop more barrel bombs -- a regular occurrence in Syria's brutal war and a red line that would almost immediately be breeched, making US military action all but certain. The White House privately walked back his comments. Trump's pared-back approach to staffing has resulted in many of the apparatus around Spicer from being removed. There are around half the number of National Security Council's communications staff, whose job is -- in part -- to brief the press secretary on international developments. The State Department does not have a spokesperson and has stopped holding daily briefings, which often serve as an early warning system for the White House about questions and issues headed their way. The MSM (mainstream media), as right-wing coo-coo clocks like Ann Coulter like to call Americas press corps, are delirious with glee over infighting within the White House and practically drooling in their Im With Her coffee mugs now that Steve Bannon, President Trumps chief strategist, seems to have been sidelined. The story lines in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and elsewhere over the past five days go mostly like this: The odd alliance between nationalist know-it-all Bannon, the former commandant of Breitbart News, and rich-kid know-it-all Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and himself a New York real estate hustler, has shattered. Related: How Long Can Trump Tolerate the President Bannon Headlines? Kushner along with his wife and No. 1 Trump offspring, Ivanka had a strong hand in bringing in Bannon to lead the flailing Trump campaign last summer, and during the transition and the very early days of the young administration they seemed to have developed a strangely close working relationship. Why so weird? For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. Bannon is a man on a mission to save America and Western Civilization from the Huns at the door be they illegal immigrants crossing the border or manic Muslims armed to the teeth and taking selfies. He disdains globalism, espouses economic nationalism, has contempt for the corporate elite that puts profits before patriotism and doesnt think the U.S. needs to police the planet. His path to power not-so-rich kid from Richmond, Naval officer, investment banker, filmmaker, conservative zealot has been as idiosyncratic as his bosss road to the Oval Office. Beyond that, Bannon is rumpled, profane, bombastic, sixtysomething and has been accused probably unfairly of being an anti-Semite. Related: Steve Bannon Makes His Case for Economic Nationalism at CPAC Story continues Kushner is a man on a mission to fix everything that ails the country and the world, thereby proving he is the smartest Harvard grad in the global room. Like his father, Charles, who did time for being too enthusiastic in his donations to Democrats, he is a real-estate developer who helped restore the family empire while Dad was in the slammer. He also ran a low-circulation, quirky New York newspaper, The Observer. He derives his newfound political power from his closeness to his father-in-law, the president. He is smooth, sleek, soft-spoken, well-dressed and until the campaign, a thirtysomething with presumably Manhattan Democratic values save for his hard-right support of Israel (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once bunked in his room during a stay with the Kushner family). Now, many media stories say, Bannon and Kushner are at opposite ends of White House conference tables. Bannon and his lieutenants (including former Breitbart staffers) are lined up against Kushner, ex-Goldman Sachs President and Trumps chief economic adviser Gary Cohn and ex-Goldman exec Dina Powell. Related: Team Trump Still in Search of a Coherent Syria Policy In the middle are Chief of Staff Reince Prebius, Press Secretary Sean Spicer (who worked for Prebius when he ran the Republican National Committee) and perhaps senior counselor Kellyanne Conway, who joined the campaign around the same time as Bannon. She has other ties to Bannon but is basically a political operative for hire (early in the election cycle when she worked for Sen. Ted Cruz, she wasnt above bashing Trump). What has so many members of the press so giddy is that Bannon has been booted from the National Security Council, where he had installed himself while downgrading the roles of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence. This weekend, Bloomberg reported that K.T. McFarland, a Fox News commentator and veteran of the Reagan White House installed by disgraced former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, was also stepping down, further depoliticizing the NSC. Those developments are seen as new NSC chief Gen. H.R. McMaster exerting his influence. But besides restoring the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Gen. Joe Dunford, and intelligence overseer Dan Coats, Powell has been made a Deputy National Security Adviser a win for the Kushner/Cohn cabal, which Bannon reportedly calls the West Wing Democrats. Perhaps the Republican faction most alarmed by Bannons economic nationalism is Washingtons military hawks, Robert Draper wrote in The New York Times Magazine on April 2. Related: America's Strike in Syria The Generals Are Taking Charge On Meet the Press yesterday, Times Pentagon correspondent Helene Cooper said that the military thinks that Kushner is where their future is. That may be so, but while Trumps America First message was all Bannon and the strategist is said to have argued against the strike on Syria last Thursday, it might be a mistake to conclude he is against U.S. military might. Bannon has a degree in national security from Georgetown, served as a special assistant to the chief of Naval operations at the Pentagon during his years in the Navy and has a daughter who graduated from West Point. It might also be a mistake to think Bannon will be out like Flynn sometime soon. In a discussion of the infighting at the White House on Meet the Press, Danielle Pletka of the conservative think tank the American Enterprise Institute said: Bannon is the one who is expendable. And according to reports, Bannon threatened to quit when he was removed from the NSC but was talked out of leaving by Rebekah Mercer, daughter of billionaire Trump backer Robert Mercer and the person who brought Bannon and Conway into the Trump campaign. Related: Feuding Trump Aides Meet and Agree to End 'Palace Intrigue': Source For now, Kushner and Cohn who has been talked about as a possible replacement for Prebius as chief of staff appear to be in the ascendancy (and as Ivankas husband, Kushner is unlikely to ever be demoted), though with as mercurial a president as Trump, there are no guarantees of anything. Bloomberg quoted McMaster as saying of Bannons departure from the NSC: This is not as significant as it appears. Steve Bannon provides the president with advice on a broad range of issues and will continue to do so. Reuters and others have reported that warring White House factions are working to repair relations, and there are two big reasons Bannon wont be toast: The Mercers and the base the blue collars championed by Bannon who voted for Trump and will be needed again in the future. There is also the fact that were he not in the White House, Bannon untethered to Trump could be a serious danger to his presidency as it goes more, um, mainstream. As Lyndon Johnson is said to have remarked about FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover: It's probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Photo credit: Instagram From Redbook You could say I'm an over-planner. If I'm not at work, I'm at happy hours with friends, attending networking events, scheduling weekend brunches and dates, or working out. Those Type-A tendencies even extend to my vacation style. When I travel, I go big: saving up PTO to take weeks off at once, bullying friends into buying airfare almost a year in advance, buying (and highlighting and Post-It bookmarking) travel guides that sit on my bedside table for months. It's not relaxing, but there's just so much I want to do. But with the last days of winter wreaking havoc on my sanity, I decided to head to Aruba for a three-day weekend on just two weeks' notice, hoping that my lack of planning (and travel guides and Google docs and Pinterest boards) would give me the one thing I never seem to find time to plan for: me time. I've traveled alone before, and I like it - one of the best parts of exploring somewhere on your own is getting to meet fellow travelers and locals. When you're solo, you want to engage with other people, hear their travel tips, and learn their stories. This was not that kind of trip. On this trip, the only person I wanted to engage with was myself. I set up camp at the Hilton Aruba, and, TBH, barely left the premises. While Aruba is a beautiful country, I wasn't there for the sights and the culture (although the island has plenty to offer in both respects). I was there to treat myself to all of the self-care I desperately craved in New York: I blissed out during a massage at eforea Spa. I lounged on the beach under a private palapa, where I read two books that had been sitting on my nightstand for weeks and sipped on daiquiris so delicious, I completely ignored the fact that they were likely 99% rum. I enjoyed a decadent, two-hour meal at the hotel's Sunset Grille, where I didn't even care about being the only solo traveler in the outdoor "honeymooner" section (the views were better). Instead of exploring the island's nightlife, I spent a solid hour soaking in my hotel room's luxurious Jacuzzi tub. It was perfectly self-indulgent. Story continues That's not to say I didn't experience any of Aruba. I joined another family staying at the hotel for a bike ride out to the island's California Lighthouse, where we caught our breath at what felt like the top of the island's only hill and refueled on fresh coconut milk while taking in the 360-degree views. But I didn't slow myself down to ride at their pace out of politeness; I went at my own speed and patiently waited for the group whenever a pretty pit stop caught my eye. I also joined fellow vacationers on the bumpiest, most exhilarating Jeep ride of my life to two of Aruba's biggest tourist attractions, the Natural Pool and Natural Bridge. But I kept to myself, focusing more on the sights than attempting to make new friends. Sure, it was nice to be around other people, but it was also really nice not to force myself to make small talk or be "on" the whole time. I did feel a little guilty traveling to such a beautiful country and not forcing myself to check out every must-see tourist spot while there. Isn't that the point of travel - to bear witness to the fact that beautiful places exist in the world? But every once in awhile, you need to hit pause for a second to make sure you can actually be a present, functioning human the rest of the time. And sometimes, the only way to do that is to step out of your day-to-day life and regroup somewhere totally new. It wasn't so much about the sun (FYI, Aruba has more sunny days than any other Caribbean island), the delicious beachfront acai bowls (sorry, Juice Generation - Eduardo's Beach Shack's bowls are bigger and cheaper), or the insane view from my hotel room balcony (palm trees for daaays). It was more about not over-planning, enjoying the moment, and giving myself the luxury of focusing totally on me for a weekend. Sometimes, it's OK to be selfish. And why not do that with your feet in the sand and a daiquiri in your hand? Follow Ashley on Instagram. You Might Also Like (LUCCA, Italy)-With fresh urgency but scant solutions, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and top foreign diplomats held an urgent meeting Tuesday to strategize on a way forward to end the protracted civil war in Syria. A meeting of the likeminded countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of a Group of 7 industrialized economies in Italy, days after the U.S. for the first time launched airstrikes against Syrian President Bashar Assads forces. It came hours before Tillerson was to make a tense trip to Moscow to press Russias leaders to finally abandon their support for Assad. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the U.S. strikes last week served to refocus the worlds attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as U.S. officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional U.S. military action if Assads government continues attacking civilians. At Tuesdays meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G-7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim-majority nations including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the U.S. strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Mideast nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is vanquished. Seated around long tables in an ornate, red-walled room, the diplomats smiled and exchanged pleasantries but made no remarks as photographers were allowed in briefly for the start of the meeting. The session lasted roughly an hour. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assads strongest ally, which has used its own military to prop up Assad in Syria. The U.S. and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscows role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to give up his chemical weapons arsenal. Story continues The U.S. raised the stakes significantly on Monday when a senior U.S. official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syrias chemical weapons attack last week. Yet the U.S. has no proof of Moscows involvement, said the official, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity. That accusation will hang over Tillersons visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russias foreign minister and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say whether Putin would meet with Tillerson, in line with its usual practice of not announcing such meetings ahead of time. The United States has sought to downplay expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the U.S. will leave with any concessions from Russia regarding its support for Assad. Instead, the U.S. is hoping to use the trip - the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia - to convey its expectations to Moscow and then allow the Russians a period of time to respond. Yet even as the U.S. seeks to project a sense of urgency about the Syria crisis, Washington has struggled to explain a hazy strategy that has yet to clarify key questions: whether President Bashar Assad must go, how displaced Syrians will be protected and when America might feel compelled to take further action. Successive attempts by top Trump administration officials to articulate a plan have only furthered the appearance of a policy still evolving. In the absence of answers, other countries seem to be moving ahead on their own terms. Tillerson himself raised fresh expectations for aggressive U.S. action - and not only in Syria - as he visited SantAnna di Stazzema, a Tuscan village where the Nazis massacred more than 500 civilians during World War II. As he laid a wreath, he alluded to the Syria chemical attack. We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world, Tillerson said. Though such comments hint at a more activist U.S. foreign policy focused on preventing humanitarian atrocities, President Donald Trump has consistently suggested he prefers the opposite approach. His new administration has generally downplayed human rights concerns while promoting an America First strategy de-emphasizing the concerns of foreign nations. No component of Trumps Syria policy has engendered more confusion than Assads future - an issue that similarly befuddled the Obama administration, whose once-adamant position that Assad must go softened substantially by the time President Barack Obama left office in January. Leading up to the U.S. missile attack, Trumps administration had said that Assads future was up to the Syrian people. Then Trump, the day after the assault, said his thinking about Assad had changed. Tillerson answered a question about effecting regime change by saying the U.S. was organizing a coalition to do just that. Yet after Trumps retaliatory strike, the position became less clear. Some officials, like Tillerson, said the U.S. was confident Syrians would choose on their own to push Assad aside, while suggesting the U.S. wouldnt mandate it. U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and others said that ousting Assad was indeed a U.S. goal, but only one of several. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Lawless, Colleen Barry and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. This article was originally published on TIME.com DUBLIN (Reuters) - Yahoo's European regulator said it is preparing to give the U.S. Internet company the results of an investigation into the 2014 theft of data from 500 million users, including any remedial action to avoid a repeat of the breach. Yahoo said in September last year that hackers had stolen the data in 2014, prompting criticism from U.S. politicians into the delay in notifying customers. Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner, the lead European regulator on privacy issues for Yahoo because the company's European headquarters are in Dublin, told Reuters she would issue the report "in the next couple of weeks". "We are preparing to serve the final report on Yahoo EMEA Ltd and require of them any remedial actions we have identified," Helen Dixon said in an interview. It will be up to Yahoo whether to make the report public, she said. A new EU-wide data protection law coming into force in May 2018 allows fines of up to 4 percent of global turnover. Until then, however, the office of the Data Protection Commissioner said it has no administrative capability to fine a company. A spokesman for Yahoo said it has been cooperating with the commissioner's office on the investigation and will review the findings carefully when they are available. (Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Susan Thomas and David Goodman) Han. Chewie. Lando. And you? A Star Wars charity contest, unveiled with great fanfare on Good Morning America on Tuesday, offers fans among other prizes the chance to appear in the untitled Han Solo movie, currently filming in Pinewood Studios just outside London. SEE ALSO: What should the Han Solo movie be called? Here are the best options. Star Wars: Force For Change, Lucasfilm's collaboration with UNICEF, is running several iterations of the contest over the next four weeks. Prizes also include tickets to the world premiere of The Last Jedi in Los Angeles this December and its exclusive VIP after-party, and a screening of the original Star Wars at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in Northern California. Fans can enter here between now and May 11. The contest is all part of the celebration around the 40th birthday of the original movie, which exploded onto screens across the U.S. on May 25, 1977. (The Han Solo movie is set to arrive on May 25, 2018.) "In a year that we celebrate 40 years of the Star Wars saga, I continue to be inspired by the incredible generosity and charitable efforts of our fans," Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. "We hope this years Force For Change campaign will offer a few of those wonderful fans an experience they will never forget." To date, Force For Change has raised $9 million; UNICEF says the nutrition programs it has funded have saved the lives of more than 30,000 children. This year the program made a $1 million donation to kids' hospitals in the U.S. via the Starlight Children's Foundation. The first Force For Change campaign, in May 2014, offered fans a role in what later became known as The Force Awakens. You may recall the unveiling video, in which J.J. Abrams offered the world its first peek at the set of the planet we would later know as Jakku. The winner of that contest? One D.C. Barns from Denver, who became immortalized as "bar patron" in Maz Kanata's cantina. Story continues He also got to walk into the Millennium Falcon and as you can see from this video documenting his trip to the set, his first instinct was to walk right out again. Too many feels. Best of luck to all fans hoping to follow in Barns' footsteps and enter the Falcon cockpit. Just remember that Lucasfilm cameras will be there to document every moment, whether you dance around with glee or become a hot blubbering mess. To quote what Han said to Chewie in The Force Awakens: You're home. WATCH: 'Rogue One' reveals some easter eggs, but plenty are still hidden NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City's police department will pay an HIV-positive man $85,000 and offer to hire him as a dispatcher to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice claiming the city illegally revoked a job offer because of his condition. The agreement, filed on Monday in federal court in Manhattan, also calls for the NYPD to train its medical assessment staff to ensure they do not discriminate against job applicants in violation of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Raymond Parker applied in July 2013 to be an emergency dispatcher and received a conditional offer of employment, according to the lawsuit. He was given a notice of medical disqualification in December 2013, however, after disclosing he had human immunodeficiency virus, known as HIV, which causes AIDS. The Justice Department sued after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated a complaint filed by Parker and failed to reach an agreement with the city. The decision to revoke Parker's offer, the Justice Department said, was illegal because having HIV constitutes a disability, even if it causes no symptoms. The city's law department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision. "As a result of this lawsuit, the City of New York has acknowledged that HIV status is not a basis to deny an individual employment," Acting U.S. Attorney in Manhattan Joon Kim said. (Reporting by Joseph Ax) Hundreds of thousands of New York residents mulling the idea of going to college at a public university could soon enroll for free, as the state's lawmakers passed a budget over the weekend that included a program that would allow students from middle- and low-income families to attend college for free. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed Monday that lawmakers approved the Excelsior Scholarship program that would initially provide tuition-free college at the state's public colleges and universities to families making up to $100,000 a year. The program received official approval Sunday evening when the New York Senate passed the 2018 Budget [PDF], a day after the state's Assembly backed the plan. Under the program, which was proposed by Gov. Cuomo in 2017, an estimated 940,000 middle-class families and individuals would qualify to attend college tuition-free at all CUNY and SUNY two- and four-year colleges in the State. The program was created to close the "last mile" of tuition costs for students by covering the price remaining after the state's Tuition Assistance Program and federal grant funding are deducted. Related Stories From Consumer Reports The Excelsior Scholarship program will be phased in over three years, with New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annual eligible starting this fall. In 2018, the threshold increases to $110,000 annually, and $125,000 annually in 2019. To be eligible for the program, students must be enrolled full-time and average 30 credits each year, including summer semesters, and maintain a passing grade point average. Additionally, the program requires students to live and work in New York for the same number of years after graduating that they received the scholarship. For example, if a student participated in the program for four years, they must live and work in the state for four years. Students must still foot the bill for room and board. Story continues In all, the plan is estimated to cost about $163 million each year once fully implemented. According to the Governor's office, tuition at SUNY and CUNY four-year schools cost roughly $6,400 and $4,300 at community colleges. In addition to approving the Excelsior Scholarship program, the legislature also agreed to provide $8 million for open educational resources, such as e-books. While New York is the first state to begin offering free tuition at four-year public colleges and Universities, two states offer similar plans for two-year schools. In 2014, Tennessee became the first state to offer a program that provides all Tennessee high school graduates the opportunity to receive two years of free tuition to community colleges or technical schools in the state. The following year Oregon implemented a similar program. Dubbed the Oregon Promise, the plan provides tuition waivers to recent high school graduates who earned at least a 2.5 grade point average and are Oregon residents for at least 12 months, and apply to community college no more than six months after graduation. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2017 Consumer Reports, Inc. By Gina Cherelus NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sotiris Charalampous spent the past two years juggling school and work in an effort to save enough money to pay for his college tuition. However, a new initiative by the state could mean the rest of the sophomore's education costs him nothing at all, as long as he meets certain requirements. "I was on the train reading the article and it was just a 'phew' moment for me," Charalampous, who studies biology at the City College of New York (CCNY), said on Tuesday, referring to the launch of the new program. The Excelsior Scholarship is a first-in-the-nation plan that will let New York residents whose families makes up to $125,000 per year attend the state's public colleges and universities for free. In what was seen as a nod to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, New York's Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo in January proposed offering free tuition to students from low- and middle-income families. Sanders had promised during his campaign last year to be the Democratic Party's presidential candidate that he would make tuition free for everyone who attends state college in the United States. The scholarship, which begins this fall, also allocates $8 million to pay for resources such as e-books for students, the governor's office has said. Eligible students must be enrolled in college full-time and maintain a healthy grade point average. After graduating, they will also have to live and work in the state for the same number of years as they received the scholarship. "College was a worry for me," said Samiyah Ali, an incoming freshman at CCNY. "So I think it's a great opportunity. It makes college available for a lot of people that weren't able to go." CCNY's interim president, Vincent Boudreau, praised the importance given to education in the state's budget. "You can't put a price tag on it," he said. "It's just earth-shattering for us." (Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Lisa Shumaker) The chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Monday asked their chief secretaries to coordinate and resolve all pending issues between the states within three months. By Rajat Rai: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a closed-door meeting with his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat on Monday to meet out the issues related to the division of assets between the two states. It is to be mentioned that there are disputes between the two states for the past 16 years on various property and other issues and if a solution is reached out, Uttarkhand will benefit with properties worth over Rs 4200 Crores. advertisement Senior officers of various related departments of both the states also attended meeting and according to sources, the meeting ended on a fruitful note. WHEN UTTARAKHAND WAS FORMED When Uttarkhand was formed, many departments and personnel were divided between the two states on a mutual formula. However, some matters still remain unsolved and because of this, there are some cases pending in the court as well. The chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Monday asked their chief secretaries to coordinate and resolve all pending issues between the states within three months. MORE ABOUT THE MEETING BETWEEN THE 2 CHIEF MINISTERS The decision was taken at a meeting between chief ministers Yogi Adityanath and Trivendra Singh Rawat at the former's residence in Lucknow. The UP chief minister has asked for resolving of all pending issues between the two states at the earliest. He has said that the chief secretaries of both states should hold a meeting and decide on all such issues within three months, an official spokesman of the Uttar Pradesh government said. Adityanath noted that it was not in the interest of either of the states that issues remain pending even after 16 years of Uttarakhand's creation, he said. Often referred to as Devbhumi (land of the Gods) as it has many Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres, Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000 and it became India's 27th state. Both the BJP chief ministers discussed many issues, including those related to transfer of assets. YOGI ADITYANATH'S ORDERS Adityanath suggested that all pending issues be resolved in a time-bound manner, the spokesman said. He asked all officials concerned to send the remarks of their respective departments to the Uttarakhand government by May 10, the spokerperson added. Issues like sharing of power produced by the Tehri Dam project, distribution of assets pertaining to the irrigation department, including residential and non-residential buildings, and land in disuse, including those at Haridwar-Kumbh area and at Jamrani Dam, among others were discussed by them, an official release in Dehradun said. advertisement Property-related issues of the transport, finance, housing, food and civil supplies, home, tourism, education, information and public relations departments are pending between the two states, the spokesman said. Besides, issues related to forests, rural development, sugar industry and cane development, industrial development, cooperatives and Uttarakhand Warehousing Corporation limited are also pending, he added. Both Rawat and his UP counterpart agreed to prepare a complete note on the pending issues and sort them out in a timebound manner through mutual agreement, the release said. Also Read: Yogi Adityanath on Vande Mataram: Need to find out ways to deal with 'prejudiced mind' Man burnt alive in Yogi Adityanath's Gorakhpur, unknown assailants flee spot Also Watch: CM Yogi gets cracking, pays surprise visit to UP police station --- ENDS --- Lusaka (AFP) - Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who refused to accept defeat in last year's presidential election, was detained Tuesday on treason charges, his lawyer said. Police were not immediately available to confirm the charges, which came after a dispute over Hichilema's vehicles allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu's motorcade on a main road. More than 100 armed police surrounded Hichilema's house outside Lusaka overnight, and tear gas was fired before a raid when he was taken into custody, AFP reporters witnessed. "They have detained him on the basis that he committed treasonable charges," Jack Mwiimbu, Hichilema's lawyer, told reporters at the property. Hichilema -- who says he does not recognise Lungu as president -- allegedly refused to give way to Lungu's convoy as they were both travelling to Western province for a traditional ceremony at the weekend. Hichilema, head of the United Party for National Development (UPND), has launched several legal attempts to challenge the August election result. He says that the vote was rigged and accuses Lungu of an unprecedented bout of political repression in Zambia, which has been known for its relative stability. The election campaign was marked by clashes between supporters of Lungu's Patriotic Front (PF) party and the UPND. - 'Barbaric' - UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka told AFP that police had mounted a violent operation to detain their leader. "They broke (into) the house, tear-gassed the family including small children," said Katuka. "This is really barbaric." Hichilema, known as "HH", was taken to a police station for questioning. Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of death. "The PF party demanded action against HH after the motorcade situation," independent political analyst Neo Simutanyi told AFP. Story continues "HH is still trying to challenge the result through the courts, but Edgar Lungu is president in theory and in practice. "There is a lot of mistrust between the two sides. "Under the treason charge, HH could be detained for some time, so this will suit the ruling party who want to silence the dialogue (about) the election result not being recognised." Hichilema, a wealthy self-made businessman, has run for president five times and narrowly lost last August's elections. International observers said the vote was marred by restricted opposition campaigning, intimidation and biased state media. Last October, Hichilema and party vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba were arrested for unlawful assembly and sedition when they tried to visit supporters in jail. Zambia, Africa's second biggest copper producer, recorded GDP growth of three percent last year -- its slowest rate since 1998. After taking first place every year since 2010 in Laptop Mags survey of the best and worst laptop brands, Apple has dropped to fifth place in the 2017 edition of the survey. Participants voted on six criteria for each brand, and while Apple scored well on reviews, design and support, it took a beating in value and selection. Apple has always sold its laptops at a premium, but in 2017, consumers dont think theyre worth it. Don't Miss: iOS 11 might kill your favorite old iPhone apps While Apple tumbled all the way down to fifth, Lenovo shot back up to the top spot from all the way down at fourth in 2016. Reviews for Lenovos latest machines especially the long-lasting ThinkPad laptops have significantly improved this year, as has Lenovos customer support and dedication to innovation. Behind Lenovo at the top of the list, Asus and Dell swapped spots, with Asus snagging Dells title of runner-up this year. Of all the brands featured in the survey, Asus consistently has the best reputation with gamers and is constantly pushing the limits when it comes to design. Warranty and support are somewhat lacking, but that hasnt stopped Asus from climbing into the upper tier and outperforming Apple. HP managed to sneak in above Apple at number four while Acer actually tied with Apple for fifth. Apple beat Acer in five of the six criteria, but Acer crushed Apple when it came to value and selection. Apple clearly saw the writing on the wall before this survey came out, as it went so far as to invite a group of journalists to the Apple Campus last week to pass on a message to consumers that the Mac brand was still a priority for the company. By the end of the year, we expect to see new MacBook models. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com DUBLIN (Reuters) - Facebook's European regulator said it hoped to reach a deal in the coming months with the U.S. company to allow it to use data gleaned from the WhatsApp messaging service it acquired in 2014. The European Union's 28 data protection authorities last year requested that WhatsApp stop sharing users' data with Facebook due to questions over the validity of users' consent. Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon, the lead EU regulator on privacy issues for Facebook because the company's European headquarters are in Dublin, on Tuesday said she hopes for a final resolution by the summer. "I think we are in agreement with the parties - WhatsApp and Facebook - that the quality of the information provided to users could have been clearer, could have been more transparent and could have been expressed in simpler terms," she told Reuters in an interview. "We are working towards a solution on that." (Reporting by Conor Humphries, editing by Louise Heavens) New Nokia smartphones, the kind that run a nearly pure version of Android, are going to launch soon in some markets. However, the Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3 that were unveiled at MWC arent flagship handsets. If youre looking for Nokia-branded handsets that will rival the iPhone 8 and Galaxy S8, then youll have to wait for the Nokia 9, a device that HMD Global is yet to make official. But while were still waiting for the full launch, Nokia 9 rumors abound, complete with early specs, release date, and pricing details. Don't Miss: Video shows United Airlines violently dragging random passenger off overbooked flight A few days ago, a report from NokiaPowerUser revealed some of the alleged Nokia 9 specs a few days ago. The same tipster told the site that the Nokia 9 will be unveiled at the end of July or early August, and will launch by the end of the third quarter or even later. The handset is expected to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, and thats precisely why the phone might see some delays. Currently, the Galaxy S8 is the only smartphone to have access to Qualcomms newest high-end chips. NokiaPowerUser also says the Nokia 9 will be priced at around 749 in Europe or around $699 in America. Chinese leaker KK, who often posts mobile leaks on Weibo, listed the alleged specs of the Nokia 9. According to him, the phone will feature a 5.5-inch 4K OLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB of RAM, 64/128GB of storage, 22-megapixel rear camera, 12-megapixel selfie camera, 3,800 mAh battery with Quick Charging 4.0 support, Nokia OZO sound, IP68 dust and waterproof certification, and itll run Android 7.1.2 Nougat out of the gate. In case any of that sounds familiar thats because it matches NokiaPowerUsers report from a few days ago. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com Pre-orders have started for Samsungs Galaxy S8 and consumers look to be sending a clear message to Samsung: were sticking by you. Early pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are up compared to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Plus, according to Axios. In a statement, Samsung said U.S. pre-orders for the new Galaxy S8 series had strong double digit growth in preorder numbers compared to the Galaxy S7 series. Samsung also noted most pre-orders have been for the Galaxy S8 Plus. While Samsung didnt confirm exact numbers for its U.S. pre-orders, the Galaxy S8 has seen strong early sales performance elsewhere since preorders started Friday. In South Korea, Samsung has seen more than 550,000 pre-orders in only two days for the Galaxy S8. Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Investigation Finds Battery Caused Phone To Catch Fire Samsungs strong pre-order performance for the Samsung Galaxy S8 series is especially notable, as it comes on the heels of the companys disastrous Galaxy Note 7 launch. The Note 7 was plagued by extensive reports of batteries that would catch on fire. The aftermath of the scandal was equally poor for Samsung, as the phone was banned from U.S. flights by the Federal Aviation Administration and eventually had to be recalled. But for consumers, its clear that many see the scandal as a one-off misstep for Samsung. While the exploding batteries controversy was a clear embarrassment for the company, a lot of smartphone buyers are still fans of Samsungs build quality and features on their smartphones. Read: Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date And Specs As Axios notes, most of the buyers affected by the Note 7 recall simply switched over to a Galaxy S7. Samsung hopes that the strong performance for the Galaxy S7 right now signals a rebound in confidence among its potential buyers. Related Articles A Ghanaian-American personal trainer, Abeku Wilson on Saturday, April 8 2017, shot two people at a gym, killing one before fatally turning the gun on himself. Get all the latest news from Ghana here READ ALSO: Manasseh Azure comes for John Dumelo after V8 joke at VGMAs YEN gathered that the 62 well-built weight lifter, martial artist, model and competitive bodybuilder was a friendly, positive and well-balanced man who did not seem to have any mental issues. According to the Miami Herald, Wilson does not have a criminal history in Florida, but two employees said he had been fired from the gym shortly before the attack took place. In a news conference, the Miami police did not name the shooter or the wounded nor did they confirm Wilsons suicide. Abeku and his mum READ ALSO: Marry my wife when I die - Okyeame Kwame tells manager Abeku Wilson was born in Boston and later lived in New York City and Atlanta. His father is Ghanaian and his mother, American. He graduated from University of Miami with a degree in business administration, according to his social media sites. Source: YEN.com.gh Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik did not appear before the ED in response to summons against him on four occasions. By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: In a fresh development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved special PMLA court in Mumbai seeking a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The court would hear the argument and may pass an order on Wednesday. Naik, who is residing in Saudi Arabia did not appear before the agency in response to summons against him on four occasions. Advocate Hiten Venegavkar, representing the ED, said Naik was summoned four times to cooperate in the investigation, but he repeatedly failed to appear. "Hence, it gives a ground to the agency to seek a warrant against him," Venegavkar said. advertisement Once the ED gets a copy of NBW in hand, it would go ahead seeking a letter rotatory (LRs) for the UK and UAE, from the same court. From these countries, crores of money had flown in the bank accounts of Naik's NGO IRF and his relatives. "Naik had been generating proceed of crimes by delivering controversial speeches in the name of Islam," the officer told India Today. Money trail of Rs 200 crore is under the ED's investigation. PROPERTIES ATTACHED Some days back, the ED provisionally attached properties of the IRF and others worth Rs 18.37 crore, in the form of mutual funds, bank balances and real estate under the PMLA, 2002. Sources said Naik's movable and immovable properties of around Rs 100 crore is under attachment process. Till now, the agency has attached mutual funds worth Rs 9.41 crore (belonging to the IRF), a godown worth Rs 60 lakh (owned by Harmony Media Pvt. Ltd), and a school building worth Rs 7.05 crore belonging to the Islamic Education Trust, Chennai. In addition, five bank accounts of the IRF were also attached. Earlier, the ED had registered a money laundering case against the IRF under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, based on an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency in November 2016. In its probe, the ED found that Naik and his associates were indulging in unlawful activities, and that through his provocative utterances, the preacher was promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India. Also read: ED summons Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh in money laundering case Also read: Zakir Naik's properties worth Rs 100 crore under ED's scanner, attachment begins --- ENDS --- : , , , , - 28 . The state media has been mentioning Raeesis candidacy which it is supporting, saying that despite the large number of negative media reports about him, he has not been destroyed. The Fars news agency said: Following Ebrahim Raeesis candidacy in the presidential election of Iran, a media wave has been raised to destroy him in pretext of his alleged role in the execution of Mujahedin in 1988. They intend to destroy the regime and the officials by bringing up the files regarding the past performance of the regime. In fact, the anti-regime forces endeavor to consider the discrepancies between the people and the regime in order to destroy the face of elites in public. Another news outlet IRGC News claimed that the victims of the 1988 massacre deserved the torture they endured, saying their severe punishment is logical and reasonable. The Fars news agency said: Those who intend to attack the regime today on the pretext of the execution of MEK members have ignored the fact that the fate of our regime will be similar to Syria as long as they neglect the measures imposed by the MEK. In other words, concerning the current situation in the region, we can realize the importance of accurate and calculated measures taken against the MEK by the Iran regime. The IRGC, in reference to the crimes Raeesi committed, said that instead of being punished or condemned for his crimes, he should be praised: Those like Raeesi that have revolutionary backgrounds, must not be blamed and instead, they could be encouraged due to having the same backgrounds (i.e. the massacre of political prisoners). Another IRGC article talks about the consequences of those calling for justice for the tens of thousands of political prisoners killed during the massacre: Its been a while that the large number of local and international advertising networks count on marginal issues such as the executions of the 90s in order to destroy Ebrahim Raeesi. The audio file released by Ayatollah Montazeri has become another issue since this cleric was the supporter of MEK at that time. In the statement announcing his candidacy, Raeesi criticised Rouhanis government and his performance during the past 4 years. On Thursday, 59 Tomahawk missiles were launched on the order of US President Donald Trump, evidently in response to the latest reports that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad had deployed deadly chemical weapons against a civilian population, killing dozens of people including children in Idlib province. The US strike reportedly resulted in minimal casualties, and although it damaged the surrounding structures it left the airstrip itself operational, so that Assad was able to use it soon afterward to launch further strikes on rebel targets, something that US Senator Lindsey Graham described as a serious mistake and a brazen act of defiance against the Trump administration, according to CNN. Last weeks strike was the first carried out by the US against a Syrian government target, although it has carried out a number of drone strikes against ISIL and other terrorist targets while providing logistical support to moderate rebels fighting to overthrow the Assad regime. Despite the recent strikes minimal effects, the Iranian-Russian statement declared that the US had crossed red lines. It also threatened a non-specific response to the US or any other party that attacks Assads forces in the days ahead. The statement was presumably prompted not only by the strike but also by accompanying statements from US officials, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The remarks from the countrys leading foreign policy figure were seemingly non-committal regarding what sort of further action the Trump administration might take, but it spoke explicitly about Russian and Iranian moral responsibility while urging those Syrian allies to have no illusions about [Assads] intentions. The Daily Beast accused Tillerson of dealing in euphemisms and avoiding the definitive conclusion expressed by one anonymous State Department official: that the available evidence clearly points to a war crime that was committed by Assads forces and either ignored or specifically enabled by Iran and Russia. Speaking days after Tillerson, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley was less delicate, indicating that nothing was off the table in the wake of the Syrian allies rebuke, and adding that the US was calling out Iran and Russia over their support of the Assad regime. CNNs reporting upon Haleys remarks also described competing narratives over what happened in Idlib province, where Assad and his allies have of course avoided taking responsibility for the chemical attack. Haley was unequivocal about the US having evidence of Assads guilt, and she also expressed severe criticism of Russian and Iranian efforts to cover up the facts. Tillerson, by contrast, declared his intention to bring up a 2013 agreement regarding the removal of Assads chemical stockpiles, when the Secretary of State next visited Moscow. He criticized Russia for failing to live up to its obligations under that deal, in light of the fact that the Assad government seems to have either retained supplies of sarin gas or synthesized more of it. But Tillerson added of Russia, I dont draw conclusions of complicity at all, but clearly theyve been incompetent and perhaps theyve just simply been out-maneuvered by the Syrians. Of course, no Trump administration officials have expressed similar skepticism about Iranian knowledge of the incident or Assads broader intentions. This is in keeping with the increasingly tense relations between the US and Iran following Trumps successful presidential campaign during which he harshly criticized the Iran nuclear deal and the associated Obama-era foreign policy that virtually all Republicans and some Democrats considered to be much too conciliatory to the Islamic Republic and other traditional adversaries of the US. By some accounts, Trumps initial efforts to turn up the heat on Iran have paid dividends even though the Islamic Republics hardline anti-Western rhetoric remains undiminished. Although the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats continue to make provocative gestures toward US Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf and dual nationals continue to be the target of politically motivated arrests inside Iran, it is also reportedly true that some planned Iranian missile launches were scrapped after the White House put Iran on notice over a January ballistic missile test. If it is true that Iran is scaling back some of its behaviors out of its concerns over an assertive US policy, this may be on display in what IranWire described as a milder than expected official response to the Idlib incident and the subsequent US missile strike. Although hardline Iranian media apparently followed its Russian counterparts lead in declaring that the deaths in Idlib were the result of damage to a rebel-held warehouse of chemical agents, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has so far declined to make this the governments official position. However, IranWire also notes that through unofficial channels a number of influential Iranian officials have issued even stronger denials of Syrian and Iranian responsibility for the civilian deaths. For instance, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian parliament, insisted that terrorists have shown no hesitation in using chemical weapons and that the Syrian government has no chemical weapons, even though similar chemical attacks in 2013 were internationally confirmed to have been the work of Assads forces. Going even further, Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani, a member of the Assembly of Experts which is tasked with the selection of a new supreme leader following his death or retirement, accused the US itself of deliberately supplying rebel groups with chemical weapons, apparently in the interest of carrying out a false flag operation to turn the international will against the Assad regime. But such drastic measures seem remarkably unnecessary considering that various players in the international community seem to regard the US missile strike as having been long overdue. The Idlib attack prompted British Prime Minister Theresa May to quickly call for regime change in Syria, according to the Daily Beast. It is difficult to imagine that this represents an instantaneous policy shift on the part of the United Kingdom government, as opposed to a new elaboration on established preferences. In fact, although Ambassador Haley teased the possibility of regime change, Tillerson and other White House officials have remained cagey about this subject, suggesting that they are not pushing the rest of the world in that direction so much as they themselves are being pulled. Indeed, according to the Daily Mail, European concerns over Assads potential retention of power are so strong that the newfound American pivot toward direct confrontation has been described as the start of renewed harmony between the US and its traditional allies. This was the phrase used by Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano at the meeting of the G-7 nations in the city of Lucca. The Daily Mail also noted that UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is set to lead the effort to impose expanded sanctions on Russia unless it agrees to a solution to the Syrian crisis that involves Assads removal. Various analysts have suggested that Russia could be swayed in the direction of such a solution, although they have tended to conclude that the same is not true of Iran, which sees its interests being safeguarded only by the complete military defeat of Assads enemies. Even though IranWire regards the official Iranian response as relatively mild, this conclusion about Irans interests in Syria seems to be supported by the fact that even President Hassan Rouhani, who has spearheaded outreach to the international community, took a hard line against the US in the wake of the missile strike. Americans have never acted within international frameworks, and one instance is the sanctions they impose against Iran, unreasonably considering themselves as the worlds leader. The Syrian people and army must give a response that makes Americans regret their attack, he said according to the Daily Mail. Rouhanis commentary serves to underscore the tensions that exist between the Iranian regimes foreign policy and his administrations economic policy, which involves expanded international trade and the courtship of Western investment. Even as Rouhani and other officials lashed out against the US and its closest allies, the Iranian Oil Ministry continued to insist that it was anticipating excellent prospects for trade with and investment from Western entities. UPI quoted Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh as saying that foreign companies could be expected to invest to the fullest extent of the law. But as has been widely reported in recent months, many Western institutions are holding back their plans to re-engage with Iran until it is clear what further action the US might take as President Trump pursues a more assertive foreign policy. The newfound US involvement in Syria adds still further complexity to the situation, as does the fact that European powers are personally interested in sanctioning Russia over Assads criminal behaviors and thus might also show interest in broadening this sanctions effort to include the Islamic Republic. As CNN notes, US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already indicated that the legislative body is exploring the imposition of new sanctions against both Russia and Iran over their responsibility for the Idlib chemical attack. It remains to be seen whether these efforts will meet with the support of the US president or other Western heads of state. But it is already clear that the chemical attack and subsequent US response have helped to draw clearer lines between Assads allies and his adversaries. Harry J. Kazianis, Director of Defense Studies at The Centre for the National Interest, wrote an op-ed for National Interest about how the US could take on Iran. In the op-ed, Kazianis quotes a report from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), an independent, non-profit, think tank specialising in US defence policy. The report states that in order to effectively fight the Iranian Regime, America would need to establish pockets of air superiority to defend against cyber-attacks from Iran and make offensive strikes. Kazianis noted that although the CSBA report is slightly dated, he was using it to paint a broad picture of what a US military campaign against Iran would look like. He wrote: The size and scale of the campaign would, of course, be dialled up or down based on the goal. If America was attempting to damage Irans nuclear program, one would likely see a massive effort to degrade Tehrans air defence networks to pave the way for B-2 bombers and other aircraft to drop large amounts of precision-guided and/or bunker-buster style weapons. Kazianis concluded that although war should never be the first option, due to the devastating loss of life, destabilise a country and/or region and the potential to cause more conflict in the future, he believes that analysing any conflict is important before the decision is made. He wrote: In the end, the question America needs to square itself with is simply this: Can Washington live with an Iran that will become increasingly powerful in the Middle East [now that the] nuclear deal is signed and on paper? If the US wants to, then they should prepare to compete and cooperate with Iran, while still working with its current middle-eastern allies, like Israel and Saudi Arabia, to contain Irans nuclear missile programme. However, given the aggression shown by the Iranian Regime (launching ballistic missiles in spite of the nuclear pact, attacking foreign ships in the Red Sea) and the war-hawks that make up the Trump administration, the US is unlikely to cooperate with Iran. Could America choose to go after Iran for their support of the Assad Regime? Or will they choose to go after them for breaking the nuclear deal? Or for their numerous human rights violations? Well, the most logical option is to first work with the Iranian Resistance; a move recommended by 23 former senior national security officials in a letter to Trump in January. They know how the Regime operates and they already have moles working within the Regime; indeed, they exposed Irans nuclear missile programme in 2002 and Iran terrorism training camps in 2017. They can help stop the Regime. 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. [April 10, 2017] Global Forensic Technology Market, Analysis & Forecast: 2016 to 2022; (Focus on the Forensic Technology by Type, by Application, and by Geography) LONDON, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With the rate of internet penetration reaching up to 87%, the U.S. has become one of the best connected countries in the world, and acquires the second position globally with regard to online business- consumer transactions; moreover, these factors have led the country to be the centre point for cyber-attacks. Cybercrimes cost have reached around $100 billion in the country. Canada and Mexico globally stands at the 13th and 17th position respectively as major sources of cybercrimes. North America needs to build a strong resilience system for managing cybercrimes. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4814929/ Our market study includes an extensive overview and analysis of the North America Cyber Security market by solutions and services, application verticals and countries, along with developing a comprehensive outlook of the market. The report provides extensive insights of the different developments, trends and key participants. While highlighting the key driving and restraining forces for this market, the report also provides a comprehensive section on the prominent laws, patents and standards for the North America Cyber Security market. The answers to the following key questions can be found in the report: - What are the key market trends and developments in the North America Cyber Security market? - What is the Cyber Security technological overview in the North America region? - What are the different types of cyber attacks prevalent in the North America region? - What are the key drivers, challenges and opportunities for the Cyber Security market in the North America region with respect to their impact analysis? - Which key application vertical is utilizing Cyber Security in the North America region with their market statistics? - What are the important Cyber Security solutions in the North America region with their market statistics? - What are the important Cyber Security services in the North America region with their market statistics? - Which North America country will lead the Cyber Security market by the end of the forecast period? - Who are the key players in the North America Cyber Security market? The research also incorporates Porter's Five Forces for an in-depth analysis of the North America Cyber Security market. The report builds itself upon a comprehensive value chain giving a clear understanding of the ecosystem of the Cyber Security market in the North America region. The report also includes the profiles of major players in the North America Cyber Security market that allows readers to get an insight into the industry trends. Some of the leading companies in the North America Cyber Security market are IBM, Cisco, Dell, Intel, FireEye, Symantec, among others. The report answers the following questions about the global food traceability market: - What are the different factors driving the market and how will the impact change through the forecast period? - What are the major factors challenging the growth of global food traceability market and how can they be addressed through the forecast period? - How will the market players leverage on key developments such as acquisitions, partnerships, and product launch among others? - Which region will lead the global food traceability market by the end of the forecast period? - What are the prevalent service types and what is the market size for each of them? - What are the prevalent technology types and what is the market size for each of them? - How will the competitive rivalry evolve through the forecast period? The report puts special emphasis on the market share of the services provided in food taceability market, owing to the changing paradigms in the industry. Further, the report includes an exhaustive analysis of the geographical split into North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Rest of the World (R.O.W.). Each geography details the individual push and pull forces in addition to the key players from that region. The prominent players operating in the global food traceability market include C.H. Robinson , Intermec, Cognex Corporations, Bio-Rad Laboratories and others. Executive Summary With an aim to sustain within the security industry, new technologies and services are being implemented by private companies as well as the law enforcement agencies for the constant assessment of data related risks to which they are exposed. A wide range of systems are used by today's leading forensic organizations, enabling them to create, send, search and store data with an aim to efficiently automate the business operations. Hence, there is a need to manage and analyze the data in response to litigation, investigation or regulatory request. These technologies are also aimed in providing assisting to the forensic examiners in developing quick and efficient action plan pertaining to fraudulent and illicit activities. Such responsive measures lead to significant enhancement of the acceptability of the technologies that can tackle cybercrimes, globally. Moreover, these technologies are also aimed at providing a structured examination of data in the court of law as evidence. Almost on daily basis the headlines are made pertaining to the cyber-attacks on the information systems, both by the internal as well as the external perpetrators and fraudulent activities using tools related to electronic data processing. However, with the diversified use of digital technologies such as computers or mobile devices, especially in the field of white collar crimes, there has been an increase in the demand among the private companies for generating new forensic technologies in the market to tackle cyber related threats. Forensics is an application for science consisting of methodologies and techniques used majorly by the governmental agencies and the private companies to tackle cyber threats and to identify facts from the cases to be presented during the court of law. The forensic technologies provide with an efficient identification, interpretation and assessment of substantial evidence gathered from the crime scenes. The demand for the forensic technology is further pushed by prominent players within the respective areas of forensics companies such as 3M, LGC Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Micro Systemation and others. With the rise in the global rate of cybercrimes, the demand for development of new forensic technologies and solutions has been a major factor for the forensic companies to prioritize the usage of digital devices. The global forensic technology market was estimated to be $11.26 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow over $19.25 billion in 2022 at a CAGR of 9.35% through the forecast period. The global forensic technology market has a high potential in future owing to the rising demand for innovation in forensic technologies in various applications and sectors. The forensic technology market is expected to progress at a significant rate since the users belong to a diversified application portfolio ranging from law enforcement to healthcare. Reduction in backlogs, increase in the efficiency and value of forensic technologies and others are some of the factors responsible for the growth of this market. However, the market consists of certain challenges as well which are inhibiting the overall growth for the market, such as lack of awareness, non-uniformed legal regulations, expensive nature of the technologies and others. The global forensic technology market is deemed to have evolved through several advancements not only in the field of digital forensics, but also in the areas of ballistics and DNA testing. DNA testing segment holds immense potential in the global market due to the increasing dependence of law enforcement agencies on the same. The DNA testing technology dominated the market in 2016, due to the increasing rate of cybercrimes. The digital forensic technologies is deemed to be the fastest growing market due to the adaption on a global scale. The dynamics of the forensic industry have changed profoundly, owing to the ongoing innovations and advancements in the forensic technology market. The major applications include law enforcement, enterprise, healthcare and others, that have become promising beneficiaries of forensic technology market, making it an indispensable tool to ensure both personal and public safety. The enterprise application continues to be the dominating application, due to a wide range of acceptance of new technologies and solutions by the private companies. Nevertheless, the proliferation of forensic technologies in the market can be due to the law enforcement agencies as they are aimed to provide forensic services and consulting solutions to the private companies and the government entities as well. The increasing trend and adoption of new forensic technology among various geographical regions has led to decline in the number of cyber threats in the global market. The forensic technology market holds a prominent share in various countries, out of which the North American region currently dominates the market due to the presence of renowned companies such as 3M Cogent and Thermo Fisher Scientific that have introduced new forensic technologies in North American region, the market holds a relatively high share. The APAC region on the other hand is deemed to be the fastest growing market, due to the rising rate of cybercrime. The competitive landscape for the forensic technology market demonstrates an inclination towards companies adopting strategies such as partnerships & collaborations, and business expansion, among others. The high growth potential and rapidly emerging forensic technologies are attracting various investors. Few of the key players in the industry include 3M, LGC Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Micro Systemation and others. Countries Covered Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4814929/ 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 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-forensic-technology-market-analysis--forecast-2016-to-2022-focus-on-the-forensic-technology-by-type-by-application-and-by-geography-300437456.html SOURCE ReportBuyer [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 11, 2017] Embedded Vision Summit 2017 Brings Together Innovators Building New Products with Computer Vision and Deep Learning WALNUT CREEK, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Embedded Vision Summit, held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California, May 1-3, is the only event focused exclusively on the technologies, hardware, and software that bring visual intelligence to products. The 2017 Summit presents the latest practical techniques and technologies for vision-based product development, and illuminates the commercial landscape, trends, and business opportunities in this fast-growing market. It will inspire participants to use vision technology in new ways and to empower them with the know-how they need to integrate vision capabilities into products. Participants will learn the business implications of vision technologies, as well as how to bring computer vision into cloud applications, embedded systems, mobile apps, and wearables. "With breathtaking speed, computer vision is transitioning from a research topic to a ubiquitous technology in applications from autonomous vehicles to retail analytics to toys," says Jeff Bier, founder, Embedded Vision Alliance. "The Embedded Vison Summit brings together more than 1,200 industry innovators, top technologists, business executives, and experienced engineers game changers from around the world who are creating 'machines that see.'" The event features more than 90 expert presenters in 4 conference tracks covering every aspect of computer vision. Keynote speakers include Marc Pollefeys, Director of Science for Microsoft HoloLens, who will present on recent advances in 3D computer vision and mixed reality, and Professor Jitendra Malik, former Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California at Berkeley, who will review progress in deep visual understanding. The event's Vision Technology Showcase features more than 100 demonstrations of commercially-available computer vision components and solutionsboth in hardware and softwarefrom more than 50 top suppliers. Day 3 of the conference features in-depth hands-on Vision Technology Workshops presented by Allied Vision, Khronos Group, Synopsys, and VeriSilicon. Intel is the Premier Plus sponsor of the event. Premier sponsors include Allied Vision, ARM, Synopsys, and Xilinx. Gold sponsors include BDTI, Cadence, CEVA, and Thundersoft. Silver sponsors include AImotive, Imagination Technologies, Luxoft, Nextchip, and NXP. The event is organized by the Embedded Vision Alliance, a worldwide industry partnership of technology providers and end-product companies who are enabling innovative and practical applications using computer vision. For more information about the Embedded Vision Summit, visit www.embedded-vision.com/summit. Contact Information Brian Dipert Embedded Vision Alliance [email protected] 1-530-414-6908 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/embedded-vision-summit-2017-brings-together-innovators-building-new-products-with-computer-vision-and-deep-learning-300437592.html SOURCE Embedded Vision Alliance [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] CHARLESTON -- More than 100 seniors from Effingham High School visited Booth Library on the campus of Eastern Illinois University on March 14. The students were conducting research for argumentative research papers on a variety of subjects. The students took a tour of the library and were given a demonstration on finding resources both on the bookshelves and through the librarys online databases. During the spring semester, Booth Librarys regular hours are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 1 a.m. Sunday. For more information on the library, visit the website, www.library.eiu.edu; call 217-581-6072; or find the library on Facebook or Twitter. The issue of President Trump being wire tapped by former President Obama, or one in his hold over team, looks like a moot point to me. If President Trump has a private conversation within the Trump tower, with a world leader, and his words appear two days later in the New York Times, there can be little doubt that his conversation was overheard, or recorded in some manner. Obama, who still has political confidants in all departments of our government, would surely have known this, if not given it his blessing. Insofar as the repeal of Obama Care goes, the ACA was another entitlement, passed by the Democrats alone. The poor, those without insurance coverage, received that coverage through government subsidies, thanks to we the tax payers. Like social security and medicare, this health care entitlement passed by the Democratic party, will be nearly impossible to undue. It is somewhat akin to having bubble gum removed from ones beard. Of course this entitlement is often abused. If you think not, just ask any ambulance driver if he has not been called to the same address any number of times when some individual has a pretense of pain. After all, it is only TAXPAYER money, isnt it? The thinking of irresponsible individuals. When first signed into law, Obamas Health care law was designed to fail. Their ultimate goal was a single payer system run by the government alone. Higher and higher taxation was to pay for this rationed system. And, yes, there WERE those government death panels within the government that would determine who would receive life threatening operations, and who would not. This determination being based on their age and social position, one would assume. Someone of low estate, and in their eighties, needing a knee or hip replacement, or heart operation, would likely be denied that operation, based both on the cost and their age. It will be interesting to see How President Trump emerges from this health care entitlement fight, initiated by the Democrats alone. Even a community organizer can become President Obama did. Jack Pierce, Mattoon Tuesday, April 11, 2017 State Budget Wrangling Comes Amid More Damning Economic News. Plus: Lujan Grisham And Balderas Eye Each Other's Fresh Money Reports The state suffers the highest jobless rate in the nation as well as a long-term stagnant economy. Bekin's moving company remains one of ABQ's larger advertisers and the state's largest city, its "economic engine," looks increasingly like a low-end border town, checkered with payday loan and dollar stores and afflicted by a maddening crime wave that authorities refuse to take responsibility for. Compared to all that, the wrangling over a $6.1 billion state budget (the same amount as it was 10 years ago) is small potatoes. Gov. Martinez's While ABQ takes on border town status, Santa Fe looks more and more like a banana republic, with a Governor who seems to be reciting lines from Martinez's approval rating is an anemic 42 percent and probably sinking further as we speak. The doors to any political future for her closed long ago. But she refuses to march quietly or cooperatively into her political oblivion that will begin January 1, 2019. Only a radicalized pocket of state House Republicans prevent a total repudiation of this governorship. Most Senate Republicans have already abandoned her as shown by the recent override of one of her vetoes. And even many House R's are stunned by her refusal to sign portions of the budget that even they supported. In 2002, both Republicans and Democrats banded together to pull the state back from the brink when GOP Governor Johnson's stubborn authoritarianism had him performing his version of the aforementioned King George. They did so by calling an " Johnson, never one to take governing too seriously, laughed off the historic rebuke and went on to enjoy the fortune he made in his pre-gubernatorial years from doing deals with Intel. Back then the wreckage of a governorship stood out. Today's repeat performance by Martinez just seems like another piece of litter on a battered economic and social landscape. PLUG THE ABYSS Here's a sign that Martinez is sensing that she is looking into the abyss after her veto party, Martinez told reporters Monday she could support extending the states gross receipts tax to Internet sales closing a loophole, not raising taxes, per se but would not support other proposals increasing taxes on sales of gas, or new or used vehicles. THE MONEY RACE If the race for the '18 Dem nomination for Governor were between ABQ US Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Attorney General Hector Balderas it would already be pretty close--at least when in it comes to the money race. In the first finance reports of the Guv contest in reports covering mid-December through early April, Grisham raised $892,000 in the reporting period and spent $151,000. Her big donors included ABQ's Marble Brewery which came with $5,500; ABQ's Radiology Associates came with $5,500 for the '18 primary and another maximum donation of $5,500 for the '18 general. The Ft. Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, which hopes someday to open a casino in southern NM, gave $5,500. ABQ Dem state Sen. Bill O'Neill, a possible Dem Lt Governor candidate, donated $1,000. Grisham's big expense was for online communications and consulting to Ann Lewis Strategies in DC. Balderas raised the lion's share of his money from major law firms and attorneys, including $5,500 for the primary and $5,500 for the general from Baron and Budd out of Dallas. The AG had expenditures of only $20,000 for the period. His campaign manager said: If the Attorney General decides to run for Governor he is confident he will have the resources to secure the Democratic nomination. Attorney General Balderas remains focused on protecting the health and safety of New Mexico's families, businesses and environment. Grisham said of her fund-raising: We have tapped into a groundswell of support from New Mexicans who want real leadership in the Governors Office. I was the first to jump in the race because I recognized the energy and hunger for change in our state. The Grisham camp also pointed out that she raised all her $892k in the three month period, while Balderas started the period with $400,000 and added $211k during that time. Whatever the spin, if the race included both Balderas and Grisham neither would have to go to the local payday loan store to make campaign ends meet. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. ( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2017 Amid the budget chaos in Santa Fe comes news that illustrates the slow and painful economic death spiral that has enveloped the state. Intel in Rio Rancho has finally confirmed that the plant shed 700 workers in 2016 and employment there now stands at only 1,200, compared to 7,000 in its heyday. It was little solace that rumors had current employment levels there even lower. The bottom line is, like so many others, Intel is pulling out of here.The state suffers the highest jobless rate in the nation as well as a long-term stagnant economy. Bekin's moving company remains one of ABQ's larger advertisers and the state's largest city, its "economic engine," looks increasingly like a low-end border town, checkered with payday loan and dollar stores and afflicted by a maddening crime wave that authorities refuse to take responsibility for.Compared to all that, the wrangling over a $6.1 billion state budget (the same amount as it was 10 years ago) is small potatoes. Gov. Martinez's over-the-top veto of the entire higher education budget in an effort to get her way with the Legislature is only going to worsen the perception that New Mexico is a place best left to its own devices.While ABQ takes on border town status, Santa Fe looks more and more like a banana republic, with a Governor who seems to be reciting lines from The Madness of King George Martinez's approval rating is an anemic 42 percent and probably sinking further as we speak. The doors to any political future for her closed long ago. But she refuses to march quietly or cooperatively into her political oblivion that will begin January 1, 2019.Only a radicalized pocket of state House Republicans prevent a total repudiation of this governorship. Most Senate Republicans have already abandoned her as shown by the recent override of one of her vetoes. And even many House R's are stunned by her refusal to sign portions of the budget that even they supported.In 2002, both Republicans and Democrats banded together to pull the state back from the brink when GOP Governor Johnson's stubborn authoritarianism had him performing his version of the aforementioned King George. They did so by calling an " extraordinary session " of the Legislature for the first time in state history and passing a veto proof budget and going home.Johnson, never one to take governing too seriously, laughed off the historic rebuke and went on to enjoy the fortune he made in his pre-gubernatorial years from doing deals with Intel. Back then the wreckage of a governorship stood out. Today's repeat performance by Martinez just seems like another piece of litter on a battered economic and social landscape.Here's a sign that Martinez is sensing that she is looking into the abyss after her veto party, including that tax hike package:If the race for the '18 Dem nomination for Governor were between ABQ US Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Attorney General Hector Balderas it would already be pretty close--at least when in it comes to the money race. In the first finance reports of the Guv contest in reports covering mid-December through early April, Grisham reports $741,000 in cash on hand and Balderas reports $683,000 in the bank. Grisham announced her candidacy in December. Balderas is on the fence, contemplating whether seek re-election as AG or make the Guv run. He could use his money for either bid.Grisham raised $892,000 in the reporting period and spent $151,000. Her big donors included ABQ's Marble Brewery which came with $5,500; ABQ's Radiology Associates came with $5,500 for the '18 primary and another maximum donation of $5,500 for the '18 general. The Ft. Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, which hopes someday to open a casino in southern NM, gave $5,500. ABQ Dem state Sen. Bill O'Neill, a possible Dem Lt Governor candidate, donated $1,000. Grisham's big expense was for online communications and consulting to Ann Lewis Strategies in DC.Balderas raised the lion's share of his money from major law firms and attorneys, including $5,500 for the primary and $5,500 for the general from Baron and Budd out of Dallas. The AG had expenditures of only $20,000 for the period. His campaign manager said:Grisham said of her fund-raising:The Grisham camp also pointed out that she raised all her $892k in the three month period, while Balderas started the period with $400,000 and added $211k during that time.Whatever the spin, if the race included both Balderas and Grisham neither would have to go to the local payday loan store to make campaign ends meet.This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) You can read the full text of this article if you: Select an option Log In Buy Article Content & Permissions Access through Ovid Lincoln restaurant chain Valentinos on Tuesday announced plans to open a restaurant sometime next month in Seward. The restaurant, located at 1519 W. U.S. 34, will offer carryout, delivery and express lunch service as well as a buffet on Friday evenings, all day Saturday and Sunday during brunch. The Seward Valentino's, which will seat 50 people, is a franchise location owned by Paul Mueller, Rick Endicott and Chad Folkerts, who own the adjacent Pac N Save grocery store. Valentinos President Tony Messineo said in a news release that the new location is a good fit for the community. We know we have a lot of loyal customers in Seward and were glad to bring Valentinos taste and tradition back to their growing community, Messineo said. Valentino's did not give an exact opening dat for the new location, which will employ approximately 15 people. Her banking career ended in scandal, but the start was straight out of the storybooks. Carrie Tolstedt says her father ran the local bakery in Kimball, Nebraska, and she would join him on his visits to the local bank after a day's work. Tolstedt would eventually rise to oversee thousands of front-line workers at more than 6,000 Wells Fargo branches. She would earn numerous awards and take home millions a year before a sales scandal at the bank threw those accomplishments into damaging light. The report released Monday by the board of directors at the bank accused Tolstedt of downplaying problems at the branches, and bucking at scrutiny over fraudulent sales practices under her aegis. It recommended the bank claw back $47.3 million that she had received in stock options, on top of $19 million it had previously taken away. Williams & Connolly, a law firm representing Tolstedt, said "we strongly disagree" with the report. The report is a stunning rebuke for an executive who had received nothing but praise from the bank until recently. In July, when Tolstedt announced her retirement after 27 years, former Wells CEO John Stumpf, who was also caught up in the scandal, called her a "role model" for others in the industry. Watching her father at work, Tolstedt told U.S. Banker magazine, she came to appreciate the difficulties of running a small business and the importance of constantly checking that customers are happy. "With a bakery in a small town, you are serving your friends and neighbors every day," she told the magazine in a 2005 interview. "So you never ever want to let your customer down." A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Tolstedt joined a Wells' predecessor bank called Norwest in 1986, rose to oversee branches in Omaha, then all of them in 39 states. One of her goals was to increase the bank's "cross sell ratio," a measure of how many different banking accounts were held by customers. Tolstedt encouraged tellers and customer service reps to come up with their own ways of getting people to open checking accounts, credit card accounts and sign up for other products at the bank. In 2015, the inspector general for child welfare reported on a 22-month-old child who died in a kinship foster home from head trauma as a result of child abuse. The parent received support from the Department of Health and Human Services, rather than one of the private agencies, and Inspector General Julie Rogers said HHS did not provide necessary and required supports, and did not come up with other placement options in a timely manner. Advocates of children in Nebraska's child welfare system joined Tuesday to bring attention to the effects of proposed state budget cuts that would impact foster kids, including allowing HHS to take over support for half of those placed with relatives or people they know, considered relative and kinship placements. They are concerned about $16 million in cuts recommended by the governor over two years to child welfare spending, including $4 million to eliminate a contract for Right Turn, which provides post-adoption services to help families stay together through crisis; $1.8 million to end family finding contracts; $1.3 million for cuts to targeted services; and $9 million to transfer more than half of those relative and kinship placements to HHS from private agencies. Gov. Pete Ricketts' spokesman Taylor Gage said the governor's budget recommendation protects child welfare reform, adds new caseworkers and invests in new technology to deliver better services. "Under his proposal, DHHS would have the resources and staff they need to provide the services previously covered by expensive contractors," Gage said. "We continue to look for ways to improve services and reduce costs." The Appropriations Committee, in its deliberations over the budget, has made changes to restore funding for family finding contracts, and its recommended cuts now stand at $14.45 million. It has restored $3.2 million for the Right Turn contract. With the shift of half of kinship placements to HHS, about 540, caseworkers would be asked to take on additional responsibilities, when the department has yet to meet caseload standards in state law, said Sarah Helvey, Nebraska Appleseed child welfare director. Kim Hawekotte, executive director of the Foster Care Review Office, which reviews about 4,000 case files a year of foster children in out-of-home care, said in the past two years the system had started to improve after years of instability. Although the number fluctuates, about 4,120 children are in out-of-home care in Nebraska. The numbers have increased in the past 18 months, in part because kids are not exiting as quickly as they should. Fifty-nine percent are placed with relatives, Hawekotte said. People need to ask how to ensure that the needs of families with relative and kinship placements are being met. Now, most of them have support from private agencies such as Cedars, she said. "How can we expect case managers, who already perform more duties than they need to, to be able to take on additional duties?" she asked. During a discussion on the HHS-kinship placement issue Tuesday in the Appropriations Committee, Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart again voiced her concern about the lack of an adequate HHS plan to take over those cases. She would like to put reporting requirements for those placements in the budget bill. And she wants to make it a priority for the Legislature to restore the money if the state's fiscal picture improves in the next month. Former Sen. Amanda McGill Johnson, who now works for Nebraska Children's Home Society, said when she first came to the Legislature, the safe haven law that allowed parents and guardians to relinquish custody of any age of children at Nebraska hospitals exposed the unmet behavioral health needs of youth. The child welfare system has made progress since those days, she said. "But these cuts put that all at great risk," she said. Helvey said: "Our ask today is for the Legislature to remember the promise we made that we would never again turn our back on families who are in crisis. The governor's proposal would signify an end to that promise." Ex-felon voting rights bill advances Senators advanced a bill (LB75) to final reading that would take away a two-year waiting period for ex-felons, coming out of prison or off probation, and allow them to vote as soon as their sentence is served. The bill advanced on a 32-8 vote, with seven senators present not voting and two excused. Federal prosecutors have dropped the bank fraud charge against a 35-year-old Lincoln man who co-owned a construction company building homes with his brother. Scott Rindone has been on pretrial diversion for the past 12 months and completed it successfully, according to a spokesman with the U.S. Attorney's office in Nebraska. The office asked to dismiss the case Monday. A week earlier, his brother, Jeffrey Rindone, was sentenced to five years of probation, a $4,000 fine and restitution for bank fraud. In 2015, a grand jury indicted the brothers who together operated Rindone Inc., on allegations that they submitted $258,000 in bogus claims to West Gate Bank requesting disbursements on their lines of credit for supplies or for work they said they had paid out to contractors working on seven homes in Fallbrook in 2012 and 2013. Bankers later learned that the checks they had provided as proof of payment hadn't been given to subcontractors. A pair of abandoned buildings that are frequented by vagrants in the troubled community of Whiteclay will soon be leveled, thanks to a grant from the state of Nebraska. Demolition is expected to begin this week and should be completed in May. A crew from Lyman will tear down a brick house on the far south side of Whiteclay and a gray stucco building to the far north, near the South Dakota state line. The same crew will also fill in five exposed basements of buildings that had collapsed: four of them on the same property as the stucco building, and the fifth just north of the brick house. The contractor and the Sheridan County Sheriff's Department will check the buildings before demolition begins, said Jeff Kelley, executive director of the Panhandle Area Development District in Scottsbluff. The project is funded through a $100,000 grant from the state Department of Health and Human Services, which announced the award Monday. Securing the sites emerged as a priority of a task force of local residents, officials and business owners convened last year by Gov. Pete Ricketts. Despite being an unincorporated village with just eight official residents, Whiteclay's four liquor stores sell millions of cans of beer each year, much of it to residents of South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol is banned. The demolition project comes during a flurry of activity surrounding Whiteclay. Concerns about the adequacy of law enforcement in the area led the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission to order the beer stores to reapply for their liquor licenses this year. The commission is expected to reach a decision on the licenses by early next month. The Nebraska Attorney General's Office has also accused the beer stores of several violations of state law, including selling to bootleggers. And in February, a group seeking to help redevelop Whiteclay announced a fundraising effort to buy out and shut down the beer stores if they aren't closed by the state. The business plan that drives the success of the Cause for Paws boutique is really pretty simple: The more inventory that sells, the greater the number of animals to be helped. Thats because the former Blockbuster Video building south of 48th and Normal Boulevard is a rare breed indeed: Owner-operator Sue Sturgis gives all the stores profit to low-income and/or disabled pet owners who need help with their animal healthcare bills, and a number of animal welfare agencies. In December 2013, Sturgis closed her original shop in Old Cheney Plaza and moved to larger, more visible quarters in the heart of Lincoln. The move gave the boutique the 30-percent expansion it needed to showcase its expanding inventory. Sturgis is driven by a desire to do good. Beyond our month-to-month expenses rent ($6,000 per month), utilities and trash pickup every goes to the pets and to the people who care for them, said Sturgis. A little over three years ago, Sturgis signed a five-year lease and took possession of the building on January 2014. Thanks to a dedicated corps of eight steady volunteers who share Sturgis compassion to do good, the boutique has no payroll expenses. The combination of quality merchandise and the volunteer sales force has enabled the boutique to help many animal welfare agencies. Several years ago, Sturgis broadened her scope of assistance to include financially-strapped individuals with pricey animal-related expenses such as veterinary services. The movement to help more individuals is part of the gift shops plan moving forward. My heart hurts for the people in Syria as well as our people who are hurting locally, said Sturgis. Im thankful I have a heart filled with compassion and a desire to help. Cause for Paws is filled with high-quality inventory discounted at up to 75% of what youd expect to pay at retail stores, and in-store specials are marked down even greater than that, said Sturgis. Cause for Paws is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays, and closed on Sundays. RACINE A Racine man is facing charges after he allegedly stole a weed whacker from a garage. According to the criminal complaint: Mack Arthur Williams, 51, of the 1400 block of Douglas Ave., is facing a charge of felony burglary of a building or dwelling. At approximately 3:05 p.m., police were dispatched to the 2400 block of Charles Street regarding a reported burglary. Although the owner had reportedly been working outside and believed he closed the door to his garage, a neighbor had seen a male, later identified as Mack Arthur Williams, in a light blue van stop in front of the neighbor's garage, reportedly take a weed whacker from the neighbor's open garage and put it in the van. The neighbor also noted that van's license plate number. The neighbor asked Williams what he was doing, to which Williams responded that he knew the homeowner, prompting the neighbor to ask Williams to stop at his neighbor's front door. Williams drove to the north side of the home's residence, but left without speaking with the homeowner. Using the license plate number the neighbor had taken down, police were able to locate Williams, who denied being on Charles Street that day. Using a photo lineup, Williams was identified by the homeowner's neighbor and taken into custody. MOUNT PLEASANT An Illinois woman was arrested for retail theft at the Walmart in Mount Pleasant after reportedly picking up receipts off the ground and returning items for cash from the stores own inventory. Ashley Burgdorf, 24, of Spring Grove, Ill. was charged Monday with theft, resisting or obstructing an officer and bail jumping. According to the criminal complaint: A responding Mount Pleasant police officer had to hold Burgdorf at Taser point to take her into custody. A Walmart employee told police she saw Burgdorf walk into the store without anything, pick items of the shelf and then return them for $72.36. Police said they found receipts in her purse to Walmart stores in Kenosha, Lake Geneva, Zion and Racine. She allegedly admitted to police that she selected items she did not purchase and then used the discarded receipts and a Walmart app to return the items for cash. Police said she lied about her identity but they ran her fingerprints and found her real name and that she had a warrant out of Kenosha and an open felony case on another matter. Burgdorf was arrested and her bond was set at $200. As of Monday evening Burgdorf remained in the Racine County Jail, 717 Wisconsin Ave., according to online jail records. If convicted of her most serious charge, Burgdorf could see up to three years in jail and a $10,000 fine. RACINE With just a short amount of time left in the 18-hour bus ride from New Orleans on Tuesday, Gilmore Middle School choral director Kari Bieri called the school to let them know theyd be there soon. When the bus arrived, about 150 Gilmore students were outside to welcome their classmates home after all four groups received gold in the middle school category, sweeping the WorldStrides Heritage Festival in New Orleans on April 1. We didnt work this hard and for this long to not be our best, eighth-grader Jacoby Janus said. Despite this years competition of 20 schools with more than 40 groups, the students compete against themselves in front of three judges with impressive accolades on their resumes, including Grammys. The scores are averaged together to determine if they receive gold, silver or bronze. The swing choir received the highest score of any of the middle school groups. The madrigal choir also received a high score and was invited to perform in the Festival of Gold, which takes place in multiple locations including Carnegie Hall. The jazz ensemble and the chamber orchestra also received a gold score. The music department itself received the adjudicator award, which was chosen by the judges as sort of a judges pick. This is the second time ever getting all four groupts that we took, all got gold, said Christopher Adamisin, band/orchestra director for Gilmore. Its very hard to do. A $100,000 trip Coming home, the 93 music students felt like celebrities. They were hugging their classmates, slapping high-fives and taking selfies. It took five fundraisers, a $1,000 Kids First grant, and many donations to pay for the $100,000 trip. One of our custodians donated $350, Bieri said. Every kid went, regardless of money. The students say theres a bad reputation associated with their school, but the results from the music festival was a solid win for the morale of the student body. Were known as a bad school, which I dont see, said Maria Paulino-Ramirez, an eighth-grader. There are one or two kids that make the school look bad. I was going to quit For the last eight years students from the Gilmore swing choir, madrigal choir, jazz ensemble and chamber orchestra have traveled across the country to compete in the WorldStrides Heritage Festival. Our music department shows that were not that bad because most of us are on the honor roll, said Erandy Cesario-Olivares, an eighth-grader. The success of the students might not have happened, as some of them were starting to lose interest in performing. I kind of wanted to be done with music because I quit violin but then Ms. Bieri scooped me up back up, back into music in sixth grade, Janus said. Cesario-Olivares said after being involved in the music department for two years, she thought about moving on. I was going to quit this year because theres only three eighth-graders in our orchestra, Cesario-Olivares said, adding that Adamisin brought her back. I feel like Mr. Adamisin pushes us to be better. For many of these students, the trip to New Orleans will be the biggest trip for them this year, as many of them come from families who vacation closer to home. We teach a pretty high poverty environment and we like to take kids that may not normally get to go on trips to places like this, Adamisin said, adding that in the years they have participated in this festival, the school has taken students to Washington, D.C.; Nashville; Atlanta; and New York City. We like to take them out and show them parts of those worlds so they can bring those experiences back. To broaden their world view plus we have fantastic musicians here and we like to show them off. RACINE A former Lakeview Specialty Hospital employee who pleaded guilty to abusing a patient was sentenced to one year of probation. Laura Bahena, 28, was charged with felony child abuse last year after she allegedly stomped and punched a 12-year-old patient in the head. Attorneys at a sentencing hearing Tuesday characterized the incident as one in which Bahena tried to diffuse a difficult situation but got overwhelmed and lost her cool. Bahena, of the 1300 block of Hamilton Street, apologized for the incident in a statement she read in court. I will use this experience as a way to learn and grow from my mistakes and to become a better person, she said. A prosecutor and defense attorney both recommended probation, noting Bahena had no criminal history. Defense attorney Gregory Reed said it was a poor circumstance that happened to Ms. Bahena and an isolated incident and asked for 12 to 18 months probation. Rebecca Sommers, an assistant district attorney, recommended a longer period of probation: three years. This is a person who was in a position of power and a position of caretaking for extremely vulnerable and at-risk individuals and abused that power, Sommers said. Real punishment Lakeview Specialty Hospital, 1701 Sharp Road, Dover, provides treatment and rehabilitation for people with complex challenges, according to its website. The victim, who had cognitive delays and functioned at the level of a 10-year-old, told deputies the assault caused pain that rated 10 on a scale of 10, according to a criminal complaint. Judge Mark Nielsen called the abuse a serious crime and Bahena an exemplary person. In addition to the year of probation, Nielsen sentenced Bahena to 100 hours of community service. You paid for that offense by now being forever a felon, Nielsen said. That constitutes, in general, a real punishment. 5,000 ha of forest land encroached upon in Nawalparasi Nearly 5,000 hectares of forest lands near the East-West Highway in Nawalparasi have been encroached upon and being converted into private properties. Chitwan blues Tourists have started tossing out the popular jungle safari destination of Chitwan from the list of must-visit destinations in Nepal because of road safety issues. Achyut Wagle holds PhD in economics and is currently a professor at the Kathmandu University School of Management. He is an econo-political analyst, writing for The Kathmandu Post for many years. Consulate general to be opened at Visakhapatnam Port The Commerce Ministry has moved to establish a consulate general at Visakhapatnam Port in India after traders expressed unwillingness to conduct trade through the port in the absence of a government office there. EC begins training election officers across country The Election Commission has started election management and operation training for district chief election officers and election officers across the country for local level elections set for May 14. Farmers forced to sell cardamom at lower rates Cardamom farmers in Ramechhap are being compelled to sell the spice at a lower price following a significant drop in international price of the commodity. Fire guts four houses in Chitwan As many as four houses were gutted in two separate incidents of fire in Chitwan on Monday evening. FNCCI Election: Golchha, Pradhan step up campaign for key post Shekhar Golchha and Kishore Kumar Pradhan cranked up their campaigns on Monday in a bid to secure the post of senior vice-president at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Govt registers new constitution amendment proposal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajaya Shankar Nayak on behalf of the government registered a fresh constitution amendment proposal at the Parliament on Tuesday. Hopes for 2074 Each new year gives us an opportunity to introspect and look ahead. In Nepal, we get multiple such opportunities every year. Madhesi Morcha continues House boycott The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) boycotted the Legislature-Parliament meeting on Tuesday also. Modernise the military Transformation and transparency appear to be in the minds of many in the security forces, especially the Nepal Army (NA).Security is interrelated with the countrys location and relations with other countries. Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice. NAC Boeing 757 for sale, minimum offer $1.71 million Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has put one of its two Boeing 757s up for sale. On Monday, the national flag carrier issued an auction notice setting a minimum sale price of $1.71 million for the 30-year-old Karnali bearing registration number 9N-ACA. Nepal Airlines captain held with $93,600 A senior Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) captain was arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday night after he was found possessing undeclared $93,600. Nepali migrant workers donate 20 computer sets for school The Nepali migrant workers in Qatar have donated 20 sets of computer to a school in Lamjung. NRA distributes 1st instalment of aid in Tanahun The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has started distributing the first tranche of the housing reconstruction aid to the earthquake-affected families in Tanahun district. PAC to CIAA: Launch probe into Ncell tax issue The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Sunday directed the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to launch a probe against officials and agencies who failed to collect capital gains tax on the Ncell buyout deal. Police told to keep close eye on activities of CPN The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has directed police to remain vigilant about the activities of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) in view of its plans to foil local level elections slated for May 14. Prakash Aryal picked as new Nepal Police chief Two months after its first decision on appointment of chief of Nepal Police, which had run into controversy and quashed by the Supreme Court, the government on Monday appointed Deputy Inspector General Prakash Aryal to the post of inspector general. School principal resigns to take part in local polls As the date for the local level elections closes in, resignation by school principals to take part in the elections continues unabated. Syria war: G7 rejects sanctions on Russia after 'chemical attack' G7 nations have rejected a call by Britain for sanctions against Russia in the wake of a deadly chemical attack they say was carried out by Moscow's ally, Syria. Turkish woman held with 302 gram hashish from TIA A Turkish woman was arrested in possession of 302 gram hashish from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in the Capital on Tuesday. Don Lama shot by unknown assailants at Boudha A group of unidentified assailants opened fire at Dawa Lama, a gangster who is on the most wanted list of Police, at Boudha in Kathmandu on Tuesday. 1. Yes. Taxpayers are funding its operation; they should have a voice in the naming process. 2. Yes. The city should operate with a spirit of inclusivity. Residents will be responsive. 3. No. Public input can be problematic; rejection of suggestions can be divisive for residents. 4. No. Residents elect council members to make decisions on their behalf. No input is needed. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say whether public input would be more of a benefit or a hindrance. Vote View Results A row has erupted between the State Minister for Agriculture, Christopher Kibanzanga and the Inspectorate General of Government over the fishing nets that the former destroyed last July. Kibanzanga, who has been at the forefront of fighting illegal fishing nets is said to have directed a team of officials from the directorate of fisheries resources to burn one ton of undersized fishing nets that belonged to Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers Ltd. The alleged illegal fishing nets were being used on one of the landing sites on Lake Victoria in Entebbe. However, the Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers Ltd, owners of the destroyed fishing nets, petitioned the IGG, seeking an inquiry into the Ministers conduct. In a letter dated March 6th 2017, the IGG accuses the Minister, of carrying out an irregular destruction of fish nets that were seized. Yesterdays mid-morning meeting between the two parties ended prematurely after the Minister refused to record a statement, seeking to first study the file in which the case was reported. The Minister of Trade, Amelia Kyambadde, has since banned the importation of fishing nets for one year to stop the catching of young fish. By Damali Mukhaye. The minister for Kampala Betty Kamya has assured officials at Kampala Capital City Authority that the issue of CCTV camera installation in Kampala and across the country will not affect their budget. Her assurance comes after city lord mayor Erias Lukwago wrote to the minister asking how KCCA was going to install cameras in the city with their budget slashed from Shs 656 bn to Shs314 bn. In a 3rd April letter to Lukwago, Kamya assures the authority that its budget will not be affected. She explains that the plans to execute the presidnetial directive are in high gear between the presidents office, police and KCCA and the money will either be got from budget re-allocations, loan or supplementary budget. President Yoweri Museveni recently emphasized the need to have CCTV cameras intalled within the city and other parts of the conuntry following death of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi who was gunned down by unknown assailants near his home in Kulambiro, a Kampala surburb last month. By James Owich The Retired Anglican Bishop of Northern Uganda, Right Rev. Nelson Onono Onweng, has faulted locals who invite politicians to funerals, arguing that many politicians have become chief mourners something which is not in keeping with culture. Of recent, it has become very common to hear death announcements over the local FM radio stations in Gulu town were MPs, LCV Chairpersons, LCIIIs and councilors are invited to attend the burial of someone in their area, The Bishop says such invitation should be restricted only to close relatives but not politicians who instead make political speeches. He noted that even if a political leader is not related to the dead person, they are forcefully invited to attend the burial. According to the man of God, politicians have replaced uncles of the deceased as chief mourners. Member of Parliament for Aswa County in Gulu district Reagan Okumu, and equally said the new trend has led for some individuals being designated as chief mourners, government representative and political party representative. MP Okumu described it as a bad culture practices which should be delft with immediately. The Aswa legislator also noted that these individuals who receive titles during funeral events sometimes have not contributed towards medical expenses for the deceased. As a way of bringing peace and harmony in Tooro kingdom, Prince David Kijanangoma and his supporters have proposed a dialogue with His Highness the King of Tooro Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. According to the January 29 letter seen by Daily Monitor to the president, Kijanangoma and his supporters have requested President Yoweri Museveni to support their dialogue with King Oyo. Since March 2015, prince Kijanangoma and his supporters have been threatening to over throw King Oyo accusing him of being incompetent and disrespecting the Batooro. In the same letter, they proposed among others things that government should not release or give back Tooro Kingdom assets that are now in their hands claiming that giving back such valuable assets to the current institution will result into more mismanagement and abuse of such properties. When contacted, the Kingdom deputy information minister, Mr Vicent Mugume said that the Kingdom has not received any letter about the dialogue. He asked why Kijanangoma wrote to the president if he is seeking dialogue with King Oyo and not to the King himself. KENDALLVILLE Three people were arrested during a methamphetamine lab bust early Wednesday, according to the Noble County Sheriffs Department. Among items found in the raid at about 3 a.m. were eight one-pot meth labs and a .45-caliber handgun. Members of the Indiana Multi Agency Group Enforcement Drug Task Force conducted a search at 719 W. William St., Kendallville. Due to the possibility of an active meth lab and weapons, the Noble County Special Operations Group and Northeast Indiana SWAT assisted. The officers search turned up numerous items related to manufacturing meth, including seven one-pot labs. Inside the residence, police also found a loaded .45-caliber handgun, a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. In a shed in the backyard, officers discovered other meth-manufacturing items, including another one-pot lab. Two adults and four children were in the home when the search warrant was executed, deputies said. At the scene, police arrested Shane Maurer, 25, of Kendallville and Angela Hensley, 31, a resident of the address where the raid took place, according to Noble County Sheriff Doug Harp. The Department of Child Services was contacted about the four children, who ranged in age from older elementary school to a toddler, Harp said. They were placed with a relative. Police took another resident of the house, Jerry Hensley Jr., 28, into custody at his place of employment in relation to the meth labs, deputies said. Police allegedly found meth and paraphernalia in his possession at the time of his arrest. Maurer and Jerry Hensley both were given preliminary charges of manufacturing meth, Harp said. Anglea Hensley was charged preliminarily with neglect of a dependent. All three were booked into the Noble County Jail. Noble County Prosecutor Steven T. Clouse said formal charges will likely be filed in the case Thursday. The IMAGE Drug Task Force conducted an investigation over several weeks before the raid, and the investigation is continuing, deputies said. Its always unfortunate when a meth lab bust takes place in a home where children are present, Harp said. It affects officers, he added. It should affect parents. A lot of paraphernalia was found at the residence, Harp said, which means there allegedly would be activities taking place in front of the children to which they shouldnt be exposed. Assisting at the scene Wednesday were the Kendallville Police Department, the Indiana State Police and the Noble County Sheriffs Department. No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results Several people arrested over the weekend ANGOLA The following people were arrested over the weekend by law enforcement officers working in Steuben County and lodged in the Steuben County Jail. Nawaf M. Alumutairi, 25, of the 100 block of Fox Lake Road, arrested in the 100 block of West Maumee Street on misdemeanor charges of domestic battery, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Jennifer L. Barnes, 45, of the 400 block of Block Road, Coldwater, Michigan, arrested on a warrant alleging misdemeanor failure to appear. Anthony W. Combs, 35, of the 400 block of East King Street, Garrett, arrested on a warrant alleging felony theft. Nicole H. Dunafin, 27, of the 500 block of East Maumee Street, arrested in the 3000 block of North S.R. 127 on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. Corbin M. Evans, 22, of the 6000 block of Covington Road, Fort Wayne, arrested at McKinley and West Maumee streets on a misdemeanor charge of operating while intoxicated. Alan L. Hiner, 31, of the 300 block of West Spring Street, Fremont, arrested on a warrant alleging misdemeanor failure to appear. Sean P. Jones, 20, of the 900 block of Lynn Street, Indianapolis, arrested in Angola on a misdemeanor charge of operating while intoxicated. Mathew S. Sprinkle, 39, of the 600 block of West C.R. 157S, arrested on a misdemeanor fugitive warrant. Kegan A. Townsend, 20, of the 5000 block of Stonehedge Boulevard, Fort Wayne, arrested at Toledo and Washington streets in Fremont on a felony charge of illegal possession of a legend drug and a misdemeanor charge of possession of paraphernalia. Jeremy A. Weller, 35, of the 600 block of East Harrison Street, Marion, arrested on a warrant alleging probation violation. ANGOLA A man convicted last month of rape by a Steuben County jury was sentenced to 45 years in prison Monday by Steuben Circuit Court Judge Allen Wheat. Chad Michael Farrell, 45, was found guilty of Level 1 felony rape by use of a weapon and Level 3 felony criminal confinement on March 16. The 12-person jury deliberated only 45 minutes after two days of testimony. Monday, Wheat sentenced Farrell to 35 years for the rape, noting that Farrell was in a position of trust with his victim and has a prior conviction for burglary in Allen County. To that, Wheat added a consecutive 10 years for the criminal confinement conviction. Farrell, who has been in Steuben County Jail for 417 days and is now going to an Indiana prison, told Wheat he plans to appeal the jurys finding. The State Public Defenders Office was contacted to handle the appeal, which must be filed within 30 days. A misdemeanor battery case pending against Farrell was dismissed by Prosecutor Jeremy Musser. The evening of Feb. 18, 2016, Farrell lured his victim, his ex-girlfriend, to his trailer at Silver Lake, claiming to have gotten ill at work. The rape occurred during the early morning hours of Feb. 19, 2016, with the victim held at knifepoint. Still brandishing the knife, Farrell stood at the front door, barring her exit, according to court testimony, then apparently passed out, allowing her to escape. The victim called 911 before Farrell jumped onto the hood of her car, then took her vehicle briefly before being arrested. Monday, Musser pointed out the similarities between the Steuben County crime and the Allen County burglary. Farrell was convicted in 2002 of the burglary, which instead of being committed with the intent to steal something, occurred with plans of intimidation, said Musser. In that case, the victim, also an ex-girlfriend, was stabbed. Just like the 2016 rape, Musser said, Farrell held his hand over the burglary victims mouth and told her, If I cant have you, nobody will. The Steuben County rape victim, who testified during the trial, was in the courtroom Monday. She provided a letter to the court that was filed with the confidential presentence investigation. Her son spoke Monday, encouraging Wheat to give Farrell the maximum term, for his mothers safety and the safety of others. He said his mother has changed since the crime, becoming distrustful and distant, often concerned that she is being followed or that someone is going to try to hurt her. If hes allowed to return out on the street shes afraid for her life, he said. He said he hoped no one would ever again have to go through what his family has at Farrells hands. When he is free, he hurts other people and that is something that is very, very scary, said Musser. Farrell was paroled in July 2015, less than a year before he committed the rape. When he is again released from prison, Farrell will be required to register with the Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry for life. Monday, he maintained his innocence, saying he made a mistake 15 years ago but has since become a minister. He said he has counseled people who have been sexually assaulted and that he wants to start a second chance ministry for youth who have been involved in the justice system. The act of welcoming refugees has become a controversial topic in todays political climate; Kathy Rosenberg and her Refugee Response Team are working to change that. Based out of La Crescents Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, the team has not only been educating themselves on the topics of refugees, but have sponsored Kwot Gora, an Ethiopian refugee, since February 2016. They will be hosting a speaking and education series in April, Tuesdays in April- Refugees: A World-Wide Crisis. My husband Randy and I, we were paying attention to the news about the refugee crisis in Syria, Rosenberg said. It was disturbing. We started the conversation asking what we can do and what our church can do to respond to this. Rosenberg was inspired by her mother, Dona Krienke, who helped the Hmong settle in the Eau Claire and La Crosse area after the Vietnam War. It was a mission of her heart, she said. She dedicated decades of her life to refugee work. She passed away in May 2014, and when this stuff started happening I thought about her response to the Hmongs which was, what can we do? The first day the Refugee Response Team met in January 2016 was also the day they met Gora. He was introduced to the community through a talk with Pastor Kent Johnson. As a team we want to become more educated selves. With knowledge and understanding comes empathy and with empathy, a reason to reach out and help people instead of being afraid of them and hating them. Instead loving them, she said. Gora shared his story as an Ethiopian refugee. He has been in the U.S. for 20 years. Most of his family is currently at the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. As members of the Anuak ethnic group, they fled Ethiopia after the December 2003 massacre. More than 400 Anuak men, women and children were killed in three days. The Anuak are majorly farmers and are from the Gambella region of Ethiopia. The aggressors in the attack have not been made clear, and it has been blamed on the Nuers, another ethnic group, as well as the Ethiopian government. Gora has a brother in Dadaab who has six childrenone withepilepsya sister in Dadaab who also has a family, a brother who stayed in Gambella with his family, a brother in Austin, Minn. and a brother who has recently settled with Gora in the Twin Cities. His brother Zemecha came over from Dadaab in December 2016. We helped Kwot complete his resume that resulted with him being hired as a refugee resettlement counselor through Catholic Charities Winona. He got the job but had to move to Austin. We felt like it was divine intervention. This man comes to our congregation and ends up with a job helping other refugees, Rosenberg said. Gora was let go after President Donald Trumps refugee immigration ban in January, which has threatened the potential for refugees to enter the country. Gora, who was living in La Crosse when he met the Refugee Response Team, is currently unemployed and is trying to support his family in Kenya. He is an American citizen. The Refugee Response Team has given Gora $300 a month, as well as over $3,000 to help with a brothers medical stay in Nairobi. They have also given money to Goras family to travel from Nairobi to Dadaab. According to Rosenberg, before the team started helping Goras family the money his family received in Dadaab only covered two weeks worth of food. When we started this, we thought we were going to sponsor a Syrian family, Rosenberg said. When we started our research we found out that the likelihood of a Syrian family being resettled in Minnesota was low. The people in the news, who are on those boats, they are not coming over right now. The average wait time in a refugee camp is 17 years. They have to fill out extensive paperwork proving their identity, medical records and family records. They go through rounds of interviews and background checks. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, one in 113 people were either a refugee, asylum-seeker or an internally displaced person in 2015. Refugees are defined as persons forced to flee their homes due to persecution, violence or war. Our main goal is education, said team member Cyndy Reichgelt. We meet once a month and spend that time learning. We watch TED talks and try to learn about whats going on as much as possible. Tuesdays in April- Refugees: A World-Wide Crisis is meant to educate the community about the refugee crisis happening in todays world. So far the series will feature Somalian refugee Habibo Haji and John David, an immigration lawyer. The Refugee Response Team meets once a month on Sundays at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent and is open to new members. Community members packed into the Community Hub at the Lunda Community Center to have coffee with a cop last week. Coffee with a cop is a national program to help bridge the gap that sometimes exists between law enforcement and the general public. For Sheriff Waldera, its about reaching out to the community and having a discussion with people about issues they see and showing what the department is all about. During this session, one citizen remarked how when he first arrived to Jackson County from Racine he thought it was a nice quiet area, but he was floored when he found out what the drug situation was like in the county. That concern then started a discussion with Waldera about the steps the sheriffs department takes to combat that as well as detailing how the problem can escalate in rural counties like Jackson County. The discussion tied in nicely with the presentation the department gave on its K-9 units. Currently the Jackson County sheriffs department has two dogs, a boxer and a German shepherd, and leases the services of a bomb detection dog and two bloodhounds for search and rescue. Detective Adam Olson showed off the training and detection skills of the departments german shepherd, Sonny. A small amount of drugs, cash and a large bag of dog treats were hidden in three separate boxes for Sonny to practice his narcotics detection. Without fail he quickly sniffed out the right box, barely paying any attention to the smell of treats and ignoring the money entirely. Olson also showed the crowd Sonnys obedience training, running the dog through a few commands and obedience drills. Sonny is called out to do a sniff for narcotics about once every eight hours according to Olson and his percentage for being correct is pretty high. Olson said on only two occasions could the presence of narcotics not be confirmed. The K-9 division originally started from public donations, but is now mostly funded through forfeitures of things like cash or property collected from arrests. At next months meeting, the sheriffs department has invited in a lawyer with an elders rights group. The attorney will cover things like identity theft and how to protect yourself from it along with other issues elderly citizens might face. That meeting will be held May 4 at 9 a.m. Being president of anything is no easy task, and whether it is president of a whole country or a president of a village in rural Wisconsin, it helps to have a good support group around you. Daryl Boe has served on the village of Taylor board since 1997. He was interim president in 2001 and then was officially elected president in 2004. After serving his interim term, Boe decided not to run for president because he felt he didnt have the time for the position. Then the president who was elected was relocated for work leading Boe to step in and fill out another term, which prompted him to eventually take over as president. Boe says that his career in politics did not start because he had many political aspirations, but simply because he was asked to run. Long time board member Arnie Lien walked into the barn one day and says Do you wanna be on the village board? I asked whos stepping down and he told me nobody was, Boe said. I told him I think the village is being run just fine, so I didnt run. The next year came around and Lien asked him the same question, only this time Lien himself was stepping down and it was then that Boe decided to run. Throughout his tenure as president, Boe says that the biggest contributors to the success of Taylor were the people around him. Presidency is a lot different, nothing happens without good people around you, Boe said. There have been plenty of projects that have been completed under Boes term, like taking over the old school buildings and handling grant programs for the parks. The thing that Boe is most proud of though is the trust that the community has in him. Im a strong believer in that its not what you do, but its what you do for others, Boe said. Boe hasnt done all the work on his own, hes had plenty of help from Bob Hulett and Wendy Bue, the head of maintenance and deputy clerk respectively. They are the fixture of the village, they are who make things happen, Boe said. If you can get the right information it makes your decisions a lot easier and thats why I depend so much on Bob and Wendy. As humble as Boe is, Hulett and Bue both say that the now former village president was a good one. He was always worried about the community overall, Hulett said. For Hulett, seeing the transition of a new village president is nothing new, but for Bue this will be her first time under a new president. Bue started as a deputy clerk in 2006 and worked her way up to being the town clerk and during that entire time she has had the leadership of Boe with her. Im definitely a little nervous about the transition, Bue said. Its made a bit easier on Bue knowing that the former president is only going to be a phone call away. Boe will still be serving as a first responder and still wants to help the community however he can. Im not going anywhere, the only thing thats changing is I just wont be at the meetings, Boe said. RUSHFORD, Minn. He may be the only man in Minnesota ever to call for bids on a Tanzanian birthing chair. But for Rushfords Bertram Boyum, it was all in a days work. At 98 years old, he was recently recognized as the oldest living auctioneer in the state by the Minnesota Auctioneers Association. Inducted into the Minnesota Auctioneers Hall of Fame in 1995, Boyum has been a member of the association for many years, but he had not been to its conferences in a long time. One day, he received a call from the association and was asked to attend. When I asked them why I had to go, they just told me they would let me know when I got there, Boyum said. Recently he looked back at a long lifetime of working the crowd; looking for bids. Before getting into auctioneering, Boyum worked on a farm for 15 years, but he said he always had in the back of his mind that he would do something different in his life. His first experience with the auction business came when an acquaintance got him started doing auctions at church bazaar. He found he enjoyed it. Afterwards, he just needed someone to give him a little push down that path. The encouragement he needed came from his aunt, who told him, You could be an auctioneer; you are good at it, and you would make a good one. That was all I needed, Boyum said. For formal preparation, he attended a community college in Mason City, Iowa, for a week in 1966 and received the training he needed to hold auctions professionally. Boyum said auctions in the 1960s and 1970s were not like todays auctions. Auctions used to be outside, Boyum said, and some of the challenges he had to deal with involved calling auctions in either freezing or broiling temperatures. One auction was held at 15 degrees below zero, north of Rushford. Boyum called the night before to cancel the auction, but the organizer wanted to have it anyway. There were not a lot of people that day, Boyum said, but they still made it happen. Another auction was held at 90 degrees. Boyum recalled two people passing out from the burning summer heat. Things have changed a lot in the auction business, he said. Auctioneers used to call people by names and not numbers, he said, and PA systems often werent used, so he had to talk clearly, with a strong voice. One of the best qualities of an auctioneer, he said, is having a chant that allows people to understand what you need to communicate to them. Younger auctioneers today, he said, talk too fast. After five decades, Boyum does not remember all of the auctions he called, but he surely cannot forget one item the most unusual he ever sold. It was a birthing chair from Tanzania; brought back to Minnesota by a pastor. The chair is a common piece of equipment in Tanzania, used by pregnant women to give birth, he said, but he had never seen one before that time. Boyums legs keep him from standing to sell now, but he still feels like he could use his voice sometimes to draw out a bid and make a sale. Boyums son, Murt, has followed in his footsteps an auctioneer, like his dad, since the 1970s. Sometimes, the two worked together, but Murt is now on his own. He got his start by hearing his dad and participating at auctions with him. He is a good auctioneer, Boyum said. La Crosse police are looking for a suspected arsonist after a string of suspicious fires on the citys South Side. In the past seven weeks, firefighters have responded to seven blazes involving homes, garages and vehicles, according to police. All were within a 4-block-by-13-block area between downtown La Crosse, Farnam and Eighth streets, including two blazes at 609 Fifth Avenue, less than a block from the Central Fire Station. All but one occurred between the hours of 3:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. The Fire Department has been unable to determine the causes of three additional fires, including a March 7 blaze on the second floor of a manufacturing business at 1600 Miller St. According to police, the suspected arsonist doesnt carry anything to the scenes but lights whatever is readily available. Police are asking for anyone with information to call 608-789-7240. Anonymous tips can also be made to Crime Stoppers phone line, 608-784-TIPS, mobile app, or website. Police and fire officials ask that residents keep homes, garages and storage areas locked and yards free of combustibles. Three La Crosse men and an Onalaska man are jailed and facing charges in connection with a shooting Monday on State Street. No one was injured in the shooting, reported at 4:43 p.m. at 1008 State St., according to La Crosse police. Jailed for first-degree recklessly endangering safety are Johnathan Berlanga, 20, Steven Brock, 19, and Devon Yang, 19, all of La Crosse, and Ramon Washington, 18, of Onalaska. They make their first court appearances today. Police believe the men targeted a woman who posted Facebook comments about the suspects. Officers arrested Yang, Brock and Washington at 1300 Market St. about 5 p.m. Berlanga was arrested at 1200 Johnson St. Police seized two guns, prescription drugs, marijuana and cash during the arrests. Washington and Yang also face drug charges. Anyone who didnt quite grasp Dr. Jeff Thompsons mantra when he was Gundersen Health System CEO and insisted that Gundersen exists not only to safeguard patients health but also to ensure the communitys health can get a clearer picture from his new book. The subtitle of Lead True reveals a hint in its exhortation to Live Your Values, Build Your People, Inspire Your Community, but the book itself is more practical than the title might suggest. I had been thinking about it for a while, said Thompson, who resigned as Gundersens CEO in 2015 and now is CEO emeritus and adviser to the health system. How do you add to the conversation about leadership when most books talk about strategy, growth and competition? he said during an interview Monday, the day before a book-signing at Gundersen. The 245-page book does just that adds to the conversation by including local examples in which Gundersen officials took the time and energy to make decisions in the best interests of the hospital system, its employees and the Coulee Region in general even during the economic downturn in the late 2000s. Human interest instead of platitudes Those anecdotes, as well as stories from national leaders, set the book apart with a tone of human interest as opposed to page after page of smarmy platitudes. For example, Thompson chronicles instances such as: Gundersen investing financially in Logistics Health Inc. at a time when LHI founder Don Weber was looking for help to ensure that the company would stay in La Crosse and keep its thousands of jobs here. During the national economic doldrums, when some Gundersen executives suggested layoffs to control costs, Thompson turning the tables on them, saying perhaps such job cuts should start at the top of the food chain. That changed their tune to one of belt-tightening without layoffs or skimping on care. Despite being in a shaky time financially, Gundersen taking the National Child Protection Training Center under its wing because it was the right thing to do. Similarly Gundersen sticking its neck out to construct a new inpatient behavioral health building at a time when other hospitals were shutting down mental health services because the community needed a local place for such patients and the convenience of their families. My attempt was to give stories from many different venues, some of which involve health care and others which dont, he said. I thought one of the fundamental (and more valuable) underpinnings of leadership is that it should be more value-based than ego- and money-based, Thompson said. Lead True includes the tripod of courage, durability and discipline Thompson sees as the three pillars vital to lead truly. Values require courage Asked which of the three might be most important, he said, I think it starts with courage because, if you have values but dont have the courage to follow through, you dont get anywhere. In the books foreward, General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt sums up Thompsons vision of how to get there by saying, Leaders must be clear about what they believe in. Your beliefs provide the foundation that helps you stay resolute and resilient. Yes, change requires adaptability, but you must balance that with a core vision and viewpoint that will allow you to achieve results over the long run. Immelt draws parallels between Gundersen, which employs about 7,000 people in 19 counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, and GE, a digital industrial company with about 300,000 workers in 180 countries worldwide. About one-sixth of GEs employees work in GE Healthcare, making it as concerned as Gundersen is about improving health care productivity, affordability and quality to improve patient assess and outcomes, Immelt writes. Leaders arent necessarily high and mighty figures with impressive titles, Thompson writes, noting that early lessons came from a woman who was secretary of a Methodist church. She had never gone to college and wasnt the greatest speller, he writes, without identifying her. She was a pretty slow typist and was not really concerned about sentence structure or page organization. Yet she was the absolute go-to person for years at the parish when it came to advancing their mission, he writes. Leading from any seat was not a popular phrase then, but she was a strong, quiet leader, from a humble, values-driven seat, he notes, before adding an O. Henry ending to her description: Those were some of my first leadership lessons, and I am proud to call that woman Mom. Local figures featured Thompsons book features leadership challenges accepted and conquered by local figures such as WXOW-TV anchor Heather Thompson, former Tribune executive editor Chris Hardie and former Trane executive Jerry Arndt, who eventually worked at Gundersen until retiring on New Years Eve 2015, among others. One of Gundersens most courageous decisions came in 2009, when LHIs Weber was trying to ensure that his company and its jobs remain in La Crosse. In an interview Monday, Weber recalled that it had partnered with TA Associates, when the Boston investment firm had bought a majority stake in LHI for $72.5 million in 2003. Such companies try to turn their investments around within five to seven years, said Weber, who began to worry as that point approached. My concern was the possibility of getting a partner that didnt have my culture as its interests, Weber said. My priority one was to maintain control and keep jobs here, he said. Since the stock markets and other investment venues were not doing well at the time, Weber said, I took a shot in the dark and approached Gundersen. I said, I think youve been watching the company. If youre interested probably not (LHI) could be a good investment and return a great value in three to five years. Thompson saw the value, saying Monday, That was a pretty monumental decision to take a large portion of our savings it wasnt from salaries or pensions and investing in a local company. Gundersen board members studied the issue long and hard, the CEO emeritus said. It made sense, Thompson said. Don and his group are thoughtful and values driven, and it was a difficult decision for him. He could have cashed out like some do but he wanted to keep the company and the jobs in the community. Gundersen bought minority interest for an undisclosed amount and cashed out with a tidy profit less than 1 years later when Weber secured a buyer, OptumHealth, that guaranteed to keep the company and its jobs in La Crosse. It gave me time to find the right buyer, Weber said. Stern marching orders, without layoffs In the layoffs example, asked what kind of looks were on the vice presidents faces when he suggested that job cutbacks should start at their levels, Thompson said, They werent terribly surprised. They had all volunteered to work with me, and they knew how I was wired. By the same token, they knew that if we didnt go the easy way to lay people off to balance the budget, there would be hard times deciding where to prune, he said. The board issued stern marching orders, the executives made cuts elsewhere rather than staff, and the hospital weathered the downturn, he said. An employee who asked not to be named said Monday that the decision was huge for workers, making them feel safe with the knowledge that Gundersen had their backs. My point was, as leader, you look for the long term. If somebody was going to get pounded with this, it should be us and not the front lines, said Thompson, whose book is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble for $24.95, with proceeds going to the Gundersen Medical Foundations newly created Leadership Development Fund. Developing people is one of the most important things we do, he said. Thats so important, and people development is an amazing part of our success. La Crosse County is exploring new ideas to put its household hazardous materials collection program on more solid financial footing. The new plan, which is being considered as the county renews the programs contract with municipalities at the end of the year, would phase in increased contributions, put in automatic cost-of-living increases in the contributions and add a new source of income to keep the popular program solvent. The program gives county residents a place for safe disposal of toxic, caustic and otherwise hazardous items they might have around the house, including everything from pesticides and herbicides to bleach and cleaning solvents to lead paint and electronics. The program has a long list of accepted materials, all of which the county would like to keep out of the landfill and the sewer system. Since 2012, the number of annual residential users of the program has been about 10,000 per year, a big jump from the roughly 6,000 who used it every year from 2009 to 2011. More use of the collection site at the county landfill also has meant more expenses, with the program running at a deficit since 2012. The biggest reason were having this (deficit) problem is the success of the program, said Hank Koch, the countys solid waste director. For 2016, the program had total expenses of $483,136, which resulted in a deficit of $70,386, the fifth year in a row the program was in the red. In December, the county and the partner municipalities all agreed to a 25-cent per capita increase in their contribution to the program, which had been at $1 per capita since it began. The increase is projected to cut the programs deficit to $33,074, with total spending of $515,000. When that increased contribution was discussed last year, Koch projected a new contract replacing the 10-year pact that expires this year that would have another 25-cent per capita increase. In working with the municipalities on last years increase, however, it became clear that municipalities dont have much wiggle room in their budgets, particularly the smaller towns. The contract the county will likely propose will seek annual increases of 5 cents per capita for five years, after which the program contributions would go up 2 percent per year. For 2018, that 5-cent increase would have an impact ranging from $27 for the town of Washington to $2,600 for the city of La Crosse. The countys contribution, meanwhile, would rise $5,853, matching the total for the municipalities. Koch said even these measures might not be enough to balance the books for the program, so he proposed using up to $50,000 per year in county revenue from sale of metals recovered at the Xcel Energy waste-to-energy facility on French Island. The county will get feedback from municipalities and other partners in the solid waste system in the coming months, with the expectation of nailing down details for a contract extension by June 15. ONALASKA The Onalaska School Board formally disciplined one of its own Monday night. Board members unanimously agreed to censure Jake Speed, who recused himself from the vote. We have every right to do this, board clerk Brian Haefs said, and, in fact, I think we have an obligation to our kids to. Tension has been building between Speed and the rest of the board for months. Last month Speed claimed to a local radio station that the school district illegally spent $3,500 on attorneys fees. The district contacted their attorneys because, a month earlier, Speed told the same radio station that he filed a complaint with the FBI and La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke over malfeasance in the district. No such complaint has ever been filed, Haefs said Monday night. It is not illegal for school districts to spend money on attorneys, and Speed last October voted in favor of the districts 2017 operating budget, which allocated $65,000 for legal advice. The board of education values diverse opinions but expects board members to conduct themselves in manners that are consistent with their oath of office, Haefs said. Haefs initiated the censure Monday night by handing out a sheet of paper with a written statement to all board members. While Haefs read from the sheet, Speed occasionally shook his head, once looking up to Haefs, who was sitting directly to his right, and chuckling. Speed thanked the district for their action. I appreciate all of this, he said, for the simple fact that you guys are now proving that youre trying to silence the things that Ive been trying to do. He further stated that the board violated open meetings laws, skipped necessary procedures by not running the decision through an ethics committee and then accused the board of denying him his due process. If you guys spent as much time working on solving the problems as you do covering them up, there wouldnt be any problems, Speed said, later adding, Youve got the public buffaloed, absolutely buffaloed on the stuff thats going on around here. Censuring Speed does not jeopardize his place on the board. April 25 will mark the one-year anniversary of Speed taking his spot on Onalaskas School Board. He won the April 5, 2016, election after challenging the validity of incumbents Ann Garrity and Tim Smabys nomination papers. The Government Accountability Board granted Speeds challenge, and so removed Garrity and Smabys names from the ballot, leaving just the La Crosse Tea Party founders name on the ballot. The school board convened in closed session after the censure vote Monday night, but Speed didnt stay. On his way out of Onalaska High School, when asked if he cared to comment, Speed said: Dude, I dont talk to fake news. Speed has refused to speak to the La Crosse Tribune and Onalaska Holmen Courier-Life multiple times, calling them fake news and once saying that he had slipped, fallen on ice, bit his tongue and was unable to speak. School Board President Ann Garrity stood by the boards decision. When people Google or when they think about the school district of Onalaska, I dont want them to think, Oh, the board is crazy. I want them to go, Hey, Onalaska is a blue-ribbon school, and, Hey, we have 50 kids out doing amazing things in the community. Thats what were about, she said. With political polarization at a 20-year high, the Coulee Region is among a shrinking number of places where voters split their votes in federal elections. Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District is now considered the most evenly split in the nation, according to the Cook Political Report. The groups 2017 Partisan Voter Index report, released last week, found Wisconsins 3rd and Minnesotas 1st congressional districts are now considered to be among the 10 most Republican-leaning areas with Democratic representatives. In the 3rd, which covers much of western Wisconsin, President Donald Trump won by 4.5 points in Novembers election, while Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Kind was elected to an 11th term with no opposition. Across the Mississippi River, voters narrowly re-elected Democrat Tim Walz to a sixth term while also handing Trump a 14.5-point victory. Both districts were also among only 35 where voters crossed over casting a majority of votes for presidential and House candidates from different parties. Thats less than a third the number of cross-over districts two decades earlier. Walz and Kind are two of only nine Democrats to win in districts that flipped from Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016. The 3rd District is also among the 25 with the most dramatic four-year shifts to the right. The Cook Report assigns a partisan voting index to each district, based on its performance in the past two presidential elections. A district that votes 2 points more Democratic than the national average would be scored D+2; one where the Republican candidate fared 2 points better would be R+4. Those that were within a half point of the average are considered even. Wisconsins Third District went from D+5 to even. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist Joe Heim said it remains to be seen if the shift is part of a trend or a fluke. Youve got to see trends like that over a period of years, he said. I dont know whether it was Trump, Hillary or just a desire for change in certain areas. Kind, who easily survived a primary challenge from the left, said voters appreciate his independence, which could be more important than ever as the district is now considered evenly split. Ive been around for a while, he said. People have gotten to know me. He also said the Clinton campaigns complacency she did not set foot in Wisconsin after the Democratic primary was a factor in Trumps victory. Republicans have already taken note of the shift: Both Kind and Walz were on the National Republican Congressional Committees list of top Democratic targets for the 2018 election. Walz, a centrist Democrat, has since entered the Minnesota governors race, increasing the GOPs chances of taking back the seat, which they held for 12 years before Walz was first elected in 2006. Kind announced last month that he will not run for governor, putting to rest years of speculation. The Western Technical College District Board didnt have to look far for its next president. Western staff announced Tuesday that Roger Stanford, the current vice president for academic affairs, will succeed his boss, Lee Rasch, as the seventh president of the college. Rasch, who has led the college for nearly three decades, announced last year that he will retire June 30. District Board Chairman Dennis Treu said Stanford had a passion for student success and the technical colleges mission. Stanford has a deep respect for the work that has gone into the $79.8 million Vision 2020 strategic plan, Treu said, and offers inspiring ideas to keep the college moving forward. During his two years at Western, Stanford started a flexible learning initiative that targets working adult students, created a team model to help get faculty more engaged in college priorities such as student success, and led the implementation of a K-12 academy model, including the design of a facility to serve high school juniors and seniors. He said he decided to come to Western because of the colleges solid reputation and the community support that was apparent when voters approved the Vision 2020 referendum funding renovations and expansions at the campus locations in La Crosse and throughout the region. Stanford said he hoped to be able to build on that as well as bring a strong focus on data analysis and strategic planning to the presidency. Western has a stellar reputation in the district and the state for high-quality education, and has even garnered national attention for leading-edge sustainability efforts, Stanford said. I look forward to sharing my experience and continuing the momentum for many years to come. Before coming to Western, Stanford was vice president of instruction at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire. He has also worked in higher education as an instructor, a dean and a director of professional development, in addition to 10 years teaching at the high school level. Stanford was the first in his family to attend college and is a graduate of the Wisconsin Technical College System, earning his associates degree in marketing management from CVTC. He also earned a bachelors degree in marketing education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, a masters degree in education and professional development from UW-La Crosse, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Capella University. He was selected from a pool of 35 candidates from across the United States and was one of three finalists the search committee asked to visit campus. All of three of the candidates were invited to closed-door meetings and interviews last week with the district board before the group made its final decision. Stanfords selection will be officially approved at the April 18 board meeting, and he will begin the position July 1. We had an excellent pool of applicants from which to choose, Treu said. Roger rose to the top based on his extensive experience, his enthusiasm for technical education, and his recognition of the importance of community. He is a perfect fit for Western and the district we serve. A new study finds trout fishing has a $952 million-a-year impact in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, supporting thousands of jobs and boosting local economies in places like Viroqua that have embraced the tourist trade. That includes nearly $409 million spent by those who travel just to catch trout in the the 24,000-square-mile region marked by rugged bluffs and deep valleys, according to the study commissioned by Trout Unlimited from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse economics professor Donna Anderson. Combined with the spending of local trout anglers, the hobby generates an estimated $1.6 billion a year in economic activity, Anderson found. That has contributed to what Anderson calls healthy trout economies where private businesses, non-profit organizations like TU, and local governments work together to make the most of the regions nearly 6,000 miles of spring-fed streams. We call it the cold-water economy, said Luke Zahm, co-owner of the Driftless Cafe in Viroqua. A native of La Farge, the 37-year-old chef returned to Vernon County with his wife and purchased the business in 2013 after a decade in Madison. Zahm said nearly two thirds of his customers come from cities like Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago, spending money that he in turn spends with local farmers. Theyre fueling the fire of so many entrepreneurs like us, he said. Its a platform to build a new economy. The study, based on responses from a sample of the 157,247 trout stamp holders, found anglers came from as far away as Florida, Maine, Hawaii and Alaska. The typical angler was a 51-year-old man with an income of about $90,000, traveling about 138 miles to fish in the region. Most came with two companions and stayed about 2.5 days per trip, spending about $475 on everything from lodging and food to gear and guide services. Most anglers said they were more likely to fish in the region because of habitat restoration and preservation efforts. Over the past decade, Trout Unlimited has partnered with federal, state and local governments and other conservation groups to assemble about $45 million in restoration funding, covering at least 300 projects, said Duke Welter, outreach coordinator for TUs Driftless Area Restoration Effort. Theres no comparable assemblage of trout fishing opportunities in the Midwest, Welter said, noting about 800 miles of restored waters and about 1,200 miles of publicly accessible streams. We get people from all over the country who are not used to that level of public access. The total economic impact of the sport has grown by $500 million since TUs last commissioned study in 2008. The La Crosse County Health Department requests that people who are concerned about possible contamination of their private wells in the western halves of the towns of Holland and Onalaska call 211 for further information. Residents in the affected areas were sent letters last week advising of potentially elevated nitrates and presence of bacteria in their drinking water Testing is the only way to determine whether nitrates and bacteria are present, and the Health Department advises annual testing for all private wells. City municipalities regularly test drinking water to ensure safety. Water testing kits are available at most local village and town halls and libraries, and at the La Crosse County Health Department from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents can drop off samples at the health department from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The cost is $26 a test. Public information meetings also are set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Holland Town Hall at W7937 County Road MH in Holmen and 6 p.m. Thursday in the Onalaska Town Hall at N5589 Commerce Road. More information also is available under the news and information section of the Health Departments website. MADISON A few years ago, when Brian Kaas attended some of the nations leading conferences for venture capitalists, the audience was predominantly investors from stand-alone venture funds. Today, when the managing director of Madison-based CMFG Ventures takes part in such gatherings, the makeup includes many more in-house funds within larger corporations. The mix is basically reversed from what it what about five years ago, said Kaas, who leads the fund created by CUNA Mutual Group to invest in financial and insurance innovation. Corporate venture funds arent new, but the growth in such funds has been robust in recent years. A January 2017 report in Financier Worldwide noted there were 181 corporate venture funds worldwide in 2004 and more than 1,500 by 2015. About half of all Fortune 100 companies now have in-house funds. The deal flow has also seen astonishing growth, reported Financier Worldwide, rising from 698 announced deals in 2011 to 1,790 deals in 2015. Wisconsin has not been bypassed by that trend. American Family Insurance in Madison is a prominent example with its AmFam Ventures fund, which launched in 2013 as a $50 million fund and has grown over time to become one of the nations leading fin-tech and insure-tech funds. CMFG Ventures has invested $40 million to date, including follow-on rounds, in six portfolio companies with others under review. The funds typical check size falls between $1 million to $5 million, Kaas told a recent meeting of the Tech Council Innovation Network in Madison. Presenting at the same meeting was Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, which plans to invest about $50 million during the next six years with a typical check ranging from $500,000 to $3 million. Its portfolio will also include fin-tech and insure-tech firms, as well as companies engaged in digital health. Other companies in Wisconsin with in-house investment arms or related interests in startups include Kimberly-Clark, Logistics Health, ABC Supply and Direct Supply. The list may be growing. At the fourth annual Wisconsin Tech Summit, the managing director of Michigans Renaissance Venture Capital Fund described Wisconsin as a natural place for creation of a corporate fund-of-funds much like what was built over time in Michigan. What is a fund of funds? Its a vehicle for pooling capital and investing in emerging firms. Renaissance is an early example of such a fund led by Michigans major corporations, such as Ford, La-Z-Boy, Whirlpool and more. It was created in 2008 when Michigans unemployment rate had soared into double digits, major companies were cutting employees and internal research, and there was a chronic shortage of risk capital for young companies. The first two Renaissance funds raised nearly $124 million from corporate and institutional investors. That money was re-invested in 25 venture capital funds across the nation, bringing those experienced funds to Michigan in a physical sense sometimes opening a local office to kick tires and invest in promising startups. Financial returns for Renaissance over nine years have outperformed national benchmarks for rate of return and profit distributions. The fund ranks in the top quartile of the venture capital asset class. The first Renaissance fund attracted more than $24 into Michigan for every dollar invested. Thats reflected in the $868 million invested so far by the 25 participating funds in young Michigan companies. Sixty percent of those funds were first-time investors in Michigan companies. Michigans status as a venture capital hub went from middle of the 50-state pack to among the U.S. leaders. Total capital under management in Michigan stood at $1.4 billion in 2015, good for 12th among the states. Wisconsin ranked 27th in the same year. Michigan reported $281 million in venture capital commitments in 2015, 9th among the 50 states. Wisconsin stood 21st on the list. Wisconsin has a cadre of major companies. It has experienced investors in angel capital networks and stand-alone funds. Increasingly, it has the right talent and ideas. Whats needed now is a shared sense of opportunity about reinvesting in Wisconsin and a few corporate champions to take up the challenge. If its home-grown companies wont do so, why should others? President Trump did the right thing, the necessary thing, in striking Syrias Shayrat Air Base in response to the Assad regimes gruesome gas attack on civilians. In so doing, the president sharply reversed his own past stance and positions his team took just days ago on Syria. Despite his stubborn refusal to criticize Russias cyberwar on America, moreover, he may finally have grasped the need to display toughness to the Kremlin. Call it the learning curve of Trump. The big question now is whether the administration will use this military strike as more than a warning against the use of chemical weapons. The strike gives Trump new leverage to jolt a dying Syrian peace process back to life. But that would require him to play a global role he has previously disdained. Back in September 2013, when President Barack Obama was agonizing over how to respond to a far larger Syrian gas attack, Donald Trump tweeted, Do not attack Syria if you do many very bad things will happen & from that fight the U.S. gets nothing. Obama agreed. He failed to enforce his own red line, instead crafting a deal with Moscow that supposedly forced Bashar al Assad to destroy his chemical arsenal. But, the purpose of enforcing Obamas red line was not to overthrow Assad, something Washington couldnt achieve without boots on the ground. Rather, a strike could have been used to prod Syria and its backers into a serious peace process. That opportunity was lost. Before the latest gas attack, Trump claimed his only interest in Syria was the defeat of the ISIS caliphate in the east of the country. On my trip to the region last month, Iraqis and Syrians bemoaned the apparent lack of any U.S. political strategy to keep jihadis from emerging again once ISIS was gone. Only last week, top Trump officials stressed the lack of U.S. interest in removing Assad. Then, Assads stupidity, and the presidents visceral reaction to TV scenes of dying children, changed the equation. Whatever the rationale for Trumps sudden reversal, he was correct to do what he did. Thats because, in using sarin gas, the Syrian leader did far worse than violate the 1925 Geneva convention that bans the use of chemical weapons. Assad also violated the 2013 deal brokered by Obama and Vladimir Putin that called for Assad to destroy all of his chemical weapons _ obviously, he didnt. Moreover, the Syrian leader flaunted U.N. Resolution 2235, which authorizes the use of force if Damascus violated that deal (although Russian veto power makes it impossible for the Security Council to act). If Assad had been allowed to ignore all these red lines it would have given him carte blanche to continue gassing his own people. It would have demonstrated that the world, and America, had no will to stop the use of chemical weapons elsewhere. In addition, it would have had two more dangerous consequences. First, it would have demonstrated that American Firster Trump truly had no interest in global leadership on critical issues where U.S. leadership is essential. And second, it would have displayed a continuing Trump unwillingness to treat Putin with the toughness required to convince the Russian that Trump is not an easy mark. Indeed, it is hard to imagine that the Russians were not complicit in the sarin attack. Russians were stationed at Shayrat Air Base _ which is not large _ and ought to have known that sarin was stashed there. Perhaps they turned a blind eye because they know that Assads depleted army lacks the troops to defeat Syrian rebels in their remaining strongholds, so the Kremlin was willing to tolerate the use of gas. But the repeated Russian denials that Assad was responsible continue the pattern of lies about their actions from the invasion of Ukraine to the hack of the U.S. election. The United States has clear evidence that the attack was launched from Shayrat U.S. radar spotted the Syrian aircraft that dropped the gas bombs. This is why the American strike has broad backing from U.S. allies around the world. So Trump had to make clear to the Kremlin that the United States would not tolerate this brazen breach of the 2013 pact. Trump has to read the Russians the riot act, says Josh Landis, a noted Syria expert at the University of Oklahoma. He has to get the Russians involved, to ask them what the hell happened. But the bigger questions that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson must explore on his scheduled visit to Moscow next week is whether the Russians are willing to use this strike toward a productive purpose, despite their anti-U.S. bluster. So far Assad has been unwilling to contemplate discussing a political transition that would leave him in power but eventually lead to elections and Russia had been unwilling to squeeze him. The message that Russia needs to deliver to Assad, says Andrew Tabler, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, is: Dont think you can gas your way out. They must encourage Assad to go down the road to a true political process. Yet Russia may have no interest in restraining Assad. Even without gas attacks, his barrel-bomb drops on civilians and the resulting refugee flows help Putins plans to undermine the European Union. So the test of Trumps learning curve will rest on whether he recognizes the need to hold firm with Putin and whether he will invest in a diplomatic strategy for Syria that leverages his military action. If he fails on either count, the broader impact of the military strike on Shayrat will be lost. Tuesday, April 11, 2017 The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has imposed a three-month suspension for misconduct as a court-appointed guardian of an infant. The case involves inexplicable gross neglect of the attorney's obligations that included willful disobedience of the court's orders to file briefs. The case generated a 42-page majority opinion, a vigorous dissent of the Chief Justice and an equally impassioned concurring/dissenting opinion from another Justice. From the majority opinion The issue before us arises out of Lauren Thompsons (Ms. Thompson) acts and failures to act in her capacity as a court-appointed guardian ad litem representing the interests of an infant. The conduct includes the disregard of orders of this Court commanding the filing of appellate briefs or summary responses in the setting of appeals brought by parents who had their parental rights terminated at the circuit court level. The West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Disciplinary Board instituted formal disciplinary charges against Ms. Thompson on January 6, 2016, with the filing of a Statement of Charges. Following discovery and a hearing, the Hearing Panel Subcommittee (HPS) of the Lawyer Disciplinary Board found violations of the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct (the Rules of Professional Conduct) and has recommended that Ms. Thompson be suspended for a period of three months, required to petition for reinstatement, and attend an additional twelve hours of continuing legal education in the area of abuse and neglect and/or law office management, in addition to other recommended sanctions. Ms. Thompson objects to the recommended suspension. She contends the appropriate sanction for her violation of the Rules is a public reprimand. Alternatively, she requests that this Court adopt the recommendation of the HPS of suspension from the practice of law for three months; but, she seeks credit for the time she has been prohibited from serving as appointed counsel in criminal and abuse and neglect matters during the pendency of the disciplinary process. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) disagrees with the recommendation as to sanctions. Specifically, the ODC contends that the length of the proposed three month sanction is inadequate given the circumstances, which include malfeasance and intentional contempt. We have undertaken a thorough review of the record submitted, the briefs, and the arguments of the ODC and Ms. Thompson, as well as the applicable legal precedent. This Court has carefully considered the report and recommendations of the HPS. Upon our review of both aggravating and mitigating factors, as well as considering the high priority nature of abuse and neglect cases and the tender years of a vulnerable infant child who lacked a voice, this Court adopts the three month suspension from the practice of law recommended by the HPS, together with the recommendation of the completion of additional continuing legal education. This Court concludes that automatic reinstatement after suspension of three months pursuant to Rule 3.31 of the Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Procedure is appropriate, and we further require Ms. Thompson to pay the costs of these disciplinary proceedings. The attorney had failed to file required pleadings despite the judge's importunings. She described her conduct as an "out of body" experience that led to a September 30, 2015 order This Court held Ms. Thompson in contempt and ordered that she was denied eligibility for guardian ad litem and other court appointments until such time as the ODC investigated and any resulting disciplinary proceedings were concluded. We reiterated the critical role of guardians ad litem in all stages of abuse and neglect proceedings. The Court observed the troubling lack of concern Ms. Thompson displayed for the individual infant child she represented and the childs need for permanency. Evidence from the disciplinary hearing Ms. Thompsons mother, the Honorable Miki Thompson, Judge of the Circuit Court of Mingo County, testified that, during the relevant time-frame, Ms. Thompson was under significant stress and strain due to the tragic death of her sister and due to attempting to act as counsel in a challenging wrongful death action arising from that death. Judge Thompson testified that the emotional strain was relieved when they were able to obtain counsel to undertake representation in the wrongful death action. According to Judge Thompson, her daughter understands her violations of the Rules and is unlikely to make the same mistakes again... The foster parents of the child, who are the pre-adoptive parents, also testified regarding their disappointment in the delay due to the failure of Ms. Thompson to file her briefs. While they agreed that no actual harm was suffered by the child, they spoke about the emotions involved, the worry and fear delay causes, and the stress of having to continually deal with DHHR for all sorts of things such as approvals for physician visits and to go on family outings and vacations while waiting on a permanency decision. The court on sanction During the period of refusal to file briefs, Ms. Thompson believed the child was safe and secure with good and loving foster parents who sought adoption of the child such that any delay she caused would not result in harm. Ms. Thompson states that she now understands the concerns of the foster parents regarding the delay and lack of permanency determination. Ms. Thompson stated she realized what she had done was wrong, recognized her errors in judgment, meant no disrespect to the authority of the courts or court staff, and candidly acknowledged it took a lot of stepping back to understand her failures and violations of the Rules. Finally, as to mitigating factors, we find that by working toward stipulations of fact, violations, and factors considered in terms of sanctions, Ms. Thompson demonstrated a cooperative attitude toward the proceedings... We adopt the HPS recommendation of a sanction consisting, in part, of a three month suspension from the practice of law. In adopting the recommended three month suspension, we give considerable deference to the testimony of Judge Cummings who has had an opportunity to directly observe Ms. Thompsons conduct and professionalism in appointed cases. We are also cognizant of the fact that the preclusion from appointed cases since September 2015, as applied to a small solo practice in rural Mingo County, substantially reduced the ability of Ms. Thompson to practice law in the fashion she had developed. This Court is mindful of the important role of deterring unacceptable conduct when designing appropriate sanctions. We are all too aware of the increasing pattern of untimely, inadequate, and perfunctory filings, submissions, and representation of those lawyers appointed to the vital role of guardian ad litem in abuse and neglect proceedings. Lawyers with practices including representation of children and respondents in abuse and neglect proceedings should consider this opinion, the sanction of suspension, and the length of preclusion from appointment during the disciplinary process as a cautionary tale. We also adopt the recommendation of the HPS that Ms. Thompson complete an additional twelve hours of continuing legal education in the area of abuse and neglect and/or ethics and law office management. In light of the three month suspension, reinstatement shall be automatic... There is a dissent from Chief Justice Loughry Never before has this Court been faced with a lawyer disciplinary case of this nature. While it is commonplace for this Court to determine the appropriate discipline for attorneys who fail to act timely or zealously, there is almost always a cogent explanation offered for such conduct. Disorganization, lack of adequate support, case or practice management issues, personal issues, or simple neglect essentially form the universe of proffered explanations. While none of these serve to excuse lawyer misconduct, they at least provide a rational context for the conduct we are obligated to examine. In the instant case, however, the respondents willful refusal to timely file briefs on behalf of her infant client, despite multiple court orders to do so, defies any rational explication. Moreover, the myriad and ever-evolving justifications offered by the respondent range from half-hearted to confounding to infuriatingly ill-conceived, to put it mildly. Despite the respondents protestations to the contrary, this case involves more than a mere failure to file or comply with a court order: it involves a complete, willful abdication of an attorneys duties to the most vulnerable client known to our judicial system, under circumstances where that client was most in need of representation. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent. The Chief Justice underscores the importance of the guardian ad litem's role and the impact of the attorney's failures on the adoptive parents In a flabbergasting lack of self-awareness, the respondent feigned concern about the fact that the adoption had not yet been finalized as of the date of her disciplinary hearing, but flippantly conceded: So June, July, August, September, then well count October, those four months are on me. I did that. And I hate that I did that and it sucks. Justice Workman concurred and dissented in part It is disheartening that the majority has chosen to prioritize protecting the financial interests of a member of the bar over the protection of the children of Mingo County... While I concur in the three-month suspension imposed by the majority, its refusal to bar respondent from hereafter representing court-appointed infants in abuse and neglect and family court matters is irresponsible and dangerous to the weakest, most voiceless group of children in society. The respondents offense in this matter is not merely an untimely filing, which this Court unfortunately sees regularly. Rather, it is conduct so completely lacking in the judgment and competence needed to properly protect these most vulnerable clients that it calls for an individualized sanction designed not to be overly punitive to the lawyer, but to protect these vulnerable children. Accordingly, while I concur in the suspension issued by the majority, I would permanently bar respondent from taking court appointments as guardian ad litem in abuse/neglect and family law matters. I would further require that she petition for reinstatement and undergo one year of supervised practice subsequent to any reinstatement. Critically, due to the unique circumstances presented in this case, I would also require respondent to undergo a psychological evaluation prior to any petition for reinstatement. ...the majority appears curiously preoccupied with respondents future practice and resultant personal economic consequences were this Court to continue its bar against her work as guardian ad litem. The majority should be more concerned about the safety of abused and neglected children in Mingo County rather than the protection of the lawyers income. I will not belabor the obviously distorted priorities that this reflects, or the ostensible attitude that this level of representation is good enough for the children of Mingo County. Instead, I focus on how this concern about respondents practice is not only inappropriate but also patently wrong. The majority indicates that the approximate seventeen-month ban on abuse and neglect appointments preceding this matter has occasioned a 90% decrease in respondents income. As a result, the majority seemingly appears concerned that a future prohibition on guardian ad litem work would effectively wipe out respondents practice, gravely noting the less satisfactory office space and reduction in staff caused by the embargo on her appointed work... More importantly, any histrionics suggesting that a ban on future guardian ad litem appointments would be devastating to respondents practice are completely unfounded. Respondent herself stated she enjoyed a lively and profitable personal injury practice. In fact, she previously appeared before this Court on a breach of contract action. Respondent stated in her affidavit to this Court, I take nearly a third as much pro bono work as I do retained work. Not only would this one-third also apparently include criminal appointmentswhich she could continue to dobut plainly reveals that the majority of respondents practice was not in fact guardian ad litem work. How respondent or other members of this Court manage to equate 90% with one-third is unclear. Finally, respondent herself stated that she had no intention of accepting future abuse and neglect appointments and is much happier with her life and practice (such as it could possibly be given that she is inactive with the Bar) without such work. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported on the order barring court appointments. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/04/the-west-virginia-supreme-court-of-appeals-the-issue-before-us-arises-out-of-lauren-thompsons-ms-thompson-acts-a.html 4 The coffin of PC Keith Palmer, who was killed in the recent Westminster attack, is transported through Carriage Gates at the Palace of Westminster, where it laid overnight, to his funeral at Southwark Cathedral in central London. A presidential election will take place in South Korea next month. The results could produce a change in policy that may reduce tensions with North Korea and worsen them with the United States. The presidential election is set for May 9. It is to take place earlier than planned because former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office by South Koreas National Assembly in December. That vote was confirmed by the countrys Supreme Court last month. Park is accused of involvement in a multi-million dollar bribery scandal. Government lawyers say large and powerful Korean companies were given favors in exchange for donations to organizations controlled by a friend of Park. Park was recently arrested. Prosecutors are trying to gather evidence that will permit them to charge her with bribery, extortion and abuse of power. If she is found guilty, she could be sent to prison for more than 10 years. Because of the scandal, support for Parks conservative policies has weakened and her party has split. The major South Korean political parties have chosen their presidential candidates. The two candidates who have received the most support in public opinion surveys are from liberal parties that have been out of power since 2008. The Democratic Party Moon Jae-in is the Democratic Party candidate for president. A public opinion study by Realmeter says Moon has 41 percent support. Moon is a human rights lawyer who lost to Park in the 2012 election partly because voters believed he was not strong enough in his criticisms of North Korea. However, Parks conservative policies have been criticized recently because of increased tensions with the North. Tensions have risen because of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Uns efforts to develop nuclear and missile programs. Moon said Parks decision to limit ties with the North and use economic sanctions to pressure the North have failed. He said if he becomes president he would put in place a limited version of the so-called Sunshine Policy of Engagement. In the early 2000s, South Korea tried to build trust with North Korea through investment, exchanges and aid programs. At the same time, South Korea kept most sanctions in place. We need to have two tracks of measures here. We need to be able to apply some pressure and coercion on North Korea, but on the other hand we should also start discussions and dialogue with North Korea, Moon said. Moons support for talks with the North could cause tensions with the United States. He has said he strongly supports his countrys relations with the U.S. But he has also said South Korea should learn to say no to the U.S. He has not directly opposed the deployment of an American anti-missile program in South Korea. But Moon has said it should not be deployed until after the election, so the next president can decide whether it is worth the risk of worsening relations with China. China strongly opposes the program. The Peoples Party Moderate candidate Ahn Cheol-soo recently won the nomination of the Peoples Party. He has 34 percent support in the Realmeter poll. But his support has been growing in recent weeks. He left the 2012 presidential election to support Moon, but he says he will stay in the election this time and expects to win. Ahn has stronger national security policies than Moon. He supports the American anti-missile system. He also approves of international sanctions placed on North Korea for violating United Nations Security Council resolutions banning its nuclear program. But Ahn says, like Moon, he would support talks with North Korea. What is the purpose of putting in sanctions against North Korea? Because we would like to persuade them to come to the negotiating table at the time we want and under the conditions that we want, said Ahn. The issue of nuclear weapons Parks conservative party has split. Those who remain loyal to her have named themselves Liberty Party Korea. Conservatives who supported her removal from office have formed the Bareun Party. The candidates of the two parties have stronger national security policies than Park. Neither one has more than 10 percent support in the recent Realmeter poll. Hong Joon-pyo is the Liberty Party Korea candidate. He is a former prosecutor. He has nine percent support in the Realmeter poll. In a speech accepting his partys nomination, he promised to be a resolute strongman who can deal with pressure from the United States, China, Japan, North Korea and Russia. Hong strongly supports the anti-missile system. And he said if he is elected he will immediately start discussions with the U.S. on the re-deployment of nuclear weapons in South Korea. The U.S. removed nuclear weapons from South Korea in the early 1990s. Critics say returning them to South Korea would weaken international support for sanctions against the Norths nuclear program. The U.S. has promised to use its nuclear weapons to defend the South from an attack by the North. Bareun party presidential candidate Yoo Seong-min has three percent support in the public opinion survey. Yoo was once an aid to Park. Yoo successfully ran as an independent for the National Assembly. He supported Parks impeachment and then created the Bareun party. Yoo also supports the deployment of nuclear weapons in South Korea. And he says the U.S. should deploy three anti-missile batteries, not one, paid for by South Korea. In addition to security, the South Korean economy will be a major election issue. The major candidates have different positions on limiting the influence of the countrys largest companies and increasing opportunity for young people who are having a difficult time finding good jobs. While Moon has the most support, some of the other candidates are reportedly thinking about leaving the race and giving their support to Ahn. This would give him more support than Moon. VOA Correspondent Brian Padden reported this story from Seoul. Youmi Kim contributed reporting. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story bribery n. the act or crime of giving or accepting a bribe (which is a payment of something valuable -- such as money -- that is given in order to get someone to do something; usually a bribe is used to get someone to do something illegal or dishonest) scandal n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong favor n. a kind or helpful act that you do for someone extortion n. the crime of getting money from someone by the use of force or threats sanction n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc. (usually plural) track n. the course along which someone or something moves or proceeds coercion n. the crime of making (someone) do something by using force or threats dialogue n. a discussion or series of discussions that two groups or countries have in order to end a disagreement resolute adj. very determined; having or showing a lot of determination strongman n. a politician or leader who uses violence or threats battery n. a group of two or more big guns used by the military The Earth is losing some of its major freshwater supplies. But these water resources are not lakes or rivers. They are called aquifers. They formed deep underground as the Earth developed. Some aquifers are so deep that water from very heavy rains cannot reach them through all the rock and dirt. Many aquifers provide irrigation water for crops. These freshwater deposits are helping farmers in many countries. A new report says some aquifers are being emptied. It warns this could affect food security and economies around the world. Irrigated agriculture is responsible for about 80 percent or more of freshwater use worldwide. A growing part of that comes from underground aquifers because of dry weather or farmers growing crops in areas with little rainfall. But researchers say taking water from aquifers is creating a large problem, which is not getting much attention. And even if it does receive attention, scientists warn, there is not much that can be done to repair them. The study was a project of researchers at the University College London and the Goddard Institute of Space Studies in New York. The institute is part of NASA, the American space agency. The study found that 11 percent of what is called disappearing groundwater from aquifers is used to grow internationally-traded food. Michael Puma is a research scientist at NASA and Columbia University. He notes that it is difficult to measure groundwater because it is so deep underground. He says it also is difficult to know how much water is there and where it is. Puma says the researchers examined deep aquifers from which water is being removed. He says the water from these aquifers may not be replaced for hundreds of years. For it to be replenished youd have to have a major shift in the climate. Itd be much wetter in these regions that are currently very dry. The report says seven countries use the most non-renewable groundwater for agricultural production. The seven are the United States, India, Pakistan, China, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Puma notes that the United States is one of the worlds major exporters of food. He notes that if China and India use up the groundwater they need to feed their populations, they would be forced to import more food. This increased demand could cause food prices to rise. Puma says some American states know that their deep aquifers are being emptied. California recognizes theyre facing groundwater depletion. Kansas, they also recognize theyre facing groundwater depletion issues. Yet, the solutions are not clear. Theres been attempts to slow down the use of the groundwater, but thats not solving the problem because we have a limited supply thats not going to be replenished. Puma says state officials should work to control the groundwater that remains. To make true progress on this front, we have to have this discussion of how will we adjust our farms, our farming activities, to deal with a future where were going to face a situation where groundwater will no longer be present in these locations. Puma says the study shows that, while countries like Somalia are dealing with little rainfall, the world may someday face an underground drought. Its a really global issue. All countries around the world are facing this challenge. We dont have any great solutions or strategies to deal with this. So, at the very least, we need to have discussions to come up with new ways, new strategies that recognize this problem and try and coordinate how we might adjust our policies. Any strategy must balance the short-term need for food for the world with the long-term survival of the Earths aquifers. Im Marsha James. VOAs Joe DeCapua reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow 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 deposit n. an amount of a substance (such as oil or coal) that exists naturally in the ground non-renewable adj. not restored or replaced by natural processes; not able to be replaced by nature front n. an area or field of activity (usually singular) location n. a place or position strategy n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time coordinate v. to act or work together properly and well The United States Navy has sent a group of warships to waters near the Korean Peninsula as a show of force to North Korea. The strike group is led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. It includes two guided-missile destroyers, a guided-missile cruiser and an attack submarine. After stopping in Singapore, the strike group had planned to move on to Australia, but was ordered to head north instead. A spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command, Dave Benham, said the move was a "prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific." Benham said currently the number one threat in the region is North Korea. Pyongyang continues a reckless, irresponsible, and destabilizing program of missile tests and nuclear weapons development, he said. U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said President Donald Trump had asked him and other officials to provide suggestions for removing the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea. McMaster told Fox News that options will be considered to remove that threat to the American people and our allies and partners in the area. He added that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during their meeting last week that North Koreas "provocative behavior" was unacceptable. The strike group deployment to the Korean Peninsula comes after American missiles struck Syrian military targets last week. The airstrikes followed a deadly chemical weapons attack blamed on Syrian forces. The Tomahawk missiles fired into a Syrian airfield were launched from the USS Porter a guided-missile destroyer deployed in the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the military strike against Syria was a warning to other countries, including North Korea, that a response is likely if they present a threat. Tillerson told ABC News this would include nations that violate international agreements, fail to live up to commitments and become a threat to others. A South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman said he considers the strike group a response to the "serious situation on the Korean Peninsula." North Korea has fired off several test missiles in recent months and is reportedly planning another nuclear test. Many nations, including ally China, have condemned the tests. The United Nations has also demanded that North Korea give up its nuclear arms program. On Monday, South Korea and China said they had agreed to place stronger sanctions on North Korea if it continues nuclear and missile tests. The agreement was reached during talks between the top nuclear negotiators from both countries. North Korea is already subject to sanctions ordered by the United Nations Security Council. South Koreas negotiator told reporters the latest discussions did not include the possibility of a military response to North Koreas continued testing programs. North Korea has promised to strengthen defenses against airstrikes like those carried out in Syria. A North Korean official said those attacks proved that the North needs nuclear weapons to protect itself against Americas "ever more reckless moves towards war." Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter 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 prudent adj. wise, thoughtful, careful reckless adj. something dangerous or careless destabilize v. cause something to change of move provocative adj. causing a strong or angry reaction commitment n. promise to do or give something sanction - n. an action to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade A look at the Pell Grant program, its past and its future. On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This website is inclusive of tolerant people of all faiths, without exception. Neither anti-Semitism nor Islamophobia nor homophobia should ever be acceptable to anyone. We must all strive to live in peace and harmony with each other, regardless of religious affiliations, or none. Intolerance is the mother of strife and conflict. Mark Alexander We Britons are Europeans!Wir Briten sind Europaer! Nous, les Britanniques, sommes europeens ! Mark AlexanderEmail me at:markalexander.librabunda@gmail.com Innovation Agency, WWC is quickly becoming recognised as an agency that understands a continent with very unique business challenges. Through its partnerships with global brands, they have provided digital services in Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Egypt, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Alex Acton, WWC head of Business in Africa. WWC specialises in digital product innovation and transformation as a means to increase the digital maturity of the organisations with which they work. Its partnerships with brands operating across the continent have contributed significantly to the agencys ability to understand and use technology relevant to the continent as a means to innovate and unlock new growth for its clients. WWCs head of Business in Africa, Alex Acton, says, Having spent most of my life operating in and around Southern Africa, I have a deep appreciation for the opportunities that the continent presents. When combined with clients with an appetite for innovation, the true and often exponential value of these opportunities becomes a reality. We are very proud of our African partnerships, says Louis Janse van Rensburg, WWC MD in Johannesburg and Africa. It shows that our model to focus on solving business problems, rather than simply marketing challenges, is paying off. Im proud to see the quality of innovative work being produced for our clients by these partnerships. As part of WWCs Africa strategy, WWC is preparing to host its first Digital Innovation evening in Lusaka, soon to be followed by Accra and Nairobi. This will allow WWC to add value to its community when operating outside of South Africa, but also gives the agency insights into the idiosyncrasies of each region. View the original article published on ITNewsAfrica.com. The Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, commented yesterday on the prosecution of Animas president, Albano Martins over charges of breaching personal data protection laws for sharing a video of a man abusing a dog on social media. The man in question was later identified as a PJ officer. Wong noted that he only took note of the matter through the Internet and he did not agree with the actions of the police officer. The secretary also stated, All criminal investigation officers must, first and foremost, give priority to their personal conduct and ethics, adding that it is the duty of police officers to have irreproachable behavior. The wife of a Taiwanese pro-democracy activist detained in China said yesterday that she was prevented from flying to the mainland to seek a visit with her husband, whose case has inflamed tensions between the sides that have already sunk to their lowest level in years. Lee Ching-yu said airline staff told her when she tried to check in for her flight that Beijing authorities had canceled her Chinese-issued travel permit. Li was hoping to fly to China to demand information about her husband, Lee Ming-che, who has not been heard from since March 19. A Chinese official said last week that Lee was under investigation on suspicion of endangering Chinese national security and was in good physical condition, but offered no additional information. Lee Ching-yu says her husband suffers from hypertension and has asked that medication be provided to him. Lee, a college employee who used the WeChat social media platform to discuss China-Taiwan relations, is the first Taiwanese activist in years to be held by China on security charges. His colleagues said his account on WeChat a mainland China-based service used broadly in the Chinese-speaking world had been shut down by Chinese authorities in mid-2016, suggesting he had attracted government attention. Lee, 42, formerly worked for the Democratic Progressive Party, which has advocated for Taiwans formal independence. He was due to meet a friend in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on March 19 but never arrived. China cut off its already limited contacts with Taiwans government in June, five months after the DPPs Tsai Ing-wen was elected president. Since then, China has been seen as further restricting the islands already limited diplomatic breathing space while bringing economic pressure to bear. Trailed by a scrum of supporters and media, Lee Ching-yu was turned away at the check-in counter by an Air China employee who said the airline had been informed by Beijing that her permit to visit the mainland had been voided, without providing details. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and requires the islands residents to use a document called a Taiwan Compatriots Pass rather than their passport when traveling to the mainland. I wonder why China needs to stop me, a defenseless woman, from visiting, Li told reporters at the airport. Yesterdays drama raises the stakes in a case already complicated by the absence of formal cross-strait diplomatic channels. The Taiwanese government department responsible for relations with China says its requests for information about Lee have largely gone ignored. Lee Ching-yu said Sunday that a middleman who claimed to have Chinese government contacts sought to persuade her not to make the trip, saying that her husband would be released soon if she acted in an obedient and quietly cooperative manner. If not, Lee said, the middleman suggested that Chinese state television would air a confession extracted from her husband. Taiwanese media yesterday disclosed the middlemans identity as former Taiwanese intelligence officer Lee Chun-min, who told the press that he would no longer work on the case. National security crimes in China are broadly defined and have a range of penalties. Authorities usually release little or no information on the specific allegations, citing the need to protect state secrets. Powers of the security services in dealing with foreign groups and their Chinese partners were strongly enhanced under a law that took effect in January, leading to concerns about further prosecutions and restrictions on civil society. In recent years, Chinas state security apparatus has detained foreign activists, domestic lawyers and other political elements it considers hostile and extracted and aired video confessions as proof that they were working to undermine Chinas national security. In several instances, the detainees recanted their confessions upon their release. Gerry Shih, Taipei, AP The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) is launching today the third phase of the governments Continuing Education Development Plan, to run from 2017 to 2019. For this phase, most of the mechanics were retained but at least one rule was added in order to guarantee more governmental control and to increase their entitlement to inspection, the DSEJ informed yesterday in a press conference held at its headquarters. The rule asks the institutions lecturing classes and courses included in the plan to submit an electronic record of student attendance within seven days of each session. Vicky Leong, Chief of the Education Department of the DSEJ, said the measure has been included to raise the inspection extent. When questioned Cheong added that such a measure does not replace any of the previously enforced measures but just adds to it. We will still receive the attendance maps in paper support that need to contain the students signature [to prove its authenticity]. She also noted that the DSEJ performs many other tasks to ensure that everything is done according to the law, like surprise visits to the venues of training courses and conducting interviews with students who concluded their courses. Wong Chi Iong, the chief executive of the division of Continuing Education also remarked that DSEJ have completed during the previous phase about 500 visits and inspected over 5,000 documents [to make sure that was all according to the rules]. According to Wongs figures, a total of 11 serious faulty cases were found and reached the judiciary authorities during the last phase of the plan. Another of the differences from this phase of the program concerns the speed of the processing of applications for courses from the institutions which was said to have been adjusted so that institutions are able to receive a quicker reply from DSEJ to be able to quickly start courses. Wong noted that the institutions will be given a period of 15 days (from April 11 to April 25) to submit their course applications with the result of these applications to be known by April 28. Remarking on the results of the previous editions of this plan, Wong said that in the second phase (2014 to 2016) a significant growth was registered for the number of participants in the plan, leading to a rise from around 145,000 (phase 1 2011 to 2013) to 167,000. Wong noted that such a number is already quite high. [It is not expected that it] will grow much further during the third phase, he said when questioned by the media. Also the governments subsidy remains unchanged: MOP6,000 per applicant, representing a total investment of around MOP740 million as in the plans second phase. The recently reopened Cinematheque Passion will host a themed program this month titled Panorama: Macau Films, which will showcase a selection of around 25 films shot in Macau or directed by local filmmakers. The festival will run from April 14 (Saturday) until April 28 at Cinematheque Passion. In addition to film screenings, audiences will be able to attend post-screening talks and seminars to interact with the filmmakers. Among those to be screened during the Panorama festival are the Macau entries for the International Film Festival and Awards Macau (IFFAM) festival, namely Emily Chans Our Seventeen and Tracy Chois award-winning Sisterhood. At the IFFAM festival, Sisterhood actress Jennifer Yu won the best newcomer award, while the film earned the audience prize. The two films will each be screened twice throughout the program, once at the start of Panorama on April 14, and again on April 27 and 28. Other films from the 1990s, which depict the final days of pre-handover Macau, will also be shown at various dates during Panorama. These include Chu Iao Ians Ah Mings Macao a critically-acclaimed film regarded as the first Macau peoples film under the Portuguese Administration that interviews locals about their feelings regarding the then- approaching 1999 handover to China. The 31-minute short will be screened on April 15. Also playing this month is The Bicycle Man, Macau Diary by Ivo Ferreira and Antonio Pedro (showing on April 15), which also explores the late pre-handover era. Then there is The Bewitching Braid, a movie by Chinese directors Cai Yuan-yuan and Cai An-an, brothers from Sichuan Province. The plot is based on a novel by well-known Macanese writer Henrique de Senna Fernandes, who is regarded as one of the most prominent writers from the pre-handover period. I Repeated by local documentary filmmaker Penny Lam will be screened on April 23. The documentary investigates Macaus unusually high rate of students repeating school years due to missed grades, and explores the link between these students and the lure of comfortable casino jobs. Another documentary, Wallace Chans Fonting the City, follows a group of designers searching Macau for the forgotten typefaces that decorate buildings in the San Ma Lou area. They search for and reveal these fonts, hoping to draw peoples attention to the often-ignored aesthetics in urban typefaces, and the sheer variety of fonts present in the city. It will be shown on April 23 at the cinema house. According to organizers, the program celebrates the evolution of local filmmaking in Macau which, since the handover, has been accelerated by government initiatives. Before Macaus handover in 1999, a group of Macau people passionate about films together with overseas graduates coming back to the city zealously made their own independent films without considering [] the market, reads a statement published in the programs brochure. This was the beginning of Macau films. The brochure adds that many young and talented filmmakers have been successfully cultivated over the past two decades, partly due to government support for the local industry. Cinematheque Passion launched the inauguration ceremony for the revamped cinema house on March 30. The facility, which is owned and financed by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, is operated by CUT Ltd. Parties interested in Panorama: Macau Films can visit Cinematheque Passion for more information. The British government is to allow the island colony of Singapore to govern itself under a new constitution agreed in London. The Singapore Constitutional Conference ended today after four weeks of talks when Chief Minister of Singapore Lim Yew Hock and Alan Lennox-Boyd, secretary of state for the Colonies, signed an agreement. The constitution comes into effect some time after 1 January 1958 when the colony will become known as the State of Singapore. Britain will remain in charge of external affairs and defence. There was, however, one major pre-condition that the Singapore delegation would not agree to that persons known to have been engaged in subversive activity would be barred from standing for the Legislative Assembly. This demand is aimed at excluding extremist left-wing activists in the Peoples Action Party (PAP), some of whom have been detained for inciting anti-British riots last year. At the signing ceremony at Lancaster House, Mr Lim rejected this demand as a departure from normal democratic practice but agreed to put it before the Legislative Assembly. Under self-government, the office of Governor will be abolished and replaced with a Malayan-born representative of the Queen known as the Yang di-Pertuan Negara. An internal security council preventing subversion is to be set up under the chairmanship of the UK Commissioner charged with safeguarding British affairs in the territory. Last April, David Marshall, first Chief Minister of Singapore, led a delegation to London to ask for internal self-government with the aim of achieving independence or merdeka in Malay. The talks failed, and as a result Mr Marshall resigned as Chief Minister last June. He was succeeded by Lim Yew Hock. Courtesy BBC News In context A few days later former Chief Minister David Marshall resigned from the governing Labour Front in protest at the agreement which he felt did not go far enough. He called it a pock-marked beauty shrouded in chloroform. The Constitutional Agreement was finally signed in London on 28 May 1958 and self-government achieved after Singapore held general elections in 1959. The first government of the State of Singapore was sworn in on 5 June with Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister. It joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 and became totally independent in 1965, nearly 20 years after it was made a British crown colony. The Peoples Action Party (PAP) has been the dominant political force since independence. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations were gathering in Italy yesterday for a meeting given urgency by the chemical attack in Syria and the U.S. military response, with participants aiming to pressure Russia to end its support for President Bashar Assad and help mount a new push for peace. Last weeks nerve gas attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, which killed more than 80 people, stirred President Donald Trump to strike for the first time at Assads forces. U.S. warships fired 59 cruise missiles at the Syrian air base from which the U.S. believes the attack was launched. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said yesterday at the site of a World War II-era Nazi massacre in central Italy that the United States is rededicating itself to hold to account any and all who commit crimes against innocent people. With the group of wealthy nations working to see if it can strike a common front on Syria, Tillerson accompanied Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano to SantaAnna di Stazzema, where 560 civilians, including some 130 children, were killed in 1944. Alfano said the site of past Nazi atrocities was a reminder that peace is not a given. [] That is why we are here to work all together for peace and liberty. The meeting in the Tuscan walled city of Lucca brings together the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Britain, Japan and Canada as well as the U.S. and current G-7 president Italy. Ahead of the full meeting, Tillerson held bilateral talks with G-7 counterparts who included Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Britain is keen for the ministers meeting to produce a tough statement and perhaps a threat of new sanctions if Moscow does not end its military support for Assad. Over the weekend, Alfano said that Europes broad support for the U.S. military strikes had contributed to a renewed harmony between the United States and its partners as the G-7 foreign ministers prepared to meet for the first time since Donald Trump took office in January. We need to remember that not 10 years ago, but 100 or 120 days ago, the concern in Europe was that the United States and the EU were moving apart, Alfano told Sky TG24 Sunday. I welcome this renewed harmony. Officials are hoping the moment of unity can be leveraged to bring a new diplomatic push to end the six-year-old civil war in Syria. After meeting Tillerson, Japans Kishida said Japan supports the U.S. commitment in trying to take responsibility to prevent spread and use of chemical weapons and we confirmed Japan and the U.S. will continue to work together [in that effort]. The chemical attack has sent a new chill through relations between the West and Moscow, which denies Syrian forces used chemical weapons. Russia plans to put forward a proposal for an independent and impartial investigation of the attack, a spokesman for German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in Berlin. The spokesman, Martin Schaefer, said Germany viewed it as a good and important sign. Russia was kicked out of the club of industrialized nations, formerly the G-8, after its 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea region and assistance for pro- Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Britains Johnson, who had been due to visit Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow ahead of yesterdays G-7 meeting, canceled the trip at the last minute, saying the chemical attack had changed the situation fundamentally. He said that instead he would work with the United States and other G-7 nations to build coordinated international support for a cease-fire on the ground and an intensified political process. MDT/AP Four suspected rebels were killed in fighting with the Indian army in Kashmir, as businesses and schools shut in the disputed region yesterday in response to a separatists call to protest the killing of eight civilians by government forces during a weekend by-election, officials said. Army spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia said a gunbattle erupted Sunday night after the four militants crossed from Pakistani side of the Himalayan territory into the Indian-held portion of Kashmir in Keran sector. There was no independent confirmation of the incident. Meanwhile, a strike called by separatists who challenge Indias sovereignty over Kashmir paralyzed life in the Kashmir Valley yesterday. Widespread protests and clashes on Sunday marred a by-election for a vacant seat in Indias Parliament as thousands of people attacked polling stations. Government forces fired on rock-throwing protesters, killing eight people and wounding at least 100. Officials said about 100 police and paramilitary soldiers were also injured in the clashes. Only about 7 percent of the areas nearly 1.3 million voters cast ballots on Sunday, the lowest turnout in elections held by India in the region over the past five decades, said chief electoral officer Shantmanu, who uses only one name. A second by-election is scheduled for tomorrow in Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam districts. Anti-India separatists consider elections in Kashmir to be illegitimate, saying that India militarily occupies the region. India has long viewed polling as an endorsement of its control over a portion of Kashmir. Rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety. Since 1989, rebel groups have been fighting for independence from India or its merger with Pakistan. About 70,000 people have been killed in the rebel uprising and a subsequent Indian military crackdown. Rebel groups have largely been suppressed by Indian forces in recent years. However, public opposition to Indian rule remains deep and is now principally expressed through street protests marked by youths hurling stones at government forces.Aijaz Hussain, Srinagar, MDT/AP Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Norways prime minister yesterday as the two countries sought to move beyond a six-year rift following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to an imprisoned Chinese dissident. Meeting in Beijing, Xi commended Prime Minister Erna Solberg for her hard work in helping normalize ties between the countries. It was the first visit from a Norwegian prime minister to China in 10 years. Your visit this time holds a lot of significance, Xi said. This is the first high-level visit since the normalization of China-Norway relations in December. China suspended its bilateral trade deal with Norway and restricted imports of Norwegian salmon when the peace prize was awarded to Liu Xiaobo in 2010. Liu was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted of subversion in 2009 for writing and disseminating Charter 08, a document calling for democracy. Although the peace prize is awarded in Norways capital, Oslo, the Norwegian government has no say over the Nobel panels decisions. Despite that, Chinese officials demanded that Norway recognize the error of awarding the prize to Liu, which China deemed as interference in its internal affairs. Relations resumed after Chinas foreign ministry said Norway made explicit statements in support of Chinas sovereignty. Xi noted yesterday that Norway was one of the first Western countries to recognize the Peoples Republic of China upon its founding in in 1949. He recalled visiting Norway on an official trip 38 years ago as a secretary to former Vice Premier Geng Biao and said the trip had left a deep impression on him. Solberg said she appreciated the Chinese governments hospitality during a visit that began Friday. She added that Norways King Harald V was planning a state visit to China next year after receiving an invitation from Xi. AP Pakistans military sentenced an Indian naval officer to death yesterday on charges of espionage and sabotage, officials said. Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, had been convicted by a military tribunal, the Pakistani army said in a statement. Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, the head of Pakistans armed forces, signed off on the sentence. Pakistans Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif alleged that the spy had official Indian government backing. Anyone who patronizes our killers will be met with iron hands, he told the local Geo TV channel. We have no mercy for them. Islamabad alleges that Jadhav was an Indian intelligence official who aided and financed terrorist activities in the southwestern province of Baluchistan and the southern port city of Karachi. Pakistans army released a video shortly after Jadhavs arrest in which he confessed to having spent years sowing unrest in Pakistan. It was not clear if he was speaking under duress. I have been directing activities on behalf of the RAW [Research and Analysis Wing], he said in the confessional video. RAW is Indias premier intelligence agency. Jadhav said he started working with RAW in 2013 after more than a decade in the Indian Navy. Indias foreign office summoned Pakistani High Commissioner to Delhi, Abdul Basit, to register a formal complaint. The External Affairs Ministry issued a statement dismissing Jadhavs trial as a farce and saying Pakistan had ignored 13 separate requests in the past year to be permitted to offer him consular services. Asif Shahzad, Islamabad, AP The Philippines appears to be softening its tone toward the U.S. before holding talks with Beijing on the South China Sea. President Rodrigo Duterte let the insults fly last year, telling former leader Barack Obama to go to hell for opposing his drugs war and announcing a separation from the U.S. during a trip to Beijing. He also sought to buy more military equipment from Russia. Now Dutertes government wants the U.S. to actively promote security and cooperation in the South China Sea, according to acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. He downplayed any friction between the longstanding military allies. Our relationship with the U.S. is strong and vibrant, Manalo, who was appointed last month, said Friday in an interview in his Manila office. The key is not letting these rough patches affect the core of the relationship. The friendlier posture toward the U.S. comes as tensions rise with China after an official said it would install monitoring stations on the disputed Scarborough Shoal, about 250 kilometers off the Philippines coastline. While the Philippines accepted Chinas offer to host bilateral talks next month over disputes in the sea, mixed messages continue to flow from Manila. China has been causing some problems, doing things in and around the South China Sea, even in the Philippines exclusive economic zone, that go against what Duterte may have wanted, said Malcolm Cook, senior fellow at the Institute for South East Asian Studies in Singapore. And Manalo, as a longstanding career diplomat, may reflect the government view which is different from the Duterte view, that the U.S. is the Philippines most important economic partner and security partner. Duterte said last week that the Philippines should occupy and inhabit disputed land features in the South China Sea to assert ownership. While the comments were quickly walked back by his spokesman Ernesto Abella, they mark a stark contrast from when Duterte reaped USD24 billion worth of investment deals on his Beijing trip last year. We must build bunkers there or houses and make provisions for habitation, he told reporters in Palawan province. Duterte even threatened to go to a disputed island himself and raise the Philippine flag. Manalo, a career diplomat who was appointed after his predecessor was removed, said a meeting between Duterte and U.S. President Donald Trump later this year was being worked out. Manalo said he expected to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson next month. We have a long relationship with the U.S. and we look forward to building on that, Manalo said. With China, we are building bridges to improve our relationship. Manalo said that no specific date had been set for the May bilateral talks with China to discuss issues of concern in the South China Sea. The talks werent the only forum for discussions with Chinese officials, he said, citing recent meetings between economic policy makers as well as the Coast Guards. Manalo said last years international court ruling rejecting Chinas claims to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea would be at the back of Philippine officials minds during the negotiations. As far as we are concerned, the ruling is already part of law, Manalo said. Still, Dutertes administration is still seeking to balance ties between China, one of its largest trading partners, and the U.S., which has been the Philippines closest ally since independence in 1946. We would like to see the U.S. and China in the region undertake a role here where they promote stability and also promote cooperation, said Manalo. Thats the positive role we would like to see, not only us but all the countries in the region. MDT/Bloomberg Investors confused The uncertainty generated by Dutertes sudden shifts in foreign policy priorities could raise questions among investors, wrote Capital Economics senior economist Gareth Leather in an email to Bloomberg on Friday. He added that Dutertes earlier moves to devolve economic policy to his respected finance team had been encouraging. The presidents increasingly erratic and crass style is a major concern, and the risks to our medium-run GDP growth forecast of around 6.5 percent lie firmly to the downside, Leather said. Unlike other countries in Asia such as Vietnam, Korea and Taiwan, the Philippines has had little success integrating its economy with China and exports about 50 percent more to the U.S., according to Leather. That means closer ties with China were unlikely to yield greater economic benefits at the risk of undermining a much more important bilateral relationship, he said. Philippine appellate court affirms conviction of US Marine A Philippines appeals court yesterday affirmed a regional trial courts conviction of a U.S. Marine and his sentence of up to 10 years in jail for killing a transgender Filipino, whose heirs he was also ordered to compensate. The Court of Appeals decision seen yesterday did not accept Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pembertons claim of self-defense in killing Jennifer Laude inside a motel room in northwestern Olongapo city after they met in a disco bar in October 2014. The killing sparked anger in the Philippines and reignited calls by left- wing groups and nationalists for an end to U.S. military presence in the country. Pemberton had claimed Laude molested him in the motel room by pretending to be a woman and he had to defend his dignity, but that he had no intention to kill her. He said Laude slapped him when he confronted her for pretending to be a woman. But the decision penned by Associate Justice Marlene Gonzales-Sison said physical evidence contradicts Pembertons claim. As proven by the prosecution, Pemberton did not leave Laude merely unconscious, but ensured his death by submerging his head inside the toilet bowl, it said. Clearly, Pemberton intended the natural consequence of his wrongful act. The court also upheld, with slight modification, the order for Pemberton to pay Laudes heirs more than USD90,000 for loss of Laudes income, civil indemnity, moral damages and actual damages. Rep. Harry Roque, who served as the Laude familys private lawyer, welcomed the courts decision, saying that the fact that a member of the U.S. Marines was found guilty for breach of our criminal laws for the very first time is an affirmation of Philippine sovereignty. Pemberton, an anti-tank missile operator from New Bedford, Massachusetts, was one of thousands of American and Philippine military personnel who participated in joint exercises in the country in 2014. He and a group of other Marines were on leave after the exercises and met Laude and her friends at a bar in Olongapo, a city known for its nightlife outside Subic Bay, a former U.S. Navy base. At least two witnesses testified that Laude was a sex worker. Pemberton has been detained at a compound guarded by Philippine and American security personnel, at the main military camp in metropolitan Manila. AP The U.N. refugee agency yesterday took the rare step of urging European Union members to suspend returns of asylum-seekers to their partner, Hungary, faulting its new policy of systematically placing migrants in containers and expelling any migrants not holding the proper papers. UNHCR says that since a tough new law took effect on March 28, Hungarys government has detained 110 people including children in shipping containers surrounded by high razor fences at the border while their asylum cases are reviewed. Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the situation for asylum-seekers in Hungary was already a concern before the measures, and has only gotten worse since the new law introducing mandatory detention for asylum-seekers came into effect. The move is bound to put a new spotlight on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government, which has faced scorn from U.N. agencies and advocacy groups over its tough policies on migrants even if its populist message has resonated in the country and elsewhere in the West. A complex European Union rule known as the Dublin Regulation holds that any asylum-seekers should have their cases processed in the first country of the bloc that they enter, and should be returned there if necessary. Grandi urged EU countries to suspend transfer of asylum-seekers to Hungary, until the Hungarian authorities bring their practices and policies in line with European and international law, according to a statement from his office. UNHCR Spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said the call for such suspensions within the EU is rare, and such an appeal was last made in 2012, also with regard to Hungary. Others in the past involved Bulgaria and Greece, in different instances. Hungarys emergency measures under the revised law also violate the countrys obligations under international law, by leading to expulsions of anyone who enters irregularly, the Geneva-based U.N. agency said. The new rules call for all asylum-seekers over age 14 to be placed in one of two container camps on Hungarys border with Serbia until their asylum claims are decided. The Budapest government says they are free to leave the camps and return to Serbia at any time. Orbans government was previously criticized for erecting border fences in 2015 to try to block entries of people among the migrants and refugees who flooded into Europe, until an EU-Turkey accord helped stanch the huge inflows. Jamey Keaten, Geneva, AP The flood of angry anti-Muslim rhetoric on social media was the first sign of how fiercely the suburban middle-class homeowners in this central China city opposed a planned mosque in their neighborhood. It quickly escalated into something more sinister. Soon a pigs head was buried in the ground at the future Nangang mosque, the culmination of a rally in which dozens of residents hoisted banners and circled the planned building site. Then the mosques imam received a text message carrying a death threat: In case someone in your family dies, I have a coffin for you and more than one, if necessary. How did things get stirred up to this point? the imam, Tao Yingsheng, said in a recent interview. Who had even heard of the Nangang mosque before? On the dusty plains of the Chinese heartland, a bitter fight over a mosque exemplifies how a surge in anti-Muslim sentiment online is spreading into communities across China, exacerbating simmering ethnic and religious tensions that have in the past erupted in bloodshed. Its also posing a dilemma for the ruling Communist Party, which has allowed Islamophobia to fester online for years as part of its campaign to justify security crackdowns in its restive region of Xinjiang. Its let the genie out of the bottle, said James Leibold, a professor at La Trobe University in Australia who has tracked the growth of anti-Muslim hate speech on Chinas internet. Interviews with residents and an examination of social media show how a few disparate online complaints by local homeowners evolved into a concerted campaign to spread hate. Key to it was an unexpected yet influential backer: a Chinese propaganda official, 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) away in Xinjiang, whose inflammatory social media posts helped draw people into the streets on New Years Day, resulting in a police crackdown. A stone inscription outside its gate shows the original Nangang mosque was established in the 1780s by members of the Hui minority, the descendants of Silk Road traders who settled across China centuries ago. In its present form, the mosque has served the areas 4,500 Hui for decades, its domed silhouette partially hidden by overgrown shrubs in the countryside beyond Hefeis last paved boulevards. Over the past 10 years urbanization has come to Hefei, with sprawling development reconfiguring the landscape and its demographic flavor, and Hui leaders had been pushing for years to relocate their mosque to a more convenient urban location. City planners in November finally selected a site adjacent to the newly built Hangkong New City condominiums, with its $200,000 two-bedroom units, faux-Mediterranean stylings and a Volvo dealership across the street. The projects homeowners overwhelmingly members of Chinas ethnic Han majority began complaining on Chinas popular microblog, Weibo. Some complained the mosque would occupy space promised for a park. Others warned that safety in the area would be compromised. Others were more blunt: Han residents were uncomfortable that a center for Hui community life would be less than 100 meters from their building, a homeowner who later identified himself in messages to the AP by his surname, Cheng, wrote in a petition posted in December. And the less said about what happens on Eid al-Adha, the better, Cheng wrote, referring to the Islamic holiday in which animals are slaughtered for a sacrificial feast. Its absolutely shocking. The story soon caught the attention of Cui Zijian, a boyish- looking propaganda official in Xinjiang who writes about the threat of religious extremism on his Weibo account with nearly 30,000 followers. On Dec. 16, Cui suggested homeowners lobby local officials to block the construction, adding: If that doesnt work, then how about pig head, pig blood. Cui followed that a few hours later with another post repeating the four Chinese characters for pig blood and pig head over and over, attracting hundreds of reposts. While Cui was criticized by some on Weibo, a larger number including at least one other government propaganda official took his post as their cue to hurl abuse at the Hui. The mosque dispute was just the latest flashpoint for an increasingly active anti-Muslim social media movement in China. A video of a Hui girl reciting the Quran in Arabic sparked outrage last May over so-called terrorist infiltration of Chinese schools, prompting officials to announce a strict ban on religion on campuses. Online activists derailed a Hui officials effort to regulate the halal food industry, arguing that religion was creeping into the officially atheistic Chinese state. Han Chinese, who make up 95 percent of the population, have long grumbled about the dozens of Chinas officially recognized minority groups receiving advantages on the hyper-competitive college entrance exams or exemptions from family-size limits, but online abuse has increasingly targeted Muslims. The rise in Islamophobia comes as Chinese have been buffeted by news of militant attacks in Europe, while at home, violence in Xinjiang and elsewhere has been blamed on Muslim separatists. Beijing has responded to the bloody, years-long insurgency from Muslim Uighur minorities in Xinjiang with further restrictions on Islamic expression, a move rights groups warn could potentially radicalize moderate Muslims. Such policies have also drawn vows of retaliation from the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. Ethnic hostility can only deepen, scholars say, when the government stops discussion of the plight of Muslims or ethnic policies while allowing anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate speech to go unchecked. Political observers say the recent rise of a faction within the Communist Party advocating for a hard-line approach on religious affairs has coincided with the rise of government- linked commentators who openly warn about the danger of Islam. Interest groups have actively promoted Islamophobia in interior regions in order to create a nationwide environment that justifies Xinjiangs anti-terrorism campaign, said Ma Haiyun, a history professor specializing in Chinas Muslims at Frostburg State University in Maryland. Theres an Islamophobic movement that aims at creating chaos and even conflicts at the local level. MDT/AP SYRIA U.S. Senator John McCain has accused Russia of having cooperated with Syria in a chemical weapons attack that has killed more than 80 people, including more than a dozen children. The Republican senator said yesterday at a press conference in Belgrade that he believes the Russians knew about chemical weapons because they were operating exactly from the same base. CAMBODIA Police are seeking to arrest a woman who was seen on a video clip on Facebook showing her throwing a shoe at a billboard of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party. The government has been aggressively prosecuting critics and political opponents ahead of nationwide local elections this June, and a general election next year. PHILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte wants the U.S. to actively promote security and cooperation in the South China Sea, according to acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, who downplayed the friction between the longstanding military allies. INDIA Four suspected rebels were killed in fighting with the Indian army in Kashmir, as businesses and schools shut in the disputed region yesterday in response to a separatists call to protest the killing of eight civilians by government forces during a weekend by-election, officials said. GEORGIAs breakaway province of South Ossetia has elected a new president. Russian news agencies yesterday quoted local election chief Bella Pliyeva as saying that Anatoly Bibilov, speaker of the local legislature, won nearly 58 percent of the vote while the incumbent got 30 percent. GERMANY Police say theyve found what they believe to be 384 kilograms of cocaine in cases of bananas shipped from Ecuador. The cases were shipped to Hamburg and then taken by truck to Leverkusen. SPAIN-FRANCE Spain is asking French authorities to share information on the weapons surrendered by Basque separatist group ETA over the weekend. A Spanish judge wants to use the information to clarify hundreds of unresolved crimes. BRAZIL Seven inmates have died in a penitentiary in a northern Brazilian state where riots left dozens of prisoners dead earlier this year, according to authorities. The circumstances surrounding all of the deaths are under investigation. One of those killed had been decapitated; another appeared to have been asphyxiated. SPACE Three astronauts from the International Space Station have successfully landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan two from Russia and one from the United States. This is outdoors news for science geeks: A tiny, endangered gastropod present only in Idaho has been officially described as a new genus and species. Its now the Idaholanx fresti, discovered in 1988 by Terry Frest and thought to be an undescribed species in the genus Lanx. Its pyramid-shaped shell is red-cinnamon in color and ranges from .09 to .28 inch long. Commonly called the Banbury Springs lanx or Banbury Springs limpet and federally designated as endangered in 1992, it needs cold, clear, well-oxygenated water with swift currents. Its colonies, found on underwater boulders and cobbles, exist only in four spring complexes that flow into the Thousand Springs portion of the Snake River. (I wont name the springs here, but theyre listed in the scientific papers.) Last month, this tiny creature got its scientific name. In late March, David C. Campbell of Gardner-Webb University, Stephanie A. Clark of The Field Museum and Charles Lydeard of Morehead State University published research describing the endangered Banbury Springs lanx as a distinct genus and species based on molecular and anatomical data. What threatens the Idaholanx fresti? Habitat modification, spring-flow reduction, groundwater quality and the invasive New Zealand mudsnail, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says. More Auger Falls climbing Remember my March story about Moss Rock? The house-sized basalt boulder became a beginner-friendly rock climbing destination this spring when Shawn Willsey developed the first fixed climbing routes in Auger Falls Heritage Park. And now Willsey has finished three bolted lead climbs on another large boulder at Auger Falls. This one, about a quarter-mile west of Moss Rock, is dubbed MegaBlock and meant for climbers learning to lead sport routes. Willsey rated his Ride the Wave route as 5.7, Ahoy Pahoehoe as 5.9 and Scour Power as 5.8 but invited feedback from other climbers in the Southern Idaho Climbing Coalition. I have no illusions that these are classic routes by any stretch; however, they are fun for what its worth and provide more climbing opportunities for those learning the sport and/or those with children, Willsey wrote. For photos and GPS coordinates, see his post in the (SICC) Southern Idaho Climbing Coalition Facebook group. Im just guessing, but Id say a couple of those route names are references to the Bonneville Flood, which deposited those big boulders near Auger Falls thousands of years ago. RUPERT The Minidoka Soil and Water Conservation District honored two people at a banquet for Cassia and Minidoka counties March 9. Past chairman and supervisor John Firth was honored with a commemorative, engraved rifle. Firth was elected as board supervisor in 2009 and he has served as chairman since 2013. John has led our district through some difficult times, said present chairman Brian Kossman. Sometimes leadership is just getting the right people together. The Minidoka SWCD now has five active supervisors plus an associate board member. The Conservation Steward of the Year Award for 2016 was presented to Luke Adams, who has been instrumental in promoting cover crops and the benefits to soil health. He has participated in panel discussions at workshops and sponsored his own cover crop tours for area growers. The time cycle is so long in the learning of lessons in agriculture that we need people to help consolidate those learned lessons and spread the stories, Adams said. TWIN FALLS With a low unemployment rate and plenty of job opportunities out there, some say its a job seekers market in the Magic Valley. But although some employers are scrambling to fill jobs, that doesnt mean theyll take just any applicant. Theyre still looking to get the top dog they can get, said Robyn Ross, recruiting specialist for Barret Business Services Inc. Ross represented one of 30 employers at the Times-News career and job expo April 5. Businesses sought to fill hundreds of job positions, but were evaluating applicants with a keen eye. The Times-News asked several of them to share a few dos and donts for current or future job seekers. Q: How can a job seeker best prepare for an interview? Do your research, several recruiters said. You would be surprised how many people come into an interview and dont read the job description, said Nancy Bernal-Villegas, human resources generalist for Fabri-Kal in Burley. Not only is it important to understand the job responsibilities, but applicants should also know a little bit about the company. New York Life Insurance Co. partner Jerry Schwertfeger suggests looking at a companys social media pages. Odds are, the employer is probably looking you up, too. Other than that? Come prepared with questions, ask them, be honest and be yourself, said Katy Touchette, who works for the city of Twin Falls human resources department. And, know what it is you want to do and are looking for, Ross said. Q: When getting a first impression of a potential employee, whats your biggest turnoff? A bad attitude and bad personal hygiene are two major turn-offs at Transystems in Twin Falls. Division Supervisor for Recruiting and Training Jason Strunk is already looking to fill 300 driver positions for the next season. Because drivers have to share a cab, he said, personal hygiene is especially important. And an applicant who swears a lot right off the bat is giving the wrong impression for the company. Mike Martin, recruiter for Gary Amoth Trucking, said many applicants have the misconception that truck driving is not a professional career. The No. 1 turnoff is not presenting themselves in a professional manner, he said. Showing a lack of commitment to an interview bringing your children along or canceling without notice are also big no-nos, employers said. And a job-seeker should be able to show why he or she wants the job with that particular company. Bernal-Villegas recalled one interview in which she asked a candidate why he or she wanted the job. The person said he or she needed to make enough money to move to Boise. That answer showed a lack of commitment, she said, and the interview ended right there. Q: Whats the hardest quality to find in an applicant with your company? At Fabri-Kal, Bernal-Villegas said its difficult at times to find someone who is looking for more than just a paycheck. So before you show up to an interview, consider what you can offer the company, and not just vice versa. Strunk agrees that sometimes, an applicant is just wanting to work until they find greener grass. But there is no such thing as a perfect job, he said. They say its hard to find good people with longevity who want to stay, Ross said. For Schwertfeger, the hardest quality to find in an applicant is a desire to work through the good and the bad. If theyre even keel, theyre going to be successful, he said. Maturity, Touchette said, is also a key attribute. The city wants applicants who are willing to put forth the effort and do a good job from the very beginning people who really want to work. Q: Whats the worst mistake people make on their cover letters and resumes? Its good to cast a wide net in case you get rejected or a position is already filled. But heed this advice: Make sure your application materials are updated and not generic. Some people turn in letters of recommendation that are like a decade old, Touchette said. Think an employer might not notice? Even more embarrassing is when you include the wrong companys name on the cover letter. Besides paying attention to these details, job applicants should also double-check resumes and cover letters to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes. Organization can also help. While some employers want only one page for a resume, Schwertfeger said its key to list your experience first dont go on and on about things that arent important, either. An employee is only going to look at a resume, on average, for 45 seconds to a minute, he said. But if you want to include some personal information, it can help you out, Ross said. Q: What if an applicant is looking at multiple offers? If youre lucky enough to have multiple job offers, you have the option of choosing whats best for you. But dont keep an employer waiting long, Ross said. Most employers dont want to wait for an answer any longer than one week. Q: What advice do you have for those who are rejected? Turn the failure into an opportunity, Ross said. Businesses should be willing to tell you why you didnt get the job and what you could do to improve your chances on your next application. See more photos: Find more photos from the April 5 career and job expo at magicvalley.com. JACKPOT A fugitive who escaped capture last month after leading police on a pursuit from Twin Falls to Hollister was arrested Tuesday morning at a casino restaurant in Jackpot, police said. Romeo Rolando Trevino, 34, of Twin Falls was a fugitive of the Idaho Department of Correction after absconding from parole a year ago. He was also wanted by Twin Falls police after fleeing March 25 to Hollister, where he ditched his car and escaped on foot. Mr. Trevino was arrested this morning while eating in a restaurant at a casino in Jackpot, the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. We appreciate the Good Samaritan who provided the anonymous tip that came into our office allowing us to locate, apprehend, and see that Mr. Trevino is taken back to the Idaho Department of Correction. A shout out to Elko County Sheriffs Office in apprehending Mr. Trevino. Trevino went to prison after convictions on grand theft and drug charges. After his release, he absconded from IDOC parole March 8, 2016, an IDOC spokesman said. A year later, on the last Saturday last month, Twin Falls officers were dispatched to the report of a suspicious vehicle and recognized Trevino, police said in a statement. The officers chased him outside of city limits where Filer Police and Twin Falls County sheriffs deputies joined the pursuit. Trevino abandoned his vehicle in the Hollister area and fled on foot, police said. He was able to avoid detection despite a search that included police canine units, and police warned he could possibly be armed. There were a number of cautions attached to the warrant sent from IDOC, Twin Falls Police Lt. Terry Thueson said at the time. TWIN FALLS Brandy McLaughlin has been sober for five years, but as a former addict, she knows what its like to be a slave to drugs. When an armed robber pointed a gun at her last May in a Twin Falls gas station, she could tell he was using, but there was no telling what he might do. The only thing I could think about was my kids, McLaughlin said Friday during an interview with the Times-News. I myself am a recovering drug addict. I got five years clean. And Im thinking to myself, this guy is totally under the influence. It really scared me; it really did. McLaughlin didnt know at the time who the man was pointing the black pistol at her later she learned he was Cody William James Meade but she knew his threats were not to be taken lightly. Youve got about five seconds before I start blasting, Meade warned early in the robbery. Later, he threatened, If I have to come around there, Im gonna put a hole in you. On several occasions, he also told her she had five seconds to act, then he began counting. And at one point, Meade asked her threateningly if shed testify against him in court. Meade, 26, was sentenced last Tuesday to life in prison for the robbery and a slew of other felonies stemming from his dangerous and destructive stay in the Twin Falls County Jail. Hell be eligible for parole after 20 years. After Tuesdays four-hour long sentencing, McLaughlin, 40, said she went home and slept deeply for the first time since the May 26 robbery. It was a big weight lifted woof right off, McLaughlin said. And I didnt have a nightmare that night. I woke up the next morning, I was like, I didnt have a nightmare, whats wrong with me? It was the first night since the robbery more than 10 restless months that she didnt experience night terrors. I didnt have one last night either, McLaughlin said Friday, three days after the sentencing. I was pretty shocked. Meades arrest McLaughlin was instrumental in helping police identify and track down Meade days after the robbery, and it was thanks in large part to her former drug habit. At a recovery meeting, a woman approached her and told her Meade was bragging about pulling off the heist. And thats the thing Cody Meade does not realize, McLaughlin said. I know a lot of people in this town I was a drug addict in this town. She told Twin Falls Police officer Clint Doerr that Cody Meade was the name shed been given. Police put together a photo lineup and McLaughlin, even looking at a picture of Meade without the face tattoo he had at the time, was able to point him out. I put a hoodie on him, in my mind, and a tattoo right here, and I was like, thats him! she remembers. Police went looking for Meade at local motels. When they tracked him to the Old Towne Lodge on Second Avenue East, court documents said, he fled into the alley between Second Avenue West and Main Avenue West, where police eventually found him hiding in a Dumpster. But that was just the beginning of Meades problems. He wreaked havoc in the county jail, racking up nearly 20 more felonies for spitting on deputies, destroying jail property and holding another inmate hostage after escaping from his cell. The problems he caused were astronomical, Twin Falls County Sheriff Tom Carter said last week. Ive never seen or heard of anyone who could cause that many problems Im certainly glad hes on his way out. Post-traumatic stress disorder McLaughlins suffering has endured far beyond the robbery, which lasted about three minutes. She went back to work, alone, just two nights after the robbery, but has since secured a new convenience-store job where she always works with at least one other employee. Still to this day I have issues with backpacks and hoodies, she said. Or if I see a gun. Ive never been scared of guns until now, ever. She has a service dog who helps alert her to anxiety attacks because now I have PTSD, she said and she calls her sponsor to talk things through when she feels anxious. But overall, she feels good about the future, especially since Meade was sent to prison. Her boyfriend proposed the day before the hearing, and she no longer fears the Meade family. Meades brother, allegedly a member of a white supremacist prison gang, is also in prison for shooting at a sheriffs deputy. For a while I was afraid he was going to have his family or friends, you know, or the Aryan Brotherhood or whatever they call it, she said, without needing to articulate what they might do. Im not worried about it. I dont fear for my life. Its a life that, moving forward, she hopes to enjoy with her new fiance and her children, with fewer nightmares, without drugs and definitely without Meade. The other thought in my mind was, Ive come too far to die like this; way too far, McLaughlin said of her thoughts during the robbery and of life after the sentencing. Ive come too far. Ive accomplished too many thing to just let somebody shoot me. Im glad the nightmares are over. Well, Im probably going to still have them. But I can just move on now. And I pray to God I never have to see him again. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Ive been concerned for several months some people I once called friends have descended into madness. Thirty years later and the Hayden Lake goose-stepping crowd is being revived in Twin Falls. Im a right-wing Republican. Most Republicans are comfortably described as right-of-center. Were concerned not so much about high taxes but want accountability with our tax money. We want our kids to have the same opportunities we had or even better. We want safe streets. The latter plays a role in demands many of us make for better screening of refugees coming to America and sometimes the Magic Valley. There are many reasonable people who share the same view and some are even Democrats. Most certainly arent bigots. These arent people demanding we bar all immigration forever, and they arent demanding we trundle off current refugees and then stuff them in the holds of slow boats for voyages home. Most of us just want to ensure the people who come here want to be good Americans and to weed those who would cause us harm. This isnt unreasonable. Its also not unreasonable to point out our country is sputtering economically and has been for decades. America first, isnt synonymous with hate. Its about love of country and family and traditions we hold in our hearts. Many of us have made common cause with an amalgamation of groups opposed to opening the nations doors to potential terrorists. Frankly, some of those allies are having a break with reality. Ive been shocked to learn there are some people walking armed through local neighborhoods housing a preponderance of resettled refugees. Are the armed locals spoiling for violence? Ive been told 10 out of every 100 refugees arent fans of the American way of life. Even if its just 1 of every 100 we clearly dont want the worst here, but Im concerned about the 90 to 99 who are trying to navigate a strange new land. Ive moved a lot in life. Since 1970 the longest Ive ever lived under one roof was five years. The nature of my work has had me going from city to city and state to state. When you arrive in a new place, youre often homesick, easily get lost with an unfamiliar street grid and you arent sure how youll be received by neighbors. If youve come from a war-torn nation and you see the armed Aryan Nations strutting outside your windows, what are you supposed to think? I dont care to be associated with extremists. Early last month I received a news release from something called Identity Idaho or Idaho Identity and had never before heard of the organization. I couldnt find anything on Google, but the search provided me with the closest approximations. The Christian Identity movement cropped up, and it struck me I hadnt given those folks much thought the past two decades. Most of the extremists from the 1980s and 1990s died in bungled armored car robbery attempts or went to the death house for the ashes of Oklahoma City. I cant say I had any sympathy for a man who killed little babies in a daycare center and called it collateral damage. Were dealing with a modern 21st century miasma. It reviles almost every elected office holder in the country. It threatens law enforcers as something akin to the Stasi. And now theyre threatening media personalities that wont carry the fouled water. Some talk radio hosts would prefer not to air behind-the-scenes laundry. Since Ive no desire to join Alan Berg in martyrdom, Im going public. Call it part of my self-defense plan. I get paid to voice opinions and am well aware words often have greater impact than a fist against a chin. I also dont take my work home. While I believe what I say on-air on a radio show is nothing more than a performance. The goal is to get people out of their seats or at least thinking about a subject being discussed. A dozen or so years ago I just had gotten off-air when I took a telephone call patched through from the outer office. A guy told me he was going to come over to the station and give me a sock in the nose. A buddy of mine had just dropped in to visit me at work. He was the chief of police of a neighboring department. Give me the phone, he said. The caller never again offered to re-arrange my face. Half-a-dozen years ago I received an anonymous letter at work and the writer made threats and told me they knew where I lived. When I was a young news reporter I had people take swings at me, grab me and sometimes tell me I wasnt safe where I was walking. Its just business and were all going to die at some point. The latest threat wasnt anonymous. It came from a former ally, although a tenuous one at best. I read it Saturday morning and then brewed my coffee. Then I shared it with half-a-dozen people I know in law enforcement and with my employer. Now Im telling you. We may not always agree. We may have different political philosophies. We may even belong to the same political party and often have disputes. Still, weve got some people in this valley who are far more than odious. They arent fighting for what they believe to be liberty. I can make a case Cliven Bundy and his clan devoutly believe in their actions, and they dont threaten people with different political beliefs. They want to be left alone. However, were also dealing with a group of thugs who, if they could, would purge this country from sea to sea of everyone who doesnt share their twisted notions. The rest of us need to take a stand. It starts here. It starts now. It starts in our own streets. Lawmaker Qassem Hashem is optimistic that an agreement for the much awaited electoral law that would lead to the parliamentary elections could be reached on Thursday because everyone now accepts the necessity to adopt proportionality. He is convinced that the position of House Speaker Nabih Berri and all the political components is to preserve stability and prevent void that would lead us to the unknown. A consensus is unlikely to be reached as Member of Parliament (MP) Fadi Karam from the Lebanese Forces is against reaching an agreement based on proportionality. He pointed out that it would be equal to sacrificing years of struggle to rectify parliamentary representation by yielding to Hezbollahs proportionality. Hezbollah wants a proportional representation system with a single or several large electorates. Similar concerns were echoed by MP Walid Jumblatt, leader of the Democratic Gathering bloc, who stated proportionality cancels the Christian-Islamic partnership from the 1943 Pact till Taef Accord and also marginalize the minority Druze community concentrated in Aley and Chouf areas. However, Economy and Trade Minister Raed Khoury admitted that all sides are determined to reach an agreement but stressed that the Free Patriotic Movement wants moderate solutions while ruling out the extension of parliaments mandate. All laws are on-the-table; what is left is to make decisions, Khoury stated. President Aoun tried to calm fears during a cabinet meeting on Monday as he assured that there will be no parliamentary vacuum and discussions will continue until a result is reached. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry summoned Irans Ambassador to protest against what government spokesman Mohammed Momani said was Tehrans interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, especially Gulf States. The ministry said Ambassador Mojtaba Ferdosipour was summoned to protest against comments made by Irans foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi in response to an interview of King Abdullah with Washington Post published last week. The King accused Tehran of engaging in strategic problems in the Middle East while alleging that Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops are within 70kilometers of Jordans border as he warned that non-state actors approaching the frontier are not going to be tolerated. He also claimed that Iran is pursuing an expansionist agenda because there is an attempt to forge a geographic link between Iran, Iraq, Syria and Hezbollah/Lebanon. Ghassemi dubbed the allegations as silly and careless as he claimed that King Abdullah needs time to study the logic, history and geography of the region following his fundamental and strategic mistake in defining terrorism which showcased his ignorance and superficial view of developments in the region. Spokesman Ghassemis comments were unacceptable by Amman prompting the summoning of the Ambassador to deliver a strongly worded protest in what it described as a failed attempt to misrepresent the central role the kingdom plays in supporting regional security and stability and fighting terrorism. The bilateral ties between the two countries have been affected by the crisis in the region. Jordan is a member of the U.S-led air campaign and an ally to Riyadh; both of which are at odds with Tehran. In 2016, the Iranian Ambassador in Jordan was summoned after protesters stormed Saudis embassy in Tehran after Riyadh executed prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. 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. The house of Hakainde Hichilema, the Zambian opposition leader whose party lost the August general election to Edgar Lungu, was attacked by security forces early on Tuesday morning in a bid to arrest him, local media reported. United Party for National Development, party of the perennial presidential candidate said on its Facebook account that police fired teargas and switched off the power as they surrounded his home in Lusaka, the capital. The police have not told us what they are looking for. They have blocked the access road to Hakaindes residence. They broke the doors and teargased the house, a spokesman for Hichilemas United Party Charles Kakoma told Reuters. We dont know where Hakainde and his family are. Attorney Jack Mwiibu told journalists that the police have denied entry to see Mr. Hichilema they trying to negotiate with them so that they can allow us entry into the residence. Hichilema, who ran unsuccessfully for president five times over a decade, has refused to recognize President Edgar Lungu as the leader of Africas second-biggest copper producer after a closely fought election in August. Hichilema challenged the poll outcome in the countrys Constitutional Court, which dismissed the case without hearing it. Ugandan prominent University lecturer and activist, Stella Nyanzi, was jailed to a maximum-security prison on Monday after being charged with insulting the East African nations president, Yoweri Museveni. Stella Nyanzi, a postdoctoral research fellow at Makerere University, was charged with cyber harassment and offensive communication. She pleaded not guilty to both counts and said President Yoweri Museveni is a dishonourable man who has offended the people of Uganda. Last month, Stella Nyanzi criticised First Lady Janet Museveni, who is also education minister, after the government backtracked on a campaign promise to supply free sanitary pads to schoolgirls struggling to afford hygiene products. We have a sanctioned file on two counts. One is cyber harassment, the other one is for offensive communication, a police official confirmed after her arrest. Arresting Nyanzi simply for criticizing the president and his wife serves no legitimate purpose, Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty Internationals regional director, said in a statement. She is expected back in court on April 25 after prosecutors requested for a mental examination. The State Attorney General said the request for mental examination was partly because Dr Nyanzi had a history of psychiatric disorder and had been a patient of a mental facility before. South Africas former president, Thabo Mbeki in a letter published by The Star newspaper on Monday, urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to vote based on the will of the people during an impending no-confidence motion tabled by opposition parties against incumbent Jacob Zuma. Mbeki says although it could be assumed that MPs must respect decisions of their parties, the Constitutional Court clarified their role. It is therefore obvious and logical that Members of Parliament (MPs), each elected to this position by the people as a whole, and never by individual political parties, including their own, must act in Parliament as the voice of the people, not the voice of the political parties to which they might belong, the letter read. The former statesman became the third ANC luminary to call on ANC MPs to consider the interests of South African voters over those of the party. According to Mbeki, the current crisis surrounding Zuma presented an opportunity for MPs to distinguish between the true obligations of MPs to their constituents. However, the ruling Africa National Congress (ANC) has reiterated its stand to vote against the motion tabled by the leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). The motion is set to be debated on April 18, 2017. United States government is planning to sell up to a dozen ground attack aircraft to Nigerias air force in a deal that could be worth up to $600 million, Reuters reported Monday. The deal according to Reuters will help the West African most populous nation in its fight against the Islamic-state affiliated group Boko Haram. The proposed sale of Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos has been in the works for more than a year with the previous administration led by Barack Obama. However Nigerian military forces civilian casualties during their operations have made the sale of the aircraft controversial among human rights groups. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say the Nigerian military has at times burned hundreds of homes and committed other abuses as it battled the terror group. Note that Trump and his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari discussed a weapons deal in a phone conversation recently. 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. As a reminder, the U.S involvement in the fight against this group began in 2014 when it sent some 80 military personnel to Nigeria after Boko Haram Kidnapped 276 schoolgirls. UN tourism head praises growing tourism in Georgia The United Nations World Tourism Organizations (UNWTO) Secretary-General is positively assessing the efforts made to develop Georgias tourism potential, accenting the growing number of tourists visiting the country.We see the phenomenal growth of tourism in Georgia. This growth is exceptional within the past two years. Last year 6.3 million international travellers visited Georgia, which is impressive, said UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rafai, who met the head of Georgian National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze .Rafai is one of the most prestigious guest of the third Euro-Asian Ski Resorts Conference on April 5-6 in Tbilisi.In 2015, Georgia earned the right to host two important conferences. One was the wine tourism conference held in 2016, while the other is the ski resorts conference. Both events promote Georgia and help the country establish itself on the world map as a cradle of wine and as a country deservedly famous for its mountain resorts, said Rafai.The UNWTO and representatives from Georgias private sector will sing the Code of Ethics in Tbilisi. The News in Brief Norwegian Defence Minister Concludes Georgia Visit Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide arrived on her first official visit to Tbilisi on April 3 and met her Georgian counterpart Levan Izoria and President Giorgi Margvelashvili. During the meeting, the two Defence Ministers spoke on security environment in the country, Georgia-NATO relations, Norwegian-Georgian defence cooperation and defence reforms in Georgia. Minister Levan Izoria invited his Norwegian counterpart to the Georgia Defence and Security Conference in the capacity of a keynote speaker. The sides also signed the 2017 Bilateral Cooperation Plan. Speaking at the joint press conference on the same day, the Norwegian Defence Minister underlined that Georgia is a highly-valued NATO partner and that the Alliance is looking into how it can enhance cooperation even further. We commend the steps that Georgia has been taking in order to both do reform and to be a very good and reliable partner, she said. Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide also reaffirmed Norways full support for Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity. She also touched upon the bilateral defense cooperation and stated that Norway would like to further develop longstanding relationship between the Norwegian Home Guard and the National Guard of Georgia. We have added one new item to our bilateral list this year that is advanced distance learning, the Norwegian official added. Soreide spoke on the possibility of Georgias involvement in NATOs new initiatives. One of the things that I have raised with Mr. Izoria is to make use of the experiences Georgia now has. We, in Nordic-Baltic context, are looking into ways of exporting JTEC (the Joint Training and Evaluation Center) to the other countries as well. And we would very much like to bring Georgia on board in doing that. I will raise this with my Nordic colleagues when we meet in May and try to find the formats where Georgia also can participate as an associated member of that group, the Minister said. Following the press conference on Monday, the Norwegian Defense Minister visited the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC). (civil.ge) Minister of Education: We will have e-books this year We will have e-books this year as an alternative to paper books; so, we will have both e-books and paper books, Minister of Education Alexandre Jejelava told reports. Jejelava spoke about the weight of books and reduction of the number of lessons and noted that Ministry works in several directions. "There are a lot of components. One thing is to allow children not to take all books to schools; Second, the number of lessons must be reduced; Third, large books must be divided into several books; Fourth, new textbooks must be in compliance with the standard weight. These standards have already been developed and accordingly, our students' bags will weigh less from this year,"- said the Minister of Education. Jejelava said that the new rules will apply low grade students at the first stage. "For the first time we will have electronic manuals this year, as an alternative to paper books. For example, students will use paper books at home, while at school they will be able to sue e-books," said the Minister of Education. (IPN) 9 people kidnapped in 33 days for crossing occupation line An Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting was held today in Ergneti village several kilometers away from the Russian occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), where security conditions along the occupation line were on the top of agenda. Nine cases of kidnapping along the occupation line between Georgia and its breakaway Tskhinvali region have been reported since the previous IPRM meeting on March 2. Safe transportation of the local population living along the occupation line is always among the main topics regularly discussed at the IPRM meetings both in Ergneti and Gali in Abkhazia, another Russian occupied region of Georgia. It is not always obvious where the occupation line has been demarcated as Russian occupation forces keep changing the so-called borders. This process is informally referred to as "creeping occupation. Russian border guards often detain those who intentionally or unintentionally cross the so-called border at locations that do not have barbed-wire fences. Detainees are then usually released after their families pay a fine. The Georgian State Security Service says that this fine is generally around 2,000 rubles, which is about 88.80 GEL or $35.8 dollars or 34.02. The illegal detention of Georgian citizen Giorgi Giunashvili back in 2016 was one of the issues discussed at todays meeting in Ergneti as well. Last month, an unrecognised court in Georgia's Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region sentenced Giunashvili to 20 years imprisonment. Demanding Giunashvilis immediate release from detention, IPRM participant Kakha Kemoklidze, who is the Deputy Head of the Information-Analytical Department under the State Security Service, calls Giunashvilis sentence "inventory. The IPRM was created in February 2009 following the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict to address security concerns and ensure the protection of human rights in the occupied regions. (Agenda.ge) But after voters rewarded Donald Trump despite or perhaps because of his plain, often expletive-prone rhetoric, Democrats are suddenly quite eager to adopt the language of Americas president. From the partys new chairman to a senator many believe will run for the White House in 2020, Democrats are letting loose four-letter words in public speeches and interviews, causing a small stir, at least in political circles, where swearing in public is usually off limits. Republicans dont give a s--- about people, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said last month, drawing criticism from GOP officials not only for the sentiment but also for the words he employed to convey it. If were not helping people, we should go the f--- home, said Kirsten Gillibrand, a senator from New York who more than a few Democrats hope will challenge Trump for the presidency. Her uncensored declaration appeared in New York Magazine, which quoted her twice more using a curse word. Swear words are hardly the stuff to get worked up about in a country grappling with serious, complicated problems at home and abroad. But behind the rhetoric is a real struggle for a party still trying to find its way in the aftermath of last years electoral catastrophe. In the age of Trump, party strategists wonder, do Democrats need to start talking in bolder, blunter terms to connect with voters even if that means occasionally contributing to the swear jar? Its always been interesting to have a private conversation where a politician cusses like a sailor, and then you get out in the real world and theyre using words like sugar and gee golly, said John Morgan, a longtime Democratic donor from Florida who is considering entering next years governors race. More here. @PatriciaMazzei U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and other lawmakers sent a letter Tuesday to United Airlines Chief Executive Oscar Munoz asking him to explain to the Senate what happened Tuesday when a passenger was forcibly removed from a flight from Chicago. Video from the incident went viral. It took Munoz several attempts to apologize for what happened. "The images and emerging account of this incident are very disturbing," the letter begins. Nelson and three other senators -- Republicans John Thune of South Dakota and Roy Blunt of Missouri, and Democrat Maria Cantwell of Washington -- asked Munoz a series of questions, including why the airline didn't figure out earlier that it needed to seat its four employees on the flight. Thune chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Nelson is the ranking member. "It's unconscionable that United Airlines chose this alternative to drag a passenger off the airplane," Nelson said in a separate statement. "Why in the world did they not just raise the amount of money offered to get passengers to give up a seat?" The senators have requested answers by April 20. This post has been updated. Photo credit: Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press via @jenstaletovich Three years after he held a field hearing in Miami Beach to draw attention to a region at ground zero for climate change, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson convened a second hearing in West Palm Beach on Monday with a new target: the Trump administrations attack on climate science. Held just across the Intracoastal Waterway from Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trumps vulnerable island retreat, the hearing highlighted worsening conditions and the need to free science from politics. There are people trying to muzzle scientists. Ive seen it in Washington. Ive seen it here in the state of Florida, said Nelson, a Democrat and the states former insurance commissioner. Southeast Florida is often considered a model for planning for climate change as it grapples with sea rise that has increased five to eight inches over the last 40 years. Four counties, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach, formed a compact eight years ago, vowing to work together to make the region more resilient for what could be a nearly three-foot rise by 2060. But progress has been slow, in part because South Florida has often been at odds with a Republican-led state and the administration of Gov. Rick Scott, who reportedly banned the term climate change. Now comes the Trump administration. In recent weeks, Nelson said he has met with supervisors in federal agencies who say the administration has issued the same ban. Worse, he said, the administration has proposed scaling back agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, that provide critical research and enforce regulations that deal with climate-related problems. More here. Photo credit: Joe Raedle, Getty Images @MichaelAuslen Gov. Rick Scott is directing state health and law enforcement agencies to travel the state in search of solutions to the opioid epidemic, but the governor has not taken the extra step to declare a statewide public health emergency. Florida's Department of Health, Department of Children and Families and Department of Law Enforcement will in the coming weeks begin workshops in Palm Beach, Manatee, Duval and Orange counties. Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the initiative, a deal with drug companies to provide Narcan spray and their support for legislation related to the opioid crisis at an event in the state Capitol on Tuesday. During previous public health crises, including the Zika virus outbreak last year and the 2014 ebola epidemic in West Africa, Scott declared public health emergencies in Florida. He declared one earlier Tuesday to address wildfires in the state. An emergency declaration allows the governor to direct immediate spending to combat problems and allows public health officials to move quickly in response to a crisis. "We're working through the Legislature, we're doing the workshops," Scott said Tuesday when asked why he hadn't done the same for the opioid crisis. "We're going to have these workshops and we're going to see if there's ideas that we can put forth that might have an impact. We're going to see what we can learn, but all of us have to understand that we all have to be involved with this." The workshops are a "starting point," Scott said, and spokeswoman Jackie Schutz later made it clear that the governor is "not ruling out any options at this point." Bondi, who was appointed to a presidential Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission by President Donald Trump, said emergency declarations are a good way to deal with short-term problems like Zika or a hurricane but that they don't make sense for large-scale, long-term, national crises like the opioid epidemic. In 2015, the last year for which data is available, opioids were the direct cause of death of 2,538 Floridians and contributed to an additional 1,358 deaths, according to FDLE data compiled by the Florida Behavioral Health Association. Democrats, who in February asked the governor to declare a state of emergency, say they're confused by Scott's reluctance to declare a state of emergency. They note that it took just nine confirmed travel-related cases of Zika before Scott declared it a disaster in early 2016. "This is a much more serious problem that requires immediate solutions," state Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth. "The state of emergency coalesces everybody behind the problem. I'm a little perplexed as to why we have thousands of deaths in the state of Florida and we're not creating a state of emergency but we have some wildfires that have caused zero deaths and yet that's a bigger issue." Photo: Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi announce statewide workshops and a new deal with drug companies to combat the opioid epidemic Tuesday in the Florida Capitol. 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These links are provided solely as a convenience and are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information or content in such site has been endorsed or approved by this blog. For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page HELENA A group of farm and ranch owners, along with two environmental advocacy groups, are suing the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation over rules that allow oil and gas companies to keep secret the chemicals they use for hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. But the timeline for the lawsuit has been pushed back as a bill that could change disclosure laws works its way through the Legislature. The suit alleges that the boards rules, which dont require companies to provide specific information on the chemicals they use until after fracking is complete or in some cases not at all if companies claim the mix of chemicals is a trade secret, violate the rights of Montanans under the states Constitution, which guarantees a right to know and the right to a clean and healthful environment. The Montana Environmental Center, a state-level nonprofit environmental advocate; Natural Resources Defense Council, a national environmental advocacy organization; and a handful of landowners filed the lawsuit in January in Lewis and Clark County District Court. They agreed to extend the timeline for the board to respond to the suit as Senate Bill 299, carried by Sen. Tom Richmond, R-Billings, is deliberated by the 65th Montana Legislature. On Monday, the bill cleared an initial vote in the House 70-30, moving it one step forward to the governor's desk. The bill clears up Montana Environmental Information Center's concerns over what constitutes a trade secret, but does not go nearly far enough on requiring companies to disclose the chemicals they use in fracking, said Derf Johnson, center's clean water program director. The bill does not call for baseline testing of wells, which Johnson said is necessary to monitor any contamination from fracking. And while it does require disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking, it does not require that be done before the fracking occurs, making it impossible to track the source of any contamination, he said. If this legislation passes, its potentially going to prevent meaningful disclosure because the board can point to the Legislature and say were preempted from doing anything because the Legislature acted and now theres a law in place, Johnson said. Jim Halvorson with the board said he could not comment on the lawsuit, but said the Senate bill would allow the board to do the majority of what was in the centers request last July to change its disclosure rules. *** In the lawsuit, the center and others said they want information about the chemicals used in fracking so they can understand the risks fracking operations may pose to property, human health and the environment and take steps to safeguard their water supplies. The practice of fracking involves pumping fluid into wells to crack rock formations and release gas and oil. The practice is highly controversial. Those who support it say it it makes wells more productive, while opponents claim it contaminates ground and surface water and increases seismic activity. Last July the group that filed the lawsuit petitioned the board to change its rules. The group asked for disclosure of chemicals to be part of the application process for drilling a well and the information be made public at least 45 days before fracking occurs. The board rejected that petition in September in a decision the lawsuit calls factually erroneous, unsupported and irrational. The group wants Lewis and Clark County District Court to throw out that decision and force the board to reconsider. There have been somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 wells fracked in 132 different fields in Montana. In 2015, 65 percent of oil production and 39 percent of natural gas production in the state involved fracking. Under rules set by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation in 2011, oil and gas operators do not have to tell the board or public about the specific chemical ingredients it uses for fracking until after operations are complete. The board does require the disclosure of the brand name or generic name of fracking fluids, which consists of industry labels such as DWP-621 or Slick Frac, but disclosure of the specific chemical ingredient list is not required before fracking occurs. The generic information is effectively useless for landowners because it does not provide enough information for landowners to conduct baseline testing. Even after fracking occurs, the rules also let oil and gas companies withhold any chemical information operators claim to be a trade secret. In Wyoming, operators have to disclose the specific ingredients of their fracking fluids to a state official before they are approved for use. There is no legitimate reason why Montanans should have less access to chemical information than their neighbors, the lawsuit states. Cleanup and redevelopment are still in the murky future at the former Smurfit-Stone pulp mill site at Frenchtown. But legislation on its way to Gov. Steve Bullocks desk could give Missoula County a hammer to collect more than $1 million in back taxes. House Bill 516 soared through a final vote, 84-15, on the House floor Monday afternoon. It enables a taxing jurisdiction to sue to collect delinquent property taxes once the taxes bill mounts to $250,000 or more. M2Green Redevelopment, LLC, which purchased the abandoned, 3,200-acre Smurfit-Stone site in 2011, owes $1.3 million. And the total increases roughly $2,500 a day. Im thrilled about this, said Rep. Kim Dudik of Missoula, the bills sponsor who called it a Make Frenchtown Great Again bill before a second-reading vote in the House on Friday. I grew up out there and just talking with people and going to West Valley Community Council meetings before the last election and hearing their frustration and how really theyre in a no-win situation ... thats not how laws are supposed to work, she said. Im happy that this is an example of the Legislature doing something for the good of people we represent. The legislation enjoyed strong bipartisan support in its journey through Senate and House taxation committees and both general chambers. Dudik, a Democrat, was joined as co-sponsors by House Republicans Brad Tschida and Adam Hertz of Missoula; Republican Sens. Duane Ankney of Colstrip and Tom Richmond of Billings, and fellow Democrat Rep. Tom Jacobson of Great Falls. An amended bill that added the $250,000 minimum passed the Senate on April 5 by a 40-8 count. The school needs the money, the fire department needs the money, the county needs the money, said Jeri Delys of the West Valley Community Council, an advisory board to Missoula County commissioners. This would take a burden off the taxpayers out here. (M2Green) would have to pay their taxes like everybody else does. Fair is fair. Jean Curtiss, who chairs the county board of commissioners, applauded Dudiks efforts to look for ways for counties to have latitude to find ways to collect delinquent taxes where a tax lien doesnt work. Nobodys going to take a tax lien on that property with its (cleanup) issues, she said. As owner, M2Green inherited the sites extensive environmental liabilities. Preliminary testing in 2012 and 2013 indicated cancer-causing chemicals in sludge ponds, groundwater and river sediments, as well as dioxins, furans and PCBs in northern pike and rainbow trout downstream. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed adding the property to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites nearly four years ago but, against Missoula Countys wishes, offered M2Green and other potentially responsible parties the option of a voluntary cleanup that it would oversee. Other responsible parties include Rock Tenn, successor to a bankrupt Smurfit-Stone, which is paying for additional sampling separate from the Superfund process. Remedial investigation work on the property continues, and a quarterly interagency update of testing efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is slated 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday via teleconference. The public is invited to call in by contacting Robert Moler, the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at moler.robert@epa.gov. *** After first passing the House by a 77-22 count in February, the bill was amended by the Senate and passed 40-8. Curtiss applauded the change to stipulate it would apply only to cases where $250,000 or more in taxes is owed. Its not a tool we would use if someones behind on a private residence, she said. Its really set aside for something like this, where nobodys going to buy that property. Frenchtown Schools are owed nearly half the back taxes and would be the biggest beneficiary if theyre collected. Superintendent Randy Cline said in February that the current situation costs the district about 4 percent of its tax base. Every year when we have to budget, we take 4 percent right off the top because we figure were not going to get that, he said, Cline added that the districts reserve fund was extremely low, to a point where it may have to ask taxpayers to pass a levy in 2018. Gov. Steve Bullocks office was noncommittal on the legislation, but Dudik said she doesnt foresee any problem with Bullock signing the bill into law. If he does it will go into effect immediately. Missoula County civil attorney John Hart said last week he wouldnt speculate on his offices plan of action. He expects commissioners Curtiss, Cola Rowley and Dave Strohmaier to open discussions on the options. Our office would provide advice to the BCC (board of county commissioners) if asked, but ultimately, the BCC would make the decision and authorize our office if the decision involved a suit against M2Green, Hart said in an email to the Missoulian. While the school or fire district could file a civil action for the delinquent taxes, Missoula County Treasurer Tyler Gernant said his recommendation is that the county lead the lawsuit because we have the resources. Ray Stillwell, president and general counsel for the Illinois-based Green Investment Group, Inc., and M2Green, didnt return a request for comment. Stillwell and GIGI executive vice president Mark Spizzo announced the purchase at a May 2011 press conference at the front gate of the mill site in a celebratory gathering that included Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Missoula Mayor John Engen. At the time, Stillwell said the purchase price was in the $20 million range. As the years went by, M2Green kept taxes up to date on some of the outlying parcels and sold two others to neighboring ranches. In a letter to the Frenchtown community last November, county commissioners said M2Green has appealed the taxable valuation for some parcels to the Montana Department of Revenue. Taxes due for the industrial core parcel ... have been reduced from $283,621 in 2012 to $138,022 in 2015, the letter said. Instead of a flood, the citys takeover of Mountain Water appears to be coming in a trickle. With multiple small decisions coming since the city won the right to take over the water utility, but no official change of ownership, the citys erstwhile request for a court-supervised transition appears to be happening in its own way. Monday, the Missoula City Council approved a water main relocation and extension near Russell Street -- a project thats not technically under their purview. Liberty Utilities, which now owns Mountain Water, abandoned the half-finished project during the condemnation proceedings, Public Works Director John Wilson told a committee on April 5. Once we were able to start communicating with the local staff at Mountain Water, they asked us if we wanted to take it over and we did, he said. Our first real action as a water system owner. Mayor John Engen said Monday night Liberty hasnt been keen on finishing infrastructure projects in Missoula. Understandable, but it leaves no one to fix long-standing problems like the Russell Street water main. According to the referral, the work will be done by WGM Group, which is already contracted for sewer work in the Russell Street bridge area. Were stepping up, were doing our best to be as cooperative as possible, Engen said. The water main allows the city to access the River Road neighborhood, in which many residents still use well water and are without fire hydrants. Just by bringing a 12-inch water main into that area, it sets the stage for a number of things, Wilson said. The council approved up to $67,641 for the project, out of the roughly $114 million the city will borrow to purchase and upgrade the utility. Up to $30 million of that was earmarked for five years of capital improvements. The lack of water infrastructure in this areais an abomination, to put it mildly, Ward 1 representative Bryan von Lossberg said at the committee meeting. Call it social equity. The council approved the project unanimously. *** The city hired two staff members for City of Missoula Water last month, but has yet to take over the utility after the Montana Supreme Court upheld their eminent domain victory in August 2016. Chief Administrative Officer Dale Bickell has said the city hoped to begin paying for the utility -- and start operations -- in April, though Missoula County District Court Judge Karen Townsends case regarding attorneys fees is still undecided. As of April 5, city spending on the condemnation of Mountain Water was at $7.03 million, with an additional $27,718.23 approved Monday night. While most of that money has gone toward legal fees, recent claims forms listed payments to Harris Computer Corporation and Lifetime Benefit Solutions, both expenses related to imminent city management of the utility's billing software and employee benefits. Software applications, film industry marketing and fashionable compression socks are creating good-paying jobs in Missoula. Five Missoula companies have received a combined total of $322,100 in state grants to create 43 new jobs, according to an announcement from Gov. Steve Bullock. The funds are being awarded through the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Program (BSTF) from the Department of Commerce. The money is meant to promote long-term stable economic growth in Montana through job creation and planning. Missoula County will distribute the funds. A company called Orbital Shift, which creates a cloud software application that allows employers to create and maintain staff schedules, will receive $120,000 to expand and create 16 new jobs. The money will be used for purchase of equipment, software, furnishings, lease rate reduction and reimbursement of wages. The same company also got $80,000 to create 16 new jobs in Bozeman. Modern Entrepreneur, a company that offers a range of full-service digital sales and marketing solutions for small to medium-sized businesses, will get $75,000 to create 10 new jobs in Missoula. HB Enterprises, a company that created a marketing tool called GatherBoard that provides a functional calendar, got $29,600 to create four new jobs. VIM & VIGR, a company that manufactures fashionable compression socks, got $37,500 to create five new jobs. Audience Awards, which is in the business of securing high quality video assets for major brand marketers to use in their marketing programs, got $60,000 to create eight new jobs. Paige Williams, the founder and CEO of Audience Awards, said her company now has a total of 17 employees across the country with eight in Missoula and one in Kalispell. The Big Sky Trust expansion grant helps me to take care of the costs of hiring people, like getting them set up with computers and desks, she said. For a startup like ours, it makes a huge difference. The majority of expenses is getting people started and hired and the more we can keep doing that the more we can keep hiring in Missoula. Its also great to make sure people are being hired at a livable wage. Williams said her company has utilized the grant money before to add marketing experts and developers. According to Emilie Saunders, a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce, the Big Sky Trust Fund is funded by the states coal severance tax fund. Its a reimbursement grant program, meaning that each business only receives the money after working with the state to document the job creation. Then, there is a site visit to review the progress, and after that the grantee is reimbursed for the cost of those jobs. According to Missoula Economic Partnership grants manager Nicole Rush, who works with local companies to go through the rigorous application process, the program reimburses businesses up to $7,500 for each new employee they hire as long as they are paid at least 170 percent of the state minimum wage. To get the top award, each job has to pay the Missoula County median wage, which is $18.50 an hour. *** A company in Ravalli County called EverStone Sustainable Products, which makes and installs recycled glass surfacing panels, got $22,500 to create three new jobs in Hamilton. A company in Flathead County called SmartLam, which will be building a cross-laminated timber manufacturing facility, got $247,500 to create 33 new jobs in Columbia Falls. Another company in Kalispell called Stoll Innovations got $15,000 to create two jobs in Kalispell. All told, Bullock announced $860,366 in grants that will be doled out in seven different communities to create 97 new jobs. From manufacturing and tech start-ups to value-added ag and craft brewing, Montanas economy is growing and adding jobs faster than any other state, he said in a statement. This investment in our small businesses enables them to grow and hire more workers, strengthening our communities and our local economies. This fiscal year, the BSTF program has awarded $1.7 million in job creation funds for 249 new jobs and $775,022 in planning funds for 40 projects. More information can be found at bstf.mt.gov. Finance managers always warn that past performance doesnt predict future returns, but they havent looked in Montanas water bank. We are way above normal, or average, or median, or whatever statistic you want to look at, National Weather Service hydrologist Ray Nickless said during a review of the winter water collection as spring runoff begins across western Montana. We should be having good flows in rivers, filling up reservoirs and plenty of water to go around. Since the meteorological water year began in October, the Missoula Valley has collected 174 percent of its average snowpack, with 63.7 inches recorded. The average is 39 inches. Kalispell logged 89.8 inches, or 161 percent of average. Melt that down to water, and both valleys received about 185 percent of average for the cold six months of the year. Some of that came as fall rain in October, and some has appeared as unseasonably early rain in March. The latter has stimulated current high water levels in local rivers, ahead of the more typical spring runoff in May and June. The Clark Fork River near Missoula now flows at about double its usual flow for early April. Much of the low-elevation snow has melted away in north Idaho and western Montana, but the high mountain snowpack still hangs on. Nickless said that helps reduce the chance of serious flooding later this spring, as the stored moisture gets released in stages. Minor flooding has been predicted for the Flathead and Yaak rivers this month, and some Bitterroot Valley homes have incurred high-water damage. Barring a sudden, warm-rain weather system turning the runoff into a catastrophic surge, the spring should see steady but high flows. Were pretty excited for the health of the river, said Montana River Guides owner Mike Johnston, who leads whitewater raft and kayak trips on the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers near Missoula. But weve learned from experience not to count on it. Some years have great snowpack, but you get a warm early spring and things disappear pretty fast. The longer outlook has a faint smiley face. While the April continental forecast calls for above-average temperatures in most of the eastern United States, western Montana and northern Idaho look to be right on the bubble for normal spring temperatures. Looking further out, the May-June-July outlook has almost all of the nation in above-normal temperatures except Montana, North and South Dakota and part of Wyoming. That little bullseye also is predicted to get somewhat above-normal precipitation. Pretty much the entire country is looking at above average temperatures (for July, August and September), Nickless said. That seems like a broken record for what we say every summer now. The 2017 State A and C Track and Field Meet will be moved to Laurel due to uncertainty about whether the Missoula County Public Schools stadium would be ready by Memorial Day weekend. About 3,200 people were expected to come to Missoula for the meet. Losing it could cost the city an estimated $1.3 million in lost tourism revenue, Destination Missoula officials said. The Montana High School Association, in a news release Tuesday, announced the relocation of the state track meet. "Current and predicted weather conditions make it impossible to determine the exact date of completion of the new track surface," according to the news release. Multiple communities were willing to accommodate the meet, but Laurel was chosen. The meet will take place on May 26-27 at Laurel High School. The meet has the potential to have about 1,300 high school athletes compete. Mark Beckman, executive director of the high school association, met with fellow executive board members to make the decision Tuesday. He said a lot goes into the meets; host sites have to hire workers and bring in extra help. He said the board thought it would be better to pick a new host site earlier, rather than make a last-minute change. Bozeman, Great Falls and Laurel all volunteered to host the meet, and Laurel was chosen due to the availability of hotel rooms in the area, Beckman said. Destination Missoula Director of Sales and Services Mary Holmes was in the meeting when the decision was made to move the meet. Destination Missoula has made it a priority to make bids for these types of meets, but those bids are made about two years out, Holmes said. When Missoula was chosen to host this meet, MCPS didnt even know a renovation was going to be happening that year, Holmes said. It is a sad circumstance, she said. The University of Montana track and field facilities were considered when the high school association raised concerns that the MCPS stadium would not be completed in time, Holmes said. There was not enough seating at UM's Dornblaser Field, home of the track, to accommodate the event. But there are no hard feelings, Holmes said. A location for the 2019 State A and C Track and Field Meet has yet to be determined and she said Missoula would be interested in exploring the option of hosting that meet. Laurel was scheduled to host the A and C meet in 2018. She said the stadium is going to be beautiful once it is completed and the high school association already has said how excited it would be to bring more events there. Beckman also said the state association is looking forward to more meets being held at the stadium. It came down to a time crunch, Holmes said. Even moving the event at this stage hasnt given Laurel a proper shot at putting on the best event they can, she said. Waiting even longer would have been unfair. MCPS officials said Tuesday morning, before the announcement, that they were still hopeful the track would be completed in time for the state meet. MCPS Operations and Maintenance Supervisor Burley McWilliams said the track surface needs five layers to complete the renovation. Two of those layers are completed, but three more needed to be laid down. In order for the material to set, the layers must be put down on a 55-degree day or higher and the temperature needs to remain at 50 degrees for at least six to 10 hours afterward. Weather was the biggest factor in this completion, McWilliams said. At the MCPS Board of Trustees meeting in March, officials said they hoped to have the track renovation completed by April. Anthony Johnstone has no doubt that Neil Gorsuch is a member of the political elite with his Ivy League education, but the newest addition to the U.S. Supreme Court also brings a unique background to the country's highest court. Gorsuch, sworn in Monday to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, was raised in Colorado, and so he's familiar with issues that arise in the West, Johnstone said. "He does have some feet on the ground here in the Rocky Mountain West, and that will bring a different perspective to the court on some western issues, we could expect," said Johnstone, associate professor at the University of Montana's Alexander III School of Law. The conservative justice is also likely to be around for years. Gorsuch, 49, is the youngest appointment to the Supreme Court since the confirmation of Justice Clarence Thomas, 43, in 1991. "So the most important aspect of his taking the bench is that he is going to be influential for a long time," Johnstone said. "Now, because he's taking ... the seat occupied by Justice Scalia, the immediate impacts for Montana and the nation would be in areas where he might differ from Justice Scalia." Scalia sided with the majority in the Citizens United decision that allowed unlimited corporate and union spending in elections, said Johnstone, who was involved with the case. As former Montana Solicitor, Johnstone wrote a brief for 26 states in Citizens United v. FEC. Later, with then-Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock, now governor, Johnstone helped argue the Montana Corrupt Practices Act of 1912 should stand despite Citizens United, but the court disagreed and didn't hear arguments. Spending isn't the only issue at play, though. Johnstone said the decision in Citizens United also upheld campaign finance disclosure in an important way, and Scalia recognized that the U.S. Constitution permits disclosure, unlike some of the other conservatives, like Thomas. Justice Gorsuch hasn't indicated his stance on campaign finance disclosure, but studies suggest he's closer to Thomas than Scalia, Johnstone said. "We might expect that Justice Gorsuch will be more skeptical of campaign finance disclosure, such as Montana's own disclosure act, which we enacted in the aftermath of Citizens United to ensure Montanans know where the money in our elections is coming from," Johnstone said. In general, though, he said the public and legal scholars will have to wait and see because the issues that arise at a federal appeals court in the West are different than the larger questions, such as ones about presidential power, that tend to arise in Washington, D.C. Another issue that may have a bearing on Montana is Gorsuch's position on the authority of federal administrative agencies, Johnstone said. Traditionally, he said, the court has said that when someone challenges an agency's regulation or deregulation, the court should defer to the expertise and political legitimacy of the agencies that work for the president. Scalia was a proponent of that philosophy, but Johnstone said Gorsuch is on record as being less willing to defer to federal administrative agencies. Congress and the president's agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, have been in the driver's seat, but that may shift slightly. "That's going to be an important one for all the ways in which the federal government both regulates and decides not to regulate in Montana," Johnstone said. Although Gorsuch likely will have a long tenure on the court, Johnstone doesn't anticipate Gorsuch's views will evolve much or "drift," as justice's perspectives did in the past. In more recent years, he said, interest groups thoroughly vet candidates enough to know the person will deliver on a particular ideology. He does anticipate reading some beautiful opinions from Gorsuch. "He's an awfully good writer," Johnstone said. "The court has had a few of them. Justice Scalia was a great writer, and so one thing we can look forward to is he expresses his principles clearly." An earlier version of this story misspelled Antonin Scalia. I was one of nine millennials from Montana who traveled to Washington, D.C., to ask our senators to take action on climate change, the single biggest and most urgent challenge facing my generation. We had a positive conversation with U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and his staff. As a farmer, he gets it. He is tired of kicking the problem down the road, knowing ultimately that we young Montanans will suffer. Next we headed to U.S. Sen. Steve Daines office. We were not scheduled to speak with the senator just a staffer. But 15 minutes in, Daines surprised us by walking through the door. And he stayed. He spent the next half hour discussing his commitment to public lands as a "conservation conservative" and his faith in technological solutions to climate change. Just hours later, Daines stood with President Trump, Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in support of Trump's executive order which relaxes rules that prevent methane pollution, lifts the moratorium on coal leasing on federal lands, and directs the EPA to dismantle the Clean Power Plan. In his (April 3) guest column, Daines reiterated the usual talking points about energy independence, state control and economic growth. Daines claimed many jobs would have been lost under the Clean Power Plan. But a 2015 economic study found that, under a business-as-usual scenario, climate change will slash 11,000 jobs in Montanas outdoor industry alone. If Daines cares about jobs, he should work with state leaders to remove barriers to solar energy. Last year, job growth nationwide in the solar industry was 17 times greater than the rest of the economy, but Montana lags far behind other states, ranked 40th in installed capacity. Our leaders should be capitalizing on this growth potential and offering coal communities a pathway to the clean energy economy - not making empty promises to revive a dying industry. The Clean Power Plan would have helped local communities down this path. A bipartisan poll last year showed Montanans overwhelmingly favor more clean energy - especially millennials. My generation sees the absurdity of Daines' "all of the above" energy rhetoric that ignores the need to transition away from fossil fuels. We know not all energy sources are equal: the fossil fuels of the past create carbon pollution that makes us sick and overheats our planet. When we met, Daines said he is concerned about climate change and discusses it often with his kids. If that's true, he must see that "all of the above" is incompatible with the urgency of the climate crisis, which disproportionately impacts my generation - including Daines' children. I appreciated the chance to speak with Daines and find some common ground. We agree that Montana is a special place and climate change is real. We agree that technology has a role in addressing climate change and we need Montana-made solutions. But propping up coal and gas companies indefinitely is not a solution it's dangerous and short-sighted. Climate change requires rejecting business as usual and embracing the clean energy future. That future is here. The cost of renewable energy keeps dropping, and innovative local energy storage technologies like the Gordon Butte Pumped Hydro facility are viable and competitive. We need leaders who will put aside political rhetoric and do the right thing for all Montanans, not the fossil fuel industry. I encourage fellow millennials to join this conversation with Senator Daines and other elected officials, as we work to build a future that's resilient, healthy and safe for generations to come. Thank you, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, for voting against the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Tester did the necessary research into Gorsuch's court decisions and found that he ruled in favor of a trucking corporation over the health (and possible death) of one their workers. This worker was threatened with either death by freezing or driving an unsafe semi. For choosing the public's health and his own survival, the worker was fired by the company. This decision to support a company over the very life of an individual worker was upheld by Gorsuch. Tester also cited Gorsuch's ruling in the Hobby Lobby case, affirming the company's denial of health care for their workers based on a religious tenet. I did not know that corporations could hold religious beliefs. Do they kneel to pray? Gorsuch may eventually be seated on the Supreme Court, but now we have ample proof of Tester's commitment to the rule of law and to Montana. As Senator Tester so aptly testified on the floor of the Senate: common-sense Montanans know"a corporation ain't a person"! I concur. Pam Erickson, Hamilton GREAT FALLS Cascade County authorities say a man apparently shot and killed himself after breaking into two homes and fleeing deputies. Sheriff Bob Edwards told the Great Falls Tribune that deputies responded to a report of an intruder entering a house Monday and pointing a gun at the homeowner. Edwards says the homeowner put up a fight, left and called 911. A fire broke out at the house on the banks of the Missouri River about eight miles outside of Great Falls and was destroyed. Deputies responding to the call followed a man to a neighboring house. The man entered the house and forced the homeowner out. Edwards says the deputies approaching the house heard gunshots and found the man dead. Edwards says the deputies did not fire a shot. The man's name has not been released. Samuel R. Carbajal, 42, admitted he communicated by cell phone with a 16-year-old girl and during that time he requested she send him nude photos of herself and also sent her a photo of his genitalia. He faces up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 fine. Judge Ray Dayton ordered a pre-sentence investigation, including a psycho/sexual evaluation. He is free on a $10,000 bond with conditions. According to court records, on the afternoon of March 18, a Deer Lodge police officer tried to stop a black Chevrolet Malibu for an expired Idaho license plate. The vehicle immediately accelerated and the officer gave chase, and was joined by a sheriffs deputy and state troopers. The chase continued throughout the Deer Lodge area; at one point Dittos vehicle forced a vehicle into the borrow pit, forced a semi-truck onto the side of Interstate 90 and almost rear-ended cars in the driving lane. After a second attempt with spike strips was successful, the vehicle stopped. Ditto and a passenger reportedly got out of the vehicle and lay on the pavement with their hands outstretched. He allegedly admitted using illegal drugs and was taken to the hospital for a blood test. Police reports MAN THREATENS PROPERTY COMPANY Police responded to a property management firm in Uptown Butte around noon Friday after employees said a man threatened a worker with a pistol. The man, who police identified as Charlie Hand, 37, had left by the time police arrived but was pulled over nearby. Police said Hand told them he had a pistol on him and had carried it into the office but had not brandished it at any employees. Hand was arrested for felony assault with a weapon and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, a misdemeanor. Police said Hand is a tenant of the property management company. We don't know if President Donald Trump was purely motivated to fire cruise missiles at a Syrian military airfield. Was he genuinely horrified by the nerve-gas attack on a rebel-held town ordered by dictator Bashar Assad? His strongest critics insist that Trump saw the revulsion at the deaths of the innocents, including children, really and cynically as an opportunity to boost his approval ratings, which have spiraled ever downward during the constant embarrassments that have defined the earliest days of his administration. There is no way to know. He wouldn't be the first president whose commander in chief actions raised that same woeful question. In August 1998, Bill Clinton ordered a missile attack of his own, against the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Khartoum, Sudan. He contended that it supplied chemical weapons to al-Qaida, although there has never been any actual proof of that, to this day. What is a fact is that it took place on the day that Monica Lewinsky was scheduled to testify before a grand jury in connection with, well, you know. Suddenly, the intense news focus shifted from a Washington courthouse to across the world. I know this because, during my CNN phase, I covered the various Clinton scandals and was set for another day of live shots, tons of them, to service all the news networks in the Turner Broadcasting empire. Then came word from the White House of the rain of missiles on Khartoum, and suddenly I had nothing to do. No live shots for me. I couldn't buy airtime. More than once I've quoted a colleague who observed, "We (the news networks) can only overcover one story at a time." It was all Khartoum, all the time. To this day, we don't have any idea how the Monica factor influenced the Clinton calculations, any more than we do about Trump's incentives. As a distraction, it ultimately didn't work; four months later, President Bill Clinton was impeached. As for President Donald Trump, the early positive responses literally gushed. Suddenly, the pundits couldn't be ecstatic enough about how Trump had been soooooo commander in chiefish, even the ones who had just moments before described him as soooooo buffoonish. It didn't take long, though, for the ones who hadn't been totally caught up in the personalities of this administration, or the lack thereof, to start raising substantial questions about the long-term effects this jolt of decisiveness would have. Would it hasten the tattering of U.S.-Russian relations, even as charges continued to swirl about The Donald and The Vladimir colluding to push the election Trump's way? Was the withering Russian response in the face of American chest-beating just rhetoric, or did it escalate the chance of a physical collision between the superpowers' forces on the ground in Syria? Would the cruise-missile attack cause Assad to think he had to prove his manhood with another attack, either on U.S. forces or with some other horrific provocation. As a defiant gesture, he quickly launched another bombing attack from the same airfield, which was no big deal, but could all this escalate out of control? As it stands now, the vengeance for the war crime and the grotesque deaths it caused has amounted to a few blown-up Syrian jets. Some optimists contend that it could even become a basis for some diplomatic negotiation that ultimately could hasten an end to a bloody war that has claimed a half-million lives, to say nothing of creating a flood of refugees. How can we forget that the President Trump who was so moved by the Syrian victims of nerve gas is the same President Trump who tries to block any of them from entering this country after fleeing their deadly homeland? Some of these questions will be answered only in the days and months ahead. The ones about motivation, as we learned with Bill Clinton, will probably never be answered to the satisfaction of everyone. The fact that they are asked at all speaks volumes about our politics. (c) 2017 Bob Franken Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc. BILLINGS The High Mobility Multipurpose Utility Vehicle, also known as the HMMV or Humvee, boasts 37-inch tires, climbs up to a 40 percent grade and when properly outfitted can ford up to 60 inches of water. But in one instance this spring the rugged vehicle was no match for a Montana dirt road. A HMMV belonging to the United States Air Force security forces charged with patrolling Minuteman III missile sites near Grass Range was abandoned by its crew last week after it got stuck in a mud hole on Fairview Road. The USAF tried to remove the HMMV three times in the last several days but the muddy conditions made the attempts unsuccessful. Crews will work to remove the vehicle again Tuesday with a tow truck, said Connie Hempel, public affairs chief at Malmstrom Air Force Base. Hempel said the airmen in the HMMV were driving either to or from the missile site on Fairview Road when they became stuck. They had to walk out of the area carrying their weapons and other equipment, leaving the vehicle in the mud. The stretch of road they were on was not a usual route, but it wasnt an unauthorized area. The stuck HMMV was positioned about two miles southwest and facing away from the missile site. A log had been jammed through two front tow bars and another large log was resting behind the rig. The vehicle has more than 17 inches of ground clearance and on its driver's side was buried in mud up to the bottom of the door. The remote roadway is gravel leading to the missile site but is unmaintained dirt shortly after. The gravel ends at Ed Evans farm where hes lived for the past 17 years. Evans said hes never seen military personnel using the dirt section of Fairview Road between the missile site and Surenough Road. Its not possible six months out of the year because they dont plow it for snow and in spring its a mud hole, he said. That doesnt stop people from trying, though. Evans said three or four vehicles get stuck on the dirt road every year. They just try because its a cut-across road and its pretty country, he said. Sometimes Evans helps them get out with his truck, tractor or skidsteer. But often the road is so muddy he doesnt dare take even his tractor on it for fear of becoming stuck. Evans said its unlikely the USAF crews will be able to get the HMMV out on Tuesday. Since Sunday about one foot of wet snow fell on the area. BILLINGS Havre resident Scott Dion felt he was getting screwed on his taxes. So on Nov. 30, 2016, when he sent a property tax check into the Hill County Treasurer, he included a note on the memo line. It wasn't the first time he'd done this. "I probably wrote something on the majority of my checks, and she's cashed them," Dion said, referring to Hill County Treasurer Sandy Brown. This time, he wrote "sexual favors" on the memo line. The check was otherwise normal a $745.77 payment made out to the county office. But when the county didn't cash that check for months, Dion got a lawyer involved. His lawyer, Jamie Young, sent a letter to the Hill County Treasurer on Feb. 23, saying that leaving the check uncashed violated the First Amendment as well as Montana law. Young cited a state law that requires banks or financial institutions to report deposited public funds and another that requires county treasurers to log the payments. He wrote that not cashing Dion's check amounts to official misconduct and the treasurer should be prosecuted. Young sent a follow-up letter to Hill County Attorney Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson on March 6. "There is no exception under the law permitting Ms. Brown to refuse to perform her duties because she is offended by Mr. Dion's personal memo," Young wrote. Brown, the county treasurer, said on Monday that she didn't know where Dion's check was at, though it was last with the county attorney. Cole-Hodgkinson, the county attorney, wouldn't comment on Dion's situation specifically, though she said there is no current civil or criminal case related to the check scuffle. She said that, in general, the treasurer can't cash a check if it isn't clear "what you want the funds applied to." Dion said that aside from the memo, the rest of the check was normal, signed and made out to the county. Montana Department of Revenue spokeswoman Christie Magill said that the state conducts assessments, but the tax collection is largely left to county treasurers. Dion said that the property tax check hasn't yet been cashed. He plans to go through his bank records and pull previous checks with memos that have been cashed. "The memo has nothing to do with them at all," he said. "Nothing." Dion, who said he is a registered traveling nurse, added that for his first tax payment of 2016, he wrote "bulls--t" into the memo line. Dion said the county cashed that check. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Rising rates of loneliness may not be news, but the three periods when it peaks may come as a surprise: More people reported feeling moderate to severe loneliness during their late 20s, their mid-50s and their late 80s than in other life periods, according to research published Tuesday in the journal International Psychogeriatrics. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Obituaries Newsletter Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy 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 [] Kaka Empires songbird Judith Nyambura aka Avril has expressed her surprise at the reception from her social media followers after she shared her HIV status recently. According to Avril, she thought the idea to share her results was cool but to her surprise, a lot of Kenyan youth did not understand its value. She disclosed that decision to take a HIV test was catalysed by a friend. I was with my friends one evening and we decided to just get tested Its cool to know your HIV status, said the musician. I took the strips and they were all negative and I posted them on social media. It caused an uproar with people asking me: Who do you think you are? Why are you showing us your HIV status? Kwani unajishuku?People talked and said really bad things. She intimated that her detractors and critics might have been afraid to get tested, hence the rant. The Ministry of Edcation has begun vetting academic credentials of aspirants seeking to contest in the August polls in a move to unmask those with fake certificates. Speaking on Sunday, Education CS Fred Matiangi said they intend to allow only the right people to ascend to leadership. I know politicians will not be happy with me on this but we will not retreat, said Dr Matiangi, adding that many of the evils bedeviling the country are a product of a system infiltrated by political leaders who cheated in their examinations. How do you vote and sit pretty at home believing that this person will do much for you during his tenure? the CS asked. Dr Matiangi who was speaking in Masimba, Masaba South in Kisii County, also called for peaceful elections and urged those aspiring for political seats to preach peace because Kenya is bigger than the political elite. The CS also warned against cheating in exams, saying the government is keen on eradicating the vice. Anybody, be either a teacher or a student, who believes there is going to be an easier path out during the national examinations should forget it, said Dr Matiangi. We are committed to ensuring this vice is eradicated. Here are some of the stories making global headlines today. Haley: Syria regime change is inevitable Two days after the US launched military strikes on a Syrian airbase in response to a chemical weapons attack widely blamed on the Assad regime, Haley said the departure of Assad was inevitable. Before Tuesdays attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, which killed 89 people, Haley had said toppling Assad was not a priority. ISIS claims responsibility for Egypt church bombings ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were aimed at a vulnerable religious minority on one of the most important days on the Christian calendar. The death toll rose to at least 49 Monday, state media reported. US aircraft carrier-led strike group headed toward Korean Peninsula The move of the Vinson strike group is in response to recent North Korean provocations, the official said. Adm. Harry Harris, the commander of US Pacific Command, directed the USS Carl Vinson strike group to sail north to the Western Pacific after departing Singapore on Saturday, Pacific Command announced. When Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos left everyone in their dust Bezos, the Amazon CEO, and Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, have distinguished themselves as the must-watch innovators pushing hardest and most effectively to bring the future to us today. They made billions in the Internet age, like many in the tech world. Barclays CEO pay slashed after he tried to identify whistleblower Barclays said in a statement that CEO Jes Staley tried to identify the author of a letter that the bank was treating as an attempt to report wrongdoing. Following an investigation by the Barclays board and an external law firm, the bank said it had concluded that Staley had honestly, but mistakenly believed that it was permissible to identify the author of the letter. Scientists discover new primate and its already in danger But any elation has been short lived for the team behind the find, as the animal is in immediate peril due to the destruction of its habitat. The size of a squirrel (around six inches long without the tail), the Angolan dwarf galago is a kind of bushbaby, a small primate family scattered all over sub-Saharan Africa. Is fruit juice healthy? A glass of fresh orange or grapefruit juice with breakfast isnt just refreshing. It also delivers a healthy dose of vitamin C and potassium, which can be especially helpful if you tend to forgo fruit. Some store-bought juices are fortified with bone-building calcium, too. 8 Twitter improvements that could actually help out Twitter recently rolled out their latest update that finally made @ replies even more confusing. Now, usernames no longer count towards the 140 character limit. Its an update that nobody really asked for and that nobody seems to be happy with, especially when considering the uptick of abuse that has plagued the platform as of late. Tesla shows off new solar panels that wont uglify your roof Ideally, Tesla would like you to have a completely new roof that doubles as one big solar panel. But if for some reason you cant or wont go that route, the company now offers an alternative: Traditional solar panels that are mounted on your existing roof. Heres why Indians are trolling The New York Times The New York Times recently published a piece on the benefits of deep breathing. Scientists at Stanford University may have uncovered for the first time why taking deep breaths can be so calming, the article says, quoting Stanford research. Seafood dude downs $600 meal, then flees to the sea to avoid paying Love seafood? Cool story, but youll never love seafood as much as the guy who literally swam away from a $621 check at a seafood restaurant. Australian man and aspiring rapper Terry Peck destroyed two lobsters, 21 vodka oyster shots, a baby octopus and a bunch of beers at a restaurant on the Gold Coast, according to . Steph Curry is once again getting mocked on Twitter for some ugly shoes Poor Steph Curry cant catch a break with his shoes. Less than a year after his Air Dads generated jokes for days, his new shoes, the Curry Lux (described as oxblood leather) are here. And theyre just as ugly and terrible and why, god, why would Under Armour do this to Steph? Airline crew casually help woman deliver a baby 42,000 feet in the air Pushing a baby out of you is difficult at the best of times (we imagine), but doing so thousands of feet above the ground is just not ideal. Thankfully, for a 28-weeks-pregnant woman named Nafi Diaby, though, the crew of Turkish Airlines flight TK538 from the Guinean capital of Conarky were on hand to save the day. Bill Gates, VR super nerd, will now take you into the future Hello, my name is Bill Gates, super nerd. Join me as I use these technology goggles to take you into the feeeeeewchaaaaah! Of course thats what the co-founder of Microsoft was thinking when he posted Sunday what might be his nerdiest photo yet (and he has a bunch), all in the service of promoting his new Samsung Gear VR channel. Just like everyone on Game of Thrones, Steve Bannon also thinks Winter is coming In case you werent anxious enough, one of the most powerful people in the free world believes that catastrophe is just around the bend, and says so-just like everyone on HBOs Game of Thrones. But really. Steve Bannon-who already counts, on the record, Satan and Darth Vader as aspirational figures -is now speaking like a Game of Thrones character. Assad Allies Say U.S. Attack On Syria Air Base Crosses Red Lines A joint command center made up of the forces of Russia, Iran and militias supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday said the U.S. strike on a Syrian air base on Friday crossed red lines and it would respond to any new aggression and increase its support for its ally. Trump Administration Is Contradicting Itself On Regime Change In Syria The Trump administration appears divided on whether the U.S. is pursuing a policy of regime change in Syria, days after the first direct American military attack against the Syrian government. Thursdays strike was related solely to the most recent horrific use of chemical weapons, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told ABC News George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. Turkish Airlines Crew Helps Deliver Baby Girl At 42,000 Feet A Turkish Airlines flight in northwest Africa touched down with an unexpected passenger, and its crew couldnt have been more thrilled. The planes crew helped deliver a baby girl about halfway into their flight from Guinea to the neighboring country of Ouagadougou, the BBC reported. Janet Jackson Reportedly Splits From Wissam Al Mana Multiple outlets are reporting that Janet Jackson s marriage to Wissam Al Mana, her husband since 2012, is over. The couple recently welcomed baby boy Eissa Al Mana on Jan. 3, months after the 50-year-old announced she was postponing her Unbreakable World Tour in order to plan her family. What You Need To Know About North Koreas Nuclear Aspirations Since the ascension of Kim Jong Un in 2011, North Korea has posed an ongoing diplomatic challenge for the United States. Pyongyang has ramped up work on its nuclear program and hopes to soon be in possession of a nuclear-armed missile able to reach U.S. shores. Trump Is About To Find Out Why Obama Avoided Syrian Intervention WASHINGTON On Thursday night, President Donald Trump authorized the military to launch several dozen cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at a Syrian airfield. The strike was meant to punish Syrias President Bashar Assad for allegedly using chemical weapons to attack his own citizens. Second Victim Dies After Shooting At Florida Gym A second victim has died after a disgruntled fitness instructor opened fire on his former coworkers inside an upscale gym outside Miami before shooting himself, police said on Sunday. Fitness manager Marios Hortis, 42, died while being treated for injuries he sustained in the Saturday shooting at Equinox Fitness in Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County police said in a statement. Cristiano Ronaldo involved in fewer goals by age of 21 than Dele Alli Dele Alli, 21 on Tuesday, is better than Cristiano Ronaldo was in goal involvement The Tottenham midfielder has been involved in 40 goals so far in his career Ronaldo was involved in 25 by the time he was 21, scoring 14 and assisting 11 Dele Alli is 21 on Tuesday and is better than Cristiano Ronaldo was when it comes to making and scoring goals. Everton 4-2 Leicester: Lukaku scores twice in six-goal thriller Everton: Robles, Pennington, Jagielka, Holgate, Baines, Gana, Schneiderlin (Barry 73), Davies, Mirallas, Lukaku, Barkley Subs not used: Valencia, Stekelenburg, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Kenny, Joe Williams Goalscorers: Davies 1, Lukaku 23, 57, Jagielka 41 Booked: Mirallas, Baines Leicester: Schmeichel, Amartey, Benalouane, Huth, Chilwell, Gray (Mahrez 61), King, Drinkwater, Albrighton (Ulloa 78), Slimani, Vardy (Mysa 61) Subs not used: Kapustka, Simpson, Zieler, Wasilewski Goalscorers: Slimani 4, Albrighton 10 Booked: Huth, King Referee: Robert Madley Atleti star Griezmann hands PL suitors a boost as he rules out Real Striker Antoine Griezmann is wanted by a host of European giants this summer Real Madrid were thought to be in the mix but the Frenchman has ruled them out The Atletico Madrid man doesnt think joining their city rivals is achievable Griezmanns statment should be a boost to the English clubs chasing him Antoine Griezmann gave the Premier League sides chasing his signature in the summer a big boost by effectively ruling out a move to Real Madrid. Chelsea boss Conte calls for calm against Mourinhos Man United Antonio Conte has warned Chelsea to keep calm against Manchester United Tension between Chelsea and United players boiled over in their recent clash Jose Mourinho will face his former club having lost the previous two meetings Antonio Conte has warned his Chelsea team to keep their heads against Jose Mourinhos motivated Manchester United when the teams meet at Old Trafford on Sunday. Man Uniteds Zlatan Ibrahimovic: I am the Benjamin Button of football Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored opener as Manchester United beat Sunderland 3-0 The 35-year-old earned the man of the match award for his performance Ibrahimovic has scored 250 goals since turning 30 and says he is getting better Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says his game has become more intelligent as he has got older, and says he feels like Benjamin Button. Google Maps is removing one of its most loved features because of abuse Aside from being very useful, the Google Maps app is also a lot of fun. You can revisit old haunts and take a virtual walk at street level. Theres also lots of amusement to be had planning a route and making a rude shape with it. Newsreader gets caught daydreaming live on air and her reaction is priceless You may not have heard of Natasha Exelby before, but shes recently shot to the attention of the public outside of her native Australia. The ABC newsreader has brought joy to thousands of people with her unscripted and very expressive reaction to being caught off-guard while live on air. The worst seat on a plane may be about to become the best heres why No one likes the middle seat on the plane. There are may reasons for this, each one totally valid. You feel awkward about asking your neighbour to move every time you need the toilet. If youre the sort of person who needs to go regularly , this is torture. A St. Helena woman is urging people to lock their doors and secure their valuables after someone entered her home and stole some of the Mondavi family jewels. The crime occurred over the weekend of March 31-April 1 at the Granger Way home of Serena Ventura Chickering. Police said the missing jewelry is valued in the tens of thousands of dollars. Chickering said nothing else was stolen except for her jewelry, which shed kept in a large box in her closet. Aside from the monetary value, the stolen jewelry had great sentimental value because much of it had belonged to her grandmother, Rosa Mondavi, and her mother, Helen Mondavi Ventura. They knew exactly what they were looking for, she said. They took all the gold, all the rings, necklaces, bracelets, gemstones, watches. These are things that are irreplaceable to me. I am offering a reward. Sgt. Matt Talbott of the St. Helena Police Department declined to comment on the specifics of the case, which is still under investigation, but he confirmed Chickerings account that someone had entered the house by removing the screen of a window that had been left ajar. Chickering said she wanted to go public to warn others that St. Helena, despite its low crime rate, is not a mythological fairly land where this never happens. She said this is the third time her house has been burglarized in the last three years, not counting the time when her car was stolen from the driveway in 2004. Her doors were locked every time. People need to be careful in this town, she said. Its an opportunity town, and people need to realize that. Were affluent and were very vulnerable. She and Talbott said people should lock their doors and windows and keep their valuables in a safe thats bolted to the ground or, better yet, in a safe deposit box at a bank, Talbott said. Take every precaution and imagine youre in an urban center, Chickering said. St. Helena is experiencing a wave of thefts and burglaries, which happens periodically, Talbott said. The latest police log mentions thefts, mostly from unlocked cars, on Meadowcreek Circle, Monte Vista Avenue, and especially Hunt Avenue. While thieves from the Bay Area and Lake County have been known to target St. Helena, the culprits are more typically locals, Talbott said. Most of these are crimes of opportunity, he said. Thats why we encourage people to not just lock their cars, but not leave valuables in their cars. Monday, April 3 0240 -- A caller from Hunt Avenue said his girlfriend hit him on the head. There were no weapons involved. 0623 -- A man asked to talk to an officer about issues with his live-in girlfriend and their constant disputes. Police stood by while he retrieved his keys and cell phone. 0806 -- A Springbrook Court resident said a new neighbor who moved in about a week ago has two Labradors outside that bark all day long. 1722 -- A caller reported construction going on at a white house in the 1700 block of Tainter Street. 2101 -- Report of people yelling and screaming at a playground on Adams Street. Tuesday, April 4 0019 -- Following a traffic stop at Pine/Oak, police arrested a 25-year-old St. Helena man on suspicion of DUI while on probation. 0750 -- Report of a wheel in the roadway near Silverado/Pratt. 1444 -- A Major Crimes Task Force officer was called to Napa to assist with an officer-involved shooting in the West Park/Linda Vista area. 1657 -- A license plate was stolen from a car on Meadowcreek Circle. 1703 -- The fire department responded to McCorkle Avenue because a dishwasher was smoking and the power was out. There was no fire, and PG&E came to assist. Wednesday, April 5 0738 -- Medical aid for an elderly woman with low blood pressure on Olive Avenue. 0924 -- Medical aid for an elderly woman who fell yesterday and might have broken her arm on Hunt Avenue. 0931 -- Non-injury lift assist on Del Monte Court. 1014 -- Police picked up a small black dog found on Pratt Avenue. 1040 -- Numerous reports of a woman yelling obscenities and urinating on a bench at Adams/Railroad. 1331 -- Report of two men urinating on the back wall of a gas station near Main/Spring. 1539 -- Report of a man and a woman fighting inside a Hunt Avenue store. Police contacted the couple, who were separated and told not to return to the store. 1614 -- A resident asked to talk to an officer about a bank opening an account in her name without her knowledge. An officer advised her to contact the bank and close the account. 1645 -- Report of a possible drunk driver on northbound Silverado Trail near Deer Park Road. 1909 -- A person saw a large colony of bees in a tree in Lyman Park. 2315 -- A pair of inline skates were reported lost. They were last seen near a bench in front of City Hall. Thursday, April 6 1220 -- Medical aid for a man possibly passing out on Main Street. 1306 -- Report of a suspicious red car at the cemetery. 1656 -- A caller was upset about small children playing and pulling her hair while she dined at a Main Street restaurant. She said the management did nothing about it. 2007 -- Non-injury lift assist on Los Robles Court. 2008 -- An explosion was heard on Pine Street, possibly from a transformer. Sparks were visible along a power line. 2017 -- A tree fell on a car on Springbrook Court. 2039 -- Report of tree branches down in the southbound lane of Main Street near Pratt Avenue. 2042 -- An explosion was heard on Doris Court, possibly from a transformer, followed by a power outage. 2104 -- Report of a tree branch down on Pope Street near Meily Park. 2249 -- Report of a suspicious person on Vineyard Avenue. 2330 -- A Public Works employee reported needing help with major issues at the wastewater treatment plant. Friday, April 7 0126 -- Following a traffic stop at Main/Deer Park, police arrested a 48-year-old Pleasant Hill man on suspicion of DUI. 0911 -- Public Works cleared a large branch from a driveway on Harvest Lane. 1003 -- A caller had an issue with a neighbor who was verbally aggressive and refused to leave the property. 1051 -- A caller said too many cars were parked on the side of the street near Elmhurst/Main, making it hard to see, especially when crossing. She believed the cars belong to employees at a new hotel. She asked if police could paint the curb red. Police said that would be a City Hall issue. 1253 -- Public Works installed a pharmaceutical drop-off kiosk in front of the police department. 1410 -- A Monte Vista resident said their home was broken into two days ago. Medication and a $1,000 pair of glasses were stolen. 1434 -- A resident reported receiving fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be with the IRS. 1523 -- Report of a school bus blocking the eastbound lane of Pope Street near Main Street. It had its hazard lights on, and the driver was talking on a cell phone. Saturday, April 8 0050 -- A caller was alerted by a family member that someone was trying to gain entry to her car on Hunt Avenue. They had since left the scene. Police took a vandalism report. 0831 -- A contract and other paperwork were stolen from a car on Hunt Avenue. 0935 -- Someone rifled through a car on Meadowcreek Circle and stole a set of keys. 1233 -- Report of a reckless driver speeding and swerving on northbound Main Street, turning onto Pope. Police checked the area. 1251 -- Report of a large German shepherd wearing a muzzle walking loose on Allison Avenue. 1504 -- A drivers license, Mexican ID card and phone case were stolen from a car parked near Hunt/Starr. 1641 -- A caller said a woman who appeared to be a gypsy stole candy from a store near Main/Mitchell. The woman had been with another woman, and they had both been outside begging with signs. The one who had stolen the candy appeared to be pregnant and was now sitting near Oak/Tainter. The other woman was dressed in black with a black leather purse. 2155 -- Report of an old Toyota Corolla traveling in the wrong lane on eastbound Zinfandel Lane. An officer stopped the car and cited the driver after it drove through the flashing red lights at Silverado Trail and Deer Park Road without any attempt to stop. Sunday, April 9 0205 -- Following a traffic stop at Silverado Trail and Pope Street, police arrested a 31-year-old Yountville man on suspicion of DUI. 0932 -- A wallet, two drivers licenses, registration, lottery tickets, scissors, 400-500 CDs, paperwork, and other items were stolen from an unlocked car on Hunt Avenue. 1126 -- Report of an obnoxious and reckless driver on Main Street. 1220 -- Via 911, a caller reported a big white rabbit running around near Main/Fulton. 1333 -- Report of an assault on Highway 29 south of the city limits. The caller said someone had been driving very fast and almost hit them. The caller kicked the speeding car. The driver stopped, got out, yelled, smacked the caller in the face, and left. Police transferred the call to the sheriffs office because the incident happened outside the city limits. 1358 -- A hat and a Porsche manual worth a couple hundred dollars were stolen from a car parked in a Hunt Avenue lot. 1527 -- An iPhone was found at Lyman Park. 1746 -- Report of a reckless driver on southbound Silverado Trail. Monday, April 10 1021 -- Someone rifled through an unlocked car on Mariposa Lane two weeks ago. 1211 -- Report of a white Nissan SUV parked on Harvest Lane for eight or nine weeks. 1411 -- Report of an RV parked on Pine Street in violation of city ordinance. 1655 -- Report of a gray pickup parked on Madrona Avenue for a month. 1934 -- Non-injury accident at Pope/Starr. Tuesday, April 11 0126 -- Following a traffic stop at Main/Deer Park, police arrested a 38-year-old Aliso Viejo woman on suspicion of DUI. The committee appointed by the City Council to review the recent water and wastewater rate increases held its first meeting Monday. With about a dozen members of the public in attendance, members of the Ad Hoc Utility Rate Committee started outlining their plans to study the citys list of capital improvement projects, how the city proposes to fund each one (cash, grants, loans or debt), and when the city will need to pay for them. Critics of the rate increases have said the approved rates are unnecessarily high because the city isnt relying enough on debt to finance expensive long-term improvements to St. Helenas aging water and sewer systems. Mayor Alan Galbraith and City Councilmember Mary Koberstein, appointed by the council as liaisons to the committee, gave contrasting views about how the committee should go about its work. Galbraith, who opposed the creation of the committee, said its vital for the city to generate enough revenue to satisfy its bond covenants and build up enough reserves to cover unforeseen expenses. He said members should consider that the city tends to underestimate the cost of fixing and maintaining its infrastructure. He said hes not aware of any methodological errors in the rate study. Koberstein, who pushed for the council to create the committee, said members shouldnt look for methodological errors but rather analyze the financial assumptions underlying the new rates. Is it equitable to have existing rate customers over the next five years pay cash for projects that go on to benefit residents of St. Helena for another 10, 20, 30, 40 years? Koberstein asked. After Galbraith and Koberstein spoke, city staff gave an overview of the rate study and briefed the committee on some of the major capital projects the city is undertaking over the next few years. Erica Ahmann Smithies, acting public works director, highlighted the removal of the York Creek dam, the replacement of the failing intake tower at Bell Canyon reservoir, the installation of flow monitoring equipment at the reservoir, and state-mandated upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant. Many projects have been in the planning stages for years but kept getting put on hold for lack of funding, Smithies said. Theyve been in progress for several years, then put on hold, then put back on task, she said. They keep costing more because we keep putting them on hold. The committee consists of Doug Cutting, Chris Dann, Joel Gott, Lester Hardy, Bonnie Long, Mark Smithers and Tom Vence. Members appointed Long, a former St. Helena city manager, as chair and Vence, a member of the citizens group that urged the council to reconsider the rates, as vice chair. The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, April 17, at Vintage Hall. Will Russia, Iran double down in Syria following Trumps actions against Assad, leading to World War III? The strategy of the United States and NATO during the Cold War focused primarily on stopping a massive land attack by the Soviet Red Army as it invaded the European continent. Short of all-out nuclear war, that was the most likely scenario leading to the third world war in less than a century. Of course, the Red Army never invaded, there was never a massive nuclear exchange between Moscow and Washington, and the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the USSR. The world breathed a sigh relief. Who could have imagined that, a quarter of a century later, the rump state of Syria may well become the flashpoint for World War III? And yet, thats entirely possible. (RELATED: Trump Is Not Obama: Laying Down International Law To Assad Panned By Some Supporters But Praised By Others As Decisive) Last week President Donald J. Trump, in response to yet another shocking use of sarin gas by elements of the Syrian army against rebels and noncombatants, in which dozens of children were killed, ordered a massive Tomahawk cruise missile attack against the government-held airbase where the chemical attack was believed to have been launched. Over the course of several minutes while Trump was hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort 59 missiles slammed into the al-Shayrat airbase, destroying as many as 20 aircraft, hardened bunkers, and ammunition and fuel storage facilities. Following the attack, Trump warned he would order subsequent attacks against the Syrian regime if it continued to use poison gas. Shattering once and for all the Marxist Democrat narrative that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin colluded to steal the election from Hillary Clinton, the White Houses action earned Trump praise from all over the world except from Russia and its client state, Iran, both of whom have expended billions of dollars and no small amount of resources to prop up the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Now, Moscow and Tehran will have to figure out what their next moves will be given that Trump has officially broken from the Obama era of pacifist foreign policy, where Washington shrank from its traditional role of world leader during the previous administration. Will they double down on their support for Assads failing state to protect their investment, so to speak, but also in an effort to prevent the U.S. from once again becoming the dominant force in the Middle East or will they now seek a diplomatic solution before the situation escalates into a global conflagration? As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the situation could go either way, but the strike most assuredly raised tensions with Iran, which has been sending Assad military support in terms of weapons, ammunition and fighters: Many Middle East analysts said Iran could seek to mobilize even more military support for Mr. Assad in coming months. This is in addition to the thousands of Shiite fighters it has already deployed in Syria since civil war broke out in the country in 2011. Syria serves as Irans closest regional ally and the land bridge for Iranian supplies going to Lebanese and Palestinian militias at war with Israel. The key question now is, whats the Iranian response to the attack? Do they double down, Andrew Tabler, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told the WSJ. (RELATED: Will Iran, Russia double down in Syria after U.S. strike? WWIII looms) Other experts told the paper that Tehran does not have a choice after what it has spent investing in Assads defense for the past six years, as the Syrian civil war has raged. The same is true for Moscow. Iran and Russia have paid a high cost in Syria, both financially and in human life, and Iran has lost even more than Russia, noted Foad Izadi, a professor at Tehran University. Therefore, Iran will not sit back indifferent. J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel. Sources: WSJ.com NationalSecurity.news COCOA BEACH, Florida Swimmers were once again ordered out of the water by Brevard County Ocean Rescue lifeguards along a stretch of beach in Cocoa Beach, Florida after sharks were spotted in the Atlantic Ocean near the Cocoa Beach Pier around just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. This is the second time in less than a week that the same beach has been closed due to sharks. On Monday, two people were bitten by sharks off of Brevard County beaches near Melbourne Beach, Florida. After lifeguards flew double red flags for about forty-five minutes, beachgoers on Spring Break were once again allowed back into the water. In 1945, as countries from around the world were shaping what would become the United Nations, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was on a battleship in the Atlantic Ocean intently listening to those milestone debates on a radio. I was very interested in what was happening and was very thankful as a Naval officer that there would be no more wars in my lifetime, recalled Carter, speaking on Human Rights in Todays World before a packed audience in Glenn Memorial Auditorium last week for Emory University School of Laws Centennial David J. Bederman Lecture. Since then, the U.S. has been at war with more than 30 countries. And we are now in something of a war with six or seven countries, Carter noted. But those early deliberations were critical, the one time in the history of human beings when the leaders of the world decided pretty well unanimously to look into the depths of the great religions Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and so forth and extract the finest aspects of all of those moral and ethical standards and values and put them into effect, explained Carter, a global humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who serves as an Emory University Distinguished Professor. By 1948, former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt was pushing to create a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with the goal of establishing a humane standard of treatment for all citizens of the world the genesis of a global human rights ideal that has been heavily challenged in recent years, he said. In effect, the U.S. has abandoned its basic commitment as a global human rights champion, Carter said, noting that the country's resolve in championing international law has weakened, too. Its a trend that has intensified under the current presidential administration, Carter said. He acknowledged that he flinched a little bit when President Donald Trump announced during his inauguration ceremony earlier this year that the American way of life would no longer be forced on other people which Carter interpreted to mean human rights. Though he doesnt see political winds shifting any time soon, the former president noted that he finds strength in the work of human rights advocates around the globe who continue to shine a light on abuses through their reports to The Carter Center, an Emory affiliate dedicated to waging peace, fighting disease and building hope. Im still hopeful because of the heroism I see, he said. Champion of human rights Todays human rights outlook marks an unsettling shift for the 92-year-old statesman, who announced in his own presidential inaugural address in 1977 that human rights would constitute the foundation of his foreign policy. As the 39th president of the United States, Carter is credited with introducing human rights into the center of our conversations about policy in the United States and around the world a commitment that would not waver after he left office, said Emory Law School Dean Robert Schapiro. In his decades of work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Presidential Center, he has continued to promote human rights and he has worked tirelessly to alleviate suffering across the globe, advance democracy, support economic and social development and find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, Schapiro said during introductions before Carter's April 6 speech. The annual lecture honors former Emory Law Professor David J. Bederman, the K.H. Gyr Professor in Private International Law, who served on the faculty of Emory Law for 20 years and was a skilled legal advocate, arguing cases before both the U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. In his remarks, Carter examined the evolution of human and civil rights during his lifetime from the influence of African Americans in shaping his rural Georgia childhood to witnessing the integration of the U.S. armed forces and eventual civil and voting rights advances under the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout, he invited his audience to think about how human rights applies to people who are different from us and how it affects us indirectly. Carter said that he sensed a turning point following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when the U.S. departed from its support of the Geneva Conventions when engaged in the war on terror, as well as individual privacy rights in the communication of its citizens. By lowering human right standards, the U.S. sent permission to human rights abusers in other counties to lower their standards as well, he said. He also challenged his audience to take a broad look at what constitutes human rights today, including the abuse of women around the world, human trafficking and campus sexual assault. Reflecting on his sober assessment of the state of human rights in the world today, Carter said he was advised by his staff to end with something relating to optimism. Though he doesnt think its getting any better, Carter acknowledged that to know how far we have to go might be the first step to ultimate improvement. Millenials, the media and movements The lecture concluded with Carter fielding audience questions. Here are a few highlights: Advice to millennials interested in entering politics: Carter urged everyone to read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Then, within each persons sphere of influence, take two or three of those commitments that you know are being violated and do what you personally can to end the violation, be it writing op-ed pieces or social activism. When practicing law, make sure every time you seek a decision in the courts it promotes human rights including peace, he said. If you run for office, being a champion of human rights may not be the most popular thing to do let human rights guide you. Should we explore a new way to enforce human rights? Carter said he didnt know any other way other than what weve been doing. The concept weve had for 45 years was that the U.S. would be the champion of human rights and that we would use our influence in the United Nations and other forums to set an example, he said. Does any crime merit the death penalty? I dont think it should ever be an appropriate penalty in America. I would like to see the death penalty abolished, he said, insisting that it has not been effective in deterring violent crime. Given human migration trends, what should be the medias role in creating empathy and a sense of unity? There are now more people displaced in the world than ever before, Carter said. The U.N. has identified 65 million people as being displaced from their homes about 21 million of them are refugees, he said. When immigrants come to America, they bring to us an innovative spirit, said Carter, recalling displaced Vietnamese refugees who arrived in the U.S. following the Vietnam War and how valuable they have been to our own society. The media, if they wanted to, could very well promote the idea that America is a country of immigrants, he said. All of us, except Native Americans, are from immigrant families. That has been a source of the strength and innovation of the American society. How will the current administration influence social movements, including Black Lives Matter and the womens movement? I dont see any glimmer of hope within the administration itself, Carter said. But I hope that the Black Lives Matter effort will continue and be enhanced and I hope the womens rights movement will continue and be enhanced because of a clear indication that they are much more needed than they were a few months ago. Performance artist, sculptor, professor, urban crusader and arts luminary Theaster Gates concludes his Emory residency April 18 with a public performance piece based on his work with students in Emory's integrated visual arts co-major. Theaster Gates: "The Art Sermon" Tuesday, April 18, 7 p.m., Cannon Chapel Theaster Gates will deliver a response to work from students of Emory's integrated Visual Arts Co-Major. His presentation dissolves boundaries between archives, art, race and performance. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. This program is presented by the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library and the Center for Creativity & Arts, and is made possible by funding from the David Goldwasser Series in Religion and the Arts. For the past year, performance artist, sculptor, professor, urban crusader and arts luminary Theaster Gates has been in conversation with Emory and the Atlanta community about the role engaged citizens and artists play in preserving communities of color. Gates' residency began with Black Spaces, an electrifying Goodrich C. White Lecture he delivered to a packed house in the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts on Feb. 3, 2016. He has also joined a public conversation on art and activism with Stuart A. Rose Library director Rosemary Magee and a panel discussion with local artists at the 2016 Decatur Book Festival. On April 18, Gates residency at Emory concludes as he returns to campus to deliver The Art Sermon, a response to work created by Emory students from the integrated visual arts co-major (IVAC) senior seminar, a class where he served as guest lecturer this past September. Like Black Spaces a talk he peppered with jokes and singing, enthralling the room before challenging it with tough questions on race and community The Art Sermon promises to be more performance piece than lecture. Gates, whose exhibition The Minor Arts opened this month at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, has dedicated the bulk of his work as an arts activist to reimagining ways to invest in the people and places society has overlooked. A Chicago native, he founded the grass-roots revitalization project Rebuild Foundation, through which he transforms vacant buildings on Chicagos South Side into beautiful and affordable living and cultural spaces creating what he calls altars, places where a community can honor the past while building an aesthetic future that doesnt sacrifice its authenticity. This forward-thinking approach inspired instructors to invite Gates back to campus this past September to engage with students in the IVAC senior seminar. Because the collections in the Rose Library are so rich and filled with tremendous possibilities for future research, the leadership wanted to develop a residency program to assist the work of artists seeking inspiration from the collections of Alice Walker, Salman Rushdie, Mari Evans, Jesse Peel, Camille Billops and James Hatch, and others," explains Pellom McDaniels, curator of the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Librarys African American Collections. "Our vision has been to provide artists with resources to inspire their work and productivity, while providing a space for exploration, discussion and sharing with students, staff and faculty," McDaniels notes. "The IVAC course represented the perfect opportunity to test our concept. 'He revolutionized how I approach art' Students in the senior seminar, led by instructors Leslie Taylor, professor of theater studies, and Kieran Moore, lecturer in visual arts, were assigned different chapters in a sermon written by Gates and asked to explore the chapters concept, making use of the Rose Librarys archives in whatever way they saw fit. The open-endedness of Gates assignment, while challenging, pushed the students to find their own voice in the echoes of the past. In art classes, you are assigned the style, the subject, the material. Theaster didn't operate like that. He gave a single thread and told you to pull, says Georgia Clark 17C. He didn't care how, why, or where you ended up. I loved it. He revolutionized how I approach art. McDaniels says Gates provided a unique classroom experience. As an artist, activist and thinker with rootedness in African American culture and even deeper connectedness to the people who make up the African American community, Theaster Gates brought a wisdom to the classroom that the IVAC students were not expecting, McDaniels says. The ease with which he communicated to each of them separately and as a group was admirable. He made himself accessible to their questions and concerns. He challenged them by making them uncomfortable. He forced them to think outside of the box, and praised them for their efforts. The treasure hunt in the Rose archives guided IVAC seniors to surprising sources of inspiration. Explains Bethany Studnicky 17C, Theaster gave me the phrase room for god and I ended up digging through boxes of punk rock and roll paraphernalia, obituaries and poetry from World War II. Clarks assignment, landscapes, led her to the African American collections images of lynching in America, a profound and difficult research project with a surprising result: She now works in the Rose Library as a student employee. How can we improve our future if we don't remember how much we messed up in the past?" she says. "Now I spend time educating people on archives, so that we can have a better tomorrow. Tanisha Raj 17C found her artistic vision permanently altered. I was given the color red. Theaster was not interested in our surface level understanding of our topics; he pushed us to keep thinking from every perspective," she says. "Theaster has inspired me in many ways, not just in my creative process, but in approaching the simplest of things, like the color red, with new appreciation. A broad, lasting impact Gates' impact on the inaugural class of IVAC graduates will be felt long past their time on campus, not to mention the mark he has left on the Emory community and Atlanta at-large, McDaniels says. Theaster Gates' residency and series of talks in Atlanta have been inspiring to students, artists and members of the greater Atlanta community, who see the value in working to improve society through local initiatives," he explains. After the residency culminates with the April 18 event, McDaniels hopes that the reverberations of Gates message will lead students and community members alike to search for answers in Emorys archives. If there is anything to be learned from the archives in the Rose Library, it is this: Each of our stories matters. However, if we want to change the world, we need to 1) take on an initiative that we feel passionate about; and 2) find collective ways to speak truth to power. Emory University School of Law announced today that 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote address at the schools Centennial Gala. Former United States senator and Emory Law alumnus Sam Nunn will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event, which will take place Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. in Atlanta. The gala is the culmination of a weekend of reunion and Centennial-themed events, and the final event in a series of nationwide events celebrating Emory Laws founding. Other speakers at events in Atlanta and across the country have included NAACP President Cornell Brooks; civil rights leader and member of Congress John Lewis (D-Ga.); Emory faculty members; and the CEOs of Moodys, GlaxoSmithKline and MetLife. Robert Schapiro, dean and Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, said, Emory is honored President Clinton will join us as we celebrate advancing the rule of law for a century. For the last 100 years, Emory Law has educated and inspired some of the centurys greatest legal minds and leaders like Senator Sam Nunn. We celebrate a rich history, as well as the beginning of a new century of Emory leaders who, like President Clinton and Senator Nunn, will confront global challenges head on and, in the process, advance our shared society. Emory Law, which ranks among the nations top 25 law schools, will have hosted two of the five living former presidents of the United States in a single month this year. Former President Jimmy Carter, University Distinguished Professor at Emory, spoke on campus April 6, delivering the law schools annual David J. Bederman Lecture. The Centennial Gala is a ticketed event and space is limited; Emory Law alumni may purchase tickets here. Julie Guthman, a professor of social sciences and a leading scholar on the history and geography of California agriculture, has been awarded a 2017 Guggenheim Fellowship. Guthman is one of 173 scholars, artists, and scientists recognized by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, selected from among nearly 3,000 applications. Guggenheim Fellows are selected on the basis of past achievement and the promise of future accomplishment. Guthman, a UCSC alumna (B.A., sociology, 1979) who joined the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 2003, is well known for her research on sustainable agriculture and alternative food movements. A proponent of organic agriculture, she nevertheless brings a keen and critical eye to the political-economy of sustainable food production. Guthman's first book, Agrarian Dreams: The Paradox of Organic Farming in California, published in 2004, was the first comprehensive study of organic agriculture in California. A second edition, published in 2014, revisited the subject in light of widespread consumer acceptance of organic food, and the political and market forces that shape the industry, including organic regulation and certification. Guthman's second book, Weighing In: Obesity, Food Justice, and the Limits of Capitalism, challenged many widely held assumptions about the "obesity epidemic." Her forthcoming book, co-edited with Alison Alkon, is The New Food Activism: Opposition, Cooperation, and Collective Action; it is due out in late 2017. She is also the author of more than 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Each 2017 Guggenheim Fellow receives approximately $50,000 to support in-depth work on a project. Guthman will focus on a book project about a soil pathogen, Verticillium dahliae, that has bedeviled strawberry growers and shaped the evolution of commercial strawberry production. Scholars at UC Santa Cruz have received more than 50 Guggenheim Fellowships since the campus opened in 1965. The Guggenheim Foundation has granted more than $350 million in fellowships to 18,000 people since its establishment in 1925. "These artists and writers, scholars and scientists, represent the best of the best," said Edward Hirsch, president of the Guggenheim Foundation. "It's an honor to be able to support these individuals to do the work they were meant to do." A Bhutanese businessman is the victim of a false flag assault in Charlotte by an African-American man who made the attack on the man's store appear to be the work of white supremacists. North Carolina police arrested on Sunday the man allegedly seen on a surveillance video setting fire to the store on Thursday and leaving a note threatening to torture immigrants and refugees and signing it "White America", The Charlotte Observer newspaper reported. The Central Market, described as Nepali-Indian establishment that sells South Asian food and gifts, is owned by Kamal Dhimel, a refugee from Bhutan. On Thursday night, the store's front door was set on fire, a glass pane on the door was smashed with a stone and the note signed "White America" and warning that refugees and immigrant business owners would face torture "if they did not leave and go back to where they came from" was left there, according to police quoted by the newspaper. Investigators said a video surveillance of the incident showed a "black male suspect", the Observer reported. African-American man Curtis Flournoy, 32, has been arrested and charged with ethnic intimidation, sending threatening letters, burning a business building and using incendiary material, according to the newspaper. Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera told the Observer that she was frustrated to see the hate crime take place. "I'll continue to work around the clock to make sure that all businesses and all the residences feel safe," she added. Last month, Harnish Patel, an Indian-American businessman in Lancaster in neighbouring South Carolina state, was shot dead outside his home. There have been no arrests in the case. While attacks and threats against ethnic and religious minorities have always been a feature of America, activists and Democratic Party leaders have attributed recent incidents to President Donald Trump. In some cases they have proved to be false flag attacks carried out by others and made to look like they were committed by white supremacists. In the most notorious of those cases, a series of threats against Jewish institutions were sought to be linked by activists to the election of Trump, whose daughter is a convert to Judaism, and he was criticised for not acting on them. However, an African-American man in the US and a Jewish man in Israel were arrested in connection with the threats. In some places, including New York, false reports have been spread about raids on illegal immigrants to spook immigrant communities. In February, an Indian-American woman, Ekta Desai, was harassed on a New York-New Jersey metro train by an African-American man who threatened her using foul language and said she should "get out of here". She uploaded the video of the harassment, but the Democratic New York city or state officials have not come forward to condemn it or take action against the man. US human rights organisations have not reacted to it either. In February, in a case directly attributed to white racism, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchsbhotla was shot dead and Alok Madsani was injured in Kansas, after they were mistaken for Middle Easterners or Iranians. The alleged shooter, a white man, has been arrested and awaiting trial. Last month, a Sikh in Kent, Washington State, was shot and injured by a man who shouted at him, "Go back to your country". Authorities are still looking for the shooter. In another case last month, an Indian woman Sasikala Narra, 38, and her six-year-old son, Anish, were stabbed to death in New Jersey. That case has not been solved either. --IANS al/py/ ( 604 Words) 2017-04-11-08:44:07 (IANS) "What Pakistan is doing is not only an assault on India, it is an assault on international laws, international conventions that affect everybody. "There are certain countries that finance and arm the Pakistani military. Those countries must be told by us that if this can be done to an Indian today, it can be done to one of their nationals tomorrow," Tharoor said in the Lok Sabha. "The extremely important thing for us is to uphold the principles. Thirteen times this gentleman was denied consular access, which is a basic right. "Geneva conventions have been violated by Pakistan... This is an extremely serious matter," he added. The opposition and the treasury benches in Parliament on Tuesday jointly expressed solidarity with Jadhav, who was awarded capital punishment by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial on Monday. India has warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it goes ahead with the death sentence. --IANS sid/rn ( 197 Words) 2017-04-11-17:54:14 (IANS) The 64th National Awards were announced on Friday, 7th April 2017, honoring the best Indian movies of 2016. Adding yet another feather to its hat, Prime Focus completed a hat-trick of National Award successeswith '24', a Tamil film which bagged the Best Cinematography award this year. For 24, Prime Focus delivered color grading and finishing services, a post-productionprocess crucial to enhancing the overall visual quality of the movieand a vital tool for cinematographers to accurately capture their vision on screen. This is the third year in a row that Prime Focus has delivered its color grading and finishing services for the winner of National Award for Best Cinematography. Prime Focus previously delivered DI services for the Best Cinematography award winners Chotushkone and Bajirao Mastani in 2015 and 2016 respectively. It also marks the third time that Prime Focus' Colorist Ashirwad Hadkar has color corrected a film which went on to win the National Award for Best Cinematography. Prime Focus was also the post production partner for a staggering 12 winners of National Awards this year including Ventilator, Cycle, Rustom, Dhanak, Dashakriya, Abba, The Cinema Travellers, Neerja, Janatha Garage, 24, Dangal and Mukthi Bhavan. Niraj Sanghai, Sr. VP, Film Sales, Prime Focussaid, "Being the post production partner to 12 National Award winning movies this year is indeed a moment of great pride and honor for everyone at Prime Focus. It also reflects the trust and confidence that filmmakers not only from Bollywood but across the country continue to place in our post-production facility and our artists. Prime Focus' legacy is a distinguished one, and it's recognitions like these that inspire and motivate us to keep pushing the envelope and continue to deliver quality work year after year. This is a victory for each and every person associated with Prime Focus." (ANI) One of the most significant early artists in India, Jamini Roy portrayed rural scenario, ordinary people, animals and folk cults of the time and place. Born into a moderately prosperous family of land-owners in Beliatore village of the Bankura district, West Bengal, Roy went to study at the Government College of Art in Kolkata where he trained in British academic style of painting in 1916. But when it was time for Roy to develop his style of art, he returned to the folk and craft of his homeland. When Jamini Roy was learning art and craft of paintings, he was heavily influenced by the wave of nationalism in the country. He took inspiration from East Asian calligraphy, folk arts and crafts traditions and from the 1920s onwards his paintings reflected the innocence and beauty of rural lives. Jamini Roy, who died in 1972, received several honours including, Padma Bhushan in 1954 and Viceroy's gold medal in an all India exhibition for one of his work in 1934. (ANI) In order to raise their voices in a silent manner against the rising rape incidents and menace of drug among youth, people along with the students of Art College, Tripura took part in road paintings and cartoon drawing under the name 'Hope Jagaran' here. According to the protesters, they chose roads as their canvas so that the people get their message which otherwise does not get much importance in the mainstream media due to the state's geographical isolation. They also expressed their dissatisfaction over the state government as not many measures have been taken to stop these growing threats. One of the protesters Joydeep Chakraborty said, "Tripura ranks among the top three states in our country in rape incidents and the youth are engulfed by drug addiction. So, we have organized to protest against these menaces with an intention to awaken the people of the state." "We want to know from the Chief Minister the official statement, what the government is thinking about these issues as the youth are not getting any message from the government. So we are showing our protest to hear something from the government what step they are taking against these," he told ANI. Meanwhile, another protester, Debajyoti Chakraborty said this is a protest against the increasing cases of women atrocity in the state. "Almost every day, there few incidents of rape, murder in our state. Here, we along with the artist of Art College pass out are protesting with these paintings," he added. Tripura is among the states that records the highest crime against women and on contrary, with the lowest conviction rate in India. (ANI) Coming down heavily on Pakistan for awarding death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said with such an announcement, Islamabad has put its credibility at stake globally. Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Nalin Kohli said the government of India has clearly and very firmly stated that in the manner in which this trial has been conducted is clearly a case of premeditated murder. "We need to bear in mind that no consular access was provided. He was travelling with his passport. The way the trial has been done also, statements are there from Pakistan and senior officials there who said there were only statements there, no supporting evidence," he added. Escalating his attack on Pakistan, Kohli further said that if this is the kind of a Kangaroo court approach that Islamabad will adopt and go ahead then it is a test for the state to understand that its credibility is even more at stake globally. Echoing similar sentiments, another BJP leader S. Prakash said renowned terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar are roaming free in Pakistan, while an Indian has been convicted to death sentence by Pakistan Government is nothing but a murder by the Pakistani authorities. "Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan when he was travelling to Iran. He was arrested in March 2016. Within a span of one year a fast investigation and a court proceeding was held and he was convicted to death by the Pakistani agencies. Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar who have killed hundreds of people through their terror activities are roaming free in Pakistan," he added. Asserting that India has already desisted strong protests with the Pakistani Ambassador to India, Prakash said that the Indian Government would definitely take this matter at the highest level and ensure Jadhav is protected. Strongly reacting to Pakistan's announcement of Jadhav's death sentence, India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court. The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," an official statement read. Earlier in March 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the former Indian naval officer was arrested by Pakistan for allegedly engaging in subversive activities was possibly kidnapped from Iran and denied any possibilities of him being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. (ANI) Addressing the media after the meet, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the NDA members met to work on their strategy for the future. "The resolution expresses appreciation of the bold leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Jaitley said. Jaitley further said that there was no discussion over who will be the next president of India. "The resolution endorses policies of NDA and its campaigns," he added. As many as 33 members of the alliance met under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This the second such meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with his coalition partners since Prime Minister Modi was sworn in 2014. The Prime minister talked about new India and youth development. He said Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana should not be neglected and also the NDA is expanding which is a positive aspect. "We have to work on Garib Kalyan Yojana. We do not want to break public's trust," the Prime Minister added. (ANI) He will join his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley for the first India/UK Strategic Dialogue, which was agreed in November 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to London as part of the Defence and International Security Partnership. He will visit Mumbai and Delhi, where he will meet senior Indian Ministry of Defence officials, military staff, business and opinion leaders. The visit will further cement the Defence and International Security Partnership which aims to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between India and the UK, including by enhancing mutual capabilities and effectiveness through joint training and doctrine development. The India-UK Strategic Dialogue will look at ways of enforcing cooperation on science and technology, research and development, and countering violent extremism. (ANI) The ruling CPI-M in Tripura strongly opposed the call of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat to ban cow slaughter in the country by promulgating a law while opposition Congress and Trinamool felt it is disregard to the citizens.At a time when entire country engaged into the debate over Bhagwat's call for banning cow slaughtering CPI-M senior leader and Deputy Speaker of Tripura assembly Pabitra Kar said India cannot pursue for a law which counter the secular fabric of the country."Cruelty on animal is already illegal in India but law to prevent particularly cow slaughtering is hurting the sentiment of non-Hindus. No government can interfere in food choice of any community," Mr Kar attributed.Meanwhile, Alok Bhattacharjee, a professor of Tripura University however, argued that sacrifice of animal has to be banned in the country. This is not only about cow or goat. Killing animal by man for consummation is not a civilised gesture of any human being and supported the call.Trinamool Congress President Ashis Saha however, criticised Bhagwat saying that political parties must not get into such debate, which could lead to misunderstanding among the people of the country."Cow slaughtering is a practice in India for time immemorial by non-Hindus. Yes, considering the importance of cow in our daily life we must save cow and bulls for our nutrition and agriculture. But it should not say to ban on slaughtering of cows since it is a ritual for Muslims," Mr Saha pointed out.Congress president Birajit Sinha criticised the statement and said, "The Modi government is driven by RSS and fanatic Hindus, which is not at all accepted in Indian context. Any action or initiative of the government or responsible political party is to be respectful to the constitution."UNI BB RN 1101 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1225031.Xml Mobile Task Force (MTF) personnel of Tripura police detained five Bangladeshi youths from Jogendranagar railway station of Agartala while travelling to Uttar Pradesh without any valid documents.Police said they entered Tripura through Sonamura border on previous night taking the advantage of darkness for going to Saharanpur of Uttar Pradesh but they did not satisfy investigator regarding reason of their travel.They were identified as Md Hossain (18) of Ratupalang, Chittagong, Shariful Islam (19) of Gouripur, Maymensingh, Jahar Ahmed (21) of Coxbazar, Abdul Oadut (23) of Athajhari, Chittagong, and Md Osman Gani (24) of Baidykona Coxsbazar.The Bangladeshi youths told MTF police that they have been studying in Madrassa and for higher education they were going to Saharanpur. It is not clear how they assembled under one umbrella though they are living in different locations of Bangladesh.Last one year many Bangladeshis are being intercepted by the state police who have been using Tripura as corridor for several anti-Indian activities in different parts of the country.However, there is no improvement in border guarding along Bangladesh border.UNI BB RN 1105 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1225032.Xml The Dalai Lama has hit out against those who justify terror killings in the name of religion as he wrapped his four-day visit to Tawang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh(AP), which left China sulking and rest of the world keenly assessing its long term strategic impacts. Delivering a lecture at Kalawangpo Hall on the concluding day of his visit yesterday, the Tibetan spiritual leader said the terror killings in the name of religion can never be true to its faith. However, he advocated that the efforts should be made to reach out to even terrorists as they were not born terrorist but the circumstances made them so. Though, his visit to AP was vehemently protested by neighbouring China, which claims entire Tawang Valley, devotees across the state thronged to attend all the programmes he joined. The Dalai Lama also slammed China during the visit, brushing aside the protests by saying he Chinese. At one point of time he suggested the Tibet remains a touchy and sensitive issue to China that is the reason of the opposition to his visit to AP. UNI MK CJ SHS 0901 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-1224970.Xml Australian shares are set to open flaton Tuesday, while BHP Billiton , saw its U.S.-listedshares rise after the miner rejected a plan by activistshareholder Elliott Advisors to scrap its dual companystructure. BHP Billiton on Monday shot down a plan by activistshareholder Elliott Advisors to scrap the miner's dual companystructure,saying the costs would outweigh any benefits. The local share price index futures dipped 2 pointsto 5,899, a 13.9-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200index close. The benchmark rose 0.9 percent to a near2-year high on Monday. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 1.96points, or 0.03 percent, in early trade. REUTERS AKC 0401 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1224931.Xml Two days after a portion of the arterial Anna Salai in the city caved-in creating a huge crater, minor cracks developed to the extent of ten metres today, on the other side of the road. Police and Fire service sources said today's cracks had developed on the other side of the median on the arterial road, resulting in traffic snarls. The cracks were due to the tunnel boring work as partof the Chennai Metro Rail Project. Chennai Metro authorities said there was no need to panic as the cracks, which were visible to the extent ofabout ten metres, were minor in nature. The incident took place exactly on the opposite side of the same spot where a portion of the road caved in to the extent of 2.5 metres on Sunday, pulling down a MTC a bus and car. Today's cracks were said to be due to the impact ofthe Sunday's cave-in on the other side of the road. Acting on information, authorities drawn from various departments, including police, fire and Metro rail, rushed to the spot and set right the cracks. The authorities drilled small holes and closed the crackswith concrete mix, sources said. Vehicular traffic from Guindy and Saidapet and heading towards Broadway were affected for some time, causing hardship to office goers. As police cordoned off the spot by ensuring that only minimal hardship was caused to the motorists, the traffic movement on the stretch was slow and vehicles were seen lined up on the Anna Fly over. After about 30 to 45 minutes, normal traffic was restoredon the stretch. UNI GV 1110 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1225047.Xml To commemorate the Proclamation of Independence, the step for first Bangladesh government, Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala in association with an NGO Friends of Bangladesh in Agartala and an Bangladeshi organisation Shrutighar began two days celebration here.Besides, politicians and academicians of Tripura and Bangladesh, Obidul Muktadir Choudhury, an MP of Bangladesh parliament addressed the gathering of the inaugural session at Agartala Town Hall followed by two days cultural programs by the artists of Bangladesh.Addressing the gathering Mr Choudhury remembered 46 years ago on April 10 night Proclamation of Independence' for Bangladesh was decided and the declaration was written in Agartala Circuit House. The freedom fighters had penned down in details and the elderly leaders - elected Awami League- and the declaration was signed by Prof Yusuf Ali.Seven days later based on this Proclamation the Provincial government of Bangladesh was sworn in Baidyanathtilla with Syed Najrul Islam and Tajuddin at the helm. The BSF under direct supervision of their DG K F Rustamji and IG Golak Majumdar -helped them in organising the ceremony, he stated.UNI BB RN 1121 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1225048.Xml "With the ruckus that is happening in Kashmir, Election Commission (EC) of India should cancel the elections for at least two years so that peace prevails and violence issues are sorted out," Swamy told ANI. Swamy further said the government should send 10,000 soldiers to reside in Kashmir so that law and order is maintained in the state. "To maintain peace and serenity in Kashmir the government should send 10,000 soldiers with lots of arms, ammunitions and money, so that they can reside and maintain law and order in the state," Swamy said. Srinagar reported a poor 6.5 percent voter turnout during the by-polls for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency as intense clashes were witnessed between the youth and security forces. Violence was reported from Budgam area in central Kashmir, which is a part of the three districts - Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal - voting in the elections. Reports suggest that polling stations were attacked and the EVMs were broken at many places. Severe clashes were reported from Delwan and Chadoora areas where two people lost their lives. Locals said a group of boys tried to attack a polling station, but the security forces opened fire resulting in the two casualties. Three others were also injured in the incident. A similar incident was reported in Beerwah area where another person lost his life during the clashes. The violence affected the overall voting percentage. Earlier this week, at least three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter in Arwani area of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag on Thursday. The combing operation is currently underway. The Railway authorities earlier in the day suspended train services from Budgam-Banihal due to the encounter. Fresh exchange of fire started between terrorists and security forces in south Kashmir's Anantnag district in the early morning hours.(ANI) Around 1500 youths, including 500 from the Kashmir Valley, competed in the Indian Army's recruitment drive here to ensure that they lead a dignified life. The recruitment is being done for the Indian Army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) for the Kashmir region. Munnawar Hussain, whose son is participating in the recruitment rally, expressed his delight and said that he would be extremely proud if he is selected. "My son is here from the last 20 days. The army's center has been taking care of my son and other young boys like a mother takes care of her child," he told ANI. Hussain, a former JAK LI soldier, said that Kashmiri youth shouldn't fall prey to the 'misinformation' and come at JAK LI centre to know what type of treatment the Indian Army gives to Kashmiris. He thanked his commander and JAK LI regiment for providing him the opportunity to lead a dignified and meaningful life. JAK LI employs only the residents of Jammu and Kashmir and gives additional points in the selection to the children of former JAK LI soldiers. A local Shahid, who has been selected in the JAK LI, told ANI that it would be his pleasure to serve the nation through the coveted Indian Army. Another local Mohammad Shabir, who has been selected, said that he would now be able to live a comfortable and dignified life, adding that he would not be able to cater to the needs of his family. He exhorted the stone-pelters and drug addict Kashmiri youth to desert the devastating path and try to join the Indian Army. "These youth should also think about their parents," said Shabir. Another local Mohammad Sadiq, who served in the JAK LI for 17 years, said there is no better job than this. His son also participated in the recruitment rally. An army officer, who monitored the entire recruitment process, said around 30,000 youngsters from Kashmir Valley participated in the Indian Army's recruitment drive in the recent past. "This shows patriotism is there in the hearts of Kashmiri youth and the army is also trying to create more vacancies for the Kashmiri youth," he said. When asked about the reason behind so many Kashmiri youths opting to join the Indian Army at a time when the situation in the valley is volatile, the officer said, "Patriotism and attraction for the Indian Army among the Kashmiris is not a new thing." "The common people, who waged an armed resistance to the Pakistani aggression in J&K, were initially called J&K Militia, which was later transformed into JAK LI," said the army officer. He informed that recruitment for the youngsters of Jammu, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, and Leh regions will be held on Wednesday. (ANI) Dubbing the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court as 'pre-meditated murder', Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said it is extremely unfortunate that Islamabad is not able to quit its old habits. Asserting that Pakistan did not conduct a fair trial for Jadhav, Naidu said that the Asian neighbour assumed charges against the Indian national as it did not have any evidence against him. "Pakistan's behaviour shows that it's a pre-meditated murder. Neither they submitted any evidence in the regard nor a fair trial happened in the regard. They just presumed things and gave the verdict," said Naidu. "Pakistan is not able to quit its old habits and this is very unfortunate. The world is watching this and will condemn this step of Islamabad," he added. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said that Jadhav is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter is clear, Swaraj said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she added while expressing her concern on this issue in the Rajya Sabha. Swaraj said that Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. "The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him. Accordingly, from the time his abduction was known, our High Commission in Islamabad has continuously pressed Pakistani authorities for such access. Although this is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations, the Government of Pakistan did not permit it. That itself should tell us much about the strength of the case against Shri Jadhav. Hon'ble Members would also recall that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in this case," said Swaraj. Stating that the Pakistan Government sought India's assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process, she informed that in doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. "Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position. Nevertheless, in the hope that some forward movement could be made, our response was constructive. We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan," said Swaraj. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence. To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she added. The External Affairs Minister further said Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed India's position to Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit yesterday. "Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," said Swaraj. "I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Shri Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time," she added. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. Basit was yesterday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. (ANI) Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Tuesday wrapped up his week-long tour of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing had strongly objected to. The Dalai Lama left by helicopter for Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, on Tuesday morning from Tawang helipad. Thousands of people lined up along the road to see him off. Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries also saw him off at the helipad, a government official told IANS. "The Chief Minister thanked the Dalai Lama for his visit and requested him to visit Arunachal Pradesh again in the near future," the official said. On Monday, the Nobel Peace laureate, who Beijing has called an "anti-China separatist", described his visit to Arunachal Pradesh as a "memorable one" that he would cherish forever. He also thanked the people, particularly from far off villages, who gathered in large numbers to welcome and listen to him at all the places that he visited. In fact, this is not for the first time that the 81-year-old Tibetan leader is visiting Arunachal or Tawang. In 1959, he escaped from China via Tawang and visited the state in 1983, 1997, 2003 and 2009. The Dalai Lama was to start his week-long religious visit to Arunachal Pradesh from Tawang on April 4. But bad weather forced him to travel by road as his helicopter couldn't take off from Dibrugarh airport in Assam. The Tibetan spiritual leader reached Tawang - the high point of his visit to this mountainous state -- on April 7 after traversing over 550 km from Assam's Dibrugarh and crossed the 13,700 feet Sela Pass. The Dalai Lama stayed at the Tawang monastery belonging to the Gelugpa school of Mahayana Buddhism, which had a religious connection with Lhasa's Drepung monastery that continued during the British rule. Beijing refers to this connection to claim Tawang as part of China after invading and taking over Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama had stayed in the Tawang monastery for some days before he reached Assam after fleeing his homeland in 1959. During his religious tour to Arunachal Pradesh, the spiritual leader consecrated the Thupsung Dhargyeling monastery at Dirang on April 6. On Sunday, he also consecrated the Tara Temple 'Dolma Lhagang', Guru Padhmasambhava Statue cum Temple (Lumpo), and laid the foundation stone of Gyalwa Jamba (Kuber) statue to be built at Buri near the India-Bhutan border. He gave the name Jamtseling for the Jamba (Kuber) statue besides donating Rs 50,000 from his side for its construction. --IANS rrk/rn ( 426 Words) 2017-04-11-13:44:07 (IANS) Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Naval Staff today began his three-day goodwill visit to Malaysia during which he will hold discussions with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Chief of Royal Malaysian Defence Forces along with the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force of the South-East Asian country. ''The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral maritime relations between India and Malaysia and is expected to provide a major boost to defence relations between India and Malaysia,'' the Ministry of Defence said here today. The Indian and the Royal Malaysian navies cooperate with each other in terms of training, operational interactions as well as interacting at various multilateral forums like Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, MILAN and ADMM Plus. Warships from both navies visit each other's ports to build 'Bridges of Friendship'. The Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) along with RMN corvette KD Lekir participated in the International Fleet Review-2016, at Visakhapatnam in February 2016. UNI NAZ SHK 1430 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0091-1225305.Xml Petrol pumps went dry today in Patna district as owners closed their establishments in protest against the rising incidents of loot across the state. A Patna District Petrol Pump Dealers Association spokesperson said that the 12 hour long strike, which started from 6 a.m. was called due to rising attacks on petrol pumps. He said that petrol pumps had become soft targets of trigger happy criminals who had unleashed a reign of terror in the recent past.He said that the police remaining a mute spectator to all these attack as no criminal involved in the loot incident had been arrested so far either. He said that at least eight petrol pumps were looted in Patna district during the last seven months. Demanding adequate security cover to petrol pumps and routine police patrolling in the vicinity of establishments, petrol pump owners said that the petrol pumps closed their establishments after their earlier pleas with the state Director General of Police to take action against criminals failed to bear any fruit. They said that petrol pumps had gone on token strike twice one for 15 minutes and another for 30 minutes earlier too in protest against the rising incidents of loot. UNI DH KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-1225296.Xml Business and other activities remained paralyzed for the second successive day today due to a two-day strike called by separatists against the killing of eight youth in security force firing on anti-election protestors on April 9, when bypolls were held in Srinagar parliamentary constituency. However, some private vehicles, besides two wheelers, could be seen plying on few routes in the summer capital, Srinagar. Meanwhile, the Election Commission(EC) has deferred polling in Anantnag parliamentary bye-poll, which was scheduled to be held on April 12, following violence during bypolls in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. A police official told UNI that restrictions, which were imposed at some places in central Kashmir yesterday, have been lifted though security forces remained deployed in strength across the valley to maintain law and order. But, shops and business establishments remained closed for the second day today in main business hubs the city, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of summer capital, Budshah chowk, Regal Chowk, Maisuma, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Batmaloo, Moulana Azad road, Residency road and Dalgate. All roads leading to Maisuma, stronghold of JKLF, which were off limits from vehicular movement yesterday, were opened though hardly any vehicle was plying in the area, where all shops also remained closed in view of the strike call. Work in government offices, banks and other financial institutions, was also affected as most employees could not make it to their offices due to non availability of public transport. Educational institutions also wore a deserted look as students stayed away due to strike. The situation was no different in down town and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK), besides in uptown. Hundreds of security force personnel, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding weapons and lathis in their hands, were seen patrolling the streets to prevent any untoward incident in the summer capital. Meanwhile, internet service of all cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Broadband, also remained suspended for the third day today in the valley. Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), spearheading the agitation demanding 'right to self determination', had called for a two-day strike from yesterday against civilian killings yesterday.MORE UNI ABS SHS 1408 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1225274.Xml According to the police the deceased has been identified asSantosh Ramarao Kulkarni (43). He left a suicide note in which hestated that he had a debt of Rs 7 lakh and had no returns to repayit. This had prompted him to end his life. Police said that in a suicide note the deceased farmers blamedrought, crop failure, lack of support from the government andmounting debts driving him to commit suicide. He also listed thename of creditors and the amounts he owed to him which includedbanks and private persons. His uncle filed a complaint today said that Santosh was upsetthat farmers' loans not being waived off in the state budget. Thefarmer had incurred a loan of Rs 7 lakh for growing sugarcane andPomegranate fruit and the crop had failed due to shortage of water,a senior police official said. The Sindhagi police registered the case and the body was sent topostmortem, the sources added.UNI SD RS AK1450 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1225336.Xml Punjab is apparently all set to take a major leap in industrialisation.Leading captains of Indian industry on Tuesday offered a slew of investments and project initiatives in the state during separate meetings with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on the second day of his Mumbai visit. While Reliance ADAG, headed by Mr Anil Ambani, sought from the Chief Minister land for testing ranges for its new defence projects, RPG Group Chairman Mr Harsh Goenka evinced interest in setting up a tractor tyre plant in the state. The Chief Minister invited them to explore the viability of the projects, extending his government's full support by providing the necessary land and other facilities for the development of industrial units. He also welcomed Mahindra & Mahindra chairman Mr. Anand Mahindra's offer for digitisation of the state's urban local bodies, besides the establishment of an integrated emergency management system. Hindustan Unilever Ltd CEO & MD Sanjiv Mehta, in his meeting with the Chief Minister, expressed his company's keenness to procure tomatoes and citrus fruits on a large scale from the state for its Kisan jams and squashes.More UNI JS RP1614 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1225430.Xml Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today ordered a vigilance inquiry into the alleged extortion of money from two farmers by five police officials, including a former SSP, in Sangrur. The Chief Minister also ordered all five police personnel to be transferred to the Police Lines pending inquiry. He has further ordered removal of former SSP Inderbir Singh's name from the panel for the post of SSP Chandigarh in view of the change in his vigilance clearance status, Media Advisor to CM, Raveen Thukral said. Taking serious note of the matter, as reported in a newspaper today, the Chief Minister directed stringent action against those found guilty by the vigilance probe. The farmers, whose families sold land and took loan to pay the extortion money, are fearful for their lives and the Chief Minister has directed the officials concerned to ensure full protection for them. The Chief Minister's orders came after an initial probe by the Sangrur SSP found the five personnel guilty of extorting money from two farmers while allegedly threatening to implicate them in a murder case. In a report, the Sangrur SSP had recommended an FIR and a Vigilance Bureau probe. Mr Thukral said the Chief Minister has directed senior government officials to take appropriate steps to ensure that the matter is taken to its logical conclusion. Nobody found guilty of any laxity or complicity should be allowed to go scot-free. Capt Singh has instructed the officials, asserting that corruption of any kind will not be tolerated under his government, which was committed to transparent governance. According to media report, 25-year-old financier Hardev Singh was shot dead in Longowal in February by five gangsters "led by" Davinder Singh alias Babli Randhawa. They later posted a video celebrating the murder. The farmers, Dhanwant Singh of Kotra Amrhu village and Harjinder Singh of Dugga village, alleged that they were taken into custody illegally, merely because they knew Randhawa before he became a gangster. The police then extorted money from their families, they further alleged, seeking protection from further victimisation and harassment. The Chief Minister has taken cognizance of the initial probe report sent by Sangrur SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu to Patiala Zone IG AS Rai and DIG Sukhchain Singh Gill. In his report, Sidhu has named former Sangrur SSP Inderbir Singh, Sunam DSP Jashandeep Gill, Longowal SHO SI Sikandar Singh, Sangrur city police post incharge ASI Baljinder Singh and Badrukhan post incharge ASI Gurmail Singh.UNI JS SW SHK 1629 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1225438.Xml Aam Aadmi Party today criticised the Union Human Resource Development Ministry and the Panjab University for their decision of hiking tuition fees for fresher students up to 1100 per cent. In a statement, AAP youth wing state president Harjot Singh Bains said the apathy of the government was responsible for letting down the education system in India. Just to help private education mafia, the government was ignoring the government institutions. Their decision would affect the prospect of the poor to get education in the country. Mr Bains also criticised the police action on the protesting students against the fee hike. The government is forcefully trying to silence the voice of students. "The decision of fee hike is very unprecedented and contradicts the duty of government to provide education to the residents of country. The government must immediately roll back fee hike." The AAP leader requested Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to release state's share of fund to Panjab University so that the students and facility members should not suffer due to fund crunch. "Ministry of Human Resource Development must immediately look into the matter to resolve the issue. The decision of authorities is affecting the lives of thousands of students from the region." Mr Bains added that AAP stood with the students on the issue and would not resort to protest and demonstrate against the decision of government if the fee is not rolled back. UNI VJ SW SHK 1626 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1225404.Xml Reiterating its commitment to energy efficiency and access to clean energy, Schneider Electric India, today showcased a range of low-cost clean technologies as part of the Nomade des Mers (Nomad of the Seas) expedition. The expedition--which began in 2015 at Brittany (France) and will conclude in Indonesia--arrived at the Chennai Port today, after passing through Morocco, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Brazil, South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. The Schneider Electric Foundation, under the aegis of Fondation de France, is a key patron of the expedition to aid research and promote low technologies (low tech). The mission of the Nomade des Mers project, was to showcase useful, simple and accessible technologies that were environmentally friendly andlow technologies. The catamaran, where the low cost technologies were displayed, will spend three years travelling the globe testing independent technologies and developing the international low-tech stakeholder and user community. On board, low-tech devices will be put to the test, optimized and linked to others to assess synergies toward achieving a self-sustaining ecosystem. UNI GV 1758 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1225747.Xml Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Andhra Pradesh Circle (AP, Telangana) has achieved total revenue of Rs 2526.18 crore, during 2016-17 as compared to last year Rs 2463.90 crore with a growth rate of 2.53 per cent. Announcing this at a press conference here today, AP Circle Chief General Manager (Telecom) L.Anantaram said that that on mobile concerned the Circle had achieved revenue of Rs 1475.86 crores during 2016-17, as against Rs 1405.65 crore during the same period last fiscal with registering a growth of 5 per cent. He said that the Circle has occupied third position with the market share of 13.76 per cent while having 99.2 lakh mobile connections after Airtel (2.5 crore) and Idea (1.74 crore). Mr Anantaram said the Circle to invest about Rs 400 crore to upgrade mobile technology and infrastructure. They were replacement of existing mobile stations by new technology, adding 1282 new 3G towers and commissioning of around 1150 4G towers (AP-600 and TS-550), he said. The CGMT said that the Circle has commissioned 155 Wi-Fi hotspots during 2016-17 with the technical partnership of M/s Quadzen and was planning to launch Wi-Fi services in public places-- Hospitals, Colleges, Universities and Shopping complexes to provide internet services at 4G plus speeds. The BSNL 3G subscribers would get higher data speeds in these hotspot zones and faster downloads at 4G plus speeds would be possible. For prepaid subscribers of BSNL, charges would be deducted from their existing account. The existing Broadband customers could log in with their username and password in the hotspot zone to get higher speeds. It was proposed to install 925 access points across 121 hotspot zones in Telangana. Three such places were ready for commissioning. The date of commercial launch would be announced shortly, he said. Mr Anantaram said that the BSNL to provide 64 new 2G an 3G sites along the Hyderabad Metro Rail corridor for providing seamless 3G services to the customers. Out of them, the first new 2G & 3G site at Nagole Metro station has already been commissioned, he added.UNI VV JW SHK 1743 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1225713.Xml Yogi Adityanath dispensation in Uttar Pradesh has allowed audit of development authorities in the state by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and other central agencies, in all financial matters. The Government Order (GO), issued last night, was ratified by the Yogi cabinet today, at its second meeting. State health minister and government spokesperson Siddhartnath Singh, briefing media on the major policy shift, said that in order to ensure transparency, any central agencies, including CAG, can audit all the 29 development authorities in the state.Earlier, there was a bone of contention between the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government and the CAG, on the issue of audit of the finances of the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA). The SP government, Mr Siddhartnath Singh asserted, had not even heeded an appeal by state Governor Ram Naik. "UP governor even wrote twice regarding the issue, to the then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, but there was no response," Mr Singh said.In June 2016, the state officials had maintained that GDA did not fall under the ambit of a CAG audit and only an internal audit by a state level agencies can be allowed.More UNI MB RP1712 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1225491.Xml Haryana Government today said it has invited applications to fill 57 vacancies of Gramin Dak Sewak. A spokesperson for the government said the vacancies of the Gramin Dak Sewak in different scale of pay would be filled throughout the Chandigarh division. He said candidates can fill online form available at www.appost.in/gdsonline" and www.indiapost.gov.in and no manual application will be accepted.UNI JS SW SHK 1810 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1225715.Xml Court and office work of the Punjab State Information Commission will remain closed on April 17 and 18 due to shifting of the office. Chief Information Commissioner S S Channi today said presently the Commission's office was going to be shifted to Punjab Red Cross Building, Madhya Marg in Sector-16 of Chandigarh. He said due to which court work of the Commission will remain suspended on April 17 and 18, 2017 and hearing of cases will recommence from the next day.UNI JS SW SHK 1928 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1225903.Xml Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today requested Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to take a clear and unequivocal stand that Punjab does not have a single drop of water to spare and will not allow any state river water to go to Haryana in the scheduled April 20 meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal. "Punjab has paid a heavy price due to the about turn made by a previous Congress Chief Minister on the directions of former PM Indira Gandhi. Mr Darbara Singh withdrew the case challenging Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act which was used to allocate 3.5 MAF water to Haryana from the Supreme Court," the SAD president said in a statement here. Stating that Capt Singh would have to stand firm in the interests of Punjab, Mr Badal said the entire history of the SYL was a history of discrimination against Punjab at the behest of successive Congress governments at the Centre. "Even Capt Amarinder Singh is part of this history. As Patiala MP he has the unfortunate legacy of having welcomed then PM Indira Gandhi to inaugurate digging of the SYL canal with advertisements in 1982."But stating that the past is past and even Capt Singh realised his mistake and tried to make amends by abrogating water treaties, he said it was left to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to make history by finishing the SYL issue once and for all. "The SAD- BJP government denotified the order whereby land was acquired for construction of the SYL and transferred it back to the farmers". Welcoming the meeting being held at the Prime Minister's instance, Mr Badal said this was a golden opportunity to make Haryana understand the entire issue in perspective and resolve the issue in its entirety. "We need to go into all aspects of the case including well laid riparian principles as well as the dwindling water flow in both Ravi and Beas waters and also increased dependence on river waters in Punjab due to steep wall in the ground water level in the State". He said a fresh tribunal could also be established to calculate the river waters available in Punjab as well as increase in canal water use in Punjab. Stating that he was confident that Capt Singh would not surrender Punjab's rights on this issue around which the State's economy as well as that of its farmers revolved, he assured the people that the SAD would never allow a single drop of water to leave the State. The SAD president said his party would however support any positive step taken by the Congress government to safeguard the state's river waters. "We are ready to sacrifice ourselves but will not allow river water rights of Punjab to be surrendered at any cost," he added.UNI JS SW 1941 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1226022.Xml The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Chhattisgarh government and Home Ministry over alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl by security personnel in Sukma district of the state. "Notices have been issued, returnable within four weeks, to the Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh and the Union Home Secretary over allegations that on the April 2, at 0400 hrs, some unidentified CRPF/Police personnel entered a house at Patel Para of Chintagufa Village in district Sukma of Chhattisgarh looking out for a man said to be a member of Sangham. They dragged out the 15-year-old sister of the man and raped her," a statement issued by the NHRC said today.The Commission has also observed that the allegations, if true, raise an issue of violation of human rights and said they are public servants to protect the citizen's rights and not to violate them.The NHRC also demanded that the perpetrators be booked under law and said that there is extreme need to provide protection and proper counselling, along with relief and rehabilitation to the victim and her family members.UNI DS SB 2025 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-1226092.Xml "The Muslim Personal Board has decided that they will eradicate this problem from the society itself. We request the government to not to interfere in this matter," said Sadiq. Sadiq said that the Muslim Community provided talaq in such a way that the girl lives respectfully in the society, adding that it just needs some time to take a decision on the issue. "We will do this in about a year and a half or so," he added. The Allahabad High Court had in December 2016 held that the practice of triple talaq is 'cruel' and raised an issue that whether the Muslim Personal Law could be amended to provide relief to the Muslim women. The High Court also stated that the form of 'instant divorce' is 'most demeaning'. The Supreme Court is to hear multiple pleas challenging the validity of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy practices among Muslims community on May 11 by a Constitution bench during the summer vacation. Earlier on March 27, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) told the apex court that the pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary. (ANI) The Goa bench of Bombay High Court today directed the Crime Branch of the Goa Police to file an FIR in connection with the mysterious death of former Roman Catholic priest Bismarque Dias.The court also asked the police to submit a status report of the investigation every three months.Speaking to mediapersons after the order was pronounced, Sudeep Dalvi, one of the several people who had been demanding formal investigation into the death of Dias, said the order was a victory for all supporters of Father Bismarque and environment lovers in the state."This is a slap on the face of state government in general and the police department in particular. It is a victory for all supporters of Fr Bismarque and environment lovers in Goa," he said.The activist was found dead in a water body near the Mandovi river in November 2015. He had been protesting against alleged illegal real estate development near his village St Estevam, 15 km from the city.UNI AKM SS PY 2157 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1226229.Xml Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today questioned Narendra Modi-led NDA government to observe Digital India on Good Friday. He, however, said Meghalaya will not be part of the proposed programme. "The central government has already communicated to the states that they wanted to have a digital India day on Good Friday. But will not be part of it," the veteran Congress leader told reporters. Questioning the central government's move, Dr Sangma asked, "Is it that they selectively identifying these dates to marginalise the minorities with a complete disregard to the Constitutional obligation of ensuring personal liberty." He said people should be given space including government employees to engage themselves in their respective culture, or religious activities. "We will articulate our concern to the Union government particularly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Secretary (KS Kropha) have been asked to inform the Union cabinet secretary and it is also necessary for me (chief minister) to express my concern on behalf of the people of the state and people belonging to minority communities with special reference to sentiments of people of Northeast which has major chunk of Christian minorities," Dr Sangma saidThe Chief Minister said the country was facing a challenge of unforeseen problem of peaceful coexistence which created fertile ground for the seeds of hatred to germinate and flourish."All those trial balloons indulged by fringe elements including the RSS are dangerous indications. It is time for people to be blunt and frank to express their concern. The trial balloon was to have a person from the Sangh family likely to occupy the highest post (president). There are already certain things writing on the walls," he said.However, he asked other political parties to be alert, vigilant and fight against such agendas. UNI RRK PY SB 2332 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1226294.Xml The Madhya Pradesh government today decided to ban plastic carry bags with effect from May 1.The related Cabinet meeting was presided over by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In compliance with the National Green Tribunal's order, the gathering approved the Madhya Pradesh Bio-Indestructible Waste (Control) Amendment Bill. The Cabinet sanctioned the Rs 900 crore Mukhyamantri Gramin Payjal Yojana under which work to provide potable water through hand-pumps in 10,000 rural settlements and tap water schemes would be executed in 5,000 rural settlements in 2017-18, an official release said.UNI AC PY SB 2305 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-1226283.Xml Akilov, 39, is the man who is believed to be responsible for the attack in central Stockholm on Friday afternoon, Xinhua quoted Swedish Television (SVT) which cited police, as saying. "I am confident that our chief suspect is the perpetrator who was driving the truck. It is based on police premises and must then be examined by the prosecutors and the courts," Dan Eliasson, National Police Chief, was quoted as saying. Besides Akilov, one more person was arrested on suspicion of terrorism on Sunday. Police said there were connections between the two arrested. --IANS sku/ ( 131 Words) 2017-04-11-03:44:07 (IANS) The decision to divert the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and other battleships came after tensions soared over ongoing military drills involving American and South Korean forces that Pyongyang regards as a precursor to an invasion, reports Guardian. "We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions. North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US," North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying. The spokesman further noted Washington's refusal to rule out a pre-emptive strike against North Korean missile sites as justification for its nuclear programme. "The prevailing grave situation proves once again that (North Korea) was entirely just when it increased in every way its military capabilities for self-defence and pre-emptive attack with a nuclear force as a pivot," the spokesman said He asserted that North Korea will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend itself. North Korea had yet again defied UN resolutions banning it from developing ballistic missile technology with another test-launch on the eve of Trump's summit with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, in Florida last week. Meanwhile, China has downplayed reports that Beijing has deployed 150,000 troops to its border with North Korea. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that she was "not aware" of such a step taken by the People's Liberation Army along the 880-mile border. (ANI) Malaysia should investigate the possible transfer of funds to North Korea's leadership, the deputy home minister said today , after Reuters reported that the head of a Malaysian conglomerate had for years funneled cash to Pyongyang. Reuters on Monday cited a North Korean defector as saying that Han Hun Il, the North Korean founding chief executive of Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), had funneled money to Pyongyang's leadership, the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party, for the past two decades.MKP's bank subsidiary in Pyongyang is also under investigation by the United Nations for possible violations of sanctions barring foreign companies from setting up joint ventures with, or taking an ownership interest in, North Korean banks.The reports risk damaging Kuala Lumpur's reputation as a financial centre, deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed told Reuters, and called on the central bank to investigate if there had been any misuse of the country's banking systems."We have to investigate if, among other things, North Korea was using the friendship with Malaysia as a conduit for illicit activities," he said.The central bank did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comments.Malaysian police should conduct their own investigation into MKP and Han to determine if any crime had been committed, Nur Jazlan added.Last month, police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said authorities would assist the U.N. in its investigation into MKP.In February, Reuters reported that North Korea's spy agency was running an arms export operation out of Malaysia.Close ties between Malaysia and North Korea have come under scrutiny following the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the elder half-brother of North Korea's ruler, with the highly toxic VX nerve agent on Feb. 13 in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. REUTERS CJ GC1034 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-1225011.Xml Thailand's military junta today rejected a conditional offer from the main Muslim separatist group fighting in southern Thailand to enter into formal peace talks.The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) said on Monday that it would be willing to enter into formal negotiations on the decades-old insurgency if certain conditions were met by the Thai government.Among its demands were mediation by a neutral third party and the participation of international observers.Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha rejected the offer and said peace talks were an internal matter and required no international mediation or observation."Why do they need to come mediate? Can we not fix these problems ourselves? And if they do come what guarantees do we have that they would understand the issues?" Prayuth said.The insurgency in the largely ethnic-Malay, Muslim-majority southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat has claimed more than 6,500 lives since it escalated in 2004, says independent monitoring group Deep South Watch.Prayuth said negotiations would continue in Malaysia with a different group, Mara Pattani, but regional experts said that faction of largely exiled insurgents had no real power on the ground."In the long term if the government wants lasting peace in the region they must include BRN in any negotiations," said Srisompop Jitpiromsri, director of Deep South Watch.There has been an upsurge of violence this month, including what police described as the biggest attack in years and 23 coordinated attacks on Friday, a day after Thailand adopted a new constitution.No group has claimed responsibility for those attacks and there were no reports of fatalities.Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat were part of an independent Malay Muslim sultanate before being annexed by Thailand in 1909.Voters in the most heavily Muslim parts of Thailand were among the few to reject a military-drafted constitution at a referendum last year. REUTERS PS PM1542 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1225431.Xml North Korean state media today warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of a US pre-emptive strike as a US Navy strike group led by a nuclear-powered aircraft steamed towards the western Pacific.Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test.North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States."Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the US invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland," it said.South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States."It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal.The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved.But South Korean officials took pains to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war."We'd like to ask precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said.Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un.A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of UN Security Council resolutions.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting "big powers" for their "expansionist" policy."The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," Russian news agency Tass quote the message as saying.The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by its KCNA news agency, said the US navy strike group's approach showed America's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase"."We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said.North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States.SANCTIONS WARNINGDelegates from around the North have been arriving in Pyongyang ahead of the assembly session. They visited statues of previous leaders Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il, state media reported.North Korea is emerging as one of the most pressing foreign policy problems facing the administration of US President Donald Trump. It has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes, but US officials said non-military action appears to be at the top of the list if any action were to be taken.The US Navy strike group Carl Vinson was diverted from planned port calls to Australia and would move toward the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a US official told Reuters over the weekend.US officials said it would still take the strike group more than a week to arrive near the Korean peninsula.Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to curb North Korea's nuclear programme.China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said.Today, a fleet of North Korean cargo ships was heading home to the port of Nampo, the majority of it fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return coal from the isolated state to curb coal traffic, sources with direct knowledge said.The order was given on April 7, just as the US and Chinese leaders were set for the summit where the two agreed the North Korean nuclear advances had reached a "very serious stage", US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said.Following repeated missile tests that drew international criticism, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26, cutting off the country's most important export product.As well as the anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth, there are several other North Korean anniversaries in April that could be opportunities for weapon tests, South Korean officials have said.The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellites at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.REUTERS PS PM1559 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1225448.Xml US President Donald Trump has not asked to meet Pope Francis during his visit to Italy next month for the Group of Seven summit, sources said today, in what would be a highly unusual omission.Trump, who Francis suggested was "not Christian" if he wanted a wall on the Mexican border, is due in Sicily on May 26-27 for a meeting of the heads of the world's richest nations.The two men have diametrically opposing positions on immigration, refugees, climate change and unbridled capitalism. Trump called the pope's criticism of his plan to build the Mexico wall "disgraceful".US presidents have in the past made a beeline for the Vatican while they were in Italy or Europe in order to meet with the head of the world's largest Christian church. Only one of them, John Kennedy, was a Roman Catholic.President George W. Bush met with a pope six times, three times each with Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict."The situation can change but are only six weeks left so it looks unlikely at this point," said a diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.A senior Vatican diplomatic source confirmed that the White House had so far made no approaches to the Holy See about a possible meeting, which would be the first between the two men."The ball is on their side," said another Vatican source. "We have received no request."A spokesperson for the US Embassy to the Vatican had no comment.OPEN DOORAs a matter of policy, popes meet with any head of state who requests an audience, regardless of any differences they have.Besides being leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, the pope is a head of state. Such meetings allow for an exchange of views on world affairs and a chance for the pope to encourage ethical solutions to world problems.About 21 per cent of Americans, or 70 million people, are Catholic. Washington has had full diplomatic relations with the Vatican since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan saw the Vatican under Pope John Paul, a Pole, as a crucial ally against communism.Vatican officials have indicated that if the White House wants to squeeze in a meeting with the pope on Trump's schedule in Europe, they will try to oblige. Trump is due to attend a NATO meeting in Brussels on May 25 before going to Sicily for the G7.Francis visited the United States in 2015 and there are no plans for a return in the foreseeable future, so it is not clear when a meeting between the two men could take place.Last year, in response to an answer about then-candidate Trump's views on immigration and his intention to build a wall on the border with Mexico, Francis said a man with those views is "not Christian".Trump, who grew up in a Presbyterian family, shot back saying it was "disgraceful" for the pope to question his faith.In March, Cardinal Peter Turkson, a close aide of the pope, urged Trump to listen to "dissenting voices" and reconsider his position on climate change, after Trump signed an executive order dismantling Obama-era environmental legislation.Francis has made defence of the environment a key plank of his papacy, strongly backing scientific opinion that global warming is caused mostly by human activity.REUTERS PS PM1826 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1225835.Xml Two Turkish men have been kidnapped from a hotel room in southeast Nigeria, police said today.The pair, who worked for a construction company, were abducted on Sunday evening in the town of Eket in Akwa Ibom state, in the country's Niger Delta energy hub, police said. Kidnapping for ransom is common in some parts of Nigeria."There is no word yet on them or the kidnappers but we are on their trail," said Ikechukwu Chukwu, a spokesman for Akwa Ibom police. The police declined to give details of the company the men worked for or their names.There was an increase in crime in the Niger Delta last year that coincided with a series of attacks on energy facilities. There have been no militant attacks on energy installations so far this year.REUTERS PS PM1852 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1225919.Xml Foreign ministers from Group of Seven (G7) major industrialised nations reached no agreement on a British suggestion that sanctions be tightened against Syria and Russia, Italy's foreign minister said today.British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had said ahead of the two-day G7 meeting that he wanted to discuss imposing fresh sanctions over last week's alleged chemical weapons attack in a rebel-held area by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air force.Western countries blame Assad for the attack, which killed 87 people. He has denied involvement and Russia, which is backing the Damascus government in its six-year-old war with rebels, has stood firmly by its ally.Italy, which hosted the G7 gathering in Tuscany, said the idea did not win broad support. "There is no consensus at this time for new sanctions as an efficient method to reach our goal," Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told reporters."There are obviously different opinions, and I am referring to my colleague Boris Johnson, who raised the issue," he said, adding: "The position of the G7 is very clear. We support the sanctions that have already been introduced."Italian officials estimate that sanctions imposed on Russia after its 2014 annexation of Crimea have cost Italy some four billion euros in lost business, and Rome has pushed back on previous attempts to impose fresh penalties on Moscow.Alfano said the G7 did not want to put Russia in a corner, but rather sought a constructive relationship with Moscow.French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault suggested the question was given little attention by Johnson's counterparts from the United States, Germany, Canada, Italy, France and Japan. "The question wasn't mentioned by anyone, except Boris Johnson, but we didn't talk about it any further," Ayrault said.However, speaking later to British television, Johnson said there had been an agreement on support for further sanctions if evidence can be gathered against those involved in last week's poison gas attack on a rebel Syrian town that killed 87 people.Johnson said Britain and its European partners would await the outcome of an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)."There was a very wide measure of agreement last night that ... if we can show complicity by those Russian officers who are helping the Syrian military operation, then they should also be sanctionable as well," he told the BBC.Johnson also said there was no evidence that Russia knew of plans for a gas attack."Did they know that Assad was going to unleash chemical weapons? We have no evidence for that, we don't know whether the Russians were involved at all," Johnson told Sky News."It may very well be that they (Russia) have simply been betrayed by their client, by the guy they have been backing." REUTERS PS AN1907 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1225928.Xml Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-10 19:26:06|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a message of condolences to his Egyptian counterpart, Sherif Ismail, on Monday over the terrorist attacks that targeted two churches. In his message, Li voiced strong condemnation of Sunday's twin bomb attacks in the Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria, which killed at least 44 people and injured more than 120 others. He also extended his sincere sympathies to Ismail, families of the victims, and the injured. MOGADISHU, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least five Somalia soldiers were killed and 15 others seriously injured after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a military academy west of Somalia's restive capital, Mogadishu on Monday. A military officer said the suicide bomber who was clad in Somalia military uniform sneaked inside the military training camp and detonated explosives from his vest, killing the soldiers who were near him in Mogadishu's Wadajir district. "The blast was so massive which was followed by loud gunfire. Some five government soldiers were killed while 15 others escaped with serious injuries," the military officer who did not want to be identified told Xinhua. Al-Shabaab group which is engaging the Western-backed government in near daily attacks claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing at the military base. The incident comes a day after new Somali army chief, General Ahmed Mohamed Jimale Irfid, survived a suicide car bomb attack that killed at least 15 people near his convoy in Mogadishu. The blast occurred minutes after the senior ministry of defence officials passed through the same road. The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. The first China-bound cargo train carrying British products left London for eastern Chinese city of Yiwu on April 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Lu Lantian) LONDON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The first China-bound cargo train carrying British products left London on Monday for an eastern Chinese city, highlighting another historic moment in the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative. The cross-continent freight, loaded with 32 containers carrying products including milk powder and soft drinks, left from east London's DP World gateway for the Chinese city of Yiwu amid cheers and applause. The front of the red locomotive was seen with a sign board that reads "First London-Yiwu Train." The 12,000-km journey will pass through nine countries in 18 days. During the trip, the train's locomotives have to be changed due to different railway gauges in the countries. Ma Hui, a senior official with the Chinese embassy in Britain, said the direct freight train service is "very meaningful and important" against the backdrop of slowing world trade and the rise of protectionism. "The service injects fresh impetus into the joint efforts by China and UK in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said. "The train carries not only goods, but also the bilateral confidence to score a win-win." The first China-bound cargo train carrying British products left London for eastern Chinese city of Yiwu on April 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Ai Boning) Rupert Soames, British prime minister's business ambassador for infrastructure and transport, said at the launching ceremony of the event, which he dubbed "historic", that such a rail service helped provide jobs to his country. Kevin Lam, general manager of the global management office with Kerry logistics which is a key custom for the freight train, told Xinhua that he is expecting to see more frequent direct freight between Britain and China. "The cost for the current freight batch is almost the same as the sea transportation," said Lam, whose company uses 10 out of the 32 containers, "But it is twice faster than through the sea route." He added that his company is willing to see the number of the direct freight service increase to once every week. Jacob Gan, operations manager of the local branch of the YXE International Container Train, operator of the direct rail service, told Xinhua that his company will monitor the operation of the service and evaluate when more such service could be provided. London is the 15th European city on an expanding map of destinations for China's rail cargo. The first Chinese freight train arrived in London in January. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 03:07:19|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close The road to North Park Elementary School is blocked in San Bernardino of California, the United States, on April 10, 2017. Two people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting incident occurred on campus of North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino of California on Monday. (Xinhua/Huang Chao) LOS ANGELES, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting incident occurred on campus of North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino of California on Monday. Local KESQ TV station reported two adults were killed while two injured students had been sent to hospital. According to NBCLA, the incident happened at 10 am, two students and a teacher were shot and school district spokesperson said the tragedy might stem from domestic violence involving a teacher. "We believe this to be a murder suicide. Happened in a class room, two students have been transported to the hospital." Jarrod Burguan, Chief of San Bernardino Police Department posted on his twitter at 11:02 am. He also said that preliminary information was that 4 victims were being treated and "suspect is possibly down as well." Students in the school were evacuated after the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 03:17:20|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIGA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Compulsory social security contributions might be raised in Latvia in order to provide funding for the Baltic country's ailing health sector, local media reported on Monday. Representatives of the Welfare Ministry and the parliament's social and labor affairs committee proposed the tax hike at a meeting of the steering group for tax reforms, arguing that the measure is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the Latvian social budget. The steering group on tax reforms on Monday discussed the possibility of allocating 1 percent of social security contributions to the health budget. Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola did not rule out an increase of the social tax rate in this context, but warned about risks to Latvia's competitiveness. The tax reform proposed by the Latvian Finance Ministry calls for cutting the personal tax rate to 20 percent from the current 23 percent, but the reduced tax rate would only apply to annual income that does not exceed 40,000 euros (42,416 U.S. dollars). The tax rate on annual income surpassing that amount would be left at 23 percent. The proposal to hike the social security contributions starting in 2020 has caused concerns among Latvia's entrepreneurs, notably the Latvian Employers Confederation. "Taxes on labor are the highest, so, unless we want to increase shadow economy, we cannot support this measure by any means," said the organization's director general Liga Mengelsone. The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry also raised objections to the tax initiative, saying that it contradicts the main purpose of the planned tax reform, which is to stimulate economic activity by easing the tax burden on labor. Reizniece-Ozola, however, promised to come up with compensatory solutions in case the social tax hike cannot be avoided. "It is necessary to strike a good balance here. If it comes to raising the social tax rate, we have to consider another measure that we could offer to the entrepreneurs so they can stay competitive," the minister said. Negotiations on the proposal will continue also on Tuesday, but at any rate, more sources of funding will have to be sought for the health budget as the 1 percent from the social budget alone will not be enough, Reizniece-Ozola said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 03:37:23|Editor: yan Video Player Close RABAT, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's foreign minister Nasser Bourita and the UN envoy to Libya Martin Kobler stressed here on Monday that only the political solution can bring security and prosperity to all Libyans. The two parties reiterated the need to support the political process and to coordinate initiatives to promote the economic and social situation in Libya, according to a statement issued by the Moroccan foreign ministry following a meeting between Bourita and Kobler. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Libya underlined that the Libyan political agreement signed in 2015 in the Moroccan city of Skhirat is the "basis and framework of the political process in Libya." The UN envoy highlighted the important role played by Morocco in the signing of this agreement, commending the kingdom's continued support to the UN efforts to improve the political situation in Libya. In the same vein, Kobler expressed his concern over the military developments in the country, noting that the military solution cannot in any case solve the Libyan crisis. For his part, Bourita stressed that the Skhirat Agreement should remain the reference and the key element in resolving the Libyan crisis. Morocco has no direct interest in this issue, he said, insisting that the Kingdom's only concern is "the stability and the unity of this Maghreb country." Morocco will continue to act constructively with the UN and other parties to reach a rapid political solution to this crisis on the basis of the Skhirat Agreement, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 04:01:34|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (R), meets with Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chief of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, in Dubai of the UAE April 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Zhen) DUBAI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pledged on Monday to strengthen bilateral cooperation and enhance strategic partnership. When meeting with UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Sun Chunlan, head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the UAE is not only the first Gulf country to establish a strategic partnership with China, but also China's largest export market in the Middle East region. Over the years, the two countries have developed deep political trust, fruitful economic and trade cooperation and frequent cultural exchanges, she said. "The UAE, located at the intersection of the Belt and Road Initiative, is an important partner for China to promote the Belt and Road Initiative. China is willing to strengthen its cooperation with the UAE for the benefit of the two peoples," Sun added. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, known as Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes. Sheikh Mohammed spoke highly of the bilateral relations between China and the UAE and appreciated China's development achievements, stressing his country's willingness to exchange experience on the governance of country with China. The vice president said the UAE is willing to be part of the Belt and Road Initiative which is far-sighted and boasts bright prospects. The UAE welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and more Chinese tourists, in order to promote the strategic partnership between the two countries, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 06:51:57|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close CHICAGO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz apologized Monday for having to "re-accommodate" the customers in an overbooked flight after videos showing an Asian man dragged from his seat in an United flight, which sparked wide-spread criticism on social media. "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United," Munoz said in the statement, adding the United is "reaching out to this passenger" and "further address and resolve this situation." Earlier, videos on social media showed an Asian man was dragged forcibly from his seat on a flight by three security officers, causing the man to scream in agony. The officers then dragged the man along the aisle, with his glasses askew and his shirt above his abdomen. Other pictures taken at the same flight showed the man had blood near his mouth. According to Chicago Tribune, the incident happened on an United flight at Chicago's O' hare international airport Sunday evening. United Airlines had the flight overbooked and asked for four volunteers to give up their seats to United employees, after everyone was already boarded. When no one answered, United Airline announced that they would draw volunteers randomly by computer. One passenger was drawn, but he refused to leave. The United employees called security, who then dragged the passenger from his seat and off the plane. Videos taken by other passengers on the same flight drew more than a million hits on social media, with many criticizing United Airline's handling of the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 07:12:00|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close TORONTO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Canada's main stock market started the week positively, as gains in energy and health care sectors helped the index end the day at its highest close in more than six weeks. The Toronto Stock Exchange's benchmark Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite rose 63.66 points, or 0.41 percent to end the session at 15,730.79 points. Eight of the ten sub-groups closed the day ahead. Energy and Health Care groups led the way, with advances of 1.60 percent and 1.24 percent, respectively. The TSX Energy group was fuelled by crude oil reaching a one-month high after Libya' s largest oil field was shut down for the second time in two weeks. As a result of the disruption, the OPEC member has declared a force majeure. The price of Brent delivered in June jumped 1.40 percent to 55.94 U.S. dollars a barrel, its highest close since Mar. 8. Subsequently, Alberta-based energy firms thrived. Pengrowth Energy Corporation led the way with a 6.29 percent ascent while Crescent Point Energy shares soared and 4.90 percent. Baytex Energy Corp and Encana Corporation also thrived with respective gains of 3.49 percent and 3.02 percent. Suncor Energy Inc, the largest producer of crude oil in Canada, closed at 41.79 Canadian dollars (31.35 U.S. dollars) a share, a 0.77 percent uptick. Health Care received a boost after reports that the Federal government planned to formally introduce a marijuana bill on Thursday. Shares of Canopy Growth Corporation, the largest distributor of medical marijuana in Canada, was the second most traded stock with more than six million shares exchanged. At the end of the trading day, shares of the Smith Falls-based firm closed at 10.87 Canadian dollars (8.15 U.S. dollars), a 6.36 percent surge. Competitor Aphria Inc also had a strong day, gaining 6.07 percent to close at 8.39 Canadian dollars (6.29 U.S. dollars). The remaining groups to finish the day in positive territory were: Industrials (0.78 percent), Consumer Staples (0.64 percent), Utilities (0.50 percent), Materials (0.41 percent), and Consumer Discretionary (0.38 percent). Industrials finished ahead as Montreal-based Bombardier Inc shares were the top traded stock during the session and closed at 2.22 Canadian dollars (1.67 U.S. dollars), a 4.72 percent increase. Railway firms Canadian Pacific and Canadian National also contributed, with respective gains of 1.35 percent and 1.00 percent. Meanwhile, British Columbia-based industrial auctioneer Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated shares plummeted 5.39 percent after February and March auction figures slipped 11.76 percent compared to the same period last year. Two groups failed to finish ahead and closed with modest declines. The Financial group inched down 0.09 percent, while the Information Technology group faded 0.02 percent. The Canadian dollar jumped 0.44 cents to begin the week at 0.7501 U.S. dollars. Lake Monona, in Madison, the U.S. state of Wisconsin, is experiencing rising salinity due to nearby roadways ans road salt application. (Xinhua/Courtsey of Hilary Dugan) WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- North America's freshwater lakes are getting saltier due to development and road salt used during the winter, a new study said Monday. "The picture is sobering," lead author Hilary Dugan, a limnologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said in a statement. "For lakes, small amounts of shoreline development translate into big salinization risks." The study, published in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was the first large-scale analysis of chloride trends in freshwater lakes in the United States and Canada. It included 371 freshwater lakes, each of which was larger than four hectares (0.04 square kilometers) in size with at least 10 years of recorded chloride data. The majority of the lakes were located in a North American Lakes Region that includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ontario, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Results showed that roads, parking lots and other impervious surfaces within 500 meters of a lake's shoreline were a strong predictor of elevated chloride concentrations. In the North American Lakes Region, 70 percent, or 94 of 134, of lakes with more than one percent impervious land cover in their 500-meter buffer zone had increasing chloride trends. When results are extrapolated to all lakes in the North American Lakes Region, some 7,770 lakes may be at risk of rising salinity. This is a view from a road near Lake Mendota, in Madison, the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Impervious surfaces like roadways channel salt-laden runoff directly into lakes. (Xinhua/Courtesy of Hilary Dugan) If current salinization trends continue, many North American lakes will surpass the chloride concentration levels stipulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the next 50 years. Within this study, 14 North American Lakes Region lakes are expected to exceed the EPA's aquatic life criterion concentration of 230 mg/L by 2050, and 47 are on track to reach chloride concentrations of 100 mg/L during the same time period. According to the study, the use of road salt to keep winter roads navigable has been escalating in North America since the 1940s. Each year, some 23 million tons of sodium chloride-based deicer is applied to North America's roads to melt away snow and ice. Much of this road salt washes into nearby water bodies, where it is recognized as a major source of chloride pollution to groundwater, streams, rivers, and lakes. "In the North American Lakes Region -- where road salt is a reality -- roads and other impervious surfaces within 500 meters of a lake's shoreline are a recipe for salinization," said coauthor Kathleen Weathers, an ecosystem scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. "We need to manage and monitor lakes to ensure they are kept 'fresh' and protect the myriad of services they provide, from fisheries and recreation to drinking water supplies." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 09:03:16|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Advocates have urged the Australian government to announce an extraordinary additional humanitarian resettlement of Syrian refugees. Despite Australia having filled its intake of 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq, with 10,400 having already arrived, humanitarian groups say the circumstances demand Australia do more. Helen Szoke, CEO of charitable organization Oxfam Australia, said that "considering the success" of the initial 12,000, Australia was well-placed to resettle more people. "The international community seems intent on watching on as millions of people are stuck between the rock that their country has become and the hard place that exile offers them," Szoke told the Guardian Australia from Oxfam's headquarters in Melbourne on Tuesday. "Oxfam calls on rich countries to show their support for Syria's neighbours that have welcomed these refugees and to resettle at least the most vulnerable 10 percent of Syrian refugees by the end of 2017." Bob Bowker, an Australian ambassador to Damascus from 2005 to 2008, agreed with Szoke, saying "the Australian community will benefit" from more refugees. "I would like to see Australia doing much more to accept Syrian refugees that have been assessed as such and provide more support in local communities to assist their settling into Australia," Bowker said. Bowker said the initial group of Syrian refugees had proved that younger refugees adapt better, and more quickly, to their new country. He said that if Australia were to take on more refugees they needed to be accepted on the basis of those in the greatest need of protection, not religious division. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 09:58:23|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close SEOUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korean presidential candidates expressed worry about the re-deployment of a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier and its accompanying battleships near the Korean Peninsula, local media reports said on Tuesday. The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its accompanying destroyers and cruisers moved again to the waters near the Korean Peninsula, after departing from it last month. The Nimitz-class aircraft super-carrier had participated in the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, codenamed Foal Eagle, from March 19 to March 25. The joint annual springtime war game would last by the end of this month. The re-deployment of the Carl Vinson Strike Group, which canceled a planned port visit to Australia and diverted to the Western Pacific, escalated tensions on the peninsula. Two key South Korean presidential candidates expressed worries about the mounted tensions in the region. Moon Jae-in of the biggest Minjoo Party said in a statement that any military action on the peninsula must never be conducted without South Korea's consent. Moon noted that if he takes power, he will visit the United States rapidly to discuss ways to resolve the issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). A spokesman with Ahn Cheol-soo of the center-right People's Party, Moon's archrival, said the re-deployment of the U.S. aircraft carrier near the peninsula was viewed as a strong show of force against the DPRK's nuclear program. He expressed worry about the escalated military tensions on the peninsula, adding that the DPRK's nuclear issue must be resolved in a peaceful way. Lee Duk-haeong, spokesman for South Korea's unification ministry, said on Monday that there was nothing to worry much about the re-deployment as the U.S. had supported South Korea's DPRK policies which aim to resolve all issues peacefully. Snow Eagle at China's Zhongshan Station. (Xinhua/Rong Qihan) ANTARCTICA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Without the two transportation helicopters, Snow Eagle and Dolphin, the unloading at Chinese Antarctic research stations will not be that easy. In November, research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong was stranded at a place 31 kilometers away from China's research station Zhongshan in east Antarctica's Prydz Bay, nearly one month after departing from Shanghai for the country's 33rd Antarctic expedition. Snow Eagle hovers near China's icebreaker Xuelong. (Li Wenjun) What were stranded with Xuelong were the goods necessary for researchers to spend both the summer and winter seasons at Zhongshan Station. After several tries to break the ice all failed, the helicopter Snow Eagle became the only option for transportation. Among all the goods, the heaviest one was a 5-ton Arctic Truck, which almost reached the limitation of the hanging capacity of Snow Eagle, according to captain Liu Xinquan. Snow Eagle is taking an Arctic Truck to Zhongshan Station. (Zhu Bing) For a helicopter on the land of snow and ice, a big challenge is to fly with hanging cargos as it requires quick response to the fast-changing wind speed and wind direction . "You need to make sure that the heavy goods do not swing," said Cao Jinliang, leader of the helicopter team of the 33rd Antarctic expedition. The two helicopters actually had different missions. Snow Eagle transported goods while Dolphin was in charge of personnel transportation. Chinese researchers are about to board Dolphin to leave the Inexpressible Island. (Zhu He) In February, it was Dolphin that took Chinese researchers to the Inexpressible Island in the Antarctica's Victoria Land for the site selection of the country's new base near the Ross Sea. Dolphin also took them to 7804'40.9"S, the southernmost place that a plane has ever reached so far. Helicopter Dolphin. (Liu Jian) Every day, Dolphin had to deal with the fast wind speed, the strong airstream, and many other extreme weather conditions that are common on this land. Four engineers were responsible for the safety of the two helicopters. Before every flight, 113 kinds of checks had to be made; after every flight, 116 more awaited them. Sometimes they even cleaned the helicopter with their bare hands for quite a long time, for gloves "would leave thread ends or fluff, which might bring dangers," said engineer Guo Yun. Chinese researchers are installing a rotor. (Xinhua/Rong Qihan) A 140,000-ton crude oil tanker "Suezmax" prepares to offload crude oil at Made Island oil port, Myanmar, April 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhuang Beining) MADE ISLAND, Myanmar, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A 140,000-ton crude oil tanker "Suezmax" began offloading crude oil at Made Island oil port in Myanmar's western Rakhine state on Monday after the signing of a China-Myanmar crude oil pipeline transmission agreement in Beijing earlier in the day. Made Island oil port is the starting point of the China-Myanmar crude oil pipeline which is part of the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline project. The commencement of transmission of crude oil shows that the two countries have entered a new phase of energy cooperation. The crude oil pipeline starts in Made Island, extends as long as 771 kilometers, and ends in China's Yunnan Province. The pipeline passes through Myanmar's Rakhine state, Magway and Mandalay regions and Shan state. Built since June 2010, the oil pipeline has a designed transmission capacity of 22 million tons per year. Once the pipeline is put into operation, Myanmar can also be provided with 2 million tons of crude oil through it annually. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 10:28:27|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close SEOUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports kept a growth trend for the first 10 days of April thanks to solid demand for locally-made semiconductors, customs data showed on Tuesday. Exports, which account for about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 11.2 billion U.S. dollars in the April 1-10 period, up 6.1 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Korea Customs Service. The country's exports kept growing for five months through March, in which the overseas shipments jumped 13.7 percent. Daily average exports in the April 1-10 period reached 1.6 billion dollars, up 6.1 percent from a year earlier. Semiconductor exports jumped 51.8 percent, leading this month's exports. Demand was strong for chips used for smartphones. Auto exports advanced 23.3 percent, with those for telecommunication devices including smartphones expanding 7.8 percent. Shipments of oil products declined on lower crude oil prices, with those for auto parts sliding 21 percent. By country, exports to Vietnam and Japan posted a double-digit gain, with those to the United States and China growing 18 percent and 10 percent respectively. Imports surged 24.8 percent to 12.3 billion dollars in the cited period, sending trade surplus to a deficit of 1.1 billion dollars. Liu Xinwei and his long Hummer. Liu Xinwei's long Hummer is an eye-catcher on the China-Kazakhstan border. "In two years, tall buildings will rise up here, and opportunities are everywhere," Liu told tourists on board while driving his long Hummer in a China-Kazakhstan free trade zone. The Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on the China-Kazakhstan border in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has seen an increasing number of tourists since 2012. It attracted a total of 5.43 million tourists in 2016. Covering 5.28 square kilometers, the center opened in April 2012 as a destination for cross-border shopping. It has more than 40 duty-free shops selling luxury brands such as Omega and Versace. The facility is the world's first cross-border free-trade zone and the biggest duty-free shopping center in west China. It allows entry of citizens from any country with valid passports or with exit and entry permits. Since its establishment, more and more fortune-seekers have been enticed here. Liu left his home in central China's Henan Province and arrived here in July 2016. He bought a second-hand Hummer in Kazakhstan and began to work as a tour guide. Every day he drives to show tourists around the FTZ. "The center is especially busy in May. You can earn hundreds of yuan even if you sell bottled water," Liu said. Liu (L) takes a photo for the tourists at the former gateway of Kazakhstan. It takes about 20 minutes to travel around the FTZ by car. The Chinese guide put on rhythmic music, and introduced places of interest in Kazakhstan to tourists on the American vehicle. Tourists enjoy the trip in Liu's Hummer. Liu showed them the former gateway, villages, and construction sites on the Kazakhstani side. Scaffoldings shoot up here and there in the FTZ, marking high-rise buildings in the future. Liu's car passes a construction site in the FTZ. At the westernmost end of the Silk Road in China, Horgos was a transit point on the ancient trade route in the Tang Dynasty (619-907). In ancient times, merchants from Central Asia, the Middle East and Western Europe braved the Gobi Desert and nomadic bandits to arrive at Chang'an, the historical name of Xi'an, then the world's largest metropolis and capital city of Tang. Today Horgos has become the youngest city on the Silk Road Economic Belt. Put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. The Horgos FTZ has seen rising flow of people and goods. It has recorded a trade volume of 878 million U.S. dollars since opening as of last July. Liu (R) shows a construction site, where a luxury hotel is being built. "It's off season, so I have time to tell my customers more about the place," said Liu, "When in high season, we can stop for only ten minutes in every place. We have to leave after a snapshot, because too many tourists will line up behind us." "When in July, I can pick up 20 tourists in every trip. Each pay me 50 yuan (7.2 U.S. dollars), and I can do 10 trips a day," Liu did the math. "It's easier to make a fortune here than in the inland." He plans to build some yurts near the Kazakhstani gateway, providing local cuisine and folk performance. "When tourists come, they will want to stay, just as I did." (All photos by Zhao Ge) Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 11:03:32|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close LIMA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Gunfire between self-employed miners in Peru in the fight for a newly discovered gold mine killed two people and trapped 18 as a scaffold collapsed, local media reported Monday. The shootout took place at a mine in northwest Pataz province in the La Libertad region, some 785 km from the nation's capital Lima. "The clash occurred after gold was found in the Senor de los Milagros mine," local RPP News website said. "It seems one of the miners exploded dynamite to put a stop to the fighting and caused 18 people to become trapped in the mine," the agency added. Police were at the scene for an investigation. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 11:48:37|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close HAIKOU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Svetlana Shipetko and her two sons did not just come to south China's tropical island of Hainan to escape the freezing Siberian weather. Shipetko had an equally important goal -- to ease her lower back pain. Instead of prescribing painkillers, Shipetko's Chinese doctor Tang Yi performed the traditional Chinese therapy of "tuina," which literally means "push-and-pinch." Every morning, Shipetko received the therapy at the Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, then spent the rest of the day bathing in the sun. "It is great," she told Xinhua through an interpreter. "No pills, no injections, but I feel much better." Shipetko is one of tens of thousands of Russians who flock to Hainan every year. The island province has received 800,000 Russian tourists in the past seven years. Almost 80 percent of them tried some form of traditional Chinese therapy during their stay -- either to treat a particular ailment or simply for wellness, health authorities said. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has in recent years gained popularity in a world dominated by modern Western medicine. Clinics have proliferated outside of China, but many face challenges such as getting herbs across the border or luring experienced professionals to work overseas. As a result, more foreigners are coming to China for TCM treatment or therapy. The boom is particularly felt in Sanya, where Russian-language advertisements for acupuncture pop up across the city. GLOBAL FLOW OF PATIENTS International medical tourism became popular in the mid-20th century with wealthy European and North American patients traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery sprees. In the markets that first responded to the demand, such as Brazil, South Africa, and Costa Rica, a variety of modestly priced procedures were offered. The sector flourished with the rise of quality health care, commercial aviation, and the Internet. It is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. U.S.-based industry resource company Patients Beyond Borders estimates between 9.8 million and 14.8 million patients visited overseas hospitals and clinics in 2016. People are tempted by lower costs, quality care, improved patient experience, specialty treatments, and the lure of "the new and different," according to the company. It said that in 2013 alone, more than 900,000 Americans headed overseas for "nearly every imaginable type" of medical treatment: weight loss surgery in Mexico, heart valve replacements in Thailand, hip resurfacing in India, and fertility treatments in Israel. In Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea are the rising stars, drawing a great majority of patients within the region. "We see a rising market in China," said Patients Beyond Borders CEO Josef Woodman in an e-mail interview. He said China can successfully compete with mature markets in the region, as it is strong in TCM treatment and its health care infrastructure is fast improving. BEYOND CUPS AND NEEDLES Acupuncture, cupping, tuina massage, and herbal medicine are some of the best-known TCM treatments overseas, but TCM master Prof. Hu Kaiwen believes the ancient healing system has even more to offer. Hu, president of Dongfang Hospital in downtown Beijing, is a veteran oncologist who specializes in integrating TCM with conventional Western medicine to treat advanced tumor patients. While Western medicine sees cancer as abnormal cells to be annihilated, TCM considers the ailment a sign of imbalance of body and mind and prioritizes restoring balance rather than annihilation. Hu said one Chinese philosophical saying applies: "Going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short." His therapy combines minimally invasive surgery with post-surgery TCM care. It offers an alternative to patients who do not respond well to chemotherapy or radiation. Hu said the herbs can work just as well to lengthen the lifespan and improve quality of life, but cost only a fraction of costly targeted Western drugs. Wang Tiansong, president of Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said foreign patients with cerebral palsy and strokes have also responded well to TCM treatment. Last year, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine set up a Chinese medicine center in St. Petersburg as an outpost. "TCM is centered around being green and natural, making it compatible with Russians' passion for nature," said the center's Chinese director Wang Chaoyang. INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTION Hainan is not the only spot where foreign medical travelers swarm. In China's northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Russians are joined by Kazakhs and other Central Asians from across the border. At the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University in Urumqi, signs are written in three languages -- Chinese, Uygur, and Russian. About 80 foreigners sought treatment in the first three months after the hospital opened its international department. Wu Yue, a top hospital official, said the demand from across the border is so strong that the hospital plans to start building an Asian Orthopedic Center. These developments have been incorporated into the Belt and Road Initiative the Chinese leadership proposed in 2013. Xinjiang has positioned itself as a regional hub that offers services to the region, including health care. Meanwhile, Hainan, once a key stop on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, is already being marketed as an international tourist island. Investors now set their eyes on medical infrastructure. A public-private-partnership cancer hospital, which cost 2.9 billion yuan (426 million U.S. dollars), opened last year in Hainan's capital city of Haikou. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and 1,200 beds, the hospital mainly targets wealthy treatment seekers from outside the province. China's State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Development and Reform Commission late last year set a target to build 10 TCM health tourism model zones offering medical treatment, wellness, recuperation, and elder care by 2020. Woodman said China is on the path to establishing quality health care infrastructure. In 2007, there were only three Chinese medical centers accredited by the Joint Commission International, while today there are more than 77. The next step, he said, will be to work toward promoting China as a medical tourism destination by working with the travel and economic development sectors. Some have sensed the business opportunity. Russian national Yana recently quit her tour guide job to join the Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a marketing officer. Yana, who has been a tour guide in Sanya for 12 years, said her new job is promising. "A lot of my Russian clients know about TCM and are interested in coming over," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 12:33:43|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 11 (Xinhua) -- An Australian python that was discovered in a police raid on a drug den, is one of many reptiles going to "rehab" in prisons, the New South Wales Corrective Services said on Tuesday. The python, which according to the Department of Justice, cannot be named for legal reasons, spent six weeks detoxifying and being cared for by inmates, at the purpose built Wildlife Care Center at the John Morony Correctional Complex in Windsor. According to senior overseer of the program Ian Mitchell, the python had absorbed methamphetamine, or ice, through its skin, and required time to recuperate. "It takes time for the drug to leave the snake's system but through our assistance, we managed to calm it down after several months and bring it back to its routine feeding patterns," Mitchell said. The prison runs the center as part of an initiative to rehabilitate minimum-security inmates, who feed, clean and tend to the reptiles, as well as treat them for minor illnesses while they recover. Assistant Commissioner at Corrective Services NSW James Koulouris told Xinhua on Tuesday that the benefits of these initiatives are part of a broader emphasis on community safety. "The Wildlife Care Center in Windsor is one of many initiatives that Corrective Services NSW undertakes as part of our framework emphasising offender rehabilitation," Koulouris said. "These programs allow for supervised interaction with the community for inmates, and instills in them a sense of responsibility and service. This leads to better outcomes upon their release, and keeps our communities safer." Over 40 snakes, 15 lizards, and five turtles have been looked after by inmates in the center over the past year, with the animals then being handed over to animal welfare authorities once their rehabilitation is complete. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 12:58:54|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close RIGA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Increasing exchanges between Latvia and China will help deepen mutual understanding, trust and cooperation, Inara Murniece, speaker of the Latvian parliament Saeima said. "The more we learn about each other, the deeper our mutual trust and cooperation grows. And we enrich ourselves in the process because this is how a friendship and partnership is built," she said in a written interview with Xinhua, ahead of the upcoming visit to Latvia by Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Murniece said exchanges by legislature bodies play an important role in enhancing Latvia-China relations. The top Latvian legislator described the exchanges between the two countries' legislature bodies as "active," saying "regular visits take place both at the highest level and the level of the foreign affairs committees." Meanwhile, she cited the fact that among the parliamentary groups, the group for cooperation with China is one of the largest of its kind, with 34 members from both the ruling coalition and opposition. She added that the Latvian parliament supports the "16+1" cooperation between China and 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Last November, the Latvian capital of Riga hosted the fifth China-CEE summit. "China is Latvia's most important economic cooperation partner in the Far East," Murniece said, adding Latvian export of goods to China grew 8.5 percent in 2016 from a year earlier. On the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, the top Latvian legislator said her country, which signed with China an inter-governmental memorandum of understanding of cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative last November, saw many opportunities. "We see a lot of opportunities in cooperation with China, such as Latvia's development as a transport and logistics hub...... diversification of Latvian exports of goods and services, as well as investment in infrastructure and other projects in Latvia," she said. Murniece said she recognized a common trend in the increasing people-to-people exchanges between China and Latvia that both countries are ready to learn more about each other. She noted that in recent years, Latvia and China have expanded cooperation in culture, education and tourism. In 2016, according to her, the number of Chinese tourists to Latvia rose 57.8 percent to about 20,550. "We have many things in common," she said. "Latvians have strong interest in the Chinese art, culture and history." In addition, Murniece expressed the hope for a Chinese culture center expected to open this year in Latvia to help more Latvian people to know more and better understand China. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 13:08:56|Editor: ZD Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A female teacher and an eight-year-old boy were killed Monday morning after the teacher's husband opened fire before taking his own life inside a special needs classroom at an elementary school in San Bernardino, Southern California. The gunfire was reported at 10:27 a.m. local time (1827 GMT) in North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, according to San Bernardino Police Department. "I heard of about three or four gunshots in the morning...then I saw an African American running out of the school holding a kid," local resident Maria Villataro who lived just across the school told Xinhua. The female teacher was identified as Karen Smith, 53, who was killed before the gunman turned the gun on himself. The gunman was identified by law enforcement officials as Smith's husband, Cedric Charles Anderson, 53, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan told reporters Monday afternoon. The chief said the couple had only been married for a few months.Anderson, who had been estranged from his wife for about a month, got into the school by saying he had to drop something off for Smith, officials said. Two students standing behind Smith were also shot. Police do not believe that the two children were targeted. "We believe this to be a murder suicide," Burguan posted on his twitter. One of the students, identified as eight-year-old child Jonathan Martinez, was taken via helicopter to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. The other injured, a nine-year-old student, remains hospitalized in stable condition, police said. Police said the gunman had checked in with school officials before going to the classroom, which held a class for students with intellectual disabilities. There were 15 students from first through fourth grades in the room at the time, and two adult aides. Students in the school were evacuated after the incident. "All kids have been taken to California State University San Bernardino," Burguan tweeted. North Park Elementary has about 530 students between kindergarten and sixth grade, mostly from Latino families. The school is on lockdown along with two others nearby. Local residents lit candles and prayed Monday night at a community vigil to mourn the victims. The city, still healing from the 2015 terror attack, has seen a major increase in violence in recent years. On Dec. 2, 2015, at least 14 people were killed and more than 20 others were injured after gunmen opened fire at a social services center in San Bernardino City. PYONGYANG, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said late Monday that the U.S. preparations for invading the DPRK have reached "a serious phase of its scenario" with the sending of a nuclear carrier task group in waters off the Korean Peninsula by Pentagon. A spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quoted by the Korean Central News Agency as saying that the U.S. dispatching of Carl Vinson nuclear carrier task group to waters off the peninsula "all of a sudden" has proved that Washington's "reckless moves of invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario." "If the United States dares opt for a military action, crying out for 'preemptive attack' and 'removal of the headquarters,' the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the United States," said the spokesman. He stressed that "the prevailing grave situation proves once again that the DPRK was entirely justified for increasing in every way its military capabilities for self-defense with preemptive attack with a nuclear force as a pivot." "The Trump administration is foolish enough to deploy strategic striking forces one after another in South Korea, trumpeting about 'peace by force of arms,' but the DPRK remains unfazed." "We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," said the spokesman. KABUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that targeted two churches in cities of Tanta and Alexandria in Egypt, which killed and injured dozens of people. "The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan that has been the main victim of the crimes of terrorist groups over the past two decades and is at the forefront of the fight against this phenomenon, believes that terrorism does not represent any religion, culture and nation and all terrorist groups, without differentiation, are common enemies of human society," a statement issued by Afghan Foreign Ministry reads. On Sunday, the twin bomb attacks in the Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria killed at least 44 people and injured more than 120 others. The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again condemns these terrorist attacks, expresses its deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims' families as well as to the friendly and brotherly nation of Egypt and wishes a full recovery for those injured in these incidents," the statement added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 13:49:03|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao (R) meets with Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met here with Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Tuesday morning, calling for stronger bilateral ties. Hailing the traditional friendship between the two countries, Li said China and Namibia had close communication and cooperation in various fields, and both sides supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns. Li expressed his hope that both countries would consolidate political trust, enhance exchanges, strengthen cooperation and expand people exchanges to boost bilateral ties. Ndaitwah expressed her hope that Namibia and China would cooperate more in manufacturing, agriculture, personnel training and international affairs. HANOI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh province is implementing a series of measures to tighten management of local travel companies in a bid to improve service for Chinese tourists. On Monday, a travel company in Quang Ninh has been deprived of business license due to violations of travel regulations. A working group of the provincial tourism department and police has detected that a bus with 21 Chinese tourists run by local Manh Long company violated legal regulations in international travel business, reported local Bao Dau Tu (Vietnam Investment Review) online newspaper on Tuesday. The bus had no tour guide but only one driver to take the tourists from Quang Ninh's Mong Cai border gate to the province's tourist attraction Ha Long city. The company has been fined 25 million Vietnamese dong (over 1,100 U.S. dollars) and deprived of business license for 12 months. In April. altogether four local travel firms in Quang Ninh that violated travel regulations have been deprived of business licenses for 12 months. Earlier in late March, Quang Ninh authorities said they will apply tougher measures against those who violate travel regulations. Authorities pledged to halt operation of the firms who fail to obey travel regulations when receiving Chinese tourists via road border gate, as well as publicize these companies in the mass media. Since the beginning of 2017, the province has fined 44 violation cases, most of which were tour guides and international travel businesses. As of the end of March 2017, as many as 15 stores that sold items to Chinese tourists in Ha Long city were ordered to close due to failure to guarantee standard and quality of service, reported local VNExpress online newspaper. Official statistics showed that Quang Ninh currently has over 40 travel companies that are specialized in providing service for Chinese tourists. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 13:54:04|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book on the governance of China was released on Tuesday in the capital of Cambodia. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, presided over the release ceremony of the book at the prime minister's office, Peace Palace. The ceremony, broadcast live on the country's leading Fresh News website and Hun Sen's Facebook page, was attended by some 500 officials, academicians, researchers and university students. The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014, and it helps readers around the world to better understand China's development, domestic and foreign policies and response to the concerns of the international community. Hun Sen said the book featured Xi's thoughts on governance, economy, improvement of welfare and life for the people, rule of law, cultural advancement, ecological conservation and China's contributions to peace and stability in the region and the world. "The book will enable the Cambodian people to better understand Chinese President Xi Jinping's thoughts on the deep reforms of the governance of China," he said. "I'd like to encourage all officials, professors and students to read the book and choose good thoughts to practice in your real work." The prime minister said he was impressed by Xi's ideas on governance, anti-corruption, increase in confidence among the people, and China's foreign policy that treats countries in the world as good and true friends. Meanwhile, Hun Sen said China has been playing a crucial role in boosting global economy and trade and in maintaining political stability in the region and in the world. "China's progress has greatly benefited the world because China has adhered to the coexistence principle," he said. Jiang, who is also the chief of China's State Council Information Office, said the book, to date, has already been translated into 16 languages and has a distribution of over 6.2 million copies around the world. "I believe that the Cambodian version of the book will provide a broader opportunity for Cambodian readers to learn China's experience in governance and administering the country," he said. Cambodia's Secretary of State and spokesman for the Council of Ministers Phay Siphan said the book would provide Cambodians a deeper understanding about the Chinese leader and his thoughts on political issues and foreign policies. "The Cambodian language book stands as an iron symbol of solidarity and cooperation between Cambodia and China," he told Xinhua. "It will enable Cambodian readers to better understand China's successful experience in economic development, administration and international relations." Sorn Samnang, an advisor to the Cambodian government, said with the Cambodian version of the book, more Cambodian people would be able to read it. "This book offers very useful information and experience for Cambodia in its national development," he told Xinhua. Khlot Thyda, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said she had read the Cambodian version of the book and believed that it would be an invaluable asset for Cambodian readers. "With the book, I'm strongly confident that more Cambodians will better understand President Xi's philosophy of governance and use his philosophy to reflect on the reality in Cambodia," she told Xinhua. She said the book provided comprehensive knowledge of China's policies on energy, economy, technology, environment, security, governance, corruption and international relations. "The book helps the international community to better understand China's mentality, domestic and foreign policies and response to the concerns of international community as well as the Chinese Dream," she said. Thyda said in the book, she was impressed by Xi's win-win approaches such as the establishment of a new model of major-country relations and the Belt and Road Initiative. The translation and publication work of the Cambodian edition of the book was completed in close collaboration between the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (CFLPA) and the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia. Chea Munyrith, director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the 603-page book would offer Cambodian readers a broader opportunity to better understand about China. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 13:59:04|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st L) pose for a photo with U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd R) and First Lady Melania Trump in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 6, 2017. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The just-concluded meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump was very positive as it helped achieve a much friendlier tone in China-U.S. ties, experts said. The April 6-7 meeting, the first between the two leaders since Trump took office in January, was held at the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Both sides hailed the meeting as "positive and fruitful" as the two leaders increased their mutual understanding and established personal friendship through face-to-face discussions of issues of mutual concern. REDUCED CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA-U.S. TENSIONS The meeting "helped achieve a much friendlier tone in relations between China and the new Trump administration," Ted Carpenter, senior fellow of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, told Xinhua in an interview. "It alleviated concerns around the world that there might be a sharp increase in bilateral tensions," Carpenter added. The meeting was "quite positive," Douglas Paal, vice president for studies and director of Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Xinhua. "Though the real measure of the meeting will follow the next 10 months of work, but so far, so good," Paal said. To Professor David Lampton, director of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, the Xi-Trump meeting "went pretty well." "This meeting seems to have gone better than most people would have forecasted here - in the United States," Lampton told Xinhua. The two leaders "had an opportunity to come to know each other better, have a little more trust, but that it looks like there was the beginning of substance, although there is a long way to go," Lampton said. Lampton further pointed out that Trump's acceptance of Xi's invitation to visit China within this year also "shows that there is a priority attached to managing this relationship." "I think it's more significant that it shows this is an important relationship, and that he (Trump) wants to invest in it," he added. NEW DIALOGUES ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT At the meeting, the two leaders agreed to create a four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanism to deal with major issues on security, economic relations, cyber security and law enforcement, and people-to-people exchanges. The two major powers also agreed to expand cooperation in varied areas while properly handling sensitive issues, managing differences in a constructive manner, and strengthening communication and coordination on major global and regional affairs. "The decision to establish specific mechanisms of focused dialogues on key issues was especially important and useful," Carpenter said. "There are very real disagreements between China and the United States on all four issues, but flexible, creative diplomacy pursued in a spirit of cooperation could go a long way toward narrowing, perhaps even overcoming, those disagreements," he said. Paal noted that the establishment of the four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanism was "a repackaging" of the previously-known annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) held under the Obama administration. "The test is in what they accomplish," he said. Paal agreed with Xi's remarks that cooperation is the only correct choice for China and the United States, saying that if the two countries choose competition over cooperation, "that could turn into conflict, which could ruin the 21st century." "The scope for cooperation is large, but the scope for conflict is even greater, so major efforts will be required to avoid conflict," Paal said. OPPORTUNITIES IN INFRASTRUCTURE COOPERATION Lampton noted that opportunities for cooperation exist between the two top economies in the area of infrastructure, as they try to achieve a more balanced trade. China aims to boost infrastructure construction to increase interconnectivity and cooperation between China and the rest of Eurasia, through its Belt and Road Initiative unveiled in 2013. At Mar-a-Lago, Xi told Trump that China welcomes the United States to participate in the initiative. "Xi and China have a vision of the modernization of and development of Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South Asia through interconnectivity (by) building infrastructure," Lampton said. He added that, from what he learned during a recent visit to China, Beijing is looking for ways to cooperate with the United States to begin the process of building infrastructure throughout Asia, rather than exclude the United States. Lampton also foresaw that China would participate in the major infrastructure initiative proposed by Trump, who vows to spend 1 trillion U.S. dollars in upgrading U.S. roads, bridges and airports. "So I think this is Chinese dream to make China part of an integrated economic organism...And the U.S. could become part of that rather than opposing it," he said. Carpenter said that a cooperative China-U.S. relationship can greatly benefit both global security and global economic health, while a tense or hostile relationship could do great damage in both areas. "China and the United States need each other," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 14:44:11|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Eleven civilians were injured in a grenade attack in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz on Tuesday, police said. "One man hurled a hand grenade near a main bus station in Bandar-e-Kabul locality of provincial capital Kunduz city in the morning. Afghan National Police (ANP) has launched an investigation into the case and efforts were underway to arrest the culprit behind the attack," Mahfozullah Akbari, police spokesman of the 808 Spin Zaar Police Zone based in the region, told Xinhua. Following the blast the ANP personnel shifted the wounded people to Kunduz Regional Hospital where one of the injured remained in critical condition, he said. In a separate incident, on Monday, three children were killed and six teenagers wounded after they touched off an unexploded ordnance in a village in neighboring Charhar Dara district, according to Akbari. More than 3,490 civilians were killed and over 7,920 others injured in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan last year, according to figures released by the UN mission in the country. Land mines, unexploded ordnances and explosive remnants of war also frequently cause casualties among the Afghans elsewhere in the country. Photo taken on Oct. 16, 2016 shows South Sudan's government troops patrolling in Malakal town, South Sudan. Fresh clashes between government and opposition forces near the northern town of Malakal have killed at least 56 over the weekend, a military spokesman said late Sunday. (Xinhua/Gale Julius) JUBA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 civilians have been killed and ten others injured in South Sudan's northwestern town of Wau following sporadic fighting between government-backed militia and local youth, the UN mission said Monday. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said the fighting started after a number of government SPLA soldiers were killed in an ambush on Sunday in the south of Wau. "The Mission mounted two patrols into Wau on Monday and said it had observed the bodies of 16 civilians in a hospital. There were ten people who had been injured," the UNMISS said in a statement. The UN mission said 84 people have arrived at the UN protection of civilian site, while an influx of at least 3,000 people into a Catholic church in the town, mostly women and children, has been reported. "The fighting follows the movement of SPLA troops, tanks and equipment towards the southwestern part of Wau late last week," UNMISS said. South Sudan has been devastated by civil strife that broke out in December 2013. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, with over 2 million displaced since then. A peace deal signed in August 2015 led to the formation of a transitional unity government, but was again shattered by fresh violence in July, 2016. The first China-bound cargo train carrying British products left London for eastern Chinese city of Yiwu on April 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Lu Lantian) Hi, here's what you need to know about China. PHNOM PENH -- The Cambodian version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book on the governance of China was released on Tuesday in the capital of Cambodia. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, presided over the release ceremony of the book at the prime minister's office, Peace Palace. xhne.ws/TULq8 ---- BEIJING -- China and Myanmar on Monday agreed to uphold the principle of mutual respect and win-win cooperation to promote the sustained, healthy and steady development of bilateral relations. China appreciates Myanmar's support for and participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, President Xi Jinping said during talks with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw. xhne.ws/6S5Uv ---- LONDON -- The first China-bound cargo train carrying British products left London on Monday for an eastern Chinese city, highlighting another historic moment in the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative. The cross-continent freight, loaded with 32 containers carrying products including milk powder and soft drinks, left from east London's DP World gateway for the Chinese city of Yiwu amid cheers and applause. xhne.ws/qgC0A ---- BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping met visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in Beijing Monday, voicing the hope that the two countries could cement political mutual trust. 1"I appreciate the positive efforts made by the prime minister and Norwegian government in the normalization of bilateral ties," said Xi. xhne.ws/fuxjA ---- BEIJING -- China's GDP is likely to grow by 6.8 percent year on year in the first quarter, faster than the 6.7-percent increase in Q1 of 2016, economists said. "China's economic growth has stabilized, with initial signs showing solid growth," said Zhang Liqun, a researcher with the Development Research Center under the State Council. xhne.ws/r8HRB KABUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 46 militants were killed amid military operations launched by Afghan security forces within the last 24 hours, the country's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. "In past 24 hours, Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) launched seven counter-terrorism operations in five provinces. As a result 46 armed militants were killed and 21 others were wounded," the ministry said in a statement. They also found and seized weapons, according to the statement, but it didn't say if there were any casualties on the side of security forces. The raids were launched in Achin district of Nangarhar province, Ghoryan district of Herat, Darzab district of Jawzjan, Tirinkot district of Uruzgan and Sayyad district of Sari Pul province, the statement added. The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants recently, as spring and summer known as fighting season, are drawing near in the central Asian country. Taliban militant group has yet to make comments. MANILA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Double-digit growth in exports and imports boosted the Philippines' merchandise trade by 16.1 percent in February, the government said on Tuesday. The National Economic and Development Authority said total trade grew 11.3 billion U.S. dollar pushed up by imports which grew by 20.3 percent and exports, 11 percent. "We see this as a strong follow-though to the 14.2 percent growth of total Philippine trade recorded in January, keeping our country's economy on track in sustaining its momentum go growth," Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement. The agency said that exports earnings rose to billion U.S. dollar, mainly driven by 6.2 percent growth in volume of manufactured goods. 99.5 percent growth in mineral and 224.6 percent growth in petroleum products. Pernia said the "healthy growth" in Philippine exports was mainly driven by higher exports to East Asian countries, comprising 48.3 percent share in total exports. "Receipts from China surged by 66 percent and 24.7 percent growth, respectively," he said. Pernia also noted that Philippine exports to ASEAN countries grew by 18.8 percent in the same period, "a good sign that the country is forging stronger connections with its Asian neighbors." "The performance of trade in the first two months of the year is a good inception that we are on an upward trajectory," Pernia said. "With ASEAN chairmanship and China's rebalancing to a more consumer-oriented growth, the Philippines is expected to have expansions in terms of products and markets," he added. LAGOS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Two Turkish construction workers were abducted by unknown gunmen in their hotel rooms at Eket, the second largest city in Akwa Ibom State in southeast Nigeria, local police said late on Monday. The Turkish nationals, who worked for the BKS Construction Company in Onna, a local government area in Akwa Ibom State, were seized at Airstrip Hotel in Eket by the gunmen on Sunday, said the spokesman of the state police command Chukwu Okechukwu. The police is working tirelessly to rescue the abducted Turkish workers, said Okechukwu, adding that local police have mobilized an anti-kidnapping unit and a special anti-crime unit to ensure that they are freed unhurt. The police spokesman said no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and no ransom demand was made. Akwa Ibom is an oil producing state and a thriving hub of a new oil and gas business. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 16:04:26|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Trade volume between Cambodia and China was valued at 4.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Tuesday. Cambodia's export to China reached more than 830 million U.S. dollars, as its import from China was over 3.9 billion U.S. dollars last year, he said during the release ceremony of the Cambodian edition of the book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China." "The Cambodia-China trade volume has rapidly increased -- averagely 26 percent per year -- in the last ten years," the prime minister said, attributing the high growth to good relations and cooperation between the two countries. Main items the Southeast Asian nation exported to China are milled rice, dry rubber, cassava, fishery, and apparels, as it imported from China mostly garment raw materials, machinery, vehicles, foodstuffs, electronics, medicines and cosmetics. Meanwhile, Hun Sen said that under the Belt and Road Initiative, Cambodia and China would increase their bilateral cooperation in a number of sectors aiming to further boost economics, trade, investment, and tourism. MANILA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday that a clash broke out between government forces and extremists in the central Philippines. Eduardo Ano, the AFP's chief of staff, said in a statement that government troops and police "encountered a group of heavily armed lawless elements in Bohol" around 7 a.m. Tuesday. Ano said that the military launched the "security operation" in the wake of the intelligence reports that at least 10 armed men aboard three pump boats were sighted on the riverside of that village. "The information came for alert residents and other citizens," Ano said. Ano said that the heavily-armed group has been "cornered in an isolated" area of the village. "Additional forces from the Army, Air Force and the Navy are now onsite to assist engaged AFP personnel and law enforces," Ano said, adding that "firefight is still ongoing." Meantime, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronal dela Rosa confirmed that a joint military and police operation were launched Tuesday to thwart the attack in central Philippine Visayas region. He said that at least one soldier had been killed so far and two others were wounded from the government forces. He said that the bandits are holed up in at least three houses in the village. The U.S. Embassy and the Australian Embassy in Manila warned over the weekend issued its respective citizens to be careful, adding the embassies have received "unsubstantiated yet credible information that terrorists may attempt kidnappings in central Visayas, which include both Cebu and Bohol provinces." Dela Rosa said on Monday that the PNP has indeed received information of a potential terrorist threat in the central Philippines. In a news conference at the main police headquarters, Dela Rosa said that the police has been alerted although it has yet to receive details of the threat. The military has been fighting the Abu Sayyaf rebels since 2000. Abu Sayyaf is one of the smallest and most violent jihadist groups operating in the southern Philippines notorious for kidnappings, bombings and attacking civilians and the army. The group, numbering about 500, has been sowing terror in the southern Philippine region since the early 1990s. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 16:08:35|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A newspaper survey has revealed that over half of young people who have moved to China's first-tier cities would like to return to their hometowns. According to the China Youth Daily survey published Tuesday, 54 percent of respondents said they were considering finding a new job back home. The survey had 2,000 respondents, who are/were working or studying in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Shenzhen. Youngsters living in China's eastern coastal areas were the most likely to leave and return home, a total of 63.5 percent indicating they would like to do so. Of the factors that had caused them to move to the city, 56.6 percent said job opportunity and income, 52.4 percent said enviromental quality and 51.3 percent said house prices. Other prominent factors include education and medical standards, traffic and city management levels. The four first-tier cities abound in job opportunities, but many migrants find have difficulties settling down due to soaring housing prices and fierce competition. Undergraduate students are also voicing concerns as to whether they can remain in cosmopolitan cities after graduation. Li Wenjun, a student in southern China's Guangzhou city, said his family were anxious about his future work place, but he would like to try a big city first since his hometown could be a backup plan. SEOUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier is expected to arrive in waters near South Korea this weekend, raising tensions in the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday. A South Korean military official was quoted as saying that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier is forecast to enter the waters near the Korean Peninsula around April 15. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was reportedly being accompanied by two destroyers and one cruiser. The Carl Vinson Strike Group departed from Singapore last Saturday for the Western Pacific. The re-deployment of the U.S. aircraft carrier and its accompanying battleships raised tensions on the peninsula. It would be unusual for the aircraft carrier to be re-mobilized to the peninsula, after having participated in the U.S.-South Korea military exercises, codenamed Foal Eagle, from March 19 to March 25. The joint annual springtime war game would last by the end of this month. Due to the unusual U.S. action, ungrounded rumors spread on the Internet here that the U.S. military could stage a pre-emptive strike against nuclear and missile facilities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Seoul's foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck told a press briefing that the authorities of South Korea and the United States are closely cooperating on the DPRK issues, saying those rumors are groundless. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 16:34:35|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Acquisitions and investments related to China's Belt and Road Initiative are expanding, promoting social and economic development in relevant countries, a think-tank report has said. Since 2015, Chinese investment in the area has been growing consistently, according to a report released Monday co-authored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and China Bond Rating. Most of the investment has gone to ASEAN countries, the Middle East and South Asia. Energy, transportation and information technology sectors received most of the investment, it said. Despite an increase in absolute volume, share of China's investment along the Belt and Road in the nation's overall outbound investment remains tiny, highlighting multiple risks faced by Chinese investors, the report said Zhang Ming, a researcher with CASS, said ethnic and religious factors, a changing geopolitics landscape, as well as weak and unbalanced global economic growth pose big challenges for Chinese investors. "China has invested more than 50 billion U.S. dollars in countries along the Belt and Road since proposing the initiative in 2013," He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said in early March. The initiative was proposed by China to create a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 16:51:17|Editor: xuxin Myanmar's national security advisor Thaung Tun speaks during a meeting with heads of diplomatic missions and UN agencies in Myanmar on the Rakhine issue at the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/U Aung) TOKYO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A survey conducted by Japan's education ministry revealed Tuesday the number of children victimized by bullying after their families fled the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture in March 2011 was far higher than initially thought. The ministry survey was conducted through regional education boards in March and showed that of 11,800 evacuees of school age surveyed, only a fraction reported incidents of bullying in stark contrast to other surveys and widely-reported anecdotal evidence. In 204 cases of bullying documented by the education ministry since April 2011, one elementary school-aged evacuee was told to go back to Fukushima soon after joining the school. Some of the evacuees were told by their peers to go back to Fukushima or move somewhere else, the survey showed. In a another case a junior high school pupil was told not to come to school because other pupils said they would be contaminated with radiation. In fiscal 2016 alone there have been 129 cases of bullying, the education ministry's survey showed, although of the total, the ministry only attributed 13 cases directly to the nuclear crises in Fukushima. Japanese Education Minister Hirokazu Matsuno conceded, however, that there was likely a huge dark figure of unreported cases or cases that were otherwise quashed. "It is difficult to conduct a survey that covers them all. We will consider our response in light of the possibility that some bullying has not surfaced," said Matsuno on Tuesday, adding that further studies were necessary to reveal the true extent of the problem. Highlighting the likely huge disparity in actual cases to those revealed by the ministry's survey, Japan's public broadcaster NHK said on Tuesday that in its own survey on the matter conducted recently, of 740 families surveyed, at least 54 children were bullied because they were "nuclear accident evacuees." NHK also said a boy who was bullied in an elementary school by his classmates who wouldn't touch anything he touched and acted as if he was contaminated. The boy, who once had to escape his classroom after being stabbed in the leg by a pencil during class time, said he couldn't ask his teacher for help as his teacher believed he was just "restless" and needed to see a doctor. In a recent interview with Xinhua, mother-of-two Yasuko Endo said she made the decision to leave Fukushima for the safety of her children, but that her eldest boy was tormented by his peers at his new school in the Kanto region. Endo said that soon after enrolling in the new junior high school other children were quick to single her son out as being the "new kid" but when they found out he was from Fukushima they started to harass him on an increasingly frequent basis. Endo said they would call her son, now 14 years old, all sorts of names like "radiation boy" and "vermin," which quickly began to damage the boy's self-esteem. She said the bullying would continue outside of school and involve her son being followed home from school and taunted with new "nicknames" related to the nuclear accident. One time the boy's tormentors threw rotten fruit in his face, Endo said. The situation reached a peak when a whole class refused to get into a pool with the boy during a physical education class, claiming that they would be "infected" with radiation if they shared water with the boy. Endo said her son ended up in hospital as a result of the bullying. Hosei University Professor Naoki Ogi said the onus of responsibility lies with the teachers of the bullied children for not taking the problem seriously enough. Other informed sources have taken aim at the education ministry itself for taking so long to conduct a nationwide survey that has most likely produced inaccurate results. JAKARTA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- An investigator of Indonesia's anti-corruption watchdog leading investigation into a graft scandal that allegedly involving top politicians was attacked with chemical liquid when he was returning from a mosque at dawn on Tuesday, police said here. Novel Baswedan was attacked by two assailants riding motor cycle at 05:10 a.m. Jakarta time in north Jakarta, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said. "There are two persons, one person sprinkled the chemical liquid on Baswedan and another was riding the motorcycle. The perpetrator sprinkled the liquid on his (Baswedan) face," the spokesman said. The attack occurred as the anti-corruption commission or KPK is investigating a mega corruption case allegedly implicating dozens of conspirators and several firms. More than a third of the 440 million U.S. dollars state's funds provided for the electronic identity card system was allegedly stolen in the case. President Joko Widodo strongly condemned the strike and stressed to investigate the case, presidential spokesman Johan Budi said. Seismic corruption is one of major problems in improving a better investment climate in Indonesia. HANOI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's state budget revenues were estimated at 280.9 trillion Vietnamese dong (12.48 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2017, up 15.2 percent compared to the same period in 2016, accounting for 23.2 percent of the annual estimate, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Tuesday. Among the figures, domestic collection for the period was 232 trillion Vietnamese dong (10.31 billion U.S. dollars), making up 23.4 percent of the projected revenues, and 13.3 percent higher than the same period last year, Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA quoted the MoF as saying. Meanwhile, budget revenues from crude oil exports in the Q1 reached roughly 11 trillion Vietnamese dong (488.89 million U.S. dollars), meeting 28.9 percent of estimates, up 15.9 percent against 2016. The increase in the state budget revenue may also be attributed to the vigorous economic growth in the last quarter of 2016, with GDP growth at 6.68 percent, the MoF said. At the same time, in Q1, Vietnam's state budget expenditure reached nearly 285 trillion Vietnamese dong (12.67 billion U.S. dollars), up 7.8 percent year-on-year and accounting for 20.5 percent of the annual plan. Expenditures for development investment were recorded at 44.1 trillion Vietnamese dong (1.96 billion U.S. dollars), while debt payment and interest expenses totaled 29.1 trillion Vietnamese dong (1.29 billion U.S. dollars), and regular spending reached 211.2 trillion Vietnamese dong (9.39 billion U.S. dollars). As a result, overspending stood at over 4 trillion Vietnamese dong (182.22 million U.S. dollars), accounting for 2.27 percent of the yearly estimates, said the MoF. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 17:09:45|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L, front) meets with Yohei Kono, former speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives and currently president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), and a business delegation led by Kono in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Monday, during a meeting with a business delegation from Japan, that China stands ready to bring ties with Japan back to the right track of development. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations, Li told Yohei Kono, former speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives and currently president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT). History and reality show that China-Japan relations can maintain healthy and stable development only if both sides adhere to the principles set in the four political documents between the two countries and stick to the direction of peace, friendship and cooperation, said Li. The Chinese premier urged Japan to move toward China's stance, view China's development as an opportunity, pursue a positive policy toward China, and create more positive elements for improving bilateral ties. More than 40 years ago, non-governmental organizations and friendly people from Japan, including JAPIT, made active efforts for the normalization of bilateral ties, Li said, calling on them to continue working for the improvement and development of bilateral ties, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples. Kono said JAPIT has always been committed to promoting the development of Japan-China relations through economic cooperation since it was founded more than 60 years ago. The Japanese business community is closing watching China's development goals and measures and stands ready to make unremitting efforts to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and improve and develop bilateral relations, Kono said. Jiang Jianguo (L), Vice Head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, donates the Cambodian version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" to Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the release ceremony at the prime minister's office, Peace Palace, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang yanfang) PHNOM PENH, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book on the governance of China was released on Tuesday in the capital of Cambodia. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, presided over the release ceremony of the book at the prime minister's office, Peace Palace. The ceremony, broadcast live on the country's leading Fresh News website and Hun Sen's Facebook page, was attended by some 500 officials, academicians, researchers and university students. The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014, and it helps readers around the world to better understand China's development, domestic and foreign policies and response to the concerns of the international community. Hun Sen said the book featured Xi's thoughts on governance, economy, improvement of welfare and life for the people, rule of law, cultural advancement, ecological conservation and China's contributions to peace and stability in the region and the world. "The book will enable the Cambodian people to better understand Chinese President Xi Jinping's thoughts on the deep reforms of the governance of China," he said. "I'd like to encourage all officials, professors and students to read the book and choose good thoughts to practice in your real work." The prime minister said he was impressed by Xi's ideas on governance, anti-corruption, increase in confidence among the people, and China's foreign policy that treats countries in the world as good and true friends. Meanwhile, Hun Sen said China has been playing a crucial role in boosting global economy and trade and in maintaining political stability in the region and in the world. "China's progress has greatly benefited the world because China has adhered to the coexistence principle," he said. Jiang Jianguo (L), Vice Head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, speaks at the release ceremony of the Cambodian version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" at the prime minister's office, Peace Palace, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang yanfang) Jiang, who is also the chief of China's State Council Information Office, said the book, to date, has already been translated into 16 languages and has a distribution of over 6.2 million copies around the world. "I believe that the Cambodian version of the book will provide a broader opportunity for Cambodian readers to learn China's experience in governance and administering the country," he said. Cambodia's Secretary of State and spokesman for the Council of Ministers Phay Siphan said the book would provide Cambodians a deeper understanding about the Chinese leader and his thoughts on political issues and foreign policies. "The Cambodian language book stands as an iron symbol of solidarity and cooperation between Cambodia and China," he told Xinhua. "It will enable Cambodian readers to better understand China's successful experience in economic development, administration and international relations." Sorn Samnang, an advisor to the Cambodian government, said with the Cambodian version of the book, more Cambodian people would be able to read it. "This book offers very useful information and experience for Cambodia in its national development," he told Xinhua. Khlot Thyda, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said she had read the Cambodian version of the book and believed that it would be an invaluable asset for Cambodian readers. "With the book, I'm strongly confident that more Cambodians will better understand President Xi's philosophy of governance and use his philosophy to reflect on the reality in Cambodia," she told Xinhua. She said the book provided comprehensive knowledge of China's policies on energy, economy, technology, environment, security, governance, corruption and international relations. "The book helps the international community to better understand China's mentality, domestic and foreign policies and response to the concerns of international community as well as the Chinese Dream," she said. Thyda said in the book, she was impressed by Xi's win-win approaches such as the establishment of a new model of major-country relations and the Belt and Road Initiative. The translation and publication work of the Cambodian edition of the book was completed in close collaboration between the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (CFLPA) and the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia. Chea Munyrith, director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the 603-page book would offer Cambodian readers a broader opportunity to better understand about China. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 17:44:50|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DUBAI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said here on Tuesday that it will implement compulsory registration of privately-used drones to ensure safety zones. Speaking at the 5th annual World Aviation Safety Summit which kicked off Tuesday, Michael Rudolph, the head of Airspace Safety Section, said that with the increase of drone aficionados and due to a number disruptions near Dubai international airport in recent years, it became necessary for the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority to monitor the activity of private drone users. An online registration scheme for buyers of drones has already been rolled out, "and before the end of May, we plan to reach an agreement with the Dubai Economic Department, which will make a registration of drone buyers by Dubai-based retail stores compulsory," he said. In addition, any buyer will have to do a training course which enables him to steer a drone safely "or he will have to proof that he has the right experience and skills by going through a practical and theoretical evaluation process. It's like obtaining a driving license," explained Rudolph, a former officer of the South African Air Force. In 2016, Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest airport in relation to international passengers, had to shut down flight operations for several hours four times due to illegal drone activity near the take-off and landing tracks. Asked if the drone taxi for transporting a single passenger which Dubai plans to launch in July this year will be part of the scheme, Rudolph told Xinhua "our department is involved in this. If the drone taxi comes, it would be a first for Dubai." The self-flying human-size drone taxi, produced by the Chinese manufacturer Ehang, was presented to the public by the Dubai transport authority RTA at the World Government Summit in Dubai earlier in February this year. "There will be only autonomous flights on pre-programmed trips from point A to point B within Dubai, for example from the Burj Al Arab to Atlantis Hotel on the man-made island Palm Jumeirah. The passenger will not have the power to steer the drone taxi, " said Rudolph. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 17:49:51|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ANKARA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were injured in an explosion on Tuesday in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, local Dogan News Agency reported. An explosion occurred during the repair of a police panzer near the Diyarbakir Security Directorate compound at Baglar district, causing part of the roof of the building collapsed. According to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, one people wounded seriously, another person was still trapped under the ruins. A large plume of grey smoke was reportedly rising over surrounding buildings. Ambulances have been dispatched to the area immediately. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Diyarbakir Governor to obtain information about the explosion, local daily Hurriyet reported. NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Somalia security forces have rescued an Indian cargo ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates on April 1 but nine members of the 11-crew are missing, a regional maritime official said on Tuesday. John Steed, the regional manager of not for profit group, Oceans Beyond Piracy said the hostages are believed to be being held between the vicinity of Hobyo and Haradhere in central Somalia. "The Indian ship was released by Somalia security forces on Monday night but nine of the 11 crew members are missing having been taken ashore by the pirates. The vessel is sailing away," Steed told Xinhua by telephone. The pirating of the Indian dhow came after the fuel tanker, Aris 13, was held for four days by armed pirates. The Indian ship, Al Kausar was one of three foreign vessels to be hijacked after a five-year lull. "We haven't established where the hostages were taken," said Steed, noting that Somali pirates are holding 17 hostages from Iran and India. "The pirates are holding 17 hostages at the moment. Eight are Iranians while 9 are Indians," Steed said, adding that efforts are underway to secure their release. Al Kausar was chartered by a Somali businessman and was carrying commercial goods. The vessel which was en route from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Bosasso in Somalia was hijacked in the vicinity of Socotra (Island). The release of the Indian vessel comes after sailors from Indian and Chinese Navies on Sunday freed a Tuvalu-registered vessel which had been boarded by pirates. The vessel had 19 crew members. Somali pirates tend to be well armed with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and sometimes use skiffs launched from mother vessels, which may be hijacked fishing vessels or dhows, to conduct attacks far from the Somali coast. Maritime experts said lack of economic opportunities and the prevalence of illegal fishing are pushing more Somalis to turn to piracy -- partly as a form of protest and partly because they see no other options. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) grants the official certificate of appointment to Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor as the fifth-term chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) by Zhan Yan, Gao Jie, Yan Hao HONG KONG, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, incoming chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), has pledged to continue upholding the "one country, two systems" principle and work for the SAR's development. Lam made the remarks in a recent joint interview with Xinhua and the China Central Television after she was appointed as the Hong Kong SAR's fifth-term chief executive by the State Council on March 31. Lam won the chief executive election with 777 of 1,163 valid votes on March 26 and she will assume office on July 1, 2017. In the interview, Lam stressed that the Hong Kong SAR chief executive shall be accountable not only to the special administrative region and people there, but also to the central government. "Keeping Hong Kong's prosperity and stability is the shared goal of both the SAR government and the central government. The chief executive must play well the 'bridge' role between the special administrative region and the central government." The chief executive should accurately inform the central government of how local people feel and what they want, and at the same time should also explain accurately the central government's policies related to the SAR to the local people, she said. Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, incoming chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is in a joint interview with Xinhua and the China Central Television at incoming chief executive office in Hong Kong, South China, April 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS" PRINCIPLE TO BE UPHELD This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. While hailing the successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong over the past 20 years, Lam said that to become the new chief executive at this historic moment is a great honor, and it also means great responsibilities. She vowed to continue administrating in accordance with the Basic Law to ensure the "one country, two systems" principle is steadfastly implemented in Hong Kong without bending or distortion. She also pledged to further build up the understanding of the Basic Law, especially the understanding of the major premise of "one country," among the local people, particularly young students and civil servants. There is still plenty of room to do it, she said. With regard to the future administration, Lam said the SAR government will become "more open and inclusive" as well as "more transparent." She noted that in recent years, political differences in Hong Kong have hampered the growth of local economy and the improvement of the people's livelihood. Lam sternly warned of the consequences of the "Hong Kong independence" activities, saying they are totally against the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, and will undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. "The notion of 'Hong Kong independence' will lead nowhere in Hong Kong, and it will never be tolerated." GOV'T TO PLAY MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN DEVELOPING ECONOMY While speaking highly of Hong Kong's development since its return to the motherland 20 years ago, Lam noted the severe challenges facing the region given the sluggish world economic growth and the growing trend of protectionism. "Hong Kong has continued to be an international financial hub and metropolis as well as the world's freest economy with sharp competitive edges, but its advantages in traditional sectors have been decreasing." To meet the challenges, the incoming SAR government should seek changes while maintaining stability and play a more active and promising role in developing economy, Lam said. "The SAR government will play a more active role in boosting economy, working well as a service provider and supervisor as well as a facilitator and promoter in the economic sector." The incoming SAR government will introduce a series of fiscal and tax measures to improve Hong Kong's competitive edges so as to achieve growth in both traditional and emerging industries, Lam said. Hong Kong is a relatively mature economy, thus it's difficult for it to achieve a relatively high growth rate in the future. But Hong Kong can tap into the potentials and opportunities brought by the mainland's reforms and opening-up, the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" development initiative to grow its economy. Lam said she was very excited that the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" was included in the government work report. The timing is quite good for Hong Kong, she noted, adding that substantial progress in infrastructure is expected to be made to facilitate development in the region. Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor meets the press after winning the election of the fifth-term chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Hong Kong, south China, March 26, 2017. (Xinhua/Qin Qing) GOV'T TO TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITIES TO ADDRESS HOUSING PROBLEM The housing problem has always been a concern for Hong Kong people as well as the SAR government. Lam said land supply and demand is the crux of the problem; when supply is running short, the government should focus on demand management to avoid speculation on property. In the long run, more should be done on land supply as Hong Kong, a free economy and international commercial hub, should not keep people outside, and it should welcome inflow of investment, she said. In the future, the government will put more emphasis on land supply as this is of vital significance for housing supply, Lam said. According to statistics, Hong Kong has about 1,100 square kilometers of land, only 26 percent of which has been developed so far. Lam said housing is a quite important and pressing problem for Hong Kong people, so any policy in this regard should be studied carefully. She noted she has proposed a series of measures, including setting up a task force to invite people from all walks of life to review the sources of land supply from a comprehensive and macro perspective. Government officials should not be scared of proposing new ideas, so long as they are good for Hong Kong and good for the people here. What should be scared of is lacking innovation impetus to change the status quo, she said. BETTER EDUCATION, MORE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT On education, Lam envisioned the next generation in Hong Kong being educated into a generation having national identity, loving Hong Kong and possessing a world view. Lam proposed in her campaign platform an annual increase of 5 billion HK dollars (643.4 million U.S. dollars) in the government's recurrent spending on education. However, she pointed out that taking pains to improve the educational system, including schools, teachers, curriculum design and assessment system, is even more important than increasing expenditure. Hong Kong needs to streamline its education system and reduce pressure in a comprehensive way, she said. "The goal of education should be to foster young people's motivation for exploring new fields and develop their capabilities to pursue innovation." Besides assisting the young people in their education, career and getting on the property ladder, Lam also called for offering them more opportunities to participate in policy discussion and formulation. She urged heads of departments of the SAR government to get in direct touch with young people and listen to their views on government policies and social issues. She also proposed to include more youth into the government's various advisory commissions. Lam has pledged to establish a high-level youth development commission to supervise the formulation and implementation of policies for youth development. At the end of the interview, Lam, the first female chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR, said she hopes her election victory will encourage more women to actively participate in Hong Kong's public affairs. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 18:14:56|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese navy has earned plaudits from netizens for rescuing a foreign ship hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. "Well done Chinese navy! We should pay tribute to all navy men!" wrote a user of Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like service. The convoy, sent by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, rescued a Tuvaluan ship hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden Sunday local time. News of the rescue mission, posted by "Headline News," a Sina Weibo account, received over 1,000 comments in 24 hours and earned more than 4,000 "likes." One Weibo user wrote, "It shows that China's development adheres to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win result, and the rise of China can benefit the world." Others were praying for the safety of the sailors. One Weibo user wrote, "Please keep yourself safe, as your families are waiting for your return." The navy said in a statement that its 25th convoy fleet, which was conducting an escort mission at the time, received report of the hijacked ship OS35 at around 5 p.m. Saturday. The fleet's vessel Yulin set out for the area immediately. After some reconnaissance and having contacted with the ship's crew, rescue operation started early Sunday morning. A group of 16 members from the navy's special force boarded OS35, rescuing all 19 crew members and carrying out a thorough search of the ship to clear possible security threat. Chinese fleets initiated an escort mission in 2008 in order to protect passing ships against pirate attacks, safeguard sea lane security and maintain freedom of navigation along waterways. Because of China's joint efforts with some 20 international partners, the passage of goods through the Gulf of Aden is more secure. "As China's military power grows, the ability to offer public security service for international society has also been enhanced," Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow of the Military and Academic Institute of the Chinese Navy, was quoted by the Global Times as saying. "A stronger Chinese army can better safeguard peace and stability of the world." As of now, Chinese fleets have escorted more than 6,000 ships through this vital sea route and have successfully rescued or aided more than 60 Chinese and foreign ships. LUSAKA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Armed police raided the house of Zambia's leading opposition leader on Monday with a view to arresting him, his vice confirmed the incident on Tuesday. Hundreds of police officers raided the house of Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND) with a view to arresting him following allegations that his entourage blocked President Edgar Lungu's motorcade in the western part of the country on Saturday. His vice, Geoffrey Mwaamba, told reporters that the police have been instructed to arrest the opposition leader and charge him with treason. "They are claiming that he has committed a treasonable offense. Very sad indeed over what is happening in Zambia. Edgar has become a dictator," he said. He said what was happening in the country has never happened before and added that he was also ready to be arrested and sent to jail. He said what happened in Mongu town, the provincial of western Zambia on Saturday should not be blamed on the opposition but the police who failed to man the road properly. Efforts to get a comment from the police proved futile as the spokesperson could not respond to calls. According to local media, some journalists and senior party officials were assaulted when they went to the residence of the opposition leader situated on the eastern outskirts of Lusaka, the country's capital. The opposition leader has come under attack after television footages showed his convoy traveling side by side with Lungu's motorcade on a road in western Zambia's Mongu district. But the opposition party has denied accusations that it blocked Lungu's motorcade. JAKARTA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian police will beef up security in their regional stations following string of attacks in their facilities lately with the latest one occurred in Central Java province's Banyumas precinct station on Tuesday that wounded three police, a senior police officer said here. "To prevent reoccurrence of such an attack, we would escalate our alertness in every region," a spokesperson and national police headquarters Martinus Sitompul said in his office here. Regarding the latest measure to anticipate the attacks, police headquarters would issue directions to stations, he added. Commenting on the latest attack against a police station in Banyumas police station earlier in the day, Martinus said that investigation against the perpetrator is underway at present. "So we were yet to be able to disclose neither his motive nor his background, whether he is a member of a radical group or not," Martinus said. Three police were wounded in the attack solely carried out by a 22 year-old man namely M. Ibnu Dar in the police station on Tuesday morning. Ibnu used his motorbike to trespass into the police station premises and rammed into a police guarding the station. Besides that he also stabbed two other police who tried to help their colleague rammed by Ibnu with his motorbike. In the attack Ibnu covered his head with a fabric emblazoned with IS logo and shouted at the police, using dagger and sword. Banyumas Police Chief Aziz Andriansyah said the stabbed police received serious injuries that made them rushed and treated in a hospital. Ibnu was arrested in his house after the attack. Previously on Saturday, Indonesian police and military members killed six ones who shot at a police station in East Java province's city of Tuban. They were killed in a shootout with the security apparatus in a corn field around the cit Police arrested one who tried to run a car used by the station attackers in the event. Police said the shooting against the police station in Tuban may related to the arrest against three alleged terrorists in the province's city of Lamongan on Friday. One of those arrested in Lamongan was a senior leader of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), a radical group. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 18:34:05|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping met Tuesday with Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing. Congratulating Lam on her victory in the election as the SAR's fifth-term chief executive and ensuing appointment by the State Council, Xi said Lam's victory is well deserved and she meets all the central authority's standards for the role. With 36 years of government work experience, especially the multiple important posts she held after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Lam has shown "a firm stance in loving the country and Hong Kong, a diligent, pragmatic and responsible work style, as well as rich administrative experience and ability to handle complicated situations," Xi said. Lam also enjoys high recognition in Hong Kong society and has the mind, capability and sense of responsibility for the country and Hong Kong, Xi said. Lam won the chief executive election with 777 of 1,163 valid votes on March 26. She is expected to assume office on July 1, 2017. PARIS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A huge fire broke in the Grande-Synthe migrant camp near Dunkirk northern France overnight after a knife fighting between migrants, according to a local report. The blaze which started on Monday afternoon reduced the wood-made shelters to rubble and forced 1,500 inhabitants to move to other sites, news channel BFMTV reported. At least 10 migrants were wounded because of the fire, it added. "There is nothing left but a heap of ashes," Michel Lalande, prefect of France's Nord region was quoted as saying. "It will be impossible to put the huts back where they were before," he added. The blaze was likely caused by a violent knife fight between Afghans and Kurds at the camp. Six were injured in the scuffle Since 2016, the camp has been a home for 1,500 migrants, mainly of them are Kurds who hope to reach Britain, according to the report. NEW DELHI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- India Tuesday strongly condemned the death sentence handed down to one of its nationals for alleged spying in Pakistan as "an act of premeditated murder" and warned Islamabad of "consequences for bilateral relationship" if he is executed. "There is clearly no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav (the alleged spy). This is an act of premeditated murder. I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the Parliament. However, experts say that India-Pakistan relations have already tumbled to a new low after a military court in the neighboring country Monday awarded death sentence to Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, following which New Delhi retaliated by stopping release of some Pakistani prisoners. "The relations between India and Pakistan have touched another low since the expulsion of each other's diplomatic officials last year over spying charges and the surgical strikes carried out by India across the border in the wake of a terror attack on its Uri military base in Indian-controlled Kashmir in September 2016," said Prof Navin Pathak, a Delhi-based expert. Last year, Pakistan withdrew six officials from its High Commission in Delhi after they were outed as suspected spies by India. And it later leaked to the media the names and photos of eight alleged Indian spies working from India's mission in Islamabad. "India has already retaliated by stopping the release of around a dozen Pakistani prisoners, who were to be sent back Wednesday, as an act of retaliation. India has never given death sentence to a Pakistani spy and if the execution of Jadhav goes ahead, then India will not sit back. It has shown that it can retaliated hard over surgical strikes," said Prof S.K. Gupta, another expert. After the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed, Indian Army claimed to have conducted "surgical strikes" against militant launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, and inflicted "significant casualties". But Pakistan has rejected the claim. Experts say that the nuclear-armed neighbours have a long history of diplomatic spats and New Delhi and Islamabad often accuse each other of sending spies into their territories, but this is a case where India claims with conviction that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistan from Iran and already cautioned Islamabad of serious consequences. "While Pakistan claims Jadhav was arrested near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border of Chaman in Balochistan over illegal entry into the country and waging war against the state, India insists the former naval officer was abducted by Pakistan from Iran, where he was working out of after retiring from the Indian Navy. India seems to have a point," said Prof Pathak. He added: "Indian External Affairs Minister called Jadhav a son of India and cautioned of serious consequences if the death sentence is carried out. This is a clear warning to Pakistan that it would go to the extent of teaching Islamabad a big lesson this time if Jadhav is not freed." A senior government official said, on condition of anonymity, that India is exploring several options to get Jadhav out of Pakistan, which it thinks could be a ploy by Islamabad to force India to come to the table for talks over Kashmir. "There has been no movement on composite dialogue over Kashmir, which has been the bone of contention between the two countries for the past 65 years -- and it could be Pakistan's tactic to force India to start the talks. But India knows how to deal with Pakistan, any pressure tactic will not help Islamabad," he said. Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations has said that Jadhav, who was living as Hussein Mubarak Patel, was arrested on March 3 last year through a "Counter Intelligence Operation" from Balochistan's Mashkel. The statement also said that Jadhav was arrested for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, and "the spy" has been tried through the Field General Court Martial (FCGM) and was sentenced to death. In March last year, Islamabad released a video confession of Jadhav and said he revealed how India engineers violence and separatism in the restive province of Balochistan. India insists the confession was made by the former naval officer under duress. MANILA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- At least three soldiers, a policeman and five bandits were killed in a clash broke out between government forces and the Islamist extremists on Tuesday in the central Philippine Bohol province,the Armed Forces of the Philippines(AFP) said. Gen. Eduardo Ano, the AFP's chief of staff, said in a statement that government troops and police "encountered a group of heavily armed lawless elements in Bohol" around 7 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Ano said that the military launched the "security operation" in the wake of the intelligence reports that at least 10 armed men aboard three pump boats were sighted on the riverside of that village. "The information came for alert residents and other citizens," Ano said. Ano said that the heavily-armed group has been "cornered in an isolated" area of the village. "Additional forces from the Army, Air Force and the Navy are now onsite to assist engaged AFP personnel and law enforces," Ano said, adding that "firefight is still ongoing." A latest statement issued by the military and police in central Philippines said that three soldiers, a policeman and five Abu Sayyaf members were killed in the firefight. "At this moment, our combined forces are conducting clearing operations to resolve this incident in the soonest time possible," the statement read, adding that "tactical victories have been accomplished." Meantime, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronal dela Rosa confirmed that a joint military and police operation were launched Tuesday to thwart the attack in central Philippine Visayas region. He said that the bandits are holed up in at least three houses in the village. The U.S. Embassy and the Australian Embassy in Manila warned over the weekend issued its respective citizens to be careful, adding the embassies have received "unsubstantiated yet credible information that terrorists may attempt kidnappings in central Visayas, which include both Cebu and Bohol provinces." Deal Rosa said on Monday that the PNP has indeed received information of a potential terrorist threat in the central Philippines. In a news conference at the main police headquarters, Dela Rosa said that the police has been alerted although it has yet to receive details of the threat. The military has been fighting the Abu Sayyaf rebels since 2000. Abu Sayyaf is one of the smallest and most violent jihadist groups operating in the southern Philippines notorious for kidnappings, bombings and attacking civilians and the army. The group, numbering about 500, has been sowing terror in the southern Philippine region since the early 1990s. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to crush the Abu Sayyaf militants notorious for criminal and terror activities in the southern Philippines, including bombings, murder and kidnap for ransom. TOKYO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Toshiba Corp. on Tuesday submitted an unaudited financial report for the April-December period with an accompanying statement warning of its future survival. "There are events and circumstances that may bring about significant questions about the idea of carrying on as a going concern," Toshiba said in a Japanese statement accompanying its unaudited figures. Toshiba on Tuesday posted a group net loss of 532.51 billion yen (4.8 billion U.S. dollars) and a group operating loss of 576.28 billion yen, on sales of 3.85 trillion yen during the nine-months through December. The net loss compares to previous estimates of 499 billion yen and 479.44 billion yen posted at the same time a year earlier. The larger-than-expected losses follow Toshiba twice postponing the release of its financial figures since Feb. 14. The multinational conglomerate's auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Aarata LLC did not endorse the April-December earnings owing to differing opinions regarding Toshiba's trouble-hit U.S. nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co. Accounting irregularities at Westinghouse Electric Co. according to informed sources were the reason Toshiba twice postponed the release of its earnings. At the end of March Toshiba approved a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the United States by its embattled Westinghouse Electric unit. Toshiba said last month it was facing a possible 712.5 billion yen writedown on its failing nuclear energy business and a related group net loss of more than 1 trillion yen. The Japanese firm which employs 188,000 people globally has been under pressure to release its earnings and had it not filed its financial statement Tuesday ran the risk of being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Toshiba's shares were placed on a "securities on alert" watchlist by the Tokyo Stock Exchange in September 2015, following a previous accounting scandal, which had initially dented the company's reputation. Between 2008 and 2014 the multinational conglomerate was involved in padding its profits by 152 billion yen, leading to its chief, and half of its board resigning. The firm was subsequently fined an unprecedented 60 million U.S. dollars. The filing Tuesday without the approval of an auditor has yet to be accepted by financial regulators or the Tokyo bourse and could still see the Tokyo-based firm delisted. In an effort to raise desperately needed funds to cover losses from its U.S. nuclear business Toshiba earlier in the month spun-off its world famous NAND-type flash memory business. In the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis Toshiba has been struggling to secure new nuclear-related contracts. Conversely, its prized chip operation booked an operating profit of 110 billion yen on sales of 845.60 billion yen in the fiscal year that ended March 2016. This was at a time when the overall conglomerate logged a group operating loss of 708.74 billion yen. Its chip business has attracted around 10 interested parties with the final buyer expected to be decided in July this year. Toshiba is also expected to sell its domestic television business having already withdrawn from the international market. BUJUMBURA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Burundi has rejected the request by the facilitator in the inter-Burundian dialogue to grant immunity to suspects in the 2015 failed coup plot to allow them to participate in the talks, the Burundian president's office said Tuesday. "The facilitator in the inter-Burundian dialogue, also former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa sent a letter to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza on Feb. 27 this year, requesting him to grant immunity to coup plotters so that they can participate in the inter-Burundian dialogue. The request is impossible because people sued by the judiciary cannot get immunity according to international regulations," Burundian President's Spokesman Jean Claude Karerwa said. According to him, Burundi should be considered like other countries as it is a country that respects international rules. "The president of Burundi is not entitled to grant immunity or to pardon people who are sued by the judiciary. What he can do is to pardon people who have been already condemned. If he pardons such a kind of people, he will be accused of betraying the nation," Karerwa said. He indicated that Burundian people "do not have big problems" these days. "In the letter sent back to the facilitator in the inter-Burundian dialogue, the president stated that Rwanda has rather been provoking Burundi," Karerwa said. He also indicated that the president requested the "repatriation of the talks" from the Tanzanian town of Arusha to Burundi because most participants in the talks are in Burundi. The Burundian government boycotted the previous round of talks that took place by mid February in Arusha, Tanzania, arguing that it could not sit with what it called "coup plotters" on the same table. Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba said that invitations of participants to the talks were characterized by irregularities. "Some of the invited participants are sued by the Burundian judiciary for their involvement in disrupting Burundi's security," Nzobonariba said. The Burundian government was also against the denomination of some political parties invited in the talks, stressing that they are not political parties registered at the east African country's home affairs ministry. The other concern was the participation, in the talks, of Jamal Benomar, Special Adviser of the UN Secretary General in Burundi, who was rejected by the Burundian government in December 2016. Burundi plunged in a crisis since April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term in violation of the national constitution and the 2000 Arusha Agreement that ended a decade-long civil war. More than 500 people in Burundi have been killed and over 300,000 people fled to neighboring countries mostly Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Uganda since the outbreak of the crisis. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 19:09:17|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by David Musyoka NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency on Tuesday warned that the risk of mass deaths from starvation among the people of Horn of Africa, Nigeria and Yemen is increasing amid severe drought. The UNHCR also warned that a repeat of the Horn of Africa drought of 2011 which cost more than 260,000 lives, more than half of these children aged below five, must be avoided at all costs. "This warning is in light of droughts that are also affecting many neighboring countries and a funding shortfall that has become so severe that an avoidable humanitarian crisis in the region, possibly worse than that of 2011, is fast becoming an inevitability," the UN agency said in a statement. According to the UNHCR, already displacement is rising, forcing it to upgrade the agency's displacement estimates for 2017. It said consecutive harvests have failed, conflict in South Sudan coupled with drought is leading to famine and outflows of refugees, insecurity in Somalia is leading to rising internal displacement, and rates of malnutrition are high, especially among children and lactating mothers. The UN agency said internal displacement dynamics in Somalia are shifting too, adding that of the half a million people displaced since November 2016, 278,000 were displaced in the first quarter of 2017. "More than 72,000 of these have moved to the capital Mogadishu. Some 69,000 others have headed to Baidoa in the country's southwest. Somalia continues to see a complex situation of both outflows and returns (mainly from Yemen)," it said. UNHCR said a further 1 million people are now on the brink of famine in parts of South Sudan, where UN agencies warned in February that fighting, insecurity, lack of access to aid and collapsing economy had left 100,000 people facing starvation. The UN agency said in total some 20 million people in the Horn of Africa countries, Nigeria and Yemen are in areas affected by drought, 4.2 million of whom are refugees. "In Sudan, for example, where our initial estimate was for 60,000 arrivals from South Sudan this year, we are in the process of revising the expected total upwards to 180,000. Similarly in Uganda we are revising planning from 300,000 displaced to 400,000," it said. In the Dollo Ado area of southeast Ethiopia for example, acute malnutrition rates among newly arriving Somali refugee children aged between 6 months and five years are now running at 50-79 percent, said the UNHCR. The agency also said children account for the majority of refugees (62 per cent, for instance, in the case of refugees fleeing South Sudan) and in common with other refugees nearly all are dependent on food assistance via our sister-agency WFP. "With no money to buy food, rations however are being cut. In Djibouti rations have been cut by 12 per cent, in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda by between 20 and 50 per cent, and in Uganda by up to 75 per cent," UNHCR said. It said many refugees are without full access to livelihoods and agriculture or food production and their ability to take matters into their own hands and help themselves is limited. UNHCR said some 175,000 students in drought-hit areas in Kenya have stopped attending school while almost 600 schools have closed in Ethiopia. "In all, some five million children could in the coming weeks and months see their educations being disrupted," UNHCR said. In Yemen, which is experiencing the world's largest humanitarian crisis with almost 19 million people in need of humanitarian help, around 17 million people are food insecure. UNHCR said the situation is particularly bad in parts of northern Nigeria where seven million people are now struggling with food insecurity and need help. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 19:15:13|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States delivered Tuesday advanced security equipment to Lebanon to help improve its efforts to combat threats at Beirut's international airport, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. According to the report, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard attended the delivery ceremony at Rafik Hariri International Airport. "The security devices aim at better inspecting passengers and luggage," Machnouk said in a message on his Twitter account. The equipment included a mobile vehicle designed to inspect bags and people for a variety of illegal items. Last month, Beirut's airport began implementing a controversial electronics ban on direct flights to Britain, which applies to several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Lebanon. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 19:19:18|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close HANGZHOU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- As bike-sharing takes China by storm, one company has entered the industry with a new product -- the foldable electric bike. Zhejiang Linju Smart Technology Co., the electric bike's maker, said it has released 400 e-bikes since March in the city of Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, where the company is based. An e-bike can go up to 20 kilometers per hour and, when parked, can be folded to cover as little space as a piece of A4 paper, according to the company. The e-bikes need to be parked at designated bays where they can be charged, and batteries can be fully charged in just 20 minutes, the company said. To use the bikes, one has to press a button at the station and then scan a QR code with a mobile phone. It costs 2 yuan (about 30 U.S. cents) for an hour, and 20 yuan for a day. No deposit is needed. Since last year, a flood of bikes has returned to the streets of China -- formerly known as the Bicycle Kingdom -- thanks to the development of Internet technology enabling riders to unlock and drop off public bikes with their mobile phones. Bike-sharing has been welcomed in many Chinese cities beset by urban ills such as pollution and traffic gridlock. But people who are used to riding electric bikes, particularly in the south of the country, have hoped to see e-bikes shared too. "I have been using the e-bike sharing service since the first day it was launched. It takes more than 20 minutes to reach the office, about six kilometers away," said Li Jian, a local resident. "It gives me a comfortable ride, even on bumpy roads." "We will put 40,000 e-bikes on the streets of Jinhua by September 2018," said Chen Qiutian, general manager of the company, citing an agreement it signed with the government. "There will be e-bikes in the city center and most residential communities, with a station every 150 meters," Chen said. Each e-bike is equipped with a GPS transmitter to guard against theft. The company has set a long-term goal to release e-bikes in the provincial capital of Hangzhou this year, before it expands nationwide. The target is 150 million e-bikes in 20 cities by 2021. SEOUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korean lawmakers of the biggest Minjoo Party on Tuesday raised voice against the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in their territory, calling for a resolution through dialogue and negotiations. A discussion session was hosted by the People's Solidarity for Democracy and Peace, an association composed of 22 Minjoo Party lawmakers, to find alternative to the planned THAAD installation, to which Seoul and Washington agreed in July last year. On March 6, two mobile launchers and other first elements of THAAD were delivered to an unknown U.S. military base in South Korea. One THAAD battery is comprised of six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors, an AN/TPY-2 radar, and the fire and control unit. "Just one month is left before a presidential election. It was very deplorable for acting president and defense chief to press ahead with the THAAD deployment, an issue which is extremely crucial to people," said Rep. Sul Hoon of the Minjoo Party who leads the association. The lawmaker noted that the THAAD deployment indicates South Korea becoming part of the U.S. missile defense (MD) networking in the region, demanding such a significant issue influencing the country's security be ratified in the parliament. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has served as an interim president since a bill to impeach former President Park Geun-hye was passed in the National Assembly in December. Park was removed from office on March 10 in the historic ruling of the constitutional court, but the acting leader pushed for the THAAD deployment by allowing the first elements of the U.S. missile shield to be delivered to the country. During the session, local experts said the THAAD installation would worsen South Korea's relations with China and Russia. It would lead to difficulties for South Korea to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and look for cooperation from the two countries in the eventual reunification with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). They said the deployment decision was hurriedly made without any parliamentary and public discussions and also without any close consultations with neighboring countries, increasing the diplomatic burden for next president. An early presidential election is scheduled for May 9. Moon Jae-in of the Minjoo Party and Ahn Cheol-soo of the center-right People's Party are having a close race in recent presidential polls. Regional countries, including China and Russia, have strongly opposed the THAAD deployment in South Korea as it breaks regional strategic balance and damages security interests of the two countries. To resolve the THAAD issue, the main panelist proposed to the next South Korean government taking the lead in talking the DPRK into freezing its nuclear and missile developments first. Then, Seoul can discuss a gradual lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang with China and the United States to achieve the ultimate goal of the denuclearization on the peninsula. Cheong Seong-chang, director of unification strategy studies program at the private Sejong Institute, depicted the approach as the re-internalization of the Korean Peninsula issues in which two Koreas take the initiative to resolve the peninsula's nuclear issue. Cheong recommended the next South Korean president to hold summit talks with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un to agree on the immediate stop of Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests in exchange for the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the DPRK's border town as well as the restart of tours to the DPRK's Mount Kumgang resort. If the agreement is reached, China and the United States can agree on the partial lifting of sanctions on the DPRK. In that case, there would be no need to deploy THAAD in South Korean soil. Cheong said the DPRK's nuclear capability had advanced significantly in comparison to the one in 2006 when the country carried out its first nuclear test, and that the advanced capability would have made the U.S. think of it as a real threat to its security. As a few more nuclear and missiles tests can lead the DPRK to own nuclear-tipped missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland, it would be urgent to stop any further advancement in the DPRK's nuclear and missile capabilities, the senior researcher added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 19:30:16|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Parliament member Nicolas Fattoush Tuesday proposed an urgent draft law to renew the Parliament's mandate for a year, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. Fattoush, a lawmaker representing the Bekaa's Zahle district, presented a draft proposal to Parliament's Secretariat to extend the legislative body's mandate until June 2018. The Parliament's Secretariat is expected to meet Tuesday afternoon to discuss "Parliament-related matters," a statement from Speaker Nabih Berri's press office said. Parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place between May 21 and June 21, but deadlock over the new electoral law would lead to a delay of the polls. The Parliament has extended its mandate twice, in 2013 and 2014, over security fears. Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk have noted it's a "technical" extension of the Parliament's term, saying this was needed to finalize logistical preparations for the elections. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 19:40:18|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ANKARA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and four others injured in an explosion that occurred at a riot police building in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir on Tuesday, the governor's office announced. An explosion occurred during the repair of an armoured vehicle in the Diyarbakir Provincial Security Directorate compound in Baglar district, parts of the roof of the building have collapsed, local Dogan News Agency reported. Earlier, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed that one person was trapped under ruins and another was heavily injured in the blast. "The blast was in a part of the building for riot police, where maintenance is carried out on vehicles," he was quoted by broadcaster CNN Turk as saying during a speech in Istanbul. The minister said that the explosion was not caused by outside interference, ruling out a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, police warned citizens of possible gas leakage, adding that they should refrain from using propane cylinders in their kitchens or smoking nearby the accident area. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 19:44:23|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Police stand guard outside the Stockholm District Court in Stockholm, Sweden, April 11, 2017. The key suspect in Friday's truck attack in Stockholm, 39-year-old Rakhmat Akilov, has admitted to committing a terrorist crime, his lawyer told a Swedish court on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Rob Schoenbaum) STOCKHOLM, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The key suspect in Friday's truck attack in Stockholm, 39-year-old Rakhmat Akilov, has admitted to committing a terrorist crime, his lawyer told a Swedish court on Tuesday morning. The Stockholm District Court ruled that Akilov should be detained pending trial for committing a terror offence. Akilov, an Uzbek citizen, was arrested in northern Stockholm on Friday, five hours after the terror attack in a busy shopping street of the city. It is unclear when Akilov arrived in Sweden but he has apparently lived in the country under different identities and applied for asylum in 2014. His application was rejected last year. In February, the Swedish Migration Agency handed over Akilov's case to the police since he had absconded. He has been wanted by the authorities since February. The evidence against a second person arrested on suspicion of involvement in Friday's attacked turned out on Tuesday not to be strong enough for keeping him in detention. However, he will not be set free since he had previously received a deportation order. A truck rammed into people on a central Stockholm street on Friday before crashing into a department store, killing four people and injuring 15 others. Nine of the wounded are still in hospital, two are in critical condition. by Ejidiah Wangui NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's David Kioo almost gave up on horticulture farming last year despite the high octane optimism that informed his decision to embrace an otherwise lucrative venture. The middle-aged farmer was disappointed by a string of crop failure occasioned by climatic stresses, market volatility and high cost of farm inputs like fertilizers and seeds. Kioo had earlier resigned from a clerical job and his enthusiasm in horticulture farming suffered a blow due to the numerous hurdles that he encountered. His reprieve came through a Facebook page called "Kenyan Digital Farmers" which provided a platform for struggling smallholder farmers to learn new survival tips amid huge bottlenecks. Through this digital platform, Kioo and his peers in horticulture farming are able to exchange vital information on markets, proper agronomic practices, weather and consumer preferences. "Things are a bit better compared to a few years ago but we still have a long way to go, online platforms such as Facebook rescued some of us who almost gave up on horticulture farming," Kioo told Xinhua during a recent interview. He confessed that a glut occasioned by oversupply of tomatoes in the local market forced him to feed them to cows. "I was forced to feed the tomatoes I had just harvested to cows since the market was already saturated with the vegetable and its prices had slumped drastically," said Kioo. Noah Nashiali, another horticulture farmer from a wealthy Nairobi suburb came up with a novel innovation dubbed Farmerbot to help farmers market their produce directly and evade the onslaught of greedy middlemen. He noted Farmerbot has revolutionized horticulture farming in Kenya by eliminating brokers who often eat into smallholders' earnings. "The idea behind Farmerbot is to give farmers the much needed companion from planting throughout to harvesting and finally to the market," said Nashiali. He partnered with well wishers to develop Farmerbot several years ago when he used to have a bumper harvest of cabbages yet lacked ready market for them. "Farmerbot seeks to cushion farmers against unfortunate events like absence of ready market for their produce," said Nashiali. He noted that Farmerbot gives interested farmers a chance to join a Telegram group, where they meet potential buyers and experts. "Besides linking up growers with ready markets, Farmerbot provides the farmers with latest information on sound agronomic practices," said Nashiali, adding that many youth who have ventured into horticulture farming are keen to utilize innovations to enhance productivity. So far, an estimated 2,000 buyers in Nairobi, Mombasa and other major towns are using Farmerbot to order for produce. Nashiali said that any farmer with a smart phone can upload the Farmerbot application to access information about market trends on real time basis. He added that cheaper internet connections in rural areas has enabled horticulture farmers to obtain timely information on markets, weather and looming threats like pest and diseases. YANGON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government will take legal measures against human right abuses if there is any clear evidence, said U Thaung Tun, National Security Adviser to the government, on Tuesday. The National Security Advisor made the remarks when briefing diplomatic corps and UN Specialized Agencies on recent situation and development in Rakhine state at the National Reconciliation and Peace Center in Yangon. He emphasized that the criminal acts to instill terror in the population could not be condoned under any circumstance, warning that any attempt to sow the seeds of terror in one country can affect the peace and stability inside and outside the region. He pointed out the government's continued efforts to address the issue by stressing the importance of building trust and confidence between the communities, addressing poverty and underdevelopment and finding lasting solution. He made clear the government's position to dissociate itself from the decision adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council as the resolution was less than constructive. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to implement the large majority of the recommendations in the interim report published by the Advisory Commission on Rakhine state promptly, highlighting a number of positive developments such as initiative of a process to close down IDP camps in Kyaukphyu, Sittwe and Ramree, allowing media access, ICRC's prison visit, and increased humanitarian access and measures to expedite national verification process. He appreciated the donor countries and international organizations for their assistance. The National Security Advisor hoped the international community would continue to understand and provide constructive support for the government's endeavor to build peace, justice and development for all the people living in Rakhine. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 20:10:28|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- More Chinese returned to their homeland for work after studying overseas, official data showed Tuesday. A total of 432,500 overseas students came back to China in 2016, setting a record high, according to Tang Tao, deputy head of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The ratio of overseas students choosing to return home among total overseas students has increased by about 10 percentage points in the past four years. A total of 2.65 million overseas students had returned to China by the end of 2016 and China has set up 347 start-up hubs for them, which are home to over 27,000 companies. China has been streamlining settlement procedures for foreign talent to boost the country's competitiveness in innovation. The government will continue to offer policy support to address challenges facing overseas students in areas such as settlement, education for children and business financing, according to Tang. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 20:34:36|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Jon Arregui, a salesman in Spain, was thinking about buying a smart phone as a gift for his mother. Rather than going to a local electronics store, he went to AliExpress.com, an e-commerce site owned by China's Alibaba Group. Holding the new Lenovo phone in his hand days after the order, Arregui was impressed by how fast Chinese goods are delivered to the overseas market. More than 100 million overseas buyers like Arregui are now using AliExpress as a platform to buy Chinese goods, Alibaba announced on Monday. From electronics to wedding dresses, global customers are getting a fresh taste of "made in China" online. Data show that, on average, more than 20 million overseas buyers purchased goods on AliExpress each day. International customers from Spain, Russia, Thailand,and Indonesia were among the most active buyers. In fact, it is not just Alibaba eyeing the foreign market through cross-border e-commerce. Alibaba's major domestic rivals JD.com and Suning Commerce Group, along with a growing number of smaller startups, are all trying to take a slice of the lucrative overseas consumer market. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, cross-border e-commerce in China has been growing around 30 percent year on year from 2008 to 2015 in terms of business turnover. In 2016, total turnover reached 6.3 trillion yuan (about 914 billion U.S. dollars). The rising industry is also changing the pattern of how small businesses trade. YI Technology, a Shanghai-based startup that develops high-definition cameras and drones, sold 600,000 U.S. dollars' worth of products in a single day on November 11 last year with the help of AliExpress. "Traditional trade in China is changing to a new pattern which allows information and resources to be shared online, thus making product information more transparent to foreign buyers," said Roy Luo, general manager of technical services and R&D for German firm TUV Rheinland's China operations. According to Luo, cross-border e-commerce is actually cutting China's trade costs. Under the traditional trade pattern, buyers need to come to China before they make any purchase decisions. Thanks to e-commerce platforms and third-party quality check agencies, overseas buyers only need to review the products online. By 2020, trade volume through cross-border e-commerce will account for 37.6 percent of China's total exports and imports, making it a significant part of China's foreign trade, research agency CIConsulting predicted. Still, challenges remain for China's e-commerce platforms. One comes from logistics. According to Shen Difan, AliExpress's general manager, the current international logistics system is mainly designed for the traditional trade pattern, which needs to be improved for e-commerce trade. Realizing the problem, Alibaba is already working on solving it. Cainiao, an Alibaba-backed logistics firm, has been working with local companies to speed up product delivery. In Spain, Cainiao has set up warehouses where Chinese goods are stored so that products could be sent out upon request. In Russia, Cainiao has been cooperating with local postal service on data exchange, which shortened the delivery time from 50 days to 15 days. Alibaba is also tackling another challenge for cross-border e-commerce using what it's best at -- payment systems. Alibaba's online payment platform Alipay, already with 400 million global users, allows global customers to pay in 18 different currencies. China's Belt and Road Initiative is offering even more opportunities to e-commerce platforms like AliExpress. According to reports published by iResearch and CIConsulting, total turnover through cross-border e-commerce trade will hit 12 trillion yuan (about 1.74 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2020 with the help of purchasing power from countries along the Belt and Road. For Spanish customers like Jon Arregui, that means more high-quality Chinese goods to be delivered in a shorter time. "Spain is already AliExpress's third-biggest market," said Alfonso Noriega Gomez, economic and commercial counsellor at the Spanish Consulate General in Shanghai. "Through the Belt and Road Initiative, Spain and China will have more close ties." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 20:45:36|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close CHENGDU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Handmade Tibetan costume is increasingly fashionable, but for one Chinese village it is showing the way out of poverty. Learning the skills from his father, Tenzin Chogyo, 27, became a tailor in a cooperative in Matharmar village, Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Sichuan Province. The cooperative shareholders include 25 poor village households who survive on an annual income of less than 2,000 yuan (around 290 U.S. dollars) per capita. As the main garment store for more than 3,000 residents in Honglong township, the cooperative has an ambitious plan to help the village cast off poverty in 2017. "I know the bitterness of poverty. This cooperative provides an opportunity for poor people living in harsh conditions to increase their income," said Tenzin Chogyo. Aged 20, he began to learn the craftsmanship from his father, who opened a garment store in nearby Litang county and earned money making hand-stitched Tibetan clothes. Measuring, cutting, sewing and embroidering all test a tailor's technique. "An experienced tailor usually spends a week on a handmade robe. Any mistake will ruin the whole project," he said. He did not have a smooth start, destroying three pieces of cloth in one day. But his father is a good teacher. "My father was not angry. He adjusted the badly cut pieces into clothes for Tibetan children and sold them all," he said. Tenzin Chogyo said he was luckier than other rural Tibetan youth but his good luck was used up when his father was diagnosed with tuberculosis and he needed treatment for several months. They shut down their garment store, and in order to pay his father's medical bills, Tenzin Chogyo drove trucks for a gold mine, worked in construction and dug worm grass in the mountains. Although he had the skills, he did not have the money to set up a new tailor's shop. Things changed in April 2016 when a local cadre named Wang Yongshun came to Tenzin Chogyo's home and asked him to be a tailor in a cooperative invested in by the government. The Chinese government has vowed to eradicate poverty by 2020. As of late February, there were 831 impoverished county-level regions across China, where poverty is expected to be eliminated in the next four years. Local governments have been looking for and creating various ways to fulfill their shared goals. According a Yajiang county plan, Matharmar village will be pulled out of poverty this year. Obtaining a poverty relief fund of 160,000 yuan, Wang thought hard about what industries should be developed in the village, a place with high altitude and bad weather. Villagers suggest Wang set up a tailor's shop in Honglong township, around 100 kilometers away from Yajiang county and 35 kilometers from Litang county. Residents had to trek over mountains to buy Tibetan clothes in Litang. "It can cover a potential market of thousands of customers," Wang said. Supported by the local government, Tenzin Chogyo and his wife received one-week training in a garment company in Mianzhu city, learning how to use a sewing machine. They opened a cooperative selling Tibetan clothes last September, which now earns between 6,000 yuan and 8,000 yuan each month and provides an opportunity for poor villagers to live a better life. "We will share out bonuses with them. The specific revenue-sharing plan is still in the pipeline," said Tenzin Chogyo, who also intends to train poor herdsmen as tailors. Meanwhile, Matharmar village exhibits its wares on a roadside of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. People can stop and enjoy the beautiful scenery, look at the clothes and visit the cooperative to buy Tibetan costume as a souvenir. Tibetan clothing has changed with the economic boom and as the region has had closer contact with the rest of the world. "I plan to make fashionable clothes with Tibetan characteristics to attract more young people to join us," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 20:50:37|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close by Xinhua Writer Jiang Xufeng BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Those involved in illegal financial market activities such as insider trading have reasons to be fearful, as Chinese authorities are escalating efforts to put financial markets under stricter scrutiny. ANTI-MALFEASANCE DRIVE Adding to the recent slew of tough measures in the sweeping campaign against financial market malpractice, the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) Monday unveiled targeted measures to address financial risks in the banking sector. Amid complaints about reckless speculations on financial markets, the CBRC outlined 10 detailed fields for strengthened risk control, including traditional sectors such as credit, liquidity, real estate and local government debt as well as non-traditional areas including Internet finance and cross-border financial impact. The CBRC policy guideline came on the heels of China's top anti-graft authority Sunday announcing that Xiang Junbo, chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, was being investigated for suspected serious violations of the code of conduct of the Communist Party of China. There has been no shortage of high-profile punishments in China's financial markets in recent months. The "barbaric" behavior of some Chinese insurers that use leveraged money to buy shares in listed companies triggered sharp volatility in the market at the end of last year and sparked regulator concerns. China's insurance regulator barred Yao Zhenhua, chairman of Foresea Life Insurance, from the insurance industry for 10 years due to irregular market operations. Yao was only one on the long list of highly scrutinized violations. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) last month handed out a record high fine in the amount of 3.47 billion yuan (about 503 million U.S. dollars) to Xian Yan, chairman of P2P Financial Information Service Co., for stock market manipulation including insider trading, a testimony to regulators' determination to crack down on risky investment activities. "Small fines fail to pose as a deterrent to banks and investors engaged in malpractice, and regulators must take more punitive actions to strengthen their supervision," said Zeng Gang, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a top Beijing-based think tank. "Preventing financial risk will be on the front burner, and regulators will slap harsh punishments on market violators to curb frequent misbehavior," said Liu Fushou, director of legal department of the CBRC. In the first quarter of this year alone, the CBRC imposed administrative penalties for 485 cases of irregularities in the sector with fines totaling 190 million yuan, equaling 70 percent of the total amount of fines issued last year. INNOVATION IN SUPERVISION China's stock, bond, insurance, banking and other financial markets are in a nascent stage, while regulators have realized that some investors are taking advantage of loopholes in market rules and supervision for profits, analysts said. China's financial supervision needs to keep pace with new changes and phenomena in the sector, and supervision rules must be updated in a timely manner, stressed Guo Shuqing, chairman of the CBRC. China's financial regulators have pledged to give priority to supervision innovation including better on-site surveillance and the use of big data to improve efficiency. "Regulators must strengthen supervision for all processes in the financial industry and learn from the experience of advanced economies, with preemptive measures to play a more prominent role," said Chen Shaoxia, chief researcher with Goldport Capital, a Shenzhen-based asset management company. A picture taken on April 4, 2017, shows the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, dominating pedestrians crossing a bridge over the water canal, which links the city's business hub to the Gulf. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) DUBAI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed an agreement with Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) to establish CNPC's regional headquarters in Jafza, an e-mailed statement said Tuesday. The new headquarters covers 55,000 square metres and include a 10,000-sq. m multi-storey office and warehouse facility for storage, maintenance and repair of oil and gas equipment. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said "CNPC's headquarters in the UAE reinforces its presence as a key player in the region's energy sector." He added "We will support CNPC in their ambitious growth plans by providing favourable business processes, services and facilities that compare with international standards." Jafza has established its position as a regional hub for the oil, gas and petrochemical industry with more than 850 companies from 77 countries in the sector. Zhu Junfeng, CEO of CNPC Middle East, said "This regional headquarters brings together all of our 16 listed companies in Jafza under one roof to help us better serve our customers." Zhu added "It will also support our expansion plans in the UAE and the Middle East following our acquisition of an eight percent stake in the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) for 1.8 billion U.S. dollars." Ranked third in the 2016 Fortune Global 500 list, the CNPC is a state-owned Chinese company headquartered in Beijing and the parent company of PetroChina. ARUSHA, Tanzania, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in northern Tanzania on Tuesday expressed determination of increasing ginger production to meet local and international market demands. Said Mecky Sadick, Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner said his office has been encouraging smallholder farmers in the ginger producing areas to venture into the crop because of its reliable markets in and outside the country. Currently, ginger in Kilimanjaro Region is widely grown in Same District, particularly on the slopes of Usambara Mountains--the ancient range in northeast Tanzania, which is part of the Eastern Arc. Ginger is used as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Sadick views ginger as one of the tools that can be used to address poverty among producers and all people in the value chain. "We're also encouraging local and foreign investors to invest in value addition--ginger processing to meet the international markets," he said. Ginger produced in northern Tanzania is sold in neighboring Kenya, where traders re-package it for overseas markets. "We want to reverse the trend and encourage more processors to invest in value addition within the area where production is made, so that ginger produced there is directly taken to the international markets," he said. Tanzania is now eyeing the United Arab Emirates as the next market for ginger produced in the east African nation. "This is an important aspect that adds value on ginger, we have the responsibility to ensure that we remain the sole producers of quality ginger in Tanzania and east African region," Sadick said. Rosemary Sitaki, Same District Commissioner said that the government is working to encourage ginger growers to work in groups, so that they can be easily assisted. "We are determined to come up with bold strategies to scale up production of the root crop. Our aims are to ensure availability of the crop that can be easily tapped by processing factories." According to Sitaki, a forum for ginger growers has been established in the district that provides a platform for players to extensively discuss pertinent issues facing ginger farming. "As government, we want to see ginger is exported after adding its value for the benefit of growers and the country at large." District's agricultural and co-operative officer, Majid Kabyemela, said that for years, Same District remained the leading in Tanzania for ginger production as it produces 70 percent of all ginger produced and its farmers have the ability to produce 14,500 tonnes annually. Other ginger growing regions in Tanzania include Ruvuma, Kigoma, Tanga, Morogoro, Coast and Mbeya. SEOUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese novelist Yasutaka Tsutsui has sparked outrage among South Koreans by recklessly insulting a "comfort women" statue erected in South Korea. "We are very disappointed with the personal view" of Tsutsui and feel "both anger and sadness at the same time," Tsutsui's publishing company said in a statement posted on its website. The company has announced it has ceased sales of his most recent book. Tsutsui, best known for his 1966 science fiction novel "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time," enraged many in South Korea in an online post protesting Tokyo's decision to send the ambassador to South Korea, Yasumasa Nagamine, back to Seoul. Nagamine had been absent from his post for three months since a South Korean citizen group last December erected the statue - which symbolizes women forced to provide sex in Japanese wartime military brothels - in front of Japan's consulate in Busan, South Korea's second most-populous city after Seoul. "That girl is cute," Tsutsui blogged in referring to the statue in a post dated April 4, the same day the ambassador flew to Seoul. "Everyone, let's go and ejaculate in front of her and shower her with semen." Tsutsui also voiced dismay that Nagamine's return, which came despite Tokyo's failure to get a promise from Seoul to remove the statue, amounted to capitulation by Japan and its approval of the statue's location. The 82-year-old writer reportedly posted the same remark on his Twitter account, which was deleted as of Monday. In an interview with Tokyo-based Kyodo News, he claimed he had "no intention of insulting South Korea" and that he was "aware what atrocities the Japanese committed against South Koreans." "So I think it was unavoidable that the statue was placed," Kyodo quoted the novelist as saying. "I think people who are making a big deal of my latest remark are those who have never read my novels. My comment was just a joke that was meant to find those people and go viral." Nevertheless, Tsutsui's language stunned South Korea. In a Japanese version of its article, the Seoul-based Chosun Ilbo newspaper responded to Tsutsui's comments with incredulity, calling his words "shocking nonsense that sexually insulted" what the statue represents. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 21:10:41|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close MACAO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from police departments of Macao and its neighbor Guangdong Province met here Tuesday to discuss the cooperation in fighting organized crimes and terrorism in 2017, according to the special administrative region's security authorities. Macao's office of Secretary for Security told the press that the 20th police work meeting between Macao and Guangdong was led by Macao's Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak and Guangdong vice governor and police chief Li Chunsheng. The meeting recalled successful works that have been done jointly by two sides in 2016, including Operation Thunder Sixteen, a joint action cracking down on organized crime. The coordination mechanism also helped in fighting and preventing cross-border telephone fraud and internet fraud. The two sides also exchanged ideas about plans in 2017 to fighting illegal stay and immigration, terrorism, tele-communication fraud and drug related crimes. They also discussed details in cooperation of border control, fire-fighting and personnel training. Wong Sio Chak thanked his Guangdong counterparts for their help and support in preventing illegal migration, especially their cooperation with Macao police during the Spring Festival to keep the order in border passes. Li Chunsheng said as Macao and Guangdong people visit each other frequently, new challenges come out in security area, which demand more efforts from both sides. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 21:10:41|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A video featuring hundreds of orange robots sorting packages, scuttling across a factory platform like an army of ants, went viral in China over the past week. The scenes were shot at a factory belonging to the delivery firm STO Express. "These robots can sort as many as 18,000 items in one hour," said one factory employee. "They also weigh the items, and plug themselves to charge when their batteries are running low." The footage offers a glimpse into the future, as China has thrown its weight behind the application of artificial intelligence (AI) across all sectors. Back in March, Premier Li Keqiang presented the government work report to the Fifth Session of the 12th National People's Congress, AI was included for the first time. "We will accelerate R&D and commercialization of new materials, artificial intelligence [...] and develop industrial clusters in these fields," the report read. "It's good news for AI companies and researchers," said Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFlytek, which is known for its voice recognition products. "More and more excellent startup AI companies will emerge, and more private funding will [flow to] the AI market," he added. In fact, the wheels of AI development were already in motion before the government gave the sector its seal of approval. On March 3, just days before Li presented the work report, Internet giant Baidu received approval from the National Development and Reform Commission to establish a national deep learning technology lab. This project is set to vastly improve research into and application of deep learning and AI. In November 2016, Baidu partnered with telecom company China Unicom to explore the application of AI in online and offline services. Lu Qi, group president and COO of Baidu, said it was an honor for the company to play an active role in a nationally important sector. Tencent is also expanding its portfolio to include AI. Through its acquisition of a five percent stake in Tesla in late March, it seems to set up the ante and establish itself as a player in the area of self-driving cars. Despite the brouhaha surrounding a future with AI, some people are discouraged by the prospects of tomorrow's world. Many members of the public have turned to social media to air their grievances. One Weibo user, "Sally," said that the shift toward automation was to blame for rising unemployment. Another user, "Cjhwjw," questioned the effectiveness of the STO Express robots, pointing out that human workers were still needed to place the packages onto the robots. Another area where people are mixed about AI is its application in popular games, such as Go. On Monday, it was confirmed by the Chinese Weiqi (Go) Association that Ke Jie, the current number-one professional go player in the world, will take on AlphaGo, Google's AI program, in May. The news was met by a mixed response by AI enthusiasts and Go lovers, many of which were still sore about AlphaGo's 4-1 victory over South Korean master Lee Se-dol in March 2016. Despite the concerns, Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba Group, which has also invested heavily in AI, was quick to dismiss any potential "threat" from AI. "It's not surprising that AI does some things better than we do," Ma said at the China IT Summit in Shenzhen last Sunday. "If someday AI does something we've never done, that will be something notable." "People tend to underestimate the impact of technology in the long term, while overestimating the impact in short term," according to Zhang Yaqin, president of Baidu. Zhang spoke about the "hype and frenzy" surrounding AI, the concerns about where AI was headed, and if our lives would change drastically in a short amount of time. "It takes time and patience," Zhang said about the development and application of AI into our everyday lives. His sentiment resonated with Tan Tieniu, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "People are expecting too much at the moment," he said. "Companies should focus on discovering more fields for AI to thrive, rather than blindly investing." Overall, most practitioners were upbeat. "The Internet is just an appetizer," said Robin Li, chairman of Baidu. "The main course will be AI." "In five to ten years, AI will be as common as water and electricity, and used in almost all industries," Liu Qingfeng said. As for concerns that AI might replace humans, Zhang Yaqin was optimistic. "After each of the industrial revolutions, there were always the associated 'pains'," Zhang said. "But, overall, [these shifts] actually created more jobs, and made humans more productive." "We need to be aware of these issues, [and plan for] new opportunities and new jobs that are more valuable and of higher quality," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 21:10:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ROME, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized countries and key allies from the Middle East discussed the Syria issue in an extraordinary meeting held in the Tuscan city of Lucca, central Italy, on Tuesday. The meeting happened on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting taking place in the same city on April 10-11, and included diplomats from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. At the press conference after the meeting, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano described the U.S. intervention as a window of opportunity. "After the American intervention, a window of opportunity has opened up to create a new positive framework for a political process in Syria, which we believe is the only solution," said Alfano. He also voiced against an isolation of Russia in the political process in Syria. "Russia should not be isolated, but rather involved -- within the bounds of possibility -- in the process of political transition in Syrian," said the Italian minister. On this perspective, the G7 foreign ministers and their five Middle Eastern counterparts would be "significantly united," Ansa news agency quoted Alfano as saying. The G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Lucca, and its extraordinary enlarged session focused on Syria, came after the recent airstrikes by the U.S. against Syrian government's forces, a move, the U.S. administration said, was intended to deter the Syrian government from using chemical weapons again. Both meetings also occurred only hours ahead of a sensitive visit of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Russia. Regarding the Syrian crisis and the alleged chemical weapons attack, Alfano said he held phone talks with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday. In the call, Alfano expressed his hope that "Iran may exercise all of its influence on the Syrian regime to avoid further attacks on civilians, thus totally eliminating chemical weapons," the minister's office said in a statement. "The Iranian minister reiterated Tehran's condemnation of the unacceptable use of chemical weapons, and also urged an independent investigation of the episode be carried out under the aegis of the United Nations," it added. LUSAKA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Police have finally picked up Zambia's leading opposition leader for questioning after an overnight siege at his residence, his party said on Tuesday. Charles Kakoma, the spokesperson of the United Party for National Development (UPND), confirmed that Hakainde Hichilema was picked around mid-morning and taken to Woodlands Police Station in Lusaka, the country's capital for questioning and later taken to a police training college, Lilayi, on the outskirts of the city. He was accompanied to the police station by his lawyers and some senior party officials. He however said the opposition leader has not been officially charged although reports indicate that it has to do with a Saturday incident where Hichilema's convoy allegedly blocked President Edgar Lungu's motorcade in the western part of the country. Police raided the opposition leader's residence on Monday night in a bid to arrest him. According to reports, the police switched off power to the house, blocked the main roads and broke down the gates to gain access into the house before firing teargas into the house, choking the opposition leader's family. Some of the party's senior leaders and journalists who went to the residence situated in east of the city were assaulted by the police. The overnight raid has since received condemnation from some quarters with an international lawyer based in the United States Elias Munshya Wa Munshya saying it was unconstitutional and unlawful because the opposition leader was not a criminal who had refused to respond to a call-out. But the police have defended the raid, saying the officers had an objective of raiding the house. The police have since promised to give a detailed statement after the operations. Hichilema narrowly lost to Lungu in last year's elections but has refused to recognize him as winner of the election, saying the vote was stolen. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 21:20:43|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani arrived in Kenya on Tuesday for a State visit that will see him ink bilateral agreements to enhance ties between the two countries. Al-Thani and his host President Uhuru Kenyatta are holding bilateral talks aimed at bolstering cooperation between Kenya and Qatar. The State visit by the Emir of Qatar provides an opportunity to strengthen the good relations existing between the two countries. Kenya and Qatar established diplomatic relations on December 2003. Kenya opened an embassy in Doha, Qatar in 2010. Similarly, Qatar opened her resident embassy in Nairobi in April 2012. The east African nation has signed several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in various fields of cooperation with Qatar. During Tuesday's state visit to Kenya by the Emir of Qatar, several MoUs and agreements are expected to be signed and several others will be discussed. The agreements to be signed are on Basic Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research as well as the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation. "The State visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen the good relations existing between Kenya and Qatar," State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said on Sunday. The booming economic growth in Qatar provides numerous business and investment opportunities for Kenyans including engineering and construction, subcontracting and supply of food products. Qatar is a net importer of both fresh and processed foods. Qatar's economic growth also offers hotel and restaurant businesses and employment opportunities for Kenyan youth. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 21:25:44|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close SHENZHEN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of 630 tonnes of frozen chicken feet, chicken wings, pig feet and pork were seized by border police in Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province, said local authorities on Tuesday. Border police in Guangdong were told that a freight ship, Haibangda I, was involved in smuggling using another ship's identification number and name. On Sunday evening, police discovered the ship, which was not on a regular route. They intercepted the ship at about 11:40 p.m. According to police, there was no license or freight list on the ship. The frozen meat was stored in 24 refrigerators, with a value of about 37 million yuan (about 5.4 million U.S. dollars). "The meat was not checked and quarantined, and would pose a threat to people's health," said an unnamed police officer. The case is under further investigation. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 21:25:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Scientists might have found a way to treat Parkinson's disease by generating dopamine neurons, according to an article published in Nature Biotechnology on Monday. The study, though at an early stage, found that brain cells can be reprogrammed to replace those that are destroyed by Parkinson's, offering a new approach to solving the longtime medical problem. Scientists conducted tests in mice with Parkinson-like symptoms, and found that the therapy seemed to ease the condition. They noted that more studies need to be done before related tests can be conducted on humans. People with Parkinson's lack dopamine due to the loss of brain cells that make it. The disease has afflicted numerous patients in various ways, from muscle rigidity and walking difficulties, to hallucinations and delusions. For a long time, doctors have been able to manage the symptoms but could not treat the cause. Scientists have been actively looking for different ways to lessen the symptoms and treat the disease. | 2017-04-11 21:34:22|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Visitors look at a business plane exhibited during 2017 Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) at Hongqiao International Airport in east China's Shanghai Municipality, April 11, 2017. ABACE 2017, which was held here from April 11 to April 13, attracted more than 170 exhibitors from both home and abroad. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) MOSCOW, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia will start full-scale production of the upgraded supersonic strategic bomber Tupolev Tu-160M2 in 2020, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported Tuesday. According to the contract with the United Aircraft Corporation, the production of Tu-160M2 has already been launched, and the new model is expected to make its debut flight in 2018 and to realize its serial production in 2020, with two or three aircraft being produced each year, the Russian defense industry was quoted as saying. The new bomber, equipped with completely new mission systems, can be powered by an upgraded version of the existing Kuznetsov NK-32 afterburning turbofan, it said. Along with the production of the Tu-160M2, operational long-range combat aircraft, such as the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS, will also be modernized, said the agency. The Tu-160, or White Swan, is a Soviet supersonic strategic bomber which can be equipped with nuclear warheads, while the Tu-95, a four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform, has been included in Russian strategic nuclear forces along with ground missile systems and submarines. The idea to restart the production of Tu-160 airplanes in a modernized version was put forward by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in April 2015. A month later, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave instructions to resume the production of the aircraft. by Eric J. Lyman ROME, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Energy ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries finished their energy-related talks in the Italian capital without reaching consensus on a joint statement on climate change, due mostly to reservation from the United States. G7 energy ministers on Monday did reach agreement in a few other areas, including the need to protect the world's energy supply from possible cyber attacks, to seek ways to open up international gas markets, and recognizing the value of developing renewable energy sources. But an agreement on joint language on climate change eluded the ministers, after the U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, "reserved its opinion" on a proposed text. According to Carlo Calenda, Italy's minister for economic development and the host of the two-day G7 energy summit in Rome, U.S. delegates said the newly installed administration of President Donald J. Trump did not yet have a formal position on the international climate change process. "The U.S. government is in the process of reviewing many of its policies, including policies related to climate change and to the Paris Agreement," Calenda said, referring to the 2015 deal in which nearly 200 countries agreed to take steps to limit climate change. The G7 groups major industrialized economies Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, and the United States. Italy holds this year's G7 presidency. Analysts said the developments in Rome were a sign that climate change was set to be a hot topic in international diplomacy this year, given the mixed signals from the United States. Before the election, Trump said climate change was a "hoax," and last month he took steps to dismantle domestic rules put in place to confront climate change. But Trump delayed a decision over whether or not the United States would pull out of the Paris Agreement, and in Rome, the fact that the United States "reserved its opinion" on the climate language meant the topic can still be revisited. "It seems like climate change will be a central topic at multilateral negotiations all year," Raul Messi, an energy policy expert with ABS Securities, told Xinhua. Next month will be the next big test, when the United Nations hosts its first set of negotiations of 2017 in Bonn, and world leaders meet in Sicily for the G7 heads of state summit, which is likely to be Trump's first foreign trip as president. Italy holds the rotating leadership of the group, which means that all the G7 meetings this year will be held on Italian territory. Calenda, the energy summit chair, said he was supportive of the U.S. stance in Rome, saying that member states "respect the fact that the United States is re-analyzing its positions." But other European figures took a harder stance. "While some review their climate and clean energy policies, most of us move forward and implement them in line with the Paris Agreement," Miguel Arias Canete, the European Union climate change commissioner said via social media. Environmental groups were also critical of the U.S. position. "Now we see that the United States will play an opposition role to those trying to save our planet," Greenpeace climate campaigner Aldo Moressi said in an interview outside the G7 venue. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 21:50:48|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Young artists are putting down their spray cans for smartphones, causing graffiti art to die off as a result. "Contemporary graffiti writing is changing -- it is no longer an activity that is played out in urban environments, but also on the Internet," Nicola Harding, a Ph.D. criminology student at Manchester Metropolitan University, told the British Sociological Association's annual conference in Manchester in early April. She found that, since the early 2000s, a soaring number of graffiti artists are writing on council-run 'legal walls' where street art is permitted, and making profits by sharing this work on Instagram, Youtube and other social media platforms. Thus, they avoid the risks of being injured or even arrested that spraying graffiti near off-limits areas could bring. Graffiti has been a way for young men of low socio-economic status to take risks to achieve sub-cultural kudos. But now better-off artists are able to achieve this reputation more quickly by using their higher economic status to bypass the risk caused by urban graffiti writing. "The rich kids of Instagram have killed the graffiti writer," said Harding. Some traditional graffiti artists, if not all, look down on those who paint on 'legal walls' and the Internet. "There are guys that only do legal walls and contracts, but for me that's not graffiti. Graffiti is part of street culture," said a writer online. Another said that graffiti artists should learn the ropes by writing on the street. "Basically learn your history, pay your dues, and respect those that came before you." "The notion of paying their dues before being considered a part of graffiti sub-culture and respected writer is a strong one within graffiti sub-culture. For graffiti writers who paid their dues before the birth of social media, cyberspace graffiti is too mainstream for them to want to be identified with," Harding said at the conference. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 22:05:51|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature will convene its bi-monthly session from April 24 to 27 in Beijing, mulling several draft laws, amendments and reports. Legislators will continue to review the draft amendment to the surveying and mapping law; draft amendment to the securities law; and draft law on nuclear safety, and they will review a draft amendment to the standardization law at its first reading during the session, according to a statement issued Tuesday after a meeting of the chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC). The chairpersons' meeting was presided over by Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. The tenure of current lawmakers is due to expire in March 2018, and new lawmakers will be elected before the end of January next year. At Tuesday's meeting, chairpersons proposed a draft plan on a quota for regions and ethnic groups, which is expected to be reviewed at the upcoming bimonthly session, according to the statement. Other bills, reports and documents, including a border defense cooperation agreement among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a report on advancing the supply-side structural reform to speed up industrial upgrading and a mid-term report on promoting the stock issuance system reform, will be deliberated at the bimonthly session. The session will also review some official appointments and dismissals, according to the statement. The chairpersons' meeting also approved a plan on the NPC Standing Committee's major tasks in 2017 and its legislation and supervision plans for the year, the statement noted. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 22:15:54|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) group has lost most of the territories it held in Iraq after years of battles by Iraqi security forces to dislodge the extremist group from their strongholds in the country, an Iraqi military spokesman said on Tuesday. "The areas that under control of Daesh (IS group) until March 31, 2017 is 6.8 percent of Iraq's territory, after it was 40 percent of the country's territory in June 10, 2014," Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool told a news conference. In June 2014, the extremist IS group took control of large areas in western and northern Iraq, and seized large amounts of weapons and ammunition left by the Iraqi security forces who fled their military camps and positions during the blitzkrieg of the extremist militants. Months later, the Iraqi security forces backed by tens of thousands of Shiite and Sunni volunteers, known as Hashd Shaabi paramilitary units, and with the air support provided by international coalition led by the United States, the troops managed to recapture most of Iraq's key cities, towns and villages from the IS group. The extremist group is still fighting desperately to keep its last major stronghold in the western side of Mosul, as well as smaller areas in Tal Afar, Hawija in northern Iraq, Qaim and Aana near the border with Syria in the western province of Anbar. However, Rasool asserted that the United States and other Western countries have provided airstrikes, intelligence and equipment to the Iraqi forces which began their offensive in October to free the city of Mosul from IS group. The battles in Iraq's second largest city of Mosul brought the eastern side of Mosul, locally known as left bank of Tigris River, under the control of Iraqi forces in January, but the push in western side of the city with its narrow streets and heavily populated neighborhood slowed down the troops, according to Rasool. NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- University dons from across the world will be able to lecture students in Kenya following plans by the government to establish a National Open University of Kenya (NOUK). Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said Tuesday in Nairobi that talks to finalize the setting up of the institution are in the final phase. The institution, as stated by Matiang'i, will give academicians from all over the world an opportunity to offer part-time services and online interaction with Kenyan students. Matiang'i also noted that the Open University will also bring to an end school-based programs mostly undertaken by the primary and secondary school teachers during holidays. The school-based programs were among the contentious issues highlighted during the recent nationwide comprehensive forensic quality audit. The Commission for University Education, Kenya had recommended that the program be scrapped and become part of the part-time programs offered by the universities to adhere to the stipulated guidelines of the Commission. According to Matiang'i, the school-based program did not give learners adequate contact hours or to undertake research and hence the need to have the institution in the country. "The open university is one of our key strategies to curb challenges in the school based mode of university teaching and learning. The Open University would provide scholars from all over the world, especially Kenyans in the Diaspora, with an opportunity to lecture and interact with the local-based students thus promoting fruitful academic exchanges and research dissemination." He said that NOUK would enhance access to university education through an open and distance learning mode. Countries that have establish National Open Universities in the continent include Tanzania and South Africa. The Tanzanian institution was established in 1994 and it has gradually grown to become the first Open University in the east African region to fully offer educational programs on open and distance learning mode. "You may need to note that the Open University of Tanzania has more students than those in all the other universities in Tanzania," said Rashid Kajembe, a student leader at one of the universities in Tanzania. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters during a rally for the upcoming referendum in Istanbul, Turkey, April 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) ISTANBUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's hopes to boost its own plans following recent U.S. strike on a Syrian air base are likely to go unfulfilled, as the U.S. plans for safe zones in Syria would run against Turkish interests, analysts here said. "The information, images revealed following the attack make one think the U.S. and Russia are involved, so to speak, in a sham fight," Cahit Armagan Dilek, director of the 21st Century Turkey Institute, told Xinhua. The U.S. fired last Friday 59 cruise missiles at the Shayrat air base near Homs from its warships in the Mediterranean. The strike came in response to an alleged chemical attack near rebels-held Idlib which, the U.S. claimed, was carried out by a Syrian jet that had taken off from the targeted air base. As soon as Washington indicated a military response following the chemical attack last Tuesday, top Turkish officials eagerly voiced readiness to do its part in a military action against the Syrian government. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called last weekend for follow-up U.S. military strikes, arguing the Syrian regime should be ousted. A transition government should be put in place in Syria, Turkey's top diplomat said, adding the U.S. intervention would be no more than a cosmetic one unless it is supported by further military action. Turkey had actively backed rebel groups fighting to topple the Syrian government until last summer when it started to repair ties with Russia, a staunch ally of Damascus. The U.S. will apparently not focus on unseating Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as Turkey hopes for, but mixed signals keep coming from Washington about how it views his regime. "It's important that we keep our priorities straight, and we believe that the first priority is the defeat of ISIS," U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Saturday, referring to the Islamic State. The top U.S. diplomat once again expressed hope for bringing the parties in the civil war to the table for peace talks, which he said should include the Syrian government and its allies. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday, however, that the U.S. would again hit Syria if the Syrian military uses toxic gases and barrel bombs against civilians. The fact that U.S. officials said Russia had been informed of the attack on Shayrat beforehand has raised doubts about it being a controlled crisis between the rival powers. U.S. President Donald Trump has been going through hard times at home due to alleged close links between Russia and his leading colleagues at the White House. "I believe this operation is more a show of force aiming toward domestic politics," Sait Yilmaz, a security and foreign policy analyst, told Xinhua. There are "definite" signs that it is a controlled crisis, added Yilmaz, who taught at various Turkish universities. Following the missile strike, Washington said all the infrastructure in the air base, including hangars and fueling capacity, has been heavily destroyed. It also claimed that the attack had taken out some 20 percent of the Syrian air force. Later reports revealed that Syrian jets took off from the air base only a day or two after the missile attack. The U.S. said the runway was not targeted as it can be repaired within hours after an attack. According to an AFP report on Friday, the Syrian military had been warned of a possible strike hours before the attack. Some aircraft had already been removed from the Shayrat base as part of the precautions taken in several military points, the news agency quoted an anonymous Syrian military source as saying. The strike rendered nine planes out of service, including several that were "totally destroyed," according to the source. Reuters, citing an anonymous non-Syrian source fighting with the Syrian military, reported on Saturday that the air base had been mostly evacuated before the attack and only a few out-of-service jets were destroyed. "Trump's hasty decision to pull the trigger was probably designed to divert attention from his domestic travails," Faruk Logoglu, a former diplomat who held top posts in the Turkish Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua. To Turkish officials, a U.S. military action against the Syrian government could lead to the creation of safe zones in war-torn Syria, a goal sought by Ankara over the years. According to Turkish media, Trump talked to several leaders over the phone about forming safe zones in Syria before the missile strike on Shayrat. Turkey was quick to respond positively. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the U.S. strike as a "positive, concrete step," but said it was not enough. "The project of safe zones has become more essential than ever," Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said. It is widely argued, however, the U.S. safe zone plan would lead to the emergence of a Kurdish autonomous region along the Turkish border and its eventual independence. Turkey sees such an eventuality as an existential threat, and Ankara is particularly concerned that the emergence of such an entity may set a precedent for its own nearly 20 million Kurds and encourage Kurdish separatism at home. What Turkish officials have failed to see is that the Turkish and U.S. versions of safe zones are different, maintained Dilek, a former Turkish staff officer. The safe zones in U.S. mind will serve to turn Syria into a federal state, he argued, adding, "The final result will be a disintegration of Syria. That poses an existential and security threat for Turkey." Turkey has troops on the ground in northern Syria. Backed by rebel Free Syrian Army militants, the Turkish military launched an offensive into Syria last August to push the Islamic State away and prevent the emergence of a Kurdish corridor along its border. The safe zones would lead to the dismemberment of Syria, observed Ismail Hakki Pekin, a retired general who headed the Turkish General Staff's intelligence unit. He told the Aydinlik daily on Sunday that big powers would not allow Turkey to turn the area it now controls near its border into a safe zone. In the view of Dilek, the U.S. may use a Turkish-controlled safe zone, which would cover the area captured by Turkish troops, as a carrot to have Turkey's support. He warned, however, that such a formation would in the long run turn into a threat against Turkey. Turkey says it wants safe zones to settle some of the three million Syrian refugees being sheltered on its soil. No-fly zones are needed as well for protection of the safe zones. In contrast with other analysts, Logoglu and Yilmaz do not think the establishment of safe zones would come up. Noting safe zones would mean greater U.S. military involvement in Syria, Logoglu maintained that Trump would face strong opposition in Congress. He added that should Trump declare the Kurdish-controlled area along the Turkish border a safe zone, that would be against Turkey's national interests. The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey sees as the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, controls three cantons along the Turkish border. One canton in Afrin is separated from the other two by the area controlled by Turkish troops. The two united YPG cantons are situated in the eastern part of the Euphrates River while the one in Afrin lies some 90 kilometers to the west of the river. According to Yilmaz, Russia and Syria demand that Turkey evacuate radical Islamist rebels, over whom Turkey is believed to have some sway, from Idlib and withdraw troops from Syria. "Russia and Syria seek to expand their control to cover all the territory on the western part of the Euphrates at the earliest," he remarked. Ahmet Takan, a columnist with the Yenicag daily, claimed on Sunday that Turkish troops will withdraw within a couple of months from the Syrian town of al-Bab which they captured in February. Neither Dilek nor Yilmaz expects the crisis in Syria to grow further between Moscow and Washington. According to Dilek, recent remarks by King Abdullah II of Jordan are a strong sign of ongoing negotiations between the two rivals. While in the U.S., the king told the Washington Post last Thursday that a deal the U.S. would reach with Russia on Crimea would help to resolve the Syrian crisis. "Then you horse-trade. For the Russians I think the most important thing is Crimea," Abdullah II was quoted as saying by the paper. "If you come to an understanding on Crimea, I think you will see much more flexibility on Syria." "The probability of an armed conflict between the U.S. and Russia in Syria is low due to such negotiations," Dilek remarked. Yilmaz maintained that Turkey's military operation in Syria aims to create an autonomous area for Sunni Arabs and the plan no longer looks possible. "It is only Erdogan who dreams of a safe zone for (Sunni) Arabs in Idlib. I don't believe the Russians would allow that either in Idlib or in the western part of the Euphrates, or the U.S. would have such a demand," he said. Some Gulf countries and Turkey want to include the U.S. in the play in Syria to counterbalance Russia, but the U.S. would not have any intention of making the crisis grow further, Yilmaz said. Remarks by Secretary Tillerson show the U.S. does not expect the crisis to grow either. "It was a very deliberate, very proportional, and very targeted strike undertaken in response to the chemical weapons attack. And Russia was never part of the targeting," Tillerson was quoted as saying in press reports. Turkey waded into Syria militarily only after mending ties with Russia and changed its discourse about the Syrian regime and stopped demanding the ouster of President al-Assad, until the latest crisis. Noting the shift in Turkey's approach, Logoglu said, "Urging and expressing its readiness to join the U.S. in any further action against al-Assad, Ankara has now reverted to its fixation with al-Assad's removal from power, momentarily putting ISIL and YPG priorities on the back burner." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 22:40:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's parliament approved on Tuesday a three-month state of emergency, two days after church bombings killed at least 45 people. The cabinet announced on Monday that the decision went into force from 1 p.m. (1100 GMT) on that day, but it required parliamentary approval according to the constitution. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared the measure in a televised address on Sunday following the attacks. "This is only to protect our country and prevent any targeting of its capabilities," Sisi said. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has called for exceptional and firm measures to fight terrorism in Egypt in a statement he delivered at the House of Representatives on Tuesday. "It is clear Egypt is facing an unprecedented and a fierce terror attack that aims to undermine its stability," the premier added. The approved state of emergency will sure give State institutions more flexibility in handling enemies of the homeland, Ismail told parliament. On Sunday, twin suicide bombing at two churches in Delta province of Gharbiya and Alexandria province in northern Egypt killed at least 45 and wounded over 120. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 22:46:00|Editor: yan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The European Police Office (Europol) and Brazil on Tuesday signed a strategic cooperation agreement to expand cooperation in combating cross-border crime. Europol director Rob Wainwright participated in the signing of the agreement with Leandro Coimbra, director general of the Brazilian Federal Police. Europol said in a statement that the signing of the agreement concludes the successful negotiations between Brazil and Europol on how to effectively join forces to fight serious and organized crime. The agreement will enable both partners to work on some key areas, including migrant smuggling, cyber crime, drug trafficking and money laundering. It allows for the exchange of strategic and operational intelligence as well as information for both sides, with the exception of personal data. The agreement will also lead to the secondment of a Brazilian liaison officer to Europol. After entry into force of the agreement, this new level of cooperation will be important for tackling priority crime areas affecting both the European Union and Brazil, according to an official statement. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 22:46:00|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Parliament on Tuesday rejected allegations that it intends to oppose an legal application for a secret ballot when a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma is conducted. Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete holds no position on the matter with regard to whether motions of this nature ought to be conducted by way of a secret vote, Parliament said in a statement. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has approached the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), asking for an order to have voting on the motion of no confidence conducted through a secret ballot. A parliamentary debate has been scheduled for April 18 on the motion of no confidence in Zuma. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) submitted the motion in the hope of toppling Zuma. Zuma has been criticized for reshuffling the cabinet on March 31, sacking or replacing 20 ministers and deputy ministers, notably Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, a move that has prompted international rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch to downgrade South Africa's credit rating to junk status. "An incorrect impression has been created in the media that Parliament intends 'opposing' the Constitutional Court application by the United Democratic Movement to have voting on the motion of no confidence conducted through a secret ballot," the Parliament statement said. This is not entirely true, and does not reflect the position of Parliament, the statement said. But the statement noted that the Constitution, which outlines the procedure for motions of no confidence, makes no provision for voting to be conducted through a secret ballot. Similarly, the rules of the National Assembly do not provide for secret voting, the statement added. In 2015 the Western Cape High Court dismissed an application which sought to force the National Assembly to vote on a similar motion of no confidence in Zuma by secret ballot. The court ruled that there was no implied or expressed constitutional requirement for voting by secret ballot in motions of no confidence in the president. Speaker Mbete has sworn to uphold the Constitution and thus all her decisions must have basis in law and the Rules of the House, the statement said. Therefore, acceding to the request of the UDM would have been unconstitutional, as she does not enjoy such powers in the Constitution, according to the statement. This is the position the Speaker will advance when the matter is scheduled in the Constitutional Court, the statement said. "This, however, does not suggest opposition to the principle of a secret ballot on motions of this nature," said the statement. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has rejected calls by opposition parties for a secret ballot in the motion of no confidence. The ANC says its MPs must vote according to the party line. Some ANC MPs reportedly voiced fear that they would be disciplined or removed if they vote in support of the motion. For a vote of no confidence motion to be successful, it requires 201 of the 400 National Assembly MPs to vote in favor. If the motion is successful, then the president, his deputy, cabinet ministers and all their deputies must resign as provided for in section 102 of the Constitution. In 2016, Zuma survived two no confidence motions in Parliament which is dominated by ANC MPs. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 22:51:01|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, April 11 (Xinhua) -- With strong and consistent growth rates of 6-7 percent, Tanzania has outperformed its east African neighbors of Kenya and Uganda, the World Bank said on Tuesday. "Tanzania's growth rates continue to outperform her East African neighbors," said Bella Bird, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi, and Somalia, at the launch of the World Bank's 9th edition of the Tanzania Economic Update, a series that provide regular review of the economy. Speaking at the launch of the economic update in Dar es Salaam, Bird said by contrast Tanzania remains one of three economies in sub-Saharan Africa, together with Rwanda and Ethiopia, that continue to exhibit resilience in this challenging external environment. Overall, she said, the Tanzanian economy has shown resilience amid flagging growth in sub-Saharan Africa in 2016, adding that Tanzania. The bank said in its economic update similarly the poverty level in Tanzania has significantly declined from 60 percent to 47 percent based on 1.90 U.S. dollar per day global poverty line. "The broad story of Tanzania's growth and poverty reduction over the past decade is now well known," the bank said in the update. "However, today 12 million Tanzanians live on less than Tsh1,300 (0.58 U.S. dollars) per day, with many others living just above the poverty line, so an economic shock could have a significant impact on the number of poor households," said the World Bank. The Bank's Economic Update said a jump in growth could bring a substantial number of the poor clustered just below the poverty line out of poverty. "Another key feature of Tanzania's economy is the estimated 800,000 young women and men who enter the job market annually, with only limited opportunities to find a productive job," it said. The update said higher levels of growth are badly needed to create a greater number of productive jobs and to significantly reduce poverty. The bank said maintaining and accelerating growth demands the right policies, adding that the impressive growth path of Tanzania to date has been driven by the decisions of the past. "Future growth will be driven by the decisions of today's leaders," it said, adding that the government is clear that its focus is industrialization, but for this to occur in a way that creates jobs and reduces poverty, the economic update suggested three areas of attention. They are the need to continue with prudent macroeconomic policy management, to manage the expansion in public investment projects effectively to ensure maximum impact on growth and reduction of poverty and to unlock the growth potential of the private sector. The economic update said the improvements in revenue mobilization and tighter anti-corruption controls will assist with the implementation of effective fiscal policy. "Measures to utilize natural gas for power generation will reduce the import bill and improve the external balance over the medium to long term future," said the update. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 23:06:03|Editor: Liu Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A new freight train service started operation on Tuesday, linking Dongguan, a manufacturing hub in south China's Guangdong Province, and Vorsino, Russia. The trip of about 11,000 kilometers takes 15 days, about one third of the time by sea, while the cost is half of that by air, said Huang Pu, chief of Dongguan customs. A launch ceremony was held at a Sino-Russia trade logistic base, which will eventually cover 241 hectares. Trade between Guangdong and Russia is booming, with import and export volume last year standing at 37.26 billion yuan (about 5.4 billion U.S. dollars), up 2.1 percent from the previous year. Import and export volume in January and February this year was 6.37 billion yuan, up 27.2 percent. By last year, Dongguan customs had processed 124,000 tonnes of exported cargo, of which 6,455 tonnes was sent to Russia. The cargo includes tablet PCs, mobile phones, air conditioners, lamps, automobile parts, shoes and toys. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 23:21:06|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Greek state officially handed over the control of 14 regional airports to German-Greek consortium Fraport Greece, Greek national news agency AMNA reported on Tuesday. Under the contract Fraport signed with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), the company will take over the management, operation and development of the 14 airports for the next 40 years. Fraport paid 1.23 billion euros (1.31 billion U.S. dollars) to the privatization fund for the takeover. Under the agreement, Fraport will invest more than 300 million euros in the first four years for infrastructure works to build five new terminals at the airports of Thessaloniki, Corfu, Cephalonia, Kos and Mytilene, and to renovate facilities at all airports. The list of airports includes also very popular tourist destinations such as Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, as well as Skiathos, Zakynthos, Chania, Kavala, Samos and Aktion. Fraport won an international tender in 2014 in the context of Greece's privatization program under the country's bailout agreements with international lenders. The company has pledged to improve the quality of services offered and increase passenger numbers. (1 euro = 1.06 U.S. dollars). Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 23:26:07|Editor: An Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (R) meets with Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Tuesday. Yang said China had always viewed Namibia as an important cooperative partner and one of the priorities of its African policy. Hailing the sound development of bilateral ties in recent years, Yang hoped that the two sides could give play to the advantages of political mutual trust, traditional friendship and economic complementarity, to comprehensively deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and better serve the interests of their people. Ndaitwah said Namibia and China enjoy a long history of friendship. Namibia is ready to work with China to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen coordination in international affairs, so as to jointly safeguard the just rights and interests of developing nations, said Ndaitwah. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with Ndaitwah earlier Tuesday. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 23:35:13|Editor: yan Video Player Close SOFIA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A national association "One Belt One Road" was established here on Tuesday to boost Bulgaria's involvement in China's Belt and Road Initiative and strengthen the ties between Bulgaria and China. Several leading figures from society signed the founding documents. Prof. Zahari Zahariev, elected chairman of the One Belt One Road association, said that its creation was extremely important for two reasons. "First, it showed the commitment of Bulgaria to the objective processes of dynamic civilization change in the modern world. At the same time, it indicated that Bulgaria has always considered the relationship with China as a priority in its foreign policy," Zahariev said. Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou, who also attended the event, said the Belt and Road Initiative enjoyed increasingly broad and positive response, and more than 100 countries and international organizations already participated in it. Central and Eastern Europe was one of China's priorities within the Belt and Road Initiative, Zhang said. With regard in particular to Bulgaria, Zhang said that Chinese and Bulgarian governments, local authorities and businesses had a strong desire to further develop bilateral cooperation, and against this background, the establishment of the Bulgarian national association came just in time. Angel Orbetsov, head of Asia, Australia and Oceania Directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the association certainly had the potential to become a new effective and long-term platform for promoting relations between Bulgaria and China. He believed that the new association could play a strong role for a more complete understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative, and fuller involvement of Bulgaria in this initiative at institutional, governmental and public levels. South African President Jacob Zuma addresses a business meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, Nov. 3, 2016. (Xinhua) CAPE TOWN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma has warned against "a resurgence of racism" in the country where "racists have become more emboldened." "We have sadly not yet succeeded in building the non-racial society that we envisaged," Zuma said at the Chris Hani Wreath Laying Ceremony and handover of the Chris Hani heritage site in Boksburg, Gauteng Province. Hani, late South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, was assassinated at his Boksburg home on April 10 in 1993. His death almost derailed the reconciliation talks that led to the end of apartheid in 1994. Zuma lauded Hani as a real fighter against racism, who lost his life at the hands of hard-core racists. The president went further to link last week's massive protests to racism, saying the protests demonstrated that "racism is real and exists in our country". Thousands of South Africans marched in parts of the country to press their demand for the resignation of Zuma last Friday. Although SACP leaders shared the same stage with Zuma in memory of Hani, the SACP said it has not changed its plea for Zuma to resign. Zuma has come under mounting pressure after he reshuffled the cabinet on March 31, sacking or replacing 10 ministers and 10 deputy ministers, notably Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Zuma said many placards and posters carried by the protesters "displayed beliefs that we thought had been buried in 1994". Some posters depicted black people as baboons, Zuma said, adding that "it is clear that some of our white compatriots regard black people as being lesser human beings or sub-human." "The racist onslaught has become more direct and is no longer hidden as was the case in the early years of our constitutional democratic order," said Zuma. "We cannot allow and assist racists to take our country backwards," he noted. At a legislative level, the South African government has published the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, according to Zuma. Once it becomes law, the law will criminalize several forms of discrimination including on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and nationality. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-11 23:55:22|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Bad customer service involving airlines is not rare, but none so irritating as the recent violent removal of a passenger from a United Airlines flight. Video clips have spread like wildfire across the world, showing the disturbing conduct of United Airlines employees who, due to an overbooked plane, decided to drag a kicking and screaming man off a plane in view of his fellow passengers. Four people, including the unidentified man, were already seated when they were reportedly asked to get off the plane to make space for United employees. The incident appears to indicate that when the airline overbooks its flights, its tactic is that if there is "not enough seating, prepare for a beating," just like Twitter users suggested. United's decision is perplexing when it could have increased its incentives to encourage enough passengers to disembark voluntarily. Rather than offering an agreeable compensation package to passengers disrupted from their travel plans, the international airline chose to use force. An educated guess would suggest that it values money saving over customer satisfaction. Judgment should be withheld for the time being, at least until United makes clear how it "randomly" selected evictees of Flight 3411. To make matters worse, United's handling of the highly-publicized incident has escalated matters further, with CEO Oscar Munoz's apology "for having to re-accommodate these customers" labeled "Orwellian doublespeak," by one Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with the Los Angeles Times. It is baffling to see United embroiled in yet another PR storm. Just last month, the airline barred two teenagers from boarding a flight for wearing leggings. "A man was dragged off a United flight. No, not for wearing leggings," read an editorial run by the Chicago Tribune, the local newspaper of United's headquarters. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 00:01:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Members of European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday presented proposals to cut food waste in the European Union. MEPs called on EU countries to achieve food waste cuts by 30 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030. To this end, they called on the European Commission to lift existing restrictions on food donations and make consumers fully understand "best before" and "use by" labeling. As for donations, the Commission should propose a change in the value-added tax (VAT) directive that would explicitly authorize tax exemptions on food donations. Moreover, the EU fund for European aid to the most deprived should get the possibility to finance the cost of collecting, transporting, storing and distributing of the food donations. They called on the Commission to assess the possible benefits of removing certain dates for products without any risk to public health or the environment. According to official figures, food waste has been estimated at some 88 million tons, or 173 kg per capita per year in the EU. Among them, the highest food waste per capita per year is registered in the Netherlands, which is 541 kg. It was followed by Belgium's 345 kg. While the lowest food waste per capita per year is recorded in Slovenia, which is 72 kg. It is followed by Malta and Romania, which are both 76kg. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 00:06:20|Editor: yan Video Player Close ASTANA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- After a quarter of a century, flights between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan resumed on Tuesday when a plane of Uzbekistan Airways, carrying 25 people, landed at the international airport of Dushanbe. Another plane, operated by Tajik Somon Air airline, with 12 people onboard, is expected to fly to Tashkent on the same day. Regular flights between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were interrupted in 1992 after the outbreak of a civil war in Tajikistan. In November 2016, the two countries signed a protocol on resuming flights between their capitals in the first half of 2017. Uzbekistan Airways announced in May that it had planned to begin twice-a-week fights, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, on the Tashkent-Dushanbe-Tashkent route starting April 4. However, the first flight was canceled because only a few tickets had been sold. Uzbekistan Airways is a monopoly carrier in Uzbekistan, wholly owned by the state. It currently operates flights to over 20 cities in Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia, and to 22 cities of the Commonwealth Of Independent States and 11 destinations in Uzbekistan. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 01:35:46|Editor: An Video Player Close TIRANA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- In the last two years, there has been increasing interest from Chinese companies to invest in Albania and based on such growing interest, Albania could become a "focal point" in the Western Balkans for Chinese investments, whether public or private, a senior Albanian official told Xinhua in a written interview Tuesday. Genti Beqiri is the head of the Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA), a governmental agency directly oriented by the Minister of Economy and has a Management Board chaired by the Prime Minister. According to him, Chinese companies have shown interest in strategic sectors of Albania and have also increased the level of international trade. Over 90 Chinese companies have visited Albania to seek for investment opportunities, trade partners, projects or other opportunities of cooperation with Albania during last year. Projects in the field of energy, infrastructure, industrial areas, ports, mining, production and product processing, has been on their focus, he said. Meanwhile, Beqiri noted that the number of Chinese enterprises present in Albania was around 150, according to National Registration Center data, Chinese companies conduct their business activities mainly in the trade sector, wholesale and retail, but there are also companies that operate in the mining sector, telecommunication, he said. He also mentioned the two big investments made by Chinese companies in Albania -- namely the acquisition of the oil company Bankers and Tirana International Airport. In March of 2016, the Canadian Banker's Petroleum Company, announced the sale of oil exploration and production rights to the Chinese company Petroleum Geo-Jade. In April, the Chinese consortium, "Keen Dynamics Limited", an association of companies China Everbright Limited and Friedmann Pacific Asset Management Limited (Friedmann Pacific) announced the acquisition of the concession rights of Tirana International Airport. This group will cover the airport management up to 2025, with an additional two-year possibility, until 2027 after the approval of the government, Beqiri said. He further said that major Chinese companies had expressed interest in signing long-term contracts with Albanian companies operating in the field of chromium extraction, since they seem to be the biggest buyer of this mineral. Albania is in a good economic moment and Chinese companies can take advantage of Albania to expand not only within its territory, but in the entire Balkan region and beyond, according to him. In terms of the sectors that he would suggest for investments to the Chinese companies, the head of AIDA said that Albania offered a range of public-private investment opportunities in stable and growing sectors such as energy and mining, transport, electronic communications infrastructure and urban waste; tourism; agriculture and fisheries and economic zones. In terms of the opportunities to further improve economic relations between Albania and China, he noted that progress had been made in the context of economic and business cooperation between the two countries. The trade volume between Albania and China has grown steadily in recent years and China is now the third partner related to trade exchanges, he said. On the other hand, he stressed that Chinese market was a great opportunity for business, especially for Albanian exporters. China can play and is playing a major role in many programs of integration and economic development that are no longer national but regional and therefore we should benefit most from cooperation relations to increase trade and economic relations, Beqiri declared. Concerning the attraction of foreign and Chinese investors in Albania, he stressed that the Albanian government is undertaking steps regarding the improvement of the investment climate. He described Albania as an attractive country, a growing market with stable economic, political and legal structure, as well as a liberalized economic framework and good conditions for doing business. Beqiri also said that AIDA is part of the mechanism of contacts for Settlement of Investment Promotion Agencies China-CEEC, established under the initiative for economic cooperation 16+1 between China and Central and Eastern European countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 02:22:00|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Experts in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) from across Africa and beyond are set to convene in the Rwandan capital Kigali next month to discuss the transformation of Africa using the power of technology. Rwanda will host the third Transform Africa Summit 2017, from 10th-12th May, that will primarily focus on developing smart cities in Africa using the power of ICT. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Rwanda minister of youth and ICT said that Rwanda's spearheading the smart cities agenda in Africa was a reason why the country has been chosen to host the high level technology summit for a third time. "We are expecting to host close to 3,000 delegates from African countries under Smart Africa Initiative and over 300 mayors of cities across Africa to showcase the components of a smart city. We believe that economic transformation of our continent must be driven by the ambition of using the power of technology to increase access to markets and information for business," he noted. Nsengimana said that the forum will include different side events such as Smart Women Summit, Africa Smart Cities' forum while the youth will be given platform to pitch their ideas to potential technology investors. The smart cities initiative, which aims at leveraging technology solutions to improve efficiency of cities, is backed by 11 African countries while more nations are expected to join. Presently, member countries include; Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, Mali, Uganda, Senegal, South Sudan, Chad, Angola, Rwanda and Burkina Faso. The Smart Africa initiative has since set out to reduce call rates among member countries by implementing the One Africa Network. "As technology drives mobility and connectivity in urbanized societies, African cities continuously seek to establish new infrastructure and city systems that will enable transition, and position them as global leaders and next generation cities," said Hamadoun Toure, executive director, Smart Africa Initiative. The initiative targets to build partnerships with governments, academia, and private sector to increase its relevance in the ICT ecosystem, according to Smart Africa Initiative authority. The conference will gather heads of states from several African countries, heads of Smart Africa organizations, delegates from UN Broadband Commission on digital Development, technology chief executives, technology experts and young innovators from a cross Africa and beyond. Rwanda, which hosted Transform Africa Summit in 2013 and 2015, is among a few countries in Africa that have rolled out a high-speed 4G broadband network that delivers download speed of up to 100 Megabytes per second. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a joint news conference with Italian President Sergio Mattarella after their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on April 11, 2017. (REUTERS PHOTO) MOSCOW, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian president Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Moscow would demand a U.N. investigation of the use of chemical weapons in Syria as it expected new provocations with toxic agents in the war-torn Middle East country. "We intend to officially address a relevant UN structure in the Hague and call on the international community to investigate thoroughly this incident, and to take a balanced decision depending on the results of the investigation," Putin said at a joint press conference with Italian President Sergio Mattarella. A reported April 4 toxic gas attack in Syria's rebel-held Idlib Province in northwestern Syria killed at least 70 civilians and wounded scores of others. Numerous Western powers, including the United States, blamed the government of Bashar al-Assad of the attack. The Syrian government denied possession of chemical weapons, while the Russian Defense Ministry accused Syrian rebels of producing toxic agents in a depot which exploded under a strike by Syrian warplanes and caused the contamination. The United States launched last Thursday 59 cruise missiles against a Syrian air base, from which airplanes allegedly carrying chemical weapons took off. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that nine civilians, including four children, were killed and about 10 others were wounded in the attack. Putin said Moscow had information from different sources that such "provocations" were being prepared in other regions of Syria including in southern outskirts of the capital Damascus, where "some substances" would be thrown in and the official Syrian authorities would be blamed for their use. Putin said that the developments reminded him of the events of 2003, when representatives of the United States demonstrated in the UN Security Council toxic substances, allegedly found in Iraq to justify an invasion in that country. "After this the military campaign began in Iraq, which ended in a destruction of the country, an increase of the terrorist threat and the appearance of the Islamic State (IS) in the international scene," Putin said. Mattarella said at the press conference that Rome maintained the necessity of finding a solution for the Syrian crisis "on the basis of a dialogue at different levels between the Syrian parties, between regional players and within the international community". He also expressed hope that Moscow and other powers would be able to use their influence to avoid repetition of gas attacks in Syria. "Of cause it is necessary to find the guilty and persecute them. We hope that what has happened will make all the participants in the crisis, including the most influential, do everything in their power to overcome the current intolerable situation," Mattarella said speaking through an interpreter. The press conference took place as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 03:41:17|Editor: yan Video Player Close ACCRA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has declared there will be no new vehicles for members of his government, state-run The Ghanaian Times reported here Tuesday. "No matter how dilapidated the vehicles in our fleet, we are going to have to make do with them. These are difficult times for the Ghanaian people and we should be seen to be acting and respecting that," he admonished his ministers and other appointees at the close of a three-day retreat in the national capital. According to the Executive Asset Sub-committee of the Transitional Team, more than 200 vehicles used by officials of the John Mahama-led administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) went missing shortly after losing power to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December 2016 general election. Akufo-Addo's ban may have been informed by the controversy of the missing vehicles, as the former government officials refuted the allegation but claimed they purchased some of them in line with existing government policy. The Transitional Team said some of the government ministers in the previous government did not return their official vehicles on leaving office. The issue of missing vehicles resulted in forcible seizure of vehicles and other property from some NDC party or government officials. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 03:47:14|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close BERLIN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde Tuesday called for more investment from industrial countries in research and development for a better economic growth. During an open lecture themed "Innovation, Technology and Growth" to ESMT Berlin, an European business school, Lagarde said,industrial countries must attach more importance to R&D in order to remain competitive, considering that digital revolution has been going forward. "You must invest in future," the IMF chief cited research results and said. "If the industrial countries increased investment in R&D by 40 percent, their GDP will grow by 5 percent in the near future." Lagarde also suggested all the countries adapt to technology changes and make good use of them in order to stimulate economic growth. Lagarde met German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday, joint by leaders of the World Bank, World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and International Labor Organization, discussing about issues concerning global economy and finance. At a press conference after the meeting, Lagarde urged more international cooperation in protecting free trade, saying trade was the important motor for economic growth while it would help improve production and solve the unbalanced and unequal development. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 03:47:14|Editor: An Video Player Close BISHKEK, April 11 ( Xinhua ) -- China and Kyrgyzstan to strengthen exchanges and cooperation among think-tanks and other research institutions of the two countries, research officer of the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Kyrgyzstan Sanat Ryskulova told Xinhua on Tuesday. For this purpose, a Memorandum of Cooperation has been signed in Bishkek between the China Institute for International Studies (CIIS) and the National Institute for Strategic Studies (NISS) of Kyrgyzstan. One of the goals of the memorandum signing is the instant delivery of objective information to our governments, Ryskulova said. "The Research institutes, in particular the CIIS and NISS, are the channel for bringing information to the decision-makers. The memorandum will help speed up the delivery of objective information to our governments," she explained. "The CIIS is one of the leading think tanks in China, and this Memorandum will contribute not only to the cooperation between the two institutes, but also other research institution, Ryskulova said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 04:02:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The quarterfinal match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco has been postponed due to an explosion near the "BVB" team bus, the UEFA and Dortmund confirmed in official statement on Tuesday. The UEFA Champions League quarterfinal fixture between the "BVB" and Monaco has been rescheduled for Wednesday as defender Marc Bartra was injured in an explosion near Dortmund's team bus that was departing towards the stadium. "Our team bus has been attacked with a bomb while it was on the way to the stadium. Marc Bartra suffered a hand injury and is now on the way to the hospital. We do not know more yet. We have decided with all those responsible to postpone the match until Wednesday," Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said in a first statement. According to the local police, windows were shattered after three separate explosions that occurred in Hoechsten, a district of Dortmund, which is around ten kilometres away from the club's stadium. Borussia Dortmund as well as Police officials assured that all spectators within the stadium are safe. However, Police recommended to "stay calm" while leaving the stadium as there was "no reason to panic". Local police is still investigating the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 04:07:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close WARSAW, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Polish government announced plans on Tuesday to spend around four million zloty (one million U.S. dollars) to rebuild homes for Syrian families in Syria. "We have decided today to implement another project together with the (Church in Need) association," Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said at a press conference. Szydlo said the overall aim of the humanitarian aid was to help women and children. Poland earmarked four times more funds for aid in 2016 than in 2015, the prime minister said. "This year, there will be even more funds," Szydlo stressed. Funds are to be chiefly directed to Aleppo where 680 apartments have already been selected for repair. "These people do not want to leave their family homes, these people want to be there, this is their motherland, they need assistance, they want peace, they want to have a normal life," said Szydlo. Polish interior minister Mariusz Blaszczak agreed that assistance should be offered where Syrians live, adding that the European Union's (EU) compulsory mechanisms regarding relocating migrants and refugees were not a solution. Although the EU's policy is to accept more migrants in Europe, Blaszczak said that "during our meetings with people from Aleppo, we are told that on-site assistance is what is needed most." Blaszczak stressed that Poland was helping those in need in Syria. "These are well-spent funds, reaching people exposed to harm. The funds allow them to lead a more or less normal life, to rebuild their homes." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 04:07:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Some 11 million people are in urgent need of food assistance in drought-plagued Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, regional representatives of the UN Children's Agency (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP) said on Tuesday. "In the Horn of Africa, we have a severe drought that's affecting three countries, primarily, Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia and in these three countries we see that 11 million people are in need of urgent assistance," WFP Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa Valerie Guarnieri told reporters at UNICEF House, across from headquarters in New York. She added there were famine conditions affecting 100,000 people, including 20,000 children, in two counties of conflict-stricken South Sudan. "South Sudan is not directly affected by the drought except for a slice of it, but we have a large scale crisis in South Sudan, that's been going on for some time, since the civil war broke out in December 2013," Guarnieri said. Leila Pakkala, UNICEF regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, who hosted the briefing, said that in Somalia early numbers show an increasing number of children suffering cholera or acute watery diarrhoea (AWD). Such "deadly combinations of cholera and other illnesses combined with severe acute malnutrition" killed so many children in the famine of 2011, she said. "We know that children don't die just because of a lack of food," she said. "They die because they are drinking contaminated water. They are missing out on their vaccinations. They don't have access to health care and they are much more prone to sickness and disease such as measles, malaria, diarrhoea and as we are seeing, cholera." "The situation in Somalia is further exacerbated by the large displacements (of families) that we are seeing, families on move not just in Somalia but also in Ethiopia." More than 440,000 people have been displaced inside Somalia since November 2016, adding to the existing 1.1 million already displaced, UNICEF said. In Ethiopia, upwards of 350,000 people are currently in temporary resettlement sites due to drought, and in South Sudan the displaced population is at 1.9 million in total, with another 1.6 million people in neighbouring countries, of which 50 percent are women and children, the agency said. Pakkala said that with such displacement children particularly face problems beyond the need of food and water. "Children are at risk from and vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and separation from their family members," she said. "We've seen signs of increased gender-based violence in Somalia and South Sudan and we are now focusing on making sure that as communities are moving children do not get separated, particularly as they are moving across borders." Both UNICEF and WFP have been pleading for funding to aid victims in the region. However, in a related matter, as an indication of how slow contributions have been made to aid victims, Stephane Dujarric, the UN spokesman, told reporters Tuesday that of the 4.4 billion U.S. dollars UN relief organizations have been seeking this year for famine and conflict victims in the "prioritized area" of Northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, donors have provided only 984-million U.S. dollars -- or only 21 percent. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 04:12:20|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- All opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party of Albania (DP), decided Tuesday not to take part in the country's general elections on June 18. The deadline for the political parties the register for the election with Albania's central election body expired Monday at midnight. This means that Albania has officially entered a period of institutional crisis, given that both political camps have not started any talks that would end the political deadlock here, despite calls from the international community to do so. Now that the constitutional deadline has been breached, Albania may experience its first-ever boycott of an election process. Opposition leader Lulzim Basha reiterated Tuesday his request for the formation of a caretaker government and for the current Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. According to Basha, the upcoming elections would be jeopardized by dirty drug money being injected into the electoral campaign by criminals linked to the ruling Socialist Party of Albania (SP) led by Rama. Basha said that the creation of a caretaker government would guarantee free and fair elections. But the request has been rejected by Rama, who has also firmly declared to media here that he did not intend to resign, instead vowing to stick to the June 18 election date. "The Socialist Party has no mandates to give up. My mandate to govern is a responsibility, not a privilege that I can give up," Rama said after the opposition unanimously decided to boycott elections. On the other hand, parliamentary speaker and Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) party head Ilir Meta, an ally of Rama, has suggested the creation of a government of trust. He has also called on both the DP and SP to sit down and talk in order to find a solution to the current situation. Local media have reported that SMI might withdraw its ministers from the government, as a way to force Rama to reformat the composition of the government and honor the opposition's request for a caretaker government. Meanwhile, Albania's parliament will convene Tuesday evening in a special session to vote on the vetting bodies and names of those who will deal with the vetting of around 800 judges and prosecutors in the Albanian justice system. Since the opposition is continuing its parliamentary boycott and has been protesting for nearly two months now, even the prime minister has admitted that little can be achieved without opposition Members of Parliament being there, given that an equal representation at parliamentary committees is required. Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump (1st R) hold the second round of talks in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The just-concluded meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump was very positive as it helped achieve a much friendlier tone in China-U.S. ties, experts said. The April 6-7 meeting, the first between the two leaders since Trump took office in January, was held at the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Both sides hailed the meeting as "positive and fruitful" as the two leaders increased their mutual understanding and established personal friendship through face-to-face discussions of issues of mutual concern. REDUCED CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA-U.S. TENSIONS The meeting "helped achieve a much friendlier tone in relations between China and the new Trump administration," Ted Carpenter, senior fellow of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, told Xinhua in an interview. "It alleviated concerns around the world that there might be a sharp increase in bilateral tensions," Carpenter added. The meeting was "quite positive," Douglas Paal, vice president for studies and director of Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Xinhua. "Though the real measure of the meeting will follow the next 10 months of work, but so far, so good," Paal said. To Professor David Lampton, director of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, the Xi-Trump meeting "went pretty well." "This meeting seems to have gone better than most people would have forecasted here - in the United States," Lampton told Xinhua. The two leaders "had an opportunity to come to know each other better, have a little more trust, but that it looks like there was the beginning of substance, although there is a long way to go," Lampton said. Lampton further pointed out that Trump's acceptance of Xi's invitation to visit China within this year also "shows that there is a priority attached to managing this relationship." "I think it's more significant that it shows this is an important relationship, and that he (Trump) wants to invest in it," he added. NEW DIALOGUES ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT At the meeting, the two leaders agreed to create a four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanism to deal with major issues on security, economic relations, cyber security and law enforcement, and people-to-people exchanges. The two major powers also agreed to expand cooperation in varied areas while properly handling sensitive issues, managing differences in a constructive manner, and strengthening communication and coordination on major global and regional affairs. "The decision to establish specific mechanisms of focused dialogues on key issues was especially important and useful," Carpenter said. "There are very real disagreements between China and the United States on all four issues, but flexible, creative diplomacy pursued in a spirit of cooperation could go a long way toward narrowing, perhaps even overcoming, those disagreements," he said. Paal noted that the establishment of the four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanism was "a repackaging" of the previously-known annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) held under the Obama administration. "The test is in what they accomplish," he said. Paal agreed with Xi's remarks that cooperation is the only correct choice for China and the United States, saying that if the two countries choose competition over cooperation, "that could turn into conflict, which could ruin the 21st century." "The scope for cooperation is large, but the scope for conflict is even greater, so major efforts will be required to avoid conflict," Paal said. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, Front) and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump (L, Front) take a walk to further discuss bilateral cooperation issues in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) OPPORTUNITIES IN INFRASTRUCTURE COOPERATION Lampton noted that opportunities for cooperation exist between the two top economies in the area of infrastructure, as they try to achieve a more balanced trade. China aims to boost infrastructure construction to increase interconnectivity and cooperation between China and the rest of Eurasia, through its Belt and Road Initiative unveiled in 2013. At Mar-a-Lago, Xi told Trump that China welcomes the United States to participate in the initiative. "Xi and China have a vision of the modernization of and development of Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South Asia through interconnectivity (by) building infrastructure," Lampton said. He added that, from what he learned during a recent visit to China, Beijing is looking for ways to cooperate with the United States to begin the process of building infrastructure throughout Asia, rather than exclude the United States. Lampton also foresaw that China would participate in the major infrastructure initiative proposed by Trump, who vows to spend 1 trillion U.S. dollars in upgrading U.S. roads, bridges and airports. "So I think this is Chinese dream to make China part of an integrated economic organism...And the U.S. could become part of that rather than opposing it," he said. Carpenter said that a cooperative China-U.S. relationship can greatly benefit both global security and global economic health, while a tense or hostile relationship could do great damage in both areas. "China and the United States need each other," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 06:32:39|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday warned that hundreds of migrants are being held under "slave market" conditions in North Africa, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. "Describing the situation as 'dire,' the agency reported that hundreds of Sub-Saharan migrants bound for Libya are being sold and bought by Libyans with the support of Ghanaians and Nigerians who work for them," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. Over the past week, the agency has also learned of several cases in which migrants have been kidnapped in exchange for ransom, the spokesman noted. "The agency is raising awareness across Africa of these dangers by highlighting testimonies from migrants on local radio stations and social media," he said. Operations officers with IOM's office in Niger reported on the rescue of a Senegalese migrant who this week was returning to his home after being held captive for months. According to the young man's testimony, while trying to travel north through the Sahara, he arrived in Agadez, Niger, where he was told he would have to pay about 320 U.S. dollars to continue north, toward Libya. A trafficker provided him with accommodation until the day of his departure, which was to be by pick-up truck. When his pick-up reached Sabha in southwestern Libya, the driver insisted that he hadn't been paid by the trafficker, and that he was transporting the migrants to a parking area where the young man witnessed a slave market taking place. "The latest reports of 'slave markets' for migrants can be added to a long list of outrages (in Libya)," said Mohammed Abdiker, IOM's head of operation and emergencies. "The situation is dire. The more IOM engages inside Libya, the more we learn that it is a vale of tears for all too many migrants." Abdiker said that in recent months IOM staff in Libya had gained access to several detention centers, where they are trying to improve conditions. "What we know is that migrants who fall into the hands of smugglers face systematic malnutrition, sexual abuse and even murder," he said. "Last year we learned 14 migrants died in a single month in one of those locations, just from disease and malnutrition. We are hearing about mass graves in the desert." He said so far this year, the Libyan Coast Guard and others have found 171 bodies washed up on Mediterranean shores, from migrant voyages that foundered off shore. The Coast Guard has also rescued thousands more, he added. "Migrants who go to Libya while trying to get to Europe, have no idea of the torture archipelago that awaits them just over the border," said Leonard Doyle, chief IOM spokesman in Geneva. "There they become commodities to be bought, sold and discarded when they have no more value." Many describe being sold "in squares or garages" by locals in the southwestern Libyan town of Sabha, or by the drivers who trafficked them across the Sahara desert. "To get the message out across Africa about the dangers, we are recording the testimonies of migrants who have suffered and are spreading them across social media and on local FM radio," Doyle said. "Tragically, the most credible messengers are migrants returning home with IOM help. Too often they are broken, brutalized and have been abused, often sexually. Their voices carry more weight than anyone else's." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-12 06:47:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian officials on Tuesday arrested the former health secretary of Rio de Janeiro state, Sergio Cortes, on charges of bribery. Cortes is accused of taking part in a long-running scheme that demanded bribes from private companies in exchange for contracts to supply the state healthcare system. The bribery came to light after another suspect turned state's evidence in exchange for a more lenient sentence. According to Federal Police, Cortes and others took 10 percent of the total value of all contracts, and the money was deposited in bank accounts in the United States. Former State Governor Sergio Cabral was also involved in the scheme. He has been in jail since late 2016 on separate corruption charges. Between 2006 and 2017, the scheme siphoned off some 300 million reals (95 million U.S. dollars) from the Health Secretariat, authorities said. The state healthcare system is in shambles, and the state government last year declared it was in a state of financial emergency, with not enough funds to pay civil servants. Sub-saharan migrants are seen aboard an overcrowded raft, as one of them uses a bucket to remove water from the raft, during a rescue operation by the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the central Mediterranean Sea, north of the coastal Libyan city of Sabratha, February 3, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday warned that hundreds of migrants are being held under "slave market" conditions in North Africa, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. "Describing the situation as 'dire,' the agency reported that hundreds of Sub-Saharan migrants bound for Libya are being sold and bought by Libyans with the support of Ghanaians and Nigerians who work for them," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. Over the past week, the agency has also learned of several cases in which migrants have been kidnapped in exchange for ransom, the spokesman noted. "The agency is raising awareness across Africa of these dangers by highlighting testimonies from migrants on local radio stations and social media," he said. Operations officers with IOM's office in Niger reported on the rescue of a Senegalese migrant who this week was returning to his home after being held captive for months. According to the young man's testimony, while trying to travel north through the Sahara, he arrived in Agadez, Niger, where he was told he would have to pay about 320 U.S. dollars to continue north, toward Libya. A trafficker provided him with accommodation until the day of his departure, which was to be by pick-up truck. When his pick-up reached Sabha in southwestern Libya, the driver insisted that he hadn't been paid by the trafficker, and that he was transporting the migrants to a parking area where the young man witnessed a slave market taking place. "The latest reports of 'slave markets' for migrants can be added to a long list of outrages (in Libya)," said Mohammed Abdiker, IOM's head of operation and emergencies. "The situation is dire. The more IOM engages inside Libya, the more we learn that it is a vale of tears for all too many migrants." Abdiker said that in recent months IOM staff in Libya had gained access to several detention centers, where they are trying to improve conditions. "What we know is that migrants who fall into the hands of smugglers face systematic malnutrition, sexual abuse and even murder," he said. "Last year we learned 14 migrants died in a single month in one of those locations, just from disease and malnutrition. We are hearing about mass graves in the desert." He said so far this year, the Libyan Coast Guard and others have found 171 bodies washed up on Mediterranean shores, from migrant voyages that foundered off shore. The Coast Guard has also rescued thousands more, he added. "Migrants who go to Libya while trying to get to Europe, have no idea of the torture archipelago that awaits them just over the border," said Leonard Doyle, chief IOM spokesman in Geneva. "There they become commodities to be bought, sold and discarded when they have no more value." Many describe being sold "in squares or garages" by locals in the southwestern Libyan town of Sabha, or by the drivers who trafficked them across the Sahara desert. "To get the message out across Africa about the dangers, we are recording the testimonies of migrants who have suffered and are spreading them across social media and on local FM radio," Doyle said. "Tragically, the most credible messengers are migrants returning home with IOM help. Too often they are broken, brutalized and have been abused, often sexually. Their voices carry more weight than anyone else's." Man injured during shootout According to reports, police were informed of the theft of a gold-coloured Nissan Tiida at 9 pm Sunday near Valpark Shopping Plaza in Valsayn. An All Points Bulletin was issued and a mobile search for the vehicle was conducted. Port-of-Spain police eventually found the vehicle and attempted to intercept, but the driver sped off and a chase ensued. During the chase, police later said, shots were fired. The chase continued along Wrightson Road, until the driver lost control and crashed into another car near Peakes at the Foreshore. The driver then got out of the car with gun in hand. Police officers on the scene, seeing the gun, shot and wounded the suspect. He remains warded in stable condition under police guard. Mom on fraud charges She was granted bail on four of the seven charges laid against her. Rose Maria Smith, also known as Rose Howai, appeared before Port-of-Spain 11th Court before Magistrate Cheron Raphael charged with stealing $453,840 and US$3,391 from seven people between 2010 and 2016. It is alleged that between July 2, 2015, and June 27, 2016, at Piarco she stole $33,415 from Marlon St Louis; between June 2016 and September 2016 at Maloney, she stole $24,595 from Kenwyn Lewis and between January 16, 2014, and April 22, 2014, at Arouca, she stole $74,400 from Vera Ramoutar. Smith was not granted bail for these matters, which were transferred to the Arima Magistrates Court, to be heard on April 19. It is also alleged that from July 1, 2015, and February 4, 2016, in Port-of-Spain, she stole $25,000 from Trent Haynes; between June 6, 2014, and September 21, 2015, at San Juan, she stole $178,660 and US$3,391 from Lee Negorie; between March 13, 2014, and May 1, 2015, at San Juan, she stole $93,000 from Stephanie Lewis Dyer and between September 30, 2010, and March 12, 2013, at Port-of-Spain, she stole $24,770 from Majorie Victor. Smith was granted $450,000 bail to cover the incidents which allegedly took place in Port-of-Spain and San Juan. Her bail is to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace III and she has been ordered to report to the Arouca Police Station on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 6 am and 6 pm. She returns to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court on May 5. Smith was arrested in the precincts of the Port-of-Spain High Court, court prosecutor Sgt Joseph Logan objected to bail being granted for fear that Smith might abscond. The court also heard that Smith has a pending matter in the Arima Magistrates Court. Smiths attorney Herbert Charles told Magistrate Raphael his clients husband is an IT manager at the NCRHA, her sister is a police officer and her brother a soldier. He insisted that despite the contention of the police, Smith and her husband are not divorced and she is a teacher who taught police officers. PCs Murray, Lazarus, Kissoonsingh and Plante laid the charges. Lawsuit over Rolls Royce Aleem Ali, director of Ansad Services has taken the Comptroller of Customs to court following the seizure of his car on December 3. He claims to have received permission to remove the luxury car from the Customs and Excise Division lot and keep it at his premises. Ali, who is represented by Jagdeo Singh, Kiel Tacklalsingh, Vivek Lakhan-Joseph and Ananda Rampersad, further claims the seizure of the car was illegal and procedurally improper. He is seeking to have the High Court compel the Comptroller of Customs to release and return the car to him. According to Ali, he imported the car on May 20, and was at the time negotiating with the Ministry of Finance to secure certain exemptions as the car was in transit when a new tax regime came into effect. Ali said he wrote to the Assistant Comptroller of Customs seeking to have the car released to him and stored at his premises at Fanny Village, Point Fortin. The lawsuit claims Alis request was based on safety concerns and the Comptroller of Customs granted the request. Ali said he paid significant sums of money to compensate customs officers for the overtime required to inspect the vehicle at his Point Fortin premises. He said when the customs officers entered his premises, they did so without his permission, and read to him a document which they claimed gave them the permission to enter the compound and take the vehicle. According to the notice of seizure, Ali was charged with harbouring uncustomed goods. Ali said he was never given a right to be heard either prior to or after the car was seized. Justice Devindra Rampersad has been assigned the case which is listed in the Port-of-Spain High Court 17-year-old held with gun in Cunupia According to police reports at about 11.30 am on Sunday, police officers on patrol at Chin Chin Road, Cunupia observed the teenager and a 13-year-old boy walking along the roadway. Investigators said that on seeing the police vehicle, the teenagers began walking in the opposite direction. The officers exited the vehicle and stopped and searched the teenagers. A Taurus gun and five rounds of .38 ammunition were found in the 17-year-olds possession. Police said nothing illegal was found on the 13-year-old. The boys were detained and taken to the Cunupia Police Station where the younger one was released into the care of his parents. The other was later charged by PCs Elcock and Wickham. In a separate incident, police officers arrested a man in connection with several shooting incidents in the Enterprise area. The man was detained during an exercise co-ordinated by Snr Supt McIntyre and led by ASP Smith on Friday. In another incident in the Southern Division, two men were detained for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Insp Don Gajadhar, PC Rampersad and a team of officers were on an exercise when they stopped a white Toyota Axio near Gulf View Drive, La Romaine on Friday. The vehicle was searched and 14.5 grammes of cocaine was found. The men, ages 32 and 37, were arrested and later charged. Hours later in San Fernando, two other men, ages 37 and 42, were held for possession of 30.4 grammes of marijuana. This exercise was co-ordinated by ASP Mohammed and other police officers of the San Fernando Criminal Investigations Department. Local cops ace criminal investigation exam in Barbados Police Constable Micah Waldron placed first while his colleague PC Sandra Phillips-David placed third. The training and exam were organised by the Regional Police Training Centre in Barbados and saw participation from several Caricom countries. The course began on March 27 and officers were exposed to all aspects of criminal investigations. At the end, they were given a written examination. Both Waldron and Phillips-David were highly commended for their results and Newsday understands that they will be sharing some of the knowledge gained from the course with their colleagues. Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and members of his Executive were informed of the success of the officers and he was in high praise of them. Fines for gun, ammunition Matthew Lochansingh was fined $7,500 for possession of the gun and $5,000 for the three rounds of ammunition. He appeared before Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert in the San Fernando Magistrates Court. The gun was found at Chapman Park Recreation Park, Hermitage Village, on the outskirts of San Fernando, on the night of March 9. Prosecutor Sgt Chanadath Jhilmit told Alert that police officers went to the park at about 9.30 pm and saw a group of men, including Lochansingh, seated in the pavilion. Pointing to the gun on the ground, the officers asked Lochansingh who the gun belonged to. Lochansingh ran off but was pursued and arrested. Life Fund blanks Shannen The funding, according to a letter addressed to attorney Gerald Ramdeen and signed by CLFA chairman Dr Maritza Fernandes also said, a document from Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Italy, submitted by Shannens parents, showed that the toddler will be admitted to the hospital on May 2, and that the total cost of 158,000 euros has already been paid in full by the family. She acknowledged that Ramdeen also mentioned that payment has already been made. However, the Childrens Life Fund Act, she said, does not allow for reimbursements but rather it provides a detailed upfront application, assessment and approval process at Sections 18 and 21, premised on specific legal criteria. Meanwhile, Shannens mother Michelle Luke told Newsday yesterday, to be honest we did not expect anything but if we had gotten anything, we would have been grateful. She did not expect anything, she said, because of the haste with which the CLFA called on her on April 4 to put through her application and based on the processing time. Luke said as soon as she and her husband had been given an admission date by the paediatric hospital on January 2, they wrote the Ministry of Health on January 17 seeking assistance from the Childrens Life Fund. She said they received no response. After the matter was raised in the Parliament in late March, she said, she received a telephone call from the CLFA on April 4. By then, she and her husband had mortgaged their home and embarked on a fund-raising drive. There was no way, she said, she could postpone the date for the bone marrow transplant after waiting for almost three years to have it done. Since Shannens medical condition was diagnosed, Luke said, she and her husband began saving for the medical procedure. We made the sacrifices. People rallied around us. We got a lot of prayers. I am trying to save my child. We are moving on, she said. Ramdeen wrote a letter to Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh on February 6, seeking his intervention on behalf of Shannens parents on their application. The letter was forwarded and received by the CLFA the following day. Prior to this, Fernandes confirmed that Shannens parents application for grant funding under the Childrens Life Fund Act was received by the CLFA on April 4. You will appreciate the Act prescribes a comprehensive application, assessment and approval process regarding an application for grant funding, she said. After outlining the application process, she said, the application was lacking essential supporting documents such as medical reports. She noted also that based on the application process, a beneficiary departing the country on an airplane may take between one to three months. Fernandes assured that all applications are treated with urgency and sensitivity in keeping with the Act. Social media whips donkey-riding priest In observance of Palm Sunday which starts Holy Week, Taylor rode on the back of a donkey to commemorate the day Jesus Christ rose one to enter into Jerusalem. But social media critics described Taylors act as a shameless display of animal cruelty after a photo of the event at the St Charles RC Church in Tunapuna was carried on the front page of another newspaper yesterday. The priest has re-created the Palm Sunday scene for years in his previous parishes. The donkey was being pulled by a rope which was tied around its mouth. Social and political activist Phillip Edward Alexander re-posted the picture on Facebook. He described the image as Animal cruelty in the name of religion. Over 60 people commented on the post. While a few commentators joked that they saw nothing wrong with Taylor riding the prime minister, the majority of commentators were serious in their outrage. Im so angry by looking at this pic, look at how the a** (the priest) tie the animals mouth, commented one person. What an idiot and these are the people being looked up to, wrote another. Terrible. We need stricter laws for animal abuse and We really have to wonder which one is the real donkey, said two others. Donkey lovers certainly were in the majority yesterday, but there were a few people in between who questioned their outrage. One man said the sad part is that most of your grandparents or great grand parents may have ridden on donkeys. They would be ashamed to hear the rubbish you all are speaking. Alexander answered the detractors by posting an article from a Canadian website which described ways in which people could determine whether or not a donkey was in distress. The donkey is actually trying to communicate his distress. Ears back and down: there is something wrong. Do NOT approach, wrote Alexander. Newsday reached out to several animal rights activists for their position on the issue. The Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals declined comment as their spokesperson was not present at the time. Activist and hairdresser Jowelle de Souza, however, joined the outrage by saying, Words cant express how I feel about that situation, however, the jack** is him. Also contacted for comment was activist Nalini Dial who did not understand why people were up in arms. Is it that he is overheavy or something? From the photograph he is quite small. Arent donkeys meant to be ridden? People are just making a big thing out of nothing. Sanitation workers protest outside landfill Yesterday, angry workers from the Beetham landfill protested in front of the dump calling on Public Utility Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and Finance Minister Colm Imbert to make a statement by the end of the day otherwise the protest will be extended to other dumps namely Guanapo and Forres Park. They have created the most hazardous environment for our workers. In Trinidad, you dont have landfill you have dumps and there are all types of poisonous waste there...you name it. Workers have to operate in that environment and there is no priority being placed on funding Solid Waste Management Company (SWMCOL) to rehabilitate those dumps, Benacia said. He said the union wrote Hinds in November seeking a meeting to discuss issues including hazardous work conditions and retroactive payments owed to workers. Mr Hinds has not responded to our letter. We have asked him to meet with the union and visit the site to understand what the former Public Utilities Minister meant when he said conditions are inhumane. Workers consider this as total disrespect. In addition to that we had a meeting with the Minister of Finance last week Wednesday, when he indicated to us that he was just being made aware that SWMCOL workers were not getting paid like everybody else and Government has to look into Public Utilities to see if they have any left over money, from their budget, to pay us and if they dont, they will have to make a request for additional funding. That is considered total disrespect. He warned the nations dumps are a ticking time bomb with some explosions already taking place in terms of environmental pollution. Run-off from dumps have poisoned our mangroves, the marine environment, rivers and the dust that blows off these dumps especially the one at the Beetham, it dissipates over Portof- Spain and as far as Woodbrook and Westmoorings and even further is being covered with this very highly polluted dust. We are the lowest paid workers who do the most hazardous jobs in the country. I dont know if the Government does not consider us as public servants because they never placed any priority on sanitation workers in this country. It is as if we are not important and dont mean anything. And the only time we seem to get a response is when we protest...and that is shameful. He claimed that the same disrespect sanitation workers got from the Peoples Partnership, they are also getting from the incumbent PNM government. Tourism Baseline Survey launched in Tobago The survey, launched on April 7, is designed to collect and critically analyse data in the areas of tourism businesses, employment, incomes earned and revenue generated. A DOTCT release quoted Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation Nadine Stewart- Phillips as saying at the launch, that the survey represented a more strategic and calculated approach which is key to the success of Tobagos tourism industry. Stewart-Phillips said Tobagos tourism industry is at the dawn of a new and progressive era, and We cannot continue with business as usual. As Tobago competes with destinations in the region and beyond, she said, We understand that our efforts in the area of product marketing require a more technical and measurable approach. The survey will gather and analyse data on international visitor expenditure and primary tourism business, that will allow policy- makers to make informed decisions. The release said that the divisions goal remains to nurture, maintain and leverage Tobagos resources in a manner that will attract a wider range of travelers while maintaining the authentic experience that repeat visitors love. As the THA charts the way forward for tourism in Tobago, Stewart- Phillips said, We need to understand how these actions impact our tourism practitioners, their businesses, their revenue, and the action they need to take. With the relevant information, she said, those in the industry can seek to progress in a sustainable manner that remains true to Tobagos heritage, while identifying opportunities for growth and positive change that not only meet, but exceed visitor expectations. However, she said, the survey is not a panacea for the issues that have plagued the tourism sector in the past. We each need to take responsibility for our role within the industry, whether we are policy makers, technocrats, practitioners or residents who may not be directly involved, but who are nevertheless indirectly impacted by it on a daily basis, she said. Galicia stays one week longer Reiterating that the Galicia will continue its operations on the domestic sea bridge over the Easter weekend, Sinanan explained that the TT Spirit, TT Express and a roll on-roll off barge are the vessels which will take over from the Galicia when it ceases operations. He said the TT Spirit and TT Express would transport vehicular cargo. Sinanan added, the barge will be used to transport construction materials. He also disclosed that Inter-Continental has sourced a possible replacement vessel for the Galicia. Sinanan said all of these options (including the use of two Coast Guard vessels) will be carefully evaluated by the new board of the Port Authority which is expected to be sworn in today. Sinanan added that once tenders close for the acquisition of another vessel for the sea bridge on April 24, this matter will be examined by the Cabinet. Local company to invest billions in construction sector Prime US International Limited (Prime), a local Property Development and Management Company, on Monday announced that it will be signing an MOA with Canadian based Project Managers, Wylde Orchid Design & Management Company at Cascadia Hotel, St Anns tomorrow morning. Prime is also a Holding Company for Caribbean Mining Limited, Prime US Shipping House (P.U.S.H.) Limited and Prime US Network Limited. According to Prime, the MOA will officially begin a major housing project starting in February 2018, which will result in approximately 120,000 homes built throughout Trinidad and Tobago over a 12 to 15 year period. It is anticipated that this project will engage over 12,000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers, bringing a much-needed boost to the construction and related sectors. Prime said it not only intends to make homes available to qualified buyers through financial institutions but also to special groups such as senior citizens, single mothers and young adults. Additionally, the company also proposes to construct low-income housing and will seek to discuss these initiatives with local partners. Executives from Prime US International, Caribbean Mining Limited, Wylde Orchid Design & Management (Canada) and a Consultant for Canadian Government Green Energy Initiatives will provide further information on the housing project during a press conference following the MOA signing Plea Bargaining debate continues The purpose of this bill is to enable a prosecutor and an accused person, which includes a person suspected of committing a criminal offence and a defendant in proceedings before the court for criminal proceedings, (whether on his own or represented by an attorney- at-law) to engage in plea discussions aimed at arriving at a plea agreement. Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi began debate on the bill on March 22. The debate continued in the House on April 5. A total of 13 MPs have contributed in the debate thus far. As tomorrows sitting of the House is the second for the month, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will answer questions during the Prime Ministers Question Period. Rowley returned to the country on Saturday after a one week vacation in the United States. Rowley and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young held a series of meetings with major energy multinational companies in Houston from March 29 to 31, prior to taking his vacation. Newsday understands that some of the questions which the Opposition will be posing to Rowley will be based on his trip to Houston, BPs decision not to undertake the Angelin platform construction in La Brea and the withdrawal of the Super Fast Galicia from the domestic seabridge. Before the House sits, the Public Accounts Committee meets at Tower D at 10.30 am on Wednesday to hold a public hearing to examine the Auditor Generals Report on the Eastern Regional Health Authority for the period 2008 to 2016. Meetings of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee and the Land and Physical Infrastructure Committee which were supposed to take place in Tobago tomorrow, were cancelled because of the sitting of the House on the same day. Comments Policy Comments that are excessively crude, obscene or profane - especially when they consist of nothing more than gratuitous insults or aspersions upon the character of authors or other commenters - will be vigorously discouraged. Therefore, if you find your comment has been deleted, you will know why. The Algeria-based separatist militia, the Polisario, has threatened to fire at the UN peacekeeping mission in the Sahara, MINURSO, if it patrols the demilitarized buffer strip as part of monitoring the 1991 cease-fire agreement. UN Spokesperson told the press in New York that the MINURSO should carry out its mission fully and enjoy unhindered freedom of movement in the Sahara, making it clear that the Polisario will be held accountable for hindering the UN mission. Tension started to build in the area in tandem with Moroccos inroads in Africa where support for the Kingdoms sovereignty is gaining ground. After Moroccos unilateral withdrawal from the Guerguarat area beyond the security wall on the borders with Mauritania in response to the UN Chiefs call, the Polisario in a defiant act moved in to set up checkpoints forcing Moroccan drivers to remove from their vehicles signs such as Moroccan maps or registration plates and threatening to fire on those who refuse to abide. MINURSO officials warned last month that the presence of the Polisario militiamen in the area represents an act of aggression and obstructs the normal flow of commercial traffic, which may trigger a military response from Morocco. The Polisario, acting upon directives from its mentors in Algiers, sees in igniting tension in the area a chance to galvanize support amid its disenchanted supporters in Tindouf camps and Algiers. Algeria through manipulating the Polisario looks with envy at Moroccos breakthrough in Africa and its endeavor for regional integration within the Economic West African Community, the ECOWAS. Fueling tension in the southernmost tip of the Sahara is meant to block Morocco from connecting with its African depth. By pulling the strings of the Polisario to provoke Morocco into a military response, the Algerian military junta is also seeking to divert attention from its crippling economic and social crisis that bears the seeds of an imminent implosion. Avid of the conspiracy theory, the autocratic regime in Algiers may try to spark a war in the Sahara using the Polisario to unite their disentangling domestic front. However, their main assumption is that the war may be a limited low-intensity war where the Polisario may re-exercise the guerilla hit-and-run tactics by attacking Moroccan territory and seeking sanctuary in Algeria. In the 1990s, Morocco under Hassan II abstained from hot pursuits to hit the Poliario in its Algerian rear base. Today, it is unlikely that the Royal Armed Forces may follow suit in case an armed conflict sparks. The spectre of a generalized war between Morocco and Algeria remains on the table if war resumes. Having recently received military equipment from the Algerian regime, the Polisario is becoming more than ever a tool used by Algiers to destabilize Morocco and sap all efforts seeking to find a lasting, political and mutually acceptable solution based on the Moroccan autonomy initiative. Now that it has withdrawn its troops beyond its security walls, Morocco has scored a major point and evidenced its sincere willingness to safeguard the regions peace and security. Meanwhile, the hostile acts of the Polisario and its paymaster Algeria represent an utter disregard for the cease-fire agreement bearing the seeds of tension. Self-defense is guaranteed by the UN charter and any slight mistake by the Polisario would trigger a commensurate response. By retreating from Guerguarat, Morocco showed that the Polisario and its paymasters in Algiers are the parties kindling chaos in the region. So far, Morocco has shown restraint while safeguarding its diplomatic and military achievements. Its withdrawal from the Guerguarat took the Polisario and Algeria by surprise and held them accountable for any possible return to hostilities in the region. In the meanwhile, Morocco adopts a wait and see stand waiting for the Algerian regime to crumble from the inside. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the Polisario to immediately withdraw from the Guerguarat area in the buffer strip in the southernmost tip of the Sahara. In his report to the UN Security Council members, Gueterres expressed deep concern regarding the presence of Polisario militiamen in the buffer strip warning that the situation may degenerate into the collapse of the cease-fire agreement. He added that the violations of the Polisario, which maintains forces in the area after the withdrawal of Morocco, poses serious danger to regional security and stability. Polisarios obstinacy to maintain troops in the demilitarized area in a stark violation of the 1991 cease-fire agreement makes it the culprit in case a conflict resurges and puts it in direct confrontation with the UN. In his report, the UN Secretary General called on Algeria to play a positive role in the negotiation process. He also expressed support for the negotiations parameters launched by the UN Security Council since 2007 in order to reach a mutually acceptable political solution in good faith. The Polisarios insistence to maintain troops beyond the buffer zone mirrors the disenchantment within its ranks. By keeping armed men in Guerguarat, the Polisario aims at portraying a sham victory for its supporters as it loses support in Africa and at the international level. By fuelling tension in the region, the Polisario is also venting its disappointment at the election of the Portuguese Gueterres who shows more understanding for the Moroccan stand on the conflict unlike his predecessor Ban ki-moon whose verbal blunders and biased statements created a crisis between Morocco and the UN. Horst Kohler, former German President (2004-2010), is said to be named to succeed outgoing UN Secretary Generals Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Christopher Ross. The Polisario and its mentor Algeria may also object the appointment of Horst Kohler, a politician of the German Christian Democratic Union, said to have been picked up to replace outgoing UN Secretary Generals Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Christopher Ross, in view of the realistic stands adopted by European figures concerning the Sahara. The Polisario remembers vividly remember the statements by Dutch Van Walsum who described the independence option as unrealistic and unfeasible and called for adopting the autonomy as a basis for negotiations. Tension started building up in the Guerguarat region last August when Morocco launched an anti-smuggling operation that has a police character to clear the southernmost tip of the Saharan provinces of all sorts of illegal commercial activities. Moroccan authorities also started asphalting a road to better monitor the area and bar traffickers and terrorist groups from setting up a safe haven in the buffer zone beyond Moroccos security berm on the borders with Mauritania. King Mohammed VI, in his quality as supreme commander of the Royal armed forces, ordered the unilateral withdrawal of Moroccan troops from Guerguarat following a phone call with Guterres early last February. The withdrawal came in response to Guterres call for both parties to leave the demilitarized buffer strip. The Head of the Roman Catholic will still visit Cairo this month as planned despite twin bombs which ripped two Copt Churches, killing 44 people. Mgr Angelo Becciu, third most important of leader of the Catholic Church told Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Monday that the Sunday massacre will not deter the Holy Father to carry out his mission. There is no doubt the Holy Father will maintain his offer to go to Egypt on April 28 and 29, Becciu added. The two subside-bomb attacks turned Palm Sunday into carnage as 44 Coptic Christians died in Alexandria and Tanta north of Cairo. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attacks while threatening for further attack. The two attacks were deadliest against the Christian minority community. Accounting for 10 per cent of the Egyptian population (92 million) the Copts have been facing discrimination, sectarian violence. Another attack targeted the community in December after an IS subside bomber blew himself up, killing 27 in a Church in Cairo. The Argentine Holy Father on Sunday condemned the attacks and sent his condolences to the injured and the family of the victims. Becciu also announced that Egypt has assured safety for the Pope. Pope Francis during the visit will meet with cheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Imam of Al-Azhar. The Egyptian religious leader is reckoned one of the top most influential leaders of Sunnite Islam. Both leaders met before in May 2016 in Vatican. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Monday underlined endorsement for Libyas Field Marshal Haftar as Abu Dhabi crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hailed the army commander for defeating terrorists in Benghazi. Al Nahyan, also deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces was glorious of visiting Haftar who is seeking support from a traditional ally. The prince commented Haftar for flatting terrorist in Benghazi and stamping out terrorism from the region, Libyan herald reports. The UAE has been working with Libyan leader in the fight against jihadists in the second city of the oil-rich North African country. Several media reports have revealed presence of a significant number of Emirati fighters and pilots in Libya. The crown Prince also added that UAE would continue its efforts to unite Libyans and support their efforts to combat such extremism. Emirati warships have reportedly been used in pounding jihadists positions. This latest endorsement flies in the face of the UN-backed Presidential Council which has received support from the Arab League, last week, at the Pan-Arab summit in Jordan. United we fall. Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images By now, youve probably seen this video of United Airlines refusing to let one of its passengers fly the friendly skies. The airline had overbooked a Sunday night flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky. When not enough passengers were willing to relinquish their seats voluntarily, a few were selected at random for de-boarding. One of those unlucky souls was, apparently, a doctor with patients to see the next day in Kentucky. He refused to exit the plane. So, security officials dragged him kicking and screaming and bleeding down the aisle. Some minutes later, they allowed him back onto the plane. Reflecting on his experience, the passenger stammered, I have to go home just kill me. From one angle, this incident might look too atypical to tell us much about the state of Americas airline industry. To travel by air, Americans must subject themselves to myriad indignities, including showing up for overbooked planes and learning gateside that they are no longer welcome aboard. But being randomly selected for assault by security personnel generally isnt one of them. It would also be reasonable to expect that the onboard assault of an elderly man, motivated solely by the Uniteds desire to save a few hundred bucks, might bring about some major changes. But the big airlines are dysfunctional at deeper level than most fliers realize. All industry forecasts paint greater consolidation, higher fares, and reduced service to midsize airports as the only path to sustained profitability. The incident on the Chicago tarmac might be a new low, but things are not going to get better anytime soon. For decades, airlines have been cancelling low-volume routes, reducing service quality, raising prices, merging to achieve economies of scale, declaring bankruptcy, and sucking up billions in public subsidies, and the industry still teeters on the brink of insolvency. U.S. airlines were in the red for all but three years between 2001 and 2010, according to the industrys trade group. Their net loss over that period amounted to $62.9 billion. When the Carter administration began deregulating the airlines in the late 70s, it did so in the name of fostering price competition. Sure, relinquishing public control might jeopardize smaller, rural cities access to convenient air travel, but free-market competition would also make flying more affordable for the vast majority of Americans. But thanks in no small part to lax antitrust enforcement by President Reagan and his successors, deregulation ultimately turned a public quasi-monopoly into a private one. Or, as Phillip Longman and Lina Khan put it in a 2012 essay for Washington Monthly, Carters reforms shifted control of the airline industry from experts answerable to the public to corporate boardrooms and Wall Street. This shift did little to nothing to make airfare more affordable in the long term. The cost of flying was actually declining at a faster rate before deregulation than it has since, according to a 2007 study in the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum. But the shift has taken a big toll on customer service standards and, more significantly, on the economic growth of Americas midsize cities. As Longman and Khan write: The loss of airline service to rural and remote areas is an old story; by the 1980s, even some state capitals such as Olympia, Washington; Dover, Delaware; and Salem, Oregon became places you could no longer fly to except in a private plane. But over the last five years, service to medium-sized airports fell by 18 percent. St. Louis, for example, has seen available seat miles an industry measure of capacity fall to a third of their 2000 level, following the American Airlines takeover of TWA and Lambert International Airports subsequent downgrading as a mid-continental hub. Two of Lamberts five concourses are now virtually empty, and another, which housed the TWA hub, is only partially used. A third runway the building of which required demolishing hundreds of homes and cost local taxpayers a billion dollars to finish in 2006 is now redundant. This scenario, notes Alex Marshall, a senior fellow at the Regional Plan Association, can be likened to states building highways and then having General Motors, Ford, and other auto companies suddenly telling their drivers to use different roads. St. Louiss loss of service comes despite the fact that the population of the St. Louis metropolitan area, the eighteenth largest in the U.S., grew by more than 4 percent between 2000 and 2010. The city is also the home of eight Fortune 500 companies and is a major center for such international players as Anheuser-Busch InBev, Monsanto, Boeing, Emerson Electric, Express Scripts, and Nestle Purina. The GDP of the metro area, which is also propelled by such large research institutions as Washington University and a fast-growing medical sciences sector, rivals that of oil-rich Qatar. Yet like most other midsize American cities, St. Louiss economic development is now hostage to the shifting, closed-door deals and mergers of a mere handful of airline executives and their financiers. In the writers estimation, a return to robust antitrust enforcement cant cure the airline industrys terminal illness by itself, because: [A]irlines just like railroads, waterworks, electrical utilities, and most other networked systems require concentration both to achieve economies of scale and to enable the cross-subsidization between low- and high-cost service necessary to preserve their value as networks. And when it comes to such natural monopolies that are essential to the public, there is no equitable or efficient alternative to having the government regulate or coordinate entry, prices, and service levels no matter how messy the process may be. Needless to say, radically increasing government regulation is a nonstarter in Trumps Washington. And taking on the entrenched interests of the airline industry didnt really fly in Obamas, either. Three years ago, the Obama Justice Department sued to block a merger between American Airlines and U.S. Airways, after concluding that increasing consolidation among large airlines has hurt passengers The major airlines have copied each other in raising fares, imposing new fees on travelers, reducing or eliminating service on a number of city pairs, and downgrading amenities. Then the airlines hired former Obama administration officials and well-connected Democrats to lobby on their behalf. Three months later, the DOJ cleared the merger for takeoff. Still, it seems doubtful that our government will let a giant, profit-starved, private monopoly torture its customers and suffocate regional economies in perpetuity. And the growth strategies of our major airlines suggest theyre not going to stop doing either of those things on their own volition. So maybe, someday, America will arrive at a sane air-transportation policy. But one things for sure: All such departures have been delayed for four to eight years. Governor Robert Bentley posed for this mug shot before resigning. Photo: Montgomery County Sheriffs Office via Getty Images Kay Ivey became Alabamas second female governor on Monday, under unfortunate circumstances. As predicted, Alabama governor Robert Bentley has stepped down following a sex scandal that dragged on for a year. The 74-year-old former Baptist deacon allegedly carried on an affair with a married top aide, 45-year-old Rebekah Caldwell Mason. Faced with impeachment and multiple criminal investigations, Bentley pleaded guilty on Monday to two misdemeanor campaign violations, then headed to the Alabama State Capitol to announce his resignation. Thereve been times that I let you and our people down, and Im sorry for that, Bentley said, without mentioning the charges. He concluded by saying he appreciates all of the Alabamans who have told him they still love him, and are praying for him. I love this state from the bottom of my heart, and the people who live here, he said. The scandal began last March, when Bentley fired Alabamas top cop on the same day he told al.com that he was investigating text messages and audio recordings of a sexual nature between Mason and the governor. The next day, an explicit phone call was leaked to the media. It was later revealed that the recording was made by Dianne Bentley, the governors wife of 50 years, who had filed for divorce the previous summer. As Vox notes, that might have been it for the Republican governor, if Alabama wasnt such a solidly red state: In a more closely contested partisan environment, its possible that Bentley would have been pushed out much faster to avoid giving the gift of scandal to the Democratic opposition. Its also possible that he would have been able to rally GOP support behind him, arguing that the whole thing is a fundamentally personal matter that is being ginned up into a scandal by his opponents. Instead, details of the alleged affair and Bentleys attempts to cover it up kept leaking, and the scandal only came to a head when Alabamas House Judiciary Committee released a 3,000-page report last Friday that alleged Bentley created an atmosphere of intimidation and pushed other state employees into covering up the relationship. Governor Bentley directed law enforcement to advance his personal interests and, in a process characterized by increasing obsession and paranoia, subjected career law enforcement officers to tasks intended to protect his reputation, the report said. Hours after impeachment hearings began on Monday, the state attorney generals office announced that it had made a plea deal with the governor. The office said it would not pursue felony charges against Bentley if he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanors and resigned immediately. Hes also required to give up campaign funds totaling about $37,000 and perform 100 hours of community service in his capacity as a licensed dermatologist. Kay Ivey was sworn in as Alabamas 54th governor on Monday evening. Ivey is well-known in Alabama, having served as the states treasurer before being elected lieutenant governor in 2010 and again in 2014. Shes the states second female governor after Lurleen Wallace, wife of George Wallace, who was elected in 1966 and died of cancer 16 months later. The Ivey administration will be open, it will be transparent and it will be honest, the new governor said, to cheers and loud applause. For some reason, Edward Markey wants to bring back the SCOTUS filibuster to help Republicans obstruct a Democratic Justice. Photo: Ryan McBride/AFP/Getty Images Sometimes when you get to the end of a tough political fight particularly one you lose it is hard to change the talking points to reflect new realities. That would be the charitable interpretation of Massachusetts Senator Edward Markeys statement that Democrats would bring back the SCOTUS filibuster as a first order of business when they regain control of the Senate. We will restore the 60-vote margin. We will ensure that for the Supreme Court there is that special margin that any candidate has to reach, he told MSNBC. He said making Supreme Court candidates get 60 votes is essential to ensuring that our country has a confidence in those people who are nominated, rather than just someone who passes a litmus test. Now aside from the many arguments on the merits for getting rid of the SCOTUS filibuster arguments my colleagues Jonathan Chait and Eric Levitz have made eloquently lets consider what that would mean strategically for Democrats. If they are in control of the Senate but are confronting a Republican president (in theory, say, after 2018), then Democrats dont need a SCOTUS filibuster so long as their majority uses its power and stays together. But more likely the circumstance will arise when Democrats control the Senate and the White House. So bringing back the SCOTUS filibuster would involve taking a legislative tool the GOP had disabled, weaponizing it again, and handing it back to the party that specializes in obstruction. Why on earth would they want to do that? I suppose if you are conservative for the sake of being conservative, youd favor anything that slows down business in Congress, on top of the many, many structural barriers to effective lawmaking that are scattered throughout the system. But Democratic senators are not supposed to be temperamentally opposed to government functioning. So again: Maybe Markey misspoke, or picked up yesterdays speech today. If Democrat James Thompson defeats Republican Ron Estes in a special election in a deep-red Kansas congressional districts special election today, the anti-Trump resistance will get its first tangible win. Photo: AP What progressives call the Resistance to Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Washington has had to subsist on mostly symbolic triumphs up until now: the huge womens marches and associated protests around Trumps inauguration; the discomfiture of GOP members of Congress facing angry constituents back home; and schadenfreude over Trumps legal and legislative setbacks. Beginning today, though, there will be opportunities for real voter pushback against Trump and company in a series of congressional special elections, followed by regular off-year elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and then, of course, the 2018 midterms. (Yes, there has already been a special election in California, but in a district as blue as the nearby Pacific Ocean). Todays curtain-raiser in the states 4th congressional district, to replace CIA Director Mike Pompeo, was not supposed to be competitive. The district has been represented by Republicans since 1994. Pompeo won reelection last November by a 61-30 margin. Trump won there by a 60-33 margin; Mitt Romney won it in 2012 by 62-36. It is basically a sea of red counties surrounding islands of Democratic support in Wichita. As recently as March 17, the Cook Political Reports highly regarded David Wasserman rated the race as Solid Republican, with GOP state treasurer Ron Estes expected to dispatch Democratic newcomer James Thompson easily. Now its Lean Republican, and Wasserman explains why: Republicans familiar with recent polling describe extremely high Democratic intensity and very low GOP enthusiasm in what is likely to be a very low turnout special. More than that, Estes appears to be swept up in a last-minute vortex of factors outside his control: Democrats anger towards Trump, independents anger towards Gov. Sam Brownback and GOP dissatisfaction with early administration failures. Another reason for KS-04s upset potential could be the manner of Estess nomination. The special selection process fell to a committee of several dozen local GOP officials rather than a primary, which would have forced Estes to engage with base voters much earlier or could have produced an outsider nominee. The Brownback factor could be the wild card. Estes is a member of the increasingly unpopular governors cabinet, and as Wasserman notes, was nominated by a party convention, not voters. Kansas probably had the countrys most pronounced intra-GOP split, with hard-core conservative ideologues led by Brownback perpetually battling self-conscious Republican moderates. The split was just exacerbated when Brownback vetoed a Medicaid expansion that was backed by a host of moderate legislators. Meanwhile, the Estes campaign has not inspired much confidence, leading national GOP figures to run an abrasive ad attacking Thompson as a big fan of abortions in an effort to boost base turnout. Heres what the conservative Washington Examiner reported: Rons run a horrible campaign. Hasnt raised much money, his ads are abysmal no energy, a Kansas Republican operative said, on condition of anonymity in order to speak candidly. Its a low turnout special and weird things happen. The weird thing that could happen, of course, is a Democratic win tonight, though hardly anyone is willing to predict that outcome given the nature of the district. As Real Clear Politics Sean Trende reminds us, Kansas has aroused and dashed Democratic hopes in the recent past: [W]e have heard this song-and-dance before. In 2014, many observers and pollsters found that Brownback and Republican Sen. Pat Roberts were in the fights of their lives, only to have Brownback win by four points and Roberts win by 10 (Brownback carried every county in the 4th District). District partisanship has a way of asserting itself at the end. Yet the National Republican Congressional Committee is concerned enough that it has parachuted in, and Vice President Mike Pence has cut a robo-call phone message here. There is more than a little bit of smoke. Now Donald Trump is doing robo-calls, too, telling GOP voters: Ron is going to be helping us, big league. Ted Cruz is parachuting in to campaign personally for Estes, as well. This is not what you would expect from a deep-red district that is also the home of Koch Industries. If Thompson wins, obviously, or even if Estes wins by single digits, it will probably ramp up the excitement over next weeks special election in Georgias 6th congressional district to a level of great intensity, particularly among Democrats. Thats the race that has attracted the money, volunteer activity, and media attention the Kansas race has largely lacked. So from a national perspective tonights results (which should come pretty fast, with polls closing at 8 p.m. ET) will probably serve as an appetizer for the main course next Tuesday. Donald Trump: builder, arch-nationalist, man who keeps breaking his deals. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump is probably going to come up at my familys Passover seder tonight, just as a matter of statistical probability, since approximately 100 percent of my family gatherings get around to the subject of the current president of the United States. Also, of course, liberal Judaism has grown increasingly politicized, along with the rest of the culture. (Our temple sometimes appears to be a hub of progressive social and political activism, with a dab of religion on the side.) But the growing tradition of intermingling Judaism with politics has inspired a new counter-tradition of conservatives decrying just that. Theres a growing tendency among Jews whether rabbis, teachers, community leaders, or laypeople to employ Jewish texts to score political points, complains Shmuel Rosner in the New York Times today. Last month, former George W. Bush aide Tevi Troy urged Jews not to politicize Purim. Comparing Mr. Bannon, or any Trump aide, to Haman diminishes the true threats that Jews face in a dangerous world, wrote Troy. Many Jews want to defeat Messrs. Trump and Bannon politically. If they want to succeed, they should come up with a new vocabulary for political disagreement, one that maintains political credibility and avoids unnecessary demonization. Of course, this would not be such a problem if the sitting president did not bear such an uncanny resemblance to a villain from a traditional Jewish narrative. Like the Pharaoh, Trump is a builder fond of exploitative labor practices and an arch-nationalist, with a nasty habit of making deals then welching on his side of the bargain. To be sure, Trump bears an even stronger resemblance to Purims vain, sexually entitled, easily manipulated King Achashverosh. Both Passover and Purim lend themselves easily to Trump-bashing because they revolve around a common theme deeper than the particulars of their stories: They celebrate a minority groups survival against persecution, and contain larger warnings about the kinds of conditions that give rise to such persecution. They have become embedded in the Jewish religious tradition for the exact same reason that most Jews living in majority-gentile countries lean politically to the left. It was easy to conduct a seder without bringing up George H. W. Bush, or even George W. Bush. But Trumps entire political identity fundamentally revolves around mobilizing the ethnic majority against racial minorities. Obviously, Jews from politically mixed families might choose to steer clear of Trump, for reasons of comity and simple courtesy. Anybody is free to draw from the holidays the lessons as they see them. To me, discussing a parable of universality and openness to the stranger without invoking the ethno-nationalist man-child in the White House would make as much sense as saying nothing while frogs drop from the sky. Putin, put-upon. Photo: Sergei Chirikov/AFP/Getty Images Vladimir Putin has had better weeks. Eight days ago, the American government made its weary acceptance of Bashar al-Assads staying power official. So, with his client in Damascus finally secure, Putin could turn his attention to Rex Tillersons upcoming visit and how he might convince his old friend from Exxon to lift a sanction or two. And then toxic gas rained down on Idlib province. And one of Russias greatest diplomatic achievements this decade the 2013 agreement that led Assad to hand over his chemical weapons was nullified. And the emotionally volatile cable-news addict in the Oval Office saw pictures of dead children and decided that Syrians were human enough to avenge with missiles (but not so human that the refugees among them should be allowed into the United States). Now, instead of casually threatening to abandon Americas existing NATO allies, Trump is welcoming Montenegro into the alliance. And the UN ambassador who, just two weeks ago, said that ousting Assad wasnt a priority is now making noises about regime change. And the secretary of State whose friendliness with Moscow threatened his appointment is saying that Russia was complicit in Assads attack, or has been simply incompetent at managing its client state. At this point, its not clear whether Putin will even meet with Tillerson during the latters visit to Russia this week. So, you can imagine how upset the Russian president must be with the man who decided to launch last weeks chemical-weapons attack some random terrorist who wanted to make Assad look bad. We have reports from multiple sources that false flags like this one and I cannot call it otherwise are being prepared in other parts of Syria, including the southern suburbs of Damascus, Putin said Tuesday of last weeks gas attack in Idlib, at a press conference with Italian president Sergio Mattarella. They plan to plant some chemical there and accuse the Syrian government of an attack. President Mattarella and I discussed it, and I told him that this reminds me strongly of the events in 2003, when the U.S. representatives demonstrated at the UN Security Council session the presumed chemical weapons found in Iraq, Putin continued. The military campaign was subsequently launched in Iraq and it ended with the devastation of the country, the growth of the terrorist threat, and the appearance of the Islamic State on the world stage. Putin went on to call for the international community to pursue a thorough investigation of the attack and take appropriate action based on the results of such a probe. On Tuesday afternoon, the White House decried Putins narratives as disinformation, and released a point-by-point rebuttal of Moscows claims, as part of a four-page report summarizing U.S. intelligence on the chemical attack. Moscows response to the April 4 attack follows a familiar pattern of its responses to other egregious actions, the report argues. It spins out multiple, conflicting accounts in order to create confusion and sow doubt within the international community. It is true that the Kremlin has variously suggested that last weeks attack was a false-flag effort meant to frame Assad and that it was the accidental result of the Syrian government bombing a terrorist ammunition depot that happened to contain chemical weapons. The report exhaustively rebuts the latter narrative, claiming that the U.S. has obtained video and satellite imagery that shows a chemical weapon was dropped into the middle of a road. Meanwhile, in Lucca, Italy, Tillerson suggested that if Russia would break ties with its unreliable loser friends, it might regain a seat at the table with the popular Western countries: I hope that what the Russian government concludes is that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad. They had signed the chemical weapons accord themselves the Syrian Government; the Russian government had signed that accord; and now Assad has made the Russians look not so good under these circumstances. I think its also worth thinking about Russia has really aligned itself with the Assad regime, the Iranians, and Hezbollah. Is that a is that a long-term alliance that serves Russias interest, or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis? Tillersons statement suggests that, for Russia, the price of rapprochement with the United States may now be a break with Assad. The secretary of State is set to meet with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on Wednesday. According to Politico, that meeting is likely to yield standard diplomatic statements in which they agree to disagree on any number of things, but that one measure of how well things go will be whether theres a decision made on whether and when Trump should meet Putin face-to-face. Until then, Vladimir can only wait and wonder about what might have been. Aleppo. Photo: Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images In 2013, shortly after Bashar al-Assads government murdered hundreds of Syrians in the Damascus suburbs with sarin gas, Russia decided to make itself useful. President Obama had just let Congress kill his plan to retaliate against the Assad regime militarily. Then Putins government offered the Americans a way to eliminate the threat posed by Syrias chemical weapons diplomatically. Together, the former Cold War foes brokered an agreement with Assad, which required him to forfeit some 1,300 tons of chemical weapons ostensibly, his entire stockpile. This deal allowed Russia to play the part of a normal, major power in the global system one capable of nudging a client state into greater compliance with international norms. It was boon to both Washington and Moscow. Assads apparent gas attack in northern Syria last week has radically diminished that 2013 agreement, and with it, whatever credibility it might have provided Putin on the world stage. Which makes this report from the Associated Press confounding (in addition to utterly horrifying): The United States has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syrias chemical weapons attack last week, a senior U.S. official said Monday. The official said a drone operated by Russians was flying over a hospital as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons. The senior official said the U.S. has no proof of Russian involvement in the actual chemical attack in northern Syria. But the official said the presence of the surveillance drone over the hospital couldnt have been a coincidence, and that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming and that victims were seeking treatment. A separate U.S. official told the outlet that no final American determination has been made that Russia knew ahead of time that chemical weapons would be used. However, there does seem to be a general consensus that Russians routinely worked at the Shayrat air base where the attack supposedly originated, and that chemical weapons were stored at that base. One should always take the word of anonymous officials with a spoonful of salt, and it is difficult to comprehend the motivations of Russia and Syria in the APs narrative. Why would Assad jeopardize a status quo in which the U.S. was reconciling itself to his regimes survival by killing his people with the one kind of weapon that had previously led America to the brink of intervention? Why would Russia consciously allow Assad to do so? Perhaps, homicidal regimes are not as rational as we might imagine them to be. Volunteers encourage students with cheers as they arrive to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School on April 10, 2017, in San Bernardino, California. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Less than two years after the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California, tragedy struck the community again on Monday when a man opened fire in his estranged wifes elementary-school classroom, killing her and one student, and wounding another child. Police say Cedric Anderson, 53, said nothing as he entered the classroom at North Park Elementary and fired six shots from a .357 caliber revolver at Karen Elaine Smith, 53, his wife of four months. The two students were standing behind Smith, and according to the New York Times its unclear if they were hit by gunfire or wounded with shrapnel. Jonathan Martinez, 8, was airlifted to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A 9-year-old boy who was also wounded was in stable condition Monday afternoon. When police arrived on the scene around 10:30 a.m., they found Anderson had turned his gun on himself too. Suspect in shooting identified as Cedric Anderson, age 53, resident of Riverside, CA. pic.twitter.com/H9YYQZvZud San Bernardino PD (@SanBernardinoPD) April 10, 2017 Smith was the lead teacher in a special-education class of 15 students, who ranged from first- to fourth-graders. Two aides were also in the room at the time of the shooting. School officials said they increased security after the mass shooting in 2015, and Anderson followed proper procedures for entering the school. He checked in at the front office, saying he had to drop something off for Smith. The school does not have metal detectors. Police have not discussed Andersons motive for the shooting. The couple separated last month, but police received no reports of violence between them. Anderson had a criminal record that included domestic violence in a previous relationship and weapons charges. No one has come forward to say they saw this coming, police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. According to the AP, Andersons Facebook page only includes declarations of his love for Smith, whom he had known for four years, and talk about his religious devotion. However, Smiths mother, Irma Sykes, said a different side of him emerged in recent months. She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all, Sykes told the Los Angeles Times. He had other motives, she added. She left him and thats where the trouble began. She broke up with him and he came out with a different personality. She decided she needed to leave him. Joshua Smith, 30, one of Smiths four adult children from a previous relationship, told the Washington Post that Anderson appeared a bit different at first, but later they realized he was paranoid and possessive. The behavior led his mother to leave Anderson, just months after the couple married in January. Smith described his mother as a genuinely loving and caring person who was a devoted Christian. She loved life, her career, and especially her children, he said. It seems surreal that she is gone, that I will no longer hear her voice and that she wont see her granddaughter grow up. It hurts, but I know she is with God now. Victim in school shooting identified as Karen Smith, age 53, estranged wife of suspect. pic.twitter.com/IaC7RCtVhl San Bernardino PD (@SanBernardinoPD) April 10, 2017 Police escorted 600 students out of the school, many walking hand-in-hand, and bussed them to California State Universitys San Bernardino campus. Parents complained that the school was too slow to notify them, and there was confusion about where they were supposed to pick up their children. School officials said counselors were already sent to talk with students, but parents said theyre still worried about the effect the shooting would have on their children. They cant just tell us your kids are fine, said Elizabeth Barajas, who was in Smiths classroom. Obviously my kid is not fine. She witnessed what happened to her teacher and the other students, and all they said is your kids are safe, your kids are fine. The courts might have something to say about Trumps plan to pull federal funding from sanctuary cities. Photo: Irfan Khan/LA Times via Getty Images Two days before issuing his first, ill-fated travel ban, which triggered chaos at airports around the world, President Donald Trump issued a related executive order which has caused a less visible form of bedlam at city halls and county seats throughout the country. With Executive Order 13768, issued on January 25, Trump purported to empower the attorney general and secretary of Homeland Security to cut off and claw back federal funds that go to so-called sanctuary cities. We are going to strip federal grant money to the sanctuary states and cities that harbor illegal immigrants, Press Secretary Sean Spicer vowed, explaining the purpose of the diktat. The order furthered a key Trump campaign promise: We will end the sanctuary cities that have resulted in so many needless deaths, Trump said last August. Cities that refuse to cooperate with federal [immigration] authorities will not receive taxpayer dollars. On April 14, the city of San Francisco and county of Santa Clara (which includes San Jose, Palo Alto, and much of Silicon Valley) will go to federal court in San Francisco and ask U.S. District Judge William Orrick to block the order. The plaintiffs, which have received support from 34 other municipalities and scores of nonprofit social-welfare agencies (which survive on federal funds passed through municipalities), are two of at least six cities or counties that have sued over the order. According to Washington Post research, there are between 165 and 608 municipalities in the country that might be considered sanctuary jurisdictions, depending on how one defines that term. Characteristically, the executive order does not bother to offer its own definition except by implication, heightening confusion among municipal officials. The lawsuits bear some obvious similarities to the travel-ban litigations we have already seen, yet they also have marked differences. The key parallel is that the order being challenged appears to have been drafted in haste and with astonishingly little input from experts. The difference is that its constitutional flaws appear to be multilayered, fundamental, and unsalvageable. The second travel ban after substantial revision by competent lawyers is now defensible as written, and becomes vulnerable only if one considers its overtly anti-Muslim provenance. It may well pass muster before our majority-conservative Supreme Court, now that Judge Neil Gorsuch is officially seated. The same cannot be said of the sanctuary-cities order, which appears to offend the principles of separation of powers, due process, and interpretations of both the Tenth Amendment (establishing that the federal government only has powers specifically delegated to it by the Constitution) and limits on Congresss spending power that have been mainly championed by conservative justices including President Trumps own claimed judicial hero, Antonin Scalia. Even if the executive order were an act of Congress, or authorized by one, it would be unconstitutional, write Santa Claras lawyers, from the law firm of Keker, Van Nest & Peters, in the countys complaint. But, of course, it is neither. So far, in fact, the Justice Department has not disputed the Keker lawyers crushing legal critique of the executive order. Instead, it has adopted a version of the now-familiar refrain with which the presidents lawyers and handlers defend so many of his statements: We mustnt take him so literally. The orders defunding provision does not change existing law, the Justice Department lawyers argued in papers filed last month a stunning claim that makes one wonder what was the point of the section, or of the fanfare surrounding it. They suggest that the order need not be applied as broadly as its literal language might permit. Since the secretary of Homeland Security has not yet designated any city a sanctuary jurisdiction the event that, according to the orders terms, triggers the attorney generals obligation to take appropriate enforcement action they argue that the lawsuits are premature (or, not ripe, in lawyers terms), and that the plaintiffs lack standing to sue (i.e., havent been harmed yet) and do not face irreparable harm (a necessary condition before they can win a court injunction blocking the order). If the Justice Department is correct, then, might the defunding threat really have just been an empty, symbolic propaganda gesture? Its a propaganda gesture that could have severe consequences, says Andre Segura, a senior staff attorney with the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project. Its already throwing budget officials into a panic, he says, as they try to plan without knowing whether federal funds will be forthcoming or, if appropriated, will later be clawed back. For Santa Clara, federal funds compose about 15 percent of its budget about $1 billion out of $6 billion including 70 percent of the funding for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, which provides hospital care to indigent and underserved populations. In truth, the highly emotional sanctuary city debate arises from a thorny set of genuine challenges that vexed Democratic administrations before they vexed Trumps. The issues revolve around this question: How much cooperation must there be between officials of the agency now known as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and state and local police agencies? It would be unconstitutional under the Tenth Amendment for Congress to simply commandeer local officials and resources, which are funded by local taxes, into helping ICE carry out its federal regulatory mandate. Also, many localities following approaches recommended by such law-enforcement groups as the Major Cities Chiefs Association would rather avoid, to the extent possible, getting roped into enforcing immigration laws. They want the trust of immigrant communities, so that undocumented aliens will feel free to report crime, seek health care, and act in other ways that benefit the safety of the whole community. Walking a tightrope, many local police forces have adopted, in essence, dont-ask-dont-tell policies regarding residents immigration status. They dont collect that information, at least until someone is arrested. Against this fraught backdrop, the executive order slices through multiple Gordian knots with bold and decisive action. But it does so with total obliviousness to the federal Constitution. Its defunding provisions begin by giving the secretary of Homeland Security seemingly unreviewable authority to declare municipalities to be sanctuary jurisdictions, and to do so without clearly defining what such a jurisdiction is. (The vagueness of this definition, and the absence of an opportunity to contest the designation, both appear to violate due process.) It then requires the attorney general to ensure that the black-listed jurisdictions are not eligible to receive federal grants, with narrow exceptions. There is no requirement that the federal grants must have anything to do with immigration and, on the contrary, a neighboring paragraph requires the director of the Office of Management and Budget to identify for the attorney general all federal grant money being received by a sanctuary jurisdiction. These provisions appear to do things that not even Congress could accomplish, let alone a president acting unilaterally through an executive order. Broad-based federal defunding of a sanctuary jurisdiction runs contrary to a long line of Supreme Court precedents relating to Congresss spending powers. As Santa Claras lawyers explain, in a passage whose accuracy as a statement of law has not been contested by the Justice Department: Once it provides money to a state, county, or city and the money is accepted, Congress is barred from imposing new conditions. Nor may Congress impose conditions on federal money that are unrelated to the federal interest furthered by the appropriated funds. And Congress cannot impose a condition that is so coercive that it amounts to a gun to the head, leaving the state or local government with no real choice but to buckle to a federal demand. The Executive Order attempts to do all these things. Finally, the whole design and thrust of the executive order appears calculated to scare and coerce cities and counties into enlisting as ICEs deputies in Trumps multifront war on immigrants. Such coercion looks like unconstitutional commandeering, and runs afoul of Justice Scalias admonition, in a 20-year-old precedent, that federal government may not impress into its service at no cost to itself the police officers of the 50 states. All told, prospects look bleak for this executive order. Unless the Justice Department succeeds in reinterpreting it out of existence, its hard to see how judges including the conservatives will let it stand. They tend to take things literally. Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images The fallout continues for United Airlines after a video surfaced that shows a passenger being pulled from his seat and dragged from the plane after the airline apparently overbooked flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky. Other disturbing videos posted on social media picture the distraught passenger who has now been identified as Kentucky doctor David Dao with a bloodied face and glasses askew, muttering over and over, Just kill me. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz issued a statement that called the incident upsetting and apologized for having to reaccommodate customers, but did not explicitly address the forcible removal of a 69-year-old man, who was heard saying that he was a doctor who needed to get back to Louisville to see patients. United CEO response to United Express Flight 3411. pic.twitter.com/rF5gNIvVd0 United Airlines (@united) April 10, 2017 But Munoz took a different tone in an email to employees obtained by CNBC. He described the passenger as disruptive and belligerent, writing that every time crew members had approached the man about getting off the flight, he had raised his voice and refused to comply. Munoz explained: Crew members were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight, Munoz wrote, and at one point the passenger continued to resist running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both our crew and security officials. Munoz said that employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. A petition is circulating calling for Munozs ouster. Social media has also duly noted that the United Airlines CEO was recently named Communicator of the Year by PR Week. Not a joke. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz named PRWeek U.S. Communicator of the Year https://t.co/hUdSNffOs2 pic.twitter.com/VPtVtl4AgT Azeem Azhar (@azeem) April 11, 2017 Chicago police confirmed that the man was irate after being asked to give up his seat. (United Airlines reportedly needed to give the seats to its own crew members; they had promised perks, including a flight voucher.) Police said that as they tried to remove the man, he fell so they carried him, which is how he hit his head on his armrest and bloodied his face. However, at least one Chicago aviation security officer has been put on leave pending review of the incident, reports the Guardian, and the United States Department of Transportation is also investigating it. US Dept of Transportation looking into the United incident as well pic.twitter.com/fXujb8HpB5 Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) April 10, 2017 The video has also blown up on Chinese social media. Dao was reportedly overhead saying that he was being profiled because he was Chinese, and millions have viewed the plane video on Weibo, making it the top trending topic on one of Chinas big social-media sites. The video dominated headlines across Chinese media, including the Communist Partys outlet, which is calling the incident racist and leveraging it as anti-American propaganda. Point to note in real time: 85,000-emplye US co suffering *profound* damage in most important intl market right now, and no sign of response https://t.co/zlT4SxW35F James Fallows (@JamesFallows) April 11, 2017 According to CNN, many Chinese viewers were calling for a boycott of United Airlines, which does significant business in China. Meanwhile, United Airlines shares fell sharply on Tuesday as the video spread internationally. United shares now down more than 4%, the worst performer today on the S&P 500 index https://t.co/2Q2Db8hCgc pic.twitter.com/8YGx3Iv2pY CNBC (@CNBC) April 11, 2017 After United Airlines lost nearly $600 million in value Tuesday, Munoz sent out an apology do-over. In a statement, the CEO said the carrier takes full responsibility for the incident, and that it apologizes to the passenger removed and all the people onboard the flight. No one should ever be mistreated this way, he said, adding that the company will conduct a full review and issue the results by the end of the month. United CEO Oscar Munoz: Im sorry. We will fix this. https://t.co/v8EPGsiDCi pic.twitter.com/eOPiYcagvo United Airlines (@united) April 11, 2017 This PR crisis piles on top of United Airlines earlier flub last month, when the carrier blocked two girls from boarding because they were wearing leggings, which violated the companys dress code for United employees and their dependents. This post has been updated. So far, hes offered more insight on his wiretapping theories than his plan for Syria. Photo: Pool/Getty Images There is a phrase that the Trump team is fond of deploying when they dont care to explain their bosss most outrageous, befuddling remarks. I think Mr. Trump speaks for Mr. Trump. He makes every major decision in this campaign, then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said back in June. He speaks the way he does in very plain words, in very plain English, and he gets his message across. Even after Trump took office, people literally paid to speak for the president have claimed that hes the only one who can truly articulate where he stands. Jason Miller, Sean Spicer, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders have said Trumps tweets speak for themselves on more than half a dozen occasions. Im going to let the president speak for himself, Kellyanne Conway told CNN, when asked recently if a president should call his predecessor bad or sick. Hes perfectly capable of that. However, as the New York Times notes, President Trump does not seem fully capable of explaining how last weeks attack on the Assad regime fits into his larger strategy for Syria. In a brief statement after the strike, Trump alluded to how hed square the move with his administrations America first policy, saying, It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons. Since then hes only issued two tweets on the matter, one thanking the troops, and the other explaining why the air bases runway wasnt destroyed. Over the weekend, various White House officials including U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson all suggested that the Trump administration is now in support of regime change in Syria, but they contradicted each other on the details. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer muddled things even further, contradicting himself and initially leaving reporters with the impression that the U.S. might launch an all-out war against Syria. When asked to explain the Trump doctrine on foreign intervention at Mondays press briefing, Spicer said it was noninterventionist: The Trump Doctrine is something that he articulated throughout the campaign, which is that Americas first. Were going to make sure that our national interests are protected, that we do what we can to make sure that our interests both economically and national security are at the forefront. Were not just going to become the worlds policeman running around the world, but that we have to have a clear and defined national interest wherever we act, and that its our national security, first and foremost, that has to deal with how we act. When a reporter asked how that justifies striking Assad for using chemical weapons on his own people, Spicer said: I think if you recognize the threat that our country and our people face if there is a growth of use or spread of weapons of mass destruction the proliferation of those, the spread to other groups is clear danger to our country and to our people. As the Washington Posts Aaron Blake notes, That is, almost word for word, a justification that could be applied to the Iraq War that Trump has so roundly criticized. Thats only a definition of when Trump might use military force against another nation, but later in the briefing Spicer appeared to suggest that the U.S. would indeed dramatically step up its attacks on Syria. If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you will see a response from this president. Spicer mentioned barrel bomb attacks a second time, saying they could trigger further action. These comments sparked much confusion because Assads forces use barrel bombs usually oil drums filled with explosives and sometimes metal dropped from helicopters very frequently. The Syrian Network for Human Rights estimates that Assads forces dropped 13,000 barrel bombs in 2016, or about 36 per day. Later on Monday, the White House walked this back, claiming Spicer was only referring to barrel bombs that contained chemical weapons. Nothing has changed in our posture, the White House said in a statement. The president retains the option to act in Syria against the Assad regime whenever it is in the national interest, as was determined following that governments use of chemical weapons against its own citizens. Spicer might have been unclear on the definition of barrel bomb, but Tillerson offered a similarly confusing remark about the Trump administrations foreign-policy vision during a visit to SantAnna di Stazzema, an Italian village where Nazis killed more than 500 civilians. We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world, Tillerson said on Monday. White House officials might be right about letting Trump speak for himself, as he may have offered the best description of the Trump doctrine a day before the strike on Syria. I dont have to have one specific way, and if the world changes, I go the same way, I dont change, he said. Well, I do change and I am flexible, and Im proud of that flexibility. Photo: Lambert/Getty Images Last week, New York City passed a measure to ban employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. The citys public advocate, Letitia James, proposed the measure as a response to wage inequality, and says the wage gap costs women $5.8 billion a year in New York City alone. In an opinion piece for the New York Daily News, James explained that linking future salaries to past salaries makes it difficult to increase earning potential. Being underpaid once shouldnt condemn you to a lifetime of inequality, James wrote. The old ways of attacking the problem arent working. Weve got to pursue new approaches like attacking wage disparities at their subtle but pernicious roots. The ban was already implemented in New York for public-sector jobs, but it will now apply to jobs in the private sector, too. Its a trend thats expanding, as similar bans have passed in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Massachusetts. And thats a big deal for job applicants, the research suggests, because laws like these help counter a common cognitive bias, one that may cost potential employees many thousands of dollars. Its a strategic way for employers to anchor past figures to current salaries, said Malia Mason, a professor at Columbia Business School. Your current salary shouldnt be about what you made before you had your MBA, or in this totally different job where you were underpaid. Salary history is not the relevant reference point. The reference should be what the market pays. People rely too much on the first piece of information. When potential employers use your salary history as a reference point, it can work against you due to a cognitive bias called anchoring. With anchoring, people rely too heavily on one piece of information to come to a conclusion or a decision. For example, one of the first studies on anchoring, published in 1974, asked subjects to estimate how many African countries were members of the United Nations. Before answering, subjects spun a wheel with numbers on it. Behind the scenes, the studys researchers controlled where the wheel landed so that it would either hit the number ten or the number 65. When the wheel landed on ten, people estimated that 25 percent of African nations were U.N. members. When it landed on 65, the estimate increased to 45 percent. Without realizing it, the subjects latched onto the arbitrary number before making their guesses. This is the anchoring bias in action, and when a potential employer asks you about salary history, that number similarly serves as an anchor in the negotiation process. If you earned next to nothing in a past job, a low anchor could limit your chance to earn more in the new job. Plus, raises, bonuses, and pay increases are often based on a percentage of an employees salary, too. Theres been another recent trend whereby potential employees are asked to report on salary expectations before even offered a job interview, Mason said. And that totally gives the employer an advantage, too, because employees are nervous about asking for an ambitious figure. Theyre afraid the employer will say its ridiculous. But there are ways to use this bias in your favor. This is for anyone who doesnt live in New York City, or those few other places where employers are prohibited from asking about your salary history: Research suggests that the bias is just as effective on the high end as it is on the low end. A 2008 study from the University of Idaho, for example, found that presenting a ridiculously high anchor, even as a joke, resulted in better compensation for new employees. In mock interviews conducted in the study, subjects who simply joked about an unrealistically high salary expectation like $100,000, when their last salary was under $30,000 were offered more money on average, even though potential employers knew they werent serious. Subjects who mentioned the higher anchor were offered an average of salary of $35,385, compared to $32,463 for subjects in the control group. Its kind of a concern, because theres a power dynamic there and the applicant usually doesnt have as much power, said Todd J. Thorsteinson, the University of Idaho professor and researcher who led the study. Joking allows you to throw the number out there. In the study, Thorsteinson said, subjects told interviewers something like, Id love a salary of $100,000, but Im really just looking for something fair. Its a tricky method to actually implement, though, because while the question of salary is sort of the elephant in the room, addressing it too soon or joking about it in the wrong way can give your potential employer the wrong impression. If you cant pull it off as charismatic and instead come across as awkward, you might not have an offer on your hands at all. You dont want to start off by antagonizing and requesting more than employer can afford, because thats very difficult to approach, Thorsteinson said. [People] have these hidden politeness concerns. Malia Mason, Columbia Business School professor And its certainly possible to suggest a number thats too over-the-top. Mason says you can ask for an ambitious amount, but you should be able to back it up with relevant information, like your experience, skill level, or the going rate for the job. And you should never lie, period, she added. In areas where asking about salary history is still allowed, your potential employer could look up your information to verify your past salary. If you lie, theres a good chance theyll rescind the offer. You can also make anchoring work for you by using a range. Conventional wisdom has always been that the other party will anchor onto the lower end of the threshold; if you suggest a range between $30,000 and $45,000, for example, its assumed that the employer will ignore the $45,000 and use the $30,000 as a reference point, then adjust the offer from there. But it turns out thats not right, Mason said. The person doesnt just disregard the other end. Their understanding is shaped by both ends of the range, not just the end thats appealing. Mason and her colleague, Daniel Ames, co-authored a study on tandem anchoring: Instead of offering a single point of reference for salary, Mason and Ames looked at the effect of using a range in negotiations. They found that both the lower and higher points of the range shaped offers. For example, if an applicant offers a range of $30,000 to $45,000, the employer is more likely to stay above $30,000 than if the applicant were to just use $30,000 as a single point of reference. When you use a range, people feel a little bad, Mason said. They have these hidden politeness concerns. They think that responding on the low end is jerkier. While the salary-history ban in New York aims to level the playing field for women employees who may have lower anchors due to wage inequality, it may be a beneficial move for all workers. Instead of throwing out an anchor that might not indicate your professional value, you can use anchoring in your favor to optimize your earning potential based on more relevant variables, such as your experience, skills, and even other offers. In fact, Mason says an alternative offer is a must. When theres another offer on the table, it serves as a valuable anchor, because its realistic and relevant: the numbers are right there. If youre looking for a job, you should not be talking to one person, ever, Mason said. Always talk to two people, because having a strong alternative to the person youre talking to is a complete game changer. Reign Aston Disick. Photo: Courtesy of E! Entertainment This week on the most illustrious soap opera of our time, the A plot was Kims return to public life and Kanyes stress level; the B plot was Kourtney and Scotts relationship; and the C plot was Khloe and Caitlyn Jenners relationship. Dont act like you dont know its time to get to it all, #LEGGO. Scene 1/Cold Open: Blessed be the powers that started this weeks episode with the Kardashian familys most underrated player: Reign Aston Disick. While with mother Kourtney at aunt Khloes home, Reign gets an impromptu hairstyle change. According to Khloe he looks like a G-I-R-L with one single braid in his hair. Not having any of that confusion on her watch, Kourtney jumps up to immediately replace the girly braid with a high ponytail. As Kourtney works on his hair, Reign freezes in the cutest and most uncomfortable position possible. This scene was filmed on December 5, 2016. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 2: As she slowly adjusts to making public appearances, Kim attends Kanye Wests concert at the Forum in Los Angeles. Kim feels like she should be at as many shows as possible because that was the original plan before the robbery. Plus, the Forum is owned by close family friends Kim considers an aunt and uncle, the Azoffs. Kris arrives to the venue shortly after Kim and is slightly shocked to see Kim so dressed down. For some reason, she assumed Kim would have the energy to pull together something more than an oversize T-shirt and a speck of makeup. While Kanyes guests mingle, a caterer prepares food for the Kardashian-Jenner family, Kim K. BFF Brittny Gastineau, and Katy Perry. Finding the camera at every turn, Katy tells Kim how happy she is to see her, and reminds Kris that everything in life is a lesson, lesson, lesson! Whether it be a relationship or being physically attacked in a robbery: It. Is. A. LESSON. So Kim will be fine. Thanks, Katy! Once the show starts, Kim heads to the arena with Kourtney; the Most Iconic Personal Assistant in Modern American History, Steph Shep; and former E! employee Brittny Gastineau. Kim tries to enjoy herself, but feels pressure from prying eyes to either look super happy or super sad. While dancing, Kourtney notices fans filming Kim and tells them to stop before theyre exited. Not too long into the concert, Kim heads backstage to watch the show from a couch. Post-show, Kim cuddles up to Kanye while Kourtney talks about the joy of being sweated on by strangers in a mosh pit. This scene was filmed on October 25, 2016, less than one month after the robbery. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 3: At Kendalls 21st birthday dinner, she greets her waiting and very drunk family. Caitlyn Jenner is there, seated next to Kriss mom, MJ. Khloe and Kourtney are also in attendance and quietly arguing over who will sit next to Caitlyn. Khloe doesnt want to sit in awkward silence, so instead of sitting right next to her, Khloe sits right across from Caitlyn. Once everyone is settled, Caitlyn and Khloe realize that neither one of them can remember the last time they hung out. The conversation gets more strained as they try to quickly catch up, with Caitlyn asking about how Khloe likes Cleveland and Khloe asking MJ for more fries. After some silence, Kris announces that shes going to the ladies room, and invites Caitlyn to join. This scene was filmed on November 3, 2016. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 7: The family celebrates another birthday, this time for Kristen Mary Houghton Kardashian Jenner. To have a chill Saturday afternoon, the family rented out a movie theater for a private screening and followed it up with a private lunch. Because shes still not going out in public, Kim calls Kris to wish her a happy birthday. Kris is sad that Kim still feels uncomfortable in public and therefore unable to attend, but cant wait to accept whatever gift she has for her once she gets home. Another one of Kriss absent children, Rob, calls too. For his gift, he jokes that Chynas water broke. Hysterical! Kris thinks that Rob might be serious, but Khloe calls bullshit since he didnt say bible to confirm that he was telling the truth. This scene was filmed on November 5, 2016. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 8: At Kims house, Kourtney watches Kim go through old family photos. Kim finds a photo from Khloes softball days back in 1995, and questions whether she was actually the cutest girl on the team, which the blurb on the back of the photo states. Looking at all of these old memories gets Kim to think about doing a tribute video for her dad at the upcoming Angel Ball benefiting the Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. Hell be honored at the New York City event, which could potentially be Kims first public appearance since the robbery. Whats holding Kim back is Kanye, who has added over 20 new concert dates to his tour. She tells Kourtney that he lost his voice the night before during a show, and she doesnt want to tell him to take a step back from the tour because he knows his limits she doesnt want to be overbearing. Sadly, Kim nor Kourtney address the mannequin heads behind Kim, and most specifically the mannequin head she used to practice braiding on so she could better do Norths hair. This head hasnt been seen since July 2016, and looks like its been touched since. This scene was filmed on February 10, 2017 almost three months after the Angel Ball. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 9: At Kims house, her son Saint West is accosted by his cousin Penelope Disick for not being able to speak. Kim tries to temper the situation and tells Penelope that Saint does know the words go and dada. Following the incident, Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe stow away to watch old home videos of their father. Theyve decided to definitely make a tribute video for the Angel Ball, and want to sift through all of the footage. Nothing can express the sweetness of watching the sisters enjoy seeing their father onscreen. While watching the videos, Kim decides to go to the ball. She doesnt want to miss out on honoring her father, but still genuinely wonders if shes ready to face the public. This adorable scene was filmed on November 17, 2016. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 10: Calabasas power couple Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick rush to the hospital to meet Robs new child, Dream Kardashian. The two want to make a quick appearance, before theyre scheduled to jet off to Mexico with their children. Once at the hospital, were forced to sit through recycled Rob & Chyna footage showing the family meeting Dream. Not wanting to rock the boat, Khloe, whos also at the hospital, doesnt want to ask too many questions about Kourtney and Scotts platonic vacation. This scene was filmed on November 10, 2016. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 11: At Khloes house, she shows Kim her unfinished guest cottage. Khloes anxious to have her sister see the space since it doesnt have blinds. Kim tells Khloe to relax because shes not judgmental anymore. Now that shes feeling more comfortable in her home, Khloe sits Kim down to discuss all things Kourtney and Scott. Khloe is shocked to learn that Kim helped Scott plan the trip to Mexico. Kim helped because she doesnt question their situation and is pro-them. Khloe agrees, but wants to understand why the two of them wont admit that theyre together. She shows an Instagram Scott posted of Kourtneys perky bottom to back up her argument. Kim and Khloe also conclude that Kourtney is the type to call Scott babe and not baby, while Khloe is more of a baby girl and Kim, a mix. Its shocking that Kim and Khloe can only cite Kourtney and Scotts Mexico trip as proof that theyre back together, when this scene was filmed on February 9, 2017 three months after the Mexico trip and over a month after a ski trip they took for the New Year. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 12: After her awkward run-in with Caitlyn at Kendalls birthday party, Khloe invites her former stepfather over for a glass of wine and frank conversation. Caitlyn gets right to business, telling Khloe that shes all but forgotten about her, leaving her alone in Malibu wondering what she did. She does say that she understands Khloe was going through a lot, hinting at the Lamar drama, but insists its easy to shoot someone a text or a quick call no matter the circumstances, especially to someone who practically raised her. Khloe defends herself, claiming that she didnt want to insert herself into the Caitlyn drama, because she had a lot going on and felt upset over how Caitlyn handled her transition, but doesnt think that her transitioning was wrong or bad. Khloe tells Caitlyn that her personality changed when she transitioned, so she doesnt consider her to be the same person as Bruce. Caitlyn accepts her explanation, but disagrees that shes changed. After talking in circles, the ladies agree to put the past in the past and to try to move forward, with Khloe telling Caitlyn that she needs time to transition into accepting her. Caitlyn says she understands. Then Caitlyn shades her former stepdaughter when Khloes dog, Gabbana, cuddles up to Caitlyn, prompting Caitlyn to say that the dog knows more than Khloe, since she recognizes that internally Caitlyn is the same as she was before. This tense scene was filmed on November 14, 2016. Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 16: At Khloes house, Khloe and Kourtney teach Penelope the art of eating an oversize salad on national television. While the child drowns in lettuce, Khloe and Kourtney talk about Kourtneys relationship with Scott. Kourtney doesnt see anything wrong with how she and Scott behave with one another, because its just co-parenting. Khloe thinks that Kourtney should tell Scott that because he may think its something more, especially after the omnipresent Mexico trip. Frustrating Khloe, Kourtney doesnt really seem to care about how Scott might perceive the relationship, and even admits to maybe wanting another kid in the future. They both agree that to move forward Scott needs to be more consistent in his behavior toward Kourtney. This scene was filmed on January 6, 2016. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 17: Kims decided to go to the Angel Ball in New York with her family, but just after touching down in the city, shes already on the phone with her publicist, whos giving her a Kanye update. The night before Kanye walked offstage, after ranting about Trump and the Carters. This rant resulted in Kanye canceling the rest of his tour, which Kim thinks is a good idea. She tells her mom, sister, and professional Kris Jenner lackey Corey Gamble that Kanye needs the time off. Kim doesnt seem to be too interested in talking about Kanye, so Kris asks which one of the girls will speak at the event that night. Kourtney says that none of them will theyve nominated Kris. Kris chuckles and jokes that he wasnt her daddy, just her baby daddy. This scene was filmed on November 21, 2016, the morning of the Angel Ball. Photo: E! Photo: E! Scene 18: Once at the hotel, Kim and Kourtney dive into breakfast and read a welcome note that Scott sent for the mother of his children. Kim ask Kourtney if she thinks Scott will ever be normal, to which Kourtney responds, I hope. Before she can eat, Kim gets a phone call from a friend of Kanyes. What he says is not heard, but Kim breaks down in tears right away. Curiously calm, Kris and Kourtney look on. Nothing else is known about the call, except for the fact that its about Kanye. Keeping us on our little toes, To Be Continued flashes on the screen. Sigh. Like Scene 17 this scene was filmed on November 21, 2016. Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Photo: E! Thats all, dolls! Check back to see what happens next week on yet another #KUWTKE recap of Keeping Up With a Platonic Trip to Mexico. #IllHaveYouExited Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro. Photo: Mark Schafer/HBO On last nights penultimate episode of Girls, trapped in a cramped bathroom with the three toxic narcissists she used to call friends, a newly engaged Shoshanna Shapiro lays it all out. I have come to realize how exhausting and narcissistic and ultimately boring this whole dynamic is, and I finally feel brave enough to create some distance for myself, she declares. Explaining that she has new friends now (pretty girls with jobs and purses and nice personalities), Shosh announces that she is done trying to hold on to whatever this is: I think we should all just agree to call it, she says, as the camera pans over her friends stunned faces. For a show that has always reveled in ambiguity, this is a pretty clear closing statement. Girls, it turns out, was a show not about a lasting friendship but a disintegrating one, and Shosh is its icy, truth-telling hero. For years, critics have questioned whether Girls central foursome actually made sense as friends. There have only been 12 scenes featuring all four main characters, and these group interactions tend to exacerbate the feeling that, as Margaret Lyons once put it, theres no way these people would still be hanging out together. This dissonance has been particularly pronounced when it comes to Shosh, whose weird, over-the-top comic mannerisms have often made it feel like she was beamed in from another show, if not from another planet (last season, the show sent her to Japan; this season, she got less screen time than Desi). Yet as we learned last night, the womens distance from one another, and Shoshs peripherality, are no accident (and Dunham and her co-writers are much more savvy and self-aware than people tend to give them credit for). Where has Shosh been all season? Shes been falling in love with a guy named Byron that she met at a Sprinkles vending machine, and shes doing just great, no thanks to Hannah Horvath and her Teen Mom overalls. Girls has always been a show about the complex, messy process of growing up and finding oneself, a road riddled with backtracks and false starts (like last season, when Shoshanna seems to return from Japan a more mature woman and then regresses spectacularly, blowing up her relationship over an omakase lunch). But as the finale approaches, its looking like the show will allow some of its characters a degree of self-actualization and that at least for Hannah and Shosh, the characters who have evolved the most, finding oneself is as much about letting go as it is about building something new. If this episode is Hannahs version of the Why Im Leaving New York essay, its Shoshs take on Why Im Leaving the Friend Group. Forced to step out of her own engagement party to legislate a friendship crisis between three people she barely sees, Shoshanna finally says all the things that viewers have said all along that her friends are selfish and immature and toxic and that she needs to leave them behind in order to become the person she wants to be. She learned from her mistakes, Allison Williams told Vulture of Shoshannas evolution. She watched all of us flail against the world and was the only character that was capable of learning from the mistakes that people made around her. Shes the least narcissistic. As Kathryn VanArendonk points out, the scene is in many ways a callback to the group scene from season threes Beach House episode, where we saw Shoshanna (albeit a much drunker, angrier Shoshanna) beginning to realize how unhealthy her relationships were even if she wasnt yet ready to take her own advice and cut the cord for good. You treat me like a fucking cab driver, she told the girls back then. Seriously, you have entire conversations in front of me like Im invisible, and sometimes I wonder if my social anxiety is holding me back from meeting the people who would actually be right for me instead of a bunch of fucking whiny nothings as friends. (Some pretty girls with jobs and nice purses, perhaps?) When Hannah responds by deriding Shosh as unstimulating, Shosh claps back: Unstimulating? What, are we in a fucking Jane Austen novel? What, do I want to be like you, like mentally ill and miserable? Its a prescient sentiment. Hannah always saw her life as fodder for some thrilling personal-essay collection, a tortured artist who prioritized being interesting and miserable over being boring and happy, and who falsely viewed the two as mutually exclusive. In choosing to leave the city and take the teaching job upstate (a life choice Elijah derides as something your family makes you do when youre too deep into crack to stop them), and by breaking their contract to suffer and be miserable in this godforsaken rathole together, Hannah is finally, belatedly taking Shoshs advice: to give up on what she thought her life would look like and listen to what she really wants. Last season on Girls, during Shoshannas time in Japan, I wrote that it had finally become okay to be a Shoshanna to identify with a character who had previously felt more like an amalgamation of quirky mannerisms than a fully fleshed-out individual. In Japan, Shosh finally started to feel like a coherent person with clear wants and desires, and last night happy, confident, excited to become Mrs. Byron Long she couldnt have been further from the awkward hanger-on we met in season one. As she coolly made her case for breaking up with her crappy friends this time without the drama and tears of that Beach House confrontation, but with the clear-eyed confidence of someone who knows whats good for her Shosh proved that she has definitely outgrown the show that spawned her. If Girls is a show about how we find our way in the world, Shoshs arc suggests that sometimes, if youre not part of the story you want, the best thing you can do is write yourself out. Of her three young boys, Lori Perrys eldest son, Frankie, was by far the most rambunctious. He seemed to get into everything even coating baby gates in Vaseline wasnt enough to prevent him from climbing over them. Once, Lori woke up in the middle of the night to find Frankie covered in Ovaltine. He had climbed out of his crib, made his way down to the kitchen and onto a high granite countertop, and reached into the cabinet to peel open the tight plastic lid of a Costco-size can of powder. Lori had heard water running and tiptoed downstairs, fearing a burglar. Instead, she found Frankie in the bathroom, trying to wash off his chocolate-covered cheeks. At 3, Frankies escapades became less adorable. He began throwing intense tantrums, often taking his anger out on his younger brother Michael. Sometimes, when Michael whined, Frankie would sit on him to make him stop. More worrying, Frankie hadnt started talking Lori didnt know whether he understood when she reprimanded him. In 2004, with a new infant at home and Frankie wandering the house after bedtime and butting heads with his brother, Lori felt overwhelmed. She started taking Frankie to specialists first to a speech therapist, who eventually helped him say a few words. It was very limited, like fire truck, Lori says. Later, she took him to a pediatric neurologist, Peter Heydemann, who confirmed Loris concern that her son used no expressive language and diagnosed him with mild to moderate global developmental delay, most prominent in language delays. Heydemann ordered further testing, including a hearing exam, but he also tried to reassure the worried mom. In the end, he said we would have to wait, she remembers. He said sometimes boys develop later. For Lori, though, Frankies speech delay had become a safety issue, especially since he was so impulsive. He would run out in front of a car, she says. He would take off if you lost your grip, right out into the street If I would tell him no, I didnt know if he understood. Frankie just didnt respond sometimes when you spoke to him. She was worried he wouldnt be able to sit through school. He had difficulty sleeping and wasnt fully potty-trained. Try potty-training a nonverbal 3-year-old, she says. The family lived in Chicago, and so she called Childrens Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park and met with a child psychologist there, who recommended the hospitals Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), which is designed to treat patients who need more intensive observation than would be possible in an outpatient setting. It was a ten-day program, during which psychologists and other experts would observe Frankie for several hours each day. Under the supervision of the programs director, a psychiatrist named Karen Pierce, pediatric developmental therapists played with Frankie, testing his speech and fine motor skills as he played with puzzles and toys. They even tried to provoke the kinds of tantrums Lori had described, cutting his playtime short or taking his toys away. To everyones surprise, Frankie was unfazed even when, at a therapists suggestion, his brother Michael was brought into the room to better simulate his home environment. I think it was just that he was in a new place, so he was calmer, says Lori, who stayed with Frankie the entire time. As soon as he was back in the car he was the same, pulling his brothers hair in the backseat. Lori hoped that the ten-day program would be the final stop in a tiresome procession of appointments and referrals, that she would leave with a course of treatment that would finally work, for proper therapy, as she says. Instead, she left with a prescription for a powerful anti-psychotic that would change the course of her and Frankies lives forever. Frankie was given a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and, for his speech delay, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends behavioral therapy or stimulants such as Ritalin and Concerta as first-line treatments for ADHD, but Pierce was concerned about Loris reports of Frankies aggression. So instead she prescribed Risperdal, a powerful neuroleptic, or anti-psychotic, used most often to prevent psychotic breaks in schizophrenic adults. Prescribing anti-psychotics to children is not uncommon. A 2015 Journal of the American Medical Association study found that in 2010, 418,000 kids under 12 were prescribed an anti-psychotic annually, which is not to say that that many children have psychotic disorders. According to a 2011 Pediatrics study of foster-care children given anti-psychotics, only a quarter were diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. More than half of them were diagnosed with ADHD. An increasing number of children receiving these drugs are toddlers. In 2014, nearly 20,000 prescriptions for atypical anti-psychotic drugs like Risperdal, Abilify, Zyprexa, and Seroquel were written for children 2 years old and younger, up from 13,000 the previous year, according to IMS Health, a company that tracks prescription data. The FDA has never approved any atypical anti-psychotic medication for children under 5, but once a medication is on the market, theres no rule preventing doctors from prescribing them off-label. And in fact, off-label use is often how the FDA and drug companies discover new and potentially life-saving applications for a drug. As one FDA director who helps oversee the approval of new psychiatric drugs told me, the FDA label reflects only the uses for the drug that have been clinically verified. In other words, it wouldnt be the FDAs role to say because a drug works in 10-to-17-year-olds, that it doesnt work in 9-year-olds, but I can tell you its not on-label for you to use this drug in a 9-year-old because I didnt have data in 9-year-old kids. With anti-psychotic drugs, though, off-label use seems to have occurred at a particularly alarming rate. Those for whom the drugs were initially intended adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder make up, respectively, just 1 and 1.5 percent of the U.S. population, so drug companies have also promoted the use of anti-psychotics to treat sleeplessness, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression. A 2015 American Journal of Psychiatry study found that more than one of every five patients who visited a psychiatrist for anxiety in 2007 left with a prescription for an anti-psychotic drug. By that time, half of Johnson & Johnsons Risperdal sales came from off-label prescriptions for children and the elderly. Asked whether the company promotes off-label use of Risperdal, a Johnson & Johnson representative said the company has robust and current information about their products and that its a public-health benefit to respond to unsolicited requests for information about off-label uses. The diagnosis that leads to a Risperdal scrip for children is often early onset bipolar disorder, a disease essentially invented in the 1999 book The Bipolar Child by New York psychiatrist Demitri Papolos and his wife. The book invites parents struggling with difficult kids to consider the idea that their children may be bipolar with the help of a 65-item questionnaire. Alongside a handful of uncommon symptoms that parents are prompted to look for, like makes clear threats of suicide and makes clear threats of violence to others or self, nearly all are symptoms that seem to describe typical toddler and childhood behavior: has difficulty arising in the AM, has difficulty settling at night, craves sweet-tasting foods, is easily distracted during repetitive chores and lessons, is very intuitive and/or creative, and complains of being bored. Perhaps unsurprisingly, more parents began seeing signs of bipolar disorder in their young children. One Texas mom, Sheri Lee Norris, was initially told her 2-year old daughter Heather had ADHD, reported the Dallas Star-Telegram. After reading The Bipolar Child, Norris returned to Heathers psychiatrist with a copy of the book in hand and left with a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Papolos also wrote that parents should breathe a sigh of relief if their clinicians are amenable to prescribing medications outside the parameters set by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) the psychiatric bible. If it seems surprising that a child psychiatrist would be so keen to suggest strong drugs, it shouldnt be. Doctors may truly believe that these drugs are helpful to their young patients, but there is often financial incentive that accompanies such beliefs. In 2000, Papolos started the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, an influential advisory board now called the Balanced Mind Parent Network. Its website featured message boards, chat rooms, and a drug database, and advocated screening school children for emerging bipolar disorders. (The foundation has since scaled back its web presence.) According to the groups own conflict-of-interest disclosures, the team of experts tasked with writing the foundations guidelines for pediatric bipolar disorder guidelines that advocate treatment with medication were paid speakers for nearly every major pharmaceutical company that manufactures an atypical anti-psychotic drug, including Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Eli Lilly. Lori didnt think to question Frankies diagnosis or the powerful drugs Pierce had put him on. The best hospital I had read and heard about was Childrens Memorial, she explains. If you wanted to see the best specialists in any area for a child, you went to Childrens. Lori claims Pierce never once mentioned that Risperdal was an atypical anti-psychotic. In fact, the only explanation Pierce offered in the medical record for her decision to prescribe the powerful drug was the note to help him sleep. They told me it was like a magic pill that was going to slow him down enough to learn, that his speech would get better, he could be in school, he would sit still and eat, Lori recalls. And it did, because after that he ate. And ate. And ate. Other worrisome symptoms began to show up immediately. Frankie was drooling, stumbling, moving like he was in slow motion, Lori says. Almost like a drunk person. She called Sharon Hirsch, the psychiatrist at Childrens then charged with Frankies care, to report her sons worsening condition. When Hirsch learned of Frankies new symptoms, she doubled his dose from .25 milligrams to .5 milligrams of Risperdal per day. A month later, Loris husband, Frank, took the boy to see Hirsch again. I remember telling Dr. Hirsch, he just hes gaining weight quickly. His eating is nonstop, and it was all new that this was happening, he would later testify. Hirsch told him to cut empty calories and doubled the dose again, to 1 milligram daily. In October, after Frankie had been on Risperdal for 11 weeks, Lori called Hirsch again, this time worried about her sons excessive drooling, lack of coordination, and overall clumsiness. Hirsch increased his dose to 1.25 milligrams. By that time, Frankies weight had tripled. In April 2005, after Frankie had been on Risperdal for nine months, Frank Sr. brought his son back to Childrens because Frankie had developed pronounced facial tics, a grimace Lori likens to an upside-down frown. By September 2005, Hirsch noted in Frankies chart that he holds hand at odd angles a clear sign of tardive dyskinesia (TD), an involuntary movement disorder sometimes caused by dopamine antagonists like Risperdal, most often seen in schizophrenic adults who have had prolonged exposure to the drugs. But instead of taking Frankie off Risperdal or scaling back his dosage, Hirsch once again increased the dose, this time to 1.75 milligrams, more than triple the minimum recommended dose for children ages 5 to 17. In November 2005, Hirsch left Childrens, and Poonam Jha took over Frankies care, noting in his chart poor coordination, left-sided weakness, and no progress with physical skills/strength/balance. By this time, the same boy whod had the superhuman ability to scale gates, crib walls, cabinets, and countertops was receiving physical and occupational therapy for low muscle tone and motor coordination, and his tongue continually drooped out of his mouth. Hed also developed breasts. At every visit, Hirsch, and then Jha, reassured Lori that despite the side effects, her son was improving. They would say, Look, hes able to sit still, hes much calmer now, Lori tells me. They said, If we take him off the drug, hell become more aggressive. It wasnt in her nature to distrust doctors, especially at a top Chicago hospital. It confuses you when youre hearing it from a doctor, she says now, close to tears. I second-guessed my own gut feeling. When she suggested the symptoms could have something to do with the medication, Lori says both Hirsch and Jha would remind her of how rowdy and sometimes antagonistic Frankie had been before he started treatment. It was very important to me that my son be able to function in school, she says. Theyd say things like, If you [stop the medication], hes not ever going to be able to go to school. In April 2006, Frankie fell down the stairs, telling his parents that his legs wouldnt work. That was when Lori finally typed Risperdal side effects into a Google search box and was shocked to see that he had these scary symptoms of this horrible, progressive disease that could be permanent. She took Frankie back to Peter Heydemann, the pediatric neurologist who had initially evaluated him. By now, Frankie was 5 years old, taking 3 milligrams of Risperdal a day, 12 times his original dose. Heydemann attributed the constellation of symptoms to Risperdal toxicity. The large breasts, in particular, were a tell-tale sign. At Heydemanns suggestion, Lori weaned down Frankies dose for the next seven days before stopping the medication completely. Lori says that when Karen Pierce and Sharon Hirsch had talked to her about Risperdal, they sounded like they were motivational speakers, convinced that the exciting new medication would help her son. And in a way they were. According to disclosures from a medical-journal article, at the time she was treating Frankie, Hirsch was a paid speaker for the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary that makes Risperdal, as well as Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Shire. Pharmaceutical companies typically spend a quarter of their annual budgets paying these key opinion leaders, influential doctors and researchers, like Hirsch, Pierce (who was a paid speaker for Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ortho-McNeil, Eli Lilly, and Novartis), and other doctors who promote their drugs to fellow physicians and medical students by speaking at conferences and spreading the word about promising off-label uses. Former KOLs say that they were rewarded with free flights, Broadway tickets, and money. (Hirsch, Piece, Jha, and Childrens Memorial Hospital declined to be interviewed for this story.) In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice reached a $2.2 billion settlement the largest ever for a single drug with Johnson & Johnson, which plead guilty to marketing Risperdal for off-label uses and admitted to paying kickbacks to doctors. Former opinion leaders and pharmaceutical reps say that these KOLs have been incredibly effective at marketing the need to diagnose children with mental illness early on. The juvenile bipolar thing began with a few weird people weird in the sense that they just didnt have mainstream ideas at all, explains David Healy, a former KOL for several major pharmaceutical companies. Over a few years, you get industry building up these impressions that lots of people think this way, so that when doctors are faced with kids who are overactive with problem behaviors, they begin thinking, Oh, this could be juvenile bipolar disorder. And, of course, weve got Risperdal, and Zyprexa, and things like that to treat it. As of 2015, Johnson & Johnson has netted nearly $30 billion in profits from Risperdal. Frankie is now 16 years old. He is highly intelligent, a political-science enthusiast who can recount the military histories of Korea and the Balkans and the revolutions of Russia and China with a fluency that surpasses his years. He is an avid reader and writer and maintains a blog about human-rights issues, often trying to engage his mother in discussions about wealth inequality and child-labor laws. He also remains obese, and he moves slowly when he walks. His biggest challenges are his dramatically decreased muscle tone and fine motor coordination. He can barely get out of the bathtub on his own, Lori says. He thinks hes getting his license next year, but he cant even tie his shoes. Frankie says he still experiences tremors in his hands, arms, and legs, which he tells me most notably come out under times of stress, or muscle rigidity, where his muscles feel stiff, weak, and painful. Because using a pencil is so difficult, Frankie has to bring a special keyboard to class for taking notes. Hes been bullied in school, suffered from depression, and faces social challenges, like talking to people, he says. Sometimes Im just socially awkward, which is in part why he retreats so often to books. (Lori recently encouraged him to join the Boy Scouts as a way of connecting more with other teenagers and was delighted when he came home from a weekend at survival camp with merit badges for first aid and fire safety.) By 2011, when Frankie was 10, it was apparent to Lori that he had reached a plateau in his improvement with physical therapy and was unlikely to ever again resemble the boy he was before Risperdal. In July of that year, she filed a lawsuit against Childrens Memorial Hospital and Sharon Hirsch and Poonam Jha, claiming they were medically negligent for administering Risperdal to a child Frankies age without informed consent, and for failing to monitor the child or stop the medication after clear signs of harmful side effects. By the time Frankie started taking the drug, doctors already knew that Risperdal could cause tardive dyskinesia, as well as weight gain, the growth of breasts, severe drooling, and respiratory issues. In 2005, a New England Journal of Medicine study found that newer atypical anti-psychotics, including Risperdal, actually caused more metabolic syndromes, including obesity and high cholesterol, than the older class of drugs like Haldol and Thorazine that they had replaced, and yet they were no more effective. Last July, Johnson & Johnson shelled out $70 million to a Tennessee teenager who grew breasts after taking Risperdal, which he had been prescribed at the age of 5. There are now 1,500 similar suits in the United States. (Hirsch would concede during the trial that she knew common side effects of Risperdal include weight gain, increased breast size, and drooling, but insist that none of these are serious.) It would take more than four more years for Frankies case to finally go to trial. During that time, Frankie would become a teenager, more aware than ever of how hes different from other kids. During a family vacation to Siesta Key in the summer a few years ago, Frankie caught a glimpse of his reflection in a car door and asked his mom if he should leave his shirt on. I asked him, Why, honey? Lori recounts. But he refused to take it off. And lately, he keeps asking about his breasts. He was too little when he was on the drug to remember what it was like, what he was like before. Its just kind of a chapter of my life to just put off to the side, he says soberly. Its not something I want to embrace. During the trial, in February 2016, the jury saw videos of Frankie as a young boy. First, from when he was 2 and 3 years old, before he began taking Risperdal ascending some rocks near a stream with his brothers at a state park, climbing the ladder of a tall metal slide at the playground, petting a giraffe at the zoo and jumping up and down with joy. Then there are several clips taken during the 20 months he was on the drug. One is from the boys first day of school, when Frankie is 4 and Michael is 3. In the car, Frankie sits staring into the camera, his eyes unfocused, glazed over. Drool is dripping from his lip. I wanna see, he says, referring to the image of himself. His speech is slurred, his reaction time visibly delayed. While Michael runs ahead to the school entrance, Frankie moves deliberately, holding his fathers hand. Another shot is taken at the same playground the jury had seen before. After nearly two years on Risperdal, Frankie struggles with the very slide he had easily ascended two years earlier. The next series of videos were taken at the request of Heydemann, Frankies original pediatric neurologist and the one who diagnosed Frankie with Risperdal toxicity, in an attempt to monitor his therapeutic progress in the months after he stopped the medication. Frankie climbs the stairs, one hand on the railing, the other jerking up and down in an elliptical motion that resembles the flapping of a broken wing. Lori asks him questions: What do you like to watch on TV? His lips repeatedly part and come together as he struggles to form words. Power Rangers, he says slowly, his mouth an intermittent rictus. His hands are balled into fists he works to unfold in order to grasp the banister. You know, the sad thing is, says Eileen OConnor, Frankies attorney, after showing me the videos, I look at him at that age and I think, This kid could have been an athlete. As angry as Lori is with Frankies childhood psychiatrists, she blames herself, too. I know he wasnt born like this, she says. I know that something that I put in his mouth caused this. She still struggles to understand why she didnt take him off Risperdal sooner. I didnt see the progression like you do in the videos, she explains. I saw him every day. I knew something was wrong, but I just trusted the doctor. Even now, when he gets mad at me, hell say, Why did you make me take that? she says. He doesnt understand how hard it is to make decisions like that, especially when youre misinformed. On the fifth day of the trial, the lawyers reached a settlement, the terms of which neither party is permitted to discuss. Frankie wants to use the money to advance research toward finding a cure for tardive dyskinesia. My mom wants to do therapy [for me]. I just disagree with that, he tells me. I want to start a foundation to find a cure for the disease. This article was reported in partnership with the Investigative Fund at the Nation Institute. "In other news, New York became the first state in the country to offer FREE tuition to four-year colleges for undergrads (no age limit)!!!!" jfc why the fuck havent i moved up to new york, im drowning in college debt rn Reply Thread Link Lol you will not be able to afford anything else so yes come enjoy free college Reply Parent Thread Link college costs are fucking bullshit Reply Thread Link i have 9k left of students loans! light at the end of the tunnel Reply Thread Link I have 21k :( It's the interest that pisses me off the most about those fucking loans. I would pay a much more huge chuck of money every month, but I have bills and shit to pay for :( Reply Parent Thread Link I started with 32k and really the only thing that's saved me was I'd rather pay bills/rent than go out or buy food or get cable/a car :\ I pay ~800-1k/mo but I still gain like ~300 a month in interest. Fucking recession loans are KILLING my bank account Reply Parent Thread Link I was just reading about a couple who became severely depressed after realizing that because of interest rates, they'd paid $26,000 in interest while trying to pay down a $28,000 student loan. Shit like that should be illegal. Reply Parent Thread Link So did I but then I went back *sad trombone Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That'll be me, in 3-4 decades (hopefully). Someone should've stopped from going to a private school like the 17-year-old idiot that I was. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Bet I've got you all beat; I've still got $160k and I graduated from law school IN 2006!! Congrats on the $9k remaining tho. At least I didn't have undergrad loans. :-) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I technically get my student loans written off if I teach for 2 more years since the old lady who "paid off" my loans is trying to combat the statistics that 50% of teachers quit before they reach their 5th year. Pretty much she pays off 5k a year that I teach. If I quit before that, I pay what's left of the loan. guess what? I resigned! Teaching is sucking my life force.I have 10k left to pay off but I saved some money in the years I have been teaching and I am just gonna find another job. I realized 10k aint worth my mental health. Reply Parent Thread Link Every 17+yr old better move to New York for Uni Reply Thread Link Saaaaame Reply Parent Thread Link Right??? I'm jealous but happy for the younger generation. I wonder if I can go back and get a second degree lol Reply Parent Thread Link YAAAS GURL FUCK YES @ NEW YORK. I HEARD THIS YESTERDAY OR THE OTHER DAY. THAT IS SO EPIC!!!!!! MORE REASONS TO GO THERE OMG Reply Thread Link Excuse my caps. I'm super excited especially for everyone who can get to move there in NYC. That must be so amazing. I would in a heartbeat Reply Parent Thread Link Help me I'm poor Reply Thread Link This chick I know tends to embrace whatever opinions belong to the person she's dating. Unfortunately she's dating a shitbag that has a nazi father. She's now posting semi obnoxious shit on her FB and Instagram, like "the wage gap is a myth because women go into fields that don't pay well." Idk, this post reminded me of how sad it is that she doesn't know how to form her own opinions. She's probably have something asshole to say about this. Reply Thread Link Ugh, a friend of mine briefly went through a period like this where she was dating a lowkey racist and then started saying racist stuff that was obviously influenced by him. Worst of all she was a woc. Reply Parent Thread Link I hate when people say that, especially a couple of my cousins. And then I'm glad I went into nursing because it pays well. I mean, not as much as an MD, but my student loans are less . . . . and I'm probably going to get my NP and have my employer pay for it, so there's that as well. Reply Parent Thread Link To mention men take away the better paying jobs for themselves, so it's not like options exist to run billion dollar revenue corps. Reply Parent Thread Link People think the pay gap is as simple as cash dollars in a paycheck, and it's so much more complex than that. /rant lol Nah sis women are just lazy. They have the complete audacity to want families and careers, which is why they're not promoted almost as much as men. Too big of a risk if they need time off. Also the small fact that both men and women are more likely to hire a male candidate than a female even if they have the exact same qualifications: http://gender.stanford.edu/news/2014/why-does-john-get-stem-job-rather-jennifer People think the pay gap is as simple as cash dollars in a paycheck, and it's so much more complex than that./rant lol Reply Parent Thread Link that's bad enough but the one that really gets me is when someone says "if women were really payed less every company would only hire women!!!" Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I also asked her why she failed to realize WHY all of those professions aren't paid well. Reply Parent Thread Link lmao tell her to look at STEM fields like biomedical research or public health. At any major research institution 70% of the grad students are female but guess what? The professors are 70% male. The chair of departments are mostly male. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I love you, NY. I just took a civil service examination for a state job. I wanted to work for the USGS or the NPS, but the hiring freeze and anti-science stance of this administration has put that plan on hold. I need my adoptive liberal coastal elitist bubble more than ever <3 Reply Thread Link i'm finishing up a degree in landscape architecture in nyc right now and firms in the private and public sector are hiring like crazy to finish everything before the funding dries up. Reply Parent Thread Link That sucks, but doesn't surprise me. Apparently NY's budget this year is supposed to be "flexible" in order to accommodate any funding cuts by Trump. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I have about half my loans paid off. my brother is about to be a jr in high school so he has to start thinking of colleges so I hope CA follows suit soon. my older brother has 100K in debt and they don't need more. Reply Thread Link I'm curious... if you had already completed a degree but wanted to get another one, not grad school, would you be able to get free tuition? Reply Parent Thread Link I know nothing about the free tuition scenario, but with federal loans be careful if second degree is undergrad as well. I went back for a second bachelor degree (at the same school, so perhaps is different if the degrees are at different schools) and the feds tried to cut my access to financial aid my last year of nursing because I had too many credits (i.e. "you have enough credits that you should have graduated, stop wasting time"). I appealed and was given aid for the last year, but after they were cutting me off. *5 years in school for first bachelor *2 years for second bachelor Reply Parent Thread Link No. Its for first time under grads only. Reply Parent Thread Link Weeping as a send my payment to my student loan company. 600 down, 55,000 to go. Reply Thread Link We should start selling our baked goods. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm just gonna drown in debt meanwhile Reply Thread Link If I get into grad school my loan debt is going to more than double. I pray for my future bank account. Reply Thread Link i remember you posting in a ffaf about applying! how is it going? lmao sorry for being creepy like three days later, i havent been on ontd in a bit :) Edited at 2017-04-14 02:11 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link The cost of college is insane. Reply Thread Link DREAMers (immigrants brought to this country when they were kids without them fancy papers) are not eligible for NY's new scholarship. That needs to change. Reply Thread Link The killers are boring. Reply Thread Link do me a favor and exit my post. go listen to your favorite tunes by the Chainsmokers or something. Reply Parent Thread Link Get some taste. Reply Parent Thread Link No No Reply Parent Thread Link But are you human, or are you dancer, bb? Reply Parent Thread Link this song will forever be iconic Reply Parent Thread Link this iconic song and video... Reply Parent Thread Link lbr only correct answer here Reply Parent Thread Link mte. i was convinced Brendon! @ the Disco would release 4 albums by the time this dropped. smh. i want it NAO. Reply Parent Thread Link All of The Killers lead single for every era have been A+. I know many fans didn't enjoy Battle Born but I'm still obsessed with it. I'm really excited for this new album because I'm sick of seeing them play the same setlist for the past 5 years. The Sam's Town Anniversary show remains my favorite. Reply Thread Link That's my least favorite album from them but I think Human is a great first single choice. Reply Parent Thread Link Battle Born was a huge step in the right direction for them after the somewhat disappointing Day & Age. D&A is the only one of their albums not on the same constant repeat as the others for me. Reply Parent Thread Link Battle Born might be my fav tbh. I remember it came out in the fall so now it's my go to Fall album. Reply Parent Thread Link i feel like i kinda skipped over all of Day and Age era cus i didnt care but for some reason its my bf's favorite album by them so now i appreciate it a little bit more. Reply Parent Thread Link i loved battleborn a dustland fairytale and goodnight, travel well save day & age for me but that doesn't mean much because i still love day & age Reply Parent Thread Link i am so excited about this! OP, that would be so hard to pick one! I'm listening to their Romeo and Juliet right now, so for now i'll say that :P I love Brandon's voice, he could sing my grocery list and make it perfect Reply Thread Link BFlow's voice is literally the most perfect sound in this world. He makes everything sound heavenly and beautiful. lol. Reply Parent Thread Link when you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong Reply Thread Link ..Juliet yeaaaah sis!!! altho time is right, they better give the world new music asap Reply Parent Thread Link bless. switching it up a bit but staying true. Reply Parent Thread Link I need new music from them like I need air tbh. Reply Thread Link I love them so much and can't wait for new music. I still can't believe that I get to escape Aussie winter for a few weeks AND get to see these guys at Lolla. One of my all time favourite bands and I think with this trip it will make it time number 9 of seeing them live. SO STOKED!! Reply Thread Link Sam's Town Part 2. I'M READY! Reply Thread Link i would ugly sob Reply Parent Thread Link i can get behind this minus Brandon's stache he rocked during that era. i pray he cuts his hair before the new era begins. i think it's back to being a mess and i cannot. he was looking so good and then... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link YAAASS Reply Parent Thread Link The Killers peaked with their first album. Everything after has been a letdown. Reply Thread Link yo, broken record. go into the depths of a lake and stay there. thanks. Reply Parent Thread Link yaaas Reply Parent Thread Link Tell em! Reply Parent Thread Link I missed your Killers/BFlow posts, OP!!! Thank you for doing the lord's work. SCREAMING.I missed your Killers/BFlow posts, OP!!! Thank you for doing the lord's work. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link how can you say that when Sam's Town exists tho? like? Reply Parent Thread Link The Killers take me way back to high school. So many artists who disappeared for a bit and FINALLY back this year. Can't wait to hear what they'll sound like. Reply Thread Link YEESSS! I'm excited! It so weird seeing him and his family at our church every other Sunday when I have time to go, his wife is a sweetheart and Brandon is too. Reply Thread Link awww yeahhhh every time I think I have a favorite album/song, I listen to the one following it and my tastes shift Reply Thread Link I'm also impatiently waiting for vampire weekend to drop new music Reply Thread Link Yes! This year and next are going to be great. The Killers, Phoenix, Interpol, The Strokes (maybe), and Vampire Weekend! Reply Parent Thread Link The Strokes?? Ahh that's so exciting! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I wonder if she thinks OJ is innocent Reply Thread Link Anthony said she's become fascinated with the case, and there are "a lot of parallels" to her own circumstances. "I can empathize with his situation," she said. Reply Parent Thread Link No. She just knows how hard it is to be victimised just because you happened to commit murder and got away with it. Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link i watched the first part last night (about to watch the second ep!) and omg. like. how did she get away with this shit. Reply Thread Link Florida jury members = low IQ Reply Parent Thread Link As a lifelong Floridian, I can't really argue with that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link They tried to convict her of pre-mediated murder and the evidence just wasn't there. The DA fucked up, IMHO. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I was reading this really good piece where they talked about how her lawyer prepped her to look really young and innocent as well. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link As long as it's because they brought back celebrity boxing, why not? Reply Parent Thread Link I wonder why she killed Caylee? I have never understood that. She seemed to care about the kid and yeah she's crazy and all, but why kill her? Reply Thread Link bc she just wanted be a girl in her 20s and party Reply Parent Thread Link she was on drugs? didn't she google suffocation methods or something? she seemed like the crazy partying type Reply Parent Thread Link narcissistic sociopath who saw the kid as nothing more than an inconvenience Reply Parent Thread Link she just seemed "over" the mom thing. Reply Parent Thread Link Party girl has baby instead of getting an abortion, realizes that babies are work and not accessories, kills baby. I'm sure she did love Caylee -but not more than she loved herself, partying, and being free of responsibility. Reply Parent Thread Link I agree with a lot of your comment but I don't know how you can be sure she loved her daughter if you feel that she was able to kill her and party and appear perfectly happy after the childs death. That is def not love. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I honestly think it was an accident. I think she had been drugging Caylee to get her to sleep so Casey could hang out with her boyfriend, and then one night she overdid it, or got frustrated and just said, "fuck it". Reply Parent Thread Expand Link she didn't want to be a mom. her mom wouldn't even let her give the baby up for adoption when she found out she was pregnant Reply Parent Thread Expand Link https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/32r6bw/casey_anthony_revisited_proof_that_george_is_lying/ honestly, this is a fantastic series write up. It revealed a lot of things I wasn't aware of and it just made me look at the case differently. I'm now firmly in the camp that it was accidental. Reply Parent Thread Link The parallels are they both did it and weren't convicted. I watched Kendall Rae's video and I was shocked by all the details of this case.. like, how didn't they find her guilty? Reply Thread Link Im still not even certain as I stand here today about what happened. UHHH. Does she mean in terms of media opinion, or in the sense that someone else killed her...? Or is she trying to pull an If I Did It? "I don't give a shit what anyone thinks, but hew can never be sure what happened" is a very weird way to say "I'm definitely innocent." UHHH. Does she mean in terms of media opinion, or in the sense that someone else killed her...? Or is she trying to pull an If I Did It? "I don't give a shit what anyone thinks, but hew can never be sure what happened" is a very weird way to say "I'm definitely innocent." Reply Thread Link Maybe she means she can't keep her lies straight, because her defense at her trial was that Caylee drowned in the family pool and covered it up with her dad because her dad molested her as a kid. But idk, I think she just makes shit up as she goes along. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't even get why she would cover it up if the kid drowned in the pool. That honestly happens here in Florida practically every weekend and nothing ever happens to the caretakers. Reply Parent Thread Link yeah that quote is really weird. like how do you not know exactly wtf happened?! Reply Parent Thread Link She claims to this day her mind is "blank" from the days around Caylee's disappearance. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yeah, that's very contradictory considering the last lie she told before was that caylee drowned (before that she said the babysitter took her, right?), and now she can't remember? she and jodi arias can't even keep their shitty lies straight Reply Parent Thread Link 'An American Murder Mystery' is such a shady title. Reply Parent Thread Link She's a compulsive lier and very delusional when it comes to believing the fantasises that she tells, she possibly might not even remember what really happened any more if she told herself different stories enough times. Even when she was under arrest and it was proven that the nanny never existed, for weeks she still kept insisting that Caylee was still alive and the nanny had taken her Reply Parent Thread Link anyone else ever read those posts on the Unresolved Mysteries subreddit, where someone presents evidence that caylee's death was an accident and casey botched any attempts to cover it up? it was all very interesting to read, but i'm still honestly of the opinion that she just killed her daughter to get away from the responsibilities, and just got caught up in the web of lies like that. eerie as it sounds, i know people like casey who do tremendously stupid and dangerous stuff and try to fib their way out of the consequences. it's why i never bought into the whole "caylee died in an accident and casey and her dad just sucked at covering it up" excuse. Reply Thread Link Even if it wasn't her that killed Caylee, she sure as hell knows more than she's ever let on. I read those posts but they didn't sway me really, I think the simplest conclusion is probably right. She wanted to party, the kid got in the way. Reply Parent Thread Link yep, if she didn't actually kill her she definitely knows who did, so either way, she's complicit in her child's death. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah, I really don't think her father had anything to do with it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That theory reaaaaallllly reached to explain Casey's 'innocence.' I just don't buy it. Reply Parent Thread Link It did make me wonder about some of it, apparently Casey really didn't want to go out partying every night like the media portrayed it, and it sounds like the jury got painted a pretty different picture in terms of the kind of mother that Casey was, in comparison to how popular opinion understands the case. Still I felt like it was reaching at times, and definitely a bit too biased towards Casey. It did make me think that the death probably wasn't premeditated, the evidence does fit more with it being an accident, but I don't think that it could have been something as innocent as Caylee drowning in her grandparents swimming pool. There had to be more to it if Casey was willing to go to the extremes that she did with hiding the body Reply Parent Thread Link i think it was an accident and casey covered it up. i'm guessing she was being extremely negligent when it happened. Reply Parent Thread Link lmfao Reply Parent Thread Link Cindy Anthony looks like a different person now Reply Thread Link If my daughter was murdered, I'd never sleep well at night ever again. I very rarely use this word, but Jesus, what a cunt. Reply Thread Link Uh, yeah. You make a good point. That is such a stone cold thing to say. Unreal. Reply Parent Thread Link mte exactly. on both points. I mean FFS it took me years to sleep okish after my mom died. I still struggle with sleep. i can't imagine i'd ever sleep well again if someone murdered my baby. Reply Parent Thread Link As the parent to a little girl - same. Not just that, but knowing my daughters body had been riding around in the trunk of a car with tape over her mouth with a <3 drawn on and then dumped out in the woods? I don't think I could continue to breathe in and out, much less get a good nights sleep. Reply Parent Thread Link "...with tape over her mouth with a <3 drawn on" idk that detail...what the entire fuck?? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link God, that's sickening and fucked up Reply Parent Thread Link THIS. that's what fucks me up so much about this case, whether casey did or didn't do it, she has openly admited she doesn't care and that makes me sick either way Reply Parent Thread Link WHAAAT?? ok, that's just psycho Reply Parent Thread Link exactly. it takes a cold ass bitch to say that shit with a straight face. Reply Parent Thread Link Everytime I've seen this woman talk about her daughter she always seems so "above" it. Like she's talking about something happening to a kid she never met. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link mte what the FUCK. she sleeps well at night? good for you, bitch. your daughter is dead but as long as you can sleep at night. Reply Parent Thread Link first thing I thought when I read that. a normal person doesn't make the fact their daughter died all about how the world views THEM. yes, she was on trial for murder so it's normal to talk about that and how the world hates you etc. its NOT NORMAL to *only* talk about that like the fact your child is dead isn't a thing at all, and your trial existed in a vacuum. they way she words things is so...fucking awful. all "fuck everyone, im happy with my life!" esque...it sounds like a teenager who got arrested for graffiti or something. not a mother who lost her child and then was on trial for murdering her child. it's so fucking weird. Reply Parent Thread Link mte. she's so beyond disgusting. Reply Parent Thread Link Right? I shouldn't be surprised considering who it's coming from, but fuck, what a messed up thing to say. Reply Parent Thread Link It still amazes me that she got away with it when she didn't even try and not act like a sociopath, she didn't even attempt to put on a facade of grieving and caring that her daughter was dead Reply Parent Thread Link ikr. what blows my mind is she waited 30 days to report it - like HOW could you believe she cared for her child if she waited that long to report that she was missing?? Reply Parent Thread Link Yikes. She ain't even on OJ's levels, not even so close Reply Thread Link She lied about her father molesting her too. I despise this woman. Reply Thread Link Like... even if you truly didn't kill your daughter (yeah right), then someone else killed her & wasn't caught, plus you don't know how she died AND she's gone forever so how can you say you sleep good at night? Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link 2. Boat People (1982) : A Japanese reporter arrives in Vietnam hoping to capture the essence the society under the rule of the Communist Party. With the help of a vietnamese girl, he eventually opens his eyes to the painful truth of postwar Vietnam. 11. The Wild, Wild Rose (1960) : Grace Chang seduces as Hong Kong's most sensual Carmen ever. The torrid passions of Bizet's famous opera gets a postmodern reading when it is transposed to the noir-like setting of Hong Kong's Wanchai district. One of the most exhilarating and energetic musicals in the Chinese language. 34. Drunken Master (1978) : The father of Wong Fei-hong, who has been attempting to teach his son kung-fu, but has found him too disobedient to teach and decides to send him off to his uncle, a cruel and torturous master of the 8-Drunken Genii kung-fu. After much suffering the son comes back to rescue the father from an assassin who has also previously humiliated Naughty Panther. 69. Come Drink with Me (1966) : A ruthless band of thugs kidnaps a young official to exchange for their leader who has been captured. Golden Swallow is sent to take on the thugs and free the prisoner (who is also her brother). Though she is able to handle the overwhelming odds, she is hit by a poison dart and gets help from a beggar who is really a kung-fu master in disguise. With his help, she forms a plan to get her brother back. 97. Naked Killer (1992) : The story of a young flirty feral woman named Kitty who is trained by a martial arts specialist to become a professional assassin. She's subsequently recruited by the real killer, a hit woman who targets rapists at large and practices on drooling sex-mad psychos chained up in the attic. When they finally head out for the real thing, they take out victims in a display of midair somersaults, cracking whips, flying ropes, and flashing guns. This kind of foreplay attracts the lustful attentions of rival assassin Carrie Ng, a lesbian killer ready to abandon her purring sex kitten for the savage Chingmy. favorite movie from Asia?? In a widely-expected move, Toshibas troubled nuclear construction business Westinghouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the end of last month. Now the company is up for sale, after it cost Toshiba some $6.3 billion in asset write-downs, triggering a net overall loss estimated at $9.1 billion for 2016. The Japanese conglomerate is undoubtedly eager to curb these losses, but it is facing a serious problem: there is not an abundance of bidders. What some energy industry observes have called a nuclear renaissance for the U.S. has failed to materialize in full. The reasons for this are numerous and diverse, ranging from a slowdown in power demand instead of an expected increase, to cheap natural gas, rendering nuclears competitiveness virtually non-existent. Westinghouse is actually a great case in point: its troubles may not have started with the setbacks in ran into with its two new projects in the U.S., but they certainly became major contributors to its failure. The nuclear plants that the company was building in South Carolina and Georgia both face cost overruns to the tune of $3 billion each. Its unclear whether they will ever be completed, by Westinghouse or anyone else. The prospects for the companys plans to build several more plants featuring its new AP1000 reactor technology in the U.S. look grimall the more so as there is new competition emerging from small modular reactors. Theoretically, these could kick Westinghouse out of business for good as they are cheaper to build and install. Related: Wall St. Gears Up For The Worlds Biggest Oil Trade With Europe increasingly turning green instead of nuclear, there is a definite shortage of buyers, at least buyers that Toshiba and Washington would like to do business with. Alas, it seems that the most likely suitors would come from a country that bothers both the U.S. and Japan China. China has grand nuclear plans: 21 new reactors under construction, on top of 36 already operating. There are also several more planned to be built. It has the money and the fuel, but China is behind Western companies in terms of technology. It has made clear its interest in Westinghouse a log time ago, including covertly, through espionage. This makes Westinghouse a perfect fit for Chinese nuclear plant developers, but a deal might never materialize, for several reasons. First, no Chinese company has yet approached Toshiba as a bidder. Second, the Trump administration is unlikely to turn a blind eye on such an acquisition, what with the trade deficit and Chinas progress toward becoming the biggest superpower in the world. Third, Japan would be even unhappier with such a deal, so it might try to block it, should it even be suggested. Related: Oil Prices Pull Higher On Outage In Libyas Biggest Oil Field Now, logic suggests that a Chinese bidder will appear the question is when. On the other hand, the U.S. has a pretty simple mechanism to block an undesirable sale on the grounds of national security. This mechanism is called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which can recommend a blocking of a deal that President Trump will only be too happy to sign. Against this background and Trumps clearly demonstrated determination to take a tough stance on all things Chinese, companies from Asias largest economy might not even bother with approaching Westinghouse. The problem, for Toshiba mostly, but also for the U.S., is that Westinghouse must be sold. So, members of the Republican administration are looking for buyers, sifting through possible suitors with extreme care lest any of them turn out to be linked to China. There is also another option: partial nationalization like the one that happened to big banks after the 2008 crisis. Whatever option Washington chooses, bilateral relations with Beijing are unlikely to move into a more positive territory. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil prices started the week at a one-month high, with geopolitical tensions and growing confidence over an OPEC deal extension driving a rally. But as oil prices settle in the mid-50s the rally is slowing and traders appear happy to lock in gains. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Chart of the Week (Click to enlarge) Gross U.S. oil imports rose in 2016 by an average of 514,000 bpd compared to a year earlier, rising to 7.9 million barrels per day (mb/d). On a net basis after accounting for the rising volume of exports imports increased by 460,000 bpd. Still, gross imports in 2016 were 22 percent lower than the 10.1 mb/d hit in 2005. Canada continues to capture a growing share of imports, as lighter domestically-produced U.S. crude displaces oil from West Africa and the Middle East. Market Movers Seadrills (NYSE: SDRL) share price jumped by more than 14 percent after its subsidiary, North Atlantic Drilling (NYSE: NADL) won a 10-year contract with ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) for drilling work in Norway. BP (NYSE: BP) and Chevron (NYSE: CVX) are in talks with Saudi Arabia about joint ventures on natural gas drilling. Saudi Arabia has the worlds sixth largest gas reserves and is trying to ramp up gas production in order to free up crude for export. Saudi Arabia still burns crude oil for electricity. Barrons listed six E&P companies that look attractive coming out of bankruptcy, including Linn Energy (OTCQB:LNGG), Ultra Petroleum (OTCPK:UPLMQ), SandRidge Energy (NYSE:SD), Halcon Resources (NYSE:HK), Midstates Petroleum (NYSE:MPO) and Goodrich Petroleum (OTCQX:GDPP). Tuesday April 11, 2017 Oil prices started the week at a one-month high, as outages in Libya combined with market concerns over the U.S. airstrikes in Syria pushing WTI and Brent up into the mid-$50s. Traders took a breather on Tuesday on expectations of rising production from U.S. shale. Also, after sharp gains in recent weeks, the rally for crude prices could be slowing. Gunvor considers sale. One of the worlds largest oil traders, Gunvor, has approached at least two of its competitors to gauge interest in a sale of the company. The discussions are being held close to the vest Gunvors CEO says it has no plans to sell but if it occurred it would consolidate an already consolidated industry. The WSJ reports that Gunvors trading volumes have held steady in recent years while its competitors, including Vitol Group, Glencore (LON: GLEN) and Trafigura Group have increased their volumes. The market turmoil since 2014 has been a boon due to the fact that traders profit on storage and volatility. The market stability so far in 2017 has led to softer business for the traders. Related: Wall St. Gears Up For The Worlds Biggest Oil Trade Oil majors reserves falling. The oil majors, including ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), Statoil (NYSE: STO), Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) and Total (NYSE: TOT) are all suffering from a falling reserve base as they fail to replace the reserves that are being produced, according to a Reuters analysis. Exxon, for example, saw its reserves fall to an equivalent of just 13 years worth of oil, given its current rate of production. That is the lowest lifespan since 1997. Shell has the lowest reserve life since 2008, even after incorporating the large oil and gas reserves from its purchase of BG Group. Historically, the volume of reserves was one of the most important metrics for Wall Street. But in an age of low oil prices, that is no longer the case. Shareholders are increasingly willing to overlook a declining reserve base as long as the majors keep debt and spending in check. Of course, that raises questions about a supply shortage years from now because of a failure to find and discover new reserves. Russia talks OPEC extension. According to TASS news agency, Russian officials will start consultations with Russian oil companies about the extension of the OPEC deal, a sign that Russia is on board with a six-month extension. Shell CEO worried about corruption probe in Nigeria. A recently released phone call between Royal Dutch Shells (NYSE: RDS.A) CEO and its CFO Simon Henry show that they are worried about corruption scandal that dates back to Shells acquisition of a Nigerian oil field. Shell is already under investigation in Italy, as is Italian oil company Eni (NYSE: E), for alleged bribery. Shells CEO is apparently worried that it could run afoul of a prior agreement with the U.S. Justice Department. We should have maybe at the time been more open with the DOJ than we now find we have been, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said on the phone call. IMF warns on Bahrain finances. Without spending cuts, Bahrain will continue to lose investor support, according to the IMF. A sizable fiscal adjustment is urgently needed to restore fiscal sustainability, reduce vulnerabilities, and boost investor and consumer confidence, the IMF said in a statement. The warning highlights the damage still being done to the budgets of the Gulf States with oil trading at $50 per barrel. 2020s to be decade of disorder. Former head of the U.S. EIA Adam Sieminksi told Platts Capitol Crude podcast this week that there could be turmoil in the oil market over the course of the 2020s because of a severe slowdown in upstream investment today. I am thinking the decade of the 20s is going to be one of difficulties. That's why I called it the decade of disorder. We are not getting enough capital investment now. I don't know that shale is going to be able to do it all, Sieminksi said. Offshore oil sector to increase hiring. Employment on offshore rigs has plunged over the past few years, but Rystad Energy predicts that hiring will rebound this year. "With more projects offshore being revived in 2017, we expect the offshore lay-offs to stabilize and start to increase later in 2017," Rystad analyst Audun Martinsen said in a new report. "Already we see this trend in Norway and it is only a question of time before it starts elsewhere." Creditor sues to block PDVSA from raiding Citgo. Canadian mining company Crystallex asked a U.S. judge to stop Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA from transferring funds from Citgo to use for its own purposes. PDVSA and the Venezuelan state are rapidly running out of cash and are facing steep debt payments this year. If PDVSA is blocked from taking funds from Citgo, it would exacerbate its cash crunch. Related: Venezuela Is The Wild Card In The OPEC Deal Extension Australia to break ground on worlds largest solar + battery project. Construction will soon begin on the worlds largest solar plus battery storage project in Adelaide, Australia. The project will consist of 300 megawatts of solar and 100 megawatts of battery storage. It is slated for completion by the end of the year. G-7 nations fail to sign joint energy declaration because U.S. doesnt know what it wants. The Trump administration is reversing a lot of energy policies and is in the midst of a review of energy and climate strategy, preventing the Group of Seven nations from issuing a joint declaration. Trumps public lands push. The Bureau of Land Management, an agency within the Interior Department that oversees federal lands, issued a priority work list, ordering its 10,000 employees to focus on increasing oil and gas permitting for public lands, as well as for securing the U.S.-Mexico border. China to attract $782 billion in renewables investment. Between 2016 and 2030, China could see $782 billion in investment in renewable energy, according to a Greenpeace report. That could allow China to scale up renewables to 20 percent of primary energy consumption by then, up from 12 percent today. Nuclear power plants seek state support. The fleet of U.S. nuclear reactors is aging and increasingly uncompetitive due to the rise of renewables and cheap natural gas. A handful have already closed but many more could be in danger without government support. Some nuclear power plants won policy support in Illinois and New York recently, and more proposals are under consideration in Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. By Tom Kool of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Colorado Court of Appeals has recently ruled 2-1 in favor of six teenage activists who had petitioned the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to consider a rule that places public health and environment before oil and gas development instead of seeking a balance between resources development and peoples health. Although the appeals court ruling can be further challenged at Colorados Supreme Court, it gives environmentalists and green activists a reason to rejoice in this victory and potentially a new tool in seeking to oppose fracking in Colorado, which has been a battleground state for activists and counties opposing oil and gas drilling. On the other hand, the recent appeals court decision just remands the case of the proposed rule to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which now has to consider it again in light of the appeals court ruling. The court saga began in November 2013, when the teen activists petitioned the Commission to consider a rule that it not issue any permits for the drilling of a well for oil and gas unless the best available science demonstratesand an independent, third party organization confirms, that drilling can occur in a manner that does not cumulatively, with other actions, impair Colorados atmosphere, water, wildlife, and land resources, does not adversely impact human health and does not contribute to climate change. In April 2014, the Commission denied the petition, saying that the Proposed Rule, if adopted, would have required the Commission to readjust the balance crafted by the General Assembly under the Act, and is therefore beyond the Commissions limited grant of statutory authority. The district court later upheld the Commissions denial of the petition, saying that the Commission lacked authority to consider such a proposal. Now the appeals court agrees with the petitioners and says that the district court and the Commission erroneously interpreted the Oil and Gas Conservation Act. It has reversed the district court ruling and returned the petition to the Commission for further examination. The appeals court found that a section in the Act supports the conclusion that the Commission has authority to promulgate rules regulating oil and gas development in the interest of protecting public health, safety, and welfare. Driving its decision, the appeals court drew the attention to the interpretation of the phrase in a manner consistent with in the Acts wording that rules should foster the responsible, balanced development, production, and utilization of the natural resources of oil and gas in the state of Colorado in a manner consistent with protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources. Related: OPEC Cant Stop The Beat: U.S. Adds 10 Oil Rigs The appeals court agreed with petitioners that the phrase in a manner consistent with does not indicate a balancing test but rather a condition that must be fulfilled, the ruling said. The appeals court, however, is neither addressing nor recommending whether the Commission should adopt the rule as proposed by the petitioners. It just opens the discussion again, remanding the petition back to square one. The Colorado Appeals Court decision is the latest chapter of legal battles concerning oil and gas development in the state. In February, Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman filed a lawsuit against Boulder County following weeks of threats over the countys refusal to remove a moratorium on oil and gas exploration in unincorporated areas. Boulders ban stipulates that the local authorities will not accept and process any new oil and gas exploration permit applications. The moratorium was first introduced back in 2012, and since then has been extended eight times. According to the Attorney Generals press release, Boulder continues to operate in clear violation of Colorado law and the AG is suing to compel compliance. Legal battles will always surround the health-vs.-wealth debate in oil and gas development, especially as far as fracking is concerned. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Today is national submarine day, and oil prices are trying not to submerge after a recent sustained rally. Today we get the opening gambit from the triumvirate of reports from the EIA, IEA and OPEC, with the EIA's short term energy outlook on deck first. OPEC is waiting in the wings tomorrow, before the IEA's Oil Market Report follows as the caboose on Thursday. In the meantime, hark, here are five things to consider in oil markets today: 1) We discussed last week how more Atlantic Basin crude is heading toward Asia, due to the relative weakness seen in Brent and WTI versus the Dubai-Oman benchmark. Just as we have seen with less Angolan crude heading to the U.S. and more heading to China, Algerian loadings are following a similar trend. Our ClipperData show that while flows to Algeria's biggest market, Europe, are holding up, we have seen export loadings increasing to the Asia Pacific region for Algeria's light crude - and dropping off thus far this month to North America: (Click to enlarge) 2) Iran has cut a number of its preferential terms relating to oil sales to India, in response to India cutting the amount of oil it buys from Iran. Iran has cut its credit period to 60 days from 90, while also reducing its shipping discount. India announced last week it would reduce Iranian imports by just over 60,000 bpd. Related: Why Breakeven Prices Are Plunging Across The Oil Industry Our ClipperData show that imports from Iran averaged 550,000 bpd between April - December, which mirror India's ministry data. Imports so far this year are averaging just over 500,000 bpd. India is the second-largest destination for Iranian crude; China is first. As India looks to put pressure on Iran as it tries to secure development rights to an Iranian gas field in the Persian Gulf, this latest move could either fast-track that decision, or conversely, push more Iranian oil to other leading destinations such as South Korea or Japan. (Click to enlarge) 3) India gasoline demand has shrunk for a third consecutive month, as the country continues to experience the detrimental impact of demonetization from late last year. After the vast majority of the country's currency was taken out of circulation in November in an attempt to clamp down on corruption, oil demand dropped by 5.9 percent YoY in January, the most in 13 years. India's banknote demonetization has had such a big impact because the majority of the Indian economy runs 'informally' - i.e., via the transfer of cash. Hence, the sudden halt in available cash flow has caused fuel purchasing to dry up. Total fuel consumption was lower year-on-year in February at 3.1 percent, before dropping to just 0.7 percent last month. Although demonetization has dealt a hefty dent to demand, it appears to be recovering. Related: How U.S. LNG Transformed The Market 4) While it is seasonally typical to see retail gasoline prices push to a high for the year as we approach summer driving season, the recent oil price rally is super-charging this move, lifting the national average to just under $2.40/gallon. This is the highest since the latter half of 2015, and prices look likely to push on toward mid-two dollardom as we approach the starter's flag of summer driving season. (Click to enlarge) 5) Finally, stat of the day comes from an estimate from the Boston Consulting Group, who projects that as many as 925 million miles traveled in the U.S. in 2030 will be in self-driving electric cars, as an estimated 4.7 million autonomous electric vehicles join the auto fleet. By Matt Smith More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Saudi Arabia reduced its crude oil production by 111,000 bpd to 9.9 million bpd in March, again generously overcomplying with the OPEC output cut deal after having raised February outputbut still below the ceiling it had pledgedin order to fill storage tanks. According to a person familiar with Saudi Arabias output data for March, the Kingdom reduced its production last month to the lowest level since January, when the OPEC/non-OPEC deal started, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. Mohamed Ramady, an independent oil analyst told Bloomberg from London: The Saudis are more than fully complying with the deal. This is good news for the market and prices. OPECs biggest producer and de facto leader Saudi Arabia, which had promised to curtail its output to 10.058 million bpd between January and June, signaled to the markets as early as in January that it had pared production back to below 10 million bpd, the lowest level since February 2015. Saudi Arabias overcompliance pushed up oil prices up for a few weeks earlier this year, and was the main driver behind the surprisingly high compliance ratemore than 90 percentthat OPEC has been boasting since the start of the deal. While OPECs secondary sources placed Saudi Arabias February crude output further dropping from January to 9.797 million bpd, the Saudis self-reported output was back to above 10 million bpd still cutting deeper than promised in the deal but easing curtails. According to the figures the cartel members provide to OPEC, Saudi Arabias output jumped by 263,300 bpd to 10.011 million bpd, although still below the 10.058 million bpd ceiling. Related: Venezuela Is The Wild Card In The OPEC Deal Extension The market grew jittery on speculation that the Saudis were done making up for its less-compliant members, although Saudi Arabias Energy Ministry said that the higher output in February was only moved into storage, and that supply to the market dropped by 90,000 bpd to 9.9 million bpd. Official figures on output by Saudi Arabia and the cartel are expected on Wednesday, April 12, when OPEC will release its Monthly Oil Market Report with data for March. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The U.S. cruise missiles that were fired on Syria will have severe repercussions for the global oil market. The current price hike could be short-lived, but new confrontations are already on the horizon. Analysts are wrong to expect that Trumps military action has improved the Middle Easts situation. The political risk premium will be higher for the foreseeable future as instability has increased. Assads allies, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, are openly confronting the U.S. and its allies. In a statement made by the joint command center, which is made up of Russia, Iran and militias supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the U.S. has been warned that the missile attack crossed red lines. The pro-Assad group reiterated that any new aggression will be met by military force. One of the main worries should be the cancellation by Russia of its cooperation with the U.S. (and others) with regards to operational security in the area. The risk of a military confrontation between the different armed players in the conflict has increased. Several NATO countries, such as Belgium, have already postponed further air force operations in Syria. The latter is playing into the hands of the respective armed extremists and Russian backed forces. It seems that this is not what Trump was intending. At the same time, the Arab world also doesnt seem to be totally supporting the U.S. attack. Iraq, as a perceived ally of Iran, indicated its worries while the regions leading military and political power, Egypt, has openly criticized the military action. This in stark contrast to most of the GCC Arab countries. Trumps unilateral military action has increased instability instead of decreasing it. As openly criticizing Washington is still not done, except by Cairo, leaders in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Baghdad, will be assessing the options and the possible negative repercussions of this U.S. action. Related: Wall St. Gears Up For The Worlds Biggest Oil Trade In the short term, the global oil market might not feel an effect of the actions. Syrias position as an oil and gas producer is negligible. Since the start of the fights against Assad no real effects on global oil markets have been shown. Syria only produced around 25,000-33,000bpd in 2014/2015. The future impact, however, could be immense. Especially if there is a spill-over of the civil war to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, or Iraq. Trumps actions have increased this option substantially. Not only are the pro-Assad allies more inclined to act harsher to any third-party military interference in the country, but some Shia militias are openly preparing for operations against other non-Syrian players. Facts have emerged the last weeks of Shia militias buildup around the Golan Heights, bordering Israel, and on the Jordanian border. A potential military clash with these two countries could increase the political risk of a total war in the region substantially. Looking at current Iranian statements, new actions outside of Syria as part of Irans proxy-wars are to be expected. Irans support of the Houthi rebels in Yemen is expected to be increased. Tehran will use this as a sign to Arabs and the West not to expect Iran just to sit and wait. Increased offshore military operations of Houthis or Iranians against ships in the Bab Al Mandab (Strait of Aden), could directly threaten the transport of 3.8 million bpd of crude oil and petroleum products. The attacks on Saudi navy vessels or Western ships last year have shown that Iranian-backed groups can. When looking at a direct military confrontation between Iranian IRGC forces and U.S. military in Syria, an option that has increased substantially due to the missile attack, Iran could also act against shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf area. Strait of Hormuz operations will threaten global oil (17 million bpd) or LNG (30 percent) supplies. Irans NAVY or Special Forces are well equipped to stage these attacks on a very short notice. The effects could be devastating. Risk premiums will shoot through the roof if this is even on the table. Iran could also have another option in mind. Not willing to have a direct confrontation with U.S.-led forces in Syria, Tehran could opt for a new proxy-war on the soft-belly of the anti-Assad coalition. A potential increased Iranian engagement in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain already is considered. Not only will it refocus the attention of Arab countries on a potential Shia conflict in Saudis Eastern Province, but also could lead to a further escalation of the ongoing unrest in Bahrain. Iran is one of the main backers of the Shia uprising still ongoing in Bahrain, not only a major asset for Saudi Arabia but also harboring one of the main U.S. military bases in the region. An explosion of unrest and instability in that particular corner of the Persian Gulf would directly push up risk premiums of crude oil and gas. Bahrain is almost the gate to Saudis Eastern Province or the worlds largest oil field, Al Ghawar. For Iran, this is a low-cost option but very effective. Related: Toshiba Cant Shake Its Westinghouse Woes To make matters worse, the current call for the removal of Syrias president Bashir Assad, which was vented openly by Washington and several European leaders, will push the pro-Assad side to dig in even more. Statements currently heard by politicians in Washington or military leaders in the Pentagon to target a potential break-up of Syria on sectarian/religious lines is even more destabilizing to the whole region than ever before. Syrias break-up or division will not only be a precedence of unknow order, but also support already existing calls for independence in other Arab countries (including Iran). Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen and Iran, will not be supporting these devastating political ideas. Saudi Arabia (with a vast Shia minority) and Turkey, both until now supporting Western military actions, will be against it full heartedly. Turkeys leadership cannot survive with a possible Kurdish nation next to its borders. Military intervention by Ankara will be for sure a cause of concern. Looking at all the above, the main question to be answered is what was Trump planning when signing off a missile attack? Until now it seems to be a purely political move to support his own domestic position at the expense of the Syrian conflict. No real end-goal has been stated by either party involved. This has severe repercussions for the Middle East and the global energy markets. The current stalemate in Syria, which is only increased by the military actions of Washington at present, will force Iran, Hezbollah and possibly even Russia, to show their own military power. Further escalation of the Sunni-Shia conflict could be on the horizon, directly threatening oil and gas operations and supplies. Eyes should still be on Washington, as the Trump diplomacy is unpredictable. After Syria, it is only a very small lap to have harsher sanctions on Iran or outright military confrontations in the Persian Gulf arena. Instability will be part of future oil price scenarios, more than we have had the last 2-3 years. One more confrontation in the region and the historical bandwidth of $5-10 per barrel risk premium could become fact once again. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Twelve people died and 29 others were injured from an oil pipeline fire in the Bajel district of Yemen two days ago, according to a security official who confirmed reports of the incident on Monday. After being hit with a sabotage act, the pipeline began leaking oil. Citizens from the area began gathering the crude, with one Yemeni attaching a generator near the leak to speed up the rate of the leakage. The electric current from the device caused a spark, setting the oil on fire. In addition to the loss of human lives, ten cars, eight motorcycles, and five generators have also been burned in the flames. Local authorities are investigating those thought to be involved in the arson incident. The scavenging of Yemens oil resources by the countrys citizens is a small part of the countrys current troubles. To the victor of the proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iranaka the Yemeni Civil Warwill go the spoils of control of Yemens prized Bab al-Mandab strait. The Red Sea port, near the Bab al-Mandab strait, is currently controlled by Yemens Shiite Houthis, and whoever maintains control of it has a strategic advantage. This port is a pathway connection to the Middle East (where the worlds largest proven oil reserves are) and Sub-Saharan Africa (a region expected to see a four-fold increase in energy demand by 2040), making it a coveted geopolitical prize for regional powers, but a livelihood-destroying burden for Yemens residents. Related: Why Breakeven Prices Are Plunging Across The Oil Industry Roughly one year before the civil war began, Yemens oil production topped 127,000 barrels per day, but hostilities have forced the exit of virtually all international producers due to security concerns. Existing fields are close to maturity, and in the absence of new oil discoveries, the countrys crude reserves would be exhausted in less than a decade. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Required maintenance on oil pipelines connecting the Kurdistan region in Iraq to Turkey will bring the facilities offline for three days, according to a Turkish official. The export of oil from Kirkuk and the Kurdistan Region has been halted upon a request from the Turkish side due to maintenance in the pumps, lasting three days, engineer Farhad Hamza, from Iraqs North Oil Company, told the Kurdish outlet Rudaw. The reason is a technical issue on the Turkish side. Turkish authorities have informed us of the halt until the problem is resolved. Kurdish oil revenues will be set back by $23 million a day due to the closures. Hamza said Turkish financials would also be affected, but did not specify the scope of the effect. Most of the exports from landlocked Kurdistan are being carried out via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to the Turkish Mediterranean coast. In August last year, the central Iraqi government and the KRG resolved a dispute over the shipment of oil via the Ceyhan pipeline from the Kirkuk fields operated by the central governments North Oil Company. The vital export route to the Turkish export terminal could be jeopardized by non-technical issues if the Turks and the Kurds further strain their centuries-old uneasy relations. Another risk to the Kirkuk oil flow is rival Kurdish parties squabbling over oil revenues or opposing the ruling Kurdish partys deals with Baghdad over oil and money. Related: Is Another Bust Looming Over The Oil Industry? Kurdistans argument on autonomy from Iraq on political matters hinges on oil revenues which the regional government uses to pay its own Peshmarga army and offer public services to its citizens. Last week, Russias oil giant Rosneft ordered its first crude oil cargo of 600,000 barrels from the Kurdistan Regional Government, according to a report from the TASS news agency. Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Nigerias National Oil Corporation said its trading deficit for January had slimmed down to $50 million (14.26 billion naira) from $60 million (17.01 billion naira) in the previous month. The good news comes as the company struggles to regain its profitable position amid corruption scandals and government determination to overhaul the state companys operations. The latest scandal to shake NNPC concerned the hiding and illegal use of some 100 litres of imported fuel in private storage facilities. The scandal cost four NNPC officials their jobs. Nigerias oil industry has been in dire need of an overhaul for a long time, but it took the drop in oil prices and the militant attacks on pipelines in the Niger Delta to really push the government to act. Oil Minister Ibe Kachikwu has proposed a semi-autonomous structure for NNPC, effectively breaking down the company into several businesses, each focused on a specific segment of the industry. Meanwhile, legislators are working on a Petroleum Industry Bill that should curb mismanagement and corruption in oil and gas. The final report on the bill should come from the Senate on April 25th. If the bill is passed, NNPCs responsibilities will be streamlined into three new entities, the Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NRPC), the National Petroleum Company (NPC), and the Nigeria Petroleum Assets Management Company (NPAMC), which will take over the upstream assets. The plans are that both NPC and NPAMC could be allowed to market oil to encourage competition. Related: Why Breakeven Prices Are Plunging Across The Oil Industry Nigeria lost over $100 billion over the last couple of years because of falling oil revenues and militant attacks that resulted in production outages, according to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. Losses were incurred from fraud, oil theft, oil swaps, and undeclared exports to global destinations. The latter led to lawsuits against five global oil companies, among them; Total, Eni, Petrobras, Chevron, and Shell. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Some 20 persons have been arrested by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), for attempting to hack the University of Ghana website to change the grades of students. According to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, The school has beefed up its security system to protect its integrity. He told Citi News Caleb Kudah that the suspects were not students. There has been an attempt to get into our system to do all sorts of things and as you know, we are also not sitting idle for that to happen. We have intensified our security measures and we have gotten hold of some people, but absolutely not students, he said. He added that we wouldnt allow unscrupulous people to use our system for business and their selfish gains. The integrity of the University is specifically important to us, and we need to protect the integrity at all cost. Prof. Oduro Owusu further urged students to refrain from paying monies to persons who claim they can help them change their grades. They should refrain getting compromised. They should refrain from patronizing in case people try to confront them or try to get them to solicit that kind of help, it wont help them so they should not allow themselves to be used by these unscrupulous persons. Allegations of grade manipulation are quite common in some of Ghanas public universities, with some students claiming they pay thousands of cedis to certain individuals to help them change their grades. 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. Featured Video The Ministry of Interior has debunked claims that the Ministry will be enforcing new communication regulations to monitor calls and social media platforms. Messages have been going viral on social media platforms, particularly whatsapp, purporting that the Ministry was going to surveil calls; thus invading the privacy of the citizenry. But in a statement signed by the Chief Director for the Ministry, Mrs. Adelaide Anno-Kumi; it stated emphatically that "there is no such new communication regulation and thus calls on the general public to disregard the news item . . . In as much as the safety, peace and security of citizens is our primary concern, we will not do anything tantamount to the invasion of the privacy of citizenry and an affront on the respect of the fundamental human rights of the citizenry." Read full statement below: RE: NEW COMMUNICATION REGULATIONS CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA The Ministry of Interiors attention has been drawn to a news item making rounds on social media which is alleging that, the Ministry will be enforcing a new Communications Regulation which will entail surveillance of calls and social media platforms by the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry wishes to emphatically state that there is no such new communication regulation and thus calls on the general public to disregard the news item. The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that, no ones communication device, be it mobile hand device, Personal Computer etc. is connected to any system at the Ministry of the Interior. In as much as the safety, peace and security of citizens is our primary concern, we will not do anything tantamount to the invasion of the privacy of citizenry and an affront on the respect of the fundamental human rights of the citizenry. The Ministry therefore wish to state emphatically and unambiguously that, the news item is false and should be disregarded by the general public. The Ministry takes this opportunity to wish the general public happy Easter celebrations. Thank you. Signed: ADELAIDE ANNO-KUMI (MRS.) CHIEF DIRECTOR FOR: MINISTER FOR THE INTERIOR Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A fourteen year old JHS 2 student of Lebanon International School in Tema, risk losing his sight if he does not receive immediate treatment on his eyes. Michael Dadson woes started about seven years ago when his colleague in school threw a sharpened pencil at him and went straight into his eyes injuring him in the process. According to the boys father, Alex Dadson, upon iniatial examination on his son at the Tema General Hospital he was referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. But had to continue with the treatment at the Christian Eye Centre. He said medics from a German NGO visited Ghana and examined his sons eye and concluded that he had to be operated in Tanzania at a cost of GHC85,000, which the NGO committed to pay half of the amount. Mr Dadson was however unable to raise the other half of the cost for the scheduled operation to be done on his sons eye. An American doctor, he said, later examined the boy and concluded that the condition of the latters eye had worsened and the intended operation in Tanzania was unnecessary as the boy will eventually go blind in the period ahead. Just as the American Doctor said, after one month, my sons sight went off, he couldnt see again. The eye ball begun to push in little by little until it only a small part of it could be seen. He was given a referral note to Korle Bu where upon being treated he was given spectacles to wear. After wearing the glasses for a while, doctors decided that an artificial eye should be fixed for him which caused GHC1,500. Mr Dadson who is financially constrained is currently seeking for public support to have his son treated as the other eye has also become affected. According to him, efforts to solicit for financial help from the school has proved futile. Meanwhile, the boys condition has affected his studies. Source: kasapafmonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video FORT ANN Almost 12 years after the collapse of the Hadlock Pond dam, the long-running litigation finally came to an end earlier this month with the final settlement of all remaining claims. We are settled, and we are about to start sending out checks, said attorney Paul Wein, who represented a total of 170 individuals involving 80 properties upstream from the dam, which gave way in June 2005. The settlement, which involved the town of Fort Ann, dam builder Kubricky Construction Co. and subcontractors that included Atlantic Testing Laboratories and HTE Engineering, ends the litigation regarding the dam collapse. For Supervisor Richard Moore, the settlement not only allows him to fulfill a campaign promise, it comes at no additional expense to the town, which was one of the defendants. It is unfortunate it took this long to get all of the claims taken care of, said Moore, who lives upstream but took a previous settlement and was not involved in this lawsuit. The important thing is that it is all settled, and the town did not have to make any financial contribution to the claims. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, according to Wein, who said that is typical in such cases, but the towns portion of the settlement was covered by its insurance carrier, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal. For a time, both NYMIR and the town refused to pay the claims, but when I took over as supervisor, one of my goals was to get this litigation taken care of, he said. The fact that it took this long is just mind-boggling. Wein said a trial in the case was scheduled to start June 5, and he praised Moores efforts in getting to a settlement. Richard Moore was instrumental in moving this to a conclusion, Wein said. Most of the downstream plaintiffs settled after a 2010 trial led to a verdict that split blame among the town, Kubricky and the subcontractors. A small number of upstream plaintiffs, including Moore, also later settled, but the majority, represented by Wein, continued to seek damages. Wein said all of the defendants had their shares of the settlement covered by their insurance carriers. The town also sued the contractors and won a $3.9 million settlement from them. The dam was rebuilt and the pond refilled in 2008. BURLINGTON, Vt. A Queensbury man who was arrested last year for selling methamphetamine in Vermont has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, authorities said. Justin R. Brennan, 37, pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont, in connection with an April 2016 meth sale to a police informant. He admitted to conspiring to distribute up to 4.5 kilograms of the drug, and police seized 50 grams from his home during a search after his arrest last spring, authorities said. The charges allege he was distributing the drug in New York and Vermont in 2015 and 2016. Brennan will have to serve 3 years on parole after he is released from prison. He was arrested after an investigation by the Vermont Drug Task Force and New York State Police. HUDSON FALLS There will be a 32nd year for Sandy Hill Days. The villages annual event, which includes concerts, a carnival and other events at Paris and Juckett parks, will go on, according to Lynn Stockwell-Chase, president of the event, which takes place the weekend after Labor Day. In February, Stockwell-Chase said that, since many of the members of the events organizing committee were 75 or older, it needed new members or it would not be able to put the event on this year. The reason that we are able to carry on is that we have several new people that joined the committee and seem to be very interested in working along with the original members to keep Sandy Hill Days going, Stockwell-Chase said. We had a large turnout at our meeting and a few of them filled out applications and decided to join the committee. Keeping the event going is important for the village, which is going through a renaissance of sorts, with the Strand Theatre re-opening, Phoenix Rising trying to get the former Washington County courthouse open as a restaurant and community gathering place, and other redevelopment going on in town. I am thrilled it is happening, said William Nikas of Hudson Falls Phoenix Rising, which is involved in several of the downtown projects. Its great that they are bringing some new energy to Sandy Hill Days. It was key to get new people involved, said Village Trustee Robert Cook. I think its great, because there has been quite a turnover, and its important to keep Sandy Hill Days going, said Mayor John Barton. The event is a fundraiser for community projects, and last year raised $4,850 that was donated back into the community. A total of $3,500 in scholarships went out to graduating Hudson Falls High School students, and $1,350 was split among Operation Santa Claus, Tri-County Marine Corps League Toys for Tots and Boy Scouts Troop 56. The committee is still looking for people who are available to help with the event. That availability, Stockwell-Chase said, would include being able to set up the Thursday after Labor Day, help run the event Friday and Saturday and clean up on Sunday. For more information, go to the Sandy Hall Days page on Facebook, www.sandyhilldays.com or write to sandyhilldays@gmail.com. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East iStock/Thinkstock(CHICAGO) Chicago police are still searching for the individual who killed Cook County, Illinois, criminal court Judge Raymond Myles outside his home Monday, police said. A Chicago police spokesperson said Tuesday that no arrests have been made since Myles, 66, was shot and killed on the city's South Side early Monday morning, but declined to provide additional information citing the ongoing investigation. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives, Melissa Staples, said Monday that police do not know whether Myles was the intended target and that it was a "potential robbery." Staples said that police were reviewing surveillance recordings, investigating motives and looking into a "multitude" of possible leads. Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said in a statement Monday, All of our colleagues at the Leighton Criminal Court Building will miss Judge Myles, who they came to know for his kindness and his impartial administration of justice." Myles was the judge who ordered William Balfour, who was later convicted of murdering three of Jennifer Hudson's family members, to be held without bail, ABC affiliate WLS in Chicago reported. Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown told WLS that Myles "was a judge that was fair to everyone. He gave everyone a fair chance." Evans said, "I have always known Judge Myles to be focused and determined in the pursuit of justice, and his conduct earned him the confidence and respect of the people who appeared before him." Myles had served in Cook County's Criminal Division since 2009, Evans said. He joined the court in 1999 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy, and in 2001 he was appointed as an associate judge, Evans said. Evans added, "I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in the Criminal Division. A woman, described by Staples as a "close associate" of Myles', was also shot in the incident. The woman walked out of Myles' home before him, exchanged words with the gunman, was shot once and suffered a non-life-threatening injury, Staples said at a news conference Monday. Myles heard the commotion and the gunshot, went outside to investigate, exchanged words with the gunman and was shot multiple times, Staples said. The suspect then fled on foot, the injured woman told police. Staples said police do not believe the injured woman knows the gunman. According to authorities, neighbors said Myles and the woman were known to go for early-morning workouts, so it was not unusual for them to be up before dawn. First Deputy Superintendent of Police Kevin Navarro called Myles' death "another senseless act of violence." The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the suspect's arrest. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. This development also seeks to reduce illegal fishing activities and promote participatory co-management of fisheries. The project is run by Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), a UK-based non-profit organization and Hen Mpoano a non-profit organization based in Ghana to implement the three-year project. Ghanas fisheries sector contributes significantly to the economy as well as provide employment for numerous people. READ ALSO: Agriculture About 70 per cent of Ghanas fish catch comes from the small-scale artisanal sector, but overfishing, illegal fishing, and poor management are threatening the long-term sustainability- hitting these small-scale fisheries the hardest. Such situations have caused these NGOs to empower small-scale fishers to secure their tenure rights, implement a co-management approach to fisheries, combat illegal fishing and promote alternative livelihoods as a means to reduce dependence on the fishing sector. Director of Hen Mpoano Kofi Agbogah, stated that the project would be implemented in 10 districts within the Central Region and the Volta Estuary. It is important that we empower these communities and ensure that their voice is heard as artisanal fishers have a vital role to play if we want to retain the sustainability in the fishing sector. We need to secure these communities tenure rights, and ring fence their traditional fishing activities against external aggression such as urbanization or other economic activities READ ALSO: Ghana signs framework agreement with South Korea Country Coordinator of EJF Antoine Rougier expressed appreciation to stakeholders for efforts in tackling the unsustainable and illegal fishing practices in that sector. Reports show that West Africa has the highest rate of illegal fishing practices in the world and that Ghana was also losing so much money to illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing and this contravenes international law on fishing. EU Ambassador William Hanna also stated that a total of 1.9 million Euros is being committed to supporting the project. The good news is that Ghana has worked so hard and today the EU is here to help ensure the sustainability of the fishing sector. On her part, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Elizabeth Afoley Quaye said the government was working with other partners to engage fisher communities to participate in the co-management of the fisheries resources. Under this, volunteers in pilot communities-cluster within the Greater Accra Region are being trained and equipped to undertake education and sensitization of their community members on the fisheries laws, report and assist in the prosecution of fisheries infractions, conduct lake and land patrols and also to undertake registration of canoes. Among the fallout is the question of whether United could have found a way to resolve the situation without help from security. Here's what happened: United needed to make room on its full flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, for four crew members who were needed at the plane's final destination. The airline says it asked volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for as much as $1,000, but when no one volunteered the gate agent selected four people to exit the plane. A 69-year-old male passenger, who has been identified as, a doctor living in Kentucky, refused to give up his seat after being told by United employees he must leave. Three police officers working for the Chicago Aviation Department then forcibly removed Dao from the plane. Dao was treated for injuries he suffered to his face, a police officer involved in the incident has been placed on leave, and the government is reviewing the events that transpired. But a key question is why United didn't offer a bigger incentive before resulting to forced removal. (United did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on this subject.) United referred to its "Contract of Carriage" in this situation, which says it can deny boarding to passengers if a flight is overbooked and no passengers volunteer to give up their seat. (United says boarding refers to any period before the flight physically takes off, even if passengers are already on the plane.) It's unclear whether a higher amount would have resolved Sunday's incident differently, but United does not mention any cap on how much it can offer volunteers to give up their seats in its contract: Additionally, there's no federal limit on how much a carrier can offer volunteers, as written in the Department of Transportation's "Fly Rights": The Department of Transportation limits the amount an airline can compensate passengers who are involuntarily bumped from a plane to a maximum of $1,350. There is no federal limit, however, on the amount an airline can offer volunteers to give up their seat. In an interview with Business Insider, aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt questioned why United didn't try to offer a bigger incentive when the situation started to escalate. "There's no limit to what an airline can pay," Harteveldt said. "It's generally cheaper for an airline to proactively ask people to give up their seats because the compensation is usually less." Harteveldt added that it was in the best interest of an airline to offer bigger incentives because the carrier doesn't need to disclose when people volunteer to give up their seats. An airline must tell the Department of Transportation whenever it denies boarding to a passenger. A Delta customer wrote in a Forbes article that her family once received $1,350 a ticket for volunteering to give up her seat on a flight from New York to Florida. United's contract, which customers agree to when they buy a ticket, says the airline will select who will be denied boarding based on the "passenger's fare class, itinerary, status of frequent flyer program membership, and the time in which the passenger presents him/herself for check-in without advanced seat assignment." Passengers with disabilities and people under the age of 18 will be the last to be denied boarding, according to United. But there are also questions as to why United began looking for passengers to give up their seats once they were already on the plane. As mentioned earlier, United says it can invoke its involuntary boarding policy at any point before the plane takes off. But Harteveldt described this as highly unorthodox. At a press briefing just hours earlier, Spicer claimed that unlike Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Adolf Hitler didn't use chemical weapons on his own people. The ahistorical claim sparked a firestorm of criticism online. Beckel took a moment out of the program to address the comments, which he said a Fox News producer left out of the show's agenda. "I can't let this go because our producer didn't put it in the lineup, but Sean Spicer, the president's press secretary, today said Hitler didn't gas his own people, referring to Assad," Beckel said. He continued: "Sean, go back and take a hard look at the Second World War, where gas was used." Beckel's co-host Greg Gutfeld then cut Beckel off, and appeared to excuse Spicer for the remarks. "Obviously he made a mistake, Bob," Gutfeld said. "Thank God none of us here make mistakes like that." "That's a pretty big mistake," Beckel responded. The book, "The Operator" by Robert O'Neill, recounts the former Navy chief's career spanning 400 missions, though his role with the elite SEAL team's raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, has become his most consequential. According to O'Neill, he was walking behind his fellow SEALs as they searched bin Laden's three-story compound. Upstairs, they could roughly make out bin Laden's son Khalid, who had an AK-47. "Khalid, come here," the SEALs whispered to him. He poked his head out and was shot in the face. An unnamed point man and O'Neill proceeded up to the third floor. After they burst into bin Laden's bedroom, the point man tackled two women, thinking they might have suicide vests, as O'Neill fired at the Al Qaeda founder. "In less than a second, I aimed above the woman's right shoulder and pulled the trigger twice," he wrote, according to the New York Daily News. "Bin Laden's head split open, and he dropped. I put another bullet in his head. Insurance." There is some dispute over who fired the fatal shots, but most accounts are that O'Neill shot bin Laden in the head at some point. According to a deeply reported article in The Intercept, O'Neill "canoed" the head of bin Laden, delivering a series of shots that split open his forehead into a V shape. O'Neill's book says the operators had to press bin Laden's head back together to take identifying photos. But that wasn't the end of the mutilation of bin Laden's body, according to Jack Murphy of SOFREP, a special-operations news website. Two sources told Murphy in 2016 that several SEALs took turns dumping round after round into bin Laden's body, which ended up having more than 100 bullet holes in it. Murphy, a former Army Ranger, called it "beyond excessive." "The picture itself would likely cause an international scandal, and investigations would be conducted which could uncover other operations, activities which many will do anything to keep buried," he wrote. After bin Laden's body was taken back to Afghanistan for full identification, it was transported to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) for burial at sea. Somewhere in the Arabian Sea on May 2, 2011, a military officer read prepared religious remarks, and bin Laden's body was slid into the sea. "We still haven't figured out how to do it," Niccol told Business Insider. Taco Bell could launch delivery today if it was willing to compromise on quality, . "Could we probably just go do it? Sure. But it would just be OK," Niccol said. "OK usually ends up in a slow death. You buy a shirt, and you're like, eh, it's OK. But slowly and surely it moves to the back of your closet with the tag still on it. And it never makes it out of the closet because you're like, eh, it's OK." The Mexican chain's shortcoming isn't for lack of trying. Taco Bell has experimented with third parties, including DoorDash, but no one has managed to deliver the food quickly enough for the company's taste. "The third party folks, the aggregators they're just not fast enough," Niccol said. Currently, Taco Bell is looking into building an in-house delivery program, using insights from sister brand Pizza Hut. More tests are likely on the horizon. Out of this amount, GH185.28 million and GH123.01 million are estimated National Electrification Scheme Levy (NESL) and Public Lighting Levy (PLL), respectively. These losses will be accounted for under the Power Generation and Infrastructure Support Sub-Account (PGISS). In effect, the 60 per cent of monies collected under the NESL and 40 per cent of monies collected under the PLL that is normally paid into the PGISS will no longer be available. This was contained in the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finances report on the Energy Sector Levies Amendment Bill, 2017. New Bill The government as part of the 2017 budget statement and economic policy proposed to reduce the NESL from five per cent to two per cent and the PLL from five per cent to three per cent per price of kWh of electricity charged on all categories of consumers. Pursuant to that commitment, the government introduced a bill to amend the Energy Sector Levies Act, 2015 (ACT 899) as part of measures to reduce the energy sector levies imposed on consumers. READ ALSO: Ameri Power Plant has no operating license Energy Sector Levy Act The Energy Sector Levy Act, which was passed in December 2015, received lots of criticisms as fuel prices at the pumps went up as high as 27 per cent. The Act was introduced as part of measures of generating revenue to offset the monies that the Volta River Authority owed to banks and some accumulated debts within the countrys energy sector and make the energy companies viable. The Act placed taxes on some petroleum products and saw the introduction of the energy debt recovery levy and the price stabilisation and recovery levy. In addition, the road fund and the energy fund were revised upwards. READ ALSO: VRA to settle energy debt by March 2017 The Minister of Communication Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful said this in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM. She said the new law will resolve confusion among telcos. Mrs Owusu Ekuful said the new regulation will ensure there is fairness in the industry for all stakeholders. We have policies in the past which drove the issuance of licenses to all manner of people for specific services which has brought a bit of regulatory confusion in this area and we are working towards clarifying that. Im sure by the end of this year we should see our way clear towards encouraging industry to also take up the various technologies available so that Ghanaians can get the best experience, she added. On a 5G network for the country, the minister said her ministry will work tirelessly to ensure Ghanaians enjoy 5G network within the shortest possible time. She wore an African print jumpsuit designed with lace topped with lace floor-length jacket which some critics described as overdressed for the occasion. READ MORE: Best and worst dressed celebs at 2017 Vodafone Ghana Music awards The annual VGMAs happened on Saturday, April 8 2017 at Conference Center. Many Ghanaian celebrities who attended the program upped their fashion game while other were overly dressed. According to the 43-year-old actress, she was being compared to the popular 2011 British- American live-action animated music comedy fantasy for children (teletubbies) and it can only be funny. I laughed because I was being compared to teletubbies. She further added that she is not moved by the mocking from most people because it is part of being a celebrity. It is so beautiful, its part of the job, you laugh over it and move on and its not something you need to take offense to. READ ALSO: Princess Shyngle just showed Moesha Boduong how to break the Internet with these explicit photos She explained that the dress was a gift to her by the event organizer because she was to present an award that night. The maiden edition was dubbed Rethink Series: The Go-Getter mindset for business and it hosted Michael Amankwa, the pan African technology mogul and CEO of CoreNett. Michael Amankwa was the most suitable candidate for the maiden edition because he is not only making notable strides in the technology space, he is also improving lives across Africa. Interviewing him at the event was the eloquent Anita Erskine, who delved into his past experiences and challenges. Michael also shared key inspiring values that shaped his success in the world of business. In attendance were over 170 professionals ranging from small to mid-size business owners, marketing executives, business leaders and even students. After Michael Amankwas inspiring speech and interview session with Anita Erskine, the attendees were engaged in exercises to test how they could implement their learnings using practical business scenarios. Speaking to the press at the event, the Chief marketing officer of SMSGH, David Coleman said We want the Rethink series to inspire attendees and challenge them to apply new insights and experiences in their business and professional lives. We want them to rethink how they do business. He allegedly hides part of the blood samples he takes from pregnant women who visit the hospital for antenatal checks and sells them. He sells a little amount of the blood from GH5,000 to GH10,000. Most patients who visited the hospital reported that their ailments got worse after attending the clinic. In the case of the pregnant women, they either lost their lives or their babies. This led to the lodging of complaints to the hospital authorities who also informed the Abura Dunkwa police about the concerns. READ ALSO: 6 in court over alleged cattle rustling The District Police Commander, Superintendent Robert Adika, deployed police to the hospital for the arrest of Stephen Enyan. One Policeman posed as a sakawa boy and contacted Stephen Enyan on WhatsApp before going to him to buy blood. Stephen Enyan agreed to supply him with the blood and sent GH250 as part payment of GH10,000 before he was arrested in the course of the transaction. The money, in five GH50 notes, were tendered in court yesterday. READ ALSO: Court orders flogging of electrician for stealing horse Stephen Enyan after he joined the hospital as a laboratory technician was moved to the mortuary. However, family members of people who died at the hospital started complaining about missing parts of their dead relatives. Three others, Andrews Boama, Joe Joe and Peter Adu are currently on the run. The Enchi District Police Commander, Superintendent Raymond Kofi Erzuah said the gang of seven robbers who had laid ambush mistook a police night patrol vehicle for that of some Chinese gold miners. The said Chinese miners were supposed to be returning from the bank with money to pay their workers at about the same time the police got there. The gang of seven subsequently engaged in a gun battle with the police which resulted in the death of one of the suspected robbers at dawn on Monday, April 10. Police say after the exchange of gunfire, they were able to arrest two, Augustine Kwame 20 an illegal miner and Kofi Abanga, 24, a farmer. Superintendent Erzuah added that after the arrest, the other three who are currently on the run managed to carry their colleague Samuel Atongo with a gunshot wound to a village called Gyasikrom near Enchi, where the said pastor, Isaac Twumasi had prepared a herbal concoction to treat the wounded. The illegal miners said the president and his government must reconsider their plans before they destroy their business. They said any attempt by government to disrupt their activities will send them into poverty because they depend on the mining. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu has cautioned illegal miners to stop their activities or face prosecution. He had earlier indicated that his outfit will start using drones to augment its efforts to effectively combat illegal mining to ensure the protection of the countrys water bodies and the environment. He said "we will not take things lightly because we believe that China and India are the sources of funding for these illegal miners; so we are dealing with the root cause of the menace." READ ALSO: Ivory Coast not happy with Ghana over galamsey But one miner who spoke to Accra-based Joy FM said "Does the Lands Minister [Peter Amewu] want us to sit home?... I have sat home for eight years and we want to make money because our government is in power but they want to stop us." "If they stop us, we will also vote against the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). "We are begging Nana Akufo-Addo, we are hungry," he said. Galamsey has destroyed several water bodies resulting in them drying up. The Chinese embassy in Ghana recently in a strongly worded letter to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, warned of dire consequences if the current clampdown on illegal Chinese miners continues. According to the embassy, many of the Chinese nationals involved in galamsey are the victims of fraud and blackmail and as such the police needed to deal with cases on individual bases. We think it is very important that any operation against illegal mining should be carried out in line with Ghanaian laws and international recognized norms, the mass arrest and media hype should be minimized, the cases should be dealt with on individual base and the legitimate rights of the miners should be respected. Since a great part of Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining are also victims of fraud and blackmail, if casualties are incurred and plundering and looting take place during operation, it will be extremely harmful to the bilateral relations, it said. READ ALSO:Ivory Coast not happy with Ghana over galamsey Chinese businessmen have been some of the major contributors of cash and equipment to the illegal mines. The mines have led to the pollution of many of Ghanas rivers, raising concern about the access to potable water within the next decade. However, the Information Minister Hamid said the letter by the Chinese would not have any negative impact on bilateral relations between the two countries and government will continue its drive to end galamsey. It has no consequence at all and will not have any effects at all whatsoever, so far as we have to stamp out galamsey. READ MORE: Suhuyini blasts media for campaign to end galamsey The anti-galamsey is on and the government has shown that it has the will and capacity to stamp it out and will go ahead with the program in place. There will be no sacred cows and the Chinese threat does not bother me at all. It is OK for them to be seen [speaking for China] because if you flip the coin and you were a Chinese living in China you will put pressure on your government saying: The Ghanaians are clamping down on our people and why is government silent? So it is okay for them to say something to appease their citizens. In a statement signed by the Head of the UN Office for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and Resident Coordinator of the UN system in Ghana, Christine Evans-Klock, UN said "The two UN officials outrightly denounce these reprehensible acts that are the latest in a series of similar incidents since the end of the December 2016 elections in Ghana." READ MORE: Judges condemn Delta Force attack on judiciary It will be recalled that some members of the Delta Force, besieged the Kumasi Circuit Court last week and freed its members who were facing charges for attacking the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator. Thirteen of the men were arrested and put before court on Thursday April 6, following which they were remanded in custody. READ ALSO: Council of State member blames Montie 3 release for Delta Force lawlessness Below is the full statement: STATEMENT BY THE UNITED NATIONS ON RECENT VIOLENCE AT KUMASI CIRCUIT COURT Accra, Ghana: 10 April 2017 The United Nations has consistently drawn attention to the negative role of vigilante groups in the two leading political parties of Ghana. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the Resident Coordinator of the UN system in Ghana, Christine Evans-Klock, have followed with consternation the acts of impunity perpetrated by the Delta Force vigilante group in the aftermath of December 2016 elections. READ MORE: Eight suspects denied bail They are particularly concerned that these political militants invaded the premises of Kumasi Circuit Court on 6 April 2017, and freed their members standing trial for assault on the Regional Security Coordinator on 24 March 2017. These acts are likely to tarnish the image of Ghana as a model of democracy and the rule of law. The two UN officials outrightly denounce these reprehensible acts that are the latest in a series of similar incidents since the end of the December 2016 elections in Ghana. READ MORE: Pentecostal Council condemns Ken Agyapong for supporting Delta Force They welcome positively the unambiguous condemnation of these acts by the government and expect that all necessary measures will be taken to investigate these actions and bring the perpetrators to justice. Cynthia Prah National Information Officer UN Information Centre, Accra Background Some members of Delta Force, a vigilante group associated with the governing New Patriotic Party, besieged the Kumasi Circuit Court and freed its members who were facing charges for attacking the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator. Reports suggest that the group nearly assaulted the Judge, Mary Senkyire and also destroyed some court properties. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! When asked whether Spicer thought there was any reason to think Russia would pull back its support of Syria, its decades-long ally, Spicer seemed to muddle some facts regarding World War II history. "We didn't use chemical weapons in World War II," he said. "You had someone as despicable as Hitler didn't even sink to using chemical weapons. If you're Russia, you have to ask yourself if this is a country and regime that you want to align yourself with." The World War II-era German dictator, however, famously did use chemical weapons in gas chambers to exterminate millions of Jewish people, LGBTQ people, and others in Eastern Europe. "They are now getting on the wrong side of history in a really bad way," Spicer said of Russia. Moments later, Spicer was asked to clarify his comments on Hitler. "When it comes to sarin gas, he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing," Spicer said. "In the way that Assad used them where he went into towns and dropped him down on innocents in the middle of town was not the same. I appreciate the clarification that was not the intent," Spicer said, presumably referring to the implication that Hitler did not use chemical weapons. But Spicer's clarification remains murky. Hitler gassed his own people, many of whom were German Jews or others found undesirable to the Nazi movement, though it's true that Hitler did not order airstrikes with chemical weapons on civilian populations. After the conference, Spicer offered additional clarification, telling an NBC reporter that "In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust, however, I was trying to draw a contrast of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on innocent people." Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Lutherodt who is also a pastor spoke in an interview with a radio station in his country that any woman who is unfortunate to get married to a poor man would die early and go to hell. According to the popular radio and television counselor, added that women should arrest any poor man who uses their photos as profile pictures on social media. He was quoted as saying on his recent radio program: "Report any man who is not married to you but uses your picture as his DP (display picture) to the police and gets him arrested. Report such a man to the police and let them know he is using your image to perpetrate crime. Never allow a poor man to marry you. You will die early and go to hell. A man who cannot afford a square meal and a snack should not dream of marriage because he cannot fend for himself. There are some of the men who have no rooms of their own who live in obey the wind chamber and hall. A man is not ready for marriage when he lives in 'obey the wind' self-contain. 'Obey the wind' self-contain is a room you partition with cast-off curtains and you hold the middle with pegs and when the wind blows, you see chamber and hall. Both are standing trial on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft. They denied the charges. The judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, admitted the duo to a bail of N50, 000 each with two sureties in like sum. He said the sureties should reside within the courts jurisdiction. Earlier, Police Prosecutor Fidelis Ogbobe told the court that the complainant, Sunday Linigbo, of Kabusa Village, reported the incident at Apo Police Station. He said the security guards, who were attached to the complainants block industry at Kabusa, conspired and stole two pumping machines and iron rods, all valued at N47, 000. The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 289 of the Penal Code. Punch reports that apart from the drivers, some commuters and petty traders who flouted the state's traffic laws were given the same treatment. It was gathered that the convicts were arrested by the Corps officials at the Ikeja Along end of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway for allegedly patronizing traffic hawkers as well as those who sold the goods. Apart from the conviction, vehicles belonging to the offenders including a Honda Accent, Hiace, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Sienna, taxi cabs and commercial buses were also impounded by the agency. The suspects who were arrested in the raid by the Corps were accused of breaching the environmental law and brought before a magistrate, Olayiwola Ogundare of the Ogba Magistrates Court, who sentenced them to three months imprisonment each. Ogundare, however, gave the accused persons an option of N10, 000 fine each to be paid on the spot, adding that each of the motorists should pay additional N20,000 fine into the state coffers. The Head of Public Affairs Unit for LASECORPS, Rahmat Alabi, said the arrest was in line with the Environmental Sanitation Law, 2015, emphasizing the agency determination to fight the menace of highway hawking. The corps marshal believes that the enforcement of the Environmental Sanitation Law, 2015, that makes both buyers and sellers liable, will send the expected signal and halt the prevalence of the illegal highway hawking and street trading in the metropolis. If there are no buyers, there will be no sellers, she said. This was confirmed by Chukwu Okechukwu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPPRO) who spoke to newsmen today. According to report, the abductees who are reportedly workers at BTS Construction Company, a building firm in the state were taken from their confinement on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Two Turkish nationals working for a construction company in Onna local government area were abducted from their hotel rooms on Sunday, said Okechukwu. The incident is one of many of such cases regularly recorded in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria where security for expatriates is almost non-existent. Thugs and unidentified miscreants have often relied on the abduction of foreign workers of noble nationality in a bid to receive a ransom for their release. ALSO READ: 3 suspected kidnappers burnt alive for allegedly abducting newborn baby The amount requested by these individuals are usually huge sums amounting to millions of dollars. Ghana Gossip reports that the armed robbers had stormed the home of their victim in Wa in the Upper West region and after the operation, they made away with the money. The owner of the money said to be a trader, had allegedly collected money from other Ghanaian traders doing business in neighbouring Burkina Faso for a particular transaction and was about transferring the money another part of the town when the robbers struck and made away with it. The trader was said to have sent a potent juju' after the criminals and warned that they would die within three days if they did not return the money. It was gathered that after the robbery, the man visited a very powerful native doctor where a ritual was performed for him and he invoked the curse on the robbers, vowing that they would die within three days if they failed to return the money. Disturbed by the efficacy of the juju, according to the report, the robbers returned the money the next day, leaving it at the man's doorstep. Punch reports that the two suspects, Sodienye Mbatumukeke and Excel Divine Naabe, had allegedly murdered the Ebonyi State-born Eleje when he went to deliver some iPhones Mbatumukeke, whose father is a very influential lawyer in the state on March 25, 2017. After allegedly killing the delivery man, the suspects were said to have thrown his body into a septic tank. Their cover was blown when some neighbours noticed the strange movements of the suspects and reported to the police who moved in and arrested them before retrieving the decomposing body of the victim. The suspects were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Amadi Amadi-Nna on three counts according to charge number PMC/697C/2017. The charges read: That you, Sodienye Mbatumukeke, on March 25, 2017, on Ada-Ede Street, Shell Location, Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did use a pestle to hit the head of one Eleje Chukwuma, and robbed him of one Infinix Note 3 handset valued at N67,000, one IM-10 desktop GSM phone dual SIM, valued at N9,500, and one Gionee M6 phone, valued at N105,000; all valued at N181,000.00, property of Jumia Online Shopping Company, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. That you, Sodienye Mbatumukeke and Excel Divine Naabe, on the same date and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: murder, thereby committing an offense punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999. That you, Sodienye Mbatumukeke and Excel Divine Naabe, on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did murder one Eleje Chukwuma, by hitting him on the head with a pestle and subsequently suffocated him by covering his head with a polyethene bag, before tying him with a wire, which caused his death, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999. It was gathered that the accused were arraigned by a state prosecutor, Inspector Jonas Rufus, while they appeared without any defense counsel. The third accused, Joy Eluwa, said to be Mbatumukeke girlfriend, was not part of the arraignment on Monday, April 10 at the court. It was learned that when the case was mentioned in the court, Magistrate Amadi-Nna stated that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter as a result of the gravity of the offense. ALSO READ: The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Saka Audu, made the disclosure at the 2017 stakeholders meeting on the Review and Planning of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), in Lokoja on Tuesday. I am happy to inform you that Gov. has approved and released N41 million counterpart fund for all programmes supported by our health development partners, including NTDs. This action is an affirmation of his commitment to the health of the people of Kogi. It confirms that their happiness is paramount to him, he said. He thanked Sightsavers, handlers of Onchocerciasis, for supporting the state on the NTDs project in addition to its original mandate of helping the blind. Earlier, the States NTDs Project Coordinator, Mr Albert Alabi, had said that the meeting would review the extent of implementation of programme lined up in 2016, and also develop 2017 action points. The meeting will also identify strengths, best practices, challenges and develop measures for mitigating the challenges as a way forward. The NCDC also said that 3,959 cases of the disease have been recorded so far. The agency made the disclosure via a statement released on the outbreak. The statement reads: As at April 5, 2016, 3,959 suspected cases have been reported as part of the current outbreak, of which 181 cases have been laboratory-confirmed. A total of 438 deaths (11% of all cases) have been reported from 106 LGAs in 19 states in the country. In response to the recent outbreak of Meningitis C in some states in Nigeria, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Cosntrol (NCDC) in support to the Zamfara State Government, has commenced a mass vaccination exercise. The campaign started on the 6th of April 2017 in the eight most affected local government areas in Zamfara state, and will continue until April 9, 2017. The campaign targets 300,000 persons aged 2 29 years. More campaigns are planned in other States in the near future. Reports from the field indicate early progress in the vaccination exercise. In Zamfara state, there has been a massive turnout recorded in the target local government areas. The agency also said that its working with officials of Zamfara state to coordinate the vaccination exercise. The Governor insisted that local governments remain under absolute control of States, and that the only organ of the State empowered by the constitution to make laws for them is the state House of Assembly. Governor Aregbesola made these statements while declaring open the 2017 NULGE Week at the Public Lecture organized by the Osun State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), held at the Aurora Conference Centre, Osogbo. The Governor averred that the current campaign for autonomy of local governments is capable of destroying federalism and by extension the country at large. The Governor described the school of thought that local governments should be independent of State governments as totally strange and anti-federalism. He noted that there are only two tiers of government in a federal system of government, namely the federal government and the government at the federating level. Aregbesola stressed that it is awkward for Nigeria to be the only federation in the world where there is only one police system, noting that it is strange for the federal government and the constitution not to allow for police in the federating units of the country. The Governor held that the problems with local government administration in the country can be corrected within the laws of the states. According to him, Nigeria is not just a republic, but a Federal Republic. A federal state is where every distinction of nationality is recognised, respected and honoured. None of the units of the federation is therefore superior to the other. Few things are awkward about federalism in Nigeria. Nigerias federation is strange to the extent that only one police force maintains law and order. In other federations, there will be a Federal Police force and other federating unit police. Nigerian nationality and people must seek to correct this anomaly". Another anomaly that people, because of their frustration to some aspect of administration, are equally making mistake on and need correction is that a federation has two tiers of government. There cannot be three tiers in a federation. The moment you have three tiers, you no longer have a federation. In his speech, the President of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) Osun Chapter, Comrade Deji Adeyeye, commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for prioritising workers welfare in the State. Adeyeye stated that gone are the days when workers in the State were paid once in every three months or once in four months. He acknowledged that the current recession is not peculiar to Osun but almost all the States of the federation. The NULGE boss stated that labour unions in the State are holding the Governor to his words over backlog of salaries of workers above Grade Level 8, who are being owed between 20 and 25 percent of their salaries. According to him, "Once upon a time, workers in the State were paid once in three months or once in four months but our own Governor ensured that we moved out of this terrible situation. "Grade Levels 1 to 7 have always been receiving full salary while Grade Level 8 and above were placed on constant half salary. "Not too long after, Grade Levels 8 to and 10 were paid 75 percent of their salaries while staff on Grade Levels 12 and above maintain a consistent half salary. "It is noteworthy that each time we meet with the Governor over the backlog of salaries of staff on Grade Levels 8 and above, we have always received a positive response. This followed a motion under matter of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Asabe Bashir (Borno-APC). Moving the motion, Bashir said three years after the abduction, 195 abducted school girls were still in captivity while negotiations for their release seemed to be takingtoo long. She expressed concern that the girls could be subjected to more hardship, slavery, molestation, abuse, rape and forceful marriage in the hands of their abductors. According to her, there are media reports that the girls are preparing for their final secondary school examination at an undisclosed private school in Abuja. The lawmaker noted that the Federal Government had in 2016 disclosed that it was negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of 83 out of the remaining 195 abducted girls still in captivity. In her contribution, Rep. Nnena Elendu-Ukeji (Abia-PDP), said that Federal Government must see to the full execution of a rehabilitation programme for the girls and their children they returned with. She added that it would be the only away the girls and their children, many of whom were products of sexual assault, were fully reintegrated in the society. The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara. The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday, April 9. The expatiates worked for BKS Construction Company in Onna local government area of the state, spokesperson of the police command in the state, Chukwu Okechukwu told NAN in Uyo on Monday. Okechukwu the victims were abducted at Airstrip Hotel in Eket. "The state police command is working tirelessly to rescue the expatriates. The Commissioner of police has mobilised the anti-kidnapping unit and a special anti-crime unit to ensure that they are freed unhurt," he said. ALSO READ: Kidnappers demand N20m for teacher's release in Ekiti The police spokesman added that the identities, nationalities and workplace of the victims were unknown at the time they whisked away. "Two Turkish nationals working for a construction company in Onna local government area were abducted from their hotel rooms on Sunday," state police spokesman Chukwu Okechukwu told AFP. He said the men, who work for BKS Construction Company which is based in Onna, were seized by gunmen from a hotel in Eket, an industrial city which is home to Mobil, the Nigerian subsidiary of US oil giant Exxon. He said efforts were under way to free the pair. In January, a Turkish teacher was abducted from a school just outside Lagos along with another two staff members and five students, police said, indicating that they were freed two weeks later. No group claimed responsibility. Kidnapping for ransom was rife in the Niger delta until a 2009 government amnesty drastically reduced unrest in the region. Most kidnap victims were released unhurt after ransom payments. But the region has seen a resurgence of militancy since 2016, cutting Nigeria's oil output at a time of global low crude prices, hurting government revenue and forcing Africa's most populous country into a recession. Ohiri, a staff of United Bank for Africa (UBA) told the Lagos Federal High Court that the officials would withdraw the money and use same to buy bank drafts in favour of Inland Bank Plc. He stated this on Monday, April 10, while testifying before the court in the prosecution case Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, who was the Abia State Governor at the time. Kalu is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged fraud of N2.9 billion. The Ex-Governor is facing 34 counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering. He is standing trial alongside Udeh Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited. Ohiri is the second prosecution witness. The bank staff presented as evidence the the statement of account of the Abia State Government House domiciled at the Umuahia branch of UBA and a list of 36 bank drafts. The witness matched several withdrawals from the account with corresponding bank drafts purchased. Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Ohiri also identified two of the state government workers who came to make withdrawals from the account. She listed their names as Jones Udeogu, Mr. R.K. Madu, saying "there would have been one or two others but I cant recall their names." The witness said Madu made two withdrawals of N15 million and N26 from the state houses account on August 2, 2005, went ahead to buy bank drafts in the same amounts in favour of Inland Bank Plc. Also on on June 6, 2005, she said Madu withdrew N19.5 million and N21.5 million and used same to purchase bank drafts. ALSO READ: Kalu returns to court over alleged N3.2bn fraud Again, Madu on April 7, 2005, allegedly withdrew N25 million and N15 million from the account and subsequently used same to purchase bank drafts. According to her, other state house officials, who purchased drafts are Oke Udeh, Oke Nwancukwu, Johnson Okoro, J.O. kanayo and I.D. Okoro. When Kalus lawyer, Mr. Gordy Uche (SAN) cross-examined the witness, asking whether the ex0governor's name appeared anywhere in the transactions, she said Kalu;s name did not feature on the papers. She also noted that the names of the beneficiaries of the purchased bank drafts did not reflect on the documents. Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos had last Thursday issued an order unfreezing Mrs Jonathan's account in the Skye Bank, which contains $5.8million. It was learnt that on Monday, April 10, Mrs. Jonathan, alongside her aides went to the Skye bank's Maitama, Abuja, branch to withdraw from the account, but she was not granted access on the ground that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a stay of execution of the court order. Citing a source at the bank, The Nation reports that Mrs. Jonathan had a meeting with an Executive Director of the bank, insisting that she had to withdraw from the account. The source was quoted as saying: "The former First Lady came to our branch to collect cash from her unfrozen account but we could not honour her. "She came at about 11am and left some minutes after 4pm. She had audience with an Executive Director of our bank. "Her entry created a scene because she said the cash was her entitlement but we insisted that the account was still in dispute because of a pending appeal. "There is still an application for a stay of execution. We do not want to engage in an act of subjudice." Another source at the EFCC told the newspaper that the agency "received intelligence report that the ex-First Lady went to Skye Bank Plc to access her account but the bank disallowed her because of a pending appeal." "We are determined to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion. Our position is that the account should remain frozen in line with our mandate. "Considering our findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering, contrary to Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery, contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have been established against the ex-First Lady and others," the source added. ALSO READ: 5 Reasons why Patience Jonathan should run for Senate However, another report by The Cable says Mrs. Jonathan was able to withdraw some money from the account, but less than the amount she had requested. The online news platform said she wanted to withdraw as much as $1 million, but was given $100,000 by the bank. One of the aides of the former first lady was said to have told journalists that the transaction was successful. The aide, who did not want to be named, simply said "everything was okay." In November 2016, the EFCC asked the court for an order freezing the account because it was suspected to harbour proceeds of crime. The judge obliged in December, 2016. The report was also turned down because it did not cover similar crises in other parts of the country as the committee was mandated. The committee was mandated to cover all the states in the country, especially Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, Enugu, Abia, Taraba, Nasarawa, Delta, Edo and Kano, that had recorded clashes. But the committee visited only Kaduna and Zamfara. The rejection came after the presentation of the report by Chairman of the committee, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, at plenary. Gaya had told the senators that the committee recommended that those found wanting in the Kaduna crisis should be brought to book and that victims deserving compensation should be paid. The reason why we raised the recommendation is that most of the white papers produced during the last routine crises in Kaduna, none has been implemented, he said. He added that the committee also recommended that Kaduna State Government should collaborate with security agencies to embrace everybody irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations. They should also set up a committee to embrace dialogue for peace to reign within Kaduna South and Kaduna State. The lawmaker said this was very vital because there was a kind of communication gap between the government and the committee. But reacting to the report, Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, noted that the committee identified only 10 states to visit, but that the crisis and the killings existed in more than 10 states. This Senate must accord this issue the seriousness it deserves. The report needs to be deeper than this; the recommendation needs to reflect more of the seriousness of the matter. They should be given more time to do more work on this so that they will be able to show to the whole world that this senate is serious about this matter. To say that we have to use money for service wide vote to address this matter shows our misunderstanding of the concept of service wide vote. It is not a small fund, it is tied to specifics, Ekeremadu said. On his part, Sen Baranabas Gemade (APC-Benue) said that the report was obviously an interim one. According to him, it is very obvious that quite a lot of work that needed to be done to bring this report to a level that we will actually establish the seriousness of this problem has not been done. There are many aspects of insurgency and disturbance in these areas; there is the aspect of cattle rustling and nomads straying into farmlands, disturbing people, he said. On the recommendation of recreating cattle routes, Gemade said that there was the need to look at the fundamental requirements of our nationhood. Where is that law that provided free assets of nomads in West Africa to go wherever they like, however they like and do whatever they like. These are issues we must deal with. We must come to a point where we are in total agreement of what is good for everybody, he said. In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that there were many other parts of the country with similar issues as Kaduna South that the committee report did not cover. The seriousness of the matter deserves in-depth and detailed recommendations, he said. Saraki, therefore, urged the committee to address some of the observations and report back. At a press conference which held on April 11, 2017, at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos, Efe was asked if he has received an alert. Giving a hilarious response, the former housemate explained that he just got into the country and is yet to receive it. He also joked about how impossible it is for MultiChoice and sponsors of the show to cheat him. "Even if it take me one year, I go chill. Because, right now, people ready to borrow me money," Efe added. The housemate also expressed his gratitude at how far people went for him, asking, "who I be?" The Ahmed Makarfi-led PDP made the comments on Monday, April 10, via a statement released by spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye. The statement reads: We have also been alerted to the news of the Federal Government of Nigeria planning to tap mobile telephone lines and hacking of other devices of citizens as a way of harassing and intimidating them into silence. This and other unholy practices of this administration will henceforth be resisted by all Nigerians. We will mobilize Nigerians at all levels to fight against the use of arms in a democratic system to ridicule and intimidate citizens of this country; we will no longer tolerate this high handedness of the APC. It is not a big deal, really. We know love is not about perfection. It is more about navigating weaknesses and strengthening each other. But during the process of attaining that perfect understanding, there will be times when youll likely get it wrong, when some of your actions will hurt your partner and make them sad or unhappy. Your willingness to apologise and your partners ability to forgive will be tested at this point, and this could determine whether you ultimately make up or breakup. ece-auto-gen So, since we are here talking about apologizing; can we talk about women, and that famed reluctance to admit wrong in relationships? The very popular notion about men and women in relationships is that you could never hear them breathe the word, "I'm sorry" and would rather do some other thing, any other thing to show [subtle] remorse, rather than say the word 'I am sorry.' So often is it said that to have a successful relationship with a woman, you have to be willing and ready to apologise when she's wrong, when you're wrong, when the kids are wrong, when everything and anything is wrong... because, well, women just don't apologise. iStock But how true is this statement though? Is there any truth to this belief? Actually, there is no evidence to prove this belief that women never apologise when they are wrong. On the contrary, what exists is an obvious existence of partners who just would never admit that they are wrong. ALSO READ: How do you tell your partner that they need to up their sex game? That egoistic assumption of infallibility and a refusal to admit wrongdoing or acknowledge a partner's grief at it, is something that can be found in both men and women. The issue of seeing one's self as being above errors and never accepting mistakes can be found in both men and women. A refusal to admit wrongdoing is a behavioural defect that's not particular to any gender, and both men and women can be victims of such difficult partners. Apparently, it's nothing more than banter that women never apologise for their wrongs in relationships, and men can also be just as guilty of that. Speaking at TEDx Wilmington Salon, Yvonne explains her early eagerness to have sex and how that was dimmed over time. "You cannot date until you get married. That was what the actress thoroughbred Nigerian parents told her when she was 16 and sought permission to date [and maybe have sex] like all her American friends. So, having been told by her parents that dating comes after marriage, and feeling annoyed and disappointed at that response, and willing to explore the spellbinding magic of sex, the comedienne planned to get married as soon as she became 18 and free from her parents stiff Nigerian ways. ALSO READ:Why people remain in relationships that have gone bad The actress had high hopes for her first sexual experience, planning to have some candle light and music in the room She was 17 and dreamy-eyed at the timefastforward to 2017, the actress is yet to have that magical first time sex but she no longer cares. A combination of her friends low expectation of sex, being bamboozled by and her parents strict advice helped the pretty actress remain a virgin at 33 and come to grips with the fact that waiting for the real one is actually worth it. Sharing a lot based on her experience, she says people need to be brave enough to; 1. Wait on the person who sees you for you and loves you regardless. 2. The one who sees value in what you value. 3. Wait on purpose and not in fear. 4. The one who makes you a priority. 5. Wait in the one who meets your standard. I cannot tell you how long you have to wait for this gorgeous person, she says, but I can tell you that the wait does not disappoint His car company, Tesla, just topped 114-year old Ford to become the second most valuable car company. Let's not begin to talk about the incredible things he's building for the future of Space Travel. Why isn't he letting his children stay in normal schools? Elon Musk has 5 boys, and he created a little school for them which he called Ad Astra, which is Latin for "to the stars". The school is much different from your traditional school in the sense that there's no grade structure like you'd get in a conventional school. As of 2015, only 20 students were enrolled in the school, with the others being children of employees of his rocket making company, Space X He said on a show on Chinese TV: "Other schools werent doing the things that I thought should be done. How then do they teach in this school? "There aren't any grades. There's not grade 1 or grade 2. Some people love languages, some people love Math. Some people like Music. With different abilities, it makes more sense to channel their education to match their aptitudes."Which kind of makes sense. When you remember people you met in school growing up, who hated math, but were pure geniuses in English, it felt awkward to see them at not being good students. He also believes children should be taught to solve problems, not use tools. So take for example, you're teaching someone how to fix a car engine, and you stumble on a screw. You teach them in the practical sense that the screwdriver is what they need. This way, they learn in context, the education is more practical, and retention is generally higher. So remember when you were in school and you asked a question like, "how the Hell is this useless subject going to help me?" These kids will never have to ask themselves this type of question. In a ruling that is subject to appeal, a court in Rome upheld a complaint filed by taxi unions and gave Uber ten days to end the use of various phone applications on Italian territory, along with the promotion and advertising of them. If Uber does not comply it could face a fine of 10,000 euros ($10,600) for each day it remains in defiance of the court. Americans are somehow. A sitting governor, Robert Bentley literally resigned because he used state funds to cover up an affair he had with one of his employees. Ordinary affair? The only time Nigerians governors ever leave office is when you vote them out, or when you march them out of the government house with the law. When you tell Nigerian politicians to resign to protect the dignity of the office, they'll be like, What's quite interesting is not the fact that he was having an affair, it's the fact that he was using state resources to cover up his relationship. Ordinary state resources? People that are using state funds to build houses and buy cars, and even Girlfriend Trust Fund, do they have two heads? The Governor of Alabama said: "I have decided that it is time for me to step down as Alabama's governor," Bentley said at a press conference Monday evening. "The time has come for me to look for new ways to serve the people of our great state." Wonderful. When a Nigerian politician is trying to come into office, they come begging like, But after they mess up and you tell them to leave office, they'll be like, Someone summarised Nigeria in one statement from Uche Okonkwo's "What The Road Offers": "He says that one of Nigeria's biggest problems is that we have built powerful individuals and weak institutions". The United States on Friday fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat air base near Homs, which the Pentagon said Assad's jets had used to launch a deadly chemical attack on rebel-held Idlib province that killed at least 87 civilians. Washington's missile strike was the first time it had intervened directly against the regime of Assad, who is fighting a civil war with the backing of Russia and Iran. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who is hosting the Group of Seven talks in Lucca, will convene a special meeting on Syria early Tuesday, which will also include Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar. Italian media said the aim was "to avert a dangerous military escalation". Alfano has already spoken by telephone with his Iranian counterpart, asking him to use his influence on the Syrian regime to avoid further attacks on civilians. The G7 ministers said Monday they aimed to send a "clear and coordinated message" to Moscow, where Tillerson is due to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. At the outset of the gathering, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described Assad as "toxic" and said it was "time for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is propping up". Fresh warning to Assad Washington Monday again warned Assad's regime not to carry out any more chemical attacks as it said the missile strike had destroyed a fifth of the Damascus regime's remaining warplanes. "The United States will not passively stand by while Assad murders innocent people with chemical weapons, which are prohibited by international law and which were declared destroyed," Pentagon chief James Mattis said in a statement. "The Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons," he added. Mattis's warning came as White House spokesman Sean Spicer appeared to lower the threshold for new US action against Assad to include barrel bombs, a crude yet hugely destructive weapon of choice for the Syrian leader. "If you gas a baby or drop a barrel bomb onto innocent people, you will see a response from" President Donald Trump, Spicer said. But US officials later walked back Spicer's remarks. "Nothing has changed in our posture," a senior administration official said. "As the president has repeatedly made clear, he will not be telegraphing his military responses," the official said. Trump discussed Syria during separate telephone calls Monday with British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. 'Window of opportunity' May and Merkel "expressed support for the action of the United States and agreed with President Trump on the importance of holding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable," the White House said in a statement. Downing Street said Trump and May had "agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest." The two leaders were looking to Tillerson's trip to Moscow this week as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for a "lasting political settlement," May's office said. Tillerson had already met with his Japanese, British and French counterparts on Monday evening ahead of a round-table meeting of the G7, which also includes Canada, Germany and Italy. Several rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 320,000 people since March 2011. Iran and North Korea have slammed Washington's retaliation and put it on a direct diplomatic collision course with Moscow, where Tillerson heads Tuesday. Johnson on Monday called on Moscow to do "everything possible to bring about a political settlement in Syria and work with the rest of the international community to ensure that the shocking events of the last week are never repeated". French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the pressing task for the G7 was to "find a political solution, a political transition" in Syria, particularly if the West wanted to triumph over the Islamic State group. jpegMpeg4-1280x720Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said he told Tillerson that Tokyo supports the US in its push to "deter the spread and use of chemical weapons," and discussed the pressing North Korean nuclear threat. Ten soldiers were slightly injured in the exchanges which broke out late Sunday after a large group of Islamist fighters arrived on motorbikes and cars, a member of the security forces said. The Boko Haram fighters were "clearly well-trained and certainly well informed about our positions," the source said. The fighting took place in Gueskerou, a village in the West African country's southeastern region of Diffa bordering Nigeria, from where a bloody uprising by Boko Haram fighters has spilled over. Government forces are working to identify the body of one of those killed who is believed to be a Boko Haram leader, according to the source. The military pushed the fighters back towards Nigeria and seized firearms, munition and three vehicles, including one equipped with a mounted weapon stolen from the military in the town of Bosso last June, the source added. Boko Haram's insurgency began in northeast Nigeria and has spread to Chad, Cameroon and Niger, claiming more than 20,000 lives and displaced 2.6 million people. China is already a major buyer of exports such as copper from Chile, the world's biggest producer of the metal. "Our aim is to progress quickly in order to complete the process this year and meet expectations of deepening relations with our top trade partner," said the head of the government's bilateral economic affairs department, Pablo Urria, in a statement. The two countries agreed on the move during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Chile last year. Latin American countries are concerned about the impact Trump's trade policies will have on their economies. The US president has threatened to put up barriers to international trade to protect US jobs. Chile supports the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a major trade agreement that has collapsed due to Trump's opposition. "North Korea is looking for trouble," Trump wrote on Twitter. "If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A." Trump launched a missile strike on Syria late Thursday while meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The move was widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea as well as retaliation for the Damascus regime's suspected sarin attack against civilians in a rebel-held town in Syria. "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" Trump wrote in an earlier tweet. The United States has deployed a naval strike group -- which includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson -- to the Korean peninsula in a show of force. The situation is dire. The more IOM engages inside Libya, the more we learn that it is a vale of tears for all too many migrants, he added. Many migrants pass through Libya in a bid to enter Europe by boat through the Mediterranean Sea. One survivor from Senegal said a bus driver, who was meant to smuggle a group of intending migrants to the coast, put his passengers up for sale because the middlemen hadnt paid his fees. The men on the pick-up were brought to a square, or parking lot, where a kind of slave trade was happening. There were locals he described them as Arabs buying sub-Saharan migrants, an IOM officer based in Niger, Livia Manante said. Manante said further that the existence of the open slave markets was confirmed by other migrants whom she interviewed. Several other migrants confirmed his story, independently describing kinds of slave markets as well as kinds of private prisons all over in Libya, Manente said. IOM Italy has confirmed that this story is similar to many stories reported by migrants and collected at landing points in southern Italy, including the slave market reports. This gives more evidence that the stories reported are true, as the stories of those who managed to cross-match those who are returning back to their countries, she added. Former head of the British Embassy Office in Benghazi, Joseph Walker-Cousins warned, in March ,that more than 1million migrants are in the pipeline in Libya hoping to cross to Europe. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. "Our base in Gargando was attacked early Saturday by Islamist terrorists," Oumar Ag Keling, a member of the Tuareg-led Congress for Justice in Azawad, told AFP. Gargando is a small town about 170 kilometres (106 miles) west of the historic city of Timbuktu. "They killed four of our fighters, as well as the village chief," Keling said, adding that the jihadist rebels were "of many nationalities, according to the documents found at the scene". A Malian military official confirmed the deaths, saying that "it was terrorists from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb who were responsible for the attack, because the CJA was becoming a powerful force in the region". For more than a month, the CJA -- formed in October 2016 to gain a bigger voice in the peace process for the Tuareg ethnic community of Kel Ansar, in Mali's northwest -- has opposed the installation of interim local authorities in Timbuktu, a central part of a peace deal signed in 2015. The rebels signed the deal along with the government and pro-Bamako militias in the hopes of bringing stability to the north, the cradle of several Tuareg uprisings and a sanctuary for Islamist fighters. Under the agreement, interim authorities will represent the inhabitants of Mali's five northern regions until security improves so that local elections can be held. Implementation of the peace accord however has been piecemeal and insurgents who refused to sign the deal are still active across large parts of the country. Mali's north fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012 who hijacked the rebel uprising, though the Islamists were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013. In another attack, a member of a pro-government group was killed on Friday in the northeast village of Anefis, according to an international security source, but they could not identify the perpetrators. Mali's jihadists did not sign the 2015 peace deal that aimed to quell separatist uprisings in the north and have continued to wreak havoc. In a separate development, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appointed defence minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga, 59, as prime minister, replacing Modibo Keita who had been in office since January 2015, according to a decree issued Saturday night. Five bodies have been recovered at the scene of the fighting, Philippine military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said on ABS-CBN television in Manila. At least one policeman was confirmed killed in the fight, national police spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said in a statement. "Security forces reported that the armed group is well-armed with heavy-calibre weapons, but now cornered in an isolated section" of Bohol, Philippine military chief of staff General Eduardo Ano said in a statement. The incursion would be the first on the tourist island by the Abu Sayyaf, which has long engaged in kidnapping for ransom -- often targeting foreigners. The group, also blamed for deadly bombings, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement that holds large swathes of Iraq and Syria. The gunmen sailed into the Bohol town of Inabanga on Monday, going upriver toward a remote section of the island aboard three fast boats, Inabanga police officer Edwin Melicor told AFP by telephone. Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through South African cities on Friday, angered by years of corruption scandals, record unemployment and slowing economic growth under Zuma's rule. Zuma's recent sacking of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan unleashed a fresh bout of public frustration -- as well as unprecedented complaints from senior ANC figures, including the deputy president. The largely peaceful protests in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town appeared to attract a diverse mix of South Africans, but Zuma railed against those who participated. "The marches that took place last week demonstrated that racism is real and exists in our country," he said. "Many placards and posters displayed beliefs that we thought had been buried... with some posters depicting black people as baboons." The president said some South Africans regarded "black people as being lesser human beings", but he gave no further details about the alleged placards and posters or where they had been seen. The protest in Johannesburg was organised by the main opposition Democratic Alliance party, which many ANC supporters accuse of harbouring white racists. Further demonstrations are planned on Wednesday ahead of a parliamentary motion of no confidence in the president on April 18. Zuma has easily survived previous such votes against him. The president was speaking at an annual memorial service for anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani, who was shot dead by a white suprematist in 1993. The 53-year-old artist, who trekked for 10 days to reach base camp, mixed his beats on a makeshift stone stage set against the spectacular backdrop of the world's highest mountains. With brightly coloured Tibetan prayer flags fluttering overhead, climbers and trekkers danced as best they could in their heavy hiking boots and thick down jackets. "It was truly amazing. I feel very lucky to have played here. We did a wonderful event and had people from all over the world. I feel very blessed," Oakenfold told AFP by phone from base camp after the performance. Base camp lies at an altitude of 5,380 metres (17,600 feet), and around 100 climbers and trekkers were there for the gig. "It was pretty cool. I've been here many years but never seen anything like that," 38-year-old American climber Ben Jones told AFP by phone. The number of trekkers at the camp will swell in the coming weeks as the climbing season gets into full swing. Hundreds of climbers spend weeks acclimatising to the altitude before attempting to reach the summit during the brief spring window when the weather is at its best. It was a dramatic departure for Oakenfold, who admitted he was more used to playing the world's top clubs and the beaches of Ibiza and Goa than the mountains of Nepal. Oakenfold, who had never trekked before, trained for four months before arriving in Nepal, fitting it in between a hectic schedule of late night gigs. "I'm not going to pretend it was easy to get here... but it has been a wonderful trek. If you could see the view I'm looking at, it is very inspiring," he told AFP on Monday. The gig is the first in the record producer's SoundTrek series, aimed at drawing attention to the effects of global warming and raising money for charities. Oakenfold, whose three-decade long career has included collaborations with Madonna and U2, is also raising funds to help survivors of Nepal's devastating 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and left thousands homeless. "There is no doubt the Holy Father will maintain his offer to go to Egypt" on April 28 and 29, Monsignor Angelo Becciu, the Holy See's number three, said in an interview published in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Monday. "What happened caused disorder and tremendous suffering, but it cannot stop the pope's mission of peace," he added. Sunday's bombings in churches in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and Tanta north of Cairo were the deadliest attacks on the Coptic Christian community in recent memory and were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. Becciu, who will travel to Egypt with the pontiff, described the bombings as an "attack on dialogue, on peace". "Egypt has assured us that everything will go as well as possible, so we will go confidently," he said. The pope had also voiced his condolences Sunday for victims of the double bombing, which has led Egypt to declare a three-month state of emergency. "May the Lord convert the heart of those who sow terror, violence and death and also the heart of those who make weapons and trade in them." Francis will become the second Roman Catholic pope to visit Egypt, following John Paul II's historic trip there in February 2000. The eight people detained in Moscow and Saint Petersburg over the April 3 bombing that killed 13 are "all originally from Central Asia", the head of the FSB security service Alexander Bortnikov said, quoted by RIA Novosti news agency. Bortnikov, speaking at a meeting of the National Antiterrorism Committee (NAK) that he chairs, did not specify the suspects' current citizenship. "To prevent attempts by fighters to enter Russia," there is a need for "additional measures of control on the state border... towards those suspected of taking part in terrorist attacks," the security chief said. The country's border guards are under the control of the FSB. The suspected suicide bomber has been named as 22-year-old Akbarjon Djalilov, who is thought to be a Russian national born in Central Asian Kyrgyzstan. Millions of migrants from the poverty-stricken ex-Soviet countries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan come to work in Russia. The core of "terrorist groups in Russia" is made up of citizens of ex-Soviet countries arriving "in flows of migrant workers," Bortnikov said. Some of these had trained and fought in Syria and Iraq, the FSB chief added. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia faces a threat from hardened Islamist fighters returning from Syria. The investigation into the Saint Petersburg metro bombing shows that "operational work on the ground still does not fully correspond to the threat from illegal terrorist organisations," Bortnikov said. Bortnikov linked the Saint Petersburg attack to the Islamic State jihadist group, which has however not claimed responsibility. He cited information according to which "the heads of terrorist groups active in the Middle East as part of IS are working on plans to carry out terrorist attacks in various regions of the world, including Russia." "Examples of this are the high-profile terrorist attacks in recent weeks in Britain, Russia, Sweden and Egypt," Bortnikov said. In Sweden, an Uzbek man is suspected of driving a truck into pedestrians in the capital Stockholm, killing four and injuring 15. According to a report by New York Times, the White House explained that United States intelligence and numerous contemporaneous reports confirmed that the Syrians used sarin gas on their own people. The report further said the White House asserted that the Syrian and Russian governments have sought to confuse the world community about the assault through disinformation and false narratives. White House sources reportedly said Russias goal was to cover up Syrian regime culpability. The sources reportedly said they could not comment on the possibility that the Russian government knew in advance of Syrias plan to carry out the chemical weapons attack, or of a subsequent attack on a hospital that was treating victims. Another source said Moscow must answer for the attacks due to the history of close cooperation between the Syrian and Russian militaries. The situation for asylum seekers and other migrants has long been considered dire in Hungary, but it has worsened since the country last month introduced a new law on the systematic detention of all asylum seekers. "I urge states to suspend any Dublin transfer of asylum-seekers to this country until the Hungarian authorities bring their practices and policies in line with European and international law," said Filippo Grandi,United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The so-called Dublin Regulation, which aims to stop people making asylum claims in multiple countries by requiring asylum seekers to be sent back to the first European country they arrived in, applies to European Union nations as well as non-members Switzerland and Norway. Grandi said he was "encouraged" by a European Commission decision to work with Hungarian authorities in a bid to bring Budapest's practices in line with EU law, but stressed in a statement that "urgent measures are needed to improve access to asylum in Hungary." The UN refugee agency has repeatedly cautioned that Hungary's use of physical barriers and restrictive policies basically deny the access to asylum guaranteed under international law. Since Hungary's new law came into force on March 28, all new asylum seekers, including children, have been "detained in shipping containers surrounded by high razor fences at the border for the entire length of their asylum procedures," UNHCR pointed out. According to the government 324 shipping container homes have been installed at two separate locations called "transit zones" built into a fence that Hungary erected along the 175-kilometre-(110-mile)-long border in 2015. UNHCR warned last month that the new practice would "have a terrible physical and psychological impact on women, children and men who have already greatly suffered." As of last Friday, 110 people, including four unaccompanied children and children with their families, were being held there, UNHCR said. EU member Hungary previously systematically detained all asylum applicants but suspended the practise in 2013 under pressure from Brussels, the UN refugee agency and the European Court of Human Rights. Grandi on Monday hailed recent efforts by Hungarian authorities to address allegations of police violence. But he said: "We remain very concerned about highly disturbing reports of serious incidents of ill-treatment and violence against people crossing the border into Hungary, including by state agents. Guterres said in the report to the United Nations Security Council that he wanted "a new dynamic" and a "new spirit" in negotiations on ending one of the world's most intractable conflicts. "I intend to propose that the negotiating process be relaunched with a new dynamic and a new spirit that reflect the council's guidance," the UN chief said in the report sent to the council on Monday. The negotiations would have "the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable political solution that includes resolution of the dispute over the ultimate status of Western Sahara, including through agreement on the nature and form of the exercise of self-determination," he added. Last month, long-serving UN envoy Christopher Ross resigned just weeks after Guterres spoke by phone with Morocco's King Mohamed VI to try to reduce tensions in a buffer zone in contested Western Sahara. Guterres has put forward German president Horst Kohler to be his new envoy to lead the negotiations, but the appointment is still under discussion, according to a UN official. Different reading of history Last month, Guterres met at UN headquarters in New York with Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to discuss his proposal to relaunch negotiations and tensions in the Guerguerat buffer zone. The failure to achieve progress in resolving the dispute stems from the fact that "each party has a different vision and reading of the history and documents that surround this conflict," he wrote in his report. A former Spanish colony, Western Sahara was annexed by Morocco in 1975. An insurgency by the pro-independence Polisario Front ended with a UN-brokered truce in 1991 and the deployment of a UN mission, MINURSO. Morocco maintains that Western Sahara is an integral part of its kingdom despite a UN resolution that calls for a referendum on the future of the territory. It was Guterres's first report to the council on Western Sahara. His predecessor Ban Ki-moon angered Morocco last year when he used the term "occupation" to describe the status of Western Sahara. Morocco responded by expelling dozens of staff from MINURSO, but Rabat's ambassador last week told UN officials that his government would allow a further 17 employees to return, the report said. The Security Council will discuss Western Sahara on April 25 ahead of a vote two days later on renewing MINURSO's mandate. Man sentenced in bank robberies A Davenport man has been sentenced to nearly 11 years in federal prison for robbing two Davenport banks in April 2016. Shawn E. Lee, 39, must serve three years of supervised release once he completes his prison sentence, Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger ordered during a sentencing hearing Monday in U.S. District Court, Davenport. There is no parole in the federal system. Lee pleaded guilty in November to two counts of bank robbery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Court documents say Lee robbed Northwest Bank & Trust, 1454 W. Locust St., on April 25 and US Bank, 3624 N. Division St., on April 27. In both robberies, Lee handed the teller a note and demanded money, prosecutors claim. Lee was arrested the same day as the US Bank robbery. Tara Becker Fire pit causes RI fire A fire that damaged a business and apartment Tuesday morning in Rock Island is being blamed on a fire pit that was improperly extinguished. Firefighters were called to 4510 7th Ave. at 4:23 a.m. for a report of a structure fire. Two residents of an apartment in the upper level were home and safely escaped. The fire began on the outside of the structure on a second-floor deck and spread into the second-floor apartment and the finished attic, according to a news release from the Rock Island Fire Department. The fire was under control within 20 minutes. There were no injuries. The American Red Cross of the Quad-Cities is providing assistance to the two displaced residents. Damage to the upstairs apartment and to Brien Chiropractic, the business located on the first floor, is estimated at $100,000. The Rock Island fire marshal determined the fire was caused by a fire pit that had been used on the second-floor exterior deck the night before. The fire was not properly extinguished and wind contributed to the fire spreading to the deck below the fire pit and into the structure, the report said. The fire is being ruled accidental. Times staff Maquoketa jail escapee gets prison time One of two men who broke out of the Jackson County Jail in Maquoketa, Iowa, has been given 10 years in prison. Online court records say 20-year-old Brian Willey was sentenced Friday. He had pleaded guilty to escape and theft charges and to a burglary charge in an unrelated case. Clinton police say Willey and 19-year-old Andrew Combs were captured after a short foot chase March 6. The men had pried open a gate and escaped Feb. 28 from the jail. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the escape and to unrelated burglary and robbery counts. His trial has not been scheduled. Associated Press A fire that damaged a business and apartment Tuesday morning in Rock Island is being blamed on a fire pit that was improperly extinguished. Firefighters were called to 4510 7th Ave. at 4:23 a.m. for a report of a structure fire. Two residents of an apartment in the upper level were home and safely escaped. The fire began on the outside of the structure on a second-floor deck and spread into the second-floor apartment and into the finished attic, according to a news release from the Rock Island Fire Department. The fire was under control within 20 minutes. The Red Cross of the Quad-Cities is providing assistance to the two displaced residents. There were no injuries. Damage to the upstairs apartment and to Brien Chiropractic, the business located on the first floor, is estimated at $100,000. The Rock Island fire marshal has determined the fire was caused by a fire pit that had been used on the second-floor exterior deck the night before. The fire was not properly extinguished and wind contributed to the fire spreading to the deck below the fire pit and into the structure, the report said. The fire is being ruled accidental. As warmer weather approaches and residents return to outdoor activities such as recreational fires, the Rock Island fire marshal is recommending using extreme caution any time a recreational fire is used. Recreational fire pits and solid fuel grills should never be used on combustible decks, above ground level, or within 25 feet of any combustible structures such as houses, garages and fences. For other safety regulations for recreational fires, go to rigov.org/615/Recreational-Fires. Gildas Club is hosting a free Lymphedema and Tai Chi workshop, led by Caleen Pagel, from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at in the second-floor Gathering Room of First Presbyterian Church, 401 Iowa Ave., Davenport. Participants should use the 4th Street entrance. For more details and to register, call Gildas Club at 563-326-7504 or email kelly@gildasclubqc.org. Anyone impacted by cancer is welcome to attend. Lymphedema impacts many cancer patients, especially those who have lymph nodes removed. It is most commonly associated with breast cancer, but does affect both men and women. Pagel, a licensed Iowa physical therapist since 1980, will discuss how tai chi can reduce stress and help drain the lymphatic system. Participants are encouraged to join in a short tai chai exercise. Pagel also has experience in pulmonary, cardiac, and neurology rehab, women's health, and torticollis in infants. Pagel will present on the following workshop topics: The Lymphatic System Signs of Lymphedema Symptoms of Lymphedema Risk Factors of Lymphedema Risk Reduction Strategies Treatment Interventions Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) A severe weather siren at 9801 Knoxville Road in Milan is not functioning, according to the Milan Police Department. Repairs are scheduled and an announcement will be made when repairs made and the siren is back in service. Until then, residents in the vicinity are advised to monitor local weather services in the event of any potential severe weather. Emily Skahill, sales manager at Hotel Blackhawk, will serve as the first corporate chair of the Quad-Cities Walk to Defeat ALS, one of the primary fundraisers for Iowas fight against Lou Gehrigs Disease, or ALS. The 2017 walk will be held Saturday, Aug. 19, at Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport. Over the past five years, the walk has raised more than $189,000 to assist Iowans affected by ALS. The goal for the 2017 walk is $60,000. Im proud to support such a dedicated organization and its fight to defeat ALS, Skahill said. My dad lives this fight every day, and the walk is a great way every year to keep the fight against ALS on the communitys radar. The walk is a great opportunity to raise money and awareness for all of the individuals in Iowa who are affected by this horrible disease. Walkers can register for the event and donate online at WalktoDefeatALS.org. DES MOINES Many times, state lawmakers are in complete agreement on legislation, and a bill passes unanimously. Many times, a bill divides lawmakers by political party; all Republicans support a bill, and all Democrats oppose it, or vice versa. And every once in a while, there is near-unanimous agreement on a bill, except for a solitary member. There were 11 lone wolf votes in which nearly all legislators voted in favor of a bill and just one voted against it cast during this years legislative session through the end of last week. Thats a tiny number of the nearly 300 bills voted on this year in the Iowa House and Senate 3.8 percent, to be exact and the reasons vary for those solitary stands. According to the legislators who cast those lone wolf votes, some were the result of general opposition to a state program. Others were based on ideology. And sometimes, the vote was cast in error. Whatever the reason, legislators said it can feel strange to look at a final vote tally and their name as the only dissenting voice among all of their colleagues. It makes you laugh a little bit. Its like, Oh, my goodness, said Rep. Skyler Wheeler, a first-year state legislator from Orange City who cast one of those 11 lone wolf votes this year. But its just one of those things. You have to stand by what you believe in. Of the 11 lone wolf votes cast this year, nine have been cast in the Iowa House, by nine different members. Two have been cast in the Senate, both by Sen. Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines. Both of Bisignanos lone wolf votes were on bills related to liability. One bill said property owners were not responsible for duty of care to a trespasser; another said the Iowa State Fair would not be liable for injury or death caused by pathogen transmission caused by animals at the fair. Both bills passed 48-1. Bisignano also cast one lone wolf vote each in 2015 and 2016. He is among a group of four legislators with multiple lone wolf votes over the past three years. The others are Reps. Bruce Hunter, Chuck Isenhart and Jake Highfill. You vote your conscience, vote your district, vote what you feel is right, and it doesnt really matter if youre the only no vote there, said Highfill, a Republican from Johnston. Two legislators have cast three lone wolf votes in a single session over the past three years. Sen. David Johnson of Ocheyedan cast three lone wolf votes in 2016 while he was a Republican. He changed his party affiliation to independent before the 2017 session. Rep. Dan Kelley, a Democrat from Newton, cast three lone wolf votes in 2015. He lost his 2016 re-election bid in a primary. There were 20 lone wolf votes cast in 2016 and 21 in 2015. Many of the legislators who have cast lone wolf votes said they wear those votes as a badge of independence. Its a point of pride to me because I like to tell my people back home that I dont just follow the company line. I dont just do what my caucus and leadership tells me to do, and Ive got multiple examples that prove that, said Rep. Bruce Bearinger, a Democrat from Oelwein. And I vote for the people within my district, and I listen to the people in my district. Here are some examples of lone wolf votes cast over the past three years: Rep. Skyler Wheeler Wheeler was the lone vote against a House bill that updates state alcohol regulations by, in part, allowing small distilleries to sell their product on site, similar to small breweries and wineries. The bill passed the House on a 93-1 vote; it has not yet been debated by the full Senate. Wheeler said he voted against the bill because he viewed it as the expansion of alcohol production and consumption in Iowa, which he said he thinks is not good for the state. Wheeler said he thinks the late Dwayne Alons, who represented northwest Iowa in the Iowa House from 1999 to 2014, also would have voted against the bill for the same reason. I think it increases the consumption and production of alcohol, and Im not for that, Wheeler said. Ultimately, thats what it came down to. It passed, and Im not going to lose sleep over it. Wheeler also said his vote proves his independent thinking on proposed legislation. If youre the only no vote, youre the only no vote. It happens sometimes, Wheeler said. You get to kind of go back home and tell people, Hey, you know what? I dont just vote straight party line. I dont just vote how somebody tells me to vote. I vote what I feel is right and what I ultimately feel what my district would want me to vote. Rep. Bruce Bearinger Bearinger was the only legislator to vote against a bill that proposes the state public defender coordinate representation of indigent persons who have been arrested and charged with a crime. The bill passed the House on a 93-1 vote and has not yet been debated by the full Senate. Bearinger said the voted against the bill because of an amendment that would have the state public defenders office, when involved in a case regarding a violation of a local law, seek reimbursement from that local government. Bearinger said he thinks that is shifting the cost to city governments, and he fears it will force cities to either find money to cover the additional costs or local police will attempt to prevent any additional costs by bringing fewer criminal charges. Bearinger said that concern was not expressed, even by his Democratic colleagues, but he contacted his local police chief, who shared the concern. I voted against it because I believe its soft on crime by forcing cities into that position, Bearinger said. And it is a further example of (state lawmakers) saying we love local control until we dont. Rep. Tim Kacena Kacena, a first-term Democrat from Sioux City, cast the lone vote in opposition to a bill that would add certain designated lanes to legal turns on red at stoplights. The bill passed the House, 95-1, passed the Senate on a unanimous 49-0 vote and on March 23 was signed into law by the governor. Kacena, a retired firefighter, said he voted against the bill because he thought it was a safety issue. Ive been on way too many accidents, and now you can double lane turn on red, he said. Basically, it wasnt good for traffic, I didnt think. Despite being the lone voice of opposition, Kacena said the vote did not feel different from any other he has cast this session. Basically, it was like any other vote, he said. Rep. Cindy Winckler In 2015, Winckler, a Democrat from Davenport, was the lone vote against a bill that would have extended the deadline for contributions to the states college savings plan. The proposal passed the House, 94-1, but was not voted on by the Senate. Winckler said this week she recalls her vote was a mistake, that she intended to support the bill. It is not uncommon for legislators to cast a mistaken vote, especially on days when they vote on numerous bills, which often have numerous amendments. Legislators have the option of changing their vote in the official record. Sometimes, you try and juggle a little too much, which is part of the job, and I accept that, Winckler said. "But mistakes happen with those kinds of things." A former Pine Ridge corrections officer is set to plead guilty in federal court to involuntary manslaughter after a two-vehicle collision that killed one woman and injured two others in 2015. Under a plea agreement, 27-year-old Sophia Janis, of Porcupine, admitted to killing Theresa Martinez, 58, by driving recklessly on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation while surfing the web on her cellphone. She faces up to eight years in prison. According to court records, the accident occurred on July 30, 2015, while Janis was driving a Ford Expedition transport vehicle of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Corrections. She was then an employee of the tribal police and corrections department. Janis was driving east on U.S. Highway 18 when she attempted to turn north onto Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 27 at the Wounded Knee Junction. Janis was looking at her iPhone at the internet webpage Facebook as she drove the corrections vehicle, reads the statement of facts in the case, which bears Janis' signature. Her SUV crossed into oncoming traffic on Highway 18 and collided with a 2005 Chrysler minivan that was traveling in the the westbound lane. Martinez, a Martin resident who was a passenger in the minivan, suffered a fractured spine and died less than a week later. The driver, Colene Bald Eagle, had her right leg amputated below the knee after undergoing five surgeries, according to separate court document. A second female passenger also was injured. The statement of facts says Janis, also known as Sophia Janis Blacksmith, caused Martinezs death without malice but also without due caution and circumspection. Janis is scheduled to plead guilty at the federal courthouse in Rapid City on April 28. The Oglala Sioux corrections department said she is no longer with the agency. Meanwhile, Martinez's estate and the surviving victims have filed a civil case against the federal government, alleging negligence. As an employee of the Oglala Sioux tribal police and corrections department, Janis was acting on behalf of the Department of the Interiors Bureau of Indian Affairs when the accident occurred, according to the complaint filed by Bald Eagle last year. The case is still being heard in Rapid City federal court. Distracted driving, which includes driving while on a cellphone or another electronic device, was a contributing factor in 1,125 South Dakota crashes in 2015, according to data from the Department of Public Safety. That is the most recent year for which figures have been released. The FBI, which compiles crime data on Pine Ridge, does not track cellphone use that leads to vehicular crashes. White House press secretary Sean Spicer apologized Tuesday after saying Adolf Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons" during World War II in an effort to shame Russia's alliance with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his use of chemical weapons. The comment was immediately decried and after a series of attempts to clear up his words, Spicer apologized in an exclusive interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I was obviously trying to make a point about the heinous acts that Assad had made against his own people last week, using chemical weapons and gas. Frankly, I mistakenly made an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust, for which there is no comparison," Spicer said. "And for that I apologize. It was a mistake to do that." Spicer, who said he was "aware" that gas chambers were used during the Holocaust, later said he should have "stayed focused" on Assad and asked people to forgive him for his "mistake." "My goal now and then is to stay focused on Assad and I should have," he said. "I realized that I had made a mistake and I didn't want to be a distraction to the President's agenda." While Hitler did not use chemical weapons on the battlefield, Hitler and the Nazis used gas chambers to exterminate Jews, disabled people and others. "You had someone who was despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons," Spicer said during the briefing. "So you have to, if you are Russia, ask yourself is this a country and a regime that you want to align yourself with." The comment immediately reverberated online and audible gasps could be heard in the press briefing room after the Spicer made the comment. Spicer, asked later in the briefing for a clarification by a reporter about the comments that Hitler did not use chemical weapons, said: "I think when you come to sarin gas, he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing." Reporters in the briefing room offered the Holocaust as an example of chemical weapons use. "He brought them into the Holocaust centers, I understand that," Spicer said. "But in the way that Assad used them, where he went into towns and dropped them down to innocent in the middle of towns," he added, defending his statement. "I appreciate the clarification, that was not the intent." The comment did not clear up the controversy, especially considering Spicer seemingly referred to concentration camps as "the Holocaust center." In a statement issued after the briefing, Spicer said "in no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust." "I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable," he said. The majority of historians believe Nazi Germany did not ever use chemical weapons on the battlefield in the Second World War despite possessing both WWI-era chemical weapons as well as more advanced nerve agents. Hitler himself was exposed to mustard gas during his WWI service, but he did not sign off on chemical weapons use against Allied forces even when Germany was suffering battlefield losses. However, Hitler did of course use chemical gas to murder innocent civilians in concentration camps. "Even in WWII chemical weapons were not used on the battlefield. Even in the Korean War, they were not used on battlefields. Since WWI there's been an international convention on this," said Defense Secretary James Mattis, later in the day during a Pentagon press briefing. The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington quickly responded to Spicer tweeting: "WATCH: Footage from our collection shows what US forces discovered when they liberated #Buchenwald." And Chelsea Clinton, the former first daughter, tweeted: "I hope @PressSec takes time to visit @HolocaustMuseum. It's a few blocks away." The comment comes as Jewish people all over the world are celebrating Passover. The White House hosted a Seder dinner on Monday night. Steven Goldstein, executive director of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, noted the holiday in a statement that accused Spicer of engaging in "Holocaust denial." "Spicer's statement is the most evil slur upon a group of people we have ever heard from a White House press secretary. Sean Spicer now lacks the integrity to serve as White House press secretary, and President Trump must fire him at once," he said in a statement. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also called for Spicer's dismissal. "While Jewish families across America celebrate Passover, the chief spokesman of this White House is downplaying the horror of the Holocaust," she said in a statement. "Sean Spicer must be fired, and the President must immediately disavow his spokesman's statements." Karwai Tang/WireImage(BEDFORDSHIRE, England) Elephants may be scared of mice, but they don't seem to be star-struck by royalty. Queen Elizabeth, 90, and Prince Philip, 95, visited a new elephant center at the Whipsnade Zoo in Dunstable, Britain about an hour northwest of London. The queen and duke of Edinburgh took part in the opening celebration of the $2.5 million Centre for Elephant Care. Donning a lavender suit with a matching hat, Queen Elizabeth seemed delighted to meet the Asian elephants, one of whom is named after her. The queen and Prince Philip fed bananas to a 7-year-old elephant named Donna. As seen in the video, Donna gladly plucked the bananas right out of their hands. Prince Philip chuckled as Queen Elizabeth calmly put her glove back on her hand. The center officially opens to the public on Wednesday. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The Governors Office of Economic Development (GOED) completed the 2014 national wage study. This wage study, along with the previously completed 2010 through 2013 wage studies, showed South Dakota wage earners to have greater purchasing power than the national average. The wage study takes into effect payroll withholding taxes and local cost of living so that meaningful comparisons of wage levels, between states, can be made. When comparing wage levels between states, most people compare the average gross salary being paid. They will look at the annual gross wages of an accountant in Sioux Falls versus what an accountant in New York City makes. Undoubtedly, the accountant in New York City will have a higher nominal wage, but to conclude that the New York City accountant is truly paid more, would be a superficial conclusion. Only when one takes into account the taxes withheld and the local cost of living can one determine which accountant has more disposable income. State to state wage comparisons are further complicated by the fact that each state has a different mix of jobs. Additionally, the number of part-time jobs can vary substantially between states. There are several overall average wage-by-state calculations and all suffer from these issues. The GOED wage study is designed to address all of these problems. They downloaded detailed US Dept. of Labor wage information for every occupation in every state. They then computed actual federal and state income taxes (assumes single filer, standard deduction and no dependents) and social security taxes to arrive at take home pay. Take home pay is then adjusted for cost of living to arrive at purchasing power, the true measure of how a job pays. The GOED wage study has complete state by state information for more than 800 standard occupation codes (SOC codes). The median annual gross wage, take home pay and purchasing power is available for each SOC code in every state that reports having that occupation, more than 37,000 jobs by state in total. Complete results by occupation and state are available on GOEDs website: www.sdreadytowork.com. 2014 Wage Study Findings In 2014 there were 570 separate occupations reported in South Dakota. The GOED Wage Study compares these exact same occupations in the other 49 states by computing a simple average of these 570 jobs for every state. The overall results for 2014 are: SD Amount Rank % of Natl Avg Average Annual Wages $44,399 45th 90.15% Take Home Pay $35,288 33rd 95.37% Purchasing Power $40,283 7th 105.65% The 2014 GOED Wage Study results for South Dakota are very comparable to the 2010 through 2013 results where South Dakotas purchasing power rankings were 10th, 6th, 8th, , and 11th best respectively. With five years of wage studies completed it is informative to look at trends: Over these five years, SD average gross wages increased by11.77%, which was the 3rd highest rate of increase, behind North Dakota and Montana. The average increase nationally was 7.87% From 2013 to 2014, South Dakotas average gross wage increased 2.67%, the 13th highest rate of increase nationally. The average increase nationally was 2.1%. Over these five years the average purchasing power of South Dakota wages increased from $37,049 to $40,283, a 8.73% increase which was the 4th highest rate of increase, behind Alabama, Montana and Oklahoma. The average increase nationally was 5.91%. In all four years the purchasing power of the average annual gross wage in South Dakota was higher than the national average. Ranging from 102.9% in 2010 to 105.65% in 2012. GOED Wage Study Methodology The GOED Wage Study is based on median (mid-point) annual wages for every occupation, in every state. The data is provided by the US Dept. of Labor, via the South Dakota Labor Market Information Center. The median wage data, for every occupation in every state (approximately a 36,000 line Excel file) is then sent to Eide Bailly CPAs, who build the formulas to calculate exact federal and state income tax along with social security taxes. Taxes are calculated for each median wage as if that taxpayer were single, claims the standard deduction, and has no dependents. The total income and social security taxes are then deducted from the median annual wage to arrive at take home pay for each occupation in each state. Take home pay is then adjusted for cost of living to arrive at purchasing power, which is what matters to a wage earnerhow much can you buy with your net wages. Beginning with the 2013 data we switched from using C2ERs Cost of Living Index (COLI) to the Regional Price Parity (RPP) produced by the BEA. This was done for multiple reasons, including the fact that it is a much broader index, it includes excise taxes, and RPP produces an accurate statewide index while C2ER does not. The 2010, 2011, and 2012 wage studies have been reworked to incorporate the RPP index. Criminal case opened against alleged leader of Misanthropic Division cell MOSCOW, April 10 (RAPSI) Russian authorities have launched a criminal case against Ruslan Pavlyuk, alleged head of a Rostov-on-Don cell of Misanthropic Division extremist organization prohibited in Russia, RIA Novosti reported on Monday citing its source in regional security services. Pavlyuk is suspected of participating in the activities of a public or religious association ruled to be liquidated or prohibited from activity in connection to extremism by a legally enforceable ruling of a Russian court. The suspect was arrested. Allegedly Pavlyuk was participating as a member of the extremist organization and propagated extremist ideas. According to investigators, Pavlyuk is involved in January attack in Rostov-on-Don against a journalist of Kavkazsky Uzel online media outlet. Police initiated investigation shortly after the attack. In the summer of 2016, Russian investigators launched probe into Dmitry Pavlov, an alleged organizer of the Misanthropic Division. In 2014, when revolutionary movements started in Ukraine, the organizations activity assumed an international character and became more radical, according to Russias Investigative Committee. Misanthropic Division created branches in 19 countries including Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, France, Poland, England and other European states. Pavlov and his associates promote on the social media racist and neo-Nazi ideas; publicly call to terrorism and extremism; incite hatred and enmity for a number of nationalities; speak disrespectfully of the Days of War Glory and memorable dates in Russia connected with defense of fatherland, former spokesman for the Investigative Committee Vladimir Markin said earlier. Udmurtias ex-governor Solovyov appeals detention in corruption case MOSCOW, April 10 (RAPSI) Russias Udmurt Republics ex-head Alexander Solovyov has filed with the Basmanny District Court of Moscow an appeal against his detention in a large-scale corruption case, RAPSI learnt from the courts press-service on Monday. Solovyov was charged with taking 140 million rubles (about $2.5 mln) bribe. An alleged crime was exposed by the Investigative Committee with assistance of the Federal Security Service (FSB). Solovyov was put in detention on April 4. According to investigators, in 2014-2016, Solovyov received bribes from representatives of organizations behind the construction of bridge crossings over the Kama and Buy rivers in the Udmurt Republic. Allegedly Solovyov also received a share in a commercial organization worth 2.7 million rubles (about $48.2 mln). The defendant was supposed to ensure extraordinary and immediate payment for construction services from the federal and regional budgets. He was also to allocate licenses for geological exploration and resource extraction. On April 4, Solovyov was relieved of his position on decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian imam charged with justifying terrorism pleads not guilty MOSCOW, April 11 (RAPSI) - Moscow imam Makhmud Velitov pleaded not guilty to justifying terrorism, RAPSI reports from the Moscow District Military Court on Tuesday. Lawyer Dagir Khasavov told RAPSI earlier that he was going to call high-ranking religious figures of Islam as witnesses in this case and to conduct an additional complex psychological-linguistic examination. He added that none of the books seized from Yardam mosque and the imams home contained signs of extremism. Investigators have reclassified charges against Velitov from public justifying terrorism with the use of mass media to public calls to terrorist activity or justifying terrorism. His house arrest has been therefore replaced with travel restrictions, the lawyer said. On September 23, 2013, Velitov, being a council chair and imam of a religious organization, made a public speech justifying activity of one of Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami terrorist organizations members during a prayer in a Moscow mosque, according to the Investigative Committee. This organization has been banned by Russias Supreme Court. According to the forensic examination, the imams speech contained a set of psychological and linguistic features of justifying terrorist activities. Defense insisted that Velitov had performed a religious ritual allowed by canons of Islam regarding a deceased Muslim. 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. Also, there are many supporters in Crimea, which rejoined Russia in 2014. Trial of ex-Ukrainian president Yanukovych to begin in Kiev on May 4 MOSCOW, April 11 (RAPSI) The Obolonsky District Court in Kiev will begin hearing a case against former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, who stands charged with treason, on May 4, according to the schedule of hearings published on the courts website. On January 30, Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office announced that investigation into Yanukovych had been completed. In March, prosecutors submitted the case to the Pechersky District Court in Kiev, but the court refused to consider it. An appeals court later transferred the case to the Obolonsky District Court. In late December, Ukraines Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko read charges against Yanukovych in a court through videoconference link. Later, the Prosecutor Generals Office filed a motion to initiate trial of former president in absentia. The Ukrainian prosecutors accuse Yanukovych of the same crimes allegedly committed by former Berkut officers: using fire arms against protesters in Kiev in late 2013 and early 2014. However, his case is subject to separate criminal proceedings. The political crisis erupted in Ukraine in late November 2013 after the government announced that it had halted the countrys association with the European Union. Protests, called Euromaidan, swept across the country and led to violent clashes between armed activists and law enforcement officers in late 2013 and early 2014. Fighting between radical anti-government protesters and police culminated in mass riots on February 18, 2014. On February 20, fire was opened on protestors. Over 100 people died those days on both sides, according to RIA Novosti. Ukraine's authorities claim "Berkut" officers to be blamed for the shootings. Russia says that militants of Right Sector, a far-right Ukrainian group banned in Russia, may have been behind the attack. Yanukovych said he did not give order to law enforcers to use fire arms against protesters when testifying about the events in Kiev. Ukraine went through a regime change on February 22, 2014, when President Viktor Yanukovych fled the country and Euromaidan activists rose to power in Kiev. In early 2015, it was reported that the Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office brought charges against Yanukovych in absentia and addressed Russia with a request to extradite the former president. Yanukovych is suspected of organizing a criminal group, abuse of power, embezzling state property and other offenses. The Russian Ministry of Justice then claimed he had not received any documents on extraditing Yanukovych to Kiev. On June 6, Russia declined to extradite Yanukovych, according to the Prosecutor Generals Offices spokesman Alexander Kurennoy. A motion for provisional arrest and detention of Yanukovych filed by Ukraine was considered and dismissed in accordance with Article 3 (Political offences) of the 1957 European Convention on Extradition, he told journalists. Ukrainian authorities were informed about this decision, Kurennoy added. Russian MP proposes social media ban for children under 14 MOSCOW, April 10 (RAPSI) Lawmaker Vitaly Milonov has proposed to regulate the use of social media and among others to prohibit children under the age of 14 years from using social networks, according to the database of the parliaments lower house. The bill, aimed to enhance security of minors, has been submitted to the State Duma. Milonov also offered to permit registration of social media users only with submission of their passport details, an explanatory note to the bill reads. This measure will resolve the problem of fake accounts, according to the MP. Moreover, the draft law introduces ban on distance selling various goods to social media users, who have not reached the age of 18, and toughens administrative penalties for organization of unauthorized rallies through social networks. Earlier, in 2016, Milonov suggested giving parents full access to their childrens social media accounts. The proposal was aimed to prevent children from possible contacts with terrorists and other ill-minded persons, according to the lawmakers press service. Recently, cases of recruitment for terrorist organizations and inciting teenagers to commit suicide on social media became more frequent. A criminal case was opened in May 2016 after several Russian media outlets reported about so-called Groups of Death, numerous groups where young people were encouraged to kill themselves. Investigators claim that from December 2013 to May 2016 eight Groups of Death were registered on Vkontakte network. Fifteen teenagers from various regions of Russia were members of these groups and committed suicide. Probe opened into Russian citizens suspected of Right Sector membership MOSCOW, April 11 (RAPSI) A criminal case has been opened against two Russian nationals on suspicion of their involvement in activities of the prohibited Right Sector nationalist organization, Russias Investigative Committee announced on Tuesday. According to investigators, the arrested residents of Russias Republic of Udmurtia and Arkhangelsk Region participated in the armed conflict in Donbass on the site of the extremist organization against self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic. A military operation was launched by Ukraine against Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics in 2014 soon after they had proclaimed independence. According to the most recent UN data, about 10,000 people were victims of the conflict. Right Sector is a Ukrainian association of radical nationalist organizations. In January and February 2014, its members clashed with police and seized administrative buildings in Kiev. Since April 2014, Right Sector has been involved in fighting the protest movement in eastern Ukraine. In November 2014, Russias Supreme Court declared Right Sector an extremist group and banned its activity in Russia. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Right Sector leader Dmitry Yarosh for alleged incitement of terrorism. In January 2015, Right Sector was added to the Russian register of prohibited organizations. Producers will soon be out scouting their fields and the edges of fields for Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV).Kurt Froelich (Stark County Extension agent) and I have been out in force since February spreading the word about WSMV. We think conditions are ripe for an explosion of WSMV this year, said Duaine Marxen, North Dakota State University Extension agent in Hettinger County, in the southwestern part of the state.Yellowing leaves could be one sign that WSMV is in a winter wheat field. Yellowing leaves can also be signs of other problems, so sampling is important.Last fall, two seed business owners in southwestern North Dakota drove around and took samples of where they saw yellowing leaves, which are signs of WSMV. They sampled winter wheat and bromegrass, and took samples in three other areas.All five samples were hot for WSMV, Marxen said.Producers in southwestern North Dakota sampled and found WSMV in their winter wheat fields, as well.Montana may also have a problem with WSMV, particularly in eastern Montana and other winter wheat areas.The mites can overwinter as eggs, nymphs or adults in winter wheat, volunteers or perennial grassy weeds, said Mary Burrows, Montana State University plant pathologist.Breaking the green bridge is vital with WSMV, but producers must make sure volunteers are completely gone. If it rains, there could be regrowth, and another burndown would be needed to completely rid the field of WSMV.One producer did a burndown, waited, then put in his winter wheat crop. The field looked clean and black, Marxen said.However, it rained and the regrowth was 4 inches high, allowing WSMV to appear.You have to make sure to wait a full two weeks and make sure every green thing in the field, every volunteer, every weed is dead, he added.Another problem was the lack of a hard freeze until Oct. 10 in the Mott area, when normally it freezes around Sept. 15. That allowed volunteers and grassy weeds to keep growing.In the southwest, snow covered up the new growth, allowing mites to overwinter.WSMV is spread by a tiny wingless mite known as the wheat curl mite (WCM), according to Andrew Friskop, NDSU plant pathologist.WSMV and WCM can only survive on a living host and overwinter on winter wheat, surviving on small grain volunteers and grassy weeds, Friskop said. WCM can also vector Wheat Mosaic Virus (formerly known as High Plains Virus), but WSMV tends to be more common in North Dakota.WSMV appears first on the edges of fields or in patches next to volunteers. Multiple grass species are hosts.Seeing yellow in the field could be an indication of WSMV.This is a management disease. Break the green bridge before planting, and you will drastically limit WSMV, Friskop said.He recommends producers: Scout fields and assess each field situation separately. Submit samples suspected to be WSMV. Remember if winter wheat was seeded early in the fall and the green bridge was not broken, incidence of both WSMV and WCM will likely be high in those fields. Eliminate all small grain volunteers and grassy weeds for two weeks before planting, for fields dedicated to small grains this spring. This will reduce the risk of mites spreading the virus from overwintering hosts to the small grain crop.Good weed control is the best thing that can be done for WSMV, Marxen said. When volunteers come up, spray completely, but if it rains, spray again. Mites can move with the wind, so they can move over to other fields as well.According to Burrows, WSMV can be a very difficult disease to manage, especially in areas of overlapping spring and winter wheat, and where volunteer and hail damaged wheat is grazed.Spring wheat can be seeded early to avoid warm temps. Warm weather experienced early in the growing season favors mites.Friskop said wheat curl mite activity is lessened when temperatures are below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.Miticides and insecticides do not adequately manage the mite and are not recommended, he added.Burrows said if producers wonder what is causing the yellowing on small grain leaves, the best thing to do is consult their county Extension agent, crop consultant, or submit a sample to the diagnostic lab.In Montana, instructions and submission forms can be found at diagnostics.montana.edu. For more information on how to rid fields of WSMV, call Burrows at 406-599-9966.In North Dakota, producers in southwest North Dakota should contact their Extension agent and send in samples to the NDSU lab. Jesse Ostrander is the NDSU plant diagnostician.There will be a fee reduction in running the samples at the NDSU lab this year, due to the widespread outbreak expected of WSMV. HELENA A group of farm and ranch owners, along with two environmental advocacy groups, are suing the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation over rules that allow oil and gas companies to keep secret the chemicals they use for hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. But the timeline for the lawsuit has been pushed back as a bill that could change disclosure laws works its way through the Legislature. The suit alleges that the boards rules, which dont require companies to provide specific information on the chemicals they use until after fracking is complete or in some cases not at all if companies claim the mix of chemicals is a trade secret, violate the rights of Montanans under the states Constitution, which guarantees a right to know and the right to a clean and healthful environment. The Montana Environmental Center, a state-level nonprofit environmental advocate; Natural Resources Defense Council, a national environmental advocacy organization; and a handful of landowners filed the lawsuit in January in Lewis and Clark County District Court. They agreed to extend the timeline for the board to respond to the suit as Senate Bill 299, carried by Sen. Tom Richmond, R-Billings, is deliberated by the 65th Montana Legislature. On Monday, the bill cleared an initial vote in the House 70-30, moving it one step forward to the governor's desk. The bill clears up Montana Environmental Information Center's concerns over what constitutes a trade secret, but does not go nearly far enough on requiring companies to disclose the chemicals they use in fracking, said Derf Johnson, center's clean water program director. The bill does not call for baseline testing of wells, which Johnson said is necessary to monitor any contamination from fracking. And while it does require disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking, it does not require that be done before the fracking occurs, making it impossible to track the source of any contamination, he said. If this legislation passes, its potentially going to prevent meaningful disclosure because the board can point to the Legislature and say were preempted from doing anything because the Legislature acted and now theres a law in place, Johnson said. Jim Halvorson with the board said he could not comment on the lawsuit, but said the Senate bill would allow the board to do the majority of what was in the centers request last July to change its disclosure rules. In the lawsuit, the center and others said they want information about the chemicals used in fracking so they can understand the risks fracking operations may pose to property, human health and the environment and take steps to safeguard their water supplies. The practice of fracking involves pumping fluid into wells to crack rock formations and release gas and oil. The practice is highly controversial. Those who support it say it it makes wells more productive, while opponents claim it contaminates ground and surface water and increases seismic activity. Last July the group that filed the lawsuit petitioned the board to change its rules. The group asked for disclosure of chemicals to be part of the application process for drilling a well and the information be made public at least 45 days before fracking occurs. The board rejected that petition in September in a decision the lawsuit calls factually erroneous, unsupported and irrational. The group wants Lewis and Clark County District Court to throw out that decision and force the board to reconsider. There have been somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 wells fracked in 132 different fields in Montana. In 2015, 65 percent of oil production and 39 percent of natural gas production in the state involved fracking. Under rules set by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation in 2011, oil and gas operators do not have to tell the board or public about the specific chemical ingredients it uses for fracking until after operations are complete. The board does require the disclosure of the brand name or generic name of fracking fluids, which consists of industry labels such as DWP-621 or Slick Frac, but disclosure of the specific chemical ingredient list is not required before fracking occurs. The generic information is effectively useless for landowners because it does not provide enough information for landowners to conduct baseline testing. Even after fracking occurs, the rules also let oil and gas companies withhold any chemical information operators claim to be a trade secret. In Wyoming, operators have to disclose the specific ingredients of their fracking fluids to a state official before they are approved for use. There is no legitimate reason why Montanans should have less access to chemical information than their neighbors, the lawsuit states. Guwahati : A local court in Guwahati on Monday sent the SSP (CID) of Assam police to 14-day judicial custody, who was arrested for leaking the investigation information of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) office in Silapathar on March 6 last. The investigating team on Monday had produced IPS officer Dr N Rajamarthandan before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate of Kamrup (Metro) after completion of two-day police remand and the court sent the arrested SSP (CID) to 14-day judicial custody. The 2006-batch IPS officer, who also investigating the multi crore rupees Louis Berger bribery scam in Assam was arrested by the crime branch of Guwahati city police after proving his involvement of leaking the information of investigation process of Silapathar incident. N Rajamarthandan had provided the information to the general secretary of Nikhil Bharat Bangali Udbastu Samanvay Samiti (NIBBUSS) through RTI, whereas the CID organization was exempted from the RTI Act following the Assam government order issued in 2006. On the other hand, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court of Dhemaji had sent NIBBUSS president Subodh Biswas and his aide Subhash Biswas to 14-day judicial custody, who were arrested in connection with the Silapathar incident. The Dhemaji CJM court also sent NIBBUSS's Assam unit president Sahadev Das and state general secretary Benimadhab Ray to 10-day police custody after police produced them before the court. Assam police had arrested Sahadev Das and Benimadhab Ray from Siliguri area in West Bengal on April 8 last and taking two-day transit remand after producing them in a local court in Siliguri. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, April 10 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal faces another trouble after a local court of Assam on Monday has issued non-bailable warrant against him as rejecting his petition seeking more time to appear on his summoned in connection with a criminal defamation case registered against him for his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualification. The Diphu Chief Judicial Magistrate's court has issued non-bailable warrant against Kejriwal, who was earlier summoned to appear before the court. Earlier, the court had been asked the Delhi CM to appear before the court on April 7 following his counsel sought time from the court for his client. The counsel of the Delhi Chief Minister had again filed a petition seeking more time for Kejriwal to appear before the court, but the court rejecting the petition and issued non-bailable warrant against Kejriwal. Kejriwal's lawer showing the ground in the petition that, it is not possible for his client to leave Delhi due to the Municipality election in Delhi and his client is presently the Chief Minister of Delhi, NCR and due to the nature of his works. The criminal defamation case registered following a case lodged by Surjya Rongphar, a BJP leader and Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) against the AAP leader under sections 499/500/501 IPC on December 26 last year. Meanwhile Surjya Rongphar said that, Delhi CM Arvind kejriwal had prayed through his counsel for some time and filed a petition and sought more time, but the court rejected it. 'Kejriwal on December 15 last year tweets that PM Modi has passed only 12th standard, and thereafter degrees are fake. Kejriwal's remarks on PM is totally baseless and misleading. So I had filed a criminal defamation case against the Delhi Chief Minister for his baseless remarks on PM,' Rongphar said. Kejriwal tweeted that, Nehi... Modi ji 12th pass hai... Uski baad ki degree farzi hai. *(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)* Kathmandu, Nepal: The government has withdrawn the Constitution Amendment Bill registered in the parliament on Tuesday. As the proposal, registered on November 29, 2016, had proposed to split the Province No. 5 from the hills, it was widely dragged into controversies. The government has withdrawn the constitution amendment proposal to register another proposal with the aim to end the recent political impasse of the country particularly the grievances of the agitating Madhes based parties. The government is going to register another constitution amendment proposal in the parliament today itself. It is said that the new proposal is being registered with the provision of federal commission to resolve the issue provincial boundaries, one of the prime demand of the agitating UDMF. Kathmandu, Nepal: Challenging to the governments decision to appoint Prakash Aryal to the post of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nawaraj Silwal has on Tuesday filed another writ petition at the Supreme Court (SC) seeking annulment of the decision. In the writ, petitioner Silwal has claimed that there have been irregularities while evaluating the work performance of the contenders for the IGP post. The review panel has deducted two-points from his score sheet to promote Aryal to the post of IGP, Silwal has claimed in the writ. The government has on Monday promoted DIG Aryal to the post of IGP on the basis of the review team headed by Home Secretary Lok Darsan Regmi. Aryal himself, Nawaraj Silwal, Bam Bahadur Bhandari and Jaya Bahadur Chand were the contenders of the IGP. As per the review team, Aryal had a score of 154, Silwal 152.4, Bhandari 150.2 and Chand had a score of 147 while examining four years work efficiency. An error occurred while processing your request. The page you are looking for on this website is unavailable, has moved, or does not exist. Please visit collinsaerospace.com to find the product or service you are looking for. Shanta Gold posts high-grade results at Kenyan gold project East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer Shanta Gold has reported high-grade results at its West Kenya project. Company chief executive Eric Zurrin said visible gold was identified across several of the intersections. Petra suspends operations at Williamson after wall breach at tailings storage facility Petra Diamonds says the eastern wall of the tailings storage facility at its 75%-owned Williamson mine in Tanzania was breached, resulting in flooding away from the pit into certain areas outside of the mine lease area. Petra said mine production... De Beers develops new diamond verification tool De Beers Ignite division has developed a new diamond verification instrument, which is set to be launched early next year. The new instrument, part of the automated melee screening range, will enable automated and rapid verification of up to 3,600 diamonds... Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo achieved CHF 4,083,500 / USD 4,092,075 for the George Daniels Spring Case Tourbillon The unique Spring Case Tourbillon in yellow gold, by the founding father of independent watchmaking, appeared at auction for the first time. After a three-minute bidding war, the watch soared above its pre-sale estimate of CHF 1 million, eventually selling... The Peoplesa Forum on BRICS, a network of peoples movements, trade unions, national networks and civil society organisations addressing a range of economic, environmental and social injustice, gathered in Delhi on 30th March 2017 to raise deep concerns over the fact that the New development Bank promoted by BRICS is no different from other IFIs such as the World Bank or Asian Development Bank. The Forum reviewed various projects that the fledgling NDB is financing and found that it is promoting a business as usual model, rather than striking a dramatically new path for people-centered development that was promised in the formation of the Bank by the BRICS nations. The participants have raised very deep concern that NDBs claim to support asustainable developmenta is hollow, as its current support for renewable energy projects is lacking the rigorous appraisal of environmental and social impacts assessment that such land intensive projects demand. In fact, dam building is also being promoted under the renewable sector, though it is speciously claimed that what is supported is merely small dams. As is widely evident from the brutal experience of the people of Uttarkhand due to flash flooding of Bhaghirathi river in 2013, so-called run of the river small hydro projects can have devastating impacts equivalent to those of large dams. The Participants expressed deep concerns that the NDB is becoming a bank as unaccountable as the ADB or the World Bank, or worse, like the extremely opaque International Finance Corporation. The prevailing policies to review the due-diligence of projects from their economic, ecological and social impacts viewpoints is weak. In fact, many policies and procedures of review that ought to be articulated for conducting business of the NDB are yet to be formulated. Yet financing of projects has commenced giving room to the rather disconcerting feeling that the Banks main goal appears to be one of maximising profit at any cost. As the 2nd Annual Meeting of the National Development bank was being held at New Delhi during 31st of March to the 2nd of April, the participants of the Peoples Forum on BRICS called on the leaders of the BRICS countries to revisit the reasons why they thought it fit to associate, and form the NDB as a plank of major reform. Nothing in the Banks approach thus far provides any comfort of believing that the NDB is out to support the needs of pastoral and agrarian communities, of working classes, and the poor. Instead, it is now keen on expanding its membership and the pitch clearly is on demonstrating it is a Bank like all other a with little or no concern for adverse impacts on human rights and the environment. This is abundantly clear, the Forum held, in the fact that NDB is aggressively promoting privatisation of public services, which has been globally experienced as the most effective way to attack the poor and the working classes. The Peoples Forum recalled its meeting in Goa last October, alongside the official meeting of the BRICS Heads of State, when it raised serious concerns over the fact that democracy is under threat, in BRICS countries and beyond; state repression is rising in every BRICS nation; and ecological destruction is widespread in every BRICS country. In the context of a world economy teetering on the brink of a financial meltdown, and new generation of Bilateral Trade and Investment Treaties which are designed to adversely impacts on lives and livelihoods of ordinary peoples across the BRICS countries, the Forum felt that there absolutely does not seem to be the necessary deep concern in the NDB to revise its strategies. This given the fact that workers are losing rights, farmers suffering is worsening and no respite is accorded despite thousands being driven to suicide, and labour casualisation is becoming rampant in all BRICS countries. With the worst impacts of climate change already being felt across India, what with the worst heat wave sweeping across the country even as summer as only set in, the fact that NDBs 2nd Annual Meeting has absolutely no focus on the prevailing crisis, in which farming, pastoral and other natural resource dependent communities are worst impacted, is revelation of the systemic myopia that has already set into this fledgling Bank. The Peoples Forum on BRICS declared that the New Development Bank has to step back and reconsider why indeed it was established. In so doing, NDB must pro-actively reach out to peoples movements, trade unions, civil society organisations and peoples networks genuinely working with poor and impacted communities, rather than finding comfort in plush and polite consultations held with fellow bankers, bureaucrats, key politicians and cherry-picking aNGOsa who conform with rather than critically engage the NDB. If such a course correction is made, NDB truly has the chance to become the leading Bank that responds to peoplesa real concerns, instead of toeing the line of other Financial Institutions that are only keen on financialising all transactions that produce more wealth for the top 1% and misery for the rest. Promoting finance for such a divisive and inhuman world order is a crime against humanity and nature. Endorsed By: All India Forum of Forest Movements All India Union of Forest Working People Badayl, Goa Bargi Bandh Vistapith Evam Prabhavit Sangh, Madhya Pradesh Beyond Copenhagen Collective Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) Centre for Responsible Tourism, Goa Centro de Iniciativas en Politicas Ambientales, NICARAGUA Centro de los Derechos del Campesino, NICARAGUA Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) Coordinadora Civil ,NICARAGUA Council for Social Justice and Peace, Goa Delhi Forum Delhi Solidarity Group Environment Support Group, Banglore EQUATIONS Focus on Global South Forum Against FTA Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao (GBGB), Mumbai Green Brigade, Goa Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) Indigenous Perspectives, Manipur Institute for Socioeconomic Studies, Brazil, INESC Intercultural Resource, Delhi International Rivers International Rivers, South Asia Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) Machimar Adhikar Sangarsh Samiti, Gujarat Manthan Abhiyaan Kendra, Pune Matu Jan Sangathan, Uttrakhand Media Action with Youth and Adolescents (MAYA) Minimal Maruvazhvu Sangom, Tamil Nadu Narmada Bachao Andolan National Alliance of Peoples Movements National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) National Hawkers Federation (NHF) North East Peoples Alliance OT Watch and Rivers without Boundaries - Mongolia. Public Advocacy Initiatives for Rights and Values in India (PAIRVI) Public Finance Public Accountability Collective (PFPAC) Public Service International (PSI) REBRIP (Brazilian Network for the Integration of the People) Red de Organizaciones Sociales de Managua, NICARAGUA River Basin Friends, Assam Society for Rural Urban & Tribal Initiative (SRUTI) South Solidarity Initiative Srijan Lokhit Samiti, Madhya Pradesh Swasthya Adhikar Manch, Madhya Pradesh The Research Collective, Delhi Theera Desa Mahila Vedi, Kerala Toxics Watch Alliance (TWA) Peoples Forum on BRICS Email: peoplesforumonbrics[at]gmail.com Website: https://peoplesbrics.org/ You have permission to edit this html. Edit Close On April 30, 1980 six armed men stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, holding everyone inside hostage for six days of escalating tension that played out live on national television with the Thatcher government eager to publicly demonstrate their hardline approach to terrorism. That real life drama comes to the big screen in The Dead Lands helmer Toa Fraser's 6 Days and the first trailer for the film's impending UK release has just arrived online. In April 1980, six armed gunmen stormed the Iranian Embassy in Princes Gate, London, taking 26 people inside hostage. Over the next six days a tense standoff took place, all the while a group of highly trained soldiers from the SAS prepared for a raid, the likes of which the world had never seen before. The film was shot on location in London, in and around Knightsbridge. The screenplay was written by acclaimed screenwriter Glenn Standring after extensive research and interviews with various individuals who played a key part in the days leading up to, during, and after the Embassy siege. The framework for the film largely follows the perspective of three people who played a vital part in the events at the time hostage negotiator Max Vernon, the man responsible for communicating with the terrorists inside the building; news reporter Kate Adie, who was covering the events for the BBC and Rusty Firmin, leader of one of the SAS assault teams that entered the Iranian Embassy to end the siege. Jamie Bell, Mark Strong and Abbie Cornish star. Take a look at the trailer below! [Yes, that's an XYZ Films logo you see at the end. XYZ were the international sales agents on this one which means, yes, I've had some tangential involvement from the outset. Full disclosure, etc etc.] Los Angeles, CA, April 10, 2017 The digital age has created a space where more people have access to making Hollywood quality films without Hollywood sized budgets. New filmmakers, like Randy Ayres, MD, have taken advantage of lessons from master teachers online and YouTube tutorials from sources like Film Riot, MZED and Philip Bloom. Ayres applied his DIY learning to create his new independent feature film, Random Karma, an official selection of the 2017 Nice International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema. Ryan Connolly from Film Riot was a major inspiration for Ayres during the production of Random Karma. Through the Film Riot YouTube channel, Connolly shares hundreds of short films, then shows his audience how he pulled them off. Ayres directly applied lessons from so many of Film Riots episodes covering gear reviews, fight choreography, music video lighting technique, and cinematography with fog. Ayres says thanks to Film Riot he was able to get the right movie making tools for Random Karma, quickly capture coverage with lots of angles, push through and get everything needed in post without having to reshoot anything or do any ADR. As many filmmakers know, creating an efficient workflow is key to completing a project within budget and on time. Through MZed classes with Alex Buono, Ayres learned professional workflow and set management. [Buonos] SNL style approximates the run-n-gun, guerilla shooting that Indie filmmakers have to master. We never have enough of anything, especially time, and we still have to get it done. Alex works under the gun like that every week and gets it on air every Saturday night at 11:00 not because its ready but because its 11:00. Hes the real deal and I was so lucky to learn from him." Vincent Laforet was another major influence to Ayres work. MZed offered a course on directing motion from the Pulitzer Prize winning photographer. Ayres shared, [Laforet] taught me the value of moving a camera and how to move it by studying the masters including some amazing single take tracking shots from Children of Men, Goodfellas, and True Detective--plus lighting, framing, composition, and professional workflow on set. Ayres was heavily influenced by former BBC cinematographer Philip Bloom and feels he was instrumental in his online education. Ayers relied on Blooms expertise with the Canon C 100 camera to create specific looks for his film. Bloom does so many awesome videos and blog posts. He does excellent detailed gear reviews/demos and gives away so much technical and artistic wisdom. Check out Ayres application of his master class lessons in the new independent feature film Random Karma, an official selection of the 2017 Nice International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema. Random Karma has been nominated by the 2017 Nice International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in the following categories: Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Editor, Best Original Screenplay and Best Lead Actor. The Nice Festival runs May 14-19, 2017. For showtimes and more information about the festival please go to their website: http://filmfestinternational.com/nice/ (Originlly posted at https://storyboardfilm.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/the-woman-in-white/) No, I did not make a mistake with the photo captions above. While I was catching up with some classic Indonesian horror movies, that shot in Sundel Bolong (1981) struck me as familiar. I'm a huge fan of Nakata Hideo's Ring (1998), enough to be struck by that single image of an eye peeking through long black hair. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, Indonesian horror films were among the gold-standard scare flicks in South East Asia. And the most popular horror films at the time starred Suzzanna aka Suzanna, born Suzzanna Martha Frederika van Osch, Indonesia's ultimate Queen of Horror, a title that still stands unchallenged even today. It's understandable why she is still the undisputed scare queen. She had a strong on-screen presence, and a face that could be hauntingly beautiful at one moment, and strikingly horrific the next. It might look kind of easy just put on panda-eye make-up and powder the face white. But it still takes charisma to pull it off effectively, similar to how Bela Lugosi powered up those scary eyes in White Zombie (1932). It also helped that a myth was built around her real-life persona. Because of her timeless beauty, she aged extremely well, leading some to speculate that she had engaged in mystical practices to keep herself looking young. And then there was her real-life drama. After she separated with husband Dicky Suprapto, she lived with another actor, Clift Sangra, who was rumoured to have hired a hitman to kill Suzzanna over an inheritance. What did really happen was that Sangra was sentenced to four months in prison for shooting Suzzanna's son-in-law with a gun. It's all kind of crazy and probably added more mystique to the actress's reputation. But of course, what's more important is her body of work, which totals more than 40 films of various genres, but mostly of horror. She started out as an award-winning child actress before gaining global fame as one of Asia's most popular actresses in the 1970s. Her 1972 film, Beranak Dalam Kubur (Birth in the Grave), in which she starred with husband Dicky Suprapto, is widely considered as her best, even though she never shows her face as the long-haired ghost in a flowing white gown. The film itself (adapted from a graphic novel; yes, the Indonesians were already doing it back then!) is grand Gothic horror, quite something out of the old Universal vaults coupled with Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart. All the right ingredients are there a big, old mansion; an evil step sister; death, murder and lust; a dead body in the scary basement; and even a hunchback. Yet another film that cemented her reputation as the Queen of Horror, and the one most often remembered, is Sundel Bolong. The film also stars hunky Barry Prima, whose shirts often fall off in his movies. Suzzanna and Barry would go on to make more memorable films together. Because Sundel Bolong was reportedly the first film to ever feature the sundel bolong, Suzzanna is forever associated with the cinematic depiction of the folkloric ghost, much like how in Malaysia, Maria Menado is often mentioned in the same breath with Pontianak (1957), Malaysia's first horror movie. Coincidentally, "Maria Menado," the stage name, is derived from the fact that Maria was born in Manado, in the North Sulawesi province, to which Suzzanna's lineage also has a connection. Both actresses were queens of horror, both were exceptionally beautiful, and both were the first to portray folkloric female spirits on film. (Suzzanna passed away in 2008, while Maria Menado is 85 this year.) And the sundel bolong and pontianak have a lot in common. Both are vengeful spirits of women who died while pregnant. (This folklore from the archipelago extends even to the Philippines and India, where the creature is known as tiyanak and churel.) The sundel bolong is the spirit of a prostitute killed while with child, and gave birth in the grave. She has long, black hair to hide the maggot-infested hole in her back through which her baby was born. (The sundel bolong is so well-known, Marvel's Blade even features it as an Asian sub-species of vampires.) This hole in her back becomes a gag in Sundel Bolong, when she goes to a satay stall and orders 200 sticks of satay. The two proprietors watch her as she eats with lightning speed, and only realise what she is when they notice the pieces of meat falling out of the hole in her back and onto the ground. Here is another similarity with Pontianak, which also features a comedic scene with a satay seller, played by Wahid Satay. It made me wonder if director Sisworo Gautama Putra, with whom Suzzanna made most of her horror films, was inspired by Pontianak, or it was simply because of the similarities between Indonesian and Malaysian folklore. The so-called "sequel", 1984's Telaga Angker, is incredibly campy. It has no connection to Sundel Bolong, except for the fact that Suzzanna once again plays the sundel bolong. But this time, the ghost has developed some superheroic abilities and other useful skills, such as shooting laser from her eyes to blow up a boat, driving an excavator (I kid you not!), and blowing fire out of her mouth like Godzilla. Remember that this was 1984, the year Hollywood released Ghostbusters. So, I guess effects like lasers and glowing electrical current were somewhat the trendy blue-plate special that every horror movie had to have. There are many more horror films in Suzzanna's filmography that are defining moments in her long career, such as Nyi Blorong (1982) and Malam Satu Suro (1988), the "romantic horror film" that features the sundel bolong not as a malevolent creature but as the protagonist (with K.I.S.S.-type make-up!). And then, of course, there's Ratu Ilmu Hitam (Queen of Black Magic, 1981), the gore-fest that garnered multiple nominations at the 1982 Indonesian Film Festival, including Best Actress for Suzzanna. And now, it brings us back to the two stills at the beginning of this post. Imagine, long before there was a Sadako, there was Suzzanna. And like Sadako, she also sported a long, white dress and long, black hair. But unlike Sadako's straight, flowy tresses, the sundel bolong's is done up Bonnie Tyler-style. Yes, the long-haired ghost in a white dress has been around for as long as humankind has existed, but cinematically, the similarities are still astounding. Perhaps this is proof that our myths and legends are indeed the same the world over, and we all dream the same way. Or perhaps, to stretch it a bit, Nakata is a fan of Indonesian horror! If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). "Day Fines: Reviving the Idea and Reversing the (Costly) Punitive Trend" | Main | AG Sesssions issues memo to federal prosecutors that "mandates the prioritization of criminal immigration enforcement" April 10, 2017 Amnesty International releases report on global death sentences and executions in 2016 Amnesty International has released this new report on the worldwide use of the death penalty in 2016. This AI webpage provides a kind of summary of some of the full report's most salient facts and figures. Here are some of those numbers: At least 1,032 people were executed in 23 countries in 2016. In 2015 Amnesty International recorded 1,634 executions in 25 countries worldwide a historical spike unmatched since 1989. Most executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan in that order. China remained the worlds top executioner but the true extent of the use of the death penalty in China is unknown as this data is considered a state secret; the global figure of at least 1,032 excludes the thousands of executions believed to have been carried out in China. Excluding China, 87% of all executions took place in just four countries Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan. For the first time since 2006, the USA was not one of the five biggest executioners, falling to seventh behind Egypt. The 20 executions in the USA was the lowest in the country since 1991. During 2016, 23 countries, about one in eight of all countries worldwide, are known to have carried out executions. This number has decreased significantly from twenty years ago (40 countries carried out executions in 1997). Belarus, Botswana, Nigeria and authorities within the State of Palestine resumed executions in 2016; Chad, India, Jordan, Oman and United Arab Emirates all countries that executed people in 2015 did not report any executions last year. 141 countries worldwide, more than two-thirds, are abolitionist in law or practice. In 2016, two countries Benin and Nauru abolished the death penalty in law for all crimes. In total, 104 countries have done so a majority of the worlds states. Only 64 countries were fully abolitionist in 1997. Commutations or pardons of death sentences were recorded in 28 countries in 2016. At least 60 people who had been sentenced to death were exonerated in 9 countries in 2016: Bangladesh (4), China (5), Ghana (1), Kuwait (5), Mauritania (1), Nigeria (32), Sudan (9), Taiwan (1) and Viet Nam (2). Amnesty International recorded 3,117 death sentences in 55 countries in 2016, a significant increase on the total for 2015 (1,998 sentences in 61 countries). Significant increases were recorded in 12 countries, but for some, such as Thailand, the increase is due to the fact that the authorities provided Amnesty International with detailed information. At least 18,848 people were on death row at the end of 2016. The following methods of execution were used across the world: beheading, hanging, lethal injection and shooting. Public executions were carried out in Iran (at least 33) and North Korea. April 10, 2017 at 09:41 PM | Permalink Comments Let's boohoo about 1000 criminals executed around the world, in 2016. Let's ignore the million innocent murder victims dispatched by the clients of these lawyers, many tortured for a long time, before being killed. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 11, 2017 1:43:21 AM Mr. Behar, I agree with you. I am terribly upset that "For the first time since 2006, the USA was not one of the five biggest executioners, falling to seventh behind Egypt. The 20 executions in the USA was the lowest in the country since 1991." This is outrageous! As our dear leader says, we should be number 1 in everything including executions. I will join forces with you to ensure that this humiliation is overcome. I will contact Madam DeFarge as well. Posted by: Sarah | Apr 11, 2017 11:41:17 AM I agree with Sarah. What has happened to us? We used to be a great nation, executing people at a much greater rate. While we could never compete with China, at least we were up there with Iran and Pakistan. Now look at us. We are even behind Egypt. I never thought I would see this day come. President Trump and Mr. Behar will turn things around! We will be number 1 some day. Keep those injections going. Posted by: David from Illinois | Apr 11, 2017 11:43:59 AM Sarah. Try to keep up. I am now opposed to the death penalty in the United States. And, I am not being sarcastic. My reasoning is reviewed here, briefly, in plain English. http://davidbeharmdejd.blogspot.com/2017/03/i-now-support-abolition-of-death.html Posted by: David Behar | Apr 11, 2017 1:49:12 PM The absolute brilliance exhibited regularly on this blog is amazing. Enjoy, DAB. Posted by: anon | Apr 11, 2017 4:48:56 PM Anon. Thank you. Although I had some legal training, I did so when old. My high school education was preserved. It was not destroyed by the sicko, cult indoctrination into supernatural, idiotic doctrines I encountered. Yours was, and you are not even aware of what was done to your mind. The ordinary academic high school stuff seems brilliant in comparison to the propaganda by the lawyer profession, the stupidest group of people in our country. The lawyer profession is stupider than students in Life Skills class, learning to eat with a spoon. I have demanded that such students be nominated to the Supreme Court for an immediate upgrade in the intelligence of the decisions and in an immediate upgrade in the clarity of the writing. I was so moved by the stupidity of the lawyer profession, that I pledged the short time left to help it climb out of the foul smelling swamp in which it is swimming. Anon, your profession is in failure in its every self stated goal, save one, the gathering of the $trillion in rent. You take our $trillion, and return nothing of value. Absolutely nothing. I am going to pull your profession up, hose it down, and have it join the air and land creatures above. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 11, 2017 5:06:50 PM Mr. Behar, take your meds! Please today is Monday. It's the pill in the blue bottle, not the red. Try to remember. Posted by: David from Illinois | Apr 11, 2017 5:58:55 PM David. You are in denial. The lawyer profession is in failure. One time, it saved itself from the wrath of the crime weary public by coming up with mandatory sentencing guidelines. These controlled out of control totally pro-criminal, criminal coddling judges. As a result, crime immediately dropped 40% across the board. That saved thousands of Black Lives that mattered over two decades. The result was massive lawyer unemployment. Law grads are Ubering to pay the bills. So, conservative extremist, Scalia, led the charge against them. You see, nothing comes before the seeking of the rent, not even thousands of black lives. And now, murders are increasing at an alarming pace. This is in the face of declining lead blood levels. A 3% decarceration has resulted in a 15% increase in murders in 20 big cities. David, you are in denial. Do you know why? Because you are mentally crippled, rent crazed lawyer. You are a criminal cult member. Unfortunately, one must take possession of the physical body before conducting the deprogramming of a cult indoctrination victim. Sometimes, one has to slap the body around a little. That remedy will be coming to your profession. Do not worry about Trump. He is weak. Worry about the guy after Trump. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 12, 2017 1:13:40 AM Mammmmmmammmmmmiaaaa!!!!!!! Civilized world lives well and safely without capital punishment and the peril to kill an innocent person. Il resto son cazzate. Posted by: Claudio Giusti | Apr 14, 2017 3:43:48 PM Claudio. Did you see the first scene of the Godfather? Italian friends explained it to me. The legal system of Italy is so bad, slow, and corrupt, people must go to the Mafia to settle legal disputes. It is this superior legal system of Italy, the Mafia, that has to carry out all of Italy's properly litigated executions. Why the Mafia of Italy is killing even lawyers and judges. Trump should consider fast tracking their immigration to the USA, so they can take care of our "problems." Please, stop misleading the uninformed readers of this blog. Stop lying. Italy has a very busy death penalty. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 16, 2017 12:04:58 AM Post a comment When in argument in the Tenderloin turned violent Monday night, it wasn't the participants in the altercation who got injured instead, a passing motorcyclist was struck by a bullet fired by one of the men. According to the San Francisco Police Department, a 19 and a 23-year-old man were engaged in a dispute near the intersection of Taylor and Turk Streets at 8:39 p.m. Monday when the incident occurred. Police say that as the argument escalated, the 19-year-old pulled out a gun and fired it. But instead of striking his opponent, the bullet hit a 33-year-old man who was passing through the intersection on a motorcycle. Both of the squabblers fled the scene, police say, but witnesses were able to help police identify the men and track them down. Both were arrested, according to the SFPD. The motorcyclist suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting, police say, and is expected to recover. Posted by Naomi Montaie on Monday, April 10, 2017 Disturbing bystander video circulating on Facebook shows a Sacramento Police Officer tackling and hitting a man, Nandi Cain Jr., who was reportedly stopped for jaywalking. The video was taken by Naomi Montaie, who told KRON 4 that "I never witnessed or seen anything like that. He just kept hitting him and kept hitting him." The officer has been placed on administrative leave and the incident is being investigated internally. According to a press release from the Sacramento Police Department, the incident took place at 5:07 p.m. yesterday. The pedestrian, Cain, "was observed crossing the street unlawfully near the intersection of Cypress Street and Grand Avenue in North Sacramento." After the violation, the officer exited his patrol vehicle and attempted to contact and detain the man. The officer gave multiple verbal commands for the man to stop but the subject ignored his instructions and proceeded to walk away from the officer. A verbal exchange occurred in the street between the two and the pedestrian began removing his jacket, challenging the officer to fight. The officer charged at the pedestrian to take him into custody. A supervisor, responding to the situation, reviewed the officer's In-Car Camera System and apparently questioned the officer surrounding his actions. "The videos of this incident portray actions and behavior that we would consider unacceptable conduct by a Sacramento Police Officer," the press release states. "As a result, the Departments Internal Affairs Division is investigating the event. This evening, the involved officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation." SFist has contacted the Sacramento Police Department for further comment or update. As of now, the City's Office of Police Accountability is investigating the event further and more In car Camera footage is being reviewed. SIOUX CITY | Severing ties with its top budget chief under a cloud of controversy, the Sioux City School Board approved a deal Monday that ends John Chalstroms employment with the district and gives him about $35,000 in severance pay. Following a 1 hour closed meeting, the board voted 5-2 in open session to approve the separation agreement with Chalstrom, who had been on administrative leave since Feb. 13. Under the deal, he will resign effective June 30, coinciding with the expiration of his contract. Chalstrom, who received an annual salary of $140,255 as chief financial officer, will continue to receive his pay and health insurance benefits for three more months after that, under the agreement. The approval of the deal came a day after the Journal published a story that detailed a series of allegations Chalstrom leveled against superintendent Paul Gausman and his administration. Two days after Chalstrom, through an intermediary, district critic Dan Greenwell, shared a list of Chalstroms concerns with school board members, Chalstrom was placed on administrative leave with pay. In the documents Greenwell shared with the board, Chalstrom accused Gausman of creating a hostile workplace and threatening his job if he shared alternative budget options with school board members outside regular board meetings. In the documents, Chalstrom alleged that Gausman used a management style heavy on "manipulation and intimidation," and exhibited "very strong bully behavior." In a statement to The Journal last week, Gausman declined to address questions about Chalstrom, saying he would not comment on confidential personal matters. But the superintendent vehemently denied the claims asserted in the documents shared by Greenwell, saying they do not in any way reflect who I am as a leader, and the allegations are not true." Under the agreement signed by Chalstrom and approved by the board Monday, Gausman agrees to write Chalstrom a positive letter of recommendation. The deal also includes boilerplate legal language that releases and discharges the board, district, officers and other employees from any future claims or liability arising from the ending of the chief financial officers employment. The language also states the agreement should not in any way be construed as an admission of wrongdoing of either parties." Under the deal, the two parties also agree: -- To treat each other with respect and professional courtesy and to refrain from making derogatory comments about one another, in their public and private dealings with each other. -- Chalstroms employment "has been positive and, that for personal and professional reasons, the parties amicably enter into this agreement." Chalstrom, who has repeatedly declined comment since being placed on administrative leave, turned down the Journals request for an interview after Monday's meeting. Neither Chalstrom nor Greenwell attended the meeting. No one from the board or the public addressed the agreement after it came up for a vote. However, earlier in the meeting, during the time when board members can address any topic, board member Jackie Warnstadt expressed frustration with some messages she received from the public after The Journal published its investigative story Sunday. During her remarks, she never referenced Gausman, Chalstrom or Greenwell by name. I am totally out of patience with an uninformed public who seems to be listening to a disgruntled employee and a disingenuous citizen who appears to be exercising a vendetta against a great superintendent, Warnstadt said. After Warnstadt finished her comments, all nine district administrators present at the meeting stood and applauded enthusiastically. Warnstadt joined board President Mike Krysl, Vice President Mike McTaggart, board members John Meyers and Paul Gorski in approving the separation agreement with Chalstrom. Board members Perla Alarcon-Flory and David Gleiser cast the two dissenting votes. None of the board members publicly explained their votes. Chalstrom's tenure with the district ends less than three years after he arrived. He was selected for the chief financial officer position by Gausman, with the guidance of an advisory committee comprised of school administrators and finance experts from the local business community. Prior to coming to Sioux City, Chalstrom served as superintendent of the Cherokee School District for 10 years. He also previously was a high school principal in Clear Lake, Iowa. STORM LAKE, Iowa | Art Cullen, editor of The Storm Lake Times, won the Pulitzer Prize on Monday, becoming the first journalist in Northwest Iowa to secure journalism's top prize. The Times, a twice-per-week newspaper serving Buena Vista County, has a circulation of 3,000, making it one of the smallest enterprises to win a Pulitzer. Cullen's series of 10 editorials took government officials to task for secrecy shrouding the funding of a 2015 Des Moines Water Works lawsuit against boards of supervisors in Buena Vista, Sac and Calhoun counties for allegedly allowing nitrates from several of their drainage districts to pollute the Raccoon River, a primary water source for metro Des Moines residents. The lawsuit was dismissed in federal district court last month. "It was a little country paper taking on the ag establishment in Iowa," Art Cullen said. "We didn't write the editorials for that reason; we wrote because we were pissed off." "We wanted to know who was paying for the lawsuit," said John Cullen, Times publisher. "And we wondered why there had to be a lawsuit; why people couldn't work together for a settlement without going to court." Judges lauded Cullen's "editorials fueled by tenacious reporting, impressive expertise and engaging writing that successfully challenged powerful corporate agricultural interests in Iowa." Cullen's work bettered that of finalists Fred Hiatt, of The Washington Post, and Joe Holley, of the Houston Chronicle. Cullen, 60, entered editorials in past Pulitzer competitions, but had never reached finalist status. Cullen won the Champion Tuck Award, one of the nation's highest honors in business writing, more than three decades ago for his chronicling of the farm crisis in Kossuth County. The Storm Lake St. Mary's High School graduate was working at that time for the Algona Upper Des Moines newspaper in Algona, Iowa. That prize, he said, came with $10,000 and a trip to New York. For the Pulitzer, Cullen, a graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, earned $15,000, a gold medal, and the challenge to quickly remake Wednesday's edition. "I think we had prom events on the front page for Wednesday," said John Cullen, 66. "We'll have to get the Pulitzer somewhere on that page, now." John Cullen, a graduate of Storm Lake St. Mary's, founded The Times in 1990, seeking to report and photograph life in his hometown, taking on the Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune newspaper in the process. John Cullen's lead editorial in the weekly newspaper's inaugural issue on June 29, 1990, focused on the need to build a new middle school, interjecting the paper immediately into an issue dividing the community. Art, who was editor at the Mason City Globe-Gazette at that time, joined his brother three months later, leading a staff of seven persons in a one-room office one block west of Storm Lake's main intersection. The Times enjoyed growth as a weekly newspaper, then transitioned into publication five days per week in 1993, as did the Pilot-Tribune. Both newspapers soon settled on less frequent publishing cycles that continue today. "I owe everything in the world I've got to brother John," Art said on Monday from his desk, positioned about four feet from his brother's computer and keyboard. "John is the one who taught me how to write." Art Cullen served as editor of The Ames Tribune in the 1980s and worked under the tutelage of Michael Gartner, another Iowa editor who won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, at The Ames Tribune in 1997. Much of The Times' local news reporting is now done by Tom Cullen, one of Art and Dolores Cullen's four children. Tom Cullen, 24, did the lion's share of news gathering that provided the foundation for his father's editorials on the waterworks lawsuit saga. For years, Art tended to his notebook half-time and the newspaper's press half-time, often transcribing notes while clad in overalls and Red Wing work boots. His wavy gray hair would sway in the breeze as he broke for a cigarette outside the office, a metal building erected on a plot of land the Cullens affectionately call "Times Square." The Cullens, Democrats in a congressional district dominated by Republicans, describe themselves and their newspaper as "socially progressive, fiscally conservative." The editor wore blue jeans, long-johns and a "worn out white button-down shirt" on Monday while following a video stream of the Pulitzer announcement. He jumped from his chair and shouted an expletive after hearing his name and his newspaper called. Staff members traded hugs as the phone began ringing, old classmates, associates and sources offering well wishes, and more expletives. Later, the Cullens turned their attention to an item that local car dealer Rick Peterson dropped off at the office when The Times began rolling from the press 27 years ago: A bottle of champagne. Art and John Cullen vowed to keep a cork on a gift collecting dust until something big, really big, happened to their business. In this trade, there's little bigger than a Pulitzer. So late Monday afternoon, the Cullens and their Storm Lake Times staff, who struck repeated blows for the little guy, popped the cork and passed the bubbly. SLOAN, Iowa | The driver of a truck carrying cattle was transported to the hospital after rescue crews extricated him from the cab of his vehicle following an accident on Interstate 29 Monday evening. The accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 29 just south of the Sloan exit. Trooper Chad Schweitzberger with the Iowa State Patrol said a semi carrying animal products was traveling below the minimum posted speed limit when a second semi, carrying live cattle, rear-ended it. The male driver of the semi carrying cattle was pinned inside and had to be extracted, he said. He was transported to a Sioux City hospital. Schweitzberger said he was unsure of the condition of the cattle, but some also appeared to be severely injured. Several area first responders reported to the scene. Crews worked at the crash site for much of the evening, restricting travel to one lane on I-29 northbound. Iowa State Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash. SIOUX CITY | The Sioux City School Board gave final approval Monday to a $170 million budget that reduces spending by about $2 million and lowers the district's property tax rate. The board's adoption of the budget, which governs spending for nearly 15,000 students and 1,900 teachers and other staff for the fiscal year beginning July 1, came after a hearing in which no people spoke. Iowa school districts are required to set their annual budgets by April 15. The budget includes local property taxes and state aid. The Iowa Legislature this year approved a 1.1 percent increase in supplemental state funding for K-12 districts for the budget year that begins July 1. Superintendent Paul Gausman said the budget is a sound one, aiming to keep taxes low and still well-educate pupils. Gausman said it was pleasing to pass the lower tax levy in spite of only 1.1 percent in state aid. Some years that level is 2 percent or more. In the budget plan, the district's property tax rate drops 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, from $15.48 this year to $15.39 per $1,000. The impact on individual property will be based on various factors, including the assessed valuation and a state limitation on the percentage of the valuation subject to taxation, commonly known as a rollback. The budget was adopted on a 5-2 vote. Board member Paul Gorski said the property valuation in the district overall has risen, so he wanted a lower tax levy. David Gleiser was the other member voting no. School officials in late 2016 originally calculated a budget with a multimillion-dollar deficit, so a series of cuts were prepared and debated. The school board ultimately made $3.2 million in budget reductions to lower the fiscal 2018 general fund budget to around $170 million, from an estimated $168 million for the fiscal year ending June 30. To balance the budget, the district also dipped into its reserves. Salaries and benefits account for about $137 million of the projected 2018 budget, up slightly from $135.7 million this year. Most of the reductions for next year will come through savings from an expansion of the district's early retirement program. Fifty teachers and other district staff opted for early retirement at the end of the current school year. Thirty-two positions will be filled by teachers who are paid a lesser salary. Eighteen positions will go unfilled with successors, leading to projected savings of $2.5 million. Another $378,551 in savings would come from three administrative positions in various departments. WAYNE, Neb. | As an elementary school student, Randy Bertolas happily took all the old National Geographic magazines that one of his teachers was planning to throw away. The magazines all had maps that Bertolas could pore over, wonder what it was like in those countries and how a person would travel to get there. "I was that kid in elementary school that liked to read maps. Maps spoke to me," said Bertolas, a professor and chair of the Wayne State College geography department. Thanks to Bertolas, Nebraska fourth-graders could hear maps calling out to them this fall. As part of the state's celebration of the 150th anniversary of statehood, the Nebraska Sesquicentennial Commission asked that the Student Atlas of Nebraska, researched and written by Bertolas, be used for a statewide educational curriculum this fall. A total of 30,000 copies have been printed and will be distributed to every fourth-grader and fourth-grade teacher in the state for use in the Nebraska studies curriculum taught at that grade level. The atlas, first published in 2015 and updated for its second edition this year, is full of maps, pictures, charts and statistics that cover just about everything a fourth-grader might want to know about Nebraska. There's information on crops, rivers, transportation, pioneer trails, population, ethnicity, economics and more. A Minnesota native who has taught at Wayne State for 22 years, Bertolas hopes students gain a deeper appreciation for their home state. "I hope fourth-graders get this and realize this was written for you, and it's about you. Learn about your place and where you are," he said. But even more so, he hopes it sparks an interest in geography. "I just want teachers to use it, have students get it in their little hands and learn about geography," said Bertolas, whose enthusiasm for the subject is obvious in conversation and a glance at his office walls, which are covered with photos from trips he and his students have taken throughout the world. Bertolas never imagined that the atlas would play an important role in Nebraska's 150th anniversary celebration. The idea to produce an atlas grew from strategic planning by the Geographic Educators of Nebraska about five years ago. The group decided to pursue it, and Bertolas was more or less volunteered to write it. He worked on it mostly on weekends in his office, researching, compiling data and creating maps. Yes, it took up a lot of his free time, but for a geographer, it was more fun than work. "I like to learn. You're in the wrong business if you're a teacher and don't like to learn," Bertolas said. "I love looking at things like this, and I love to share." His wife, who worked as an elementary school paraprofessional, helped him use language and write questions aimed at fourth-graders. Finally, after months of weekends spent at the office, the atlas' first edition was published and made available, along with a teacher's guide and lesson plans, to fourth-grade teachers to use in their Nebraska studies. The atlas flew mainly under the radar. With no funds for distribution, it was hard to get it out to every corner of the state. But with a 150th birthday coming up, the Sesquicentennial Commission saw the possibilities that the atlas presented for education. Nebraska First Lady Susanne Shore helped secure the funding for printing the new edition. Bertolas spent four months of weekends to update and add new information to the atlas, a slick 56-page book full of color that he hopes students will flip through over and over, going back to look things up. Through that hands-on approach and the questions posed to readers on each page, Bertolas hopes the atlas will make students more curious about their state and its history. In the larger picture, he'd love it if it got them more interested in geography in general. "We have to start people at a young age to get interested in geography," he said. "If we don't, it's hard to get them hooked on it when they're older." Maps don't speak to everyone like they do to him, Bertolas acknowledges. But his atlas has a lot to say, and students shouldn't have a hard time hearing it. SOUTH SIOUX CITY | Area high school students will have the chance to meet representatives from nearly 80 colleges at the Tri-State Area College Fair on April 23 in South Sioux City. The free event will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Marina Center, 385 E. Fourth St. Sponsored by EducationQuest Foundation, the fair is open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who are either beginning their college search or finalizing their decision. Before attending, students should register for a barcode at NebraskaCollegeFairs.org, print the barcode or download it to their smarthphone and take it to the fair so college representatives can scan it. A list of participating colleges and other information about the fair can be found at EducationQuest.org. DES MOINES Legislation designed to provide enhanced protection for victims of domestic abuse is on its way to Gov. Terry Branstads desk. House File 263, which cleared the Iowa Senate on a 48-0 vote Monday, would increase prison time for repeat convictions of domestic abuse, stalking and harassment offenses; require risk assessments for those who violate no-contact or protective orders; and allow judges to make electronic tracking a condition of release for someone convicted of domestic abuse assault. The bill, which passed the House 90-8 last month, had failed in previous sessions to make it to the governors desk. Im glad that were able to provide victims of domestic abuse more comfort with the provisions of this bill, said Sen. Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, the bills floor manager. For those victims who are truly trying to move on with their lives, this will give them more time and more assurance their abusers will be behind bars longer and if theyre enough of a threat that theyll be able to see where these people are through electronic tracking. The bill expands the definition of stalking to include situations in which a technological device is repeatedly used to locate, listen to or watch a person without a legitimate purpose. The bill also states that someone commits stalking when the person engages in a course of conduct that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated or threatened or that would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily injury or death to themselves or a member of their immediate family. It also makes it a serious misdemeanor crime to place a global positioning device with the intent to intimidate, annoy or alarm another person without their consent. Conviction of the offense would be punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $315 and not more than $1,875. Also, an offender convicted of a third or subsequent offense of domestic abuse assault would be required to serve at least one-fifth of the maximum term. The offense would be a Class D felony punishable by a fine of at least $750 but no more than $7,500 and a prison term not to exceed five years. Currently, the actual average length of stay for third offense domestic abuse assault is 17.1 months. This is a good measure and I strongly support it, said Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines. Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes said provisions of House File 263 were very similar to what the governor had proposed in the past but Branstad would reserve judgment until he had a chance to review the measure. In other action Monday, senators voted 44-4 to confirm Altoona attorney Geri Husers reappointment as chairwoman of the Iowa Utilities Board and 48-0 to accept Richard Loziers Iowa Utilities Board appointment as well. Gubernatorial appointees must receive a two-thirds majority or at least 34 affirmative votes from the Iowa Senate to be confirmed. DES MOINES A ban on texting while driving is on the way to Gov. Terry Branstad, who made the legislation one of his priorities this year. The GOP governor expressed appreciation Monday for the bipartisan support that Senate File 234 received, as the House voted 90-6 and agreed with the Senate to make texting while driving a primary offense. Floor manager Rep. Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake, said he would have liked a ban on the use of all hand-held communication devices, but said the bill accomplishes a lot of things that weve been trying to do for several years. Although short of a ban, Worthan said SF 234 will allow police to pull over drivers for using a phone to write, send or view electronic messages and texts, viewing social media and engaging in gaming. SF 234 would allow motorists to still use their device as a telephone, Worthan said, as well use GPS devices. Still, he said, law enforcement sees the bill as a huge improvement over current law that classifies texting while driving as a secondary offense meaning drivers can be cited for texting while driving only if they are stopped for some other offense. In the House version of the legislation, only warnings would have been issued during the first year. Worthan anticipates drivers will tell officers they were dialing a number, not texting, if they are stopped. But the stop has still happened. The conversation about the danger of texting while driving has happened, he said. The bill requires officers to get a search warrant if they seek to find if the driver was dialing rather than texting. Worthan said the ban on texting while driving was warranted because of the increase in crashes attributed to distracted driving. The Iowa Department of Transportation reported earlier that there were 1,100 crashes and 14 fatalities in 2015 as a result of drivers distracted by a phone or other electronic device. The total number of crashes caused by drivers distracted by a phone or other electronic device increased by 29 percent, and the number of fatalities doubled, between 2014 and 2015. An amendment calling for an effort to identify the prevalence of racial profiling in Iowa was withdrawn and another establishing rules for motor vehicles passing bicycles was ruled not germane to the bill. Trespass bill passes The House voted 92-0 to add its approval to Senate File 260 and send the changes in Iowa trespass law to the governor. Under the bill, the owner, renter or lawful occupant of property has no duty of care to a trespasser. It does not change the common law doctrine of attractive nuisance, which imposes a duty on a landowner to protect children from dangerous conditions or from items that will attract kids on to the property. It was approved earlier 48-1 by the Senate. Right to try amended Terminally ill patients would have a right to try by gaining more access to experimental drugs under Senate File 404, which was approved 96-0. The Senate approved it 49-0 earlier, but an amendment means it needs to return. It would permit manufacturers of investigative drugs, biological products or devices to make them available to eligible patients with terminal illnesses for use as a treatment so long as they provide written consent. Bill manager Rep. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, offered an amendment to make clear the right-to-try legislation shall not be construed to allow a patients treating physician to assist the patient in committing or attempting to commit suicide as prohibited by law. It was approved on a voice vote and returns to the Senate. Forfeiture sent On a 95-1 vote, the House joined the Senate in approving changes to the state civil asset forfeiture law and sent it to the governor. The state can seize property if it can show by a preponderance of evidence it was used to facilitate a crime, furnished in exchange for a crime or is the proceeds of a crime. Rep. Greg Heartsill, R-Dallas-Melcher, said there have been cases around the country where asset forfeiture has been used in lesser degrees of suspected criminal activity. In some cases, the property owner could be innocent yet have property seized without due process. In some cases the legal cost to prove innocence and reclaim seized property greatly exceed the value of the property, Heartsill said. Under Senate File 446, prosecutors would have to convict a suspected offender of illegal activity before seizing property valued under $5,000 believed to have been associated with crime. 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Ltd., Altima Asia Ltd, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Altius Consulting Limited, Altius Data Solutions Private Limited, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Apis Group Pty Ltd, Appaloosa Technology SASU, AppsPro, AppsPro, Arca, Arca Ingenieros y Consultoria S.L., Arca Telecom S.L., Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Artio People (Payroll) Pty Ltd, Artio People Pty Ltd, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Automation Partners Pty Ltd, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc, Avanade Consulting Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Limited, Avanade Europe Services Limited, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SASU, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade Inc, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy S.r.l., Avanade Japan KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Middle East Limited, Avanade Netherlands B.V., Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain S.L., Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Limited, Avanade do Brasil Ltda , Avanade Osterreich GmbH, Avenai, Avieco, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCS Consulting, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BENEXT, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, BRIDGEi2i, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Zhidao Future Consulting Co. Ltd, Benext, Berico Technologies LLC, Bionic, Bionic Solution LLC, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Bow & Arrow, Bow & Arrow Limited, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, Byte Prophecy Private Limited, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CS Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, CS Technology (UK) Limited, CS Technology Group LLC, CS Technology LLC, CadenceQuest Inc., Callisto Integration Europe B.V., Callisto Integration Europe Limited, Callisto Integration LLC, Callisto Integration Ltd, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc, Certus Solutions Consulting Services Limited, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cirrus Connect Australia Pty Ltd, Cirrus Connect Limited, Cirruseo, Clarity Insights, ClearEdge Partners, Clearhead, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas Japan G.K., Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Limited, Cloudeasier SAS, Cloudpoint Limited, Cloudsherpas Inc, Cloudworks, Cloudworks Consulting Services Inc, Cloudworks Technology LLC, Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda, Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda, Context Information Security, Context Information Security LLC, Context Information Security Limited, CoreCompete LLC, CoreCompete Limited, CoreCompete Private Limited, Corliant Inc., Creative Drive LLC, Creative Drive US LLC, CreativeDrive, CreativeDrive Digital Content Services (Shenzhen) Co Ltd., CreativeDrive EMEA Limited, CreativeDrive Singapore Pte Ltd, CreativeDrive UK Group Limited, Cutting Edge Solutions Limited, Cygni AB, Cygni Norrsken AB, Cygni Stockholm AB, Cygni Syd AB, Cygni Vast AB, Cygni Ost AB, Cygni Ostersund AB, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V., Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Ergo, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Founders Intelligence, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., FutureMove Automotive, FutureMove Automotive Co. Ltd., GRA Supply Chain Pty Ltd, Gagel Group S de R.L. de C.V., Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gevity, Gren utvikling AS, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hahntel Ltda, Halo Partners LLC, Hamilton Holding Company S.A, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Happen GP Limited, Happen Limited, Headspring, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl A/S, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn Bhd, IBB Consulting, ICM.S S.r.l., IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INSITUM, IQSP Consulting LLC, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Icon Integration (NZ) Limited, Icon Integration Pty Ltd, Imagine Broadband (USA) Limited, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Imaginea Technologies LLC, Industrie IT (Hong Kong) Ltd, Industrie IT (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Industrie IT Group Pty Ltd, Industrie IT Pty Ltd, Industrie&Co, Infinity Works Consulting Limited, Infinity Works Holdings Limited, Infinity Works Management Limited, Infinity Works Midco Limited, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Innotec International EAD, Innotec International S.p. z.o.o., Innotec Marketing GmbH, Innotec Marketing International Ireland Limited, Innotec- Marketing Spain S.L, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., International Biometric Group LLC, International Biometric Group UK Limited, Intrepid, Intrepid Futureworks Sdn Bhd, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Technology Ltd, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, ItSafer Continuity Services S.L., JKD Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, K Comms Group Limited, KSC Studio LLC, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, King James Group, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Limited, Kogentix Singapore Pte Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LINKBYNET Indian Ocean (L.I.O) Ltd, LabAnswer, Lexta GmbH, Lexta UK Limited, Lien par le reseau Inc, Lien par le reseau infrastructures Inc, Lin Bo (Shanghai) Network Technology Co. Ltd., Link By Net SAS, Link By Net SRL, Link By Net Vietnam Company Limited, Linkbynet East Asia Ltd, Linkbynet Singapore Pte Ltd., Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, Lumenup S.A., MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision LLC, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte Ltd, Mackevision UK Limited, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd, Maihiro, Matter, Maud Corp Pty Ltd, Maxamine International, Measuretek LLC, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing LLC, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mistral Wind Operations Servicos Empresariais Unipessoal Lda., MobGen, Mortgage Cadence LLC, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, Mudano Limited, Myrtle Consulting Group LLC, N3, N3 (Dalian) Business Consulting Co. Ltd., N3 Brazil Consultoria em Marketing Ltda, N3 Germany GmbH, N3 LLC, N3 North America LLC, N3 Results Australia Pty Ltd, N3 Results Ireland Limited, N3 Results Japan G.K., N3 Results Limited, N3 Results Malaysia Sdn Bhd, N3 Results Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., N3 Results S.A.S., N3 Results Singapore Pte Ltd, N3 Results Unipessoal Lda, NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Olympus Systems Corporation, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, T.A. Cook, TXF LLC, Tambourine, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis AG, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines Inc, Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc, Zestgroup, Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut. Read More Derwent London plc owns 83 buildings in a commercial real estate portfolio predominantly in central London valued at 5.4 billion (including joint ventures) as at 30 June 2020, making it the largest London-focused real estate investment trust (REIT). Our experienced team has a long track record of creating value throughout the property cycle by regenerating our buildings via development or refurbishment, effective asset management and capital recycling. We typically acquire central London properties off-market with low capital values and modest rents in improving locations, most of which are either in the West End or the Tech Belt. We capitalise on the unique qualities of each of our properties - taking a fresh approach to the regeneration of every building with a focus on anticipating tenant requirements and an emphasis on design. Reflecting and supporting our long-term success, the business has a strong balance sheet with modest leverage, a robust income stream and flexible financing. As part of our commitment to lead the industry in mitigating climate change, in October 2019, Derwent London became the first UK REIT to sign a Green Revolving Credit Facility. At the same time, we also launched our Green Finance Framework and signed the Better Buildings Partnership's climate change commitment. The Group is a member of the 'RE100' which recognises Derwent London as an influential company, committed to 100% renewable power by purchasing renewable energy, a key step in becoming a net zero carbon business. Derwent London is one of only a few property companies worldwide to have science-based carbon targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Landmark schemes in our 5.6 million sq ft portfolio include 80 Charlotte Street W1, Brunel Building W2, White Collar Factory EC1, Angel Building EC1, 1-2 Stephen Street W1, Horseferry House SW1 and Tea Building E1. In 2019, the Group won several awards including EG Offices Company of the Year, the CoStar West End Deal of the Year for Brunel Building, Westminster Business Council's Best Achievement in Sustainability award and topped the real estate sector and was placed ninth overall in the Management Today 2019 awards for 'Britain's Most Admired Companies'. In 2013 the Company launched a voluntary Community Fund and has to date supported over 100 community projects in the West End and the Tech Belt. The Company is a public limited company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is 25 Savile Row, London, The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. LEONARDTOWN, Md. Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme. (April 10, 2017)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident reports.BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered two vehicles in the 45000 block of Strickland Road in Great Mills; nothing appeared to be stolen. Deputy T. Siciliano is investigating the case. CASE# 10451-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence in the 39000 block of Doctor Johnson Road and stole property. Deputy First Class K. Flerlage is investigating the case. CASE# 10453-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence in the 26000 block of Dixon Way in Mechanicsville and stole property from the shed. Deputy T. Payne is investigating the case. CASE# 10491-17BURGLARY: Between 2/19 and 2/25, unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a residence and stole property in the 23000 block of Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown. Deputy J. Bare is investigating the case. CASE# 10763-17THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) stole property from a residence in the 17000 block of Piney Point Road in Piney Point. Deputy M. Beyer is investigating the case. CASE# 10779-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence and stole property in the 23000 block of La Grande Estates in Leonardtown. Deputy M. McClure is investigating the case. CASE# 10918-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence and stole property in the 50000 block of Holly Point Road in Dameron. Deputy D. Smith is investigating the case. CASE# 11091-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a shed in the 26000 block of Tin Top School Road in Mechanicsville and stole property. CASE#12413-17DEATH OF JUVENILE: On March 5 at 5:49 p.m., deputies responded to a medical emergency in Lexington Park with a CPR in progress. A juvenile male was transported to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The investigation continues.BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) attempted to enter a residence in the 45000 block of Foxchase Drive in Great Mills. It does not appear entry was made into the residence, and nothing appeared to be stolen. Sgt. R. Merritt is investigating the case. CASE# 12875-17BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered a motor vehicle and stole property while parked at the Mechanicsville Moose Lodge in Mechanicsville on March 5, 2017. Deputy First Class K. Flerlage is investigating the case. CASE# 12822-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence in the 43000 block of Primrose Court in California. Nothing appeared to be stolen from the residence. Deputy J. Bare is investigating the case. CASE# 13702-17THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) removed the registration plate from a motor vehicle parked at Outback Steakhouse in California. It is also possible the plate was removed while parked at the victim's residence. Deputy T. Payne is investigating the case. CASE# 13754-17THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) removed property from the outside of a vacant residence between February 17 - March 10, 2017. Corporal J. Kirkner is investigating the case. CASE# 13858-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) removed property from the outside of a vacant residence in the 20000 block of Ridge Path Way in Leonardtown. Deputy M. McClure is investigating the case. CASE# 13879-17THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) removed oil from a tank in the 38000 block of Beach Road in Coltons Point sometime between March 10 - March 12, 2017. Corporal J. Kirkner is investigating the case. CASE# 13887-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a motor vehicle and stole property in the 38000 block of Guy Way in Mechanicsville. The exact location of the theft is unknown. CASE# 14044-17SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: "Employees" of Maryland Gas and Electrical were going door to door trying to sell the company's services on Cochise Court in Mechanicsville. The subjects were identified and the Sheriff's Office is working to verify the employment status of the subjects. Corporal J. Somerville is investigating the case. CASE# 14506-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a shed and stole property in the 45000 block of Carefree Way in Great Mills. The case is being investigated by deputy First Class K. Flerlage. CASE# 14489-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into Cadillac Jacks in Lexington Park and stole property. Deputy D. Smith is investigating the case. CASE# 14807-17ATTEMPTED BURGLARY: An alarm sounded at the Cadillac Jacks in Lexington Park. Upon arrival, officers observed that an unknown suspect attempted to forced entry into the business. The case is being investigated by Deputy D. Holdsworth. CASE# 14765-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a residence in the 19000 block of Point Lookout Road in Lexington Park and stole property. Deputy D. Smith is investigating the case. CASE# 15018-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) attempted to force entry into a shed in the 37000 block of New Market Turner Road in Mechanicsville. Nothing appeared to be stolen. Corporal D. Snyder is investigating the case. CASE# 15983-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a residence and stole property in the 22000 block of St. Richard's Court in Great Mills. Deputy A. Budd is investigating the case. CASE# 15990-17THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) stole a victim's motor vehicle while it was parked at the Patuxent Medical Clinic in Lexington Park. Deputy First Class R. Steinbach is investigating the case. CASE# 16003-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a vacant residence in the 22000 block of Bayside Road in Lexington Park; nothing appeared to be stolen. Corporal J. Kirkner is investigating the case. CASE# 16129-17SUSPICIOUS ITEM IN NEIGHBORHOOD: On March 24 at approximately 5:10 p.m., deputies responded to Garrett Trailer Park on Great Mills Road for what was believed to be an unexploded ordinance. The investigation revealed a subject was oystering near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station when they dredged the ordinance out of the river and then transported it to a friend's residence located in the Garrett Trailer Park. The ordinance displayed visible markings which read "Contact Military or Police" and "Contains Hazardous Materials." For precautionary measures, residents were evacuated out of the neighborhood and at a nearby business while deputies made contact with the proper authorities at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The authorities identified the item as an underwater marker/buoy and advised the item posed no threat. Deputies maintained the scene until personnel responded and reclaimed the buoy. Residents returned to their homes and emergency services personnel cleared the scene.BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a residence and stole property in the 45000 block of Guenther Drive in Great Mills. Deputy D. Holdsworth is investigating the case. CASE# 16250-17FALSE FIRE ALARM: Deputies responded to Leonardtown High School for a false fire alarm activation. The investigation revealed a student was running laps during gym, ran their hand along the wall, and accidently triggered the alarm. The Fire Marshal's Office responded and deemed the incident accidental.STOLEN VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) stole a motor vehicle from the apartments of Wildewood in California. Corporal D. Corcoran is investigating the case.THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) entered a motor vehicle and stole property in the 21000 block of Cambridge Drive in Lexington Park. Cpl. J. Vezzosi is continuing the investigation. CASE# 16821-17ASSAULT: A nine-year-old was scratched with scissors by another student at Evergreen Elementary School in California. The case remains open for further investigation by Cpl. T. Seyfried. CASE# 16778-17BREAKING AND ENTERING TO MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered a motor vehicle in the 28000 block of Autumnwood Drive in Mechanicsville and stole property. The case is being investigated by Deputy S. Shelko. CASE# 17062-17BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a motor vehicle parked in the 22000 block of Valley Estates Drive in Lexington Park. Nothing appeared to be stolen from the vehicle. Deputy D. McClure is investigating the case. CASE# 17297-17THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence and stole property in the 21000 block of Elegant Court in Lexington Park. Deputy J. Smith is investigating the case. CASE# 17191-17THEFT: Sometime between 3/22 and 3/29, unknown suspect(s) stole property from a victim's front yard in the 28000 block of Hill and Dale Drive in Mechanicsville. Corporal J. Somerville is investigating the case. CASE# 17194-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence in the 46000 block of Midway Drive in Lexington Park. Nothing appeared to be stolen from the residence. Deputy First Class R. Steinbach is investigating the case. CASE# 17544-17BARRICADE: Deputies responded to a call for a subject barricaded in their residence in the Country Lakes neighborhood. The subject surrendered without incident and the barricade ended peacefully. CASE# 17623-17 & 17627-17BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered a motor vehicle and stole property in the 21000 block of St. Lo Place in Lexington Park. The case is being investigated by Deputy S. Bowie. CASE# 17865-17ATTEMPTED THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE: During the overnight hours, unknown suspect(s) attempted to steal a motor vehicle parked in the 40000 block of Medleys Lane in Mechanicsville. Corporal J. Kirkner is investigating the case. CASE# 18105-17ASSIST OTHER AGENCY/ARSON: Unknown suspect(s) set fire to a motor vehicle. The Fire Marshal's Office responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. CASE#18201-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence and stole property in the 45000 block of Dee Court in California. Deputy first Class J. Maguire is investigating the case. CASE# 18503-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into Twist Wine & Spirits in Lexington Park and stole property. Corporal J. Vezzosi is investigating the case. CASE# 18636-17BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into China Cafe in California and stole property. Corporal J. Vezzosi is investigating the case. CASE# 18642-17FRAUD: Deputies responded to the 24000 block of Clarkes Landing Road in Hollywood to investigate a lottery scam. Corporal D. Corcoran is continuing the investigation. CASE# 18706-17THEFT: A seventeen-year-old male was charged with theft for stealing a teacher's cellphone at Great Mills High School on March 31, 2017, by the school resource officer. CASE# 17513-1THREATS: An eleven-year-old made threatening statements to teachers at Spring Middle School. The school handled the incident administratively. CASE# 18916-17VANDALISM: Unknown suspect(s) shattered the front door to the Lexington Park Rescue Squad on Great Mills Road. There is no indication entry was made to the building. Deputy M. McClure is investigating the case. CASE#19059-17COUNTERFEIT COMPLAINT: Unknown suspect(s) used counterfeit bills to purchase gift cards from the CVS on Great Mills Road. Deputy T. Siciliano is continuing the investigation. CASE# 19067-17COUNTERFEIT COMPLAINT: Unknown suspect(s) used counterfeit bills to purchase gift cards at the Rite-Aid on Triangle Drive in Charlotte Hall. Deputy First Class K. Flerlage is investigating the case. CASE#19103-17VANDALISM: A fifteen-year-old male juvenile was arrested for vandalizing a neighbor's driveway in the 24000 block of Maddox Road in Chaptico. Corporal Sommerville is investigating the case. CASE# 18973-17ASSAULT: A twelve-year-old male juvenile was arrested for assaulting two victims causing visible injury in the 17000 block of Mt. Zion Church Road in St. Inigoes. Deputy J. Smith is investigating the case. CASE# 19123-17BURGLARY: On April 9, 2017, unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a residence and stole property in the 21000 block of Liberty Street in Lexington Park. Deputy D. Holdsworth is investigating the case. CASE# 19307-17 PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme. (April 10, 2017)The Prince Frederick Barrack of the Maryland State Police (MSP) today released the following incident and arrest reports.POSSESSION OF COCAINE: On 4/6/2017 at 1:01 am, Trooper Stull and Trooper First Class Barlow stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation on Rousby Hall Rd. and Rt. 4 in Lusby. Several criminal indicators were noted and a K-9 scan was requested. As a result, a passenger, William T. Harrod, 54 of Lexington Park, was found to be in possession of cocaine. He was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA AND HYDROCODONE: On 4/6/2017 at 11:39 pm, Trooper First Class Matthews stopped a vehicle on Rt. 4 near M. F. Bowen Rd. in Prince Frederick for a possible tag violation. A strong odor of raw marijuana was emitting from inside the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed both marijuana and hydrocodone pills. Jamar D. Mackall, 40 of Prince Frederick was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.POSSESSION OF ALPRAZOLAM: On 4/7/2017 at 8:32 am, Trooper First Class Costello responded to the 4700 block of William Wharf Rd. in St. Leonard for a CDS complaint. James A. Stone, 29 of St. Leonard was found to be in possession of Alprazolam pills for which he did not have a prescription. He was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.ACTIVE WARRANT, RESISTING ARREST, DISORDERLY CONDUCT: On 4/7/2017 at 9:39 am, Trooper First Class Costello responded to the Calvert Village Shopping Center in Prince Frederick for a report of a wanted subject. Richard F. Virgin, 27 of Prince Frederick, was observed running into the woods. After a foot pursuit involving crossing Rt. 4, he was located at a nearby restaurant in the men's room. Virgin caused a disturbance for both staff and patrons in the restaurant during arrest. He was incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, AMPHETAMINE DEXTROAMPHETAMINE: On 4/8/2017 at 9:43 am, Trooper First Class Costello stopped a vehicle on Dares Beach Rd. in Prince Frederick for traffic violations. Caleb M. Fry, 26 of Prince Frederick was observed driving without his seatbelt. A distinct odor of marijuana was emitting from inside the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed both marijuana and amphetamine Dextroamphetamine. He was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.POSSESSION OF DEXTROAMPHETAMINE: On 4/8/2017 at 6:49 pm, Trooper First Class Warrick and Trooper Backus responded to the 190 block of Armory Rd. in Prince Frederick to check the welfare of a person. Veronica M. Disney, 55 of no fixed address was located and appeared to be extremely distraught and unable to give her name. A check of her backpack revealed an identitfication card. While checking for the ID, Dextroamphetamine was found in the backpack and it was confirmed that Ms. Disney did not have a prescription for the drug. Once Ms. Disney was cleared by EMS personnel, she was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.Thomas P. Voegtli, 55, of Pr. Frederick, arrested on 04/04/2017 @ 02:40 pm by TPR. J. JonesKenneth S. Lockwood, 38, of Jacksonville, Florida, arrested on 04/08/2017 @ 11:53 pm by SGT. E. WestLauren E. Robison, 27, of St. Leonard, arrested on 04/09/2017 @ 12:02 am by TPR. K. StullAlexis A. Stairs, 32, of North Beach, arrested on 04/09/2017 @ 01:31 am by SGT. E. WestCasey J. Potter, 23, of Mechanicsville, arrested on 04/09/2017 @ 05;39 pm by TFC J. Warrick LA PLATA, Md. (April 6, 2017)Tony Covington, State's Attorney for Charles County announced that on April 6, 2017, visiting Prince George's County Circuit Court Judge Erik H. Nyce sentenced Jamie Antonio Rivera, 27 of La Plata, to life plus 25 years in prison for first degree rape and child sexual abuse. During the week of June 6, 2016, the victim, who was under 13 years of age, told friends at school that she was being sexually assaulted by Jaime Rivera. Her friends subsequently reported the allegation to a school counselor, who notified the Charles County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Social Services. The victim was immediately taken to Charles County Regional Medical Center for a forensic exam, where it was revealed that she suffered physical traumatic injuries consistent with sexual assault. An investigation revealed that over a four year period, the defendant repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim, oftentimes by threatening to use or actually displaying a knife. The last sexual assault occurred a few days before she revealed the crimes to her friends. Investigators recovered an article of the victims clothing. That clothing was submitted to the Maryland State Police Crime Lab for DNA analysis. That analysis revealed that there were body fluids found on the clothing and further analysis determined that the body fluids were that of the defendant. At sentencing, Assistant State's Attorney, Sarah Freeman told the judge that, "This particular case is extremely volatile and heinous; the victim has permanent physical and emotional scarring but her 8 year old sister also is permanently scarred, emotionally. Rape, should never happen let alone of an 11 year old, but to do so by waking up another child and having her move to the top bunk and subject her to the cries of the victim for the Defendant to stop, is unthinkable." Judge Nyce told Rivera during sentencing, "I presided over this case alongside Judge Greer. I do find that you are a sexually violent predator. Dr. Grant (the psychologist and forensic evaluator for Charles County) found that due to the heinous nature of this matter, you are at a higher risk for recidivism. The level of harm in this case was excessive. We are dealing with extreme mental and physical damage to a child who was in the comfort of her own home. I think about her vulnerability. Because of all of these factors, I believe it is appropriate to depart from the sentencing guidelines". Rivera has a separate case still pending in which he allegedly participated in a gang rape in 2010. That case is set for April 24, 2017. Gregory Allan Deavers, 50, of Hughesville, Md. LA PLATA, Md. On March 28 at 11:09 p.m., the victim was withdrawing money from an ATM on Prospect Avenue in Indian Head when she was approached by a lone male who pushed her to the ground and stole the money that was dispensed. The suspect is a white male, possibly in his teens to early 20's, 5'7" to 5'9", with a thin build. Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme. (April 11, 2017)The Charles County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.MAN CHARGED WITH DUI AND POSSESSION OF DRUGS: On April 7 at 12:02 p.m., officers initiated a traffic stop in the area of Piney Church Road and Billingsley Road in Waldorf after the driver of a vehicle suddenly pulled out in front of an officer and then swerved between two lanes of traffic. Upon contact, the driver exhibited numerous signs of impairment. As the driver exited the vehicle, he attempted to hide two cigarettes he was holding. The cigarettes had a strong chemical odor, and officers learned they were laced with PCP. The driver,, was arrested and charged with several traffic violations including driving on a suspended license and driving while impaired. He was also charged with possession of drugs. Officer R. Ondrish investigated.DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY / CRIME SOLVERS OFFERING CASH REWARD: On April 9 at approximately 4:15 a.m., unknown suspect(s) fired multiple shots from a shotgun at a parked, unoccupied vehicle in the 5500 block of Indian Head Highway in Indian Head. The vehicle had significant damage. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer S. Griffith at (301) 932-2222. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS, texting CHARLES + the tip to CRIMES (274637) or submitting tips online at tipsubmit.com. Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.CRIME SOLVERS OFFERING CASH REWARD THAT LEADS TO ARREST OF ROBBERY SUSPECT: Charles County Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of a suspect wanted in connection with a citizen robbery. On March 28 at 11:09 p.m., the victim was withdrawing money from an ATM on Prospect Avenue in Indian Head when she was approached by a lone male who pushed her to the ground and stole the money that was dispensed. The suspect is a white male, possibly in his teens to early 20's, 5'7" to 5'9", with a thin build. He fled on foot toward Strauss Avenue. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. C. Gregory at (301) 609-6507. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS, texting CHARLES + the tip to CRIMES (274637) or submitting tips online at tipsubmit.com St. Mary's County Public Schools is pleased to announce registration for Kindergarten for school year 2017-2018. All schools will hold open registration beginning Monday, April 24, 2017, and continuing through the summer.Parents of children who will be five (5) years old by September 1, 2017, should register at the school assigned to their physical address during the open enrollment period.Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) may go to the school assigned to their legal address to complete the registration paperwork. Children are not required to be present for registration. Required documentation includes evidence of birth, proof of residency, a copy of the child's immunization record, and any court papers regarding custody of the minor child. Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) must also bring photo identification when registering their child.Each elementary school will conduct open enrollment for the children residing in their zone. Information regarding which school serves your residential area is provided by the Department of Capital Planning at www.smcps.org/dss/capital-planning/find-a-school-by-your-address or 301-475-4256, option 6. You do not need to make an appointment to register a child.Documentation which indicates the current physical address of the child will be accepted as proof of residence. Proof of residence will include, but is not limited to, one of the following:a. Mortgage/deed/rental agreement with 911 address assignment;b. Current utility bill with parent/legal guardian name, 911 address of residence, and service address (post office box is not acceptable - and wireless telephone bills are not acceptable); and,c. Patuxent River Naval Base housing form NOW-NATC-1110-1/15, Assignment to Public Quarters, which identifies bona fide residence in St. Mary's County.Parent(s)/Legal Guardians not intending to register an appropriately aged child for kindergarten must obtain a waiver from the St. Mary's County Public Schools Department of Student Services. It is not necessary for children enrolled in Head Start or prekindergarten in the public schools to register again.Questions about the program and registration may be directed to Jessica Cotugno, Supervisor of Elementary Programs and Gifted & Talented at 301-475-5511, ext. 32115.St. Mary's County Public Schools is pleased to announce open application for Prekindergarten/Head Start to determine eligibility for school year 2017-2018. All schools will hold an open application period from Monday, April 24, 2017 through Friday, May 12, 2017 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The goal of the Prekindergarten/Head Start program is to provide initial learning experiences to help children develop basic skills and concepts necessary for successful school performance.A child must be four years old on or before September 1, 2017, and come from a family with an economically disadvantaged background. If vacancies remain after children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have been accepted, the remaining vacancies will be filled using locally determined at-risk criteria and served in rank order.Parents of children who will be three years old by September 1, 2017 and are eligible for placement into the Head Start Program should also apply at the school assigned to their physical address during the open application period. In addition, a limited number of Pre-Kindergarten 3 spaces are available in several Title I schools.Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) may go to the school assigned to their legal address on any of the designated application days to complete the application paperwork. Children are not required to be present for application. Required documentation includes birth certificate, proof of residency, proof of income, a copy of the child's immunization record, any court papers regarding custody of the minor child, and a completed application. Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) must also bring photo identification when registering their child. The application can be found online or at schools.Proof of income must be provided in order for a child's application to be processed quickly. Proof of income documentation includes one of the following:a. W-2 formb. copies of the LAST 3 paycheck stubs, orc. proof of temporary cash assistance (the letter indicating the amount of temporary cash assistance is required)d. child supportDocumentation which indicates the current physical address of the child will be accepted as proof of residence. Proof of residence will include, but is not limited to, one of the following:a. Mortgage/deed/rental agreement with 911 address assignmentb. Current utility bill with parent/legal guardian name, 911 address of residence, and service address (post office box is not acceptable - and wireless telephone bills are not acceptable); andc. Patuxent River Naval Base housing form NOW-NATC-1110-1/15, Assignment to Public Quarters; which identifies bona fide residence in St. Mary's CountyEach elementary school will accept applications for the children residing in their zone. Questions regarding which school serves your residential area should be directed to the Department of Capital Planning at 301-475-4256, option 6.Questions about the program and registration may be directed to Kelly Hall, Executive Director of Supplemental School Programs at 301-475-5511, ext. 32136.The St. Mary's County Public Schools' Ethics Panel will be holding a meeting on Thursday, April 20, 2017, beginning at 4:00 p.m., in Division of Supporting Services' Training Room, located at 27190 Point Lookout Road, Loveville, Maryland 20656. For more information, call 301-475-4256, ext. 34136.On April 5, 2017, the Board of Education revised the 2016-2017 school system operating calendars. The last day of school for students in St. Mary's County Public Schools will be Friday, June 9, 2017, and the last day for teachers will be Monday, June 12, 2017. St. Mary's County Public Schools closed one day this year for inclement weather thus the school year will be shortened by four days since inclement weather days built into the calendar were not used. This will impact the final days of the school year in the following manner: Tuesday, June 6, 2017 will be the last day of school for Head Start and Prekindergarten students Wednesday, June 7, 2017 will be a two-hour early dismissal day with no school for Head Start and Prekindergarten students Thursday, June 8, 2017 will be a two-hour early dismissal day with no school for Head Start and Prekindergarten students Friday, June 9, 2017 will be a two-hour early dismissal day and the last day of school for students K-12 Monday, June 12, 2017 will be the last day for teachers and other 10 month staff Friday, June 23, 2017 will be the last day for 11 month staff.The last day of school for the Chesapeake Public Charter School will be Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7 will be early dismissal days for students attending the Charter School. Thursday, June 8, 2017, is staff collaborative planning (vertical articulation) for teachers. Friday, June 9, 2017 will be the last day for teachers at the Charter School and Monday, June 26, 2017 will be the last day for 11 month staff. ANNAPOLIS (April 11, 2017)The Md. Board of Public Works unanimously approved the acquisition of 163 acres in St. Mary's County to provide for the development of both active and passive recreational opportunities, and critically-important water access to the Patuxent River. The property, known as the Snow Hill Farm, will be owned and managed by St. Mary's County. "This partnership among local, state and national entities translates to an extraordinary opportunity to help develop a new waterfront park in Southern Maryland," Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. "The property will provide expansive and extensive shoreline and beach areas, a protected cove, a motorized boat launch and plenty of open space for more passive recreational pursuits. It will be ideal for canoeing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, picnicking and more." The Program Open Space acquisition was leveraged with funding from the Department of Natural Resources, St. Mary's County and the U.S. Navy. The $1.5 million acquisition is being shared among the partners with the Navy contributing $383,553 through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program in exchange for a conservation easement on the property. Program Open Space is a nationally-recognized program that symbolizes Maryland's long term commitment to conserving the state's natural resources while providing exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities for citizens and visitors alike. Since 1969, the program has provided funding for acquisition of 378,731 acres for open space. Christopher Ryan Rhodes, 20, of Piney Point, Md. LEONARDTOWN, Md. Daisaun Altay Eric Culpepper, 23, of Lexington Park, Md. Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at http://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at http://so.md/expungeme. (April 11, 2017)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Vice Narcotics Division released the following incident and arrest reports. The Division is an investigative team comprised of detectives from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and Federal Drug Agents (HIDTA Group 34). The Division was established on September 1st, 2007.In March of 2017, the Vice/Narcotics Division began an investigation into the illegal distribution of marijuana by. As a result of the investigation, search, and seizures warrants were obtained for Rhodes, his vehicle, and his residence located in Piney Point.On March 31, the search and seizure warrants were executed, and a total of 16.5 ounces of marijuana, more than $3,500.00 in U.S. currency, digital scales, and packaging material were recovered from his residence.Rhodes was placed under arrest and charged with one count of CDS possession of more than 10 grams of marijuana and CDS possession of paraphernalia.Additional charges are pending a review with the State's Attorney., was indicted after detectives made undercover purchases of heroin from him. He was located and arrested on March 31. He was originally held without bond. Students from Chopticon High Schools AP Environmental Science class tour the Marlay-Taylor Wastewater Reclamation Facility in St. Mary's Co. CALIFORNIA, Md. (April 11, 2017)DuWayne Potter, superintendent of the Marlay-Taylor Wastewater Reclamation Facility, recently hosted approximately 25 students from Chopticon High School's AP Environmental Science class. The juniors and seniors enjoyed a 1.5 hour tour tailored to their current studies in the advanced placement class.Students were guided through the treatment processes; beginning with initial separation of inorganic material to the final release of wastewater treated for release into the Chesapeake Bay. Discussion focused on the three processes of treatment: physical, biological and chemical. Wastewater treatment is an excellent example of how science, particularly microbiology and chemistry, is applied to solve an everyday problem such as waste disposal. The students gained better insight into the complicated science behind the processes that keep waste out of our waterways.Tours and class trips of the facility are an opportunity for the public to view first-hand the physical, biological and chemical processes of waste treatment from flush to finish. Tours can be tailored to suit the needs and interests of a particular group, according to Potter.Marlay-Taylor re-opened for tours following approximately two years of heavy construction at the completion of a $39M project to upgrade its enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) process. One of 64 treatment plants in the state required to become ENR compliant, the project was funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Department of the Environment through the Bay Restoration Fund.This plant is the largest treatment facility operated by MetCom, treating an average daily flow of about 4.2 million gallons and serving areas from Lexington Park to St. Mary's College and St. George Island.Members of the public are encouraged to contact MetCom Superintendent DuWayne Potter at dpotter@metcom.or or by calling 301.737.7400, extension 600 for a tour of the facilities. Captain Frank Arbusto, Jr.. Photo courtesy of Robert Hurry. SOLOMONS, Md. (April 11, 2017)The Calvert Marine Museum recently welcomed Frank B. Arbusto, Jr. as the new Captain of Record for the museum's skipjack,Captain Arbusto, who worked as a Dee relief captain last year, brings 26 years of experience with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). His career spans hydrographic surveying (nautical charts) to fisheries research and resource assessment. He has sailed small and large craft inland, coastal and offshore. One of his career highlights was a cooperative US/China research effort in support of El Nino research. Water samples were taken every 200 miles along the equator to a depth of two miles for six weeks, beginning south of Guanghou, China and ending in Sydney, Australia.Serving as Executive Officer aboard the Miller Freeman, the largest fishery research ship in NOAA's fleet at that time, he surveyed all of Puget Sound after the explosion of Mt. St. Helens in 1980. The vessel then followed the volcanic plume south from the Columbia River in Oregon down the west coast until it dissipated just north of San Francisco, California.Arbusto enjoyed his time with Potomac River Boat Company in Washington, DC where he captained the Matthew Hayes, the Miss Christin and the Cherry Blossom, an authentic paddle wheeler. Captain Arbusto graduated from the State University of NY Maritime College with a BS in Meteorology and Oceanography and a 3rd Mates Unlimited license. He earned his Master's Degree in Business from Central Michigan University."The museum is dedicated to the history, resources, and heritage of the bay and my role as Captain will be to provide young people that come aboard an authentic experience sailing the Chesapeake Bay on an historic skipjack. This is a great place and I'm thrilled to be here," said Captain Frank. And the museum is thrilled to have him.The Dee of St. Mary's offers two-hour public sails departing at 2:30 p.m. from the Calvert Marine Museum on several Saturdays throughout the summer: May 27, June 24, July 29, August 26 and September 30. The fee is $15 for ages 812, 13 and older are $25. Children under eight are not permitted. Tickets can be purchased by emailing Melissa at mccormmj@co.cal.md.us. The Dee of St. Mary's is also available for private charters. ANNAPOLIS (April 11, 2017)Democrats during the 2017 Maryland General Assembly session made concerted efforts to preempt policies from the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. An unexpected shortfall in revenue added to the usual partisan conflict over the budget while a series of corruption scandals dogged the Democratic Party, fueling several reform efforts by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. Republicans expressed consternation with Democrats' anti-Trump efforts throughout the session; most notably in February, when most of the Senate Republicans walked off the floor during debate over a resolution to empower the state's attorney general to pursue cases against President Donald Trump's administration on a wide range of issues. However, by the end of the session, many leading Republicans seemed pleased with the results. Several Republican-backed bills were passed and Hogan retains his strong polling numbers ahead of the 2018 gubernatorial elections. House Minority Leader Nicholaus Kipke, R-Anne Arundel, told the Capital News service that "despite the partisan efforts to kind of drag us into the D.C. post-election theater, we were able to pass some meaningful bills." Despite its many battles, Kipke said the 2017 session was the "most bipartisan" he has seen since he took office. Hogan concurred, telling reporters that 2017 was an "incredible, bipartisan session." "We got everything done that needed to get done in terms of the legislation," said Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller Jr., D-Calvert, Charles and Prince George's. "We dealt with health care, we dealt with education, we dealt with environment and we dealt with public safety. So I think it was a very good year quite frankly" The two parties came together on several significant issues, most notably opioid abuse, job creation, anti-fraud measures, education, and environmental issues. With regard to opioid abuse, Maryland passed restrictions on the quantity of opioid painkillers that can be doled out by doctors in a single visit; measures to increase the availability of naloxonea drug that can counteract the effects of overdose; and introduced steep penalties for people who distribute opioids that later cause the death of another person. The government also passed new penalties for distributing Fentanylan extremely potent synthetic opioid that has an extremely high lethal overdose rate. The HOPE act, which passed late Monday, requires the state's Behavioral Health Administration to establish at least 10 more crisis treatment centers distributed evenly across the geographic regions of the state. The More Jobs for Marylanders Act passed with bipartisan support. The law is designed to bolster manufacturing jobs in Maryland by offering tax incentives to companies that create jobs in high-unemployment areas and job training programs. Hogan considered the law a core piece of his 2017 agenda and signed it into law Tuesday. The Taxpayer Protection Act makes it easier for the state to prosecute fraudulent tax refund filers and gives the comptroller's office greater latitude to investigate tax fraud and identity theft. Comptroller Peter Franchot pushed hard for the legislation, holding conferences and events around the state to drum up support for the bill. It passed this year with unanimous support in the Senate and a single nay in the House of Delegates. Maryland became the first state with shale reserves to ban fracking. The state has had a moratorium on fracking in place for several years, but the outright ban became politically feasible once Hogan came out in support at a joint press conference with Sen. Bobby Zirkin, D-Baltimore County, one of the leading advocates for a ban. Sen. George Edwards, R-Allegany, Garrett, Washington, said of fracking in Maryland "It's over. Done. Period." Other bipartisan environmental legislation included the Clean Cars Act, which increases the state's budget for tax credits for electric vehicles, and the Clean Water Commerce Act, which expands the scope of the Chesapeake Bay Restoration fund to include sediment reduction, but does not include any new funding. State Democrats were dogged by two major political issues during the session. The first was Trump's election in November. Delegate David Moon, D-Montgomery, said that Trump's election was the "biggest surprise" of the 2017 session and that state Democrats were still trying to figure out what Trump's agenda would really look like. Moon cited Trump's proposed investments in infrastructure as a possible point of bipartisan cooperation. The second issue is the ongoing slate of corruption accusations that have hit members of the party. Over the past several months, four Democratscurrent, former and almost-legislatorshave faced campaign finance, bribery, and wire fraud charges. The charges helped fuel a push for anti-corruption laws and ethics reforms by Hogan. Several reforms passed with bipartisan support, but they placed Democrats on the defensive at a time when, in purely political terms, the party needed to be on the attack against Hogan's strong statewide approval ratings and popularity. A poll released by Goucher College in late February has Hogan's approval rating between 60 and 66 percent, nearly unchanged from the same time last year. Maryland faced a budget shortfall this session, prompting several fights over funding allocation, perhaps most significantly over several million in funds that the governor's budget proposal cut from the Prince George's County Medical Center. Some of Maryland's budget struggles stem from the challenge of predicting how much revenue the state will take in; income taxes, in particular, can be very volatile and overestimates can leave the state with a sudden fund shortage. The problem is that the lawmakers rely on revenue estimates to determine how much to spend. If an estimate is too low, lawmakers distribute the surplus, leaving no dollar unused. However, when an estimate is too high, this spend-to-the-hilt approach leaves no room for adjustment without cutting from funded programs. A bill proposed by Delegate Maggie Mcintosh, D-Baltimore, sought to solve that problem by placing surplus revenues in a fund that can only be spent during the following year. Basically, the law creates a buffer that can absorb the consequences of overestimated revenue; meanwhile, lawmakers can still spend money left over from underestimates, they just have to wait a year for it to become available. The sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, Sen. Roger Manno, D-Montgomery, said the goal is to "build a robust and solvent 'rainy day' fund." Hogan signed the bill into law in late March. Paid sick leave became a major point of contention, as the governor and lawmakers proposed multiple versions of how much paid leave the state should require companies to offer and which companies should be affected. The version that finally passed the legislature requires businesses with more than 14 employees to offer one hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year. Employers with fewer than 14 employees have to offer the same amount of sick leave, but it can be unpaid. Hogan may veto the legislation but said he had not yet reviewed the bill at the end of the session late Monday night. A bill that would limit standardized testing time also passed. And Hogan allowed a bill that would fund Planned Parenthoodshould federal dollars dry upbecome law without his signature. As always, not every bill made it through this year. The General Assembly failed to pass a bill that would expand the number of growing licenses for the state's medical marijuana industry in an effort to increase diversity in business ownership. Sen. Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore, said she was "devastated" the House didn't pass the bill before the midnight deadline. "We have a multi-billion industry with no minorities participating," Conway said. "I'm almost speechless." Immigration advocates expressed deep disappointment Tuesday after the The Maryland Law Enforcement and Governmental Trust Act died in the Senate. The bill would have essentially made Maryland a sanctuary state by restricting the involvement of law enforcement agencies in Maryland with federal immigration efforts, banning state government agents from asking crime victims or suspects about their immigration or citizenship status. Sen. Rich Madaleno, D-Montgomery County, said the state "failed to react to the anxiety of the immigrant community." Hogan said he was disappointed that his proposals to penalize repeat drunken drivers and reform the state's redistricting process did not pass. Democratic lawmakers passed their own version of redistricting reform, which would create a non-partisan redistricting process only if five other mid-Atlantic states do the same. A bill proposed by Del. Mary Ann Lisanti, D-Harford, would have made the Canvasback Duck the official state waterfowl; the bill never made it out of committee. Reporters Jake Brodsky, Natalie Schwartz, Carrie Snurr, Hannah Klarner, Cara Newcomer and Jack Chavez contributed to this story. Pictured here during the ribbon cutting ceremony are Deputy County Administrator Wilson Parran, County Administrator Terry Shannon, Senior Project Manager of Dewberry Consultants Reza Emtiaz, Water & Sewer Division Plant Supervisor Christopher Hall, Department of Public Works Deputy Director Enterprise Funds Julie Paluda, Commissioner President Tom Hejl, Commissioner Vice President Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr., Commissioner Mike Hart, Water & Sewer Division Operations Superintendent James Ritter, Commissioner Steven R. Weems, Water & Sewer Division Chief Wayne Raither and Department of Public Works Director Rai Sharma. (Photo: Calvert Co. Gov.) The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners yesterday presented certificates of completion to the graduates of the first Calvert County Citizens Academy. The academy offered 21 residents an in-depth look at how Calvert County Government works through an informative, fast-paced and free seven-week program.County department directors and employees shared their departments' mission and provided unique insight into the day-to-day operations of Calvert County Government for three hours every Thursday evening between Jan. 12-Feb. 23. Participants also got behind-the-scenes tours of the Calvert Marine Museum, the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center and the Calvert County Detention Center."I am extremely pleased with how our inaugural program turned out," explained Calvert County Administrator Terry Shannon. "Our staff did a fantastic job highlighting the vital role county government plays in the well-being of our communities and the participants were very engaged. I am looking forward to making this program an annual event.""It was informative and an enlightening experience," shared participant and Lusby resident Lauren Elyard. "I learned so much about our local government and the place that I call home. Every person we met along the way really exemplified civic pride and duty, and it was so apparent how much everyone really loves what they do, and that they are here to make our home the best place it can be."Pictured here with the board to receive their recognition are Calvert County Citizens Academy participants Terese Wells, Barbara Long, John Sullens, Erin Knowles, Christy Greene, Evelyn Signor and Lauren Elyard. In the back row, from left are County Administrator Terry Shannon, Jacob Miller, Michael Sweeney, Cynthia Hillen, Malcolm Funn, Mariann Crisman, Larry Brown, Ivan Behel and Leonard Zuza. Graduates not pictured are participants Inez Claggett, Jennifer Cognata, Marilynn Hansen, Michael King, Benjamin Krause and Leslie Taylor.Learn more about the Citizens Academy at www.co.cal.md.us/index.aspx?NID=2094 The Calvert County Comprehensive Plan workshop on Preserving Rural Character and Directing Growth to Existing Population Centers has been rescheduled from Thursday, April 6 to Thursday, April 20. The public is encouraged to attend the workshop scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick, Building B, Room 104.Before each workshop, an issue paper will be posted on line for review. The issue papers are short documents that summarize major ideas and provide possible strategies for dealing with each issue. The issue paper for the April 20 workshop will be available by April 6. Citizen input from the workshops will be used to develop the Comprehensive Plan.The osprey, an avian harbinger of spring, has returned to Calvert County. The migratory birds of prey return from southern wintering spots about this time each year to nest throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, especially along the Patuxent River. A nesting pair recently arrived at Kings Landing Park in Huntingtown and can be viewed by webcam at the link provided below.Ospreys often return to the same nesting site each year. Their nests are made of large twigs and branches perched in trees or more frequently on buoys, man-made platforms, even dock house roofs. The birds feed almost exclusively on fish, so are never very far from water."The return of the osprey, almost to the day each year, and the fidelity to their nest site inspire a sense of wonder," shared Calvert County Natural Resources Division Chief Karyn Molines. "The healthy populations are a testament that our environmental protection efforts make a difference. Residents of Calvert County are fortunate to have places like Kings Landing Park and Flag Ponds Nature Park to observe these magnificent birds."The OspreyCam was installed in 2016 to monitor a nest at Kings Landing Park as part of the Calvert County Board of Education CHESPAX program, supported by a grant from Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust. Calvert County Natural Resources Division assisted in building the camera platform, installing the camera and monitoring the nest.Ospreys are being studied by Calvert County seventh-grade students to illustrate the interconnectedness of the land, water, plants and animals living in the Patuxent River. Local teens visited the nest in July to band the young osprey.View the webcam at www.ipcamlive.com/chespaxosprey The Board of County Commissioners recently celebrated the completion of the new water tower in Prince Frederick. The tower stands next to Calvert High School on Fox Run Boulevard and adds 217,000 gallons of daily water production capacity and 750,000 gallons of water storage capacity. This new infrastructure will support current and future commercial and residential requirements and improve fire service in Prince Frederick. UPDATE: With comments from Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler. Whats being billed as a Mayors Prayer Breakfast has some LGBT activists ready to gag. On April 28, the 55th annual Fort Lauderdale Mayors Prayer Breakfast returns to the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. This years breakfast is already engulfed in controversy with the announcement of featured speaker Jim Daly of the conservative Christian policy institute Focus on the Family. Bigotry harms our brand and is bad for business, said Keith Blackburn, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, in a news release. It is a personal embarrassment to me as I travel around the nation and international destinations to promote greater Fort Lauderdale as a welcoming LGBTQ destination. Focus on the Family has a documented history of anti-LGBT positions. Daly took over as CEO from founder Dr. James Dobson in 2005 but has, reportedly, worked with the Gill Foundation, an LGBT rights organization, to advance LGBT equality. However, theres more to the story, said Broward County human rights activist Michael Rajner. Prayer breakfast organizers, Rajner said, fail to acknowledge Focus on the Familys core objection to an individuals identity as being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or the fact that they feel you can pray away the gay to live a life for which they affirm." In a letter to Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, Rajner also raises two red flags: FOTF's practice of conversion therapy and the citys lack of an LGBT inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. In Fort Lauderdale, city ordinance is void of any city protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, Rajner writes. While sexual orientation is included in the city managers policy manual, it fails to even reference protections in the Broward County Human Rights Act which Vice Mayor Dean Trantalis helped enact. Rajner is not alone is his opposition to Dalys presence at the breakfast. Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization that stands up to anti-LGBT prejudice, is not convinced Daly is an ally either. TWO executive director Wayne Besen called Daly an extremist and is leading an effort for Seiler to rescind Dalys invitation to speak. With all the good pastors who teach the lesson of love thy neighbor, it is outrageous that Mayor Seiler has chosen an extremist to lead his prayer breakfast that preaches loathe thy neighbor, said Besen, in a news release. Chaz Adams, Fort Lauderdale public affairs manager, said the prayer breakfast is not a city event. "No City tax dollars are expended toward the event nor are any City resources used in support of it," Adams writes in an email. "The Mayor does not invite nor does he select any of the speakers. He serves in an honorary capacity and looks forward to offering remarks that focus on compassion, kindness, tolerance, respect and inclusion." While he does not have a hand in organizing the prayer breakfast, Seiler has participated in the past and will so again this year. As Mayor, I am an honorary host and speaker, and I have prayed with and spoke to this group for the past 8 years, Seiler wrote in an email to SFGN. My message is, has been, and will be one of kindness, compassion, inclusion, tolerance and respect. In the past, that message has been very well received at this Prayer Breakfast. In fact, over the years, this Prayer Breakfast has brought our community together, united individuals and houses of worship of different faiths, and had an incredibly positive impact on our City. Every year, it seems that a very diverse group leaves the Prayer Breakfast motivated, excited, and energized to assist others and build community. On the events website, FTLpray.org, Alan Pratt, lead architect for Church United describes the organizations mission in a promotional video: We recognize that we are part of a reality that is very broken. The National Christian Foundation of South Florida is sponsoring the breakfast, which also features comments from Brad Formsma of ILikeGiving.com and Immaculee Ilibagiza, a publisher author from Rwanda, Africa. Church Uniteds mission is to unite and encourage our community in fellowship and prayer, reads its website. Together we can change the context of Broward County, said Pratt in a video. Single seat tickets cost $50. The breakfast is from 7 to 9:30 a.m. A representative for the National Christian Foundation of South Florida told SFGN on Monday the prayer breakfast is open to people of all religions. From communications with a host committee member since this objection to Mr. Daly was first raised last week, I am led to believe that Mr. Daly's message will be about diverse groups working together, building partnerships for the benefit of the community, and uniting and encouraging our community in fellowship and prayer, Seiler wrote. Finally, I would hope that everybody (including all the organizers, speakers and attendees) will focus on all that lifts us up and unites us, rather than a few issues that divide us. Now, more than ever, we need to treat others like we would like to be treated. (EDGE) A top official for the George W. Bush administration, who was reportedly involved in purging gay employees at the time, has been hired to the Trump administration, according to ProPublica. James Renne was part of Donald Trump's transition team at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in December. But he was hired on January 30 in a senior role at the Department of Agriculture, the investigative journalism site reports. The exact details of Renne's job are currently unclear. Renne was hired in 2004 to work for the Bush administration as deputy special counsel of the Office and Special Counsel, which ProPublica describes as a small federal agency "that is supposed to protect employees across the government from retaliation for whistleblowing." Not long after being hired, Renne and his boss Scott Bloch were surrounded in controversy when career employees said they were unfairly fired, claiming they were nixed due to their sexuality. In a 2013 report, the workers were abruptly sent to a new "Midwest Field Office" in Detroit. Those who didn't comply were fired. The report depicts Renne as a major force in the alleged discrimination, ProPublica says. The report goes on to say the employees were targeted for no legitimate reason and states "facts which reflect that Mr. Bloch and Mr. Renne may have been motivated in their actions by a negative personal attitude toward homosexuality and individuals whose orientation is homosexual." Shortly after he was hired to the Bush administration, Renne reportedly helped remove language from the agency's website regarding job protections covering sexual orientation, according to the report cited by ProPublica. "Mr. Renne was depicted as intently searching the OSC website with the assistance of a senior career official to identify passages which interpreted [the nondiscrimination law] as extending protection to employees on the basis of their sexual orientation," the report reads. "According to this account, Mr. Renne demanded that OSC's information technology manager remove these materials from the website immediately." The same report also claims "crude and vulgar messages containing anti-homosexual themes" in Bloch's office emails were discovered. The also mentioned his predecessor, Elaine Kaplan, calling her a "lesbian activist," a "public lesbian," and a "well-known gay activist." Bloch told ProPublica the report is "filled with untruth, outright falsehoods and innuendo." When the report, which was based on interview with more than 60 people and an examination of more than 10,000 emails, was released in 2013, Bloch denied he ever talked about targeting gay workers. The targeted workers settled out of court but the terms were not made public. Click here to read ProPublica's full article and here on the 2013 report. (WB) President Trumps nomination of an Army secretary who as a Tennessee state legislator spearheaded legislation allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBT people has inspired LGBT advocates to launch a campaign to thwart his confirmation. LGBT rights supporters announced their opposition to Mark Green on Friday after the White House officially announced Trumps intent to nominate him as civilian head of the U.S. Army. Green is the CEO of Align MD, an emergency department staffing company. As a West Point graduate and Iraq war veteran, he had a distinguished career as a military officer, according to the bio provided by the White House. His military awards include the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Air Medal with V device for valor under heavy enemy fire, and numerous other medals for service. During Operation Red Dawn, the military operation that captured Saddam Hussein, Green served as flight surgeon for special operations, sitting with the Iraqi leader for 24 hours and interrogating him for six hours after his capture. Green recounted this experience in a book titled A Night With Saddam. But as a state legislator, Green spearheaded anti-transgender bathroom legislation. Last month, the Tennessee Senate approved the legislation by a 25-5 vote, sending it to the House, where it remains under consideration. Other anti-LGBT measures Green has supported include a bill that would bar transgender students from using public restrooms in schools and colleges consistent with their gender identity and a religious freedom bill that would allow teachers to opt out of teaching anything thats not consistent with the educators own conscience. Green also backed a religious freedom measure, signed into law last year by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, that would allow mental health practitioners to refuse treatment for LGBT patients out of religious objections. Amid media reports Trump would tap Green as Army secretary, the LGBT military group known as the American Military Partners Association issued a statement condemning the choice based on his anti-trans actions. We are deeply concerned over reports that Mark Green will be nominated as Secretary of the Army, said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. Green has made a shameful political career out of targeting LGBT people for discrimination. All soldiers and their families, including those who are LGBT, should have confidence that the Secretary of the Army has their back and is working for their best interest. Unfortunately, based on his vicious, anti-LGBT record, Mark Green cannot be trusted to ensure all those who serve have the support they need and deserve. In an article for Slate, Nathaniel Frank, a bisexual writer whose research helped pave the way for Dont Ask, Dont Tell repeal and open transgender service in the U.S. military, called Green a dangerous figure both because his policies are extreme and because he is shrewd at portraying them as moderate. He works in lockstep with social conservatives who have learned in recent years to avoid both the wrath of the public and the jaws of justice using Orwellian word games to invert their bigotry by casting themselves as victims instead of discriminators, Frank said. During a town hall event in Tennessee before the Chattanooga Tea Party last year, Green responded to concerns about the perceived institution of a social agenda on the U.S. military by equating being transgender to a medical disorder. If you poll the psychiatrists, theyre going to tell you that transgender is a disease, Green said. It is a part of the DSM-6, I think it is, the book of diagnostic psychological procedures or diagnoses. Referencing the questioners concerns about going back in the U.S. military, Green said to applause it would constitute me being the salt and the light to the people around me. If you really want to bring this back to whos at fault, I mean, we got to look a little bit inwardly, Green said. I mean, weve tolerated immorality, and were not reflecting light. Green during the same event railed against the Obama-era guidance assuring transgender kids have access to the restroom consistent with their gender identity, which the Trump administration has since repealed, calling it absurd and an example of over-reaching government. A letter Green co-signed urging the Tennessee governor to sue the Obama administration over this guidance compares transgender people to rapists and pedophiles. Contrary to Greens remarks, being transgender is not a disease. In 2012, the American Psychological Association removed gender identity disorder from DSM-5s list of mental disorders, replacing it with gender dysphoria. There is no DSM-6. Also during the event, Green said hed encourage state officials to disregard through acts of civil disobedience the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide. The governor can do stuff like that, no were not going to issue marriage licenses to gay people because our state voted differently, Green said. OK, Supreme Court, you said it. I dont care. Ill back you up. Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement the confirmation of Green as Army secretary would be a danger to every LGBTQ soldier bravely serving our country. Mark Green has called for states to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and appallingly said that being transgender is a disease, Griffin said. He has used his office in Tennessee to push license to discriminate legislation and undermine the basic civil rights of LGBTQ people at every turn. It would be unconscionable to put this man in charge of our Army. We call on every U.S. senator to stand up for LGBTQ service members and reject this nomination. Also condemning the nomination was Stephen Peters, press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, who said as a Marine discharged under Dont Ask, Dont Tell hes appalled that Donald Trump would seek to put this man in charge of the U.S. Army. Under President Obamas leadership, we finally ended policies that forced service members, their partners, and families to hide who they are and treated them as second class citizens, Peters said. There are thousands upon thousands of us who fought this injustice so that we could serve openly today and who are now threatened by the appointment of a man who has spent his career working to undermine our rights. In contrast to Green, his predecessor for the position during the Obama administration, Eric Fanning, was the first openly gay person confirmed as head of a military service and the first senior defense official to come out in support of lifting the now-terminated ban on openly transgender people in the U.S. armed forces. Aaron Belkin, director of the San Francisco-based Palm Center, predicted in a statement that the confirmation of Green would lead to the restoration of the ban on openly gay personnel in the U.S. military. Mark Green is a perfect nominee for the people around President Trump who want to start a culture war in the United States military, and who would bring back Dont Ask, Dont Tell, Belkin said. The priorities Green has made a career on in Tennessee directly contradict the core military value of treating everyone according to the same standard. They have the potential of sowing confusion and undermining good order and discipline. It should be noted that Defense Secretary Gen. Jim Mattis said during testimony prior to his confirmation as Pentagon chief that he has no intention of restoring bans on open military service for LGBT people and never cared much about two consenting adults and who they go to bed with. The defeat of Green would send a strong signal that supporting initiatives aimed at undermining transgender rights would derail the future of those seeking to advance their political careers, potentially discouraging anti-trans proposals like the Tennessee bathroom bill. Thwarting the confirmation of Green will be an uphill battle. Assuming the Democratic caucus is united in opposition to him, which seems unlikely given Sen. Joe Manchins (W.Va.) general willingness to accept nominees, at least three Republicans would have to vote against his confirmation to derail it. The most likely Republicans would be supporters of LGBT rights like Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio). The White House didnt respond to the Washington Blades request to comment on concerns from LGBT rights supporters about the Green nomination. -Chris Johnson, Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association. Space Debris is an Issue. ESA Earth is surrounded by a cloud of space debris. This material ranges from dead satellites and rocket stages to fragments of material and even flecks of paint and all this junk could do enormous damage to working satellites. During 18-21 April, experts from around the world will meet at ESAs European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany for the 7th European Conference on Space Debris. Delegates will discuss the extent of the debris problem and what can be done to ensure that satellites we rely on providing us with services such as navigation, TV and weather forecasting can operate safely in the future. Talks will address acute issues like current practices in debris avoidance, novel concepts for removing debris, and the deployment of large constellations of several thousand satellites for telecommunications. The conference will be opened by ESA Director General Jan Woerner and NASAs former orbital debris chief scientist, Donald Kessler. On 18 April and 21 April, live webcasts will cover the keynote address and press briefing, respectively. Details via esa.int/debris. Echo Park Lake is a Los Angeles landmark. While locals and tourists alike have flocked to it for years for its rentable paddle boats and views of the citys skyline, coffee drinkers now have a reason to make the trip as well: Beacon. Built in the lakes boathouse, originally constructed in 1932, the shop opened its doors at the end of December. The boathouse is a historical landmark with very prominent features, Beacon owner Jason Espiritu says. Our inspiration for the design was to build around, and with, the elements already there. So for the interior, we maintained the historic and traditional elements, accenting with plants and historical photos of Echo Park to offer a balance between historic and modern notes. The lake itself has been around since 1870, and in 2006, despite having fallen into a state of disrepair, was designated a Cultural and Historic Landmark. It closed in 2011 for two years of extensive renovation, and now is resplendent again with boats, birds, and palm trees. The balance Espiritu spoke of when describing Beacons aesthetic carries over to the shops menu, which he describes as Californian. Designed by Chef Emmanuel Eman Garcia, Beacons food features Japanese elements from his time spent cooking the cuisine, as well as Filipino flavors, owing to his familial roots. With limited space inside the boathouse, diners at Beacon enjoy popular items like the Spam breakfast sandwichthe eponymous semi-meat layered with scrambled eggs, green onions, and smoked gouda on a brioche bunsitting at tables outside. The menu also features LA staples, like toast with things on itthink avocadoand salads, along with a variety of vegan and gluten free options for the neighborhoods newly health conscious population. Although one of the more famous scenes of Roman Polanskis Chinatown was shot at Echo Park Lake, a vision of the 70s it is not. Thankfully, Beacon plays host to an equally modern coffee program for park-goers, serving LA-based Andante Coffee Roasters and featuring a matte-white La Marzocco Linea Classic. Patrons can order from a standard espresso menu with seasonal specials that come and go, as well as pick from drip options courtesy of a Curtis batch brewer and lineup of Hario products. Through a partnership with Art of Tea, Beacon has curated an equally robust handcrafted tea menu, even going so far as to offer a special lotus tea blend as an homage to the iconic flowers that blanket the surface of the lake. Still-thirsty visitors can choose from house made lemonades and cold-pressed juices. Beacon was created with the idea of making it a special place, Espritu says, speaking to the possibility of recreating the shop elsewhere. I feel like you cant recreate the ambiance, location, and especially the people who lend such an awesome energy to the park. So our intention is to keep Beacon a one-off special place. Still, LA is a special city, and if he were to find another place with the ingredients to build a second Beacon? Then maybe, he says. But thats a very strong maybe. Tatiana Ernst (@TatianaErnst) is a Sprudge staff writer based in Los Angeles. Read more Tatiana Ernst on Sprudge. Buzz has been building steadily over the last few months around the December Dripper, a new coffee brewer from co-designers Youngmin Lee and Nicholas Cho. Its a drip coneyouve likely seen those beforebut this cone comes with an adjustable brew flow aperture that promises a new degree of control over how water flows through your coffee. The end result, according to the projects new Kickstarter pagelaunched today is an an even extraction every time, across a variety of grind sizes and recipes. Heres more on that variable aperture from Kickstarter: The main innovation of the December Dripper is a variable aperture base. The ability to change the number of openings at the bottom of the dripper allows you to slow the flow of water through the dripper, consistently reaching your target brew time. In most other drippers, which have no adjustable flow control, you can only control flow by varying the amount of coffee youre brewing, or worse, by adjusting the grind away from whats optimal. Cho, based in San Francsico, and Lee, based in Seoul, have coffee nerds around the world wiggling. To learn more about the December Dripper, Sprudge co-founder Jordan Michelman spoke with Nicholas Cho digitally from San Francisco. Hey Nick, and thanks for chatting with us about your new product. To start, please give us the elevator pitch for your new December Brewer: what does it do? Why is it good? Since Sprudge readers tend to be more coffee educated than most, Ill keep it real. It starts with a theory: For pourover coffee brewing (a medium or light roast), the typical target brew time exists somewhere between 3 to 4 minutes. For that target brew time, theres an optimal grind size. That means that for pourover, theres an optimal amount of coffee youre brewing (the dose) that will set things up for that grind and target brew time. Thats how youll make the best pourover coffee. But very often, maybe even most of the time, people change things away from the optimal grind because they want to make more or less coffee than whats optimal. Thats where the December Dripper comes in. The December Dripper is the first flat-bottomed pourover coffee dripper with variable brew flow, which means it can make make the best coffee accessible at many different brew sizes. Its a relatively simple concept, but the results have been fantastic. Nick, you helped create the Brewers Cup and popularized the Kalita Wave brewer in the United States. Why launch your own product now? The reason I developed the Brewers Cup competition and promoted the Kalita Wave brewer is the same reason we developed the December Dripper: I want to help more people to brew better coffee. At this point in my career, it makes more sense to design and manufacture this product ourselves rather than what Ive done in the past, which is share my ideas with others who integrate them into their own products. How did your collaboration with Youngmin Lee come about? Who else helped develop this product? Its just Youngmin and me, though anyone whos designed a product will tell you that the silent collaborator is always the production factory. Youngmin and I have been friends for over 10 years, and were kindred spirits in many ways as our coffee careers have had a number of interesting parallels. Years ago, he told me (translated from Korean), If you have any good ideas for new products, let me know because I know how to get just about anything made here in Korea. So I shared with him my idea for a pourover dripper with an adjustable flow rate, and he made it happen. Its a true collaboration in every respect. Do you think the coffee scene in Korea is more open to innovation and new equipment, compared to in the United States? I think that the two coffee scenes are actually very similar in that regard. People dont always understand the science behind what makes certain things better than others, but people do know what they think tastes good. While it happens fairly slowly, the community braintrust of specialty coffee does have a way of vetting innovations and ultimately deciding whether theyre good or not. If youve been around for more than a few years in coffee, youve seen certain things come and go, and certain things stand the test of time. Thats pretty much true everywhere, I think. We understand the product is now out in Korea, but your crowdfunding for US production just went live. Why crowd-fund this product? Yes, the first generation product has been available in Korea for a couple of months, but its really more of a public beta test. Koreas a geographically small country, so if theres need for service or parts, you can expect availability. The Kickstarter is to fund the final development and give the barista and coffee enthusiast community an opportunity to participate in the launch. You can go to the Kickstarter page to see the rewards, but they range from the obvious December Dripper to a titanium-coated edition, t-shirts, stickers, etc. Get technicaltalk to us about the design specs of the December, and what separates it form some of the other brew cones on the market. It starts with the brew geometry. Flat bottom geometry, like the kind youll find in a Kalita Wave or batch brewer, makes an even brew dynamic possible. My go-to analogy is always steak: if a butcher cut you a cone-shaped or wedge-shaped steak, how would you grill it? So much of whats true about grilling that steak is true about brewing coffee. An uneven geometry will promote an uneven brew. Its made from 18-10 stainless steel, with a PTFE (similar to Teflon) gasket. Over time, weve found that the stainless steel version of the Kalita Wave dripper has been the most popular, because its less fragile than ceramic or glass and its less of a heat-sink (heat-absorber) than ceramic. 12 holes open or close 4 at a time to give you 4 different settings (including fully closed), that are optimized for various brew volumes. Those 12 holes are also what inspired the December name. How many hours of R&D would you estimate went into this? Between Youngmin and me, 35 years of R&D. While neither one of us is finished developing new stuff, its really the product of years of experience. That said, its been almost 3 years since the first sketches to the first production units. Will Wrecking Ball Coffee be using December Brewers at your coffee bar in San Francisco? Definitely. Has there been a strong amount of interest behind the scenes leading up to launch? Weve gotten hundreds of messages from people who are excited about the December Dripper and are eager to see something thats new and useful out there. Many of those messages have been from people whove said, I thought of an idea like this too! For me, coffee is ultimately about bringing people together, and Im happy and honored for us to provide something for people to gather around, tinker with, and exchange ideas about. Would you ever compete in the Brewers Cup using the December Brewer? Ive sort of pledged never to compete in Brewers Cup myself. Itd be too weird. Like incest or something. How do you decide a product like the December is finally donewhen does the tweaking stop? How many revisions have been done to the brewers design? Its never fully done, but were ready for people to get it in their hands. Weve made about 6 different prototypes and have had sketches for over 20. From a Sprudge perspective, weve watched as batch brewing in coffee bars has enjoyed a real resurgence over lets say the last half decade. Why is a product like December still compelling in 2017? Ive always had batch brewers at my cafes, but while there may be a resurgence right now, nobodys actually that excited about batch brewers. Mostly I think that people have gotten frustrated at pourover brewing and the inconsistencies and confounding variables that come with it, as well as the amount of attention they need to make the best coffee. However, there are certain advantages that pourover brewing has, especially in a home or office sort of setting, when youre not worried about attending to a line of customers like in a cafe. The holy grail of coffee brewing that doesnt exist yet is still a single-cup brewer with a load it, push a button, and come back 3-4 minutes later for a finished cup of coffee workflow that has a small enough footprint to have 4 or more on bar, going at the same time, costs under $1000USD each, and makes perfect coffee. I have some ideas about exactly such a machine, but until then, theres a lot to improve about pourover gear. Who is the December Brewer for? If the December Dripper is successful, itll be because both coffee professionals and average coffee lovers at home find that it does make better coffee easier. Thats the goal. Pretty much the only goal. Thank you Nick. On Friday, April 7, Ian Proctor, a senior member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal down under, denied the appeals of Shayne and Greg Cramp, who were handed 12-year bans from the industry in the fall of 2015. News of the denied appeals comes courtesy of a report by the Sunraysia Daily, which states that the Cramps were charged and both pleaded guilty and were convicted at Melbourne Magistrates Court in 2015 of corrupting a betting outcome. This is required to provide sufficient general deterrence and to send a message to all involved in the harness racing industry that if anyone participates in corrupt behaviour they are likely to effectively be permanently removed from the industry, Proctor said. If that is their livelihood, the results are likely to be catastrophic. (With files from the Sunraysia Daily) Red Shores will be hosting qualifying sessions as it prepares for its 2017 opening race card, which will take place on Saturday, April 22 and will get underway at 6 p.m. Qualifying will take place in Charlottetown on Saturday, April 15 at 1 p.m. (declarations are due to the race office by noon on Thursday, April 13). Charlottetown will also host a second qualifying session on Tuesday, April 18 at 1 p.m. (declarations are due to the race office by noon Monday, April 17). Summerside will host a qualifying session on Monday, April 17 at 6 p.m. (declarations are due to the race office by Thursday, April 13 by noon). Summerside's live season will start on May 22. The race office will be closed on Friday, April 14. The race office can be reached at 902-629-6634. It is important that horsepeople are aware that a Standardbred Canada field representative will be on hand at the qualifying sessions to conduct business. Standardbred Canada would like to remind all horsepeople that all memberships and eligibility fees need to be paid. Additionally, name changes need to be made before a horse ever qualifies. Coggins tests are required as set out in the rules in your racing jurisdiction. To view a list of some of the member forms, click here. Membership renewals and eligibility fees are two of many services that can be purchased online. To pay online, register with the SC website and sign into eShop by clicking the eShop button at the top of the homepage. (Red Shores) 500 Years Later -- What Have We Learned? Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- Protestants throughout the world will celebrate a monumental event on Oct. 31, 2017: the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The question remains, though: Will Protestants and Catholic ever be unified? Catholics and Protestants have different beliefs on many key topics, including the office and authority of the pope, sufficiency and authority of Scripture, the Eucharist and the veneration of the saints and Mary, among others. Widely read Christian author and philosopher Dr. Peter Kreeft addresses the aforementioned differences (and more) in his new book, CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS: What We Can Learn From Each Other.While he acknowledges that there still are significant differences between Catholics and Protestants, Kreeft emphasizes that they agree on the single most important issue: justification. He's direct, simple and even confrontational, but he takes a vertical, not horizontal, approach by "directing arrows not against each other (Protestant or Catholic) but against our own hearts and minds and wills."In CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS, Kreeft provides a fair and insightful path toward bringing Catholics and Protestants into closer union with each other. Above all, Kreeft says that this work is simple, not easy, or obvious, but condensed. It like all of reality is Christocentric. Its purpose is to be "like an Australian sheep dog, herding and hectoring Christ's separated sheep back to His face. For that is the only way they can ever return back to each other.""Peter Kreeft, one of our finest Christian writers today, has given us a passionate plea for Christian unity, one that builds upon the great common core of Christian belief confessed by faithful Protestants and Catholics alike," Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, says of CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS. "A volume full of faith and hope."For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Dr. Peter Kreeft, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications. Jones serves on a combat ship Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Jones of Longview is an engine man serving with the Littoral Combat Ship Crew 201 based in San Diego. As an engine man, he is responsible for maintaining the ships engines. I love the engineering atmosphere, being technical and trouble shooting controllers, Jones is quoted in a press release from the Navy Office Of Community Outreach. Design characteristics of high speed, maneuverability, shallow draft, networked sensors, organic off-board vehicles (OOVs) and various Mission Packages allow LCS to defeat threats in littoral and blue water environments, including fast surface craft, quiet submarines, and multiple types of mines, states the release. As one of 70 crew members aboard one of the Navys newest ships, Jones explained they are building a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes. Crew members know how important it is for the Navy to develop new war fighting capabilities to continue their success on the worlds oceans. LCS enables the Navy to operate successfully around the globe by employing innovative, low-cost and small-footprint approaches to achieve its security objectives, states the release. With every deployment, littoral combat ships are providing increased capabilities that sailors utilize to conduct successful missions. The LCS platform allows the fleet to increase forward presence and optimize its personnel, improving the ability of the Navy to be where it matters, when it matters, states the release. Jones is a 2005 graduate of Mark Morris High School. Tan graduates from basic training U.S. Air Force Airman 1st class Christina B. Tan recently graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Tan is a 2011 graduate of Mark Morris High School and received an associates degree from Lower Columbia College in 2014. Longview man is promoted Charles Anderson, son of Dan and Cecilia Boyce of Longview, was promoted to colonel in the Connecticut National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters Operations & Training Officer. Anderson attended R.A. Long High School and went to Southern Connecticut State University. He makes his home in Connecticut with his wife, Gillian, and son, Ben. He joined the Connecticut National Guard while a university student. Airman finishes basic training Air Force Airman Lennard J. Willoughby recently graduated from basic military training at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. The 2016 graduate of Kelso High School is the son of Jill Sayre of Toledo, and John Sayre of Tacoma. Shaw graduates from basic training Air Force Airman Andrew Shaw recently graduated from basic military training at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. Shaw is the son of Debra and Marvin Shaw of Woodland and the husband of Jasmine Shaw. He is a 2012 graduate of Woodland High School. The Daily News A bill directing Washington State University to establish an elk monitoring system in Southwest Washington and to assess causes and potential solutions for elk hoof disease is poised to become law. Amended Senate Bill 5474 passed the state House April 10 with a 98-0 vote. The amended bill now heads back to the state Senate for a second approval. The original measure made it through the Senate the first time with a 49-0 vote. The House bill adds an amendment that calls for the state to develop rules for the capture and transport of live elk from an area affected by hoof rot to another area. Its a real positive. It really means, for first time, were taking a scientific, clinical, disease approach in a proactive manner to the issue, said Mark Smith, owner of Eco Park along the upper North Fork of the Toutle River, by phone Monday. Sightings of diseased elk shambling along with deformed, broken, or missing hooves have increased dramatically in Southwest Washington in the past decade. More than a decade ago, Smith said, the disease was only found in one or two counties. Now, he said, the disease has spread to nearly every county west of the Cascades. Sightings of elk with hoof rot have been reported by the public in the Willapa Hills, Mount St. Helens, south Olympic Peninsula, the Skagit River valley and northern Oregon. Weve seen (hoof rot) infest 60 to 80 percent of the elk herds in my area, Smith said of the upper Toutle River. The spread of hoof rot has had a significant affect on hunters, who spend tens of millions of dollars every year in Washington. But it is not the only industry affected. Its having a major negative impact on businesses across the state, especially tourism, Smith said. No one want to come her to see sick elk. The college must work collaboratively with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the state veterinarian and tribes, according to the bill. WSU will also have to provide updates to the Legislature and state Fish and Wildlife Commission at least annually. Tests conducted by scientists in the United States and abroad show these abnormalities are strongly associated with treponeme bacteria, known to cause digital dermatitis in cattle, sheep and goats. Smith is hopeful that once the bill is approved, funding for it wont be far behind. He hopes the state formulates a plan for monitoring and testing by the fall. The bill would require the new WSU Veterinary College program to hire five full-time employees at a cost of $1.5 million for the 2017-2019 biennium. The program doesnt take effect unless the state allocates the new money. Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, is the prime sponsor. For the second time in six years, a national conservation group has placed the Green River on its annual most endangered list because of a controversial attempt to build a mine in the the rivers headwaters. Its all about place. The Green River is (near) the flanks of Mount St. Helens. Its a wild steelhead sanctuary and provides drinking water to 13,000 people downstream. There are few places that could be a worse location for a mine, said David Moryc, a Portland-based representative of American Rivers. Vancouver-based Ascot Resources has applied for an exploratory drilling permit on 900 acres of land in the upper Green River Valley west of Ryan Lake and about 15 miles north of Mount St. Helens. The area was part of the northern fringe of the volcanos 1980 blast zone. The Green River leads to the Toutle and eventually into the Cowlitz River, from which the towns of Toutle and Kelso draw their drinking water. If the exploratory drilling proves promising, Ascot must file a separate application for full-scale mining. Although Ascot has never stated what kind of mine it would create, its likely that only an open pit mine could be profitable. The land in question is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Forest Service would have to consent to the issuance of an exploratory permit by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Both of Washingtons U.S. senators, Democrats Maria Cantwell and Parry Murray, wrote letters to Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell last year asking the Forest Service to reject the exploratory permits. They noted that the Forest Service purchased the land in question in 1986 with money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The fund requires such land purchases for recreation and conservation. Cantwell noted that the Forest Service itself said purchasing the lands was important to preserve the character of the lands, which abut the north edge of the Mount St. Helens Monument. Allowing drilling there now, with the possibility of developing a mine later, is completely at odds with the core principle of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Cantwell wrote Tidwell in March last year. (Tidwell, a Republican appointed by President Barack Obama, remains at the helm of the Forest Service.) Ascot Resources CEO Bob Evans did not immediately return phone calls for comment late Monday afternoon. Moryc said American Rivers relisted the Green as endangered a second time because the threat of a mine still remains, and the new Trump administrations policy to expedite extractive industries like this heighten our sensitivity to this project being green-lighted. The mining claims Ascot wants to develop are decades old, and 19th Century efforts to mine copper in the area failed. Exploratory drilling would have evaluated whether deposits of copper, gold, molybdenum and other minerals are rich enough to warrant mining. In July 2014, a federal judge ruled that a 2012 environmental analysis of the exploratory drilling plan was inadequate and that a finding of no significant impact was not supported with the required analysis. Ascot, the BLM and the Forest Service appealed the decision, but they withdrew the appeal that December. Ascot announced the following month it would refile, but little new has surfaced about the project for the last two years. The Green appears as No. 6 on the American Rivers list of endangered waterways this year, and was one of two Washington rivers to make the listing. The other is the No. 3-ranked Skykomish River, which drains the Cascade Range in Snohomish and King counties and and could be getting a hydroelectric dam. Northwest Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici announced four town hall meetings across the First Congressional District in the next month, which includes Washington, Yamhill, Clatsop, and Columbia counties and part of Multnomah County. Bonamici, a Democrat, will provide an update on her work in Congress and take questions from residents. The town hall meetings will be held in Warrenton, Scappoose, Sherwood, and Portland. My work in Congress is focused on the people I represent, and getting input from my constituents is one of the most important parts of my job, Bonamici, a Democrat, said in a prepared statement. Town hall meetings provide a great opportunity to discuss issues facing the residents of the diverse district I am honored to represent. Here is the schedule: Saturday, April 15: 11 a.m. at Warrenton High School. Saturday, April 15: 3 p.m. at Scappoose High Schools Monday, April 17: 6 p.m. at Sherwood High School. Sunday, May 7: 11 a.m. Lincoln High School in Portland. With three weeks to go in the campaign, Students in Need is within striking distance of meeting its fundraising goal, but its going to need an extra push to get there. As of Monday, the newspaper drive to raise money to assist students at Lower Columbia College had reached $30,101. Thats 75 percent of the $40,000 goal. The newspaper donates every penny it raises to the LCC Foundation, which will use it for the colleges Student Success Fund. The fund makes grants to students to help pay personal expenses to help them stay in school. Were very excited that Students in Need has broken the $30,000 mark, and were grateful to everyone who has contributed. As the drive enters its final stretch, wed love to see a big push in donations so that we exceed our goal and help as many students as possible. Getting more students to graduate from LCC is good for all of us, said Rick Parrish, publisher of The Daily News. Your donation, no matter big or small, will have a positive impact on someones life. Donating is simple. Fill out the accompanying coupon and mail a check to the newspaper or go to TDN.com and click on the Students in Need Logo. The coupon will appear in the paper daily until the drive ends April 30. The latest donations: $200: Don and Judy Fuller in memory of Richard Kelley; Frank and Holly McShane in appreciation of student success; and anonymous. $25: Rhonda LeBrun tech2 News Staff The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has announced a package of measures to improve technical education in India. AICTE wants to ensure that there is adequate skilled manpower available to guarantee the success of the 'Make in India' campaign. The package of measures will be implemented in all technical institutions across the country. There will now be an extended induction program for every student to reinforce the fundamental concepts and ensure that the student has sufficient language skills necessary for a technical education. Each student is required to go through three internships, each lasting between four to eight weeks before completing under graduate courses. The institutions are tasked with the responsibility of finding suitable internships for the students in industries or organisations. Every technical university is required to constantly update the curriculum. The universities have been asked to institute an industry consultation committee, that will review if curriculum is up to date. The process of revising the curriculum must be completed before the month of December, every year. Students will also be taught soft skills and the technical knowledge necessary to begin working in industries after the completion of their courses. To prepare students for the industry, they will be taught managerial skills, entrepreneurial skills, leadership skills, communication skills, team-working skills and technical skills. There is a focus on promoting startups and student entrepreneurs. Hackathons are envisioned as incubators for promising ideas. There are reforms planned for the examination process, where the skills and conceptual understanding of the students will be tested. A model exam format will be prepared and shared with the institutions. The government aims to accredit at least half of all the programs offered by technical universities, through the National Bureau of Accreditation (NBA) before the year 2020. Finally, the teachers themselves will have to go through an annual refresher course. The course will be conducted online through the Swayam portal. For an institution to be approved, at least fifty percent of the teachers should participate in the refresher course every year. The heads of institutions will have to go through leadership training, once every two years. The leadership training program will also be conducted through the Swayam portal. The information was provided by Minister of State (HRD), Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey in a written response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha. tech2 News Staff Back in March Google announced that it would roll out support for voice only calls using its Duo video calling service. However, support for the same was only announced in Brazil with a wide global roll out expected later in the year. Well, a Google engineer has now reported that the voice-only calls service has now gone live and is even available for users worldwide. The engineer, Justin Uberti announced the same using Twitter and was first reported by TechCrunch. Google Duo's new audio calling feature now available worldwide! pic.twitter.com/gFQxQTcu2S Justin Uberti (@juberti) April 10, 2017 The audio-only calls would work well on all connection speeds and be data efficient, Google Vice President for Product Management Mario Queiroz had said in a blog post after he announced the move at a Google conference in Sao Paulo. The company launched Google Duo in August, providing video calls for users on Android and iOS, pitting it against Apple Incs FaceTime, Microsoft Corps video-calling app Skype and Facebook Incs Messenger. But with multiple options for messaging, it isn't clear as to what Google is really up to. Out here in India we have Hangouts, Google Duo, Google Allo, and even Google Messages. And all of these clash with one another. Google Hangouts comes complimentary with your Gmail account and allows users to send messages, place voice and video calls. Google Allo on the other hand offers a smart messaging app with stickers and Assistant integration (a competitor to WhatsApp). Duo focusses solely on video calls, but now thanks to voice-only calls also plays well with voice calls. At times we wished there was just one app to get all of them done. tech2 News Staff The US Justice Department has announced that theyve finally caught the owner of one of the most prolific botnets in the world. Called Kelihos, this botnet extended to around 100,000 computers and is responsible for generating spam, phishing attacks and stealing login information. Prosecutors were aware of the operator of this botnet for a long time, but his Russian citizenship precluded all attempts to arrest or extradite him to the US. The man in question is Peter Yuryevich Levashov. Working with US officials, Spanish authorities finally arrested Levashov when he took a vacation there. Spain has an extradition treaty with the US. Proof that Levashov is the operator of Kelihos is in the form of an IP address that Levashov used to operate Kelihos. The same IP address was used to access Levashovs email, iCloud and Gmail accounts. ArsTechnica reports that Levashov was a wanted man even before Kelihos, however. Hes been on the FBIs watchlist since 2009 at least, listed as among the worlds top 10 spammers and charged with maintaining another botnet. Kelihos-infected computers are now being redirected to benign servers and the addresses of infected computers will be sent to specialised groups who will help in the disinfection process. In its statement on the matter, the Justice Department notes that a number of free and paid antivirus programs are already capable of detecting and removing Kelihos, including the Microsoft Safety Scanner. Full details of the arrest, including the events leading up to it, the evidence, etc., can be found here. tech2 News Staff Qualcomm has countersued Apple in a bid to fight back against Apples $1 billion lawsuit against the company. In its lawsuit, Qualcomm alleges that Apple breached agreements and mischaracterised agreements and negotiations with Qualcomm, reports TechCrunch. The report adds that Apple is accused of interfering with Qualcomms manufacturing partners, the ones who use Qualcomm licenses to build Apple devices. Qualcomms executive VP and general counsel stated that, Apple could not have built the incredible iPhone franchise that has made it the most profitable company in the world, capturing over 90 percent of smartphone profits, without relying upon Qualcomms fundamental cellular technologies. Now, after a decade of historic growth, Apple refuses to acknowledge the well established and continuing value of those technologies. In its own lawsuit against Qualcomm, Apple alleges that Qualcomm has been involved in price-fixing and that the chip designer has inflated the prices of essential components with its licensing model. Qualcomms licensing model charges customers based on the price of the final product being manufactured rather than a fixed price per chip. Apple seems particularly averse to this licensing model, and understandably so. They make some of the most expensive phones in the world, after all. Describing Apples lawsuit as a global attack on Qualcomm, Rosenberg added that Apple is using its enormous market power to extract unfair licensing terms from Qualcomm. Qualcomms lawsuit also accuses Apple of misrepresenting the performance of Qualcomms products. This is in reference to the iPhone 7, which comes in two variants, one with an Intel modem and the other with a Qualcomm modem. Since the Qualcomm chip was more capable than Intels offering, Apple deliberately toned down the performance of the Qualcomm chip to match Intels. To put the numbers in perspective, the Intel chip is capable of downlink speeds of 450 Mbps, the Qualcomm modem is capable of 600 Mbps. As AppleInsider noted, the Samsung Galaxy S7 running the same Qualcomm modem was twice as fast as on the iPhone 7. Apples original lawsuit also alleges that Qualcomm withheld $1 billion in rebates because of Apples cooperation with Korean regulatory authorities, cooperation that might have contributed to the $854 million fine that Qualcomm now faces. Rosenberg, however, stated that Apple has been actively encouraging regulatory attacks by misrepresenting facts and withholding information. Apples original lawsuit follows the US Federal Trade Councils accusation that Qualcomm charged excessive royalties. Qualcomm was also sued by shareholders for allegedly misleading investors. The Qualcomm versus Apple lawsuits are certainly gearing up to be something spectacular. At stake are billions of dollars in licensing fees and the very foundation of Qualcomms income stream. hidden A cyber attack on Union Bank of India last July began after an employee opened an email attachment releasing malware that allowed hackers to steal the state-run bank's data, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. The attempt closely resembled the cyber theft last year of more than $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank's account at the New York Federal Reserve, the paper reported. The opening of the email attachment, which looked like it had come from India's central bank, initiated the malware that hackers used to steal Union Bank's access codes for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), a system that lenders use for international transactions. The codes were used to send transfer instructions for about $170 million to a Union Bank account at Citigroup Inc in New York. Union Bank had traced the money trail and blocked the movement of funds. SWIFT late last year said that some banks using its system had been attacked after the Bangladesh heist, the Journal said, but did not specifically name Union Bank of India. Union Bank Chairman Arun Tiwari told the newspaper that SWIFT officials had been working with the bank since the day of the cyber attack. SWIFT declined to comment. Reuters PTI Users of Airtel, Vodafone and Idea mobile services filed maximum billing complaints in October-December of 2016, as per the latest report of Trai. The complaints in the case of Bharti Airtel mostly came from 2G pre-paid subscribers in Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), Kolkata, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, where the benchmark violation ranged between 0.11 percent and 0.12 percent. According to quality of service norms, the complaint level should not be more than 0.1 percent per 100 bills issued in one quarter. The maximum violations are found in the case of Vodafone, where 0.15 percent and 0.13 percent of bills were disputed by its users in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, respectively. Vodafone is the only company during the reported quarter whose post-paid customers in the Mumbai circle also raised a number of quality issues. Complaints against Idea in the north-east telecom circle pertained to 0.13 percent of disputed bills. As for other quality parameters, TRAI found performance of Aircel below par for call drops in most telecom circles. TRAI has set a penalty of up to Rs. 2 lakh for poor mobile service, including call drops. The penalty kicks in for more than 2 percent call drops in a quarter in one telecom circle. According to the report, Aircel's 2G network crossed this limit in four circles. The call drop rate on the Aircel network was as high as 27.73 in the north-east circle. Airtel, Sistema Shyam and Reliance Communications (GSM) service also overshot the call drop level in one circle each. During the peak hour, the rate is relaxed up to 3 percent. Even in this category, the figure remained above this level for Aircel 2G in 11 out of the 22 telecom circles. State-owned BSNL, Tata Teleservices (CDMA) and Vodafone also failed on the 3 percent parameter in one circle each. Telenor's performance was found below par in Bihar and UP East circle, as per the report. RCom topped the list of offenders in the deposits refund category, followed by Tata Teleservices. As per TRAI rules, a telecom operator should refund 100 percent of the claimed deposit within 60 days, but RCom, including its subsidiary, breached this norm across 20 circles in the country. TTSL did not comply with the deposit rule in six telecom circles, according to the report tech2 News Staff Its finally official! Xiaomi will announce it upcoming flagship smartphones, the Mi 6 and Mi 6 Plus on 19 April. The news comes from an official invite on the forums that points to launch of the Chinese smartphone maker's flagships on 19 April in Beijing China. Apart from the launch details, other details that have been leaked out also include the pricing and storage variants of the two models. The Mi 6 is expected to be priced at CNY 2,199 (roughly Rs 20,000) for the 4GB RAM+64GB internal storage variant with the 128GB variant priced at CNY 2,599 (roughly Rs 24,000). The bigger Mi 6 Plus is expected to be priced at CNY 2,699 (roughly Rs 25,000) for the 6GB RAM+64GB internal storage variant while the 128GB model will be priced at CNY 3,699 (roughly Rs 34,000). It was just yesterday that specifications of the Xiaomi Sagit had leaked out thanks to benchmarking website Gfxbench. The Mi 6 is expected to feature a 5.1-inch display with Full HD resolution, a Snapdragon 835 Qualcomm chip with an Adreno 540 GPU, 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM variants along with 64GB and 128GB internal storage options. As per the leak the camera would be a 12MP rear unit and an 8MP front facing unit, both capable of shooting 4K video. HP has appointed Rajiv Srivastava to the newly created regional position of chief operating officer and head of sales strategy & operations, HP Inc., Asia Pacific and Japan. Sumeer Chandra will replace Srivastava as managing director and general manager, HP Inc., India. Srivastava and Chandra will both report to Richard Bailey, president, HP Inc., Asia Pacific and Japan Region in their new roles beginning in May 2017. In todays environment, organisations need to continually reinvent their solutions, operations and cultures to deliver greater value and results for their customers, said Richard Bailey, president, HP Inc., Asia Pacific and Japan. As outstanding leaders with proven track records, I am confident Srivastava and Chandra will deliver innovation that drives growth and business results for our customers and partners across India and the region. Rajiv Srivastava is a skilled IT veteran who brings to his new role a deep knowledge of management, a proven record of driving growth, and solid experience in building world-class teams. Under Srivastavas management, HP India achieving leadership positions in every category across PC and Print, was voted the Most Admired Technology Brand in the country, the most preferred organisation to do business with by customers and partners. Srivastava demonstrated his vision for the future by spearheading HPs Digital India business unit and as a result secured and executed one of the worlds largest digital inclusion initiatives with the distribution of laptop computers to 1.5 million students in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Srivastavas proven performance has paved the way for this expanded role in the Asia Pacific and Japan region. The way businesses, consumers and society in India operate and use digital technology has been changing exponentially in recent years. Sumeer Chandra will be responsible moving forward for helping customers in India capitalise on the growing market opportunities through HPs complete range of innovations and secure solutions spanning personal systems, printing systems, graphics solutions and managed services. Chandra was previously the chief operating officer for HP Inc., India, where in addition to his business management responsibilities he also expanded and strengthened HPs effort towards Indias long-term technology transformation, including Digital India. He joined HP in 2006 and has held multiple local and global senior management positions across HPs personal systems, printing and graphics solutions businesses. Prior to joining HP, Chandra was a principal at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), managing consulting assignments on strategy and operations for leading companies in India and in the U.S. in a variety of industries, with primary focus on technology, consumer and industrial goods. @Technuter.com News Service When Tom Bradys jersey went missing after the Super Bowl in February, it would have been hard to imagine the fracas that was about to ensue. A simple missing shirt turned into a multi-agency investigation that lasted more than a month and resulted in authorities confronting Martin Mauricio Ortega, the director of Mexican tabloid newspaper La Prensa, at his home in Mexico City. As it turned out, Ortega also possessed Bradys jersey from Super Bowl XLIX and Von Millers helmet from Super Bowl 50. And according to a fun feature from The MMQBs Robert Klemko and Jenny Vrentas, the ordeal also risked disrupting delicate relations between the United States and Mexico. Ortega had returned home to Mexico with the stolen jersey, valued at $500,000, and since Mexicans are not particularly thrilled with the U.S. and its president these days, American authorities were wary of making demands of the Mexican police. American officials were also cognizant of the charged atmosphere. We had [Ortega] identifiedthat wasnt the point, says a U.S. investigator who worked on the case. It was now the point of walking that political minefield as delicately as we could to appease everybody. We didnt want to upset the Mexican authorities, we didnt want to upset the Mexican people, we didnt want to upset the U.S. embassy. Given the sensitivity of the situation, the FBI coordinated with attorneys at the Justice Department as well as at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. Because extradition from Mexico to the U.S. is rare, American authorities were unlikely to be able to charge Ortega with a crime. They just wanted to get Bradys jersey back. And on March 12, they did. Via The MMQB: Dressed in his pajamas, his stunned wife looking on, Ortega was face-to-face with armed federal agents. According to a source in the Mexican government, a deal was presented: Hand over the Super Bowl jerseys and whatever else youve stolen, and you will sleep in your own bed not only tonight, but for the foreseeable future. Ortega fished a black trash bag out of a dresser drawer and gave it to the police, who took photos of the transaction to prove Ortegas cooperation. Agents didnt tear up the floorboards, toss cabinets or pull kitchen appliances from their wall connections. They didnt even search the lower floor. They simply asked, Do you have anything else? He did. He made a phone call to a friend who arrived shortly thereafter. (Mexican police on the scene dubbed the physically stout newcomer Gordito, little fat one.) The friend brought with him an orange-and-navy-blue helmet with year-old scuff marks on the crown: Von Millers Super Bowl 50 helmet. Ortega got off without any real punishment, but at least Brady got his jerseys back. They're back! Robert Kraft presents Tom Brady with the jerseys he wore in Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LI. pic.twitter.com/0AsuqS1j3Z New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 3, 2017 [The MMQB] 5.91 lakh bales jute production target fixed for Rangpur, Narsingdi The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing over 6.91 lakh bales of jute from 63,600 hectares of land for all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region this season. "The farmers started sowing of jute seeds last month and the process has got momentum from this week in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari district in the region," said horticulture specialist of DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam. He said the farmers started showing more interests in jute cultivation since last year when the government declared jute as the national agricultural product and made use of jute sacs mandatory in various sectors. "The farmers might exceed the fixed jute farming target in the region this time following its bumper production and lucrative price last year, increase in local demand and huge exports of jute products abroad," he added. According to the DAE sources here, the farmers will produce over 6.46 lakh bales of 'Tosha' variety jute fibre from 558,775 lakh hectares of land and 44,680 bales of 'Deshi' variety fibre from 4,825 hectares of land in Rangpur region this season. The farmers have already sowed jute seeds on 15,016 hectares of land, 23.61 per cent of the fixed farming target, and the tender plants are growing excellent amid a favorable climatic condition. The farmers are getting high quality jute seed easily from Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, other recommended government and non-government organisations and dealers. Jute growers Abdul Kudus, Musfikur Rahman, Sunil Kumar and Mamunur Rahman of different villages here thanked the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for ensuring supply of quality jute seeds at their doorsteps. They also expressed gratitude for providing cost-free jute seed among the trained farmers and supplying ribbon-retting machines to ease jute-rotting process amid drought situation and upgrade fibre quality using ribbon-retting methods this season. Talking to BSS, former Adviser- Agriculture of BRAC International for South Asia and Africa Dr MA Mazid said the farmers would get better jute production if they could complete sowing seed by this month end. "The farmers can use the 'Six Line Pick up Jute Seeding Method' to cultivate jute using only 2 kg seed per acre to save huge quantity of seed when they generally use 2.5 to 3.5 kg jute seed per acre using traditional sowing methods," he added. Predicting a bumper jute production this time, Regional Additional Director of the DAE Shah Alam said the farmers were getting assistance from field level officials concerned to make the jute cultivation programme successful in the region. BSS from Narsingdi adds: The farmers of the district have brought a vast area of land under jute cultivation in the current season as they were encouraged by fair price of jute last year. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said 3,411 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation with the production target of 33,914 bales of jute during the current season. DAE official said of the total land, Tosa variety was cultivated on 1,834 hectares of land, Masta on 34 hectares, Kalap on 970 hectares and local variety on 573 hectare of land. Deputy Director of DAE Latafat Hossain said farmers have been showing more interest in farming jute this season as they got fair price of jute last year. Besides, the DAE also encouraging the farmers to cultivate jute, the cash crop by adopting modern technology. Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) has taken measures to provide the farmers with High Yielding varieties of seeds, fertilizers and insecticides and other agri-inputs for jut cultivation. May, Trump agree Russia should break ties with Syrian President Trump had thanked May for her support following last week\'s US military action in Syria. Reuters, Washington : British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke on Monday to US President Donald Trump and agreed that "a window of opportunity" now exists to persuade Russia to break ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, May's office said. A spokeswoman for the prime minister said Trump had thanked May for her support following last week's US military action in Syria against the Assad regime. In a shift in Washington's strategy, US missiles hit a Syrian air base last week in retaliation for what the United States and its allies say was a poison gas attack by Syria's military in which scores of civilians died. The Syrian government has denied it was behind the assault. Trump had previously appeared disinclined to intervene against the Syrian leader and the attack raised expectations that he might now be ready to adopt a tougher-than-expected stance with Russia, Assad's main backer. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to travel to Moscow this week and the spokeswoman for May said the two leaders had agreed during their conversation that the visit was an opportunity to make progress towards a solution. "The prime minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest," the spokeswoman said. "They agreed that US Secretary of State Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement." The spokeswoman said the two leaders had also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses. Meanwhile, as a US strike group led by an aircraft carrier steamed toward the Korean peninsula Sunday, a senior official said President Donald Trump has asked to be provided with a range of options for eliminating the North Korean nuclear threat. The US naval move will certainly raise tensions in the region and comes hard on the heels of a US cruise missile strike on Syria that was widely interpreted as putting Pyongyang on warning over its refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions. North Korea denounced Thursday's attack as an act of "intolerable aggression" and one that justified "a million times over" the North's push toward a credible nuclear deterrent. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson insisted in an interviewed broadcast Sunday that the United States does not intend to try to remove the regime of Kim Jong-Un. Chinese PM Li calls for improved ties with Japan Xinhua, Beijing : Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Monday, during a meeting with a business delegation from Japan, that China stands ready to bring ties with Japan back to the right track of development. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations, Li told Yohei Kono, former speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives and currently president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT). History and reality show that China-Japan relations can maintain healthy and stable development only if both sides adhere to the principles set in the four political documents between the two countries and stick to the direction of peace, friendship and cooperation, said Li. The Chinese premier urged Japan to move toward China's stance, view China's development as an opportunity, pursue a positive policy toward China, and create more positive elements for improving bilateral ties. More than 40 years ago, non-governmental organizations and friendly people from Japan, including JAPIT, made active efforts for the normalization of bilateral ties, Li said, calling on them to continue working for the improvement and development of bilateral ties, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples. Kono said JAPIT has always been committed to promoting the development of Japan-China relations through economic cooperation since it was founded more than 60 years ago. The Japanese business community is closing watching China's development goals and measures and stands ready to make unremitting efforts to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and improve and develop bilateral relations, Kono said. PM mourns death of ex-BSS Chief Editor Hussain-uz-Zaman Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed deep shock at the death of Hussain-uz-Zaman Chowdhury, a veteran journalist and former Managing Director (MD) and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). In a condolence message, the Prime Minister recalled his contributions to the field of journalism in the country. Sheikh Hasina prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to his bereaved family members. Call for tobacco free society The Acting Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong Sayeda Sarwar Jahan stressed on a tobacco free society and said, "Conducting mobile court is the way to control the use of tobacco in the society. There is no other alternative to control tobacco." Addressing the view exchange meeting on 'Implementation of tobacco Control Act' arranged by YPSA and campaign for Tobacco Free Kids at the office of divisional commissioner, Sayeda Sarwar Jahan said that the social activists should campaign for a tobacco free society. Among others, Director of Health Department in Chittagong Dr Mohammad Ala Uddin Majumdar, Deputy Director of Narcotic Department Moh-ammad Jillur Rahman, Assistant Director of BRTA Raihana Akter, Deputy secretary of Chittagong City Corporation Ashek Rasul Tipu, Journalist M Nasirul Haque, Ward Councilor Farjana Parvin, Anwarul Halim also addressed the meeting. 2 electrocuted Two youths died of electrocution in separate incident in the city and adjoining area of Patiya on Saturday night. The victims identified as Ziaur Rahman and Zillur Rahman. Nayek of Chittagong medical college hospital police camp Kanchan Das told this correspondent that Ziaur Rahman was electrocuted while repairing a ceiling fan at Nusrat Jahan Dockyard of Kulgaon under Patiya upazila . Tussle of Mohiuddin Nasir at peak The political tussle in between the former Mayor and President of city unit of Awami League ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and the incumbent Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin at peak now. Centring the imposition of city holding tax and transfer of Fish landing centre of Patherghata the tussle went up to maximum extents gradually very recently. Mentionable that the fish landing centre of Patherghata was relocated at Rajakhali area beside the Karnaphuli bank in last February which again come back in earlier site of Patherghata with the directives of Mohiuddin Chowdhury in last month. On the other hand former Mayor opposing the newly imposed holding tax for the city dwellers which was passed in 5-yrs tax evaluation program meeting . Later this order of new holding now temporarily suspended by a verdict of High court. Meanwhile, Mohiuddin Chowdhury attended a hugely attended meeting at Laldighi maidan as arranged by Sonali Mechanical Fishermen's Cooperative Society as Chief Guest. The meeting so arranged for demanding the rights and privileges of the fishermen and protesting the transfer of fish landing centre from Patheratha by the incumbent Mayor. Former Mayor in his address in the huge attended meeting said he is working for the welfare of the city dwellers and relief from the burden of the unjustified holding taxes and rights of the city dwellers. On the other hand , incumbent Mayor Nasir Uddin also called anti-militancy programs in all city wards on Monday. City dwellers on condition of anonymity said Mayor Nasir called anti-militancy programs in city only because to hamper the Mohiuddin Chowdhury's rally of Laldighi . Former Mayor at his family programmes in Chashma Hill residence on Saturday told the journalists that he will always protest any steps from any quarters against Chittagong 's welfare. He said will boldly face the hike holding tax any the public rally if needed and said I will not spare anyone who is my son, friend or my father in case of anti-public interests and Chittagong. In his address as chief guest in the Laldighi rally, Mohiuddin Chowdhury said Chittagong Port is the wheel of economy of the country which is neglected and a group of four leaders are looting the port resources of the port . He said I will resist these four leaders those are involved with the conspiracy of port always without any excuse. In the meantime, a number of senior leaders of the ruling party told the media that centring the tussle of these two senior leaders of City Awami League will bitterly hamper the party activities at grass root level in Chittagong . N Korea state media warns of N strike if provoked as US warships approach The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and other US ships, seen in the Philippine Sea in March. AFP, Pyongyang : North Korean state media on Tuesday warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of a US pre-emptive strike as a US Navy strike group led by a nuclear-powered aircraft steamed towards the western Pacific. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States. "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland," it said. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States. "It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. It did not immediately release details. But South Korean officials took pains to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war. "We'd like to ask precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of U.N Security Council resolutions. Groups of men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on street corners in Pyongyang, which was illuminated by better lighting than in previous years, apparently practising for the parade planned for later in the week. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting "big powers" for their "expansionist" policy. "The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," the North's KCNA news agency quoted the message as saying. "The two peoples of Syria and the DPRK are as ever struggling for their rights to self-determination and national sovereignty and the security and prosperity of their countries." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by KCNA, said the U.S. navy strike group's approach showed America's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase". "We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said. Malala made UN Messenger of Peace BBC Online : Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has been made the youngest ever UN Messenger of Peace. The 19-year-old, who is doing her A-levels and has an offer from a top UK university, will take the role with a special focus on girls' education. In 2012 Ms Yousafzai was nearly killed by the Taliban for campaigning for girls' rights to education. Accepting the accolade in New York, she said: "(Bringing change) starts with us and it should start now." "If you want to see your future bright, you have to start working now (and) not wait for anyone else," he said. United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres described her as a "symbol of perhaps the most important thing in the world - education for all". Last month, Ms Yousafzai said she had received an offer to study politics, philosophy and economics at a UK university, on condition of achieving three As in her A-levels. Ms Yousafzai, who narrowly escaped death after being attacked on her way home from school in Pakistan, did not confirm which university had made the offer. Hottest temperature on Pahela Boishakh likely Staff Reporter Pahela Boishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year-1424, will be celebrated amid traditional festivities and enthusiasm across the country on Friday. Meanwhile, the Metrological Department forecast that the prevailing heat wave may remain on the day. The hottest temperature in the country that began on Monday will continue for the next few days, it added. The festivities of the occasion will begin at dawn with the artistes from Chhayanaut welcoming the day with Tagore's famous song 'Esho hey Boishakh, esho, esho' under the Banyan tree at the Ramna Park. People from all walks of life thronged different popular and historic spots in the capital and elsewhere across the country to welcome the Bangla New Year with new hopes and aspirations for a better, peaceful year. The Met office said, the normal temperature for Dhaka was 35.5 Degree Celsius on Monday. The lowest temperature of the day was at Dimla in Nilphamari district. The temperature was 15.5 Degree Celsius there. "On Pahela Boishakh, the temperature may be lower than 35.5 Degree Celsius, but it may not be normal as 30 Degree Celsius," said, Omar Faruk, the forecast officer of the Metrological office at Agargaon in the capital yesterday. He also said that another heat weave will start from April 18. But he could not say details that how long that would remain for. Besides, the Health Department said that more than 500 diarrhea patients have been admitted to ICDDR,B, known as the Cholera Hospital at Mohakhali in the city. Ayesha Begum, the in-charge of the disease control desk, said the number of the diarrhea patients in the hospital is not alarming. But the people should be careful about the heat weave, she said. Student among 3 dead in San Bernardino school shooting Karen Smith, 53, (left) was killed along with her special needs student Jonathan Martinez, eight, in a shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino in California on Monday morning by gunman Cedric Anderson, 53, (right) in an apparent murder CNN : A Southern California man fatally shot his estranged wife inside an elementary school classroom attended by special needs children before killing himself on Monday, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. Two students were injured in the murder-suicide at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, and one of those children later died at a hospital, Burguan said. Burguan said the shooter, Cedric Anderson, 53, of Riverside, walked into the classroom armed with a large caliber revolver and opened fire "without saying anything," killing Karen Elaine Smith, 53, also of Riverside. Smith was a teacher at the school. The two students struck by gunfire were standing behind Smith, the police chief said. Jonathan Martinez, 8, died at Loma Linda University Medical Center after being airlifted from the school, the police chief said. The other student, a 9-year-old boy, was listed in stable condition at the medical center, according to the hospital. Police do not believe the two children were targeted; they happened to be near the teacher. Burguan said that at the time of the shooting there were 15 students from grades one through four in the special needs classroom, along with two adult aides. "This is a tragic incident that has befallen our city," San Bernardino Police Lt. Michael Madden told reporters. received reports of the shooting at the school shortly before 10:30 a.m., and officers responded within minutes, Madden said. San Bernardino Police Capt. Ron Maass, the incident commander, said Anderson had gone to the classroom to visit Smith. There is no indication the suspect's handgun was visible when he entered the school, Maass said. Anderson signed in at the front office when he entered the school, according to Maass. He said he believed Anderson was known to the front office. Burguan said Anderson told employees in the office he wanted to drop something off with his wife and then headed to the classroom. He added that it is not uncommon for a spouse to gain access to a school campus to meet with their partner. "He came in, and very, very quickly upon entering the classroom started shooting," Burguan said. Anderson also reloaded after firing what is believed to have been a .357-caliber revolver, the police chief said. Burguan said preliminary information indicates the two were recently married. "I'm told that their marriage was relatively short. They've only been married for a few months and they've been separated for about the last month, month-and-a-half, roughly, when this incident took place," he said. "But there's nobody that in the investigation has come forward to say that they saw this coming." The police chief said Anderson "does have a criminal history." Court records showed that he had faced criminal charges of brandishing a weapon, assault and crimes against public peace in 2013, with those charges later "dismissed or not prosecuted." There had also been two petitions for temporary restraining orders filed against him by women in previous years. Earlier in the day, San Bernardino Mayor R. Carey Davis said: "Far too often in our country and throughout the world, we gather to report this news of tragic events that take place." Remembering the victims of San Bernardino shooting 02:43 San Bernardino was the site of a mass shooting in December 2015, in which 14 people were killed when a couple opened fire at a holiday party held by the county's health department. The mayor said that after the 2015 terror attack, the community came together and showed that it could be "very resilient and can deal with tragedy, disaster just as effectively as any community in the United States. And we did that. And we will continue to do that in this occasion." "We will rise to help our parents, our teachers to regroup and to once again gain confidence in our community," Davis said. On Monday, North Park students were evacuated and reunited with their parents at nearby Cajon High School, police said. Video showed community members lining up to cheer on and give high-fives to students arriving at Cajon High. Frantic parents rushed to North Park Elementary after the shooting. Brad Hendran told CNN affiliate KABC he was looking for his daughter, who is in the second grade. "I fell to my knees and started saying Our Fathers and Hail Marys. ... I'm gonna hug her. ... I'm gonna hug her. I hope she is OK," Hendran said. One father, who wasn't identified by the CNN affiliate, stood behind police tape, looking for one of his sons. He said his two boys are in second grade and fifth grade. "I see one of my boys, but not the smallest one," he said tearfully. His eldest son had just gotten on a bus, he said. He was at work when he heard about the shooting from the boys' mom, who works for the school district. North Park Elementary will be closed for at least the next two days. "I would like our community and our nation to keep our families in prayer," San Bernardino City Unified School District Superintendent Dale Marsden said. "It's going to take time for our heads, our hearts to heal." Marsden added. A prayer vigil was held Monday night at a San Bernardino church, Our Lady of the Assumption. HC upholds death sentence of 4 convicts Court Correspondent : The High Court Division of the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the death penalties awarded to four convicts in the case lodged in connection with the killing of 13-year-old Sheikh Md Samiul Alam Rajon of Sylhet. The apex court also upheld various prison terms of five other convicts, but commuted the life-term imprisonment for one to six months in the prison. The High Court upheld the seven-year jail terms of convicts- Muhith, Ali Haidar and Shamim Ahmed. Besides, the court upheld one-year imprisonment of two other convicts- Dulal and Ayaz. The court commuted the life-term imprisonment of Nur Ahmed to six-months in the prison. The High Court Bench of Justice Zahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Md Zahangir Hossain pronounced the verdict in the sensational child murder case after hearing on the death reference and appeals filed by the convicts. On July 8, 2015, Samiul Alam Rajon was beaten to death by a group of brutes in Kumargaon Bus Stand area of Sylhet for allegedly trying to steal a rickshaw van. A 28-minute video footage of the gruesome incident in social media, shows prime convict Quamrul Islam hitting the child with a stick on his feet, joints of legs, shoulder and head; created firestorm in the society. Within two days of the murder, prime suspect Quamrul Islam fled to Saudi Arabia. Later, he was extradited to Bangladesh after investigation into the video. On November 8, 2015, a Speedy Trial Tribunal of Sylhet sentenced four persons including Quamrul Islam to death for killing Rajon, while another convict Nur Ahmed was sentenced to life in prison. Five others were awarded various terms of imprisonments and fines. However, three others were acquitted as the charges were not proved against them. Hannan`s execution anytime Md Joynal Abedin Khan : The jail authorities already have prepared two panels for execution of Harkat-ul-Jihad (HuJi) Chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and his two aides Sharif Shahedul Bipul and Delwar alias Ripon in Gazipur and Sylhet respectively, jail sources said. They claimed that the execution of the militants is only a time of matter as all preparation has been finished. Separate rehearsals have completed in Kashimpur High Security and Sylhet Central Jails to hang the militants, they added, The law enforcers heightened the security measures in the jail areas to avert any untoward situation, said our local correspondents quoting the Police. Family members of Mufti Abdul Hannan and his associate Sharif Shahedul Bipul have been asked to meet them at jail. Meanwhile, the jail authorities on Tuesday sent separate letters to the families of Mufti Hannan in Gopalganj district, said Mizanur Rahman, Jail Superintendent of Kashimpur Central Jail Gazipur. However, no specific date was mentioned in the letter for the meetings. After receiving the letter, family members of Hannan were staying near the Kashimpur Jail to meet with him for the last chance around 10:00pm, he said. According to Rahman, another HuJI leader Sharif Shahedul Bipul's family was coming to the Kashimpur Jail following a letter of the jail authorities. Gazipur Superintendent of Police (SP) Harun Ar Rashid said he visited the jail area to observe security measures. Security steps have been strengthened to avoid the emergency, the SP said. Earlier, the family members of militant Delwar alias Ripon met with him at Sylhet Central Jail on Tuesday afternoon, said Md Sagir Mia, the jail super. He said they have taken all preparations to execute him. Also, the jail authorities have completed all necessary preparations to execute the two HuJi men as their mercy petitions were rejected by President Abdul Hamid. The rejected mercy petition of another death-row convict Delwar alias Ripon reached Sylhet Central Jail on Tuesday morning. On March 19, the Appellate Division upheld the death sentence of Mufti Hannan, Delwar alias Ripon and Sharif Shahedul Alam alias Bipul after hearing the review petitions filed by the three death-row convicts. It released the full text of its verdict on March 21. Among them, Mufti Hannan and Sharif Shahedul Alam alias Bipul are kept at Kashimpur Central Jail while Delwar alias Ripon is in Sylhet Central Jail. On December 7, 2016, an SC Bench, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, upheld the death penalty of the three in the case rejecting appeals filed by the HuJi Chief and Bipul challenging the High Court verdict that had upheld their death sentence awarded by the tribunal. In 2004, the then British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury came under a grenade attack while coming out of Hazrat Shahjalal's shrine in his hometown Sylhet. The envoy and 40 employees of Sylhet district administration were injured in the attack. Educated at madrasas, Mufti Hannan hails from Gopalganj and is infamous for being one of the initiators of militant activities in Bangladesh. He is said to be the mastermind of 13 terrorist attacks, including an attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's life. He faces trial for planting a bomb made with 76kg of explosives near the venue of a public rally addressed by Hasina at Kotalipara in 2000. Mufti Hannan has been sentenced to death for the 2001 bombings at Dhaka's Ramna Park on the Bengali New Year. Teesta will flow, Hasina still hopes Staff Reporter : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said she did not return from her India trip empty-handed. She also said with conviction that the waters from the Tessta River must come towards Bangladesh. "Nobody could stop water flow towards Bangladesh from the Tessta River," she told a crowded press conference at her Ganobhaban official residence on her just concluded India visit. "I did not return empty-handed. I got something," she said, terming her India visit as successful. "Many people are talking about Teesta right now but when India constructed a barrage at Gazaldoba point on Teesta River during BNP regime, none could say anything. Even, the then BNP government didn't raise its voice against the barrage," she said. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is facing the consequence of the barrage. "Since the country's independence many governments came to power but none could talk about the Teesta. But Awami League is always talking about the issue," Sheikh Hasina said. When asked about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's alternative proposal to address the issues, Hasina said, "I have also given her (Mamata) an alternative proposal. I have told her that they could take other rivers' waters and give us Teesta's water. The discussion on the issue will continue." She said Indian Prime Minister has pledged to sign the agreement. "We are waiting with patience for signing the agreement," Sheikh Hasina said. On a query on the deals and MoUs between Dhaka and New Delhi, the PM said there is nothing to hide as everything is wide open for the people. "All the deals and MoUs signed with India will be made public in details," she said. She said as long as she is in power she does not do politics in her personal interests. "Interests of the country and people as well as dignity of the nation are very important to me," she said. On the defence deal, the PM said there is no scope to raise a question over the deal. "I'm also the minister for defence. I can tell you that military equipment will be brought at the will of Bangladesh. No anti-state agreement will be signed as long as I am alive," she said. She also urged people not to be frustrated over her India trip where 11 agreements and 24 MoUs were signed upholding the national interest. Sheikh Hasina said all agreements with foreign countries are signed after approval of the cabinet. "So, these are open documents," she said. Responding to a question about her government policy to maintain relations with both India and China, Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu's 'Friendship with all, Malice' to None,' is the "guiding factor of our foreign policy". "I'm trying to comply with the policy word by word and establish good relation with every country," she said. Sheikh Hasina said India and China might have problems in their bilateral relations but Bangladesh would maintain good relation with every country. She ruled out the BNP's allegation that the country is being sold out to India through her visit "I am a daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. All will have to understand that I am not a person who can sell out the country to anyone," she mentioned. She said Bangladesh needs to have good relations with all countries for its cherished prosperity as quick as possible. She said the business delegation accompanied her in India found their opportunities and trade partners and as many as 12 MoUs were signed under which huge Indian investment would come to Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina said undoubtedly geographically and demographically Bangladesh is a small country in comparison with India "But dignity of both the countries is equal as far as nation's sovereignty and independence is concerned". Sheikh Hasina said as a victorious nation the present government is making constant efforts to uphold the dignity. About honouring the soldiers of India who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, she said the event has elevated the position of Bangladesh to a new dignified position as a nation. UNB adds: The Prime Minister said she also invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bangladesh in 2018. She said she called on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhaban while Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid courtesy calls on her at the Rashtrapati Bhaban. Besides, she also met Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari. The issues discussed in the talks include power and energy, economic and defence sectors, connectivity, Padma-Ganges barrage construction, basin-wise based water resource management, security cooperation, common rivers' water sharing, connectivity, people-to-people contact, increase of investment, outer space, and promotion of bilateral trade and investments. Hasina said during the visit, the door of cooperation has opened in many areas like civil nuclear cooperation, science and technology, defence training and cooperation, information technology, satellite and space research alongside ongoing traditional cooperation. She said the two leaders also agreed to expand mutual cooperation on combating terrorism and militancy in South Asia particularly in their own countries. In the business event, Sheikh Hasina said, she urged the Indian businessmen and entrepreneurs to bring their businesses and investments to Bangladesh taking full advantage of Bangladesh's steady economic growth. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Prime Minister's Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam were present while Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim moderated the press conference. UN Commission worries about extra-judicial killings United Nations' Human Rights Commission has expressed deep concerns and worries for the increasing rate of kidnapping and extra-judicial killings in Bangladesh. It has also demanded punishment of those responsible for the crimes. In a press conference on Monday the Human Rights Forum, Bangladesh has stated that the UN Commission also expressed concerns for some other reasons including torture and death in jail, freedom of opinion and media, bad atmosphere in jail, terrorism and death penalties. Besides, it was stated in the press conference that the Commission has urged to strengthen the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh. The press conference was attended by leaders and representatives of various Human Rights Groups and Organizations of the country. They informed that the UN body in its Geneva Conference on 6th and 7th March reviewed the initiatives and performances of Bangladesh government in materializing the clauses of the Charter on peoples' political rights. It should be mentioned that the Charter was approved and declared by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCP) in 2011 and as a signatory Bangladesh was supposed to follow and materialize the Charter. Newspapers reported that Law Minister Anisul Huq represented Bangladesh in the UN body's conference in Geneva and explained the government's position and performances. But despite his efforts the Minister could not satisfy the UN body as it expressed concerns and urged the government to take various steps including punishment of those responsible for kidnapping and extra-judicial killings. Mentioning especially about the Special Power Act of 1974 and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009, the UN body has said, as a signatory in the ICCP Charter, Bangladesh cannot make and execute laws which are conflicting with the Charter. The Commission in its observation has said, as there is no provision for accountability, the members of the law enforcing and security forces are committing crimes and even killing people recklessly. They must be controlled, punished and made accountable. The Commission, at the same time, criticized the government's moves to harass leaders and workers of various opposition parties with false cases. There are many other issues, including freedom of media in the UN body's observations and recommendations, but kidnapping and extra-judicial killings have emerged as the main points. The Commission has correctly termed these as serious offence against humanity and human rights. The government should take its observations seriously. Actions to prevent the unlawful activities including especially kidnapping and extra-judicial killings must be taken up. We don't want to see any more killings and dead bodies of political leaders and workers. The leaders in the government and their advisers must understand that if they go against the UN body's recommendations the consequence would not bring good results. Pan Gongsheng, central bank deputy governor [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING A senior official with the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, has called for more financial support for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region, according to a statement made public Monday. Financial institutions should find new ways to provide medium- and long-term financing for the region, PBOC deputy governor Pan Gongsheng said at a conference in Tianjin Friday. They should increase financial support to important areas, including infrastructure, environmental protection, industrial upgrading, innovation and poverty relief, Pan added. "The financial sector should take the strategy of Jing-Jin-Ji coordinated development as an opportunity to advance its own development," he said. In 2015, central authorities approved a guideline for integrated development of the Jing-Jin-Ji region, with a focus on transferring non-capital functions from Beijing to neighboring areas. The PBOC statement also said that the decision to establish the Xiongan New Area in Hebei Province, an important move to advance Jing-Jin-Ji development, was also studied at the conference. "The ability of botnets like Kelihos to be weaponized quickly for vast and varied types of harms is a dangerous and deep threat to all Americans, driving at the core of how we communicate, network, earn a living, and live our everyday lives," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco. "Our success in disrupting the Kelihos botnet was the result of strong cooperation between private industry experts and law enforcement, and the use of innovative legal and technical tactics." A Russian computer hacker arrested over the weekend in Barcelona was apparently detained for his role in a massive computer botnet, and not for last year's US presidential election hack as reported by the Russian media.Peter Yuryevich Levashov, 32-years-old Russian computer programmer, suspected of operating the a global network of over 100,000 infected computers that was used to deliver spam, steal login passwords, and infect computers with ransomware and other types of malware since approximately 2010, the U.S. Justice Department announced Monday.As suspected earlier, Levashov, also known as Peter Severa, is the same man who has also been listed in the World's Top 10 Worst Spammers maintained by anti-spam group Spamhaus , which has given him the 7th position in the list.The arrest was made possible after the FBI learned just last month that Levashov was traveling with his family to Spain from his home in Russia, a country without any extradition treaty to the United States.Initially, it was believed that Levashov was detained on suspicion of 2016 US election hack , after his wife told Russian publication RT that authorities said her husband's apprehension was in part due to his involvement in the U.S. election hacking, including the notorious breach of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).However, the DoJ press release indicates no link between Levashov and US election hack at all.Instead, Levashov was linked to the Kelihos botnet by the FBI because he used the same IP address to operate the botnet that he used to access his email and other online accounts in his name, including Apple iCloud and Google Gmail accounts.According to the indictment unsealed Monday, Levashov operated the botnet since 2010, targeting Microsoft Windows machines for infection. He allegedly used Kelihos to distribute hundreds of millions of spam emails per year, and pump-and-dump stock scams.Besides conducting spamming operations, prosecutors also alleged Levashov also used the Kelihos botnet to infect end-user computers with malware and harvest passwords to online and bank accounts belonging to thousands of Americans.The FBI officials obtained court orders (Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure) to redirect Kelihos-infected PCs to servers operated by authorities a process known as "" and to block any attempts by the botnet to regain control of those sinkholed computers.The FBI said it worked with security firm CrowdStrike and Shadowserver Foundation, a volunteer group of information security experts, to deploy the sinkhole attack to disconnect communications between criminals and infected computers.Levashov has been charged with wire fraud and unauthorized interception of electronic communications. The government is now seeking his extradition to the United States. Wikimedia Facing pushback on the new business tax he's proposing, Gov. John Bel Edwards is tweaking the idea in hopes of shrinking criticism that it would hit some companies too hard. To help replace $1.3 billion in temporary, mainly sales taxes money that is set to expire in mid-2018 while also raising more money, Edwards wants to levy a new tax on a business's gross receipts, which the administration is calling a Commercial Activity Tax. As the Democratic governor described the measure to lawmakers Monday, the concept already had been changed from how it was originally explained less than two weeks ago, by adding new carve-outs for certain types of businesses. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson said the changes were based on feedback "from business conversations around the state and ... from legislators who just want to make sure they understand and that we are not creating an undue tax burden on businesses around the state." As originally explained, the 0.35 percent tax on sales would be charged on businesses with more than $1.5 million in gross receipts annually, which the Edwards administration estimates is 6 percent of Louisiana's companies. Other businesses would be assessed a flat tax from $250 to $750. The new proposal would have different formulas for companies that file taxes through individual income taxpayer forms and for high-volume businesses with low profit margins, such as grocery stores. For example, rather than paying a percentage tax, companies that file individual income taxes would pay a flat tax that ranges from $1,500 to $12,500, depending on their gross receipts, if they reach the $1.5 million threshold. The tax was estimated to raise up to $900 million annually before the changes. That's expected to drop, but it wasn't immediately clear by how much. "I'm hoping that this is not a significant hit," Robinson said. The gross receipts tax proposal, reflecting the changes, will be filed this week, she said. Several lawmakers have said it's difficult to study the concept without being able to see legislation or a financial analysis of it. Commercial lender now also overseeing loan operations and compliance for four-city franchise. First National Bank of Louisiana has promoted Jim Lyons Jr. to Chief Operating Officer. Lyons, who joined FNB more than a decade ago, most recently served as SVP of lending and loan operations, duties he retains. In his new role, Lyons oversees the banks loan operations and compliance, working out of the bank's River Ranch office. Lyons is an active member of the Lafayette community, serving as secretary/treasurer and chairman-elect for Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana, as an Acadiana Red Cross board member, Beaver Club board member and treasurer of Acadiana Health Education Center. He also is chairman-elect for Louisiana Bankers Education Council. The Jennings native received his bachelor of science in business management from LSU and MBA from the University of New Orleans. He is also a graduate of LSUs Graduate School of Banking. Lyons began his career in New Orleans with Hancock Bank, as part of their Management Associate Program, before joining FNB. FNB has locations in Lafayette, Crowley, Lake Charles and Sulphur. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. CAIRO Following an announcement by federal housing officials on Monday that they intend to relocate 185 families from two public housing developments in Cairo, and that there is no immediate plan to provide for new housing in the city, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost said he will continue to work in concert with others to do all we can to find opportunities for revitalizing and reinvesting in this community. I have pleaded with HUD to continue working with us on solutions to sustain the city of Cairo and provide adequate and safe housing for its residents, Bost said, while noting that he continues to remain in close contact with Cairo Mayor Tyrone Coleman and other local officials about what can be done to ensure the long-term sustainability of the city of about 2,600 people in deep Southern Illinois that sits between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Were all working and praying for the best outcome for local families, said Bost, R-Murphysboro, whose district includes Alexander County. HUD officials said Monday that they intend to provide residents with transportable vouchers, fund their moving expenses, and provide each with relocation expenses. Agency leaders indicated they would do their best to work to provide housing in Cairo for those who want to stay, but also indicated that because of a shortage of available affordable housing in the city, many families may need to relocate to other areas. Towanda Macon, the HUD administrator assigned to Cairo, told a packed house at a meeting called by HUD on Monday at the First Missionary Baptist Church that because of the health and safety concerns presented by the developments, HUD intends to begin the process of moving people out in May, even as those conversations continue about whether there are solutions for new or repurposed housing in Cairo to accommodate the families that want to stay. Many people expressed anger and frustration at the meeting, at the fact that HUD has not identified a solution for alternative housing within the city limits in the past year it has had the ACHA in receivership, and that no one has been held officially accountable for the allegations of misspending and mismanagement that contributed to the decline of their family housing developments. This past week, Bost and U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, spoke by phone with newly minted Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson concerning the situation with the Alexander County Housing Authority. Durbin and Duckworth, in a joint letter, urged Carson to visit Cairo to see the situation for himself, and pleaded with HUD to come up with a solution for the people living in the 75-year-old McBride and Elmwood apartment complexes that, according to HUD, have deteriorated beyond repair and are no longer safe for residents to inhabit. Combined, McBride and Elmwood, constructed in 1942, include 278 housing units across 37 buildings. At present, the units at the two developments are about 66 percent occupied, as over the past year, units have been left vacant as people have moved out, several of them in response to the housing crisis. In a joint statement Monday night following HUDs announcement, Durbin and Duckworth, both Democrats, said that after years of mismanagement and misuse of funds by past ACHA managers, strong federal action is welcome to address the housing crisis in Cairo. This is a massive undertaking for HUD, and it will require close dialogue with local authorities and residents to mitigate the destabilizing effects of relocation not only for the affected families, but for the city of Cairo, which is already suffering the consequences of population decline, the senators said. They encouraged HUD to continue meeting with residents to ensure they have a clear understanding of their options moving forward. Durbin and Duckworth also penned a separate letter to Inspector General David Montoya, who leads HUDs investigatory arm. The senators requested from Montoya an update on the status of the investigation and a timeline for when it is expected to be complete. In response to the newspaper concerning the investigation, a spokesperson for the office has only repeatedly provided a generic, standard response, which is that the office can neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation. On Monday, Macon, of HUD, said she is not able to speak for the Office of Inspector General, but informed the crowd that it is her understanding that the investigation remains open, and has not been forgotten. Wrote Durbin and Duckworth in the April 6 letter: This past February marked the one year anniversary of HUDs takeover of the ACHA and the residents still live in housing that has been described as third world and unfit for humans as many of the units are overrun by rodents, roaches, mold and violent crime. What is more frustrating for these residents is the perceived lack of accountability for the gross mismanagement and the complete and total disregard of their health and safety shown by former ACHA officials. Responsible entities or individuals must be held accountable and the necessary reforms should be put in place to prevent this from happening at other housing authorities, continues the letter. And, it is imperative that this investigation be concluded in a timely manner. They concluded their letter by stating that they would look forward to Inspector General Montoyas response by April 24. CARBONDALE A Carbondale man wanted in connection to a fatal shooting that took place last month outside the Eurma C. Hayes Center has been arrested in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Jarrell Pullen, 22, was arrested Tuesday by the United States Marshals and the Craighead County Sheriff's Department on an outstanding Jackson County warrant charging him with first-degree murder, Carbondale Police Department announced Tuesday in a news release. Pullen had been at large since the shooting incident that took place March 9 in the 400 block of East Willow Street in Carbondales northeast neighborhood. Upon arriving at the scene that afternoon, officers found JaVon T. Trott, 19, of Johnston City, lying in a parking lot across the street from a private residence, where the incident occurred. Trott was transported to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he died from his injuries. Police found that Pullen and Trott knew each other and were engaged in an altercation before the shooting. Pullen is currently incarcerated in the Craighead County Jail and is awaiting extradition proceedings, police said. Carbondale detectives are continuing with the investigation and will be in communication with Craighead County authorities. CAIRO A gathering of Cairo residents erupted in anger Monday night as federal housing officials informed them that close to 200 families residing in two sprawling World War II-era family housing developments of the Alexander County Housing Authority will have to move out of their units in the coming months, and that there is no immediate plan to provide new government-assisted housing in Cairo to replace the developments they intend to demolish. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officials said that they came to the decision to move people out because the developments have deteriorated past the point of repair, and are a hazard to their health and safety. For more than a year and a half, The Southern Illinoisan has detailed the inhumane living conditions of ACHA's Elmwood Place and McBride Place complexes, which have been in poor condition for years. The problems include mold, plumbing and electrical issues, inadequate heating and cooling, rampant infestation and other health and safety issues. There are presently 82 families living at Elmwood and 103 families at McBride. Many units are vacant, as those that have been vacated since the housing crisis began and are not being filled, HUD officials said. HUD Q&A concerning relocation of families living in public housing in Cairo The following list of questions and answers was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing a Mondays meeting marked the first major announcement HUD has made about the future of the developments since seizing control of the ACHA on Feb. 22, 2016. The condition of the developments deteriorated as past managers namely James Wilson, who was director for 24 years, part of which time he also was the mayor of Cairo are alleged to have misspent money on their own excessive travel, benefits, golden parachutes and sweetheart retirement deals. One by one at the standing-room only meeting, residents expressed anger and frustration that HUD does not have a plan to provide adequate housing for the displaced residents within the city, and that no one has been officially held accountable for the alleged mismanagement of the complexes by ACHA administrators, or the lack of oversight by HUD as millions of federal dollars were squandered. You have decimated a whole community and you dont care, one resident said to cheers and applause. Towanda Macon, a HUD administrator assigned to Alexander County since the federal takeover a little more than a year ago, said that there is not a firm deadline for people to have to move out of the Elmwood Place and McBride Place family apartment complexes but they will have to move out. At the top of the meeting, before taking questions, Macon stressed that the residents please remember this point: You are not alone and we will help you in this process every step of the way. Residents were instructed in a handout not to pay rent in April or going forward, and that HUD will work with those behind in rent so that they do not have to move with any debt to the ACHA. Cairo City Councilwoman Connie Williams said she was told by HUD officials during a private meeting that residents would have about six months to move. A question-and-answer document provided by HUD put the timeline at nine to 11 months. HUD officials said they intend to begin the process in May, and prioritize working with families with children to allow them to finish up the school year in Cairo, and be settled in a new location by the start of the next school year. Regardless, Williams expressed her displeasure with the decision, and said that HUD Secretary Ben Carson should have been at the meeting to see first-hand the effects of his agency's decisions. Macon noted that each resident will be given a Tenant Protection Voucher, which the agency describes as unique form of rental assistance for households forced to relocate from their homes. They are a close cousin to HUD's Housing Choice Vouchers, officials said. Residents can take their rental assistance voucher to anywhere in the country where a voucher program is being operated by a housing authority. After months of research, property studies and what you guys have said, we have determined that the units at Elmwood and McBride are unsafe and have stood far beyond their life cycle, Macon said. The complexes were constructed in 1942. HUD has contracted with CVR Associates to provide each resident with access to relocation services, it was announced. More details will be announced in the coming days, and be made available to residents door-to-door, according to HUD. Macon said that efforts still are underway to provide alternative housing in Cairo for people who want to stay, but she noted that the reality is there is a shortage of affordable housing options in Cairo. One of the questions on HUDs Q&A is, Will I have to move away from Cairo? Finding adequate housing in or near Cairo will be difficult, the agency writes. The demand for affordable housing in Cairo is extremely high yet the supply of available housing is low. Families will have the option to live anywhere in the country, including available units in Cairo and surrounding communities. However, given the availability of vacant units in the area, Elmwood and McBride residents may be moving to communities outside of Cairo and Alexander County. But many people at the meeting said they do not want to leave Cairo. They told HUD officials that this is their home, that they want to stay, and that they expect adequate housing to be provided in their city. What youve been doing is glossing over all the questions, Kevin McAllister, a resident of Elmwood, said in an impassioned tone toward the end of the roughly hour and a half long meeting. We want the answers. Is this set in stone or is there something else that can be done? he said, continuing his line of questioning. McAllister said it seemed to him like there were efforts underway to get the ghetto people out so that Cairo can be taken over by private developers for port operations and other business ventures. Macon assured the residents this is not the case, but said that HUD came to the conclusion that residents could no longer remain in unsafe housing, even as talks continue in an attempt to increase the affordable housing stock in the city. McAllister is a contract bus driver for the Cairo Unit School District 1 and has a child that attends the school. Echoing a concern expressed by many, he said he's terribly concerned about the future of the school if the families are forced to move out of the developments prior to other options being made available within Cairo. About half of the roughly 475 students at the school live in Elmwood and McBride, the superintendent has said. Until you feel our reality, you cant feel how we feel, he said. As he talked, people jumped up, waived their arms in the air and shouted, many of them demanding, We want answers. We want answers. The meeting was held at the First Missionary Baptist Church. All of the pews were filled, as was the choir seating, and dozens stood shoulder-to-shoulder against the walls. The churchs pastor, Jimmy Ellis, took the microphone and said that when he was asked this past week if he would agree to let HUD host the meeting at the church, he didnt know what they were going to announce. Ellis said he found out on Saturday, after he had given them his word they could use the house of worship to make an announcement that was hurtful to so many. If I had known you all were coming to break our hearts, you wouldnt have done it here, he said. These are real people, he said to the HUD administrators, some of whom traveled from Chicago and Washington to deliver the news, alongside Macon. They are not numbers. Ellis said he had a message for those flying back to the nations capital in the morning. Please let them know that were not lying down, he said. Its been a little more than a year since HUD took control of the housing authority, citing a years-long pattern of mismanagement, poor housing conditions, and alleged civil rights violations against the households the housing authority was responsible for assisting. When we first took over control there we were stunned, really, at what we saw, not just in terms of the deplorable living conditions that we encountered but the poor or even absent record keeping, the staggering backlog of critical repairs, all of this going to the very health and safety of the residents living there, said Brian Sullivan, a spokesman for HUD, in advance of the meeting. Several residents noted that HUD continued to allocate upward of $20 million to the housing authority over the course of a number of years even after officials at the agencys Chicago office charged with oversight noted concerns in letters dating back to at least 2010. Why hasnt no one been brought to justice? Why hasnt anything been done? asked Coretta Cornelius, who lives at McBride Place with her 3-year-old daughter. Give us our $20 million back, someone else shouted, seconding her point. The room erupted in applause and shouts of approval. Asked numerous times why no one has been held criminally responsible for the allegations of misspending of federal dollars, Macon said that she cannot speak for the Office of Inspector General, which is charged with investigatory matters concerning possible misspending or other criminal misdeeds involving federal funds. But she reassured the residents that the matter has not been forgotten. I will honestly tell you that the case is still very much open and alive, she said. White House press secretary Sean Spicer apologized Tuesday after saying Adolf Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons" during World War II in an effort to shame Russia's alliance with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his use of chemical weapons. BAMBERG -- Elections for the Bamberg School District One and District Two boards of trustees will be held Tuesday, April 11. Only Seat 3 on the Bamberg School District One Board of Trustees is contested. Incumbent and board chair Kedra Rivers is being challenged by retired speech therapist Kim Berry. Incumbent John Hiers, Seat 4, is running unopposed. In the Bamberg School District Two Board of Trustees election, there are no contested races. Running unopposed are incumbent Larry Bias in Seat 1 and Seat 2 incumbent Tonie Holman. Rivers was first elected to the Bamberg School District One Board of Trustees in 2013. She was later elected vice chair, then moved to acting chair and currently serves as the board chair. If re-elected, Rivers said she will continue to work hard to create and implement plans that are in the best interest of the students and the district. As a board member, she has helped institute policies such as employees being paid twice a month. She has invited students who are excelling and reaching positive goals to the monthly board meetings to be recognized for their accomplishments. And, she has encouraged feedback from staff, parents, students and community members, which she said has been a crucial part in opening the lines of communication within the district. She graduated from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in 1993 and attended South Carolina State University, where she earned a bachelors degree in elementary education in 1998. Rivers began her career in education as a first grade teacher and remained in that position for six years until deciding to further her education at The Citadel, where she earned a masters degree in education administration. Later she received a master's plus 30 hours in educational leadership: superintendency. Berry has 35 years of experience working in public education. She retired in May 2016 after 32 years employed with Bamberg 1 schools as a speech therapist. If elected to the board, she said her focuses will be to enhance the education of students and work with the board members, administration and employees to represent the district in a positive way. Berry received a bachelors degree in speech/language correction from Columbia College. She later earned a masters in education from Lesley University. Polling will be open for voting from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. DENMARK During National Library Week, Voorhees College will feature wrtier and activist Kevin Powell; Dr. Tolulope Filani, international artist; and Dr. Zhabiz Golkar, Voorhees professor and artist. Swifts Books will have books for sale to the public at the college from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, in the Wright-Potts Library. Powell will be the guest speaker for the All-College Worship service at 11 a.m. in St. Philips Chapel, followed by his participation in an interactive session at 1 p.m. in the library. Powell is the author of 12 books, including The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boys Journey into Manhood, a critically acclaimed memoir about his life. In 2018, he will publish a biography of Tupac Shakur, the late rapper and controversial American icon. Filanis artwork will be displayed at the art exhibition in Wright-Potts Library. He is professor of art and art education and the chair for the Visual and Performing Arts Department at South Carolina State University. His awards include the 2010 S.C. State Academic Affairs Extra Mile Award; Donald K. Anderson Graduate Student Teaching Award, University of Missouri; Superior Graduate Achievement Award, University of Missouri; and the UNESCO prize for promotion of the arts in Nigeria. In addition, he has published and presented extensively in his specialty areas of art therapy, arts integration, and program assessment in the arts. Golkar earned a bachelors degree in microbiology, masters degree in clinical microbiology and doctorate in molecular biology. She joined the Voorhees College family in 2014 in the Division of Health and Natural Sciences following her post-doctoral scholars program, funded by the Department of Defense, as a molecular biologist at Claflin University. She is currently interim chair, Division of Health and Natural Sciences, and assistant professor of Biology at Voorhees College. Golkars artwork will be displayed throughout the week at the library. Filani and Goldkar will be featured at the Meet-the-Artists session at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, in the library to discuss the meaning and inspiration of their work. For more information, contact Megan Freeman, director of communications, at 803-780-1191 or at mfreeman@voorhees.edu. President Donald Trump claims ordinary people dont care at all that hes the first chief executive in more than 40 years not to release his tax returns. But a January Washington Post-ABC News poll found 74 percent of Americans say Trump should release his tax returns. That includes 53 percent of Republicans. A White House petition demanding Trump release his tax returns broke a record for signatures within six days of being posted. It has since collected more than a million signatures. This broad-based public demand makes sense. There are at least three important questions that can only be answered by the release of the tax returns. First, does Trump contribute any taxes to the nation he leads? We already know that he paid zero, or close to zero, federal income taxes in at least five of the past 40 years. We also know that he declared a nearly billion dollar loss in the 1990s that could have wiped out all his federal income tax obligations for up to 18 years. Hes proudly declared that not paying taxes makes me smart. Theres good reason to believe Trump has paid no taxes for years or even decades. His tax-obliterating billion-dollar loss from the 90s is the kind of tax dodge readily available to real estate investors like Trump. Through that and other special breaks such as depreciation, exemption from at-risk rules, and like-kind exchanges real estate tycoons can delay, shrink or completely eliminate their federal tax bills. Second, what are Trumps foreign entanglements? Our president should be working only for us not for his own enrichment through deals with offshore partners closely tied to foreign leaders. One ethics expert has noted that many of the foreign businesses with which Trump has struck deals are connected to unfriendly governments. Such deals could conflict with our national security goals. The biggest concern is Russia. Trumps son has said his fathers real estate business sees a lot of money pouring in from Russia. A Russian-American trade promoter who has supported Trump claims that our new president has done hundreds of millions of dollars of business with Russian investors. A veteran U.S. senator, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has asked the Senate Intelligence Committee to investigate Trumps business ties to Russia as part of its larger probe of Russian meddling in our elections. Trumps tax returns might reveal how indebted he is to foreign investors and how much his ties undermine American national interests. Finally, how much would Trump personally benefit from his proposed tax overhaul? During the campaign, Trump proposed a $6.2 trillion tax giveaway heavily slanted towards rich people like him: 47 percent of the tax cuts go to the top 1 percent of households. The top 0.1 percent people like Trump would receive an average tax cut of more than $1 million a year, while average middle-class families making about $50,000 a year would get just $1 a day. Three parts of his tax plan in particular would be financial bonanzas for Trump and his family. He would eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax, which prevents rich taxpayers like Trump from exploiting excessive tax breaks. Without the AMT, Trump would have paid just a 3 percent tax rate in 2005, according to a portion of that years return recently leaked to the media. He would cut the tax rate by up to 60 percent on a type of business he uses extensively, the so-called pass-through. Pass-through owners pay their business taxes on their personal returns at individual rates, which for rich taxpayers like Trump can be as high as 40 percent. Trump would cut the top tax rate to just 15 percent (20 percent for undefined larger entities). The president is sole or partial owner of over 500 pass-through businesses, and so could save millions of dollars every year from whats been rightly dubbed the Trump Loophole. He would abolish the estate tax, our nations only tax on inherited wealth, paid exclusively by the richest one of every 500 families. If Trump has as much money as he claims which could be more accurately deduced from his tax returns his heirs could wind up billions of dollars richer from abolishing the estate tax. In Washington and cities throughout the country, tens of thousands will be marching April 15 to demand answers to these questions. The first answer is for President Trump to release his tax returns. Veterinarians are preparing to offer vaccinations against a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and can ultimately cause disease in the brain and death rabies. Spread by the bite of infected animals, rabies is a virus that veterinarians from Bamberg to Holly Hill are admonishing the public not to take lightly. Dr. A.J. Hutto of Hutto Animal Hospital said he will be holding two clinics at his practice at 7659 Old State Road in Holly Hill. I hope well attract some people. Id hate for people to forget about rabies because weve got it down now to where its manageable. But if you quit vaccinating, youre going to see more rabies, Hutto said. Once held all around the counties, rabies vaccination clinics will be held this year only in Holly Hill and Bamberg. Participating veterinarians will vaccinate dogs, cats and ferrets during the spring clinics. Rabies vaccination fees may vary by clinic site, but no vet participating in these clinics will charge more than $10 per pet, said Sandra Craig, director of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Controls Division of Food Protection and Rabies Prevention. Dr. James Mitchell of Bamberg Veterinary Clinic said while attendance at his rabies clinics has gone down considerably, he considers the clinics a public service. Its way down from where it used to be. I used to vaccinate 400 or 500 dogs, but I think last year I did 20. I think the biggest thing is a lot of people are taking better care of their animals, and theyre bringing them in for yearly shots instead of just waiting for the rabies clinic, Mitchell said. I think part of the other reason is that people dont know about the clinics. They dont find out about them until after theyve happened. They arent looking for them like they used to look for them, he said. He said he has already tested several animals this year because of potential exposure to rabies. State law requires that all pet owners vaccinate their dogs, cats and ferrets. While not required by law, DHEC strongly recommends that owners vaccinate all horses, any livestock that have frequent contact with humans, any livestock that are particularly valuable, or animals used for the production of raw milk or raw milk product. Local veterinarians offer vaccines year-round, but the spring clinics help raise awareness about rabies while also providing convenience to pet owners. The support from local veterinarians during the spring clinics provides a valuable public service to our citizens, Craig said. DHEC reports that keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccinations is one of the easiest and most effective ways individuals can protect themselves, their families and their pets from rabies. The agency also reports there were 94 positive rabies cases confirmed in animals across the state in 2016, including 18 skunks, 11 foxes, 10 bats, six cats, four dogs, one horse and one deer. No animals tested positive for rabies in Bamberg or Calhoun counties last year. Spring clinic dates, times and locations, along with additional information about preventing rabies, can be found on DHECs website at www.scdhec.gov/rabies. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova Baku will host the second edition of Polish Film Festival WISLA 2017, which provides a unique, often the only, opportunity to see Polish films on the big screen. The festival scheduled for April 22-27 will screen six movies, including "Jack Strong", "Gods", "Sexmission", "Closed System" and "The High Frontier". The films will be demonstrated every day in Landmark cinema at 19.00 , Trend Life reported. "Jack Strong" is a Polish political thriller film directed by W?adys?aw Pasikowski. The film is based on the true story of Ryszard Kukli?ski, a Polish Army colonel who spied for the American Central Intelligence Agency during the height of the Cold War. "Gods" is a dramatic feature film directed by ?ukasz Palkowski. It is based on the life and career of Polish cardiac surgeon Zbigniew Religa, who performed the first successful heart transplant in Poland in 1987. The movie received the Golden Lions award for best film at the 39th Gdynia Film Festival (2014) and the Eagle at the Polish Film Awards (2015). "Sexmission" is a 1984 Polish cult comedy science fiction action film. It also contains a hidden political satire layer specific to the time and place of its production. "Closed System" tells about of three owners of prosperous company, who were arrested for participation in an organized criminal group and money laundering as a result of collusion of corrupt officials. The film "Influence" tells the story of a group of clairvoyants committed to restoring the Polish state as World War One dwindles to an end. Gathered inside a hotel room for a special seance, the magi use their power to save Jan Paderewski, the legendary pianist and symbolic leader of a successful patriotic uprising. At the same time, a hostile medium hired by the Prussian army is trying to influence Paderewski with his negative power. "The High Frontier" is a film that tells a story of a father and his two teenage sons, who travel to a small mountain cabin for a male-bonding adventure. With arrival of a mysterious stranger, their outing turns into a struggle for survival. In 2017, Polish film festival will also be held in Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Serbia and Georgia. The festival program traditionally includes the best feature films, documentaries, as well as the works by students and graduates of the leading Polish film schools. By Azernews By Rashid Shirinov The NATO does not want to even think about the possibility of a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Alliances Assistant Secretary General, Tacan ?ldem told. Asked about NATOs possible role in case of a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, ?ldem said the Alliance stands against the use of force, Day.Az reported with reference to APA. Thus, we dont even want to think about the possibility of a war between these countries. International organizations favor a peaceful solution to such problems and conflicts. NATO shares the same position as well, he added. Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war. Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal. He noted that NATO cannot interfere in the settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group is engaged in the Karabakh settlement process. NATO cannot interfere in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process. The Minsk Group is responsible for the settlement process, he said. The official further said that Azerbaijan is a partner of NATO, stressing that bilateral relations are developing within a certain framework. The OSCE Minsk Group, the activities of which have become known as the Minsk Process, works to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for over two decades, but its activities have brought no breakthrough result so far. By Azernews By Amina Nazarli A delegation of Azerbaijans Parliamentary Committee on international and inter-parliamentary relations headed by Chairman Samad Seyidov is on a working visit to Brussels to discuss a new agreement between the EU and country. The first meeting of the delegation was held with Sajjad Karim, the co-chair of EU-Azerbaijan PCC and head of the EP delegation. The parties discussed the situation in the South Caucasus, the ways of developing cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Azerbaijani Parliament, exchanged views on a new agreement on cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan. Co-chairman of the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee of Azerbaijan Javanshir Feyziyev, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PA Euronest Fuad Muradov and Chief Consultant of the International Relations Department of the Parliament Babek Agayev took part in the meeting. 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 first meeting on a new agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan was held in Brussels on February 7, 2017. 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. 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. Qatar First Bank (QFB) has announced the resignation of Ziad Makkawi as its chief executive officer and the appointment of Khaled Abdullah Al Khoori as the new acting CEO. The board of directors of QFB, approving the resignation of Makkawi, thanked him for his efforts during the previous period and wished him success in his future plans. Al Khoori took the helm of Al Hilal Bank in December 2015 following his appointment as CEO. As the head of one of the fastest-growing Islamic banks in the UAE, Al Khoori brought to the bank his extensive years of valuable professional experience in the banking and investments industry to help steer the organisations future direction and growth, said a statement. Prior to joining Al Hilal Bank, Al Khoori played numerous key roles at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), as he was the director of real estate and infrastructure department, managing the firms strategic global relationships and investment. In addition, Al Khoori was the director of the private equity department for three years, where he focused primarily on US/Europe mega funds, buyout funds, secondary market investment in PE, distressed credit investments during the global financial crisis. Al Khoori served as vice chairman of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), chairman of National Takaful Company (Watania), and founding board member of QFB. Al Khoori graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston University, US, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA). He also completed a General Manager Program (TGMP) from Harvard Business School in 2005. Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Ghorab Al Marri, QFB chairman, said: We would like to welcome Khaled Abdullah Al Khoori as the acting CEO of QFB, and roll out the strategy of establishing a leading Shariah compliant bank. Together, we will continue to build on our successes in the private equity area and broaden the services we offer to our clients and shareholders. We are excited about having Khaled as the acting CEO, especially after knowing him as one of the banks board members. Khaled brings a depth of experience and we are confident that he will lead the team and grow the bank to new heights. Al Marri added: We would like to thank Mr. Ziad Makkawi for his contribution and his achievements to the bank. We wish him continued progress and prosperity, and success in his future endeavours. Under Makkawis leadership as the banks CEO since June 2015, QFB witnessed strategic achievements marked by the launch of the new strategy that streamlined the business to offer Shariah compliant services including alternative investments with a focus on private equity and real estate, as well as corporate and institutional banking. - TradeArabia News Service IRIS, a professionally managed real estate consulting and brokerage firm, is set to take part in the Gulf Property Show 2017, a boutique showcase for the real estate and property development sectors in the Northern Gulf. The event, being organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), will be held from April 25 to 27 under the patronage of Bahrain's Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. IRIS Properties, a subsidiary of Suha Investments, Thawabit Properties along with Sun Middle East Contracting will show case its ambitious project Providence Residence at the upcoming event. Providence Residence, which was launched in September 2015, is likely ready for handover by October this year. "The Gulf Property Show, as the leading property sector event in Bahrain gives Iris Property Management the opportunity to promote its projects to investors from Bahrain, GCC and internationally, remarked Ali Mustajab, the general manager of Iris Property Management. The $18-million tower is situated in Juffair close to Najma Club and boasts panoramic sea views. It has been configured to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and equipped with all the facilities which necessary for modern living. "To distinguish itself from other projects in Juffair, we paid particular attention to every technical detail to make it, in our opinion, one the best residential development of the island, stated Aref Sadeq (Design & Architectural Consultant) of Aref Sadeq Design Consultants. Welcoming the participation of Iris Property, Ahmed Suleiman, the exhibition director of Gulf Property Show, said: "Iris Property will benefit from a supportive platform allied to a strong marketing approach to promote their innovative and exciting development in Juffair for the investors visiting Gulf Property Show." "Providence Residence is a welcome opportunity for investors looking to Juffair as an area to meet their real estate needs," he added. Gulf Property Show 2017 carries with it the strategic sponsorship from Diyar Al Muharraq and Manara Developments along with Bahrain Marina and First Bahrain Real Estate as Gold Sponsors. Khaleeji Commercial Bank and Fontana Real Estate have signed up as Silver Sponsors.-TradeArabia News Service Europe will take the lead in disrupting the building sector with the help of 3D construction printing within the next three to five years, according to industry experts who took part in a recent building expo in Copenhagen, Denmark. The high European labour costs are driving the sector towards automation and reducing the use of human resources, but the regulations needs to be updated, they stated. The experts were speaking at the first Scandinavian 3D construction conference being organised by Larsen & Partners in partnership with sister company 3D Printhuset. The conference was completely sold out with more than 160 attendees linked to the construction sector from seven different countries taking part in the event. At the conference, 3D printing and construction experts explained the different 3D construction printing technologies applied in more than 40 global 3D construction printing projects and the common conviction of the experts, that within three to five years 3D construction printing will disrupt the building sector. The experts noticed that most of the realised 3D construction printing projects to date had been completed outside of Europe and the US, in places like China, Philippines and Dubai - most likely because it was easier now than in Europe from a regulatory point of view. Enrico Dini, founder of D-Shape, also known as the man who prints houses gave an inspiring presentation of his visions and work, which include the first 3D printed bridge in the world unveiled last month in a suburb to Madrid, Spain. Dini explained that Dubai, due to the citys goal of 3D construction printing 25 per cent of new buildings by 2030, was the place to be right now, as the authorities were focused on adapting regulations in parallel with the technology to assure the application of 3D construction printing. Something that still needs to happen in Europe. Professor Zoubeir Lafhaj, (Ecole Centrale de Lille, University in France) continued by pointing out that the construction sector had seen no gains in productivity the last decades and that 3D construction printing represents the best opportunity for the building sector in Europe to catch up due to the high cost of European labour, especially if the right people get involved: We need to attract more smart and creative people to the engineering field of construction. 3D construction printing is one of the best ways as it brings technology and innovation to a very conservative sector. Kaare Flindt Joergensen, Concept Development Manager at NCC Construction, followed up by stating that one of the often overlooked advantages of 3D construction printing, besides the obvious advantage of automation leading to savings on labour, is the ability to reduce the entire building time for a project, as printers can work 24-7. In a European context, this advantage could perhaps be the most important to reduce the total cost of a project, according to Joergensen who continued: Within three to five years, we expect that 3D construction printing regularly will be used for single building components, but longer term entire buildings will be the aim, when regulations are adapted to make that possible. In the final panel debate Henrik Lund-Nielsen, CEO of Larsen & Partners, pointed out that although the Chinese company Winsun had seen the most press coverage of their projects, Europe were on the verge of catching up, and with the many resources being applied both in start-ups and industry giants, as well as in very respected universities and research organisations all over Europe, Europe will lead the way in the future of 3D construction printing. "Already now 60 per cent of all 3D construction printing projects are occurring in Europe and the concepts found here are far more disruptive and represents a larger potential for labour and materials savings than the concepts and projects of the Chinese," stated Henrik Lund-Nielsen. "In Europe due to weather conditions integrated solutions for insulation and moisture management need to be included in 3D construction printing concepts. Such solutions are completely missing in the projects realised in Asia and this is where the potential for serious cost reductions really is," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Nearly 300 specialists from GCC countries are discussing the latest regulatory initiatives in the pharmaceutical industry and their relevance to the region at the ongoing second GCC Pharma Regulatory Summit, in Dubai, UAE, said a report. The event opened yesterday (April 10) and will conclude later today (April 11). Private sector participation, along with competitive laws and regulations, plays an important role in providing world-class healthcare to the UAEs growing population, Dr Amin Al Amiri, assistant under-secretary for public health policy and licenses in the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, was quoted as saying in a Wam news agency report. Speaking at the event, Al Amiri added that a focal point of government policy in the UAE is to expand pharmaceutical production and work closely with drug manufacturers and importers to enhance quality, transparency and customer happiness in line with the development vision of the country. The two-day summit, being organised by Professionals Regulatory Affairs, PRA, has brought together more than 43 experts, including global pharmaceutical industry leaders as well as those associated with legislation and intellectual property rights, IPR, along with local and regional regulators and pharmaceutical company representatives. The Ministry of Health and Prevention and Dubai Economy are part of the government entities joining the summit, while the regional pharmaceutical industry is represented by Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries, Tabuk Saudi Pharmaceutical Company and leading companies, among others. The event provides a valuable forum for industry players to optimise efficiencies and enhance communication with regulators and importers, added the report. ABB, a leader in electrification products, industrial automation and power grids, today announced that Chun-Yuan Gu, managing director of ABB China, will become president of its the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region. He takes over from Frank Duggan, who has been appointed president of Europe, succeeding Bernhard Jucker, whose retirement was announced earlier. As members of the ABB executive committee, both Chun-Yuan Gu and Frank Duggan will report to ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. Both appointments will be effective July 1, 2017. China represents one third of global growth and is a very important market for ABB. I am very pleased to welcome Chun-Yuan, a China and industrial automation expert, to our executive committee. He has a proven track record of delivering superior growth momentum and a profound knowledge of Asia and emerging markets, said Spiesshofer. He will have an important role in implementing our Next Level strategy and further accelerating our growth momentum, for example, through our digital offering, ABB Ability. Chun-Yuan will be key to integrating our announced acquisition of B&R, an innovation leader in machine and factory automation, in the industrial segments of emerging markets. At the same time, I would like to warmly thank Frank for his excellent leadership in the AMEA region and his contributions to the executive committee over the past years. With his extensive knowledge of ABBs global customers, markets and portfolio and solid track record of enhancing growth momentum, Frank is the ideal next leader for Europe. He will continue to play a key role in the ongoing transformation of ABB towards a more customer and market-oriented company, Spiesshofer added. Chun-Yuan Gu and Frank Duggan have spent their careers at ABB. Gu started at ABB in Sweden in 1989 and held leadership positions in R&D, mainly in Robotics, before becoming head of the Robotics Global R&D Center in Shanghai in 2006. In January 2014, he assumed responsibility for ABBs operations in China. He is fluent in English, Mandarin and Swedish, and holds a degree in engineering from Jiao Tong University in Shanghai and a Ph D in engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Gu will continue as managing director of ABB in China, in addition to his new role, and will be based in Beijing. Duggan joined ABB in Sweden in 1984, and has held leadership positions in many of ABBs businesses in Europe, Asia and the Gulf. In 2011, he joined the group executive committee as head of global markets and region manager for India, Middle East and Africa, before being appointed president of the AMEA region in January 2015. In addition to his responsibilities as president of the Europe region, Duggan will assume the role of managing director of ABB in Ireland. ABBs current managing director of ABB in Ireland, Tom OReilly, will retire at the end of June 2017, after a distinguished 32-year career at ABB. - TradeArabia News Service China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the largest integrated energy company in China, has signed an agreement to establish its regional headquarters in Dubais Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) in order to serve its customers in the Middle East. Jafza, a DP World Company , is the UAE's flagship trade and logistics hub for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. The agreement was signed between Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO of Jafza and senior vice president and managing director of DP World, UAE, and Zhu Junfeng, CEO of CNPC Middle East in the presence of senior officials. The new headquarters covers 55,000 sq m and include a 10,000-sq m multi-storey office and warehouse facility for storage, maintenance and repair of oil and gas equipment, said a statement from Jafza. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World and chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said: CNPCs headquarters in the UAE reinforces its presence as a key player in the regions energy sector. Jafza is working in line with the directives of our leadership to provide an attractive business environment for foreign companies and to diversify Dubais economy. We will support CNPC in their ambitious growth plans by providing favourable business processes, services and facilities that compare with international standards, he added. Jafza has established its position as a regional hub for the oil, gas and petrochemical industry with more than 850 companies from 77 countries in the sector. Its strategic logistical advantage of close proximity to air, sea and land routes is a major factor in its success, backed by the global network of DP World, with 77 marine and inland terminals in 40 countries. Junfeng said: This regional headquarters brings together all of our 16 listed companies in Jafza under one roof to help us better serve our customers. It will also support our expansion plans in the UAE and the Middle East following our acquisition of an 8 per cent stake in the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) for $1.8 billion. We will now be able to provide operational support throughout the Middle East with room to grow our portfolio while increasing demand for our services. CNPC is one of the worlds leading energy companies and has become a trademark of innovation and excellence thanks to our knowledge of regional markets and the growth of our operations, he added. Ranked third in the 2016 Fortune Global 500 list, CNPC is a state-owned Chinese company headquartered in the Dongcheng District of Beijing and the parent company of PetroChina, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Excluding financial indicators, Zain was ranked the second most powerful home-grown brand in the region behind Emirates, the UAE based airliner, by London-based Brand Finance, a major valuation and strategy consultancy. The valuation of Zains brand for 2017 was calculated at $2.34 billion, a 9 per cent increase on its 2016 valuation, the telecom firm said. As part of its overall assessment of brand value, Brand Finance looks at two key factors. The first is revenues (both historic and forecasted) and second is the strength and familiarity of each brand. On this latter factor, Brand Finance looks at aspects such as marketing investment, preference, sustainability and margins. By stripping out the effect of revenues, it is possible to get an even clearer picture of what the brand power brings to the overall business and the effective it has on the success of its teams customer-focused efforts, it said. Zain has been a recipient of numerous regional and global awards since the introduction of its inspiring brand in 2007. This years high ranking and increase in valuation has been driven by the tangible developments occurring within the company, where talent development and customer-centric programs, heavy investment in network upgrades, and technology innovation is impacting customer experience positively. Additionally, Zains Corporate Sustainability programs and eye-catching marketing and widespread social media campaigns have captured the imagination of the whole region. Bader Nasser Al Kharafi, Zain Group vice-chairman and Group CEO, said, This accolade of being the second most powerful home-brand in the Middle East is a credit to the enthusiasm of all our employees, who we fondly refer to as Zainers, and our loyal customers, who are part and parcel of the brand and our greatest ambassadors. We value our brand dearly, and all that it represents with respect to empowering and improving the lives of customers and communities we serve. We shall continue to work hard together with all our various stakeholders to ensure this acknowledgment is reflected across all our activities. Brand Finances Middle East managing director Andrew Campbell said: Zain flies the flag for Kuwait, firmly placing the country not only on the world telecom map, but also across its footprint as one of the most powerful brands in the region. The companys marketing campaigns across the region on various media channels have captured the hearts and minds of millions of people across the Arab World and further afield. Zains Ramadan 2016 TVC had a remarkable 12.5 million views on YouTube, with the companys Ramadan EID 2016 TVC also attaining 22 million views to date, both relevant and indicative factors of the brand power of Zain. Today, Zain Group and its eight mobile operations now boast more than 8.3 million friends on Facebook, 5.7 million followers on Twitter, and 1.1 million followers on Instagram. Over the past four years, Zain Groups and all mobile operations numerous YouTube channels across the region have had more than 200 million views. TradeArabia News Service Baker McKenzie, a global law firm, advised its long standing client Alliance Holding Company on the sale of a 51 per cent stake in Ink Products Company to Sun Chemical. Ink Product Company is a regional leader in the manufacture of printing inks for the packaging industry. The joint venture, which will operate under the name Sun Chemical Saudi Arabia Ltd, combines two of the leading ink suppliers to the packaging and publication market in the region, said a statement from the firm. Sun Chemical is the world's largest producer of printing inks and pigments and a leading provider for packaging and publication materials, amongst others. We are excited by the opportunities that joining Sun Chemicals global organization will bring to our customers in the region, said Abdullah Al Hobayb, president of Alliance Holding Company. Being able to tap into Sun Chemicals global resources will bring many great options to our customers and were pleased to join a company that shares our values of working for you, he said. Riyadh partner Karim Nassar led the team, assisted by Omar Iqbal and Christiana O'Connell-Schizas. Nassar said: We are delighted to advise our client, Alliance Holding Company, on yet another joint venture with an internationally renowned group. Sun Chemical will own the majority of the share in the new joint venture, and the transaction will be subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals, it stated. TradeArabia News Service State-run Oman Oil Company has begun feasibility studies covering Phase Two of development of the Duqm refinery and petrochemicals complex, a report said. Kuwait Petroleum International has confirmed its interest to take part in the development, subject to the outcome of the feasibility study, Oman Observer reported. We are committed to the feasibility study, and have begun a detailed feasibility study with our partner (Oman Oil Company), said Bakheet Shabib al Rashidi, CEO Kuwait Petroleum International. Based on the results and we are expecting the results to be positive we are committed to (being part) of the project as much as we can. Al Rashidi made the comments after yesterdays signing of partnership agreements with Oman Oil Company for the development of Phase One of the Duqm refinery and petrochemical complex. We are relying on the integration of the (proposed) petrochemicals complex with the refinery operations, Al Rashidi said. Lebanon is on target with its first licensing round and oil and gas companies still have a big appetite for investing in the country, Wissam Chbat, chairman of the board of the Lebanese Petroleum Administration (LPA), has said. In an interview published on the website of the 3rd Lebanon International Oil & Gas Summit (LIOG 2017), Chbat discussed the progress that has been achieved by his administration, particularly in terms of the promotional strategy adopted by the LPA, which ended up by attracting nine new companies to apply for pre-qualification, in addition to the 46 companies that were previously pre-qualified in 2013. The road map to the first licensing round will start with a second pre-qualification round for both operators and non operators interested in exploration and production contracts. The pre-qualification exercise was set to be concluded by March 31. Prequalified companies will then submit their bids by September 15, and the signature of the EPAs will start in November. He explained the role of the Lebanese government in managing the extraction of the expected hydrocarbon resources offshore Lebanon, according to a well structured production sharing model, as stipulated by the exploration and production agreement (EPA). The agreement showcases a certain partnership between the winning consortiums and the government of Lebanon where the latter will not be involved in the operational decision making process, but will be able to control activities through three layers of governance. The promotional strategy of the LPA has shown to be quite successful, raising additional interest by the industry to invest in the Lebanese petroleum sector, he said. Chbat indicated that the LPA has adopted two main tools - de-risking investments through making (geologic) data available prior to any commitment with the (Lebanese) state; and relying heavily on local, regional and international forums and exhibitions to also promote Lebanon. For example, The Lebanon International Oil & Gas Summit (LIOG) has been one of such events, since its inaugural edition in 2012, he said. Chbat also emphasised the fact that Lebanon is committed to transparency in its oil and gas activities, and that has been a very important factor in creating confidence and in attracting international investors. The 3rd Lebanon International Oil & Gas Summit (LIOG 2017) will be held on May 9 and 10 at Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand hotel in Beirut. - TradeArabia News Service It is quite likely you are reading this on a smartphone or tablet assembled in an emerging market economy. The beverage beside you could well be tea grown in Sri Lanka or Kenya. And there is a chance that you are or soon will beon a plane headed for Shanghai, Sao Paulo, or St. Petersburg. The list could go on. But even from a few examples around us, it is easy to detect the pervasive role of emerging market and developing economies in the global economy these daysa role that has grown more important over time. Improved policy frameworks and structural reforms in emerging market and developing economies over the past 20 years have been crucial for this transformation. But as our research in Chapter 2 of the April 2017 World Economic Outlook shows, the external environment has also played its part in facilitating their rise. These economies now face a possibly more complicated external environment than they have grown accustomed to in recent decades. Nevertheless, they can still enhance the growth impulse from less supportive external conditions with the right policy mix and by continuing to strengthen their institutional frameworks. Role of external conditions Emerging market and developing economies now account for close to 80 percent of global economic growth, almost double their share from two decades ago. Their relevance for the global economy isnt simply as centres of production or trading hubs packaging and shipping goods to advanced economies. They have also become increasingly important as final destinations for consumer goods and services, now accounting for close to 85 percent of the growth in global consumption, more than double their share in the 1990s. These economies have become more integrated into the global trading system and international capital markets since the 1990s. And as this process has unfolded, the relative prices of their exports and imports, external demand, and, in particular, external financial conditions, have increasingly influenced their growth in real income per capita. Our study finds, for instance, that about one third of the 1 percentage points pickup in the average growth rate of income per capita since 2005, relative to the 1995-2004 period, can be attributed to stronger capital inflows. Over time, demand for exports from other emerging market and developing economies has also exerted a more powerful force on these economies medium-term growth. Beyond the numbers, the influence of the external environment has extended to the nature of their growth process. Several of these economies have experienced episodes of growth accelerations and reversals with sustained changes in growth rates. These episodes appear to have a long-lasting effect on the level of income per capita. The chapter finds that favourable external conditions increase the likelihood of growth accelerations and lower that of reversals. Growth in a more complicated external environment Emerging market and developing economies enjoyed exceptionally favorable external conditions over long stretches of the post-2000 periodstrong external demand, relatively abundant capital inflows, and an upswing in commodity prices. Over the past few years, however, the external environment has become more complicated for these economies. The slow recovery from the crisis in advanced economies has weakened demand for emerging market and developing economy exports. China has relied less on commodity imports as it rebalances its economy toward consumption and services. And the commodity cycle, more broadly, has turned since 2014, reducing growth rates among commodity exporters. Some of these shifts in the external environment may persist. Additional elements in the mix are a risk of protectionism in advanced economies and a general tightening of external financial conditions as US monetary policy normalises. Emerging market and developing economies are therefore likely to experience a weaker growth impulse from external conditions than in the past. Room for convergence Despite this more complicated environment, the chapters analysis finds that these economies can still get the most out of a weaker growth impulse from external conditions by strengthening their institutional frameworks, protecting trade integration, permitting exchange rate flexibility, and containing vulnerabilities from high current account deficits and large public debts. Some of these policies can also directly help boost growth in emerging market and developing economies, regardless of the shift in external conditions. After all, with 90 percent of the group at levels of income per capita less than half that in the United States, there is still considerable room for catch-up growth and convergence. * The above is an IMF Blog written by Bertrand Gruss, Malhar Nabar, and Marcos Poplawski-Ribeiro Iran will receive four ATR planes in 15 days, said Deputy Minister of Road and Urban Development for international affairs Asghar Fakhreyeh Kashan referring to a purchase agreement to buy 20 ATR planes. According to a contract signed between Iran Air and ATR companies nine planes will be delivered until the end of 2017 and the rest of them in the year 2018, Irna reported. Iran Air and Italian-French company ATR, an affiliate to Airbus Company, signed contract to buy 20 planes of ATR 72-600 on Monday. Traveller numbers from the Middle East to the US has dipped 20 per cent, said a report citing the CEO of one of the world's largest hotel group. Arne Sorenson, president and CEO of hotel group Marriott International, said that US President Donald Trump's travel bans on citizens from several Muslim countries were "not good", predicting a sizeable impact on discretionary leisure travel to the US, a report in Gulf Business said. "Travel from Mexico is also down 10-20 per cent," he said. The president of Dubai airline Emirates said last month that bookings to the US dropped 35 per cent overnight following the initial ban in January. Adding to the greivance, the US banned from March 21 the use of electronic devices such as tablets and laptops on board any flight travelling from Middle East countries. Most affected airlines, including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, are now lending laptops to Business and First class passengers to help mitigate the disruption. Marriott is keen to emphasise to the US administration that immigration and travel are different things and was hopeful for more constructive discussions on the subject, the report said. An Indian expat, Venugopal Passam, is now $1 million dollars richer after his ticket no. 2643 in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw in Series 240, was drawn today at Concourse B in Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. Passam, a 31 year-old insurance broker living in Sharjah, couldnt believe his luck when the ticket chosen by his son Kavish on the eve of his second birthday made him a millionaire. This is my first time to participate in the Dubai Duty Free promotions and I am delighted to win it big! This is such an incredible promotion that will surely change not only my life but also the future of my family. Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, Dubai Duty Free presented a $1 million cheque to Farhaan Arman, an Indian national who flew in from Bangalore to Dubai to receive his winning prize from Series 239 with ticket no. 2324. Arman was thrilled to visit Dubai Duty Free and said: I am excited to be here today for such a wonderful occasion. Winning $1 million is an unforgettable experience which has changed our lives. So many of my friends in Bangalore are now buying the Millennium Millionaire tickets online and some have even flown to Dubai so that they could buy here at the airport. In addition to the Millennium Millionaire winner, Dubai Duty Free also announced two winners in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise promotion. Mazin Hamed Al Julandani, a 29 year-old Omani national living in Muscat purchased his winning ticket no.0410 in Series 1649 was understandably excited to have finally won an Audi A8L 4.0 after regularly buying Finest Surprise tickets for almost a year now. Its my first win and its my dream car! I couldnt be happier, youre amazing Dubai Duty Free! Meanwhile, Ahmad Farah, a Canadian national living in Kuwait has won a Ducati Scramble Full Throttle after his ticket no.0338 in Series 302 was recently drawn. The latest Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw was conducted by Dubai Duty Free officials headed by Colm McLoughlin - executive vice chairman and CEO; Ramesh Cidambi - chief operating officer; Salah Tahlak, executive vice president Corporate Services; Sinead El Sibai, senior vice president Marketing and Michael Schmidt, senior vice president Retail Support. - TradeArabia News Service Delegates and attendees of the fifth annual World Aviation Safety Summit (WASS) discussed today that aviation safety should not be threatened by commercial or political interference, such as the recent US and UK electronics bans. Speaking during the opening ceremony, WASS chairman and prominent aviation analyst Alan Peaford spoke of the need to maintain safety above other interests, calling for consistency in analysis and applications of intelligence material. The US and UK electronics bans implemented last month mean that passengers on certain flights outbound from the Gulf region are required to stow electrical devices larger than a smartphone in checked-in luggage. This has raised concerns over the fire hazards posed by Lithium-Ion batteries, with International Air Transport Association (Iata) director general, Alexandre de Juniac, stating that US and UK authorities should work to maintain security without such measures being put into effect. Hosted by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), WASS 2017 brings together government officials, industry experts and business leaders to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the aviation safety sector and industry. The event kicked off today at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City and concludes on April 12. Khaled Al Arif, executive director Aviation Safety and Environment at DCAA, welcomed delegates Tuesday morning, saying: In its fifth edition with participation increasing every year, it is clear that the industry is looking to further its knowledge and ensure a safe and successful future for air travel. Michael Rudolf, head of Aviation Regulations and Safety at DCAA, discussed the authoritys latest procedures and application process for commercial drone operators, which includes detailed background checks and pre-authorized location selection. Rudolf highlighted that DCAA is working on signing an MoU with retailers to setup a process by which drone users must register their drone before being able to physically receive the devices. Another theme throughout the summits panel talks and keynote speeches was the discrepancy between reality and perception of aviation safety. While flying remains safest means of long-distance travel, high-profile incidents and other threats have affected perceptions. Peaford went on to highlight a recent survey by Ascend, in which 47 per cent of respondents felt that flight safety has either deteriorated or remained the same, despite the fact that aviation safety has improved five-fold globally over the past decade. Iata figures identified that there were 10 fatal accidents in 2016, representing improvements to aviation safety and security across the board. The overall accident rate reduced from 1.79 per million in 2015 to 1.61 last year. Among a series of other topics, the summit will go on to discuss regulation requirements for private drone use, safety management systems and international best practices for wildlife management protocols. - TradeArabia News Service Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village It came down to the last question on Jeopardy!, and Caspers Pat Greiner thought, Im dead. She was about $5,000 behind the returning champion. The final category was British novels, which wasnt too bad for Greiner, who has a doctorate degree in English. Still, she was up against an English doctoral student, and she hasnt used her degree in at least 25 years, she said. The last question was about a 1908 novel that begins and ends in a hotel room in an Italian city. She didnt know the answer. But in the final Jeopardy! round, the question comes with a short time to think. She thought about who was publishing at that time in Britain, and the answer came to her. What is, A Room with a View? she wrote. She nearly doubled her money with a $7,000 bet. Greiner, a mostly retired K2 Radio copywriter whose voice is sometimes heard on local ads, won the episode, which aired Friday afternoon. Darned if it wasnt right, and I was the only one that got it, she said. Educated guesses are what its all about, especially in Final Jeopardy. She had to be careful not to hint at the results, since she taped the show in December. She returned to the Los Angeles studio in January to tape another show as returning champion, and again, she was sworn to secrecy about the results. Greiner has been living in the Denver area for the last few months while her husband, Ron Richard, recovers from a lung transplant. He attended the taping with her in December and underwent surgery in early January. She didnt know if shed be able to return at first. As hard as I worked, and as much as I enjoyed being on Jeopardy!, when the question is be on a game show or be there with your husband whos having lifesaving surgery ... she said. The game show! her husband called out. Fortunately, hes recovering well, and a friend stayed with him for a few days shortly after he returned from the hospital so she could go to the second taping as returning champion. Being on Jeopardy! has been a dream for Greiner, whos been a fan of the show since childhood. Shes taken the once-a-year online test several times. Applicants never learn if theyve passed unless theyre called to an in-person audition. She made the auditions about 10 years ago but said she was so nervous she probably seemed overeager. This time she just decided to have fun and not worry about how it went. That worked well, and she won more than $14,000. She plans to the use some of her winnings to promote and publish her husbands first sci-fi/fantasy novel, she said. Greiner was sure earlier on Friday that shed be cringing as she watched the show, seeing some easy questions she missed and worrying about how she looked. Richard told her she dipped a little each time she pressed the buzzer because she bent her knees. You never know what knowledge youll use on Jeopardy! Greiner said. Nothing in the World Almanac shed spent months studying helped, like every president in order or capitals of obscure countries. She was able to answer a question about actress Ariana Grande creating a scandal by licking a doughnut, though, because shed read stupid celebrity news as she was researching, she said. Im curious to see just how dorky I looked, Greiner said Friday. It was such an amazing experience I really had a great time. Greiners second appearance, as returning champion, was scheduled for Monday after press time. Wednesday support meetings Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 5:09 P.M., 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 1124 Elma, Imitate the Image Church; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m, 328-1/2 E. A, closed; 8:23 p.m., 719 3rd St., Evansville. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back); 7:30 p.m,. 805 E. Richards, Ste. 1. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688. Al-Anon: Stepping Stones to Recovery, 303 E. 2nd St., First United Methodist Church, east doors, downstairs, room 12. 7 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous: noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 302 E. 2nd St., Methodist Church, enter east side. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org. Nicotine Anonymous: noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club. Info: Pam M., 577-0518. OIF/OEF Support Group: 6:30-8 p.m., Casper Vet Center, 1030 N. Poplar St., Ste. B. All OIF/OEF Veterans are invited to attend. No need to pre-register. Info: 261-5355. Teen Addiction Anonymous: 7- 8 p.m., 12-24 Club Teton Room. Info: 258-7439. TOPS #35 Weight Loss: 6:45 a.m., First Christian Church, 520 CY Ave. Weight Loss Support Group, Weigh-in is from 6:30 a.m.-8 a.m. Info: 258-2063 or 234-5644. TOPS #162: 8:30 a.m., United Methodist Church, 1880 Poplar. Anyone interested is invited to join. Info: 472-4926. Final day for free tax help The Natrona County VITA Program, a United Way of Natrona County initiative, is open on Wednesday for the final time for free tax return assistance. This is a first come, first served program. Tuesday and Wednesday, the service is open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Aspen Creek Building, 800 Werner Ct., Ste. 206. Final day for winter clearance The semi-annual countdown clearance sale ends Wednesday at the First United Methodist thrift shop, one block west of the NCHS stadium at 611 W. Collins, open 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All winter clothing and merchandise is now half price. As days pass, prices go down, but so does the selection. The store will be closed April 13-23 for cleaning and re-stocking. Donations of clean, current clothing and small usable household items are accepted during store hours. Thanks to the communitys support and sales, we donated a total of $7,200 to Interfaith and Holy Cross Brothers in 2016. For more information, call 234-6611. Learn Twitter The Natrona County Library will offer a Twitter class from 10 a.m. to noon. Learn about the basics of using Twitter including @replies, direct messages, hashtags, and retweets as well as how to find people to follow and search for information about your interests. Call 577.READ x2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information. Noon services for Holy Week Servants United will again host a 30-minute, all-community worship and prayer service each day at 12:05 p.m. through Friday at First United Methodist Church across from the library. This years theme is The Good News, with messages given by local pastors. Quilts of Valor every Wednesday The Central Wyoming Chapter of Quilts of Valor meets from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to sew at the Central Wyoming Senior Services Center, 1831 E. Fourth St. Quilts of Valor are made entirely by volunteers. Donated fabrics, supplies or monetary donations are appreciated. The group makes all quilts for service men and women who have been touched by war. Our chapter awards quilts to veterans who reside in the Central Wyoming region. Dues are $5 per year and new members are always welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Yung Hui Torske at 258-5578, Sandy Elliott at 307-5540331 or any chapter member. Give feedback on CEC seats The Casper Events Center acknowledges recent complaints and concerns about the seats inside the venue and would like to invite the community to test possible solutions to create a more comfortable event experience. From 3:30 to 7 p.m., the Casper Events Center will host an open house where management will be on site to speak with the public and encourage feedback regarding solutions to the seating challenges. The community will be able to sit in modified seats and gauge their level of comfort. Guests will be able to give input and also be entered into a drawing for tickets to upcoming events. There will be complimentary snacks and refreshments. After school, make yarn eggs The Natrona County Library will host a craft program for elementary-age students at 4 p.m. Students will make yarn eggs and paper baskets to celebrate Easter. All supplies provided. Call 577.READ x5 for more information. Casper Charla meets Would you like to practice conversational Spanish or help others learn? Come and join the Casper Charla. Te gustaria platicar en espanol? Ven y charla con nosotros! Todos son bienvenidos! The group meets on the second Wednesday of each month this spring. The group meets at a different restaurant each month and partakes in food, drink and conversation. All levels of Spanish are welcome, from beginning to native speakers. Nos reunimos los miercoles en varios restaurantes en Casper. Ven por una copa, un antojito o simplemente una charlita. Wednesday, April 12, 5-7 p.m.: La Costa. Community impact at Pizza Ranch Pizza Ranch, 5011 E. Second St., hosts Community Impact nights from 5 to 9 p.m. normally on Mondays and Wednesdays. Members of nonprofit groups bus tables for tips, and 20 percent of meal tickets from diners who mention the group are donated as well. Dine-in, delivery or pickup orders qualify. Wednesdays nonprofit is First Church of the Nazarene. Holy Week at St. Marks Holy Week at St. Marks Episcopal Church, Seventh and Wolcott: At 6 p.m, the Gospel according to Mark will be read by parish members at the church. Taco bar at Elks Wednesday night special at the Casper Elks Lodge is taco bar with all the fixings. All you can eat for $7. Children 5 to 12 are $3, serving from 6 to 7 p.m. or until gone. Also enjoy a dessert for $1. Member, significant other and guest accompanied by a member. For more information, call 234-4839. The menu is subject to change. All proceeds will go to Elks Charities. Car club meets All members of the Oil Capitol Auto Club are reminded that the regular club meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at Zs Classics on East Yellowstone. All members are urged to attend. Any questions, call Jerry at 577-7119. Symphony presents Johnny Sketch The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra presents Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes in concert at The Lyric in downtown Casper. Doors open at 7 p.m., with music at 8 p.m. Concert tickets are $20 and all proceeds go to the Wyoming Symphony Orchestras Music on the Move program. Purchase tickets online at www.wyomingsymphony.org/outreach or in person at the WSO office, 225 S. David St. The classically trained New Orleans-based band delivers a smorgasbord of musical genres every time they hit the stage. Caspers own Andre Bohren will be with them to play percussion. In addition to the evening concert, the group will hold two educational performances for fourth- and fifth-grade students at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday at Kelly Walsh High School Auditorium. The interactive performance aims to encourage potential young musicians to play in their band or orchestra through demonstration of different instruments and types of music. On Thursday, the band will hold a free workshop for jazz music students age 14+ at Casper Colleges Wheeler Concert Hall from 4 to 6 p.m. All are invited to attend to learn more about the art of performance and talk to New Orleans musicians about the music industry. For information about the workshop, call the WSO office at 266-1478. The education programs are offered free to the public. Flycasters meet The monthly meeting of the members of Wyoming Flycasters is held the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Izaak Walton League Lodge, 4205 Fort Caspar Road. Interested people are encouraged to come and consider joining. Annual membership fee is $30. Wyoming Flycasters is dedicated to educating and assisting new or old fly fisher men and women in Wyoming and conserving waters and habitat for Wyomings wildlife and fisheries. Holy Week service at Holy Trinity Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1350 E. C St., announces its schedule of services for Holy Week: Holy Wednesday (Holy Unction), 7 p.m. Casper police say a phone scam telling people they owe money because they didn't appear for jury duty is making the rounds in the area. The department started hearing about the scam last week and warned residents to not fall for the trick. The scammer often calls after business hours and says that the call recipient is wanted by law enforcement for missing jury duty, Det. John Hatcher said. The caller then asks for personal information, like a date of birth or a Social Security number, or says the recipient can pay a fine in the form of prepaid cards to avoid arrest. Hatcher said similar scams have been going on for at least a decade. He reminded residents that communication regarding jury duty or other court summons is almost always done via mail. He also said that you cannot buy your way out of an arrest warrant. "At the Casper Police Department, we don't take (prepaid) cards or iTunes gift cards," he said. Hatcher said there's not much the police department can do regarding the calls, as they are often coming from other countries. Any money paid to the scammer is often impossible to get back, he said. The Casper teen charged with raping and attempting to murder a 4-year-old girl will undergo a second mental illness exam at the request of his attorney. Brandtly Bedsaul, 19, was charged with attempted homicide, first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, aggravated assault and aggravated child abuse in October. He pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness in December, and completed a forensic evaluation with the Wyoming State Hospital to determine his mental status. About four months later, that evaluation was completed and sent to the Natrona County District Court, which received it March 28. There was no indication at a hearing Tuesday what the results of the evaluation were, and records regarding defendants mental evaluations are not public. At the hearing, Bedsauls attorney, public defender Kerri Johnson, requested that a Colorado doctor be allowed to complete a second evaluation as allowed by state law. Judge Thomas Sullins approved the request. The doctor will have 90 days to complete the exam. In the meantime, proceedings in the case will continue. Sullins set Bedsauls trial date for Aug. 7. Casper police arrested Bedsaul in September after they received a call that he was raping the girl in the front yard of the Casper home where he lived, according to court documents. Law enforcement found the girl covered in blood, half naked and unresponsive. They later learned Bedsaul had attempted to strangle her, the documents state. Bedsaul spoke briefly with investigators after his arrest before requesting a lawyer. Police later wrote that the teen appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of his arrest. Bedsaul previously spent time living at the Wyoming Behavioral Institute, an acute-care psychiatric hospital in Casper, according to court documents. Bedsaul has remained incarcerated since his arrest. Sullins previously set his bond at $1 million. Prosecutors charged a Natrona County man with aggravated assault and a misdemeanor Monday for allegedly pointing a rifle at two deputies responding to a report of shots fired last week. Michael Kegler, 40, was arrested late Thursday and appeared in court in connection to the incident for the first time on Monday, where he was formally charged with aggravated assault, a felony, and misdemeanor reckless endangerment. Kegler could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted of the assault charge and one year in jail if convicted of the endangerment count. During the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Keven Taheri said that Kegler was lucky the deputies showed restraint during a pretty dangerous situation. A sergeant and a corporal approached Keglers house near the airport about 10 p.m. Thursday after someone reported noises that sounded like gunshots, according to court documents. The corporal drove his patrol vehicle to the front of the house and shone his spotlight on the property. The two men then walked toward the front door and the sergeant pointed his flashlight toward the front porch area. The deputies then saw a man later identified as Kegler standing on the porch in a crouched position with an AR-15 rifle, the documents show. According to the deputies, Kegler then pointed the rifle directly at the sergeant. Both deputies ducked behind nearby vehicles and ordered Kegler to drop the gun. Kegler obeyed and was taken into custody. Investigators later found eight .223 caliber shell casings and two 9 mm casings, according to the documents. Sgt. Aaron Shatto said the regular training the deputies complete and their great restraint helped de-escalate the situation and keep everyone safe. It certainly could have come down to a different outcome, he said. It could have ended up a lot worse. All deputies at the sheriffs office train several times a year with a simulator that creates virtual scenarios in which deputies have to decide whether and when to shoot. A trainer controls the scenario, which is displayed by projector across an entire wall in a room in the Hall of Justice. The deputy is instructed to talk to the virtual person just like he or she would in real life. In some scenarios, the person is openly carrying a weapon. In others, he or she suddenly pulls out a gun or other object and forces the deputy to react. The training helps deputies hone the split-second decision-making process they have to use in tense situations, like the one on Thursday night, Shatto said. That thought process cant be taught on the shooting range or in classes, other sheriffs office officials have said previously. Kegler later told investigators that he didnt remember much of the incident because he was drunk, court documents show. He asked investigators multiple times whether he had hurt anybody. During his initial appearance Monday afternoon, a man who identified himself as Keglers brother spoke up and said that Kegler was not a bad or dangerous man. He just had a bad night and made a mistake, the man told Circuit Court Judge Steven Brown from the back of the courtroom. Brown was about to set the bond at $40,000 but then lowered it to $20,000 at the request of the family. As part of the bond conditions, Kegler will undergo testing for substance abuse and turn in his firearms to the sheriffs office. The University of Wyoming-Casper and the schools other regional centers will not close, despite a recent decision to eliminate the Outreach School. What exactly will be lost is still unknown, officials said, but layoffs and cuts to operational funding are possible. The Outreach School learned several months ago that it would likely take a $500,000 reduction as UW grapples with $42 million in cuts caused by a statewide education funding downturn. The universitys board of trustees voted last month to dismantle the Outreach School, an official said, and the organizations duties are being distributed to other areas across the university. The Outreach School handles UWs distance education and oversees its partnerships with community colleges, like Casper College. But despite past rumors, the university apparently has no plans to pull out of Casper. Were secure with UW-Casper and the regional centers, emphasized Jeff Edgens, director of the regional center here and the associate dean of the Outreach School. He said he has no concerns about any of the centers closing in the future. He said administrators, like UW Provost Kate Miller, started looking at eliminating the Outreach School because they wanted to increase efficiency across campus. He added that it was fair to say the university was also looking at ways to trim its budget. Over the past year, UW has announced more than $29 million in total cuts. Edgens said that no part of the Outreach Schools functions should be eliminated; it will all just have a new home on campus. For instance, he said, hell now oversee all of the regional centers and report directly to the provost, while also being on equal footing with other deans at UW. The goal is to pull the satellite campuses closer to the mother ship in Laramie, officials have said. Asked if the reorganization would be detrimental to the universitys online offerings, Edgens said no. I would argue just the opposite, he said. We want to provide more classes to students ... In fact, I can give you a perfect case in point: We have whats referred to as a bachelors of applied sciences degree program. That BAS program has administratively come to Casper because its an entirely online degree program. Alyson Hagy, the interim dean of the Outreach School, said in December that UW is trying to offer more four-year degrees in more places ... without having to hire additional people. The reorganization comes as the university tries to turn around a trend of flat and, this year, declining enrollment. Nichols told lawmakers late last year that increasing enrollment is her top priority and that tuition at UW would be increased by 4 percent. Given Nichols stated commitment to bringing more students to the university, the decision to eliminate the Outreach School may raise eyebrows, Edgens acknowledged. But he said he doesnt think the change will be detrimental to enrollment, adding that a large goal of strengthening UWs regional centers is increasing enrollment on those campuses and in Laramie. BOISE, Idaho Organizers of a wolf- and coyote-shooting contest in east-central Idaho say theyre looking at other parts of the state for similar contests on U.S. Forest Service land following a federal court ruling. Having this lawsuit out of the way and having this legal precedent, we will probably consider it a lot greater now, Steve Alder, Idaho for Wildlifes executive director, said Tuesday. U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Bush in a 20-page ruling late last month said Idaho for Wildlife didnt need a permit from the U.S. Forest Service to hold the contest. He ruled that Idaho for Wildlifes Predator Hunting Contest is not a commercial event because it doesnt charge participation fees and under Forest Service regulations doesnt need a special use permit. Because a permit isnt needed, Bush said, the Forest Service isnt violating environmental laws or its own policies in allowing the event as environmental groups contended in a lawsuit. Bush also ruled that Idaho for Wildlife didnt need a permit under a Forest Service requirement for non-commercial use by large groups because group gatherings didnt occur in the forest, but in the town of Salmon. The lawsuit involved the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Alder said the group is looking at possible derbies in other national forests in northern Idaho, noting possible towns include Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry and Orofino. He said no specific plans have been made. Amy Baumer, spokeswoman for the Salmon-Challis National Forest, didnt return a call on Tuesday. Andrea Santarsiere, senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, said environmental groups plan to discuss a possible appeal of the ruling at a Friday meeting. We were disappointed that Judge Bush looked at (the derby) as any other day of hunting in the forest, she said. We think its dramatically different. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has also been caught up in the lawsuit. Idaho for Wildlife initially received a permit for the contest from BLM in mid-November 2014, but the federal agency rescinded that decision less than two weeks later following a lawsuit by the environmental groups contending the approval violated environmental laws. That portion of the lawsuit was resolved in February with a settlement agreement requiring the BLM to notify the groups during the next three years if the agency receives a permit application at its Idaho Falls district office for another predator hunting contest. Idaho for Wildlife held the Predator Hunting Contest on private property and U.S. Forest Service land, but not BLM land, in December 2013 and January 2015 on land outside Salmon, Idaho. The environmental groups say the remote and rugged area in east-central Idaho is considered key for a sustainable wolf population in the state. Participants in the two predator contests reported killing some coyotes but no wolves. The group, citing lack of wolf-hunting success, didnt hold the contest the last two winters. I know how difficult it is to wolf hunt, Alder said. You dont see them. Its really a challenge. In 2005, the Wyoming Legislature created the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account, commonly known as the rainy day fund. At the time Wyoming was booming in oil, gas, coal and coal-bed methane. The idea behind the LSRA which insiders in Cheyenne pronounce "LIZ-rah" was to pour excess revenue into a fund to tide over the state when the boom went bust. Today, Wyomings rainy day fund is has about $1.7 billion, said state fiscal expert Don Richards, who works for the nonpartisan Legislative Service Office. After the recent decline in minerals, lawmakers have opted to draw down the LSRA. Over the last several years, the Pew Charitable Trusts researchers have worked with the Legislature on the rainy day fund and revenue volatility. The Legislature never set a policy as to how large the rainy day fund should be and at which point should the state start drawing from it. The following are some basics about the LSRA: 2005 The Wyoming Legislature passed a law to create the fund. June 30, 2006 The first deposit into the rainy day fund of $85 million from coal lease bonus moneys, which flow to the state when coal companies lease tracts of federal land. Just over $1.8 billion The high water mark for the LSRA was in 2015. It remained at that level through June 30, 2016. 2015 The Legislature diverted money intended for the rainy day fund to government operations, as the economy started to slump and anticipated revenue from oil, gas and coal never materialized. 2016 The Legislature, in adopting a two-year budget, first dipped into the rainy day fund. Lawmakers directed $36 million into the Budget Reserve Account, which is akin to an overdraft account for the general fund, from which most of government operations are paid. The Legislature also decided to disperse $105 million from the LSRA to local governments, to be spread over four payments. $1.7 billion The size of the fund as of March 2017. 2017 The Legislature passed a supplemental budget to make adjustments to the two-year budget adopted the year before. Potentially eight programs could be funded by the LSRA at around $189 million. $10 million for involuntarily committing people who are a harm to themselves or others. On April 27, the Wyoming Department of Health told lawmakers they had to start drawing from the LSRA, since it had gone through other money the Legislature provided for the program. for involuntarily committing people who are a harm to themselves or others. On April 27, the Wyoming Department of Health told lawmakers they had to start drawing from the LSRA, since it had gone through other money the Legislature provided for the program. $15 million for the Wyoming State Penitentiary if the buildings, which face significant structural problems, need emergency repairs. Like the money for involuntary commitments, there are requirements that the Wyoming Department of Corrections first use internal funds and state construction funds. for the Wyoming State Penitentiary if the buildings, which face significant structural problems, need emergency repairs. Like the money for involuntary commitments, there are requirements that the Wyoming Department of Corrections first use internal funds and state construction funds. $1.3 million for the Excellence in Higher Education Endowment Reserve, a program for about 16 community college and University of Wyoming professors. It pays for their salaries and benefits with interest income from a $115 million endowment. The state projects returns of less than 5 percent. If the interest isn't adequate, money from the rainy day fund will make up the difference. for the Excellence in Higher Education Endowment Reserve, a program for about 16 community college and University of Wyoming professors. It pays for their salaries and benefits with interest income from a $115 million endowment. The state projects returns of less than 5 percent. If the interest isn't adequate, money from the rainy day fund will make up the difference. $25 million for the economic development account, commonly referred to as Amendment 4. It has been used for loans and economic development to entice private companies to move or expand in the state. for the economic development account, commonly referred to as Amendment 4. It has been used for loans and economic development to entice private companies to move or expand in the state. $2.5 million for the ENDOW initiative, which stands for Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming. Its a multi-year economic diversification project. for the ENDOW initiative, which stands for Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming. Its a multi-year economic diversification project. $311,000 for a state government efficiency study. for a state government efficiency study. $78 million for K-12 school construction. for K-12 school construction. $57 million (estimate): State law requires that certain revenues go into the Budget Reserve Account. Its also called the statutory reserve and it must equal 5 percent of the estimate of investment income in the general fund over two years. If investment earnings dont equal 5 percent, then the state can go into the rainy day fund. For the third year in a row, The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain has received the coveted Forbes Five Star Award. Marana's Ritz-Carlton is one of only 175 Forbes Five-Star hotels in the world, making the award quite an honor, said a post in Arizona Foothills Magazine. In addition to the resort's five-star award, the Ritz-Carlton's spa and restaurant, CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar, received four-star ratings, making it the highest-ranking overall property in the state, the post said. The Ritz wasn't the only Tucson location recognized by Forbes. Also for the third year in a row, Casino Del Sol Resort was named a four-star hotel, and PY Steakhouse, located inside the casino, was named a four-star restaurant. Also no stranger to the awards, The Spa at Omni Tucson National was once again dubbed a four-star spa. All events are free unless otherwise noted. today Stroke Support Group TMC Senior Services, 1400 N. Wilmot Road. Stroke survivors meet in Wellness Center and care partners meet in JVP room. 10:30 a.m.-noon, April 17. 324-4345. Tuesday The Health of Americans in a New Political Order Banner-University Medical Center, DuVal Auditorium, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Darrell G. Kirch will examine the challenges that health care professionals face. 5:30-7 p.m., April 18. 626-5983. Cookies Because We Care Sierra Del Sol Assisted Living and Memory Care, 8151 E. Speedway. Resident volunteers sell cookies to give back to the community by helping other seniors in need. Fresh cookies, two for $1. 9-11 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 27. 722-8400. APDA Parkinson Support Group TMC Senior Services. People with Parkinson meet in Wellness Center and care partners meet in JVP Room. Call 326-5400 for more information. 2-3:30 p.m., April 18. Thursday Mental Health First Aid Training Plaza Arboleda Conference Center, 2502 N. Dodge Blvd. Community-focused training provides information on identifying the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders/crises in adults, as well as risk factors and protective factors for this population. Ages 18 and up. Pre-registration required. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., April 20. 325-4268. Healthy Living with Diabetes Freedom Park Center, 5000 E. 29th St. Interactive workshop for individuals with diabetes and their caregivers. 1-3:30 p.m., Thursdays. $20. 305-3410. PWR!Gym April Wellness Series: Balance & Mobility Parkinson Wellness Recovery Gym, 140 W. Ft. Lowell Road. Balance can often be a problem for people with Parkinson disease. Dr. Elizabeth Cozzi, and Aud and Aimee Guerrero, physical therapists from the Carondelet Neurological Institute, discuss balance issues, including: diagnostics, physical therapy, helpful ways to improve balance at home, dizziness and vertigo treatments, and interactive balance demonstrations. Call or e-mail info@pwr4life.org to RSVP. 4-5:30 p.m., April 20. 591-5346. Alzheimers Caregiver Support Group TMC Senior Services. Open to all. 10:30 a.m.-noon, April 20. Saturday Ride For Autism and Community Fundraiser Event McCulloch-Wagner American Legion Post 109, 15921 S. Houghton Road, Corona. 11 a.m. poker run and vendors; 2-4 p.m. jumping castle and water slide; 1-6 p.m. food and DJ; 7 p.m. live music and raffle. Proceeds to provide IPads for local autistic children. Ages 21 and under must be accompanied by an adult. 9 a.m.-11 p.m., April 22. 762-5652. Walk the Loop for Lupus Reid Park, Ramada 10, 900 S. Randolph Way. 1.05 or 1.95 mile walk or run, team photos, refreshments, awards and raffle. All of the money raised stays in Southern Arizona. 7:15-9:30 a.m., April 22. $25. 622-9006. Free Eye Exams St. Elizabeths Health Center, 140 W. Speedway. Screening for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eyes and complications related to diabetes. Call to make an appointment. 8 a.m.-noon, April 22. 694-1471. Survive Well: Living with Cancer Symposium Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Drive. Designed to share expertise from well-respected speakers, as well as provide a unique opportunity for supportive dialogue for patients, caregivers and family members. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., April 22. 324-4876. Tucson Health and Wellness Expo Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way. Learn about products, services and trends that enable you to live a vibrant life. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., April 22. 1-602-625-3000. Sunday We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some April 11 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. A daily bread menu is posted on the website. Guerra will teach bread baking classes in his climate-controlled bakery in June, July and August for up to 10 people per class, which lasts 4 to 5 hours and costs $150. Barrio Bread is at 18 S. Eastbourne Ave. in Broadway Village, 18 S. Eastbourne Ave., 327-1292. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or until loaves are gone) Tuesdays through Saturdays. Closed Sundays and Mondays.barriobread.com Keys to good bread making Don Guerra, owner of Barrio Bread, says there are three keys to baking a good loaf of bread. The process relies on: A sourdough culture to levain the bread A long, cool fermentation Baking on a stone tile or a cast iron pot (for a home baker) to get a crispy crust "The biggest mistake people make is thinking it only takes a recipe, Guerra said. "It's not about the recipe. The recipe is a guideline. The bread is all about technique. Ingredients are really important, but the key to a good bread is a baker knowing what he is working with. Bread is a living food with the yeast. I'm using these ancient grains, but using the same techniques that have been around forever. It's really about controlling the starter. That's really the life-force of the bread." Taste, texture and design also are qualities of a good loaf, said Guerra, who speaks of his bread in terms similar to those used by a sommelier to describe wine. The crust should have tans, rusts, blonds and browns achieved from using different shades of wheat and it should be crispy and slightly bitter. When the loaf is broken open, the aroma should be sweet and slightly acidic with a pleasant finish. It should not be too sour at the front. "Bread isn't just something you make a sandwich with, Guerra said. There's a huge array of pigments in the wheat berries. Like an artist using pigments, I want to blend these ingredients together for unique effects. Even though it's flour and water and salt, even though it's three simple ingredients, it should have a multitude of sensations." Guerras approach to baking is as much art as chemistry, sometimes literally. His signatures for certain loaves are stencils placed on the unbaked bread, outlined in flour before placing in the oven. In addition to ingredients and technique, there is one intangible blended into each loaf: joy. "I need happy people around because they are the ones touching the bread and that transfers to the bread, Guerra said. It's a whole environment created of happiness." Thats where apprentice baker Kiera Salkowski enters the mix. "I like the bread and I like the idea of the process. It's nice to create something positive, she said. I'm surprised I like it as much as I do. It's great to meet people who are super excited about what we do. Everyone is really happy to be here." - Kim Matas NOGALES, Ariz. Attorney General Jeff Sessions toured the U.S.-Mexico border Tuesday and unveiled what he described as a new get-tough approach to immigration prosecutions under President Donald Trump. The nation's top law enforcement official outlined a series of changes that he said mark the start of a new era to rid American cities and the border of what he described as "filth" brought on by drug cartels and criminal organizations. He credited Trump for a steep drop-off of border apprehensions this year and said the administration will bring more felony prosecutions against immigrants entering the country illegally. "This is a new era. This is the Trump era," he said. "The lawlessness, the abdication of the duty to enforce our immigration laws, and the catch and release practices of old are over." Sessions has been expanding the Justice Department's role in the anti-immigration agenda of the Trump administration. But his Tuesday speech during his first visit to the border offered the most comprehensive look yet at his plans for federal prosecutions of those in the country illegally. He directed the nation's federal prosecutors in a Tuesday memo to prioritize immigration-related cases, with an eye toward targeting people who cross the border illegally and those who come back after being deported. Sessions urged federal prosecutors to intensify their focus on immigration crimes such as illegal crossing or smuggling others into the U.S., even though such prosecutions are already happening on a large scale. Half of federal arrests in 2014 were for immigration-related offenses, according to a Pew Research analysis released this week, based on the most recent federal statistics. Critics blasted the initiatives announced by Sessions as fear-mongering and anti-immigrant rhetoric not rooted in facts. "Once again, Attorney General Sessions is scaring the public by linking immigrants to criminals despite studies showing that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than the native born. He and President Trump are wasting more federal taxpayer dollars going after illegal border crossers instead of protecting the American public," said Gregory Z. Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Sessions made the announcement in Nogales, where there has been a dramatic drop in immigrant and drug smuggling in recent years as more people enter the country in Texas, many of them Central Americans fleeing violence in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The Border Patrol's Tucson sector, which comprises most of Arizona, saw about 65,000 arrests of immigrants last fiscal year, roughly half the number agents made in 2012, according to Border Patrol data. Marijuana seizures have also dropped by about 28 percent from 1 million pounds in 2012 to 728,000 last year. Following the border tour, Sessions is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at an International Association of Chiefs of Police conference outside Phoenix. He'll also speak with service members at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix. Much of what Sessions outlined in his far-ranging speech is also addressed in the Justice Department's proposed budget. Even as it plans to cut the Justice Department's budget by more than $1 billion, the Trump administration wants hundreds of millions of dollars to hire 60 federal prosecutors and 40 deputy U.S. Marshals to focus on border cases. It also wants to boost immigration courts by $80 million to pay for 75 additional teams of judges. That would speed up removal proceedings for people in the United States illegally and address a backlog of more than 540,000 pending cases. The proposal also calls for adding $1.5 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's budget to find, detain and deport immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, along with more than $300 million to hire 500 new Border Patrol agents and 1,000 immigration agents. ___ Associated Press Writer Sadie Gurman contributed to this report in Washington, D.C. Marana police are asking the public for help identifying a pair who stole two BMX bicycles from kids at a Walmart at Continental Ranch Retail Center. The theft occurred Sunday at about noon when a man and woman exited the Walmart Supercenter at 8280 N. Cortaro Road, according to a Marana Police Department Facebook post. The bikes were parked in front of the store, and the man and woman took off on the bikes. They rode up to a parked truck near GameStop at the Arizona Pavilions Shopping Center, states the post. They put the bikes into the bed of the truck and drove away. The truck was described as a silver or light-colored midsize with an extended cab, said police. The culprits were captured on surveillance video, and police released images of bikes similar to the two that were stolen. Anyone with information is asked to call Marana Police Department at 382-2000 or 88-CRIME. Gov. Doug Ducey is going to get the last word on whether Arizona tightens up the ability of police and prosecutors to seize property. With only a single dissenting vote, the House on Monday gave final approval to HB 2477, which makes a series of changes in statutes about how property can be taken and what options are available for those who want to fight the government. The Senate had previously voted unanimously for the measure. But as Rep. Becky Nutt, R-Clifton, summarized in her opposition, this isnt a one-sided battle. She cited a litany of prosecutors and sheriffs who dont like everything in the bill, crafted by Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert. More to the point, they are sending letters to the governor asking him to veto the measure despite the overwhelming support among lawmakers. Ducey said last week he has not made up his mind, saying there are people I respect on both side who I think are making very significant points. But even if Ducey were to veto this version as unacceptable, that would not make the issue go away. He called civil forfeiture an area of law in need of reform. The governor has through Saturday to make a decision. Under current law, prosecutors may seize property they contend is linked to a crime. That could be a vehicle used to transport drugs or items purchased by an alleged criminal syndicate with their illegally obtained gains. Most states and the federal government have similar laws. And they do not require that the owner of the property actually be charged with a crime, much less convicted. In Arizona, though, prosecutors need prove by only the preponderance of the evidence that the property is linked to a crime, the lowest standard in law. HB 2477 would boost that to where a judge would have to see clear and convincing evidence. Potentially more significant, the legislation would overturn existing law that say that anyone who successfully contests a seizure must bear their own legal fees. These could exceed the value of the property, making a challenge a financial risk. And it also would remove the ability of prosecutors to force property owners to pay the governments legal fees if the challenge is unsuccessful. Sensing the broad support among lawmakers, opposition groups are now putting pressure on Ducey. During Mondays vote, Nutt read a letter to Ducey from Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels on behalf of the Arizona Sheriffs Association, urging him to veto the measure. Dannels makes no mention of either the higher standard of proof or the change in how legal fees are handled. Instead, he tells the governor there are a few critical issues that need to be resolved. For example, he said the wording will result in federal agencies being less interested in cooperating with local law enforcement groups. But he also is unhappy with a provision that not only gives county supervisors the authority to decide how assets seized under the the states version of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act can be used and divided among police and prosecutors, but also allows the board to hire its own outside counsel to provide advice. Dannels said that is unnecessary as our county attorneys are already well equipped to make a legal determination in the validity of our RICO expenditure requests. Farnsworth has brushed aside that argument, saying the current system amounts to the county prosecutors passing judgment on their own decisions. In what could be one of the first ads of the 2018 election season for Arizona Congressional District 2, a healthcare group is targeting Republican Rep. Martha McSally. A group calling itself Save My Care has bought a number 30-second ads to air this week in the Tucson media market, stating McSally refused to stand up to the Trump administration and the House Republican leadership on cuts in service in the repeal bill. A spokesperson for the group said the ad "raises the question of where Rep. McSallywho repeatedly promised to lower premiums and protect people with pre-existing conditionsstands on the Republican leaderships latest proposal." The group, which is backed by Doctors for America and the Service Employees International Union, is targeting members of Congress in 20 different states. The group also targeted Reps. Darrell Issa, Carlos Curbelo, Mike Coffman, David Valadao Tom MacArthur and Brian Mast in the seven-figure national ad buy. Last month, the group bought similar ads in Arizona that targeted Senator Jeff Flake. Text of the 30 second ad: (Narrator) "Congresswoman McSally promised to protect our healthcare. But when right-wing politicians tried to pass a disastrous health care repeal bill that raises costs and cuts coverage, McSally wouldnt oppose them. McSally wouldnt protect us from a bill that raises premiums and causes 24 million to lose their insurance. Wouldnt oppose a massive age tax on people over 50. And isnt fighting to protect coverage for pre-existing conditions. Tell Martha McSally stop trying to repeal our health care. If laughter really is the best medicine, Tucsonans can fill a prescription to support the Southern Arizona Office of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on April 23. The Fill Your Lungs With Laughter fundraiser will be held at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. We really just wanted this to be a time for people to come together and have a lot of laughs and we want to thank everyone for all of their support without emphasizing the difficult parts of cystic fibrosis, said Cheryl Nichols, who is spearheading the fundraiser with her husband, David, and in-laws, Patty and Ross McCallister. The two couples hope the evening of comedy dinner theater, which will feature LaughingStock Comedy Company, will raise at least $15,000 to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in its mission to find treatments and a cure for the life-threatening disease. The mission has become a personal quest for the couples: Their granddaughters, Jolene and Cecilia Nichols, are living with cystic fibrosis. When Jolene, now 9, was diagnosed as an infant, Cheryl had never heard of the genetic disease. We were all stunned. We immediately began researching and it was quite a learning experience to find out how devastating the disease is and all that is involved with it, she said. CF, which can be caused by more than 1,800 gene mutations, primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. The defective genes result in a build-up of thick mucus in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. Common symptoms include persistent coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, frequent lung infections, poor weight gain and digestive problems. More than 30,000 people nationwide receive medications and treatments from 120 CF Foundation care centers across the country, including the Tucson Cystic Fibrosis Center at Banner-University Medical Center. Treatments typically include a combination of airway clearance therapies, inhaled medications and pancreatic enzyme supplements and supplemental feeding treatments, all of which Jolene and Cecilia, 5, receive. Both girls have to wear a device similar to a life vest that uses mechanical compression to prevent mucus from settling in the lungs twice a day, take breathing medications, enzymes before they eat anything and between 15 and 25 pills a day, Cheryl said. The girls, who are both on feeding tubes, have also received tune-ups which require hospital stays due to a drop in lung function. It is quite normal for children with CF to go in at least once a year or more for a tune-up to receive more medications and additional treatments with the vests ... the girls handle it all right, but it is never easy, Cheryl said. In spite of the sobering realities of CF, Cheryl and fellow volunteers said the community support for the CF Foundation and its research is uplifting. Since my siblings were born with CF in the 1960s, life expectancy has increased exponentially for those born with CF. The research the foundation is doing now is so advanced and so specific ... a cure is in the line of sight and it is just awesome to be part of something like this, said Greg Coleman, a long-time member of the Board of Directors for the Southern Arizona Chapter of the CF Foundation. LaughingStock Comedy Company shares that sentiment and commitment to find a cure for CF, according to comedian Lesley Abrams. She said that she and her colleagues, Dean Steeves and Brendan Murphy, are excited to be headlining the upcoming fundraiser. They talk about a cure on the horizon, and while the challenge with CF is that there are different strains of the disease so it manifests differently in different people, generally speaking you know that when they make progress in one area, it fuels progress in all areas. We are very optimistic at this point, Abrams said. In the meantime, she thinks that Fill Your Lungs With Laughter will offer an upbeat evening of improvisational comedy for everyone in attendance. It is very interactive and the audience is invested in the outcome. It is very exciting and refreshing to have something that is on-the-spot and spontaneous. We dont see that very often anymore since everything is very scripted and rehearsed. Our comedy can get goofy, witty, physical, farcical, high-brow and low-brow: It is really up to the audience, she said. The Arizona Daily Stars Sportsmens Fund Send a Kid to Camp program raises money so children from low-income households and military families can attend overnight YMCA, Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps and Camp Tatiyee, for school-age children and older teens with special needs, at little or no cost to their families. Our goal is to raise $190,000 and send 650 local boys and girls to area camps this summer. So far, weve received 657 donations totaling $83,310, which puts us almost halfway to our goal. Since 1947, the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmens Fund has helped pay for 38,551 children to go to camp. Were one of the oldest 5013 charities in Arizona. Your contribution qualifies for the Arizona tax credit of up to $800 for donations to qualifying charitable organizations. Donations are welcome throughout the year. Recent donations include: Frances Kurker, $50. John and Virginia La Bar, $100. Dana Lawson, $100. Ben and Nancy Lease Smith, $100. William Leightenheimer, $50. Martin Lenzini, $100. Randy and Kenci Lewis, $100. Ed Linta, $100. Joanne Lopez, $100. Joanne Lovrien, $20. Carol Lowe, $100. Chip and Marcia Lundin, $10. Randy Lyle and Carol Romero Charitable Fund, $200. Debra Mahlow, $25. June McLeod, $100. G. McPerson, $50. Sebron McQueen, $200. R.M. Mead, $40. Keith Meenan, $100. Al Millbrandt for Nancy Veliz, in memory of her daughter Kedron McDonald, $25. Joe and Karen Milligan, $30. Bob and Marie Moore, $200. Margaret Moore, $200. J.L. Murphy, $25. Sara and Michael Mussman, $100. Craig Nelson, $100. Morrison Newell, $100. Douglas and Sue Obal, $75. Gale Odion, $50. More donations will be acknowledged in the coming week. White House press secretary Sean Spicer apologized Tuesday after saying Adolf Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons" during World War II in an effort to shame Russia's alliance with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his use of chemical weapons. The comment was immediately decried and after a series of attempts to clear up his words, Spicer apologized in an exclusive interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I was obviously trying to make a point about the heinous acts that Assad had made against his own people last week, using chemical weapons and gas. Frankly, I mistakenly made an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust, for which there is no comparison," Spicer said. "And for that I apologize. It was a mistake to do that." Spicer, who said he was "aware" that gas chambers were used during the Holocaust, later said he should have "stayed focused" on Assad and asked people to forgive him for his "mistake." "My goal now and then is to stay focused on Assad and I should have," he said. "I realized that I had made a mistake and I didn't want to be a distraction to the President's agenda." While Hitler did not use chemical weapons on the battlefield, Hitler and the Nazis used gas chambers to exterminate Jews, disabled people and others. "You had someone who was despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons," Spicer said during the briefing. "So you have to, if you are Russia, ask yourself is this a country and a regime that you want to align yourself with." The comment immediately reverberated online and audible gasps could be heard in the press briefing room after the Spicer made the comment. Spicer, asked later in the briefing for a clarification by a reporter about the comments that Hitler did not use chemical weapons, said: "I think when you come to sarin gas, he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing." Reporters in the briefing room offered the Holocaust as an example of chemical weapons use. "He brought them into the Holocaust centers, I understand that," Spicer said. "But in the way that Assad used them, where he went into towns and dropped them down to innocent in the middle of towns," he added, defending his statement. "I appreciate the clarification, that was not the intent." The comment did not clear up the controversy, especially considering Spicer seemingly referred to concentration camps as "the Holocaust center." In a statement issued after the briefing, Spicer said "in no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust." "I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable," he said. The majority of historians believe Nazi Germany did not ever use chemical weapons on the battlefield in the Second World War despite possessing both WWI-era chemical weapons as well as more advanced nerve agents. Hitler himself was exposed to mustard gas during his WWI service, but he did not sign off on chemical weapons use against Allied forces even when Germany was suffering battlefield losses. However, Hitler did of course use chemical gas to murder innocent civilians in concentration camps. "Even in WWII chemical weapons were not used on the battlefield. Even in the Korean War, they were not used on battlefields. Since WWI there's been an international convention on this," said Defense Secretary James Mattis, later in the day during a Pentagon press briefing. The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington quickly responded to Spicer tweeting: "WATCH: Footage from our collection shows what US forces discovered when they liberated #Buchenwald." And Chelsea Clinton, the former first daughter, tweeted: "I hope @PressSec takes time to visit @HolocaustMuseum. It's a few blocks away." The comment comes as Jewish people all over the world are celebrating Passover. The White House hosted a Seder dinner on Monday night. Steven Goldstein, executive director of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, noted the holiday in a statement that accused Spicer of engaging in "Holocaust denial." "Spicer's statement is the most evil slur upon a group of people we have ever heard from a White House press secretary. Sean Spicer now lacks the integrity to serve as White House press secretary, and President Trump must fire him at once," he said in a statement. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also called for Spicer's dismissal. Once again, a section of the Colorado River leads a national environmental groups list of the U.S.s most endangered rivers. But American Rivers says its put the Lower Colorado River No. 1 on its list not because theres no progress toward fixing its problems. Instead, the group believes progress has been made in recent years, particularly the near-completion of a three-state agreement to reduce water use across the Lower Colorado River Basin to prop up Lake Mead, said Matt Rice, the groups Colorado River program manager. We got very close to getting a signed Drought Contingency Plan at the end of 2016, Rice said. Now, we see an opportunity to get it across the finish line. We are doing this to help propel it past the finish line. Some key points about the river and its endangered ranking: Lifeblood of the Southwest The river supplies drinking water to Tucson, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. It has a $900 billion annual economic impact on the Lower Basin, including $600 million worth of crops grown on more than 5 million acres, the group says, citing Arizona State University research. In 2013, American Rivers put the entire Colorado River atop its endangered list because of the drought. Another reason: A 2012 Bureau of Reclamation study warned that the rivers supply could fall by 2060 to as little as half of the seven-state river basins annual needs, due to population growth and climate change. That was the rivers third No. 1 most-endangered ranking in 23 years, and its seventh time on the top 10 list. After that, the Upper Colorado River ranked second in 2014 and the river through the Grand Canyon was No. 1 most-endangered in 2015. The latest No. 1 ranking covers the Colorado through the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada. Why its endangered The three states and the feds came close to but didnt reach a Drought Contingency Plan agreement last fall to reduce water use by 1.2 million acre-feet annually if necessary to keep Lake Mead from falling below dangerous levels. (An acre-foot supplies about two typical Tucson households per year.) Then, it appeared that Arizona was nearing a statewide Drought Contingency Plan-Plus agreement to conserve 1.2 million acre-feet over three years. But such an agreement isnt ready now, because of many disputes over terms between the Central Arizona Project and the Arizona Department of Water Resources, several Arizona cities including Tucson, and Indian tribes. The environmental group is also concerned about proposed Trump administration budget cuts on federal programs to save water and support the three-state drought plan. The administration proposes cutting the Interior Department by 15 percent, although no specific cut has been proposed for the Bureau of Reclamation, which is under Interior and operates the reservoirs. Reactions Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said he doesnt know enough about other rivers to say if the Colorado belongs at the top, but I think with the right actions taken by the Lower Basin states, and the Upper Basin moves forward on its plan, we could prevent it from becoming endangered. He added, I do agree that the health of the river is important. Ive been spending the last four years of my life on some version or another of the DCP. He criticized American Rivers only for failing to mention internal California issues including the fate of the imperiled Salton Sea near El Centro that also stand in the way of an agreement. A top CAP official disputed 2013s endangered ranking, but the agency said Monday its more important to talk about whats needed to be done than its view on the ranking. The Central Arizona Water Conservation District, which manages the project, is acutely aware of the risks facing the Colorado River. Whether its labeled as endangered or not, it doesnt change the challenges before us or the work that needs to be done. There is a structural deficit in the Lower Basin that needs to be addressed .... We have had some successes by staying out of shortage for two years, but more needs to be done, the agency said. Kathleen Ferris, a longtime water attorney and former state water agency director, agrees the river is endangered, saying, The river is overallocated. Were having good weather this year, but one good year doesnt take that away. How the river might get off the list PHOENIX A decision by a Peoria lawmaker to take a job in the Trump administration could clear the way for Arizona to have its first-ever ban on teen texting while driving. Republican Rep. Phil Lovas said he will be the regional advocate for the Small Business Administration. Lovas, an early Trump supporter, said he had put his name in for consideration with White House staff. His last day in office will be the end of this week. The move does more than set the stage for party workers in his district to recommend a replacement to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which chooses a replacement. That new lawmaker, who would serve out the balance of the term, which runs through the end of next year, has to be a Republican like Lovas. It also leaves vacant the helm of the powerful House Rules Committee through which all bills must pass to go to the House floor. One that Lovas has refused to hear is SB 1080. That measure, which passed the Senate 24-6, bans not only texting by new teen drivers but even talking on a cellphone. The same bill sponsored by Sen. Karen Fann, R-Prescott, also gained approval 7-1 by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. But Lovas told Capitol Media Services last week he was not interested in advancing the measure to the floor. While Lovas said he was personally ambivalent about the issue he had heard concerns from colleagues who feared that once teens were forbidden to use cellphones and drive it would be the camels nose under the tent, paving the way for restrictions on others. It is now up to House Speaker J.D. Mesnard to choose someone to head the committee; there is no real chance that whoever takes Lovas seat will also get the plum position of chairing Rules. Lovas acknowledged how his resignation affects all that. I think the happiest people today would probably be Karen Fann and others whose bills I have held, he laughed. And Lovas, who just a week ago said the texting ban was in a deep coma in his committee, said its life signs are now looking healthier. It might be coming out of a coma, he quipped. Fann, for her part, said she remains hopeful that perhaps Lovas will provide a going-away gift of sorts to her and supporters of SB 1080 and allow the measure to go to the full House, where she says she has the votes. PHOENIX A letter from a Tucson retiree who used to be a California investigator proved instrumental Monday in defeating legislation that would have allowed people to fire small-caliber snake shot in city limits. HB 2022 failed on a tie vote after state Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, read the letter from Michael Cardwell who spoke of his 32 years working for the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department and patrolling its 23,000 square miles, much of that in the Mohave Desert. He detailed and she read for colleagues his take on the foolishness of people who feel the need to shoot at snakes. But it wasnt just that Cardwell said the best course of action is to leave the snakes alone. The bottom line when it comes to destroying small animals like rattlesnakes is that gunfire presents a much greater danger to bystanders than the snake itself, Brophy McGee read. Projectiles filed into the ground at low angles, even shotgun pellets and snake shot, very frequently ricochet and put holes in buildings, cars and people. Brophy McGee said shes not sure the letter made the difference in denying Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, the necessary 16 votes needed for Senate approval. Lawrence already had shepherded the bill through the House 35-25 on claims of Second Amendment rights of Arizonans to arm themselves with whatever ammunition they believe is appropriate. But Brophy McGee said it probably helped cement the opposition as she and Republican Sen. Bob Worsley of Mesa joined with the 13 Democrats to kill it. I certainly hoped it help them to kind of think it through, she said following the vote. This was not a good bill. Lawrence wasnt happy with Brophy McGee. I would not expect Brophy McGee to ever change her vote, he said. She is a Democrat, Lawrence argued, despite her party registration and her votes with the GOP on many though not all issues. That leaves Worsley. But he said he has no inclination to change his mind. The fight involved a change to Shannons Law, a 2000 measure that makes it a felony to shoot a gun inside city limits. Its named after Shannon Smith, who was killed the prior year from a bullet fired into the air by someone who was never caught. Help India! New Delhi, (IANS): Opposition parties on Monday approached the Election Commission expressing their complete loss of faith in EVMs and demanded use of VVPAT (voter-verified paper audit trail) and paper ballots in upcoming polls. A delegation of 13 opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Left parties, among others, met the poll panel following allegations of electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering during the February-March assembly polls in five states as well as the Sunday by-polls in several states. Support TwoCircles Going by what happened in the recent polls, be it the people or political parties, all have lost faith in EVMs. Therefore, the Election Commission should revert to using the old system of paper ballot instead of EVMs, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said after the meeting. Representatives of 13 parties put forth their views about the EVMs to the EC. We told them that free and fair polls cannot be ensured unless EVMs are taken out of use, he said. Congress leader Anand Sharma said the poll panel assured of calling an all-party meeting soon to discuss the concerns about the EVM. The EC heard each political party patiently and the grievance was unanimous lack of faith in EVMs. The EC assured that an all-party meeting will be convened soon and it will seriously examine our grievances, he said. Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have been demanding reverting back to the paper ballots in place of the tamper-prone EVMs. In a memorandum submitted to the EC, the opposition parties said: We wish to draw your attention to the alleged cases of malfunctioning and tampering of of EVMs that have raised bona fide concerns on the possibility of manipulating the electoral outcome. This, we believe, can undermine the trust the people of India have in the integrity of the electoral process. It is requested that till the time the issues of tampering and malfunctions of the EVMs are addressed and the tamper-proof and flawless functioning of EVMs is technologically established and endorsed globally, to the satisfaction of the political parties, the forthcoming elections should be conducted under the old paper ballot system, it added. It further said: That continues to be a permissible mode of balloting accepted worldwide and the discretion of the Election Commission under Section 61A should be exercised only after all issues, as raised above, are addressed by the Election Commission to the satisfaction of all political parties. The opposition parties meet with the EC came on a day when Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal blamed the poll panel for the tampering and accused it of favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party. Kejriwal alleged that what was being dismissed as EVM malfunction was actually a case of tampering to ensure that the BJP got the votes of even other parties. Help India! Ranchi, (IANS): The Jharkhand government will build eight new modern slaughter-houses in the state, including one in the state capital, said an official on Tuesday. The slaughter-houses, which will be set up in Ranchi, Dumka, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Deoghar, Medninagar, Hazaribagh and Chas municipal area, would be run under public-private partnership (PPP) mode. Support TwoCircles The Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department has directed officials to identify the land for building these slaughter-houses as early as possible. All the norms laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) would be followed. The Urban Development Department has also sought from the municipalities a list of licensed and unlicensed shops. The urban bodies have been asked to submit their report within a week on the action taken on the illegal slaughter-houses in their area. Help India! Kolkata, (IANS): The Calcutta Beef Dealers Association plans to meet the Kolkata civic body regarding a change in cow slaughter timings to check illegal abattoirs in the city. In the state-owned Tangra slaughterhouse, cows are slaughtered between 1.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. The meat is delivered to shops in the night So for consumers who want to have access to fresh beef, the option before them is beef sold by illegal slaughterhouses, Mohammed Ali, President, Calcutta Beef Dealers Association told IANS. Support TwoCircles Ali said the body will recommend to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation that the timings be shifted to early in the morning. If the slaughter process takes place between 5.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. then the beef can be delivered during the same day to consumers. So this means, illegal abattoirs will not get a chance to ply their business, Ali said. In addition, Ali said it would also ease the availability of beef during festive season when the demand is high. We will seek an appointment with KMC officials soon, he added. Help India! By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net Maharajganj: The disruption of Church services at Maharajaganj brought the activities of Hindu Yuva Vahini into the limelight for all the wrong reasons. But what if we told you that according to HYV, their actions were, in fact, a response to the actions of Pakistans intelligence agency ISI, China, Nepal and Kashmiri youth? Support TwoCircles Read on. A conversation with Narsingh Pandey, the district president of Hindu Yuva Vahini revealed that far from being apologetic for their actions, they, in fact, have an elaborate explanation of why they did so. And it sounds, well, straight out of Conspiracy theory 101. Pandey claims that religious conversion was definitely going on that day when police reached the site but attendees denied because they had offerings. He said, We got information that foreigners were staying there. We asked the district administration if they had the info about the stay of foreigners in Maharajganj. We were receiving substantial information from locals that various things were happening, including the fact that these people were luring and converting people. But we are bound to act by the law. So, we decided to understand the situation first and then act with the help of the administration, said Pandey. Remarks made by Pandey over the issue substantiate his stand that it was the presence of US nationals on the site of the incident that led to the disruption. And Narsingh Pandey, who lives in Nautanwa, around 80 kilometers far from the Maharajganj, played a key role in mobilising the local cadre to control the situation on Friday. He said that he was on alert as members of the organisation had caught various religious conversion events in the same region. Pandey said, Little kids with women were present there in the church. And some foreigners joined them. So when I asked the authority if they knew about all of this, they answered in the negative. When we poked Pandey over what authority personnel he contacted, Pandey said, I personally called our volunteers from there. They had little information about the incident. Also, I made few calls to the villagers of the area. And yes, I did call the local police station. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the claims made by Pandey are in complete contradiction to the accounts of the eyewitnesses and even the Police. Our volunteers were furious after finding out that conversion was going on. But I made them stand and watch the incident outside the Church premises. Pandeys statement also, in many ways, was a testimony to the powers of the Hindu Yuva Vahini under the new state government. He said, I told volunteers to watch the police action, if they are doing it (their job) well or not. But I do have to say that our volunteers were watching the whole incident from the outside. They never interfered, he said However, according to the version provided by the police officials and the Church, members of Hindu Yuva Vahini were constantly pushing the police to register a case against the Church Priest Yuhanna Adam. They also vandalised the Church property and one member, Ganesh Kharwar, waived a Rs 100 note at an elderly lady and asked her to chant Jai Shriram. Continuing with this bizarre claims, Pandey said that contrary to police confirmation that US nationals do have all their papers with the passport, none of them had their papers. Quite what made HYV and Pandey a parallel investigative body in the case, no one knows. But Pandeys biggest revelation came after this. This area (Gorakhpur) is close to the Indo-Nepal border. ISI conducts their activities there. Chinese incursion is also happening for this reason. They are making training camps in Nepal. And because of all of this and patronage of Congress regime in the past, stone pelting is happening in Jammu and Kashmir. These are the reasons why we are always on the alert in this region. Pandey, of course, went on to dismiss all claims made by the Church and even the police. They all are accusing us because they want to get rid of the hindrance between them and their those unlawful activities, he said. Pandeys rationale may not make sense to everyone, but his and HYVs spirit will be bolstered by the recent police action in this case. The Kothibhar police station has issued a notice to Church priest Yuhanna Adam over why he did not inform the police about the arrival of US nationals in the Church. Responding to this debatable action, Adam said, Foreigners do not have to inform police when they go to Varanasi. The priest of a temple doesnt have to do so when foreigners enter a temple. Why should it be any different for me and a Church? Meanwhile, the US Embassy India took note of the incident and is keeping eye on every update in the case. US Embassy New Delhi spokesperson Joseph Kruzich told TwoCircles.net, We are aware of the news reports concerning the incident. The protection of American citizens overseas is our highest priority. But due to privacy concerns, we cannot say anything more at this time. British Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump are in agreement about a window of opportunity to convince the Russian government to end its relationship with Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, who is holding the country back from being rid of Islamic State terrorism and finding peace. As May and Trump see it, the first step towards ending the conflict in Syria is getting rid of Assad. May supports Trumps missile strike May spoke out about her support for Trumps missile strike on Syria, as he launched 60 Tomahawk missiles against Assad following the devastating chemical attack on a Syrian town. The Russia/Assad discussion arose when Trump spoke to May on Monday evening to offer his thanks to her for speaking in support of his missile strike. A spokesperson for Downing Street announced that May and Trump agreed they have a chance now to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest, but it wont last forever; its just a window as of yet. According to the spokesperson, theyre eyeing Secretary of State Rex Tillersons visit to Moscow this week as the opening of this window, which they can use to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement. Trump also spoke with Angela Merkel Navigating the Merky waters of his relationship with the German Chancellor, Trump spoke to Angela Merkel about it. Rather than their usual jibing, this time they had a common belief to discuss, and that is the importance of holding...Assad accountable for the horrors taking place in Syria, according to a White House statement (which are always totally reliable). Last week, the Trump administration announced that, unfortunately, it had given up its ambitions of muscling Assad out of power, and is instead looking into other approaches towards the same endgame. Administration officials stress that the chemical attack, which killed at least 87 people (including over 30 children, like just imagine that, its horrifying), had a profound effect on Trump, leading him to seek ballistic vengeance and now pursuing a more strategic, long-term vendetta. Tillerson isnt just a scapegoat, by the way, unwittingly getting caught up in a May/Trump power play on his innocent trip to Moscow. He agrees that Assad and those of his ilk have no role in the Syrian government. When he visits Russia, his main goal will be persuading them to sack off their ties to Assads government. US officials claim 20% of Syrian air force destroyed in missile strike According to boasting US officials, Trumps missile strike wiped out 20% of Syrias working aircraft. Taking out the aircraft used to drop bombs was the main aim of the 60-missile strike, which was directed at Syrias air base. Defence Secretary James Mattis says that as a result of the strike, Assads regime has lost the ability to refuel or re-arm aircraft at Shayrat airfield, and the runway has also been rendered out of action. He added that the regime would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons. Apparently May and Trump also talked about the broader Middle East during their Monday evening conversation, with a particular focus on the threat posed by Iran throughout the region. Trump has a tricky history with Iran. Hes been very particular about pointing out his plans for Iran. May and Trump are both in agreement on the importance of the international community, with Trump dropping in his blossoming friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as a wicked brag. They want to rally this community together to put the heat on North Korea in order to constrain the threat it poses. Last week, there was a devastating chemical weapons attack in Syria that left almost a hundred people dead. The White House holds Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable for the attack, and US President Donald Trump is talking with British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel about what their next move should be in getting rid of Assad. A big part of the plan is getting Russia out of bed with Assad American intelligence agencies have reached the conclusion that the Russian government (with its close ties to Assad and his regime) knew about the Syrian chemical attack before it happened. US officials close to Trump also claim that a Russian drone was flown above a hospital to survey victims of the chemical weapons as they were treated in a frantic emergency situation. The prime viewing position of the aftermath of the attack this drone took is being treated as evidence that Russia knew about the attack beforehand. Just a few hours later, a fighter jet of Russian design and manufacture was used to bomb the hospital as a half-baked attempt to cover up the use of chemical weapons in the attack. While the jet definitely came from either Russia or Syria, exactly which country has yet to be determined by US officials. But lets be honest, if theyre in bed together (which they are), it doesnt really matter which one it was. It was time to ditch the winter hats, gloves and scarves this weekend as Britain basked in its hottest weekend of 2017 so far. Wherever you went over the past 48 hours in England and Wales, you were likely to be treated to blue skies and hazy Sunshine. However, will it stay for the upcoming Easter weekend? Grand National Heat Sunday was the hottest day of the year-to-date. Parts of Cambridge were recorded to have temperatures hitting 25.5 degrees. Many other areas within England and Wales reached a minimum of 20 degrees. Many couldn't resist taking the rare opportunity to top up their tan and enjoy the warm weather, with Brighton beach being packed out and others enjoying some of the picturesque parks in Central London. It was Grand National weekend and those who were lucky enough to be at Aintree on Saturday for the greatest spectacle in horse racing got the nicest weather of the three-day festival. The race, won by 14/1 shot "One For Arthur" was fitting for the beautiful occasion. Aintree officials weren't taking any chances with the warm blast though and all jockeys were told to dismount from their rides after finishing so the horses could go down to a cooling area to get and water. For the fifth successive year, all 40 jockeys and horses got back safely on an enjoyable day for horse racing in general. Cooler in Scotland "One For Arthur" was only the second Scottish-trained horse to win the Grand National and that was the hottest property this weekend from this area of the UK. Whilst they and Northern Ireland also took a slice of the sunshine, temperatures were much cooler, peaking at 16 degrees in the warmest areas. It was the East Midlands and East Anglia where the sunshine was at its highest prominence. The Met Office warned people not to get caught out by the sun, especially at this time of year. Temperatures in April can be very warm and the sun is often as strong as it is in the traditional British summer months of July and August. Despite the lovely break in the weather, temperatures were still down compared to the most recent glorious April which was in 2011. The Heatwave then lasted for practically the whole month and was the warmest in over a century. Drop expected Forecasters have warned though that this will be the nicest of the weather this week. Although Monday is expected to be another dry day, a cold wind snap should bring temperatures back down to the usual average for this time of year, approximately 16 degrees in most parts of the UK. It is likely to stay that way for the truncated working week for most, with the Easter weekend looming and many offices shut for an extended four-day break. Although too early to confirm, the Easter weekend looks like it will be a traditional mixture of sunshine and showers and definitely cooler than this weekend. There is no doubt that the April heatwave beats the misery weather we normally experience in January and for many, they will be hoping that this weekend's baking weather will be a sign of things to come in 2017. Knowing the UK weather we normally get, don't be too surprised if next weekend now becomes a complete washout. This was a time to enjoy and indulge in one of those weekends when many UK cities were competing with European capital hotspots for top of the temperature charts. North Korea: A troublesome neighbour We probably all know the history of the Korean War in the 1950's when the UN faced North Korean aggression backed by China. The war came to a halt on the 38th parallel a dividing line on the map if you will between the combatants. At the end of the World War II the Korean Peninsula had been a part of the Japanese Empire but as Japanese forces pulled out the North became a communist state and the South democratic. Ever since the end of the Korean war, North Korea has been a troublesome neighbour ruled by a succession of related communist dictators. South Korea Since the end of the Korean War, both nations one communist and one favouring western democracy have evolved along separate lines. There exists on the 38th Parallel barbed wire, watch towers and all manner of electronic detecting devices as well as guards to ensure no one breaks the agreement. American forces are stationed in South Korea to help their South Korean counterparts should the North do anything silly. Talks in the past to get issues resolved by both sides have ended in failure and so the situation goes on. Kim Jong-un the current ruler of the North has been conducting nuclear and missile tests breaking UN resolutions much to the anger of the South and the Japanese. Some wonder why Kim is test firing missiles and doing nuclear tests? Does he, for example, wish a clash with the United States or is he beefing up North Korea's armed forces just in case a conflict take place?. Trump's attitude Donald Trump has made it plain before and after becoming President he would be willing to talk to Kim one on one. However, he has also said he would not tolerate North Korea's military antics and said if China did not control North Korea he would do it. In view of what happened in Syria, the spectre of a strike on North Korea could be a real possibility. Donald Trump entertained the Chinese President in Flordia filling him on the Syrian strike and no doubt discussing North Korea. Rex Tillerson has said that the strike on Syria should serve as a warning and no doubt the North would be taking this as exactly that. North Korea's response North Korea could be described as a well armed third world nation stuck in a Soviet-era time warp. Its armed forces are formidable on paper but how well they would be in practice is another matter. North Korea no doubt with an eye on the war games to its south said any American strike would have catastrophic consequences. When you are dealing with someone like Kim Jong-un the only certainty is the uncertainty. Pakistan considers India its enemy and all its actions are dictated with this aspect in mind. In April 2016 Pakistan claimed they had arrested an Indian agent who was an ex-Navy officer. The Pakis claimed he was an agent of RAW( Research and Analysis wing) of the Indian intelligence and had been sent into Balochistan to destabilise the region and carry out acts of sabotage. The commander was also put on Pak TV and was made to confess. The Indian government had all along claimed that the Indian, who was running a business had been abducted from the Iranian port of Char Bahar which India is constructing. No evidence A request by India for consular access was denied and the Yadav was held in solitary confinement. A field court martial was convened and the Indian officer sentenced to death. The army Chief general Bajwa in a post haste and furtive manner confirmed the Death Sentence. Earlier in a statement in the senate, the Pak deputy home minister had said there was not much evidence against Yadav. In the light of this statement, India was confident that Yadav would be released. Unfortunately, the politics of revenge are so strong in Pakistan, that the Navy officer is awarded the death sentence. Indo-Pak relations India -Pakistan relations are delicately poised. Pakistan has not reconciled that it is the inferior power and its still harps on the two nation theory that Hindus and Muslims are separate " nations". On this basis, it claims the Muslim majority state of Kashmir. It is also sending in terror groups to fight the Indian army in Kashmir. This has boomeranged on Pakistan and the very terror groups it has nurtured have turned against the Pak state. Hundreds are killed by Terror attacks all overPaksitan. The state of Balochistan which was forcibly incorporated into Pak by Jinnah in 1947 is also fighting a freedom war against the Pak army. Revenge politics The case of the Indian naval commander smacks of revenge politics. The Pakis don't have anything on him and this was confessed by the Pak government, but now he has been sentenced to death. It is possible that the Pak army will carry out the execution as well. After being defeated by the Indian army in 5 wars and also having the dubious distinction of losing half the country, the Pak army is a humiliated force. In 1971, 100,000 Pak soldiers were made POW and this has rankled the Pak general staff. They are looking out for revenge. It will be interesting to watch future developments in the case and whether the Pak army really carries's out the execution. Syria: The war without end For seven long years now the Syrian civil war because that's how it started has raged. The war has so many factions and so many countries that have been dragged in it has been called a mini world war. In a nutshell, the war began by protests against the Syrian regime of Bashar Assad for more democracy and freedom. Inspired by the so-called 'Arab Spring' people took to the streets of Damascus but were met with gunfire and brutal security crackdowns. Syria: Obama's folly Back in 2013 after a Chemical Attack similar to the one that has happened now Obama promised a military response. Assad had supposedly crossed Obama's red line but with the British parliament overwhelmingly voting for no military action Obama dropped the idea. It seemed President Obama was relying on David Cameron getting support for military action but it did not transpire. The matter it seems was quietly dropped and the Russians supposedly shipped out all of Assad's chemical weapons. For the rest of Obama's presidency, the Western Allies and the Russians were hitting Islamic State instead. Obama's relations with Putin remained frosty right up until he left office in January. Syria: Trump's attack Many have been poking fun and mocking President Trump ever since he took power this year. He was called all the names under the sun and the opposition to him both politically and on the streets have given him a hard time. His relationship with the press particularly the BBC and CNN have not been good either His connections to the Russians before and after his election remain suspect and many have worried about his friendship with Putin. With all that said it seems Trump was moved by Assad's attack on Khan Sheikun using suspected chemical weapons. trump condemned the attack on innocent people though the Syrians and Russians contend they were trying to hit a rebel munitions factory. Trump ordered his warships in the Med to fire Tomahawk Missiles into Syria hitting Shayla air base where the planes who bombed Khan Sheikun came from. 60 missiles it is reckoned were launched in total and personnel have been killed and the base was apparently on fire. Apparently, Moscow said in the aftermath of the attack it would be strengthening air defences across Syria. A Tomahawk missile flies low so anything the Syrians have at present cannot shoot one down accurately. Two jets yesterday took off in the aftermath of the Tomahawk attack which shows the base was up and running again. Fulbright Scholarships to Support UNCW Educators Ongoing Work with African Youth Two UNCW Watson College of Education faculty members have been awarded Fulbright Scholarships to continue their research in sub-Saharan Africa. Each year, Ann Potts, WCE associate dean for teacher education and outreach, and Elizabeth Barber, a part-time faculty member in WCE's Department of Elementary Education and Leadership, take students to Malawi, Africa, for a month of hands-on research in area schools. It is quite significant to have two Watson College faculty scholars selected for prestigious Fulbright Scholarship awards in the same year," said WCE Dean Van Dempsey. "Their work continues along a successful history of Watson colleagues who have made such an impact on a global scale. I commend Ann and Liz on their teamwork and continued commitment to enhancing education for children in Malawi. In many emerging nations impacted by European colonization, school is taught in a language that children neither speak nor understand. As a result, few are able to progress to secondary education. Mother Tongue Literacy teaches children using the language they know from their homes their mother tongue. Potts and Barber met in 1985 while earning graduate degrees at Virginia Tech. Both began work in Malawi in 2004 to support the countrys universal primary education initiative. Their work focuses on literacy development and helping secure critically needed health and educational resources for learners and teachers. Our work in Malawi is an outgrowth of all that we have learned together to date and responds to needs explicitly expressed by teacher participants in a Mother Tongue Literacy seminar that we have facilitated since 2010, said Potts. They will conduct their Fulbright-funded research from March through July 2018. While they both admit surprise at being awarded at the same time, they are grateful for the opportunity to continue to work side-by-side with their friends and colleagues in Malawi to co-construct innovative practices that support youth education. The Fulbright Program is a highly competitive, merit-based grant for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists. In 2016, UNCW was recognized as a top producer of Fulbright Scholars. Excellence in teaching and scholarship, as well as a global focus, are priorities as outlined in UNCWs Strategic Plan. Having students, faculty and staff consistently honored with Fulbrights is a measure of UNCWs continued success. -- Caroline Cropp #WCE #RESEARCH It was just last weekend when Donald Trump took to his Twitter account and accused former President Barack Obama of Wiretapping his offices in Trump Tower. After a week of failing to present proof, Congress is now calling on the president to back up his claims. Trump wiretapped? After the Washington Post broke a bombshell story earlier this month revealing that Attorney General Jeff Sessions met with Russian officials during the presidential election, the White House scrambled to correct the narrative. As part of their defense, Donald Trump used Twitter last week to change the direction of the allegations. The former host of "The Apprentice" called for an investigation into Democratic leaders, targeting Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, while posting pictures of the two meeting with officials from Russia. Hours later, Trump then accused Obama of the aforementioned wiretapping conspiracy, though he never presented evidence. As reported by the Associated Press, and the Washington Examiner, on March 11, Congress is now demanding answers. House panel asks executive branch for any evidence Trump's phones were tapped during campaign. https://t.co/5gaIADnvqb The Associated Press (@AP) March 11, 2017 According to the report in the AP, the House Intelligence Committee in Congress sent a letter of request to the White House and is asking "the executive branch to provide by Monday" any credible evidence to back up Donald Trump's claim of wiretapping at Trump Tower. Two Democratic leaders on the committee, chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, and Rep. Adam Schiff, were the ones to pen the letter in question. How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017 "I haven't seen any evidence whatsoever to substantiate that," Adam Schiff said over the weekend, echoing the sediments of many of those in Congress. Schiff took part in a classified meeting on Friday with James Comey, the director of the FBI, but no information on the wiretapping allegations were given. JUST IN: House Intelligence Committee asks Trump administration for any proof it has of wiretaps https://t.co/N711UCDzno pic.twitter.com/6dwRHcwEyO Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 11, 2017 GOP questions claims Democrats aren't the only ones who are doubting Donald Trump's claim, as Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell told reporters last week that he has "no evidence" in regards to the allegations made against Obama. In addition to McConnell, Sen. Lindsey Graham went as far as saying that Congress "must get to the bottom" of the allegations, while asking the FBI to produce a "paper trail." Over the last week, the biggest story to dominate the news cycle has been Donald Trump and his allegations that former President Barack Obama wiretapped his office inside Trump Tower. While the White House continues to stand by Trump, some Republicans are pushing back. McCain on Trump After the Washington Post uncovered that current Attorney General Jeff Sessions had been in contact with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election, the White House scrambled to shift the narrative. The growing scandal linking the Kremlin to the Trump administration has been a slow leak of controversy, and the former host of "The Apprentice" has done his best to change the narrative. Donald Trump took to Twitter last weekend and accused Barack Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower in New York City, but has failed to provide any evidence to back up his claim. These issues, and more, were discussed during the March 12 edition of "State of the Union" on CNN. Joining CNN host Joke Tapper was Arizona Sen. John McCain who was asked about the allegations made by Donald Trump. "President Trump has to provide the American people, not just the intelligence community, but the American people, with evidence that his predecessor, former president of the Unites States was guilty of breaking the law," McCain said. McCain: Trump must provide evidence or retract wiretap claim https://t.co/RP0F0ff1ks pic.twitter.com/uSUqsNV2Kk The Hill (@thehill) March 12, 2017 "The president has one of two choices," John McCain continuesd. "Either retract, or provide the information that the American people deserve." "If President Obama violated the law, we've got a serious issue here, to say the least," he added. In conclusion on the issue at hand, McCain was asked if he believed the charges were true, and he was clear in his answer. "I have no reason to believe that the charge is true," the senator said. Moving forward Despite the consensus among most of the mainstream media and in Washington, Donald Trump and his team are not backing down. The origins of the wiretapping conspiracy are believed to have come from an unverified article in Breitbart News, but the White House has yet to confirm. Since the allegations were made, a statement from Obama has denied the claims, labeling them "simply false." While Donald Trump is usually the one receiving the most criticism in the White House, some of his top aides often feel the brunt of the backlash. After nearly two months serving as the presidential counsel, Kellyanne Conway has decided to speak. Conway speaks out When it was revealed that then campaign manager Paul Manafort had financial ties to Russia, Donald Trump was forced to reveal him of his duties. In his place, Trump added Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway to fill the role. In the months that followed, Conway would become one of the most visible faces to represent the campaign, routinely clashing with cable news and Sunday talk show hosts. While Trump and company appeared pleased with the job Conway was doing, members of the mainstream media made sure to hold her feet to the fire when need be, with liberal social media users targeting her ad nauseam. These issues were discussed during an interview on the March 12 edition of "Media Buzz" on Fox News. .@KellyannePolls responds to "haters" who rip her looks & character, says she's busy with job & 4 kids #Mediabuzz https://t.co/fcWSKQLllb #MediaBuzz (@MediaBuzzFNC) March 12, 2017 Joining host Fox News host Howard Kurtz was Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway. Kurtz brought up a recent article in the New York Times that accused many news outlets of unfairly attacking Conway, citing possible sexism as the reason. Conway said she was "heartened" by the article, and noted that she often tunes out the negative and positive reaction from the "haters" as way to feel more "in balance." Conway on criticism she receives: I'm not in the White House "to read about myself" https://t.co/NvMK7gdSpy pic.twitter.com/dTew0jfQXv The Hill (@thehill) March 12, 2017 "I've turned off a lot of it," Kellyanne Conway said, before adding, "If I don't read most of the praise and I don't read most of the criticism, like literally most of it, it keeps you in balance." Continuing, Conway went on to said that her job is to "serve" Donald Trump, before explaining, "I'm not there to read about myself." Not stopping there, Conway was questioned on how the media has handled the president. In response, she hit back at the "know-it-alls" in the press, claiming that have been too "negative" on the current commander in chief. Moving forward Kellyanne Conway's appearance on Fox News appears to be starting a new trend for the former campaign manager. Last month it was reported that the White House had banned Conway from appearing on cable news shows after a series of troubling errors, though Donald Trump and the administration appeared to push back at the allegations once the news was made public. In an apparent attempt to minimize the damage, Conway has been relegated to appearing only on Fox News and conservative media outlets to avoid the pressure of a more national and centrist confrontation. Ever since the election of Donald Trump, the political divide in the United States has only gotten worse. While Trump has received much of the attention, many of his closest advisers have also felt the repercussions. Spicer cornered Within days of Donald Trump's historic upset win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, former communications director of the Republican National Committee, Sean Spicer, was tapped to become the new White House Press Secretary. With the former host of "The Apprentice" increasing his war of words with the media, while simultaneously dealing with the growing scandal of alleged Russian interference in the election, Spicer has been forced to deal with the press head on. Whether it's his dealings in front of the camera, or reports of a behind the scenes clash with Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway, Spicer has been in the headlines over the last two months. As reported by the Washington Examiner on March 12, Spicer was confronted by an angry voter during a trip to the Apple Store over the weekend. "How does it feel to work for a fascist? Have you helped with the Russia stuff?," a woman asked while filming Sean Spicer who was shopping at Apple. "Are you a criminal as well? Have you committed treason too, just like the president?" she continued, who goes by the name of "Shree" on Twitter. In response, Spicer smiled and added, "Such a great country that allows you to be here." Sean Spicer ambushed while shopping at the Apple Store | WATCH: https://t.co/2n2iA1TRRZ pic.twitter.com/yUgtZADgwJ Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 12, 2017 "What can you tell me about Russia?" the woman continued, while repeating herself, "what can you tell me?" As Sean Spicer attempted to ignore the woman, Spicer was grilled once again? "How do you feel about destroying our country Sean?" the woman continued, while asking once again, "do you feel good about lying to the American people?" As of press time, the video has been viewed over 80,000 times on Periscope, and has more than 2,000 re-tweets on Twitter. Next up Sean Spicer's altercation with the angry woman in the Apple store only highlights the wide political divide in the United States. Despite vowing to be the president for all Americans, Donald Trump and his election win has only resulted in even more tension that doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon. Ever since Donald Trump was sworn into the White House, constant controversy has surrounded him and his staff. After just under three months in power, the president's top advisers are sending out a warning to his entire team. Trump's warning shot During the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump vowed to pick "the best people" to surround him if he was elected as the 45th President of the United States. Critics had their doubts, often pointing to the people working in his campaign as evidence, most notably the likes of former Breitbart News CEO Steve Bannon, former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, and other allies and associates like Roger Stone. Despite the push back from the mainstream news media, the former host of "The Apprentice" was able to weather the storm and pulled off one of the most shocking political upsets in American history with his win over Democratic nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, in the two and a half months since Trump took his oath of office on Inauguration Day, there have been ongoing reports of trouble behind the scenes, which was confirmed in a April 10 report in Politico. "Weve got essentially two-and-a-half weeks to turn everything around," says one Trump staffer https://t.co/UZ3TQroIhy pic.twitter.com/fKUWVJQAeA POLITICO (@politico) April 10, 2017 Over the weekend, former George W. Bush senior adviser Karl Rove noted that there were three factions inside the White House that are tearing the administration apart. The groups are led by current chief strategist Steve Bannon, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, with all three butting heads over a variety of issues. According to the report in Politico, Trump's top advisers are giving his staff until April 29, the administration's 100th day in office, to made the necessary changes. "One hundred days is the marker," one White House staff member confirmed, explaining "we've got essentially 2 and half weeks to turn everything around." The unnamed staffer went on to admit that "this is going to be a monumental task." The report goes on to note that over 30 staff members gathered together in the White House last week and spoke to communication director Mike Dubke about a much-needed "re-branding" of the administration. Donald Trump apparently didn't know about meeting, with one offical being quoted as saying, "I think the presidents head would explode if he heard that." Karl Rove: White House staff has been "leaking on each other for weeks" https://t.co/xBN01MlEWK pic.twitter.com/9ebaoSfYJF The Hill (@thehill) April 10, 2017 Trump trouble Also taking part in the meeting was Kellyanne Conway, who helped break the staff into three sections and used whiteboards and markers to describe the strategy moving forward. One offical who was in attendance said the experience made him feel like he was back in elementary school. "It made me feel like I was back in fifth grade," he said. As of press time, it's unknown what will take place if the so-called "re-branding" doesn't occur, but it's another example of the issues going on behind the scenes in the Donald Trump White House. On Thursday, an NBC affiliate from Los Angeles published an account of a law student named Dyne Suh who was rejected by an #AirBnB host at the last minute because she was Asian. The name of the host Tami Baker Sutter was floated around on social media, but was eventually confirmed by users on social media who contributed information, who doing some investigative work of their own as a result of triggered outrage. The initial incident took place in February when Suh was on her way to an Airbnb winter cabin she reserved in Running Springs, California. Up to the day of her stay, the media source detailed that she added two more people to the reservation with other reports saying that she added a few pets as well. The Airbnb host had been notified of the changes and also okayed them, revealing that Tami was fine with the adjustments. The weather was terrible on the night they traveled to the cabin on Feb. 17, Suh used the Airbnb app to contact Tami, letting her know that she was nearby and asked how they would pay for adding two friends. As the Washington Post said -- as they also picked up the story, that's when their trip took a turn. Tami Barker Sutter's racism While various reports on this incident provided the back-and-forth between Tami and Dyne, Dyne took a screenshot of the chat and posted in on Facebook immediately after it happened. But the exchange has two highlights which capture the vitriol instigated by #Tami Barker Sutter. The first is when she said: Go ahead. I wouldn't rent to u if you were the last person on earth. One word says it all, Asian. But the second highlight was her follow up to Dyne's protest against her racism when she said, It's why we have Trump. Dyne is 25-years-old and has been in America since she was three. Despite this, Sutter made two things very clear in her final message to Dyne, that she was contributing to some cause driven by a nationalist, nativist agenda and that Dyne's ethnicity made her a foreigner and outsider; or someone she felt didn't belong under that agenda. And I will not allow this country to be told what to do by foreigners. Dyne Suh would be fortunate enough to find a reporter in the area who was covering the winter storm with a crew from CW affiliate KTLA 5 who would eventually release the report. Identifying the host In all of her posts, the law student did not want to reveal Tami's full name but would only say that the Airbnb host was an ESL teacher at a college in the area. This would appear to be enough to go on to not only confirm her as the host but to also learn more about where she actually teaches ESL. Airbnb has already permanently removed Sutter from the Airbnb program but Dyne recalls when she told Tami that she would report her to the company, Sutter didn't just say that she didn't care but she was also not prepared for the backlash to be so great. According to the information collected on the former Airbnb host, Tami Barker Sutter is listed as an adjunct professor for 2016 with Chaffey College. It's suspected that she might also be currently employed at Mt. San Jacinto College and perhaps even the University of California in Riverside. One person on social media reached out to ETS Global where Tami was employed as a test scorer for K-12 standardized tests since Jan 2015 and spoke to one of the executives. The person who spoke with the executive who wishes to not be identified were told that they would conduct an internal review. They were also able to collect and post a series of cached links of Tami's Internet profiles that have been deleted since the story went viral. They also published contacts to the colleges and demanded that people pressure them and the California Board of Education to get rid of Tami. It was also discovered thatTami's husband Jonathan Sutter, also worked at Chaffey College as a chemistry professor. While trying to confirm this information, it was discovered that his LinkedIn account had been deleted, just as his wife's had. It should also be mentioned that comments left on at least one of the College Facebook profiles were being deleted by the page admin and that those leaving reviews on the page about Tami Sutter were being blocked. Those reviews, however, cannot be deleted, resulting in what might very well be a stressful situation for the college. It was also discovered that someone went to the Wikipedia page for Chaffey College and added Tami Baker Sutter's name under the Notable people section that read: "White supremacist, ESL Instructor and Substitute Teacher, Airbnb Host that discriminated against an Asian-American woman. So many animals are found roaming the streets of Dallas, Texas, becoming a stray for a number of reasons. They could be abandoned, abused, neglected or runaways. Residents in both north and south Dallas have complained about the loose dog problem, carrying with them some type of blunt object for protection in the event of an attack. Authorities have decided that they need to resolve the number of stray animals through a new Spay And Neuter program. Currently, it is estimated that 80 percent of South Dallas dogs are not fixed compared to 15 percent of dogs in North Dallas. Funding provided to nonprofit leaders to engage in massive spay and neuter program The Rees-Jones Foundation, W. W. Caruth Foundation and the Dallas Foundation raised a substantial amount of money necessary to carry out a massive spay and neuter effort in the southern part of Dallas, Texas. Out of $24 million to start the proposed spay and neuter campaign, they were able to donate $13.5 million for the project. Because of the huge Stray Dog issue, the goal was to have more than 46,000 dogs fixed. Veterinarians from Operation Kindness, Spay Neuter Network and the SPCA of Texas were scheduled to perform the surgeries. Mayor Mike Rawlings endorses the spay and neuter efforts Southern Dallas' sea of shivering stray dogs still on the streets | @SharonFGrigsby https://t.co/0YvOS1yagi pic.twitter.com/qPhRQLScjr DMN Opinion (@DMNOpinion) January 13, 2016 Mayor Rawlings triumphed over the efforts of the proposed spay and neuter campaign because of the growing stray dog problem. He said that this plan is the key to solving the loose dog problem long term. Although this has been an issue for quite some time, it became a crisis when an Army vet by the name of Antoinette Brown, 52, died as a result of a gruesome dog attack by a pack of stray dogs. Her horrifying incident coincided with an effort to generate funds for a Boston Consulting Group study of the citys animal control and shelter operations. The BCG study emphasized the problem with stray animals and engaging in a spay and neuter campaign, but it was in its infancy. Now, it is believed that Dallas has set the stage for other communities that may be facing similar issues. To carry out the plan, mobile spay and neuter trucks will visit areas of concern to perform the surgeries. In some cases, the dog will be transported to local clinics, which includes helping pets of owners who do not have the means or time to get their pets fixed. This program is not only to help the community but also affects the quality of life of the dogs fixed. A shooting incident at the North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino has resulted in two adults dead and two students critically injured. San Bernardino police Lt. Vicki Cervantes said the students have been airlifted to a local area hospital and so far, their condition is unknown. According to the Los Angeles Times, police were called out to the scene at 10:27 on Monday, with the initial call saying shots fired, followed by the announcement possible active shooter. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan sent out a tweet to say the incident occurred in a classroom and that it appeared to be a murder-suicide. In a later tweet Burguan said they believed the suspect was down and that there was no further threat. The second adult victim was a female teacher. At the time the San Bernardino County Fire Department had reported multiple gunshot victims and a triage station was set up to treat the injured. Other schools in the area were briefly evacuated and once it was established that the shooter was down they were allowed to reopen. Students evacuated to Cal State San Bernardino According to a spokesman for the university, Joe Gutierrez, students at the school were evacuated to the physical education building at Cal State San Bernardino a couple of blocks away, where they could have access to water and bathrooms. As reported by the KTLA5 livestream, parents were naturally worried about their children and were directed to the Cajon High School for verification of their identity before they traveled to the university to collect their children. There was reportedly some confusion among parents as to where they should pick up their children, but Cajon High School was purely for identification purposes. Police: 2 adults dead in apparent murder-suicide in San Bernardino, Calif., classroom; 2 wounded, possibly students https://t.co/hCQCKVQ3X0 pic.twitter.com/NoD79dZZmE CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) April 10, 2017 One parent, Brad Hendran, told CNN that he was at the school looking for his daughter. She is reportedly in the second grade at the school. He said he fell to his knees and prayed and that he hopes she is OK. Shooting suspect has been identified by police, investigations continue Police have already identified the shooting suspect and were heading to his home to collect evidence. Reportedly the male suspect did sign in at the main office at the school and was carrying a concealed handgun. It is believed there may have been a relationship between the shooter and the female victim. Police do not believe the children were targeted in the shooting incident. According to the Los Angeles Times, there are 522 students at North Park Elementary School between kindergarten and sixth grade. The students are reportedly mostly from low-income Latino families. As more details emerge about what exactly happened on that united airlines flight that caused so much controversy this past Sunday, one thing's clear: United CEO Oscar Munoz is sticking by his employees. Munoz sent out a letter to staff members encouraging them- while possibly criticizing the actions of the passenger involved NBC News reports that while Munoz did issue a public apology on Monday, stating that the airline would initiate a thorough investigation into the events leading up to a passenger's forced removal from a United plane, he also sent a letter to his staff. That letter indicated that he had their backs- but it also seemed to criticize the conduct of David Dao, the Chinese doctor dragged off of the overbooked plane headed from Chicago to Louisville. David Dao was dragged off of a plane against his will to make up for a United Airlines mistake For those who may not be aware, Dao was one of the passengers "randomly" chosen to give up his plane seat after the United crew realized the cabin was too full. After repeated refusals to leave, Police officers were called to the scene to force Dao out. A video recorded by another passenger shows one officer grab Dao, who began screaming. The officer then pulled the doctor over an airline seat and down the aisle, busting his lip in the process. Reports indicate that the man, "dazed, bloodied, (and) kind of in a mess" later managed to somehow get back on the plane. Details as to how this happened are unclear. United Airlines CEO claims his team followed proper protocol According to a statement by Munoz, his team "followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this." He noted that the man was "politely asked" numerous times to leave, all while blatantly and "belligerently" refusing. He then stated that staff had no other option but to call airport security in to deal with the situation. Backlash from the viral video has resonated in china, as sources indicate more than 200 million people have watched it, and almost 100,000 have given mostly negative feedback. Among the comments are several that cry racism, discrimination, and unnecessary use of force. NBC News reports that one viewer even went as far as to describe the whole incident as "brutality," "thuggery," and "barbarity." The outrage is so intense, in fact, that reports indicate many Chinese citizens are considering boycotting the airline. This would put a tremendous dent in the company wallet, as records show the country of 1.3 billion is one of United's biggest markets. United Airlines stock value is steadily decreasing in the wake of the company's fiasco Speaking of lighter pockets, the latest stock polls have also indicated that shares in United Continental Holdings, Inc. have dropped a considerable 2.6% already. Experts analyze that decrease illustrates a loss of around $600 million for the company- in just one day. One of the biggest PR nightmares United Airlines has ever faced, Munoz and his team must work hard to restore its image. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced on Sunday, two days before his visit to Moscow, that he was not clear about the real intentions of Russia to Syria where Russia proved incompetent in overseeing the elimination of chemical arsenals President Bashar al-Assad. "It will be a part of the conversation that we take when I arrive in Moscow next week: I will ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and the Russian government to respect its commitments to the international community that they agreed on when they gave their consent to ensure the elimination of chemical weapons" Tillerson said in an interview with the ABC network. "It is not clear to me why Russia has not been able to fulfill this mission. I do not want to draw a conclusion that they were accomplices, but they clearly are incompetent, and maybe Syrians toyed with them," he added. The international community blamed the regime in Damascus for the chemical attack carried out on Tuesday that killed more than 70 people, including dozens of children. In response, the United States in the evening on Friday threw missiles Tomahawk on Syrian air base. That is the base which Washington holds responsible for the chemical attack on Kan Sejkun. "They are clear allies of Bashar al-Assad," said Tillerson about Russia. "Russia should have a big impact on Assad and not allow him to use chemical weapons". Damascus denies that they brought chemical attack, and Russian President Vladimir Putin considers the American retaliation "aggression against a sovereign state." Putin and Rohani in a telephone interview condemned the US aggression in Syria Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's president Hassan Rouhani in a telephone interview on Sunday said that the US aggression against Syria is not permissible and is, in fact, in violation of international law, the Kremlin announced. The two leaders have called for an objective investigation of chemical attacks in the Syrian city of Idlib and stressed that they are willing to expand cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Kremlin specifies that the telephone conversation occurred on the initiative of Iran. Rohani also met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and told him said that accusations that Syria carried out a chemical attack are only an excuse to break the Syrian peace process, announced an Iranian television. Rohani condemned "obvious American aggression on Syria" and criticized the Arab Gulf States that support it. "Unfortunately there are countries in the region that support American aggression," said Rohani. Saudi Arabia has called the attacks "a courageous decision," of President Donald Trump and the United Arab Emirates reiterated this support. Both countries are part of the coalition against the militants of the Islamic state in Syria, led by the United States. A total of 59 missiles were launched Thursday against Syrian Air Force facilities in Homs in response to what President Donald Trump said was a chemical-controlled attack on a rebel-controlled city, that happened two days before. Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said that according to the U.S. intelligence, planes that dropped bombs loaded with a nerve agent in the town of Khan Sheikhoun and killed more than 80 people. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied using chemical weapons but, Shayrat has a very close past with this kind of arsenal. A key place in the war The Shayrat airbase is located in the province of Homs, about 25 km southeast of the homonymous city. With an area of about 10 square kilometers, it has two runways of 3 km in length, as well as dozens of hangars, buildings and storage facilities. This site has been occupied by the Syrian military since the civil war began six years ago. In Shayrat, chemical weapons were stored until 2013 when Al-Assad agreed to their destruction. At that time his forces were accused of firing missiles full of sarin gas in the suburbs of Damascus, killing hundreds of people. In early November 2015, just over a month after launching an air strike against Al Assad's opponents, the Russian army began using Shayrat as the base of operations for Mi-24 and Mi-35 type attack helicopters. The attack on Khan Sheikhoun On Tuesday, U.S. military radar systems Detected that a Syrian Air Force aircraft took off from Shayrat and flew over Khan Sheikhoun twice: at 06:37 local time (03:37 GMT) and again 10 minutes later. The United States military sources told NBC News that the radars detected flashes on the ground, indicating that something had been thrown into the rebel-controlled city. At the same time, hundreds of people began to suffer symptoms compatible with the reaction to a nerve agent. According to Russia, Syrian aircraft had hit a rebel tank full of chemical weapons, but Trump disagreed. "There is no doubt that Syria used banned chemical weapons," president Donald Trump said in a brief speech Thursday night. The bombardment of the base Around 03:40 local time (00:40 GMT) on Friday, two U.S. Navy destroyers located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea launched 59 Tomahawk missiles on the Syrian air base. The United States had already carried out air strikes against jihadist groups in Syria, but this is the first time it has directly attacked the Syrian government since the war began in 2011. 'Chicago Justice' posed the question this week of who should go to jail if someone who is being abused and decides to commit suicide. Peter Stone, the prosecutor, prosecuted a woman's ex-boyfriend for murder after the woman committed suicide. The question is, was he really guilty of murder, or was the victim responsible for her own death? Lily is a juror on a case that Assistant District Attorney Stone is prosecuting. She asks to be excused from the case because she feels she is under too much pressure after being a juror in the case. Two days later she is found dead, and the district attorney's office believes she has been murdered. Why did Lily commit suicide? Lily is forced to finish the trial in spite of her objections. The defendant in the case is found guilty, and Lily rushes from the courtroom. After she drowned, and her body is discovered, the police believe she was murdered because they find her with duct tape on her mouth and around her wrists. Jurors are put into protective custody while the investigators tried to discover who killed Lily. The 'Chicago Justice' investigators track down a list of suspects who were tied to the defendant in the case. A series of texts are discovered that lead the investigators to Lily's son. Sam's father has been pressuring Lily to get off the jury or lose her son. Lilly is also being evicted from her home, and her sister has also died in the past three months. A film is later discovered where it shows Lily jumping into the water. She has drugs in her blood and river water in her lungs, and she drowned. Stone believes Lily was stalked and harassed by Jackson, Sam's father, in such a way that she didn't want to live anymore. Jackson filed multiple complaints of child abuse against Lily, and Stone believes the pressure of her situation caused her to commit suicide. Who was responsible: Lily or the father of her child? 'Chicago Justice' brings up a gut-wrenching question for all of us. If a person is pushed hard enough and long enough, can that person finally just give up and commit suicide to escape the harassment? Are those who harassed and stalked the victim responsible for the death, and should they be prosecuted for murder? Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Everyone struggles with stress at one time or another. Although 'Chicago Justice' points to the seriousness of what harassment and what too much pressure can do to a person, there is still the issue of personal responsibility. Does there need to be a law on the books where those who stalk and harass others are charged with murder and sent to jail? Although it would be easy to say that those who harass and stalk pushed the person to commit suicide, it fails to answer the question of how much responsibility lies with the person who committed suicide. Although it is a tragedy, and those who harass and stalk are responsible for their actions, ultimately the decision to commit suicide lies with the person who made the decision to die. There are no easy answers in a situation like this, and 'Chicago Justice' makes a valid point that those who harass and stalk need to be held accountable for their actions. Jail time certainly needs to be a consideration here because stalking and harassment are already crimes. Classifying these actions as murder because the person who committed suicide may be taking it too far though as the stalker isn't the one taking the life. What do you think? Who ultimately bears responsibility for the suicide? Did the prosecutors in 'Chicago Justice' go too far in prosecuting the ex-boyfriend? 'Chicago Justice' is the fourth show in the Chicago series. It airs on Monday nights at 10:00 p.m. As the United States Navys Strike Group with the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson takes up position in the Korean Peninsula the worlds three Superpowers are playing a deadly game that is worrying other governments around the world. The new Cold War is heating up and the small dictatorships are using the opportunity to increase their hold on power. Consequences After last weeks American missile strike on the Syrian airbase of Shayrat in reply to the Basher Al-Assad regimes gas attack on the rebel held town of Khan Sheikhoum the North Korean dictatorship of Kim Jong-un replied that the American attack justified its development of nuclear weapons. This statement demonstrates the intricacies on international politics where every player tries to lever concessions from more powerful players. At the same time the three most powerful players on the planet are circling around each other as they seek to embarrass their opponents and increase their influence on friends and foes alike. The United States, Russia and China are dancing to a tune made up of political and economic interests. Over recent years Russia has become ever more aggressive in its foreign policy, openly involving itself in Syria and continuing a conflict with the Ukraine that saw the Russian bear annexing Crimea from the ex member of the Soviet Union. Behind the scenes it has also working to destabilize the most important democracies and last years presidential election in the United States is not the only case where Russia is suspected of covert actions against democratic elections. China is not only building an enormous economic empire but it is also overseeing a major expansion of its military forces. Its construction of artificial islands which are also military bases in the South China Sea is a source of worry for the United States and its Asian allies, especially those who consider parts of the sea as their sovereign territory. The United States now finds itself with an Oval Office which has few foreign policy objectives besides its core belief of America first. In fact, last weeks attack on Syria angered many Trump supporters as he had broken a promise not to undertake such missions during his presidency. The Oval Office has also weakened the State Department with proposed budget cuts and the failure to fill all the positions required by the department, thus making it more difficult for Washington to find diplomatic solutions to difficult situations. Dictators This dance between the superpowers has allowed dictators such as Kim Jong-un in North Korea and Syrias Bashar Al-Assad to use their allies China and Russia as a buffer against United States actions in their regards. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson must now look at their political agenda and put in place precise plans against both Moscow and Beijing which also involve Americas allies who are worried by their long term intentions. Diplomacy is not an art played in the press but an art where the most important moves are often made in discrete direct contacts or via intermediaries in situations where the antagonists have no direct contact, such as between America and North Korea. America first At risk is not economic profit but all too often the lives of civilians and particularly children as we saw in Khan Sheikhoum last week in the images which reportedly moved President Trump to military action. This is the dance where America must show that it is truly the first of the superpowers but it cannot do so without a clear and direct policy and without an Administration that functions at the top of its capabilities. Reports of divisions in the White House even before the end of its honeymoon period only help Russia and China. The United States will lose its first place if it does not take the lead in these matters and this is not by ordering attacks but by dealing directly with the real opponents in Moscow and Beijing. America first begins by acting first and best. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not taken kindly to the U.S. missile attack on the Shayrat air base in central Syria and has said that it is on the verge of a war with the United States. According to the New Zealand Herald, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has branded the attack as an act of breaking international law since it was done without the approval of the United Nations. He also criticized Donald Trump for launching an attack on a legitimate government. Actions taken by Russia One of the first actions taken by Vladimir Putin in retaliation to the U.S. attack was to send the Russian Black Sea frigate into the Mediterranean where US Navy destroyers are present. The Tomahawk missile attacks were launched from U.S. warships to destroy the Syrian air base. The Russian frigate is 4000-ton Admiral Grigorovich and it departed from Sevastopol, in Crimea. It is equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles and could dock in the Syrian port of Tartus. This frigate can stay off the Syrian coast for up to a month and was a part of the joint naval drills that was recently conducted between Russia and Turkey in the Black Sea. The second action taken by Russia is to deactivate the specialized military hotline which had been installed with the explicit purpose of avoiding conflict with the US because of the airstrike in Syria. This hotline was an essential channel of communication in times of tension and was used by the U.S. to keep the Kremlin informed about impending air strikes. Is a major war in the offing? The missile strike by the United States has been commended by leaders from around the world including the UK, Australia, Germany, France, Turkey, Italy and New Zealand among others. However, Russia has not only condemned it but has also vowed to add might to Syrias air defenses. Battle Lines are drawn and the sabers rattled. The situation is a turbulent one and the world will be divided over how to tackle the battle of giants. One thing is certain, that such a conflict must be avoided and a solution worked out that would be beneficial to humanity. The present unrest in Syria and the loss of lives and property is proof that war does not pay. World leaders like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin must put their heads together to resolve the issue and not resort to a show of strength that would lead to the death of innocents. They must exercise restraint and not allow the situation to go out of control. It's become almost a weekly routine but "Saturday Night Live" has made mocking President Donald Trump the most must-see portion of their broadcast. After a few weeks on the sidelines, Alec Baldwin returned to the role as commander in chief. Baldwin blasts Trump When Donald Trump officially announced his presidential campaign back in June 2015, it didn't take long before comedians set their sights on the former host of "The Apprentice." While many took a shot at poking fun of Trump, it was Alec Baldwin who perfected the role. Baldwin has owned the spot at the satirical version of the president, which has received rave reviews from critics, despite push back from Trump himself. Until earlier this year, Trump made it a habit out of lashing out on Twitter about the show, referring to Baldwin as "sad" and "not funny." With just weeks to go before the election, the billionaire real estate mogul went as far as calling for "SNL" to be taken off the air, and even predicted its certain demise. Fast forward to present day and Trump has remained quiet with his criticism, while the cast and crew of "Saturday Night Live" are enjoying their highest ratings in years. As seen on the March 11 episode, Trump was the butt of the joke once again. In a mockery of Donald Trump's recent trip to speak to members of the military, Alec Baldwin kicked off the show with a cold open. Wearing a military jacket, Baldwin touted "the best military" in his speech to the soldiers, encouraging them to "beat the aliens." Going off script, Baldwin's version of Trump started ranting about "bringing coal back" and "winning the popular vote" despite being warned by the generals that aliens from outer space were about to arrive and battle the humans. Alec Baldwin returns as Trump to battle aliens in #SNL cold open https://t.co/kSCcAGg6F0 pic.twitter.com/OWHqPaiZzv Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 12, 2017 As the apparent alien invasion began, the satirical Trump was informed that Trump Tower had been attacked in New York City, which the president responded by accusing two African-American women of being actual aliens. When asked where he got his information, Baldwin's Trump referenced the conspiracy website Infowars, and praising host Alex Jones. The skit came to an end when the aliens arrived and met the president. (Full skit in the video above.) Moving forward While "Saturday Night Live" and others continue to take shots at Donald Trump and the White House, the president has real issues he must continue to deal with. The latest trouble facing Trump is pushing back at the reports that hint there is a scandal involving Russia and members of his administration, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, while also trying to get enough Republicans on board to support the party's alternative to Obamacare. Kailyn Lowry and Javi Marroquin have been hot topics during this season of "Teen Mom 2." Their divorce has been playing out in front of millions of viewers as they get to watch and see what living in that moment looked like to those around them. Lowry and Marroquin had a really hard time getting along post-split, and it led to some serious issues between the two. First, Javi Marroquin was essentially told to find somewhere else to live by Kailyn Lowry. She is going to remain in their house and he needed to find somewhere else to stay when he returned from Qatar last fall. Then, the two have constantly been fighting, even in front of the children. Lowry has admitted to calling Jo Rivera to come pick up Isaac because things have been tense. One particular incident happened when Marroquin found another guy in the house with Kailyn. Allegations of cheating have surfaced Not all of the cheating allegations have been against Kailyn Lowry, but most of them have. Javi Marroquin was rumored to have been seeing someone when he was stationed away. During the "Teen Mom 2" episode last Monday, some words were said that could have been taken the wrong way. When Lowry admits to sleeping with someone else, it is unclear whether or not she meant while Javi was deployed or after they officially split. He seems to believe she cheated on him while he was gone and there are some fans who agree with that. One thing is for sure about this couple, they cannot get along. Kailyn Lowry and Javi Marroquin tried to work through their issues when they filmed "Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars" last fall. It will be airing at some point this year and features the two trying to work on communication for the sake of their son, Lincoln. What lies ahead at the reunion? With only a few episodes left of "Teen Mom 2" before the reunion, there is no telling what to expect. Last year, Javi Marroquin wasn't present for the actual taping, he was videoed in to talk about his issues with Kailyn Lowry. This year, they will be in California and fans believe it will be intense for both of them, especially with the new pregnancy reveal. Even though President Trump refused to say what his next move on Syria would be, the U.S. military strike on the al-Shayrat airbase on Friday was certainly a Show Of Force. In a similar show of force, it was reported that Russia was sending a frigate armed with cruise missiles to the Mediterranean as a response against the United States. Russian state media has said that the Admiral Grigorovich was expected to be there for at least a month depending on developments in the region. One report by CNN said that this was the largest deployment from Russia in 20-years. Other reports say that this is Russia's most advanced frigate with state-of-the-art weaponry and is heading towards the two destroyers that launched 59 tomahawk missiles towards the airbase, the USS Ross and the USS Porter. The cruise missile attack reportedly destroyed 20 planes and cratered the airbase. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that six people were killed during the attack. The attack was okayed by the Trump administration after intelligence showed that a plane carrying chemical weapons took off from that airbase before it bombed and kill 80 civilians with them. Russia on the defensive The differences with the reporting on the chemical attack on Tuesday between western and Russian media is that Russian state media says that the Syrian government did not conduct the strikes and instead blamed the rebels on the ground, claiming that rebels were storing chemical weapons in a building which they say must have been hit by airstrikes. This is similar to the response Russian's had last year under the previous administration after a Red Crescent humanitarian convoy was hit by a Russian air strike, denying it, saying that rebels must have hit it or that the convoy had exploded by itself. Since Russia's involvement in the Syrian Civil War, they have been entirely against removing President Assad and have acted as the intermediary between the United States and the Syrian government, even promising to make sure that Assad got rid of all of their chemical weapons back in 2013 which no longer appeared to be the case after Tuesday's latest chemical strike. During the period of transition between the Obama and Trump administrations, the Russians have only increased their presence in Syria, their attacks on Aleppo, and have also been accused of intentionally killing civilians. Following Friday's strike on the Syrian airbase, Russian president Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of committing an act of aggression and has reportedly suspended the agreement that would prevent the collision of their planes with those of the United States over Syria. Other Russian vessel threats According to various reports, the Admiral Grigorovich is armed with the latest and deadliest Kalibr missiles. Russian state media reported that the Grigorovich launched cruise missiles at ISIS targets in Syria from the Mediterranean in November of last year. Blasting News reported last year that Russia was sending warships to the Mediterranean through the English Channel as a show of force to the international community. The article states that the ships could have gone through another and even faster route to their destination but that they were clearly making a statement by going through the English Channel. In February and then again in March, various media outlets reported the sighting of Russian spy ship the Viktor Leonov, first seen off the coast of Connecticut and then twice in March off the coast of Georgia. The spy ship is said to have high-tech equipment that intercepts communication signals. The reasons for the view that it was a sign of aggression is because it was apparently one of the few times it ventured so far North. It was also reported in February that the same USS Porter involved in the attack on the Syrian airbase, was buzzed near the Black Sea by an armed Su-24 which was said to be conducting a mock attack against the U.S. military. Last October, Russia also rejected the accusation by the UN Security Council against Syria just as they did last week that Assad had used chemical weapons on their own people. Blasting News also covered the event which described how the Russians rejected a report from an investigation on the use of chemical attacks, preventing a process from moving forward to eventually hold the Syrian government accountable. Currently, it's also suggested that Russia might have had something to do with the chemical attack as well which is apparently also being investigated. China's top education authority signed memorandums of understanding in Beijing on Tuesday with several provinces and regions of the country to facilitate their educational cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. The signing ceremony is one of the efforts by the Ministry of Education to prepare for the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which will be held in Beijing on May 14 and 15. Upon signing the MOUs, officials from Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shaanxi and Qinghai provinces, Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Qingdao, a city in Shandong province, promised to fully use their educational resources to serve the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. They also expressed their determination to contribute to the establishment of an educational community in participating countries through in-depth exchanges and cooperation and nurturing talent. To boost China's educational cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road, the ministry issued a plan in July, and since September has signed MOUs with several provinces, regions and cities involved in the initiative. According to the MOUs, the ministry will offer participants support in their student exchanges, setting up educational institutions and conducting regional research. Leonore Baulac in Swan Lake [Photo by Svetlana Loboff/China Daily] Leonore Baulac is the new principal dancer of the Paris Opera Ballet, one of the most selective ballet companies in the world alongside Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet and London's Royal Ballet. At just 26 years old, she's achieved the highest rank here, she shares her rise to the top and her lifetime of dance, both on and off the stage. Was it your dream of a lifetime to become a principal dancer? Indeed! I started dancing when I was four years old. At 11, I took part in a competition with my favourite dancer, Jose Martinez, as a member of the jury I even had a poster of him in my bedroom at the time. I received the gold medal and since that day I dreamt of becoming a danseuse etoile [principal dancer] so that I could dance with him. The world of dance is known as an extremely tough environment. Is it? Well, when you're so committed to ballet, you don't have the same adolescence as others I wasn't a party girl. But it wasn't a sacrifice; it was my choice. As for the cliche about the bad atmosphere at dance school, think of this: what happens when dozens of young girls are gathered in the same room? At that age, whether you dance or not, you're not the sweetest creature on earth. Let's talk about the big day how did you feel when Aurelie Dupont [the Paris Operas new dance director] and Stephane Lissner [the Paris Opera's director] made the announcement? It was crazy! Of course, there were favourable circumstances, as it was the first time I danced Odile/Odette in Swan Lake, a leading role with Germain Louvet [who was appointed principal dancer a few days before Baulac] on New Years Eve. But I was actually 100% focused on my interpretation in order to do the best possible show and not thinking about a promotion. Its not good to dance while thinking, "If I don't dance well tonight, I won't be promoted." One, you never know what will happen and two, you prefer to think it won't happen anyway in order to keep the stress away. So when I saw them climbing on stage at the end of the ballet, I thought, "Okay, they're here for me. Enjoy it, this is your moment it only happens once in a lifetime." You know, it's very strange to be alone in front of 3,000 people I bowed at least 12 times! In the past, whenever I looked at my watch and it was 11:11 or 22:22, I used to wish I would become a danseuse etoile. Now that it's done, I wish for peace in the world! [laughs] What repertoire would you like to explore in the next few years? I love to tell stories, to play characters and to move my audience to a different universe. I would love to dance in Pina Bausch's Rite of Spring. It must be a very different experience. The first time I saw it, I had an aesthetic shock. The dancers are barefoot, wild and covered with dust the audience can even hear them breathing. This ballet gives a very special collective effect that I'd love to experience. As for the more classical repertoire, I love dramatic love stories. I really enjoyed dancing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet; the costumes were amazing. I would also like to dance in Onegin, Manon and Giselle. There's this amazing scene in Giselle when she turns mad; I'm sure it's a real thrill to dance. What changes when you become a soloist? A few years ago, when I was working on The Nutcracker with Germain Louvet, and it was my first great role, I remember that Aurelie Dupond prophetically told us, "You two will be soloists one day, I'm sure. You should prepare yourselves. Whether you want it or not, it will come and it's not an easy thing to deal with." And she was right being a soloist is very challenging. When people come to see an etoile, they expect something extraordinary and you have to give it to them, even if you're having a bad day. There's nobody you can hide behind. And there are a lot of things you have to think about as a soloist. I remember one night I danced Clara in The Nutcracker and the neck of the doll was broken. So I spent half of the ballet keeping the head on the bust in order to maintain that fairytale mood and not let it turn into a horror show. These are the kinds of things one cannot imagine from the outside. The CEO of United Airlines apologized to customers on Monday after videos on social media showed an Asian passenger being dragged kicking, screaming and bleeding from his face through the aisle of an overbooked United flight at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport after refusing to give up his seat. "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers," said United CEO Oscar Munoz in a statement. "Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation." Chicago's Aviation Department said one of its officers involved in dragging the man off the flight did not follow standard operating procedures and has been placed on leave. The videos on social media show a man with his glasses nearly falling off his face being dragged off by officers. It appears the man is of Asian descent. The Associated Press was unable to confirm the passenger's identity or ethnicity, according to ABC. A witness told NBC News the incident began after the airline said the Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, flight was overbooked and asked four customers to give up their seats voluntarily for compensation and take a flight the following day. Four crew members needed to get on the flight to work another one in Louisville or else that flight would be canceled, an airline spokeswoman said. When no one volunteered, the airline was forced into an "involuntary de-boarding situation", airline spokesman Charlie Hobart said. United used a system that weighs a number of factors to determine which passengers would leave the flight. "The system in place enables us to take a look at how long a customer will need to stay at an airport, for example," Hobart said. United Chinese Americans, an umbrella organization for Chinese groups in the US, said in a statement on Monday that it was "immensely disturbed by the violent and wrong action taken yesterday to remove a 69-year old Chinese American doctor from the plane by police from Chicago Department of Aviation and United Airlines at O'Hare International Airport". "We demand an immediate and thorough investigation by United Airlines as well as by FAA regarding this horrible incident as well as about the booking and other industry practices adopted by the airlines in general," the statement said. "The deep rooted culture and ongoing practice of resorting to violence prematurely and unnecessarily, sometimes even fatally, by police must be examined, stopped and changed." Tyler Bridges, who posted video of the incident on Twitter, told NBC that first a young couple was asked to leave and, "they're not happy, but they get off. No problem," Bridges said. Then the unidentified man in the video was asked to leave, Bridges said. "He says he's a doctor and has to be in Louisville in the morning to see patients," he said. "He says he can't be delayed a day." Writing on Twitter, passenger Jayse D. Anspach said "no one volunteered (to leave), so @United decided to choose for us. They chose an Asian doctor and his wife," according to Reuters. Hobart said United employees explained the situation to the man several times, but he still refused to leave the plane. When he refused, they followed Department of Transportation protocol and called local law enforcement to forcibly remove him from the plane. The Chicago Police Department said in a statement on Monday that around 6 pm on Sunday, a 69-year-old passenger "became irate" after he was asked to leave the plane. "The passenger in question began yelling to voice his displeasure at which point Aviation Police were summoned," police said in the statement. Police claimed the officers were attempting to carry the man off the flight "when he fell". "His head subsequently struck an armrest causing injuries to his face," police said. paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com (China Daily USA 04/11/2017 page2) US experts advise not to focus too much on deficits and currency US economists believe the focus by US President Donald Trump's administration on trade deficits with China and Chinese currency is the wrong approach. They made the comments after the first meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping in Florida last week. Both the US and Chinese governments have spoken positively of the informal summit at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Larry Summers, a former US treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001, and an economic adviser to former president Barack Obama in 2009 and 2010, compared the talk in the US on China's alleged currency manipulation to the discussion of changing the one-China policy. In an op-ed in The Washington Post on Monday, he called both discussions "unconstructive at best and possibly dangerous." Summers, now a professor at Harvard University, described the disruption of China trade in the US as "the result of China's remarkable growth and increase in capacity to produce, not unfair policies". "So focusing on China's trade deficit with the United States is largely misguided," he wrote. Summers returned from a recent trip to China and described how he was impressed by China's One Belt One Road initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He said such Chinese investment will pay dividends over time, secure Chinese access to raw materials, allow Chinese firms to gain economies of scale and help China to win friends. "A true strategic US-China economic dialogue would revolve around the objectives of global cooperation and the respective roles of the two powers," he wrote. William Reinsch, a distinguished fellow of the Stimson Center and a former president of the National Foreign Trade Council, agreed. He called China's currency manipulation something that "happened a long time ago", saying if it is being manipulated now, it is to prop it up, not to keep it down". "So in a bizarre way, they are doing us a favor," Reinsch said at a talk on China-US economic relations on Monday, reflecting a view shared by many economists. He expressed his disappointment that many people in the US still focus on the manipulation issue and can't go beyond that. The US Treasury is expected to issue its currency report this month. The prospect of naming China a currency manipulator is seen as unlikely, in sharp contrast to Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail, when he said he would name China a currency manipulator on his first day in office. Reinsch also argued that the trade deficit is a wrong way to approach the US-China trade issue, saying more emphasis should be placed on boosting US exports. "The last time our deficits went down significantly was during the recession in 2009. The weaker our economy is, the less we buy, the trade deficit goes down. That's exactly what happened," he said. He said most economists would tell Trump, "You're pursuing a wrong goal." Reinsch criticized trade skeptics in the US. He argued that US companies' presence in China and other countries is a win-win situation, saying that when US companies are producing in China, they don't just create jobs in China and benefit China but also create jobs in the US and create wealth, income and exports for the US. David Dollar, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, believed the summit did provide some guidance as to how future negotiations are likely to go. "Most importantly, the atmosphere was polite and respectful, compared to the heated rhetoric of the campaign," Dollar wrote in an article posted on the Brookings website. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com (China Daily USA 04/11/2017 page2) Forgetting history is a betrayal. Failing to remember the history of Asian Americans' battle for equality could result in a reoccurrence of discrimination and prosecution against Asian Americans. Fortunately, we now have an opportunity to review a dark chapter of the early 1990s in San Francisco when Asian Americans were treated as inferiors but rose up as a group to prevail. Tucked away in a serene neighborhood adjacent to the hustling financial district, the Chinese Historical Society of America is now hosting an exhibit titled Earthquake: The Chinatown Story. Curators said they initiated the exhibit to commemorate the April 18, 1906, San Francisco earthquake which literally left much of the city in ashes. The specific focus of the exhibit is the rebuilding of the earthquake-ravaged Chinatown. According to archives, the devastating earthquake caused widespread fires and broke water mains, but it did not damage any major structures in Chinatown. "Soldiers used explosives to create a firebreak," the exhibit notes read. "By 4 pm, the troops demolished the buildings on Kearny and Clay Streets. Unfortunately, instead of stopping the fire, the explosions caused new fires. By April 19, all of Chinatown was reduced to a heap of ashes. The fire burned for four days and four nights." Because of Chinatown's geographic location - the hill behind was an effective wind barricade and in front was a breathtaking view of San Francisco's port and the bay - the area had been coveted by Western developers long before the earthquake. In February 1905, the San Francisco-based Merchants' Association Review claimed that "San Francisco may be freed from the standing menace of Chinatown, and plans have been arranged, and a corporation formed to turn the Chinese Quarter into a business section and build a new Oriental City on the bay shore." Other interest groups around the Bay Area also used the post-quake moment to market the idea of removing Chinese people from their communities. In a column titled Let us have no more Chinatowns in our cities published in the Oakland Enquirer on April 23, 1906, a writer proposed that "never in the past has there been such opportunity as now to forever do away with the huddling together of Chinese in districts where it is undesirable, from the standpoint of civilization, to permit the lower and vicious classes of Orientals to congregate." The author continued, "the opportunity should be promptly seized and vigorously prosecuted to the end that no more Chinatowns should be permitted to exist in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley, Alameda or other nearly cities." Historically, properties in Chinatown were expensive. Owners at the moment that Chinatown was burnt down managed to eventually sell the lands to rich Westerners for construction of opulent residences, and force Asian-American residents to relocate. As soon as the then-San Francisco mayor Eugene Schmitz decreed Chinatown's destruction and announced a proposed relocation site in Cow Palace, leaders in the Chinese community mobilized to fight back. Editor Ng Poon Chew of Chung Sai Yat Po, a Chinese-language newspaper that resumed operations after the quake, suggested a three-pronged strategy to preserve Chinatown's location: hire attorneys to protect the interests of Chinese residents; rebuild immediately without waiting for city approvals; and sign new leases with Caucasian landlords to expedite reconstruction. "If we try our best to fight to stay, who knows who will win in the end?" Ng wrote. "If we are united, if we help ourselves and help each other, we can make the difficult possible." Chinese protests went further and got fiercer. According to a 1906 report in the Oakland Tribune, Gee Gam, pastor of the First Chinese Congregational Church, called the proposed plan downright oppression of Chinese Americans: "Why should they be singled out?" Unified, Chinese merchants wasted no time in rebuilding Chinatown and created a brand new landscape with "survivors' spirit of fortitude and resilience", said the curator of the exhibit. Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com. Harley Seyedin, president of AmCham South China who has been working in China for 25 years, said he believes in sound Sino-US economic relations for the interdependence of the two economies. "Are US-China relations going to be good? Absolutely. They have to be, because the two countries depend on each other in many ways. They depend on each other politically, economically and culturally," he said. Companies from the US are looking to increase their investments in South Chinas modern service, energy and high-end manufacturing sectors as the country transitions to a more moderate phase of growth, according to an AmCham South China survey released earlier this year. AmCham South China represents more than 2,300 US and international members doing business in South China region. From his experience, Seyedin said bilateral economic ties have never been "easy sailing because there is always different interests involved. It has been fruitful and rewarding for all of the people involved in two-way business between the US and China". "Chinas contribution to the US has been in the form of making goods available to US consumers at reasonable prices in a competitive fashion, which has helped raised the standard of living in the US." With the opening-up of the Chinese market, over 77 percent of the member companies in the survey say they are supplying goods or services to the Chinese market, compared with the less than 23 percent in the survey 14 years ago. "Our companies have adjusted to move up the value chain to benefit from the changing market of China." With continued reform and opening-up, the growth of the Chinese consumer market should accelerate, he said. Eager to grab more market share from Chinas industrial upgrading boom, Gregory Hayes, chairman of the Connecticut-headquartered United Technologies Corp, said his company will continue to invest in China. Otis, its elevator brand, will build a 220-meter tower to test the next generation of high-speed elevators in Shanghai this year. The company has already brought all its high-rise research and development facilities to China. "We will also continue to invest on the commercial side. Carrier, our air conditioning, heating and refrigeration subsidiary will continue to make investments they have their R&D center, they are moving into a much larger facility outside of Shanghai this year," said Hayes. Zou Dongtao, director of the China Institute for Development and Reform at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, said with their technology edges, US companies certainly can benefit from Chinas surging demand in modern agriculture, new energy vehicles, aero-engines, green construction, high-end machinery and wind power, over the long term. Courtesy of granitepeaker - Fotolia.com Eighty million years ago, what is today downtown Billings was the sea shore of the Western Interior Seaway that sprawled from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico. Through millions of years, sand and sediments were deposited at the shore, then compressed into the sandstone, eventually shaping into the formation we know today as the Rimrock, clearly visible above the city skyline. The rims are natural shelves with three trails, about 18 miles total, with more than 575 feet of elevation gain. Some trails are paved, and some are steep and run close to the edge of the cliff, requiring a great deal of care. The trails are regularly frequented by local mountain bikers. Popular among Billings' adventurous kids, "Devil's Kitchen" is a deep crack in the Rimrock, above 11th Avenue North, that ends in a cave. -- You are reading "25 Best Things to Do in Billings, Montana" Back to Top Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. HA NOI The Prime Minister will consider granting air transport licence to Vietstar One Member Limited Liability Company (Vietstar) only after the upgradation of Tan Son Nhat airport, the Prime Ministers Office said. The office sent a letter to this effect to the Ministry of Transport, which has been pushing for the licence to be given to Vietstar. The airport revamp project, which includes the construction of additional passenger terminals and aircraft parking areas, scheduled to be completed by 2018, must follow the plan approved by Prime Minister. In March 2016, the owners of Vietstar had submitted a proposal to relevant authorities for a licence for Vietstar Airlines Multirole Corporation (Vietstar Airlines), but the finance ministry had rejected the proposal on the basis that the company had not met the capital requirement for offering passenger and goods transport services. A little over six months later, on October 14, 2016, the transport ministry sent a request to the Government office to grant air transport business licence to Vietstar One Member Limited Liability Company, which had been set up in June 2016 with a capital of VN300 billion (US$13.3 million) in HCM City. If Vietstars investment plan gets the PMs nod, it will start operating its flights with a fleet of seven aircraft, of which five specialise in passenger transport (Airbus A320, A321 and Boeing 737), and two specialise in cargo transport (Boeing 737-300 Freighter). It would be the first airline in the country to use specialised aircraft for cargo transport. The company plans to operate routes that link the north and south of Viet Nam, as well as flights to North and Southeast Asia. It is expected to have the capacity to carry 561,000 travellers and 32,000 tonnes of cargo in the first year of its operation. VNS HA NOI The Vietnamese auto market sold nearly 26,900 cars in March, an increase of 52 per cent compared with the previous month, according to a Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association report. Of this figure, there were 16,806 passenger cars, 8,278 commercial cars and 1,789 special-use units, up 67 per cent, 31 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively. The market witnessed a 35 per cent rise in the sale of locally-assembled cars to touch 18,388 units. Meanwhile, there were 8,484 imported complete built-up units (CBUs), 114 per cent higher than the previous month. The import of cars is forecast to accelerate this year as import tariff in the ASEAN bloc will become zero per cent in 2018. Custom Vietnam recently asked its branches in major cities and provinces to check the certificate of origin on import CBUs when applying the new import tariff rate, especially the origin criteria of vehicles from ASEAN countries. A report from the General Statistics Office showed that Viet Nam imported 19,000 cars in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 169 per cent in volume and 82 per cent in value. VNS HA NOI Sand prices have soared over the past few days, following the Governments order to tighten supervision of sand mining, though speculation is more likely to be blamed for the price jump. o Thanh Nguyen, owner of a construction materials supply agent in Nam inh City, told Nguoi Lao ong (The Labourer) newspaper that for one week, sand wholesalers had raised prices by 1.5-2 times and are delivering only half the earlier volumes of sand. According to the wholesalers, the cause of the price hike is that supervision of sand mining has been tightened just as the construction season began. In Ha Noi, sand prices have also jumped over the past few days. The owner of a building material company in the city said that sand prices now ranged between VN120,000-200,000 (US$5.3-8.8) per cu.m, compared to the previous VN80,000-180,000 per cu.m. He predicted sand prices would continue to rise, saying that sand mining in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang had been suspended until inspections had been completed, which has sharply reduced supplies. Further, the owner of a construction contractor in Ha Nois Cau Giay District said that the prices of sand has skyrocketed, causing his business great risks, since it had signed a construction contract before the price hike. According to the Ministry of Constructions Department of Construction Materials, the legal sites for mining sand could only meet 60-65 per cent of the needs of large cities. Meanwhile, the nationwide demand for sand has increased sharply, from 92 million cu.m in 2015 to 130 million cu.m by 2020. Because large amounts of sand come from unlicensed sources, the restrictions on sand mining has reduced the supply of sand, pushing up prices, the department explained. However, Pham Sy Liem, former minister of construction, said that the shortage in sand was not serious enough to have caused the price hike. The situation was likely due to speculation, he said, adding that authorities needed to clarify why prices saw such large increases. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, head of the Construction Materials Division under the HCM City Department of Construction, said that rising sand prices were due to a divergence between supply and demand. To help people and businesses keep track of prices, the department regularly updates and posts price tables from many construction material suppliers for their reference. Regarding the question of whether Government supervision has caused sand prices to jump, Thanh said that there was no evidence to support this, since it was difficult to determine the amounts of legal and illegal sand supplies. Deputy head of Ha Nois National Assembly delegation Ngo Duy Hieu was quoted by Nguoi Lao ong as saying that there should be a mechanism to organise sand-mining bids to legitimate enterprises to prevent sand smuggling, which ultimately would help stabilise the market. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam catfish processors must prepare for the inspection programme of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to boost exports into this market.If Vietnamese producers can meet USDAs requirement, a huge market in the US awaits them, according to a recent article on seafoodsource.com. All catfish will be subject to the scrutiny of the USDA from September 1, including pangasius. USDA inspectors will check on all stages of the production chain in Viet Nam. Catfish regulation will shift from the US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) to the USDA from the beginning of September, according to a law passed in 2014. The rules, pushed by the US catfish industry, will come into full force on September 1 after a 18-month transition period. Regulations under the USDA are considered more stringent, challenging Viet Nams struggling pangasius industry, which supplies about 90 per cent of the pangasius sold in the US. The sales of pangasius to the US would soar if Vietnamese exporters would use the American term for them - catfish, according to the story. In 2002, a law was passed restricting the use of the word to American varieties. However, pangasius is now officially recognised by US authorities as being a catfish species, whether they produced domestically or imported, according to the story. One month ago, the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department sent a request to the US Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service asking for an equivalency determination on siluriformes fish of Viet Nam, according to the Viet Nam Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep). From March 1, 2016 when the transition period started, 62 Vietnamese processors were found eligible for exporting siluriformers to the US. Other exporters will have to await the equivalency determination, expected some time this summer. Duong Ngoc Minh, chairman of the Hung Vuong Corporation, said at the companys annual shareholders meeting last week that exports of pangasius fish to the US would face many difficulties in 2018 due to the impacts of the USDAs increased inspection. He added the tra fish industry of Viet Nam was facing a severe shortage of raw materials, which would last to February 2018 at least, due to unfavourable weather. In 2016, tra fish exports totalled US$1.7 billion with total raw material processed for exports reaching 1.5 million tones. This year, raw materials for export was estimated at 800,000 tonnes only, Minh said. As of the end of March, China surpassed the US to become the biggest tra fish importer from Viet Nam. - As of the end of March, China surpassed the US to become the biggest tra fish importer from Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI As of March, investors from the European Union had injected more than US$21.56 billion into 1,959 projects in Viet Nam, accounting for 7.2 per cent of total foreign direct investment and 8.5 per cent of projects registered in the country. The latest report from the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) reveals that EU investors are interested in 19 Vietnamese sectors, with processing and manufacturing, eclectricity production and distribution, and real estate being the most attractive industries. During the review period, the processing and manufacturing sector lured $8 billion, making up 35 per cent of the total EU investment pledged in the country. Electricity production and distribution attracted $3.2 billion, or 15 per cent, while property obsorbed $2.5 billion, or 12 per cent. EU investors have funded projects in 54 provinces and cities in the period, focusing on HCM City, Ha Noi, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Quang Ninh and ong Nai, according to the data. The Netherlands topped the list with $7.2 billion, totalling 26 per cent of EU investment in the country. The UK and Gemany followed with $3.7 billion, or 17.6 per cent, and $2.7 billion, or 13 per cent, respectively. VNS HA NOI Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) hoped to complete the handling of bad debts caused by six companies of former banking tycoon Nguyen uc Kien by the end of this year, it said at the annual shareholders meeting on Monday. Nguyen uc Kien, who was the former co-founder of the bank and one of the top bankers in Viet Nam, was sentenced to 30 years in jail in 2014 for fraud, tax evasion, illegal trade and deliberate misdeeds resulting in serious consequences. The bad loans of some companies run by Kien totalled nearly VN5.8 trillion (US$257.8 million) as of December 31, 2015. ACB planned to finish collecting all the bad debts from those six firms by 2018, according to the plan that was approved by the State Bank of Viet Nam in 2015. Under the previous plan, ACB planned to collect the debts over four years, starting from 2015, at a rate of VN814 billion, VN2.2 trillion, VN1.8 trillion and VN1 trillion. But ACB General Director o Minh Toan said that the collection was ahead of schedule, with VN3 trillion collected from those companies in 2016. With the current progress, Toan hoped that the bank will be able to complete handling all of the bad debts caused by the six companies this year. The bank projects to raise its yearly pre-tax profit by 32 per cent to VN2.2 trillion for 2017, and targets a 16-per cent rise in the total assets, credit growth and capital mobilisation and a bad debt ratio of below 2 per cent. In the first quarter of 2017, the bank earned a pre-tax profit of VN595 billion. ACB will pay a 10-per cent dividend for last years performance by shares and increase its capital to VN11.25 trillion. Besides, the bank plans to extract VN100 billion from the 2017 projected profit to buy back shares. In 2016, ACB recorded a post-tax profit of VN1.66 trillion, an increase of 27 per cent from 2015. The bank also recorded returns on total assets (ROA) and returns on total equity (ROE) of 0.61 per cent and 9.87 per cent. On December 31, 2016, ACB recorded total assets of VN234 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 16 per cent, and a bad debt of 0.88 per cent, down from 1.3 per cent at the end of 2015. VNS HA NOI Shares grew at a slower pace yesterday on the two stock exchanges as investors displayed caution ahead of the annual shareholder meetings of big companies this month. The benchmark VN-Index on the HCM Stock Exchange edged up 0.3 per cent to close at 729.9 points. The southern market index increased 0.7 last Friday and has expanded 9.7 per cent this year. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index also inched up 0.3 per cent to end at 90.4 points. The northern market index has expanded nearly 13 per cent this year. Liquidity decreased with a total of 220.7 million shares worth a combined VN4.4 trillion (US$192 million) traded in the two markets, down 14.8 per cent in volume and 10.2 per cent in valued compared to the daily average volume and value recorded last week. According to analysts at Bao Viet Securities Co, the rally of indices was still supported by some large-cap stocks, while cash flows have yet to reach a necessary level, which could make the market volatile. Banks and other financial firms such as Vietcombank (VCB), BIDV (BID), Vietinbank (CTG), Military Bank (MBB), Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) and private equity firm Masan Group (MSN) all declined. On the other side of the fence, securities companies rose strongly, including Saigon Securities Inc (SSI), VNDirect Securities Co (VND), Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities Co (SHS) and BIDV Securities Inc (BSI) with gains of between 3 and 9 per cent each. Some major shares, such as insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), real estate giant VinGroup (VIC), Vietjet Air (VJC), steelmaker Hoa Phat Group (HPG) and brewery Habeco (BHN) also climbed and supported the market. Investors should avoid aggressive buying when the index has surpassed peaks and wait for clearer signals, Tran Hai Yen, an analyst at Bao Viet Securities Co, wrote in a note. Major companies - Vinamilk, Vietcombank, BIDV, Saigon Securities Inc, VinGroup (VIC) and Vietjet (VJC) - will hold their annual meetings this month and information surrounding these meetings is likely to have an impact on investor psychology. BIDV Securities Cos analysts have warned the market could see a correction if the released earnings reports at these meetings fail to meet investor expectations. VNS CAN THO Officials of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho introduced the local potential and advantages to French companies and called for investment, especially in agriculture, during a meeting on Monday. They highlighted Can Thos potential of agricultural production such as rice, fisheries and fruit, along with hi-tech agricultural projects that need investment. They expressed their hope that French businesses would come to seek investment opportunities here. Chairman of the Can Tho municipal Peoples Committee Vo Thanh Thong said agriculture was a strength of his city as well as other Mekong Delta localities. Many products made in Can Tho such as agricultural and aquatic products, apparel and handicrafts had been imported by France and other European countries. French firms should come to the city to invest in those areas in order to increase trade between Viet Nam and France, he noted. There are six French-invested projects worth nearly US$6 million in Can Tho. Meanwhile, bilateral trade has been on an upward trend. The city earned about $31 million from exports, mostly aquatic products, garments and handicrafts, to France in 2016. Its imports from the EU nations include pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, and agricultural medicine, Thong added. Can Tho had also carried out numerous co-operation activities in culture, education and healthcare with France. It expected bilateral relations to be intensified in the future, the official said. Martine Fumey, vice chairwoman of the Worlds No 1 Club, said the club gathered exporting companies in various industries of France, and they wanted to bolster the partnership with Vietnamese businesses. Their visit to Can Tho this time was aimed at enhancing connections with local firms and seek investment opportunities, thereby gradually turning French enterprises into a key trade partner of the city, said Fumey, chairwoman of the Ares company, which specialises in security device production. Jacques Aurin, secretary general of the club and president of the Baron de Madaillan AE company, said they were also interested in educational co-operation with Can Tho-based universities since education was the basis for economic development. After the working session, the French delegation visited some rice, fishery and fruit processing companies in Can Tho. VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Transport has approved Uber Viet Nams pilot project of applying technology in managing and connecting under-contract passenger transportation. Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong, said on Monday Uber Viet Nam had completed its pilot project following requirements of the ministry two months ago. However, Uber Viet Nam would need to get necessary approvals from local authorities where the company has registered its operation. ang Viet Dung, executive director of Uber Viet Nam, was quoted by online newspaper vneconomy.vn as saying that getting the ministrys approval marked an important step forward for Uber and would encourage the car hailing service firm to continue renovating technologies and bring conveniences and benefits to users and drivers in major cities across the country. Dung also affirmed the large potential of car hailing services in Viet Nam and expected Uber would contribute to promoting socio-economic development. The ministry had rejected Ubers pilot project in Viet Nam on two previous occasions -- in November 2015 as the company had not founded an appropriate legal entity in Viet Nam and early this year because the project was not in compliance with established laws. Viet Nam is the first country in Southeast Asia where Uber allows cash payment. Uber currently provides services in Ha Noi and HCM City, with UberX for 4-5-seater cars, UberBlack for seven-seater cars and UberMoto for motorbikes. Amid the increasing popularity of the e-hailing service, the ministries have allowed firms to develop pilot projects to apply technology in managing and connecting passenger transportation. The pilot project of Ubers rival in Viet Nam, Grab, was approved earlier this year. Uber and Grab are the only two foreign firms which have registered for pilot e-hailing projects in Viet Nam, besides local taxi companies, including Vinasun Taxi, Thanh Cong Taxi, Sun Taxi and Vic Taxi. - VNS HA NOI Viet Nam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) is expected to start trading on the HCM Stock Exchange in the third quarter of 2017. This information was revealed at the banks annual shareholder meeting on Monday. VPBanks shareholders in late 2016 approved of the banks share listing on the HCM Citys bourse. VPBank had worked with the Vietnam Securities Depository on the procedures, however, it could take some time to complete all administrative procedures, said VPBanks chairman Ngo Chi Dung, adding that the bank had contracted with a securities company on its share listing. Dung also said VPBank had been negotiating with potential foreign buyers to sell 49 per cent of its stake in financial arm FE Credit. The deal was aimed at increasing capital for the bank and improving the quality of corporate governance for FE Credit, he said. The details of the deal were not disclosed at the meeting. Capital to increase to $622 million in 2017 VPBank plans to issue nearly 329.4 million shares to raise its chartered capital to over VN14 trillion (US$622 million) in 2017 from the current level of VN10.76 trillion. The increase of chartered capital will ensure its business activities are well funded and the bank meets requirements on different ratios. After raising capital, VPBank will issue a maximum of 133.2 million shares, or 10 per cent of the total common shares, to less than 100 investors under private placements. Share price will be negotiated with each investor and will not be lower than the shares book value. The shares will be issued in 2017 and will be unavailable for trading for one year from the issuance date. Currently, VPBank is among 10 largest joint stock commercial banks by chartered capital. A successful capital increase this year will bring VPBank to the fourth position after Sacombank, MBBank and SCB. In 2017, VPBank has targeted pre-tax profit of VN6.8 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 38 per cent from 2016s figure, and total assets of VN280.6 trillion. Last year, it recorded pre-tax profit of VN4.92 trillion, an increase of 59 per cent from 2015. The bank also plans to pay dividend in shares for 2016s performance to increase mid and long-term capital, meet Basel II requirements, improve the banks risk management system and meet requirements of international finance institutions and the central bank. VNS HCM CITY Minh Loc, a former photojournalist with Vietnam News Agency, is celebrating the 42nd anniversary of Liberation Day with a showcase of his photos of soldiers and citizens who took part in the resistance war against the US. The Nhung Khoanh Khac Lich Su (Historical Moments) exhibition displays 138 photos taken from 1962 to 1984. The photos were taken during the resistance war against the US in Quang Ninh and Quang Binh provinces and Ha Noi during the 1962-1972 period and in Sai Gon until 1975. The highlights of the exhibition are images shot on April 30, 1975, Liberation Day. The event also includes photos of the war fought by Vietnamese to protect the northern border in 1979. In 1980, Loc, now 80, and several colleagues visited places where they travelled during the war in northern provinces, and then took numerous photos about the life of people after the war. They are also displayed at the exhibition. Thrilling stuff: Visitors look at photos taken by Minh Loc displayed at the Nhung Khoanh Khac Lich Su (Historical Moments) exhibition. VNS Photo Phuong Mai Speaking at the exhibitions opening ceremony yesterday, Loc said: When I die, I cant bring the photo collection with me, so I hope the museum can preserve them. As a photographer, I wanted to preserve the images so that younger generations can know more about the countrys history, he said. Loc, whose real name is Nguyen Minh Loc, was born in 1937 in ong Thaps Cao Lanh District, and is a member of the Viet Nam Artistic Photographers Association. Since 1975, he has had 69 solo exhibitions on various topics, including Viet Nams landscapes and red-headed cranes. He won the first prize in the Moscow News Contest in 1968, a silver medal in the Iraq Photo Contest organised by the International Journalists Association in 1978, and the grand prix from the Trade Union Council of the Soviet Union in 1978. In 1990, he received a prize for excellence from the Red Cross and Red Crescent of the Soviet Union. The exhibition will be open through April 30 at the museum at 2 Le Duan Street in District 1. VNS HA NOI Extracts from popular Russian stage productions will be performed by final-year students of the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) in Ha Noi and Vung Tau from April 11 to 14. The repertoire includes extracts from Heart of A Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov, Uncle Vanya and A Boring Story by Anton Chekhov and Fear and Misery of the Third Reich by German Betolt Brecht, along with Russian folklore dancing and singing. Heart of A Dog is a biting and wildly inventive comedy by Bulgakov. A world-famous Moscow professor is rich, successful and violently envied by his neighbours. He resolves to achieve a daring scientific first by transplanting the testicles and pituitary gland of a dead man onto a dog. But the results are wholly unexpected; a distinctly and worryingly human animal is on the loose, and the professors hitherto respectable life becomes a nightmare beyond endurance. Uncle Vanya is Chekhovs loved and perhaps his best composed play. The play portrays the visit of an elderly professor and his glamorous, much younger second wife, Yelena, to the rural estate that supports their urban lifestyle. Two friends, Vanya -- brother of the professors late first wife, who has long managed the estate -- and Astrov -- the local doctor -- both fall under Yelenas spell. Sonya, the professors daughter by his first wife, who has worked with Vanya to keep the estate going, has unrequited feelings for Dr Astrov. Matters are brought to a crisis when the professor announces his intention to sell the estate, Vanya and Sonyas home, with a view to investing the proceeds to get a higher income for himself and his wife. The artists will also perform folklore dances and songs at the show. The 19-member art troupe comes from the GITIS, which is not only the greatest in Europe, but also one of the most prestigious schools of drama in Russia and the world. GITIS was formed in 1878 and continues to develop to this day. The professional educational institution provides training in every art form, such as acting, design, directing and musical theatre, as well as ballet-master, variety theatre, history and criticism, along with theatre management and production. The performances are being organised by the Russian Science and Culture Centre in Ha Noi with financial support from Vietsovpetro, Sungroup, Haseco and Viet Nam-Russia Bank as one of activities on the occasion of Viet Nam hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum 2017. The Russian performances will have an introduction in Vietnamese. The performances will begin at 7pm at the Ha Noi Academy of Theatre and Cinema on April 11 and at the Viet Nam Youth Theatre on April 12. The performance will be on stage at Vietsovpetro Building, No67, 30/4 Road in Vung Tau City. Please contact the Russian Science and Culture Centre on 501 Kim Ma Street, Ba inh District in Ha Noi or call 04 3771-99-37 for ticket information. VNS The cover of Susu Va Gogo i Singapore (Susu and Gogo in Singapore), one of three books of the collection Susu Va Gogo Buoc Ra The Gioi (Susu and Gogo Reach the World), by female author Duong Thuy. It is aimed at children aged 6 to 13. - Photo fahasa.com The cover of Susu Va Gogo i Singapore (Susu and Gogo in Singapore), one of three books of the collection Susu Va Gogo Buoc Ra The Gioi (Susu and Gogo Reach the World), by female author Duong Thuy. It is aimed at children aged 6 to 13. - Photo fahasa.com HCM CITY Young female writer Duong Thuys book collection for children debuted in HCM City on Sunday before 100 young readers and their parents. The book collection, Susu va Gogo Buoc Ra The Gioi (Susu and Gogo Reach the World), includes three books featuring two characters, named Susu and Gogo, and their adventures to Paris, Singapore and Tokyo. The works, for children between 6 and 13 years old, include stories of friendship, love and dreams, written with the authors typical flair and imagination. More than 7,000 copies of each book have been printed by the Kim ong Publishing House, one of the countrys leading printers for children, which signed a copyright deal with the author to republish many of her books. I wanted to challenge myself by writing for children. I wrote these books first for my kids and then for young readers, whove helped me improve my soul, said Thuy, 42, who has spent nearly 20 years writing for adults and teenagers. Thuy is one of several women writers now in the limelight after breaking a series of best-selling records. Her first book, Dau Lang Trong iep Khuc (A Silence in the Chorus), is a collection of short stories featuring topics about women and love. It broke records after being reprinted seven times by different publishers after its first release by the HCM City-based Van Nghe (Literature & Arts) Publishing House in 1997. Her most popular books, including Oxford Yeu Thuong (Beloved Oxford), Nham Mat Thay Paris (Paris through Closed Eyes) and Tra Lai Nu Hon (The Kiss from the Past), feature stories of young women living in urban areas. I was not sure my books would be so successful, but I knew exactly what readers, particularly urban women, wanted, said Thuy. According to a report by two bookselling websites, Tikiweb and Vinabook, books by female writers, including Thuy, are among this years bestsellers. Female writers add something new to a market dominated by traditional writing styles. Young readers, particularly women, can find themselves in their books, Tran Anh Thu, a fan of Thuy, said. VNS HA NOI Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Margaret Chan suggested Viet Nam work more with the WHO in preventive medicine to prevent diseases and accidents at her meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Ha Noi yesterday. She said that Viet Nam should improve training of doctors, especially family doctors, to enhance the quality of primary healthcare and reduce healthcare costs and hospital overloading. The WHO leader said that Viet Nam should form an independent agency to evaluate the quality of medicine and new healthcare technology, while designing regulations on the granting of licences to doctors and regularly assessing their performance. Highlighting the significant role of the private sector in healthcare, she recommended Viet Nam issue stringent rules on management and governance of the sector. Congratulating Viet Nam on its socio-economic attainments, Margaret Chan praised the countrys co-ordination with the WHO representative office in recent years, especially in updating and applying advances in the field. She pledged that the WHO would continue advising and supporting Viet Nam and expressed her belief that the country will continue making achievements in health care. PM Phuc lauded the organisations work towards a healthier world, as well as its co-operation with Viet Nam. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government attached great importance to protecting peoples health, while thanking Margaret Chan for recommendations and consultations on Viet Nams health sector. As a developing country, Viet Nam hopes for the WHOs support in healthcare, especially in preventive medicine, contributing to modernising Viet Nams healthcare system, reducing the ratio of disease infections and fatalities and increasing peoples life expectancy. PM Phuc said that Viet Nam was working to develop its pharmaceutical sector to make best use of the countrys diverse herbal plants. The Vietnamese Government has also issued regulations to reduce the use of alcohol and cigarettes in public places to protect public health. Praising Chans recommendation to develop a family doctor system, the Government leader said that Viet Nam would also upgrade the communal healthcare system to improve the quality of healthcare services in rural areas. VNS HA NOI Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong has proposed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) work closely with the Vietnamese Government in efforts to curb diseases and increase the quality of public health care. The Vice Chairwoman made the proposal when receiving WHO Director-General Margaret Chan in Ha Noi yesterday. The legislator hoped that the WHO will continue providing and updating health information in Viet Nam as well as in the region and beyond, while supporting the country in improving its capacity for health workers, especially at the grassroots level. She noted that the active assistance and co-operation of the WHO over the past few years has helped Viet Nam gain significant achievements in improving public health care and realising the UNs millennium development goals. Viet Nam is particularly interested in developing its health care network at the grassroots level, especially in disadvantaged and border areas, she said. The Vietnamese legislature has promulgated a number of legal documents such as a law on public health protection, a law on HIV/AIDS prevention and a law on communicable disease prevention, creating an effective legal corridor for public health care activities, she added. The National Assembly has closely monitored the implementation of health policies by the Government, Health Ministry and relevant agencies to improve public medical care in ethnic minority regions. Phong also thanked the WHO for providing financial aid for Viet Nams health sector and affirmed this source has been used effectively in the country. For her part, Director-General Margaret Chan recognised the crucial role of the Vietnamese NA in building and promulgating important laws to reform the medical system. She said the WHO is willing to help and share its extensive experience with Viet Nam in the field. The Director-General suggested the Vietnamese Government push ahead with improving public health care and medical stations at district and commune levels, including training family doctors. She also recommended developing regulations on the operation of private health facilities under the management of the State. VNS Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary Laszlo Kover in Budapest yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc BUDAPEST Viet Nam would like to see increased investment from Hungary into the country in several fields the European nation is strong in, Viet Nams top legislator told her counterpart during talks in Budapest yesterday. Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan suggested to Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary Laszlo Kover that Hungary should increase investment in water resources, environment, medicine and pharmacy, food processing, bio-fertiliser production and renewable energy. During their meeting, the two sides lauded the results of the seventh session of the Viet Nam Hungry joint committee on economic co-operation in Budapest on March 23-24. They agreed on bilateral co-operation plans, including measures to strengthen trade and economic exchanges via trade fairs and exhibitions. "Viet Nam also welcomes Hungarys policy to boost bilateral economic ties, including the signing of a framework agreement on credit co-operation worth 440 million euros (US$424 million)," Ngan said. Education-training is a traditional field of co-operation between the two countries. Hungary provides 100 scholarships each year for Vietnamese students to study majors that are Hungarys strengths such as renewable energy, support industry, environmental protection, water resources treatment, information technology, economics, agriculture and health. The two legislators acknowledged the mutual support and co-ordination at regional and international interparliamentary forums. They agreed to boost high-level delegation exchanges between legislative agencies and parliamentary friendship groups. Speaker Kover agreed to share experience in building law, monitoring the State apparatus and training personnel for Viet Nam. Both sides decided to step up the implementation of co-operation agreements signed by the two countries governments and their strategic collaboration projects. Chairwoman Ngan took the occasion to thank Hungary for supporting Viet Nams candidacy for a seat in the Economic and Social Council for 2016-18 tenure and the UN Security Council for 2020-21. She confirmed Viet Nams support for Hungary to run for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council in the 2017-19 tenure. For his part, Speaker Laszlo said Viet Nam has been Hungarys strategic partner in Southeast Asia since 2010. He urged the two countries to boost co-operation in economics and trade, noting that bilateral trade hit about $266 million in 2016, a year-on-year rise of 36 per cent. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives newly-accredited Myanmar Ambassador to Viet Nam Kyaw Soe Win yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo An ang HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received newly-accredited Myanmar Ambassador to Viet Nam Kyaw Soe Win yesterday, voicing hope that the diplomat would contribute to ties between the countries. Viet Nam and Myanmar boast long-standing relations which have been growing in multiple aspects, he said, noting that their co-operation potential is enormous. Viet Nam is a big investor in Myanmar, particularly in real estate, banking and telecommunications, the PM said, asking Myanmar to facilitate Vietnamese bank branch there, as well as telecommunications companies. He also called on the countries to expand co-operation to the petroleum and aviation industries. PM Phuc said his country has strength in agricultural production and wants to share experience with Myanmar in this sphere, especially coffee and pepper cultivation and processing. The two sides can also partner in producing rice seeds, sugar, ethanol and electricity, planting and processing cotton, and developing rubber trees. Win pledged to contribute to the countries sound connections, especially in economy, investment and trade. As his country is developing its economy, it wants to attract foreign investors, including those from Viet Nam, he said, assuring that the Myanmar Government creates the best possible conditions for Vietnamese businesses. The country hopes to learn from Viet Nams agricultural development experience. The two countries should increase the exchange of high-ranking delegations to promote ties, the diplomat said. VNS HA NOI The implementation of the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union will open opportunities to raise bilateral trade to US$10 billion by 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung told Russian Ambassador to Viet Nam, Konstantin Vnukov, yesterday. Trade between Viet Nam and Russia has risen recently, hitting $2.7 billion in 2016, an increase of 23 per cent over 2015, and $452 million in the first two months of the year. Dung said Viet Nam wants to maintain the positive growth in bilateral co-operation, especially in economics and trade, defence, military techniques and is ready to facilitate Russian participation in new co-operation projects in energy and infrastructure development in Viet Nam. During their talks in Ha Noi, the two sides also discussed co-operation projects in agriculture and energy. Also yesterday, Dung received Irish Ambassador to Viet Nam, Cait Moran, noting that Ireland-funded development co-operation projects are bearing fruits, contributing to Viet Nams development. At present, Viet Nam is the only Asian country among nine partners entitled to receive Irish development aid. The country has provided Viet Nam about 130 million euros ($137 million) worth of non-refundable assistance. The two countries have witnessed rapid growth in bilateral trade recently, reaching $1.14 billion in 2016, a three-fold increase from 2015. During their meeting, the two sides discussed fields of common interest for enhanced co-operation. On the occasion, Ambassador Moran said Ireland would release a national strategy on development co-operation with Viet Nam for 2017-20. VNS BUDAPEST National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with Hungarian President Janos Ader on Monday as part of her official visit to the European nation. The visiting legislator highlighted the countries 67-year friendship, noting that the Vietnamese Party, State and people appreciate Hungarys assistance throughout history. She applauded Hungarys policy of promoting economic ties with Viet Nam, including the signing of a framework agreement on credit co-operation worth 440 million euros (over US$460 million). Lauding Hungarys direct investment projects and readiness to provide official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam, Chairwoman Ngan said projects funded through its ODA were important to Viet Nams development. She also thanked the country for providing favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to integrate into Hungary. She also asked for the teaching of Vietnamese to be facilitated in the country. For his part, President Janos Ader praised the role of the Vietnamese community in Hungary and former students. He expressed his hope that they will continue to bolster bilateral relations. The two countries signed cooperation documents during Aders State visit to Viet Nam in 2014. He said they should learn from experience during agreement implementation to better realise those deals. Hungary is also ready to co-operate with Viet Nam in clean water supply, wastewater treatment and water resources protection, areas in which Hungary has experience. Meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Ngan reiterated her request for Hungary to implement the 440 million euro deal soon, affirming that Viet Nam will send a list of feasible projects to ensure the effective use of the credit line. Ngan said she was glad to know that the Hungarian PM plans to pay an official visit to Vietnam in 2017. She congratulated Hungary on its socio-economic achievements and European integration, and thanked the country for advocating the early signing and ratification of the Viet Nam EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The NA Chairwoman also expressed her hope that the two countries will maintain their consultative mechanisms and mutual assistance at multilateral forums and international organisations. PM Orban said Hungary attaches great importance to the development of multi-faceted co-operation with Viet Nam. The traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries have been demonstrated in high-level meetings that have generated mutual political trust, he said. Hungary considers Vietnam a strategic partner in Southeast Asia, he said. Viet Nam, Hungary strengthens relations On the same day, Ngan held a reception for President of the HungaryViet Nam Friendship Association Botsz Laszlo during her ongoing visit to the country. Ngan briefed the guest on the talks between the two NA leaders and expressed her thanks for the support the association has made to strengthening mutual understanding and promoting friendship between the two nations. She said the visit was the first visit of Viet Nams NA chairperson to Hungary since the visit of the then NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in 2008. For his part, Botsz Laszlo described the associations work to the Vietnamese delegation, saying that it helps connect small- and medium-sized enterprises and localities between the two nations. It also introduces Vietnamese culture while helping Vietnamese tourists explore Hungarys people and landscapes. He pledged that the association would continue its activities to strengthen friendship and multilateral co-operation between the two countries. Ngan underlined the efforts the association made in recent years, expressing hope that the solidarity and friendship between Hungary and Viet Nam will last amid a changing world. Thousands of Vietnamese people have studied in Hungary. They have served as a friendship bridge connecting the two nations. "The traditional friendship needs to be nurtured and upheld by young generations of the two nations," Ngan said. NA Chair visits Czech Republic As part of her official visit to European nations, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan begins a two-day visit to the Czech Republic today at the invitation of President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milan Stech. The visit is significant for enhancing bilateral relations, said Borivoj Minar, Vice President of the board of the Czech Chamber of Commerce. Minar noted the potential for economic co-operation between the two nations, saying Viet Nam and the Czech Republic have enjoyed almost seven decades of diplomatic ties and the Vietnamese are one of the largest immigrant communities in the European nation. They can help build a bridge between the two countries enterprises, Minar said, stressing the potential for further co-operation in agriculture, transportation and food processing. VNS Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Craig Chittick (left) and World Bank Country Director Ousmane Dione on Tuesday signed the 2016-2020 partnership to continue their co-operation to support Viet Nam. Photo courtesy of the Australian Embassy Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Craig Chittick (left) and World Bank Country Director Ousmane Dione on Tuesday signed the 2016-2020 partnership to continue their co-operation to support Viet Nam. Photo courtesy of the Australian Embassy HA NOI Australia will provide AU$25 million (US$18.7 million) to the World Bank over the next four years as part of a joint effort to help Viet Nam realise its economic development plan. Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Craig Chittick and World Bank Country Director Ousmane Dione on Tuesday signed the 2016-2020 partnership to continue their co-operation to support Viet Nam, which was first established in 2012. The renewed partnership will help the Vietnamese Government undertake reform priorities identified in the countrys five-year Socio-Economic Development Plan to 2020, focusing on trade and competitiveness, transport, ethnic minorities, the Mekong delta and gender equality. One of the great achievements under the first phase of the partnership was to support the Government of Viet Nam to develop the Viet Nam 2035 report, a bold and ambitious vision for Viet Nams economy in the next 20 years, Australian Ambassador Craig Chittick said at the signing ceremony. Through the second phase of this partnership, Australia looks forward to working with the World Bank to support Viet Nam in implementing this vision so that all citizens benefit. Ousmane Dione, meanwhile, hailed the initial partnership for having created a strong synergy to support Viet Nams development agenda. This stepped up engagement will be mutually beneficial and help deliver stronger development results for Viet Nam, he said. VNS A NANG Viet Nam will present 30 reports out of 125 total from 25 countries and territories on information technology to the 7th International Conference on Information Science and Technology (ICTST) in a Nang on April 16-18. Deputy Rector of Korea-Viet Nam Friendship Information technology College, Tran The Son said at a press conference yesterday that its the first time the conference has been held in Viet Nam. Its one of the biggest meet ups for top professors and scientists in IT, allowing universities to share research on smart systems, education and IT applications. Son said the conference, which is hosted by the college and the City University of Hong Kong with the technical sponsorship of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), aims to boost co-operation among Vietnamese IT scientists and their global peers. Its the largest number of reports sent by Vietnamese IT scientists among seven conferences since 2011, Son said. The conference will be chaired by Professor Sam Kwong from the City University of Hong Kong with the participation of three key speakers Gary G Yen from the US, Zongben Xu from China and Hong Yan from Hong Kong and others from Macao, Italy and the US, he said. He said Vietnamese reports mostly focus on big data, databases, visible light communications and wireless sense security communications networks and computer science. Son also said more than 1,300 critics will review the 125 reports during the two-day conference. Nguyen Quang Vu, deputy dean of IT faculty of Korea-Viet Nam Friendship Information technology College, said there will be 12 sessions on topics including computer science, control and automatisation system technology, digital signal processing, IT in biology and biomedical engineering, speech coding, unsupervised learning and brain computer interfaces. He said international experts will also discuss the robot industry, smart production, navigation, smart systems in health care sector as well as car and motor sense control. Vu said all reports will be announced on the database of IEEE. Last year, the Viet Nam-Korea Friendship Information Technology College and Polands Wroclaw University of Technology also co-hosted the 8th Asian Conference on Intelligent Information and Database Systems. In 2015, a Nang also held the annual 2015 ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting for the first time. The a Nang-based college, built in 2007 with initial funding of $10 million from the South Korean government, has been a major training centre for skilled IT workers and technicians. VNS The sector is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 7 per cent in 2016-20, and as a result the total demand for direct human resources is expected to be a whopping 870,000 by 2020. Photo htt.edu.vn By Son Ha HCM CITY The severe shortage of qualified workers is a huge challenge to the rapidly growing tourism sector, experts warn. The sector is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 7 per cent in 2016-20, and as a result the total demand for direct human resources is expected to be a whopping 870,000 by 2020, according to the Institute for Tourism Development Research. The sectors demand for human resources will be two or three times the number needed by other major sectors such as education, health and finance. In HCM City alone, around 21,600 workers are needed every year until 2020, or 8 per cent of the total workforce, according to the city Department of Tourism. However, demand for training far outstrips the supply from training institutions. Nationally, the sector requires 40,000 workers, but the number of graduates from tourism schools is estimated at just around 15,000, of whom graduates from universities and colleges account for only 12 per cent. In short, the tourism industry faces a severe shortage of qualified workers, and this is not just in managerial positions but also tour guides, front office workers, housekeepers and bartenders. Meanwhile, travel firms complain that they have to offer further training to their workers since they are not competent enough in their job skills or foreign languages after graduating from tourism schools. HCM Citys more than 50 tourism schools can meet only 60 per cent of the demand, resulting in a shortage of skilled workers, Tran Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Centre of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour Market Information in HCM City, said. Tran Viet Trung, director of the Khanh Hoa Province tourism department, said the local tourism sector is in dire need of senior managers. Last year the central coastal province welcomed more than one million international visitors, most of them from China and Russia, he said. Travel firms in the province are in need of 300 Chinese-speaking and 100 Russian-speaking tour guides, but only 65 and 92 respectively have been licensed. From now through 2020 the tourism industry needs 9,300 workers every year, including 8,000 at accommodation services and 1,300 for travel services. But local training institutes can only supply 2,600 a year. The short supply is expected to lead to a shortage of workers in positions such as managers, cooks, waiters and waitresses, and tour guides. With the countrys integration into the ASEAN Economic Community, key positions in the tourism sector are more likely to be filled by foreign labourers due to the free movement of skilled and certified tourism workers across national borders, Vu The Binh, deputy director of the Viet Nam Tourism Association, said. The ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) has increased the international mobility of tourism workers across the ASEAN region. The benefits of MRA-TP include improving the quality of tourism human resources and enhancing the quality of tourism products and services. Over the next five years the countrys tourism workforce needs to grow by 20 per cent annually to meet the rising demand, Binh said. The hotel industry demand is expanding by 9 per cent a year, including 16 per cent in five star hotels and 14 per cent in four-star hotels, according to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism. As of last May the country had a total of 101 five star hotels, 229 four star hotels and 463 three star hotels. Hundreds of hotels are set to open, but find it hard to hire workers due to the scanty supply of skilled human resources. The local shortage could be mitigated by the increase in the international mobility of tourism workers from ASEAN, Binh said. Training reform Tourism training has to be improved in terms of both quality and quantity to provide the market with a sufficient number of qualified workers, ao Manh Hung, chairman of the Viet Nam Association for Tourism Training, said. Only 43 per cent of the industrys workers are trained in tourism while nearly 40 per cent are unskilled, he said. Only 9.7 per cent of workers in the sector have bachelors or higher degrees. Most fresh graduates are incompetent at communication skills and lack practical experience or foreign language skills. Tourism recruitment firms in Khanh Hoa Province said 92.3 per cent of new employees fail to meet foreign language requirements. Nearly 85 per cent of new hires need further training failing which they cannot accomplish their work. The quality of training for important positions such as senior managers, sales and marketing personnel, receptionists and housekeeping staff fail to meet the requirements of employers. Solutions The Government has identified human resources development as a central component in the development of the tourism industry in the Tourism Master Plan 2011-20. As of 2015 a total of 2.25 million people worked in the tourism sector, 750,000 of them directly, according to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism. A skilled workforce plays a decisive role in the sustainable development of the sector, Hung said. The dearth of co-operation between training institutes and enterprises in practical training is one of the major reasons for the poor quality of training, he said. Co-operation between State agencies, tourism schools and enterprises is vital to the development of qualified tourism human resources, he said. Ties between enterprises and tourism schools should be fostered for development of curriculums and placement of interns, he said. Training curriculums should be reformed based on the Vietnam Tourism Occupational Standards to ensure training quality meets the requirements of ASEAN. Experts said Viet Nam needs to set up a national tourism professional board which will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to establish national tourism occupational standards, assess and manage the quality of workforce and issue certificates. VNS HA NOI Modern markets were built in Ha Noi to make shopping more hygenic, pleasurable and convenient, putting many traders and merchants in a large, well-lit, air-conditioned space under one roof. Paradoxically, modern markets are often deserted, while street markets (cho coc) are always full of buyers and sellers. A report by the Lao ong (Labour) newspaper describes the scene on a typical morning in the mordern market within the Hang Da Trade Centre in the capitals central Hoan Kiem District, with only a few kiosks open although it was 11 am. A trader there told the reporter that other traders had moved elsewhere to do business, and she only stayed because she provides food for several local restaurants. The same situation was recorded in Cho Mo Trade Centre in Truong inh Ward of Hai Ba Trung District. A few kiosks were open, some were closed and some had hung a For Rent sign. A food seller named Hieu said his business only made a small profit. After paying rent of VN650,000 (US$28), hygiene fees of about VN200,000 ($9), electricity and water bills of VN1million ($44) per month, not much was left. Phung Manh Tuan, head of Cho Mo Trade Centres Management Board, said some 535 small traders had left since the mordern market was officially opened in 2014, accounting for 47 per cent of the total who traded in the old market on the site. Traders cited two main causes for the exodus from the modern markets. First, people often prefer to buy produce from nearby traders who set up their stalls on the sidewalks or in temporary markets because they dont have to drive there and pay for parking. Second, the prices of commodities in modern markets are often higher than in street markets because sellers have to pay a range of fees. These factors are believed to be hindering the development of modern markets in the capital. Street markets busy In the meantime, street markets are bustling with buyers and sellers all day. A street vendor selling vegetables near Hang Da Trade Centre said she left the modern market within the centre two years ago because she could not afford to pay fees. She has been earning well since then by selling vegetables in a street market. A small trader selling vegetables on a sidewalk near Cho Mo Trade Centre said he had many customers and his business was running smoothly. The citys recent campaign to remove vendors, beer joints and cafes from sidewalks does not appear to be making a dent in these ad hoc stalls. The vegetable seller near Cho Mo said he had temporarily moved his business to his house. When the campaign subsides, he would return, he said. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, a resident living near the trade centre, said she preferred to buy at street markets. Its convenient, it doesnt take time to take my motorbike to a parking area and pay VN 5,000 (US 20 cents), she said. Authorised agencies surrender The problem is that everything has to follow rules of supply and demand," said Tuan, head of Cho Mo Trade Centres Management Board. Its easy to understand why small traders choose pavements or street markets to do their business. Because they can sell their goods there, they can earn a living." Tuan explained that at first, when the modern markets were opened, the management board exempted small traders from paying fees for the first three months. Things seemed to be okay, but after the three months, they still left. Nguyen Hoang Dung, vice chairman of the Peoples Committee of Truong inh Ward, also said he knew about the deserted modern market and busy street market near the centre. However, he failed to point out solutions. VNS THANH HOA A fire broke out in Quoc ai companys 1,000sq. m workshop and warehouses in the northern province of Thanh Hoas Hoang Hoa District on Monday evening. The blaze caused panic among the hundreds of workers at work there. No casualties were reported, but three warehouses were completely destroyed. Damages have been estimated at around VN10 billion (US$441,000). The fire started at 7pm on Monday in one of the warehouses and spread rapidly as a lot of inflammable materials and equipment were stored in the warehouses. Eleven fire engines and hundreds of fire-fighters were mobilised to put out the blaze, which was finally extinguished after five hours. Quoc ai company specialises in producing furniture from bamboo and rattan. Same day, another fire damaged a 1,000sq. m workshop in Hung Thinh Wood Processing Joint Stock Company in ak Nong Provinces Cu Jut District. Dozens of fire-fighters battled with the blaze for seven hours before it was brought under control. Electrical short circuits are believed to have caused both fires. Investigations are underway. VNS WASHINGTON The US strike on a Syrian air base destroyed a fifth of the Damascus regimes remaining warplanes, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Monday as Washington fired a fresh salvo of warnings at President Bashar al-Assad. The public assessment of Fridays missile strike and the forceful rhetoric came as G7 ministers met in Italy to send a "clear and coordinated" message to Russia over its support for Damascus. The United States on Friday blasted 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat air base near Homs, which the Pentagon said Assads jets had used to launch a deadly chemical attack on rebel-held Idlib province. "The United States will not passively stand by while Assad murders innocent people with chemical weapons, which are prohibited by international law and which were declared destroyed," Mattis said in a statement, noting that 20 per cent of Assads "operational" aircraft were destroyed. "The Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons," he added. Mattiss warning came as White House spokesman Sean Spicer appeared to lower the threshold for new US action against Assad to include barrel bombs, a crude yet hugely destructive weapon of choice for the Syrian leader. "If you gas a baby or drop a barrel bomb onto innocent people, you will see a response from" President Donald Trump, Spicer said. But US officials later walked back Spicers remarks. "Nothing has changed in our posture," a senior administration official said. "As the president has repeatedly made clear, he will not be telegraphing his military responses," the official said. Trump discussed Syria during separate telephone calls Monday with British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. May and Merkel "expressed support for the action of the United States and agreed with President Trump on the importance of holding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable," the White House said in a statement. Downing Street said Trump and May had "agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest." The two leaders were looking to US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons trip to Moscow this week as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for a "lasting political settlement," Mays office said. Toxic Assad At the outset of the G7 gathering in the Tuscan city of Lucca, Britains Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described Assad as "toxic," and said it was "time for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is propping up." Tillerson also attended the meeting at the 15th century Ducal Palace, along with foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. The annual two-day meeting had initially been expected to focus on talks with Tillerson about hotspots like Libya, Iran and Ukraine. But the agenda is now likely to be dominated by last weeks suspected chemical weapons attack that killed at least 87 civilians. Washingtons missile strike was the first time it had intervened directly against the regime of Assad, who is fighting a civil war with the backing of Russia and Iran. Several rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to end the conflict, which has killed more than 320,000 people since March 2011. End Assad support Iran and North Korea have slammed Washingtons retaliation and put it on a direct diplomatic collision course with Moscow, where Tillerson heads Tuesday for talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Johnson on Monday called on Moscow to do "everything possible to bring about a political settlement in Syria and work with the rest of the international community to ensure that the shocking events of the last week are never repeated." French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the pressing task for the G7 was to "find a political solution, a political transition" in Syria, particularly if the West wanted to triumph over the Islamic State group. Crime against innocents Italy arranged a last-minute meeting for Tuesday between the G7 ministers and their counterparts from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Italian media said the aim was "to avert a dangerous military escalation." Japans Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said he told Tillerson that Tokyo supports the US in its push to "deter the spread and use of chemical weapons," and discussed the pressing North Korean nuclear threat. Japan hopes the strong US response on Syria will also put pressure on Pyongyang, which is showing signs of preparing for its sixth nuclear test and more test-firings of ballistic missiles. "We agreed that the role of China is extremely important. Japan and the United States will jointly call on China to play a bigger role," Kishida told reporters after meeting Tillerson in Lucca. Meanwhile, the leaders of southern EU nations said Monday the US missile strike on the Syrian air base was "understandable." "The strike launched by the United States on Shayrat Airfield in Syria had the understandable intention to prevent and deter the spread and use of chemical weapons and was limited and focused on this objective," they said in a joint statement after a summit in Madrid. AFP WARSAW A fresh probe into the deadly 2010 crash of a Polish presidential jet in Russia suggests an explosion likely caused the aircraft to break up in the air, investigators said Monday. The commission of inquiry "considers the possibility of an explosion to be quite likely", said the narrator of a video prepared by the investigative body, and shown to reporters. "In light of the experiments conducted (by the commission), we can say that the most likely cause of the explosion was a thermobaric load that set off a strong shockwave." The claim came on the seventh anniversary of the crash on April 10, 2010 in Smolensk, western Russia, that claimed the life of president Lech Kaczynski and 95 others, mostly senior Polish statesmen. Polands governing rightwing Law and Justice (PiS) party, led by Kaczynskis twin brother Jaroslaw, has long insisted the crash was no accident. "Were getting closer and closer to the truth," Jaroslaw Kaczynski said Monday, adding he believes that is why "we have been the target of hate". Speaking to supporters in front of the presidential palace in Warsaw, he accused Russian air controllers of having "without a doubt deliberately" misdirected the aircraft at landing. He added that "there is a high degree of likelihood that an explosion occurred" but said the theory was not "definitively proven". Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, who says the crash was the result of a Polish-Russian conspiracy, last month accused former Polish premier and current EU President Donald Tusk of "diplomatic treason" over an earlier probe into the crash. After winning power in 2015, the PiS launched a new investigation into the disaster, which Polish and Russian investigators earlier attributed to human error and bad weather. Broke up in air The previous inquiry found the crash was in part triggered when the jets wing clipped a tree near the runway. Waclaw Berczynski, who heads the new team of Polish investigators, gave a different account. "The plane started to break up and lose parts in the air; they fell to the ground far from where the infamous birch tree was... The tree had no impact on the crash," he told public broadcaster TVP Info. Berczynski said investigators based their new conclusion on an analysis of a conversation between the planes pilots and Russian air traffic controllers on the ground. Maciej Lasek, who participated in the first inquiry, rejected the conclusions Monday, telling news channel Polsat News that the new commissions members "had never investigated a plane crash before and dont have the expertise to do so". Polish prosecutors said earlier this month that fragments of the plane were being sent to four labs abroad to check for traces of explosives. Prosecutors had said last week that based on a fresh analysis of the evidence, they would charge the controllers with having "deliberately causing a catastrophe", a theory the Kremlin immediately denied. Prosecutors had already pressed charges against the two Russian air controllers in 2015: one for "being directly responsible for having endangered air traffic" and the other for "unintentionally causing an air traffic disaster". Polish justice officials have also been exhuming the remains of the victims to establish the cause of death. Warsaw has repeatedly asked Moscow to return the wreckage of the plane, but Russia says it will only do so once its own inquiry is over. The crash occurred as the presidential delegation was heading to a ceremony in Russias Katyn forest for thousands of Polish army officers killed by Soviet secret police in 1940 a massacre the Kremlin denied until 1990. AFP CHARLES CITY (AP) Officials of a city more than 50 miles northwest of Waterloo have asked residents to stay at least 100 yards away from a bridge that partially collapsed. Charles City police chief Hugh Anderson said theres a possibility of falling debris near the Charley Western Bridge or that it could collapse completely. Were trying to urge people to stay off because it could obviously be at a critical point right now, Anderson said. An archway of the bridge on the Cedar River pulled away from the structure Saturday morning, and part of it collapsed. Charles City Administrator Steve Diers said the city is working with bridge engineers to address the issue. He said the river is closed to activities. No recreational activities including boating, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming or general use of the river within 100 yards of the bridge, he said. Earlier this month, City Council voted in favor of an evaluation of both the Charley Western and the Main Street bridges. Charles City Engineer John Fallis said officials are examining how to move forward with the evaluation. The (evaluation) on Main Street is going forward, Fallis said. The second one, on the Charley Western Trail, we have to re-look at the scope of services. Fallis said the Charley Western Bridge, which was built in 1910, likely cant be fixed. Diers said hes unsure how much work on the bridge would cost. Were talking about several hundreds of thousands of dollars Moose Lodge plans events WASHBURN An all-you-can-eat fish fry is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Moose Lodge 328, 6636 La Porte Road. Smoked turkey also is available. Saturday is the Sheriffs K9 steak supper from 5 to 8 p.m. Amvets to host fish fry Friday EVANSDALE The Evansdale AMVETS will have an all-you-can-eat fish fry from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, served with coleslaw and french fries. A bake sale also is planned for Friday and Saturday, 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday a Riders steak supper is planned for 5 to 7 p.m., with karaoke from 7 to 11 p.m. Medicare topic of seminar WATERLOO PDCM Insurance will host an informational Medicare seminar from 4 to 5 p.m. April 20 in the SMARTER Center inside the PDCM Insurance office l at 3022 Airport Blvd. Experts have designed an event to help those who are turning 65 to understand Medicare. Attendance is free. RSVPs are requested but not required; contact Nathan Link at 234-8888 or nlink@pdcm.com. Blood drive set in Cedar Falls CEDAR FALLS There will be an American Red Cross blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at AMVETS Post 49. To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org or call (800) 733-2767. Garage sales set in Janesville JANESVILLE The Janesville Public Library, 227 Main St., will host Janesville citywide garage sales from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 29. Those interested in having a sale may sign up at the library by April 22. Cost is $6. For more information, call 987-2925. Group to host open house WATERLOO The Northeast Iowa Weavers and Spinners Guild will host its annual spring open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 22 and noon to 4 p.m. April 23 at 3257 W. Fourth St. Guild artisans will demonstrate on weaving looms and spinning wheels. Many hand-crafted items will be on display as well as available for purchase. The new dye lab will be open for tours and demonstrations. Sign up for classes or inquire about membership. Refreshments will be available. For more information call 234-1129 or go to www.neiwsguild.wordpress.com. Jesup church set to host event JESUP An Out of Hibernation Celebration is scheduled for April 22. There will be all-you-can-eat roast beef and roast pork served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in the St. Athanasius Church lunchroom. Auction and other events also are planned throughout the night in St. Athanasius gym. UNI to host music recital CEDAR FALLS The University of Northern Iowas Community Music School will host its biannual recital weekend April 22-23. Recitals will be held throughout Russell Hall on the UNI campus. Admission to the recital weekend is free, and the public is encouraged to attend. More than 100 local Cedar Valley students will perform, featuring performers from the studios of Seth Butler (piano), Amel Christy (piano), Arianna Edvenson (clarinet), Molly Evans (trumpet), Nicole Green (piano), Jenna Klein (piano), Melody Kosobucki (piano), Alex LaFrenz (percussion), Jenni LeGarde (piano), Rebecca Nickles (piano), Cindi Mason (clarinet), Teresa Rose (piano) and the students of the Little Mozart group piano class. Repertoire will include a variety of classical and pop music. UNI Community Music School offers a variety of curriculum for private music instruction. Columbus class to host tribute WATERLOO The Columbus High School AP Euro class will host a Veterans Tribute from 6 to 7 p.m. April 23 in the Columbus High School gymnasium, entrance No. 21. Guest speaker will be David Greene, and projects created by the class during their drip to Europe will be on display. Everyone is welcome. Geneological group to meet WATERLOO The Northeast Iowa Geneological Society will have a meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 18 at Allen College, behind the Logan Hy-Vee. Speaker will be Susan LeQuatte, regent of the Cedar Falls Daughters of the Revolution. Membership is $15 for a single membership and $25 for a family membership. For more information, go to https://sites.google.com/site/neigsblackhawkcounty/home. Joint camp set April 24 CEDAR FALLS Covenant Clinic Orthopedic Surgery will host its monthly total joint replacement camp at 6 p.m. April 24 in the west dining room at Sartori Memorial Hospital. The program will include a brief presentation from joint replacement experts who work in areas including nursing, discharge planning and therapy. The seminar is free. Grand march set at Denver school DENVER The Denver Cyclone Scholarship Foundation will host a Grand March before junior-senior prom at 4 p.m. April 22 in the Denver High School gym. The public is welcome to attend and see the parade of students dressed in their finest attire. The Denver chapter was founded in 1990. During the past 27 years, the organization has provided scholarships totaling more than $388,000 to 455 graduating seniors. Humane society to hold event WATERLOO A Superhero adoption event is planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 29 at the Cedar Bend Humane Society. There will be reduced adoption fees for everyone and prizes for those dressed in costume. The community is encouraged to donate items from the Cedar Bend Humane Society wish list. High priority items included Frontline and Advantix flea and tick control, KMR kitten milk replacer, kitten and puppy food, laundry detergent, dryer sheets and hand sanitizer. Adoption application, photos and information about pets ready for adoption along with the full wish list are available at www.CedarBendHumane.org. MAYNARD -- A man wanted in Fayette County on several charges has been apprehended. Scott Peska, 42, of Marengo, was wanted in Fayette County stemming from original charges of second-degree robbery, driving while barred, and trespassing with injury or damage greater than $200. On Monday, he was located by Benton County sheriff's deputies and transported to West Union. Last Friday at about 5 a.m., the Fayette County Sheriffs Office took a 911 of an assault at a home in Maynard. Once deputies arrived it was discovered that a robbery had taken place. Deputies said Peska went to a residence and entered it without permission. After a struggle, he stole the victim's cell phone. The unnamed victim sustained an injury to her hand but required no medical attention. Peska then left the residence and was unable to be located. Tama County officials said they too are looking for Peska, but gave no details other than to say he has "numerous ties to Tama County." WATERLOO Local transportation officials are launching a long-planned search for ways to improve truck traffic to the Northeast Industrial Site. This is something weve been looking at it seems like forever, said Kevin Blanshan, executive director of the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments. Its been in and out of our program for the last 15 years. It really started with the (negative) impact the truck traffic was having on the county secondary road system, he added. Weve got a ways to go but were excited to be started. The Northeast Industrial Access Planning Study is expected to be a 15-month planning process to determine the best alternative to improve traffic flow, particularly moving freight, between the industrial area on Waterloos northeast side and Interstate 380 and U.S. Highways 63, 20 and 218. A website to provide information and gather comments on the project has been established at www.NEindustrialAccess.com, while a public input open house is slated for 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 20 at the Evansdale Community Response Center. Project manager and AECOM engineer Mark Durbahn, who will make a short presentation at 5:30 p.m. during the open house, said maps from the 1980s envisioned a full-blown highway bypass connecting I-380 with U.S. 63 north of Waterloo, then extending west to U.S. 218 north of Cedar Falls. It was meant to be a beltway around Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Durbahn said. Now its evolved because development has already occurred and its changed the thinking. Now youve got this heavy truck traffic on existing roadways with different jurisdictions that have different interests. The planning team includes INRCOG, the Iowa Department of Transportation, Black Hawk County and the cities of Evansdale, Elk Run Heights, Raymond and Waterloo. Industries, such as the John Deere East Donald Street Tractor Works and Tyson Fresh Meats, will be consulted one-on-one for input. AECOM will be gathering current and projected traffic data in the study area and exploring how any project ties in with a statewide freight study. The study aims to lessen traffic congestion, improve safety and reduce damage to county roads not capable of handling heavy truck traffic. Blanshan said no funding has been earmarked for any construction or improvements at this point. Options could run from doing nothing to a full-blown highway bypass to spot road and intersection improvements. The impact of this study will touch several facets of our community, and the study team looks forward to having an open dialogue with affected businesses and area residents, he said. We encourage community residents to attend our upcoming open house to learn more about the study, review maps of impacted areas and provide us with input. If the recommended solution ultimately is accepted by the advisory committee, a full environmental assessment study would be the next step in the overall project timeline. CEDAR FALLS A retired University of Northern Iowa professor and frequent critic of city policies and the conduct of City Council meetings said hes running for mayor in this falls municipal election. The basic reason Im running is whats happened to the city of Cedar Falls under this council, said Jim Skaine. Its an effort to bring city government back to the way its traditionally operated. Skaine, 81, took out nomination papers at the Black Hawk County Courthouse on Friday. He was a professor of speech at UNI from 1965-98. He twice ran unsuccessfully for a Democratic U.S. Congressional nomination in 1972 and 1974, in what was then Iowas Third Congressional District. This would be his first run for municipal office. He also held several positions on the UNI campus with the United Faculty, the faculty union, including a stint as its president. Ive watched the efforts of the council to make the city less safe by not fully supporting the fire department and the police, Skaine said, as well as policies that do not benefit the city of Cedar Falls, including whats happening with University Avenue. As part of its reconstruction, University Avenue is being narrowed from six lanes to four and six of its eight signalized intersections replaced with roundabouts. Police physically removed Skaine from a City Council meeting in August after Mayor Jim Brown gaveled him out of order three times. Skaine said if he were elected, no one would be physically removed as he was, which he maintains violated his First Amendment right to free speech. Skaine, recently widowed, said he is forming a campaign committee, Advocates for the People of Cedar Falls, and will field a slate of four City Council candidates to run for those seats that are up for election this fall. Incumbent Mayor Brown, first elected in 2015, announced last week he will seek re-election. Biology dept. to host event CEDAR FALLS The University of Northern Iowa department of biology will host communicable disease specialist Susann Ahrabi-Fard as an Alumni in Residence at 3 p.m. Thursday in Room 001 of the McCollum Science Hall on the UNI campus. Ahrabi-Fards presentation, Public Health, Outbreaks and Tales from the Field: 20 Years of Communicable Disease Surveillance, will explore her career in public health, which has included conducting disease surveillance, responding to disease outbreaks and investigating national outbreaks, including anthrax, H1N1, Ebola and the Zika virus. Ahrabi-Fard received her B.A. and M.A. from UNI and was chosen for a national Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory Training Fellowship through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She was later stationed at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene where she completed rotations in bacteriology, tuberculosis and virology. Ahrabi-Fard is currently a communicable disease epidemiologist for the Bureau of Communicable Diseases with the Division of Public Health for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. House of Hope sleep out slated CEDAR FALLS The University of Northern Iowa Reserved Officers Training Corps will sponsor Sleep Out to Build Hope with the House of Hope on April 28 in the Bucks Stadium in Waterloo. Sleep Out to Build Hope is a homeless night out for campus and community members to reflect on the House of Hopes mission to provide homeless mothers with individualized support and transitional housing to achieve secure families and permanent homes. The House of Hope is expanding to a new facility in Waterloo that will support more mothers and children. It is a critical need in the Cedar Valley with more than 50 mothers with children on the waiting list. Sleep Out to Build Hope is raising $1.5 million to renovate and move into the new space that was donated by the Dr. Christensen family. Renovation is scheduled to start in August. Participation in the event is free and open to the public. Details about the event can be found at www.bidpal.net/sleepout or contact Lt. Col. Glen Keith at 594-4259 or glen.keith@uni.edu. For information about the House of Hope and how to support their renovation and mission, visit www.houseofhopeccd.org/. Speech festival to be televised CEDAR FALLS Mediacom subscribers can watch high school students participate in the 2017 All-State Speech Festival. Channel MC22 will televise the Iowa High School Speech Association program at the McLeod Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus as a two-part series. The first part will focus on opening ceremonies and several individual student events, including public address and spontaneous speaking. The remaining individual events will be featured in the second segment. Each program will be approximately two hours in duration, with the premiere telecast at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Go to http://mc22.net for a more detailed TV schedule. The event will be broadcast on MC22 (channel 822 or 22) using the following schedule: Parts one and two, 7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Part one will be shown at 7 a.m. April 17 and part two will be shown at 7 a.m. April 18. Programs also can be seen on Mediacom On Demand beginning Friday. Seventh in a series of stories highlighting diversity in the community from our Inclusion magazine. CEDAR FALLS The LGBT* Center on the University of Northern Iowas campus has seen significant changes for the students it represents in its brief existence dating back to the fall of 2013. Marriage equality is now the law of the land, for one. UNI also has worked to make inclusion a focus in its five-year strategic plan. It has secured funding to staff the center full time with its first student services coordinator, Emily Harsch. I think inclusion is becoming a bigger piece of our university fabric, Harsch said. Students here want to graduate. Regardless of identities, we still need to pay attention to the barriers people face because of identities. But at the end of the day, our students are students, and we need to make sure were supporting them. At the LGBT* Center, Harsch helps with everyday student concerns like understanding a syllabus or finding the registrars office. She also educates students about their legal rights and provides a safe space for students to talk about their gender or sexual identity. Harsch, who spent her undergraduate and graduate career at UNI, said she sees success in the number of students who come to the center. Its changed so much, even in the past year, said Harsch, who started as a part-time graduate assistant. Theres been a lot of development and outreach, but also, when I started in the position, I was lucky if one or two students came in on their own to now, its sometimes even hard to find a seat. Its so great to see the community blossom. Her passion for her job is evident immediately. Emily has shown herself, both as a graduate student and now as a university employee, to be a strong advocate for the LGBT* population, said Gwenne Berry, UNI chief diversity officer. ... She is an asset to our campus and to our students, and we are lucky to have her working here. Harsch also leads safe zone training on campus that has expanded to two monthly sessions. One session is like a 101 course in introducing people to the LGBT community. The other is about how to become an ally. Harsch also has taken her training outside the campus to groups likely to work with students. She fields her fair share of questions from the general community and dedicates some personal time to education in the Cedar Valley. For her, the commitment to social justice is ingrained. She took to heart her mothers advice to live by the Golden Rule and began focusing on social justice at an early age, mostly working with people with disabilities. She turned her attention to gender and sexual identity in high school. Though her job as the student services coordinator is her first after college she finished classwork for her graduate degree and is working on her thesis Harsch, 23, plans to be here awhile. Ill probably be here for some years to come, Harsch said. Im looking forward to my future, too, but its even hard to think about that because theres so much at UNI Im still wanting to accomplish. Harsch recognizes strides have been made. But as a social justice advocate who interacts with LGBTQIA lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual students regularly, she also has a first-hand look at the progress yet to be made. The campus faces the same challenges as society at large. Harsch, from West Des Moines, can come up with a long list of challenges that still exist: harassment and slurs still occur; the discomfort in a residence hall if a roommate comes out; the challenges of adopting a child for same-sex couples; the lack of positive discussion of LGBTQIA people; a lack of comprehensive sex education that often leaves out concerns among the community, including HIV treatments; conversion therapy; a lack of hate crime protections for gender identity; and where people who are transgender can use the bathroom, among others. Iowas current law allows transgender people to use the restroom that reflects their gender identity, but she notes that doesnt make them comfortable or immune from judgment. We just want to make sure that everyone is included and safe, and that theres no huge barriers to someone finding success and happiness in life, Harsch said. If letting someone use the bathroom will help them, in our case, graduate, lets get a bathroom. Lets work on this. In so doing, the president sharply reversed his own past stance and positions his team took just days ago on Syria. Despite his stubborn refusal to criticize Russias cyberwar on America, moreover, he may finally have grasped the need to display toughness to the Kremlin. Call it the learning curve of Trump. The big question now is whether the administration will use this military strike as more than a warning against the use of chemical weapons. The strike gives Trump new leverage to jolt a dying Syrian peace process back to life. But that would require him to play a global role he has previously disdained. Back in September 2013, when President Barack Obama was agonizing over how to respond to a far larger Syrian gas attack, Donald Trump tweeted, Do not attack Syria if you do many very bad things will happen & from that fight the U.S. gets nothing. Obama agreed. He failed to enforce his own red line, instead crafting a deal with Moscow that supposedly forced Bashar al Assad to destroy his chemical arsenal. But, as I wrote then, the purpose of enforcing Obamas red line was not to overthrow Assad, something Washington couldnt achieve without boots on the ground. Rather, a strike could have been used to prod Syria and its backers into a serious peace process. That opportunity was lost. Fast forward to now. Before the latest gas attack, Trump claimed his only interest in Syria was the defeat of the ISIS caliphate in the east of the country. On my trip to the region last month, Iraqis and Syrians bemoaned the apparent lack of any U.S. political strategy to keep jihadis from emerging again once ISIS was gone. Only last week, top Trump officials stressed the lack of U.S. interest in removing Assad (which may have emboldened the dictator to think he was invincible). Then, Assads stupidity, and the presidents visceral reaction to TV scenes of dying children, changed the equation. Whatever the rationale for Trumps sudden reversal, he was correct to do what he did. Thats because, in using sarin gas, the Syrian leader did far worse than violate the 1925 Geneva convention that bans the use of chemical weapons. (One should note the U.S. attack occurred on April 6, the 100th anniversary of Americas entry into WWI, in which 90,000 allied soldiers were felled by chlorine or mustard gas.) Assad also violated the 2013 deal brokered by Obama and Vladimir Putin that called for Assad to destroy all of his chemical weapons obviously, he didnt. Moreover, the Syrian leader flaunted U.N. Resolution 2235, which authorizes the use of force if Damascus violated that deal (although Russian veto power makes it impossible for the Security Council to act). If Assad had been allowed to ignore all these red lines it would have given him carte blanche to continue gassing his own people. It would have demonstrated the world, and America, had no will to stop the use of chemical weapons elsewhere. In addition, it would have had two more dangerous consequences. First, it would have demonstrated American Firster Trump truly had no interest in global leadership on critical issues where U.S. leadership is essential. And second, it would have displayed a continuing Trump unwillingness to treat Putin with the toughness required to convince the Russian that Trump is not an easy mark. Indeed, it is hard to imagine the Russians were not complicit in the sarin attack. Russians were stationed at Shayrat Air Base which is not large and ought to have known sarin was stashed there. Perhaps they turned a blind eye because they know Assads depleted army lacks the troops to defeat Syrian rebels in their remaining strongholds, so the Kremlin was willing to tolerate the use of gas. But the repeated Russian denials Assad was responsible continue the pattern of lies about their actions from the invasion of Ukraine to the hack of the U.S. election. The United States has clear evidence the attack was launched from Shayrat U.S. radar spotted the Syrian aircraft that dropped the gas bombs. This is why the American strike has broad backing from U.S. allies around the world. So Trump had to make clear to the Kremlin the United States would not tolerate this brazen breach of the 2013 pact. Trump has to read the Russians the riot act, says Josh Landis, a noted Syria expert at the University of Oklahoma. He has to get the Russians involved, to ask them what the hell happened. But the bigger questions that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson must explore on his scheduled visit to Moscow next week is whether the Russians are willing to use this strike toward a productive purpose, despite their anti-U.S. bluster. So far Assad has been unwilling to contemplate discussing a political transition that would leave him in power but eventually lead to elections and Russia had been unwilling to squeeze him. The message Russia needs to deliver to Assad, says Andrew Tabler, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, is: Dont think you can gas your way out. They must encourage Assad to go down the road to a true political process. Yet Russia may have no interest in restraining Assad. Even without gas attacks, his barrel-bomb drops on civilians and the resulting refugee flows help Putins plans to undermine the European Union. So the test of Trumps learning curve will rest on whether he recognizes the need to hold firm with Putin and whether he will invest in a diplomatic strategy for Syria that leverages his military action. If he fails on either count, the broader impact of the military strike on Shayrat will be lost. How would you react if a requirement of renewing your drivers license was having your fingerprints put in a law enforcement database? Not happy? Fingerprints, after all, are associated with criminal suspects. And when the Department of Motor Vehicles staffer told you not to smile for your drivers license photo, you thought it looked like an arrest mug shot. What you werent told was that photo is now in a law enforcement database among 170 million from 18 states, including Iowa, accessible to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies as part of a facial recognition program. The FBI began its Next Generation Identification program, an advanced biometric database, in 2010, adding facial recognition and other capabilities to complement fingerprint and DNA databases. The FBI collects fingerprints and DNA after an arrest, but drivers license photos dont require interaction with law enforcement. According to Georgetown Law Schools Center on Privacy & Technology, the Iowa Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety agreed in 2014 the DPS would pay to upgrade the DOTs facial recognition system in return for the photos. The FBI also received access. Some murky guidelines exist. According to DPS, personnel need reasonable suspicion of criminal activity before running a face recognition search, the Center on Privacy & Technology reported. However, DPS has not yet adopted a final policy governing law enforcement face recognition searches on the grounds that it is waiting to determine what uses may be accurate or inaccurate, reliable or unreliable, appropriate or inappropriate. The FBI never told the public what it was doing. Nor did it publish the legally required privacy impact assessment for five years. The GAO report gets to the crux of some major problems in its title, Face Recognition Technology: FBI Should Better Ensure Privacy and Accuracy. The House Committee on Oversight and Government was unhappy to learn, all told, 400 million photos of Americans faces are archived in local, state and federal law enforcement facial recognition databases. An estimated 80 percent of those faces belong to people never criminally charged. Im frankly appalled, Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Mich., told Kimberly Del Greco, the FBI deputy assistant director of criminal justice, during a hearing. I wasnt informed when my drivers license was renewed my photograph was going to be in a repository that could be searched by law enforcement across the country. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., wanted warrants required for facial recognition searches using the databases, stating, This is really Nazi Germany here, what were talking about. Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, warned the technology together with police body cameras can be used in a way that chills free speech and free association by targeting people attending certain political meetings, protests, churches or other types of places in the public. In the wrong hands, nefarious hands it does scare me. He asked Del Greco, Are you aware of any other country that does this? She didnt respond. Chaffetz added, Facial recognition technology does make mistakes. Hes correct. The facial recognition algorithms are inaccurate about 15 percent when attempting to identify matches. Its far more prone to misidentify people with darker skin. Yet, according to the GAO, the real accuracy isnt known because the FBI didnt track failures during more than 36,000 searches. It doesnt know how often the system incorrectly identifies the wrong subject, said the GAOs Diana Maurer. Innocent people could bear the burden of being falsely accused, including the implication of having federal investigators turn up at their home or business. Del Greco said the system has generated investigative leads and enhanced the ability to solve crimes. One notable success was the arrest of alleged child molester Charles Hollin, a fugitive for 18 years identified through a passport photo on file. Its nonsensical to scrap investigations involving facial recognition, which can be a valuable tool to apprehend dangerous felons (as depicted on countless TV and movie law enforcement dramas). But parameters must be established to protect privacy. Alvaro Bedoya, executive director of Center on Privacy & Technology, recommended: Consent from state legislatures to search databases, but only when theres probable cause as in wiretap cases to implicate the subject in a felony. The FBI scrubs its databases to remove the innocent. The FBI is transparent and allows audits by federal agencies to ensure it is meeting privacy requirements. While it remains an affront to basic privacy concerns the facial recognition program has gotten this far without a public airing, those recommendations are a good start. 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2017 Share The outgoing French government has published a decree to repeal EDF's licence to operate the Fessenheim nuclear power plant. The plant, it said, must be shut down when the Flamanville EPR begins commercial operation, expected by 2020, as EDF has already agreed. The Fessenheim plant (Image: EDF) The decree - published in the Official Journal yesterday - sets out the conditions for closing Fessenheim, France's oldest nuclear power plant. It states that EDF's authorisation to operate the plant's two 880 MWe pressurized water reactors will be withdrawn from the day that the Flamanville 3 EPR "enters into service". Publication of the decree comes just days after the utility said it intends to comply with previously announced legal requirements regarding the plant's continued operation. In accordance with French law, a decree is required to revoke the Fessenheim plant's operating licence. This decree, however, is to be issued at EDF's request. Following a board meeting on 7 April, EDF said it will instruct its chairman and CEO to issue a request for this decree within six months prior to the commissioning of the Flamanville 3 EPR. In response to the board's decision, France's Ministry of the Environment, Energy and the Sea said it would "legally endorse ... in the coming days" the "inevitable and irreversible" closure of the Fessenheim plant. French President Francois Hollande's 2012 election pledge was to limit nuclear's share of French generation at 50% by 2025, and to close Fessenheim - the country's oldest plant - by the end of his five-year term, which ends in May. In June 2014, following a national energy debate, his government announced the country's nuclear generating capacity would be capped at the current level of 63.2 GWe. It will also be limited to 50% of France's total output by 2025. The French Energy Transition for Green Growth Law was adopted in August 2015. Nuclear accounts for almost 75% of the country's electricity production, making closures of power reactors appear inevitable. EDF is constructing a 1650 MWe EPR unit at Flamanville which is expected to start up in late 2018. The utility would therefore be forced to shut the equivalent capacity - most likely the two reactors at Fessenheim - by that time in order to begin operating the Flamanville unit. By issuing the decree now, the current government aims to ensure that Fessenheim will be shut within the next few years, thereby achieving Hollande's pledge even though he will no longer be in power. In a statement, energy minister Segolene Royal welcomed the decree's publication, declaring: "It is said, it is done." She said, "I encourage EDF to pursue and strengthen investments in renewable energies: solar, wind, geothermal, marine energy, hydroelectricity, to reduce the share of nuclear energy to 50%, as required by law. I would add that this closure does not entail any job cuts by EDF because a large industrial decommissioning site will be able to start." The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) - one of a number of trade unions that has strongly opposed the closure of Fessenheim - said the government had "rushed to sign and publish" the decree "a few days before the end of their mandate". It described the decree as "useless because it contains no real decision". It added, "The review of the application for repealing the authorisation for operating Fessenheim will again be examined by the board of EDF when the time comes, that is to say six months before the commissioning of Flamanville 3." System performance tests began yesterday at the Flamanville EPR on 15 March. The first phase of the tests involves flushing the primary circuit with water at a very high flow rate, after which cold testing will be carried out. EDF said the next milestone in Flamanville 3's commissioning will be the loading of fuel ahead of its scheduled start-up at the end of 2018. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Staying out of debt is easier said than done, I know. However, its something you can do, and its something you should be practicing everyday. As Christians, we are in this world, but we are BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, April 11, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The two presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald TRUMP can not be judged negatively. We must all be aware that these two great powers can guarantee peace in the world. The US intervention in Syria on April 6 is also a warning to North Korea over its nuclear projects and its "deaf ear" policy on various nuclear tests contrary to international conventions. In this regard, President Barack Obama was not able to react to the provocation of North Korea which he had nevertheless warned. Donald TRUMP declared on 7 April 2017 that he was ready to intervene in North Korea without the support of anybody. We can see the result of the Americans who "cleared" Saddam HUSSEIN and France having done the same for Muammar KADHAFI who were the guarantors of peace in the Middle East. Today we can only see the disaster. President Putin alone took the initiative to support Bashar al-Assad for eradicating DAECH's terrorists. Although European policies have criticized President Putin, the people are extremely pleased to have a protector of Europe. The Europeans and the United States under the presidency of Barack Obama were all powerless; Which led to massive immigration to Europe and all the problems of terrorism, housing and clandestinity. Donald TRUMP is also right to want to "get out" of NATO as the European people demand. An international organization guaranteeing peace in the world should be created under the leadership of the two great powers, the United States and Russia. The security of Europe must be entrusted to President POUTINE, whose territory represents 40% of Europe, obviously associating the United Kingdom and France. The European people do not always accept the political decisions taken in Europe and in particular by France against PUTIN'S Russia and the US of TRUMP. We must not forget that the United States and Russia saved Europe from the Nazis. # # # Apr 11, 2017 | By Benedict The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has pumped $6.25 million into the new Center for Engineering Complex Tissues (CECT), a tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting lab that will be run by Rice University, the University of Maryland, and Wake Forest University starting April 15. CICT partners (clockwise from top left) Wake Forest University, the University of Maryland, Rice University When it comes to groundbreaking 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering research, two heads are often better than onemake that three, and youre really going somewhere. That could be the thought process behind a new $6.25 million NIH grant awarded to bioengineers at Rice University, the University of Maryland, and Wake Forest University, three universities working in tandem to establish the Center for Engineering Complex Tissues. There, a community of surgeons, biomaterials experts, and regenerative medicine engineers will develop new tissue engineering technologies, including advanced 3D bioprinting techniques, that could vastly improve modern medicine. CECT, which will begin operations on April 15, will focus on tissue engineering, otherwise known as regenerative medicine, a field of biomedical study that focuses on the body's natural recuperative capabilities. The practice generally combines cells, biologically active molecules, and biodegradable templates to create functional tissues which can be grafted onto damaged human body parts, encouraging the natural bodily process of repair. In recent years, 3D printing and bioprinting has contributed massively to the advancement of tissue engineering. CECT will pay particular attention to these modern 3D printing and bioprinting technologies that can be used to in regenerative medicine and biomedical device development. However, each university will specialize in a particular discipline: Maryland will focus on 3D printed bioreactors for cell cultures, Wake Forest will lead the efforts on 3D bioprinting patterning for cell-laden constructs, while Rice will concentrate on bioprinting for complex scaffold fabrication. The universities will, however, work together closely to share information and advance each others work in any way they can. Complementing the three universities individual research projects will be six additional collaborative projects and six service projects that will see center experts working with other leading researchers across the country. The University of Marylands John Fisher commented that anyone in the world will have the opportunity to potentially work at CECT laboratories, with a two-way transfer of science" expected to benefit all contributing parties and their research into the repair of bone, tissue, and organ defects. Wake Forest University researchers develop a 3D printed "beating" heart cell in 2015 Collaborative projects that have already been arranged involve Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Toronto. Service projects, on the other hand, will allow CECT technologies to be used by a larger number of researchers, benefitting more projects in the field of 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering. These service projects will involve Maryland, Columbia University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, Stanford University, Texas A&M University, and Synthasome Inc. Rices Antonios Mikos, director of CECT, believes that the formation of the new center will benefit his university in important ways, while also serving to facilitate important scientific research that could greatly benefit human lives. CECT establishes Rice as a premier institution in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine," he said. We have made tremendous progress alongside our colleagues at the Texas Medical Center. The CECT is a wonderful recognition of all of our collaborative efforts and presents an exciting beginning as we continue to work as a community on new technologies to improve health care. Many of todays most transformative advancements in human health came to life because leaders in STEM worked collaboratively to share knowledge, ideas, and creative vision, commented Darryll J. Pines, Dean of the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering. CECT will play a key role in bringing together innovators from a variety of science and engineering disciplines who are working to address a critical health need. The great education opportunity the center allows is a tremendous draw for people to come here and learn about the techniques Rice is working on, Mikos added. By helping the community develop this expertise, we will continue to build the Advances in Tissue Engineering continuing-education course Rice has been committed to for more than 25 years. CECT was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Biomedical Technology Resource Center (BTRC). Posted in 3D Printing Technology Maybe you also like: Apr 11, 2017 | By Tess Up-and-coming fashion designer Alexis Walsh, who specializes in 3D printed fashion, has unveiled her latest garment: the APEX COAT. Made in collaboration with designer Justin Hattendorf, the garment features beautiful 3D printed embellishments. New York-based fashion designer Alexis Walsh came onto our radar a couple years ago thanks to her amazing 3D printed fashion collection LYSIS. The collection, which was inspired by the structures of viral formations, expertly combined traditional garment making (with richly colored flowing fabrics) with the rigid but intricate geometries that are achievable with 3D printing. The up-and-coming designer is still perhaps best known for her eye-catchingly provocative 3D printed Spire Dress, which embellishes the wearers body with sharply detailed 3D printed tiles and miniature spires. The skin-bearing garment, one of our favorite 3D printed dresses, has gone on to appear in various magazines, 3D printing shows, music videos, and fashion shows, including New York Fashion Week and Germanys Platform Fashion event. Now, it is our pleasure to report that Walsh has unveiled yet another stunning 3D printed garment. Called the APEX COAT, the new piece was designed in collaboration with transdisciplinary designer Justin Hattendorf, who has experience in the fields of architecture, industrial, product, and fashion design. APEX COAT is a knee-length black sleeveless jacket with striking 3D printed ornamentation. According to its designers, the coat marries handcrafted embellishment and generative digital form. In other words, the coat was realized through the combination of generative design (for which Walsh used a custom software application) and manual assembling techniquesan intersection which seems to drive Walshs work. The striking ornamentation on the black garment comes in the form of 3D printed studs, no two of which are the same. The design for the studs was achieved through Walsh and Hattendorfs custom software, which enabled them to use point and string of point variations to create the unique stud structures. These formations result in an array of structures that hug the body in sinuous curves, while the stark black of the coats fabric serves as a visual contrast to erode the rounded edges of the studs, say the designers. Interestingly, the software application used was precisely developed to combine tactile, manual garment making techniques with generative and digital modeling. That is, the stud design process began rather traditionally, with the designer manually demarcating (in the form of paper tailoring patterns) where the studs would be placed on the garment. The patterns were then photographed and uploaded into the simulation software, which subsequently generated randomized stud shapes and placement to fit the subtle curves and boundaries of the pattern. The studs, each 3D printed from a translucent material, have been fitted with brass threading, which enables them to be manually screwed into the fabric and gives them an ethereal, pearlescent appearance, as the brass catches light through the translucent plastic of each stud. The studs were first prototyped using MakerBot 3D printers, but were ultimately made in collaboration with Voodoo Manufacturing. (Images: Alexis Walsh, Justin Hattendorf) Walsh and Hattendorf, who graduated from Parsons The New School for Design and the Pratt Institute School of Architecture, respectively, are expecting to debut their 3D printed garment at the Harvard Identities Fashion show on April 15, 2017. After its debut, the APEX COAT will also be featured at exhibitions for Berlin Fashion Week, as well as in Barcelona and Helsinki. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Apr 11, 2017 | By Benedict Orthopedic surgeons at the HELIOS Klinikum Hildesheim in Germany have made a 3D printed hip implant for a 40-year-old Cypriot woman whose hip dysplasia had given her constant pain throughout her life. Prof. Dr. Burkhard Wippermann and patient Antzelina Kesidi When youve lived with constant pain throughout your life, there comes a point where you think it will never end. After 40 years of chronic pain in her hip, Antzelina Kesidi must have felt this way, especially after undergoing two unsucessful surgeries ostensibly meant to fix her hip problems. Incredibly, surgeons from the HELIOS Klinikum Hildesheim in Germany have managed to bring that pain to an endby 3D printing a custom-made, custom-fit hip implant for Kesidi. Some might say its third time lucky, what with the Cypriot finally finding comfort after her third major surgery; others, however, might call it 3D lucky, with the patient undergoing the first 3D printing procedure of its kind in the Hildesheim and Hanover region. Although it may be too early to say how the patient will take to the 3D printed implant in the long term, early signs following the three-hour operation are incredibly promising: When I came to Hildesheim, I could only walk in pain, and with walking aids, Kesidi said. Now, for the first time after an operation, I am painless. It feels right. Kesidi, born with congenital hip dysplasia, has suffered from hip problems since birth. During childhood, her hip bone did not properly ossify, while one leg ended up five inches shorter than the other. Although performed with the best intentions, her first two surgeriescarried out in Russia and Greeceleft her hip bone in a bad condition, ruling out the possibility of attaching a normal implant. Fortunately, the 3D printed implant used in this latest surgery was no ordinary medical device. Based on images from a CT scan, medical staff used CAD software to model a perfectly fitting implant for Kesidi. Next, they 3D printed some plastic prototypes which could be tested on the patient. A few adjustments were made based on these plastic models, after which a final implant was 3D printed in titanium. HELIOS Klinikum Hildesheim, where the 3D printed implant was made and attached When making the 3D printed hip implant, every consideration was made to make the device as comfortable and functional as possible. For example, the bone density of Kesidis pelvis was measured digitally in order to find the appropriate site for attaching the implanta factor that her previous surgeries failed to take into consideration. Kesidi, who came to Germany after the Cypriot Ministry of Health made a deal with HELIOS Klinikum Hildesheim, can now look forward to a pain-free future with her 3D printed titanium hip implant. "I am really impressed with how perfectly it fits," commented Prof. Dr. Burkhard Wippermann, Chief Physician at the Clinic for Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery at the HELIOS Klinikum Hildesheim. "I am indefinitely grateful to Prof. Wippermann and his team, Kesidi added. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Apr 11, 2017 | By Benedict Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), a national development finance institution owned by the South African government, has invested 17 million rand ($1.23M) in Metal Heart, a Gauteng-based 3D printing startup. Metal Heart will produce South Africas first production-ready metal 3D printer. A South African government institution is financing six companies based in the province of Gauteng $1.23 million is a lot of money for a startupespecially one that hasnt even started operations yet. That means Metal Heart, a new South African 3D printing company based in Gauteng, is probably thanking its lucky stars that the IDC, a government-owned finance institution, has put pen to paper on a massive investment in the young startup. Thats not to say that Metal Heart doesnt sound like a promising venture, of course. The South African startup is planning to launch what it says will be the countrys first production-ready metal 3D printer by June of this year. (The giant, Airbus-affiliated Aeroswift 3D printer appeared to be claiming that title, but commercial use for that machine is not expected until 2019.) Gert Lombard, who is running Metal Heart alongside business partner Kim Gray, says that the IDCs new industries unit moved quickly to seal the investment after the two parties met in November 2016. The investment, confirmed two weeks ago, comes in the form of a term loan and the IDC getting a minority equity stake in Metal Heart. Although Metal Heart hasnt started operations, it has agreed some kind of deal with a large tooling and injection mould company in Gauteng, ensuring it will be on the metal production map when it opens its doors. The startup admits that metal parts fabricated on its 3D printing system may cost more to produce than molded components, but promises that they will be available in half the time. Startup Metal Heart is developing what could be South Africa's first production-ready metal 3D printer If its government is to be believed, 2017 could be a good time to start an additive manufacturing venture in South Africa. Last summer, South Africas Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched an Additive Manufacturing strategy, aiming to position the country as a major global competitor in 3D printing technologies. R30.7 million ($2.2M) was promised to a 3D printing research and development program. The IDC, the organization funding 3D printing startup Metal Heart, is not part of the DST, but part of the Economic Development Department, which is also pushing incentives to boost local additive manufacturing. The IDCs new industries unit is currently focusing on eight priority industries (gas beneficiation, energy storage, fuel cells, medical devices, natural products, renewable inputs, additive manufacturing, and nanotech), and has already pledged R107.1 million ($7.7M) of funding since its inception in 2015. R63.4 million ($4.6M) of that funding has been invested in six new companies in the fields of energy storage (1), additive manufacturing (1, Metal Heart), water (1), and nanotech (3). All of these companies are based in Gauteng; three are owned by young businesspeople, and three are owned by black businesspeople. The IDC industries unit has reportedly received around 50 applications for funding. Source: Ventureburn Posted in 3D Printer Company Maybe you also like: tshediso george matekane wrote at 1/4/2018 9:53:33 AM:I am planning to start a welding company with a trainning centre around the Free State, I was wondering n how can the machinery from SLM solution assist me to grow my business? My number is +27 76 565 9493 email is tgmatekane@yahoo.comHerman Burger wrote at 12/15/2017 8:31:20 PM:Dear Benedict Your article is incorrect and misleading. Metal Heart has established a 3D printing service bureau based on SLM Solutions systems with the assistance of the IDC. They will not develop original equipment. Aeroswift remains the only South African developed metal printing system. I would appreciate it if you put your facts straight, Robyn Sue Fisher has gone from churning ice cream in a Radio Flyer on Valencia Street to living the sweet, sweet dream: The founder of Smitten, and everyone's favorite ice cream lady, is expanding her empire: On the heels of recent openings in San Francisco's Mission and the Marina, as well as the brand's first in Southern California (in El Segundo), the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake is soon to be smitten, too. As many people in the food industry do, Fisher began by selling her product out of the back of a truckwell, a little red wagon to be precise. In 2009, with the help of a retired NASA engineer, Fisher built Brrr, an innovative ice cream machine that runs on liquid nitrogen. She placed it on a Radio Flyer and she spent two years pedaling Valencia Street before opening her first shop, Smitten's flagship shipping container in Hayes Valley. Now, Smitten Ice Cream has eight locations around the Bay Area and is beginning to charm SoCal as well. Want to follow in her footsteps? We asked the 37-year-old ex-Strategic Management Consultant what it takes to succeed in the food world. Smitten founder Robyn Sue Fisher. (Courtesy of Smitten Ice Cream) What made you decide to jump into the ice cream business? Ice cream has always been my favorite food, ever since I was a kid. When I started looking at ingredient labels on the back of ice cream cartons, I was really bothered by all of the unpronounceable ingredients that were in there. I decided to jump into the ice cream business because I really felt there was a need to use technology to make ice cream pure again. I knew that by including only the ingredients that should be in ice cream, we could make it taste better. What were you doing before Smitten? I was a Strategic Management Consultant in Boston, New York and Paris. I am still trying to figure out what that means. Where does the name Smitten" come from? I associate ice cream with joy and I wanted everyone who tried Smitten to experience that joy. What's so special about Brrr? I like to call Brrr my first child! I literally spent many years and my life's savings creating a machine that could make the best ice cream possible. The basic idea behind the Brrr machine is that it perfects the art of using liquid nitrogen to freeze the ice cream in a way that creates exceptionally small ice crystals. (The smaller the ice crystals, the smoother the ice cream). Brrr can actually sense and respond to the viscosity of the ice cream and knows when to stop churning when the ice cream is done. Do you miss hitting the road with your Radio Flyer wagon? I make sure to get into our shops and interact with guests all the time. Because I'm out and about all the time, I'm still able to have that on-the-ground experience with people that I loved when I had my wagon. Favorite spot to park the wagon: I used to hang out right near the Mission Pool, just off Valencia Street. We're opening a shop on Valencia Street and 20th Street this summer, so I'm excited to come full circle. Where do you go to buy your ingredients? Using top-quality ingredients is paramount for us. We actually have a position at Smitten called the Hunter & Gatherer." Our Hunter & Gatherer is responsible for all of our ingredient sourcing and ensures that we are proud of everything that goes into our scoops. We care immensely about sourcing locally, so we work with local purveyors and local farms. We use all organic milk and cream from Northern California and specifically choose dairies that have the highest standards in the industry. We also source organic fruits from local farms, such as strawberries from Swanton Berry Farm and nectarines from Blossom Bluff. And, we're also thrilled and proud to work with TCHO chocolate, a forward-thinking chocolatier based in Berkeley that goes beyond Fair Trade and actually supports and partners with local growers. Favorite Smitten flavor: Gosh, I love it all. But, if I had to choose, I would say our seasonal blood orange with pistachio cookies available select months of the year. I also love the maple brown sugar pumpkin that we serve in the fall. And I challenge anyone in the world to find a better chocolate ice cream than our TCHO chocolate. Favorite restaurant: My favorite places usually have some kind of sentimental value. My husband and I will go on super long walking dates where we end up over the Golden Gate Bridge at Farley Bar at Cavallo Point, which is where we got engaged. We also had our first date ever on tax day at Gamine, a cozy neighborhood French bistro, so that place is pretty special to me as well. And, to tell the truth, one of my favorite meals is just a darn good Mission burrito. Favorite dessert (besides ice cream): Pie a la mode, of course! An indulgence that you would never give up? Being outside is really important to me, so even if it's a weekday and my to-do list is crazy long, I'll indulge with time outside. What is the most important thing you need to have to be successful in this business? Knowing how to make someone's day. If you weren't making ice cream, what would you be doing? A special agent in the FBI (wink, wink). -- This article has been updated since it was originally published in March 2016. That's not as bad as it sounds. Despite reductions in screening, the number of men who have died from prostate cancer has also declined (see chart, below). Likewise, many men with early-stage tumors were spared the side effects of treatment, which can be devastating. In fact, a 2013 New England Journal of Medicine article reported that 15 years after diagnosis, 87 percent of men who underwent surgery and 94 percent of men who had radiotherapy were unable to achieve an erection. Overtreatment of early stages of the disease was the main reason the task force issued its 2012 recommendation. In updating its recommendation today, the task force acknowledged the potential harms of overtreatment, while still advocating for individualized decisionmaking between a man and his doctor. "For men who are more willing to accept the potential harms, screening may be the right choice for them," Dr. Alex H. Krist, a member of the task force and associate professor of family medicine and population health at Virginia Commonwealth University, told CNBC. "Men who are more interested in avoiding the potential harms may choose not to be screened. Prostate cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the U.S. In 2017 the American Cancer Society estimates that at least 161,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 26,000 men will die of the disease. Here are three things you need to know. 1. Be aware of your risk factor. Men who fall into one of these higher-risk groups should talk to their doctor about screening: African American men are twice as likely to get prostate cancer, more likely to have an aggressive form of the disease and 2.4 times more likely to die from it. A forthcoming report from AARP's Public Policy Institute and OptumLabs recommends that future prostate screening guidelines consider race and ethnicity. Men with a family history of prostate cancer who develop the disease are twice as likely to die from it. Men who exhibit certain symptoms should see a doctor right away. These include difficulty urinating, including a slow, weak or interrupted urinary stream; a need to urinate more often, especially at night; blood in the urine or semen; and discomfort in the pelvic area or lower back, or bone pain. Eric Klein, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic, recommends a baseline PSA for all men at age 50, and for higher-risk patients at age 45. Klein says men with PSA levels below 0.7ng/mL at baseline can slide to one test every five years, and those 60 and older with levels of 2 ng/mL or lower might never need another test as long as they remain symptom-free. Thank You Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also manage your communication preferences by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Razor Talon provides joint training for air, ground components The opposing force scurried around the arid airfield to prepare for an oncoming attack. Without warning, a pair of A-10C Thunderbolt IIs screamed toward the airfield and simulated multiple strafing runs decimating a radar jammer. A Tactical Air Control Party specialist embedded with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, confirmed the target was destroyed from a hideout in the woods nearby. A C-17 Globemaster III out of Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, flew out of the clouds overhead and delivered simulated support of 82nd Airborne Division members who would parachute to the ground and take over the airfield by any means necessary. Within a short amount of time, American forces gained control of the airfield and exercise Razor Talon continued. Razor Talon is an integral part of training, said Capt. Dan Lusardi, a 75th Fighter Squadron A-10C pilot. As an A-10 pilot, we rarely have a chance to practice with other branches and have our capabilities fully utilized. Its rare that we practice both air-to-ground and air-to-air procedures, especially at the same time. Lusardi added this type of training not only sharpens pilots tactics, techniques and procedures, but also allows them to work better with other military branches during real world operations. Maj. Mike Malone, the chief officer in charge for Razor Talon, said one of the main objectives of the exercise is to help Airmen better integrate with other branches and other aircraft. We want to integrate all military personnel so we can synchronize our effects and continue to dominate our adversaries as a unified fighting force, said Malone. Twenty-one aircraft supported this Razor Talon. Each aircraft played a pivotal role in the success of the exercise. Fourteen of the aircraft were Seymour Johnson AFB F-15E Strike Eagles, which were tasked to simulate the destruction of ground targets. Four F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, fought simulated opposing forces in the air and on the ground, and two A-10s from Moody AFB, Georgia, provided close air support for ground forces. In a real world environment, there are a lot of moving parts, Malone said. Razor Talon allows us to join forces and use those moving parts at a good pace in a safer environment. USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez) Airman 1st Class Celeste Black, a crew chief with the 69th Maintenance Squadron, walked gracefully past the wing of an RQ-4 Global Hawk with her arm stretched out to touch the huge remotely piloted aircraft. From an outside perspective, its not evident that Black battled ovarian cancer less than a year ago.In February of 2016, Black was almost finished with her technical training at Beale Air Force Base, California, when she said she began to experience abdominal cramps and unusual bloating. When her symptoms worsened, Black decided to visit a doctor to figure out if something was wrong.One weekend I went to a doctor, and at first he said my body just needed to get used to the environment, Black said.Black had no choice but to go back to training, but returned to the doctor shortly after her first visit when the pain from her cramps escalated. On her second visit, she was given a CAT scan, and the doctors confirmed Blacks discomfort was not from lack of acclimation, but from two tumors located on each of her ovaries.Unaware of the severity of the situation, Black said she decided to wait until after graduation from technical training to see a doctor at her first duty station at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Once she saw her primary care manager at the medical facility, it was decided Black should be transferred to Altru Hospital, a local hospital that had the resources to give Black an ultrasound.It was huge, Black said, referring to the growth. I looked six months pregnant.The Altru gynecologist who suggested the ultrasound told Black they wouldnt know if the tumors were cancerous or not until she had them surgically removed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.This was happening so fast to me, Black recalled. I was still inprocessing. Im just like, How am I supposed to get there? I dont have a car, and I dont know anyone who will take me.It was then Black resorted to talking to one of her supervisors, Tech. Sgt. Cody Biorn, the aircraft section NCO in charge.I called Tech. Sgt. Biorn, and hes like, Dont worry about it, Ill handle it, Black said.According to Black, Biorn and his wife, Jolene, were helpful in multiple ways. Biorn made sure Black was able to attend any and every appointment, and let her temporarily live in his home during her battle with cancer. Jolene organized an online campaign in order to raise money to bring Blacks family and friends to see her and provide comfort and support during chemotherapy.In addition to the help from Biorn and his wife, Blacks other supervisor, Master Sgt. Aisha P. Wolfgang, the 69th MXS supply management NCOIC, played an important role.She would go with me to every appointment, Black said about Wolfgang. She asked things for me I wasnt able to ask, and said things I wasnt able to say in that moment. She was amazing.With the help of her supervisors, Black was able to go to Minneapolis a few weeks after her gynecologist visit for a major surgery that removed her left ovary and fallopian tube, and 12 pounds of tumor from her ovaries.When I woke up, I was a different person, Black said, mentioning that she lost about 65 pounds of tumor, water-weight and body fluids.Within a few days, Black and her family were told that she had ovarian cancer.I was kind of in shock, Black admitted. After that shock I just thought, Whats next? What processes do I take to get better?Doctors explained to her chemotherapy would be the best option, and she should prepare for a variety of side effects that come with the treatment. Each of the four treatments would require a week-long stay in the hospital over the course of four months.Black explained how terrible the chemotherapy sessions made her feel, but that the constant love and support from her friends, family and wingmen helped keep her spirits high. Despite the visits and gifts brought from people who cared about her, Black admits it was bittersweet.After they would leave, I just kind of felt stuck, she recalled. I wanted to leave, but I couldnt. The week seemed like it lasted forever.To fill her free time, Black said she read the Bible, watched movies, colored, studied her career development course and walked around the wing of the hospital she stayed in.Once her week of treatment was complete, Black went to the Biorns home to continue with her recovery. Biorn said it was the obvious choice to allow her to stay in his spare bedroom instead of return to solitude in her dorm room.Blacks mom was concerned and kept asking if everything was being taken care of, and all I could say was, Of course, Biorn said.Wolfgang explained how the situation brought everyone involved together, and admitted she personally felt humbled by the experience.We couldnt feel what was going on, but we could see it, Wolfgang said. It wasnt us giving her strength, it was her giving us strength.Even Blacks first sergeant, Master Sgt. Robyn Kaufhold, did what she could to help Black by offering support when she went to a few appointments and visited during chemotherapy.Airman Black went through it with grace, Kaufhold said. She never complained once. She was a fighter.Black expressed her gratitude for having such a great support system that stayed with her throughout the whole process.It felt really good to have them around, just being there for me, Black confessed with a shy grin.Although Black is now cancer-free and enjoys being able to work with her crew and spend time with friends outside of the confinements of a hospital room, she said she has occasional concerns the cancer could return.I think, What if it comes back? she said. I get paranoid.Black doesnt believe it will come back, but admitted sometimes she cant help when her mind wanders and thinks of the worst. Her biggest concern is that she may not be able to bear children.She stopped talking before allowing her mind to continue thinking about the possibility.If it does come back, Ill be a little more prepared for it, she said fearlessly. 355th Medical Group increases patient access through collaboration Leadership from medical treatment facilities across Air Combat Command met at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, to share their patient access to care success stories April 5-6, 2017. Lt. Col. Jennifer Garrison, the 355th Medical Support Squadron administrator, was among those briefing at the ACC conference. Her journey, and that of the staff at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Medical Center, in Arizona, began in the fall of 2016 when Air Force partnered with the Institute of Health Improvement. Patient access to care is a priority in military medicine; however, there are some military-wide obstacles to reaching patient access goals. Some consistent challenges to patient access are meeting health care personnel deployment requirements, permanent change of station cycles and recruiting physicians to remote military treatment facilities. The Air Force determined, with the right training and approach, its military treatment facilities could pursue changes at the local level to mitigate some of these broader challenges. This meant working with the IHI to transform its MTFs into High Reliability Organizations, improving patient care to access in the process. Garrison attended the Improvement Science in Action workshop in Washington, D.C., in September 2016 and was subsequently identified as the IFI-MTF team lead at the 355th Medical Group. The 355th MDG goal is to improve patient continuity with their primary care manager from 65 percent to 90 percent by July 2017. Garrison and her team of 15 key MTF personnel met weekly to discuss plan, do, study, act measures or PDSAs aimed at improving patient access. One hallmark of HROs is the constant scrutiny of internal processes which leads to innovation and improvement over time. The first step we needed was staff buy-in. After the (hospital) teams (understood) change can lead to an increase in staff morale and increase access for their patients; the MDG-IHI Team took off, explained Garrison. She cited one family health provider, Capt. Maggie Smith-Davidson, as a champion for the cause despite her initial skepticism. She took out all her carve out detail codes in her templates to be utilized for acute and routine appointments. This increased access by 10 percent. She also had the appointment clerks call her patients the day prior before their appointments to decrease no-shows, said Garrison. Other staff noticed Smith-Davidsons positive attitude regarding the IHI collaboration and Garrison noticed an uptick of PDSA suggestions from officers, enlisted and civilians across the MTF, she said. It really has started what I hope will be a complete paradigm shift -- where we dont hear process improvement and change and immediately knee jerk to negativity, but that it allow us to refocus on taking care of our patients and increasing access to care, which is what were all here to do, said Smith-Davidson. Along the way the DM team implemented additional PDSAs to include embedding nurses with appointment takers to ensure they were booking patients into the correct type of appointment, consolidating the team structure to maximize resources, and leveraging Secure Messaging technology to respond to patient queries in a timely manner. The staff reached out to RelayHealth to get additional training on Secure Messaging, which in turn decreased the number of overdue messages from 72 to zero. One of our biggest focuses was to improve on our patient experience with trust. We instituted the 20th Medical Groups Patient Integration Program, and the 355th MDG now has seven patients sitting on our MDG committees to give us the feedback to enhance their patient experience, said Garrison. We (also) hired a patient and family experience coordinator. The purpose of the PFEC is to implement methods to increase patient and family engagement among the MTF beneficiary population. Currently, the 355th MDG has increased access to care by 21 percent in PCM continuity, which puts the group at 86 percent and on track to meet the 90 percent goal. Patience is a virtue and do not be afraid to fail, she said. In order to be a High Reliability Organization, design a system that is consistent in accomplishing your goals and avoid potentially catastrophic errors. The next round of IHI collaborations slated for rollout across the Air Force are dental safety and maternal health. Different MTFs will also be selected for another collaboration on patient access. A Waliv Police has booked a 30 year old man for raping and forcing his wife into prostitution. A 33 year old victim, who is divorcee with her first husband and mother of two alleged that he brutally manhandled her and burned her with cigarette butts. She filed a complaint with the Waliv Police Station in Vasai division of Palghar district. Based on her complaint, the police booked the man under IPC sections 376 (rape), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her for marriage), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 504 and 506 (criminal intimidation) and also relevant provisions of The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Accused is absconding and a search has been launched to nab him. The woman mentioned in her complaint that she came to Palghar in 2012 after divorcing her first husband and leaving her two children with her mother in Uttar Pradesh. After she came here, she found a job and was working in a company in Nalasopara. The accused was also working in the same firm and became friend of her. In 2013, the accused raped her while promising to marry her. He later married the woman when she threatens to complain about him in police station. After marrying her, he pushed her into prostitution on the pretext of earning more. After her earning inclined the accused started demanding money from her earnings. When she refused, the accused started assaulting her and burnt her with cigarette butts, said an officer from Waliv police station. He also threatened to kill her two children in Uttar Pradesh, if she refused his demands, the police officer said. Now, the victim is planning to go back to her children and parents, but she feels threat for her absconded husband, she demanded that police should either give her protection or arrest the husband. Despite tension across the border in the past, the Somali pirates got a taste of Indo China combination saw that both countries carried out a well co-ordinated operation to rescue a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden. It was indeed a good team work that saw the Somali pirates disintegrated and ran for safety. While Indian Navy deployed a helicopter that provided air cover and the same time the Chinese side sent in a team of 18 personnel to sanitise the merchant ship registered in the Pacific Island. The joint operation came at a time when the relationship between the two countries strained over a range of issues including the Dalai Lamas visits to Arunachal Pradesh. In a show of international maritime cooperating against piracy, the boarding party from nearby Chinese Navy ship carried out operations to save the crew members. Thus, team work between India and China touched a new high and released the tension in the border after the joint operation. Calicut Ramani (The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.) The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) said it has distributed 16,000 saplings under its Project Neighbourhood program across 25 locations. MMRC had faced flak from various green activists for cutting trees to make way for the Colaba-Seepz Metro 3 corridor. Project Neighbourhood was introduced to support our vision of protecting Mumbais environment. We have distributed over 16,000 saplings to provide the green cover for the city. We plan to distribute 25,000 saplings in the 7 civil packages, MMRC Managing Director Ashwini Bhide said in a statement. Autism Research Institute is presenting a Webinar tomorrow, 4/12 titled: Immunological Issues in ASD - Gestational Influences. Register here. From ARI: Join Judy Van de Water, PhD to learn about gestational influences on neurodevelopment. Dr. Van de Water joined the faculty in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California, Davis in 1999. In 2000, she also joined the faculty of the newly formed UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute when she began her research on the immunobiology of autism. Dr. Van de Waters laboratory pursues research programs pertaining to autoimmune and clinical immune-based disorders including the biological aspects of autism spectrum disorders. The application of Dr. Van de Waters immunopathology background has been instrumental in the dissection of the immune anomalies noted in some individuals with autism, and in the differentiation of various autism behavioral phenotypes at a biological level. Most notable of these is the investigation of the maternal immune system as it relates to autism spectrum disorders, with particular emphasis on the presence of highly specific maternal autoantibodies to fetal brain proteins. Dr. Van de Waters seminal work in this area has led to a highly specific biomarker of autism risk as well as three patents leading to the commercialization of this technology. Dr. Van de Water is currently the Director of the NIEHS funded Center for Childrens Environmental Health at UC Davis, investigating potential environmental risk factors contributing to the incidence and severity of childhood autism. In addition, Dr. Van de Waters work is also part of a comprehensive and multidiscipline analysis known as the Autism Phenome Project (APP). Prior to working in autism spectrum disorder research, Dr. Van de Waters research interests were focused on the immunopathologic mechanisms associated with the autoimmune liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Her research during PBC led to the discovery of the PBC autoantigen, pyruvate dehydrogenase E2, and the B cell epitope recognized by these autoantibodies. Youre doing your job! You are absolutely, absolutely doing your job, and please, please, please keep up the good work. Brian: And yet, were winning. You get the word out there. When I go up to Capitol Hill and I ask people, and I start to explain the story about Bill Thompson, theyre like, Oh no, no, no. We already know about Bill Thompson. Brian began by talking about his 19 year old sons vaccine injury, his dedication to his recovery and the toll it takes on every affected family. He was very positive. (And for all the details on just how Thorsen and Schendel pulled this off, read the fascinating book, Vaccine Whistleblower , by Kevin Barry.) Brian also went into detail about Poul Thorsen and Diana Schendels roles in fleecing the taxpayers out of millions of dollars in order to manufacture bogus research on whats causing autism. Brians speech was only about ten minutes in length, but his words were dynamite. Just like Del Bigtree did in his talk , Brian told his audience that when he goes to Congress, they know about CDC scientist William Thompsons charge that his agency ordered him to destroy evidence showing a vaccine-autism link in the MMR vaccine. This issue is only going to get more heated because the people who represent us know that the government is involved in vaccine safety fraud. Its their job to look into this. Note: Thank you to Anne Dachel for transcribing this talk, and to Joshua Coleman for the video. ### Dr. Brian Hooker, the man who was contacted by CDC whistleblower William Thompson, spoke at the Revolution for Truth Rally in Washington D.C. on March 31, 2017, along with over a dozen leading autism activists. People are waking up to the truth, according to Brian. He focused on parents. They are fighting for a cause. They have been let in on a dirty little secret, and they are no longer trusting the government to do good things for them. They are no longer trusting the authorities to do good things for them. They are making health decisions, family decisions, decisions to affect their lives and their childrens lives and their childrens childrens lives based on the best information, and trusting their own instinctsWhich is exactly what you should be doing. I want to talk a little bit about the CDC. I recently had another tranche of Freedom of Information Requests. Im the whistleblower guy. Bill Thompson contacted me in November, 2013, and we had conversations over the next approximately eleven months where he revealed documents to me regarding the gross fraud and malfeasance and the paralysis that is over the vaccine safety division, not only around autism, but any neuro-developmental disorder around the only two things that theyve actually studied: thimerosal-containing vaccines and the MMR vaccine, where they have shown fraudulent data over, over, over, over and over again. Well, it gets worse. Ive recently uncovered another hundred and fifty thousand pages of documents through the Freedom and Information Act. And not only did the CDC manipulate the information showing that there was nothing to see here, no effect from the MMR vaccine and autism, no effect from thimerosal and autism, no effect from thimerosal and other neurological disorders, which we now know there is a proven association, even by CDCs admission. [That is] that thimerosal causes tics in boys. But at the same time, they also paid Poul Thorson ten million dollars to babysit us with studies that showed that it was old parents, it was old moms, it was old dads. You see we have old sperm. Or its psychotic parents, parents that are a little cray-cray, and theyre the ones that are going to have autistic children. At the same time that they were covering up the issue of vaccine safety in neurodevelopmental disorders, they were trying to lay the blame [for] autism on anything and everything that would take us off of the trail of truly the causal factors, the environmental causation of autism, and the fact that autism has been associated with thimerosal-containing vaccineseven by CDCs own data when its analyzed correctly, as well as the MMR vaccine. And the way that they did that was, they put Diana Schendel, Poul Thorsens lover, in charge of him. She was his direct supervisor. They had an elicit relationship that smacked of nepotism throughout the entire time that Dr. Thorsen was receiving money directly from the CDC. And CDC insiders, CDC officials knew about it. And they knew about it before she was actually called on it in 2009 after it became evident that they were no longer going to be able to hide the fact that Dr. Thorsen had himself embezzled a million dollars worth of funds. So it gets worse and worse and worse, but you guys are like flashlights on steroids. You keep on shining the light and shining the light and shining the light Darkness has no place to hide because of you. The number of rail services between China and Europe that target airfreight customers increased again yesterday when Kerry Logistics and a series of other companies came together to launch an eastbound operation. The first of the new services left DP Worlds London Gateway terminal yesterday as it set off on a three week journey that will cover 7,500 miles before arriving in Yiwu in the Zhe Jiang province in eastern China. Products on board include soft drinks, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and baby products. This inaugural export train bound for China departed just under three months after the first ever import train from China arrived in the UK. The service is part of Chinas One Belt, One Road programme that aims to revive the ancient Silk Road trading routes to the West. After passing through the Channel Tunnel into France and Belgium, the DB Cargo locomotive will call in Duisburg, Germany, before InterRail pulls the cargo through Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan before the train crosses to Yiwu, China. Container operator OneTwoThree Logistics is overseeing the transportation and booking of cargo for the UK/China rail freight trains, in conjunction with Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co, which is running the service with China Railway Container. Kerry Logistics is also involved in selling the service as it looks to expand into multimodal and rail services. London is the 15th European destination to be added to the China-Europe rail operation and volumes are expanding quickly. At the recent World Cargo Symposium, Seabury Group senior vice president Marco Bloemen said that rail freight services were no longer carrying volumes that can be ignored. Seabury figures show that rail volumes have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 65% between 2013 and 2016 and last year reached 511,000 tonnes. Share this story April 11, 2017 Ever since unknown gunmen assassinated Hamas military leader Mazen Faqha on March 24, the movement has been threatening to retaliate against Israel, which it accused of being behind the assassination. Threats came from inside and outside of the Palestinian territories, from both political and military leaderships. The Palestinians have been expecting revenge actions, but this has yet to happen. On April 10, sources from the special committee investigating Faqhas assassination told Palestine Now that it had concluded its work and it would hand over its final report to Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The special committee has arrested Faqhas killer and is in the process of conducting an investigation with him in preparation for trial, according to the sources. On March 27, Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas political bureau, said Israel was challenging Hamas by assassinating Faqha, and the movements political and military leaderships have accepted this challenge. Meanwhile, on March 25, Hamas military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said they will make Israel pay for Faqhas assassination. Hamas' strong positions may have led the Palestinians to believe the movement would harshly respond to Israel to prevent another assassination, which is why many Palestinians called on Hamas to avenge Faqha. Al-Monitor contacted several Hamas spokespersons both inside and outside of the Palestinian territories to find out the nature of discussions within Hamas and ask whether it will avenge Faqhas death soon or wait, and whether or not talks about internal disputes were accurate. Hossam Badran, a Hamas spokesman and former Hamas military commander in the northern West Bank, who was a close associate of Faqha, told Al-Monitor, As Palestinians, our conflict with Israel is an open battle. Hamas is managing the conflict as a comprehensive project, and it does act based on emotional reactions. As a wise movement, we do not resort to revenge. We do not seek war; we seek our rights. We are united, and we bear the responsibility of any decision we take both inside and outside of the Palestinian territories. This is not the first time Israel targets our leaders at home and abroad, and there are no internal disputes between political and military leaders over our response to Faqhas assassination. Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at An-Najah University in the West Bank city of Nablus, told Al-Monitor, Hamas may refrain from retaliating. This is because the movement might be unable to bear the consequences that may result from its potential actions against Israel, which may either start a war against the Gaza Strip or launch an assassination campaign against Hamas leaders [in response to any revenge action on the part of Hamas]. This is why Hamas may seek a retaliation action that Israel might respond to rationally without firing rockets. Hamas may seek revenge outside of Gaza for fear of getting into a fierce war with Israel, but a review of its expected responses suggests that the movement in the West Bank is under security surveillance from both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel, which are constantly dismantling Hamas cells there. Meanwhile, Hamas finds it difficult to attack Israeli targets outside of Palestine for fear of being sanctioned by the countries where it chooses to carry out its operations. It has previously declared that its conflict with Israel is geographically confined to Palestine as stated by Sami Khater, a member of Hamas political bureau, in an official work document issued by the Al-Zaytouna Center for Studies and Consultations in Beirut in July 2015. However, others see otherwise. Political analyst Hamza Abu Shanab, who is close to Hamas, said in December, The conflict between the Palestinian resistance and Israel may go beyond Palestinian borders, and Israel could be surprised by a retaliation outside of Palestine. Abu Shanabs statements came after Hamas accused Israel of assassinating Tunisian engineer Mohammed Alzoari in Tunisia on Dec. 15, 2016. For his part, Palestinian expert on Israeli affairs Omar Jaara warned about expanding the conflict geographically, saying on Dec. 19, 2016, Hamas is capable of responding to Israel outside Palestinian borders, but it cannot do so because this would violate the sovereignty of the countries where Israel has interests, and thus Hamas and its leaders risk being pursued. It would be extremely difficult for Hamas to target Israelis inside Israel, as such an operation requires accurate security intel, which Hamas may lack despite wanting to emulate the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The latter assassinated in 2001 Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Jerusalem in retaliation for the killing of PFLP leader Abu Ali Mustafa in Ramallah months before. A Hamas official in the West Bank told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Hamas quest for revenge coincides with daily arrests of its members by the PA and Israel, whose aim is to prevent the movement from forming an organizational structure capable of bringing armed operations against Israel. In addition, these arrests aim to make Hamas officials worry about prosecution and detention, instead of focusing on armed attacks. On March 31, the Hamas-affiliated Shehab Media Agency published a video featuring Israeli leaders as sniper targets, such as Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, head of the intelligence agency Yossi Cohen and Israeli army deputy Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, as well as Shin Bet General Security Officer Nadav Argaman. On March 27, Hamas put up posters of Faqha in the Gaza Strip with You reap what you sow, written in Hebrew, in reference to Israel. Hussam al-Dajani, a Hamas expert and professor of political science at Ummah University in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, Hamas discussions indicate that it could take in the blow it received with Faqhas assassination because it realizes that the repercussions of a retaliation could cost it a lot. The movement is currently communicating with regional and international parties which he did not mention and it fears political cards would be reshuffled if it decides to retaliate. Perhaps when it executed three spies in Gaza on April 6, Hamas wanted to ease the public opinions tensions following Faqhas assassination. Remarkably enough, Liberman announced April 2 that Israel was not responsible for Faqhas death, claiming that it was an internal Hamas elimination. However, on the same day, al-Qassam Brigades issued a statement stressing that Israel assassinated Faqha and noted that Libermans words were proof that he is afraid of how Hamas might respond. Hamas spokesman in Gaza Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor, Hamas and its military wing adopted a unified position after Faqhas assassination. This crime will not go unnoticed, but only al-Qassam Brigades can determine how the response will be since [Hamas] political leadership trusts it completely and has given it the freedom to do so. Talks about Hamas possibly avenging Faqhas assassination coincide with the movements internal elections and the ensuing restructuring of its institutions. On April 11, the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper cited anonymous Hamas officials as saying that the movements new political document to be issued before the end of April could represent a major leap in Hamas political orientation and gives it access to the regional and international communities. According to the sources, the document would reportedly include Hamas acceptance of a State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders. The document would also say that Hamas is fighting the Zionist occupation and not the Jews as a religious group. This is why it may be preferable to wait before retaliating, despite internal calls for the need to respond so Israel would not dare carry out another assassination. April 10, 2017 TEHRAN, Iran Irans relationship with Russia has always been characterized by a mix of hope and dread. While one faction in Tehran wants to expand ties, another faction has been traditionally concerned about Moscows trustworthiness. The Syrian crisis has, however, brought the two countries closer together given their shared support for President Bashar al-Assad. Despite the current collaboration, there is constant concern that Russia might turn its back on Iran for a better deal, or that Moscow might maneuver in Syria in a manner that will not safeguard Irans interests in the region. The latest boost to this anxiety came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus recent attempts to attract Russias attention. Netanyahus March 9 visit to Moscow was conducted with the hope of getting President Vladimir Putins approval for Netanyahu's vision of the future order in Syria, which directly impacts the Iranian-Israeli dynamic. At his meeting with Putin, Netanyahu charged that Iran is spreading Shiite Islamic terrorism and urged Moscow to not let Tehran use the Syrian crisis to further its goals against Israel. For his part, the Russian president urged the Israeli prime minister to avoid finding roots to current tension with Iran in the fifth century B.C. and to instead focus on current realities. Naturally, Netanyahus visit was carefully watched by Tehran, with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responding to the charges of the supposed historical enmity of Persians toward Jews on Twitter on March 12. On March 17, 10 days before Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis visit to Russia, Israel attacked targets in Syria. The next day, Moscow summoned the Israeli ambassador over the airstrikes, without publicizing details of the meeting. As such, when Rouhani departed for his first state visit to Russia, it was clear that a large part of his discussions would center on Syria. While in Moscow on March 28, Zarif said that Russia could use Iranian military bases to conduct airstrikes in Syria on a case-by-case basis. Nevertheless, only a few points from the discussions between Putin and Rouhani regarding Syria were made public. In a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Putin said, The participation of Russia and Iran, along with Turkey, as guarantor countries in the Astana talks between the representatives of the armed opposition and the Syrian government is an important contribution to advancing a peaceful political settlement in Syria. A high-ranking Iranian diplomat told Al-Monitor, From the very beginning, there have been disagreements between Iran and Russia regarding the Syrian crisis, and this is normal. During the meeting between Rouhani and Putin, there were again discussions regarding this issue. However, it is obvious that we will act based on our own interests and without counting and relying exclusively on Russias actions. We knew from the very beginning that there are disagreements between Tehran and Moscow, although, there was also a high level of mutual interests between Iran and Russia with regard to Syria. But how serious are these disagreements? Azizollah Hatamzadeh, a Tehran-based scholar and foreign policy expert, told Al-Monitor, As Bashar al-Assads enemies and terrorists become weaker, the disagreements between Russia and Iran will increase and become more obvious. Also, Iran will increase its collaboration with Hezbollah, while Russia will not only not collaborate with them but will likely increase its own collaboration with Israel on intelligence. The fact that the Israeli airstrikes in Syria came only days after Netanyahus visit to Moscow led some to speculate that the attack took place with Moscows prior agreement. One source within the Iranian Foreign Ministry told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, On the surface, it appears that Russia has objected to Israels actions. However, this issue can be multidimensional. One theory is that this attack was prearranged with Russia, and that Russia only symbolically objected to it so that no one would question its lack of response. At the same time, a second theory is that Israel really acted on its own and that Russia summoned the Israeli ambassador in order to warn Tel Aviv. How long Iran and Russia will continue to collaborate because of their mutual interests and despite their disagreements remains an open question. Nosratollah Tajik, Iran's former ambassador to Jordan, told Al-Monitor, Russias entry into Syria lessened Irans burden, while internationally it helped a great deal toward solving this crisis. Unfortunately, viewing the matter through an emotional prism resulted in us not being able to properly collaborate with Russia in Syria. Also, Irans foreign policy efforts should not be limited to Syria, but instead and considering all of Irans material and spiritual investments in Syria it should play the strategic game in a way that would help it regulate its regional and international relations. The April 4 chemical attack in northern Syria, which claimed scores of lives, opened a new chapter in the Syrian crisis. International reactions have varied, with disagreement on which party was responsible for the strike. In a phone conversation with Netanyahu on April 6, Putin criticized Tel Aviv for saying that it is 100% certain that Assad ordered the chemical attack, calling it unacceptable. Meanwhile, on April 5, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi condemned the incident, saying, Tehran has always insisted that in addition to the Syrian government, which has been disarmed of its chemical weapons, the terrorist groups should be disarmed as well. However, things did not end there. The unexpected US attack on a Syrian air base April 7 opened yet another page in the Syrian crisis. US President Donald Trump, who had previously urged his predecessor Barack Obama not to attack Syria, and had repeatedly said that removing Assad is not his priority, claimed that the missile attack he ordered was critical for US national security. The move turned some of his critics into his supporters while greatly angering Russia. Prior to the US attack, there was much talk of the likelihood of closer collaboration between the United States and Russia with regard to Syria. But now, relations between the two sides have taken a turn for the worse, with Russia warning the United States about the consequences of its actions. Indeed, on April 7, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev charged that the US missile strike was one step away from a clash with Russia's military. As the relationship between Russia and the United States takes a turn for the worse, ties between Iran and Russia are seemingly improving, with disagreements regarding the future of Syria fading at least in the short term. As such, it appears that as long as the Syrian crisis continues, the differences between Iran and Russia over Syria will remain quiet, even as the crisis consumes the resources and attention of both countries. April 7, 2017 Theres a smell of elections in the air. The recent deep crisis among the ruling coalition parties over the Public Broadcasting Corporation, the criminal investigations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US pressure on the Netanyahu government to curb construction in the settlements and the newly announced return of Likud star (and former minister) Gideon Saar to politics, all give off that whiff. On March 24, Politico was already anointing Yair Lapid, chairman of the centrist Yesh Atid party, as Israels next prime minister. According to a Channel 10 poll, if elections were held now, Yesh Atid would rake in more votes than the Likud party led by Netanyahu (29 Knesset seats compared to 27). If Lapid wins over Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman with the six Knesset seats that Libermans right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party was given in the poll, as well as the half-dozen expected seats of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party, and mobilizes the support of the center-left Zionist Camp, left-wing Meretz party and the Arab Joint List, he would be able to head off Netanyahu on his way to a fifth term as prime minister. But its one thing to move a new tenant into the Jerusalem prime ministers official residence and quite another to bring about a significant transformation of the diplomatic and social reality in Israel a goal that appears all but unachievable. Lets assume that Lapids right-wing demeanor is a mask designed to draw in right-wing voters. Lets also assume that on the day after his election victory he adopts guidelines that include negotiations with the Palestinians on a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders and a division of Jerusalem into an Israeli and a Palestinian capital. Still, what does Lapid have to offer the 12 Knesset members of the anti-Zionist Arab Joint List the ones he once labeled derisively as those Zoabis (a reference to highly controversial Arab Knesset member Haneen Zoabi, for which he subsequently apologized)? What is the common denominator between him and the seven leftist Knesset members that the poll gives Meretz, those who have recently been demonstrating alongside the joint Arab-Jewish Hadash party (one of the Joint List partners)? The most likely scenario is that after Lapid exploits the left-wing parties in order to prevent Netanyahu from getting the 61 Knesset seats he needs to stay in power (the minimum majority of 120 Knesset seats), he would dump them and invite the Likud into his government. He will then go on to rehabilitate his once cordial relationship with his bro, Naftali Bennett (the two men formed an alliance during the 2013 election campaign), and draw the chairman of the right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi party into his government too. All that would happen is that Israel would be exchanging a veteran, experienced narcissist (Netanyahu) with a new and inexperienced narcissist (Lapid). This would rule out once and for all any hope of agreement with the Palestinians, of improved relations between Arabs and Jews in Israel, and of restoring Israels relationship with Europe. The key to resolving the conflict with the Palestinians, rather than just reshaping the Israeli social agenda, lies in the hands of the Zionist Camps leadership. The prospect of early elections has reopened the argument within the left-wing bloc among supporters of unity with the Zionist Camp, which would necessitate their veering to the right, and those seeking to promote an alliance with the Hadash faction that forms part of the Joint Arab List. Since May 2016, Meretz and Hadash have jointly organized three pro-peace demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. While some Knesset members took part in the protests, the leadership of the Zionist Camp ran for cover. Back at the July 9, 2015, party convention held four months after the 2015 elections, Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Gal-on told her constituents that she wondered what kind of political alignments would make the party most effective. Political frameworks are, after all, simply a means that serve a goal, Gal-On added. And theres only one single goal: restoring the left to power. Knesset member Ilan Gilon, who has announced his intention to run against Gal-on for the party leadership, told Al-Monitor this week that he, too, does not rule out a joint ticket with the Zionist Camp. Both Meretz leaders are willing to give up the party leadership in order to form a joint bloc with any party whose social, diplomatic and economic principles are compatible with those of Meretz. Meretz and Hadash will await the results of the scheduled July 4 primaries in the Labor Party (the main component of the Zionist Camp). A victory for incumbent party leader Knesset member Isaac Herzog would signal more of the same, meaning that Lapid would keep siphoning off votes from the Zionist Camp. Meretz would keep hovering around the electoral threshold with the same five seats it now has. Anyone who believes that the Palestinians will sit around for another decade waiting quietly for the end of the occupation, as Herzog suggests, may as well leave Netanyahu in power. Anyone who wants a politician who thinks its appropriate to congratulate this years Israel Prize Laureate for lifetime achievement, David Beeri, for revealing the deeply buried secrets of Jerusalem, as Herzog tweeted, may as well vote for Lapid. The Yesh Atid leader recently posted a photo of himself walking around the City of David accompanied by the laureate, the one whose lifetime achievement amounts to ethnic cleansing of the predominantly Palestinian section of Jerusalem known as the Holy Basin and sabotaging any compromise with the Palestinians and prospects for resolving the conflict. In order to form a stable political bloc capable of ousting Netanyahu and blocking the drain of voters to Lapid, the next leader of the Zionist Camp will need acrobatic capabilities. He would need to present a diplomatic and security blueprint that Meretz voters would be able to support and the Joint List party wont object and on the other hand, a blueprint that would not be rejected by pragmatic right-wing voters. His social policy would need to be socialist enough and sensitive to human rights for left-wing voters and people of the weaker sectors of the population to accept and at the same time, not too socialist from the viewpoint of well-off Yesh Atid voters. A victory in the Labor primaries for former Defense Minister Amir Peretz or former Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabai would make it easier for the parties not ashamed to be labeled left-wing to ally themselves with the Zionist Camp. Peretz is the only Zionist Camp candidate who presented a detailed diplomatic platform that includes immediate recognition of the 1967 borders as the basis for a two-state solution (including some land swaps). The two candidates socio-economic agendas are not far from the platforms of Meretz and Hadash. But as opponents of such an alliance point out, cooperating with left-wing parties might actually scare off voters from the Zionist Camp, which presents itself as the bloc of the center. Such a move could in turn perpetuate the rule of the right and dismantle the peace camp while it sits on the opposition benches. April 11, 2017 Once a month, Ghada Seifeddine, a linguistics graduate student at the American University of Beirut, forgets about her shyness and takes the stage at Dar Bistro cafe in Beirut to tell personal life experiences. The best-received story she has shared was the one about becoming a woman the day she first wore a traditional hijab and her recent decision to wear something she feels more comfortable with, a turban. I was surrounded by women who took off their hijab after wearing it for a long time. So I started thinking about how it relates to my identity, she says. Seifeddines performances are part of a spoken-word event in which short stories, in both English and Arabic and usually centering on a theme, are told live by the people who experienced them, reviving the old Arab tradition of storytelling. According to Lebanon Traveler Magazine, storytelling has been slowly becoming a common evening activity in Beirut. The trend started when Dima Matta, a Beirut-based English-language university lecturer and storyteller, reintroduced the art form in 2014 through a storytelling group called Cliffhangers." We are a region known for its oral histories, the hakawati tradition. Somehow, this heritage faded, and I really wanted to contribute to bringing it back, Matta tells Al-Monitor. Since then, similar initiatives spread around the capital, involving poetry recitals, creative writing and improvised theater. The one in which Seifeddine partcipates is a narrative oral storytelling initiative called Hakaya (Arabic for Story). The community was created in the spring of 2016 by four Beirut residents with a passion for spoken word. We all felt that there were so many stories of everyday life from this region that are worth sharing in nontraditional ways, explains co-founder Dana Ballout. Hakaya follows a pattern borrowed from "The Moth," a US-based storytelling organization. The founders explain they chose oral narration because its a casual and direct form of storytelling that requires only a good memory and willingness to share. It feels more real when I get to hear the words coming out of my mouth, as opposed to writing them, says Seifeddine. The community has grown through social media and word of mouth, becoming a small hub for sharing personal experiences from the region to strengthen collective memory and empathy. We hope we are building a supportive community where certain topics can be freely addressed and people are not embarrassed to tell personal stories to a room full of strangers. There is something deeply powerful about this. Hakaya storytellers include people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds, from Syrian refugees to Western expats, sitting together to share stories of struggle, transition, roots or new beginnings, depending on the theme of the night. The stories are as diverse as the tellers. Dima Aboulhosn, co-owner of the circles venue, speaks about leaving Lebanon at the height of the civil war and the hardships of moving to a foreign country. Abby Sewell tells about her abrupt decision to leave her life as a Los Angeles Times reporter to move to Lebanon to volunteer with Syrian refugees. Haidar Amacha recalls being 14 years old when the wars first against Israel and then the Lebanese civil war took away his childhood dream of becoming a painter. Amacha became a volunteer child soldier serving the Palestinian cause. I am from a village close to the border and Palestinians were pouring into our area. I was witnessing a tragedy and my teacher said, The moment came to liberate Palestine. I entered the occupied land, scouted for three days and came back, thus starting my journey in the war. Most people just come to listen, but many of them eventually get inspired to tell their own stories. After our scheduled storytellers, we open up the floor to others to come up and share spontaneously, Ballout tells Al-Monitor. Malak Jaafar was an audience member when a group of Syrian refugee children from the Bourj Hammoud Adventist Learning Center told their experiences of war last month. She was particularly moved by the story of a Syrian girl who described how one day, when she was grocery shopping with her mother, a rocket fell on the market and everyone, including her mother, scattered. When they came back home, her mother realized she was holding a bag of vegetables she hadn't paid for so the next day they returned to the market and paid the shop owner. This story stayed with me. It shows that the details of life and humanity still find a way to survive despite the carnage of war in the region, Jaafar tells Al-Monitor. Seeing the childrens reaction after they told their stories showed that it helped them process their emotions and trauma. These children were given a platform to share something traumatic that happened to them beyond their control. Being heard and applauded by a group of strangers who provided a safe and warm environment for these children Im sure helped them a lot, Jaafar says. Ballout believes telling personal life-changing stories to a room of nonjudgmental strangers can be a therapeutic tool. However, she also stresses, Hakaya is not a support group, but a place where personal experiences are welcomed and valued. As a participant, Seifeddine sees something beyond storytelling in this monthly meet-up. I think Hakaya is a means through which we can address traumas, identity crises and the social situation we live in. It has become a tool of cultural awareness in an Arab world that is sleepwalking through the wars and intellectual backwardness, she says. The community is expected to continue to grow as its one-year anniversary approaches in May. Some people worry about the safe space losing intimacy in the bubble of chaos that is Beirut, but participants remain eager to listen and share as many others experiences as they can. Editor's note: This article has been updated since its initial publication. April 11, 2017 The most prominent Israeli politician with a chance of replacing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that peace with the Palestinians will take decades. Speaking at a rally in Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, on March 26, Yair Lapid, chairman of the center-right Yesh Atid, said Any negotiations with Palestinians would need to be conducted in very slow stages. By slow he meant 15-20 years. Earlier, Israels current opposition leader, Isaac Herzog, had called for a decade of calm before any peace process could bear fruit. The Israeli Labor Party leader on Feb. 23 outlined a 10-point plan that called for 10 years of absolute calm on the west bank of the Jordan River, anchored and supervised by a UN Security Council resolution, before a Palestinian state could be truly independent. It is not clear why such extended periods are deemed necessary before implementation of the internationally accepted two-state solution. While some might argue that the above statements were made in light of the growing expectation of early Israeli elections, according to some politicians and analysts, there is no doubt that the politicians making them believe that they are what the Israeli public wants to hear. The long years that these politicians are advocating ironically correspond with two other long-term US-led plans to help Israel defend itself. The Iran deal, sponsored by the United States and the international community, constrains the nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic for 15 years. In September 2016, the administration of former US President Barack Obama signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel, in which the United States committed to supporting Israel with a huge, $38 billion military grant over a 10-year period. Of note, 10 years is also the length of time that Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir had reportedly suggested in June 1992, in the wake of the Madrid peace conference, that he would drag out peace talks (had he remained in office). So far, the talks over the last 25 years have largely been fruitless, the exception being the Oslo Accords, which allowed the return of the Palestinian leadership to the West Bank but also resulted in the tripling of Jewish settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories. While these long-term Israeli proposals are depressing to Palestinians, they are not surprising. They reflect the lopsided power dynamic in favor of Israel the main reason why the peace process has not borne fruit, remaining a process without a peace. Of crucial importance to Palestinians are the Jewish colonial settlements. Any delay in granting Palestinians the right to establish a sovereign state without totally and unambiguously freezing all settlement activity would be self-defeating. As Palestinians have often said, negotiating while the other side is settling the land that is the focus of negotiations is like trying to reach agreement on who a pizza belongs to while the other side is busy eating it. In addition, further delay in ensuring the creation of an independent state will be a major blow to the current Palestinian leadership and likely usher in new, more radical leaders. Some current leaders, including Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and the Palestine Liberation Organization and Khaled Meshaal of Hamas, will soon leave the political stage to others regardless. In Fatah, the most popular leader is Marwan Barghouti, who is expected to initiate a mass hunger strike among Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails April 17. In February, Hamas cadres in Gaza elected hard-liner Yahya Sinwar as the movement's leader, while former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh seems set to replace Meshaal. While it is hard to say whether Israeli politicians expectations of calm for a decade or two will materialize, it is absolutely clear that one type of Palestinian protest will continue for years to come. Nonviolent protest, especially the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign, will certainly grow in strength and effectiveness as the world realizes that Israel in fact has little interest in resolving the conflict with the Palestinians despite its long-standing talk of peace. The arrogance of Israeli politicians arguing for an almost indefinite continuation of illegal occupation and colonial settlement stems from one simple fact: The cost of occupation is so cheap that it gives them little incentive to tackle it, as the Israeli population has moved farther right and become more hawkish on the issue. The situation will only change once Palestinians, Arabs and the international community make Israel pay a serious price for its continued occupation and violations of human rights. April 10, 2017 SANLIURFA, Turkey As military clashes rage in Raqqas countryside and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) recapture land from Islamic State militants, Syrians are making plans for life after the jihadis are expelled. On April 2, a group of teachers from Raqqa held a meeting at the headquarters of the Center of Civil Society and Democracy in Urfa, southern Turkey, to discuss the resumption of education in Raqqa. The attendees addressed effective and modern teaching tools that should be introduced to the educational process after three years of suspension. Since IS took over Raqqa on Jan. 14, 2014, all schools closed their doors, and IS turned some into jails or security centers. Mustafa, a teacher who asked that his name not be used because some of his family members still live in Raqqa, said the city has been under IS' grip for three years, and the organization has tried to spread its ideology and open Sharia institutes to mess with the minds of all generations. Mustafa taught students in Raqqa's schools for 15 years. He told Al-Monitor, IS' thoughts are destructive. If we decide to fight this radical thought, we need to find new educational tools and methods to remove all traces of its extremism, violence and distortion of true Islam. Wafaa, a teacher who taught in Raqqa for 10 years and now lives in Urfa, said some of her family members were displaced to areas under the control of the SDF in the northern Raqqa countryside, while others could not escape and remain under siege in the city. Also asking that her last name not be given, she told Al-Monitor, IS changed the color of the school buildings and painted them black to reflect its extremism. The first step should be to repaint the school walls with bright colors that show the real spirit of Raqqas citizens. Activists believe there are around 700,000 people besieged in Raqqa. On March 26, the SDF, backed by the United States and the international coalition, took control of the Tabqa airbase to Raqqa's west. The entire western and northern countrysides of Raqqa are now liberated. Wafa is working on her approach with students who lived under IS. She said, Criminality and violence marked IS' rule, and we will do our best to understand this generation and work toward improving the students conduct. Zabir, who also asked that his last name be withheld, left Raqqa for Urfa on Jan. 15, 2014. He and his friends established the dialogue forum Abber in March 2016, and he is working on promoting Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which concerns the right to freedom of expression. He also seeks to create safe dialogue spaces in Urfa among Raqqas different social components and move these platforms to Syria. He told Al-Monitor that the dialogue and tolerance initiatives will make up the backbone of civil peace and social security after IS is expelled from Raqqa. He added, I believe we need to write a book about human rights culture and include it in the curriculum according to age and grade level. He stressed the importance of integrating students in interactive creative activities like drawing, music and theater to replace violent and criminal images and fill their minds with new, peaceful and pure memories. Civil activist Bashir al-Huweidi, 28, recounted the last moments before he escaped from Raqqa to Turkey on Jan. 28, 2014, saying, I cannot forget this moment. I said goodbye to my mother, who had told me not to go outside and to be careful after the security situation deteriorated and IS took over. I was a member of Haqna movement, which organized rebellious protests against the regime and then against IS. Huweidi works for Urfa's Center of Civil Society and Democracy as coordinator of the Syrian Civil Society Platform program, which organized the Raqqa teachers' meeting. He told Al-Monitor, In general, Raqqas citizens living in Turkey want to return and are impatiently waiting for the battles to end. Many of them have even packed. But the situation is not that simple, he said, noting that the availability of services, security and food will determine whether they be able to. On March 27, the SDF announced the establishment of the Raqqa Civil Council to govern the liberated regions. Co-chair Leila Mustafa told Al-Monitor the council will handle the city's administration and services. She added that the council formed an internal security force to handle security and stabilize the liberated regions, saying, We are looking forward to the complete liberation of the city, and our council will work on managing it in cooperation and deliberation with all political, civil, social and tribal figures from Raqqa. Mohammed al-Huweidi, not related to Bashir al-Huwaedi, found refuge in Urfa after leaving Raqqa in mid-February 2014. He described the SDF as disciplined, but asserted, No military party can determine Raqqas future without its inhabitants approval. Raqqa is part of Syria, and its future depends on Syrias future. He went on, We do not mind having a civil administration to manage the liberated areas, provided it is temporary and disbands itself after Raqqas citizens return to elect a new representative council. Majed al-Uwaid is the editor-in-chief of Al-Harmal magazine, which was established in 2014 and employs Raqqa citizens in Urfa. He told Al-Monitor he did not want the SDF to enter his city, saying, The declared project of the SDF is to establish a Kurdish state on non-Kurdish lands, since Raqqa is an Arab city. He concluded, Personally, I will not accept including Raqqa in a federation in the north of Syria controlled by Kurdish units. I will not succumb to a project that deprives Arabs and Raqqas citizens of their right to decide their fate. Despite the conflicting opinions and stances among Raqqas displaced in Turkey about the future of their city, everyone is looking forward to an end to the ongoing battles on the citys outskirts. All Raqqas citizens want the extremists gone so they can return to their city and resume their lives. April 10, 2017 The physical damage the United States inflicted on a Syrian air base last week wasn't extensive, but there are significant repercussions. The United States said it launched the April 7 attack its first ever in Russian-dominated airspace because just days before an Su-22 aircraft from the base had dropped chemical warfare bombs on the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun, killing civilians, including many children. The Syrian gas attack ostensibly was targeting rebel opponents of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a civil war that has lasted more than six years. The April 4 bombing killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more. Syria denies it used chemical weapons in the attack. Two US Navy destroyers deployed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea hit Syrias Shayrat air base with 59 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Reports said the missiles hit about 20 aircraft on the ground, some hardened aircraft shelters, maintenance facilities and an ammunition depot. Russia immediately reported that only 23 out of 59 missiles had hit their targets, and that in less than 24 hours, planes taking off from Shayrat were again bombing Khan Sheikhoun. Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia were pleased with the US operation, while Russia, Iran and North Korea protested it. China remained quiet. This apparently cosmetic attack, which for the time being appears to be a one-off, doesnt affect the tactical picture on the ground. It's also too early to say that the United States has shelved its priority of eliminating the Islamic State (IS) and shifted its attention to removing Assad from power. That shift could be a possibility if we see a second or even third wave of US attacks on targets west of the Euphrates River, in areas with Russian air superiority or on Damascus. As for US President Donald Trump, he succeeded in launching an operation that then-President Barack Obama couldnt manage at Ghouta in 2013, and in a way reminded the world he has options beyond his 140-character tweets. With this attack, Trump scored a number of points: This was a good move toward boosting his decreasing domestic approval ratings, obtaining enormous media coverage and building the strong profile he cherishes. Trump could have struck the strategic headquarters of Assad or Damascus directly for heavier punishment but did not. The attack could help the United States reassert its influence in Syria and the region and recover the initiative it had ceded to Russia west of the Euphrates. Russia was reminded of US military superiority in the region despite the sophisticated S-400 air-defense system Russia had deployed. No doubt Iran and North Korea were duly reminded as well. According to defense analyst Arda Mevlutoglu, Tomahawk missiles have been the vanguards of US military intervention in nearly all diplomatic crises since 1991 and are known as punisher systems. Findings indicate that the Assad regime had actually carried out a chemical attack. The United States with its attack punished the Assad regime but also made it difficult for Russia to claim freedom of action in Syrian airspace, Mevlutoglu told Al-Monitor. A day before the US attack, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said, If there is actually an action, we are ready to do our part. Afterward, Erdogan said, The attack is a positive step but not enough. In addition to skyrocketing Ankara's expectations for toppling Assad something that has been off the agenda for the past year the US action also gave Turkey hope for strengthening the Sunni opposition and establishing an Idlib-centered no-fly zone. Many in Ankara believe that the US attack created a new balance to the detriment of the Russia-Iran-Assad bloc. Although it's not voiced openly, some in Ankara feel that this attack could help dilute US dependence on fighters in the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) something Turkey has longed for. However, Ankara put out an unnecessarily hasty statement saying it would provide all types of support for the US attack. It could find itself sandwiched between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is a time when Turkey should avoid U-turns. There is still the question of whether Turkey will align with Trump or with Putin in the post-IS period and during Syria's reconstruction. Ankaras policies should be more level-headed, cool and based on field developments. There is a struggle for power between Russia and the United States over the future of Syria, and Turkey is stumbling back and forth between the two. Ankara is sometimes extremely pro-Washington and sometimes pro-Moscow. That could lead to Turkey being perceived as an inconsistent, unpredictable and therefore unreliable player. Foreign policy should be based on well-thought-out, solid principles not impulsive reactions. Turkey's offer of unconditional support wasn't a good move; it could raise serious questions with Damascus and Russia. At the least, Turkey could have negotiated with the United States for something in return before making such a rash statement. This also brings back the image that Turkey is actually still pursuing the departure of Assad, an aim Russia hoped Ankara had dropped to prioritize the fight against IS. One significant Russian reaction to the US attack was to suspend the communications agreement between the Russian Defense Ministry and the US Department of Defense to ensure the safety of air operations. Russia's decision will definitely affect Turkey. With its occasional flights over northern Syria and because it still has about 1,000 soldiers there, Turkey is compelled to coordinate the safety of its troops with both the United States and Russia. So far it appears that Trump, in his third month in the White House, has put himself on the record as a US president who will not hesitate to use force. A long, tangible tension in US-Russia relations over Syria seems very likely. Trump sent a message to Russia that it cant single-handedly impose its will in the Middle East. Even Turkey, which until a week ago appeared to be pro-Moscow, rather hastily changed gears and lined up with Washington. Has Turkey made a mistake by so precipitately lining up with Washington and reverting to its Assad must go doctrine? Will Turkeys animosity toward Assad trigger new tensions with Russia? How will calling off the coordination and communication between the United States and Russia in Syrian air space affect Turkeys operations? I dont think we'll have to wait long to find the answers. April 5, 2017 Russian and Polisario Front interests are intersecting at the Atlantic Ocean, providing the potential for an unexpected relationship that could change the status of the Western Sahara conflict. On March 23, Moscow welcomed a delegation from the Polisario Front, the independence movement of the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara territory to which Morocco also lays claim. M'hamed Khadad, the Polisario's coordinator with the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, led the delegation and met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. The latter received the Moroccan king last year. The Sahara Press Service reported that Khadad called for strict adherence to international law so the Sahrawis can determine their own future. The UN has tried since 1991 to broker an agreement whereby Morocco would honor a referendum in which the Sahrawis could decide whether they want independence or integration with Morocco. For decades, Morocco has refused to consider any deal that includes the option of independence. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a news release about the meeting that Bogdanov "reiterated Russias unchanging position on the need for a mutually acceptable political solution to this long-running problem, based on relevant UN resolutions." The ministry also said it wants to continue working with "all interested parties, in particular, with its partners in the Group of Friends of Western Sahara." The Group of Friends is composed of France, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. This visit was preceded by a meeting between Polisario leader Brahim Ghali and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on March 13, about a month before the annual report of the UN Security Council on Western Sahara was expected. The Polisario Front visit to Moscow caused concern in Morocco, until the Russian Embassy in Rabat released a statement to explain its position on the Western Sahara conflict, but with a softer tone this time. Russia stressed the need to intensify the efforts of the international community to achieve a long-term equitable settlement for Western Sahara, taking into account the fundamental interests of the peoples and contributing to the improvement of the situation in the Maghreb, Morocco World News reported. Russian involvement in the Western Sahara conflict has been more evident since Morocco and Nigeria struck a pipeline deal, which was announced in December. One goal of that project is to provide Europe with an alternative to Russian gas, which Europe currently depends on heavily. The pipeline is expected to pass through almost a dozen countries along Africa's Atlantic coast, including Mauritania, which recognizes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as a legitimate government. The Western Sahara village of Guerguerat lies in a neutral zone near the Mauritania border and has recently been a hot spot between Morocco and the Polisario Front. After a monthslong standoff there, Morocco withdrew its troops in February, but the Polisario has refused to retreat. The Polisario has counted on the idea of a gas pipeline that must go through Western Sahara to reach Morocco, seeing such a project as leverage, especially with Russia a permanent, veto-holding member of the Security Council. The Polisario has suffered a number of setbacks in the Security Council, whose other veto-holding members are China, the United States, the United Kingdom and France, a main ally of Morocco. France often takes the lead on matters that concern North Africa. The Polisario sees that Russian influence could shift the Security Council to the Polisario side in the dispute and hopes its presence along the Atlantic Ocean will make Russia see the group as an essential partner to safeguard Russian interests in the region. The Polisario's insistence on remaining in the neutral zone despite or perhaps because of the international attention it has caused prompted Alifpost news site to raise concerns over Algerian advanced S-300 military missiles that are to be installed in the Polisario-controlled area of Western Sahara. Algeria supports the Polisario's cause, and refugee camps in Algeria host many of the refugees that fled their Western Sahara homes to escape the battles. Another important consideration for the Polisario is Russian-Algerian military cooperation. Russia began supporting the Algerian military in the 1960s and is still its primary military hardware supplier. According to the African Defense website, Russian military exports to Algeria amounted to $457 million in 2015. The site added that Russia has delivered $8 billion worth of military supplies to Algeria since 1991. While Morocco and Algeria race for power in the Maghreb, the Polisario Front seeks Russian support as their interests intersect on several issues, from the pipeline to Algerias partnership. The front can offer its help to ensure Russia's interests when it comes to Europe, especially as Europe has been desperately seeking an alternative to Russian gas. Alabama got good news yesterday. Aerojet Rocketdyne announced it will build a state-of-the-art production plant in Huntsville, bringing 800 jobs, and begin production of the new liquid-fueled AR1 engine in mid-2019. That announcement, however, didn't get nearly as much attention as one job lost - the resignation of Gov. Robert Bentley. It was the third high-profile state position to change hands in less than a year, following the conviction last June of former House Speaker Mike Hubbard on felony ethic violations, and the suspension of Chief Justice Roy Moore for violating judicial ethics. Those positions represent all three branches of Alabama's government. That kind of news is unprecedented on several levels, and comes at the same time as months of high profile economic development announcements throughout the state involving aerospace, technology, industry and automotive manufacturing. Is it possible to know how much impact a year of bad political news could have for Alabama business? Ahmad Ijaz, executive director of the University of Alabama's Center for Business and Economic Research, said it's almost impossible to determine. "When you're doing economic research, you have to rely on a lot of quantifiable information," he said. "How do you quantify losing a governor? You can't put an economic value on it." That argument is taken up by researchers with Transparency International, a group aimed at targeting political corruption around the world. While most people would agree that political scandals have some detrimental effect on economic growth, the group says on its website, researchers tend to believe each case has its own dynamics, according to the details of what occurred. In the past, bad news in the Alabama Statehouse has sometimes preceded excellent news on the economic front. A grand jury in 1992 indicted then-Gov. Guy Hunt on theft, conspiracy and ethics violations, leading to his conviction and removal from office the following April. Less than five months later, Mercedes-Benz announced it was locating an automotive plant in Tuscaloosa County, which heralded a new era of economic and industrial opportunity for the state. Mercedes alone accounts from more than $1.5 billion in economic impact to Alabama, and the state is home to more than 33,000 auto-related jobs more than 20 years later. The effects of the Mercedes announcement continue to this day. Last year, Alabama's 2016 exports reached a record $20.55 billion, an increase of 6.4 percent from the previous year, much of that auto and technology related. Large scale economic recruitment efforts can span several years and different administrations. Then again, Bentley is the third governor in the last 25 years to become embroiled in ethics violations. Where scandals can hurt, some say, is at the local level. William Greene, assistant director of the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority, said "America was built" on small-scale economic progress - businesses hiring 50 to 100 employees, involving a few million dollars. "Those kinds of projects don't even ring a bell in most people's minds," he said. "But there are the types of jobs that we see at the local level. And those companies can look at political scandals and ask, 'Is this a stable state? Do I want to spent my money here? "Because they're not looking at just spending some money and walking away. They're investing in the community. They want to know what they're going to get in return and whether they're getting something they can depend on." The best selling point Alabama has, Greene said, is the quality of its workforce. "They are willing to do the job, whatever it is," he said. Bentley Resigns Former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley makes a formal statement about his resignation at the Capitol Monday, April 10, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) (Julie Bennett) The pulse of Alabama is changing, but one of the state's top job producers isn't concerned about the future. As Gov. Robert Bentley prepared to resign following a year of controversy surrounding his relationship with former political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason, leaders announced Aerojet Rocketdyne will bring hundreds of jobs to Huntsville for rocket engine production. Dale Strong, chairman of the Madison County Commission, said the area's economic development success is not based on any one individual. The key to landing new industry is "a great team ... and a regional approach" that is respected not only within the state but also in Washington, D.C., he said. Strong feels confident the Huntsville area will continue to shine with Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey leading the state through the remainder of Bentley's term. "The big thing is Alabama moves forward," he said. "This will be a part of our history that is something we're not going to be proud of, but the big thing is we move forward and I promise you I will be working as hard tomorrow to recruit new jobs and industry into North Alabama as I was today or the day before. I trust Kay Ivey understands there's a lot of things going for Madison County right now." Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle has played an integral part in several key economic development projects in recent years. Under his leadership, Polaris, Remington, GE Aviation, Boeing and other companies have announced expansion plans in the community. Battle, who is considering a run for governor next year, said Bentley stepping down raises questions about the future administration and its commitment to Huntsville. "From our side, it is very sad that today is overshadowed by events that happened in Montgomery, which shouldn't have happened," he said. "We, as a community, we're used to picking ourselves up and moving forward. We'll continue to move forward and I'm sure the state will do the same thing." He believes Huntsville's partnership with the governor's office, Alabama Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation and state Legislature will not flounder under Ivey. "We've known Gov. Ivey for a long time," he said. "She has been up here time and time again and shown support for the community." Chip Cherry, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, said Ivey understands the role of the military and federal infrastructure in Huntsville's economy. Ivey, 72, will be only the second female governor in Alabama when she is sworn in. Although losing the state's top officer causes some uncertainty, Cherry said it's the long-term, local relationships that make a difference in recruiting new industry to Huntsville. "The governor's position has been very supportive of us in the past and I think it will continue to be under Gov. Ivey's leadership," he said. alabama the band.jpg Alabama, from left: Jeff Cook, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. (AL.com file photo) Jeff Cook, fiddler and guitar player for Fort Payne country band Alabama, revealed today that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Cook and his bandmates Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry told the Tennessean today that they've kept the secret since he was diagnosed four years ago. Cook is going to stop touring with the band at the end of this month -- with the exception of a May 27 concert in Orange Beach and Fan Appreciation Weekend June 15-18th in Fort Payne, according to the newspaper. But those may not be the only times you see him on stage -- he plans on stopping in on shows whenever he feels like it. After Cook told his bandmates about his diagnosis, he gave them his blessing to keep playing on without him if they ever needed to, but his bandmates acknowledge that this won't be easy. "He wants us to go on," Owen told the newspaper. "We want the music to go on. I'm going to be very honest. I don't know if I have the fire. The only way I do, is knowing that Jeff is totally, 'Go get it.'" Gentry added, "We could hire 10 people, but we can't replace Jeff Cook in the group Alabama." Alabama has more than 30 No. 1 country records and is one of the best-selling bands of all time. Gov. Bentley resigns.JPG Former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley makes a formal statement about his resignation at the Capitol Monday, April 10, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala. (Photo by Julie Bennett/AL.com) Ex-Gov. Robert J. Bentley got elected twice as governor based on his reputation as a moral leader and Baptist deacon, then cloaked himself in faith as he resigned. "I've always believed the honor of serving as your governor was a calling that God placed on my life," Bentley said in his resignation speech on Monday. He resigned after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors in order to avoid impeachment and prosecution for felony charges, including those referred for prosecution last week by the Alabama Ethics Commission. "I have spent the last year in deep and earnest prayer over our state and our people," Bentley said. "I pray every morning for wisdom and guidance and forgiveness for the sins that I commit." Bentley even noted that his resignation and the transition to a new governor, Gov. Kay Ivey, happened during Holy Week, as Christians prepare for Easter this Sunday. "This Easter week I'm even more grateful for a loving and merciful savior who will always love me - and you - unconditionally," Bentley said. "Especially I give to thanks to God for such a wonderful gift that he gave me when he allowed me to be the governor of Alabama," Bentley said. Alabama Baptist leaders have watched with shame as Bentley's tenure as governor turned toward misconduct in office. The Rev. Joe Godfrey, a former state president for the Alabama Baptist Convention and currently a lobbyist for Baptist causes as executive director of the Alabama Citizens Action Program, watched the resignation. "I didn't hear an apology," Godfrey said. "That worries me. Christians should be first to acknowledge our own wrongdoing. Our salvation is based on admitting we're sinners and we disobeyed God. Humility and acknowledging our sin and our wrongdoing is foundational to the Christian faith." Even in text messages with his romantic interest and political consultant Rebekah Mason, whose family formerly attended First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa with the Bentleys, their relationship took on overtones of faith. "Your purpose. Your mission. Your ministry," Rebekah wrote to him in a text message. "Your service is being Stolen from you." Between sweet nothings, their texting sometimes turned theological. "You honor God by doing what He says you should do," she wrote. "Not what Man says you should do." As for Bentley's claim that he was called by God to be governor, Godfrey has no problem with that assertion. "I do believe the Bible teaches that nobody is in power without the permission and the will of God," Godfrey said. "That does not mean God supports every person in leadership. If they go against his principles, he will see to it they are removed. He was not obeying the principles of God." As for the new governor, "We certainly want to be praying for her," Godfrey said. "It's a sad day, but the system has worked," Godrey said. "We have followed the laws. We managed to get rid of a bad leader who was not representing us the way he should." Bentley ended his resignation speech by thanking supporters for sending him prayers. "Please continue to do that, and I will continue to pray for you," he said. Whitney A. Snow grew up in Guntersville, but she had never visited Cathedral Caverns State Park before. A history professor at Midwestern State University in Texas, Snow often makes her way back home to Northeast Alabama on breaks and holidays. And while looking through the Marshall County Archives, she kept noticing story after story about the state park. So she decided to write a book about the area -- and realized that Hollywood has had a bit of an obsession with Cathedral Caverns. From 'Bat Cave' to 'Cathedral Caverns' In 1952, Jay Gurley fell in love with what was then called "the Bat Cave" near Grant. A photographer on the Redstone Arsenal, he decided he wanted to buy the cave and move his family near it. So he put up everything he had -- he got a $400 loan by using his car and trailer for collateral, according to Snow's book, "Cathedral Caverns." After years and years of work clearing out the cave, Gurley got some good news: Columbia Pictures was considering filming "Caves of Night," a movie based on the book by John Christopher, in his caves. "It was a really big deal for Guntersville," Snow said. The Cornel Wilde film also was set to star his wife, Jean Wallace, plus Cliff Robertson, Diane Foster and Lynn Corbett. One of Gurley's friends, who happened to be in Los Angeles, told Wilde about Cathedral Caverns, and Wilde thought it sounded like the perfect place to film. "Cathedral Caverns had everything they could have desired," Snow said. "They wanted a place that had a large array of rock formations. They wanted a large underground room and a cave with a stream in it. And Cathedral Caverns had Mystery River, a little stream that is rarely seen." It was the perfect location. (Photo courtesy of Arcadia Publishing's "Cathedral Caverns") Staying in Alabama In June 1959, Wilde and Wallace traveled to Guntersville to take in the town. According to Snow, they stayed with Clifford and Virginia McGowin in Guntersville's Lake Shore Courts. The town was abuzz, and the movie caught national attention -- several publications across the U.S. wrote about the small town that was catching Hollywood's eyes. And Wilde and Wallace seemed to have a blast in Alabama. They ate at several restaurants across town, and many locals recognized them and wanted to talk with them and get autographs. Snow said, "When asked if (the attention) bothered him, Wilde said, 'Not a bit. I figure if I didn't like it I ought not be in this work.'" All seemed well until, well, it wasn't. The movie that never was Columbia Pictures was never all in on the location. According to Snow, they thought the area was too small and couldn't attract extras. Which was true -- only 16 people volunteered to be extras. But to be an extra in the film, you had to provide your own costume and work for free. One other factor? Locals wanted the premiere to be in Alabama -- primarily Guntersville's Lake Theater -- but Columbia Pictures wasn't on board with that. But the movie was defeated when there was a screenwriter's strike. The film had to be delayed, then Wilde signed on to other projects. "Caves of Night" was no more. A group of visitors at Cathedral Caverns near Grant look at the "frozen waterfall." (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) Later movies But that doesn't mean that other movies didn't flock to Cathedral Caverns in later years. Parts of the 1985 movie "Secrets of the Phantom Cavern," later renamed "What Waits Below," were filmed in the cavern. And in the '90s, parts of the Disney film, "Tom and Huck," also were filmed in the Caverns. But still, you have to wonder: Would "Caves of Night" been a successful movie if it were filmed? "It's a pity the movie never was made because I think it would have been interesting," Snow said. You can purchase "Cathedral Caverns" by Whitney A. Snow here. A group working to end U.S. immigration detention has named an Alabama jail as the worst county-run immigration detention facility in the country for reports of sexual assault. Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement (CIVIC), a San Francisco-based advocacy group, today filed a federal civil rights complaint with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The complaint alleges sexual abuse, assault and harassment reports at U.S. immigration detention facilities, along with a lack of adequate government investigation into those cases. In the complaint, the group lists the Etowah County Detention Center sixth in the country for sexual and physical assault complaints, behind five privately-run detention facilities in Louisiana, Texas, California and Washington State. According to CIVIC, which said it bases its figures on records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement between October 2012 and March 2016, there were 14 calls to ICE's Detention Reporting and Information Line (DRIL) reporting sexual and physical assault, or one call for every 20 people in the jail. Christina Fialho, an attorney and the co-executive director of CIVIC, said the number of reports around the country are a sign that Congress should begin a comprehensive investigation of sexual assault in the U.S. immigration detention system. "The Etowah County Detention Center is one of the worst immigration detention facilities in the country," Failho said. "We have documented physical abuse and medical neglect in immigration detention at the Etowah County Detention Center for years. Now data from DHS shows us that there are more sexual assault complaints at Etowah than at any other county-run immigration detention facility nationwide. It is time for ICE to end its contact with Etowah County." Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin said CIVIC, in its letter, stated that the number of calls to DRIL did not square with the much larger number of total complaints logged. "Any complaint of sexual assault or calls made to the PREA hotline, inside the Etowah County Detention Center, have been investigated and all have been unfounded," Entrekin said. "Anyone can take statistics and construe them. Even CIVIC makes note that it is difficult to draw any conclusions from the released data." ICE is the agency that oversees the 211 adult and family immigration detention facilities around the country. Etowah County holds between 700 to 750 total inmates on any given day, and 315 are immigration detainees. The jail has been the scene of several protests over the last four years by immigration advocacy groups, alleging lack of medical care, abuse and civil rights violations there among detainees, leading to a "Shut Down Etowah" campaign. In the group's 14-page complaint, it calls on Congress to convene a bi-partisan group to investigate the reports or close all immigration facilities. CIVIC also calls for ICE to institute a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assaults along with mandatory staff training; offer visas to victims of sexual abuse, and mandatory disclosure of any sexual abuse reports in ICE or DHS facilities. One man is dead and another jailed after a stabbing in Anniston late Monday. Authorities today identified the victim as 49-year-old Rodney Epperson. He lived in Anniston. Anniston police Sgt. Shaun Firestone said officers were dispatched about 9:45 p.m. to a home in the 1700 block of Wilmer Avenue on a report of an unconscious male. Once at the home, they found Epperson on floor and he was pronounced dead on the scene. Firestone said Epperson had multiple stab wounds to the back. Investigators spoke with witnesses, which led to the arrest of Randall Skyler Gaddy, 21. He is charged with murder. The slaying is still under investigation, and Firestone said no further details are being released at this time. A scandal that hounded Robert Bentley for more than a year with little resolution finally brought him down today, abruptly ending his time as Alabama's 53rd governor just past the halfway mark of his second term. Shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, the Republican governor entered the Old House Chamber in the state Capitol, site of his seven annual State of the State addresses, and announced what cabinet members, staffers and reporters waiting there already knew - that his time as governor was done. "I can no longer allow my family, my dear friends, my dedicated staff and cabinet, to be subjected to the consequences that my past actions have brought upon them," Bentley said during a short address. He said being governor was the greatest honor of his life and repeatedly said he loved the state and its people. He admitted mistakes. "Though I have committed myself to working to improve the lives of the people of our state, there have been times when I have let you and our people down, and I'm sorry," Bentley said. He thanked his staff, cabinet members and state agency leaders several times, promised his administration would ensure a smooth transition of power to Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey and left the chamber without taking questions, his voice choking slightly with emotion at the end. Ivey, the automatic successor under the state Constitution, took the oath to become governor upon Bentley's resignation. Ivey appeared at a ceremonial swearing-in in the Capitol about an hour after Bentley's appearance. In a short speech, Ivey got cheers and thunderous applause when she promised her administration would be transparent, open and honest. Before making his resignation speech in the Capitol, Bentley pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor violation of the campaign finance law for failing to report a major campaign contribution and one misdemeanor violation of the ethics law for converting a campaign contribution for personal use. Bentley agreed not to seek public office again. He will serve one year's probation, perform 100 hours of community service, repay $8,912 he used from his campaign account to pay legal fees for former advisor Rebekah Mason and forfeit the remaining $36,912 in his campaign account to the state treasury. "He did what he did, and he deserves now to be called a criminal," said Ellen Brooks, a retired district attorney overseeing the state investigation. Today's developments were a dramatic turn. But coming on the heels of a whirlwind of setbacks for Bentley over six days, they were not shocking. This morning, even before the House Judiciary Committee could begin its much anticipated and historic impeachment hearings, news surfaced that resignation negotiations were in the works. Bentley's chances of finishing his second term had spiraled downward since last Wednesday. That's when the Alabama Ethics Commission, after investigating for more than a year, issued four findings of probable cause that Bentley violated the campaign finance law and ethics law. Then on Thursday and Friday came calls for Bentley's resignation from Alabama's top two legislators, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh and Speaker Mac McCutcheon, who previously had been measured in their comments about the scandal. Both said it was time for Bentley to go for the good of the state. Bentley's lawyers tried to push back against the mounting pressure, downplaying the ethics findings and going to court in an attempt to block the release of the impeachment investigation report by Judiciary Committee Special Counsel Jack Sharman. But the Judiciary Committee released the report Friday afternoon. It said Bentley used his security staff and other law enforcement to further his own interests, mainly efforts to stop the release of recordings of his phone calls that revealed the nature of his relationship with former advisor Mason. Attached to the report were exhibits that included dozens of text message exchanges between Bentley and Mason expressing their love and devotion for each other that Bentley accidentally sent former first lady Dianne Bentley. Sharman, speaking to the committee this morning, said a pattern of the governor's abuse of his power, motivated by his desire to hide the recordings from the public and protect his reputation, was the most significant finding in the report. Speaker McCutcheon said the combination of the ethics findings and Sharman's report had significantly raised the likelihood that the Legislature was prepared to remove Bentley from office. "I think all of that combined together was an indicator that it would have been a good possibility he would be impeached," McCutcheon said. Bentley's resignation follows the ouster of former House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who left office in 2016 after being convicted on ethics charges, and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was suspended from his post last year over an order opposing same-sex marriage. Two of Bentley's predecessors in the past three decades have been convicted of crimes: Republican Guy Hunt in the 1990s, for misusing funds, and Democrat Don Siegelman, who was convicted of bribery in 2006. The last U.S. governor to be impeached was Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009. He was removed from office and is now serving a prison sentence for conspiring to sell an appointment to President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat. Corrected at 9:48 a.m. on April 11 to say that one misdemeanor violation was of the campaign finance law and one was of the ethics law. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Jacksonville man was killed early Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash in Calhoun County. Alabama State Troopers identified the victim as Timothy Glenn Compton. He was 58. The accident happened about 5:15 a.m. on Whites Gap Road, three miles east of Jacksonville, said Sr. Trooper Chuck Daniel. Compton was driving a 2003 Buick LeSabre when the car left the roadway and hit a tree. Compton was pronounced dead on the scene. The crash remains under investigation. Former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley doesn't get a security detail or any other retirement benefits and won't can't run again for public office under the plea deal he worked out with prosecutors to keep from being charged with any serious crimes. Bentley resigned Monday before he pleaded guilty to failing to file a major campaign contribution report regarding a $50,000 personal loan he made in November 2015 to his campaign but did not report until January of this year. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of converting campaign contributions to personal use for paying $8,912 in legal fees for his senior political adviser - and love interest - Rebekah Mason. A judge sentenced Bentley to 30 days in jail but suspended it and ordered the former governor to serve a year of probation. Bentley, 74, agreed not to seek or serve again in any public office under his plea deal with the Alabama Attorney General's Office. The two charges Bentley pleaded guilty to Monday were both misdemeanor campaign violations and would not otherwise have prevented him from serving in public office, said John Carroll, professor at the Cumberland School of Law. Former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley makes a formal statement about his resignation at the Capitol Monday, April 10, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) The plea agreement appeared to be straightforward, Carroll said. "The prosecutors seemed like they wanted to get it done and put it behind the state," he said. Normally, under state law, former governors are entitled to security for a time after leaving office. But Bentley waived that right in his plea deal. Under Alabama law, the Department of Public Safety "shall protect, from the date of his or her election, throughout his or her term and for a period of five years after the expiration of his or her term of office, the person of the Governor of the State of Alabama and the members of the immediate family and the Governor-elect." Bentley also agreed to waive his right to any pension that might be available under Alabama Code section 36-13-11. But that wasn't going to happen anyway. Lawmakers in 1975 created the law to allow former governors to collect a state pension once they turn 60. It was an apparent effort to give then Gov. George Wallace a pension once he left office. Under that law a former governor would collect 68 percent of his or her salary if they served just one term, and 100 percent of their salary if they served two or more terms. But two years later, in 1977, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that law was unconstitutional because it violated Section 98 of the Constitution, which prohibits officers of the state, including Governors, from receiving retirement payments. Bentley was a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives. Since the law was struck down by the Alabama Supreme Court, voters have rejected a few attempts to give state elected officials pensions or the ability to participate in the state retirement systems. While not specifically mentioned in the plea deal, there also is a law to allow governors to hire a former governor elected two or more terms and who is 60 or older as Governor's Councillor. The former governor must apply and holds the title at the pleasure of the sitting governor. The only former governor to get the $18,000 a year position was former Gov. Wallace under during Gov. Fob James. Other things Bentley agreed to in the deal were: Pay $100 ($50 per charge) to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission, plus court costs. Pay fines of $5,000 for failure to filed the contribution report and $2,000 for converting campaign contributions for personal use (the money to pay Mason's lawyers). Reimburse his campaign fund the $8,912 he paid for Mason's lawyers within one week. Surrender all campaign funds to the state - approximately $36,912. Perform at least 100 hours of community service in his capacity as a licensed physician during his sentence. What does Bentley get in exchange for his plea? Bentley will no longer face any potential state criminal charges from the pending investigations by the Attorney General's Office, the ethics charges referred by the Alabama Ethics Commission last week, and the "matters referenced" in the investigation report released Friday by the special counsel for the House Judiciary Committee that was considering Bentley's impeachment. The investigation and impeachment proceedings by the House Judiciary Committee were centered on whether Bentley misused state resources to further his relationship with Mason and if there were any campaign finance violations. The committee abruptly halted the first day of the hearing after learning of the plea deal. A judge on Friday had temporarily blocked the committee from beginning meetings next week on impeachment, but the Alabama Supreme Court on Saturday stayed that order and the hearing began Monday morning. Bentley also had failed to stop the release Friday of the investigative report by the special counsel for the House Judiciary Committee. That report and 3,000 pages of exhibits detailed the romantic relationship between Bentley and Mason and the governor's attempts - including intimidation tactics on potential witnesses - to cover it up. Also, last week, the Alabama Ethics Commission referred ethics charges against Bentley to the Montgomery District Attorney's Office. The Montgomery D.A. then referred those charges to the Alabama Attorney General's Office, which had already launched an investigation into the administration. Bentley Plea by KentFaulk on Scribd As the resignation of former Gov. Robert Bentley was announced Monday afternoon, at least one person in the state wasn't tuned in to a television, or radio station or social media to watch the much-expected drama finally play out. Spencer Collier, who served as Secretary of Law Enforcement until he was fired by Bentley last year and who was the first to go public with the governor's affair with top aide Rebekah Mason, was picking up his son from ball practice. He knew this day was coming. And he feels vindicated. "I knew all along I did nothing wrong, '' Collier told AL.com moments after Bentley's arrest and subsequent resignation shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday. "He had no reason to fire me." Collier, now the Selma police chief, said that just because he feels vindicated does not mean he is celebrating. "They took joy in my misery when I was fired. I had to file bankruptcy,'' he said. "I heard the stories of the high-5's. People would tell me, 'They're high-fiving over there.' I just couldn't understand why someone else would find such pleasure in someone else's misery so I'm trying not to do that, and I'm not doing that." "You often hear the term 'just desserts,' that you get just what you deserve,'' Collier said. "I think this is a textbook case of someone getting what they deserve." Collier and Bentley first became friends during their freshman year in the Alabama House of Representatives. That friendship only strengthened as their service continued. Shortly after Bentley was elected governor in 2011, and Collier to his third term as a state legislator, Bentley named Collier as director of Homeland Security. Then, in April 2013, Bentley named Collier as Secretary of Law Enforcement, a cabinet position created by legislation to create the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency in an effort to consolidate a number of law enforcement and public safety entities. The first sign of problems came in 2014 when Collier said evidence of an affair arose. Stan Stabler - who took Collier's place as the head of ALEA - saw a text message from Mason on Bentley's cell phone, Collier said. Stabler has since denied Collier's claims. Collier said Stabler saw the message after the governor dropped his phone at a Business Council of Alabama conference at Point Clear. He said Stabler notified his then-boss, former Bentley security officer Ray Lewis, of the "sexual nature" of the text. Three days later, at 3 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2014, Lewis brought a laptop to Collier and played a recording of conversations between the governor and Mason, Collier said. The tape, purportedly created by a Bentley family member hoping for an "intervention," left no doubt about the relationship, he said. "'If we're gonna do what we did yesterday, we're going to have to lock that door,'" Bentley said on the recording. There were more improper comments about "her breasts and behind." Collier confronted Bentley, who he said promised to end things with Mason, but the next morning he had changed his mind and said he couldn't break things off with her. "I would periodically encourage him to stop the relationship, but then he started saying things like, 'The next person who says anything about it will get fired,''' Collier said Monday. "I got out of the marriage counseling at that point." Collier thought things had calmed down, but then Dianne Bentley stunned everyone in August 2015. The governor's wife of 50 years filed for divorce, saying "their marriage has suffered an irretrievable breakdown." The couple, both 72, were married in 1965 and have four children. "He was shocked, and upset and it was hard to watch him hurt,'' Collier said. "I sat with him for a while. I just tried to be his friend. He said, 'They just want Rebekah out of my life and it's not going to happen.'' The divorce was ultimately finalized, and again things had calmed down for the most part. Both Bentley and Mason received anonymous letters that were unfavorable in nature, and Collier said Bentley and Mason wanted him to do something about it. "There was nothing we could do. They were not pleasant, but they were not criminal. No one was trying to solicit money from them. " Then, everything began to quickly unravel. The governor announced he was putting Collier on a medical leave of absence soon after denouncing Collier's decision to defy a direct order. Collier's three-month medical leave of absence began Feb. 17, 2016 after Bentley had expressed his disapproval that Collier had provided an affidavit to the prosecutors in the public corruption case against Hubbard. The governor had previously ordered law enforcement officials, including Collier, to refuse the request. "He was absolutely furious that we were involved and she (Mason) was furious that we had done our job,'' Collier said. "He had never berated me in front of people, so it was a side of him I hadn't seen." Bentley fired Collier March 22, 2016. He claimed he had no choice but to act after possible misuse of funds was uncovered, but Collier was later cleared of any wrongdoing. In April 2016, Collier filed suit, against Bentley and others claiming he was improperly fired and impugned. The suit names the Council for Excellent Government, the secretive 501c(4) that contributed to Mason's pay. It also names current ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler, the Bentley campaign and Mason's company, RCM Communications, among others. The suit claims defamation of character, invasion of privacy, wrongful termination and reckless conduct, among other things. It says Collier suffered financial and personal harm, and seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. "He damaged my career greatly, there's no doubt about it,'' Collier said. "I make about 50 percent of what I made as secretary and went almost a year without working at all." The recent developments - Bentley's resignation and last week's release of two damaging reports - were not surprising to Collier. "I knew when I testified at the Ethics Commission- I testified for close to two hours - I knew they were going to find probable cause. I could tell by the questions they were asking that it was over." He said the commission's findings pertinent to Stabler were more vindicating to him than what it showed about Bentley. "He was not only malicious, he was lying to both sides,'' Collier said. "He proved he is a man that will say or do anything to better himself, and that includes a false report against me." Stabler was out of town Monday, according to his office, and was not available to respond to Collier's statements about him. Collier said he knew in advance the projected timeline of Monday's resignation. "I've been able to digest it throughout the day,'' he said. "I really do hope he sees the error of his ways. I have no doubt he's taking the easies route to protect Rebekah, which he always has done. He had a grand opportunity to be a very good governor and he let that get in the way." "I'm glad this aspect of it is over. I'm glad to put it in my review mirror,'' he said. "I'm tired of being interviewed by the AG's office, the FBI, postal inspectors. I never told any agency no, but I'm ready to focus on my job in Selma." A Lowndes County Sheriff's Office deputy was killed in a wreck Monday morning near Hayneville, Alabama State Troopers said. Lowndesboro resident Levy Pettway, 61, was killed when the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria he was driving left Alabama 21 and struck several trees at 11:53 a.m. Pettway was a reserve deputy for the sheriff's department and a school resource officer at Calhoun School. Troopers said Pettway was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead a short time after the accident. Additional details were not released since the accident is still under investigation. Following years of deception and abuse of power Gov. Robert Bentley has resigned, accepting a plea bargain and admitting to misdemeanor charges. By leaving office, he took one step toward making amends with the people of Alabama. His legacy will be a brief glimpse into the workings of Alabama's irredeemably broken government. Gov. Robert Bentley leaves the Capitol Monday, April 10, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala. after resigning as governor. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) Last year we called for the governor to step down, arguing he had become a costly distraction. However, a year ago we did not know the extent of Bentley's crimes. This was never just a sex scandal. Testimony in the House Judiciary Committee's investigation report shows he abused his authority, threatened and intimidated all who stood in his way, with little regard for state money or resources. Until today, Bentley had remained frustratingly defiant. Publicly he donned a mask of humility and innocence - daring the public to believe his claims that his relationship with Rebekah Caldwell Mason was strictly platonic, that he had done nothing wrong, and that he had the state's best interests at heart. As recently as Friday, he stood before the state and lied. His actions, as revealed through 3,000 pages in the impeachment investigation report, show the guise of contrition was just another tool Bentley used for control. He preyed on our initial view of him as a genial grandfather and used that to exert his authority. State employees were threatened. State and campaign resources were misused. And, perhaps most damning of all, the business of running the state was neglected. For years, Bentley has set aside more time and energy for his personal affairs than state affairs. We cannot get back the time we've lost but Bentley should be held accountable for lost resources. We must know the full cost of the cover up and subsequent legal defense. The people of Alabama should not be forced to bear the costs of corruption. Bentley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges. But the stakes are too high for the pursuit of justice to stop here. This impeachment investigative report creates as many questions as it does answers. It implicates many people in Montgomery beyond the governor. At times, it seems like everybody knew everything but nobody did anything. Allegations were made in the report that many surrounding Bentley were complicit in the cover up. They too should be held accountable for their actions. We know from the commission report Bentley, Mason and others refused to cooperate with the investigation. Subsequently, we still do not know the extent to which their alleged actions constitute criminal behavior. What more would we learn from their private messages and emails? But beyond the question of criminal action looms a deeper, more powerful question: What must we do now? In one shameful year, Alabama has seen its governor, speaker of the House and chief justice removed or resign from office. Bentley will be the third governor to face criminal charges in the last six. Our state legislators have also demonstrated a willingness to bend campaign finance rules for personal gain. In 2010, the legislature passed an ethics package meant to limit corruption - instead it seems to have just pushed it further into the dark. Whatever we've done to reform campaign finance isn't enough. The ability of politicians to move money through dark non-profits has got to change. The investigation report points at connections to several businesses and institutions. We should pursue answers and legal accountability here as well; and with impeachment no longer a point of focus, the legislature should focus on adopting new rules for how and when campaign cash should be used. The legislature should also focus on reforming the governor's protection detail. Bentley used the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency as his personal gang of heavies, intimidating potential whistleblowers and attempting to dig up dirt on political enemies. ALEA appointments should be removed from the governor's responsibilities unless steps are taken to prevent this from happening in the future. The governor's security should focus on protecting lives, not secrets. As our new governor, Kay Ivey faces an unenviable task of restoring the public's faith in government. After decades of crime and corruption, dysfunction has become the status quo. The investigation report highlights a governing apparatus more efficient at paying for flimflam than for the everyday needs of Alabamians. Employees such as Jon Mason, husband of Bentley's mistress, pocketed six-figure salaries despite no demonstration of work product. Over the next two years, Gov. Ivey should examine who in Montgomery is providing a necessary function for the good of the state versus working in their own self-interest. It's time to drag the rest of the state's backroom business out in the open. Bentley, Mike Hubbard and Roy Moore are now gone. They've left behind a vacuum of power and, with national investigations looming over our prison and education systems, an urgent need for principled leadership. Stabler.jpg Stan Stabler, head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, responds to statements made by Spencer Collier, the now former head of ALEA, Wednesday, March 23, 2016, in Montgomery, Ala. Gov. Robert Bentley fired Collier Tuesday. A year ago, Stan Stabler could have ended all this, but that would have required him telling the truth about his boss. Instead, he accepted a promotion and lied in a press conference to protect that boss, Gov. Robert Bentley. If Stabler were just another Montgomery politician or state capital bureaucrat, that might not be such a big deal. But he's not. Stabler, at least of this writing, is still Alabama's top cop, secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. If Alabama has a crooked cop at the top of its ranks, then we still have a big problem, Luv Guv or no Luv Guv. That's something a lot worse than carrying on an affair, and it's something that should scare every Alabamian. Let's rewind to that day last year. On March 23, former ALEA Sec. Spencer Collier and Gov. Robert Bentley held dueling press conferences. In the first, Collier went public with his knowledge of Bentley's affair with Mason. In the second, Bentley denied that he had done anything wrong but making inappropriate comments, which had been surreptitiously recorded by his wife and later leaked to the media through family and former staffers. But before Bentley faced the media equivalent of a firing squad that day, he asked his newly appointed ALEA secretary, Stabler to rebut some of Collier's claims. In particular, he denied that he had seen explicit texts. "First, the allegation and implication from Mr. Collier in reference to me intercepting a sexually explicit text in August of 2014 is completely false and without merit," Stabler said. Two weeks later, Stabler sent an op-ed to newspapers throughout the state, again disputing Collier's claims. Fast forward a year. Here's what we know now. According to testimony taken during the Alabama House impeachment investigation, that op-ed and other statements sent out by Stabler were at the very least edited, if not written, by Rebekah Caldwell Mason. According to testimony given by Ray Lewis, who had been Stabler's boss when Stabler served as the governor's bodyguard, Stabler indeed took note of the governor's texts, including his sudden, increased use of emojis. And according to testimony from Heather Hannah, Dianne Bentley's once chief of staff, Stabler had some divided loyalties. According to the investigators' report, "Hannah testified that Stabler would 'feed Ms. Bentley information about the affair and the whereabouts and how they were communicating and where they were going. And even if it wasn't listed on a flight log, Stan would still tell us what was going on.'" Hannah had left the governor's office in June of 2014, but she said she continued to talk to Stabler about the affair. "Soon after I left I did talk to Stan Stabler on several occasions when he would be expressing concern about Governor Bentley's whereabouts with Rebekah Mason," she told the committee investigators. "Sometimes he would share that with me I guess because he couldn't get in touch with Ms. Bentley sometimes out of concern for her and just keeping me aware of what was going on." But when forced to make a choice, Stabler sided with the governor over Dianne. Ahead of the governor's second inauguration, the first lady had been reluctant to go. She told Stabler she would attend but not to tell the governor. "When Governor Bentley and Stabler arrived back in the office that evening, Stabler told Governor Bentley what Ms. Bentley had said," investigators wrote in their report. "He told Governor Bentley that, although he did not want to betray Ms. Bentley's trust, "I work for you." I work for you. That's what he told the governor, according to his own testimony to the House committee investigators. But there's just one thing. Stan Stabler might have worked for the governor, but he was supposed to work for you, and for me, and for Mrs. Bentley, and for every other Alabamian. He was supposed to be a public servant, and when his moment came to serve the public, to tell the truth that day last year, instead he accepted a promotion, to then have risen from the governor's bodyguard to the head of the state's largest law enforcement agency. He was supposed to look out for the people. Instead, he looked out for himself. Thousands of refugees arrive in north Uganda from South Sudan daily and many of them are unaccompanied children. Ngomoromo, Uganda What stands out most when you visit the Ngomoromo transit camp for South Sudan refugees in northern Uganda is the number of children. They are all from the South Sudanese town of Pajok where clashes broke out last week between government forces and fighters from SPLM/A-IO, the main armed opposition rebel group. It is natural for children, even in the midst of misery, to play. But none of the children in the camp not even the very little ones, was interested in any games. Instead, they were huddled together with their families under trees in a camp that is their home for now. When we got there, some were still wearing their school uniform. More than 580 of them were separated from their parents. Dusty and tired, 16-year-old Agnes had just arrived when we met her. She told us she does not know where her parents or brother are. What she remembers from Pajok are the gunshots and people running. READ MORE: Uganda at breaking point from South Sudan refugee crisis One little boy, Oloo, was separating the familys chickens. Some had died a big loss to the family that could not salvage much else. We also found 17-year-old Mary Amal fussing over her six younger siblings at one corner of the camp. They escaped last Monday from the area that was under the control of the rebel group before government soldiers attacked. We heard gunshots from a distance and then we run everyone was running. My father refused to leave. He was killed, she told us. I asked where their mother was and she said that they left her hiding in the bush. Too tired to continue, she had told them she would catch up. They were still waiting for her by the time we were leaving. These are all children who are living a life no child ever should. The camp they share with their loved ones has had to be quickly adapted to accommodate the large numbers arriving as it used to be a transit centre receiving fewer than a dozen refugees on its busiest days. Suddenly, aid bodies led by the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, have to deal with more than 5,000 people a day with very little resources. However, South Sudan presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny has disputed the number of those displaced from Pajok. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said that the figures are exaggerated: Pajok has fewer than 1,000 residents, he said. The rest could be Ugandans of the same Acholi tribe trying to get free services and food. What is not disputable though is the fact that there is little water and food in the camp. The refugees are getting some grain, flour and high-energy biscuits from the World Food Programme. They are also being helped by relatives who live abroad. There is not enough shelter so they are sleeping rough, in the open. Clearly, its no place for children to be. The new influx worsens the refugee crisis in Uganda, the worlds fastest-growing, according to the UN. There are now more than 800,000 South Sudanese refugees across 14 camps in northern Uganda. About 200,000 people have arrived since January and UNHCR expects 400,000 by the end of the year if the situation in their country remains the same. To provide for the refugees, the agency desperately needs funding. The response to an appeal for $500m for refugees in Uganda has not been great. Only 15 percent of the money needed has been received from donors. The new refugees from Pajok, like many others making their way to Uganda, say that after fighting with armed rebels that control the areas, government troops often attack the villages believing that the civilians are rebel supporters. READ MORE: South Sudan There are only dead bodies They think we are rebels because our area is controlled by rebels, said Wadson Logata, a refugee who ran a business back home. But we are civilians. We dont get to choose which armed group takes control of our villages and over our lives. We just have the power to pray that whoever it is will live with us in peace. The plan by UNHCR is to move the refugees away from the border and to more established settlements. Already, about 1,000 of them have been moved. But many like Mary and her siblings would like to stay closer to the border and wait for relatives who may still be stuck in South Sudan. She told us that she is still hopeful that her mother will show up and together they will go to live in a settlement. She does not plan to return home in the near future. Similarly, many refugees say they are tired of living in fear and blame leaders from all sides of the conflict for failing to protect them. The US president is fond of saying his favourite thing in life is deal making. The Trump administration is now starting to sound a lot like the Obama team when it comes to Syria. The message, after many fits, starts and contradictions, seems to be President Bashar al-Assad does not have a long-term future in Syria. They are trying to shame Russia into abandoning their ally. Weve heard all of that for years, so what could be different this time? The Art of the Deal! Thats right, US President Donald Trump prides himself on being one of the best negotiators in the business world. So when Jordans King Abdullah suggested a horse trade with Russia, that is the language the president loves and understands. So what could that look like? The king indicated that the US should think about lifting sanctions on Russia over Crimea in exchange for help in Syria. Many analysts in Washington dont believe the Russians are particularly tied to Assad as long as they can be guaranteed their influence will continue under new leadership. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson now says Assad has to go but he has also warned about what happens when a strong leader is suddenly removed. He uses Libya as the cautionary tale. Hence the emphasis on the long term. Zones of stability So lets imagine that Tillerson is not going to his first Moscow meetings empty handed. Ive been talking to some very knowledgeable and connected people about what the US really means when they propose setting up zones of stability. The best answer Ive got so far is from Michael OHanlon of the Brookings Institution. Heres what he had to say about a possible settlement to this long-running war: What we need to do is create autonomous areas in the east and the north where Sunni and Kurdish populations can live safely. And even though Assad is still nominally their president they live in areas that are largely self-policing where the international community even has a presence in helping reconstruct their cities, their economies, their police forces. The model here would be Iraqi Kurdistan in the Saddam Hussein period. Largely self-governing even though it was still part of the same country. We [US] could make clear we are not going to build an opposition capable of overthrowing the Syrian government any longer. Were just going to help the opposition create these autonomous areas with light arms for local police forces. In this sense zones of security could be a precursor to autonomous regions. READ MORE: What next for US-Russia ties after Syria strike? It seems clear that the Syrian president would fight any effort that strips him of control of any part of his territory. Russia could always try to persuade him if they are inclined by threatening to walk away leaving his forces vulnerable. That would leave it to Iran. If they decided to continue to back Assad, then this potential solution wouldnt work. Not to mention how Turkey would react if the Kurds were given their own land. This situation is beyond complicated. Every effort to find a way out of the horrors that have been inflicted on so many millions have simply failed to this point. The US president is fond of saying his favourite thing in life is deal-making. Millions now wait to find out if when it comes to Syria, hes willing to try and make a deal. Amid an opioid crisis, the city is considering launching sites where users can consume drugs under medical supervision. Seattle, King County, United States Shilo Murphy sat in his small, cluttered office inside the United Methodist Church in Seattles University District where he has distributed clean syringes in the back alley for more than 16 years. The 41-year-old local is a heroin user himself and now directs the needle exchange, Peoples Harm Reduction Alliance, where he connects drug users to community support, clean injection equipment, infection testing, and education for safer drug use. After record-high fatal heroin overdoses in King County in recent years, the city of Seattle asked for Murphys input on how to address opioid addiction in the area. A decision was later reached by Seattle and King County to build the nations first safe injection facility (SIF), a clean and safe space where users can consume drugs under medical supervision. Ive watched my family and friends die a very preventable death through overdose, Murphy says. [SIFs] are going to promote a culture of safety and a culture of people not dying they get people off the streets and also connect people to services. At least two pilot sites also referred to as safe consumption sites or Community Health Engagement Locations will be implemented pending decisions on funding and location, alongside a number of harm reduction methods including increased access to buprenorphine, an opioid medication used to treat opioid addiction, and expanded distribution of naloxone (also known as Narcan), a drug that reverses overdoses. Such methods emerged from the belief that the world would never be drug-free, and have successfully reduced the harms associated with drug use globally. While unprecedented in the US, SIFs have been implemented elsewhere since the 1980s with about 90 locations in Europe, Australia, and Canada. Many SIFs have reduced fatal overdoses, increased access to healthcare and treatment for people addicted to opioids, and saved financial resources. Introducing the sites, however, has been laden with controversy and, in the Seattle area, has spurred debate around whether the sites will be effective, or legal under federal law. READ MORE: A brief history of war and drugs From Vikings to Nazis Safe space for drug users Many locals look to North Americas first and only SIFs across the border in Vancouver, Canadaas a sign of what they might look like in King County. Critics depict the Vancouver site as a honeypot for drug sellers and focus on harrowing scenes of street corner overdoses, fearing a mirror image in their localities. Seattles Kris Nyrop has worked on SIF projects worldwide and says they look different depending on their environment. He says the countys sites would be likely to emulate the unassuming or low-footprint models of Hamburg or Amsterdam rather than the oft-referenced site in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside, a highly impoverished neighbourhood where drug users are highly concentrated. Noting local concerns around the sites, the Seattle Police Departments public affairs director Sean Whitcomb says it would be absolutely possible to establish SIFs without harming public safety. Look at what we have now: public injection sites all over the city, Whitcomb says. The needles in your park? Hopefully, theyll be gone because they will be safely disposed. The person who died in the restroom? Hopefully, that wont happen. Harold* is a man in his early 20s who pays regular visits to Murphys needle exchange. He is currently homeless and says he would be excited and glad if there was a clean and safe space where he could use drugs, listing Seattle neighbourhoods he thought would benefit from SIFs. READ MORE: US lawmakers target undocumented student sanctuaries Opposition to SIFs State Senator Mark Miloscia opposes SIFs out of fear they will set a nationwide precedent for federally facilitated heroin use. In early March, Miloscia successfully passed a bill in the state Senate to ban the sites. The bill is now under review by the states House Health Care and Wellness Committee. Speaking over the phone from the Senate floor, Miloscia equated heroin use with criminal acts such as domestic abuse and assault. We need to stigmatise the people hooked on heroin who refuse to go into treatment, to save their lives, Miloscia told Al Jazeera. We need to push people into treatment, with cultural values and cultural pressure. The concept that drug use alone results in addiction and should, therefore, be criminalised and stigmatised to keep people safe is what physician Gabor Mate called one of the bedrock fables sustaining the so-called war on drugs. A lot of people use drugs every day because they're in trauma. I think we should be trying to focus on healing that trauma. by Shilo Murphy, People's Harm Reduction Alliance Julie Hannah, co-director of the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy at the University of Essex in the UK, argues that criminalisation and societal prejudice around drug use and addiction lead to the erosion of the human right to health. Theres plenty of evidence showing that when youre criminalised, it drives you away from services. It drives drug use underground, which leads to more unsafe injection, and it keeps people in need of real healthcare and support completely disconnected from those services, Hannah says. Fear of illicit drugs and addiction spurred on by decades of a war on drugs mentality has led to other rights abuses, Hannah adds. The heavy policing of poor communities in the US, the corresponding number of drug-related arrests, and the disproportionately racist mass incarceration for drug offences emerge within this [war on drugs] context, she says. Hannah commended Seattles move towards SIFs, hailing harm reduction approaches that embrace evidence, health, and dignity, instead of this ideological fear-mongering. Murphy also rejects stigma and criminalisation-based approaches to curbing opioid addiction. The number one thing that helps our participants to heal and grow is telling them that theyre loved A lot of people use drugs every day because theyre in trauma. I think we should be trying to focus on healing that trauma. OPINION: Human rights From Obama to Trump Opioid addiction under the Trump administration Seattles controversy comes amid increased focus nationwide on the countrys growing opioid crisis, to which many are looking to see how this White House will respond. Chair of the Department of Psychology at Columbia University Dr Carl Hart anticipates that the Trump administration will stray from science-based approaches to public health policy when it comes to opioids. Drug use and drug addiction have to be separated, Hart says, pointing to evidence that most people who use opioids do not become addicted, and that the majority of opioid-related deaths result from mixing opioids with other drugs. Discussion of science around addiction is lost in what Hart referred to as the US historically draconian approach to drugs. The US president pledged on the campaign trail and in his February 28 address to Congress to expand the use of drug courts, naloxone, and opioid treatment, but his rhetoric has weighed heavy on stopping the supply of opioids entering the country, using law enforcement. Certainly, the preliminary signal we've gotten from the administration ... is an attitude of taking a much more law enforcement-based approach to drugs. by Wendy Parmet, director of Northeastern University's Program on Health Policy and Law Certainly, the preliminary signal weve gotten from the administration is an attitude of taking a much more law enforcement-based approach to drugs, Wendy Parmet, director of Northeastern Universitys programme on Health Policy and Law, told Al Jazeera. We need a more holistic science-based approach. If the response is a look-tough-and-get-tough-approach, Im worried that that may not be effective, Parmet says. Trump administration policy could be destructive for Americans addicted to opioids, according to Richard Frank, professor of health economics in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) marked the first time insurance companies were required to cover substance use disorder and mental health treatments, Frank says, giving people with drug addiction the purchasing power necessary to access treatment. If the Trump administration works to undermine the coverage expansions in the ACA then they would put at risk the gains that occurred, Frank told Al Jazeera. Frank estimates that of the 2.8 million Americans with substance use disorder who rely on the ACA for health insurance coverage, 222,000 could lose access to opioid addiction treatment if it were repealed. House Republican leaders and the White House still aim to repeal the ACA despite withdrawing legislation to do so in March. Frank told Al Jazeera that the presidents plans around opioids still remain unclear. His [Trumps] budget and policy announcements seems to at once call for more attention to opioids while making major cuts in SAMHSAs [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration] budget, Frank says. Brad Finegood of the King County Department of Community and Human Services says that a significant portion of the countys population with opioid addictions were low-income and currently receive treatment services from Medicaid through ACA. Seattle Mayor Ed Murrays office, meanwhile, says Trumps proposed budget includes deep cuts in federal funding to cities which would affect the citys ability to address the opioid crisis. For decades, the federal government has slashed funding for public health, including substance use treatment and with President Trump in the White House, cities are on their own, the office said in a statement to Al Jazeera. The Department of Health and Human Services and the White House press office did not respond to requests for comment. READ MORE: Chinas new opium wars: Battling addiction in Beijing Pioneer in public health Seattle advocates, however, remain hopeful that their local public health policy will continue improving support for residents addicted to opioids. Senator Miloscia requested Attorney General Jeff Sessions for federal intervention in SIFs, but power over public health has traditionally been given to state and local governments. ACLU-WAs Mark Cooke told Al Jazeera that King County and Seattle were well within their local authority to use their public health powers when it comes to SIFs. While no legal precedent exists for SIFs in the US, Cooke refers to analogous situations such as marijuana policy and needle exchanges, which come under state jurisdiction. Both are against federal law, but as neither have received federal intervention, Cooke believes this could be the case for SIFs. Cooke added that King County has long pioneered harm reduction approaches in public health. In the late 1980s, local activist Dave Purchase was one of the first people in the nation to start needle exchanges during the HIV/Aids epidemic. The West Coast has historically been home to proactive public health movements. Mayor Murray has pledged to call for more support from federal and state partners to help the city try new approaches to save lives. Back at the University District needle exchange, Murphy says that while he believes in the need for SIFs, he criticises the city for dragging its feet on planning funding. I have hope for [the SIFs], but politicians are politicians. What happens if Mayor Murray doesnt get re-elected? What happens when Trump pulls out money? Words are nice, but words are not going to stop people from dying in this neighbourhood, Murphy says. I want real commitment. *Name changed for privacy It may be doomed to be extinct but it is still deadly with eight executions planned over 10 days in Arkansas. Over a 10-day period, starting next Monday, the state of Arkansas plans to oversee the most concentrated spate of executions the US has seen in more than half a century, seeking to kill eight prisoners in 10 days, two at a time. This medieval event is a good illustration of the state of the death penalty in the United States: It is like a dying dinosaur, doomed to be extinct, but still deadly. A dwindling number of politicians either deceptively populist or determinedly delusional continue to pretend that executing a few people each year will somehow right the wrongs that permeate US society. Yet people increasingly understand that they are peddling a lie. There is no link between American executions and American crime: 31 states keep the death penalty on their books, but their crime rate tends to be higher than in the 19 states that have abolished the noose. Crime has far more to do with the 300 million guns that swamp America, the boatloads of cocaine, and the 43.1 million Americans in poverty, than the execution of a handful of those we are told to hate. READ MORE: Does a man who killed no one deserve death row? The US managed to execute 20 people last year, and only imposed 32 new sentences down from a high of 315 in 1996. Remarkably, none of those were imposed in the three states where I tried most of my cases (Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi). At this rate, with some 2,832 condemned people, it would take 142 years to clear death row. Meanwhile, we have exonerated 157 people who the system said were guilty beyond a reasonable doubt but who turned out to be entirely innocent. From its heyday in the 1980s, when it was almost impossible to win public office without being a staunch proponent of executions, the death penalty has become a marginal issue. The politicians who support it are, indeed, the dinosaurs of the age. But Arkansass plan for next week proves that even in its death throes a thrashing Tyrannosaurus Rex can inflict enormous damage. Eight executions in 10 days Over the past 41 years Arkansas has executed 27 people, an average of one every 18 months. But in the past 10 years, despite successive governors best efforts, no executions have taken place. Now, Governor Asa Hutchinson has scheduled eight in 10 days. He set the dates only 49 days before the first execution. Since a clemency petition must be lodged 40 days before an execution, this required the prisoners to secure counsel, investigate for witnesses, compile and file a petition in nine days. The pardons board, in turn, had a maximum of 10 days to review the petition, investigate the case, hold a hearing, and reach a decision in order to meet the expedited schedule. Clemency petitions sometimes run to hundreds of pages, with a broad range of witnesses. Naturally, none of these deadlines could be met in any meaningful fashion. Even if the system operated as written, it is still bizarrely circular, filled with conflicts of interest. Hutchinson appoints the pardons board; he then sets the date, deciding someone merits death; he is then the one to whom the prisoner must appeal for clemency. Neither was there any rationality to how the dates came about. Hutchinson had agreed to hold a meeting at 3:30pm on February 27 to hear why he should not set the dates. The discussion would have focused on the gruesome recent experimentation with the very drugs to be used in these executions, the most salient of which involved the botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma in April 2014. Witnesses described him breathing heavily, writhing on the gurney, clenching his teeth and straining to lift his head off the pillow before ultimately dying of a heart attack. RELATED: Justice still elusive for exonerated death row inmate My body is on fire In January 2015, Charles Warners execution (the second using the Oklahoma system) likewise went terribly wrong, with Warner crying: My body is on fire. An inquest convened to investigate these mistakes identified a wide range of what it characterised as careless and even reckless conduct around the states use of lethal injection, and recommended moving to a new method of execution. It was even revealed that the third drug used in the execution was actually the wrong medicine entirely one which had never before been used in an execution. Now Arkansas wants to use something very similar to the Oklahoma protocol. It might seem strange that the state is so incapable of executing someone humanely, but there are various reasons for it. First, a doctors Hippocratic Oath forbids him from doing harm, so what is essentially a quasi-medical procedure must be carried out by people who are ill-qualified. Second, the three-drug protocol used to execute a human being is not the kinder, gentler system we were all promised. The first drug, a sedative, is meant to put the prisoner to sleep. As often as not, the drug fails, perhaps due to the ill-trained people who are preparing and administering the drugs, but in some cases because even after poking the prisoner for as long as 40 minutes they fail to insert the needle properly. The second drug is nothing more than a paralytic agent its role is purely for the benefit of the witnesses, to prevent them from seeing the pain that the prisoner suffers. In this way, it is like the dreadful leather flap I watched them drape over two of my clients faces when they used the electric chair, plunging the victim into darkness, solely to shield the witnesses from watching as his face contorted in agony. Yet if the delay is too long between the drugs, the paralytic agent prevents the lungs from working, and the prisoner slowly suffocates. The third drug (potassium chloride) is essentially used as a poison to stop the heart. But the drug burns through the prisoners veins, and if the sedative has not worked he will writhe in agony, and if the paralytic agent fails the witnesses will see it. Perhaps Hutchinson should have followed the example set by Oklahoma officials, who refused to set execution dates until a new system had been approved. But no: Hutchinson suddenly set the eight execution dates a matter of minutes before the scheduled meeting, rather than listen to the evidence. READ MORE: The death penalty How we kill Going the way of the T Rex So why the unseemly haste to kill people? Here is where we discover how the system of capital punishment has become ever more irrational: Arkansas was running out of the drugs it needed to kill people. Someone informed the governor that unless the men were executed by April 30, 2017, the drugs would expire and they would have trouble getting more. So, without more ado, he set the dates. It is true that the executing states are facing problems securing drugs, but there is good reason for this as well: the companies who make the drugs dont want their products used to kill people. And why should pharmaceutical companies, who wish to create life-saving medications, be forced to sell their drugs for executions, any more than doctors should be made to violate their Hippocratic Oaths? The idea is obscene, a frontal assault on the freedom from government tyranny that is the hallmark of the US Constitution. The pharmaceutical companies have all created contracts with their distributors to prevent this, and yet Arkansas, along with a gaggle of state governments, think they can create secrecy laws to override the companies clearly expressed agreements. Arkansas Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Merrick, for example, told the judge that there is a contract with the manufacturer whereby the supplier is contractually not supposed to be selling drugs to state departments of correction for use at execution. The supplier did anyway to aid the state in carrying out and fulfilling its legal duty to carry out lawfully imposed death sentences. In plain English, what she meant was that the Arkansas authorities, charged with enforcing the law, had got together with an execution-friendly salesman and convinced him to violate the law and breach his contract. So much for the law. The Arkansas government has shown contempt for the very rule of law that the death penalty is meant to promote. Presumably, as Tyrannosaurus Rex stumbled through the undergrowth, he trampled on the smaller animals in much the same way. Perhaps an asteroid hit the Earth, perhaps he was simply no longer suited to the planet but soon the T Rex died out. There can be little doubt that the Arkansas death penalty will go the same way. Certainly, the history books are unlikely to portray this sorry chapter as indicative of an evolving civilisation. Unfortunately, the question remains: In the meantime, how many people will be trampled under the Death Row Dinosaurs heavy foot? The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Clive Stafford Smith is a British attorney who oversees Reprieves casework programme, as well as the direct representation of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and on death row as a Louisiana licensed attorney at law. After graduating from Columbia Law School, Clive spent nine years as a lawyer with the Southern Center for Human Rights working on death penalty cases and other civil rights issues. In 1993, Clive moved to New Orleans and launched the Louisiana Crisis Assistance Center, a non-profit law office specialising in the representation of poor people in death penalty cases. In total, Clive has represented more than 300 prisoners facing the death penalty in the southern United States. While he only took on the cases of those who could not afford a lawyer, he prevented the death penalty in all but six cases (a 98 percent victory rate). Few lawyers ever take a case to the US Supreme Court Clive has taken five, and all of the prisoners prevailed. Following Sundays attacks on Coptic churches in Tanta and Alexandria that left at least 45 people dead and over 100 injured, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency nationwide. Lifting the state of emergency, initially imposed following late President Anwar Sadats assassination in 1981 and lasted for three decades under his successor Hosni Mubarak, has been one of the key demands of the January 2011 popular uprising. In June 2012, Egypts state of emergency finally came to an end. However, in January 2013, emergency law was reintroduced by elected President Mohamed Morsi for 30 days, to curb renewed unrest. In August of the same year, and following a military coup led by then defence minister Sisi against Morsi, Egypts military-backed government then declared a one-month state of emergency following the violent dispersal of Muslim Brotherhood supporters in what came to be known as Rabaa al-Adawiya massacre in which hundreds of civilians were killed at hands of police and security forces. What does Egypts constitution say about emergency laws? This is the first time since the adoption of the 2014 constitution that a nationwide state of emergency is declared. The constitution imposes limits on the presidents powers to declare an indefinite state of emergency. Article 154 states that the president must consult the Cabinet before issuing an official declaration, after which the decision must be submitted to Parliament. A parliamentary majority must approve the declaration within seven days of its issuance for the three-month state of emergency to go into effect. Once this period elapses, it can only be extended for an additional three months by a two-thirds majority vote. If Parliament is not in session, the matter is taken to the Cabinet for approval, to be presented to the House of Representatives in its first session. What are the powers granted to the president? Despite this limitation, the emergency law still grants the president exceptional powers. The emergency law grants the president, and those acting on his behalf, the power to refer civilians to State Security Emergency Courts for the duration of the three-month period. There is no appeal process for State Security Emergency Court verdicts. It also extends powers of the president to monitoring and intercepting all forms of communication and correspondence, imposing censorship prior to publication and confiscating extant publications, impose a curfew for or order the closure of commercial establishments, sequestration of private properties, as well as designating areas for evacuation. Article 4 of the emergency law grants the Armed Forces the authority to address any violations of these powers. READ MORE: The tragedy of Egypts stolen revolution The situation today The emergency measures allow security forces to detain people for any period of time, for virtually any reason. They also grant broad powers to restrict public gatherings and media freedom. But Egypts human rights situation has already been the worst in decades. Since Sisi took power in 2013, human rights conditions in the country continued to deteriorate. Human rights organisations found that around 60,000 were imprisoned between 2013 and 2017.To accommodate them, the Egyptian authorities decided to build 10 additional prisons. The facilities that already house these prisoners are extremely overcrowded, according to Egypts National Council for Human Rights. A Human Rights Watch report on Cairos Scorpion Prison found that the inmates were mostly political prisoners. The prisoners suffered abuses at the hands of Interior Ministry officers, including beatings, force feedings, deprivation of contact with relatives and lawyers, and interference in medical care. There were 326 cases of extrajudicial killings in 2015, a number which rose to 754 cases in the first half of 2016 alone, according to Al Nadeem Center, a local human rights group. In August 2016, the Egyptian Coordination of Rights and Freedoms released a report on prison conditions in Egypt under Sisi, documenting 1,344 incidents of torture including direct torture and intentional medical neglect in detention facilities and prisons between 2015 and 2016. There are also reports of forced disappearances. Amnesty International recorded three to four disappearances a day between 2015 and 2016. Amnesty states that the number could be much higher since a lot of families fear the repercussions from reporting a disappearance case. READ MORE: Egypts anti-protest law Legalising authoritarianism Furthermore, Sisi issued a decree in 2014 that allowed the military wider jurisdiction, where civilians were prosecuted by the military courts. These trials contained almost no evidence and were based on investigations led by National Security officers. Human Rights Watch said that this formed the basis of 7,400 or more military trials of civilians since Sisi issued the decree. A few years into Egypts new authoritarianism, citizens have been herded away from the public space that has been shrinking thanks to governments crackdown on independent civil society organisations and opposition political parties. In 2016, a new law signed by Sisi ordered the creation of a Supreme Council for the Administration of the Media, a body that can revoke licences to foreign media and fine or suspend publications and broadcasters. The anti-protest law passed in 2013 remains in place. It effectively banned anti-government protests, but the Supreme Constitutional Court is legally challenging it. In 2016, Egypt also approved an NGO bill that required all centres to register as non-profits regardless of what service they provide. It aims to restrict civil society organisations and their activities, which will be subject to security intervention according to the bill. Gaza Maysoon Abu Jumaa, 38, was extremely shocked when she received her paycheck for March. The Gaza-based science teacher regularly makes about $700 dollars in monthly wages. Last month, she received $70. Abu Jumaa is one of tens of thousands of employees for the Palestinian Authority (PA) living in the besieged Gaza Strip , adversely affected by a decision that drastically reduced their salaries. I am a mother of six orphans, and now I fear that my little children will be without food, Abu Jumaa told Al Jazeera as her voice trembled. READ MORE: Gaza: 100,000 hours of isolation The decision came into effect last week, when the public sector workers for the PA received their March salaries with between 30-70 percent in deductions, leading to the eruption of large rallies in the impoverished coastal enclave. The PA, a semi-governmental body that administers the Israeli-occupied West Bank , has been at loggerheads with the Hamas movement that governs the Gaza Strip since the latter seized control of the strip in 2007 following its victory in elections. After Hamas, the Gaza-based resistance movement, seized power, the PA instructed its employees in Gaza not to attend work under Hamas rule. Those who decided not to attend work, were still kept on the PA payroll. But many others continued with their jobs, after a religious decree in Gaza stipulated it was wrong to accept money if it is not being earned. Abu Jumaa, who teaches at a secondary public school in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, has been placed in a serious financial peril as a result of the cuts. She is completely helpless, faced with increasing familial responsibilities. This is unjust, how am I going to pay for tuitions and other necessities, like the medicine for my little son who suffers from epilepsy? she continued. Some 70,000 PA civil servants already struggle from meagre and irregular wages, in the midst of costly living standards. Now, they are at risk of poverty. The Gaza Strip has suffered abominable economic conditions since the area was placed under a blockade by Israel more than 10 years ago. About 40 percent of the two million population live below the poverty line, while at least 80 percent of the population would starve without food from international aid agencies. In 2015, the United Nations warned that Gaza could become uninhabitable by 2020 if the same economic trends persist. We are falling victims to the dirty game they're playing against each other. They are lying; they have the money to pay us the salaries. They collect the tax revenues and receive financial aid from the European Union, why not give us our rights? by Tarek Dadeh , a protester Sanaa Ghaith, another teacher in Rafah, who supports 11 family members, received just $50 in salary last month. Our sense of stability is dwindling in this city, people have become worn out, Ghaith told Al Jazeera. As a mother, how I would have the words to tell my three daughters that I cannot pay for their universities and colleges? Ghaith told Al Jazeera. The crisis in salaries is very likely to aggravate the situation and increase suffering in the poverty-stricken Strip. A spokesperson for the PA said the crippling financial blockade imposed on the Palestinian state and internal divisions are responsible for the salary cuts in the Gaza Strip. The international support offered to the Palestinian Authority has severely decreased in recent years, eventually leading to a deepening financial crisis. The most prominent side of it is the non-payment salaries and cuts in bonuses and allowances to our workers in the Gaza Strip, Yousef al-Mahmoud said in a statement. Hamas decried what it described as an arbitrary and irresponsible decision that aims to weaken peoples steadfastness in the isolated and blockaded strip of land. A senior Hamas official, Yahia Moussa, told Al Jazeera that Hamas refuses the PAs pretexts to absolve itself from the decision. If the PAs claims of facing financial trouble are true, then why are they implementing those cuts and other austerity measures on the people of Gaza only? Mousa pointed out, echoing questions in the strip as to why it was only PA employees in Gaza, and not those in the West Bank, that were targeted by the cuts. These practices are a manifested continuation of the PAs biased policy against the Palestinian people in Gaza that aims to further enhance the disconnect between Gaza and the occupied West Bank. A handful of angry protesters threatened to launch a hunger strike to put the PA and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, under pressure to immediately retract their latest controversial decision. Tarek Dadeh was one of these protesters. We are falling victims to the dirty game theyre playing against each other. They [both PA and Hamas] have to halt this farce and stop blackmailing their people and sabotaging their already faltering livelihoods, Dadeh told Al Jazeera. He called on Abbas to intervene and reverse the discriminatory and punitive measure that is being carried out against the Palestinian people in Gaza. They are lying; they have the money to pay us the salaries. They collect the tax revenues and receive financial aid from the European Union, why not give us our rights? added Dadeh. Dadeh, along with many other PA workers, are under threat of losing their homes if they fail to pay rent. He must also look for new creditors to help him cover his medical costs for his wife, who suffers from diabetes. For now, all he can do is protest. Meanwhile, the effect of the salary crisis has been conspicuous throughout the local markets of Gaza as the purchasing power sharply decreased and many of stores are devoid of customers. Omar Shaban, an economic commentator in Gaza, said that the local economy in Gaza is already dying and crippled, but the situation will get worse if the crisis remained unresolved. The stagnant economy in Gaza needs to be stimulated with movement in the markets, but with no salaries, the workers will not pay back their debts for the store owners and everyone will be in hot water, Shaban told Al Jazeera. Another Gaza-based analyst, Ibrahim el-Madhoun told Al Jazeera that the PA continues with its unabated policy of dodging its responsibilities towards the Gaza Strip that is ruled by Fatahs rival, Hamas, to accumulate and double the enclaves economic and social hardships and put it on verge of collapse. The PAs latest move represents unprecedented indifference towards Gaza, including the PAs workers who are repeatedly failed and disappointed by their leadership, el-Madhoun said. The PA even seems not to care about its debilitating public support in Gaza and this will lead to further enforcement of the internal Palestinian split. Celebrated portrait artist Jamini Roy rebelled against the British academic style and took to local folk traditions. Born on April 11, 1887, in Beliatore in West Bengal, Jamini Roy is considered by many to be the father of modern Indian art. Today would have been Roys 130th birthday, which is being celebrated on the Google India homepage. Roy joined Kolkatas Government School of Art in the early 20th century. Soon, he rejected his academic training and realised that he needed to draw inspiration, not from Western traditions, but from his own culture, and so, he proposed a linear, decorative, colourful style based on Bengali folk traditions. Happy birthday Jamini Roy pic.twitter.com/NrPdWOGZXp Sidharth Bhatia (@bombaywallah) April 11, 2017 Jamini studied the British academic style of painting and became well-known for his portraits. However, in his quest for an Indian identity, he rebelled, and his rebellion coincided with a wave of nationalism in Bengal against the British, from whom India gained independence in 1947. He sought inspiration from East Asian calligraphy, terracotta temple friezes and craft traditions. Roy portrayed rural scenes, ordinary people, animals and cults of the time and place. During the 1930s and 40s, the popularity of his paintings represented the passage of modern Indian art from its earlier academic leanings to new nativists predilections. He also experimented with Kalighat painting, a style of art that emerged from the eponymous pilgrimage centre in British Kolkata. His work was not limited to painting alone. His wooden sculptures, also reflect the traditional art of Bengal. In his work, he many times used bold colours of red, yellow, ochre, blue and white. Roy also reinterpreted South Asian iconography with modern lines. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest honour for civilians in India, in 1955. In 1976, the Archaeological Society of India declared him one of Nine Masters to be treated as treasure and long after his death in 1972, Roys paintings mark a significant step forward for Indian art. Some of his notable pieces include Gopini, Three Pujarans, Standing Woman, and Bengali Woman, among others. Campaigners are facing mixed fortunes in their battle to end capital punishment in the US. Texas death-row inmate Rodney Reed a black American man convicted in a racially charged trial has lived under the threat of execution for two decades. At one point, in March 2015, Reed was set to be executed the day after Al Jazeera spoke to him from behind the plexiglass at a prison in Livingston, Texas. But the execution was stayed, pending a review into his case. In 2014, Reeds lawyers had launched a bid to reopen an investigation into DNA collected at the crime scene that the lawyers said would exonerate him. Texass judicial authorities had long ignored calls to review what Reeds lawyers and forensic experts believe is overwhelming evidence that his conviction was wrongful. Basically everything that is wrong with the American capital punishment system happened in Mr Reeds case, Bryce Benjet, Reeds lawyer, told Al Jazeera for this article. READ MORE: Five death penalty cases to follow in the US this year Reed, now 49, was convicted of the 1996 abduction, rape and murder of Stacey Stites, a 19-year-old white woman. Much of Reeds case hinges on whether Reed had consensual sexual relations with the victim, something the jury in his initial trial considered unthinkable, says Benjet, because of the racial dynamics in that court and more broadly in Texas during the 1990s. The forensic scientist who believed the DNA was the lynchpin in Reeds conviction has since reversed his opinion, documents seen by Al Jazeera show; he now believes, based on his own review with more up-to-date technology, that DNA found on the victim was from a consensual encounter well before her death. Mr Reeds attorneys [in his initial trial in 1997] were rushed to trial before even a minimal investigation could be completed. And the lingering problems with race in our communities cannot be avoided where Mr Reed, a young African-American man, was dating a white woman who was murdered. It has taken years to untangle all of this and to discover the new and powerful evidence implicating another man in the murder, said Benjet. Stitess fiance, Jimmy Fennell a white police officer was a suspect in her death until Reeds conviction, according to Benjet and local news reports. Fennell is currently serving a prison sentence for abducting and raping a woman while on duty. Reeds case is currently before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals while new DNA testing is under way, his lawyer confirmed. The Texas Attorney General, which oversees executions, was not immediately available for comment at time of publication. Benjet says his clients case is emblematic of systemic problems, including significant racial bias, in the US criminal justice system. Racial disparities and questions of prosecutorial misconduct in the US legal system feature in an annual report on the state of capital punishment worldwide, released by Amnesty International on Monday. A legacy of racial history In the US, an overwhelming majority of prisoners on death row are people of colour. In one major example of racial disparity, Arkansas made headlines recently with a bid to execute eight people before the end of April because the states lethal injection cocktail expires at the end of the month and has become increasingly difficult to obtain. Four of those eight inmates one of whom had their execution halted by a court are black. But only 15.4 percent of Arkansas residents are black, according to the most recent census data. INFOGRAPHIC: Death penalty around the world in 2016 According to statistics from the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), an organisation that researches capital punishment, more black Americans were sentenced to death in 2016 than any other ethnic group combined, with 17 new death sentences. Those new sentences were handed down amid a growing effort in the US to address rampant inequalities and persistent allegations of violence in the policing of black communities. Every study that is done shows that all humans, in all countries, have implicit biases sometimes unconscious, sometimes overt against disfavoured groups, said Robert Dunham, DPICs director. The psychology studies in the US [find] implicit biases against blacks. That this bias shows up in death penalty cases should not surprise anyone. Dunham says that, particularly in the south of the US, the death penalty cannot be understood without taking racial history into consideration. It is in very significant part an outgrowth and vestige of the legacy of slavery, lynching and the racially biased laws and law enforcement practices of the pre-civil rights era. Some have expressed fears that racial disparities are unlikely to improve under US President Donald Trumps administration. Moves to advance racial equality in the US criminal justice system have recently been challenged under Trumps US Attorney General Jeff Sessions a controversial figure opposed by many black community leaders. Sessions has sought to review moves to reform problematic police departments across the nation, signed under the government of Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama. A federal judge has already blocked attempts to reform the Baltimore Police Department, which came under fire for the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man, who sustained fatal injuries while in police custody. A shift in opinion? Concerns over mental and intellectual disabilities and racial discrimination continued to mark the use of the death penalty in 2016, stated Amnesty Internationals annual capital punishment report in the section on the US. Among other cases, Kenneth Fults, an African-American man, was executed in Georgia for the 1996 murder of a white woman. According to Amnesty International, One of the jurors from the sentencing had signed a sworn statement saying: I dont know if he ever killed anybody, but that n***** got just what should have happened. A state court rejected the claim that Kenneth Fults had an intellectual disability that would render his execution unconstitutional. Race, particularly the race of the murder victim, continues to be a factor in who receives a death sentence in the USA, said Rob Freer, an Amnesty International researcher on the US. Many death penalty opponents observe that while most death row inmates are people of colour, cases in which the victim is white are statistically more likely to result in a capital sentence than cases in which the victim is also a person of colour. Compounding questions of racial inequality in capital punishment are questions of innocence. In April 2014, a report published by the National Academy of Sciences found that 4.1 percent of death row sentences were removed from the death penalty owing to doubts over their convictions. Amid the potential killing of innocents, together with a series of botched executions in which those who were executed experienced severe suffering, surveys suggest that an unprecedented number of Americans now oppose the death penalty. Support for the death penalty plummeted from about 80 percent in the mid-1990s to an all-time low of just under half of all those surveyed in November 2016, according to data from the Pew Research Center. READ MORE: Study Rates of US execution sharply decline in 2016 Hopes were high among death penalty opponents that Americans were moving away from the practice. The movement to abolish the death penalty in the US has found support across party lines, even if, for some, it was only because of cost; for states to uphold death sentences and go through the rigmarole of obtaining lethal injection drugs and people to administer them it is often more costly than keeping a convict in prison, analysts have said. Amnesty Internationals report on Monday stated that a total of 19 US states have abolished the death penalty. Currently, the death penalty is retained in 31 states of which 12 have not carried out executions for at least 10 years, and four have established official moratoriums on executions. The number of executions (20) and death sentences (32) recorded in the USA in 2016 continued to decline, reaching the lowest number recorded in any year since 1991 and 1973, respectively, read the report. For the first time since 2006, the US did not feature among the top five global executioners. In November, citizens in California and Nebraska voted on whether to abolish the death penalty in their states. There was some uncertainty whether an effort to overturn the death penalty would succeed in conservative Nebraska. But in California, death penalty opponents hopes were high. California is often seen as a frontrunner of progressive legislation in the US; if California voted against the death penalty, other states might follow suit. Both states voted to uphold executions. John Donohue III, a Stanford University Law School professor, said that the failure of the votes, and Trumps recent appointment of the conservative judge Neil Gorsuch to the supreme court, suggested that the pro-death penalty forces have been strengthened. The National Academy of Sciences has confirmed that no credible statistical evidence has ever been amassed despite years of efforts by proponents that suggests that the death penalty has a deterrent effect on murder, continued Donohue. When people feel frightened by crime or angry about events they cant control, lashing out at convicted murderers who are held in custody is emotionally satisfying for a large number of Americans, he said. Some advocates for the abolition of the death penalty claimed that voters in California were intentionally confused by death penalty proponents. We had probably one of the most confusing elections, potentially in California history, said Ana Zamora, Criminal Justice Policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California legal advocacy group. The ballot contained two initiatives on the death penalty: Proposition 62 proposed to abolish the death penalty, while Proposition 66 took a hardline, pro-death penalty stance by limiting appeals and petitions against death sentences. Proposition 66 was put on the ballot after 62 by the opposition, said Zamora. And it was meant to confuse voters. At the end of the day, well never know how many voters cast a ballot against their own views. One post-election poll showed that 47 percent of those surveyed were confused about Proposition 66 more than any other of the unusually large number of propositions on the ballot. Proposition 66 passed, but faces pending litigation, on the grounds that it removes the courts authority to rule on cases after a death sentence is decided. The campaign against abolishing the death penalty in Californias vote did not respond to an interview request. The District Attorney for Californias San Bernadino County, Michael Ramos, was a co-chair of the No on Prop 62, Yes on Prop 66 campaign. Ramoss staff said hed accepted an interview request from Al Jazeera, but he then could not be reached for the interview in question. Despite the votes in November, Zamora is confident that the US is continuing to move on a consistent trajectory away from the death penalty. Amnesty International also sounded a positive note in their latest annual report. The steady decline in the use of the death penalty in the USA is a sign of hope for activists who have long campaigned for an end to capital punishment, said Salil Shetty, Amnesty Internationals secretary general, in a statement coinciding with the report. The debate is clearly shifting. Politicians should steer clear of the ugly tough on crime rhetoric that helped drive a spike in executions in the 1980s and 1990s. The death penalty is not going to make anyone any safer. The DPICs Dunham agreed. I think America is in the midst of a major climate change concerning capital punishment. There may be fits and starts and occasional steps backward, but the long-term trend remains clear, and that trend is moving away from capital punishment. Despite allegations of rights abuses, Pakistan continues to be one of the five most prolific executioners in the world. Lahore, Pakistan Exhausted from a full days work, 25-year-old student Sohail Yafat knew he had one last stop to make before heading home: a visit to a colleagues ailing father at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology hospital, in his native Lahore, Pakistans second city. Yafat never expected the police to be there, waiting for him. He was arrested, and bundled into a police van. There was no warrant. This was all purely on suspicion, he says. I was blindfolded, and I was brutally tortured and beaten on the way. I had never even entered a police station, so I had no idea of this world. That was the summer of 2001. The police and a complainant had named him as an accomplice in a murder case in the town of Sahiwal, about 150km south. What followed for Yafat was harrowing: 10 years of imprisonment during which he was tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. In 2011, a court exonerated him, acquitting him of his crimes for want of evidence. I was subjected to third-degree torture. They beat the soles of my feet with bamboo sticks. I was beaten with whips. I was kept awake, bound so that I was positioned bolt upright and unable to sleep, he recalls. The maximum punishment for murder suspects in Pakistan is the death penalty Yafat says he was terrified of receiving it. In the 10 years he spent in prison, having seen the conditions under which death row prisoners lived, he was determined to work for their rights, to ease their pain, he says. In 2014, the government lifted a six-year moratorium on executions as part of a counter-terrorism plan. It then expanded the use of executions to include non-terrorism offences in 2015, saying the measure was needed to combat crime. Last year, Pakistan executed 87 people, making it the fifth most prolific executioner in the world, according to an annual report on the global use of the death penalty released by Amnesty International on Tuesday. Together, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan accounted for 87 percent of all recorded worldwide executions, the report said. China is widely believed to execute thousands of people every year, but data on executions is classified as a state secret, according to Amnesty. In total, 1,032 executions were recorded in 2016, down by 37 percent, but death sentences were at the highest level since Amnesty began compiling statistics, with 3,117 people sentenced to death worldwide. Of those, more than 360 people were sentenced in Pakistan, and are currently living on the worlds largest recorded death row, home to more than 6,000 prisoners. Pakistans Interior Ministry had not responded to a request for comment by the time of publication. INFO-GRAPHIC: Death penalty around the world in 2016 Overcrowded cages Pakistans prisons are chronically overcrowded, partly owing to an overloaded justice system that incarcerates a large proportion of under-trial prisoners. As of April 2015, the countrys prisons held at least 80,169 prisoners, against a capacity of just 46,705, according to World Prison Brief. Within the prisons themselves, special areas are designated for death row prisoners. As many as eight prisoners will be forced to share an eight-by-10ft cell, says Yafat, who spent years at the Sahiwal Jail tending to fellow prisoners. One death row prisoner had just about one and a half feet of space to himself within which to live, he recalls. He has to live, sleep and eat in that space. Prisoners are walked by guards for two hours a day, while handcuffed, often carrying their belongings with them as they are cycled between cells. You are a human being who has basic needs, but you no longer have any element of choice or freedom, says Yafat of death row. You cannot sleep or eat or wake by your own choice. You live like a robot. Every day, you live the same way. Rights groups say Pakistans justice system disproportionately convicts and sentences those in lower-income groups to death, given their lack of resources to arrange an adequate legal defence. Many people had no lawyers, and they were appealing [against their sentences] through the jail, Yafat explains. The hearings were ongoing for years sometimes for more than 10 years, and often cases would be left by the wayside, with no one to take up the case from outside the jail to push for it to be heard. Often their lawyers would not show up for hearings. Pakistans justice system is ridden with deficiencies and abuses of authority, says Sarah Belal, director at rights group Justice Project Pakistan. Police routinely coerce defendants into confessing, often by torture, and courts admit and rely upon such evidence. Allegations of torture to obtain confessions and improper investigative work by Pakistans police force have been well documented by rights groups and research organisations, although the state denies their use is policy. Questions also remain about the efficacy of the judicial system. In October, Pakistans Supreme Court acquitted two brothers who were on death row for murder, but judges were astonished to find that the men had already been hanged a year earlier. Moreover, defendants without access to funds must rely on attorneys who typically provide only cursory and ineffective representation, says Belal. READ MORE: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia executed most people in 2016 I have nothing In 2003, police officer Khizr Hayat was arrested, tried and convicted for the murder of a man in his neighbourhood. Hayat has been on death row for 14 years, awaiting execution, while his mother has struggled to arrange for an adequate legal defence for him. I have spent Rs500,000 (roughly $4,800) so far, says Iqbal Bano, the 70-year-old, who is ailing from an illness and is almost blind. I have nothing, I have sold my jewellery and my clothes. I live in a rented house. I do not have any work, and I am sick myself. Bano had limited access to funds, and was forced to seek the cheapest lawyers she could find. Her sons defence lawyer, she says, failed to call a single witness at the trial, forcing her, at one point, to appeal to the judge directly during a hearing. Hayat suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, an illness that was diagnosed while he was incarcerated, but Bano has been unable to obtain the official report to present in court on appeal. He has no idea he is about to be executed, says Bano. He tells me that dont worry, I have been acquitted. Why are you crying? she says of an occasion when she went to meet him after his execution orders had been issued. (The execution was later stayed by a court.) The execution of mentally ill prisoners has been a particular concern, says JPP and UK-based rights group Reprieve. In October, while hearing an appeal against the hanging of a mentally ill prisoner, Pakistans Supreme Court decreed that schizophrenia was not a mental illness. Hearings in that case are ongoing. Yafat has been working as an investigator since his release in 2011, with a particular focus on the cases of death row prisoners who may not have been given an adequate legal defence. Ive been seeing this for 17 years including the 10 years I was in jail: mostly those who are being executed or are on death row, most of those people just dont have the resources and cannot afford the expenses of having their appeals heard in the superior courts. They would get court-appointed lawyers, who are paid just Rs1,000-Rs1,500 (roughly $10-15) as a stipend per day. So you can imagine what their level of representation, and association with their clients, is, he says. Meanwhile, the jails keep filling up. Pakistani law prescribes the death penalty for 27 offences, ranging from murder to kidnapping, rape, adultery, blasphemy, drug trafficking and even sabotaging the countrys railway system. The last time Bano visited her son on death row, two weeks ago, he had stripped all his clothes off and was sitting there naked, she says. He kept repeating the words the law, the law, the law, the law of Pakistan, Bano recalls. I dont know who killed that man, she says, protesting Hayats innocence. That only Allah knows. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras web correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim. Activist-journalists in Syria inform international media about the war, and sometimes it is hard to leave views aside. March 18, 2011, will forever be recorded in Syrian history as the day that marked the beginning of demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad. Protests that first took place in Deraa extended to the entire country, resulting in one of the bloodiest conflicts of modern history. Since 2011, the conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions has received significant international interest. And the way the world is being informed about the war is also part of the story. Abuse that plagued demonstrations was not broadcast on Syrias mainstream media outlets, such as the arrests, shootings and massacres. And so, a new era of information in Syria began: citizen journalism. READ MORE: Syrias war Hope is all I have There was, and remains, a lack of journalists able to report the reality of the conflict and its harrowing consequences. Six years ago, by the time the revolution had begun, the majority of Syrian media was managed by the regime. They were in absolute control of the news that they wanted people to know. At the same time, the regime tried to shut down all sources of information that showed actual numbers of arrests, real footage and other information coming out of the conflict. Relying on citizen journalists As Syria became a no-go zone to foreign correspondents due to its danger, international media relied on citizen journalists and stories from activists to show the world what was happening. So who are these citizen journalists? When you live inside a conflict and are directly affected - with family members and friends being killed, mutilated, or displaced - it is quite hard to leave your own views on aside by As their name suggests, they are regular citizens who, as a moral duty, turned around their careers or extended their hobbies into reporting to show the world Syrias reality, without altering facts and truth. Videographers, photographers, media students, legal professionals, writers and activists, to name just a few, are among those who turned their paths to citizen journalism. READ MORE: Syrian journalists struggle to make ends meet amid war The following list includes just some of the people who have committed to report on Syria, exchanging their careers for journalism and activism: Hadi Al-Abdallah Hadi won Reporters Without Borders press freedom prize in November, 2016. A trained nurse, he has been arrested and injured during the war. In June last year, he was seriously wounded after an attack in Aleppo on the home of his fellow journalist Khaled al-Essa. Essa died. Khaled Khatib Khaled documents the work of the Syria Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets. Without his work, the world would know less about the horrors of war, of being pulled from rubble, of fighting for your life. Lina Shamy Lina was a student when the revolution began. An architect by trade, she chronicled the violence when Aleppo was besieged by the regime via social media, risking her life to do so. Malek Tarboush Showing the world how the war looks is Maleks chosen job, from the aftermath of an attack and heartbroken victims to the stolen moments of simple life such as children playing in liberated areas of Aleppo to a fresh plate of spaghetti. Being both objective and passionate should not be a sin in war reporting by Where, then, does citizen journalism end and activism begin? Being a citizen journalist in Syria, affected by the conflict and passionate in trying to help others, blurs the line between citizen journalism and activism, which is not a bad thing. Journalists are taught to not show preference to one side over another and to keep their personal views to themselves. However, for Syrian citizen journalists, some of whom spent their final teenage years and early adulthood living a horrible war, not expressing a point of view while reporting is simply challenging. Blurred lines Being both objective and passionate should not be a sin in war reporting. Citizen journalists and activists bloggers are fighting against governments, which want to mould the media in their hands, to direct societies to their story which is mostly propaganda. Activists take on the duties of journalists in their work on social media and traditional media channels. They share resources and reports from the ground showing the raw reality as the world wants to see it. Activist-journalist Hadi al-Abdallah says his prizes were not for work in activism, but journalism. Over the course of the past six years, he has become one of the most reliable sources of news and truth for many global agencies. OPINION: The case against Can journalists be activists? The difference between journalism and activism is the source of much debate. I believe this difference is quite simple. Journalists are storytellers and they are trained to remain objective. When a reporter attempts to help by calling for action, this is where journalism ends and activism begins. Indeed, the line between citizen journalism and activism is quite blurred. A threat to objectivism? Activists and citizen journalists present news and content on what is really happening: killings, arrests, sieges and more. Citizen journalists and activists in Syria try to be objective most of the time and, as I mentioned earlier, try to leave their personal views aside to focus on providing information. However, when you live inside a conflict and are directly affected with family members and friends being killed, mutilated, or displaced it is quite hard to leave your own views on aside. Activists base their reporting on their motivations towards the cause they are fighting for, whereas citizen journalists in most cases simply summarise the event they have been commissioned to cover. A citizen journalist becomes an activist when they get too passionate and blame people, governments or organisations for the situation theyre covering, and as they start to call for action in order to help. This call can be anything from adding links on their pieces to funding aid groups in Syria or taking part in street movements in Europe to pressure governments to take action. So, does activism and citizen journalism represent a threat to objectivism? Does this open the door to fake news, I hear you asking. As with all news events, audiences have to be cautious when deciding which media sources to trust. However, in situations when all activists, citizen journalists and members of the public in Syria broadcast the same message in their own words, then it is hard to disbelieve the veracity of their stories. Zouhir Al Shimale is a Syrian journalist based in east Aleppo. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. For Copts to feel safe in their country, the Egyptian government needs to acknowledge their need for protection. Immediately following the twin bombings in Egypt that killed at least 40 Christians last Palm Sunday, the countrys president Abdel Fattah El Sisi released a statement saying the attack will only harden the determination (of the Egyptian people) to move forward on their trajectory to realise security, stability and comprehensive development. But just four months ago, another attack in Cairos Coptic Cathedral that killed at least 25 Christians did not bring Egyptians closer to security or stability. Decembers attack was the first time a sectarian incident hit home for me, not only as a Copt but as someone who knew a couple of the victims personally. I arrived in Cairo during a winter break on the day the attack happened. The usual protocol was set in place: the government had declared three days of mourning and vowed to find the culprits. In the aftermath of this attack discussions on state radio circled around the need for Egyptians to stand united against terrorism but there was little to unite us on. Many doubted whether the government cared enough to prevent more of such attacks. They didnt. Four months later we found ourselves in the same rabbit hole. Neglect and violence So rarely has the state thought to properly secure Egypts churches on religious holidays that its hardly surprising that the attackers on Sunday made it to the two churches. There is a disturbing trend of neglect that dominates every government response towards such deadly attacks, and it points to the same recurring reality about the status of Egypts Copts, which has for the most part remained unchanged since the late President Anwar Sadat came to power in 1970. Egypts Copts are said to make up 10 percent of the countrys population. But the Egyptian authorities have repeatedly prevented researchers who carry out surveys from asking citizens about their religion and ethnicity, thwarting efforts to establish a collective understanding of the size and make-up of Egypts minorities. Whether they are more or fewer than 10 percent, Copts still get less than 1 percent representation in parliament. Copts must also fight through a web of bureaucracy to secure permission to build places of worship. Meanwhile, their Muslim counterparts can build and renovate mosques freely, and in some cases, get tax breaks for it. This sets a certain public attitude which leads Copts to believe that their identity as Egyptians is being deliberately eroded by the state. OPINION: Egypts Christians in the cross-hairs In addition to this, Egyptian citizens must carry a national identification card where the religion of the cardholder is clearly indicated. This automatically facilitates discrimination against the Copts and other minorities which are already shut out of the higher echelons of political, state and security apparatuses. Unless President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi starts viewing Copts as a minority in need of state protection and implements the necessary measures to proactively protect them against attacks, Egypt's Christians will continue to suffer on the margins of society. by Necessity of inclusion Egypt also has been receiving $1.5bn in aid from the United States annually, most of it in the form of military equipment to Egypts army, the 10th largest in the world but not large enough to protect its own people. In fact, in October 2011 the military became directly involved in the violence against Egypts Christians. During a peaceful protest against the demolition of a church in Southern Egypt, 27 Copts lost their lives some disappearing under the wheels of military armoured vehicles after the military launched a crackdown. As a way of washing their hands of what came to be known as the Maspero massacre, the authorities pointed fingers at mysterious external forces that they claimed were trying to destabilise the country. This only manufactured more public consent to continue treating Copts the same way. Needless to say, the brutal attacks on Christians and their churches have persisted, whether in the form of bombings or communal violence. When we talk about solutions to this problem, the discussion should then start with the idea of inclusion. One story I remember documenting involved a church that was set ablaze in the governorate of Qalyubiya. Four Christians were killed. Days later, local authorities set up a town meeting aimed at reconciliation, but not a single representative from the Coptic church was present. The Coptic clergy had not been informed, I later learned. Many argue the topic of equal rights for Copts is a foregone conclusion, that nothing can be done to pull Copts out of the social inequality they have come to accept. Unless President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi starts viewing Copts as a minority in need of state protection and implements the necessary measures to proactively protect them against attacks, Egypts Christians will continue to suffer on the margins of society. Adam Makary is an Egyptian-American filmmaker currently receiving his MFA in Film & TV Production at the University of Southern California. He started his career as a print journalist in Egypt, then moved on to work as a field producer for several major news outlets including Al Jazeera English, CNN, ABC and Channel 4 in the lead-up to and the aftermath of the Arab Spring. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Cliche East vs West paradigms need to yield to the notion of art beyond borders. What is an exhibition of Picasso and Giacometti doing in a fine arts museum in Doha, Qatar an Arab capital at a time when Syrian children are gassed to death and millions of Arabs are forced into mass exodus from their homelands? The exquisite exhibition capably curated by Catherine Grenier and her colleagues at the Fire Station in Doha is a rare gem to behold and yet, when you are done with the exhibition and walk out into the nondescript Doha neighbourhood where the venue is located, you might be tempted to wonder in what way is this exhibition different here, in these trying times for the Arab and Muslim world, then if it were in Paris, London, or New York. There are a number of reasons one might consider as to why such an exhibition is perfectly legitimate to hold in a peaceful and prosperous Arab capital. The curatorial insights into the relationship both personal and artistic between the two European artists is, in and of itself, a legitimate artistic occasion for this exhibition anywhere in the world, including Doha. Such exhibitions could be both educational and inspirational for local and regional artists and communities. The exhibition also dovetails with the artist in residence programme at the Fire Station, and its associated project of Studio of Qatar in Paris that can indeed offer trans-regional space for cultivating a new generation of aesthetic sensibilities. Although many of the more than 120 items exhibited at the Fire Station come from Musee national Picasso-Paris and Fondation Giacometti, there are also items from other private collections. There is no questioning the artistic merit of such an exhibition anywhere in the world, including in Doha. What and where is an Arab capital? The first time I visited Doha was for the opening of the prominent Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiangs exhibition titled Saraab (Mirage) at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art on December 4, 2011. On that occasion, the artist staged his colourful gunpowder shows as the Arab world from one end to another was revolting against tyranny. It was quite a jarring spectacle. The question today, more than half a decade later, still remains what exactly is the defining character of an Arab capital, as evident in the kinds of art exhibitions in which it invests its resources. Two easy and facile answers must be immediately dismissed: In an Arab capital, you should only exhibit Arab arts, or equally absurd, in an Arab capital, you must continue to be beholden to European or European-approved global artists (ranging from Picasso and Giacometti to Cai Guo-Qiang and Shirin Neshat, etc.). The more difficult and judicious answer is in the balance between the two: respect and admiration for European and European-approved art and at least an equally principled commitment to Arab and regional artists from Turkey to Iran, India, Pakistan, and well into the extraordinary modern and contemporary African art beyond the aesthetic reach of Europe and European approval. Rethinking influence As it happens, alongside with the Fire Station exhibition of Picasso and Giacometti, there is a monumental retrospective of the eminent Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi in two locations in Doha, of which I have already written admiringly. It is a known fact that Azzawi was deeply influenced by Picasso so much so that I would venture to say the link between Picasso and Azzawi (both aesthetically and politically) is in fact far more organic and immediate than the link between Picasso and Giacometti. To detect that extraordinary link, you need not spend two years studying the two, as the distinguished curator of the exhibition at the Fire Station reports to have done, in order to make the case for the link between Picasso and Giacometti. To see the link between Picasso and Azzawi all you have to do is to spend two minutes looking at Azzawis masterpiece Sabra and Shatila Massacre (1982-1983), which was so clearly inspired by Picassos Guernica (1937). OPINION: When nations fall their artists rise The link between Guernica and Sabra and Shatila Massacre and therefore, the organic link between Picasso and Azzawi (that extends the site of Spanish Civil War to the US-led invasion and destruction of Iraq) would have also opened up the connection between the subjects of their respective iconic works and brought Europe and the Arab world together through deeply traumatic moments in history. Prosperous and peaceful Arab capitals like Doha, Dubai, Kuwait City, or Muscat have a unique historical opportunity to redefine the Arab capital in a manner that is neither Eurocentric nor Europhobic. by Prosperous and peaceful Arab capitals like Doha, Dubai, Kuwait City, or Muscat have a unique historical opportunity to redefine the Arab capital in a manner that is neither Eurocentric nor Europhobic; neither retrograde nativist nor rootless cosmopolitan. Exposure to masterpieces of European art can be made, with erudite and responsible curatorial thinking, integral to a renewed critical organicity in any Arab capital. Cliche-ridden and totalising narratives, such as West versus East, or Tradition versus Modernity, or Nativist versus Global, must judiciously yield to far more critical thinking focusing on the manner in which art and culture, just like people and their dreams, cross borders with the force of destiny. Those brave Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan, African, and other refugees who have packed their meagre belongings and precious children and dared the dreadful seas and treacherous terrains to march from war-torn neighbourhoods towards an uncertain future in Europe have already radically re-territorialised the dubious metaphors of East and West. To reimagine the artistic heritage of nations worthy of the nobility and courage of those refugees, and the gushing wounds of brutalised countries like Syria, museums and art exhibitions are lagging far behind the traumatic border crossings of Arab and Muslim migrants and refugees redrawing the global map. Hamid Dabashi is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. On April 6, King Vajiralongkorn signed Thailands 20th constitution. Charters have come and gone in the country since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, often without much woe or jubilation. While the new constitution was met with similar general apathy, the unprecedented journey it went through offers a rare insight into the secretive new reign of King Vajiralongkorn and his developing leadership style. The King ascended to the throne on December 1, 2016, a month and a half after his father died after seven decades on the throne. As the nation mourned the much-loved monarch, the succession caused anxiety among the Thai people about the future of the institution and doubts over the new monarchs ability to fill his fathers shoes. Many saw the new King as an erratic playboy more interested in fast cars, parties, and women than in ruling a country that over the past four decades has turned to his father to arbitrate political conflicts. Since his ascension to the throne, King Vajiralongkorn has proved them wrong. The first four months of his reign have seen a forceful monarch, even more hands-on than his father. Yet, while the late King Bhumibol ruled by inspiring love in his subjects, Vajiralongkorn is starting his reign by instilling fear. King Bhumibol ascended to the throne in 1946, after the mysterious death of his brother, who was found shot in his room. Initially an irrelevant figurehead controlled by military governments and secluded in his palace in southern Thailand, the young Bhumibol started to travel to rural provinces, support local monks and temples, and establish development projects across the country. These popular enterprises laid the groundwork for the construction of his unprecedented popularity among Thais. Over the following decades, Bhumibol acquired more and more power, cultivating his image as the benevolent and charismatic father of the nation, together with an unprecedented accumulation of wealth and the 1957 introduction of a lese majeste law which punishes anyone who criticises the monarch with three to 15 years in jail. Even with such policies, his dedication to the Thai people remained, until the very end, a largely celebrated feature of his reign. A new style of leadership The same cannot be said for his son. Vijiralongkorn spent much of his adult life outside the country enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Europe and since his return to the country, he has shown indifference to the crowd-pleasing rituals established by his father. Five weeks after his coronation, on January 9, the new King delivered university degrees to students of Rajabhat University in the northern city of Chiang Mai, a practice established by the late King. Vajiralongkorn kept the students waiting for more than four hours. This was only the first sign of his emerging style of leadership. The following day, Vijiralongkorn demanded changes to a constitutional draft voted on in a popular referendum in August 2016 under a military junta that prevented anti-charter activists and politicians from campaigning. The details of the royal intervention remained unknown during the initial consultations and were disclosed to the public only after the new constitution was promulgated in a royal ceremony on April 6. IN PICTURES: Life of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej The changes provide the King with complete control over the appointment of a regent in his absence, cancel the need for a parliamentary counter-signature to royal orders, and re-establish royal crisis powers which were taken away from the palace in the 2016 draft, including the ability to impose executive and legislative vetoes and the right to dissolve the legislative assembly. Overall, with the new constitution Vajiralongkorn will wield more power over the parliament than his father ever did. The new king's tighter grip on power has affected not only members of the elites but also commoners. by A tighter grip on power Since he took the throne, the new King has imposed tighter control over the palaces inner circles and the powerful figures who ran it under his late father. In the past four months, Vijiralongkorn has stripped more than 40 palace officials of their ranks, with official accusations that go from behaviour unfit for senior bureaucrats to abuses of power for personal profit, from engagement in politics jeopardising national security, disclosing the late Kings personal health record to having lost His Majestys trust. Among those removed from their positions in the palace were two important cases: that of Jumpol Manmai, a former deputy police chief and Grand Chamberlain of the Bureau of the Royal Household in charge of security and special affairs; and that of five members of the Vajarodaya clan, one of the most prominent families in the palace under Vajiralongkorns father. While the five Vajarodayas were quietly removed from their roles and stripped of their titles, the purging of the former deputy police chief was a much more public business. OPINION: Thailand under the junta Paranoia and conspiracy Jumpol was fired for undisclosed extremely evil misconduct in the words of the Royal Gazette and went incommunicado amid rumours about his death, a fate that befell two former members of Vajiralongkorns inner circles, who died in mysterious circumstances while in detention. A week after his disappearance, Jumpol was accused of land encroachment and appeared in court with his head shaven, a treatment reserved to those who fall out of favour with the new King. His former spouse Princess Srirasmi faced a similar punishment in 2014. After being divorced, Srirasmi was stripped of her titles, shaved, and kept away from the public eye while her parents and four more members of her family were jailed for royal defamation. Fear has spread within prominent families in the country. A source close to the palace who preferred to remain anonymous declared: People are developing contingency plans, moving money abroad and putting things in place in case the King turns against them. A king to be feared The new Kings tighter grip on power has affected not only members of the elites but also commoners. Jatupat Pai Boonpattararaksa, a 25-year-old law student, was arrested and charged with lese majeste the day after Vijiralongkorns ascension to the throne for sharing a Facebook post of a critical royal biography published by BBC Thailand. The case has been seen as a clear sign of the low tolerance for any public discussion of the new Kings past. Since his ascension to the throne, Vijiralongkorn has demonstrated that power can be waged both by consent and coercion, love and fear. If love shielded by the draconian lese majeste law defined his fathers reign and commanded respect from his subjects, fear will define the sons reign. Whether the new strategy will work remains to be seen, but fear of the new monarch is something the country will have to grapple with. Claudio Sopranzetti is a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. He is the author of the forthcoming book Owners of the Map and is currently working on Awakened, a graphic novel on life in Bangkok. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Secretary of defense says the US has no doubt the Syrian government planned and executed the chemical attack in Idlib. The US Secretary of Defense has said there is no doubt that the Syrian government was responsible for a poison gas attack last week on a rebel-held town, adding that it had used chemical weapons several times in the past. During a press conference in Washington on Tuesday, James Mattis told reporters that independent authorities had documented and concluded the use of chemical weapons in an air strike on Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province. There is no doubt the Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and for the attack itself, Mattis said. The US launched a barrage of cruise missiles against a government-controlled Syrian airfield as a response. We determined that a measured military response could best deter the regime from doing this again, Mattis said. Mattis also said that the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) armed group is still the main focus of the US in Syria. The Syrian government and its ally Russia have denied that Syrian aircraft had carried out the April 4 attack, which killed dozens of people, including many children. President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had information that the US was planning to launch new missile strikes on Syria, and that there were plans to fake chemicals weapons attacks there. Putin was speaking hours before US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was due to arrive in Moscow for talks with Russias foreign minister and days after denouncing last weeks US missile strike on the Syrian air base as illegal. READ MORE: Syrias war explained from the beginning Putin, when asked by a reporter if he expected more US missile strikes on Syria, said: We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using [chemical weapons]. He did not offer any proof for that assertion. Russia has been bombing rebel-held areas in Syria since September 2015. Tillerson is the first senior US official to visit Moscow since Trump took office promising to seek closer cooperation with Russia, but as he arrived relations were already tense. Earlier on Tuesday, Tillerson said he hoped Russia would abandon its support for Assad because actions such as the Khan Sheikhoun attack have stripped him of all legitimacy. Tillerson made the remarks at the conclusion on Tuesday in Italy of a meeting of foreign ministers of the G7 and like-minded countries. It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, he said shortly before leaving the Tuscan city of Lucca for Moscow. We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad. Camp housing 1,500 people destroyed in blaze, which officials said began during a fight between Afghans and Kurds. A huge fire, apparently started deliberately, has reduced the Grande-Synthe migrant camp near the northern French city of Dunkirk to a heap of ashes, according to officials. Firefighters said at least 10 people had been injured in the blaze at the camp late on Monday, which was home to some 1,500 people, mostly Iraqi Kurds, living in closely packed wooden huts. There is nothing left but a heap of ashes, Michel Lalande, prefect of Frances Nord region, said at the scene as firefighters continued to battle the flames which were visible from several kilometres away. It will be impossible to put the huts back where they were before. READ MORE: In Dunkirk refugee camp, a life of muddy uncertainty The camp was being evacuated and the migrants would be rehoused in emergency accommodation, the prefect said. Al Jazeeras Natacha Butler, reporting from camp, said some 400-600 refugees were housed in three gymnasiums in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe, but others had dispersed. Weve seen them walking along the road; their future was so uncertain but of course its going to be even more uncertain now. Lalande said the blaze had been started after a fight on Monday afternoon between Afghans and Kurds at the camp that had left six injured with knife wounds. There must have been fires deliberately set in several different places, said Olivier Caremelle, chief of staff of Grande-Synthe Mayor Damien Careme, an environmentalist who supported the building of the camp last year. It is not possible otherwise. It seems that it is related to fights between Iraqis and Afghans. Plans to dismantle camp Fights between the refugees continued after midnight, with riot police struggling to contain them and occasionally being pelted with stones, according to an AFP news agency correspondent. No one is able to explain how these events could have happened, said Lalande. The population of the Grande-Synthe camp has swelled since the destruction last October of the squalid Jungle camp near Calais, about 40km away. READ MORE: Refugee crisis Cautious welcome to Grande-Synthe camp According to several witnesses, disagreements arose after an increase in the number of Afghans who arrived from the Jungle camp. The Afghans were apparently unhappy at being put up in the communal kitchens while the Kurds slept in chalets. Their arrival had increased tensions, according to Caremelle. There have been several violent incidents at the Grande-Synthe camp, with police intervening last month after five men were injured in a fight. Another man was stabbed in November. French officials had said in mid-March that security forces were planning to start dismantling the camp following clashes at the site. The camp, built by the humanitarian group MSF (Doctors Without Borders), opened in March 2016 over the objections of the central government. For more than a decade Frances northern coast has been a magnet for refugees and migrants trying to reach Britain, with French authorities repeatedly tearing down camps in the region. Migrants gather along the northern coast in France seeking to break into trucks heading to Britain or pay people smugglers to help them to get across the Channel. The issue is a constant source of friction between Britain and France and an embarrassment for the French government, which has been criticised by the UN refugee agency for failing to provide adequate accommodation. India has warned Pakistan that any move to execute an Indian naval officer convicted by a Pakistani court-martial of spying would be premeditated murder. Sushma Swaraj, Indias foreign minister, has also assured legislators that the government would go out of its way to save Kulbhushan Jadhav from the death sentenced handed out, according to Indian media reports. On Monday, Pakistans military sentenced Jadhav to death on charges of espionage and sabotage. In a statement, the army said Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, was an Indian intelligence official who aided and financed terrorist activities in the southwestern Balochistan province and the southern port city of Karachi. Indias foreign ministry said it had summoned Abdul Basit, Pakistans high commissioner, to lodge a protest following the statement released by Pakistan army. It said there was no evidence against Jadhav, calling the proceedings against him farcical. In a letter issued to Basit and later released to the media, the foreign ministry said Indias government had repeatedly sought consular access to Jadhav which was not permitted. If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder, said the letter. Conflicting versions Pakistan says Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan last year, but India alleges he was kidnapped in Iran. Speaking at the upper house of the Indian parliament, Swaraj called Jadhav a son of India and issued a warning to Pakistan saying: I would caution the Pakistani government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter. READ MORE: India, Pakistan hold talks on Indus water dispute Our position is very clear, there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder. He was doing a business in Iran and he was abducted and taken to Pakistan. We sought consular access, but were denied. He is innocent. Pakistan accuses India of helping the separatist campaign in Balochistan, a charge denied by India. India, for its part, says Pakistan aids separatist fighters in Kashmir, which has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both countries claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought three wars over it. People are held for ransom, forced labour or sexual exploitation after being sold for up to $500, UN agency says. Hundreds of African refugees and migrants passing through Libya are being bought and sold in modern-day slave markets before being held for ransom or used as forced labour or for sexual exploitation, survivors have told the UNs migration agency. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday that it had interviewed West African migrants who recounted being traded in garages and car parks in the southern city of Sabha, one of Libyas main people-smuggling centres. People are bought for between $200 and $500 and are held on average for two to three months, Othman Belbeisi, head of the IOMs Libya mission, said in Geneva. Migrants are being sold in the market as a commodity, he said. Selling human beings is becoming a trend among smugglers as the smuggling networks in Libya are becoming stronger and stronger. The refugees and migrants many from Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia are captured as they head north towards Libyas Mediterranean coast, where some try to catch boats for Italy. Along the way, they are prey to an array of armed groups and people-smuggling networks that often try to extort extra money in exchange for allowing them to continue. READ MORE: Refugee child abuse rampant in Libya, says UNICEF Most of them are used as day labourers in construction or agriculture. Some are paid but others are forced to work for no money. HORRIBLE STORIES Over the past few days, I have discussed these stories with several who told me horrible stories. They all confirmed the risks of been sold as slaves in squares or garages in Sabha, either by their drivers or by locals who recruit the migrants for daily jobs in town, often in construction, and later, instead of paying them, sell their victims to new buyers. Some migrants mostly Nigerians, Ghanaians and Gambians are forced to work for the kidnappers/slave traders as guards in the ransom houses or in the market itself. IOM Niger staffer About women, we heard a lot about bad treatment, rape and being forced into prostitution, Belbeisi said. The IOM said it had spoken to one Senegalese migrant who was held in a Libyans private house in Sabha with about 100 others, who were beaten as they called their families to ask for money for their captors. He was then bought by another Libyan, who set a new price for his release. Some of those who cannot pay their captors are reportedly killed or left to starve to death, the IOM said. When migrants die or are released, others are purchased to replace them. Valley of tears The agency said migrants are buried without being identified, with families back home uncertain of their fate. The situation is dire, Mohammed Abdiker, IOMs director of operations and emergencies, who recently returned from a visit to Libyas capital, Tripoli, said in a statement, calling Libya a valley of tears for many refugees and migrants. What we know is that migrants who fall into the hands of smugglers face systematic malnutrition, sexual abuse and even murder, he added. Last year we learned 14 migrants died in a single month in one of those locations, just from disease and malnutrition. We are hearing about mass graves in the desert. To warn potential migrants, the IOM is spreading testimonies of victims through social media and local radio stations. Libya is the main gateway for people attempting to reach Europe by sea, with more than 150,000 people making the crossing in each of the past three years. So far this year an estimated 26,886 migrants have crossed to Italy, over 7,000 more than during the same period in 2016. More than 600 are known to have died at sea, while an unknown number perish during their journey north through the desert. ISILs reach peaked in 2014 when it controlled almost 40 percent of the country. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group now controls less than 7 percent of Iraq, down from the 40 percent it held nearly three years ago, an Iraqi military spokesman has said. Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and other support are now battling ISIL inside second city of Mosul, after retaking much of the other territory the group had seized. Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told reporters on Tuesday that ISIL controlled 40 percent of Iraqi land in 2014. As of March 31 [this year], they only held 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory, said Rasool, the spokesman of the Joint Operations Command coordinating the anti-ISIL effort. Various members of the forces, Iraqi and foreign, battling ISIL have disagreed in the past on figures about control of territory, but ISIL has been losing ground steadily for close to two years. ISIL shocked the world when it took over Mosul in June 2014 and then swept across much of the countrys Sunni Arab heartland. Its reach in Iraq peaked in August the same year when a second offensive saw it take over areas of northern Iraq that were home to various minorities and had been under the control of forces from the countrys autonomous Kurdish regions forces. READ MORE: After ISIL, Mosul university students face unsettled future Mosul offensive Iraqi forces with the backing of the US-led coalition which has thousands of military personnel deployed in Iraq and carries out daily air strikes began a major offensive to retake Mosul in October 2016. They retook control of the eastern side of the city, which is divided by the River Tigris, in January and have since mid-February been battling the group holed up in their last west Mosul redoubts. The full recapture of Mosul, the de facto capital of the caliphate that ISIL proclaimed nearly three years ago, would end the groups dreams of a cross-border state. Speaking at the same press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday, the spokesman for the US-led coalition vowed that Iraq would not be abandoned after the recapture of Mosul. Once that task is accomplished, the coalition will be here to support our Iraqi partners as they eliminate ISIL from every corner of Iraq, Colonel John Dorrian said. Though the fighting is going to be very hard this enemy is completely surrounded. They arent going anywhere they will be defeated and the people of Mosul will be free, he said. The coalition has come under criticism following an air strike in west Mosul last month that took a heavy toll on civilians, a strike it admitted may have been its own. OPINION: Iraqs new marginalised population Every strike that we conduct, we conduct using precision-guided munitions. Every strike that we conduct is coordinated directly with the Iraqi security forces, Dorrian said. We are very careful. We never, ever target civilians. Never. We reject anyone who says that we do, that is not happening, we only target Daesh, he said, using an Arabic acronym for ISIL. But even if ISIL members are targeted, the fact that they are operating in areas still home to large numbers of residents means that civilians can easily still end up the victims. ISIL still controls the large towns of Hawijah and Tal Afar, as well as remote areas along the border with Syria in western Iraq. In Syria itself, it also holds the city of Raqqa and other areas. The highest honour given to a citizen by the UN, Yousafzai received the award to promote girls education. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has been appointed a UN Messenger of Peace to promote girls education, more than four years after a Taliban gunman shot her in the head. At 19, Yousafzai is the youngest Messenger of Peace, the highest honour given by the UN for an initial period of two years. She was also the youngest person to win the Nobel peace prize in 2014 when she was 17. The Pakistani education activist came to prominence when she was shot in the head in 2012 as she was leaving school in Pakistans Swat valley, northwest of the countrys capital, Islamabad. She was targeted for her campaign against efforts by the Taliban to deny women education. You are not only a hero, but you are a very committed and generous person, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Yousafzai. Other current Messengers of Peace include actors Leonardo di Caprio (climate change), Charlize Theron (prevention of HIV and elimination of violence against women), and Michael Douglas (disarmament). Yousafzai has become a regular speaker on the global stage and visited refugee camps in Rwanda and Kenya last July to highlight the plight of refugee girls from Burundi and Somalia. READ MORE: Profile Malala Yousafzai Now this is a new life, this is a second life and it is for the purpose of education. The extremists tried all their best to stop me, they tried to kill me and they didnt succeed, Yousafzai said on Monday. Girls' education champion. Nobel Prize winner. Global inspiration. And now youngest UN Messenger of Peace. Congratulations Malala Yousafzai! pic.twitter.com/WFeej6B0eX Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 10, 2017 In January 2009, Yousafzai began to keep a diary for the BBCs Urdu service, in which she detailed how she had been affected by the Talibans rule, and what life was like for her and her peers under them. She wrote then under the pen name Gul Makai, the name of the heroine from a local Pashtun folk tale. Swat valley was under the control of the local chapter of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during that time. The TTP-Swat enforced a strict interpretation of Islam in the valley, ruling with an iron fist. One of its many edicts enforced a complete ban on womens education. Yousafzai now lives in the UK, where she received medical treatment following her shooting. DPRK ready to react to any mode of war after US sends navy strike group to Korean Peninsula following missile tests. North Korea has sharply criticised the US after the US Pacific Command moved a set of warships to the Korean Peninsula over the weekend. The Norths foreign ministry, in a statement carried by its KCNA news agency on Tuesday, said the US navy strike groups deployment showed Americas reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase. We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves, a spokesman for the countrys foreign affairs ministry said. The DPRK [North Korea] is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US. Later in the day, North Koreas military chief said his country was ready to mount a pre-emptive nuclear attack on South Korea and the US. OPINION: Whats on Kim Jong-uns mind? Hwang Pyong-so, the Norths effective number two behind leader Kim Jong-un, made the threat during a live broadcast on state television. He insisted North Korea will wipe them out without a trace if they attempt to launch a war of aggression. On Saturday, the US warships including the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, two guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser cancelled a trip to Australia and headed from Singapore to the waters off Korea, as part of the US response to North Koreas recent missile launches. On Wednesday North Korea launched a missile into the Sea of Japan from near Sinpo in South Hamgyong province, according to South Koreas joint chiefs of staff. Tensions rising Speaking to Al Jazeera from Seoul, B J Kim, adjunct professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said the level of tension has many South Koreans worried. The overall situation here, the way the South Koreans perceive it, is very unusual. They have not seen this level of heightened tensions for about a quarter of a century, Kim said. In 1994 we had a similar situation in which the United States possibly wanted to strike. But since then this has been the highest point of tensions here, so people feel quite uneasy about it. North Korea has ratcheted up its nuclear programme under its relatively new leader Kim Jong-un, carrying out two nuclear tests and launching around 20 ballistic missiles last year alone. The international community also is concerned that North Korea could be working on an intercontinental ballistic missile, which could reach the western US. US-based experts say that North Korea is currently planning a further nuclear test. Hwang Kyo-ahn, South Korean acting president, ordered the military to intensify monitoring of the Norths activities and to ensure close communication with the ally the US. It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme Peoples Assembly, said Hwang, acting leader since Park Geun-hye was removed as president over a corruption scandal. Important date The North convened a Supreme Peoples Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the countrys founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong-un. A military parade is expected in the Norths capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities. Hankuk Universitys Kim said South Korea feels it is up to North Korea to open the possibility of dialogue. North Korea has been escalating the tensions and the US has been responding to it, he said. Seoul is waiting for words of reconciliation or at least expressions of interest in dialogue from Pyongyang. From a Chinese perspective, they have always stressed the need for dialogue but we have not seen any progress for years now. China is therefore also responsible for coming up with new ideas to lower tensions. Tillerson says Assad family reign coming to end as he heads to Moscow after talks with G7 ministers on Syrian war. The US secretary of state has said he hopes Russia will abandon its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad because actions such as last weeks chemical attack have stripped him of all legitimacy. Rex Tillerson made the remarks at the conclusion on Tuesday in Italy of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) and like-minded countries. It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, he said shortly before leaving the Tuscan city of Lucca for Moscow. We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad. READ MORE: Syrias civil war explained from the beginning A British proposal to slap extra sanctions on Syrian and Russian military officials, however, failed to win the support of the G7, Angelino Alfano, Italys foreign minister, said. Alfano, who chaired Tuesdays talks, said: At this time there is no consensus for further new sanctions as an effective tool for reaching the objective that we have set ourselves. He also said that Russia should not be pushed into a corner over Syria, but that it should put pressure on Assad to stop the use of chemical weapons, and should join the international push for peace in Syria. The Syrian government has denied it was behind the April 4 attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun. Russia has also rejected the accusations that Assad used chemical arms against his own people while stating that it will not cut its ties with him. Assad has been locked in a six-year-old civil war that has devastated Syria and displaced half its population. Returning to pseudo-attempts to resolve the crisis by repeating mantras that Assad must step down cannot help sort things out, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Monday. The same day, Boris Johnson, the UKs foreign minister, praised last weeks US missile strike on a Syrian airbase as a game changer. He said that support for Assad was toxifying the reputation of Russia and suggested that sanctions could be imposed on Russia if it refused to change course. However, Lina Khatib, head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, says it is questionable whether sanctions would have any effect on Syria. INTERACTIVE: From chlorine to sarin Chemical weapons in war We know that sanctions alone will not make much of a difference, she said, speaking to Al Jazeera from London on Tuesday. We have seen sanctions against Ukraine, and they didnt achieve much. So, the only way forward is a dialogue with Russia. Rex Tillersons visit to Russia is not going to be a game changer. It is a start but we know that after this visit, Russia is not going to declare it has severed its ties with the Assad regime. What will make a difference is if Russia sees that there is the political will on part of the United States. Khatib said if the US took this opportunity to show that regime change or political transition was a serious priority and that the administration was willing to engage in political action in order to make it happen, it would cause Western countries to rally behind the US. This will be what will bring Russia to the negotiating table as [the Russians] have so far only paid lip service to political change, she said. New sanctions on agenda as foreign ministers from G7 group, Turkey and Arab states meet in Italy to discuss the war. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major industrialised nations meeting in Lucca in Italy are looking to put pressure on Russia to break its ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Italy has also invited the foreign ministers from several like-minded countries Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar to sit down with the G7 group in the Tuscan city to discuss Syria. Seated around conference tables in the Tuscan city on Tuesday, the diplomats smiled and exchanged pleasantries but made no remarks as photographers were allowed in briefly for the start of the meeting. The session lasted roughly an hour. READ MORE: Syrias civil war explained from the beginning Calling last weeks US missile strike on a Syrian airbase a game changer, Boris Johnson, UKs foreign minister, said on Monday that support for Assad was toxifying the reputation of Russia and suggested that sanctions could be imposed on Russia if it refused to change course. Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state, is due to travel to Moscow at the end of the two-day gathering with his Italian, German, French, British, Japanese, Canadian and Arab counterparts. What were trying to do is to give Rex Tillerson the clearest possible mandate from us as the West, the UK, all our allies here, to say to the Russians This is your choice: stick with that guy, stick with that tyrant, or work with us to find a better solution, Johnson said after meeting Tillerson. Chemical attack Johnson said he was keen to seen further sanctions imposed on both Syrian and Russian military figures. However, Tillerson has said the main priority for the US is the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, and it is unclear how far he will want to push the Russians. The diplomatic developments come after a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held Syrian town that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the UK-based monitoring network, said killed 87 people. It prompted the US to intervene for the first time directly against the Assad government which it has blamed for the attack. The Syrian government has denied it was behind the April 4 attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun. Russia has also rejected the accusations that Assad used chemical arms against his own people while stating that it will not cut its ties with Assad, who has been locked in a six-year-old civil war that has devastated Syria and displaced half its population. Returning to pseudo-attempts to resolve the crisis by repeating mantras that Assad must step down cannot help sort things out, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Monday. For their part, Theresa May, UK prime minister, and US President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call on Monday that a window of opportunity exists to convince Russia to end its support for the Syrian president. INTERACTIVE: From chlorine to sarin chemical weapons in war The prime minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest, a spokeswoman for Mays Downing Street office said. Britain said it fully supported the US strikes. In their phone call, Trump and May said Tillersons Moscow visit, which begins on Tuesday, provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement. Also on Monday, Justin Trudeau, Canadas prime minister, said in France that his country is ready to stiffen sanctions on Russia. Proposals from both Morocco and Polisario independence movement should be addressed, UN chief tells Security Council. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for new talks on the decades-old Western Sahara conflict, saying negotiations should address proposals from both Morocco and separatist movement the Polisario Front. UN efforts have repeatedly failed to broker a settlement over the disputed territory, contested since 1975 when the colonial power Spain left, which Polisario says belongs to the Sahrawi people who fought a guerrilla war against Morocco until a 1991 UN-backed ceasefire. I intend to propose that the negotiating process be relaunched with a new dynamic and a new spirit, Guterres said in his report presented for review to the Security Council on Monday. For progress to be made, the negotiations must be open to both parties proposals and ideas. Algeria and Mauritania, as neighbouring countries, can and should make important contributions to this process. A Moroccan foreign ministry source called the UN report more objective in tone than past ones, while a Polisario representative said the Sahrawi movement was ready for talks that were serious and without preconditions. The UN report said talks must aim for a mutually acceptable political solution over the ultimate status of Western Sahara, including through agreement on the nature and form of the exercise of self-determination. READ MORE: Making sense of the recent tension in Western Sahara Last year, Morocco clashed with the UN over its MINURSO peacekeeping mission after former UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited Sahrawi refugee camps in southern Algeria. Rabat kicked out dozens of MINURSO staff from the Western Sahara, saying Ban was biased. The tone has clearly changed, and the parameters have taken into consideration a realistic approach that demonstrates the will to protect a certain degree of objectivity, the Moroccan foreign ministry source said of the new report, noting also the call for neighbouring countries to participate. Everything has its time, the source said when asked about whether the report would lead to participation in talks. Polisario insists on the referendum with independence as an option and says only Morocco and Polisario should be at the negotiating table. Risk remains high Last year, tensions spiked during a standoff in the remote Guerguerat area. UN peacekeepers stepped in after Moroccan gendarmerie went outside Moroccan-controlled areas in what they said was a road-clearing operation, prompting the mobilisation of Polisario forces. Morocco in February said that it had withdrawn its troops from the buffer zone, but Polisario says it will remain in the area as a precaution. Guterres called on the Security Council to urge the Polisario to fully and unconditionally withdraw from the Guerguerat buffer strip, noting that the risk of an incident or accident remains high. Appeal made for $4bn as mix of drought and conflict threatens 20 million in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. The risk of mass starvation in four countries Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen is rapidly rising due to drought and conflict, the UN refugee agency has warned. About 20 million people live in hard-hit areas where harvests have failed and malnutrition rates are increasing, particularly among young children, the UNHCR said on Tuesday. In South Sudan alone where the UN declared famine in some areas in February a further one million people are now on the brink of famine, Adrian Edwards, UNHCR spokesman, said. We are raising our alarm level further by today warning that the risk of mass deaths from starvation among populations in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria is growing. Later on Tuesday, speaking to Al Jazeera from Geneva, Edwards said that lives will be lost if help does not arrive. A preventable humanitarian catastrophe, possibly worse than that of 2011 when 260,000 people died of famine in the Horn of Africa, half of them children, is fast becoming an inevitability, he said. READ MORE: Mapping six months of hunger Violent conflicts and increasing displacement have deepened food shortages in many places, Edwards said, warning that the dangerous combination of factors risked making the current crisis worse than the 2011 drought in the Horn of Africa that killed more than 260,000 people. A repeat must be avoided at all costs, he said, pointing out that UNHCRs operations in famine-hit northeast Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen were funded at between just 3 and 11 percent. People are on the run within their countries and there are also greater numbers of South Sudanese refugees fleeing to Sudan and Uganda, according to the UNHCR. Always the problem that we have with humanitarian crises in sub-Saharan Africa is that they tend to get overlooked until things are too late, Edward said. UNHCR is expanding its operations but is blocked by a severe funding shortfall, with some of the country programmes only funded at between 3 and 11 percent. Overall the UN has appealed for $4.4bn for the four countries by the end of April, but has received less than $984m or 21 percent to date, said Jens Laerke, of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Rakhmat Akilov accepts his custody detention and admits ploughing pedestrians in Swedish capital, his lawyer says. The suspected Stockholm truck attacker Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek, has admitted committing a terrorist crime by ploughing into pedestrians on a busy street, killing four people and injuring 15 others. Arrested only hours after Fridays attack, Akilov appeared on Tuesday in a special heavily guarded high-security courtroom wearing a thick green hoodie and keeping his head bowed. Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention, said Johan Eriksson, his state appointed lawyer, at a custody hearing in Stockholm. Judge Malou Lindblom ordered Akilov to remove the hoodie and he complied, revealing dark hair with streaks of grey. Akilov, a Russian speaker, had an interpreter to help him follow the proceedings without addressing the court directly. After Erikssons statement, the judge agreed to the prosecutions request to have the rest of the hearing held behind closed doors due to the classified nature of information in the investigation. After about an hour, journalists were admitted again to the courtroom and the judge remanded Akilov in custody. Eriksson said that the court had ordered Akilov to undergo a psychiatric evaluation as a standard procedure, and that a confession alone would not lead to a conviction. A confession is not enough to be convicted of a crime, other evidence is needed to back this up, the deputy chief prosecutor Hans Ihrman said at the courthouse. Court documents seen by AFP news agency showed that Akilov, who is facing a lengthy prison sentence, had requested that Eriksson be replaced by a Sunni Muslim, saying only a lawyer of this faith could assert his interests in the best way. The court refused the request. Order against infidels Akilov, a construction worker who was refused permanent residency in Sweden in June 2016, went underground last year after receiving a deportation order, police said. Fridays attack resembled previous rampages using vehicles in Nice, Berlin and London, which were all claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group. ISIL, also known as ISIS, has not claimed responsibility for the Stockholm attack, but Swedish media reports on Monday said Akilov had told investigators that he received an order from ISIL to carry out the attack against infidels. Swedish police have confirmed that he had expressed sympathies for extremist groups, including ISIL, but disclosed no other details. The Aftonbladet newspaper reported that Akilov told investigators he was pleased with what he had done. I mowed down the infidels, Aftonbladet quoted him as saying, citing sources close to the investigation and describing him as a father of four whose family had stayed behind in Uzbekistan. The bombings in Syria have to end, he was quoted as saying. Ihrman, the deputy chief prosecutor, refused to comment on the suspects motive, while lawyer Eriksson would only say that his client had told police why he committed the attack. The investigative news magazine Expo, which specialises in monitoring far-right activity, said Akilovs Facebook account before it was taken down on Friday reflected a contradictory image. It said Akilov had liked Buddhist and Mormon websites, and supported both Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. In March 2016, he posted a video condemning Islamist terror, but shared ISIL propaganda films and repeatedly expressed support for the Hizb ut-Tahrir group, which is outlawed in Russia and ex-Soviet Central Asian states. The group, which claims to be non-violent and says it wants to achieve its goals by peaceful means, aims to establish a caliphate in Muslim regions of Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Detention follows dispute over Hichilemas vehicles allegedly blocking President Lungus motorcade on main road. Zambian police have arrested opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema for committing treason, according to his lawyer. Hichilema was narrowly defeated by President Edgar Lungu in an August 2016 election, which he described as fraudulent. His attempts to mount a legal challenge have so far been unsuccessful. The leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND) arrived at a police station in the capital, Lusaka, on Tuesday after officers raided his home overnight. Authorities allege that Hichilema blocked Lungus motorcade with his own convoy of vehicles during a traditional ceremony in Zambias Western Province over the weekend. They say Hichilemas motorcade did not yield after presidential security guards signalled for it to get out of the way. The opposition party has denied any wrongdoing. They have detained him for having committed treason along Limulunga road by obstructing the presidential motorcade, Jack Mwiimbu, Hichilemas lawyer, told the Reuters news agency. OPINION: Zambia Democratic victory or vote snatching? He has not yet been formally charged. We are definitely challenging the police action. Police were not immediately available to confirm the charges. Overnight raid Charles Kakoma, a UPND spokesman, said police broke doors before raiding Hichilemas house in an exclusive suburb of Lusaka. He said police had blocked the access road to the residence but did not say what they were looking for. They broke the doors and tear-gassed the house, Kakoma said. They left the home after picking him. Mwiimbu said Hichilema, a wealthy businessman known as HH who has run for president five times, was unwell after the raid. He is not well because of the tear gas. His wife fainted three times last night because of the tear gas, he said. READ MORE: Zambias voices on the elections and their future hopes Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of death. The PF party demanded action against HH after the motorcade situation, Neo Simutanyi, an independent political analyst, told the AFP news agency. HH is still trying to challenge the result through the courts, but Edgar Lungu is president in theory and in practice, he added. There is a lot of mistrust between the two sides. Simutanyi said that under the treason charge, Hichilema could be detained for some time, so this will suit the ruling party who want to silence the dialogue of the election result not being recognised. Following last Augusts vote, Hichilema alleged polling irregularities and went to court, but judges rejected a petition to block Lungus inauguration. Last October Hichilema and UPND vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba were arrested for unlawful assembly and sedition when they tried to visit supporters in jail. His team called the arrest an attempt by the ruling party to silence dissent. Venezuelas embattled president refuses to step down as protests against his leadership continue to grow. Venezuelas capital, Caracas, has seen almost daily demonstrations over the past week, some of which became violent. Protesters say President Nicolas Maduro is inching towards tyranny, and they want him to resign. But Maduro says the opposition is conspiring with foreigners to destabilise the country an accusation he has made many times before. If he does not go, what happens next? Presenter: Laura Kyle Guests: Vanessa Neumann founder and CEO of the political risk consulting firm Asymmetrica Anatoly Kurmanaev Venezuela reporter for the Wall Street Journal Diego Arria former Venezuelan ambassador to the United Nations As droves of Jewish students and locals alike gathered for Passover in Gainesville on Monday night, the holiday meant something different for each. For Jayna Goldstein, it represents a sense of community. The 20-year-old UF nutrition junior attended the annual Lubavitch Chabad Jewish Center Passover seder. She has attended since freshman year. The seder is a ritual dinner marking the first night of the holiday. Tables included food like matzo, a hard boiled egg and saltwater all ingredients telling the story of the Israelites liberation from slavery in Egypt. While Goldstein misses spending the seder with her family back home in West Palm Beach, she enjoys the Chabad celebration, too. About 600 people attended Monday, and about 300 to 400 are expected for the second seder today. Its a home away from home, she said. At Chabad, Gabriel Ruiz sat with his six children, ranging from ages 6 to 14, and his wife at a round table with matzo and a seder plate. For the next eight days, Jews around the world will refrain from eating flour and other grains in memory of when their ancestors couldnt wait for bread to rise when leaving Egypt in a rush. Ruiz, a UF Health Shands Hospital information technology analyst, said he was glad he came to Chabad for the first time this year. I just wish we got here earlier, Ruiz said. Chabad began preparations for the holiday more than two months ago, ordering about 310 pounds of matzo from Israel, said Rabbi Berl Goldman, a director of the center. His wife, Chanie Goldman, co-director of the center, prepared her special matbucha salsa. To pay for the Passover services and meals, Chabad raised $61,182 in donations. Their goal was $76,000. Rabbi Goldman said the holiday is about overcoming struggle and adversity in life, no matter what your faith is. We need to know everything is possible, and Passover teaches us that, he said. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Five blocks away from Chabad, about another 350 people also enjoyed the first night of Passover at UF Hillel. Rabbi Adam Grossman said the event was livestreamed on Facebook, where nearly 600 additional people watched. Grossman said the organization aimed to raise about $10,080 to serve 300 dinners, with each meal costing $36 to create. Both organizations dinners were free to students and community members. For us, there is no price tag for celebrating a holiday, Grossman said. Jeffrey Zimmerman, a UF physics and economics junior, said this was his first year spending Passover away from his family. The 21-year-old said he couldnt go home to Pompano Beach because of schoolwork. It would definitely be easier if it was a holiday at UF, he said. I just dont think there are enough Jews here for that. CHABAD PASSOVER BY THE NUMBERS Source: JewishGator.com Matzo: 310 pounds 310 pounds Wine : 45 cases : 45 cases Grape Juice : 35 cases : 35 cases Haggadahs (Passover seder text): 500 books (Passover seder text): 500 books Seder meals: 800 Contact Jimena Tavel at jtavel@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @taveljimena Rabbi Berl Goldman, a director of the Lubavitch Chabad Jewish Center, speaks to about 600 people before officially starting Passover at about 8 p.m. on Monday. As Century Towers bells echoed across the crowded Turlington Plaza on Monday, four students collapsed to the ground. They laid with makeup wounds painted on their faces and arms, their hands clutched around their throats. Other students stood over them with signs declaring Your silence is deadly and Free Syria. It was part of a die-in put on by Students Organize for Syria to raise awareness about the ongoing Syrian humanitarian crisis, the result of a years-long civil war in the Middle Eastern country. Hassan Syed, the organizations vice president, said the event had been planned before the recent chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilians and a retaliatory U.S. missile strike, but after hearing the news they realized it was time to put their plan into motion. On Thursday, the U.S. launched 59 Tomahawk missiles on a Syrian government air base in response to the April 4 chemical attacks, which killed dozens of Syrian citizens, according to the Associated Press. President Donald Trump, however, has proposed indefinitely halting the countrys intake of Syrian refugees. The UF group wanted to make people question the ongoing conflict in Syria. Innocent children, innocent women, innocent men, theyre all dying because of the chemical gas, said Syed, a 17-year-old UF microbiology freshman. Maybe one day something like (the die-in) will give someone, even one person out there, a better idea of whats going on. Though Syed said he isnt from Syria, hes passionate about the issue, and it hurts him to know others are unaware of the conflict. Whats even worse is when people know whats going on, but then they refuse to acknowledge it or refuse to think of it as a big deal, he said. Rama Hussein, who participated in the die-in, said she can vividly imagine the location of each attack in Syria. Hussein is Syrian, and she said the best summers of her life were her childhood visits to the country. Though her aunts, uncles and cousins still live in Damascus, Hussein said she hasnt returned to Syria since 2011. Shes angry that the international community has let the situation continue and hopes more people spread the word about the ongoing conflict. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now If more people just share it on social media, the stuff they see, I think it would spread the word even more, she said. As he walked through Turlington, Jordi Zapata stopped to take a photo of the students on the ground. Zapata, an 18-year-old UF biology freshman, said he knew Syrian refugees from his high school near Clearwater, Florida. Meeting them gave him a new perspective on what others endure, he said. Their sense of home is different than ours, he said. And to see their connection to home get ruined, I cant even imagine what itd be like. Contact Romy Ellenbogen at rellenbogen@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @romyellenbogen Rama Hussein, 21, a UF biology junior, holds a sign that reads "Your Silence is Deadly" while members of Students Organize for Syria demonstrated a die-in. Karolina Weclawska is preparing to study moss in Poland as the first undergraduate from UFs School of Forest Resources and Conservation to receive a Fulbright Study/Research Award. The 23-year-old UF forest resources and conservation senior will move to Poland in August for nine months to study species of mosses that grow on deadwood. She submitted her application in October and found out she received the prestigious scholarship, which gives teaching or research awards to students, university faculty and professionals, in March. Weclawska, who was born in Poland, said the Polish government owns the countrys forests and removes wood from them. Because of the removed deadwood, there is no habitat for the mosses to grow. Ill be out there collecting information that scientists want to know, but they just dont have funding because Poland and a lot of Eastern European countries dont have the kind of funding the U.S. has for science, she said. Weclawskas husband will join her in Poland as she samples ecological areas to identify as many moss species as she can, she said. Shell record species ecological data including its size, location and on what type of wood it lives. Stephanie Bohlman, a UF forest ecology professor, said she wrote one of Weclawskas reference letters for the scholarship. She said Weclawska stood out in her forest ecology class because of her curiosity. If anyone is going to succeed its her because of her passion for botany, she said. Karolina Weclawska Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now At the front of a middle-school auditorium, 27-year-old Kristen Reaver faced-off with 61-year-old Republican Rep. Ted Yoho. Reaver was one of about 20 constituents chosen in a lottery-style system to ask the congressman, who represents Alachua, Clay, Bradford and parts of Marion County, a 45-second-or-less question at his second Gainesville town hall of the year. The town hall, which drew an audience of almost 500, was held Monday evening at Abraham Lincoln Middle School, located at 1001 SE 12th St. Similar to Yohos first town hall in the city, held on March 4, the majority of attendees werent fans of the congressman. Do you believe human activity is the leading cause of climate change? Reaver, who has a bachelors and masters degree in environmental science, asked. No, the congressman immediately interjected. Please explain why your personal opinion as a nonexpert in the field is more valuable than the evidence of 97 percent of scientists, Reaver pressed. Her rebuttal received a standing ovation. At Yohos previous town hall, disgruntled Yoho protesters clashed with the congressman as well as the few attendees who supported him. At the end, a supporter of President Donald Trump was punched in the face and taken to the hospital, according to Alligator archives. On Monday, Yoho had trouble speaking over the continuous chorus of boos and heckles. Of the nearly 50 similar town halls the congressman has participated in throughout his career, he said Mondays audience gave him the most trouble. I really expected them to be a bit more civil, Yoho said. This was the rowdiest crowd. Joy Pitts, the leader of Gainesvilles chapter of Indivisible, a national movement dedicated to resisting policies implemented by Trumps administration, said the audiences volume level was to be expected and that Yohos responses werent straight forward. I think there was a lot of circle talk coming from the congressman, thats the frustration, she said. Democracy is loud. Democracy is messy. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now One member of Indivisible changed Yohos mind regarding Trumps unreleased tax returns. Yoho told audience members that at first, he didnt care if Trump released the returns because it wasnt something required by the constitution. However, when the anti-Trump activist visited his office to explain how suspicious Trumps international business dealings were in relation to his presidency, Yoho had a change of heart. While Yoho has crossed Trump before namely as a member of the House Freedom Caucus that helped sink the presidents proposed health care act Pitts said she thinks this is the first time Yoho has publicly called for Trump to release his tax returns. Our voice does get heard every once and awhile, she said. While the line gathered, about 15 people sat at two picnic tables pulled together with Scott Hunter as he hosted a seder, a meal that welcomes the Jewish holiday of Passover. About 50 more watched while in line. He served matzo, a type of flat Jewish cracker; grape juice; and horseradish and served the food to people standing in line. He said he was dismayed the town hall was planned for the first night of Passover. Every Jew in Gainesville had to make a decision tonight, he said. They could either celebrate their freedom of religion with their family or their freedom of speech here. During the rest of the town hall, constituents asked questions related to health care, climate change, womens health, transgender rights, Trumps tax returns and Russias intervention in the presidential election. Yoho told the audience he disagreed with Trumps decision to bomb the Syrian air field Friday. He said hes opposed to further air strikes and is definitely not in favor of sending troops. I was very angry that night, he said. Killing people is just wrong. Theres enough killing going on. Alachua County Commissioner Ken Cornell sat in the second row while Yoho addressed the crowd. He said although they disagree on issues such as the environment and health care, hes glad Yoho took the time to listen to the citizens. I appreciate him actually holding the town hall. I think thats important, Cornell said. We dont agree on a lot of things, but Im glad hes here listening to the people. Contact Molly Vossler at mvossler@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @molly_vossler Contact Meryl Kornfield at mkornfield@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @MerylKornfield A man holds up a sign reading "Lock up Trump for treason, Yoho can visit" at the town hall meeting with Ted Yoho. The mood from many of the attendees was contrarian, as they were displeased with Yoho's actions in D.C. About 300 UF students signed a pledge Monday to recognize that non-consensual sex is considered sexual assault. During UF Student Governments Sexual Assault Awareness Day, SG officers visited UF residence halls to encourage more students to sign pledges and worked with UFs Sexual Trauma/Interpersonal Violence Education, or STRIVE, to host a consent workshop. Natalie Martinez, the event organizer, said she promoted activities through social media, told various organizations about the day and shared it through Gator Times. Despite this, only six students, five wearing SG polos, attended the consent workshop. During the workshop, Marie McGrath, a LEAD peer educator with STRIVE, and Rita Lawrence, the organizations coordinator, discussed what qualifies as sexual consent: verbal agreement to participate in sexual acts. Consent is basically about communication, McGrath said. It should be mutual. The two said sexual assault can happen in any relationship, no matter peoples gender, sexuality or the type of relationship. Consent should be voluntary, sober, wanted and enthusiastic, McGrath said. Consent is ongoing, McGrath said. You need consent for every step and every single time. McGrath said that when someone is asking for consent, the person needs to be clear and not use vague terms like hook up. Lawrence said consent is only given if a person says yes. Saying no isnt the only sign that someone isnt giving consent. Silence is not consent, she said. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Resources UF Office of Victim Services 352-392-5648 University Police Department 352-392-1111 Shands Health Care Center 352-392-1161 Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center 352-264-6760 Peaceful Paths 352-377-8255 ReportRapeGainesville.org Contact Paige Fry at pfry@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @paigexfry I bet big on Donald Trump in the 2016 elections, rather famously. Now I will be shorting Trump stock for the foreseeable future until Bannon, and Bannon-ism, returns to policy dominance in the White House. Should Trump ever lose Bannon entirely, Trump is a lame duck. Some media suggest that Trump could replace Bannon with Jared Kushner. Jared Kushner is to Steve Bannon what Dan Quayle was to JFK. Bannon uniquely among the Trump team threads together the policy weaves of the Trump electoral majority, a majority dependent upon newfound GOP support from the working class, especially in the northern half of the country, but also the southern upcountry and Appalachia. Three issues allowed Trump to distinguish himself, both in the GOP primaries and in the general election, to appeal to these GOP skeptic voting constituencies: No preachy politics. These voters want neither Southern Baptists nor Hollywood celebrities lecturing them about morality nonstop. They generally take a more libertine approach on marijuana, especially amongst the younger cohorts in this constituency. (Many of these communities were moonshine communities back in the day, especially the Appalachian communities. You will find a not too surprising overlap between marijuana and moonshine communities historically.) The Appalachian communities and their kindred constituencies cast decisive votes in more places than West Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, and Kentucky. Appalachia dips into Pennsylvania and Ohio, helped make Virginia competitive, tipped the balance in North Carolina, and shares a lot in common in political mindset with places like the Minnesotan Iron Range, the northern woods of Wisconsin, the peninsula of Michigan, and the countryside of Iowa. They are often Christian but more likely to be Saturday party-goers than Sunday church-goers. No more dumb war. Voters from the ancestral regions of the Union draftees after the Civil War from northern Maine to the Minnesota Iron Range have, ever since, instinctively viewed war with suspicion. Study the voting patterns of this kind of county, and you will find that sudden surges turn out to oppose various wars. The heart of "isolationism" was a Midwestern phenomenon in the same regions that tilted so heavily toward Trump in the election. It is not a coincidence that areas with historic antiwar tendencies from east Tennessee to western Wisconsin, from rural Iowa to northern Maine were some of the biggest pro-Trump trending areas in the country, nor that two states that formed the heart of antiwar politicians in the past (like Ohio's Taft) bolted so heavily toward Trump. Trump used his war-skeptical views to outflank the war-loving Hillary on both the working-class left and right, giving him the keys to his electoral majority, heisting Bernie primary voters along the way. Betray this group with another Mideast war, and Trump endangers his electoral majority permanently. That is where Bannon's inclusion in national security decisions remained critical for Trump's own political future. No more job-killing deals. The global-focused economy of finance and real estate enriched the urban port cities at the expense of the rural- and middle-America small-town heartland, who make our food and make our products. Trump, despite profiting from that largely coastal port-city world, promised to reverse that economic bargain. Trade, immigration, and infrastructure all allowed him to carve out distinguishing traits, while also promising a protective government that does not over-rely on regulatory bureaucracy in areas of health, education, and energy. Tax reform took its role, as did Obamacare reversal, but it all fit into a different fabric of policy ideals from traditional Republican economics, meant to appeal to a GOP-skeptic northern working class rightly skeptical of Ryan economics and McCain foreign policy. Bannon understands, intricately, each of these issues and, as important, the intimate way each of these issues connects the new constituencies of the Trump electoral majority. Bannon also understands the adversary an alliance of Deep-State, administrative-regulatory-state, professional-class career bureaucrats and their media lapdogs and allies. Bannon also enjoys another unique attribute: actually overcoming them, in the public area of persuasion (the extraordinary rise of Breitbart against a media blackout of the site) and the electoral arena of actual elections (feeding the Tea Party, then fueling Trumpism). Bannon politically is to Trump what Carville was to Clinton, Atwater was to Poppy Bush, and Kevin Phillips was to Nixon, but he also enjoys a consigliere-type skill set for actual policy that gives strategic substance to Trump's gut-driven, emotive decision-making. Trump's instinctive ingenuity and persuasive mastery cannot substitute for Bannon's integration of policies and constituencies in actually governing. Kushner's apparent deference to the war-mongering elements of the national-security establishment and the bank-adoring financiers of Wall Street reveals that he suffers from the same delusional understanding of politics and policy that got the GOP so hated by its own base over the last half-decade. Kushner looks to the approval of Goldman Sachs; Bannon looks to the approval of those who hate Goldman Sachs. Lose Bannon, lose the country. Lose Bannon, lose the presidency. Trump needs to bet on Bannon, or it will be time to no longer bet on Trump. By their fruits ye shall know them is a classic truth from the Bible which speaks volumes about the Islamist slugs who murdered more than 55 Coptic Christian worshippers as they clutched their bibles during Palm Sunday services in a church just outside of Cairo and another in Alexandria. There was no inflammatory video for the politically correct left to blame it on. As Dr. Ashraf Ramelah reported on his blog, Voice of the Copts: Egypts Coptic Christians suffered another fatal attack on its churches during this mornings (April 9) Palm Sunday celebrations. Many parishioners were killed and maimed in a dual-church attack during the Palm Sunday services. North of Cairo, a terrorist bomb struck the Church of Saint George in Tanta claiming the lives of more than 40 worshippers and injuring at least 65 attendees. Simultaneously, the Morkussia Church of Alexandria was bombed leaving at least 15 persons dead and many more injured. After leading the celebration mass, Coptic Pope Tawadros II left the Morkussia Church minutes before the planted bomb exploded. Aside from the casualties from the Coptic population, four police officers were killed. Obamas apology tour, which began, ironically enough, in Cairo, set the stage for a feckless foreign policy that allowed evil to triumph when an American president does nothing. Cairo 2017 is the legacy of his indifference to Islamist evil. It was his withdrawal from Iraq and his ignoring intelligence reports on ISIS that gave it time and room to grow. If the politically correct liberal left needs any more clarity on what radical Islamic terrorism is all about, we saw once again in Egypt with the latest slaughter of Coptic Christians, Obviously, Islamist evil is not contained. We saw Islamist cruelty in an underreported story by Islamic State butchers in a Catholic Church in Normandy, France when they beheaded 86-year-old French priest Jacques Hamel as they chanted -- wait for it Allahu Akbhar (God is great) As the Daily Mail reported: Two ISIS knifemen who stormed a church in Normandy forced an elderly priest to kneel before filming themselves butchering him and performing a 'sermon in Arabic' at the altar, a terrified witness has revealed. The attackers, claimed as 'soldiers' by ISIS, were both known to French police before they cut the throat of 84-year-old priest Jacques Hamel at the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen. Both were shot dead by police marksmen as they emerged from the building shouting 'Allahu Akbar' following the attack that also left a nun critically injured. French President Francois Hollande, who visited the scene today, said the country is now 'at war' with ISIS after the terror group claimed responsibility for the attack. It is a war between civilizations and cultures. It is also a war between religions, although we like to tiptoe around the politically-correct religion of peace argument. The war on Christians by Islamist fanatics worldwide by ISIS and its associated groups has been documented by Robert Spencer at Jihad Watch: We have seen this before on several occasions in Kenya. In September 2013 at Nairobis Westgate Mall, Muslims murdered people who couldnt answer questions about Islam. In June 2014, Muslims murdered people who could not pass an Islam quiz. In November 2014, Muslims murdered 28 non-Muslims who couldnt recite Quran verses. In April 2015, Muslims screaming Allahu akbar stormed Garissa University College, and only shot those who couldnt recite Quran. Now we see it in Mali. And this is coming to the U.S. As for religious tests, as President Obama has condemned for admitting Moslem refugees, one is imposed by radical Islamic terrorists constantly, such as the one imposed on the residents of a luxury hotel in Mali. As BizPac Review reported: Islamic terrorists shouting Allahu Akbar have stormed a hotel in Mali, Africa, freeing only those who can recite the Quran. The gunmen, who took over the Radisson Blu Hotel in Malis capital of Bamako early Friday morning, have killed at least three people and taken 170 hostages, the Associated Press reported. Theres a religious test for you, Mr. President, one you dont care to point out or condemn. Some 30 people failed the religious test imposed by radical Islamic terrorists. You tell us such attacks have nothing to do with Islam, yet the radical Islamic terrorists always shout Allahu Akhbar before they kill those who are determined not to be Muslim. Obama administration indifference to the war on non-Muslims by radical Islamic terrorists, who just might want to slip into the U.S. amidst a flood of refugees as they have already in Europe, has been well documented. As Investors Business Daily has pointed out: we could find no such sentiment or statement by Obama condemning as a religiously motivated hate crime in the September 2014 beheading of an Oklahoma Christian woman by a former co-worker for not heeding his demand to convert to Islam or die. Dare we say it depends on whose ox is being gored? Obama -- who apologized to the United Nations after the Benghazi terrorist attack, saying a video offensive to Muslims prompted it -- also said, "The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." That declaration would seem to include the staff of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, who were accused of doing just that before a terrorist attack killed eight journalists. The massacre at Fort Hood was "workplace violence," not a jihad terrorist attack by Maj. Nidal Hasan against Western "crusaders." The lives of the four Jews killed in a kosher market in Paris were dismissed by Obama as "a bunch of folks in a deli" shot "randomly" as they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Detect a pattern here?.... Nor was the mass beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by Islamic State terrorists in Libya, a failed state brought about by administration bungling and failure to acknowledge who our enemies are and why they're trying to kill us. Hillary Clintons State Department refused to designate Nigerias terrorist group Boko Haram as an Islamic terrorist group for two years. For two years on Hillary Clinton's watch, the State Department refused to designate a Nigerian Islamist group as a terrorist organization. This group has murdered thousands as it wages a real war on women When the Global Terrorism Database of the University of Maryland's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism compiled its list of terrorist organizations and ranked them by the number of their terror acts in 2012, Afghanistan's Taliban came in first. Boko Haram was not far behind. The world's attention is now focused on the kidnapping of some 300 girls from the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School in Lagos, Nigeria. "I abducted your girls," a man claiming to be Abubakar Shekau, the group's leader, said in a video seen by the Guardian newspaper. "I will sell them in the market, by Allah. I will sell them off and marry them off. There is a market for selling humans." Yet for two years, the State Department refused to acknowledge the growing threat and barbarism of Boko Haram. As Josh Rogin at The Daily Beast reports, the Clinton State Department "refused to place Boko Haram on the list of foreign terrorist organizations in 2011" after the group bombed the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. We saw the worldwide war on Christians in the capture of Mosul in Iraq by ISIS and the decimation of its Christian population: Chaldean Catholic patriarch Louis Sako, who heads Iraq's largest Christian community, told Agence France-Presse: "Christian families are on their way to Dohuk and Arbil (in Kurdistan). For the first time in the history of Iraq, Mosul is now empty of Christians." From Nigeria to Egypt to Afghanistan and back, this story of Christian persecution continues without much notice from the White House. To his credit, British Prime Minister David Cameron, up against a political correctness and a rising Muslim population, said during his annual Easter reception at 10 Downing Street, that "our religion is now the most persecuted religion around the world" and "we should stand up against persecution of Christians and other religious groups wherever and whenever we can, and should be unashamed in doing so." Perhaps the murder of the Coptic Christians on Palm Sunday at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists will finally cause the liberal left to stand up and condemn this worldwide war on Christians. Then again, dont expect a miracle. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist who has been in the, news sharing his erroneous theory of morality in a mistitled book, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. Dr. Haidt bases his theory of morality on the atheist assumption that evolution is a non-purposive mechanism, driven by random mutations selected for survival functionality. From that spiritual void, Dr. Haidt tells us morality is an artifact of evolutionary sociobiology. "Evolution shaped human brains[, resulting in] evolved psychological mechanisms that work together to suppress selfishness and make social life possible." Social life is the universal human condition, with or without morality. Two murderers in a cell are a social group, yet if one doesn't slit the other's throat, it is not necessarily because of morality. But in Professor Haidt's functionalist understanding, any suppression of selfishness in a group is an example of morality. In this godless model, a terrorist who suppresses a wish to kill his sex slave and instead lets another terrorist rape her is displaying morality. In truth, morality operates to suppress selfishness not merely for social order, but for the possibility of divinely inspired existence. The vast tragedy of psychology is the inability to see that while the relationships among humans can rise to the level of lawfulness, righteousness exists only in the relationship between mankind and God. Morality is based not in biology, but in divinity. Social coercion, control, and cooperation develop to stabilize social processes and accomplish individual and group ends, for good or evil. But that is different from morality. Morality develops in civilizations that have a unifying religious experience of human worth and shared understanding of sacred truth. Morality is the highest benefit of being born into such a civilization. It is the application of divinely inspired, hallowed traditions of spiritual wisdom to the problems of life caused by constituents of selfishness such as anger, lust, and greed. Morality is essentially a system of conservation that prevents the dissipation of psychological energy by transferring that energy from the unimportant (selfish) to the important (selfless). Morality enables individuals without personal religious identification or conviction to partake in the shared spiritual wisdom of their community. For decades, leading psychologists have been proposing kinder, gentler, more inclusive theories to counteract the disrespect for religion, especially Christianity, which has been a stain on the discipline since its modern origins. Jonathan Haidt's attempt to find unity between liberals and conservatives is in that ameliorative tradition. However, his work is pacification more than unification, because he doesn't understand that the destruction of the Judeo-Christian moral code, led by psychologists, has resulted in a dominant belief system of anti-morality, especially among the left wing, whom he nostalgically calls "liberals." Dr. Haidt's formulation is that morality can be dissected into six components, termed "foundations": care, fairness, liberty, loyalty, authority, and sanctity. His research finds that liberals are more caring, conservatives stronger in loyalty, authority, and sanctity. (Social psychologists invariably find what they are looking for. For example, liberals would flunk "caring" if the scale pertained to the unborn.) In truth, sanctity is the essence of all morality, though the psyclops can't see that. In 2008, Dr. Haidt presented his model of morality in a TED Talk, "The Moral Roots of Liberals and Conservatives." While shedding no light on morality, the talk did expose the folly of the anti-moral left. Haidt opened with photos of two men standing before Michelangelo's David in Florence, Italy. He asked the audience to decide which man voted for Gore and which for Bush. One man is enthralled by the beauty of the statue, while the other is so embarrassed that he screws his face into a childish grimace and covers his eyes. The delighted smugocrats in the audience did not question the silly depiction of the Republican a middle-aged man in sex-drenched American popular culture travels to Italy to view art, passing countless representations of nudes and arriving at one of the world's most photographed statues to be horrified that Michelangelo forgot the fig leaf. Haidt compounded the insult to conservatives: "It is really a fact that liberals are much higher than conservatives on a major personality trait called openness to experience." Leaving no doubt that openness is superior, he explained that liberals are more open to novelty, diversity, and travel, while conservatives are more closed and prefer the familiar, safe, and dependable. The openness that Haidt values may be important to the purveyors of cheese that tastes like vomit, or performance artists exploring their own genitals, but it has no relevance to morality. In fact, when we understand what morality is the conservation of energy to serve God-given purposes novelty-seeking for its own sake tends to undermine rather than strengthen it. Furthermore, if openness pertains to discomfiting rather than entertaining oneself for example, serving the sick and poor Haidt's patronizing aside about the "Christian imagination" should experience a dramatic upgrade. Then the talk turned ugly. Haidt said, "When the liberal team loses as it did in 2004 ... [we think conservatives] must be blinded by religion or by simple stupidity." This reflects a theme of the left wing, which Haidt repeated in his talk: Eastern philosophy brings enlightenment, while Christianity brings stupidity. Fictional moral liberals prefer Eastern philosophies over Christianity because they are cherry-picked and cleansed of moral relevance. Haidt showed a map of flyover America labeled "Jesusland." Then, to raucous laughter, he showed a map of red states labeled DUMBF---ISTAN. Still, imagining himself a unifier, Dr. Haidt said, "If you think that half of America votes Republican because they are blinded in this way, then my message to you is that you are trapped in a moral matrix." That is the opposite of the truth. The left-wing desecration of Judeo-Christian belief has been wholesale. They did not preserve parts of the Bible as sacred. Nor did they replace biblical teaching with another morality. Liberalism or progressivism disintegrated into chaotic humanist ethicism. That is why they call their priests bioethicists, not biomoralists. While still ungratefully using Judeo-Christian morality to bring sanity to their lives, the left wing preaches politics as replacement, blind to the truth that political opinion vitiates morality and political pride destroys righteousness. To be fair, in 2017, Jonathan Haidt no longer labels conservatives "Dumbf---istanis." In fact, he says his research has pushed his own political beliefs rightward. But well-meaning psychologists remain incapable of seeing the godful nature of morality or understanding its decline. Haidt misunderstands the historical antecedents of anti-moral liberalism. He concludes that parallel moralities of liberals and conservatives descended from "two 19th-century narratives about modernity." Liberalism descended from "the celebration of the liberation of individuals," whereas conservatism is "mourning the loss of community and moral authority." Utterly wrong. Liberalism or progressivism has crushed individuality. Haidt himself recognizes the extreme loss of viewpoint diversity in his field of psychology. But he cannot connect the dots between left-wing political orthodoxy and the loss of diversity, or the illusion that parades celebrating sodomy as the promotion of individual freedom. Godful morality emphasizes sexual issues not because sexual immorality is "worse" than any other, but because sexuality is a highly energized realm of consciousness. Therefore, conservation of this energy requires stronger commitment to the important. What actually caused the rise of anti-morality is that science and technology have lifted people in advanced societies above hunger, cold, and early death, enabling mass comfort and affluence inconceivable in the 19th century. Because morality is the conservation of spiritual energy in the service of the important, advances in material circumstances have brought the chance to get away with wasting energy on the unimportant. The authors have written numerous essays since 2010 for American Thinker on California's Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA)'s and the U.S. EPA's scientific misconduct related to air pollution human effects science, and more recently on the discovery that the U.S. EPA was sponsoring and paying for illegal and unethical experiments exposing human subjects, even children, to small particle air pollution at high levels. Small particles originate from natural and man-made sources, such as dust, smoke, and engine and industrial emissions. The U.S. EPA claims that small particles are toxic and lethal and cause cancer. The EPA position on small particle air pollution The issue of small particle air pollution human effects was discussed in a House of Representatives hearing in September 2011 by the U.S. EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson. In a colloquy with Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ms. Jackson stated, "Particulate matter causes premature death. It's directly causal to dying sooner than you should." Markey asked, "How would you compare [the benefits of reducing airborne PM2.5] to the fight against cancer?" Ms. Jackson replied, "Yeah, I was briefed not long ago. If we could reduce particulate matter to healthy levels, it would have the same impact as finding a cure for cancer in our country." Markey: "Can you say that sentence one more time?" Jackson: "Yes sir. If um we could reduce particulate matter to levels that are healthy, we could have identical impacts to finding a cure for cancer." (Author note: Cancer kills a half-million Americans a year 25 percent of all deaths in the U.S. annually). The claim stated above by Ms. Jackson is the basis for the EPA's war on coal, fossil fuels, and internal combustion engines. All other criteria air pollutants are minimal concerns for the EPA. Surely small particles are a very toxic and lethal thing, as bad as cancer. Right? EPA is discovered doing human experiments The same month as Ms. Jackson's testimony, Milloy discovered a report in Environmental Health Perspectives, a journal published online and in hard copy by the National Institutes of Health, that reported an experiment on a 57-year-old lady subjected to small particle air pollution much higher than the EPA says is safe, in a chamber at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine EPA laboratory for human research. A stunned Milloy showed the journal report to Dunn. So little had come of the decade of human experiments before that Milloy and Dunn had not known of the EPA human exposure experiments project that was at least illegal and unethical, possibly a crime against humanity. Humans are not guinea pigs. The Nuremberg Code; the Helsinki Accords; the Belmont Report; and U.S. common law, statutes, and regulations, to include state laws and the Federal Code "Common Rule" and EPA rule 1000.17, all prohibit human experimentation that might cause harm to the subjects. Human risk can be considered only for the researchers themselves in circumstances where the research is essential and vital. The civil or criminal offense of human experimentation that risks harm to the subjects would be either exposure to harm or the fear of harm by infliction of mental distress if subjects found out that the public position of the EPA is that small particles are toxic and lethal and cause cancer. Which lie to believe? That is the twist you can't make these things up. In 2011 and 2012, Milloy and Dunn wrote letters to the EPA, the NIH journal editor who published the article, the EPA inspector general, and the federal Office for Scientific Integrity. They wrote to all the physicians in Congress, all the deans of the ten domestic medical schools doing human experiments, and state medical boards in North Carolina and Michigan, all attempting to stop the human experiments. The authors have written about the EPA project of research that exposed human beings of all ages, even children, to that same small particle air pollution to see if they could cause some harm. EPA sponsorship of these studies at ten domestic and six foreign medical schools was admitted under oath by an EPA official, Wayne Cascio, M.D., and it is unethical and illegal. Senior EPA research scientist Robert Devlin, Ph.D. admitted in a sworn affidavit that the EPA epidemiology was unreliable, the reason for human experiments. EPA hires the National Academy of Science The EPA, in response to a congressional inquiry and negative inspector general report, engaged and paid the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) contract subdivision, the National Research Council (NRC), to provide a whitewash investigation. The NAS National Research Council Investigative Committee was convened in secret without notice and without contacting Milloy and Dunn, the complaining parties, or the congressional committee that had demanded an inspector general report that had gone badly for the EPA. The closeted investigation continued with closed meetings attended only by NRC staff, committee members, and the EPA. The docket by a year, June of 2016, had 50 documents, all submitted by the EPA or its allies. In May of 2016, a congressional aide ran across information about the existence of the committee and informed Milloy. Milloy demanded a hearing and allowance for submissions in June of 2016, which was granted by NRC officials. Milloy found that 13 out of 19 members of the committee were significant grantees of EPA, amounting to tens of millions of dollars received, with the most extreme example being Charles Driscoll, discussed here. On August 11, 2016, an internet audio conference of the National Research Council Panel on EPA-sponsored human exposure experiments titled "Assessing Toxicological Risks to Human Subjects Used in Controlled Exposure Studies of Environmental Pollutants" was held, with two hours of testimony heard and submissions critical of the EPA human exposure experimentation. After that, nothing was heard from the committee. The committee published its news release and a 150-plus-page report on March 28, 2017, ignoring the testimony and submissions of witnesses Milloy, Dunn, Young, Enstrom, and Donnay. The report exonerated the EPA human experiments on the theory that small particles are not toxic or lethal or carcinogenic acutely that is, they do not have any acute toxic effects, but rather just long-term deleterious effects. They said that, knowing that the EPA asserts short-term acute death effects and justifies its regulations on the basis of Ms. Jackson's claim that small particles kill people and kill them acutely. The problem for the NRC committee is that they are trying to create cover for the EPA by misstating the EPA position on toxicity and lethality of small particles. That is clear from this quote from the National Academy of Sciences Report press release: To assess the level of safety provided by study protocols and the likelihood of participants experiencing any serious health effects with long-term consequences, the committee reviewed eight recent CHIE studies. The committee concluded that the societal benefits of CHIE studies are greater than the risks posed to the participants in the eight studies considered, which are unlikely to be large enough to be of concern. EPA applies a broad set of health-evaluation criteria when selecting participants to determine that there is no reason to believe that their participation in the study will lead to an adverse health response. The health status of subjects is monitored shortly before, during, and immediately after the exposure studies and usually again about 24 hours later. The NAS report is self-destructive, obfuscatory, contradictory gobbledygook. The NAS report is so filled with errors, omissions, misstatements, misdirection, and general dishonesty that it would take days if not weeks to fully critique. The NAS compromised its integrity to cover for the EPA, confirming Eisenhower's warning about the government-research complex that can produce science fraud and misconduct for a political agenda. Scaremongering is important for justifying government growth and overreach. After all, the aim of practical politics is to create scares so the populace will be anxious and clamor to be led to safety by government experts (paraphrasing H.L. Mencken). If the EPA can continue to do these experiments, then it must not be true that any exposure to PM2.5 can kill within hours or days, or even weeks. It must have only a "chronic" long-term effect that the NRC committee fails to define. That destroys the basis for the EPA air pollution regulatory regime that has burdened society for three decades and more and is based on scientific misconduct. Who will reimburse society for the costs and burdens of this scam? How about all those coal miners without jobs and the companies that had to spend millions to comply with regulations chasing a phantom small particle air pollution menace that was claimed to kill hundreds of thousands annually in the U.S.? The movie Creature from the Black Lagoon, featuring the gill man, was scary, but corrupt researchers and politicians at the EPA-NAS-D.C. swamp are just despicable. A comprehensive and informative narrative of the EPA wars and the EPA misconduct and what to do about it is found in Milloy's sixth and most recent book, Scare Pollution (Bench Press 2016). Dunn's long battle with the EPA on scientific integrity is told here. Steve Milloy MHS (Biostats Johns Hopkins), J.D., LLM. John Dale Dunn, M.D., J.D. is an emergency physician and inactive lawyer. I suppose it would be going too far to call President Trump a Man of Steel. But he certainly qualifies as a Man of Action in his quick and decisive response to the use of nerve gas in Syria. But what does that make Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama? Perfectly simple. Barack Obama is a Man of Activism. In other words, his whole life is premised on the concept of striking ideological poses. His most notable pose was his 2004 convention speech where he posed as a moderate perfectly balanced on his satin toe-shoes between red states and blue states. Not. There have been other poses since. Some people call it virtue signaling. Of course, nobody can know the unintended consequences of Trumps Syria bombing. Will it make the bad actors think twice about badness, or will it just twirl the Middle East deeper into chaos? Thats the thing about Men of Action. Once you sign on for the ride, you never know if you will be able to get off. We know that Donald Trump has been a Man of Action all his life. This was the troubled kid that had to be sent off to military school. This was the young scion that went from a nice cozy outer-borough real-estate business to see if he could make it in Manhattan. And Donald Trump has got through several bankruptcy proceedings. That is one way to divide the men from the boys. Yes, but what was the point of the Syria bombing? To some analysts it looked just like the usual symbolic response to dying-children-in-the-TV-news. Maybe it was. Or maybe it was getting out in front of the Trump did nothing while children died meme. Or maybe it was sending Chinese President Xi a message as he waited for Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Or maybe it was sending Putin a message that we are not in Kansas anymore. Or maybe it was twitting the Democratic Party Trump-Russia collusion meme. Thats the point of a Man of Action. He likes to keep you guessing. The only way you can tell what the Man of Action is thinking is by analyzing his actions and trying to connect the dots. But what about the Man of Activism? He is the complete opposite. He is forever telling you what he believes, and describing the arc of history in excruciating detail and descanting about justice and who we are. But he doesnt actually do anything. ObamaCare? Nancys baby. Dodd-Frank? Er, something about banksters. Lobotomize the economy with climate change? Leave that to the bureaucrats; they know what to do. All this is fine, but there is one thing missing. I want a Man of Action President who goes beyond Making America Great Again. I want him to tell a story of America: a narrative that tells us where we have been, where we have gone wrong and what we need to do to set it right. The liberals are pretty good at this. They have a narrative about how America was born in slavery and in injustice to native Americans and workers and women and minorities. All in all, America is the worst thing to come along since organized religion and its endless religious wars. But there is hope. All we have to do is listen to the chants of principled peaceful protesters and shop for In This House, We Believe yard signs. And meanwhile climate scientists will save the planet. My Man of Action presidents narrative would go something like this: up until about 200 years life on this planet was nasty, brutish and short, even for kings and princes. But the last 200 years have been a Great Enrichment of unimaginable depth and scope, with ordinary people going from $1 income per day to the present $100 per day. This was driven by nobodies with crazy ideas about cheap textiles, oil from the ground, personal transportation, the magic of electricity, the wonders of computers and the internet. Not to mention the crazy idea that government should be limited and the servant of the people. But for the last 150 years there has been a movement to put a stop to all this. Economic Marxism, cultural Marxism, fascism, globalism, feminism, environmentalism, radical Islam: they all look alike and all want to put a stop to the Great Enrichment of ordinary people. But these naysayers are all wrong. My presidency, apart from Making America Great Again, will be nothing but bold, persistent action to put these naysayers back where the sun dont shine. Because, you see, what is important is not what I, the president do. What is important is what millions of you ordinary American Men and Women of Action do every day to make America Great Again for yourselves, your families, and your children. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also see his American Manifesto and get his Road to the Middle Class. The ripple effect from President Trump's missile attack on Syria has reached the Korean peninsula with China reportedly deploying 150,000 troops to their border with North Korea. The reason for the troop movement, according to South Korean news sources, is to handle the flood of refugees if the U.S. attacks North Korea. The U.S. strike on Syria has unsettled America's enemies, who have come to the conclusion that President Trump is no President Obama and will not hesitate to take action to defend what he perceives as American security. Daily Mail: The troops have been dispatched to handle North Korean refugees and 'unforeseen circumstances', such as the prospect of preemptive attacks on North Korea, the news agency said. Meanwhile, the US Navy has moved the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group from Singapore to North Korea after the country conducted more missile testing. It is not likely that the troop movement is in response to the decision to send the carrier strike group toward the Korean peninsula, which was just announced yesterday. The troop movements are a contingency in case tens of thousands of North Korean refugees look to escape a military action by the U.S. Speculation of an imminent nuclear test is brewing as the North marks major anniversaries including the 105th birthday of its founding leader on Saturday sometimes celebrated with a demonstration of military might. Wu Dawei, China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, met with his South Korean counterpart on Monday to discuss the nuclear issue. The talks come shortly after Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Pyongyang's key ally to do more to curb the North's nuclear ambitions. '(We) are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to coordinate with us,' US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the summit. He added however that Beijing had indicated a willingness to act on the issue. 'We need to allow them time to take actions,' Tillerson said, adding that Washington had no intention of attempting to remove the regime of Kim Jong-Un. The meeting between Xi and Trump came on the heels of yet another missile test by the North, which fired a medium-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday. The US Navy strike group Carl Vinson cancelled a planned trip to Australia this weekend, heading toward the Korean peninsula instead, in a move that will raise tensions in the region. Twice before this century, China has had to deal with a flood of refugees from North Korea. But that was related to famines that broke out as a result of the North Korean government impoverishing its citizens by devoting a huge percentage of its resources to its nuclear and ICBM programs. Best estimates are that 200-300,000 North Korean refugees are currently in China. Needless to say, the Chinese would like to prevent the arrival of any more. Since a U.S. invasion of the North is extremely unlikely, the Chinese troop deployment should be seen as a pragmatic response to a potentially catastrophic humanitarian situation. Whether the prospect of more refugees will spur the Chinese to put more pressure on North Korea with regards to their nuclear program remains to be seen. Nothing quite brings out the genius in criminals like schemes that look to bilk the American taxpayer. A lawyer in Tennessee signed a guilty plea in one of the biggest Social Security disability fraud cases in history. Eric C. Conn acknowledged that he was the ringleader in a conspiracy to defraud the federal government of hundreds of millions of dollars in disability benefits. Here's a crook who covered all the bases. Washington Times: Eric C. Conn, a prominent lawyer in eastern Kentucky, signed a guilty plea late last month acknowledging the scam, in which he recruited and filed at least 1,748 fraudulent applications, complete with fake IQ tests or medical exams. He had a team of doctors and psychologists sign off on them, then had a Social Security judge rubber-stamp them. All told, his scam left the government on the hook for more than $550 million in lifetime benefits, with more than $46 million doled out as of October, Conn admitted in his plea deal. Cases are pending against Administrative Law Judge David Black Daugherty, who rubber-stamped the applications, and against Alfred Bradley Adkins, a psychologist who made up mental health evaluations to support hundreds of the bogus applications. But the criminal cases have ensnared Conn's clients, most of whom say they have valid claims of disability even if the fraud ring cheated on their applications. Lawyers like Conn usually work with a few clients who file multiple applications for disability benefits. But in this case, it appears that at least some of the cases were legitimate, leaving some citizens in limbo. "Fraud is taking away benefits for legitimately disabled," said former Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican who led an exhaustive Senate investigation in 2013 that helped expose the unprecedented scope of the scam. After the fraud was first confirmed, Social Security moved quickly to send out 900 notices to people whose applications were handled by Conn. The notices said their benefits would expire in 10 days. Fear ran through the West Virginia and Kentucky communities Conn had preyed upon. Ned Pillersdorf, a Kentucky lawyer, said at least three suicides are directly linked to Social Security's suspension of benefits and as many as six could be linked. After the first couple of suicides, Rep. Harold Rogers, a Republican who represents eastern Kentucky, stepped in. At the time, Mr. Rogers was the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and he persuaded Social Security to continue paying the benefits. Mr. Rogers said Conn's plea agreement shows that the justice system is working. He said the real victims in the case were honest disabled residents whose cases got snared in the scheme. "Conn purposefully took advantage of the most vulnerable among us and stole millions of taxpayer dollars," the congressman said. He said now that Conn has admitted to the scheme, Social Security should speed up the review process to make sure those who qualify for disability benefits get their checks without disruption. The situation has been devastating for Floyd County, where Conn had his law offices, and for surrounding counties that rank among the poorest in the country. The fraud and SSA's response to it reveals how deeply flawed the program has become. We all pay into the Social Security disability program. But there are so many ways to game the system so that undeserving citizens receive benefits that the entire system should be scrapped and replaced with a public-private option that can be more carefully monitored. Cons like Conn are a serious problem. But much of the fraud in the disability program is the result of citizens faking their injuries, or exaggerating their severity, to collect benefits they are ineligible for. The SSA simply doesn't have the resources to investigate these individual cases of fraud. Conn got greedy, which is why he was caught. But you have to wonder how many more doctors and lawyers are out there defrauding the taxpayer with SSA none the wiser. Not infrequently, politicians get in trouble with the law for a host of reasons, including corruption and sexual harassment. While the political affiliation of the accused may be interesting, it is often unstated, unless you know what to look for. Last week, the Seattle mayor, Ed Murray, found himself in the hot seat over 30-year-old sexual abuse allegations from three men. I'm always a bit skeptical over decades-old claims, even against a Democrat big-city mayor. Did I say Murray is a Democrat mayor? It's logical, given that he is the elected leader of the "People's Republic of Seattle," but I didn't learn his political affiliation from the news story. Yet I still knew. How? Three prominent news organizations reported the story. ABC News, the N.Y. Times, and the Daily Mail all described Mayor Murray's past sexual hijinks without ever mentioning his party affiliation. ABC News did mention that the mayor is "a warrior for core Democratic values." But the same could be said about Senators McCain and Collins, who on occasion share this trait. But no mention of his political party affiliation. How do the media cover similar stories about Republicans? Remember former Idaho senator Larry Craig? He popularized the term "wide stance," which made it into the Urban Dictionary, based on his defense of his restroom stall antics. The N.Y. Times covered the Senator Craig story with "Republican" in the first sentence. Diligent journalism. Giving us the "who, what, where, when" of reporting all in the first sentence, including the political affiliation of the perp. Just like with Mayor Murray. Or not. How about a few other examples to see if there is a pattern here? The N.Y. Daily News published a story about an Oklahoma congressman, Dan Kirby, using taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment complaint. With no hesitation, the N.Y. Daily News announced the political affiliation of the accused congressman, both in the headline and in the first sentence of the article. If Congressman Kirby had been a Democrat, is there any doubt that the word "Republican" in the headline would be replaced by the word "congressman"? A Greenwich, Connecticut politician allegedly pinched a woman's genitals. The Huffington Post, in the second paragraph, reported his Republican party affiliation. If he had been a Democrat, he would just become a "town representative," allowing the readers to do their own research, if they so chose, to determine his political party. Then there is the former "hip hop" mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick. Logically, one can surmise that a city like Detroit would have a Democrat mayor. Mayor Kwame had quite the time in office, including corruption and sexual misdeeds leading to his resignation and incarceration. Politico covered his 2013 trial but didn't mention his Democratic Party affiliation until the second to last paragraph. Who reads Politico articles to the very end? The Huffington Post also covered the trial with no mention of the word "Democrat" in their article instead, only that he was a "former Detroit mayor." What's the punch line here? Aside from the obvious that the fakestream media go to extremes to hide or ignore bad news regarding their Democratic Party masters, while gleefully reporting similar news about Republicans the rule of thumb for understanding news articles covering the misdeeds of politicians is that if said politician is a Republican, you will know if from either the headline or the first few sentences. If you see no mention of a political party, odds are it's a Democrat. Often a key to communication is to listen not only to what is said, but more importantly what is not said. Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., MPS is a Denver-based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. In recent years, one of the most divisive foreign policy subjects in Washington has been none other than Iran. The deal sealed by the Obama administration with other world powers aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program and altering the regime's gross behavior, saw its way through Congress without a single Republican voting in favor. President Donald Trump made it a hallmark of his campaign to adopt a tougher stance against Tehran. Recent developments have once again brought Iran at the top of the congressional agenda with the weighing of new initiatives. President Trump has not defined the exact nature of his approach against Iran, despite unprecedentedly placing the regime "on notice." The Obama administration went through intense Iran policy debates, and to this end, many members on Capitol Hill have become experts from the time they have spent on this matter, far beyond any other subject. As White House officials continue to weigh their options, Congress can seize the initiative to present an assertive perspective able to gain the backing of both executive and legislative branches. A slate of core components should be included in this congressional effort. Lawmakers should begin their measures by expressing their view for the need to carefully oversee Iran's strict compliance with the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). While disagreements have flared in the past in this regard, a consensus is being established in Congress and the White House that vigorously enforcing the deal is the best roadmap to holding Iran accountable for probable future violations. A bipartisan congressional panel should be established to guarantee correct JCPOA implementation and holding hearings to maintain the subject high on the general foreign policy playbook. Congress should also raise the costs of Iran's potential violations, to force the regime to think twice about taking such a path. This would involve sanctions far beyond those triggered if the deal collapses entirely. Congress should also call for and support a new series of law enforcement activities, military and intelligence actions, sanctions, and weapons interdiction to blunt Iran procuring for its network of proxies scattered across the region. This can include a variety of low-profile measures targeting the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and its Quds Force, along with their proxies. This would provide a major boost in the pushback against Iran's growing influence in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Congress should support the Trump administration's new effort to improve ties with Arab Gulf allies nearly broken under Obama's watch for the sake of the Iran nuclear deal. A variety of options, including weapons sales and different methods of cooperation, are available in this regard. Establishing a broad multinational task force with its Gulf partners should be a major priority for the U.S. Such a relationship would enhance exercises and training campaigns, intelligence-sharing, and joint operations. Such an entity can employ attacks on different targets deemed necessary, such as Iran's proxy groups and other terrorist networks across the region. Do not be mistaken, however: there is no intention to promote a pro-war campaign against Iran, as launching such a campaign would play into the regime's hands. The silver bullet or the final nail in the coffin against Iran, at least for now, is for Congress to pass a bill designating the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. This is the measure that will send the necessary signal to Tehran that neither America nor the international community will tolerate any longer their belligerence of any nature. Such a move will prevent any further wars in the region, support the Iranian people against the very entity behind Iran's domestic clampdown and human rights violations, and weaken the regime in its entirety prior to the crucial May 19 presidential election. Congress can thus set the stage for the Iranian people to pour into the streets, similar to the 2009 episode, and express their true feelings about the mullahs' hideous rule. The Singapore-based ocean carrier, now a subsidiary of Frances CMA CGM, will commence the Asia Fremantle Express (AFX) service between Singapore and Fremantle on April 27, 2017. Singapore-based ocean carrier APL, now a subsidiary of Frances CMA CGM, is launching a new, dedicated service between Singapore and Fremantle, Australia, later this month, according to a statement from the company. Full schedules and vessel details are not yet available, but APL said the weekly Asia Fremantle Express (AFX) will commence with the first sailing from Singapore on April 27, 2017. The AFX will have a full port rotation of Singapore, Fremantle, and back to Singapore. APLs new AFX service will enhance our existing Oceania service network of five services that serve Australia, Chan Khai Tou, head of Intra-Asia Short Sea and Oceania Services at APL, said of the new string. With its industry-leading 7-day direct transit between Singapore and Fremantle, the AFX service is the solution for time-sensitive cargo, particularly reefer shipments from Fremantle. Complementing APLs Asia Australia Express (AAX), the AFX service adds another weekly shipment cut-off time in Singapore and Fremantle which shippers can count on for a more flexible supply chain management. According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the joint Asia Australia Express (AAX) loop is operated with five vessels one each from APL and parent company CMA CGM, and three from fellow subsidiary line ANL with an average capacity of 5,253 TEUs. The AAX, which also counts China COSCO Shipping, NYK Line and TS Lines as slot purchasers, has a full port rotation of Singapore, Port Kelang, Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, and back to Singapore. Democrats are calling for the head of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii for not toeing the party line on U.S airstrikes against Syria. "This is a disgrace. Gabbard should not be in Congress," tweeted former Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean Saturday. Neera Tanden, chief of the John Podesta-linked Center for American Progress, took the political muscle approach, according to the Daily Caller: People of Hawaii's 2nd district was it not enough for you that your rep met with a murderous dictator? Will this move you? What they were criticizing was Gabbard's tendency to do her own thinking on issues, in this case calling for a U.S. investigation to show evidence that there really was a regime-sponsored chemical attack in Syria. It was a respectable sort of skepticism even if most of us think it's a little Ron Paul-ish. Whatever it was, it wouldn't hurt to do it, to get the truth out, given the loony tales emanating from Bashar al-Assad and his allies about what really happened. It wasn't an unreasonable stance, even if one does not agree with it. It also didn't help with this bunch that Gabbard visited Syria and met with President Bashar al-Assad last January, something that incensed Tanden yet didn't seem to bother her when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also did it several years earlier. Sure, it's a little gamy, given the dog and pony show she probably got, but it's also largely harmless, and in any case, what is the message here? That it's okay if Pelosi does it, but not Gabbard? What kind of standard is this? That's what makes the reaction from the Democratic establishment so crazy. Why are they jumping on her for doing her own research, having her own take on things? it's not like she's on the take, as Podesta and his brother were in their financial dealings with the Russians. It calls to mind that they have been hostile to her ever since she supported Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, that same primary Tanden and company went to such lengths to rig against Sanders and for Hillary Clinton according to the WikiLeaks. Worse still, she met and talked with Donald Trump after the 2016 election, once again, doing her own research and for them, in full Trump Derangement Syndrome, an unforgiveable sin. Now they are calling for her head, for not following the Hillary Clinton party line Hillary is on record as supporting the strikes. The Democrats have impressed us mightily by their party discipline in getting legislations accomplished. The flipside is this disgusting tendency to purge for the slightest deviation. If ordinary Democrats, such as those who voted for Gabbard in Hawaii, can't wise up about this, then perhaps it's time to break that party up and go third party. The enforced orthodoxy of the commissars against the Democratic Party's Bernie Sanders types is pretty darn disgusting. The coast and the interior are growing furiously apart. We are not talking about China. We are talking about California, or the state where the cities of the coast and the towns of the interior seem headed for divorce court. Over the weekend, a friend directed me to this post by Joel Kotkin about the situation: California may never secede, or divide into different states, but it has effectively split into entities that could not be more different. On one side is the much-celebrated, post-industrial, coastal California, beneficiary of both the Tech Boom 2.0 and a relentlessly inflating property market. The other California, located in the state's interior, is still tied to basic industries like homebuilding, manufacturing, energy and agriculture. It is populated largely by working- and middle-class people who, overall, earn roughly half that of those on the coast. Over the past decade or two, interior California has lost virtually all influence, as Silicon Valley and Bay Area progressives have come to dominate both state politics and state policy. "We don't have seats at the table," laments Richard Chapman, president and CEO of the Kern Economic Development Corporation. "We are a flyover state within a state." Virtually all the polices now embraced by Sacramento from water and energy regulations to the embrace of sanctuary status and a $15-an-hour minimum wage come right out of San Francisco central casting. Little consideration is given to the needs of the interior, and little respect is given to their economies. After reading the article, I became more and more convinced that California has an unsustainable political situation. I don't believe there is another state in the union with such a crisis. It is true that Texas has regional differences, but the state's general prosperity and low taxes fix things. As I see it, you cannot keep people away from the political table, especially the self-reliant people who make up the interior. At some point, they will demand their autonomy, even if that means breaking away from Sacramento. Furthermore, some of the counties in the interior may look for annexation to Nevada or Arizona. At least you will see the state continue losing people who pay taxes. Back to the article: Many firms fleeing regulation, high taxes and housing costs used to head inland. Now, many are migrating to Nevada, Texas, Arizona and other states. "Many of the projects we saw years ago have surfaced in Phoenix," lamented Mary Jane Ohlasso, assistant executive officer for San Bernardino County, in an interview. "The whole way California has grown has been hopelessly terminated," she told me. On the surface, California seems determined to buck the national trend that resulted in 35 states under GOP control. However, the Golden State has huge internal problems that more Sacramento liberalism cannot fix. At some point, the interior will fight or just walk away from this tyranny of the coast! P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. John McCain served our country in Vietnam and was subject to horrific torture as a POW. Since then, his career as a Republican senator has been undistinguished, to be charitable. He calls himself a "maverick," primarily because he opposes his own Republican Party. For example, he voted against the 2001 Bush tax cuts, probably because Bush beat him in the 2000 primaries. His major legislation, McCain-Feingold, intended to restrict political contributions by corporations and others, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The Dems complain about this in every election because they do not want businesses to contribute to Republicans. Lately, McCain seems more unhinged than usual. First, on Sunday, April 9, he blamed the Trump administration "partially" for the chemical attack on civilians by Assad in Syria because the administration sent "mixed" signals to Assad. This is preposterous. Second, on Sunday, April 2, he criticized House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes, alleging that Nunes could not conduct an impartial investigation because he viewed and discussed intelligence reports that confirm that Trump was surveilled by the Obama administration. McCain told Martha Raddatz on ABC: This is obviously a schism between Republican and Democrats, let alone that bizarre fashion with which all of this happened. If we're really going to get to the bottom of these things, it's got to be done in a bipartisan fashion. And as far as I could tell, Congressman Nunes killed that. McCain's comments tied in with the Democrats' attacks on Nunes that forced Nunes to recuse himself as chairman. Once again, McCain helped the Democrats. On December 30, 2016, McCain said the Russian "interference" with our election is an "act of war." An act of war implies that we have to respond with force. McCain ignores the fact there is no evidence that the Russians affected the outcome of the election. Hillary brags that she won the popular vote. If Russia hacked and released Podesta's emails, this must mean that the voters in the Democratic states did not care about the contents of the emails, but the voters in the Republican states did care. The DNC never supplied their computers to the FBI to check for hacking despite the request from FBI director James Comey. What were the Democrats afraid of if they claim that their computers were hacked? Since the FBI did not examine the DNC computers, they cannot say the computers were hacked. At best, the Russians may have sent the phishing email to Podesta, whose emails document that Hillary and Obama lied about Hillary's use of the unsecured email system. McCain must believe that the release of information about Hillary, the veracity of which was not questioned by Hillary or Obama, is an act of war. In March 2017, after Senator Rand Paul disagreed with McCain on whether Montenegro should join NATO, McCain accused Paul of working for Putin: You are achieving the objectives of Vladimir Putin ... trying to dismember this small country, which has already been the subject an attempted coup. If they object, they are now carrying out the desires and ambitions of Vladimir Putin, and I do not say that lightly. In January 2017, McCain told the Morning Joe cast that Putin is a greater danger to our country than ISIS. How many terrorist attacks killing Americans did Putin authorize? McCain is the go-to guy for the Sunday political shows who need a "Republican" to bash Trump and other Republicans. He is always ready to help Democrats attack Republicans. McCain acts as if he were the senator from Ukraine/Crimea who wants war with Russia. McCain should resign and retire. He can star in a remake of Dr. Strangelove as General Buck Turgidson. He does not need to act just to be himself. Or he can work for MSNBC or the Sunday political shows, where he spends most of his time. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Soups are a big part of the African cuisine. In fact, its safe to say that African soups are the main attraction of cuisine in the continent. African soups can be made with a combination of vegetables and ingredients that are native to the countries where they are mostly eaten. Very many African soups are usually eaten with other food staples such as rice, fufu, banku, sadza, garri, pounded yam, and so on. Below are some of our favorite soups from different African countries. 1. Okra soup Okra soup is a popular West African dish with okra as its main ingredient. It is one of the quickest and easiest soups to prepare with the only task being the cutting of the two vegetables used in preparing the recipe. Although this deliciously slimy dish can be cooked with the local palm oil, it is also a good choice for people who are wary of adding oil to their soups. 2. Abenkwan Abenkwan is a Ghanaian soup made from the nuts of the palm tree. The pulp is extracted from the palm fruits and cooked in combination with spices and preferred meat of choice. Abenkwan has an earthy flavor thanks to the addition of the palm fruit pulp (which is different from the palm oil). Serve warm with rice balls or Kokonte and you will be satisfied to the moons and back. 3. Muriwo na Nyama Muriwo na nyama is also known as leafy-beefy or high fields stew. It is native to Zimbabwe, highly nutritious and is typically served with sadza, a porridge made with cornmeal. See Also: 10 Zimbabwean Dishes To Try Before Death Knocks On Your Door 4. Pepper soup Pepper soup is a spicy African soup that will make your taste buds tingle with excitement. The soup is gotten from the stock of the meat or fish used. It is also spiced with local ingredients, giving it a tantalizing aroma and taste that will make you hungry even if you just had dinner. For the best experience, have your pepper soup hotnot scalding hot of course and thank us later. 5. Agushie/Egusi soup Agushie (Ghana)/Egusi(Nigeria) is a delicious soup cooked with shelled melon seeds. It is one of the most popular soups, if not the most popular of all. The method of preparation might differ across the different regions in which this soup is eaten but it ultimately includes the addition of leafy greens, seasoning and palm oil. In Nigeria, its best served with freshly pounded yam. See Also: Gambian Food: 10 Delicacies Youll Absolutely Love From The West African Country 6. Domoda Domoda is the Gambias national dish, second only to Yassa. It is a a yummy soup cooked with unsweetened peanut butter with whatever vegetables are available. It might also contain sweet potatoes. Domoda is better enjoyed with rice. 7. Afang Afang is a delightful and satisfying soup from southern Nigeria. It is similar to the eru soup in Cameroon. They both make use of the afang/okazi leaves. However, the afang leaves are pounded and used in addition to water leaf. Afang soup is rich in deliciousness and best served hot with fufu and lots of meat. 8. Ndole Ndole is another leafy vegetable soup with its home in Cameroon and is often considered the national dish of the central African country. Its a creamy and nutritious soup cooked with pureed peanuts, bitter leaf, ndoleh and fish or beef. It may also contain shrimp or prawns. The soup is traditionally eaten with plantain or cassava meal. 9. Afia efere/ Ofe nsala In the Nigerian local languages of Annang and Igbo, afia efere and ofe nsala respectively mean white soup in English. Technically, this mouth-watering spicy soup should be called brown soup but wheres the fun in that? It is apparently called white for the lack of palm oil use. See Also: Interesting Facts About The Yoruba People Of Nigeria 10. Ewedu Soup Ewedu is a Nigerian soup which is popular among the Yorubas. Its a leafy vegetable soup but unlike other African soups, the greens (jute leaves) are pureed and cooked with nothing more than salt, locust beans and often potash. It is usually served in addition to peppered stews (as pictured above) or gbegiri (beans soup). Yorubas love to eat this with amala, a starchy swallow made from yam peels and sometimes plantains. Featured Image: Chef Fregz (ANSA) - Brussels, April 11 - Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco told the European Parliament's economic committee on Tuesday that the country's problem with bad debts must not be overstated. "You cannot talk of a time bomb in reference to something that is worth less than 1% of the country's GDP," Visco said. "We have a total of around 80 billion euros in non-performing loans for the big banks, Intesa, UniCredit, UBI, and a smaller part for those in difficulty like MPS and the Veneto banks, where we have a total of 20 billion in NPLs". Visco said that fraud was a major factor in the troubles the Italian banking sector is currently enduring. "An economic crisis of these proportions could not fail to hit the Italian banks," he said. "At the origin of the banks' difficulties we found company decisions tainted by fraudulent behaviours and imprudent decisions on the allocation of credit - a combination of potentially devastating factors. "Nevertheless, the damage to the banking system was concentrated in a few, well-identified intermediaries, who have been subject to intense oversight and continue to be so". Visco added that it is possible that the bank sector is "an industry that will not return to the profit levels of the past". GRANDE-SYNTHE (FRANCE) - Over half of the Grande-Synthe refugee camp in Dunkirk in northern France was destroyed by a large fire that broke out following a fight between Afghans and Kurds. Officials who said the fire was linked to the clashes. The flames broke out a few hours after the fights between about 150 migrants, in which five were injured, some of whom were taken to hospital. Last year, Doctors Without Borders evacuated hundreds of migrants from the open camp, which hosts up to 1,500 people. Police in riot gear intervened to put down the clashes, which a migrant on the scene said involved Afghans and Kurds. No injuries due to the fire have been reported thus far. Answers Africa is one of a kind platform created for Africans both locally and in the diaspora and those seeking for more in-depth information about Africa. We have always focused on creating the highest quality informational contents right from the beginning. We share the most relevant information on the latest and trending news, events, people, and places in Africa. We produce contents across various categories including Politics, People, Love and Romance, Nature, Entertainment, Technology and pretty much everything else that Africans may find relevant. We aim to answer the most relevant questions about Africa in areas of entertainment, famous people, emerging technologies while we also engage with various distribution capabilities to connect with Africans in need of information who rely on our website to keep in touch with the world that is changing so fast. These are some of the articles you may be interested in reading: 10 Famous TV Personalities Born In Ethiopia Ethiopia is a country best known for its fast athletes like Dibaba and Bekele, breathtaking models like Liya Kebede and of course Haile Selassie but there are also famous TV personalities who are doing a great job in entertainment and pushing the country to civilization. The following is a list of ten most famous TV ... 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 ... 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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 ... Everything To Know About Joanna Gaines Life With Chip Gaines, Their Business Pursuits and Kids Joanna Gaines and her husband Chip Gaines became celebrities after their television show Fixer Upper began airing back in 2013. The show which was about home renovation and decoration ran for about 6 seasons with a total of 79 episodes before the couple bade farewell to it in April 2018. Apart from their appearances on ... Who Is Larry The Cable Guy? What To Know About His Wife And Net Worth Larry the Cable Guy is a self-professed country kid renowned for his trademark Southern accent and sensational catchphrase Git-R-Done! The famous comedian who talks about anything under the sun has gone on to become one of the most memorable characters in comedy history. Join us in unearthing lesser-known facts about the former on-air-personality, standup comedy superstar, movie ... Who Is Patrick Starr, What Is His Net Worth and Gender? The make-up industry over the years has grown to become a billion dollar industry not just because there are probably more women wearing make-up but because a whole lot of men, especially the young ones, have become bold enough to wear it unlike before. A few of these men, like Patrick Starr, have even gone ... How Did Chris Jansing Become a Senior Correspondent at MSNBC and Who Is Her Husband? An award-winning American television news reporter and journalist, Chris Jansing has succeeded in carving a spectacular niche for herself in the field of TV journalism. Outstanding for not just her excellence in journalism, Chris is also cherished for her incredibly gorgeous looks post 60! 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Government sources said "Jordan was taking all necessary steps to protect its borders," but declined to divulge further information. But rebel sources told ANSA that Amman was playing a "key role" through sponsoring several rebel groups, providing them with cash, guns and expertise to take on IS fighters north east of its borders. Fighting has intensified during the past two days between an alliance of rebel groups supported by Jordan and gulf states with IS groups in the eastern and western regions of the borders. Commander of Jaish Maghaweer al Thawra, a rebel group within the FSA told Aharq al Awsat that Jordan is the main supporter of rebel groups, providing logistic support in the operations. Rebels are seeking to capitalize on the retreat of IS from various positions in the eastern region, waging a strong waive of attack on supply lines linking IS groups in western Deraa with the badia region, according to activists. They also hope to push further east to fight IS in its remaining pockets in the east and central areas. Jordan denies sending boots on ground in Syria, but sources say the western backed government has frequently sent special commando units take out certain targets from IS. King Abdullah, a close alley of Washington, was the first Arab leader to meet president Donald Trump, a sign of strong relations between the two sides. On Saturday, rebels said they fought off an attempt by IS to attack al Nataf border crossing between Jordan and Syria, near Iraq border after a group of suicide bombers attacked their positions. Sources told ANSA that Jordan has visibly mobilized forces on its northern borders with Syria sending tanks and other military hardwear across the 276 km line as the volatile situation in neighbouring Syria takes a new twist. TUNIS - The Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education has officially announced that the thesis commission at the National School of Engineers of Sfax rejected a thesis based on religious assertions supporting a flat Earth theory. The thesis, titled "The Flat Earth Model, Arguments and Impacts on Climate and Paleo-Climate Studies", was recently submitted by a student and drew a wave of online complaints after the news was made public. The Education Ministry said it has opened an investigation to determine responsibility. Details have already emerged regarding procedural errors in the thesis submissions process.(ANSAmed). Rebels fight IS at Jordan borders amid support from kingdom (by Mohammad Ben Hussein) (ANSAmed) - AMMAN, APRIL 11 - Jordan has refused to rule out its involvement in recent fighting on its northern borders between western backed rebels and the Islamic State (IS), amid reports of American troops gathering near the border ahead of expected escalation. Government sources said "Jordan was taking all necessary steps to protect its borders," but declined to divulge further information. But rebel sources told ANSA that Amman was playing a "key role" through sponsoring several rebel groups, providing them with cash, guns and expertise to take on IS fighters north east of its borders. Fighting has intensified during the past two days between an alliance of rebel groups supported by Jordan and gulf states with IS groups in the eastern and western regions of the borders. Commander of Jaish Maghaweer al Thawra, a rebel group within the FSA told Aharq al Awsat that Jordan is the main supporter of rebel groups, providing logistic support in the operations. Rebels are seeking to capitalize on the retreat of IS from various positions in the eastern region, waging a strong waive of attack on supply lines linking IS groups in western Deraa with the badia region, according to activists. They also hope to push further east to fight IS in its remaining pockets in the east and central areas. Jordan denies sending boots on ground in Syria, but sources say the western backed government has frequently sent special commando units take out certain targets from IS. King Abdullah, a close alley of Washington, was the first Arab leader to meet president Donald Trump, a sign of strong relations between the two sides. On Saturday, rebels said they fought off an attempt by IS to attack al Nataf border crossing between Jordan and Syria, near Iraq border after a group of suicide bombers attacked their positions. Sources told ANSA that Jordan has visibly mobilized forces on its northern borders with Syria sending tanks and other military hardwear across the 276 km line as the volatile situation in neighbouring Syria takes a new twist. (ANSAmed). Assad reign coming to an end, Tillerson says after Lucca G7 Up to the Syrians to decide, Russia not to be isolated - Alfano (ANSAmed) - LUCCA, APRIL 11 - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the foreign ministers' G7 in Lucca Tuesday that "it is clear to all of us that Assad's reign is coming to an end". Russia must choose whether it stands with the US and like-minded countries on Syria or with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran and Hezbollah, he added. French Foreign Minister Jean Marc Ayrault said in Lucca Tuesday that G7 foreign ministers have agreed that "there is no solution for Syria with Assad in power". But Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said that the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can't be decided in a day. Speaking after an extraordinary meeting on Syria on the sidelines of the G7 here, Alfano said Assad's future "is part of a much broader and more general discussion, on which we'll have to focus gradually, and which can't be decided in a day". He said that Italy's position "has always been that it is up to the Syrians to decide their own destiny". Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said after a Syria meeting including Gulf states and Turkey Tuesday that "Russia must not be isolated, indeed within the limits of the possible it must be involved in the process of political transition in Syria". On the possibility of fresh sanctions, aired yesterday, Alfano said "everyone voiced their opinion but the line of involving Russia appears prevalent, towards a concrete collaboration which can avert military conflict and start a political process". Alfano said negotiations with Russia "will be complex, but the first step is already very important", referring to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow today and tomorrow. He said Tillerson can count on "a very convinced consensus forged yesterday and today here in Lucca" at the G7 and among Arab states. Alfano told a press conference after the G7 in Lucca that "at this time there is not a consensus for other new sanctions as an effective tool to reach the objectives set in Syria". He said there were "different sensitivities" on the issue and that British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had raised the issue, "but sanctions must be considered as a tool to reach an objective". The G7 on Tuesday voiced its "full support for the OPAC-UN investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria and the identification of those responsible," referring to last week's attack near Idlib that killed dozens of people including many children. The conclusions of the G7 summit urged "Damascus and all the Syrian sides to cooperate towards the full conclusion of the probe into this atrocious incident". OPAC is the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The Syrian regime has been blamed for the nerve gas attack, but denies it was responsible. (ANSAmed). Putin calls for UN probe on Syrian chemical attack Moscow exert influence on chemical weapons, Mattarella says (ANSAmed) - MOSCOW, APRIL 11 - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Moscow will call for a UN probe into last week's chemical-weapons attack on a rebel-held town in Syria. The US blamed the Assad regime for the attack and launched missile strikes in response. "We have information from various sources that there will be other provocations, and I cannot call them anything else, in other areas of Syria such as the suburbs south of Damascus, where they intend to plant new substances and accuse the Syrian authorities of having used them," he said after meeting Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Putin also said after that "we discussed the threat terrorism poses to global security and only joint efforts by all the international community can defeat it". He added: "in this context we spoke about the tools to reach peace in the Middle East and Syria. Furthermore, we spoke about other weighty questions, like Ukraine". President Sergio Mattarella told Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin Tuesday that Moscow should "exert all its influence" over the "unacceptable" use of chemical weapons but Italy was in favour of establishing responsibility for last week's gas attack that killed dozens including many children near Idlib in Syria. Italy is ready to do its part in the EU and on the UN Security Council, he said. "We need greater collaboration and coordination against terrorism", Mattarella added. He is the first head of State to visit since last week's St Petersburg terror attack that killed 13 subway passengers. Mattarella restated Italy's condolences for the "atrocious" attack and said "Italy and Russia are very friendly countries with age-old relations". (ANSAmed) If youre considering a subscription to the Disney Plus streaming service, you may be wondering how much it costs. The service is available on both Known as an opposition, Jupiter is currently aligned with the Earth and the Sun, providing optimal opportunities to catch a glimpse of the solar systems largest planet and some of its 67 moons. With a diameter of 140,000 kilometers Jupiter is visible with the naked eye, but the telescopes set up at the corniche allowed the many passers-by and enthusiasts to get detailed views of its rings and clouds. Held in collaboration with the International Astronomical Centre, the event also featured participation from the Emirates Astronomical Society, Al Sadeem Astronomy Group, the UAE Astronomy Group, Aldhfra Astronomical Observatory and the Astronomy Club at New York University Abu Dhabi. This came as part of the Space Agencys ongoing efforts to coordinate space sector activities and encourage public participation with space sciences. As well as providing the public with access to advanced telescopes and observation equipment, the evening included lectures by prominent local astronomers, physicists and space sector personnel. The event was opened by Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi, director general of the UAE Space Agency, who spoke of the importance of providing opportunities for the general public to engage with space sciences. He also noted the central role played by astronomy in raising awareness for the field. Encouraging and facilitating community engagement with space sciences forms a cornerstone of the UAE Space Agencys strategy for bolstering the sector, Dr. Al Ahbabi explained. Our observation event this evening provided an accessible and entertaining way for all aspects of society to engage with this fascinating field and learn about our solar system. The turnout has been very encouraging, and were grateful to all the astronomers and groups that have helped bring this years Jupiter opposition to the public. Also presenting was Mohammed Odeh, director of the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomy Centre, who spoke to public audiences and fellow astronomers about the Jupiter opposition. Odeh said: With these events, our aim is to increase public awareness of astronomy, and I would say its been very successful. We look forward to having similar activities in the future in cooperation with the Agency. Earlier this year, the Space Agency held meetings with local astronomy societies and university groups to outline a framework for further collaboration in observation events and promoting public engagement with astronomy. The Agency hosts public observation sessions during major alignments, such as last years Mars Opposition and transit of Mercury. Dubai Duty Frees executive vice chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin said: We are delighted to retain the title Airport Travel Retailer of the Year and I would like to thank all of those in the industry and media who voted for Dubai Duty Free. I join our Chairman, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, in thanking our customers and our suppliers and I dedicate this DFNI award to each and every member of the Dubai Duty Free staff who do a great job in keeping such a large operation running seamlessly. Africa is one amazing continent where you find beautiful people, different tribes, ethnic groups, cultures, languages, dialects etc. Today we will be introducing you to one of the greatest group you will find in Africa the Oromo People. The Truth About Oromo People The Oromo people are the third-largest ethnonational group in Africa. They are particularly located in the horn of Africa Ethiopia and Somalia. A few can also be found in Kenya. Original members of the tribe occupied a region called Oromia or Biiya-Oromo. It was a free country located in the horn of Africa but was later colonized by the Abyssinian empire (now Ethiopia). For a big part of their history, the Oromo people were referred to as galla. There are different accounts as to the reason why they were called Galla. Antoine dAbaddie, a French explorer states that galla was a war cry spoken by the Oromo themselves. Some accounts state that it means to wander, others say it refers to a river, foreigner, pagan while some say that when the Islamic prophet Muhammad asked the Oromia chief to accept Islam, the chief said gha la which means no. Despite the unclear origin and meaning, history shows that this name was never used by indigenes of Oromia to describe themselves but by foreigners, hence it must connote a derogatory meaning. The Oromo people are said to have originated from the lake shamo (chamo) region. Oromos are part of the Cushite family (people from the ancient land of Cush/Nubia) who inhabited a large part of Northern and Eastern Africa. However, some Abyssinian historians dispute that the Oromos are old inhabitants of the land, stating that they were newcomers who migrated from Asia. Oromia people, however, believe such claims should be dispelled as it was fuelled by an account of Abba Bahrey who was biased against Oromia and further heightened the Abyssinians (Ethiopians) desire to conquer the Oromos. System Of Government Due to having originated from the Nubian family, Oromos share a lot in common with Somalis, Afars, Bejas and so on. They have a unique system of organization called gadaa. The gadaa is a social system where leaders of the Oromo community are elected by their men every eight years. The gadaa system regulates social, political and religious spheres of life in Oromia. The Dabballee are the sons of the ruling class who fall under 8 years of age. As they get older, they progress to the next age grade. Every three years before the third age group ends, the Qondaala, the members of the Gadaa nominate future leaders who will now be members of the Hayyu council. Similar to modern democracy, the gadaa election is preceded by a period of negotiations/campaigns carried out by members of the Hayyu council as they try to gain supporters ahead of the election. In the Kuusa age grade, the men will be officially elected, while in the Doorii, they will be allowed to have wives. These two stages prepare the men for leadership, they learn Oromo history, administration, as well as other tactics and necessary information that will help their tenure. When they reach the Gadaa grade they assume full leadership powers. 1. Dabballee (0-8 years of age) 2. Folle or Gamme Titiqaa (8-16 years of age) 3. Qondaala or Gamme Gurgudaa (16-24 years of age) 4. Kuusa (24-32 years of age) 5. Raaba Doorii (32-40 years of age) 6. Gadaa (40-48 years of age) 7. Yuba I (48-56 years of age) 8. Yuba II (56-64 years of age) 9. Yuba III (64-72 years of age) 10. Gadamojjii (72-80 years of age) 11. Jaarsa (80 and above years of age) The Gadaa consists of nine officials who are in charge of different offices; 1. Abbaa Bokku President 2. Abbaa Bokku First Vice-President 3. Abbaa Bokku Second Vice-President 4. Abbaa Chaffe Chairman of the Assembly (Chaffe) 5. Abbaa Dubbi Speaker who presents the decision of the praesidium to the Assembly 6. Abbaa Seera Memoriser of the laws and the results of the Assemblys deliberations. 7. Abbaa Alanga Judge who executes the decision 8. Abbaa Duula In charge of the army 9. Abbaa Saa In charge of the economy Oromo Flag The Oromians have a unique flag which is a symbol of their own social, political and legal system. The flag, known as Fajji Baqqala in the Oromo language, is made up of the colours of the Qaallu turban (surri ruufa) and has three horizontally equal stripes: black at the top, red in the centre and white at the bottom. Each of the colours represents something. The black at the top represents those who are yet to enter active life and are generally considered as the unknown. The red colour represents those in active life found in different institutions. They are regarded as the peoples light. The white colour at the tail end represents those who had passed the stage of active life. It also represents the age of retirement. The Language Of Oromo People The Oromos speak the Oromo language called Afaan Oromoo. The Afaan Oromoo is a Cushitic language which has numerous variations spoken by over thirty million people. Other ethnic groups like the Sidama, Berta, Adare, Annuak, Koma, Kulo, Kaficho, and Guraghe also speak the Oromo language in addition to their own languages. Afaan Oromoo is the third most widely spoken language in Africa, after Arabic and Hausa and the second most widely spoken indigenous language in Africa south of the Sahara. Early Oromo people relied on vocal communication rather than written words to tell their story. Until recently, Oromos were denied the right to develop their language, literature, and alphabet. For almost a century, it was a crime to write in this language but with the rise of the Oromo national movement, Oromo scholars adopted Latin script (the alphabet used for English and most other European languages) in the early 1970s, and began to teach reading and writing. See Also: Were Ethiopia And Liberia Colonized Or Not? See Facts Oromo Clothing The attire of the Oromo is quite similar to their Ethiopian cousins, the Amharas, although that of the Oromos are mostly red. Due to the multifacetedness of the Oromo people, traditional garments might differ across individual tribes/clans. Clothes are usually made from a material called Shema. Shema is an Ethiopian cotton which was originally hand-spun but has been industrialized, although some locals still resort to manually spinning the material. The Shema is then sewn to make dresses, shawls, and other local garments. See Also: 7 Beautiful African Traditional Wedding Attires Oromian Music Music is quite an important part of the Oromian culture and like what is obtainable in most of the African culture, the Oromians have music for every occasion. For instance, The horse praising songs or faaruu farda as it is traditionally called is usually sung during the Hamamoto (bride taking). There are love songs, songs to appreciate the beauty of the Oromo people as well as songs that tell stories of the peoples long-suffering, joy and oneness. Protests and Other Interesting Facts In 2015, the Oromo people embarked on a protest calling for an end to decades of systemic exclusion and subordination of the Oromians. Although the protests were sparked by a government plan to expand the territorial and administrative limits of Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, into neighbouring Oromo towns and villages, there seems to more to it than meets the eyes. The protest which began small soon grew in magnitude and intensity. The protests reached a turning point on August 6, 2016, when hundreds of thousands of people marched in more than 200 towns and cities to resist the governments draconian and ever-escalating repression and a climax on October 2, 2016, when the government responded with an overwhelming force, which Amnesty International described as a vicious cycle of protests and totally avoidable bloodshed. Over two million people had gathered to celebrate Irreecha, a cultural festival in which Oromos from all walks of life congregate to celebrate life and nature when security forces fired tear gas and live bullets on the crowd and arrested over 11,000 people. This didnt end here, the protest was further fueled and gained international attention when Feyisa Lilesa, an ethnic Oromo marathon runner, crossed his wrists above his head in an X, a gesture that came to define the Oromo protests, as he crossed the finishing line at the Rio Olympics to win the silver medal. In January 2018, top officials in the Oromo region announced that 2,345 inmates had been pardoned, of whom 1,568 had already been convicted and sentenced. Earlier Merera Gudina, an opposition leader who was arrested in December 2016 on his return from Brussels where he had addressed members of the European Parliament on the violence in his country, was freed alongside 114 other inmates. Although the Oromian people are yet to get their demands from the government, they have succeeded in the changing the history of Ethiopia forever. With the likelihood of becoming the worlds busiest airport it is already the most used international airport Dubai has a responsibility to ensure that it also leads the way in environmental improvement. Now Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, head of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and its air navigation services, as well as Emirates and Dubai Airports, has announced the implementation of an initiative called the approach peak offload (APO) procedure. This is set to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 447 tonnes on a monthly basis and increase arrival traffic by an additional 1.6 aircraft per hour. Mohammed A Ahli, director general of DCAA and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (Dans) said: We are committed to, and continuously striving to, transform the sky by developing and launching several key air traffic movement capacity enhancement projects in Dubai Developing and implementing innovative procedures, such as APO, have enabled us to deliver enhanced air traffic management services and accommodate the rising demand of our prestigious clientele. We have significantly invested our resources in thoroughly assessing the procedure in live operations through fast time and real time simulation exercises. This, in turn, has reinforced our efforts in building the safety case of the procedure, which has been approved for implementation by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Exclusively designed and developed by the Dans operations team, the APO procedure was created for the Dubai operational environment and is one of several solutions being implemented to drive further efficiency in the aviation sector as it increases the volume of air traffic movements, while reducing possible delay timings for airlines. Since implementation, the APO procedure has reduced peak arrival delay for Dubai, which is proven to lead to fuel consumption and cost savings for the airlines. The APO procedure is based on the possible re-allocation of lighter wake-producing category aircraft to runway 30R during arrivals peak periods, thus accommodating the arrival flow more efficiently with the use of both runways at Dubai International Airport. One of the key components of this unique procedure permits lighter category aircraft to maintain a horizontal separation of 4.5nm behind the A380 super aircraft while landing. Experts at Dans reached the new wake separation minima levels between aircraft based on the results of the safety case, which included an in-depth quantitative and qualitative wake data analysis. Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research said: Were seeing the fruits of that runway work come to the fore. Not only are we seeing better and speedier utilisation of DXBs runway use, it is benefitting airlines who can now better schedule flights to leave/arrive closer to their published times, despite the fact that the airport is handling more passengers and flights than ever before. It means non-A380 aircraft can land faster and with possibly reduced separation, as they dont create wake vortices behind them to the magnitude that the A380 does. This allows for faster runway clearance and taxi to the terminal, thereby allowing flights to land quicker in the queue behind. Ahmad said that the UAE Government could improve the procedures even further. As we know, almost 60% or more of the UAE airspace is dedicated for military use so if runway and flight changes like this bring about a better degree of fluid and functional efficiency, imagine just how more efficient the system would be if the military airspace was diluted more in favour of commercial flights. Looking further out, when DWC becomes the main city airport, these airspace allocation, runway use and aircraft separation minima has to be matched with a sizeable growth in commercial airspace allowance too otherwise Dubai runs the risk of simply shifting congestion from one airport to the other. Despite all the developments that have put pressure on the aviation sector in 2016, Pegasus succeeded in increasing its guest numbers by 8.1% to 24.14 million, and its turnover by 6.2% to TRY 3.7 billion. Pegasus CEO Mehmet T. Nane stated that the airline expected a cautious recovery in the aviation sector for 2017, but real growth would be experienced from 2018 onward. Speaking at the press conference, Nane said: 2016 was rather a difficult year for the sector. There were many challenges affecting air traffic during the year, the most significant of which were the events of July 15th. Despite this, we have worked tirelessly to increase our guest numbers and our revenue, and at the same time have kept our expenses under control with clever and sometimes ingenious projects. By the end of the year, we had provided our services to a total of 24.14 million guests comprising of 15.29 million on international routes and 8.85 million on routes in Turkey. While the market as a whole grew 5.8% on routes in Turkey, we at Pegasus successfully grew our guest numbers by 10.7% with our main hub being at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Similarly, while the international flight market shrank by 15.5% we recorded growth of 3.9%. Nane added: By continuing to use our 82-craft fleet effectively and productively, we increased our number of landings in 2016 to 166,691. We ensure that each of our aircraft is utilised on average 12 hours a day. So when one of our aircraft makes 7 flights in one day, we might sell the same seat around 7 times per day. Mehmet T. Nane said that with an average age of 5.7 years as of March 2017, Pegasus owns Turkey's youngest fleet of aircraft. We have also added the cities of Grozny, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod and Volgograd to our flight network, and now fly to a total of 7 destinations in Russia. We recently added a 12th destination to our flight network in the Middle East, that of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. With these new routes, we have expanded our flight network to reach a total of 103 destinations in 40 countries. Our priority was reducing costs. We have instigated some ingenious projects that really give us the right to be called a low-cost airline. We have inaugurated strict optimisation of all our cost items. Through strategic steps such as bringing forward our Airbus orders, with their higher fuel efficiency, and rescheduling our Boeing deliveries, we have reformed both our cash flow and our fuel cost management. We have increased efficiency and savings in our flight operations by introducing the Electronic Flight Bag/EFB throughout the fleet. By ending the use of paper in the cockpit we have achieved our goals with regard to reducing in-flight weight and increasing operational efficiency. Concluding the Aircraft Tracker project, which automatically monitors maintainance/fault status during flights in all our aircraft and helps us devise solutions before the plane even lands, allowed us to achieve important progress in operational continuity and maintenance/repair cost efficiency. We now use electronic flight maps for 60% of the airports we fly to. We will increase this rate to 100% in 2017, treating Pegasus cockpits as data centres. By using big data' in this way in the cockpit, we will achieve the most efficient flight operation conditions. Nane continued: In 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 we assessed our existing fleet with regard to efficiency. First, we rented out four of our Boeing B737-800 aircraft to Pakistan Airlines (PIA) and two to Flynas on a wet lease. Then, on 20th March, we sold seven Boeing 737-800NG aircraft from among the company assets to Air Lease Corporation for a total of 178.7 million USD. The income that we receive from the sale, which is expected to be completed by the end of October, will be used to pay for these aircraft, which we have added to our fleet using financial leasing and to realise new investments. With this sale, we have accelerated portfolio replacement to ensure optimisation of fuel use within the scope of our 100-craft Airbus NEO agreement from 2012 and increased the number of new A320 Neo purchases planned for 2017 from 3 to 6. Thus our average fleet age will fall and we will achieve an improvement in aircraft operating costs. Nane said that Pegasus is primarily guest-focussed, and stated that with their investments in technology they were aiming to give their guests a better guest experience: Technology provides us with operational cost advantages while making our guests' lives easier, thus increasing their satisfaction levels. We care about digitalisation in improving the guest experience. In this context, in 2016 we purchased Salesforce, which has an extremely competent infrastructure in the service area to manage guest notifications via a single channel and ensure more rapid and effective feedback to our guests. With Salesforce we have started to keep all guest complaints on a single platform, whether they were made via email, call centre, social media or to our website. With complaint management integration we aim to provide an instantaneous solution to more of our guests as much as possible. The figures for January-February 2017 are quite agreeable. Our target-focussed actions achieved a 90% improvement rate and the flow of information between teams has speeded up considerably. The waiting period for complaints in in-house departments decreased by 32%. We have been performing all of our own ground management operations at our main hub of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen since May. With this project, we have achieved a major improvement in cleaning and reducing delays caused by ground services and boarding/de-boarding procedures. For example, when we evaluated our 7-month ground operation results, we saw an improvement of 30% in baggage waiting times and a 35% improvement in lost/damaged baggage cases. This is reflected in increased guest satisfaction and efficiency. Nane concluded that they aim to increase the number of guests carried by Pegasus in 2017 by between 5 and 7%, and expressed their hopes for 2017. We have declared this year as one in which we will regain our figures from before the 2016 crisis. We have great faith in the Turkish economy and its tourism potential. That is why, though we see 2017 as a period of renewal, we expect the real growth to occur in 2018 and beyond. Delivering the keynote address at the annual Airline Engineering & Maintenance Middle East conference running on Abu Dhabis Yas Island, Ian Taylor, Acting Vice President, Sales and Commercial, TS&S said the company is in discussions with several globally positioned leasing companies and will tailor packages for their specific needs. On the conference sidelines, Taylor said the packages would be rolled-out certainly by the end of the year, but hopefully within six months. Taylor said the packages are being created via direct relationships with the undisclosed lessors who are seeking an alternative to the Rolls Royce Trent 700 Total Care package. We are talking to these lessors now about how we can support them, he said. We have got good conversations going but we need to start putting pen to paper now. The bespoke lessor-friendly packages, said Taylor, would be all-encompassing maintenance packages based on predictive maintenance costs. They would, he said, make lessors a significant part of our business. In Abu Dhabi TS&S Aerospace, part of the Mubadala investment and development group, operates one of only five of the worlds officially authorized Trent 700 workshops which, according to Taylor, stand to win a share of a US $154 billion MRO spend expected for the 800-strong engine type fleet over the next 23 years. TS&S, said Taylor, is well-placed to take a significant portion of the market with the Etihad Airways fleet providing load and experience. We have excellent capabilities inhouse which continues to be built, said Taylor. The TS&S Acting Vice President said he hoped more lessors would follow the example of the several the company hopes to package up. Leasing companies are looking to come out of Total Care and the percentage of them in the programme will drop over the next 10 years or so. We are an OEM alternative which gives full transparency on materials for clients to control their costs an approach which has been well received. Taylor said the TS&S bespoke packaging approach could prove game-changing. We have started to change the market, we are a catalyst. We have one package with one airline already in operation and believe we can stimulate competition and unlock the asset value of the A330. Speaking during the opening ceremony, WASS Chairman and aviation analyst Alan Peaford - who is editor in chief or Arabian Aerospace - spoke of the need to maintain safety above other interests, calling for consistency in analysis and applications of intelligence material. The US and UK electronics bans implemented last month mean that passengers on certain flights outbound from the Gulf region are required to stow electrical devices larger than a smartphone in checked-in luggage. This has raised concerns over the fire hazards posed by Lithium-Ion batteries, with International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General, Alexandre de Juniac, stating that US and UK authorities should work to maintain security without such measures being put into effect. Hosted by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), WASS 2017 brings together government officials, industry experts and business leaders to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the aviation safety sector and industry. The event kicked off today at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City and concludes tomorrow, Wednesday April 12. Khaled Al Arif, (Pictured left) Executive Director Aviation Safety and Environment at DCAA, welcomed delegates Tuesday morning, saying: In its fifth edition with participation increasing every year, it is clear that the industry is looking to further its knowledge and ensure a safe and successful future for air travel. Michael Rudolf, Head of Aviation Regulations and Safety at DCAA, discussed the Authoritys latest procedures and application process for commercial drone operators, which includes detailed background checks and pre-authorized location selection. Rudolf highlighted that DCAA is working on signing an MoU with retailers to setup a process by which drone users must register their drone before being able to physically receive the devices. Another theme throughout the Summits panel talks and keynote speeches was the discrepancy between reality and perception of aviation safety. While flying remains safest means of long-distance travel, high-profile incidents and other threats have affected perceptions. Peaford went on to highlight a recent survey by Flightglobal Ascend, in which 47% of respondents felt that flight safety has either deteriorated or remained the same, despite the fact that aviation safety has improved five-fold globally over the past decade. IATA figures identified that there were 10 fatal accidents in 2016, representing improvements to aviation safety and security across the board. The overall accident rate reduced from 1.79 per million in 2015 to 1.61 last year. Among a series of other topics, the Summit will go on to discuss regulation requirements for private drone use, safety management systems and international best practices for wildlife management protocols. YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. The Ashtarak Police Department received a call from the hospital on April 10 at 23:40 that a man has been found dead in the outskirts of the town, the Police HQ told ARMENPRESS. Police officers were dispatched to the scene and discovered the body of Harutyun Movsisyan, 52, in a cabin. The body had multiple gunshot wounds. Officers found ten 5.45mm caliber cases at the scene. The General Department of Criminal Investigation, jointly with the Aragatsotn province department and Ashtarak Police Department, launched a large scale manhunt and apprehended a 46 year old man, identified as Ara N., in suspicion of carrying out the murder. The suspect was detained on April 11, at 06:50 in a cab in Ashtarak town. The murder weapon, an assault rifle, has been discovered. Forensic and ballistic expertise is underway. Russia and Denmark could share the Lomonosov Ridge, which passes through the North Pole, if the UN commission approves their continental shelf expansion applications, Leopold Lobkovsky told RIA Novosti. Lobkovsky is the Russian Academy of Sciences' coordinator for developing the Russian application and Deputy Director of Geology at the Institute of Oceanology at the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2015, Russia submitted a revised application to the UN to expand its continental shelf in the Arctic due to the accession of the Lomonosov underwater ridge, which extends toward the North Pole, and other formations. According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to extend the shelf, it is necessary to prove the continental nature of adjacent geological formations on the ocean floor. "The Lomonosov Ridge connects our shelf and the Greenlandic shelf, which is Danish. So, theoretically, we can both expand our continental shelves. If our applications are approved by the UN commission, Russia and Denmark will share the ridge in the middle, somewhere near the North Pole," Lobkovsky said. According to Lobkovsky, in order to divide the shelf between Russia and Denmark at a middle point, it would be necessary to count off sea miles from the coastal zones of each country. "This is a simple task, the geometry of the compass. Perhaps, they would get the North Pole if it is two miles closer. Or perhaps, we'd get it," the geologist said. As previously reported, in December 2016, Russia began negotiations on the shelf with Denmark, which also applied to the UN to expand its continental shelf. The Danish application overlaps with the Russian application. In 2001, Russia announced its claim to the hydrocarbon-rich shelf section, including the Lomonosov Ridge and the Mendeleev Rise, but its application was rejected due to a lack of geological information. New expeditions to the North Pole, geological and geophysical research in the Arctic Ocean to study the geological nature of the Mendeleev Rise and the Lomonosov Ridge including a bathymetric survey have taken over 10 years. The estimated hydrocarbon resources of the areas under consideration are 4.9 billion tons of equivalent oil and gas. The Polish historian Pawel Machcewicz has been dismissed from his role as director of the newly-opened Second World War Museum in Gdansk, one of the worlds largest historical museums. The move comes shortly after a court ruling paved the way for a controversial merger with the still-unbuilt Westerplatte Museum, allowing Polands right-wing PiS government to create a new state-sanctioned institution. The BBC will create opportunities for arts organisations of all sizes to show their work on the BBC via a 4m fund, Artists First, that will commission artists and organisations to make new works for broadcast and online. The new Culture UK partnership, with Arts Council England (ACE), the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Arts Council of Wales and Creative Scotland, will also see the development of three major broadcast and live event festivals each year. It would be a good idea. As the FBI recently warned, speaking about the case of Michigan art dealer Eric Spoutz, who pumped at least 40 forgeries into the market over the past 10 years (h/t to ArtNet) (to learn to spot fakes, that is): Although Spoutz has been sentenced, [agents] McKeogh and Savona do not believe they have seen the last of the fakes he peddled. there could be hundreds more that were sold to unsuspecting victims. This is a case were going to be dealing with for years. Spoutz was a mill, McKeogh said. So the exhibition that Winterthur recently unveiled, Treasures on Trial: The Art and Science of Detecting Fakes, comes at an opportune time. It presents more than 40 fakes or forgeriesfine art, couture, silver, sporting memorabilia, wine, musical instruments, antiquities, stamps, ceramics, furniture, and folk artdrawn from its permanent collection and public and private collections. Conservationists from Winterthur and other institutions have used scientific analysis and connoisseurship to expose these fakes: their analysis and the pertinent stylistic clues is presented alongside the objects to show the techniques used by forgers to try to fool experts and/or trusting collectors. Among the items on display is a Rothko painting that Glafira Rosales, the notorious Long Island art dealer, sold to the Knoedler Gallery. I have not seen the exhibitIve just read about it. But such showsother museums have done this in the pastare always, in my experience, learning experiences. And in keeping with todays trend to involve visitors, Winterthurs show invites visitors to investigate several unresolved examples and share their opinion about the authenticity of the object based on the available evidence. The highlights in this, the final section, include: A painting purported to be by master forger Elmyr de Hory (whose fakes have themselves become highly collectible). A oil painting whose owner has been trying for many years to prove it a genuine work by Winslow Homer. A vampire killing kit brought to Winterthur for authentication by the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Colette Loll, the founder of Art Fraud Insights, LLC, a Washington, DC, based consultancy, co-curated the exhibition with Winterthurs Linda Eaton, a textile conservator who also serves as the museums director of collections. Pictured here (top) is a painting believed to be by de Kooning from a private collection. Heres what the label says: Discovered online and purchased for just 450 euros, this portrait of a young boy holding a ball is stylistically similar to Portrait of Renee [at right]. The children share the same haunting expression, posture, and awkward clutching of an object. The works are the same dimension and also share the same technique, with thick paint on the skin; the same use of shadows; traces of conte crayon; and the same lips, hairstyle, and eyebrows. This work was sold with no provenance; the seller simply claimed that it once belonged to a homeless man who wished him to dispose of his things. And here is the de Hory, mentioned above. What do you think of these? Photo Credit: Courtesy of Winterthur (top) Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the delivery of the HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) vehicles is critical to ensure the safe and effective operation of Australias Abrams Main Battle Tank capability. Since their delivery to Defence, all six vehicles have been accepted into service, painted in Australian camouflage and sent to their units. It is quite possible that the first APCs will start coming in next year. We will seek a manner in which to integrate them with the national industry. At least in the first stage, they will be assembled in Romania on a special assembly line. As I was telling you previously, acquiring the technology as soon as possible is very important to us, Les said Friday at the Valahia University of Targoviste, where Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, on a working visit to Dambovita County, attended a meeting with the universitys management, local officials and business leaders. Les added that, on the other hand, the governments ruling programme clearly states a wish to help integrate the Romanian defence industry. About the type of APC to be built, Les said it is in line with the current NATO operation requirements, designed by the land forces. We are talking about protection made up of at least three plus cannons of at least 30 mm in diameter and other matters that in the end have to do with army endowment, said Les. Also attending the meeting was Economy Minister Mihai Tudose who said there are at least two large defence companies interested in entering a partnership with Romania for the implementation of a project for the building of the 88 wheeled armoured fighting vehicles. This is a complex matter that somehow has to do with an interministerial strategy and a governmental strategy, some supreme umbrella. As we speak, there are at least two defence companies interested in know-how transfers and developing a production line in Romania. The interest meets the requirements of the Romanian Army. We are also developing, especially at Moreni, this kind of business I have mentioned, depending on the Romanian Armys demands. This is where we are now. The court issued the bailable warrant of arrest of Rs 10,000 as Kejriwal failed to appear before it for the hearing on two occasions. Guwahati: An Assam court on Monday issued a bailable warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for failing to appear before it in connection with a defamation case. The AAP national convenor had in December last year called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a '12th pass'. Modiji 12 pass hain. Uske baad ki degree farzi hai, Kejriwal had tweeted on December 15, prompting Assam BJP leader Surya Rongphar to file a defamation case against him. Following which, the police registered a case against the Delhi CM under Sections 499, 500 and 501 of the Indian Penal Code. The court, which was hearing the defamation case, issued the bailable warrant of arrest of Rs 10,000 as Kejriwal failed to appear before it for hearing on two occasions. The court will hear the case again on May 8. We have seen the petition submitted by Gurpreet Singh Uppal showing the ground that it is not possible for the accused, namely Arvind Kejriwal, to leave Delhi due to the municipality election in Delhi, Justice Naba Kumar Deka Barua of Diphu Court said in the order. On perusal of the record, it reveals that the accused has not appeared before this court on the earlier occasion on 30/1/2017 too, availing adjournment of more than two months. Considering this, the petition of Gurpreet Singh Uppal is rejected and a bailable warrant of arrest of Rs.10,000 has been issued against the said accused. Complainant to take step. The next date for appearance is fixed on May 8, 2017, the order read. The 53-year-old artist said he had no trekking experience before he set out on the 10-day walk to Everest with a team of yaks. A file picture shows British DJ Paul Oakenfol in Khumjung as he hikes to Mt. Everests base camp ahead of his concert which is being billed as the highest party on earth .(Photo: AFP) Kathmandu: Influential British DJ Paul Oakenfold has reached Mount Everests base camp where he plans to host the highest party on earth, performing a set at 5,380 metres. As climbing season in Nepal kicks into gear, few of the mountaineers heading to the worlds highest peak were likely expecting to be joined by the three-time Grammy nominated artist and his dance beats. Mr Oakenfold, whose three-decade long career has included collaborations with Madonna and U2, is due to perform a set at base camp on Tuesday morning. We are here now doing sound checks. We are really looking forward to the show. Everyone is really excited here, Mr Oakenfold said. The 53-year-old artist said he had no trekking experience before he set out on the 10-day walk to Everest with a team of yaks and porters hauling the audio equipment needed for the event. Tharoor called on the Centre to draw the attention of the international community, particularly the UN, in hauling up Pakistan. New Delhi: In an expression of government-Opposition unity against Pakistan for giving a sentence to former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asked Congress MP Sashi Tharoor on Tuesday to draft a resolution that would be used by both Houses. According to an NDTV report, Swaraj after her statement in the Lower House went up to Tharoor and requested him for the same. Tharoor, after asking permission from his partys leader in the House agreed. With the nation in an uproar over Pakistan sentencing Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of being a spy, Tharoor had also called on the Centre to get the United Nations to haul up Islamabad for blatantly violating international laws. "India has very important responsibility in terms of bilaterally communicating to Pakistan as to what we expect from them. I hope we are putting serious international pressure on Pakistan, because what Pakistan was doing is a violation of international law and that's what keeps nations safe," Tharoor told the media here outside the Parliament. "If you are going to take arbitrary action like this against the citizen of one country, tomorrow other citizens will be unsafe," he added. Asserting that Pakistan has violated every international rule by sentencing Jadhav, Tharoor called on the Centre to draw the attention of the international community, particularly the UN, in hauling up Pakistan. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that Jadhav is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter is clear, Swaraj said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she added while expressing her concern on this issue in the Rajya Sabha. The External Affairs Minister further said Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed India's position to Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit yesterday. "Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," said Swaraj. "I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Shri Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time," she added. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. Basit was yesterday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. Gaikwad was earlier booked to travel on an Air India flight from Mumbai to Delhi on Monday but cancelled his ticket on Sunday evening. New Delhi: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad on Tuesday said that he plans to take the Rajdhani back to Mumbai following the end of the Parliament session. The Osmanabad MP, who made headlines after he attacked an Air India official with a slipper, told NDTV that he would take the train instead of a flight because he was an Aam Aadmi after all. Gaikwad was booked to travel on an Air India flight from Mumbai to Delhi on Monday but cancelled his ticket on Sunday evening, choosing instead to reach New Delhi by Rajdhani. Air India sources said on Monday that the flight ban on Gaikwad was lifted following a direct government order, indicating that the national carrier had no choice but to toe the line. The government is the owner of Air India, commented a source who added however that the airline would not withdraw the FIRs filed against the MP. Sources also said the airline is still contemplating whether to sue the MP for damages. Last week, on April 7, Air India had announced that it had on the orders of the civil aviation ministry lifted the ban on flying Gaikwad who had allegedly beaten up an airline employee on March 23 after a flight. The government had advised Air India and other (private) airlines to lift the ban in view of the apology tendered by Gaikwad and the undertaking of good conduct given by him. The Sena MP had sent a letter of regret to the ministry. Many of the pilots and other employees had been upset over why the airline lifted the ban without the MP directly apologising to the concerned employee or airline. Air India sources however said the airline was duty-bound to follow the orders of the Government. Air India sources also indicated that the Governments move to draft rules for establishing a National No Fly List to deal with unruly passengers in a more effective manner was the need of the hour and that identification before tickets would probably be carried out either through the Aadhaar card or passport. However, Kamal stated that Pakistan is the biggest threat not just for India but also for South Asia. Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, during a press conference by Pakistan's army spokesman and the Information Minister, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Following External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's stern warning to Pakistan on bilateral relations, National Conference (NC) leader Mustafa Kamal spewed a shocker by supporting Pakistan on the Kulbhushan Jadhav sentencing issue saying that it is not correct for India to point fingers at another nation's legal proceedings. "Pakistan has obeyed the law. Not correct for India to point fingers, being the largest democracy," Kamal told ANI. However, Kamal stated that Pakistan is the biggest threat not just for India but also for South Asia and said that anyone accused of crime deserve a hearing. "Government should reintroduce a bill to declare Pakistan as a terror state. Pakistan is the biggest threat not for India but for South Asia as well," Kamal said. Meanwhile the Parliament faced uproar over the issue, as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asserting that India's position on this matter is clear and there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. Swaraj said that Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. Stating that the Pakistan Government sought India's assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process, she informed that in doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. The External Affairs Minister further said Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed India's position to Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit yesterday. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. Basit was yesterday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said that Jadhav is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi. New Delhi: Dubbing the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court as 'pre-meditated murder', Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said it is extremely unfortunate that Islamabad is not able to quit its old habits. Asserting that Pakistan did not conduct a fair trial for Jadhav, Naidu said that the Asian neighbour assumed charges against the Indian national as it did not have any evidence against him. "Pakistan's behaviour shows that it's a pre-meditated murder. Neither they submitted any evidence in the regard nor a fair trial happened. They just presumed things and gave the verdict," said Naidu. "Pakistan is not able to quit its old habits and this is very unfortunate. The world is watching this and will condemn this step of Islamabad," he added. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said that Jadhav is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter is clear, Swaraj said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she added while expressing her concern on this issue in the Rajya Sabha. Swaraj said that Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. "The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him. Accordingly, from the time his abduction was known, our High Commission in Islamabad has continuously pressed Pakistani authorities for such access. Although this is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations, the Government of Pakistan did not permit it. That itself should tell us much about the strength of the case against Shri Jadhav. Hon'ble Members would also recall that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in this case," said Swaraj. Stating that the Pakistan Government sought India's assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process, she informed that in doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. "Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position. Nevertheless, in the hope that some forward movement could be made, our response was constructive. We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan," said Swaraj. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence. To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she added. The External Affairs Minister further said Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed India's position to Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit yesterday. "Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," said Swaraj. "I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Shri Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time," she added. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. Basit was yesterday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. Sushma Swaraj asked Islamabad to consider the consequences for Indo-Pak bilateral relations if it proceeds with the death sentence. Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, during a press conference by Pakistan's army spokesman and the Information Minister, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday assured Parliament that the government would do whatever it takes to bring justice to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday. India strongly condemns the death sentence. Basic norms of law and justice were violated. I want to tell the house that the government will do whatever it takes to make sure Kulbhushan Jadhav gets justice, Singh said in Lok Sabha. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asked Islamabad to consider the consequences for Indo-Pak bilateral relationship if it proceeds with the death sentence to Jadhav. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder. I would caution Pakistan govt to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter, she said. Will go out of the way to save him, wo poore Hindustan ka beta hai. Hindustan ke iss bete ko bachane ke liye acha vakeel khada karna toh bohot chhoti baat hai, hum President tak bhi baat karenge, the minister said. The Congress had also raised the issue of the death sentence to Jadhav the Indian national sentenced to death by Pakistan on charges of being a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) spy in Parliament and slammed the government over its silence. Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the government for its silence on the allegations by Pakistan that Jadhav was an Indian spy. Pakistan is lying that Jadhav is an Indian spy. Why is government silent? Kharge said. The Opposition united against Pakistan and asked the government to get Kulbhushan Jadhav back. Agar usey bacha nahi paaye toh ye sarkaar ki kamzori hogi. (We'll consider the government weak if it fails to save Kulbhushan), Kharge added. "Pakistan's action is an assault on international laws, violation of Geneva convention," Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said while speaking on the issue. On Monday, Pakistan sentenced former Indian Navy officer Jadhav to death for alleged spying and stoking trouble in Balochistan, which took India by surprise and it warned Islamabad that if the verdict were to be implemented it would be premeditated murder carried out without observing basic norms of law and justice. Pakistani army chief had approved the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav for alleged "espionage and sabotage" activities. In retaliation, India decided not to release about a dozen Pakistani prisoners, who were to be repatriated on Wednesday The government feels that it is not the right time for the release of Pakistani prisoners, official sources said here. The prisoners were to be released as part of the practice by India and Pakistan to repatriate nationals lodged in each other's jail after they complete their sentence. The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) found him guilty of "all the charges", said the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in Rawalpindi. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and issued a strongly-worded demarche. Defense & Security News - United States U.S. Army artillery vehicles M109A6 Paladin 155mm howitzers and M992A2 deployed in Romania. M109A6 Paladin 155mm Self Propelled Howitzers and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles. The first artillery vehicles arrive by train with other other military vehicles like the Palletized Load System Vehicle and the Humvee. Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment of U.S. army will train in Romania with mix of155mm Self Propelled Howitzers and M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles. The first artillery vehicles arrive by train with other other military vehicles like the Palletized Load System Vehicle and the Humvee. U.S. soldiers from Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment connect jumper cables from an M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer to a M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle. (Source U.S. MoD) The downloading of vehicles was hardly a new experience for the Soldiers and they were able to carry it out with relative speed and ease. Bruce spoke on the team's familiarity with the task and how that contributed to the day's success. The transport of the vehicles also served as a unique learning opportunity for the battery. With the artillery being moved through different countries, delivery was no simple task. Capt. John Burke, battery commander of 3-29 FA explained further. The artillery unit will soon begin combined training alongside U.S. and Romanian infantry. This mostly will be providing support for ground troops during live fire exercises. Burke spoke on how these exercises will aid in the teamwork between both countries. The These artillery vehicles are earmarked for the combined U.S. and Romanian forces as they train side by side during Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO mission between the U.S. and its European Allies and partners that promotes regional stability and deters aggression throughout Europe. This training will provide both countries with the unique experience of learning how to become a cohesive fighting force as they both share and operate many similar models of equipment.The downloading of vehicles was hardly a new experience for the Soldiers and they were able to carry it out with relative speed and ease. Bruce spoke on the team's familiarity with the task and how that contributed to the day's success.The transport of the vehicles also served as a unique learning opportunity for the battery. With the artillery being moved through different countries, delivery was no simple task. Capt. John Burke, battery commander of 3-29 FA explained further.The artillery unit will soon begin combined training alongside U.S. and Romanian infantry. This mostly will be providing support for ground troops during live fire exercises. Burke spoke on how these exercises will aid in the teamwork between both countries.The M109A6 Paladin is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer mounted on a tracked chassis manufacture by the Company BAE Systems. The M109A6 Paladin is armed with a 39-calibre 155mm M284 cannon, which is fitted with an M182A1 gun mount, and has a range of 24 km using unassisted rounds or 30 km using assisted rounds. An M109A6 Paladin 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer, part of the artillery from Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment makes its long-awaited arrival to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base on April 7, 2017. (Source U.S. MoD) Maha CM had always said waiver wont stop suicides, but may change stand after Oppn demand. Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is in a tight spot after his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath announced farm loan waiver. Mr Fadnavis has, so far, managed to keep the Opposition at bay and stuck to his guns, stating that granting a loan waiver would not stop farmers from killing themselves. However, his own party leaders are of the view that sooner or later, Mr Fadnavis will have to cave in. Though a loan waiver may not improve the financial situation of farmers, it will certainly help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win elections. After loan waiver was announced in the northern state, the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra intensified their stir for a similar panacea by kicking off a Sangharsh Yatra to woo farmers. While Mr Fadnavis has not shot down the possibility of a waiver, he has avoided making any decision on the matter. We have invested mostly in the agriculture sector in this years Budget. We are trying to bring 31 lakh farmers under the credit system. Also, there are one crore farmers who are repaying their loans on time and the government wants to help them. The previous government had given a loan waiver worth Rs 7,000 crore. But our government has directly helped farmers with various schemes worth Rs 8,000 crore. We are firmly behind the farmers but believe a loan waiver is not the only solution, Mr Fadnavis has earlier said. The BJP had not promised a loan waiver for Maharashtras farmers in 2014. However, the Congress, NCP and even the Shiv Sena, which is in the government, have been pushing for it. If farmers loans can be waived in UP, why cant a similar measure be announced in Maharashtra where agriculture dominates the economy and where the farmers are committing suicide in large numbers, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had said. Now, Mr Fadnavis has asked his finance secretary to study the UP model of granting loan waivers. Mr Fadnavis also tried to put the ball in the Centres court by mooting the idea of all-party delegation from Maharashtra to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley. However, Mr Jaitley made it clear that the state government must manage funding if it wants to waive farmers loan and that the Centre would not provide any financial assistance. A senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said, Mr Fadnavis may not have given in as yet, but loan waivers will be announced before the next elections. Such populist measures do help parties when it comes to winning elections. He was pointing to the re-election of UPA government after the Rs 71,000-crore farm loan waiver scheme in 2008. Internet services suspended on the eve of the bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat were restored partially on Tuesday afternoon. Srinagar: Incensed by the Election Commissions decision to defer the Lok Sabha bypoll in Anantnag constituency to May 25 in the backdrop of widespread violence witnessed during the byelection to the Srinagar seat on Sunday, the Congress on Tuesday said that it wont participate in it. J&K PCC chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir, who is seeking election to Lok Sabha from home constituency Anantnag, said he will withdraw unless Governors Rule is imposed in the state. The bypoll to the Srinagar seat was marred not only by violence but also a meagre 7.14 per cent of over 1.2 million voters turned up to use their democratic right. The voting in the Anantnag bypoll was to be held on Wednesday. The EC said that it decided to defer it following feedback of state election authorities. However, it also announced to hold re-polling at 38 polling stations of Srinagar parliamentary constituency on April 13 which has surprised many here. Mr Mir, who had opposed the deferment of the bypoll in Anantnag, told reporters that the PDP-BJP government failed to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the byelections. This makes it beyond any doubt that chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has failed, he said, adding, Jammu and Kashmir should be brought under the Governors Rule immediately and if they fail to do so I will withdraw (from the fray). Former chief minister and acting NC president Omar Abdullah questioned the logic behind holding re-poll in 38 polling stations of Srinagar constituency after the EC postponed the bypoll in Anantnag. Situation isnt conducive for polls in Anantnag but its conducive for a re-poll in the areas worst affected by violence on the 9th. Logic?, he tweeted. Meanwhile, Internet services suspended on the eve of the bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat were restored partially on Tuesday afternoon. According to a recent government study, the country wastes Rs 92,651 crore worth of food in a year. New Delhi: How much is too much when you go out to eat? The government will answer this question now by fixing the portion sizes of dishes served by hotels and restaurants. The government has also called a meeting with hoteliers later this week. While the French already have a law against food wastage and organisations in India are running initiatives to take leftover food from eateries to feed the poor, the government of India has now stepped in. Most of the times when we go out and order, for example soup, one cup is enough for us. But we are served a portion which is enough for three. This is wasteful and should be stopped, food minister Ram Vilas Paswan told this newspaper. Explaining that the move would help avoid wasteful expenditure of food, Mr Paswan said he has called a meeting of representatives of the hotel industry to discuss the matter and arrive at some kind of common portion size. The minister said that the government was also forming a questionnaire for hotels and restaurants to explain what dish sizes they should serve to a customer. The government move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in his last Mann Ki Baat programme touched on the issue of food wastage and termed it as injustice to the poor. According to a recent government study, the country wastes Rs 92,651 crore worth of food in a year. This is enough to feed a state like Bihar for a full year. The study by Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) was commissioned in 2012 and the report submitted in 2015. The value was arrived based on the production data of 2012-13 at 2014 wholesale prices. However, the study was done on the wastage food after the harvest and not cooked food which is being talked about now. The study found that fruits and vegetables witnessed the maximum wastage of 4.58-15.88 per cent, followed by fisheries, which stood at 10.52 per cent. The reason for this wastage was found to be the lack of adequate infrastructure. The food and consumer affairs ministry had earlier also decided to bring another innovation by bringing in amendments to the Consumer Protection Act which would have made brand ambassadors responsible for products they advertise. However, the decision was rolled back after opposition from a group of ministers. Govt warns Pak, says will go out of its way to save ex-naval officer. New Delhi: Cutting across party lines, Parliament on Tuesday united against Pakistan for sentencing former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death and vowed that India would go out of its way to save him. Warning Pakistan that India would treat his execution as pre-meditated murder, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said in Rajya Sabha that the charges against Mr Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, were concocted and the trial against him was farcical, leading to an indefensible verdict. Ms Swaraj thundered: Let me state clearly that the government and the people of this country would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen was facing the death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. Kulbhushan Jadhav is not just a son of his parents but also a son of this country, and to save him (if required) we will appeal in the Supreme Court (of Pakistan) and provide the best lawyers, she added. Home minister Rajnath Singh, condemning Pakistan courts verdict, said the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. Jadhav will get justice, Mr Singh reiterated. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the home minister said, All norms of law and justice were ignored by Pakistan. He said that Pakistan had briefed the media (that) Mr Jadhav was holding a valid Indian passport, and wondered why would a spy carry a valid passport, adding, this exposes Pakistans action and intention. There was unanimity among members in both Houses and all parties came together to condemn the development and pressed the government to take every step to help him. In fact, earlier in the day there were reports that in a rare show of unity by political rivals, Ms Swaraj had asked Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to draft a resolution on the issue that would be adopted by both the Houses. By late evening, however, confusion prevailed and politics had creeped in. Hours after the news broke that Mr Tharoor had accepted Ms Swarajs request after taking permission from the Congress high command to draft the resolution, Ms Swaraj rubbished the reports and tweeted, There is no dearth of talent in my ministry. I have the assistance of very able secretaries. She also posted the news report claiming that Mr Tharoor had been asked by her to draft the resolution. The report had stated that former minister of state for foreign affairs, will help the government draft the Statement of Solidarity on the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav. This statement will be adopted by both Houses of Parliament. Earlier, speaking in the Lok Sabha, Mr Tharoor hoped India was mounting adequate international pressure on Pakistan. Targeting Pakistan for violating the Geneva convention, he described Pakistans move to issue a death sentence against the retired Indian officer as an assault on India, an assault on international laws and an assault on international conventions. Thirteen times this gentleman was denied consular access, which is a basic right. The Geneva conventions have been violated by Pakistan, he said. The leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, however, had used the occasion to take a jab at the government. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the wedding of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharifs daughter in Lahore, Mr Kharge quipped: Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him (Sharif) or talk to him on the issue. At this juncture Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said since everyone was equally concerned about Mr Jadhavs fate, there shou-ld be no spat on the issue. Death sentence was pronounced on Mr Jadhav by a Pakistani military court after he was found guilty of spying. The driver and his friends demanded money from the commuter to buy cigarettes, but he refused, which incensed them. The college student managed to flee the spot by boarding another rickshaw and got himself admitted to the civil hospital in Thane in the wee hours of Monday. (Photo: Representational Image) Thane: A 22-year-old college student was seriously injured after he was allegedly attacked in Thane with a sword, by a group of miscreants including the driver of an auto rickshaw in which he was travelling, police said on Tuesday. According to the complaint filed by victim Rahul Pandey on Monday, the incident took place in Sathe Nagar locality of Wagle Estate here on late Sunday night, when he set out to attend a friend's birthday party and hailed an auto to reach the destination, they said. Enroute, when Pandey stopped the rickshaw to attend nature's call, the driver, Pawan Tiwari along with three of his occupant friends demanded money from him to buy cigarettes. When Pandey refused, an altercation ensued and an annoyed Tiwari along with the trio allegedly beat him up. The assailants then dragged him into the auto and forcibly took him to an isolated spot nearby. When he tried to escape by jumping from the auto, the accused attacked him with a sword, police said in a release quoting the complaint. The college student then managed to flee the spot by boarding another rickshaw and got himself admitted to the civil hospital in Thane in the wee hours of Monday. Wagle Estate police have booked the accused under sections 363 (kidnap), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and other relevant sections of the IPC besides sections 4 and 25 of the Arms act along with Bombay Police Act sections 37(1) and 135. However, no arrests have been made so far in the case as all the four accused are on the run. Mr Modi said he wants to see a New India and a developed India by 2022 moving in the right direction with people proud of the country. New Delhi: Setting the agenda for the 2019 general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked ruling NDA allies to work in tandem to work towards building a New India Asking NDA leaders to adhere to the pro-poor plank used extensively and successfully in the recent Assembly elections, Mr Modi clarified that the youth vote bank should also be pursued vigorously and consolidated. The NDA leaders passed a resolution during a meeting held late Monday endorsing the Modi governments policies, and called upon people to vote him back to power in the next general election. Addressing party chiefs of 33 NDA constituents during the meeting, Mr Modi said all achievements of the government were possible because of the support it received from the people and allies. Mr Modi said he wants to see a New India and a developed India by 2022 moving in the right direction with people proud of the country. While asking NDA allies to highlight and implement poor-centric schemes of the government, the Prime Minister also said that the neo-middle class wants to become part of the countrys development story. In his concluding remark after all allies expressed their views, he said that the work on the NDAs expansion would continue, and said the constituents should strive for evolving a consensus among political parties on electoral reforms. Just finished a meeting with our valued NDA allies. We had a fruitful exchange of views on a wide range of issues, Mr Modi tweeted after the meeting. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who has often targeted the Modi government and the BJP, had a separate meeting with the Prime Minister, and sought a loan waiver for farmers in Maharashtra. The meeting, only the second such gathering of NDA constituents since it came to power at the Centre in 2014, was also attended by the new friends the coalition has won over in Goa and the northeastern states. The resolution heaped praise on the Modi governments performance and highlighted its pro-farmer and pro-poor works, besides its foreign policy successes. Bill sent to select committee, which will file report in first week of next session. New Delhi: The Congress-led Opposition on Tuesday forced the government to refer the National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill to the select committee of the Rajya Sabha after blocking its consideration by the House. The Bill, that provides constitutional status for the National Commission for Backward Classes, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Opposition did not allow consideration of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday despite the government requesting that it be passed unanimously in the interest of the OBCs. Union minister for social justice and empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot moved a motion for sending the National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill to the select committee and it was adopted by the House. Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien said the committee will submit its report in the House on the last day of the first week of the next session. As soon as the House assembled for the post-lunch session, minister for social justice and empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot stated that the Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha with huge majority and insisted that it be taken up in the Upper House. He reminded members of the past instances when the Rajya Sabha had taken unanimous decisions in the interest of the country. The OBC Commission needs to be set up without delay, for which it is necessary that the Bill is passed, he said. Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukthar Abbas Naqvi too requested the Chair to take up the bill. he also got support on the issue from HRD minister Prakash Javadekar on the issue. However, the Opposition MPs did not yield to the governments demand, and said they cannot allow the debate at a short notice as they wish to move amendments to the bill and refer it to a select committee of the House. Leading the Opposition charge, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, This is the second time the bills are pushed like this. This was not even in the list of business. It should have been given few hours before and not few seconds before. Sukhendu Shekhar Roy (TMC) and Madhusudhan Mistry (Congress) too objected at the governments stance of pushing through the Bill. Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal claimed that amendments to the Bill could not be brought by MPs as at least a days is required for the purpose. He also said the Bill should be referred to the select committee. After hearing both the Opposition and treasury benches, deputy chairman P.J. Kurien decided against taking up the discussion on the Bill on Tuesday as a prior notice has not been given on this and the Opposition wants to refer it to a select committee. The select committee, headed by Bhupendra Yadav, comprises members from different political parties. The members of the Committee included CK Gohel, Vikas Mahatme, Rameshwar Dudi, BK Hariprasad, Madhusudan Mistry, Digvijay Singh, Hussain Dalwai, Ram Gopal Yadav, Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Sharad Yadav, Navneethakrishnan, Dileep Tirkey, CM Ramesh, Prafull Patel, Vishwajit Demri, Ramkumar Kashyap, Naresh Gujaral, Satish Chadra Mishra, TK Rangarajan, Kanimojhi, Anil Desai, Rajeev Chandrashekar, Swapan Dasgupta and Mohammad Fayaz. The bill proposes to establish a Commission that will hear the grievances of socially and educationally backward classes, a function which has been discharged so far by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. It also seeks to insert a new article 342A so as to provide that the President may, by public notification, specify the socially and educationally backward classes. Thackeray had held a separate meeting with BJP president Amit Shah ahead of the NDA. New Delhi: BJPs frosty relationship with alliance partner Shiv Sena seems to be thawing with Udhhav Thackeray meeting PM Narendra Modi late on Monday night and referring to him as his elder brother. Mr Thackeray is even believed to have agreed to meet the BJP regularly for better coordination. After breathing fire against the BJP leadership and even describing the Modi government as the worst ever regime, a senior BJP leader said that the Sena supremo praised both Mr Modi and the NDA government at the Centre for its development agenda. Mr Thackeray had also held a separate meeting with BJP president Amit Shah ahead of the NDA meeting, where both leaders, sources said, decided to hold regular meetings on issues for better coordination. They also mutually agreed to avoid making public statements against each other, which could affect the ties. Mr Thackeray also appreciated the loan waiver scheme by the UP government and hoped the NDA government in Maharashtra would also implement the same. Mr Thackeray also cracked a joke during his address to the NDA conclave, drawing a hearty laugh from Mr Modi, sources said. BJP-Sena ties had soured ever since BJP had insisted on making its leader Devendra Fadnavis the chief minister of Maharashtra, where Sena is considered the big brother of the alliance. During the recently-concluded civic body polls in the state, Sena had slammed the BJP and the chief minister over various issues and both allies had contested the prestigious BMC polls separately. Sena had joined the Opposition against the demonetisation decision and was vociferous in its criticism of the BJP in party mouthpiece Saamana. With the presidential elections around the corner, the BJP is hopeful of securing the support of the Senas contingent of 18 MPs and 63 MLAs after the Shah-Thackeray meeting. Sena had embarrassed BJP in the 2012 presidential polls by backing UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee, while the saffron party supported P.A. Sangma for the post. SP to feel the heat as state Cabinet passes proposal. Lucknow: In a decision likely to trigger a political fallout, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has decided to probe all financial transactions above Rs 10 crore by the 29 development authorities in the state in the past five years. The state Cabinet, which met on Tuesday, approved a proposal to this effect. The decision comes after the chief minister expressed his unhappiness with the quality of works carried out under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The chief minister, during a departmental presentation, had stated that he would not tolerate any loot of public money. A crackdown on crime and corruption was one of the biggest promises that the BJP had made to the people of Uttar Pradesh in its manifesto Lok Sankalp Patra. Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, UP minister Siddhartha Nath Singh said that the inquiry into the financial transactions of the 29 development authorities would be carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) or another independent agency. The inquiry would look into the money spent on the dream projects of former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, including Lucknow-Agra Expressway, Gomti Riverfront project, cycle-tracks, Janeshwar Misra Park and JPN International Centre. A task force to probe illegal mining in the state will also be set up. Last week, the chief minister had ordered a probe into the sale of sugar mills during the term of the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party, which ruled the state from 2007 to 2012. The accused had allegedly targeted scores of people on the pretext of investment. According to the complaint, Vijay introduced himself to the victims as an official liquidator for the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Delhi. (Representational Image) New Delhi: The police is probing into an alleged cheating and cheque bounce case against a serial offender, who has been on the run for the past few months. The accused had allegedly targeted scores of people on the pretext of investment. His recent target was a city-based private firm employee who was duped to the tune of over Rs 32 lakh. The accused has been identified as Vijay Dandapani. According to the complaint, Vijay introduced himself to the victims as an official liquidator for the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Delhi. He also claimed to be a practicing lawyer of the Supreme Court who handled international cases. Sameer was beguiled and invested Rs 37.42 lakh in instalments. However, he never received the promised return. Realising that he has been duped, Sameer visited the chamber in Supreme Court where he had allegedly met Vijay. But he was in for a shock when he learnt that there was nobody by that name. A harried Sameer then visited Vijays house in Mayur Vihar and found the address to be bogus. Upon checking his background, Sameer realised that Vijay is also wanted by the Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka police. The accused had also cheated Naresh Kumar Kataria, a resident of Dwaraka, in a similar fashion. Police has registered both the cases and is probing in this connect. Veteran George Palmer points to his figure in one of the most famous Kokoda campaign photographs by Damien Parer: of Australian soldiers trudging through the mud. Kokoda is considered Australias most significant battle of the war in the Pacific, in which the Japanese were for the first time defeated on land. PRIME minister Malcolm Turnbull on Saturday visited Kokoda and laid a wreath at the Bomana war cemetery outside Port Moresby, and there will be a ceremony held in Canberra in November. Im the second one, there, now of the six of us there are two still alive, myself and Arnold Forrester, who lives in Townsville, he said. The 95-year-old veteran of the 39th Battalion is now fighting another battle, to preserve the memory of Kokoda, and is upset the official Australian commemoration will not be held in PNG. Its wrong, just wrong. You must never forget the sacrifices my mates made, he said. Kokoda was fought between July and November 1942 on what was then Australian soil, the territory of Papua. Historian Patrick Lindsay, the chair of the Kokoda Track Foundation, said he has been asking the government since last year about when the PNG commemoration would be held. Im dismayed and disgusted, he said. Its the second time weve done this to these diggers, they didnt get the credit they deserved at the time and after the war. Kokoda tour operators say they have also been awaiting confirmation since last year and feel they will now have to take up the commemorative task. According to reports there are some 4,000 shops that sell chicken and 1,200 shops where mutton is sold. Mumbai: Is the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) planning to take action against illegal butcher shops in Mumbai? Asked this question, mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar said, The municipal commissioner should initiate action against anything that is wrong and not as per the rules. Dismissing rumours that he is writing a letter to the commissioner over the matter, Mr Mahadeshwar who maintained that he is against illegal shops said he hasnt penned it yet. According to reports there are some 4,000 shops that sell chicken and 1,200 shops where mutton is sold. In a reports published in this paper earlier, a senior member of the butchers association had claimed that 50 per cent of such shops are illegal. However, there exist no authentic numbers. Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party group leader in the BMC, claimed the shops are illegal because the BMC hasnt been doing anything. The BJP has double standards. Firstly, it has not allowed the modernisation of the Deonar slaughterhouse. Now it is acting against shops too. The BJP is against non-vegetarians, alleged Mr Shaikh. In the wake of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanaths crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses in the state, the issue gained prominence in the city. Furthermore, the Public Accounts Committee of the state on Friday submitted a report in which it threw light on illegal slaughterhouses being functional within Maharashtra and how they were dumping animal waste in gutters, thus polluting water bodies. The report also suggested that there are around 20 illegal slaughterhouses in the state. While theres only one slaughterhouse in Mumbai Deonar and others have been shut, there are many shops where chickens and goats are butchered and sold. According to a senior BJP leader in the BMC, the waste from illegal slaughterhouses is huge and a reason for causing pollution. Messages sent to BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta, asking him whether the BMC is planning to take action against illegal butcher shops, yielded no response. According to BMC sources, the BMC had planned action against illegal butcher shops first within a radius of five to 10 kilometres of the airport, as waste from these shops was attracting birds. A pipeline carrying chemicals inside the plant got choked up, leading to the gasket opening up and then causing the explosion. Mumbai: One employee suffered minor injuries in an explosion at Reliance Industries' petrochemicals plant at Patalganga in the neighbouring Raigad district this morning, the police said. A pipeline carrying chemicals inside the plant got choked up, leading to the gasket opening up and then causing the explosion, they said. The opening up was discovered in time and necessary precautionary steps taken helping avert casualties, they added. The injured has been identified as Atul Ravindra Nachane (24), a worker at the facility. When contacted, a RIL spokesperson confirmed the incident and said there was a minor injury to one of the workers who was taken to an in-house medical facility. The operations at the plant have not been affected, the spokesperson said. The RIL scrip closed 1.74 per cent down at Rs 1,381.05 a piece on the BSE today, as against a 0.44 per cent correction in the benchmark. Some parents claimed they were not even informed about the hike. The education department said it is monitoring the situation. The parents gave complained to the education department via a non-governmental organisation, Forum for Fairness in Education (FFE). (Representational image) Mumbai: Parents of 70 students from six to seven schools have complained to the deputy director, education department alleging a fee hike of 25-50 per cent by the school managements for the next academic year. Some parents claimed they were not even informed about the hike. The education department said it is monitoring the situation. The parents gave complained to the education department via a non-governmental organisation, Forum for Fairness in Education (FFE). Jayant Jain, president of FFE, said, Almost 70-80 parents have approached us against this sudden fee hike. Surprisingly all these schools are privately-run and we have approached the deputy director over this. They are all flouting rules, we are totally helpless, school managements are not justified in what they are doing an almost 40 per cent fee hike said, Gritika Deepchandani, one of the parents. An education department officer said that the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) or school managements can approach the state committee that will be formed under the guidance of the education minister. If there are any grievances on fee hike, the committee will handle it, the officer said. Several women and health rights organisations have condemned the PACs suggestions. Mumbai: Recommendations made by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Maharashtra Assembly to make pre-natal sex determination and tracking of pregnant women mandatory to keep a track on pregnant women carrying female foetuses has kicked off a storm. Several women and health rights organisations have condemned the PAC recommendations to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Kamyani Mahabal, a social activist and lawyer, said, These recommendations violate the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act itself, and will impinge upon the Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (MTP) Act as well. It is ironical that such a recommendation is being made in Maharashtra, which pioneered the law to curb sex selection. She added, It is shocking that the proposal is being mooted at a time when another racket of sex selection has recently come to light in Mhaisal, Sangli. It exposes the nexus between unscrupulous medical professionals and corrupt government health officials. Advocate Indira Jaising, of non-governmental organisation Lawyers Collective, said, It is quite clear that such a proposal is intended to absolve doctors and to shift the burden to the shoulders of pregnant women. The 2003 amendments to the 1994 PCPNDT Act recognised the lack of autonomy faced by women and had specifically kept the pregnant woman out of the ambit of the Act. This new proposal will only result in a 24-hour surveillance of pregnant women both within the family and by the state authorities. It will unnecessarily target every woman bearing a female foetus, and will link any abortion that such a woman has (for any reason) to sex selection. This will adversely impact womens already poor access to safe abortion. It will fuel a proliferation of illegal facilities for getting rid of unwanted female foetuses. Sonya Gill, an activist, said, We demand that the Assembly should reject the recommendations of the PAC. We also demand stringent implementation of the present Act, which has clearly acted as a deterrent wherever it has been used effectively. More than 100 activists and over 15 organisations have condemned the PAC recommendations. Besides, 182 people have tested positive for the viral infection across Maharashtra. Though pregnant women, children and old people are more susceptible to the disease, almost all sections of the society have fallen prey to the H1N1 virus. (Photo: File) Mumbai: Swine flu has claimed more than 100 lives across Maharashtra this year, a state Health Department official said today. "101 people have died till April 10 in the state due to swine flu. The rise and fall in temperatures during the last few weeks have aggravated the infection," Joint Director of Family Welfare Minister Mukund Diggikar, who holds the additional charge for epidemics in Maharashtra Health Department, told PTI. Though pregnant women, children and old people are more susceptible to the disease, almost all sections of the society have fallen prey to the H1N1 virus, he said. Besides, 182 people have tested positive for the viral infection across Maharashtra. Another, 7,381 have shown symptoms similar to swine flu but tests will determine the infection, the official said. "We have administered some medication to these patients but a full fledged treatment is yet to commence," he added. Nashik has reported 20 deaths so far due to the H1N1 virus, the highest in Maharashtra. This is followed by Pune (13) and Pimpri Chinchwad (10) areas. Except for Konkan region, each district in the state has at least one case of swine flu death, Diggikar said. New Delhi actually sought to brush off the Chinese murmurs by saying Beijing was creating an artificial controversy. During the past eight days, from a height of 10,000 feet, atop the Indian Himalayas, an 81-year-old Buddhist monk has rattled China as never before. Yes, one is talking of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhisms tallest leader, who has made a tour of Arunachal Pradesh, choosing to lament the tragic situation in his homeland, Tibet, criticise Beijings censorship of the media, rejecting Chinas right to decide on his successor, saying it was for the Tibetan people to take a call on the next Dalai Lama. He made a clear distinction between the regime in Beijing and the Chinese people the Chinese people are wonderful and cultured while the government there is totalitarian. Well, the Dalai Lama said 90 per cent of Tibet wants him back there while a large number of the 400 million Chinese Buddhists, too, wants me, a direct claim of his mass support back home. This has been the Dalai Lamas seventh visit to Arunachal Pradesh since his flight from Tibet in March 1959, and he may have only reiterated most of the things he said, but the tour this time stands out for two reasons. First, Beijings response, both before and during the Dalai Lamas visit has been the sharpest and most confrontationist in decades. Second, New Delhi appears to have gone out of its way to facilitate the monks visit with the frontier states BJP chief minister Pema Khandu accompanying the Dalai Lama right from his departure from Guwahati on April 4. Inclement weather forced the Dalai Lama to travel by car, undertaking an arduous journey through bad roads with serpentine bends. This, of course, enabled more of his followers to catch a glimpse of their revered spiritual guru as the motorcade stopped by, thereby providing maximum opportunity to the media to engage with him. The result has been more quotes and bytes flowing out of this visit, amplifying its impact globally. China began by accusing India of using the Dalai Lama to undermine Beijings interests, ignoring diplomatic semantics, and had even summoned the Indian envoy in Beijing to formally lodge a protest. Beijing upped the ante with foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying saying China will firmly take necessary measures to defend its territorial sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests. The Indian response too began on expected lines with junior minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, saying the Dalai Lama was a guest of India, a democratic nation, and was free to go anywhere in the country. New Delhi actually sought to brush off the Chinese murmurs by saying Beijing was creating an artificial controversy. But Mr Khandu took the discourse to an entirely new level with the Press Trust of India quoting him as saying: China has no business telling us what to do and what not to do. It is not our next-door neighbour. India shares a boundary with Tibet, not with China. In reality, the McMahon Line demarcates the boundary between India and Tibet. The Dalai Lama actually is near central to Indias border dispute with China largely because of the 400-year-old Tawang monasterys links to Tibetan Buddhism. The Chinese argue that the Tawang monastery was a subsidiary of the Drepung monastery near Lhasa, one of the three major temples in Tibet. India, of course, considers Tibet an integral part of China while rejecting Beijings claims over about 90,000 sq. km (35,000 sq. miles) in Arunachal Pradesh. In fact, Tawang, where the Dalai Lama stayed for five days this time, is just about 40 km short of the McMahon Line drawn up by the British. This line is regarded as the de facto border between China and India. The Chinese do not recognise this boundary line because it was created as part of a secret agreement by Britain and Tibet in 1914. Beijing does accept the status quo, and talks, as we know, are on for long to resolve the border dispute. It is no surprise to see a far more assertive Delhi this time because there is a government that has an absolute majority in Parliament and has proved its strength yet again by winning Indias largest state, Uttar Pradesh, in the just-concluded elections. The so-called nationalist fervour is at its peak in the country at the bidding of a large section of individuals and groups close to the ruling BJP. Moreover, New Delhi has a lot of axes to grind. First, it was Chinese President Xi Jinping himself who cold-shouldered Prime Minister Narendra Modis request in July 2016 to allow India to accede to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Then, of course, theres the case of Beijing scuttling the move that would have had the UN censuring Jaish-e-Mohammed kingpin Masood Azhar by not approving sanctions against him. Now, can China execute its threat of action against India over the Dalai Lamas visit to Arunachal? Not really. First, 2017 is not 1962. India is strong militarily. Second, India is a huge market for Chinese products and with the balance of trade heavily tilted in Beijings favour, market forces would not like the Communist bosses to indulge in any misadventure. And last, but not the least, Beijing cannot afford to push New Delhi to the wall because India can be a key stakeholder in Chinas one road-one belt policy, by far the countrys biggest foreign policy push. To cap it all, India has many aces up its sleeve, including the Taiwan card, apart from the one on Tibet. As things stand now, it is only the Dalai Lama who can afford to crack a few jokes. I am a Marxist, I like its equal system. Im against Leninism The next Dalai Lama could be a woman an attractive woman For New Delhi, caution is the word. There is no scope of lowering the guard in the dizzy Himalayan heights. For China, the Dalai Lama would continue to rattle the Communist regime, threatening its image globally, and keep putting spokes in Beijings design on the reincarnation issue to pick the next Dalai Lama. In Pakistan, the political angularity and overspill was unmistakable. The tone, tenor and phraseology of the official voice of the armed forces across both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) is a study in contrast. The content of the Indian Armys official ADGPI Twitter handle is measured, restrained and within the iron-clad banalities of the Armys functional contours, while the text and import of the Pakistani Armys official Twitter handle, ISPR Official, is unequivocally expansive, political and suggestive beyond the military domain. So the first visit to the Northern Command after assuming responsibility as the Indian COAS got covered as, Gen Bipin Rawat #COAS on his way to the #Northern Command. To review security, op preparedness & interact with troops & Cdrs dply in fwd areas. A similar visit by the Pakistani COAS to a forward area was tweeted as, LoC Visit. Army will protect people of Pakistan & J&K. Our solidarity with people of Indian-occupied Kashmir for right to self determination. In Pakistan, the political angularity and overspill was unmistakable. Today, the Pakistani Army literally defines the scope for policy formulation for the executive and has often been called the Army Inc., owing to a thriving commercial infrastructure that takes care of the institution and its personnel, both inside and outside of the uniform. As the saying goes, India has an Army, while the Pakistani Army has a country. India is coup proofed owing to the genealogical beneficence of inheriting strong political infrastructure during Partition, while Pakistan inherited a chaotic and nascent political instinct. In Pakistan, the generals have ruled officially for 35 out of its 70 years of independence, while the balance of the 35 years has seen the Rawalpindi General Headquarters pull the strings in Islamabad from behind the scene. India is different, as no political party made a cause with the military till very recently (Lal Bahadur Shastris, Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, notwithstanding). Post-Independence, as economic survival issues ebbed, socialistic dreams drowned and the opening of the economy ushered in Emerging India. The still-fractured and deeply polarised society sought a rallying cause that could encapsulate quasi-majoritarism under the garb of hyper-nationalism, and herein the political appeal of appropriating the Army became an irresistible way to establish nationalistic credentials for political parties. The 2014 general elections witnessed unprecedented images of invoking the soldier as part of political muscularity, decisiveness and patriotism. Though post-elections, the military continued taking in the multiple allusions and failed promises on its chin (e.g. OROP, Seventh Pay Commission etc.), the institution has remained steadfast, in-line, ramrod straight and absolutely quiet as to who exactly owns it. It rightfully swears to the Constitution of India and not to any political party, person or religion though this has not stopped the barrage of abusers who invoke the soldier to peddle their own political wares. Does the Indian Army belong to Raj Thackeray who offers Rs 5 crore to Gurmehar Kaur, Kanhaiya Kumar, to gau rakshaks or even Umar Khalid? The simple answer is, all of the above. Recent times have seen the armed forces getting contextualised to any politico-societal issue from AFSPA, surgical strikes, banning Pakistani artistes in India, to even demonetisation. Alluding to the armed forces and the soldier is the leitmotif of the nationalist to the anti-nationalist (the terms getting constantly redefined by the usage and the circumstances of applicability). All the while, the Indian armed forces officially choose to keep mum, as it has for the past 70 years. The vicarious voice in the form of the veterans, which emerged powerfully in the run-up to the OROP agitation, has sadly but successfully been divided with the old fogeys, echoing various party lines with typical military bluster. Many have morphed into newsroom warriors, in tilted regimental hats, affording uncontestable patriotism to political party flags. Yet, despite multiple provocations, interferences and allusions, the armed forces have not chosen one Indian over the other. The recent Assembly elections saw the tragic misuse of the imagery of the Indian soldier and the surgical strikes, contextualised with equally martial images of political leaders with arms raised and clenched fists all to score political brownie-points, as if the Indian soldier were the exclusive preserve of such parties or individuals. The Indian soldiers revered imagery has also emerged as an invaluable tool of political deflection and plausible defence, e.g. the woes of demonetisation were brushed aside by rote: If our soldiers can stand for hours every day guarding our borders The inherent danger of such a casual invocation to the Indian soldier is the willy-nilly invitation to enforce a political flavour to an institution that is proudly apolitical. The last and only successful bastion of inclusivity, secularism and region-agnosticism runs the risk of prefixing pseudo to most adjectives, which defines and exemplifies their conduct. Similar contradictions emerged in the US recently, where having milked the latent fears of the common man and hurrahed the Oorah of the veterans, the US President let one candid one slip-in when he said, We never win, and we dont fight to win. He riled the veterans and, by default, the standing forces, about his insincerity towards the armed forces. Political parties weigh every action from the tactical and dynamic prism of electoral relevance. The Indian armed forces have historically been spared the blatant misuse of context (though not spared the slide in their socio-economic conditions), and it is because of this barrackisation of the Indian armed forces that we have not gone the way of other countries in the neighbourhood. The Indian soldier needs to be spared the condescending words and, worse, the jumlas as it is susceptible to the vagaries of a brewing angst, coming from depleting armoury, status, bank balances and overstretched deployments. Instinctively, it believes in actions not words and, therefore, needs to be given space and time to do what it does best, i.e. protect the nation at all cost. Pirates told Reuters they would keep the crew to use as bargaining chips for the freedom of pirates jailed in India. Mogadishu: Somali security forces rescued a hijacked Indian cargo dhow on Monday, but pirates took the 11-member crew with them when they fled to land, authorities said. The Al Kausar vessel was seized earlier this month, part of a sudden string of attacks by Somali pirates after years without a reported incident. "We attacked the Indian ship and rescued it but the pirates took away the 11 crew. We rescued two crew and they went with nine crew into the hilly areas between El Hur and Hardheere," Mohamed Hashi Arabey, vice president of Galmudug state, told Reuters. Galmudug is a federal state within the Horn of Africa country that operates its own security forces. The two crew were in a car that the pirates had to abandon after they were chased, Galmudug's vice president said. Pirates told Reuters they would keep the crew to use as bargaining chips for the freedom of pirates jailed in India. "We encouraged our friends to run away with the crew if they are attacked so that they exchange for the release of 117 pirates jailed in India," pirate Saiid said. "We are ready to reinforce our friends so that Galmudug forces do not rescue the nine crew of the Indian ship." Somali pirate attacks peaked with 237 in 2012 but then declined steeply after ship owners improved security measures and international naval forces stepped up patrols. But this month has seen a new rash of attacks, with two ships captured and a third rescued by Indian and Chinese forces after the crew radioed for help and locked themselves in a safe room. Residents of the Somali coastline say piracy has resumed after local authorities issued permits for foreign fishing vessels to fish in Somali waters. They say the foreign vessels have cut nets belonging to locals and run down small boats. The Panama Papers reports were written by the ICIJ, the McClatchy Company, the Miami Herald, Suddeutsche Zeitung and other media partners. New York: The Panama Papers investigation was on Monday awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious award in US journalism, for 'Explanatory Reporting'. The Pulitzer Prize Board lauded praised the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) for using a collaboration of more than 300 reporters on six continents to expose the hidden infrastructure and global scale of offshore tax havens, according to a report in ICIJ. The Panama Papers reports were written by the ICIJ, the McClatchy Company, the Miami Herald, Suddeutsche Zeitung and other media partners. This honour is a testament to the enterprise and teamwork of our staff and our partners here in the United States and around the world, Gerard Ryle, ICIJs director, said. Were honoured that the Pulitzer Board recognized the groundbreaking revelations and worldwide impact that the Panama Papers collaboration produced, he added. The 101st edition of the awards was announced at Columbia University in New York. The ICIJ had last year published a massive trove of 'Panama Papers' information on detailed offshore holding of companies linked to more than 140 politicians in more than 50 countries including 14 current or former world leaders. Thousands of documents related to India, linking close to 2,000 individuals, entities and addresses from the country, were also exposed. Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Asif dismissed Indias accusations that the Mr Jadhavs death sentence was premeditated murder. Islamabad: After New Delhi warned Islamabad to consider the consequences on bilateral ties if Kulbhushan Jadhav is hanged, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Pakistans armed forces are fully capable and prepared to respond to any spectrum of threat. The nation has full trust in the countrys armed forces, he said. Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Asif dismissed Indias accusations that the Mr Jadhavs death sentence was premeditated murder. Hitting out at New Delhi during a Senate briefing, Mr Asif said Pakistan had followed due legal process in prosecuting Mr Jadhav. There was nothing in the (legal) proceedings that was against the law, the minister said. The trial went on for three months. He added that Mr Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The opening of the hotel at del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre, Seneca County, is near. Del Lago Resort & Casino recently began accepting reservations for the 205-room hotel, which is scheduled to open this summer. The first date available is Friday, July 14. Jeff Babinski, executive vice president and general manager of del Lago Resort & Casino, confirmed that the hotel is accepting reservations. But a date hasn't been set for the hotel's grand opening. There are three styles of rooms available for patrons a superior room with two queen beds, a superior room with a king bed and a room with a king bed and balcony. Each room will be equipped with a hair dryer, refrigerator, safe and flat screen television for guests. Complimentary wireless internet access will be provided. A coffee maker with complimentary coffee will be available. And guests will have access to an iPad hotel directory system. The rooms will also have Frette Italian bedding and linens. Frette Italian robes will be provided for guests to use during their stay. The bathrooms will feature stone-tiled floors and rain shower heads. Prices begin at $349 a night for a room with two queen beds, according to del Lago's website. The superior room with a king bed is an additional $25 a night. A room with a king bed and balcony is an extra $50 a night. The prices are comparable to other destination gaming resorts in upstate New York. The Oneida Nation-owned Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona has rooms available July 14 ranging from $130 a night for its offsite inn to $445 for accommodations inside The Lodge, an all-suite boutique hotel. Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino offers rooms with two queen beds or one king bed for $215 a night. For $365 a night, you can stay in a corner king suite with a jacuzzi. Del Lago's casino opened in February ahead of the hotel. Construction crews are continuing to work on the interior of the hotel, which is connected to the casino. In an interview with The Citizen two weeks ago, Babinski said construction was "progressing nicely." "There's a lot of work to be done on the inside with 200-plus rooms drywall, plumbing and electrical," he said. "They're working daily. They're making good progress." Del Lago has long targeted mid-to-late summer for the hotel's opening date. Babinski said he was hoping for an earlier date, but it doesn't appear that will happen. "We're still on plan and on target," he said. A spa located within the hotel will open this summer. The facility, Spa del Lago, will have 17 treatment rooms, a full salon and a retail boutique. The Sociale, a cafe and bar on the hotel side of the resort, is also slated to open over the summer. The blast in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir caused part of the workshop to collapse. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, but Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu suggested that it could be due to the repair work. (Photo: YouTube videograb) Ankara: At least four people were injured and one person was trapped beneath debris following an explosion on Tuesday that occurred inside a workshop where a police armoured vehicle was being repaired, officials and news reports said. The blast in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir caused part of the workshop - an annex to the city's main police headquarters - to collapse. One person was caught beneath the debris and was still to be rescued, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. The cause of the explosion was under investigation. Soylu suggested, however, that the blast was caused by the repair work and was not the result of an attack. "There was no external intervention," he said. The state-run Anadolu Agency said surrounding buildings and cars parked nearby were damaged in the blast. Ambulances, police and rescue teams were rushed to the scene in the city's Baglar district, where thick smoke was seen rising into the air. There was no immediate information on the condition of the trapped person. One of the four injured was in serious condition, the private DHA news agency said. Turkey is on edge following a string of deadly bomb attacks carried out by Kurdish rebels or Islamic State militants in the past two years. Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag made the statement after after analysis of blood and urine samples of the casualties from the attack. Ankara: Turkey said on Tuesday that tests proved the deadly nerve agent sarin was used in a suspected chemical attack in northwestern Syria which killed dozens last week. "It has been identified that sarin gas was used," Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said, quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu, after analysis of blood and urine samples of the casualties from the attack in Idlib province who were brought to Turkey. The sentence had sparked an angry reaction from India which said Jadhavs execution would be treated as 'premeditated murder'. Journalists look a image of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, during a press conference by Pakistan's army spokesman and the Information Minister, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. Jadhav, 46, was awarded the death sentence by military field general court martial under the Army Act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, the Pakistani defence minister said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence had sparked an angry reaction from India which said Jadhavs execution would be treated as premeditated murder. Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law, he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. Its not premeditated murder, whats happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder), he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went on for three months, rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with iron hands. Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment, he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was a serving officer in the Indian Navy. The Pakistan Army had also released a confessional video of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. by Louis Raphael Sako Mar Sako highlights the suffering and daily grief endured by Christians in Iraq and the world. The answer to violence is a civilised and modern "state" capable of building a "national identity." The Church promotes initiatives of peace and coexistence. Its task is to revive Nineveh Plain by breathing new life in its towns and villages. Baghdad (AsiaNews) Christians in Iraq and throughout the world are preparing to celebrate Easter Resurrection despite the "suffering and daily grief due to racism" and the "heart-breaking attack by terrorists, says Chaldean Patriarch Mar Louis Raphael Sako in his message for Holy Week. The Primate of the Iraqi Church stresses the commitment to dialogue and reconciliation entrusted to Christians, called to "consolidate ties" with their land. He invites political and religious leaders to build a civilised and modern "state", built in a context of national identity" based on sound economic, social and educational programs". The Easter message of the Chaldean patriarch follows: 1. Christians in Iraq (as in the whole world) are getting ready these days to celebrate the glorious Pascal Resurrection, in spite of their suffering and daily grief, due to racism that they have faced and are still facing because the unfairly made decisions and unjust legislations; in addition to the heart-breaking attack by terrorists causing serious wounds that cannot be ignored, especially for expelling them from their homes. Therefore, we expect the government officials and religious authorities to embrace them, and do more than routine courtesy and the consideration of the majority and the minority, by releasing a concrete initiative to support their continued existence, as native people of this land; to guarantee their rights as equal citizens; and to treat them as genuine partners in self-determination. 2. For all these reasons, including migration, our Chaldean Church in Iraq has become a "small Flock", though a lively, powerful church, and ecumenically open-minded that helped and is still helping the poor and the displaced, including 700 university students (among the IDPs of Mosul and Nineveh Plain) by providing accommodation and related support to all of them regardless of their faith and ethnicity. This is our Church that serves with love for the benefit of all people; inspires hope; encourages solidarity; seeks reliability to build bridges; supports dialogue; and national reconciliation. Therefore, the Chaldean Patriarchate called for a march for peace in the Holy Week in Iraq 140 km from Erbil to Alqosh and is organizing a conference on May 10 entitled "Citizenship and co-existence in the message of the religious pulpit" in cooperation with the official Integrity Commission. 3. In the midst of the deterioration in the Iraqi security; infrastructure; and economy during the past 14 years, the defeat of ISIS (Da'esh, those who brought death, destruction and displacement), and the subsequent triumph of all courageous armed forces in the area has made Iraqis proud and hopeful. Thus, the time has come for politicians to; unite and correct their routes; commit their energies in the right directions to build a modern civil state; integrate into the national identity; and adopt sound economic, social and educational programs. So that our country will find its way to a qualitative revival at all levels. Then Iraqis will enjoy a more secured and peaceful future of justice, dignity and freedom. 4. Since Christianity means to bear what we are called for in life, I urge Christians in general and the Chaldeans in particular not to allow the above mentioned incidents to frustrate them and turn off the Easter flame in their hearts, but rather to: Deepen their fidelity to Christianity and to their Church; strengthen their affiliation to their homeland; renew trust and consolidate ties with their fellow citizens of different backgrounds; and to keep in mind that their presence in this land is a sign and a story of a historical existence for 20 Centuries. Come out of their current negative attitude and not to dwell in unsecured solution of immigration, but to return to their towns, lives and keep this bond with their history, heritage, language and the memoir of their ancestors, saints and martyrs. The Chaldean Church, despite its limited capabilities, began to rehabilitate the towns of Alqosh line (north Mosul). Unite their stances and speeches as brothers of one nation. Since the so-called terms of Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrians etc. are similar to the fingers of one hand, in which they become one in spite of their individuality. However, such distinctions should encourage unity and appreciate uniqueness, because diversity means richness and unity should be looked at as a requirement for Christians to keep their political presence and contribution to public affairs. Work efficiently with their fellow Iraqi citizens of different faiths, such as Muslims, Yazidis, Sabian Mandaeans, etc. in confronting the challenges they face together as a nation. This will ultimately guide people in this country to promote diversity, multiplicity and respect differences within the framework of a completely practiced citizenship and the common rules of moral conduct. 5. Finally, The Chaldean Church has dedicated this year 2017 as a year of peace. Hence, this holy week of Easter celebrations, represents an excellent opportunity to provide us with a strong hope for peace, stability and a new life through prayer, reflection, reconciliation and dialogue. I would like to extend my sincere congratulation to all Iraqis together with my sincere wishes of peace and prosperity for our beloved Iraq. May God keep the Resurrection for all of us. by Loula Lahham The toll is of 43 dead and 114 wounded in the two attacks. A lot of the faithful want to bury the dead in the church's crypt. Daesh claims the attacks. The Muslim Brotherhood is complicit. President Al-Sisi declares a three-month state of emergency Cairo (AsiaNews) - Two separate terrorist attacks have brought death and despair to the Coptic community in Egypt. The first attack was carried out in the church of Mar Guirguis, Tanta. The second explosion occurred in the church of St. Mark in Alexandria, while the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II was celebrating Palm Sunday. 24 hours on from the bombings the details of the tragedies are emerging more clearly. Mar Guirguis Church in Tanta - In the middle of the Mass A few hours after the explosion that hit the church of Mar Guirguis, leaving thirty dead, witnesses begin talking and the details of the tragedy gradually emerge. 9:10. A woman faints at the right of the altar, on the womens side. Two priests stoop to help her. Meanwhile, a young man about 20 years old wearing a cap and a jacket, despite the warm weather, enters the church and goes directly to the front row, next to the bishops large wooden chair. While the group of deacons, outside on the left of the altar, are singing, the young man activates his explosive belt. And everything is blown up. The first victims are the deacons and the faithful in the front rows. The toll is 30 dead and 78 injured. The interior minister removes Gen. Hossameddin Khalifa, director of security, and several senior police officers in the governorate of Gharbiya, where the city of Tanta is located, from their posts. Ten days before, and in this same place, experts had dismantled a bomb, which had targeted the church itself. The minister will appear today before the parliament to present his version of events. Finally, work is underway for the construction of thirty graves to bury the dead in the church's crypt. "We want to bury them where they died", the leaders of the church decided with the approval of the Amba Paula, bishop of the diocese. St. Marks Cathedral in Alexandria - The Mass finished Pope Tawadros saved The events differ from the first, but the number of victims is still high. The church has an electronic gate and metal detectors. The security is on high alert because pope Tawadros presides at the same mass. A man tries to enter the church. The security officer asks him to pass through the electronic gate, a few meters away. The man tries to pass and sets off the detectors. He stops, takes a step back, activates his explosive belt. The blast hits 17 people, including several police officers, while 41 other people were injured. Daesh claims the attack, Al-Sissi addresses Egyptians The Islamic State (Daesh), official press agency Aamaq has claimed responsibility for the two explosions yesterday. At the same time observers indicate that the Muslim Brothers are accomplices. After the attack, President Al-Sissi expressed his condolences to Pope Tawadros by phone, decreed three days of national mourning and ordered the deployment of several army units to help the police to protect churches in this week's celebrations. The President was present at the emergency meeting of the National Defense Council, in the evening, and declared a national state of emergency for the next three months. Testimonials of bloodshed Daniel, one of the pastors of the church of Mar Guirguis in Tanta, waking the body of his son, one of the deacon, remains silent his white robe still covered in bloodstains. An anonymous online comment One day every Christian will be a victim of terrorism and violence, or a witness. Rezk Helmy Kelnton I saw blood stains on the church roof, 30 meters high. And I saw a man with his intestines pouring out of his body. Hands and feet scattered everywhere. Isaac, host of CTV Total of the victims of the two attacks: 43 dead and 114 wounded. Spokesman of the Ministry of Health, 19:35 I came running from another neighborhood looking for my daughter. She had decided to attend Mass on Palm Sunday at St. Marks. When I heard the sound of the explosion, I went crazy with worry. Madeleine, housewife I saw a blue light on the belt of a person who was next to the deacons, then the explosion took place. In addition to the casualties, it knocked out a large number of faithful. Adel Kamel Morcos, senior citizen The Chinese courts database contains less than one-tenth of the cases reported in the media. In 2016 at least 1,032 people were executed; 1,634 in 2015. The drop largely due to a lower number of executions in Iran and Pakistan. For the first time since 2006, the United States is not among the first in the world London (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In 2016, the number of recorded executions worldwide fell by 37 percent over the previous year according to the latest Amnesty International report on the death penalty. The Human Rights Organization believes that China has performed more convictions than all other countries put together. However, the lack of reliable data means it is impossible to establish a precise number for Beijing. The international organization says that despite China's promise of greater transparency in the use of capital punishment, the national courts database contains less than one-tenth of the cases reported in the media. In its annual report published yesterday on executions, Amnesty reports that the database has been able to trace only 26 cases, while the media reports show that last year at least 305 executions have taken place in China. In 2016 Amnesty tracked at least 1,032 executions worldwide, down from 1,634 in 2015. That is due in large part to fewer executions in Iran and Pakistan. Despite fewer death sentences, Iran and Pakistan remain in the top five of the list, along with China, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. For the first time since 2006, the United States is not among the world's leading, dropping to seventh place behind Egypt. Last year, Washington executed 20 people, the lowest number since 1991. Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The foreign ministers of the G7 countries are trying to reach a common position on the Syrian conflict, before the Secretary of State goes to Russia on official visit. The aim of Rex Tillersons diplomatic journey - which will also see Arab allies in the Middle East - to try to persuade Moscow to abandon and leave Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to his fate. The United Kingdom representative has proposed "targeted sanctions" against senior military officers of Russia and Syria. The goal is to hit those who coordinated military operations in recent days in Syrian territory. If adopted, they would be the first sanctions against Russian personalities in the context of the Syrian conflict. However, their adoption seems unlikely given the internal resistance of G7 nations like Germany and Italy. Meanwhile, in the context of the growing tensions between the US and Russia, the Kremlin has canceled the meeting between Tillerson and President Vladimir Putin, originally planned in the coming days. He will still meet with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Wests clamp down follows last weeks attack in Idlib province, where the Syrian government - according to submissions by rebels and militia jihadists - used chemical weapons. Damascus denies using chemical agents (sarin gas is suspected) on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, which would have caused at least 89 deaths. According to the statement by a US official, the Russians knew about the chemical attack, because a drone flew over the area surrounding the Khan Sheikhoun hospital while the victims asked for help. A few hours later a fighter bombed the hospital in an attempt - according to Washington - to "cover" up the attack. In a telephone conversation US President Donald Trump and the British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed that it is no longer in " Moscows strategic interest " support the Syrian president. German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with the tenant of the White House about "specific responsibilities" attributable to Assad. Many analysts were surprised by Trumps actions given that before becoming president he had called for an alliance with Russia and in the past had criticized Barack Obama's negative positions, toward Bashar Assad. In spite of the threats, there has been no real change in [military] policy of the United States in Syria; despite having bombed a Syrian military base in response to chemical attack, the "priority" for Washington remains the fight against the Islamic State (IS). Since the outbreak of war in 2011, more than 400 thousand people have been killed and millions of people displaced, triggering an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. by Sumon Corraya On 6 April, thousands of Catholics marched in solidarity with tribal Santal. Last November, the latter were attacked by police and Muslims who set fire to their homes. At present, about 250 Christian families are still living in tents, in conditions of extreme need and in fear of attack. Gaibandha (AsiaNews) Five months after their land was taken, Santal Christians are still displaced, threatened by Muslims. Speaking to AsiaNews, some note that back in November, they were chased off their land in Gaibandha district (north-western Bangladesh) after a clash with police. "At least 250 families are living in tents, said Fr Samson Marandy, a tribal parish priest in Mariampur. The rains have arrived causing huge problems. Many are leaving for other places in search of work. The community is in a situation of extreme need." Everything began on 6 November 2016, when police and local Muslims attacked Christians, mostly ethnic Santal Catholics, over a land dispute. The clash resulted in the deaths of three Christians and the wounding of about 30 people, including nine police officers. Witnesses said that police had arrest warrants for 300 Santal, who fled to avoid jail. Others tried to defend themselves with bows and arrows, injuring some agents. Their houses were ransacked and looted. The clergyman reports that attack survivors are "living in extreme conditions, and are in need of legal support and a safe haven. Our people are determined to regain their land. I am on their side. " Along with Santal, thousands of Catholics took to the streets on 6 April in a show of solidarity. They want an investigation into the attack. "We see no improvement. Tribals are forced to live in the open, said Mathies Marandy, general secretary of the Adabashi (Tribal) Federation. Christians also complain that whilst they are not allowed to get back their legitimate possessions, those who incited the Muslims are still at large. After five months, even the policemen responsible for torching their homes have not been identified. "We are afraid even to go out because the Bangladeshis are threatening us, said Nirmol Murmu, one of the victims. We dare not even go to the local market." by Pierre Balanian The presence of a US military transport ship suggests delivery of vehicles for the "Free Syrian Army" with news of an imminent opening of a front in the south of Syria on the border with Jordan. Amman (AsiaNews) - The US military ship Liberty Passion left from Livorno on March 26 carrying 250 military vehicles and has reached - after a stop in Romania on April 6 - the Suez Canal at the very moment when King Abdallah of Jordan was meeting with US President Trump. The Passion Liberty went through the Suez Canal Friday, April 7 and dropped anchor in the Jordanian port of Aqaba 9.49 pm the same day. The ship, capable of carrying hundreds of military vehicles, is part of the US Sixth Fleet based in the Mediterranean and has never run maneuvers, moving only to perform very specific missions. Large-scale (58107 tonnes) it arrived at the same time that American plane jets unleashed their missiles on Syria and remained for 40 hours before sailing on to Jordan on Sunday in the direction of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The Pentagon has not given any indication as to the military vessels mission in Jordan, but social media of the opposition to Syrian President Assad speak of a consignment of many military vehicles for the "Free Syrian Army" with news of an impending opening of a front in the south of Syria on the border with Jordan, under the supervision of American troops, in something similar to what happened in northern Syria with the operation " Euphrates shield " launched by Turkey. All specialized military analysts on the Middle East argue that US would only intervene militarily in Syria if Jordan were threatened directly or indirectly. In fact, the Jordanian monarch expressed fears during his last visit to the US by releasing statements of concern on the "geographical continuity between Iran, Iraq, Syria and Heizbollah" to the Washington Post emphasizing the presence of the "Revolutionary Guards (Iran) now stationed 70 kilometers away from the borders with Jordan. " These two statements are enough to perceive the nature of the talks that took place in the White House between the Jordanian monarch and the American President that was certainly not a mere courtesy visit. Eyewitnesses speak of strengthening the Jordanian military presence in the triangular border separating Jordan from Syria and Iraq. While all the changes that have occurred recently in the country, such as the removal of the Jordanian Chief of Military Intelligence Faisal Al Shawbaki few hours after the end of the summit of Arab countries members of the Arab League and the meeting with the Saudi king , replaced by Adnan Al Gindi demonstrate a change of course and a Jordanian willingness to play a more active role in the ongoing war in neighboring Syria. The approach of Jordan to Russia had allowed the border a period of relative peace, Daesh had disappeared from Badiya Al Hammad and large areas of the eastern Sueida in southern Syria, replaced by forces loyal to Jordan even if this policy had created tensions with Saudi Arabia. The reconciliation between Amman and Riyadh indicates that something is going to change even among the relations with Russia and above all Jordan regarding the Syrian issue. Cairo (AsiaNews) - The victims of last Sundays attacks in Egypt were buried in two mass graves in the church of Saint Mark and in the monastery of Mar Mina. Funeral rites (pictured), officiated by numerous bishops, took place the same day, because the Coptic Orthodox Church does not allow funerals during Holy Week. All of the coffins bear the word "martyr" and a note released by the Coptic Orthodox Church also speaks of martyrs. "It is with great pride and profound emotion that the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, the Church of the Martyrs, is separated from her children who were martyred during the Holy Mass of Palm Sunday. They left carrying palm leaves to pray and celebrate the arrival of Christ, the King of Peace in the city of Jerusalem; He entered with a message of peace and promising love and peace for all human beings. " During the rites a message from Tawadros II was also read in which the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church expressed its condolences to the families of the victims of the police, as well as to those of the Christian faithful. "Let us pray - he added - for those who were injured and for all those who have been affected. May God preserve Egypt from all evil. We are confident in a bright future and a better tomorrow". A few hours after the funeral, police released the news of seven militants of the Islamic state. The Ministry of Interior claims that they were planning new attacks and were killed in the southern province of Assiut, after they opened fire on the security forces who approached them. The Ministry also issued the final toll of the two attacks: 45 dead and 126 wounded. And it was reported that the Interior Minister Magdy Abdul-Ghaffar has dismissed the head of the general security criminal intelligence Ibrahim Gharbiya and replaced him with General Ayman Sayed. The Minister's decision - as announced yesterday by President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said that three-month state of emergency for the fight against terrorism - is also seen as a result of the indignation expressed by many who accuse him of a State failure in the protection of Copts from attacks by the Islamic State, which had threatened as early as February to intensify its campaign against them. From Rome, meanwhile, Pope Francis "confirms his trip to Egypt with the utmost resolve," said Father Marco Tasca, Minister General of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Conventual, after a hearing. "And then - he added - he also told us of the departure of Cardinal Koch to prepare a the ground and for the speeches that will be made. The Pope will not be stopped by what has unfortunately happened, but with great firmness and conviction will go to Egypt to confirm and help the dialogue and the communion of Christian life ". A central New York college will receive nearly $1.2 million to prepare students for careers as teachers in science, technology, engineering and math fields, U.S. Rep. John Katko announced Tuesday. Le Moyne College was awarded $1,190,512 through the National Science Foundation. The funding will be used to recruit and train 18 undergraduate students interested in becoming teachers in STEM fields. Katko, R-Camillus, supported Le Moyne's application for the grant provided by the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program. The scholarship is named for Noyce, who was nicknamed "The Mayor of Silicon Valley." Noyce is best known for co-founding Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel Corporation. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage students who excel in STEM fields to pursue elementary and secondary school teaching careers. "STEM education is key to our economic future, and it is critical that we equip our local students with the skills they need to pursue careers in these innovative and high demand fields," Katko said in a statement. Le Moyne will partner with the Syracuse City School District, Onondaga County libraries and a few central New York organizations, including the Baltimore Woods Nature Center and the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse. The goal of the program is to train educators who will work in some of central New York's high-need school districts. "I commend Le Moyne College for partnering with the organizations in our community that need these resources most, and I was proud to support this application for funding," Katko said. by Mathias Hariyadi STAKatN was known as the Santo Agustinus Pastoral Institute. State recognition is the result of the support of important local Catholic leaders. The lack of priests and catechists is one of the biggest problems for Kalimantans Catholic community. For Mgr Pius Riana Prapdi, the lack of Catholic educators is the main obstacle to spreading the Faith. Pontianak (AsiaNews) Indonesia has its first state Catholic college. The State Catholic Institute (STAKatN) opened on 6 April in Pontianak, the capital of the province of West Kalimantan. Originally founded in 2006 as the Santo Agustinus Pastoral Institute, the new government-run educational institution began the long process of state accreditation in 2010, which ended this week with the official approval of the Religious Affairs Ministry. Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saiffudin, West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis M H, Pontianak and Archbishop Mgr Agustinus Agus took part in the opening ceremony. Andreas, a local Catholic, spoke to AsiaNews about the event. "This milestone was achieved thanks to the great support of important local Catholic figures, such as the provincial governor, the bishop and priests." In its ten-year history, the institute saw more than 1,250 students graduate, 31 of whom have since embarked on an academic career. More than 700 other vocational students have found jobs. During the inauguration ceremony, Mgr Agus invited all former students to adhere to the Church's mission in the province, so that Catholic education can remain strong for the local community. "Providing a religious education to our people in this vast territory has been a great challenge for us because of the lack of catechists," the archbishop said. "Not only are there not enough teachers with a Catholic education, but teachers as a whole are a rarity in this province." In Pontianak, the Education Department noted that only 355 schools in this huge province have teachers trained at Catholic schools. Overall, "we have 1,222 high schools across the province," Mgr Agus said. Out of 4,341 primary schools, only 1,603 have Catholic teachers. Out of 378 senior high schools, only 89 have Catholic teachers," the bishop added. The lack of priests and catechists is one of the biggest problems for the Catholic community in Kalimantan. The huge island ha only four dioceses in the western province, and only one for each of the central, southern, and eastern provinces. Speaking to AsiaNews in 2016, Mgr Pius Riana Prapdi, bishop of Ketapang (West Kalimantan), said that the lack of Catholic educators is the main obstacle to spreading the Faith. The difficult economic conditions in remote areas of Indonesia, exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure, put "human development" at the centre of the Church's mission. According to Mgr Pradpi, one of the best ways to meet this goal is to offer the best possible education to local youth. Village party head is demoted for not having a "resolute political position." Beijing wants officials to reject Islamic restrictions against smoking. Communist Party report vets members conduct. The authorities want officials to show a "commitment to secularism. Beijing (AsiaNews/SCMP) Xinjiang authorities have punished a local official for refusing to smoke in front of Muslim elders, seeing it as a sign of inadequate commitment to the regions fight against religious extremism, this according to a government report cited by state media on Tuesday. Jelil Matniyaz, the Communist Party head of a village in Hotan prefecture, was demoted for not daring to smoke in front of religious figures, said the report, released on Saturday and reproduced by official newspapers and websites. The report slammed Matniyaz, identified as an indigenous Uygur, for not having a resolute political stance. The state-run Global Times newspaper on Tuesday quoted other local officials as saying that government leaders should push back against rather than comply with religious prohibitions against smoking, to demonstrate their commitment to secularisation. The Hotan Daily said a total of 97 local officials were censured as part of a Communist Party investigation into the conduct of its own members. The report indicated the inquiry was personally directed by Chen Quanguo, Xinjiangs party leader and highest-ranking official, who has vowed to crack down on extremism. by Melani Manel Perera Pupils from the St Joseph's Girls School in Nugegoda took part in the pilgrimage, which the Sisters of the Holy Family organise each year to replicate the Stations of the Cross. After leaving the top of Hiniduma Calvary, the group came down collecting rubbish. Colombo (AsiaNews) A group of young people, parents and sisters from the Holy Family congregation organised a pilgrimage along a mountain path to mark Jesus crucifixion and collect rubbish as a sign of respect for and an act of improvement of the environment. The students who took part in the event are from the St Joseph's Girls School, Nugegoda, and enjoyed the Lenten initiative. One of them, Amanda, told AsiaNews, "We were all happy for this experience because of its spiritual and environmental value". Each year the Sisters of the Holy Family organise a Lenten pilgrimage replicating the Stations of the Cross. Last Friday, their chosen route was along the Hiniduma Calvary, the oldest Calvary of the country. Sixteen Holy Family teenagers (Supatha), 14 children (Supala), and several adults (supasa) took part in the event. Fernando Chamodi, coordinator of the Supatha group, said that the purpose of the pilgrimage was twofold: "First, to meet Jesus at the top of the Calvary, and second, to clean up the environment." Sister Timali Lowe, who was in charge of the children, led the pilgrimage. She urged the young participants to place "all their problems, illnesses and concerns in the hands of God, as Jesus did when he talked to his Father in Gethsemane. By praying to God, you will eventually find great inner peace. This is what happened, some of the kids said. At the end of the Via Crucis, on top of the mountain, we shared our experiences. We all felt the same freedom, comfort, and feeling of joy." "Jesus did many things for us, the nun said. He suffered for us, and gave salvation to all people. The sacrifice on Calvary has this meaning. Therefore, we ought to do something in exchange for that sacrifice, particularly in this world that was given to us." "For this reason, she added, I suggested to the children to bring trash bags and collect rubbish from the road on the way back from the top of the mountain". With the complexities of the technology used in much of modern pop, its often easy to forget that actual instruments are technically not even Free newsletter Subscribe to our FREE newsletter service and well keep you up-to-date with the latest breaking news, cutting edge opinion, and expert analysis affecting both your business and the industry as whole. Please enter your email address below and click on Sign Up for daily newsletters from Australasian Lawyer. By Dino Pisaniello, Professor of Public Health , University of Adelaide The April 4, 2017 chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria led to at least 70 deaths and more than 100 people requiring medical attention, prompting an outcry from the international community. It led to the April 7 US bombing of the Shayrat air base. It is alleged that sarin was used in the Khan Sheikhoun attack. This particular chemical became famous in 1995 with the Tokyo subway attack, launched by members of the cult movement Aum Shinrikyo. Was it sarin? Sarin is an organophosphorus compound and was first synthesised in 1938 in Germany as part of a pesticide research program. Sarin is a moderately volatile substance that is, it readily forms a gas which can be taken up by inhalation or skin contact. It is an inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is critical in regulating nerve function. When exposed to a low dose of a nerve agent such as sarin, people experience increased production of saliva, a running nose and a feeling of pressure on the chest. The pupils of the eye becomes contracted, so-called pin-point pupils. Pin point pupils, which have been recorded in video footage of the Khan Sheikhoun attack, are a characteristic consequence of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like sarin. This clinical sign is quite different from the irritating effects of chlorine and mustard gas. Medium to higher dose exposure to sarin and other nerve agents can result in difficulty in breathing and coughing, abdominal cramps and vomiting, and sometimes involuntary discharge of urine and faeces. Increased saliva production, running eyes and sweating may occur, as well as muscular weakness, tremors or convulsions. Loss of consciousness, and death due to respiratory failure may be seen at higher doses. Survivors of the Tokyo subway sarin attack recovered reasonably well but experienced some clinically detectable neurological effects, and some evidence of brain changes. Although sarin use is suspected in Khan Sheikhoun, there are many organophosphorus insecticides that would exert the same effect (in sufficient quantity). It is possible that an organophosphate pesticide or a simple organophosphate (not normally classified as a chemical weapon) was used in this attack. The production of sarin requires special facilities and is expensive, perhaps running into the tens of millions of dollars. Similar chemicals, such as tabun, are less expensive to make. Will we ever know what was used? In order to establish the identity of the substances used in Khan Sheikhoun, a combination of information needs to be gathered and assessed. In particular the results of chemical tests on wipe samples, soil and clothing samples must be determined and verified. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact Finding Team would be the most authoritative source to reveal the nature of the chemical(s) used, and we will await their report. However, in the past these reports have been inconclusive owing to the time taken to gather chemical samples, limits of detection, specificity and the presence of mixtures. The conflict in Syria involves the government military forces, the rebels, ISIS and the Kurds. It is sometimes hard to know where the chemicals might be coming from (for example, from neighbouring countries), or whether they have been produced or sourced locally. Local history of chemical attacks This experience in Syria may lead to improved medical responses in the case of future attacks. But in the absence of detailed knowledge of the substances involved, the treatment of casualties is unlikely to be optimal. With so many individual chemical substances, and improvised mixtures, only generic decontamination and treatment procedures can be used. However, it may be feasible to have chemical specialists attached to hospitals collecting and storing specimens for subsequent analysis. Sadly, the use of chemicals in Khan Sheikhoun is not an isolated incident. After all, a recent report of the OPCW Fact Finding Mission for the period December 2015 to November 20, 2016, recorded 65 potential incidents of the use of chemical weapons reported in open sources. The use of chemical weapons has a long history in the region. On March 16, 1988, Iraq dropped bombs containing multiple toxic chemicals on the Kurdish city of Halabja, killing thousands. Dino Pisaniello receives or has received funding from Australian Research Council, Safe Work Australia, Safe Work SA, Australian Department of Health, Defence Science and Technology Group and indirectly through the US Department of Defence. He has received funding in the past from the mining industry. He is on a committee in the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to veterans health. Originally published in The Conversation. Firstly, this forum has been gold over the last 12 months. We've finally arrived, and just have a couple of questions with regards to getting my wife (Brazilian citizen, here on a partner migration visa) set up in Australia (Victoria). 1. Driving. My wife has a full Brazilian licence. From what I have seen she must take a driving test (along with the theory test) to get a victorian licence. Is this the case? Thinking of getting her a couple of pro lessons just to get her used to driving on the left side and our rules etc (I'm NO help). Is she able to do this on her brazilian licence? 2. Insurance. We're over 30. When does my wife have to start paying the lifetime loading if she doesnt take up private health insurance? An Australian needs to take up private health by June 30th following their 30th birthday. with that same logic, would she need to take it up by THIS June 30th since this is her first end of year? Thanks guys U.S. Rep. John Katko's office is now accepting entries for the annual Congressional Art Competition. High school students in the 24th Congressional District are eligible to enter the competition. The district covers all of Cayuga, Onondaga and Wayne counties, plus the western portion of Oswego County. The Congressional Art Competition is an annual contest held by members of Congress. The winner from each congressional district will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Past winners from Katko's district include Manlius Pebble Hill student Loren Brown's "Dreaming in White" and Westhill High School student Mia Guariano. Guariano's charcoal drawing, "Displeased," was selected as the winner of the 2016 contest. "Central New York is home to many gifted young artists and this competition is an excellent opportunity to showcase our local talent in the U.S. Capitol," Katko, R-Camillus, said in a statement. "Each year, we receive many diverse and unique entries. I look forward to seeing this year's submissions." Artwork may be up to 26 inches wide by 26 inches tall and no more than four inches thick. The weight limit for entries is 15 pounds. It must be two-dimensional and "original in concept, design and execution." The work may not violate any copyright laws. Accepted entries include two-dimensional collages, computer-generated art, drawings, mixed media, paintings, photography and prints. The artwork must be submitted with an entry form, which can be found on Katko's website. Entries can be submitted to one of Katko's district offices by Thursday, April 27. Katko has offices in Auburn, Lyons, Oswego and Syracuse. Judging will occur on May 3. Winners will be announced May 9. Photo of 2018 Camry and Camry Hybrid courtesy of Toyota. Toyota will invest $1.33 billion to retool its Georgetown, Ky., assembly plant where it builds the Camry mid-size sedan, which it said will be fully build in the U.S. starting with the 2018 model year. The investment will tranform Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. The assembly plant will be the first to produce vehicles that use Toyota's new global architecture underpinnings. Toyota plans to invest $10 billion in the U.S. in the next five years. The company has invested $22 billion in the past six decades, said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. "Toyota New Global Architecture is about exciting, ever-better vehicles for our customers as it will improve performance of all models, including increased fuel efficiency, more responsive handling, and a more stable, comfortable feel while driving," Lentz said. The plant will also undergo other makeovers that will modernize and streamline the production process, including updating equipment as well as construction of an all-new paint shop. Toyota's Kentucky plant is its largest in the world with 8,200 associates. In 2016, the plant more than 500,000 vehicles, which accounted for nearly a quarter of North American production volume. In 2013, Toyota announced it would invest $530 million in the plant in part to support Lexus production. Zimride by Enterprise, a service of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, is launching a promotion to support the National Park Foundation and its recreational, educational, and service programs, including Active Trails. Zimride, a ridesharing and carpooling network in North America, will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation for every new member or new ride posted in April up to $10,000. In addition, the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Enterprise Holdings Inc., will match Zimrides contributions dollar for dollar. This promotion is available in every state, except for Alabama, Illinois, and Massachusetts. By the end of the month, Zimride aims to engage 10,000 new and existing members with the goal of raising $20,000 total for the National Park Foundation, according to the company. We offer our customers a variety of sustainable transportation solutions to help them get where theyre going, said Ryan Johnson, Enterprises vice president who oversees Zimride as well as other sustainable commuter options, including the Enterprise Rideshare and vRide vanpooling programs. Through this partnership, not only can Zimride members share a ride, they also can support some of the most exhilarating hiking and biking trails our country has to offer. Through shared rides, Zimride connects drivers and passengers heading to the same area. Georgias Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze welcomed a new agreement on deepening Armenias relations with the European Union during an official visit to Yerevan on Tuesday. We discussed the process of Georgias European integration and cooperation within the framework of the EUs Eastern Partnership program, he said after talks with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian. We noted with satisfaction the conclusion of negotiations between Armenia and the EU on a new framework agreement. Janelidze referred to the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that was finalized in Yerevan last month and is due to be signed later this year. The CEPA is a less ambitious alternative to an Association Agreement which Armenia planned to sign with the EU before unexpectedly deciding in 2013 to join a Russian-led trade bloc of ex-Soviet states. Unlike Armenia, Georgia signed a similar Association Agreement with the EU in 2014. The deal involving far-reaching free-trade provisions came into effect in July 2016. Armenian and Georgian leaders have repeatedly said that Armenias membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Georgias European integration will not prevent the two neighboring states from strengthening their relations. According to official Armenian statistics, Georgian-Armenian trade rose by almost 28 percent to $245 million last year. Nalbandian said there has been major progress in bilateral political and economic ties in the last few years. The two sides periodically reiterate that there are no problems between Armenia and Georgia, he told a joint news briefing with Janelidze. There are only issues that are solved with joint efforts. Our meeting today is further proof of that. We underlined our desire to further intensify our political dialogue, Janelidze said for his part. He said they also discussed ways of boosting Georgian-Armenian cooperation on transport, energy and tourism. He spoke of great untapped potential in these and other areas. The Georgian minister also held separate talks with President Serzh Sarkisian and Prime Minister Karen Karapetian. A statement by the Armenian presidential press office said Sarkisian and Janelidze noted with satisfaction that Georgian-Armenian relations are dynamically developing. 11 April 2017 18:05 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Slave with large debts cannot resist the temptation to take a bribe, the leader of the Armenian National Congress (ANC), Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan wrote in his article on April 10. He noted that taking into account the obvious fact that the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections in Armenia was mostly influenced by bribery, many are trying to blame not the Armenian government but the people. However, the country is entirely in the hands of corrupt government officials, punitive law enforcement, monopolist-entrepreneurs and criminal authorities, who completely control the destiny of the people, doomed to the status of slave, Ter-Petrosyan noted. President Serzh Sargsyan's Republican Party won the parliamentary elections of April 2 by obtaining almost half of the total vote. During and after the elections, a number of Armenian politicians, local and international observers and journalists noted that the parliamentary elections in Armenia had many violations and frauds. The observers from the Council of Europe, OSCE, the European Parliament and other international observers indicated these violations in their statement following the elections. Ter-Petrosyan noted in his article that if an Armenian citizen is countering to bribery, the government does it forcibly by threatening him with problems for his son, serving in the army, for his child, studying at school or university, or leaving that person without work, and through other kinds of threat. Therefore, when people take the bribe, the ones to blame are not the people but the Armenian authorities, who put them in such a humiliating position, Ter-Petrosyan stressed. Meanwhile, the demands to cancel the results of the parliamentary elections remain actual in Armenia. The opposition bloc Congress-PPA (Armenian National Congress and People's Party of Armenia), headed by Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, will submit a claim to the Constitutional Court (CC) with the requirement to annul the results of the parliamentary elections due to violations. This was announced by Levon Zurabyan, Head of the PPA parliamentary faction, on April 10. Recently, the Congress-PPA has also appealed to the Central Election Commission of Armenia with a demand to recognize the results of the elections null and void. However, the Commission rejected the demand. We will focus on our application to the constitutional court, which we consider a very important step, Zurabyan told reporters. He said that the violations, recorded by cameras at 1,500 polling stations, will be reasonably presented to the CC. However, Zurabyan doubted that Congress-PPA will achieve the cancelling of the election results due to the puppet regime existing in the government agencies. Although we have no illusions regarding the puppet CEC and CC, at least we will present our arguments, the evidence, all of which will be recorded and they will have to give an answer, he said. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 12:13 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Russian Nordavia Airlines plans to launch direct flights from St. Petersburg to the Azerbaijani region of Lankaran. From June 6, Nordavia will fly from the Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg to the coast of the Caspian Sea, Lankaran. The flights will be carried out once a week, on Tuesdays. Nordavia Airlines also plans to open direct flights to the Georgian cities of Tbilisi and Batumi. Nordavia is a Russian airline founded in 2004 and based in Arkhangelsk. Having a fleet of nine Boeing 737-500 passenger aircraft, the air carrier flies to more than 30 Russian and foreign airports. Currently, several Russian air carriers operate flights to Azerbaijan's capital Baku and some other cities of the country. In 2016, the number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan amounted to 2,242 million people, and majority of tourists, one third of them, came from Russia. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 13:10 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The State Committee on Property Issues held auctions for privatization of the state property on April 11. The Committee announced that 16 state objects were privatized at the auctions. Eleven of the 16 privatized state objects were sold in Baku they include three small enterprises, seven non-residential areas, and one vehicle. On the same day, auctions were held in the country's regions, where three small enterprises and two non-residential area were privatized. The small enterprises are located in Barda, Goranboy and Gazakh, while the non-residential areas are in Sumgayit and Mingachevir. The Committee informed that the next auction on privatization of state property will take place on April 18. It will offer 141 state objects, including 25 joint stock companies, 29 small enterprises and 87 non-residential areas. The third stage of privatization in Azerbaijan started in the framework of the presidential decree dated May 19, 2016. Under the decree, the acceleration of the state property privatization process has been defined as an important direction of the economic policy. The portal for privatization privatization.az, launched in July 2016, reflects all necessary information about the facilities, their addresses, location, and even initial cost and aims at facilitation of the process. The website is available in two languages - Azerbaijani and English. Why Azerbaijan is special section available on the website explains the reasons and advantages of investing in the country. The privatization process is designed to attract both foreign and local investors, as well as improve the business environment of Azerbaijan. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 17:40 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the improvement of relations with neighboring countries, in particular, with Russia and Azerbaijan, is top priority for his government. Relations with Azerbaijan and Russia have improved significantly in recent years, according to the President, IRNA agency reported on April 11. Rouhani made these remarks in the opening ceremony of a number of infrastructural projects in the northern province of Mazandaran. He added that trade turnover with Russia grew by 80 percent during the last Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2015 - March 20, 2016), predicting that the development of the northern port of the Islamic Republic, Amirabad, will further strengthen trade ties between the two countries. "There is also a good development potential for our business ties with Azerbaijan and in the coming years we will see an increase in bilateral trade," Rouhani said. The recent visit of the Azerbaijani president to Tehran as well as signing several important documents showed high level of cooperation between the two states. Azerbaijan and Iran jointly cooperate in implementing a number of projects such as North-South Transport Corridor. The two countries successfully work in the frameworks of Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia and Iran-Azerbaijan-Turkey trilateral formats, which are the examples of cooperation in protecting stability, security, regional development as well as combating terrorist threats. Iranian companies have so far invested some $1.2 billion, while some $145 million fell to a share of non-oil sector. Some 538 companies with Iranian capital are operating in Azerbaijan. According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, in 2016 the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $210.76 million, $49.68 million of which falls for the export of Azerbaijani goods to Iran. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 16:43 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Baku will host the second edition of Polish Film Festival WISLA 2017, which provides a unique, often the only, opportunity to see Polish films on the big screen. The festival scheduled for April 22-27 will screen six movies, including "Jack Strong", "Gods", "Sexmission", "Closed System" and "The High Frontier". The films will be demonstrated every day in Landmark cinema at 19.00 , Trend Life reported. "Jack Strong" is a Polish political thriller film directed by Wadysaw Pasikowski. The film is based on the true story of Ryszard Kuklinski, a Polish Army colonel who spied for the American Central Intelligence Agency during the height of the Cold War. "Gods" is a dramatic feature film directed by ukasz Palkowski. It is based on the life and career of Polish cardiac surgeon Zbigniew Religa, who performed the first successful heart transplant in Poland in 1987. The movie received the Golden Lions award for best film at the 39th Gdynia Film Festival (2014) and the Eagle at the Polish Film Awards (2015). "Sexmission" is a 1984 Polish cult comedy science fiction action film. It also contains a hidden political satire layer specific to the time and place of its production. "Closed System" tells about of three owners of prosperous company, who were arrested for participation in an organized criminal group and money laundering as a result of collusion of corrupt officials. The film "Influence" tells the story of a group of clairvoyants committed to restoring the Polish state as World War One dwindles to an end. Gathered inside a hotel room for a special seance, the magi use their power to save Jan Paderewski, the legendary pianist and symbolic leader of a successful patriotic uprising. At the same time, a hostile medium hired by the Prussian army is trying to influence Paderewski with his negative power. "The High Frontier" is a film that tells a story of a father and his two teenage sons, who travel to a small mountain cabin for a male-bonding adventure. With arrival of a mysterious stranger, their outing turns into a struggle for survival. In 2017, Polish film festival will also be held in Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Serbia and Georgia. The festival program traditionally includes the best feature films, documentaries, as well as the works by students and graduates of the leading Polish film schools. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 17:19 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova A workshop for participants of the Second Booktrailer Festival was held in "Azerbaijanfilm" studio named after Jafar Jabbarli. During the event, Festival's founder Ruslan Sabirli spoke about the importance of the festival and answered questions of the participants, Trend Life reported. Head of "Azerbaijanfilm" studio Mushfig Hatamov, in turn, spoke about the successes of Azerbaijani cinema in recent years at international arena, and shared plans for the future. In his speech, composer Azer Hajiaskarli focused on the importance of using music in film and touched upon the issues of the use of the original compositions. Famous directors, honored artists Elchin Musaoglu and Elkhan Jafarov, operator Nadir Mekhdiyev shared their experience with the participants. Booktrailers are short videos that promote a book or an author, providing a good illustration of the book content. Book trailers are a form of advertising for a book. Produced by publishers, and sometimes authors themselves, they are tools to pique interest in the novel and raise their popularity. The festival, which takes place under the slogan "Promote a book, get promoted with a book!" is organized with support of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The final will be held at the International Mugham Center on April 21. The festival is timed to the World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day, held annually on April 23. The first place will get a prize in the amount of 1000 manats ($ 558), while the winners of the second and third places 800 manats ($446) and 500 manats ($279), respectively. For more information, please visit: www.booktrailer.az Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BooktrailerFest For all questions, please contact: [email protected]. Media partners of the event are Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az, Azernews.az --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 11:38 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The NATO does not want to even think about the possibility of a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Alliances Assistant Secretary General, Tacan Ildem told. Asked about NATOs possible role in case of a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ildem said the Alliance stands against the use of force, Day.Az reported with reference to APA. Thus, we dont even want to think about the possibility of a war between these countries. International organizations favor a peaceful solution to such problems and conflicts. NATO shares the same position as well, he added. Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war. Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal. He noted that NATO cannot interfere in the settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group is engaged in the Karabakh settlement process. NATO cannot interfere in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process. The Minsk Group is responsible for the settlement process, he said. The official further said that Azerbaijan is a partner of NATO, stressing that bilateral relations are developing within a certain framework. The OSCE Minsk Group, the activities of which have become known as the Minsk Process, works to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for over two decades, but its activities have brought no breakthrough result so far. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The nation will recognize National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16. The day recognizes that everyone has the right and privilege to share their wishes about how they will live at the end of life. This movement was nationally recognized through the Family Care Decisions Act in 2010. Some of you may remember the political tension that surrounded this issue back in 2009. During the attempt to stop the Affordable Care Act, there were groups that believed if a doctor was reimbursed to hold discussions with their patients regarding end-of-life issues, it would create death panels and promote the act of euthanasia. The true intent was to allow each of us the ability to make our wishes known and to ensure the best quality of life, dignity, compassion and support one can hope for, when one can no longer speak for themselves. When I first was practicing as a registered nurse, it was all about the euphoric high I could get from a code call. I got to save lives and could hone my critical care skills. Honestly, the fight or flight response could become addicting. Then, one day while at work, I resuscitated a woman. When she woke up, she was angry with me. She had made peace with herself and that death was imminent. There was no more family that cared, a spouse to share each day, or friends to visit. Her quality of life was diminishing quickly. She just wanted to die with some dignity. I got her doctor, and they talked. She made her wishes known, and signed the necessary paperwork. Moving forward, when I worked I would listen to her memories, manage her pain, and sit with her when she peacefully died, with the dignity she wanted. According to the New York State Annual Report of Vital Statistics (2013), the top five causes of death in New York were: diseases of the heart, malignant cancers, chronic lower respiratory disease, cerebrovascular disease and accidents (96,700 deaths). Although death is part of the life span, it does not have to be met with an absence of dignity, lack of compassion or tremendous pain. Everyone has the ability to choose how to live life. One of the most obvious forms of unconditional love is to support the wishes of the loved one, and put your own wishes aside. We all want to die in our sleep, quietly and unobtrusively; but, with the ability to live longer lives, the likelihood of dying in our sleep decreases. We will live long enough to experience chronic illness, such as heart disease. Some of us will experience cancer. Others will experience Alzheimers. And some of us will die a tragic, unexpected and traumatic death. Some of us may experience one or more of these issues, too. But the outlook on living does not have to be dim and depressing. Live life to the fullest and liberate yourself to do so, by talking and recording your wishes of how to live, especially of how you want to live at the end of your life. Find someone you trust to be your health care proxy. Educate yourself on medical orders for life-sustaining treatment. Initiate a living will. Where to start? Contact us at the Cayuga County Health Department at (315) 253-1560 or read up on the topic at compassionandsupport.org. Forms and educational materials will be available at 8 Dill St., between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (closed on holidays). And talk with your medical provider. Love yourself enough to make your wishes known. Love others more, by honoring their wishes, too. Remember: It always seems too early, until it is too late. 11 April 2017 11:00 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenia is an aggressor country that committed a crime and remains unpunished, MP of the Azerbaijani Parliament Elman Mammadov told Trend on April 11. Mammadov stressed that by taking the destructive position on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia continues its subversive, provocative activities, refuses to negotiate, doesnt fulfill the conditions of the negotiation process, clearly refuses to comply with the decisions of international organizations, including the well-known UN Security Council resolutions on the settlement of the conflict. All this confirms the fact that Armenia is an aggressor country that committed a crime and remains unpunished. No state or international structure, including the OSCE Minsk Group, subjected Armenia to any sanctions or other punishment for its crimes and the pursued aggressive policy, the MP stressed. Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Elman Mammadov noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is the priority problem of Azerbaijan, and it is always on the agenda of the President Ilham Aliyev. The MP said that international organizations and leading states try to create the appearance that they supposedly cannot deal with Armenia that doesnt listen to the appeals and requests. However, it's all a lie, insincerity and hypocrisy. Mammadov noted that Armenia is a weak, terrorist state, and all financial support, giving this country the opportunity to exist, is provided by organizations and states with similar non-constructive position. Thats why Armenia believes in its impunity. Sanctions and pressure must be imposed against the aggressor country to bring Armenia to the negotiating table," the MP said. He also stressed that Azerbaijan has a strong army that is able to return the occupied territories by force. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. Moreover, peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. within the OSCE Minsk Group have produced no results so far. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 15:10 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Production, repair and utilization of defense products valued at almost 125 million manats are planned in Azerbaijan in 2017, said Minister of Defense Industry Yavar Jamalov. The production, repair and utilization of defense products valued at 123.7 million manats ($74 million) is provided in accordance with the orders of the Defense Ministry and other law enforcement agencies, the minister said on April 10, at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan in the first quarter of 2017 and future tasks. Jamalov noted that the production process is ongoing on the basis of the concluded agreements. Currently, there are ample opportunities for increasing production volumes at the enterprises of the Ministry, and work will be improved with the increase of orders in this field, the minister said. Jamalov also noted that today Azerbaijan exports military products to more than 10 countries. Currently, the value of the agreements is $101 million. A total of $57 million of this amount cover the ongoing projects, while $44 million will take effect once the partners provide the final certificates, the minister said. Jamalov also noted that the arms and ammunition, produced at the Azerbaijani defense enterprises, were widely used during the April clashes. He said that new military equipment of Azerbaijani production played an important role in precision striking on the military equipment and manpower of the enemy, and added that purposeful work in this direction continues. Jamalov also said that Zarba KM unmanned aerial vehicle of new generation, which was demonstrated in September 2016, has been successfully tested. In accordance with the contracts, Zarba KM has been launched for full-scale production and delivered to customers. He added that currently, intensive work is ongoing on the development of Zarba KH unmanned aerial vehicle, capable of hitting armored vehicles, military installations and manpower of the enemy at a distance of 100 kilometers. Moreover, the development of a national armored car Tufan, demonstrated at the international defense exhibition ADEX 2016 in Baku, has been successfully completed, the minister added. Azerbaijan, which is in war with neighboring Armenia over the latter's groundless territorial claims during more than 20 years, keeps in focus the armament. The country creates its own armament and works closely with leading companies and firms in various fields of military industry. The Defense Industry Ministry increased the volume of defense industry products in 2016 by 1.6 times compared to 2015, while the product assortment rose by 1.8 times. Currently, twenty-eight military factories are operating within the Defense Industry Ministry of Azerbaijan. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 13:00 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli A delegation of Azerbaijans Parliamentary Committee on international and inter-parliamentary relations headed by Chairman Samad Seyidov is on a working visit to Brussels to discuss a new agreement between the EU and country. The first meeting of the delegation was held with Sajjad Karim, the co-chair of EU-Azerbaijan PCC and head of the EP delegation. The parties discussed the situation in the South Caucasus, the ways of developing cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Azerbaijani Parliament, exchanged views on a new agreement on cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan. Co-chairman of the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee of Azerbaijan Javanshir Feyziyev, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PA Euronest Fuad Muradov and Chief Consultant of the International Relations Department of the Parliament Babek Agayev took part in the meeting. 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 first meeting on a new agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan was held in Brussels on February 7, 2017. 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. 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. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 17:22 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, who is on a visit to Baku, discussed the situation in the Middle East and Syria with the head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev. The Patrushev-Mehdiyev talks took place on the sidelines of the consultations on security issues held in Baku on April 10, Trend reported. They discussed issues of international and regional security while specific attention was paid to the situation in the Middle East, in particular, in the Syrian Arab Republic. Nikolay Patrushev and Ramiz Mehdiyev stressed that the relations between Russia and Azerbaijan are of strategic partnership nature and the bilateral dialogue is built on trust and constructiveness. The issues of Russian-Azerbaijani joint work in the sphere of security, including cooperation on the antiterrorist track and prospects for strengthening cooperation in the fight against the illegal movement of goods and people across the Russian-Azerbaijani border were considered as well. Representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Federal Security Service, Federal Arbitration Service, and Russian Security Council participated in the talks, Interfax reported. During the Baku visit, Patrushev also hold talks with Madat Guliyev, the head of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan. Patrushev noted the importance of expanding cooperation between the relevant bodies of the two countries in the fight against common threats with the aim of creating favorable conditions for the policy pursued by the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan. Guliyev, in turn, informed the Russian side about the reforms successfully conducted in the country in the spheres of state construction and legal protection under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. The sides also exchanged views on other issues related to the prospects for mutually fruitful cooperation in the field of security. During the Baku visit, Patrushev was also received by President Ilham Aliyev, who said that security cooperation lies at the heart of successful development of bilateral ties between the two countries. They exchanged views over other issues of mutual interest. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 15:45 (UTC+04:00) Acting President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Hwang Kyo-ahn has sent a letter of congratulation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as the two countries mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Azertac reported. I am very delighted with the fact that the relationship between our two countries have been developed in every and all spheres including political, economic, cultural areas, in particular since the establishment of the diplomatic ties in 1992, and through official visits of high ranking officials of our two countries, your visit in 2007 and many others, a framework of the future-oriented cooperation has been established, and the economic cooperation and the cultural exchange are being further widened. Hwang Kyo-ahn said: Based on our mutual efforts to build up a friendship during the last quarter of a century, I wish to actively promote mutual and beneficial cooperation. And I also hope to deepen bilateral strategic cooperation in various fields, such as energy infrastructure, transportation and telecommunication, including construction of the petrochemical complex. I would like to appreciate your Excellencys unwavering interests and support for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and wish you good health and your country endless prosperity, he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 15:54 (UTC+04:00) President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid has expressed his confidence that his country`s cooperation with Azerbaijan will deepen. The fraternal ties between Bangladesh and Azerbaijan are rooted in history, common faith, culture and traditions. I am confident that our two friendly countries will further deepen our cooperation in the field of economy, trade, investment and commerce to the mutual benefit of our two peoples, he said in a letter addressed to his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev as the two countries celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Azertac reported. I convey my best wishes for your good health, personal well-being and happiness and for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Azerbaijan, the President of Bangladesh said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 17:03 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Poland attaches particular importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said as he met his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Warsaw. The ministers expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Poland and exchanged views on the expansion of cooperation in various fields, Azertac reported. They emphasized the high-level mutual visits which contribute to the enhancement of cooperation. The sides also stressed that during this period both countries have signed 35 legal documents and 12 more drafts are under consideration. The ministers commended the activity of Intergovernmental Commission and Azerbaijan-Poland inter-parliamentary friendship groups, as well as regular political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of two countries. Touching upon the transport projects launched with Azerbaijans initiative and participation, particularly East-West and North-South corridors, Mammadyarov noted that Poland may also get benefited from the opportunities provided by these routes. The ministers further discussed the arranging the reciprocal visits of the relevant sectorial ministers and the development of cooperation in the fields of defense industry and marine transport between the two countries. Mammadyarov informed his interlocutor about the negotiations process on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He expressed his gratitude to Poland for its support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders and resolution of the conflict based on these principles. Mammadyarov also underlined the importance of taking unified attitude and applying the same principles to all conflicts. The ministers reviewed the implementation of direct flights and issues of development of tourism between the two countries. Waszczykowski noted the importance of mutual support within the international organizations. The ministers touched upon Azerbaijan-European Union relations as well. Welcoming the mandate endorsed by the European Union Council to launch negotiations on Strategic Partnership Agreement with Azerbaijan, Mammadyarov expressed his assurance that this agreement will provide an important framework for the comprehensive development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU. 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. 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 18:42 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli A master plan for the construction of the second residential complex in Hovsan within the social housing project will be completed in the near future. Chairman of the State Housing Construction Agency (MIDA) Samir Nuriyev said that after approval of the master plan, preparation of the design work will begin. A land plot of 20 hectares is allocated for the construction of the social housing in Hovsan, he said, noting that a total of 3,000 apartments are expected to be built here. "We also plan to start designing of a school and a kindergarten," he added. Nuriyev went on to say that the work on creation of a registration system for those wishing to purchase social housing is underway. The registration process will begin on May 1. The State Agency for Housing Construction was established in April 2016. Currently, the agency is constructing a residential complex for a privileged category of the population in the Yasamal district of Baku, the construction of which will be completed in the middle of next year. Nuriyev said that more than 20 private companies will take part in construction of social housing in Yasamal. The project will provide more than 2,500 people with job. "At the moment, construction of the third floor of the nine-story building and the second floor of the school is in progress, and construction of 15 buildings has started at the same time. This month we plan to start construction of seven more buildings," he said. Speaking about prices, Nuriyev said that the monthly payment for the purchase of social housing in a mortgage will not exceed 300 manats ($180) for a three-room apartment, and 130-150 manats ($78-$90) for a one-room apartment. Nuriyev also noted that the agency will try to fix the monthly fee for a one-room apartment at the level of 130 manats. "The Azerbaijani Mortgage Fund (AMF) caries out a research every six months to determine the average market value of housing, and before the sale of social apartments we will use this data and try to ensure that prices are beneficial to people, both in terms of cash payment for buying on credit," he said. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 10:53 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Amec Foster Wheeler, a London-based multinational consultancy, engineering and project management company, has been awarded a global framework contract by BP International. Amec Foster Wheeler will provide engineering, procurement support and project management services for pre-FEED (front end engineering and design) and FEED work across a range of projects in accordance with the contract, the company reported on April 10. The contract is for three years with an option to extend for two additional years. The scope of services for the contract covers onshore, offshore, subsea, drilling, green field and brown field upstream engineering services in Alaska, Angola, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Gulf of Mexico, Indonesia, Oman, Trinidad and the UK. BP is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan's oil and gas sector and the operator of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli offshore oil and gas block, as well as the Shah Deniz gas and condensate field. BP is also a member of such pipeline projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and South Caucasus Pipeline. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 16:43 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva The situation around Syria becomes exacerbated in connection with the recent missile attacks on the city of Idlib by the U.S. and the unwillingness of the parties involved in the conflict to retreat from their positions and come to a common compromise. Despite concerns over the possible failure of dialogue to solve the Syrian crisis, there are still positive signals for the talks to resume. On April 10, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reassured U.S. readiness to work with Russia on creating a new political environment in Syria and ensuring that the Damascus government recognizes its international responsibilities. "You can have work with Russia, in particularly, to make sure that they understand that Syria, backed up by Russia's own accounting, should be held accountable for the agreements that its made with respect to its international agreements on chemical weapons alone," Spicer stated. Moreover, he said that "if people are attacked using poisonous substances, we reserve the opportunity for new actions," while replying to the question of the possibility of new attacks. From this statement, it follows that America leaves the possibility of new strikes against Syria. A certain discrepancy in addressing this issue is observed as, given the attitude and statements of the Russian side about these attacks, it is strange that America hopes for joint cooperation within the framework of the Syrian question. Spicer once again confirmed that the Islamic state remains the threat number one in the region for the United States. Washington will be able to defeat ISIS, even if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will remain in power. At the same time, Russian side believes that by these actions [by its missile strikes against Syria] the United States has shown its complete unwillingness to interact in the Syrian settlement, according to the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "The American side has thus demonstrated its complete unwillingness to somehow interact on Syria and take into account the interests and the concerns of others [participants in the settlement process in the Syrian Arab Republic]," Peskov said. In addition, Russia considers that recalling a need for the withdrawal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from his post does not bring the political settlement in the Arab Republic closer. There is no alternative to Geneva process aimed at finding political solution to the long-lasting situation in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on April 10, TASS reported. "There is the Geneva process and the Astana process, which is a supporting component of the Geneva process. And the search in the framework of settlement is conducted there," Peskov said. The Russian presidential spokesman noted that "returning to pseudo attempts to settle the situation" by declaring that Bashar Assad should leave power cannot bring anyone closer to political settlement in Syria. "The only possible option is to continue this meticulous work underway as part of the Geneva and Astana process," he said. Meanwhile, Syria with the support of Russia seeks to find a way to protect itself from possible repeated attacks by the United States. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad stated that Damascus and its allies "do not intend to threaten the U.S. or threaten security in the world", but, in his opinion, will be able to protect Syrian sovereignty and independence. After the U.S. strikes on the Syrian territory, Russia's Defense Ministry announced its plans to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the air defense system in Syria. To cover the most sensitive objects of the Syrian infrastructure, the Ministry plans to implement a set of measures in the near future to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the air defense system of the Syrian armed forces, Russia's defense official, Major-General Igor Konashenkov said. On April 4, the National Coalition of Opposition and Revolutionary Forces of Syria reported about 200 wounded and 80 victims of chemical weapons attack in Khan-Sheikhun city of Idlib province. The oppositionists blamed government troops of Syria for the attack. The command of the Syrian army rejected accusations in its address and laid the blame on the militants and their patrons. The UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have already taken up the investigation of the incident, but so far they have not published any conclusions about possible perpetrators of the incident. As Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem stated on Thursday, Syrian government troops have never used or intend to use chemical weapons against civilians and against terrorists. The stocks of chemical weapons were successfully exported from Syria. In January 2016 the OPCW announced the complete elimination of the country's chemical industry. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz On April 6, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany. War had raged in Europe for three years already. Many American sons rushed to their local recruiting offices as the United States rushed to beef up its military. One such son was Leonard Earl Rea, whose father owned and operated the L.L. Rea Tea Co. at 55 Genesee St. Rea signed up for the Marine Corps on April 19, 1917, and was shipped to recruit training in South Carolina. Once completed, he found himself in Quantico, Virginia, assigned to the 5th Regiment, and shipped over to France in August. Just before departing for Europe, Rea was promoted to corporal. His leadership skills were enough to earn him a chance for a commission and, in April 1918, he was sent to the Army corps school for officer training. While there, his regiment fought in the famed battle of Belleau Wood and the battle of Soissons. There was plenty of fighting left for newly minted 2nd Lt. Rea when he returned to his regiment in late July 1918. The 5th Regiment, along with its sister regiment, the 6th and their 6th Machine Gun Battalion, were all Marines and made up the Armys 4th Brigade famed for being the only Marine Corps unit in France to see combat. Together they held the Marbache sector in August, but were thrust into the St. Mihiel Offensive in September. In Army General Order No. 88, Rea was cited for displaying "unusual heroism, coolness, zeal and good judgment at the southwest corner of the Bois de Bonveaux on the days of Sept. 12-16. Rea was the officer in command of a combat liaison group between his regiment and the Armys 5th Division. The line moved rapidly, creating a difficult and dangerous situation. However, Rea was described as conducting his duties in an exceptionally efficient manner and, by being calm and cool under pressure, was an "excellent example for his men at all times. Being cited in orders such as these resulted in Reas receiving the Silver Star Citation today known as the Silver Star medal. It was not his last. In October, the Allies France, Britain and the United States launched another offensive in an attempt to push the Germans back further. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Champagne) saw the 4th Brigade thrown against the Germans at the battle of Blanc Mont, northeast of Reims, France. The battle kicked off with a bloody, but successful two-hour assault by all four infantry regiments of the 2nd Division (of which the 4th Brigade was part), under the command of Marine Corps Maj. Gen. John Archer Lejeune. The French did not keep up with the advancing Marines, therefore the Marines found themselves surrounded and fighting off repeated attacks by the Germans. The American Marines prevailed and were able to continue to advance. On Oct. 4, Rea was shot in the back and severely wounded. He could not move without help, but refused to leave his men or the line for medical treatment. He remained on the line, directing his men in the fight, until given a direct order by his commanding officer to be evacuated to the rear. For his steadfast determination to remain with his men, all the while severely wounded, Rea was awarded the Navy Cross and the Armys Distinguished Service Cross. Despite the serious nature of his injuries, Rea returned to the line before the end of the month and served honorably with his regiment through the final offensive of the war, but just three days before the Armistice of 11 November 1918, he was struck with Spanish influenza. Three weeks later, he returned again to his regiment and marched with his men through Belgium and Luxemburg, crossing the Rhine River on Dec. 15 and entering Germany the next day. The Marines remained on occupation duty until summer 1919. He returned home to the United States during July 1919. Rea was discharged soon thereafter and returned home to Auburn. Reas story continues on in the Marine Corps; he returned to Quantico and rejoined the corps in May 1921 as a first lieutenant. Rea went on to serve in far-flung reaches of the globe like Nicaragua and China, but also used his talents learned in his fathers tea shop to rise through the ranks as a quartermaster. He continued to be promoted and by the time World War II broke, he was at Headquarters Marine Corps as the officer in charge of the supply division within the quartermaster department as a lieutenant colonel. Four years later, Brig. Gen. Rea had served overseas and was back in Washington. Rea retired from active duty in November 1953 and for his valorous conduct in World War I, he was promoted to major general on the retired list. He and his wife, Gertrude, returned to Auburn. Rea died on May 12, 1972, and was buried next to his wife in Pittsford in Monroe County. Rea was but one of the nearly 2 million men who signed up to serve in the war to end all wars. This year marks the beginning of the commemoration of those who all served during World War I. May their sacrifices not be forgotten. 11 April 2017 10:35 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the upcoming referendum on constitutional reforms proposing among other things a transition to a presidential system is not about just one person or a party, but it is about the future of Turkey, Anadolu reported. Addressing a rally in northern Corum province on Monday, Erdogan said: "Constitutional change is a deep rooted, national and state project." He said leading political figures of the country, including the late Presidents, Turgut Ozal and Suleyman Demirel, and the late Prime Minister, Necmeddin Erbakan, and the founders of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Grand Unity Party (BBP), Alparslan Turkes and Muhsin Yazicioglu, support the proposed presidential system. He said: "They have seen the key to Turkey's permanent stability in the presidential system." He added the upcoming vote on April 16 was never about a person or a political party. "This is a reform related to Turkey's future," Erdogan said. Next Sunday, Turkish voters will be asked to vote Yes or No to an 18-article constitutional reform bill that would shift the country from a parliamentary system of governance to a presidential one. The Yes campaign is backed by the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and the opposition MHP, while the main opposition Republican People's Party has conducted a No campaign. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 13:50 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Registration of candidates for the presidential elections in Iran began on April 11 at the headquarters of the Interior Ministry, IRNA reported. The registration process began at the countrys Election Office, which is located within the Interior Ministrys premises in Tehran, and will last for the next five days. The election is scheduled for May 19. The candidates are expected to be political and religious personages, who fulfill the fourfold criteria of being of Iranian origin, being a national of the Islamic Republic, being prudent and capable of taking on leadership duties, and being religious and believing in the Islamic Republics principles and its official religion. All hopefuls will be vetted by the Guardian Council, a body that oversees elections and legislation, from April 16 to April 20. The body may extend the vetting period for five days, April 21-25, looking into candidates grievances. On April 26-27, the Interior Ministry will formally announce a final shortlist of candidates approved by the Guardian Council. On April 28, candidates start campaigning until 24 hours before May 19, the voting date for the 12th presidential and 5th city and council elections. The two main rivals in the race are widely expected to be the incumbent, President Hassan Rouhani, and Ebrahim Raeesi, the chief custodian of Astan Quds Razavi. President Rouhani has not officially announced his will to run for a second term. But, he is widely expected to do so, and the reformist camp in Iran has already picked him as its chosen candidate. He remains popular for stabilizing the economy and ending sanctions through a nuclear deal with world powers. After lifting the sanctions, Rouhani visited a number of European states and made deals that worth billions of dollars. European companies started looking for investment opportunities in the growing Iranian market. Raeesi, who is a close ally of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would rely on his past record in high government posts and his managerial skills to win votes. A large number of conservatives are expected to fully support the candidacy of Ebrahim Raisi. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 18:00 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva The Combat Training Center of the Georgian Armed Forces will be built near Tbilisi with the U.S. assistance, Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria said. The project envisaging the creation of this center is carried out together with our American partners, he said while addressing a meeting of the Georgian parliamentary committee on defense and security, TASS reported. "Georgian side will allocate 10 million lari ($4 million) for the construction of this center," the minister said. The center will be established on the territory of the Georgian military base in Vaziani, according to Izoria. On February 11, the Georgian Ministry of Defense released information about the meeting between Georgian Defense Minister, U.S. Army commander in Europe Lieutenant-General Frederick Ben Hodges and the head of the training command of U.S. European Forces Brigadier General Antonio Augusto, which was held at the training base of the U.S. Armed Forces in German Hohenfelse. During the meeting, it was noted that agreements on cooperation between Georgia and the U.S. in the defense sphere determine long-term tasks in this direction. On December 6, 2016, Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Carpenter signed a framework agreement on security cooperation for 20162019 that will promote further development of the Georgian defense system. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 April 2017 16:30 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Turkey and Azerbaijan intend to launch joint tourist tours in a bid to increase the tourist flow and revenues of the sector. The joint tours can be arranged to the countries neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey in particular they may include Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia, Counselor for Culture and Propaganda at the Turkish Embassy in Baku Irfan Ciftci told Trend on April 11. Our task is to provide a more complete integration of the tourism potential of Azerbaijan with the relevant sector of Turkey," he said. Ciftci noted that the travel companies of Turkey carry out joint tours to Central Asia, Europe and other regions, and proposed to establish joint Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia tours or joint travel of Azerbaijan and Turkey with other countries. He added that the Azerbaijani and Turkish travel companies are negotiating on the development of such tours. The counsellor also reminded that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will open in June. In this regard, new opportunities in tourism sector will show up. The rail tourism is a great form of recreation, and I believe that companies will be able to get to work in this field, Ciftci said. Today tourism is developing with high speed in Azerbaijan, with a contribution of 4.5 percent to the national GDP. There are more than 500 hotels in Azerbaijan, while the capital hosts the worlds leading hotel chains. Last year, 35 hotels were built in the country, while 25 are under construction. In 2016, the number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan amounted to 2,242 million people and this is 11.7 percent more than in 2015. The majority of tourists came from Russia, Georgia, Turkey and Iran making up 33 percent, 22.5 percent, 13.9 percent and 10.9 percent, accordingly. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A Calvert City, Kentucky Presbyterian church has been ordered to vacate its premises after refusing to accept the changed description of marriage issued by the Presbyterian Church (USA) The First Presbyterian Church of Calvert City,., asked to be dismissed from the denomination after its national governing body,changed its description of marriage in 2015. The new description reads in part: Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives, according to the Presbyterian Church (USA)s website. In response, the Calvert City churchs 27 congregants voted 22-5 in May 2015 to pursue a gracious dismissal, In response, the Presbytery of Western Kentucky, which serves as the regional governing body, has asked the congregation to vacate the church primness by April 19. Clerk of session Paul Ambler, whose wife is the pastor, said that the congregation supports civil rights but does not wish to bring secular practices into a church context. Im a real strong believer in the civil rights of people. They can enter into any sort of civil agreement that they want, but I dont see the need to pull that into the church context when the Bible says it is specifically against that, Ambler said. The presbytery has retained Thomas Miller, a Paducah attorney, to represent it in legal proceedings; Greg Northcutt is representing the Calvert City congregation. So far no legal actions have been filed, Miller said. The church and its assets are ultimately owned and controlled by the denomination, which is the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the matter is being handled in accordance with the denominations constitution and its internal process, Miller said. Ambler emphasized that his churchs opinion is not necessarily meant to be taken as a condemnation of what he calls alternative lifestyles. This is a land built on freedom of religion, and that includes the right to repudiate secular practices within the church context. Share this: Tweet More Email Print Crews from multiple departments in Cayuga and Onondaga counties spent hours tackling a large outdoor fire on Monday in the area of Grant Avenue, County House and Chestnut Ridge roads in the town of Sennett. As of 8 p.m. Monday, part of Grant Avenue Road was still closed to traffic, more than five hours after crews had arrived at the scene. Sennett Fire Department Assistant Chief Sean Holmes said early Monday evening that the fire was almost out with efforts focusing on extinguishing hot spots. Initial 911 dispatch radio reports said a number of lumber logs were on fire near the railroad tracks. Responders on the radio said the fire was extremely hot and the wind was blowing, with a thick wooded area nearby. Holmes said between 200 to 300 logs were on fire. It was difficult to get fire vehicles into the area where the fire was. Fire departments from Auburn, Mottville, Sennett, Sempronius, Scipio, Aurelius, Throop, Fleming, Weedsport, Port Byron, Owasco, Jordan and Elbridge were called to the scene. New York State Police and the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office also responded to help redirect traffic. Multiple calls for "all available manpower" were broadcast on the emergency radio system as well as requests for gators from New Hope, West Niles and Sempronius to help clear the wooded area. Onondaga County's Air 1 helicopter was also called to the scene. The pile of logs was located along an access road where railroad tracks cross Grant Avenue Road. Cayuga County real property records show the site is owned by Chris Sandstrom, who operates Cayuga Tree Service. At one point, a Finger Lakes Railway train was waiting for crews to clear the line to help firefighters. All traffic was diverted onto County House and Chestnut Ridge roads. HIT: To the passage of the New York state budget for 2017-18, just in time for public school districts putting the final touches on their own spending plans. After blowing the April 1 deadline for getting the state budget done, legislators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo initially moved to approve budget extender bills that were to keep the state government running through the end of May. That plan was a fundamental failure to school districts, which by law must adopt budget proposals in April that are subject to public vote in mid-May. Without information on how much to expect from the state, districts could have been left guessing at a time when spending is already tight. Fortunately, the extender plan did not last long as the Legislature and governor reached a 12-month budget agreement over the weekend. Districts now know exactly what to expect from Albany for their next fiscal year, and that will mean more accurate budgets for residents to pass or reject later this spring. MISS: To the lack of transparency in the final budget that the state Assembly and Senate approved. A look at the key items in New York's new $153B state budget ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Here's a look at key items in New York's new $153 billion state budget, True to form, because of the secretive nature of how things get done in the Capitol, the actual details of the budget bills were largely unknown to the public before the final votes. New Yorkers deserve a better process, one that will get final budget bills out with a week or more to spare so the public can review and lawmakers can actually read the bills' text before full floor votes. HIT: To Dustin Mondics, the Moravia High School senior who was critically injured in an automobile accident late last year but is fighting hard in his recovery, who took the time to thank others who are helping him along the way. Last week, Mondics paid a visit to the Moravia Fire Department to thank the first responders who were at the scene of his accident. Their swift and effective response was vital, and Dustin and his family wanted to make sure those actions were recognized. Sadaf Deen has recently seen on the streets of Mombasa in searching for votes. The Mombasa women representative aspirant has made a big mileage in gathering little hearts from the Mombasa slums. Sadaf will be competing with the incumbent Women representative Mishi Mboko on the 19th April ODM Nominations.She has been able to convince women and Men in Mombasa following her bid in the women's top position in the 001 county. She had a lot of support because among the contestants she is the only youth.The Youth from Mombasa have accepted to have a young woman representative as she has the zeal of making women better in Mombasa. Her team has been going around spreading towards all constituencies in Mombasa in order to be nominated and be in the ballot box come august 8,2017.Sadaf Deen who is 20 years old has been the youngest political contestant across Kenya according to our research. She has been seen in the famous areas where people think are the most determinant in any elections. Mombasa county is ready for change as youth dwell on politics. Another famous youth will be contesting in Nyali constituency following the current MP vying for the Gubernatorial seat. Mohammed Ali who is famously known as "Jicho Pevu" fill the list of the youth contesting in Mombasa. Notice on Calling an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of City Service SE The Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (hereinafter, the Meeting) of City Service SE (Societas Europaea), corporate ID code: 12827710, registered address: Narva mnt 5, Tallinn, Harju county, 10117, the Republic of Estonia (hereinafter, the Company), is convened by the Management Board upon the initiation of the Supervisory Board of the Company. Meeting date and time. The date of the Meeting is 4 May 2017, Thursday; time 09:00, registration starts at 08:30. Meeting place. Electronic participation voting. The Meeting shall take place at the office of the law firm VARUL, Ahtri 6a, 10151 Tallinn, the Republic of Estonia (Business center Admirali Maja, 7th floor, entrance A). However, following Article 5.5 of the Statutes of the Company and the resolution of the Management Board, all the shareholders of the Company may also participate in this Meeting via secured electronic connection that shall be established at the Vilnius office of the Company, at Gyneju st. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania (Business Center VERTAS, the 11th floor), via Skype connection on 4 May 2017, Thursday, at 9:00. The shareholders participating in this Meeting shall be able to watch the Meeting, vote using electronic means throughout the Meeting (by rising hand or providing verbal response) on each of the draft resolutions prepared in respect to the items on the agenda of the Meeting and address the Meeting at the time determined by the chairman of the Meeting. The exact procedure of electronic participation in the Meeting is established by the resolution of the Management Board, which is available in the same places where the draft resolutions are made available. Meeting agenda. The Supervisory Board determined the following agenda of the Meeting: 1. Increase of the number of the management board members. 2. Approval of the new wording of the Statutes. Availability of draft resolutions. Draft resolutions of the Meeting as well as draft Statutes of the Company are attached hereto and are also available for examination on the website of the Company at www.cityservice.eu. Shareholders can also examine the draft resolutions of the Meeting as well as draft Statutes of the Company during business hours from 09:00 till 12:00 every working day until the Meeting at the following addresses: in Lithuania the Companys Vilnius office at Gyneju str. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania; in Estonia the office of law firm VARUL, Ahtri 6a, 10151 Tallinn, the Republic of Estonia. The minutes of the Meeting shall be made accessible to the shareholders after seven days following the Meeting day at the Companys website. Eligibility of shareholders. The total number of the Companys shares and the number of shares granting voting rights during the Meeting is the same and amounts to 31,610,000. ISIN code of the Companys shares is EE3100126368. The list of shareholders entitled to take part in the Meeting shall be determined as at 23:59 on 27 April 2017. Representation of shareholders. The shareholders will have to submit the following documents for the registration as participants of the Meeting: 1. Shareholders (natural persons): his/her identity document (passport or ID card). 2. Representatives of shareholders (natural persons): his/her identity document (passport or ID card) and a duly signed written power of attorney issued by the shareholder. 3. Representatives of shareholders (legal persons): in case of representation by law certified extract (or other similar document) from relevant commercial registry of the country where the legal person is registered providing information on a right of representation and identity document of the representative (passport or ID card); in case of authorized representation certified extract mentioned above, identity document of the representative (passport or ID card) and a written power of attorney duly issued by the legal representative of the shareholder. 4. Shareholders whose shares are held through the nominee accounts: his/her identity document (passport or ID card) and a duly signed written power of attorney issued by the holder of the nominee account opened with the Estonian central depository for securities indicating the number of shares owned by the shareholder. Please be informed that shareholders, who are entitled to participate at the Meeting, can authorize by electronic means a natural or legal person to attend and vote on behalf of them at the Meeting. Power of attorney that is digitally signed by the shareholder must be submitted via e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu not later than by 3 May 2017 (17:00). At the Meeting the authorized person shall have the same rights as a represented shareholder, unless the authorized persons rights are limited by the power of attorney or by law. Documents issued in a foreign country must be translated either into English, Lithuanian or Estonian and legalized in the manner established by the law. Voting by general ballot paper. A shareholder or his proxy may vote in writing by filling in a general ballot paper, in such a case the requirement to deliver a personal identity document does not apply. The form of a general ballot paper is presented on the Companys website. Upon a shareholders request, the Company shall send the general ballot paper to the requesting shareholder by registered mail or shall deliver it in person against signature no later than 10 days prior to the Meeting free of charge. If the person who had completed the general ballot paper is not a shareholder, the completed general ballot paper must be accompanied by a document confirming the right to vote. The duly completed general ballot paper should be sent by e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu or delivered directly to the Companys Vilnius office at Gyneju str. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania, not later than by 3 May 2017 (17:00). The Company reserves the right not to include the shareholders vote, if the general ballot paper does not meet the requirements of paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9 of the Statutes of the Company or if the general ballot paper is written in a way that it is impossible to establish shareholders will on a separate issue. Right to supplement agenda. Please be informed that shareholders whose shares represent at least 1/20 of the share capital of the Company may demand inclusion of additional issues on the agenda of the Meeting if the respective demand has been submitted in writing or by e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu no later than by 18 April 2017 (17:00). Shareholders whose shares represent at least 1/20 of the share capital of the Company may submit to the Company draft resolutions in respect to each item on the agenda in writing or by e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu by 1 May 2017 (17:00). Right to receive information. Shareholders will have the right to receive information about the activities of the Company at the Meeting. Questions may be submitted before the Meeting by e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu or delivered directly to the Companys Vilnius office at Gyneju str. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania. Please be informed that the management may refuse to answer the shareholders questions if it can significantly damage the interests of the Company. Additional information is provided by tel.: +370 5 239 4900 and on the website www.cityservice.eu. Vilius Mackonis Director of Marketing and Communication Department Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More details have emerged of a man police want to speak to after a woman was sexually assaulted on a train between Bath and Westbury. The 24-year-old disabled victim, was standing by the luggage rack on the train when a man who stood next to her touched her inappropriately. After she moved to sit down, her attacker followed before sexually assaulting her again. The incident happened around 5.20pm on March 18 and CCTV pictures have now been released by police as part of the investigation. Police are now urging anyone who was on the service from Bristol to Westbury, or who recognises the man they wish to speak to in relation to the incident to come forward. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Amy Perry, said: "The victim was very upset and in shock as a result of this incident. "She has a disability which affects her mobility and meant she felt even more vulnerable in the situation. "There were other people on the train at the time of the assault, including a female passenger who kindly checked if the victim was ok after the incident. "I would like to speak to the man shown in the CCTV images as he may have information which could help with the investigation. "If you know who he is, please contact me as soon as possible." "Please call British Transport Police on 0800 405040 or text information to 61016 quoting reference number 343 07/04/17." Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Local Liberal Democrats have blamed the council for BMTs withdrawal from the South Quays project which they saying risks Bath being seen as the graveyard of ambition. Defence firm BMT was the anchor tenant for the 50 million development, but pulled out just days ahead of Bath and North East Somerset approving its own plans for the mixed commercial and residential building. The Lib Dems believe that BMT pulled out because the council reduced the sites size in response to heritage concerns when these could have been addressed in other ways. They believe that, without BMT, the site risks remaining derelict. Jay Risbridger, Liberal Democrat candidate to become Baths MP and himself a local businessman, was present when the original memorandum of understanding for the project was signed between BMT and the then Lib Dem-led council. He said: This was meant to be a technology park and with BMT going were just not going to attract the companies that share that same high level of technology. They were the flagship high-tech company. Without BMT, it could well end up being a white elephant. That prospect would also jeopardise one of the secondary benefits which would be to keep Baths university graduates within the city rather than losing them to employers elsewhere, he said. The whole concept of a technology park on this important river site was primed to attract inward investment and provide high wage employment. All of that must now be in question. I fear that this site will remain derelict, just like it did when the Conservatives failed to secure Dyson on this site, and that Bath will, once again, be seen as the graveyard of ambition. Mr Risbridger said its a big question whether South Quays will attract investment from other companies either, especially given uncertainty around the post-Brexit environment. It may be that without BMTs involvement other investment in the actual building will no longer seem like a viable proposition. Theres nothing signed up in black and white. They [the council] can be confident, but thats not the same thing as actually knowing. The council said it has already received new enquiries since plans for South Quays were approved last week. A spokesman said: As well as strong demand from businesses in Bath there is interest from outside the city too. Discussions with agents and local businesses about their ongoing growth requirements are extremely positive. The council remains confident, given the high demand for business space in Bath and the attractiveness of the city to technology companies that Bath Quays South remains a great opportunity and will attract new businesses. Mr Risbridger said the council could still rescue the project by working with BMT to find out what could be done to keep them there. There are always ways around things, he said. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. University of Bath students have called for accommodation fees to be frozen and ultimately cut. One campaigner has also suggested prospective learners from low-income families are being priced out of higher education as a result. The students have backed the Cut The Rent campaign, which is fighting for more affordable student accommodation across the country. At the top end of the scale, University of Bath students pay 153 each week for a single suite, 216 for couples. The cheapest accommodation option is 65 per week, according to 2017/17 academic year data provided by the university. Second year politics and international relations student Ross West said: "The cost of rent in Bath is increasingly becoming a barrier to equal access in education. "Coming from a low-income background myself, it's easy to see why any students who cannot rely on their parents for financial support are discouraged from entering university." Final year student Clementine Boucher said: "I want students in Bath to be galvanised by the example of students in London campaigning successfully for reduced rents. "The SU adopting the policy is only the first step. Radical student led political action is the most potent weapon we have to achieve fairer rents at Bath University." Students' Union president Lucy Woodcock said: "Students have shown their support for the Students' Union to actively campaign about the levels of rent in Bath. "It's no surprise that the growing cost of being a student is something that Bath's students are concerned about. Students in England leave university with an average debt of 44,000, the highest in the English-speaking world. "Much of this debt is made up of tuition fees, but the costs of living can make a major addition to this burden. We'll be working with students over the coming months to support their campaigns and help reduce the burden of high rent that they face." The University of Bath has pointed out that it was ranked among the best value places to study, according to www.expertmarket.com It ranked eight overall, seventh for graduate prospects and the sixth cheapest for annual food costs. The study looked at tuition fees, accommodation costs and the cost of a pint alongside graduate opportunities. The University of Bath is to review is accommodation pricing for the 2017/18 academic year by the end of April. A Lakeland veteran has a new mission. He would like to see a monument built to honor war vets at the Griffin Cemetery on Sleepy Hill Road. Kenny Weberman is veteran of Vietnam War He wants to make sure vets are properly honored Want to help? Click here Kenny Weberman likes to visit old cemeteries and look at gravestones. A few months ago, he walked through the Griffin Cemetery and noticed there were 37 war vets buried there. "Three quarters of the way walking through the cemetery, I knew I was called upon to do a mission. I just knew it," he said. Weberman is hoping to raise several thousand dollars for a monument with the names of each of the men. "These people who are here at rest should never be forgotten. Never, ever," he said. The cemetery is located on Sleepy Hill Road. Weberman is a Vietnam War vet who felt so disrespected by anti-war protesters when he returned home that he burned his uniform. "I mean, I felt embarrassed. I felt ashamed," he said. "I felt like I didn't do much for my country. I felt belittled. I felt bad." He wants to make sure vets are always honored for their service. Weberman said he has the cooperation of the city of Lakeland, which maintains the cemetery. He said he also has the blessing of the owner of the private cemetery. There is a GoFundMe page if you'd like to help. Just click here. This Gofundme.com site is not managed by Bay News 9/News 13. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit http://www.gofundme.com/safety The Florida Forest Service, Pasco Fire Rescue and other agencies are fighting two separate fires in Pasco County Monday. Brush fires located off State Road 52, Hays Road Voluntary evacuation order lifted as of 8:30 p.m. Interactive brush fires map Officials have named the fire burning off State Road 52 the Silver Palms Fire. This fire is close to the Suncoast Lakes subdivision, which includes about 50 homes. Officials estimate the fire is about 200-300 yards from the nearest homes, and is about 25 percent contained. The second fire has been labeled the Campground Fire. The Campground Fire is in the Starkey Wilderness Preserve - Seranova, south of State Road 52 and Hays Road. The fire is estimated at about 55 acres and is 55 percent contained. No homes are immediately threatened. Residents in the area of the fires who might suffer from respiratory ailments are advised to close windows this evening due to smoke. A voluntary evacuation order was issued just after 7 p.m. for residents and special needs residents of the Suncoast Lakes subdivision. That order has since been lifted. "I was terrified." Area resident Louise Christie was among those given the choice to evacuate Monday evening. She and her family packed up what they could, but eventually chose to stay put. Christie described the entire situation Monday as "freaky." "My mom lives with us -- who is 92 -- and she was alone for a few hours and she called me saying she saw smoke," said Christie. "And then she started crying and then I heard the loud speaker to evacuate." Christie's neighbors have also decided to stay, saying they'll turn on their sprinklers if need be to hopefully keep fire from approaching their homes. One neighbor, Christiana Pineiro, told us the clouds of smoke made the entire scene even more frightening. "I was terrified," said Pineiro. "Coming here, because I came down 52, it was pretty bad and then coming in the community and everything is smoked out, so you fear the worst." "That is very scary," she continued. "I mean, the first thing I did when I came home was take pictures of everything because you never know." Fire officials believe both the Silver Palms Fire and the Campgrounds Fire started from a lightning strike last week that smoldered until Monday. Crews expect to remain on site fighting these fire through the entire night. Authorities are investigating after a crash involving a school bus and another vehicle Tuesday morning in Sarasota. Sarasota Schools posted on its Twitter feed that seven students and two adults on the bus were taken to a hospital for observation, but their injuries weren't life-threatening. Crash happened at Proctor Road and Gantt Road 11 people, including 9 on bus, taken to hospital Florida Highway Patrol investigating The crash occurred about 9:15 a.m. at Proctor Road and Gantt Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said the bus was traveling eastbound on Proctor Road, approaching Gannt Road and had a green traffic signal. Another vehicle traveling westbound on Proctor Road attempted to turn left onto Gantt Road and collided with the right side of the bus. Two people inside that vehicle were taken to a hospital for treatment. The bus was from Oak Park School in Sarasota. Oak Park is a special needs school that serves children from pre-K to age 22. Twelve people were on the school bus. Some of the students involved in the crash were nonverbal, neighbors and witnesses helped calm the group after the crash @BN9 Angie Angers (@angie_angers) April 11, 2017 The crash resulted in a downed pole, causing power outages at Ashton Elementary School and Sarasota Middle School. FHP is still investigating. We'll provide more information as it becomes available. Fire crews are still working to contain a brush fire in west Pasco County near State Road 52. Brush fires located off State Road 52, Hays Road Watch LIVE on BN9: Pasco County Fire Rescue update at 9 a.m. Interactive brush fires map Brush fire coverage Burn ban likely for Pasco County beginning Wednesday The Silver Palms Fire near the Suncoast Lakes subdivision and the neighboring campground fire in the Starkey Wilderness Preserve are both near State Road 52. The Silver Palm Fire is about 25 percent contained and has burned about 30 acres, as of Tuesday afternoon. Officials with the Florida Forest Service said Tuesday morning that the campground fire has burned about 75 acres and is 100 percent contained. While fire crews say there are no homes in danger right now, residents are not taking any chances. Mike Brazzo wetted down his yard Tuesday, hoping to keep embers from the Silver Palms Fire from doing any damage. "Yeah, it makes you nervous, kind of," Brazzo said. "You know, seeing smoke and fire. We don't know when it's going to pop up, so you just have to keep an eye on it." A road into the subdivision was closed to outside traffic for most of the day. Firefighters brought in heavy equipment to cut through the thick brush behind a dozen homes. "That doesn't mean that it won't still catch on fire, but what it means is that the fire will not be standing up. So the flames will be lower to the ground and easier for us to fight," said Judy Tear with the FFS. The Florida Forest Service believes the flames came within 100 yards of some homes. Pasco County Emergency Services Director Kevin Guthrie said a burn ban for the county would be brought before commissioners on Wednesday. County officials had to close the Suncoast Bike Trail temporarily because of heavy smoke. While there are no voluntary evacuation orders right now, officials are telling people with respiratory issues to keep a close eye on conditions. They should leave if they're having trouble breathing. The following editorial appeared in The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday, April 4: If weve learned anything from reports of Russians hacking political campaigns and Silicon Valley corporations, its that online privacy cant be taken for granted. But President Donald Trump apparently wants to strip Americans of our last shred of secrecy. Trump signed legislation on Monday that would make it easier for internet service providers to sell unwitting customers personal data to the highest bidder. Just about anything typed into a web browser will be fair game, from your financial information to your medical conditions, and can be used to create highly targeted online ads. That Trump would consider this legislation at all is the height of hypocrisy. This is a president who spends his days lamenting leaks from unauthorized spies in the White House and refuses to release his tax returns. Though he knows embarrassingly little about computers, the privacy of his own data is an obsession. If you have something really important, write it out and have it delivered by courier, the old-fashioned way, Trump said on New Years Eve. Because Ill tell you what: No computer is safe. Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy. Technically its already legal for internet service providers, such as Comcast, to spy on customers and turn over the data to advertisers. Its the same creepy thing that Facebook and Google do now, which is why an online shopping excursion for new footwear can mean boot ads haunting your browser for weeks. But many ISPs had delayed following Facebook and Googles lead because the Obama administrations Federal Communications Commission took a hard line on net neutrality and other consumer protections, and had passed a bill requiring internet service providers to get consent from their customers before selling personal information to advertisers. That bill was to have taken effect in December; the bill Trump signed Monday will undo that. Its a one-two punch for consumers since Trumps FCC voted last month to stay rules that would have required internet service providers to protect credit card information and Social Security numbers from hackers. Net neutrality is the next target. Privacy may be passe, but Trump isnt the only one who doesnt want to give it up entirely, for free. Nunes exits, and GOP credibility in trouble The following editorial appeared in The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer on Friday, April 7: Devin Nunes seemed to confuse his task as House Intelligence Committee chairman with his political allegiance to President Donald Trump. Nunes appeared to be keeping Trump and his aides closely informed about the committees work on a probe of Russian intelligence operations and alleged attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, something the California congressman rationalized as appropriate in his role. He was wrong. And his behavior apparently became even a little problematic for House Speaker Paul Ryan, who surely must have influenced Nunes decision to step aside from leading the probe. Nunes also was hurt by the stellar, serious focus of the ranking Democrat on the committee, Adam Shiff, also of California. The serious problems on the House committee prompt even more interest in a corresponding probe by the Senate Intelligence Committee chaired by North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, a staunch supporter of President Trump. Burr has of late emphasized his determination to have a thorough investigation free of political influence. His performance will determine whether his legacy will be compared to the late Sen. Sam Ervin, the Tar Heel who led the Watergate investigation with high integrity or to that of Nunes, who failed his biggest test. Trumps immigration mess The following editorial appeared in the Miami Herald on Saturday, April 8. President Trump is not about to take control of his vociferously delivered and wildly resonant campaign promise to relentlessly pursue violent illegal immigrants. And that borders on tragic. He now is presiding over a messy, inconsistent follow-through that has snagged undocumented immigrants caught, say, driving without a license; made others afraid to report to the police violent assaults and other crimes against them; left children without a parent; and even detained for deportation, according to Human Rights Watch, those with no criminal history at all. But this president doesnt do nuance. Yes, yes, America is a nation of laws. It has also been a nation, despite some huge lapses over the centuries, that makes adjustments and recalibrates when those laws sometimes overreach, as long as theres is no harm done to the greater society. Indeed, U.S. law has been applied, fairly or no, with discretion. In 1996, Congress passed laws making even people who hold green cards and those with lawful status subject to deportation after a criminal conviction. The range of crimes is exceedingly broad, from shoplifting to intentional homicide. The Obama administration called the hounds off of undocumented immigrants convicted of nonviolent crimes who had strong connections to the United States through family and stable employment, green cards or military service. President Obama got nuance, mostly. After all, he still was derisively nicknamed Deporter in Chief. However, that administration understood that there was more harm than good to be done by needlessly separating families But here we are. Alison Parker, the director of U.S. Program for Human Rights Watch, hears the horror stories. The executive order and the memos on internal immigration enforcement seem as if the administration is interested in deporting people with no criminal history, she told the Editorial Board. As a nation, yes, of laws, we should declare this overreach unacceptable. And once in the deportation system, the process pretty much railroads people out of the country. The 1996 laws exempt a lot of people with convictions from being able to talk about their family or military connections in front of a judge, Parker said. The judge can only look at a checked box. The box that says, in essence, undocumented. End of conversation. Congress must resolutely insert itself. After all, lawmakers irresponsible inaction, their failure to have thoughtful debate, their tolerance of Trumps scapegoating, helped get us to this sorry juncture. Provide oversight and accountability to ensure Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers treat people fairly. HRW reports that too many Border Patrol agents are unwilling to listen to claims of asylum, claims they are obligated to take seriously. Theres no Democrat in the White House to fight against anymore. Instead, theres a demagogue, from the party of the majority, so lawmakers still have a fight on their hands a righteous one. Change comes for OReilly, and wont be spun The following editorial appeared in The Sacramento Bee on Thursday, April 6: There was a time when Bill OReilly could spin news of the sort piling up this week against him. A wink at Roger Ailes, Fox News ex-chairman, a nod toward the ratings of The OReilly Factor, and hed be back in the no-scandal zone. But times change. Spin has failed since The New York Times exposed the $13 million Fox News has paid in settlements to female ex-staffers allegedly harassed by the 67-year-old news host. The young producer he screamed at in 2002. The producer who said he told her to buy a vibrator and called to describe sexual fantasies about her. The Fox Business Network host who, after Fox failed to renew her contract, reportedly went to the company with incriminating recordings. The Fox News anchor whose OReilly experience yielded a $1 million payout. And the regular on OReillys show whose career mysteriously stalled after she allegedly rebuffed his sexual advances. And the other regular who says she stopped getting invited on to the show after she declined an invitation to OReillys hotel room; she didnt sue, but she and her lawyer who called Fox News the Bill Cosby of corporate America have asked New York officials to investigate a pattern and practice of sexual harassment and retaliation at the company. The claims echo those that led to Ailes ouster last summer a tawdry affair that left Foxs corporate parent insisting that it would clean house and change the culture. So much for talk. But change has come nonetheless, in the exodus of advertisers from OReillys show, 48 and counting as of Wednesday: Coldwell Banker, Allstate, Jenny Craig, Orkin, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Lexus, HR Block, Stanley Steemer. Not to mention Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Bayer, Advil/Pfizer and Eli Lilly. When even the drug companies ditch your cable news rant, something is wrong. OReilly says the suits were shakedowns and settling them a cost of doing business in the arena. President Donald Trump said, I dont think Bill did anything wrong. Well, he wouldnt. The market, though, lives in the moment, and this moment has had it with creeps, in or out of the arena. OReillys fans may age in place, but his days are numbered. Sexual harassment just doesnt sell like it used to in corporate America. The Texas Department of Public Safety is offering a reward of $7,500 for anyone with information leading to his capture of 58-year-old Billy Wayne Gilliland, of Liberty County, according to a release from the department. The department confirmed that Gilliland is on the "Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives" list. "Gilliland, a confirmed member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang, is wanted for parole violation and evading arrest/detention with a vehicle," the release states. According tot the release, Gilliland was sentenced to life in prison for murder in Liberty County in the 80s, and was released on parole in March of 2014. In October 2016, Gilliland escaped the halfway house where he was placed in Del Valle, Texas, the department said. The department said that Gilliland's criminal history includes: convictions for escape, burglary and drug charges. He has ties to Liberty County, Baytown, Conroe and Midway, the department said in the release. To keep up with updates in the event of his arrest, Gilliland's wanted bulletin can be viewed here. "Gilliland is 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. Gilliland has numerous tattoos on his back, chest, arms and left shoulder. He also may wear glasses," the release states. So far in 2017, Texas Crime Stoppers has paid $15,000 in total rewards for anonymous tips that resulted in arrests, according to the department. All tips are guaranteed to be anonymous. Spencer Mathews went to work on Jan. 19 planning to check for weaknesses in Kountze ISD's cybersecurity that computer hackers could exploit. The day before, the district's technology director attended a training session on "ransomware," a cyberattack by hackers who hold data hostage until they're paid. The training was a day too late. Overnight, hackers found an open port into one of the district's servers and locked the entire network, shutting down the district's internet. School districts across the country have become frequent targets of ransomware attacks. At least two Southeast Texas districts have been hit in the past year. Educational networks are often vulnerable because they have so many entry points, store large amounts of personal data and often can't afford to build a strong enough security system, said Michael Kaiser, executive director for the National Cyber Security Alliance. Attacks can be costly In Kountze's case, Mathews said a hacker got access through an unsecured remote desktop used to access school computers from home or other locations. From there, the hacker was able to lock the shared user files of all 1,300 students and employees. Personal information like Social Security numbers and bank information were not stored in those locations, he said, so hackers never had access to them, but all of the district's internet and online operations were shut down for the day. West Orange-Cove CISD was hit by a similar attack more than a year ago, when about 20 percent of the district's computers were locked by a hacker, technology director Elvis Rushing said. In ransomware attacks, hackers typically place a message on the computer or network instructing the owner to contact them and demanding money in exchange for the key to unlocking the system, Mathews said. Some even "provide customer service," Kaiser said, and provide detailed explanations of how to pay using untraceable cyber-currency, like Bitcoins. "They're not looking for information, they're looking for quick money," said Kyle Fisher, Region 5's network operations director. Mathews and Rushing never found out how much it would have cost to get their data back. They were able to restore their files from backups without contacting the hackers. The main cost was the inconvenience: Rushing said it took almost a month to restore all of the affected computers. Kountze's internet was back up by the end of the first school day, but Mathews still wonders who was behind the attack. He was able to trace it to computers in Russia and France, but someone could have been using virtual private networks to hide their location. "It very easily could have been somebody right down the road. We joked that it could have been a kid in a classroom on a phone," Mathews said. Schools frequently targeted While ransomware attacks are nothing new, they have been on the rise recently, possibly fueled by the availability of technology like Bitcoin, which makes payment to unidentified parties possible, the National Cyber Security Alliance's Kaiser said. Districts in Montana, Mississippi and Oklahoma have been hit in recent years, and a South Carolina superintendent testified before Congress in May 2016 after his district paid $8,500 to get back its data. The attacks aren't limited to education. Hospitals, businesses and individuals have been targeted as well. School districts can appear particularly vulnerable, though, because with so many users on the connected networks, hackers have more potential openings, Kaiser said. They also have access to large amounts of data, including personal, financial and medical information and Social Security numbers, which makes them appealing targets. A study by security rating company BitSight found schools have the highest rate of ransomware attacks three times as many as in the healthcare industry and more than 10 times as many as in the finance sector. Hackers might not be intentionally targeting schools, Kountze's Mathews said, but in automatically scanning for openings online, they might unintentionally find themselves inside an educational network. Mathews said KISD shored up its defenses after the attack, and the incident emphasized the importance of keeping passwords, data and remote desktops secure. Students and staff were reminded to watch out for "phishing" emails as well, which look legitimate but often include links that let viruses in, another common door for hackers. The cost of the hack-in at West Orange-Cove was teachers' access to technology, the district's Rushing said. Before, teachers had privileges to download software when they wanted. Now those requests have to go through Rushing's office for approval and installation. The district has eliminated "back doors" into its system and broken up its networks into smaller pieces so that if viruses pop up again, they will affect fewer computers, he said. Districts must be vigilant Districts can be susceptible to other types of cyberattacks, Kaiser said, because with so many moving parts, doors to the network can easily be left open. A scammer posing as Nederland ISD's bookkeeper recently tried to order computers on the district's account from an online vendor, hoping that by using a false email address close to the district's official ones, the purchase would slip through the cracks, technology director Cindy Laird said. The goal likely was to have the district unknowingly buy the equipment, which would then be shipped elsewhere, basically theft without the district's knowledge, she said. In cases like this, just like with ransomware, "the key is letting our end users know" what to do, Laird said. That means informing administrators, teachers, students and outside contractors to watch for suspicious emails or links, and making sure they know who to alert if they suspect something is off, Laird and Mathews said. Schools should be wary of identity theft as well, particularly because children are popular targets. "You're not going to see a 10-year-old with a credit card," Region 5's Fisher said, so a hacker could steal their identity for years without anyone noticing. "You need to be able to teach your staff and students how to look for these things and to question everything," he said. Schools should protect themselves by first identifying and protecting the most critical data they have, such as Social Security numbers or financial information, and then expanding protections from there, Kaiser said. While prevention is important, it's vital to have a plan in place for how to respond, especially as schools invest more money and resources in technology, he said. "Technology is really good for schools, there are a lot of positives," Kaiser said, as long as districts are prepared to address the increased risk. Teaching students to tread carefully online is a way districts can protect their own interests and help students, he said. "That's everything from the basic things like making good passwords and updating software and basic cyber-hygiene, to being thoughtful about posting on social networks and civil treatment of people online and offline," he said. "It's not just an educational issue, it's a security issue." LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz The 2017 Houston Texan Cheerleaders could gain three Southeast Texans by this afternoon. Thirty-five are expected to make the team, which will be announced at 6 p.m. Danielle C., a 2010 Port Neches-Groves High School graduate, and Olivia W., a 2009 Nederland High School graduate, are 2 of 53 finalists for the 2017 Houston Texans Cheerleaders Team. Olivia, 25, has a good shot at earning one of the coveted spots after making it last year. Adriana S., a 2007 West Brook High School graduate, also is waiting to learn if she made the team again this year. A 20-year-old man was arrested Sunday in College Station after allegedly falling asleep in a Whataburger drive-thru while drunk, according to media reports. Robert Lee Mahoney was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated on Sunday. His bond was set at $3,000, according to online jail records. KWTX reports the incident occurred at about 4:40 a.m. Sunday at the Whataburger at 4471 State Highway 6, when police learned from the restaurant's employees that someone was asleep in their vehicle in the drive-thru. The TV station said police found Mahoney asleep behind the wheel with the car engine running. They woke him up by knocking on the window. AUSTIN -- Ken Paxton's lawyers on Tuesday asked for a new judge to be appointed to preside over the attorney general's securities fraud case. The request in a motion filed by Paxton's defense lawyers came hours after Tarrant County state district Judge George Gallagher said he was moving the criminal trial to Harris County. Paxton faces two counts of felony securities fraud and one count of failing to register with the state as an investment adviser. Gallagher opted to relocate Paxton's criminal trial across county lines last month after citing concern that political influences are strong in the attorney general's home of Collin County where he originally was set to be tried. BACKGROUND: Judge worries of possible 'ethical problem' in Paxton case "Harris County was selected because the lead counsel for the state and the defense are located there. Harris County also has the facilities to accommodate the trial," Gallagher said in a statement. Paxton's lawyers have opposed the change of venue and say a recent poll shows possible jurists in Collin County largely are undecided about the case. However, attorneys on both sides agreed to allow the court to relocate the trial to a county not adjacent to Paxton's home county, according to the ruling. BACKING TRUMP: Paxton joins 12 states in supporting Trump's revised immigration ban Several of the lawyers for both the defense and prosecution are based in Harris County. Paxton's attorneys filed a motion hours later asking that a new judge from Harris County be assigned to the case. "By this motion, Paxton respectfully advises the Court that he will not be giving the statutorily-required written consent... to allow the Honorable George Gallagher or his court staff to continue to preside over the matter in Harris County," the motion reads. Relocating the trial plucks Paxton's trial out of heavily-Republican Collin County to Harris County, which went undeniably blue in the 2016 presidential election. Paxton is a Republican of Tea Party influence who climbed the ranks from a state representative to a state senator to attorney general in Collin County over the last 15 years. "Collin County, where it was, Ken Paxton is king," said Dick Deguerin, a criminal defense attorney in Houston. "And Houston has the most diverse jury panel than anywhere in Texas. If you can't get a fair trial in Houston, you can't get a fair trial anywhere." Paxton was indicted in 2015 and faces two counts of first-degree felony securities fraud and one third-degree count of failing to register with the state as an investment adviser. Paxton has maintained his innocence and contends he is the victim of a political witch hunt. PRAYER FIGHT: AG's office raises questions about Frisco high school prayer room The change of venue alters the dynamic of Paxton's legal fight, which began in 2015 with an indictment in his home county. Since then, he repeatedly has tried to convince judges to dismiss the charges against him, to no avail. A federal judge dismissed similar civil charges filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last month. The judge has yet to set a court date for the criminal trial. In an article, the American Medical Association argued the federal appeals court overseeing the potential merger between Indianapolis-based Anthem and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna should uphold the trial court's decision. Here's what you should know. 1. A federal judge blocked the merger in February 2017. Anthem appealed the ruling, arguing that its merger would result in $2.4 billion consumer benefits. The AMA Litigation Center recently filed a brief urging the three-judge panel to uphold the lower court's ruling. 2. On March 24, 2017, Anthem said in appeals court that "consumers should rejoice" at the idea the merger could be approved, according to a Hartford Courant report. 3. The AMA and the Medical Society of the District of Columbia believes Anthem's proposed savings would "damage patient care, stifle innovation and cause patients to use more healthcare services." The articles states, "Anthem's claim that the merger will enable it to offer a new product Cigna's products at Anthem's prices was contradicted by the evidence at trial and the experience of the market." 4. The AMA argues a merger for acquiring purchasing power would be harmful to the market and would be anticompetitive. 5. The AMA reached out to health experts on the matter and had 27 health economics, antitrust or competition policy professors file similar briefs opposing the measures. The AMA also had a 17-state medical society coalition engage with the National Association of Attorneys General to convince several state Attorney Generals to join the DOJ in blocking the merger. George Rappard, MD, director and founder of the Los Angeles Minimally Invasive Spine Institute, discusses the outlook for spine practice success in the future. Dr. Rappard is speaking on a panel titled "How Can Spine Surgeons and Pain Management Physicians Thrive in a Changing Market?" at the Beckers 15th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine on June 22 to 24, 2017 in Chicago. Click here to learn more and register. Q: What are the biggest challenges for spine surgeons running their own practices today? Bob Zasa: The usual culprits: dropping reimbursements, bundling, under-insured patients, rising practice costs. Q: What are the best practices doing today to ensure success going forward? BZ: Anything that advances economical and effective care, independence from hospitals and equity sharing in ASC's, as long as the ASC can be viable. A study in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases found communication on quality of life outcomes is poor between ulcerative colitis patients and their gastroenterologists. University of Chicago gastroenterologist David T. Rubin, MD, and colleagues attended visits for 23 gastroenterologists examining 68 patients in the United States and Europe with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Researchers then conducted separate patient and provider follow-up interviews and analyzed results using sociolinguistic methods. Here's what they found. 1. In Europe and the United States, a majority of patients and providers did not discuss how ulcerative colitis would impact quality of life during visits. 2. In the United States, complete patient-physician alignment concerning quality of life was present in 40 percent of cases. 3. There was a variation in treatment goals between gastroenterologists and patients. Only 3 percent of U.S. patients said inflammation absence was a desired goal against 25 percent of gastroenterologists. However, gastroenterologists didn't always convey that goal during visits. 4. Physicians followed guidelines and framed biological therapies as being suitable for patients. However, many patients, despite the therapy being more aligned with their stated goals, considered biological therapy an option for more severe diseases than theirs. Researchers concluded, "Alignment between patients and physicians on ulcerative colitis QoL impact, treatment goals and requirement of advanced therapies is poor. New tools are needed to cover this gap." Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital and Jiahui Health Network are pursuing a strategic collaboration to create Jiahui International Hospital in China's Shanghai Province. The 300-bed hospital will initially focus on cancer care and research, then expand its mission to care for patients across a broad spectrum of illness and conditions. Under the agreement, Mass General will provide strategic guidance in the creation of the physical infrastructure, operations and governance, as well as expertise in clinical areas, such as nursing, patient care services and cancer care. Additionally, Mass General Cancer Center will advise Jiahui as it launches a cancer center focused on breast, lung, gastrointestinal, lymphoma and myeloma treatment programs. Mass General's Nursing and Patient Care Services will work with Jiahui to create comprehensive programs and establish a foundation for high-quality patient care through training, educational programs and critical quality and safety initiatives. The agreement is the result of a relationship that was formed in 2012 and included clinical and operational learning opportunities and workshops in the U.S. and China. The new hospital is expected to open in October 2017. Mary Butler, associate editor of the Journal of AHIMA, investigated whether HIPAA needs an update for the 21st century in a recent article for the American Health Information Management Association's publication. Here are four things to know. 1. HIPAA is frequently misunderstood by both patients and providers, according to Ms. Butler. Although it is often considered a healthcare privacy law, HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was created to help healthcare providers transmit claims to health plans. The law contains privacy and security requirements to ensure safe electronic information sharing, however these are not the original focus of the legislation. 2. Since HIPAA is not a complete healthcare privacy law, state governments often step in to provide more stringent local security legislation. Within a healthcare organization, the privacy officer must be familiar with both. To address this issue, some healthcare industry experts suggest replacing HIPAA with an overarching national privacy and security law. However, others appreciate how stricter laws at the state level sometimes push HIPAA to update its protections. 3. Another gap in healthcare privacy laws involve recent health IT innovations. Since HIPAA was first enacted before the widespread use of Fitbits, EHRs, telehealth and wearables, many feel as if technology has outpaced the legislation in its current form. Again, the question many healthcare stakeholders ask is whether HIPAA should be updated to reflect these changes, or if legislators should be focused on creating new privacy laws. 4. Another major concern is whether emphasizing privacy through HIPAA has had unintended consequences to patient access. Increasingly, patients are asking to see electronic copies of their health information, but providers are worried doing so will unintentionally lead to a HIPAA violation. "We've done a really excellent job of raising the awareness of the importance of privacy among healthcare professionals and office managers, a really excellent job. But in this particular case, we maybe overcorrected," Lucia Savage, JD, former chief privacy officer at ONC, told Journal of AHIMA. "We need to swing the pendulum back a little bit." Click here to view the full article. A new ransomware kit called Philadelphia enables amateur cybercriminals to target hospitals, according to an analysis by Forcepoint, an Austin, Texas-based IT security company. Philadelphia, which Forcepoint describes as an "unsophisticated ransomware kit," is sold for a few hundred dollars. Hackers deploy the ransomware using a phishing email, which redirects the user to a personal storage site. This site downloads a file with the hospital logo and a set of fake patient information documents. By clicking these icons, the user executes the Philadelphia ransomware. In its analysis, Forcepoint notes the encrypted code includes the phrase "hospitalspam" and the ransomware command includes "hospital/spam," suggesting the ransomware creator is specifically targeting hospitals. "Individually, this may not be a great deal of an attack toward the healthcare sector," according to Forcepoint. "However, this may signify the start of a trend wherein smaller ransomware operators empowered by [ransomware-as-a-service] platforms will start aiming for this industry, ultimately leading to even bigger and diversified ransomware attacks against the healthcare sector." In a guest column for the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Clint Purvance, MD, president and CEO of Tahoe, Calif.-based Barton Health, wrote he hopes for a "broad bipartisan approach" to improve coverage rates and affordability of health insurance following the demise of the Republican-proposed American Health Care Act. "While backers of the newly proposed legislation were disappointed that they could not find sufficient support, residents who depend on the Affordable Care Act's medical protections and insurance options felt relief," he wrote. Dr. Purvance credits California policymakers for expanding Medicaid, which helped lower the uninsured rate substantially. One-third of state residents and two-thirds of the state's children currently depend on Medi-Cal for healthcare coverage, according to Dr. Purvance, and 9,500 residents in the South Lake Tahoe area are enrolled in the program. That figure is more than twice that of 2014. As a result of a larger insured population, Barton Health has recruited additional clinicians and expanded its specialty services, including palliative care, psychiatry, urology and telehealth, according to Dr. Purvance. It has also increased its focus on prevention and wellness with its planned Robert Maloff Center of Excellence, which is expected to open next winter. Dr. Purvance said the increased emphasis on wellness is a positive result of the ACA. However, the law has also prompted many insurance companies to restructure and place a greater financial burden on patients. "While we are thankful more patients have additional access to health and wellness services in our community, our health system is aware of areas that need attention," he wrote. "We are hopeful Congress will address the insurance market's rising healthcare premiums and stabilize private insurance rates for residents who pay high out-of-pocket costs." "Every person deserves to have options and choices they can afford to live a healthy life," he concluded. President Donald Trump campaigned on the vow to repeal and replace the ACA with something better. As evidenced by the downfall of House Republicans' proposed American Health Care Act, delivering on this promise is more challenging than some have anticipated. As the healthcare reform debate continues, leaders of hospitals and health systems have spoken out about their stance on the matter and what they hope Congress will do to improve the American healthcare system. Here are six thoughts from hospital and health system leaders on the ongoing healthcare debate. 1. Michael Dowling, President and CEO, Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). To Mr. Dowling, the most frustrating part of the healthcare debate is that the opposition boils down to conflicting ideologies on the role of the government, not on the parts of the healthcare system that have the greatest effects on people's health and well-being. While acknowledging the potential lawmakers have to "upend much of the insurance and health gains that the ACA helped achieve," Mr. Dowling says, "we as hospital and health system leaders must remain vigilant in our commitment to provide care to those in need and preserve our mission to improve the health of our communities." 2. Clint Purvance, MD, President and CEO, Barton Health (Tahoe, Calif.). In a guest column for the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Dr. Purvance wrote that he hopes Congress will take a "broad bipartisan approach" as it works on future health reform. "While we are thankful more patients have additional access to health and wellness services in our community, our health system is aware of areas that need attention," he wrote. "We are hopeful Congress will address the insurance market's rising healthcare premiums and stabilize private insurance rates for residents who pay high out-of-pocket costs." 3. Robert Garrett, co-CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health (Edison, N.J.). Mr. Garrett says hospital and health system leaders must take the lead on healthcare reform and not wait for an answer from Washington. "We should be taking the lead on healthcare reform, and we should all embrace these principles on transparency, on being more consumer-focused, on providing more affordable healthcare through operational efficiencies, and continuing to align so we can coordinate care better," he says. "We also need to advocate for the needy, the folks that are most disadvantaged in our society. We have a responsibility to do that." 4. Nancy Howell Agee, President and CEO, Carilion Clinic (Roanoke, Va.). Ms. Agee told The Roanoke Times she was "stunned" when the AHCA got pulled, and the uncertain future of health reform is troublesome to healthcare organizations. "Predictability in our business is stability. Not being able to forecast where you're going, what your revenue sources are, puts you in a state of uncertainty that is problematic," she told The Roanoke Times. "So my direction for our organization is we do what we do best. We take care of patients. We continue our strategies, but we're very in touch with what's going on nationally and regionally, and we'll respond appropriately." 5. Chris Van Gorder, President and CEO, Scripps Health (San Diego). Mr. Van Gorder says lawmakers must work together, resist the influence of conflicting political ideologies and enlist the expertise of providers when working on healthcare law. "Healthcare is truly complicated and personal. If we hope to get this legislation right for the country, we should be working together across party lines and truly involving the experts healthcare providers," he said in a statement to Becker's. "This is complex and important legislation. I'd rather see a slower process that gets it right rather than a fast process that gets it wrong. When this is over, I can only support legislation that improves access and coverage at a more affordable cost, and that includes providers as partners in the process." 6. Richard Afable, MD, Executive Vice President, Providence St. Joseph Health Southern California Region Orange County/High Desert, President and CEO, St. Joseph Hoag Health (Irvine, Calif.). Dr. Afable says he is less concerned with debating the ACA's flaws and more focused on improving access to healthcare services for the underserved and protecting the coverage gains achieved under the current healthcare law. "If repeal and replace occurs, we need to be sure whatever is put in its place continues to or even enhances the engagement of Americans in their health and well-being so they can continue to play in active role. If [a replacement plan] does that, then I almost don't have as much concern about the efficiency, effectiveness and cost elements. I just want to make sure the gains we made in personal health and well-being will be continued." The identity of the man dragged from the overbooked United Airlines flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville, Ky., has been revealed: David Dao, MD, a pulmonologist from Elizabethtown, Ky. Dr. Dao's identity was first reported by the Louisville Courier-Journal, which was criticized for "victim blaming" by reporting the physician's criminal record after the United incident. The Courier-Journal reported that Dr. Dao was a native of Vietnam and moved to the U.S. to set up a practice in Elizabethtown after completing medical school in the 1970s. He was arrested in 2003 and convicted in November 2004 on multiple felony accounts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substances, according to the newspaper. He was given five years supervised probation and surrendered his medical license in 2005. The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure allowed him to resume practicing in 2015, according to the Courier-Journal. The newspaper's executive editor, Joel Christopher, defended the coverage of Dr. Dao, noting that he is well-known in their local market, according to a report from the New Republic. This article was updated April 12, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. CT. More articles on integration and physician issues: Hawaii physician shortage plays out in Maui County Acquiring physician practices? 8 questions to ask before you buy Proposed Idaho medical school to go before accreditation board again PHOENIX -- A letter from a Tucson retiree who used to be a California investigator proved instrumental in killing legislation that would have allowed people to fire off small-caliber "snake shot'' in city limits. HB 2022 failed on a tie vote Monday after Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, read the letter from Michael Cardwell who spoke of his 32 years working for the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department and patrolling the 23,000 square miles, much of that in the Mojave Desert. He detailed -- and she read for colleagues -- the foolishness of people who feel the need to shoot at snakes, particularly rattlesnakes. But it wasn't just that Cardwell said the best course of action is to leave the snakes alone. "The bottom line when it comes to destroying small animals like rattlesnakes is that gunfire presents a much greater danger to bystanders than the snake itself,'' Brophy McGee read. "Projectiles fired into the ground at low angles, even shotgun pellets and snake shot, very frequently ricochet and put holes in buildings, cars and people.'' Brophy McGee said she's not sure that the letter made the difference in denying Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, the necessary 16 votes needed for Senate approval. Lawrence already had shepherded the bill through the House on a 35-25 margin on claims of Second Amendment rights of Arizonans to arm themselves with whatever ammunition they believe is appropriate. But Brophy McGee said it probably helped cement the opposition as she and Republican Sen. Bob Worsley of Mesa joined with the 13 Democrats to kill it. "I certainly hoped it help them to kind of think it through,'' she said following the vote. "This was not a good bill.'' Lawrence took a slap at Brophy McGee. "I would not expect Brophy McGee to ever change her vote,'' he told Capitol Media Services. "She is a Democrat,'' Lawrence argued, despite her party registration and her votes with the GOP on many -- though not all -- issues. That leaves Worsley. But he said he has no inclination to change his mind. The fight is over "Shannon's Law,'' a 2000 measure that makes it a felony to shoot off a weapon inside city limits. It's named after Shannon Smith who was killed the prior year from a bullet fired up in the air by someone who was never captured. Lawrence argued that snake shot, also sometimes called rat shot, should not fit under the ban, arguing the pellets are the size of grains of sand. He even offered during House floor debate to let someone shoot him with the ammunition but backed down after several of his colleagues volunteered. In his letter to Brophy McGee, Cardwell questioned the need for anyone to shoot a snake, even with this particular type of shell. "The best option is to leave the snake alone,'' he wrote. "If it must be removed from a doorstep, garage or other place where it cannot be tolerated, pushing it away with a long-handled broom or other implement is reasonably safe if carefully done.'' Lawrence said foes are looking at the issue backwards. "It really isn't a question of why do we need this kind of ammunition,'' he said. "It is a question of, why not?'' Lawrence continued. "If we are allowed to carry firearms, open and concealed in the state of Arizona, and there is an ammunition that is available, why should we be deprived of the ability to carry that ammunition?'' In fact, though, nothing in existing law prohibits the sale or possession of snake shot. The only issue is the ability to use it in city limits. Thirteen people in New York City, including three physicians, face charges for their alleged participation in a fraud scheme that involved illegally billing Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary medical tests and providing patients oxycodone prescriptions for no legitimate medical purpose, according to the New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor's office. The investigation, which was dubbed "Operation Avalanche," began in 2013 and centered on three medical clinics in Brooklyn. The investigation revealed that beginning in 2012 Lazar Feygin, MD, hired several physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to work at two medical clinics in Brooklyn where they allegedly ordered unnecessary medical tests for patients. The defendants allegedly prescribed patients large quantities of oxycodone to get them to undergo the unnecessary tests. In 2013, a physician and a physician assistant hired by Dr. Feygin broke off from his practice and formed a separate clinic in Brooklyn. However, the providers and staff at the new clinic allegedly continued engaging in the same type of criminal activity. From early 2012 through early 2017, the practitioners at the three clinics prescribed more than 6.3 million oxycodone pills and ordered patient procedures that generated more than $24 million in revenue. According to authorities, the clinics provided oxycodone prescriptions to patients even when they had evidence the patients were likely abusing other narcotic drugs or selling the pills. Dr. Feygin's clinics allegedly enlisted the help of a local lab to try to make these prescriptions appear legitimate. Beginning in late 2016, most of the drug urinalyses ordered by Dr. Feygin's clinics were handled by Alec Brook-Krasny, a former New York State assemblyman affiliated with Quality Laboratory Services in Brooklyn. Mr. Brook-Krasny allegedly arranged for laboratory test results to be altered to remove contraindications for opioid prescribing, according to authorities. Regarding the investigation and the arrests, New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, MD, said, "While thousands of New Yorkers battle opioid addiction each year, these defendants fed the opioid epidemic for their own profit, with no regard for the countless lives they damaged." The New York City Police Department said last week that opioids have fueled a 50 percent increase in drug overdose deaths in the city thus far in 2017. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: 6 latest healthcare industry lawsuits Medical practice manager sentenced to prison for billing fraud Judge says antitrust lawsuit against Carolinas HealthCare can move forward A 37-year-old surgical assistant pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree felony assault, criminal impersonation and unauthorized practice of a physician for performing surgeries at a Denver medical clinic while posing as a licensed physician, according to The Denver Post. Carlos Hernandez Fernandez, who began pretending to be a physician in January 2015, performed procedures on patients at Hernandez Fernandez Clinic in Denver. He provided limited or no anesthesia to patients when he performed tummy tucks, face-lifts and other medical procedures, according to the report. Prosecutors charged Mr. Fernandez with 126 counts involving 37 victims last year. Under a deal with prosecutors, Mr. Fernandez pleaded guilty Friday to one count each of assault, impersonation and unauthorized practice, according to the report. Mr. Fernandez's sentencing is scheduled for June 2. He faces up to six years in prison. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: 6 latest healthcare industry lawsuits Medical practice manager sentenced to prison for billing fraud Judge says antitrust lawsuit against Carolinas HealthCare can move forward Stephen Hochschuler, MD, co-founder of Texas Back Institute in Plano, discusses bundled payments for global episodes of care and how the spine field is adapting to value-based payments. Dr. Hochschuler is speaking on a panel titled "Bundled Payments & Global Episodes of Care" at the Beckers 15th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine on June 22 to 24, 2017 in Chicago. Click here to learn more and register. Question: Where do you see bundled payments for orthopedics headed in the future? Dr. Stephen Hochschuler: It doesn't matter what changes occur to Obamacare, I think global fees and episodes of care are going to continue. Everybody now is looking at value and value has to be determined in regards to cost as well as performance and results. Unfortunately, most insurance companies only care about costs where we as physicians care about results and patient satisfaction. The bundled payments usually cover 30 days preop, surgery, anesthesia, hospitalization and 90 days after surgery. All of those elements are part of your bundle. In Texas, we aren't pushed to do bundles because the system is still cost-plus and everyone is squeezed. The margins for the implant companies will go down and they'll have to change their distribution model. In bundled payments, it all comes together and in spine many procedures will be transferred to the outpatient facility. My feelings are that we're headed toward more bundled payments and outpatient spine surgery. The migration has been slow so far, but I think it will become more rapid in the future. Q: How can surgeons successfully navigate bundled payment participation? SH: Follow the money. There are around 70 percent of the neurospine surgeons and 50 percent of the orthopedic spine surgeons who have sold to hospitals. In essence, hospitals are expanding and opening ASCs, but they don't know how to manage the surgery centers so they're partnering with physicians and companies like SCA and USPI. Either the hospital will provide the service at the same cost as the surgery center or they won't survive. Everyone is trying to figure out what will happen, from the insurance companies to the hospitals and physicians. Everyone is nervous. My advice to physicians is to get started with bundled payments, even if most of your practice is private pay. Get your feet wet. Hospitals move more quickly than physicians, but we will all have to do it eventually. Q: What are the biggest opportunities for physicians with global episodes of care? SH: I am so convinced that bundled payments are the future that I helped start a new company called Spine Systems. What is going to happen is that data is going to run the medical field. If you look at big data in the rest of the world, data runs the world. Unfortunately, the medical world is way behind the data world in other arenas. For example, you can pull up your financial statements in 30 seconds on the internet. In the future, quality measurements will rely more on data. Right now we are measuring patient satisfaction by whether people like their physician, which is absurd. Healthcare providers need to collect their data and use it to their advantage. The last thing you want is insurance companies having data that you don't. Our goal at Spine Systems is to really run your medical care based on outcomes data, considering pre-injury, conditioning of the patients, ergonomic analysis and other criteria. We will track the patient from the time of injury through rehab to develop terms for global payments and episodes of care. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below North Korea has reportedly warned the United States of catastrophic consequences over any further provocations after the US sent a Navy battle group to waters off the Korean peninsula. Asserting North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US, a foreign ministry spokesperson reportedly warned that the country would take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs to defend itself. Those approaching retirement are increasingly exploring options for staying in Britain, according to figures from Anchor Brexit has scuppered Britons' retirement plans as they shy away from a move to Europe and explore alternatives in the UK. About 45% of people over 50 now say they are less likely to consider retiring abroad. Meanwhile, nearly 41% of Brits who were previously considering retirement in Europe say the Brexit vote has poured cold water on their plans, according to research by housing and care provider Anchor. The survey found that 63% were worried about losing access to the NHS, which finances healthcare for citizens in the EU, while about 26% were anxious about a lack of suitable care options abroad. But concerns over settlement rights and access to healthcare after Brexit have boosted interest in UK options. Anchor says that enquiries about its retirement properties - which include care homes and retirement villages - soared by 641% between June 2016 and March 2017, compared with the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, registrations surged 198% over the nine months to March. Spain has been a major destination for sun-seeking retirees, hosting more than 308,000 UK citizens - 101,000 of whom are over-65, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. However, Anchor found that while 27% of respondents listed warm weather as an important consideration, it did not top the list of retirement priorities. Anchor chief executive Jane Ashcroft said: "Our research shows that people thinking about retirement want to feel stable and safe in older age. "With so much uncertainty around Brexit deterring people from retiring abroad, we've seen a huge surge of interest from people wanting to retire in England." Britons have also seen their purchasing power diminished as a result of the pound's collapse in the wake of the referendum, with sterling now 17% weaker against the US dollar and down 10% versus the euro. That has raised concerns about the value of sterling-denominated pensions. Anchor's survey - involving 1,011 over-50s - found that 63% of respondents said that one of the biggest priorities was to have a stable income for day-to-day living, while 23% said they were most anxious about the unclear future of Brexit negotiations. About 62% said they were concerned about feeling safe and secure in their home and neighbourhood, 30% were worried about good access to transport, while 42% wanted loved ones living close by. Business groups and universities representing hundreds of thousands of workers in Northern Ireland have made a final appeal to Stormont to restore a working government - or face job cuts and lost investment. Groups including those representing large industry, small businesses and the voluntary sectors are calling on MLAs to find a way forward to form a stable power-sharing government - 19 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. >>Read the full letter below<< The CBI's regional director Angela McGowan warned investment and jobs are at risk as a result of the stalemate. And Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said the situation was "a joke". MLAs are locked in an impasse over a lack of agreement on issues including dealing with the past and an Irish language act. They are being given another deadline of Friday to reach an agreement. But there remains fears of another snap election or a return to direct rule. In the letter to MLAs, which also includes groups such as the NI Chamber, Hospitality Ulster, the Construction Employers' Federation and the Freight Transport Association, it says "devolved government is the only option for maintaining our precious peace and allowing the people of Northern Ireland to shape their own destiny". The business groups signing the letter include: Confederation of British Industry NI (CBI) NI Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) Ulster Farmers Union Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce Institute of Directors (IoD) NI Federation of Small Business (FSB) NI Queens University Belfast Ulster University Construction Employers Federation (CEF) NI NI Retail Consortium Retail NI Freight Transport Association (FTA) Hospitality Ulster NI Food & Drink Association (NIFDA) Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade Quarry Products Association NI (QPANI) Manufacturing NI Women in Business Londonderry Chamber of Commerce The letter in full During the month of April, 19 years ago, people across Northern Ireland were presented with an amazing agreement which would deliver a path for peace and prosperity in the years ahead. That Agreement won overwhelming support in a referendum one month later. The business community and civic society are united in our gratitude to the UK and Irish governments of that time and of course international support from President Bill Clinton and Senator George Mitchell. Similarly, we recognise that Northern Ireland is indebted to many people from right across society who have transformed communities by putting themselves forward as peacemakers, compromisers and economy builders during the past two decades. Lives have been transformed and a generation of young people have benefited enormously. Northern Irelands power-sharing government that emerged from the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement has brought peace to our streets, put an end to sectarian killings and allowed economic growth to ensue. Devolved government has also delivered to Northern Ireland autonomy over our local public services and has dramatically improved our international reputation for investors and tourists alike. But, as President Clinton has recently reminded us, there is much more to be done. Indeed as the UK re-negotiates its relationship with Europe, a united voice from Northern Ireland politicians is urgently needed to protect our unique interests. Today, business bodies (representing employers, investors and entrepreneurs), the Community and Voluntary Sector (representing organisations which transform lives through voluntary work and community groups) and many other members of civic society such as universities and membership organisations make a final plea to local political leaders, and the two governments, at this critical juncture. Devolved government is the only option for maintaining our precious peace and allowing the people of Northern Ireland to shape their own destiny; a local Executive must be formed for the sake of Northern Irelands future. Business and civic society are today directly asking local politicians to find a way forward for creating a power-sharing government that works for all the people of Northern Ireland. Our future can only be a shared one. It is only through local government that we can guarantee peace, attract investment and deliver job creation and social progress for this small region. We remind local politicians that they have a duty to their electorate to pursue the best way forward for everyone residing in this region. Today the voice of business and civic society join together with one message. Together our organisations represent hundreds of thousands of people across all religions, backgrounds and sectors. We unequivocally state that the best way forward for everyone in Northern Ireland is through a local power-sharing government which is built upon a desire to maintain our peace process, demonstrate respect to all communities and deliver compromise where needed. PHOENIX -- A decision by a Peoria lawmaker to take a job in the Trump administration could finally clear the way for Arizona to have its first-ever ban on teen texting. Republican Rep. Phil Lovas said he will be the regional advocate for the Small Business Administration. Lovas, an early Trump supporter, said he had put his name in for consideration with White House staff. His last day in office will be the end of this week. The move does more than set the stage for party workers in his district to recommend a replacement to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which chooses a replacement. That new lawmaker, who would serve out the balance of the term that runs through the end of next year, has to be a Republican like Lovas. It also leaves vacant the helm of the powerful House Rules Committee through which all bills must pass to go to the House floor. One that Lovas has refused to hear is SB 1080. That measure, which passed the Senate on a 24-6 margin, bans not only texting by new teen drivers but even talking on a cell phone. The same bill sponsored by Sen. Karen Fann, R-Prescott, also gained approval by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastucture on a 7-1 vote. But Lovas told Capitol Media Services last week he was not interested in advancing the measure to the floor. While Lovas said he was "personally ambivalent'' about the issue he had heard concerns from collegues -- he did not name names -- who feared that once teens were forbidden to use cell phones and drive it would be the "camel's nose under the tent,'' paving the way for restrictions on others.'' It is now up to House Speaker J.D. Mesnard to choose someone to head the committee; there is no real chance that whoever takes Lovas' seat will also get the plum position of chairing Rules. Lovas acknowledged how his resignation affects all that. "I think the happiest people today would probably be Karen Fann and others whose bills I have held,'' he laughed. And Lovas, who just a week ago said the texting ban was in a "deep coma'' in his committee, said its life signs are now looking healthier. "It might be coming out of a coma,'' he quipped. "I spoke to people in the White House personnel office who sent my resume over to them,'' Lovas said. As to leaving with the legislature in session, he said that's just the timing. "The opportunity came up now,'' he said. Lovas' departure could create a domino effect: If someone who chairs another panel wants to instead be in charge of the Rules Committee, that creates another post for Mesnard to fill. On my most recent visit to Northern Ireland, I had the pleasure of visiting Catalyst Inc, a hub of creative enterprise. Affording views of the famous Harland & Wolff cranes and Belfast Harbour - home to the likes of Bombardier and Capita as well as exciting tech companies and start-ups - it's clear that while NI might be going through a period of flux and change, it is a region borne out of a rich heritage of innovation which continues to bustle with immense talent and potential. As CTO for a global technology company, it's my job to recognise and leverage ICT capability to the benefit of the economy and ultimately to society. What we at Fujitsu have recognised is that with established expertise in computer science, Northern Ireland is in prime position to take advantage of - and lead - digital transformation in artificial intelligence (AI). AI is a branch of ICT which attempts to build machines capable of intelligent behaviour. Machine kearning - the discipline of a machine being able to learn rather than being explicitly programmed - is the practical application of ICT to achieve this intelligent behaviour. Currently the world is experiencing an AI Spring as the level of AI around us continues to grow. We have online shopping portals that recommend what to buy, cars with self-driving engines, winds turbines that predict maintenance needs and financial institutions that use AI to make investment decisions. All of these applications work and they work for one reason - the machines are learning. And to learn, they are being trained with clear and comprehensive data. In February, Ulster University announced a 4m investment in a Cognitive Analytics Research Lab (CARL). As well as creating 12 new jobs, the lab is set to bring together businesses - ourselves included - industry and the government to drive research and enhance NI's international competitiveness. The significance of a centre like this should not be underestimated. From leveraging the potential of government data to developing pioneering solutions across sectors, data analytics will contribute to the development of AI applications locally. It's exciting to think about the solutions that could be created. Amongst other applications, our own 'AI Zinrai' system incorporates knowledge processing that can provide medical decision-making support and mathematic technology that can help manage air traffic. While the economic benefits of AI are clear, other social implications should be part of the conversation. Just as our children are increasingly smarter than us when it comes to technology, AI will also become smarter. Regulatory measures should be considered to monitor its usage and impact and we need to teach AI systems a human moral framework while we are creating it. Then there is the 'jobs question'. There is an ongoing debate about whether or not AI will create or diminish jobs. From our own experience, the potential workforce benefit is high. From data analytics to R&D, AI needs a highly skilled workforce and will create other skilled jobs elsewhere in the supply chain. As such, a continued focus on STEM subjects and digital skills across the education system is paramount. Fujitsu has experienced the benefits of Northern Ireland's talented individuals for over 40 years. Harnessing this creative talent and working collaboratively on exciting new technologies such as AI and data analytics is to us a pivotal way in which Northern Ireland can return to the status of an economic powerhouse once more. Advertising agency Core Media has provisionally called off its boycott of video channel, YouTube One of Ireland's largest advertising agencies has provisionally called off its advertising boycott of YouTube. Core Media, which has clients that include Heineken, AIB and the National Lottery, says that it has decided to "recommence some very controlled campaign activity" on Google's video channel. The company, which has 300 employees and purchased 225m (192m) of media advertising in Ireland last year, had suspended its ad campaigns on YouTube over fears that ads might appear alongside extremist YouTube video content. However, the company is now placing campaigns again with YouTube on a limited basis. "This applies to all of our clients as opposed to individual brands," said Justin Cullen, chief digital and data officer for Core Media. "We have had a number of campaigns activated over the last few days in these controlled areas of YouTube." Mr Cullen said that the YouTube campaigns would be restricted to music-related Vevo channels and homepage placements without re-targeting possibilities. He said that his firm has been seeking assurances from Google over the "brand safety" of companies that risk their ads appearing next to homophobic or hate-speech content. "We have seen a commitment from Google to deliver a better experience for advertisers that reduces potential compromise," he said. The move comes as market analysts estimate up to 750m (641m) in lost revenue to Google because of 250 global brands pulling their ads over the extremist content controversy. The boycott started in the UK in March when companies such as Marks & Spencer, McDonald's and Tesco withdrew ad campaigns from the video channel over revenue going to extremist video creators. Major US brands such as AT&T, Verizon and Johnson & Johnson followed suit in the boycott. However, the companies have continued to advertise with Google's broader search and adwords services. The controversy resulted in multiple apologies from senior Google executives, including the company's chief business officer, Philip Schindler. Mr Cullen said that Google would roll out "deeper brand safety policies and controls as well as the creation of opportunities to utilise third party platforms for inventory and campaign verification". Toshiba has warned over a potential collapse as it revealed soaring losses in a financial update that was not signed off by its auditors. The embattled firm deepened net income losses by 53.1 billion yen (386 million) to 532.5 billion yen (3.9 billion) in the nine months ending in December last year. It also warned that its annual losses could amass to more than one trillion yen for last year, which would be one of the biggest losses in Japanese corporate history. In a statement alongside its unaudited figures, Toshiba said: "There are material events and conditions that raise substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern". The Japanese electronics giant's failure to publish audited accounts for the third quarter, October and December, comes after its US nuclear engineering firm Westinghouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March. Auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata has been unable to sign off the figures because of uncertainties over Westinghouse's takeover of nuclear construction company CB&I Stone and Webster in 2015. Failure to file audited accounts by Tuesday has fuelled speculation that the company could be kicked out of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. President Satoshi Tsunakawa apologised for the problems facing the firm, but said he did not foresee a need for any dramatic revisions in the earnings report. He called the auditor's decision not to approve it "truly regrettable" and said he hoped the company would not be delisted. Toshiba has seen its earnings hit by surging costs linked to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which sank into multiple meltdowns after the 2011 tsunami in north-eastern Japan. A growing demand for natural gas in some countries, mixed with a waning appetite for nuclear power, has also taken its toll on the firm. The company's reputation has been tarnished by a scandal over doctoring of accounting books to meet unrealistic profit targets. It was announced last week that Toshiba is to take over the company planning to build a new nuclear power station in the UK. It will buy French utility company Engie's 40% stake in NuGen, which is behind plans for the new power plant at Moorside, near Sellafield in Cumbria. Kevin Coyne, national officer at Unite the union, said: "The latest news about the very poor financial health of Toshiba raises further concerns about its involvement in the construction of the Moorside nuclear power station in Cumbria. "This follows hard on the heels of the Toshiba-owned Westinghouse Electric Company, due to supply the three AP1000 reactors for Moorside, applying for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. "Unite renews its call to the business secretary Greg Clark to step in and pledge public investment to ensure that the project goes ahead on schedule, as Toshiba is in deep financial trouble and has a big question mark over its future." The Private Eye editor thought Oh no this cant have happened. Have I Got News For You star Ian Hislop said he had a personal crisis when Boris Johnson was appointed Foreign Secretary last year. The broadcaster, who has been the editor of satirical current affairs magazine Private Eye for three decades, said that in a time of such political unease, it was the former mayor of Londons new role that impacted him more than anything else. Of a recent time he felt he became unfocused, Hislop told the Radio Times: It was when Boris Johnson became Foreign Secretary. Yes, things had been bonkers. I mean, there was a moment when we thought Andrea Leadsom might be prime minister. But with Boris I had a personal crisis. I thought, Oh no this cant have happened. Johnson, who had been Londons mayor for eight years but had no experience of central Government, was appointed as Theresa Mays Foreign Secretary in July 2016, just two weeks after he quit his battle to become prime minister himself. Satire-loving Hislop has appeared as a team captain on the BBCs panel show Have I Got News For You since 1990, opposite comedian Paul Merton. But the 56-year-old has also admitted to nearly feeling ashamed over how well Private Eye is doing presently because satire is the one industry that is succeeding. He said: Current times are being very kind to us. Other people are being laid off and were putting on numbers. Im almost ashamed of it, but satire is the one industry to do well. Mocking the fake news phenomenon, Hislop said: More people buy Private Eye than attended Trumps inauguration. Fact. Possibly. He said, of US president Donald Trump: Extraordinary. A president that tweets late at night and who cares what Arnold Schwarzeneggers ratings (for The Apprentice) are? A president that is prepared to lie, to contradict himself within the same sentence and to dismiss out of hand whats evidently true. Hislop said: When we talk about Trump on Have I Got News for You, I am chomping to tell you about the difference between what he promised and what he can deliver. Paul decided that Trump was so ghastly he would only answer questions about Toblerone. Pauls attitude isnt the same, he feels it in different ways to me. Read the full article in the Radio Times, out now. The oldest female national news presenter in the UK - Northern Ireland journalist Maxine Mawhinney - has announced she's leaving the BBC after 20 years. Leading the tributes was fellow Belfast broadcaster Eamonn Holmes, who tweeted: "Dearest Maxine. We didn't do bad for two wee farming reporters from Northern Ireland did we? Good luck and see you out there somewhere." The veteran news anchor - who turns 60 in September - started her career 40 years ago in her home town of Belfast training as a newspaper journalist. She went on to work for BBC Northern Ireland and UTV before moving away in 1990 to live and work around the world as a foreign correspondent for ITN, GMTV, Reuters and Sky News, before joining the BBC News channel in 1996. "It has been an absolute privilege to work as a journalist for the last 40 years and I'm now at an exciting crossroads," she told the Belfast Telegraph. And speaking about her future plans, she added: "I want to use my extensive experience in other areas and return to the freelance world - factual and lifestyle programmes, social affairs programmes and documentaries, and also feature writing. "I will also be hosting events, moderating panels and keynote speaking." Ms Mawhinney has previously spoken out against ageism faced by many female presenters in the broadcast industry. Saying goodbye on air yesterday afternoon with co-presenter Simon Day, Ms Mawhinney recalled a glittering career interviewing presidents, prime ministers, pop stars and covering many major stories. "I single-handedly presented the news on the night of the death of Princess Diana, I covered the Clinton presidency, the Oklahoma bomb, the trial of OJ Simpson and the Gulf War to name a few," she recalled. She added: "Thank you for watching over the years and I know the BBC News channel will only go from strength to strength - so it's goodbye from me." Pulling a surprise bouquet of flowers from beneath the desk, Mr Day said: "It's been a huge privilege to work with you and we will miss you dreadfully." Those paying tribute included BBC Newsline presenter Donna Traynor, who said: "Final hour now Maxine Mawhinney. "An anchor who is distinctive, knowledgeable, unflappable and always at ease in the hot seat. Good luck!" BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin commented: "Ahh Maxine, I always loved working with you. "You are brilliant. "Thanks for all the help and advice along the way. "Good luck." By the end of a two-hour-long Grappling with Gridlock community forum last month, attendees had come up with a list of 50 ideas to resolve snowplay-related traffic congestion that backs up Highway 180 in the winter. They ranged from increasing ticketing and fines for illegally parked vehicles to using Forest Service roads as a wintertime exit route out of the crowded corridor. Next, organizers sent out a survey asking attendees to rate each idea to find areas of consensus, and rule out the proposals that had little support. The results, presented at a follow-up meeting last week, showed an array of tactics that have a strong base of support, some that can safely be taken off the table and several that were clearly polarizing for the group. About two thirds of the approximately 100 attendees returned the surveys. Amping up communications strategies that inform people of traffic and parking conditions, transportation availability and snowplay alternatives was one of the most popular ideas. Developing a plan for emergency responder access during peak congestion, increased ticketing and fines for illegal parking, and implementing a reservation system similar to what exists at Fossil Creek were other ideas that got favorable reviews. Creating an alternate egress route off Highway 180 using Forest Service roads landed in the middle in terms of support. Other ideas are clearly more divisive, receiving strong support and strong opposition and few votes in between. Those included stopping or significantly reducing promotion of Flagstaff as a winter wonderland destination, moving Wing Mountain snowplay area out of the Highway 180 corridor or declining to renew its permit and widening the Fourth Street overpass to accommodate four lanes of traffic the entire way to John Wesley Powell Boulevard when complete. There wasnt clear consensus when it came to ways to fund enforcement and improvements within the corridor, though collecting user fees from snow recreation ticket or season pass sales, tapping bed, board and beverage tax revenues or collecting funds from concessionaires saw support. Collecting a per-vehicle toll on Highway 180 with no or reduced fees for locals was less favored. With responses back, Coconino County Supervisor and forum organizer Art Babbott said he will work to form a committee made of residents, representatives of local jurisdictions and other stakeholders that will start going through the list and determining a path to implement strategies where there was agreement. They will also be tasked with assigning cost values to various solutions, Babbott said. Traffic study grants The Arizona Department of Transportation and now the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority will be working in tandem with Babbotts snowplay gridlock efforts. ADOT is starting a $600,000 corridor master plan for Milton Road and Highway 180 and NAIPTA just announced it received a $200,000 grant to develop a mass transit implementation plan for the Highway 180 corridor. NAIPTA currently offers a Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl on select weekends during the winter and has seen ridership more than triple, from 2,500 to 8,400 people, between its first year of operations and its second this past ski season. The organizations plan will address the number of buses and riders needed to make an impact on highway congestion, routes and schedules, Park and Ride opportunities, strategies for incentivizing drivers to take the bus during peak times and a pre/post traffic analysis to gauge success, according to NAIPTAs press release. The analysis will also analyze options on enforcement and fees that go beyond buses themselves, said Erika Mazza, deputy general manager with NAIPTA. The study will start in the next few months and will take about a year, Mazza said. Nearly half the people living in Belfast invited to get free bowel cancer screening are putting their lives at risk by ignoring the chance to have the test. Thats the stark warning from Bowel Cancer UK which is encouraging people in the city to ensure they take part in the programme as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month during April. During this month alone, nearly 1,000 people in Northern Ireland will be diagnosed with bowel cancer and over 30 people will die of the disease. It is the UKs second biggest cancer killer and yet it is treatable and curable if caught early. The uptake on bowel cancer screening is low across the province with some variations Belfast 53%, the West 62% and South Eastern region 64%. The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme can detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms when it is easier to treat and a greater chance of survival. If youre registered with a GP and aged 60-74, you will receive a test in the post every two years. You carry out the simple test at home in private and it comes with step-by-step instructions. The test looks for hidden blood in your stools, which could be an early sign of bowel cancer. Niamh McDaid, senior health promotion and training officer for Northern Ireland at Bowel Cancer UK, says: Its quite simple, bowel cancer screening saves lives. Its predicted that even using the current test, the screening programme will save over 2,000 lives each year by 2025. I would encourage everyone whos over 60 to take the test, and for those who are younger to encourage their loved ones over 60 to complete it. It could save the life of you or your loved one. During Bowel Cancer Awareness Month the charity is looking for work places and community groups to host a talk about screening. The 30-minute talk is delivered by a trained health promotion volunteer, who often has a personal experience of bowel cancer. The programme, which was awarded a Health and Wellbeing Award by the Royal Society of Public Health, stresses the importance of those who are of screening age to take the test, raises awareness of the disease as well as good bowel health, and highlights the symptoms and risks. If youre interested in hosting a talk at your work place, community group and any other place that has an existing group or charity, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk or email niamh.mcdaid@bowelcanceruk.org The charity is also urging people to take part in a special fund raiser Be a Star Bake a Cake to mark Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, details of which can also be found at bowelcanceruk.org.uk The SDLP's Claire Hanna has welcomed a new addition to the family. The South Belfast MLA gave birth to baby Niamh on Sunday at a weight of 8lb 7oz. "And doing great," said Mrs Hanna on Twitter. "Her big sisters delighted, parents quickly trying to relearn all the newborn tricks." We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference Goodall was said to have no memory of the assaults. A Belfast man who assaulted two paramedics trying to treat him has been given a five-month suspended prison sentence. Jonathan Goodall lunged at the medical workers, ripping one victim's shirt, after they responded to a report of him having a fit, a judge was told. The paramedics were forced to retreat amid fears for their safety during the incident at the 19-year-old's University Street accommodation in December 2015. Goodall was said to have no memory of the assaults, which also involved grabbing one of the crew by the finger, but apologised for his actions. He also appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court for two separate offences of theft and criminal damage. Prosecutors said a taxi belonging to a man living in the same area was hit by a tin, causing 600 damage, on November 14, 2015. In January 2016 Goodall stole an iPhone from an associate, the court heard. He later admitted selling it to a shop in the city centre. Defence lawyer Luke Curran argued that his client's life has stabilised since sentencing was deferred last year. Agreeing with that assessment, District Judge Giona Bagnall imposed a five-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered Goodall to pay 200 in compensation. She described the offences against the paramedics as the most serious. Mrs Bagnall told the defendant: "The aggravating factor is they are their to help you and then you assault them." Speaking after the court The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it respected the "considered decision made by the courts in this instance". 'Another inmate told the inquest how he had also reported concerns that summer after feeling a lump the size of a 50p coin on Mr Smyth's neck' (stock photo) A reclusive prisoner spent the last months of his life holed up in a cell with just his pet budgies for company as cancer ravaged his body, an inquest has heard. Samuel Alexander Smyth, known as Alec, lived for months in "squalor" and perpetual darkness in his Maghaberry cell as he refused to engage with prison authorities about his health, the inquest was told. Concerns about Mr Smyth's health were raised with prison staff and medical workers in May 2013 by one of Mr Smyth's fellow inmates, who had seen his weight plummet, watched him struggle to walk and talk and felt a huge lump in his throat. Another inmate told the inquest how he had also reported concerns that summer after feeling a lump the size of a 50p coin on Mr Smyth's neck. However Mr Smyth's cancer, believed to have spread through his body from his lungs, was not spotted by doctors until November 22, 2013. He died less than four weeks later at Belfast City Hospital, aged 56. John Main, who served time alongside Mr Smyth on the separate loyalist area of Maghaberry and spoke on his behalf to prison authorities, told the inquest he was told his friend would have to raise concerns himself before action could be taken. Mr Main said: "The staff would have known he did not have the capacity to put his name down to engage with a medical officer. It should have been pushed more." Mr Main, who described seeing Mr Smyth writhing in agony on his cell floor, also told the inquest how the north Belfast man was given two paracetamol for his pain at one point, as well as 'deep heat' for the pain in his legs. The inquest heard how Mr Smyth's general state and personal hygiene began to deteriorate as early as 2007 as he avoided interaction with other inmates and locked himself more and more in his cell with his pet budgies, sleeping in the daytime and playing computer games through the night. Officials even had to take the unusual step of organising "deep cleans" of his cell, due to the extreme conditions he was living in. By 2012, prison staff had raised "fairly high level" concerns about his well-being and during the spring and summer of 2013 Mr Smyth had been seen and booked in for follow-ups by medical staff, although he missed a number of key appointments. Mr Main and another prisoner, Steven Brown, were among the only two people Mr Smyth would speak to and it was largely down to their intervention he eventually agreed to go to hospital for the scan which revealed his cancer, the inquest heard. Mr Brown, speaking on video link from Maghaberry, said "he had given up on life", adding that Mr Smyth's last months amounted to a "year of hell." Prison officials yesterday described Mr Smyth as a "difficult character". At one point he told prison governor William McKeown: "All I want is to get out, get a flat, a wee dog and that's me for the rest of my life." However, added Mr McKeown, he was unwilling to participate and repeatedly failed to turn up to appointments regarding his health and potential release back into society. Mr Smyth was originally jailed in 1977 and sentenced to life the following year for murder. He was given a tariff of 25 years but after his initial release in 1993 was recalled to prison in 1995 after an incident with his family. Mr Smyth remained behind bars until his death in 2013, having served a total of 34 years - nine years longer than his original sentence. The inquest continues. Conrad Sheerin was sentenced for assaulting a police officer during St Patrick's Day trouble in the Holyland last year. A civil engineer who struck out at a police officer dealing with St Patrick's Day disorder in Belfast has avoided being sent to jail. Conrad Martin Sheerin's four-month prison sentence was suspended after a judge was told he came from a "hard-working, hard-playing culture". The 25-year-old, from Foreglen Road in Dungiven, Co Derry, was arrested during trouble on March 17 last year. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard police on patrol in the Holyland area were called to deal with public disorder surrounding the annual celebrations spotted him apparently fighting with another man. It was claimed that Sheerin then broke off and ran towards Carmel Street. He tried to get away from a pursuing policeman by punching out, the court heard. They both fell to the ground before Sheerin got back up and headed for Stranmillis Embankment where he was stopped again. The PSNI constable who gave chased sustained an injury to his knee. Sentencing on charges of assault on police and resisting arrest had been deferred to see if Sheerin complied with a previously imposed probation order. Defence counsel Liam McStay argued that a positive report had been prepared on his client, who he described as working at a high level as a civil engineer. District Judge Fiona Bagnall said the behaviour was "at odds" with Sheerin's professional background. Agreeing with her assessment, Mr McStay accepted his client has a lot to loose. He added: "It's a hard-working, hard-playing culture, this is the Holylands on St Patrick's Day." Imposing a four-month sentence on Sheerin, Mrs Bagnall suspended the term for 18 months. She said: "He's getting too old for this type of behaviour, he's 25 now and a professional. "He really needs to grow up." Jamie Burns' father William holds his son's ashes at the launch as Lord Mayor of Belfast Brian Kingston looks on The heartbroken father of a young man who died from an overdose left a crowd in stunned silence after he held up his ashes as he launched a new anti-drugs campaign. William Burns, who lost his son Jamie (23) through drugs last November, is fronting the 1 Pill Will Kill campaign in a bid to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs. Political representatives, members of the clergy, young sportspeople, ex-prisoners and people from across the community were left shocked as William held aloft the ashes of his once fit and healthy son. Surrounded by campaign posters picturing Jamie, the grieving father told the crowd: "Look at what is left of my son." Yesterday's launch comes a week after a spate of five deaths in Belfast, which are believed to have a drugs link. A man passed away suddenly almost two weeks ago, while three young men and a teenage girl died suddenly last Monday. The PSNI said they suspect a link with drugs in two cases, and said it is a possibility in the others. The youngest was a 16-year-old girl from west Belfast. Police officers believe that prescription and illegal drugs, taken with alcohol, are behind at least two of the tragedies. Ardoyne priest Fr Gary Donegan described seeing Mr Burns holding the ashes up as one of the "starkest" images he has witnessed. "It was a jaw-dropping moment when he pulled the ashes from a cardboard box," he said. "If a man is driven by grief to the extent that he could do what he did, it was courage personified and was an unbelievable experience. My heart went out to him. "There was an incredible outpouring of unity in the community and you had every walk of life represented. "William and his wife are heartbroken and they don't want to see this happen to anyone else. "We can't be sugar-coating this because if this campaign could save just one person it's worth it." The anti-drugs campaign was launched at the Houben Centre on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast. Belfast Mayor Brian Kingston said it was a "very moving launch". He added: "There was silence in the room, it was very striking and emotional for the parents but William is trying to get the message across that he had a fit and healthy son in his 20s and one reckless decision cost his life," he said. "We want to target the issue of supply and express our total opposition to those who peddle drugs and are dealing in death and care nothing for our people." Speaking previously about the launch, William said: "The PSNI can only do so much. Drug agencies can only do so much. "Most of us bury our heads in the sand unless it affects our families - and I'm not afraid to say that was me up until my Jamie died - or we can begin to fight back." An investigation has been launched after a man in his 60s died suddenly at a meat processing plant just outside Londonderry. The incident happened at WM Grant's meat processing business on the Coney Road on Sunday evening at around 8pm, one mile from the village of Muff. Police and the emergency services were called out to the premises, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident remains unclear at this time. A PSNI statement said that: "Officers will liaise with the Health and Safety Executive NI as they investigate the circumstances." A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive (HSENI) added that they were aware of the incident and are making inquiries. The Irish farming news website Agriland said they were also informed by the HSENI the man was reported to have been found slumped over one of the machines at the factory. Grant's have been contacted for a comment on the matter but have yet to respond. The incident occurred on the same day as the funeral of four year old Thomas Magee from Maguiresbridge in Co Fermanagh, who tragically died after a farming accident last Thursday. It's understood the young child died after becoming trapped under a piece of machinery thought to be a JCB digger. The P1 pupil at Maguiresbridge Primary School was described to mourners as having a "beautiful smile" that could melt hearts. A man who bought the luxury home of killer Colin Howell near Castlerock last year has appeared in court charged with harassment. Dr Andrew Biggart, a Queen's University academic, was accused of harassing a neighbour, Willie Gregg, between March 9 and 17 this year. Mr Gregg - a well known charity campaigner and publican - was in court in Coleraine for the hearing which lasted less than two minutes. A PSNI officer said she could connect 52-year-old Biggart to the charge. The accused said he understood the charge against him. He was freed on 300 bail to appear in court again in four weeks. Several weeks ago Biggart put up a photograph and message on his Facebook page saying he was calling Howell's old home on Glebe Road Castlerock, Dunkillyn Farm. The Belfast Telegraph revealed in December that the academic had bought the house which had been on the market for months for 300,000 but apparently sold for less than the asking price. Colin Howell moved to the Castlerock house - which has four bedrooms, four reception rooms, its own lake and paddock - long after he murdered his first wife Lesley and Trevor Buchanan, the policeman husband of his mistress Hazel Stewart, in their family homes in Coleraine. But police arrested Howell at Glebe Road in 2009 after he confessed to church elders in the kitchen of the house that he had murdered Lesley and Trevor 18 years earlier. He had made it look as if the tragic couple had died as the result of a suicide pact in a car behind a row of cottages at Castlerock called The Apostles. Howell and Stewart are currently serving life for murder. Last year a former Coleraine mayor, Sam Cole, sparked controversy after he suggested that the Howell house in Castlerock could become a tourist attraction. There were reports that even though the house wasn't a murder scene, people had been seen taking selfies outside the property which had been described in estate agent brochures as a "magnificent and idyllic country residence". The lake at the Glebe Road house has two islands and Howell is said to have erected a memorial there to his son Matthew who died in an accident in Russia in 2007. A dissident republican parade planned for the middle of Belfast on Good Friday will be kept away from a City Hall rally in support of Army veterans. The Parades Commission has said a march by Saoradh Beal Feirste would be stopped just before it reached City Hall, where a Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans (JFNIV) rally will be held at the same time. The JFNIV rally is one of a number of protests being held across the UK on April 14 calling for an end to the 'witch-hunts' against ex-soldiers. Last year former soldier Dennis Hutchings was charged in connection with a 1974 shooting in Northern Ireland, while two other soldiers will be tried in Belfast next year in relation to the shooting of Joe McCann in 1972. The Parades Commission said the republican parade, which starts in Castle Street, would not be allowed to go beyond the first set of traffic lights at the junction of Donegall Place-Donegall Square North. In its determination, the Commission revealed it had been told by a loyalist group that the parade should not be allowed near City Hall, and that it may organise a counter-protest. The report also stated that threats had been posted on social media by supporters on both sides. Both sides also criticised the Commission's ruling. TUV councillor Jolene Bunting said: "The Parades Commission's decision to allow Soarad (sic) to parade through the main route to City Hall, on a day when thousands of people are expected to attend a demonstration at Belfast City Hall in support of NI veterans, who served during operation banner, is not just unwelcome but extremely dangerous too." Saoradh said: "In being denied access to this alleged shared space, we are being denied the legitimate right to protest." In October, Microsoft said it would raise the cost of software services for businesses in the UK by as much as 22% The Government has dodged a near-15 million tech bill after securing a deal with Microsoft that shields it from major price hikes that have hit consumers and businesses following the Brexit vote-induced collapse in the pound. It is understood that the US tech giant has agreed to extend an agreement on existing terms with the Government into 2018, saving millions of pounds had price hikes been factored into the deal. The contract will apply to about 200,000 central Government users, according to The Register, which first reported on the agreement. Meanwhile, UK consumers and business customers have been hit with double-digit price hikes. In October, Microsoft announced it would raise the cost of software services for businesses in the UK by as much as 22% as a direct result of the post-Brexit-vote collapse of the pound. Those price hikes, which would see enterprise software rise 13% and cloud prices jump as much as 22%, came into effect on January 1. It said the decision was made in order to "realign close to euro levels". and harmonise prices across the EU. By February, Microsoft increased prices on a raft of consumer products including laptops and tablets by as much as 15%, saying the move was made to "align to market dynamics". Microsoft declined to comment on the Government contract, saying it did not comment on customers. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Baroness Kramer said: "This is another example of the bad deal business are getting out of the hard Brexit that Theresa May is relentlessly pursuing. "With Theresa May dragging the UK out of the single market and the pound suffering from a lack of clarity, I can only imagine UK businesses will continue to get hit like this in the coming years." Paddy Costello's MI5 files are on show at The National Archives in Kew, west London A long-running controversy over whether a senior New Zealand diplomat was really a top Soviet spy is set to reopen with the release of his MI5 files. For years, the Security Service was convinced Desmond Patrick "Paddy" Costello was passing secrets to Moscow. He was identified by the intelligence historian Professor Christopher Andrew, based on KGB files, as one of the Soviet Union's most important agents, but supporters have long felt he was the victim of smear campaign. Dr Richard Dunley, a records specialist at the National Archives in Kew, west London, where his files are now open to view, said that while he was subjected to three decades of surveillance, MI5 never conclusively established whether he engaged in espionage. Costello first came to the attention of MI5 while studying at Cambridge in 1930s, the era when Kim Philby and the other future Cambridge spies were recruited by the Soviets, for his openly left-wing views. In 1940, his political sympathies cost him a teaching post at Exeter University, but that did not stop him getting a job four years later with New Zealand's Department of External Affairs as second secretary at the Legation in Moscow. In a blog post on the National Archives website, Dr Dunley said Costello was reputed to have informed the New Zealand prime minister he was "a little bit left wing" only to be told "Oh well, it won't hurt us to have one or two communists in Moscow". MI5 was horrified Costello had been appointed to such a sensitive post, but when they tried to raise their concerns with the Dominions Office, they had to admit the case against him was "a thin one". Costello remained in Moscow until 1950, but his career began to unravel during a return visit to New Zealand. "While in Auckland he met up with some old acquaintances; having consumed copious quantities of alcohol Costello was arrested by the police, at which point he became abusive and candidly expressed his political views," Dr Dunley wrote. "The New Zealand police were shocked to find the man in their cells had a diplomatic passport, and began digging into his background. "On uncovering his previous communist connections the New Zealand police commissioner took the matter up with the prime minister and MI5. British intelligence were not entirely surprised by the revelations and clearly believed them; in the words of (senior MI5 officer) Roger Hollis 'in vino veritas'" Under pressure from the British and the Americans, Costello was finally forced out of the Department of External Affairs in 1955. He returned to Britain where he resumed his academic career at Manchester University. MI5 however continued to fret as to whether he was working for the Russians. In 1960, his wife Bella was linked to a KGB operation to build false identities for Russian spies and in 1963 he was reported to have met two Soviet intelligence officers. He died in 1964 with the case against him still unresolved. "Throughout much of his lifetime, MI5 went back and forth about whether Paddy Costello was a foreign agent, or simply a politically active intellectual," Dr Dunley said. " This story appears to be one with more to run." A man sitting on the right is engulfed by the blast as a suicide bomber detonates explosives at the front gates of St Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria (Egyptian Interior Ministry/AP) Egyptian Christians have buried their dead a day after Islamic State suicide bombers killed at least 45 people in co-ordinated attacks targeting Palm Sunday services in two cities. Women wailed as caskets marked with the word "martyr" were brought into the Mar Amina church in the coastal city of Alexandria, the footage broadcast on several Egyptian channels. Coptic priests, boy scouts, and mourners carrying flowers joined a procession into the church, the pace set by a beat of snare drums. At least 17 people were killed at St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria, the historic seat of Christendom in Egypt. Another suicide attack killed at least 28 people inside St George's Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, the Health Ministry said, updating an earlier toll. IS claimed both bombings. Reverend Danial Maher, of the Tanta church, lost his 23-year-old son, Beshoy, who was among six deacons killed in the attack. He recalled watching his son wearing white vestments and singing at the service. "He was like an angel," he said. Pictures of Mr Maher, sitting helplessly in blood-stained vestments after the attack, were widely circulated online. He buried his son late on Sunday. The attacks led President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to call for a state of emergency, amid fears that IS militants, who have been battling security forces in the Sinai Peninsula for years, are shifting their focus to Egypt's Coptic minority, one of the oldest Christian communities in the Middle East. In December, a massive church bombing killed 30 people in Cairo, and a series of killings in the Sinai have caused hundreds to flee to safer areas. The state of emergency awaited approval by parliament, a foregone conclusion since the legislature is packed with Mr el-Sissi's supporters, and the cabinet declared that it had gone into effect at 1pm (1100 GMT). It will likely allow for arrests without warrants, swifter prosecution of suspects, and special fast-track courts. Authorities have been waging a sweeping crackdown on dissent for years, however, so it was unclear if anything would change on the ground. The Palm Sunday attacks, the single deadliest day for Christians in decades, rattled the community and prompted messages of support from abroad, including from Pope Francis, who is to visit Egypt in the coming weeks, and President Donald Trump. Israel meanwhile closed its Taba border crossing to Egypt after its anti-terrorism office warned of an "imminent" militant attack there, underlining fears of more violence. The closure comes hours before the start of the Passover holiday. Southern Sinai, which has seen little of the violence plaguing the northern part of the peninsula, is a popular tourist destination. AP Test results confirm sarin gas was used in an attack on a northern Syrian town earlier this month, Turkey's health minister has said. The results were announced as the Russian military said the Syrian government is willing to let international experts examine its military base for signs of chemical weapons. Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy, of the Russian General Staff, said Russia will provide security for international inspectors seeking to examine Syrian bases, and that Damascus has agreed to allow the inspections. His comments came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will appeal to the United Nations to investigate the attack on Khan Sheikhoun. The April 4 chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town in Idlib province left nearly 90 people dead. The United States blamed President Bashar Assad's government and launched nearly 60 cruise missiles on Friday at the Shayrat air base in the central province of Homs, where it claims the attack originated. Moscow, which is a strong backer of the Syrian government, has dismissed suggestions that Damascus could be behind the attack. The Syrian government also denied the allegation, saying its air force bombed a rebel arsenal that had chemical weapons stored inside. Mr Putin told reporters on Tuesday that Russia would appeal to a UN agency in the Hague, urging it to launch an official probe. The Russian president also said Moscow has received intelligence about planned "provocations" using chemical weapons that would be used to pin the blame on the Syrian government. The Russian statements came as US secretary of state Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow where he will meet Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. In Turkey, a main backer of the Syrian opposition, health minister Recep Akdag said test results conducted on victims of the Khan Sheikhoun attack confirm that sarin gas was used. Mr Akdag said that blood and urine samples taken from the victims confirmed that they were subjected to the nerve agent. Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria. Officials from the World Health Organisation and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies. In Damascus, a Syrian official said foreign minister Walid al-Moallem will visit Russia on Thursday where he will meet officials in Moscow. The official said that there might be a three-way meeting later this week in Moscow between officials from Russia, Syria and Iran. France said it will be pressing again for a UN Security Council resolution condemning the chemical attack in Syria and calling for a thorough investigation so the world knows how it occurred and who was responsible. France's UN ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters at the UN's headquarters it is important that the council put its weight behind the investigation process. The international chemical weapons watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, is already trying to ascertain the facts concerning the April 4 attack on Khan Sheikhoun. Mr Delattre said it was too early to say whether France, Britain and the United States will move ahead with the text of the resolution they put forward last week or change it. US Senator John McCain said stopping President Assad's "murderous rampage" does not preclude America from fighting the Islamic State group. At a press conference in Sarajevo, the Republican senator said the US "is the most powerful nation on earth" and "can do both at the same time". Mr McCain said Assad is "a war criminal and must go". He said the "needless and senseless slaughter of innocent men, women and children is an obligation for all of us," including Russia, to stop. Later, White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested Adolf Hitler did not use chemical weapons. Mr Spicer, comparing Hitler to Syria's Assad, said Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons". He tried to clarify his statement, saying Hitler did not use chemical weapons on his own people "in the same way" as Assad. AP A teacher has been shot dead and two pupils have been critically injured in an apparent murder-suicide at a California primary school. The suspected gunman who opened fire in a classroom at North Park School in San Bernardino also died. A school official said the attack was believed to stem from a "domestic dispute" and that the teacher knew the gunman. The two wounded students were flown to hospital where they were listed in critical condition. "The children we do not believe were targeted. The suspect had come to the classroom to visit," police Captain Ron Maass said. The 600 other students at the school were bused to safety at California State University's San Bernardino campus, several miles away. Television news footage showed students, escorted by police officers, walking off campus hand-in-hand. As word of the shooting spread, parents raced to the school as they sought information about their children. They were told to go to a nearby high school where they would be reunited with their children. Jeanette Gordon, who lives near the primary school, said she sensed something bad had happened as soon as she heard sirens. As she waited to be reunited with her 11-year-old daughter, she passed the time pacing nervously and texting on her phone. "I can't wait to see her. I can't wait to see a lot of the kids, all of them," Ms Gordon, 41, said. "I'm just trying to stay calm. It's for my daughter. I have to stay calm and pray." She said she knew her daughter was safe because she had heard from others that authorities had already contacted parents of the wounded children. A few minutes after buses began leaving the primary school, they began arriving at the university. Officials said they could be there for several hours as police interview them. "It's frustrating for us as parents but also understandable," Holly Penalber said of the long wait. Ms Penalber's nine-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter attend the school. She called Monday's shootings "every parent's worst nightmare". San Bernardino, a city of 216,000 people about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, was the site of a December 2015 terror attack that killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at a meeting of San Bernardino County employees. Husband-and-wife shooters Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik were later killed in battle with authorities. Monday's shooting was the latest tragedy for a city that has struggled in recent years with more than its share. Once a major rail hub and citrus producer, San Bernardino filed for bankruptcy in 2012 after struggling to pay its employees despite steep cuts to the budget. An outlying suburb of Los Angeles, it was hit hard when the Great Recession sent housing prices tumbling. As the city struggled with economic problems that forced layoffs of police and other government workers, violent crimes, particularly homicide, began to rise. In the past year, however, the city seemed to be making a recovery. Police Chief Jarrod Burguan, who won national praise for the way his department responded to the 2015 shootings, announced last year he was hiring additional officers. AP Syrians walk past damaged buildings on in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern outskirts of Damascus Russia has information about a planned US air strike on Damascus involving chemical weapons that would be blamed on Syrias Bashar al-Assad in an attempt to frame him, Vladimir Putin has claimed. Without offering any proof to support the assertion, the Russian President made reference to strikes on suburbs in the south of the Syrian capital which he suggested would be the target of the supposed US raids. He also attempted to link the US strike on a Syrian airbase last week with claims about weapons of mass destruction that were used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying: "We have seen it all already." The provocative comments come as the Russian leader warned of the worst relations between Moscow and Washington since the end of the Cold War. Mr Putin said Moscow would tolerate criticism from the West of its alliance with Mr Assad, but that it remained hopeful that attitudes would eventually soften. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday - hours before US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to arrive in Moscow - Mr Putin said he would appeal to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate the recent alleged chemical attack in Syria. "We have information from different sources that these provocations - I cannot call them otherwise - are being prepared in other regions of Syria, including in the southern suburbs of Damascus where there are plans to throw some substance and accuse the official Syrian authorities," Mr Putin said, after holding talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella. Read more Read More He added that some countries had voiced their support for the US air strike on Syria in order to build closer relations with the new Trump administration. Drawing a comparison with the controversy surrounding claims, later proven to be incorrect, of WMDs being stockpiled by the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Mr Putin said: "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when US envoys to the [UN] Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq." On the investigation into the chemical attack, Mr Putin said: We plan to turn to the United Nations bodies in The Hague and call on the global community to thoroughly investigate into this incident and make balanced decisions based on the investigations outcome. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is to meet Mr Tillerson on Wednesday. Earlier reports suggested Mr Putin would also meet the US diplomat, something Moscow has not commented on. Despite heightened tensions between the US and Russia, the foreign ministry has said it continued to hope for productive talks with Mr Tillerson. In a three-page statement issued ahead of his arrival this evening, officials said the outcome of the talks was important not just for Russia-US ties but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage. Russia has been a long-time supporter of Mr Assad's government, which was accused of launching a chemical weapons attack on Idlib province. That incident prompted Donald Trump to launch a cruise missile strike from two warships based in the Mediterranean targeted at an air base said to have been the base from which the original chemical attack was launched. Meanwhile, Russia's General Staff has said the Syrian government is willing to let international experts examine its military base for signs of chemical weapons. Wife of Syrian soldier killed in US attack speaks about her loss Ganea al-Ahmed, wife of Senior-Lieutenant Firas Hammoud who died in the attack, spoke to video agency Ruptly. She said her husband was ordered to the base shortly before the strikes took place. "When they brought the coffin, I couldnt stop crying as it is a shame to die at such an age. This is horrible. "A mother is raising a son Then suddenly the US launches a strike on an airfield, and innocent people, no matter who, be it a general or senior lieutenant Firas, they hit us to kill all of us. And they call it a fight against terrorism." "That night, the people of Shayrat left their homes and went far away, as they were scared that the village would be attacked. They only took clothes for their children. "I am glad that within hours or the next day planes started to take off from Shayrat Airbase, and the operations began. The bulldozers started to work. "Let God lay their souls to rest. There arent words to describe what happened." I was invited to lead a Welfare Reform Mitigations Working Group which was established in November 2015 on foot of the 'Fresh Start' agreement. The aim of the Working Group was to bring forward recommendations aimed at mitigating the impact of welfare reform in Northern Ireland within the available financial envelope. It was clear to me that the choice was between welfare reform with provisions recognising the volume of need and special circumstances in Northern Ireland, and welfare reform of the utterly harsh and uncaring nature visited on claimants in GB in the legislation of 2011. Read More The consequences of this legislation for those in poverty in GB have been vividly demonstrated recently in research and TV documentaries on the effects of the benefit cap. I agreed to lead the Working Party on mitigation, without hesitation, as it gave us the possibility of protecting vulnerable people in Northern Ireland from the worst excesses of what was happening elsewhere. This piece of work was challenging for a number of reasons. In effect, we had to do the work in six weeks which left little time for consultation and discussion, though there had been ongoing debate for some time. The fine from Westminster for not implementing welfare reform continued remorselessly. There had been various changes - most obviously to tax credits and housing benefit before and around the 2011 legislation and more would follow. We could not take account of - or predict - the totality of all of these cuts and adjustments. The legislation for Northern Ireland was going to be introduced in Westminster and a strategy had to be developed which was focused, deliverable and within the financial arrangements set out in the Agreement. The mitigation strategy that we recommended had three strands. The first of these related to allaying the considerable anxiety that existed with regard to the welfare reform legislation and providing supplementary payments, for varying periods, over the four years for carers, those with ill health and disability and families - importantly including mitigation of the social sector size criteria (known as the "bedroom tax"), the benefit cap and help for families in working poverty. Implementation of this strand commenced in the middle of last year in a process whereby cuts in benefits have been made but the provision of supplementary payments has meant that for many there have been no adverse consequences. It's a bit confusing but it seems to work. The second strand related to supporting and protecting claimants, especially the most vulnerable, with independent advice at key points in all of the welfare changes. Uniquely, Northern Ireland now has a structure dedicated specifically to assisting and representing those affected by welfare reform - the Welfare Reform Support Project. Fully trained staff are available to help anyone in difficulty. The helpline number is 0808 802 0020. The service is backed up by 35 face-to-face advisers across Northern Ireland and there is also specialist help and support for those with complex physical or mental health problems. I urge those in difficulty, or simply not sure about what is happening, to ring the helpline without delay and congratulate the independent advice sector for coming together to deliver this essential service. The third strand of the report aimed to explore new ways to alleviate hardship and included measures including tackling food poverty, increasing awareness of the help available and assistance with the financial adjustment needed to cope with the welfare changes. The report was presented to First Minister Foster and Deputy First Minister McGuinness in January 2016. I am very aware of all of the hard work by the department, the advice sector and the voluntary and community sectors to put all of this in place. What we have, limited as it is, is far in advance of what has been secured by other devolved governments and demonstrates what can be achieved through devolution when people work together. I am also very aware of the high level of social need that continues to scar so many households and communities and is most evident in the growing reliance on food banks. Our programme for mitigation is limited to four years and there will be a review of what has been achieved in 2018-19. We need to start thinking now about which parts of the package should be retained and whether we can help those affected by cuts made since our report: most obviously the implementation of the so-called 2 child policy, cuts to Employment & Support Allowance and the severe limitation in support for widowed parents which is now being put in place. I have no doubt those working with the most vulnerable in our society are anxious to move forward but here, as is the case on so many issues, it is difficult to see how progress can be made without resolution of the current political impasse. Prof Eileen Evason headed the Welfare Reform Mitigations Working Group set up by Stormont. Its January 2016 report outlined a series of proposals for protecting benefit claimants and was accepted in full by the NI Executive A border poll? About what, exactly? Voices are urging a border poll so we may all vote on which nation Northern Ireland should belong to - the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Talk of Irish unity is said by the Financial Times to have entered the mainstream of debate. Brexit is the given reason for the united Ireland call. But everybody knows that what is being played is what we might now call the Gibraltar Gambit. And an opportunistic one it is, since there was no Part B on the EU referendum ballot-paper asking voters if they wished to see an independent Scotland or unified Ireland depending on how the result of Part A went. But let us for the sake of argument accept Brexit as a justification for a border poll. Indeed, let unionists be big enough to admit publicly that the unification of Ireland is for many Ulster Catholics, and a few Protestants, devoutly to be wished. (Though that may not be the same as wanting it come to pass today or even tomorrow.) The wish will express itself every so often on any given pretext and it is entirely legitimate. Game ball. But just as Remainers clamoured for Leavers to spell out exactly what a post-Brexit UK would look like, here is my own one-man clamour for Unifiers to do the same thing for a post-Brexit unified Ireland. Voices cried that a Leave vote was a deplorable leap in the dark. Yet compared to a vote to unify the island, the Leave vote by comparison is, in terms of physical hazard and financial well-being of all of the Irish, like a decision to leave the church barbecue early. Besides - which model united Ireland would be in the pollsters' minds? I have read neither jot nor tittle from the border poll lobby about what people would be asked to vote for. Incredibly, it's as if a united Ireland is simply a given requiring zero definition. So might the pollsters have in mind the united independent Ireland imagined by the proclaimers of the Easter Rising? Padraic Pearse envisaged a Gaelic-speaking population re-living the customs and ideals of a pre-modern and surprisingly militaristic Ireland. That idea has, of course, gone for a Burton. Pearse was on more realistic ground with his devout Catholicism in which piety and sacrifice for Mother Ireland were paramount. That alone would tell you that he was oblivious to the Ulster-Scots and Ulster-English - except as role-models for armed resistance (to Home Rule). The Republic of Ireland he proclaimed outside the General Post Office was, in terms of the cultural geography in his mind, pretty much what we have today: a partitioned-off majority chunk of the island content enough with its own un-Northern brand of society. Or perhaps Sinn Fein envisages the Easter rebel James Connolly's unified Ireland, a socialist island of workers' cooperatives and trade unions? Well, once upon a time that was the case. The last serious Sinn Fein economic manifesto I remember, a substantial publication of 1973, did indeed promote a left-wing united Ireland, though the bombs going off at the time were rather a distraction. But just as the Official gave way to the Provisional IRA, so the left wing in Sinn Fein withered and the feathers of the right-wing fledged. And now, opposition to the Rich Man's Club, as I recall the EEC, now EU, being called, has reversed itself into a pro-EU posture, a peculiar basis for Connolly's vision of the island. Which, like Pearse's, has in any case also gone for a Burton. Or is it WB Yeats's Ireland of peasants, poets and aristocrats, bound together by a shared belief in folklore and the spirit world? Absolutely to be excluded were the industrialists and their workers, the merchant middle class, and the Charlie Haugheys of the future. Like Pearse and most southern nationalists, Yeats had no time for the materialistic Ulster-Scots, but at least as a Sligoman the poet detested them on the sound basis of personal acquaintance. Yeats soon saw what a free Ireland looked like. De Valera's Ireland, which was the official daydream until the early-1960s, was an isolationist oasis of thatched cottages, comely maidens and pious, no-trouble small farmers. The reality was actually very different, and very depressing. Witness the writer Patrick Kavanagh's depiction of it. (The only thing preventing grey Unionist-dominated Northern Ireland being as depressing was the British connection.) Is this the united Ireland imagined for a post-Brexit island? Obviously not, for looming over the landscape of De Valera's Ireland was a dominating, all-seeing Catholic church. Senator Yeats protested when Catholic laws began to be enacted in the country the great poet had helped bring about, but to no avail. The more sordid details of that domination are still being exhumed. If one institution was happy with partition, which ensured an undisturbed fiefdom, it was the Catholic church. But Catholic Ireland as we knew it has gone for a Burton, too. (Along with Protestant Ulster, with its tied-up swings.) The glimmerings of a genuinely unifiable Ireland glowed in that brief corridor of time between the ice-breaking Sean Lemass and amiable Jack Lynch and the outbreak of the Years of Disgrace in 1969. I remember those glimmerings fondly. Here is not the place to wonder if the limited but genuine discrimination against Northern Irish Catholics did not become a Brexit-like pretext for the armed push for unification. Either way, for 30-odd years the united Ireland of any hue went for a Burton, big-time. Meanwhile, the Celtic Tiger, which could, after all, have modelled a Republic that unionists might have given a second glance, rich and equitable, instead roared briefly and expired chiefly through greed and corruption as well as global capitalist events outside its control and often corrupt, too. The Celtic Tiger joined the other united Ireland showcases in history's recycle bin. And now, when we peer south, what do we see that we might get a chance to vote to join? A brave enough place that many of us know and even love. But a society struggling to keep afloat in the wake of a departing church, tossed by the bow-waves of immigration and multiculturalism, in a frail and now nervous economic condition on the heels of Brexit and Trump's American economic patriotism. It is hardly in a position to throw down a welcome mat to northerners without deep embarrassment. I honestly believe it would answer the Republic better economically to join the UK in exiting the EU, thereby knitting both parts of the island together in the only way possible for the foreseeable future. Whether that happens or not, we should bin the generations-old, sleepwalking assumption that the tide of history on this island is inexorably flowing from north to south. But irrespective of the economic realities, many of the votes in a border poll would be atavistic, meaning that the ancestors would be voting, on both sides. I have a hunch that some, maybe many, northern nationalists don't seek a multi-faith, multi-cultural whole Ireland but merely wish to rejoin their southern compatriots. Simply unfinished business. A united Ireland in their eyes requires no definition; it is yesterday's Ireland minus the Brits. However, this by itself is unlikely to win a border poll. While SDLP nationalists are probably willing to carry unionists as extra baggage to get to the other side, republicans would prefer not to. And there's the rub. The biggest nationalist party is the least qualified, equipped and inclined party to claim sincerely that together unionists and nationalists could make a new nation different from all the other failed models, blueprints and prototypes: a new synthesis. Yet only a new synthesis, one which unionists should always be willing at least to entertain, painstakingly forged and earned over the coming years, and even then without guarantee of success, has a hope of ever commanding majority consent in Northern Ireland. Who could intelligently believe that a border poll now - democracy by reflex alone - is the way to go? John Wilson Foster's latest book is Titanic: Culture and Calamity (2016) Kashmiri mourners watch the funeral in Srinagar of taxi driver Ali Muhammad Dagga, 56, who was killed when he was caught up in the middle of weekend clashes between anti-India protesters and Indian security forces, April 11, 2017. Indias Election Commission on Tuesday ordered that votes be re-cast Thursday at dozens of polling sites in Kashmir marred by violence during parliamentary by-elections over the weekend. Meanwhile, a region-wide economic shutdown sponsored by Kashmiri separatists remained in place for a second day to protest the alleged killings of eight civilians by police during anti-India demonstrations on Sunday. Widespread violence erupted between protesters and government forces in the Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts of the insurgency-torn region during by-elections for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. The violence, which left more than 130 civilians injured, has forced the Election Commission to postpone the Anantnag district elections, scheduled for Wednesday, until May 25, commission officials said. It also ordered that polls be open again at 38 voting stations in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts on Thursday. Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu said the Election Commissions decision to re-do the voting was taken for centers where polling was hit by violence, according to The Hindu. Most of the 38 voting stations are in Budgam district. Sundays violence occurred after anti-India protesters ransacked polling booths, police said, adding that a huge number of security forces had been deployed across the disputed region to prevent the situation from escalating. The situation is largely under control now. There was no incident of violence anywhere in the region today. I hope better sense will prevail and the situation will return to normal soon S.P. Vaid, Indian Kashmirs director general of police, told BenarNews. Broadband internet service, which was snapped across the region on Sunday in the wake of the violence, were restored on Tuesday evening, Vaid said. But mobile internet services remained blocked to prevent people from organizing protests. Low turnout Less than 7 percent of Kashmiris came out to vote on Sunday, the lowest voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir state in 27 years. On Monday, unidentified miscreants allegedly set ablaze two schools in south Kashmirs Shopian and Pulwama districts. The schools were designated as polling stations. They were torched around midnight on Monday, Mohammad Sadiq, Shopians chief education officer, told BenarNews. The Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is claimed in its entirety by India and Pakistan, has been grappling with a separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 70,000 lives since the late 1980s. India has on several occasions blamed Pakistan, its arch-rival since the bloody partition of the sub-continent in 1947, for backing separatists in Kashmir. Pakistan repeatedly denied this charge, saying the struggle in Kashmir is a result of the Indian governments oppressive rule in the region. Last month Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based militant outfit, and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Kashmirs largest separatist faction, allegedly pasted posters in several districts urging people not to vote in these by-elections. The elections were touted to be a test for the states Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruling coalition. It was sharply criticized after violence erupted across the region following the killing of an HM leader in July 2016. More than 100 people were killed and 10,000 injured, including about 4,000 security personnel and at least 6,000 civilians, in street clashed between anti-India protesters and government forces from July to November. Exemplary boycott The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), a political organization that backs the demand for freedom from Indian rule, described the low turnout of voters as an exemplary boycott of the by-polls and a referendum against the illegal occupation of Kashmir by India. Even 5 percent of Kashmiris are not with India and these stooges, JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said in a statement. Indian rulers, their stooges and occupational forces cannot force Kashmiris into submission by [their] killing spree, maiming and other oppressive measures. From the last seven months hundred of our kith and kin are being killed, thousands are being maimed and blinded but the resilience of Kashmiris has not been shaken and our resistance remains steadfast as ever, Malik said. Indias ruling Hindu nationalist BJP backed the postponement of the Anantnag district polls, while urging the Election Commission to cancel elections in Kashmir for the next two years. With the ruckus that is happening in Kashmir, Election Commission of Insia should cancel the elections for at least two years so that peace prevails and violence issues are sorted out, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy told Indian news agency ANI. Zunar shows a replica drawing of a damaged piece of his artwork at the Kuala Lumpur High Court building, April 11, 2017. A Malaysian court Tuesday awarded 18,000 ringgit (U.S $4,060) in damages to satirical cartoonist Zunar for his lawsuit against the government over its seizure of 66 copies of his books and pieces of art-work nearly seven years ago. Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, a BenarNews contributor whose pen name is Zunar, has been arrested twice since November 2016 over allegations of sedition and activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy for cartoons critical of Malaysias government and judiciary. After Tuesdays Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling, he reminded Malaysian police to take care of materials seized during those arrests. Police had confiscated 40 pieces of my artwork in the state of Penang and the 1,300 books seized in Kuala Lumpur must be kept in good condition or they will face the same consequences, he told BenarNews on Tuesday. He said lawsuits had been filed to recover the materials. This is a violation of the rights of cartoonists. We have rights, too, he said. On Tuesday, a prosecutor confirmed that an official with the Kuala Lumpur High Court had recorded a consent judgment in regard to damages. Zunar sued the Malaysian government, the home ministry, a former inspector-general of police and two police officials who led the effort to seize the books in September 2010. Raid details Back then, Malaysian police raided Zunars office in Kuala Lumpur and arrested the cartoonist under the Sedition Act. They also confiscated his drawing depicting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, along with the then newly published book Cartoon-O-Phobia. In 2014, the Court of Appeal reaffirmed a decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in July 2012 that instructed police to return the books and the artwork. Todays decision is not about the quantum, but is a lesson to police and the Malaysian government that using criminal law arbitrarily to confiscate and destroy cartoon works is unacceptable and was done in bad faith, Zunar said in a statement. More recently, Zunar was arrested while appearing at a charity event, Tea with Zunar, on Dec. 17, 2016. Police seized more than 1,000 copies of his cartoon books, sketches and T-shirts, which he valued at around 40,000 ringgit ($9,000). Zunar and four other people were taken to the Dang Wangi police station under Section 124 of the penal code covering activities deemed detrimental to democracy. He was released six hours later. Less than a month earlier, on Nov. 25, 2016, Zunar was arrested under the Sedition Act and his artwork at an exhibit in George Town, Penang state, was confiscated. He was released the following day. The winner of the 2016 Cartooning for Peace Award has been barred from leaving Malaysia since June 2016. Zunar also faces nine sedition charges for allegedly insulting the judiciary in tweets made regarding the conviction of de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in a sodomy case in February 2015. If convicted on all charges Zunar could be sentenced to up to 43 years in jail. Hata Wahari contributed to this report. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. Nicht personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung werden u. a. von Inhalten, die Sie sich gerade ansehen, und Ihrem Standort beeinflusst (welche Werbung Sie sehen, basiert auf Ihrem ungefahren Standort). Personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung konnen auch Videoempfehlungen, eine individuelle YouTube-Startseite und individuelle Werbung enthalten, die auf fruheren Aktivitaten wie auf YouTube angesehenen Videos und Suchanfragen auf YouTube beruhen. Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. Von: PAUL RONZHEIMER and GIORGOS MOUTAFIS BILD: Mr. Prime Minister, Europe is concerned about a new influx of African refugees. How many people will risk the dangerous journey from Libya to Italy via the Mediterranean this year? Fayez Al-Sarraj: The numbers keep increasing, since the trafficking business is flourishing for criminal gangs. It is dramatic! Our estimation is that thousands of people want to begin their journey at the moment. The weather and the quiet sea will lead to a massive influx. We must finally do something to prevent more people from dying in the Mediterranean and to prevent the number of refugees in Europe from rising. Unfortunately, Europe has not helped us so far and has made empty promises. Our requests have not been fulfilled. If this doesnt change, the result will be even more traffickers and even more refugees. You met with the European heads of government in Rome. What are you requesting? Sarraj: We urgently need more qualified support when it comes to protecting and controlling the coasts. To achieve this aim, the Libyan coastguard must be better trained. We need satellites, an electronic monitoring system for the borders, and personal assistance. The international community must also contribute to stabilizing the country. Security gaps and the very unstable current political and economic situation in Libya provide criminal organisations with many opportunities for smuggling people from their home countries into Europe. Thousands are losing their lives in the attempt. BILD-Reporter Paul Ronzheimer (l.) talking to Lybia's head of state Human rights organisations accuse Libya of mistreating refugees in the country. Sarraj: Since there is currently a great political and economic crisis in Libya, I cannot deny that there are many human rights violations. We are asking Europe and the international community to help us improve the refugee camps. We do not accept the suppression of human rights. However, there are many criminal organisations that profit from trafficking. Auch interessant You mentioned the unstable situation. As prime minister, you do not have control over the entire country, at all. Various militia groups claim parts of Libya for themselves. How can the borders be controlled, given this situation? Sarraj: Youre right, this is one of the biggest challenges were facing. There are economic problems, there is the illegal possession of weapons, and there are security gaps. This is why we need help so urgently. Could it be, in the end, that only international troops can stabilize the situation and stop the traffickers? Sarraj: The international community has let Libya down for too long. This has led to many problems, such as security gaps and the spread of criminal organisations. Now the international community hopefully understands the mistakes it has made and wants to help us again. We hope that this help will also be implemented, and that it does not merely consist of talk and empty promises as has been the case until now. But its not about troops on the ground. Deploying ground forces from other countries to Libya would be unacceptable to the Libyans. Its impossible. Lesen Sie auch There are discussions about bringing people, who were saved in the Mediterranean, directly back to Libya. What do you think about this? Sarraj: That is out of the question! The vast majority of refugees taking off from Libya are not Libyans. Europe must therefore handle the repatriation of these people to their home countries. For this the European and international community will have to put pressure on Libyas southern neighbouring countries. If this repatriation were actually to happen, people would rethink whether they wanted to go to Europe or not. It is also important to discuss what the efforts of the many rescue organisations off Libyas coast have led to. Of course, many refugees know that these boats exist. They are their destination, because they can safely complete their journey to Europe once they have reached one of them. Since the boats are provided by Europe, Europe must also discuss this point. Do you still have any kind of overview of who is currently fighting whom in Libya, at all? Sarraj: The illegal possession of weapons in Tripoli has made it possible for many armed groups to emerge over the past six years. We try to integrate the good groups into state institutions and fight the bad ones, who want to sabotage the reconstruction of the state. We try to avoid fighting by all means. However, the stubbornness of some of the people involved, and their attempts to destroy the state, force us to fight against them. In general, it has to be said that shootings and people being run over can happen anywhere. We are not an exception. According to al-Sarraj Lybia's current situation could be even worse Your biggest opponent, General Haftar, is seeking power. He is already trying to collaborate with Russia Sarraj: Mr. Khalifah Haftar has been elected commander of the armed forces by parliament. He has played an important role in fighting terrorism in Benghazi. As a consensus government, we have tried to contact him in order to build a unified military institution. We requested that nobody be excluded and that all military leaders unite in order to bring the country under a common political flag. The most important point is that the military institutions must be subordinate to the political leadership. Unfortunately, the military forces are refusing to comply with this which is delaying Libyas unification. Are you afraid of an assassination attempt? Sarraj: Everybody who is trying to lead this country through these difficult times, or is trying to govern it, could become the victim of such an attempt. However, we are counting on people and their intelligence and their awareness and desire for real reconciliation. What went wrong after the 2001 revolution, such that Libya now faces such a dramatic situation, six years later? Sarraj: Several mistakes were made during the revolution. I mentioned earlier that the international community has let us down which has also led to the current political divisions. The uncontrolled, illegal possession of weapons is also a major obstacle to our development. Our consensus government doesnt have a magic wand for solving all problems. But it is also clear that the situation could be much worse. For Immediate Release, April 10, 2017 Contact: Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity, (801) 300-2414, tmckinnon@biologicaldiversity.org Rita Beving, Clean Water Action, (214) 557-2271 Texas City Opposes Feds' Fracking Plan for Lake Somerville BRENHAM, Texas The mayor of Brenham today signed the city council's unanimous resolution opposing the Bureau of Land Management's plans to auction lands beneath and around Lake Somerville for oil and gas development. The resolution cited concerns that loss or contamination of the lake's water supply would be catastrophic for its residents. Lake Somerville is the city's sole drinking-water source. A federal lease auction for oil and gas deposits beneath and around Lake Somerville and Choke Canyon Reservoir a water supply for Corpus Christi is scheduled for June 8. Lake Somerville lies along the northeastern end of the oil-rich Eagle Ford Shale Play. In recent years advances fracking (hydraulic fracturing) techniques have made these oil deposits accessible to oil and gas operators and have sparked an oil and gas boom in Texas. We applaud Brenham for taking a stand against this dangerous fracking plan. Fracking beneath or near Lake Somerville could have disastrous consequences for communities that depend on this precious water supply, including Brenham, Somerville and Lyons, said Taylor McKinnon with the Center for Biological Diversity. Conservation groups and the city of Corpus Christi filed formal protests in February challenging the lease auction, raising concerns about spills, water contamination and earthquakes that could jeopardize dam integrity. Somerville Lake is an important water source for the city of Brenham, said Rita Beving of Clean Water Action. It is important that city leaders like those of Brenham step in to do all they can to protect the water quality and the infrastructure of their reservoir. Brenham city officials also plan to send a letter to the BLM opposing the lease auction, although the deadline for filing a formal protest has passed. City officials at the council meeting expressed concerns that it did not receive adequate notice of the lease auction. The BLM only posted notice of the lease sale on the agency's New Mexico state office website. Records obtained recently by the Center through a Freedom of Information Act request to the federal Bureau of Reclamation show that in 2012, two plugged oil wells beneath Choke Canyon Reservoir were found by agency staff to be leaking into the reservoir. Records obtained thus far do not indicate the amount or type of pollution that resulted from the leaks, or whether those leaks are ongoing. Download the resolution 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. For Immediate Release, April 10, 2017 Contact: Erik Molvar, Western Watersheds Project, (307) 399-7910 Brooks Fahy, Predator Defense, (541) 520-6003 Gary Macfarlane, Friends of the Clearwater, (208) 882-9755 Andrea Santarsiere, Center for Biological Diversity, (303) 854-7748 Michelle Lute, WildEarth Guardians, (406) 848-4910 Natalia Lima, Animal Legal Defense Fund, (201) 679-7088 Federal Wildlife-killing Agency Agrees to Halt Use of M-44 'Cyanide Bombs' in Idaho HAILEY, Idaho The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program which kills thousands of predators across the country annually announced today it has abandoned use of M-44 cyanide bombs in Idaho in response to a petition filed by 19 conservation and wildlife organizations two weeks ago. In a letter transmitted to conservation groups today, Wildlife Services announced that it has ceased the use of M-44 cyanide bombs on all private, state, and federal lands in Idaho, and it has removed all M-44s that were previously deployed in the state. This is an important victory, at least a temporary one, for both wildlife and for public safety across Idaho, said Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project. We thank Wildlife Services for doing the right thing by removing these deadly and indiscriminate killing devices, and urge them to make the moratorium permanent. The petition to stop using M-44s was filed in response to an incident near Pocatello, Idaho, where a 14-year-old boy was sprayed with cyanide and his dog was killed. "This could well be the tipping point that leads to a nationwide ban of these extraordinarily dangerous devices via the legislation introduced in Congress last month," said Brooks Fahy, executive director of the national wildlife advocacy group Predator Defense. As the recent cases in Idaho, Wyoming and Oregon amply demonstrate, M-44s endanger nontarget wildlife, pets and children, no matter how they are used." M-44 devices are spring-loaded and tipped with deadly sodium cyanide. The devices blast poison on any animals or people that trigger them. We're glad to see these indiscriminate killing devices being pulled from Idaho that's an important step toward protecting wildlife, people and pets from these cyanide bombs, said Andrea Santarsiere, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. We hope this ban becomes permanent not just in Idaho but across the country, because there's no place on Earth where these devices won't endanger the lives of innocent people and animals. In November 2016 Wildlife Services committed to a moratorium on the use of M-44s on public lands in Idaho, but the Pocatello poisoning incident resulting from an M-44 placed in February 2017 occurred on Bureau of Land Management lands nonetheless. The Wildlife Services' letter expands the moratorium to lands of all jurisdictions and ownerships, including state and private lands. Although a step in the right direction, the federal government must do more to ensure the safety of all Americans, our dogs and wildlife, said Michelle Lute, wildlife coexistence campaigner for WildEarth Guardians. We won't rest until a national, permanent ban on M-44 cyanide bombs is instituted and strictly enforced." Despite the sweeping nature of the moratorium and its removal of M-44s throughout Idaho, it might not amount to a permanent ban. In its letter Wildlife Services informed the groups that WS will notify you 30 days prior to placing any new M-44s in Idaho. We welcome the news of a temporary ban, although we remind activists and taxpayers that Wildlife Services has made no commitment to cease the use of M-44s for any definite period, says Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. These deadly, inhumane devices could go back into use as soon as next month, so we must remain vigilant. We intend to inform the public right away if Wildlife Services notifies us that they intend to reverse the moratorium and place M-44s anywhere in Idaho, Molvar said. The groups petitioning for the M-44 ban were Western Watersheds Project, Predator Defense, WildEarth Guardians, the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Clearwater, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Western Wildlife Conservancy, Nevada Wildlife Alliance, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Environmental Protection Information Center, the Wolf Conservation Center, Wilderness Watch, Klamath Forest Alliance, Northeast Oregon Ecosystems, Yellowstone to Uintas Connection, Footloose Montana, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Project Coyote, Voices of Wildlife, and the Mountain Lion Foundation. Takealot Online (Pty) Ltd today announced a R960m investment from Naspers, highlighting the media group's continued commitment to the online retailer and its confidence in the potential of South Africa's e-commerce sector, and following investments from Tiger Global and Naspers in 2015. Takealot has continued its robust growth since its merger with Kalahari in 2014, and boasts a stable of businesses: including Takealot.com, South Africas leading general etailer; Superbalist.com, the fashion etailer; Mr D Food, South Africas largest restaurant food delivery service; and Mr D Courier, its point to point courier service. Retail remains a highly competitive market in South Africa, and online retail accounts for less than 2% of the non-grocery retail market and less than 1% of the total retail market. With online retail penetration, according to Euromonitor, in the teens in the US and UK retail markets, and at 17% in China, the potential in South Africa is clear to see. We are super excited about this latest investment as it will allow us to continue to grow the business in a market with huge potential. Naspers has been a wonderful supporter of our business and we are grateful for their ongoing commitment and show of confidence in both the business and the market. This is great news for our customers and employees alike, said Takealot founder and CEO Kim Reid. The team continues to drive exciting growth and shows great promise in a market we expect to go from strength to strength. We are pleased to support their ambitions to build an enduring ecommerce business for South African consumers and Takealots partners alike, said Oliver Rippel, CEO, B2C E-commerce, Naspers. Takealot has filed a large merger notification with the South African Competition Commission in anticipation of finalising the investment from Naspers, which would make Naspers the majority shareholder in Takealot. For more information, visit Naspers.com. I wonder if Mark Zuckerberg would consider a special-to-South Africa button on Facebook, which would allow the entire country to update its status. Apart from the obvious option junk maybe there could be a few other options just for us: South Africa was in a relationship with the ratings agencies now not so much; Jacob and Atul have been friends for many years; Vladimir wants to be friends; Pravin has moved in with White Monopoly Capital I know the events of the past week or so have gone beyond disturbing, but sometimes you have to chuckle. If not, you will sob. And, you have to doff your hat to anyone who takes marketing advantage of all the bad news. Such as Pam Golding, which booked the main ad on Page 1 of The Star on Tuesday last week, to tout its European Residency programme and expertise. But I laughed at the fortuitous placement of the ad right next to a photo of a grumpy Jacob Zuma under the headline Junk status puts country on a knife edge. Screenshot of the ad placement. I am pretty sure Pam Golding will get plenty of response to its ad So they get an Orchid, although they had a bit of assistance from Number One. We keep getting told that digital technology and the internet will be the only way to do business in the future so it never ceases to astound, and anger, me that so many companies including big name brands dont bother ensuring their websites are correct. The latest egregious examples of this dont-give-a-damn attitude come from two major fuel companies. Heading for Magoebaskloof recently, I went on the Net to plan everything in a reasonably detailed way because, if you know the time youre going to stop and when youre going to eat, its one less thing to worry about. Now when I was a laaitie, and family Seery (four adults, a full boot and a full roof rack) went on holiday in the trusty Datsun 1200, my mother obtained all the necessary strip maps from the Automobile Association and was even able to phone or telex ahead to book us overnight accommodation in what was then Pietersburg and in Hanover in the Karoo. These days, of particular interest to me is being able to get out, stretch the legs and go to the loo at regular intervals and possibly have breakfast or lunch en route (either in a restaurant or with packed padkos). Travelling with friends, we decided not to rough it too much so I decided we would head for one of the ubiquitous Ultra City/One-Stop/Star Stop places on the way. And thats when the shocking realisation hit me: the big fuel companies dont bother checking their websites. Shells website had a station locator which was simply a blank page. OK, scratch going to their Ultra City outside Polokwane. Then I remembered there is a Caltex Star Stop just south of Polokwane. Initially, I couldnt remember the name and then it occurred to me it was called The Ranch because it was near to the resort of the same name. Do you think the Caltex website could get it right? Whoever put it together for them just relied on the erroneous location of the station by Google Maps in the city of Polokwane itself. Caltex even cleverly used Googles map with a Caltex logo to show where the place was incorrectly. In the end, Engens One-Stops were correctly indicated on its website and we decided we would vote with our stomachs and wallets and use the one at Kranskop, about two hours north of Joburg, which has a good Wimpy. The point is that Shell and Caltex lost our business because I was so angry that the companies did not care enough about the people keeping them in business to provide accurate information. This so often happens in the world of digital marketing, where basic call to action places in cyberspace like a company website are left to the techies. No-one bothers checking, which is a sign not only of bad marketing but also of a badly-run business overall. So, Onions to Shell and Caltex for not doing a job properly. Engen on the other hand, doesnt really deserve an Orchid because all it does is do the job properly but I am giving them and Wimpy one, anyway. Unqualified, but experienced dental assistants have six months from 7 April 2017 to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), or face not being able to practise at all in South Africa. This follows the Supreme Court of Appeal in November 2015, confirming the decision of the North Gauteng High Court that dental assistants have to be regulated in order to protect the public and themselves. As a result, the Professional Board for Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene submitted a recommendation to the minister of health that would allow for unqualified yet experienced dental assistants to register with the HPCSA. The condition of such registration would be that these dental assistants would have a period of six months from the date of promulgation of such regulations in which to register, and a further proviso would be that they have a period of two years from the date of their registration to successfully complete a board examination. Candidates will be offered a defined number of opportunities to write the exams, which will be offered in all provinces on numerous occasions. Failure to successfully complete the board examination after the two-year post-registration period will see the dental assistant registered in this category being unable to renew their registration, and thus be unable to practise as a dental assistant in South Africa. The required application form and examination guidelines are available on the HPCSA website. MUMBAI, India: India's top e-commerce company Flipkart announced on Monday it had raised $1.4 billion in a record funding round that shores up the online retail giant in its fight against Amazon. Sachin Bansal, co-founder & executive chairman, Flipkart speaks during a press conference on Model GST Law (TCS) for the e Commerce Sector in New Delhi on February 9, 2017 ( AFP Photo/Money Sharma Flipkart said it was now valued at $11.6 billion after raising funds from US tech behemoths Microsoft and eBay and China's Tencent, an investment described as the largest in the history of India's internet sector. "This deal reaffirms our resolve to hasten the transformation of commerce in India through technology," Flipkart founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, who are not related, said in a statement. As part of the deal Flipkart will acquire and run eBay India in return for a $500 million investment from the US firm. eBay president Devin Wenig said the merger of its local operations with the Bangalore-based firm would "take it to greater heights" in India, a multi-billion online retail market. Flipkart, founded in 2007 by the two former Amazon employees, and its smaller local rival Snapdeal have attracted billions of dollars in overseas investment since their inception. The firms have battled stiff competition from American e-commerce giant Amazon since it entered India's cut-throat and rapidly growing online retail market in 2013. Flipkart has earlier drawn backers such as New-York based venture capitalists Tiger Global Management LLC and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC. In 2014 Flipkart raised $1 billion in funding while Snapdeal received $627 million from Japan's Softbank. India's e-commerce market was worth about $23 billion in 2015, according to business body Assocham, and is expected to be worth over $32 billion by the end of the decade. NEW YORK - Sales of Ivanka Trump's clothing collection soared by nearly 61 percent in 2016, the company that manufactures products for the president's daughter's line and other brands said on Monday. Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry Boutique inside Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan.(c) Leonard Zhukovsky - [[www.123rf.com 123RF.com] The figures from the G-III Apparel Group cover wholesale revenue from February 2016 through January 2017, the company said in a recently released annual report. That means it did not have data for February, when the department stores Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus dropped Trump's clothing and accessories under pressure from the "Grab Your Wallet" boycott campaign, which maintains a list of companies that sell products or support her father Donald. The stores' decision prompted a controversy during which Trump's counselor Kellyanne Conway called on viewers during a television interview to buy Ivanka Trump merchandise. Critics said her comments highlighted the conflicts of interest of a White House run by the billionaire businessman advised by family members. Ivanka Trump products generated revenue of $47.3 million in the reporting period, compared with $29.4 million the previous year. The G-III Apparel Group which also produces clothes for Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's and Karl Lagerfeld said the Ivanka Trump brand is among the top three that contributed to an increase in its operating profit. That amounted to $840.9 million, against $836.8 million the year before. Still, the Ivanka Trump brand represented only 1.97 percent of G-III Apparel's total revenues. But the results appear to contradict Nordstrom's stated reason for dropping the Ivanka Trump line. The retailer had cited falling sales. Corporate activist Theo Botha grilled Anglo American Platinum's top executives for almost half-an-hour at the group's annual general meeting about the sharp increase in the number of mine workers killed in 2016 from 2015 and its failure to disclose the amount paid to the bereaved families. Chris Griffith, CEO: Anglo American Platinum Botha's call for leadership accountability reflected the livelier events on the same theme taking place in the streets below, where marches were being held to call for the resignation of President Jacob Zuma. At the start of the meeting, Anglo Platinum chairman Valli Moosa requested a moment's silence for the seven mine workers who died. Botha pointed out that Moosa, who had been alerted to his questions, had made no mention of these deaths in the chairman's report in the annual statements, although they were up sharply from the two killed in 2015. Moosa said it was an omission and he had not intended to create the impression that the matter was being taken lightly. Botha asked what was being done to make safety improvements and why fatalities were not given more prominence than the 3% component in the key performance indicators for the CEO's remuneration. Anglo Platinum CEO, Chris Griffith, said the number of fatalities at the group had fallen from 25-30 a year a few years ago to two in 2015, which showed the level of effort that had gone into tackling safety. Other measurements, such as lost-time injuries, had improved. The increase in deaths in 2016 was disappointing and efforts to tackle safety had redoubled, Griffith said. For the past few months, Anglo Platinum had been working on a strategy for safety, health and the environment that was being rolled out across the operations. Director Pinky Moholi, the chairwoman of the remuneration committee, said a number of safety measurements were taken into account for remuneration. Although management scored zero on deaths, other metrics had improved. Mehluli Mncube, representing the Mines Pension Fund, commended the group for its improved disclosure on remuneration, but said the R124m allocated among 10 executives, in an industry that was particularly volatile on the issue of remuneration to employees, raised questions about the level of restraint being exercised. Botha, who has urged at several previous mining companies' meetings that there should be more disclosure on the amounts paid to bereaved families, made the point again. It was not necessary to go into details, just to disclose in general terms what life insurance cover was available to employees, he said. Moosa gave the assurance to shareholders that Anglo Platinum was doing everything in its power to ensure families got immediate material support and he was satisfied the group was "doing the right thing". Land Bank's Financial Intermediation Project has been provided a long-term financing solution from the World Bank Group, to be repaid in local currency, which will enable Land Bank to on-lend loan proceeds to participating financial intermediaries (PFIs) and direct beneficiaries. Piyachat Wankaew via 123RF The Financial Intermediation Project and the resultant disbursement will enable Land Bank to sustainably scale up its sources of funding to benefit emerging farmers. The project is supported by a R1.3bn line of credit with a government guarantee. Supporting emerging farmers the main focus Through this loan, emerging farmers, in particular, will have increased access to affordable finance, which is critical to South Africas aim to create jobs, reduce poverty and lessen inequality by promoting agriculture and rural development, says World Bank Country Director, Paul Noumba Um. It is an aim that is contained in the countrys National Development Plan and aligns with our own objectives to reduce poverty and improve shared prosperity. The objective of the financing deal is to support Land Bank in driving the Banks new approach of integrating emerging farmers into established value chains. To achieve this, Land Bank will provide both wholesale finance to participating PFIs for on-lending to both commercial and emerging farmers as well as direct financing, in partnership with large agriculture corporates, to emerging farmers to support their integration in established value chains. Finance solutions to deepen development impact For TP Nchocho, Land Bank CEO, the agreement represents a vote of confidence in the development work being undertaken at Land Bank. We are excited that Land Bank is at the forefront of furthering national imperatives around transformation and inclusivity in the sector and this disbursement will go a long way in ensuring the availability of sustainable finance solutions to deepen our development impact. The agreement comes with a number of requirements to ensure effective governance around on-lending and reporting, including the alignment and integration to the institutions environmentally and socially sound and sustainable development principles that PFIs will have to comply with. These measures are intended to ensure that the appropriate risk management processes have been identified for implementation by the loan applicant. Land Bank is responsible for implementation and monitoring of the World Bank-financed Financial Intermediation Project through a team being led by its vhief financial officer with the support of the chief operating officer/s and the respective operational teams. The loan has a 25-year maturity period. Uncertainty looms among maize farmers in the North Rift region following infestation of armyworms leading to increased cost of production and anticipated low yield this season. The armyworms have destroyed hundreds of acres of maize crops in the country's food basket, with most farmers complaining of incurring huge costs to contain them. Farmers in 11 counties have confirmed the infestation. "The infestation of this pest in maize plantation in this region signals a tough economic season for farmers since we had not anticipated it in our farming budget," said the Trans Nzoia Chairman of the Kenya National farmers Federation (KENAFF) William Kimosong. Kimosong said a broad spectrum of pesticides recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture is very costly with the cheapest being sold at Sh20,000 per litre for an acre of maize plantation. This spells doom for us "This spells doom for us when coupled with the high cost of farm inputs, the drought in some parts of the region and the unstable maize market in the country," said Andrew Rotich, a farmer from Cherang'any. The worms have also infested Bumula, Kabuchai, Kimilili, Webuye East and West and Kanduyi in Bungoma County. According to the County Director of Agriculture, Fredrick Wotia, the new type of armyworms is from North and South America. He called on farmers to contact agricultural extension officers on the type of pesticide they can use to kill the worms. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett has said that the worms pose a great danger to the country's food security with the Kenya Seed Company also having a challenge in producing seeds. "We cannot run away from the fact that this challenge is almost becoming a national disaster since some parts of the country known for maize production have also been hit with drought," said Bett in Trans Nzoia. The High Court in Pretoria ordered the immediate reinstatement of the former board at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa). Five board members dismissed on 8 March 2017 by former transport minister Dipuo Peters will now return to the agency with immediate effect. On Monday, the court also set aside the appointment of the interim board. Judge Peter Mabuse set aside the removal of the board ordering that the costs be paid by the Department of Transport. "Unreasonable and disproportionate" "The minister's decision to remove the concerned directors was so unreasonable and disproportionate as to be arbitrary and irrational," the judgment read. The court also concluded that a 350% increase in former acting Prasa group CEO Collins Letsoalo salary was neither sought by him, nor unlawfully awarded. "It would appear that it was justified. It is not correct, in my view, that the increase was unlawful or that it had not been agreed by the parties in the appointment document," the judgment read. Letsoalo's removal by the board in March - partly due to the salary increase - prompted Peters's subsequent dismissal of the board on 8 March 2017. Breakdown in relationships Both Peters and the board had cited clear a breakdown in relationships for their respective decisions. Former board chairperson Popo Molefe, and members Zodwa Manase, Mashile Matlala, William Steenkamp, Clement Manyungwana and Tefetso Phitsane will now return to their roles. They had argued that their dismissal was irrational due to the manner in which Peters informed them, first through the media and then through a general letter, which the board maintained was "blatantly unlawful and must be set aside". The former board also maintained that various ongoing investigations at the agency could be prejudiced, as they were at a "critical stage". On Monday, Department of Transport spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said the department would study the judgment before commenting. Source: Business Day We have recently heard a lot of populist rhetoric centred on the need for more aggressive expropriation policies and "expropriation without compensation". Some of the loudest cries have come from the president, the EFFand other political stakeholders. Michael Evans, public law partner, Webber Wentzel The long and short of it is a call for the state to be allowed to seize land from property owners without compensation. Although the call is a popular mantra to spout by politicians looking for votes in a country where land ownership is both highly contentious and racially skewed, the simple truth of it is that there will be no "expropriation without compensation" for as long as section 25 of the South African Constitution, which protects the right to property, remains as is. Until now land expropriation has been addressed in the Expropriation Act, which pre-dated the South African Constitution by two decades. It is a draconian piece of legislation which confers extensive powers on the authorities (including government departments and municipalities) to expropriate. Little protection is given to property owners. Superior legislation More recently, the Expropriation Bill, 2015, has been introduced as a complete replacement for the existing Act, which created some anxiety for property owners and investors, but this may be misplaced given that the Bill is vastly superior legislation in all respects and has been drafted in accordance with section 25 of the Constitution. The two most important innovations which the Bill has introduced relate to the process which the authorities must embark upon before expropriating property, and the manner in which compensation is determined. The Bill provides that: the "power to expropriate property may not be exercised unless the expropriating authority has without success attempted to reach an agreement with the owner or the holder of an unregistered right in property for the acquisition thereof on reasonable terms"; and furthermore, before deciding to expropriate property, the expropriating authority must undertake an extensive investigation and information gathering process in order to determine whether it is necessary to expropriate the particular property. Since expropriation is a drastic step which deprives the owner of a property of the owner's rights, the Bill effectively says to the authorities: investigate thoroughly, and then do all in your power to purchase the property on reasonable terms before expropriating. Just and equitable compensation In terms of the compensation to be paid for expropriated property, the Bill incorporates the approach adopted in section 25 of the Constitution, which requires the amount of compensation to be "just and equitable". This involves the determination of the market value of the property, adjusted by four factors: the current use, the history of the acquisition and use of the property, the extent of direct state investment and subsidy in the acquisition and beneficial capital improvement of the property, and the purpose of the expropriation. The meaning of these listed factors and "just and equitable" will, however, need to be fleshed out by our courts over time. Critics and alternative Bill Critics have proposed an alternative Bill, which requires the expropriating authority to obtain a high court order before confirming a proposed expropriation, and paying compensation in full before the expropriation. While these criticisms are worthy of consideration, and while the Bill can certainly be improved in certain respects, it is doubtful that the constitutionality of the Bill will be successfully challenged on these grounds. Overall, the pre-expropriation steps introduced by the Bill are very significant improvements to the current act, which is totally outdated and needs to be replaced. It largely incorporates the approach adopted in section 25 and will protect the owners of property in a manner which the current Expropriation Act fails to do. It should, in fact, go a long way towards ensuring that potential investors in property in South Africa are not deterred. Following from this, it is important that any misplaced fears about the Bill are put aside and that for the sake of expropriating authorities and property owners the Bill is finalised as soon as possible. Homeowners who are looking to rezone their property for business use or subdivide to sell a portion of their land may be in for a longer ride than they initially expected. Whether applying to rezone or subdivide a property, the application will need to follow a number of procedures before it is considered, which takes time. The application will need to be submitted to the relevant local authority and can be anywhere from two months to two years to be either approved or denied. Aside from the fact that the process is time-consuming, it is also a very arduous and complicated affair. The documentation required by the local authority is complex, and the fees that need to be paid can be expensive. Because of the complexity of the matter, most people that decide to go ahead use the services of an attorney or town planner to assist them through the process. The advantage here is that the application is handled by a specialist who understands all the aspects of the procedure - this will expedite the process to some degree. Zoning refers to the rights of the property, regarding what you can do with that property. Property zoning is divided into levels of residential, business and industrial, each with its own set of rules and restrictions. When would rezoning be necessary? If a homeowner is running a small business from their property with only two or three staff members and the occasional client visit, there is no need for them to look into rezoning their home. However, if the home business grows to the extent that the traffic from clients and the activities on the property begin to impact the lives of the neighbours, they will need to apply for rezoning. Subdivision and rezoning often go hand in hand because of the restrictions that come into play. For example, if the owner of a large property of 2000m2 decides to divide his land into four separate plots, he will be required to convert from a Residential 1 zoned property with only dwelling per stand, to a property zoned for one dwelling per 500m2. What does the process involve? The first thing a homeowner will need to do if they wish to rezone their property is submit a detailed report to local council motivating their reasons for wanting to rezone. Once the motivational report has been submitted, the homeowner will be required to advertise their application in the provisional Gazette, giving members of the public the opportunity to submit their objections. The local town planning department will consider the information that has been submitted, along with any objections that they receive. The town planning department will then refer the matter to the council committee and the provisional committee for the final decision. With regard to subdividing a property, the homeowner and their architect will be required to meet with a town planner. Plans will need to be drawn up and submitted to the city council, along with a detailed report. The homeowner is then required to inform their neighbours of their intention to subdivide via register letter, and they also need to advertise it calling for objections. Once the neighbours have given their approval, the plans will need to be approved by the council. Due to exceptional demand, additional limited tickets for Justin Bieber's Purpose World Tour in South Africa have been released: Johannesburg: Seated tickets at R410 Cape Town: Front Zone Standing at R1250, seated tickets at R920, and general admission standing at R690 Book at www.bigconcerts.co.za and Computicket. Please note the following ticketing polices: all fans attending the concerts that are younger than 14 years must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian. There is also an age restriction on field standing tickets (Front Zone Standing East/West and General Admission) no one under 12 years and shorter than 1.2 metres will be permitted onto the field. For more: Justin Bieber South Africa tour dates announced According to Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' (RICS) South Africa country manager TC Chetty, the recent credit rating downgrades by global ratings agencies will negatively affect Africa's two biggest economies - South Africa and Nigeria, and hit Africa's overall economic growth. TC Chetty, South Africa country manager for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Chetty also expressed concern that the downgrades will have a ripple effect on the built environment sector and the cost of infrastructure development. South Africas downgrade to sub-investment or junk status is a setback the economy can ill-afford, especially in this already low growth environment. SA joins the majority of African countries currently rated below investment grade, including Nigeria, which in September 2016 was downgraded by S&P further into junk status, with a B rating, five levels below investment grade. Fitch also revised its outlook for Nigeria to negative in January this year, he said. Debt servicing costs set to increase Both S&P and Fitch downgraded South Africas sovereign credit rating to below investment grade last week, while Moodys put the country on review for downgrade, with a decision expected between 30-90 days. Besides capital outflows from South Africa as a result of the downgrade, the countrys debt servicing costs are set to increase. Chetty said: South Africa finds itself in uncertain territory having been above investment grade for 17 years. We cannot underestimate the impact, especially because South Africa has a well developed financial and investment sector compared to the rest of Africa. While Nigeria has always been rated below investment grade, its ratings have deteriorated since 2012 and last year its economy contracted. These downgrades are not good, not just for South Africa and Nigeria, but for Africas overall GDP growth prospects. We heard at the recent RICS Africa Summit in Johannesburg that the economies of these two countries account for about half of Africas GDP. Africa's slowing overall growth Referring to Nigeria and South Africa as Africas big brother economies', keynote speaker at the RICS Africa Summit Bennet Kpentey said the economies of these two nations needed to perform for Africas sake. Kpentey, the chief executive and managing consultant at Ghanaian-based Sync Consult Management Consultants, said the poor economic performance of Africas two largest economies was the main contributing factor to the continents slowing overall growth. When South Africa and Nigeria dont perform well economically, it affects Africas overall performance To put the rest of sub-Saharan Africas economic performance into perspective, you just have to exclude Nigeria and South Africa to see Africa actually still shows a good economic growth picture. Yes, five years ago it was higher, but much of the slowing growth also has to do with a multiplicity of external shocks, such as low commodity prices, weak global trade and political instability, he explained. Citing African Development Bank research, Kpentey said between 2012 and 2016, the world economy grew by a modest average of 2.5%, while sub-Saharan Africas economic growth averaged 3.7%. When Nigeria and South Africas GDP growth is excluded, sub-Saharan Africas economic performance increased to 5%. This is still world leading economic growth, much higher than the 1.6% growth of advanced economies during this period, and still higher growth than that of the group of emerging and developing economies, which averaged 4.2%, he added. Africa in no recession With sub-Saharan Africas economic growth slowing to just 1.5% in 2016, Kpentey acknowledged that Africas growth has fallen the fastest. But, he said Africa was in no recession. It is not a disaster. We need to deal with the issues and get strategies in place to mitigate the drop. This also illustrates why Africas big brother economies of Nigeria and South Africa need to perform, and why Africas economy overall needs to diversify, reducing its reliance on commodities, he said. Kpentey said Africas hurdles included the continents huge infrastructure gap; declining manufacturing; high poverty and inequality; government inaction and bureaucratic delays; climate change; and, the major issue of corruption. However, he said there was still shine beyond the gloom, including Africas resilience; its labour force and young population; urbanisation and growing middle-class; its overwhelming adoption of information and communication technologies; increased business and foreign direct investment; and, its rich natural resources. Speaking at the RICS Africa Summit, Amanda Clack, president of RICS, and head of Infrastructure Advisory for EY in the UK & Ireland, said collaboration was key to meeting the demands of Africas rapid urbanisation and growth. She also said policy uncertainty was a major threat to infrastructure investment in Africa. RICS is collaborating with construction and property organisations from across Africa. We are working together to accelerate the professionalism of land, construction, property and infrastructure in the region, she said. Clack said RICS was committed to sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to its offices in South Africa, RICS is increasing its presence with new office hubs opening in Kenya and Ghana. These new locations, which will service East and West Africa, were chosen because of a high level of development and economic stability RICS sees our position in sub-Saharan Africa as that of an international body fitting into the jigsaw of local associations, she said. LONDON - Barclays and its CEO Jes Staley are under investigation after he attempted to uncover the identity of a whistleblower within the British financial giant, the bank said. In a statement, Barclays said the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) have "commenced investigations into Jes Staley, as to his senior manager responsibilities relating to Barclays whistleblowing programme, and Barclays Bank." Jes Staley, CEO: Barclays The board said it had accepted Staley's explanation that he didn't know that the bank was not allowed to try and identify the author of a whistleblowing letter sent in 2016. "The board has concluded, that Mr Staley honestly, but mistakenly, believed that it was permissible to identify the author of the letter," it said. The bank vowed to "cooperate fully" with the FCA and PRA investigations and said that "a very significant compensation adjustment" will be made to Staley's pay packet this year. Staley said he had apologised to the Barclays board and accepted its findings. "Our whistleblowing process is one of the most important means by which we protect our culture and values at Barclays and I certainly want to ensure that all colleagues, and others who may utilise it, understand the criticality which I attach to it," he said. The Kaya daytime line-up has been largely established, with Bob Mabena and Mo-G having been at the station for the last five years. T-Bose Mokwele and John Perlman celebrate 10 years with the station in 2017 and Georgie Munetsi Bizzah and Nicky B are celebrating 20 years with Kaya this year, having started in the year of Kaya's inception. While much success, tears and laughter have been shared, now is the time to make some line-up changes in-line with the vision to take the station into the future. Kaya started implementing future plans by making shifts with the last line-up change that revolved around evening and weekend radio in late 2016. Bridget Masinga and Kojo Baffoe joined in September and October of 2016 launching Late Nights with Bridget Masinga and Life with Kojo Baffoe. Tebogo Proverb Thekisho was brought on to take over the Top 40 on a Saturday morning and Thomas Msengana coming in on Fridays and Saturdays with Weekends with Thomas. Other empirical changes involved T-Bose taking over Sunday afternoons with Sunday Soul Sessions. The changing landscape of the afropolitan in the South African context is going to be challenging in many ways and will require deep meaningful conversations which Kaya aims to deliver with the announcement of the new line-up," says Kaya FM Managing Director Greg Maloka. Kaya will make the announcement of the new line-up on Thursday, 13 April 2017. The oh-so-delayed signing of power purchase agreements (PPAs) between Eskom and independent renewable energy power producers has been postponed yet again, on the pretext that the newly-appointed minister of energy needs to get up to speed on the deal. Considering that the renewable energy independent power producers programme (REIPPP) is a case study in successful public private partnerships, surely the signing would just require a rubber stamp from the new minister? The official version is that energy minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi needs to meet with the minister of public enterprises, Lynne Brown. It has been indicated that once the two ministers have met, a new signature deadline will be set. All necessary steps taken While we recognise the need for the new minister to get up to speed on the issues, financial closure of duly procured renewable power for 37 PPAs now stands at almost two years, says Brenda Martin, chair of the South African Renewable Energy Council (Sarec) Since the previous ministers instruction was issued, IPPs have taken all necessary steps to ensure that they are ready for PPA signature. Over the past few weeks, affected IPPs have been working with Eskom officials to ensure that the necessary paperwork is up to date, so that financial closure can be achieved and construction can begin, Sarec explains. Over the past few months, all of Eskoms concerns in relation to PPA signatures have been addressed by Treasury, Nersa and the Department of Energy. It is clear that in policy, by signing PPAs with duly selected preferred bidders, Eskom is not at risk of any unforeseen financial exposure. It is understood that Eskoms obligation to pay for power procured, will only kick in once power plants are built and power is generated by IPPs, adds Martin. Job creation Over 13,000 jobs will be created during the construction process along, with over 1,900 jobs created in the operational phase. Sarec, which represents solar and wind interests in the energy sector, also estimates that a combined investor value of R58bn in investment will be unlocked, as soon as PPAs are signed. With this investment added to the already R194bn attracted by the renewable power industry, the industry can continue to make a direct, cost-effective and job-creating contribution to rural community development, and to South Africas ailing economy. National interest Since SONA2017, the directives from the president, the finance and the energy ministers have been clear: that PPAs for the 37 preferred bids must be concluded. While the minister of energy is responsible for the realisation of least-cost energy security in South Africa, the minister of public enterprises is responsible for ensuring that state-owned enterprises like the power utility act in the national interest. We hope that Eskom will conclude its legal obligations to renewable power producers before embarking on plans relating to its proposed nuclear deal in June, says Martin. Eskom responds to nuke rumours Meanwhile, Eskom has issued a statement saying that the story circulating on social media and reported in the press that the power utility had signed a nuclear deal with Russia shortly after the cabinet reshuffle last week were untrue. "Eskom expects to issue a full request for proposal (RFP) to the open market once the request for information (RFI) has been assessed and the relevant approvals have been obtained. To date Eskom has therefore not received any formal proposals from potential suppliers and has not signed any power plant procurement agreements. Eskom has not undertaken any pre-qualification assessment to date related to the potential respondents to a potential RFP," Eskoms chief nuclear officer, Dave Nicholls says. Non-binding request for information In November 2016, Eskom was designated by cabinet as the procuring organisation for the nuclear power plants in the nuclear new build programme in line with the 2008 nuclear energy policy and the IRP 2010. Subsequently the minister of energy, in consultation with chairman of Nersa, gazetted a Section 34 determination on 14 December designating Eskom under the Energy Regulation Act for this capacity. Eskom, in conjunction with Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA), issued a non-binding request for information to the open market on 20 December, which will close on 28 April 2017, the statement says. PSG-controlled agribusiness investor Zeder continues to be dominated by its 27.1% "kingmaker" stake in consumer brands giant, Pioneer Foods. According to results for the year to February released on Monday, the Pioneer stake, worth R10.3bn, represents about 66% of Zeder's R15.4bn sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) valuation. Vunani Securities analyst Anthony Clark said Zeder needed to secure the "next big investment" away from Pioneer. Zeder CEO Norman Celliers said the company was aware of market observations around the holding in Pioneer. "We are looking at rebalancing the portfolio, but we would prefer to grow our other investments rather than unbundling our Pioneer investment. We love Pioneer," he said. Pioneer's overwhelming portfolio presence remained despite a 74% gain in the value accorded to the 39.8% stake in soon-to-be-listed retailer Kaap Agri (from R758m to over R1.3bn). Other meaningful constituents of Zeder's portfolio include a 92.3% stake in seed specialist Zaad (valued at R1.5bn), 97% of fruit exporter and logistics specialist Capespan (worth almost R2bn), 55.9% of Zambian agribusiness Agrivision (R614m) and 26.4% of agricultural commodity business Quantum Foods (R193m). Clark said one issue to consider was whether Zeder would need to undertake a large rights offer in order to fund new growth initiatives. Several smaller transactions Although it seemed Zeder's financial year was uneventful in terms of corporate action, the financial statement did show several smaller transactions at the subsidiary level. These included Zaad acquiring the laboratory division of Incotec in August 2016 for R8m and Port Stevedores for R33m in January. Capespan acquired the farming operations of Groot Patrysvlei for R73m in September 2016. Curiously, in October Zeder's Agrivision subsidiary acquired Loza Lodge - a guest house in Mkushi in Zambia - for R4m. Post balance sheet events saw Pioneer issue a cautionary around potential corporate action and Zaad making a sizeable investment in a Turkish seed business. Operations in Zambia While Zeder's performance is best gauged by the growth in its SOTP valuation, which was up 23.1% to 853c a share, cash flow generated from operating activities (including investment income) was a solid R176m. This underpinned a dividend of 11c a share - up 22% on the previous year. Arguably, the most intriguing development reflecting Zeder's results is the reporting of the first meaningful profits at Agrivision. Agrivision owns and operates two large-scale farming operations and a milling business in Zambia. The firm has developed extensive irrigated productive farmland since 2011, but Celliers said that the focus during the past 18 months had been on achieving acceptable operational efficiencies. Source: Business Day It may not be immediately apparent about why, and indeed whether, leadership matters in brand building. After all, at first glance, it may seem that a successful brand can be built through the technical application of principles of brand building and management. However, when we look at iconic brands and their global appeal, it is clear that they are inseparable from their visionary leaders. Apple, Virgin, Google, Samsung are just a few that come to mind. Not only can a visionary leader bring an idea or concept to life, he or she can bring together a group of sometimes diverse people, who can move the idea or concept from paper to reality and drive this vision with unrelenting focus and commitment. Thus, a competitive advantage, which enjoys the favour and loyalty of consumers, can be built. When looking at building a nation brand, leadership is equally crucial for success. While the literature on nation brand building emphasises the importance of cohesion between the national identity, the message and policies, it draws special attention to the ability of leaders at all spheres, government, business and civil society to act in a manner that gives expression to the message and identity, and inspire citizens to act in support of this message. This cohesion between all elements of the nation brand brings pride and patriotism in the nation, active citizens who work to uphold the brand, tourists, investors, critical skills, and mostly, a strong and positive reputation for the country. The South African nation brand has had nothing short of a tumultuous few days, and if the newspaper headlines and analyses are anything to go by, this is just the beginning. What can be done in such times to strengthen the nation brand? Charles Duhigg, in his book The Power of Habit, reflects on a range of leaders who were able to use crises advantageously. In fact, he goes as far as to say that transformatory and visionary leaders sometimes even prolong challenging periods to change an otherwise resistant corporate culture and put in place the building blocs for success when the tide eventually turns. When looking at a nation brand, leadership at times of upheaval is more important than at any other time. Being able to reassure citizens that the country will come first is crucial. Citizens must be convinced that those who run their country are strong, capable, humane, ethical and visionary. However, as with most things related to building a brand, the message must be supported by the corresponding reality. In times of crisis, this may be easier said than done. It is therefore crucial that leaders do as they say, and walk the talk, rather than just talk. Corrective action must be taken where necessary to ensure that the country is able to do things differently once the upheaval has passed. Importantly, leaders must be able to inspire citizens to remain resilient, creative and innovative in dealing with the challenges that the crisis presents. Human beings are incredibly resourceful, and challenges are very powerful forces for change. Leadership is now more important than ever and as we have done many times before, the South African nation brand can once again inspire the change that we need as a country and create the conditions for leaders to be nurtured and developed. It is a common cliche that adversity is the mother of invention. Citizens must be encouraged to collectively embrace this spirit. We will endure and we will overcome. In the meantime, the next cohort of visionaryand perhaps revolutionaryleaders in the spirit of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Steve Biko, Robert Sobukwe and a host of others will emerge from this period of turmoil. Times of upheaval are the important building blocks for the development of leaders and leadership for the nation brand. Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries SUBSCRIBE Kristina: There are those who believe the gender gap is fake news. Do you agree? Sara Oberst, VP of Marketing, Manta: Access to funding remains the biggest source of disparity for women entrepreneurs and there are numbers to back up this claim. A Bloomberg analysis found that only 7 percent of companies that received $20 million or more in funding between 2005 and 2009 were women-owned businesses. Bloomberg also found that women-owned businesses receive less funding in general an average of $77 million compared to $100 million for male-led companies. So, not only are women business owners less likely than their male colleagues to seek funding for their businesses, theyre also approved for funding at lower rates. There are women angel investors and VC funds lead by women, but the disparity in funds raised shows that this is still a major issue. I highly recommend women entreprenuers to read the CrunchBase Women in Venture report. Its the best place to find venture firms with a track record of supporting startups with at least one female co-founder. A warning: The gender disparieties are stark in the startup world, this report puts these disturbing numbers out there with no fluff. Kristina: A recent study found that men do a better job of looking for/finding investors for their business, why is this? Sara: Its difficult to pinpoint exactly why men tend to be stronger when it comes to identifying investors, but I do have a few theories. One explanation could be that women dont start businesses in industries typically backed by venture capital (or male venture capitalists). For instance, women-owned businesses tend to be smaller and in lower-growth sectors like restaurants or retail rather than technology. And of the women who do launch their own companies, we know that the disparieties in VC funding for women are due to inherent gender bias from the male investor community. Women founders need to do their research and seek out investors that share their values and the values of the companies they are building. There are women-friendly funds, even in the tech industry, find funds that have a portfolio of women-founded businesses and a line up of female investing partners. Kristina: Why do female entrepreneurs find it more difficult to gain funding for their businesses? Sara: Women experience difficulty finding funding because business owners in industries that typically award funding (like tech or politics) are still male-dominated. Whether its intentional or not, people inherently seek out people they share a direct or indirect connection with. So its not surprising male investors are more likely to connect with male entrepreneurs. More from Sara and Manta later this week, including how female entrepreneurs can find better investors. The Democrat leadership has made constant and profound pronouncements that one's supportive vote for Republicans is tantamount to surrendering Democracy forever. Understanding their sincere thinking in their extreme position: How will you still vote on this election day? Democrat; because the continuance of this Democracy from the existential threat of extreme Republicans is paramount. Republican; the process of having a choice is the democratic method within what "Democracy" exists. Hundreds of Muslim Rohingya villagers were arrested and imprisoned following months of counterinsurgency clearance operations in northern Rakhine State launched last October. The UN Childrens Fund has compiled a list of around a dozen minors who are currently among those detained in the prison. There are some children who are detained in Buthidaung prison, so those are the cases that were raising, Justin Forsyth, UNICEF deputy executive director, said at the end of a brief trip to Myanmar on April 9. Any child thats detained is an issue for us, he added. Mr Forsyth said that the issue has been raised with the State Counsellors Office. He added that the government must also address the long-standing discrimination against the Rohingya in Rakhine State. The reality is if they dont address these issues, particularly for Rohingya communities, then it will come back to haunt them, which is partly what has happened, he said. State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the Tatmadaw chief both recognize that theres an issue with the detention of the children, but neither made a firm commitment for an immediate release, Mr Forsyth said. A recent UN report concluded that security forces could be guilty of potential crimes against humanity following interviews with Rohingya who had fled to Bangladesh. The flash poll of 220 interviewees revealed alarming atrocities, including reports of babies thrown into fire, extrajudicial killings and mass rape. Journalists and foreign aid workers have been restricted from accessing the operations area. UN special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee said some 450 people were being held in Buthidaung prison when she visited in January, most without access to lawyers or visits from their families. The UN Human Rights Council has agreed to send a mission to Myanmar to probe the allegations of abuses. Myanmar has rejected the most heinous of the accusations, and insists it will not cooperate with the UN inquiry. I dont think theres ethnic cleansing going on. I think ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said in a rare interview last week when she talked with the BBC. In the same interview, she added, Im just a politician. Im not quite like Margaret Thatcher but on the other hand, Im no Mother Teresa either. Edited by Laignee Barron Local officials said that land for about 300 homes is being prepared in War Peik village, where about 389 structures were razed. The plan will see every household that lost a home given a 40-foot by 60-foot plot, according to U Zaw Phyo, administrator of Keygan Pyin village tract in Maungdaw north. We will set up more such plots when and where necessary, he added. The villagers will be given an undisclosed amount of money to build their own houses on the government allotted plots. Villagers accused security forces of committing arson in an attempt to drive out Muslim Rohingya families amid a counterinsurgency campaign launched last October. The government and the Tatmadaw have denied the accusation, suggesting instead that the Rohingya community lit their own homes on fire; UN officials have said the assertion is difficult to believe. According to New York-based Human Rights Watch, analysis of satellite footage revealed that more than 1,500 structures were razed in northern Rakhine State, following the start of the Tatmadaws counterinsurgency campaign. On at least three occasions, arson was documented by HRW in villages shortly after the security forces conducted a sweep. War Peik resident Mir Kasim said that the authorities are currently in the process of reclaiming 24 acres of land where only burned out structures remain. But other War Peik villagers said the replacement plots being prepared by the local authorities are very small, and will not allow them enough space to grow subsistence crops, or build shelters for livestock on the property. Currently, the World Food Programme is providing food aid for parts of Keygan Pyin and War Peik villages, but has not yet resumed full delivery. We cannot supply food for everyone yet, said an official from WFP who spoke on condition of anonymity. Edited by: Laignee Barron 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... The Tatmadaw may have ceded control of top posts in the administration as part of the transition to democracy, but its still steering the countrys course, the Lt Gen said while chairing a meeting of Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAO) leaders in Chiang Mai. Since the government in our country was elected by the public, the world may see it as a civilian government. In reality, the military government, which has ruled in succession, still holds the power. What we see is two governments ruling the country, he said. Relations with the Tatmadaw were one of the key topics up for discussion at the April 8 to 9 summit. Fifteen ethnic armed groups, including both signatories to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) and non-signatories attended. Other topics discussed included issues related to national defence policies, frameworks for the political dialogues and several points related to the Union Peace Conferences, styled the 21st-century Panglong Peace Conferences. The Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army (AA), all members of the Northern Alliance and currently engaged in fighting with the Tatmadaw, were not present at the ethnic summit. Previous ethnic summits have been held in KIA-controlled Mai Jai Yang, and in Karen National Union-controlled Law Khee Lar. Translated by Thida Linn Edited by Laignee Barron The Svalbard Seed Vault This is a very crucial place that is located on a remote Norwegian island. According to reports, it has high-end security to protect the vaults that stretch up to 120 metres in length. This place contains all the varieties of seeds in case of a global crisis. Image Source Secret Archives Of The Vatican Only a few members of the elite Vatican society can access this unique library. It contains secret books and notes that have details regarding Satan contacts, alien forms, and ancient Maya codices. Scary, right?! Image Source Pine Gap If you assumed there's only one Area 51, then you're missing out on Australia's Pine Gap. According to reports, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Australian Government are said to be strictly monitoring this region. A person cannot fly over this place as well Image Source HavenCo This place was built in 2000, and it was built on an old anti-aircraft platform that is close to England. This restricted place is said to offer organisations various VPNs, servers, encryption codes, and proxies. If any person wishes to work with HavenCo, then their content shouldn't contain any kind of a Spam, hacking, or child pornography. Image Source Air Force One This is one of the most secretive places on the planet! No one in the world has access to Air Force One. Nobody knows what's inside the aircraft yet. With a highly defined inbuilt security system, one needs to be trusted for at least a year with the President's security records to be allowed inside. WOW!! Image Source Also Read: 12 Weird Laws Banned Around The World Snake Island This island is one of the most deadliest islands on this planet! It's the home to some of the deadliest snakes in the world having venom that can melt human flesh! If this didn't scare you, we don't know what will! Image Source The Coca-cola Vault The recipe of one of our favourite soft drinks is located in this secret vault that no one is allowed to access. Only the personnel employees working there can view the recipe. Image Source Fort Knox This place is said to be protected by nearly 30,000 soldiers, This place is considered to be the most secure place in the entire US, as it has all the prestigious national treasures. Image Source Gold Vault Bank Of England This gold vault contains about 5000 tons of gold! It is located in the UK. If a person needs to get inside the vault, he must pass through a bomb-proof door using a high-tech voice recognition system. Image Source Things You Need To Know About Lord Hanuman Faith Mysticism oi-Staff Today, April 11th is celebrated as Hanuman Jayanthi or Maruti Jayanthi. There are arguments about the date and the different regions and sects of the Hindu community celebrate it on different days. Some believe that the monkey god was born on Ashwin Vadya Chaturdashi, and there are some others who celebrate it to be on Chaitra Pournima. No matter which date Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated, it is without question one of the most important festivals in India. Temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman fill up to the brim on this day. Devotional Satsangs and discourses are held. These usually begin early in the morning and go on for the whole day. Kirtans are conducted before the sunrise and it is stopped at sunrise, as it is thought that Lord Maruti was born at sunrise. After the sun rises, Lord Hanuman is worshipped with ritualistic poojas. Sweets made with dry ginger are distributed among the public as prasad. Lord Hanuman is one of the important deities of the Hindu religion. He is believed to be the avatara or an incarnation of Lord Shiva. It is said that when Lord Vishnu was born on the earth as Lord Sri Rama, Lord Shiva wanted to help him through the drudgeries of life and the hardships he was to face. Lord Hanuman was born to Mata Anjana and King Kesari with the blessings of God Vayu. He is one among the 'Chiranjeevins' or the ones with eternal lives. It is said that Lord Hanuman lives on and to summon him, you only have to pray to him with a true heart. It is thought that where ever Lord Rama is worshipped, Lord Hanuman is sure to arrive. There are a few things you need to know about the Vayu Putra Hanuman when you decide to worship him. Read on to know more about them. Chanting The Name Of Lord Hanuman It is said that Lord Hanuman is more actively present in the realm during Hanuman Jayanthi. You can get his attention and win his grace more easily during this day. If you want to please the Lord, chant 'Shri Hanumante Namah' as much as you can during the day. Worshipping Lord Hanuman The ritualistic worship of Lord Hanuman is done on Hanuman Jayanthi. One must apply sindoor to the forehead using the ring finger. Rooi or calotropis flower is then offered to the Lord. Always offer the flowers in five or in the multiples of five. The stem of the flower should always face the Deity. Incense sticks with the smell of Kewda, Amber and Chameli are the favourites of Lord Hanuman. Take two of the incense sticks and hold them with your right hand between your thumb and index finger. Wave the incense sticks to form a full circle in a clockwise direction. This should be done thrice to please the deity. Circumambulate Lord Hanuman for a minimum of five times. If you wish to do more, just make sure that it is in the multiples of five. Other Days Of Worship The Saturdays and Tuesdays of every week are considered holy for the devotees of Lord Hanuman. Coconut is broken before the God as an offering. Oil and sindoor is also offer to Lord Hanuman on these days. Why Is Calotropis Or Rooi Offered To Lord Hanuman? When ritualistic worship is done, it is common to worship a certain deity with a certain flower. Lord Ganapati is offered the Hibiscus, Lord Shiva is worshipped with Bel leaves and Lord Vishnu prefers Tulsi. It is not that the Gods have favourites. The specific flowers are chosen for a reason. It is believed that offering the particular flower will increase the capacity to create spirituality and divine consciousness. Rooi is offered to Lord Hanuman for the same reason. How Should The Coconut Be Offered To Lord Hanuman A coconut is offered to Lord Hanuman to invite positive energies. But improper practices can cause negative energies too. Always hold the coconut with the tuft pointed towards the idol of Lord Hanuman. Chant a prayer and request Lord Maruti to allow his sattvik powers to enter the coconut. Break the coconut and offer one of the halves to the Lord and consume the other half. When we do so, we destroy the negativities with the grace of Lord Hanuman and are blessed by the sattvic qualities of the Lord when we consume the other half. GET THE BEST BOLDSKY STORIES! Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 12:33 [IST] Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION PR Newswire DUBLIN, Apr 10, 2017 DUBLIN, Apr 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Proton Therapy Market in Russia & Forecast, Reimbursement Policy, Patients Treated at Proton Therapy Centers" report to their offering. Proton Therapy Market in Russia & Forecast, Reimbursement Policy, Patients Treated at Proton Therapy Centers provides a detailed assessment of the Proton Therapy Market in Russia. In this report we have studied the market in two parts: a) Actual Market and b) Untapped Market. The report also talks about list of all operational and future Proton Therapy centers; Economics of proton therapy including reimbursement policies. IBA, the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, has started installation of the Cyclone 230 in 2016 for a new proton therapy center. The acceptance of the first treatment room is planned for the end of 2017. The proton therapy center in Dimitrovgrad will be IBA's first in the Russian Federation and is expected to treat up to 1,200 patients per year according to IBA. Key Companies Covered: - IBA (Overview, Sales Analysis) - Varian Medical Systems (Overview, Sales Analysis) - Elekta (Overview, Sales Analysis) Proton Therapy Centers: - Dubna (JINR, 2) - Moscow (ITEP) - St. Petersburg Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Russia Proton Therapy Market - Actual & Untapped Market 3. Russia Proton Therapy Patient Number - Actual and Untapped 4. Russia - List of Proton Therapy Centers 5. Russia - Proton Therapy Treated Patients by Centers 6. Proton Therapy - Reimbursement Policies 7. Components of a Standard Proton Therapy Center 8. Global Proton Therapy - Company Analysis (2010-2021) 9. Proton Therapy - Driving Factors 10. Proton Therapy - Challenges For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c5xjpv/proton_therapy 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 PR Newswire COMMERCE, Calif., April 10, 2017 COMMERCE, Calif., April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart & Final, the neighborhood warehouse grocery store for households and businesses, announced today that Derek Jones will be the new president of its Cash & Carry Smart Foodservice division. With 60 wholesale stores in six western states, Cash & Carry caters to the foodservice industry as a one-stop shop for large and small business needs. Jones will report to Smart & Final President and CEO Dave Hirz. "This is an exciting period of growth for Cash & Carry, and we look forward to Derek's support in delivering great results as we enter a brand new market for the second year in a row," said Hirz. "He has the experience and track record to drive our ongoing expansion efforts in key markets, and we're confident he's the right person for this large, important part of our business." Jones comes to Smart & Final from SpartanNash Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a U.S. grocery distributor and retailer, where he was President and Executive Vice President, Wholesale and Distribution Operations. Prior to that, he served in a variety of roles including EVP of Food Distribution, EVP of Retail Operations and EVP of Wholesale Operations. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his 26 years in the retail industry, spanning several positions in operations, distribution and supply chain at Unisource Worldwide, Office Depot, Walgreens and Wal-Mart Stores. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Jones is Principal and Business Advisor for Future Development Group, LLC, an organization aiming to provide places of learning, support and resources to students. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors for the National Grocers Association and on the Board of Directors for Heart of West Michigan United Way. Headquartered near Portland, Oregon, Cash & Carry Smart Foodservice is a subsidiary of Smart & Final Stores, Inc. and has operated throughout the Northwest for more than 60 years. The division currently has 60 wholesale stores located in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada and Utah catering to the foodservice industry. About Smart & FinalSmart & Final Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SFS), is a value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, headquartered in Commerce (near Los Angeles), California. The Company offers quality products in a variety of sizes, saving household, nonprofit and business customers time and money. As of January 1, 2017, the Company operated 305 grocery and foodservice stores under the "Smart & Final," "Smart & Final Extra!" and "Cash & Carry Smart Foodservice" banners in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Utah, with an additional 15 stores in Northwestern Mexico operated through a joint venture. In business for over 145 years, the Company remains committed to giving back to local communities through employee volunteer opportunities and Company donations to local nonprofits. Media contact: [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart--final-names-derek-jones-as-president-of-its-cash--carry-banner-stores-300437654.html SOURCE Smart & Final I have been "Honeybee" for two years now. Lyla had her second birthday on April fifth. She was born on Easter Sunday just as I was putting the turkey on a platter for Sunday dinner. The day was as pretty as any that has ever been, and my young dogwood bloomed that day for the first time.Lyla is my only grandchild - and in some ways, I was as nervous when she was born, as when I had my own first child. I worried, I would "break her" and what made her cry, I wondered. I checked her breathing while she napped. What does a grandmother do, after all? Oh, how I hoped she would love me.Jenny did everything right. She was a calm mother that played beautiful music for Lyla. Jenny had soft clothes for Lyla to sleep in, washed in natural potions. Jenny had all sorts of contraptions, cradles that rocked themselves and a machine that made sounds like rain and waves. Stars floated across the nursery ceiling while Lyla slept with the same soft bunny, that Princess Charlotte did . . .but Lyla was a fussy baby any way.The one and only thing that was a guaranteed strategy, was to take Lyla outside. I declared that somehow Jenny had given birth to a former "woodland fairy"- and I have not given up on that notion now, two years later.It gives me great pleasure to report that, Lyla is an especially loving child today. She still strongly prefers to be outside, but will cook in her little kitchen, from her Aunt B or look at books a good while. Lyla loves to draw and she loves to stack blocks. Lyla loves all animals and dolls. Her Aunt B, just gave her the sweetest little doll carriage-and Lyla loves that too. (Aunt B gives especially nice gifts.)I became "Honeybee" because I said a little made-up rhyme , that made her laugh, when she was still a fussy baby. Honeybees do a lot of things. Mostly, I share with Lyla, things that I love. I do not worry about ABC's and 123's, but instead concentrate on sky and poetry, flowers and birds. I am learning all over again, how to make healthy cookies and soon, I will tell her stories about my own grandmothers, so she will know, that she came from a long succession of loving folks.Lyla reminds me of so many precious things. Things known in the the earliest days of childhood-like whispering. I had forgotten how babies practice whispering . In a very hushed voice, they will chatter in baby language as if they are telling important and happy secrets. They examine sticks and leaves for long whiles. They never lie about their feelings, nor "put on airs". Lyla had as soon find a dandelion, as a diamond, in the grass-so now, I look for dandelions, too. I am as liable to have a pretty rock in my pocket, as she is and I am now in the habit of waving at cats.In some odd and beautiful way, grandparents and their grandchildren, are on common ground. A place where clocks have little purpose-where wealth is not measured in dollars and status is of no consequence. It is a place of authenticity yet, on a dime, can turn to something very far fetched from reality-for while we embrace truth-we are not fearful to dream-and dream big. There seems to be a sort of liberty, in childhood-and then again, in later years. It is really beautiful, when you think about it.Dear Diary, I do not proclaim to know much, and only few things, am I sure of-but I do know with certainty. . . being a "honeybee". . .is all it's cracked up to be. One of the directors of House of Pizza, Siva Sangarapillar has dragged former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Member of Parliament(MP) for Nata/Gweta Olifant Mfa before Francistown High Court judge, Lot Moroka for defrauding him cash amounting to about P500 000-00. The court case follows a botched property sales agreement which never materialised. Leading Sangarapillars case, Goralentle Nthatsi told court that his client wilfully and lawfully entered an agreement to be sold Plot 1659 in Francistown. Nthatsi said that at the time his client was of the belief that the property was a freehold but then it later transpired that the property was not a freehold but a state grant. At this stage, he consequently made it known to the defendant that what he intended to buy was not what was sold. The plaintiff (Sangarapillar) said the transfer of the property continue and the price be reduced, Nthatsi said. He added that the former MP refused. Taking the court through the events which led to him to drag Mfa before court, Sangarapillar explained that Mfa used to live opposite his house. He said that in August 2012 he entered a contract with Mfa to buy the plot in question. He said that the agreement was drafted by Elijah Attorneys at the behest of Mfa who then instructed him to go sign the agreement. He told court that Mfas property was advertised for default at Capital Bank and that is how he got to know that the property was for sale. On auction, I was at the site with intention of bidding but at the auction the Sheriff called off the auction, he said adding that Mfa then approached him after that. He said that they met in his office and agreed on the amount. He said they debated on which lawyer to go to but he insisted that they go to Nfila Attorneys who were representing Capital Bank while Mfa suggested that they go to Elijah Attorneys. Sangarapillar added that in his meeting with Mfa he agreed to pay the money through a lawyers account. He told court that within 10 minutes after their meeting they went to Elijah Attorneys where he told the attorney that he wanted a freehold land. He said that Elijah then called Willy Kathurima, a state agent and he assumed that he said that the property is a freehold. He went on to say that he later made a cheque to pay the plot to Elijah Attorneys. I did not want to deal with Mfa directly so I felt it was safer to go with an attorneys account. A week later, after I knew that the cheque had gone through I contacted Elijah to make a contract of the transfer, said Sangarapillar. He said that two months passed by with nothing from the attorney so he got impatient and called him asking why the transfer was taking too long and the attorney responded that he was still waiting for Mfa to give him the documents. Elijah eventually made the transfer which Sangarapillar says he did not sign as he found out that the land was not a freehold. I told Elijah that I paid for a freehold not a state grant, Mfa should reduce the price. He said he would contact him and find out, he said adding that the response was not forthcoming. Sangarapillar said they were going back and forth with no response for months. When two months elapsed, he went to another attorney to seek advice. At some point in time Mfa said that he wished to cancel the contract pay me and I should go. The unshaken Sangarapillar said that he refused. He said that Elijah also advised him that Mfa wished to cancel the contract and that he should just take the money and go but he still refused. The case continues. Maun community has condemned the decision by Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism to ban the exportation of dried fish. The ban which was contained in the government gazette of March 10 left fishermen at Lake Ngami in misbelief as they had opened lucrative markets for their fish as far as DRC and Zambia. Maun community argued that the banning of dry fish exportation should be concurrent with the fishing season, to give fishermen notice to effect on the ban. Most surprising was that the Lake Ngami Conservation Trust which is empowered to control fishing activities at Lake Ngami was also not consulted on the decision. Many wondered why the fishing season was opened last month while they knew that they would shut down their markets. The ban was announced through the statutory instrument No. 17 of 2017 in the Botswana government gazette published on March 10 2017 and signed by Minister Tshekedi Khama on February 17. In exercise of his powers conferred on him by Section 3 of the Fish Protection Act, he announced that no person shall export any dry fish produced from Botswana, the prohibition shall be for a period of 12 months. Most of the 287 fishermen who were around Lake Ngami are fishing in remote areas where there is no electricity for storage of their perishable fresh fish, hence their preference for dried fish. Cllr Maitiro Segosebe of Sehithwa village told the minister to suspend the ban on exportation of dried fish because the decision lacked proper consultations with the affected communities. Segosebe said as the one of community leader of those affected communities no one ever consulted him about the decision. Lake Ngami Conservation Trust Manager, Galefele Maokeng said as a key stakeholder in the management of fisheries resources and perhaps the largest exporter of dried fish in the country, they are disappointed that they were not consulted on the decision.He said they feel that they should at least have been given prior notification. He said it was embarrassing when fishermen started asking them about the ban and we had no idea about it.Maokeng noted that since last week when they first became aware of the ban and duly informed their customers, their fish market in Sehithwa has shut down, as several fishermen have vacated fishing camps. We had set end of March as last date for those who have not yet paid their licence fees, now they are all coming forward to say they are unable to pay due to the uncertainty, he said. Another councillor Abel Molelo said the decision by the minister is disheartening and embarrassing, as most affected people were not consulted. He accused the minister of never consulting Maun residents but only Sankoyo and other surrounding villages. Michael Schwitters will be talking about the itinerant tundra swans, lesser snow geese, and Rosss geese of Freezout Lake near Choteau at the Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society meeting on Monday, April 17, at 7 p.m. at Mayflower Congregational Church on the Corner of Rehberg and Poly. The presentation is free and open to the public. Schwitters is a dedicated bird watcher who has recorded sighting more than 800 North American bird species and is a seasonal biologist at the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area. The presentation will focus on the birds' migration through Montana, why they choose northcentral Montana to stopover, where they nest far to the north, and what routes they take to and from their nesting colonies and wintering grounds. For more information about YVAS and the April 17 event, visit its website at yvaudubon.org or contact Steve Regele at 962-3115 or smregele@gmail.com. HELENA The Montana House has killed a bill to hike tobacco taxes after Democrats failed to muster enough votes to bring the measure to the floor for debate. The bill would have raised the tax on a pack of cigarettes from $1.70 to $3.20. Nearly half of the extra money would have gone to give elderly and disabled caregivers a raise. The Republican-led House Taxation Committee last week filed an adverse report meant to kill the bill. Democratic lawmakers say the House Taxation Committee gave the tobacco tax bill short shrift a day after health care workers lined up to support it. Those lawmakers attempted to reject the committee's report and bring the measure to the floor. The Democrats needed 60 of 100 representatives to support the procedural motion. They received only 42 votes on Tuesday. A Billings man claimed he wasn't at the wheel when his vehicle ran from police and crashed twice, sending another driver to the hospital. Adam William Harman, 35, was charged with felony criminal endangerment. He was also charged with fleeing from or eluding a peace officer, failure to stop or remain at an accident scene and failure to give notice of an accident, which are misdemeanors. Harman pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday in Yellowstone County District Court. A Billings police officer saw Harman's vehicle speeding at 9 p.m. on March 20, near Broadwater Avenue and 15th Street West. The Honda SUV bore the notable license plate of MT LUV, court documents state. The officer tried to pull over the Honda, which pulled off through a parking lot before crashing into a pillar in front of the Bones Arcade bar. As the officer approached, the Honda took off again, charges state. The officer stayed to investigate at the parking lot. Minutes later, officers got a report of a hit-and-run crash at Fifth Street West and Yellowstone Avenue, which reportedly involved Harman's Honda. The driver of the other car went to the hospital and later reported having a concussion and getting medication for the injuries. Harman called the police the next morning to report his vehicle stolen. Officers later arrested him at his work. He has denied being the driver but hasn't allowed officers to look at his phone, charges state. One witness claimed seeing a person named "Adam" in his yard at 8:30 p.m. The witness said he appeared drunk and was trying to get home, which was near Harman's house. Harman was convicted of criminal endangerment in 2015 after he was found intoxicated and passed out inside a vehicle in a Taco Bell drive-through lane. Raytheon Australia will develop its highly successful National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) for the Australian Defence Force, according to the Australian MoD. Test firing of a NASAM system in picture. CANBERRA (BNS): The Australian Government has allocated A$2 billion (US$ 1.50 billion) for the development of a short range ground based air defence system to improve protection of its deployed troops. The announcement was made by the country's Defence Minister Marise Payne on Monday. The Government will invest up to A$2 billion in the system which will provide the inner most layer of Australias enhanced integrated air and missile capability. The capability will be operated by the Army's 16th Air Land Regiment, an official MoD statement said. "A modern and integrated ground-based air defence system is needed to protect our deployed forces from increasingly sophisticated air threats, both globally and within our region," the Defence Minister said. "Australia's current short-range capability is 30 years old and due to be retired early next decade. The replacement system will provide improved protection for our deployed servicemen and women," she added. The new system will be developed by Raytheon Australia in cooperation with other domestic defence industry partners, the Defence Ministry statement said. Defence will complete a detailed analysis prior to returning to Government for final consideration in 2019, it said. LONDON (PTI): Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon will arrive in India on Tuesday for a four-day visit during which he will take part in the first Indo-UK strategic dialogue. Fallon will be the third UK Cabinet minister to visit India this month after Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and energy minister Greg Clark. "Sir Michael will join his counterpart, Shri Arun Jaitley, for the first India-UK Strategic Dialogue, which was agreed in November 2015 during Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's visit to London as part of the Defence and International Security Partnership," the British High Commission said in a statement. The minister will visit Mumbai and Delhi and hold meetings with senior Indian defence ministry officials, military staff and business leaders. The visit will further cement the Defence and International Security Partnership, which aims to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between India and the UK, including by enhancing mutual capabilities and effectiveness through joint training and doctrine development, the statement said. The India-UK Strategic Dialogue will look at ways of increasing cooperation in science and technology, research and development, and countering violent extremism, it said. On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary will be the special guest at a reception hosted by British high commissioner Dominic Asquith in New Delhi to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II -- which falls on April 21. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/04/2017 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In the years since the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the legacy of the Canadians who accomplished so much in that important First World War battle lives on. At Vimy Ridge, regiments from across our country saw action, and together in a distinctively Canadian triumph, helped create a new and a stronger sense of national identity. Some say that Canada came of age as a country on those April days in 1917. The battle took place in northern France, roughly 175 kilometres north of Paris. The ridge itself is described as a long, high hill that dominates the surrounding landscape. Early in the war, the Germans captured the ridge and began work on fortifying it to create a strong defensive position. They had created a complex system of tunnels and trenches manned by numerous machine gun positions and artillery pieces. The battle began at 5:30 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 9. The first wave of 15,000 to 20,000 Canadians soldiers attacked through the wind-driven snow and heavy sleet into the face of deadly machine-gun fire. The Canadians advanced behind heavy artillery that was meant to soften the German defences. Canadians would act with courage throughout the battle. Four of our soldiers would earn the Victoria Cross, the highest medal for military valour. With our allies, we took the ridge and the Germans were forced to withdraw three kilometres to the east and the battle was over. The Allies now were in control of the heights overlooking the plains below. Vimy Ridge proved to be a great success but it came at a heavy cost. The some 100,000 Canadians who served there suffered more than 10,600 casualties, nearly 3,600 of which were fatal. Canadas military accomplishments during this battle and throughout the war raised our international stature and helped us earn a separate signature on the Treaty of Versailles that formally ended the war. One hundred years later, we still remember and pay homage to the sacrifices of our brave soldiers who fought during Vimy Ridge and in all of the other battles and conflicts since then. Let us thank the men and women who have worn and continue to wear the uniform so proudly. Lest we forget. LARRY MAGUIRE, Conservative MP Brandon-Souris Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/04/2017 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Pretty much every Manitoban has witnessed it: a blazing crimson sky at sunrise, stirring optimistic thoughts for the new day ahead, underpinned by a sense of unease at the dark clouds on the horizon that have given the first glimpse of dawn its awesome colour. Thats the sort of apprehension at least a few in this province must have felt on Friday morning as the government of Brian Pallister unveiled the first half of a two-shoe drop of policy announcements that will, finally, define for Manitobans what the austerity-minded Progressive Conservatives have in mind for the next three years. Red sky at morning nurses, doctors, hospital staff, caregivers and patients take warning. Mr. Pallisters first year in office has been largely a ho-hum affair, marked by a cautious legislative agenda, a few unrealized fiscal goals, the occasional bit of sleight-of-hand bookkeeping, a poorly-chosen race war comment on night hunting in the southwest, and a largely unnecessary kerfuffle over the premiers Costa Rican vacation schedule. But with Fridays announcement by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the Pallister government took a truly bold step, moving forward with a massively ambitious plan that eliminates emergency-room service at three local hospitals and substantially reconfigures the way health care is delivered in that city. No doubt this will not be the last major development on that ominous horizon. As a brooding sun rises today on budget day what remains is the sure-to-be-hard news that awaits Manitobans in other sectors, whose medium-term financial futures will be outlined in that lengthy document. Manitobas arts and culture sector is on tenterhooks, awaiting consultations that undoubtedly will signal a shift to a more fiscally restrained manner of artistic expression in this province. The 103-page discussion paper Imagine. Creative Manitoba!, which will help set the template for future relations between government and the provinces artistic organizations, trumpets the value of art and culture to the quality of community life, but also employs such phrases as value for money in all public investments and stagnant funding realities. It ends its final set of general discussion questions with In a time of limited resources, what key priorities should Manitoba support? And then, of course, there is organized labour, the Manitoban group that is surely experiencing the greatest pit-of-the-stomach dread as it awaits Mr. Pallisters financial blueprint. For labour, budget days dawn is as ominous as can be, with the biggest and blackest clouds imaginable looming above the suns first crimson ribbon. Union leaders, fearful of what lies ahead, have demanded a consultative role in the new governments austere approach to collective bargaining, but those pleas for inclusion have been met by contemptuous silence from the self-described old union guy who now occupies the premiers chair. Todays budget, however, undoubtedly will give labour the loud-and-clear answer that it knows is coming, but does not want to hear. They are bracing for the worst of an oncoming Prairie storm, the likes of which they havent seen since the Filmon era. The winds have shifted and change is on the horizon. For those Manitobans who remained tone-deaf to the premiers crooning of Blue Skies to party faithful at a fundraiser last week, todays dawning budget-day has a decidedly different colour. Winnipeg Free Press & The Brandon Sun Had they started their campaign with a classified ad, it might have read like this: Shady political group, well-financed with unique combination of dark money and taxpayer dollars, seeks to purchase Western state wildlife resources at bargain basement prices. Operating methods designed to insure lack of transparency. Extensive references from energy industry players available upon request. Contact: Big Game Forever, Bountiful, Utah. Whats not to love about a group with a name like that, which evokes legitimate wildlife advocacy groups with a proven record of integrity? Same goes for their parent organization, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. Who cant be for fish and wildlife? Too bad things arent always as they seem. Alaska scheme I first me these groups when I lived in Alaska, where Corey Rossi, a founder of SFWs Alaska chapter, became director of the states Wildlife Division despite a total lack of professional qualification. In 2008, he was dismissed because of multiple game law violations. Before he got the boot, he had drafted legislation that would start privatizing Alaska wildlife for commercial profit. Alaskans knew nothing of this scheme until someone with a conscience leaked an internal memo to the press. Shrill railing against predators, especially wolves, brought both groups attention and money, which is why they actually opposed de-listing wolves. Unfortunately, they falsely claimed that several hunting organizations agreed with them, which led the NRA (hardly a bastion of fuzzy liberalism) to issue this strongly worded response: Due to the blatant misinformation contained in the press release circulated by these two groups (SFW and BGF), any claims they make in the future should be thoroughly investigated and independently confirmed. No kidding. Utah game tag auction Meanwhile, they were busy developing more ways to make money. These schemes included conning the Utah legislature into providing them with special big game tags to auction and millions of taxpayer dollars to lobby against a federal plan to re-introduce wolves to Utah, even though there was never any evidence such a plan existed. A formal audit of these programs in 2013 couldnt determine where the money went. This year, BGF showed up in Montana to support Senate Bill 236, which called for a constitutional amendment to safeguard Montanans existing right to hunt, fish, and trap. The bill was controversial and at least superficially attractive. However, almost all Montana wildlife and sporting groups have opposed it, because the change is unnecessary (our Constitution already establishes these rights) and would hinder the function of the Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks while leading to needless expensive litigation. Furthermore, the new wording could be subject to interpretation promoting the commercialization of Montana wildlife. Why is BGF bringing its miserable record of deception and financial irresponsibility to Montana in support of a solution looking for a problem? Good question. The answer likely lies at the end of the last paragraph. If Utah citizens want to let these groups rob them of their money and their wildlife, thats their business. Montanans should never let it happen here. Passenger numbers at Dublin Port were close to 10% lower in the first quarter of the year. This comes amid continued strong growth of 4.2% overall after last year's record throughput of 34.9 million gross tonnes. However, the falling passenger numbers reinforces concerns about a significant reduction in the number of UK visitors coming to Ireland as sterling fails to bounce back from its Brexit dip. The number of passengers passing through the port was 270,000, 9.3% lower than the first three months of last year. The number of tourist vehicles passing through the port fell by nearly 5% or 4,000 cars. More positively, there was an increase of 1.9% in the number of trucks and cargo vehicles passing through the port while freight tonnage (all imports and exports) was more than 4.2% higher. Dublin Port also announced that it will pay a dividend to the State of 11.7m in 2017, bringing the aggregate dividend payment since 2007 to 101.2m. Eamonn OReilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said: "Having seen growth of 25% in the four years to last December, 2017 has started strongly with growth of 4.2% in the first quarter. "Growth at this level was the norm over decades before the economic crash after 2007. What we are seeing in Dublin Ports volumes is entirely consistent with the strong recovery evident in the domestic economy in recent years." It may be hard to believe, but a 27-foot long meat-eating dinosaur that died in Montana about 75 million years ago had a sensitive side. Named Daspletosaurus horneri, the ancient animals snout and jaws were perforated with hundreds of small openings through which nerves passed, making the front of its face as responsive to touch as a humans fingertips or an elephants trunk, according to recently published research. Such sensitivity makes sense if you consider how a tyrannosaur was built. "Being a tyrannosaur, they had really small arms," said Jason Moore, a University of New Mexico Honors College professor and co-author of the paper. "They wouldn't be able to interact with their environment with their hands the way mammals do find food, build nests, tend to eggs and young. In order to do these things, Daspletosaurus needed to use its feet or head. "Our findings of a complex sensory web is especially interesting because it is derived from the trigeminal nerve, which has an extraordinary evolutionary history of developing into wildly different 'sixth senses' in different vertebrates," said Jayc Sedlmayr, LSU Health New Orleans anatomist and co-author of the paper. Examples of these "sixth senses" include: Birds sensing magnetic fields to migrate. The ability of a platypus to sense electric fields (called electroreception) to locate and attack prey. Pit vipers' use of infrared to find food. Whats in a name The tyrannosaurs name translates to Horners Frightful Lizard, in honor of Montana State University emeritus paleontologist and retired Museum of the Rockies curator Jack Horner. The tyrannosaurs prey were other horned, crested duckbill, dome-headed and smaller theropod dinosaurs. It is believed to be the last species of frightful lizards to have evolved in the American West. It was on one of Horners expeditions to the Cut Bank area, east of the Rocky Mountain Front, in 1989 that Vicki Clouse, now an assistant professor at MSU Northern, found the first horneri fossil, a sub-adult skull and skeleton. Then in 1998, David Varricchio, who is now a Montana State University associate professor of paleontology, and a friend discovered and excavated an adult horneri skull and skeleton along the Sun River. Varricchio also found a partial lower jaw and isolated bones of sub-adults and juveniles that he excavated as part of his doctoral studies. In the field, we could tell there were many bones and that it was an exciting find, but we really couldnt see any of the anatomy, Varricchio said. It wasnt until the fossil was cleaned, a difficult and slow task since the bone was soft and the rock was hard, that its unique features were revealed. One volunteer, Jamie Jette, worked very diligently for several years on the MOR 1130 specimen, Varricchio said. It took a long time and much effort for the animal to be finally revealed, and, actually, there are still more bones to prepare. Facial recognition Once cleaned, examination of the fossil by scientists revealed the dinosaurs other facial features, as well. The creature had no lips, many flat scales and tough patches on its face. The findings were published in the March 30 edition of Scientific Reports. Thomas Carr, director of the Carthage Institute of Paleontology at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is lead author of the paper, which is titled: A new tyrannosaur with evidence for anagenesis and crocodile-like facial sensory system. Carr is an expert on the evolution and growth of Tyrannosaurus rex and its closest relatives, collectively called tyrannosaurs. The team compared the Montana specimens with those of crocodylians, birds and mammals as well as earlier research that matched bone texture with different types of skin covering. "Much of our research went beyond field paleontology it was generated from lab-based comparative anatomy, the dissection of birds as living dinosaurs and crocodilians as their closest living relatives, and based on the similarities of the facial nerves and arteries we found in those same groups, which left a trace on the bone," Sedlmayr said. We were able to then reconstruct in the new tyrannosaur species. The findings revealed that tyrannosaurs share some traits with crocodylians, an order of mostly large predatory, semiaquatic reptiles that appeared 83.5 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period. Like crocodylians, the bones in tyrannosaurs' snout and jaws are rough, except for a narrow band of smooth bone along the tooth row, said Carr, whose expertise is in the evolution and growth of tyrannosaurs. We did not find any evidence for lips in tyrannosaurs; the rough texture covered by scales extends nearly to the tooth row, providing no space for lips, he said. Despite the absence of lips, there is evidence of other types of skin on the face, including areas of extremely coarse bone that supported armor-like skin on the snout and sides of the lower jaw, which would have protected tyrannosaurs from abrasions, perhaps sustained when hunting and feeding, Carr said. Horneri also had small horns in front of its eyes, and a large horn behind its eyes that was made of keratin, the same shiny material in human fingernails and the hard core of pronghorn antelope horns. "In some ways, the facial components of the trigeminal nerve of these dinosaurs mirrors that of humans," Sedlmayr said. "The human trigeminal nerve provides significant touch sensitivity to the face. It brings back sensation from our facial muscles allowing us to fine tune and coordinate the emotional and social displays so important to human communication. This nerve is so sensitive that in pathological conditions, trigeminal neuraligia, it can be responsible for some of the most severe pain our species can endure; in extreme cases, the pain is so great that many people suffering from it end up committing suicide." Evolution The research paper also focuses on the tyrannosaurs unique process of evolution. The researchers determined that horneri evolved through anagenesis, a rare type of non-branching evolution in which a species gradually changes to become a new species. It is different from the more common cladogenesis, in which an ancestral species splits into two or more branches, or descendant species. Daspletosaurus horneri was the youngest, and last, of its lineage that lived after its closest relative, D. torosus, which is found in Alberta, Canada, Carr said. The close evolutionary relationship between the species taken with their geographic proximity and their sequential occurrence suggests that together they represent a single lineage that changed over geological time, where D. torosus has morphed into D. horneri. The research confirms that the evolution of the dinosaur was slow happening over a span of 2.3 million years. "One of the difficulties in demonstrating this style of evolution is establishing that the different species don't overlap in time, Moore said. The new radiometric dates we measured help support this temporal separation between D. torosus and D. horneri." Although such evolution is rare, Carr said studies have revealed other examples of dinosaurs that evolved through anagenesis, including some duck-billed and horned dinosaurs. This animal is interesting as it adds another example of anagenesis in a dinosaur lineage, Varricchio said. It will be interesting to see how these patterns hold up to more discoveries and what implication this evolutionary path holds for dinosaurs. Eric Roberts, professor of geosciences at James Cook University in Australia, also contributed to the research. Varricchio said that the horneri specimens, which are housed at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, emphasize the excellent record of dinosaurs found in Montana. They highlight both the quality of the specimens, the preservation revealing the details of how these giant carnivores once looked in life, as well as the overall collection of specimens that provides insight into the evolution of the tyrannosaur group, he said. Montana remains a wonderful place to explore the Cretaceous. Mayo designer Deirdre Duffy nabbed two awards at the 2017 Irish Fashion Innovation Awards. Claremorris-based Duffy won Irish Accessory Designer of the Year and was also the Innovation Award winner for 2017. Duffy, whose label is named Wild Cocoon, hand weaves all of her designs in her studio in Co Mayo. Irish fashion Innovation Awards adjudicator Eddie Shanahan said Deirdre Duffy drew unanimous acclaim from the judging panel at this years Irish Fashion Innovation Awards for luxurious textures, generous proportions and exquisite use of colour in her Wild Cocoon throws and wraps. Her ability to transform a handwoven heritage product through a strikingly innovative use of colour also won her the overall Innovation Award. This was an incredibly special achievement as the 2017 Awards featured the work of dozens of superbly talented designers, celebrating creativity and the highest standards of design and craftsmanship. Deirdre said: Having won the category of Irish Accessory Designer of the year 2017 is massive for me. It is a lovely validation of the work that I am creating and putting out there. I also feel that this win is a fantastic nod to the hard work that many growing fashion and textile labels out there are doing. I have exciting plans for the future of 'Wild Cocoon' and winning these awards has given me huge confidence to move forward with these plans. Postmasters will stage a protest outside the Taoiseach's office later demanding action to save 600 post offices around the country. The Irish Postmasters' Union wants the Government to enact the findings of a report by Bobby Kerr, which recommends closing only 80 offices to stem losses at An Post. Update 1.42pm: Several hundred refugees have disappeared after they were evacuated from a camp in northern France that was ravaged by a fire that left 10 injured, according to authorities and aid workers. Police cordoned off the camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe and investigators inspected the site to try to determine the cause of last nights fire, which broke out following a fight between rival groups. Most of the camp near the English Channel is now reduced to the charred remains of wooden shelters and sparse belongings of the refugees, who converged on northern France in the hope of reaching Britain. As many as 1,600 people were in the camp when the blaze broke out, according to the Grande-Synthe mayor and the prefect, the top government official for the region. Some 500 were taken to three local gyms, including one set aside for children and families, but most of the other migrants remain unaccounted for, the mayor and prefect said. Doctors Without Borders, which set up the site a year ago to replace filthy makeshift camps in the region, is holding meetings to decide what to do next. Other aid groups are planning to distribute meals today in the gyms and anywhere else people are found around town. The first priority is to find the refugees dispersed by the blaze, said Corenne Torre, head of the humanitarian group in France. "We just don't know where they are," she said. She estimated that at least 600 migrants remain unaccounted for. Some fear the authorities and others fear rejoining a camp with rival gangs, she said. Earlier: Hundreds of migrants have been evacuated after a huge blaze ravaged their camp in northern France. The fire at the camp outside the post city of Dunkirk destroyed wooden shelters, and came hours after a clash involving up to 150 migrants, the prefecture of the region said. Riot police moved into the camp to break up the trouble that one migrant said pitted Afghans against Kurds. Five people were injured in the fight among 100 to 150 migrants, leaving three of them in hospital with knife wounds, the prefecture said. Officials linked the fight with the fire that broke out hours later but stressed that an investigation is needed to determine its cause. No injuries were immediately reported because of the blaze. Firefighters worked to contain the flames lapping the night sky and devouring the fragile shelters of migrants who were evacuated to local gymnasiums. The prefect, the highest state official in the region, rushed to the scene. "I lost all my documents," said an Iraqi migrant who identified himself only as Albidani, standing outside the camp. "I just have only this paper that says I'm a refugee in France." He said Kurds and Afghans had clashed before the fire erupted, but he did not know why. "We are refugees here in France. We don't have any place ... we don't know what to do. We lost everything," Albidani said. Up to 1,500 migrants were living in the over-populated camp, the prefecture estimated, The camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe was set up a year ago by Doctors Without Borders. The neat rows of wooden shelters replaced a squalid makeshift tent camp nearby rife with traffickers preying on migrants. Humanitarian groups said the original camp was filthier and more dangerous than a huge makeshift camp in Calais, about 19 miles to the west, that was dismantled by the state in October. The population of the new Dunkirk camp swelled after the one in Calais was torn down. Clashes, as well as small fires, have occurred in the past in the La Liniere camp. French officials decided last month that the camp population must be reduced to 700 and security increased to keep out traffickers. The authorities said the camp must be dismantled bit by bit with migrants housed in special centres, like the thousands of migrants evacuated from the Calais camp. - AP Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has been made a UN Messenger of Peace. The 19-year-old student, who is preparing for her A-levels, will take the role with a special focus on girls' education. Ms Yousafzai, who narrowly avoided death in 2012 after being shot by the Pakistani Taliban for campaigning for girls' rights to an education, is the youngest ever Messenger of Peace. United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres designated the role to Ms Yousafzai at UN headquarters in New York and described her as a "symbol of perhaps the most important thing in the world, education for all". Accepting the accolade, Ms Yousafzai said: "(Bringing change) starts with us and it should start now." She added: "If you want to see your future bright, you have to start working now (and) not wait for anyone else." Last month, Ms Yousafzai said she had received an offer to study politics, philosophy and economics at a UK university, conditional on achieving three As in her A-levels. UN Messengers of Peace are selected from the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life. Other messengers have included Muhammad Ali, George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Leonardo DiCaprio, Stevie Wonder and Charlize Theron. A man who fatally shot his estranged wife and a special needs pupil in her classroom then killed himself had professed his love for her just last month on social media. Cedric Anderson married Karen Elaine Smith in late January, but the couple had been estranged for at least a month before he walked into her elementary school in San Bernardino, California. Police said it was a targeted attack on his wife, while two of her pupils were also hit. On what appeared to be his Facebook page, Anderson posted photos in March smiling and hugging Ms Smith. In a short video posted on February 27, the 53-year-old looks into the camera and talks about why he loves her. "She knows when to ignore me," he said with a laugh. "Well, it makes a happy marriage." Anderson had posted that he "loved being married to Karen Smith-Anderson!" - calling her "an angel" - and posted a photo of the two of them on March 4 in what he described as a date night Several other of his posts quoted Bible verses. The page also had several photos of the wedding, and the couple's honeymoon among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. His last public post on Facebook was on March 15. Anderson had a criminal history that included weapons charges, domestic violence and possible drug charges, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. Anderson walked into North Park School on Monday and told a staff member that he needed to drop something off to his wife, police said. He went to her classroom and "without saying anything" shot her with a large-calibre revolver, Mr Burguan said. Jonathan Martinez, eight, died shortly after being airlifted to hospital, while a nine-year-old boy was in stable condition. Colleagues remembered Ms Smith as a dedicated educator who loved her job. "It takes a very, very special person to be a special education teacher," said Maria Garcia, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. "We want her to be remembered for the amazing teacher that she was." AP One person has died and three were injured in an explosion at a US Army ammunition plant in Independence, Missouri, officials said. The Army Joint Munitions Command said the explosion happened at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence. No further information was immediately available. Police in England broke up an underground rave with a difference after a party with lights and a sound system started on a Tube train. A video uploaded to Youtube showed revellers dancing to drum 'n' bass music in a carriage on the northbound Bakerloo line service through central London on Monday night. The stunt by internet pranksters Trollstation featured a performance by collective member DJ Dicsoboy and MC Harry Shotta. The six-minute film showed the party in the carriage as the train travelled from Embankment to Paddington. Around four minutes into the footage British Transport Police (BTP) officers shut down the good-natured event. The BTP Paddington twitter account revealed the event had taken place, saying the ravers were "light-hearted" and "co-operative" when the rave was shut down. A force spokesman said: "Officers attended and spoke with a man who agreed to turn off the speakers and the light systems. They then left the station. "Whilst officers relish any opportunity to experience underground drum and bass (sic), we'd kindly ask DJs to refrain from using the Tube as a pop-up club. "It may be the Easter Holiday, but there is a time and a place and we'd ask everyone to consider other passengers using the network." Organiser Discoboy - real name Lee Marshall - told the Press Association: "There was a great atmosphere. The police shut it down but they were cool about it." The event, which was halted at around 10.40pm, divided opinion online, with Enter Shikari frontman Rou Reynolds tweeting: "I think there should be a rave carriage on each tube train tbh. @HarryShotta you legend." But commuter Elise Myette seemed less impressed, writing: "Can you please let me know why there's some live rap performance holding up trains and keeping me from my PJs?" YouTuber Svenskier, who captured footage of the event, wrote under his video that it was "not your normal Monday night on the Bakerloo line." Russia has been told it must choose between aligning itself with the US and like-minded countries or embracing Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and militant group Hezbollah. The ultimatum came from US secretary of state Rex Tillerson as he embarked on a trip to Moscow following urgent meetings in Italy with top diplomats. Ahead of the talks in Russia, Turkey's health minister said test results conducted on victims of the chemical attack in Syria confirmed that sarin gas was used. Recep Akdag said that blood and urine samples taken from the victims confirmed that they were subjected to the nerve agent. Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria. Officials from the World Health Organisation and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies. Mr Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons or had merely been incompetent, but he said the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead". "We cannot let this happen again," the secretary of state said. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Mr Tillerson added. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." Mr Putin later said Washington's accusations against the Syrian government over the chemical attack resemble the claims made before the US invaded Iraq in 2003. Mr Putin, speaking after talks in Moscow with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, said the US invaded Iraq based on false allegations that it had chemical weapons. He said the US missile strikes on a Syrian air base following accusations that Syria's government used chemical weapons that killed dozens of people last week "strongly resemble the developments of 2003". Mr Putin added that some in the West are using Syria to cast Russia as a "common enemy". Russia has argued that civilians in Khan Sheikhoun were exposed to toxic agents from a militants' arsenal hit by a Syrian air strike. Mr Putin said militants are preparing more "provocations" to blame Damascus. The Russian President also said they will appeal to the United Nations to investigate the chemical attack in Syria. Moscow has dismissed suggestions that the Syrian government that it backs could be behind the attack in Idlib province. Mr Putin told reporters on Tuesday that Russia would appeal to a UN agency in the Hague, urging it to hold an official probe. Mr Putin also said Russia has received intelligence about planned "provocations" using chemical weapons that would put the blame on the Syrian government. Since the US launched air strikes against Assad's forces in retaliation for a chemical attack on civilians last week, Trump administration officials have offered mixed messages about whether Washington believes Assad definitely must surrender power - and when. Mr Tillerson said it was clear the US saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." "That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs," Mr Tillerson added. He said the ceasefire talks that Russia and Iran have helped broker in the Kazakh capital, Astana, could generate momentum towards broader talks about a political transition - if the Astana talks succeed in creating a durable ceasefire. The resulting political talks would take place under the auspices of the United Nations process in Geneva. "To date, Astana has not achieved much progress," Mr Tillerson said. Mr Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the "like-minded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialised economies in Italy, days after the US for the first time launched air strikes against Assad's forces. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The US and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. The US raised the stakes significantly on Monday when a senior US official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. Yet the US has no proof of Moscow's involvement, said the official. That accusation will hang over Mr Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say whether Mr Putin would meet Mr Tillerson, in line with its usual practice of not announcing such meetings ahead of time. The United States has sought to minimise expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the US will leave with any concessions from Russia regarding its support for Assad. Instead, the US is hoping to use the visit - the first by a Trump cabinet official to Russia - to convey its expectations to Moscow and then allow the Russians a period of time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the US strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as US officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional US military action if Assad's government continues attacking civilians. At Tuesday's meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim-majority nations including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the US strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Middle East nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is vanquished. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks". It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the Russia-US relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage". A vagrant is facing life behind bars in the UK for snatching a woman under a motorway bridge, then killing her during a violent sex attack. Vadims Ruskuls, 25, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering hotel housekeeper Pardeep Kaur as she walked to work in October last year. The Latvian was thought to be sleeping rough with his mother beneath the bridge crossing the M4 when he pounced on Mrs Kaur. On the morning of Monday October 17 last year, Ruskuls was caught on chilling CCTV footage as he stalked the 30-year old mother as she approached Harlington Bridge in Hayes, west London. They disappeared from view for 25 minutes before his shadowy figure emerged dragging Mrs Kaur's partly naked body on to waste ground, where she was hidden beneath branches and an old sleeping bag. Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC told jurors that Mrs Kaur had scratched Ruskuls' face in a desperate attempt to get away but her screams were drowned out by the traffic. The rough ground where her body was dumped was a "bleak spot" used by rough sleepers, drunks and drug addicts, he said. Her badly decomposed body was discovered almost a week later by a visiting Norwegian Detective Chief Inspector Kenneth Berg who spotted a human foot sticking out. Ruskuls was caught after local Pc Richard Lewis recognised the stooped figure in the CCTV footage as the man he had spoken to the day after Mrs Kaur's disappearance. In the early hours, the constable had been called to a house in Hayes to a report of a "stoned" man trying to open the front door looking like he had been "dragged through a hedge". The officer found the suspect walking barefoot with scratches to his left cheek and neck, the court heard. Following his arrest for the murder of Mrs Kaur, Ruskuls' DNA was compared with samples taken from her body. It was matched to DNA from her ankle, sock and the left cup of her bra with a probability of "one in a billion", jurors were told. DNA from the victim's fingernails was also found to be a match, the court heard. A post-mortem examination failed to establish how she died but Mr Aylett said it was obvious from the way she had been found that it was murder. Jurors were told that Mrs Kaur had come to live in Britain in 2011 with her husband, Rachpal Singh. She worked at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel in Harlington while Mr Singh had a job at Fresh Foods in Hayes. They both worked six days a week to send money to their five-year-old daughter who lived with her grandparents in India. When Mrs Kaur was reported missing, police initially suspected the husband because he lied saying he had seen her that morning when he had yet to return from a night shift. The court heard he had feared they would discover he was working without a permit. It was only after he came clean, that the investigation "quickly moved on", Mr Aylett said. The defendant, who denied murder, refused to make any comment in police interviews and declined to give evidence in court. The court heard it was unclear when Ruskuls first arrived in Britain from his home country where he had four previous convictions for burglary and criminal damage. He had a short-lived marriage to a woman who lived in Feltham, west London, but otherwise appeared to live in a number of different places. Mrs Kaur's husband sat in court as the jury delivered its verdict. In a victim impact statement, he described the devastating loss of his wife and the mother of their young daughter. He said: "We hoped for a good life here with our daughter, but something terrible happened to us and now our dreams are shattered. "I'm completely lost without her and very lonely. All our free time was spent together. We even used to go food shopping together. "The murder of Pardeep is so disturbing, I find it hard to tell her family in India what had happened to her. "I wonder why it happened to lovely Pardeep and why Vadims Ruskuls killed her. This will always be a mystery to me. The circumstances of Pardeep's death will always haunt me because Vadims Ruskuls has not given an explanation." Judge Richard Marks QC adjourned sentencing until Wednesday. The prosecution had asked him to consider a starting point of life with a minimum of 30 years given the circumstances of the case. The defendant made no reaction as he was led from the dock. A tourist from Ecuador has been cited for inscribing the names of his son and wife and "2017" inside the ancient Roman Colosseum, police in Italy said. Rome mayor Virginia Raggi denounced the alleged vandalism in a Twitter message, writing: "Rome deserves respect. Whoever harms the Colosseum, harms all Romans and all who love the city." The risk of mass deaths from starvation is growing in parts of east Africa, Yemen and Nigeria due to a combination of conflict, drought and a shortfall in humanitarian aid, it has been warned. UN refugee agency the UNHCR said some 20 million people, more than a fifth of them refugees, live in areas affected by drought. The agency is raising its projections for displacement from South Sudan and Somalia. Spokesman Adrian Edwards cited a "particularly pernicious combination" of factors in the areas. He pointed to the "world's biggest humanitarian crisis" in Yemen, conflicts in South Sudan and Somalia, and violence and instability caused by radical group Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin. The UNHCR said seven million people in northern Nigeria are struggling with food insecurity. Two months after South Sudan declared a famine amid its civil war, hunger has become more widespread than expected, aid workers said. South Sudan's northern Bahr el Ghazal region is on the brink of starvation, with 290,000 people at risk of dying without sustained food assistance. Humanitarian workers said conditions will only deteriorate as the lean season approaches. In February, South Sudan and the United Nations formally declared a famine in two counties in Unity State. Northern Bahr el Ghazal's five counties now face the same fate. "All five counties are sliding into catastrophe," said an aid worker. "If it wasn't for food assistance, this place would be at a level five famine." Northern Bahr el Ghazal and its 1.4 million residents have remained relatively peaceful during South Sudan's three-year civil war, but due to soaring inflation fuelled by the conflict, harsh climate conditions and its remoteness, the region has become severely affected by hunger. "I'm worried that one day I'll die with my children because we can't get food," said young mother Abuk Garang as she stared at her son's emaciated legs. "We've only eaten leaves for three days," she said. "If there's no food, he'll die." When she heard that food was being distributed in a nearby town, she and thousands of others flocked there in desperation. After hours of waiting, she beamed and pointed to her new bag of sorghum, then shielded her face, embarrassed by her excitement. One by one, others staggered into aid group World Vision's food distribution compound. Some had hobbled through the bush on one good leg, while others had walked for hours with bloody feet under the sweltering sun. A steady stream of women with weak children strapped to their backs and babies attempting to nurse could be seen for miles. World Vision last week rolled out the first phase of a programme to provide 65,000 people in Aweil East county with food during the month of April. The aim is to start with 17,000 of the most severely malnourished and vulnerable people. Aid workers said they were not prepared for the level of despair. "I was shocked by the number of malnourished kids here," said the aid group's South Sudan communications manager, Rose Ogola. "And the looks of desperation on the mothers." In the small town of Malualkuel alone, where the food was distributed, local leaders said 4,000 out of the town's 6,000 people are facing extreme starvation. "It's the worst I've ever seen it in 12 years in terms of food security and hunger-related deaths," said James Maywien Aror, Aweil East county's relief and rehabilitation commissioner. "I feel sad. I'm not happy to see people die." Police have located a missing teenage girl who had not been seen since last Friday. Abigail Bogar was reported missing after she had last been sighted on the Bruce campus of the Canberra Institute of Technology around 9.30am on Friday April 7. Missing teen Abigail Bogar has not been seen since last Friday. Credit:ACT Policing Police had said they were concerned for the 15-year-old's safety, and have thanked the community for their assistance in locating her. The organiser of a last-curtains gig at the ANU Bar caused a stir online after receiving criticism for the all-male lineup, with two bands withdrawing following the controversy. The ANU Bar Finale Facebook page was asked why no "women or non-binary" performers had been considered. Regurgitator have pulled out of a Canberra gig after controversy over the event's all-male line up. Credit:Joe Castro The organiser of the gig, Greenrooms Canberra owner Garry Peadon's response drew ire. "Why do I have [to] even think about this shit? What the f--- is a non binary?" Mr Peadon said on Facebook. Dr David Dao was visibly bloody and injured after the incident. Credit:Facebook By Tuesday in China, the incident was a focus of social media and government comment. The hashtag #UnitedForcesPassengerOffPlane was the top trending item on Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, with more than 270 million views. The swift social media condemnation, which extended to Washington, was sparked because Dr Dao wasn't being ejected for misbehaviour or a security threat but because United said it needed his seat. Video posted to Facebook and Twitter showed him being dragged out of his seat and down the aisle of Flight 3411 from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky. He said he was a doctor and had to be in Louisville on Monday for work, according to a Twitter account by a passenger who said he was on the flight. "Chinese Lives Matter" China's state mouthpiece the Global Times questioned in an editorial if "the victim's Chinese ethnicity potentially made a difference" in how the passenger was treated. By dragging the man from the plane, officials "left the man with no dignity", the editorial said. An online petition, "Chinese Lives Matter", calling for a US investigation into the case has garnered 38,000 signatures. Mr Munoz had apologised on Monday for "having to re-accommodate these customers". The airline is conducting a review and seeks to resolve the matter with the man who was dragged off the airplane, Mr Munoz said in an emailed statement. In a subsequent message to employees, he called the passenger "disruptive" and "belligerent". Airline "bumping" The incident demonstrates how airline "bumping" can veer into confrontation. Airline carriers around the world routinely oversell their flights, using an algorithm that calculate the likelihood that passengers will not show up. Overselling is a way to cover that situation while maximising the airline's revenue. However, there are times when all the passengers arrive for a flight and some have to be "bumped" off. United said initially that the flight was overbooked, its staff chose Dr Dao and he didn't want to get bumped. United spokesman Charles Hobart said the airline required the seats on plane to accommodate several crew members who needed to get to Louisville to get to another flight. The flight wasn't, in fact, oversold. "It's not something we want to do but occasionally it's something we have to do," Mr Hobart said. "This was an instance where, unfortunately, we had to request the assistance of law enforcement because we had to get that aircraft off the ground." United's contract of carriage says it chooses passengers to be bumped based on a fare class, an itinerary, status in its frequent-flyer program, "and the time in which the passenger presents him/herself for check-in without advanced seat assignment". That means those who paid more for a ticket and those who fly the airline frequently are less likely to be selected for an involuntary bump, criteria that are not unique to United. A volunteer is paid for the seat and booked on another flight. But if there aren't enough volunteers, an airline resorts to the involuntary method. When it goes wrong, it can get ugly. That is one reason at least two US airlines - JetBlue and Virgin - don't do it. Last year, the 12 largest US airlines bumped slightly more than 40,600 of 659.7 million passengers, at a rate of 0.62 per 10,000 passengers, down from 0.73 per 10,000 in 2015, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. 'Brand damaging event' United's initial response did not satisfy Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, who called the incident "disturbing". Eleanor Holmes Norton, a non-voting House Democrat representing the District of Columbia, called for Congressional hearings. The incident poses an incremental risk of inviting a response from lawmakers, Buckingham analyst Daniel McKenzie wrote in a note to investors. "It's a brand damaging event, but it's unlikely investors will be able to pinpoint the fallout in UAL's revenue production," he wrote. Shareholders are more worried about competition and whether the carrier will miss revenue targets this summer as it increases seat availability, he said. The incident came two weeks after United drew social-media scorn for enforcing its dress code for those who fly as "non-revenue" passengers, such as those for employees. A girl flying from Denver was told to change her leggings before boarding. A sleepy corner of middle suburbia, Rosanna in Melbourne's north-east, is set to get a radical shakeup with a new full-line Woolies supermarket, railway station and elevated train tracks. Supermarket giant Woolworths has won the right to build a 2700 square metre store on Banyule Council-owned land after overcoming objections in a legal appeal at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Rosanna Village: VCAT ruled there would no demonstrable negative impact by the construction of a Woolworths. Credit:Wayne Taylor Woolies development company Fabcot has a conditional contract to purchase a site next to Rosanna Station from Banyule Council if it gains planning approval for its supermarket It lodged plans with the council after the land was rezoned in 2012 from public use. JACKSON, Wyo. Plans by the Bridger-Teton National Forest to thin and burn wildlands in northwest Wyoming have attracted competing arguments over tree cutting and other issues. The Wyoming State Forestry Division and some area government leaders have formally objected to prohibiting tree cutting in a proposed Palisades wilderness area abutting the west side of Jackson Hole. Meanwhile conservationists and some biologists are urging review of the region's baseline wilderness suitability and more thorough study. The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports (http://bit.ly/2pbmXRW) the proposed Teton-to-Snake Fuels Management Project has been in the works for about six years. It's intended to allow wildfire to play its natural role on the landscape. The Forest Service will hold hearings to try to resolve the differences. ___ Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com When the government has used all the sale money, the burden will fall on taxpayers to fund much needed schools and hospitals. Perhaps the answer will be the reintroduction of state lotteries. Tony Re Georges Hall The NSW government has so far concealed the cost benefit analyses for council mergers, the land titles privatisation and now public transport options. What hope do we have that there will be a transparent investigation into the backgrounds of the new MPs for Manly and North Shore? Peter Mahoney Oatley I await with excitement the promotion of Felicity Wilson to Minister for Urban Planning. Just imagine the fun to be had for motorists entering a tunnel at Marrackville that promises them a short cut to Mosman, only to find they exit in Macquarie Street instead. Craig Worsley Tweed Heads Wily investors elbow less fortunate out of real estate I was one of those mum and dad investors well, just a mum. ("Negative response to Morrison's stance", April 11). After I got divorced, in 1997 I mortgaged the former family home to buy a unit for my daughter in Melbourne for $75,000. When she left, I let the property for market value. I was a good landlord who always paid for repairs and, luckily, I always had good tenants. Nonetheless, I only ever broke even with rental income and outgoings: no negative gearing for me. I was lucky that the property appreciated so that when I retired, I was able to use the equity to buy my forever home. However, when I finally sold the unit for $240,000, I paid capital gains tax of $14,000. I am not complaining: the equity in my property gave me borrowing power and I gave affordable housing to three people over 17 years. But I despair when I see my son, a nurse with a young family, turn up to auction after auction each weekend to be outdone by single investors who are buying properties to let at inflated rents to people such as him. My son and his family will have to wait until I die before they can buy a house with the proceeds from their inheritance based on the mum and dad investment I made in 1997. Scott Morrison, get real: the current property investors are not mums and dads but wily, sometimes off-shore, investors who see the Australian housing market as a goose continuing to lay golden eggs. Patricia Farrar Concord Release more land. Facilitate more construction. Deregulate, self-regulate, non-regulate. Especially in regards to building standards. Don't touch negative gearing. Keep encouraging the whole of wealthy Asia to buy property here. Eliminate any state and territory taxes (stamp duty) on real estate. Bring back the taxpayer-funded first homeowner subsidy. It might be appropriate at some stage for the federal and state governments to cease taking dictation on housing policy from developers. Alex Mattea Kingston (ACT) Policy vacuum is clearer by the day The Turnbull government must be shaking in its shoes on hearing that the Young Nationals, through their support for a carbon trading scheme, are now effectively backing renewables. ("Young Nationals back emission trading scheme", April 11). The policy vacuum in Canberra is becoming clearer by the day: no recognition that "black coal Morrison" and friends' promotion of coal to India is out of step with India's move to cleaner energy; fearfully tiptoeing away from previously toying with the idea of an emissions intensity scheme for energy generators; sidling away from Labor's policy on negative gearing; floundering around trying to find budget savings "Is Abbott's work for the dole scheme fit to ditch?" Oh yes, "Policy Vacuum" is the new normal in the conservative realm just take a look at the US! Phyllis Vespucci Reservoir With the coal water spill from Abbot Point we look into a possible future for the reef and its environs ("Wetland harm likely from Abbot Point coal water spill", April 11). The Flak Catchers were out in force following the incident. The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection "showed the terminal operator (Adani) releases into wetlands were in line with its conditions". An Adani spokesman said the the company had complied with the conditions and no spill had made its way to the adjacent sea. Reminds me of the Clarke and Dawe skit about an oil spill when the front of a boat fell off despite it complying with rigorous maritime and engineering standards. John, we need your wit now more than ever, we miss you. Warren McPherson Gerringong Ron Wessel and Valerie Craig (Letters, April 11) voice the concerns of so many people around the world for the future of the "Great" Barrier Reef. But it's not only climate change, and run-off from farms (subsidised by past federal governments because of five marginal seats in the region) doing the damage. Former World Heritage Wet Tropics Authority chairman Professor Tor Hundloe pointed out years ago that coastal urban growth in North Queensland is also causing an increasing threat to the reef because of sewage disposal and toxic run-off from roads. Another devastating side effect of too rapid and thoughtless population growth in Australia. Norman Carter Roseville Chase I hear that two thirds of the Great Barrier Reef is dying. But don't worry, Adani will take care of the rest. Tony Walbran Dee Why Voters given clarity The letter ("System and Candidates let down public", Letters, April 11) incorrectly suggests the NSWEC did not give the public correct how-to-vote information for the recent state byelections. The voting system in NSW is defined by legislation and NSWEC provides clear voting instructions on each ballot paper and at polling places. Voters can also find detailed information about voting and counting on NSWEC's website: elections.nsw.gov.au. John Schmidt NSW Electoral Commissioner Hail a hero unsung Mark Pearson is my hero ("Animal Justice MP admits 'I strayed for that morsel' ", April 11). He does more for animal welfare than those angry (and probably hungry and undernourished) vegans. I believe the best hope for the animals that we humans eat is to insist that they are raised and killed in the least traumatic way. Self-righteous vegans, like those criticising Pearson, don't achieve much in the struggle for animal justice. Lina Lockhart Marrickville Our right to know The article on leadership changes at Kambala, while not explicit, implies religious intolerance may have played a part. ("Head of elite school resigns after 'nasty campaign' ", April 11).The school president would apparently "not be commenting further". As a taxpayer and therefore a supporter of school funding I find that unsatisfactory. The taxpaying public is entitled to know if there was any expression of religious bigotry involved in these decisions. Peter Spencer Glebe Dressed to impress Schools for some time have eliminated the difference between sportswear with all children wearing tracksuits in winter and shorts with polo tops in summer (" 'Archaic stereotype': push to overhaul gendered uniform rules", April 11). It is easier for all concerned to participate in all manner of physical education and comfortable. Many moons ago (late `80s) it wasn't about genderisation but comfort when in a NSW high school girls were wearing long pants and shirts with ties and jumpers for winter rather than tights with skirts and shirts with ties and jumpers. I'm not even aware that permission was sought as it was the era of androgyny. Given current designs for most uniform dresses I'm not sure boys would be interested in the reverse opportunity. Gordana Martinovich Dulwich Hill One man's poisson In an article ("Carpageddon is coming, but we are not prepared", April 11), Simon Chapman expresses concern about our preparedness for the release of the carp herpes virus next year. Professor Chapman suggests starting in Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin. This, I believe, is an excellent suggestion as the efficiency, or otherwise, with which the ACT government manages the collection and disposal of tonnes of rotting carp will provide valuable lessons for the nation. Alan Robertson Canberra Send that call centre to the margins While it looks like Malcolm Turnbull's hopes of selling coal to India have gone up in smoke and a free trade deal looks even further away maybe he can do something useful while he's there and ask Indian Prime Minister Modi to do something about those annoying calls I keep getting trying to scam me because my computer is allegedly infected. John Bailey Canterbury Need for Federal ICAC As the Obeid family continues to be "grilled" in NSW courts about various "secret business dealings", we must remember and acknowledge the role of the oft maligned NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption. Australian voters must continue to fight for an independent body to fight corruption in the federal political arena. Elizabeth Starr Chiswick Ambassador ScoMo Is there an ambassadorial post anywhere for Scott Morrison? Marli Davies Wentworth Falls So the Housing Market is all set to "Down Size," but I wonder if PM and his wife Lucy will "Down Size,"at Point Piper ? Not Bloody Likely. Bruce Apps Townsend The Turnbull government must be shaking in its shoes on hearing that the Young Nationals, through their support for a carbon trading scheme, are now effectively backing renewables. ("Young Nationals back emission trading scheme", April 11). The policy vacuum in Canberra is becoming clearer by the day: no recognition that "black coal Morrison" and friends' promotion of coal to India is out of step with India's move to cleaner energy; fearfully tiptoeing away from previously toying with the idea of an emissions intensity scheme for energy generators; sidling away from Labor's policy on negative gearing; floundering around trying to find budget savings "Is Abbott's work for the dole scheme fit to ditch?" Oh yes, "Policy Vacuum" is the new normal in the conservative realm just take a look at the US! Phyllis Vespucci Reservoir SMH Letters dinkus With the coal water spill from Abbot Point we look into a possible future for the reef and its environs ("Wetland harm likely from Abbot Point coal water spill", April 11). The Flak Catchers were out in force following the incident. The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection "showed the terminal operator (Adani) releases into wetlands were in line with its conditions". An Adani spokesman said the the company had complied with the conditions and no spill had made its way to the adjacent sea. Reminds me of the Clarke and Dawe skit about an oil spill when the front of a boat fell off despite it complying with rigorous maritime and engineering standards. John, we need your wit now more than ever, we miss you. Warren McPherson Gerringong Ron Wessel and Valerie Craig (Letters, April 11) voice the concerns of so many people around the world for the future of the "Great" Barrier Reef. But it's not only climate change, and run-off from farms (subsidised by past federal governments because of five marginal seats in the region) doing the damage. Former World Heritage Wet Tropics Authority chairman Professor Tor Hundloe pointed out years ago that coastal urban growth in North Queensland is also causing an increasing threat to the reef because of sewage disposal and toxic run-off from roads. Another devastating side effect of too rapid and thoughtless population growth in Australia. Norman Carter Roseville Chase From May 8 2017 the Brisbane Times iPad app will no longer be available. As a result, users will not be able to access articles from Brisbane Times via the app. To continue accessing Brisbane Times news and content, we recommend visiting our website www.brisbanetimes.com.au. The Brisbane Times website offers a seamless experience on all mobile and tablet devices, including the iPad. If you are already a Brisbane Times member you can log in to comment, save articles, and manage newsletter preferences on the website. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has lauded the controversial Adani coal mine as a boon for Australia that will deliver tens of thousands of jobs and significant state and federal revenue for decades to come. The glowing endorsement followed his meeting with the company's principal, Gautam Adani, and company executives in the Indian capital on Monday evening. It is understood discussions ranged over the rate of progress towards the giant project, issues of native title, and public financing. Mr Turnbull's comments came as he wound up the official "state" visit stage of his three-day trip to India, in which he has held talks with counterpart Narendra Modi. Among the issues discussed were the stalled free-trade talks, which Mr Turnbull said would now be brought back to prime ministerial level for a report to establish what hopes there were for a future agreement. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce says he was "surprised" by the party youth wing's show of support for an emissions intensity scheme, a position at odds with the group's parliamentary leaders. At their annual conference at the weekend, the NSW Young Nationals backed a resolution for an EIS, which would encourage lower-emissions energy generation. Deputy Prime Minister Mr Joyce is a staunch backer of coal-fired power. He has opposed putting a price on carbon and expressed scepticism about the science of climate change. "I could show you a whole range of resolutions bringing back capital punishment and a whole range of things," Mr Joyce told Sky News, saying he welcomed party debates, if not the outcomes. He ruled out adopting such a scheme into federal party policy and said his focus was on energy affordability and attracting industry to regional areas. The Turnbull government's budget razor gang is set to consider changes to the $10 billion Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme designed to bring down the price of medicines and kill off a potentially damaging fight with pharmacists. Health Minister Greg Hunt is close to finalising a new strategic agreement with pharmaceutical industry body Medicines Australia that will underpin the changes to go before the expenditure review committee within days, Fairfax Media can reveal. Well-placed sources in the medicines sector say that under the agreement the industry will bring down the cost of some drugs in exchange for price certainty and stability. The agreement will fill the void left after negotiations on an earlier agreement ended in acrimony in 2015. Australia has failed to comply with its international obligation to crack down on family trusts, despite concerns they could be misused for tax evasion, money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Despite signing up five years ago to a multinational agreement to force greater transparency on companies and trusts, Fairfax analysis and Freedom of Information (FOI) documents reveal Australia has done little, if anything, to act on trusts, including avoiding moves to identify the true financial controllers behind them. Labor's shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh said Australia's poor performance on transparency lies solely with a government that likes an announceable but shies away from meaningful reform on multinational tax avoidance. "The Turnbull government is always getting tough with the weak, but they go weak when it comes to the big end of town," said Mr Leigh. The boss of the national pesticides authority has refused to tell a Senate inquiry whether she will move with her agency to Armidale when her position is relocated there. When asked about her own plans at a hearing of the Senate inquiry into its forced move from Canberra, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority chief executive Kareena Arthy declined on Tuesday to answer, saying the matter was "private". The national pesticides authority's move to Armidale is a signature policy of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Industries and former public servants warned it would take the APVMA years to recover from its forced move. Agriculture leaders said a minimum five-year lag on approvals for new pesticides would likely follow the agency's relocation, while Ms Arthy confirmed it would not be able to meet timeframe standards. On a clear day, the view from Peter Bowmar's Waterloo apartment pans across Redfern's rooftops, sweeping beyond the park made famous by Paul Keating's speech, and over the rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood. Mr Bowmar's "penthouse suite", as he calls it, is in fact a modest bedsit on the 27th floor of Waterloo's Matavai tower one of the area's two high rise markers of 1970s social housing policy, and Soviet-style architecture. Mr Bowmar, 66, has lived in the tower for 14 years, in a room that fits little more than a single bed and desk, with a small kitchenette and laundry attached. "I'm perfectly content," he says. "I am staying here until I'm carried out in a box." Ashgrove MP Kate Jones may be known for toppling a premier, but it turns out she's also (almost) the typical Queenslander. New Census data has revealed the 'typical' Queenslander. And the 38-year-old Education Minister, who won the seat of Ashgrove against then premier Campbell Newman at the 2015 election, is pretty close to fitting the bill. The typical Queenslander is a 38-year-old married woman with two children and she is likely to either rent her home or own it with a mortgage. She is two years older than the typical Queenslander a decade ago. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., which is seeking to raise its rates for electric customers, settled for a lower rate hike in an 11th-hour deal struck just days before the case was up for consideration. The settlement agreement, which would raise overall rates 3.7 percent, rather than the original 6.6 percent increase requested, still has to be approved by the Public Service Commission. But the agreement, reached Friday, was billed as a fitting compromise by all involved. They (MDU) did a good job addressing concerns, Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said during the rate hearing help by the commission Monday. The fact that AARP is on board is huge. AARP, a membership-based association for those 50 and older, filed to intervene on behalf of residential consumers in January, saying the companys more than 80,000 residential customers were being unfairly targeted. AARP took issue with MDU doubling its fixed monthly customer charge, paid by all residential customers before they are charged for usage, to $19.76 per month. The organization also said MDU wanted an overly generous return on investment of 10 percent, while returns across the country for utilities have been running closer to 9 percent. The company, when filing for the rate increase, said it was needed to help recover the cost of infrastructure development and increased cost of delivering power to customers. And rate riders, temporary, additional charges on utility bills, separate from the basic monthly rate, which are intended to recover costs, were only covering 44 percent of company investments. The settlement reached reduced the fixed monthly charge to 46 cents per day and reduced returns on investment down to 9.65 percent, which Montana-Dakota Utilities CEO Nicole Kivisto said was within the average range, though on the higher end, the company has received in the other states in which it operates. Rate increases were set at 5.2 percent for residential customer, down from 9.4 percent originally proposed; 6.8 percent for small business customers, down from 10.9 percent; 2.2 percent for large users, down from 4 percent; and 5.5 percent for municipal pumping, down from 9.7 percent. Were happy with the settlement because it does not increase the fixed part of the bill as much as the original proposal, said AARP State Director Josh Askvig. Instead of $19.50 or more a month, the base charge will stay below $14 per month if the commission accepts the agreement, he said. A $6 million decrease, thats a significant gain for ratepayers, said Fedorchak, adding that she felt the companys original base charge was too extreme to implement all at once. Fedorchak said she is likely to approve the settlement unless, upon further review, she develops serious reservations. Both she and Commissioner Randy Christmann said they expect the commission to make a quick decision on the case. Victor Schock, a consumer advocacy staffer for the PSC, called it the best deal we could possibly expect. Other changes discussed by the commission included a lowering of decommissioning expense payments made by customers, which could be used later when power plants have to be shut down, from 1.9 million down to $500,000 annually. Commissioners questioned whether this was just putting off response to the issue, but Schock said the incremental increase could be better for keeping the funding closer to the actual cost of decommission when the time comes. Though he and MDU said it is something that will likely have to be revisited. Kivisto said, based on the settlement reached, the company will not likely return to ask for another rate increase for at least a couple years. A man accused of posing as a surgeon to steal cars from sellers on classifieds website Gumtree will stand trial. Bradley Thomas Anthony Strauch, 23, was committed to stand trial at the Southport District Court on 20 charges including six counts of stealing property exceeding $5000. The 23-year-old is accused of posing as a doctor to steal cars from sellers on classifieds website Gumtree. Mr Strauch, who appeared via video-link, did not enter a plea during his brief appearance at Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday. The Victorian, extradited from Melbourne to the Gold Coast in December, is accused of posing as a doctor and producing fake bank transactions to acquire the cars. Queensland Police are disbanding their anti-bikie Taskforce Maxima and reassigning its officers to a new permanent unit within the State Crime Command. As part of a restructure prompted by the Palaszczuk government's Organised Crime Commission of Inquiry two years ago, the QPS will from May 1 add a new unit to the Command to be called the Organised Crime Gangs Group. Taskforce commander Detective Supt Mick Niland said that under the new set-up there would be "a relentless pursuit of OMCG (outlaw motorcycle criminal gangs) and other crime groups". Credit:Paul Rovere QPS said the unit "will focus on targeting organised crime gangs, regardless of ethnic, familial, social (links) or political ideologies". QPS declined to reveal the strength of the unit but said there would be no reduction in overall staff numbers in the Command. Fairfax Media understands the current strength of Taskforce Maxima is about 90 officers. Taskforce commander Detective Supt Mick Niland said the "nature of organised crime is that it's always changing". He said that under the new set-up there would be "a relentless pursuit of OMCG (outlaw motorcycle criminal gangs) and other crime groups". The 2015 Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Michael Byrne QC, found the focus on bikies under the previous Newman government had come at the expense of all other types of organised crime. Commissioner Byrne found Queensland was the "epicentre" of organised investment fraud in Australia and that organised child exploitation was "endemic" in the state, while members of outlaw motorcycle clubs were responsible for just half of one percent of all crime. The inquiry prompted a two-year review of State Crime Command. According to QPS the review "identified a need to adapt the structure ... to build capability and become more agile and capable of responding to significant and emerging crime trends". QPS said the new organised crime unit would "target all criminal gangs across the State and apply the skill and resources where it is needed most". The Palaszczuk government in December introduced NSW-style consorting laws to replace controversial anti-association laws introduced by the Newman government in 2013. Fairfax Media understands that no-one has yet been charged under the new laws. Hunters would be able to go on safari in north Queensland to shoot crocodiles under new laws proposed by Katter's Australian Party. The party is drafting legislation, expected to be introduced before the end of May, to introduce culling, safari hunting, croc removal and egg collection initiatives. Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth says tourists would pay money to shoot crocodiles in Queensland. Credit:Harrison Saragossi Indigenous communities would have the opportunity to run safari hunting tours, which would also boost the economy, under the plan. "There would be a payment to go on a tour and this is about bringing rich tourists in to pay money to shoot crocs," Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth said. If someone could embody the 'typical' Victorian, it would be Rachel Semmens. New Australian Bureau of Statistics data from the 2016 Census shows the average Victorian is a 37-year-old woman, who is married, with two kids, two cars and a mortgage on a three-bedroom house, just like Semmens. In 2006, the typical Victorian home was owned outright. "I guess I've never really thought of myself as typical," Semmens says. "Or that it was any deliberate or great goal to have ticked off all these things by the age of 37." Semmens, a social worker from Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula, also fits the bill in a host of other ways. She was born in Australia, of British ancestry, and speaks English at home. East coast schnitzel restaurant chain Schnitz has identified an emerging food hub in Belmont for its opening foray into the West Australian market. Founded by Polish-born restaurateur Roman Dyduk, Schnitz' proliferation in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane reflects a craze for fresher, lighter versions of traditional fast food. Health(ier) schnitzel! Could it be true? The same fad has made successes of chains such as burger bar Grill'd and Guzman Y Gomez and, like them, its menu recognises a demand for lower fat and higher protein menu options. "The Schnitz way is not that of the production line, but of the perfection line," the website says, promising to bring the "age-old culinary tradition of the schnitzel to modern-day tastebuds through fresh ingredients, a healthier pan-cooking technique and a delicious, crunchy crumb that would make even the most seasoned schnitzel pro swoon". All smiles: Then Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, right, and Rex Tillerson, then chief executive of ExxonMobil on August 30, 2011. Credit:AP This is because Trump, as a candidate, sold himself as the deal-maker who would get along with Moscow a prospect that gained credence with Moscow's enthusiasm for Trump's candidacy which included its meddling to give Trump a leg-up over his rival Hillary Clinton. Tillerson's Italy comments seemed to contradict his own world view stated as recently as Sunday which seemed to contradict US United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley's position on Syria on the same day. Both were contradicting their own positions on Syria which they had expressed just days before the chemical attack on Khan Sheikhun, in Syria's Idlib province. United States' Ambassador to the United Nations and current Security Council President Nikki Haley. Credit:AP On Sunday, getting rid of Assad, who is accused of "crimes against the innocents" on an industrial scale, was a lesser issue for Tillerson. He said then the top US priority in Syria was defeating ISIS and "the Syrian people in fact will determine Bashar al-Assad's fate and his legitimacy". But for Haley, "getting Assad out" was one of "multiple priorities" held by the administration. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, and Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano at a memorial in Santa' Anna di Stazzema, a site of Nazi atrocities where 560 civilians were killed during World War II. Credit:AP "We've got to go and make sure that we actually see a leader that will protect his people, and clearly, Assad is not that person," she told CNN. When National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster was asked to thread the same needle, he told Fox News Sunday that both Haley and Tillerson are right. A destroyed ambulance is seen outside the Syrian Civil Defence main centre after airstrikes in eastern Aleppo. Credit:AP That's the context in which Tillerson is said to be ready to confront Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with a blunt choice - either Moscow cuts its ties with Assad and is rewarded by better relations with the West; or it stays with Syria as it descends into a Libya-like disaster zone. In that scenario, Russia will continue to get a bad rap from the West. As a lever, Tillerson is expected to use American intelligence claims of a Russian presence at the Sharyat airbase, to accuse Moscow of complicity in the attack. "I hope Russia is thinking carefully about its continued alliance with Bashar al-Assad, because every time one of these horrific attacks occurs, it draws Russia closer into some level of responsibility," Tillerson told ABC's This Week. National security adviser HR McMaster was even more direct, telling Fox News: "I think what we should do is ask Russia, how could it be, if you have advisers at that airfield, that you didn't know that the Syrian air force was preparing and executing a mass murder attack with chemical weapons?" Meanwhile, as the administration talks up its threats of further action, the Syrian regime's allies are drawing "red lines" which they say if crossed will provoke retaliatory attacks. Rather than coming from their capitals, a joint command centre that comprises Russian, Iranian and allied militia forces, issued a statement through the media outlet Ilam al Harbi (War Media), warning: "What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines. From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is, and America knows our ability to respond well." Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was less specific, but the message was plain when he told a Sunday meeting of his senior military commanders: "This is their last in a series of strategic errors ... which will definitely have backlash against their own interests." But in the aftermath of the missile attack, Washington is under increased pressure from its allies, Congress and conservative media analysts to go harder against the Syrian regime. "If this intervention is limited only to an air base, if it does not continue and if we don't remove the regime from heading Syria, then this would remain a cosmetic intervention," said Turkish foreign minister, Mesut Cavusoglu. Briefing reporters, officials in Whitehall said that Britain was taking credit for helping to win traction in Washington for the idea that there could be no progress in Syria unless Assad and his family were removed. US Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime critic of Trump, told reporters at the weekend: "The [missile strike] is is better than doing nothing, a step in the right direction. [But]"Does it change [Assad's] behaviour? We don't know yet if this attack will work or not." Therein lies the risk to which Trump has exposed himself by firing off the missiles. In demonstrating a willingness to go after the Syrian regime after two years of war in which the US has focused only on ISIS in Syria, Trump is under pressure to go further. And he has demonstrated that he's a man who likes to please his audience. He's already a more kinetic president than his predecessor. New figures show that under Trump, the rate of US drone strikes in various conflicts is three times what it was under Barack Obama. Amidst rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear program, Trump reportedly is considering returning American nuclear weapons to South Korea and/or killing the North's dictator Kim Jong-un. A provocative plan for US forces to board Iranian ships in international waters was abandoned because it had leaked to the media. Analysts are divided on what drives Moscow's Syria policy is it so committed to Syria as a foothold in the Middle East and a seat at the international diplomatic table, or can it be swayed from that with the prospect of an easing or lifting of the burden of Western economic sanctions imposed after its annexation of Crimea. But despite Tillerson's personal relationship with Putin and some of his trusted associates from his years as CEO of ExxonMobil, there's a view that ultimately progress will be dictated by the Putin-Trump relationship. "It depends on whether Putin and Trump hit it off, not on anything Tillerson and Lavrov say," Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia, said. "Things will only happen as a result of direct personal, sustained contact between Putin and Trump. "That's the way things work with Putin." Maybe this whole business is a phase the administration is going through as it attempts to burnish a very indifferent performance in its first 100 days, a fast approaching milestone at which Americans traditionally pass judgment on a new president. Loading Jakarta: More than 60 people were sentenced to death in Indonesia last year but proposed changes to the country's penal code could save the lives of future prisoners if they can demonstrate good behaviour. In a sign Indonesia is slowly edging away from capital punishment, the House of Representatives is poised to pass a revised criminal code, which, a lawmaker told Fairfax Media, would "give hope" to those facing execution. Activists hold posters which read "Jokowi, stop the executions" during a candlelight vigil outside the presidential palace in Jakarta last year. Credit:AP Indonesia's Law and Human Rights Minister, Yasonna Laoly, is optimistic the revised penal code will be passed mid-year. A clause would allow death sentences to be commuted to imprisonment if felons could show they had reformed. However, it will provide little succour to the more than 215 people currently facing the firing squad including British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford as laws in Indonesia are not applied retrospectively. World Parkinson's Disease Day [11 April] is held every year on Parkinson's birthday to raise awareness of the disease and the research being done to alleviate it. To mark 200 years since James Parkinson first identified the condition named after him, a new biography of this forgotten man has been published. In 1817 James Parkinson (1755-1824) wrote his pioneering Essay on the Shaking Palsy, which first defined the condition we now call Parkinson's disease. The symptoms identified by Parkinson two centuries ago are still used to diagnose the disease today. Although unable to identify a cause for the condition, Parkinson's remarkably accurate description of the symptoms, and the disease in all its different stages, eventually led to it being named in his honour. The Enlightened Mr Parkinson by Dr Cherry Lewis, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, tells the story of Parkinson's life as an apothecary surgeon (similar to todays GP) in Hoxton, then a village on the outskirts of London. It was a time when epidemics festered in the dirty and overcrowded tenements, infant mortality was fifty percent, and no anaesthetics were available for those unfortunate enough to require surgery. Smallpox killed ten per cent of the population, so when Edward Jenner discovered a vaccine, Parkinson worked with him to establish vaccination stations across London. Cherry Lewis said: "Parkinson was not only a pioneer in medicine but also internationally famous for his works on fossils. He revealed an unknown world, populated with 'hyenas the size of bears' and 'enormous marine animals', all of which both enthralled and terrified his readers. His exquisitely illustrated Organic Remains of a Former World placed the study of fossils on the scientific map of Britain before the subject even had a name. "When awarded The Royal College of Surgeons' first Gold Medal, it was not for his medical publications that Parkinson was honoured, nor even his Essay on the Shaking Palsy, but for his ground-breaking work on fossils." Parkinson became a political activist after the French Revolution, which many in Britain supported. He wrote numerous outspoken publications which harangued a corrupt and incompetent Government using the pseudonym 'Old Hubert', for many were imprisoned and even transported to Australia for such seditious activities. When caught up in an alleged plot to kill 'mad' King George III, Parkinson put his own life on the line trying to save his friends. It was almost 50 years after Parkinson's death before the significance of his Essay was fully appreciated and the shaking palsy renamed 'Parkinson's disease' in his memory. Five years ago, Mark Hawks began noticing pain in his left knee that turned out to be a torn meniscus. It was also discovered he had bone-on-bone osteoarthritis, which explained some of the pain. Not long after, it spread to his right knee. Hawks, 62, said he thinks the pain is due to simply growing older, or, possibly, being hereditary, considering his two brothers have had knee replacements. For three years, he visited with area doctors to try alternatives to the elective knee replacement procedure, including steroid shots and physical therapy. When those didnt work, his doctor recommended him for the surgery. It was up to me. When the pain was too much, and I was ready to go, (my doctor) gave me the go-ahead," said Hawks, who got both his knees replaced in January at Sanford Health in Bismarck's Total Joint Replacement Center, which recently received national accreditation from the Joint Commission. At the center, surgeons perform total knee, hip and shoulder replacements in addition to fractured hips, all of which were accredited in March. "(The accreditation) showcases the center is doing best practices, based on research, for the complete care of our patients," said Debbie Bachmeier, orthopedic nurse navigator at the center. Hawk was back at his job as business and technology manager at the Bank of North Dakota four weeks after his surgery. As an avid biker and camper, Hawk said he's feeling "great" and attributes his success to his team of physicians and nurses. Sanford's Total Joint Replacement Center opened in 2013 in the hospital in downtown Bismarck. The center and its five surgeons get referrals from all over the state, especially western North Dakota, Bachmeier said. In January, the Joint Commission visited the center and conducted a three-day survey by following patients around the hospital. The Joint Commission also identified several areas which can change for improvement. One area that has improved since the center's inception is length of hospital stay, which previously was three to four days, but now is just two days for total knee and hip patients. Now with accreditation, the center collects and sends this data each month to the Joint Commission. Latest News The Promise of Machine Learning Democratisation ML and AI, seamlessly embedded in technology, will make the world greener, safer, healthier and more secure Why are property buyers taking so long to purchase? Here are five factors at play Issuing infringement notices Refusing an AFS or credit licence application Imposing conditions on an AFS or credit licence Cancelling or suspending an AFS or credit licence The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has proposed a new Financial Services Panel which would play a role in banning participants in the financial services and credit industries.The panel would be initially responsible for determining whether ASIC should make a banning order for misconduct within these industries in cases where it is appropriate for peer review because of its significance, complexity or novelty, the regulator said in a consultation paper released today (11 April).While it would be possible to refer all banning matters to the Panel, this would increase the cost of the process and the demands placed on Panel members. We consider this would only be justified where the potential benefits of having a Panel decision outweigh the additional costs of doing so.ASIC may also consider expanding the power of this panel to other areas in future, including:The panel would initially be composed of three sitting members: two industry or non-industry participants and at least one ASIC staff member. Outcomes would be achieved through a simple majority vote.We propose that an ASIC staff member would sit on the Panel, as this will ensure there is a Panel member who is specialised and trained in these types of decisions, and is familiar with the law and ASICs policy and guidance. An ASIC staff member on the panel would also mitigate the potential disadvantages of a peer based model.A secretariat comprised of ASIC staff members would provide further assistance to the panel.ASIC has asked for submissions on the new consultation paper by 23 May 2017. Bismarck Public Schools is proposing to move its English learner program to a new building in order to make room for growth and make better use of resources. Superintendent Tamara Uselman told the Bismarck School Board on Monday night that the district plans to move the English Learner Welcome Center, located at the Hughes Educational Center, 806 N. Washington St., to Jeannette Myhre Elementary School. In addition, the district plans to use federal funds to hire more EL teachers. Bismarck has seen rapid growth this year in its English learner population. At the start of this school year, there were 140 EL students districtwide; now, there are 220. In order to provide everybody, we have to find every efficiency that we can," Uselman said, adding the move would save the district money. The Welcome Center currently serves students in grades K-5, who are bused one to two times a day to another school for lunch and other key services, according to Uselman. At Myhre, EL students would have access to specialists, such as a school counselor and physical education teacher. They would also be able to eat lunch at the school, utilize after-school programs and interact with their English-speaking peers. We know if we move to Mhyre, there will be pros and cons. We believe the pros outweigh the cons," Uselman said. There are currently eight teachers in Bismarck who serve EL students. Uselman said the district would like to hire two addition EL teachers and four aides, which would alleviate some of the growth in the EL population at the secondary level. The School Board did not take any action on Monday, and instead requested more information about the savings associated with moving the center. State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) presented a check to Yardley Borough Police Chief Joseph Kelly for $68,600 for the purchase of a new police vehicle and motorcycle during a visit to the station. Our police put themselves on the line every day to keep our community safe, said Sen. Santarsiero. Dating back to when I was a Lower Makefield Township Supervisor more than... A christening ceremony for the USNS City of Bismarck will be held May 13 at Austal Shipyards in Mobile, Ala. This christening ceremony brings our ship a step closer to carrying the proud name of our city across the oceans of the world," USNS City of Bismarck Committee Chairman Bob Wefald. It is expected the ship will be delivered to the Navys Military Sealift Command later this year. The USNS City of Bismarck is a high-speed expeditionary fast transport ship capable of 49 mph designed to move troops and equipment in a theater of operations. It will have a civilian crew of 24, and it will be able to carry 312 troops and all their equipment. It is also capable of landing the Navys largest helicopter. It is powered by four diesel engines driving water jets. It displaces 1,515 tons of sea water. It is 337 feet long, 93 feet 6 inches wide with a draft of 12 feet 7 inches. For the Navy to have twice honored our state and its Capitol city is a truly great honor, Wefald said. On Oct. 25, 2014, the second ship named for the state, the USS North Dakota was commissioned and is at sea testing various weapons prior to deployment early next year. latest news October 31, 2022 Buddy TV In November, there are hundreds of new and returning TV showsit can be overwhelming to try and choose what to watch. That's why we've selected some of the best options... Everything you need to know for election day in Burlington County Things dont get a whole lot stranger at the state Legislature than they did last week, when a deal between North Dakota State University and the Sanford Health system blew up. NDSU took over Sanfords nursing program based in Bismarck three years ago, but without consulting legislators. A bad step, it turned out. On Wednesday, the House Republican leadership and members of the House Appropriations Committee confronted NDSU President Dean Bresciani about the deal. Thats unusual. These sorts of negotiations are usually left to the universities and the system office. Bresciani himself was silent as legislators berated him for his deal-making. Thats unusual, too. The third unusual piece of the drama was the setting. It was a small, inaccessible and little used room behind the seats of the House balcony. That wasnt an accident. Neither Sanford nor NDSU nor House leaders were eager to have the drama play out in public. Bresciani spoiled that plan by sending an urgent e-mail on April 4 in which he said the program would be closed an exaggeration, since House Republicans sought only to renegotiate the terms of the deal, which had been controversial at the time it was made. The suggestion of closure brought a crowd of students to the state Capitol. They filled the Roughrider Room on the Capitols ground floor, the usual meeting place of the House Appropriations Committee. There, they waited. Bresciani and his party waited outside the room. No legislators showed up. Neither did any of Sanfords lobbying team. Meanwhile the committee had gathered in whats called the House Conference room. Students quickly decamped and marched no other word would describe their determination to the House balcony. Not all of them could get into the room, but enough did to raise the physical temperature to perspiration levels. The political temperature was high, too. The upshot, after an hour of heated discussion, was that the contract would have to be reworked in order to keep the program running through the next biennium. A deadline was set for Wednesday. The confrontation unmasked a number of issues regarding nursing education in the state. First, there is a serious shortage of nurses. Sanford officials said the need is for 1,000 new nurses. Second, nursing attracts young people. At least 50 were seated in the Roughrider Room, and others were outside, so the total number of students must have been near 80. Many perhaps 10 percent appeared to be new Americans, so nursing programs provide an avenue to careers for young people of immigrant families. Third, accreditation standards have left hospital-based programs, such as Sanfords had been, at a disadvantage. The Higher Learning Commission requires affiliation with a college program for accreditation, and lack of accreditation devalues a diploma in the workplace, Sanford officials said. North Dakota has nursing programs at nine of the 11 campuses in the state university system. Finding instructors for these programs has proven difficult; at UNDs College of Nursing, for example, open faculty positions were left unfilled to meet budget cuts. The fate of the Sanford program in the long term might not be decided ahead of this weeks deadline. A number of alternatives were suggested, including attaching it to Dickinson State University, where budget cuts have been deeper than at any other North Dakota college. Its too late to make that happen this session, said House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, but its something we should look at in the future. A Burnham-On-Sea care home worker has had his dedication recognised with a prestigious national award, presented from a well-known TV personality. Shaun Hills, who works for Homes Caring for Autism at their Holly Tree Cottage residential home in Berrow won the Care Home Worker Award in the Great British Care Awards. He was presented with his trophy by Martin Kemp, the Spandau Ballet musician and EastEnders actor, at a ceremony at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham. Richard Smith, the founder and managing director of Homes Caring for Autism, which has its head office in Weston-super-Mare, said: This award recognises the significant role of the care home worker in consistently providing a high-quality standard, for people living in residential care, and it provides well-deserved recognition of the commitment that Shaun has shown to the people he supports. It is particularly fitting that Shaun was nominated by the mother of a young autistic man whom he has cared for over the past eight years. An enormous difference can be made to autistic people with a learning disability by understanding their needs, and enabling them to reach their full potential, and it is through workers like Shaun that we are able to make such a difference in our homes. Shaun, who is 27 years of age, started working with HCA as a support worker in May 2009. He became a shift leader in February 2013 and a senior support worker in July 2015. The mother who put Shaun forward for the Care Home Worker Award in the Great British Care Award said in her nomination: Shaun has been my sons care and key worker for the last eight years, starting as a support worker. Over those eight years I have seen Shauns ongoing commitment to caring not just to my son but to all the individuals in his care. I sometimes feel he knows my son better than myself, his understanding of his needs which can sometimes be very challenging is always obvious. His communication is excellent, always ensuring that I am aware of any changes, often reassuring if there any worrying aspects of my sons health. His attention to detail ensures that any changes are dealt with correctly thus ensuring my son is always treated with dignity and respect. He knows exactly how to work with him and to obtain the best from him. He is a good team worker and his personal development has enabled him to be promoted to a Senior Care Worker, a position he thoroughly deserves. I feel very lucky that my son has Shaun as his keyworker and I would love to see Shauns hard work and commitment awarded. Homes Caring for Autism was founded in 2004 by Richard Smith when he re-mortgaged his home and took out a bank loan to pay for the companys first property in Berrow, Somerset, in response to the lack of opportunities available for people who are autistic with an associated learning disability. Pictured: Left to right: Steve Walls (GBCA Host and compere), Professor Martin Green OBE (Chief Executive, Care England), Shaun Hills, Martin Kemp (musician and actor) Australias government has indicated strong backing for a loan of almost 1 billion Australian dollars for Indian conglomerate to build the worlds largest coal mine, despite projections of a global glut of the commodity and environmental concerns. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. In an unexpected blow to and Tata Power, with respect to their power projects at Mundra, the Supreme Court set aside the appeal for compensatory tariff filed by the companies with the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL). Consequently, stocks of Tata Power and plunged by 3.5 per cent and 16.6 per cent, respectively. Analysts say this was totally unexpected by the Street given that in December 2016, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) ruled that both companies were entitled to relief in the form of compensation for higher coal cost for power plants in Mundra. Even from the December quarter investor call hosted by the companies, the Street got the impression that the Supreme Courts verdict pending on the matter would favour the companies. Tata Power was awarded a compensatory tariff at Rs 0.52 per unit and at Rs 0.41 per unit, over the remaining life of the UMPPs. Riding on high single digit growth in passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, the country's auto majors sold a record 21.86 million vehicles in the domestic market during FY17. This includes passenger vehicles (cars, utility vehicles and vans), two-wheelers (motorcycles, scooters and mopeds), commercial vehicles (light, medium and heavy) and three wheelers. The industry's growth (all segments combined) improved to 6.81 per cent, stronger than the 3.78 per cent reported in FY16. The Kolkata-based CESC, which supplies electricity to the West Bengal capital and neighbouring Howrah besides parts of Rajasthan and Greater Noida, is going to focus less on power generation and more on distribution. This is expected to drive the future growth of the flagship company of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG). Top e-commerce company has raised $1.4 billion in funding, the largest so far in this space, from Chinese internet giant Tencent, along with US majors Microsoft and eBay. With this, the Bengaluru-based firm, founded by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal almost 10 years ago, is readying to up the battle pitch with Jeff Bezos-led Amazon and Jack Mas Alibaba in the Indian market. After Unitech Managing Director Sanjay Chandra stepped out of Delhis Tihar Jail in 2012, where he was interned the year before for his alleged involvement in the 2G scam, many were ready to give him a second chance. In spite of its disastrous telecom foray, and the fact that the real estate bubble had burst, Unitech had a large land bank, which an astute man like Chandra could leverage to good effect. At the recently concluded Goafest, the annual three-day advertising, media and marketing festival, star speaker Amitabh Kant managed to get the crowd on his side early on. The CEO of Niti Aayog got the applause going when he said he had always chosen to work with Indian agencies for all his campaigns, since local creative talent was amongst the best in the world. Almost two years after announcing the merger with Cairn, Vedanta on Tuesday announced it was complete. Vedantas Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Albanese and Cairn Indias acting CEO Sudhir Mathur spoke to Jyoti Mukul over telephone. Edited excerpts: State-owned power giant NTPC's joint venture BIFPCL has tied up funds to the tune of $1.6 billion to set up 1,320 mw Maitree Super Thermal Power Project in Bangladesh. "We wish to inform that Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) (BIFPCL) achieved financial closure on April 10, 2017, to set up 1,320 mw (2x660 mw) coal based Maitree Super Thermal Power Project at Rampal in Bagerhat district of Khulna division, Bangladesh," NTPC said in a BSE filing on Tuesday. BIFPCL is a 50:50 joint venture company between NTPC and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) for setting up this coal-fired thermal power plant. The company further stated that an agreement was signed with Indian Exim Bank to provide loan up to $1.6 billion for financing this project. BIFPCL is a private company duly incorporated in Bangladesh under the Act 1994 and was registered with the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock and Firms (RJSC), Dhaka, Bangladesh on October 31, 2012. During an earlier visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister to India, an MoU was signed on January 11, 2010, in New Delhi to bolster traditional ties between the two through co-operation. The program that provides angel fund investors an income tax break would have greater protections against abuses under a bill the state Legislature sent to Gov. Doug Burgum this week, a state senator said Tuesday. Lawmakers from both chambers reached a compromise on House Bill 1045 in a conference committee last week. It was passed by the Senate unanimously Monday after the House approved it Friday. The bill replaces the existing program with a new angel investor income tax credit program, according to a fiscal note prepared by the Office of the State Tax Commissioner. Current law will continue to apply to investments made before July 1 in angel funds organized by that date. Sen. Dwight Cook, R-Mandan, who chairs the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee, said the bill adds new reporting requirements and makes the tax credit available only once an angel fund puts the money at risk in a company. It also adds penalties, he said. The bill came after lawmakers discovered what they saw as violations of the angel fund law, namely a prohibition on investing in real estate projects. Over the interim, we found numerous things that I think embarrassed us, Cook said. Angel fund tax credits became a campaign issue during the heated Republican primary race between Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Burgum. A Stenehjem campaign official at the time said Burgum, a co-founder a venture capital firm, was a poster child for out-of-state investments by angel funds. Burgum said at the time that angel funds incentives have room for improvement and he supported making adjustments to provide more focus on in-state investments. The bill lawmakers sent to Burgum this week provides a 35 percent credit for an investment in an in-state business and a 25 percent credit for investments in out-of-state companies. To maintain eligibility for the credit, at least half of the money an angel fund invests must be into in-state qualified businesses, according to the fiscal note. An angel fund investor is limited to a $45,000 credit in a year. Originally, the bill discontinued the angel fund credit and expanded another program, the seed capital credit. Cook said Tuesday there was effort from the good actors to save the angel fund program, and he said the governor showed his support for angel funds. Burgum doesnt generally comment on bills before they reach his desk. In a blow to Power and Adani Power, the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday disallowed any relief to them in the five-year-old contentious issue of compensation to their respective power plants. In an unexpected blow to Adani Power and Tata Power with respect to their power projects at Mundra, the Supreme Court set aside the appeal for compensatory tariff filed by the with the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL). While the Tata Power project has a capacity of 4,000 Mw, Adani Power's is 4.620 Mw. Domestic steel producers will continue to focus on exports on the back of increased competitiveness in the global market and fluctuating demand back home, representatives said. A section of petroleum dealers said they would shut their retail outlets every Sunday starting May 14. Many see this as a tactic to pressure government for higher commission. The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) on Monday asked members to shut shop on Sundays, in line with the prime minister's vision to reduce fuel consumption. The association claims to have more than 25,000 petrol pumps covering south and Maharashtra. All India Petroleum Dealers' Association came out in the public distancing itself from the decision. The move by CIPD comes at a time when the government is yet to take a call on raising dealer's commission. CIPD president A D Sathyanarayan told Business Standard that, except for emergency services like ambulance, fuel will not be available for other vehicles on Sundays. The association is also considering eight-hour working days from May. Distancing itself from the move, president of All India Petroleum Dealers' Association Ajay Bansal said, "This will create panic. The association that has called for such a move has presence in only Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. We are not supporting this decision, while we also have the same demands to increase (dealer's commission)." India has 56,190 fuel retail outlets, of which public sector majors like Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum have a combined network of 52,604 outlets. In 2015-16, the overall fuel demand zoomed to 183.5 million tonnes from 165.5 million tonnes in the previous financial year. While diesel consumption increased 7.5 per cent to 74.6 million tonnes, petrol use rose 14.5 per cent to 21.8 million tonnes. Around 3.5% of children between the ages of 11 and 14 years, and 13.5% between the ages of 15 and 16 years were dropouts, while over 25% of children in grades I to VIII were absent from school on the day a team visited the school. The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Bill was introduced on April 7 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill amends the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to address issues such as third party insurance, regulation of taxi aggregators, and road safety. The secretary-level dialogue between Pakistan and India on will be held either by the end of April or beginning of May in Washington, the Pakistani media reported on Tuesday. Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif on March 20 said the talks will be held for developing a consensus in the light of the treaty on the mechanism for resolution of "faulty designs" of 300 mw Kishenganga and 850 mw Ratle hydropower projects, The News International quoted a senior official as saying. Asif had said the secretary-level talks would take place in Washington from April 11-13 as proposed by the World Bank. He said Pakistan was prepared for the talks but India was not ready for the proposed dates. "And we are hopeful that belated talks will take place by the end of current month (April)," the official said. The official said the World Bank wanted both countries to develop a consensus either on mechanism of neutral expert or of court of arbitration mentioned in the treaty for the resolution of issues. A World Bank official would also be part of the meeting and try to persuade both the countries to reach consensus on any mechanisms or find the middle way. Pakistan wants the World Bank to constitute a court of arbitration to resolve the disputes, but India wants the solution through the mechanism of neutral experts. Congress MP on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for the death sentence on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, terming it an "assault" on international laws and conventions. "What Pakistan is doing is not only an assault on India, it is an assault on international laws, international conventions that affect everybody. "There are certain countries that finance and arm the Pakistani military. Those countries must be told by us that if this can be done to an Indian today, it can be done to one of their nationals tomorrow," Tharoor said in the Lok Sabha. "The extremely important thing for us is to uphold the principles. Thirteen times this gentleman was denied consular access, which is a basic right. "Geneva conventions have been violated by Pakistan... This is an extremely serious matter," he added. The opposition and the treasury benches in Parliament on Tuesday jointly expressed solidarity with Jadhav, who was awarded capital punishment by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial on Monday. India has warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it goes ahead with the death sentence. Amid an outrage in Parliament, India on Tuesday said it will go "out of way" to ensure justice to and warned Pakistan that his execution will have consequences on bilateral ties. The death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court after declaring him a "spy" resonated in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, where all parties came together to condemn the development and pressed the government to take every step to help him. The government, as well as the opposition, saw the sentence as an attempt to defame India and to deflect the attention of the international community from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in both the Houses, asserting that India will go "out of way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian". Jadhav's execution will be taken by India as a "pre-meditated murder" and Pakistan should consider its consequences on bilateral relations if it proceeds on this matter, Swaraj warned. She said the charges against Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, are "concocted" and the trial against him was "farcical", leading to an "indefensible verdict". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing a death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she said. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Questioning the trial, she said Pakistan had sought India's assistance to obtain evidence for its investigation and levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, Pakistan linked providing consular access to India's acceptance of its position and Indian response was constructive in the hope that some forward movement could be made, Swaraj said. "We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence", she said. "To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. "That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she asserted. In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, while expressing outrage over the development, said the Indian government should provide Jadhav with he best of the lawyers to ensure that the truth prevails. Responding to this, the External Affairs Minister said the government will not only ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan but will also take it up with the President of Pakistan. "Whatever is necessary, we will do. We will go out of the way...," she said, adding that Jadhav was now "not only the son of his parents, but is the son of India." Swaraj said the exact circumstances under which Jadhav reached Pakistan are unclear and can only be ascertained if India has consular access to him, which has been denied by the Pakistani authorities, she said. Such access is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations but the government of Pakistan did not permit it, she said. She also informed Parliament that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in the case. She said she has been in touch with Jadhav's parents and the government was extending its fullest support to them in this difficult situation. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. While condemning the action, Singh said that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, members cutting across party lines slammed Pakistan for awarding death sentence to Jadhav. Barbs were frequently exchanged between treasury and opposition benches on the issue with the latter blaming the government for not taking up the matter strongly. Leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge wondered why the government remained silent on the issue. His remarks attracted the ire of BJP members who said the government was condemning the incident. "Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue," Kharge said referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pakistan to attend the marriage of Nawaz Sharif's daughter in Lahore. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said "there should be no spat on the issue. We all are equally concerned about the fate of Jadhav." Kharge said while India granted access to Pakistan to visit Pathankot to gather evidence on terror strike, Islamabad denied counsellor access to Jadhav. Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) urged the government to use its influence for the release of the Indian citizen. Shashi Tharoor (Cong) asserted that the sentence was against the international norms. He said while India has always preferred not to internationalise its relations with Pakistan, it is time New Delhi tells the world that tomorrow one of their citizens can face a similar fate in Pakistan. N K Premchandran (RSP), Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) and Saugata Roy (AITC) expressed similar sentiments. Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday indirectly opposed the death sentence handed out to Indian for "spying", saying the issue is controversial but his party is against capital punishment "on principle". "The issue of Indian spy is controversial. He must not have been here in the first place," Bilawal told reporters. Recalling that his maternal grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was also sentenced to death, he said his party is against capital punishment on principle. PPP Punjab president and former federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the India's reaction on Jadhav's death sentence was "natural". "In fact Nawaz Sharif government has failed to tell the world about the charge sheet on Jadhav. Had India arrested such a Pakistani spy it would have propagated a lot in the world," he said. Pakistan's former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan said Jadhav can file a review appeal before the army chief or the Supreme Court against his sentence. "In case of rejection of his petition, he may file mercy plea before the President," he said, adding this is a long process and it may take more than two years. Pakistan sentenced Jadhav to death for carrying out espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Karachi, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said in a statement. According to ISPR, Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016, from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage actives" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. DEVILS LAKE -- Devils Lake leaders plan to offer the citys embattled police chief a severance package after an assessment of his leadership revealed his officers have no respect for him and his second-in-command. Chief Keith Schroeder made his case Monday during a special City Commission meeting to stay on as the head of the Devils Lake Police Department, saying he has developed strategies to address issues with his staff. But one city leader said it may be too little, too late. My research at the police department has led me to believe that there wouldnt be much of a police department if we let everyone come back, City Commissioner Ben Sander said. The commission unanimously voted to offer Schroeder a severance package, which could happen as soon as the next regular meeting on Monday. As soon as the package is offered, Schroeder has 21 days to accept it. Schroeder told the Herald he was disappointed in the decision of the city to offer a severance package, but he declined to comment on whether he would accept it. Dont want to call people liars The attempt to keep his position came after a human resource staffer with the city interviewed police employees, reporting low morale, lack of communication and poor leadership in the department. Schroeder, who has been the chief for seven years, and his second-in-command, Capt. Jon Barnett, were put on paid administrative leave last week as a result of the report. Barnett, who has been with the department for more than 30 years, did not speak at the meeting. City Attorney Tom Traynor said Barnett and his attorney are in negotiations with the city to resolve the issue, and a presentation on Barnetts behalf is expected at a later meeting. City commissioners asked if Schroeder would address the assessment in more detail, but he said he didnt want to point fingers. I dont want to call people liars, because they voiced what they felt, Schroeder said. Before the assessment was ordered, Schroeder came to the city to ask for help addressing issues within the department. He knew the assessment was coming and understood it could reveal negative comments from staff, but he said he had hoped to use the report to better the department. I was very upset at the statement that I didnt care for the officers because that is totally untrue, he said. Based on talks with Sgt. Jim Frank, who is heading the department in Schroeders absence, Schroeder claimed most of the officers would be OK with him coming back. Sander said he appreciated the chief's willingness to fix the issues, but Sander felt the officers he spoke with confirmed the reports findings. It sounded like some of the stuff had been going on for a while, Sander said. After drawing investment intents worth Rs 2.03 lakh crore at the 'Make in Odisha' conclave, Odisha government has set its eyes on speeding the pace of implementation of the projects. Despite being the favoured destination of investors, Odisha has drawn flak for its historically slow conversion rate of investments. After Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a phased ban on liquor on Monday, Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh on Tuesday said he would also introduce phased prohibition in his state. A cyber attack on Union Bank of India last July began after an employee opened an email attachment releasing malware that allowed hackers to steal the state-run bank's data, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Companies from India and Bangladesh on Monday signed pacts worth over $9 billion in New Delhi aimed at deepening partnership in sectors like power and oil and gas. Among the MoUs signed in the presence of visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a facility agreement between Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (BIFPCL) and Exim Bank of India for debt financing for construction of 1,320 mw Maitree Power Project in Rampal in Bangladesh ($1.6 bn). The MoUs include an implementation and power purchase agreement between Reliance Power and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources for the first phase (718 mw) of the 3,000 mw power project at Meghnaghat, entailing $1 billion (out of a total proposed investment of $3 billion). The agreement between NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) and Bangladesh Power Development Board for supply of power from Nepal envisaged an investment of $3.15 billion. The event also saw signing of pact between Adani Power (Jharkhand) and the Bangladesh Power Development Board entailing an investment of USD 2 billion and a power purchase agreement between Adani Power (Jharkhand) and Power Grid Company of Bangladesh. Besides, the MoUs signed include those on LNG terminal use between Petronet LNG, India and Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla), among others. The MoU-signing ceremony was organised by CII. India and Australia failed to make a headway in finalising the long-overdue free trade deal during Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's first visit to India though he got along well with his counterpart Narendra Modi, the media in Melbourne said on Tuesday. Turnbull's trip had raised high hopes of breathing new life into the stalled trade negotiations but the two leaders admitted that the progress was"very slow". Turnbull said there was no point in setting arbitrary time frames for the agreement. "You can sign an agreement anytime, it's a question of whether its got the provisions that make it valuable and worthwhile from Australia's point of view," Turnbull was quoted as saying by Skynews TV channel. The two covered a range of issues in their formal discussions yesterday including national security, counter-terrorism, education and energy and signed six agreements. The Australian newspaper wrote thatThe Prime Minister cooled hopes for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India by declaring "we've got to be realistic about the timing of the deal, given a history of Indian protection for farmers against agricultural imports". It noted that Australia was also pushing back India's proposals on the flow of temporary foreign workers to Australian projects. Last night, Turnbull had praised Modi for agreeing that progress on free trade deal was 'too slow' and that it should be resuscitated. ABC website said that Turnbull's comments reflect a change of attitude from his criticism of Indian protectionism ahead of his meeting with Modi. According to Sydney Morning Herald, Turnbull effectively declared Tony Abbott's dream of an express negotiation phase had been unrealistic, stating that a potentially lucrative free trade agreement with India was now on the backburner. It commented that the downbeat statement -something a reality check - accompanied hopes of increased Australian involvement in India's energy market due to increased exports of coal from Adani Mine as well as new exports of uranium, natural gas and renewable energy technology. India is Australia's tenth largest trading partner and our fifth-largest export market. Two-way goods and services trade between Australia and India totalled 18 billion dollars in 2014-15. Australian Financial Review (AFR) website said that Turnbull has used his Delhi visit to forge closer security ties and make Australia number one educator of Indian students. However, it noted that the prospects of sealing free trade deal were played down during Turnbull's visit. After coal, education is said to be Australia's profitable area of export to India. Turnbull said, "Our nations are bound together not just by centuries of history but by millions of people-to-people links." "The 60,000 Indians who studied in Australia last year, the Australian entrepreneurs and educators who are bringing their expertise and investment to India. And the half a million Indian-Australians who call Australia home - the fastest growing culture in our multicultural success story," he said. Turnbull was described as in his element' during his Delhi Metro ride along with Modi. The Narendra Modi governments new policy to deal with non-performing assets (NPAs) is likely to be centred around consortia of banks. It is planning a framework which will enable a consortium to deal more effectively with NPAs. The 17-year dispute over distribution of assets and liabilities between Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Uttarakhand, following the bifurcation in 2000 during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, is finally seeing light of day. Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy is on a goodwill visit to Malaysia from 11 to 15 April 2017. The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral maritime relations between India and Malaysia and is expected to provide a major boost to defence relations between India and Malaysia. . . During his visit, the Admiral will hold discussions with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Chief of Royal Malaysian Defence Forces along with the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force of Malaysia. . . The Indian and the Royal Malaysian navies cooperate with each other in terms of training, operational interactions as well as interacting at various multilateral forums like Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, MILAN and ADMM Plus. Warships from both navies visit each others ports to build Bridges of Friendship. The Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) along with RMN corvette KD Lekir participated in the International Fleet Review-2016, at Visakhapatnam in February 2016. . . An inaugural Field Training Exercise is also scheduled between both navies in June this year, coinciding with the visit of Indian naval ships to Malaysia. . . The Admiral, in addition to holding important bilateral discussions with various dignitaries, will also visit major naval establishments of the Royal Malaysian Navy including the submarine base. He will also address the participant Officers and faculty of the prestigious Royal Malaysian Armed Forces Command and Staff College. . . DKS/AC An agreement was made last March between India and a Russian company manufacturing Sukhoi planes, for the supply of spare parts. During Indo-Russia Military-Industrial Conference (March 17-18), 2017 held in New Delhi, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed agreements with Russian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and United Engine Corporation (UEC) for long-term support on after sales service of Su-30 MKI aircraft. . . The Agreement signed by HAL with Russian OEMs are for long-term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance for five years and do not cover any technology transfer. . . However, these agreements will enable HAL to procure the required spares based on the price catalogues directly from the OEMs, authorized by Federal Services on Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of Russian Federation for Su-30 MKI fleet and boost after sales service by reducing lead time in procurement of spares significantly. . . The steps taken by the Government towards creating conditions conducive for the Private industry to take an active role enhancing potential of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by indigenizing and broadening the Defence R&D base of the country inter-alia include the following:- . . A new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), 2016 has been promulgated by the Government to take effect from 01st April, 2016 whereby a new category of procurement Buy {Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)} which has been accorded topmost priority for procurement of Capital equipment. Besides this, preference has been accorded to Buy (Indian) and Buy & Make (Indian) categories of capital acquisition over Buy (Global) and Buy & Make (Global) categories. The Make Procedure has been simplified with provisions for funding of 90% of development cost by the Government to Indian industry and reserving projects not exceeding development cost of Rs. 10 Crore (Government funded) and Rs. 3 Crore (Industry funded) for MSMEs. . . FDI Policy has been revised. FDI up to 49% is allowed through automatic route and beyond 49% under Government approval route wherever it is likely to result in excess to modern technology or for other reasons to be recorded. . . Indian licensing regime for Indian manufacturers has been liberalized and most of the components/ parts/ sub-systems have been taken out from the list of Defence products requiring industrial license which has resulted in reduction in the entry barriers for new entrants in this sector particularly SMEs. The initial validity of industrial license has been increased from 3 years to 15 years with a provision to further extend it by 3 years on a case to case basis. . . Issues related to level playing field between Indian and foreign manufacturers and between Public sector & Private sector have also been addressed. These include Exchange Rate Variation (ERV) protection for Indian vendors removing anomalies in Customs/Excise duties etc. . . Offset guidelines have been made flexible by allowing change of Indian Offset Partners (IOPs) and Offset components even in signed contracts. Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are now not required to indicate the details of IOPs and products at the time of signing of contracts. Services as an avenue of offset have been re-instated. . . The process for export clearance has been streamlined and made transparent and online. . . A total number of 485 lines have been identified for Transfer of Technology (ToT) to support Su-30 MKI fleet. Towards this, 20 Indian vendors have been introduced to the Russian OEMs to find out the feasibility of ToT in the fields desired by Indian vendors. Russian side has been requested to consider permission to identified OEMs to establish Joint Ventures (JVs) or any other means of localization with Indian Private industry partners for manufacture of spare parts through ToT. . . This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Ch. Sukhram Singh Yadav and others in Rajya Sabha today. . . MKT/Rajib ? Coast Guards Measures to protect Fishermen There have been no report about killing of any Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy during the last three years. However, there are reports about an incident of firing in Palk Bay at around 2230 hrs on 06.03.2017, in which a fishing vessel from Tamil Nadu was fired upon allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, leading to death of an Indian fishermen. The Government of Sri Lanka has denied the involvement of their Navy in the firing incident. In a media statement, the Sri Lanka Navy has pointed out that their patrol boats are not authorized to open fire at any point on Indian fishermen transgressing into the Sri Lankan waters. Government attaches highest importance to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. Indian Coast Guard provides assistance to Indian fishermen at sea while they are in distress through regular patrolling. It also conducts community Interaction Programmes to educate fishermen among other issues, on the perils of cross border fishing. For better accessibility, the Coast Guard has provided a toll free telephone number 1554 for search and rescue assistance to fishermen at sea. Under operation Tasha, Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships are deployed in Palk Bay area to prevent any illegal activity and also to protect the Indian fishermen from any attack, while they are fishing in Indian waters. Indian Coast Guard have also distributed a total of 1,853 Distress Alert Transmitters (DATs) free of cost to fishermen in the coastal states of India which provide the location of a distressed fisherman to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Chennai. Whenever any such incident of attack and consequent detention of our fishermen by the Sri Lankan authorities are reported, Government through diplomatic channels, immediately takes up the matter with the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that the Sri Lankan authorities act with restraint and our fishermen are treated in a humane manner and are released expeditiously. This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri D Raja in Rajya Sabha today. MKT/Rajib Committee on Digital Payments Pursuant to the Government initiative to promote digital payments, NITI Aayog vide order dated on 30th November 2016 constituted a Committee of Chief Ministers with Shri Chandra Babu Naidu, Honble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh as the Convener for suggesting measures to seamlessly enable all sections of the population to migrate to the digital mode of payment as well as to recommend measures that would enable India to leapfrog into the advanced digital payment systems that compares with the best global standards. The Committee is composed of the following members: 1 Shri Chandrababu Naidu, Honble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh - Convener 2 Shri Naveen Patnaik, Honble Chief Minister of Odisha - Member 3 Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Honble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Member 4 Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling, Honble Chief Minister of Sikkim - Member 5 Shri V. Narayanasamy, Honble Chief Minister of Puducherry Member 6 Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honble Chief Minister of Maharashtra - Member 7 Shri Arvind Panagariya, Vice- Chairman, NITI Aayog - Member 8 Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog - Member Secretary 9 Shri Nandan Nilekani, former Chairman, UIDAI - Special invitee 10 Shri Janmejaya Sinha, Chairman, Boston Consulting Group - Special invitee 11 Shri Rajesh Jain, Managing Director, netCORE - Special invitee 12 Shri Sharad Sharma, Co-founder, iSPIRIT - Special invitee 13 Dr. Jayant Varma, Professor (Finance), IIM (Ahmedabad) - Special invitee The Terms of Reference of the Committee are as under: (i) The Committee shall identify the global best practices for implementing an economy primarily based on digital payment and examine the possibility of adoption of these global standards in the Indian context; (ii) The Committee shall identify and outline measures for rapid expansion and adoption of the system of digital payments like cards (Debit, Credit and pre-paid), Digital-wallets/ E-wallets, internet banking, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), banking apps etc. and shall broadly indicate the road map to be implemented in one year; (iii) It shall evolve an action plan to reach out to the public at large with the objective to create awareness and help them understand the benefits of such a switchover to digital economy; (iv) It shall prepare a roadmap for the administrative machineries in the States to facilitate adoption of digital modes of financial transactions; (v) Identify and address bottlenecks and indicate solutions pertaining to adoption of the steps required to move towards a digital payments economy; (vi) Associate the key stakeholders for implementation of the suggested steps towards a digital payments economy; (vii) Delineate and adopt measures evolved by the Committee of Officers constituted for the purpose; (viii) Examine and address any other associated issues which are not specifically mentioned herein. The Committee may devise its own procedures for conducting business/ meetings/ constitution of sub-groups, etc. The Committee of Chief Ministers submitted its interim report to Honble Prime Minister on 24th January 2017. The committee made recommendations on (i) Setting up of target and monitoring mechanism; (ii) Expanding technical infrastructure for digital payments; (iii) Increasing supply of acceptance infrastructure; (iv) Necessary institutional, policy, regulatory changes to ease adoption of digital payment; (v) Incentivize digital transactions; (vi) Strengthening security in digital payments and (vii) Targeting specific segments for quick results. The Report of the Committee is available on the website address http://niti.gov.in/content/interim-report-committee-cms-digital-payments. This was stated by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. Conference on Digitization of Railway Supply Chain Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurated the Conference on "Digitization of Railway Supply Chain - A Leap forward in Ease of Doing Business" organized by Ministry of Railways in association with The Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) and Indian Railway Institute of Material Management (IRLMM)Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A. K. Mital and other Railway Board Members and senior officials of Railway Board and representatives from ASSOCHAM were also present on the occasion.While speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that Indian Railways is also heading towards Digital Age. He also said that Ministry of Railways is working on Enterprise Resource Programme - a software which shall benefit Railways immensely. In the procurements, transparency has to be maintained throughout the process and ensure participation of everyone. While inaugurating Pan India Digitization of Railway Supply Chain, he stressed on optimum asset utilization and laid focus on framing tech specifications of all rly items for real time benefit of vendors as well as Indian Railways.Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu also added that Indian Railway is trendsetter among ministries to start E-Procurement in the year 2005-06. Digitisation of Railway Supply Chain is a Leap Forward in Ease of Doing Business & Transparency. Integrated Materials Management System is helpful in Optimum Asset Utilization, Efficiency in transaction, reducing cost of Doing Business. Integrated Materials Management System would eliminate barriers by Supply Chain Digitisation. He also said that Indian Railways has taken initiatives in E-tender, E-auction, E-procurements, E-scrap. Shri Sunil Kanoria, President ASSOCHAM said that ASSOCHAM feels proud to be partner in organizing Digitization of Railway Supply Chain- A leap forward in Ease of Doing Business & Transparency. World class infrastructure is the key to a globally competitive economy and Indias objective of sustained double digit growth can only be achieved through a quantum growth in the infrastructure sector. As the backbone of transport infrastructure in the country, Indian Railways has stepped up their efforts to meet the growing needs of the economy. Indian Railways is poised to become the worlds biggest potential market for the introduction of modern state-of-the-art technologies and solutions for optimally harnessing the existing resources and deploying new technology solutions. Requests have been received in Ministry of Home Affairs from the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal for waiving off cost of deployment charges towards deployment of CAPFs in their States. As per the extant policy of Government of India, the States are required to bear the cost of deployment of Central Armed Police Forces in their states at the prescribed rates. The requests have been examined but not agreed to in view of the extant policy of the Government of India. . . Two requests were received from the State Government of Andhra Pradesh vide letters dated 28.5.2014 and 24.6.2016 for waiving off of Rs.1003.61 crore and Rs. 50.76 crore respectively which have not been agreed to in view of the extant policy of the Government of India. . . This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to question by Smt. Rita Tarai and Shri M.Murali Mohan in the Lok Sabha today. . . Joint Feasibility Study on the Free Trade Agreement between India and Georgia A high level delegation led by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mr. GiorgiGakharia called on the Commerce & Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharamantoday on 11th April 2017.On this occasion both the ministers recognized the importance to further promote economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries. With the objective to create favourable conditions for more comprehensive economic cooperation, a Joint Statement on the launching of the Joint Feasibility Study on the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of India, and Georgia was signed today by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mr. GiorgiGakharia and Commerce & Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.Upon the completion of the Joint Feasibility Study the Republic of India and Georgia may proceed to negotiations on an FTA once the internal procedures are completed and the mandates on negotiations are approved. In this regard, the Joint Feasibility Study Group consisting of the officials of the two countries has been established. Joint Secretary, Foreign Trade (CIS), Department of Commerce, Government of India and Mr. GenadiArveladze Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia would be the leaders, respectivelyof Indian and Georgian side. The purpose of establishing the Joint Feasibility Study Group is to provide an opportunity for more in-depth and systematic examination of potential FTA. The Joint Feasibility Study Group shall discuss the possible scope of a potential FTA and analyse the sensitiveness of specific sectors, while recommending possible ways to address them. Both the ministers expressed the hope that the Joint Feasibility Study Group shall issue a report with the relevant analysis and recommendations within a period of six months. India is having positive trade balance with Georgia. In 2015-2016 the total export from India to Georgia was US$ 82.57 million and import from Georgia was US$ 24.47 million. During the period April -February 2016-2017 Indias export to Georgia stood at about US$ 83 million as compared to US$ 73 million April-February 2015-2016 and import from Georgia stood at US$ 28 million as compared to US$ 24 million in April-February, 2015-2016. Both the countries expressed their confidence that the Joint Feasibility Study will further contribute to the mutually beneficial cooperation of the partners and bring it to a new level. Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, and Mines, Shri Piyush Goyal, while presiding over the launch of URJA MITRA App and inauguration of the Rural Feeder Monitoring Scheme here today, said that the Government is engaged in preparing the Nation to truly get 24x7 affordable, quality and uninterrupted adequate power. . . Shri Goyal noted that Power today, comes from information sharing and not by withholding it. URJA MITRA empowers citizens by real time information sharing on power supply." He further added that the app is a first of its kind application which provides a central platform, Web-Portal (www.urjamitra.com) as well as Mobile App (iOS version and android version), for State Power Distribution utilities to disseminate power outage information to urban/rural power consumers across India through SMS/email/push notifications. Nevertheless, Shri Goyal directed the Ministry officials to strive harder and ensure that progressively the need to send messages for power outages should decline to zero, thereby ensuring uninterrupted 24x7 power for all. . . The Minister also informed that power consumers across the nation would have prior intimation of expected duration and cause of scheduled power outages and post fault intimation of unscheduled power outages duration. Consumer can also view real time power outages in any part of the country, lodge a complaint on power outages in its area. Complaints can also be lodged on helpline number 1912. Empowerment of all section of society has been ensured by providing vernacular mobile apps. Field staff can trigger power outage and take corrective action on outage complaints etc, he added. . . Commenting on the utility of Urja Mitra App, Shri Goyal said that this will be the life changing for millions of people in this country. I would like to urge all the states to join in this excellent initiative to be a part of this effort so that anywhere in the country, if there is a problem of power outage, the people know about it in advance and present scenario. It will help save many lives in hospitals, help people better plan their lives like study schedules, daily household chores etc.", the minister added. . . Speaking on the Rural Feeder Monitoring Scheme, Shri Goyal informed that the Government has launched Rural Feeder Monitoring Scheme to monitor the quantity and quality parameters of power supply in rural areas of the country. The entire data shall also be hosted on National Power Portal (NPP) on real time basis and may be accessed by various stake holders through web services. The Minister informed that the Government has set December 2017 as the deadline to achieve 100% rural feeder monitoring by installing additional meters and modems on all feeders across the country, in order to facilitate real time communication of faults appearing in the power supply. Further, these meters would be geo-tagged to pin point the cause and location of the fault and address it at the earliest, he added. . . Shri Goyal also announced that on 14th April 2017, birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Uttar Pradesh will be executing Power for All document with the Government of India. Uttar Pradesh will become the last state to join Power for All initiative, he added. . . Interacting with the audience, Shri P.K. Pujari, Secretary, Ministry of Power, said that the app is a milestone and it will bring pressure on the system to improve itself. It is a proactive Citizen-Government Connect that will bring in transparency, accountability in the power supply system in the country. Shri Pujari said that already 8 crore consumers have joined on the Urja Mitra app which have resulted in their empowerment. It is expected that all power consumers in the country to make use of the app and get empowered, he added. . . Addressing the gathering, Shri Arun Kumar Verma, Joint Secretary, Power, said that approximately seventy percent of the population resides in rural India. In order to ensure quality of life in rural India, it is of paramount importance to improve the quality and availability of power supply as it has direct relation with quality of life and socio economic upliftment of all sections of society. In order to get a complete picture of the entire power distribution network in rural part of the country, it is essential to capture real time power supply parameters of rural India. . . Also present on the occasion were Smt. Shalini Prasad, Additional Secretary, Power, Shri Ajay Jain, Principal Secretary (Energy), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Shri R.K. Verma, Chairperson, CEA and other senior officials of the Ministry and State Power Departments of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. . . Prime Minister of Australia calls on President HE the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, MP the Prime Minister of Australia called on President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at RashtrapatiBhavan yesterday (April 10, 2017). Welcoming the Australian Prime Minister to India, the President said India values its growing cooperation with Australia. Bilateral relations between India and Australia have become multi-faceted and grown considerably in the last few years. Our fruitful cooperation in multilateral fora reflects the growing mutual understanding and closer cooperation between the two countries. The President said it is a matter of satisfaction that our people have a regular dialogue on the challenges of terrorism. India has been consistent in its position that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations needs to be rooted out by urgent and comprehensive action by peace loving nations in all parts of the world. The President said India could be an attractive option for long term investment. The Make in India Conference and Invest in India Conference programmes have been designed for enhancing economic cooperation and investments. The President said India is keen to ramp up the nuclear energy component of our total energy mix plans as part of our efforts to enhance the use of clean energy and save fossil fuels. India sees a key role for Australian uranium supplies in this process. India appreciates Australias efforts in this direction. The President said there are more than 60,000 Indian students studying in Australia. There is huge potential for cooperation in the education sector. Our institutional frameworks have the potential to broaden bilateral cooperation in this sector. Revenue Secretary, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia to leave on a four day visit to North East to review the preparedness of the North Eastern Region for GST The Revenue Secretary, Government of India, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia will leave on a four day visit to North East on Thursday, 13th April, 2017 in order to review the preparedness of the North East Region for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which is estimated to be rolled-out from 1st July, 2017. This will be the First visit of the Revenue Secretary of this region after passing-out of GST related legislations by the Parliament. On the first leg of his North East visit, the Revenue Secretary Dr Adhia will arrive in Guwahati on 13th April, 2017 wherein he will review the preparedness of the State of Assam for GST. During his one day stay in Guwahati, the Revenue Secretary will hold meeting with the State Finance Minister Shri Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma and the State Government officials and will review the IT and telecom preparedness in particular of the State Government for GST among others. Later, he will hold Meeting with the representatives of trade, industry and business wherein he is expected to explain in detail about the various issues concerning GST and its related legislations among others. This will help in removing their doubts and confusion, if any, with regard to GST and in creating a conducive environment for smooth implementation of GST. In the evening on 13th April, 2017, the Revenue Secretary Dr Adhia will have an interaction with the media persons of the region. The Revenue Secretary, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia will leave for Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, 14th April, 2017. Dr Adhia will review the preparedness of Arunachal Pradesh for GST, including IT and telecom preparedness among others, on 15th April, 2017. Virtual Currencies Reserve Bank of India, vide, its Press Release dated February 01, 2017 has advised that it has not given any license / authorization to any entity / company to operate schemes or to deal with Bitcoin or any virtual currency. As such, any user, holder, investor, trader, etc. dealing with Virtual Currencies will be doing so at their own risk. Reserve Bank of India had issued cautionary advice to the users, holders and traders of Virtual Currencies (VCs) including Bitcoins about the potential financial, operational, legal, customer protection and security related risks that they are exposing themselves to , vide, its press release dated December 24, 2013. The creation, trading or usage of VCs including Bitcoins, as a medium of payment is not authorized by any central bank or monetary authority. No regulatory approval, registration or authorisation have been obtained by the entities concerned for carrying on such activities. The absence of counter parties in the usage of VCs including Bitcoins, for illicit and illegal activities in anonymous/ pseudonymous systems could subject the users to unintentional breaches of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) laws. This was stated by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. After a 25-year break, fractious Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan and have re-established regular connecting flights, a spokeswoman at Tajikistan's airport told AFP Tuesday, paving the way for improved relations. "An airways flight (from Tashkent) landed at Dushanbe airport at 8:03 am (0303 GMT)," the airport spokeswoman told AFP by telephone. "The plane and the passengers were very well met." Doubts were cast over an apparent rapprochement between the two countries that have a traditionally fraught relationship when a long-awaited flight from Dushanbe to Tashkent was abruptly cancelled in February. first banned flights from Tajikistan in 1992 after the outbreak of civil war in its smaller neighbour to the east. The ban remained in place after the war's end, as long- reigning autocrats Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan regularly clashed over water and other issues. Karimov was buried in his native city of Samarkand after a suspected stroke in September last year and successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev has moved to smooth ties with neighbours in the majority-Muslim ex-Soviet region. Toshiba and the Japanese government want to sell the companys semiconductor business to a domestic buyer, but foreign bidders are proving more determined and aggressive as the auction heads toward a final decision in the coming weeks. President Donald Trump's decision to launch missiles into Syria risked raising tensions with Iran, a key backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad in a conflict with dangerously blurry battle lines. Tehran has condemned the missile attack on the Shayrat airfield, and officials have raised the possibility of consequences. The friction underscores a challenge for Washington, which has long supported opposition groups fighting Assad and his Iranian allies without joining the fray itself. Deeper US involvement in Syria means greater chances of direct conflict with an often unpredictable and aggressive Iranian foe. Retaliatory measures by Iran could have ripple effects in the region, targeting everything from US Navy warships to US- allied Arab governments. Iran could also use Hezbollah and other Shiite militias to hit American forces fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, or attack the many US allies in the region. The US cruise missile strikes, launched as punishment for a Syrian chemical attack that killed more than 80 people, could also prompt Iran to boost Revolutionary Guard forces fighting alongside Assad's government. Before Thursday's attack, the US took the standard measures to prevent an inadvertent strike on Russia's military, another Assad ally. No such "deconfliction" agreement exists with Iran's military and paramilitary, meaning there was no way to prevent its personnel from being in the wrong place at the wrong time during the missile attack. There is no sign Tehran has retaliated against the US American forces have not had any "unsafe" or "unprofessional interactions with Iranian maritime forces" since the strike, said Cmdr. Bill Urban, spokesman for the US Navy's Bahrain- based 5th Fleet. On Sunday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the US strike on the base was a "strategic mistake and offense." And one prominent Iranian lawmaker threatened consequences. "Russia and Iran won't be quiet against such acts which violate interests of the region," said Allaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of the parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy. The US has taken great pains in recent years to work around Iranian fighters in Iraq and Syria as it battles the Islamic State group. That has partly reflected an effort to safeguard a landmark nuclear agreement, and to avoid another American conflagration in the Middle East. Naval forces from the elite Guard keep close tabs on American ship movements in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world's oil trade navigates. In February, several armed Revolutionary Guard speedboats approached and filmed a US aircraft carrier entering the Gulf. Hezbollah has long threatened US interests in the region, including Israel's security. But Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Washington-based consultancy Gulf State Analytics, expected a wait-and-see approach from Iran. "My gut tells me if this is a one-off operation," Cafiero said of the US cruise missiles, "we will likely see a relatively calm and measured response from Iran and its Shiite proxies. Stores Inc is eliminating more corporate jobs this month, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The latest round of job cuts will involve "hundreds" of positions in Wal-Mart's and technology businesses along with its warehouse chain, Sam's Club, according to the report. Wal-Mart's job cuts started in 2016 when the retailer said it was eliminating 7,000 back office positions and moving more of its workforce to the sales floor. Earlier this year, cut 1,200 corporate jobs mostly in human resources even as it continued to invest in its e-commerce operations. did not immediately respond to a Reuters request seeking comment. The Syrian people and their Muslim brothers and sisters have been screaming for help for years as crimes against humanity racked up against them and their kin. Yet the West has so far refused to intervene directly and decisively, even as the conflict deepened to the point of catastrophe. But by launching tomahawk missiles on a Syrian government air base, Donald Trump has now made it clear that this policy is at an end. IT stocks are a good buy only as long term investment, says Kishor Ostwal, CMD, CNI Research in an interview with Pranati Deva. He also added he sees Nifty reaching 9,600-mark by the end of 2017. Edited excerpts General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR), central know-your- customer (KYC) norms, and easing of compliance requirements will be some of the talking points between Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairman and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) when they meet on Wednesday (April 12). The death sentence handed out to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan has left Indians angered. While Members of Parliament condemned Pakistan for awarding a 'biased' death sentence to Jadhav, common Indians hit the streets in many cities to condemn Pakistan and extend support to Jadhav. A Pakistan military court on Monday awarded a death sentence to Jadhav on the charges of spying and fomenting unrest in Balochistan. Several protestors on Tuesday assembled near the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to express their solidarity with Jadhav. Delhi police took some of the protestors into their custody as they moved towards the Pakistan High Commission raising anti-Pakistan slogans and demanding safe release of Jadhav. A Childhood friend of Jadhav, Tulsidas Pawar, has started a signature campaign in Mumbai to get him freed from the clutches of Pakistan. He told ANI, "When a case was fabricated against Jadhav then we had requested the Indian government to take a tough stance on the matter but that didn't happen." He was happy that now the government is taking this matter very seriously. "Jadhav always wanted to serve the country and was very happy when he got job with the Indian Navy," said Pawar. Meanwhile, support for Jadhav is building up across India. The youth wing of the Lok Janshakti Party also staged a protest in Patna against Pakistan in support of Jadhav. Similar protests were reported from Mumbai and Nagpur in Maharashtra, Hyderabad in Telangana, Moradabad in UP, Ludhiana in Punjab, Kolkata in West Bengal and other cities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Balochistan activists on Tuesday joined India to condemn Pakistan for awarding death sentence to former Indian naval officer and alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. Speaking to ANI, Baloch Republican Party representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Abdul Nawaz Bugti said the act was a part of Paksitan's propaganda activity to accuse Jadhav of being involved in espionage in Balochistan. "We condemn the death sentence awarded by the Pakistani military to Indian citizen Kulbhushan Yadav," Bugti said. "We would also like to clarify that it is sheer propaganda by the Pakistani state and Pakistani military to accuse of Jadhav of being involved in espionage and other illegal activities in Balochistan," he added. Bugti further said that Jadhav, who was abducted from Iran and later appeared in Pakistan, was made to confess by security agencies that he was backing Baloch freedom. "We believe India should do whatever it takes to secure the lives of it citizens and we believe that support for the Baloch freedom struggle should not be conditioned to a particular incident such as the case of Jadhav," he added. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday triggering tension between India and Pakistan. Observers and experts on criminal or espionage-related laws in a majority of countries have suggested that the death sentence against Jadhav is a clear violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention that makes it mandatory for every government to provide consular access to an arrested foreign national by officials of his/her government. German Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Gunter Mulack, while speaking at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs within a month of Jadhav's arrest last year, informed the gathering that the Indian had been actually caught by the Taliban in Iran and sold to Pakistani intelligence. The Amnesty International on Monday slammed Pakistan over the death sentence given to Jadhav by the military court and asserted that Islamabad had violated international fair trial safeguards in issuing the statement. Jadhav was not tried and sentenced by an ordinary Pakistani court but by a military court more than a year after his arrest in Balochistan on charges of espionage and sabotage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Condemning the murder of an RTI activist from Pune, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has demanded the Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to monitor the ongoing police investigation and also asked the Maharashtra's State Information Commission to disclose all information sought by the RTI activist. The RTI activist Suhas Haldankar was battered to death with cement blocks allegedly by a group of 11 persons, including a former corporator in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area of Pune on April 2. This was the second instance of murder of an RTI activist in Maharashtra in 2017 and the third under the present State government. The CHRI welcomed the prompt action of the police in apprehending some of the alleged murderers of Haldankar and demanded that they diligently work to arrest the remaining perpetrators of this crime including conspirators, if any, and gather all evidence necessary to prosecute the accused. "The NHRC should monitor the police investigation closely to unearth any conspiracies that might have been hatched," said Sanjoy Hazarika, CHRI Director. The CHRI also asked the Maharashtra State Information Commission to call for all pending RTI applications filed by Haldankar before public authorities in Pimpri Chinchwad and directed them to proactively disclose all information in accordance with the RTI Act and put in the public domain. Using RTI, Haldankar had exposed several irregularities in the provision of civic amenities by the local municipal corporation. The alleged murder is said to have occurred when both inducements and threats from local politicians failed to curb his activism. With 16 such incidents reported since 2010 (including the latest case), Maharashtra tops the list of States with the highest number of citizens murdered for using RTI to demand transparency and accountability in governance. A total of 66 RTI activists have been killed nationwide since the Act came into place in 2005. Thirty-four RTI activists in Maharashtra have fortunately survived physical assaults while at least 38 other incidents of harassment or threats to RTI activists have been reported in the media since October, 2005. On International Human Rights Day last December, CHRI had launched its online Hall of Shame which documents attacks on RTI activists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday presented the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) Awards at the 8th Public Sector Day function asserting that Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) will do well in future and will also meet new challenges. Speaking on the occasion, the President said celebrating this day was an acknowledgement of the invaluable contribution made by our CPSEs since independence when PSEs had been chosen as the vehicle of industrialisation in our country. CPSEs will continue to do well in the future and meet new challenges. He said that he was a firm believer in the continued relevance and importance of the Public Sector in our economy. The President said that in our country we started with only five PSEs with an investment of Rs. 29 crore. However, their growth over the years is very substantial. Their overall net profit increased by 12.5 percent during 2015-16. This is substantial since they have continued to perform well despite the fact that the global fiscal and economic scenario and industrial climate is not very encouraging. He said that India is a fast growing economy and many more glorious chapters will be added to the credit of PSEs in the future too. The President said that he had been associated with SCOPE functions on many occasions. He also congratulated the awardees and wished them further success. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Anant G Geete, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises; Babul Supriyo, Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Seema Bahuguna, Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises and Ved Prakash, Chairman, SCOPE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dubbing Pakistan's announcement of death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav as a 'heinous' act, the Defence Experts on Tuesday said Islamabad is thick-skinned. Speaking to ANI, Defence Expert Ranjeet Rai said Pakistan has denied consular access to India in many such cases, which is a right given to any country under the Geneva Convention article 36 (c) 1. Rai further said the Pakistan military has taken advantage of the statement made by the Home Minister of Balochistan saying that Jadhav created war against Balochistan and have now put him under a death sentence. Rai said after coming to know that Jadhav is an ex-naval officer and had worked in intelligence, Pakistan used this ploy to act against him. "It is a very heinous act by Pakistan. Actually, Pakistan doesn't believe in any international convention.The Home Minister of Balochistan, last year in March said, he (Jadhav) has created war against Balochistan. Now, the military has taken advantage of that very wrongly and tried him under the Army Act, Official Secrets Act and put a death sentence on him without telling the Indian High Commission to come and see the trial. Pakistan is thick-skinned. Pakistan does this with its military and ISI against India, including terrorism," Rai added. Resonating similar views, another Defence Expert Praful Bakshi called out to Indian authorities to take swift action regarding the same. He said it should be confirmed whether complete judicial guarantees were accorded to Jadhav during his trial. Bakshi also suggested approaching the International Court of Justice regarding the matter. "The Pakistan Military Accord has held Kulbhushan Jadhav as a criminal and handed him over a death sentence. The Committee of the Nations, right thinking people have to find out whether complete judicial guarantees were accorded to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Even if it is a military court in any country, the person who has been accused is given full rights to defend himself. So, we have to find out this. India has to raise this. Perhaps, the Foreign Minister has to make a straight call to his counterpart in Pakistan. The Pakistan Army behaves quite independently in these matters," Bakshi told ANI. Earlier today, the Pakistan Military sentenced Jadhav to death, its media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. "The spy was tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Today Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," the ISPR said. Strongly reacting to this, India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court. The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. Earlier in March 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the former Indian naval officer was arrested by Pakistan for allegedly engaging in subversive activities was possibly kidnapped from Iran and denied any possibilities of him being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following the cancellation of the by-polls in Chennai's R.K. Nagar constituency, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday asserted that the Election Commission (EC) of India should also cancel elections in Kashmir for at least two years. "With the ruckus that is happening in Kashmir, Election Commission (EC) of India should cancel the elections for at least two years so that peace prevails and violence issues are sorted out," Swamy told ANI. Swamy further said the government should send 10,000 soldiers to reside in Kashmir so that law and order is maintained in the state. "To maintain peace and serenity in Kashmir the government should send 10,000 soldiers with lots of arms, ammunitions and money, so that they can reside and maintain law and order in the state," Swamy said. Srinagar reported a poor 6.5 percent voter turnout during the by-polls for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency as intense clashes were witnessed between the youth and security forces. Violence was reported from Budgam area in central Kashmir, which is a part of the three districts - Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal - voting in the elections. Reports suggest that polling stations were attacked and the EVMs were broken at many places. Severe clashes were reported from Delwan and Chadoora areas where two people lost their lives. Locals said a group of boys tried to attack a polling station, but the security forces opened fire resulting in the two casualties. Three others were also injured in the incident. A similar incident was reported in Beerwah area where another person lost his life during the clashes. The violence affected the overall voting percentage. Earlier this week, at least three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter in Arwani area of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag on Thursday. The combing operation is currently underway. The Railway authorities earlier in the day suspended train services from Budgam-Banihal due to the encounter. Fresh exchange of fire started between terrorists and security forces in south Kashmir's Anantnag district in the early morning hours. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Commenting on the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, former foreign minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Tuesday said that even Pakistanis were being tried by military courts. "Even Pakistanis are being tried by military courts," Kasuri told media here. Kasuri, who was in Delhi for 'Improving Indo-Pak Relations' programme, further said India and Pakistan needed to cooperate with each other, "so that in the rivalry between U.S. and Russia, we don't end up being losers." Earlier in the day, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit categorically said that Jadhav was indeed a terrorist. "It's a proven fact that India carries out terrorist-driven activities in Pakistan. And when a terrorist himself has accepted he was a spy, the Indian Government is having issues. We haven't done anything wrong in giving the sentence to Jadhav. He should meet his fate," Samaa TV quoted Basit, as saying. Basit was yesterday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. India also issued a demarche against Pakistani military court for awarding death sentence to Jadhav. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Jadhav was the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter was clear, Swaraj said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she added while expressing her concern on this issue in the Rajya Sabha. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday triggering tension between India and Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Pakistan minister of foreign affairs Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Tuesday evaded questions on the burning issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav's sentencing. "I have come for a certain purpose and I will not speak about it," Kasuri said on the sidelines of an event in the capital. Kasuri said that he had come to speak on Pakistan-India relations despite the fact that conditions between the two countries are not good. "I have come here despite the fact that conditions between the two countries are not good particularly Kashmir valley in view, my views are quite clear and I'm not going to be distracted," he added. India had summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche against Pakistani military court for awarding death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhsuan Jadhav. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court. The Ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. "The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. Senior Pakistani figures have themselves cast doubt about the adequacy of the evidence," an official release stated. With a united opposition raising the issue of death sentence given to alleged Indian spy by the military court in Pakistan, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday assured the Lok Sabha that the Centre would do everything possible to ensure that the former gets justice. Condemning the death sentence, Singh told the Lower House that how Jadhav can be a spy when he had a valid Indian visa. He also took on Pakistan for denying consular access to Jadhav. "Basic norms of law and justice were violated. I want to tell the House that the government will do whatever it takes to make sure gets justice," Singh said. "Countries that finance Pakistan should realise that Pakistan can do this to them too," he added while hinting at the United States. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj slammed the death sentence as "an indefensible verdict" and warned Pakistan to "consider the consequences" of the case on its relations with India. On the other hand, the Congress warned the Centre that if Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan then it's a murder. "If Pakistan hangs then it is murder. The government will be seen as weak if it cannot free him," said Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been awarded a death sentence by a Pakistani military court martial on concocted charges, is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter is clear, Swaraj said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she added while expressing her concern on this issue in the Rajya Sabha. Swaraj said that Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. "The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him. Accordingly, from the time his abduction was known, our High Commission in Islamabad has continuously pressed Pakistani authorities for such access. Although this is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations, the Government of Pakistan did not permit it. That itself should tell us much about the strength of the case against Shri Jadhav. Hon'ble Members would also recall that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in this case," said Swaraj. Stating that the Pakistan Government sought India's assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process, she informed that in doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. "Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position. Nevertheless, in the hope that some forward movement could be made, our response was constructive. We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan," said Swaraj. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence. To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she added. The External Affairs Minister further said Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed India's position to Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit yesterday. "Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," said Swaraj. "I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Shri Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time," she added. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. Basit was yesterday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to two of the accused in the death case of engineering student Jishnu Pranoy. Earleir on Sunday, Pranoy's mother Mahija and other family members called off their indefinite hunger strike following assurances from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to deal with the matter. Pinarayi had earlier this week said that stern action will be taken if there is any lapse on part of the police. Mahija and her relatives went on strike seeking the speedy arrest of all the accused and action against the police who allegedly manhandled them during a protest in front of the police headquaters in Thiruvananthapuram last week. Pranoy had committed suicide following harassment by the college authorities. On April 5, Pranoy's mother was roughed up and arrested as she was protesting outside the office of the Directorate General of Police (DGP) demanding the arrest of those who all are responsible for her son's death. The DGP soon called for a thorough investigation. Pranoy's body was found hanging in the Nehru College of Engineering premises at Pambadi in Kerala. Initially, the college authorities said he had committed suicide out of shame as he was caught while cheating during the exams, a claim which was later proved wrong as the authorities could not find any evidence of cheating. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Governor Palanisamy Sathasivam on Tuesday signed an ordinance that makes it mandatory in all schools across the state including CBSE, ICSE, self-financing, aided, un-aided and government schools to teach Malayalam. Earlier in the week, the government, in a cabinet meeting said it plans to frame a law to make it mandatory to teach Malayalam in all schools till higher secondary classes. And any school or teacher who disobeys the provision will have to face the legal consequences. The cabinet took the decision after it was brought to the notice that Malayalam was not being taught in some schools. In September 2012, a division bench of the Kerala High Court had struck down the rule framed by the government that made it compulsory to teach Malayalam in CBSE schools. The court while quashing the government order in 2012 had pointed out that students from other states were also studying in ICSE and CBSE schools. In April 2013, Indo- American International School at Vagamon in Kottayam challenged the insistence of the government to teach Malayalam, even after the High Court's direction in favour of the schools. The decision of the ruling Left Democratic Front government to frame a law to make Malayalam compulsory is apparently to do away with the legal hurdles which were pointed out by some CBSE schools whenever the government insisted for the same. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Condemning the death sentence to alleged Indian spy by the Pakistani military court, political parties across the nation on Tuesday said India needs to stand up straight in front of Islamabad and maintain a safe distance. "I think this is the limit and India should talk straight forward to Pakistan. Earlier it was Sarabjeet now it is Kulbhushan Jhadav, these things remind us to stay at a safe distance from Pakistan and maintain a limited relationship with them," Congress leader P.L. Punia told ANI. He further said that Jadhav should have been given the opportunity to present the evidence in the court. "Indian embassy's councilor was also not given any chance to help him," Punia asserted. Echoing similar sentiments, Janata Dal United (JD (U)) leader Ali Anwar said Pakistan has always dismantled each and every law related to foreign affairs. "We condemn such move. India should take a strict move now and tackle this issue wisely," he added. India yesterday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche against Pakistani military court for awarding death sentence to alleged Indian spy Jadhav. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court. The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. "The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. Senior Pakistani figures have themselves cast doubt about the adequacy of the evidence," an official release stated. "The claim in the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release that Jadhav was provided with a defending officer during the so-called trial is clearly absurd in the circumstances," it added. The Ministry said the Indian Government, through its High Commission in Islamabad, repeatedly sought consular access to Jadhav, as provided for by the international law. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," it read. Earlier, Jadhav was given the death sentence by the Pakistan Military, it's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016 through an operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, the ISPR said. Earlier in March 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the former Indian naval officer was arrested by Pakistan for allegedly engaging in subversive activities was possibly kidnapped from Iran and denied any possibilities of him being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. The accused, used to run a business in the Iranian port city of Chabahar. He was seen in a video confessing that he was an official of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency. Sarabjit Singh's sister Daljit Kaur appealed to the Indian Government to not waste time by starting a trial or sending lawyers in connection with Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence, but to take a strict action soon as the impact of the delay had already been seen in the Sarabjit case. "I hope our government takes a proper action on this matter. I appeal to our government to not start a trial, or send our lawyers. Basically, we should not waste our time, because this is what we did in Sarabjit case and everyone knows the result," Dalbir Kaur told ANI. Kaur also welcomed the statements made by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in which they assured the nation fo that justice will be accorded to Kulbhushan. Earlier in the day, slamming the Pakistan military court, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying that Islamabad should be wary of taking such an extreme step as it could result in damaging the bilateral relations between the already hostile neighbours. "It is an indefensible verdict against an innocent Indian citizen. We have no option but to deem the sentence a premeditated murder. Our position is very clear, there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. I would caution Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," said Swaraj in Rajya Sabha. "Yesterday, Foreign Secretary conveyed our position to the High Commissioner of Pakistan. Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she added. Swaraj further said, "I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time." Both Houses of the Parliament were stalled over the sentencing of Jadhav. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had assured Lok Sabha MPs that the Centre will do everything possible to save Kulbhushan Jadhav. Speaking in Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh said, ''The government of India strongly condemns Pakistan's move to send Kulbhushan Jadhav to gallows on false charges of being a spy.'' Jadhav was arrested in March last year "for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan," according to a statement released by the Pakistan armed forces. The statement said Jadhav confessed that he was tasked by Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), to "plan, coordinate and organize espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan." A military court found Jadhav guilty on two counts of espionage and sentenced him to death. India has strongly objected to the sentencing, saying consular officials were denied access to Jadhav during his trial. The Ministry of External Affairs later summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche to Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thank you for joining! Access your Pro+ Content below. Cyber security in the Middle East As organisations increase their reliance on IT through rapid digital transformations, the threat of cyber attack grows. It is not just western countries such as the US and the UK that are being targeted by hackers, as the rapidly developed and wealthy nations of the Middle East become targets of both politically and financially driven attacks. For example, the Saudi Arabia state media confirmed that attacks on several Saudi Arabia government agencies, involving the use of a new variant of Shamoon known as StoneDrill, which destroys everything on the infected computer, happened over a two-week period late last year. Read more about it in this e-guide. There is a lot at stake in the Middle East. For example, banks in the region are moving to digital services and the threat of disruption caused by hackers is increasing as a result. The Middle East is increasingly seeing the use of IT to support the everyday lives of its citizens, with autonomous vehicles and passenger-carrying drones, which you can read more about in this issue, being introduced. These could become targets of cyber criminals and terrorists intent on causing maximum damage. The adoption of internet of things technology is another trend that is potentially opening doors for those with malicious intent. Read in this issue how to keep those doors locked. In this e-guide, discover how cyber security expertise can help businesses in the Middle East navigate digital transformations and keep cyber criminals at bay. Amidst the furore over the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav burgeoning into protests and agitation outside the Pakistan High Commission, the security around the building has been beefed up to prevent any untoward incident. The premises of the High Commission, which are generally provided with an optimal level of security, are now being protected by as many as 10-12 paramilitary forces' personnel and at least two Police Control Room (PCR) vans are on stand-by. Earlier in the day, slamming the Pakistan military court, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying that Islamabad should be wary of taking such an extreme step as it could result in damaging the bilateral relations between the already hostile neighbours. "It is an indefensible verdict against an innocent Indian citizen. We have no option but to deem the sentence a premeditated murder. Our position is very clear, there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. I would caution Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," said Swaraj in Rajya Sabha. "Yesterday, Foreign Secretary conveyed our position to the High Commissioner of Pakistan. Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she added. Swaraj further said, "I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time". Both Houses of the Parliament were stalled over the sentencing of Jadhav. Earlier, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had assured Lok Sabha MPs that the Centre will do everything possible to save Kulbhushan Jadhav. Speaking in Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh said, ''The government of India strongly condemns Pakistan's move to send Kulbhushan Jadhav to gallows on false charges of being a spy.'' Jadhav was arrested in March last year, "for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan," according to a statement released by the Pakistan armed forces. The statement said Jadhav confessed that he was tasked by Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), to "plan, coordinate and organize espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan." A military court found Jadhav guilty on two counts of espionage and sentenced him to death. India has strongly objected to the sentencing, saying consular officials were denied access to Jadhav during his trial. The Ministry of External Affairs later summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche to Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday quashed the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) case against former Rajya Sabha MP Brajesh Pathak in connection with the LTC scam case. Pathak had been accused of misusing his LTC privileges. Many other former MPs and travel agency employees were also co-accused in the case. Pathak, a former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member, was granted bail by a court here on March 25, 2015 after he had appeared before it in pursuance of summons issued against him on February 20, 2015. The case had been registered by the CBI in 2014 on allegations that from 2011 to 2013, Pathak, the then MP of Rajya Sabha, allegedly conspired with unknown private persons and claimed wrongly inflated reimbursement for eight companion tickets amounting to Rs. 2,19,887 from the Pay and Accounts Office of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Christians arrested on charges of religious conversions in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh have been sent to judicial custody. They were arrested after a villager complained that they were forcibly trying to convert their religion. Following the arrest, the police produced Amarsingh, Kishor Barela, and Prabhakar Barela before a court which remanded them in judicial custody. "They had organised a similar camp in village Sitaberi and enticed tribal people into conversion by giving Bible and Cross," said a local, Raju, in his complaint. The villagers claimed in their complaint that the all the three accused had said that if they believed in Jesus Christ their illness would be cured. All three accused are from Burhanpur, Badvani, and from Maharashtra. They were also alleged for converting more than 50 people in the village. Last Saturday, Members of Hindu Yuva Vahini disrupted a prayer meeting in a church in Maharajganj alleging forced religious conversion by foreign nationals. However, the pastor of the church alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Police accompanied by Hindu Yuva Vahini members disrupted their prayers by forcefully paying money to the locals to sing Hindu religious songs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In his first statement after announcing of death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the country's armed forces are fully capable of responding to any threat. Describing Pakistan as a peace loving country, Sharif said that Islamabad has always maintained a policy of having friendly relations with other countries, particularly its neighbors. Sharif was addressing a passing out parade of cadets at Asghar Khan PAF Academy in Risalpur on Tuesday, reports Radio Pakistan. Expressing satisfaction over the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorism, Sharif said it has brought about a tremendous improvement in the internal security environment. Sharif's statement came hours after India's External Affairs Sushma Swaraj warned Islamabad not to go ahead with the death sentence, which New Delhi would see as an act of "pre-mediated murder". On Monday, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche against Pakistan for awarding a death sentence to Kulbhsuan Jadhav. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial before the court. The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. "The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. Senior Pakistani figures have themselves cast doubt about the adequacy of the evidence," an official release stated. With a united opposition raising the issue of death sentence given to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the military court in Pakistan, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday assured the Lok Sabha that the Centre would do everything possible to ensure that the former gets justice. Condemning the death sentence, Singh told the Lower House how Jadhav could be a spy when he had a valid visa. He also took on Pakistan for denying consular access to Jadhav. "Basic norms of law and justice were violated. I want to tell the House that the government will do whatever it takes to make sure Kulbhushan Jadhav gets justice," Singh said. "Countries that finance Pakistan should realize that Pakistan can do this to them too," he added while hinting at the United States. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj slammed the death sentence as "an indefensible verdict" and warned Pakistan to "consider the consequences" of the case on its relations with India. On the other hand, the Congress warned the Centre that if Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan then it's a murder. "If Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan Jadhav then it is murder. The government will be seen as weak if it cannot free him," said Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on his part said it is the joint responsibility of all to save Jadhav. "The government has influence, please use it. Will the government make every effort to save him? It is our joint responsibility to save him," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dubbing the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court as 'pre-meditated murder', Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said it is extremely unfortunate that Islamabad is not able to quit its old habits. Asserting that Pakistan did not conduct a fair trial for Jadhav, Naidu said that the Asian neighbour assumed charges against the Indian as it did not have any evidence against him. "Pakistan's behaviour shows that it's a pre-meditated murder. Neither they submitted any evidence in the regard nor a fair trial happened in the regard. They just presumed things and gave the verdict," said Naidu. "Pakistan is not able to quit its old habits and this is very unfortunate. The world is watching this and will condemn this step of Islamabad," he added. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said that Jadhav is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter is clear, Swaraj said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she added while expressing her concern on this issue in the Rajya Sabha. Swaraj said that Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. "The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him. Accordingly, from the time his abduction was known, our High Commission in Islamabad has continuously pressed Pakistani authorities for such access. Although this is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations, the Government of Pakistan did not permit it. That itself should tell us much about the strength of the case against Shri Jadhav. Hon'ble Members would also recall that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in this case," said Swaraj. Stating that the Pakistan Government sought India's assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process, she informed that in doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. "Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position. Nevertheless, in the hope that some forward movement could be made, our response was constructive. We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan," said Swaraj. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence. To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she added. The External Affairs Minister further said Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed India's position to Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit yesterday. "Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," said Swaraj. "I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Shri Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time," she added. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. Basit was yesterday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister of State in the Prime Miniaster's office, Jitendra Singh asserted that Parliament has shown a rare solidarity in raising its voice against Pakistan for handing out a death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav. "I think it is highly reassuring for all of us, for every Indian across party lines. Indian Parliament has shown a rare solidarity in raising its voice against manner in which Pakistan has handled the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Singh told media here. Lashing out at Pakistan, he said there is no difference of opinion in India on the issue, and added that Pakistan has violated all diplomatic norms, all norms of cordial behaviour. So, I think, there is no difference in opinion as far as India's opinion and India's stand against this kind of attitude from Pakistan is concerned." Singh further said parliament is the most legitimate body of 125 crore people of India and has shown its solidarity on a matter that concerns every right thinking Indian citizen. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The best moments are those when you decide to let go, choose to act, follow your passion - nothing holds you back! So, this summer, Pepsi brings to life a purposeful and inspiring thought to Words to celebrate moments of spontaneity everyday, which include: #SWAG, #PANGA, #BOLDAAL, #SWIPERIGHT, #KALTI, #BHOKAAL. Pepsi knows there are moments you just can't say no to, whether it's to go #NOMNOM while eating your favourite food or that late night #GEDI with your friends to India Gate. Its spontaneous moments like these that form the essence of Pepsi's new 'Moments' campaign this summer. Click here to download the hi-res film. With pop-culture at its heart and a finger on the pulse of the trends, Pepsi unleashes over 80 of the most popular words that are entrenched in the vocabulary of today's generation. Printed in eight regional languages on the iconic Pepsi cans and bottles, these words will inspire them to #FASTFORWARD into the moment and show their #SWAG. With these new packs, Pepsi is sure to grab the attention of all the #DHAAKADs in the north and get Mumbai screaming #DHAMAAL, as Kerala says #ADIPOLI! Speaking on this campaign, Vipul Prakash, senior vice president, Beverage Category, PepsiCo India, says, "Through the Moments campaign, we have once again taken a progressive approach to truly reflect today's generation with a relatable packaging innovation. 'Socha Nahi Ji Gaya, Pepsi Thi, Pi Gaya' is our campaign philosophy and we see our purpose in being able to seed spontaneity in the life of our new age consumer. At PepsiCo, we have always celebrated packaging, which is our strongest asset, and a key driver for our Shelf to Media approach. We are confident that our Moments campaign will truly make Pepsi stand out on the retail shelves." According to Senthil Kumar, chief creative officer, J Walter Thompson India, "Pepsi has always been an iconic brand that mirrors millennials and creates popular culture. This summer Pepsi is celebrating the spontaneity that defines today's generation, with a set of three summer special commercials that capture how icons and new age consumers themselves are seizing the moment and doing it with a swag that represents the great taste of Pepsi. The insight remains the same as our 'Pepsi Thi Pi Gaya' campaign; there are some things in life that you can't say no to, a chilled bottle or a chilled can of Pepsi." Pepsi brand ambassador, Virat Kohli brings his cool quotient alive in one of the films, where he is seen fielding at the boundary. The film shows Virat seemingly drop a catch, which gets the rival fans excited. But then we see that the ball lands on Virat's shoe. Virat, with his quintessential #SWAG, dances the ball around with his shoes a few times and then catches it again. The crowd goes silent when Virat looks at them and gestures shush. He turns around to pick up his can of Pepsi which says #SWAG. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that the police report suggests that the Zambian student of the Parul University who was found hanging in his room two days back had committed suicide. "I have got the reports of the death of a Zambian from Gujarat Government. Police probe suggests it is a case of suicide. A suicide note has been found," Swaraj said. Earlier on April 8, a Zambian student of the Parul University in Vadodara allegedly hanged himself in his hostel room. As per sources, a 22-year old, second year civil engineering student, Sakala Andrew Zite was found hanging from a ceiling fan. According to Waghodia police, Sakala left behind a suicide note without mentioning any specific reason for taking the extreme step. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rio Olympic silver-medallist and World number two PV Sindhu is among the elite nine badminton players vying to fill four positions in the Badminton World Federation Athletes' Commission. The other Indian in the fray is male shuttler Nikhar Garg, whose nomination seemed to have happened after he expressed his desire to contest for a slot in BWF Athletes' Commission through his social media account last February. Besides this, the list also comprises of two former world number one in Men's Doubles and a former European Men's Singles champion. Following the close of nominations on March 27, three women and six men will stand for election to the body which represents players within the Badminton World Federation. Three persons will be elected to replace outgoing members of the BWF Athletes' Commission - Yuhan Tan (Belgium), Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus (Denmark) and Greysia Polii (Indonesia) - who will complete their four-year term in May. At least one male and one female must be elected. The third person will be the candidate (male or female) with the next highest number of votes. Additionally, a fourth person - a female - will be elected to finish the term of Tang Yuanting. The Chinese player, who became a member of the Athletes' Commission in 2015, has resigned following her retirement from badminton last year, thus leaving a casual vacancy on the Commission. Therefore, either the female with the second-highest number of votes or the female with the third-highest number of votes (if the third person elected to the Commission is female) will be elected to serve the remaining two years of Tang's term. For the first time, voting by email will take place and this starts on Wednesday April 26th, 2017, and ends on Wednesday May 24th, 2017; the date on which players attending the TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017 in Gold Coast will be able to vote in person at the stadium. The announcement of those persons elected to the BWF Athletes' Commission will be made shortly thereafter. The complete list is as follows: Akvile Stapusaityte (Lithuania), Edwin Ekiring (Uganda), Koo Kien Keat (Malaysia), Kirsty Gilmour (Scotland), Luis Ramon Garrido Esquivel (Mexico), Marc Zwiebler (Germany), Nikhar Garg (India), Pusarla V Sindhu (India), Yoo Yeon Seong (Korea). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after a military tribunal handed out a death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra poked fun at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the announcement was a clear indication that impromptu stopovers in Pakistan had not improved bilateral ties as one would have thought. He was referring to Modi's visit to Lahore in December 2015 to wish Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday. Asserting that India is asking for Jadhav's life in one voice, Vadra urged the Centre to leave no stone unturned to save him. "Kulbhushan Jadhav" has been given the "Death Sentence", by Pakistan. Five Indians before Jadhav, were arrested by Pakistan on charges of spying and they died, awaiting justice, in Pakistani jails according to media reports," Vadra said in a Facebook post. "In retaliation, our govt. has decided to not send back, 12 Pak prisoners. Is that all we can do for the Indians held by Pakistan ??!!For the sake of entire nation, the government should take every step to save Jadhav's life. I thought with the stop overs n celebrations of our premiers, we would have closer relations. There is only one voice in India right now .... #SaveKulbhushanJadhav," the post added. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that Jadhav is a victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter is clear, Swaraj said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she said in the Rajya Sabha. This weekend marked Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, when Christians commemorate Christs entrance into Jerusalem en route to His voluntary death, burial, and resurrection. On that day, Christians of all backgrounds bless and wave palm branches in imitation of the crowds who cried Hosanna as He rode a donkey into the city. But not all Christians use palm branches. Palms cannot grow in the harsh climate of northern Slavic nations such as Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. Instead, Catholics and Orthodox Christians in those areas long ago substituted pussy willows. The churches saw deep symbolism in the willows, one of the first plants to blossom in the springtime. A rich, crimson almost blood red shell grows on the branches until a white bud bursts through it, symbolizing the triumph of life over death. In some nations, like Poland, Christians cover the branches with local wildflowers to make them more fragrant. The notion is not altogether unbiblical; St. Matthew mentions Jesus being greeted with branches from the trees. Still, to many of us, a Palm Sunday without palms is unthinkable. And thanks to the wonder of global trade, it is also unnecessary. The United States imports 25 to 30 million palm fronds for Palm Sunday, doubling or tripling the average demand. The global trade, which already represented nearly $30 million two decades ago, mostly benefits Mexico and Guatemala especially those nations workers. Those who harvest fronds from Guatemalas palm plants known as Chamaedorea or Xate earned 250 to 300 percent higher wages than those who engaged in other kinds of agricultural activity. At least half the farmers in communities studied by Anthropologist Norman Schwartz in the Central Peten [region] of Guatemala earned additional income from harvesting fronds, and more than a quarter of household heads were supporting themselves exclusively by collecting fronds, according to one expert study. Yet another study found that expanding palm cultivation for export could provide more than one-third of the total annual income in Mexicos impoverished Yucatan Peninsula. This trade has a clear ability to lift the worlds population out of poverty. Not all who benefit live abroad; the vast majority of palms in the United States are grown domestically. One palm supplier from Florida fortuitously named Thomas Sowell began his trade to make extra money. He now supplies all 50 states and Canada. Along the way, he found greater significance in helping the nations churches celebrate one of their holiest holidays. Every bag that we send out to churches, every individual bag has been examined, cleaned we go to extreme measures to make sure that everything we do for these churches is done in the honor of Jesus Christ, Mr. Sowell told CNA/EWTN News. His story shows how people of faith may find their vocation in both the celebration of a church service and in supplying the goods that make it possible. In the process, they enjoy the dignity of work and the security of an income. The fact that churches in America and Europe, including the once-forbidding climates of Eastern Europe have palms to wave is thanks in part to the wonders of the free market. Delta Corp rose 1.56% to Rs 182.05 at 12:07 IST on BSE on bargain hunting after a recent slide. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 169.49 points, or 0.57% to 29,745.23. On the BSE, 6.76 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 10.90 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 184.30 and a low of Rs 179.25 so far during the day. The stock hit a record high of Rs 218.40 on 5 April 2017. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 76.80 on 6 May 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 10 April 2017, rising 4.58% compared with 2.17% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 38.52% as against Sensex's 9.95% rise. The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 23.16 crore. Face value per share is Re 1. Shares of Delta Corp fell 16.10% in four trading sessions to settle at Rs 179.25 yesterday, 10 April 2017, from its close of Rs 213.65 on 3 April 2017. Recent selling in the stock was triggered by rumors of a possible merger of Daman and Diu -- a coastal Union Territory (UT) -- with the state of Gujarat. As per market buzz, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his upcoming visit to the UT on 17 April 2017, may consider the proposal for the merger. The merger of Daman and Diu with Gujarat will hurt Delta Corp's casino business in the region because gambling is banned in Gujarat. Delta Corp operates an integrated hotel and casino resort in Daman. Delta Corp's consolidated net profit rose 37.2% to Rs 10.06 crore on 4.47% increase in net sales to Rs 103.57 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2012. Delta Corp owns three offshore casinos in Goa out of a total of six, making it the dominant player in Goa. In March 2014, Delta Corp launched 'The Deltin', India's largest integrated casino resort, in Daman. The soon to be launched casino at The Deltin will be spread over 60,00 square feet, and will have approximately 1,000 gaming positions. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister of Food Processing Industries Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal emphasized the need to set up Integrated Cold Chain Projects on war scale in the country for all-round development of India and for fast-tracking transformation of the Indian economy. Smt. Badal said given the challenge of post-harvest losses which currently are Rs.92,000 crores annually, the facilities set up by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries like 42 Mega Food Parks and 234 Cold Chain Projects (including 101 newly sanctioned Cold Chain Projects) have created preserving and processing capacity of 139 lakh Metric Tonnes of Agro Produce with a value of Rs.35,000 crores which means that setting up of these Cold Chain Projects and Mega Food Parks already undertaken would reduce post harvest losses substantially. She said apart from reducing wastage, the projects will generate employment for 3.5 lakh persons and benefit 15 lakh farmers. The Minister also informed about the steps being taken by the Ministry to build a strong, efficient and integrated supply chain for agri-produce involving backward linkages with the farm, processing to add value to the farmer's produce and creation of forward linkages through organised modern retail. Formulation and implementation of a National Food Processing Policy is also under consideration of the Ministry. The vision of the Policy is to position India as a World Food Factory by creating an enabling framework for the sustainable growth of the food processing industry. The Policy is based on the principle of inclusive growth in partnership with the States with the overarching goal of providing remunerative return to farmers. The model Food Processing Policy focuses development of clusters based on production strength of different region to enable a targeted and coordinated approach for developing the food processing industry and bringing down wastages. As a step in this direction, the Ministry proposes to undertake mapping of areas of fruits &vegetables and other perishable production in different States with the target to set up agro processing clusters. To achieve the vision of National Food Processing Policy, the Ministry will be shortly launching a revamped National Mission on Food Processing called SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Produce Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) to complete the on-going Mega Food Parks, take up more cold chain and also to launch 3 new schemes - Creation/Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities, New Agro-Processing Clusters and Backward and Forward Linkages. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rural Electrification Corporation rose 6.43% to Rs 194.50 at 10:45 IST on BSE on report that the company is looking at diversifying to financing equipment manufacturing, energy efficiency schemes, power plants renovation and coal blocks development. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 192.48 points, or 0.65% to 29,768.22. On the BSE, 6.78 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 7.31 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 196.20 so far during the day, which is also a 52-week high for the counter. The stock had hit a low of Rs 182 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 76.40 on 24 May 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 10 April 2017, rising 19.99% compared with 2.17% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 42.44% as against Sensex's 9.95% rise. The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 1974.92 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)'s chairman PV Ramesh was quoted by media as saying that REC is looking at diversifying from power sector lending to financing equipment manufacturing, energy efficiency schemes, power plants renovation and coal blocks development. Ramesh reportedly added the company is even considering changing its name to suit its diversification plans. Rural Electrification Corporation's (REC) net profit rose 28.1% to Rs 1754.40 crore on 2% decline in operating income to Rs 5884.24 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015. REC, a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Power, provides financial assistance to state electricity boards, state government departments and rural electric co-operatives for rural electrification projects. The Government of India holds 60.64% stake in the company, as per the shareholding pattern as at 31 December 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Redington (India) rose 1.89% to Rs 116.10 at 09:55 IST on BSE after the company announced that its overseas step down subsidiary has sold its entire holding in its Turkish subsidiary. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 10 April 2017. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 130.29 points or 0.44% at 29,706.03. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 88.04 points or 0.61% at 14,410.33 On BSE, so far 12,000 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 6.08 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 116.30 and a low of Rs 115.10 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 126.65 on 24 May 2016. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 79.70 on 9 November 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 10 April 2017, rising 4.88% compared with 2.17% rise in the Sensex. The scrip also outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 13.67% as against Sensex's 9.95% rise. The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 79.97 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2. Redington (India) announced that its overseas step down subsidiary, Arena Bilgisayar Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S sold its entire holding of 51% in its subsidiary, Adeo Bilisim Danismanlik Hizmetleri San ve Tic AS, Turkey, for $1.65 million. On a consolidated basis, net profit of Redington India rose 5.65% to Rs 118.23 crore on 21.73% rise in net sales to Rs 10960.83 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015. Redington (India) is a supply chain solutions provider worldwide to leading manufacturers of information technology, telecom, lifestyle and consumer electronics products. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In Tehsil Phagwara, Distt. Kapurthala (Punjab) Sukhjit Starch & Chemicals announced that most of the approvals from the concerned authorities including NOC from Central Ground Water Authority for setting up the mega food park in Tehsil Phagwara, Distt. Kapurthala (Punjab) have been received. The mega food park will be set up in the name and style of 'Sukhjit Mega Food Park & Infra' an SPV incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The food park entail an investment of Rs 125 crore and will be financed by way of Central Government Subsidy of Rs 50 crore, bank term loan of Rs 40 crore and balance by way of equity contribution by the Company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Suzlon Energy said it has won a repeat order of 50.40 megawatts (MW) wind power project in Karnataka from a leading IPP company. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 10 April 2017. The project will be completed by June 2017. Suzlon will execute the entire project on a turnkey basis and will also provide operation and maintenance services. Majesco announced that a tier two specialty insurer renewed its application management services agreement with Majesco for three years to support a number of key operational systems. The insurer is focused on specialty related insurance in the US. The agreement will provide the insurer end to end support of some of their key operational systems for three years. The application management services are part of Majesco's ADM services. The insurer has been a long-term strategic client of Majesco. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 10 April 2017. Indiabulls Ventures said it has allotted an aggregate of 3.36 crore fully paid up equity shares to promoter group entities of the company, upon exercise/conversion of equivalent number of warrants. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 10 April 2017. Hindustan Composites said its board at a meeting held on 10 April 2017, considered a proposal for 2-for-1 stock split. The board decided to seek shareholders' approval through postal ballot process for the stock split proposal. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 10 April 2017. Capital First said the meeting of the debenture committee of the board of directors of the company will be held on Thursday, 13 April 2017, inter-alia, to consider the private placement of rated, listed, secured/unsecured/perpetual, redeemable, non-convertible securities in the nature of debentures to be listed on the debt market segment of National Stock Exchange of India. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 10 April 2017. Redington (India) announced that its overseas step down subsidiary, Arena Bilgisayar Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S sold its entire holding of 51% in its subsidiary, Adeo Bilisim Danismanlik Hizmetleri San ve Tic AS, Turkey, for $1.65 million. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 10 April 2017. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Power and Adani Power fell 2.99% and 16.01% respectively at 13:55 IST on BSE after Supreme Court reportedly set aside an order by the Appellate Tribunal For Electricity allowing compensatory tariff to both the firms. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 181.27 points, or 0.61%, to 29,757.01. Shares of Tata Power Company dropped 2.99% to Rs 84.50. The stock hit high of Rs 90.20 and low of Rs 81.30 so far during the day. On BSE, so far 25.11 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of 3.47 lakh shares in the past two weeks. Shares of Adani Power dropped 16.01% to Rs 37.25. The stock hit high of Rs 46.30 and low of Rs 36.55 so far during the day. On BSE, so far 1.16 crore shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of 13.23 lakh shares in the past two weeks. The Supreme Court (SC) today, 11 April 2017, set aside an earlier Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (Aptel) ruling that allowed Tata Power and Adani Power to charge compensatory tariff from consumers. A bench comprising justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Rohinton F. Nariman ruled in a batch of appeals filed against an April 2016 ruling of Aptel which held that an unforeseen increase in the cost of coal would be a force majeure event under the power purchase agreements (PPAs) between power generating companies and distributors. SC said higher tariffs could be allowed only if there was a change in Indian laws. The companies had cited a change in Indonesian regulations in 2010 as a force majeure event that increased the cost of coal imported by Tata Power and Adani Power from that country to fuel their electricity plants. Tata Power's wholly-owned subsidiary Coastal Gujarat Power (CGPL) and Adani Power's Mundra project in Gujarat have PPAs with state discoms in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab. Both generating plants are fueled by coal imported from Indonesia. On a consolidated basis, Adani Power reported net loss of Rs 323.61 crore in Q3 December 2016, compared with the net profit of Rs 109.49 crore in Q3 December 2015. Net sales declined 6.15% to Rs 5803.52 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015. Adani Power is the largest private thermal power producer in India with an installed capacity of 10,480 MW. On a consolidated basis, net profit of Tata Power Company rose 38.30% to Rs 599.20 crore on 8.68% decline in net sales to Rs 6677.89 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015. Tata Power is India's largest integrated power company with a significant international presence. The company has a presence in all the segments of the power sector viz generation (thermal, hydro, solar and wind), transmission, distribution and trading. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police on Tuesday said 127 murder cases were reported in the national capital in the first three months of 2017, compared with 125 during corresponding period last year. "Of these, 16 murders were committed on sudden provocation on trivial issues, Delhi Police Public Relations Officer Madhur Verma said. Twenty-nine murders were committed due to personal enmity and property disputes, compared with 23 in 2016. Family disputes led to 17 murders during the period, compared with 10 in 2016. In 70 to 80 per cent murder cases, the victims and the suspects were unknown to each others, Verma said. He said four cases of robbery and thefts were also reported in the first three months of 2017, as against 13 last year, with the decrease attributed to increased police visibility and foot patrols. --IANS sp/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's 268 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 12 months led to nine deaths, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the Indian Army retaliated appropriately to the ceasefire violations. According to data given by the minister, a majority of these violations happened in just two months -- 78 in October 2016 in which two persons died, and 88 in November that killed five others. "All ceasefire violations are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate levels through established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings and weekly exchanges between the Director Generals of Military Operations of the two countries," Bhamre said. --IANS vv/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 50 people, including students, police personnel and journalists, were injured as students, protesting a massive fee hike for various courses, clashed with police on the campus here on Tuesday. Police took over 50 students into custody and slapped sedition charges on those indulging in violence. Tension prevails on the campus following the clashes. Some of the nearly half-a-dozen media persons injured in the clashes had to be rushed to hospitals here with serious injuries. Police resorted to baton charge, use of water cannons and tear-gas to disperse the agitatators who had gathered near the Vice Chancellor's Office complex. The protesting students pelted stones at the police and broke window panes and flower-pots and damaged other university property. Later, a few students, who were being chased by the police, entered a gurdwara on the campus and took refuge there. Police officials surrounded the shrine to get the students out. Teaching was affected in several departments on the Sector 14 campus of the university due to the protest shutdown called by the students. The fee hike was being opposed by the Students for Society (SFS) and other student organisations, including Students Union (PUSU), Students of (SOPU) and Students Organisation of India (SOI). The fee hike, to be applicable from the coming (2017-18) academic session, is over 1,000 per cent in some courses. University authorities said that they were forced to hike the fees for various courses following directions from the Union Human Resource Development Ministry and the University Grants Commission. The university has been grappling with financial crisis for the last two-three years with grants from the Centre and the Punjab government not coming regularly. During a recent trip to Chile, Actons Samuel Gregg spoke to Diario Financiero about the rights and responsibilities of entrepreneurs. Business contributions to the well-being of society are enormous, but explaining the good they do can be a challenge. Businesses have a great story to tell, Gregg laments, but theyre not very good at telling it. Also contributing to general distrust is that corporate scandals tend to put all the focus of on a few bad players. When one organization does something shady, every organization suddenly seems shady. Gregg also suggests that businesses should disentangle themselves from politics as there are just too many temptations involved. This is a lesson South America recently learned from a scandal with Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company found guilty of an elaborate bribe scheme. Odebrecht paid bribes on dozens of projects in several counties and even had an entire division handling payoffs. Nicolas Casey and Andrea Zarate explain the history of the investigation in Corruption Scandals With Brazilian Roots Cascade Across Latin America. Despite the risk for businesses to engage in bad practices, the individual men and women who run those businesses should be allowed to donate to campaigns and publicly support candidates: Los empresarios, como cualquier otra comunidad, tienen el derecho y hasta la responsabilidad de presentar sus preocupaciones e intereses a politicos de todos los partidos. Eso es bueno y legitimo, pero hay una diferencia entre eso y pedir a un gobierno o legislador que tome una decision especifica para favorecer a alguien. Entrepreneurs, like any other group, have the right and the responsibility to speak their concerns or their personal interests to politicians regardless of party. This is good and just. However, there is a difference between that and asking the government for a very specific decision that favors one person or one company. Despite the temptation, Gregg doesnt see regulation as a way to keep this relationship between business people and politicians in check. People are very good at finding loopholes in the law or even using the law in their favor. We need entrepreneurs to understand that they have responsibilities beyond generating profits for their companies, He explains. The way they conduct their business and the way they interact with politicians have consequences for the common good. Read the full interview at Diario Financiero or on Actons Spanish page (both in the original Spanish). A Bhutanese businessman has fallen victim of a false flag assault in Charlotte by an African-American man who made the attack on the man's store appear to be the work of white supremacists. North Carolina police arrested on Sunday the man allegedly seen on a surveillance video setting fire to the store on Thursday and leaving a note threatening to torture immigrants and refugees and signing it "White America", The Charlotte Observer newspaper reported. The Central Market, described as Nepali-Indian establishment that sells South Asian food and gifts, is owned by Kamal Dhimel, a refugee from Bhutan. On Thursday night, the store's front door was set on fire, a glass pane on the door was smashed with a stone and the note signed "White America" and warning that refugees and immigrant business owners would face torture "if they did not leave and go back to where they came from" was left there, according to police quoted by the newspaper. Investigators said a video surveillance of the incident showed a "black male suspect", the Observer reported. African-American man Curtis Flournoy, 32, has been arrested and charged with ethnic intimidation, sending threatening letters, burning a business building and using incendiary material, according to the newspaper. Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera told the Observer that she was frustrated to see the hate crime take place. "I'll continue to work around the clock to make sure that all businesses and all the residences feel safe," she added. Last month, Harnish Patel, an Indian-American businessman in Lancaster in neighbouring South Carolina state, was shot dead outside his home. There have been no arrests in the case. While attacks and threats against ethnic and religious minorities have always been a feature of America, activists and Democratic Party leaders have attributed recent incidents to President Donald Trump. In some cases they have proved to be false flag attacks carried out by and made to look like they were committed by white supremacists. In the most notorious of those cases, a series of threats against Jewish institutions were sought to be linked by activists to the election of Trump, whose daughter is a convert to Judaism, and he was criticised for not acting on them. However, an African-American man in the US and a Jewish man in Israel were arrested in connection with the threats. In some places, including New York, false reports have been spread about raids on illegal immigrants to spook immigrant communities. In February, an Indian-American woman, Ekta Desai, was harassed on a New York-New Jersey metro train by an African-American man who threatened her using foul language and said she should "get out of here". She uploaded the video of the harassment, but the Democratic New York city or state officials have not come forward to condemn it or take action against the man. US human rights organisations have not reacted to it either. In February, in a case directly attributed to white racism, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchsbhotla was shot dead and Alok Madsani was injured in Kansas, after they were mistaken for Middle Easterners or Iranians. The alleged shooter, a white man, has been arrested and awaiting trial. Last month, a Sikh in Kent, Washington State, was shot and injured by a man who shouted at him, "Go back to your country". Authorities are still looking for the shooter. In another case last month, an Indian woman Sasikala Narra, 38, and her six-year-old son, Anish, were stabbed to death in New Jersey. That case has not been solved either. With counterfeiting activities growing at the rate of 44 per cent, authentication solution providers on Tuesday sought government intervention to make authentication "mandatory" and enact "specific anti-counterfeiting laws" in the country. "Counterfeiting is increasing 3 per cent per annum globally. In India, the problem is more severe, it is growing with an alarming rate of almost 44 per cent per year," Authentication Solution Providers' Association (ASPA) General Secretary Arun Agarwal said here. "No specific anti-counterfeiting laws are in place in the country and using of authentication solution has not been made mandatory," said International Hologram Manufacturers Association's Chairman Manoj Kochar. The officials of the associations said several countries all over the world introduced laws to tackle the menace of counterfeiting. For example, Canada passed Combating Counterfeit Products Act. "The Indian government also ought to do something similar," Agarwal told reporters here at the association's 'Make Sure India' campaign. Citing a study of Ficci-Cascade, Agarwal said the government of India incurred a loss of Rs 26,190 crore in 2011-12, which increased to Rs 39,239 crore in 2013-14, a growth of 49.8 per cent in two years due to counterfeiting activities. He also said the danger of counterfeiting gets multiplied when it comes to healthcare products including pharmaceuticals, baby-care and skin-care products. "As per IRACM, a world body that focuses on the issue of pharmaceutical counterfeiting, the global trade in spurious medicines is worth $200 billion. Since India accounts for three per cent of the world market, this makes India's share at $6 billion or about Rs 41,000 crore. This is a huge loss to the industry," Agarwal said. The counterfeiting activities affected the sales of industries. According to the association, the total loss of sale to seven industries including FMCG packaged and personal goods, mobiles, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, auto component, computer hardware was at Rs 1,05,381 crore in 2013-14. Kochar alleged that a majority of the association members are mostly from small and medium sectors and so "our voices are not heard of seriously" at the Centre. --IANS bdc/lok/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australian minister Simon Birmingham on Tuesday awarded a three-year scholarship worth AU$1.1 million (Rs. 53,315,968.06) to 11 Indian students while leading a high-level delegation visit to the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC) here. The visit marked the celebration of the Indo-Australian academic and research alliance. The TERI Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, the most advanced in the world, was inaugurated by the Indian and Australian Prime Ministers on Monday. The scholarships are awarded to Ph.D students engaged in research programmes at the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre. These students are currently enrolled at Deakin University under the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), which was launched in India in 2009. DIRI builds on Deakin University's world-leading expertise in material sciences, nanotechnology and biotechnology. While addressing the gathering, Education and Training Minister Birmingham said: "The TERI Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre facility is not incredible because we are commissioning bricks and mortar, it's incredible because of the brains, the students, the knowledge that is embedded within the facility, and the potential that they (students) are going to realise in so many different ways." Under the program, each student is provided with a full tuition fee waiver from Deakin University up to an amount of approximately AU$100,000 for a period of three years. During the program, the students travel to Deakin University in Australia for a period of six to eight months during their Ph.D to work closely with their Deakin supervisor. Elaborating on the scholarship programme, Vice Chancellor of Deakin University Jane den Hollander AO said, "The three-year scholarship programme is predominantly designed to equip the best of the talent with advanced research facilities. Under this programme, Deakin University and TERI will provide joint supervision to the students. TDNBC envisions meeting the demand for a global, skilled workforce in nanobiotechnology." TERI Director General Ajay Mathur further added, "Within five years, the Centre aims to have a number of researchers, including Ph.D students, enrolled at Deakin. With its cutting edge technology at the disposal of these bright minds, this Centre will help India make a mark on the global map for building new capabilities and bringing new innovations in the field of science and technology." Besides this, researcher's residences at TDNBC with an accommodation for 50 residents, was also inaugurated by the minister on Tuesday. --IANS pradeep/vgu/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indonesian court on Tuesday postponed the blasphemy trial of Jakarta's Christian Governor until the city's April 19 election, as hundreds of Muslim protestors called on the government to suspend him. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, could be imprisoned for up to five years if found guilty of insulting Islam over references to the Quran made during a campaign speech in September. The trial was postponed until April 20, a day after the Jakarta election runoff in which voters will choose between Ahok and his Muslim rival Anies Baswedan, Efe news reported on Tuesday. A panel of judges at the North Jakarta District Court on Tuesday adjourned the blasphemy trial, as public prosecutors were yet to prepare a sentencing recommendation. "We have tried our best, a week is not enough for us (to prepare the recommendation). We deeply apologise and request for more time to read aloud the sentencing recommendation, but we will not read it out today," public prosecutor Ali Mukartono said. "We are asking for two more weeks, if we may," he added. Protestors led by the hardline Islamic Defenders Front gathered in front of the courtroom to demand the Governor's suspension and arrest, according to reports. "Arrest Ahok as a suspect in a blasphemy case. Equality before the law," read one of the signs held up by protesters. Jakarta has witnessed several mass protests by hardline Muslims in recent months over the allegedly blasphemous comments by Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent in the world's largest Muslim-majority country. Ahok, Jakarta's first non-Muslim Governor in half a century, had apologised for offending Muslims but claimed that the video circulated containing his remarks was manipulated. --IANS soni/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's common for children to refuse to go to school. Some skip food while others wander on streets but an 8-year-old boy in Andhra Pradesh created a scare by threatening to jump from a water tank. The incident occurred in Mantralayam town in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. Viresh, a Class 3 student, climbed on 40 feet high water tank and threatened to jump to death, if his parents forced him to go to school. The boy's threat created panic and parents were worried that he might resort to the extreme step. He finally came down after police arrived on the scene and persuaded him to do so. The boy's parents work as construction labourers in Bengaluru and had left the boy at his grandfather's house. On a visit to home town, the parents learnt that the boy was not going to school. They scolded him and forced him to attend the classes on Monday. However, on Tuesday morning when the parents asked him to get ready for school, he ran out and climbed on the water tank by steps. The locals were shocked as to how this idea came to a young boy. Police later counselled the boy in the presence of his parents. They offered help in admitting the child to a residential school. --IANS ms/lok/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who arrives here on Tuesday on a four-day visit, will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley during the first India-UK Strategic Dialogue. Fallon, the third British Cabinet Minister to visit India in April, will also visit Mumbai. He will also meet Indian Defence Ministry officials, military staff, business and opinion leaders, the British High Commission said. It was agreed to hold the first India-UK Strategic Dialogue during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's November 2015 visit to Britain as part of the bilateral Defence and International Security Partnership. Fallon's visit is expected to further cement the bilateral defence and international security partnership. The India-UK Strategic Dialogue will look at ways of enforcing cooperation in science and technology, research and development and countering violent extremism, a High Commission statement said. --IANS rn/mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chechyna has opened the world's first concentration camp for homosexuals, where campaigners say gay men are being tortured with electric shocks and beaten to death, the media reported. It comes after it was claimed 100 gay men had been detained and three killed in Chechnya last week, the Daily Mail online reported on Monday. A report by Novoya Gazetaon said authorities had set up several camps where homosexuals are killed or forced to promise to leave the republic. One of the camps is reportedly at the former military headquarters in the town of Argun. Svetlana Zakharova, from the Russian LGBT Network, told the Daily Mail: "Gay people have been detained and rounded up and we are working to evacuate people from the camps and some have now left the region." "Those who have escaped said they are detained in the same room and people are kept altogether, around 30 or 40. They are tortured with electric currents and heavily beaten, sometimes to death," Zakharova added. One of those who escaped told Novoya Gazeta that prisoners were beaten to force them to reveal other members of the gay community. Alexander Artemyev, from Amnesty International in Russia, told the Daily Mail: "We can only call on the Russian authorities to investigate the allegations. Homosexuals in Chechyna are treated very harshly and prosecuted daily and they are afraid to talk about it." According to sources, President Razman Kadyrov allegedly ordered the clampdown, although officially his regime denied the arrests. Kadyrov, who introduced Islamic rule in the Muslim-majority region, has been accused of earlier human rights violations. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Enraged Chinese netizens are calling for a boycott of US carrier United Airlines after footage of an Asian passenger being dragged off an "overbooked" flight went viral online. A Sina Weibo microblogging website tag "United Airlines forcibly bumps a passenger" was viewed over 150 million times and garnered more than 90,000 comments, making it the top trending topic of the day on the platform, reported Global Times daily on Tuesday. The elderly doctor was manhandled after he refused to give up his seat on the flight before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport on its journey to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. Videos posted online showed police dragging him from his seat, injuring his face, throwing him on the floor and dragging him along the aisle by his arms, while his glasses slid down his face and his shirt rode up his chest. The doctor, who had identified himself as Chinese according to passenger accounts in the media, returned to the aircraft with his face bleeding. He collapsed and was taken away on a stretcher, according to a passenger. The incident sparked outrage on the Chinese Internet with many Net users condemning the airline for being brutal or even accusing it of being racist. "The company may think that Asian Americans are always obedient but this incident has crossed the line too much," a Weibo user commented. "Although it is legal to sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane, violently forcing a passenger to leave the plane regardless of his dignity and rights is horrible. Is this the way United Airlines boasts the spirit of contract and human rights?" another user wrote. A Chinese aviation industry insider told the Global Times on Tuesday that it was routine for airlines to oversell flights to avoid empty seats and compensation is often offered to passengers who voluntarily give up their place on the plane. The outrage over the incident was not reduced by a letter written by the United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz, which was circulated to employees and later leaked on the social media and translated into Chinese. Munoz made no apology for the way the passenger was treated and just emphasized that he had "refused to comply" with staff. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior IPS officer Amitabh Thakur on Tuesday filed a complaint against former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan and Principal Secretary (Home) Debashish Panda, accusing them of forging documents relating to his suspension. Thakur said that the Inspector of Hazratganj police station has assured him of appropriate action in the matter. The complaint says Thakur's suspension was not renewed within 90 days' period and hence he requested to be reinstated from October 10, 2015. "These officers colluded with each other to forge false documents regarding holding of Civil Service Board meeting on December 10, 2015 and March 11, 2016 without any such meeting actually taking place. They also created many false documents to extend my suspension," the police officer said in his complaint. Amitabh Thakur, who crossed the path of then Akhilesh Yadav government for filing an FIR against Mulayam Singh Yadav for telephonically threatening him, says he has enough documentary evidence to prove his case against the two officials and was hence pressing for lodging an FIR. --IANS md/pgh/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the civic polls in the national capital, the Congress will launch "Dilli Ki Bath, Dil Ke Saath" programme to woo the voters. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken said: "Nearly 90 national Congress leaders from across the country will campaign in the MCD (municipal corporations of Delhi) elections." "The party leaders will speak about making the corporations financially self-reliant by raising their own resources, solid waste management, primary education and primary health, as part of the party's 'Dilli Ki Bath, Dil Ke Saath' campaign," Maken said. He said top leaders of the party -- Jairam Ramesh, Shashi Tharoor and Salman Khurshid -- too will join the morning walkers in city parks to talk about its plans for the improvement of the civic bodies. Maken said a control room has been set up in party office to co-ordinate the election campaigns of the senior leaders. "We will talk about different issues like the problems of street vendors, education, environment, health and other issues affecting the people," Maken elaborated. He said the Congress party, instead of holding big rallies and giving big speeches, will find solutions to the problems of the people of Delhi. Maken said Tharoor will visit the Jahanpanah City Forest on Wednesday at 7 a.m. to talk about education in the MCD schools while Jairam Ramesh will visit the Bhalswa landfill on Thursday and the Ghazipur landfill on Sunday. He said Salman Khurshid will visit Tahirpur on Saturday at 7.30 a.m. to talk to people about health, while Girija Vyas will meet the street vendors at Meena Bazar, Jama Masjid and Peeli Kothi on next Monday at 5 p.m. The Congress leader said he will meet the street vendors at Badarpur on Tuesday against the non-implementation of the Street Vendors Act, passed by the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government at the Centre in 2014. --IANS aks/lok/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Tuesday wrapped up his week-long tour of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing had strongly objected to. The Dalai Lama left by helicopter for Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, on Tuesday morning from Tawang helipad. Thousands of people lined up along the road to see him off. Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries also saw him off at the helipad, a government official told IANS. "The Chief Minister thanked the Dalai Lama for his visit and requested him to visit Arunachal Pradesh again in the near future," the official said. On Monday, the Nobel Peace laureate, who Beijing has called an "anti-China separatist", described his visit to Arunachal Pradesh as a "memorable one" that he would cherish forever. He also thanked the people, particularly from far off villages, who gathered in large numbers to welcome and listen to him at all the places that he visited. In fact, this is not for the first time that the 81-year-old Tibetan leader is visiting Arunachal or Tawang. In 1959, he escaped from China via Tawang and visited the state in 1983, 1997, 2003 and 2009. The Dalai Lama was to start his week-long religious visit to Arunachal Pradesh from Tawang on April 4. But bad weather forced him to travel by road as his helicopter couldn't take off from Dibrugarh airport in Assam. The Tibetan spiritual leader reached Tawang - the high point of his visit to this mountainous state -- on April 7 after traversing over 550 km from Assam's Dibrugarh and crossed the 13,700 feet Sela Pass. The Dalai Lama stayed at the Tawang monastery belonging to the Gelugpa school of Mahayana Buddhism, which had a religious connection with Lhasa's Drepung monastery that continued during the British rule. Beijing refers to this connection to claim Tawang as part of China after invading and taking over Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama had stayed in the Tawang monastery for some days before he reached Assam after fleeing his homeland in 1959. During his religious tour to Arunachal Pradesh, the spiritual leader consecrated the Thupsung Dhargyeling monastery at Dirang on April 6. On Sunday, he also consecrated the Tara Temple 'Dolma Lhagang', Guru Padhmasambhava Statue cum Temple (Lumpo), and laid the foundation stone of Gyalwa Jamba (Kuber) statue to be built at Buri near the India-Bhutan border. He gave the name Jamtseling for the Jamba (Kuber) statue besides donating Rs 50,000 from his side for its construction. --IANS rrk/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Egypt's Parliament approved on Tuesday a three-month state of emergency, two days after church bombings killed at least 45 people. The cabinet announced on Monday that the decision went into force from 1.00 p.m. on that day, but it required parliamentary approval according to the constitution. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared the measure in a televised address on Sunday following the attacks, Xinhua reported. "This is only to protect our country and prevent any targeting of its capabilities," Sisi said. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has called for exceptional and firm measures to fight terrorism in Egypt in a statement he delivered at the House of Representatives on Tuesday. "It is clear Egypt is facing an unprecedented and a fierce terror attack that aims to undermine its stability," the premier added. The approved state of emergency will sure give State institutions more flexibility in handling enemies of the homeland, Ismail told parliament. On Sunday, twin suicide bombing at two churches in Delta province of Gharbiya and Alexandria province in northern Egypt killed at least 45 and wounded over 120. --IANS ahm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Addressing Syria's use of chemical weapons last week in an attack against a rebel-controlled region of his own country, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Syrian dictator Bashar Assad's behaviour was worse than that of Adolf Hitler, "who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons." "We didn't use chemical weapons in World War II," The Politico quoted Spicer as saying on Tuesday as he criticised the Russian government for its support of Assad. "Someone who is despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons. You have to, if you're Russia, ask yourself, is this a country that you, and a regime that you want to align yourself with?" he said. Hitler's name is linked to the use of chemical weapons, most notably through the Holocaust, Nazi Germany's genocidal programme intended to murder Europe's entire Jewish population. Many of the Jews were killed in gas chambers with Zyklon B and other poisons. Sarin gas, the weapon believed to have been used by Assad's regime, was first created and weaponized by Nazi scientists in 1938. "I think when you come to sarin gas, there was no -- he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing," Spicer noted. "He brought them into the Holocaust centre. I understand that. But I'm saying in the way that Assad used them where he went into towns, dropped them down into innocent, into the middle of towns. So the use of it, I appreciate the clarification there. That was not the intent." --IANS sku/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The father of a Maldivian model who was found dead in her college in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, last month has accused her best friend, a student from India's Jammu and Kashmir, of murder, a media report said. Muhammad Atif, father of Raudha Atif, lodged a case with the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on Monday afternoon accusing her daughter's classmate Sirat Parveen Mahmud, 21, who hails from Kashmir, Prothom Alo reported. In his complaint, Muhammad Atif mentioned that the classmate broke open the door of Raudha and lowered the hanging body. Atif wrote in the complaint that Sirat might have strangled Raudha. Raudha, an MBBS second year student of Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshsahi, was found dead in her college dormitory room on March 29. The college authorities had informed Shah Makhdum police station that Raudha committed suicide by hanging herself. Sirat was one of Raudha's closest friends at the dorm. They lived in adjacent rooms. According to her earlier testimony, she was the last person to see Raudha alive, Dhaka Tribune reported. Athif said: "I am certain my daughter was murdered. There were fingerprints around her neck. From the looks of these prints, Raudha was choked to death by a right-handed person. "If she had committed suicide, then why was her body taken down before the police arrived? This is a murder," he is quoted as saying. Advocate Kamrul Monir told reporters that the court has taken cognisance of the case and directed the Shah Makhdum Police to act on it. The lawyer said that about a week before Raudha died, she had told her mother that Sirat had given her fruit juice spiked with sleeping medication. According to college authorities, Sirat claimed to be the first person to discover Raudha's body on March 29. She had claimed to have seen her hanging body through the window, after which she allegedly broke the door down and brought down the body. But the door showed no signs of forced entry, and the fan was too high for a person to reach even if they got on a chair, the daily said quoting college authorities. The most suspicious fact in the whole affair is the revelation that the CCTV camera outside Raudha's room seemingly malfunctioned on the night of March 28. The camera was functioning properly throughout the day, choosing only that particular night to fail to work, the daily said. Raudha and Sirat were both living in a separate building for international students on the campus. The college authorities claimed to have advised Raudha's family of the developments. The autopsy was carried out at Rajshahi Islami Bank Medical College Hospital on March 31. The autopsy report said suicide as the cause of death. Raudha was buried on April 1 in Rajshahi by her family after they received the autopsy report. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Iftekhar Alam had said the police also suspect the cause of death to be suicide, brought on by depression. Last Thursday, two police officers arrived in Rajshahi from Maldives to look into the circumstances surrounding Raudha's death, the daily reported. Raudha, an international model, was on the cover of the October 2016 issue of Vogue India magazine. She was considered a rising star and was an MBBS student in her sophomore year at Rajshahi Islami Bank Medical College. --IANS rn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Khushbu Sundar, who has commenced shooting for Pawan Kalyan's yet-untitled Telugu project, says it feels like first day at school with lot of unlearning and learning. "Good morning from Hyderabad. I start shooting for Pawan Kalyan and Trivikram film from today. Feels like first day at school. Lot of unlearning and learning to do," Khushbhu tweeted on Tuesday. Last seen on screen in the 2006 Telugu actioner "Stalin", she returns to the industry after a decade with this project. While Khushbu featured in a cameo in 2007 Telugu film "Yamadonga", she had said she considers "Stalin" as her last film. "'Yamadonga' with Rajamouli was just a special appearance. Just three days of shoot. I'm sure it cannot be counted as a full-length role," she had tweeted last year. --IANS hp/rb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court bench in Panaji on Tuesday directed the Crime Branch of Goa Police to file an FIR in connection with the mysterious death of a former Roman Catholic priest Bismarque Dias. The Crime Branch has also been asked to submit a status report of the investigation every three months to the court. Dias, who was protesting against rampant and reportedly illegal real estate development near his village of St. Estevam, 15 km from Panaji, was found dead in a water body near the Mandovi river in November 2015. Activists as well as opposition parties alleged the priest could have been done to death for opposing illegal real estate deals in the ecologically fragile parts of the Tiswadi sub-district, while police, which conducted the preliminary enquiry, had ruled out mischief claiming the former priest had drowned while swimming. Speaking to reporters after the order was pronounced, Sudeep Dalvi, one of the several persons campaigning for a formal investigation into the death of the former priest, has called the court's direction, a vindication of their contention that Dias' death was suspicious and that the police had conducted a cover-up. "This is a slap on the face of state government, in general, and the police department, in particular. It is a victory for all supporters of Fr. Bismarque and environment lovers in Goa," Dalvi said. --IANS maya/pgh/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dozens of Filipino protestors rallied on Tuesday near the presidential palace against extra-judicial killings amid the government's anti-drugs campaign. More than 100 demonstrators gathered at the Mendiola Peace Arch, near Malacanang Palace, where they performed stage plays portraying the procession and crucifixion of Jesus Christ to protest President Rodrigo Duterte's policies, including his support for death penalty, Efe news reported. About 80 members of the charity Urban Poor Associates and 50 members of labour group SENTRO also took part in street plays, during which protestors wearing crowns of thorns and white clothes daubed in red paint carried large crosses as they marched while being escorted by others dressed as Roman soldiers. The demonstrators also carried signs with slogans including 'Stop the killings', 'lowering of age for criminal liability', 'death penalty', 'extrajudicial killings'. The protests came a day after officials reported that more than 100 suspected drug dealers and addicts died in clashes with the police over the last month during the second phase of Duterte's anti-drugs campaign, after it was temporarily suspended in January to launch an investigation into police corruption. The first phase of the campaign, which began when Duterte took office in June 2016, led to more than 7,000 deaths within seven months, including more than 2,500 at the hands of police officers. Duterte is also supporting a controversial bill to restore the death penalty in the country. --IANS ksk/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The G7 group of nations on Tuesday failed to reach an agreement on new sanctions on Russia and Syria over last week's chemical attack that killed at least 89 people. A meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers in the Italian city of Lucca rejected a British plan to impose targeted sanctions on military personnel in Russia and Syria who had been "contaminated by the appalling actions of the Assad regime", CNN reported. Britain had hoped to strengthen the hand of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ahead of his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday. Instead, the plan was shelved until after the results of an investigation into the attack on Syria's rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, which prompted the US to launch a barrage of missiles on a Syrian airbase on last Friday. The group agreed to delay implementing sanctions until there was "hard and irrefutable evidence" over the alleged chemical attack, said the report. "There is no consensus on additional new sanctions," Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said. He said the group did not want to back Russia "into a corner" and preferred dialogue. Speaking after the meeting, Tillerson denounced Russia's "failure" to ensure the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria and said it had not made enough progress in peace talks. Tillerson said that Russia had failed to uphold commitments it made in 2013 to guarantee the Syrian regime got rid of chemical weapons. "These agreements stipulated Russia, as the guarantor of a Syria free of chemical weapons, would locate, secure, and destroy all such armaments in Syria. Stockpiles and continued use, demonstrate that Russia has failed in its responsibility to deliver on its 2013 commitment," he said. "It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously or Russia has been simply incompetent in its ability to deliver on its end of that agreement," CNN quoted Tillerson as saying. But he also laid down an ultimatum for Russia, saying that Moscow must think about whether to remain an ally with the Assad regime, the Iranians and Hezbollah. "Is that a long term alliance that serves Russia's interests? Or would Russia prefer to realign with the US, with other Western countries and Middle East countries that are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?" He also said that Russian-brokered talks in Astana had "not produced much progress," adding that he had hope that a process underway in Geneva over Syria's political future would be fruitful. "And our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that future," he said, without explicitly calling for Assad's removal. Syria denied it carried out any chemical attack. The meeting brought together Foreign Ministers from the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Alfano said the G7 had broadened consultations in Italy on Tuesday morning, with key regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey. --IANS soni/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) G7 foreign ministers, along with their counterparts from Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar on Tuesday discussed the Syria conflict. The meeting was convened in an extraordinary session to study the situation after the chemical attack allegedly by the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime on April 4 against Jan Shijun in the northern province of Idlib that killed at least 87 people, Efe news reported. On April 6, the US responded by launching 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian base in Shayrat, from where it believed the chemical attack had been carried out. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said Russia, along with the international community, must support a political transition in Syria to combat the rise of the terror group Islamic State (IS). The G7 Preview agenda also includes other issues such as terrorism, instability in Libya and North Korea's possible nuclear and ballistic missile development programme. The meeting of the ministers of the world's seven most industrialised countries, being held in the Italian city of Lucca, that started on Monday, will conclude on Tuesday with a press conference. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as well as foreign ministers of Italy, Germany, France, the UK, Japan, Canada and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs are attending the meeting. --IANS ksk/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The G7 group of nations has failed to reach an agreement over threatening new sanctions against Russia and Syria over last week's chemical attack. The group was seeking a common position on the Syrian conflict, before US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flies to Russia later on Tuesday to try to persuade it to abandon its Syrian ally, BBC reported. The G7 nations during a meeting in the Italian city of Lucca agreed there was no solution to the Syria crisis with President Assad in power. Sanctions against Russia and Syria will not be put in place until after an investigation into last week's apparent chemical attack, British government sources said. Syria denied it carried out any chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun last week that left at least 89 people dead. Members of the G7 group of leading industrialised nations agreed to delay implementing sanctions until there was "hard and irrefutable evidence" over the alleged chemical attack, said the report. The meeting brought together Foreign Ministers from the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the G7 had broadened consultations in Italy on Tuesday morning, with key regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey. He declared the talks "a political success". --IANS soni/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Environment activists blocked the entrance to Coca-Cola's UK headquarters in London with a 2.5-tonne sculpture featuring a seagull regurgitating plastic and called for the company to do more to help prevent plastic pollution. The Greenpeace activists said the sculpture called 'Plasticide', which depicts an idyllic family beach scene interrupted by birds choking on plastic, was intended to highlight what it claimed were failings by the company, CNN reported. In a report released on Monday, Greenpeace claimed that -- the world's largest soft drinks company -- sells more than 100 billion plastic bottles every year. Single-use plastic bottles make up nearly 60 per cent of the packaging produced by the company globally, it said. "We were trying to uncover for the first time the true size of Coca-Cola's plastic footprint," Louisa Casson, oceans campaigner for Greenpeace, told CNN. "And we are actually seeing them going backwards. Rather than investing more in refillable and reusables, they've increased their use of single-use plastic bottles over the last decade." said it was "disappointed" by the action by Greenpeace, and said it would publish a new "sustainable packaging strategy" later this year. The sculpture was designed by underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. At 2.5 tonnes, it is "pretty heavy", Casson said, adding "but ten times that weight of plastic is flowing into the oceans every single minute." A clash broke out between police and participants at a Hanuman Jayanti rally in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Tuesday, police said. The participants carrying saffron flags were stopped by police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel near the Barabagan area, sparking trouble. Stating that permission for any such rallies had not been given, the district police said they were forced to intervene when the participants tried to enter the "sensitive areas of the town". "We did not give them permission for any such rally. In spite of that, there was a rally. We did not initially object but had to intervene when they tried to enter more sensitive areas with a mixed population," Birbhum's Superintendent of Police N. Sudheer Kumar told IANS. Police resorted to a baton charge to control the situation. A few rally participants were also held for alleged violence. "Some people were detained as they did not listen to police and tried to assault our personnel. We had to forcefully stop them and ensure that the situation is under control," the officer said. Accusing state Bharatiya Janata Party President Dilip Ghosh of inciting the rally organisers, district Trinamool Congress presdient Anubrata Mondal said the police action was correct and necessary. "Dilip Ghosh was supposed to attend this rally. He did not come himself but tried to incite the locals from Kolkata. These tactics won't work in Birbhum," Mondal said. "Police had no objections initially but asked the rally not to enter the Madrasa road. They did not listen to police. The rally was totally disorganised. I think what police has done is correct," he added. BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, who is in Kolkata for a party programme, alleged that the police rained batons on participants of a 'peaceful' rally, and assailed the government for refusal of permission. Countering the BJP leaders, Trinamool leader Partha Chatterjee alleged that efforts were being made to "destroy" peace and brotherhood in the society, but the plans won't succeed. --IANS mgr-ssp/ahm/dg (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several illegal e-waste industries operating in Uttar Pradesh are polluting the Ramganga, a major tributary of the Ganga, by dumping waste into it, a joint inspection report told NGT on Tuesday. The report jointly filed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Union Environment Ministry and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) added that a number of "sealed" and "closed" e-waste industry are working in densely populated residential areas in Uttar Pradesh. "Electricity department has failed to disconnect the connections of 27 illegal units," the report said, adding that the local administration also failed to comply with directions of CPCB to shut the industries polluting the major tributaries of river Ganga. CPCB and the team made some surprise inspections in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district and found several irregularities. The joint inspection team which visited the areas in the vicinity of river Ramganga also found heaps of black milled powder stacked in openly on the river bank. --IANS kd/vgu/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Tuesday that her India visit was a success and that she had gone to seek friendship, which she got from her neighbour. Answering queries about her April 7-10 state visit to India, Hasina also said there was nothing to hide in the agreements and MoUs signed with India and everything was open to the public. "I did not return empty-handed. I got something. Sometimes I jokingly say -- I wanted water, but got electricity," Hasina told journalists at her official residence Ganabhaban. "I went there to seek friendship. And I got that friendship," Hasina replied when a newsman asked her what Bangladesh got from her India visit. The Prime Minister said nothing happened during her India visit that could make people pessimists. "I am satisfied with the visit. The visit is a success. It's a matter of satisfaction that India has treated Bangladesh as a sovereign state. We have got the honour of a sovereign state," Hasina said. On the sharing of Teesta's river waters, she said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "has pledged to sign the agreement. We can wait with patience for signing it". "They have to release the water, they'll have no option during rainy days, so they'll have to. And we have to find methods to retain it," she said, bdnews24 quoted her as saying. She also spoke about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's alternative proposal on giving Bangladesh water from four smaller rivers instead of Teesta. She said she was 'pleasantly surprised' that Narendra Modi came to receive her at the airport in New Delhi. Hasina said 11 deals and 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed between the neighbours during the visit. Hasina said all agreements with foreign countries are signed after approval of the cabinet. "So, these are open documents," she said. "There is no hide and seek regarding the agreements and MoUs," she said. Asked about the defence deal, Hasina said there is no scope to raise a question over the deal signed with India. "No anti-state agreement will be signed as long as I am alive," she said. She slammed the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party for alleging that Bangladesh was being "sold out" to India through her visit. "I am a daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. All will have to understand that I am not a person who can sell out the country to anyone," she declared. To a question on her government's policy to maintain relations with both India and China, Hasina said the policy of Bangabandhu - 'Friendship with all, Malice to None,' is the "guiding factor of our foreign policy". "I'm trying to comply with the policy word by word and establish good relations with every country," she said, Prothom Alo quoted her as saying. She said that India and China might have problems in their bilateral relations but Bangladesh would maintain good ties with every country. This was Hasina's first tour to India after the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014. She also stayed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in a sign of the importance India attached to her visit. Hasina said: "The trip was hugely satisfying. There's no frustration. There's nothing frustrating." Her comments come as Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon on Tuesday blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "spoiling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit". Referring to Mamata's refusal to change her stance on Teesta water sharing, Menon said "Teesta is an international river. Its water is our right. It is not up to anyone's pity to give us the water. It is our right," he told the Daily Star. "Mamata has besmirched the Prime Minister's otherwise successful tour to India," the Minister said. --IANS rn/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Malayalam will have to be taught compulsorily at all schools till Class 10 in the state irrespective of the syllabus, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media on Tuesday. An ordinance to this effect has already been inked by Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam. The new law also states that strict action, including Rs 5,000 fine, would be initiated against the school authorities if this is not implemented. Besides, other legal action would be taken. The syllabi being followed in the state include those of the Kerala Education Board, the Central Board of Secondary Education and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Board. Currently, the students in Kerala have the option to study Special English if not Malayalam. Some schools also provide French as another option. Vijayan said this law will not be applicable to foreign nationals or to those students who hail from other states. The ordinance states that from now on children in Kerala schools should not be fined or penalised if they choose to speak in Malayalam in schools. --IANS sg/sm/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lok Sabha on Tuesday unanimously condemned Pakistan's decision to award death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav and urged the government to take every step to save his life. Raising the matter during Question Hour, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said if Pakistan hangs Jadhav it will be a "pre-planned murder". "No one was allowed to meet Jadhav. He was not even provided a lawyer to fight his case. No international norms were followed," Kharge said. "If Jadhav is hanged, India should have the courage to retaliate in the same way," he added. According to Kharge, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi can visit Pakistan without any invitation, why cannot he go to talk over the issue of Jadhav. "The government should take every step to save Jadhav. If he can't be saved, it will prove this to be a weak government," Kharge said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister accused Kharge of doing over the issue. "You should not do such a low over the issue," Kumar said. BJP member Nishikant Dubey demanded a resolution be passed in the House to declare Pakistan a terrorist nation. He said that India has cornered Pakistan on the issue of terrorism and that is the reason the neighbouring country is trying to demean Indian. AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi said: "India should do everything to save Jadhav. The military court of Pakistan, which has given death sentence to Jadhav is a banana court as it takes decision without any evidence. India should use every international forum to save him." Condemning the act of Pakistan TMC member Saugata Roy also praised India's stand over the issue. "Pakistan is taking vindictive action against India and Indians. The government should take every step to save the life of Jadhav," he said. Describing Pakistan as not a normal country, BJD's B.J. Panda said that India should approach the world court and United Nations over the issue of Jadhav. "Pakistan is not a normal nation. It is run by the military establishment and they are deliberately trying to destabilize our country by such acts," he said. --IANS bns/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's ruling Communist Party has extended an invitation to West Bengal's ruling Trinamool party and its supremo Mamata Banerjee to visit Beijing. "It is likely that we will go to China for 4-5 days in June," the West Bengal Chief Minister said on Tuesday. She has been invited for discussions on possible investments in sectors like agro-industry and manufacturing. "We have got a lot of requests from many countries including Poland, Russia and Australia. The Communist Party of China has invited my party to visit China and invited me to Beijing and has talked about potential investments in agricultural and manufacturing sector," she said. "China is helping Bangladesh and India as well. They have requested me several times. They want to invest and that is why we will go," she told the media here at the airport on her arrival from Delhi. Banerjee had earlier scouted for investments in Singapore, London and Bhutan. --IANS sgh/ssp/pgh/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday warned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to "mend your ways", and accused her of dividing and oppressing the Hindus and kindling separatism among Muslims. "No matter how many cases you lodge, no matter how many people you arrest, Hindus will not stop, they will not be beaten up. We challenge her and warn her, you mend your ways. If you don't, then Bengal's public will not accept Mamata (who shows affection for jehadis) for long," Surendra Kumar Jain, VHP's International Joint General Secretary, said. "She had the time to hike salaries of Imams.... Imams were hale and hearty while the Hindu pundits were not. It seemed as if there was Aurangzeb's rule in Bengal. She detested Ram's name. She even changed the word Ramdhenu to Rangdhenu. I think she will also change names of people who are named after Ram," he said. Taking on Banerjee's accusations against the VHP for putting weapons in hands of children during the grand Ram Navami celebrations and processions, Jain countered that the Trinamool Congress supremo is misusing the child rights protection commission. "In Muharram processions, weapons are brandished. So how can you single out Ram Navami? You should see the pictures where children carry weapons during Muharram, how children slaughter goats during Eid. Is it not a violation of child rights? Do you not see that? Why are you silent then?" he asked. In response to allegations of VHP promoting polarisation, Jain lashed out at Banerjee for indulging in polarisation instead. "You can hike Imam's salary, you will not lodge case against perpetrators of violence in Malda, you will shorten the duration of Durga Puja immersion due to Muharram, isn't this polarisation? You have indulged in polarisation, against the country, against Bengal, against Hindus," Jain said. "But if there was any polarisation on Ram Navami, this was for patriots, this was for 'Ram bhakts' and we are proud of such polarisation in favour of the nation, polarisation of the patriotic persons of Bengal," he asserted. Dismissing allegations of VHP promoting religious politics, Jain pointed fingers at Banerjee for promoting "divide and rule" among the Hindus and Muslims in Bengal. "She is committing an injustice against Muslim society by kindling separatism. She has made Bakhtiyar Khilji the role model for Muslims in Bengal." "Due to appeasement politics, she has fanned fundamentalism. You have divided the Hindu society. Before that you have divided Hindus and Muslims. You have promoted fundamentalism," he added. --IANS sgh/ssp/pgh/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea on Tuesday condemned the deployment of a US nuclear aircraft carrier and its strike group near the Korean peninsula and warned that it was prepared to respond to a "pre-emptive strike", according to authorities. "If the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for pre-emptive attack and removal of the headquarters, North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US" a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The statement came after the Pentagon announced Saturday that it was deploying the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and a Navy strike group to waters off the North Korean coast in response to the latest missile provocations by the Pyongyang regime, on April 5. "We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms," the statement added. Following President Donald Trump's inauguration in January, the US government has called for a tighter approach of dealing with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programme, Efe news reported. The ministry also highlighted the fact that Washington has analyzed different scenarios for carrying out a pre-emptive strike at the hermit state or eliminating its leader Kim Jong-un. "We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions." the spokesperson said, adding "The prevailing grave situation proves once again that (North Korea) was entirely just when it increased in every way its military capabilities for self-defence and pre-emptive attack with a nuclear force as a pivot." Tension on the Korean peninsula has been increasing amid suspicions that Pyongyang may be preparing a new missile or nuclear test this month. North Korea convened its annual parliamentary session on Tuesday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il's transition to power. In addition, the country will also celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il-sung, this Saturday and the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army on April 25. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea on Tuesday started its annual parliamentary session amid growing tensions provoked by the deployment of a US nuclear aircraft carrier and the possibility of new weapons tests by Pyongyang. The fifth session of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly coincided with the fifth anniversary of leader Kim Jong-un's rise to power, according to North Korean state media reported. The session has gathered 687 members of the Assembly, who, despite being considered the most powerful official body in the country, only ratify the decisions of the higher-level authorities such as the ruling Workers' Party. The appointment of a new State Security Minister, who is in charge of administering the North Korean secret police, will probably be included in the session's agenda as the former minister Kim Won-hong was ousted in February, Efe news reported. Some of the attendees include important figures such as the head of state, Kim Yong-nam, and Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-yong, who has not been seen for nine months, came to pay tribute to the two former leaders of the Pyongyang regime, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, ahead of the session. It is highly expected that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will send a message to the United States during the Tuesday session. A spokesperson for the South Korean Unification Ministry, however, pointed out that the Assembly's annual sessions are mainly focused on discussing "domestic policies". The North Korean congress is being held at a time of tension marked by the US decision to dispatch the USS Carl Vinson to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to the latest missile provocations on April 5. Washington has also analysed the possibility of a pre-emptive attack on Pyongyang amid suspicions that the North Korean army could be preparing a new missile or nuclear test this month. In addition, the country will also celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il-sung, this Saturday and the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army on April 25. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA is set to reveal this week at a news conference new results about ocean worlds in our solar system. The announcements will be related particularly to findings from the agency's Saturn probe Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble space telescope, NASA said in a statement. These new discoveries will also help inform future ocean world exploration -- including NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper mission planned for launch in the 2020s -- and the broader search for life beyond the Earth. The event, to be held at the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Thursday at 2 p.m. EDT (11.30 p.m. India time), will include remote participation from experts across the US. NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which was launched in 1997 and arrived at Saturn in 2004, is set to end its 20-year journey on September 15 this year with a planned plunge. The agency's planned Europa Clipper would place a spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter in order to perform a detailed investigation of the giant planet's moon Europa -- a world that shows strong evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust and which could host conditions favourable for life. --IANS gb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ignoring opposition protests, the Nepal government on Tuesday registered a new Constitution amendment bill in Parliament to woo agitating Madhes-based political parties ahead of the countrywide local elections in May. However, the Madhesi parties boycotted house proceedings on the ground that the new proposal failed to redress their grievances. They said any proposal that fails to take care of their longstanding demand on provincial boundaries will be unacceptable. The tabled proposal says that changes in the provincial boundaries will be looked into by the new Federal Restructuring Commission. The main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxists-Leninists) also expressed displeasure over the new proposal. This is the second attempt by the Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' government to address the grievances of the Madhesi groups since they launched their movement against the new Constitution promulgated in the Himalayan nation in September 2015. Earlier, the government had registered a similar proposal in the house on November 29, 2016, assuring that their demands/grievances pertaining to discrimination in citizenship provision, language, changes in provincial boundaries and making the Constitution more Madhes-friendly would be taken care of. After the Madhes parties opposed the bill by saying it fell short of fulfilling their demands, the government has come up with the new proposal. The Madhesi parties -- demanding redressal of their grievances -- have warned that the authorities will face difficulties in conducting the local polls. "We have not seen the (new) proposal. If the new proposal is tabled as per our demands, we will support it in the house and take part in the local elections. Otherwise, we will oppose it," " said prominent Madhesi leader Laxman Lal Karna. He said Madhes contributes over 52 per cent of Nepal's total population, and should have a fair share in political power at the local level. --IANS giri/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ruling out any legal hurdle in building the Ram temple at the disputed site in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya town, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday caleld for enactment of a law to facilitate the construction. "There is a provision where joint session of Parliament is called and bills are passed. I don't think there is any legal hurdle. We have all faith in the present government... There can be a bill on Ram Mandir. It is their commitment also," said Surendra Kumar Jain, VHP's International Joint General Secretary. Addressing the media here, Jain said: "Ayodhya is in Uttar Pradesh and Yogi (Chief Minister Adityanath) is there, who soon after his oath-taking said that building Ram temple is the mission of his life and 'I will fulfil it at any cost'. I think Modi and Yogi will very soon realise that dream." On the Supreme Court's recent suggestion for an out-of-court settlement through dialogue, he said the three top institutions of the Muslim community had ruled out any dialogue. "You need two people to talk. When one person talks to oneself, you can understand what that means. When the apex court said it, immediately the three pillars of Muslim society -- Muslim Personal Law Board, Sunni Waqf Board and Babri Masjid Action Committee -- said 'no dialogue'." "...when it comes to triple Talaq, they say the court should not interfere, but when it comes to Ram Janmabhoomi, they say court should decide... What a joke," he said. "Ultimately, the ball lies in the court of Parliament," he said referring to the VHP's stand on building the temple in Ayodhya similar to the Somnath temple. --IANS sgh/ssp/nir/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Designer Rocky S, who has designed for some of the best in Bollywood like Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Akshay Kumar and Bipasha Basu, will now give a celebrity styling course to national and international students. The first ever Bollywood styling course was unveiled by Rocky S at fashion school FAD International Academy at its Dubai campus where aspiring stylists received insights into the world of styling for movies, celebrities, editorial shoots. "The fashion industry is welcoming of new, aspiring talents who are ready to contribute to making a change in the fashion space. What they sometimes lack is a platform to convert these dreams to reality. "This course offers these aspiring stylists a platform to foray into commercial styling for bollywood and celebrities. It is crucial to appreciate and nurture promising talent and with this course we aim at shaping them to become industry professionals," the designer said in a statement. One will see students from Canada, France, Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia and Belgium taking courses from the designer who has styled for many Bollywood movies including the latest "Robot 2" The course is set to mentor aspiring stylists to work for the multi million dollar Bollywood industry. Post Dubai, the course is all set for its India launch in the first week of May at the FAD International Mumbai Campus --IANS nv/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One person was killed and four others were injured in an explosion on Tuesday at a police building in Turkey's southeastern city of Diyarbakir, the authorities said. The blast occurred during a repair of an armoured vehicle in the Diyarbakir Provincial Security Directorate compound in Baglar district. Parts of the roof of the building collapsed, Dogan News Agency reported. Earlier, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu was quoted by CNN as saying: "The blast was in a part of the building for riot police where maintenance is carried out on vehicles." --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan on Tuesday justified the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and said it was capable of protecting itself against external threats. Pakistan was "fully equipped" to deal with all such "elements with an iron fist", Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the Senate. And in an obvious reference to Indian warnings of consequences if Jadhav was hanged, he added: "We will defend our country at all costs." Asif insisted that the trial of Jadhav, accused of espionage and waging war against Pakistan, followed due legal process. "There was nothing in the (legal) proceedings that was against the law," he was quoted by the Urdu media as saying. "The trial went on for three months," he said, adding that Pakistan would not grant concessions to elements working against the country. India has warned Pakistan that bilateral ties would be hit if it went ahead with the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, who Islamabad says was arrested in Balochistan in March 2016. India denies he was a spy and says he was abducted from Iran. On Tuesday, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reiterated that if Jadhav was hanged, it would amount to premeditated murder. --IANS ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tension prevailed on the Panjab University campus on Tuesday as students, protesting the fee hike for various courses, clashed with the police. Police sources said that a few students were injured after a baton charge and use of water cannons and tear-gas to disperse the agitatators who had gathered near the Vice Chancellor's office complex. The protesting students pelted stones at the police and broke window panes of the offices and damaged other university property. Later, a few students, who were being chased by the police, entered a gurdwara on the campus and took refugee there. Police officials were reported to be negotiating with them to come out. Teaching was affected in several departments on the Sector 14 campus of the university due to the protest shutdown called by the students. The fee hike was being opposed by the Students for Society (SFS) and other student organisations. --IANS js/vd/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The mushrooming and protruding retail kiosks at Terminals 1 and 3 of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here are a recipe for disaster as they greatly hamper passenger movement, says the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. PAC Chairman K.V. Thomas on Tuesday told reporters that the Committee visited the airport last month and "found that the operators have not allocated space inside terminal buildings at Terminal 1 and 3 scientifically". The panel observed that retail shops have "cropped up at every nook and corner" and some of them "are protruding sharply into the walking spaces". "Commercial establishments are obtruding into the areas meant for passenger movement and thus safety of passengers has been compromised while allotting spaces inside the terminal premises," Thomas said. "Members of the Committee felt that mishap or disaster could be foreseen given the present state of narrow lanes for movement of passengers," he added. He said that the Air Passengers Association of India has raised grievances regarding the poor state of facilities at the IGI Airport which include restriction in safe movement of passengers, dirty lounges and restrooms, ill-managed food courts and poor quality food and inadequate seating facilities, among others. "We were told that although feedback forms are available, no action is taken on these suggestions or complaints," Thomas said. The PAC also visited the New Delhi and Old Delhi railway stations, Mumbai International Airport, CST railway station Mumbai, Cochin shipyard and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. Thomas said that at New Delhi and Old Delhi railway stations, the issues of lack of passenger amenities, hygiene and punctuality were raised. At Cochin Shipyard, the Committee was told that the government was not placing any orders for ships. --IANS mak/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A minor girl was crushed to death and her sister critically injured on Tuesday when a speeding private bus hit the two-wheeler they were riding in north Delhi's Burari area, police said. Munna Lal of Kaushik Enclave was going to drop his daughters Pooja, 12, and Shivani, 9, to the nearby government school when the bus hit their motorcycle around 7.30 a.m. at Burari Chowk. While Munna escaped unhurt, Pooja and Shivani were critically injured, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jatin Narwal said. Pooja was lter declared brought dead at a hospital. --IANS sp/tsb/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Stockholm truck attack suspect has confessed to deliberately driving the stolen vehicle into crowds in the Swedish capital, his lawyer said on Tuesday. During a court hearing here, 39-year-old Uzbek Rakhmat Akilov admitted to committing a "terrorist crime" last week in which four people were killed and 15 others were injured, reported BBC. Johan Eriksson, defending Akilov, told the court: "His position is that he admits to a terrorist crime and accepts. Therefore, he will be detained." Two Swedes, one Belgian and a Briton were the victims of the last Friday attack. Nine people remained hospitalised, two of them in serious condition. The truck driven by Akilov had crashed into the front of Ahlens department store on Drottninggatan (Queen Street), one of the city's main pedestrian thoroughfares. --IANS soni/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rakhmat Akilov, the main suspect in the Stockholm truck attack that killed four people, has confessed to deliberately driving the stolen vehicle into crowds in the Swedish capital, his lawyer said. During a court hearing here on Tuesday, the 39-year-old Uzbek admitted to committing a "terrorist crime" last week in which 15 people were injured, the BBC reported. Johan Eriksson, defending Akilov, told the court: "His position is that he admits to a terrorist crime and accepts. Therefore, he will be detained." Akilov was brought into the heavily-guarded court in handcuffs. He was known to have shown interest in jihadi organisations, said the police. He was also known to security services. Akilov had been denied residency in Sweden and had expressed sympathy for the Islamic State (IS) terror group, the police said. The truck driven by Akilov had crashed into the front of Ahlens department store on Drottninggatan (Queen Street), one of the city's main pedestrian thoroughfares. He reportedly ran from the scene of the attack on last Friday, still covered in blood and glass, and was arrested hours later in a northern suburb of Stockholm, the BBC reported. According to reports, he had left his wife and four children behind in Uzbekistan in order to earn money to send home. After applying for residency in 2014, he was informed in December 2016 that "he had four weeks to leave the country", police official Jonas Hysing said. He disappeared and, in February, was officially put on a wanted list. Responding to the attack, Swedish Justice Minister Morgan Johansson said he wanted to toughen the nation's terrorism laws. Two Swedes, one Belgian and a Briton were the victims of the last Friday attack. Nine people remained hospitalised, two of them in serious condition. --IANS soni/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) They bite rats, snakes and even stripped naked outside the Prime Minister's office; however farmers from Tamil Nadu, some even protesting with the skulls of their kin, continue facing apathy, they say. On Tuesday, after 29 days of protest, a delegation of six farmers lead by P. Ayyakannu met the Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. "The minister said that our demands will be met but the protest will continue till the demands are actually met," said one protester. The farmers say that due to the drought for last 10 years which became more severe since last four years, they could hardly cultivate any crops. They have been demanding loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve the irrigation issues faced by the farmers. Farmers say that due to the drought their crops failed for thr last four years and they are unable to repay the loan they had taken. "The water availability started reducing annually ten years back and for past four years there were no rains. All the lakes and ponds dried up, there is hardly any water now," B.K Murti, a farmer from Velangani village of Nagapattinam district, told IANS. He added that a lot of farmers in his and neighbouring villages has been committing suicide since the past ten years, while the number jumped in the last four years. According to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), between 2000 and 2014 a staggering 12,373 farmers committed suicide in Tamil Nadu while the agriculture department claimed the number was only 13. While the NCRB says 238,659 farmers committed suicide in India between 2000-2014, the Agriculture Ministry says the number is 18,271. Facing a language barrier, a Chennai-based techie named Pradeep helped this IANS corespondent in translating the ordeal of the Tamil-speaking farmers. Pradeep joined the protest five days back after resigning from a corporate job in Mumbai against his family's will. "When I reached here 24 days had already passed, no one from government, either the state or centre bothered to came and listen them out," said Pradeep. Pointing towards a farmer named Damodaran, who wears a garland of three human skulls in protest, Pradeep claims that the centre was that of his wife, while other two were of his kin who committed suicide two years ago. "He exhumed it and had been since keeping them... he hardly talks," a farmer claimed. Farmers claim that since all the lakes and ponds in the village dried three to four years back, they could only manage water for drinking. "I have six acres and there had been hardly any crop since the last four years. We grow corn, rice, chilies and brinjals. I grew corn two years back which dried... Two years back I took a loan of Rs one lakh to support my family and to dig a borewell for water. It was an unsuccessful attempt," Kamaraj, a farmer from Amangudi village in Tiruchirappalli district, said. Kamaraj, along with many other farmers, claimed that they also had to sell off their livestock because of the lack of water. "I had two cows and I had to sell one... I am here so as to save my family as this is our last option," Kamaraj added. --IANS kd/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The New York Times won three Pulitzer Prizes this year in the categories of best feature writing, best special reporting and best breaking news photography, as journalism presented its highest honours, the reported. On Monday, the New York Daily News and ProPublica shared the prize for public service for their joint coverage on the New York Police Department's widespread abuse of a decades-old law to force people from their homes and businesses over alleged illegal activity. The investigation, which involved the examination of more than 1,100 nuisance abatement cases, found that the Police Department almost exclusively targeted households and shops in minority neighbourhoods. The reporting drove New York City to re-examine the nuisance law and pass sweeping reforms, the New York Times reported. David A. Fahrenthold of the Washington Post won the prize for jhis work in national reporting during the presidential campaign on Donald Trump's charitable foundation. Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal won the commentary award for columns that the Pulitzer board said "connected readers to the shared virtues of Americans during one of the nation's most divisive political campaigns." Colson Whitehead's brutal and surreal novel "The Underground Railroad" won the prize for fiction. The novel, which won the National Book Award last year, centres on a young woman who escapes her life as a slave in Georgia and flees via a real subterranean network of train cars. Whitehead, 47, told the New York Times on Monday that to be given even more recognition by the Pulitzer committee was "startling and wonderful". The prize for best explanatory reporting went to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, McClatchy and the Miami Herald for their work on reporting the Panama Papers, discussing international tax havens. Winning the award for investigative reporting was journalist Eric Eyre, with the Charleston Gazette-Mail, for his coverage of the uncontrolled flow of opioids into the most disadvantaged areas of West Virginia. The Pulitzers this year come as financial pressure drains many news organisations of the resources to pursue top-flight journalism, according to The Times. They also come in the face of a combative stance from President Trump, who has called the news "the enemy of the American people". --IANS ksk/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "There is not much worse that India can do," a Pakistani newspaper said on Tuesday as New Delhi warned Islamabad against hanging alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. "It can be argued that the peace process between the countries will take a hit, but in reality there is no peace process," The Nation said in an editorial. "By all statements of BJP stalwarts, India wants Pakistan to be destroyed," it said. "Why should Pakistan pull any punches, when it is constantly demonized and humiliated by its violent neighbour?" The daily, however, described as "shocking" the Pakistani military's decision to award death sentence to Jadhav, who was arrested last year in Balochistan on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad. "This is a very strong message by Pakistan to India and the international community that it will not take Indian interference lightly," it said of the death sentence. --IANS mr-py/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons and their two juveniles accomplices were on Tuesday held for murdering a food vendor after he refused to serve them 'golgappa', police said on Tuesday. Police said the accused Vikkey, Anil, Beenu and the two juveniles, all residents of Mangolpuri area in west Delhi, were apprehended from their hideouts in the area. "They attacked Raju, 24, a golgappa vendor late on Sunday late night when he was returning home in Mangolpuri I-block. They stopped him and asked him to serve them 'golgappas' but when he refused saying they were finished, they attacked him with knives," said Deputy Commissioner of Police M.N. Tiwari. Raju succumbed to his injuries later in a hospital, police said. --IANS sp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Zambian student, who was found dead in Gujarat last week, had committed suicide, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday. "I have got the report on the death of a Zambian national Zite Shakala from Government of Gujarat. "Police investigations prima facie suggest that this is a case of suicide. A suicide note has been found at the scene of occurrence," she said in a series of tweets. Jeetey Shakala, 21, who was a third year engineering student at Parul University in the Waghodia area of Vadodara, was found dead in his room in the international students' hostel on the campus on Saturday. The incident comes in the wake of attacks on some Nigerian nationals last month in New Delhi's satellite township of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. African envoys described the attack as "racist" and even threatened to move the UN and other international bodies over the issue. The government has maintained that the attack cannot be dubbed racist pending completion of an investigation into the matter and described the African envoys' statement as "unfortunate". --IANS ab/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There are two competing trends in India today. One is Prime Minister Narendra Modis compelling faith in technological advancement as a key driver of the modernisation of India. This is the message of . The other is the assertion of a vision of a Hindu India but in terms which contradict that of a modern India. The appointment of Yogi Adityanath as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP), the revival of the Ram Temple movement, the elevation of a ban on cow slaughter as a national priority, and the targeting of any social behaviour deemed contrary to a set of narrowly prescribed Indian values, all these point to a social regression that contradicts the inclusive and forward-looking impulse that underlies . It has been argued that Mr Modi himself is wedded to the modernisation of India but that he has to politically genuflect to a constituency which provides foot soldiers for his political consolidation. If this indeed is the case then it will soon become clear that the current brand of Hindu revivalism and technological progress are antithetical and contradictory pursuits. Rajya Sabha MP and BJP leader on Tuesday said New Delhi should recongnise Balochistan as an independent nation if Pakistan executes Indian Kulbhushan Jadhav. Jadhav, a former India naval officer, was awarded the death sentence by a Pakistani military court after he was declared a "spy" in that country. "If Pak hangs Jadhav then India must recognise Balochistan as an independent country," he said in a tweet. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Swamy said it was useless to ask for consular access for Jadhav. Noting that Pakistan targeted Jadhav after claiming he was creating problem in Bolchistan, the MP said, "We must threaten Pakistan that if anything happens to Jadhav...We will consider Balochistan as independent nation and call Baloch representatives and ask them to form a government in exile." BJP MP and former Home Secretary R K Singh underscored the need for adopting a policy of "strict reciprocity" with Pakistan. He said a number of Pakistani nationals are arrested every month in India trying to carry out terror strikes and if New Delhi starts behaving the "same way, all of them will hang". "International relations are carried out on the basis of reciprocity. And strict reciprocity, in my view, is the best course to adopt. In this (Jadhav's) case also, we need to adopt the course of strict reciprocity," Singh said. He said Pakistan needs to understand that India arrests a number of their citizens every month with weapons. "Pakistanis will come across to the Valley to carry out terrorist attacks with AK-47s, grenade launchers etc. They are put on trial, and in jails for 10-12 years and sent back. "If this sort of thing (sentencing and executing Jadhav) happens and we (India) start behaving the same way, all of them will hang. We will set up a special court, we will change the law. Pakistan needs to keep this in mind," he said. Soon after the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) Uttar Pradesh legislators on March 18 elected Yogi Adityanath, the chief priest of Gorakhpurs Gorakhnath mutt, as their leader, social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp were abuzz with posts hailing the new chief minister as a great renouncer. While BJPs choice of a hardliner with a history raised some eyebrows, the dissenting voices were drowned by the supporters eulogy of a selfless saint who sacrificed for the larger good of people and religion. An explosion inside a workshop where a police armored vehicle was being repaired killed one man and injured a number of other people, Turkish police said today. The blast in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir caused part of the workshop an annex to the city's main police headquarters to collapse. One repair worker, who was trapped beneath the debris, later died in a hospital, the Diyarbakir governor's office said. It said other people injured in the explosion were being treated in hospitals, but did not provide a number. The cause of the explosion was under investigation. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu suggested, however, that the blast was caused by the repair work and was not the result of an attack. "There was no external intervention," he said. The state-run Anadolu Agency said surrounding buildings and cars parked nearby were damaged in the blast. Ambulances, police and rescue teams rushed to the scene in the city's Baglar district, where thick smoke was seen rising into the air. Turkey is on edge following a string of deadly bomb attacks carried out by Kurdish rebels or Islamic State militants in the past two years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Paramilitary forces like ITBP, SSB, BSF and others are facing a combined vacancy of about 16 per cent in their officer ranks, the government informed the Parliament today. As per data updated till March 1, the highest number of vacancies in the Gazetted Officers ranks are in the three border-guarding forces-- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at 32 per cent, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 27 and the Border Security Force (BSF) at about 10 per cent. The data was presented by Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. While SSB has 856 vacancies against the sanctioned strength of 2,183 officers, ITBP has 584 vacancies against 2,094 approved posts and the BSF has 522 vacancies against 5,309 posts. In other organisations like the Central Reserve Police Force, the vacancy in the officers rank is 441 against 5,410 posts, 210 in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) against 1,556 posts and 260 against 1,268 posts in the Assam Rifles. These vacancies thus total upto 2,873 as compared to 17,820 sanctioned posts, which is about 16 per cent, the data revealed. The overall vacancies in these forces, also called Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), is 21,430 in all the ranks against the total sanctioned mapower of over 9.7 lakh. "Filling up of vacancies is an ongoing and continuous process, as they arise due to reasons such as new raising, retirements, resignations among others. Vacancies are filled through various methods of recruitment such as direct recruitment, promotion or deputation as prescribed in the recruitment rules," Rijiju said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Swine flu has claimed more than 100 lives across Maharashtra this year, a state Health Department official said today. "101 people have died till April 10 in the state due to swine flu. The rise and fall in temperatures during the last few weeks have aggravated the infection," Joint Director of Family Welfare Mukund Diggikar, who holds the additional charge for epidemic diseases in Maharashtra Health Department, told PTI. Though pregnant women, children and old people are more susceptible to the disease, almost all sections of the society have fallen prey to the H1N1 virus, he said. Besides, 182 people have tested positive for the viral infection across Maharashtra. Another, 7,381 have shown symptoms similar to swine flu but tests will determine the infection, the official said. "We have administered some medication to these patients but a full fledged treatment is yet to commence," he added. Nashik has reported 20 deaths so far due to the H1N1 virus, the highest in Maharashtra. This is followed by Pune (13) and Pimpri Chinchwad (10) areas. Except for Konkan region, each district in the state has at least one case of swine flu death, Diggikar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fifty two students were arrested after a protest against fee hike turned violent at the Panjab University campus here today as the agitators clashed with police, forcing the latter to use force, resulting in injuries to both sides. Some mediapersons were also injured during the protest. After registering a case of rioting and damage to public property against the protesting students, police have arrested 52 students out of the 66 identified by the university authorities, police said. The agitating students wanted to hold talks with Vice Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover on the fee hike issue as they were observing "PU Bandh" against the recent hike. When the students were not called for discussion, they tried to forcibly enter the VC office in the varsity campus by jumping the barricades set up by police. Police resorted to water cannons to disperse the angry students. The situation turned violent when students allegedly started pelting stones and flower pots at cops, forcing the police to lathi charge and lob teargas shells, leading to injuries to several students including girls. Several student bodies including Students for Society (SFS), National Students Union of India (NSUI), Punjab University Students Union (PUSU) had given a joint call for 'Panjab University Bandh' in protest against the fee hike. "We resorted to use force after students turned violent," UT Chandigarh SP Eish Singhal said, adding that some police vehicles were also damaged. "On our side 22 cops sustained injuries," SP said. "We have arrested 52 students so far for rioting and damaging public property," he said. After police used force, some protesting students took shelter in a Gurdwara situated on the campus. Earlier, the protesting students boycotted classes. Some students could also be seen forcing the shops to close. Some photo journalists and reporters who were covering the protest have also sustained injuries allegedly caused by police cane charge. Chandigarh Press Club strongly condemned the alleged lathicharge by the police on photographers and journalists. In a release issued here, the Press Club's president Jaswant Rana and Secretary General Barinder Singh Rawat alongwith the governing council members demanded inquiry into the incident and registration of FIR against those police personal who were involved in lathicharge. A delegation of the Chandigarh Press Club will meet the UT Administrator, UT Adviser and UT IGP in this regard to take strict action against those involved in this incident, the release said. The students have been protesting against the "significant" hike in tuition fee announced by the PU senate last month for the 2017-18 academic year. In some courses, the fee hike was steep. In the B Pharma course, the fee was raised from Rs 5,080 to Rs 50,000 and in MA (journalism) course, the fee was hiked from Rs 5290 to Rs 30,000. For PU's dental course, the fees was increased from Rs 86,400 to Rs 1.50 lakh. With the students demanding rollback of the fee hike, the PU had justified the average 12.5 per cent hike while considering the financial condition of the university as the it has anticipated a deficit of Rs 244 crore for the financial year 2017-18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air India Express is likely to launch direct flight from Surat to Dubai on May 15 amid demands for services on this route. The carrier, the international budget arm of Air India, will deploy Boeing 737-800 aircraft having 189 seats on this route, sources said. Two parliamentarians from Gujarat, Darshana Jardosh and C R Paatil, met Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani today to discuss about having more flights from Surat. "Surat-Dubai 3 times a week from May 15 subject to FAA clearance," Jardosh said in a tweet. An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the plan to start direct flight from Surat to Dubai has been approved. The service would commence from May 15. The airline expects to see "50-60 per cent" seat occupancy on the route initially, sources said. Besides, Air India is "examining" the possibility of flying to more domestic destinations from Surat. The routes being looked at include Mumbai-Bhavnagar- Surat-Mumbai as well as connectivity to other destinations like Kolkata, Varanasi, Bangalore and Chennai. "Additional flights to either Kolkata/ Varanasi/ Bangalore/ Chennai being considered," Jardosh tweeted. The MP also tweeted that Lohani has given "assurance of exploring @airindiain Mumbai-Bhavnagar-Surat-Mumbai flight as a daily option for the convenience of passengers". As per its website, Air India Express currently flies to 15 international destinations apart from domestic routes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Contentious issues like the Ayodhya dispute and triple talaq will be high on the agenda at a two-day meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) here later this week. "The executive meeting of the Board is scheduled to be held at Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow on April 15-16," AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali told PTI. He said the meeting will discuss the Ayodhya dispute against the backdrop of the Supreme Court's suggestion for an out of court settlement and the issue of triple talaq. "The matter of Babri mosque is very crucial and discussion will be held whether there can be any way for talks for its settlement," the Maulana said. The meet will also discuss ways to highlight the Board's functions and activities through social media and strengthen its women's wing. The AIMPLB has been facing resentment from Muslim women who are victims of triple talaq and many of them have filed PILs in the Supreme Court challenging the provision of triple talaq and 'nikah halala', terming them regressive. The Board, however, opposed the PILs and also filed a counter affidavit in the apex court defending Muslim Personal Laws and triple talaq. The Muslim Personal Law Board had recently told the Supreme Court that the pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary. The Board had also said that the validity of Mohammedan Law, founded essentially on the Holy Quran and sources based on it, cannot be tested on the particular provisions of the Constitution. The Centre had on October 7 last year opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism. The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, had referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court. The apex court had taken suo motu cognisance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or due to other marriages of their husband. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The army was allegedly cheated by revenue officials into paying rent for land parcels which were in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Rajya Sabha was informed today. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told the house that nine such instances have come to light and investigation is on. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said the CBI has already filed FIRs in two cases, while the State Vigilance Organisation registered an FIR in another. He said remaining cases are under confidential verification by the CBI. "There are all together 9 reported cases relating to alleged payment of rent for land in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Out of these cases, the State Vigilance Organisation has filed FIR in one case and CBI has filed FIR in two cases," he said. As per details placed by the defence minister, a total of 265 Karnals and one Marla (local measurements) of land in village Khamba in Rajouri district is "under occupation" since April 1, 1972 and rental has been paid upto march 2003. The state vigilance in its probe has found that documents were forged by the state revenue officials to show it was in India's possession though it was either under occupation of Pakistan or located in no man's land. According to the details provided by Jaitley, the second case involves a plot of land measuring 122 Karnals and 18 Marlas, also in Khamba village. The case is pending in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court after one of the suspects approached it in the wake of the CBI registering an FIR in January. The CBI has also filed an FIR in another alleged cheating case involving a plot of 258 Karnals and 13 Marlas. This piece of land is also in Khamba village in Rajouri district. In three other cases too, the land in question was in Khamba village, while two others were in Sarya village in Nowshera, also in Rajouri district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here has issued a bailable arrest warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case arising out of his tweet on the Prime Minister's educational qualification. First class Magistrate, Diphu, Naba Kumar Deka Baruah, issued the warrant of Rs 10,000 yesterday and summoned the AAP leader to appear before the court on May 8. Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council Executive Member, Surjya Rongphar, had filed the defamation case in the magistrate's court on December 26 last year. The magistrate had issued summons against the Delhi Chief Minister to appear in his court on January 30 last. The AAP leader through his lawyer, Gurpreet Singh Uppal, had sought time from the court until April 7, saying that it would not be possible for him to leave Delhi due to the MCD polls on April 23 and the nature of his work. The magistrate in his order said yesterday, "On perusal of case record, it reveals that the accused Arvind Kejriwal has not appeared before this court on the earlier occasion on 30/01/2017, availing adjournment for long duration of more than two months by a prayer as submitted by his advocate although the accused was not dispense with personal attendance by this court as provided by Section 205(I) of the CrPC, 1973 as amended up to date". "Considering the above, the petition of his advocate is rejected", the order said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unidentified persons looted Rs 41,500 from a bank ATM at nearby Ranipur village, police said today. According to a complaint lodged by Rajesh Kumar, manager of Punjab and Sindh Bank, Ranipur rural branch, the bank was closed on Saturday and Sunday due to holidays. When it re-opened on Monday, the lock of its ATM's shutter was found broken and the machine cut with a gas cutter. Rs 41,500 was stolen form the ATM machine, the complainant said. The miscreants had sprayed with a dark colour the CCTV camera so that it could not record their activity, police said. There was also no security guard present due to holidays. It appeared that the miscreants had come in a car, they said. A case has been registered against unidentified persons, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is on a four-day official visit to India, landed here this afternoon. His engagements here today include a visit to the Tata Consultancy Office and a meeting with leading industrialists in the evening. Tomorrow, Turnbull is scheduled to meet Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, before flying back to Australia, a state government official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) have been cutting rates in recent times as they want to use liquidity available with them, Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said in the Rajya Sabha as some parties, including ruling National Democratic Alliance, said note ban did not have positive impact on loan growth. Shiv Sena member Sanjay Raut said it was claimed that note ban would have positive effects on loan growth but that did not seem happening while there were concerns on cutting down staff. Minister of State for Santosh Gangwar said, "while such concerns had been expressed, if we look at figures, there has been a positive impact on ." Another member raised a question about sluggish credit growth, to which Jaitley said steps which are taken to give boost to the economy also mean that should increase. Alternative source of credit such as bonds have seen a significant revival, he said. Jaitley said that, notwithstanding the monetary policy decisions of the Reserve Bank of India, immediately after the demonetisation in the first go itself, in the month of January, the had cut their rates down by almost about 80 to 85 basis points. "Recently, again, at the beginning of this month, I saw there was a marginal cut by some banks," Jaitley said, adding "therefore, banks have themselves also been indulging in the exercise of cutting down the rates, essentially, because excess liquidity is available with banks and they want to use this amount. Britain's Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be the stars at the upcoming wedding of their Aunt Pippa Middleton next month. The three-year-old prince will be a page boy and his two-year-old sister will be one of the bridesmaids for their Aunt Pippa, the sister of Kate Middleton. The children of Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were expected to play a key role at the wedding of 33-year-old Pippa to her financier fiance James Matthews on May 20 and their actual roles were confirmed by Kensington Palace yesterday. Prince Harry will also attend the wedding, leading to speculation if his Hollywood actress girlfriend, Meghan Markle, will be his plus one at the wedding to be held at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire. Pippa had been the maid of honour when Kate married William in 2011 but Kate will not be playing any official role at her sister's wedding. Pippa had confirmed her engagement to Matthews in July last year. Matthews, 41, who works at a hedge fund had been dating for about a year and were living together. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Angry Chinese netizens today called for the boycott of the United Airlines for "racial discrimination" after a 69-year-old Chinese-American passenger was forcibly removed by its staff from an overbooked flight in Chicago. Video of police officers dragging the Chinese-American doctor from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar on social media in China. As the flight waited to depart from Chicago's O'Hare Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, officers grabbed the doctor from a window seat, pulling him across the armrest and dragging him down the aisle by his arms. The passenger was later shown with blood on his face. The video, posted on social media on Sunday, has been viewed by more than 120 million users in China. The video sparked outrage across Chinese social media as the airlines' decision to evict the passenger from the domestic flight was condemned as "racial discrimination", Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported today. 'Just kill me, just kill me': appalling new video shows elderly United passenger begging for mercy. In the incident, the passenger protested that he was on his way to treat patients in Louisville, Kentucky, and that the company's decision to kick him off the plane along with three others was due to his race. On Wechat, the popular Chinese social media platform, articles about the incident circulated widely with headlines such as "because he chose United Airlines, he was beaten and dragged off the plane, with blood over his face." Among the most popular Weibo posts was from Chinese- American comedian Joe Wong, who spoke out in support of the assaulted passenger. United's booting of a passenger was even dumber than it looks: staff could have flown cheaper on other flights "Many Chinese people feel they are racially discriminated against but don't speak out for fear of losing face, causing Western mainstream media and the public to not take discrimination against Asians seriously," he said. Another Weibo user, Qian Qian, commented: "If you beat your customers, we will thrash your reputation and your market share around the world, until we hear a sincere apology from your bleeding mouth." Calls to boycott the United Airline have been rising among Chinese online users. The airline last year celebrated its 30th anniversary of flights to China, but the incident is likely to upset its ambition to attract more Chinese passengers, the report said. "At United, we want to be the airline that our Chinese customers choose first," the airline's director of sales for Eastern China, Eliza Lin, said in a statement in March last year. United Airlines chief executive Oscar Munoz said on Twitter that the incident was "upsetting". One of the security officers involved in the incident has been placed on administrative leave for not following protocol and an investigation is pending, the Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Congress today said it has asked all its district units to hold signature campaign to condemn Pakistan millitary court's decision to give death sentence to retired navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. "The state Congress condemns Pakistan's false charges against Jadhav, who belongs to Maharashtra. The sentiments of Congress and people are strong over the issue," party spokesman Sachin Sawant told reporters here. The party demands that Centre takes a strong stand on the issue, he said. "Party workers at the district level will submit memorandum highlighting the sentiments of the party and the people to the District Collector till April 14," he added. Sawant said Jadhav's case is a result of the failure of the Centre's foreign policy. A Pakistani army court yesterday sentenced Jadhav to death for "for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China today said it will select the next highest monk of Tibetan Buddhism through the traditional way of drawing lots from a sacred urn at Dachau Temple in Lhasa, dismissing the Dalai Lama's assertion that Beijing cannot choose his successor. "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has lasted for centuries. All reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has followed the religious rituals and history rules," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in written response to queries about the Dalai Lama's recent comments made in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should follow religious rituals, history rules and national regulations, instead of whatever the 14th Dalai Lama said, it added. It said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be conducted according to tradition of drawing lots in front of Golden Urn Shakyamuni in Dachau Temple Lhasa (Jokhang monastery), which embodies the Buddhist spirit. "It needs approval from China Central government too. The rule was established as early as in 1793," the ministry said. The Dalai Lama had said in Tawang that Chinese government cannot decide who will be his successor. "It is quite nonsense. There may be some indication at the time of my death of the next Dalai Lama. I am only one soul," the 81-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader had said. The Foreign Ministry said the reincarnation of Living Buddha is a unique way of inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism. China adopts religious freedom policy which for sure, including respect and protect Tibetan Buddhism tradition, the ministry said, adding that the Chinese government issued Regulation on Religious Affairs and Management Rules of Tibetan Buddhism Reincarnation. "We have been following national regulations and respect religious ritual since the beginning," it said. The ministry also questioned the religious credentials of the Dalai Lama and reiterated China's claim over the Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as South Tibet. The Dalai Lama has never been a "purely religious person", but a political exile who has been engaged in anti- China separatist activities out of China, it said. "He has had a disgraceful performance on Sino-Indian border issue. He is active in disputed area in Sino-Indian border which itself is a major political event," it said. "No matter what the Indian government has arranged in disputed areas, and no matter what the Dalai Lama's speech in Arunachal Pradesh, it will never change the fact that there is a great controversy in eastern part of the Sino-Indian border, nor it will change China's position on this issue," it said. The India-Chinaborderdispute covers the3488-kmlong Line of Actual Control. While China claims Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet,India asserts that the dispute covered Aksai Chin area which was occupied by China during the 1962 war. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two groups fought pitched battle at Forbesganj in Araria district over alleged eve- teasing of a girl following which four FIRs have been filed and eight persons arrested, police said today. Two groups of people fought pitched battle yesterday in Forebesganj in which stones were pelted on each other and the officer-in charge of Forbesganj police station Mukesh Kumar Sha was injured in stone pelting when he tried to pacify both the groups, Superintendent of Police, Sudhir Kumar Porika said. Porika told PTI that a total of four FIRs have been filed and 49 people have been in the FIR. Eight persons have been arrested so far and search was on for others. The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders in Forbesganj town located near the Nepal border. Porika said police patrolling was intensified to maintain peace in Forbesganj. District Magistrate Himanshu Sharma said police force has been deployed at important places as a precautionary measure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi today wrote to Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain urging him to commute the death sentence of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav on grounds of "humanity and justice". In his letter, Gandhi, who is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, said the annulment of the death sentence could help restore the faith and hope of those who believe that Pakistan and India are not meant to be "prisoners of mutual hate". "I appeal to you to pause and reflect on the extreme inhumanity, the utter callousness and the moral hollowness of the State taking a human being's life in retributive or vengeful aggression over an individual's right to live," he wrote. Jadhav, 46, was awarded death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by powerful army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. "This is an appeal on behalf of insaniyat and insaf for the cancellation of the order of death passed by Pak military court on Jadhav, a senior naval officer and a citizen of India, now in Pak's custody. "Even if the individual was not one as highly placed, nor a fellow citizen of mine, I would still have urged clemency. The right to live is basic and is independent of one's station in life or nationality," Gandhi wrote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien today asked the government to talk to drought-hit farmers of Tamil Nadu to end their agitation for crop loan waiver. Trichy Siva (DMK), who had given a notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of the day's business to discuss the plight of Tamil Nadu farmers, said no one from government had given the agitating farmers an audience and listen to their grievances. The farmers, he said, are demanding crop loan waiver and linking of Cauvery river to help them overcome difficulties arising from drought in the state. While his notice was disallowed, Siva was allowed to make a brief mention of the issue. Since crop loans have been extended by the public sector banks, the central government has to give an assurance, he said. "Assurance should be given by Prime Minister or a senior minister .... (But) they are not even giving an audience," he said alleging that the Centre had no sympathy for the Tamil Nadu farmers. While AIADMK's A Navaneethakrishnan supported him saying the central government must respond, D Raja (CPI) said the government was insensitive to the plight of Tamil farmers. Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said newspapers had carried reports of the agitating farmers being forced to eat rats for survival. Kurien said he too has seen the reports of agitating farmers agitating carrying human skulls and eating rates. He said one of representatives of government should meet and talk to them to convince them to end their agitation. Agreeing with the feelings of the members, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it is a sensitive and important issue and he will convey to the concerned minister the feelings of the House. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Congress MLA Kalpana Parulekar was today given one-year rigorous imprisonment by a court here which found her guilty in a defamation case filed by the then Madhya Pradesh Assembly secretary Bhagwandev Israni in 2009. The court of Judicial Magistrate Sandhya Manoj Shrivastava also imposed a fine of Rs 2000 on Parulekar after examining the material on record. The court granted Parulekar bail on her plea, after delivering the order. The defamation case was filed against the former legislator from Mahidpur in Ujjain district in 2009 by Israni. His complaint stated that Parulekar had tarnished his image by levelling false allegations against him by holding a press conference on the premises of the state Legislative Assembly on September 23, 2009 in Bhopal. The case was registered against Parulekar in 2010. At the press conference, Parulekar had said that Israni's educational qualifications, on the basis of which he got the job, were bogus and doctored. When contacted today, Israni, who had retired as Principal Secretary of the Assembly Secretariat, told PTI that "truth has won." "She (Parulekar) could not produce even a single witness. Her allegations have been proved totally false. This is for the first time that a politician has been punished following an initiative of a bureaucrat," he said. Meanwhile, Parulekar said she will file an appeal in the sessions court against her conviction. "I will continue to fight against the wrongdoers and corruption, come what may," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police have detained dozens of people accused of violating a ban on protests against DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, police have said. "Police have arrested and detained 34 people in Kinshasa," after Monday's protests, said national police spokesman Pierre-Rombaut Mwanamputu. "Some wanted to breach the ban on a march, the others were preparing acts of vandalism." Late yesterday he said all of them had been released. He gave no details of arrests in other parts of the vast country, where there is strong anger over Kabila remaining in office beyond the end of his mandate in December 2016. Human Rights Watch said in a blog that over 80 people were arrested in Kinshasa and several other towns, including Bukavu in the east and Lubumbashi in the southeast. The rights group told AFP that its figures include people who were arrested and subsequently released but was unable to say how many remained in detention. The call by Democratic Republic of Congo's main opposition party for nationwide protests Monday appeared to have been ignored in Kinshasa, however, where people stayed home fearing violence after the authorities banned the rallies. In the country's second city, Lubumbashi, Hubert Tshisuaka, the head of a local human rights group, told AFP he had no of six people in a group of 24 detained by police on Monday. In northeastern Goma, six people who tried to barricade roads were briefly detained and then freed, a local police source said. The opposition is seeking to pressure Kabila, who has ruled since 2001, to implement a power-sharing deal brokered by the Catholic church to avert a crisis, by holding elections late this year. Under the accord, Kabila agreed to share power ahead of the polls with a prime minister from the opposition. But last week he named as premier a dissident member of the opposition, Bruno Tshibala. The main opposition has rejected this choice as being contrary to the letter and the spirit of the power-sharing accord. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japanese air conditioner maker Daikin is aiming to cross Rs 5,000 crore sales mark here in next two years as it expects a bigger share in the energy conserving inverter AC segment. Daikin expects expansion in real estate, technological innovations, and stricter eco-friendly norms to drive its growth. As part of its strategy, Daikin India is enhancing its sales infrastructure in small cities and towns, and has plans to explore foreign markets once its second unit at Neemrana goes into production later this year. "We are growing more than the industry average from 2010 onwards... This season we would grow minimum of 25 per cent," Daikin Airconditioning India CEO & Managing Director Kanwal Jeet Jawa told PTI. Daikin India had clocked a turnover of Rs 3,250 crore in FY 2016-17, registering 18 per cent growth over that of Rs 2,750 crore in previous fiscal. When asked if Daikin would cross Rs 5,000 crore turnover in next two years, he said: "Definitely, you can count. This is the plan for us." This season, Daikin is expecting to corner at least 34 per cent market share in inverter ACs, which are considered to be energy efficient. "Last year our inverter AC sales were around 25 per cent of the total market and this year we are increasing it to 34 per cent of total sales," he said, adding "R32 refrigerant brought by us here was a game changer." In India, total size of split AC is around 4.5 million units and around 10 to 12 per cent of that was of inverter AC last season in which Daikin had 25 per cent share, Jawa said. Besides, the company is also focusing to increase sales of its VRV (variant refrigerant volume) which is used for offices by taking it to some more cities. "We are doubling our efforts in the VRV segment. So far we were selling it in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai and now we are taking to other places," he said adding "earlier we use to sell to small offices and now we are taking it to residential sector as villas and big houses." Daikin India's 70 per cent sales come from residential AC segment and VRV contributes around 20 per cent while the rest comes from chillers. "VRV is the next potential area of growth. In China Daikin sells around 3,00,000 units and in India its around 20,000 only," he added. The company is also expanding sales network from 4,000 channel partners to 10,000 channel partners. "We are increasing our physical infrastructure. We have 23 sales office now and going deeper into tier II & III markets." He further said: "Our second factory would be ready by October this year and this would double our capacity here". The company, which has opened its R&D centre here, is also planning to have a third unit at Neemrana in FY2018-19. "Third factory would be around FY2018-19. We have already initiated some action," Jawa said, adding that the company has so far invested around Rs 2,000 crore in India. Daikin also exports products to neighbouring markets as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh from India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi State Election Commission today asked AAP to file its reply within two days over a complaint of putting up a "distorted" picture of BJP leader Vijender Gupta on its election posters across the city. In a written communication to AAP state convener Dilip Pandey, the commission said that if the party fails to file the reply, the complaint will be decided ex parte. "I am directly to kindly advice you to take remedial action and give comments on this complaint (Gupta's), within 48 hours, to this Commission for its pursual, otherwise complaint will be decided ex parte," Commission's Deputy Secretary Girish Pandey said in a communication to AAP. The SEC's move comes a day after Leader of Opposition Gupta had met State Election Commissioner S K Srivastava and loged a complaint seeking action against the Aam Aadmi Party. The poster, seen in many parts of the city, carries photos of both Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gupta and asks voters as to who they would prefer to hold the reins of the municipal corporations. Elections to all three civic bodies - North, East and South Delhi Municipal Corporations - will be held on April 23. The counting will take place on April 26. "The posters show a smiling face of Kejriwal while depict me in a distorted and villainous way," Gupta had said. Gupta had demanded the Election Commission get the posters removed and take action against the AAP. "These are elections and not a beauty contest to be fought on the photo of leaders," the BJP leader had said, throwing challenge of an open debate to Kejriwal and AAP on issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Director General of Border of Security Force Raman Srivastava was today appointed Advisor to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on police matters. Srivastava, a 1973 IPS officer from Kerala, would hold the rank of Chief Secretary but without any remuneration, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here. Srivastava, also a former DGP of the state, would advise the Chief Minister on police policy. He had also served as Special Secretary (Internal Security) Union Home Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Borussia Dortmund team bus was damaged and a passenger injured after three explosions went off near the vehicle on the way to today's Champions League home game against Monaco, police confirmed. "The bus set off" from the team's hotel to the stadium when "three explosive charges have detonated," said a spokesman, Gunnar Wortmann. German daily Bild report Spanish defender Marc Bartra has been injured and taken to hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An 11-day "asud" or hunter yatra to highlight various issues concerning farmers in general was kicked off today from second capital of Maharashtra here. The yatra, started from the hometown of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here, will culminate at Vadnagar in Gujarat, the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 21, said Bachhu Kadu, an Independent MLA from Achlapur in Amravati district, who is coordinating the programme. The yatra is organised by Kadu's Prahaar Sanghatna and the Shetkari Sanghatna. The "asud" yatra was rolled out commemorating the birth anniversary of the 19th century social reformer Jyotirao Phule. "Shetkarayacha Aasud" (Cultivator's Whipcord) was one of the accomplished works of Phule. The MLA said that various organisations of farmers from across the country will participate in the yara, which will cover Wardha, Yavatmal, Nanded, Parbhani,Beed, Latur, Osmanabad, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune, Ahmednagar, Nasik, Dhule, and Nandurbar towns in Maharashtra before crossing into Gujarat. The yatra will visit Ahmedabadbefore it concludes at Vadnagar in Mehsana district. Kadu said that around 1,000 farmers will donate their blood at Vadnagar on the day of culmination to draw the government's attention to the farmers' issues. A fleet of buses carrying hundreds of people moved out as part of the yatra. Lashing out at Narendra Modi government, Kadu said "'khoon le lo par jaan mat lo' (take blood but not life). Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 'chai pe charcha' in Yavatmal had promised that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will be fixed to ensure 50 per cent profit in the cost of production for farmers." He alleged that the farmers are not even getting 15 per cent of the MSP price. "While Baba Ramdev can export his goods to 250 countries, there is a ban on the export of the farmers' produce. While there is a ban on exporting cotton, tur and soybean, there is no prohibition on export of textiles," Kadu said, adding that government should lift the ban on export. Referring to the "sangharsh yatra" taken out jointly by the Congress and NCP in Maharashtra recently, Kadu said had Congress implemented the recommendations given by Swaminathan Commission on agriculture when it was in power, the need to organise the sangharsh yatra would not have arisen. On the opposition's demand for waiving loans of farmers, he said, "a loan waiver is a short-termrelief and not a long-term solution. Still, this reliefshould be extended to farmers to provide them a temporary relief to their problems." Kadu alleged that the Congress and the BJP had always pursued the policy of 'satta aali tar vyapari aani satta geli tar shetkari' (...'remember farmers only for sake of power and cater to traders after assuming power'.) He claimed that around 50 to 60 organisations of farmers will participate in the yatra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five Bangladeshi youths have been arrested from Jogendranagar railway station here for travelling without valid documents, Police said today. Acting on a tip-off, the Mobile Task Force (MTF) of Tripura police yesterday arrested the five Bangladeshis from the railway station. The arrested youths hail from Chittagong in Bangladesh. They entered through Sonamura, a sub-divisional town, bordering Comilla district of Bangladesh, SP (Police Control), Dilip Roy said. During preliminary interrogation, the arrested youths disclosed that they were on their way to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh to study in a Madrasa there. Further investigation is on, the SP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa Forward Party (GFP), at the NDA meeting held in Delhi yesterday, raised the concern of the state's tourism industry arising from a ban on loud music at night and a SC order on liquor shops. "The imposition on ban on music after 10 PM has been affecting the state's prospects to be developed as a wedding destination," GFP leader and state minister Vijai Sardesai told PTI today. "Goa is an important tourist and wedding destination where such kind of ban affects the trade," he said. He said the issue was raised during the meeting of NDA constituents which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday. The GFP, after the recent state Assembly elections, entered into an alliance BJP and is a partner in the Manohar Parrikar led state government. Sardesai said currently the state allows exemption from the ban on loud music for 15 days in a year, but it is not enough. "The relaxation is given during festivals like Easter, Christmas and New Year. But these 15 days are not enough to salvage the wedding and tourism industry from the affects of the ban," he said. The Town and Country Planning Minister demanded that the relaxation be extended to six months in a year to save the tourism industry that provides employment opportunities and generates revenue for the state. He said the Centre should allow the state to enact a legislation in this regard. The GFP also sought the Centre's intervention to save thousands of liquor outlets along the national and state highways which have been closed following a Supreme Court order. Sardesai also expressed apprehension over the Centre's decision to nationalise inland waterways in the coastal state. He said the issue was raised in the meeting and later a memorandum was handed over to Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari listing their reservations over the issue. Sardesai had earlier also raised objection to the nationalisation of rivers claiming that the rights of fishermen would be curbed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government will do everything possible to get justice for Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been handed down death sentence by a Pakistan military court, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. While condemning the action, Singh said in the Lok Sabha that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. Responding to concerns expressed by members cutting across party lines, Singh said Pakistan had told the media there that Jadhav was carrying a valid Indian passport. He wondered why a spy would carry a valid passport. This exposes Pakistan's action," he said. The Home Minister was also critical of Islamabad's decision to deny New Delhi counsellor access to Jadhav on 13 occasions. As soon as the House met for the day, members cutting across party lines slammed Pakistan for awarding death sentence to Jadhav. Barbs were frequently exchanged between treasury and opposition benches on the issue with the latter blaming the government for not taking up the matter strongly. Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wondered why the government remained silent on the issue. His remarks attracted the ire of BJP members who said the government was condemning the incident. "Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue," Kharge said referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to visit Pakistan to attend the marriage of Nawaz Sharif's daughter near Lahore. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said "there should be no spat on the issue. We all are equally concerned about the fate of Jadhav." Kharge said while India granted access to Pakistan to visit Pathankot to gather evidence on terror strike, Islamabad denied counsellor access to Jadhav. Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) urged the government to use its influence for the release of the Indian citizen. Congress' Shashi Tharoor said while India has always preferred not to internationalise its relations with Pakistan, it is time New Delhi tells the world that tomorrow one of their citizens can face a similar fate in Pakistan. N K Premchandran (RSP), Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) and Saugata Roy (AITC) expressed similar sentiments. When some members wanted to react to the Home Minister's remarks, Speaker told them that they could express their views after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj gave a statement. "You do not have to go (to Pakistan) with an army of MPs," she said. The Delhi High Court today asked the Director General (prisons), Tihar to decide within two days the furlough plea of INLD chief O P Chautala, serving a 10-year jail term in the teachers recruitment scam case. A bench of Justices G S Sistani and Vinod Goel issued the direction while disposing of Chautala's plea against a single judge's order cancelling his furlough. The bench, while making it clear that the DG will not get influenced by the order of single judge which had cancelled the convict's furlough along with parole, directed former Haryana Chief Minister Chautala to file a fresh furlough application before the Tihar jail authority. "Taking into consideration the submissions made, we make it clear that in case the appellant files a fresh application for grant of furlough, it would be considered independently by the DG (Prisons) within two days... And he would pass an appropriate order in accordance with law, unaffected by any observation made (by the single judge)," the bench said. The single judge had on March 1 cancelled the parole and furlough granted to Chautala on medical grounds, and asked him to "surrender forthwith", saying he "cocked a snook" at the court and "misled" it by feigning illness. Challenging the order, senior counsel Sudhir Nandrajog and advocate Amit Sahni, appearing for the politician, said his client desires to remain present at the marriage ceremonies of his grandson and thus, he limits his prayer only for being considered for grant of furlough. The counsel submitted that Chautala apprehends that if he seeks furlough, the same would be rejected in view of the single judge order. Senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi government, submitted that the convict's plea would be decided on merit. "Had we been influenced, we would not have given parole to his son Ajay Chautala, who is also co-convict in the same case," Mehra submitted. Dushyant Chautala, an MP and grandson of the 83-year-old Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief, is getting married in mid-April. The Chautalas and three others are serving 10-year jail terms in the teachers recruitment scam case. The Supreme Court had in August 2015 dismissed the Chautalas' appeals against a high court verdict upholding the conviction and sentence of 10 years awarded by a trial court in the junior basic trained (JBT) teachers recruitment scam case. The high court had on March 5, 2015 upheld the 10-year jail terms awarded to the two Chautalas and three others, saying "the overwhelming evidence showed spine-chilling state of affairs in the country." The father-son duo and 53 others, including two IAS officers, were among 55 persons convicted on January 16, 2013 by the trial court for illegally recruiting 3,206 JBT teachers in Haryana in 2000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The people of Oklahoma want local governments and state government to be able to establish some reasonable standards to regulate agriculture, and that's why they rejected SQ 777. Photo by iStockphoto 294 shares Last November, Oklahoma voters crushed a State Question 777, a proposed constitutional amendment in Oklahoma to create a right to farm a measure to deregulate agriculture in the state on a go-forward basis. Despite a multi-million dollar campaign to pass it, more than 60 percent of voters rejected it, with rural and urban counties saying that no business or sector of the economy should be exempt from democratic decision-making and reasonable restrictions on its conduct. The coalition that led the opposition campaign consisted of family farmers, animal welfare advocates, clean water advocates, local governments, all of the states leading newspapers, and so many others. But some lawmakers dont seem to understand that no means no. Theyve given right to farm a facelift. Now theyre calling for the creation of prosperity districts, which would allow for vast parts of the state to be exempt from many state regulations. Thats right to farm by a different means, with deregulation happening parcel by parcel and zone by zone. Despite its dubious status under the U.S. Constitution, House Bill 2132 passed the Oklahoma House last week by a vote of 60-26 (a far narrower margin than the House took of the original right to farm measure). A group called Compact for America appears to have come up with the concept of a prosperity district, which once created would replace within its boundaries, all state laws above the baseline of the state constitution, common law, criminal law and existing compacts. The people of Oklahoma want local governments and state government to be able to establish some reasonable standards to regulate agriculture, and thats why they rejected SQ 777. While the 88-page House Bill 2132 is enormously complex, arcane and opaque, one thing isnt in doubt: legal protections for animals, family farmers, workers, and the environment would be put at risk. This bill shifts governance within the designated zones away from elected city councils and state lawmakers and gives the power to a non-elected board that is not answerable to the citizens, says former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who led the very successful fight against SQ 777. According to the Muskogee Phoenix, which did reporting on the bill today, its something of an attempt to disempower both local and state government in Oklahoma. According to the Oklahoma Policy Institutes Courtney Cullison, the passage of HB 2132 would allow corporations and other special interests to create their own governments. The Oklahoma Senate should heed the will of the voters and put out to pasture the phony construct of prosperity districts. The Delhi High Court today refused to entertain the AAP government's petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against ACB chief M K Meena for allegedly disobeying the court's order by removing an SHO of the anti-graft body. The AAP government had alleged that Meena "blocked" work of the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) and violated the court's order to "act" in accordance with the law. A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath, however, said that once it had had held that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) is administrative head and the Delhi government plea challenging curtailment of the powers of the anti-graft body has been dismissed, there is no point to stop the LG appointed ACB head from taking any decision. "In the light of the said order dismissing the writ petition, we are of the view that the contempt case filed alleging violation of June 29, 2015 order wherein it was observed by the single judge 'in the meanwhile it is expected that Joint Commissioner of Police, Anti Corruption Branch will work in accordance with law' needs no consideration," the bench said. The court said it is not necessary for it to go into the correctness of the allegations in the contempt case and to return a finding as to whether the conduct of the respondents would amount to wilfully disobedience of the order of this court," it added. Initially, the AAP government had moved an application for stopping Meena from entering the ACB office and interfering in any manner with the functioning of the body, alleging that he had no authority to do so. On this, the court had asked Meena to work in accordance with law. In its contempt plea, the Delhi government had alleged that Meena had arbitrarily replaced the then SHO of the ACB with another person. It had said that Meena had "wilfully violated" the high court's June 29, 2015 order. The contempt plea had also alleged that Meena and the SHO appointed by him had not lodged an FIR against two officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) who were allegedly caught accepting bribe. During the hearing on October 27 last year, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for Meena, had said that "there was absolutely no wilful disobedience" by the chief of Delhi's ACB who had acted in accordance with the law by not lodging an FIR. He had said the high court's judgement, holding the Lt Governor as the administrative head of Delhi and upholding the Centre's notification regarding the ACB's powers, has settled the law and thus "the contempt plea was infructuous". Delhi government senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra had alleged that a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) had caught the DDA officials red-handed and had gone to the ACB for lodging an FIR. He had said that even the local police had refused to lodge an FIR in the matter in spite of an SDM asking them to do so and had let off the accused. Brushing side Mehra's contention, the bench noted in its verdict that they have in their judgement passed on August 4 last year had held that the ACB police station shall not take any cognizance of offences against officers, employees and functionaries of the central government is in accordance with the constitutional scheme and warrants no interference. Delhi continues to remain a Union territory under the Constitution with the LG as its administrative head, Delhi High Court had ruled on August 4 last year, dealing a body blow to the Arvind Kejriwal government, which has been on warpath with the Centre over powers. The special constitutional provision Article 239AA dealing with Delhi does not "dilute" the effect of Article 239 which relates to the Union territory and hence, concurrence of the LG in administrative issues is "mandatory", the bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The high courts by way of interim orders should not allow admissions in colleges lacking requisite approvals, the Supreme Court today held. The apex court's verdict came while setting aside a Bombay High Court order allowing a dental college to admit students in PG courses at its own "risk" and said that such interim orders in admission matters should not be passed when an institution lacks the requisite approval. A bench of justices Dipak Misra and M M Shantanagoudar took strong note of the high court order that had allowed a Maharashtra-based Dr Hedgewar Smruti Rugna Seva Mandal to take admissions in MDS course in the specialty of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics for the academic session 2016-17. A vacation bench of the Bombay High Court, on March 31, 2016, had stayed the decision of the government not to allow the college to run PG courses as it lacked infrastructure, teaching faculty etc. The government's decision was taken in pursuance of a report by the Dental Council of India. Setting aside the order, the apex court referred to various judgements and said, "It is perspicuous that the court should not pass such interim orders in the matters of admission, more so, when the institution had not been accorded approval." "Such kind of interim orders are likely to cause chaos, anarchy and uncertainty. And, there is no reason for creating such situations. There is no justification or requirement. The high court may feel that while exercising power under Article 226 of the Constitution, it can pass such orders with certain qualifiers as has been done by the impugned order, but it really does not save the situation," it said. The apex court said that the institution, which has not been given approval, gets an interim order in its favour. "The anxiety of the students to get admission reigns supreme as they feel that the institution is granting admission on the basis of an order passed by the high court. The institution might be directed to inform the students that the matter is sub judice, but the career-oriented students get into the college with the hope and aspiration that in the ultimate eventuate everything shall be correct for them and they will be saved," it said. The bench said that the high court by saying that the institution may give admission at its own risk "invites further chaotic and unfortunate situations". While setting aside the order of high court, the apex court termed it as "absolutely unsustainable". It said that the students, who got admissions in PG courses in pursuance of the high court order in academic sessions 2016-17, can pursue their courses but their seats shall be adjusted from the academic session of 2017-2018. The bench noted that the college has been granted approval for PG courses for academic session of 2017-18. "The college cannot be allowed to get a premium. The grant of bounty is likely to allow such institutions to develop an attitude of serendipity. Such a culture is inconceivable. "Therefore, apart from the adjustment of seats for the next academic session, we also direct the respondent-college to deposit a sum of Rs 30 lakh before the Registry of this court within eight weeks hence and to ensure such compliance, the matter shall be listed in the third week of July, 2017 for further directions," the court said and barred the college from recovering the cost from students. A helicopter had to make emergency landing in Rajasthan's Kota today following technical snag reported by the crew. The incident occurred near Nayanaura village falling under Borkhera police station area where the helicopter was surveying gas pipeline. The helicopter took flight from Vijaypur in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh and reported some technical fault in Kota, SHO Borkheda Lokendra Paliwal told PTI. He added that two crew members and one senior officer of Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) were on board and all were safe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Smartphone maker Huawei has plans to increase focus on devices in the price range of Rs 10,000-20,000 in the Indian market. "We have seen maximum growth in India taking place in Rs 10,000-20,000 range. Huawei will increase focus in this segment in India. Having said that we will not compromise on quality and get into specification game. Huawei will continue to focus on users' experience," Huawei India Consumer Business Group President Peter Zhai told PTI. In 2016, Huawei shipped 139 million smartphones globally and reported 44 per cent annual revenue growth in its Consumer Business Group at USD 25.9 billion. According to Sino-Market research, Huawei Consumer Business Group had led the Chinese market with 18.85 per cent market share in February 2017. "Our exponential growth trajectory in the global market is the testament to our well-crafted strategy and we are looking at replicating it in the Indian market. We have all the right ingredients to be successful in India as Huawei is a company that goes across an ecosystem of devices," Zhai said. Huawei has set a target to be among the top 5 smartphone companies in India by the end of this year. As per industry experts, Huawei is estimated to have doubled its sales in India but numbers are still less compared to it competitors in the smarphone segment. "Huawei sales are estimated to have doubled between first quarter of 2016 and 2017 but the numbers are very small compared to its rivals Oppo and Vivo. However, we believe Huawei is the only brand that can challenge big players in India," Counterpoint Research Associate Director Tarun Pathak said. As per Counterpoint Research, Huawei had 0.6 per cent share in the Indian smartphone segment in January-March quarter of 2016. It is estimated to have registered 0.9 per cent share the first three months of 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A huge fire tore through at least half of the Grande-Synthe migrant camp outside the northern French city of Dunkirk , an AFP correspondent reported. Firefighters said at least ten people had been injured in the blaze, which witnesses said broke out after a row between migrants yesterday. The camp was home to some 1,500 people by the end of March, living in closely-packed wooden huts. Local officials said the blaze had affected around 20 of the huts, each of which accommodates four people, as firefighters continued to battle the flames. A massive plume of smoke rose from the camp into the night sky and was visible from several kilometres away. French officials had said in mid-March that security forces were planning to start dismantling the camp following clashes at the site. The population of the Grande-Synthe camp has swelled since the destruction last October of the squalid "Jungle" camp near Calais, about 40 kilometres away. For more than a decade France's northern coast has been a magnet for refugees and migrants trying to reach Britain, with French authorities repeatedly tearing down camps in the region. Migrants gather along the northern coast in France seeking to break into trucks heading to Britain or pay smugglers to help them get across the Channel. There have been several violent incidents at the Grande- Synthe camp, with police intervening last month after five men were injured in a fight. Another man was stabbed in November. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Authorities and aid workers are searching for several hundred migrants who disappeared after a fire ravaged their camp in northern France, a shocking blaze that exposed anew the challenges and tensions around Europe's migrants just 12 days before France's presidential election. Police cordoned off the largely destroyed camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe today and investigators inspected the site to try to determine the cause of the fire, which broke out last night following a fight between rival groups of migrants. Three mobile police units were deployed in the area to head off tensions prompted by the camp's demise, the government said in a statement. The interior and housing ministers headed to the scene in a sign of the government's concern about the issue. Most of the camp near the English Channel is now reduced to the charred remains of wooden shelters and sparse belongings of the migrants, who converged on northern France in hopes of reaching Britain as part of waves of recent migration to Europe. As many as 1,600 people were in the camp when the blaze broke out, according to Grande-Synthe Mayor Damien Careme and prefect Michel Lalande, the top government official for the region. Some 500 were taken to three local gymnasiums, including one set aside for children and families, but most of the other migrants remain unaccounted-for, the mayor and prefect told reporters today. Doctors Without Borders, which set up the site a year ago to replace filthy makeshift camps in the region, is holding meetings today to decide what to do next. Other aid groups are planning to distribute meals among the migrants in the gymnasiums and anywhere else they are found around town. The first priority is to find migrants dispersed by the blaze, said Corenne Torre, head of the humanitarian group in France. "We just don't know where they are," she told The Associated Press. She estimated that at least 600 migrants remain unaccounted-for. Some are believed to be hiding because they fear the authorities or because they fear rejoining a camp with rival gangs, she said. She said that 10 migrants are in local hospitals with light injuries following the fire. The prefect and mayor said authorities believe the fire was set intentionally and was linked to a fight earlier yesterday between Kurdish and Afghan migrant groups involving up to 150 migrants. The camp will remain closed during the investigation, and local authorities will consider whether to open a new camp to replace it. It's a sensitive issue in France ahead of the two-round April 23-May 7 presidential election in which immigration is a key issue. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and conservative candidate Francois Fillon reiterated calls today for stricter border controls. The prefect took the opposite stance. "The issue today is to shelter those people who live outside at the moment, and to build a future for them," Lalande told reporters. France sheltered migrant populations in the past, he said, "so we are not going to stop the march of history. To the contrary, it is in the name of this history that we are going to build a future for these people". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran actor Dilip Kumar says he doing fine now and has thanked his fans for being by his side. There were rumours that the 94-year-old star was not keeping well and earlier this month the legendary actor's wife Saira Banu took to his official Twitter account to give an update on his health. "God's grace and your prayers with me. I am much better. Slight discomfort and an irritating back pain (sic)," the latest tweet on Kumar's Twitter handle reads. The actor also thanked Punjab Association for honouring him with a lifetime achievement award. "God is kind. Humbled at receiving the Living Legend Lifetime Award from Punjab Association this afternoon," he wrote. The post was accompanied by pictures of him receiving the award. On his return to the micro-blogging site, Kumar also shared a mural painted by artist Asid Farooqui. "So much love from Asif Farooqui. Thank you for this beautiful wall mural on Hill Road in Bandra. God bless you," he wrote. The mural is a still from the actor's 1970 movie "Gopi", which also starred Saira. Kumar was last seen on-screen in the 1998 film "Qila". The thespian has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1994 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his contribution to the Indian cinema. The Pakistan government also honoured him with its highest civilian honour - Nishan-e-Imtiaz - in 1997. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Captured by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) personnel who illegally entered Indian waters, Indian fishermen did not dither in saving their tormentors after one of the Pakistani boats capsized off the Gujarat coast in Arabian Sea on Sunday. In the incident, the captured Indian fishermen who were being taken to Karachi saved two PMSA officers after one of the small fast Pakistani boats collided with an Indian fishing boat and capsized in Indian waters, sources said. The Indian Coast Guard retrieved the bodies of three of the four other Pakistani personnel who drowned in the incident and returned them to PMSA, they said. Meanwhile, the PMSA released seven boats and around 60 fishermen last night as a reciprocal gesture for saving the lives of Pakistani officers, National Fishworkers Forum secretary Manish Lodhari said. It was an attempt to capture Indian fishermen that turned into a tragedy for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency which entered the Indian waters up to 10 nautical miles, a source familiar with the incident said. "Around 10 boats were fishing in the area when PMSA rounded them up in the high seas. When they were taking them to Karachi, one of their small fast boats collided with one of the Indian fishing boats and capsized in Indian waters," the source said. Two of the Pakistani officers were saved by Indian fishermen who were in captivity of PMSA at that time, the source said. The two rescued persons went back to the Pakistan side with their other officers and the captured boats, he said. However, four PMSA personnel in the capsized vessel went missing in waters, he said. An Indian fishing boat, identified as "Mehnoor", too got damaged and suffered a breakdown, he said. Later, the PMSA released an Indian fisherman and asked him to head to the Indian coast towing away the damaged boat. All the other fishermen were taken away by the Pakistani authorities at that time. On learning about the incident, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship 'Arinjay', which was stationed at Okha, rushed to the site. The Coast Guard started its operation in the sea late Sunday night and has so far recovered three bodies from Indian waters while search is still on for the remaining one. They said the Coast Guard handed over the bodies of the Pakistanis to the PMSA yesterday. Lodhari also claimed that Indian fishermen spotted the three bodies in the sea and then handed them over to Indian Coast Guard. "Earlier, we received reports that PMSA had captured seven boats and 42 fishermen. However, there were actually 10 boats and 60 fishermen in that area. Since our fishermen saved lives of their officers and recovered the bodies, PMSA decided to release the 60-odd fishermen yesterday," Lodhari told PTI. "Out of the 10 boats, two (including a damaged boat and another one towing it) had reached Jakhau yesterday with one fisherman while one is still lying unattended in Pakistani waters. Efforts are on by ICG to take its custody," he said. Though it has been almost two days since the incident, there was no official statement from the Indian Coast Guard yet. All the officials of North-West command here remained tight lipped and refused to share any details. The incident has come to light amid fresh strain in Indo-Pak ties over Pakistan's provocative move to give death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav on charges of spying. Last month, nearly 231 Indian fishermen were captured by Pakistan authorities and their 40 boats seized from the Indian waters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Residents of a small village in western Maharashtra are hoping that despite the odds stacked heavily against their local lad Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan, will return home. People in Jadhav's native Javli village in Satara district today condemned Pakistan and demanded the release of Jadhav, the retired Indian Navy officer sentenced to death yesterday by a Pakistan army court on alleged "espionage" charges. A villager said that Jadhav has built a house in his farm at Javli and used to visit the village two-three times a year. "The Indian government should get him released at any cost. It is their responsibility. India should pressurise Pakistan to release Kulbhushan Jadhav," the villager said. "It is our request that he should be released as early as possible. Indian government should apply twice the pressure and efforts it did while securing the release of armyman Chandu Chavan," he said. 22-year-old Chavan had crossed into Pakistan on September 29 last year, the day India conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, 10 days after an attack by suspected Pakistani militants on a camp in Uri that killed 19 soldiers. He was handed over to India on January 21, after four months in captivity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aaron Hernandez Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, center, stands at the defense table during his double murder trial of at Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, Mass., Monday, March 27, 2017. Hernandez is charged in the July 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado who he encountered in a Boston nightclub. The former NFL football player already is serving a life sentence in the 2013 killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. (Keith Bedford/The Boston Globe via AP) (Keith Bedford) BOSTON -- The jury in the double murder trial of Aaron Hernandez deliberated for six and a half hours Tuesday, but was unable to reach a verdict. Jurors will resume deliberations Wednesday morning at 9. Hernandez, who is already serving a life sentence without parole for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, is charged with the 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. Closing arguments in the trial wrapped up this past Thursday. The jury has deliberated for nearly 20 hours in total. In the 2015 trial, a Fall River jury needed more than 35 hours of deliberations to convict Hernandez of first-degree murder. Hernandez last played for the Patriots in 2012. He was arrested for the murder of Odin Lloyd in June 2013, and convicted of the crime nearly two years later. India has collaborated with the Australian government, universities and vocational education trainers following a two-day mission that has delivered key advancements on educational issues. Simon Birmingham, Australia's Minister for Education and Training, today said their government has made important progress on key education issues following meetings and discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar and Skill Development Minister Pratap Rudy. "India represents a significant opportunity for both Australian educators and students which is why the commitments we have secured will continue to deliver on what is a strategically important relationship for both countries and our respective education sectors," Birmingham said. "Ministers Javadekar and Rudy both recognise the quality of Australian education and have instructed Indian officials to work on helping our universities and training providers to establish themselves in the local market," he said. "Prime Ministers Turnbull and Modi have also discussed the importance of our two-way trade on education at length in their meetings and I expect the 130 Australian university and training delegates who have travelled to India will continue to work hard to expand that relationship at the institutional and people-to-people levels," Birmingham said. "I am pleased that Minister Rudy has endorsed the value of Australian 'train the trainer' courses being delivered by Australian providers. A particular highlight of my trip has been to see firsthand the new Indian Energy Research Institute and Deakin University's collaboration on a Nanobiotechnology Research Centre in New Delhi," he added. Meanwhile, a 27-member Group of Eight (Go8) including five Vice Chancellors, their deputies, deans and researchers, which is currently visiting India interacted with VCs, deans, academics and researchers of India's leading universities and research institutions at the colloquium. The colloquium focused on the areas including PhDs' development in India and role played by PhDs as an enabler of Indian research and development, the demand for PhDs from Indian industry and the disciplines and capabilities of PhDs needed by Indian industry and the strategies for ensuring the mobility and joint-training of a PhD qualified workforce between India and Australia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Georgia are exploring the option to negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement to promote bilateral economic ties. Both the countries have decided to set up a group to conduct a joint feasibility study on the free trade agreement (FTA). A "joint statement" to launch the study on the FTA was signed today by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia and Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here. The Commerce Ministry said in a statement said that upon the completion of the study, India and Georgia "may proceed to negotiations on an FTA once the internal procedures are completed and the mandates on negotiations are approved." The joint feasibility study group consists of the officials of the two countries. "The purpose of establishing the group is to provide an opportunity for more in-depth and systematic examination of potential FTA," it added. It would discuss the possible scope of a potential pact and also analyse the sensitiveness of specific sectors, while recommending possible ways to address them. Both the ministers expressed hope that the group would issue a report with the relevant analysis and recommendations within a period of six months. The two-way commerce between the countries stood at USD 107 million in 2015-16. India has a positive trade balance with Georgia. In a free trade pact, two or more trading partners either eliminate or drastically reduce duties on goods, besides liberalising norms to promote services trade. India has already implemented similar agreements with several countries including Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Asean region. It is also negotiating such pacts with over a dozen countries, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India will have to fight it out with Canada in an away tie for a place in the elite 16-nation World Group when the play-offs take place from September 15 to 17. It will be first ever clash between the two teams in Davis Cup history. India qualified for the play-offs for the fourth straight year after beating Uzbekistan 4-1 in a home tie last week while Canada had lost 2-3 to Great Britain in the World Group first round in February. "It will be a fun tie. They have some top players, which will challenge our boys to play at a higher level," India's non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi told PTI. Canada boast of world number six Milos Raonic in their line-up but the 2016 Wimbledon runner-up had missed the last tie against Britain due to an injury. Vasek Pospisil, ranked 119, had led the Canadian attack and they had lost the tie in a freak manner. In the deciding fifth set, trailing two sets to love, Canada's Denis Shapovalov (ranked 172), out of frustration hit a ball which struck the umpire in the face and the tie was awarded to Great Britain. Canada have another player in top-150 in Peter Polansky, who is ranked 127. India had no problem in dispatching lower-ranked Uzbekistan players. Prajnesh Gunneswaran and N Sriram Balaji made good debuts but the spotlight went to unending Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi saga, who yet again fought publically over team selection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK will increase bilateral trade by 26 per cent per annum, according to a new Commonwealth report. The 'Brexit: Opportunities for India' briefing paper released this week will come as a further boost for the UK government's hopes of striking closer trade ties with India as it exits the European Union (EU). Itconcludes that Britain's exports to India will increase by 33 per cent annually following a new deal. "If India and the UK decide to enter an FTA and bring down their tariffs to zero, it is likely to have a greater impact on India than the UK. India's imports from the UK are estimated to increase from USD 5.2 billion to USD 7.8 billion, i.E. Almost 50 per cent rise per annum if there was an India- UK FTA post Brexit," the Commonwealth Secretariat report notes. "A zero tariff regime between India and the UK would lead to some trade diversion from EU countries, when India would prefer importing from the cheaper source," it says in its forecast. The analysis also highlights that India and the EU have been negotiating an FTA since 2007 without conclusion, which also presents an opportunity. "The talks have continued since the Brexit referendum, however India has made it clear that these negotiations will have to be re-visited once the UK leaves the EU," it notes. It adds: "The impending Brexit may further delay the conclusion of this India-UK FTA as India will now have to re- consider and re-negotiate the FTAs it holds with the remaining 27 countries of the EU. This provides India and the UK with an opportunity to strengthen their trade and investment relationship. "One way to progress in this direction would be to draw up an FTA between the two countries. This proposed India-UK FTA may be easier to negotiate than the India-EU FTA, as some of the sticking points in an India-EU FTA may be easier to resolve." India has sought improved market access for services in the EU in Mode 1 (information technology-enabled services, business process outsourcing and knowledge process outsourcing) and Mode 4 (the movement of skilled professionals such as software engineers). India has also sought data secure status from the EU, which would enable high end business from the EU to flow into India. The EU, on the other hand, has sought more commitments from India for opening up sectors like insurance and retail, and lowering tariffs in the automobile and wine and spirit sectors. While the EU's concerns and interests - which have stalled the India-EU FTA since 2013 - may not be completely shared by the UK, India may still have some reservations about opening up its automobile sector to the UK, the report cautions. The services industry has been singled as an area of potential as the quantity of bilateral trade between the UK and India in services is currently "minuscule". "India exports many services for which there is a demand in the UK, and which the UK imports from elsewhere," the report points out. "Although, no trade deals can be done until the UK formally leaves the EU, and much will depend on the negotiated deal between the EU and the UK, as one of the biggest developing countries in the Commonwealth, India needs to take this opportunity and initiate preparations for an FTA with the UK, to be concretised once the UK is no longer a member of the EU," it concludes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India today warned Pakistan to consider the "consequences" on their ties if Kulbhushan Jadhav is hanged in the alleged espionage case and vowed to go "out of the way" to save him amid an outrage in this country. The death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court after declaring him a "spy" echoed in both Houses of Parliament where all parties came together to condemn the "indefensible" verdict and pressed the government to take every step to help him. Outside Parliament, the Congress urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mount diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to secure the release of the 46-year-old former Naval officer. "Death sentence is a deliberate provocation to India. BJP Govt needs to travel beyond advisories. PM must intervene to secure his release (sic)," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. Protests against the death sentence were also staged outside the Pakistan High Commission here. The protesters were led by Congress leader Shehzad Poonawalla. In Parliament, the government as well as the opposition saw the capital punishment as an attempt to defame India and to deflect the attention of the international community from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, asserting that India will go "out of the way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian". Jadhav's execution will be taken by India as a "pre-meditated murder" and Pakistan should "consider its consequences" on bilateral relations, if it proceeds on this matter, Swaraj warned. She said the charges against Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, are "concocted" and the trial against him was "farcical", leading to an "indefensible verdict". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she said. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism." Questioning the trial, she said Pakistan had sought India's assistance to obtain evidence for its investigation and levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, Pakistan linked providing consular access to India's acceptance of its position and and Indian response was constructive in the hope that some forward movement could be made, Swaraj said. "We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidencem" she said. "To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. "That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she asserted. In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, while expressing outrage over the development, said the Indian government should provide Jadhav the best of the lawyers to ensure that the truth prevails. Responding to this, the External Affairs Minister said the government will not only ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan but will also take it up with the President of Pakistan. "Whatever is necessary, we will do. We will go out of the way...," she said, adding that Jadhav was now "not only the son of his parents, but is the son of India." She also informed Parliament that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in the case. She said she has been in touch with Jadhav's parents and the government was extending its fullest support to them in this difficult situation. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. While condemning the action, Singh said that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, members cutting across party lines slammed Pakistan for awarding death sentence to Jadhav. Leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge wondered why the government remained silent on the issue. His remarks attracted the ire of BJP members who said the government was condemning the incident. Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) urged the government to use its influence for the release of the Indian citizen. Shashi Tharoor (Cong) asserted that the sentence was against all international norms. N K Premchandran (RSP), Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) and Saugata Roy (AITC) expressed similar sentiments. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also wrote to Swaraj urging her to secure Jadhav's release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian man is set to be deported from Dubai after he abused a compatriot woman journalist on social media and posted offensive posts against Islam on Facebook, according to a media report. Rana Ayyub, an investigative journalist based in New Delhi, exposed the vulgar messages on Twitter sent to her by the man, following which some of her followers reported the matter to the management of the UAE company where the Indian worked, Gulf reported. The 31-year-old employee identified as B B, from Kerala, joined Alpha Paint in Dubai, a sister company of National Paints in Sharjah, in 2015. He worked as a customer service employee. B B sent an abusive message with sexual overtones to Ayyub on Facebook messenger, the report said. "Just a sample of the filth I receive on my Facebook page. Time to name and shame this pervert," Ayyub posted a screenshot of the message on April 6. Under the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cybercrime law, any form of misuse of a computer, smart device or an electronic network could fetch the violator, if found guilty, a lengthy jail term and/or a heavy fine. The company said it terminated the expat's contract and will pay for his tickets and his rights according to the UAE labour law. The man's visa was cancelled yesterday and he was set to be deported, the report said. Shadi Al Refai, human resource manager of the company, said that they received the complaint by email on April 7 from a man saying that one of the staff members abused a woman on social media. The email included a copy of the abusive message sent by the B B. "We verified the accuracy of the information and checked on the name of the man. On April 8, at 8 am the termination order of (B B) was issued," Al Refai said. The management summoned B B who admitted sending the abusive messages and promised not to repeat his action. "When we checked on his Facebook account, we saw the abusive message which was sent to that lady in addition to offensive posts against Islam," he said. Ayyub told Gulf that she will be filing a police case against the accused in New Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 26-year-old Indian-origin soldier in the UK is on trial for killing his ex-girlfriend by slitting her throat from ear to ear after she ended the relationship due to his "abusive" and "manipulative" behaviour. Lance Corporal Trimaan "Harry" Dhillon is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend Alice Ruggles' flat and murdering in north-east England, the Newcastle Crown Court was told. Dhillon, described in court as obsessive, controlling and manipulative, denied murdering Ruggles in October last year. "From an early stage the defendant was abusive, controlling and manipulative. Those who knew Alice, knew her as a lively fun-loving girl whose personality changed in a months before her death as a consequence of her relationship with Harry Dhillon. She was withdrawn, isolated, deeply troubled by his behaviour after she ended their relationship," prosecutor Richard Wright told the jury. Dhillon is accused of using his skills as a signaller with 2 Scots, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, to hack the 24- year-old victim's emails, phone messages and social media. She was found dead in a pool of blood by her flatmate, Maxine, just days after she had told a police officer that she did not want Dhillon to be arrested for harassment. "Maxine had seen the obsessive and manipulative manner in which Dhillon had harassed and stalked Alice before her death. She had seen first-hand how Alice's happy, bubbly demeanour had changed over time," Wright said. Ruggles had contacted Northumbria Police after she broke up with Dhillon as she was concerned about his behaviour when he travelled from his Scotland barracks, got into her back yard and knocked on her bedroom window late at night. Dhillon was ordered by his commanding officer to stay away from Alice but he posted her a parcel containing photos and a letter. Wright told the court: "Sadly, the dilemma this young girl was in is obvious. She was scared and worried about the behaviour of the man she had plainly loved and cared for. Generously, she told the officer she did not want him to be arrested. She could not have known she would pay for that decision with her life just five days later." According to the prosecution, Dhillon drove to Ruggles' home on October 10, 2016 and waited for her after he broke in through her bedroom window and took a knife from the kitchen. There was a violent struggle which was heard by a neighbour upstairs and Dhillon then allegedly drew the blade across Ruggles' neck six times. He slit his throat from ear to ear, the court was told. His victim also suffered a wound to the nose and her hand along with chest injuries. The trial is ongoing and is expected to last a few days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 1 million Indian tourists have spent a whopping USD 12 billion in the US in 2015, a tourism industry official has said here. "Those 1.12 million Indian visitors spent nearly USD 12 billion dollars in the US in 2015 and that ranks seven as far as a source market in spend. Our Indian friends when they come, they stay longer and they spend more than on the average of a lot of our international visitors," Chris Thompson, CEO and president of Brand USA, told PTI. Brand USA launched a digital campaign to attract Indians to the US, not withstanding the fact that recent surge in hate crimes in the US could have an adverse impact on Indians travelling to the US this year. Thompson said it is too early to arrive at a definite conclusion. On an average, international visitor spend around USD 4,500. "I know the amount Indians spend is higher than that," Thompson said. As per available statistics, Indians on an average spend more than USD 7,000 per visit to the US and stay in the country on an average for over 35 nights. Incidentally, Chinese visitors spend (USD 7,486) and stay for over 37 nights, according to a recent report of the International Trade Administration of the US Department of Commerce. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The IPS (Central) Association has raised questions on the procedures followed during the arrest of a senior police officer in the state for allegedly revealing classified information and demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI. Assam Police CID SSP N Rajamarthandan was arrested on the intervening night of April 6 and 7 for allegedly revealing classified information. Earlier he was suspended on April 4 for allegedly revealing crucial investigation information in a reply to an RTI query. In a letter to Assam Director General of Police, Mukesh Sahay the IPS (Central) Association, secretary PV Rama Sastry, raised serious questions on the procedures followed during the arrest of Rajamarthandan and sought Sahay's intervention in the case. "The complainant is a senior IPS officer of the state CID. As a senior officer of the premier investigating agency of the state has taken a position in the matter, principles of natural justice warrant that the investigation may be entrusted to the CBI, which will be in a position to take a dispassionate view," the letter said. Sastry also requested the DGP to ensure that a "well- considered and fair" response, but not "mechanical opposition", is presented when the matter comes before the Court for hearing the bail of the accused. "The state may consider recommending for the inter- state transfer of the officer until the legal processes against him are not completed or for a minimum period of three years," Sastry said. Questioning the entire process, the letter pointed out that Rajamarthandan was arrested within a short time after the offence was registered under the sections of law, for which maximum punishment prescribed is up to seven years. "The allegations do not indicate corruption, moral turpitude or heinous offence. The circumstances do not indicate that section 41A notice could not have served the purpose. "The cadre officers shared with us that the accused officer holds a reputation of being honest and hardworking," Sastry said. When contacted, Sahay told PTI: "We will respond to it at an appropriate time. Actions were taken strictly as per law and rule.There was no question of prejudice to anyone." Asked about the allegations mentioned in the letter, the DGP said, "It is not based on facts". On the demand of handing over the case to CBI, he said it is a decision that the state government has to take, not the Assam Police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today condemned Pakistan for the death sentence awarded to Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav after a "kangaroo trial" and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mount diplomatic pressure on Islamabad to secure his release. Congress' senior spokesperson P Chidambaram said the world knows that "sham justice" was meted out to Jadhav. "We condemn what has happened in Pakistan and we hope that good sense will prevail and the death sentence imposed by this sham tribunal will not be carried out," he told reporters, with the fervent hope that Jadhav is still alive. Congress' head of communication department Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Death sentence is a deliberate provocation to India. BJP Government needs to travel beyond advisories. The PM must intervene to secure his release." He said India needs to immediately mount an international diplomatic offensive to free Jadhav, who was given a death sentence by a Pakistani military tribunal for "espionage and sabotage activities" in restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. Chidambaram recalled a statement by Pakistan PM's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaz Aziz in December last year where he said that there is not enough evidence to proceed against Jadhav. "Now from a statement which says that there is not enough evidence to legally proceed against Kulbhushan, to a death penalty given by a military tribunal whose jurisdiction to try an unarmed foreigner is seriously in doubt, is a huge leap," he said. Noting that the world knows this was a "kangaroo trial", if a trial took place at all, he said, "the so-called justice meted out to Kulbhushan is sham justice". "The whole nation condemns Pakistan for going through this mock or kangaroo trial and inflicting the maximum penalty upon an admitted Indian citizen," he said. Jadhav as per reports was perhaps abducted from a third country and not arrested in territory controlled by Pakistan, he said. To a question if this was failure on the part of the central government, Chidambaram said that it would be too strong a statement. "I am sure they must have made efforts. I do not know. But if they have made efforts, I am sure they will tell Parliament what efforts they made. "They should tell Parliament what efforts they made," he said, adding that his concern was that the maximum penalty imposed on the Indian should not be carried out. Attacking Pakistan for conducting a "hurried" trial of Jadhav without prior notice to India, Surjewala said the development was symptomatic of "Pakistan's kangaroo court justice". He also cited media reports about Aziz's statement in his country's Senate that there was "insufficient evidence against Jadhav". "Will PM pickup the phone & tell Pak about the falsehood of case against Kulbhushan Jadhav as admitted by Sartaj Aziz? (sic)," Surjewala's tweet accompanying a media report on Aziz's statement read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Patriots Falcons Super Bowl Football New England Patriots' Tom Brady celebrates with James White after a touchdown play during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay) The New England Patriots' preseason schedule includes visits to Houston and Detroit, and possibly a series of joint practices with the Texans. The Pats are looking at two away games sandwiched between home stints this summer. Here is their schedule: Week 1: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Week 2: at Houston Texans Week 3: at Detroit Lions Week 4: vs. New York Giants *Specific dates and times are TBA. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, the Pats and Texans are attempting to set up joint practices at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia prior to their Week 2 preseason game. The Patriots have long believed in the importance of joint practices. They hosted the Bears and Saints for joint practices prior to their Week 2 and Week 3 preseason games a year ago. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif today said that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. Jadhav, 46, was awarded death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by powerful army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, upper house of parliament, the defence minister today said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence sparked angry reaction from India which said Jadhav's execution would be treated as "premeditated murder." Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. "There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law," he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. "It's not premeditated murder, what's happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder)," he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went for went on "for three months", rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with "iron hands." "Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment," he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Private carrier Jet Airways today facilitated an educational excursion for 35 terminally ill children of an NGO at the international airport here in association with MIAL. Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) is the joint venture firm that operates the airport. The first-ever educational excursion brought the children up close with the experience of life at an airport, a release said. "Giving wings to dreams is one of the best ways to brighten up the lives of little children. At Jet Airways, it has always been our unwavering and consistent endeavour to support such initiatives," said Jet Airways Chief Commercial Officer Jayaraj Sanmugam. The group of young and curious children was escorted by a guide, who not only explained the various guest facing processes including ticketing, check-in, security clearance, but also the back-end operations such as baggage segregation and others that facilitate guest movement within the airport, it added. The children were also taken on a bus ride of the airport apron area, showing them the various on-ground activities such as taxiing aircraft, refuelling as well as inflight catering. The NGO is working towards fulfilling the wishes of terminally ill Thalassemia major and blood cancer patients and supports all health care and education of such patients. "From time to time, The Wishing Factory has been touched by kind gestures of our donors and associates. Such association has helped our thalassemia and leukemia patients feel welcome and cared for while bringing much-needed moments of happiness and awe to their stressed lives," said Mahazareen Dastur, Project Manager at The Wishing Factory. "So many of the children registered with us have only dreamed of what the inside of an airport or a runway might look like. A few even dream of flying their own plane someday. Jet Airways is helping us make their wishes come true," Dastur added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JKNPP chief Bhim Singh today said he will move Pakistan's Supreme Court against the death sentence awarded to former Indian Navy officer Kulbushan Yadav for "espionage and sabotage activities". Singh, who is a senior lawyer of Supreme Court of India, said the Legal Aid Committee headed by him has advocates in India and Pakistan as its members. They have been offering free legal aid to Indian prisoners in Pakistan and Pakistani nationals lodged in Indian jails, he said. "The Legal Aid Committee will move a petition before the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the death sentence given to Jadhav by a military court," Singh, known for filing public interest litigations in the apex court against human rights violation, told reporters here. He hoped the Supreme Court of Pakistan will do justice to Jadhav and said if needed, he will move the International Court of Justice at the Hague, Holland. Jadhav was handed out a death sentence for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage actives" in restive Balochistan province and Karachi city, Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had yesterday said in a statement. Singh said that on the basis of writ petitions filed by him, the Supreme Court has released around 700 prisoners and deported them to Pakistan. The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party is also providing free legal aid to 54 Indian prisoners in Pakistan, he said. He also accused the Election Commission of discriminating against the people of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The poll watchdog postponed by-elections to Anantnag seat but polling was conducted in Srinagar, he said, adding that he will urge the apex court to order the cancellation of by-polls to both seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today granted bail to start-up firm Stayzilla CEO Yogendra Vasupal nearly a month after he was arrested on charges of cheating. Justice S Bhaskaran granted bail to Vasaupal on a personal bond Rs 40 lakh. The Stayzilla CEO was arrested on March 14 on a complaint by city-based advertisement firm that it had been defrauded by the online home stay aggregator Stayzilla to the tune of Rs 1.69 crore. When the complainant firm Jigsaw Advertising and Solutions sought a direction for a mediated settlement to the issue, the judge said it was a clear case of business transaction between two entrepreneurs. He said it was for the parties to work out such a remedy. Earlier Vasupal's bail plea had been turned down twice, first by the special CB-CID court on March 23 and then by the principal sessions court here on March 28. The Central Crime Branch sleuths had arrested Vasupal on a complaint from C S Aditya of Jigsaw Advertising and Solutions and booked him on charges of criminal breach of trust, intimidation and cheating. It was alleged that Vasupal and his partner Sarjit Singhi had criminally intimidated the complainant when he demanded refund of the dues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra Government will set up a committee under the state Chief Secretary to study ways to regulate private day care centres, an official said today. The official from the Women and Child Welfare department said that initially the government had planned to form a panel under Secretary of either his department or Home, but the plan was later changed. At present, the state government virtually has no control on private day care centres as there are no norms to control their operations. "The idea was to form a committee under the secretary of either Women and Child development department or Home department. "Later, a minister intervened and suggested that as the issue is related to various departments like Women and Child Development, Home, Education, Public Health and Urban Development, hence a committee should be headed by the chief secretary who can coordinate with all other departments," the official added. The move comes against the backdrop of an incident at a creche at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, where a 10-month-old girl was allegedly assaulted by a caretaker on November 21 last year. In the Legislative Assembly session held at Nagpur last year, the Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde had assured that her department will come up with a policy to regulate private day care centres. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that she might visit China next June on an invitation from the Chinese Communist Party. The chief minister said that she would visit the country because it wanted to invest. "Our party has received invitation from the Chinese Communist Party to visit that country. They have invited me". Banerjee told mediapersons at the NSC Bose International Airport here on her return from New Delhi. "They have requested me many times. Perhaps we may go there in June for 4/5 days. Everthing has not yet been finalised. We are talking to them regarding investment in agro sector and manufacturing sector. They want to invest. That is why I want to visit", she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The man dragged from a full United Express flight by airport security officers in Chicago is a Kentucky physician who was convicted more than a decade ago of felony charges involving his prescribing of drugs. But David Dao's unflattering history quickly became the focus of attention, even though there's no indication that his past influenced how he was treated or that the airline or airport police were aware of his background. Dao, who is 69 and lives in Elizabethtown, did not return messages from The Associated Press, which has confirmed that he is the man who can be seen on the cellphone videos taken by other passengers on Sunday night at O'Hare Airport. While screaming can be heard on the videos, nowhere is Dao seen attacking the security officers. In fact, he appears relatively passive both when he was dragged down the aisle of the jet and when he is seen standing in the aisle later saying quietly, "I want to go home, I want to go home." When the video first emerged yesterday, it generated widespread sympathy for Dao and sharp criticism of the airline. The chief executive of the airline's parent company initially released a statement saying only that United wanted to talk to the man. But Oscar Munoz later began defending his employees, saying in a letter that the passenger was being "disruptive and belligerent". That comment certainly suggests that Dao's actions could be examined closely by United and the Chicago Aviation Department, though it remains unclear what role Dao's past might play in those investigations. According to records from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, Dao went to medical school at the University of Medicine of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, graduating in 1974. He was licensed in Kentucky with a specialty in pulmonary disease. His legal troubles started in 2003, when his medical license was suspended after an undercover sting operation at a Louisville motel for allegedly writing fraudulent prescriptions. According to the documents, the licensing board had learned that Dao had become sexually interested in a patient and hired the patient as his office manager. That man later said he quit his job because Dao "pursued him aggressively" and arranged to provide him with prescription drugs in exchange for sex. Dao was ultimately convicted in late 2004 of several counts of obtaining drugs by fraud or deceit and was placed on five years of supervised probation and surrendered his medical license. His longtime effort to get his license back was finally successful in 2015, when the licensing board allowed him to practice medicine again. Airport officials have said little about the Sunday's incident and nothing about Dao's behaviour before he was pulled from the jet that was bound for Louisville, Kentucky. Likewise, the Aviation Department has said only that one of its employees who removed Dao did not follow proper procedures and has been placed on leave. No passengers on the plane have mentioned that Dao did anything but refuse to leave the plane when he was ordered to do so. Sunday night's confrontation stemmed from a common air travel issue, an overbooked flight. United was trying to make room for four employees of a partner airline, meaning four people had to get off. At first, the airline asked for volunteers, offering USD 400 and then when that did not work, USD 800 per passenger to relinquish a seat. When no one voluntarily came forward, United selected four passengers at random. Three people got off the flight, but the fourth, a man who said he was a doctor and needed to get home to treat patients yesterday, refused. Three men, identified later as Aviation Department security officers, got on the plane. Two officers tried to reason with the man before a third came aboard and pointed at the man "basically saying, 'Sir, you have to get off the plane,'" said Tyler Bridges, a passenger whose wife, Audra D Bridges, posted a video on Facebook. One of the security officers could be seen grabbing the screaming man from his window seat, across the armrest and dragging him down the aisle by his arms. Other passengers on Flight 3411 are heard saying, "Please, my God", "What are you doing?", "This is wrong", "Look at what you did to him" and "Busted his lip". "We almost felt like we were being taken hostage," Bridges said. "We were stuck there. You can't do anything as a traveller. You're relying on the airline. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May have agreed that a "window of opportunity" exists to convince Russia to end its support for embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Trump made a phone call to May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and they discussed America's response to the suspected chemical attack by Syrian regime in which 87 people, including 31 children, were killed. May and Merkel, in two separate calls with Trump, expressed support for the action of the US and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable, the White House said. "The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest," May's spokesperson said in London. "They agreed that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement.They also discussed the broader Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran throughout the region," her spokesperson said. The North Korean nuclear programme also figured on the agenda of the phone call from Downing Street. "The Prime Minister and President also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses," the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the White House refuted reports that Russia had prior information about the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime last week. "At this time, there is no US Intelligence Community consensus that Russia had foreknowledge of the Syrian chemical attack," a senior administration official said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US and Russia have common interest in defeating the Islamic State militant group. "We have a shared interest particularly in the area of ISIS. If we can defeat them and if we can work with them on a plan to defeat them, then we're going to do it," he said. "The President came into office to really focus on two fronts: keeping our country safe and growing our economy and putting people back to work," Spicer said. "If Russia or any other country can help us achieve those two goals, either through market access on additional products and services from the US into a major marketplace, but more importantly help to keep our country safe through a combined effort to defeat something like the ISIS, especially in a place like Syria where they're playing so prominently, then I think we want to work with them," Spicer said. "But if we can't get a deal with them, then, the President's not, going to be disappointed. But he would like to do what he can to work with these individuals to make it happen," Spicer said. In a letter to Trump, two Republican lawmakers Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Peter Roskam urged him to suspend aircraft sales to Iran arguing that Tehran is using commercial passenger aircraft to supply its worldwide network of terror proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria. "We urge you to suspend current and future licenses for aircraft sales to commercial Iranian airlines until your administration conducts a comprehensive review of their role in supporting Iran's illicit activity," they said in a letter to Trump. "The United States should revoke authorisations and re-impose sanctions on Iranian airlines found guilty of such support, and should bar US companies from selling aircraft to Iran until the Iranian regime ceases using commercial airliners for illicit military purposes," the letter said. Senator Jack Reed supported the US move of missile strike against the Assad regime. "It was important to respond to the despicable behaviour of the Syrian regime, Assad regime, but it hasn't changed the facts on the ground, which is that Assad controls significant territory. There's Russian support," Reed was quoted as saying by CNN. "But in terms of stopping, the chemical weapons attacks against the people of Syria, I hope it succeeds," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Electronics maker Micromax expects its consumer durables vertical to contribute 25 per cent of total revenue in three years and has roped in Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor as its brand ambassador. "Consumer electronics currently contributes about 10 per cent to the overall revenue and the company expects the consumer durables vertical to contribute up to 25 per cent of its revenues by the end of 2019," Micromax said in a statement. Micromax said it has invested close to Rs 200 crore to build channel and infrastructure capabilities and has a vision to be a complete consumer electronics brand in next three years. In a statement, Micromax said it has roped in Anil Kapoor as its new brand ambassador. Micromax said it will roll out a campaign with TVC, print, digital and OTH advertisements. In April 2016, Micromax diversified its product portfolio and announced shift to non-mobility segments as well. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mission Indradhanush to infuse capital in public sector banks is not the last step as far as their recapitalisation is concerned, Union Finance Minister said on Tuesday, asserting the government was fully supporting them. Replying to questions on concerns by Opposition over growing non-performing loans (NPLs) in these banks, he said the government was making all efforts to ensure the health of the banking sector improves and the banks are repaid. He said the NPL problem related to some big accounts, which are not unduly large in numerical terms, and people have to realise that banks have to be paid back. "There are 20 to 30 large accounts where people have to realise that banks have to be repaid. If the current promoters are not in a position to repay, then they have to develop alternate corporate strategies so the companies pay back," he said. "The Indradhanush plan, which envisions Rs 70,000 crore being given from the central Budget, is not the last step as far as recapitalisation is concerned," he said. Jaitley said the assessment was that the public sector banks would require about Rs 1.8 lakh crore of capital to be infused in them. "As part of the Indradhanush scheme, the government, from the budgetary resources, had decided to infuse Rs 70,000 crore. "This means Rs 25,000 crore each in the first two years and Rs 10,000 crore this year and another Rs 10,000 crore the next year. The Rs 70,000 crore is to be infused in a phased period of time from the budget," he said. Jaitley, however, noted that the problem of NPAs was due to some people not paying up the banks for the loans taken and the burden comes on to the taxpayer. "As far as the action plan is concerned, several actions have been taken. These include empowering the banks by statutory changes, all laws have been amended and the Reserve Bank has come out with various schemes from time to time. "There are some other steps which are now being contemplated," he added. Jaitley said the government believes the public sector banks have a very important role to play in supporting a large number of social programmes and extending the reach of banking and supporting infrastructure in the country. He said once the market conditions with regard to the valuation of these banks improves, then the bank shares itself will be used for their further capitalisation. He also noted that banks as lenders and creditors have to act in larger public interest and ensure that the economy and growth itself is supported, he said, adding that whatever arrangement with loans are made, these have to be on a commercial basis. In his written reply, Jaitley said, "For resolution of stressed assets, RBI has introduced a number of tools such as Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR), Strategic Debt Restructuring Scheme (SDR) and Scheme for Sustainable Debt Stressed Assets (S4A)". He also said "the government has carried out the exercise of capitalisation of public sector banks to conform with regulatory capital norms as well as for driving credit growth to cater to the needs of a growing economy." Earlier, Minister of State for Finance Santosh Gangwar said the new S4A scheme of RBI was launched in July 2016 and its results will come soon. "It is a new scheme and will bear good results," he added. Bucks Valley SWinery Bucks Valley Winery in Newport, Perry County, grows seven varieties of grapes, including Traminette, Chardonel, Cayuga and Cabernet Franc. (Facebook) Bucks Valley Winery owner and winemaker Mike Pelino came up with the idea of a yellow twistcap last year when he made two types of Vidal and needed a way to identify one from the other. He put what he called "yellow tops" on one type and liked the result. So he has decided to expand his "yellow top series" this year for Riesling and Chardonnay juice he bought from Mazza Vineyards in northwestern Pennsylvania. "I'm impressed, very impressed," Pelino said of Mazza and its juice during a phone interview late last week. "I can't wait to get it in the bottle." He said both wines will be topped with a yellow screwcap, a symbol that these are his "vintner's reserves" that deserve a special distinction. "When I feel I have one that deserves a yellow top, then that's what it's going to get," he said. Visitors will have a wait before they can purchase the Chardonnay, but Pelino said the Riesling is close to being bottled. It better be, he said. "I still have Riesling from last year, from 2015, but I just cant hold off. I gotta bottle that or there won't be any left because I'll drink it all. I won't go overboard with the yellow caps, it's got to be special. Otherwise, it loses it's meaning. But I thought it would be an interesting way to identify real good wines." Bucks Valley is one of the region's newer wineries, celebrating two full years in business May 2. It sits in a pretty spot north of Harrisburg, amid farmland and hilly terrain. While there are several good reasons to visit this place, including a spacious A-frame tasting room, the most persuasive might be the food, from the pizza to the stromboli. "The [reaction] to the food has just been incredible," said Pelino, who runs the place with his wife, Mary, and his son, Tony. "I never expected the kitchen to be that much of a business. When I bought everything for the kitchen, I'm thinking, 'I'll never be able to pay for that stuff.' It's been nuts." The Pelinos will carry that reputation and a number of other similarities into the 2017 season, which is just beginning to get rolling. Bucks Valley will continue to be open Fridays through Sundays and offer a mix of dry to sweet wines. Mike said he added a sweeter red blend for those who have been asking for it, and he's making a cranberry wine that he'll sell as a fund-raiser, with a $1 from each sale going to fight breast cancer. Dry wines, he said, have been tough to keep around, particularly with demand being steady for wines that take longer to age and ready. Down the road he's planning to make Petit Syrah (from Chile) and Malbec (from Agentina) along with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the latter being the only vinifera he's growing. Not all his juice comes from outside the area. Mike planted vines in 2007 and 2010 and grows seven varieties, including Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Cayuga and Chardonel. As for events, the couple started a karaoke night on St. Patrick's Day and several have followed. They've been successful enough to where they figure on scheduling the event monthly. "It's incredible, the talent we're had," he said. "You're expecting fingernails on a blackboard. But the talent has blown me away." Serbian police have rounded up more than 200 migrants, mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the country's north following reports of alleged attacks against the local population. The raid early this morning happened in the town of Sid on the border with Croatia. The migrants, who allegedly did not register with local authorities, were packed into buses and sent to southern Serbia and the border with Macedonia. They are mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Only the elderly, women and children were allowed to remain in a local refugee center. Sid Mayor Predrag Vukovic says the migrants "stole, fought among each other and attacked the locals." Thousands of migrants seeking to reach European Union countries have been stranded in Serbia since neighboring Hungary and Croatia battened down their borders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai BJP today expressed support for Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, awarded death penalty by a Pakistan military court, and said the Centre should intervene and ensure he gets relief. A delegation of the party's city unit met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and submitted a letter in which it sought justice for the 46-year-old retired Navy officer, convicted of "espionage and sabotage activities". Jadhav, who hails from Maharashtra, was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistan security officials allegedly in Balochistan which, they said, he entered from Iran. He was sentenced to death by a military court in a secret trial and Pakistan's army chief yesterday approved his execution. "The Union Government should intervene and come to his relief. He deserves justice, which we feel, has been denied to him. We support Jadhav and appeal to the Chief Minister to communicate our sentiments to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj," said the letter. The delegation was led by Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar. He later said Fadnavis informed the delegation that he has spoken to Swaraj about the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea is looking for trouble, US President Donald Trump today said, asserting that America will solve the North Korean "problem" unilaterally even if China does not help. "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!USA," Trump tweeted, toughening his stance on North Korea. In another tweet, Trump also gave an insight into his talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, whom he met last week at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the US will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" Trump wrote in an earlier tweet. The US last week sent a naval strike group to the region in a show of force against Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme. China is North Korea's sole major ally and economic lifeline. The tweet indicated that the meeting might not have been as successful as is being claimed by senior White House officials. "I think we had an unbelievably helpful and productive meeting with the Chinese," the White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer had told reporters at his daily conference yesterday. Trump's tweets on North Korea came as Pyongyang said it is ready for war with the US. Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies in Washington, said that there might be another provocative behaviour from North Korea. "April 15th is Grandpa Kim Il Sung 105th birth anniversary; April 25th is Korean Peoples Army's 85th founding anniversary. So North Korea likes to test and blast during this month," he said. However he said Trump and Xi managed to set a constructive tone to their relationship. This, he said, will be necessary because the issues that divide China and the US are deep-seated. "But in no way did the meeting signal a 'G2 approach' to managing regional issues, much less multilateral issues," he said. "In no way either did Trump signal that he would work over the heads of his allies in Asia to secure favourable outcomes for the US, although there is some consternation in Seoul over the relative paucity of consultation over North Korea policy," Gupta said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba today embarked on a five-day visit to Malaysia which is aimed at enhancing bilateral maritime cooperation. During the visit, he will hold talks with the top brass of the Malaysian defence establishment including the chief of Royal Malaysian Defence Forces and the chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force of Malaysia. The Indian and the Royal Malaysian navies cooperate with each other in terms of training, operational interactions as well as interact at various multilateral forums. "The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral maritime relations between India and Malaysia and is expected to provide a major boost to defence relations between India and Malaysia," the Defence Ministry said. Warships from both navies visit each other's ports quite regularly. An inaugural Field Training Exercise is also scheduled between both navies in June, coinciding with the visit of Indian naval ships to Malaysia. The Admiral, in addition to holding important bilateral discussions with various dignitaries, will also visit major naval establishments of the Royal Malaysian Navy including the submarine base. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A former business partner of arms dealer Abhishek Verma, accused in the 2006 Naval War Room leak case, has moved a Delhi court to direct ED to file a report on the probe into the PMLA case allegedly involving him. C Edmond Allen, who is also a lawyer by profession and a US citizen, filed the application before Special CBI Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal for direction to the Enforcement Directorate to submit a status report on the investigation into money laundering crime allegedly committed by Verma by using American Express cards in 2004-06 and later paying his bail sureties via Hawala channel in 2008. The court fixed the plea for hearing on April 17. The application, filed through advocate Harshvardhan Jha, also sought a status report of the probe into Allen's June, 2012 complaint in which he had alleged that Verma had paid his bail money in the Naval war room leak case via Hawala channel from Mauritius through one of the close associates of Verma. It said that Verma was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in June, 2008 and it was upheld by the Supreme Court in May, 2009. The plea alleged when Verma came to know about Allen's complaint to CBI, he withdrew his bail surety fearing it would be seized and was sent to judicial custody for non- payment of his bail bond. The money laundering case against Verma is pending before a different court. In the CBI case, also allegedly involving four former Naval officers, the court is recording prosecution evidence. Former naval officer Kulbhushan Prashar, former commander Vijender Rana, sacked naval commander V K Jha, former IAF Wing Commander Sambha Jee L Surve and Delhi-based businessman Verma are facing trial in the case for the offence of criminal conspiracy under IPC and under various provisions of Official Secrets Act (OSA). All the accused are out on bail in the case. Meanwhile, the court is also scheduled to hear arguments on another plea by Allen seeking cancellation of Verma's bail. The 2006 Navy War Room leak case involves leakage of over 7,000 pages of sensitive defence information from the Naval War Room and the Air Headquarters, having a direct bearing on national security. The court had earlier framed charges after the five accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. Prime accused Ravi Shankaran is still absconding and has been declared a proclaimed offender by the court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nine people including four Philippine security officials were killed today during clashes with suspected Islamic militants on a popular resort island as millions prepare to travel for the Easter holiday. The incursion allegedly by the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group on Bohol island would be the first on a key Philippine tourist destination in recent years by militants who pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters and often targets foreigners in the lawless south. Five gunmen were killed while four assault rifles and an improvised explosive device were recovered in the fighting, officials said. Just days earlier the US and Australia warned their citizens about possible "terrorist" kidnappings in Bohol or nearby Cebu island. Britain today issued a similar travel advisory. "We're quite worried... We are afraid of hostage situations," said Khent Guimalan, who works at the upscale Bohol Beach Club. "The mayor and police have tightened security. There's a checkpoint everywhere," Guimalan told AFP by phone from the Panglao tourist area, where she said hotels were fully booked until next week. Following the clash authorities distributed photos of suspected Abu Sayyaf members asking locals to report any suspicious activity, according to Guimalan. Local officials said the militants had used fast boats Monday to reach a village where they squared off against security forces early today. A Filipino photographer in the area saw a hut burning and about 20 soldiers armed with a machine gun and automatic rifles trading intermittent fire with unseen snipers all afternoon at a cornfield near the Inabanga river. At one point, loud blasts rang out as a military plane flew over the area followed later by a helicopter, said the photographer, who asked not to be named. He added that residents said they saw two uniformed soldiers who looked to be either dead or wounded being evacuated aboard a military helicopter. Security forces have been on alert for "potential activity on the part of some lawless elements" during the peak Easter tourist season, military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said. "Our forces who were acting on this information were able to engage these lawless armed groups that are believed to be part of the Abu Sayyaf group from Mindanao," he said on ABS- CBN television. The armed men sailed upriver from Inabanga, a farming and fishing coastal community some 780 kilometres away from the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Jolo in the southern Philippines, local police told AFP. Bohol, about 600 kilometres south of Manila, is a mere 30 minutes' boat ride away from the major port of Cebu on Cebu island, which is also among the country's top tourist draws. The island is famous among foreign tourists who swim with docile whale sharks and marvel at tiny primates called tarsiers, go on cruises aboard boats on crystal-clear rivers and lounge on its beaches. Three soldiers and one policeman were killed in the fighting, according to a joint statement from the region's military and police. "We are doing our best to make sure the conflict will not spread out," regional army spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar told AFP by telephone. "We are clearing the area," said Aguilar but did not give a timetable. "We have deployed enough forces to accomplish the mission." Bohol provincial governor Edgar Chatto said the violence was isolated in one village, where he said hundreds of residents had already fled to safety in nearby areas. "I am very disappointed that these elements coming out of nowhere are trying to destroy the lives of people living in peace," Chatto told AFP. The Abu Sayyaf, also blamed for deadly bombings, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement that holds large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Over the past year the Abu Sayyaf has been expanding its activities, boarding commercial and fishing vessels off their southern island stronghold of Jolo, near Malaysia, and abducting dozens of foreign crew members. They beheaded a German tourist in February and two Canadian tourists last year. All three were snatched at sea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court today denied relief to two BJP candidates whose nominations for the upcoming MCD polls were rejected by the state election commission. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Anu Malhotra dismissed BJP candidate Ravinder Negi's appeal against a single judge's order upholding rejection of his nomination. Another bench of Justice V K Rao denied any interim relief to Pinki Kumari, nominated by the party. Negi was to contest ward 10E of Vinod Nagar in east Delhi and his nomination was rejected on April 5 for lack of signature on his form declaring his age, gender and whether he was set up by a recognised political party. Pinki, who wanted to contest a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, was unable to do so as her nomination was rejected on the ground that her caste does not fall in the list of Scheduled Castes (SC) given in the Constitution. Pinki, who was to contest ward 67S of Lado Sarai area in south Delhi, had claimed she was issued a SC certificate by the Delhi government in 2009. Justice Rao, however, said she was not entitled to any interim relief since the final list of candidates has already been issued. In Negi's case, the division bench said a nomination paper which is unsigned by the candidate or the person proposing him/her, "can be rejected" under the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Election of Councillor) Rules of 2012. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea's parliament convened today, with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, taking the center seat. The parliament meeting comes amid heightened tensions on the peninsula, with the United States and South Korea conducting their biggest-ever military exercises and the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier heading to the area in a show of American strength. North Korea, for its part, has recently test-launched a long-range ballistic missile, and experts say it could be preparing for its sixth nuclear test. The Supreme People's Assembly, nominally the highest organ of government, usually meets once or twice a year. It consists of approximately 600 deputies from around the country who usually confirm new domestic policies, changes to the constitution, budget decisions, laws and official appointments. Initial reports from state media said the meeting went through various domestic issues, with North Korean Premier Pak Pong Ju making a speech about the latest five-year economic plan, which was announced last year. Another closely watched category on the official agenda was organisational issues, which can mean new appointments of officials to senior positions. According to the North's state-run Korean Central Agency, Pak told deputies to the assembly that the country has "over-fulfilled" its goals on virtually all fronts of the economy and marked successes in everything from increased coal production to the development of a "new type tractor, truck and various high-performance farm implements." Pak said that the Cabinet this year is prioritizing improving the people's standard of living and noted, among other things, the need to solve the "acute shortage of electricity." Foreign media are not allowed to attend the meetings. Like other attendees, Kim Jong Un was shown on the North Korean late Tuesday holding up his assembly membership card to vote on state business. This year's meeting kicks off what are expected to be major celebrations, including a large-scale military parade and fireworks, to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's first leader and "eternal president," and Kim Jong Un's late grandfather. Though the details of the April 15 anniversary - known as the "Day of the Sun" - have not been officially confirmed, Pyongyang residents have been out every day diligently practicing in the city's squares and parks for their role in the expected mass event. Pyongyang is always extremely sensitive to the annual US-South Korea war games, which it sees as an invasion rehearsal, and has significantly turned up the volume of its rhetoric that war could be on the horizon if it sees any signs of aggression from south of the Demilitarized Zone. In the capital, however, there has been little sense of urgency other than that required to get ready for the big events later this week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan may not get the remaining USD 350 million of the USD 900 million coalition support fund from the US as it has not done enough against the dangerous Haqqani terror network to get the required certification from the Defence Secretary, officials said. As mandated by the Congress, the Pentagon has started the process of reviewing the steps being taken by Pakistan against the Haqqani network, which the US believes poses a grave threat to its forces in Afghanistan. Given the initial review and the feedback received from Pakistan, sources told PTI that Pakistan is unlikely to get the USD 350 of the USD 900 million of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) this fiscal as sanctioned by the Congress. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis needs to issue a certificate to the Congress in this regard by June-end to become eligible to get USD 350 million from the Pentagon. The Pentagon said no decision in this regard has been made yet. "The Secretary of Defence has not yet made a decision regarding the Haqqani certification requirement associated with USD 350 million of the FY-16 CSF appropriation for Pakistan," Adam Stump, a Defence Department spokesman, told PTI. The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. The Deputy Secretary of Defence signed the authorisation to disburse USD 550 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Coalition Support Funds (CSF) to Pakistan for logistical, military, and other support provided to the USoperations in Afghanistan for the period of January-June 2015. "The Department recognises the significant sacrifices the Pakistan military has made in the fight against terrorism and appreciates Pakistan's continued support for transit of materiel to coalition forces in Afghanistan," he said. The disbursement which was wired to Pakistan last month uses CSF funds that are not restricted by the Secretary of Defence certification of Pakistan's actions on the Haqqani Network. As per the fiscal 2016, National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), Pakistan is authorised to receive up to USD 900 million in FY-16 CSF. "Disbursement of the remaining USD 350 million will require the Secretary of Defence to certify that Pakistan has taken sufficient action against the Haqqani Network. The Secretary has not yet made a decision on certification," Stump said in response to a question. According to a defence official well aware of certification process, the Pentagon needs "to make sure that Pakistan is providing us evidence" with regard to the actions it is taking against the Haqqani network. "We ask for evidence that they have gone after those groups," the official told PTI, who requested anonymity. Once the information is received from Pakistan, the Pentagon reviews and verifies those claims through its own network. A initial review is conducted by a team of defence officials who then submit its recommendations to the Defence Secretary. It is a part of an ongoing discussion, the official said. However, Stump said that Pakistani people have made significant sacrifices over the last three years in order to counter terrorism. "We continue to be encouraged by Pakistan's operations in North Waziristan and elsewhere in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)," he said, adding Pakistan's efforts have reduced the ability of some militant groups to use North Waziristan and the FATA as a safe haven for terrorism. "It is in the interest of Pakistan to eliminate all safe havens and reduce the operational capacity of all militant organisations, particularly Al Qaeda, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Afghan Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) and other militant groups that pose a threat to US and Pakistani interests and regional stability," Stump told PTI. For the first time in 2016, then Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter had declined to certify that Pakistan met the Haqqani certification requirement, resulting in the loss of USD 300 million of fiscal year 2015 CSF. This amount was reprogrammed by the Pentagon for Department of Defence's Overseas Contingency Operations Funding, a second defence department official said. "The USD 300 million of Coalition Support Funds you asked about were reprogrammed, with Congressional approval, through Reprogramming Actions - Prior Approval, FY 16-22 and FY 16-27, to help meet Department of Defence needs for Overseas Contingency Operations funding," the official said. Notably, the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) authority is not security assistance, but reimbursements to key cooperating nations for logistical, military, and other support provided to US combat operations. "Pakistan is the largest recipient of CSF reimbursements, receiving roughly USD 14 billion since 2002," he said, adding that CSF is just one component of America's broad and enduring partnership with Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said that Pakistan wants good relations with all countries, particularly its neighbours, a day after a military court's order to execute Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav spiked Indo-Pak tensions. Sharif said Pakistan's armed forces are fully capable and prepared to respond to any spectrum of threats. "The nation has full trust in the country's armed forces," he said, assuring the government's full support in equipping the forces to address modern day challenges. Sharif said the concept of national security has undergone a transformation and wars are no longer an exclusive sphere of military forces, Radio Pakistan reported. His remarks came Jadhav was sentenced to death for alleged "spying". Reacting strongly to the move, India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and warned Islamabad that it is a case of "premeditated murder". Addressing the passing out parade of graduating cadets at Pakistan Air Force Academy (PAF) Asghar Khan in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, Sharif said that cooperation, rather than conflict and shared prosperity, rather than mutual suspicion, is the hallmark of Pakistan's policy. "Pakistan is a peace loving country and has always maintained the policy of having friendly relations with other countries particularly its neighbours," Sharif said. He said Pakistan on its part will never hesitate to extend the hand of friendship to all and will never waiver from returning goodwill with even more goodwill. Sharif, however, said "despite our desire for peaceful coexistence, we cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We realize this is a controversial topic as many people didnt want internet on flights, let alone calling. Having said that, Yours Truly has turned on WiFi Calling on his phone and does occasionally talk in the iPhone mid-flight. The connection isnt usually that great and it is very difficult to hear with all the background noise from the engines. Also because the upload speed is generally severely limited, the other party will often be challenged to hear you clearly. The minor inconvenience fellow passengers face from a nearby phone call is certainly far less than noise generated by people talking around you. Meaning, if noise is the issue, why do we stop at phone calls? We could outlaw talking altogether and come up with a standard system of signs to communicate with one another. Anyone who is a PADI certified scuba diver knows there are lots of signs you can use to convey important information Like, Why are you dragging me off this plane? or I am going to sue your airline back to the times of the Wright Brothers when I eventually get out of the hospital. Point being lets stop having stupid rules and proposing them. Laws that ban sodas of a certain size but allow consumers to buy numerous sodas of a smaller size are a great example of what I mean. The legal system shouldnt be used to make political statements it needs to be based on reason and logic. Having said that, perhaps there should be a designated area in the rear of the plane for people who may want to talk or bring their baby or use a phone. The front of the cabin could be the quiet area. While we applaud FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for allowing free markets to work by rolling back net neutrality, we wonder if the undoing of former chairman, Tom Wheelers plan to allow phones on planes can be justified in some way. Taking it off the table permanently will be a victory for Americans across the country who, like me, value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet, Pai said in response to questions about the matter. But this solution strikes us as trying to keep mosquitos from getting in the house by closing the door and not the window. If noise bothers the chairman so much we can mandate noise cancelling systems for the entire airplane and allow each passenger to speak no more than a few words. If we dont comply? Well, I hear United Airlines has a crack security team that can help keep passengers in line. BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday demanded that senior Congress leader should be relieved as Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs as he was being "investigated" by the CBI. Swamy raised the issue through a point of order after Deputy Chairman P J Kurien called Chidambaram to lay on the table, a copy of the panel's report on border security. As Chidambaram was not present, another committee member, Majeed Memon, did the job. Swamy, however, said if Chairman of a parliamentary committee is being investigated by CBI, he should not take up the post. As Congress members protested, the BJP member said the former finance minister was being investigated by CBI for the clearance he gave to Malaysian firm Maxis to buy 100 per cent of Aircel. Actress Pearl Mackie says she would love to play James Bond in the future. The "Doctor Who" star, who plays new companion Bill Potts in the sci-fi series, says her dream role would be to become the first female incantation of the iconic British spy, reported Contactmusic. "I'd quite like to play James Bond. I just thought of that earlier," Mackie said. Asked if she wanted to be a female 'Jane' Bond, she told said, "Nah nah, James. If I can be called Bill, I can be called James! I don't know...I think that some of the best things that are out there haven't been written yet. So I wouldn't like to say anything too defining. "There's so many wonderful people out there that I'd like to play, and so many characters that don't exist yet that I'd like to play. For me it's just about playing characters with depth that have interesting stories to tell, that maybe approach things in a way that you haven't seen before," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court has asked the Allahabad High Court to furnish details of criminal appeals pending before it, observing that "the spectre of prolonged pendency for years together is a distressful reality". The apex court also requested two senior advocates -- C U Singh and Shyam Divan -- "to offer their response and recommendation for outlining specific guidelines based on recorded statistics of pending criminal appeals, to start with, as a pilot project, of the High Court of Allahabad". A bench of Justices J Chelameswar, A M Sapre and Amitava Roy passed the direction to the registrar general of the Allahabad High Court while hearing a bail application in a murder case. The apex court, while refusing to grant bail to two convicts in the murder case, directed the high court to decide their appeal against conviction within four months. "Though the delay in disposal of the trials and appeals, in varying degrees, may be traceable to several causes e.G. infrastructural, logistical and otherwise, the spectre of prolonged pendency thereof for years together is a distressful reality," the bench said while seeking the information from the high court within four weeks. It observed that the "phenomenon of mounting pendency and discomfiting delay in disposal of cases, both before the district courts and high courts of the country, has by this time received the attention of this court on umpteen occasions and from time to time in several cases, exhaustive directions of general nature have been issued to ameliorate the situation". This has been done keeping in view the overwhelming perspective of the right to speedy trial and disposal of criminal appeals as ingrained in Article 21 of the Constitution, it said It asked the HC registrar general to furnish details regarding institution and disposal statistics of last 10 years, average disposal time of the appeals, identified causes for the delay, steps already taken and in contemplation for tackling such causes and accelerating disposals. The bench also sought to know what mechanism was in place to oversee the process and the progress recorded. It said, "We are of the view that it is imperative for this court to initiate a target specific exercise and for the purpose obtain and analyse the relevant datas at the first instance, with regard to the pendency of the criminal appeals before the Allahabad High Court." The court also expressed concern over pitiable condition existing in jails across the country due to delay in the redressal process and said that it leads the inmates to face "dehumanising compulsions". "Not only the custodial restraint of those detained has to be sanctioned by law, any undue and unjustified delay in the redressal processes initiated by them would have the potential of their detention being adjudged as violative of their constitutionally secured right to fair and speedy justice," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Petrol pump dealers here went on a 12-hour strike today to protest against the growing incidents of loot and vandalism at petrol pumps in the state. "All 156 petrol pumps in Patna will be shut from 6 am to 6 pm today to protest against the lack of security, growing vandalism and loot," Patna Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) president Bijendra Kumar Sinha said. "In the last six months, nine incidents of loot and vandalism have been reported at petrol pumps in Patna but the district administration has still not provided any security against the anti-social elements," Sinha said. "If the situation does not improve, the association will be forced to go on an indefinite strike and stop the sale of fuel at night," the PPDA president said. "Despite repeated pleas, the district administration has done little to provide security at the pumps," Sinha said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mount diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court. "Death sentence is a deliberate provocation to India. BJP Govt needs to travel beyond advisories. PM must intervene to secure his release (sic)," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. He said India needs to immediately mount an international diplomatic offensive to free Jadhav, who was yesterday given a death sentence for "espionage and sabotage activities" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. Attacking Pakistan for conducting a hurried trial of Jadhav without a prior notice to India, Surjewala said the development was symptomatic of "Pakistan's Kangaroo court justice". He also cited media reports about Pakistan PM's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaz Aziz's statement in his country's senate in December last year that there was "insufficient evidence against Jadhav". "Will PM pickup the phone & tell Pak about the falsehood of case against KulbhushanJadhav as admitted by Sartaj Aziz? (sic)," his tweet accompanying a media report on Aziz's statement read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A protest against the Panjab University (PU) fee hike turned violent on Tuesday as agitating students clashed with the police, who had to resort to lathi-charge resulting in injuries on both sides. Several students were taken into preventive custody even as police registered a case of rioting and damage to public property against protesting students, police said here. The trouble started when agitating students tried to forcibly enter the Vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Grover's office at PU campus to discuss fee issue as they were observing 'PU Bandh' against the recent fee hike. Several student bodies including Students for Society (SFS), National Students Union of India (NSUI), Students Union (PUSU) had given a joint call for 'Panjab University Bandh' in protest against the fee hike. Police, which had barricaded the area, resorted to water cannons to disperse the students. The situation turned violent when students allegedly started pelting stones and flower pots at cops, forcing the police to lob teargas shells and use cane charge, leading to injuries to several students. "We resorted to use force after students turned violent," UT Chandigarh SP, Eish Singhal said adding that vehicles of police were also damaged. "Five to six police officials have also sustained injuries," said SP. After police used force, some protesting students even took shelter in a Gurdwara situated on the campus. Earlier, protesting students boycotted the classes. Some students could also be seen forcing the shops to close. Students have been protesting against the "significant" hike in tuition fee announced by PU senate last month for the academic year 2017-18. In some courses, the fee hike was steep. In case of B Pharma course, the fee was raised from Rs 5,080 to Rs 50,000 and in case of M A Journalism course, the fee was hiked from Rs 5,290 to Rs 30,000. For PU's dental course, the fees was increased from Rs 86,400 to Rs 1.50 lakh. With students demanding rollback of fee increase, PU had justified the average 12.5 per cent hike while considering the financial condition of the university as the varsity anticipated a deficit of Rs 244 crore for the financial year 2017-18. A quarry in Tamil Nadu's Pudukottai district is being surveyed by the Central Public Works Department as part of the ongoing Income Tax Department's probe against Health Minister C Vijayabaskar. The survey is being carried out by a team of officials to ascertain and verify stocks like blue metal and sand stacked up there. The quarry at the 135 acre site at Tiruvengaivasal village is used to prepare ready mix concrete. The IT Department sources told PTI that the survey report, which is expected to be submitted to them soon will form part of the inputs being gathered to aid the ongoing probe against Vijayabaskar. The CPWD commenced the survey on the request of the tax department with Central Police Force personnel providing them security, sources added. The quarry was one of the 50 locations searched on April 7 as part of the investigations against Vijayabaskar, his associates and aides. On April 8, the minister's brother Udaya Kumar and his father Chinnathambi were questioned by tax officials in Tiruchirappalli on the basis of documents seized from the quarry and an educational institution. Similarly, the Minister too was questioned. Meanwhile, the sources said a media production house run by Radhika Sarathkumar here was also searched today as part of the probe against her actor-cum-politician husband Sarath Kumar, who is also an ally of ruling AIADMK Amma faction. The IT officials had searched the premises of Sarathkumar on April 7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 63rd (special) meeting of Brahmaputra Board was held here today to discuss the proposal to restructure the Board as proposed by the Union Ministry of Water Resources. The proposals were for restructuring the Brahmaputra Board within the ambit of Brahmaputra Board Act, 1980 by revamping its technical and non-technical cadres, a government release said here. The key elements of the proposal are creation of Regional Directorates of Brahmaputra Board in all eight North East states and North Bengal and to enlarge its footprint the Regional Directorates in Assam, North Bengal, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh to be headed by Deputy Chief Engineers, while those in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Sikkim to be headed by Superintending Engineers, the release said. At the meeting, it was also suggested to establish a permanent office complex with godown and skill development centre at Majuli island in Assam. The representative of Assam government said the state government has decided that flood prevention and anti-erosion related works along the entire south bank of Majuli main island will be undertaken by the Brahmaputra Board, the release said. Suggestions for having a separate Regional Directorate at Jalpaiguri in North Bengal, additional posts of Superintending Engineer at Silchar and Executive Engineer in Dhubri district in Assam, were accepted by the Board. All nine states welcomed the suggestions to achieve the overall objective of restructuring of Brahmaputra Board and making it operationally, administratively and structurally robust, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Climate change scientists are heading to the Himalayas in a bid to become the first team to successfully drill through the world's highest glacier located in the foothills of Mount Everest. An international research team will spend up to six weeks working at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres on the Khumbu glacier in Nepal and will be using a specially adapted car wash unit to drill up to 200 metres into the ice. Once the drilling has been completed, the team, led by Duncan Quincey from University of Leeds in the UK, will be able to study the glacier's internal structure, measure its temperature, how quickly it flows and how water drains through it. "All the current data collected on these glaciers only just scratches the surface," Quincey said. "The data we will collect during this expedition is critical for us to be able to forecast how this glacier, as well as others in the region, will respond to climate change," he said. Glacier melt-water from across the Himalayan range supports the livelihoods of around 40 per cent of the world's population, researchers said. However, dams and lakes that form on the glacier present a significant risk of flash flooding for people living down- stream. "Understanding what actually happens inside these glaciers is critical to developing a better understanding of how they flow so that we can better predict when dams that form on these glaciers are likely to be breached, releasing vast volumes of water to the valleys below," said Professor Bryn Hubbard from Aberystwyth University in the UK. "This is a real risk in the Himalayas as it is in other regions such as the Andes, and has the potential to endanger the lives of thousands of people," said Hubbard. Located in north-eastern Nepal, the 17 kilometre-long Khumbu glacier is often used by climbers on their way to Everest base-camp and flows from an altitude of 7,600 metres. The team will be working at an altitude of over 5,000 metres and will have to contend with a number of physical and technical challenges. Equipment weighing about 1,500kg will need to be transported to the drill site on the glacier. Half the equipment will be airlifted by helicopter and half will be carried up by locally-hired Sherpa, yaks and the research team. Drilling will be done with a specially-adapted car wash unit that produces a jet of hot water at a pressure of up to 120 bar. This is enough pressure to penetrate through road tarmac, researchers said. The team will travel to the Khumbu glacier in the foothills of Mount Everest this month. It will be the first of two trips. The team is set to return for a second nine week expedition next year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Omega launches new Speedmaster to mark 60 years of the first watch that made it to outer space There are many watches in the world, but few can lay claim to a heritage quite as distinguished or unique as that of the Omega Speedmaster. Originally designed in 1957 for racing-car drivers, the Speedmasters rugged construction and cleverly designed tachymeter saw it also quickly gain favour with test pilots. In 1962, it became the first Omega to be worn in space, when it adorned the arm of Walter Schirra, an American naval officer, aviator, aeronautical engineer and test pilot, who was the ninth person to ride a rocket into space and took his trusty Omega along for the adventure. This was the first Speedmaster to make a foray into space, but not the last. When US President John F Kennedy announced the start of the "space race", watchmakers flocked to supply their pieces to Nasa. However, only the Speedmaster was strong enough to withstand the exhaustive testing process the extreme temperatures, vibrations, hard shocks and unforgivable vacuums and was chosen by Nasa to be the only watch worn on manned space missions. When Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon in July 1969, he had an Omega Speedmaster on his wrist, and a legacy was born. To this day, Omega is deemed so integral to space programmes that the Speedmaster is a permanent piece of equipment on board the International Space Station. George Clooney, Omegas brand ambassador, remembers the excitement of that era. "In just 60 years, wed gone from inventing cars to [talking about] landing a man on the moon," he has said. "It felt like the ultimate in optimism, the ultimate in forward thinking. It made us feel like anything could be done." Clooney remembers looking up at the skies on that historic day in 1969 with his father, who, like those pioneering astronauts, was also wearing an Omega. Clooney still owns that very watch in a delightful symmetry, his father gifted it to him when he found out that his son was partnering with Omega. Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the launch of the Speedmaster, Omega unveiled an addition to the family, the Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Chronometer Chronograph, which is the first Speedmaster to be certified as a Master Chronometer, having reached the exacting new standards set by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology. The distinctive moonphase is set above 6 oclock, and features an image of the Moon that is so high in resolution that if one zooms in, Buzz Aldrins footprint can be seen. In addition, the moonphase cycle follows a new and precise lunar month of 29.5 days (rather than the standard, rounded-up 30 days), requiring a superior gear chain and a highly accurate mechanism that needs adjusting only once every 10 years, and even then with just a few simple turns of the crown. The face is visually balanced with two identical, symmetrical, two-handed sub-dials on either side of the classic Speedmaster hands, each with rhodium-plated circles. The dial is a deep brushed blue, while the tachymeter scale that sits atop the ceramic bezel is made with Liquidmetal, marking another first for Omega. Housed within the 44-millimetre stainless steel case is a revolutionary 9904 movement, comprising 368 components. Finished with a blue leather strap with a fold-over buckle, this watch is the epitome of functional masculine style. queeniebridesmaid.co.uk | bridesmaid dresses under 100 Separatist-sponsored strike against the death of eight civilians in poll violence affected normal life for the second consecutive day in Kashmir where a school designated as a polling centre in Shopian district was set on fire by miscreants. Most shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut across the Valley, officials said. They said public transport was off the roads, but private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were seen plying at few places across Kashmir. The officials said while no restrictions were imposed anywhere in the Valley, security forces have been deployed at sensitive places to maintain law and order. The separatists had called for a two-day shutdown from Monday against the deaths of eight protesters in firing by security forces on Sunday, saying it was the only way for them to express solidarity with the families of those killed. Separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mohammad Yasin Malik had called for the 'hartal' to protest against the deaths. Meanwhile, miscreants last night set on fire a government school building in Shopian. The school was designated as a polling centre, officials said. They said the Government High School, Rawalpora, Shopian was set ablaze last night and the fire damaged the building completely. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Separatists today withdrew their strike call for tomorrow, a day after the Election Commission postponed the Anantnag Lok Sabha by-poll to May 25. "We have withdrawn tomorrow's strike call as the so- called election has been put off," the separatist leaders said in a statement. The Election Commission had yesterday decided to postpone the Anantnag bypoll to May 25, after eight persons were killed in a firing by the security forces during polling for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday. The statement issued jointly by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik also called on people to march to Budgam district headquarters on Friday. "To pay homage to the young martyrs (youth killed on April 9) and express solidarity with their families, the joint resistance leadership and people will offer joint Friday prayers in Budgam," the separatists said. Commenting on the 7.14 per cent voter turnout in Srinagar constituency, they said the people's verdict has been loud and clear as to their "commitment to achieving their fundamental political right". "Government of India's own index of treating elections as a gauge of people's faith in Indian democracy stand completely exposed as they were completely rejected and resisted by the people in one part of the valley and forced to postpone the elections in another," they added. The separatists had called for a strike Wednesday, the day on which polling was scheduled to be held for Anantnag seat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Current World No 2 and Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu is among the elite nine elite badminton players vying for four slots reserved in the Badminton World Federation Athletes' Commission. The other Indian in the fray is relatively unknown male shuttler called Nikhar Garg, known more for as an anti- establishment voice in the badminton fraternity than for his on-court performances. Garg's official wikipedia page shows his doubles ranking in January as 374. His nomination may have happened as Garg, through his social media account, last February, expressed his desire to contest for a slot in BWF Athletes' Commission. The unknown Mumbai shuttler started an online petition in May 2016 urging BWF to grant greater autonomy to the independent players by allowing them to register directly for international tournaments rather than doing the registration through their member associations. The nominations closed on March 27 with six men and three women standing for the BWF Athletes' Commission elections. Save Sindhu, the list also comprise two former world No.1s in men's doubles and a former European men's singles. Following the close of nominations on 27 March, three women and six men will stand for election to the body which represents players within the Badminton World Federation. The others in fray are Lithuania's Akville Stapusaityte, Ugandan Edwin Ekiring, Malaysian Koo Kien Keat, Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour, Mexico's Luis Ramon Garrido Esquivel, German Marc Zwiebler and Korea's Yoo Yeon Seong. Three persons will be elected to replace outgoing members - Yuhan Tan (Belgium), Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus (Denmark) and Greysia Polii (Indonesia) - who will complete their four-year term in May. The rule states that at least one male and one female player must be elected. The third person will be the candidate (male or female) with the next highest number of votes. Additionally, a fourth person - a female - will be elected to finish the term of Tang Yuanting. The Chinese player, who became a member of the Athletes' Commission in 2015, has resigned following her retirement from badminton last year, thus leaving a casual vacancy on the Commission. Therefore, either the female with the second-highest number of votes or the female with the third-highest number of votes (if the third person elected to the Commission is female) will be elected to serve the remaining two years of Tang's term. For the first time, voting by email will take place and this starts on Wednesday 26 April, 2017, and ends on Wednesday 24 May, 2017; the date on which players attending the TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017 in Gold Coast will be able to vote in person at the stadium. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bringing Sindhi language on to the digital platform, the National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing released software tools and e-books in Sindhi to mark the 50th Sindhi Basha Diwas here on Monday. The Graphic and Intelligence based Script Technology, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune is executing a project titled 'Tools & Technologies for Development in Sindhi language' under the aegis of NCPSL. A host of software tools like Sindhi language Unicode typing tool, Sindhi Unicode compliant fonts, Sindhi Office software, eBooks, Sindhi web browser etc were released to mark Sindhi Basha Diwas yesterday. According to a press release issued by C-DAC, the two year project, software like Sindhi typing tool on Android devices and desktop platform, Sindhi fonts, Sindhi eBooks, children software, graphics artists tools etc are being developed/localised in the regional language. Dr Hemant Darbari, executive director, C-DAC said that the organisation was committed to the proliferation of Indian languages on the digital medium. "We were the first to recognise its potential to actively preserve the cultural heritage of a community which is more or less embedded within its language. At the same time, we also realised that Indian languages would be our best ally in bridging the digital divide in a country like India that has around 22 official Indian languages," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Film star turned politician Vijayakanth has expressed "regret" to the Press Council of India (PCI) over his alleged misbehaviour with journalists in 2015 following which a case in this regard has been 'dismissed.' The former leading star of Tamil Films had courted controversy when he allegedly spat before reporters here in December 2015, apparently in a fit of anger while responding to some queries. Vijayakanth's counsel GS Mani said he had made oral submission before a PCI committee in New Delhi yesterday, issuing a "regret statement." "I am his (Vijayakanth) counsel and I gave a regret statement on his behalf, stating that he never intended to insult media persons," he told PTI. "I also said that if that incident had hurt the media persons, then he (Vijayakanth) expresses regret for the same," he said. The statement was recorded and the case, which the PCI took suo motu cognisance of, was 'dismissed', he said. Nicknamed 'Captain', Vijayakanth is the founder of DMDK party and was the Opposition Leader in the Tamil Nadu assembly between 2011-16. He had also questioned the credentials of the concerned scribes and the incident had come under severe criticism from various quarters including media bodies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman scribe, booked under the stringent Official Secrets Act for carrying out a sting operation inside an army camp in Nasik, today moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the mysterious death of a 33-year-old jawan. Delhi-based journalist Poonam Agarwal, working with a portal, had entered the camp and carried out the sting operation on the alleged abuse of the "buddy" system in the army by videographing Roy Mathew, a jawan from Kerala who was found dead last month. Nasik police lodged an FIR against Agarwal and retired army official Deep Chand under IPC provisions and Sections 3 (spying) and 7 (interfering with officers of police or members of the armed forces of the Union) of the Official Secrets Act (OSA). Besides asking for a court-monitored probe, the plea, filed through lawyers Prashant Kumar and Anindita Pujari, has sought issuance of guidelines to prevent "abuse" of the provisions of the OSA. The plea said that the issue was related to "manipulation" of evidence, "hushing up" of criminal offences, the cause of "journalistic freedom" and the "right to freedom of speech and expression". It pleaded for issuance of suitable guidelines or directions giving a strict and controlling interpretation to the provisions of Official Secrets Act, 1923 to prevent its abuse and bring them in line with the scheme of the Constitution. It said that the provisions of the Act were invoked in order to prevent the media and citizens to find out the truth. "The immediate provocation for invoking of the draconian provisions under the OSA against the petitioners is to scuttle and prevent a fair investigation into unnatural death of one of the jawans who figured in the broadcast clip aired on February 24, 2017 with all faces blurred... "His highly decomposed body was found on March 2, 2017 hanging for four days in an abandoned barracks nearly 200 metres from his living quarters in Deolali camp," it said. The plea said Mathew went missing after he made a last call to his wife on February 25, 2017 and two days prior to his body being found, his reporting officer called the family to dissuade them from lodging a missing persons report. The plea also sought a direction to the Centre to conduct an inquiry on "misuse" of sahayak (buddy) system in the army. Deep Chand, who brought the journalist to the army area and got the sting operation done, be protected from physical harm, harassment and retributive action, it said Poonam had allegedly entered Heig Lines in Deolali camp without the permission of the authorities and filmed the premises besides carrying out a sting operation on Mathew and other jawans on February 24 in which she is said to have asked leading questions. Mathew was found hanging from the ceiling of a room on March 2. The police had also recovered a diary from his barracks with some scribblings in his mother tongue fearing possible action from his superiors, the plea said A case of accidental death was then registered by Nashik Police under section 174 (police to inquire and report on suicide) of the CrPC. Mathew went missing on February 25 after he purportedly figured in the expose by the portal with the video showing soldiers walking dogs of senior army officials or taking their children to school. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The suspected Stockholm truck attacker Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek and a jihadist sympathiser, admitted today to committing a "terrorist crime" by mowing down pedestrians on a busy street, killing four people and injuring 15 others. Arrested just hours after Friday's attack, Akilov appeared in a special heavily-guarded high-security courtroom. Handcuffed and wearing a thick green hoodie, he kept his head bowed. "Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention," his state appointed lawyer Johan Eriksson said at a custody hearing in Stockholm. Judge Malou Lindblom ordered Akilov to remove the hoodie and he complied, revealing dark hair with streaks of grey. Akilov, a Russian speaker, had an interpreter to help him follow the proceedings. He did not address the court directly. After Eriksson's statement, the judge agreed to the prosecution's request to have the rest of the hearing held behind closed doors due to the classified nature of information in the investigation. After about an hour, journalists were readmitted to the courtroom and the judge remanded Akilov in custody. The four people killed in the attack were two Swedes -- a 69-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl -- a 41-year-old British man, and a 31-year-old Belgian woman. Eight people were still in hospital today, including two in a critical condition. Akilov, a construction worker refused permanent residency in Sweden in June 2016, went underground last year after receiving a deportation order, police said. Friday's attack resembled previous rampages using vehicles in Nice, Berlin and London, which were all claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. IS has not claimed responsibility for the Stockholm attack, but Swedish media reports on Monday said Akilov had told investigators that he received an "order" from IS to carry out the attack against "infidels". Swedish police have confirmed he had expressed "sympathies for extremist groups, including IS," but disclosed no other details. The Aftonbladet newspaper reported that Akilov told investigators he was "pleased with what he had done". "I mowed down the infidels," Aftonbladet quoted him as saying, citing sources close to the investigation and describing him as a father of four whose family had stayed behind in Uzbekistan. "The bombings in Syria have to end," he was quoted as saying. Deputy chief prosecutor Hans Ihrman refused to comment on the suspect's motive, while lawyer Eriksson would only say that his client had told police why he committed the attack. The investigative magazine Expo, which specialises in monitoring far-right activity, said Akilov's Facebook account before it was taken down on Friday reflected a "contradictory image." It said Akilov had "liked" Buddhist and Mormon websites, and supported both Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. In March 2016, he posted a video condemning Islamist terror, but shared IS propaganda films and repeatedly expressed support for the radical group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Russia. The group, which claims to be non-violent and says it wants to achieve its goals by peaceful means, aims to establish a caliphate in Muslim regions of Russia and ex- Soviet Central Asian states. Court documents seen by AFP showed Akilov, who is facing a lengthy prison sentence, had requested that Eriksson be replaced by a Sunni Muslim, saying "only a lawyer of this faith could assert his interests in the best way". The court refused the request. Eriksson said the court had ordered Akilov to undergo a psychiatric evaluation as a standard procedure, and that a confession alone would not lead to a conviction. "A confession is not enough to be convicted of a crime, other evidence is needed to back this up," Ihrman told reporters at the courthouse. Police have previously said they are sure the suspect is the driver of the truck, citing technical evidence and video camera surveillance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A sugar mill workers' union leader, who had attempted self-immolation to protest against non-payment of arrears in East Champaran district, succumbed to his burn injuries today, prompting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to order an inquiry into it. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar taking serious note of the incident ordered an inquiry into it. He has directed East Champaran District Magistrate Anupam Kumar and Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana to jointly probe into the incident, Chief Minister Office sources said in Patna. The union leader, Naresh Srivastava (50) succumbed to burn injuries the wee hours today during treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), East Champaran district's Civil Surgeon Prashant Kumar said. Another protester, Suraj Baitha, who had sustained burn injuries, is receiving treatment at PMCH, he said. The two workers of the mill had yesterday set themselves afire during a protest following which they were rushed to a nearby hospital and later shifted to PMCH. Protests erupted yesterday with workers demanding payment of their arrears and reopening of the sugar mill. They also clashed with the police personnel, injuring five of them. The police had to fire three rounds in the air and lob tear gas shells to disperse the unruly crowd. Superintendent of Police, Jitendra Rana said that 29 people have been named in the FIR which also includes 125 unknown. Seven persons have already been arrested. Rana told PTI in Motihari that a separate FIR would be registered against private sugar mill owner Nopani and one manager R P Singh on the basis of statement of the deceased's wife Purnima Devi in the death of her husband. Purnima Devi has alleged that the two had send anti-social elements among protestors who pelted stones on police yesterday to aggravate the situation and during melee set her husband on fire, the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A sugar mill workers' union leader, who had attempted self-immolation to protest against non-payment of arrears in Bihar's East Champaran district, succumbed to his burn injuries today at a hospital in Patna. The union leader, Naresh Srivastava (50) succumbed in the wee hours today during treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), East Champaran district's Civil Surgeon Prashant Kumar said. Two workers of the mill had yesterday set themselves afire during a protest following which they were rushed to a nearby hospital and later shifted to PMCH. "His body will be brought to district headquarters this evening after post-mortem," Kumar said. The second protester, Suraj Baitha, who had sustained burn injuries, is receiving treatment at PMCH, he said. Meanwhile, Srivastava's brother - Brajesh Kumar Srivastava has alleged that his brother did not receive proper treatment. Protests erupted yesterday with workers demanding payment of their arrears and reopening of the sugar mill. They also clashed with the police personnel, injuring five of them. The police had to fire three rounds in the air and lob tear gas shells to disperse the unruly crowd. An FIR was lodged against 20 people, seven of whom have been arrested so far, Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today alleged that RJD chief Lalu Prasad's family were involved in a ploy to get prime land transferred in their names in lieu of favours. Prasad's family, he said, had become owners of prime land here worth crores of rupees earlier owned by A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd. Sushil Modi, who presented a set of documents to support his charges, said the company was incoroprated on September 28, 2006 by Amit Katyal and Rajesh Katyal who had had set up a liquor factory called 'Iceberg Industries Pvt Ltd' at Bihta in Patna district in 2003-04 when Rabri Devi was Bihar chief minister. "Lalu Prasad got cent per cent shares of the company transferred in the names of his wife and his son Tejashwi while his two daughters Chanda Yadav and Ragini Lalu were made the directors of the firm in 2014 ... Katyals handed over A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd, which owns land at prime locations in Patna worth crores to Prasad's family for helping them (Katyals) in setting up a liquor factory at Bihta," Sushil Modi claimed. Helping anyone while being in office in order to get benefits in the form of property/land/money comes under the purview of Prevention of Corruption Act, he said. Sushil Modi said Prasad's sons Tej Pratap Yadav, the Bihar health minister and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the deputy chief minister, had resigned from the post of directors of the company on November 9, 2015, a day after the results of Bihar Assembly polls were declared. Now Prasad's two daughters are the directors while all its shares are held by Rabri and Tejashwi. Modi asked Prasad to tell people where A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd has plots/land in Patna and sought to know why the Katyals had made his sons and daughters directors of the company and why all shares were transferred by them to Prasad's family members. He said that Prasad's family had adopted the same modus operandi of getting shares transferred in the names of his family members as in the case of Delight Marketing Pvt Ltd. Sushil Modi had on April 4 alleged that Prasad during his tenure as Railways minister had in February 2005 sold off two hotels in Puri and Ranchi controlled by the Railways to a hospitality chain owned by a person Harsh Kochar. Kochar in turn got two acres registered in the name of Delight Marketing Company Pvt Ltd, in which Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi, sons Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, were made directors. Later, Delight was re-christened as LARA Projects LLP in November 2016 in the name of Lalu Prsad and Rabri Devi. The BJP leader also demanded that an FIR be lodged for misusing the the chief minister's official residential by Chanda Yadav as her own as as adirector of Delight Marketing Pvt Ltd in 2014 and her brothers had countersigned on the documents submitted to the registrar. Their mother Rabri Devi had quit office as chief minister in 2005. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Looking through our collection of digitised Hebrew illuminated manuscripts, you may have noticed that amongst all of the biblical scenes and decorative letters, there are scenes of families cleaning their houses. Given the same spatial importance of scenes of lofty figures like Abraham and Moses, these scenes jump out to modern eyes as they seem to show families cleaning their homes together, with the men helping out with the housework too. Golden Haggadah. Catalonia, Spain, 2nd quarter of the 14th century. Full manuscript can be viewed online here (British Library Add MS 27210 f.15r) These manuscripts are all examples of a type of Hebrew book called a Haggadah. The Haggadah is a service book used in Jewish households during the ritual meal on Passover. Originally included in the text of Jewish prayer books, the Haggadah became an independent unit around the end of the 13th century. The Hebrew manuscript collection at the British Library features many illuminated Haggadot from the late 13th/early 14th century, mainly from Spain. These Haggadot have now been digitised thanks to the generous support of The Polonsky Foundation. Part of what makes them so charming and historically significant, is that they show contemporary domestic scenes, presumably of the families who commissioned and owned the manuscripts. While obviously they arent snapshots of reality, they are depictions of how the families wanted to represent themselves. If you look more closely at the images, you can see the women sweeping the surfaces, and the man looking into a cupboard and sweeping it clean with a feather, and a young boy holding a small bowl to catch the crumbs. He is also holding a candle, helping him to see into the dark corners. Candles, feathers and bowls are not necessary part of the standard medieval dustpan and brush set; they represent a very specific part of the Jewish customs surrounding Passover. These scenes are faithful representations the Jewish commandment to look for hamets (leaven) on the eve of Passover. Leaven, or hamets refers to foods which are forbidden on the Jewish holiday of Passover. Based on the Exodus from Egypt when the Israelites did not have time to let their bread rise, grains that have been mixed with water and left to start the leavening process are not permitted to be eaten or possessed during the week-long festival. Indeed there is a specific commandment to remove all hamets from ones home. This work must take place before midday on the 14th of the Jewish month of Nisan. In 2017, that date falls on Monday the 10th of April. Ashkenazi Haggadah. Germany, c.1460. Full manuscript can be viewed online here (British Library Add MS 14762 f.1v) Look at the fifteenth-century Ashkenazi Haggadah (Add MS 14762). Right at the beginning, you can see a man sweeping a cupboard clean with a feather and gathering the crumbs into a small bowl. He is richly dressed with lavish robes and money belt, clearly the head of his family and not a servant. The main text on the same page is the blessing that should traditionally be recited before this ritual search for crumbs: On the eve of the fourteenth [of Nisan] one searches [the house] for leaven by the light of a candle and says the blessing: Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and commanded us about removing the leaven. Sister Haggadah. Barcelona, Spain, 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 14th century. Similar to the Golden Haggadah, the female members of the family are sweeping the house from floor to ceiling, while the head of the family is sweeping the cupboards and brushing crumbs into a bowl held by a small boy. Full manuscript can be viewed online here (British Library Or.2884 f.17r ) What makes these images so interesting is that they dont only show the action of the cleaning, but also the specific detail within the ritual as describe in Jewish law. The Shulhan Arukh, (one of the most important Jewish legal codes) emphasises that first and foremost it is the house owners responsibility to search for the leaven. Even if he asks a member of his household to help, ideally he should say the blessing and he should participate in the search. (SA, Orah hayim, 432). Jewish tradition also specifies the use of the candle, feather, and wooden bowl or spoon. The candle is necessary, because it gives enough light in the evening to look for crumbs in the small cracks and holes of the house (SA, Orah hayim, 433). Some of the manuscripts also show what to do with all of the hamets crumbs after you have found them. Haggadah for Passover with the commentaries of Isaac Abravanel. Altona, Germany, 1740. Full manuscript can be viewed here (British Library Add MS 18724 f.2r ) You have to burn them! Just have a look at the relevant page from this eighteenth- century Haggadah. In the upper part of the page we find the blessing for the searching for the leaven, while underneath an Aramaic statement, which one recites to nullify the leaven which might still be in his possession that hasnt been found: All leaven that is in my possession, that I have seen and not seen, that I have beheld and not beheld, that I have removed and not removed, let it be nullified and like the dust of the earth. In the initial word of Barukh (Blessed), we can see a man searching for the leaven with the help of a feather, a bowl and a candle. In the initial word of Kol (All), we find the same man busy burning in the fireplace what he found. It is thought that the use of the wooden vessel to sweep the crumbs into was practical for this stage, as it could be burnt even if no hamets had been found, allowing this ritual to still be performed. The Ceremonies and Religious Customs of the Various Nation s. Published in 1733 by Jean Frederic Bernard with etchings by Bernard Picart. It was reprinted several more times during the 18th century, and translated into 5 languages. This image is from the 1733 London edition (British Library 878.l.2) This spring clean ritual of searching for the hamets drew the attention of non-Jewish artists as well. In one of the great publishing enterprises of the Enlightenment period, The Ceremonies and Religious Customs of the Various Nations, one of the two images devoted to Passover is the depiction of the Searching for Leaven. It is interesting that with all of the different rituals and complexities surrounding Passover, like with the Hebrew manuscripts, this ritual was considered so important to depict. The illustrations were designed by Bernard Picart, who relied heavily on his own observations of the Sefardic Jewish community of Amsterdam. In the context of the Haggadah, these images may have served as visual aids, instructions for the family on the precise nature of the tradition, a kind of non-textual manual. But they could also have served as a kind of self-representation. Could it have been that a whole family cleaning their house together was so unusual? Or was it just that this particular scene was such a good example of the detail and specificity within Jewish law, and how families ensured that people knew how strictly they were adhering to it? Ashkenazi Haggadah, Germany, c.1430-1470. Full manuscript can be viewed online here (British Library Add MS 14762 f.6r) After the spring-cleaning, the family is able to sit down to their Passover meal, read their Haggadah, and drink wine. Theyve earned it! A gunman opened fire at an elementary school in the California city of San Bernardino, killing a teacher and an eight-year-old boy before turning the gun on himself, police said. Another child caught in the crossfire was rushed to a hospital and said to be in critical condition. "This does appear to have been a murder-suicide with both male adult and female adult victim succumbing to injuries, with the male succumbing to a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Lieutenant Mike Madden of the San Bernardino Police Department told a conference yesterday. "We had two students who were tragically injured and are listed as critical at this stage in area hospitals." Police later confirmed that one of the students, eight- year-old Jonathan Martinez, had died. Police identified the gunman as local resident Cedric Anderson, 53, and said the teacher, Karen Elaine Smith, also 53, was his estranged wife. Students at North Park Elementary School -- which has around 500 students between kindergarten and sixth grade -- were transported to a nearby campus, where they were "being well cared for, having snacks, playing games and watching a Disney movie," the police department tweeted. "Police operations are continuing to secure the area. However, we do believe the threat is down," city Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. San Bernardino, about an hour's drive east of Los Angeles, became synonymous with gun violence when Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik gunned down 14 people and wounded 22 others in December 2015 before being shot dead by police. At the time, before the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, it was the deadliest attack on US soil since September 11, 2001. Pakistani-born Malik -- who met her future US-born husband on a Muslim dating website and married him in Saudi Arabia -- had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group on Facebook and was instrumental in radicalizing him. A number of commemorative events, including a memorial mass, a vigil and a remembrance ceremony, were held in December to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack. Yesterday's shooting will likely reignite the debate on gun violence in the US, where attempts to put in place tougher gun control measures have failed, despite a series of mass killings. In one of the most notorious school shootings in modern US history, 20 children and six staff were massacred in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. In June last year, 49 people were killed in a shooting rampage at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. More than 10 out of every 100,000 Americans die every year from guns, including suicides, a rate far higher than in other Western countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tiger Strike Force of Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has arrested three persons wanted in tiger poaching cases in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, an official said today. The three accused, identified as Rokin, Tiliya and Tayohari, were arrested from Uchhera in Satna district yesterday, a public relations department official today. "They were handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has been probing the case," he said. The trio and their accomplices had allegedly killed several tigers and panthers in the Melghat Tiger Reserve and other forest ranges of Maharashtra in 2012-13. "Most of their accomplices had been arrested by the Maharashtra Forest department, but these three accused had gone absconding. The case was later transferred to the CBI in 2014 and since then the central agency had been on the lookout for them," he said. The official said that the Tiger Strike Force has achieved remarkable success by arresting the three "notorious poachers". According to him, the poachers were held when a campaign was being run by the Tiger Strike Force since the last few days to nab poachers in Katni, Jabalpur, Satna and other nearby areas after an alert was sounded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Bashar al-Assad should not be part of Syria's future, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said today, as G7 allies rejected a call for new sanctions on Damascus and its key ally Moscow. Washington has stepped up the pressure on Russia to rein in Assad after a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held Syrian town that killed at least 87 civilians and triggered retaliatory US missile strikes on a Syrian air base. As G7 foreign ministers urged a diplomatic push to end the six-year conflict and create a lasting peace for a unified Syria, Tillerson said: "Our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that future." With a growing gulf between the US and Assad's main ally Russia, the G7 ministers threw their support behind Tillerson as he headed for vital talks on the Syrian conflict in Moscow. "To be clear, our military action was a direct response to the Assad regime's barbarism," Tillerson said at the G7 meeting in Italy. "The United States' priority in Syria and Iraq remains the defeat of ISIS," he added, referring to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. Moscow said it was hoping to avoid confrontation and engage in "constructive cooperation" with Washington, as Tillerson headed to the Russian capital on the first visit by a senior member of President Donald Trump's administration. The G7 ministers failed to agree on whether fresh sanctions should be imposed on Damascus and Moscow. "At the moment there is no consensus on new sanctions as an effective instrument," Italy's Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said, after his British counterpart Boris Johnson had raised the issue. But after talks in the Tuscan city German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said: "All the G7 states want to avoid a military escalation and want a political solution without a new spiral of violence. "We want to bring Russia around to supporting the political process for a peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict." The German diplomat said Tillerson had "all our support" for his talks in Moscow, where he will meet his counterpart Sergei Lavrov although the Kremlin has not said if there will be a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The US has warned Damascus that further use of chemical weapons could bring fresh retaliation. US warships in the Mediterranean on Friday fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat air base near Homs, destroying an airfield from which Washington believes Assad's jets launched the deadly chemical attack. The strike was the first time Washington had intervened directly against the regime of Assad, who is fighting a six- year civil war with the backing of Russia and Iran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his visit to Russia would press Moscow to honour its international commitments on Syria, Ukraine and Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty treaty, the White House said today. "Russia must fully honour the commitments it made on Syria, Ukraine, and the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and other topics of international concern. And Secretary Tillerson is going to make that clear during his visit," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily conference. The White House official slammed Russia for siding with the Assad regime that has used chemical weapons against its own people. "If you're Russia, ask yourself, is this a country that you and a regime that you want to align yourself with?" he said. "You have previously signed onto international agreements rightfully acknowledging that the use of chemical weapons should be out of bounds by every country. To not stand up... should be troubling. This is Russia putting their name on the line," he said. Look at the countries that are standing with them -- Iran, Syria, North Korea. "This is not a team you want to be on. I think that Russia has to recognise that, while they may have had an alliance with them, that the lines that have been crossed are ones that no country should ever want to see another country cross," he said. Spicer alleged that the Russians have aligned themselves with North Korea, Syria and Iran. "That's not exactly a group of countries that you're looking to hang out with. With the exception of Russia, they are all failed states," he said. "Russia is not an island when it comes to its support of Syria or its lack of, frankly, acknowledgement of what happened. The facts are on our side. The actions of Syria are reprehensible. And I think that Russia has been party to several international agreements that Syria is not holding up to. In fact Russia needs to hold themselves up to (them)," Spicer said. Trump, he said, has been very clear with his stance on Russia. "In this particular case, we're going to be very forceful, and I think as will Secretary Tillerson during his visit, to make sure that we let Russia know that they need to live up to the obligations it has made," Spicer said. Tillerson arrived in Moscow earlier in the day to confront the Russian leaders over the Syria issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With fresh urgency but scant solutions, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and top foreign diplomats held an urgent meeting today to strategize on a way forward to end the protracted civil war in Syria. A meeting of the "likeminded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of a Group of 7 industrialised economies in Italy, days after the US for the first time launched airstrikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces. It came hours before Tillerson was to make a tense trip to Moscow to press Russia's leaders to finally abandon their support for Assad. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the US strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as US officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional US military action if Assad's government continues attacking civilians. Today's meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G-7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim-majority nations including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the US strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Mideast nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is defeated. Seated around long tables in an ornate, red-walled room, the diplomats smiled and exchanged pleasantries but made no remarks as photographers were allowed in briefly for the start of the meeting. The session lasted roughly an hour. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to prop up Assad in Syria. The US and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to give up his chemical weapons arsenal. The US raised the stakes significantly on Monday when a senior US official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week. Yet the U.S. Has no proof of Moscow's involvement, said the official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tour operators must show some restraint in cases where a traveller has to cancel a tour due to unforeseen circumstances, a district consumer forum here has said. A South Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum made the observation on the complaint of a man against a travel company for demanding Rs 11,000 as cancellation charge despite having forfeited Rs 25,000 already paid by him while booking a tour package. The forum, which refused refund of Rs 25,000 to the man, who had cancelled the trip as he suffered a heart attack, said the company was justified in doing so. "It is a matter of common knowledge that Indian tour operators have annual contracts with airlines, hotels and local tour operators in different countries to provide tour faculties in order to give best possible facilities to their customers... "Indian tour operators pay certain amount of money to the airlines, hotelier and the local tour operators to arrange the flights, stay of the passengers and completion of the local tours. Therefore, if any passenger does not travel on the date fixed for any reason whatsoever, the Indian tour operator has to incur some loss," the forum said. It further said, "It was not the fault of the complainant and his wife. However, the Opposite Party (company) must have incurred some loss on account of non-performing the journey. Therefore, in our considered opinion, the firm was justified in forfeiting the amount of Rs 25,000 deposited by complainant as advance money." The forum, however, took strong objection to the company's move to send a legal notice to the complainant to pay Rs 11,000 more towards cancellation charges along with interest. "At the same time, we are also of the considered opinion that in such an emergent and unforeseen situation the tour operators must observe some degree of restraint and should not retaliate in case some particular customer becomes aggressive. "In case they do so it is they who will suffer and their reputation may come to a halt. Therefore, in our considered opinion, the OP was also not justified in sending a legal notice to the complainant to pay Rs 11,000 more towards cancellation charges alongwith interest," it said. It disposed of the complaint saying, "Now we hold that neither the complainant nor the OP is entitled to any amount from each other. We order accordingly. Complaint stands disposed off." 66-year-old Satish Kumar Bajaj had booked a tour package with D Pauls Travels and Tours Ltd for himself and his wife to travel to Bangkok between April 23-29, 2013 for Rs 48,000 and had paid Rs 25,000 as advance money, the complaint said. According to the complainant, he suffered a heart attack a day before the trip was to begin and got admitted in a private hospital where he underwent surgery and was discharged on April 24, 2013 and was advised rest for 15 days. The complainant sent an email to the travel firm seeking postponement of the trip, it said, adding that instead, the firm raised a further demand of Rs 11,000 as cancellation fee. The complainant alleged that it was an act of deficiency in service, malpractice and unfair trade practice on the part of the company and sought refund of Rs 25,000 besides a compensation of Rs one lakh towards financial loss and mental pain and agony suffered by him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre told the Supreme Court that the practices of 'triple talaq', 'nikah halala' and polygamy impact the social status and dignity of Muslim women and deny them fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. In a fresh written submission filed before the apex court, the government has reiterated its earlier stand and said these practices render Muslim women "unequal and vulnerable" as compared to men of their community as well as women belonging to other communities. "The practices which are under challenge, namely, triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy are practices which impact the social status and dignity of Muslim women and render them unequal and vulnerable qua men belonging to their own community, women belonging to other communities and also Muslim women outside India," the Centre said. "There are unreasonable classifications which arise from practices such as those under challenge in the present petition, which deny to Muslim women the full enjoyment of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution," it said. The apex court had on March 30 observed that practices of 'triple talaq', 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims were important issues involving "sentiments" and a Constitution bench would hear the pleas challenging these from May 11. The Centre, in its written submission, has termed these practices as "patriarchal values and traditional notions about the role of women in society" and said that "the right of a woman to human dignity, social esteem and self-worth are vital facets of her Right to Life under Article 21". "Gender inequity has ripple effect on the rest of the community, preventing it from partaking in full, liberties guaranteed by a modern Constitution," it said. Seeking to declare these practices as unconstitutional, the government has said reforms in Muslim personal law have not taken place for over six decades in the past and Muslim women, who comprises eight per cent of the population, have remained "extremely vulnerable" due to fear of instant divorce. "Even though it may be true to say that only some women are directly and actually affected by and polygamy, the fact remains that every woman who is subject to the said law lives under threat, fear or prospect of these practices being invoked against her, which in turn impacts her status, her choices, her conduct and her right to life with dignity," the Centre has said. It has also raised a fundamental issue and said in a secular democracy, whether religion can be a reason to deny equal status and dignity, which is available to women under the Constitution. "The conferment of a social status based on patriarchal values or one that is at the mercy of menfolk is incompatible with the letter and spirit of Articles 14 and 15," it said. "Practices such as polygamy cannot be described as being sanctioned by religion in as much as historically, polygamy prevailed across communities for several centuries including the ancient Greeks and Romans, Hindus, Jews and Zoroastrians. It had less to do with religion and more to do with social norms at the time," the submission said. Influential Muslim organisations like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) have opposed the court's adjudication of these matters, maintaining these practices stemmed from the Holy Quran and were not justiciable. Several Muslim women have challenged the practice of 'triple talaq' in which the husband, quite often, pronounces talaq thrice in one go, sometimes over phone or text message. 'Nikah halala' is a practice intended to curb incidence of divorce under which a man cannot remarry his former wife without her having to go through the process of marrying someone else, consummating it, getting divorced, observing the separation period called 'Iddat' and then coming back to him again. The apex court had earlier said it would decide issues pertaining to the legal aspects of the practices of 'triple talaq', 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims but would not deal with the question whether divorce under Muslim law needs to be supervised by courts as it falls under the legislative domain. The Centre had on October 7 last year opposed in the apex court the practice of 'triple talaq', 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism. The AIMPLB had told the court that pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary. The apex court had taken suo motu cognizance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or due to other marriages of their husband. President Donald Trump has spoken with British Prime Minister Theresa May about US strikes in Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians. The British Embassy in Washington says Trump thanked the prime minister yesterday "for her support in the wake of last week's US military action against the Assad regime." The statement says there now exists "a window of opportunity" to convince Russia that its alliance with Syrian President Bashar Assad is no longer in its strategic interest. They both expressed hope that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make progress toward "a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement" when he visits Moscow next week. The two also discussed the regional threats posed by Iran and North Korea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May have agreed that a "window of opportunity" exists to convince Russia to end its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Trump made a phone call to May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and they discussed America's response to the suspected chemical attack by Syrian regime in which 87 people, including 31 children, were killed. May and Merkel, in two separate calls with Trump, expressed support for the action of the US and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable, the White House said. "The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest," May's spokesperson said in London. Trump and his counterparts agreed to stay in touch on Syria and discuss other international issues of mutual concern, it added. Meanwhile, the White House refuted reports that Russia had prior information about the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime last week. "At this time, there is no US Intelligence Community consensus that Russia had foreknowledge of the Syrian chemical attack," a senior administration official said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US and Russia have common interest in defeating the Islamic State militant group. "We have a shared interest particularly in the area of ISIS. If we can defeat them and if we can work with them on a plan to defeat them, then we're going to do it," he said. "The President came into office to really focus on two fronts: keeping our country safe and growing our economy and putting people back to work," Spicer said. "If Russia or any other country can help us achieve those two goals, either through market access on additional products and services from the US into a major marketplace, but more importantly help to keep our country safe through a combined effort to defeat something like the ISIS, especially in a place like Syria where they're playing so prominently, then I think we want to work with them," Spicer said. "But if we can't get a deal with them, then, the President's not, going to be disappointed. But he would like to do what he can to work with these individuals to make it happen," Spicer said. In a letter to Trump, two Republican lawmakers Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Peter Roskam urged him to suspend aircraft sales to Iran arguing that Tehran is using commercial passenger aircraft to supply its worldwide network of terror proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria. "We urge you to suspend current and future licenses for aircraft sales to commercial Iranian airlines until your administration conducts a comprehensive review of their role in supporting Iran's illicit activity," they said in a letter to Trump. "The United States should revoke authorisations and re-impose sanctions on Iranian airlines found guilty of such support, and should bar US companies from selling aircraft to Iran until the Iranian regime ceases using commercial airliners for illicit military purposes," the letter said. Senator Jack Reed supported the US move of missile strike against the Assad regime. "It was important to respond to the despicable behavior of the Syrian regime, Assad regime, but it hasn't changed the facts on the ground, which is that Assad controls significant territory. There's Russian support," Reed was quoted as saying by CNN. "But in terms of stopping, the chemical weapons attacks against the people of Syria, I hope it succeeds," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was close, but no Pulitzer Prize, for three entries on education in the most prestigious award competition for the U.S. news business. A Houston Chronicle series on arbitrary cost-cutting by the state of Texas on special education services was one of three finalists for public service, the most prestigious category in the awards administered by the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York City and announced April 10 . (The public service award went to the New York Daily News and ProPublica for a series on abuses in evictions by the police.) In the investigative category, Steve Reilly of USA Today was a finalist for his stories about 9,000 teachers across the country who should have been identified for past disciplinary offenses but were not. (The prize went to the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail for a series about the opioid problem in West Virginia.) In the national reporting category, Renee Dudley, Steve Stecklow, Alexandra Harney, and other members of the staff of the Reuters wire service were a finalist for a series about how the U.S. college admissions process is corrupted by systematic cheating on tests in Asia taken by those seeking to attend college here. (The prize went to David A. Fahrenthold of The Washington Post for his series casting doubt about Donald Trumps charitable contributions.) There was one education-related winner. The staff of the Salt Lake Tribune won the Pulitzer in local reporting for a series on the poor treatment of sexual assault victims at Brigham Young University. Education entries usually garner several finalist positions in the Pulitzers and often one or two category winners. Last year, two education-related entries won Pulitizers: A Tampa Bay Times series called Failure Factories, about the Pinellas County, Fla., school districts failure to education its African-American children, which won the local reporting prize; and Farah Stockman of The Boston Globe, who won the commentary prize for her series called Boston After Busing. Turkish authorities detained today 19 suspected Islamic State supporters in the Aegean city of Izmir, accused of planning to "sabotage" voting in the weekend referendum on boosting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers, state media reported. Ten Turks and nine Syrian citizens connected to the Islamic State group (IS) were picked up during raids by police and intelligence officers in the city, state-run agency Anadolu said. The detentions came after Izmir police launched an investigation into planned attacks aimed at stopping people from going to vote, Anadolu said. It added the suspects were planning to "sabotage" voting, without specifying how. The agency said several "organisation documents" and "vests" were found as well as "digital material" that would be further investigated. There was no indication that any arms or explosives had been found. The 19 suspects were alleged to have been in contact with Is;amic State members inside Syria, Anadolu said. In the latest issue of its magazine Al-Naba, IS called for attacks against polling stations in Turkey. Turks will vote on Sunday to decide whether to approve constitutional changes that would create an executive presidency and axe the role of prime minister. Turkey has been hit by a series of attacks in the last 18 months blamed on IS and Kurdish militants. The jihadist group has threatened further attacks. The last major attack IS claimed was on January 1 when an armed man stormed an elite Istanbul nightclub and shot 39 people dead during New Year celebrations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who is in India on a four-day visit, visited the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy here today. Fallon was accompanied by a 12-member UK delegation, during the visit, a Defence spokesperson said. Fallon and the delegation also interacted with Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. "Discussions were held on aspects related to Defence and naval cooperation, maritime security and current environment in the Indo-Pacific region," the spokesperson said. "Progress on maritime issues, as outlined in the Defence and International Security Partnership were also discussed," the spokesperson said in a statement. The delegation also visited Indian Naval Ship Kolkata, a front line indigenously built stealth destroyer and were conducted around the ship. "Royal Navy and Indian Navy have for long shared a healthy relationship of mutual respect, trust and professionalism. The two navies have engaged in a bilateral naval exercise named KONKAN from 2004 onwards. "The last edition of the KONKAN series of exercises was held in December 2016 and INS Tarkash is scheduled to participate in KONKAN 17 off the coast of UK in May 2017," the spokesperson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Game Over! One of the UK's top schools has taken to confiscating Xboxes, PlayStations and mobiles from pupils' homes in order to improve their behaviour and exam results. King Solomon Academy (KSA), in Marylebone, west London, has seized the gaming devices on occasions from some pupils with their parents' consent. The measure was introduced to encourage good behaviour and exam grades, according to Max Haimendorf, the principal. "What has happened more than once is that the parent has come into the school and said, 'I do not want my child using this. I want you to keep it until they are better behaved,'" he told The Sunday Times. Haimendorf said the parents might either agree to a "symbolic" confiscation of the item or bring it into the school and give it to staff. The academy's radical approach to an issue that has become a battleground for parents concerned by the effect of unlimited screen time and computer games on their children is revealed in a new book by Barnaby Lenon, the former headmaster of Harrow School, published this month. In 'Much Promise', Lenon singles out KSA as a model for other secondary schools and writes that the school's deputy head "confiscates games consoles from pupils' homes". On one visit to KSA, one of several academies run by Ark, an educational charity, Lenon saw a heap of consoles in the corner of the deputy head's office. Haimendorf has pioneered a model in which the school acts almost as a second family, working with parents to improve teenagers' behaviour, wellbeing and performance. "Where specific children have said, 'I have been up late playing PlayStation' or 'up late on the internet', there definitely have been circumstances where (they) have been clearly exhausted in classrooms," Haimendorf said. In such cases, the school would hold a meeting with parents to "talk through the impact of their child spending that time doing that thing". Lenon praised Haimendorf's approach. "Having worked in a boarding school most of my life, I was always confiscating games consoles if boys were spending too much time misusing them and not doing their homework, or staying up late to play games and getting too little sleep," Lenon said. "I have come across schools in which boys have stayed up all night to play games like Call of Duty across time zones. Parents need to be helped by schools to set limits on children's use of these devices," he said. He added that computer game violence was another problem. "That is why it is great when schools like KSA make it easier for parents to enforce mutually agreed policies," Lenon said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Rs 5,000 crore worth of BS- III vehicles remaining unsold after the Supreme Court banned them, auto industry body SIAM today said an increasingly uncertain business environment will affect investments in the sector. The apex court had banned sale and registration of BS-III vehicles from April 1, affecting a total of over 8 lakh vehicles worth up to Rs 20,000 crore. "Currently, there are around 1.2 lakh units of BS-III vehicle inventory worth around Rs 5,000 crore. Most of them are lying with the dealers," Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Director General Vishnu Mathur told reporters here. He said automobile companies, mostly the two-wheeler manufacturers, had managed to liquidate a large chunk of the BS-III inventory by offering huge discounts. "The revenue loss of the industry due to discounts, mostly by the two-wheeler makers, are to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore," Mathur said. SIAM had maintained that as per government notification, sales of BS III vehicles were allowed after April 1 and only manufacturing was not allowed. The apex court, however, ruled otherwise and ordered a blanket ban citing public health concerns. Highlighting 'uncertain' business environment surrounding the automobile industry, Mathur said: "This is the second time it has happened, that too in quick succession." The first was the eight-month ban on big diesel cars and SUVs with engines of 2,000cc and above in Delhi-NCR by the Supreme Court that was lifted in August last year. The apex court imposed 1 per cent of the ex-showroom price of such vehicles as green cess. "This was something which the industry never expected, something that doesn't happen anywhere else in the world," he said. Commenting on the implications of such developments, SIAM Deputy Director General Sugato Sen said: "The increasing uncertainty due to uncertain business environment will affect investments in auto industry." The abrupt policy changes continue to affect long term sustainable growth of industry, he added. One of the key concerns for the auto industry is that the ad-hoc changes in policy environment would affect profitability of OEMs, Sen said. When asked what would happen to the BS-III vehicles, Mathur said: "It will be up to the individual companies now to decide what they would like to do, although some of them have said an option would be to export. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man in the US has been charged in connection with the arson at a grocery store owned by a Nepali-American, an incident described by police as a racially-tinged attack. Curtis Flournoy, 32, a resident of North Carolina, faces many charges, including ethnic intimidation and burning a commercial building. He was charged for attacking the store situated in a predominately Indian locality in Charlotte city. A hearing is scheduled in the first court appearance today for Flournoy, according to Mecklenburg County court officials. The attack last week had left with a note signed "White America" which threatened to "torture" the refugee business owners if they "did not go back to where they came from", police said. Police have described the attack as a racially tinged arson attack on the store that sells goods from the Indian subcontinent. After the incident, officers were called to a fire at the Central Market. On arrival, officers were advised by the Charlotte Fire Department that the fire was contained to the front door and burned itself out by their arrival, they said, adding that one of the windows in the store's door had been broken with a rock and a note signed "White America" left near the door. The note stated "the suspect did not want any refugee business owners and that they would torture the owner if they did not leave and go back to where they came from," they said. "We need more safety and more security as business owners," Kamal Dhimel, owner of the store, was quoted as saying by 'The Charlotte Observer'. Dhimel, a Bhutanese refugee who moved to the US from Nepal in 2010 and started his business in 2014, said the letter is a sign that people don't understand the importance of immigrants and refugees in the community. Investigators say video footage of the incident showed a black male suspect with a short goatee wearing a gray hoodie under a black coat, light jeans and black shoes, police said. People from India make up Charlotte's second largest concentration of immigrants (just below Hispanics) with 12,300 people, the report said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The merger of cash-rich oil producer Cairn India into its debt-ridden parent Vedanta Ltd is now complete, the two firms announced today. "This merger consolidates Vedanta's position as one of the world's largest diversified natural resources companies, with world-class, low-cost assets in metals and mining and oil and gas," a statement by the two firms said. After absorbing its cash-rich subsidiary, Vedanta will have a larger pro forma market cap of USD 15.6 billion and higher free float of 49.9 per cent. The two companies announced plans of the merger in June 2016, which would give the metals and mining company Vedanta access to the cash of Cairn India, helping it cut debt. In July last year, Vedanta had sweetened its merger proposal to win over minority shareholders like LIC. Shareholders of Cairn India will get one equity share of Vedanta and four redeemable preference shares of face value Rs 10 and coupon 7.5 per cent, as against the proposal of one equity share and one preference share earlier. April 27 has been set as record date for the share swap. "Cairn India shareholders as on said Record Date, who will become shareholders of Vedanta, would also receive an interim dividend of Rs 17.70 per equity share as approved by the Board of Vedanta on March 30, 2017," the statement said. Also, no shares will be issued to Vedanta or any of its subsidiaries for their shareholding in Cairn India. Vedanta will arrange for a third-party facility enabling a cash exit for Redeemable Preference Share (RPS) holders at par within 30 days from issuance, the statement said. Navin Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Limited said:"We are pleased to have completed the Vedanta Ltd - Cairn India merger and are very excited about the future of the combined company. With world class assets in metals and mining and oil and gas, Vedanta will fuel India's economic growth and generate value for all stakeholders." Sudhir Mathur, Acting CEO of Cairn India, said the merger with Vedanta Ltd will de-risk Cairn India by providing access to a portfolio of diversified tier-I, low cost, long-life assets to deliver significant near term growth, while retaining the substantial upside from oil and gas business. Tom Albanese, CEO of Vedanta Limited, said:"Our continued focus to remain a low-cost operator with low leverage will provide us the financial flexibility throughout the cycle and help us create long term value for all stakeholders." The merger, he said, will increase the appeal of Vedanta Ltd to global investors as it simplifies the structure and increases the size and free float of the company. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee today said the state government will consider the proposal of having a 'Boi Sarani' (book street) in the College Square area. "Today eminent Bengali writer Sanjib Chattopadhyay has made a proposal that if any road surrounding College Square area can be named as Boi Sarani. I urge the Publishers and Booksellers Guild to submit the proposal to Kolkata Municipal Corporation and also to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," Chatterjee said said while inaugurating the 'Nababarsha Boi Utsab 2017' organised by Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the apex body of publishers and book shop owners in the state. "We will then discuss the proposal among ourselves," the minister told PTI on the sidelines of the programme. The road adjacent to College Square is called College Street, which is also known as the book hub of Kolkata. Earlier, unveiling a book written by the Chief Minister titled 'Mojar Chhora' (book of limericks), Chatterjee said "The state government is working towards fostering reading habit among people, which is sadly on the decline." "We are not devoting as much time to books as to TV serials and mobiles," the minister said adding, "We are trying to make the libraries all over the state more vibrant." "But, everything will be futile if a reader doesn't frequent the library, a citadel of learning, and the government is trying to inculcate reading habit among readers since childhood," he said. Eminent writers Nabanita Deb Sen and Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay, who were present on the occasion, said it is in the fitness of things that the 4th 'Nababarsho Boi Utsab' is taking place in College Square, the hub of Bengali literary tradition. Guild general secretary Tridib Chatterjee said "College Square, surrounded by heritage buildings associated with learning and the memory of Vidyasagar, Rammohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda, can be the ideal place for a book carnival on the occasion of Bangla Nababarsho (Bengali New Year)." The 4th edition of the fair, which could not be held last year as the dates clashed with state Assembly elections, has 74 stalls, including one from Bangladesh, and will continue till April 19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The wife of a wanted gangster has been arrested for allegedly demanding extortion money in Shamli district, police said today. Reshma, wife wanted gangster Furman, was arrested in Shamli when she was trying to go to Delhi to escape arrest, SHO Sahib Singh said. She was produced in court and sent to 14 days judicial custody. Furman, who carried a reward of Rs 50,000,was arrested in Shamli district on April 8, Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Employees of three SAIL plants, that the government plans to divest, went on day-long strike today to protest against the stake sale, a trade union leader said. Employees, including temporary and contract workers, at Salem, Durgapur and Bhadrawati units of SAIL observed day-long strike, CITU general secretary Tapan Sen told PTI. He claimed that production was hit at these plants due to the strike. However, a Steel Authority of India (SAIL) official said that there was no impact of the protest and production was normal at these plants. The Salem steel plant suffered a production hit as the strike was to the tune of 95 per cent, Sen claimed. The plant produces around 2,000 tonnes of steel per day. The strike was to the tune of 85 per cent at alloy steel plant in Durgapur, Sen added. At the steel plant in Karnataka, he said, from the last one week there is no production due to non-availability of iron ore, adding that the annual capacity at this plant is less than one million tonnes. According to SAIL official, the attendance at the three plants was 50 per cent. At full capacity, the three plants produce 1,400-1,500 tonnes of steel per day. India National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) National President G Sanjeeva Reddy said that all the existing unions, including INTUC and CITU, at SAIL's three units -- Durgapur, Salem and a plant in Karnataka -- went on strike from 6 am. There was no production at the plants, he said. "Employees are demanding that government give them one more year so that workers and officers can show profitability" of these plants, Reddy had said yesterday. The government has in principle approved strategic disinvestment of Bhadravati, Salem and Durgapur (alloy steel plants). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nargis Fakhri will soon be seen in a Hollywood film "5 Weddings" opposite Rajkummar Rao and the actress says she has become a better performer after working with him. The film, directed by Namrata Singh Gujral, features Nargis and Rajkummar opposite each other for the first time. "If someone says I am not a good actor and if I work with someone who is also not a good actor then I will be a disaster. If I work with a good actor it makes me a better actor as he (referring to Rajkummar) helps you. "When you have a good actor by your side, it rubs on you," Nargis told PTI on the sidelines of an app launch here. Rao comes across as a serious person having worked mostly in hard-hitting films. But Nargis says he has a good sense of humour and is an easy-going person in real life. "I have worked with different kinds of actors and I had a lot of fun working with Rajkummar. We did a lot of goofy Instagram videos. We were on similar wave length and had good matching humour," she adds. The movie is reportedly based on weddings in Bollywood and is narrated from the perspective of an American journalist who comes to India to cover them. "The story has a lot do with my character's family, her father and going back to her roots. I'm looking forward to seeing the trailer," Nargis says. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the national conversation on immigration at the forefront of the news, teachers are working to incorporate this discussion into their classrooms. Here is how one teacher, Jennifer Ciok, Social Emotional Learning Specialist at Umoja Student Development Corporation , a non-profit organization in Chicago, Illinois, helps students understand their own personal stories of immigrants. By guest blogger Jennifer Ciok Stories make us who we are. They make history come alive in a way that no textbook can, they help us build understanding of, and respect for, our school, country, global community, and each other. In 2002, I started teaching an immigration unit focusing on the early 1900s. As I would tell my own familys stories of immigration from Norway in the 1920s, Germany in the 1700s and 1870s, and Denmark in 1910s, I was baffled by the fact that so many of my students did not know how or why their families came to the United States, even though some of them were immigrants themselves. As I reflected on the early lessons of the unit, I realized that in order to make sense of what we were learning in class, I needed students to know their own stories and to be able to share them in a meaningful way. I wanted to be able to celebrate both the diversity and similarities of our stories around how we all came to be in America. I would tell my students, We are a nation of stories. We all came from somewhere else and that makes America a place like no other! With that in mind, I created an oral history project where students had the choice of how to best represent their familys story. Students Learn Their Own Immigration Stories After learning the basics of immigration (push and pull factors, immigration stations in the United States, laws that were in place, and how early immigrants were treated), I sent my students home with a series of questions to ask their family about their immigration to the United States. These included questions from before they left their country, during their journey, and after they settled in their new home. Students who were not first- or second-generation immigrants or did not have enough information to complete the project interviewed a relative about their family history and stories using a significant historical event as the backdrop for their project. Examples of the immigration project questions included: What did you and/or your family enjoy doing together in your/their home country? What were the conditions (political, social or economic) in the country from which you/your family emigrated when you/they left? Did the conditions in your country contribute to your reasons for leaving? Why did you/they leave? When did you/they leave? How were you/they treated when you/they first arrived in the U.S.? How has that treatment changed? If you had to give one piece of advice to someone immigrating to America today, what would it be and why? Some students get more information than others, but they all learned something in the process and it had the added benefit of opening lines of communication in a time where sometimes those discussions are limited. For the students who were not able to get as much information, we relied on what they could gather and added in what we know from history to piece together their story. If the immigration story was truly not known or could not be researched, then students completed a time period project where students shared a historical event their family found significant in their lifetime and tied it to how it impacted their family story. Their stories centered around events like the March on Washington, bus boycotts, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, fighting in World War II, being forced into Japanese internment camps, the Challenger explosion, and even the election of President Obama. These stories served as an interesting parallel to the immigration stories from the same time period. Presenting Their Story When the students came back to school, they were ready to get started on their project. Using a storyboard template the students created an outline of a childrens book, memory box, or scrapbook to present their stories. They used a template to write a narrative that would accompany their pictures. Once the students had collected all of their artifacts, created their storybook pictures, and written their narrative script, students used video editing equipment to turn their projects into a digital story that could be shared to a larger audience. English teachers used this project to teach and assess narrative writing, along with public speaking skills. We collaborated on the rubrics so that they could assess the process and I could assess the content. Lessons Learned The lessons that came from this project are far reaching. One of the goals of the project was to help students find a personal connection to, and better understanding of, immigration. I wanted them to be able to put themselves into another persons shoes and really think about what it would mean to leave your home and come to another place. The project led to more open discussions between students and their families, and between families and the school. Engagement went up as families realized how much the school cared about them and their stories. The project often led students and their families to ask more questions and conduct more research into their stories. I find that when I teach younger siblings of previous students, they often know far more about their families immigration stories because the older siblings research resulted in continued family learning. Finally, one of my goals for the project is to encourage students to celebrate and be proud of their heritage. The bravery students had in sharing their personal stories led to greater community and understanding in our class and in the school. Respect for Immigrants One of the outcomes of the project that was surprising is the amount of respect that students develop toward their family member(s) who immigrated. At the end of the project, students complete a personal reflection of the project and what they learned. One of the most memorable reflections came in the second year I did this project when a student wrote about his dads journey from Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime. He wrote, I finally realize why my dad cannot return to the land that stole his parents and his childhood. That same student came back to me years later to see if I still had his project and reflection, which affected him so much that he found a volunteer position at a Cambodian museum to help others understand and celebrate his familys culture. Another student wrote, Since America ended up not being as great as my grandmother had envisioned, she always remembered to live the life she chose to the fullest.... She taught me to always think about what can be rather than what couldve [been]. And yet another shared, I learned that youll face a lot of situations, but you should never give up because at the end, theres always hope.... My grandma says that, despite our problems, there is still so much courage, goodness, and possibility in each of us. We are a nation of immigrants and I definitely think we need to remember the lessons of our ancestors as we continue to navigate our future. These lessons are ones that I know I carry with me into my work with students each day, and they carry forward those same lessons to their families, their communities, and the world. Connect with Jennifer , Umoja Corp , Center for Global Education , and Heather on Twitter. Sample of student work courtesy of the author. Leading musical instrument maker Yamaha will set up a new factory at Chennai to manufacture portable keyboards, acoustic guitars and other professional audio equipment for India and other emerging markets. The 28-acre plant would be at OneHub Chennai and is scheduled to go into operation from January 2019, Yamaha said in a statement. Commenting on the development, Yamaha Music India Chairman Takashi Haga said: "With this new facility, we will be able to serve both international and domestic markets, providing high-quality musical instruments that cater to the growing market at competitive prices." Yamaha is the fifth Japanese company to set up base in OneHub Chennai, it added. OneHub Chennai Director and CEO of Ascendas-Singbridge's India Operations Sanjay Dutt said, "We are proud that Yamaha, a world leader for being passionately committed to quality, has chosen OneHub Chennai, which is a testament to the superior infrastructure and services provided at this integrated township". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Zoe Saldana has unveiled her brand new wax statue at the Madame Tussauds' Museum in Hollywood. The 38-year-old star was accompanied by her mother Asalia Nazario, grandmother Argentina Cesse and husband Marco Perego, who also stole a kiss from the waxwork, reported People magazine. "Having my family here and my team here also, that fight so hard for me and they're always so proud of me, gives me that opportunity to step outside myself, look back and appreciate," Saldana said. While the actress donned a more casual outfit for the occasion, her wax figure was glammed out in her look from the 2015 Academy Awards- a light pink Versace gown. "This was a dress that was very special to me because it was the first public appearance that I was making after we delivered our twins. I was in such a beautiful high of life. This dress really made me feel beautiful and made me embrace my body as a woman and as a mother," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Sujata Rao LONDON (Reuters) - Citi was the top bank last year in transaction banking, a segment comprising trade finance and cash management services, rankings compiled by industry analytics firm Coalition showed on Tuesday. This is the first time Coalition has ranked banks on transaction banking, basing the scores on services provided to clients with annual turnover of over $1.5 billion. Cash management encompasses services such as direct debits, wire transfers and currency clearing, while trade finance can include items such as letters of credit and trade loans. Coalition regularly releases investment banking league tables and its 2016 rankings, released last month, showed U.S. banks grabbing the top five places. Eric Li, research and analytics director at Coalition, told that while the investment banking industry typically grabbed more attention, transaction banking had proved to be a more steady source of income for global banks. Also, trade finance, a key element in transaction banking, is picking up after a decline caused by the slowdown in global commerce in recent years, he noted. "This business is a lot more resilient compared to investment banking, you don't see huge swings by 20-30 percent in terms of top line revenue. It's a very steady business," Li said. "As a result ... we are increasingly seeing a gradual increase in coverage of this from the media as well as the bank management perspective." Coalition's transaction banking list is less U.S. heavy than its investment banking league table - after Citi, U.S. banks JPMorgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo were in second, fourth and ninth place respectively. HSBC was the top placed European bank, tying for second place with JPMorgan, while other top 10 European names were Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered, Societe Generale and Barclays, Coalition said. "In trade finance, most major players are European banks. This is a big divergence from the investment banking industry where you see big dominance by U.S. banks," Lee added. The data showed Citi increasing its market share in trade finance as well as cash management, and dominant in the Americas. HSBC, on the other hand, was rapidly growing its transaction banking business in EMEA and Asia-Pacific. Within transaction banking, the top trade finance banks were Citi, HSBC and BNP Paribas, while Citi, HSBC, JPMorgan and BAML scored highest in cash management. Coalition did not give details on how much banks had earned from the transaction business. The table was based upon the largest transaction banks within 15 leading banks, which included Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citi, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Societe Generale, Standard Chartered and Wells Fargo. (Reporting by Sujata Rao; Editing by Tom Heneghan) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - Nervous investors turned to the safety of gold, government bonds and the yen on Tuesday as concerns mounted about possible U.S. military strikes in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula. Signals from Washington that it was prepared to take further action against the Syrian government if it thought it was using chemical weapons was the main driver, with uncertainty about forthcoming elections in France also simmering. Gold hit its highest since November, emerging market stocks were on their worst run of the year so far, while the euro fell to a four-month low versus a broadly stronger Japanese yen. "It's a relatively modest reaction but there is a lot of geopolitical risk in global markets at the moment," said TD Securities European head of currency strategy Ned Rumpeltin. "There is Syria the is more uncertainty about the U.S. economy after relatively weak jobs numbers and we have French elections coming up." The latest polls from France are providing another twist in the race for the presidency, with far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon now making ground against the rest of the pack ahead of the first round of voting on April 23. This has raised the possibility that Melenchon could square off against far-right leader Marine Le Pen - both of whom are eurosceptics - in the election's decisive second round in May. German Bunds yields dipped below 0.20 percent for the first time in more than five weeks while French yields rose to a one-week high of 0.96 percent leaving the gap between to two - a key gauge of investors' concerns - at its biggest in six weeks. [GVD/EUR] "After Britain's Brexit referendum and the U.S. presidential election surprised markets in 2016, could this event do the same?," Mark Burgess, global head of equities at Columbia Threadneedle in London, wrote in a note. European stocks were also subdued and looked to be heading for a second day in the red as an early attempt at a move higher quickly fizzled. [/EU] Tech stocks were the biggest sectoral losers as broker downgrades sent chipmaker Dialog Semiconductor and AMS tumbling 18 percent and 7.5 percent. Banking stocks also dropped with Spain's Banco Popular down over 5 percent after the bank said that it was considering another capital hike and would consider a merger. Gold was the main beneficiary of the cautious mood, with the precious metal up at its highest since November at $1,256 an ounce and advancing for the sixth day in the last eight. Oil retreated from five-week highs hit earlier in the session meanwhile, as concerns about rising U.S. shale production offset a shutdown at Libya's largest oilfield over the weekend and the U.S. strikes against Syria that had supported prices. Global benchmark Brent fell 10 cents to $55.89, breaking a six-session winning streak, while U.S. crude pulled back 14 cents to $52.95 a barrel, after rising for the previous five sessions. (Editing by Keith Weir) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Commercial Feature is a Business Standard Digital Marketing Initiative. The Editorial/Content team at Business Standard has not contributed to writing or editing these articles. For further information, please write to assist@bsmail.in Activists who monitor the high school space are urging U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to keep a close watch on a loophole in federal law that could allow states to identify fewer high school dropout factories for support. In a letter issued Monday, the four organizations that lead the GradNation initiative urge DeVos to ensure that states use the four-year adjusted cohort graduation ratethats a wonky way of saying the percentage of freshmen who graduate with regular diplomas four years laterwhen they identify high schools with low graduation rates. The request comes as states begin to submit their plans to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act. In those plans, states must include descriptions of how theyll identify and support high schools that graduate fewer than two-thirds of their students. As we reported in a story last week, the section of ESSA that deals with identifying and supporting low-grad-rate schools was a bit unclear . It didnt specify what on-time graduation meant (graduating in four years, for instance). Regulations issued by President Barack Obamas administration cleared that up: They specified that states must identify and provide comprehensive support to high schools that failed to graduate two-thirds of their students with regular diplomas in four years. But when Congress and the Trump administration dumped those regulations, that meant states could, technically, rely on the language in ESSAunclear as it might bein deciding how to identify low-grad-rate high schools. The Trump administration issued ESSA guidance, but all it said on this topic was that states must describe their methodology for identifying and supporting high schools with low graduation rates. That situation worried some activists, who feared states might do things like include GED-earners as graduates, thereby shortening their lists of troubled high schools in need of support. The Alliance for Excellent Education, Americas Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, and the Everyone Graduates Center are the groups that sent recommendations to DeVos Monday. Theyre the ones whove been leading the GradNation campaign, which aims to get the national graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020. (Its currently at an all-time high of 83.2 percent, a 12-point gain since 2001). In addition to ensuring that states use the four-year-cohort graduation rate when they identify schools in need of support, the four groups urged DeVos to make sure that all high schools, including alternative, charter, and virtual schools, are included in state accountability and improvement plans. (Those sectors have been identified as sources of particularly low graduation rates .) The groups also want DeVos to make it clear to states that they dont need to wait to offer support for schools until they fall short of the two-thirds graduation rate for comprehensive support. Targeted support is available when subgroups of students fail to meetor are not on track to meeteven one state-set goal, the letter notes. This clarification is critical because data suggests that low subgroup performance will be masked if performance on multiple indicators is combined to identify consistently underperforming students, the letter says. Many high schools have high proficiency rates but low graduation rates. Many other high schools have high graduation rates but low proficiency rates. Weve asked the Education Department to provide a response to the GradNation groups letter. Well update this post when/if we receive one. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) plans to launch its housing scheme in May this year. DMRC will build 2BHK, 3BHK flats in Janakpuri and Okhla areas. The flats will cost between Rs 60 lakh and Rs 1.20 crore, a Hindustan Times report says. Brochures for the housing scheme will be released next month which is set to be completed by 2019. A DMRC official said 460 flats in Janakpuri and 90 in Okhla will be constructed. The flats will be allotted on the basis of a draw and people can apply as soon the scheme is open. 15% of the flats will be reserved for the economically weaker sections of the society. DMRC is constructing flats for the public for the first time and expects to earn at least Rs 500 crore from the housing scheme. DMRC will also open a commercial complex near Jantar Mantar where they will rent out space for offices. A notification of Ministry of Urban Development on changes in Transit Oriented Development Policy (TOD) policy will also facilitate vertical growth along the Delhi Metro corridor, which will eventually help them to use more space for commercial purpose. A Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 400 has been approved under the TOD policy which will enable high rises to come up in these areas and make for denser colonies. TOD colonies can be developed in the 'influence zone' of the Metro which extends to 500 meters on both sides of the corridor. If you have been paying rent to your relatives, or at least showing it in your tax return, you could be denied tax exemptions under HRA. Income tax appellate tribunal (ITAT) in Mumbai had denied a claim on house rent allowance exemption to a taxpayer who had paid rent in cash to her mother, as she was unable to give proof. However, the Ahmedabad ITAT allowed the HRA exemption claimed by a taxpayer who had paid rent to his spouse. To make the 'best' use of income tax exemption available under HRA, some salaried employees pay rent to their family members to claim tax deductions under the house rent allowance. "Payment of rent to a parent or spouse will not impact the eligibility to claim HRA exemption as long as the above mentioned conditions are met and the transaction is genuine." "The transaction should not be a mechanism to avoid tax," Amarpal S Chadha, partner, people advisory services at EY-India told TOI. Tax department may soon be asking for proof to check whether the taxpayer claiming deductions under HRA is staying at the rented property. The Income Tax department will now scrutinise receipts submitted under HRA with more diligence and may ask you to provide more proof to show that you are staying in the accommodation. Tax authorities may soon be able to deny tax relief where house rent allowance (HRA) is claimed by fabricating bills. The assessing officer can now ask for proof of rent agreement, letter to the housing society informing about the tenancy, electricity bill, water bill etc. from those claiming tax deductions for house rent allowance. In this year's annual budget, the Finance Minister had proposed that those who are claiming a House Rent Allowance (HRA) of more than Rs 50,000 per month will have to deduct tax at source at the rate of five per cent. The TDS will have to be deducted on the last month of the year in which rent is paid or last month of tenancy . From Government perspective this amendment would ensure that there are no revenue leakages on account of such rental income. This will also discourage people who were claiming the HRA deduction fraudulently quoting wrong Permanent Account Number (PAN) of the landlord. Quoting PAN of the landlord was mandatory in case the rent paid during the year was more than Rs one lakh a year. If the government does not do anything about some petrol pump owners' demands, consumers in few parts of the country could find themselves standing in queues at petrol pumps every Saturday to refill their vehicles. The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers, which has called for shut down on every Sunday from May 14, has a presence only in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Petroleum dealers associations such as the CIPD have local presence and are not in a position to pull off nationwide protests. So, essentially, there is no need for consumers to panic. The CIPD has decided to shut down petrol pumps every Sunday from May 14. They have also decided to reduce operational time and keep petrol pumps open between 9 am to 6 pm to cut costs. Here are the main points that you need to know about the issue: In a major blow to Adani Power and Tata Power over power plants in Gujarat's Mundra, the apex court on Tuesday has set aside an order of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) that had awarded compensatory tariff to Tata Power and Adani Power. However, the details of the court's order are yet to come but the compensatory order being set aside shows no sign of relief for Tata Power and Adani Power. The tribunal, in April last year, had said that the two companies needed to be compensated as the change in Indonesian laws on coal export prices were outside the control of these companies. Tata Power and Adani Power in their appeal to Aptel had demanded a change in Indonesian regulations in 2010 which was followed to the rise in the cost of imported coal, which both the companies use to run their power plants. In its response Aptel had ruled in favour of the two companies in April 2016. It said that both the firms needed to be compensated as any change in regulations is not in its control. However, today the Supreme Court sat aside the order stating that the regulations could only mend if there would be any change in domestic laws. The latest Supreme Court order has impacted the shares of both the companies. Shares of Tata Power reversed early gains to fall as much as 6.78 per cent, while Adani Power slumped up to 20 per cent to its lowest since February 21. 21-years-old Prachi Sukhwani is an inspiration for many of us. Suffering from macular dystrophy, she lost her 80 per cent vision but that did not stop the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student to achieve her dream of studying in the prestigeous business school, IIM-Ahmedabad. Since her childhood, Prachi got macular dystrophy- a rare, genetic eye disorder that causes loss of vision. But set on her goal, she did not let her condition come between her dreams. Appearing under the category of person with a disability, she scored 98.55 percentile in CAT 2016. "My short term goal is to join a company, preferably a multinational. Once I get some experience, I will have my own start-up. But my long term goal is to open an NGO for the blind", Prachi told the Times of India. On her daughter's achievement, Prachi's father, a businessman said, "She got calls from all the top three IIMs, IIM-Ahmedabad, IIM-Bangalore and IIM-Kolkata, and appeared for the interviews". Prachi got the good news on Monday when she was appearing for her last semester BBA exam. Accolading her achievements, professor Sharad Bansal, dean of Faculty of Commerce at Prachi's college told TOI, "I have been associated with the BBA programme since its inception in 1993. But this is one of the proudest moments. Prachi deserves special applause for her success despite all odds. Her success is an inspiration for everybody". LIVE UPDATE 3.30 PM: The Indian benchmark indices started off the day on a tepid note but rallied over 200 points in midday trade to end today's trading session at 29,788.35, 212.61 points higher. The NSE Nifty Index reclaimed its 9,200-mark by late morning trade to end the day at 9,237.00, up 55.55 points. The biggest laggard in today's trade was Adani Ports that plunged nearly 5 per cent in trade on the BSE after the Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside an order by the Appellate Tribunal For Electricity allowing compensatory tariff to Tata Power Ltd and Adani Power Ltd, sending down shares of both companies. Shares of Tata Power fell nearly 2 per cent on the BSE. The biggest movers on the bourses were ITC which logged over 3 per cent in trade on the BSE and NSE. Among other gainers were Bank of Baroda and ICICI Bank on the 50-share index and Power Grid and Larsen and Toubro on the BSE Sensex. Infosys is due to release its earnings report on Thursday. In other news, tech major HP today said it has elevated Rajiv Srivastava to the newly created regional position of chief operating officer and head of sales strategy and operations for its Asia Pacific (APAC) and Japan operations. India Ratings, the domestic subsidiary of Fitch Ratings, appointed Rohit Sawhney as the chief executive. The Reserve Bank of India today fixed the reference rate of the rupee at 64.5438 against the US dollar and 68.3067 for the euro. Passenger vehicle sales in India crossed the three million milestone for the first time in 2016-17, with the segment witnessing a growth of 9.23 per cent. For the fiscal ended March 2017, domestic passenger vehicles (PV) sales were at 30,46,727 units as against 27,89,208 in the previous year, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). 3.07 PM: Sensex soars to 222 points reaching its highest level of 29,804. 1.24 PM: State-owned power major Bhel announced that it has bagged an order from Indian Railways for installing 2 MW roof-top solar photo voltaic systems at Diesel Locomotive Modernisation Works (DMW) in Patiala. "Bhel has bagged one more order of 2 MW roof top SPV systems at Diesel Locomotive Modernisation Works (DMW), Patiala," the company said in a statement. It envisages design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of grid connected roof top solar photo voltaic power plant with all electrical and associated equipment including civil works, Bhel said. Bhel stock was trading at Rs 176.10, up 0.77 per cent, on BSE. 12.41 PM: The shareholders of Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd have agreed and approved the conglomerate's plan to merge with Grasim Industries Ltd that would create a $9 billion revenue earning entity. 83 per cent of Aditya Birla Nuvo's minority shareholder votes were cast in favour of a merger with Grasim, reported Livemint, while Grasim's minority shareholders had already voted their consent. Shares of Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd were 0.07 per cent down and Grasim was 0.06 per cent lower on Tuesday's trade on the BSE. 12.10 PM: German luxury car maker Mercedes Benz reported its best ever quarterly sales in India at 3,650 units, albeit just a marginal increase from the year-ago period. The sales growth in January-March period this calendar year has been driven by the E-Class sedan and SUV portfolio led by GLC, Mercedes Benz India said. "After the lost opportunities in 2016, we are seeing growth momentum returning. What we saw in the first quarter of this year is as per our expectations," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Roland Folger told PTI. So far, Mercedes Benz has launched four different new products, including the hot selling long wheel base E-Class. In the first quarter of 2017, E-Class sedan has re-emerged as the highest selling model for Mercedes-Benz, the firm said. Launched on February 28, the model had sold 500 units within six days. 12.02 PM: Shares of Adani Ports dipped 2.66 per cent on the BSE. 11.57 AM: Shares of ITC gains 2.23 per cent on the BSE after the company announced that it is planning on expanding its juice portfolio to 20 per cent of market share in five years. Apart from adding new flavours and focusing on local fruits, the company is expanding its sales network to meet the target. The Kolkata-based firm also plans to expand retail points of its luxury chocolate brand Fabelle and take it outside its hotel premises, where it is only available currently. "We are going to add 2 to 3 percent market share every year and in next five years. It should be around 18 to 20 per cent in the next five years," ITC Foods Division Divisional Chief Executive Hemant Malik told PTI. 10.25 AM: Indian rupee The cup of woes for the rupee seems to be brimming over as it weakened 13 paise more to 64.69 against the dollar in early session today as US rate hike fears come back to haunt participants. Fed officials' highly hawkish comments mainly soured forex market sentiment. Dealers said dollar flexing muscles overseas and its increased demand from importers put the squeeze on the rupee. They said, however, a higher opening in the domestic stock market limited the rupee losses. Yesterday, the rupee had retreated after a three-session winning run and lost 28 paise to end at 64.56 against the dollar with simmering geopolitical tensions taking the centre-stage at the global level. 10.23 AM: The BSE Sensex reversed its tepid start of the day to trade at 29,693.66, suring 117.92 points. The Nifty50 was ruling at 9,206.95, 25.50 points higher. Sectoral indices such as IT, oil and gas, capital goods and technology were in the lead, giving the sentiment a lift. Optimistic buying in blue-chip stocks ahead of industrial production (IIP) data for February and retail inflation for March tomorrow kept stocks on course. Asian markets were muted over weak global cues. In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.76 per cent and Japan's Nikkei fell 0.48 per cent while Shanghai Composite shed 0.36 per cent in early trade today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.01 per cent higher yesterday. 9.22 AM: The Indian benchmark indices opened flat on the green with a positive bias. The S&P BSE Sensex was trading at 29,604.09, up 28.35 points while the Nifty50 was trading at 9,183.45, 2.00 points higher. Infosys gained 1.11 per cent on the BSE after closing as the top loser on the bourse yesterday. The company is expected to release their earning results on Thursday. State Bank of India, Sun Pharma and ONGC were other gainers on the BSE. BPCL and Infosys added over 1 per cent to the NSE Nifty Index in morning trade. Reliance Jio today announced that it has "fully withdrawn" the Jio Summer Surprise Offer after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai)'s advice to withdraw the scheme. Last week, Reliance Jio had said that it would withdraw the Summer Surprise offer in the next few days as soon as it was operationally feasible. Before Trai's recommendation, the Summer Surprise offer was supposed to end on April 15. "Jio will be withdrawing the three months complimentary benefits of Jio Summer Surprise as soon as operationally feasible," the teleco had said in a press statement. This had given users who had not subscribed to the scheme time to avail the offer. Now, this offer is closed. But, Jio has also launched another 'Dhan Dhana Dhan' offer which users can avail. In the 'Dhan Dhana Dhan' offer, Reliance Jio will give 1GB data per day for a period of three months with a recharge of Rs 309 and 2GB per day data for three months with recharge of Rs 509. It also, gives unlimited voice calls and SMS. Those customers who are yet to subscribe to Prime Membership will have to pay a total of Rs 408 (309+99) or Rs 608 (509+99) if they want to avail the Dhan Dhana Dhan offer. "The plans start with the most affordable Rs. 309 ALL UNLIMITED PLAN, which provides Unlimited SMS, calling and data (1GB per day at 4G speed) for 3 months on first recharge," Jio said in a press release. It added: "The company also announced the Rs. 509 ALL UNLIMITED PLAN for daily high data users offering Unlimited SMS, calling and data (2GB per day at 4G speed) for 3 months on first recharge." The Dhan Dhana Dhan offers comes amid incumbent telecos' opposition to Reliance Jio's Summer Surprise offer. In a letter to Trai, Vodafone complained that Reliance Jio was "luring customers" to subscribe the 'Summer Surprise' offer despite the regulator finding it in violation of norms. "Reliance Jio is continuing with this offer held as not meeting regulatory norms, in the garb of configuration changes. For past three days, it has been promoting and luring customers to quickly recharge to avail the benefits of a non-compliant offer and also asking its retailers to communicate the same," Vodafone said in a letter to Trai. The man who shot two students and his estranged wife in the special education classroom where she taught entered San Bernardinos North Park Elementary School through a common process Monday with approval from office staff, officials said. Education leaders and public officials are now falling into a familiar pattern that follows most school shootings: asking why the attack happened and what, if anything, could have prevented it. The alleged shooter Cedric Anderson, who was known to school staff, said he was at the school to drop something off for his wife, teacher Karen Smith, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said at a media briefing Monday evening. It wasnt until he got to her classroom that he revealed his gun, silently shooting and killing her, before killing himself.The bullets from the revolver also struck two students near the teacher, who were transported to local hospitals. One of those children, 8-year-old Jonathan Martinez, later died. Police did not identify the other student, a 9-year-old, who was in serious condition Tuesday morning. San Bernardino City Schools Superintendent Dale Marsden told reporters the school was very safe, with controlled access and careful procedures. The district will review its policies and practices to look for lessons, he said. North Parks security measures look like those that are common at many elementary schools. Heres a rundown. Metal detectors are not common in elementary schools. After officials revealed Anderson had concealed his gun and entered the school through routine means, members of the public wondered what could have helped school staff determine that he had a weapon. North Park does not have metal detectors, police said. But most elementary schools dont. Only about 1.4 percent of elementary schools reported random metal detector checks in the 2013-14 school year, according to the most recent federal data on school safety . That compares to 7.6 percent of middle schools and 8.7 percent of high schools. Civil rights groups say high-visibility security measures, like metal detectors, can have negative effects on the school environment. And for schools that have relatively low incidence of crime, the cost of purchasing, maintaining, and staffing the devices may not be a priority compared to other needs, like curricular materials. Elementary schools are the least likely to have on-site police officers. None of San Bernardinos elementary schools have armed security officers, district spokesperson Maria Garcia told the Los Angeles Times. She also described security on North Parks campus as very, very tight. In 2012-14, just 10.4 percent of elementary schools reported the presence of a full-time security guard or law enforcement officer. Thats compared to about 37 percent of middle schools and about 48 percent of high schools. As Education Week detailed in a recent special report, the presence of police and armed security in schools has stirred concerns from some about overly heavy-handed discipline and possible violations of students civil rights. Its also not clear if or how a school-based officer could have intervened in Mondays shootings, which occurred very quickly. And local law enforcement responded to the scene within minutes, officials said. School access at North Park is controlled and limited. As Ive previously reported, school safety experts say controlling access to the building is one of the most important security measures a school can take . That, combined with clear and consistently practiced safety procedures, are more effective than costly measures like expensive equipment, they say. San Bernardino officials said North Park had limited building access, which the alleged gunman was only able to bypass because he was known to school staff. Once the school bell rings, the only way into the campus is through the front office, Garcia told the Times. Such measures are extremely common. In 2013-14, 94.5 percent of elementary schools reported controlled access, compared to 94.9 percent of middle schools and 88.8 percent of high schools. Photo: Betty Rodriguez, right, comforts her granddaughter, Giselle, during a prayer service held to honor the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School, Monday in San Bernardino, Calif. --Jae C. Hong/AP Related reading on school safety, school shootings: Follow @evieblad on Twitter or subscribe to Rules for Engagement to get blog posts delivered directly to your inbox. Flipkart is hosting a new edition of Samsung Mobiles Fest from April 11 to April 13. As part of the fest, Samsung is offering its discounts and exchange schemes on popular smartphones. The South Korean brand has begun the three-day sale period from today, and the sale features seven Samsung smartphones with flat discounts up to Rs 3,000, and exchange offers of up to Rs 16,000. The Samsung Galaxy On Nxt is priced at Rs 15,490, Rs 3,000 less from its original price. Users can avail of up to Rs 14,500 discount on exchange. At the Samsung Mobiles Fest sale, Samsung Galaxy J5 is priced at Rs 10,990 and you can get up to Rs 10,000 off on exchange. For Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro, there's a flat discount of Rs 2,590 and you can get up to Rs 16,000 off on exchange. Flipkart, India's leading e-commerce marketplace, has raised $1.4 billion from Tencent, eBay and Microsoft. The funding comes amid reports that Flipkart is expected to acquire Snapdeal in a deal that is apparently being pushed by SoftBank, which is one of the biggest investors in Snapdeal. Flipkart recently raised $1.4 billion from Tencent, eBay and Microsoft. The funding comes amid reports that Flipkart is expected to acquire Snapdeal in a deal that is apparently being pushed by SoftBank, which is one of the biggest investors in Snapdeal. LOGAN The two men suspected of robbing a Hyrum Subway Restaurant in December have both pleaded guilty and will remain in jail waiting to be sentenced. Levi Peiffer and Hector Miguel Olascoaga-Carreno appeared separately in 1st District Court Monday morning, accepting plea deals. Peiffer pleaded guilty to robbery, amended to a second-degree felony. Carreno later pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, amended to a second-degree felony, and use of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. State attorney Aaron Josie said Carreno allegedly walked into the restaurant, early on the morning of December 19. The 17-year-old was wearing a ski-mask and threatened employees if they didnt give him money. He left $150. Deputies report Peiffer stood by the door of the restaurant and acted as lookout. The 19-year-old along with Carreno were seen by Hyrum City employees, running from the scene. Multiple agencies including K-9 teams responded to the area and tracked the suspects back to a nearby apartment complex, where the money was located. Carreno later failed a drug test. On December 23, Judge Thomas Willmore ordered Carreno be tried as an adult due to his criminal history. During Mondays hearing, defense attorneys for both defendants asked the court to release their clients pending sentencing. Josie objected in each case, saying the two should remain in jail based on the nature of the crimes. Carreno told the court he wasnt thinking straight at the time of the robbery because of drug abuse. Judge Willmore ordered both men to remain in jail and told Carreno that he was a danger to society. Sentencing was scheduled for May 22.

will@cvradio.com Last week, I wrote about Kansas legislature which is internally fighting over ways to address a state supreme court ruling that called their funding formula inadequate. From my story : State courts have sparred with politicians for decades over how much money lawmakers are constitutionally obligated to provide public schools. But in Kansas this year, lawmakers and school officials are asking deeper questions about not only how much money is spent but also where to invest that money to assure that black, Latino, and low-income students, in particular, are seeing academic results. Last week, a bill was proposed in the Kansas House to add more than $750 million to public schools over five years. That bill is now competing with another bill that wants to pour just $75 million more into the schools which would crack down on academically wayward schools, upend the states accreditation process to demand faster gains, offer vouchers to students trapped at chronically failing schools, and more strictly target money to intervention programs for the states poor students. What made Kansas ruling unique, school funding experts told me, is that the judges there recognized that the amount of money you pour into a public school system may matter as much, if not more, than the way you distribute that money. For decades, school districts and parents have used state courts as a way to force state politicians to fork more money over to their K-12 public schools. The courts use a mix of educators testimony, fiscal studies and districts and states budget books to determine whether the way and the amount states spend their education dollars is, as their constitution dictates, equitable and adequate. A new round of school-related lawsuits could dramatically expand courts interpretation of equitable and adequate education. Michael Rebell, a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University who tracks funding cases said while state judges have set a precedent on determining levels of funding for public schools, theyve shied away from dictating to states how to close those disparities. It gets into this question of what expertise, what capability, courts have in getting into educational policy issues, Rebell said in a phone interview. Below are a rundown of pending or recently decided cases that push to broaden the meaning of adequate and equitable education. Vergara v. California In this case, a group of students sued California in a state court arguing that its tenure laws make it nearly impossible to fire grossly ineffective teachers and thus pose a direct harm to students, effectively violating students rights to an equitable education. The states supreme court ultimately ruled against the plaintiffs, but the lawsuit sparked a lawsui t in Minnesota where parents sued the state arguing that the laws surrounding its teaching requirements leave the states poor students with a disproportionate number of ill-prepared teachers. That lawsuit was soon tossed by a lower-court judge, but plaintiffs at the time said they planned to appeal to the states supreme court. Cruz-Guzman v. State of Minnesota In a seperate lawsuit, a group of parents from charter and traditional public schools sued Minnesota in late 2015 for violating that states constitutional rights to an adequate and equitable education. They argue that Minneapolis and St. Paul officials both resegregated their school systems over the last decade, clustering black, Latino, and immigrant students in underperforming schools with few resources. A lower court judge determined it was not the states role to determine state and district education policies, a point the plaintiffs lawyer, Dan Shulman, took issue with. He cited a long precedent in Minnesota and across the country of state judges intervening on behalf of black, Latino, and poor students and said the court had taken a wrong turn. If a legislature is recalcitrant, refractory and wont do anything, the court could always appoint a receiver to do it for them, he said. Earlier this year, I wrote about the perceptions of violence in St. Paul schools after the redistricting of its public schools. Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding Inc. v. Rell, Jodi, M. Et. al. What was originally a school funding lawsuit quickly morphed into a lower court ruling that could potentially upend the states entire school accountability system. In September last year, Connecticut Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ordered the states legislature and department of education to, within the next six months, come up with a new school funding formula, teacher-evaluation system, and standards to close the achievement gap between the states poor urban and more-affluent suburban children. The actual 90-page ruling is worth the read. The states attorney general has appealed the case, arguing that its not the courts role to dictate education policy. The states supreme court is set to decide soon whether to uphold the lower-court ruling. Group of Parents v. Gov. Snyder, the Michigan Board of Education, Brian Whiston, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Natasha Baker, the State School Reform/Redesign Officer Last year, a group of parents from charter schools and public schools in Detroit sued in federal court a plethora of state officials for violating their U.S. constitutional rights by denying their children a right to literacy. The parents argue that the state deprived its poor black and Latino students access to books, quality teachers, sufficient curriculum and safe buildings, making it almost impossible to learn to read. Without literacy skills, lawyers argue, graduates of Detroits public schools have an increasingly difficult time being active citizens such as voting, serving on juries or in the military. An earlier and separate funding case in Michigan state courts was tossed because that states constitution doesnt define the type of education students are required to receive, only that theyre encouraged to receive an education. Winning a federal case could set a precedent closely watched across the country. The parents are asking for evidence-based literacy reforms. Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics. More than 1,450 organizations have signed a letter to members of Congress on a key appropriations subcommittee asking that they reject President Trumps plan to cut federal support for after-school programs. In the letter, the signers request that $1.167 billion be provided for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), which is the programs current level of funding. These learning centers provide after-school and summer programs for students in low-income communities. President Trumps proposed budget would eliminate the program. The Afterschool Alliance , one of the organizations that signed the letter, released it to the public Monday. Quality after-school and summer learning programs are vital to communities across the nation, said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant in a press release. The idea that the federal government would abandon the students and families that rely on after-school is unthinkable. President Trumps misguided proposal to eliminate 21st Century Community Learning Centers has triggered a tidal wave of opposition thats reflected by the diverse and powerful voices that are calling on Congress to continueor increasefederal funding for after-school. This funding directly supports after-school programs for 1.6 million children across the country. Broad Support The letter was signed by a mix of national, state, and local programs, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the California Teaching Fellows Foundation, and ExpandED Schools New York. Signers represented all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In every state and almost every Congressional district, 21st Century Community Learning Center funding supports after-school and summer learning programs that offer locally based school and community solutions that keep children and teenagers safe, inspire young people to learn, and support working families, they write. These federal formula grants to states enable communities to leverage local resources by providing seed grants for 3-5 years that support community partnerships among community-based organizations, faith-based partners, private industry, and school partners (public, private, and charters). Between 2006 and 2010, these grants leveraged more than $1 billion in partner contributions. Congressional Support In addition to releasing this letter, the Afterschool Alliance also praised a Dear Colleague letter that was addressed to Reps. Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma, and Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticut. They oversee a key appropriations subcommittee in the House. The letter was signed by 81 members of Congress from both parties. It also asks that funding for 21st CCLC be maintained at its current level. More and more working families rely on 21st CCLCs each year to ensure their children are in a safe environment during nonschool hours, allowing them to excel in their jobs, they wrote. The letter also cites a meta-analysis of 75 studies by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, which found that students in after-school programs performed better academically than students who did not participate in such programs. Related stories: | BY Ricki Green | Alzheimers Australia SA has launched a new digital platform and film created by Adelaide digital agency The Distillery, which aims to help break down the cultural barriers between health care workers and people living with dementia. With a growing and culturally diverse population, Australia currently has over 413,000 people living with dementia. Affecting thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks, it is often hard for these people to communicate exactly what they need and how they are feeling. Says Katheryn Quintel, CEO, Alzheimers Australia SA: This requires health care workers to adopt a much more personal style of care; understanding the diverse and rich cultural nuances that make up a person to provide that deeper level of care. People with dementia who are born in another country can revert back to speaking their original language and often their personality changes accordingly too. With Australia being such a melting pot of cultures we required an innovative way to educate and inspire health care workers. A year long, nation-wide consultation with health care workers helped us decide the content; a vast database of resources and cultural information. Users are able to learn about specific cultural needs and make case specific notes so they can provide a more person-centric level of caring. Its not just about caring for people from different cultural backgrounds either. With a rich diversity of health care workers in Australia its important to provide them with the tools to be able to relate to all cultures. It can be easy to offend or upset somebody if youre not careful! Using the compare feature allows health care workers to see how cultural nuances are drastically different and communicate with people accordingly. Says Tom Moon, account director, The Distillery: We made sure Cultura was developed across all screen sizes and types (Android, iPhone, iPad and a responsive web) so that health care workers have every opportunity to either spend time researching in depth or quickly pull out their mobile to access information quickly. The launch of the platform at Adelaide Convention Centre last week attracted nearly 500 people and was met with extremely positive responses from carers and health care workers. A launch film was created by The Distillery to highlight the issue and launch the app. Says Oliver Prenton, creative director, The Distillery: It takes just seven seconds to judge someone the first time you meet them. We thought itd be nice to test this theory and hopefully open a few eyes in the process. The app is available for download on both Apple and Android app stores. Creative Agency & App Development: The Distillery, Adelaide Creative Director: Oliver Prenton Senior Art Director: Jordan Hillier Copywriters: Oliver Prenton & Jordan Hillier Developers: Luke Larson, Craig Byrne, Will Rockel, Ari Molzer Account Director & PM: Tom Moon Account Manager/Producer: Carmel Alfano Research: Silvia Azmitia Client Team: Kathryn Quintel, Rajiv Chand, Nicole Lungershausen Production: CINEMACHE Director/Producer: Daniel Principe Director/Producer: Marcus McKenzie DOP: Vivyan Madigan Focus Puller: James Ward-Miller Make Up Artist: Georgia Edgar | BY Ricki Green | Digital Out-Of-Home media business, Shopper Media Group is named on Westpacs Businesses of Tomorrow list. The impressive line-up features businesses that have demonstrated high growth potential and with a strong representation in the tech sector. Westpacs Businesses of Tomorrow program identifies ground breaking, entrepreneurial businesses that have delivered outstanding value to customers; have the capabilities to meet tomorrows challenges; and are positioned to contribute beyond their businesses to communities, industry and the economy. Says Ben Walker, CEO and founder, Shopper Media Group: We are extremely honoured to be named as one of Westpacs Businesses of Tomorrow having been chosen from almost 2,000 applications nationally. It not only recognises our pursuit of setting new benchmarks in the retail Digital Out-Of-Home industry with our market leading Smartlite digital panels, but offers our business unique access to others businesses that share a similar drive to create, innovate and provide service leadership within their respective industries. Since its launch in 2015, Shopper Media Group has achieved exponential growth in the Digital Out-Of-Home landscape with its Smartlite digital advertising panels. The company quickly established itself as a significant player with 100 percent digital reach in 150 shopping centres and reach of more than 2.8 million shoppers per week, who have accessed the Smartlite panels free Wi-Fi offering. Shopper Media Group is aggressively working towards having over 1000 Smartlite digital advertising panels installed in more than 300 Australian shopping centres by the end of 2017. The Smartlite panels capture unique consumer insights through survey questions in return for free high-speed Wi-Fi and an enhanced, tailored shopping centre experience. Westpacs Businesses of Tomorrow program is focused on providing support for businesses that have a clear vision, and are shaping Australias economy and future. Says Walker: We are thrilled to be one of those businesses, as we continue to pave the way in technological advances. Our Smartlite panels deliver tailored, multi-platform campaigns, and have enabled us to capture a database of more than 150,000 unique shoppers. This is now Australias largest shopping centre consumer database with the capacity to unveil key consumer insights critical to the ongoing growth and success of brands, businesses and retailers alike. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. In setting up the replacement agencies, the Urban Renewal Authority and the Suburban Land Agency, Barr pointed to obligations in the legislation requiring that board members not pursue personal interests at the expense of the agencies, not use board membership to gain personal advantage, and not undermine the reputation of the agencies. Such fundamental obligations can hardly be new. But they point to one of the inherent problems with the way the LDA is structured. Close relationships between staff and developers, and between staff and consultants, are more than a problem of rogue operation; potential conflicts are embedded in the agency's structure. Nursing Home Settles Wrongful Death Case Alleging Misuse of Psychotropic Drugs The AARP Foundation has reported that the family of Bobby Glen Tweed has reached a settlement with the nursing home over the wrongful death action filed in Tennessee state court. Although the full terms of the settlement are confidential, the report explains that the family did secure a damages award. The death of Bobby Glen Tweed was alleged to a result of strong psychotropic drugs that were misused on him, as they are on countless other Alzheimer's and dementia patients. The psychotropics were allegedly used not for any medical benefit, but rather to make the 78 year old Mr. Tweed more docile or compliant. What makes this case that much more appalling is the fact that the psychotropic drugs used here are, and were, actually linked to death in patients with dementia. Additionally, Mr. Tweed's daughter, who held the power of attorney, was never consulted about the administration of these drugs for her father. A Nationwide Crisis Treating and caring for individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia isn't easy. Frequently, loving families come to the realization that a loved one with one of these conditions must be admitted to a nursing home, or other facility, for their own safety. However, an investigative report issued by the AARP in 2014 found that nursing homes were overusing psychotropic drugs on Alzheimer's and dementia patients at an alarming rate, nationwide. The AARP report explained that these drugs are often used on patients that are considered disruptive, or a danger to themselves or others. Unfortunately, due to staff shortages, and widespread inadequate care in nursing facilities, psychotropic drugs are often prescribed to make the staff's job more convenient. Suing a Nursing Home Nursing homes can be held liable for negligent injuries and deaths that occur while a patient is in their facility. Similarly to hospitals, nursing homes, and the individual medical professionals, can be sued for negligence, as well as medical malpractice. Additionally, as in Mr. Tweed's case where there was a lack of consent, the facility and treating medical professionals can also be held liable under a theory of assault and/or battery. When a medical treatment is administered without consent, tort battery charges can be brought. Related Resources: Cushing has been given the brief of stimulating the growth of NDC and providing oversight and strategic planning for the future. Jerry Appel, who previously served as president, becomes the COO of the company. Cushing has served as vice president and director of the Data Center Solutions Group at CBRE MEGA as well as Mission Critical Program Leader for Olsson Associates. His background also includes 25 years of experience in management and nine years in executive leadership. Todd is an award-winning, highly regarded, data centre professional who brings a unique perspective to our team, said Jerry Appel, COO of Nebraska Data Centers. Todds previous experience with facility planning, systems planning, performance and site procurement will be a huge asset in guiding the future of our rapidly expanding company. Cushing is active in the data centre community, attending AFCOM and Uptime events. School Lunch Shaming Is Now Illegal in New Mexico Every now and then a law comes around banning a thing you didn't even know existed in the first place. Such is the case with New Mexico's anti-school lunch shaming statute, which bars schools in the Land of Enchantment from forcing kids to throw away food, wear specific wristbands, or complete chores if they are unable to afford a meal. And if you were unaware that children as young as 5 or 6 needed a Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act, perhaps it's because you didn't know what some schools have been doing to shame underprivileged students. School Lunch Stigma New Mexico's new law, thought to be the first of its kind in the country, prohibits schools from stigmatizing students who can't afford school meals. Specifically: A. A school shall not: (1) publicly identify or stigmatize a student who cannot pay for a meal or who owes a meal debt by, for example, requiring that a student wear a wristband or hand stamp; or (2) require a student who cannot pay for a meal or who owes a meal debt to do chores or other work to pay for meals; provided that chores or work required of all students regardless of a meal debt is permitted. The law also requires schools to both assist parents in applying for meal assistance and work with them to resolve any unpaid school meal debt. Shame on Our Schools New Mexico's law shed light on some other shady practices in schools when it comes to students who can't afford food. The New York Times found similar -- and sometimes worse -- instances of shaming nationwide: In Alabama, a child short on funds was stamped on the arm with "I Need Lunch Money." In some schools, children are forced to clean cafeteria tables in front of their peers to pay the debt. Other schools require cafeteria workers to take a child's hot food and throw it in the trash if he doesn't have the money to pay for it. As Jennifer Ramo, executive director of anti-poverty group New Mexico Appleseed, told the Times, "People on both sides of the aisle were genuinely horrified that schools were allowed to throw out children's food or make them work to pay off debt. It sounds like some scene from 'Little Orphan Annie,' but it happens every day." If people didn't know schools were trying to humiliate poor and hungry children then, they sure do now. Related Resources: A blog for the Bloomingdale neighborhood in Washington, DC. 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. Age just seems to be a number. Here is an interesting story where two persons in the 61-70 age group registered for the NEET exam for admission to MBBS and BDS colleges last year. At least another 100 candidates in the 41-60 age group took up NEET in the year 2016. They do not seem to resist at the fact that MBBS is one of the toughest courses to pursue in terms of duration and the amount of study required. The fear that many of them may not qualify has also not prevented them from taking their chances. After the Supreme Court recently lifted the age limit of 25 years for the national test, several have taken up the challenge to prepare for the exam which is just a month away. The petitioners at Supreme Court estimated the number of candidates above 25 years at 20,000. On the make for the MBBS entry: A software engineer in the US who completed his MS from the University of Houston, Texas, is an aspirant this year. The 31-year-old NRI candidate said: "Lately, I have been trying to discover my passion and found that being a doctor does it for me. I am not sure if I will get selected, but I wish to try my level best. We were busy with the court case for almost two months. Now I wish to fully concentrate on my studies," said the engineer, who is keen on getting an NRI seat in a Madhya Pradesh college. K D Chavan, a registrar of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), said some of the candidates aged 30 and above want to pursue medicine as they are not happy with their current choice of profession. "I know of a friend who enrolled for CET at the age of 34 and is now an established pathologist," he said. Kanpur's Andleeb Beg, 29, said he dropped out of BSc to pursue medicine. "I got a seat in a private college but the fee was too high. So, I have decided to try till I get a government seat. The CBSE circular capping the age of candidates was disheartening. But the court's relaxation has come as a relief to many candidates like me," said Beg. Uttar Pradesh's Sabyasachi Rai, 27, a petitioner in the Supreme Court case, said the age cap was a disadvantage for many from a rural background who were not able to cope with the syllabus and had to try multiple times to clear the test. "Denying us an opportunity would mean denying us the right to education," said Rai. Dr. Anand Rai, student activist and whistleblower in Madhya Pradesh's admission and recruitment Vyapam Scam, said several candidates do not study the NCERT curriculum or are not from English medium schools and therefore end up re-appearing for the entrance test several times. "There are students who have studied in madrassas till the age of 10 and then joined mainstream schooling. Why should anyone be denied a chance?" asked Rai. A Central government official, though, said the central board believes that many of these candidates may not be serious and allowing them to appear for the test will only encourage fraudulent means in the exam. "If a student wants to get into a post-graduation course, there should be no age limit. But for undergraduate courses in medicine, most are in the age group of 17-20 years. If the student has attempted the entrance test three or four times without success, he should look for some other career choice. Exams after Class XII should have age criteria," said the official. NEET UG Exam Admit Cards Released: Download Now! After officially confirming their plans to launch the new Q4 in 2019 last month, Audi have now announced that the Gyor, Hungary plant will be responsible for its production. Audi has yet to detail the car, but says that the new Q4 will benefit from a coupe-like silhouette and will slot between Q3 and Q5. Its believed that the latest member of the brands Q family of SUVs will share the same underpinnings and some of the powertrains as the latest Q5, while adding more premium materials inside. It will challenge the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, BMW X4 and Range Rover Evoque. Joining it on the same assembly lines in Hungary will be the next Q3, starting in 2018, but until then, the compact vehicle will continue to be produced in Martorell, Spain. Said to combine great spaciousness with emotive design, and to offer the latest technologies in assistance and infotainment systems, the Q8 will also join the lineup, and will be produced in Bratislava, Slovakia, starting next year. Previewed by a study earlier this year, the upcoming Audi Q8 will rival the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and BMW X6, and should utilize a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, alongside a few electrified powertrains. Note: Audi TT Offroad and Q8 concepts pictured PHOTO GALLERY Two mechanics in the United Kingdom have literally struck gold after finding five gold bullion bars in an ex-Iraqi army tank they were restoring. The company, Tanks-A-Lot run by Nick Mead, purchased the Type 69 tank on eBay and soon after his team started stripping it down, machine gun ammo was found inside. Worried that a number of guns may have been hidden in the fuel tank, Mead started filming the operation as proof that any potential guns found were not owned by them. However, there werent any guns in the diesel fuel tank. Instead, there were five, 12.5-pound gold bars worth approximately $1.2 million. Speaking to The Sun, Mead said We didnt know what to do. You cant exactly take five gold bullion bars down to Cash Converters without questions being asked, so we called the police. The police seized the bars for investigation and at this stage, the future of the bars remains up in the air. Mead also isnt sure if he will receive a finders percentage. It is reported that the gold bars were looted by Iraqi soldiers in 1990 during the invasion of Kuwait. VIDEO The 2017 New York Auto Show will host four North American debuts for Porsche, all set to hit US dealers before the end of the year. First in line is the all-new Panamera Sport Turismo, which is coming to the States in four available configurations: Panamera 4, Panamera 4S, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and the flagship Panamera Turbo. All four versions are expected to arrive at the end of this year, with prices starting at $96,200 for the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, $104,000 for the E-Hybrid, $109,200 for the 4S and $154,000 for the Turbo. All prices exclude the $1,050 delivery, processing and handling fee. Then theres also the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which combines the 4.0-liter V8 from the Panamera Turbo with an electric motor, delivering no fewer than 680 PS (671 HP) and 626 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. Like the Sport Turismo, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is expected to reach US dealers by the end of 2017. It will also be offered with a 5.9-inch longer wheelbase on the Executive version, which will carry a price of $194,800, approximately $10,400 more than the regular Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. Moving on to the 911 range and youll find the latest 911 GT3 with its new naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine. This one is expected to arrive at US dealers in the fall, with a base MSRP of $143,600. Last but not least, weve got an expanding 911 GTS range, boasting five new versions: the 911 Carrera GTS, 911 Carrera 4 GTS (both available as a Coupe and a Cabriolet), plus the 911 Targa 4 GTS. All variants come with a seven-speed manual transmission as standard, though the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic can be gotten as an option. These 2018 911 GTS models are already available to order and should arrive at dealers this month. Prices start at $120,700 for the 911 Carrera GTS, $127,600 for the Carrera 4 GTS, $133,000 for the Carrera GTS Cabriolet, $139,900 for the Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, and finally $139,900 for the Targa 4 GTS. PHOTO GALLERY Toyota has just announced that it will invest $1.33 billion at its plant in Kentucky, a figure which represents the second-largest investment in the states history. The automaker has revealed that its Kentucky facility will become the first in North America to produce vehicles based around the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), including the 2018 Camry. The investments will also see much of the equipment at the factory updated and an all-new paint shop constructed. According to chief executive of Toyota Motor North America Jim Lentz, This $1.33 billion investment is part of Toyotas plan to invest $10 billion dollars in the U.S. over the next five years, on top of the nearly $22 billion Toyota has invested in the U.S. over the past 60 years. Toyota New Global Architecture is about exciting, ever-better vehicles for our customers as it will improve performance of all models, including increased fuel efficiency, more responsive handling, and a more stable, comfortable feel while driving, Lentz said. Currently, the facility employs 8,200 people and recently added over 700 new staff to prepare for the launch of the 2018 Camry. Last year, the Kentucky plant produced over 500,000 vehicles, making it the companys largest plant in the world. In a statement, President Trump revealed his satisfaction at Toyotas huge investments, saying Toyotas decision to invest $1.3 billion in their Kentucky plant is further evidence that manufacturers are now confident that the economic climate has greatly improved under my administration and echoes the recent National Association of Manufacturers 2017 Outlook Survey showing that 93% of manufacturers are now optimistic, which is an increase of 37% from just a few months ago. PHOTO GALLERY Baobab Studios, the well-funded vr animation startup founded by Madagascar and Antz co-director Eric Darnell and Zynga exec Maureen Fan, has announced its first episodic virtual reality series, Rainbow Crow. The first episode will premiere next week at the Tribeca Film Festival. John Legend will voice the title character, as well as serve as executive producer on the project. Rainbow Crow brings storytelling and music together in a way no one else has yet in virtual reality, Legend said in a statement. Its an incredible medium for inspiring a journey of self-discovery and finding your way in times to darkness. In light of whats going on in todays world, its a message of deep meaning that people from all walks of life can embrace. Inspired by Native American folklore, the story is follows a bird with the most dazzling plumage and mellifluous voice, who, after the planet turns dark and cold, must journey far from home to bring light back to the world. Eric Darnell is directing the project. No public release date has been set for the series, and the number of episodes is not yet determined though the final project will be featurette-length. Photo: Contributed Kelowna's housing market took a surge upwards in March. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the upward trend is a result of both single-detached and multi-unit construction. The trend is a six-month average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR). By removing seasonal ups and downs, seasonal adjustments allows for comparison of adjacent months and quarters, reads the report by CMHC. It shows for March 2017, seasonal adjusted annual rates was 6,274 and in February 2017 that number was 2,767. The monthly and quarterly SAAR and trend figures indicate the annual level of starts that would be obtained if the same pace of monthly or quarterly construction activity was maintained for 12 months, reads the report. A large number of apartment rental units with some new apartment condominium units being built has contributed to the trend. A spokesperson for CMHC said that new construction is being supported by strong population growth, low inventories of homes for sale a low apartment vacancy rate. Photo: Contributed Kelowna was the fourth worst city in B.C. for gas line excavation damage, according to FortisBC. Last year, there were 47 incidents of natural gas line damage from excavation and digging in Kelowna. A gas line break or leak can be dangerous, cause traffic and service interruptions and require costly repairs. But, most of the incidents can be easily avoided. More than 1,000 natural gas lines were damaged in 2016 due to improper excavation, according to Fortis. The B.C. Safety Authority and utility urge people to find out where gas lines and utilities are buried before picking up the shovel and digging this spring. Hitting an underground electrical or gas line is both dangerous and expensive, said Brad Wyatt, BC Safety Authoritys gas safety manager. It only takes a few minutes to make a phone call or submit a request online which will save you time, money and perhaps even your life. April marks safe digging month, and a free service allows people to check the location of underground lines before beginning work. Ian Turnbull, in damage prevention with FortisBC, said dont be on the hook for damages: call or click before you dig. To locate underground lines visit the BC One Call website or call 1-800-474-6886. Looking at the world through the eyes of the Web Madison Erhardt Many people think the perfect Easter gift is a bunny, but Cyndy Mymka says it's best to stick with chocolate. Mymka is the president of The Responsible Animal Care Society. TRACS says it's important to think through adopting a pet they shouldn't be bought on impulse. "People will purchase baby bunnies, and rabbits for Easter, and then three or four months down the road the two bunnies have babies and they are left caring for seven instead of one or two," Mymka said. She stresses that rabbits require a lot of care and attention. "You may not hear them bark or purr, but rabbits want to be picked up and cuddled," she said. if you feel the need to have a furry friend, but don't have the time, it's best to volunteer at an animal shelter. "I'm not saying you shouldn't get a bunny, but it is important to think about the ramifications. They are great pets and can definitely make a family happy," Mymka said. Photo: Government of Canada A Royal Canadian Air Force jet received a Canadian make-over to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. The CF-18 Demonstration Hornet Jet was painted with a red and white design, incorporating the Canada 150 logo. I hope that this jet will inspire all Canadians to chase their dreams as I did because that is what Canada is all about, said Capt. Matthew Kutryk. The logo has a series of diamonds arranged in the shape of a maple leaf. The four diamonds at the base represent the four original provinces, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, that formed Confederation in 1867. This incredible Canada 150 CF-18 Hornet is a shining example of the teamwork and professionalism that is embodied by the men and women of the RCAF and is just one of the many ways that the men and women of the RCAF are working to honour their rich heritage, said Maj.-Gen. Christian Drouin. The unveiling ceremony took place at 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta, where the jet has been hosted for the past few weeks. The CF-18 demo team with be soaring through Penticton on August 9 for Peachfest. Photo: The Canadian Press Here is a look at some of the promises being made by the three main political parties in British Columbia as the campaign is set to officially begin Tuesday for the May 9 election. Liberals: The cost of the party's promises amounts to $157 million in new spending over three years. Four consecutive balanced budgets to eliminate the province's operating debt by 2021. A four-year freeze on personal income taxes, and no change to the carbon tax until 2021. A cap on bridge tolls and a new tax break for people living in ferry-dependent communities. New tax credits to help seniors, including a tax credit for those caring for seniors or family members with disabilities, and doubling a tax credit for seniors who renovate their homes. NDP: A $10-a-day childcare plan based on Quebec's system. Eliminate tolls on the Golden Ears and Port Mann bridges linking suburban commuters to Vancouver, while also freezing BC Hydro rates. Ban corporate and union donations to political parties. Increase the minimum wage, which is slated to rise to $11.35 an hour by September, to $15 an hour. Stop plans by Kinder Morgan to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline across B.C. to Burnaby. Green party: Photo: Contributed A woman is facing impaired driving charges after a vehicle rolled into a watery ditch and trapped a toddler in his car seat. RCMP say the vehicle was lying on its side when officers arrived at the scene in Portage la Prairie, Man., on Friday. They could hear a child screaming and found a one-year-old boy still strapped into his car seat and partially submerged in freezing cold water. One of the officers climbed through a broken window and cut the child free. Two other toddlers, both girls, were in the vehicle. The driver and a female passenger were ejected. All were taken to hospital with minor injuries, but have been released. The driver told Mounties she lost control and the vehicle rolled into the ditch. The 29-year-old driver has been charged with driving while disqualified, impaired operation of a motor vehicle, impaired operation over .08 and with failing to comply with probation. Photo: The Canadian Press The U.S. Navy is keeping a fleet of training jets on the ground as it tries to determine why pilots have increasingly suffered from a lack of oxygen in the cockpit. A steady spike in "physiological episodes" has been reported among personnel who fly in the T-45C Goshawk, a two-seat trainer plane for future Navy and Marine fighter pilots. Symptoms of low oxygen can range from tingling fingers to cloudy judgment and even passing out, although Navy officials said conditions in the trainer jets haven't been very severe. Cmdr. Jeanette Groeneveld, a Navy spokeswoman, said nine people out of more than 100 affected since 2012 have been required to wear oxygen masks after a flight. But late last month, concerned pilots declined to fly on more than 90 flights. In response, the Navy initially grounded the fleet for three days starting Wednesday. Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker extended the operational pause on Sunday for at least another week. The Navy operates nearly 200 of the training planes at three naval air stations in the Southern U.S. They are NAS Meridian in Mississippi, NAS Kingsville in Texas and NAS Pensacola in Florida. Groeneveld, the Navy spokeswoman, said the number of physiological episodes began to spike in 2015 with 28. Last year saw 34. There have 20 in 2017 so far. "This has now come to the point where the full focus is to find a solution as soon as possible," she said. But it's hard to pinpoint the cause, according to congressional testimony submitted by the Navy last month. For instance, 24 of 79 examined instances were caused by contamination in the cockpit breathing system, the Navy said. A dozen more were blamed on component failure in the oxygen generating system. Other issues included airsickness, breathing gas delivery failure or cabin integrity. More than 20 were inconclusive. Photo: Teresa Deal Efforts are underway to combat possible hate or racist crimes in the Vernon area. The Social Planning Council and the RCMP's hate crimes unit are working on a protocol to deal with the issue if it should arise in the area. What would be the response if there is a high profile incident of racism or hate? asked Annette Sharkey, the planning council's executive director. Speaking to council Monday, Sharkey pointed to one incident after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, when the addresses of white supremacist websites were posted around town. We also want to be able to offer support if there is a targeted group, Sharkey said. In January, after six Muslims died in a mosque attack in Montreal, Sharkey and others in the community visited the local mosque with flowers and cards to offer support. That was another example of where it would have been good to have something in place because when these things happen everybody is in shock, and so to just have a bit of a plan. We wanted to support our local mosque. We wanted them to know they weren't alone and our community was shocked by what happened and we understood our local mosque was suffering and in trauma as well. There are also efforts to heal the wounds left by residential schools and hospitals. A reconciliation journey team led by First Nations mentors has been set up in order to move forward in the process of truth and reconciliation. Mentors include School District 22 trustee Molly Bono. We can't move forward to reconciliation until we understand and acknowledge the truth, Sharkey said. In terms of truth and reconciliation, it's a challenge for our communities, said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. We often hear that it's history and we should just move on and that's not how it works. Council has asked for a report on the feasibility of city staff taking cultural competency training. Photo: Flickr/BC NDP British Columbia's privacy watchdog has turned down a B.C. Liberal party request to investigate allegations the New Democratic Party was in breach of personal information protection laws. Drew McArthur says in a statement today that a complaint submitted to his office by the Liberal party does not meet the threshold for an investigation initiated by his office. The Liberal party called for an investigation Friday, alleging the NDP breached the Personal Information Protection Act by sharing its lists of supporters with "politically friendly" groups without the consent of individuals on the list. McArthur rejected the Liberal complaint on two grounds, saying he has not received complaints from individuals whose personal information was affected and he determined it does not meet the test for his office to initiate it own investigation. The Liberals submitted documents to the commissioner that alleged the NDP had agreements to share its supporter list with Strategic Communications, the municipal political parties, Vision Vancouver, Coalition of Progressive Electors and the Surrey Civic Coalition, and NDP officials in Saanich. The act balances two principles, an individual's right to protect his or her personal information and an organization's need to collect, use or disclose personal information for reasonable purposes. Photo: BC Tree Fruits Kelowna's controversial temporary farm worker housing bylaw will go to public hearing. After a lengthy discussion Monday afternoon, council voted 7-2 to give the amendments preliminary approval, thus sending it to what council believes will be a long, contentious public debate. Amendments to the bylaw would adhere to provincial legislation, set out how many temporary workers could be housed on a single farm property, how long they could stay, and where and how structures could be placed. The maximum number of workers allowed on one property, without special approval from council is 40. and staff say 98 per cent of farms using temporary foreign workers from Mexico and Jamaica, fall below that number. But, there have been complaints there was not proper consultation, and larger operations who may need more than the 40 workers are being treated unfairly by making them go through a lengthy process. The mayor had a message for those. Colin Basran asked them to come to the public hearing with viable solutions and alternatives, not an attitude of I don't like it. "There are some in this room that I can appreciate would like to see council stay completely out of their business...then there are some in this room who, no matter what we do, we will never please, and they will not like anything we do," said Basran. But, he admitted council has a broader mandate than just the farmers in the community. "We have to strike a balance," he said. What I've heard so far is it will make it easier for the smaller operator, and the larger operator still has a path forward. Right now we have a room full of people who can't come up and address that. "So, lets at least go to public hearing and hear what you have to say. But, at the end of the day, we as a council have to try and find a balance between what all of our residents want." Council debated whether to defer the changes to get further information or give it first reading and go to a public hearing. Coun. Maxine DeHart said she has heard the concerns of farmers and has spoken with many of them, and doesn't believe any new information coming to her or staff would be any different than what she has already heard. "It might not be all negative, but I think we have to hear from everyone, and I think the only way to do this is to get it on the table, get everybody here, have a 3 a.m.-public meeting," she said. "And, that's fine, because everybody has a say and then we can make a more informed decision." On the other side of the debate, Coun. Mohini Singh said the agriculture industry is big in the city, $125 million just from the cherry industry, and it's only expected to grow. She said it's incumbent on council to get this right. "Are we going to see more farm workers here, absolutely. Is the industry looking for clarity, absolutely. Are we heading in the right direction, yes we are," said Singh. "But, have we landed on a positive spot, now we haven't. This has created a lot of dis-ease in the industry and with staff, and my heartfelt suggestion is we defer this for awhile. One more month will not cause angst." The public hearing is set for May 2. Photo: The Canadian Press Jennifer Gordon, 41, a parent at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, Calif. For Elizabeth Barajas it had been an hours-long nightmare waiting to learn the fate of the daughter she had dropped off at school a couple of hours before police reported that gunfire in a classroom had killed two adults and wounded two children. Then, in some ways, the nightmare became worse. Barajas learned her daughter, Marissa Perez, had been sitting at her desk Monday morning when a gunman stormed into her classroom, shot her teacher to death, and wounded two of her classmates before killing himself. One of the children later died in hospital. "I don't know what to do. I don't know what to tell her," Barajas said as the two held each other and sobbed after the ordeal that sent police flooding onto the campus of San Bernardino's North Park School. As Marissa and about 600 other students were shepherded to safety, Barajas and hundreds of other parents raced to the school. There they would endure an agonizing four-hour wait before learning that all but two of their children were physically if not emotionally unharmed. "She just said she was scared. As soon as she saw the guy with the gun, she went under the table. She keeps telling me 'My teacher got shot, my friend got shot,' " Barajas said. Marissa said the shooter didn't say a word as he opened fire. One of her friends was hit, she added, as she pointed to her abdomen. Police identified the gunman as Cedric Anderson, 53, of Riverside. They believe he arrived at the school intending to kill his estranged wife, North Park teacher Elaine Smith, and accidentally shot the two children. Amberly Raffle, who had left her son with his pre-kindergarten class earlier that morning, said she wasn't sure what the sirens were about until her sister-in-law ran to her house to tell her there was a problem at the school. "Policemen were everywhere and ambulances, firetrucks, helicopters," she said of the scene she saw. "I got really scared then." It was "every parent's worst nightmare," said Holly Penalber as she wiped tears from her face while waiting to hear the fate of her 9-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. Photo: Twitter Authorities in the southern Mexico state of Guerrero said Monday they found the tortured, asphyxiated bodies of eight men stuffed into an SUV abandoned on the side of a highway. Guerrero state security spokesman Roberto Alvarez said the victims were found around midnight near Chilpancingo, the state capital. The state has been the scene of drug gang turf battles, kidnappings and extortions, and groups of bodies are often found dumped on roadsides. The eight bodies initially appeared to be gagged; while Alvarez did not specify how they were asphyxiated, drug gangs in Mexico frequently wrap their victims' faces and heads with packing tape, cutting off their breathing. Alvarez said the dead men appeared to be between 25 and 35 years in age, and had "visible signs of torture." Photo: The Canadian Press UPDATE: 7:40 a.m. Students dove under desks when a man walked into his estranged wife's elementary school classroom and opened fire without saying a word, killing her and an 8-year-old student and wounding a 9-year-old before fatally shooting himself, authorities said. Some six weeks earlier, 53-year-old Cedric Anderson was a newlywed calling his 53-year-old wife Karen Smith an "angel" in one of many social media posts professing his love. San Bernardino police have said nothing of what might have motivated Anderson to open fire in the special-education classroom at North Park Elementary School on Monday. "No one has come forward to say they saw this coming," police Chief Jarrod Burguan said, though Anderson had a history of weapons, domestic violence and possible drug charges that predated the brief marriage. School district officials said classes at North Park would be cancelled for at least Tuesday and Wednesday. Counselors were made available at a nearby middle school for students, family and staff. The shooting came 15 months after a terror attack in San Bernardino that killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at a meeting of county employees. Husband-and-wife shooters Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik were later killed in a gunbattle with authorities. Nine-year-old Marissa Perez said she got under a table as soon as she saw the gunman enter her classroom Monday. "She keeps telling me 'My teacher got shot, my friend got shot,'" her mother, Elizabeth Barajas, said as she clutched her daughter's blood-stained sweatshirt. Marissa said the shooter didn't speak as he began shooting. One of her friends was hit, she added, pointing to her abdomen. What appears to be Anderson's Facebook page features many public declarations of love for Smith between statements of religious devotion before his last public post on March 15. ORIGINAL: 6:10 a.m. A nine-year-old girl who was in the San Bernardino elementary school classroom where a gunman opened fire says the man "shot everywhere," hitting her friend and her teacher. The girl, Marissa Perez, and her mother, Elizabeth Barajas, cried and hugged as they reunited several hours after Monday's shooting. Marissa was one of 15 students in the special-education classroom at North Park Elementary School when Cedric Anderson killed the teacher, his wife. One student standing behind Karen Smith died and another was injured. Anderson then killed himself. Marissa, who had a small amount of blood on her sweatshirt as she talked to The Associated Press, says she hid under the table as soon as she saw the gunman. She says the man just walked in and started shooting. She pointed to her stomach when asked where her friend got shot. Photo: The Canadian Press A bail hearing for a Canadian man accused in a massive hack of Yahoo emails is set to continue today in a Hamilton court. Karim Baratov was arrested under the Extradition Act last month after U.S. authorities indicted him and three others two of them allegedly officers of Russia's Federal Security Service for computer hacking, economic espionage and other crimes. American authorities have alleged in court documents that Baratov, who was born in Kazakhstan, poses an "extremely high flight risk" in part due to his alleged ties to Russian intelligence agents and his financial resources. Baratov's lawyer has called the allegations against his client unfounded. He's seeking to have the young man released on bail as he awaits an extradition hearing, arguing his client poses no flight risk. The Crown has said that if convicted in the U.S., Baratov faces up to 20 years in prison. Photo: The Canadian Press Authorities and aid workers are searching for several hundred migrants who disappeared after a fire ravaged their camp in northern France, a shocking blaze that exposed anew the challenges and tensions around Europe's migrants just 12 days before France's presidential election. Police cordoned off the largely destroyed camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe on Tuesday and investigators inspected the site to try to determine the cause of the Monday night fire, which broke out following a fight between rival groups of migrants. Three mobile police units were deployed in the area to head off tensions prompted by the camp's demise, the government said in a statement. Most of the camp near the English Channel is now reduced to the charred remains of wooden shelters and sparse belongings of the migrants. As many as 1,600 people were in the camp when the blaze broke out. Some 500 were taken to three local gymnasiums, but most of the other migrants remain unaccounted-for. Ten migrants are in local hospitals with light injuries following the fire. Photo: Flickr/BC Gov't British Columbians have faced an onslaught of government announcements, party ads and political finger pointing over the last few months. It was all a prelude to the provincial election campaign, which will officially begin today when Liberal Leader Christy Clark asks the lieutenant governor to dissolve her government. Which party can generate the most jobs appears to be an early campaign theme for the May 9 vote. Clark unveiled her party's platform yesterday, promising to freeze income taxes, deliver balance budgets and create jobs in the technology and resource sectors. New Democrat Leader John Horgan has also offered voters a peek at his platform, saying his party will create jobs in every corner of the province by making public investments to attract more private-sector investment. The Greens captured a single seat in the legislature last election, but Leader Andrew Weaver is predicting a breakthrough for his party when British Columbians head to the polls in four weeks. Photo: The Canadian Press A teen's Twitter stunt to win a year of free chicken nuggets from Wendy's might become the platform's most retweeted post of all time. Carter Wilkinson asked the fast food chain on Twitter last week how many retweets it would take for him to get free nuggets for a year. Wendy's replied, "18 million." The 16-year-old from Nevada took up the challenge, writing: "Consider it done." Wilkinson's screenshot of the exchange has since been retweeted nearly 2.5 million times and is getting closer to the all-time retweet mark of nearly 3.3 million, held by Ellen DeGeneres' viral tweet from the 2014 Oscars. Wilkinson tells the Reno Gazette-Journal that all the attention is "a little distracting," and he's now known as "the chicken nugget man" at his high school. Photo: The Canadian Press Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose Canada's Opposition leader says she's feeling a bit reassured after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump's point man on trade and wants to take that message home to calm jitters in the business community. Rona Ambrose met Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross during a visit to Washington on Monday. She said Ross acknowledges not only the value of the Canada-U.S. business relationship, but also the need to provide stability and business confidence. ''He understands the importance of the Canadian-U.S. relationship," she said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "And my sense was that he understands the importance of business confidence. And that was obviously a very positive sign. ''I felt reassured that I could go back to the business community . . . (and say he is) someone who understands business confidence. That's reassuring.'' That desire to calm the business-investment climate is one reason the interim Conservative leader says she favours a faster renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Some observers suggest a go-slow attitude might favour Canada let the clock tick down toward the election in Mexico and, facing the prospect of a Trump-bashing leftist getting elected there, Trump might feel cornered into delivering a quick deal. Ambrose doesn't share that view. She expresses two qualms with the go-slow attitude. First, it extends uncertainty. She points to NAFTA, U.S. tax reforms, Buy American talk and the softwood dispute as multiple ingredients in a recipe for investor concern: ''We know there are already people holding off business decisions because of this.'' Her other problem with it: more delay could impair relations with Mexico, she says. If the issue lingers deep into the Mexican election, she says it could mean more anti-Americanism on the campaign trail, more protectionist talk and potentially weaken the continent's competitiveness against other trading blocs. ''We have to think bigger picture,'' she said. Photo: City of Vernon City council has set their sights on the second phase of the Foothills Ravine trail. Council gave the okay on Monday for a new trail connecting Whitecourt Place to Foothills Drive along the top of the ravine. The project currently has a budget of $15,954 with another $4,000 approved for crusher chip surfacing. During the development of the Foothills Neighbourhood Plan, residents said they'd like to see a trail network to improve pedestrian connectivity in the neighbourhood. One section of ravine trails was completed in 2016 and connects Copper Mountain Court and Whitecourt Place. However the cost to extend that trail was considered too high for what was in the budget and the second phase will now move ahead. Photo: Keylight Photography The finalists for Vernon's Woman of the Year have been whittled down to eight. Our judges had an incredibly hard task to narrow the selection down to eight finalists (from the original 12), said Carla Dahlen, award committee chairperson. I know we have to make a judgment for the one woman of the year, but I personally wouldnt know where to start. These are all phenomenal women. The eight finalists include: Elise Allan, lawyer and volunteer to several organizations Emily Hladych, pioneered the Waldorf-inspired Cedar Bridge School Kim Nasipayko, owner of Caufields Engraving, on the Kalamalka Rotary and United Ways boards Mary Jo OKeefe, founder of MJO Tours, on Downtown Vernon Association board Pamela Owen, realtor and member of the Vernon Rotary Club, thechamber of commerce Sareena Nickoli, owner of Soul Studio and active in family-owned City Furniture business and volunteer Sue Beaudry, with the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation and member of Kalamalka Caring Klowns Suzanne Robert, mastermind of Vernons largest dancing light show The finalists will be honoured at a May 11th Woman of the Year gala dinner at the Prestige Hotel where the winner will be announced. Tickets for the event are available online or by calling (250) 549-7469. For more information contact WOY Chairperson Carla Dahlen at [email protected]. Photo: The Canadian Press Spoiled food. Damaged appliances. Shuttered businesses. A recent increase in power outages is taking a heavy toll on Puerto Rico as the U.S. territory's heavily indebted public power company struggles to modernize decades-old equipment that is crumbling amid a deep economic crisis. The frequent loss of power, coupled with rising power bills, is spooking potential investors. It has frustrated business owners who complain of lost revenue and forced homeowners to buy new appliances amid unexpected surges. "It's never been worse," Mariela Aguirre, a 49-year-old sales trainer, said of the weekly outages in her neighbourhood tucked in an upscale suburb near the capital. "This is turning into a Third World country." The cycle of homes and businesses being plunged into darkness only to be jolted awake by appliances that beep, whir and hum back to life has become common across the island for tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans such as Aguirre who cannot afford generators to offset the costly interruptions. Last year, the island of 3.4 million people reported more than 54,000 power failures, a 24 per cent increase compared with 2014. Outages in Puerto Rico overall are up to five times higher than those experienced by customers in the U.S. mainland, according to a report published in November by independent, U.S.-based experts at the request of a local commission charged with improving the power company. The scathing analysis of more than 200 pages says the power company faces an emergency that must be addressed immediately, warning that its generation and transmission infrastructure is "literally falling apart." "(The company) appears to be running on fumes, and in our opinion desperately requires an infusion of capital - monetary, human, and intellectual - to restore a functional utility," the experts wrote. But Puerto Rico's government cannot provide any kind of cash infusion. It faces major budget cuts in the upcoming months as it struggles to find revenue and restructure some $70 billion in public debt during a decade-long recession. The Electric Power Authority holds roughly $9 billion of that debt, and has reached a tentative deal reached with bondholders after nearly three years' worth of negotiations. The power company hasn't found new sources of revenue given that Puerto Rico has no access to the capital markets. Meanwhile, outages continue to vex its more than 1.5 million customers. "You hear all the pings, and you're like, 'Oh, God, everything's going to break down on me,'" Elizabeth Laide, a 50-year-old swimming instructor, said of her appliances. Photo: The Canadian Press The CBC is apologizing in the wake of accusations of inaccuracies in its docu-drama "Canada: The Story of Us." In an emailed statement, a spokesman for the public broadcaster acknowledges that "after the first two episodes, some people felt misrepresented." Chuck Thompson adds the network never intended "to offend anyone or any group, nor diminish the importance of any of the stories that were not included." Thompson says the CBC is listening to feedback on the series and is planning to host live digital conversations about it. The first conversation will take place online on the show's website, in English and French, after the next episode airs on April 18. Thompson says each broadcast will also include the perspectives of those who have sent emails, called in, or posted on social media with criticism. Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil is among those who have complained about the 10-hour series, which recounts Canada's history. He said the show was wrong to assert that the country's first permanent European settlement was established in 1608 near what is now Quebec City. McNeil said the history of Canada started three years earlier, when French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded a settlement at Port Royal, N.S., which is part of his riding. Politicians in Quebec and the mayor of Annapolis Royal, N.S., have also denounced the show as a disrespectful and erroneous version of what really happened when Europeans first settled in Canada. "Whenever you recount a country's history, there will inevitably be citizens, historians and politicians who will have different points of view, and that's certainly been the case with 'Canada: The Story of Us,'" Thompson said Tuesday in the statement. "After the first two episodes, some people felt misrepresented and for that, we apologize. We fully recognize that not everyone will agree with every perspective presented." News / International by Staff Reporter A UK based Zimbabwean woman who launched her car in the air, while driving under the influence, after failing to negotiate a roundabout has been sentenced for two driving offences,.According to Cambridgeshire Constabulary , Tania Chikwature, 32, of Butterfly Way in Coventry, was driving her grey Nissan Qashqai on the A605 in Peterborough with her 19-month-old son in the back at about 11.40am on December 12 when the collision happened.Having overtaken a lorry on the wrong side of solid white lines near to Hadden Services, she failed to negotiate the roundabout, launching her car about 15 feet in the air, before landing on its roof on the far side of the roundabout, colliding with the crash barrier and coming to a stop about 50 metres further up the road.Members of the public went to their aid and pulled the toddler, who was hanging upside down in his car seat, out of the wreckage.Police and ambulance attended and Chikwature refused to provide a routine breath sample.Four and three-quarter hours later in hospital, a blood sample was taken which showed 156 milligrams of alcohol in Chikwature's blood - the legal limit is 80.Due to the amount of time that had passed since the collision, investigators requested a back-calculation was carried out by the forensic laboratory in order to accurately reflect the true alcohol levels at the time of the collision. The results came back with 246 milligrams of alcohol in her blood - more than three times the legal limit.PC David Tudman, from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Road Policing Unit (RPU), said: "Chikwature showed complete disregard for the safety and welfare of her child and other road users in her manner of driving. It is pure luck that nobody was killed that day."This should serve as a warning to all motorists to highlight the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol; and to do so whilst in charge of a child is utterly irresponsible."Chikwature appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court yesterday (Monday, April 10) after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of alcohol at a hearing last month. She was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 115.Dash-cam footage from the lorry Chikwature was overtaking shows the shocking ordeal of the collision. Cambridgeshire Constabulary has released the video of the accident, watch below: Photo: Contributed When a team of engineering students from India enters their solar-powered car into a gruelling, five-day race through the Australian outback later this year, a small Armstrong company will be watching with baited breath. RhinoKore Composite Solutions recently donated some specially created panels to the Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering solar car team, which will allow them to enter the prestigious Bridgestone World Solar Challenge later this year. To learn about the unlikely partnership, and the out-of-the-blue LinkedIn message that started it all, read the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge. Photo: District of Coldstream A planned new trades training centre for the Vernon campus of Okanagan College can proceed to the next step after Coldstream council gave the thumbs up to a development permit. Approval was given at Monday's council meeting. In a letter to the district, architect Tim McLennan explained that approximately 13,450 sq. ft. of new multi-purpose trades shops and supporting space would be built on the campus. The multi-use trade space is earmarked for electrical, plumbing and pipe fitting, aboriginal, women in trades and industry and carpentry training. About 150 students are expected to be in programs that will use the planned facility. There is need to build purpose-built trades space on campus to accommodate existing programs currently located in leased space," McLennan said in his letter. Currently, trades training is done in the leased space at the Vernon airport, but the federal and provincial governments are providing $6.21 million in funding for the new centre. The new facility is expected to be built to a gold standard, utilizing local materials and a highly efficient mechanical system. The building will be subject to Coldstream's greenhouse gas reduction rules. The facility will also address a shortage of available trades training shops in the region. Photo: The Canadian Press It was the lure of ice cream that first drew Christy Clark into politics. As a child, the future premier of British Columbia would accompany her father as he knocked on doors around Burnaby during his several attempts for public office. "He'd promise us ice cream," Clark, 51, said in a recent interview. "Hi, will you vote for my daddy?" she laughed, miming knocking on a door. "Who's not going to vote for a candidate, or who's at least not going to say something positive?" Since then, Clark has enjoyed the sweet taste of her own political victories. She is leading the B.C. Liberal Party in its bid for a fifth consecutive election victory after she pulled off a come-from-behind win in 2013. Beyond her father's political ambitions, Clark's family played a powerful role in shaping her approach to life and politics. Political debate was a mainstay around the dinner table. "The only way for me to survive and succeed was to fiercely fight for what I believed." said Clark, the youngest of four children. "I learned that at a very, very young age. If you didn't cover your plate somebody would eat your food." Clark would apply those lessons during her time in student government at Simon Fraser University, which she said was "the nastiest politics I've ever been involved in." She corralled a cohort of right-of-centre students to "break the stranglehold" the left had on the school's student society. Clark won by a razor-thin six votes, but was later disqualified after forgetting to pay a small fine because she failed to remove campaign material. Andy Tomec, who covered Clark's run at student politics for the campus newspaper, remembers her as a consummate politician. "I think she got up in the morning thinking about politics, and I bet she went to bed thinking about it as well," Tomec said. "I don't know if she has an off button." The budding politician's charisma and disarming smile were renowned. - Castanet is running profiles on all three of B.C.'s main party leaders: Check out the BC Election 2017 page for full election coverage. British Columbia's Liberal party began its bid for a fifth straight majority government on Tuesday as Premier Christy Clark visited the lieutenant-governor to formally dissolve the legislature. The campaign has been underway unofficially for weeks with the Liberals, NDP and Greens releasing platform details for an election that polls suggest will be a tight battle. Clark has tried to make NDP Leader John Horgan's judgment an issue, accusing the New Democrats of siding with fringe advocates over the mainstream interests that drive job creation in a province that has led the country in economic growth. Horgan has attacked Clark on social policies, arguing too many people have been left behind by a Liberal government that is out-of-touch after 16 years in power as he promotes a daycare program that would cost $10 a day and a significant increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Green Leader Andrew Weaver, the first member of his party to win a seat in a provincial legislature, is asking voters who are tired of the status quo to give his party a chance, promising a revamped economic plan that encourages growth in emerging business sectors while protecting the environment. Job creation has been an early theme in the unofficial campaign for the May 9 vote. At dissolution, the Liberals held 47 seats in the legislature, the NDP 35, and there were three Independents, which includes Weaver. There are two new ridings this election, bringing the total to 87 seats. Clark unveiled her party's platform on Monday, promising to freeze income taxes, deliver balance budgets and create jobs in the technology and resource sectors. Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative leadership hopeful Kellie Leitch says she would look to roll back the Liberal plan to legalize marijuana if she becomes the party's leader and eventually prime minister. Leitch says marijuana is a "dangerous drug" that should not be legalized due to public health and safety concerns. She made the remarks during a roundtable interview today with The Canadian Press. A pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Leitch says scientific evidence shows the drug can have damaging effects on the brains of those under the age of 25, and should only be available from pharmacies for patients with prescriptions. The Canadian Medical Association is recommending a minimum age of 21, and limits on quantities and potency for those aged 21-25 to discourage use and sharing among underage friends. Health Minister Jane Philpott says of the driving forces for the government's plan, to be introduced Thursday in Parliament, is to address Canada's "very high rates" of cannabis use among young people. Philpott says criminalizing cannabis has not deterred its use by young people, noting that other products known to be harmful, including alcohol and tobacco, are available with restrictions for legal consumption. Photo: Getty Images Marijuana dispensaries are still not welcome in the City of Armstrong. Armstrong city council has no plan to change a bylaw that bans illegal products from stores, said Mayor Chris Pieper. His comment followed a presentation to council on Monday by Mark Conklin of Starbuds, which has medical marijuana dispensaries in a number of Okanagan communities. Our bylaw states that illegal products cannot be sold in Armstrong, period, said Pieper. That's our stand. The federal government is expected to table legislation in the House of Commons on Thursday that may legalize recreational marijuana. It is not certain how that would affect cannabis shops that have been springing up in other cities, including Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. We know it's around, we know it can be bought online and at dispensaries in other communities. We are sticking to our bylaw we have in place, that nothing illegal can be sold in Armstrong stores. Pieper said once marijuana became legal, council would deal with the bylaw. Photo: The Canadian Press White House press secretary Sean Spicer White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Adolf Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons" a comment at odds with Hitler's extermination of Jews during the Holocaust using gas chambers. Spicer was attempting to discuss the horror of the chemical weapons attack last week in Syria that the administration is blaming on President Bashar Assad. "We didn't use chemical weapons in World War II," said Spicer, adding that "someone as despicable as Hitler... didn't even sink to using chemical weapons." Minutes later, Spicer delivered a garbled defence of his remarks in which he tried to differentiate between Hitler's actions and the gas attack on Syrian civilians last week. The attack in northern Syria left nearly 90 people dead, and Turkey's health minister said test show sarin gas was used. "I think when you come to sarin gas, there was no, he (Hitler) was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing," Spicer said. "There was clearly....I understand your point, thank you. There was not...He brought them into the Holocaust centre I understand that." "I appreciate the clarification. That was not the intent," he said. After the briefing, Spicer emailed a statement to reporters: "In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust. I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centres. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable." Spicer's comments came on the second day of Passover and a day after the White House held a Seder dinner marking the emancipation of the Jewish people, a tradition started during the Obama administration. According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Nazis experimented with poison gas in late 1939 with the killing of mental patients, which was termed "euthanasia." It was the second day in a row in which Spicer appeared to have trouble articulating the president's foreign policy at a critical time. The comments came a day after the White House was forced to walk back remarks Spicer made from the podium that the use of barrel bombs by Assad's government might lead to further military action by the United States. In an exchange with reporters on Monday, Spicer appeared to draw a new red line for the Trump administration when he told reporters that if a country gases a baby or it puts "a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you will see a response from this president." Until Monday the administration had maintained that last week's airstrikes was in response to the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons against its own citizens. A White House spokesman said later that "nothing has changed in our posture" and the president retains the option to act if it's in the national interest. Photo: Contributed A man is facing impaired driving charges after he was riding a lawn tractor with his son in his lap. Police in Winkler, Man., said they got a call Saturday around 9 p.m. about a man with a young boy on his lap driving a tractor on and off the road. Officers put on their emergency lights to pull the tractor over, and say the driver threw a beer on the ground. The driver, who had difficulty standing and speaking, told police his name and said he was coming from a bar. Officers searched the man and found three unopened cans of beer. Police also said the mans drivers licence was suspended. The 41-year-old man is facing several impaired-driving related charges. He has since been released from custody. Photo: CTV Alcohol was not a factor in a head-on crash that killed four people and injured four others south of Montreal, Quebec provincial police said Tuesday. Sgt. Daniel Thibaudeau said it appears a vehicle driven by an 80-year-old man entered Highway 30 in the wrong direction and struck a sport utility vehicle heading west. "The investigation into what happened will take many weeks," he said. "We don't have any conclusions yet. What we know is we can exclude alcohol as a factor for the 80-year-old driver." The crash occurred shortly after midnight Tuesday in Chateauguay. Raymonde Bouchard-Proulx, 82, and a 14-year-old boy were also in the car that police suspect entered the highway from the wrong direction. They and driver Pierre-Julien Proulx were killed. Police said the three were members of the same family. Also killed was a female passenger of the SUV, identified as Carole Downer, 56, from Ontario. Thibaudeau said all five people in the SUV were from Ontario, but he didn't have details. The driver was a woman in her late 20s, and another female passenger was in her early 20s. Also in the car were a woman in her early 50s and a man in his mid-70s. Thibaudeau said he didn't know if any of the four injured had left hospital but said authorities did not fear for their lives. "They suffered fractures and internal injuries," he said. "The collision was really hard." If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... News / National by Staff reporter AT least 30 passengers were feared dead last night when a South Africa-bound Proliner Bus sideswiped a haulage truck and caught fire at Nyamatikiti River near Chaka.Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition.The bus had over 60 passengers on board, while the truck was laden with tyres when tragedy struck.The accident took place around 8pm and by midnight the bus shell was still smouldering, with bodies inside.Witnesses said more than 15 passengers managed to escape through the windows.The injured were rushed to Mvuma District Hospital and Driefontein Mission Hospital.By late last night, police were still guarding the shell of the bus, with the charred remains of some of the passengers.Police were also controlling traffic as the burning vehicles blocked the road. Carib Cement implements temporary measures to address Jamaica cement shortage 11 April 2017 Carib Cement, Jamaicas sole cement producer, has said it is implementing a number of measures to overcome a domestic cement shortage after mechanical problems in the packaging area caused operations to be disrupted. The cement producer has confirmed reports that had reached The Sunday Gleaner (Jamaica) of a shortage of cement on the Caribbean island. The daily newspaper had been informed by local hardware merchants and dealers that they have been unable to meet demand because of a lack of supply from Carib Cement. Last Friday, the company said it was aware of the supply challenges and that every effort was being made to address the situation. It added that the gaps in retail trade have resulted from challenges in the manufacturers packing operations which are being rectified. Since then, Carib Cement said in a statement that more than 75,000 bags of cement were delivered to the market, with an additional 80,000 bags delivered to a local supplier via ship during the period spanning 7-9 April, the Jamaica Observer reported yesterday. Carib Cement also said cement exports have been suspended to prioritise the local market. In addition, the cement company said it had also received an additional 75,00 bags from a sister plant, and another 150,000 bags are set to be delivered over the next few weeks. Furthermore, the company said it will be embarking on major maintenance overhaul during the Easter holiday, "which should result in increased volumes to the market and restore stability." Published under News / National by Stephen Jakes Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko is just singing for his supper by attempting to close the Gukurahundi issue through the mere issuance of birth certificates to relatives of the victims.This was said by Mthwakazi Liberation Front Secretary General Bonhomie Ndlovu.He said while Zanu PF gurus have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the Gukurahundi issues, there has been an increase in the discovery of suspected mass or isolated Gukurahundi graves in Matabeleland North and South respectively.Recently VP Mphoko was quote saying the Zimbabwean government will assist in the issuance of birth certificates to the relatives of the victims."The question is,Is the VP reacting on the instructions of his boss or he is trying to impress the affected population on his campaigning ticket.Mind you the very Zanu PF government once denied the allegations and now what is the turn about for. Is there any authenticity that there will be the exercise for the issuance of such documents?" he said."Now as the denial persisted, the discovery of these graves is increasing,what would be the remarks by VP Mphoko as the chair of the healing and reconciliation committee?"He said when Zimbabwe Co-Vice President is busy undertaking the role of cleaning Robert's mercy of the Gukurahundi and hoping to to dissuade Mthwakazi from its set objective, MLF announces and progresses a more formidable and subtle."Presentation are that we are not Zimbabweans, as such we cannot continue to be enslaved by the Shona occupying Regime," he said."All our suffering revolves around the massacre of our people-wantonly in cold blood and more savagely."He said when Mphoko said they were a government MLF was short of words to answer him in the right direction."Is he telling us that as a"government they have a right to kill and declare burials willy-nilly or he forgets the limits of his mandatory duties?" he said."To cut a very long and disturbing episode in an African scenario can MLF reiterate for once that Mthwakazi is not Zimbabwe and that we have nothing in common with the wheel chair -bound "god" as we want our freedom even before we take up arms!" News / National by Stephen Jakes Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Sunday attended a church service at the Roman Catholic Church in Bulawayo where he is seen reading the bible sitting next to Provincial Affairs Minister Eunice Sandi Moyo and is also seen being prayed for by a Catholic Father.See him kneeling (above) and being prayed for in the picture: News / National by Stephen Jakes In Chinhoyi, ZLHR lawyer Sharon Hofisi is offering emergency legal services to two residents Norman Chembe aged 32 years and Tambudzai Goba aged 41 years, who are scheduled to stand trial at Chinhoyi Magistrates Court in the capital of Mashonaland West province facing criminal insult charges.According to the State, Chembe and Goba allegedly insulted 73 year-old Veronica Chiwashira when they told her that "You are going to suffer with Zanu PF" during a food distribution exercise held at Mhanyame Primary School on 23 March 2017.Chembe and Goba were charged with criminal insult as defined in Section 95 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 as authorities faulted the duo for impairing Chiwashira's dignity.According to State papers, Chiwashira asked Chembe to account for the empty maize bags which he together with Goba had allegedly brought from the Grain Marketing Board to Mhanyame Primary School anticipating to receive maize grain which was being distributed at the school to which Chembe, a former ZANU PF party youth member professed ignorance and started to move away from the "scene".As they moved away from the scene, Chembe and Goba allegedly insulted Chiwashira by uttering the words; Mucha. neZanu yenyu iyoyo isu takabuda. Muchanya, which the State translated to mean "You are going to suffer with Zanu PF". News / National by BBC The G7 group of nations has failed to reach agreement over threatening new sanctions against Russia and Syria.Foreign ministers were seeking a common position on the Syrian conflict, before the US secretary of state flies to Russia to try to persuade it to abandon its Syrian ally.The nations agreed there was no solution to the Syria crisis with President Assad in power.But UK proposals to target sanctions at senior military leaders were sidelined.The diplomacy in the Italian town of Lucca follows the latest apparent use of chemical weapons in Syria.Syria has denied it carried out a chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun last week that left 89 people dead.In response, the US fired 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase that it said was implicated in the attack.Speaking after the end of the G7 meeting, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the missile strike "was necessary as a matter of US national security interest"."We do not want the regime's uncontrolled stockpile of chemical weapons to fall into the hands of Isis [so-called Islamic State] or other terrorist groups who could and want to attack the United States or our allies."He also added that the US saw "no further role for the Assad regime longer term, given that they have effectively given up their legitimacy with these kinds of attacks".Mr Tillerson will head to Moscow for talks on Syria later on Tuesday, hoping to persuade the Russians that they have an unreliable ally in President Assad.Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano - hosting the G7 talks - said ministers wanted to engage with Russia to put pressure on President Assad, adding that "we must not push Russia into a corner"."We think the Russians have the leverage that is needed to put pressure on Assad and to get him to observe the commitments with regard to the ceasefire," he added.The fact that Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow is happening at all is telling.Russia reacted angrily to last week's US missile strike on Syria, condemning it as an "act of aggression". Yet Moscow is happy to host the US secretary of state. He'll meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and a meeting with President Putin cannot be ruled out.But experience shows that Moscow does not take well to threats or ultimatums.If Mr Tillerson thinks he can weaken Moscow's support for President Assad, he may need to re-think. The Syrian president is Russia's key military ally in the Middle East. Russia has invested heavily - militarily, politically and financially - to keep him in power.Reports on Monday quoted a senior US official as saying that the Russians knew of the chemical attack because a drone had been flying over a hospital in Khan Sheikhoun as victims sought help.Hours later a jet bombed the hospital in what the US believed was an attempt to cover up the attack, the Associated Press agency said.Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary James Mattis gave fresh details on the retaliatory strike against Syria's Shayrat airbase.He said the "measured response" by the US had "resulted in the damage or destruction of fuel and ammunition sites, air defence capabilities and 20% of Syria's operational aircraft".The Syrian military admits significant material damage but a Russian defence ministry spokesman said only six Syrian Air Force MiG-23s, plus a number of buildings, were destroyed and that only 23 of the missiles had reached Shayrat.What are Syria and its allies saying?Syria has denied using any chemical agents, and Russia says the US has failed to provide evidence Syria has chemical weapons.Russia and Iran, President Assad's key military backers, are also threatening retaliation if there are any further American air strikes, saying the US attack had crossed "red lines"."From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well," said a statement from a joint command centre comprising the forces of President Assad's allies.What is the US policy on Syria?In recent days there have been mixed messages from the US on its priorities in Syria.Mr Tillerson said on Sunday that there had been "no change to our military posture" in Syria following the US airbase strike and that Washington's "first priority" was to defeat so-called Islamic State (IS).Those comments came a day after the US's ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley spoke about the removal of President Assad, saying: "In no way do we see peace in that area with Assad as the head of the Syrian government."There was further confusion on Monday. Mr Tillerson spoke in public about an interventionist approach, saying: "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world."Hours later, White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested Mr Trump would act against Syria not just if it used chemical munitions."If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you will see a response from this president," Mr Spicer said in his daily briefing. The White House later said Mr Spicer had meant to refer to barrel bombs containing "industrial chemicals". Opinion / Columnist "Morgan Tsvangirai who, in spite of his lacklustre political performance, still remains the only person the majority of our people would rather rally around," said Joseph Tanonoka Whande in Nehanda Radio.I agree with your sir 100%!Indeed, I would go even further to say Tsvangirai is breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent. He sold-out the nation during the GNU by failing to implement the democratic reforms the nation is dying for in return for highflier lifestyle plus a $4 million Highlands mansion.The only reason there are people out there who still consider a corrupt, incompetent and a sell-out a viable candidate to hold public office let alone the highest office in the land is because these people have a mental blockage; they are totally incapable of making any logical decision.Only first class fools would freely elect someone president with a proven not suspected but proven - track record as being corrupt, incompetent and a sell-out. It is Tsvangirai's treasonous acts of betrayal that have kept us in this hell-hole for the last decade and these fools expect him to perform contrary to his instinct and get us out of the hole.The argument that Tsvangirai is the least nauseating candidate in the box of available politicians, is defeatist nonsense. The reason why there are no competent candidates offering themselves as leaders is because no one with half a brain would want to swim in Zimbabwe's muddy and dangerous political waters. Zimbabwe's political system has stifled all meaningful debate and democratic competition creating an ideal environment for murderous tyrants, thugs and all the other social rejects to build their fiefdoms.If you have a jar of sewage it is scum that will rise to the top. If you want cream, you must fill the jar with wholesome milk; that is common sense. If the people of Zimbabwe want quality political leaders and not the riff-raff crowding the political stage; they must demand the implementation of the democratic reforms designed to drain the cess-pit created by the de facto Zanu PF dictatorship! Nothing of substance can ever be accomplish whilst the dictatorship remains.People get the government they deserve. After 37 years we had many, many opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship but wasted them all. So, yes, Zimbabweans certainly deserve this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship complete with its train of corrupt and incompetent opposition parties.Even if next year's election was to produce the unexpected result of Zanu PF rigging the vote and, somehow, lose the election; there will be very little cause for the people of Zimbabwe to celebrate. Given Tsvangirai's well documented "lacklustre performance"; his administration will be as inapt as Zambia's late Frederick Chiluba's government - if we are very lucky!In his desperate effort to win next year's election, Tsvangirai has been welcoming in his big tend grand coalition all the riff-raff with the Tesco (British Supermarket) "Everything helps!" mentality. Here is the man who failed to get even one meaningful reform implemented in five years of GNU with his "kitchen cabinet", as some people christened his inapt MDC cabinet. The kitchen cabinet will be made even less effective by adding to the mix individuals who will all be pulling in the opposite directions!"This might be Tsvangirai's last chancebefore we start all over again," concluded Whande.The tragedy is we real cannot afford another rigged election because the price we are paying for these missed opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship has soared over the years.Zimbabwe's economic meltdown has now reached the point where millions now live in abject poverty the kind that kills. Poor living conditions with little to eat have left many of our people weak and susceptible to all manner of illnesses and diseases; in a country whose health service has all but collapse. To many people, even a $10 per month bill on essential drugs has become a luxury they can no longer afford.Many people have died since Zimbabwe's rigged 31 July 2013 elections; they are not here to "start all over again" with Tsvangirai in next year's elections.Contesting flawed election is a needless and reckless gamble. Each time Tsvangirai lost the elections he has missed the opportunity to move up market from his $4 million Highlands mansion into State House. The ordinary people have paid a heavier price by being stuck for another five years with the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF regime complete with all the economic hardships and now upgraded to abject poverty that brings death.What makes the whole political situation totally unacceptable is that there is real no excuse for contesting in these flawed elections knowing fully well Zanu PF will rig the vote! If Tsvangirai does not know the elections are flawed then the more reason the people should not trust him to be State President!With not even one democratic reforms in place, contest next year's flawed elections will be repeating the folly of contesting the 2013 elections and expect a different result! Someone must step up and stop this madness; enough is enough! Opinion / Columnist The government must allow people to work in productive sectors not in speculative industries of willy-dealing capital where you find Zanu-PF linked cartels of tenderpreneurs. Run a tight fiscal schedule which means we must maintain a primary balance to avoid the disequilibrium which is running the roast now. Allow businesses to do what they know best which is to make money and government must stay away from coordination of the market but focus on the core business which is dealing with the welfare state, ensure even development and provision of social services. It is our respectful contention that the government must immediately scrap Bond Notes. In the process of scrapping off these Bond Notes, the government must encourage the use of alternative money particularly debit cards, point of sell machines and RTGS facilities. The government must return the money they took from the RBZ because transfers of online money without real value will also not work. Attend to the structural issues arresting the economy to ensure that the economy starts producing again. Deal with the cost of doing business that is the cost of labour, the price of electricity and fuel to match the standards being used in the rest of the region. In the long term Zimbabwe must ensure regional integration and the creation of a Southern African monetary union which can only work when our economic fundamentals are right. The People's Democratic Party is irked by Zanu-PF's unrepentant denial of the fact that they are the creators of the current cash crisis.We believe the biggest job in providing any solution starts with defining the problem correctly, on the issue of cash crisis in particular and many other challenges for that matter, Zanu-PF have decided to misrepresent facts ,in many instances trying to find someone to blame.Our party leader President Tendai Biti yesterday took time to provide thought leadership on ZiFM around the issue of the liquidity crunch arresting our country. It was clear that Zanu-PF is prepared to continue misleading the people of Zimbabwe in the process carrying everyone through the gates of hell.We therefore see it important to clarify the political economy of the current economic crisis for the benefit of those who might have missed the show.With a shrinking revenue base and a huge budget deficit of over 42%, Mr Chinamasa sought to finance the same through the issuance of toxic Treasury Bills and the maintenance of an over-draft facility with the Reserve Bank.In the 2017 budget statement he fully admitted to the fact that he had been raiding RTGS and Nostro Balances held at the Central Bank.The liquidity challenge forced the government to introduce the Bond Note.The Bond Note represents an illegal unconstitutional process of money creation which is not backed by any reserve or value. Up to now, it is self-evident that the Afrexim facility of USD200 million does not exist. Even if it existed the formal processes of sovereign debt contraction have not been complied with.Trade deficits have also averaged US$3 billion and the current account deficit has been around 20% of GDP. The external position is such that we hardly have any foreign currency reserves.The facts are that the banks are not to blame for the current crisis but the blame solely falls on the shoulders of the peasantry displayed by Chinamasa who unfortunately presides over treasury.Chinamasa is creating this myth around people who come from Zimbabwe to withdraw huge sums of money and leave. Such kind of thinking defies basic financial economic logic which is the fact that all money is earned.For someone to earn money whether a foreigner or citizen they must have created value by either selling an asset or provided a service, the "Application of Labour to Capital."Our people deserve better for their hard work in that regard we suggest the following solutions.Together Another Zimbabwe is PossibleJacob MafumePDP Spokesperson This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Opinion / Columnist The driver of the South African registered haulage truck, Regis Mungwari (29) who was driving to Harare carrying tyres, has been charged with 20 cases of culpable homicide.He appeared before Mvuma magistrate's Court on Friday 07 April 2017 facing 20 Cases of Culpable homicide and was remanded in custody to April 20. He was denied bail by the Mvuma magistrate's court and taken to Whawha Remand Prison.In denying Regis bail, the magistrate said he was not a proper candidate for bail considering that1) He did not have a fixed address in Zimbabwe.2) Employee in South Africa and could escape.3) He could commit suicide.Mungwari's wife Mai Anjienate (Ivy Taruberekera) broke down in tears as she suckled Regis Mungwari's 3 weeks old baby on Friday when Mvuma magistrate's court denied her husband bail.Mungwari is in the country as a South African truck driver, and to grant him bail the court would be required to legalise his residency status while he awaits trial.According to state, preliminary investigations indicate that on approaching the 218km peg, Mungwari encroached on the path of the oncoming bus. The bus and the haulage truck sideswiped and both vehicles caught fire.The officer commanding national traffic, Snr Asst Comm Felistus Chikowore Mjanga and the officer commanding Midlands Province Snr Asst Comm Abigail Moyowere at the scene of the accident to ensure that investigations proceeds smoothly.As I speak right now, he is languishing in Whawha Remand Prison. I saw him yesterday putting on remand prison garb. Opinion / Columnist So exhausted. Decided to get a massage x. pic.twitter.com/cVwnJPcRoa Fadzayi Mahere (@advocatemahere) April 5, 2017 Dear Advocate Mahere,Last week Thursday I was tagged in your one of your Facebook posts and whilst I understood what you were saying I was however offended by it. I initially brushed it off but after reading the many comments people cheering you on calling you a savage and a legend, I was even more offended. Anyone who tried to point out how offensive your post was, was rudely told not to catch feelings. Over on Twitter it was no different. Again anyone who tried to point out how problematic your post was, was immediately told they were "reaching" and there was no need to be offended. I remember someone went as far as saying taking offense to the post was "majoring in minors" when there is a bigger oppressive system to fight. I was really taken aback by all these insensitive comments and I really tried to keep quiet but as a disabled Zimbabwean, I have to tell you that your wheelchair joke was offensive, Writes Colleen Chifamba ..Like I said before I 100% understand what you were attempting to do but my question is why didn't you use an actual massage chair? You see Advocate, there is absolutely nothing funny I repeat there is absolutely nothing funny about you an able bodied person using a device that thousands of your fellow Zimbabweans rely on for their mobility as a prop to make fun of another able bodied person. Many of the people who justified your joke stated that it was about "context" but I categorically disagree with those claims, it was crass and offensive to say the very least. If we are to justify your joke using the context card let me ask this question, how come black people don't scream context in response to racist jokes? Any white person can easily apply the same logic and justify a racist joke and claim it is not offensive because the offended person missed the context of the joke.Advocate I am sure you are aware that thousands of Zimbabweans require the use of a wheelchair for their mobility not because they are exhausted and needing a massage. I myself have used the wheelchairs at the Harare International airport where you were at the time the picture was taken because I needed assistance with my mobility.Ableist jokes have never and will NEVER be funny in a country like Zimbabwe (or anywhere in the world) where people with disabilities are the most marginalized and ignored group of people.As an activist, I am sure you know the importance of intersectionality so I hope you will understand why this was offensive.Yours sincerely,A very disappointed Zimbabwean. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development this week embarks on a first-of-its-kind campaign to capture and promote a Smoky Mountain family vacation to travelers in Atlanta, East Tennessees largest feeder market. The campaign, entitled, Its a Great Day in the Smokies, jumpstarts the spring and summer travel season for Sevier County, showcasing the Smokies are open for business and dispelling perceptions to the contrary. Atlanta-based celebrity journalist and blogger Anna Liesemeyer, her husband Gabe and their five small children embarked on a four-day adventure at well-known Sevier County destinations and attractions including Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Liesemeyers family vacation videos and special behind-the-scenes footage will also appear on Tennessee Tourisms Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on Ms. Liesemeyers In Honor of Design blog and her own Facebook and Instagram pages. Sevier County and the Great Smoky Mountains are a fantastic destination for a family vacation and we want folks in Atlanta and around the country to know that the hospitality of our 'mountain tough' Sevier Countians is unmatched anywhere in the world, said Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. This innovative approach to present vacation footage in nearly real-time, it is clear that every day is a great day in the Smokies, and theres never been a better time to enjoy all the Tennessee Smoky Mountains have to offer. In order to make a specific stereoisomer (regioisomer, enantiomer, or diastereomer), a reaction system needs to be established for the starting materials to react at a specific site and in a specific orientation, i.e. for the molecules to be positioned to hold hands in a particular manner. Researchers at Nagoya University have reported on the development of an organic catalyst that triggers a highly stereoselective 1,6-addition of azlactones to a -aryl dienyl carbonyl compound to generate amino acid derivatives in high yields. The generated 1,6-adduct contains two carbon stereocenters, and a slight structural change in the organocatalyst leads to inversion of stereochemistry at a single stereocenter to form a diastereomer in high selectivity. The group started this research in 2012 and serendipitously found this inversion of stereochemistry upon screening various amino acids, which are incorporated in their unique iminophosphorane catalyst. Many molecules with pharmaceutical uses contain stereocenters and the development of efficient stereoselective reactions to synthesize a particular stereoisomer is in high demand. This is because each stereoisomer usually has different characteristics and precise control is required to obtain the desired stereoisomer in a pure form. When connecting carbon atoms that have three different functional groups attached to them, this can result in a series of stereoisomers, where the functional groups are orientated differently in space. Enantiomers are a type of stereoisomer, in which they contain one or more stereocenters and are mirror images of each other. So far, numerous asymmetric reactions have been developed to generate chiral centers in high efficiency. On the other hand, diastereomers are stereoisomers of a compound that have different configurations at one or more stereocenters and are not mirror images of each other. Upon connecting a pair of carbon molecules that each has 2 different hands, they can be connected in a variety of combinations, and 4 different stereoisomers can be synthesized in theory. These stereoisomers are a series of enantiomers and diastereomers depending on the relationship to each other. Conventional methods to synthesize diastereomers have required a specific catalyst for each isomer. In most cases, a completely new catalytic system is necessary to specifically obtain one of the stereoisomers. When 2 molecules to be connected each have 4 different hands, the situation becomes more complicated and potentially leads to 16 (24) types of stereoisomers. Since the reaction can now occur at different positions, the possible generation of regioisomers also arises. In order to make a specific stereoisomer, a reaction system needs to be established for the starting materials to react at a specific site and in a specific orientation, i.e. for the molecules to be positioned to hold hands in a particular manner. In a new protocol developed by Professor Takashi Ooi's group at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) of Nagoya University, they have developed iminophosphorane catalysts that can generate specific stereoisomers in high yield and selectivity. Moreover, a slight change in the organocatalyst structure leads to pinpoint inversion of a single stereocenter to generate a diastereomer, enabling access to a particular diastereomer of interest in a pure form. "I was really excited the moment I saw the inversion in stereochemistry by changing the organocatalyst," says Ken Yoshioka, a graduate student in Professor Ooi's research group who mainly conducted the experiments. "Initially, we were trying to expand the scope of our catalytic system to new substrates, so this was also the moment when I thought that this was more than an ordinary stereoselective reaction." The iminophosphorane catalyst is derived from amino acids, and a change in the amino acid structure can tune the properties of the catalyst. In this case, a slight change in the position of the methyl groups on the catalyst led to the diastereomer of the 1,6-adduct. "Since starting this research 5 years ago, it took me about 3 years to find the optimal reaction conditions after finding the stereochemical inversion reaction," continues Yoshioka. "One main issue was the reproducibility of this reaction, as the selectivities varied in each reaction. I had repeated the reaction over and over again to see what was happening." "We were really confused by these variable results and we initially assumed that the presence of water was playing a role in the transition state and was affecting the selectivity of this reaction," says Daisuke Uraguchi, an Associate Professor at Nagoya University. Complete removal of water is difficult in organocatalysts as they are able to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. "After various optimization studies, we were able to find that lowering the temperature to ?30 C was the key to controlling the selectivity of this 1,6-addition reaction," says Yoshioka. "This took a while to figure out, and were relieved to be able to generate reliable results. We were also able to stereospecifically synthesize diversely functionalized proline derivatives by further reactions of the 1,6-adducts." "We then carried out experimental and computational studies to find a rationale for this unique stereochemical inversion," explains Uraguchi. "The organocatalysts that lead to different diastereomers share the same core and we were keen to find out how the position of the methyl groups on the catalyst affects the diastereoselectivity of this reaction." Analysis by X-ray crystallography and DFT studies revealed that the shape of the catalyst has a major role on positioning the substrates for reacting with one another. "Even though the methyl groups appear to be on the outside of the catalyst, they actually have a huge influence on holding the substrates in place to react on a particular face," describes Uraguchi. "We were able to show that a small difference in the catalyst structure changes the transition state, and leads to a change in diastereoselectivity. Diastereodivergence has been a challenging topic, but the group succeeded in developing a new strategy for the inversion of stereochemistry by their unique reaction system. "The key to the success of this work was to keep challenging on difficult topics and to question any small observation," says Uraguchi. "Ken Yoshioka worked extremely hard on this project, and I believe that if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have gone this far." "I had been working on this project throughout the course of my graduate studies and I believe that my persistence paid off," says Yoshioka. "Although there were times where we were unsure of what was happening in the reaction, we checked each factor one by one and it was a great feeling of satisfaction to find the origin of the stereoselectivity." "We were pleased to accomplish diastereodivergence in 1,6-addition reactions with high levels of stereocontrol, and envisage that this diastereodivergent strategy will advance the field of asymmetric synthesis," says Uraguchi and Takashi Ooi, a Professor at Nagoya University, who led this study. "We hope to continue to make unique catalysts that will contribute to making complex molecules, which will have potential uses in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries," says Ooi. Sphera Solutions, a Chicago-based company making software that helps businesses monitor environmental impact and worker safety, has bought a competitor and is looking to hire over 100 more people. Sphera's name is new but the business dates back to the 1980s. It sells its software largely to Fortune 1,000 companies in oil and gas, chemicals, and life sciences; it lists Abbott, Eli Lilly, Exxon, Boeing and General Motors among its 2,500 customers. Advertisement This month, Sphera announced it's acquiring 55-employee Rivo Software, a United Kingdom-based provider that runs a cloud-based competitor. The acquisition will strengthen Sphera's health and safety offerings and help it expand internationally, President and CEO Paul Marushka said. Sphera says it's keeping Rivo's employees, but it's also hiring at its Randolph-and-Michigan headquarters in Chicago: It has about 20 open positions and plans to add another 100 workers by the end of the year. Sphera had 550 employees before the acquisition, 55 of whom were in Chicago. Advertisement Many of the job openings are sales- and marketing-focused, Marushka said, but the company is also looking for technology workers, as well as people to fill finance and service positions. Sphera's customers use the company's software for safety and sustainability goals that influence culture, sales and stock prices, he said. "Now workers are demanding the workplace be safer and greener and the shareholders are demanding it," he said. "Imagine if you have an unsafe work environment or lots of injuries. Productivity goes down. Or with an oil spill your reputation goes down, and the stock value goes down." The name Sphera and its status as an independent company only dates back to 2016, when Marushka and private equity firm Genstar Capital bought the 30-year-old IHS Operational Excellence and Risk Management business from then-Denver-based IHS, then rebranded it Sphera. About 81 percent of environment, health and safety professionals say the ability of a platform to cover all their workflows is very important or important, said Trevor Bronson, industry analyst at research and consulting firm Verdantix. The environment, health and safety software market which helps companies navigate laws, rules and processes designed to help protect employees, the public and the environment is valued at more than $1 billion in 2017, and expected to grow to $1.43 billion by 2020, Bronson said. Cheryl V. Jackson is a freelance writer. Twitter @cherylvjackson Starbucks debuted its new Mercato lunch menu in 100 Chicago stores Tuesday, a line aimed at customers who increasingly demand vegetarian-friendly and protein-filled options for a midday meal. If the line is successful, it will be expanded nationwide. The menu consists of salads, in full or half sizes, sandwiches and also some options that Starbucks customers will already recognize, like Bistro Boxes and fresh yogurt and fruit options. Sara Trilling, Starbucks' senior vice president of food and innovation, said there may be some existing Bistro Boxes that are phased out in favor of the new options down the road, but the plan overall is to increase selection for customers. Advertisement Full salad options, which cost $8 to $9, include za'atar chicken and lemon tahini, green goddess avocado, seared steak and mango, and turkey and fire-roasted corn. Side salads, $5 to $6, will include cauliflower tabbouleh, eggs and grains, greens and shaved Parmesan cheese, and roasted carrot and kale. Sandwiches will range from $5 to $8 and include nine options, including a Cuban, a burrata and basil pesto, and an almond butter with strawberries and jam. Availability of the options will vary by store. Starbucks already sees half of its customers in the U.S. after 11 a.m., making options for lunch and dinner a big priority. Starbucks has a plan to double its food business within five years. Advertisement Chicago is an important market to test its food because of the "diverse customer base that has discerning tastes" with a "strong food and coffee culture," Trilling said. Starbucks opened its first store outside of the Pacific Northwest in Chicago 30 years ago. At first the Mercato (Italian for marketplace) line will be offered only in Chicago, mostly at downtown stores, but executives said at a recent tasting event that there is a plan to eventually expand it nationwide if it performs well. The menu is prepared at a local commissary each day and leftovers are given away each night to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. sbomkamp@chicagotribune.com Twitter @SamWillTravel WASHINGTON The Trump Organization has settled a legal dispute with a second celebrity chef who backed out of a deal to open a restaurant in Trump's hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. The agreement between Trump and famed chef Geoffrey Zakarian, announced Monday by lawyers, comes three days after the Trump organization settled a similar breach-of-contract lawsuit he filed against celebrity chef Jose Andres. Advertisement The details of both settlements were kept private. "After an intense, two -year legal battle, we are pleased we were able to amicably resolve our differences and wish Geoffrey continued success," read a statement Monday from Donald Trump Jr. who with his brother Eric, runs the Trump Organization, while their father is in the White House. Advertisement New York real estate developer Louis Ceruzzi who had backed the restaurant added he was "glad' that both sides were able to "work together cooperatively" to reach a settlement and wished Trump International "the very best success going forward." The settlements with the chefs were reached after Trump often boasted he would never settle a lawsuit. The legal battles began when both chefs backed out of deals to open restaurants in Trump's luxury hotel complex in the Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue. Zakarian, like Andres, cited Trump's derogatory public comments about illegal immigrants from Mexico made during the presidential campaign and both celebrity chefs said those remarks made it impossible for them to run a successful dining establishment in the Trump property. Trump originally sued Zakarian, a Food Network star, in D.C. Superior Court for $10 million, basing that figure on expected losses after Zakarian's decision to back out. In recent court filings, Trump's representatives raised the estimated loss to about $14 million. Chef Geoffrey Zakarian in 2015. (The Associated Press) Trump also filed a $10 million breach of contract lawsuit against Andres. Andres countersued for $8 million, his company arguing that Trump's campaign rhetoric made it next to impossible to hire Hispanic staff or to attract Hispanic patrons. Trump built his own restaurant in the space Andres had been expected to use and signed BLT Prime and chef David Burke to operate it. Trump was unable to secure another restaurant to replace the one Zakarian had agreed to use. The space instead was used for another ballroom as well as a meeting space. Zakarian's attorneys Deborah Baum and Alvin Dunn of Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw and Pittman said they were "pleased both sides were able to settle their difference amicably and put this dispute behind them," Baum said in a statement. Baum declined to comment further on the details of the settlement. The Washington Post's Jonathan O'Connell contributed to this report. This video posted on social media shows Dr. David Dao being dragged from a United Airlines flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Ky., on April 9, 2017. (Jayse D. Anspach) (Jayse D. Anspach) As if being mercilessly pilloried on social media and by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel wasn't enough, now legislators are lining up against United Airlines. CEO Oscar Munoz, despite making a belated public apology Tuesday, should buckle up for more turbulence, including possible political, regulatory and business fallout. Advertisement What this tumult ultimately means for Munoz will depend on how well he manages through the rest of this crisis. So far, his response has been slow, wanting and a textbook example of how not to handle a crisis. As most of us know, United's troubles began Sunday when a passenger was forcefully dragged from his seat on an overbooked United Express plane. A 30-second video, shot by a fellow traveler, showed a beaten and bloodied paying customer being pulled from the airplane. It went viral and is being viewed all over the world. Advertisement As much as United's embattled CEO pines for this growing mess to fade away, that's not happening. In response, angry consumer advocates, lawmakers, and everyday flyers are relentlessly blaming the airline, and Munoz. Even China is ticked off, which makes this an international problem because United has invested heavily in that country. Keep in mind this is the second recent public relations firestorm to occur on Munoz's watch. A few weeks ago, United was hammered on social media for not allowing two teens to wear leggings on board, a violation of a dress code for employees and guests traveling on the airline. "This is two strikes against Munoz," says Paul Hudson, president of Flyersrights.org, a Florida-based nonprofit consumer advocacy group of 60,000 members. "I don't know if he could survive a third." That remains to be seen. United CEO Oscar Munoz made a public apology April 11, 2017, for how a passenger was treated after he refused to leave his seat on an overbooked United Express flight. (Richard Drew / AP) For now, however, criticism of United continues unabated and is crossing that Rubicon from the world of business to pop culture. Take, for example, Kimmel's ABC-TV late night show, which ran a fake, but nicely crafted United Airlines "commercial" that includes this memorable line: "Give us a problem and we'll drag your (expletive) off the plane." Since the passenger beating/removal video went viral, Twitter and other social media sites have been rife with fired up and relentless jabs at the air carrier. The tweets are mostly chiding United for its decision to forcefully remove a customer, who adamantly refused to deplane when told by staff to get going. There are various Twitter attempts to ignite boycotts of United along with innumerable vows to never use the airline again. Advertisement This outrage is fueling other types of action. Tuesday, Flyersrights sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao calling for a summit meeting with airline CEOs, passenger representatives and unions to discuss the impact of the United controversy on regulations for overbooking flights and other related consumer issues. In its call to arms, the group hopes to enlist the support of President Donald Trump (who viewed the video of the passenger's removal, says a White House spokesman) despite the administration's abhorrence of drafting any new industry regulations. "No one believes that continuing to give airlines carte blanche to abuse and assault passengers will make air travel great again," states the Flyersrights letter to Chao. Lawmakers are piling on too. U.S. Senate Democrats, including Illinois' Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, sent a letter to Munoz on Tuesday asking a series of questions about why the passenger removal happened and demanding recommendations for how trouble can be avoided in the future. In separate statements, U.S. Reps. Dan Lipinski, D-Chicago, and Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, criticized United, adding they also want to know how the airline intends to change its ways. Advertisement "This is far from the end of the story," Schakowsky said. The United controversy could prompt efforts to attach stronger consumer protections as part of Congress' upcoming reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration something that will aggravate the entire U.S. airline business. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 As security officers ask him to leave the flight, a United passenger who was later dragged from the plane speaks on the phone, while refusing to leave. This is a screenshot of a video posted on Facebook. (Joya Cummings / Facebook) Then there is China. It's a country in which United is making a significant investment, and where it operates more nonstop U.S. to China routes than any other domestic carrier. Video of the violent incident posted on China's Twitter-like microblogging service Weibo had been viewed more than 210 million times by late Tuesday. Many users responded with outrage over perceived bias against an Asian-looking passenger and some called for a boycott of the U.S.-based airline, according to The Associated Press. With all this going on, it's not surprising that CEO Munoz took another run at making an apology. Advertisement Having flubbed an initial try, where he came across more as blaming the passenger than the staff and O'Hare International Airport police, Munoz's statement begins with: "I'm sorry. We will fix this." Maybe not the most artful prose to start such an important message, but it gets to the point. Munoz goes on to "deeply" apologize to the roughed-up customer and everyone else on the plane with him. He vowed a review of United's policies, like how it works with airport cops, and said he'd get back to us by April 30. Munoz also went on to say: "It's never too late to do the right thing." That's a statement most of us can agree with. But in light of this explosive controversy, I'm not so sure his time isn't running out. Advertisement roreed@chicagotribune.com Twitter @reedtribbiz Lyon, France Will Sweep You Off Your Feet: Travel Guide This fantastic French city will sweep you off your feet By Lisa Butterworth Sure, Paris may be the romance capital of France, but just a two-hour train ride away is a city that's equally charming, just as French, way less crowded, and yes, I'll say it, even more delicious: Lyon. It even beats Paris in river count, too, with the Rhone and the Saone both flowing through its center. Walk the city's narrow streets, dip into its many boulangeries, marvel at its pastel-colored buildings, soak up its indie entrepreneurial shopping scene, and you'll be shouting, "Lyon, je t'aime!" in no time. Coney Cookies Shop The Croix-Rousse neighborhood is an indie shopping haven: Get adorable cookies and colorful party goods at Coney Cookies (14 Rue Sergent Blandan), eclectic housewares and gifty items at L'Effet Canopee (18 Rue des Capucins), and handmade wares like jewelry, totes, and super-cute prints from a collective of creative ladies at lafabriq (106 Montee de la Grande-Cote). Then dip into indie bookstore Ouvrir L'Oeil (18 Rue des Capucins) to see how much cooler French covers are on your favorite tomes. Scope vintage threads at Leonard (19 Rue Hippolyte Flandrin), and if you ask nicely, maybe they'll usher you into the secret back room, where racks of incredible French work wear will appeal to your androgynous side. For a bottled souvenir, head to Antic Wine (18 Rue du Buf)simply rummaging through the dusty crates in the tiny shop's cellar is half the fun. lafrabriq Eat & Drink Lyon is known as one of the great culinary capitals of the world, so if there's one thing you should splurge on while you're here, it's food. Get your fill of bread, cheese, meat, seafood, pastries, and more at Les Halles de Lyon (102 Cours Lafayette), a gigantic, indoor gourmet food market with dozens of vending stalls and restaurants. (A lot of the cheesemongers will vacuum pack their goods, so stock up on stinky souvenirs!) Treat yourself to a meal at the quaint and airy Le Bistrot Du Potager (3 Rue de la Martiniere). Grab a booth upstairs and order as many of the small tapas platesfeaturing fresh, Spanish-twist takes on French dishes like tartines and croquettesas your stomach can handle. You'll be drinking wine like it's water, but Lyon knows its way around a craft cocktail, too. Pop into the dark, speakeasy-style L'Antiquaire (20 Rue Hippolyte Flandrin) for high-end versions of low-end classics (including the best White Russian that will ever hit your lips). For a bit more swank, hit The Monkey Club (19 Place Tolozan). This laid-back bar feels like a trip back in time with its leather banquettes, vintage bric-a-brac, and deep jewel-toned decor, and the A+ cocktails are like tasty sips of history. The Monkey Club Treat Yo' Self It's hard to find a bad pastry in Lyon, but you'll score some of the best at Boulangerie Saint Vincent (49 Quai St Vincent), a teeny-tiny spot with a glass case full of buttery goodness. Ogle the magnificent cakes at Sebastien Bouillet (15 Place de la Croix-Rousse), then duck into the patissier's more rustic spot next door, Gouter, for hunks of bread pudding and pink pralinescandy-coated almonds that are a Lyonnaise specialty. Caffeinate at Mokxa Cafe (3 Rue de l'Abbe Rozier), where you can sip your espresso on their cobblestone patio, or at the lady-run Le Tigre (91 Montee de la Grande-Cote), which also serves up the rare gluten-free treat. When you need a carb break, head to La Fabrique Givree (66 Rue Saint-Jean) for incredibly flavored ice cream from peach and pistachio to chocolate and wine (!). Sebastien Bouillet Outdoors Lyon is a veritable treasure trove of gorgeous vistas, cool nooks and crannies, and awe-inspiring architecture, so simply walking around is a treat in and of itself (keep your eyes peeled for awesome and plentiful street art). But for a breathtaking view, head to the top of Montee de la Grande-Cote, the main thoroughfare in the Croix-Rousse quarter. Grab a bike from one of the many bike share stands and cruise along the Rhone, working your way to Lyon's grand green space, Parc de la Tete d'Or. Keep an eye out for the exotic animalslike giraffes and flamingosthat populate its free zoo, which is not at all sad like most American zoos. Then reward yourself with a crepe from the magical little stand by the park's carousels. Stunning murals will catch your eye all over Lyon, but the Fresque des Lyonnais (2 Rue de la Martiniere) is particularly worth a visit. This public work of art features famous past and present Lyon residents, from poets to chefs, providing a glimpse into what the people of this incredible city hold dear. Montee de la Grande-Cote Parc de la Tete d'Or Photographed by Elise Julliard More from BUST Here's How Victorian 'Science' Explained Cat Ladies Rep. Maxine Waters: 'I'm A Strong Black Woman And I Cannot Be Intimidated' The Outrage Against Childfree Women Is Real And Needs To Stop The Deltabeverage director and partnerAdam Kamin, from left, executive chef and partnerAdam Wendt, and ownerEldridge Williams sitat theHopson Plantation in Clarksdale, Miss., during a recent road trip up and down the MississippiDelta. (Ryan Thomas) A restaurant specializing in regional Southern cuisine is headed to Wicker Park. The Delta, described as an ode to the Mississippi Delta region, is aiming to open in June in the space that formerly housed Monarch (1745 W. North Ave.). Advertisement The region's cuisine has its roots in multiple influences, including African, Mexican and Chinese. The menu will go heavy on spicy tamales, but that won't be all; diners will be able to order a variety of shareable plates inspired by the region. "Food in the Delta region isn't all about red-hot tamales and catfish; it's unapologetic country cooking," said owner Eldridge Williams, a manager at Girl & the Goat who grew up in Memphis, the Delta region's northernmost point. "This isn't what most people think of as Southern food; it's not cornbread, it is not shrimp and grits. We're excited to be bringing the food of the Delta to Chicago." Advertisement Joining Williams in the venture are executive chef and partner Adam Wendt, currently the executive sous at Dusek's Board & Beer, and beverage director and partner Adam Kamin, previously at Graham Elliot Bistro and Dale Levitski's Sprout. The bar will have eight tap lines and a 15-drink cocktail list. Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic. pvettel@chicagotribune.com Twitter @philvettel If a George Foreman indoor grill had a brain, it might use an optical sensor to detect the thickness of steak and automatically cook to order rare, medium or well-done even when the meat is frozen. Brilliant! Advertisement If it also had a panini fetish, it might look like an overstuffed panini-maker and brand everything it cooked with familiar black panini racing stripes. Weird! Advertisement That's the T-fal OptiGrill ($179.99 at bestbuy.com), a countertop appliance with a Foremanesque twist on a panini-maker at a Cuisinart price. Indoor grill-makers like to brag that these grills cook meat like outdoor grills, but I've yet to see one that does. The OptiGrill doesn't, though it surprised by cooking a vegetable medley virtually indistinguishable from veggies finished on my outdoor Weber gas grill. Not surprisingly, it's also an accomplished panini-maker. OptiGrill arrives in the United States from France, where the company is known as Tefal, an amalgam of Teflon and aluminum. In Europe, Tefal is known as the inventor of nonstick cookware, though DuPont owns a chemical patent that might indicate otherwise. Because DuPont owns the Teflon name and considers Tefal, in any language, too similar, it demanded a name change for Tefal's U.S. sales. So Tefal here is T-fal. That satisfies the legal departments, but it also tells everyone that the OptiGrill likely uses a nonstick cooking surface that makes some people queasy. The American Cancer Society says Teflon is not a cancer risk, but it does have health concerns about perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, a man-made chemical used in Teflon production. Consider this a consumer warning. The OptiGrill, indeed, uses two die-cast aluminum cooking plates, removable and dishwasher-safe, with a ribbed, nonstick surface. The plates, mounted on an angle to facilitate runoff into the grill's drip pan, lock into place. Release buttons make removal and cleaning easy. This countertop appliance is 14.4 inches long, 13.6 inches wide and 7.1 inches high, which covers a lot of countertop. When fully opened it's more than 16 inches tall too tall to open beneath my upper cabinets. The OptiGrill also weighs close to 12 pounds. With its size and overbearing presence, it's a candidate for storage in a pantry or lower-berth cabinet. The OptiGrill is suitable for the cooking novice, with automatic presets for hamburgers, poultry, sandwiches, pork and sausage, red meat and fish. A color-coded LED cooking-level indicator, next to the push-button presets on the grill's handle, announces each level of preheating and cooking. A beep accompanies each stage of cooking readiness, from rare to well-done. Here's the degree of difficulty: Select the cooking mode, place the food on the preheated grill, drop the top down and wait for appropriately colored light. The OptiGrill consistently produced the desired doneness, but the black stripes deceive: No meat or fish emerged with seared, just-off-the-outdoor-grill flavor. Wild-caught Atlantic cod fillets made a nice dinner but tasted more baked than grilled. Boneless chicken thighs cooked quickly but messily, an unexpected OptiGrill trait. The grill often made a bigger mess than stove top cooking. Despite a drip pan, it produced so much splattered grease and smoke that I finally started using it on the stove top with the exhaust fan running. Bacon cooked in manual mode covered the stove top in splattered grease and shot smoke toward the exhaust. Advertisement Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > The OptiGrill can only accommodate food up to 11/2 inches thick, and it prefers level cuts of meat, no bones, for even cooking. The cooking surface, about 100 square inches, fits maybe two burgers or two boneless pork chops or four pieces of bacon at a time. It makes a mess, yes, but it's fast, cleans up quickly and requires little aptitude. I don't think I need an OptiGrill in my kitchen, but I can see one in a dorm (where permitted), apartment or wherever there's a need for a smart alternative to fast food. T-fal OptiGrill Price: $179.99 The good: A semi-smart indoor grill that cooks food automatically to desired doneness. The not so good: Messy, nonstick finish might alarm some people and cannot replicate outdoor-grill finish with meats, fish. Advertisement Information: tefal.com United Airlines probably shouldn't hire Jimmy Kimmel as a spokesman. The ABC late-night host mocked the Chicago-based airline Monday on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" after a passenger was shown being dragged from his seat on an overbooked Sunday flight at O'Hare International Airport. Advertisement This video posted on social media shows Dr. David Dao being dragged from a United Airlines flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Ky., on April 9, 2017. (Jayse D. Anspach) (Jayse D. Anspach) Kimmel first took issue with United CEO Oscar Munoz for apologizing afterward for having to "re-accommodate" passengers. "This is like when we re-accommodated El Chapo out of Mexico," Kimmel said. "That is such sanitized, say nothing, take no responsibility, corporate BS-speak. I don't know how the guy who sent that tweet didn't vomit when he typed it out." Advertisement Kimmel also introduced a NSFW commercial for United: "We're United Airlines. You do what we say, when we say and there won't be a problem. Capiche? If we say you fly, you fly. If not, tough (expletive). Give us a problem, and we'll drag your (expletive) off the plane. And if you resist, we'll beat you so badly, you'll be using your own face as a flotation device." The slogan: "United Airlines, (expletive) you." The late-night mockery could have been worse for United, but most late-night hosts are off this week. Conan O'Brien did a bit that featured a bystander being dragged into an empty seat in the "Conan" audience. "Jimmy Kimmel Live" airs 10:35 p.m. weeknights. "Conan" airs 10 p.m. weeknights on TBS. RELATED STORIES: United Airlines' brand takes a beating after bumped passenger dragged off plane United passenger's removal sparks outrage in China Jimmy Kimmel gets choked up telling hilarious Don Rickles stories Watch the latest movie trailers. On the pages of "In the Shadow of the Banyan," Vaddey Ratner's gorgeous debut novel, a fragrant landscape coexists with the horrors of the Cambodian genocide, redemptive acts of kindness alongside battering indignities. The book had emerged from Ratner's own experiences as a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. It had made it clear that, for Ratner, the seductions and harrowing absences of the past are palpable and present. Return is the subject of Ratner's second novel, "Music of the Ghosts." Return, atonement and, as Ratner writes toward the book's annealing conclusion, "the sorrow of knowing." "Music of the Ghosts" introduces Teera, now a 37-year-old American who, in the wake of her aunt's death, departs for the country of both her birth and her family's ruin. She carries her aunt's ashes with her as well as words from a man known as the Old Musician. Advertisement "I knew your father," a letter from Old Musician says. But what else is known about Teera's lost father? What can the musician tell Teera about her father's final days? About how he suffered, how he died, the choices he was free to make? Seeking "to separate the missed from the missing," Teera is on a journey, and miles are but a single measure. Advertisement Ratner unwinds her story through the alternating perspectives of Teera and the mysterious musician. He is, when she meets him, "A shadow mangled and maimed, a patch over one eye, a scar across his face." He is also attended to by a young physician, Dr. Narunn, who will quickly become central to Teera's life as she navigates places that are both familiar and strange. To this cast of characters Ratner adds a young taxi driver, an orphaned child, a family of survivors and those who have gone missing. Ratner also adds landscape visual contradictions that speak of the jumble of disappeared hopes and crumbled politics: Shantytowns fight for their inch of land against sprawling residential estates and hotel grounds, against sprouting American-style shopping malls and Chinese-style row houses. Open sewage canals clogged with plastic bottles and bags, the blackened water a hothouse for diseases heaving in the heat and dust hem the streets boasting modern clinics and pharmacies. Author Vaddey Ratner (Kristina Sherk) As Ratner leads her readers to the ultimate collision of guilt and forgiveness, darkness and song, she offers instruction in history and Cambodian culture, some of which is seamlessly interwoven into the lush narrative and some of which feels interruptive, perhaps didactic. There are places, too, where the language overreaches, where a single descriptor might have been more powerful or a simpler word might have gotten the job done. I wondered, too, as I read, if too much happens in the state of reverie during times when Teera's long, spiraling reflections on the past are held within drifts of contemporary conversation, as, for example, this scene: "It something wrong?" Narunn asks. "N-no. Why?" He laughs. "Because you haven't heard a word I said." "Sorry. Tell me again. Please?" Advertisement "Forensics." She blinks in confusion. But I am a Ratner fan, and I trust her talent with story. The deeper I read into "Music of the Ghosts," the more engrossed I became in the tangled skeins that define her characters' lives, in the history that her fiction illuminates, in the perceptions that could break a reader's heart. Here is Ratner at her most luminescent, recalling the dropping of a bomb from a child's perspective: When the child heard the awful drone of the Stratofortress, she'd looked up and glimpsed the sleek silhouette of a winged minnow slipping in and out of the clouds . But before she could rearrange the image in her head, there were other minnows itsy-bitsy baby ones dropping suddenly from the belly of the larger fish in neat little rows. The air vibrated with their descent. Terrible inhumanity and irrecoverable losses that's the stuff of war, and Ratner does not hold back; she is adept at writing horror. But she is equally committed to revealing, for us, the endless ways that families can be forged and broken hearts held. "We can still move forward with the small choices we make each day," Ratner writes. "To love, to harbor and protect, to rebuild." Writing is a forward stroke. And Ratner, seeking as she does, truth in fiction and fiction in truth, is a writer who is determined to make sure we won't forget. Advertisement Beth Kephart is the author of 21 books. 'Music of the Ghosts' By Vaddey Ratner, Touchstone, 336 pages, $26 The 11th annual Maryville Award Gala was held at Morgan Manufacturing on April 7 and attracted over 300 supporters. The event benefited two programs at its Center for Children the Crisis Nursery, a safe haven that offers free, 24-hour childcare and support to families in crisis, and the Children's Healthcare Center, which provides transitional care for children with complex medical needs. Master of ceremonies Dina Bair of WGN-TV welcomed guests and introduced Sister Catherine Ryan, Maryville's executive director. Sister Ryan shared a quote by humorist Will Rogers in describing Maryville's goals: "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Advertisement "For 134 years, Maryville's mission has been to protect and care for children, but we can't just sit here and be satisfied with the programs we started with. In the beginning, the Academy was the model for an orphanage. Last year, we adapted it to include homes for the shelter and transitional care that our children need today," Ryan said. Maryville is a child care organization rooted in Catholic social teaching. Dick Devine, chairman of Maryville's board of directors and former Cook County state's attorney, introduced Roxelyn and Richard Pepper, the evening's honorees. They received the Guardian Medallion Award for their commitment to the protection and development of children. Advertisement The Peppers have six children, 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and have long been supporters of children's charities. "They have supported programs for schoolchildren and university students, for kids who are ill and for children who are athletes, Girl Scouts or artists. Their support for the center will help us provide a nurturing place for our most vulnerable children and their families," Ryan said. Maryville Academy board chair Dick Devine introduces honorees Roxelyn and Richard Pepper and presents them with the Guardian Medallion Award at the Heart Ball. (Chicago Tribune) Richard Pepper spoke about a visit he and his wife made to the center the previous week, saying, "Maryville provides a light at the end of the tunnel for these kids. There's love and concern there, and the children feel like they have a future. It was a blessing to see." In October, Maryville opened two new transitional homes and, in May, it will open five new homes for shelter care in Chicago, Des Plaines and Bartlett. Parenting support and clinical services programs have opened in the Humboldt Park, Portage Park, West Town and the Austin neighborhoods. A paddle raise brought in $20,000 to help provide cribs, diapers, winter jackets, bus passes for parents, shoes and games, among other items. A live auction highlight was a trip for two to the 2018 People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles. The package sold twice at $5,500. In total, the event raised $235,000 to fund improvements at the center. Last year, the Crisis Nursery cared for 600 children and their families but had to turn away 400 kids because of budget constraints. Next year, Maryville plans to increase capacity to care for 1,000 kids at its Crisis Nursery. Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers. More coverage Find more photos and events at www.chicagotribune.com/candidcandace. Visit Candid Candace's website at www.candidcandace.com or follow her on Twitter @CandidCandace. Advertisement RELATED STORIES: People and their pets attend annual PAWS Chicago party Dwyane Wade fashion show scores for at-risk kids Garfield Park Conservatory's fashion show blooms for charity - 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." Charlize Theron Gets Freaky And Kicks Ass In The New Atomic Blonde Trailer Trending News: Charlize Theron Sure Does Like Kissing Chicks In This New Trailer Quick Take One thing's for sure, this trailer is insane. If you've seen Salt, you've seen a quality girl-kicks-ass-movie. But then you throw in the freaky girl-on-girl makeout scenes and I don't know what the f*ck to think except that Charlize Theron has come a long way from Monster. All I know is this looks like an entertaining summer movie, to say the least. Theron plays Englands most lethal assassin, Agent Lorraine Broughton, who teams up with David Percival (James McAvoy) on a dangerous spy mission in Berlin. Here's the plot summary: The crown jewel of Her Majestys Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is equal parts spycraft, sensuality and savagery, willing to deploy any of her skills to stay alive on her impossible mission. Sent alone into Berlin to deliver a priceless dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies. This is the second trailer for the movie, and it's equally NSFW. Check it out: Atomic Blonde hits theaters on July 28th. Drop This Fact Atomic Blonde is directed by the same guy who did John Wick and Deadpool 2. So yeah, action. ProSource360 Awarded Five-Year GSA IT Schedule 70 Contract ProSource360 Consulting Services, Inc. received an IT Schedule 70 for five years with the General Services Administration. The GSA (News - Alert) IT Schedule 70 contract, which will be from February 15, 2017 until February 14, 2022, covers Information Technology Professional Services and delivers federal, state, and local governments and customer agencies the tools and expertise needed to shorten procurement cycles, ensure compliance, and obtain the best value for innovative products, services, and solutions for their information technology needs. Among the specific services that the GSA IT Schedule 70 offers are cloud IT services, computer and networking hardware, cyber security, data center and storage, health IT services, IT mandates and inititives, satellite services, SmartBuy: commercial software solutions, software and applications, sustainability, systems life cycles integration and telecommunications, wireless and mobility services. About ProSource360 Consulting Services ProSource360 Consulting Services, Inc. is an SBA 8(a) certified, HUBZone, small disadvantaged business (SDB) that provides Information Technology (IT) Support Services, Management Consulting, and Healthcare focused services to federal, state and local government agencies as well as selected healthcare organizations. These services are focused in the areas of Program & Project Management, IT Support, Health and Clinical Services, Cybersecurity and SETA Support & Professional Services. For more information, visit www.prosource360.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170410006254/en/ [April 10, 2017] Achieve Today Finds an Answer for the Age-Old Problem of Retaining New Distributors PROVO, Utah, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Achieve Today is successfully addressing one of the biggest challenges the Direct Sales industry faces: retaining new distributors. Thought leaders like Brendon Burchard, Les Brown, Joe Vitale, Zig Ziglar, Denis Waitley, and others have partnered with Achieve Today because of their history of empowering people to experience profound change. Achieve Today has created a unique LMS (Learning Management System) tailored to Direct Sales companies as well as top distributors and their down-lines. Unlike other platforms, it's not an empty shell. It comes loaded with content enabling distributors to overcome internal limitations that would otherwise cause them to quit. Achieve Today's training also enhances company culture by promoting abundance in all areas of life (business, relationships, health, and more). Case study results show 49% increased retention among new agents within the first 90 days. Achieve Today's content is combined with unique content from each direct-selling organization to ensure that distributors have all training needs provided in one place. Companies that have an existing LMS they enjoy can easily integrate Achieve Today's training into their platform with a single sign-on. The platform provides proof of compliance certification, and the option for testing that verifies course comprehension. It systematizes training to ensure potency, and saves leaders countless hour of travel and training time, while providing analytics that foster accountability. Christian Arsenault, Director of Business Development for Achieve Today, states: "Our LMS is a valuable tool, however, tools prove most effective when you know how to use them correctly. We consult with our clients to leverage our solutions for maximum impact. We have been recognized by Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur Magazine as experts in company culture and engagement, and we are ranked #33 in America by Glassdoor as best place to work in the small to medium business category. Our experience uniquely qualifies us to go beyond providing tools, to changing lives and uplifting entire organizations." For more information on the LMS, visit www.achievetoday.com/lms About Achieve Today Achieve Today is an international personal development training company headquartered in Provo, Utah. They have helped thousands of people from around the globe to identify and change limiting beliefs and achieve success in all areas of life. Company website: www.achievetoday.com Media Contact: Josh Christopherson Phone: 801.932.4239 Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.png image2.png Related Links Learn More In The News Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr8YEMmfHuc 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/achieve-today-finds-an-answer-for-the-age-old-problem-of-retaining-new-distributors-300437659.html SOURCE Achieve Today [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Frankfort Women's Club president Sandy Zaban looks through a scrapbook from the early years of the 100-year-old organization. Zaban will make a presentation of the club's history on Wednesday at the Frankfort Library. (Ginger Brashinger / Daily Southtown) A stately old lady of the Frankfort area will enjoy a 100-year celebration in April. The Frankfort Women's Club, founded in 1917 as the Frankfort Home Improvement Club, will be honored at a presentation by the club's current president Sandy Zaban at 7 p.m. Wednesday, at the Frankfort Public Library, 21119 Pfeiffer Road. Advertisement Zaban is set to make a presentation that will not only be tied to local and world events of the last century, but will include fashion and homemaking comments and anecdotes about some of the club's more amusing moments. As a member of the club since 1975, Zaban has personally experienced nearly half of the club's long history. She also has used club scrapbooks, documents, newspaper articles and discussions, among other resources, to create the "Women's Club 100 Years" presentation. Advertisement Most of the documentation of the club's early meetings, membership and events was kept in scrapbooks which contain agendas, membership rolls, correspondence and other interesting artifacts, Zaban said. Guests at the presentation will be able to see the scrapbooks, which have been donated to the Frankfort Library. Zaban's own beginnings as a member began when she first moved to Frankfort, she said. Her neighbor Jeanne Every was an avid member of the club and Zaban said Every "would get her (foot) in the door and you didn't get away." "(Every) was responsible for getting a lot of the members," Zaban said. So Zaban joined and began taking on various roles in the club, doing "a lot of fixing," especially when people dropped out and there was a void to fill. Thinking back, Zaban, a retired Tinley Park District 146 science teacher, said she feels it may be "the teacher in me" that caused her to want to take on responsibilities so the club could continue its good work. The club has maintained a clear "purpose" for 100 years, "to further cordial relations among the women of the community, to promote interest in civic and cultural affairs, to contribute to the general welfare of the community and to preserve the past, celebrate the present and mold the future." When the club formed in 1917, it was within weeks of the United States' entry into World War I. Nearly two dozen women met in each other's homes to support the war effort. Under the guidance of the first president, Alice Owen, the meetings' main focus was to make bandages for the Red Cross. But, there were other items on the agenda. Meetings opened with a prayer and singing, Zaban said, and tips on homemaking were often part of the meeting. Perhaps reflecting the changing times for women, current events were also regularly included as an agenda item. Advertisement By the 1920s, membership nearly doubled the original numbers. Many of the names Breidert, Hedges, Warning and Folkers, among others are still familiar to those in the Frankfort area. In addition to helping with the war effort, the organization often has contributed to the local school districts. Many of the contributions were made to Frankfort's elementary school, Zaban said "There was a lot of stuff that they did for the grade school classrooms," Zaban said. "They were always giving them money and doing locker rooms and curtains for the auditorium." In 1982, the organization added a $1,000 annual scholarship to a graduating Lincoln-Way East High School senior, named for Marie Szwast, a deceased member of the club. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Zaban said the club currently chooses a charity each month, regularly donating funds and supplies to the Crisis Center of South Suburbia to support abused women and their children, animal shelters in the area, Operation Care Package for deployed service people, the Cancer Support Center in Mokena, the Manteno Veterans' Home, among others. The project that has arguably had the most impact on the Frankfort-area communities was the founding of the Frankfort Public Library, for which the Frankfort Women's Club and the Frankfort P.T.A. are directly responsible. Advertisement In 1961, the two organizations joined forces to rent a building to serve as the first library at 6 Ash Street in downtown Frankfort. Zaban said the Frankfort Women's Club has grown and declined in membership over the years, and membership is now perhaps at an all-time low. As one of a long line of women who served the surrounding communities' needs through the club, Zaban said whatever its future, the club has accomplished a great deal over its hundred years. The Frankfort Women's Club meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month from September to May at the Founder's Center, 140 Oak St. Frankfort. More information is with Zaban at 815-469-6562 or szaban203@aim.com. Ginger Brashinger is a freelance columnist. Hampshire sisters Hannah, left, and Brianna Dewert dressed up for the egg hunt. (Denise Moran / The Courier-News) Children brought their baskets to Ralph Seyller Memorial Park in Hampshire on Saturday morning so they could search for plastic eggs filled with treats and pose with the Easter Bunny. The egg hunt, that drew 160 participants, was run by the Hampshire Township Park District and sponsored by Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library, 109 S. State Street in Hampshire. Advertisement "This is a fun event," said Dawn Cummins, children's services manager at the library. "We enjoy partnering with the park district." Abby Vaughan drove to the egg hunt with her son, Grant, 2, from their home in Pulaski, Wisconsin, to share the fun with Abby's sister, Rebecca O'Connor, and Rebecca's daughter, Shelby, 2, of Hampshire. Advertisement For the past eight years, children who once attended Monkey Do Licensed Home Child Care in Hampshire have gathered at the egg hunt with children attending the day care operation. "After the egg hunt, we go to Jameson's Charhouse in Huntley for brunch," said Austin, owner of Monkey Do. "We have a total of 25 people this year that includes children and their parents." The Hampshire park district has announced that another children's event this month will be the annual Daddy/Daughter Cinderella Ball from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, in the Gary D. Wright Elementary School gym in Hampshire. Cinderella will be the hostess, and a disc jockey will play fairy tale music. The registration deadline is Friday, April 21. Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. Hampshire Middle School teacher Tammy Hamrick (from left), 6th grade student Ameenah Syed, Hampshire Middle School teacher Brent Goedeke, 8th grade student Chaisey Ramza, and Hampshire Middle School Principal Jim Syzmczak at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Spring Hill Mall. (Denise Moran / The Courier-News) Hampshire Middle School teachers Tammy Hamrick and Brent Goedeke were honored this month as the winner and runner-up for the "My Favorite Teacher" contest at Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee. "The My Favorite Teacher contest has run for seven years and recognizes teachers across the country," said Suzanne Lattanzio, the bookstore's community business development manager. "It ran from January 4 to March 1 and gave local middle and high school students the opportunity to tell their communities how much they appreciate their teachers." Advertisement The essay about Hamrick that won first place was written by Hampshire Middle School sixth grade student Ameenah Syed. The runner-up essay about Goedeke was written by Hampshire Middle School eighth grade student Chaisey Ramza. "Tammy Hamrick and Brent Goedeke do so much for our school," said Hampshire Middle School Principal Jim Szymczak. "The essays represent how much they mean to their students. They make a connection with them and inspire them." Advertisement The essay about Hamrick has been forwarded to the Barnes & Noble regional level of the contest. "Each regional winner will receive a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card and a NOOK by Samsung," Lattanzio said. "From the pool of regional winners, the Barnes & Noble national teacher of the year will be named. The national winner will receive $5,000 and be recognized with a community celebration at their local Barnes & Noble store. The winning teacher's school will also receive $5,000. The student who writes the national winning essay, poem or thank-you letter will receive a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card and a NOOK." Upcoming events at Barnes & Noble in Spring Hill Mall will benefit area schools. At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, and at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 24, local author Regina McCarthy will hold a reading and book signing of her book "Courageous Gilbert the Groundhog." A percentage of her book sales on April 11 will go to the deLacey Family Education Center in Carpentersville. A percentage of her book sales on April 24 will go to Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove. Kym Brunner will hold a reading and book signing of her teen book "Flip the Bird" at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 20. A percentage of her book's sales will be donated to Carpentersville Middle School. A book fair fundraiser for Carpentersville Middle School is slated for 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 20. A book fair fundraiser for Cambridge Lakes Charter School is set for 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 24. There will be special activities for children at both events. Lattanzio said the book release party for West Dundee author Wendy Brant on Tuesday, April 4, drew a large crowd that included West Dundee Mayor Chris Nelson. "We had a great turnout and sold 73 books," Lattanzio said. "Wendy Brant said her teen book, 'Zenn Diagram,' was sparked while sitting at a picnic table at Grafelman Park in West Dundee. She has written five other novels and a screenplay." Advertisement Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. East Dundee trustees unanimously approved a licensing agreement Monday with Tom and Jill Yucuis, owner of the Lake in the Hills -based Butcher on the Block gourmet meat and deli business, to operate the village-owned caboose. A committee consisting of East Dundee staff and trustees reviewed four applications from potential contractors who expressed an interest in being awarded a concessionaire's license to vend food and beverages from the caboose, located at 112 Railroad St. The Yucuises are no strangers to the area. The pair are longtime East Dundee residents and Jill Yucuis held the position of village president in the 1990s. Advertisement "We have been chasing (them) to open a second shop in town ever since I started working here," said Village Administrator Bob Skurla. Under the contract, the business will give the village 10 percent of its gross receipts the first year and 11.5 percent the second year. Advertisement Skurla said he hopes the endeavor could be the precursor to the Yucuises creating a store in East Dundee similar to their Lake in the Hills location. Recently, that site, at 4660 W. Algonquin Road, underwent an expansion that more than doubled the size of the shop and now includes a sit-down dining area. Menu fare for the train car will include sliders, sandwiches, brisket, burgers, walking tacos, and French fries. "Something that's going to draw people to the caboose," Tom Yucuis said. "It will be more high-quality foods with a neat little variety." Skurla would not disclose the names of the others who sought the contract to operate the concessions spot along the bike path Tuesday. But Jennifer Johnsen, deputy village administrator, described the cuisine the other vendors proposed. "The menus for the three other proposals received in response to the RFP issued by the Village can generally be described as casual French cuisine; southern barbecue comfort food; and American-Latin family cuisine," Johnson said. Butcher on the Block is well-known for its gourmet bratwurst and sausage, which will also be on the menu. Some of their more most popular brat options are the Tailgater, stuffed with chicken, hot sauce and bleu cheese; the Jalapeno Cheddar Bratwurst, and the Portabella Swiss. They are also considering adding a deep fried brat to the menu. "We're also going to put in an array of healthy food items," Tom Yucuis said. Those might appeal to "people coming in on the bike path," he said. They also hope to eventually insulate the caboose so it can be open year-round. Advertisement "I think being open for Dickens in Dundee would be fun," Tom Yucuis said. And if the caboose is open year-round "we may go for a liquor license to sell beer and wine, maybe rope off the area with a nice fire pit so people can congregate under the stars with a glass of wine and music without the loud bar crowd scene," he said. The caboose, built in 1952 for the Milwaukee Road Railroad, has been providing food and beverage services since May of 2015. It sits on an actual set of railroad tracks, with a vintage railroad crossing sign posted nearby. The Yucuis family is also interested in possible expansion. "Maybe we'd add a dining car down the future," Tom Yucuis said. Village officials said the former tenant, Jim Stanula, operator of Dundee Depot Dogs, has filed a lawsuit alleging East Dundee violated his agreement by improperly evicting him and failing to adhere to his rights to a two-year contract extension. Advertisement Neither Stanula nor his attorney could be reached for comment. They previously said Stanula indicated to the village he wanted to divest himself from the lease and bring in another operator. The village extended his contract for 30 days while he was working on negotiations, but in February denied Stanula a second lease extension, instead opting to put out a new request for proposals. Tom Yucuis said he heard about the lawsuit and asked at Monday's board meeting if he should be concerned. "The short answer is no," Skurla said. "We were served the papers today. They've been reviewed by our attorney. She does not see how he would possibly prevail." Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News. Condolences continue to pour in for the 19-year-old Northwestern University freshman and crew team member whose body was recovered Monday from the North Shore Channel in Lincolnwood after officials say he fell overboard while practicing with his crew team. The principal at Mohammed Ramzan's former high school in his Auburn, Washington hometown recalled a "beautiful soul" who was beloved at the school by teachers and fellow students alike. Advertisement Ramzan "was the kind of spirit that everyone wanted to support and surround," said Adrienne Chacon, principal of Thomas Jefferson High School. "He was kind of quiet and shy, but when he spoke everyone listened." Ramzan graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 2016, Chacon said. Advertisement "He was one of the nicest students we ever had. He was brilliant," Chacon said, remembering Ramzan was especially fond of chemistry. The principal explained that grief counselors were at the school, located about 30 miles south of Seattle, on Tuesday to help his friends and former teachers cope with his death. The teen went missing Monday morning after he fell into the water while practicing with the Northwestern University club crew team, according to a NU news release. His body was recovered later that day. Ramzan's parents could not be immediately reached for comment. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday at the Cook County medical examiner's office. "We extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to Mohammed's family and friends for this tragic loss, which affects us all, and we urge all members of our community to reach out and support one another," said Patricia Telles-Irvin, vice president for student affairs, in the NU statement. Neither the university nor the crew team have provided details about the incident, including how Ramzan fell into the water. Advertisement The crew team's president, Robert Houghton, declined to comment and referred all questions to Northwestern's communications office. Officials there declined to comment beyond written statements that were issued Monday. A post on the Northwestern Crew Instagram account said Ramzan would be remembered "as one of Northwestern Crew's most perseverant athletes and friendliest faces." Ramzan attended Northwestern on a full scholarship from QuestBridge, a Palo Alto, California-based organization that typically awards scholarships to high-achieving students from low-income households across the United States, according to the organization's website. He was one of about 650 students to receive the award from the 2015 application class, said Grace Sun, spokeswoman for QuestBridge. At Northwestern, fellow QuestBridge scholar Samantha Flood, 19, called Ramzan her closest friend, and said "we used to joke that we wanted to get married." Advertisement The two bonded over their shared experience as students at Northwestern. "He had such a loving nature. He wanted to hold your hand and be next to you and just be present," she said. QuestBridge Scholar Sabah Hussain, 18, a senior at Lane Tech High School in Chicago, said she knew Ramzan through the program as she prepares to start college at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign next year. "I have never seen a gentler, kinder and more loving human soul," Hussain said. "One of my friends ... described him as 'the human embodiment of light' and I couldn't agree more." Among the thousands of students QuestBridge organizers meet each year, Ramzan stood out, Sun said. At a Chicago networking event last year, "he greeted my colleague Tara with a warm hug saying he was so grateful for the opportunities he was given," Sun said in an email Tuesday. "Tara remembered this particular interaction, his excitement at starting at Northwestern, and his warm personality." Advertisement A GoFundMe page was started late Monday night to raise money for funeral expenses for the family, according to the website. As of Tuesday afternoon, the page had raised more than $5,400 toward the $8,000 goal. On his Facebook page, Ramzan wrote an eloquent post after the November election of Donald Trump to discuss his immigrant parents and his Muslim faith. Still, he said, he was proud to be an American immigrant. "There is a reason I can say that I am a 'child of immigrants,'" Ramzan wrote. "Hope. Optimism. Perseverance. Love. Qualities that those before me embodied which empowered them to aspire to the American Dream, and qualities which were passed on to me." gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com Twitter @GenevieveBook [April 10, 2017] Zimmerman Law Offices and the Dann Law Firm file Federal Class Action suit against credentialing body for falsely reporting sonography professionals failed certification examinations Attorneys Thomas Zimmerman, Jr. of the Chicago-based Zimmerman Law Offices and former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann of the Cleveland-based Dann Law Firm today filed a federal class action suit against the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), the body that administers examinations and awards credentials to professionals who utilize ultrasound technology. The suit alleges ARDMS falsely reported that sonography professionals who took certification exams between September 2016 and March 2017 failed the tests when they had, in fact, passed, and that those false reports harmed affected professionals in a number of ways. The case, Stephanie Miller and Mary Alyce Dawson v. Inteleos, Inc. f/k/a American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Inc., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The lead plaintiffs, sonography professionals who received erroneous examination scores, represent all sonographers throughout the United States impacted by ARDMS' actions. The lawsuit seeks damages for lost wages, lost employment opportunities, and damage to the sonographers' professional reputations resulting from the false report that they failed their certification examinations. ARDMS, which boasts that its credentials have been awarded to more than 90,000 medical professionals worldwide and are recognized as the international standard in the field, certifies Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS), Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS), Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT), Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer (RMSKS), Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI), and Registered in Musculoskeletal (RMSK) Sonography. Inteleos, Inc., the organization that governs and manages ARDMS is the defendant in the lawsuit. "Because it denotes a lack of competency, knowledge and expertise in sonography, there is a serious stigma associated with failure to pass the credentialing examination," Attorney Zimmerman said. Attorney Dann noted that as a result of the false reporting of failing scores, sonography professionals across the country suffered harm to their professional reputation, lost their jobs, were denied employment opportunities, and had to sit for the certification examination a second time even though they had already passed the examination. A copy of the complaint is available upon request. Attorneys Zimmerman and Dann will be available for interviews and the lead plaintiffs may also be available to speak with the media on a limited basis. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170410006269/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Three Chicago women were charged with identity theft Friday after allegedly buying items from a Glenview store with stolen credit cards, according to police. Shamirah Jones, 25; Imani Johnson, 24; and Kayla Deaner, 24, were charged with identity theft, and Jones was also charged with theft, according to a Glenview Police Department report. Advertisement Jones was charged with theft because she allegedly stole a purse Friday from a shopping cart in the parking lot of the Plaza Del Prado, in the 2700 block of Pfingsten Road, Glenview police spokesman Sgt. Jim Foley said. The three women allegedly drove across Willow Road to the Glenbrook Market Place, in the 2800 block of Pfingsten Road, and allegedly used the credit cards found inside the purse, he said. They allegedly charged $1,200 to the credit cards to buy gift cards and other merchandise, Foley said. Advertisement The woman whose purse was stolen and a store manager called police to report the stolen credit cards, Foley said. Police arrived at the scene and arrested the women, he said. Bond for Jones, of the 3300 block of West Madison Street, Chicago, Johnson, of the 5400 block of West Haddon Street, Chicago, and Deaner, of the 2200 block of South Kolin Avenue, Chicago, was set at $10,000 each, and all three were placed on house arrest, according to a Cook County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman. Their next court date is April 13. akukulka@chicagotribune.com Twitter @Akukulka11 North Shore School District 112 has filled principal posts at two schools that were not affected by the district's now-aborted school closing plans for the 2017-18 school year. The school board April 5 named Nicole Bellini as principal of Sherwood Elementary School in southwest Highland Park. Since 2012, Bellini has been assistant principal at Woodland Elementary East School in Gages Lake, which serves a population of children in first through third grade. Advertisement Bellini is replacing Sherwood's principal of the past 10 years, Shawn Walker, who is retiring. Bellini previously was a first grade dual language instructor at Hawthorn School of Dual Language in Vernon Hills. Bellini said she found it "incredibly humbling" that Sherwood has been led by only three principals since 1956. Advertisement The school board also promoted Northwood Junior High Associate Principal Joanne Dimitriou to the principal's position. Dimitriou will take the reins from Principal Sandra Arreguin, who is returning to Township High School District 113 to become the district's assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment on July 1. Dimitriou started her career in District 112 as a social studies and Spanish teacher at Edgewood Middle School in 1997. She has been Northwood's associate principal since 2013. District 112 will continue to use retired administrators on a part-time basis to staff a principal's post at Lincoln Elementary School and cover a short-term gap in leadership at Elm Place Middle School during the coming school year. Both Lincoln and Elm Place were scheduled to close at the end of this school year under a plan that was put on hold following the abrupt resignation of Superintendent Michael Bregy in December. Retired Red Oak principal Jeanne Banas will continue serving as Lincoln's principal in a part-time capacity, continuing the arrangement in place this school year. Retired District 112 administrator John Sprangers will continue to assist Banas as Lincoln's principal in his current district role as interim personnel manager. Sprangers retired as District 112's director of personnel services in 2014 and filled in as interim director of human resources in District 113 during the 2015-16 school year. Debra Ancona, a retired Schaumburg school administrator, will fill in again as interim principal at Elm Place Middle School in August and September while Principal Heather Schumacher is on family leave. 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. Following Bregy's resignation, the school board in North Shore School District 112 opted to hire two retired school superintendents, Jane Westerhold and Edward Rafferty, to share superintendent duties through mid-2018. kberkowitz@pioneerlocal.com Advertisement Twitter @KarenABerkowitz Police are still searching for the driver of a vehicle stolen out of Waukegan who eluded police after the vehicle caught fire and was abandoned in a Lake Forest subdivision Saturday. The passenger in that vehicle, 20-year-old Tyler M. Miller-Alford of 1504 Jackson St. in North Chicago, was captured Saturday on a bicycle path bridge near the Fort Sheridan Reserve Center Saturday evening. Miller-Alford was charged with felony obstruction of justice charges and held Monday on $15,000 bail, said Cmdr. Craig Lepkowski of the Lake Forest Police Department. Advertisement The chase began in North Chicago after police officers noted the vehicle had been reported stolen, and it fled south on Sheridan Road around 4 p.m., according to Cmdr. Joe Florip of the Waukegan Police Department. Florip added that the black Acura MDX had been reported stolen April 1 around 11 p.m. from the 2000 block of Lloyd Street after the car's owner left the vehicle running so it would warm up. On Saturday afternoon, police from Lake Forest and Lake Bluff went to the intersection of Western and Westleigh roads and observed the fleeing vehicle as it turned onto Westleigh, where it struck the side of a landscaping truck and trailer before continuing south, Florip said. Advertisement The vehicle continued on Sheridan Road and then turned east onto McCormick Drive and entered the Villa Turicum subdivision, Florip said, adding that the vehicle had flames and smoke coming from the undercarriage as it came to a rest in the 500 block of Turicum Road, where the passenger and driver left the car and fled into the neighborhood. The Illinois State Police, Lake County sheriff's deputies and police officers from Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Bannockburn and Deerfield set up a perimeter, and the Miller-Alford was found on the bicycle path bridge, Lepkowski said. fabderholden@tribpub.com Twitter @abderholden A Des Plaines woman was sentenced Monday to four years in prison after she pleaded guilty to stealing over a half-million dollars from the Lincolnwood health care company where she worked. Shawna Wolff-Giesler, 42, pleaded guilty to felony theft on Monday for stealing $562,000 from Lincolnwood-based Econocare, which specializes in helping long term care, assisted living and retirement facilities negotiate prices for various goods, according to the company's website. Advertisement Wolff-Giesler was arrested in June 2016 and had worked at the company as an office manager from March 2007 until August 2015, when she was fired, authorities said. She was terminated after officials at Econocare discovered "numerous suspicious checks" written to Wolff-Giesler from the company's corporate bank account, authorities said. Advertisement A police investigation showed that about 80 checks had been made out to Wolff-Giesler or to her credit card account, spanning the years she worked at the company, officials said. The checks, forged with the company owner's signature, were then deposited into Wolff-Giesler's bank account or applied to her credit card balances, prosecutors said. They said she spent the stolen money on "everyday expenses." On Monday during her sentencing hearing at the Skokie courthouse, Wolff-Giesler's attorney gave a representative from Econocare $50,000 in restitution from his client. Wolff-Giesler did not say anything during the hearing except that she understood the plea deal she was entering into. She was immediately taken into custody to start serving her four-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections. She was also ordered to pay fees and fines of $729 and sentenced to two years of mandatory supervised release. Judge Paul Pavlus on Monday called Wolff-Giesler's crimes "deplorable" and told her he would have sentenced her to at least two more years in prison if she had not paid back the $50,000 in restitution. Advertisement Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter. An ex-convict was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison for using a syringe as a weapon last fall while robbing a CVS/Health store in Naperville of more than $2,500 worth of over-the-counter drugs. Janine I. Gurgone, 32, of the 3600 block of North Pulaski Road, Chicago, will serve that term concurrent with one she received last week for a similar crime at a CVS store in Niles, according to DuPage County Circuit Court records. Advertisement Gurgone and an alleged accomplice on Nov. 15 used what they claimed was an HIV-tainted hypodermic needle to steal $2,606.73 worth of over-the-counter medication from the CVS/Health store at 1299 E. Ogden Ave. on Naperville's northeast side, court records showed. Two pharmacy employees told Naperville police the accomplice "threatened (the workers) with a hypodermic needle alleged to be infected with HIV," the virus that causes AIDS, a police official said last fall. Advertisement Niles police said the pair on the day before took $600 worth of over-the-counter drugs from the shelves of the CVS/Health store at 9640 N. Milwaukee Ave., concealing it inside bags they had brought with them. They then tried to leave, but were confronted by an employee, who demanded they put the medication back, a Niles police spokesman said last year. The accomplice then allegedly pulled a hypodermic needle from his pants pocket, pointed it at the worker and said, "You don't want what I have." The couple then fled with the drugs. DuPage County Judge George J. Bakalis on Monday found Gurgone guilty of armed robbery in the Naperville crime, and sentenced her to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of mandatory supervised release, according to court records. Armed robbery is a Class X felony, and carries a mandatory sentence of six to 30 years in prison upon conviction. Bakalis ordered the term run concurrent with the one Gurgone received last week in Cook County Circuit Court in connection with the Niles case, records showed. Bakalis also ordered Gurgone to pay $557 in court costs. Gurgone in April 2008 was sentenced to three years in prison for the December 2007 burglary of a residential garage and a 1997 Toyota 4-Runner in Elmhurst, according to court records. Sanjay Malhotra, 49, of Chicago's North Side, remains in Cook County Jail on $100,000 bail, and is awaiting trial in the Naperville and Niles robberies, as well as one committed several days later at a Jewel-Osco store in Chicago. A May 8 court date is scheduled in the Naperville case. wbird@tribpub.com A new pipe organ will debut at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil mass. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press/Chicago Tribune) The familiar, distinct sounds of a pipe organ have been missing for the last five months from Upper Church Masses at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic parish. But all that will change Saturday when a newly acquired and restored 1928 Casavant pipe organ comes to life in its very first public performance inside the Park Ridge church. Advertisement The organ, rescued from a church set for demolition in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, will make its debut during the Easter vigil Mass, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. "With the rich sound, I think it really transports us into a different space," said the Rev. Britto Berchmans, pastor of St. Paul of the Cross. "And the very look of the organ is so beautiful. It adds to the beauty of the church." Advertisement St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Park Ridge is the new home of a restored 1928 Casavant pipe organ. The organ was rescued from a church in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada that was eventually demolished. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press) The organ will be officially dedicated during the 10:30 a.m. Mass on June 11, according to the parish. A dedication concert is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. that same day. The organ's completion comes two years after it was discovered and offered to St. Paul of the Cross. Though there was no charge for the organ itself, the parish was required to cover the cost of moving, refurbishing and installing the organ along with all 1,952 of its gold pipes in addition to electrical improvements and other capital work in the choir loft. The total cost is approximately $880,000, said Joan Macpherson, parish business manager. So far, about $130,000 has been raised, she said. St. Paul Music Director Ed Eicker and Associate Director Andrea Bartolomeo, both organists who play during Masses, have already had the opportunity to play the new organ, which Bartolomeo described as having "so much personality," in addition to a variety of new tones that the previous organ could not produce. "The thing that has struck me so much about this installation is witnessing this part of the project, sitting at this instrument, and knowing this beautiful instrument was close to being completely demolished," she said. "That's one of the things I find very moving being able to sit here and enjoy its sounds." Andrea Bartolomeo, organist and associate music director at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Park Ridge, plays a newly restored 1928 Casavant pipe organ that was installed in the Park Ridge church's choir loft this year. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press) Demolition work on the 135-year-old Sackville United Church, the organ's original home, was occurring as it was being removed, Eicker said, which resulted in damage to several gold facade pipes and a wind chest. The wind chest had to be rebuilt due to water that leaked in from the ceiling, Eicker said. "The organ did suffer a bit before we got it," he said. In a March interview with CBC Radio in Canada, Eicker described the organ as "literally a gift from God," as it fit perfectly into St. Paul's choir/organ loft and was what the church was looking for when it became clear its old pipe organ was failing. Advertisement Though pipe organs are common in churches, historical organs, like the 1928 Casavant, are less so, the music directors said. "The fact that this organ was able to be completely restored, that's something that makes it very special," Bartolomeo said. Eicker and Bartolomeo acknowledge the project's expense, but say they believe it is less costly than purchasing an entirely new pipe organ to fit the loft space. The gold pipes of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church's restored 1928 Casavant pipe organ are seen in the Park Ridge church's loft on April 7. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press) "The materials that were used to build [pipe organs in the 1920s] are of a much finer quality than you'll find nowadays," Eicker added. "The wood for instance the case work for this organ is black walnut. Today, you're not going to get an organ for black walnut unless you pay a fortune." The parish continues to accept donations toward the organ project at www.spc-church.org/about/news/our-pipe-organ. Eicker said he hopes the new organ will better support and encourage congregational singing during Mass. Bartolomeo indicated that she wouldn't mind if it produces more organ players. Advertisement "As an educator, I am hopeful the children in the parish will be inspired and it might become a draw for prospective organ students," she said. jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @Jen_Tribune The following is a roundup of winners in local school board, park district and township races. District 64 Advertisement In Park Ridge-Niles School District 64, voters chose Rick Biagi, Larry Ryles, Fred Sanchez and Eastman Tiu to fill four, four-year terms on the board of education, unofficial results from the Cook County Clerk's Office show. All four candidates are new to the board and will take the oath of office during the May 1 board meeting at Jefferson School, said District 64 spokeswoman Bernadette Tramm. Advertisement The District 64 School Board race was punctuated by the question of whether a conflict of interest existed if three candidates married to District 64 teachers were elected. These candidates were Greg Bublitz, Norman Dziedzic and Michael Schaab. The current board recently responded to the issue by revising a policy that encourages board members to recuse themselves from voting on matters that may benefit their spouses or other family members. Voter turnout for this particular race was 25.8 percent, according to the Cook County Clerk's Office. Leaving the board are Terry Cameron, Bob Johnson, Vicki Lee and Scott Zimmerman. Cameron was appointed to the board in March to fill a short-term vacancy. District 207 In the Maine Township High School District 207 race, where voter turnout was 19.7 percent, incumbents Carla Owen and Jin Lee, and newcomers Linda Coyle and Aurora Austriaco, were elected to four, four-year terms, unofficial totals show. The candidates are scheduled to take the oath of office during the May 1 school board meeting, said district spokesman David Beery. Incumbents Mary Childers and Margaret McGrath did not run for re-election. Advertisement Oakton Community College In the Oakton Community College District 535 race, unofficial vote totals show Martha Burns and Paul Kotowski were elected to two, six-year terms on the board. Park Ridge Park District Four candidates running together as an unofficial slate took home the most votes in the Park Ridge Park Board race, according to unofficial totals. Newcomers Jim O'Donnell, Jim Janak, Harmony Harrington and H. Robert Leach were chosen by voters to fill four, four-year terms as park commissioners, results show. A total of eight candidates ran for the four seats, including incumbents Jim Phillips and Joan Bende, who were not re-elected. Advertisement Leaving the board are Rick Biagi and Richard Brandt, who did not run for re-election. Voter turnout in this race was 26.7 percent, according to Cook County. Township boards For the first time in eight years, the Maine Township Town Board will have a Democrat serving on it. Claire McKenzie of Park Ridge was the only member of the Democratic slate to be elected Maine Township trustee, unofficial vote totals indicate. She is expected to join Republicans Kim Jones, Susan Sweeney and David Carrabotta on the board once the canvassing of votes takes place. The last Democratic candidate to serve on the town board was Peter Ryan, who served one term as trustee before running unsuccessfully for township supervisor against incumbent Carol Teschky. Advertisement In a tight race for township clerk, Republican Peter Gialamas received 50.4 percent of the vote to Democrat Gloria Ludwig's 49.6 percent, separating them by 116 votes, according to unofficial totals. Running opposed were Republican candidates Laura Morask for supervisor, Walter Kazmierczak for highway commissioner and Susan Moylan Krey for township assessor. Voter turnout in the township race was just over 20 percent, according to Cook County. Leyden Township races were uncontested, with all seats filled by Republicans. They include Joseph Thomas, supervisor; Jamie Losurdo, clerk; Al Biancalana, assessor; Vincent Fiorito, highway commissioner; and Ronald Klinger, William Otte, Nicholas Pecora and Rodney Tole, trustees. In Norwood Park Township, the board races were also uncontested, with seats filled by member of the Township Unity Party. They are Tom Lupo, supervisor; Frances Salinsky, clerk; Dennis Karns, assessor; Larry Rogawski, highway commissioner; and Anthony Nasca, Paul Alongi, Steve Wyda and Dennis Stefanowicz Jr., trustees. jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com Advertisement Twitter: @Jen_Tribune [April 10, 2017] Epiq Expands Technology and Service Offerings in China SHANGHAI, China, April 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Epiq, a leading global provider of integrated technology and services for the legal profession, today announced the availability of the latest upgrade of kCuras Relativity version 9.3 in the Peoples Republic of China. Relativity hosting is available via Epiqs ISO27001-compliant Shanghai data center and as a portable, on-site deployment. Epiq is a Relativity Orange-level, Best in Service hosting partner with data centers in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo as well as in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. Epiq has steadily expanded its team in China, adding two native-speaking, multilingual project managers to strengthen the existing team of Relativity Certified Administrators, computer forensics analysts and project management and review professionals at its location in Shanghai. About Epiq Epiq is a leading global provider of integrated technology and services for the legal profession, including eDiscovery, managed services, bankruptcy, class action and mass tort administration, federal regulatory actions and data breach responses. Our innovative solutions are designed to streamline the administration of litigation, investigations, financial transactions, regulatory compliance and other legal matters. Epiqs subject-matter experts bring clarity to complexity, create efficiency through expertise and deliver confidence to our clients around the world. For more information, visit us at www.epiqsystems.com. Press Contact Sarah Brown Epiq +1 503 523 8980 [email protected] An aerial view shows the extension to the Gary/Chicago International Airport. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) The Gary/Chicago International Airport has retained an Indianapolis-based financial firm to advise them on their bond-rating status and to help with financial disclosure reports they're required by the federal government to maintain. The airport authority's governing board approved a contract Monday with Sycamore Advisors LLC in Indianapolis, which has provided financial services to the airport in recent years. Advertisement The extension, approved by a 3-0 vote with board member James Cooper abstaining and board members Denise Dillard and Shontrai Irving absent, calls for Sycamore to be paid for the work it does for the 2017 calendar year. The firm will be paid for work at an hourly rate that varies depending on the project ranging from $85 to $295. Advertisement The engagement letter that received board approval sets maximum payment amounts of up to $7,500 for help it provides with disclosure reports and up to $17,500 for help it provides with regard to the airport authority's bond rating. The firm is certified as a woman's business enterprise in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, along with the city of Indianapolis, while similar status is pending for the city of Chicago. It also has status as a disadvantaged business enterprise in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. A Gary man with dementia previously reported missing was found safe, according to a release Monday from Indiana State Police. George Porter, 78, has returned home safely, according to Gary police Monday afternoon. A spokeswoman did not have details about when and where Porter was located. Advertisement Porter was reported missing on April 1 after he was last seen at the Genesis Towers High Rise at 578 Broadway, according to Gary police. rejacobs@post-trib.com Advertisement Twitter @ruthyjacobs It's Election Day, Pueblo. Make sure your vote is counted Ballots must be returned to a staffed voter center or a drop box by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the latest to be counted. It's not too late to register. [April 10, 2017] INVESTOR ALERT: Goldberg Law PC Announces an Investigation of Signet Jewelers Limited and Advises Investors with Losses In Excess of $100,000 to Contact the Firm Goldberg Law PC, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Signet Jewelers Limited ("Signet" or the "Company") (NYSE: SIG). If you purchased or otherwise acquired Signet shares and would like more information regarding the investigation, we encourage you to contact Michael Goldberg or Brian Schall, of Goldberg Law PC, 1999 Avenue of the Stars Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 800-977-7401, to discuss your rights without cost to you. You can also reach us through the firm's website at http://www.Goldberglawpc.com, or by email at [email protected]. The investigation focuses on claims that Signet issued false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that alleged sexual harassment by employees of Signet's Sterling Family of Jewelers division ("Sterling") - including numerous incidents of sexual assault and rape which were detailed in approximately 249 declarations signed under penalty of perjury by current and former Sterling employees - made it unlikely that Signet would be able to avoid paying a sizable amount of damages in connection with a class action lawsuit filed by Sterling employees. Signet's stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period as a result of this information being withheld from the market. On February 27, 2017, The Washington Post published a report revealing widespread allegations of sexual harassment made in the private arbitration that implicated the Company's senior managers and executives. If you have any questions concerning your legal rights, please immediately contact Goldberg Law PC at 800-977-7401, or visit our website at http://www.Goldberglawpc.com, or email us at [email protected]. Goldberg Law PC represents shareholders around the world and specializes in securities class actions and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170410006275/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 11, 2017] ABB Names Chun-Yuan Gu President, AMEA, and Frank Duggan President, Europe ABB today announced that Chun-Yuan Gu, Managing Director of ABB China, will become President of the AMEA region. He takes over from Frank Duggan, who has been appointed President of Europe, succeeding Bernhard Jucker, whose retirement was announced earlier. As members of the ABB Executive Committee, both Chun-Yuan Gu and Frank Duggan will report to ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. Both appointments will be effective July 1, 2017. "China represents one third of global growth and is a very important market for ABB. I am very pleased to welcome Chun-Yuan, a China and industrial automation expert, to our Executive Committee. He has a proven track record of delivering superior growth momentum and a profound knowledge of Asia and emerging markets", said Spiesshofer. "He will have an important role in implementing our Next Level strategy and further accelerating our growth momentum, for example, through our digital offering, ABB Ability. Chun-Yuan will be key to integrating our announced acquisition of B&R, an innovation leader in machine and factory automation, in the industrial segments of emerging markets". "At the same time, I would like to warmly thank Frank for his excellent leadership in the AMEA region and his contributions to the Executive Committee over the past years. With his extensive knowledge of ABB's global customers, markets and portfolio andsolid track record of enhancing growth momentum, Frank is the ideal next leader for Europe. He will continue to play a key role in the ongoing transformation of ABB towards a more customer and market-oriented company," Spiesshofer added. Chun-Yuan Gu and Frank Duggan have spent their careers at ABB. Gu started at ABB in Sweden in 1989 and held leadership positions in R&D, mainly in Robotics, before becoming Head of the Robotics Global R&D Center in Shanghai in 2006. In January 2014, he assumed responsibility for ABB's operations in China. He is fluent in English, Mandarin and Swedish, and holds a degree in engineering from Jiao Tong University in Shanghai and a Ph.D. in engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Gu will continue as Managing Director of ABB in China, in addition to his new role, and will be based in Beijing. Duggan succeeds Bernhard Jucker, who will retire effective June 30, 2017, as previously announced. Duggan joined ABB in Sweden in 1984, and has held leadership positions in many of ABB's businesses in Europe, Asia and the Gulf. In 2011, he joined the Group Executive Committee as Head of Global Markets and Region Manager for India, Middle East and Africa, before being appointed President of the AMEA region in January 2015. In addition to his responsibilities as President of the Europe region, Frank will assume the role of Managing Director of ABB in Ireland. ABB's current Managing Director of ABB in Ireland, Tom O'Reilly, will retire at the end of June 2017, after a distinguished 32-year career at ABB. ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 132,000 employees. www.abb.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170410006309/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Dezan Shira & Associates Editor: Weining Hu The Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress has recently made changes to the laws and regulations governing foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in China. Key changes include that MOFCOM requires both consolidated and future market entrants to disclose extensive and sensitive information concerning their corporate structure. Specifically, the new FIE online filing registration form (new form) requires FIEs to explicitly report the actual controlling person of their enterprise a requirement that has little precedent internationally. Determining the actual controlling person In the new form, FIEs are required to register basic information of the enterprises actual controlling person(s). First, FIEs are required to select the nature of the actual controlling person(s), which applicants must select from the following seven options: foreign listed company, foreign natural person, foreign government agency (including funds controlled by government), international organization, domestic listed company, domestic natural person, and state-owned enterprise (SOE) or collective enterprise. It is noteworthy that the private entity, the most common corporate type, is not listed by MOFCOM as an option. This means that if the investor is not a listed company or public institution, a natural person would need to be selected, such as a CEO, or group of individuals, such as a board, who can be identified as in control of the private entity. To register the nature of the actual controlling person(s), FIEs are required to explain how control operates under the registered actual controllers by choosing one of the following three options: equity ownership; contractual control over the foreign entitys decision-making body; or rights over the enterprises operation and management, personal nomination, financial conditions, technology, or other aspects. RELATED: Business Advisory Services from Dezan Shira & Associates Challenges for complex corporate structures These three options seem to present the basic elements of control, but in practice, many FIEs will find it difficult to decide which option to select when more than one kind of control conflict. For example, the new FIE laws do not determine which party possesses actual control for a Sino-foreign joint venture where the Chinese investors hold the majority equity ownership and the foreign investors have decisive influence on technology. When considering the variety of corporate structures, the features of control summarized in the checkboxes are simply unable to represent all types of corporate structures. In some cases, decision-makers intentionally structure their business to ensure no single individual or group has actual control. In other cases, the ownership structure is so complex that the subject enterprise does not even know who their ultimate beneficiary shareholders are, such as private equity, venture capital funds, angel funds, family trusts, and limited partnerships. Under such circumstances, the new rules undoubtedly make the FIE online filing registration an extremely cumbersome process for companies that have complex corporate structures. It is therefore recommended that companies with complex controlling structures consult professional legal agencies. VIE investors in restricted industries The actual controlling person standards also affect another group of investors: variable interest entity (VIE) structure investors in restricted and prohibited industries. Prior to the new FIE laws, many foreign investors adopted the VIE structure to access Chinese industries that were restricted on the Negative List. They did so by setting up an onshore company in China, and hiding the actual ownership by signing a series of contractual agreements. These agreements allowed Chinese executives to operate the company, but directed the profits of such onshore company back to the actual controlling entity. The VIE structure was not explicitly denied by the Chinese authorities until the formation of the actual controlling person standards. Since the new filing process requires the disclosure of actual controlling person(s), VIE structure adopters can no longer hide the identities of the actual controlling persons. In order to stay in the restricted industries, both existing and new VIEs shall adopt one of the following three approaches to register its business status with MOFCOM. Existing VIEs have a three-year grace period starting from October 2016 to update their business information with MOFCOM. Auto-filing Option: a VIE may file the new form online with MOFCOM, declaring the entitys actual controlling person is a Chinese investor. In this option, the VIE automatically obtains approval upon filing if accepted. Recognition Option: a VIE may apply to MOFCOM for a separate recognition of its actual controlling persons status as a Chinese investor before filing the new form. Industry specialists indicated that applications where the companys actual controller has already been recognized as a Chinese investor are unlikely to be rejected. Market Access Approval Option: if the subject entity could not settle in an agreement that has the Chinese investor as its actual controlling persons, such VIE needs to start from scratch by applying to MOFCOM for a new market access license. The MOFCOM would make its decision on a case-by-case basis by weighing various factors, including the actual controller of the subject entity. The first two options create a system that concentrates controlling power in the hands of Chinese executives, while the third one is a time-consuming process and is associated with risks for businesses embedded in restricted industries. None of the solutions is an easy choice for foreign investors: all three solutions show how market entry for restricted industries has become more difficult than before. As the finalized Negative List is yet to be released by MOFCOM, it is uncertain which industries will be impacted by the new form. Concerns over the Negative List will likely increase uncertainty for VIEs over the long-term: the PRC State Council can reduce or expand the Negative List by amending market access restrictions for foreign investment at any time. RELATED: Hong Kong Announces Changes to Beneficial Ownership Regime Takeaways The actual controlling person standard will significantly alter the shape of foreign investment in China. On the positive side, it greatly cuts red tape for foreign investors, and facilitates a clearer framework for governing FIEs that were previously in a grey area of law. On the negative side, it over-simplifies modern corporate structures, and increases documentation efforts for sophisticated corporate structure entities and investors in restricted industries. Generally speaking, a majority of new market entrants will benefit from the reform, while foreign investors who would like to invest in restricted industries will need to operate in a more transparent way. This article is an excerpt from the February issue of China Briefing Magazine, titled New Considerations when Establishing a China WFOE in 2017 In this edition of China Briefing, we guide readers through a range of topics, from the reasons behind foreign investors preference for the WFOE as an investment model, to managing Chinas new regulations. 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Jianbing, a popular Chinese street snack, has lately taken New York City by storm. Brian Goldberg, founder of Mr Bing, and Reuben Shorser, co-founder of the Jianbing Company, both discovered jianbing while studying Mandarin in Beijing. After returning to New York, they both started their own jianbing businesses. [Photo/CCTV] Brian Goldberg, founder of Mr Bing, and Reuben Shorser, co-founder of the Jianbing Company, both discovered jianbing while studying Mandarin in Beijing. After returning to New York, they both started their own jianbing businesses. "Jianbing is so new to New Yorkers that demand for it has exceeded our expectations," the director of operations at Mr Bing remarked. The company sells several hundred jianbing every day. To ensure the authenticity of its jianbing, Mr Bing invited Chinese jianbing-makers to train the company's employees in New York. In China, street vendors sell the snack for less than a dollar apiece. In New York, it can go for as much as $15. American consumers have so far given positive feedback about the traditional snack, and have shared pictures of it across social media. A traditional jianbing starts with batter ladled onto a round cast-iron griddle. After different sauces and ingredients are placed onto the thin crepe, it is folded up to be eaten like a sandwich. President Xi Jinping and Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw attend a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/China Daily] China and Myanmar on Monday signed an agreement on a crude oil pipeline to send oil from Myanmar's Kyaukpyu Port to Yunnan. The agreement and eight other cooperation documents were signed after talks between President Xi Jinping and Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw, who is on a state visit to China from Thursday to Tuesday. Details of the agreements were not released. In the talks, Xi said China is willing to "push forward China-Myanmar cooperation to focus more on Myanmar's livelihood, such as education and rural area development", according to a news release issued by the Foreign Ministry. Xi said China expects to work with Myanmar to firmly adhere to the right direction of bilateral ties and support each other on key issues related to core interests. China appreciates Myanmar's active involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said, adding that Beijing will comprehensively consider development strategies of the two nations to promote cooperation in fields like trade and investment, infrastructure, energy, hydropower and border economic cooperation zones. China will also push forward key cooperation projects such as the Kyaukpyu special economic zone and connectivity projects, Xi said. He said China respects Myanmar following a development path in accord with its own national status. China will continue playing a constructive role in Myanmar's domestic peace process and work with Myanmar to jointly maintain security and stability in the border area, Xi said. U Htin Kyaw said his country will never forget China's help in its development and support in the international arena. This is his first visit to China after taking office in March 2016. He visited Chengdu, Xi'an, Shanghai and Hangzhou before arriving in Beijing. Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters after the meeting that one section of the China-Myanmar crude oil pipeline has been finished, while China has built a refinery near Kunming, provincial capital of Yunnan. "Recently, the two sides have been discussing operation of the pipeline. After the signing of the agreement, I believe the pipeline will be put into operation soon," Liu said. He said the project will not only transport oil that China imports from Myanmar, but will also benefit regions along the pipeline. The two sides also reached "important consensus" in areas such as energy, interconnectivity and infrastructure cooperation, Liu revealed. China and Myanmar have "basically reached consensus" on the Myitsone Dam project, which was delayed by the former Myanmar government, Liu said. "Both sides expressed positive expectations," he said, adding the two sides will continue the discussion to reach a proper win-win settlement. "It is predictable that there will be a result acceptable to both sides in the coming future." Liu said a gap in the nation's common efforts that existed in the past will be filled by the decision to focus combined efforts more on the livelihoods of Myanmar's people. U Htin Kyaw also met Premier Li Keqiang on Monday. Li stressed that stability in northern Myanmar has a direct effect on security of Southwest China. China does not want to see the border area disturbed and will support Myanmar's efforts to realize domestic peace and reconciliation, Li said. Pan Gongsheng, central bank deputy governor [Photo/Xinhua] A senior official with the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, has called for more financial support for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region, according to a statement made public Monday. Financial institutions should find new ways to provide medium- and long-term financing for the region, PBOC deputy governor Pan Gongsheng said at a conference in Tianjin Friday. They should increase financial support to important areas, including infrastructure, environmental protection, industrial upgrading, innovation and poverty relief, Pan added. "The financial sector should take the strategy of Jing-Jin-Ji coordinated development as an opportunity to advance its own development," he said. In 2015, central authorities approved a guideline for integrated development of the Jing-Jin-Ji region, with a focus on transferring non-capital functions from Beijing to neighboring areas. The PBOC statement also said that the decision to establish the Xiongan New Area in Hebei Province, an important move to advance Jing-Jin-Ji development, was also studied at the conference. AliExpress Ltd, a retail site that allows Chinese merchants to sell directly to foreign customers, aims to serve 1 billion users globally within seven years and build a "cyber Silk Road" following the Belt and Road Initiative. The company, a subsidiary of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, had attracted more than 100 million international buyers as of April since its launch in 2010, said Dai Shan, president of Alibaba's business-to-business unit. The Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to strengthen infrastructure, economic and trade ties in the Eurasian region, will lend AliExpress new momentum to grow its customer base tenfold in less than seven years, said Shen Difan, general manager of AliExpress. The marketplace is the equivalent of Alibaba's business-to-customer site Tmall, but targets only overseas customers. The achievements highlight Alibaba's potential to challenge Amazon.com Inc and eBay Inc in major markets outside China. Dai said she hoped the platform could empower more China's small and medium-sized enterprises to seek overseas expansion. Customers from more than 220 countries and regions have placed orders via the platform, according to the company. The top three countries ranked by total spending are Russia, the United States and Spain. "Spain wants to make a strong effort with Alibaba and other major e-commerce players in China to bring the Belt and Road Initiative into full play," said Alfonso Noriega Gomez, economic and commercial counselor of the Consulate General of Spain in Shanghai. It is also aiming for global delivery within 72 hours in the three to five years, leveraging leading algorithm and real-time analysis provided by Cainiao Network Technology Co Ltd, Alibaba's smart logistics network, said Cainiao President Wan Lin. AliExpress has already found early success in Russia, by offering Chinese products including clothing and car parts at a lower price while boosting its advertising and teaming up with local payment providers. The platform has been the biggest shopping site in the country since 2014, according to researcher TNS. The Australian Brands Alliance a group that represents various Australian companies has announced plans to launch Ausmart stores in major cities in China this year. The store will act as a portal through which Australian local brands will be able to deliver to Chinese customers, allowing them to enjoy thousands of Australian products. Since the implementation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement a year ago, imported Australian products have enjoyed a zero or preferential tariff policy, which stimulates the development of cross-border business. Ausmart founder Geoff Pearce, who heads up the Continental Group, said the trade agreement created new opportunities for Australian businesses to sell products in China. "Through this trading 'bridge' conducted by Chinese and Australian governments, we hope to shorten and simplify the distance and process between those brands and Chinese customers, enabling a face-to-face contact between both ends, while allowing the latter to enjoy these natural products at a more reasonable and affordable price," Pearce said. The Ausmart project will work with some major chains and e-commerce platforms to establish online and offline direct-sales and an experience center for thousands of leading Australian and New Zealand brands. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. [File photo] I am very pleased to meet all you friends in beautiful Phnom Penh. All our Cambodian media colleagues present here have for a long time kept a close watch on and covered China and thus made important contributions to the enhancement of China-Cambodia friendship. On behalf of the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China, I would like to extend to you my lofty tributes and sincere thanks. We come to enthusiastic Phnom Penh from a Beijing bathed in spring and feel the friendship and goodwill of Cambodian people, just like "Guests feel at home", as an old Chinese proverb goes. The Cambodian version of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, a book authored by President Xi Jinping, will make its debut in Phnom Penh tomorrow and I will attend the launching ceremony together with some Cambodian friends from various circles to witness the important moment. It is believed that the publication of the Cambodian version of the book will open a new window for Cambodian people to watch and sense China, offer a new platform for us to exchange governance experiences, and serve as a new eyewitness to China-Cambodia friendship. All Cambodian media colleagues have paid close attention to China's development and changes over the past years, yearned to know the intrinsic causes to these changes, and cared about what a changing China will bring to the world. It can be said that the problems over which you are concerned can find their solutions in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. Here, I would like to first make some brief introductions to this book. From this book, one can gain a systematic knowledge of contemporary China's development path. The enormous achievements made by China today fundamentally lies in its choosing of the Chinese road. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is a full-view display of and systematic elaboration on the Chinese road. The book's core ideas can be extracted from the numbers "one, two, three, four and five". "One" here means "one dream", namely the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. "Two" here means "two centennial goals", namely the successful building of an all-round moderately well-off society by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China in 2021, and the successful building of a modern, socialist nation by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 2049. "Three" here means "three greats", namely advancing the great socialist cause with Chinese characteristics, comprehensively strengthening and improving the great project of Party building, and carrying out a great struggle with numerous new and historical features. "Four" here means the "Four Comprehensives", namely comprehensively building a moderately well-off society, comprehensively deepening reforms, comprehensively promoting the nation's governance in accordance with laws, and comprehensively promoting stricter governance of the Party. "Five" here means "Five-in-One", that is, promoting the overall layout of economic construction, political construction, cultural construction, social construction and ecological civilization construction. The above numbers are all extracted from President Xi's book, and it is hoped these numbers will help people better understand President Xi's core thoughts on the governance of China and understand China's road choice. From this book, we can more clearly see the CPC's people-centric governance philosophy. Serving the people wholeheartedly is the fundamental purpose of the CPC. A main line that runs through Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is the people-centered governance philosophy. Our governance philosophy is generalized as serving the people and undertaking the responsibilities it should undertake, just as President Xi has said many times. "People's yearning for a better life is the goal of our struggles" and "letting ordinary people live a good life is the starting point and the objective of all of our work". Over the more than four years since he took office, President Xi has consistently carried people's livelihoods and well-being deep in his heart, making investigative tours of remote mountainous areas, outlying regions and impoverished rural areas, keeping an attentive ear to people's opinions, watching people's conditions and addressing people's concerns. The people-centric governance philosophy is also reflected in a series of systematic arrangements and institutional reforms since the 18th National Congress of the CPC as well as the continuous improvements in people's living standards. In only a few years, more than 60 million impoverished people were lifted out of poverty in China, equivalent to the total population of a middle-sized country. It is believed that this book can help one sense President Xi's deep feelings toward the people, the purpose of the CPC's governance and its "governance for people" consciousness. From this book, we can gain full knowledge of the ties between China and the world. Chinese people have long advocated the "one world, one family" concept, hoping not only Chinese people but also people in the rest of world to have a better life. To build a human community of shared destiny is an important concept enshrined in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. "In this world, all countries enjoy an unprecedented degree of interrelation and interdependence. All people live in the same global village, and live in the same space and time with convergence of both history and reality, and they are increasingly in a community of shared destiny where 'you are part of me, and I am part of you'," as President Xi has said. On many occasions, he has made in-depth elucidation on the building of a human community of shared destiny and fulfilling the philosophy with China's practical diplomatic actions. This year has seen the concept of building a human community of shared destiny being included in several United Nations resolutions. To build such a community is China's strategic choice of its own road based on its insights into the evolution of the world pattern. If one understands this philosophy of China, he or she will better understand that China's peaceful development offers an opportunity, instead of posing a threat, to the rest of the world. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, finished in September 2014, is a phased review and summarization of President Xi's thoughts on China's governance. Over the past more than two years, President Xi has delivered a series of other addresses, talks, speeches, written articles and given instructions, greatly enriching his thoughts on China's governance. In the latter half of this year, the 19th National Congress of the CPC is due to be held, and after that we will make some extractions and summarizations of his new thoughts on China's governance and would like to share those ideological fruits with our Cambodian friends. China and Cambodia share geographical proximity and cultural affinity, and their friendly exchanges can be traced back to 1,000 years ago. The strategic partnership between the two countries has entered a new period of full acceleration. On the eve of his visit to Cambodia in October last year, President Xi published a signed article in the Cambodia media titled China and Cambodia: Good Neighbors and Trusted Friends. When meeting Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and his mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in Beijing in March, President Xi stressed that, to deepen the development of China-Cambodia relations, the two countries should maintain their high-level contact momentum, pay frequent mutual visits as two relatives do, and maintain close communication and exchanges. Media relations constitute an important part of state-to-state relations. The development momentum which China-Cambodia relations have managed to maintain is inseparable from the efforts made by the media in both countries. Through media reports, we can transmit the information of development and progress in both countries and their friendly exchanges to their people to lay a solid social and public opinion foundation for the development of bilateral ties. The State Council Information Office of China will continuously and robustly support China-Cambodia media exchanges and cooperation and actively offer you conveniences and create conditions for you. We will continuously hold high-level media dialogues between the two countries and put up a communication platform for you. We will continuously expand the chances for press officials from Asian countries, including Cambodia, media management personnel and major journalism practitioners to conduct research and receive training in China and assist excellent media employees with their studies in China. We will support mutual visits between more Chinese and Cambodian journalists, editors and anchors. We will also encourage the media from both countries to carry out pragmatic cooperation, such as exchanging news wire, conducting joint interviews, cultivating talent and developing new media, to push forward all-dimensional, multi-field and multi-level development of China-Cambodian media exchanges and cooperation. (Jiang Jianguo is the minister of the State Council Information Office. The article is an excerpt from the speech he delivered at a luncheon for people of press circles from China and Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 10.) [April 11, 2017] Decorative Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Focus on Water-based Products to Leverage Green Trends Urbanisation and the subsequent demand for more buildings present strong growth opportunities for decorative coatings, finds Frost & Sullivan's Visionary Science team CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven by urban migration, supportive government policies, and a movement towards cleaner technology, the combined Kenyan and Tanzanian decorative paints and coatings market is expected to achieve a CAGR of 6.7% up by 2020. Water-based paints are expected to account for 64.7% of the market, and solvent-based paints for the remaining 35.3%. Manufacturing standards in both countries are already changing, driven by government legislation to reduce the levels of VOCs and lead emissions. The markets will also benefit from the high urban migration projected in the two countries, which will increase the demand for residential and commercial buildings and; subsequently, for decorative paints and coatings. "The Kenyan market outpaced the Tanzanian market in 2015, primarily due to its more suitably established manufacturing industry and development of ports to facilitate raw material imports," said Frost & Sullivan Visionary Science Research Analyst Ashley Arumero. "On the other hand, the lower maturity of the paint manufacturing industry in Tanzania has eased the entry barriers for potential participants." To find out more information about this analysis, and to sign up for a complimentary one-hour interactive session with Frost & Sullivan thought leaders, please visit https://goo.gl/O3yyV5 Decorative Paints and Coatings Market for Kenya and Tanzania, Forecast to 2020, recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan' Future of Chemicals & Materials in Infrastructure & Mobility Growth Partnership Subscription, finds that the total market size was 66.2 million litres in 2015, and this is expected to reach 91.5 million litres by 2020. Crown Paints Ltd, Basco Paints, and Insignia Ltd dominate the market, while Sadolin Paints and Goldstar Paints are trying to expand their shares. Access to raw materials is a vital competitive advantage, as both countries import more than 90% of the feedstock. This also makes the markets vulnerable to price volatility in international markets. The weakening of the Kenyan and Tanzanian shillings, and limited technological innovations, have significantly reduced investments in local research and development (R&D). However, these restraints offer growth opportunities for international participants with substantial R&D resources. "Despite the challenges of low raw material availability and price fluctuations, the markets are expected to grow positively due to rising urbanisation in both Kenya and Tanzania," noted Arumero. "Additionally, the rising purchasing power of the citizens is expanding the middle class demographic, which, in turn, is creating a need for more residential and commercial buildings - the main end users of decorative paints and coatings." Other topics from the Chemicals & Materials subscription include: Mining Explosives Market in Southern Africa; Supply Chain Efficiencies in the Chemicals Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa; Opportunities for Chemical Companies Industrial Wastewater Reuse in South Africa and Namibia; South African and Nigerian Cement Additives; Chemicals Market in Nigeria and Kenya; Automotive Lubricants MarketNigeria and South Africa; Crop Protection Chemicals Market in South Africa and Kenya; and Plastic Packaging Market in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. All studies provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. 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 Decorative Paints and Coatings Market for Kenya and Tanzania, Forecast to 2020 MBD5-39 Contact: Samantha James Corporate Communications Africa P: +27 21 680 3574 F: +27 21 680 3296 E: [email protected] http://www.frost.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] President Xi Jinping met Tuesday with Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) Congratulating Lam on her victory in the election as the HKSAR's fifth-term chief executive and ensuing appointment by the State Council, Xi said Lam's victory is well deserved and she meets all the central authority's standards for the role. With 36 years of government work experience, especially the multiple important posts she held after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Lam has shown "a firm stance in loving the country and Hong Kong, a diligent, pragmatic and responsible work style, as well as rich administrative experience and ability to handle complicated situations," Xi said. Lam also enjoys high recognition in Hong Kong society and has the mind, capability and sense of responsibility to serve the country and Hong Kong, Xi said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong. "Hong Kong has experienced its share of ups and downs during the past 20 years, and faces challenges and risks as well as opportunities and hopes in this stage," Xi said. "Over the past two decades, great success has been achieved in the implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle in Hong Kong," said Xi. "The special administrative region system, stipulated in the Constitution as well as the Basic Law, operates effectively, and Hong Kong continues to enjoy prosperity and stability, winning high praise from the international community," Xi noted. Xi also stressed that the practice of the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong is an unprecedented cause and needs to be advanced through fresh explorations. "As the newly appointed chief executive, you have a heavy responsibility and a glorious mission," said Xi. The central government is determined to stick to the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, Xi noted. That determination would not change or waver, said Xi, adding that full support would be given to Lam and the HKSAR government to carry out their duties in accordance with the law. Xi expressed the hope that Lam could live up to the great trust, rely on the people of Hong Kong, comprehensively and precisely implement the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, and contribute to the development of Hong Kong. Senior leaders including Zhang Dejiang, Li Yuanchao, Li Zhanshu and Yang Jiechi attended the meeting. Lam won the chief executive election with 777 of 1,163 valid votes on March 26. She is expected to assume office on July 1, 2017. You are here: Home Flash Australian Senator Bob Katter, of the Katter's Australia Party, is launching a week long tour of North Queensland State on Tuesday, to drum up support for a crocodile culling program. The Party want to introduce legislation that would see crocodile safari hunting legalised, along with an incentive scheme that would encourage the removal of crocodile eggs. "Reports show seven beaches have been closed due to croc sightings in the past three months," Queensland Member of Parliament, Shane Knuth said in a statement. Last month, a 35 year-old spearfisherman was taken by a four-meter crocodile in the township of Innisfail, with another man, 47, killed in the Northern Territory at a river crossing in January. In 2016, there were 127 confirmed crocodile sightings in the state of Queensland, with another 378 reports that were unconfirmed. Many believe the problem is drastically getting worse in the north, as the previous year only saw 87 sightings. In 2011, the figure was just 56. But not everyone in the region agrees with the idea of culling crocodiles. When asked about Katter's proposed idea in January, Australia Zoo's head reptile keeper, Daniel Rumsey told Xinhua "I don't agree with that at all." "They're Australia's apex predator and a keystone species that are so important to our environment, culling them doesn't solve anything." Adding that, removing larger crocodiles from an area can often make the remaining reptiles more aggressive and more likely to attack humans. Flash The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday that a clash broke out between government forces and extremists in the central Philippines. Eduardo Ano, the AFP's chief of staff, said in a statement that government troops and police "encountered a group of heavily armed lawless elements in Bohol" around 7 a.m. Tuesday. Ano said that the military launched the "security operation" in the wake of the intelligence reports that at least 10 armed men aboard three pump boats were sighted on the riverside of that village. "The information came for alert residents and other citizens," Ano said. Ano said that the heavily-armed group has been "cornered in an isolated" area of the village. "Additional forces from the Army, Air Force and the Navy are now onsite to assist engaged AFP personnel and law enforces," Ano said, adding that "firefight is still ongoing." Meantime, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronal dela Rosa confirmed that a joint military and police operation were launched Tuesday to thwart the attack in central Philippine Visayas region. He said that at least one soldier had been killed so far and two others were wounded from the government forces. He said that the bandits are holed up in at least three houses in the village. The U.S. Embassy and the Australian Embassy in Manila warned over the weekend issued its respective citizens to be careful, adding the embassies have received "unsubstantiated yet credible information that terrorists may attempt kidnappings in central Visayas, which include both Cebu and Bohol provinces." Dela Rosa said on Monday that the PNP has indeed received information of a potential terrorist threat in the central Philippines. In a news conference at the main police headquarters, Dela Rosa said that the police has been alerted although it has yet to receive details of the threat. The military has been fighting the Abu Sayyaf rebels since 2000. Abu Sayyaf is one of the smallest and most violent jihadist groups operating in the southern Philippines notorious for kidnappings, bombings and attacking civilians and the army. The group, numbering about 500, has been sowing terror in the southern Philippine region since the early 1990s. Flash A survey conducted by Japan's education ministry revealed Tuesday the number of children victimized by bullying after their families fled the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture in March 2011 was far higher than initially thought. The ministry survey was conducted through regional education boards in March and showed that of 11,800 evacuees of school age surveyed, only a fraction reported incidents of bullying in stark contrast to other surveys and widely-reported anecdotal evidence. In 204 cases of bullying documented by the education ministry since April 2011, one elementary school-aged evacuee was told to go back to Fukushima soon after joining the school. Some of the evacuees were told by their peers to go back to Fukushima or move somewhere else, the survey showed. In a another case a junior high school pupil was told not to come to school because other pupils said they would be contaminated with radiation. In fiscal 2016 alone there have been 129 cases of bullying, the education ministry's survey showed, although of the total, the ministry only attributed 13 cases directly to the nuclear crises in Fukushima. Japanese Education Minister Hirokazu Matsuno conceded, however, that there was likely a huge dark figure of unreported cases or cases that were otherwise quashed. "It is difficult to conduct a survey that covers them all. We will consider our response in light of the possibility that some bullying has not surfaced," said Matsuno on Tuesday, adding that further studies were necessary to reveal the true extent of the problem. Highlighting the likely huge disparity in actual cases to those revealed by the ministry's survey, Japan's public broadcaster NHK said on Tuesday that in its own survey on the matter conducted recently, of 740 families surveyed, at least 54 children were bullied because they were "nuclear accident evacuees." NHK also said a boy who was bullied in an elementary school by his classmates who wouldn't touch anything he touched and acted as if he was contaminated. The boy, who once had to escape his classroom after being stabbed in the leg by a pencil during class time, said he couldn't ask his teacher for help as his teacher believed he was just "restless" and needed to see a doctor. In a recent interview with Xinhua, mother-of-two Yasuko Endo said she made the decision to leave Fukushima for the safety of her children, but that her eldest boy was tormented by his peers at his new school in the Kanto region. Endo said that soon after enrolling in the new junior high school other children were quick to single her son out as being the "new kid" but when they found out he was from Fukushima they started to harass him on an increasingly frequent basis. Endo said they would call her son, now 14 years old, all sorts of names like "radiation boy" and "vermin," which quickly began to damage the boy's self-esteem. She said the bullying would continue outside of school and involve her son being followed home from school and taunted with new "nicknames" related to the nuclear accident. One time the boy's tormentors threw rotten fruit in his face, Endo said. The situation reached a peak when a whole class refused to get into a pool with the boy during a physical education class, claiming that they would be "infected" with radiation if they shared water with the boy. Endo said her son ended up in hospital as a result of the bullying. Hosei University Professor Naoki Ogi said the onus of responsibility lies with the teachers of the bullied children for not taking the problem seriously enough. Other informed sources have taken aim at the education ministry itself for taking so long to conduct a nationwide survey that has most likely produced inaccurate results. Flash Somalia security forces have rescued an Indian cargo ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates on April 1 but nine members of the 11-crew are missing, a regional maritime official said on Tuesday. John Steed, the regional manager of not for profit group, Oceans Beyond Piracy said the hostages are believed to be being held between the vicinity of Hobyo and Haradhere in central Somalia. "The Indian ship was released by Somalia security forces on Monday night but nine of the 11 crew members are missing having been taken ashore by the pirates. The vessel is sailing away," Steed told Xinhua by telephone. The pirating of the Indian dhow came after the fuel tanker, Aris 13, was held for four days by armed pirates. The Indian ship, Al Kausar was one of three foreign vessels to be hijacked after a five-year lull. "We haven't established where the hostages were taken," said Steed, noting that Somali pirates are holding 17 hostages from Iran and India. "The pirates are holding 17 hostages at the moment. Eight are Iranians while 9 are Indians," Steed said, adding that efforts are underway to secure their release. Al Kausar was chartered by a Somali businessman and was carrying commercial goods. The vessel which was en route from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Bosasso in Somalia was hijacked in the vicinity of Socotra (Island). The release of the Indian vessel comes after sailors from Indian and Chinese Navies on Sunday freed a Tuvalu-registered vessel which had been boarded by pirates. The vessel had 19 crew members. Somali pirates tend to be well armed with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and sometimes use skiffs launched from mother vessels, which may be hijacked fishing vessels or dhows, to conduct attacks far from the Somali coast. Maritime experts said lack of economic opportunities and the prevalence of illegal fishing are pushing more Somalis to turn to piracy -- partly as a form of protest and partly because they see no other options. Flash Burundi has rejected the request by the facilitator in the inter-Burundian dialogue to grant immunity to suspects in the 2015 failed coup plot to allow them to participate in the talks, the Burundian president's office said Tuesday. "The facilitator in the inter-Burundian dialogue, also former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa sent a letter to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza on Feb. 27 this year, requesting him to grant immunity to coup plotters so that they can participate in the inter-Burundian dialogue. The request is impossible because people sued by the judiciary cannot get immunity according to international regulations," Burundian President's Spokesman Jean Claude Karerwa said. According to him, Burundi should be considered like other countries as it is a country that respects international rules. "The president of Burundi is not entitled to grant immunity or to pardon people who are sued by the judiciary. What he can do is to pardon people who have been already condemned. If he pardons such a kind of people, he will be accused of betraying the nation," Karerwa said. He indicated that Burundian people "do not have big problems" these days. "In the letter sent back to the facilitator in the inter-Burundian dialogue, the president stated that Rwanda has rather been provoking Burundi," Karerwa said. He also indicated that the president requested the "repatriation of the talks" from the Tanzanian town of Arusha to Burundi because most participants in the talks are in Burundi. The Burundian government boycotted the previous round of talks that took place by mid February in Arusha, Tanzania, arguing that it could not sit with what it called "coup plotters" on the same table. Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba said that invitations of participants to the talks were characterized by irregularities. "Some of the invited participants are sued by the Burundian judiciary for their involvement in disrupting Burundi's security," Nzobonariba said. The Burundian government was also against the denomination of some political parties invited in the talks, stressing that they are not political parties registered at the east African country's home affairs ministry. The other concern was the participation, in the talks, of Jamal Benomar, Special Adviser of the UN Secretary General in Burundi, who was rejected by the Burundian government in December 2016. Burundi plunged in a crisis since April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term in violation of the national constitution and the 2000 Arusha Agreement that ended a decade-long civil war. More than 500 people in Burundi have been killed and over 300,000 people fled to neighboring countries mostly Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Uganda since the outbreak of the crisis. You are here: Home Flash Italian President Sergio Mattarella began a three-day visit to Russia on Tuesday. The official visit to Moscow was made at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Italian presidential palace said in a statement. Mattarella is accompanied by Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs Vincenzo Amendola. The Italian president would meet with his Russian counterpart Putin, as well as with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, according to his official schedule. The talks "will focus on the most important issues in bilateral relations and on the international agenda," the president's office said. The visit kicked off while the meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) is underway in Italy. You are here: Home Flash Parliament member Nicolas Fattoush Tuesday proposed an urgent draft law to renew the Parliament's mandate for a year, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. Fattoush, a lawmaker representing the Bekaa's Zahle district, presented a draft proposal to Parliament's Secretariat to extend the legislative body's mandate until June 2018. The Parliament's Secretariat is expected to meet Tuesday afternoon to discuss "Parliament-related matters," a statement from Speaker Nabih Berri's press office said. Parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place between May 21 and June 21, but deadlock over the new electoral law would lead to a delay of the polls. The Parliament has extended its mandate twice, in 2013 and 2014, over security fears. Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk have noted it's a "technical" extension of the Parliament's term, saying this was needed to finalize logistical preparations for the elections. Flash Police have finally picked up Zambia's leading opposition leader for questioning after an overnight siege at his residence, his party said on Tuesday. Charles Kakoma, the spokesperson of the United Party for National Development (UPND), confirmed that Hakainde Hichilema was picked around mid-morning and taken to Woodlands Police Station in Lusaka, the country's capital for questioning and later taken to a police training college, Lilayi, on the outskirts of the city. He was accompanied to the police station by his lawyers and some senior party officials. He however said the opposition leader has not been officially charged although reports indicate that it has to do with a Saturday incident where Hichilema's convoy allegedly blocked President Edgar Lungu's motorcade in the western part of the country. Police raided the opposition leader's residence on Monday night in a bid to arrest him. According to reports, the police switched off power to the house, blocked the main roads and broke down the gates to gain access into the house before firing teargas into the house, choking the opposition leader's family. Some of the party's senior leaders and journalists who went to the residence situated in east of the city were assaulted by the police. The overnight raid has since received condemnation from some quarters with an international lawyer based in the United States Elias Munshya Wa Munshya saying it was unconstitutional and unlawful because the opposition leader was not a criminal who had refused to respond to a call-out. But the police have defended the raid, saying the officers had an objective of raiding the house. The police have since promised to give a detailed statement after the operations. Hichilema narrowly lost to Lungu in last year's elections but has refused to recognize him as winner of the election, saying the vote was stolen. [April 11, 2017] DHL Station in Shanghai Receives IATA CEIV Pharma Certification for Life Sciences and Healthcare Compliance SHANGHAI, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist within Deutsche Post DHL Group, certified its air freight station in Shanghai per the CEIV Pharma Standard of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The CEIV Pharma Certification of the aviation industry's umbrella association attests the highest service and quality standards for life sciences and healthcare customers through uniform processes and a compliant network. "Over many years, DHL has been actively involved with IATA's continuous efforts to adequately answer to the regulatory demands of the pharmaceutical industry. This standardized approach in the air freight industry means productivity, accuracy, and reliability. All of those lead to product integrity and patient safety," states David Bang, Global Head of DHL Temperature Management Solutions and CEO LifeConEx at DHL Global Forwarding. DHL started to certify its global stations according to the IATA CEIV Pharma Standard in the third quarter of 2016. Following independent audits by third parties and training courses for employees on site, the DHL Air Thermonet station in Shanghai received the quality label. Thereby DHL Global Forwarding enhances transportation and storage quality levels of pharmaceutical goods and the DHL Air Thermonet station exceeds usual quality standards. Due to its unique cloud-based IT platform LifeTrack, DHL offers more transparency in comparison to conventional offers in the area of temperature-controlled transports. LifeTrack not only ensures shipment tracking but also enables the intervention during the supply process around the clock on 365 days a year. With this quality assurance initiative DHL positions itself as a reliable partner for the transport of structural complex, temperature sensible pharmaceutical products. "The life sciences and healthcare industry increasingly requires more regulatory control over the years including the transportation and storage of highly-sensitive pharmaceutical goods. Through the IATA CEIV Pharma Certification, DHL further shows its commitment to service quality when it comes to the delivery of these vital and temperature sensitive products," said Steve Huang, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Greater China. The location in Shanghai comprises 1,650 square meters, of which 1,405 square meters are available in the air-import warehouse and 245 square meters are available in the air-export warehouse for temperature storage. More details are available below: Facilities Type Description Import Temperature controlled room 15C ~ 25C 720m2 Reefer room 2C ~ 8C 660m2 Frozen container 0C ~ -18C 25m2 Export Temperature controlled room 15C ~ 25C 170m2 Reefer container (M01) 2C ~ 8C 25m2 Frozen container (M02) 0C ~ -25C 25m2 Reefer container (M04) 2C ~ 8C 25m2 At each location, the umbrella association IATA examines the station's correspondence to the Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), the GDP (Good Distribution Practices) guidelines of the European Union, the Annex 5 of the World Health Organization and the United States Pharmacopeia Standards. Apart from this they also set the industry standard for the transportation of dangerous goods and live animals in addition to sensitive pharmaceutical products. With its international network, DHL offers at all of its Air Thermonet locations a wide-ranging product portfolio, covering all client needs for time and temperature sensitive airfreight shipments. Thereby, DHL has successfully established itself as the market leader for logistics solutions in the life sciences and healthcare industry. Also at Shanghai, the IATA-certified DHL Air Thermonet location, temperature sensible airfreight shipments are handled and the door-to-door courier solution "Life Sciences graded Specialty Courier" is offered for special demands of the industry. Additionally, DHL offers the express service "Medical Express" with a fixed delivery time and "DHL Clinical Trial Logistics" a logistics solution specifically designed for clinical studies such as the transportation of trial medication, auxiliary materials and lab kits. DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL family of divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 340,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivalled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world". DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 57 billion euros in 2016. On the Internet: www.dpdhl.de/press Follow us at: www.twitter.com/DeutschePostDHL [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Flash Russia will start full-scale production of the upgraded supersonic strategic bomber Tupolev Tu-160M2 in 2020, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported Tuesday. According to the contract with the United Aircraft Corporation, the production of Tu-160M2 has already been launched, and the new model is expected to make its debut flight in 2018 and to realize its serial production in 2020, with two or three aircraft being produced each year, the Russian defense industry was quoted as saying. The new bomber, equipped with completely new mission systems, can be powered by an upgraded version of the existing Kuznetsov NK-32 afterburning turbofan, it said. Along with the production of the Tu-160M2, operational long-range combat aircraft, such as the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS, will also be modernized, said the agency. The Tu-160, or White Swan, is a Soviet supersonic strategic bomber which can be equipped with nuclear warheads, while the Tu-95, a four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform, has been included in Russian strategic nuclear forces along with ground missile systems and submarines. The idea to restart the production of Tu-160 airplanes in a modernized version was put forward by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in April 2015. A month later, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave instructions to resume the production of the aircraft. By Gleb Stolyarov, Reuters | Apr. 11, 2017 Russia may suspend charter flights to Turkey due to the "difficult political situation" there, the Federal Air Transport Agency has warned airlines, a source at one of the companies told Reuters. Russia and Turkey have a history of rolling trade and financial restrictions out against one other in political rows. Ties between Moscow and Ankara have become strained in recent days after Turkey called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a staunch Russian ally, to step down. The Federal Air Transport Agency declined to comment. If Russia goes ahead with the suspension, it could seriously hurt Turkey's already battered tourism industry which relies heavily on visitors from Russia. The Kommersant newspaper reported that, according to preliminary data, Russian travel agents have already sold up to 400,000 package tours to Turkey. In total, it said 3 million Russian tourists were expected to visit this year. For Russia, Turkey is an important agricultural buyer and news that Russia is mulling a charter ban comes weeks before Moscow and Ankara are expected to discuss why Ankara put purchases of Russian wheat, maize and sunflower oil on hold by imposing high import tariffs from mid-March. Workers from China and Africa work on a highway project in Kenya. Constructed by a Chinese company, the 130-km highway opened in September 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] From a business and investment perspective, the Belt and Road Initiative will benefit not only China but also economies in Asia and Europe, said several foreign officials. Forty-seven officials from 14 countries began a 15-day seminar on energy strategies of the Belt and Road Initiative economies in Beijing recently. China University of Petroleum jointly organized the seminar with the Academy for International Business Officials of the Ministry of Commerce. At the event, Ahmady Mohammad Yasin, an official from Afghanistan's Ministry of Energy and Water, said the initiative is important for every country. As Afghanistan has abundant resources, he hoped the two countries could have more cooperation in the energy and mining sectors. "The Belt and Road Initiative is not only for China, Asia, Europe, but also the whole world," Shambhu Prasad Ghimire, advisor to the deputy speaker of the Legislature-Parliament Secretariat of Nepal, said. "It makes very good connection with each other, not only for development but also for the happiness and the prosperity of the people," he added. Ghimire said China has cooperated with Nepal in infrastructure from the very beginning. He is looking forward to cooperation in health and education, in particular, in building hospitals in rural areas and polytechnic schools that impart practical skills. The Belt and Road Initiative "shows the leadership of China and its responsibility for the rest of the world", said Loannis Economides, senior industrial extension officer in Cyprus' Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism. Cyprus has rich natural gas reserves. At present some international companies, including Total, Eni, Kogas and ExxonMobil are exploring natural gas in the exclusive economic zone in Cyprus, Economides said. He hoped that Chinese companies will join in the country's natural gas exploration in future. "We hope that in future we'll get a Chinese company as well. If there are more discoveries, I'm sure that will interest Chinese companies because this is in line with the energy policy of China," he added. Economides is optimistic about progress in liquefied natural gas as it is more environmentally friendly than oil. Being near to the Suez Canal, Cyprus has been a base for international shipping management companies. He hoped that Chinese companies would also base themselves there to manage their fleet. Cyprus has a trade deficit with China and it hopes to export more to China in the future and is seeking such opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative, he said. Data provided by the China University of Petroleum show 55 percent of the world's proved reserves of crude oil and more than 76 percent of the proved reserves of natural gas come from the economies along the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2014, 71.5 percent of China's oil imports and 96.1 percent of its natural gas imports came from the economies along the Belt and Road Initiative. By 2016, China oil majors including China National Petroleum Corp and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp had invested in some 200 oil and gas projects in more than 50 economies overseas, according to a blue book issued by the China Petroleum Enterprise Association and China Oil and Gas Center. The university said it is proud of the tradition of training personnel to accommodate the globalization of Chinese oil and gas giants. Amid increasing interest in the Belt and Road Initiative, it plans to start overseas student recruitment this year in its new campus in Karamay city, a key linkage on the Belt and Road routes and located in China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, the London-based multinational advertising and public relations company. NEW YORK China's Belt and Road Initiative and other similar efforts are really important for the future growth of multinationals and their clients, the CEO of a leading global advertising company told Xinhua in a recent interview. "The next billion middle-class consumers are not going to come from the United States or Western Europe. They're going to come from Asia, from Latin America, from Africa, the Middle East and from South, Central and Eastern Europe," said Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, the London-based multinational advertising and public relations company. "So, initiatives like the Belt and Road are really important for our company and our clients," he added. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes and promote common development among all countries and regions involved. For the advertising and marketing services industry, the dominant growth engines in 2017 are United States and China, said Sorrell, adding that China, including Hong Kong, is WPP's third-largest market, accounting for about $1.6 billion of revenues out of the $26 billion in total and 14,000 workers out of about 200,000. "Growth has plateaued in the last two to three years and 2017 looks like another year of modest growth in comparison to the growth that we've seen in previous years going back beyond 2015 to earlier times. However, we remain unabashed bullish on China and the Chinese economy," he said, describing the Chinese market as "a really important part of our company." Meanwhile, he noted that the United States remains the biggest economy in the world and WPP's largest market, accounting for about $6.5 billion of the group's 2016 revenues. "America will always be important in our strategy whether it's Buy America First, Buy America or Hire America, but the other markets of the world, particularly post-Brexit, are becoming even more important, too," he said. "So, our focus remains on Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe, which is already one-third of our business. We want them to be 45 percent," he added. Sorrell said he hopes Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump will establish a strong relationship and the two largest economies in the world will strengthen rather than weaken their ties. Should there be a trade war between the US and China, it would "not be helpful, to say the least," he warned. [April 11, 2017] Seasonal Allergies: Stop the Itching & Sneezing With These new Apps Pollenexperts.ca releases a new app to assist people and pets suffering from pollen and mold allergies OTTAWA, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ - Aerobiology Research Laboratories, the only professional pollen and mold/spore analysis company in North America has just released two new apps to help the 9 million Canadians and 1 million dogs, cats and horses suffering from allergic rhinitis, hay fever or even asthma to avoid allergy triggers in the air. "There is no cure that exists for seasonal allergies. One of the best ways to avoid the triggers is to know what is in the air" says Frances Coates, owner and operator of Aerobiology Laboratories in Ottawa. "Our new apps allow people and pet owners to see exactly what is in the air and avod the specific allergens that affect them." There are two new apps; one is for people who suffer from allergies and one for pets that suffer from allergies. The free apps will provide you with the total pollen levels in the air and forecasts that are over 82% accurate when compared to the actual results. Allergy sufferers may want to sign up for the premium version in order to see the specific pollen and mold levels you are allergic to, get tips to minimize the effects, track your symptoms and medication and compare them as well. You will also get a warning message when specific pollen and spores seasons are about to start. All these features are available on the pet app as well. When you combine knowledge with science you have the perfect balance to minimize the effects that pollen and spores can have on people's and animals' quality of life. By knowing what is in the air and combining that with your medication and allergist's recommendations, you will have the best combination for minimizing the effects of seasonal allergies and improving your quality of life. You can download the free people and pet apps from the Apple App Store, Google Play, using search term Aerobiology, or at www.pollenexperts.ca. Media inquiries: Daniel Coates [email protected] Office: 613-226-9820 Cell Phone: 613-447-0813 SOURCE Aerobiology Research Laboratories [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Chinese enterprises, with a growing globalization capability in recent years, have diverted more capital from developing countries to developed European and American market with higher access threshold. They also put more money into high technology, agriculture and real estate rather than previous energy, minerals and other natural resources. Private businesses carry more weight in overseas investment Private capitals now make up bigger share in China's overseas investment, reshaping the cake dominated by State-owned enterprises (SOE) previously. According to a recent statement issued by the US electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, Chinese internet giant Tencent has become its 5th largest shareholder after purchasing 5 percent of the company's passive stake at the price of about $1.78 billion. The investment would probably help Tesla further expand its market share in China, said a Forbes commentary. Most of the Chinese capitals in the US used to be invested by SOEs, and now private companies have become a major force, said Steve Orlins, president of National Committee on US-China Relations. He was one of the first US citizens who came to China after the two countries established diplomatic ties. A report complied by China General Chamber of Commerce - USA said that more than 80 percent of Chinese capitals in the US market as of 2016 were contributed by private enterprises. Wanxiang Group, a Chinese automotive component manufacturer who accessed the US in 1994, has established 28 factories in the country, becoming the largest Chinese enterprise in central and western US. According to local media, every 1 in 3 automobiles in the US is installed with components manufactured by Wanxiang America Corporation. Wanxiang Group invested $12.5 million to build a 4,000-squaremeter solar panel factory in Rockford, Illinois in April 2010, receiving financing support from the state government. In August of the same year, after winning a $4 million financial backing from local government, Wanxiang Group used the money to develop a 62-megawatt solar power plant at Chicago Rockford International Airport, which is the largest project of its kind in central and western US. Chinese battery and new-energy vehicle manufacturer BYD established the first electric bus and power battery factory in northern Los Angeles' Lancaster in May 2013. President Stella Li of BYD Motors told People's Daily that the company has recruited local employees, made specific training plans and established research and development center for high-end buses. Localization of production not only cultivated skillful workers, but also built competitive research teams, he added. Expanding its market from western to central US, BYD is now stretching its reach to the East US and Canada. A total of 500 employees work at BYD Motor's manufacturing facility in Lancaster, including 30 bus designers, 120 managers and 350 operators. Tony Martinez, director of the welding workshop, said that he earned bread in the car maker since it offers a salary he had never had before. It is learnt that the income of local employees at BYD is 37 percent higher than the average income of workers in Los Angeles. Investments to five sectors grow at faster pace The US is unquestionably a sci-tech power. As China stepped up its efforts to restructure economy, its businesses are diverting the focus of investment from the lower end of industrial chain, such as energy and minerals, to the higher-end high-tech fields. According to a report issued by Rhodium Group, 5 industries have witnessed the most rapid growth in China's investment in the US. The investment in real estate, information technology, health care and biotechnology, finance as well as commercial service have all experienced a compound growth rate of over 50 percent in 2013-2015 period. Chinese communication giant ZTE established its US branch in 1998, in a bid to enhance cooperation with US technology partners and provide quality products to the US consumers. By the end of 2016, ZTE had invested a total of $25.8 billion in the US. The company has not only offered diverse choices for US consumers, but also revived the country's employment and economy through the purchase of US technologies and high-tech components. Senior Vice President of ZTE Corporation Cheng Lixin told People's Daily that the company has become the largest mobile phone brand from China in the US market. In the past decade, ZTE has spent $2.6 billion on purchasing products and technologies from the US sci-tech companies, said Cheng, also CEO of ZTE USA, adding that it has offered more than 130,000 high-tech jobs each year. More than 80 percent of its 300 employees in the US are local staffs. "ZTE is a good example to demonstrate the win-win results of international trade," said the governor of Kansas Sam Brownback, adding that he deeply understands the importance of international trade and investment for the healthy development of the state's economy. BEIJING China is willing to work with the United States to progress negotiations on the bilateral investment treaty, Premier Li Keqiang said Monday. As each other's largest trading partners and with economic interests highly integrated, China and the US can achieve win-win through deepening cooperation, Li said when meeting with the first delegation to China from the new US congress. "China is willing to expand trade, two-way investment and cooperation at the local level and handle any disputes or frictions through dialogue with the US to realize a more balanced trade relationship," Li said. The premier said a healthy and stable China-US relationship and enhanced cooperation is in the interests of the two countries and is conducive to the world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Li said the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump several days ago set the tone for the progression of bilateral relations. He said China was willing to work with the US to enhance exchanges and dialogue in various fields and at all levels and promote greater development of relations based on mutual respect and benefits. US senators Steve Daines, John A. Barrasso, Rob Portman, John Neely Kennedy and congressmen Chris Stewart and Brad Wenstrup said the US-China relationship was the most important bilateral relationship for the US. The US delegation said congress will strengthen its relations with China and expects more lawmakers to visit China and contribute to mutually beneficial cooperation. HAIKOU Svetlana Shipetko and her two sons did not just come to South China's tropical island of Hainan to escape the freezing Siberian weather. Shipetko had an equally important goal -- to ease her lower back pain. Instead of prescribing painkillers, Shipetko's Chinese doctor Tang Yi performed the traditional Chinese therapy of "tuina," which literally means "push-and-pinch." Every morning, Shipetko received the therapy at the Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, then spent the rest of the day bathing in the sun. "It is great," she told Xinhua through an interpreter. "No pills, no injections, but I feel much better." Shipetko is one of tens of thousands of Russians who flock to Hainan every year. The island province has received 800,000 Russian tourists in the past seven years. Almost 80 percent of them tried some form of traditional Chinese therapy during their stay -- either to treat a particular ailment or simply for wellness, health authorities said. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has in recent years gained popularity in a world dominated by modern Western medicine. Clinics have proliferated outside of China, but many face challenges such as getting herbs across the border or luring experienced professionals to work overseas. As a result, more foreigners are coming to China for TCM treatment or therapy. The boom is particularly felt in Sanya, where Russian-language advertisements for acupuncture pop up across the city. Global flow of patients International medical tourism became popular in the mid-20th century with wealthy European and North American patients traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery sprees. In the markets that first responded to the demand, such as Brazil, South Africa, and Costa Rica, a variety of modestly priced procedures were offered. The sector flourished with the rise of quality health care, commercial aviation, and the internet. It is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. US-based industry resource company Patients Beyond Borders estimates between 9.8 million and 14.8 million patients visited overseas hospitals and clinics in 2016. People are tempted by lower costs, quality care, improved patient experience, specialty treatments, and the lure of "the new and different," according to the company. It said that in 2013 alone, more than 900,000 Americans headed overseas for "nearly every imaginable type" of medical treatment: weight loss surgery in Mexico, heart valve replacements in Thailand, hip resurfacing in India, and fertility treatments in Israel. In Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea are the rising stars, drawing a great majority of patients within the region. "We see a rising market in China," said Patients Beyond Borders CEO Josef Woodman in an e-mail interview. He said China can successfully compete with mature markets in the region, as it is strong in TCM treatment and its health care infrastructure is fast improving. Beyond cups and needles Acupuncture, cupping, tuina massage, and herbal medicine are some of the best-known TCM treatments overseas, but TCM master Prof. Hu Kaiwen believes the ancient healing system has even more to offer. Hu, president of Dongfang Hospital in downtown Beijing, is a veteran oncologist who specializes in integrating TCM with conventional Western medicine to treat advanced tumor patients. While Western medicine sees cancer as abnormal cells to be annihilated, TCM considers the ailment a sign of imbalance of body and mind and prioritizes restoring balance rather than annihilation. Hu said one Chinese philosophical saying applies: "Going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short." His therapy combines minimally invasive surgery with post-surgery TCM care. It offers an alternative to patients who do not respond well to chemotherapy or radiation. Hu said the herbs can work just as well to lengthen the lifespan and improve quality of life, but cost only a fraction of costly targeted Western drugs. Wang Tiansong, president of Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said foreign patients with cerebral palsy and strokes have also responded well to TCM treatment. Last year, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine set up a Chinese medicine center in St Petersburg as an outpost. "TCM is centered around being green and natural, making it compatible with Russians' passion for nature," said the center's Chinese director Wang Chaoyang. Infrastructure, promotion Hainan is not the only spot where foreign medical travelers swarm. In China's Northwest Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the Russians are joined by Kazakhs and other Central Asians from across the border. At the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University in Urumqi, signs are written in three languages -- Chinese, Uygur, and Russian. About 80 foreigners sought treatment in the first three months after the hospital opened its international department. Wu Yue, a top hospital official, said the demand from across the border is so strong that the hospital plans to start building an Asian Orthopedic Center. These developments have been incorporated into the Belt and Road Initiative the Chinese leadership proposed in 2013. Xinjiang has positioned itself as a regional hub that offers services to the region, including health care. Meanwhile, Hainan, once a key stop on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, is already being marketed as an international tourist island. Investors now set their eyes on medical infrastructure. A public-private-partnership cancer hospital, which cost 2.9 billion yuan ($426 million), opened last year in Hainan's capital city of Haikou. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and 1,200 beds, the hospital mainly targets wealthy treatment seekers from outside the province. China's State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Development and Reform Commission late last year set a target to build 10 TCM health tourism model zones offering medical treatment, wellness, recuperation, and elder care by 2020. Woodman said China is on the path to establishing quality health care infrastructure. In 2007, there were only three Chinese medical centers accredited by the Joint Commission International, while today there are more than 77. The next step, he said, will be to work toward promoting China as a medical tourism destination by working with the travel and economic development sectors. Some have sensed the business opportunity. Russian national Yana recently quit her tour guide job to join the Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a marketing officer. Yana, who has been a tour guide in Sanya for 12 years, said her new job is promising. "A lot of my Russian clients know about TCM and are interested in coming over," she said. China's Belt and Road Initiative has so far exceeded initial expectations in the past three years, according to a spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce of China. The spokesman, Shen Danyang, said the project has had expediential growth, with the newly signed contracts between China and the economies along the two trading routes exceeding $304.9 billion. Since 2013 when Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed the initiative, trade volume between China and those economies amounted to $3 trillion, with a total investment of $50 billion. Since then, 50 government-level cooperation agreements have been signed by China and the economies, and 56 economic and trade cooperation zones have been established. Shen made those remarks at a press conference on Monday when Beijing-based company, China Bond Rating Co Ltd, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences released a blue book highlighting outbound investment and risks. This year's report emphasizes the overall situation and major risks of overseas investment along the Belt and Road countries and regions. As mentioned in the annual report, China's outbound investment along the two trading routes will be expected to maintain a high amount of growth this year, with capitals primarily flowing into sectors, meeting the destinations' social and economic development demand. Findings also showed energy, transportation and information technology have been the top three fields attracting Chinese investors since 2015; with the majority of investors coming from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. Visitors walk past of a Boeing Business Jet 787 aircraft during the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) at Cointrin airport in Geneva, Switzerland, May 24, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] SHANGHAI - Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) has seen continuous growth in China and has a fleet of 29 BBJ aircraft in operation in the market, said Boeing at a business airshow in Shanghai Tuesday. "The figure shows that the BBJ fleet has tripled [in China] over the last five years in this burgeoning market," said Greg Laxton, vice-president with Boeing Business Jets, at the 2017 Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition. "We are confident that strong growth will continue in China. We expect the new BBJ MAX family to be very popular in this market with additional cabin space and significant range increases." Boeing said the BBJ fleet in China would continue to expand in 2017 with two BBJs, one BBJ 2 and one BBJ 787 entering service. In 2018, two BBJ MAX 8s will be delivered to customers. Boeing Business Jets has signed an agreement with Ameco Beijing to serve as an official BBJ Warranty Service Center. The agreement allows BBJ customers in China to receive customized support for their aircraft. "We are committed to offering world-class customer support to customers in China. This new agreement is another way for them to access support that is fast and customized to their specific needs," Laxton said. Boeing and GE jointly initiated Boeing Business Jets in 1996. To date the company has more than 400 jets in operation worldwide. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. License for publishing multimedia online 0108263 Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 President Xi Jinping meets visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in Beijing Monday . [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING - President Xi Jinping met visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in Beijing Monday, voicing hope that the two countries could cement political mutual trust. "I appreciate the positive efforts made by the prime minister and Norwegian government in the normalization of bilateral ties," said Xi. Noting that Norway was one of the first western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the first European country to acknowledge China's market economy status, Xi said that friendship and cooperation had featured throughout the 63-years diplomatic relationship. "We believe the relationship and practical cooperation will embrace broad prospects, as long as China and Norway follow the principle of mutual respect and equal treatment, while respecting and accommodating each other's core interests and concerns," said Xi. Xi stressed that China and Norway should properly manage the direction of the relations' development from a long-term and strategic perspective, calling on the two sides to enhance political mutual trust, high-level contact, people-to-people exchanges and coordinate on major global and regional issues. A university in Chengdu, Sichuan province, has been criticized online for charging students fees to claim lost possessions. Last week, a student at Sichuan University of Media and Communications lost her cellphone. When she borrowed a phone to dial her own number, a man at the university's security department answered the phone and asked her to come and get it, she said. When she went to the department with a classmate, she was asked to pay 10 yuan ($1.50) before the phone was handed over. The student paid the fee and got her phone back. But her classmate was unhappy, thinking the practice went against the centuries-old Chinese value that one should unconditionally return things others have lost. She recounted the experience and made comments online. Many netizens sided with her, saying the charges are improper. Sun Haorui, deputy director of the university's publicity department, said the fees are used as reward for people who turn in lost items. The practice, which started in 2006, was also intended to remind students to take good care of their belongings, Sun said. Students handing in something worth more than 1,000 yuan would receive 10 yuan as a reward paid by the student who lost the item, he said. Zhu Lianzhai, a netizen in Wuhan, Hubei province, criticized the charge, saying it misleads students into seeking a reward for doing something good. Dong Yuchuan, a lawyer in Chengdu, said that according to the country's property law, everyone has the right to retrieve lost belongings. Those who lose items are free to reward finders, but if the university requires students to pay, they have a right to refuse, he said. In a one-room shop tucked inside a Beijing alley, a bearded 74-year-old fortuneteller in a crimson tunic offers what Chinese parents have sought for centuries: an auspicious name for their newborn. But business has been tough lately for Mao Shandong and others in his trade, as tech-savvy entrepreneurs have turned the ancient naming tradition into a lucrative online business. "We can't make a living these days," Mao lamented. Unlike in English, where one draws from a lexicon of Josephs and Richards, a Chinese name can be created from any combination of two or three characters. And for many Chinese parents, making the right choice has become imperative as they seek to help their children stand out in the world's most populous country. "Parents care more and more about personal brand," said Zhang Ruxin, 37, the co-founder of Beijing-based naming service Qimingtong - which essentially means "Clear Naming". "They realize that the name will follow their child for their entire life, be judged by their employers and have an impact on their values." Qimingtong operates almost entirely online, with parents filling out web questionnaires and Zhang offering consultations through the popular messaging app WeChat. A quick web search reveals more than 100 such businesses in China, each promising names that will pave the way for future success. Baby branding Zhang founded Qimingtong in late 2014 with her business partner, Chen Jun, after working for two decades as a newspaper reporter. The idea arose as she pursued her hobby: helping friends and colleagues name their children. Zhang and her employees also help name dozens of newborns every day for walk-ins. Rates range from 400 yuan ($58) to 10,000 yuan for a private consultation with Zhang. Liu Qiang, a police officer in Henan province, and his wife wanted to use a modern naming method that still accounts for bazi - the traditional belief in a destiny determined by one's date of birth. Bazi, or eight characters, refers to the eight digits denoting the year, month, day and hour of birth. It is believed to determine the natural elements present in one's life, such as metal, wood, water, fire and earth. A name can compensate for the elements a child lacks. Liu's son lacked a wood element, so Qimingtong named him "Bailin", combining the characters for cypress tree and a mythical, dragon-like creature from Chinese folklore to create a name his parents hope will help him forge a unique identity. Chinese looking to move abroad or work for international companies may also seek help choosing an English name. At Lindsay Jernigan's first job in Shanghai, she worked alongside Apple, Yoyo and Eleven. While her company was filled with "really smart, driven" professionals, Jernigan, a 27-year-old United States citizen, feared their names would hurt their prospects in English-speaking workplaces. Two years ago she founded BestEnglishName.com, which charges 248 yuan for a 30-minute consultation via WeChat. Some clients request English names that still adhere to bazi, forcing Jernigan to get creative. If someone wants a water element, she may suggest "Brook", "Morgan" (a water sprite in Welsh), or "Lindsay", which means "Linden trees by the water". "Of course you can just get lists of names online, but we're the only ones who truly understand the Chinese mentality," Jernigan said. "Naming is a way of self-expression. The demand is definitely here." Not everyone shares her optimism. Mao said he is ready to abandon his fortunetelling business, even as he scorns his rivals in the naming industry. "All those websites, they're the scams," he said. "They don't truly understand Chinese tradition." AFP [April 11, 2017] BillingTree ARM Industry Survey reveals adoption of online portals top technology trend for 2017 PHOENIX, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BillingTree, the leading payment technology provider, released the key findings of its ARM Industry Survey Report today- the first of four in the '2017 Operations and Technology Survey' series. The results, from over 200 agencies of all sizes, show technology adoption continues to be a key priority - with collection agencies highlighting the revenue opportunities provided by online portals, interactive voice response (IVR) and virtual debt negotiation. For the first time in the five-year history of the survey, online portals surpassed live agents as the most popular payment channel, with card payments and ACH payments ranking as the most accepted methods. When asked about technology plans for 2017, adoption of online portals ranked first at 32%, closely followed by IVR at 28% and virtual debt negotiation at 23%. The results once again confirmed the biggest challenged faced by most ARM firms is compliance. The importance of PCI compliance outranked concerns around CFPB enforcement and Regulation-E. Unsurprisingly it followed that the importance of choosing a PCI compliant payment processing partner remained the top priority for the second year running. Client expansion was the primary focus of respondents. Interestingly, the number of agencies accepting HSA/FSA payments has significantly increased from 33% in 2016 to 43% in 2017. Through accepting HSA/FSA payments as an authorized third party to healthcare providers, agencies can facilitate payments for both past due and current medical debts incurred by patients. However, the number of respondents planning on adopting a convenience fee model has dropped, with 44% of ARM organizations having no plans to implement fees in 2017. "Having collected ARM Industry data for five consecutive years, we continue to see significant technology adoption changes within collections," said Dave Yohe, VP of Marketing at BillingTree. "As payments and technology continue to evolve - these results, combined with the remainder of the survey series later this year, will provide collection agencies, healthcare providers, credit unions and property management companies with unrivalled insight to help them prepare for technology opportunities while remaining compliant." To request a complimentary copy of the 2017 ARM Industry Operations, Technology & Payments report visit: https://start.mybillingtree.com/acton/media/15831/2017-arm-survey-report Related News: BillingTree Underwrites Operations and Technology Survey Series for Fifth Consecutive Year About BillingTree BillingTree is the leading provider of integrated payments solutions to the healthcare, ARM and financial services industry verticals. Through its technology-enabled suite of products and services, BillingTree enables organizations to increase efficiency and decrease the costs of payment processing while adhering to compliance regulations. Leveraging more than a decade of market experience, BillingTree is dedicated to growing payments with technology through an integrated omni-channel offering, suite of proprietary products and value-added services, and a Company-wide focus on delivering extraordinary customer service. Contact: Contact: Dave Yohe Jamie Kightley VP of Marketing PR for BillingTree BillingTree IBA Tel: 602.443.5948 Tel: 561.228.1940 [email protected] [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/billingtree-arm-industry-survey-reveals-adoption-of-online-portals-top-technology-trend-for-2017-300437669.html SOURCE BillingTree [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] During the annual gathering of national legislators and policy advisers at this year's two sessions, Zhu Hong prepared a cup of tea for each participant in her panel discussion using dried chrysanthemums she had brought from home. The flowers unfurled in the hot water as the tips of their petals stretched out to reach the sides of the cups. Chrysanthemums have become part of the lifeblood of Shanlian village in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, where Zhu is the head. The village, with a population of more than 7,000, used to be listed among the district's poorest. A decade ago its per capita income was less than 10,000 yuan ($1,450), but that has since almost tripled. It is now known variously as "Jiangsu's happiest village" and a "national-level ecologically friendly village". Zhu, 31, returned home after graduating from college and working in a car dealership in Wuxi for a year. The first thing she did upon assuming office was to give the village a face-lift. Plants were put in to beautify the town's industrial park, a dilapidated temple was restored and ormosia hosiei trees, a symbol of love that are only found in eastern and central China, were planted. "Tour buses to our village from Wuxi Railway Station are available and the ride only takes an hour and a half. It has made it much easier for tourists to visit," Zhu said. "Many young people want a share of the benefits in developed cities, but I feel there is more potential on the rural stage." All the changes Zhu made to Shanlian soon began to attract the attention of city leaders and the media. Tourists followed not long after, asking about dining options and lodgings, so some villagers built farm stays, while others opened restaurants - using the fresh vegetables they grew in front of their houses. After the first trailblazers proved profitable, others followed suit. Over time, sightseeing tours, tandem bicycles and canoes were all introduced to the village. "Last year we received more than 400,000 tourists, who generated 22 million yuan in revenue," Zhu said. Meanwhile, Shanlian's chrysanthemum plantation has grown from less than 0.01 square kilometer a decade ago to nearly 0.3 sq km today. "Apart from the flowers grown for tea, we also have different species for use in food, medication and as bonsai plants," she said, adding that a packaged tea product made of chrysanthemums they developed jointly with Jiangnan University last year had sold much better than expected. After becoming a deputy to the National People's Congress in 2013, Zhu worked hard to collect people's opinions and listen to their voices on social media platforms. She has made suggestions to the legislature on topics related to residents' interests, such as the lack of caregivers for the elderly and the need for more preschools in rural areas. Student's artificial intelligence takes on human wordsmiths Yi Xiaoyuan had never been so "proud and nervous" in his life. On March 24, the 26-year-old computer science student looked on as the machine he had spent two years working on competed in its first "classical poem relay" at the Shanghai Science Hall. He had come to think of Jiu Ge, the machine, as his "daughter" and was anxious to see how she would perform in front of a hall packed with reporters, professors and students. Jiu Ge was competing against two Chinese poets in a contest that saw each side taking turns, using the last character from the previous verse to start their own line. Whoever was judged to have created the most beautiful verse in the shortest time would be crowned the winner. Using advanced linguistic artificial intelligence created by Yi and his seven-member team, Jiu Ge analyzes and draws inspiration from a database of more than 300,000 Chinese poems. "She can copy their style, symbolism, and rhythm," Yi said. After six verses, Jiu Ge was dominating. The audience watched in awe as the machine spat out lines filled with rhythm and symbolism within seconds, while the human poets struggled to keep up. The battle was not over yet, however. On the seventh turn, one of the human competitors recited a seven-character verse that intertwined images of bridges, ancient alleys and the new moon. The room felt silent - this was the most complex verse of the day, and its difficulty had Yi nervously tapping his finger on the arm of his wheelchair. About three seconds later, Jiu Ge matched the verse with stanzas that evoked a rising moon, lofty towers and the North Star. The audience burst into applause and cheers, but Yi frowned. The host, who was also the judge, said the computer's symbolism was weak. The two celestial symbols effectively canceled each other out because in classical Chinese culture, the moon symbolizes purity and modesty, while the North Star is imperial and authoritative. "So the image painted by the verse is contradictory," he said. Yi, backstage, said the judge had a point. "Although Jiu Ge can generate classical poems using the same wordplay and style as ancient poets, she still lacks the capacity to understand subtle human emotions and the logic that makes poetry so charming in the first place," he said. Despite this hiccup, Yi said he was "very satisfied" with Jiu Ge's performance, as it was the machine's first time facing off against a human poet. "I am not someone who gives up easily," he said with a chuckle, while patting his wheelchair. "She should not give up either." Yi was born into an ethnic Yi family in Yuxi, Yunnan province. Age 6, he developed rheumatoid arthritis and a rare bone disorder that stunted his growth, but he excelled at school. In 2012, he attained the 16th highest score among the 210,000 students from Yunnan taking the national college entrance exam, landing him a place at Tsinghua University in Beijing. He chose to study computer science - one of the school's most prestigious but challenging majors, and is now a first-year master's student. "Disabled people don't just need money and sympathy, it's more important that we get the chance to create our own future and contribute to society," he said. Yi wrote his bachelor's dissertation on Jiu Ge's algorithm, and he often spent days debugging the machine's artificial intelligence late into the night. Its name, Jiu Ge, is a reference to one of Yi's favorite classics of Chinese poetry, the anthology Chu Ci, from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). "Building an AI does feel like raising a daughter, because every piece of its needs to be created meticulously, or it will crash," he said, adding that he gets his sense of responsibility from his mother, who gave up her job as a nursing teacher to care for him in Beijing. "My family means everything to me, as I am everything to Jiu Ge," he said. "I want my baby to maximize her potential through deep learning, be free from her physical limitations, and become a sentient being capable of enjoying beautiful poetry, just like me." China hopes to further intensify cooperation with US law-enforcement agencies to bring back three fugitives accused of corruption at home and exposed in a visa fraud probe in California, an official familiar with the matter said on Monday. The two countries will try to keep in close contact and share information on the case, said the official who did not wish to be named due to the sensitive nature of the case. The three people gained their US "green cards" by faking documents, and as a result those green cards could be revoked. "We'll enhance cooperation with our US counterparts and ask for assistance in arresting and bringing them back to China." On April 5, US federal agents raided several locations in the greater Los Angeles area. They searched the office of the California Investment Immigration Fund, or the CIIF, in San Gabriel; a home in Arcadia; a town house in El Monte and a Porsche SUV. They seized computers, financial documents and other records for evidence of the suspected fraud. No arrests were made, and Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, said on April 6 no charges had been filed against the suspects at this point. They could face charges of visa fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the federal government. Victoria Chan, an attorney, and Tat Chan, her foreign national father, persuaded more than 100 Chinese nationals to invest a total of $50 million with the CIIF and related companies since establishing the business in 2008, according to a search warrant unsealed by the US District Court for the Central District of California. The court document also named another suspect, Fang Zeng, the father's female companion and a Chinese national. Among Chan's clients were at least three fugitives on China's 100 most wanted list, who were charged with crimes like bribery, according to the affidavit. They were able to obtain green cards based on false information. Xu Jin, number 13 on the list, was formerly the director of the Wuhan Municipal Development and Reform Commission in Hubei province. He was suspected of abusing power and bribery. Xu used fake documents to obtain a temporary US green card in 2010 and fled China in 2011 with his wife, according to the Chinese government. His wife, Liu Fang, number 66 on the list, was formerly deputy director of the Hubei branch of China Life Insurance Co. She was accused of bribery and obtained her US green card through deceit in 2010, according to the Chinese government. There was little information about the third fugitive, identified as "K.L.", according to the affidavit. The US has become a popular destination for corrupt Chinese officials to flee due to the lack of an extradition treaty and judicial differences between China and the US. Premier Li Keqiang meets with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw in Beijing, April 10, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] Premier Li Keqiang urged peace and stability in northern Myanmar when he met with Myanmar's President U Htin Kyaw in Beijing on Monday. Peaceful and stable northern Myanmar is directly related to China's security in the southwest and China does not wish to see any break on the stability of border areas and the region, Li said. Meanwhile, China supports Myanmar's endeavor to realize domestic peace and reconciliation, Li added. China is ready to continue to play a constructive role in Myanmar's peace process, he said. The two countries are highly complementary in economic ties and share bright prospect for further cooperation, Li said. China is willing to align its strategies with the neighbor's, carry out key projects and strengthen exchanges under the frameworks of China-ASEAN and Lancang-Mekong mechanisms, he said. Htin Kyaw, who is on a state visit, said Myanmar will make all efforts to keep border areas in peace and hopes China will continue its support for the neighbor's domestic peace process. He said his country appreciates China's consistent commitment to promoting bilateral cooperation and friendship as well as long-time aid for humanitarian purposes. Myanmar is willing to boost cooperation with China in fields such as infrastructure and agriculture while advancing key projects, he added. Foreign espionage agencies said to have intensified disruptive activities Beijing residents could be rewarded with up to 500,000 yuan ($72,460) if they can provide useful information on spies or related activities, according to a government policy that took effect on Monday. Under the policy, informants are eligible to be offered rewards ranging from 10,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan, depending on how useful the information is, according to the policy issued by the National Security Bureau of Beijing. Informants can pass information to authorities by calling a hotline, sending letters or visiting the bureau. Informants' privacy and information about spy-related messages will not be disclosed, while information providers can ask authorities for protection if they or their relatives are in danger due to the act of informing, according to the policy. However, informants will face punishments if they deliberately slander others or invent and spread false information, the policy stipulates. The bureau said in a release that China is witnessing rapid increases in international exchanges and the number of people entering or exiting the country each year. "Meanwhile, overseas espionage agencies and other hostile forces have also intensified their disruptive activities in China, including political infiltration, subversion and the stealing of intelligence," it said. Some Chinese individuals have also betrayed the nation to benefit their private interests, which offers overseas espionage agencies opportunities, the bureau said, adding that Beijing, as the capital, is the primary location for such activities. "Therefore, it's necessary to implement new measures in anti-espionage investigation, and to encourage the participation of the general public," it said. One of the most recent cases made public occurred in the eastern province of Jiangsu in January. Two residents in Lianyungang city, surnamed Zhang and Wan, called the national security authorities after they found a device with instructions in foreign languages while fishing in the Yellow Sea. The device was later found to be spying equipment made and used by overseas agencies to collect data, according to an official release. The national security authorities said the two informants received significant financial rewards, but the amount was not disclosed. China has intensified legislation on State security in recent years. In 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress - the country's top legislature - adopted the Counterespionage Law amid a more complex State security situation. The law stipulates that foreign organizations and individuals who conduct espionage activities or who instigate and sponsor others in conducting them will be punished, as will domestic organizations and individuals who spy on the country for foreign organizations and individuals. Xinhua contributed to this story. An eldercare worker who admitted killing a 97-year-old man because she wanted to receive her salary quicker has been sentenced to death by a court in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. Chen Yuping gave sleeping pills to the victim, identified only as Feng, and then strangled him as he lay unconscious just hours after she started work as his caregiver. The mother of two, who is in her 40s, arrived for her first day of work at Feng's home in the city's Panyu district on Jan 6, 2015. At 2 am the next day, a relative discovered the elderly man dead and called the police. An autopsy found traces of sleeping pills in his stomach and signs of strangulation on his neck. Chen was detained but initially denied any involvement in Feng's death. She later confessed that she had drugged and strangled him because she wanted to collect her salary and return home for Chinese New Year. The Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court heard testimony that the victim's family had promised to pay Chen a full month's salary even if she did not see out the entire month. Chen, who is from Yingde, about 140 kilometers north of Guangzhou, was sentenced to death and ordered to pay 38,329 yuan ($5,550) in compensation to the victim's family. In court, Chen's husband of 25 years testified that his wife was narrow-minded and driven by money. Her younger sister said she was introverted. A witness surnamed Xu, from the eldercare agency Chen worked for, said the defendant preferred to work with elderly people with critical illnesses and suggested she may have had a hand in the deaths of other patients. The court confirmed that it had set aside some allegations against Chen because of a lack of evidence. The Guangzhou public security bureau declined to comment on the case. Latest round of smog expected to stay until Sunday, ministry says China has seen its air quality worsen a little in the first quarter, particularly in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the national environmental authority said on Monday. "In the first three months, 71 percent of days in 338 cities tracked had good air quality, 0.9 percent higher than the same period last year, but the concentration of PM2.5 increased 3.3 percent year-on-year," said Liu Zhiquan, head of the environmental monitoring department at the Ministry of Environmental Protection. PM2.5 refers to the fine particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns that is hazardous to human health, and is one of the six air pollutants that are monitored continuously. While the average air quality has deteriorated slightly nationwide, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region saw a major drop in air quality in the first quarter. In that region, PM2.5 concentration soared to 95 micrograms per cubic meter, a 26.7 percent year-on-year increase, the ministry said. The national air quality standard for PM2.5 is 35 micrograms per cubic meter or less. In the 10 cities with the worst air quality, six were in the region - specifically in Hebei, a province where heavy industry is an economic pillar. The provincial capital, Shijiazhuang, topped the list in the first quarter, Liu said. Following the usual winter smog, residents in Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang will see a new round of air pollution starting on Thursday, with light to medium levels forecast, the ministry said on Monday. The bad air will last until Sunday, it said. Along with the worsening air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the southern Pearl River Delta also saw an increase in PM2.5 concentrations to 44 micrograms per cubic meter in the first quarter, an increase of 25.7 percent over the same period last year, Liu said. The delta region's average air quality met the national standard last year. Ministry experts blamed more active industrial production for the air quality deterioration in the northern and southern regions in the first three months. Satellite remote-sensing data from the ministry supported that opinion, with evidence that nitrogen oxides emissions - usually from factories in Hebei, Henan and Guangdong provinces - have soared compared with last year's first quarter. "The Purchasing Managers Index showed that manufacturing industries expanded. Petroleum processing and ferrous metal smelting have increased for two consecutive months," the experts said, adding that the more active industrial production had driven up demand for transportation, which in turn led to more vehicle exhaust. In the northern region, other factors that lead to increased air pollution are windless weather and higher humidity, they said. Algae pollution is a major threat to China's freshwater supply and ecosystem. Over the years, technology has become more effective at curbing algae blooms, but that will not be enough to cure the problem, ecologists said. "The key to stopping algae pollution is controlling the sources of nutrients washing into Taihu," said Qin Boqiang, director of the Taihu Laboratory for Lake Ecosystem Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Zhu Guangwei, a biochemist at CAS's Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, said more than 100 canals feed into the lake - one of China's largest freshwater bodies - which makes it extremely difficult to identify pollution sources. The lake is large, but shallow, with a maximum depth of 3 meters but more than 44 million people draw their water from it. "That means its environmental capacity (the ability to absorb pollution and clean itself) is very limited," Zhu said. Thanks to strict regulations, industrial effluent now accounts for less than half of the pollution in the lake, he said. However, as nearby cities have expanded, household sewage has become more prevalent than before. The frequent use of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers is also a big issue. "Farmers in Jiangsu province are some of the richest in the country. They have the money to use huge amounts of fertilizer on their crops to produce bigger yields," Zhu said. "The runoff from these big plantations is problematic because they are hard to regulate and farmers are reluctant to change their production methods." Agriculture and industry aren't the only pollution sources, though. About a quarter of the nitrogen in the water comes from the atmosphere, mostly likely from vehicle emissions, he added. Yang Guishan, a researcher at the institute, said: "We really need more data to get a grip on the full picture." Moreover, different quality standards apply to lakes and rivers, meaning pollutants that are considered safe in rivers can become hazardous once they build up in lakes. According to Zhu, the lake's economic significance means the problem needs to be rectified urgently, and members of the public must play their part: "Controlling pollution requires all hands on deck. Scientists and officials can only do so much. Society as a whole needs to change the mindset that we have a right to exploit nature for economic gain." Zhu proposed that the regulations covering key national ecological sites, such as Lake Taihu, should be much stricter than the national standards and they must take a wider range of pollutants into account. It is also important to find new industrial and agricultural production methods that are both economically rewarding and environmentally friendly. "Balancing economic growth and environmental protection is a difficult task, no doubt, but it is shortsighted to sacrifice the ecosystem for economic growth," he said. Without his walking stick and mud-soiled shoes, it would be easy to mistake the silver-haired, softly spoken Qin Boqiang for a professor of literature. Instead, he is the chief ecologist for Lake Taihu. The 54-year-old, who was born and raised on Xishan Island in the southern part of lake, said the pea-green eyesore "smells like dead fish". Qin graduated in hydro-engineering from Hohai University in Jiangsu province, China's top school for water studies, and studied physical geography at Lund University in Sweden as part of a fellowship exchange program. In 1996, he began working for the Taihu Laboratory for Lake Ecosystem Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "Taihu's water gave life to me, so it is my personal mission to save it," he said, recalling how his expertise was put to the test by a crisis a decade ago. In May 2007, an algae outbreak overwhelmed a waterworks that supplied Wuxi, a city on Taihu's northern shore, leaving more than 2 million people without clean water for a week. It was a wakeup call for the local government, which pledged to clean up the mess and guarantee water security. Along with other experts, Qin locked himself in a hotel room in Wuxi and tried to come up with both immediate and long-term solutions. "It turned out to be more difficult than anyone had anticipated," he said. "Taihu is like a giant lake in a pan, so despite its large surface area, its environmental capacity is actually very limited. The deepest spot is only 3 meters, so strong winds can drastically change the water dynamics, which can easily spread pollutants and mess up our data." Ten years ago, much less research had been conducted into shallow lakes compared with deep ones. "We had no previous solutions to consult, so everything was based on trial and error," he said. Qin repeated what he told an expert advisory committee: "The source of pollution must be stopped before any other restoration program can take effect." To reduce the number of pollution sources, the local authorities closed or relocated hundreds of factories and plants around the lake, built better sewage and waste-disposal infrastructures and implemented strict regulations on the release of effluents. For Qin, there is still much to do: "The battle is far from over." Brian Goldberg, founder of Mr Bing, and Reuben Shorser, co-founder of the Jianbing Company, both discovered jianbing while studying Mandarin in Beijing. After returning to New York, they both started their own jianbing businesses. [Photo/CCTV] Jianbing, a popular Chinese street snack, has lately taken New York City by storm. Brian Goldberg, founder of Mr Bing, and Reuben Shorser, co-founder of the Jianbing Company, both discovered jianbing while studying Mandarin in Beijing. After returning to New York, they both started their own jianbing businesses. "Jianbing is so new to New Yorkers that demand for it has exceeded our expectations," the director of operations at Mr Bing remarked. The company sells several hundred jianbing every day. To ensure the authenticity of its jianbing, Mr Bing invited Chinese jianbing-makers to train the company's employees in New York. In China, street vendors sell the snack for less than a dollar apiece. In New York, it can go for as much as $15. American consumers have so far given positive feedback about the traditional snack, and have shared pictures of it across social media. A traditional jianbing starts with batter ladled onto a round cast-iron griddle. After different sauces and ingredients are placed onto the thin crepe, it is folded up to be eaten like a sandwich. [April 11, 2017] Unify Named An Industry Leader In Aragon Research Globe For Unified Communications And Collaboration 2017 MUNICH and BOCA RATON, Fla., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Unify, the Atos brand for communications software and services, was recently recognized as an industry Leader in the first Aragon Research Globe for Unified Communications and Collaboration. A research and advisory firm specializing in guiding enterprises in technology and strategy decisions, Aragon examined 14 major Unfied Communications and Collaboration (UCC) providers to create a detailed analysis of the most competent vendors within the voice, video, messaging, communications, and collaboration markets. It ranks UCC providers as either a Leader, Innovator, Contendor or Specialist by analyzing an organization's strategy, performance and reach. In the report, author and lead analyst Jim Lundy noted that Unify's strengths, including UCC expertise with OpenScape, vertical industry solutions, a wealth of cloud deployment options and a strong PaaS platform with Circuit in particular, helped to solidfy its ranking as a leader in the industry. "Circuit, Unify's Mobile Collaboration platform, a key component of Atos Digital Workplace, supports messaging, voice, and video and includes seamless integration with OpenScape," noted Lundy. "With its existing enterprise penetration with OpenScape, Unify stands to define the upgrade roadmap for existing users." *"The Aragon Research Globe for Unified Communications and Collaboration, 017," Jim Lundy, March 2nd, 2017. About Unify Unify is one of the world's leading communications software and services brands, providing integrated communications and collaboration solutions worldwide. Our customers range in size from 5 employees to 500,000+ employees. Our solutions unify multiple voice, video and data networks, connected devices and applications into one easy-to-use platform that allows teams to collaborate effectively and efficiently anytime, anywhere. The result is a transformation of how the enterprise communicates and collaborates that amplifies collective effort, energizes the business, improves employee satisfaction and enhances business performance. Unify has a strong heritage of product reliability, innovation, open standards and security. Our OpenScape and Circuit communications solutions provide a seamless and efficient collaboration experience on any device. Together, the group's global team of UCC experts and service professionals set the standard for a rich communications and collaboration experience that empowers teams to deliver better results. Unify is an Atos company. About Atos Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with approximately 100,000 employees in 72 countries and annual revenue of around 12 billion. The European number one in Big Data, Cybersecurity, High Performance Computing and Digital Workplace, The Group provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payment industry. With its cutting-edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, Atos supports the digital transformation of its clients across various business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Energy & Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index. Aragon Research does not endorse vendors, or their products or services that are referenced in its research publications, and does not advise users to select those vendors that are rated the highest. Aragon Research publications consist of the opinions of Aragon Research and Advisory Services organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Aragon Research provides its research publications and the information contained in them "AS IS," without warranty of any kind. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unify-named-an-industry-leader-in-aragon-research-globe-for-unified-communications-and-collaboration-2017-300436473.html SOURCE Unify [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An employee counts yuan banknotes at a bank in Huaibei, Anhui province, June 22, 2010. [Photo/Agencies] One hundred and five government agencies have disclosed their financial budgets for 2017 so far this year, according to Economic Information Daily, citing data from the Ministry of Finance. Ten of the agencies are publicizing their budgets for key areas for the first time, including the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Science and Technology. This is also the first time that departments and commissions of the central government put up their annual expenditure through a single mutual platform. Each agency disclosed a total of eight statement sheets, containing summary statements of revenue and expenditure, "three public expenses" -- overseas business trips, vehicle purchase and maintenance, as well as official receptions, among others. This is the eighth consecutive year that central government agencies have pushed forward their budget openness. The timing of budget publication is a little bit different this year -- eight days earlier than last year. The Supreme People's Court, the administration department of China's National Working Commission on Aging and the Central Institute of Socialism are among the departments this year that for the first time have disclosed their financial budgets. As for the budgets for key areas mentioned above, there are 10 in total that have been publicized, including the Education Ministry's earmark fund for talent and the Environmental Protection Ministry's project for air, water and soil pollution prevention and control. The agencies published the spending plans on their own websites and on the central budget and final accounts public platform that was established in 2016. These moves will facilitate supervision from the public, according to Xinhua. Soaring housing prices are driving people out of the country's first-tier cities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, a new survey shows. The Social Survey Center of China Youth Daily recently surveyed 2,000 people, who were either currently or had previously worked or studied in first-tier cities about their plans. The survey found more than 70 percent had left or were planning to move away. About 23 percent of respondents had already left the first-tier cities and about 48 percent were planning to leave. Only 21.5 percent were not thinking about leaving, and 7.5 percent hadn't decided. High house prices was named by 64 percent as their main reason for leaving, while high cost of living (46.9 percent), poor air environment, hard work, difficulty getting a hukou and traffic congestion were listed as other reasons. Feng Qian, who graduated from Peking University four years ago, now works at a bank in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province. He said he left Beijing because of how difficult it is to get a hukou. If people left the first-tier cities, 46.7 percent said they would go to capital cities of provinces, regions or other municipalities. About a quarter would head to prefecture-level cities, while some preferred county towns. However, the survey also found that 32.4 percent of respondents who had left the first-tier cities had since returned. Zhai Bing, 28, who worked as a property salesperson in Shanghai for five years before returning to a county town in Henan province two years ago, is now back in Shanghai working for an online shop. She said she could not bear the complicated relationships among people, the low income and boring life in her hometown. Another reason for her return was the poor relationship with her mother-in-law. The construction site of the Zhuhai part of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. [Photo/CCTV] The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, soon to be the world's longest cross-sea passage, is one step closer to being completed. A 2.7-kilometer tunnel, which had been dug through on Monday, has linked the Zhuhai part of the project, the Southern Metropolitan Daily reported on Tuesday. Throughout this stage, working with the soft underground soil, engineers used pipes to hold the tunnel's structure, freezing the soil into place with specialised equipment to prevent water leakage. Construction of the bridge began in December 2009 at Zhuhai. The bridge and tunnel system, which span the Pearl River estuary, is important in integrating Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong. The Y-shaped bridge starts from Lantau Island in Hong Kong and branches out to Zhuhai and Macao. Major works on the 55-km bridge were completed in September 2016. The bridge is expected to be open to traffic by the end of this year. Once in operation, the current four-hour drive from Hong Kong to Zhuhai will be reduced to less than an hour. All Pearl River Delta cities will then be within a reasonable commuting radius of Hong Kong. A graphic shows how the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge connects the three cities. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn] Infographic: Bridging the past and the present LANZHOU - Tang Renjian was appointed deputy governor and acting governor of northwest China's Gansu Province Tuesday. The decision was made at a session of the Standing Committee of the Gansu Provincial People's Congress, which also accepted Lin Duo's request to leave the post. Tang, 54 and a native of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, was deputy director of the central rural work leading group before moving to work in Gansu in April 2017. Tang is also currently deputy secretary of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China. Jiang Jianguo, minister of the State Council Information Office of China, presents the Cambodian edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during the launch of the book in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. [Photo by Xu Wei/chinadaily.com.cn] The Cambodian edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China made its debut in Phnom Penh on Tuesday as Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen called on the country's young people to read the book to learn about governing a country. The book in Khmer, the Cambodian language, joins editions published in 16 other languages, with 6.2 million copies distributed worldwide. Hun Sen, at a ceremony marking the local debut of the book, said it captures the essence of China's socialist development. "The Chinese government has spared no efforts in improving its capacities in governance and the rule of law," he said. It also explains China's efforts in fighting corruption and deepening reform, he said. The Khmer edition followed the unveiling of the book's Thai language version in Bangkok on Friday. Jiang Jianguo, minister of the State Council Information Office, said at the Phnom Penh ceremony that Xi has always favored the people, and his train of thought and measures of reform and development reflect the interests of the people and progress toward social equality. Jiang noted the country's public welfare improvements in the past five years, such as having lifted more than 60 million people out of poverty, with the total number of college students reaching 37 million. Lok Chumteav Clot Thida, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, which translated the book into Khmer, said the academy will look to translate more works by Chinese and Cambodian leaders to aid scholarly research. Meas Chhor Poam, principal of Preah Norodom Primary School in Phnom Penh, said he plans to use Xi's book as a teaching material in his school. "The book is the guidebook on the development of China. China is already the world's second-largest economy, and could be the largest in the future. "I think China can share its development experience with Cambodia, especially given the historical friendship between the two countries," he said. Meas Sokunth, a government adviser, said he believes China's development is a good model for Cambodia. "The two countries have a strong diplomatic relationship and a similar culture and political environment. That is why the Chinese experience can be applied here," he said. "China is big country that can unite all nationalities in it. The country's phenomenal development shows the importance of the unity of a country," he said. He said China's strong anti-corruption drive and its diplomatic policies to reach out to all countries in the region also make Xi's book a must-read. HONG KONG -- Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, incoming chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), has pledged to continue upholding the "one country, two systems" principle and work for the SAR's development. Lam made the remarks in a recent joint interview with Xinhua and the China Central Television after she was appointed as the Hong Kong SAR's fifth-term chief executive by the State Council on March 31. Lam won the chief executive election with 777 of 1,163 valid votes on March 26 and she will assume office on July 1, 2017. In the interview, Lam stressed that the Hong Kong SAR chief executive shall be accountable not only to the special administrative region and people there, but also to the central government. "Keeping Hong Kong's prosperity and stability is the shared goal of both the SAR government and the central government. The chief executive must play well the 'bridge' role between the special administrative region and the central government." The chief executive should accurately inform the central government of how local people feel and what they want, and at the same time should also explain accurately the central government's policies related to the SAR to the local people, she said. 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' PRINCIPLE TO BE UPHELD This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. While hailing the successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong over the past 20 years, Lam said that to become the new chief executive at this historic moment is a great honor, and it also means great responsibilities. She vowed to continue administrating in accordance with the Basic Law to ensure the "one country, two systems" principle is steadfastly implemented in Hong Kong without bending or distortion. She also pledged to further build up the understanding of the Basic Law, especially the understanding of the major premise of "one country," among the local people, particularly young students and civil servants. There is still plenty of room to do it, she said. With regard to the future administration, Lam said the SAR government will become "more open and inclusive" as well as "more transparent." She noted that in recent years, political differences in Hong Kong have hampered the growth of local economy and the improvement of the people's livelihood. Lam sternly warned of the consequences of the "Hong Kong independence" activities, saying they are totally against the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, and will undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. "The notion of 'Hong Kong independence' will lead nowhere in Hong Kong, and it will never be tolerated." GOV'T TO PLAY MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN DEVELOPING ECONOMY While speaking highly of Hong Kong's development since its return to the motherland 20 years ago, Lam noted the severe challenges facing the region given the sluggish world economic growth and the growing trend of protectionism. "Hong Kong has continued to be an international financial hub and metropolis as well as the world's freest economy with sharp competitive edges, but its advantages in traditional sectors have been decreasing." To meet the challenges, the incoming SAR government should seek changes while maintaining stability and play a more active and promising role in developing economy, Lam said. "The SAR government will play a more active role in boosting economy, working well as a service provider and supervisor as well as a facilitator and promoter in the economic sector." The incoming SAR government will introduce a series of fiscal and tax measures to improve Hong Kong's competitive edges so as to achieve growth in both traditional and emerging industries, Lam said. Hong Kong is a relatively mature economy, thus it's difficult for it to achieve a relatively high growth rate in the future. But Hong Kong can tap into the potentials and opportunities brought by the mainland's reforms and opening-up, the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" development initiative to grow its economy. Lam said she was very excited that the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" was included in the government work report. The timing is quite good for Hong Kong, she noted, adding that substantial progress in infrastructure is expected to be made to facilitate development in the region. GOV'T TO TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITIES TO ADDRESS HOUSING PROBLEM The housing problem has always been a concern for Hong Kong people as well as the SAR government. Lam said land supply and demand is the crux of the problem; when supply is running short, the government should focus on demand management to avoid speculation on property. In the long run, more should be done on land supply as Hong Kong, a free economy and international commercial hub, should not keep people outside, and it should welcome inflow of investment, she said. In the future, the government will put more emphasis on land supply as this is of vital significance for housing supply, Lam said. According to statistics, Hong Kong has about 1,100 square kilometers of land, only 26 percent of which has been developed so far. Lam said housing is a quite important and pressing problem for Hong Kong people, so any policy in this regard should be studied carefully. She noted she has proposed a series of measures, including setting up a task force to invite people from all walks of life to review the sources of land supply from a comprehensive and macro perspective. Government officials should not be scared of proposing new ideas, so long as they are good for Hong Kong and good for the people here. What should be scared of is lacking innovation impetus to change the status quo, she said. BETTER EDUCATION, MORE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT On education, Lam envisioned the next generation in Hong Kong being educated into a generation having national identity, loving Hong Kong and possessing a world view. Lam proposed in her campaign platform an annual increase of 5 billion HK dollars (643.4 million U.S. dollars) in the government's recurrent spending on education. However, she pointed out that taking pains to improve the educational system, including schools, teachers, curriculum design and assessment system, is even more important than increasing expenditure. Hong Kong needs to streamline its education system and reduce pressure in a comprehensive way, she said. "The goal of education should be to foster young people's motivation for exploring new fields and develop their capabilities to pursue innovation." Besides assisting the young people in their education, career and getting on the property ladder, Lam also called for offering them more opportunities to participate in policy discussion and formulation. She urged heads of departments of the SAR government to get in direct touch with young people and listen to their views on government policies and social issues. She also proposed to include more youth into the government's various advisory commissions. Lam has pledged to establish a high-level youth development commission to supervise the formulation and implementation of policies for youth development. At the end of the interview, Lam, the first female chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR, said she hopes her election victory will encourage more women to actively participate in Hong Kong's public affairs. PHNOM PENH -- The Cambodian version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book on the governance of China was released on Tuesday in the capital of Cambodia. Jiang Jianguo, minister of the State Council Information Office of China, presents the Cambodian edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during the launch of the book in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. [Photo by Xu Wei/chinadaily.com.cn] Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, presided over the release ceremony of the book at the prime minister's office, Peace Palace.The ceremony, broadcast live on the country's leading Fresh News website and Hun Sen's Facebook page, was attended by some 500 officials, academicians, researchers and university students.The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014, and it helps readers around the world to better understand China's development, domestic and foreign policies and response to the concerns of the international community.Hun Sen said the book featured Xi's thoughts on governance, economy, improvement of welfare and life for the people, rule of law, cultural advancement, ecological conservation and China's contributions to peace and stability in the region and the world."The book will enable the Cambodian people to better understand Chinese President Xi Jinping's thoughts on the deep reforms of the governance of China," he said."I'd like to encourage all officials, professors and students to read the book and choose good thoughts to practice in your real work."The prime minister said he was impressed by Xi's ideas on governance, anti-corruption, increase in confidence among the people, and China's foreign policy that treats countries in the world as good and true friends.Meanwhile, Hun Sen said China has been playing a crucial role in boosting global economy and trade and in maintaining political stability in the region and in the world."China's progress has greatly benefited the world because China has adhered to the coexistence principle," he said.Jiang, who is also the chief of China's State Council Information Office, said the book, to date, has already been translated into 16 languages and has a distribution of over 6.2 million copies around the world."I believe that the Cambodian version of the book will provide a broader opportunity for Cambodian readers to learn China's experience in governance and administering the country," he said.Cambodia's Secretary of State and spokesman for the Council of Ministers Phay Siphan said the book would provide Cambodians a deeper understanding about the Chinese leader and his thoughts on political issues and foreign policies."The Cambodian language book stands as an iron symbol of solidarity and cooperation between Cambodia and China," he told Xinhua."It will enable Cambodian readers to better understand China's successful experience in economic development, administration and international relations."Sorn Samnang, an advisor to the Cambodian government, said with the Cambodian version of the book, more Cambodian people would be able to read it."This book offers very useful information and experience for Cambodia in its national development," he told Xinhua.Khlot Thyda, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said she had read the Cambodian version of the book and believed that it would be an invaluable asset for Cambodian readers."With the book, I'm strongly confident that more Cambodians will better understand President Xi's philosophy of governance and use his philosophy to reflect on the reality in Cambodia," she told Xinhua.She said the book provided comprehensive knowledge of China's policies on energy, economy, technology, environment, security, governance, corruption and international relations."The book helps the international community to better understand China's mentality, domestic and foreign policies and response to the concerns of international community as well as the Chinese Dream," she said.Thyda said in the book, she was impressed by Xi's win-win approaches such as the establishment of a new model of major-country relations and the Belt and Road Initiative.The translation and publication work of the Cambodian edition of the book was completed in close collaboration between the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (CFLPA) and the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia.Chea Munyrith, director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the 603-page book would offer Cambodian readers a broader opportunity to better understand about China. President Xi Jinping meets with Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING - President Xi Jinping met Tuesday with Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing.Congratulating Lam on her victory in the election as the HKSAR's fifth-term chief executive and ensuing appointment by the State Council, Xi said Lam's victory is well deserved and she meets all the central authority's standards for the role.With 36 years of government work experience, especially the multiple important posts she held after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Lam has shown "a firm stance in loving the country and Hong Kong, a diligent, pragmatic and responsible work style, as well as rich administrative experience and ability to handle complicated situations," Xi said.Lam also enjoys high recognition in Hong Kong society and has the mind, capability and sense of responsibility to serve the country and Hong Kong, Xi said.This year marks the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong."Hong Kong has experienced its share of ups and downs during the past 20 years, and faces challenges and risks as well as opportunities and hopes in this stage," Xi said."Over the past two decades, great success has been achieved in the implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle in Hong Kong," said Xi."The special administrative region system, stipulated in the Constitution as well as the Basic Law, operates effectively, and Hong Kong continues to enjoy prosperity and stability, winning high praise from the international community," Xi noted.Xi also stressed that the practice of the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong is an unprecedented cause and needs to be advanced through fresh explorations."As the newly appointed chief executive, you have a heavy responsibility and a glorious mission," said Xi.The central government is determined to stick to the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, Xi noted.That determination would not change or waver, said Xi, adding that full support would be given to Lam and the HKSAR government to carry out their duties in accordance with the law.Xi expressed the hope that Lam could live up to the great trust, rely on the people of Hong Kong, comprehensively and precisely implement the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, and contribute to the development of Hong Kong.Senior leaders including Zhang Dejiang, Li Yuanchao, Li Zhanshu and Yang Jiechi attended the meeting.Lam won the chief executive election with 777 of 1,163 valid votes on March 26. She is expected to assume office on July 1, 2017. A collection of French treasures, including the Consular Sword, will be part of a display of nearly 300 precious objects at the Palace Museum in Beijing from Tuesday. [Photo/China Daily] An exhibition of precious objects from France, including a dazzling sword carried by Napoleon Bonaparte at his coronation, is set to open at the Palace Museum in Beijing. Wang Kaihao reports. At Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation at the Notre-Dame de Paris on Dec 2, 1804, he carried a sword adorned with a 140-carat diamond that was previously set on the coronation crown of Louis XV and Louis XVI, and 42 other gemstones from France's national treasures. The Consular Sworda national treasure itselfnow with the Chateau de Fontainebleau, will be on display at the Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, from Tuesday. It will be the first time it has left the country. Zhang Chenliang focuses a camera to shoot a photo of the Monotropa uniflora Linn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Some people become online celebrities due to their good looks or good luck. But one young man has gained huge popularity on the internet because of his keen interest in natural history. And his name is Zhang Chenliang. Widely known as the "Man of Natural History", or Bowu Jun in Chinese, the online star now boasts 6 million followers on Sina Weibo, one of the most influential social media platforms in China. Every day, he fields thousands of questions, ranging from entomology, zoology to botany and geography. In the face of this question onslaught, Zhang has developed his own system for responding. His fans know that this "walking encyclopedia" has a set of rules for answering questions and if you aren't clever, your question may sink to the bottom of the list like a pebble dropped into the sea. [April 11, 2017] i-Comm Connect Launches North American Partner Program for Communication Service Providers and Telecom Consultants LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- i-Comm Connect, a leading WebRTC Developer and Software as a Service Provider, today announced the launch of their North American Partner Program at this year's Channel Partners Conference and Expo. The program is built around the Company's flagship product, TACTAL, a patent protected, WebRTC | VoIP calling solution that enables secure, instant communications within any website session. Key product features include web-based toll-free calling, app integration, visual IVR menu, call wait queue, powerful analytics and integrations with CRM/Contact Center solutions to elevate and manage the customer experience. According to Chandler Mahaney, Head of Sales, "almost all aspects of business are now done through digital touch points. Although self-service technology is on the rise, there is a clear demand for communication enabled, customer focused websites and mobile apps. The ability to connect a call to the right representative and leverage more contextual data in real-time, equates to faster service, more satisfaction, and enhances the overall customer experience." The Company's channel program is targeted at partners seeking a viable real-time communications solution to deliver a differentiated and secure cloud-based voice service to fortify their margins and customer base. Businesses can embed a toll-free call button in websites and mobile apps, making it possible for customers to call in fo free, from anywhere in the world with internet access. Unlike traditional toll-free services, TACTAL is a feature rich, cost-saving service, and turn-up is fast, since there is no number porting or switching of carriers. i-Comm Connect's Partner Program consists of two models - an Agent Program and a White Label Program. The Agent Program allows independent consultants to expand their market position by offering an innovative web-based calling solution at the forefront of the customer service industry. This model is a great fit for agents who want to own and manage the sales process, have knowledge of their client's business and want to provide a greater value to the customer. For solution sales consultants, the pay-off is one of highest residual commissions in the industry. The White Label Program allows Communication Service Providers to grow their business, brand, and profits by introducing new revenue generating, patent protected WebRTC | VoIP services. Service Providers own the customer relationship, set their own margins, handle support and billing, and have the option to terminate SIP-to-SIP or SIP-to-PSTN calls on their network. The company provides all partners with the technical tools, training, and go-to-market resources necessary to give them a jump start into the rapidly growing WebRTC market. "The program will be a game changer," says Kent Terpe, Director Int'l Business & Partnerships. "1-800 numbers revolutionized the way consumers connected decades ago, and today, TACTAL is reinventing the way people engage online. As the channel looks to differentiate their product and increase ARPU, TACTAL is the solution that empowers any business to fully leverage their Internet presence by adding real-time, cost-saving communication services." About i-Comm Connect was founded in 2009 in Portland, ME with a mission to transform the customer service industry. As a market leader, our focus is on developing cutting-edge technology (Patents: USA, Japan, & Canada) and driving the shift to innovative online customer engagement solutions. Contacts Meredith Schmidt-Fellner Director of Marketing [email protected] Kent Terpe Director Int'l Business & Partnerships [email protected] This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/i-comm-connect-launches-north-american-partner-program-for-communication-service-providers-and-telecom-consultants-300437778.html SOURCE i-Comm Connect [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Women of Miao ethnic group attend a parade to celebrate the Miao Sisters Festival in Taijiang county, Miao-Dong autonomous prefecture of Qiandongnan, Southwest China's Guizhou province, April 10, 2017. The Miao Sisters Festival, regarded as the ethnic Miao's folk Valentine's Day, is held annually around the 15th day of the third lunar month according to the lunar calendar in China. [Photo/Xinhua] Poster of the TV drama In theName of People [Photo/VCG] A new Chinese television drama, titled In the Name of People, has made waves in the nation since it was released on Hunan Satellite TV, on March 28, 2017. The plot revolves around a detective's efforts in unearthing corruption within a fictional Chinese city. In the Name of People has, so far, attracted large amounts of audiences in China. The release coincides with the Chinese government's anti-corruption campaign. The production has received significant government funding from the Supreme People's Procuratorate, which is the agency responsible for investigations and prosecutions in the People's Republic of China. In the television series, actor Lu Yi stars as detective Hou Liangping and Xu Yajun stars as Liangpings antagonist, Qi Tongwei. The program was based on a book, written by Zhou Meisen. Due to the popularity of the TV series in China, the drama has also attracted the attention of foreign media. BBC wrote China laps up glossy TV corruption drama. Below are a few faces to look out for in the TV series, In the Name of People. Shanghai's Hakkasan is a relative newcomer to the city's competitive dining scene, but it enjoys a big boost from a corporate parent that knows how to deliver an elegant experience, Mike Peters reports. At first glance, Hakkasan seems like what many of my Chinese friends would dismiss as "Chinese food for foreigners". It's a global chain that began in London in 2001, with Michelin-starred locations around the world. It's nestled in the glitzy Bund, a fine-dining magnet for tourists and affluent Chinese. Dishes like "salad of Australian Wagyu rib-eye beef with black truffle" and "Sesame prawn toast with foie gras" leap off the first page of the menu. But when I visit the popular restaurant in Shanghai with local friends, they find a lot to like. The menu, created by the Hakkasan Group's much-lauded head chef Tong Chee Hwee, boasts "a strong Chinese identity" and a reverence for local ingredients rather than a pure underpinning of traditionalism. The result here - and at the group's Michelin-starred hub in London - is beautifully presented dishes steeped in Cantonese tradition if not completely wedded to it. These include signature dishes offered globally - such as the show-stopping roasted silver cod with champagne and honey - as well as specialties tailored to Chinese mainland tastes. The premium dim sum platter includes scallop siew mai (shao mai in Mandarin), har gau, chive dumpling and roast-duck mushroom. Shanghai house specialties include whole braised abalone in oyster sauce, stewed sea cucumber in abalone gravy and braised superior bird's nest in yellow broth with fresh crabmeat. Our favorite dishes included pork ribs smoked with jasmine tea, a stir-fried lobster with baby bamboo in spicy black-bean sauce, an asparagus-studded vegetarian stir-fry in Sichuan sauce, and a sanpei chicken claypot with sweet basil, chili and spring onion. The 2017 Shanghai Auto Culture Festival kicks off on April 7 in Shanghai's Jiading district. The event runs for more than a month this year. [Photo/WeChat account: jiadingmh] The 2017 Shanghai Auto Culture Festival, spanning more than a month this year, opened on April 7 in Shanghai's Jiading district. The festival will host a total of 13 activities, including auto races and trips to local attractions. The event aims to give auto fans a motoring feast and to enable visitors to enjoy the beauty of Jiading. A variety of top-rated races are geared up for auto enthusiasts, including the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, Renault Clio Cup China Series, GT Masters, and FRD LMP3 Series. Racers line up on the grid at the Shanghai International Circuit in Jiading. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn] Auto-themed exhibitions such as Ferrari's 70th anniversary exhibition and an international recreational vehicle show will also be organized. The activities are expected to give visitors a better understanding of Shanghai International Automobile City located in Jiading's Anting town. One highlight was the Shanghai for All SeasonsJiading Theme Park, serving as a window to understand all aspects of district. It will showcase the latest technology in new energy vehicles and smart internet-connected cars, promote art, introduce local tourism resources, and display traditional Chinese culture. Visitors can also learn about auto history and culture at the Shanghai Auto Expo Park, enjoy a variety of vintage cars at the Shanghai Auto Museum, and go see auto manufacturing at SAIC Volkswagen. Jonathan Schaeffer (L), general manager of Cleveland Clinic, shakes hands with Ye Zhou, president of Karamay Central Hospital, during the opening ceremony for the Karamay branch of Cleveland Telemedicine Center, on April 5. [Photo by Dai Xuhu/kelamayi.com.cn] In the future, patients in Karamay will be able to make an appointment for international medical treatments by calling 96565 and receive treatment in seven to 15 days based on different illnesses. The Karamay Academic Forum on International Telemedicine Innovation between China and America convened at Karamay Central hospital in Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on April 5, marking the Sino-US international telemedicine platform being online to serve people across the region. During the launch ceremony, Karamay Central Hospital signed a cooperation agreement with Americas Cleveland Clinic to open a branch of Cleveland Telemedicine Center in Karamay. Jonathan Schaeffer, general manager of Cleveland Clinic, delivered a speech during the opening ceremony. He expressed his gladness to witness the success of its cooperation with Karamay after three years of efforts. The online telemedicine platform will serve as a third party to connect Karamay and Cleveland Clinic, which allows the clinic to provide leading medical treatment and suggestions to patients in Karamay and remote regions across Xinjiang, according to Schaeffer. Zhang Hongyan, mayor of Karamay, noted that the cooperation will not only provide better medical services to local residents but also strengthen exchanges and communication in medical care and promote cooperation between China and the US. Government officials and hospital representatives from Shanghai, Heilongjiang province and across the region attended the forum. Topics discussed included development trends in telemedicine across the world, the development status of telemedicine in China and how to explore new models of international telemedicine cooperation. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. [File photo] I am very pleased to meet all you friends in beautiful Phnom Penh. All our Cambodian media colleagues present here have for a long time kept a close watch on and covered China and thus made important contributions to the enhancement of China-Cambodia friendship. On behalf of the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China, I would like to extend to you my lofty tributes and sincere thanks. We come to enthusiastic Phnom Penh from a Beijing bathed in spring and feel the friendship and goodwill of Cambodian people, just like "Guests feel at home", as an old Chinese proverb goes. The Cambodian version of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, a book authored by President Xi Jinping, will make its debut in Phnom Penh tomorrow and I will attend the launching ceremony together with some Cambodian friends from various circles to witness the important moment. It is believed that the publication of the Cambodian version of the book will open a new window for Cambodian people to watch and sense China, offer a new platform for us to exchange governance experiences, and serve as a new eyewitness to China-Cambodia friendship. All Cambodian media colleagues have paid close attention to China's development and changes over the past years, yearned to know the intrinsic causes to these changes, and cared about what a changing China will bring to the world. It can be said that the problems over which you are concerned can find their solutions in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. Here, I would like to first make some brief introductions to this book. From this book, one can gain a systematic knowledge of contemporary China's development path. The enormous achievements made by China today fundamentally lies in its choosing of the Chinese road. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is a full-view display of and systematic elaboration on the Chinese road. The book's core ideas can be extracted from the numbers "one, two, three, four and five". "One" here means "one dream", namely the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. "Two" here means "two centennial goals", namely the successful building of an all-round moderately well-off society by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China in 2021, and the successful building of a modern, socialist nation by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 2049. "Three" here means "three greats", namely advancing the great socialist cause with Chinese characteristics, comprehensively strengthening and improving the great project of Party building, and carrying out a great struggle with numerous new and historical features. "Four" here means the "Four Comprehensives", namely comprehensively building a moderately well-off society, comprehensively deepening reforms, comprehensively promoting the nation's governance in accordance with laws, and comprehensively promoting stricter governance of the Party. "Five" here means "Five-in-One", that is, promoting the overall layout of economic construction, political construction, cultural construction, social construction and ecological civilization construction. The above numbers are all extracted from President Xi's book, and it is hoped these numbers will help people better understand President Xi's core thoughts on the governance of China and understand China's road choice. From this book, we can more clearly see the CPC's people-centric governance philosophy. Serving the people wholeheartedly is the fundamental purpose of the CPC. A main line that runs through Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is the people-centered governance philosophy. Our governance philosophy is generalized as serving the people and undertaking the responsibilities it should undertake, just as President Xi has said many times. "People's yearning for a better life is the goal of our struggles" and "letting ordinary people live a good life is the starting point and the objective of all of our work". Over the more than four years since he took office, President Xi has consistently carried people's livelihoods and well-being deep in his heart, making investigative tours of remote mountainous areas, outlying regions and impoverished rural areas, keeping an attentive ear to people's opinions, watching people's conditions and addressing people's concerns. The people-centric governance philosophy is also reflected in a series of systematic arrangements and institutional reforms since the 18th National Congress of the CPC as well as the continuous improvements in people's living standards. In only a few years, more than 60 million impoverished people were lifted out of poverty in China, equivalent to the total population of a middle-sized country. It is believed that this book can help one sense President Xi's deep feelings toward the people, the purpose of the CPC's governance and its "governance for people" consciousness. An employee counts yuan banknotes at a bank in Huaibei, Anhui province, June 22, 2010. [Photo/Agencies] On Friday, more than 100 central departments made public their 2017 annual budgets, with the Ministry of Education among those doing so first. That a growing number of government departments are disclosing their annual budget information marks concrete progress toward building a transparent government budget. But despite the tangible progress that has been made in recent years, the budget transparency of public departments is still far from satisfactory. For various reasons, a large number of public departments that should make public their budgets fail to do so, and no targeted indexes are introduced to the budgets of subprojects under a key project. Besides, even economics experts find it difficult to work where and how money has been spent because of the absence of detailed information in plain language. The newly-revised Budget Law stipulates that public departments should make public their budget information, but it has no specific stipulations on what happens if a department fails to comply with this legal requirement. The country's interim provisions on the accountability of Party and government officials stipulate that derelictions of duty or behavior that cause "heavy losses" or has a "very bad influence" on national interests, people's lives and property, and public property will be held accountable when it comes to the openness of budget. Only after all of its budgets are made public and an effective accountability mechanism is put in place for spending on every item can the concept of building a responsible government be really fulfilled. In this respect, people's congresses at various levels should be granted more power to hold violators accountable while exercising their power of ratifying, adjusting and vetoing the budget of same-level governments. The country should strengthen the application of budget openness under the Budget Law, the State Secrecy Law and the regulation on government information disclosure to offer judicial guarantees for citizens or social organizations to possibly appeal to government departments for budget openness. --Beijing News Electricity pylons and a bridge in Myanmar's eastern Shan state. Chinese investment, as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, is improving infrastructure in the country, including roads, rail, energy and telecommunications.[Photo/AFP] In his meeting with his Myanmar counterpart on Monday, President Xi Jinping said China is willing to join hands with Myanmar to grasp the right direction of bilateral ties and lift their comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level. Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw's ongoing visit to China, which began on Thursday, has thus sent an unmistakable signal to the outside world that Beijing and Naypyidaw are dedicated to ensuring bilateral ties develop in a stable and healthy manner. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1950, China-Myanmar ties have deepened and thrived despite the vicissitudes of times. And "Paukphaw friendship", which refers to the traditional fraternal relationship between the two countries, has taken root in the heart of the two peoples. It is a natural choice for the two countries to support each other on major issues that concern each country's core interests so that the two remain good neighbors, good friends, good Paukphaw and good partners for ever, as Xi has previously said. This well explains Xi's remarks that China is willing to conduct more bilateral cooperation to promote the livelihoods of Myanmar people and play a constructive role in the country's domestic peace process. In this regard, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative offers an unprecedented opportunity for Myanmar's development. This open and sharing platform has won the support of more than 100 countries and organizations in the world. And, obviously, China and Myanmar have everything to gain from connecting each other's development strategy and deepening reciprocal cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, infrastructure, forestry, education, energy, health and agriculture. Admittedly, some difficult issues exist between them, but these challenges can be turned into opportunities as long as the two sides work together to properly handle them. In recent years, fighting in Kokang, northern Myanmar, has spilled over into China several times, which has resulted in the deaths of some Chinese and property losses. To prevent the recurrence of such mishaps, Myanmar needs to shoulder more responsibility for maintaining security and stability over the border area. However, China and Myanmar have vowed to build a zone of economic cooperation in the border area, which shows their strong political will not to let the issue come between them and to maintain the positive momentum in bilateral ties. This will cater to not only the interests of both neighbors but also the region at large. Pudong New Area of Shanghai is home to 267 insurance institutions, including some giants, such as Shanghai Life Insurance Co. [Photo/Pudong Times] ON SUNDAY, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, the ruling Party's top anti-graft watchdog, announced that Xiang Junbo, chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, is under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline. Xiang's case shows the disciplinary watchdog will not only continue fighting corruption, but also further regulate the insurance industry, says Beijing Youth Daily: Xiang is the highest-level official in the financial regulatory agency to be investigated since the top leadership launched the anti-graft campaign in late 2012. It remains to be known what deeds are being investigated, but they probably have something to do with the chaotic situation in the insurance sector in the past few years. One aspect of this is that the high rate of return on certain investment-focused life policies, also known as universal life insurance products, have attracted hot money. In 2016, the total income from insurance premiums was 3.1 trillion yuan ($448.6 billion). But sales of universal insurance products in the first quarter alone reached as high as 596.9 billion yuan, with sales growing by 214 percent compared with the first quarter of 2015. In the development and management of insurance products, the principles of risk pricing, compensation for loss, and good faith must be adhered to. However, China's insurance industry departed from and betrayed these principles, as the China Insurance Regulatory Commission adopted loose polices toward universal insurance products. As a result, many insurance companies have participated in the fierce capital market competition by buying shares of companies listed in the A-share market. The result has been that the whole domestic insurance market has suffered as a result of speculation and large amounts of capital have flowed from the real economy into the financial sector. We are not saying that Xiang or the China Insurance Regulatory Commission is solely responsible for the chaotic situation, but the fact is they did not regulate the insurance market well enough. A new chairperson of the regulatory commission will soon be appointed, and we hope whoever takes up this position will help the regulatory body better play its role in ensuring the industry develops in a healthy manner. Josepheta Mukobe (left), principal secretary for the ministry of devolution and planning, and Liu Xianfa (right), the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, announce 16 million shillings worth of food donations for drought relief on April 7 in Nairobi. Liu Hongjie/China Daily. The Chinese community has yet again put a smile on many hunger stricken Kenyans living in arid and semi-arid areas, following a recent donation of foodstuffs worth Ksh16 million ($154, 664). The donation, which consisted of 144 metric tonnes of wheat flour, maize flour and cooking oil, was donated by the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA) in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and the Kenya Overseas Chinese Association. Speaking at the flagging-off ceremony for the food donation on April 6, Josepheta Mukobe, principal secretary of the ministry of devolution and planning, lauded the Chinese community for its timely response to the countrys drought. "This donation will go a long way to aid the drought situation," she said. "We express our gratitude to KCETA and its member companies, the Kenya Overseas Chinese Association, the Chinese government and the other partners for reaching out to a friend in need." Mukobe noted that the donation was another testimony to the strong relationship and cooperation between Kenya and China and challenged other international communities to follow suit. Liu Xianfa, China's ambassador to Kenya, said the donation expressed the goodwill of Chinese nationals in Kenya. "This donation is not only a reflection of the brotherhood between the Chinese and Kenyan people, but also a display of the responsibility and the commitment of China," he said. He said the Chinese community in Kenya has always been working hand-in-hand with their Kenyan brothers and sisters to promote the social and economic development of the country. [April 11, 2017] Synack Brings First Hacker-Powered Intelligence Platform to Masses Backed by Microsoft Ventures, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Singtel Innov8 Synack, Inc. ("Synack"), the first hacker-powered intelligence platform, today announced it raised $21.25 million in a Series C round of funding led by Microsoft (News - Alert) Ventures. The financing also included participation from new investors Hewlett Packard Enterprise ("HPE") and Singtel Innov8 (the Corporate Venture Arm of the Singtel Group). This financing brings Synack's total funding to over $55 million. The new investment included participation from current Synack investors, including GGV Capital, GV (formerly Google (News - Alert) Ventures) and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and will be used to further develop the Synack Platform, scale adoption across the U.S. and Europe, enter Asia Pacific (APAC), and continue to recruit and invest in the most skilled hackers in the world. Microsoft Ventures will take a seat on Synack's board. Additionally, Gary Steele, CEO of Proofpoint (News - Alert) and security industry veteran, will be joining Synack's Board of Directors to support the company through this phase of high growth. With the rise of cyberattacks and shortage of security talent, Synack plays a critical role in protecting the world's high-stakes enterprises and government entities. Leveraging a global crowdsourced network of highly vetted ethical hackers, Synack's platform delivers an offensive approach to defense for organizations. "The best defense is a good offense. Businesses can only stay one step ahead of the adversary by beating them at their own game," said Jay Kaplan, CEO and co-founder of Synack. "Bringing Microsoft Ventures, HPE and Singtel Innov8 on board highlights their ongoing investment in security for their products and customers. We have a shared vision for the future of cybersecurity and see a huge opportunity for alignment in platform development and scaling channels to market." Today's most competitive organizations know exactly how critical it is to have high quality security at the core of every technology and business. Having these tech industry giants invest in Synack's innovative platform is another commitment to helping organizations around the world determine how exploitable they are from a cyberattack. In just four years, Synack has onboarded some of the largest Fortune 500 companies and various branches and agncies of the U.S. Government. This mainstream adoption of Synack's model has resulted in a greater than 300 percent increase in year-over-year bookings over the last four quarters, in Financial Services, Retail and Government. Building on its momentum, the company's announced funding and partnership with Microsoft Ventures, HPE and Singtel Innov8 will: Keep cybersecurity at the forefront: Microsoft and HPE are two of the most forward-thinking organizations when it comes to cybersecurity, understanding why security must be baked into a company's DNA from the start: "Traditional security testing presents many challenges that Synack tackles head-on with an innovative, crowd-focused approach," said Nagraj Kashyap, corporate vice president at Microsoft Ventures. "Based on their already strong market traction and history of working with Fortune 500 enterprise customers, we look forward to seeing what Synack accomplishes next." "We are excited to invest in Synack," said Vishal Lall, SVP, Strategy and Ventures, HPE. "Synack brings an exciting new crowdsourced approach to penetration testing and together we will help solve our customers' pressing cybersecurity challenges." Microsoft and HPE are two of the most forward-thinking organizations when it comes to cybersecurity, understanding why security must be baked into a company's DNA from the start: Drive European growth and support expansion into APAC: As the security talent gap in Europe continues to widen, and GDPR deadlines are looming, Synack has experienced organic demand from large enterprises and governments. Today, Synack Europe includes a network of specialized hackers and a growing number of customers in the region. Additionally, Synack will begin exploring opportunities and entering a new market, APAC, which has been clamoring for new cybersecurity innovation. As the security talent gap in Europe continues to widen, and GDPR deadlines are looming, Synack has experienced organic demand from large enterprises and governments. Today, Synack Europe includes a network of specialized hackers and a growing number of customers in the region. Additionally, Synack will begin exploring opportunities and entering a new market, APAC, which has been clamoring for new cybersecurity innovation. Proven leadership to guide high-growth: As Synack continues to rapidly expand into new industries and markets, the company is adding two industry veterans to help guide the company's next phase of high-growth. In addition to a representative from Microsoft Ventures, Gary Steele, CEO of Proofpoint Security and security veteran, has deep experience growing and scaling security companies and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Synack. Synack's global network of security researchers, supported by groundbreaking proprietary technology, uncover critical security vulnerabilities left undetected by traditional security solutions. Synack delivers a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 95 percent, manages all triage and operations, and provides an analytical view of the whole environment for the customer. In Synack's most recent Hack the Pentagon program, over 2,500 hours were dedicated to exploiting sensitive Department of Defense (DoD) assets. The first critical vulnerability, discovered in under four hours, was found in a widely-deployed sensitive file transfer mechanism. It was then confirmed, triaged, and accepted by DoD within 24 hours. For Synack Co-Founders CEO Jay Kaplan and CTO Mark Kuhr, former NSA operators working to combat terrorism in some of the highest stakes intelligence operations, their vision was to build a modern cybersecurity platform combining security intelligence vetted by the most skilled and trusted researchers to help organizations understand and address their security risks. It was during that time they aspired to work with the best technology companies and minds in venture capital, and today's investment further makes this goal a reality. About Synack Based in Redwood City, California, Synack is a security company revolutionizing how enterprises view cybersecurity: through a hacker's eyes. Synack's hacker-powered security platform arms clients with hundreds of the world's most skilled, highly vetted ethical hackers who provide a truly adversarial perspective of clients' IT environments. Synack's confidential client base is comprised of some of the largest F500/G500 enterprise organizations across banking and financial services, healthcare, consumer goods and retail, manufacturing, technology and the U.S. Federal Government. All engagements are conducted by Synack's vetted skilled professionals and are treated with absolute privacy. Synack was founded in 2013 by former NSA security experts Jay Kaplan, CEO, and Dr. Mark Kuhr, CTO. For more information, please visit https://www.synack.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005505/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] China is ready to work with the United States to "tangibly press ahead" with the bilateral investment treaty negotiations and to resolve divergence and frictions through dialogue and consultations, Premier Li Keqiang told visiting US lawmakers on Monday. The delegation, including Senator Steve Daines of Montana, arrived in Beijing shortly after the first meeting between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday and Friday. In answer to a question proposed by the US lawmakers at the meeting in Beijing on Monday, Li said China is also willing to expand two-way trade, investment and cooperation between them. Bilateral commodity trade reached $519.6 billion last year, and China has become the United States' fastest growing export market outside North America. Li noted China's role as the world's largest developing country and the US role as the largest developed country. Maintaining healthy, stable development of the relationship serves not only both countries' interests, but is also helpful to peace, stability, development and global prosperity, Li said. Su Ge, president of China Institute of International Studies, said as long as bilateral investment treaty negotiations make breakthroughs, "greater need for Chinese investment in the US will be unleashed". "And a considerable number of Chinese companies hope to take this as a chance to tap into the US market and globalize their operations," Su said. Economic and trade ties have been a cornerstone of China-US relations, and trade sanctions or a trade war would benefit neither side, Su added. On the meeting between Xi and Trump, Li said the two leaders reached consensus on a range of issues and clarified the general picture of further pushing China-US ties forward. "We are ready to boost exchanges and dialogue with the US, to respect each other, seek mutual benefits and push for the greater development of China-US ties," Li said. The US lawmakers told Li that the United States considers its relationship with China as the most important of its bilateral ties. The US Congress is ready to boost exchanges with China and expects more visits to China will be made by US lawmakers to boost friendly exchanges and lay a solid foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two, they said. Top legislator Zhang Dejiang also met with the US delegation on Monday. A student who was evacuated after a shooting at North Park Elementary School is embraced after groups of them were reunited with parents waiting at a high school in San Bernardino, California, U.S. April 10, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] SAN BERNARDINO A man walked into his estranged wife's elementary school classroom in San Bernardino and opened fire without saying a word, killing her and an 8-year-old student before shooting himself in a murder-suicide that spread panic across a city still recovering emotionally from a terror attack just 15 months ago. A 9-year-old student also was critically wounded. He and the boy who died were behind their special-education teacher, Karen Elaine Smith, 53, the target of the man she had married months earlier, police said. The shooting left hundreds of distraught parents waiting for hours to reunite with their children. Staffers knew Cedric Anderson, who had been estranged from his wife for about a month, and he got into the school by saying he had to drop something off for Smith, officials said. "No one has come forward to say they saw this coming," police Chief Jarrod Burguan told reporters. Anderson had a history of weapons, domestic violence and possible drug charges that predated the short marriage, authorities said. He frequently wrote social media posts about his wife over the past month. On what appeared to be his Facebook page, Anderson said he "loved being married to Karen Smith-Anderson!" and posted a photo of the two of them on March 4 in what he described as a date night. He posted several photos of his wedding to Smith early this year and their honeymoon in Sedona, Arizona. Smith's mother, Irma Sykes, said her daughter had been friends with Anderson for about four years before they got married, but separated from him after about a month because she saw "the real Cedric." She did not elaborate. Sykes told the Los Angeles Times her daughter was a mother of four who had been a teacher for 10 years. Fifteen students ranging from first to fourth grade were in the special-education classroom at North Park Elementary School, along with two adult aides and Smith, when Anderson emptied a large-caliber revolver and reloaded. Then, he turned the gun on himself. Marissa Perez, age 9, was in the classroom hiding under a table. Malala Yousafzai attends a ceremony with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres after being selected a United Nations messenger of peace in New York, NY, April 10, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday designated 19-year-old Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan as the UN's youngest Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girls' education. In a ceremony held at UN, Guterres said the designation came for Malala's service to the ideals and objectives of the United Nations and her courageous defense of the rights of all people, including women and girls. Wearing a light pink headscarf, Malala said she was honored to be the Messenger of Peace. At the occasion, she once again appealed for equal education opportunities for girls. "Education is the basic right for every child; especially for girls, this right should not be neglected," she said in a calm but firm voice. Born on July 12, 1997 in Pakistan's Swat Valley, Yousafzai became an international symbol of the fight for girls' education after being shot on Oct. 9, 2012 for opposing Taliban restrictions on female education. She survived the attack and became an advocate for the millions of girls denied a formal education worldwide. In 2013, Yousafzai and her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, co-founded Malala Fund to raise awareness to the social and economic impact of girls' education and to empower girls to demand change. Yousafzai became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2014. A video showing a man being violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight on Sunday has led to an uproar on social media. Just a few weeks after the United Airlines received a backlash for banning two girls wearing leggings, the airline made headlines in both the United States and China after the video was posted online by another passenger. The footage captures aviation officers forcibly pulling a 69-year-old male from a window seat on flight 3411. The scene occurred just before the aircraft was about to take off from the Chicago O'Hare International Airport, headed to Louisville. The man, only known as a doctor, had a bleeding mouth and was mumbling in the video. Cries for help from other passengers could also be heard. A 69-year-old male who was violently dragged off a United Airlines flight is seen a video clip. [Photo/Twitter] United Airlines confirmed airline employees were trying to make room for four employees of a partner airline. According to an unidentifiable witness, the company firstly offered $400 vouchers, which was then increased to $800, and free accommodation at a nearby hotel to passengers willing to give up their seats on the overbooked flight. After many passengers refused, airline staff automatically picked four passengers to be removed. The elderly doctor, who had Asian facial features, refused to leave and said he had to work at a hospital the next day. The US Department of Transportation has already started investigations into the matter. Since the incident, one of the Chicago Department of Aviation security officers, involved in the scenario, has been placed on paid leave. The incident has attracted a lot of attention from Chinese media, including People's Daily, which published the video on Sina Weibo. Attention has since continued to rise on the Chinese social media platform, and the United Airlines situation was rated the most popular topic on Tuesday. Among the ever increasing comments was Joe Wong, a Chinese American comedian who shot to fame after making appearances on the David Letterman and Ellen Degeneres shows. Wong called for 2.6 million followers on Weibo to sign a petition for boycotting the airline. Some Weibo users responded, stating they would never fly with the airline again. The latest incident also prompted reminiscence of bad customer service experiences. A Weibo user recalled an experience of how staff at the Untied Airlines refused to apologize for misplacing her luggage, which was lost at an airport in Chicago. "Since the incident, the United Airlines is on my no-fly list," she said. If the boycott of flights continues, business for the United Airlines could stumble in the Chinese market a market where the airline has made strides in recent years. Last year the market-savvy carrier added two direct flights to its already busy China-US air routes: Xi'an/Hangzhou-San Francisco. The airline's move to apologize has since been closely watched by many online users in China. Oscar Munoz, the CEO of United Airlines' parent company, defended the actions of United Airline staff in a letter to employees, after first writing a statement. Munoz said he was "upset to see and hear about what happened" at O'Hare. He then added the man was dragged off the plane because he ignored requests by crew members to leave, and became "disruptive and belligerent". "Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this," he said to employees of United Airlines. "While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you." After the letter went public, online outrage escalated on Weibo and many users cited his response to the incident as having a bad attitude. At the other side of Pacific, a similar reaction emerged on Twitter, which has been flooded with a mixture of anger and mockery. Chinese international relations scholars Mei Xinyu (L) and Jia Lieying (M) talk about China-US-Russia relations with their Russian counterparts via video conference in Beijing on April 10, 2017. [Photo by Chen Liubing/chinadaily.com.cn] Talks between President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week were successful, according to Chinese and Russian experts in international relations, adding that the meeting will not affect ties between Beijing and Moscow as the current tripartite relations are more like a net, rather than a triangle. Xi-Trump meeting a success Jia Lieying, dean of International Relations School, Director of UN Studies, at Beijing Language and Culture University, said the Xi-Trump meeting was successful in all aspects. "Face to face communication is very helpful in boosting relations of different countries," said the professor at an event organized by Russian news agency Sputnik in Beijing on April 10. The two sides reduced uncertainties in future cooperation by initiating a four-pronged dialogue structure, namely an economic dialogue, a diplomatic and security dialogue, a law enforcement and cyber security dialogue, and a social and cultural issues dialogue. The meeting took place just two and a half months after Trump's inauguration on January 20, which was actually the earliest meeting between a newly elected US president and his Chinese counterpart in history, added Mei Xinyu, senior researcher at China's Trade & Economic Relations Department, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce. "The first step of problem solving is to outline the problem, and this frank talk has already built mutual trust between the two countries, which has laid a smooth path for solving the problems," said Mei. The Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, which is far from the "serious" Washington DC, set the meeting apart from the traditional political decision making, and removed it far from American bureaucracy, said Sergey Trush, a leading member of the Center for Regional Problems of the Institute for US and Canada Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who also fully agreed that the Xi-Trump meeting was a success. China-US-Russia relations The relations of Russia, China, and the US are too complicated to be called a "triangle", said Trush. The third side of a triangle will definitely alter if the other two sides are changed, which does not fit in with the current ties of the three countries, he added. Trush also held a positive attitude towards China-US relations. Jia agreed with Trush on the tripartite relations, adding that the ties of big countries are actually "net-like". Jia also pointed out that the China-Russia relations are at their best in history. "The China-Russia relationship is a neighborhood relationship that is unchangeable, with geographic advantages and low cooperation cost," added Jia. Mei said he was confident in common peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific, by citing a saying of President Xi: "The broad Pacific Ocean is vast enough to embrace both China and the United States." Mei also reaffirmed to his Russian counterparts that China will never ignore its relationship with Russia, a country that shares the longest border with China. Innovate UK is calling on British businesses to come up with projects in which they can collaborate with partners in China's Jiangsu province. The British government body, which is sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Jiangsu Science and Technology department, will fund the competition, with Innovate UK allocating up to 5 million pounds ($6 million) to fund innovation projects. The program is based on a memorandum of understanding for Cooperation in Regional Technology and Innovation that was signed in 2014. Jiangsu Science and Technology Department will provide funding for partners from that province. Organizers hope the competition will encourage business-led innovation that will stimulate growth in Jiangsu province, and in the UK. Companies taking part will need to show clear benefits from collaboration with partners in the other geographic area. Jiangsu has been described as one of the provinces in China with the most abundant scientific resources and innovation activities. Innovate UK, which has helped British innovators launch, build, and grow successful businesses, noted that all projects should lead to a significant return on investment, and have a clear impact on business growth. Themes for the competition include industrial research and experimental development. Innovate UK is also looking for projects that will address challenges faced by infrastructure owners, cities, and users through innovation in infrastructure systems. Businesses wanting a slice of the investment will also need to show the use of transformational or disruptive innovation in the creation of new products, processes or services drawn from any technology, engineer or industrial area. The British government body plans to fund between 10 and 15 projects in these areas for up to 24 months. Deadline for the competition is June 21. Chinese brands have joined those ranked as the most valuable in the world Four Chinese brands are now in the top 10 of the most-valuable banking brands, with ICBC topping the table, according to a recent report released by Brand Finance, a London-based brand valuation consultancy. Five years ago, there were none. "Chinese brands were once the minnows of our global studies while Japanese, European, and particularly US brands dominated the rankings," said Alex Haigh, director of Brand Finance. "However, in 2012 President Xi Jinping called on Chinese companies to start a trend of Branded in China', rather than simply Made in China' and since then China has been the rising dragon of our studies." In 2014, Xi said China should have its own flagship products and establish its own world-renowned brands, believing that the future of China's industry went beyond manufacturing, and that focus had to move to the promotion of China's own products. Xi's emphasis on brands is paying dividends. Not only have Chinese brands improved their ranking in international league tables, but the value of China's 100 most valuable brands has more than tripled in the last five years, from $266 billion in 2012 to $823 billion in 2017. ICBC is China's most-valuable brand, with its value growing 32 percent year-on-year to $47.8 billion. Its growth has been so strong that it has overtaken US bank Wells Fargo to become the world's most valuable banking brand. Haigh said China's brands have a number of common attributes. The first is scale, with China's vast population and the growing prosperity of its citizens creating a huge market for its major brands, he said. "Cultural factors are just as significant as macroeconomic ones because Chinese consumers have a relationship with their brands that Western brands can only dream of," Haigh added. Despite the tremendous growth in developing global brands, pundits saidChina remains behind the Westin some areas. "It is not a matter of just becoming well-known but also admired and wanted," said Paul Temporal, a global expert on brand creation and an associate fellow at Oxford University's Said Business School. Temporal argued that there is a difference between a global business and a global brand, adding that the key difference between weak and powerful brands is the strength of the emotional relationship between the brand and consumers, given everything being equal on the rational product side. He said Chinese businesses need to learn techniques in creating powerful emotional connections with consumers, something that has been successfully employed by Western brands. [April 11, 2017] Lombard International: 2016 Financial Results Lombard International, one of the global leaders in wealth structuring solutions for high net worth investors, today announced its Financial Results for 2016*. This was a year in which the business focused on expanding its global footprint and continued to invest in new initiatives, technology and people with the stated aim of driving further growth over the longer term. New Business Premium: Total new business premium was strong at 4.5 billion, which was a new record in the company's history. Assets under Administration (AUA): Total AUA grew to 77.5 billion (as of 31 Dec 2016), an increase of 5.5 billion or 8% from 72.0 billion in the prior year: The High Net Worth AUA totalled 40.5 billion (as of 31 Dec 2016), an increase of 5.0 billion or 14% from 35.5 billion in the prior year. The Corporate Administration AUA totalled 37.0 billion (as of 31 Dec 2016), an increase of 0.5 billion or 2% from 36.5 billion in the prior year. The 2016 financial performance underscores Lombard International's success in combining geographical expansion with non-organic growth via strategic acquisitions. The increase in High Net Worth AUA includes the acquisition of Zurich Eurolife S.A.'s Private Banking Solutions business in Luxembourg. This was complemented by the firm's organic global expansion into key locations including Brussels, Paris, Bermuda, Miami, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. Several senior management hires were made in the period to reflect this growth, notably Axel Horger, Michael Gordon (News - Alert) and Tammy Lu Tsui to lead the businesses in Europe, the US and Asia respectively. These appointments are in addition to a number of senior appointments in sles, technology, marketing and communications roles, all of which combine to boost the group's capabilities and total headcount to approximately 600 employees worldwide. The company also invested significantly in digital innovation and transformation throughout 2016, introducing 'Connect' (an online digital servicing platform in Europe) and an online investment platform in the US. The development and launch of these new technology solutions positions Lombard International at the forefront of the industry, creating value for clients and partners alike. John Hillman, Executive Chairman of Lombard International, said: "Over the last 25 years, we have been delivering against our stated aim of being the leading wealth structuring provider across Europe, the US, Asia and Latin America. The group's impressive geographical and financial growth in 2016 gives me confidence that we are now even better placed to deliver on this strategy and to provide best in class solutions to high net worth clients around the globe. Our investment into expanding our management team, to boosting product capabilities and to launching new technology platforms has meant that the business is now even more closely aligned to our clients' interests and is well positioned to deliver comprehensive services that most proficiently meet their needs for the years ahead." *Presented at constant Euro rates as of 31 December 2016 About Lombard International Lombard International is a leading global life insurance-based wealth solutions provider, combining the strength and expertise of two specialist life insurance companies with over 25 years' experience and market leadership in their respective fields. Lombard International provides wealth structuring solutions using private placement life insurance and annuity products to high net worth individuals, their families and institutions around the globe. The global group, branded as Lombard International, launched to market in September 2015. With head offices located in Luxembourg and Philadelphia, a combined global presence enables Lombard International to serve clients' complex needs on a global basis while being sensitive to local cultures and attitudes. The firm is an industry leader in providing multi-jurisdictional wealth planning solutions through its partner networks across the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Global assets under administration are in excess of 77 billion with a global staff number of over 600, including more than 60 technical experts specializing in 20+ jurisdictions. Funds managed by Blackstone own Lombard International. Blackstone is one of the world's leading investment firms with assets under management of over USD 367 billion. For further information about Lombard International visit: www.lombardinternational.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005568/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 11, 2017] Ken Ferderer, Managing Partner of InnoVacient, Selected to Judge Inaugural Maryland Cyber Event SAN JOSE, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ken Ferderer, InnoVacient's Managing Partner, was selected by the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. (CAMI), PNC Bank and Point3 Security, to participate as a judge for their inaugural Maryland Cybersecurity Awards Event held on March 23, 2017. Before a sell-out crowd of 250 attendees at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, 13 awards were presented to Maryland companies, organizations and individuals judged to have outstanding cybersecurity products or services or to have made a substantial contribution to Maryland's cybersecurity industry. Mr. Ferderer's involvement in this event is part of InnoVacient's focus on leading-edge innovation and cybersecurity. It also reflects the strong relationship InnoVacient has formed with the State of Maryland for cyber initiatives. "It was an honor to have Ken Ferderer join the panel of distinguished judges for our inaugural CAMI Awards program. Maryland produces some of the world's leading cybersecurity solutions, and this program is part of our organization's strategy to market our industry brand globally. Having a recognized global thought leader like Ken deeply involved was critial in helping us judge the truly award-winning companies and solutions," says Stacey Smith, Executive Director for the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. InnoVacient originally worked with the State of Maryland in 2015 as a key partner, providing consulting and helping to design and deliver the first CyberMaryland conference, a global cyber event featuring Maryland as the premiere hub for cyber entrepreneurs and solutions. "InnoVacient's involvement with the CAMI awards program is part of our ongoing commitment to transformational innovation for organizations, states and governments around the world. CAMI is a fantastic organization and we were proud to be invited to participate in this great event," says Ken Ferderer, Managing Partner, InnoVacient. About InnoVacient InnoVacient is an experienced boutique advisory firm specializing in Fourth Horizon Innovation strategies and frameworks that develop alignment between strategy and operations. The InnoVacient team has successfully collaborated with governments, states, non-profits, global Fortune-500 companies and startup clients around the world and across all industries helping them prepare for, and adapt to, future market challenges and global disruptions. InnoVacient's leading-edge approach spans the full spectrum of strategic services from futures exploration to ecosystem mapping to strategy design and complete operational transformations. Visit www.innovacient.com or email [email protected] for more information. Press Contact: Stephanie Bottom Mobile: (925) 330-6627 Email: [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ken-ferderer-managing-partner-of-innovacient-selected-to-judge-inaugural-maryland-cyber-event-300437826.html SOURCE InnoVacient [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 11, 2017] NSS Labs Announces Web Application Firewall Group Test Results 4 Vendors Receive Recommended Rating 1 Receives Caution AUSTIN, Texas, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NSS Labs, Inc., the global leader in operationalizing cybersecurity, today announced the results of its second Web Application Firewall (WAF) Group Test. A growing segment of the security market, WAFs employ a wide range of functions to work in conjunction with perimeter firewalls and intrusion prevention system (IPS) technologies to provide protection specifically for web applications. Of the five market-leading WAF vendors whose products had results published today, four products received a Recommended rating, while one product received a Caution rating. Websites are exposed to web-based application attacks designed to bypass data center firewalls (DCFWs) and data center intrusion prevention systems (DCIPS). WAF products protect web servers by inspecting HTTP communication for malicious content. Although WAF products can be used as transparent bridges to inspect traffic, many enterprises are utilizing WAFs as reverse proxies that sit between the user and web server, allowing inspection of encrypted traffic. The ability of WAFs to inspect encrypted traffic has become increasingly important, as at least 75% of all web traffic will be encrypted by 2019. To validate their security effectiveness, WAF products were tested for their ability to successfully identify and protect against targeted exploits, including known vulnerabilities and coding errors. Products were also tested against the Open Web Application Source Project (OWASP) Top Ten, and false positive testing was conducted to determine whether they could support SSL encryption and identify legitimate traffic. Total cost of ownership (TCO) was calculated based on Protected Mbps to provide enterprises with insight into cost and to create a normalized comparion across products. Key findings include: Overall Security Effectiveness ranged from 92.45% to 98.11%, with four of the five tested products achieving a rating greater than 98%. TCO per Protected CPS ranged from US $0.37 to US $25.01, with most tested products costing less than US$7.00 per Protected CPS. The average Security Effectiveness rating was 96.98%; four devices received an above-average Security Effectiveness rating, and one received a below-average Security Effectiveness rating. The average TCO per Protected CPS was US$8.21; four products were rated as having above-average value, and one was rated as having below-average value. In 2016, close to half of the network attacks targeting web applications came in through HTTP traffic and SSL vectors, said Vikram Phatak, CEO at NSS Labs. WAF devices are important lines of defense to secure critical web commerce operations and combat these attacks. The WAF Group Test results underscore the need for objective, vendor-neutral insights to help enterprises select the right solutions to strengthen their security posture. The five market leaders in the WAF Group Test include: Citrix NetScaler Web Application Firewall (AppFirewall) MPX 5910 v11.1.51.1006 F5 BIG-IP 10050S Application Security Manager (ASM) v12.1.1.0.0.184 Fortinet FortiWeb-3000E v5.5.5 Radware AppWall 1008 v7.3.4 Symantec Blue Coat ProxySG v6.6.5.1 As with all NSS Labs Group Tests, there was no fee for participation, and the Test Methodology is available in the public domain to provide transparency and help enterprises understand the factors behind the results. The no fee for participation and public domain are part of NSS Labs commitment to provide empirical data and objective group test results that enable security organizations to make educated decisions about purchasing and optimizing security infrastructure products and services. A free download of the Security Value Map (SVM) graphic can be found here. For more information, or to purchase NSS Labs Test Reports, click here. To learn more about the WAF Test Methodology and the WAF Group Test results, please click here. About NSS Labs, Inc. NSS Labs, Inc. is the global leader in operationalizing cybersecurity. Through continuous security validation and global threat discovery and automation, NSS Labs empowers enterprises to reduce the operational burden of cybersecurity and address crucial gaps in their cybersecurity efforts. Informed by our experience and strong foundation of security product validation, NSS Labs offers CAWS, a cyber threat protection platform that provides businesses with visibility into the cyber kill chain and automated insights into active threats. With global visibility into active threats and vulnerabilities, CAWS delivers a unique cyber risk rating that makes cybersecurity measurable and helps enterprises focus their resources in the areas that make the most difference. Combined, this information enables businesses to continuously monitor and respond to threats, strengthen their cybersecurity posture, and have confidence that they are appropriately securing the enterprise. CISOs, security operations teams, threat researchers, and information security professionals from many of the world's largest and most demanding enterprises rely on trusted insights from NSS Labs. For more information, visit www.nsslabs.com. Contact: Tom Resau W2 Communications Phone: +1 703-877-8103 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Photo : DSG Technology) CAV-X Supercavitating rounds. Advertisement A Norwegian firm has developed a new "supercavitating" bullet for assault rifles and machine guns that retains enough energy to kill or wound persons swimming deep underwater. DSG Technology claims its "CAV-X supercavitating rifle rounds" acts like a small torpedo that remains effective for significant distances underwater. It said CAV-X is "the world's only full caliber supercavitating ammunition for seamless use in standard weapons." Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The company further describes the underwater round as "a new breed of ammunition, with groundbreaking new capabilities." Supercavitating rounds are available in any caliber, said DSG. If true, the claims set forward for DSG's supercavitating rounds will solve one of the major drawbacks of high-velocity firearms such as assault rifles: the dramatic loss of kinetic energy when the rounds strike a body of water. Often, the drop in energy is so significant, a soldier in just three feet of water will escape severe injury from high velocity rounds hitting him. A scientific test on the popular American TV program Mythbusters proved that all supersonic bullets (up to .50 caliber) disintegrated in water with a depth of less than three feet (90 cm). The .50 caliber rounds actually broke into little pieces on impact with the water. The test proved a person will "be safe 14 inches underwater at a 23 degree angle from a .50 cal." At a 30 degree angle, a person will only have to be three feet underwater to be safe. DSG's CAV-X apparently overcome this disadvantage by using the same science that makes "supercavitating torpedoes" possible. DSG said CAV-X supercavitating rounds are designed with a specially shaped tip and carefully calibrated balance and mass. These refinements create air bubbles that allows the round to shoot through water, said Kristian Aksnes, director of Special Operations Forces for DSG. The rounds are tungsten with a brass shell and designed to be fired from conventional weapons. They're available in NATO 12.7 mm, 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm, as well as smaller calibers. The CAV-X 12.7 mm round has an effective range of 60 meters underwater, said DSG. The 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm rounds are effective underwater at 22 meters and 14 meters, respectively. Aksnes said larger caliber CAV-X rounds have the potential to aid harbor and beachhead defense and to assist in countermine and counter-torpedo operations. Advertisement Tagssupercavitating bullet, DSG Technology, underwater, Norwegian, MythBusters, supercavitating torpedoes (Photo : USAF) North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility. Advertisement China will attack North Korea's facilities producing nuclear bombs and has revealed the "Red Line" North Korea must cross for this act of war to occur. The editorial in the newspaper Global Times, which is owned by the People's Daily (the newspaper of the Communist Party of China), said the threat of a "nuclear leakage or pollution" at North Korea's nuclear facilities that damages the environment of northeast China (which shares a border with North Korea) will trigger a response from China. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "This is the bottom line of China, which means China will never allow such situation to happen. If the bottom line is touched, China will employ all means available including the military means to strike back," said the editorial. The northeastern Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Jilin share borders with North Korea. These two provinces and Heilongjiang are part of the Shenyang Military Region, one of seven military regions of the People's Liberation Army. The editorial also declared the "People's Liberation Army (PLA) will launch attacks to DPRK nuclear facilities on its own. A strike to nuclear facilities of the DPRK is the best military means in the opinion of the outside world." The editorial also explained the advantages to the world of a Chinese attack on North Korea's nuclear facilities. It noted China and the world know the locations of North Korea's nuclear facilities. Once the PLA attacks these nuclear sites, North Korea will permanently suspend its nuclear weapons programs. North Korea "has limited resources of nuclear materials and is strictly blockaded in the outside world, erasing the possibility for DPRK to get the materials again." China also noted that "nuclear weapons is DPRK's trump card for its defiance of China and the United States. Once this card is lost, it will become obedient immediately." More intriguingly, China surmises that if North Korea's "nuclear facilities are destroyed, they will not even fight back, but probably block the news to fool its domestic people. The DPRK will freak out if its nuclear facilities are destroyed." The 16th Group Army with headquarters at Jilin and the 39th Group Army with headquarters at Liaoning will launch the attack against North Korea's nuclear facilities, which are located close to the Chinese border with North Korea. Both armies belong to the Shenyang Military Region. The 39th Group Army has more main battle tanks than any other group army in the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF). Its role is to protect Beijing, hence the reason for its receiving the most number of tanks, the best equipment and the best training available. Advertisement Tagschina, North Korea, nuclear bombs, nuclear facilities, Global Times, Liaoning, Jilin, Shenyang Military Region, 39th Group Army, 16th Group Army (Photo : PLA) Chinese troops cross the Yalu River into North Korea during the Korean War, 1950-53. Advertisement China has finally revealed the strategic situations that will compel it to wage war against the United States, and said it will fight beside North Korea to prevent the U.S. establishing a pro-western government in a unified Korean state. The first reason for China's igniting World War III will be the United States and South Korea installing a pro-democracy government in North Korea after that country's defeat in a war. The second will be the advance of the U.S. Army or Marines to the banks of the Yalu River separating North Korea from China. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement An advance such as this in October 1950 during the Korean War forced China to send its "Chinese People's Volunteer Army" to attack U.S. Army and Marine units that had advanced to the Yalu River after defeating the North Korean People's Army. China made these two points perfectly clear in an editorial in one of the official newspapers of the Communist Party of China. In that editorial, China said it will attack the nuclear facilities operated by North Korea if these facilities threaten the security and stability of northeast China with nuclear contamination. It admitted that a punitive strike by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) against North Korea's nuclear facilities will lead to hundreds of thousands of North Korean refugees fleeing the fighting and seeking sanctuary in the northeastern Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Jilin, which share borders with North Korea. This flood of refugees must not be allowed into China, said the editorial. But should the Americans and South Koreans take advantage of this turmoil to invade North Korea, China will have no choice but to fight alongside North Korea as it did in the Koreaqn War. "China will not allow the existence of a government that is hostile against China on the other side of the Yalu River, and the US military must not push forward its military forces to the Yalu River," said the editorial. It noted "This sentence is meant for the United States, because the premise of it is that the US military has launched attacks to the DPRK." The editorial also warned the "US's ally Republic of Korea (ROK) must not push forward troops to the Yalu River as well is actually understood by the United States and ROK militaries that their troops will not encroach on the Yalu River." It reminded both the U.S. and South Korea that during the Korean War, "the United States-led united army troops from multiple countries announced that the united troops would not advance the battlefront to the Yalu River, but would stop at 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of the Sino-DPRK border. They called this line MacArthur Line back then." This did not occur, and forces of the United States Command (UNC) advanced all the way to the Yalu, triggering China's intervention in the Korean War and saving the defeated North Korea from complete conquest by the UNC. Advertisement Tagschina, North Korea, United States, South Korea, World War III, Korean War, Chinese People's Volunteer Army, People's Liberation Army Ground Force (Photo : Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) A man restrains a shop assistant with a knife during an attempted robbery, in Zhengzhou, Henan Province of China. Advertisement A bank worker in Nanning, China has won the hearts of many after he displayed great courage by putting his life and safety on the line to save a customer's life from the hands of a bank robber. The incident occurred on Friday, March 31 in one of the branches of the Agricultural Bank of China in the city of Nanning, Guangxi province. A surveillance video released by the police showed as the suspect entered the bank and walked up to the counter to seize a person. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The person happened to be a woman who soon suffered the wrath of the suspect as an approximately 6-inch knife was place on her throat. The entire scenario gave the witnesses chills and spread distress in the bank. As the tension grew, a bank employee displayed heroism as he decided to walk up to the robber, proposing to trade places with the lady. In the video showing the entire scene from the popular establishment, the woman was seen to have felt relieved from the situation while also reverberating a sense of gratitude towards the employee. The robber's attempt was ultimately unsuccessful. Soon after the employee and the first victim switched places as hostages, the bank worker was able to successfully subdue the robber by grabbing his hands and stealing the knife from him. The bank's security guard assisted from behind until he and the employee were able to knock the robber down. Advertisement Tagsnanning bank robbery, Nanning, nanning bank robber, china bank robbery, china robber, nanning china robbery, bank robbery china, china robber news (Photo : Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) Chinese navy holds memorial ceremony for 120th anniversary of the first Sino-Japanese War in Weihai, Shandong province of China. Advertisement China is all praises for the success of its coastal navy in a rescue operation on Sunday, April 2. The Chinese Navy successfully saved a cargo ship, the Tuvaluan, in the Gulf of Aden after it fell into the hands of pirates from Somalia. Amidst the celebration, however, China seems to be forgetting that the Indian Navy also played a major role in the rescue operation. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The Indian Navy is said to have provided China a helicopter to assist them in boarding the hijacked ship. Without the helicopter, it may not have been possible for China to execute and accomplish the entire operation. This fact, however, is strangely not being mentioned in many news related to the incident. A few hours after the successful rescue, the coastal Navy of China released a statement that failed to acknowledge India's part in the said operation. The following day, April 3, the same omission was apparent once again at a press conference that was sponsored by China's Department of Foreign Ministry. When the press and media representatives asked about the matter, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hia Chunying referred interrogators to the country's Ministry of Defense while emphasizing only on the "effectiveness of the Chinese naval force in the field of fighting against pirates." Furthermore, no mention of India was also made in an article written on Xinhua, neither was it in a write-up by Global Times. Both articles simply mentioned how China's maritime force and security outshined other coastal forces. This is awkward considering that India considers the incident to be a display of international coastal teamwork and collaboration against the threat of piracy. On the Indian Navy's Twitter account, a depiction of the incident was published showing an image of the Indian Navy Chetak helicopter soaring above Chinese Navy ship MV OS 35. Advertisement Tagschina india somalia, china navy india navy, china india navy vs. somali, china navy news, china navy updates, china somalia rescue, china india ship rescue (Photo : USAF) F-22 Raptors on patrol. Advertisement U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth air superiority fighters are reportedly patrolling the skies above western and northwestern Syria, including Russian military bases protected by formidable Russian air defenses. The airspace being reconnoitered by the Raptors includes the Syrian port city of Tartus along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, which is protected from air attack by an S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Tartus is a heavily defended enclave protected by surface-to-air missiles; anti-ship missiles and aircraft from the Russian Aerospace Forces. Russia is upgrading its Tartus facility so it can host up to 11 Russian Navy ships at a time, including nuclear-powered ones. Russia will also beef-up the air defense and sea defense systems protecting Tartus. Pentagon officials are concerned the F-22 patrols might be detected by the Russian's formidable radar and missile defense systems protecting Tartus and Khmeimim Air Base southeast of the city of Latakia along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in western Syria. Khmeimim Air Base is Russia's largest air base in Syria and is some 85 kilometers away from Tartus by road. It's defended by an S-400 Triumf SAM system, whose four different interceptors can attack aircraft flying at low to high altitudes. Russia is also said to have deployed S300V4 long-range SAM systems in western Syria. The areas being patrolled by the F-22s also include the city of Aleppo and Idlib province, site of the April 4 poison gas attack staged by the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) on the town of Khan Shaykhun, and the April 7 bombardment of the SAAF's Shayrat Air Base by American UGM-109E Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) in response to the poison gas attack. Despite its concerns, the Pentagon is confident the F-22s can safely fly within the engagement envelope of both S-400 and S300V4 SAM systems because the Raptors are basically invisible to Russian radars due to their stealthy design. The F-22s are also patrolling to determine how Russia might respond to future American missile attacks on Syria. F-22 pilots are confident about the Raptor's ability to defeat the S-300V4 and the S-400. As for how effective these SAM systems are, the Air Force isn't 100 percent sure if the Russians have the capability to attack the Raptors as the Russians often claim. Some military analysts believe the F-22s will play the major role in suppressing Russian SAM systems if the White House chooses to launch new cruise missile strikes -- and probably air strikes by manned U.S. aircraft -- against Bashar al-Assad's regime, which only survives by the grace of the Russians. Advertisement TagsF-22 Raptor stealth air superiority fighters, U.S. Air Force, Tartus, Russian Aerospace Forces, Khmeimim Air Base, S-400 Triumf, S-300, Syria, Shayrat Air Base [April 11, 2017] Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund's 3rd Greater Houston Gala Raises $850,000 to "Give Back Through Education" to Veterans and Children of Fallen Soldiers Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund is pleased to announce that its recent 3rd Greater Houston Gala raised $850,000 in support of its mission of giving back through education to military veterans and their family members. Over 375 people attended the event on April 6, 2017 at The Houstonian Hotel, Houston, Texas, hosted by Anthony Anderson, star and executive producer of ABC's "Black-ish". The keynote speaker from Washington, DC provided perspective about current military initiatives. The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, founded by fellow graduates and classmates of West Point, is inspired by Colonel John "Johnny Mac" McHugh, killed in action in Afghanistan May 18, 2010. An Army aviator, Colonel McHugh served 24years in the U.S. Army, and is remembered as a selfless soldier, leader, family man, and friend. "We're honoring our veterans and fallen comrades by helping take care of their educational needs and those of the children they've left behind. They have served, and now we have an obligation to serve---we must serve. It's a part of who we are," commented Tony Guzzi, co-founder of the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund and President & CEO of EMCOR Group, Inc. "We must take care of our own. Through the mission of Johnny Mac, we can all give back in a small way that has immeasurably large impacts to those who have sacrificed so much for all of us." "We have a responsibility to give back to veterans and their children who have given up so much--their moms and dads--in service to our country. As a country we need to come together and pay that back," stated Stephen Cannon, co-founder of the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund and CEO of AMB Group, LLC. "Johnny Mac's mission is to step into the gap and, through education assistance, help support veterans and children whose parents made the ultimate sacrifice---that's 16,000 kids whose lives we can impact right now." Top sponsors for the event were Mercedes-Benz, 7-Eleven, Inc., AutoNation, Comfort Systems USA, EMCOR Group, Inc., Keystone Concrete, and NCI Building Systems. About Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund Established in 2014, the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to financially assisting veterans and their family members with education expenses. The fund is inspired by Colonel John "Johnny Mac" McHugh, KIA in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 18, 2010. To date, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund has awarded nearly $3.5 million in college scholarships. To learn more or to support the mission of Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, visit www.JohnnyMac.org View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005232/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Dozens were killed and more than 100 were injured in two separate bombing incidents that occurred in Coptic churches on Palm Sunday. The first bombing attack took place in the morning at St. Georges Church in Tanta, which is located north of Cairo. According to Morning Star, about 27 were killed during this incident, and about 78 were wounded. Reports say a bomb was planted under one of the church seats. In the second incident which occurred several hours later, a suicide bomber detonated himself when he was stopped by security guards at St. Marks Cathedral in Alexandria, leading to the deaths of some 17 people. About 48 others were wounded. The twin bombings mark the deadliest attack against Christians in Egypt in decades, reports say. However, Christians have been specifically targeted in terrorist attacks in the country in the last few months. Two Coptic churches were bombed last Christmas, killing 24 and wounding 50. Christians are whether Coptic Christians or Catholics or any other Christian a target these days for terrorists, Joseph Ghabour, the deacon of public relations at the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mark in New Jersey, told Baptist Press. We pray for all those who hate us and we ask that God provide His guidance to them to enlighten their hearts and minds to know the right way, he added. Soon after the attacks, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for them. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi also declared a three-month-long state of emergency in the nation on the same day, which would allow the government to monitor communication, restrict movement or gatherings, and deploy officials for enforcement, among other actions. The Egyptian parliament must approve the state of emergency within seven days. The attack was condemned by leaders worldwide, and many expressed their solidarity and intent for prayer on behalf of the loved ones of the victims. Oklahoma Senator James Lankford called the attacks horrible, and added, Anti-religious and anti-Christian violence is alive and well throughout the Middle East, and the world. "Radical Islamists kill Christians because they are Christians; Yezidis because they are Yezidis; and different Muslim sects because they believe in a different brand of Islam than them. The right to practice any faith, or have no faith, should be a fundamental human right of all people. The United States of America will always stand with people around the World who seek freedom of conscience and assembly," said Lankford. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Christian families affected by these deadly attacks, said William Stark, the regional manager of International Christian Concern. Stark added that there is a need for decisive action by authorities. "No one should have to fear senseless violence like this for simply attending a church service, Stark said. These bombings represent the second and third church bombings Egypts Christians have had to endure in recent months. Action must be taken by Egypts authorities to secure the countrys Christian communities and their places of worship, especially as we enter Holy Week. Unless decisive action is taken, attacks like these will likely continue. As a young, soon-to-be ordained pastoral candidate, Eugene Peterson had clear expectations about what ministry would look like: From fairly extensive reading about pastor and priest predecessors, I was impressed that everyday pastoral life was primarily concerned with developing a life of prayer among the people. But ministry reality turned out to be quite different. The first job description given me omitted prayer entirely. I didn't like it and decided, after an interval of confused disorientation, that being a physician of souls took priority over running a church. Peterson believed this new priority required devotion to the item left off his first job description: regular and fervent prayer for his church. Another Pastor EugeneEugene Bradford, author of Intercessory Prayer: A ministerial taskhighlights the same discord Peterson felt: It is clearly a part of the ministers task to give himself to prayer for his flock. In this ... You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe to Christianity Today magazine. Subscribers have full digital access to CT Pastors articles. 1 500 Years Later -- What Have We Learned? Prolific Christian author bridges the divide between the world's two largest Christian denominations Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2017 / While he acknowledges that there still are significant differences between Catholics and Protestants, Kreeft emphasizes that they agree on the single most important issue: justification. He's direct, simple and even confrontational, but he takes a vertical, not horizontal, approach by "directing arrows not against each other (Protestant or Catholic) but against our own hearts and minds and wills." In CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS, Kreeft provides a fair and insightful path toward bringing Catholics and Protestants into closer union with each other. Above all, Kreeft says that this work is simple, not easy, or obvious, but condensed. It like all of reality is Christocentric. Its purpose is to be "like an Australian sheep dog, herding and hectoring Christ's separated sheep back to His face. For that is the only way they can ever return back to each other." "Peter Kreeft, one of our finest Christian writers today, has given us a passionate plea for Christian unity, one that builds upon the great common core of Christian belief confessed by faithful Protestants and Catholics alike," Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, says of CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS. "A volume full of faith and hope." For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Dr. Peter Kreeft, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or Share Tweet Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Protestants throughout the world will celebrate a monumental event on Oct. 31, 2017: the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The question remains, though: Will Protestants and Catholic ever be unified? Catholics and Protestants have different beliefs on many key topics, including the office and authority of the pope, sufficiency and authority of Scripture, the Eucharist and the veneration of the saints and Mary, among others. Widely read Christian author and philosopher Dr. Peter Kreeft addresses the aforementioned differences (and more) in his new book, CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS: What We Can Learn From Each Other.While he acknowledges that there still are significant differences between Catholics and Protestants, Kreeft emphasizes that they agree on the single most important issue: justification. He's direct, simple and even confrontational, but he takes a vertical, not horizontal, approach by "directing arrows not against each other (Protestant or Catholic) but against our own hearts and minds and wills."In CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS, Kreeft provides a fair and insightful path toward bringing Catholics and Protestants into closer union with each other. Above all, Kreeft says that this work is simple, not easy, or obvious, but condensed. It like all of reality is Christocentric. Its purpose is to be "like an Australian sheep dog, herding and hectoring Christ's separated sheep back to His face. For that is the only way they can ever return back to each other.""Peter Kreeft, one of our finest Christian writers today, has given us a passionate plea for Christian unity, one that builds upon the great common core of Christian belief confessed by faithful Protestants and Catholics alike," Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, says of CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS. "A volume full of faith and hope."For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Dr. Peter Kreeft, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications. home World Christian parents to challenge Germany's homeschool ban in European Court of Human Rights A Christian couple in Germany is challenging the country's ban on homeschooling in the European Court of Human Rights after the government forced them to send their children to public school. Dirk and Petra Wunderlich decided to homeschool their children in 2013, despite the longstanding ban on the practice. The couple pointed to their beliefs that Christian parenting should reflect that of God the father and Jesus, and said that they would rather not have their four kids taught by strangers. The Christian parents said that around 20 German authorities took away their children during their first lesson. "Our family life... why should it be disturbed for 4, 5, 6 hours a day? We want to be together and want to do our things for the whole day. There's no reason for our children to go into school which they do not like," Dirk said, according to Premier. The children reportedly went through a series of exams to test their academic levels while they were in custody. According to Michael Donelly of the Home School Legal Defense Association, the children did well on the tests. They were eventually released, but they were forced to go to public school for eight months, which their father described as a "horrible experience.". "I sincerely hope the European Court of Human Rights will reaffirm that the state has no right to abduct children from their family just because they are being homeschooled," Dirk said in a statement last week. "We chose to educate our children at home, because we believe this to be the best environment for them to learn and thrive," he continued. ADF International, which is representing the Wunderlich family, pointed out that Germany is among the 47 countries that abide by an international human rights agreement that protects the parents' rights to direct their children's education. Lorcan Price, Legal Counsel for ADF International, expressed her belief that the prohibition on homeschooling is in direct violation of the agreement. The homeschooling ban has been challenged in the European Court 10 years ago, but the court ruled in favor of Germany, saying parents are not allowed to homeschool their children based on religious or philosophical reasons. Dirk is hoping that the judge would see that a violation of human rights occurred because the German police took away their children in such a hostile manner in 2013. The Wunderlich family has considered moving to France, where it is legal to homeschool children, but they decided to stay and fight for their rights. Antiquities specialist Hannah Solomon discusses an ornate Greek helmet, which was until recently on loan at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is now being offered in the Exceptional Sale on 28 April This is a superb example of Greek armour, says Hannah Solomon, specialist and Head of Sale, Ancient Art & Antiquities at Christies New York. When you look at other examples of Chalcidian helmets from this period, this one is noteworthy for its decorative elements, beautiful patination and fantastic condition. The Chalcidian helmet was an improvement on the earlier Corinthian and Illyrian types. Its lighter design allowed for greater mobility, while its curves around the ears maximised the soldiers ability to hear. This helmet dates to the Classical period between around 450 and 400 BC the age of Sophocles, Herodotus and Pericles. This was a pioneering period for art and culture in ancient Greece, but also a time of war and conflict: the city states were not only fighting off attacks from foreign empires but also fighting each other. This helmet, however, was more than just a functional piece of armour. Its incredibly ornate, indicating that it was owned by someone of higher rank who had the money to invest in armour that was more than just protective, Solomon explains. You dont need all the ornamentation on the crown of the head, or the spiral on the cheek guards these details all show that the warrior had significant means. This was not a common object. A U.S. Steel subsidiary in Houston agreed to pay $150,000 to a job candidate who was not hired after he refused to give up a strand of hair from his scalp for drug testing because it violated his religion. Stephen Fasuyi applied for a utility technician position at U.S. Steel Tubular Products, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel Corp., in 2011 and was offered a job, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which represented Fasuyi. The job offer was contingent upon passing a drug test. A man died at the hospital after he was shot during a struggle with a Houston police officer, authorities said Monday night. The fatal officer-involved shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. while the officer was investigating a noise complaint in the 2600 block of Mayview in northwest Houston, HPD officials said. The noise was coming from a car parked on the street. The officer spoke to a 39-year-old man sitting in the car and smelled what appeared to be marijuana, police said. The officer, who has not been identified, asked the man to get out of the car. The man got out and tried to run. HPD officials said the officer grabbed him. The man then pulled out a semi-automatic pistol that had been in his waistband, HPD officials said. Fearing for his own life, the HPD officer who has not been identified fired at the man, striking it. The man was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital where he was pronounced dead about 8:15 p.m., police said. The officer was not injured. Police said the officer was wearing a body camera. It will be reviewed but it appears his actions didn't appear to be in violation of any laws or procedures, officials said. The officer-involved shooting will be investigated by the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Check back for further updates as they become available. There isnt just one way to sound like a scientist, or to sound like a scholar. Scientists and scholars come from a wide variety of backgrounds and speak in different ways, in different accents, dialects and languages. In classrooms across the U.S., students do too. No student (or teacher) leaves their language patterns at the door when they enter a classroom even classes like math and science, where language is often seen as secondary. For the past decade, as professors who study the role of language and culture in education, weve been working to help educators understand these dynamics across all subject areas. As the U.S. student population continues to rapidly diversify along cultural and linguistic lines, the demographics of the teacher population remain stable at roughly 82 percent white and predominantly female. How can educators make sure that teaching and learning in their diverse classrooms is effective and equitable? Understanding how and why culture and communication matter in all areas of education from science to the humanities is a critical starting point. When students don't sound the same Students who speak differently can face a number of challenges at school. Studies have found that at all levels of education, instructors often favor students who sound like themselves and can be biased against those who dont. Educators might form negative assumptions about a students intelligence and ability based simply on how he or she talks, which can result in lowered expectations, stereotyping and discrimination. Teachers sometimes also send messages, whether consciously or unconsciously, that a students language is wrong, dumb or out of place at school. For instance, consider what one mother told us about an interaction she witnessed in her sons first grade classroom. One of the boys, who is African-American, was playing a game and realized he didnt have the materials he needed. He raised his hand and said to the teacher, I dont got no dice. His teacher immediately responded, Joshua, we speak English in this class! The mother was appalled and felt that this experience could discourage Joshua from speaking up at school. When students absorb and internalize such messages, they can experience what linguist William Labov called linguistic insecurity feelings of anxiety and apprehension that can take root even at an early age. These negative experiences with language and communication in the classroom can have a direct impact on students academic achievement. As early as kindergarten, students who come to school speaking in similar ways as their teachers are more likely to get ahead, whereas those who speak differently are more likely to fall behind. These language-based educational inequalities disproportionately affect African-American students and other students of color, English language learners and students who come from a social class or regional background that is different from that of their teacher. As Joshuas mother said to us, There must be a better way to respond. Gagliardi Images / Shutterstock.com Putting language into the equation Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway For the past decade, weve worked not only as scholars but as teacher trainers as well. Some of our professional development workshops are geared toward a particular group of educators: those who teach K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics, also known as STEM. In 2011, we began a three-year study with 60 K-12 STEM educators in Maryland and Virginia to explore how language can affect teaching and learning for STEM students, particularly for African-American youth. The teachers were eager to learn, but also to share experiences from their own classroom teaching about the role that language can play in STEM whether its answering a word problem in math, reading an engineering text or writing a lab report. One of the biggest challenges is that, in STEM, word problems, questions, texts and directions often contain unfamiliar terms, both technical and nontechnical. In fact, nontechnical words can often be as problematic as the more specialist terms of science. Its kind of like learning a language twice, a geometry teacher said, because the vocabulary can be so intense. And its not just vocabulary that matters; everyday classroom communication plays an important role, too. We all use language, one STEM teacher recognized, whether its in the directions we give or the handouts we use. What can we do right now? How can teachers make an immediate difference in their classes? For educators who want to know how to take this information and apply it directly to their teaching, there are relevant, accessible materials. The Language and Life Project, out of North Carolina State University, hosts a number of videos and podcasts about language. In addition to a comprehensive website, we created a series of webinars about the role of language in teaching and learning across the disciplines, as well as a podcast in which educators themselves describe how this information positively impacted their teaching and their relationships with students. Darren Abate/Darren Abate for H-E-B These materials can help teachers learn how to respond to students who speak differently, avoid cultural and linguistic bias on tests and design culturally supportive curricula. In the course of our research, we also created a free iOS app (Valuable Voices) for educators. The app provides a year of monthly classroom-ready exercises and activities, adaptable for elementary through high school students. One exercise introduces students to the concept of language change by analyzing the linguistic innovations of William Shakespeare. Another activity invites students to explore linguistic landscapes, or the language found in public places and spaces around them. Language matters Good teaching relies on effective communication, whether its in English class, biology class or any subject in between. The words that teachers and students use, their meanings and their intentions are central to classroom interactions and dynamics. Ensuring that students, peers and teachers from diverse backgrounds understand and communicate respectfully with each other is often just as important as helping students understand the material in their textbooks. Language matters not just for fostering mutual respect, but for making sure that every student has an equal opportunity to succeed. As one high school algebra teacher who participated in our study pointed out: Spending time showing students how their language is respected, and allowing them to have the skills to analyze different ways of speaking and writing, creates a classroom where we celebrate what we can each bring to our learning environment. Simply put, she said, Its worth our time. *** Do you or anyone you know have had an experience related to language bias in Houston? Share your thought below or write us a note. Christine Mallinson, Associate Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Anne Charity Hudley, Associate Professor of Education, English, and Linguistics, College of William & Mary. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Dozens of Venezuelans protested peacefully in front of the Venezuelan consulate in Houston on Tuesday afternoon, in support of massive protests in their country of origin against the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro. Three deaths have been reported in Venezuela since protests erupted there April 1, following a controversial decision by the country's supreme court. The court stripped Venezuela's congress of its last vestiges of power a decision it later reversed. Associated Press reported that demonstrators and opposition leaders are angered by what they see as a government that no longer respects democratic institutions and is sliding toward authoritarianism. President Nicolas "Maduro dissolved the National Assembly via the Supreme Court! There isn't any kind of democracy in Venezuela at all," said Maria Eugenia Gonzalez, one of the people in front of the Consulate of Venezuela in Houston. "We are asking for donations of first aid medical supplies to send to the groups protesting in Venezuela," Gonzalez said. She's a member of Houston's Venezuelans in Defense of Democracy, which will protest and collect contributions at midday Tuesday in front of the Venezuelan consulate (2401 Fountain View Drive). The group also seeks transporting the donations from Houston to Venezuela. "The levels of insecurity and scarcity in Venezuela are unbelievable, and the government cannot keep blaming others for their own mismanagement," says Mary Portillo, a Houston protester Houston whose parents were assaulted and robbed last week in Caracas. "(Maduro) cannot blame the pharmaceuticals for the lack of medicines because he himself took over (that industry). He cannot blame anybody because he took everything and is in charge of everything." The group is collecting alcohol, bandages, antiseptics, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, acetaminophen, antibiotics, medicines for hypertension, and other basic medicines. "These people don't have anything because there isn't anything in Venezuela, not even toilet paper," said Portillo. "Not even diabetic people can find medicine for their diabetes." "What is happening in Venezuela is a massacre and those of us who are abroad have to show support for the people that are protesting inside" the country, says Omar Mejias, a Venezuelan living in Houston. Authorities squashed an opposition campaign to hold a recall referendum on Maduro last year, and a date has yet to be set for gubernatorial elections that were supposed to take place in 2016. Maduro accuses the opposition of fomenting unrest and conspiring with international actors to destabilize the country. He was in Cuba on Monday for a gathering of the Bolivarian Alliance, a leftist coalition of 11 Latin American nations. On Sunday the president called on the opposition to return to stymied efforts at dialogue and said he was eager for regional elections to take place. But opposition leaders renewed calls to take to the streets, saying Maduro's words have no credibility until a full election timeline has been formally established. Monday's protest took place at the start of Easter Week, when many Venezuelans typically spend quiet time at home with family or go on vacation. Opposition party leaders urged people to put any beach plans on hold and instead get some sun while out putting pressure on the government. Authorities shut down several metro stations citing security reasons, but thousands nonetheless walked to the march. In some previous demonstrations, government groups have roughed up several opposition leaders and fired rubber bullets and a previously unseen reddish gas at crowds. One day a small group of young protesters unsuccessfully tried to set fire to a Supreme Court office, and another group snatched a camera from journalists working for pro-government state broadcaster VTV. A dozen people were injured in the protest Monday, and opposition leaders shared a video they said showed an infant being whisked away after being overcome by tear gas. Opposition members also distributed a picture of an expired tear gas canister they said was found detonated at a previous demonstration. Expired tear gas chemicals and solvents inside a cartridge could potentially react with each other or oxygen in the area and degrade, forming highly toxic gases, said Sven-Eric Jordt, a professor at Duke University School of Medicine. A degraded pyrotechnic charge propelling the cartridge could also lead to uncontrolled explosions, he said. Overall, the unrest has left one person dead and more than 100 detained. Eighteen people were detained Monday. International leaders and the Organization for American States have been ratcheting up pressure on Venezuela to hold general elections, a call Maduro and his allies have condemned as an unjust attempt to intervene in the Andean nation's domestic affairs. Olivia.Tallet@chron.com Twitter: @oliviaptallet With information from Associated Press' Fabiola Sanchez, from Caracas, Venezuela. The Canadian government will table legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in parliament on Thursday, setting down fairly strict provisions including plain, tobacco-style packaging of cannabis products. The legislation fulfills a promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government that marijuana would be made legal in Canada at or before July 1, 2018. July 1 is Canada Day. The legislation will appear a week before the annual 4/20 celebrations, at which thousands of young Canadians -- hundreds on the steps of the Vancouver Library -- have flaunted their country's drug laws. The bill is expected, however, to set a minimum age of 18 for purchase of pot, with provinces allowed to set a higher limit. Households in the Great White North will be allowed to grow up to four plants for personal use. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 GRANT HINDSLEY/SEATTLEPI.COM Show More Show Less 2 of 3 GRANT HINDSLEY/SEATTLEPI.COM Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The country's provinces and territories would be able to set the price for pot, and set down conditions under which the previously illegal weed can be sold. One goal of the legislation, however, is to make acquisition of marijuana more difficult for those teenagers who show up to celebrate 4/20 each year. As well, in a country where the R.C.M.P. does regular traffic stops for drunk drivers, there will be penalties for driving while high. In its 2015 platform, the governing Liberal Party pledged to "create new, stronger laws to punish more severely those who provide it to minors, those who operate a motor vehicle under the influence, and those who sell it outside the new regulatory framework." The kind of recreational use to be allowed is what Trudeau confessed to before the last election. He and friends lit up a joint at home after a dinner party, once the kids had been put to bed. A trio of companies expecting to sell cannabis -- Canopy Growth Corp., CannTrust, Inc., and Tilray Canada, Inc. -- recently called on the government to allow marijuana to be packaged with logos and colorful lettering. More for you Marijuana use: Seattle-area communities ranked "Packaging debates are often driven by public health concerns but in order to develop well-rounded public policy, rules surrounding packaging and in-store promotion must take into account the current status of the large, illegal cannabis black market and the harms it causes youth and society more generally," said their letter. "Therefore, there must be allowances for branding as well as for in-store advertising of cannabis products to ensure that consumers who have already self-selected to enter a legal cannabis retailer will be well-informed about the products they are purchasing." Or as the Globe and Mail put it bluntly: "A key argument for the licensed producers is that they have to create a product that can compete with the black market that sells illegally harvested marijuana." The legalization of marijuana in the Great White North is rooted in two considerations. Canada's criminal laws are massively flaunted. 4/20 is just one manifestation. "B.C. Bud" has become British Columbia's most profitable outside crop, outside the law. It has won international competitions in The Netherlands. The second is that organized crime has moved in. Growers are robbed. British Columbia has experienced gangland rubouts, one in the driveway of a popular Penticton resort. When grow operations are busted, their youthful minders show up in court with top-notch legal representation. Ex-attorney generals of British Columbia, representing the political spectrum, have signed letters calling for legalization, as a means of stripping organized crime of its profits. Former B.C. Premier (and Canadian health minister) Ujjal Dosanjh has signed one letter. Trudeau, as an opposition leader, created a stir when he picked the conservative city of Kelowna in 2013 to call for full legalization of pot. He was savagely attacked by the Conservative Party government of then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. When Canadians voted in October of 2015, however, the Liberals scored an upset victory for a House of Commons seat in Kelowna. [April 11, 2017] Anju Software Enhances Offering to Life Science Vertical Through Acquisition of OpenQ Anju Software Inc., a life sciences software platform backed by Providence Equity Partners (News - Alert), acquired the assets of OpenQ, a leading provider of Key Opinion Leader (KOL) data base and software solutions to manage KOLs. "OpenQ will enable Anju to provide additional value-added solutions to pharmaceutical and medical device companies. We are confident that this offering will provide enhanced value to our customers," said Mr. Jacob, CEO of Anju Software. Mr. Jacob also added that the acquisition of OpenQ is consistent with Anju's strategy of continuing to enhance its product offering through acquisitions and internal development. "Anju is the perfect home for OpenQ as we feel that its focus on the Life Science vertical and specifically the Medical Information segment will benefit the customers of OpenQ and also provide further value to Anju's existing customers," commented Jim Zuffoletti, CEO of OpenQ. About Anju Software Anju Software is a technology platform company, focused on delivering business application solutions and services to the Life Science segment. Anju was founded by a group of operating and investment professionals with deep software domain expertise and a poven track record of building software platforms through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. In 2016, Anju acquired Online Business Applications (OBA), which is the market leader in providing Medical Information Solutions to the Pharmaceutical and CRO segments of Life Sciences. Anju Software is a portfolio company of Providence Strategic Growth, the growth equity affiliate of Providence Equity Partners, a global private equity firm with $50 billion in assets under management. About OpenQ OpenQ is a market leader in helping life science companies identify, profile and compliantly manage relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOL). OpenQ's solutions combine Big Data with expert validation and software applications to deliver actionable information that mitigates compliance risks, while leveraging the latest cloud-based and mobile applications to improve compliant medical network access, collaboration and management. About Providence Equity Providence is a premier, global asset management firm with $50 billion in assets under management across complementary private equity and credit businesses. Providence pioneered a sector focused approach to private equity investing with the vision that a dedicated team of industry experts could build exceptional companies of enduring value. Since the firm's inception in 1989, Providence has invested in more than 150 companies and is the leading equity investment firm focused on the media, communications, education and information industries. Providence is headquartered in Providence, RI and also has offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Delhi. For more information on Providence Equity, please visit www.provequity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005535/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A 52-year-old man from the Cy-Fair area has been charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child. Ezequiel Garza of Houston is accused of sexually abusing a female victim from the time she was 6 years old until she was 17 years old. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate After a 13-year run, TV anchor Melinda Spaulding is bidding farewell to the Fox 26 Houston news desk. In a statement, Fox Television Stations said Spaulding chose not to renew her contract. She had been co-anchoring the 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows. "Now it's time for me to be there for homework, dinner and bedtime," she said in a Facebook post. "My daughter and son are now 7 and 5... and I don't want to miss another moment!" NEW JOB: Ex-Houston TV anchor announces new career after journalism She has not specified an end date to her tenure, but she will be on hand to help the news team select her successor. In a prepared statement, news director Susan Schiller said: "Melinda is a consummate professional and we thank her for her years of dedication. Although we are saddened to watch her go, the Fox 26 family is fortunate to have called her one of our own and she will remain part of our family. We wish her much happiness in the next chapter of her career." ALSO OUT THE DOOR: Veteran Houston newscaster calls it quits Spaulding is the first KRIV-TV employee to depart in 2017. At the moment, KHOU-TV is in the lead with three on-air personalities having left. As for the other TV personalities who've left Houston this year and last, you can see them all in the gallery above. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Clay Adler, a cast member of the popular MTV reality show "Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County" has died, TMZ reports. Adler was on a shooting trip with friends on March 25 when he allegedly intentionally shot himself in an apparent suicide, TMZ has learned. He died a day later, but the news of his apparent suicide is only coming to the surface now. TMZ reports that neither drugs nor alcohol were believed to be present in Adler's system, but that he may have battled with mental illness in the past. "Newport Harbor" followed the daily lives of a group of rich teenagers living in California. Adler appeared on two seasons of the reality show and performed in some other minor acting roles. Adler was 27. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Four men accused of robbing a jewelry store in Shenandoah in January were indicted last week. The Jan. 12 robbery was followed by a police chase that led to a car crash on Interstate 45 North when the suspect vehicle struck another car. Two suspects were arrested at the scene, and two were arrested a short while later. A Montgomery County grand jury indicted Dextrek Walker, 23, Donte Davis, 24, Wayland Smith, 39, and Junior Daye-Johnson, 25, each on a first-degree felony aggravated robbery charge. They all face up to life in prison, if convicted. Walker is from the Cypress area, and the other three suspects are from Southeast Houston. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said in a release that three of the suspects are known gang members. The heist was reported around 1:30 p.m. at Zales Jewelry Store in the Portofino Shopping Center, located at 19705 Interstate 45, Shenandoah Police Assistant Chief Barry Gresham said then. "They came in, smashed the display counters and took as much as they could grab," Gresham said. "I don't think they were inside more than a minute." Emergency dispatchers received a call from a witness who said three men wearing masks entered the store and a fourth waited in the vehicle. A Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy and a Shenandoah police officer were able to catch up to the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it, according to the Sheriff's Office. During the pursuit, the SUV struck another vehicle but kept going. The driver of the other vehicle suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The suspect vehicle continued onto Interstate 45 via the grassy median of the frontage road, but it struck a tree. The Sheriff's Office reported the next day that all of the jewelry stolen from Zales had been recovered. Some of the jewelry was in the suspects' pockets when they were arrested, according to the MCSO. Montgomery County grand jury indictments for April 4: Claybourne Penrice, fraudulent possession of identifying items Michael Callaway, possession of controlled substance (x2) and possession of controlled substance LSD Dakota Evans, possession of controlled substance and possession of controlled substance LSD Brandon Wright, unauthorized use of motor vehicle Skyler Rice, assault family strangulation Bryan Underwood, possession with intent to deliver/manufacture controlled substance Gary Allen, sexual assault Michael Sotello, possession with intent to deliver/manufacture controlled substance and manufacture or possession with intent to deliver controlled substance Bryan Johnson, assault causing bodily injury family enhanced This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A fifth person has died after Friday's shocking quadruple murder-suicide that spanned three crimes scenes in two counties. Laverne Holmes, who a family friend said was initially wounded and then hospitalized, died Monday, according to the medical examiner. The shooting broke out sometime Friday morning, when 29-year-old Dekitta Holmes apparently went on a shooting spree, killing her sister, stepfather and another man, according to authorities. DEADLY: Houston woman identified as shooter in murder-suicide Houston police discovered the slayings just after 7 a.m. when they responded to a request for a welfare check at a home on Mount Pleasant. There, they found the bodies of Dekitta Holmes and her stepfather. Her mother, Laverne, was wounded. A few doors down, officers found another shooting victim. It's not clear how he may have been related to the family. Then, just before 10 a.m., Fort Bend County deputies found the body of Carolyn Jean Holmes, 48, in a Fresno home. On Monday, friends and family were still reeling from the shock. "It was totally surprising and most definitely unexpected," said Delia Ledet, a long-time friend of Dekitta's. "From what I've gathered she smiled to hide what was really going on." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Houston man possibly connected to the Subway killing of Javier Flores was arrested last week for an armed robbery at a nearby sandwich shop the same day. Jeffrey Cordero Archangel, 25, was jailed Wednesday after police said he and another man robbed a Subway on San Jacinto, less than two hours after 18-year-old Flores was shot in a botched robbery in February. Just before 9 p.m on Feb. 22, two gun-toting men burst into a Subway on Broadway near the Gulf Freeway. Flores and his mother were the only workers in the store at the time, prepping for closing just an hour later. GRIEF: Family, friends mourn dead Subway worker as a hero The teen's mother was toward the front of the store cleaning up when one of the assailants pointed a gun at her face. Flores dashed from behind the counter to intervene and save his mother. The teen was shot in the process and was rushed to the hospital where he later died. Two hours later, robbers hit up a Subway on San Jacinto about seven miles away. Although the suspects got away with cash and food, they were caught on surveillance video. Police released the footage two days later, saying it showed the shooter from the earlier heist. After the hold-up, a witness identified Archangel as one of the robbers, according to court documents. Archangel was arrested Wednesday for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He bonded out Tuesday on $30,000 bail. His appointed defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Scroll through the above gallery to see pictures of people paying tribute to the teen who was killed and details about the case On Monday, April 10, all Greater Houston Papa John's Pizza locations are donating all proceeds to the family of late Assistant Chief Deputy Clint Greenwood. All Papa John's locations from Huntsville to Galveston, and Lake Jackson to Baytown are participating in the donations. "People want to help out, but don't always know what to do. So we thought this might be a good way to give some grace and money to the family and help them out," said Keith Sullins, Papa John's Houston Pizza Venture President. United Airlines is in the midst of a public relations disaster after video of a man being violently dragged off an overbooked flight by security went viral. The incident has brought on the wrath of the internet, which was further inflamed by United CEO Oscar Munoz's response. Munoz said the airline had to "re-accommodate" the passenger, and later, in a letter to his employees, said the passenger was being "disruptive and belligerent." Pearland resident Laura Jaramillo says her friendship with Holocaust survivor Ruth Brown is opening new horizons. Jaramillo describes her pairing with Brown, 92, through Holocaust Museum Houston's "Connections" program as a "learning journey," adding, "I hope my journey makes me a better person." Started in the fall, the program aims to creating friendships between museum volunteers and survivors. A bank executive who serves as trustee for the museum, Jaramillo keeps a busy schedule. "I wish we had more time to spend together," said Brown, who lives in Missouri City, winning agreement from Jaramillo as they talked over coffee at Three Brothers Bakery in southwest Houston. "From weekly calls and visits to driving survivors to major events, 'Connections' has been a certified hit," museum spokeswoman Robin Cavanaugh said. "The volunteers, coming from diverse backgrounds and religions, have shared (that) they have made lasting relationships (some have become surrogate grandparents), learned amazing first-hand accounts of their Holocaust survivor's experiences and received much more from the relationship than they feel they have given." Connections has influenced Jaramillo, a Methodist, to study the Jewish faith, and she and her husband, Rick, recently traveled to Israel for what she said was a life-changing trip. Learning about the exodus of German Jews like Brown to Spain and then, for some, an additional move to Latin America ignited Jaramillo's desire to learn more about Judaism. "I want to know if I have Jewish heritage," she said, explaining that both her mother's maiden name and her father's name end in "ez," which are supposed to indicate a Jewish background. She and Brown both love to read and recently exchanged "Killing Jesus: A History," by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. Brown likes biographies. Jaramillo has switched from novels to more historical books. Both are fans of Abraham Lincoln. Both Jaramillo and Brown also see a broad lesson from the Holocaust. "Compassion for people - all people; not just our small world," said Jaramillo, who refers to Houston schoolboys even today being taunted for being Jewish and to the recent chemical attack on Syrian citizens. "There's too much hate in the world," said Brown, a former docent of the Holocaust museum. Take the money used to wage war and find a cure for cancer or fund causes to benefit mankind, she suggested. For Brown, who is studying Christianity, Connections provides an opportunity for social outings. At 92, she doesn't drive anymore and has used a cane after breaking her hip about six years ago. But she remains active. She loves the opera and she was one of a small group selected to light a candle at the April 23 citywide Yom HaShoah Commemoration or Holocaust Remembrance Day at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston. Brown remembers the time of the Holocaust all too well even though she was only 8 when Hitler came to power in 1933. Her father, Fred owned a "beautiful jewelry store" in Dusseldorf, a city on the Rhine in west Germany. But he sold that and everything the family of four owned to move to Barcelona, Spain, to escape from Hitler. "We lost home and family. My parents never went back to Germany." Her grandmother didn't want to go with them when they left for Spain and perished in a concentration camp. "If we didn't leave Germany when we did, we all would have ended up in camps," Brown said. Her mother, Erna, was a seamstress and her brother, Claude, was 18 months older. Her dad worked at a supermarket owned by friends in Spain. The refuge in Spain for Brown and her family lasted only until 1936. The Spanish Civil War caused her parents to send her and her brother away from the bombings and ravages of war which Brown described as "really bad news." Brown ended up staying with her mother's friends near Zurich, Switzerland, and her brother in a nearby orphanage. They saw each other three times during their two-year stay. "I was 11 years old. My brother was 12. It was pretty rough there for a while. "Hitler was throwing his weight around," Brown said. "1938 was pretty bad in Germany. We were hoping something would happen to Hitler so we could go back to Germany. We were hoping someone would assassinate him, but it didn't happen." As refugees in Switzerland, her parents weren't allowed to work. They planned to move to America, which initially seemed so far away for the non-English speakers. "We actually made it on the last boat leaving Europe for New York," Brown said. The Great Depression was nearing its end in 1939, and her father, now near 50, was able to find work in a supermarket chain in Washington, D.C. Brown had briefly enrolled in English class in Switzerland but her whole family learned English after coming to the states. Brown served as a translator for the war department and witnessed when guilt verdicts were issued against 10 Germans for crimes against humanity during trials at Nuremberg. Her album includes a photo of the war crimes trial. Her brother joined the military and lived through the D-Day landing on the Normandy Beach. While working for the department, she met Andrew Brown in 1947, they married in 1948 and came back to the United States in 1949, first to Washington, D.C, and then to Texas. While in Washington, D.C, she served as a hostess in a service club for troops. In 1939, she and about 100 others from the club accepted an invitation from socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean, who lived in a palatial home and owned the Hope Diamond. Brown's album includes a photo of her wearing the diamond. Now a widow, Brown has four children, seven grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren who all call her "WuWu," a made-up name. "I didn't want to be call grandma," she said. "It made me feel old." [April 11, 2017] Pure Storage Announces First Enterprise-Class All-NVMe Flash Array, FlashArray//X MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG), the market's leading independent all-flash data platform vendor for the cloud era, today announced FlashArray//X, the company's first all-NVMe, enterprise-class all-flash array. Built on proven FlashArray architecture, FlashArray//X enables true global flash management with new Purity DirectFlash software and NVMe DirectFlash Modules from Pure Storage, which eliminate performance bottlenecks associated with legacy technologies. This end-to-end, software-to-raw flash optimization over NVMe dramatically improves system performance and allows customers to further unlock the value of their data. "Cloud-era web scale applications and a massively increased focus on data analytics across nearly every industry demand a new generation of all-flash storage, designed to power tomorrow's innovation," said Matt Kixmoeller, VP of Product, Pure Storage. "Today, infrastructure underpins the number one priority we hear from our customers The need to put their organizational data to work." Data continues to grow at a breakneck pace. According to industry experts, more than 90 percent of all data ever created was generated in the last few years, and analysts forecast that by 2025 humans will generate 180 zettabytes of data annually. This presents modern organizations with both challenge and opportunity how to store unprecedented volumes of data, and subsequently, how to gain value from that data to drive informed business decisions. Modern organizations, such as MacStadium, require fast, agile, always-on infrastructure to enable next-generation innovation. MacStadium is the world's largest hosting provider of dedicated Apple Mac computers, dedicated server rentals and Hosted Mac Private Cloud solutions. Number 44 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list, MacStadium uses Pure as a platform to power developer workstations for top tier web-scale enterprises that rely on instantaneous performance. This allows MacStadium to meet ever-increasing demand and improve service level agreements for current customers. "Pure Storage provides us with a building block platform for customers that expect best-in-class, always-on service. Fully NVMe and equipped with DirectFlash, FlashArray//X will enable even greater performance density, which allows us to respond to customer demand for additional capacity ad-hoc," said Jason Michaud, President, MacStadium. "And the Evergreen Storage model means best-in-class infrastructure that never slows down, never goes offline and doesn't require a forklift upgrade to leverage the latest advances in hardware and software." FlashArray//X expands the FlashArray family, and includes three new innovations for end-to-end NVMe optimization: DirectFlash Software. A new software module within the Purity Operating Environment, DirectFlash implements global flash management (garbage collection, allocation, I/O optimization, error correction) at the system level that otherwise typically runs inside each SSD, delivering higher performance and better flash utilization. DirectFlash Modules. Connected to the FlashArray controllers via NVMe, DirectFlash Modules work with the DirectFlash Software to enable direct software-to-raw flash communication. DirectFlash Modules make 100 percent of the flash within a module accessible to the FlashArray, and will be available in 2.2, 9.1, and 18.3 TB raw capacities. The 18.3TB DirectFlash Module will enable FlashArray//X to deliver more than 1PB of effective storage within a 3U base chassis. //X70 Controllers. New //X70 controllers enable NVMe communication within the FlashArray's existing midplane and chassis, which take advantage of Pure's foresight to pre-wire the FlashArray chassis for both SAS and NVMe when it was first introduced in 2015. Pure combines purpose-built software and hardware with its Evergreen Storage program to create a best-in-class storage experience for the modern digital enterprise - proven 99.9999 percent availability and rich data services. Since its inception, Pure Storage has designed arrays architected specifically for flash from the ground up. DirectFlash represents the future of storage, a future that is modern and allows software to communicate directly with the flash media, without the inefficiencies or limitations of existing solid-state drives (SSDs) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). "The increasing importance of cloud-based computing to enterprises of all sizes is driving evolution in enterprise storage as the industry enters the cloud era," said Eric Burgener, Research Director, Storage, at IDC. "To handle the performance and scale requirements in this new era, the flash-optimized array architectures of the past will need to give way to flash-driven architectures that retain none of the limitations of the prior SCSI era. The All-Flash Arrays of the future will be based around much higher performance, much more efficient NVMe technology, will emphasize software-driven designs, and provide the multi-tenant management framework to handle dense workload consolidation at cloud scale." Availability FlashArray//X with both 2.2 and 9.1 TB DirectFlash Modules is available to order today, will be shipped as a Directed Availability release starting in early Q2 FY2018 and is fully supported for production use. General Availability of FlashArray//X, which will support both 18.3TB DirectFlash Modules and upgrades from existing FlashArray//M systems, is expected in early 2H FY2018. Authorized Pure Storage channel partners can help customers determine the right configuration for their environment. To find a reseller in your region, visit http://www.purestorage.com/contact.html. "Pure Storage has other storage vendors playing catch-up with the announcement of its latest product, FlashArray//X," said Rob Owen, AVP, Solutions Architecture, CDI LLC. "This high-performance addition to an already impressive storage line will pave a path for the next generation of storage platforms, which will undoubtedly demand NVMe technologies. Leading the pack isn't easy, but Pure Storage continues to do so through innovation and a keen ear for customer feedback." To learn more about this announcement please join us today, April 11th, at 10:00am PDT for a live virtual event featuring IDC Research Director Eric Burgener and MacStadium President Jason Michaud. To join the conversation live via TweetChat, use the hashtag #NextGenAFA. Visit our blog for a series of technical and educational deep-dives on FlashArray//X, DirectFlash and how to gain an advantage from your data in the cloud era. To see FlashArray//X in action or for a hands-on demonstration, join us at our annual conference, Pure//Accelerate, June 12-14 in San Francisco. About Pure Storage Pure Storage (NYSE:PSTG) helps companies push the boundaries of what's possible. Pure's end-to-end data platform - including FlashArray, FlashBlade and our converged offering with Cisco, FlashStack is powered by innovative software that's cloud-connected for management from anywhere on a mobile device and supported by the Evergreen business model. The company's all-flash based technology, combined with its customer-friendly business model, drives business and IT transformation with solutions that are effortless, efficient and evergreen. With Pure's industry leading Satmetrix-certified NPS score of 83.5, Pure customers are some of the happiest in the world, and include organizations of all sizes, across an ever-expanding range of industries. Connect with Pure Storage: Read the blog Converse on Twitter Follow on LinkedIn FlashStack Solutions Analyst Recognition: Gartner Magic Quadrant for Solid-State Arrays IDC MarketScape for All-Flash Arrays Pure Storage, the "P" Logo, DirectFlash, Evergreen, FlashArray and FlashBlade are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pure Storage, Inc. All other trademarks or names referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding the expected performance and benefits of Pure Storage's product offerings. The words "believe," "may," "will," "plan," "expect," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. If the risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. Risks include, but are not limited to, risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including future reports that we may file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Pure Storage assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release. Any unreleased products, features, or functions referenced in this release, our website or other press releases or public statements that are not currently available are subject to change at Pure Storage's discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all. Customers who purchase Pure Storage's product offerings should make their purchase decisions based upon products, features and functions that are currently available. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pure-storage-announces-first-enterprise-class-all-nvme-flash-array-flasharrayx-300437799.html SOURCE Pure Storage [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Just over a month after its last citation, the Harris County jail got dinged again by the state officials after leaving two inmates unattended in a van overnight and well into the next afternoon. On April 2, two men who'd just been booked into the county's inmate processing center were driven to a jail on Baker and left in a transport van from 3:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The jail reported the mishap to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards the same day and was issued a citation the following day. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Monday that an internal investigation is currently underway. "It's unacceptable," Gonzalez said. "Bottom line, it just shouldn't happen, period, and I'm very disappointed." PROTEST: Family, friends question circumstances of jail inmate's death Gonzalez emphasized that there was no indication the act was intentional. "Apparently the employees thought everybody had gotten off the transport bus and that hadn't been the case," he said. It was not immediately clear if the inmates were left restrained overnight. After alerting the state, the sheriff's office launched an internal affairs investigations and put the involved employees on reduced duties. "We'll look through everything to see exactly what happened and then make a decision as to what the outcome should be in terms of the range of punishment that could occur and then we will reassess our policies and procedures," Gonzalez said. Michele Deitch, a criminal-justice expert and senior lecturer at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, called the incident an "extraordinarily unusual set of circumstances," but said that prisoner transport has long been problematic. "It gets very limited attention and oversight, which is a real concern," she said. "I think it just goes to show that Harris County jail is a dangerous place," said local activist and defense attorney Brian Harrison. Previously, the jail was cited for failing to check on Vincent Dwayne Young, 32, before he was found dead in his cell on Feb. 13 after hanging himself with a bedsheet. The state declared the jail out of compliance with minimum standards and the sheriff's office later fired the deputy responsible for checks that night. A Chronicle investigation into the jail in 2015 found dozens of instances in which jailers skipped cell checks or faked records, a pattern that experts found problematic at county jails across the state. But after February's in-custody death, the sheriff's office put forth plans to improve oversight. FROM HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Inmate suicide prompts changes at Harris County jail Currently, Harris County is the only one of 18 jails in the state currently listed as out of compliance that has two separate unresolved citations. Gonzalez said Monday that's not indicative of a larger problem. "It's not systemic, not a part of total mayhem or anything," he said. Now, while the jail works through its own investigation, it will have to develop a corrective plan of action for the state within 30 days of notification, according to TCJS Executive Director Brandon Wood. "At the end of the day it's about where the breakdown is happening - is it that our policies and procedures are inadequate or that people just aren't doing their jobs? We feel that we're handing things in the best manner possible," Gonzalez said. "We're not playing games here, this is serious business." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Harris County commissioners voted Tuesday to retain a well-known attorney in Washington, D.C. to potentially help file appeals in a controversial lawsuit challenging the county's bail system as unconstitutional and discriminatory. The attorney, Chuck Cooper, known as a conservative and "confidant" of President Donald Trump's attorney general Jeff Sessions, was requested by 15 criminal court of law judges to advise them on whether or not to to appeal any decisions in the case and represent them during an appeal, which is currently in limbo in the hands of a federal judge. Cooper was briefly considered as a candidate for U.S. Solicitor General earlier this year. COURT REPRESENTATION: Harris County providing lawyers at bail hearings More Information a See More Collapse After high-stakes arguments earlier this year over whether poor people should remain in jail on misdemeanor offenses because they can't afford to post bail, Chief U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal will decide if the current bail system should be suspended until the lawsuit goes to trial. That decision could be appealed, even before the actual merits of the case are considered. Cooper would only be legal counsel to the 15 judges, but there are several other parties being sued including another judge, the county sheriff and the county itself. In addition to advice on a potential appeal, Cooper would also help with paper work, and help meet deadlines in case an appeal were to be pursued, said First Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard. Soard said Cooper would not be paid until he is asked to perform work with a potential appeal in the case, which would not be determined until Rosenthal makes her decision. JUDICIAL MATTERS: Federal judge weighs temporary halt to money bail system The lawsuit has become a lightning rod of controversy and tension at the county this year, exposing fractures between a slew of new county officials who are demanding expedited change in the county's justice system and others who point to steady progress in reforms that they say will fix problems the lawsuit is targeting. Earlier this year, commissioners approved a pilot program to have public defenders at bail hearings, an effort they said could help reduce the jailing of thousands of defendants. The county is also implementing a new risk assessment tool for hearing officers to better determine whether people can be released prior to trial. Both are expected to go into effect this summer. Soard said the county has spent approximately $2 million on outside counsel in the bail lawsuit. Scroll through the gallery above to see a list of people bail bondsmen say jumped bail in Houston AUSTIN - For a second time, a judge ruled Monday that state lawmakers violated federal voting rights protections by intentionally discriminating against minority voters when they approved a strict law requiring an approved photo ID to cast a ballot. In a 10-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos wrote that the state "has not met its burden" to prove that Texas legislators could have enforced the 2011 voter ID law "without its discriminatory purpose." At issue is Senate Bill 14, signed by former Gov. Rick Perry, which requires Texans to show one of a handful of acceptable government-issues photo IDs before they vote, including a drivers' license, state handgun permit or U.S. passport. The measure, among the strictest in the nation, has for years gone through the federal court system for years. "After appropriate reconsideration and review of the record the court holds that plaintiffs have sustained their burden of proof to show that SB 14 was passed, at least in part, with a discriminatory intent in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965," the judge wrote. "Racial discrimination need not be the primary purpose as long as it is one purpose." Monday's ruling marks the fifth time a federal judge has found the Republican-backed photo ID law discriminated against minorities who lack or face substantial burdens to obtaining government-approved identification. For years, Democrats have argued the GOP, which has large majorities in the Texas Legislature, passed the law to disenfranchise traditionally Democratic voting blocs. If further reviews of the case -- which is all but certain to be appealed -- continue to find that Texas violated federal law, the state could be forced back under the Voting Rights Act's purview, requiring state officials to get federal approval before making any election law changes. The judge's ruling also sets the stage for a potential penalty for Texas that could have a long-lasting effect. "This is an exciting ruling, but it is no surprise," said Myrna Perez, a deputy director of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School, which represented two of the groups that sued Texas, the Texas NAACP and the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus. "Texas passed the most restrictive photo ID law in the country - a law the legislators knew would hurt minority voting rights, without any evidence justifying it, and they broke all sorts of legislative rules and norms to do it." Gonzales Ramos, a Corpus Christi-based judge, noted that an appeals court, which reviewed her initial ruling last year, agreed with much of her analysis about the law, including that state leaders rushed the proposal through the legislative process without the normal practices of debate and amendments. Last year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed in part with Gonzales Ramosthat the Texas voter ID law violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by disproportionately burdening African American and Latino voters. The court's majority wrote that lawmakers who drafted the legislation, Senate Bill 14, were aware of such an effect on non-white voters but approved the measure without adopting any changes that could have minimized its impact. The panel stopped short of striking down the entire law, however. While they rejected Gonzales Ramos's finding that the law amounted to an illegal poll tax, the appeals court called for new procedures to help potential voters in the 2016 election who lacked proper identification as listed in the legislation. It also sent the case back to Gonzales Ramos to reconsider whether legislators acted with a discriminatory purpose. She ruled before that they had, but the Fifth Circuit wanted her to take another look at the issue with heightened standards. On Monday, she said she had not changed her mind. "(The plaintiffs' evidence) -that which was left intact after the Fifth Circuit's review-establishes that a discriminatory purpose was at least one of the substantial or motivating factors behind passage of SB 14," she wrote. "Therefore, this Court holds, again, that SB 14 was passed with a discriminatory purpose in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act." Attorney General Ken Paxton's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Staff attorneys from his office, however, were testifying at a House Elections Committee hearing when they heard news of the ruling. They told House lawmakers that they thought legislation currently under consideration by the Legislature would appropriately remedy the Fifth Circuit's concerns with the voter ID law. House Bill 2481 and Senate Bill 5 are similar proposals that would create mobile voter registration units and allow voters age 70 and older to cast a ballot if they show election workers an expired photo ID. It also allows voters younger than 70 to show an acceptable form of expired ID up to two years. To use these options, voters must sign an affidavit claiming they faced a reasonable impediment to obtaining a valid photo ID. Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Democrat of Dallas, rejected their analysis and questioned how modifying the law now would change a judge's opinion that the proposal was passed in 2011 without discriminatory intent. HB 2481 remains in committee, while the Senate approved SB 5 in late March. Texas Democrats welcomed the long-awaited decision. Rep. Chris Turner of Grand Prairie, the Democratic caucus chairman in the Texas House, last week warned his colleagues in a floor debate that a new decision was coming soon. "It's shameful that GOP leaders have been found to have intentionally discriminated at all let alone more than in any other state in the country this decade," Turner said in statement Monday. "It is past time that Republicans drop their defense of discriminatory photo ID laws and redistricting maps, both in the courts and in the Legislature." The New York Times contributed to this report This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A report of gunfire earlier this year at Houston's bustling Ben Taub Hospital forced medical staff to barricade themselves in offices, emergency-room nurses to evacuate patients and heavily armed police officers to scour the six-story building in search of a shooter. The Feb. 21 incident rattled the city, with its high concentration of medical professionals, and left many questions unanswered even after police found no evidence of a shooter, a shooting victim or any shots fired. The county's Harris Health System on Monday released a document that sheds new light on the incident. The Chronicle obtained the document through a public-records request. ALL CLEAR: Ben Taub reopened after report of shooter in hospital Based on the document's narrative, it appears a hospital patient may have falsely yelled about a gun. The two-page report by Harris Health security explains how hospital staff initiated the "Code White," which means there may be an active shooter in the building. Staff members in the second-floor ear, nose and throat, or ENT, clinic initiated the Code White at 1:55 p.m. Three minutes later the first security personnel arrived on the scene: a Harris Health security official along with two sheriff's deputies who were already in the hospital, including a Fort Bend County sheriff's captain and a Harris County sheriff's deputy guarding a jail inmate who presumably was getting treatment. DEPUTY SLAIN: Police: Greenwood's killer shot self near Ben Taub day after killing "The staff described hearing a male voice state 'Drop the Gun!' followed by two gun shots," the security official wrote in the report. "The location of the voice came from an exam room in the ENT area." The sheriff's captain and sheriff's deputy found a male patient in an exam room and searched him, according to the report. The patient did not have a firearm. Houston police officers responded a few minutes later and took over the scene, leading the two-hour search of the hospital's six floors as staff and patients waited for news. SWAT officers with rifles could be seen making their way up the hospital's glass-walled stairwell. Scroll through the gallery to see images from the police search the day a shooter was reported at Ben Taub A woman is in the hospital after she was shot in southwest Houston, blocks away from Brays Bayou, early Tuesday morning. Around 2:45 a.m., police officers headed to the 9200 block of Alberene where they found the woman suffering from at least one gunshot wound, HPD's Lt. Larry Crowson said. A 20-year-old man was arrested Sunday in College Station after allegedly falling asleep in a Whataburger drive-thru while drunk, according to media reports. Robert Lee Mahoney was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated on Sunday. His bond was set at $3,000, according to online jail records. [April 11, 2017] Congressman Will Hurd Joins Frost Bank, FHLB Dallas to Announce $500K to San Antonio Nonprofit U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-District 23) will join representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), Frost Bank and Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas for a check presentation and special tour of the Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas San Antonio campus at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at 3850 S Loop 1604 W in San Antonio, Texas. The media is encouraged to attend. Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas, a faith-based center for adults struggling with addiction, received a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from Frost Bank and FHLB Dallas. The grant funds will be used to rehabilitate the men's quarters on campus, including a new roof, upgrades in the HVAC system, bathrooms, fire alarm and sprinkler system, as well as upgrades to the parking area. Congressman Hurd will tour the facilities and speak with some of the center's students. Once endorsed by President Ronald Reagan as "the best-kept secret in America," Teen Challenge USA was established in 1957 and now operates more than 200 centers across the United States. AHP grants are available annually through FHLB Dallas member institutions such as Frost Bank to assist in the development of affordable owner-occupied and rental housing for very low- to moderate-income households located across FHLB Dallas' five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. FHLB Dallas awarded in 2016 $7.8 million in AHP grants to 27 projects that resulted in 1,499 new or renovated housing units. WHAT: Check Presentation and Tour WHEN: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2017 WHO: The Honorable Will Hurd, U.S. Representative, TX-District 23 Jill DeYoung, Chief of Staff, Office of San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor Donna Normandin, Senior Vice President, CRA Officer, Frost Bank Mallory Ahl, Vice President, Public Finance, Frost Bank George Thomas, President, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas Sarah Baughman, Director of Development, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas Floyd Miles, Executive Director, Men's Campus, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas Debra Duncan, Executive Director, Women's Campus, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas Austin Baughman, Men's Program Coordinator, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas Richard Reyes, Men's Education Coordinator, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas Chris Sowder, Kitchen Staff, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas Tyler Nielsen, Woodshop Staff, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas T.J. Winters, Current Resident, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas David Rafie, Current Resident, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas Eric Haar, Vice President, Director of Government and Industry Relations, FHLB Dallas WHERE: Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas - San Antonio 3850 S Loop 1604 W San Antonio, TX 78264 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005884/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. [April 11, 2017] Quest Management Inc. Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Immunotherapy Biotech Company Stemvax, Inc MADONA, Latvia, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quest Management Inc. (OTC-PINK:QSMG) announces the signing of a Letter of Intent (the Agreement) to acquire immunotherapy Biotech company Stemvax, Inc., from Dr. Dwain Morris-Irvin PhD. Upon Closing, Dr. Morris-Irvin will simultaneously become CEO of the newly formed Biotech division of Quest. Los Angeles based Stemvax, Inc., founded in 2014 and doing business as StemVax Therapeutics is a Translational Biotechnology Company that develops novel therapies for brain tumor patients. Stemvax focuses its efforts on developing immunotherapeutic approaches to treating patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), a devastating brain cancer. Stemvax simultaneously focuses research efforts on novel drug development to target Cancer Stem cells and other multi-resistant cancer cells. Dr. Morris-Irvin received his PhD from UCLA School of Medicine, MPH, from UCLA School of Public Health, and trained at The Wallenberg Neuroscience Center at Lund University in Lund, Sweden. He was also a Professor, Faculty member at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery. His PhD is in Pharmacology and Developmental Neuroscience with an emphasis on neural stem cell fate and differentiation. His research focused on neural development and Notch Signaling in mammalian neural stem cells. He also worked as an NIH/NINDS Post-Doctoral Fellow in Dr. Anders Bjorklund laboratory in Lund, Sweden. There, his focus was on research projects that investigated the potentia role of cell replacement therapy for patients with Parkinsons disease. They developed several protocols for the efficient generation of dopaminergic neurons from forebrain and ventral midbrain stem and progenitor cells. Additionally, Dr. Morris-Irvin worked as a Research Scientist, Assistant Professor, and Faculty member at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery. He led research investigations in the role of adaptive immunity in Parkinsons disease. He also developed two patents in the area of immunotherapy for brain tumor patients, specifically Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). His research team focused on molecular mechanisms that impart therapeutic resistance in cancer cells, including cancer stem cells. They utilized this data to develop novel immunotherapies for brain tumor patients. Quest Management believes that the Stemvax acquisition, and integration of Dr. Morris-Irvin into the Quest family will give Quest an immediate presence in a Biotech field that is not only working, but tremendously appreciated by those whose life it impacts. Dr. Morris-Irvin and his team are a foundation for many opportunities Quest will have, that will provide Quest the potential to be a significant stalwart in global Biotechnology pursuits. http://www.questmgmtinc.com Safe Harbor Statement: This news release contains "forward-looking statements", which are statements that are not purely historical and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development stage companies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For Further Information Contact: Dmitrij Ozolins President/CEO Tel: (702) 907-8836 Email: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. [April 11, 2017] Nfina Continues To Lead In Value: 700 and 800 Series storage servers are now certified as a Storage Spaces Enclosure for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, x64 MOBILE, Ala., April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nfina TechnologiesTM Inc., manufacturer of highly reliable servers and storage devices, announces that the Nfina 700 Series and 800 Series storage servers have been certified for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, x64, under category: device, Product type: Storage Spaces Enclosure. Windows users that deploy Storage Spaces now have a choice of certified servers with an industry leading five-year warranty. This certification assures Microsoft Windows 2012 users that the 700 and 800 storage servers seamlessly integrate with Storage Spaces. These Nfina storage servers, utilizing only best in class components, have 12GB/s SAS connectivity, two processor sockets, dual redundant power supplies, and dual 10GbE ports. They can be configured with combinations of HDDs and SSDs, allowing users to take full advantage of the Storage Spaces capabilities, including the creation of a private cloud with data pools, storage tiering, mirroring, parity, and thin or thick provisioning. Storage Spaces has the ability to optimize data storage, moving more frequently used blcks of data to SSDs. The configuration flexibility of Nfinas storage servers allows users to take full advantage of this feature to easily create a high-performance, high capacity storage system. Nfina storage servers combine a remarkably low cost of acquisition and an industry leading five-year standard warranty, creating a new standard of value for Windows Server 2012 users. The 700 Series is Nfinas most cost-effective, highest density server offering. It is a dual socket server with twelve 3.5 drive bays and dual power supplies. It is capable of numerous storage and processor options including various combinations of SSD and HDD drives. The 800 Series possesses the same features, but it has twenty-four 2.5 front drive bays plus two 2.5 rear drive bays. Like all Nfina products, these storage servers deliver high performance, extreme fault-tolerance and high reliability at a remarkably affordable price. Please visit Nfinas website to learn more at https://www.nfinausa.com/ Microsoft has created a remarkably easy way to deploy an extremely powerful storage platform, said Warren Nicholson, CEO of Nfina Technologies. In order to realize its potential and assure high-availability, hardware must be as remarkable as the software. Thats where Nfina comes in. Our servers have the configuration flexibility to take advantage of the capability of Storage Spaces, and our legendary reliability and five-year warranty adds to the value that Storage Spaces offers. Remarkably good software deserves remarkably good hardware Nfina storage servers. Nfina Technologies, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets highly reliable server and storage products: designed to provide the highest value proposition in the most demanding mission critical data center and enterprise IT environments. Our customers are Engineering and Information Technology professionals who require products designed and manufactured to the highest standards in the industry. Media Contact: Julie Norman 251.243.0043 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] While Canada is not always known for being innovative, it has identified creative approaches to recruit newcomers and facilitate their integration into society for 150 years. Canada Deserves an A for Immigration Innovation While Canada is not always known for being innovative, it has identified creative approaches to recruit newcomers and facilitate their integration into society for 150 years. Canada Deserves an A for Immigration Innovation While Canada is not always known for being innovative, it has identified creative approaches to recruit newcomers and facilitate their integration into society for 150 years. Canada Deserves an A for Immigration Innovation While Canada is not always known for being innovative, it has identified creative approaches to recruit newcomers and facilitate their integration into society for 150 years. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and that adage holds true when looking at Canadas approach to immigration. While Canada is not always known for being innovative, it has identified creative approaches to recruit newcomers and facilitate their integration into society for 150 years. Canadas immigration system has certainly come a long way since Confederation, but the country will need to find new innovations to respond to the countrys current immigration necessities. A history of innovation In 1867, Canada had a population of just 3.5 million people. It desperately needed immigrants to grow its economy, secure its borders, and build a nation. In the decades following Confederation, Canada achieved some measure of success in populating its vast terrainaccomplished in large part due to the completion of a transcontinental railway that provided immigrants with access to farmland in the Prairies, and an aggressive recruitment campaign that attracted immigrants from the US and Europe. Perhaps the most innovative period for Canadas immigration system has occurred over the past 50 years, with necessity once again being the impetus. As part of its efforts to increase its accessibility to more immigrants, Canada launched the worlds first points criteria system in 1967, which helped to evaluate the immigrants that would best align with Canadas needs and identify those that would integrate most easily into the Canadian economy. Canada was not only ahead of its time then, but remains ahead of its time today. Only a few countries currently operate points systems. In response to humanitarian crises abroad, Canada wanted to provide its citizens with a greater opportunity to help those in need. In 1978, it launched the worlds first Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, which immediately played a major role in Canadas resettlement of 60,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in 197980. Since then, several countries have adopted this Canadian innovation. Between 1978 and 1986, Canada launched three pioneering programs to admit immigrant entrepreneurs and investors. These programs sought to increase the flow of talented business persons and investment capital to Canada to stimulate private sector growth and job creation. As a May 2017 Conference Board report will show, dozens of countries today seek the human, social, and financial capital of business immigrants. In 1998, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) became a regular fixture in Canadas immigration system. It sought to give the provinces and territories the opportunity to address their local economic needs. Nearly 20 years later, it remains extremely rare to find sub-national governments in other countries participating in the selection of immigrants. While there have been many more examples of innovations in recent decades, perhaps the most notable over the last few years has been Canadas launch of the Express Entry immigration selection system in 2015, which was modeled after systems first adopted in New Zealand and Australia. Express Entry was born entirely out of necessity. Prior to 2015, skilled immigrants waited 8-10 years in some instances for Canada to process their applications. Express Entry has led to a more dynamic approach to immigrant selection, with the new processing standard being six months or less. Innovating at 150 and beyond As it was upon Confederation, immigration remains a matter of necessity for Canada on the eve of its 150th anniversary but for very different reasons. Canadas population today is some 36 million people. Under-population is not as big of a challenge as an aging population. In addition, Canadas low birth rate means that the country will require more immigrants in the future to support its high living standards. Thus, Canada is faced with the task of figuring out how it can increase its capacity to welcome newcomers so that they can continue to make significant contributions to a healthy economy and society. Innovations are needed to address other pressing immigration issues. Many of Canadas immigrants continue to struggle to find jobs commensurate with their education and skills. Atlantic Canada lags the rest of the countrys provinces in attracting and retaining immigrantsa major concern given that its death rate exceeds its birth rate. Temporary foreign workers and international students may not have access to the settlement supports they need to effectively integrate in Canada, which may be hindering their odds of qualifying for immigration. However, as the past 150 years have shown us, Canada is more than capable of identifying innovative solutions to strengthen its immigration system. While the Conference Board gives Canada a C for innovation, Canadas innovative approach to immigration absolutely deserves an A. Canadian Immigration Summit 2017: Innovating at 150 and Beyond On May 9-10, 2017, the Conference Board hosts its 3rd annual Canadian Immigration Summit in Ottawa to discuss innovations that could help build an even stronger immigration system over the next 150 years. Distinguished speakers include ministers Ahmed Hussen, Laura Albanese, Kathleen Weil, Lena Diab, and Donald Arseneault. Regulated immigration consultants are eligible to earn 13 CPD hours by attending the Summit. CanadaVisa.com is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Canadian Immigration Summit. 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved [April 11, 2017] Petsky Prunier Advises Lucid on its $60 Million Series B Minority Investment Led by North Bridge Growth Equity Petsky Prunier is pleased to announce it has advised Lucid Holdings, LLC, a software company delivering the power of human answers on a massive scale, on its $60 million Series B minority investment led by North Bridge Growth Equity. The capital will be used to fund continued product development, design, and the expansion of a world-class team, among other strategic initiatives. Lucid owns the world's largest audience platform for sourcing and understanding "human answers," resulting in real, deterministic data about human behavior at scale. With a pool of more than 80 million unique respondents, Lucid delivers unprecedented access to consumers for data-driven decision making - about everything from marketing to product development - in real-time. The company's powerful programmatic survey marketplace has enabled brands, agencies, and partners to ask and answer more than 14 billion questions worldwide. Lucid is headquartered in New Orleans with offices in London and New Delhi. Lucid has experienced exponential growth, increasing revenue at 70% year-over-year for the past three years. More than 500 enterprises in 92 countries actively use a Lucid product, and the company's customer lit continues to increase by more than 50% annually. Previous investors in Lucid include Sopris Capital, Jackson Square Group, Voodoo Ventures, and Etoile Capital Partners. North Bridge Growth Equity is a leading growth equity firm that partners with successful technology companies addressing large, dynamic markets, including tech-enabled services, software, healthcare IT, communications, and infrastructure. The firm provides capital and expertise to help companies grow into strategic assets. North Bridge Growth Equity has more than $1 billion of capital under management and has backed industry-defining companies, such as Dyn (News - Alert) (acquired by Oracle), IngeniousMed, OutSystems, Proto Labs (IPO on NYSE), RuffaloCody (acquired by financial sponsor), SmartPak (acquired by Henry Schein), and WPEngine. Petsky Prunier, with a team led by Sanjay Chadda, Christopher French, and Dylan Kearns, served as exclusive financial advisor to Lucid. "As the fastest growing technology company in New Orleans, we were very particular when searching for an advisor for our transaction. Petsky Prunier surpassed our expectations. Their knowledge of the marketing data and software sector was clear at our first meeting. They had an impressive team that conducted a great process for us and worked diligently to get the deal done. We would recommend them to any technology company," said Patrick Comer, CEO & Founder of Lucid. About Petsky Prunier LLC Petsky Prunier is one of the leading investment banks to the technology, media, marketing, information, eCommerce, and healthcare industries. Our firm's merger and acquisition advisory and private placement capital raising services reflect a unique blend of product specialization and industry expertise. Together with strategic consulting firm Winterberry Group, a Petsky Prunier company, our organization represents one of the largest industry-specific advisors providing strategic and transactional services. We offer global reach supplemented through our partnerships in China and India. Securities transactions are processed through Petsky Prunier Securities LLC, a member of FINRA, and an affiliated entity. For more information, visit www.petskyprunier.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411006045/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Fundatia de Binefacere Caritas Moldova solicita oferte de pret de la companii cu privire la productia de materiale de vizibilitate Rare is the occasion when digital mobs are unquestionably justified in their thirst for blood. But United Airlines provided more than ample reason Monday when a ticketed passenger on an overbooked flight who declined to leave the plane was yanked out of his seat, slammed against an armrest, and dragged down the aisle. Videos of a screaming and bleeding David Dao quickly ignited on social media, and the United PR shops passive and robotic response to this violence squirted yet more lighter fluid on an already blazing dumpster fire. The Louisville Courier-Journal was all over the story from the Louisville-bound flight out of Chicago, publishing numerous pieces including an eyewitness account, a column condemning Uniteds actions, and the airline CEOs response, among others. One of its Day 2 takes, however, seemed to resort to a familiar shade-the-victim reflex that many publications have been unable or unwilling to shake despite numerous instances of pushback in recent years. The lede of the Courier-Journals story: When airport security yanked David Dao off an overbooked flight Sunday, bloodying him as they dragged him down the aisle, he was thrust into the international spotlight. Dao, an Elizabethtown doctor, is familiar to many Kentuckians who recall his convictions on drug-related offenses in 2004. The piece goes on to detail how Dao was arrested in 2003 and eventually convicted of drug-related offenses after an undercover investigation. The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure alleged that he was involved in fraudulent prescriptions and was sexually involved with a patient. He was convicted on multiple felony counts in 2004 and forced to give up his medical license, only gaining approval to resume practicing, under certain conditions, in 2015. TRENDING: 10 podcasts to help you keep up with the news cycle Sign up for CJR 's daily email Some of the torches and pitchforks seen Monday reappeared in response to the piece. The fact that the Courier-Journal tweeted the item with an all-caps #BREAKINGas if it were some major scooponly added to the outrage. #BREAKING David Dao, the Elizabethtown doctor yanked from the United flight, has a troubled past in Kentucky https://t.co/pzkLLonJLG pic.twitter.com/FuZYCaLOEl Courier-Journal.com (@courierjournal) April 11, 2017 The piece delving into victims backstories is a familiar one, and the Courier-Journals conjured memories of some of the genres famously cringeworthy examples. The most controversial case came on the front page of The New York Times, where a sensationalist story marred by racial undertones described Michael Brown, an 18 year old killed by police, as no angel. More recently, New York tabloids zeroed in on the criminal history of a homeless New York man murdered in an apparently racist attack. Such victim-blaming or -shaming pops up in sexual assault reporting as well. The by-now boilerplate criticism of the genre goes like this: Just because a person falls victim to violence or trauma that piques public interest, journalists do not have license to unearth unrelated bad things that person did previously. The stories surely get attentionhate-reads are clicks, toobut its hard to see what journalistic value is added for audiences in the vast majority of cases. In a time of hand-wringing over trust of media, assignment editors would be wise to think twice. TRENDING: Headlines editors probably wish they could take back The pushback to the Courier-Journals piece Tuesday followed the same pattern, with many commenters referring to the no angel description of Brown. In reply to one critic, the storys reporter, Morgan Watkins, responded that her intent was not to justify [Uniteds actions]. Just identifying who he is for the public. Which public? Executive Editor Joel Christopher added this explanation to CJR Tuesday, in full below: I want to urge anyone from a national or international perspective to understand the full scope of our coverage here. This is one of dozens of pieces that weve done on the story. Dr. Dao is somebody who is not unfamiliar to people in our coverage area. His original case was pretty high profile. Its a name that doesnt come out of the blue. To not acknowledge that history and context would be unusual, frankly. There are two things here: Some folks are just seeing that piece and not the full scope of our coverage. So if thats the only piece you think weve done, of course youll zero in on it. Secondly, we didnt account for the fact that some people might just hit on that piece, and we didnt put the necessary context for a national or international audience to understand. Weve since done that. Theres information thats pretty vital that you wouldnt immediately understand if youre not from our market. The breadth of the Courier-Journals coverage doesnt absolve it from the fact that Daos criminal history is irrelevant to this bizarre episode. But Christopher does bring up an interesting wrinkle of local publishing in the digital age. When a story from an outlets backyard goes viral on a global scale, only a tiny fraction of audiences will be familiar with the players, plot, or stage. Should a journalists role be to serve their geographic community, or the global audience cocking back rotten tomatoes? ICYMI: Breitbart-led right-wing media ecosystem altered broader media agenda, study claims 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. What might a day in the life of a journalist look like 10 years from now? What would have taken weeks or months of reporting by an investigative team today could take a lone journalist aided by artificial intelligence only one day. Its not science fiction. The fictional scenario below was inspired by the very real technological progress detailed in a recent study by The Associated Press. In fact, AP spent the past few months meeting with leaders in the artificial-intelligence field for an extensive report detailing the impact of AI in journalism. The document captures some of the major trends and use-cases emerging so far. You can read the report here. By 2027, newsrooms will have an arsenal of AI-powered tools at their disposal, and journalists will seamlessly integrate smart machines into their everyday work, the study predicts. Machine intelligence will be able to do much more than churn out straightforward, automated news reports. AI will allow reporters to analyze data; identify patterns and trends from multiple sources; see things that the naked eye cant see; turn data and spoken words into text; text into audio and video; understand sentiment; analyze scenes for objects, faces, text, or colorsand more. When journalists use those tools to enhance their reporting, writing and editing, we call it augmented journalism. TRENDING: 10 podcasts to help you keep up with the news cycle Of course, the coming wave of technological innovation is no different than any other that has come before it. Success will still rely on how human journalists implement these new tools. Artificial intelligence is man-made; all the ethical, editorial and economic influences considered when producing traditional news content still apply in this new age of augmented journalism. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The impact of artificial intelligence on journalism will ultimately be a story of how human reporters adapt to work alongside machines. To leverage artificial intelligence for the benefit of news, the first step is to understand how the technology itself can be deployed in a newsroom setting. So, what might that day in the life of a journalist actually look like by the year 2027? Heres what we came up with by extrapolating technology and journalism trends highlighted in APs report: 8 am: An environmental journalist is commuting to his newsroom in a driverless car when air quality sensors, which he placed throughout Springfield, detect a shift in air pollution. The sensors send an alert to his vehicles smart dashboard: There has been a 10 percent decrease in air quality in Springfield. This alert was designed specifically by the journalist, who worked with a data scientist to develop a system that feeds data into a template: There has been a [X] [increase/decrease] in air quality in [location]. Seeing the alert, the journalist deploys a pair of drones equipped with water- and air-quality testing kits to confirm the alert. 8:30 am: Nearing the newsroom, a computer tracking social media alerts the journalist to increased chatter about air pollution and children suffering from asthma attacks in Springfield. The computer also detects a high rate of posts on the topic from a cluster (a group of users with similar demographics) of local mothers. The journalist receives a notification that reads: [Mothers in Springfield] are expressing [great] [concern] about [air pollution] and [their children.] The computer understands when individual posts are positive or negative, and whether they are referencing a person, place, or event. It detects similarities among different posts and even analyzes trends across large volumes of historical social media content. 9 am: The journalist arrives at the office and literally asks his computer to display the results from his drone-employed water- and air-quality tests. He inputs the data into a frame (a sort of complex spreadsheet) and instructs a program to determine whether the figures are a statistical outlier. He confirms that todays pollution rates are abnormally high when compared to historical trends. The journalist also tweets to one of the mothers who has been posting about air pollution and asks for an interview later in the day to discuss her concerns. TRENDING: 10 great podcasts to diversify your listening lineup 10 am: The journalist projects a series of images from his desktop onto his augmented reality headset. With an increased field of vision and hundreds of photos floating in the air, he determines there has been a decrease in visibility (an indicator of high pollution) in an area around a newly constructed factory in the previous few days. He downloads images from a series of robotic cameras posted throughout the region and uses computer vision (an algorithm able to view and comprehend a photo or video with enhanced accuracy) to compare photos of the area around the factory over time. 11 am: The journalist searches public records using an automated assistant. He uses an AI-powered text analysis tool to run through thousands of government records and permits. The smart assistant highlights instances of nefarious behaviorrecorded fines, permit revocations, public criticism, or legal trouble. The reporter discovers that the factory owner has been fined for cheating emissions tests at other locations, and suspects that the same thing may be happening in Springfield. He calls the public relations firm representing the factory owner to get their side of the story. The representative, the journalist suspects, may be hiding something; voice analysis technology declares the tone of the person on the phone is tentative and nervous. 12 pm: The journalist is hungry and he asks his AI-powered food delivery service to recommend a recipe based on the desired ingredients he inputs. The system analyzes the chemical properties of those ingredients and recommends an optimized recipe. Twenty minutes later a drone drops his meal on a special landing platform extending from his newsroom window. 1 pm: The journalist, done with lunch, asks his automated assistant to run another set of public records. Through a series of marriage and birth certificates and social media data, the assistant finds files suggesting that the CEO of the company responsible for building the factory is a distant relative of the woman assigned to conduct factory tests in Springfield. The computer works thanks to an algorithm that can make sense of public records and derive relationships between text elements. The algorithm depends on something called natural language processing, which understands text and works to infer connections among people places and things. In real time, the reporter is able to visualize a digital family tree and find the links between the two parties. 2 pm: The journalist puts on a virtual-reality headset, takes control of a pair of drones and flies them over the area he is investigating. He discovers that a pipe at the factory is split in two and spewing some sort of substance into the air. He also sees a protest going on. An algorithm, which analyzes the drones video live stream, detects physical crowd density and notes that factorys security personnel is heavily concentrated in one area. The journalist identifies that they have set up barriers around one small section of the industrial lot a digital heat map leads him to conclude that behind those barriers is the split pipe. The journalist gets back in his driverless car and heads to the factory to investigate in person. Security prevents him from approaching the barrier hiding the chemical leak, but two factory workers say they have experienced difficulty breathing since the alert was sent, and none of them recall seeing an inspector since the factory began operating. 3 pm: The journalist stops at a local cafe on the way back to the office to speak with the mother who had, the same morning, been tweeting about her two young children and their sudden bout of asthma attacks. The mother tells the journalist that her children were sleeping with their windows open and woke up in the middle of the night complaining of respiratory problems. She shows a video of her children coughing repeatedly. Sitting in his car on the way back to the newsroom, the journalist runs a voice recording of the interview through his sentiment analysis system, which determines the mothers tone to be genuine and analytical. 4 pm: The journalist calls the firm again, but this time, the representative declines to comment on the matter. The journalist, now ignored by his human sources, conducts additional research. Luckily, he has a stock of press releases pertaining to previous accusations of the factory and health department polluting local neighborhoods. He runs those documents through his smart analysis system and finds that neither party ever issued any form of apology statements. 5 pm: The journalist dictates his story to an app on his smart computer that formats and spell-checks. His editor gets a notification, reviews it and approves the story. In a matter of minutes, he has a well-researched investigative story written about the increased pollution levels in Springfield, including quotes from the factory workers and the mother he met at the cafe. The report, Data show extent to which negligence and environmental code violations contribute to air pollution in Springfield, supports their claims of factory-related breathing troubles with the air and water samples he took during the day. The article is distributed on every platformsmartphone, smart watch, smart car, smart mirror, everything smartand generates thousands of views in an engaged, local community. The following morning, a new health inspector is dispatched to the factory, notes several code violations and shuts it down indefinitely. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Francesco Marconi and Alex Siegman are the authors. Marconi is the manager of strategic planning and development at The Associated Press and an innovation fellow at The Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. Siegman is a computational journalist and a masters candidate at Columbia Universitys Graduate School of Journalism. In the months since Hurricane Matthew, Dawn Sawyer has watched her 9-year-old, Sam, bite his nails down to nubs. Shes never seen him do that before. As Sam remembers it, he slept right through the storm. He knows the water was high that night, but he only worried about a swaying tree outside his bedroom window. Dawn recalls it differently. Sam woke up in the middle of the night when she did. They could hear yelling in their Windsor Woods, Va., neighborhood, and when they looked outside, they saw bobbing flashlights from people trying to wade out of their flooded homes. The Sawyers stayed inside without power for a day before walking to a friends house. When they returned, Dawn noticed Sam seemed nervous. He doesnt spend as much time downstairs, where the floor is still concrete and the smell of water damage and mold lingers. And Dawn knows Sam has been waking up in the middle of the night to check on his mom and dad, as he did that a few years ago when she had cancer. I felt terrible, Dawn said. We couldnt reassure him that it cant happen again because we dont know. Six months after Hurricane Matthew swept through the area, destroying homes and upending lives, the Sawyers are one family among hundreds still trying to scrape together some shreds of normalcy. Many live in one of the hardest-hit areas, Windsor Woods. About 1,400 properties flooded in the storm, 250 of them in that neighborhood. Residents have criticized the city for its slow and limited response, angry that the rebuilding process has dragged on. In a recent interview, Deputy City Manager Steve Cover said officials responded as fast as they could but are limited in what they can give homeowners to help. The city, he said, has funneled millions of dollars into recovery efforts by replacing city property, helping displaced residents and committing money to fix drainage problems. But many people are falling short of what they need to finish all the renovations and get their lives back on track. And many think the city should help them with that. The Sawyers house had flooding on the bottom floor. Dawn and her husband, Chris, are still dealing with the insurance and mortgage paperwork to finish the repairs. The carpet has been ripped up and some of the walls replaced, but the family cant find a contractor that will work within the requirements of their mortgage company to finish the job. Sam doesnt mind much that his house isnt totally fixed yet. Compared to some of his friends, he said, he was lucky. Most of his neighbors and friends are back home now. For a few months, the street was eerily empty. It was really weird, he said. No one else was around. It was pretty much a ghost town. Now, kids are playing in the street again next to industrial-sized dumpsters and storage pods. I think hes OK, Dawn said. But, she added: He wont forget it. Before Hurricane Matthew, Michelle Michaelian helped organize aid trips to far-flung locales for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. When most people think of mission trips to help to rebuild storm-ravaged communities, they probably envision Guatemala or Haiti, or maybe post-Hurricane Katrina Louisiana, she said. But then devastation came to her doorstep. This is home for me. When youre in this kind of work and it happens here, this is our disaster, said Michaelian, who had a day job as an office manager at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Our kids go to school with these kids. We go to the grocery store with these kids. We go to church with these people. Before long, shed swapped her day job for a mission in Hampton Roads, putting in 70-hour weeks to keep a steady stream of Methodist volunteers flowing into the area. They joined the nonprofits and religious charities that rushed to fill the gap once federal aid dried up. One recent Saturday, a crew from Herndon replaced the insulation under a house on Little Neck Road. The basement and crawlspace had flooded during the storm and the insulation was infused with mold. The family didnt realize it until the childrens respiratory problems forced multiple trips to urgent care, Michaelian said. With everything shed seen of disasters elsewhere, Michaelian saw Matthew coming not the specific storm, but the scenario. It was a matter of time for all of us living here. We got lucky until now, she said. Were already planning for the next one. Jakki Santellas home felt brand-new last October. The month before, she and her husband finished renovations they had to start because of a sewage backup. They redid their bottom floor like a beach cottage, with bamboo flooring and quartz countertops. Then the hurricane struck. Water seeped from underneath the floors as neighborhood drains backed up and her street filled with water. The Santellas were out that night, but they knew Windsor Woods often flooded in heavy rain. When they waded back to their house through waist-high water the next morning, it was clear their newly renovated home was ruined. They could make do in the upstairs of the 1970s-era split-level house, but the first floor was unusable. With three kids, a full-time job and a full course load in nursing school, Jakki decided to go home despite the damage. We were trying to keep life as normal as possible, she said. Today the couple are still working on repairs. This time, there is no bamboo just regular flooring that wont cost so much to replace, Jakki said. Theres a maze of paperwork to navigate, between the insurance and mortgage companies and the bank. The couple dipped into their retirement savings and fell behind on their mortgage payments because Jakki had to take so much time off work to make her home livable. And Christmas was more sparse than it has been in past years. I just feel so heartbroken, she said. You dont plan for this. Jakki tried to get help from the city the week after the storm when a Disaster Recovery Center was set up to help with immediate needs such as food, housing and clothing. While she could live in her house and had clothes, most of her food had gone bad. But there werent many options at the center besides public assistance, and the Santellas dont qualify. A friend bought them groceries that week. The neighbors were the most help, Jakki said. Linda Reynolds was due for retirement in January, but after Hurricane Matthew, she has put it off several times. Everything has changed in our life, she said. Im not so sure Im going to be able to retire. She and her husband, Curtis, wanted to spend some time in the home they own in West Virginia and go to California to see Curtis family. But even casual traveling might be out of the budget now, she said. Curtis has always fixed things around the house, but this is his biggest project yet. He spends most of his days in their Windsor Woods ranch home ripping up flooring, tearing out walls and cleaning water damage. The Reynolds have put tens of thousands of dollars into their home. Still, about $50,000 worth of work needs to be done, Linda estimated. She worries her husbands work wont be enough and theyll be stuck in their home, dealing with flooding when they should be enjoying retirement. The biggest thing is that, once we get the house together, is if its going to be able to sell, she said. Curt and I will survive. If worst comes to worst, we can just lock up the house and go to West Virginia. Linda has lived in the home since 1989. She had never seen flooding like Hurricane Matthew brought, but noticed it get worse over the years. I think the city dropped the ball a long time ago, she said. I want them to do something so this doesnt happen to our neighborhood again. Welcome to half a house, David Crawford announced as he walked into his home of 31 years. With no floors and walls torn down to the studs, the house on Forest Trail in the Bow Creek area looks like its being built from scratch. Only one bathroom door still hangs inside, showing how far the flood waters rose 18 inches. The demolition has been a family affair, with Crawford tearing out carpeting and drywall with his sons, siblings and in-laws. Since October theyve filled five dumpsters with trash and three storage units with salvaged materials. The family lost two cars. Furniture will have to be replaced, including kitchen appliances and the couch where Crawford huddled with his wife, son and dogs to avoid the rising waters. Crawfords wifes wedding dress, stored in a chest on the floor, was ruined. Crawford had flood insurance, and after a month, an insurance adjuster finally arrived from Florida. As he went back and forth with Crawford, the family waited in a house without interior walls or floors. Some of those nights that got down to 20 (degrees), with no insulation in the walls, the heat couldnt keep up, Crawford said. This winter, Crawford bought a trailer secondhand just to have a place to eat and sleep while the house was waiting to be overhauled. Its parked on the front lawn, next to the dumpster. Contractors have only just started rewiring the electrical system and installing a new fireplace and AC unit. In the kitchen, at a stove that stands alone, Crawford stirred pasta into boiling water and said he hopes the family will be able to move back into the house by the end of April. Nobody in their right mind thought it would take this long. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Hanover Stone Partners Establishes Practice Group to Help Employers Control Workers Comp Costs Hanover Stone Partners, a risk management services firm with expertise in a broad range of critical risk disciplines, announced it has established a dedicated, national practice group to help employers manage workers compensation costs. Barry E. Thompson, a widely recognized expert with more than 30 years of experience in all areas of workers compensation cost management, will lead the new practice. Known as WorkersComp Guard, the new practice will work in collaboration with employers on tailored solutions to reduce costs and improve claim outcomes. The practice will provide strategies and methods to assess employer safety culture and practices, evaluate risk financing options, implement best claims management practices and leverage data for program measurement and more effective resource deployment. In addition to leading Hanover Stone Partners WorkersComp Guard, Thompson concurrently is president of Risk Acuity, LLC, a national consulting firm specializing in workers compensation, which he founded in 2002. Previously, he was National Practice co-leader with Deloitte where he co-founded the firms National Disability Management Services Unit. Earlier, he was vice president and managing consultant with Aon, where he was among the founders of the Aon Management Institute, a practice built around workers compensation cost containment and education. He began his career with Liberty Mutual where he became senior claims adjuster before joining Marsh in 1986 as assistant vice president and claim account representative. He also served as a claim manager with Air Express International. Trov Closes $45M in Series D Financing to Accelerate its Global Insurtech Innovation Trov, an on-demand insurance program, announced that it has closed $45 million in Series D funding led by Munich Re/HSB Ventures, bringing its total funding to just over $85 million. All of Trovs Series C investors participated in the round (Oak HC/FT, Suncorp Group, Guidewire, and Anthemis). Also participating in the financing is Japan insurer, Sompo Holdings. The new capital will be used to expand the on-demand insurance platform globally, expand the categories of items Torv covers, and accelerate the development of new applications that leverage the technology platform. In addition to its investment, Munich Re is expanding its strategic alliance to include underwriting throughout Europe, Asia and South Africa. Additionally, SOMPO is investing in the financing round through SOMPOs wholly owned subsidiary Sompo Japan Nipponkoa and partnering with Trov to offer its on-demand insurance exclusively throughout Japan. Price Digests Introduces Vehicle API Exclusively for Insurance, Finance Industries Georgia-based Price Digests, an asset data provider to the commercial insurance and equipment finance industries, announced a new API platform to power the next generation of vehicle analytics. The new product enters the market as the single source for asset valuation and benchmarking data, covering commercial truck and trailer, passenger vehicle, boat, powersport, recreational vehicle and outdoor power equipment. The new API includes all data benchmarks traditionally provided by Price Digests VIN validation and verification, detailed specifications and market values (MSRP, retail, wholesale, finance) plus a suite of exclusive new data points that serve as indicators of risk. These include asset utilization, popularity and market price trending. To learn more about the Price Digests API or to request access, visit http://pricedigests.com/api/ Workers compensation premium fraud, restricting crash reports and extending the time in which to investigate fraud rings are the focus of just a few of the anti-fraud legislation pending across the nation, according to Howard Goldblatt, director of Government Affairs for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. The Florida legislative session began March 7 and one area garnering significant attention is the issue of assignment of benefits (AOB), Goldblatt said. Its a legal tool that allows vendors to act on behalf of homeowners in getting services paid under a homeowners insurance claim. According to Floridas Insurance Consumer Advocate ShaRon James, Some argue that this legal arrangement allows unscrupulous contractors to overinflate or submit improper claims, causing legal battles between the contractor and the insurance company, with the consumer left out of the picture. Senate Bill 1038 prohibits attorney fee awards relating to assignment agreements that arent valid unless specific conditions are met. The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida said that AOBs are commonly abused and used by shady contractors to inflate claims, file lawsuits against insurers and drive up attorneys fees. Another Florida bill, (SB 1012) would require insurers to develop and submit fraud plans to the state. In addition, insurers will need to have special investigation unit (SIU) staff attend anti-fraud training. The bill is tied to another that seeks to make fraud plans exempt from public records. Fraud plans are considered proprietary, he said. On the one hand, Florida is requiring fraud claims to be submitted to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) while, on the other hand, the state is exempting them from the public records law. Its proprietary. No state that requires fraud claims allows it to be open to be inspected by anyone, Goldblatt said. Insurer A doesnt even want their competitor, insurer B, to see their fraud claim. Workers compensation payroll fraud is the focus of Indiana legislation (SB 0463). The bill seeks to create a payroll fraud task force to address premium fraud schemes. Arkansas is considering a bill to restrict crash reports for the first 30 days, Goldblatt said. Arkansas has a bill that would restrict access to crash reports, so that only legitimate media and those parties to the crash could see it within the first 30 days, he said. Kentucky has several fraud-related bills pending this year. SB 128, which sought stricter consumer protections from shady contractors was signed into law. Another law relating to the release of crash reports, HB 215, is pending. The law provides a definition of a news organization, Goldblatt said. Basically, if youre a publication for a professional group and it is used for solicitation purposes, thats not considered media, Goldblatt explained. If someone has a chiropractic newsletter, for instance, they would not be defined as a news organization. Theyre trying to restrict who has access to the crash reports. Two South Carolina bills (H3410 and H3422) seek to double the funding the Attorney Generals office receives to fight insurance fraud and to expand the use of the grand jury to investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Theyre trying to do two things. One is increase the monies that would basically double the funding for the attorney generals anti fraud effort. The other bill is one that almost got through last yearwhich would help expand the use of the statewide grand jury by the attorney general to investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. By doing that, it gives the attorney generals office a leg up in bringing cases for insurance fraud by giving greater weight to the statewide grand jury system, explained Goldblatt. In Texas, HB 2053, seeks to move investigation of workers compensation-related fraud from the states Department of Insurance to the states Workers Comp Commission. Bills Signed into Law Some anti-fraud legislation has already been signed into law this year. Colorado House bill (HB17-1048) sought to extend the period of time to pursue the prosecution of insurance fraud and to extend immunity to secondary agencies that report insurance fraud. The bill was passed into law on March 23. Prior to the passing of the bill, the period within which prosecution of criminal offenses relating to insurance fraud began upon discovery of the act providing a three year statute of limitation from the time the crime was committed. The problem with insurance fraud is that the crime usually is not discovered until down the road, Goldblatt said. It may happen, say, in January, but an insurer may not discover it until much later, maybe even a year later. If the clock starts ticking from the moment the false claim is submitted, they could lose quite some time before the clock runs out. The legislation will allow for additional time to conduct a full investigation. Goldblatt said it offers a better chance at pursing fraud rings. It would change the concept from the time the crime is committed to the time the crime was discovered. That will certainly enhance going after fraud rings that are doing multiple false claims, Goldblatt explained. In addition, current law provided immunity to persons, insurers and authorized agencies that act in good faith to cooperate, provide evidence or provide information concerning an actual or suspected fraudulent insurance act. The bill extends this immunity to secondary agencies that do the same. Like Colorado, Arkansas legislation (SB 223) amending the statute of limitations for insurance fraud cases was enacted into law recently (now known as Act 695). The statute of limitations has been extended to three years from the last act of fraud. In the case of fraudulent motor vehicle accidents, the time extended to pursue an insurance fraud claim is five years from the last alleged act of fraud, but can be extended an additional three years if the fraud was not reasonably discovered until long after it was committed. Another success, according to Goldblatt, occurred in Washington state earlier this year. A bill that sought to restrict how insurers use examinations under oath died in committee. Most insurance industry stakeholders were opposed to this bill, he said. The anti fraud community, insurers of the coalition, the insurance commissioner all came out opposed to this bill. We really were afraid that there were forces behind the bill that had the votes to move it forward, but it died in committee before the crossover date. When the crossover date occurred, it hadnt gotten out of either chamber, which killed it for the year. One of the attributes of the year was we stopped the bad bill from going forward. Other states with pending anti-fraud legislation include Georgia and Massachusetts where counterfeit airbag laws are being considered. Visit the Coalition Against Insurance Frauds webpage tracking pending legislation: http://www.insurancefraud.org/state-legislation.htm [April 11, 2017] Congressman Diaz-Balart Discusses Air Traffic Management, Defense at Harris Corporation Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart met with Harris Corporation's (News - Alert) (NYSE:HRS) Chairman, President and CEO Bill Brown during a visit to the company's headquarters Tuesday. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411006176/en/ Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart meets with Harris Corporation Chairman, President and CEO Bill Brown during a visit to the company's headquarters in Melbourne, Florida. (Photo: Business Wire) The Congressman explored the Global Innovation Center, which showcases how Harris technology is being used across the world to connect, inform and protect. Diaz-Balart, the chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, also toured the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) Network Operations Center, a facility that carries critical safety-of-flight communications throughout the U.S. airspace and is a unique example of a public-private partnership. Diaz-Balart, who is also a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, learned about the Harris commercial business model, which reduces development costs incurred by the U.S. Defense Department and drives innovative communications technology to the warfighter. "For over 35 years, Harris has created and cultivated hundreds of jobs in Florida that provide indispensable support to our nation's military, airspace, and infrastructure," Diaz-Balart said. "They produce and maintain cutting-edge systems critical to the safety and security of the national airspace, including vital NextGen (News - Alert) telecommunications programs. I enjoyed learning about these systems and their research and development in defense, aviation, and space. I look forward to continue working with them to ensure we sustain advances in infrastructure and aviation and maintain our military superiority." About Harris Corporation Harris Corporation is a leading technology innovator, solving customers' toughest mission-critical challenges by providing solutions that connect, inform and protect. Harris supports government and commercial customers in more than 100 countries and has approximately $6 billion in annual revenue. The company is organized into three business segments: Communication Systems, Space and Intelligence Systems and Electronic Systems. Learn more at harris.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411006176/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] North Carolina lawmakers are taking steps to protect the worlds largest pork producer from lawsuits accusing its subsidiaries of creating unbearable animal waste odor. The 2014 lawsuits by about 500 rural neighbors of massive hog farms allege that clouds of flies and intense smells remain a problem nearly a quarter-century since industrial-scale hog farming took off. The smells can spark headaches and infuse households, they complain. Wind-driven spray has been known to coat a homes exterior in liquefied excrement, some said. The smell clings to clothes. With the cases against U.S. subsidiaries of the Chinese pork giant heading toward a possible trial as early as this summer, legislators are now proposing to sharply limit penalties that a jury or judge could impose. Legislation would protect hog farms or other agricultural operations accused of creating a nuisance for neighbors by limiting the liability of an operation to the lost property value plaintiffs can prove was the result of the nuisance. The state House last Thursday gave its preliminary approval to the legislation. The federal lawsuits primarily target Murphy-Brown LLC, the North Carolina-based hog production division of Virginias Smithfield Foods. Smithfield was bought in 2013 by a division of China-based WH Group, the worlds largest pork producer. The Chinese companys subsidiaries need protection from the ongoing lawsuits, or others that might follow, because the companies that own the animals are inextricably linked to their network of contract farmers who raise them, said Rep. Jimmy Dixon, a Republican and former hog and turkey grower who represents the heart of the states swine country. They are interconnected in a manner in which what helps one helps the other, what hurts one hurts the other, said Dixon, the legislations primary sponsor. Malodourous swine smells are rare, said Dixon. He blamed the latest legal attack against the industrys disposal methods on money-grubbing lawyers looking for a big payday, academics, urbanites and animal-rights activists who hear these squeaking wheels that want to put us out of business. Hogs were a $21 billion industry nationwide in 2015, with North Carolina operations racking up $2.3 billion of that, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. The proposed law in the countrys No. 3 hog state by gross income recalls that politically powerful pork producers in the 1990s shaped laws to foster high-density hog production despite the environmental and health risks of the waste disposal systems. The predominant waste-handling method has changed little since then. It involves using lots of water to regularly wash out farm buildings holding hogs, animals that generate prodigious amounts of waste. Its collected in cesspools, where bacteria break it down, and the flowing remains are sprayed through high-pressure sprayers onto acres of farm fields. The droplets can radiate smells and be carried by winds. North Carolina pork producers are only now deploying less-smelly methods like spraying closer to the ground via hoses dragged behind tractors, but the traditional method prevails, North Carolina State University agricultural engineering professor Garry Grabow said. One reason is the cost of changing systems that currently `work, said Grabow, an expert in land application of animal wastewater. Don Webb of Stantonsburg, a former hog farmer, said he opposes limiting the liability of the hog farms because that would shut out people who cant afford lawyers to advocate for them. Im a human being and Im an American. And Americans should not have to smell someone elses feces and urine. And thats what they want to force me (to do) with this bill, said Webb, who is among the plaintiffs. However, hog growers say they want farm nuisance lawsuits disarmed because theyre already thoroughly regulated. We dont need this type of thing, these nuisance suits hitting us, said Jeff Spedding, who was honored by the states pork trade association for environmental stewardship for his nearly 4,000-head operation near the Duplin County town of Magnolia. As farmers, we work very, very hard trying to be good neighbors, good for our community. Related: Odor From Hog Farms is Not a Pollutant Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Boise River already past flood stage in heavily populated southwest Idaho will be raised again, federal officials said Thursday. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the river will go up to 8,500 cubic feet per second by Wednesday. Flood stage is 7,000 cubic feet per second at the spot where the river exits Boise. Its been flowing at about 8,000 cubic feet per second for several weeks. If we have an unanticipated warm-weather system come through that melts everything really fast, we have to make room to catch that, said Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman Gina Baltrusch. Officials say the three dams above the states capital city have about 33 percent of storage space remaining, or about 315,000 acre feet. An acre foot is the amount of water it takes to cover an acre with a foot of water. The snowpack in the 2,680-square-mile watershed is currently estimated at 2 million acre feet of water, meaning theres about six times more water in the mountains than space available in the reservoirs to hold it. The two upper reservoirs managed by the Bureau of Reclamation are used primarily for irrigation. The lowest reservoir is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Managers operate them as a system, trying to make sure farmers have water for crops through the growing season while trying to avoid flooding cities downstream. This is a very delicately balanced system, Baltrusch said. Meanwhile, residents along the river have been buying flood insurance. From January through now Ive written more new flood insurance policies than I have in my 30-year career, said Becky Carlson, an agent with Associated Insurance Services who has been in Boise since 2008. She said a flood insurance policy for a $250,000 home in a high-risk flood zone to cover the building and its contents is about $2,400 a year. She said some homeowners might have delayed buying the insurance policies that come with a 30-day waiting period before they go into effect. But she said its not too late, as federal officials expect the Boise River to run high into June. Its unclear if the river will be raised again. We dont know at this time, Baltrusch said. Theres always that possibility. The Green Belt, a path that runs along the river in Boise and downstream cities, is typically filled with walkers, runners and bikers. But now its inundated and closed in multiple areas, with some areas partially washed away or in danger from falling trees that have root systems underwater. A four-member emergency management flood-fight team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found river water seeping last week through the shoreline into gravel mining pits. The agency said that if the river breaks through, it could reroute the current and put lives and property at risk, including the Boise wastewater treatment plant. As a result, workers are building a temporary levee in the area. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. [April 11, 2017] American Water's LeChevallier & Strauss to Participate in US Conference of Mayors Water Council Meeting American Water (NYSE: AWK), the nation's largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, today announced Dr. Mark LeChevallier, director of Innovation & Environmental Stewardship, and Mark Strauss, senior vice president, Corporate Strategy and Business Development will participate in the United States Conference of Mayors Water Council Spring meeting in Santa Barbara, California, on April 13 and 14. LeChevallier will present on "Technology and Emerging Challenges for Local Water Managers" and discuss American Water's Innovation Development Process, the advantages of the company's footprint and technical expertise, and some examples of American Water's recent innovations. On Friday, Apr 14, Strauss will present on the topic, "Public Water Infrastructure Investment and Finance" and discuss American Water's commitment to addressing our nation's infrastructure challenges and how it is critical that the public and private sectors work together to develop solutions. The primary purpose of the Mayors Water Council (MWC) is to assist local governments in providing high quality water resources in a cost effective manner. The MWC provides a forum for local governments to share information on water technology, management methods, operational experience, and financing of infrastructure development. The MWC also provides a forum to assist local government in exploring competition and public-private partnership approaches, and alternative methods of financing water infrastructure development. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly-traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com. Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for American Water. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411006180/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 11, 2017] Top 5 Vendors in the Smart Baggage Handling Solutions Market from 2017 to 2021 by Technavio Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recent global smart baggage handling (SBH) solutions market report. This research report also lists five other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005950/en/ Technavio has announced the release of their 'Smart Baggage Handling Solutions Market 2017-2021' report. (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio's market research analyst predicts the global SBH solutions market to grow steadily at a CAGR of above 12% by 2021. The aviation industry aims at achieving high visibility and transparency among the stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem. The combination of technology and manpower connecting passengers with airports and airline services is a perfect example of smart technology. SBH solutions are an example of such smart technologies that allow stakeholders to share data through a secure and cloud-based IoT system and enable reliable screening technologies. Competitive vendor landscape The global SBH solutions market is fragmented among large and small numbers of technology providers who are competing to augment their market share. Big companies, such as software providers and core M2M vendors, are expected to undertake M&A strategies to enhance their global presence and increase their customer reach. "There is an increasing possibility of change in the dominance of key vendors as the new entrants may offer a broad array of components and subsystems that are designed specifically for aviation IoT ecosystem," says Avimanyu Basu, a lead aerospace components research analyst from Technavio. The prospect of significant structural and competitive changes can also be expected that will encourage the use of more sensor-based technologies to create a smart airport ambiance. Major stakeholders, such as Beumer and Siemens (News - Alert), with relatively greater financial and technical resources can bring substantal changes in the existing commercial aviation baggage handling, which may help them to realize the development and deployment costs in a shorter time-frame. Request a sample report: https://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=55867 Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Top five SBH solutions market vendors BEUMER Group Denmark-based BEUMER Group specializes in the manufacture of intralogistics systems dedicated to functions such as conveying, loading, palletizing, packaging, sorting, and distributing with more than 1,500 installations globally. Presently, it is part of BEUMER Group's Centers of Competence for the Airport and Logistic Systems business. It provides fully integrated high-speed baggage handling systems for small and large airports. Daifuku In January 2015, Daifuku Webb changed its name to Daifuku North America. Its customer base consists of over 500 international and regional airports globally. The company provides baggage handling conveyors, explosion detection systems, in-line baggage screening conveyors, tilt tray sorter systems, horizontal merge conveyors, flat and in-line plate baggage carousels, as well as comprehensive baggage handling control systems for customers in the global aviation industry. Siemens Siemens excels in materials handling, and the company strategically uses its experience in the materials handling industry to penetrate the baggage handling systems market. Apart from installing new systems for the upgrade or expansion of facilities at an airport, Siemens also engages in providing maintenance services and supplying spare parts. SITA Switzerland-based SITA or Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques is a multinational information technology company, specializing in IT and telecommunication services for the air transport industry. SITA baggage systems are employed in more than 70 major airports globally, which includes Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cairo, Chicago, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Singapore, and Toronto. The company has provided automated bag drop solutions in several airports such as Singapore, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Vanderlande Industries Dutch stakeholder, Vanderlande, develops automated material handling systems and provides all associated services for application areas such as baggage handling at airports, distribution centers, and parcel and postal sortation facilities. The company operates as an all-inclusive material-handling service provider that takes care of the overall project management, system design, engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, information and communication technology, system integration, and operation and maintenance. Browse Related Reports: Global Airport Solar Power Market 2017-2021 Global Airport Automated Security Screening Market 2017-2021 Global Airport Runway Safety System Market 2017-2021 Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they're published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like aerospace, space, and defense. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005950/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 11, 2017] NASA Astronaut to Star in First Ultra-High-Definition Live Stream from Space WASHINGTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut and Expedition 51 commander Peggy Whitson will take viewers 250 miles off the Earth to the International Space Station in the highest resolution video ever broadcast live from space at 1:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 26. During this event, Whitson will speak with Sam Blackman, chief executive officer and co-founder of AWS Elemental, via an ultra-high-definition (UHD) broadcast transmitted in 4K from the 2017 National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas. Watch Amazon Web Services' live stream of the event at: https://live.awsevents.com/nasa4k The conversation with Whitson will take place as part of a panel called "Reaching for the Stars: Connecting to the Future with NSA and Hollywood." The panel will explore how advanced imaging and cloud technologies are taking scientific research and filmmaking to the next level, and will be moderated by Carolyn Giardina, technology editor for the Hollywood Reporter. Additional panelists are: NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson Rodney Grubbs , NASA Imagery Experts program manager , NASA Imagery Experts program manager Bernadette McDaid , head of development, virtual reality and augmented reality at Bau Entertainment , head of development, virtual reality and augmented reality at Bau Entertainment Khawaja Shams , vice president of engineering for AWS Elemental , vice president of engineering for AWS Elemental Dave McQueeney , senior principal investigator for the IBM Watson Group To experience the full effect online, devices capable of viewing 4K UHD content will be required, however, lower resolution streams of the live broadcast will be available on NASA Television, NASA's Facebook page and the agency's website. NanoRacks, a provider of commercial access to the International Space Station through its status as a U.S. National Laboratory, helped certify for launch a UHD-capable video encoder from AWS Elemental. The encoder and a RED Epic Dragon Digital Cinema camera were delivered to the station aboard a Japanese cargo craft in December 2016. Get breaking news, images and features from the station on Instagram and Twitter: http://instagram.com/iss and http://www.twitter.com/Space_Station To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-astronaut-to-star-in-first-ultra-high-definition-live-stream-from-space-300438295.html SOURCE NASA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Before Sean Conlon built his multimillion dollar fortune selling real estate, he'd been "knocked down about a hundred times," he tells CNBC. Conlon, an Irish immigrant who came to the states with $500 in his pocket, started as a janitor before getting into real estate in 1993. "I'm brand new in the business," he recalls, "and I had a couple call and they want to see properties." They were "your classic buyer," says Conlon. "They like nothing. But then I saw a 'for sale by owner,' and I showed it to them naively." The guy selling the property was a broker and told Conlon he'd get paid a commission if the couple ended up buying it. Sean Conlon Photo by Brandon Ancil, CNBC The couple abruptly stopped calling Conlon back, he tells CNBC: "Eventually, the husband calls and he says, 'We're just not dealing with you. We don't think you know what you're doing. You're not professional enough,' so I was devastated." One month later, Conlon was driving to work and saw a moving truck outside of the "for sale by owner" home. Sure enough, the couple was moving in. "I call the owner and he's like, 'Hey kid, I'm a big-time broker. I'm busy. I don't have time to deal with you,'" says Conlon. "That was an incredible lesson. ... I thought about giving up, but I didn't." Nor did he think about getting revenge, but he had an opportunity anyway, years later, in 1999. "I'd lent a guy $900,000 and he was doing a $4 million deal," says the real estate mogul, who now hosts CNBC's "The Deed: Chicago." "We're getting to the closing and I have to sign off on the payoff. I look at the brokerage commission it's $120,000 and I look at the name, and it was the guy who had owned the house." watch now Conlon called him up: "And he's like, 'Oh my god, it's so amazing to get to speak to you. You're the biggest broker in the country.' I said, 'I'm calling you on something else. I'm calling you on Sean Conlon circa 1993. I sold your house and you [cheat] me out of the commission. Isn't life an amazing thing? So we're going to shave your commission a little bit.'" He shaved it by $80,000. "You don't always get the story to end up that beautifully," says Conlon, "but that one did." The moral of the story, he tells CNBC, is to not "get consumed when somebody screws you over. Don't put all your energy into trying to get them back. Keep winning. Get up and go back in there every day. And you know what? You just might get a shot at your enemy at some point." Watch Sean Conlon in CNBC's "The Deed: Chicago," on Wednesdays 10:00 PM Eastern. Don't miss: Why a real estate mogul says a $16,500 door is worth it [April 11, 2017] University of Miami Continues to Rely on SPOT for Oceanic Flow Study in the Gulf of Mexico COVINGTON, La., April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE MKT:GSAT) announced today that the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM) will be deploying 550 SPOT Trace satellite trackers in its continued research expedition with the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE), which is dedicated to forecasting the fate of oil dispersed into the environment to help inform and guide response teams. This research is an extension of an ongoing project that launched in 2012 after the BP oil spill to monitor how pollutants behave in normal and emergency conditions. Using satellite technology, SPOT devices allow users to communicate from remote locations around the globe, transmitting messages and GPS coordinates. SPOT technology will be used by UM to calculate the speed and path of currents. The information collected will be combined with previous data to develop interconnected modeling systems. The previous study, executed in 2016, collected over 11 million data points. SPOT has been an integral part of our ongoing studies in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the arge number of messages we require in our experiments, it is critical that the devices used are accurate and the data affordable. SPOT technology not only meets this need, but the level of customer service provided by SPOT has been exceptional, said Tamay Ozgokmen, professor of ocean sciences and CARTHE director. CARTHE research is broad reaching, providing data on the ocean surface for navigation, energy generation, drilling and climate modeling. Changes in the ocean due to location and seasons require research to be conducted in various locations in the Gulf. The upcoming study will launch near the Louisiana coastline with the goal of exploring why the area was hit particularly hard by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Being headquartered near the Gulf of Mexico, it is exciting to see SPOT technology involved in an innovative way and as a key component of research that will directly impact communities we and many of our customers are a part of, said Jake Rembert, Vice President at Globalstar. The University of Miamis Rosenstiel School and CARTHE are making groundbreaking discoveries with our SPOT devices and we look forward to seeing their continued success. For more information on SPOT Trace and other SPOT devices, please visit FindMeSPOT.com. About Globalstar, Inc. Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services. Customers around the world in industries such as government, emergency management, marine, logging, oil & gas and outdoor recreation rely on Globalstar to conduct business smarter and faster, maintain peace of mind and access emergency personnel. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring, SCADA and IoT applications. The Company's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the innovative Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices and flexible service packages. Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. About the University of Miamis Rosenstiel School The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The Universitys mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940s, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the worlds premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, visit: www.rsmas.miami.edu. For media information, please contact: Erica Kelt [email protected] (985) 335-1652 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Activist investor Jana Partners is attempting to engage with Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey, sources told CNBC, but the firm has yet to speak about its ideas for the grocer with the company's management. Earlier Monday, shares of Whole Foods jumped nearly 10 percent after Jana took a nearly 9 percent stake in the company and suggested it should consider putting itself up for sale. In a regulatory filing Monday, Jana said it is looking to first address Whole Foods' "chronic underperformance" and secondly to make changes in the board and senior management. Also, it plans to looks for ways to improve real estate and capital allocation strategies for Whole Foods as well as discuss the small-store format. Jana, now the second-largest shareholder of the grocery chain, wants to speed up a turnaround for the company and consider a possible sale. The firm added that it believes Whole Foods "shares are undervalued and represent an attractive investment opportunity." The investor group also said it has "substantial experience" in the grocery and food sectors and intends to have discussions with the current board and management about making changes. "Whole Foods Market welcomes investment in the company and is open to the views and opinions of all of our shareholders," Whole Foods spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan responded, in a statement late Monday. "We value constructive dialogue toward our shared goals of creating shareholder value, successfully executing on our strategic priorities and taking actions that will position the company for continued success." Whole Foods, a Texas-based chain, has been struggling as other grocers make inroads into its natural and organics foods business. The company also has faced deceleration in customer counts and average purchase amounts. Both trends combined with overall food price deflation have contributed to Whole Foods slashing forecasts and posting same-store sales declines for the past six straight quarters. Whole Foods had been attempting to trim its costs by closing nine stores and abandoning a goal to open 1,200-plus stores. Jana Partners declined comment beyond its regulatory filing. Reporting by CNBC's Scott Wapner. Written by Mike Calia and Jeff Daniels. The annual Rugby Sevens tournament in Hong Kong sees fans in its raucous South Stand dress up in wildly imaginative costumes to celebrate the beloved British sporting export. The local South China Morning Post newspaper then selects the most striking costumes to glorify in its next day write-up. Last weekend, among the funky chickens, the singing leprechauns and the grooving Tyrannosaurus rexes, it was four Brits dressed up as the proposed brick "wall" between the U.S. and Mexico who secured that honor. That a political costume most captured the editor's imagination is rather fitting given geopolitics' current grip on dictating the direction of global economic developments and financial markets. Being in Hong Kong and exposed to ubiquitous evidence of the extensive historical links between the now-Chinese territory and its British former rulers gave me pause to consider the future relationship between China and the U.K. one both upended and given a greater imperative by Brexit. Following the extravagant enthusiasm of the ex-Prime Minister David Cameron and his government's approach towards China, incumbent Theresa May has, true to style, outstretched a more tentative hand to the single party state, as exemplified by decisions such as the one to review and then impose tighter security conditions on the 18 billion ($22.3 billion) Hinkley Point nuclear project in southwest England. Nonetheless, May and her fellow ministers, including Trade Secretary Liam Fox who made a two-day trip to China and Hong Kong last October to bang the gong for global free trade, have made no bones of the fact they consider the potential for trade deals with non-European behemoths such as China and India, a critical post-Brexit "opportunity". And yes, there is a unquestionably a tremendous opportunity to be chased as the Chinese government seeks to structurally re-engineer its economy, stoke demand amongst its 1.4 billion people and deploy its extensive foreign exchange reserves into global projects. If you're a man between ages 55 to 69, one aspect of your medical care may have just gotten a little more confusing. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent and influential panel of experts, published new guidelines Tuesday for screening for prostate cancer for the first time in five years. It changes a 2012 recommendation that one urologist described as "a public health nightmare." The new recommendations: Men ages 55 to 69 should "make an individualized decision about prostate cancer screening with their clinician." That's updated from a blanket recommendation in 2012 for no routine screening at any age. The task force made the recommendation, which is still in draft form as it seeks public comment, after determining that the potential benefits and harms of the prostate-specific antigen test are closely balanced in men ages 55 to 69. Those older than 70 shouldn't undergo PSA screening, the task force said. "Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers to affect men, and the decision about whether to begin screening using PSA-based testing is complex," Dr. Alex H. Krist, a member of the task force and associate professor of family medicine and population health at Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a statement. Some experts think the 2012 guidance was a clear mistake. "We've been jumping up and down about this for years and years," Dr. Benjamin Davies, an associate professor of urology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, told CNBC. The 2012 guidelines, he said, "were horrible." Davies says the recommendations not to screen for prostate cancer likely resulted in deaths that could have been avoided. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men; the American Cancer Society projects more than 161,000 new cases this year in the U.S., with about 26,730 deaths. More from Modern Medicine: The race is on to stop a Zika virus epidemic in the US The land of the Vikings may hold the cure for cancer Could flashing light treat Alzheimer's? Fresh approaches to treating the disease The PSA test is a simple blood test that determines levels of the prostate-specific antigen protein, and elevated PSA can be a sign of prostate cancer. But elevated PSA can also be caused by other conditions, like inflammation of the prostate or enlarged prostate. The risk of potential harm of over-diagnosis has led to confusing recommendations for screening. Treatment for prostate cancer, including removal of the prostate and radiation, is associated with incontinence and erectile dysfunction. False positives can lead to unnecessary further testing or treatment, and many cases of prostate cancer are slow-moving and require watchful waiting rather than immediate treatment. "For men who are more willing to accept the potential harms, screening may be the right choice for them," Krist continued. "Men who are more interested in avoiding the potential harms may choose not to be screened. In the end, men who are considering screening deserve to be aware of what the science says, so they can make the best choice for themselves, together with their doctor." The 2012 guidelines resulted in a precipitous decline in screening, according to an analysis published March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine. From 2010 to 2013, screening rates among men in their 50s dropped from 33.2 percent to 24.8 percent, and in those ages 60 to 74, from 51.2 percent to 43.6 percent. Less than three months after being sued by Apple for $1 billion, chipmaker Qualcomm is countersuing the iPhone maker in a dispute over licensing fees for mobile technology. Qualcomm said on Monday that it filed its answers and counterclaims to the suit, seeking unspecified damages and to "enjoin Apple from further interference with Qualcomm's agreements with the companies that manufacture iPhones and iPads for Apple." The legal battle is the centerpiece of a high-stakes dispute between the world's most valuable company and the leading maker of processors in mobile phones. Qualcomm makes money from the chips themselves as well as from royalties when any device is sold that's based on its cellular standards. One-third of Qualcomm's revenue comes from licensing. Apple claimed in January that Qualcomm has been charging royalties for "technologies they have nothing to do with." Qualcomm said in its press release that the countersuit outlines how Apple breached and mischaracterized agreements and negotiations, interfered with agreements with device manufacturers, encouraged regulatory attacks against Qualcomm around the world, opted "not to utilize the full performance of Qualcomm's modem chips in its iPhone7," and threatened Qualcomm to keep it from speaking publicly about the better performance of iPhones with Qualcomm chips. United CEO Oscar Munoz doubled down in a letter to employees on Monday evening, claiming that employees "followed established procedures" when removing a passenger from a plane because it was overbooked, and calling the passenger "disruptive and belligerent." United had to ask several passengers who had already boarded a flight from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday evening to leave, as the airline had sold too many tickets. One man refused to leave, and United called airport officials, who forcibly removed him from the plane. Video circulated of the incident earlier in the day, showing the man being dragged from the plane and later returning with blood on his face. The incident drew scorn on Twitter and other social media, especially when Munoz used the euphemism "re- accomodate " in a public statement to describe the customers booted from the flight. According to the letter, which was obtained by CNBC, when crew members first approached the passenger to tell him to leave, he "raised his voice and refused to comply," and each time they asked again "he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent." Crew members "were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight," Munoz wrote, and at one point the passenger "continued to resist - running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both our crew and security officials." Munoz acknowledged to employees that the company could learn lessons from the incident, but said: "I emphatically stand behind all of you." Here's the video, which went viral earlier today: AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson took aim at Tesla on Tuesday, saying the company's market cap surpassing that of General Motors ' is "inexplicable." The head of the nation's largest auto retailer even joked that Tesla was "either one of the great Ponzi schemes of all time or it's gonna work out." Jackson's comments follow a recent runup in Tesla's stock that has boosted shares of the electric carmaker to fresh all-time highs above $313, and sent its market cap past that of auto giant GM. This is despite the fact that Tesla produced only a fraction of the 10 million cars GM made last year. Tesla also has only had two profitable quarters in its history as a public company, while GM earned more than $9 billion last year alone. Jackson said Tesla's valuation fails to recognize that the company can't seem to turn a profit regularly. Overall, he said he isn't impressed by Elon Musk's electric car company. "What would impress me about Tesla?" Jackson said, speaking at the NADA/J.D. Power Automotive Forum ahead of the New York Auto Show. "Selling vehicles at a profit would be very impressive. Giving away vehicles at below what it costs you to make them is not very exciting." And Jackson doesn't see a profit coming for Tesla anytime soon. If Tesla can't make money in the $100,000 price bracket, he's skeptical that moving down to the $35,000 price range with the Model 3 will make the company money. Tesla is set to begin production on its more affordable Model 3 sedan this year. Jackson also is doubtful of the consumer pull of fuel-efficient electric cars. Consumers keep trending toward less fuel-efficient trucks and SUVs, implying that environmental factors aren't high on their list of purchasing priorities, he said. The proliferation of hydraulic fracking, he says, means that affordable gasoline is here to stay. "It is underappreciated that gasoline is affordable in the U.S. as far as the eye can see," he said, saying that should factor into Tesla's valuation. A severe gas spike, Jackson added, just isn't on the horizon. Through fracking, the U.S. has discovered "several Saudi Arabias" worth of oil to hold us over from other countries cutting output. "If OPEC was ever to try a boycott again, we could simply look at them and say, 'you 're fracked.'" Tesla wasn't immediately available for comment. Bill Hinshaw is not a typical 75-year-old. He divides his time between his family he has 32 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and helping U.S. companies avert crippling computer meltdowns. Hinshaw, who got into programming in the 1960s when computers took up entire rooms and programmers used punch cards, is a member of a dwindling community of IT veterans who specialize in a vintage programming language called COBOL. The Common Business-Oriented Language was developed nearly 60 years ago and has been gradually replaced by newer, more versatile languages such as Java, C and Python. Although few universities still offer COBOL courses, the language remains crucial to businesses and institutions around the world. In the United States, the financial sector, major corporations, and parts of the federal government still largely rely on it because it underpins powerful systems that were built in the 70s or 80s and never fully replaced. And here lies the problem: if something goes wrong, few people know how to fix it. The stakes are especially high for the financial industry, where an estimated $3 trillion in daily commerce flows through COBOL systems. The language underpins deposit accounts, check-clearing services, card networks, ATMs, mortgage servicing, loan ledgers and other services. The industry's aggressive push into digital banking makes it even more important to solve the COBOL dilemma. Mobile apps and other new tools are written in modern languages that need to work seamlessly with old underlying systems. That is where Hinshaw and fellow COBOL specialists come in. A few years ago, the north Texas resident planned to shutter his IT firm and retire after decades of working with financial and public institutions, but calls from former clients just kept coming. Cowboys and youngsters In 2013, Hinshaw launched a new company COBOL Cowboys, which connects companies to programmers like himself. His wife Eileen came up with the name in a reference to "Space Cowboys," a 2000 movie about a group of retired Air Force pilots called in for a trouble-shooting mission in space. The company's slogan? "Not our first rodeo." Of the 20 "Cowboys" that work as part-time consultants many have reached retirement age, though there are some "youngsters," Hinshaw said. "Well, I call them youngsters, but they're in their 40s, early 50s." Experienced COBOL programmers can earn more than $100 an hour when they get called in to patch up glitches, rewrite coding manuals or make new systems work with old. For their customers such expenses pale in comparison with what it would cost to replace the old systems altogether, not to mention the risks involved. Antony Jenkins, the former chief executive of Barclays , said for big financial institutions many of them created through multiple mergers over decades the problems banks face when looking to replace their old technology goes beyond a shrinking pool of experts. "It is immensely complex," said Jenkins, who now heads startup 10x Future Technologies, which sells new IT infrastructure to banks. "Legacy systems from different generations are layered and often heavily intertwined." Some bank executives describe a nightmare scenario in which a switch-over fails and account data for millions of customers vanishes. The industry is aware, however, that it cannot keep relying on a generation of specialists who inevitably will be gone. The risk is "not so much that an individual may have retired," Andrew Starrs, group technology officer at consulting firm Accenture , said. "He may have expired, so there is no option to get him or her to come back." International Business Machines , which sells the mainframe computers that run on COBOL, argues the future is not so bleak. It has launched fellowships and training programs in the old code for young IT specialists, and says it has trained more than 180,000 developers in 12 years. "Just because a language is 50 years old, doesn't mean that it isn't good," said Donna Dillenberger, an IBM Fellow. But COBOL veterans say it takes more than just knowing the language itself. COBOL-based systems vary widely and original programmers rarely wrote handbooks, making trouble-shooting difficult for others. "Some of the software I wrote for banks in the 1970s is still being used," said Hinshaw. That is why calls from stressed executives keep coming. "You better believe they are nice since they have a problem only you can fix," he said. Hinshaw said the callers seem willing to pay almost any price and some even offer full-time jobs. Turning point The first 3-D printed components to be used on a commercial jet plane are all set to fly thanks to a partnership between U.S. aerospace giant Boeing and a Norwegian firm. Norsk Titanium confirmed on its website Monday that it's now received a production order from Boeing for 3-D printed structural titanium components to be used on the Dreamliner 787. The Dreamliner will be the first plane to fly with "Additive-Manufactured" 3-D parts that make up part of the plane's load bearing structure. On the release, Boeing said the new process should save on the cost of production. "From the outset, the 787 has been the hallmark of innovation and efficiency," said John Byrne, vice president, Airplane Materials and Structures & Supplier Management at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are always looking at the latest technologies to drive cost reduction, performance and value to our customers and Norsk Titanium's RPD capability fits the bill in a new and creative way." Norsk told Reuters it will print initially in Norway, but aims to have nine printers running in New York by the end of 2017. The Dreamliner 787 plane sells for a list price of $312.8 million and is being built at Boeing's factory in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Dreamliner turned profitable for Boeing last year after the cost of each plane produced finally fell below the sales price. Boeing's largest and latest Dreamliner model, the 787-10, tested successfully in March and claims to have 10 percent better fuel efficiency than any commercial plane currently in the sky. Airlines who buy the Dreamliner can choose engines from General Electric Co in the U.S. or Britain's Rolls-Royce Holdings. U.S. government debt prices rose on Monday as investors awaited talks between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian officials and digested a 10-year note sale. Tillerson has been mandated by foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G-7) major industrialized nations to put pressure on Russia to break ties with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Tillerson said Tuesday U.S. will stand up against anyone who commits crimes against humanity. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson told reporters while commemorating a German Nazi massacre committed in Italy in 1944. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury notes , which moves inversely to price, was lower at around 2.3 percent and briefly fell below that level. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower at 2.937 percent. The 30-year yield also hit its lowest level since Jan. 17, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department auctioned $20 billion in 10-year notes at a high yield of 2.332 percent on Tuesday. The bid-to-cover ratio, an indicator of demand, was 2.48. Indirect bidders, which include major central banks, were awarded 65.2 percent. Direct bidders, which includes domestic money managers, bought 5.3 percent. On the data front, the NFIB small business optimism index slipped to 104.7 in March from 105.3 in February. In oil markets, Brent crude traded at around $56.10 a barrel on Tuesday, up 0.2 percent, while U.S. crude was around $53.27 a barrel, up 0.3 percent, after Dow Jones reported that Saudi Arabia wants OPEC to extend production cuts. Reuters contributed to this report. The company raised 2.021 billion reals ($645 million) in a dual initial public offering in Sao Paulo and New York on Monday, as soaring investor demand led Brazil's No. 3 airline to boost the size of the deal by almost one-fifth. The debut came as the allure of Brazilian airlines has grown among foreign investors. The government has eased foreign ownership of carriers and the economy begins to show signs of emerging from a deep recession. Brazilian airline Azul opened at $22 per share in its market debut on Tuesday, rising as much as 8 percent intraday. Azul founder and former JetBlue CEO David Neeleman told CNBC on Tuesday traffic in Brazil has doubled and the company has taken about half of that new traffic. "The challenges in Brazil are big, but the opportunity is bigger," Neeleman, who launched Azul in 2008, said on "Squawk on the Street." "We are an airline today that does 26 percent of all the domestic air revenue in Brazil. That's from zero to 26 in eight years," he said. The company has made repeated efforts at an IPO since 2013. Azul eventually raised new capital through private stake sales in 2015 to United Continental and China's HNA Group. "Brazil is a pretty volatile economy but during the time as things were going in Brazil, we were just building our business, building our business, adding more and more cities and building a stronger route network so the company is much stronger today than back then," Neeleman said. Reuters contributed to this report. [April 11, 2017] Primerica Schedules First Quarter 2017 Financial Results Webcast Primerica, Inc. (NYSE:PRI) announced today that it will hold a webcast on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company's results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017, as well as other business-related matters. The earnings news release announcing the first quarter 2017 financial results will be distributed on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, after the close of the market. The earnings news release, financial supplement and live webcast will be available on the Primerica Investors website at http://investors.primerica.com. A replay of the call will be available for approximately 30 days. About Primerica, Inc. Primerica, Inc., headquartered in Duluth, GA, is a leading distributor of financial products to middle income households in North America. Primerica representatives educate their Main Street clients about how to better prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate solutions through term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. In addition, Primerica provides an entrepreneurial full or part-time business opportunity for individuals seeking to earn income by distributing the company's financial products. We insured approximately 5 million lives and had over 2 million client investment accounts at December 31, 2016. Primerica stock is included in the S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 2000 stock indices and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PRI". View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411006248/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Leaders of American companies are willing to take more risk on corporate tax reform than members of Congress, the former president of the Business Roundtable advocacy group told CNBC on Tuesday. "The CEOs, I think, privately are saying look, 'We'll take in the short term some outcomes that are disadvantageous to our company or our sector, but at the end of that process has to be long-term improved economic growth for the nation.' That's the payoff," said John Engler, a Republican who had served three terms as governor of Michigan. President Donald Trump's economic advisory council, led by Blackstone chief Steve Schwarzman, is back at the White House on Tuesday, with Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon, General Motors CEO Mary Barra, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, and former General Electric CEO Jack Welch all expected to attend. While corporate titans are basically unanimous in their call for cutting rates, the particulars on how to achieve that goal and pay for it are creating some divisions, particularly around the border adjustment import tax revenue provision in the overall House Republican plan to cut the federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. Retailers, which generally hate the border tax idea because they rely on imports, are warning about having to pass on their higher costs of bringing good into the country onto consumers. But Engler argued on "Squawk Box" there may be wiggle room. "CEOs and business leaders, frankly, are more willing to take risks than some of the members of Congress who worry that if the short-term consequences aren't immediately visible that's an electoral problem for them." An observer from Wall Street told "Squawk Box" in an earlier interview the stock market is expecting "some level of tax reform." "[But] the market has realistic expectations," said Cliff Robbins, founder of Greenwich, Connecticutbased Blue Harbour Group. The hedge fund manages about $3.4 billion in assets. "I don't think the market is pricing in a huge 15 to 20 percent [corporate] rate," he added. Robbins, who made his bones as a dealmaker in the 1980s at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Morgan Stanley, now views himself as a "friendly" activist investor. City buildings in Chicago are to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2025, the city's Mayor Rahm Emanuel has announced. In a release over the weekend Emanuel along with figureheads from Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Park District and City Colleges of Chicago said that when implemented, the commitment would make Chicago the "largest major city" in the U.S. to supply its public buildings with 100 percent renewable energy. "By committing the energy used to power our public buildings to wind and solar energy, we are sending a clear signal that we remain committed to building a 21st century economy here in Chicago," Emanuel, who previously served as White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama, said. The Mayor's Office said that the commitment would be met in a number of ways, including on site generation and the acquisition of renewable energy credits. Jack Darin, president of the Illinois Sierra Club, welcomed the move. "By moving boldly to re-power its public buildings with renewable energy like wind and solar, Chicago is leading by example at a time when local leadership is more important than ever," he said. Some Chinese travelers are shredding their United Airlines credit cards after a video of a man being forcefully removed from an overbooked United flight went viral. The disturbing footage lit up Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter , where users also called for a boycott of the airline as Chinese state-run media described the man as being of Chinese descent. Under the trending topic #UnitedAirlinesforcespassengeroffplane, users expressed outrage and anger over the incident, and a couple images of broken or sliced United cards suggest they're serious about choosing other airlines for future travel. The clip from Sunday evening depicted unnamed passenger, whose face later appeared smeared with blood, on a Chicago-Louisville flight. The airline's CEO Oscar Munoz has since defended his employees, calling the passenger "disruptive and belligerent." A Weibo user, bj crossroad, said "boycott starts with me," alongside an image of his Mileage Plus Explorer card shredded like fringe. Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp told CNBC on Tuesday she supported Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court based on an interview and a review of his record. "Would he be the judge I'd pick? No, never," the North Dakota senator said on "Squawk Box." "But he is the judge that the duly elected president picked." Heitkamp was one of three Democrats up for re-election in red states who voted to confirm Gorsuch to the Supreme Court following a bitter partisan fight. On Friday, the Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's nominee, a day after the Senate took the "nuclear option" to advance Gorsuch's nomination by changing the rulings for filibusters. Democrats denounced the GOP's use of the parliamentary procedure, calling it an epic power grab that would further corrode politics in Congress, the courts and the United States. Democrats were also bitter after Republicans had refused to even consider former President Barack Obama's Supreme Court pick, Merrick Garland, following the February 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Heitkamp said what happened to Garland was "atrocious." "It was appalling," Heitkamp said Tuesday. "I didn't judge Judge Gorsuch by that." Heitkamp said a great frustration many Americans have is when one party continuously obstructs the other. "Elections have consequences," she said. "This was someone who was qualified. You may not agree with all of his decisions." "There's a lot of people disappointed and there is a lot of people who walk by in the coffee shop and say thanks for your vote. They're tired of partisanship," she said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Given geopolitical tension over Syria and North Korea, and uncertainty over the future of the European Union, many investors could be inclined to take a cautious approach. But some are surprisingly optimistic, according to the latest survey by TD Ameritrade . The Investor Movement Index monitors investing behavior, and the takeaway from the March version found that spirits are higher than might be expected. "Our customers are very optimistic," Christopher Brankin, CEO of TD Ameritrade Asia told CNBC's "Street Signs," explaining that his customers are still actively adding net new buys to their accounts. According to Brankin, even though TD Ameritrade customers are optimistic looking ahead to the next three months, they're not sticking their heads in the sand. "Investors and traders alike have two eyes, not one eye, on what's going on around Syria, and what's going on around the Korean Peninsula," he said. And when they're not watching those hot spots, they're looking for the traditional safety plays: gold and bonds. But he said he expected the U.S. earnings season to drive for investor behavior more than anything else, with TD Ameritrade customers joining the rush back into energy. "ExxonMobil is still one of the larger kind of net new buys for our customer base at TD Ameritrade," he said. "Not only expecting potential earnings growth, stock growth and still getting a decent yield." Chesapeake Energy is also a new buy, on a diverse list that includes Snap, Nvidia, and Advanced Micro Devices even though the latter stock reached a 52-week high in early March. As they picked up those stocks, TD Ameritrade customers dumped shares in companies ranging from heavy machinery to e-commerce. "One of the largest net sold positions that our customer base had last month, was Caterpillar ," Brankin said, citing concerns about the move of the company's headquarters to Chicago from Peoria, Illinois. He added that other net new sells included Disney and Alibaba, which hit and neared 52-week highs, respectively. Brankin said TD Ameritrade customers were also looking at getting exposure to some of the big banks, with JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo out with earnings on Thursday. They've also increased activity around XLF , the financial ETF. "You know, I think we could see that next leg higher in the markets, especially around the financials," Brankin said. "A big part of that will set the tone of what we'll see later on in the week." Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell: United Continental CEO Oscar Munoz said in an email to employees that the company "followed established procedures" when it removed a passenger from an overbooked flight. Munoz added the removed passenger was being "disruptive and belligerent." The company's stock slipped more than 2 percent in the premarket. Qualcomm The chipmaker is countersuing Apple in a dispute over mobile technology licensing fees. The countersuit comes about three months after the iPhone maker said Qualcomm has been charging royalties for "technologies they have nothing to do with." Dialog Semiconductor An analyst at German bank Bankhaus Lampe said Dialog may lose a contract with Apple as the tech giant considers making its own battery-saving chip for the iPhone, according to Reuters. Whole Foods The company's stock jumped nearly 10 percent Monday after Jana Partners took a 9 percent stake in it. Jana also suggested the grocer should consider takeover offers. Yelp Analysts at Pacific Crest upgraded Yelp's stock to overweight from sector weight and set a price target of $43, representing a 31.3 percent potential upside. "We believe competitive concerns over YELP's relevance are overdone, while self-serve's ease and utility are underappreciated," Pacific Crest said in a note. Western Digital The firm's stock rose more than 2 percent in the premarket after analysts at JPMorgan upgraded the stock to "overweight" from "neutral," and raised their price target to $116 from $80. JPMorgan also said Western Digital still has "significant potential" to reduce costs once synergies from the HGST and Sandisk acquisitions are realized. Walt Disney Goldman Sachs added Disney to its "Conviction List," saying a strong box-office performance "increases our confidence in our forecast that FY18 EPS growth will accelerate to 13% (from 6% in FY17)." Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly's compensation in 2016 totaled $6.2 million slightly higher than his 2015 earnings according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Seadrill Seadrill's shares soared more than 10 percent in the premarket after announcing contract awards from ConocoPhillips . Private equity giant 3G Capital is not looking to outbid JAB Holdings for Panera Bread, sources told CNBC on Tuesday. Panera shares pared back earlier gains following CNBC's report, trading up less than 0.5 percent shortly after market open. Panera did not immediately respond to request for comment. A report surfaced Monday that JAB's buyout deal of Panera Bread might not be sealed just yet, with sources telling the New York Post there could be other options on the table for Panera to consider. Brazilian-based 3G Capital, which owns Burger King and Tim Hortons, was said to be weighing a rival bid for the fast-casual chain, the paper reported late Monday, citing unidentified sources close to the situation. Earlier this month, JAB the owner of Caribou Coffee and Peet's Coffee & Tea offered Panera Chief Executive Ron Shaich $315 in cash per share for the company, representing a more than 20 percent premium to the stock's closing price on March 31, the last trading day before media began reporting on the potential deal. If 3G were to decide to top JAB's $7.5 billion offer, it would put two of the world's largest private equity firms in direct competition for Panera's more than 2,000 U.S. bakery cafes. Both firms have been making lots of deals as of late, and in February 3G's $143 billion approach for Unilever was rejected. St. Louis-based Panera has reportedly agreed to pay JAB a termination fee of $215 million, or 3 percent, if it accepts a greater offer. 3G Capital did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Lazard declined commenting to CNBC. Further, the Post headline said: "Buffett-backed firm interested in bid for Panera Bread: sources," although there was no indication in the Post's report that Warren Buffett would be involved in the potential bidding for Panera. The Brazilian PE firm has teamed up with the billionaire investor for deals in the past. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. With many acquisition rumors swirling of late, shares of Panera have risen more than 45 percent over the past three months. Just two months ago, Fitch Ratings viewed President Donald Trump as a threat to economic stability not only in the United States, but for the world. Now, things appear to have changed. One of the three major ratings services issued a mostly glowing report Tuesday about the state of domestic finances. Fitch, in a far cry from its dire warnings in February, both reaffirmed the sterling AAA credit rating for the U.S. and raised its outlook for gross domestic product growth. The firm now expects the U.S. to grow at a 2.3 percent rate in 2017 and 2.6 percent in 2018 not exactly breakout just yet, but a good deal better than the 1.6 percent average GDP rate under President Barack Obama. Fitch attributed its outlook in part to the pro-growth Trump agenda. "The new administration's focus on deregulation and tax cuts has spurred higher business confidence and would be positive for growth if carried through," Fitch analyst Charles Seville and others said in a report for clients. "Tax cuts are unlikely to generate a lasting and substantial boost to growth, in Fitch's view." Employment levels in the world's most developed economies are yet to return to pre-crisis norms, despite displaying "stable" growth, according to new data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The unemployment rate across the OECD's 35 member countries was "stable" at 6.1 percent in February 2017, but still remains approximately 15 percent higher than in April 2008, prior to the global financial crisis. As of February 2017, 38 million people within the largest global economies were unemployed, 5.4 million more than nine years ago. Latvia and Italy saw the largest declines in unemployment levels over the month, according to the data, down 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent respectively. However, unemployment rates across the euro area remain notably high at 9.5 percent. Within the EU this falls to 8 percent and within the G7 it drops further still to 5.3 percent. Canada and Japan also recorded 0.2 percent declines in the unemployment rate over the month, while the U.S. and Mexico saw a fall of 0.1 percent. However, Japan remains ahead of the curve with total unemployment levels at just 2.8 percent. It is followed by Iceland with unemployment at 2.9 percent. Youth unemployment remains above average Employment levels remain especially poor among young people in developed nations. While the unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 fell 0.2 percent in February, it remains high at 12.3 percent. According to estimates, it remains highest in Greece. February data was not available but figures from December 2016 show youth unemployment levels at 45.2 percent. Spain (41.5 percent) and Italy (35.2 percent) also recorded notably high figures. Gold posted a breakout session Tuesday as investors took risk positions off the table as geopolitical tensions rose. Futures on the precious metal jumped 1.6 percent during the regular session, bringing their year-to-date gain to above 10 percent. The metal kept going higher in after-hours trading with the futures reaching an intraday high of 1,277.40, which was their highest level since Nov. 10. Gold futures also surpassed their average price of the last 200 days, a common measure used by technical analysts to determine a trend. Gold 1-year, with 200-day moving average Investors have a lot to worry about: Last Thursday, the U.S. launched an airstrike on targets in Syria as a direct response to a recent alleged chemical attack by the Syrian government. The attack, meant to dissuade further use of the weapons, have chilled relations with the Russian government, an Assad ally. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is currently in Moscow to try and negotiate a path to ending the Syrian war. Early Tuesday, Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed the U.S. is preparing strikes on the Damascus region with the aim of blaming the Syrian government. Putin, showing no proof, said the U.S. was planning to "plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using (chemical weapons)." President Xi Jinping of China was a guest at Trump's Mar-a-lago estate during the airstrike on Syria, in a visit meant to smooth over relations in the wake of South Korea's decision to deploy a THAAD missile battery. The battery is meant to deter threats from an increasingly belligerent North Korea, although China is concerned the system will penetrate its own defenses. On Tuesday, North Korean state media warned of a nuclear attack on the United States if provoked, and last Wednesday fired another ballistic missile into the sea following two earlier tests in March. In an early morning tweet, President Trump hinted at a willingness to use trade to coax China into reining in North Korea: @realDonaldTrump I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! @realDonaldTrump North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. The U.S. has recently diverted a Navy strike group to the Pacific near the Korean peninsula, which will arrive later this week. Investors also clamored into gold stocks. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF was most recently up 3 percent, on pace for its best daily performance since March 15, when it gained 7.69 percent. Watch: More upside for gold [April 11, 2017] My Eye Media Names Kip Sears General Manager BURBANK, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- My Eye Media announced today that Kip Sears has joined the company in the newly created role of General Manager. "I've known Kip for many years and had the good fortune to work with him previously when we were both at Sony Pictures," said Michael Kadenacy, CEO. "Kip is a well-seasoned, highly capable facility operations executive. His laser focus on operational efficiency, maximizing infrastructure and labor utilization and managerial excellence, are vital contributions as our company sees its fourth straight year of explosive growth." "It makes my job pretty easy when what I'm tasked with is making a great company even greater," said Sears. "We've got an amazing team of professionals here and a robust digital infrastructure that is constantly expanding. I'm excited to be on boar the rocket ship that is My Eye Media." Prior to My Eye Media, as the head of Operations for Point 360, Kip built and oversaw the Creative division of the company. Kip has also served in executive positions at NBC/Universal and Sony Pictures, where he was in charge of the on-lot postproduction facilities for both studios. At Sony, he started, staffed and oversaw the world's first all High Definition facility. While at Universal, Kip played a key role in the successful studio transition from a tape-based to a file-based workflow. Kip has also served as VP Operations at Ascent Media and Fotokem. About My Eye Media My Eye Media is the leader in quality assurance, technical analysis and testing of all formats of digital motion picture content. The company's deep understanding of the technical intricacies required for the digital landscape makes its work critical to major film studios, cable and satellite channels, streaming media providers and content library owners. My Eye Media was founded in 2004 and is the most advanced and experienced digital-file testing company in the world. The company is headquartered in the heart of the post-production district in Burbank, California, and it has offices in New York and Tokyo. My Eye Media also manages a global workforce of technicians. More information at www.myeyemedia.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/my-eye-media-names-kip-sears-general-manager-300438366.html SOURCE My Eye Media [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Google Glass isn't dead. In fact, it's a growing business. That's according to developers who license the smart glasses technology from Google Glass' enterprise-focused "Glass at Work" program. Google unveiled the smart glasses at its I/O conference in April 2012 in a high-profile demonstration featuring skydivers, and rolled them out to developers a year later. But the product was pricey at $1,500, and not particularly stylish. Onlookers were also concerned about the glasses recording them without their knowledge, which led to several Glass-wearers being attacked in public. Google discontinued Glass as a consumer product in 2015. But a version for the workplace lives on. "It's a big market today, and it will be an even bigger one in the future," said Brian Ballard, founder and chief executive officer at Upskill, a Google Glass partner that makes augmented reality apps for workers in the field. Its customers and as of recently, its investors include industrial giants like Boeing and GE . Upskill works with other smart glasses makers as well, like Intel , Microsoft and Vuzix. Ballard declined to comment on how many units it has deployed, but he did say it is targeting companies that will need "thousands of these devices in the field to do one job." Where Google could boost the business further and stand out from competitors, he says, is by adding advanced computing, like machine learning, to its offering. An example might be in incorporating computer vision technology so field workers simply have to snap photos for the purposes of documentation. Augmedix, a San Francisco-based start-up with nearly 1,000 employees, built its business off smart glasses. Unlike Upskill, the vast majority of its customers doctors at large hospitals are using Google Glass. CEO Ian Shakil said the company expects to deploy 1,000 Google Glass devices by the end of the year. Augmedix sells its application to 12 hospitals, including Dignity Health, Sutter Health and TriHealth, to help doctors transcribe notes from patient interactions. Doctors wear the glasses during consultations and transmit video to medical scribes, who take notes. That way, the doctors are freed up to focus on the patients. Shakil wouldn't tell us how much the company pays Google but says it's in the realm of $1,500, which is the price Google charged developers for the original product. Augmedix, which raised $23 million in December, is poised to triple its growth year over year, said Shakil. Thus far, he said, most patients seem open to their doctors wearing the device: "We've already done tens of thousands of patient interactions." Hedge funds are snapping up insurance against a South Korean default as the nuclear threat from North Korea appears to grow. "The speed of the move in the cost of protection is one of the sharpest we've witnessed in years," said Larry McDonald of "The Bear Traps Report" newsletter. As measured by South Korea's five-year-default swap, the cost of protection against the country's inability to pay back loans leaped Tuesday to its highest level since July. As of last August, S&P had an AA credit rating and a stable outlook for South Korea. South Korea 5-year credit default swap (year-to-date performance) Source: Reuters North Korean state media warned Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of a U.S. pre-emptive strike. The threat came as a U.S. Navy strike group is headed toward the western Pacific. President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday morning that a trade deal between the U.S. and China will be more favorable to Beijing if it can put pressure on North Korea. Trump also tweeted that "North Korea is looking for trouble" and that the U.S. is ready to solve the problem without China if necessary. "The market thinks that North Korea will do something in response to Trump's meeting to provoke the White House," McDonald said. "It's clearly military action risk." An electronics company with an iconic name is hitching its fortunes to the resurgence in vinyl records with a new eco-friendly product. The House of Marley, named after the late reggae star Bob Marley, offers a range of sustainable music devices. It is launching a new turntable called "Stir it Up." The $229 device features analog to digital conversion via a USB port, allowing records to be recorded and stored digitally, and is constructed from environmentally sustainable material. Sustainability is a foundation of the House of Marley brand, which is why the company is releasing the Stir it Up to coincide with Earth Day on April 22. Marley-branded electronics use a blend of bamboo and other recycled or organic materials, such as cotton and hemp. Stir it Up turntable. Source: House of Marley Rohan Marley, son of the reggae legend who also owns a sustainable coffee business, told CNBC recently that House of Marley's emphasis on eco-friendly products are part of his desire to "bring life" to a sector like electronics, where manufacturing may not place a premium on sustainability. "We, as the Marley family, won't be responsible for destroying the community," said Marley, the brand's ambassador. "We want to bring life. We want to enhance life." That sensibility also extends to his Marley Coffee brand, where he bans chemicals from the Jamaican farm where the crop is grown. "I say to myself, 'I'm a 'Rastaman.' This is my farm. This first has to relate to who I am," he told CNBC. For Marley, sustainability goes beyond product manufacturing. He and his brother Ziggy used 1Love, the Marley family's philanthropic arm, to support a school near Rohan's coffee farm. Meanwhile, five percent of the House of Marley's profit goes to 1Love. The singer Akon (L) and Rohan Marley are pictured at the House of Marley booth during CES 2017 on January 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Isaac Brekken | Getty Images Being physically dragged off a plane may be rare, but passengers are being denied boarding against their wishes every day. United Airlines is under fire after a video surfaced of a passenger being forcibly removed from a United Express flight operated by Republic Airways. Airlines are well within their rights to deny a passenger the right to board a plane, but they have to ask for volunteers first. If they don't get enough volunteers, the airline uses a computer system to choose passenger to block from the aircraft. Last year alone, more than 40,000 people were involuntarily denied boarding on 12 major U.S. airlines, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Those are people who declined to take compensation, but were kicked off anyway. Defense Secretary James Mattis said Tuesday "there is no doubt" the Syrian government led by President Bashar Assad is responsible for chemical weapons last week that killed more than 100 people. "This military action demonstrates that the United States will not passively stand by while Assad blithely ignores international law and employs chemical weapons he had declared destroyed," said Mattis, speaking at a briefing at the Pentagon. "The Syrian regime should think long and hard before it again acts so recklessly in violation of international law against the use of chemical weapons." Last week, the U.S. military launched a missile strike against a Syrian government airfield in response to the chemical weapons used against civilians. Mattis said the U.S. was aware there were Russians at the Syrian base so the U.S. military "took appropriate actions to ensure no Russians were injured in the attack." "We have gone back through and looked at all the evidence we can and it's very clear who planned this attack, who authorized this attack and who conducted this attack itself," said Mattis. But he stopped short of saying the Russians had advance notice of the chemical weapons attack. The intent of the Syrian attack was "to stop the cycle of violence into an area," said the Defense secretary, adding that "even in World War II chemical weapons were not used on battlefields. Even in the Korean War, they were not used on battlefields." The U.S. military policy in Syria hasn't changed and the priority remains the defeat of ISIS, or the Islamic State. "ISIS represents a clear and present danger and immediate threat to Europe and ultimately a threat to the United States homeland," he said. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command, provided detail at the presser on the Syrian strike at the Shayrat airfield and said the goal was to eliminate the chemical weapons capability, including aircraft, fuel and supplies that provided offensive military capacity for the Assad regime. "We did not deliberately target personnel in these strikes," Votel said. According to Votel, the U.S. military targeted 59 locations at the Syrian government's Shayrat airfield and struck 57 of those targets. He said the U.S. believes the airfield was the launching point for last week's chemical attack. Votel wouldn't comment on plans for any additional troop strength in the region. There are already believed to be at least 900 U.S. troops in Syria fighting ISIS, which includes the addition of around 400 troops added last month. Watch: Strategy should include 'safe zones' G-7 foreign ministers failed to reach an agreement to impose new sanctions on Russia following an alleged chemical attack on Syrian soil. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told CNBC that there was "no consensus" among the seven biggest industrialized economies to impose punishments on Russia for supporting the regime of Bashar Assad, who is believed to have ordered a chemical attack. "Our approach has been very clear. At the moment, there is no consensus for further sanctions as an instrument to obtain the goal that we are aiming for," Alfano told CNBC during a press conference. U.K. Foreign Minister Boris Johnson raised the issue of new sanctions during the G-7 meeting in Lucca, Italy, but failed to gather support among his counterparts. North Korean state media warned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression, as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed toward the western Pacific - a force U.S. President Donald Trump described as an "armada". Trump, who has urged China to do more to rein in its impoverished ally and neighbor, said in a Tweet that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and the United States would "solve the problem" with or without Beijing's help. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula amid concerns that reclusive North Korea may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test and after Washington said at the weekend it was diverting the aircraft carrier strike group Carl Vinson toward the Korean peninsula in a show of force. "We are sending an Armada. Very powerful," Trump told Fox Business Network, adding: "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. That I can tell you." Referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump said: "He is doing the wrong thing." Asked if he thought Kim was mentally fit, Trump replied: "I don't know. I don't know him." North Korea said earlier it was prepared to respond to any U.S. aggression. "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theater but also in the U.S. mainland," its official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said. In spite of the military rhetoric, U.S. officials have previously stressed that stronger sanctions are the most likely U.S. course to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. At the same time, Washington has said all options - including military ones - are on the table and that a U.S. strike last week against Syria should serve as a warning to Pyongyang. The strike group heading toward Korea includes the nuclear-powered flagship aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, two destroyers and a cruiser. Such a strike group is generally accompanied by submarines, although the Pentagon does not normally publicize this. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump had put North Korea "clearly on notice" that he would not tolerate certain actions, but dismissed Pyongyang's nuclear attack threat. "I think there is no evidence that North Korea has that capability at this time," he said. "Threatening something that you don't have the capability of isn't really a threat." United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. VR ACQUISITIONS, LLC, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. WASATCH COUNTY; JORDANELLE SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT; THE JORDANELLE SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT UTAH SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 2005-2; JAY PRICE; DAN MATTHEWS, Defendants - Appellees. No. 15-4138 Decided: April 10, 2017 Before HOLMES, SEYMOUR, and MORITZ, Circuit Judges. Timothy McCaffrey, Freeborn & Peters LLP, Chicago, Illinois (Michael R. Johnson, Robert G. Wing, and Matthew M. Cannon, Ray Quinney & Nebeker, Salt Lake City, Utah, with him on the briefs), for Plaintiff-Appellant. Mark R. Gaylord, Ballard Spahr, Salt Lake City, Utah (Melanie J. Vartabedian and Tyler Hawkins, Ballard Spahr, LLP, Salt Lake City, Utah, Barton H. Kunz, II, and Bryson R. Brown, Christensen & Jensen, P.C., Salt Lake City, Utah, with him on the brief), for Defendants-Appellees. VR Acquisitions, LLC (VRA) owns a roughly 6,700-acre property in Utah's Jordanelle Basin (the VR property). VRA brought this action in 2015, asserting three federal constitutional claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and five state-law claims. All of the claims rested, to some degree, on VRA's assertion that an invalid assessment lien was recorded against the VR property in 2009three years before VRA bought the property. The district court dismissed all eight claims with prejudice under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), and VRA appeals. Because the district court properly dismissed VRA's 1983 claims for lack of prudential standing, we affirm the dismissal of those claims with prejudice. But because the district court should have declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over VRA's state-law claims, we reverse its dismissal with prejudice of those claims and remand with directions for the district court to dismiss those claims without prejudice. BACKGROUND In 1993, the Wasatch County Council (the Council) established the Jordanelle Special Service District (the JSSD) to provide sewer and water services to residents in the Jordanelle Basin. During the time period relevant to VRA's allegations, Jay Price was a member of the Council and Dan Matthews was the JSSD's manager. At least as early as 2002, the JSSD intended to construct a regional sewage treatment facility and provide wastewater treatment services to both the JSSD service area and properties in neighboring special service districts. In 2005, the JSSD adopted Resolution No. 2005-18 (the Notice of Intention), declaring its intent to create the Jordanelle Special Service Improvement District No. 2005-2 (the District) and to levy assessments against properties within the District. In 2006, the JSSD adopted Resolution 2006-04 (the Creation Ordinance), creating the District and authorizing financing for the improvements described in the Notice of Intention. In 2009, after a period of public comment, the JSSD enacted Ordinance No. 09-10 (the Assessment Ordinance), levying assessments against properties within the Districtincluding the VR property. The assessment against the VR property totaled nearly $17.5 million. The property's prior owner elected to pay the assessment over 20 years. On September 24, 2009, the JSSD recorded a Notice of Assessment Interest (the Assessment Lien) against the VR property. ATC Realty Sixteen, Inc. obtained title to the VR property from the prior owner in 2010 through a deed in lieu of foreclosure. VRA bought the VR property from ATC Realty in 2012 with knowledge of the Assessment Lien. Nearly three years later, VRA brought this action asserting three 1983 claims: (1) a Fourteenth Amendment procedural due process claim, (2) a Fourteenth Amendment substantive due process claim, and (3) a Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment takings claim. VRA primarily sought a declaration that the Assessment Ordinance, the Creation Ordinance, and the Notice of Intention are void ab initio, and also sought removal of the Assessment Lien. In support of these claims, VRA primarily alleged that the JSSD intentionally issued a false and misleading Notice of Intention in 2005 so property owners wouldn't object to the creation of the District or the proposed assessments against their properties. VRA further attacked the validity of the Assessment Lien by alleging that the JSSD misused bond money and unlawfully permitted non-assessed property owners to benefit from water and sewer improvements that were paid for only by assessed property owners. Finally, VRA alleged that Price and Matthews abused their public positions by funneling bond money to friends and family through questionable real estate and water rights transactions related to construction of the improvements. The defendants moved under Rule 12(b)(6) to dismiss VRA's complaint. The district court granted the defendants' motion and dismissed all of VRA's claims with prejudice, reasoning that (1) the claims are time-barred under Utah Code Ann. 11-42-106's 30-day limitation period for contesting an assessment; (2) the claims are time-barred under Utah Code Ann. 78B-2-307(3)'s four-year statute of limitations; (3) VRA lacks standing to assert claims that belong to the VR property's prior owner; and (4) the Notice of Intention isn't false because it contained all information required by Utah Code Ann. 17A-3-205 (2005). DISCUSSION We review a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal de novo. Childs v. Miller, 713 F.3d 1262, 1264 (10th Cir. 2013). We accept a plaintiff's well-pleaded factual allegations as true and determine whether the plaintiff has provided enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. Hogan v. Winder, 762 F.3d 1096, 1104 (10th Cir. 2014) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). As the plaintiff, VRA bears the burden of establishing standing to bring its claims. Brown, 822 F.3d at 1164. Here, the district court dismissed VRA's 1983 claims based, in part, on its conclusion that VRA failed to carry that burden: it ruled that VRA cannot demonstrate Article III [s]tanding. App. vol. 4, 806. But according to VRA, the district court's analysis reflects that the court actually found that VRA lacks prudentialas opposed to Article IIIstanding. We agree. In concluding that VRA lacks standing, the district court noted that VRA did not even exist in 2005 when [the defendants] issued the alleged constitutionally deficient 2005 Notice of Intention. Id. And it reasoned that VRA was therefore attempting to assert constitutional claims that belong to the VR property's prior owner. Thus, the court concluded, VRA's assertion of standing is foreclosed by our decision in Kemmerer Coal Co. v. Brigham Young University, 723 F.2d 54 (10th Cir. 1983). See id. at 57 ([T]he general rule is that a litigant may only assert his own constitutional rights or immunities. (quoting McGowan v. Maryland, 366 U.S. 420, 429 (1961))). This analysis is clearly rooted in principles of prudential, rather than Article III, standing. Compare RMA Ventures Cali. v. SunAmerica Life Ins. Co., 576 F.3d 1070, 1073 (10th Cir. 2009) (explaining that under doctrine of prudential standing, litigants cannot sue in federal court to enforce the rights of others), with Rector v. City and Cty. of Denver, 348 F.3d 935, 942 (10th Cir. 2003) (noting that to demonstrate Article III standing, plaintiff must plausibly allege (1) injury in fact, (2) fairly traceable to defendants' conduct, (3) that is redressable by favorable judicial ruling). Accordingly, despite the district court's explicit reference to Article III standing, we conclude that the district court actually dismissed based on a finding that VRA lacks prudential standing. VRA contends this was error. First, VRA asserts that as the VR property's current owner, it's being harmed by the defendants' actions. Specifically, VRA complains that the VR property is burdened and clouded by illegal assessment liens, and that the government will forcibly take that property if [VRA] fails to pay the government tens of millions of dollars. Aplt. Br. 24. But VRA's emphasis on its alleged injuries blurs the distinction between Article III standing and prudential standing. See Wilderness Soc'y, 632 F.3d at 1171 (stating that [p]rudential standing imposes different demands than injury in fact, and explaining that even if a party suffers a cognizable injury that party may not possess a right to relief). Thus, even assuming VRA is being harmed, that doesn't necessarily demonstrate that VRA has prudential standing to bring its constitutional claims. Next, VRA argues the district court erred in relying on Kemmerer Coal to conclude that it lacks prudential standing. There, the plaintiff brought an action in federal court, seeking to quiet title to certain coal deposits. 723 F.2d at 54. The district court granted summary judgment in the plaintiff's favor. Id. at 55. In doing so, the court reasoned that because the plaintiff's predecessor-in-interestthe San Rafael Fuel Companydidn't receive notice of the tax proceedings that gave rise to the defendants' tax titles, the related property assessment and subsequent tax sale were void for lack of due process. Thus, the court ruled, the plaintiff wasn't barred by the Utah statute of limitations from attacking the defendants' tax titles. Id. Sitting in diversity, we reversed. Id. at 54, 58. After discussing the parties' arguments as to whether the plaintiff's claim was time-barred, we concluded that we need not decide that issue because the plaintiff itself ha [d] suffered no due process injury. Id. at 57. Instead, we reasoned that if a constitutional violation had indeed occurred, it was the taking of San Rafael's property without due process. Id. Because the plaintiff was therefore improperly seeking to advance its claim by asserting a third-party's constitutional rights, we concluded that the Utah Supreme Court would hold that the plaintiff lacked standing. Id. Critically, in reaching that conclusion, we specifically noted that the general rule against asserting a third-party's rights applies to bar a grantee's assertion that its grantor's due process rights were violated. Id. VRA attempts to distinguish Kemmerer Coal on its facts, arguing that it didn't involve a claim based on any ongoing restrictions on land that could affect a subsequent owner, and certainly did not involve a 20-year assessment lien. Aplt. Br. 34. Instead, VRA argues, Kemmerer Coal involved a discrete taking of title from [the original] ownera taking that, according to VRA, uniquely injured only the prior landowner. Id. VRA suggests that unlike the plaintiff in Kemmerer Coal, VRA is suffering injury as the current landowner from the existence of liens that run with the land and continue to burden the land for years, coupled with the government's enforcement of those liens and the ongoing requirement that [VRA] pay tens of millions of dollars going forward to avoid foreclosure. Id. But again, the fact that VRA may be suffering an injury isn't dispositive of the prudential-standing inquiry. See Wilderness Soc'y, 632 F.3d at 1171. Moreover, even if we grant credence to VRA's distinctions, we find the similarities between these cases more significant. Like the plaintiff in Kemmerer Coal, VRA alleges a due process injury because alleged deficiencies in the Notice of Intention deprived the prior owner of notice and an opportunity to be heard. And, as in Kemmerer Coal, any constitutional violations the defendants committed in issuing a false and misleading Notice of Intention injured the due process rights of the prior owner, not of VRA. Accordingly, the district court didn't err in relying on Kemmerer Coal. Finally, VRA relies on three additional cases to support its position that it has prudential standing. But we agree with the defendants that none of these cases actually support VRA's assertion. First, VRA cites Commonwealth Property Avocates v. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., 680 F.3d 1194 (10th Cir. 2011). There, we concluded that the plaintiff had prudential standing to challenge the legality of foreclosure proceedings concerning three properties that the plaintiff purchased from defaulting borrowers. Id. at 1196, 1201. And in doing so, we specifically rejected one defendant's argument that the plaintiff was impermissibly asserting the original borrower's rights, reasoning, Because Plaintiff is the current owner of the real property, a foreclosure would injure Plaintiff directly. Therefore, Plaintiff also has prudential standing. Id. at 1201. VRA argues that, like the plaintiff in Commonwealth Property Advocates, it's asserting its own rights as the current owner of property that will be taken by foreclosure absent relief from the Court. Aplt. Br. 25. But unlike the plaintiff in Commonwealth Property Advocates, VRA doesn't allege any legal violations in the context of current foreclosure proceedings. Instead, VRA alleges due process violations in the context of past legislative proceedings creating a special improvement district and levying an assessment against the VR property. And if any due process rights were violated by those past proceedings, they were the due process rights of the prior owner, not VRA. Thus, VRA's reliance on Commonwealth Property Advocates is misplaced. So too is its reliance on Palazzolo v. Rhode Island, 533 U.S. 606 (2001); that case speaks to ripeness, not prudential standing. And if anything, Palazzolo's ripeness discussion undermines VRA's position. Palazzolo reaffirmed the general rule that the rights to assert a Takings Clause claim for a physical taking and to receive just compensation belong to the owner of the property at the time of the taking because the fact and extent of the taking are known. 533 U.S. at 628. Palazzolo then recognized an exception in the land-use regulation context: it explained that a regulatory Takings Clause claim may involve a ripening period. And the Court held that title transfers occurring during that period don't preclude a subsequent purchaser or successive title holder from challenging the taking when the claim ripens. Id. Here, assuming the assessment against the VR property constitutes a taking, the fact and extent of [that] taking [were] known in 2009 when the JSSD enacted the Assessment Ordinance and approved the approximately $17.5 million assessment. See id. Thus, at the very latest, any claim arising from the assessment ripened on September 24, 2009, when the JSSD recorded the Assessment Lien against the property. The VR property's prior owner held title at both points in time and, at either point, could have asserted a Takings Clause claim absent any ripening period. Accordingly, the title transfer at issue here didn't occur during a ripening period, and Palazzolo doesn't support permitting VRA, as a twice-removed successive title holder, to squeeze the juice of just compensation out of an overripe Takings Clause claim. The facts of the third case that VRA citesPater v. City of Casper, 646 F.3d 1290 (10th Cir. 2011)are more analogous to the facts present here. But like Palazzolo, Pater doesn't speak to standing. And the Pater plaintiffs' ownership status of the properties at issue was significantly different from VRA's ownership status here. Unlike the plaintiffs in Pater, who actually owned their properties when the city recorded notices of assessments against those properties, Id. at 1291-94, VRA didn't own the VR property when the JSSD issued the Notice of Intention, enacted the Creation Ordinance, enacted the Assessment Ordinance, and recorded the Assessment Lien. Thus, even though we said in Pater that an encumbrance with the characteristics of the Notices of Assessment can be a deprivation of a property interest, id. at 1297, we did so when the plaintiffs who owned the properties at the time the notices were recorded asserted that their own procedural due process rights had been violated. Here, VRA didn't own the VR property when the JSSD recorded the Assessment Lien against the property. So again, if anyone was deprived of procedural due process when that lien was recorded, it was the property's prior ownernot VRA. In sum, the cases VRA relies on don't convince us that VRA has prudential standing to assert due process and Takings Clause violations. Instead, even assuming the defendants engaged in the misconduct VRA alleges, any constitutional violations arising from that misconduct violated the VR property's prior owner's constitutional rights, not VRA's. Thus, we affirm the district court's ruling that VRA lacks prudential standing to assert 1983 claims based on those alleged violations and its order dismissing VRA's federal claims with prejudice. That leaves VRA's five state-law claims, which the district court also dismissed with prejudice. While the district court didn't make clear which of its four independent reasons justified such dismissal, App. vol. 4, 802, we need not parse the district court's ruling to discern its justifications. Instead, we conclude that the district court should have simply declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over VRA's state-law claims after it dismissed VRA's federal claims. See 28 U.S.C. 1367(c)(3); Smith v. City of Enid ex rel. Enid City Comm'n, 149 F.3d 1151, 1156 (10th Cir. 1998) (When all federal claims have been dismissed, the court may, and usually should, decline to exercise jurisdiction over any remaining state claims.). Thus, we reverse the district court's order dismissing VRA's state-law claims with prejudice and remand with instructions to dismiss those claims without prejudice. See Brooks v. Gaenzle, 614 F.3d 1213, 1230 (10th Cir. 2010) (affirming district court's dismissal of federal claims, reversing grant of summary judgment on state-law claim, and remanding with instructions to dismiss state-law claim without prejudice). FOOTNOTES . VRA also asserted a separate federal claim for VIOLATION OF 42 U.S.C. 1983 & 1988. App. vol. 1, 58. The district court dismissed all claims on four alternative grounds without separately addressing how those grounds applied to any particular claim. App. vol. 4, 802, 810. We affirm its dismissal of this purported fourth federal claim for two reasons. First, 1983 is the remedial vehicle for raising claims based on the violation of constitutional rights, and [t]here can be no violation of 1983 separate and apart from the underlying constitutional violations. Brown v. Buhman, 822 F.3d 1151, 1161 n.9 (10th Cir. 2016). Second, 1988 does not create [an] independent cause[ ] of action but instead simply defines procedures under which remedies may be sought in civil rights actions. Schroder v. Volcker, 864 F.2d 97, 99 (10th Cir. 1988) (quoting Brown v. Reardon, 770 F.2d 896, 907 (10th Cir. 1985)). . VRA's complaint doesn't allege that VRA bought the VR property in 2012 or that it took title with knowledge of the Assessment Lien. But VRA doesn't dispute these facts and doesn't argue, in the context of its challenge to the district court's ruling on standing, that we shouldn't consider them as true. Moreover, VRA acknowledged at oral argument that it knew of the assessment lien when it bought the property. . Whatever the actual basis for the district court's ruling, we would normally have an independent obligation to verify that VRA has Article III standing to bring its 1983 claims before proceeding any further. See Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius, 723 F.3d 1114, 1126 (10th Cir. 2013) ([W]henever standing is unclear, we must consider it sua sponte to ensure there is an Article III case or controversy before us.); see also Valenzuela v. Silversmith, 699 F.3d 1199, 1204-05 (10th Cir. 2012) (explaining that federal courts can't assume they have subject matter jurisdiction for the purpose of deciding claims on the merits). But because we ultimately agree that VRA lacks prudential standing to bring its 1983 claims, we may affirm the district court's order dismissing those claims without first assessing whether VRA has Article III standing to bring them. See Wilderness Soc'y v. Kane Cty., 632 F.3d 1162, 1168 (10th Cir. 2011) (en banc) (Because [plaintiff] lacks prudential standing, we proceed directly to that issue without deciding whether [plaintiff] has constitutional standing ). . Because VRA hasn't argued otherwise, we assume without deciding that it is appropriate to dismiss a complaint under Rule 12(b)(6), rather than Rule 12(b)(1), when the plaintiff lacks prudential standing. Because such standing isn't jurisdictional, see Wilderness Soc'y, 632 F.3d at 1168 n.1, other courts have concluded that dismissals under Rule 12(b)(6) for lack of prudential standing are appropriate, see, e.g., Harold H. Huggins Realty, Inc. v. FNC, Inc., 634 F.3d 787, 795 n.2 (5th Cir. 2011) (Unlike a dismissal for lack of constitutional standing, which should be granted under Rule 12(b)(1), a dismissal for lack of prudential or statutory standing is properly granted under Rule 12(b)(6).); Genesee Cty. Emps. Ret. Sys. v. Thornburg Mortg. Sec. Trust 2006-3, 825 F. Supp. 2d 1082, 1212 (D. N.M. 2011) (citing Fifth Circuit's view that prudential and statutory standing issues should be resolved under Rule 12(b)(6)). And because VRA doesn't challenge the district court's decision to dismiss the 1983 claims with prejudice, we likewise need not consider whether the district court should have dismissed those claims without prejudice. Cf. Brumfiel v. U.S. Bank, 618 F. App'x 933, 935-38 (10th Cir. 2015) (unpublished) (affirming Rule 12(b)(1) dismissal without prejudice on alternative ground that plaintiff lacked prudential standing without analyzing whether dismissal should have been with or without prejudice). . VRA argues that the district court erred in failing to separately analyze VRA's standing to assert its Takings Clause claim. According to VRA, the District extracts an illegal cash payment from [VRA] every year, and that annual demand for money constitutes the taking. Aplt. Br. 49. But this claim too rests on VRA's theory that the Assessment Ordinance itself is illegal because the JSSD issued a false and misleading Notice of Intention and the defendants misused bond funds and engaged in self-dealing during construction of the improvements. And for the reasons discussed above, VRA isn't the proper party to attack the validity of the Notice or the defendants' alleged misconduct. Moreover, the annual payments result from the choice that the VR property's prior owner made to pay the assessment over 20 years, not from the defendants' actions leading to the assessment. Thus, we see no reason to separately address VRA's standing to assert its Takings Clause claim. MORITZ, Circuit Judge. watch now watch now watch now North Korea's parliament convenes Tuesday for an annual meeting that's expected to commemorate Kim Jong-un's leadership amid increasing pressure from the U.S. Known as the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the parliament is made up of hundreds of members and is the country's highest body of power, according to the constitution. In reality, experts say the SPA is actually just a rubber-stamp institution that confirms decisions on official appointments, the state budget, and legal amendments that are typically made by more powerful organisations such as the ruling Worker's Party of Korea. Among potential new designations, senior party official Jo Yong-won could become the new minister of state security while a new spy chief may also be named, according to Yonhap News. Key themes "The fact that this meeting is timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of Kim's accession to power may mean that it will seek to underline his achievements and supremacy," said Kevin Gray, senior lecturer at the University of Sussex. The SPA is typically used as a means for Pyongyang to emphasize its dual pursuits of economic development and nuclear weapons, known as the byungjin policy. And given Washington's tough attitude toward the rogue nation's string of missile launches, this strategy has likely taken on new significance. "The byungjin policy will be reemphasized as crucial to regime and North Korean survival, especially in the backdrop of the U.S aircraft carrier group in the region and President Trump's strike on Syria," said Stephen Nagy, senior associate professor at International Christian University. The isolated nation has made significant advancements in its nuclear technology over the years, particularly its ability to fire weapons from both land and sea. North Korean students take part in a mass dance event in Pyongyang on April 9, 2017. The event was held to mark the election of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's election to the National Defense Committee in 1993. Mass dance events are frequently held on anniversaries and dates of importance on the North Korean calendar, and are a regular fixture on tourist itineraries. ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images There is a chance Kim will use the SPA to reiterate his plans to make North Korea a recognized nuclear state and continue to protect the country against foreign aggression, noted Scott Seaman, an Asia director at Eurasia Group. But because the SPA isn't a forum for discussion or policy debates, it's difficult to say whether any new direction on the country's nuclear program will be revealed, Gray noted. "My guess is that it will probably not tell us anything we do not already know." North Korea remains one of the world's most isolated countries and accurate information about domestic politics or the economy is notoriously hard to come by as local media remains under state control. Another nuclear test? Alexei Navalny has picked up where he left off. The Russian opposition politician, released on Monday after 15 days in jail for his role in last month's large anti-government marches, hopes the momentum from those protests can boost his chances of taking on Vladimir Putin in next year's presidential election. Inside the Kremlin, though, there is a different view of how likely Mr Navalny is to rouse a usually apathetic electorate and of the real challenge to Mr Putin's authority. "The threat is not from Navalny, but from within," says one person who knows the president well. More than 17 years after Mr Putin became president, the authoritarian system he built is showing signs of internal corrosion. Mr Navalny's ambitions are not expected to undo Mr Putin's re-election bid. But the uncertainty over what comes next is stirring ambitions and sparking jostling among power brokers in the Kremlin and across Russia. More in Financial Times: G7 ministers reject sanctions against Russia over Syria alliance Investors sell off French debt as leftwinger surges in polls Former Philippine police officer reveals more of death squad role Mr Putin remains the supreme arbiter of Russia's politics. Co-opting elites from the security services to business, and across the political spectrum from nationalists to social democrats, the still popular leader his support ratings remain above 80 per cent has barred the rise of any challenger. But Mr Putin would be 71 at the end of another six-year term and there is no succession plan. "It is stable because we all know he will run for another term and he will of course win," says a former senior official with close links in the administration. "But it is unstable because everything hinges on him." The person who knows Mr Putin well says either a successor should be groomed or the president should "do a Yeltsin" that is, try out potential successors as prime ministers, as Mr Putin's predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, did with him in 1999. Dmitry Medvedev, the incumbent prime minister, has been a reliable associate of Mr Putin for years and is believed to have the president's promise that he can serve until 2018. But his position looks vulnerable. When Mr Navalny rallied participants to the March protests, he did so with a video accusing Mr Medvedev of amassing a corrupt property empire. The prime minister has denied the accusations but the focus on him "makes it much more likely that Medvedev will have to go", says Tatyana Stanovaya, a political analyst at the Center for Political Technologies, a Moscow think-tank. Sergei Kirienko, Mr Putin's chief of staff appointed last year, or Maxim Oreshkin, the youthful economy minister whose predecessor was detained for alleged corruption in November, are sometimes touted as successors to Mr Medvedev. But Mr Putin is casting the net widely. Over the past two years he has sidelined dozens of Kremlin aides, cabinet members, security officials and regional leaders. Political heavyweights have been replaced by young men owing him their careers. "Those who prove loyal and efficient may enter the short list for future successors," says the former senior official. "This is a long-term vetting process." One consequence has been a rise in infighting within the regime, with some of the political elite pushing their interests more forcefully. As the weak oil price and Russia's recession have reduced budget revenues, regional governments are becoming less docile. The governors of economically successful Tatarstan and Kaluga criticised the federal government in January for redistributing too much money to poorer regions. One extreme example of the frictions affecting those close to Mr Putin is in Chechnya, the North Caucasus republic. There, talks over the sale of Rosneft's local business to the regional government have pitted Igor Sechin, the pugnacious chief executive of the state oil group, against Ramzan Kadyrov, the region's belligerent leader. Mr Kadyrov has refused to pay what Rosneft says its business is worth. "He is a pretty scary guy, but then so is Igor Ivanovich," said a person briefed on the negotiations, referring to Mr Sechin. "Igor Ivanovich is not a guy who will be bullied by the words of Mr Kadyrov." Another person close to Rosneft said the clash had escalated so much that there was a need to investigate whether there was "a Chechen connection" in last Monday's bomb attack in St Petersburg, which killed 14 people. Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Volodin, a former Kremlin aide who became Duma speaker last year, is trying to strengthen the lower house of parliament against the Kremlin. Mr Volodin, a potential presidential contender in the future, is also trying to reinforce his position within the Duma, seizing more control over drafting laws. Pro-Kremlin opposition parties are also seeking to carve out more space. The Communist party has threatened to walk out on Mr Medvedev's annual government report on April 19 unless the prime minister explains the corruption allegations. In itself this reflects how Mr Navalny's standing has been boosted. According to pollster Levada, his level of public recognition has risen 8 percentage points over the past month to 55 per cent, 20 percentage points higher than when he led street protests in Moscow in 2012. Among those who know Mr Navalny, 18 per cent say they might vote for him, up from 10 per cent last month. But Ms Stanovaya believes significant political changes remain a long way off. "They will only happen when you start seeing an open split in the elites," she says. In 2012 Alexei Kudrin, an economic adviser to Mr Putin and former finance minister, appeared at rallies led by Mr Navalny, and some business leaders supported the opposition. Those protests ended with a government crackdown which landed several activists in prison. Today, the willingness to protest may be too nascent, and Mr Navalny too weak, to convince members of the political elite to join. Ms Stanovaya says: "Until that happens again, a lot more time is needed for dissatisfaction to gradually accumulate." "It's clear that Russian-American relations are in their worst period since the end of the Cold War," the foreign ministry said. "The previous U.S. administration has done all it could to exacerbate them." Tillerson's visit takes place against a backdrop of escalating tensions, and it remained unclear if Trump's top envoy would even meet Putin during the trip. Vladimir Putin went further, comparing America's accusations of a chemical attack in Syria to its justification of the Iraq invasion. "We saw this before," Russia's president told reporters. "It reminds me the events of 2003." As Secretary of State Rex Tillerson traveled to Moscow for a meeting with his counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign ministry spoke of "a long list of irritants created by Washington." Relations between the U.S. and Russia are "in their worst period since the end of the Cold War," the Kremlin said Tuesday just as America's top diplomat arrived on a visit. It came after U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard said the Mediterranean Sea has seen worrying spike in Russian naval activity to levels not seen since the Soviet Union. The recent suspected chemical weapons attack by Syria and the swift U.S. military response of 59 Tomahawk missiles only exacerbated the tensions between Moscow and Washington. Moscow is one of Syria president Bashar al-Assad's main backers in the conflict. The foreign ministry statement said Russia hoped to learn Trump's strategy on a number of foreign policy problems. "We expect to hear about what the U.S. plans on doing in Libya, which has ended up de-facto split, same as Iraq, due to a NATO military intervention," it said. "What is the strategy for Yemen, where American weapons are used for massive city bombardments, which cause civilian deaths and exacerbates a humanitarian catastrophe?" the statement added, referring to the conflict in Yemen where U.S. allies in the Gulf are bombing a desperately poor population. It said Russia was "very concerned" about Trump's recent suggestion that if necessary America would act alone to contain North Korea, which has ratcheted up both its bellicose rhetoric and weapons testing. "As for the bilateral agenda, the long list of irritants created by Washington is not decreasing," it said. Before leaving the G-7 summit in Italy for Moscow, Tillerson did clarify some of the Trump administration's thinking on Syria signaling that America does not see a political future for Assad in Syria. "I think it is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, but the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important, in our view, to the durability ... of a unified Syria," Tillerson said. "I hope that ... the Russian government concludes they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad." In his separate comments, Putin also claimed that Russia had information that chemical weapons would be planted in Syria in order to discredit Assad's regime. He repeated his call for an independent U.N. investigation into last week's suspect gas attack, near Idlib. Watch: Eurasia Group says Russia won't cut Assad loose Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, warned that artificial intelligence could become "masters of the universe," taking over high-level decision-making at companies, with potentially frightening consequences. Berners-Lee's comments came at a Global Finance Summit on Monday, according to a TechWorld report. Giving AI actual decision-making authority has huge implications for our economic systems and societal norms, he said. "So when AI starts to make decisions such as who gets a mortgage, that's a big one. Or which companies to acquire, and when AI starts creating its own companies, creating holding companies, generating new versions of itself to run these companies," he said at the event. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer came under fire Tuesday after saying that Adolf Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons" against his own people like Syrian strong man Bashar al-Assad Spicer, speaking from the White House podium at the daily press briefing, said that Hitler, whom he called "despicable," did not use "the gas on his own people the same way Assad used them." He later sought to clarify his remarks in three separate statements before apologizing. More from NBC News: Spicer seeks to clarify 'barrel bomb' remarks on Syria Embattled Steve Bannon 'ain't going anywhere': Source This is what Trump can do after Syria missile strikes "I mistakenly used an inappropriate, insensitive reference to the Holocaust for which there is no comparison," he told CNN. "It was a mistake. I shouldn't have done it." But that was well after the outrage on social media was already in motion, with reporters and public figures blasting Spicer's comments and saying they were particularly offensive coming during the Jewish holiday of Passover. @ChelseaClinton: I hope @PressSec takes time to visit @HolocaustMuseum. It's a few blocks away. @EliStokols: Yeah. Jews weren't really Germans and Hitler's gassings weren't "dropped down" like Assad's serin attacks. Got it. @GlennKesslerWP: Having visited Auschwitz last summer, and seen the remains of the gas chambers, I find this an astonishing comment. The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect called on President Donald Trump to can Spicer. "Sean Spicer now lacks the integrity to serve as White House press secretary, and President Trump must fire him at once," Steven Goldstein, the organization's executive director, said in a statement. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi echoed those sentiments. "While Jewish families across America celebrate Passover, the chief spokesman of this White House is downplaying the horror of the Holocaust," she wrote in a statement. "Sean Spicer must be fired, and the President must immediately disavow his spokesman's statements. Either he is speaking for the President, or the President should have known better than to hire him." The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum used Spicer's gaffe as a moment to remind of the horrors of the Holocaust. At the briefing, Spicer pointed out that Assad dropped chemical weapons in the "middle of towns." U.S. officials said the Assad regime used Sarin in strikes on the Syrian people in a deadly attack last week that prompted U.S. military strikes in retaliation. Nazis murdered Jews in gas chambers during the Holocaust by the millions with the use of chemical gas agents like Zyklon B. Spicer acknowledged that Hitler did bring gas "into the Holocaust centers...I understand that." He later sought to clarify his remarks in multiple statements and said he was not trying to diminish the Holocaust. "In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust," Spicer said in his third attempt at clarification. "I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable." As one benchmark European stock market makes new highs, one technical analyst senses a prime opportunity in the United States. The Euro Stoxx 50 is trading near its highest levels in a little over a year, hitting what Oppenheimer technical analyst Ari Wald called a level of resistance at 3,500. And at these levels, Wald sees the tactical trade as taking profits and rotating into U.S. stocks. "Over the last 10 years it's been rewarding to rotate into the US after similar bouts of Europe outperformance," Wald wrote in a recent note to clients. He said this is a particularly good time to buy into Europe, since the market is coming off one of its best six-month stretches relative to the in the last decade. And if Europe is outperforming as it's done this year, it's historically likely that U.S. stocks will follow suit, Wald said . "We've found it is very rare for Europe to outperform in a falling S&P 500 absolute tape. So generally, a bet on Europe is a bet, really, on U.S. and global equities as a whole. I think this is really the uber-bullish scenario people aren't talking about: Europe continues to lead the way, S&P 500 is going much higher with it," Wald said Monday on CNBC's "Trading Nation." "Just from a risk/reward basis, we do have some preference for the S&P 500," he added. To be sure, Wald does not see any "meaningful sell signals aside from being near-term overbought" in the European stocks, which he says are seeing a near-term bounce amid a longer-term relative downtrend. The Euro Stoxx 50, which contains 50 names across 11 countries in the euro zone including Germany, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands has gained over 5 percent this year even as geopolitical uncertainty mounts across Europe, particularly as this month's French election heats up. The financial sector is most heavily represented in the index, followed by industrials. Eddy Elfenbein of the Crossing Wall Street blog says that after poor relative performance, Europe is the more attractive pick. "Right now, I'm willing to stick with the European stocks. You look at a lot of these blue-chip European stocks, you're seeing [dividend] yields of 3 percent, 4 percent. The spread is in their favor," Elfenbein said Monday on CNBC's "Trading Nation." Deadly carriers of disease: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes Paulo Whitaker | Reuters The weather is still cold in much of the United States, so many Americans have forgotten about the dangers that can accompany warm weather. One such danger is the Zika virus, and while it may not be on many people's minds just yet, it will be again, when temperatures climb. According to the Pan American Health Organization's most recent Regional Zika Epidemiological Update (Americas), the number of people infected with the Zika virus in the Caribbean is 651 cases per week, and in South America the weekly average is 6,601 cases, of which 6,164 were reported in Brazil alone. In the United States more than 5,000 cases were reported between Jan. 1, 2015, and March 1, 2017. While 4,779 of these were cases in travelers returning from areas outside of the United States already known to be Zika hot spots, six cases in Texas and 215 cases in Florida were presumed to be acquired through local mosquito-borne transmission. One company on the front lines in the Zika war is Oxitec, a biotech company in the U.K. But if you think they're working on a vaccine, you're wrong. Rather, they're creating genetically modified male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to mate with the females who carry the disease. According to Dr. Derric Nimmo, Oxitec's principal scientist, the company uses genetic engineering to create what they call self-limiting insects. It creates only males, as males don't bite or transmit disease. They do, however, mate with disease-carrying female Aedes aegypti insects and produce offspring that, like its genetically modified father, die before it can reach adulthood. This means the offspring will never reach the stage in which they can carry and pass on the virus. Trying to avoid a health catastrophe watch now In December 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it was awarding $184 million in funding to protect Americans from the virus. It also offers a screening tool for pregnant women at its website, to be administered by health-care providers. After conducting trials in Brazil and the Cayman Islands, Oxitec will turn its attention to the United States on an as-yet-unspecified date later in 2017, with a release of the genetically modified mosquitoes planned for the Florida Keys. This projected release has already passed a significant milestone on its way to approval. "This was reviewed by the FDA, along with experts from the CDC and EPA, and last year they published a Finding of No Significant Impact, which stated that a trial would not have any negative impact on human health, animal health or the environment," he said. Creating a dying breed "Insecticides are only able to suppress the population of Aedes aegypti by 30 percent to 50 percent at best, which is not enough," said Nimmo, Oxitec's principal scientist. "In trials in urban environments in Brazil, Panama and the Cayman Islands, we have suppressed the wild population by more than 90 percent." The virus' name is derived from the Ugandan forest where it was first isolated in 1947, and for decades it was virtually unknown in the Western Hemisphere. But authorities in Puerto Rico reported mosquito-borne transmission of the virus in human hosts in November 2015, and further cases were reported in Brazil in April 2016. According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a large percentage of those infected with the virus are asymptomatic, making it easy for infected blood to make its way into the transfusion supply. Adults who do show symptoms mostly suffer from such mild and manageable complaints as headaches, fever and skin rash, but it's not the adults who see the worst of it. The greatest danger that the virus poses is to the fetus of a pregnant woman. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, transmission of the Zika virus to an unborn baby can result in the fetal brain defect microcephaly. Potential dangers FDA findings aside, there are still worries about releasing genetically modified organisms into the ecosystem. In 2015 the U.K.'s House of Lords Science and Technology Committee opened an inquiry to air its ethical, regulatory and safety concerns. "The development of GM insects is an emerging area of bioscience that presents a host of questions as well as opportunities," said Committee Chair Lord Selborne. "Concerns about lasting effects on our ecosystems and rapid spread must be considered alongside the potential opportunities for disease control and agricultural pest management." A Miami-Dade County mosquito control inspector sprays pesticide in a Miami Beach neighborhood as the county fights to control the Zika virus outbreak on August 24, 2016. Getty Images Hopefully, the FDA findings will give some much needed reassurance to people living in areas plagued by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. In 2015, Mila de Mier, a resident of Key West, started a Change.org petition against Oxitec that was signed by 166,000 people in her community. "Nearly all experiments with genetically modified crops have eventually resulted in unintended consequences: superweeds more resistant to herbicides, mutated and resistant insects, also collateral damage to ecosystems," she said in the petition. "If it doesn't work, how do you recall it? I don't want my kids to be laboratory rats," she told Yale Environment 360 in June 2015. Like it or not, the concept of genetically modified organisms carries a stigma, which has not been helped by years of horror movies about scientists' creations run amok. Nimmo said that Oxitec's creation is designed to do the exact opposite of Hollywood's big-budget nightmare scenarios. "When people think of genetically modified organisms, they often think of an organism which has been designed to persist in the environment," he said. "Our released mosquitoes and their offspring are designed to die, so do not leave an environmental footprint. We release modified Aedes aegypti males, which have one job to mate with wild females." Race against time Buying goods online and getting them delivered is easy if you live in a large city. But if you live in rural China, your options are limited with local stores charging higher prices and offering less choice. Now Chinese e-commerce retailer JD.com, one of the country's largest online shopping sites second only to Alibaba -- is trying to make life easier for rural dwellers, by building 150 drone launch centers in Sichuan, chief executive Richard Liu has announced. The announcement was made as part of talks with the government last week for a broader logistics agreement in the province, a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC via email. The new drone sites will help reduce shipping costs by 70 percent, Liu said. A JD.com delivery drone about to take off JD.com JD.com has been developing its drone capabilities since October 2015 via its JDX innovation lab. It started trialing flights in June 2016, using the devices to deliver to rural China, the company explained in an online statement posted in November 2016. "In areas where complex terrain and poor infrastructure makes last mile logistics challenging, JD drones can deliver orders from regional delivery stations to JD's dedicated 'village promoters' in each village, who then distribute the orders directly to customers, shortening delivery times and reducing costs." It now has around 300,000 village promoters, it added. "Many rural residents have traditionally had far fewer buying choices than their urban counterparts. That's because they could purchase goods only from local stores, where they often find higher prices than are typically seen in the cities, and where counterfeit goods remain an issue," the statement said. A JD.com drone taking off in Suqian, China JD.com Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks about the chemical weapons attack in Syria during a meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray at the State Department in Washington, U.S., April 5, 2017. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week will be an early test of whether the Trump administration can use any momentum generated by a missile attack on a Syrian air base to craft and execute a strategy to end the Syrian war. Even before Trump ordered last week's strike in retaliation for a nerve gas attack, Tillerson's visit was certain to be dominated by thorny issues, including Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, an apparent violation of an important arms control treaty, and seeing what cooperation, if any, is possible in the fight against Islamic State. Now, Tillerson, a former oil executive with no diplomatic experience, is charged with avoiding a major U.S. confrontation with Russia while exacting some concessions from Moscow. Those include getting rid of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's remaining chemical weapons and pressing Assad to negotiate Syria's future. The Kremlin said on Monday Tillerson was not scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, a move that could point to tensions. It may also suggest that Tillerson will instead follow strict diplomatic protocol and only meet his direct counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The State Department said last week a meeting had not been confirmed with Putin, who met with Tillerson when the Texan headed Exxon Mobil. Russia, along with Iran, is Assad's primary backer, and its intervention in Syria's war has been crucial to ensuring his grip on power, although no longer over the entire country. Tillerson said he had not seen hard evidence that Russia knew ahead of time about the chemical weapons attack, which killed at least 70 people, but he planned to urge Moscow to rethink its support for Assad in the April 12 talks. "I'm hopeful that we can have constructive talks with the Russian government, with Foreign Minister Lavrov and have Russia be supportive of a process that will lead to a stable Syria," Tillerson told ABC's "The Week" on Sunday. The U.S. cruise missile strike on Thursday, meant to dissuade Assad from using chemical weapons again, gives Tillerson more credibility with Russian officials and will boost his efforts, observers and former officials said. Tillerson is due to meet with Russian officials on Wednesday, and is expected to meet with Putin and Lavrov. "The demonstration of the administration's willingness to use force has the potential to add some leverage to the diplomacy," said Antony Blinken, a deputy to former Secretary of State John Kerry. The U.S. strike ordered less than three days after the gas attack could make it clear to Russia that the United States will hold Moscow accountable for Assad, Blinken said. Tillerson ought to be "very matter of fact" in his meetings, Blinken said, sending Russia a message that: "If you don't rein him in, we will take further action." Tillerson said on Thursday that Russia had "failed in its responsibility" to remove Syria's chemical weapons under a 2013 agreement, which he argued showed Russia was either complicit with the gas attacks or "simply incompetent." Securing a Russian commitment to eliminating Assad's chemical weapons is likely to be first on his agenda, said Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense in the Obama administration. , a stalwart in Japan's postwar rise as a global industrial giant, warned on Tuesday that its disastrous foray into nuclear power had left substantial doubt over whether it could stay in business in its current form. In a filing in Japan, Toshiba said losses associated with Westinghouse Electric, its troubled nuclear power arm, had created "substantial uncertainty" over its ability to continue as a going concern. It said it hoped a sale of its microchip business, its crown jewel, could alleviate that uncertainty though the sale could mean a foreign purchase in what has long been a core Japanese industry, inviting potential political opposition. The announcement was the latest development to arise from Toshiba's problems with nuclear power. Westinghouse already faced substantial cost headaches when it acquired an American construction company in an effort to control expenses. Instead, the deal saddled it with further liabilities. Westinghouse last month filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A sale of Toshiba's chip business, while offering it a lifeline, would take away its most successful business and, more broadly, would represent a shift of a major technology away from Japan, depending on the buyer. Nearly 40 years ago, an engineer at Toshiba invented the technology behind its chip business. That innovation would become one of the critical building blocks of the modern electronics industry. Called flash memory, after the flash on a camera, the chips have become an essential part of smartphones and other gadgets and have proved a profitable technology for Toshiba, one of industrial Japan's stodgiest names. Foxconn of Taiwan, a manufacturer with big operations in mainland China, is among the bidders all foreign that could pay billions to buy the business. It is a remarkable turnabout for Japan, a country that controlled the majority of the market for many kinds of microchips a generation ago, and where companies have frequently banded together to rescue flailing domestic rivals rather than let them fold or be acquired by foreigners. The Japanese government may yet cobble together a "team Japan" offer, consisting of small financial contributions from multiple companies and a larger investment by a state-controlled bank or investment fund, according to a person familiar with deliberations. But the response from potential participants who would have to explain the spending to shareholders has been tepid. "It is fundamentally unthinkable that the Industry Ministry would intervene and take some kind of action," Hiroshige Seko, the industry minister, said at a news conference on Tuesday, further dampening expectations. The Toshiba sale is still in its early stages, and the identities of the bidders have not been made public, but people with knowledge of the process say as many as a dozen companies from the United States, South Korea and Taiwan have approached Toshiba with proposals. Toshiba has not said exactly how much of the business it will sell, but even a minority stake is expected to be worth several billion dollars. One of the better-known suitors is Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as Foxconn, the assembler of Apple iPhones and other electronics. The company has a strong interest and is bidding on the Toshiba chip unit, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss it. Other potential investors include the American microchip makers Western Digital and Broadcom, and SK Hynix of South Korea. For Foxconn, an investment in Toshiba would be the second recent foray into the often politically fraught world of corporate Japan. Last year the company acquired control of Sharp, the maker of flat-screen television displays, for $3.5 billion. In doing so it overcame a rival bid from an investment fund backed by the Japanese government. Toshiba's microchips, a type known as NAND flash memory, are seen as a more valuable asset than TV screens. Japan despite having pioneered liquid crystal displays has lost most of its market share in screens to South Korea and China. Samsung of South Korea has overtaken Toshiba in NAND, but Toshiba remains the world's second-biggest producer, with a global share of just under 20 percent, according to market research groups. Analysts say its technology, commonly used in smartphones and USB drives, remains at the cutting edge. Mark Newman, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, argued in a report that Toshiba's memory business remained valuable enough that selling it amounted to "selling the crown jewels to pay next month's rent." Ceding even partial control would be painful for Toshiba, which created the first NAND chips in the 1980s. Yet Toshiba sees little choice. It wrote off more than $6 billion in February connected to Westinghouse nuclear reactor projects in the United States, leaving its balance sheet perilously thin. Its auditors have refused to certify its latest finance statements, a sign that they believe its business remains on a shaky footing. Unless a Japanese investor emerges, the question is not whether Toshiba's new partner will be from another country, but which country. That could still influence its choice. Japanese politicians and industry leaders have fretted over Chinese investors' buying advanced chip production technology; semiconductors and memory are a major priority of China's industrial policy. That could hinder any deal with Foxconn, said Mr. Newman, of Sanford C. Bernstein. The worry is that Foxconn "would build huge fabs in China," he said, referring to semiconductor fabrication plants. "The jobs would move to China from Japan, and furthermore China would go after market share at the expense of crushing industry economics, so the U.S., Taiwan, Korea, Japan all get hurt substantially by this arrangement." It is not clear whether Foxconn's close relationship with China will undermine its bid. Although Foxconn is based in Taiwan, it has experience in attracting subsidies from the Chinese government to build large-scale production facilities in China. It would be easy for Foxconn to take technology from Toshiba and manufacture it more cheaply in China. Such a move could drive down pricing for memory, a boon for Apple and low-cost Chinese smartphone makers. But it would also propel China forward in its long push to become internationally competitive in semiconductors. A global bidding war would at any rate be good for Toshiba. Although the company still has a relatively strong position, Mr. Newman has warned that competition in NAND chips could heat up next year, creating the possibility of oversupply and putting more pressure on Toshiba's ability to put in effect next-generation technologies. United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. ORLANDO V. WILLIAMS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, THOMAS SURTEES, Director of Industrial Relations, STEPHEN MCCORMICK, Officer of the Board of Appeals, Defendants-Appellees, WALTER S. TRAWICK, Administrative Hearing Officer, Defendant. No. 16-11544 Decided: April 10, 2017 Before HULL, WILSON, and MARTIN, Circuit Judges. Orlando V. Williams, a pro se plaintiff, worked for the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) until he resigned in 2011. After he left the ADOC, he filed for unemployment compensation and was denied. Williams says he was the target of discrimination and retaliation by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, which oversaw his application for unemployment compensation. He sued the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) under the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. 794, alleging disability discrimination and retaliation, and 42 U.S.C. 1983, alleging retaliation in violation of the First Amendment. Williams also named as defendants Thomas Surtees, the director of the ADOL, and Stephen McCormick, an officer of the ADOL's Board of Appeals. The district court dismissed Williams's disability discrimination claim under the Rehabilitation Act for failure to state a claim, and granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants on his retaliation claims under the Rehabilitation Act and the First Amendment. Williams appeals these and a number of related orders. After careful review, we affirm. I. In his third amended complaint, Williams alleged he was disabled within the meaning of the Rehabilitation Act. He claimed that after participating in a recorded phone interview with the ADOL about his unemployment compensation on October 25, 2011, he received a decision stating he was disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. Williams appealed the decision to the ADOL's Board of Appeals (Board) on November 1, 2011. He also filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Center (CRC) of the U. S. Department of Labor, alleging the defendants discriminated against him because of his disability. The CRC closed his complaint without prejudice on November 9, 2011. On November 18, 2011, the Board denied Williams's application for leave to appeal the ADOL's decision. The denial did not include any explanation or written findings. Based on these events, Williams alleged the ADOL discriminated against him because of his disability in violation of the Rehabilitation Act (Count I). He also asserted the ADOL retaliated against him, also in violation of the Rehabilitation Act (Count II). Specifically, Williams alleged he engaged in a protected activity when he filed his CRC complaint, and that the ADOL retaliated against him by denying him leave to appeal to the Board on November 18, 2011. Finally, Williams sued Surtees and McCormick in their official capacities under 1983, alleging they had retaliated against him in violation of the First Amendment (Count III). Again, he said he engaged in protected expression when he filed his CRC complaint. He argued Surtees and McCormick retaliated against him by denying him leave to appeal the ADOL's decision without providing any written findings. Williams sought damages for Counts I and II, and a permanent injunction preventing Surtees, McCormick, and their employees and successors from violating 1983 for Count III. The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint in January 2014. On May 12, 2014, the district court granted the motion in part. As to Count I (the disability discrimination claim), the court found Williams failed to: (1) identify or describe his disability; and (2) plead facts to show he was otherwise qualified to receive unemployment benefits. Thus, it dismissed Count I without prejudice and instructed Williams to file an amended Count I. Two days later, Williams filed his fourth amended complaint. This time, he attempted to bolster his factual allegation that he was disabled. He also tried to show he was otherwise qualified for unemployment benefits by alleging (1) he had faced disciplinary action for failure to report for work at all when he merely arrived late; and (2) he resigned involuntarily from the ADOC on September 16, 2011 because the ADOC lacked good cause to believe that grounds for termination existed. However, even with these amendments, the district court again found Williams failed to plead the required facts for Count I. During a July 8, 2014 scheduling conference, the district court informed Williams of what he needed to do to fix the problems in his complaint and warned him that not doing so could result in dismissal of Count I with prejudice. Later that same day, Williams filed an amendment to Count I alleging essentially the same facts as before. He added that his disability substantially impair[ed] various major life activities, and attached a psychiatric evaluation that showed a licensed psychologist had diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the evaluation, the psychologist noted that Williams said he had difficulty sleeping. The defendants moved to dismiss Williams's amended Count I for failure to state a claim. Williams responded that he had sufficiently alleged a disability by providing a psychological evaluation that referenced his difficulty sleeping. He also repeated his earlier statements about his involuntary resignation from his ADOC position. The district court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss on August 19, 2014, finding Williams failed to address the deficiencies it described in its dismissal of his earlier complaint. The court noted it had already given him several opportunities to fix the complaint and found that granting additional leave to amend would prejudice the defendants. In November 2014, Williams filed a Rule 60(b) motion asking the district court to grant relief from the order dismissing Count I. He said he had properly identified and described his disability. He also attached a Social Security decision finding that as of May 29, 2013, he was disabled because of PTSD and depression. The district court construed this motion as a motion to alter the judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 59(e), and denied the motion. It explained that even though the Social Security decision described a disability, Williams still did not offer any allegation demonstrating he was otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits. Then, in March 2015, Williams and the defendants each moved for summary judgment on Counts II and III. One of the defendants' arguments was that Williams failed to present sufficient evidence that his protected activity (filing the CRC complaint) was causally connected to any adverse action. To support this argument, the defendants submitted declarations from McCormick, Surtees, and Douglas Moore, the chairman of the Board. All three men said they were not aware that Williams had filed a complaint with the CRC at the time the Board denied Williams leave to appeal the ADOL's decision. McCormick also explained that the ADOL is an Alabama state agency, and is therefore wholly separate from the CRC (which is part of the federal Department of Labor). In addition, the defendants submitted Williams's deposition testimony. At his deposition, Williams said he didn't know if he had any evidence that the ADOL was aware of his CRC complaint before the Board denied him leave to appeal the ADOL's decision. But he said he was pretty sure the ADOL knew because the ADOL line[d] up under the U.S. Department of Labor. He further stated he was pretty sure someone at the CRC called the ADOL about his CRC complaint, but explained that no one had ever notified him of any such phone call and that it was just [his] theory. The district court denied Williams's motion and granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants. For Count II, the district court found that Williams failed to establish a prima facie case of retaliation in violation of the Rehabilitation Act because (1) Williams did not establish that he suffered an adverse action; and (2) in any event, he failed to present sufficient evidence of a causal link between his CRC complaint and the Board's decision to deny him leave to appeal the ADOL's determination without written findings. For Count III, the court found Williams did not have standing to seek injunctive relief against Surtees and McCormick. It also noted Count III would fail for the same reasons as Count II. II. On appeal, Williams first argues the district court erred in dismissing his disability discrimination claim in his amended Count I. He says he adequately alleged he was otherwise qualified to receive unemployment benefits. We review de novo a dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim, accepting the factual allegations in the complaint as true and construing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Speaker v. U.S. Dep't of Health & Human Servs., 623 F.3d 1371, 1379 (11th Cir. 2010). Pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by attorneys, and are therefore liberally construed. Tannenbaum v. United States, 148 F.3d 1262, 1263 (11th Cir. 1998) (per curiam). To avoid dismissal, a complaint must allege enough facts to state a claim that is plausible on its face. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1974 (2009). Thus, a plaintiff must offer factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). A recital of the elements of a cause of action, supported only by conclusory statements, is not enough to adequately plead a claim. Id. at 678, 129 S. Ct. at 1949. The Rehabilitation Act prohibits a program that receives federal funding from denying benefits to an otherwise qualified disabled individual solely because of his disability. 29 U.S.C. 794(a). In order to establish a prima facie case of discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act, a plaintiff must demonstrate that he (1) is disabled; (2) is a qualified individual; and (3) was subjected to unlawful discrimination because of his disability. Cash v. Smith, 231 F.3d 1301, 1305 (11th Cir. 2000). When a plaintiff alleges he was denied services because of his disability, he can be a qualified individual only if he meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of such services. 34 C.F.R. 104.3(l)(4). The district court did not err in dismissing Williams's amended Count I for failure to state a claim. Williams did not offer enough facts to state a plausible claim that he was qualified to receive unemployment benefits from the ADOL. Instead, he alleged only that his resignation from his job at the ADOC was not voluntary. He never claimed he met any eligibility requirements for the unemployment benefitsindeed, he never even said what those requirements were. Thus, his complaint did not contain enough facts to allow the district court to draw an inference that he was entitled to unemployment benefits. See Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S. Ct. at 1949. As a result, Williams failed to allege a prima facie case of disability discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act. Relatedly, Williams argues the district court erred in construing his Rule 60(b) motionwhich challenged the district court's dismissal of his amended Count Ias a Rule 59(e) motion. Rule 59(e) allows a district court to alter or amend a judgment when there is newly discovered evidence or manifest errors of law or fact. Jacobs v. Tempur-Pedic Int'l, Inc., 626 F.3d 1327, 1344 (11th Cir. 2010). Similarly, Rule 60(b) allows a district court to relieve a party from a judgment if there is (among other things) a mistake, excusable neglect, or newly discovered evidence. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b). Even assuming the district court erred in construing his Rule 60(b) motion as a Rule 59(e) motion, Williams cannot show he was harmed by this error. In his motion, Williams challenged the district court's dismissal on the grounds that the court made a mistake. However, he failed to provide any specific reason or argument to challenge the district court's finding that his complaint did not adequately allege he was eligible for unemployment benefits. By neglecting to address the district court's eligibility finding, Williams failed to show that the district court made a mistake when it dismissed his complaint. Whether construed as a Rule 59(e) or a Rule 60(b) motion, the result is the same. Thus, any error by the district court was harmless. III. Williams also argues the district erred in granting summary judgment to the defendants on his retaliation claims under the Rehabilitation Act (Count II) and the First Amendment (Count III). He says he provided enough evidence that (1) he suffered an adverse action; and (2) the adverse action was causally connected to his protected expression. He contends that he actually suffered two adverse actions: he was denied leave to appeal the ADOL's decision (1) without receiving any written findings; and (2) without any consideration of a doctor's certificate describing his illness. We review de novo a district court's summary judgment determination, viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Ellis v. England, 432 F.3d 1321, 1325 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam). Summary judgment is appropriate where there is no genuine issue of material fact. Id. A fact is material if it might affect the outcome of the suit, and an issue of fact is genuine if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 2510 (1986). Thus, we will grant summary judgment only if no reasonable jury could find for the nonmoving party. Id. at 252, 106 S. Ct. at 2512. The Rehabilitation Act incorporates the anti-retaliation provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 29 U.S.C. 794(a), (d); 42 U.S.C. 12203(a). As a result, a prima facie case for retaliation under the Rehabilitation Act is the same as one under the ADA. See Holbrook v. City of Alpharetta, 112 F.3d 1522, 1526 n.2 (11th Cir. 1997). To establish a prima facie case of retaliation under the ADA (and thus the Rehabilitation Act), a plaintiff must show: (1) he participated in a statutorily protected activity or expression; (2) he suffered an adverse action; and (3) there was a causal link between the adverse action and the protected activity or expression. See Higdon v. Jackson, 393 F.3d 1211, 1219 (11th Cir. 2004). We construe the causal link element broadly so that a plaintiff merely has to prove that the protected activity and the adverse action are not completely unrelated. Id. at 1220 (quotation omitted and alterations adopted). A plaintiff satisfies this element (for the purposes of making a prima facie case) if he provides evidence that (1) the defendant was aware of his protected expression or activity; and (2) there was a close temporal proximity between this awareness and the adverse action. Id. (quotation omitted) Here, Williams failed to establish a prima facie case of retaliation under the Rehabilitation Act because he did not present enough evidence to defeat summary judgment on the causal link element. Williams alleged that he engaged in protected activity when he filed his CRC complaint. However, he did not provide enough evidence to suggest that anyone at the ADOL knew about his CRC complaint before the Board denied him leave to appeal without considering a doctor's certificate or issuing written findings. In their declarations, Surtees (the director of ADOL), McCormick (an officer of the Board), and Moore (the chairman of the Board) all stated they were not aware of Williams's CRC complaint before the Board denied him leave to appeal. McCormick also explained that the ADOL was wholly separate from the federal U.S. Department of Labor (and its subsidiary CRC) because the ADOL is a state agency. Williams did not present any evidence to support his assertion that someone at the ADOL knew about his CRC complaint. Instead, he testified that he didn't know if he had such evidence, but that he was pretty sure the ADOL was aware of his CRC complaint. On this record, no reasonable jury could find anyone at the ADOL was aware of Williams's CRC complaint before the Board denied his request for leave to appeal. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252, 106 S. Ct. at 2512. Thus, Williams did not present enough evidence to satisfy the causal link element of his Rehabilitation Act retaliation claim (Count II) on summary judgment. See Higdon, 393 F.3d at 1220. Further, Williams has abandoned any challenge of the district court's grant of summary judgment on his First Amendment retaliation claim (Count III). The district court granted summary judgment on Count III on two alternative grounds: (1) Williams lacked standing to seek injunctive relief; and (2) as in Count II, he failed to establish a prima facie case of retaliation. On appeal, Williams does not challenge the district court's standing determination. When a district court bases its judgment on multiple independent grounds, an appellant who fails to challenge one of those grounds is deemed to have abandoned any challenge of that ground, and it follows that the judgment is due to be affirmed. Sapuppo v. Allstate Floridian Ins. Co., 739 F.3d 678, 680 (11th Cir. 2014). As a result, we affirm the district court's summary judgment order. IV. Williams's next argument is that the district court abused its discretion when it denied his motion for sanctions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37. Williams filed the motion in March 2014, while the defendants' motion to dismiss was pending. In it, he claimed the defendants had repeatedly failed to comply with discovery requests he made in February 2014. He requested a default judgment. The district court denied the motion. As part of its analysis, the court construed Williams's motion as under Rule 37(b). After noting that Rule 37(b) applies only when a party fails to obey an order to provide or permit discovery, the district court concluded Williams could not seek sanctions because the court had not previously entered any discovery order. On appeal, Williams says the district court erred in denying his sanctions motion because he did not need a court order to pursue sanctions under Rule 37(c). He also points to a July 2014 scheduling order mandating that failure to respond to a discovery motion within three days of receiving notice would result in an automatic grant of that motion. He argues the defendants waived any defense to his sanctions motion because they did not respond to it within three days, so the district court should not have denied the motion. We review a district court's Rule 37 sanctions ruling for an abuse of discretion. BankAtlantic v. Blythe Eastman Pain Webber, Inc., 12 F.3d 1045, 1048 (11th Cir. 1994). The district court did not abuse its discretion here. First, although Williams correctly notes that Rule 37(c)(1) provides for a self-executing sanction (one that does not require a court order), that particular sanction prevents the sanctioned party from relying on evidence it failed to disclose. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 37 advisory committee's note to 1993 amendment. Williams requested a default judgment against the defendants, which is not a self-executing sanction under any provision of Rule 37. Thus, the district court correctly ruled that Williams could not seek sanctions under that rule without a discovery order. Second, the scheduling order on which Williams relies was issued in July 2014, more than a month after the district court denied his sanctions motion in May 2014. Thus, the defendants did not waive any defense to his motion by failing to respond to it within three days. V. Williams also appeals the district court's denial of his self-styled motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a). On February 19, 2015, after the district court extended the discovery and dispositive motion deadlines to February 23 and March 12, respectively, Williams filed an Amended Motion for Rule 26(a) requesting production of various documents from the defendants. On appeal, Williams says that instead of denying his motion, the district court should have extended the discovery deadline in order to allow him to conduct additional discovery. We review the district court's discovery ruling for an abuse of discretion. Benson v. Tocco, Inc., 113 F.3d 1203, 1208 (11th Cir. 1997). The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Williams's motion. In Iraola & CIA, S.A. v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 325 F.3d 1274 (11th Cir. 2003), we affirmed the denial of a plaintiff's request for additional discovery because (1) the district court had already provided ample opportunity for discovery, including an extension for additional discovery; and (2) the plaintiff made no showing that the district court's denial harmed the plaintiff's case. Id. at 128687. Like the plaintiff in Iraola, Williams has had ample time (more than seven months) to conduct discovery, including a one-month extension to the original discovery deadline. In any event, Williams has not made any showing that the district court's discovery order harmed his case. Therefore, we affirm. VI. Next, Williams argues the district court erred in denying his Rule 56(d) motion to defer ruling on the defendants' summary judgment motion, and says the court granted summary judgment to the defendants before he was allowed to complete discovery. He also appears to challenge the denial of his April 2015 motion to compel more complete responses to his discovery motions. The district court issued an order denying both of Williams's motions on April 7, 2015. , it denied his motion to compel because his request was too late. Second, it denied his Rule 56(d) motion because he had the entire discovery period plus an additional month to seek the discovery he needed, but failed to do so. We review both of these denials for abuse of discretion. World Holdings, LLC v. Fed. Republic of Ger., 701 F.3d 641, 649 (11th Cir 2012); Holloman v. Mail-Well Corp., 443 F.3d 832, 837 (11th Cir. 2006). The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying either motion. As an initial matter, Williams's assertion that the district court granted summary judgment to the defendants before the completion of discovery is contradicted by the record. The court's discovery deadline was February 23, 2015, and the defendants did not even file their summary judgment motion until March 12, 2015. As to his motion to compel, Williams says the defendants waived any defense to that motion because they failed to respond to it within three days, as required by the July 2014 scheduling order. However, that section of the scheduling order applied only to discovery disputes, and discovery closed on February 23, 2015more than a month before Williams filed his motion to compel. Thus, Williams's sole argument regarding the denial of his motion to compel fails. As to Williams's Rule 56(d) motion, we have affirmed denials of such motions where the movant had ample time and opportunity for discovery, yet failed to diligently pursue his options. Barfield v. Brierton, 883 F.2d 923, 932 (11th Cir. 1989). In this case, Williams had over seven months to complete discovery, including a one-month extension, but failed to seek the discovery he needed. Further, the district court granted his alternative request for an additional 14 days to respond to the defendants' summary judgment motion. For these reasons, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Williams's Rule 56(d) motion. VII. Finally, Williams argues the district court erred when it denied his motion to amend his complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a). We review such denials for abuse of discretion. Covenant Christian Ministries, Inc. v. City of Marietta, 654 F.3d 1231, 1239 (11th Cir. 2011). Williams filed his motion to amend on April 21, 2015, almost a year after the April 30, 2014 amendment deadline. Thus, the district court determined Williams could amend his complaint (under Rule 15(a)(2)) only with written consent from the opposing party or leave from the court. Although Rule 15(a)(2) says courts should freely give leave when justice so requires, a district court should deny leave to amend when the amendment would unduly prejudice the opposing party or be futile. See Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S. Ct. 227, 230 (1962). Here, the district court found the defendants would have been prejudiced by an amendment because the case had progressed to the dispositive motion stage and discovery had long been completed. It also found Williams failed to provide a clear explanation for why he needed to amend his complaint. The court denied Williams's motion for these two reasons, and Williams challenges neither on appeal. He merely cites to his response in opposition to the defendants' motion for summary judgment, and provides no reason for why he needed to amend his complaint. As a result, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Williams's motion to amend. AFFIRMED. FOOTNOTES . The named party in this suit is the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations. In 2012, the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations merged with the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL). The newly combined entity retained the name Alabama Department of Labor. For clarity, this opinion refers to the ADOL when discussing this defendant. . Williams also named Stephen Trawick, an Administrative Hearing Officer for the ADOL, as a defendant. The district court dismissed the claims against Trawick as redundant because Williams had named the ADOL, an entity suable under the Rehabilitation Act, as a defendant. Williams does not appeal the dismissal of Trawick. . Further, although Williams alleged in his complaint that his protected expression was his CRC complaint, he appears to assert on appeal that his protected expression was actually his request for leave to appeal the ADOL's denial. However, the first time he raised this claim was in response to the defendants' motion for summary judgment, and we have held that plaintiffs may not raise new theories of relief for the first time at that stage. Gilmour v. Gates, McDonaldand Co., 382 F.3d 1312, 1315 (11th Cir. 2004) (per curiam). For that reason, we do not consider Williams's argument that his request for leave to appeal the ADOL's initial decision also constituted protected expression. . In his Rule 56(d) motion, Williams also made an alternative request for an additional 14 days to respond to the defendants' summary judgment motion. The district court granted this extension. PER CURIAM: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, en route to Moscow days after a U.S. missile attack on Syria, is calling on Russia to realign itself with the West and break its alliance with Syrian President Bashar Assad. His words came Tuesday as G-7 leaders in the Italian city of Lucca failed to reach a consensus on whether there should be new sanctions against Russia for its perceived role in last week's suspected Syrian chemical attack that prompted the U.S. strike. Scores of people were killed in the chemical attack on a rebel-held town in northwestern Syria. "It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson said shortly before leaving for Moscow, according to Reuters. "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad." At the G-7 meeting Monday night, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said this was the moment for Russia to pick a side. "I think it's very important that in these circumstances for the world to present a united front and for that there to be absolutely no ambiguity about the message and the message we are sending to the Russians is very, very clear: Do they want to stick with a toxic regime, do they want to be eternally associated with a guy who gases his own people or do they want to work with the Americans and the rest of the G-7 and indeed many other countries for a new future for Syria," Johnson told reporters. watch now Viral videos showing a passenger who appears to be of Asian ethnicity dragged off an overbooked United Airlines plane by security officers has triggered outrage on social media on China. The viral video was posted on Facebook by fellow passenger Audra D. Bridges, who told the Associated Press she heard the man "saying that he was being singled out because he's a Chinese man." The man who was forcibly evicted from his seat has not been identified and has not commented publicly. His identity as ethnic Chinese could not be confirmed. United did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. But on microblog Weibo, China's answer to Twitter, the top trending topic on Tuesday was #UnitedAirlinesforcespassengeroffplane with most users expressing shock and anger at the video while some called for a boycott of the carrier. watch now In a post on his verified Weibo account that generated some 50,000 likes in over three hours, Chinese American comedian Joe Wong said the passenger who reportedly said he was selected for being Chinese deserves a "thumbs up" as many Chinese who feel discriminated against don't say it out loud so as not to lose face. "This results in the Western mainstream media and public not taking discrimination against Asians seriously," he added. Another Weibo user, Koukou Liang said: "Whether the passenger is Asian or not, this is abominable." Some accounts on Weibo go under other handles, such as User7935599911 who said: "No need to apologize or explain...please sue United Airlines till it collapses. Boycott fully." There were also some moderate voices such as user Qiuwen in America who urged calm. watch now "If I were the passenger, I wouldn't want to change my flight too, but can only acknowledge my own bad luck if picked randomly. I would also ask if I was discriminated against if I were picked, but I can complain after the incident. The truth is that when you buy an air ticket, you sign into an agreement and should follow the crew's instruction to be moved." watch now United Airlines is facing a public relations crisis after a video posted to Facebook Sunday showed three security approaching a man who was already seated, asking him to give up his spot on the plane. After the man refused, he was dragged by his arms and screaming toward the front of the plane. United Continental Chief Executive Oscar Munoz issued a statement Monday afternoon, saying: "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened." On Monday evening, Munoz said in a letter to employees obtained by CNBC that employees "followed established procedures" when removing a passenger from a plane because it was overbooked, and calling the passenger "disruptive and belligerent." watch now Retailers like J.C. Penney are responding by ramping up their offerings in popular categories like home and beauty. A woman shops for clothing at the JC Penney Co. store inside the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, New York. Saul Martinez | Bloomberg | Getty Images When J.C. Penney decided to open appliance showrooms in its department stores, it wasn't just a play to grab market share from Sears . It was also a way to limit its exposure to apparel, which accounts for roughly half the chain's sales. That dependence has put Penney's in a precarious position, as consumers put a smaller piece of their budgets toward T-shirts and jeans. The Plano, Texas-based chain isn't alone. Companies like Urban Outfitters and Burlington are turning to categories like home and beauty so they're less bound to fickle weather or fashion trends. While roughly 5 percent of U.S. consumer spending went toward apparel in 2000, that number has steadily declined to hit 3.3 percent in 2015, according to a recent report from Cowen & Co. citing the Bureau of Labor Statistics. watch now "Shoppers are spending a little bit more, but [apparel's] not as important to them," Tiffany Hogan, Kantar Retail's senior analyst for U.S. apparel, told CNBC. A laundry list of factors has contributed the category's decline. From an economic standpoint, an abundance of bricks-and-mortar chains and low barriers to entry for online players has left the market saturated with choice. Those variables have thrown supply and demand out of whack, leaving midtier retailers with little choice but to compete on price. Generational changes also play a role. The flight toward urban living and memories of the financial crisis have inspired many millennials to live frugally and free of clutter. Meanwhile, social changes are afoot. As the workplace continues to be more casual, it's no longer a requirement to own separate weekday and weekend wardrobes. And with the popularity of social media, shoppers no longer look to major brands to dictate trends. Instead, they search for unique merchandise that represents their personalities. "It's just a lot of things coming together to make a really difficult category," Hogan said. Penney's has been one of the most direct about its plan to chase beauty and home goods, where consumers have been more eager to spend. The chain said Monday that it would rebrand an additional 50 salons under its InStyle nameplate this year in a bid to reach younger customers. It will also cut the ribbon on more Sephora locations. Shoppers browse appliances at the JC Penney Co. store inside the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, New York. Saul Martinez | Bloomberg | Getty Images Meanwhile, Penney's is rolling out appliance showrooms to another 100 stores and will test in-home installation services. "Appliances reinforce the ongoing strength of our growth initiative as we pivot our retail strategy towards nonapparel and growing categories," CEO Marvin Ellison told investors on the company's most recent earnings call. Urban Outfitters' CEO Richard Hayne admitted the company's higher-price Anthropologie label has been missing the mark on apparel. While it works to reverse the sales decline in that category, the brand is leaning into home decor and beauty two segments where revenue increased last quarter. Even Burlington, which built its business on winter apparel, is reducing the number of sales it generates from that category. Part of that shift includes a plan to grow its home business from 12.5 percent last year to nearly 20 percent. Cold weather apparel has been a particularly tough category the past few years due to unseasonably warm temperatures. While diversifying their businesses is a good strategy to grab incremental dollars, there is risk, Hogan said. Namely, the fact that multiple chains are chasing the same categories could eventually lead to a similar saturation that's occurring in apparel. The best way for retailers to go about this transition is for each to find its niche category to build its brand on, Hogan said. They can then use their rounded-out assortment to get shoppers adding incremental items to their baskets. "There's always a balancing act to be played," she said. Watch: Online retail fuels warehouse jobs market United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. BRENDAN NASBY, Petitioner-Appellant, v. E. K. MCDANIEL; NEVADA ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondents-Appellees. Nos. 14-17313 Decided: April 10, 2017 Before: Stephen Reinhardt and John B. Owens, Circuit Judges, and Salvador Mendoza, Jr.,* District Judge. COUNSEL, Thomas L. Qualls (argued), Law Office of Thomas L. Qualls Ltd., Reno, Nevada, for Petitioner-Appellant. Victor-Hugo Schulze, II (argued), Senior Deputy Attorney General; Adam Paul Laxalt, Attorney General; Office of the Attorney General, Las Vegas, Nevada; for Respondents-Appellees. OPINION SUMMARY ** Habeas Corpus The panel vacated the district court's dismissal of Nevada state prisoner Brendan Nasby's habeas corpus petition, vacated the district court's order denying Nasby's motion to alter or amend the judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e), and remanded for review of the pertinent state record. The panel held that the principle articulated in the line of cases beginning with Jones v. Wood, 114 F.3d 1002 (9th Cir. 1997), requires a remand because the district court, which failed to obtain and review the relevant portions of the state court record and did not hold an evidentiary hearing on Nasby's claims, did not perform the independent review of the basis of the state court's decision that Jones requires. The panel wrote that the State's assertion that AEDPA prevents a federal habeas court from reviewing the record and obliges it to accept the state court's description of facts on faith, is clearly wrong. The panel wrote that AEDPA demands the opposite. REINHARDT, Circuit Judge: Petitioner Brendan Nasby was convicted of murder in Nevada in 1999. His case has made its way through the state courts, and he now appeals the federal district court's denial of his petition for habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. 2254(d). In his petition, Nasby asserts serious constitutional violations based on prosecutorial misconduct, the use of coerced testimony, ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel, and errors in the jury instructions. The district court rejected Nasby's claims and dismissed his petition. Because it did so without obtaining or reviewing the record of the relevant proceedings in state court, we vacate and remand for its review of the pertinent state court record. BACKGROUND 1. In August 1998, Brendan Nasby was arrested and charged with the gang-related murder of Michael Beasley. Nasby was hardly well-represented at trial. His state-appointed counsel opened with a joke about the likely length of Nasby's sentence. Although counsel submitted a list of alibi witnesses, he did not call a single one of them at trial. He failed to investigate other witnesses to support Nasby's position, and failed to introduce important evidence on Nasby's behalf. After a seven day trial, the jury found Nasby guilty of murder with the use of a deadly weapon and of conspiracy to commit murder. The judge sentenced Nasby to two life sentences to run consecutively, along with 120 months for the conspiracy conviction. Nasby has always maintained that he was not involved in the murder. After sentencing, Nasby's counsel, Joseph S. Sciscento, informed the court of a conflict of interest. He explained that he had accepted and begun employment with the Special Public Defender's Office prior to trial an office that concurrently represented one of Nasby's co-defendants, who had testified against him at trial. The court granted counsel's request to withdraw and appointed a new lawyer, Frederick A. Santacroce, to represent Nasby on appeal. Nasby then challenged his convictions on a number of grounds before the Nevada Supreme Court. Prosecutors, Nasby claimed, offered other gang members significantly reduced sentences in exchange for testifying against him and threatened them with contempt if they did not do so. In addition to his claim that the State relied on coerced testimony, Nasby argued that the trial court wrongly denied a motion for mistrial, and failed to give necessary jury instructions. The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the convictions. 2. Nasby fared no better on state collateral review. He filed a petition for habeas corpus in state court seeking relief on five grounds. He challenged his conviction under Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986); argued that multiple instances of prosecutorial misconduct cumulatively violated his right to due process; made two claims that the trial court failed to give the legally required jury instructions; and asserted that his trial and appellate counsel were unconstitutionally ineffective. The petition was not successful. Nasby later filed a second state habeas petition. This petition asserted that the cumulative effect of prosecutorial misconduct violated Nasby's Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Specifically, Nasby alleged seven instances of prosecutorial misconduct, including that the prosecutor prevented a defense witness from testifying, improperly vouched for the credibility of a state witness, told the jury of facts not in evidence, misstated the law in closing argument, presented false testimony, withheld vital information from the defense, and improperly used a jailhouse informant to obtain incriminating information against Nasby. Nasby also argued that the trial court erred by allowing the introduction of evidence of prior bad acts and by failing to instruct the jury properly. Finally, Nasby again claimed ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel. He pointed to trial counsel's failure to call witnesses, counsel's application of improper and extreme pressure to plead guilty, his conflict of interest in having accepted employment in the Public Defender's office, his failure sufficiently to investigate and present evidence, his failure to object to erroneous jury instructions, and his refusal to allow Nasby to testify. The state trial court held an evidentiary hearing pertaining to Nasby's ineffective assistance of counsel claims. His lawyers, Sciscento and Santacroce, both testified as witnesses. Nevertheless, the court denied Nasby's petition. It found that Nasby's claims of prosecutorial misconduct and trial court error were procedurally barred due to his failure to raise the claims on direct appeal. The court also found that the evidence did not support the ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel claims because the decisions of counsel were reasonable and within the discretion of decision making. The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed. 3. Nasby filed a federal habeas petition in the district court under 28 U.S.C. 2254. He asserted constitutional violations based on: (1) the cumulative effect of prosecutorial misconduct; (2) the trial court's errors in allowing the introduction of prior bad acts evidence and its failure to properly instruct the jury; (3) ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel; (4) the State's use of coerced testimony; (5) the lack of corroborating evidence to support his conviction for conspiracy to commit murder; (6) the trial court's failure to provide a cautionary instruction to the jury regarding accomplice testimony; and (7) the trial court's failure to instruct the jury on willfulness, deliberation, and premeditation. The district court found some of Nasby's claims unexhausted and the rest procedurally defaulted. It initially rejected Nasby's attempt to return to state court to litigate the unexhausted claims, but after Nasby cited the ineffectiveness of post-conviction counsel and inadequate law library facilities in prison as causes for his failure to exhaust, the court reversed itself and put the federal petition aside while Nasby exhausted his claims in state court. Nasby then failed to obtain relief in state court and, in due course, returned to federal court. Addressing the merits of a number of Nasby's ineffective assistance of counsel claims, the district court held that Nasby failed to meet his high burden under 28 U.S.C. 2254(d) of proving that the Nevada Supreme Court's rulings were contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law as determined by the United States Supreme Court, or that the rulings were based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the state court proceeding. It reached the same conclusion with regard to one of Nasby's jury instruction claims. Nasby's remaining claims, the court found, were procedurally defaulted. The court nevertheless addressed the defaulted claims on the merits and concluded that those claims, too, would not merit relief under 2254(d). Accordingly, the district court dismissed Nasby's petition and denied a Certificate of Appealability (COA). Nasby filed a timely notice of appeal to this court. He also filed a motion in district court to alter or amend its judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e). The district court denied that motion. Nasby also filed an unsuccessful Rule 60(b) motion, requesting that the district court vacate its orders denying his habeas petition and his Rule 59(e) motion, and either review and grant his habeas petition and/or Rule 59(e) motion, or grant a COA on all grounds of his petition and the Rule 59(e) motion. Finally, we granted Nasby a COA as to five issues. ANALYSIS We face a threshold obstacle to reviewing Nasby's petition. The district court failed to examine important parts of the record of the state court proceedings in its adjudication of Nasby's claims. Specifically, the district court never obtained or reviewed the transcript of Nasby's trial or the transcript of the evidentiary hearing that the state court conducted on collateral review. Nor did the district court conduct an evidentiary hearing on Nasby's claims. Instead, it simply relied on the facts as described in the Nevada Supreme Court's opinion denying Nasby relief. Among the several issues we certified for appeal was whether the district court erred in ruling on the merits of Nasby's claims without first requiring the State to submit all relevant portions of the state record, including trial and evidentiary hearing transcripts. Because we conclude that the district court did err in this regard and that the case must therefore be remanded for further proceedings, including a further review of the other certified issues, we do not consider the merits of those issues here. 1. Nasby contends that if the role of a federal habeas court were simply to accept on faith the state court's description of the facts, free from any obligation to review the record on which the state court based its judgment, there would hardly be a reason to have a federal habeas statute at all. We agree. In Jones v. Wood, we held that a habeas court must either obtain and review the relevant portions of the record on which the state court based its judgment, or conduct an evidentiary hearing of its own. 114 F.3d 1002 (9th Cir. 1997). In Jones, a habeas petitioner contended that his state conviction was unconstitutional because it was supported by insufficient evidence. The district court dismissed the petition without obtaining the record of proceedings in state court. We reasoned that meaningful collateral review of the state court's adjudication of petitioner's claims requires an independent assessment of the basis for the state court's decision. Id. at 1108. Without such an independent assessment, the district court would be unable to determine whether the state court adjudication rested on an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law or an unreasonable determination of fact. Id. at 1013. Because the district court in Jones did not independently review the record before the state court or develop its own factual record on which to assess the state court's adjudication, we explained that we had no alternative but to remand. Id. at 1008. Jones built on a long line of our cases requiring federal habeas courts to examine independently the basis for the state court's decision, rather than to accept the state court's determination of the facts on faith. See, e.g., Lincoln v. Sunn, 807 F.2d 805, 808 (9th Cir. 1987) (We may not affirm a district court's denial of a writ of habeas corpus unless the court either held a hearing, or the record shows that the district court independently reviewed the relevant portions of the state court record.); Johnson v. Lumpkin, 769 F.2d 630, 636 (9th Cir. 1985) (same); Turner v. Chavez, 586 F.2d 111, 112 (9th Cir. 1978) (In considering a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, the district court must make its determination as to the sufficiency of the state court findings from an independent review of the record, or otherwise grant a hearing and make its own findings on the merits. A reading of the well-reasoned opinion of the state court would indicate that appellant's allegations may be without merit. However, this cannot be said with certainty without a review of the record. The very nature of the habeas corpus action demands an independent review. (internal citations omitted)). The principle we articulated in the Jones line of cases requires us to remand Nasby's petition to the district court. The district court failed to obtain and review the relevant portions of the state court record and did not hold an evidentiary hearing on Nasby's claims. As a result, it did not perform the independent review of the basis for the state court's decision that Jones requires. Nasby's petition makes serious claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, and improper jury instructions, among others. There can be no doubt that the trial transcript and the transcript of the evidentiary hearing held by the state court are relevant to the adjudication of Nasby's claims. Although Jones involved a petition claiming insufficient evidence, not ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct, nothing in Jones's reasoning limits its holding to such petitions. We therefore have no alternative but to remand. Jones, 114 F. 3d at 1008. Five other Circuits have reached the same conclusion and held that remand is necessary in similar circumstances. See Magouirk v. Phillips, 144 F.3d 348, 363 (5th Cir. 1998) (This case must be remanded so that the record can be supplemented with those portions of the state court record necessary to conduct a meaningful review.); Beck v. Bowersox, 257 F.3d 900, 901 (8th Cir. 2001) (explaining that the habeas statutes require meaningful federal court review of the evidentiary record considered by the state courts and that it was error to reach the merits of [petitioner's] Fifth and Sixth Amendment claims without reviewing the transcript and including it in the record of this federal habeas proceeding); Jeffries v. Morgan, 522 F.3d 640, 644 (6th Cir. 2008) ([A] District Court must make a review of the entire state court trial transcript in habeas cases, and where substantial portions of that transcript were omitted before the District Court, a habeas case should be remanded to the District Court for consideration in light of the full record.); Aliwoli v. Gilmore, 127 F.3d 632, 63334 (7th Cir. 1997) (explaining that because key parts of the state record are missing, we are unable to examine Aliwoli's claims in light of the whole record of this case, and we must vacate in part the district court's denial of Aliwoli's petition and remand this case to the district court, which should ensure that any necessary state materials are submitted by the parties); Thames v. Dugger, 848 F.2d 149, 151 (11th Cir. 1988) (Absent careful review of the record, a district court has no measure to determine whether a petitioner's constitutional claim received a full and fair hearing.). On remand, the district court should order the State to submit the relevant portions of the state court record and, after examining them, newly adjudicate Nasby's petition. Regardless of what documents the parties originally submit, it is the district court's independent obligation to obtain the relevant portions of the record. Jones, 114 F.3d at 1008 (That Jones did not include the state court record as part of his habeas petition is of no import. [T]he district court has the duty to obtain that record itself.). Only if the court is satisfied that obtaining the record itself is not feasible, for some legitimate reason, should the district court pursue the alternative that Jones provides, an evidentiary hearing. Here, the State has given us no indication that it will not be able to produce the relevant portions of the record. We therefore expect the district court to obtain and examine the record on remand. 2. The State rather remarkably asserts that AEDPA prevents a federal habeas court from reviewing the record and obliges it, instead, to accept the state court's description of facts on faith. At oral argument, the State's counsel even stated that a district court should be reversed if it examined the record in granting relief. This is clearly wrong. Far from requiring that a federal court accept the state court's description of the facts without conducting an independent examination of the record, AEDPA demands the opposite. Under 28 U.S.C. 2254(d), a federal habeas court is charged with determining whether a state court's disposition of a claim for relief resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court, 2254(d)(1), or resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. 2254(d)(2). The text of the statute provides that a petitioner who seeks relief under Section (d)(2) unreasonable determination of the facts must show that the state court unreasonably determined the facts in light of the evidence presented to the state court. The Supreme Court has held that review under Section (d)(1) unreasonable application of law is similarly limited to the record that was before the state court, Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 181 (2011), even though AEDPA's text imposes no such limitation. The Supreme Court reasoned that the statute's backward-looking language requires an examination of the state-court decision at the time it was made. It follows that the record under review is limited to the record in existence at that same time, i.e., the record before the state court. Id. at 18182. It is not clear how a federal court could evaluate whether a state court unreasonably determined the facts in light of the evidence before it without first ascertaining what evidence was before it. It is equally difficult to imagine how a federal habeas court could determine whether a state court unreasonably applied clearly established law to the petitioner's case without itself reviewing independently the nature and extent of that case. To accept the state court's description of the facts or to uphold its application of law without independently evaluating what supports (or does not support) the court's determination of the facts and what factual basis justifies (or does not justify) the court's application of the law is inconsistent with the responsibilities of a federal habeas court under Section 2254(d). Nowhere in the habeas statute is there any suggestion that the district court could not or should not examine the state court record. In fact, the statute expressly provides that the official records of the State court shall be admissible in the Federal court proceeding. 28 U.S.C. 2254(g). Nor are we aware of any case that holds or even hints that the district court could not or should not examine the record. To the contrary: two circuits have expressly held that AEDPA requires federal courts to do so. See Beck, 257 F.3d at 901 (the provisions of AEDPA require meaningful federal court review of the evidentiary record considered by the state courts); Jeffries, 522 F.3d at 64445 (holding, under AEDPA, that review of the record is necessary in order to properly assess [a] habeas petition). For its bizarre suggestion, the State only quotes 2254(e)(1), a provision that we have held does not apply to habeas petitions, like Nasby's, that seek relief solely on the basis of the record before the state court. Taylor v. Maddox, 366 F.3d 992, 999 (9th Cir. 2004). In sum, it is clear that in order to provide adequate habeas review as contemplated by AEDPA, the court is required to review the state court record. The petition must be remanded. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, we VACATE the district court's dismissal of Nasby's petition and REMAND with instructions to consider his claims after obtaining and reviewing all relevant portions of the state court record. FOOTNOTES . This summary constitutes no part of the opinion of the court. It has been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the reader. . Nasby states that his lawyer called no witnesses to testify on Petitioner's behalf, presented no defense at all, and failed to introduce any evidence on Petitioner's behalf. . Oddly, the State included the transcript of the hearing in the excerpts of record on this appeal, although it submitted neither the trial transcript nor the transcript of the hearing to the district court, which decided the case without the benefit of either of those documents. . Specifically, the court found that the defaulted claims were rejected in state court because they were untimely pursuant to NRS 34.726(1), successive pursuant to NRS 34.810(1)(b)(2), an abuse of the writ pursuant to NRS 34.810(2), and barred by laches pursuant to NRS 34.800(2). . The certified issues were: (1) Whether trial counsel was ineffective due to a conflict of interest; (2) whether the district court erred in failing to address the claim that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise Grounds 1 and 2, and for failing to federalize the claims that counsel did raise; (3) whether the district court properly concluded that the prosecutorial misconduct and violation of Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201 (1964) claims were procedurally defaulted; and (4) whether the district court erred in ruling on the merits of appellant's claims without first requiring the State to submit all relevant portions of the state record, including trial and evidentiary hearing transcripts. We also certified for appeal the question whether the district court properly denied appellant's motion to alter or amend a judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e). . See, however, fn. 8, infra. . It is, as a result, unnecessary for us to discuss further the nature of the hearing that the district court would be obliged to hold should the original record, or any material part of it, be unavailable. . When asked if, had the district court ordered the transcripts and granted relief, we would have to reverse that, counsel for the State responded, Yes, absolutely. . For the same reasons, we VACATE the district court's order denying Nasby's motion to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 59(e). The district court will likely find it necessary to also vacate its order denying Nasby's motion for relief from judgment under Rule 60(b), which judgment was entered after the grant of the Certificate of Appealability. Opinion by Judge Reinhardt United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. S.H., a minor, by her guardian ad litem, Chantal Holt; WILLIAM KENNETH HOLT; CHANTAL HOLT, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant-Appellant. No. 15-15000 Decided: April 10, 2017 Before: Carlos F. Lucero,*Susan P. Graber, and Andrew D. Hurwitz, Circuit Judges. COUNSEL, John Samuel Koppel (argued) and Mark B. Stern, Attorneys, Appellate Staff; Benjamin B. Wagner, United States Attorney; Benjamin C. Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.; for Defendant-Appellant. Steven B. Stevens (argued), Steven B. Stevens APC, Los Angeles, California; Martin M. Berman, Law Offices of Martin M. Berman, Palm Springs, California; for Plaintiffs-Appellees. OPINION SUMMARY ** Federal Tort Claims Act The panel vacated the district court's judgment in favor of plaintiffs who brought a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) action against the United States; held that the plaintiffs' claims arose in Spain and therefore were barred by the FTCA's foreign country exception; and remanded with instructions to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Plaintiff S.H. was born prematurely while her family was stationed at a United States Air Force base in Spain, and as a consequence of her premature birth, S.H. suffered a permanent brain injury that led to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy after she returned to the United States. The FTCA generally waives the United States' sovereign immunity from suits in torts, but the waiver is subject to certain exceptions. Under the foreign country exception, the FTCA's waiver of immunity does not apply to any claim arising in a foreign country. The panel held that an injury is suffered where the harm first impinges upon the body, even if it is later diagnosed elsewhere. The panel concluded that the brain injury S.H. suffered at or near the time of her birth impinged upon her body in Spain; thus, that was where the plaintiffs' claims arose. The panel further held that S.H.'s cerebral palsy was derivative of the harm she sustained at birth. Judge Graber concurred in the result. She wrote separately because, in her view, the timing and content of the administrative claim filed by plaintiffs, while they were still in Spain, foreclosed their claims under the FTCA. LUCERO, Circuit Judge: In Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, 542 U.S. 692 (2004), the Supreme Court held that the foreign country exception to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) bars all claims based on any injury suffered in a foreign country. Id. at 712. The Court left unanswered, however, the issue currently before us: How to determine where an injury is suffered. We hold that an injury is suffered where the harm first impinge[s] upon the body, even if it is later diagnosed elsewhere. See Restatement (First) Conflict of Laws 377, n.1 (1934). Applying that test to the facts of this case, we conclude that the foreign country exception bars plaintiffs' claims. S.H., the daughter of William and Chantal Holt, was born prematurely while the family was stationed at a United States Air Force (USAF) base in Spain. As a consequence of her premature birth, S.H. sustained a permanent injury to the white matter of her brain; she was diagnosed as suffering from cerebral palsy after the family returned to the United States. The Holts filed suit against the United States, contending that officials at a USAF base in California negligently approved the family's request for command-sponsored travel to a base in Spain ill-equipped to deal with Mrs. Holt's medical needs. They further argue that S.H.'s injurythe cerebral palsy diagnosisfirst occurred upon their return to the United States. At trial, the district court agreed that the injury occurred in South Carolina and awarded damages of $10,409,700. Although we are sympathetic to the plaintiffs' situation, we agree with the United States that the injury at issue was suffered in Spain. We exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1291 and reverse. I A Mr. Holt is a Master Sergeant in the USAF. He and his wife have four children. In 2004, when the family was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, Mr. Holt was informed that he was being transferred to the USAF Air Base at Rota Naval Station in Spain. Shortly thereafter, a pregnancy test at the Edwards Air Force Base medical clinic confirmed that Mrs. Holt was pregnant with their third child. After learning he was to be transferred overseas, Mr. Holt requested command-sponsored travel for his family. To obtain approval for this program, family members must be screened to ensure that the overseas base is capable of addressing their medical needs. Dr. Richard Stahlman, chief of the medical staff at Edwards Air Force Base, approved the Holt family's command-sponsored travel to Spain. The district court found that Dr. Stahlman knew Mrs. Holt was pregnant and had experienced two prior preterm deliveries and a miscarriage at the time he cleared her for overseas travel. In March 2005, when Mrs. Holt was approximately twenty weeks pregnant, the family relocated to Spain. There, Mrs. Holt was treated by Dr. Dennis Szurkus, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology at Naval Hospital Rota. During an ultrasound appointment on May 11, 2005, Dr. Szurkus determined that Mrs. Holt was exhibiting signs of preterm labor and had her transferred by ambulance to an off-base hospitalPuerto Real Hospitalwhere she underwent an emergency cesarean section. S.H. was born on May 12, at approximately 31 weeks gestation. She had difficulty eating and breathing and was kept in the neonatal intensive care unit for seventeen days. In the months following S.H.'s birth, the Holts saw several doctors in Spain regarding her medical issues and expressed concern that S.H. was not developing like her two older siblings, both of whom were also born preterm. Doctors told the Holts that S.H. had strabismus, poor head control, low tone in her abdominal muscles, and significant motor and developmental delays. S.H. also experienced seizure-like symptoms, for which she was prescribed phenobarbital. When she was approximately five months old, S.H. underwent an MRI, which showed periventricular leukomalacia, an injury to the white matter of her brain. At around nine months of age, S.H. was evaluated by a neurologist, Dr. Lisa Smith, who found that S.H. had abnormally brisk reflexes and a mild increase in dynamic tone in her lower extremities. Dr. Smith did not rule out cerebral palsy at that time but declined to render a diagnosis. Two other doctors in Spain did conclude that S.H. had cerebral palsy. The family returned to the United States in mid-2006. Late that year, S.H. was diagnosed with tetraplegia of all four extremities. At the age of two, while living in South Carolina, S.H. was definitively diagnosed with cerebral palsy. It is undisputed that S.H.'s premature birth was the cause of her cerebral palsy. B In June 2006, while the Holts were still in Spain, they filed an administrative claim seeking damages from the government for S.H.'s catastrophic neurological injuries, seizures, learning deficits, physical limitations, and cerebral palsy. They alleged that these injuries resulted from the negligent approval of Mrs. Holt's command-sponsored travel overseas. The administrative claim was denied. Having exhausted administrative remedies, the Holts filed the instant action in district court. The government unsuccessfully moved for summary judgment, contending that the FTCA's foreign country exception barred the Holts' medical malpractice claims. Following a bench trial, the court awarded the Holts $10,409,700 in damages. The government filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e). The court granted the motion in part but ultimately declined to alter the damages award. The government timely appealed the amended judgment and all related interlocutory orders. II We review a district court's findings of fact following a bench trial for clear error. Kohler v. Presidio Int'l, Inc., 782 F.3d 1064, 1068 (9th Cir. 2015). However, [w]hether the United States is immune from liability in a FTCA action is a question of federal law subject to de novo review. Montes v. United States, 37 F.3d 1347, 1351 (9th Cir. 1994) (italics omitted). The FTCA generally waives the United States' sovereign immunity from suits in tort, render[ing] the Government liable in tort as a private individual would be under like circumstances. Richards v. United States, 369 U.S. 1, 6 (1962); see also 28 U.S.C. 2674. But that waiver is subject to certain exceptions. See generally 28 U.S.C. 2680. Under the foreign country exception, the FTCA's waiver of immunity does not apply to [a]ny claim arising in a foreign country. Id. 2680(k). In Sosa, the Supreme Court held that the foreign country exception bars all claims based on any injury suffered in a foreign country, regardless of where the tortious act or omission occurred. 542 U.S. at 712. The Court noted that the foreign country exception codified Congress' unwilling[ness] to subject the United States to liabilities depending upon the laws of a foreign power. Id. at 707 (alteration in original) (quoting United States v. Spelar, 338 U.S. 217, 221 (1949)). At the time the FTCA was passed, the dominant principle in choice-of-law analysis for tort cases was lex loci delicti: courts generally applied the law of the place where the injury occurred. Id. at 705. Accordingly, the Court concluded that Congress likely intended the phrase arising in to have the same meaning in 2680(k) as it did in state choice-of-law statutes: that is, to express the position that a claim arises where the harm occurs. Id. at 711. The question at the center of this appeal is where S.H.'s injury was suffered for the purposes of the foreign country exception. Id. at 712. The Sosa opinion offers various formulations of lex loci delicti, but provides little guidance on this specific issue. See, e.g., id. at 705 (claim arises where the last act necessary to establish liability occurred; i.e., the jurisdiction in which injury was received (quoting John W. Ester, Borrowing Statutes of Limitation & Conflict of Laws, 15 U. Fla. L. Rev. 33, 47 (1962))); id. at 706 (the place where the harmful force takes effect upon the body (quoting Restatement (First) of Conflict of Laws 377, n.1 (1934) (emphasis omitted))). In the ordinary case, an injury will be experienced in the same place it is inflicted, thereby obviating the need for further analysis. See, e.g., id. at 698 (seeking damages for false arrest in Mexico). However, the inquiry becomes more complicated when, as in this case, plaintiffs allege injuries manifesting after the initial infliction of harm. The district court concluded that state accrual law should determine where an injury is suffered. Relying on California law, it held that S.H.'s cerebral palsy occurred in the United States because it was not until the Holts arrived in South Carolina that doctors could identify S.H.'s symptoms as cerebral palsy. But as we have previously noted, [q]uestions of interpretation under the [FTCA's] exclusion provisions are controlled by federal law. Ramirez v. United States, 567 F.2d 854, 856 (9th Cir. 1977); accord United States v. Neustadt, 366 U.S. 696, 706 (1961) ([W]hether [a] claim is outside the intended scope of the Federal Tort Claims Act depends solely upon what Congress meant by the language it used ). The district court acknowledged this principle as a general matter but concluded that because California law governed the United States' liability under 28 U.S.C. 1346(b)(1), it also determined where the Holts' claims arose. However, 2680(k) states that 1346(b) shall not apply to any claim falling within the foreign country exception. The district court also failed to recognize that the question of when a claim accrues for statute of limitations purposes is analytically distinct from the question of where a claim arises under the foreign country exception. See Manemann v. United States, 381 F.2d 704, 705 (10th Cir. 1967) ([I]n the case at bar we are not concerned with either the time or place of an accrued cause of action for the purpose of applying a statute of limitations or a principle of conflict of law. We are concerned only as to whether appellant's claim arose in a foreign country within the contemplation of section 2680(k) ); In re Joint E. & S. Dist. Asbestos Litig., 721 F. Supp. 433, 435 (E.D.N.Y. & S.D.N.Y. 1988) (stating that the last event required to establish liability is not necessarily plaintiff's discovery of his illness; so to hold would be to confuse the beginning of plaintiff's cause of action with the beginning of its end, i.e., with the starting of the statute of limitations (internal quotation marks omitted)). There may be some overlap in the standards applied to these questions. See United States v. Kubrick, 444 U.S. 111, 120 (1979) (recognizing that the general rule under the [FTCA] has been that a tort claim accrues at the time of the plaintiff's injury). But the statute of limitations inquiry is concerned with a plaintiff's knowledge, see id. at 11824, to ensure that a limitations period does not lapse before a reasonably diligent plaintiff is aware of her injury, see In re Joint E. & S. Dist. Asbestos Litig., 721 F. Supp. at 435 (equating plaintiff's discovery of his illness with the starting of the statute of limitations). In deciding where a claim arises under the foreign country exception, however, we are not concerned with the possibility of a blameless plaintiff losing a claim through delay. Thus, we ask only where the last act necessary to establish liability occurred, Sosa, 542 U.S. at 705 (internal quotation marks omitted), without taking into account what the plaintiff knew or did not know. To determine where the Holts' claims arose for the purposes of the foreign country exception, we must therefore look to governing choice-of-law principles at the time Congress enacted the FTCA. And, as the Supreme Court held in Sosa, we must apply lex loci delicti. Id. The Restatement (First) of Conflict of Laws, upon which the Supreme Court relied in Sosa, provides that [t]he place of wrong is where the last event necessary to make an actor liable for an alleged tort takes place. 377. The Restatement illustrates application of this rule when an individual sustains bodily harm as follows: Such a force is first set in motion by some human being. It is quite immaterial in what state he set the force in motion. It must alone or in cooperation with other forces harm the body of another. The person harmed may thereafter go into another state and die from the injury or suffer other loss therefrom. The place where this last event happens is also immaterial. The question is only where did the force impinge upon his body. Id. 377, n.1. Thus, an injury occurs where it is first suffered, even if a negligent act later results in further or more serious harm. Accord Williams v. Gyrus ACMI, Inc., 790 F. Supp. 2d 410, 415 (D. Md. 2011) (holding that plaintiff's injury occurred for purposes of lex loci delicti at the time shim was left in her body, even if she did not begin to experience pain or other symptoms from the shim's presence until she relocated to another state). It is undisputed that S.H.'s cerebral palsy resulted from the brain injury she sustained in Spain as a consequence of her premature birth. The district court held that the Holts' claims arose in the United States because that is where S.H.'s cerebral palsy definitively manifested itself. In reaching that determination, the court distinguished between S.H.'s brain injury and her cerebral palsy diagnosis, reasoning that because plaintiffs were suing to recover for the latter harm, and cerebral palsy is not a disease but rather a collection of symptoms, plaintiffs' claims could not have arisen prior to those symptoms being present and diagnosable. But S.H.'s premature birth caused appreciable injury while the Holts were in Spain, even if cerebral palsy was not definitively diagnosed in that country. Under lex loci delicti, as it was interpreted at the time of the FTCA's passage, the fact that a plaintiff suffers some other loss in a different jurisdiction is immaterial. Restatement (First) Conflict of Laws 377, n.1. The question is only where did the force impinge upon [her] body. Id. The undisputed facts of this case indicate that the forcethe brain injury S.H. suffered at or near the time of her birthimpinged upon her body in Spain; thus, that is where the Holts' claims arose. See Sosa, 542 U.S. at 70506. Our conclusion is consistent with the application of the foreign country exception by other federal courts. In Thompson v. Peace Corps, 159 F. Supp. 3d 56 (D.D.C. 2016), the court held that the foreign country exception barred the plaintiff's FTCA claims, which were based on injuries she sustained as a result of taking an anti-malarial drug in Burkina Faso. Id. at 61. The court reasoned that although the plaintiff complain[ed] of continuing side effects after her return home, as well as a permanent brain injury, the court lacked jurisdiction because the claims based on those injuries arose out of the administration of mefloquine in BurkinaFaso. Id. at 58, 61. Similarly, the District of Columbia Circuit has twice held that a district court lacked jurisdiction over a plaintiff's claims for emotional or economic injuries occurring in the United States because those injuries were derivative of harm suffered abroad by the plaintiffs' spouses. See Gross v. United States, 771 F.3d 10, 13 (D.C. Cir. 2014) (holding that foreign country exception applied because wife's economic injuries in the United States were derivative of injuries husband suffered as a result of imprisonment in Cuba); Harbury v. Hayden, 522 F.3d 413, 423 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (holding that foreign country exception applied to claims for emotional injuries that wife suffered in United States but that resulted from physical abuse and death of husband in Guatemala). In both cases, the court expressed concern that plaintiffs would be able to plead around the FTCA's foreign-country exception simply by claiming injuries that are derivative of the foreign-country injuries at the root of the complaint. Harbury, 522 F.3d at 423. Like the injuries alleged in these cases, S.H.'s cerebral palsy is derivative of the harm she sustained at birth. As the Holts recognize, cerebral palsy is not itself a disease, but rather a group of non-progressive motor conditions. It is therefore a description of symptoms manifesting from S.H.'s brain injury, rather than a separate, compensable harm. Moreover, to hold that the Holts' claims did not arise until cerebral palsy could be definitively diagnosed would enable plaintiffs in similar circumstances to avoid application of the foreign country exception, either by pleading their injuries in a particular way or by relocating to the United States before obtaining a diagnosis. Cf. Sosa, 542 U.S. at 70203 (rejecting idea that allegations of negligent medical care can be repackaged as headquarters claims based on the offering of bad advice in the United States, even though harm is suffered overseas, because the practice would swallow the foreign country exception whole (citations omitted)); Harbury, 522 F.3d at 423 (prohibiting plaintiffs from plead[ing] around the foreign country exception by claiming domestic injuries that are derivative of the foreign-country injuries at the root of the complaint). Jurisdiction under the FTCA cannot turn on whether the Holts framed their suit as seeking damages for S.H.'s cerebral palsy or the brain injury she sustained at birth. III Because the Holts' claims against the United States arose in Spain, the FTCA's foreign country exception bars their suit. Accordingly, the district court's order is VACATED, and we REMAND the case with instructions to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal. I concur in the result reached by the majority opinion. I write separately because, in my view, the timing and content of the administrative claim filed by Plaintiffs, while they were still in Spain, forecloses their claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). The FTCA requires that a plaintiff exhaust administrative remedies: An action shall not be instituted upon a claim against the United States for money damages for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government while acting within the scope of his office or employment, unless the claimant shall have first presented the claim to the appropriate Federal agency and his claim shall have been finally denied by the agency 28 U.S.C. 2675(a). The administrative claim need not be detailed; rather, a skeletal claim form, containing only the bare elements of notice of accident and injury and a sum certain representing damages, suffices. Avery v. United States, 680 F.2d 608, 610 (9th Cir. 1982). Although an administrative claim need not be detailed to satisfy 2675(a), such a claim serves to exhaust only those basic theories encompassed in its scope. Of course, an FTCA plaintiff may seek a greater amount of damages than the sum certain contained in the administrative claim if the increased amount is based upon newly discovered evidence not reasonably discoverable at the time of presenting the claim to the federal agency, or upon allegation and proof of intervening facts, relating to the amount of the claim. 28 U.S.C. 2675(b). For instance, an FTCA plaintiff who files an administrative claim and later suffers additional harm flowing from the incidents described in that claim may be able to recover for the additional harm. Richardson v. United States, 841 F.2d 993, 99899 (9th Cir.), amended, 860 F.2d 357 (9th Cir. 1988). But the plaintiff cannot come into court seeking redress on an entirely different claim. The majority opinion correctly holds that Plaintiffs exhausted their FTCA claims. That is because those claims are encompassed by the administrative claimthat is, they relate to the same core set of facts. See Nagrampa v. MailCoups, Inc., 469 F.3d 1257, 1264 n.2 (9th Cir. 2006) (en banc) (Under the federal system, the word claim denotes the allegations that give rise to an enforceable right to relief. (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted)); see also Khan v. United States, 808 F.3d 1169, 117273 (7th Cir. 2015) (All that must be specified [under 28 U.S.C. 2675(a)], therefore, is facts plus a demand for money; if those two things are specified, the claim encompasses any cause of action fairly implicit in the facts. (internal quotation marks omitted)). Although it is true that some factssuch as the definitive diagnosis of cerebral palsyoccurred after the filing of the administrative claim, it is undisputed that S.H.'s cerebral palsy resulted from the brain injury that she suffered at birth, and that her brain injury was the focus of Plaintiffs' administrative claim. S.H. was born in Spain, where the family continued to reside for more than an additional year before returning to the United States. While still in Spain, Plaintiffs filed an administrative claim seeking damages for, among other things, catastrophic neurological injuries, seizures, learning deficits, [and] physical limitations already suffered by S.H. as a result of her premature and difficult birth. The claim form also asserted, among other things, that negligence on the part of medical healthcare providers, penultimately in Rota, Spain at USNaval Hospital, resulted in negligent failure to promptly recognize and treat [the mother's] abruptio placenta, causing catastrophic injuries, and that care at USNH Rota Spain failed to conform to the standard of medical and surgical care in the community. It is clear that, in bringing suit under the FTCA, Plaintiffs pressed the same claim that they had presented to the government. What this means is that Plaintiffs' claims necessarily arose in Spain, because a claim cannot be presented to the appropriate agency under 28 U.S.C. 2675(a) until after it has arisen. In other words, by filing an administrative claim while still in Spain, containing allegations of a premature birth that caused brain injuries to S.H., Plaintiffs necessarily admitted that some claims based on those facts already had arisen; because the claims in this action are the same as those presented to the government in the administrative process, those claims arose in Spain. This would be a tragic case in any event, but the fact that it is the foreign-country exception that ultimately bars relief makes it especially tragic, as it was the alleged negligence of the United States that led to Plaintiffs' being in a foreign country in the first place. But only Congress is in a position to provide relief to Plaintiffs and those in similar situations. We are bound by Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, 542 U.S. 692 (2004), and, therefore, are compelled to reverse the district court's judgment. FOOTNOTES . This summary constitutes no part of the opinion of the court. It has been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the reader. . Those doctors were Dr. Paul Shales, a developmental pediatrician at the Educational, Developmental and Intervention Services Clinic at Rota, and Dr. Anthony Delgado, a general pediatrician at the Rota pediatric clinic. The district court found Dr. Shales' diagnosis unreliable. . Sosa recognized that Congress' intent in enacting the foreign country exception was to prevent the United States from being subjected to liability under the laws of a foreign power. See 542 U.S. at 707. However, the Court also acknowledged that under its interpretation of the statute, the foreign country exception would apply even when a State's choice-of-law approach would not apply the foreign law of place of injury. Id. at 711. In rejecting a more selective approach, the Court noted that Congress did not write the statutory language to bar claims only when foreign law would be applied but rather to bar all claims arising in a foreign country. Id. The Court further reasoned that even if such a meaning could be inferred from the language of the statute, it would result in a scheme of federal jurisdiction that would vary from State to State, benefiting or penalizing plaintiffs accordingly. Id. Thus, a consequence of the Court's decision in Sosa is that the foreign country exception will sometimes bar suits that would not have triggered the application of foreign law. . It is for this same reason that we reject any suggestion that the Holts' administrative claim, which lists cerebral palsy as an injury caused by the USAF's negligence, establishes that S.H. had cerebral palsy in Spain. Where an injury is suffered for the purposes of the foreign country exception is an objective inquiry, one that does not depend on what the Holts knew at a particular time. . We recognize that courts have sometimes interpreted lex loci delicti to different effect in the context of long-latency diseases. See, e.g., Pounders v. Enserch E&C, Inc., 306 P.3d 9, 13 (Ariz. 2013) (noting that [f]or long-latency diseases, the last event takes place when the disease is discoverable because, until then, a legally compensable injury does not exist); Trahan v. E.R. Squibb & Sons, Inc., 567 F. Supp. 505, 50708 (M.D. Tenn. 1983) (rejecting argument that last event occurred when plaintiff's mother ingested DES, absent any evidence that improper development of the plaintiff's cervix occurred immediately upon her mother's ingestion of the drug). But in those cases, there was no evidence that the plaintiffs' exposure to a toxic substance resulted in any immediate harm beyond the cellular level. By comparison, S.H.'s brain injury, resulting from her premature birth, had appreciable effects while the Holts were living in Spain. See In re Agent Orange Prod. Liab. Litig., 580 F. Supp. 690, 707 (E.D.N.Y. 1984) (explaining, for purposes of lex loci delicti, that harmful force of Agent Orange affected military service members immediately, even though many of the more serious symptoms did not manifest themselves until years later). . The United States raises a number of other issues on appeal; however, our conclusion that the district court lacked jurisdiction obviates the need to address those arguments. . Indeed, had Plaintiffs pressed a different claim, that claim would not have been exhausted. . I do not necessarily mean admitted in the sense of a binding judicial admission. See SEC v. Caserta, 75 F. Supp. 2d 79, 95 n.9 (E.D.N.Y. 1999) (discussing split in authority over the circumstances in which admissions made in an administrative proceeding function as judicial admissions). Rather, the timing and content of the administrative claim limit the scope of the subsequent lawsuit. So although the majority opinion is quite right that Plaintiffs' listing of cerebral palsy as an injury on the administrative claim does not establish that S.H. actually had cerebral palsy while still in Spain, the fact that the administrative claim is generally about brain injuries suffered at birth means that a claim related to injuries of that sort had arisen by the time the administrative claim was filed. Opinion by Judge Lucero; Proactively From the Sea; an agent of change leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case to synergize a consistent design in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity. Boone County voter turnout estimate drops ahead of election Election turnout is expected to be lower than anticipated compared to estimates in October, Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said. Rhonda Beasley, manager of Human Resources at Roper Corporation, was sworn in as Georgia Northwestern Technical Colleges newest board of directors member. She was sworn in by Pete McDonald, president of GNTC, at a meeting held on the Gordon County Campus in Calhoun. Ms. Beasley has worked as manager of Human Resources with Roper Corporation for the past six years. Prior to becoming HR manager, she worked at Roper Corporation as a lean manufacturing manager, training and development manager, HR specialist, and a team development specialist. She earned a bachelors degree in business management from Berry College and a masters degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Ms. Beasley is a member of the Walker County Chamber of Commerce; served as chair for the 2016 United Way Campaign in Catoosa, Walker, and Dade counties; and is a member of the American Heart Association in Chattanooga. Georgia Northwesterns board serves both in a community advisory capacity and in a limited administrative capacity, performing certain oversight responsibilities as designated by state board policy. The local board is comprised of 16 members from the business and industrial communities from nine counties in the service area (Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties). State board policy defines the role and responsibilities of the local board. Board members are selected because of their experience, ability, and dedication to deal with issues that relate to the mission of occupational education and are without contractual, employment, or personal financial investment in the school. The entire airline industry is at first glance highly technical and, at the same time, highly dependent on personnel to handle tough issues. The big story this week for United Airlines -- which is quickly turning into a public relations nightmare and even creating conflicts with China -- has to do with a passenger who was forcibly removed due to overbooking the seats. There are many variables to the story -- yet, its a wake-up call because it could have been prevented using artificial intelligence. Even if the overbooking is partly a way to ensure that flights are always full, A.I. could handle that problem. Heres how it would work. Because there is already a wealth of data related to passenger counts, who needs to get to their destination and when, and even which employees are on stand-by for a given flight, machine learning could determine who should be allowed to board and when. Not allowing someone to board is a different issue for airlines than asking someone to disembark. It has a different set of security parameters, and a different set of passenger relation issues. Say the A.I. model determines that there is a flight to Miami with 471 seats open on a Boeing 777. Flight attendants cant really manage all of the data involved, and there are systems today that show models for who is going to board and where they will sit. What airlines are not doing today is determining, in mere seconds, who is actually going to board based on up-to-the-minute flight changes and delays. This is what adds to the complexity for agents. I remember on one flight being shuffled to a later route due to weather. I met an agent, she made a change, and I walked over to another counter and boarded that flight a few minutes later. No human could keep up with that and deal with the interface that shows all of these changes in real-time. In fact, it is entirely up to the agent. The agent simply looks for an open seat. There is some statistical modeling today, A.I., and machine learning that makes this smooth, but nothing that assists gate agents as easily as Amazon Alexa ordering flowers. An A.I. could keep up, though. There could be one moment, based on all the last minute changes and delays, when the model determines that -- OK, theres a good statistical chance that you will need to ask four passengers to deboard and that could create problems. It is better to wait or not allow those passengers to board until theres a better plan. The A.I. could gauge, using predictive analytics, when it is OK to allow boarding or when it doesnt make sense. A really good A.I. would intervene -- maybe with a simple green or red flag -- and make sure that no passenger is ever told they have to leave a plane, based on all of the incoming data for the flight. You might think -- there are still rare circumstances, such as a decision to allow the employees to board. The A.I. would be smart enough to know about that situation, especially since even the seemingly rare circumstances are probably not that rare. People are shuffled around, but an A.I. can keep pace. It can use data as a way to make sure there are no biases. And, it can look out into the future in ways a human cant. For example, it can determine when one route is the last one for the day and to make sure no one boards until the seats are all perfectly assigned. Maybe this will cause delays -- in my view, it will speed up the process. Passengers will be less frustrated if they know what is going on. This A.I. can think much faster than a human, applying logic to every route for every person to make sure the seats are all properly assigned. And, were not talking about turning over the actual boarding process. Humans are still there to deal with someone who might trip in the aisle or has a health issue. Seat assignments are a surprisingly random endeavor today. An agent is obviously picking your seat, but an A.I. would be able to do a better job. No one would be forcibly removed again. Boeing will begin using at least four 3D-printed titanium parts to construct its 787 Dreamliner aircraft and may some day rely on as many as 1,000 parts created via additive manufacturing. Boeing has hired Oslo, Norway-based Norsk Titanium AS to print the parts. It marks the first time that FAA-approved, 3D-printed titanium parts will be used as structural components on a commercial aircraft, according to the company. The parts will be used near the rear of the Dreamliner, a mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner. Boeing builds about 144 Dreamliners each year. Norsk Titanium AS One of four 3D printed titanium parts Boeing will be using in its 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Printing 3D parts for Boeing will allow the aircraft manufacturer to eventually reduce the production costs for each 787 Dreamliner by as much as $3 million, Norsk Titanium said. "We are providing Boeing with an initial quantity of four parts per 787 airplane and are actively working to expand this order to possibly more than 1,000 parts per airplane, which if we achieve, could save Boeing $2 million to $3 million per airplane some years from now," a Norsk Titanium spokesman said via email to Computerworld. "If we achieve our goal of selling over 1,000 parts per 787, they would be located in a wide variety of structural applications." The use of 3D printing technology is growing at an exponential rate, Boeing said, and interest in using it "has increased dramatically during the past few years." "3D printing offers great potential to reduce the cost and weight of aircraft structures and improve the ability of engineers to design parts purely for their eventual function in a vehicle system," a Boeing spokesperson said in an email. "3D printing enables the design and production of integral structures. This means converting an assembly and several structures into one piece." Norsk Titanium AS Norsk Titanium's MERKE IV Rapid Plasma Deposition 3D printer creating an aircraft part. Boeing's use of Norsk Titanium's parts is not the company's first foray into the use 3D printing technology. Last year, Boeing said it was testing an industrial 3D printer from Stratasys that can build objects of virtually any size using materials such as carbon fiber for lighter weight and stronger parts. The printers were designed to address the requirements of aerospace, automotive and other industries by being able to build completed parts with repeatable mechanical properties. Airbus, Boeing and defense contractor Raytheon have all experimented with additive manufacturing to develop new components. In 2015, General Electric revealed that it had completed a multi-year project to print a working jet engine at its Additive Development Center outside Cincinnati. That same year, Monash University in Australia and its spinoff Amaero Engineering have even 3D printed entire jet engines as proof of concepts. "Boeing is working to accelerate the use of 3D printing technology in its production in ways that make sense for the company and provides value without increasing risk for our customers," a company spokesperson said. Norsk Titanium uses what it calls Rapid Plasma Deposition technology, which melts titanium wire using plasma torches in an atmosphere of argon gas. Like desktop 3D printers that use melted thermoplastics, Norsk Titanium deposits layer after layer of titanium to build a part. "From the outset, the 787 has been the hallmark of innovation and efficiency," John Byrne, vice president of Airplane Materials and Structures, Supplier Management, for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement. "We are always looking at the latest technologies to drive cost reduction, performance and value to our customers and Norsk Titanium's RPD capability fits the bill in a new and creative way." Boeing and Norsk Titanium said they were required to undergo "a rigorous testing program with FAA certification deliverables." That testing was completed in February. Norsk Titanium said the Dreamliner 3D printed components will be on display at the International Paris Airshow Le Bourget June 19-25, along with a full-scale mock-up of the company's patented MERKE IV Rapid Plasma Deposition 3D printer that produced the structural parts. Iain Duncan Smith is a former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, founded the Centre for Social Justice, and is MP for Chingford and Woodford Green. In the early hours of 7th April, 59 US Tomahawk missiles smacked into the Syrian-controlled airbase at Homs, in retaliation for the chemical attack which killed more than 80 civilians, many of whom were young children. The attack didnt just wreck the airfield and some ten per cent of the Syrian Airforce; it also, at long last brought an end to Obamas weak and indecisive policy in the Middle East a policy characterised by the Sunday Times as an era of New World Disorder. That era left a vacuum into which Russia stepped, aided and abetted by its two most unsavoury allies: Iran, (the main sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East and the wider world), and the out-and-out terrorist group, Hezbollah. The vacillation over the last few years by the Obama White House amounted to a sorry saga. After two years of indecision, starting with Assads rebuff of Obama in 2011, Russias veto of action in the Security Council in 2012 and finally Assads flaunting of Obamas red line over the use of chemical weapons, Obama finally decided to act. However, instead of taking swift action, after much public speculation the UK was asked to join him in attacking the Syrian Command and Control centre. I well remember how we discussed the plan for the air strikes in Cabinet, yet afterwards Parliament rejected the operation. I was sorry that, notwithstanding some of the legitimate concerns raised, Parliament overall rejected our involvement. None the less, to my astonishment, instead of going ahead on his own, Obama, seeking a way out, weakly clutched at a Russian plan to get Assad to hand over his chemical weapons. In what seemed desperation and not a little impotence, Russian assurances were far too readily accepted, and the USA quit the field to the Russians, whilst hurriedly proclaiming this to be a good deal. Now, after those Russian assurances are shown to be worthless, and motivated by terrible pictures of families dying agonising deaths after being overcome by sarin gas, Donald Trump and his team decided to act. This action brings the USA back into the region with a clear show of intent, at a time when some 400,000 people have died of which at least 200,000 were civilians and 10 million have been driven from their homes. As the dust settles and we all take stock, asking what the West should do next, there will be an inclination to see this in the narrower context of the Syrian conflict alone. I believe that would be a mistake. We only need to look at Iraq to realise how the Syrian conflict has tipped over into neighbouring states. Irans enormous influence over the predominantly Shiite government in Iraq, and their support for Assad, led directly to the creation of ISIS and their bogus caliphate, made up of hugely disaffected Iraqi Sunnis. Now, as Mosul slowly gets re-taken by the western-backed Iraqi forces, there arises the enormous question of what should replace the chaos left behind. This is why the USAs re-entry into the arena isnt a moment too soon. For as we degrade Isiss capability, we must also be concerned not to let Iran and Hezbollah fill the vacuum. Rex Tillersons upcoming visit to Moscow is vital, not because it will produce a sudden settlement but because, coming as it does after such an emphatic statement of intent by the USA, it means the Russians know they will have to deal with the US or there can be no settlement. After all, Russias problems are as clear as its objectives. Russia is reliant on oil, and the low oil price has left the economy in dire straits. Worse, it now has to support costly interventions in Crimea, Eastern Ukraine and Syria. Yet Putin cannot afford to lose face after all his sabre-rattling and military intervention. This is why his objectives are also clear; he knows that the Russian people need to see Russia with its reputation intact. To do all of this, they must hang onto the warm water port they now occupy in Syria. The only way, at present, they believe this can be achieved is to have Assad in power. I happened to be in Washington finishing up a couple of days of discussions with Senators and Congressmen on Capitol Hill before and after the Tomahawks hit. I was struck by the strong level of support for Trump on all sides of the political divide. It seemed to me that there was almost a collective sigh of relief from them all, because after all that Russia has been up to, and with questions over the administrations attitude to it, the new President had sent a strong signal to that the USA is back and prepared to act. However, others went further and made it clear that this action alone will not be enough. The USA must now make it clear to the Russians that their support for Assad makes them complicit in his use of chemical weapons, and they now need to think again about that continued support. Finally, beyond Syria and the Middle East, it cant have escaped anyones notice that this decisive action is likely to have had another effect as well. President Xi was dining with President Trump at the time of the missile strike, and he will have been left in no doubt that Trumps earlier warning to the Chinese about North Korea was a serious statement of intent. They will recognise the urgent need to act over their dangerous neighbour as well. As ConservativeHome said on Monday, the Foreign Office has a long-held scheme to end Syrias civil war. First, build up international pressure on Russia, including through tightened sanctions if necessary. Second, persuade it to engineer Bashar al-Assads removal. Third, put together a coalition of elements of the Baathist regime and parts of the non-Islamist opposition to form a moderate government of national unity and begin a long, slow process of establishing stability and healing. This is not a bad plan, but it has two major flaws. Other members of the G7, particularly Germany and its European allies elsewhere, are allergic to sanctions against Russia, with which they have close economic relations. And Vladimir Putin has to date shown no willingness whatsoever to winkle out Assad. This would necessitate a big row with Iran, whose client Assad is, which he seems unwilling to have. He is also nervous of letting the America get a grip on Syria, though working with it for peace and stability in Syria would be good for the country and the region, and fearful of the Islamists getting a grip on the country, which is more reasonable. For while any initial replacement government might be pro-western and non-Islamist, a election might allow a government whose sensibility lies somewhere between the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS to seize power. This would not be in western interests any more than it would be in Putins. It would also end the democracy in Syria that such an election itself sought to start. And as this site never tires of pointing out, our domestic security problem is with Sunni and not Shiite extremism. 7/7, the murderous attack on Glasgow airport, the liquid bomb airliner plot, the murder of Lee Rigby, the car and knife attack in Westminster all were carried out by Wahabi fanatics. Theresa May was the longest-serving Home Secretary since the war, knows all this very well, and will be pondering it during her Snowdonia walking holiday. She needs Donald Trumps help with Brexit in general and an American free trade deal in particular. Her natural inclination will therefore be to stick with him in public but to caution him in private. This is as it should be, and her Governments reaction to date is consistent with it. Boris Johnson has been pulled out of a Russian visit that was intended to establish better relations. May had evidently judged that now is not the time for it, and the Foreign Secretary will agree. She is backing up Trump on sanctions. So far, so good. There remains the question of Assad. Last weekend, Michael Fallon was wheeled out to play hard cop. (A role clearly judged unsuitable for Johnson, since his role is to do the butter bit, not the guns bit). Someone who uses barrel bombs and chemicals to kill his own people simply cannot be the future leader of Syria. Assad must go and the search for stability begin, he wrote in the Sunday Times (). If this call for regime change meant seeking to remove Assad through diplomacy, and was a reference to that familiar Foreign Office plan, then it can no harm and might even do some good though the scheme itself is unlikely to work, for reasons previously explained. But if it meant following up last weeks airstrikes, which were intended to deter the Assad from the further use of chemical weapons, with more military action, intended to topple him, then MPs should have none of it. Removing the regime without any durable plan to replace it would risk repeating the experience of Iraq and Libya. It would create a power gap most likely to be filled by Islamists and, even more alarmingly, risk war with Russia over a country to which, unlike the Baltic States, we have given no guarantee, and which has no real strategic significance. Regime change by force does not seem to be Trumps objective, but his policy is so unstable that cannot be sure. The Prime Minister seems to get this and will hope, like the rest of us, that the Assad regime backs off chemical weapons, that Russia therefore has no further cause to seek reasons to excuse him, and that Trumps impulsive decision pays off. She will also understand that the President also has his mind on North Korea, which cannot be allowed to build nuclear missiles capable of reaching America. It was significant in the context of Trumps strike on Syria that the Kim Jong Un regime, like Assads, is not a signatory to the chemical weapons convention. Sponsored Article Intelligent Automation Systems inaugurates new operations in the United Kingdom Intelligent Automation Systems Ltd. recently officially inaugurated its new establishment at Hyde Park Hayes, a West London business centre, located less than three miles from Heathrow Airport. With this, the company reiterates its commitment to provide single-source solutions for high-quality industrial automation and motion control products to customers across the United Kingdom. Intelligent Automation Systems is a corporation of complementary business services that provide application engineering and design, supply, implement, test and repair industrial automation systems. This includes HMIs, motion controllers, brushless and brushed servo systems, linear systems, 2/3/5 phase stepping systems, AC induction systems, and spur and planetary gearboxes. The Hyde Park facility is part of the companys strategy to build an integrated sales and aftermarket services channel. Driven by its endeavour to offer end-to-end solutions under one brand, this improved operations consolidates all the sales, research, and technical support activities for Intelligent Automation Systems for the UK, North Ireland and continental Europe markets. Intelligent Automation Systems has maintained operations within the UK since 2007. To offer seamless, comprehensive, customised solutions to our customers in diverse industries across the UK, we recently merged our activities. Our Hyde Park facility offers cutting-edge industrial automation from global manufacturers like Trio Motion, Sanyo Denki, Fastech, Kinco Automation, RTA and SPG, says Ajay Karavadra, Technical Director. What gives Intelligent Automation Systems a distinct advantage is our team of engineers who draw on more than three decades of cross-product technical know-how to provide exceptional solutions that are truly out-of-the-box, delivered within on-time schedules, and do not exceed customer budgets. The new operations will continue to design, source, build and implement advanced solutions ranging from one-off requirements to high-performance industrial automation systems for custom-built machines of OEMs. Using cutting-edge technologies and high-performance products, Intelligent Automation Systems is the single-source go-to partner, Ajay Karavadra adds. Every solution is backed by local training and aftersales technical support. Whats more, Intelligent Automation Systems can quickly ramp up material deliveries or even ensure just-in-time lean inventory from its extensive warehouse. Contact Details and Archive... This week, Southern Champion Tray team members will present to 12 local elementary schools the TICCIT (pronounced TICKET) program Trees Into Cartons, Cartons Into Trees.Southern Champion Tray is a leading producer of paperboard packaging products and a member of the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC). Each year in April and May, PPC members participate in this program to honor Earth Day. The program highlights renewability and sustainability of paper and paperboard packaging.In the TICCIT program, member companies partner with local schools where they donate tree seeds or native saplings and teach students how to plant them in a milk carton, tissue box or other paper-based carton. The students are then instructed to plant these carton-and-tree units in the ground. The cartons provide protection and a natural water funnel for the new trees. As the trees grow, the cartons biodegrade, completing the trees into cartons, cartons into trees cycle.Southern Champion Tray will visit 12 local elementary schools on the following dates:- April 12 McConnell Elementary- April 13 East Lake Elementary- April 19 Grace Academy- April 20 Nolan Elementary- April 21 Thrasher Elementary and Jasper Elementary- April 26 Chattanooga Christian School- April 28 Fairyland Elementary- May 2 Signal Mountain Christian School- May 3 Whitwell Elementary- May 5 Red Bank Elementary- May 10 Lookout ElementaryFor 90 years, Southern Champion Tray has been manufacturing and distributing quality bakery, food service and catering paperboard and corrugated packaging, food and drink carriers and molded fiber tableware. Markets served include bakery, foodservice, frozen foods, supermarket, institutional, medical, pharmaceutical, personal care, cosmetic, retail, electronics, and more.For more information, please contact Sherry Jennings at 423-643-4148 or sherry.jenning@sctray.com. The 1992 time capsule is raised by Dr. Bill Deymour and former student Angela Mathis. Former students Angela Mathis and Tim Shaw join Mayor Tom Rowland and Dr. Bill Seymour to see the 1992 mementos Former students Angela Mathis and Tim Shaw join Mayor Tom Rowland and Dr. Bill Seymour to see the 1992 mementos Cleveland City Council members Charlie McKenzie, Avery Johnson and Tom Cassada join Mayor Tom Rowland and Dr. Bill Seymour with the 1992 artifacts A new capsule is lowered into the ground for the next 25 years A new capsule is lowered into the ground for the next 25 years Previous Next Cleveland State Community College opened a time capsule on Monday, 25 years after it was buried on campus. The capsule was buried as part of the college's 25th anniversary in 1992. It was opened as part of CSCC's 50th anniversary. Cleveland city officials joined CSCC staff and students in opening the time capsule filled with mementos from 1992. The capsule was filled with local publications including the student newspaper, The Cherokee Signal, along with the Cleveland Daily Banner. There were letters from 1992 written to be read by today's students and the current president, Dr. Bill Seymour. Other mementos included a parking pass and a video tape. Mayor Tom Rowland and 1992 students Angela Mathis and Tim Shaw joined Dr. Seymour in opening the capsule that they helped bury. After the opening, a new time capsule that was packed by today's students, was reburied. It will be opened 25 years from now on Cleveland State's 75th anniversary. Associate Professor in the Humanities and Fine Arts Division at Chattanooga State, Anna Harrington, has a book coming out called If the Duke Demands. This will be her sixth book published and the first in her Regency romance series, Capturing the Carlisles.Ms. Harrington was inspired to write a Regency series while living in England. She fell in love with historical romances and Regency heroes. The Regency period is the historical period that I know the most about, and to me, its the one thats also the most exciting.Its the time of the Napoleonic Wars, revolutions, new innovations in technology and industry, and a shift away from agrarian society to a more urban society, she says.Although its hard to balance her writing career with teaching, Anna makes it work. During summers I write 10-15 hours per day in order to make up for a lack of writing time the rest of the year, she says.Most of her breaks and vacations are spent writing or revising.The sequel to If the Duke Demands will be out in August and is called When the Scoundrel Sins. She also has a novella coming out in June, Say Yes to the Scot. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Michelin's unlikely influence in the world of high-class cuisine began in 1900, when hardly anyone owned a car. They started publishing the Michelin Restaurant Guide as a free brochure that mapped the best restaurants in France (their home country), using a three-star rating system. The rather flimsy subtext was "You could visit any of these places right now if you had a car. A car with tires. Specifically, our tires." It was a cheap, desperate gimmick, and it didn't really matter. Martin Thomas/Flickr It was like that time a beer company put out a trivia book, and everyone responded reasonably. Continue Reading Below Advertisement But over the next hundred years, Michelin continued to publish its annual guide, and its standards began to evolve. Today, earning a single Michelin star is the restaurant equivalent of winning an Oscar. Having two means you're one of the top dining establishments in the entire world. Three Michelin stars means you're the kind of place Bill Gates has to budget for, and you're serving meals that Caligula would call "a little over the top." So who decides the rating of all these restaurants? Well ... nobody knows. Their reviewers are anonymous. Even the company executives don't know their names or what they look like. Very rarely will a Michelin reviewer grant an interview, and it's always given with strict instructions to obscure all personal information. Severe penalties are given to any establishment that tries to fish for some. Nobody knows how many reviewers even exist, or what their training is. And since they're completely unaccountable, there's no way of knowing whether they even ate at any damn place or just hand out stars to their chef buddies. The NAACP Title VI Symposium on Monday has been moved to the Raccoon Mountain Room at the UTC Student Center at 6 p.m. Matthew Stephenson, the Title VI compliance director for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, will conduct the symposium. Topics will include education, housing, economic development, neighborhood roads and infrastructure. Mr. Stephenson received a B.S. degree from Birmingham-Southern College where he also received a Distinction in Leadership Studies. He served with the U.S. Peace Corps in Ecuador. He is bilingual in Spanish, and has been trained as a Rule 31 mediator. He has been with the Commission for seven years. Internet of things News Partners: Dallas Emergency Siren Hack Illustrates The Need For Regular Security Assessments Lindsey O'Donnell Share this Solution providers are stressing the importance of keeping systems up to date after a hack left over 156 emergency sirens wailing for over an hour and a half in Dallas. An unknown hacker tricked Dallas' emergency notification system into sending repeat signals, activating each siren 60 times starting on Friday evening, according to the Dallas Office of Emergency Management. "We are glad that no permanent damage was caused, but it does illustrate the point that you really need to assess your systems on a regular basis," said Stephen Monteros, vice president of business development and strategic initiatives at Ontario, Calif.-based solution provider Sigmanet. "Our model has always been to provide regular security assessments as we find threats continue to evolve." [Related: Partners Warn Against Application Layer DDoS Attacks Targeting IoT Devices] The sirens, which typically warn citizens of severe weather, prompted concerned and confused residents to call 911, clogging that system as well, according to Dallas OEM. Investigators said they believe the person responsible for the hack is from the Dallas area. The Federal Communications Commission in aiding in the investigation. This is yet another serious example of the need for us to upgrade and better safeguard our city's technology infrastructure," Mike Rawlings, the mayor of Dallas said in a statement. It's a costly proposition, which is why every dollar of taxpayer money must be spent with critical needs such as this in mind. Making the necessary improvements is imperative for the safety of our citizens. Meanwhile, the Dallas Office of Emergency Management said more safeguards were put in place to prevent the situation from happening again. The security of various vulnerable systems has become a bigger concern for local governments. In February, the Department of Homeland Security issued an assessment that warned that attacks against law enforcement, fire departments, and other emergency services are likely to increase in frequency. The assessment, which noted that "vulnerable systems include call-center communications management software, closed-circuit TV camera systems, interactive voice response systems, and emergency alert systems particularly wireless emergency alert systems," said that the unified nature of systems creates more targets for hackers. Channel partners can take measures with city customers to avoid vulnerabilities in their critical infrastructure, including performing regular backups of all critical information to limit the impact of system loss and to help expedite the recovery process. Emergency system operators also need to maintain up-to-date antivirus software and keep operating systems and software up to date with the latest patches. "This was probably from legacy infrastructure that's not really robust, maybe not new and based on budget constraints," said Jon Salisbury, CTO of SmartLink, a Newport, Ky.-based solution provider specializing in smart cities. "When you connect these systems from a city standpoint, if you don't have proper controls and policies for the proper segmentation, these things will happen," he said. "I think there's a lot of security firms around that would be able to do [an] assessment, put in designs that take human error out of it. There are tons of solution providers that can look at that." Networking News Partners Cheer AT&T's Deal For Straight Path As Telecom Giant Pushes Toward 5G Rick Saia Share this AT&T partners are applauding its pending acquisition of Straight Path Communications, and one executive said the deal could help push the telecom giant toward its goal of providing high-speed broadband for businesses. Straight Path is an asset company that buys and holds spectrum licenses for 5G networks. AT&T announced Monday it would acquire 735 millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum licenses in the 39 GHz band and 133 licenses in the 28 GHz band in the deal. These licenses cover the entire United States, including all of the top 40 markets, according to AT&T. The deal for Straight Path, based in Glen Allen, Va., complements AT&T's acquisition in January of San Francisco-based FiberTower and adds to its holdings of mmWave spectrum, AT&T said in its statement. [RELATED: AT&T Spending $1.6B To Scoop Up Spectrum Holder Straight Path] Spectrum licenses are assets that are not "easily found these days," said Rob Chamblerin, co-founder and executive vice president of DataXoom, an AT&T partner based in Berkeley, Calif. "I think it's all good news from a partner perspective." Millimeter wave spectrum allows for high-bandwidth transmissions, making it ideal to carry high-definition video and streaming media. Several companies have been interested in the technology of late. Last year, for instance, Facebook said it achieved a broadband transmission of 20 Gbps that reached more than eight miles using the mmWave. Rickie Richey, CEO of Altaworx, an AT&T partner based in Fairhope, Ala., called the acquisition of Straight Path "kind of exciting," noting that his company has "invested a lot" in AT&T's wireless and Internet of Things offerings. "The faster they get their 5G out and get their testing done, the faster theyll be able to deliver broadband," Richey told CRN. He called the deal "good for everybody." AT&T said in its statement that the all-stock deal would accelerate the delivery of new experiences for consumers and businesses, such as virtual and augmented reality, telemedicine, autonomous cars and smart cities. "This transaction gives us enough spectrum at this time to pursue our 5G strategy," AT&T said in a document filed Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The transaction is also subject to review by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), yet the two companies expect to close the deal within 12 months, according to the AT&T statement. In January, the FCC slapped Straight Path with a fine of over $100 million to resolve an investigation of what the commission said was the company's failure to deploy wireless services as required under its FCC spectrum licenses. The case involved about 1,000 licenses in the 39 GHz and Local Multipoint Distribution Service GHz bands, "high frequency" bands that the FCC identified as "extremely valuable" for use in 5G. As part of the settlement, Straight Path agreed to surrender 196 of its 39GHz licenses to the FCC, sell the rest of its license portfolio, and pay 20 percent of the proceeds of that sale to the government, according to an FCC statement. In a document it filed with the SEC on Monday, AT&T said 20 percent of the purchase price will be redirected by Straight Path stockholders to the FCC to help pay that settlement. AT&T also said the deal does not include the 196 licenses that Straight Path surrendered to the government. Straight Path is a publicly traded company. Its shareholders will receive $1.25 billion, or $95.63 per share, according to AT&T. That was more than double the stock's closing price of $36.50 Friday on the New York Stock Exchange. On Monday, the stock closed at $91.60 a share. Dallas-based AT&T said in its SEC filing that it believes it's paying a fair price for the company. In unveiling its 5G strategy for 2017 in January, AT&T said it would not wait for final standards for the technology to be complete to begin its "network evolution." True 5G standards are still being developed, and aren't expected to be finalized until 2019. But AT&T said in January that it had brought the timeframe for 5G standards up globally into the 2018 timeframe, meaning that it's already solving some of the latency and connectivity issues being worked out in the standards process. The International Telecommunications Union has said theoretical peak speeds for standards-based 5G in the mmWave band can eventually reach up to 10 Gbps uploads, and up to 20 Gbps downloads, AT&T said. The carrier cautioned that user-experienced peak and average speeds will be lower than theoretical peak speeds and will vary by location and condition, such as time of day, network load, geography and devices. In December, AT&T kicked off an enterprise trial using "5G" wireless technology, with Intel as its first customer. Two months earlier, AT&T and Ericsson conducted the first known demonstration of 5G, illustrating the possibilities of mmWave radio access technology for the networks of the future, the telecom giant said. And in February, AT&T and Nokia delivered DirecTV NOW over a fixed wireless 5G connection using 39 GHZ mmWave technology, according to the statement. PAS On The Security Challenges And Channel Opportunities For IIoT Industrial control system company PAS wants to tighten its security efforts around the Industrial Internet of Things space with the help from new systems integrator partners. The Houston-based company, founded in 1993 as a consulting firm for optimizing automation systems in Industrial IoT, serves the oil and gas, refined petrochemical, and power industries. PAS CEO Eddie Habibi told CRN that the company is hoping to expand its channel reach to appeal to systems integrators with operational technology expertise. Following are excerpts from CRN's conversation with PAS' Habibi. On Aug. 5, 2016, Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III announced that Tennessee, along with 48 other states and the District of Columbia, reached a $125 million settlement with Cephalon, Inc. and affiliated companies, now part of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. The settlement ended a multistate investigation into alleged anticompetitive conduct by Cephalon designed to block generic competition to its sleep-disorder drug, Provigil. That conduct delayed generic versions of Provigil from entering the market for several years, while at the same time Provigil sales in the United States exceeded $1billion. The settlement included $35 million to compensate eligible consumers who may have been harmed by the alleged conduct. While the claims period has been advertised for several months, many consumers may not realize the claims period will close. Originally, the deadline for consumers to file claims seeking to receive a portion of the $35 million or object to the settlement was April 13. The states sought and were granted an extension of the deadline to June 25. Eligible consumers are those who reside in the District of Columbia, Tennessee or any state other than California or Louisiana and who paid for brand-name Provigil or generic Modafinil from June 24, 2006 to March 31, 2012. Tennessee consumers are eligible for approximately $1.1 million in restitution payments through this settlement. For more information or to obtain a claim form, visit www.StateAGProvigilSettlement. com or call 1-877-236-1413. A Russian man long connected with sending spam emails has been arrested and is being held in Spain, with a law enforcement source contracting news reports saying he was involved with a computer virus linked to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent election victory. The arrest of Piotr Levashov at the Barcelona airport on Friday was not tied to Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, said the source, who is close to the investigation. That contradicts news reports from Agence France-Presse and other news outlets, which said Levashov's wife, Maria Levachova, was told his arrest was connected to Trump's election. Levachova, speaking to Russia Today, said Spanish police told her that "a virus which appears to have been created by my husband is linked to the victory of Trump" in November's election. Levashov remained in custody in Spain Monday, with the U.S. seeking to extradite him, AFP reported. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on its case against Levashov, noting that the investigation is under seal. Under a different spelling of the first name Pyotr, the suspect appears to be someone long accused of sending spam emails, reports Krebs on Security. Levashov was also known as Severa in several Russian-language cybercrime forums, Krebs reported. This article has been updated to rewrite the lead paragraph and replace the last paragraph with one about Levashov's spam connections. The arrest last week of a Russian man in Spain was apparently for his role in a massive spam botnet and not related to an ongoing investigation into foreign tampering with last year's U.S. election. The botnet, called Kelihos, has enslaved hundreds of thousands of computers, and distributed spam and malware to users across the globe. However, the U.S. has taken action to dismantle the illegal operation, the Department of Justice said on Monday. The arrest of 36-year-old Peter Yuryevich Levashov, the botnet's alleged operator, was at first thought to be related to the ongoing U.S. investigation of presidential election-related hacking, but the DOJ said on Monday that wasn't the case. It didn't however reveal the charges against Levashov because the case remains under seal, but offered reporters documents that showed U.S. investigators obtained court orders to stop Levashov from controlling his botnet, which he had allegedly ran since 2010. Levashov has been accused of infecting Windows PCs with malware to form a botnet, or a network of enslaved computers. Once enslaved, Levashov turned the PC into a mail server without the victims knowledge, the U.S. government claimed. The Kelihos botnet has been found distributing hundreds of millions of spam emails, many of which were advertising counterfeit drugs, promoting penny stocks and work-at-home scams. He was also suspected of using his botnet to distribute malware, including ransomware, which can hold an infected PC hostage, encrypting the data stored inside unless the owner pays a ransom. Levashov harvested login credentials from infected PCs too. This was done to break into the users online bank accounts or to sneak into the victims email accounts to send out more spam. He had even helped other cybercriminals distribute malware in exchange for payment, U.S. investigators claim. In building its case against Levashov, the FBI noticed that one of the botnets servers was constantly logging into an email account at mail.ru. That account was registered to a Pete Levashov, and was also associated with an Apple iCloud account under a similar name, according to an FBI filed court document. To dismantle the Kelihos botnet, the U.S. is essentially severing the link between Levashov and his computers. Its obtained a court order to redirect internet traffic from Kelihos-infected machines to a dummy server under the investigators control. The FBI estimates the Kelihos botnet has between 25,000 and 100,000 computers currently under its control. About 5 to 10 percent reside in the U.S. However, the U.S. steps to dismantle Kelihos should disrupt most of the botnets activities over the next few days, a Department of Justice official said. Users can use free antivirus tools such as Microsoft Safety Scanner to clear Kelihos-related malware from their PCs. Internet service providers will also be told which IP addresses have been found supporting the botnet's activities. Although the dismantling should be a major blow to Kelihos, the Justice Department hasn't said if others might have been involved in the botnet's activities. What do you think of this? Head to Facebook to comment. As part of the ongoing Art Wise Distinguished Speakers Series, the Hunter Museum of American Art welcomes Smithsonian American Art Museum Curator of Latino Art E. Carmen Ramos to speak on Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m. Dr. Ramos, who curated the exhibit and wrote the accompanying catalogue, will speak about the exhibits creation as well as some of the themes and artists included in it. The program will include live Spanish translation. The America presents works in all media by nearly 70 leading modern and contemporary artists. Drawn entirely from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, this exhibition showcases artists of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican descent, as well as other Latin American groups with deep roots in the United States. The exhibition explores how Latino artists shaped the artistic movements of their day and recalibrated key themes in American art and culture. Dr. Ramos is the Smithsonian American Art Museums curator of Latino art; she joined the museums staff in 2010. Since then, she has expanded the museums pioneering collection of Latino art with an eye toward capturing the broad aesthetic and regional range of the field. Her research interests include modern and contemporary Latino, Latin American, and African American art. Art Wise events occur multiple times a year at the Hunter Museum, often coinciding with special exhibitions, and feature nationally and globally known speakers from the art community. Past speakers include Lalla Essaydi, Lynsey Addario, and Albert Paley. The Art Wise series is sponsored by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Community Trust. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The state Department of Housing announced recently funds are still available to help low-income families in 15 communities across the state including Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford to abate lead contaminants in their homes. Audrey Gaines, lead-poisoning prevention program director for the city of Bridgeport, doesnt expect that funding to last long. We have been referring a lot of landlords to that state program, she said. The Connecticut Childrens Healthy Homes program funded by the state Housing Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and operated by the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center targets low-income households living with lead contamination in their homes. There is about $9 million of funding available from four grant sources. The goal of the program is to protect children before they are poisoned by lead or injured by safety hazards in their homes. Residents from the target cities can visit the Connecticut Childrens website to apply for the funding. The Connecticut Childrens Healthy Homes program is a valuable and effective tool that we have in our state to eliminate lead poisoning, state Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein said in a news release. DOHs broader work is focused on improving the quality of life of Connecticut residents by ensuring access to quality, safe and affordable housing. This program is helping us to achieve that vision by ensuring that we can protect our children against the dangers of lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous in young children and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has been known to cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slow growth and development, and lead to learning and behavioral problems, as well as hearing and speech issues. Gaines said more state and federal dollars are needed to prevent exposure and remove lead contaminants, but the reality is just the opposite. Numerous reports on potential cuts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show funding for lead removal training and education could be eliminated. The state is concerned that this funding is proposed to be cut, said Daniel Arsenault, spokesman for the DOH, in an email. We know from the information that we have available that these programs are having a big impact on improving the health and well-being of our states children. These dollars play a key role in updating our older housing stock by removing harmful lead contaminants. He said the state can apply for lead-prevention funding from the federal government every other year. It recently applied for another allocation of $3.4 million, but wont learn whether it will see those funds until June. Gaines said other avenues should be explored for financing prevention programs. We need to identify the hazard instead of having children identify the hazard and get lead poisoning, she said. We need to identify it prior to exposure. For more information about Connecticut Childrens Healthy Homes Program, call 860-837-6234. Amanda Cuda contributed to this report. ktorres@hearstmediact.com; 203-330-6227 BRIDGEPORT A local man is facing seven years in prison after he pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with the shooting two years ago at a Park Avenue restaurant that killed an employee and wounded the owner. About to go on trial, Gregory Hughes, 34, instead agreed to plead guilty under the Alford Doctrine to conspiracy to commit murder before Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin. The judge said he would impose a term of 15 years, suspended after seven years, and five years probation when he sentences Hughes on July 21. A plea made under the Alford Doctrine means Hughes did not admit guilt, but conceded he could be found guilty of the crime if he went to trial. The judge then found him guilty. Hughes is charged in connection with the July 26, 2015, fatal shooting of 33-year-old Derrick Hill. There were no other arrests in the case. Hill, an employee of the Rootsman Kitchen on Park Avenue, was shot to death as he left the restaurant at about 6:30 p.m. Police said the gunman confronted Hill just beyond the restaurants door, firing multiple times. Hill was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The restaurants owner, Dennis Hines, 50, was struck in the buttocks by a stray bullet while he worked inside and was taken to St. Vincents Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. The slaying was the citys ninth homicide of 2015. BRIDGEPORT A man who police said claimed he shot an alleged drug dealer in self-defense while helping a friend rob the victim of marijuana pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder charges. Jovanne Brown, 21, waived a hearing on probable cause and instead pleaded not guilty before Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin to felony murder, murder, possession of a pistol without a permit, carrying weapons in a motor vehicle, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. He asked for a jury trial, and the judge continued the case to May 1. Meanwhile, police said the alleged friend, Williard Hargrove, was arrested in the case Monday night. Brown is accused of fatally shooting 26-year-old Michael Watkins on Feb. 24. Shortly before 10 p.m. on that date, police found Watkins lying on Berkshire Avenue, shot multiple times. A short time later, police said, a white Hyundai sedan pulled up in front of the St. Vincents Medical Center emergency room and a large man helped a bleeding Brown into the hospital and then hurriedly drove off. Police said Brown, who was treated for a bullet wound in his chest, initially told them he had been walking on Maplewood Avenue when a shot was fired at him from a car. He didnt know who shot him or why, police said he told them. However, as detectives began to connect Brown to Watkins shooting, police said, Brown admitted there was more to his story. Police said he then told them a friend had arranged to purchase three pounds of marijuana from Watkins and that in exchange for coming along the friend would fix Browns car. When Brown got into his friends car he asked his friend, Do you even got any bread, a reference to the money to buy the marijuana, police said. No I aint got nothing, the Brown told police the friend said. Police said they asked Brown if the intent was to rob Watkins of his marijuana. I guess so, they said he replied. But during the drug deal, police said, Brown told them Watkins had become alarmed when Brown moved around in the back seat so Watkins shot Brown. There was then a struggle in the car, Brown picked up a gun off the floor and fired twice at Watkins, police said Brown told them. The driver of the Hyundai then pushed Watkins out of the car and took off with Brown, police said Brown told them. Police said Hargrove was the driver of the Hyundai. Hargrove, 27, of Rita Avenue, was charged with felony murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and was being held in lieu of $400,000 bond. Lee University Online will launch criminal justice as its newest major beginning this May, in cooperation with the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department of Lees College of Arts & Sciences. Lee is designing this online offering with working adults in mind, specifically those looking to begin, extend or expand their law enforcement careers or pursue future graduate study. Criminal justice degrees are in high demand across the country, and according to a 2010 study of the American Sociological Association that demand is forecast to increase in the coming decades. Criminal justice has been a successful minor offered to Lee behavioral and social science majors for years. Lee alumni can currently be seen on the job as police officers in Nashville and Cleveland, corrections officers in multiple locations, and even as graduate students in the halls of Cambridge University, one of the worlds oldest schools of criminology. With this kind of success, a fully developed major has been much requested, according to Behavioral Sciences Chair Dr. Jeff Sargent. We know there are a number of people in local and national criminal justice agencies who will benefit from [this degree], Dr. Sargent said. Our faith-integrated expertise is uniquely prepared to deliver this program to a new audience. The program will offer either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science track with a choice of two emphases: Corrections or Criminology/Juvenile Justice. The academic degree will be an extension of Lees sociology program and the dream of Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Arlie Tagayuna. Our program is designed to develop the key knowledge, values and ethical considerations that are significant in becoming successful managers and leaders in the criminal justice system and related human services vocations, Dr. Tagayuna said. For Lee Onlines top administrator Executive Director Dr. Joshua Black, its a case of mission-meeting mandate: Criminal justice programs have been trending in recent years as the need for police and corrections officers grows in our country, so we know there is a demand. However, this is more than just institutional growth; it is about meeting a need in our communities. It is about living out Matthew 25:35-36 by caring for and empowering others. Lee President Paul Conn echoed this sentiment, At Lee, we try to deliver academic programs that prepare our students for lives of service. Criminal justice is an important program that has not been offered here, and we are pleased to add it. Local partnerships are already developed with the Cleveland Police Department and the Bradley County Sheriffs Office to offer a local, faith-based alternative for many officers looking to complete their undergraduate degree. The program is designed for both the brand new student and the transfer who may be bringing with him/her a completed associates degree. The 120-hour degree consists of the schools general education core (36 hours), religion core (15 hours), specialty area with selected emphasis (51 hours), and 18 hours of electives selected by the student. This is an exciting time for Lee University, Dr. Black said. We can reach out to the world in a very different way through our criminal justice degree. Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Dr. Matthew Melton concurred: A degree in criminal justice isnt about law enforcement; its about coming to grips with a marginalized and forgotten part of our society. Our mission at Lee University is to train responsible citizens for redemptive service. Our program in criminal justice will help prepare graduates to serve among people who very much need the light of hope in their lives. With the current state of policing in the U.S., Dr. Conn believes a criminal justice education with a Christian worldview is of paramount importance: The blending of justice and mercy has been a goal of the church for 2,000 years. Its importance has never been more crucial than now. The new criminal justice cohort will begin May 9 and is pending approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD A penny-per-ounce tax on sugary beverages would go a long way toward tackling obesity, diabetes and tooth decay in Connecticut, state lawmakers were told Tuesday. But Republican members of the tax-writing Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee warned that without a dedicated fund to promote better health, the additional revenue would simply bloat the state budget. They warned that the tax money would be spent elsewhere, similar to the billions that have come into the state from Big Tobacco settlement of 1998, the vast of majority of which has not been invested in smoking cessation. During a public hearing, retail merchants claimed that the tax, amounting to nearly 68 cents on a 2-liter bottle, would kill small business, cutting sales by about $168 million a year. Teamsters who haul soda predicted the loss of at least 150 truck-driving jobs. But Dr. David Katz of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby, said that discouraging the consumption of sugary beverages such as soda would mean better health throughout a state in which the beverage industry manipulates consumers and encourages over-consumption. Comparing costs The tax, already in place in cities including Philadelphia and recently approved in local votes in San Francisco and Berkeley, Calif., could generate $145 million per year for Connecticut, which is facing a $1.7 billion deficit in the budget scheduled to start July 1. Nobody needs these products, Katz said. No one will suffer from want of thirst because of an excise tax on soda. There are alternatives to drink. The very intent here is to reduce consumption. And of course there is a huge financial burden attached to obesity and diabetes and the complications of diabetes. And those taxes, which you do not control, are also imposed, preferentially on the most-financially vulnerable populations. Republicans including Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, and Rep. Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, said they were concerned that SNAP recipients in the federal food stamp program run through the Department of Agriculture are using 10 percent of their food credits to purchase soft drinks for their families. That, to me, seems to be an area where we should be going after, more than taxing the beverage, Suzio said. Katz replied that the federal program to help people with food insecurity was written to include the sugar-added beverages and sodas. Katz would like to develop a food-rating system for all foods and provide it to SNAP participants, with rewards for those who participate. Business objections Its a tax that people cant afford, said Christopher Roos, president of Teamsters Local 1035, noting that after public schools banned sugary drinks, eight union members lost good-paying jobs. He said another 150 could become unemployed if the bill passes. We are very, very wary of any new type of sales tax increase, no matter the size of the increase or the targeted audience, said Timothy G. Phelan, president of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association. Were concerned that any new tax would harm our smaller, independent merchants who already operate under very small margins. Any decline in sales would have a devastating effect on their bottom line and ability to remain in business. Advocates for the legislation said that nearly 30 percent of kindergartners have experienced tooth decay, while 32 percent are overweight. A quarter of all adults are overweight and more than 30 percent have high blood pressure. In 2012, the top New York court ruled against then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs attempt to prohibit the sale of super-sized sodas. Since then he has invested tens of millions of dollars in local efforts to tax sugary drinks. In Berkeley, penny-per-ounce tax approved in 2015 has been credited with reducing consumption by more than 20 percent. Similar legislation this year was introduced in Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Texas and Washington State. Local taxes have also been passed in Oakland, Albany, and Cook County, Ill., which includes Chicago. Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton, said that she was concerned that the added revenue would be sucked up by the operating-budget crisis, similar to the billions of dollars that the tobacco industry has remitted in the last 19 years, and not get invested in nutritional education. I dont today have a reason to believe that the Legislature can be trusted not to do that with funds for this purpose, she told Katz. Thats money that could be put to very good use for public health causes, Katz replied. kdixon@ctpost.com; Twitter: @KenDixonCT He may have fled, but he did not take flight. A Massachusetts man suspected of murdering a woman in that state Monday has been arrested after a break for a Connecticut airport, according to authorities. Roberto Santiago, 19, of West Springfield, Mass., is now awaiting extradition on murder charges. Police said that Santiago had a ticket to San Juan, Puerto Rico. He didnt make it on the plane. Connecticut State Police arrested Santiago in conjunction with Massachusetts law enforcement agents at the Bradley International Airport, about 10 miles inside the Connecticut boarder, according to the DA. This quick arrest comes as a result of the constructive collaboration between (law enforcement agencies), Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said in a statement. This cooperation will continue as my office now focuses its effort on a successful prosecution and justice for the victim and her family." The victim of the shooting, Delilah Santiago, 18, of Holyoke, was declared dead after she was found Monday around midday with a gunshot wound to her head, according to the DA. The two Santiagos are not related but had previously known each other, according to a representative from the DAs office. "This was a tragic incident that resulted in a young woman senselessly losing her life, Gulluni said. My sympathy and thoughts are with the victims family and friends. HARTFORD The state has pulled the plug on a controversial plan to spend $300,000 studying how to tax state residents for miles driven on Connecticut roads. Sate Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker last week informed eight other Northeastern states participating in the federal study that the state is pulling out. Academic sessions of Ballet Schools meeting begins in Havana Submitted by: Juana Culture and Traditions Dance Havana 04 / 11 / 2017 The 23rd International Meeting of Ballet Academies begins today at the Fernando Alonso School in Havana city, with the presence of specialists from a dozen countries. The event was inaugurated in the National Theater where the students of different levels showed their skills. Miguel Cabrera, historian of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), said at the opening ceremony that the event is dedicated to the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, a man who maintained close ties with the art and development of the dancers. The event, which will take place until the 19th, hosts representatives from Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Peru, Italy, the Netherlands and other nations, who will exchange ideas about art education and technical development. For 10 days, registered trainees will have the opportunity to receive classes of physical preparation, tips, repertoire, choreographic composition, and classical duo, among other subjects. The present edition will deepen in subjects such as the qualities of the flamenco dance, the batteries in the Cuban school of ballet, and the prevention of the injuries of the foot and the ankle in students. Optional workshops include complementary disciplines for any artistic profession such as acting, makeup, dance criticism, folklore, Pilates in the context of the world of ballet, and Spanish dance. Cuban FM calls for unity against threats to the region Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called for unity and solidarity in the face of the rapid development of recent events in the region and threats to peace in Latin America and the Caribbean. At the inauguration of the XV Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Treaty of Peoples' Trade (ALBA-TCP), which began in the Cubanacan protocol hall of this capital, Rodriguez stressed the urgency of addressing what is happening in the area, particularly the recent bullying actions against Venezuela. The meeting will be attended by foreign ministers and heads of delegations from the countries that are members of the mechanism, who will ratify the final declaration of the XIV ALBA-TCP Extraordinary Summit in Caracas, Venezuela, in March, and the precepts of the Proclamation Of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, adopted by the Summit of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in January 2014. The Cuban diplomat said that the XIV Summit of Heads of State and Government of the block left a statement, which he described as a powerful guide for action for Our America in order to face the dangers looming over the entire region He said that the document approved in Caracas is key to jointly face the imperial agenda for the region, and the onslaught against leftist and progressive governments. He stressed that the defense of Venezuela and its Revolution is not the exclusive problem of that nation, but "a cause that summons all those who fight for the true independence of Latin America and the Caribbean." Rodriguez referred to Venezuela being harassed by the Organization of American States (OAS), an institution that he described as servile and pro-imperialist, while criticizing it for its attacks on progressive South American countries. The Cuban Foreign Minister highlighted the achievements in health and education promoted by ALBA-TCP in the region. Likewise, he said that this meeting will support the Ecuadorian people and their Citizen Revolution, winners in the electoral contest last week. Also, this meeting will support the Sandinista revolution and defend the legitimate interests of the Caribbean countries, he said. (acn) United Passenger Faces A Whole New, Ugly Round Of Victim-Blaming In Wake Of Violent Removal By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 11, 2017 4:36PM Aside from being a horrifying episode in and of itself, the aftermath of United flight 3411in which a man, now identified by the Courier Journal as David Dao, 69, was bloodied and forcibly removed from a flight at O'Hare International Airport after refusing to give up his seat from the overbooked planewas a master's class in exactly how not to handle the aftermath of such incidents. Oscar Munoz, United Airlines CEO, apologized "for having to re-accommodate these customers"but not for the overbooking that prompted the whole mess. No law enforcement agency seemed to want anything to do with the aftermath. Then Chicago police typed up an unofficial recap saying Dao "fell" and "his head subsequently struck an armrest causing injuries to his face," when it sure looked like he has some help in "falling"even though it was aviation officers, not CPD, that were involved. Things haven't gotten a whole lot better since Monday morning. Ryan Ruggerio, Senior Assignment Desk Manager at CNBC, shared an email on Monday evening that was reportedly sent by CEO Oscar Munoz to fellow United employees. The victim-blaming defense again reads like a case study in the opposite of how one should approach the situation. Also note that Dao, a paying customer, was, um, asked to give up his seat for United crew members. He wrote in part (emphasis ours): "We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation) and when we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions. "He was approached a few more times after that in order to gain his compliance to come off the aircraft, and each time he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent." INBOX: @united CEO sends letter to employees about United Express flight. pic.twitter.com/obVdl6G2E0 Ryan Ruggiero (@RyanRuggiero) April 10, 2017 "Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this," Munoz wrote. "While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right." Now, as we're learning more about Dao, the emphasis is shifting from how he was treated by United and Chicago Department of Aviation officers (one officer was put on leave over the incident) to Dao's past. Dao, a Kentucky resident, gave up his medical license after being convicted of several counts related to illegally prescribing and trafficking painkillers, according to reports. The Courier Journal wrote: "As for Dao's history as a doctor in Kentucky, the medical licensure board documents allege that he was involved in fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances and was sexually involved with a patient who used to work for his practice and assisted police in building a case against him. As for the tabloids, the New York Post went with the New York Post-y "Doctor dragged off flight was convicted of trading drugs for sex." The Daily Mail chose "United passenger traded drugs for gay sex with patient." The framing of Dao's past and what some saw as a dirt dig quickly drew fire. Dr. Dao's past is irrelevant to how he was assaulted & mistreated by the staff of @united. https://t.co/8ruVnsJc8t Simar (@sahluwal) April 11, 2017 @IngrahamAngle Not relevant. Dr. Dao did nothing wrong. He paid for his seat. United Airlines accepted his money & didn't abide by the contract of carriage SmartCat (@SmartCatThinks) April 11, 2017 The Courier Journal came under fire itself, too. The writer of the report, Morgan Watkins, tweeted on Monday morning that she hoped to contact Dao "to get his side of the story." The fact that the resulting piece looked quite a bit different from that was not lost on media observers. If anyone knows who the man on this #United flight was, please let me know. Hoping to reach out to him to get his side of the story. https://t.co/pHevS3FHDQ Morgan Watkins (@morganwatkins26) April 10, 2017 "David Dao, passenger removed from United flight, a doctor with troubled past" doesn't really sound like "his side of the story" A\_(a)_/A https://t.co/i5qcgyDWbJ Alex Abad-Santos (@alex_abads) April 11, 2017 Think Progress chewed over the irony: "While the [Courier Journal] piece sullies Dao, it doesnt delve into the background of the CDA or Chicago Police Department (CPD). CDA officers were reportedly the only officers on the plane, but the CPD nonetheless saw fit to release a statement describing Dao as irate and yelling. The CPDs statement attributes no blame to officers or the airline for the mans injuries. The Courier-Journal piece doesnt mention that in the 10-year stretch between 2004 and 2014, the CPD paid out more than $500 million in brutality settlements and legal fees. Nor does it attempt to explain why the CDA placed one officer who was involved in the Dao incident on leave but not the other two who can be seen manhandling him in videos." Meanwhile, United's stocks plunged into a nosedive on Tuesday morning, as the videos could cause also spell serious trouble for the airliner's Asian market. It'll be interesting to see how that turns out to be Dao's fault, too. United Airlines stock is being re-accomodated. $UAL pic.twitter.com/Zvr6a0R5vy Anthony De Rosa Y (@Anthony) April 11, 2017 This post has been updated. Shenyang Area, Liaoning Free Trade Zone, starts operation on April 10, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com] Three separate areas in a free trade zone in northeast China's Liaoning Province were inaugurated Monday, part of the measures to invigorate the old industrial base. A total of 181 companies obtained business licenses Monday in the FTZ's Dalian, Shenyang and Yingkou areas. An additional 350 firms are planning to follow suit. "Our company will invest 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) in a project that will have an annual production capacity of 300,000 new energy cars," said Zhou Guangsheng, legal representative of a clean energy automobile company based in Shenyang, the provincial capital. His firm was given the go ahead to establish a base in the FTZ's Shenyang area with a registered capital of 100 million yuan. Liaoning FTZ covers about 120 square km, with 60 square km in Dalian and 30 square km in Shenyang and Yingkou respectively. It focuses on logistics, equipment manufacturing, auto and parts, e-commerce and information industry. "Institutional innovation will be at the core of business in the FTZ so we can build on the new advantage of the open economy in the old industrial base," said Wang Menghui, deputy Communist Party chief of the province. It is hoped that the FTZ will help accelerate reform at local state-owned enterprises. Liaoning posted the poorest economic growth among all provincial regions last year. On April 1, unveiling ceremonies were held for the country's seven new FTZs, which cover provinces including Liaoning and southwestern Sichuan. To support continued opening up, China established its first FTZ in Shanghai in 2013, and later expanded to three more provincial-level areas of Tianjin, Fujian and Guangdong. With the addition of the seven new FTZs, China now has 11 in total. What to do in Pennsylvania if you made an error on your mail-in ballot The state Supreme Court recently ruled that undated or incorrectly dated mail ballots cannot be counted. Here's what voters can do about an error. The first China-bound cargo train carrying British products left London for eastern Chinese city of Yiwu on April 10, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] The first China-bound cargo train carrying British products left London on Monday for an eastern Chinese city, highlighting another historic moment in the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative. The cross-continent freight, loaded with 32 containers carrying products including milk powder and soft drinks, left from east London's DP World gateway for the Chinese city of Yiwu amid cheers and applause. The front of the red locomotive was seen with a sign board that reads "First London-Yiwu Train." The 12,000-km journey will pass through nine countries in 18 days. During the trip, the train's locomotives have to be changed due to different railway gauges in the countries. Ma Hui, a senior official with the Chinese embassy in Britain, said the direct freight train service is "very meaningful and important" against the backdrop of slowing world trade and the rise of protectionism. "The service injects fresh impetus into the joint efforts by China and UK in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said. "The train carries not only goods, but also the bilateral confidence to score a win-win." Rupert Soames, British prime minister's business ambassador for infrastructure and transport, said at the launching ceremony of the event, which he dubbed "historic", that such a rail service helped provide jobs to his country. Kevin Lam, general manager of the global management office with Kerry logistics which is a key custom for the freight train, told Xinhua that he is expecting to see more frequent direct freight between Britain and China. "The cost for the current freight batch is almost the same as the sea transportation," said Lam, whose company uses 10 out of the 32 containers, "But it is twice faster than through the sea route." He added that his company is willing to see the number of the direct freight service increase to once every week. Jacob Gan, operations manager of the local branch of the YXE International Container Train, operator of the direct rail service, told Xinhua that his company will monitor the operation of the service and evaluate when more such service could be provided. London is the 15th European city on an expanding map of destinations for China's rail cargo.The first Chinese freight train arrived in London in January. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in the latter's Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago in the United States, April 6, 2017. [Xinhua/Lan Hongguang] A few hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping left Florida, the U.S. Carl Vinson Strike Group departed from Singapore and sailed northward into the Western Pacific Ocean near the Korean Peninsula. This outlines President Donald Trump's decision to employ a muscular foreign policy approach. The deployment followed his order for airstrikes against a military base in Syria in response to a deadly chemical bombing raid in that country which the Americans blamed on the Syrian government. It seems that isolationism is no longer Trump's ambition. The president had publicly rejected his characterization as "isolationist" during his recent press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. And, it now becomes evident that he is ready for an expanded U.S. international presence. He values the importance of security instead of Washington's frequently required mission to change the world, however, limits between the two objectives are not necessarily clear, because their motivations are often interwoven. So, it will not be surprising if it's almost "business as normal" for the U.S. in the coming months. Xi, meeting Trump for the first time, had several opportunities over a 48-hour period to get familiar with the approach of his newly-elected American counterpart. Trump had shown himself unpredictable in his first eleven weeks in office, which can be a clever diplomatic tactic. Nevertheless, as time passes, he is gradually losing this advantage. Perhaps the most important lesson for China is that the country knows now the general principles of American foreign policy under Trump. It maintains continuity with previous presidents rather than discontinuity indefining American calculations. Attention turned first towards North Korea. Before his meeting with Xi, Trump had attempted to set the tone with a harsh rhetoric against the Chinese administration. "If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will," he said. Several American think tanks have already started to elaborate on the need of American action against North Korea, examining several options after the so-called "strategic patience" expired. As China and the U.S. disagree on how to proceed with the Pyongyang imbroglio, American unilateral action would be highly risky. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed the mutual will for collaboration in the Korean Peninsula, saying the two leaders "agreed to expand cooperation on multiple levels to make contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity." Of course, the future evolution of Sino-American relations goes well beyond the Korea Peninsula. The agreement between Xi and Trump to make good use of the joint staff dialogue mechanism to boost military communications and deepen cooperation in cybersecurity are positive signs for the future. However, China prefers a wait-and-see stance on how any balance in the new multilateral world will emerge under Trump. The relationship between the U.S. and Russia is not as harmonious as numerous analysts had predicted after last November's election. The new Syrian crisis is being closely monitored by Chinese policymakers with regard not only to the human dimension and repercussions for regional security, but also to its impact on the hypothetical rapprochement between Moscow and Washington. Xi also returned from Florida with two additional conclusions. The first is that Trump is no longer threatening China with a trade war. Some Western media argue his milder rhetoric now is explained on the basis of "concessions" made by Beijing. The Financial Times, for example, suggested China will offer the Americans better market access for financial sector investments and beef exports to help avert a trade war. Nonetheless, that kind of policy should not be regarded as a desperate Chinese diplomatic move, for it goes hand-in-hand with China's will to promote openness and better opportunities for foreign companies as both Xi and Premier Li Keqiang have said in their recent speeches. Also, Trump might have already realized the risks from a trade war. And the second interesting point is that Trump made no reference to human rights in China. In contrast to Barack Obama, the new president has different priorities. This possibly connotes his understanding for China's "core interests." Trump did not repeat the terminology used by his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his recent trip to Beijing in describing the bilateral relationship as "non-conflict" and "non-confrontational," and seems prepared to respect China in his public statements. All in all, the Xi-Trump Summit in Florida marks a good start for bilateral relations in the new era. More conversations and meetings between the two leaders are expected in the short and medium term. In spite of their existing difference the need of bilateral cooperation between China and the U.S. is currently more urgent than ever. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. 1. Psychologists at York University recently suggested that Marmite might help boost brain activity. In strictly controlled tests, a goldfish that had not eaten any Marmite was given two hours to open the lid of the iconic jar, but failed. Meanwhile, a chimpanzee which had been tucking into Marmite on toast was able to unscrew it in just ten seconds. 2. Marmite was originally discovered in the late 19th century. Having heard rumours of a vast Tanzanian lake composed entirely of a sticky, dark brown paste with a salty, powerful flavour, Sir Digby Tantrum led an expedition there in 1889. 3. At that time, there was a crying need in Victorian Britain for a new savoury spread. Sadly, a rival expedition from Norway that set out early that year never reached its destination, having stumbled upon Lake Sandwich Spread in the spring. Having gorged on Sandwich Spread for hours on end, we suddenly came over all queasy and found that we could go no further, said the ill-fated expedition leader, Kurt Rejoinder. Psychologists at York University recently suggested that Marmite might help boost brain activity 4. At first, Sir Digby found nothing but a trail of soldiers bread, sliced, toasted and spread with sticky brown paste then cut into thin strips scattered around the neighbouring jungle. But having followed the trail for 72 miles, he came across an extra-ordinary sight. There before me was a lake of the blackest black, stretching for miles on end. Was this the famous lake for which we had been searching these past six months? I immediately ordered my men to toast some bread. Thereupon, I pressed my sword into the lake and spread the sticky substance all over one of those slices of toast. It was, alas, not to my taste. But I am not one to give up. I turned to the only female on the expedition, held out the spread and said: I dont like it, but maam might. And so the famous name was born! 5. To this day, Marmite is used for many purposes other than eating. In Hobart, Tasmania, it is employed as cement. We find the texture perfect for modern building requirements, says one of the regions leading construction companies. Though we do urge our workers to wear masks, to prevent them being overcome by noxious fumes. Marmite has recently arrived in the White House. President Trump finds it perfect for keeping his hair in place, particularly when boarding the helicopter to Mar-a-Lago, confirms Press Secretary Sean Spicer 6. In parts of Peru, jungle tribes daub their bodies in Marmite in an attempt to ward off the evil eye. Covered in the spread, they dance around an open fire for up to 15 hours before wiping it all off with sponge-like bread and eating it. 7. In Papua New Guinea, Marmite is considered the height of sophistication. Tribesmen who wish to show they are a cut above their neighbours always make sure that their shirts are generously smeared with Marmite before they go out. 8. Marmite has recently arrived in the White House. President Trump finds it perfect for keeping his hair in place, particularly when boarding the helicopter to Mar-a-Lago, confirms Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who also uses it for fixing his White House podium in the right position at all times. 9. Some of the worlds greatest dishes are Marmite-based. Cutting-edge chef Heston Blumenthal has developed Marmite ice cream, while the top restaurant in Paris, La Marmite, continues to serve a famous pudding of Tarte Tatin Au Marmite. Their Sole Dans La Marmite sole dipped in Marmite remains one of their most popular main courses. 10. Ayers Rock, in the centre of Australia, is believed to house a ten-ton lump of Marmite at its centre. We know some sort of savoury spread lies at the heart of this legendary rock, says the top scientist Barry Kerr, who has been investigating the phenomenon for the past 17 years. But there is a small possibility that it might be a lesser-known brand of peanut butter. 11. The advertising slogan for Marmite has changed many times over the years. When Marmite came on the market in 1902, its slogan was Nothing Better. After an intervention by the Advertising Standards Authority, this was changed to Better Than Nothing. For the next 40 years the slogan was: For Those In Search of Something Black and Sticky. 12. It is often said that Marmite repels mosquitos. I hate the stuff, and so do most of my friends, confirms a leading mosquito. Over the last few weeks, millions of families have opened their council tax bills wearily expecting bad news. As nine in ten local authorities are hiking this grotesquely abused levy by up to 5 per cent or 80 for the average band D property the pain, particularly for those on fixed incomes, will have been acute. So for every household facing a rising bill, todays TaxPayers Alliance report into town hall pay packets will be a further gut-wrenching blow. Councillors who authorise these pay packets could learn a lot from incoming Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, who will be paid 40,000 less than her predecessor A total of 539 council employees earn more than the Prime Ministers salary of 150,402 a rise of 10 per cent in a year Some 2,300 are paid 100,000 or more One council, Southwark in south London, pays 44 staff six-figure sums In the most egregious example, Sunderland council handed its chief executive 625,000 and another executive 605,000 in pay, pensions and payoffs when they left after a damning Ofsted report into childrens services. What possible excuse is there for such gratuitous reward for failure? Indeed, at a time of austerity, how can council leaders who miss no chance to complain about cuts to their grants justify ANY pay rises for senior bureaucrats? The reason bills are going up so much is to pay for better social care, so every penny should be bolstering threadbare services for the elderly, not lining officials pockets. Councillors who authorise these pay packets could learn a lot from incoming Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, who will be paid 40,000 less than her predecessor. What a contrast with the endless grasping of Britains town hall fat cats. Bring bankers to heel It is nearly a decade since greedy bankers sparked the global financial crisis, inflicting huge misery on the public. Yet there has still never been an exhaustive inquiry to hold the guilty to account. For yet more evidence as to why such scrutiny is long overdue, consider the deeply worrying revelations uncovered by BBC Panorama into the manipulation of the Libor bank lending rate. In a conversation taped at the height of the crisis in 2008, one senior Barclays manager instructs a junior colleague to artificially lower the rate, claiming there was very serious pressure from the government and the Bank of England. The current Barclays chief executive, Jes Staley, has been caught trying to unmask a whistleblower who raised concerns about another senior Barclays executive The recording contradicts evidence from the disgraced former chief executive of Barclays, Bob Diamond (pictured), and a senior official at the Bank of England, Paul Tucker, who both told MPs there was no pressure to manipulate rates The recording contradicts evidence from the disgraced former chief executive of Barclays, Bob Diamond, and a senior official at the Bank of England, Paul Tucker, who both told MPs there was no pressure to manipulate rates. Meanwhile, the current Barclays chief executive, Jes Staley, has been caught trying to unmask a whistleblower who raised concerns about another senior Barclays executive. Yes, regulators are examining this case and the Serious Fraud Office continues to probe Libor-fixing. But until there is a broader investigation into the causes of the financial crisis and ethics in the City the public will never trust the banks again. For months the Mail has warned of the perverse consequences of Government policies on motor insurance. As well as raising insurance premium tax three times in two years, ministers have mandated higher compensation payouts further pushing up bills. The result? The average policy is set to cost 1,000 next year. What an appalling attack on the prudent. How deeply depressing that 51,000 young people cannot join the Scouts because of a shortage of volunteers with many parents put off by bureaucratic background checks. In an age when young people spend endless hours hunched over their screens, the good old-fashioned outdoor adventures offered by the Scout movement could not be more valuable. As she becomes increasingly confident in her royal role and is thrust further into the international spotlight with more foreign travel, the Duchess of Cambridge has moved away from her favourite high street brands in favour of designer pieces. Femail estimated that in 2016 she wore clothing worth 174,170, four times the value of her 2015 wardrobe, which came in at just over 43,000. Now the popular blog What Would Kate Do has estimated the Duchess' spend on new clothing, shoes and accessories so far in 2017, without taking into account the cost of any items she already owned. The grand total came out at a whopping 57,346 for the first quarter of the year. FEMAIL also added up the total, calculating a slightly more modest 57,206. In any case, if she continues at this rate, 2017 will easily be Kate's most expensive year yet on the wardrobe front. SANDRINGHAM: 9 JANUARY Kate wearing an LK Bennett Sammi Scarf (110) and a Lock & Co. Alpaca Fur Hat (320) with her recycled Max Mara coat to attend church at Sandringham in January Kate and William skipped Christmas with the royal family in favour of spending it with the Middletons in Berkshire, but joined the Queen just after the New Year. KATE'S INCREASING CLOTHING COSTS In 2015, the Duchess wore clothing worth 43,260.99. This included recycled pieces she'd already purchased, so her actual spend was much lower. Last year, she wore clothing to the value of 174,000. Again this was its total worth, rather than what she spent. Given that she's already splashed out more than 57K on new items in the first quarter of 2017, it's shaping up to be her most expensive year yet. Advertisement Kate recycled a 1,541 designer coat by Sportmax, the Max Mara diffusion line, as she arrived at St Mary Magdalene Church. But she added some new accessories to bring the look up to date for 2017. Her 100 scarf came from L.K. Bennett, while her Lock & Co. Alpaca Fur Hat cost 320. ANNA FREUD CENTRE: 11 JANUARY For her first official engagement of the New Year, Kate visited North London's Anna Freud Centre, followed by Child Bereavement UK later that afternoon. She opted for Eponine, a London based label, which takes inspiration from the silhouettes of the 1950s and 1960s. Her belted coat dress, which she teamed with accessories we've seen before, cost 1,650. Kate in a cobalt blue belted coat dress costing 1,650 from Eponine at The Anna Freud Centre HEADS TOGETHER EVENT: 17 JANUARY Kate brightened up a cold January day in winter florals as she arrived at the ICA in London in a 1,050 embroidered dress by Erdem. She attended the Institute of Contemporary Arts in Carlton House Terrace with William and Harry to speak at a briefing outlining the next phase of their Heads Together campaign. Her shoes and clutch bag were recycled, so were not counted towards the overall total. Kate wore a 1,050 embroidered dress by Erdem to a briefing to outline the next phase of Heads Together, ahead of the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon CHILDREN'S HOSPICE, NORFOLK: 24 JANUARY Kate wore a totally new ensemble for a visit to the East Anglia's Children's Hospices in Quidenham, Norfolk where she was seen comforting grieving parents. Her 158 blouse was by chic French brand Gerard Darel, and featured embroidery on the frilled collar and a tie neck. Just a hint was visible under her emerald green two piece from her high street favourite Hobbs, costing 299. The Duchess wore a 299 Hobbs suit and 158 blouse by Gerard Darel to get an update on The Nook Appeal at EACH in Norfolk LONDON MARATHON TRAINING: 5 FEBRUARY Kate paired her 280 quilted ski jacket by Perfect Moment with a pair of 32 black jeggings from Zara as she joined William and Harry for a relay race at London's Olympic Park. She teamed the outfit with 90 New Balance trainers and What Would Kate Do estimated that her turtleneck was 161 from Iris & Ink. Despite the sporty occasion, she couldn't resists adding a touch of sparkle with Asprey 167 Earrings, costing a whopping 3,864. For a London marathon training event at London's Olympic Park, Kate wore a jacket, turtle neck, jeggings and earrings totalling 4,427 GUILD OF HEALTH WRITERS CONFERENCE: 6 FEBRUARY Kate and William attended a conference in London where they discussed mental health issues with journalists during Children's Mental Health Week. Kate opted for an Oscar de la Renta skirt suit in magenta, with a peplum jacket combined with a flattering fit and flare skirt, costing 1,762. Although What Would Kate Do writers suspected she may already have worn it to the Queen's Christmas lunch, there were no photos to confirm this so it was counted as a new item. Kate attend Guild of Health Writers Conference with Heads Together in a 1762 Oscar De La Renta skirt suit BAFTA AWARDS: 7 FEBRUARY The Duchess successfully championed understated glamour for her red carpet appearance, her first time at the BAFTAs. Kate looked every inch the best dressed attendee in a bespoke off-the-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown, costing 6,252. The dress was cut in a drop-waist style and covered in a delicate floral pattern - perfect for the spring season ahead - and she teamed the gown with a 1,670 clutch by the same designer. Kate wore a bespoke off-the-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown, costing 6,252 and a 1,670 clutch by the same designer for her first appearance at the BAFTAs AIR CADETS VISIT: 16 FEBRUARY 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. She sported a 760 red blazer by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini with recycled black skinny jeans and a turtle neck. Kate sported a 760 red blazer by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini during a visit to the RAF Air Cadets at RAF Wittering on February 14, 2017 UK INDIA CULTURAL RECEPTION: 27 FEBRUARY Attending the UK-India Year of Culture reception at Buckingham Palace, The Duchess dazzled in a metallic midi dress by Erdem, costing 959. She teamed the shimmering dress with 550 sparkling pumps by Oscar De La Renta and 1,087 earrings by Anita Dongre. The name may sound familiar to royal watchers, as Kate wore a dress by the Indian designer on her visit to Mumbai last year. Kate's shimmering look for the reception to mark the launch of the UK-India Year of Culture 2017 at Buckingham Palace cost a total of 1,596 EVELINA HOUSE: 28 FEBRUARY Kate opened the brand new purpose-built facility designed to help accommodate the families of ill children wearing a dress and jacket by Rebecca Taylor. Her blue jacket flecked with silver thread cost 398, but the dress is believed to be custom made. What Would Kate Do estimates it cost her around 644. The Duchess of Cambridge at the Ronald McDonald House Evelina London in Lambeth, wearing a 1,042 outfit by Rebecca Taylor UK ARMED FORCES MEMORIAL UNVEILING: 10 MARCH Kate recycled an elegant blue-grey twill coat by Michael Kors as she joined the royal family to unveil a memorial to service personnel killed in the Iraq and Afganistan conflicts. However, she debuted a new wide-brimmed navy hat by Lock & Co. The Tiffany Drop Pin style is thought to have cost 325. Kate recycled a Michael Kors coat for a Service of Commemoration and Drumhead Service on Horse Guards Parace, but wore a new navy hat by Lock & Co ST PATRICK'S DAY: 17 MARCH Kate celebrated St Patrick's Day with a pint of Guinness on her first official engagement with William after his epic 'dad-dancing' during a wild lads' weekend in Verbier. Kate wore a bespoke green coat by Catherine Walker with contrasting black collar and cuffs. She teamed the 2,000 coat with 438 Emmy London court shoes and a 104 Etui green clutch. Kate's St Patrick's Day look, including a bespoke coat by Catherine Walker, set her back more than 2,500 RECEPTION IN PARIS: 17 MARCH For her first engagement in Paris, Kate attended the British Embassy to launch Les Voisins - The Neighbours - a year-long celebration of UK-French links. She wore a black Alexander McQueen gown complete with oversized pearls and Gianvito Rossi heels. Her gown was bespoke, but is estimated to have cost 4,000, while her shoes set her back 644. Kate wore an outfit costing more than 4,600 for a reception in Paris in March GALA DINNER, PARIS: 17 MARCH Kate finished the evening at the Ambassador's residence, where she dazzled in an ice-blue Jenny Packham dress. She made sure all eyes were on her during the glittering gala dinner at the stunning official residence of the British Ambassador, Edward Llewellyn - Lord Llewellyn of Steep, David Cameron's former chief of staff at Downing Street. Her sold out dress would have cost the Duchess 4,162. Kate dazzled in a 4,162 ice blue dress by Jenny Packham at the Ambassador's residence in Paris DAY TWO IN PARIS: 18 MARCH Kate wore a chic 6,723 Chanel suit - a choice bound to delight fashionistas - in muted shades of black, grey and burgundy, on her second day in Paris. To offset the outfit she naturally chose a Chanel handbag in burgundy with an enamel handle, costing 3,762. She teamed the outfit with 1,640 Cartier earrings, making the ensemble her most expensive look for the year so far. Later, she attended a rugby match wearing knee high boots that What Would Kate Do estimate to have cost 785. Kate's Chanel outfit in Paris was her most expensive look of the year so far, costing more than 13,000 NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY GALA: 28 MARCH Kate stunned in a floor length forest green lace gown by Temperley London, which appeared to be a new addition to her wardrobe. However, according to the team at What Would Kate Do, she had already worn it to a private event earlier this year. Therefore the price tag wasn't taken into account, but she was sporting rather pricey new accessories - Kiki McDonough Candy Pink Tourmaline and Green Amethyst Drop Earrings, costing 8,900. Advertisement Over the weekend, hundreds of the country's most talented body artists took the small Queensland town of Cooroy by storm for the annual Australian Body Art Festival. Shortly after the famed event started, the event space in the Noosa hinterland was transformed into a Wonderland-themed cloud of colour, eye-popping human canvases and musical parades. Described as 'nothing short of extraordinary', the festival was also a chance for the most creative artists to compete in an array of special areas - from face and body painting to airbrush creations and wearable art. The country's most talented body artists took the small Queensland town of Cooroy by storm for the annual Australian Body Art Festival this weekend The festival was given a Wonderland theme, bringing out plenty of attendees who were inspired by Alice and her friends The famous Lewis Caroll play was a common source of inspiration for many people's looks, while others instead drew from Disney characters (like the Snow White display on the right) or everything from the sea to the galaxy This haunting mythical look by Fran Catford won the People's Choice Award in the Special Effects category over the weekend And they most certainly delivered. As street performers and arty activities took place around them, the artists got to work on all kinds of weird, wacky and wonderful designs - each of them centered around the event's core Wonderland theme. Many of them chose to give their work an Alice in Wonderland feel, with many models stepping out in face and full body looks inspired by the infamous Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and mixed designs including Alice, time pieces and, of course, the Mad Hatter. A terrifying sea creature - and his blonde victim - took over for the intricate body art on this model One woman was transformed into a near-terrifying rendition of the Cheshire cat, while another woman allowed her body to become a canvas for some mystical foxes and other woodland creatures This woman's body art was relatively simple, with the focus on her gorgeous handmade gold wings Mermaids, octopus and deep sea explorers floated through this aquatic creation on one of the models The ocean was the source of inspiration for this masterpiece, as the woman sported gills, turtles and coral-esque gloves Others took a more alternative approach to the theme, presenting ethereal, dark and whimsical looks inspired by monsters, mermaids, gnomes and all kinds of animals. The wearable art parade was equally as impressive, with models storming the stage in in amazingly creative garments made entirely from re-used or second hand materials. There was something at the festival to attract every type of artists, with competitions including makeup applied by brush and sponge, airbrush or special effects, as well as an entire category dedicated to face painting. Speaking ahead of the festival, Cooroy Chamber of Commerce President Danielle Taylor said the premiere event would see body painting of all types and 'face painting like you've never seen before'. The inspiration was in the stars for this woman, who added a steampunk flavour and birds to her body art and headpiece This festival attendee turned her body into a out of this world masterpiece, relying on the colours and shapes of space J Pop inspired face paint by Nadia Vanek: 'Have a little drink of Absolinthe, slink down the rabbit hole and join the underground wonderland of Japanese pop culture,' artist Ms Vanek wrote of this colourful design This beautiful look featured a mind-bending back design as well as gorgeous colours and mermaid hair adorned with feathers 'We have artists from all over Australia and overseas. It's a festival of colour and there are just spectacular things to see,' she said. Taylor previously encouraged artists of all types, talents and experience to join the festival - even those who had never painted on a body before. 'We encourage and challenge artists form a range of backgrounds to get involved as there is something for everyone,' she said. 'Artists with experience in fine art and visual art, makeup and special effects, textile art, street art, airbrush sign craft, spray painting, graphic art, fashion and photography.' 'If you've never painted in an event like this, it's simply a matter of adapting your skills to use body paint on the canvas of the human body.' This woman's headpiece was complete with a baby doll, roses and a clock design clearly inspired by Alice in Wonderland One woman's makeup was a fantastical dream complete with pink false eyelashes and mermaid hair, while this man decided to go with a theme of gnomes An intricate story was being told on this woman's back, which showed a woman falling deep into the sea - or could it be the pool of tears from Alice in Wonderland? From her powder blue Jackie Kennedy-style inauguration outfit to her love of clean lines and sophisticated tailoring, she's not put a foot wrong when it comes to fashion. Now style bible Vogue has confirmed that - after just three full months as First Lady - Melania Trump's fashion influence has already trickled down to Europe's royals - not to mention other women on the world stage, such as Juliana Awada of Argentina and Queen Rania of Jordan. The Melania effect was confirmed by writer Edward Barsamian, who noted how Queen Mathilde and Crown Princess Mary had both adopted Melania's style on the Belgian royals' state visit to Denmark at the end of last month. 'Queen Mathildes periwinkle blue coat could have been pulled straight from the new First Ladys wardrobe, and was reminiscent of the custom Ralph Lauren Collection Inauguration Day outfit,' he said. 'Much like Melania, the queen and crown princess had all the necessary ladylike accoutrements to amp up the First Lady effect: leather gloves, tonal coordinating clutch, and a pillbox hat.' However, it's not just 46-year-old Melania's inauguration outfit that's captured the imagination of Europe's royals, according to A-list stylist Natalie Robinson. 'Overall, it appears that many European royals are finding comfort in Melanias fashion taste as it oozes traditional glamour in a tasteful way,' she told Femail. Scroll down for video Melania Trump's custom Ralph Lauren blue suit, which she wore to her husband's inauguration in January 2017, is possibly the most influential outfit of the year so far according to experts Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (left) and Queen Mathilde of Belgium both channeled Melania Trump's inauguration day style when they met in Copenhagen at the end of last month Juliana Awada, the Argentinian First Lady, pictured on a visit to The Netherlands in March, appears to be taking fashion tips from her US counterpart 'It appears that European royals including Princess Mary of Denmark have cottoned on to First Lady Melanias style and it's becoming somewhat contagious.' 'On a recent royal visit, Princess Mary of Denmark was spotted wearing a pale blue coat - a similar look to Melanias pale blue dress that she wore for the Presidential Inauguration. 'Princess Marys coat cinched in at the waist to showcase her svelte hourglass silhouette also bears a remarkable resemblance to the style of coat Melania wore to the Womens Empowerment Panel at the White House and for her weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago. 'First Lady of Argentina, Juliana Awada, and Queen Mathilde have also been spotted in pale blue outfits that sit just above the knee, thus replicating Melanias understated style yet again.' Melania departing the White House to spend the weekend at Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach in a vivid red belted coat (left). Queen Letizia of Spain is known for her business-like style, but she too appears to be influenced by a touch of Melania-style glamour (right) Melania during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping (left). Queen Mathilde of Belgium is looking infinitely more glamorous after adopting the First Lady's signature colour and clean lines over her usual fussy ensembles Queen Mathilde of Belgium is known for playing it safe in patterned dresses with court shoes, and ultra matchy-matchy outfits that take co-ordination to the limit. But on her recent state visit to Denmark, she surprised royal lookers in a show-stopping red sequinned gown, revealing a shapely figure that has hitherto gone unnoticed. 'Mathilde looked sizzling hot in a red dress at The Black Diamond event in Copenhagen opting for classic Hollywood glamour,' Natalie commented. Melania wearing a classic white coat to an event celebrating Women's History Month (left). Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has also been mirroring Melanias minimalistic fashion choices (right) Even the ever stylish Queen Rania of Jordan appeared to be mirroring Melania in an outfit that showcased layers of fabric around the neckline when she visited the White House last week 'Melanias signature colour is also red, so it seems, choosing to wear the statement colour for a number of occasions.' Another lady in red is Queen Letizia, who tends to stick to the kind of blouses and trousers and two-piece suits that were her go-to in her former role as a TV newsreader. However, Natalie notes that she too chaneled Melania's signature colour and looked 'dangerously hot' in double red on her recent visit to Japan. Queen Rania of Jordan recently met the First Lady at the White House, and while they went for very different colour scheme with Melania in green and the royal in black, they seemed to be mirroring each other's style. 'Queen Rania of Jordan and Melanie Trump wore similar style outfits in Washington that showcased layers of fabric around the neckline,' Natalie said. 'And lets not forget Princess Victoria of Sweden whose tailored, cream coat suggests a more pared back style, mirroring Melanias minimalist fashion choices.' Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons has revealed the reason behind why she wears her engagement ring while she's competing out in the water. Appearing on The Project, the 26-year-old couldn't contain her excitement when she spoke about winning the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia on Saturday. But what caught the attention of the show's panelist Peter Helliar was when he spotted her on television wearing the engagement ring in the surf over the weekend. Scroll down for video Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons (pictured on The Project on Monday night) has revealed the reason behind why she wears her engagement ring while she's competing out in the water The 26-year-old surfer has been engaged to NRL star Trent Merrin (left) since November 2015 Fitzgibbons - who is engaged to NRL star Trent Merrin - said she wanted to wear her ring when the pair are spending distance apart for work. 'I don't really think about it,' she said as she laughed after Helliar asked her if she was 'crazy' during the interview on Monday night. 'But my fiance Trent, we have to spend a little time apart, so when I'm in the water it feels like he's right there. 'It's raised a few eyebrows, I guess.' However, Fitzgibbons rest assured the comedian that her ring was safely secured on her finger when she hits the waves. 'There's actually a bit of an insurance policy by default,' she said. 'I've busted all my knuckles in surfing and training so they're quite swollen and I feel like that's gonna keep it on.' The 26-year-old laughed when Peter Helliar suggested she should stick an image of her partner the next time she's out in the water, during which she said: 'That's actually a good idea' Fitzgibbons said she would wear her ring when the pair are spending distance apart for work The 26-year-old Australian surfer won the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia on Saturday Helliar then suggested she should stick an image of her partner on her board the next time she's out in the water so she doesn't have to resort to wearing her ring. Prompting laughter from the surfing champion, Fitzgibbons responded: 'That's actually a good idea, I'll keep that one in mind.' The pair have been engaged since November 2015 after the 27-year-old rugby league player proposed to her on a beach. Fitzgibbons said she likes to wear her ring while competing when she's away from her fiance Edward Enninful said he counts Naomi Campbell as a 'sister' Only eagle-eyed viewers of The September Issue, the 2009 fly-on-the-wall documentary about American Vogue magazine, will remember the shy, dithering employee who was reduced to a quivering wreck by imperious editor Anna Wintour. Stuttering and shaking as he entered Ms Wintours office to present one of his ideas to the notoriously frosty fashion matriarch, he seemed close to tears as she threw it and him out for not being good enough. I want to kill myself, he wailed on screen to creative director Grace Coddington. My idea got thrown out. What do I do? She retorted: Youve got to be tougher, Edward. You have to demand, because otherwise youll be blamed. Dont be nice, even to me. Otherwise youll lose. It seems he took her advice on board. For, eight years later, that young protege has just been announced as the new editor-in-chief of British Vogue. Edward Enninful, 45, a Ghanaian-born stylist who grew up in London, will take over the coveted chair from Alexandra Shulman when she leaves the job at the end of July. Readers of the illustrious fashion bible reacted to yesterdays news with astonishment. For not only is Enninful at the risk of stating the obvious a man, but hes a man most ordinary, fashion-loving women have never heard of. The 45-year-old has known Kate Moss (pictured here together at London Fashion Week in 2014), since she was 14 No matter. No sooner was his appointment announced, than Twitter exploded with congratulations from fashionistas hailing the news that Vogue was to have its first male, non-white editor. Enninful, 45, has been fashion and style director of uber-trendy W Magazine since 2011 and is in a long-term relationship with American film-maker Alec Maxwell. He has 27 years experience in the business and counts Madonna, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Rihanna among his friends. Enninful was one of 60 people mostly women shortlisted for the job, which was advertised after Shulmans shock announcement in January that she was leaving the title after 25 years. He will take up his throne amid a bloody battleground that has engulfed the world of high fashion ever since candidates began vying for this most illustrious position. Around him lie the bruised egos of, among others, Emily Sheffield the sharp-elbowed sister of Samantha Cameron and Love magazine editor Katy Grand. They were thought to be shoo-ins or at least better qualified than Enninful. But in the Conde Nast offices, the news was greeted by a huge round of applause. Fed up with the in-fighting and politics, they have been rooting for Enninful since he was revealed to be in the running last month. His profile picture on Twitter shows him with Michelle Obama, their heads tilted affectionately towards one another Everyone here is very keen on him, a Vogue employee says. Hes friendly and approachable hes impossible not to like. Edward Enninful first met Wintour in 2006, when he became contributing fashion editor for U.S. Vogue, after a triumphant eight-year stint as contributing editor to the Italian edition. Though their early relationship was difficult, he soon learned to appease her and began impressing with his edgy fashion ideas. He has always been full of praise for Wintour, both personally and professionally. Anna is an incredible editor, he said in an interview in 2010. With Anna, I learned that fashion can be fun and it didnt have to be dark. More recently, he added: Vogue is an institution and Ill always have a soft spot in my heart for the magazine and its editor. Already, questions have been raised about the team Enninful will build around him, most pertinently the relationship he will have with Emily Sheffield, who is deputy editor. She is said to be furious not to have got the job, making it unlikely shell smooth the path for his arrival in August. Though he may not be a conventional choice for the role, industry experts say Edward Enninfuls fashion credentials are flawless. Well-connected: The new editor counts pop star Rihanna among his fashionable friends Starting from humble beginnings in the Enyan Denkyira region of central Ghana, he arrived in Britain as a child in the mid Seventies. His parents raised him and his five siblings in a working-class household in Ladbroke Grove, West London, where he attended local schools and they hoped he would become a lawyer. Aged 14, Enninful was stopped one day while travelling on the London Underground. I saw this man who kept staring at me. I was trying not to freak out, he explained. Then we got to Kings Cross, he came over, gave me a card and said, My name is Simon Foxton and Im a stylist . . . and Id love you to model for me. His mother was sceptical but a fortnight later he was stopped again, this time by a model scout, and agreed to do a modelling shoot for Nick Knight, the world-renowned photographer. It was the start of a rapid ascendancy, which would see him juggling a modelling career with a degree at Goldsmiths University of London, and a part-time fashion assistant job at i-D magazine. Aged 18, he was made i-Ds fashion director, becoming the youngest ever fashion director for an international magazine. In 1998 he moved to Italian Vogue, then American Vogue, and in 2011 cut his ties with the franchise to work full-time as fashion and style director of W Magazine. Enninfuls glamorous life split between London, where he keeps a 400,000 apartment, and his home in New York sees him mingling with supermodels and superstars. He has known Kate Moss since she was 14, counts Naomi Campbell as a sister and invited Madonna to a lavish party to celebrate his OBE, which he was awarded for services to diversity in fashion last October. With Cindy Crawford: Enninful was one of 60 people mostly women shortlisted for the job, which was advertised after Shulmans shock announcement in January His profile picture on Twitter shows him with Michelle Obama, their heads tilted affectionately towards one another. Despite his glitzy lifestyle, Enninful remains humble, down-to-earth and close to his family, especially his younger sister Akua, who acts as his assistant and business consultant. Inspired by his dear friend Miss Moss, who notoriously filled a bath tub with champagne, he once waited for his other half in a bath full of milk and Cheerios. His 485,000 followers on Instagram are regularly treated to wholesome images of Ru, the couples beloved Boston terrier (who has a 10,700-strong online following of his own). His style is flamboyant rather than androgynous: billowing, feminine dresses, bold hues and clashing patterns and prints. He learned his love of colour from his late mother, Grace, a seamstress, who used to sew magnificent colourful outfits for her friends when he was growing up. Enninful has made a name for himself as a champion of diversity, spearheading the production of Italian Vogues landmark Black Issue in 2008, which featured only black models, including Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn. He said he was trying to end the white-out that dominates the catwalks and magazines and the issue was so popular an extra 40,000 copies had to be printed. Hes also railed against super-skinny models. In 2011, Enninful styled the Belle Vere issue of Italian Vogue, compiled entirely of shoots involving plus-sized models. That same year, he told American journalists the Duchess of Cambridge was the model princess. Shes definitely a part of the people, and I think shes going to be as important to fashion and to the world as Lady Di was, he added. Recently, however, Enninfuls style has taken a more risque turn. Bad/Good Kate the photoshoot which saw Kate Moss dressed as a PVC-clad nun and an angel wearing a straitjacket was his brainchild. He invited Madonna to a lavish party to celebrate his OBE, which he was awarded for services to diversity in fashion last October He does do some eccentric things, an industry insider admits. Hes adventurous. But at the same time hes visually astute. He would never make a woman look terrible if he styles her, she will look beautiful, whatever shes wearing. A source at the publication added that as well as style and connections, hell bring other things to the brand, too. Conde Nast will of course be aware of the PR benefits of choosing a man from his background. Its good for diversity and it generates positive headlines. But that doesnt negate the fact that Edward was the best person for the job. Its such an important position they wouldnt risk appointing someone who didnt have the skill or experience to do it properly. Its too big a deal. Notably, the job specification for the role required candidates to have a journalists instinct, something which Enninful for all his stellar fashion credentials lacks. But he turned fortunes around at W Magazine, which was suffering in the wake of the recession, boosting advertising pages and accompanying profits by 16.7 per cent in 2012, less than a year after his appointment. According to official statistics, it was the biggest advertising gain year-on-year of any title in the fashion world. Only time will tell whether Enninful can win over the sceptics and prove it was merit and merit alone that got him such an eminent job. As Queen Anna herself once said: Vogue is a fashion magazine, and fashion is about change. Going by his extraordinary story to date, change is most definitely what were going to get. Her business has now been running for three years and has won several awards Spoke to blogger Jules Sebastian about her anxiety and how she coped Suffers from mental illness herself after being sexually abused Jessica May founded Enabled Employment for those with a disability to find work A sexual abuse survivor has opened up about the crippling anxiety that left her with a resting heart rate of 180 beats per minute and feeling out of control. Jessica May, CEO of Enabled employment, spoke to blogger Jules Sebastian about her anxiety and how she coped with the trauma of her abuse, which led her to leave her career as a public service worker behind to focus on her business finding work for people with a disability. I remember someone saying "what if you have a mental health episode, it might not work" and I said, "do you realise that if this doesn't work, nothing is as bad as what's already happened in my life",' she said. 'I thought nothing is going to stop me.' Scroll down for video Jessica May (left) founded Enabled Employment to help those with a disability find work. She spoke with Jules Sebastian (right) Jessica's business, Enabled Employment, is a labour for hire company that helps people with a disability find work that is suited to them. They doesn't rely on government funding or charity and are paid by their business partners to hire employees with a disability who are suitable for a position. 'The current government model is that they pay a company to take on a person with a disability. If you got paid to take me on as an employee, wouldn't you immediately think I'm going to be worthless?' she explained. 'It's about the job and this is a whole talent pool of people we just ignore,' Jessica said of people who have a disability. Jessica created her business to provide help and support for others suffering from disabilities When she first began her business venture, Jessica said she had a lot of doubt thrown at her from possible business partners because of her mental health. The CEO added that she's the 'person you should be making bets on to succeed, because nothing is going to stop me'. Jessica was working as a high level public service worker when she fell pregnant with her first child. As a result of the pregnancy, she was diagnosed with postpartum thyroiditis, a condition that attacks the thyroid and her anxiety left her feeling helpless. Speaking about her struggle with mental illness, Jessica said it's important to talk about it and at Enabled Employment, she encourages her employees and clients to talk about their disabilities. 'One thing I always talk about it my disability and my anxiety because some people who have anxiety think they are going crazy,' Jessica said. 'I also talk about my abuse because a lot of women haven't yet, and you need safe places to talk about it.' 'You need to see people out there who are going great, and you can get over it and you can recover from it. Trauma is an amazing thing, it either makes you or breaks you.' The service provides job opportunities to people with a disability, Australian Defence Force Veterans, carers, Indigenous and senior Australians through an online jobs market. 'I hope that by us going out and showing them that you can succeed will help change that attitude,' she said The service, which has been operating for three years, has seen Jessica awarded with the National Telstra Business Woman of the Year 2015 for Startups and a finalist for the ACT Australian of the Year. Jessica added that while there is a stigma attached to hiring people with a disability, she has seen a change of attitude over the years. 'I hope that by us going out and showing them that you can succeed will help change that attitude,' she said. Jessica said that to succeed in small business or startups, you just have to start somewhere. Despite earning less than before, Jessica is now the happiest she's ever been and has more time to spend with her two children. Parents are often filled with emotions when their children are injured - but such a reaction could harm the situation. In a new study, researchers from The University of Queensland found parents who react to their child's injury could either lessen or worsen their pain. The 18-month research, reported in The Conversation, examined 92 children - aged between one and six - at a Brisbane hospital after they suffered burn injuries. Parents are often filled with emotions when their children are injured - but such a reaction could harm the situation (stock image) Parents who reported they were more anxious or distressed were incapable of supporting their child during the procedure. Their anxiety could decrease their child's ability to cope, causing them to feel more distressed than they really are. The study - conducted by Ph.D. Candidate Erin Brown and clinical psychologist Justin Kenardy - suggested distracting children with toys, food, television and conversation would lead to less trauma. The findings also found lower anxiety is linked with quicker wound healing in children (stock image) WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHILD IS INJURED: Distract your child early on in the treatment (toys, food, TV, conversation etc) Remain calm Be close by Touching them indicates you are with them Source: The Conversation Advertisement 'Our minds have a limit to what they can focus on at once,' the researchers said. 'Therefore, a mind that is preoccupied with other things will perceive the pain as less than a mind that is focused on the pain alone. 'This is why we think distraction is helpful for the child during the dressing change.' The findings also found lower anxiety is linked with wound healing faster in children. 'It helps to stay focused on helping your child during stressful medical treatment, rather than worry about the injury severity,' the study suggests. As Easter feast is approaching, with the temptation to gorge on copious amounts of chocolate and hot cross buns, so what can we do about those unwanted calories? Sydney based personal trainer Robbie Hardy who co-owns Emperor Fitness, may just have the solution for you. The fitness expert, with 10-plus years in the body transformation industry, spoke with Daily Mail Australia about the simple workout routine that will keep you trim in this holiday period. The Easter period means chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate but how do you avoid piling on the pounds? Daily Mail Australia may just have the answer Mr Hardy, who runs outdoor group classes in and around Sydney's CBD, said he created the program to help people stay active over the Easter period. 'There is nothing wrong with indulging,' Mr Hardy said. 'It's just finding a balance. 'The program is created to provide people with some variation so that they are just not going for a run, it also targets various muscle groups.' The three-day program, designed by Mr Hardy in conjunction with TomTom, involves a circuit that combines strength training with cardiovascular work. Hot Cross buns are another delicious delight in abundance at this time of year but come with unwanted calories Sydney based personal trainer Robbie Hardy who co-owns Emperor Fitness, has devised a three-day program to keep you trim and taut this Easter The beauty of the program is that the only equipment needed to perform the workout is a bench or box which is roughly knee height The program starts on Good Friday and after a brief warm up comprising of a 1000 step walk in which the participant stops every 200 steps to do 10 body weight squats The beauty of the program is that the only equipment needed to perform the workout is a bench or box which is roughly knee height. Mr Hardy said he also uses his TomTom Touch, which measures heart rate. He recommends everyone calculate their maximum heart rate by subtracting their age from 220 before starting any exercise. The program starts on Good Friday and after a brief warm up comprising of a 1000 step walk, stopping every 200 steps to do 10 body weight squats and 10 reverse arm circles, the circuit begins. The circuit is four rounds of 20 step ups (each leg) on the bench, 10 push ups (hands on the bench), 15 box squats (squat until your backside touches the bench then stand up) and a 45 second plank. In between each set the participant rests for one minute. The circuit is four rounds of 20 step ups (each leg) on the bench, 10 push ups (hands on the bench), 15 box squats (squat until your backside touches the bench then stand up) and a 45 second plank Saturday's session is what Mr Hardy calls a 'Cardio Blast', this is performed by running for 1000 steps and then proceeding to walk for 1000 steps Sydney based personal trainer Robbie Hardy said there is nothing wrong with indulging this Easter but finding a balance with exercise is important After the fourth cycle of the set, the participant does an active recovery which consists of running or walking for three minutes at roughly 70 per cent of your maximum heart rate. Saturday's session is what Mr Hardy calls a 'Cardio Blast', this is performed by running for 1000 steps and then proceeding to walk for 1000 steps. This should be completed at 70 per cent of your maximum heart rate. On Sunday, participants are asked to complete the 'Five Minute Challenge'. This is done by performing the following list of exercises as many times as possible in five minutes: eight Burpees, 10 push ups, 20 stomach crunches, 15 jump squats and 20 walking lunges. After that five-minute workout, rest for one minute, then repeat for another five minutes and try to get through more rounds. Repeat this three times. Children sit at the door in the Harjelah refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sept. 1, 2016. The Syrian civil war is grinding into its sixth year since 2011, with children in the country continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict. (Xinhua/Yang Zhen) Donald Trump's launch of 59 Tomahawk missiles at an empty airstrip in Syria is foreign policy staged for the cameras. The strike caused little lasting damage. The next day, Syria was even able to use the same base to launch fighters for attacks on anti-government rebels. Moreover, it was all in contradiction to Trump's purported world view and the officially stated position of his administration reiterated just a few days before. Rather than trying to achieve a strategic goal, Trump appears to have pursued a political goal. After the Syrian government was reported to have used chemical weapons in an attack that killed and injured over 100 people, the Trump administration played down calls for American involvement. The White House press secretary rightly said that there was nothing the U.S. could do to overthrow Bashar Assad. The U.S., via the State Department and UN representative Nikki Haley had, in fact, just recently asserted that the U.S. was not interested in regime change. This all makes sense, because Trump campaigned on a promise not to intervene against the Assad regime, on the grounds that the anti-Assad opposition included ISIS, al-Qaeda affiliates, and far too many other terrorist groups. However, the elite American media is allergic to the idea of American forces standing still. Trump came under criticism from columnists and reporters in the New York Times, Washington Post, and other bastions of "beltway knowledge." The Times' front-page news analysis implied he didn't care about civilians, and globe-trotting Starbucks correspondent Thomas Friedman was quick enough to demand a ground invasion of Syria. To be sure, Trump's foreign policy was ripe for criticism, and there's nothing wrong with holding the president accountable. Unfortunately, Trump seems to make many of his decisions based on what the hated press says. Rather than being impervious to criticism, he is strangely manipulated by it. A day after an initial response of not calling for action, there was a sudden U-turn. "I will tell you that attack on children yesterday had a big impact on me - a big impact. My attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much. It crossed a lot of lines for me. That crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line, many, many lines," Trump said at a press conference. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced the U.S. was once again calling for Assad's ouster. The attack didn't have a big impact on Trump; the media coverage did. CNN went on the air 37 years ago, bringing the world immediate coverage of wars, natural disasters, and humanitarian crisis. It also had great impact on politicians and policy-makers, too. With the public seeing news as it unfolded, foreign policy leaders began to calculate statements and actions to appeal to the public. Scholars call this the "CNN Effect." As Harvard professor Steven Livingston wrote in a 1997 paper, the CNN Effect can be a policy accelerant, an impediment to sound policy, and a factor in setting agenda. In particular, "emotional, compelling coverage of atrocities or humanitarian crises reorder foreign policy priorities. Somalia, Bosnia and Haiti are] examples." Like Bosnia, the Syrian conflict has been burning for years, with a constant American show of concern, but little action. Unlike Bosnia, when Russia was in no position to intervene, Moscow has already taken the lead in intervening - against America's purported interest - in Syria, opening up the worrisome prospect of a great power war. President Bill Clinton also found that firing missiles at random targets in Afghanistan and pharmaceutical factories in Sudan were easy ways to earn political capital with the voters - being perceived as a strong leader without costing American lives. Enter Trump. His approval rating is at a record low, he's facing an investigation into his administration's ties to Russia, and his political agenda is failing. Now, images come out of Syria showing burials of women and children on life support following an apparent chemical weapons attack. The press says he doesn't care. What better way to pretend he's "tough," pretend he is acting "presidential," than to launch a few dozen missiles at empty warehouses in a pinprick manner calculated not to provoke a Syrian or Russian response? The cable news media doesn't know or care to analyze the issue in depth. Images of explosions are enough to satisfy the public's appetite for "leadership." However, the White House made sure to alert the Russians in advance, because it would be very stupid and politically troublesome to have Russia respond in kind to casualties. The American people, who don't face many threats in the world, give a lot of political plaudits to presidents who appear willing to use force. There's not enough consideration of the pros and cons, or of whether the force will actually achieve any useful objectives. In this case, Trump may have accomplished his political objective, but he did nothing to end the war or help civilians. Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. His creations have brought smiles to the faces of tragic and injured children around the world and raised thousands for charity. Now 13-year-old Tasmanian boy Campbell Remess has made his latest teddy bear to cheer up bullied British schoolboy Jak, who made headlines on the weekend. The seven-year-old boy suffered a gaping head wound after bullies pushed him onto a metal pole, and was still in hospital on a morphine drip for an infection. Campbell Remess, 13, makes teddy bears for sick and injured children around the world from his home in Tasmania, and send one to British boy Jak who was badly hurt by bullies Jak, seven, has been left with a gaping head wound after vile bullies shoved him onto a metal pole (pictured in hospital after surgery) Campbell took a selfie with the fluffy black and white bear with a white ribbon he planned to send to Jak, and revealed he too was bullied last year and broke a bone. He said that like Jak, not everyone helped him after his ordeal. 'Mum and dad my drs and other grown ups helped me but there were some grown ups that didn't and they looked after the bullies instead and it kept on happening even after they broke the bone,' Campbell said. Campbell recently sewed a bear for eight-year-old girl Chloe whose family drowned in floods in northern NSW after Cyclone Debbie hit the area Several bears Campbell made for children in an orphanage in China Bears Campbell made for victims of the Paris terrorist attack in 2015 'The bullies are really bad and the grown ups that protect them and ignore what they do is bad too but the good people are stronger and people will look after you Jak and soon the bullies won't matter. 'Just get better Jak and stay away from them and just stay with good people. There are more good people than bad.' The generous teenager said Jak's story inspired him to make a new line of toys called Hero Bears, and gave the first one to the hospitalised boy. Campbell with his grandparents attending the Tasmania Young Achievers awards last month Campbell has sewed more than 800 bears since he took up the hobby three years ago He started by dropping them off to sick kids in Royal Hobart Hospital and now sells some, like this one, on eBay to raise money for charity He now gets orders from around the world and also makes bears specifically for particular causes Campbell has sewed more than 800 bears since he took up the hobby three years ago, starting by dropping them off to sick kids in Royal Hobart Hospital. He now gets orders from around the world, sells bears on eBay to raise money for charity, and makes bears specifically for particular causes. Campbell recently made bears for a little girl whose family drowned in floods after Cyclone Debbie, and the Paris and London terrorist attacks. Kristy Power, 36, was given the shock of her life when she noticed her partner Jake holding a sign up at Sydney airport. The couple were flying back from a weekend away but had arrived in their hometown on separate flights - giving Jake Murphie, 32, just the right amount of time to prank her. 'My partner is the biggest jokester out,' Kristy told Daily Mail Australia. 'His flight landed earlier than mine so when I saw everyone staring at me I knew he was up to something. And that's not even how she spells her name... Jake Murphie was waiting patiently for his partner to get off her plane to greet her with this sign 'He didn't laugh along with anyone before I came off the plane so people didn't know if he was serious or not. 'He kept a straight face the whole time while all I could hear was my nervous, embarrassed, cackling laugh. Fairly standard,' the 36-year-old said. The sign, crafted by Jake in black pen, reads 'Welcome back from jail Krysty. I love you still.' This isn't the first time Jake has pranked his partner. A serial jokester the 32-year-old has also given her a sign of a different kind. 'He wrote on the sand in Queensland his daughter's name, Mia, and mine. But my name has "make pancakes" written underneath,' Kristy said. He's a jokester alright! Kristy's partner Jake carved this special message in the sand Kristy confirms she did actually make the pancakes as requested via sand writing but they didn't turn out 'as good as Jake's.' And that's not all. 'He told our most recent taxi driver that we had gotten engaged. He said we met six weeks ago when he heard through a mate I was rich and single. 'That when he heard I came from a wealthy family he knew I was the one and had to "lock it down quickly,"' Kristy said. It's the kind of story your taxi driver would likely cringe at hearing but Jake is so convincing it often startles people to hear the truth: He's only joking. Kristy (pictured with Jake) admits he can be a bit of a jokester but she seems to take all his pranks in her stride 'He can do incredible accents so puts these on when we are in take away stores together and says random things like "can we please have your premium sauce for this special saucy lady."' 'He prank calls his own mum all the time in different accents. We nearly always fall for it.' Maybe most crazy of all is Jake's retail shopping prank which causes more than a few eyebrows to raise. 'In a store when I'm paying for something he will get all snuggly and kiss me and grab my bum then say, "you spoil me you're the best sister ever" just loud enough for the shop assistant to hear.' Many Australians grew up by the beach, regularly getting out in the sun and spending time with friends and family. But for many women, this lifestyle can lead to premature ageing - especially when it comes to their complexion. A new study led by the Monash University in Melbourne has found that Australian women are ageing faster and look more than 20 years older than women in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. A new study led by the Monash University in Melbourne has found that Australian women on average are ageing faster and look more than 20 years older than women overseas Australian women reported higher rates of change and 'significantly more severe facial lines' and 'volume-related' features like tear troughs and nasio-labial folds than other women In the study of more than 1,400 Caucasian or Asian women aged 18 - 75, researchers asked women to complete a questionnaire about their facial ageing and to compare their features against numbered rating scales. The features they compared included their forehead, crows feet and glabellar lines (the vertical frown lines between the eyebrows), tear troughs and midface volume loss, naso-labial folds (the lines between the nose and sides of the upper lip). They were also asked to compare their oral commissures (lines at the corners of the mouth) and perioral lines, also called smokers lines. Australian women reported higher rates of change and 'significantly more severe facial lines' and 'volume-related' features like tear troughs and nasio-labial folds than women from other countries. 'We think the childhood sun exposure is what behind these changes to be honest. People spend more time outside as children and they get more UV exposure,' Professor Goodman said Why are Australian women ageing faster? Australias proximity to the equator, the high sun exposure and generally clear atmospheric conditions mean that people living here can experience higher levels of UV and longer wavelength radiation than those in Europe and North America. These high UV levels put Australians at particular risk of photo-ageing, especially when combined with Australias traditionally outdoor, sun-seeking lifestyle and a predominately fair-skinned population. Facial ageing signs include wrinkles, loss of volume and sagging, and vascular disorders. The process of photo-ageing depends primarily on the degree of sun exposure and amount of skin pigment. Source: Monash University Advertisement Speaking to ABC's Breakfast, Monash Associate Professor Greg Goodman said while researchers have always known Australians do have more lines than those in other countries, this study found their faces 'went south' faster too. As a result, the women often appear up to 20 years older than women of the same age in other countries and this is due to the sun, not genetics. 'Most Australians live on the coast and fairly temperate climates. There are no blizzards that keep them indoors,' Professor Goodman told the program. 'We think the childhood sun exposure is what behind these changes to be honest. People spend more time outside as children and they get more UV exposure. 'Shade and protection and playing outside of midday and covering up are far more important than we ever thought they were.' Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Professor Goodman said the amount of sunshine Australians have when they are young is a 'major part of this study'. 'By the time you're 25 you've already had a fair bit of your long-term sun exposure. It sets you up for ageing much quicker than people in other countries,' he explained 'By the time you're 25 you've already had a fair bit of your long-term sun exposure. It sets you up for ageing much quicker than people in other countries,' he explained. Professor Goodman explained that even if Australians are using sunscreen correctly, they are still exposed to long-range ultraviolet light (UVA) which is 'causing this issue'. 'It's not just that we age badly, but that we age differently,' he said. 'The longer range wavelengths are denaturing our fat and we think this because we use similar machines in fat removal these days,' he said. As a result, Professor Goodman urges Australians to look at using more than sunscreen to protect from the sun, including hats, more clothing, shade and keeping out of the sun. Young women are at risk of developing wrinkles ten years earlier than previous generations - because of hours spent staring at computer screens and mobile phones. That's according to Dr Navid Jallali, a leading cosmetic surgeon who has pointed to an 'epidemic of deep wrinkle lines' in young women, and says excessive screen time is to blame. The consultant cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon, who has appeared on Channel 5's Botched Bodies, predicts it will soon be commonplace for women to 'justifiably' consider Botox injections by the time they reach 25. Women spend all day frowning at a computer screen means they are developing wrinkles ten years earlier than previously 'In the past, I've turned away young women in their mid twenties who've asked for Botox injections in their forehead, purely because I didn't think it was necessary,' he said. 'But over the past five years, I'm seeing more and more cases - a four-fold increase - where Botox is entirely justified because patients are developing deep, obvious frown lines aged 25 and younger - much, much sooner that they traditionally would have done. 'I put that down to screen use,' he explains. 'When you stare at a computer screen your natural reaction, particularly if you're concentrating, is to frown. Millennials reliance on smartphones and the web is having an undesirable effect, he said. 'It's this perpetual frowning which is causing such an epidemic of deep wrinkle lines in the forehead and around the eyes.' Dr Jallali, who's had his own clinic in London for five years, says that he used to shy away from using Botox as a preventative measure to stop frown lines getting worse and halt future wrinkles in their tracks. He traditionally only recommended Botox to patients in their early thirties. Now, however, he's seeing and treating more and more women in their early to mid twenties - because they've spent most of their lives staring at screens. Dr Navid Jallali says he is treating more women 25 and younger for deep wrinkles which he puts down to excessive screen use And he also now recommends small amounts of Botox for young patients in order to stop small worry lines developing into full-blown furrows. Dr Jallali, who is also head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Imperial College NHS Trust, London, explained: 'Botox is by far and away the most popular non-surgical treatment in the UK. 'Much of it is driven by the lifestyles of the rich and famous, as people look to emulate their favourite celebrities like Kim Kardashian. According to the UK campaign group 'Digital Detox', who are calling for Brits to be less dependent on screens, adults spend an average of nine hours and 30 minutes a day on screens - more time than they spend asleep. We spend a combined average of two hours and 24 minutes a day on smart devices in particular - that same figure was just 31 minutes in 2011, amounting to a 400 per cent increase in just six years. UK adults now spend 25 hours a week online up from nine hours a week in 2005. According to Dr Jallali our obsession with our mobile phones as well as looking at computer screens every day for work means we are not taking breaks When injected into the face, Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. Dr Jallali explains: 'The injected muscle can no longer contract, which causes the wrinkles on the skin above to relax and soften. 'It is most often used on forehead lines, crow's feet and frown lines, while wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to Botox.' The effect of Botox injections, which cost around 300 to 700, lasts approximately three to six months. And Dr Jallali is at pains to point out that even when wrinkles are visible and causing distress, less is still more. Women are having cosmetic treatments earlier and earlier as adults now spend up to 25 hours a week in front of a computer He explains: 'While Botox is becoming more prevalent, it's not hard to see cases where a person has simply had too much. 'It's instantly noticeable, as their face doesn't move in a natural way and the overall aesthetic is best summed-up with the word 'odd'. 'For me, I like to add small amounts at first, so that it doesn't look overdone. It's the same story with lip fillers, too. 'And you have to bear in mind that Botox actually takes up to three days before the results are visible, making it all too easy for less capable doctors to inject too much, too soon. 'Do it right, and Botox can really enhance your looks. 'Do it wrong, like some reality TV stars, and the results are not always easy on the eye.' The showdown between Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull on the University Challenge semi-final was described as 'Ali vs Foreman with jumpers on' by fans. But while there may have been fierce rivalry between the brainy students on the show, off-set they have proved themselves to be great friends - as demonstrated by a series of chummy snaps shared on their social media feeds. Last night's final saw Eric Monkman, 28, and his fellow Wolfson College Cambridge students lose out to Ballilol Oxford, who were crowned this year's champion's with 190 points to Wolfson's 140. Monkman, a favourite with viewers, was careful to thank the show's producers after his disappointment, but reserved a special mention for Seagull - much to the delight of University Challenge fans. After coming second in last night's University Challenge final Eric Monkman took to Twitter to thank his friend and former rival Bobby Seagull In his tweet Monkman said that he and Seagull were 'briefly rivals, always friends' Tweeting a photo of the pair together the Canadian Economics student wrote: 'How could I have forgotten to mention this guy? Briefly rivals, always friends.' His followers quickly erupted with praise for their friendship with the tweet receiving more than 350 likes. Followers of the pair have described their friendship as 'beautiful' describing them as the 'new TV couple' One of his followers Emilyeggmangle admitted she wanted to see more of the pair. She tweeted: 'Ok so there needs to be some sort of TV programme on this beautiful bromance. I'm just not ready to let the two of you go! #UCwithdrawals'. Lee Holland agreed adding: 'This has a TV road trip written all over it. Move over @RobBrydon monkman seagull the trip #NewTVcouple'. Bobby Seagull of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, came up against Eric Monkman of Wolfson College Cambridge in the semi finals of University Challenge Monkman captained his team from Wolfson College, Cambridge to a 170 to 140 victory over Emmanuel College, led by Seagull The men represented rival Cambridge University colleges on the show, and were likened to Batman and Superman when they faced off in the semi-finals last month. Monkman captained his team from Wolfson College, Cambridge to a 170 to 140 victory over Emmanuel College, led by Seagull. Despite the gruelling semi-final, which was the closest fought battle in twelve years, Bobby Seagull and Eric Monkman remain on good terms long after the cameras stopped rolling. The pair proved that they were on good terms after their head to head sharing a snap of their embrace with their Twitter followers Monkman made a trip to the UK from his home country in Canada in April where he spent time with his pal Seagull The pair visited Windsor Castle and Eton College during his visit and shared their snaps on social media Monkman even bought some Canadian Maple Sugar back for Seagull as a souvenir Bobby Seagull tweeted: 'Well done my friends @WolfsonCam on getting through to the grand final of #UniversityChallenge!' Monkman also shared a photograph after their face off, which captured the two friends sharing an embrace. He tweeted: 'After the match, we got up to shake hands, but spontaneously did this. Hoped it would be shown in the credits. Recreated it for you instead.' Since then the pair have been seen meeting up on several occasions, and capturing it all on camera for social media. Last night saw Monkman and his fellow Wolfson College students take second place after a heated final Unfortunately, their team lost and Balliol, Oxford was crowned the winner of this year's University Challenge with 190 points to Wolfson, Cambridge's 140 Last night saw Monkman and his fellow Wolfson College students take second place after a heated final. With his shouty answers, razor-sharp intellect and teeth-gnashing, the Canadian Economics student was a favourite to secure the win for his team in this year's University Challenge, but it wasn't to be. A teenager from Texas has earned the praise of thousands online after sharing a hack for using dry spaghetti as a nib for a digital pen. Brittany Botelho, 18, originally came up with the idea of using uncooked spaghetti in place of a Wacom pen nib - a digital painting tool - as a joke for a meme. But when Brittany, from Dallas, tested it out she was so amazed to find that it a actually worked that she shared her discovery on Twitter. Leading light: Brittany Botelho, 18, from Dallas, Texas, was hailed as a hero by art students after demonstrating how to use spaghetti as a digital painting tool Functional? She has been praised by thousands online after sharing a hack for using dry spaghetti as a nib for a digital pen, pictured Inspiration: Brittany, whose tweet is pictured, originally came up with the idea as a joke for a meme Alongside a picture of her spaghetti nib online, the digital painter wrote: 'When you too broke for Wacom nibs'. A Wacom art pen costs $99.95, while a pack of five-pack of standard pen nibs by the company is $9.95. Brittany was shocked to find that her discovery resonated with so many. Within hours of tweeting about it she was inundated with responses from digital art fans asking 'does this work?' To date her tweet has been liked by over 22,000 users and re-tweeted nearly 15,000 times. Practical: When she tested it out she was amazed to find that it actually worked. She claims she used spaghetti for the hair and face on one of her drawings, pictured Praise: Within hours of tweeting about it she was inundated with responses from digital art fans, pictured 'I was boiling noodles for pasta, and after I just kinda took a broken noodle and shoved it in my Wacom pen for a meme but then it actually worked,' she told BuzzFeed News. She said the spaghetti method 'works pretty well' and that she has since been using it to experiment with techniques. In one of her drawings, a portrait of a woman on the phone, she used spaghetti to work on the hair and face. 'There is the risk that it might break off in your pen but I'd probably use this if I couldn't afford nibs and needed to get work done for a client,' she said. Impressed: Becky Wilson, whose tweet is pictured, hailed Brittany as a 'hero' New technique: Brittany, who received thousands of tweets, pictured, said the spaghetti method 'works pretty well' and that she has since been using it to experiment with techniques Grateful: One Twitter user, whose message is pictured, said, 'I owe you my life' Art students from across the world got in touch with her to thank her for sharing her discovery and praised her creativity. A Twitter user named only as Chris wrote: 'LOL [sic], the #1 digital artist life hack.' Another, Becky Wilson, said: 'The hero we don't deserve, but the hero we need.' Daily Mail Online has contacted Wacom for comment. Ivanka Trump's interviews are bound to make headlines now that she is First Daughter, but it was her recent appearance on CBS This Morning that has people talking about her ever-changing eye color. The 35-year-old mom, who naturally has dark brown eyes, appeared to be wearing green or deep hazel contacts during her sit down with Gayle King last week. It was her first interview since she was appointed special assistant to her father, President Donald Trump, and some questioned the meaning behind the subtle physical change. Looking a bit different: Ivanka Trump appeared to be wearing hazel or green contacts during her appearance on CBS This Morning last week Ever-changing: Ivanka's eyes were brown during a meeting at the White House in February (left), but they were vibrant green during a town hall meeting last week (right) Mystery: Although it is unclear if Ivanka wears colored contacts, her eye color changes dramatically from day to day. She had green eyes (left) during the Republican National Convention in July and brown eyes at a roundtable held at the White House last month (right) Whether or not Ivanka actually wears colored contacts has yet to be confirmed, but the First Daughter has sported green eyes on numerous high-profile occasions, including the Republican National Convention and the 2016 Met Gala. Over the past few months, Ivanka has gone from a businesswoman and lifestyle guru to a key White House insider, and any alternations to her appearance may be reflections of that change. Psychologist Zelana Montminy told Footwear News that when people alter their appearance, particularly when they are starting a new position, 'it signifies that they want to be seen in a different way'. Swooning: When Ivanka eyed up Justin Trudeau in February, her eyes were brown Hmm... Ivanka had brown eyes during her soundcheck at the Republican National Convention in July (left), but when she actually gave her speech that night, they were green (right) Unexpected: When she appeared on CBS This Morning in May, Ivanka's brown eyes were on display (left), but they were a clear green during another interview three months later (right) The day before she started work in her controversial White House role, Ivanka debuted lighter hair after spending $1,1000 on a fresh cut and color while visiting New York City. 'Its like holding up a sign,' Montminy explained. 'Now, green contacts seem like a simple thing, but to her, its a subconscious way of saying, "look at me differently." 'Also, its for herself, so when you do something like that like dying your hair or changing your eye color it is a shift. A physical change is a queue or signal to the outer world or to yourself that things are different about you.' Noticible difference: The 35-year-old had deep brown eyes in March 2015 (left), and a year later, they were green at the 2016 Met Gala (right) Chameleon: Ivanka accentuated her brown eyes in 2013 (left), but she had vivid green eyes two years later at the 2015 Met Gala (right) Natural color: Ivanka, who is pictured in 1996, was born with with deep brown eyes Although her changing eye-color, is once again making headlines, Esquire first pointed out the phenomenon in November 2016. When she appeared on CBS This Morning in May 2016, Ivanka's brown eyes were on display, but they were a clear green during an interview on FOX News' On the Record with Greta van Susteren three months later. Ivanka even sported two different eye colors at the Republican Nation Convention back in July. Ahead of her speech, her eyes were brown during her soundcheck, but they were green when stepped on stage later that night to introduce her father. Changing her look: Ivanka's eyes were dark brown at the 2005 Met Gala (left) and green at the Republican National Convention (right) Perfect pair: Like Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner, 36, also has very dark eyes Lookalikes: The couple's three children, Arabella (center), Joseph (right), and Theodore (left), have all inherited their dark brown eyes Like Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner also has dark eyes, and all three of their children have inherited their deep brown peepers. In addition to green eyes and lighter hair, Ivanka has also enlisted New York-based stylist Cat Williams to update her wardrobe following the election. Although it's unclear how long she has been working with the Australian-born stylist, Ivanka has modeled plenty of stunning designer ensembles since she became First Daughter, including pieces from Oscar de la Renta and Roland Mouret. A teenage girl hit back at the tradition of 'promposals' by asking herself to her high school dance. Lily Bilgrey, from Freehold Township, New Jersey, came up with the unusual solution after nobody asked her to be their date to prom. Rather than feeling downcast by the situation, the 17-year-old shared a photograph of herself on Instagram holding a placard with the pun: 'You can't spell memes without me prom?' Innovative: Lily Bilgrey, 17, pictured, asked herself to her high school dance after nobody asked her to be their date Sense of humor: Lily, from Freehold Township, New Jersey, shared a series of photographs in an elaborate promposal to herself In the caption she added: 'Since none y'all willin [sic] to take one for the team.' Another picture shows her covering her mouth in mock surprise, while a third photograph is a Photoshopped version that appears to show Lily standing side by side with herself. Lily said she hoped the move would inject some fun into her high school prom which she said people take too seriously. 'I thought the promposal scene was lacking some comic relief. I decided that, since I didn't get asked, it would be perfect to ask myself in a funny way. 'I knew I would say yes, so that took a lot of the pressure off,' she told Teen Vogue. Despite having created an elaborate promposal of her own, Lily said she has mixed feelings about the tradition. Popular: The pictures have got the attention of thousands after she shared them on Instagram Last laugh: Lily, whose tweet is pictured, said she hoped the move would inject some fun into her high school prom which she said people take too seriously. Prom queen: Her picture was spotted and shared by popular Instagram account The Promposals. Lily is pictured right at last year's prom and left 'In some ways, I like them. I think some of them are super fun and creative,' she told Today. 'But there's a part of me that feels bad for those who don't get asked in an elaborate way. 'If you want to ask someone, do it because you want to have a good time with that person, not because you want to have the most elaborate promposal.' Her picture was spotted and shared by popular Instagram account The Promposals where it has won the admiration of thousands. Instagram user 'Wedreamingold' wrote: 'So witty and cool girl, loved it....I hope one good guy invite you to da [sic] prom.' While she is certainly basking in the attention of her new engagement to WWE star John Cena, fellow wrestler Nikki Bella has had to come to term with one downside to staying with the SmackDown stud: She'll never be a mom. Nikki, 33, revealed last week that John, 39, doesn't want children, so she's had to make peace with not having them either if she wants to say 'I do'. And while she insists that she has, that doesn't mean she's not hold out a little hope that he will change his mind. 'Do I hope one day John will want to have kids? 100 per cent,' she told People. 'But I have come to that decision of being OK with it, that I won't be a mom. Now I get to be a bride, and a wife, and I'm good with that. And I will be the greatest aunt.' Scroll down for video Family of two: Nikki Bella recently got engaged to John Cena, but the couple does not plan to have children together Single mom: Nikki, 33, said John, 39, is great with kids, but he doesn't want to have them because he could not be present enough 'When I see him with all the Make-a-Wish kids, I'm like, "Gosh, this man would be the most incredible father ever." He just loves those kids and he has such a big heart for them,' she said. 'And I see him with his nieces, I see him with my cousin's kids. And I know, I know he would make an amazing dad.' Cena, however, believes his work schedule keeps him too busy to be a truly dedicated father. In addition to his WWE career, he appears in movies and has signed sponsorship deals. This week, Forbes reported that he is the second-highest-paid WWE star, having raked in $8 million in 2016. He was listed just behind Brock Lesnar, who made $12 million. 'He says it's selfish but he knows that with his schedule he couldnt be an incredible father and that's why he chooses not to have kids, and I actually respect that because that would be very hard to raise a kid on my own and the dad to always be gone and not see that kid,' she said. Nikki previously spoke about whether she'd have kids to TMZ, saying: 'I've been getting that question a lot, let me tell you. No, there won't be. John doesn't want kids, so we're not gonna have kids.' Big moment: John popped the question after winning a wrestling match this month What?! Nikki was totally surprised and said she had given up hope of marriage He also told Nikki in an episode of Total Divas, a clip of which was posted to YouTube in June 2016: 'Would I love to marry you? Absolutely. I love you, and I love you more than I've loved anyone in my entire life.' 'What I'm afraid of and this is the one thing I am very much afraid of if we were to get married tomorrow, and then you come to the conclusion that you want children, you know where I stand.' 'In no way would I ask you to sacrifice anything for me,' he said at the time. They appear to have come to an agreement since then, though Nikki was still surprised when he proposed. 'I saw all the rumors on the Internet, but I literally was like: "There's no way my man's gonna be proposing he's so private,' she admitted. She'd thought to herself that 'there's no way that he'd propose in front of all those people, for 70,000, and then all the ones that, you know, were tuned in worldwide'. 'So, I really didn't expect it. I was so shocked,' she said. In fact, she added, she's a bit slow to make plans for the nuptials because she didn't even expect Cena to propose at all, given that he'd spoken out against getting married in the past. 'I gave up on the whole marriage thing so long ago that I haven't decided at all, like, anything I wanna do,' she said, adding that she is still adjusting to her new reality. 'My friends say it takes three days, so I'm just trying to, like, soak it all in.' Eye-catching: John proposed i with a massive round-cut diamond on a channel-set band during WrestleMania 33 So pumped! She said she hopes he changes his mind about kids but for now she is happy to be a bride and wife She did float a vineyard trip to Napa Valley as a bachelorette party destination, saying: 'I just feel like thats the perfect thing to do for Nikki, right? She also shared a picture on Instagram on Monday of a collection of bridal magazines she was perusing on a trip to Phoenix. The Total Divas star has also been flaunting the massive rock that the WWE star presented her with when he proposed to her this month. The 39-year-old wrestler chose a large round-cut stone on a channel-set band and presented the brunette beauty with the ring in a black box. On Sunday night, the couple had packed on the PDA as they kissed and hugged in the ring to cheers from the 70,000 strong crowd. After winning the Sunday match, Cena launched into an emotional speech. The powerfully built wrestler began: 'This is what you wanted over a year ago. 'You broke your neck and did everything you could to come back because you wanted a WrestleMania moment. I'm so very proud of you.' 'Right before your surgery, there would be a time when you would be a little loopy and I could ask you anything I wanted. Changing mind? Previously, John didn't want to get married, but had a change of heart 'A dream come true': Nikki took to Twitter to share her joy after the big moment 'If you gave me an honest answer, you wouldn't remember what you said. After a year and half, you asked me all the time. I promised I would tell you when the time is right. The time is right. He said: 'You were kinda glassy, in and out. At the last moment, I said, "Can you hear me?" You said, "Yes." I said, "I only have one question." You said, "What is it?"' 'Do you know one day I'm going to marry you? And you said, "Yes." I just need you to say yes one more time.' The wrestling star then produced an engagement ring box as he stooped down on one knee. He said: 'I've been waiting so long to ask you this. Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace, will you marry me?' Bella, who has dated Cena since 2012, answered him with a kiss. After accepting her beau's proposal Nikki gushed on Twitter, 'My Prince Charming made me his Queen in a place we call home. Last night was truly unforgettable. A dream come true!' The couple made an appearance on the Today show on Monday where the actor said he'd been waiting 'a long time' to propose. Cute couple: Cena and Bella are seen together at the Fox Network 2016 Upfront Presentation in May 2016 Sealed with a kiss: The moment took place right after Cena and Bella defeated The Miz and Maryse in a tag team match in the ring Asked about his comments in the past about not wanting to get married again, John explained why he changed his mind. 'I found the absolute right person, I found a strong person I consider an inspiration, an equal, somebody who when I'm feeling down picks me up. 'It took a person that strong to change my view on life.' he added. Cena divorced his first wife, Elizabeth Huberdeau, in 2012. He has previously spoken about being reluctant to get married again or have kids, the Washington Post reported. Nikki was asked on the talk show The Real in October 2016 if Cena would propose. At the time, she said: 'I mean, I think so. The past year he's actually talked about that he's open to marriage, so of course like my hopes go way through the roof. 'So, he's like "Oh, let's go have this romantic dinner, and I'm like "This is it." 'And I feel every moment I'm waiting for it. It's like, it's been my birthday, it's been an anniversary, holidays.' A former biker and ex-con who shed more than 300lbs in two years is seeking surgery to have the excess skin on his body removed, explaining that the surplus of flesh makes him still feel as though he is still obese. In a preview clip for Wednesday night's episode of the TLC series Skin Tight, Roger explains that before having gastric sleeve surgery, he weighed over 500lbs and the only job he could get was working as a bouncer. Although Roger has lost more than half of his body weight, the massive collection of skin that hangs off him keeps him from getting a job to support is family, and it even prevents him from enjoying his time with his two kids. Transformation: Roger, who once weighed more than 500lbs (left), is looking to have the excess skin on his body removed after shedding over 300lbs in two years (right) Holding him back: The massive collection of skin that hangs off Roger's body keeps him from getting a job to support is family, 'When I lost the weight, someone told me I should look at the skin as a badge of courage because of what I've accomplished,' he recalls. 'But to me that is like telling a burn patient, "Well, be proud of your skin. You know, you didn't die."' Despite his incredible weight loss, Roger says his excess skin prevents him from appreciating his hard work. 'Because of the skin I still feel obese. I still see myself as obese, and that's a feeling I can have for a long as I can remember,' he explains. Being honest: Roger says he still sees himself as obese because of the excess skin Weighing him down: Roger has flesh hanging from his chest, stomach, arms, and thighs Roger, who has been struggling with his weight nearly his entire life, says at his heaviest, he weighed over 500lbs. However, he not only chose to ignore his weight, he refused to even let his doctors weigh him, explaining he 'didn't want to know'. The only job he could get at his size was bouncing in a nightclub, and he admits the job led him to start 'rolling with the wrong crowd'. 'I joined a biker club, and after a a few years, I was just living the biker lifestyle, out running wild. I was around a lot of people that were using cocaine, and I got involved as well,' he admits. Rough crowd: When he weighed over 500lbs, Roger says the only job he could get was working as a bouncer at a night club Spiraling out of control: Roger became a biker and served three years in prison for cocaine possession before he changed his life around Vowing to lose weight: After he was released for prison, he knew he needed to get healthy following the birth of his daughter 'My lifestyle caught up with me, and I got arrested. I ended up getting charged with possession of cocaine. I had no intention of going to prison for that, so after I posted bail I went out on the run.' As a fugitive, Roger drove all the way to California, but just when he his life was spiraling out of control, he found out he was going to be a father for the first time. 'I wanted to be an example. I wanted someone that he could be proud of, so I took responsibilities for my action and turned myself in,' he explains. After serving three years in prison, Roger was desperate to make up for lost time with his son, and when he learned he had a daughter on the way, he knew he needed to lose weight once and for all. Wanting it gone: Roger, who is pictured with his daughter, had gastric sleeve surgery to lose the weight Working out: After the surgery, Roger started eating smaller meals and going to the gym Disgusted: Roger believes his excess skin is keeping him from really enjoying his time with his kids and being the dad he dreams of being Roger chose to have gastric sleeve surgery, believing it was the best option for him, and after the procedure he started eating smaller portions and lost enough weight to start going to the gym. 'In 90 days I lost over 100lbs,' he recalls. 'I am just really proud of myself. I have lost over 300lbs in two years,' he adds. 'I was really happy because I can be around longer for my family.' However, the excess skin on his body keeps him from being the father he wants to be, and he is willing to go under the knife again to finally have the flesh removed. You are here: Home Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcome ceremony for Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] China and Myanmar on Monday agreed to uphold the principle of mutual respect and win-win cooperation to promote the sustained, healthy and steady development of bilateral relations. China appreciates Myanmar's support for and participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, President Xi Jinping said during talks with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw. China will work with Myanmar to synergize the two nations' development strategies, and push forward cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, water conservation, electricity, finance and border economic cooperation zone, Xi said. "China will work with Myanmar to implement key cooperative programs such as Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone and connectivity projects," Xi said. During U Htin Kyaw's visit, the two sides signed nine cooperative documents. One was on a crude oil pipeline, which will stretch from Kyaukpyu port in Myanmar to Kunming City in Yunnan Province, according to Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin. "One section of this oil pipeline and a refinery near Kunming of the Chinese side have already been completed," Liu told a press briefing. "China and Myanmar have maintained close communication on the operation of the pipeline," he said. "I believe it will be running soon." Another important cooperation document was on the development and implementation of an industrial park and a deep-sea port in the Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone, said Liu. Xi told U Htin Kyaw that China is ready to work with Myanmar to ensure bilateral cooperation on areas that will improve the lives of the people of Myanmar, such as education and agriculture. He called on the two sides to enrich people-to-people exchanges and increase exchanges in culture, education, youth, health, tourism, media and religion, to consolidate the foundation of bilateral friendship. He also suggested that the two sides enhance coordination on multilateral occasions, such as the United Nations, East Asia cooperation, as well as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Framework. China respects Myanmar's development path which suits its national conditions, and is willing to play a constructive role in promoting Myanmar's domestic peace process, said the Chinese president. U Htin Kyaw said Myanmar will not forget China's assistance for Myanmar's development and its strong support for Myanmar on international occasions. He thanked China for supporting the efforts of the Myanmar government to promote national reconciliation, boost economic and social development and improve people's standard of living. U Htin Kyaw said Myanmar upholds the one-China policy and is willing to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthen cooperation on infrastructure and border economic cooperation zone. Prior to the talks, Xi held a red-carpet welcoming ceremony for U Htin Kyaw. During the visit, the two sides also issued a joint press communique. In the communique, the two sides agreed to make the best use of the China-Myanmar Diplomacy and Defense "2+2" Consultation to jointly safeguard security, the rule of law, peace and stability in border areas, and boost economic and social development in the border region. China supports Myanmar to achieve domestic peace and national reconciliation through political dialogue, it said. Myanmar voiced support for the Belt and Road Initiative and China's Belt and Road forum for international cooperation this May, according to the communique. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang also met with U Htin Kyaw earlier Monday. Li said peace and stability in north Myanmar directly relate to the security of southwestern China, and China hopes that overall peace and tranquility in the border areas will be ensured. U Htin Kyaw is on a six-day state visit to China from April 6 to 11 at the invitation of Xi. His delegation of over 30 people includes ministers from Myanmar's commerce and construction departments. Before arriving in Beijing, he had visited Chengdu, Xi'an, Shanghai and Hangzhou cities. Though adults may think they know everything, all it takes is one clever kid to prove that there is truly no limit to the creative intelligence of children. This fact was proven when Britney King of Cincinnati, Ohio checked her first-grade daughter Aria's latest math test, she found a hilarious answer to one particular question. On one addition question, the test-taker was asked to show how they arrived at their answer. A stroke of genius: Instead of providing a 'traditional' mathematical explanation, student Aria King informed her teacher that she used her fingers for her calculations Instead of providing the mathematical explanation the teacher was most likely looking for, Aria (pictured above) simply wrote 'I used my fingers' Proud mama! Aria's mother, Britney King, proudly shared her daughter's clever test answer on Facebook Instead of providing the mathematical explanation the teacher was most likely looking for, Aria simply wrote 'I used my fingers.' The word 'fingers' was boldly underlined for emphasis. Though Aria did not give the sort of explanation anticipated, her calculations remained correct. Future spelling bee champ? This comment praised Aria's spelling and grammar prowess in addition to her math skills The peanut gallery speaks! This comment joked that Aria would have needed 28 fingers in order to properly calculate the addition problem Her unorthodox answer does not appear to have been marked incorrect. After King posted the snap of her daughter's test to her own Facebook page, it was then shared by the page Love What Matters, where it presently has more than 12,000 likes. The bulk of the image's 600 comments are in praise of Aria's completely adorable honesty. An ageless technique: Many comments hinted at the fact that first-graders are not the only age group that still counts on their fingers Brain power! Many comments offered up their own examples of students' ingenious (if not unusual) test answers Trust your gut: Though test answers like Aria's are not exactly what a teacher is looking for, there's no denying that they are creative In the comments on the Facebook post, parents and teachers shared similar stories about their own children's brutally honest test answers. Many others also professed their own habit of counting on their fingers, even as high school students and adults. While Aria may not have given a 'traditional' explanation, it is certainly a testament to a different kind of intellect. As Albert Einstein famously said, 'The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.' Sue Oliver with granddaughter Lola So poor was her condition, so sudden the onset of her illness, that doctors were at first convinced that shed had a stroke. And, indeed, Sue Olivers symptoms were strikingly similar to those of some stroke victims: after going to bed as normal, shed woken up in a terrible state with absolutely no memory, she recalls with a shudder. I didnt even know what year it was. Luckily, my daughter heard me call out: Where am I? She came rushing in before ringing 999. An ambulance arrived within minutes and blue-lighted me to hospital. Sue, 59, underwent a barrage of tests, including a lumbar puncture, as doctors searched for the cause of her collapse. No one expected the real reason. Rather than a stroke, she had suffered an amnesiac attack. The cause? The extreme mental and physical stress of caring for her two-year-old granddaughter Lola while her son, Jason, and daughter-in-law, Vicki, both 30, dedicate themselves to their careers. Sues story is just the tip of the iceberg. More and more grandparents report that caring for their grandchildren is taking a toll on their health, from all-out physical collapse to agonising back problems from lifting babies and toddlers as well as the constant stress of worrying whether theyll be able to keep up with the workload. It seems that just when many grandparents should be settling into retirement, instead theyre having to commit to the exhausting task of caring for young grandchildren. As more mothers prioritise careers over staying at home and nursery costs rise, the number of carer grandparents has soared. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 1.3 million working mothers rely on their parents for childcare, while research from insurers Rias reveals grandparents spend an average of nine hours a week caring for grandchildren saving parents 1,902 in childcare fees over a year. Lola was just eight months old when Sue started looking after her The impact on grandparents can be huge, as Sue, a retired nurse from Billericay, Essex, discovered after her illness in June 2015. I adore Lola and feel hugely privileged to spend so much time with her, but at my age, its tough, she says. Im on the go from 7.30am when Vicki drops off Lola to when she picks her up at 6pm. Im often so tired that when she leaves, I just slump in a chair and fall asleep. Lola was just eight months old when I started looking after her, and suffered from gastric reflux. The only way to soothe her was to carry her. I couldnt put her down for a second. Hearing her cry in pain and not being able to soothe her was agony. I used to take things in my stride. But these days, feeling the entire extended family is relying on me is enormously stressful. I am petrified of getting sick. If I cant care for Lola, my son or daughter-in-law will have to take time off work. I cant let that happen. I must admit I do often think: What on earth have I done? Despite feeling so exhausted, Sue has yet to reduce her childcare duties This is a common emotion among grand-parents, according to clinical psychologist Rachel Andrew, who specialises in family problems. Grandparents often underestimate just how much energy young grandchildren can take up. The sheer stress of keeping up is enormous. This generation has a huge new anxiety and competitiveness around parenting, which feeds into grandparenting. They worry if theyre doing enough or doing the right things with grandchildren. Then, sadly, all too many adult children still act as if their parents should bail them out. I see so many grandparents shouldering the responsibility when really its time for them to let their adult children stand on their own two feet. Sue, who divorced her husband 21 years ago, agreed to be an unpaid nanny for two days a week when Vicki, who works for a bank, became pregnant at Christmas 2013. There was no way they could afford childcare, says Sue. So I offered to take the lions share, with Vickis mum and stepmum taking up the other days. But I didnt realise how tough it was going to be. Its exhausting. You forget just how hard it is lifting a child in and out of a cot, all the chasing around and worrying. I thought bringing up my own children was hard enough, but this is much harder. But I can never say no even though it does mean I barely have a social life, what with all the time I spend on my own housekeeping. Lunch with my sister which I used to love is out. I just dont have time. My friends think Im mad. But I dont think Ive got an option. Despite feeling so exhausted, Sue has yet to reduce her childcare duties. I am really close to Vicki and shes an absolutely fantastic mum, says Sue. I know theres no way she wants me to feel guilty or do any more than I really want to do, but its just the way I am. How can I stop when my children need me? I was advised to take life easy after the amnesia attack. I took four weeks off, but I felt guilty as Vicki and Jason had to take unpaid leave. I find it really hard to put myself first, much as I know I should, though Vicki and Jason always urge me to only do what Im comfortable with. Gran to the rescue: Chris Rose with Jack and Sam I adore Lola and I love looking after her. But any granny who is thinking of offering childcare should know its a job with no pay and no time off. Self-sacrifice seems to be a declining characteristic among modern mums, who are keen for me time and career progression and grandmothers are stepping into the breach. Take Chris Rose, whose life has undergone a seismic shift since her first grandchild arrived almost five years ago. When Jack was born in November 2012, her dream of a relaxed retirement vanished. Retired teacher Chris, 59, and her husband Ewan, 54, a trade journalist from Croydon, South London, had planned to travel the world. We promised ourselves that when I retired wed go on exotic holidays and take lots of city breaks, she says. We dreamt of going to Marrakech, Bali and New Zealand. Then along came Jack. When Chriss daughter Sarah, 33, a teaching assistant, and her partner, Paul, 36, a sales manager, started agonising about childcare, Chris instantly offered to help. Chris invited her duaghter Sarah to move back home along with her partner and Jack. Sam was born in June She began caring for Jack for three days a week when he was five months old. She gave up her job, even though, at 56, she was a long way off retirement. And, extraordinarily, she went one step further, inviting Sarah to move back home along with her partner and baby. Jacks brother Sam, who was born last June, has joined the household. I know lots of people will probably think Im mad, says Chris. But money is so tight for this generation that it seems the obvious thing to do. Sarah and Paul were paying 1,000 a month in rent. We have a five-bedroom, three-storey house, so theres plenty of room. We share the kitchen, but they have their own sitting room, so at least the toys are out of the way. It makes practical sense to step in now when Sarah needs us most. And it isnt for ever. Yes, I miss my job sometimes. But I felt too stressed to enjoy being a grandma. Of course, though I was only working two days a week, weve lost out financially. And I wont deny Ive found looking after Jack much more physically demanding than I expected. Ive had back problems, exacerbated by getting him in and out of his car seat. There are evenings when I just crawl into bed exhausted. Sarah has been on maternity leave with her new baby. But she returns to work three days a week next month. Thats only possible if I step in again. I am worried about how I will cope with both boys. If it werent for escaping to their holiday cottage in Sussex most weekends, Chris admits shed find the situation virtually impossible. We need time away from the noise and the toys, she says. Still, she claims she wouldnt change a thing. I adore the boys and want to spend as much time as possible with them. Chris gave up her job at 56 to look after Jack, pictured right When I was a working mum, I was just too stressed to appreciate things properly. I feel Ive been handed a second chance and I dont want to let it go. Sarah, in turn, says she feel guilt for all that her mum is doing. Whatever she says, Mum adored her job and I feel very guilty that she gave up work for me, she says. By letting us live with them, theyre saving us a fortune. Nursery fees would be 1,200 a month, on top of 1,000 in rent. Mum looks after the boys for free and we share household bills. Many might accuse Sarah of being selfish. But she defends her situation robustly. I know Im incredibly lucky, but Mum doesnt see it as a sacrifice. But while Sarah is immensely grateful, she admits it hasnt all been plain sailing. There were some teething problems, she admits frankly. When Jack arrived, I had a very strict nap routine, but Mum has always found it hard to be rigid. We could have had a row about it, but I had to bite my tongue. If youre paying someone to look after your children, you call the tune. But when your mum steps in and cares for your children for free, its very different. Rachel Andrew says arguments can easily escalate. It can be painful for grandparents when their children reject the way they were raised, she says. Even if grandparents arent involved in childcare, it can seem like a slap in the face. When they are intimately involved, then it can cause huge friction. And a difference over routine isnt the only bugbear for Sarah. Its mean to complain, but the other big downside is Paul and I can never socialise together, she says. Asking Mum to babysit when she does so much already would be taking the mickey. We escaped for a curry in November to celebrate Pauls birthday. But I felt so guilty that we were back home by 9pm. Chris with her husband Ewan and baby Sam: The couple had planned to travel the world after retirement And while Sarah is delighted to have her Mum on tap for childcare, what do her brother Dan, 37, and sister Beth, 22, think, particularly as neither has children? We are a close family, but, even so, I suspect theyre a bit jealous, says Sarah. Mum gives me and my boys so much. I know they wonder whether shell have the time and energy to do the same for them. And that, says psychologist Sue Firth, is another huge source of stress and tension. When grandchildren arrive, old sibling rivalries that seemed buried can suddenly resurface, she says. Brothers and sisters can end up fighting tooth and nail to get a fair share of parental love, not just for themselves, but for their own children. Mum-of-three Gill Palmer knows the problem only too well. She has helped care for her 35-year-old son Roberts daughter, Willow, two, since she was nine months old. But five months ago, her daughter Cathy, 34, a solicitor, gave birth to Ethan. Gill finds herself on the horns of a dilemma. I want to offer Cathy the same as Ive offered Robert, says Gill, 59, a doctors receptionist from Bishops Waltham, Hampshire. But that means I have to juggle looking after two babies on two separate days, as well as keeping my career going. Ive already dropped to part-time, which means losing a third of my salary. I dont have time for hobbies such as badminton, which I loved. And making time to have coffee with friends is like planning a military operation. I know the children are extremely grateful. On Mothers Day I was showered with flowers and chocolates. But if my youngest David, 28, starts a family, I dont know how well manage. An impossible dilemma, it seems and one Rachel Andrew believes grandmothers should respond to with tough love. As women we are so used to putting ourselves last and our children first, she says. But does that have to carry on even when our children are grown up with families of their own? Insomnia is the most searched for symptom in so-called 'Dr Google.' The condition racks up an average of 74,000 searches into the site each month. In fact, nine out of 10 of the UK's largest towns Google insomnia more than any other symptom. Leeds appears to be the least worried about getting enough shut eye, with diarrhoea being its most searched for health term. Overall, diarrhoea is the second most commonly searched symptom, amassing a total of 49,500 Googles a month. Sore throats has 40,500 monthly searches. Insomnia is the most Googled symptom, with 74,000 searches each month in the UK The online pharmacy company, Pharmacy2U , conducted a study into 28 common health symptoms in the UK. IS YOUR DOCTOR GOOGLING YOU? Around 16 per cent of doctors look up their patients online. According to an Australian study of 187 doctors. Some doctors claim this helps them to discover more information about the patient's condition so they can better treat them. Yet, critics warn this may reduce a patient's trust in their doctor as they may feel spied on. Advertisement The research also looked at how self-diagnosis differs between the UK's main cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Cardiff, Aberdeen and Belfast. Phil Day, pharmacist, Pharmacy2U, said: 'The public's reluctance to visit a GP when feeling under the weather is apparent and has resulted in a phenomenon of online searches. 'This isn't something new to us, but what we really wanted to find out was what the most commonly searched symptoms were and whether any trends occur during the year. 'The UK public definitely isn't shying away from turning to the web when it comes to diagnosing a health-related issue; and our research highlights this well'. This comes after researchers from the University of Colorado found that insomnia increases the risk of bone fractures in men. Having restricted amounts of rest, such as working shift patterns or being jet lagged, prevents bones from repairing themselves. A breast cancer drug set to be withdrawn in England was approved yesterday for routine use in Scotland. Kadcyla, widely considered the biggest breakthrough treatment in the past decade, has been available to women in England for nearly three years through the temporary Cancer Drugs Fund. But NHS watchdog NICE said in a draft decision that the average 90,000-per-patient price is too high. Last night cancer charities called on NICE to reverse its provisional decision and grant permanent access to the drug. Breast cancer patients Anne MacLean-Change, centre, and Alison Tait, right, react to the decision to make Kadcyla routinely available alongside charity director Mary Allison If it does not, women in Scotland will be the only patients in the UK eligible to receive Kadcyla free on the NHS, meaning more than 1,200 women a year in England would miss out. Kadcyla is known to extend patients lives by six months on average. Some are still alive after five years. The Scottish Medicines Consortium said the drug offers patients a significant increase in overall survival and quality of life. This gives women more time with their family and in some cases patients had even been able to return to work after receiving the treatment. Breast Caner Now chief Baroness Delyth Morgan, said it was absolutely fantastic news that Kadcyla would be available to patients in Scotland but called on NICE to make it available on the NHS in England The decision shows again the divide between the NHS in Scotland, where the Scottish government makes rationing decisions, and in England. Kadcyla treats advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, which accounts for one-fifth of the 45,000 new cases of the disease in Britain each year and which can be particularly aggressive. Until now, women in Scotland seeking the drug have had to pay for it privately. More than 115,000 people have signed a petition calling on NICE to reverse its decision that could see women in England having to pay. Announcing the provisional rejection of Kadcyla in December, Professor Carole Longson of NICE said: The reality is that the price is currently too high in relation to the benefits it gives. Manufacturer Roche said it is negotiating with NICE to reverse the decision but cost is the sticking point. Roche said it would charge the NHS the full price for a 14-month course typically around 90,000 but would provide the drug free for any patient who lived longer. Overall, 15 per cent survive more than 14 months and of these many live for several years. Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of the charity Breast Cancer Now, said it was absolutely fantastic news that Kadcyla would be available to patients in Scotland but called on NICE to make it available on the NHS in England where thousands of patients... are still living in desperate hope. My son, who is 40, has haemochromatosis, or iron overload. Hes been told its to do with his Irish descent, but I have never heard of this. Can you tell me any more about it? Name and address supplied. In Ireland as many as one in 80 people carry two copies of the faulty gene that develops Haemochromatosis Haemochromatosis is an inherited disorder where the intestine absorbs excessive amounts of iron from the food that you eat. Over time, iron gradually builds up in the body. To develop the condition, you need to have inherited two copies of a faulty gene, one from each parent (though this doesnt mean haemochromatosis is inevitable). Around one in every 300 people in Europe carries two copies of the gene. In Ireland as many as one in 80 people does and its similarly common in Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. Thus its sometimes referred to as the Celtic condition. Its often picked up before symptoms start, either because the patient has been given blood tests for another reason or they have been screened for the condition. Once symptoms do occur, the first signs are usually weakness and fatigue. The patient may also experience joint pain, their skin may look bronzed and they may be more susceptible to infections. Because iron is toxic to our cells long term, if left untreated, iron overload can damage the liver and heart and raise the risk of cancer. It can also damage the pituitary gland in the brain, reducing the production of sex hormones, leading to loss of libido in men or upsetting the menstrual cycle in women. If iron overload is diagnosed early in life (and that may well include people of your sons age), we can prevent complications. Several tests are carried out to confirm the diagnosis, including one to check levels of ferritin (a protein that stores iron) and one to check how much iron is being stored in the tissues (known as transferrin saturation). The treatment involves removing blood (typically 500ml, just less than a pint) once a week until the iron levels fall to normal, which takes about a year. After that, removing a pint every two to four months prevents further build-up. Though this wont reverse any existing damage to the organs, it should resolve any symptoms and prevent further complications. As the mother you should be tested as well, and so should your sons father, his siblings and his children. But the important point to stress is that most people with this condition have a normal life expectancy. I recently saw my GP for a minor complaint and during the visit she said: Youre 86 and on statins and aspirin, so well stop them as they may do you more harm than good now. Ive been on these pills for 12 years. Should I be worried? R. J. Newman, Clwyd, Wales. Thank you for raising this important issue. Statins and aspirin are often prescribed in combination to help prevent heart attacks and strokes: statins work by lowering cholesterol, while a low-dose aspirin helps prevent blood clots. So is it safer to stop taking rather than continue with a statin and low-dose aspirin once you reach a certain age? It depends on this question: could stopping lead to a rebound effect that causes your cholesterol levels to bounce back up or some sort of withdrawal effect? Statins and aspirin are often prescribed in combination to help prevent heart attacks and strokes Let me answer this second question first: stopping the tablets suddenly will not cause any change in how you feel as neither drug leads to addiction. Nor will it lead to a rebound effect. The main question is more difficult, but I understand your GPs concern. Aspirin is associated with an increased risk of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to anaemia or sudden very severe bleeding though if it has not caused either in the past 12 years there is no greater risk of it doing so at the age of 86. In relation to statins, the answer is slightly more complicated. It depends on whether you were originally prescribed the drug for primary prevention ie, to tackle raised cholesterol levels, but where heart disease hasnt yet been diagnosed or secondary prevention, where the drugs are used to stop an existing problem getting worse or recurring. This is a controversial area, but the conventional view is that for primary and secondary prevention, statins do work. However, there are certain caveats and this includes their use as primary prevention in older patients in other words, treating people who have not been diagnosed with heart disease, but who have high cholesterol. Studies show treating older patients who have heart disease with statins reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes as well as death from other causes. But no studies have been carried out that were specifically aimed at following the outcome of primary prevention in those over 80. However, we do know the risk of developing coronary heart disease increases with age: in men over 65, half of all deaths are attributed to coronary heart disease. This higher risk in the elderly indicates that the benefit of lowering your cholesterol is greater than in younger patients a point that many doctors do not realise. Therefore, the decision about treatment must be tailored to you. It is best taken by your doctor, who should make a judgment taking into account your life expectancy, your history and physical state. In a patient who has a limited life span from another illness, it might be sensible to stop the statin/aspirin combination, for instance. And despite what I said about aspirin earlier, if you do have any side-effects from either of the drugs, then the balance might be in favour of stopping the medication. By the way... No excuses, I'm a weekend gym warrior now I have stressed the importance of regular exercise in the quest for a long, healthy life many times. But though I pride myself on being better than most when it comes to diet, I admit I am bottom of the class when it comes to exercise. I tell myself that raking up leaves and mowing the grass is all the exercise I have time for. But the truth is that I am too lazy to fit regular exercise into my day. However, a recent study has suggested I cant justify this attitude any more as it seems there are major benefits to be had from exercise even if you manage it only once or twice a week. The study of more than 60,000 adults showed that those who cram all their weekly exercise into one or two sessions so-called weekend warriors benefit nearly as much as those who work out more frequently. The people in trouble are those who dont do any exercise as being inactive results in a higher risk of heart disease, cancer and premature death. So Ive joined a gym and Im going to go even if I manage to make it only at the weekend. Retired nurse Sue Collins was just beginning the second length of her local pool when her morning swim suddenly became anything but a pleasure. Two months ago Sue, 69, who has never suffered from asthma or any other breathing problem in the past, suddenly found herself gasping for breath. I felt as if my throat and oesophagus were closing up, says the grandmother, who lives near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. Skipping a shower before you get in the pool could be seriously bad for your health I hauled myself out on the side and lay there clutching my chest, struggling to breathe. It was terrifying. I thought: Am I going to have a heart attack? A stroke? I had felt a little breathless after finishing my swim a couple of weeks before but this time it was far worse. After sitting quietly for a few minutes Sues breathing improved and she decided to, as she puts it, not be a wimp and get back in. I could feel the same thing happening again. Im now too nervous to go back and I used to go swimming three times a week. Sue is convinced the problem is related to the indoor swimming baths. I spend half the year in Turkey and swim every day outside in a pool or the sea there and never have this problem, she says. She may be right, because although a trip to the pool is the perfect exercise for many, the chlorine used to keep the water free from germs can trigger problems. Chlorinated environments can make people feel as if they are choking or have difficulty breathing, says Dr James Hull, consultant respiratory physician at Royal Brompton Hospital, London. But in most cases its not the chlorine that triggers problems, but the by-products formed when chlorine interacts with other substances and this is mostly down to people not showering before they enter the pool. Although a trip to the pool is the perfect exercise for many, the chlorine used to keep the water free from germs can trigger health problems This then poisons the water for them and for others, says Dr Hull. The chlorine interacts with sweat and urine (and beauty products such as moisturiser) on the skin and forms by-products called chloramines that float above the surface as a gaseous solution that can be inhaled. Chloramines are heavier than air so hang over the water where they are easily inhaled. Some believe they may cause lung disorders. A Swedish study in 2013 examining the health of 146 workers at 46 indoor pools found that 17 per cent had airway trouble at work but no problems at home. Meanwhile, a paper in the journal Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine in 2012 commented on the high prevalence of airway sensitivity among swimmers. The Canadian researchers studied the lungs of competitive swimmers, and found that after training, they had signs of inflammatory changes similar to those in asthmatics. The scientists said that this may be due to chlorine by-products affecting the lining of the airways and possibly contributing to the development of respiratory disease. Swimmers are also prone to another condition exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO). This leads to symptoms similar to asthma, such as breathlessness or wheezing. Researchers studied the lungs of competitive swimmers, and found that after training, they had signs of inflammatory changes similar to those in asthmatics It occurs when intense exercise such as swimming causes an abnormal closing of the larynx (or voice box), says Dr Hull. This is a physical reaction not an allergy in which the vocal cords, the V-shaped band of tissue within the voice box, close, obstructing breathing. Some people say it only affects them when they are swimming Why, we dont know, says Dr Hull. It is possible that this, too, is linked to the chloramines. It tends to affect young adolescents around six to nine per cent of that age group have this condition although it can affect people in their 60s and 70s, too. It may be that they dont know they have the issues until they take up vigorous exercise at this point of their life. But the problem, especially for affected youngsters, is that it gets mistaken for asthma and so they spend years on inhalers that do nothing to help their symptoms. Dr Hull has developed a tool that can accurately diagnose EILO in swimmers. Although we can normally induce symptoms on a treadmill, some people say it only occurs in the pool, he explains. The tool comprises a camera, half the width of a pencil, attached to a flexible tube that goes up the nose and takes pictures of the voice box to see if it closes during swimming. EILO can be helped with physiotherapy to control the voice box though it may sometimes require surgery. Dr Hull urges anyone with symptoms like Sues to get checked. He says: In older people there is a chance that breathlessness when exercising could be related to something unconnected with swimming such as heart disease. Avoiding indoor pools or finding one that is well ventilated may help. And everyone should shower before swimming. As Dr Hull says: People need to remember that showering isnt just for them. It is for the greater good. Squirting a cool mist up the nose could be a lifesaver for patients who have had a cardiac arrest Squirting a cool mist up the nose could be a lifesaver for patients who have had a cardiac arrest. The mist is delivered through two probes, one in each nostril, and thought to work by chilling the brain, which helps to prevent long-term, and potentially fatal, brain damage. Rapidly cooling the body is known to help after cardiac arrests, when the heart stops pumping blood, but the equipment currently used is available only in hospitals. This can result in a delay before patients receive treatment, which means they may die or be left with irreparable brain damage as the blood supply is cut off. The new handheld device, called RhinoChill, allows the cooling technique to be started much earlier by paramedics, increasing the chance of a patient surviving and making a full recovery. It may also help patients who have had a stroke or brain injury. One theory as to why it works is that cooling the body slows the rate at which cells use up energy, which in turn slows the mechanisms that normally lead to damage, giving doctors more time to treat the problem. A new study shows the device is safe and easy to use after cardiac arrests, and a large study of 900 patients across Europe is under way to assess how well it improves survival rates and whether it reduces brain damage after a cardiac arrest. Device to reduce back pain A wearable device to reduce back pain by improving posture is being tested by scientists at Columbia University in the U.S. The Upright Go resembles a small computer mouse and attaches to the back with adhesive. It vibrates when the wearer stoops, reminding them to realign their posture, thereby reducing muscle ache. Advertisement More than 60,000 people have a cardiac arrest out of hospital each year in the UK and fewer than one in ten survive. The main causes are a heart attack, where theres a sudden interruption to the blood supply to part of the heart muscle, or an underlying heart condition. Studies have shown that cooling the body to 32-34c (known as hypothermia) can reduce long-term damage to the brain and improve a patients chance of a full recovery. Hospital staff may achieve this using bulky devices which deliver cold saline solution directly into the blood to reduce its temperature. They also use cooling blankets or ice packs. Heartburn drugs could prevent miscarriges Pills for heartburn may help prevent miscarriages caused by pre-eclampsia. This occurs when blood vessels in the placenta dont develop properly, pushing up blood pressure and reducing oxygen and nutrients to the baby. The placenta then releases toxins that damage the babys organs. Researchers at Melbourne University in Australia have found that proton pump inhibitors which ease heartburn by reducing the stomachs production of acid can stop the release of these toxins at the first sign of pre-eclampsia, according to a study in the journal Hypertension. A trial is under way, involving 120 expectant women with the condition, to help researchers understand more about how the drugs may help. Advertisement The new cooling system, known as intra-nasal cooling and designed to be used by paramedics as soon as possible, consists of a machine roughly the size of a briefcase which contains a pump and a container full of the coolant liquid. This machine has a tube which connects it to two probes that are placed inside a patients nostrils. Once activated, a constant stream of coolant is sprayed through the probes into the nasal cavity where the blood vessels which supply the brain are. A recent study at the Medical University of Vienna looked at the use of the device in 21 people who had suffered cardiac arrest and found early use of the device was feasible, safe, easy to handle, and does not delay or hinder resuscitation, the researchers wrote in the journal Medicine. An earlier pilot study by Bristol NHS Trust and air ambulance services, found similar results. The device will now be tested on 900 patients who have had a cardiac arrest at a number of hospitals across Europe, including the Erasme University Hospital in Belgium. Commenting on the device, Dr Richard Lyon, a professor of pre-hospital emergency medical care at the University of Surrey, says: It is potentially an exciting prospect. Intra-nasal cooling has huge potential for the treatment of people with cardiac arrest. Animal studies have shown it can be very effective, but the challenge is to start the treatment as soon as possible. Antidepressants may mean men last longer Antidepressants could be used to treat premature ejaculation Egyptian researchers have found more evidence that antidepressants could be used to treat premature ejaculation in men. The study, published in the journal Human Andrology, found that patients taking sertraline a widely prescribed drug known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor performed for four times longer than those not taking the drug. The antidepressant works by boosting levels of the chemical serotonin, which balances mood and happiness, in the brain. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression, anxiety and premature ejaculation. Maple syrup gives antibiotics a boost Eating maple syrup while on antibiotics may make the drugs more effective Eating maple syrup when you need to take antibiotics might make the drugs work better, suggest researchers at McGill University in Canada. Scientists placed strains of bacteria alongside compounds from maple syrup in lab tests. When they then added two common antibiotics to the mix, they found they needed much less of the antibiotic than normal to kill the bacteria. They also tested the findings on fruit flies that were exposed to bacteria. The flies given the drugs alongside meals soaked in maple syrup lived for days longer than expected. Researchers believe the maple syrup extract makes bacteria cells more permeable so the drugs can gain entry more easily. Medicine for wind helps spot cancer A medicine that relieves trapped wind may improve cancer diagnosis, say doctors at Portsmouths Queen Alexandra Hospital. In a trial of 126 patients, they found that the anti-foaming ingredient simeticone which is used to reduce bloating or pain caused by excessive wind in babies allowed them to see a patients gullet, stomach and small intestine more clearly during a gastroscopy (where a tiny camera is used to look for disease). Sometimes gas bubbles may mask cancers when doctors are looking at images on a screen, so the medicine may help doctors diagnose gastrointestinal cancer more quickly. Is this the key to beating dementia? Neurologists believe they have found a way to reverse Alzheimers disease. A team at Washington University in the U.S. found that a compound known as tau antisense oligonucleotides blocked the production of a protein called tau, which clumps together in brain cells and leads to degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimers disease. In their study, the researchers found that injections of the compound prevented tau clusters forming in the brains of young mice and reversed the clusters in older mice. As a result, they lived longer with healthier brains. The findings could lead to new drugs for humans with brain disorders, the scientists suggest. A new generation of the sex drug 'poppers' can cause irreversible damage to the back of the eyes, scientists warn. Just one use of the legal highs can trigger the deterioration of the fovea - the part of the retina responsible for the clearest vision. Despite being designed to create feelings of euphoria, the main chemical ingredient can trigger side effects. These include blurriness and blind spots, and can occur within hours being inhaled, British researchers claim. Experts argue that the safety of the recreational drug, used widely in the homosexual community, needs to be reviewed. Just one use of the legal highs, which are designed to create feelings of euphoria, can trigger the deterioration The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 aimed to ban the production and sale of all 'legal highs' in the UK from April 2016. However, the colourless liquids with strong odours were considered exempt as they don't directly affect the central nervous system. They are believed to be the fourth most popular recreational drug after cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy in the UK. The principal chemical ingredient of the drug was replaced with isopropyl nitrite in 2006 after being found to be a carcinogenic. But eye problems have emerged as a little-known side effect since the chemical composition was changed. Researchers assessed visual damage in 12 men who had used the drugs and were admitted to Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton. Inhaling one of the main chemicals in poppers can cause blurriness and blind spots within just hours of being inhaled, researchers claim All of the patients had reported some form of visual disturbance, with blurriness and blind spots being the most common. Study author Dr Rebecca Rewbury concluded: 'The cases presented here suggest that certain brands of poppers may be more toxic to the retina than others. SOME OF THE CASES... Three patients had used poppers for 20 years or more, only noticing symptoms after switching to a new brand. One of these men developed a progressive central scotoma (blind spot) after using Jungle Juice, containing isopropyl nitrite. Previous use of Jungle Juice Plus, without isopropyl nitrite, wasn't associated with any visual disturbances. The second patient noticed symptoms after using Berlin XXX containing isopropyl nitrite, for the first time, having previously suffered no ill effects when using other brands. The third patient had frequently used isobutyl nitrites in the 1980s with no visual side effects, but after heavy use for the first time in years, developed scotoma. Advertisement 'Chemical analysis of the products tested suggests that isopropyl nitrite is responsible for poppers maculopathy, although the mechanism of this is unknown. 'We suspect a high rate of poppers usage among the Brighton population; this is of increasing concern, both because of the mounting body of evidence suggesting that poppers can have serious effects on central vision and because of users and healthcare professionals who may be unaware of the risk. 'While macula changes often resolve on cessation of use, symptoms can be prolonged and the visual effects of chronic use of the newer brands of poppers are unknown. 'For these reasons, it seems appropriate that the level of harm associated with poppers should be reassessed.' Eight of the products the men used were chemically analysed: Platinum, Hard-on, Rush, Berlin XXX Hardcore, Liquid Gold, Jungle Juice, and two Jungle Juice Plus varieties. Six of the brands linked to visual symptoms contained isopropyl nitrite, according to the study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. While Jungle Juice Plus varieties, used without visual side effects in one case, contained other forms of nitrites and related compounds. Most patients fully or mostly recovered several months after stopping drug use, although symptoms didn't clear up in all of them. A heartbroken mother has shared an emotional post addressed to her son two months after he died of cancer. Ruth Scully, from Leonardtown, Maryland, lost her four-year-old son, Nolan, in February to Rhabdomyosarcoma. The cancer, which affects the soft skeletal tissue, is highly aggressive and can spread quickly - becoming resistant to all forms of treatment. Nolan had just 15 months to fight the disease, from November 2015 to February 2017, before it took his life. In a Facebook post that has gone viral, Ruth opens up about the brutal realities of how cancer cripples the body day by day. Devastating: Four-year-old Nolan Scully from Maryland died in February this year from a rare, aggressive form of bone tissue cancer. His mother Ruth has since opened up about the heartbreak of losing him - and describing how cancer attacks the body. She posted a photo of Nolan on the bathroom floor, when he was too terrified to leave her side even when she showered. She wrote: 'With nothing but an empty shower rug now where once a beautiful perfect little boy laid waiting for his Mommy' Tragic: Nolan was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in November 2015 (pictured with Ruth) Fighting: Nolan came down with a stuffy nose in September 2015, which his parents assumed was a common cold. Two months later, he received his cancer diagnosis and the 'stuffy nose' was actually a tumor compressing his airway (Pictured left and right in January 2017, one month before his death) In September 2015, Nolan came down with a stuffy nose, which his parents just assumed was a common cold. But soon, his breathing became difficult. Doctors tried antibiotics, a humidifier, steam and saline spray - but nothing worked. They decided to take biopsies of his adenoid tissue, which sits behind the nasal cavity. Finally, in November, doctors diagnosed Nolan with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer - a tumor had been compressing his airway causing his 'stuffy nose'. WHAT IS RHABDOMYOSARCOMA? Childhood rhabdomyosarcoma is a disease in which malignant cells form in muscle tissue. Each year, about 350 children, adolescents, and young adults are diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. Most of them are younger than 10 years old and it's more common in boys than girls. These tumors develop from muscle or fibrous tissue and can grow in any part of the body. Signs and symptoms: A painful lump or swelling that keeps growing or doesn't go away Bulging of the eye Headache and nausea Trouble urinating or having bowel movements Blood in the urine Bleeding in the nose, throat, vagina, or rectum There are two types of the cancer: 1) Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) usually affects children in their first five years of life. ERMS tends to occur in the head and neck area, bladder, vagina, or in or around the prostate and testicles. 2) Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) typically affects all age groups equally. ARMS most often occurs in large muscles of the torso, arms, and legs. It tends to grow faster than ERMS and usually requires more intense treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery to remove the tumor are the most common treatment options. For low-risk forms, the survival rate is between 60 percent and 80 percent but, upon spreading, the rate falls between 20 and 40 percent. Advertisement The cancer grows in muscles, fat, bones or the linings of joints. Patients often experience drooping eyelids, headaches and nausea, trouble urinating and having bowels movements. Rounds of chemotherapy and radiation soon followed. Nolan lost his hair and gradually grew weaker. The disease is an aggressive and highly malignant form of cancer and, in Nolan, it started spreading throughout his body. Once it spreads, the survival rate falls between 20 percent and 40 percent. Ruth wrote about how she had wanted to describe Nolan's last days for a while and how her son 'was made of nothing but pure love.' On a Facebook page she and husband Jonathan created called Nolan Strong, Ruth describes her feelings as 'agony unlike any other', in a touching tribute. When Ruth took Nolan to the hospital for the last time, he had been battling cancer for more than a year, had not eaten or drank anything in days and was continuously vomiting. On February 1, the oncologist told the family that the four-year-old's cancer had spread and large tumors were compressing his bronchial tubes and heart just four weeks after open chest surgery. The cancer had become resistant to all treatment options and all doctors could do now was keep Nolan comfortable as he was deteriorating rapidly. 'When I brought Nolan to the hospital for the last time, I knew there was something else wrong other than just a lingering case of C-DIFF. I just knew, and strange enough, I think he did too. He hadn't eaten or drank anything in days and was continually vomiting,' she wrote. 'On February 1st we were sat down with his ENTIRE team. When his Oncologist spoke, I saw the pure pain in her eyes. 'She had always been honest with us and fought along side of us the whole time, but his updated CT scan showed large tumors that grew compressing his bronchial tubes and heart within four weeks of his open chest surgery. 'The Mestatic Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma was spreading like wild fire. 'She explained at this time she didn't feel his Cancer (sic) was treatable as it had become resistant to all treatment options we had tried and the plan would be to keep him comfortable as he was deteriorating rapidly.' Ruth described how, in one of their last conversations, she told her son that he 'didn't have to fight anymore' but he said he was fight for her. She wrote: 'Me: Honey ... I can't do that anymore here. The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven. (My heart shattering) 'Nolan: Sooooo I'll just go to Heaven and play until you get there! You'll come right?' Distress: Ruth described how Nolan went through rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, progressively getting weaker. On February 1, the family received the news that the cancer was spreading at a rapid rate and that it was resisting treatment (Pictured right in December 2016 and left in October 2016) Memorial: Ruth described her son as 'a warrior who died with dignity and love' and has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover medical expenses (Pictured in December 2016) Ruth explained that her son slept for most of following days and the anguish she felt over signing an emergency responder 'Do Not Resuscitate' order. On February 4, Nolan passed away. The post describing his fight has been shared on Facebook more than 611,000 times. A GoFundMe page has been set up as a memorial fund and to help cover medical bills. So far, more than $50,000 has been raised. Ruth added how her son love his family and friends with a fierce devotion and that he 'was a warrior who died with dignity and love'. Alongside the letter, is a photo of Nolan lying on the bathroom floor, showing how her son was too terrified to leave her side even when she showered. 'Now I'm the one terrified to shower,' she wrote. 'With nothing but an empty shower rug now where once a beautiful perfect little boy laid waiting for his Mommy.' An influential U.S. government health panel is dropping its opposition to routine prostate cancer screening. In fact, in new draft guidelines the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says they do not have any specific advice on the topic. Instead, men should decide for themselves the best course of action after talking with their doctor. The move echoes those of several leading medical groups, which are all warning they don't have an answer. But they don't make the decision any easier for men: With their doctor's help, they have to decide whether to take an imperfect PSA test that has a small chance of detecting a deadly cancer and a larger chance of triggering unneeded worry and treatment with serious side effects. In new draft guidelines the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says they do not have any specific advice on the topic. In 2012, the panel advised against 'inaccurate' PSA screenings The panel's chair Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, a San Francisco internist who already follows the advice and discusses the potential pros and cons with her patients, insists the lack of advice is useful for men. 'This isn't a one-size-fits-all' recommendation, she said. Men whose greatest concern is reducing their chances of dying from cancer are sometimes willing to face the consequences and choose testing. 'Other men will realize the likely benefit is small and aren't willing to risk the harms,' she said. PSA screening to detect the most common male cancer is among the most heated topics in men's health. It involves a simple blood test for elevated levels of a protein that may signal cancer but also can be caused by less serious prostate problems. It can find cancer that frequently doesn't need treatment because it's too small and slow growing to become deadly. Doctors say there's no good way to tell which early cancers might become lethal. The next step is often radiation or surgery to remove the prostate, which may result in impotence and incontinence. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says its latest recommendation is based on new evidence indicating that routine PSA blood tests can slightly reduce some men's chances of dying from prostate cancer and that drastic treatment can be avoided with close monitoring when cancer is detected. The shift shelves the panel's 2012 guidance, which prompted criticism from some urologists - specialists who treat the disease - and angered some prostate cancer patients certain that PSA screening had saved their lives. The new advice published Tuesday closely aligns the panel with medical groups that also support shared-decision-making. The biggest remaining difference is timing. The task force draft says screening conversations should begin at age 55. Other groups say start earlier, depending on family history of prostate cancer and other factors. It recommends against testing men aged 70 and older. The panel leaves open how often men should be screened. It does not recommend earlier testing for blacks and those with a family history but says they should know their risks are higher. Dr Eric Klein, chairman of the urology department at the Cleveland Clinic, told Daily Mail Online the new advice is a welcome evidence-based change, and one that is in his opinion long overdue. 'Having worked in urology before PSA tests in the 1980s, I have personally seen the value, and I will always take the view that it does more good than harm,' he said. 'When I became a urologist, the most common treatment we had - or rather, the only treatment - was removal of the testicles. 'Five years later, when we had PSA, the rate of men diagnosed with severe cancers went from 50 percent to 5 percent. 'So it's always been my belief, based on that experience, that it has value. 'Of course, it is not necessary for all men. But to say it does not have value [as the US Preventive Services Task Force said in 2012] is incorrect, in my opinion.' He added that he still takes issue with some elements in the new draft guidelines - he disagrees with the claim that men over 70 do not need to be screened at all, and he points out that they do not mention other, more effective tests than PSA, such as the blood-based OPCO4K, ISOPSA, and the Prostate Health Index. But in general, he joins the rest of the urology community celebrating the news. 'I welcome the change in recommendations and the emphasis on shared decision making - there is a lot of data in the primary care literature showing that men want to be informed about PSA and make a shared decision with those they trust,' he said. 'The newer recommendation should empower men to be proactive about learning about the benefits and risks of screening and not avoid asking about it because their personal physician is not a believer in screening and never even broaches the subject; men should ask for the facts and not be shy about asking to have a PSA ordered if they feel its in their interest to do so.' Dr. Meir Stampfer, a Harvard University cancer expert, called the new advice 'a more reasoned approach.' He said PSA tests make sense if they do not lead to overly aggressive treatment. His research suggests that more than 1 in 5 men worldwide have undetected prostate cancer, including more than 40 million Americans, but that most will die of other causes. The task force's 2012 advice against screening said there was little evidence that PSA screening was reducing deaths. Since then, PSA screening rates have declined by as much as 10 percent, and now fewer than one-third of U.S. men get the tests. Fewer men are being diagnosed with early-stage disease, when it is more treatable, while more are being diagnosed with more aggressive harder-to-treat cancer. The panel says its new advice stems from long-term research indicating that for every 1,000 men offered PSA screening, one to two will avoid death from prostate cancer and three will avoid prostate cancer spreading to other organs. Newer research also has shown benefits from 'active surveillance' of men whose initial PSA tests and biopsies indicate slow-growing cancer that hasn't spread, the panel said. This approach includes repeated PSA tests and close monitoring, which can delay or even avoid the need for treatment. The task force's recommendations influence U.S. government policy and are widely followed by primary care physicians. Medicare and many private insurers have continued to pay for the screening. The government-appointed volunteer panel reviews evidence and issues advice for a variety of screenings and treatments. 'It sounds like cooler heads have prevailed,' said Dr. Jim Hu, a urologist and prostate cancer specialist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center who called the old advice 'draconian'. The prostate cancer recommendations, announced online in the Journal of the American Medical Association, are open for public comment on the task force websiteuntil May 8. Final guidance will come months later but the panel's guidelines typically echo its draft advice. Flash The gate of North Park Elementary School is sealed off in San Bernardino of California, the United States, on April 10, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] A female teacher and an eight-year-old boy were killed Monday morning after the teacher's husband opened fire before taking his own life inside a special needs classroom at an elementary school in San Bernardino, Southern California. The gunfire was reported at 10:27 a.m. local time (1827 GMT) in North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, according to San Bernardino Police Department. "I heard of about three or four gunshots in the morning...then I saw an African American running out of the school holding a kid," local resident Maria Villataro who lived just across the school said. The female teacher was identified as Karen Smith, 53, who was killed before the gunman turned the gun on himself. The gunman was identified by law enforcement officials as Smith's husband, Cedric Charles Anderson, 53, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan told reporters Monday afternoon. The chief said the couple had only been married for a few months. Anderson, who had been estranged from his wife for about a month, got into the school by saying he had to drop something off for Smith, officials said. Two students standing behind Smith were also shot. Police do not believe that the two children were targeted. "We believe this to be a murder suicide," Burguan posted on his twitter. One of the students, identified as eight-year-old child Jonathan Martinez, was taken via helicopter to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. The other injured, a nine-year-old student, remains hospitalized in stable condition, police said. Police said the gunman had checked in with school officials before going to the classroom, which held a class for students with intellectual disabilities. There were 15 students from first through fourth grades in the room at the time, and two adult aides. Students in the school were evacuated after the incident. "All kids have been taken to California State University San Bernardino," Burguan tweeted. North Park Elementary has about 530 students between kindergarten and sixth grade, mostly from Latino families. The school is on lockdown along with two others nearby. Local residents lit candles and prayed Monday night at a community vigil to mourn the victims. The city, still healing from the 2015 terror attack, has seen a major increase in violence in recent years. On Dec. 2, 2015, at least 14 people were killed and more than 20 others were injured after gunmen opened fire at a social services center in San Bernardino City. If you want to know whether you're at risk of Alzheimer's disease, taking this test could help you. Those unable to tell which character is the odd one out could well be at risk of the devastating illness. Known as Greebles, the little purple characters have been designed by scientists in their ongoing quest for a cure. A study found those at genetic risk of the disease struggle to distinguish a subtle difference in one of the images. But they may be unaware of their likelihood as they are still able to detect minor changes in people's faces, objects and scenes. Take the test for yourself below Those unable to tell which character is the odd one out could well be at risk of the devastating illness, scientists claim Experts say the test with Greebles can provide a cheap and effective way to identify individuals in the early stages of the disease. The ability to detect the disease earlier may also allow researchers to develop treatments to combat it. Dr Brandon Ally, of the University of Louisville, said they could even be used as a tool to follow individuals over time. He said: 'We are not proposing that the identification of novel objects such as Greebles is a definitive marker of the disease. 'But when paired with some of the novel biomarkers and a solid clinical history, it may improve our diagnostic acumen in early high-risk individuals. 'As prevention methods, vaccines or disease modifying drugs become available, markers like novel object detection may help to identify the high priority candidates.' Known as Greebles, the little purple characters have been designed by scientists in their ongoing quest for a cure for the devastating illness (stock) Professor Robert Friedland, who has studied Alzheimer's disease at the University of Louisville for 35 years, is excited about the findings. He said: 'This work shows that the effects of Alzheimer's disease on cognition can be measured decades before the onset of dementia. 'The fact that the disease takes so long to develop provides us with an opportunity to slow its progression through attention to the many factors linked to the disease.' Alzheimer's is widely believed to be caused by the presence of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. This work shows that the effects of Alzheimer's disease on cognition can be measured decades before the onset of dementia Professor Robert Friedland, of the University of Louisville These tangles tend to develop in the parts of the brain that play a role in visual recognition and memory. Researchers at Vanderbilt University created a set of tests designed to detect subtle changes in these cognitive functions. They hoped to determine whether these would indicate the presence of the disease before it could be detected through imaging. A group of adults aged between 40 and 60 who had one parent with the illness were assessed for the study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. A control group was also compared. Both completed a series of 'odd-man out' tasks in which they were shown a set of images that depicted real-world objects. Participants were asked to identify which of the four pictures was slightly different than the other three. WHICH IS THE ODD ONE OUT? ANSWER: 4 For those eagle-eyed readers, the fourth Greeble was the one with the subtle difference. It was built with a slightly bigger and wider horn on the front of its head. Its arm also sticks out of its body more than the others. Advertisement Both groups were found to perform at similar levels for the objects, face and scenes. However, those deemed at-risk scored lower in their ability to identify the different Greeble. Individuals in the at-risk group correctly identified the distinct Greeble 78 per cent of the time, the researchers found. While those in the control group correctly identified the odd Greeble 87 per cent of the time. Lead author Dr Emily Mason said: 'Right now, by the time we can detect the disease, it would be very difficult to restore function because so much damage has been done to the brain. 'We want to be able to look at really early, really subtle changes that are going on in the brain. 'One way we can do that is with cognitive testing that is directed at a very specific area of the brain.' However, the researchers noted that further studies are needed to clarify their findings. Researchers have found a way to make cells resistant to HIV, a new report reveals. In a major breakthrough, scientists have tethered HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells, creating a cell population resistant to the virus. These resistant cells can quickly replace diseased cells, making it more effective than other therapies - and potentially curing the deadly disease. The researchers plan to collaborate with investigators at City of Hope's Center for Gene Therapy, in California, to evaluate this new therapy in efficacy and safety tests, as required by federal regulations, prior to testing in patients. Scroll down for video Scientists have found a way to make cells resistant to HIV by attaching antibodies to cell receptors, which block the virus from infecting them. Diseased cells die off and the protected cells spread the protective gene to new cells, making a resistant population The research, conducted at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in San Diego, California, first tested their system against rhinovirus, which is responsible for many cases of the common cold. They used a vector called lentivirus to deliver a new gene to cultured human cells. The team then had cells synthesize antibodies that bind with the human cell receptor that rhinovirus needs to gain access. With the antibodies monopolizing that site, the virus cannot enter the cell to spread infection. HIV TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTION You can get or transmit HIV only through specific activities, most commonly through sexual behaviors and needle or syringe use. The FDA has approved more than two dozen antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV infection. They're often broken into six groups because they work in different ways. Doctors recommend taking a combination or 'cocktail' of at least two of them. Called antiretroviral therapy, or ART, it can't cure HIV, but the medications can extend lifespans and reduce the risk of transmission. 1) Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) NRTIs force the virus to use faulty versions of building blocks so infected cells can't make more HIV. 2) Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) NNRTIs bind to a specific protein so the virus can't make copies of itself. 3) Protease Inhibitors (PIs) These drugs block a protein that infected cells need to put together new copies of the virus. 4) Fusion Inhibitors These drugs help block HIV from getting inside healthy cells in the first place. 5) CCR5 Antagonist This stops HIV before it gets inside a healthy cell, but in a different way than fusion inhibitors. It blocks a specific kind of 'hook' on the outside of certain cells so the virus can't plug in. 5) Integrase Inhibitors These stop HIV from making copies of itself by blocking a key protein that allows the virus to put its DNA into the healthy cell's DNA. Advertisement Cells without antibody protection died off, leaving protected cells to survive and multiply, passing on the protective gene to new cells. In the technique tested against HIV, all strains of the virus need to bind with a cell surface receptor called CD4. After introducing cells to the virus, the researchers ended up with an HIV-resistant population. The antibodies recognized the CD4 binding site, blocking HIV from getting to the receptor. 'This is really a form of cellular vaccination,' said senior author Dr Richard Lerner, Professor of Immunochemistry at TSRI. Researchers say the new technique offers a significant advantage over therapies where antibodies float freely in the bloodstream at a relatively low concentration. Dr Jia Xie, a senior staff scientist at TSRI and first author of the study, called it the 'neighbor effect'. An antibody stuck nearby is more effective than having many antibodies floating throughout the bloodstream. The scientists further confirmed that these tethered antibodies blocked HIV more effectively than free-floating, soluble antibodies in experiments led by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. The ultimate goal will be to control HIV in patients with AIDS without the need for other medications. Although the annual number of new HIV diagnoses declined by 19 percent from 2005 to 2014, the disease is still prevalent. More than 1.2 million people in the US are living with the virus, and one in eight of them don't know it. 'HIV is treatable but not curable - this remains a disease that causes a lot of suffering. That makes the case for why these technologies are so important,' said Dr Joseph Alvarnas, from City of Hope. In addition to the collaboration, Dr Xie said the next step in this research will be to try engineering antibodies to protect a different receptor on the cell surface. Dr Carl Dieffenbach, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, told Daily Mail Online that while the design of the idea is interesting, there is a fundamental problem when it comes to gene therapy. 'How do you know how to put antibodies into the right cells?' he explained. 'HIV is notorious for generating large variations and what will happen is that some population of the virus will not bind to the antibody so you'll kill off sensitive cells but the virus will continue to grow. 'With antiretroviral drugs, we have to use a three drug cocktail because of the virus's many variations so you would have to use a similar cocktail of antibodies.' Dr Dieffenbach added that while there have been several tantalizing research breakthroughs in the last five years, the new findings have yet to be proven in clinical trials. 'We have amazing therapy and really effective therapies, very good tools. But we're not at the point yet where we can make better tools, like a cure or a vaccine,' he said. This study may not help to calm your stress levels if you're pregnant. For expectant mothers, there are countless causes for worry - for their own health, their baby's health, the birth itself... the list goes on. Now, new research reveals that mothers who experience stress during pregnancy could be influencing their baby's genetic design - increasing the child's risk of age-related disease in years to come. Scientists at Germany's University of Heidelberg examined 319 newborns and mothers, monitoring the mother's stress levels, then taking saliva and cord blood samples to test DNA. The results showed children of mothers who had experienced increased psychosocial stress during pregnancy were found to have shorter telomeres - which is a marker of ageing. New research at Germany's University of Heidelberg reveals that mothers who experience stress during pregnancy could increase their child's risk of age-related diseases Over time, everyone's DNA suffers wear-and-tear. As our chromosomes become more fragile they break and erode. This causes wrinkles, slower movement, less energy, memory loss, poorer eyesight, and in some people age-related diseases. Telomeres are the caps on the end of chromosomes. They protect DNA from damage and breakages over time. People with shorter telomeres are more prone to breakages, and are therefore believed to age 'faster' than peers with longer telomeres. And since telomeres shorten with age, researchers use telomere length at birth as an indicator of how that person will age. It is a hot topic at the moment. Researchers are clamoring to understand what affects telomere length in newborns. Previous studies have found links with environmental influences such as ultraviolet radiation and oxidative stress. Psychiatric disorders, including major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, are also linked to shorter telomere length. The current study by Tabea Send and Stephanie Witt, of the university's mental health department, analyzed newborns and mothers, most of whom were white, at three obstetric clinics in the Rhine-Neckar region of Germany. They interviewed the mothers on their lifestyle habits, the amount of stress they believe they had to cope with, and whether they suffered from any psychological disorders. They also asked them about the baby's father. Saliva samples were collected from the mothers and umbilical cord blood immediately after the babies' delivery to do genetic analyses. The children of mothers who had experienced increased psychosocial stress during pregnancy tended to have shorter telomeres. Significantly, babies of mothers who suffered from long-term stress - before they conceived - did not have shorter telomeres. It was only if the mothers' stress levels were heightened during gestation. However, pregnancy-linked stress had no impact on the mothers' own telomere length. That was only the case in mothers suffering from a long-term psychological disorder. Telomeres were overwhelmingly longer in girls than in boys. 'Although the meaning of the reported differences in TL for later health is so far unclear, our findings underline the necessity to especially support women with increased risk of experiencing stress during pregnancy,' Send said. Schools should urge boys and not just girls to have a controversial vaccine to protect them from cancer, teachers said yesterday. All teenage boys should be encouraged to have the vaccine to counteract a rise in cancers linked to the human papilloma virus, they demanded. HPV can cause cervical cancer in women and a wide range of other cancers in men, yet only girls are routinely vaccinated against it. Schools should urge boys and not just girls to have a controversial vaccine to protect them from cancer, teachers said yesterday (Stock image) Campaigners say the vaccination programme is discriminatory and will soon mean male cancers caused by the virus will outstrip those occurring in women. Public Health England last night said it was now reviewing whether to extend the HPV vaccination programme to adolescent boys following a pilot scheme for gay men. Members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said that in the meantime they wanted schools to encourage boys to explore the option of getting themselves vaccinated. This week Boots announced it would vaccinate anyone of either sex under the age of 44 for a fee of between 300 and 450. But critics say it is unwise to promote the vaccine further following a number of cases in which girls have become ill or even paralysed in what parents say have been severe reactions. Two of the many strains of HPV are known to cause cancer and are commonly passed on through sex or oral sex. In women it is thought to be the cause of around 2,790 cases of cervical cancer annually, but it is also responsible for more than 2,000 cases of cancer in men. Since 2008 girls aged 12 and 13 have been routinely vaccinated at school in an effort to protect them before they become sexually active. Health bosses believe this also protects boys because they cannot contract the virus from an immunised girl. HPV can cause cervical cancer in women and a wide range of other cancers in men, yet only girls are routinely vaccinated against it (Stock image) However, the programme does not protect men who sleep with those who have not had the vaccine, those living abroad or other men. Yesterday members of the ATL told their annual conference that boys should be encouraged to consider vaccination. Sree Varshini Rajkumar, a teacher from Berkshire, said: 360,000 boys are left unprotected each year. We have a duty of care to provide them with the information they need to choose to get vaccinated. ATL passed a resolution calling for the union to raise awareness that HPV can cause a range of illnesses besides cervical cancer. However, the move is likely to prove controversial because of the number of cases of families who say their daughters have become ill from the vaccine. Freda Birrell, of the UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters, said: We have 420 families on our register who say their daughters have had an adverse reaction to the HPV vaccine and the number grows all the time. It is devastating for the families to see their daughters lose their teenage years. Schools should not be encouraging boys to be taking the vaccine when they dont know all the facts. Public Health England says there is no credible evidence of a link between the jab and chronic illnesses. A street dog found paralysed at the roadside has regained the use of his legs in a remarkable recovery following months of rehabilitation. Georgie's carers at Rajasthan-based Animal Aid Unlimited feared that the injured hound may never walk again after he was hit by a car. The charity in Udaipur, which has documented Georgie's recovery in a heartwarming video, got a call to say he was injured and unable to stand following the accident. Scroll down for video Street dog Georgie was left paralysed after being hit by a car in Rajasthan, India Charity Animal Aid Unlimited saved his life after being alerted to an injured dog at the roadside When the rescue team arrived, they found the dog sitting forlorn in the street, desperately trying to drag the lifeless half of his body around with his front legs. 'He couldn't understand why his legs wouldn't work anymore,' said a spokesperson for the charity, which rescues thousands of street dogs in India every year. 'He was hurt and confused and he didn't know we were here to help.' As the team try to approach, terrified Georgie winces as the rescuer reaches out his hand and then tries to scurry away but fails, reluctantly accepting a stroke. As the team try to approach, terrified Georgie tries to scurry away but is unable to stand Back at the sanctuary after the rescue, it becomes clear that Georgie has major nerve damage However, when the rescuer tries to scoop him up in a blanket Georgie uses all of his strength to drag himself underneath a nearby van to hide. The team had to then coax him onto the blanket before lifting him to the safety of the animal ambulance and transporting him to the nearby sanctuary. Once back at Animal Aid Unlimited's centre, it became clear that Georgie had no feeling remaining in his hind legs whatsoever as his paws curled over and he repeatedly slumps down on the veterinary table. The spokesperson said: 'He had suffered trauma to his spine causing significant nerve damage. Nerve damage is often permanent but we had to try.' He has no feeling in his hind legs which repeatedly collapse and his paws are bent over But the charity didn't give up, and put Georgie on a physiotherapy programme One of the team members is then seen massaging Georgie's hips and hind legs at the beginning of weeks worth of treatment comprising TLC, rest and physiotherapy. The shy hound can be seen lying patiently, happily accepting the help. 'He was such a good little patient,' said the spokesperson. After a number of weeks, the team made a breakthrough - they were able to get Georgie to stand supported and could begin encouraging him to walk again. Eventually, Georgie was able to stand supported and the team was able to begin encouraging him to walk again Now he is back on all four paws and can be seen happily bounding around his enclosure with only a little limp 'Little by little his toes stopped curling backwards. Still, he could not stand. But his caregivers never stopped trying,' the charity said. But the relentless dedication of the team paid off, and Georgie can soon be seen bounding around the enclosure at the centre completely unaided, albeit with a little bit of a limp. He's also seen accepting cuddles and fuss from the team there, climbing into a bed for a bit of down time in the sun and rolling around with joy in the dirt before shaking himself off. Although he was terrified when he was first rescued, Georgie now can't get enough human interaction at Animal Aid Unlimited's sanctuary in Udaipur As well as enjoying life back on four paws, he is loving cuddles with the team The video, posted on Animal Aid Unlimited's Facebook page, has been viewed more than 170,000 times and has attracted hundreds of comments from animal lovers around the world. The spokesperson for the charity added: 'You can see it in his eyes from the first screen, his profound innocence and confusion. 'It doesn't happen very often but sometimes, when nerve damage is caught early and intensive treatment and physical therapy is started right away, there can be reason to hope, and that's what Georgie did. He hoped.' He knows how to roll: Georgie can be seen rolling around in the dirt in delight at the sanctuary Animal Aid Unlimited - set up by Erika, Jim and Claire Abrams-Myers 15 years ago after the family relocated to India from Seattle - rescues thousands of animals from India's streets every year. About 50 dogs, 30 cows, 25 donkeys and five pigs who cannot be returned to the street live at its sanctuary where it also cares for some 200 animals under treatment for injuries and illnesses at any one time. The charity also runs education programmes to prevent suffering among animals. Donate to the charity here. The Dalai Lama's ongoing visit to Arunachal Pradesh, particularly to Tawang, the Land of Mon, has generated a great deal of copy and comment. As usual, the Chinese were the first to shoot; their propaganda machine is far better organised than their Indian counterparts, who have a tendency to go into 'sleep mode'. Last month, a briefing was organised in Beijing to explain to the Indian and foreign journalists what happened in 1959. Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama delivers religious teachings to Buddhist followers at the Buddha Stadium in Bomdila in India's north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh Lian Xiangmin, director of Institute of Contemporary Tibetan Studies, reiterated China's claims over Tawang. 'One of the three major temples of Tibet is Drepung monastery near Lhasa, and Tawang was a subsidiary of Drepung and in history, Tawang's monks went to Drepung to study sutras. 'Tawang under Drepung also made contributions to the local government. So Tawang is part of Tibet and Tibet is part of China, so Tawang is part of China. So this is not much of a question.' Perfect logic with Chinese characteristics! Connections For centuries, the Buddhist Himalayan belt had close connections with Tibet. In Ladakh for example, most of the monasteries were affiliated to monasteries in western Tibet; ditto for Kinnaur, Spiti, Lahaul or Sikkim, linked with other religious centres in Tibet. According to Lian's logic, all these areas should become Chinese! However, it was Delhi's responsibility to brief the Indian media on the correct historical position of Tawang. This was not done. It is worth noting that no matter who has been in power in Delhi, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi, the Dalai Lama has consistently been considered India's honoured guest. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees at the Thubchok Gatsel Ling Monastery in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh Is China under the impression that this policy is going to change? No, it won't and Beijing has to live with it. Regarding Tawang, when the Dalai Lama crossed the border in 1959, Beijing did not claim the area south of the McMahon Line as its own. If it had been China's territory, Chinese troops would have followed him, no? Tawang was an after-thought for Beijing, whose position changed after the Kongka Pass incident in October 1959, when Beijing realised that India was questioning the Chinese road passing through the Indian territory. Thereafter, Beijing's stand got more aggressive and NEFA suddenly became China's territory to use as a bargain chip against its occupation of the Aksai Chin. China may speak big, but the regime in Beijing has not been able to win the hearts of the Tibetans on the Roof of the World. In these circumstances, how could the Communist leadership convince the population of Arunachal Pradesh to join its authoritarian regime? One has only to look at the current events in Xinjiang to realise that the Monpas and other Himalayan populations will never want to live under a repressive regime like the Uyghurs have to. Let us hope that Beijing will note how immensely popular the Dalai Lama is in Arunachal Pradesh. This is obvious just by looking at a few photos of the gatherings in Bomdila, Dirang and Tawang, which circulated on the social media. The video of the Dalai Lama's encounter in Guwahati with a jawan of the 5 Assam Rifles who received him when he crossed the Indian border at Chuthangmu, north of Tawang, on March 31, 1959, was extremely touching. Both were moved to tears; the old soldier tellingly remarked that at that time the other side of the border was Tibet, not China. Travel Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who accompanied the Tibetan leader on his journey to Tawang, remarked: 'His Holiness had solemnly resolved to visit Arunachal Pradesh no matter what. 'Despite the inclement weather that forced cancellation of his chopper, he decided to travel by road.' The entire state and district administration, as well as local lamas and officials, were seen around; of course, for politicians it was a question of good 'political' karma to be seen with the Nobel peace prize laureate. During the seven-hour drive by road, under inclement weather conditions, the Tibetan leader must have recalled his first stop at Bomdila. In April 1959, the Dalai Lama had rested a few days at the hill station before moving to the plains of Assam and Mussoorie; he stayed with Har Mander Singh of the Indian Frontier Administrative Service, who was the Political Officer in Bomdila, overseeing the entire Kameng Frontier Division. Nearly 60 years later, the Dalai Lama still remembered his first dal, cooked by Mrs Singh. Programme This time, despite a revised programme, large crowds came to get the Dalai Lama's blessings. His immense popularity obviously irritates Beijing whose propaganda is unable to win the masses, whether on the Tibetan side of the border or in the Indian side. The reception in Tawang has been memorable: not only have tens of thousands of local Monpas thronged to have a glimpses of the 'Bodhisattva of Compassion', but also large flocks of Bhutanese trekking from the neighbouring districts of Tashigang and Tashiyangtse have come, as well as pilgrims from the remotest village of Upper Subansiri, West Siang or Upper Siang districts, who would have travelled for days to have a once-in-a-lifetime darshan. India said that China should not interfere in its internal affairs, as the Dalai Lama began a week-long visit to India's remote northeast that Beijing has protested against Some analysts call this a Tibet card, but it is far more than a 'card'. With the visit, India reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable part of the nation. And for the local population, it was a unforgettable moment of joy to have their Lama back in their midst. Though Beijing does not know how to react to the popularity and reverence for the Tibetan leader, it will have to make do with it. The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has escalated the price war in the telecom sector with a new tariff plan that offers 1 GB data per day for three months along with free calls for a mere Rs 309. The new plan with a rather earthy name, 'Dhan Dhana Dhan', also offers an option to subscribers of availing 2GB data every day along with unlimited national calls for Rs 509. This offer is also valid for three months (28x3 days), the company said. Both the plans are exclusive for Jio Prime members. India's richest man: Mukesh Ambani, Chairman & Managing Director of Reliance Industries In the case of non-Prime users, the 1GB per day plan is priced at Rs 408 while for 2GB per day they will have to pay Rs 608. These two plans are also valid for 84 days. The move comes within a week of the telecom regulator asking the Mukesh Ambani telecom company to withdraw its contentious threemonth Summer Surprise offer of unlimited data usage and free calls on payment of a minimum Rs 303. Trai, on April 6, had asked Jio to stop the 'complimentary' service offer as it was not in accordance with the regulatory framework. Trai had said that Jio will be required to roll back the 3-month complimentary offer in the shortest possible time but clarified that customers who had already subscribed to the said scheme could avail the benefits till June-end. Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani delivers his speech in Mumbai The Dhan Dhana Dhan offer in a way replaces the company's Summer Surprise offer. Reliance Jio had said in response to the Trai order that it would be fully complying with the regulator's advice and withdrawing the Summer Surprise offer as soon as it would be operationally feasible, over the next few days. Although the Jio 'Summer Surprise' offer has be withdrawn, users can still sign up for Jio Prime subscriptions till April 15. Reliance Jio's free services have already hit the telecom industry's sales and profits in the December 2016 quarter. The profitability reported by the industry was its weakest compared to each of the past six quarters. Vodafone India had 204.69 million subscribers, while Idea Cellular, owned by the Aditya Birla Group, had 190.5 million subscribers in December With this new offer, Reliance Jio will continue to give tough competition to established telecom operators such as Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone who are burdened with a mountain of debt after procuring expensive spectrum at fiercely contested auctions. Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel, which is the market leader had seen its net profit slump 55% during the October- December period from a year earlier as its voice and data businesses felt the full impact of Reliance Jio's free services. 'The quarter has seen turbulence due to the continued predatory pricing by a new operator,' Gopal Vittal, Airtel MD and CEO had said. The surprise move by Reliance Jio will continue to add more subscribers to its base. However, after the month of July 2017, some moderation is expected in the number of telecom subscribers. This is because a very high percentage of the subscribers added by Reliance Jio are dual sim users and these users may surrender one of the connections once Reliance Jio starts charging for its services. 'This is what Jio is trying to prevent,' a telecom industry executive said. According to Trai, Reliance Jio has a subscriber base has shot up to 72.16 million users. Tensions between India and Pakistan have further escalated just one day after Pakistan announced the death penalty for former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. The Pakistani media was abuzz with speculation on Tuesday that India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has abducted a retired Pakistan lieutenant colonel as a retaliatory act. An FIR was filed at the Rawat police station in Rawalpindi on April 8, complaining a Lt Col (retd) Mohammed Habib Zahir of the Pakistan army has gone missing from Lumbini in Nepal. Lt Col (retd) Mohammed Habib Zahir of the Pakistan army is missing The concerned son, Saad Zahir approached sub-inspector Mohammed Khan seeking the registration of the FIR. His father, a former Pakistan army artillery officer who once worked with the country's spy agency ISI, was missing in Nepal. India Today TV has accessed the FIR and can reveal that Saad Zahir told the police that his father, after retiring from the Pakistan army in October 2014, had taken a job with the Rafhan Mills in Faisalabad. Protests against Pakistan in Delhi on Tuesday The complainant alleges that some months ago a person called Steve Davies (name changed) called his father from a number in the UK and offered him a job at the Strategic Solutions Consultancy firm. The offer letter soon came on email. It was for the post of zonal director of the company with a salary of $8,500 (Rs 5.5 lakh) a month in Nepal. Following negotiations, his father left for Lahore on April 4. A business class ticket was sent to travel to Nepal via Oman. His father left for Oman the next day. Saad told the police Davies asked his father to contact Sajid Ransari (name changed). A Nepali mobile phone was also provided to him. His father told him to contact him in Nepal on the following numbers, according to the FIR. It now transpires that Lt Col Zahir had put up his bio-data on LinkedIn seeking a new job opportunity three years after he retired from the Pakistan army. Former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of 'espionage' He was received in Kathmandu on April 6 and immediately put on a short haul flight on board a Buddha Air plane to Lumbini. Lt Col Zahir kept his family in the loop on every leg of the travel including sending home a picture from the airport with the aircraft in the backdrop in Lumbini. The son alleges that from Lumbini his father did not make any more contact with the family and all phones are now switched off. 'If India has actually picked him up, then Pakistan has real reason to worry because a retired lieutenant colonel from ISI will have a lot of information about ISI operations in the area,' said Jayadev Ranade, former additional secretary of RAW. Press conference: Pakistan says Jadhav was an Indian intelligence official who aided and financed terrorist activities 'This appears to be a Pakistani cover story,' said strategic affairs expert Sushant Sareen. 'It may or may not be true.' After the FIR was registered in Rawalpindi, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria was quoted by Radio Pakistan saying, 'Foreign Office is in contact with the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu and had also established contact with the Government of Nepal.' All the phone numbers mentioned in the FIR either 'no longer exist' or 'can't be reached'. 'The internet address of Stratsolutions.biz also does not exist anymore. 'The Pakistan embassy in Kathmandu has also not been able to make contact with Javed Ansari, the local contact person of Stratsolutions.biz in Nepal. Pakistani media has speculated this was a counter operation by India to nab a Pakistani spy for a subsequent 'swap' for Jadhav, an Indian businessman who was abducted from Iran by Taliban and sold to Pakistan's ISI. However, top government officials refused to comment. Personal enmity (hostility, animosity, antagonism) has been responsible for more murders in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year, Delhi Police revealed. As per the latest data issued by Delhi Police up until March 31, there were 29 cases of murder registered in different police stations in Delhi which appeared to be the result of hatred towards victims. Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) and Delhi Police spokesperson, said: 'There is a sharp rise of 22.83 per cent in murders due to personal enmity in Delhi compared to corresponding three months of last year.' Personal enmity responsible for more murders in first three months of 2017 Cases of people killed due to sudden provocation and trivial issues have also increased alarmingly by 12.6 per cent in last three months, with 18 murders taking place so far. In Badarpur, south-east Delhi, a case has even come to light where a person was killed at a barber shop when he had picked up a comb on January 30. As many as 17 cases of murder due to family disputes have also been registered with separate police stations in the national Capital. Cases of murder due to sudden provocation and trivial matters also on the up Verma pointed out that such incidents come under the 'unpreventable category' where a trivial issue suddenly takes an ugly shape. 'These cannot be stopped by police until people avoid sudden provocations.' He highlighted a case of February 23 where the nose of car driver was bitten by three bikers in a road-rage case in north Delhi. 'We have increased police patrolling and additional deployment in traffic police. Hence, cases of robbery, loot, theft have been lesser compared to last corresponding year,' said Verma. Illicit relationships are another reason in Delhi where people frequently get killed. So far, police have registered 12 cases of murder in this category in the last three months which are 9.45 per cent higher compared to same period last year. A total of 127 cases of murders took place in Delhi so far this year, in which nine were due to money dispute, four during robbery or theft and one in property dispute. There were 125 cases of murder registered during same period of time last year. The queue before the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the window for demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 to be deposited is getting longer by the day. But a new plea filed on Tuesday is quite unique. A Faridabad-based couple has approached the apex court for special permission to deposit Rs 83,000 in old notes as they could not do it before the December 30 deadline as the cash stash was found in bank locker of her deceased father. Caught in a legal dispute with her sister, Savita said she was only able to open the locker after a court order on March 6. This was after Nidhi Gupta, Savita's sister relinquished her share in her father's estate. Faridabad-based Savita Gupta (right) has approached the apex court for special permission to deposit Rs 83,000 in old notes But the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that if it decides to grant relief for extension of the window for exchanging scrapped notes, it will be not in individual cases but for the general public. 'If there has to be a window (extension for depositing demonetised notes) then all of you (petitioners and others) have to be considered,' a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul said. Her father stashed the cash in a bank locker and died before Modi introduced demonetisation to stamp out black money last year The Guptas say they had no knowledge about the existence of these old currency notes in the locker. Savita's father had passed away before November 8, 2016 - the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation. There was, therefore, no need for the father to tell his family that there was money in the locker. The government had brought in an ordinance on December 30 last year that barred all citizens apart from those who were abroad for the duration between November 8, 2016, and December 30, 2016, from depositing demonetised notes in the Reserve Bank of India. People wait outside of the Reserve Bank of India building to exchange their old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in New Delhi after Modi's shock announcement Savita's plea filed through advocate Dhruv Gautam said: 'Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction to quash and set aside the Ordinance dated December 30, 2016. 'Issue an appropriate writ, direction or order including the Writ of Mandamus directing to allow the petitioner to deposit the demonetised currency notes that were discovered in the safety locker of the petitioner's deceased father.' The bench has agreed to hear the plea soon. Savita said she visited the RBI office on March 21 and showed the certified copy of the court order to the designated staff. But the official refused to deposit the old notes, she said. The Modi government, meanwhile, informed the SC earlier that there is no need to open the window allowing all categories of people to deposit old notes under special circumstances. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, referred to the recent affidavit and said that reasons why he did not want to open the window. 'I am bound by the court's order... There cannot be a separate window (to deposit notes) for individuals. If the court allows and grants the window (relief) then it has to be for all,' he said. Flash The just-concluded meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump was very positive as it helped achieve a much friendlier tone in China-U.S. ties, experts said. The April 6-7 meeting, the first between the two leaders since Trump took office in January, was held at the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Both sides hailed the meeting as "positive and fruitful" as the two leaders increased their mutual understanding and established personal friendship through face-to-face discussions of issues of mutual concern. REDUCED CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA-U.S. TENSIONS The meeting "helped achieve a much friendlier tone in relations between China and the new Trump administration," Ted Carpenter, senior fellow of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, told Xinhua in an interview. "It alleviated concerns around the world that there might be a sharp increase in bilateral tensions," Carpenter added. The meeting was "quite positive," Douglas Paal, vice president for studies and director of Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Xinhua. "Though the real measure of the meeting will follow the next 10 months of work, but so far, so good," Paal said. To Professor David Lampton, director of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, the Xi-Trump meeting "went pretty well." "This meeting seems to have gone better than most people would have forecasted here - in the United States," Lampton told Xinhua. The two leaders "had an opportunity to come to know each other better, have a little more trust, but that it looks like there was the beginning of substance, although there is a long way to go," Lampton said. Lampton further pointed out that Trump's acceptance of Xi's invitation to visit China within this year also "shows that there is a priority attached to managing this relationship." "I think it's more significant that it shows this is an important relationship, and that he (Trump) wants to invest in it," he added. NEW DIALOGUES ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT At the meeting, the two leaders agreed to create a four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanism to deal with major issues on security, economic relations, cyber security and law enforcement, and people-to-people exchanges. The two major powers also agreed to expand cooperation in varied areas while properly handling sensitive issues, managing differences in a constructive manner, and strengthening communication and coordination on major global and regional affairs. "The decision to establish specific mechanisms of focused dialogues on key issues was especially important and useful," Carpenter said. "There are very real disagreements between China and the United States on all four issues, but flexible, creative diplomacy pursued in a spirit of cooperation could go a long way toward narrowing, perhaps even overcoming, those disagreements," he said. Paal noted that the establishment of the four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanism was "a repackaging" of the previously-known annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) held under the Obama administration. "The test is in what they accomplish," he said. Paal agreed with Xi's remarks that cooperation is the only correct choice for China and the United States, saying that if the two countries choose competition over cooperation, "that could turn into conflict, which could ruin the 21st century." "The scope for cooperation is large, but the scope for conflict is even greater, so major efforts will be required to avoid conflict," Paal said. OPPORTUNITIES IN INFRASTRUCTURE COOPERATION Lampton noted that opportunities for cooperation exist between the two top economies in the area of infrastructure, as they try to achieve a more balanced trade. China aims to boost infrastructure construction to increase interconnectivity and cooperation between China and the rest of Eurasia, through its Belt and Road Initiative unveiled in 2013. At Mar-a-Lago, Xi told Trump that China welcomes the United States to participate in the initiative. "Xi and China have a vision of the modernization of and development of Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South Asia through interconnectivity (by) building infrastructure," Lampton said. He added that, from what he learned during a recent visit to China, Beijing is looking for ways to cooperate with the United States to begin the process of building infrastructure throughout Asia, rather than exclude the United States. Lampton also foresaw that China would participate in the major infrastructure initiative proposed by Trump, who vows to spend 1 trillion U.S. dollars in upgrading U.S. roads, bridges and airports. "So I think this is Chinese dream to make China part of an integrated economic organism...And the U.S. could become part of that rather than opposing it," he said. Carpenter said that a cooperative China-U.S. relationship can greatly benefit both global security and global economic health, while a tense or hostile relationship could do great damage in both areas. "China and the United States need each other," he said. Japan's population will shrink by almost a third in the next 50 years and is set to fall by half by 2115, statistics show. In 2065 people over the age of 60 will make up 38 per cent of the population while those under 14 will make up just 10 per cent if current trends continue. That is despite policies such as more paternity leave, support for those seeking fertility treatment, and free preschool education designed to reverse the decline. By 2065 almost 40 per cent of Japan's population will be made up of people over the age of 60, while those under the age of 14 will constitute just 10 per cent A change in lifestyles is largely behind the fall, with women opting to have longer careers, while men are unable to provide for a traditional family as wages have stagnated A fall in the number of taxpayers combined with a spike in pension payouts is expected to put Japan's economy under increasing pressure in the decades ahead. The decline was revealed in figures released by the country's Heath Ministry which publishes a report every five years. But Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga actually welcomed the data, as it was slightly less pessimistic than previous predictions. Suga said: 'I am sure that the next five years will show even more of an impact.' Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has tasked Suga, himself a father-of-four, with keeping Japan's population above the 100million mark until at least 2060. Tuesday's numbers show the country will drop below that target by 2053, a slight improvement on previous predictions of 2048. Japan's declining birth rate and ageing populace has been a concern for political leaders for years. Overwork has also been referenced many times as a cause for the decline, with 11 per cent of companies admitting full-time workers clocked 80 hours of overtime a month last year A report in 2016 also showed 40 per cent of Japanese singles had never had sex, leading many to conclude that a rise in internet porn and 'virtual girlfriends' was also to blame The problem became particularly pressing last February, when it was revealed the country's population had actually shrunk for the first time since records began. The reason for Japan's plummeting birth rate appears to be a change in women's lifestyles couple with cultural factors, according to Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA. As in many developed countries, women are marrying later and putting off having children for the sake of a career. But Japanese culture has exacerbated the problem, as women are typically expected to give up work entirely after marriage, a prospect which no longer appeals. Meanwhile wages have largely stagnated while living costs have increased, meaning men face a significant drop in lifestyle in order to support a wife and children. Births outside of wedlock are also a major taboo, meaning single motherhood has not picked up the slack, as it has in other countries. An ageing population also means more work for the generations behind, with overtime culture in Japan blamed for people having less time to spend on family. A report out last year found 11 per cent of Japanese companies had full-time staff who clocked a staggering 80 hours of overtime a month. Online porn, virtual reality girlfriends and a general disinterest in sex have also been blamed, with a 2016 report showing that 40 per cent of young single men and women have never had sex, and most were not looking to change that. A new species of crab smaller than a thumbnail has been discovered in Hong Kong. The micro crustacean has been named Haberma Tingkok after the city's Tingkok area, which is thought to be the crab's only habitat in the world. Different than other terrestrial crabs, Haberma Tingkok can climb trees. In addition, the male crabs have hooked legs intended for grasping females while mating. An adult male Haberma Tingkok has long hooked legs used to grasp branches and a partner The new species were discovered in the mangroves in Tingkok, a coastal area in Hong Kong The University of Hong Kong announced the discovery, made by one of its students, at a press conference yesterday. The crab was found by Steven Wong, a fourth-year university student majoring in Ecology and Biodiversity, during a biodiversity sampling activity last summer at Tingkok, near Tolo Harbour, according to a press release from the university. Haberma Tingkok crabs are small, predominantly dark brown and less than a centimetre long. The two specimens studied by the university measured between eight and nine millimetres (0.31 - 0.35 inch). They also have long legs and orange claws with a square shell. The species lives on the branches and canopies of mangroves and breathes air. Haberma Tingkok's elongated legs allow them to develop an unusual ability to climb trees. Dr Stefano Cannicci and his research team pose with the crabs and pictures of them. From left to right are Steven Wong Ho Tin, a fourth-year student at Univeristy of Hong Kong; Dr Kevin Ho King Yan from SWIMS; Dr Stefano Cannicci and research assistant Cherry Cheung Cheuk Yiu Dr Stefano Cannicci said that Haberma Tingkok had been unknown to science previously Dr Cannicci (left) and Pedro Juliao Jimenez (right), a PhD student, collect mud crabs in front of Mai Po mangrove forests in Hong Kong Haberma Tingkok, as suggested by its name, was found at the mangroves in Ting Kok of eastern Hong Kong Steven Wong found the new species at about 1.5 to 1.8 meters (4.9 to 5.9 feet) above the surface of the water on mangroves branches. Dr. Stefano Cannicci, Associate Professor of biological science at University of Hong Kong and the SWIRE Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS), confirmed that the species had been unknown to science previously. '(This crab is) only known to be from Tolo Harbour for now. There's no other part of the world where it is found,' Dr. Cannicci told South China Morning Post. He also added that the majority of crabs are marine and freshwater species, however, they could evolve over the years, especially those in a mangrove habitat. A research study published on ZooKeys, a peer-reviewed international journal, stated the genus Haberma was first found in the mangroves of Singapore in 2002, and later in New Guinea of Indonesia in 2005. However, they are not known to have the ability of climbing trees. Haberma Tingkok is the third species to be found in the genus. It is the only one among the three species that can climb trees and is native to Hong Kong. Dr Cannicci's research team estimated there are about 20 Haberma Tingkok crabs in the Tingkok area in Hong Kong. Advertisement A bear and lion who spent months starving in the war-torn Iraqi city of Mosul have finally started a new life at a rehabilitation centre in Jordan. Lula the bear and Simba the lion were in the Montazah Al-Morour zoo as fighting engulfed the city, and were trapped in damaged cages without proper care or enough food. The zoo was hit by bombs and severely damaged during clashes between ISIS and the Iraqi army more than a month ago. Lula the bear enjoys a fresh apple and a scratch at her new home in Jordan after months of starvation in a private zoo in Mosul, Iraq Lula is now living in a grass-covered enclosure for the first time in her life. The charity said she will live there until she has adapted to her new surroundings Lula explores her temporary new home after spending months in war-torn Mosul zoo and nine days at a security checkpoint while trying to make it out of the country Lula was found looking mournfully through the rusting bars of its enclosure in Mosul zoo over a month ago It is thought that around 40 animals died, some from starvation, while others were directly killed by the bomb attacks. Others fled from their damaged cages. A huge rescue operation was launched to bring the animals to safety, and this morning they were released into temporary enclosures, having made it out of Iraq after spending nine days at a checkpoint. A first attempt to take them to safety had ended in failure, as the Iraqi army blocked them from leaving and sent them back to the zoo. They were rescued by animal charity Four Paws, and have been taken to Amman in Jordan. Simba emerges from his temporary home in Jordan as he rehabilitates after months of starvation Four Paws said: 'Simba is still a little shy and enjoys the comforts of his crate. He quickly checked his new enclosure but returned in his shelter after some moments' Like much of Mosul, the once-peaceful animal park had been destroyed by months of fighting between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants. Simba is pictured here in the cage he was found in Bear Lula and lion Simba are pictured inside a truck, finally ready to leave checkpoint at Mosul, with Amir Khalil Dr Amir Khalil, who led the mission, said: 'It has been a massive challenge but now we are so happy that weve been able to bring Lula and Simba to New Hope Centre where they are well cared for. From now on they will have a much better life. 'With proper food, veterinary care and in a species appropriate environment, they can live without the constant danger of a nearby war-zone and the noise of bomb blasts in the background.' Until two weeks ago, the animals lived in horrific conditions at the Mosul zoo. They were anaesthetised by a team from Four Paws, and loaded into prepared transport crates on a truck and travel with the animals to the border out of Mosul. But the mission came to an abrupt stop at a checkpoint near the border, when the team was told it was not allowed to exit Mosul. The animals were taken back to the zoo, while the Four Paws team had to leave the city. The Montazah Al-Morour zoo in Mosul was on the front lines of a battle for three months, during which time most of its animals were killed, died of starvation or escaped. The last lion and bear of Mosul were found pacing in a tiny, filthy cage Lula the bear, pictured here, and Simba the lion, were the only survivors of the privately owned Muntazah al-Nour zoo in the eastern half of war-torn Mosul When the military advanced into Mosul, Nour Park zoo, which had been home to a range of animals from monkeys to horses, was transformed into an Islamic State staging ground for attacks on Iraqi troops. Lula is pictured in Mosul Dr Khalil said: 'We were never informed of the exact details as to why we were not allowed to pass, but, of course, transporting large wild animals in an area with such a complex political situation is not easy and the military has to check all permissions thoroughly.' A second rescue attempt followed two days later, but again they faced a long wait at the checkpoint. The team faced a big challenge in caring for the animals and providing them with food and water. Dr Khalil said: 'Our mission in Iraq was supported by many locals and proved that even in the worst hardship there are people who care for animals. I am very touched to have experienced the humanity of the local people as well as the military. Many of the soldiers shared their food with the animals.' Lula and Simba will now stay in their temporary enclosures at the New Hope Centre until they have adapted to their new surroundings and their permanent enclosure, which is currently being set up, is ready for them. The purpose of the centre is to provide rehoming, rehabilitation and veterinary treatment for animals rescued from very poor keeping conditions. The lorry carrying Lola and Simba to safety was stuck at the roadside for nine days until further permits were secured, during which time Simba developed a respiratory problem Lula and Simba will now stay in their temporary enclosures at the New Hope Centre until they have adapted to their new surroundings and their permanent enclosure is ready for them The doctor found the pair covered in dirt and excrement in February, abandoned in their cages at the privately owned zoo in the eastern half of Mosul. Iraqi forces launched a massive operation to retake the city, Iraq's second largest, from the Islamic State group in October and spent weeks battling the jihadists street by street before eventually retaking the east bank in January. When Four Paws reached the zoo, nobody had entered the cages in weeks and no other animals apart from the female bear and the male lion had survived. When Khalil and his team came back to the region in late March, they had one goal which was to remove the animals temporarily from Iraq so they could receive proper veterinary care. Sir Daniel Moynihan got a pay rise of five per cent to around 425,000 last year to run the Harris Federation Academy fat cats now often earn more than the heads of elite private schools because of an immoral culture of milking the taxpayer, a teaching union has warned. Many heads of multi-academy trusts earn obscene six-figure salaries as the rot of greed sets into the education system, activists said. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said the bloated state school pay-packets were unsustainable and dwarfed many of those in the independent sector. The union voted to lobby the government to curb salaries for academy bosses, which are often the equivalent of pay for five or more front-line teachers. It comes after it was revealed Englands highest-paid academy chief, Sir Daniel Moynihan, got a pay rise of five per cent to around 425,000 last year to run the Harris Federation. This is 85 per cent higher than the 230,000 paid to the head teacher of Eton College, which charges 36,000 a year and has educated the Duke of Cambridge and David Cameron. Simon Clarkson, a teacher from Leicestershire, said: Executive headteachers have morphed, in a way that certainly has not been mighty, into CEOs, and the number of obscene salaries paid has increased. A small number of people have decided to treat education as a gravy train, and are milking schools, taxpayers and the funds that should be there for the children, for all they are worth. He added that despite private schools catering for the worlds wealthy elite, many head teacher salaries are less than those of taxpayer-funded academy bosses. He said: This has to stop. As well as being immoral, it is unsustainable. If it were sustainable, the older and more mature private sector market of independent schools would have fat cats in the way the academy and multi-academy trust sector have now. They do not, and they do not for good reason. Academies are independent from local council control and have the freedom to set their own pay for staff. The schools were championed originally by Labour and now the government is encouraging all schools to become academies. Pay is determined by an independent board, but there have been complaints about a lack of transparency. Mr Clarkson: The excuses used for excessive CEO pay are myriad. Our response, however, should be simple. We should say no to any MAT CEO earning an excessive amount. Academies are independent from local council control and have the freedom to set their own pay for staff Tim Jefferson, a member from Norfolk, added: This is, after all, taxpayers money. There are no government rules, or guidance, on how this pay should be set. This needs to change. Proposing the motion, Bob Groome from Norfolk highlighted a number of trusts, including Ormiston Academies Trust, whose outgoing chief executive Toby Salt, took home around 205,001 in 2015-16. Last November, Department for Education figures said 111 academy trustees including chief executives and principals were paid more than 150,000 in 2014-15. Sir Dan, who runs the 41 schools of the Harris Federation, saw his pay packet rise from 395,000-400,000 in 2014/15 to 420,000 -425,000 in 2015-16, it was revealed recently. A Harris Federation spokeswoman said at that time that the trust had transformed some of Londons most challenging schools, and that its board recognises that leadership is among the key drivers of our success, so leaders throughout our federation are rewarded for their contribution. The Department for Education has been contacted for comment. The call to scrap gender based school uniforms is gaining momentum with activists and mothers calling the archaic policy 'offensive'. Girls Uniform Agenda, an Australian lobby body aimed at delivering girls equality at school has lead the movement for a gender neutral uniform at public schools. Girls Uniform Agenda point out studies have shown young schoolgirls can shy away from activities when in skirts, resulting in many nations adopting policies to allow girls to wear shorts or long pants at school. Mother-of-two Alison Boston, from Mosmon in Sydney, was searching for a school for her four-year-old daughter Sadie and became unimpressed with the strict uniform policies. Alison Boston said her daughter shouldn't be forced to wear a skirt at school Alison Boston pictured with her daughter Sadie (left) and son Wesley (right) 'As a woman I feel quite strong that girls shouldn't be forced to wear skirts and dresses,' Mrs Boston told Daily Mail Australia. 'In 2017 there are no women in Australia that are required to wear skirts in the workplace, they can choose to wear pants and dresses. It is only in school' 'As I woman I find it quite offensive.' As part of the Girls Uniform Agenda group Mrs Boston said she would not be sending her daughter to a school that forces her to wear a skirt, which limits her options. 'I wouldn't send my daughter to a school where she is forced to wear skirts,' the mother-of-two said. 'I am at a disadvantage looking for a school for my daughter, compared to the choices I have for my son. My son can go to any school, but my options have become limited for my daughter because of uniform policies.' Alison Boston said her she has found it harder to pick a school for her daughter Sadie (right) then her son Wesley (left) because of strict gender based uniform policies Alison Boston is part of the Girls Uniform Agenda in Australia Sydney International Grammar School are leading the way when it comes to allowing children and parents deciding on the uniform. The school allows children to wear any mix of clothing as long as it is neat and tidy. Endorsed by Mrs Boston, nearly 20,000 people are supporting Girls Uniform Agenda's petition on change.org to change the mindset of schools. The petition was started because Simone Cariss' daughter was denied the opportunity to wear long pants in winter, forcing her to wear a tunic, as part of her school uniform. 'My daughter, like many other girls, simply wants the choice to wear pants like half of her peers, with the warmth and freedom to be active at school and travelling to/from school,' it reads. Many public schools still enforce strict gender based uniform policies (Stock Image) The NSW Department of Education states a school's uniform should be reviewed every five years and must be the result of discussing the possibilities with the local school community including parents, carers, teachers and students. Mrs Boston said the government is contradicting its mission to help schoolchildren become more active if they don't allow girls to feel comfortable in that environment. 'There's no workplace in Australia that requires women to wear skirts and dresses,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald. For the 18-year-old virgin it was supposed to be her first time hitting the bars of Sydney's inner-city Kings Cross. For Luke Lazarus it should have been just another night schmoozing guests at his father's night spot. Four years later, a NSW District Court judge must decide if what happened when the pair went into a laneway behind Soho night club about three minutes after meeting on the dance floor was rape or consensual sex. Lazarus admits he and the woman had anal sex in an alley behind the club about 4am on May 12, 2013, and that the woman was down on all fours. Scroll down for video Former private schoolboy Luke Lazarus, accused of raping a teenager, leaves the NSW District Court on Tuesday Luke Lazarus is a former private school boy accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old virgin outside his father's night club Alleged rapist Luke Lazarus leaves the NSW District Court yesterday with his mother The 25-year-old former private schoolboy has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent, saying the woman was encouraging and never told him to stop. He has told the District Court it was not the only time he had sex in the laneway behind Soho, or the first time he had sex with a woman minutes after they had met. He insists he had every reason to believe the 18-year-old was happy to have sex with him and that her mood only changed when he asked her to add her name to a 'trophy list' in his phone. Lazarus was found guilty of the charge by a jury in 2015 but that conviction was quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal last year. He is now facing a judge-alone trial. Crown Prosecutor Cate Dodds said in closing submissions on Tuesday that Lazarus had taken advantage of the woman, who was 'substantially intoxicated', having consumed an estimated 16 standard drinks. 'She was an 18-year-old virgin who had never been to Kings Cross,' Ms Dodds said. 'He never asked her if he could do it and he never told her he was going to do it.' An 18-year-old woman has accused Luke Lazarus of raping her outside Soho night club in Kings Cross (pictured) Luke Lazarus is a former private school boy accused of raping an 18-year-old virgin four years ago The woman had been drinking from a Coke bottle topped up with bourbon early in the evening then consumed vodka and cranberry and vodka with orange. By the time she entered Soho, for the second time that evening, she was drunk, the court heard. That was about 3.35am. 'I was pretty out of it I guess,' the woman said in evidence. Lazarus approached the woman at 3.59am after making eye contact on the dance floor. He told her his family owned the night club, took her to a VIP area and introduced her to the DJ. He has told the court the pair began kissing passionately and he asked her if she would like to go somewhere 'private'. The pair walked out the back door at 4.02am. Accused rapist Luke Lazarus (middle, shielding face) leaving court in 2015 Luke Lazarus (pictured fleeing a cameraman at an earlier court appearance) was convicted of rape by a District Court jury in 2015 Luke Lazarus is facing a District Court accused of raping a teenager he me minutes earlier on a night club dance floor They do not agree on what happened next. She says Lazarus pulled down her stockings and underwear and that she pulled them back up. 'We started kissing for a little while but then I wanted to leave so I stopped and said 'I need to go back to my friend',' the woman said in evidence. 'That's when he said 'Put your f***ing hands on the wall.' 'I put both my hands on the fence. I was just scared, I guess. I didn't know what to do, so I just did what he said.' The woman said Lazarus again pulled down her underwear and said: 'Just get on your hands and knees and arch your back'. Lazarus has told the court the pair had spent several minutes kissing in the laneway before she said she wanted to go back to her friend. He replied: 'No, no, your friend won't miss you. Stay here with me'. Lazarus said the woman had put her hands on the fence and he unsuccessfully attempted to penetrate her. When she told him she was a virgin, he said 'OK, well get on your hands and knees and arch your back'. The pair then had anal sex. The woman said she was in pain and asked Lazarus to stop. Lazarus said she did not. Luke Lazarus leaves the District Court, where he is standing trial for rape, with his parents on Tuesday Luke Lazarus says he had consensual sex with an 18-year-old behind a night club Defence counsel Phillip Boulten SC said the woman conceded she may have 'pushed back' when Lazarus penetrated her. 'He says it happened, she says it may have happened,' Mr Boulten said. 'If she did, she was consenting or at the very least he had a reasonable ground to believe she was consenting.' After the encounter, Lazarus asked the woman to write her name below other women's names on a note in his phone which he said was a 'trophy list'. It was then, according to him, the woman's mood soured. 'Her demeanour changed,' Lazarus told the court. 'She looked offended and rightfully so.' Lazarus said he then realised 'what a selfish, a thoughtless, inconsiderate thing I had done'. He had not been a 'gentleman', he said. The woman's friend told the court the alleged victim called her at 4.16am, 'breathing heavily, crying, she sounded scared'. They met up on Victoria Street. 'She was crying,' the friend said. 'She was just a mess. She was hunched over. She couldn't really stand. She was very upset.' Luke Lazarus, pictured leaving the Court of Criminal Appeal in 2016, has pleaded not guilty to having sexual intercourse without consent Ms Dodds said the woman's immediate complaint supported her allegation of rape. 'She told people about it straight away,' Ms Dodds said. However, Mr Boulten told Judge Robyn Tupman on Tuesday the alleged victim had given conflicting versions of what happened in various conversations after the events and in evidence. 'There are many reasons why the complainant might have made the allegations against the accused but still have consented,' Mr Boulten said. 'There's little doubt that both these young people probably regretted their sexual encounter even before both of them left the laneway. 'There were good reasons for both of them not to be proud of what happened but it doesn't follow necessarily that the complainant has the opinion that she has about her actions simply because she did not consent.' The trial continues. Shocking treatment: The passenger pulled from the United Airlines plane at Chicago Airport on Sunday was left bleeding when officers dragged him off Until this morning, I didnt think anyone would displace the executive team at Pepsi as public relations chumps of the year after their hideous debacle of a commercial featuring Kendall Jenner. Then along came the geniuses at United Airlines, whose company motto, hilariously, is: Fly the Friendly Skies. Try purring that cosy little line to the poor man dragged semi-conscious and bleeding profusely off a United plane at Chicago Airport on Sunday night. The more you watch what happened to him in the various videos filmed by other shocked passengers, the more outrageous it seems. This guy was 69 years old and said he was a doctor on his way to Louisville to treat some patients in hospital. Hed paid for his ticket and was sitting in his seat on the plane, minding his own business, quietly and patiently waiting for it to take off. Then he was informed that United needed him to leave the plane because it was overbooked and they needed his seat for one of four of their own cabin crew to fly down to Louisville to service another plane. United had earlier unsuccessfully appealed for volunteers who were willing to give up their seats for $800, stay in a hotel and fly the next day. So they then chose four passengers at random by computer. One couple and another passenger left, but the fourth, this Asian man, declined and explained he had to treat patients the following morning. A reason that most might considerperfectly reasonable. He pleaded to be allowed to stay on the flight but his appeal was rejected. Eventually, United asked Chicago airport police to board the plane and physically remove him. When he resisted, they grabbed him forcefully, causing him to scream out. Then they smashed his face into a headrest, knocking him unconscious, and pulled him aggressively down the aisle, humiliatingly exposing his chest in the process as his shirt rode up, before exiting the plane. Indignity: The 69-year-old man was forcibly yanked from his seat by over-zealous police officers and dragged down the aircraft's aisle in front of shocked passengers who pleaded with them to stop Somehow, the man then broke free from the cops and ran back inside, chanting, I need to go home, I need to go home! One video showed him dazed, bleeding and mumbling, just kill me, just kill me. He was then dragged off again. At this point, lets remind ourselves that he had done absolutely nothing wrong to deserve any of this. He was a totally innocent fee-paying passenger who just needed to get home, possibly to help save someones life. This wasnt about security, or him behaving badly or being unfit to travel. It was just about money. United needed to save a few thousand dollars by getting their crew in the right place for a particular flight. To achieve that, they needed to kick off passengers. Yet ironically, penny-pinching United have now earned themselves millions of dollars worth of horrendous publicity, and Im very confident they will end up paying further millions in compensation if and when this doctor sues their shameful little ass*s. Heavy handed: Passengers immediately began filming as officers went to work and the distressing scene has left United Airlines facing an enormous public relations disaster As airline PR debacles go, its right up there with those idiots who banned women passengers from wearing leggings last month. Who was that again? Oh yes, of course! That was also United Airlines. Shocking though the footage of this mans ordeal is though, I wish I could say I was genuinely surprised when I heard what had happened. Sadly, Im not. It was all too predictable from an industry that has long since deserted the concept of the customer is always right. Lets be honest: American domestic air travel sucks. Not in a mild its not very good kind of way. No, it sucks in an its bloody terrible kind of way. Ive endured so many dreadful experiences flying around America in creaking old tin cans, in all variety of classes, eating diabolical prison-style food, sitting in cramped filthy seats and often being treated by cabin crew like an inmate aboard Con Air. And this, of course, is only if youre lucky enough to actually take off. US domestic air travel is plagued with a record of delays and cancellations that would disgrace a third world country, let alone supposedly the worlds greatest superpower. The airports are as lousy as the planes, and the general experience of flying within America is universally mocked and reviled, as witnessed by the daily flood of complaints I see on social media. My worst of many God awful experiences came when I was booked on a simple two-hour flight with Delta from New York to Minneapolis a few years ago to judge an Americas Got Talent audition show. We were 50 minutes away from landing when the pilot suddenly announced we were turning round and returning to New York due to bad weather. The same bad weather which would have been blindingly obvious to any amateur meteorologist before we had departed from New York. A few hours later, I boarded a new plane to Minneapolis and we got as far as the tarmac where we spent two hours doing nothing before the new pilot announced we had to de-plane due to a technical fault. Debacle: United's CEO Oscar Munoz has been forced to say sorry for the way the passenger was treated In both instances, the lack of information and customer care was lamentable. We may as well have been cattle being flown to an abattoir. I eventually trudged back inside the JFK terminal, nine hours after I had arrived, and found myself sitting back in the lounge with an equally weary fellow passenger who sighed to me: You know Delta stands for Dont Ever Leave The Airport, right? I didnt, but I did now. But hey, at least nobody beat me up. The way United and Chicago airport police treated this man is absolutely disgusting. Yet their public responses to the outcry managed to be even worse. First, Chicago police absurdly and offensively claimed the victim fell into his headrest. Then United poured fuel all over the blazing bonfire erupting around their ears with the most tone-deaf statement imaginable. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers, said United CEO Oscar Munoz. Re-accommodate? Is that a joke? You pummelled a customers head in, knocked him out, and had him dragged off your plane as other passengers shrieked their fury. Thats not re-accommodation, Mr Munoz, thats called assault and battery, as you will shortly discover when he takes you to court. But there is one positive for United from this appalling incident. And its this: they wont need to worry about over-booking ever again. They could pay me $800,000 and give me a free holiday to the Moon with Jessica Alba - and I still wouldnt let them drag me ON to one of their planes, let alone off it. Ps There was eventually a happy ending to my Delta story. The airline was so embarrassed by my bombardment of furious tweets detailing their incompetence that they eventually paid $50,000 for me to have a private plane down to Minneapolis. So my advice to anyone maltreated by any airline is to hit social media and dont stop whining until youre sipping champagne on a Gulfstream 150 at their expense. It is the home of millionaires and royalty, but has one of the worst performance rates for care homes in the country. The royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea falls within the worst five areas in Britain for its percentage of care homes rated inadequate or which need improvement. That is the finding of a snapshot charity study from January showing how badly care homes are failing across the country. The royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea falls within the worst five areas in Britain for its percentage of care homes rated inadequate or which need improvement It follows recent reports of older people living in rooms like prison cells with no hot water, and left to lie in urine-soaked beds, while fees for the homes soar. In Kensington and Chelsea, one care home was found last year to have a mice infestation and to risk scalding its residents. While two out of five care homes rated poorly have since been upgraded, in January the borough was ranked in the bottom five alongside Stockport, Salford, Manchester and Tameside, a borough in Greater Manchester. All five had more than half of their homes rated as inadequate or requiring improvement by the Care Quality Commission. Andrew Kaye, head of policy and campaigns at charity Independent Age, which analysed the ratings, said: It definitely surprised us to find affluent areas among those with poor rates, but this shows older people who pay to enter care homes, as well as those who are funded, are losing out. This might be because of staff vacancies, difficulty recruiting, or a lack of support. It is unacceptable that some older people are forced to choose a care home that is unsatisfactory. That is the finding of a snapshot charity study from January showing how badly care homes are failing across the country. Addison Crescent in Kensington The postcode lottery for care homes was calculated by Independent Age entirely using inspection reports by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The regulator rates homes as outstanding, good, requiring improvement or inadequate. Performance is based by Independent Age on the proportion of homes in local authority areas or regions with the two poorest ratings. It said the North West contains seven of the eight worst-performing English local authorities, with one in three care homes across the region falling below acceptable standards. In Liverpool, where 48.1 per cent of care homes were rated inadequate or requiring improvement, two millionaire brothers were fined 82,000 last month. Despite a room charge of 330 a week, it emerged residents at Mossley Manor care home were put to bed at 6pm each night and sometimes not bathed or showered for more than a month. The worst performing regions also include the South East of England and Yorkshire and the Humber. London, the East and South West had the best rates based on CQC ratings. Despite analysis last year showing fees across the country have soared to almost 35,500 a year, Independent Age said poor care homes are a grim reality in some parts of the country. While two out of five care homes rated poorly have since been upgraded, in January the borough was ranked in the bottom five alongside Stockport, Salford, Manchester and Tameside, a borough in Greater Manchester (pictured) In January, five out of 10 care homes in Kensington and Chelsea were poorly rated, although Ellesmere House and Support for Living in Quintin Road have since been upgraded. Alan Morkill House, in North Kensington, was unsafe for residents last year due to mice infestation and the heating did not always work properly, although the home has since dealt with these issues. A Bupa establishment, the private Kensington Care Home, had in 2015 put residents at risk from poor management of medicines, although this has now been resolved. Support for Living in Barlby Road was previously in special measures but has now been taken out of them. The Daily Mail was unable to reach Certitude, which owns Support for Living, for comment. Gold Care Homes, which runs Alan Morkill House, was unable to respond. Kay Cox, director for London at Bupa Care Services, said: We took immediate action to make improvements at the home when the CQC inspected 14 months ago. Were investing around 3 million to refurbish the home and we have a new home manager who has helped improve processes in the home. We look forward to the CQC inspecting our home in the coming months. A man who allegedly tried to ram police cars during a drug-fuelled rampage on a busy motorway reportedly yelled 'Allahu Akbar' as he was arrested. The 35-year-old man ran cars off Gold Coast's Pacific Motorway on Monday before assaulting four police officers and trying to steal their car, police allege. The shirtless man was pictured walking along the busy motorway after his white Holden Commodore ran out of petrol. A man who allegedly tried to ram police cars during a drug-fuelled rampage on a busy motorway reportedly yelled 'Allahu Akbar' as he was arrested The shirtless man was pictured walking along the busy highway after his white Holden Commodore ran out of petrol He then allegedly tried to steal a police car before swinging wild punches at officers - who were forced to taser him twice. 'He was behaving very, very violently,' Inspector Mark Pengelly said. 'Four of the officers actually ended up in hospital with injuries.' Police sources told Seven News the man was shouting the Arabic phrase 'Allahu Akbar', which translates to 'God is the greatest,' as he was arrested. Inspector Pengelly could not confirm the reports. He then allegedly tried to steal a police car before swinging wild punches at officers - who were forced to taser him twice The 35-year-old man ran cars off Gold Coast's Pacific Motorway on Monday before assaulting four police officers and trying to steal their car, police allege 'He certainly appeared to be under the influence of some sort of substance,' Inspector Pengelly said on Monday. 'What it was and what he said will be a matter for the investigation.' The man was due to face Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with drug possession, assault and dangerous driving charges. But he is instead in hospital in an induced coma because of his high level of drug intoxication, the Herald Sun reported. The policy, which was introduced in 2013, could now join an embarrassing list of measures launched by then Justice Secretary Chris Grayling which have ended up on the scrapheap Cuts to legal aid for prisoners were dramatically overturned yesterday MON as unlawful dealing another blow to the Governments jails policy. Judges said that refusing to allow certain categories of inmates access to public money to fight legal cases was inherently unfair. The Court of Appeal ruled that not allowing convicts state-funded legal help was wrong, especially for the mentally ill and prisoners with learning difficulties. The policy, which was introduced in 2013, could now join an embarrassing list of measures launched by then Justice Secretary Chris Grayling which have ended up on the scrapheap. The judges found the removal of legal aid was unlawful in three situations. Those are Parole Board hearings to decide if prisoners on indeterminate sentences are ready to be transferred to open prisons, reviews of Category A prisoners and decisions about placing inmates in specialist secure units. The judges said they recognised there may be safeguards other than legal aid to ensure prisoners could engage in processes and decisions about them. But it said almost no changes had been introduced to fill the gap left by the removal of legal aid. Deborah Russo, joint managing solicitor of the Prisoners Advice Service, said the vulnerability of the prison population had been fully recognised as a key factor in its limited ability to access justice. Common law came to the rescue of a marginalised and often forgotten sector of our society, she said. Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League, which works to reduce crime and prisoner numbers, said the ruling would ease pressure on a prison system at breaking point. She said: It vindicates our concerns that cuts imposed in 2013 presented a grave risk that prisoners would become stuck in a broken system. The Ministry of Justice court defeat is the latest to affect Mr Graylings policies The Ministry of Justice court defeat is the latest to affect Mr Graylings policies. Plans to build an 85million fortified school to educate teenage prisoners were scrapped in 2015, a ban on sending books to inmates was unlawful and judges also overturned an unfair block on sending high-risk violent prisoners to open jails. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: We note the Court of Appeals judgment on changes made to legal aid regulations - introduced in 2013 - and will consider whether to appeal.' Advertisement Shocking before and after photos show some of Queensland's most luxurious resorts completely trashed by Cyclone Debbie. A number of tourist hot spots were battered by the category four cyclone which hit the north Queensland coast last month. Whitsundays resort Daydream Island has been forced to close until mid-2018 due to substantial damage caused by the tropical cyclone. Scroll down for video Slide me Shocking before and after photos show some of Queensland's most luxurious resorts completely trashed by Cyclone Debbie (Whitsundays resort Daydream Island pictured left in 2008, pictured right after Cyclone Debbie in April) Slide me Last month Cyclone Debbie thrashed the exclusive Hamilton and Hayman Islands (Hamilton Island pictured left in 2008, pictured right after Cyclone Debbie in April) Daydream Island had plans for a $50million refurbishment at the end the year, and was set to open its doors again at the end of April Whitsundays resort Daydream Island has been forced to close until mid-2018 due to substantial damage caused by the tropical cyclone Bookings have been cancelled and a number of staff have been made redundant because of the closure at Daydream Island The resort had plans for a $50million refurbishment at the end the year, and was set to open its doors again at the end of April. But due to the damage caused by Debbie, Resort General Manager Dawson Tang said the resort would remain closed while the refurbishment was fast-tracked. 'We are determined to bring Daydream Island back to its spectacular best,' Mr Tang said. 'This decision for an extended closure has not been an easy one but will enable us to concentrate fully on restoring Daydream Island back to the top of the Queensland tourism industry.' Bookings have been cancelled and a number of staff have been made redundant because of the closure. 'Whilst some redundancies will be necessary in the short term, we are doing everything possible to minimise this,' Mr Tang said. Slide me Shocking photos show the before and after effect of the category 4 cyclone as residents face major clean-up (Whitsunday Sailing Club pictured left in 2008, pictured right after Cyclone Debbie in April) Slide me Cyclone Debbie wreaked havoc in north Queensland last month, with 260km/h winds and torrential rain (Hideaway Bay pictured left in 2008, pictured right after Cyclone Debbie in April) Slide me The Shute Harbour boat terminal also copped a beating with much of its structure torn away and the pier pushed up onto the carpark (Shute Harbour pictured left in 2008, pictured right after Cyclone Debbie in April) Last month Cyclone Debbie thrashed the exclusive Hamilton and Hayman Islands. Hayman Island's One and Only resort assured 'all its guests and colleagues were safe in residence' to ride out the storm, but would not be accepting future bookings while it assesses the damage. The resort is often a location for stunning weddings with its infinity pool and proximity to the ocean, but guests posted footage of palm trees being thrashed by wind. In Airlie Beach, the Colonial Palms Motor Inn had its furniture thrown into the pool by the wind and the outdoor patio was left completely flooded. Hamilton Island was battered by Cyclone Debbie in late March In Airlie Beach, the Colonial Palms Motor Inn (pictured) had its furniture thrown into the pool by the wind and the outdoor patio was left completely flooded At Shute Harbour in Airlie Beach, boatmen were pictured looking on in disbelief after more than 30 expensive yachts and fishing boats were pushed up onto the banks in the cyclone. Dozens of vessels were sitting in the mud adjacent to the road. 'This is millions of dollars worth of infrastructure,' boat owner James Wighton said. Mr Wighton said while his uninsured trimaran was still on its moorings, it had been flipped upside down in the weather. The Shute Harbour boat terminal also copped a beating with much of its structure torn away and the pier pushed up onto the carpark. Slide me The trail of destruction left across north Queensland after Cyclone Debbie ended its torment has been revealed in shocking before and after photos. Pictured is the Shute Harbour ferry terminal before the storm (right) and after (left) Slide me A bungalow on the waterfront in Hamilton Island (right) was decimated (left) after cyclone Debbie ripped through the resort town Slide me Golf carts are usually used for tourists to get around the Hamilton Island resort (right), but the roads were completely covered with branches as a result of the cyclone on Wednesday (left) At Shute Harbour in Airlie Beach, boatmen were pictured looking on in disbelief after more than 30 expensive yachts and fishing boats were pushed up onto the banks in the cyclone (pictured) A woman in Proserpine shared an image of her garage completely destroyed as a result of Cyclone Debbie This picture of her home before, shows the two-car garage in tact and next to her home, which was also damaged in the storm At Shute Harbour, the ferocity of Cyclone Debbie forced large boats from the water and onto the mainland In Hamilton Island, boats were pushed onto the rocks during the massive winds and tidal surges The Shute Harbour boat terminal also copped a beating with much of its structure torn away and the pier pushed up onto the carpark A plane flipped at Bowen Airport on Wednesday and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said wild weather from cyclone Debbie will continue to affect Queensland until well into Friday A Utah man who has been living in the U.S. for 20 years is running for president in his native country of Kenya. Amram Musungu says he has always wanted to run for the post to help Kenyans get control of a country that he believes is ripe for a change. 'I will be the best president the country has ever had,' he told the Deseret News. The 39-year-old auditor and married father of two added: 'I want every Kenyan to have a better life,' he said. 'It is selfish for me to stay in America. 'The gospel has helped me to understand that nothing is impossible as long as it has to do with blessing the lives of others.' Amram Musungu, pictured with his wife Noelle and their two children Mira and Wesley, hopes to become president of Kenya. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Kenya and currently lives in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah Musungu, 39, was born and raised in Kenya but moved to Utah after converting to Mormonism. In Utah he attended university, became an auditor and married As a child, he would walk miles to school each day, without shoes, in Hamuyundi, Kenya. After meeting Mormon missionaries in 1992 including Russel Price, who Musungu said, was 'the first white person I met who would speak to me'. This experience, among others, led him to convert to Mormonism and by the age of 17 he was called on his own mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his mission, he raised, with the help of family and friends, enough money to move to Utah and go to LDS Business College and later the University of Utah and Westminster College. He fell in love and married wife Noelle and the couple now have two children, eight-year-old daughter Mira and four-year-old son Wesley. For a bio on his university's alumni page, Musungu said: 'I promised everyone that I would get an education, train well and return to Kenya to provide better leadership to my people.' He added: 'I have lived that dream. I agreed to run for President as my family and I feel very strongly that this is what our Heavenly Father wants us to do.' Musungu said he was approached by Kenyan politicians to become a presidential candidate in the 2017 election. He is also a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and founder of Salt Lake City's Swahili LDS Church. Musungu is active in the Salt Lake City region's Mormon community and founded the city's first Swahili branch of the LDS church Musungu, who is running against seven other candidates, said: 'The gospel has helped me to understand that nothing is impossible as long as it has to do with blessing the lives of others' Musungu faces seven other candidates, many of whom have decades of experience working for the government. The election is on August 8. He lives in South Salt Lake, a suburb of Salt Lake City. He has dual citizenship of the United States and Kenya. US officials on Monday temporarily stopped the use of predator-killing cyanide traps in Idaho after one sickened a young boy and killed his dog last month after they checked it out. The US Department of Agriculture announced in a letter that it had halted all use of the traps on state, federal and private land in Idaho in response to a petition from 19 conservation and wildlife groups. The spring-activated devices called M-44s look like water sprinkler heads and are embedded into in the ground but spray cyanide when triggered by animals attracted by bait smeared on the devices. They're used to kill coyotes and other livestock predators. The cyanide device (above one in Pocatello, where a boy was injured and his dog killed), called M-44, is spring-activated and shoots poison that is meant to kill predators Canyon Mansfield, 14, holds the collar of his dog, Casey, who was killed March 16 by a cyanide-ejecting device placed on public land near his Pocatello, Idaho, home Golden lab Casey had 'red froth coming from his mouth and his eyes turning glassy and he was having a seizure' said Canyon about his dog when they stumbled upon a cyanide trap The 14-year-old Idaho boy was injured last month when he checked one out with his dog on federally-owned land about 500 yards (457 meters) from his house on the outskirts of the small city of Pocatello. His Labrador retriever dog died. 'This is a good first step, but let's keep going. We've seen these types of moratoriums in the past and the federal government keeps bringing them back,' said Mark Mansfield, the boy's father and a physician. 'The kids in Arizona deserve just as much protection as the kids in Idaho.' Canyon's sister, Madison, with their dog, Casey, who died an excruciating death due to a cyanide trap in Idaho near their family's house Mansfield said he has met with representatives of US Rep. Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican, to push for a national ban of the devices. His son suffered headaches after he was exposed on March 16. The groups that petitioned for the use of the devices to be stopped will be warned 30 days in advance if authorities decide to start using them again in Idaho, the Agriculture Department said. 'We take seriously the incident in Idaho, which involved the unintentional activation of a small spring-loaded device,' said Jason Suckow, a regional director of the department's wildlife services division. M-44s killed about 12,500 coyotes in 2016, mostly in Western US states. According to the petition, the devices over the last 20 years have killed about 40 dogs and injured a handful of people. The division said it plans to review its operating procedures for use of the devices. 'We are pleased with their response today, but our satisfaction is dimmed slightly that this ban might not be permanent,' said Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, which was one of the conservation groups to sign the petition. Canyon Mansfield, 14 (far right) was struck by a cyanide bomb when he was out with his dog, Casey, who died - father Mark, a doctor, (second from left) is fighting to have the traps banned all over the US Mark Mansfield's son, Canyon , 14, was playing with his yellow Labrador retriever, Casey, near their home east of Pocatello Thursday afternoon when he bent to pick up what he thought was a sprinkler head on the ground, causing it to go off. 'Canyon said there was a bang like a bomb,' said mom Theresa Mansfield, 'then an explosion of an orange substance that covered him and Casey, who was writhing in pain on the ground before he died right in front of Canyon.' The boy - who was sprayed in the face, and continues to undergo toxicity tests - says he didn't realize at first what was happening to his best friend. 'He just stayed on the ground mumbling,' Canyon told the Idaho State Journal. 'I thought he was playing with his toy, but I saw the toy a couple yards away from him... So, I called him again and got really scared. 'I sprinted toward him and landed on my knees and saw this red froth coming from his mouth and his eyes turning glassy and he was having a seizure.' The boy's father, Pocatello physician Mark Mansfield, rushed to the scene and pounded on the 90-pound dog's chest in a futile effort to revive the animal. Both the family and first-responders underwent decontamination procedures, and Canyon was tested for cyanide poisoning at a hospital for the second time Friday, officials and family members said. He must now undergo daily check-ups to monitor his toxicity levels. It later emerged that the M-44 bomb had been placed near the home by Wildlife Services, an arm of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is targeting coyotes in the area. M-44s are loaded with 0.9 grams of sodium cyanide and covered in smelly bait, in the hope of attracting animals. When something triggers the 5-7-inch tubes, a spring-loaded trap sprays the cyanide into the face of whatever is nearby. Under USDA guidelines, signs must be placed around the location of the traps in both English and Spanish to avoid accidents from occurring. But Canyon said he didn't see any signs and that 'I would have noticed it because I go up there all the time.' Separately, other environmental groups filed a lawsuit in federal court in Montana earlier this month claiming use of M-44s and Compound 1080 - a poison placed in collars worn by livestock and ingested by attacking predators - violate the Endangered Species Act and could harm non-targeted species. The lawsuit seeks a ban across the United States until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service consults with the US Environmental Protection Agency about how the poisons could harm federally protected species and their habitats. Louise Harris, 24, is a Cambridge-educated wannabe popstar from Harpenden who has compared the Just Stop Oil campaign to that of the Irish rebels' fight for independence from the British and once said she was like a prisoner of war. This morning she cried on the gantry over Britain's busiest motorway as she declared: 'You might hate me for doing this. I'm here because I don't have a future.' But despite her warnings about the future of the planet, her Facebook page shows her posing next to a 2009 Fiat Punto, which runs on unleaded. Just Stop Oil opposes petrol cars so much its members smash petrol stations to prevent people refueling and blockade refineries. She also appears to be at the wheel - or a passenger - in the same car in a number of other social media posts, including this year when she has been taking part in Just Stop Oil protests, despite it running on petrol. Miss Harris compared her yellow Punto to the vehicle made famous by The Inbetweeners, because it has a red door. In one post where she stands next to her Fiat she says: 'I am officially Number 1 fan of this show f**k you other wannabes. Unfortunately it DOESN'T have a tape deck'. Today Miss Harris was among 23 people arrested by the Met Police and colleagues at Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire, after shutting down the M25. The demonstrator - who posts songs on YouTube including a slickly edited music video called 'Dating me is like a Cambridge term'. The lyrics include: Dating me is like a Cambridge term. By the fifth week you are completely burnt out emotionally destroyed and suicidal'. Police divers comb Brisbane wetlands as part of their investigation into the suspected murder of Wayne Youngkin, who vanished more than 30 years ago. The skeletal remains of the 29-year-old were found in a disused septic tank at Brighton, north of Brisbane in 2016 after he disappeared in 1986. Detective Inspector Tim Trezise said the Water Police and Army dive squad would scour the Deagon Wetlands on Tuesday after they received information 'that certain evidence may have been disposed of in the water.' Police divers comb Brisbane wetlands as part of their investigation into the suspected murder of Wayne Youngkin The skeletal remains of Wayne Youngkin, 29, (pictured) were found in a disused septic tank at Brighton, north of Brisbane in 2016 after he disappeared in 1986 Water Police and Army dive squad conduct a search around wetlands at Sandgate, Brisbane, on Tuesday There were no details on what the evidence in question could be, but it's understood there is a number of items. 'I can't specifically say what led us to this location,' he said. There are currently no suspects in the investigation, with Det. Insp. Trezise saying the deaths of many of Youngkin's family members making inquiries challenging. Police are also concentrating on forensic examinations of a set of vehicle seat covers recovered from the crime scene and are in the process of developing a DNA profile from them. A series of photographs of the seat covers with distinctive markings and patterns have been released in the hope that the members of the public can help. Det Insp Trezise said Mr Youngkin's skeletal remains showed significant signs of trauma after they were found inside a septic tank on a disused Brighton property (pictured) 'We have information that certain evidence may have been disposed of in the water,' Det Insp Trezise said of the wetlands search There were no details on what the evidence disposed in the Brisbane wetlands could be, but it's understood there is a number of items Det Insp Trezise said Mr Youngkin's skeletal remains showed significant signs of trauma Police couldn't 'specifically say what led us to this location' on Tuesday where Water Police and Army dive squad conducted a search Det Insp Trezise said Mr Youngkin's skeletal remains showed significant signs of trauma. They were found inside a septic tank on a disused property where Mr Youngkin's lived with his now deceased uncle and grandmother. The Brighton property is not believed to have been searched prior to his body being found. Police searched bushland in February for clues to the mystery of the north Brisbane man, who was last known to have been alive in 1986 when he applied for a passport. Investigators in December reached out to a mystery man who rang Sandgate Police Station in August 1992 with 'quite specific' information about the case. Det Insp Trezise urged the mystery caller to contact police again. There are currently no suspects in the investigation, with Det. Insp. Trezise saying the deaths of many of Youngkin's family members making inquiries challenging Police are also concentrating on forensic examinations of a set of vehicle seat covers recovered from the crime scene Police previously searched bushland in February (An SES volunteers searching for clues in February) over the mystery of the north Brisbane man Water Police and Army dive squad conduct a search for clues and items related to Mr Youngkin Wild deer in Britain should be hunted for venison to save woodland birds, a leading ecologist has warned. Fallow, roe and muntjac deer have destroyed two-thirds of the foliage below head height in English forests. This was discovered by Dr Markus Eichhorn, one of a team commissioned by Defra following a call to examine the causes of declining woodland birds, like the nightingale, marsh tit and lesser spotted woodpecker. The Nottingham University ecologist is calling for butchers and restaurants to serve up wild venison sausages and burgers, to cut deer populations and protect the natural habitat for ground-nesting birds. Wild deer in Britain should be hunted for venison to save woodland birds, a leading ecologist has warned (Stock image) Dr Eichhorn said: It is clear from our research that if we want to encourage more woodland birds then we need to take action to restore the woodland structures they require, but in many areas it will need a drastic reduction in deer to have any real impact. He added: In the opening scene of Bambi, his mother is shot by hunters, probably for food, and people have an emotional response to that. There might be a Disney effect, but eating venison is no different to eating any other animal. Celebrity chefs including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall have risked public disapproval by putting venison in their recipes. But the majority of the meat on sale in Britain is farmed rather than wild. Deer numbers have hit a record high, through mild winters and a lack of natural predators like the wolf and lynx. The British scientific team, which looked at deer in 40 woodland areas, found around 180 per square mile in the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire. Dr Eichhorn, who used laser imaging to explore areas of dense deer populations, found they had 68 per cent less foliage up to two metres (6.5 feet) above ground. This is the so-called browsing line which deer can reach to eat the leaves they feed on. But it is also the habitat of forest birds which, along with insects, small mammals and bluebells, are losing their habitats to trampling and over-grazing deer. Dr Markus Eichhorn was one of a team commissioned by Defra following a call to examine the causes of declining woodland birds, like the nightingale (pictured) The forest ecologist said it is a problem which could be solved by forestry management, adding: Anything which has a benefit for one species is likely to come at the cost of another. Of Britains two native species, red and roe deer, only the latter were found in small numbers in British woodland. The bulk of the problem is being created by fallow deer - the smaller white-spotted animals reintroduced to Britain by the Normans in the 11th century. These made up about 85 per cent of the deer found during night counts by the Nottingham team working with others including the British Trust for Ornithology. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, also identified some Muntjac deer, brought in from China in the early 20th century. Too many deer are also a danger to themselves, being involved in up to 74,000 traffic collisions each year. But the idea of a widespread cull is still controversial among environmental groups. Charles Smith-Jones, technical adviser at the British Deer Society, said: Ensuring that deer stay healthy, have appropriate habitat and are well managed is the key to their sustainable future. Alongside education and research, one of our main aims is to train deer stalkers in humane culling and best practice to ensure that deer welfare is at the core of management. Encouraging more people to eat venison helps to support the continuing effort to control numbers - its a delicious and healthy meat, low in fat while high in protein, iron and vitamins. Jerry Balzano pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court Monday to violating his parole after he was captured on dashcam footage last month threatening another driver A New Jersey mobster pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court Monday to violating his parole after he was filmed stopping in the middle of a freeway to confront a driver in a road rage attack. Jerry Balzano, an alleged member of the notorious DeCavalcante crime family that inspired HBO's 'The Sopranos', was captured on dashcam footage last month cursing and threatening the other driver as the victim's terrified wife called 911. Balzano admitted in court Monday to 'intentionally' hitting the driver, the New York Post reports. The mobster, who was out on supervised release for racketeering conspiracy, now faces up to two years in jail for violating his release. Scroll down for video Dashcam footage shows Balzano (pictured) slamming on the brakes, forcing the victims to come to a stop behind him on what appears to be the New York State Route 17 The driver can be heard shouting for his wife to call 911 who makes a frantic call for help Another motorist (left) who had stopped after seeing the confrontation intervened, pulling Balzano (right) aside and walking him back to his car Dashcam footage shows Balzano slamming on the brakes, forcing the victims to come to a stop behind him on what appears to be the New York State Route 17. He is then seen climbing out of his car, and striding up to the driver's side window, out of view of the camera. 'You want to play f***ing games, you little c***sucker?,' Balzano is heard asking aggressively. 'You wanna play f***ing games? I'll kick your f***ing head in you dirty scumbag.' 'You want to cut me off like a tough guy?' he adds. The driver shouts for his wife to call 911 who makes a frantic call for help. 'Someone is hitting my husband!' she says, before a loud thud is heard. 'Oh my gosh!' 'Get out the f***ing car,' Balzano demanded. At that point, another motorist who had stopped after seeing the confrontation intervened, pulling Balzano aside and walking him back to his car. The 54-year-old then got back inside his car and sped off while his victim, whose wife was still on the phone to 911, was heard saying 'I'm not alright, he hit me.' Authorities said Balzano also did not possess a valid license to drive a car. Footage of the incident was played before a judge last month who ordered that Balzano should be detained. The original charges were for a 2011 conviction for racketeering involving contraband cigarettes and the theft of a $15,000 tax refund check. He was among 100 mobsters and mob associates charged that year. This is the second time Balzano has violated his release after serving two years in jail. The first violation was after he admitted having a firearm and ammunition. Balzano's scheduled to return to court May 16. The lender revealed yesterday that chief executive Jes Staley had been issued with a formal reprimand for trying to expose who was behind criticisms of one of his top employees The boss of Barclays could be forced to quit after extraordinary allegations that he tried to use the banks security team to unmask a whistleblower. The lender revealed yesterday that chief executive Jes Staley had been issued with a formal reprimand for trying to expose who was behind criticisms of one of his top employees. Mr Staley was apparently incensed by two anonymous letters, sent to the Barclays board, which attacked senior staff member Tim Main and demanded to know where they had come from. But his quest for a name which even involved US law enforcement agencies breached rules protecting the identity of whistleblowers. Yesterday, Barclays said that Mr Staley had been disciplined and his pay would also be docked possibly by up to 1.3million, or his entire bonus. However, it also emerged last night that two regulators have now opened a joint investigation into his conduct which could lead to much tougher sanctions. Both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority will look into his behaviour. This could ultimately see him fined, stripped of his job or even banned from running a financial institution. MPs yesterday slammed his conduct. John Mann, a Labour member of the Treasury select committee, said: A chief executive trying to uncover a whistleblower is a colossal abuse of power. If these allegations are true, Jes Staley should resign otherwise the board should sack him. Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: If the inquiries find serious wrongdoing by Mr Staley, then he will have to do the honourable thing and go. Gary Greenwood, an analyst at Shore Capital, said: Given Barclays history of regulatory misdemeanours most notably the high-profile investigation into Libor rigging this latest revelation represents a very significant embarrassment for the board. The scandal began after Mr Staley, 60, launched a hiring spree to poach senior bankers from his former employer JP Morgan. Mr Main, 50, joined the bank in June last year as head of its global financial institutions group. He had previously spent 23 years at the Wall Street giant. The chief executive took a keen interest in his appointment, although it is not clear if he was part of the interview process. Within days of his hiring, anonymous letters were delivered to Barclays board. It is believed they raised concerns about the way in which Mr Main was hired. Mr Staley was shown one of the letters and told about the other, and wanted to investigate the source of the documents believing they were a personal attack. Barclays board insisted that was not allowed and instead launched an internal investigation, which dismissed the claims. Mr Staley asked about the case the following month and was told the matter was closed. However he decided to try and find out where the messages were from. The boss demanded help from the banks security team, which is normally focused on preventing attacks from hackers. They began a probe and sought help from a US law enforcement agency, but their efforts ended in failure and the whistleblower was never uncovered. Mr Staleys actions were only uncovered earlier this year when an unconnected complaint was sent to bosses over problems with whistleblowing procedures Mr Staleys actions were only uncovered earlier this year when an unconnected complaint was sent to bosses over problems with whistleblowing procedures. The board appointed law firm Simmons & Simmons to look into the matter and was forced to alert the FCA. The scandal was made public in a stock market statement yesterday after the regulator told Barclays it was launching an investigation. The bank said that Mr Staley would suffer a very significant hit to his pay packet, which was 4.2million last year, as well as receiving a written warning. It is understood this might mean he is stripped of his 1.3million annual bonus for 2016, or else suffer a bonus cut this year. The board claims that Mr Staley wrongly thought he was free to try and identify the letters author after the Barclays investigation was finished. Mr Staley himself addressed the issue in a memo to staff last night. He said: This was a mistake, I apologise. The FCA could fine Mr Staley or ban him from running a financial institution, either for several years or permanently. It is also probing Barclays and is working with the Bank of England. If Mr Staley has to quit, he will be the third chief executive forced to leave Barclays prematurely. His predecessor Antony Jenkins was sacked for taking too long to turn the lender around. Bob Diamond, the boss before that, resigned in disgrace over the Libor rate-rigging scandal. The date is Wednesday, April 12 and in Moscow, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is all business. After days of mounting tension following the first American air strike against President Bashar al-Assads forces in Syria in response to the suspected poison gas attack on the town of Khan Sheikhun, which killed 87 civilians Americas top diplomat has arrived to clear the air. Earlier in the week he met British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his G7 counterparts in Italy to discuss fresh sanctions if Russia persisted in its support of Assads brutal regime. This is Dominic Sandbrook's disturbing account of how the events leading up to Armageddon might play out Tillerson, the former chief executive of ExxonMobil who has famously close Russian contacts, is seen as the ideal man to calm growing antagonism between Moscow and Washington. But even as he is shaking hands with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, events are spiralling towards disaster. Within days, relations between Russia and the U.S. have plunged to their worst depths since the Cuban Missile Crisis 55 years earlier. Then, the world had stood briefly on the brink of Armageddon. At the last moment, the leaders of the two great superpowers stepped back from the edge. But in April 2017, the outcome is chillingly different. In this disturbing account, historian Dominic Sandbrook imagines how, all too easily, events might play out ... SECOND U.S. AIRSTRIKE Emboldened by Russias bellicose rhetoric after the first U.S. air strike in early April, Bashir al-Assad has no intention of scaling down his onslaught against dwindling resistance from the Free Syrian Army and Islamist rebels to claim victory in the six-year civil war. On April 12 there is another chemical attack, this time targeting the rebel-held city of Idlib in north-western Syria, near the Turkish border. Once again, the West is horrified by claims it is Assads forces that have used sarin gas, with scores of women and children among the estimated 1,200 casualties, although independent confirmation is hard to come by. Russian frigates, fighter aircraft and tactical bombers are also being deployed, with the goal of resisting what President Putin calls the unholy alliance of American imperialism and Islamic fascism Footage of victims fighting to breathe dominate the news. Barely 24 hours later, President Trump authorises a second U.S. air strike on Syrian government positions. Some 70 Tomahawk missiles are fired from the USS Porter and USS Cole in the eastern Mediterranean, while two dozen F/A-18 fighter jets, launched from the USS George H.W. Bush, pound what the Pentagon calls the heart of Assads brutal war machine in Damascus. In Washington, Mr Trump praises the beautiful professionalism of the U.S. forces. But in Damascus, where the government claim the strike has killed 20 civilians, President Assad is already on the telephone to his patron Vladimir Putin. RUSSIAN ESCALATION Within two hours, Rex Tillerson is on his way back to America and the Kremlin releases a grim statement reminding the rest of the world that it would respond militarily to any further breach of its red lines. It declares that Mr Trump has unleashed the hounds of war and warns that further U.S. strikes will provoke a crisis of unparalleled severity. The next day, President Putin announces plans to send a further 7,500 Russian troops to Syria under the personal command of Russias top general, Valery Vasilevich Gerasimov. Russian frigates, fighter aircraft and tactical bombers are also being deployed, with the goal of resisting what President Putin calls the unholy alliance of American imperialism and Islamic fascism. And in the meantime, Russias forces already in Syria step up their offensive against the anti-Assad rebels, with Tupolev strategic bombers pounding resistance positions in the northern part of the country. TURKEY MOVES IN Putins decision to escalate the conflict further provokes Turkeys authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose forces shot down a Russian fighter jet in 2015. Even as the world is digesting the Kremlins statement, Erdogan, who has backed anti-Assad rebels, is approving plans to send 50,000 troops to the Syrian border. Two days later, Turkeys top general, Hulusi Akar, orders 25,000 men into Syria through the Jarablus and Azaz border crossings, to secure a so-called safe area and prevent incursions by Kurdish forces. Caution is not President Trumps style, especially now, when hes being egged on by White House hawks on whom he relies for advice Almost immediately there are reports of bloody clashes underway between the Turkish Army and Kurdish, Islamic State and pro-Assad forces. As the ongoing situation in northern Syria degenerates into scenes of anarchic mayhem and Turkeys largest cities are paralysed by protests, a wave of Islamic State terror attacks in Ankara and Istanbul raise the temperature of the conflict still further. THIRD U.S. AIRSTRIKE In many Western capitals, the mood is close to panic. In London, where Theresa May remains publicly supportive of the U.S. actions, there are rumours that she has privately urged Trump to do everything possible to defuse the growing crisis. But caution is not President Trumps style, especially now, when hes being egged on by White House hawks on whom he relies for advice. When the CIA warns him Russian and Syrian government forces are in danger of over-running rebel positions within days, the President authorises a fresh wave of airstrikes from the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the eastern Mediterranean, beginning late on the night of April 20. Most of the Tomahawk missiles target military bases in Damascus but there are, inevitably, civilian casualties. Yet the real disaster, is the death of nine Russian military advisers, killed when a missile hits a building in the government-held city of Homs. Crowds take to the streets in Moscow. PUTIN & TRUMP CLASH Putin addresses the Russian nation, describing the third U.S. airstrike as tantamount to a declaration of war. Earlier in the week Tillerson met British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his G7 counterparts in Italy to discuss fresh sanctions if Russia persisted in its support of Assads brutal regime He asserts he will never give in to Western bullying and never withdraw Russian forces from Syria. Peace hangs by a thread, he tells Russia. And my friend Donald should remember what happened to the last world leader who dared to defy the Russian people. His name was Adolf Hitler. That remark touches a nerve. In the small hours, Trump tweets questioning the Russian presidents virility. Although quickly deleted, the damage is done and Moscow withdraws its ambassador from the U.S. The following day, April 22, Trump address a worldwide audience from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. Blaming Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for their cowardice and appeasement in Syria, he insists that the days of American retreat are over. If Assad does not step down in seven days, U.S. troops will remove him by force. ENTER ISRAEL & IRAN The mood in the Middle East is close to hysteria. In Lebanon, there are riots on the streets of Beirut as Islamist groups clash openly with security forces. On April 24, false rumours that pro-Assad Islamist militant group Hezbollah is planning a coup set off two days of bloody fighting. Amid the chaos, Hezbollah launch raids across the border with Israel. As the situation deteriorates, Israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, orders his army to occupy southern Lebanon and eliminate once and for all the cancer of Islamic terrorist attacks on our people. The Israeli action sends shockwaves through Middle Eastern capitals not least Tehran. Hezbollahs patron, Iran, has begun to airlift equipment and advisers to its ally in Damascus. Amid reports that the Iranian government is planning a full-scale military response in both Lebanon and Syria, Netanyahu orders his air force to launch pre-emptive strikes on Iranian bases in Tehran and Shiraz, as well as two sites suspected to house the remnants of Irans nuclear weapons programme. Iran declares war on Israel. And within hours of that, the U.S. and Turkey both declare war on Iran. FOURTH U.S. STRIKE Rolling news carries horrifying footage of rocket strikes on Tel Aviv and Tehran, interspersed with reports of fighting between Turkish and Russian troops in northern Syria. Perhaps even at this stage, total disaster might be averted by leaders with greater perspective and self-discipline. But Assad, Trump and Putin are all trapped by their own pride and bellicosity. Assad, Trump and Putin are all trapped by their own pride and bellicosity On April 28, Assads forces again use sarin gas in their final push into rebel territory south of Idlib. In response, Trump authorises a fourth airstrike, again launched from the Sixth Fleet but this time aided by six RAF Tornado bombers from the British base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. Casualties include several dozen Syrian civilians and 13 members of the Russian Army who had been advising President Assads forces. RUSSIAS REVENGE As the dust settles after the U.S.-led raid, it seems for just a moment as though the Kremlin has blinked. But three hours later, Putin delivers his devastating reply. Even as the Russian leader is telling his people that aggression will not be tolerated and will be swiftly punished, Tupolev strike bombers are streaking towards the U.S. Sixth Fleet. By the time Putin has finished, clouds of black smoke are rising over the stricken USS Porter. More than 150 crew are killed. President Trump responds predictably. Perhaps no U.S. President could have resisted the march to Armageddon but surely none of his predecessors would have published the countrys declaration of war on Russia on Twitter. So now we find ourselves on the brink of the one thing everyone feared, World War III, contested with weapons that could destroy civilisation for ever. Syrias agony has become the worlds tragedy and it may be humanity itself that pays the ultimate price. Nearly 50,000 foreign students a year are not returning home after completing their courses. Official figures have highlighted the scale of abuse of the system by immigrants desperate to stay in the UK after finishing their education. It will fuel concerns about the extent to which non-EU citizens are able to exploit the rules after enrolling on courses at colleges or universities. Failure to send overseas graduates home adds to the pressure piled on public services. Nearly 50,000 foreign students a year are not returning home after completing their courses (file photo) Meanwhile, it emerged the Office for National Statistics (ONS) might have undercounted the number of overseas students arriving in the country. Statisticians admit they only question those arriving in the country between 6am and 10pm meaning flights landing at night are missed from the International Passenger Survey, which is used to calculate immigration. ONS experts extrapolate the data, so insist there isnt a problem. But the organisation is carrying out a pilot study this year to find out if large numbers of students are being missed. It comes as Cabinet ministers have warned Theresa May that the Government will never meet the Tory pledge to cut net migration to the tens of thousands unless foreign students are removed from the numbers. Of the 126,000 students who arrived last year, some 70 per cent were from outside the EU. ONS figures showed that in the year to December, some 87,000 people from outside Europe received visas to study, but only 41,000 overseas students left a difference of 46,000. In previous years the deficit has been closer to 100,000. Some of those will take legitimate jobs, be given permission to settle with a partner or undertake further studies. But an ONS report last year said: Some of those people who say they come to study do not actually leave the UK at the end of their courses. They [non-EU students] overstay their visa and remain in the UK illegally. Past estimates have suggested around one third equating to around 17,000 students annually remain here unlawfully and work in the black economy. Cabinet ministers have warned Theresa May that the Government will never meet the Tory pledge to cut net migration to the tens of thousands unless foreign students are removed from the number Mrs May is facing a Cabinet revolt over her refusal to countenance the records change, which could slash net migration the difference between those arriving and those leaving by more than a third. The total is currently 273,000. Though it would help meet the Governments target, she believes it would be duping the public by artificially deflating the total number arriving here. Alp Mehmet, of campaign group Migration Watch, said recently: Universities refuse to acknowledge or show any willingness to make sure those who have been to their institutions leave after completing their studies . Tens of thousands just disappear into the black economy. Many universities simply see overseas students as a cash cow and wash their hands of them at the end of their courses. This is unacceptable. Barclays CEO Jes Staley stands to lose his entire $1.6 million bonus from 2016 and maybe more because he tried to unmask the identity of an internal whistleblower at the company. In addition to being formally reprimanded by the Barclays' board, the British bank has said that Staley can expect a 'very significant compensation adjustment.' The American CEO could see his pay docked by at least $1.6 million the amount of his 2016 bonus. Barclays CEO Jes Staley has been reprimanded and stands to lose $1.6 million in bonus money It's possible that Staley, who worked at JP Morgan for more than 30 years, could lose even more money, though, based on the findings of a regulatory probe by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, reports Bloomberg. There's a lot of money potentially up for grabs, as Staley's pay package was previously totaled at more than $5.2 million a year. Staley's remuneration is in jeopardy because he repeatedly attempted to learn the identity of a whistleblower at Barclays, who raised concerns about a senior employee, despite being advised that doing so was 'inappropriate.' In June 2016, Barclays said, two anonymous letters were sent to the Barclays' board. 'Among other issues, the letters raised concerns of a "personal nature,"' about a newly-appointed senior executive, the bank said. Upon being given a copy of the first letter and being told about the second letter, Staley is said to have requested that Barclays Group Information Security team attempt to identify the authors of the letters. Staley claimed that he was trying to stop a colleague from being 'maliciously' smeared by the anonymous letter writer, but 'got too personally involved in this matter' When the security team was unable to identify the letter writer, they apparently asked the US Postal Inspection Service for help, reports Bloomberg. In a statement, Barclays said Staley, 'honestly, but mistakenly, believed it was permissible to identify the author of the letter.' The statement also said that, 'Mr Staley considered that the letters were an unfair personal attack on the senior employee.' After learning that Staley had tried to find out who wrote the letters, Barclays hired the law firm Simmons & Simmons to investigate the matter, however, the author or authors of the two letters were not revealed to Staley. In a memo to staff, obtained by BBC News, Staley wrote: 'The allegations related to personal issues from many years ago, and the intent of the correspondents in airing all of this was, in my view, to maliciously smear this person. 'In my desire to protect our colleague, however, I got too personally involved in this matter. My hope was that if we found out who was sending these letters we could try and get them to stop the harassment of a person who did not deserve that treatment. Barclays said that Staley can expect a 'very significant compensation adjustment' 'Nevertheless, I realise that I should simply have let the compliance function handle this matter, as they were doing. This was a mistake on my part and I apologise for it.' In a statement, Staley said, 'I have apologised to the Barclays Board, and accepted its conclusion that my personal actions in this matter were errors on my part. I will also accept whatever sanction it deems appropriate. 'I will cooperate fully with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulatory Authority, which are now both examining this matter.' He noted that, 'Our whistleblowing process is one of the most important means by which we protect our culture and values at Barclays and I certainly want to ensure that all colleagues, and others who may utilise it, understand the criticality which I attach to it.' The Barclays investigation into Staley's actions found that he acted in violation of the bank's own anonymity policies protecting whistleblowers, reports Reuters. John McFarlane, the chairman of Barclays, said: 'I am personally very disappointed and apologetic that this situation has occurred, particularly as we strive to operate to the highest possible ethical standards.' 'The Board takes Barclays culture and the integrity of its controls extremely seriously. We have investigated this matter fully using an external law firm and we will be commissioning an independent review of Barclays processes and controls to determine what improvements may be required.' The FCA regulator's probe is expected to last several months and could lead to Staley receiving a verbal warning or being declared 'unfit' to run a bank, reports Bloomberg. As part of its investigation, the regulators will also examine Barclays' 'systems and controls' in respect to whistleblowing procedures. Staley's actions are also being reviewed by New York's Department of Financial Services, Reuters reports. Jihadists have launched a wave of suicide attacks on a British SAS training base in Syria in one of the fiercest assaults on coalition forces in the country to date. Islamic State fighters used a car bomb in an attempt to blow their way into the al-Tanf garrison, which has been used by SAS and US special forces to train moderate Syrian rebels. The blast on Sunday morning was followed by a ground attack by up to 30 IS fighters, but they were beaten back with coalition air strikes. Islamic State fighters used a car bomb in an attempt to blow their way into the al-Tanf garrison, which has been used by SAS and US special forces to train moderate Syrian rebels During the fighting the militants also ambushed a convoy of reinforcements from an allied rebel group, Osoud al Sharqiya. Four rebels and eight IS fighters were reportedly killed. Tanf, near the Syria-Iraq-Jordan border, has been a fortified training hub used by US and British forces to train Syrian rebel groups fighting the extremists. American troops were understood to be on the outpost at the time. There was no confirmation British special forces were present, but rebel officials confirmed to the Telegraph that they used Tanf as a mobile base. The Ministry of Defence said it would not comment on special forces operations. Russia bombed the garrison in June 2016, however no injures were reported. American and British troops are understood to be expanding the Tanf base to use it as a major launch pad to oust militants from Abu Kamal, a major supply conduit for IS between its strongholds in Iraq and Syria. In southern Syria, coalition-backed opposition forces have helped counter the IS threat and maintained security along the Syria-Jordan border. In recent weeks, IS militants in the Syrian desert have regrouped further north to reinforce their Raqqa stronghold, after major defeats in Syria and Iraq. The blast on Sunday morning was followed by a ground attack by up to 30 IS fighters, but they were beaten back with coalition air strikes Recent attacks are intended to show IS is still capable of waging operations against the Western-backed rebels who have recently seized a swathe of territory stretching from the town of Bir Qasab, near Damascus, to the borders with Iraq and Jordan, a desert area known as the Badia. One rebel commander said: Their message is we are still present in the area and have not withdrawn and we still target us. Western intelligence sources have worried for months that militants fleeing from their strongholds of Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq could find a safe haven in the region. However, US-backed groups in the area have previously accused their chief backer of offering lukewarm support. An operation by the New Syrian Army to retake the town of Abu Kamal in June last year went badly after jihadists ambushed the fighters, killing several and taking their equipment. The group blamed the Americans for not providing air cover. It later emerged that US jets were withdrawn in the middle of the battle to take part in the battle of the city of Fallujah in Iraq. The grieving mother of the three-year-old who was physically assaulted by her father and left to die said she 'thinks and talks about the good times' to remember her little girl and ease her own pain. Kyhesha-Lee Joughin died from an infected internal injury at a unit in Petrie, Brisbane, in 2013 after her father, Matthew Williamson, punched her so hard in the stomach he perforated her bowel. On Thursday, Williamson was sentenced to nine years jail - a decision that has been slammed by Senator Derryn Hinch as a 'sick joke' as he calls for the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal. 'Nothing will ever change what has happened and a life sentence should be imposed for taking her life but that's just not how it works,' Ms Joughin told Daily Mail Australia. Danielle Joughin said she 'thinks and talks about the good times' she had with her daughter Kyhesha-Lee (both pictured) before her death in 2013 On Thursday, Matthew Williamson (pictured with his daughter, Kyhesha) was sentenced to nine years jail after pleading guilty to manslaughter 'Is any amount of time good enough in situations such as this? 'No matter what happens to him, it's not going to change how he treated her or what she went through or the fact that her life was taken in such a horrific way'. The mother-of-four said she keeps busy with her other children to distract herself from the pain of losing Kyhesha-Lee. 'Most of the time I distract myself with my other kids embracing every second as time is short and you're not promised tomorrow,' she said. 'We think and talk about the good times with Kyhesha to make light of the situation so it's not as difficult'. Just months after Kyhesha-Lee died, Ms Joughin admitted she had 'made mistakes' in regards to the toddler and said she had the opportunity to take her away from her father. 'She loved him too much,' the distraught mother wrote on Facebook. The mother-of-four said she keeps busy with her other children to distract herself from the pain of losing Kyhesha-Lee (both pictured) Just months after Kyhesha-Lee (pictured as a newborn) died, Ms Joughin admitted she had 'made mistakes' in regards to the toddler 'Nothing will ever change what has happened and a life sentence should be imposed for taking her life but that's just not how it works,' Ms Joughin told Daily Mail Australia 'Most of the time I distract myself with my other kids embracing every second as time is short and your not promised tomorrow,' Ms Joughin said After Thursday's decision, Victorian Senator Derryn Hinch posted his shock at the decision to his Justice Party Facebook page. 'We demand the DPP appeals this travesty of ''justice'',' he said. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, the DPP said 'in the matter of Williamson has been reviewed and it is not considered that there are reasonable prospects of success on appeal'. 'It is to be noted that a Serious Violent Offence declaration was made requiring Williamson to serve 80% of the sentence imposed,' it said. Justice Roslyn Atkinson sentenced Williamson, 32, to nine years' jail and declared the crime a serious violent offence, meaning he will need to serve at least 80 per cent of his sentence before he can be eligible for parole. Williamson pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis he failed to seek medical attention for the toddler, but denied causing her fatal injury. Williamson pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis he failed to seek medical attention for the toddler, but denied causing her fatal injury After Thursday's decision, Victorian Senator Derryn Hinch posted his shock at the decision to his Justice Party Facebook page Kyhesha was regularly locked in her bedroom (pictured) by a rope which Williamson would tie to her door and his bed, sometimes for 17 hours a day Williamson didn't want to 'lose custody of her' so never took her to see a doctor - even though she had green vomit, was bleeding in her nappy and was dehydrated and lethargic However, Justice Atkinson rejected that denial and said she was satisfied Williamson delivered a punch to his daughter's abdomen some time on March 28, 2013 that perforated her bowel. He and his flatmate Christopher Kent, who has already been sentenced for the toddler's manslaughter, then spent three days taking drugs and refusing to seek medical treatment for Kyhesha as her condition deteriorated, Justice Atkinson said. He and his flatmate Christopher Kent, who has already been sentenced for the toddler's manslaughter, then spent three days taking drugs and refusing to seek medical treatment for Kyhesha as her condition deteriorated, Justice Atkinson said. She was regularly locked in her bedroom by a rope which Williamson would tie to her door and his bed, sometimes for 17 hours a day. Outside court, Ms Joughin (pictured with her father Doug) said the family were heartbroken Williamson (right) and his flatmate Christopher Kent (left), who has already been sentenced for the toddler's manslaughter, then spent three days taking drugs and refusing to seek medical treatment for Kyhesha Ms Joughin created a collage of pictures of her daughter (pictured) during the trial 'No matter what happens to him, it's not going to change how he treated her or what she went through or the fact that her life was taken in such a horrific way,' Ms Joughin said The lone survivor of a murder-suicide in the Houston area last week has died of wounds suffered from the incident. Police say Laverne Holmes, 64, was among those wounded Friday when her 29-year-old daughter, Dekitta Holmes, went on a shooting rampage, killing her sister, stepfather and another man before taking her own life. Officers found the bodies of the stepfather, 65-year-old Robert Lee Wesley, and Dekitta Holmes at a Houston home. Laverne Holmes (left), 64, was among those wounded Friday when her 29-year-old daughter, Dekitta Holmes (right), went on a shooting rampage Houston police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said Laverne Holmes was also found critically wounded and was taken to a Houston hospital. She died Monday. After responding to the shootings in Houston, police asked Fort Bend County sheriff's deputies to check on a home in Fresno, about 16 miles southwest of Houston. Silva said deputies found the body of the shooter's sister, 48-year-old Carolyn Holmes. The killing spree spanned three locations in the Houston area on Friday. Authorities identified the shooter as Dekitta Holmes, a mother of three children with an education in criminal justice and no history of violence. Police believe Dekitta first killed her sister Carolyn, a mother-of-two, at her home on the 4800 block of Richmond Knolls in Fresno, Texas. Dekitta Holmes is believed to have killed her sister Carolyn Holmes (left) and her stepfather Robert Lee Wesley (right) She then allegedly drove to her own home on La Salette Street and Mount Pleasant Street in southeast Houston, and shot 42-year-old Jocheralline Murphy. Just a few houses down, police believe she then went inside her mother Laverne Holmes' home, shooting her and then killing her stepfather, 65-year-old Robert Lee Wesley. Houston police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said officers were responding to a welfare check at Laverne's home when they found the bodies of the stepfather and alleged shooter around 7:10am. As detectives were investigating the scene, they were informed of the shooting at Dekitta's nearby home, and found Murphy's body. Dekitta may have been living with him at the time, Click 2 Houston reported. After responding to the shootings in Houston, police asked Fort Bend County sheriff's deputies to check Carolyn's home in Fresco, about 16 miles southwest of Houston. Upon entering through a back door, they found her body inside. Before turning the gun on herself, Dekitta called her niece, Carolyn's daughter. She asked the girl to gather her own children and make sure they weren't separated. Dekitta Holmes' friend Delia Ledet said: 'She told her that she harmed four people. And that she wanted her children to stay together, please get them and make sure they stay together.' Three people alone died on this street, where the murders come as a shock to the generally quiet neighborhood, where stepfather Robert worked at a nearby convenience store She continued: 'I've never known her to be an aggressive person. She's not a violent person. You know, so for this to happen, literally, is like jaw-dropping for us.' The murders come as a shock to the generally quiet neighborhood, where stepfather Robert worked at a nearby convenience store. Robert's son said that his father was a staple in the community, and that he believes that an issue regarding Dekitta's children may have led to her alleged breakdown. 'Something about her kids,' he told ABC 13. 'She got tired of people telling her about her kids so she lost it.' Laverne earlier suffered a stroke and couldn't talk, and Carolyn was disabled from a car accident, according to the Houston Chronicle. A family friend told the paper that Dekitta dealt with divorce, drug use and being unemployed ahead of the murder-suicide. The friend said that Dikitta grew 'really unstable' weeks before the shooting rampage. The friend said: 'She lost everything. And in losing everything, she lost herself, too.' United CEO Oscar Munoz has doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent'. The airline is facing a furious backlash after footage emerged of a the 69-year-old, bleeding heavily after he dragged off an overbooked flight to Louisville on Sunday night. Amidst the anger, Munoz issued a public apology saying he 'apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers.' But in a private email to employees, the CEO defended the crew's actions, calling the passenger 'disruptive and belligerent' and praising his staff for going 'above and beyond'. Social media erupted immediately, labeling Munoz and United 'tone deaf' and 'condescending'. Beaten and bloodied: The unnamed passenger is pictured bleeding from the mouth after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare United CEO Oscar Munoz has doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent' Munoz said that while he was 'upset' to hear about the man being violently dragged off the flight, that airline crew had simply been following 'established procedures.' The CEO described how flight crews had offered up to $1,000 in compensation for anyone willing to catch the next flight before approaching the passenger to 'explain apologetically' that he was being denied boarding. He had then 'raised his voice and refused to comply' with the crew's requests to leave the aircraft, and became increasingly 'disruptive and belligerent,' he said. Apology: United CEO has apologized amid mounting outrage at the video Screaming: The man who had refused to to give up his seat on the overbooked United flight from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday night was dragged off the plane by three cops 'Our agents were left with no choice, but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight, he repeatedly decline to leave.' Munoz added that the passenger refused to comply with the officers who then 'physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both out crew and security officials.' 'While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right,' he said. The CEO did, however, concede that there were 'lessons we can learn' from the experience and that United will continue to look into the incident. He also had a final reminder that treating customers with 'respect and dignity' should be matter of course, 'no matter how challenging the situation.' The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police. The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police Others said that 'lousy protocol' was never an excuse for a 69-year-old man beating left bloodied by security. 'Beating and bloodying a 69 year-old doctor is "protocol" @United ?' one Twitter user asked. Another said that Munoz was 'trying to shift blame to police/aviation security (not United employees). The public doesn't make a distinction.' Nicholas Kristof added: 'In any big company, staff will sometimes do stupid things. At United, the CEO then endorses the stupidity and claims it as company policy!' Others pointed out that the customer had also appeared to have followed 'protocol' right up until he was dragged off the plane. '#United Pay for your ticket, sit down, get attacked, bloodied and humiliated. And the CEO is now saying the person deserved it. #SHAME,' one Twitter user wrote. 'No accountability for lousy protocol,' another added. 'It will be a cold day in Hades before I allow these lackwits to fly me anywhere.#BoycottUnitedAirlines.' An airport cop who allegedly body-slammed the passenger was put on leave today - as his bosses condemned his actions amid mounting outrage over video of the incident. The Chicago Department of Aviation said it 'obviously' did not condone the behavior of the security officer who was filmed slamming the man into an arm rest, knocking him unconscious and dragging him away by his arms as he bled from the mouth at O'Hare. Distressing: Children were crying in distress as the three officers manhandled the man out of his seat. Passengers had been offered $800 to take a flight the next day but none volunteered Another clip shows the dazed man chants 'just kill me, just kill me' as blood pours from his mouth. In his public apology, Munoz said today: 'This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. HOW DOES UNITED DECIDE WHO GETS BUMPED FROM OVERBOOKED FLIGHTS? United's contract of carriage states that passengers to be forcibly taken off a flight in the event of overbooking will be 'determined based on a passengers fare class, itinerary, status of frequent flyer program membership, and the time in which the passenger presents him/herself for check-in without advanced seat assignment.' That means that if you have a certain type of fare class, checked in early, have a flier status such as gold, or even just own a barely used frequent flier card, you are less likely to be bumped. But passengers taking advantage of budget seats appear to be of less value to the airline. Advertisement 'Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation.' The aviation department released a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times, which read: 'The incident on United flight 3411 was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the Department. 'That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation.' The still unidentified victim - who claimed to be a doctor and said he needed to see patients the next morning - was one of four passengers selected by United to leave the 5.40pm flight from O'Hare to Louisville, Kentucky. One passenger also told the Washington Post the man claimed as he was being dragged off the plane he was chosen because he was Chinese. Unhinged: The man claimed to be a doctor and screamed wildly and he was manhandled by the cops 'He said, more or less, 'I'm being selected because Im Chinese",' the passenger told the Post. The same passenger went on to tell the newspaper a United official walked onto the plane during the incident and said the plane would not be taking off until four passengers disembarked so the employees could fit on. He said the official announced: 'We have United employees that need to fly to Louisville tonight. This flights not leaving until four people get off.' 'That rubbed some people the wrong way,' Tyler Bridges said, recounting the comment. A woman is suing Mead Johnson, maker of popular Enfamil, for repeatedly finding bugs in her baby formula, which she says caused the hospitalization of her severely sick child. Paulina Rodriguez of Brooklyn filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on March 7. The complaint seeks class action status, reported CBS News. Rodriguez says that within six weeks she found bugs in four different containers of Enfamil. One of those times, she says her 10-month-old baby was hospitalized with a bacterial infection caused by Chronobacter, caused by germs that can 'live in dry foods, such as powdered infant formula, powdered milk, herbal teas, and starches,' says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In her lawsuit, Brooklyn mom Paulina Rodriguez says she found bugs in this container of infant formula (above) She took pictures of the first bug she says she found in the formula, on Thanksgiving 2016 The mother said the first bug - a 'red insect' - was found in an Enfamil container opened on Thanksgiving Day 2016, and the incident was caught on video, according to the complaint. She reported the incident to Mead Johnson, which sent her two free cans and coupons. She was also instructed to send the can back to the company for testing, which she said she did. Because she had been using the formula for months with no issues, she thought the bug was a fluke and continued to buy the brand. But less than a month later, she realized formula she was feeding her baby housed yet another insect. This is when her daughter had to be hospitalized. According to the complaint, the baby near died and 'fungus appeared on her behind and white sores appeared on her mouth.' The lawsuit contained an online complaint about Enfamil that was posted in 2015 by another mom; additional online complaints were in the suit After her daughter recovered, Rodriguez found a 'flat and dried' bug inside another can of Enfamil, according to her complaint. Now suspecting there was a pattern, she opened another can and found another one, she alleges. She said she contacted the company and urged it to investigate. She also said she asked the results of the formula she had previously sent in, but was told that department had been closed. The suit says the formula was purchased in the same Indiana plant where an employee, Linda ORisky, alleges she was fired after trying to hold back shipments of Gentlease, which is designed for gassy or fussy babies, after insects were found in samples of the formula. In O'Risky's own lawsuit, she said an executive fought her efforts, saying that bugs weren't a food safety issue. She was later fired. In 2011, Supervalu Inc., Walgreen Co., Kroger Co. and Safeway pulled Enfamil from their shelves after a baby died after allegedly consuming the formula before developing the rare Chronobacter infection, according to ABC News. The complaint uses screenshots of other customers complaining about finding bugs in Enfamil. Donald Trump has warned that 'North Korea is looking for trouble', insisting that if China 'does not decide to help', the US 'will solve the problem without them'. The US President wrote the extraordinary message on Twitter after revealing he had urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to pressure Pyongyang in to stopping its nuclear programme. His warning came as Russia admitted it is 'extremely worried' the US will attack Kim Jong-Un after North Korea warned it has US bases 'in its nuclear sights'. Pyongyang had earlier threatened 'catastrophic consequences' after Trump sent an armada of warships to the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, China has moved 150,000 troops to its border to deal with a possible influx of North Korean refugees amid fears Trump may strike Kim Jong-un following the surprise US missile attack on Syria last week. G7 nations today insisted President Bashar al-Assad must step down as part of any peace solution in war-torn Syria and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared it was clear that the 'reign of the Assad family is coming to an end'. Scroll down for video Donald Trump has warned that 'North Korea is looking for trouble', insisting that if China 'does not decide to help', the US 'will solve the problem without them' The US President wrote the message on Twitter after revealing he had urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to pressure its neighbour and close ally in to stopping its nuclear programme Russia admitted it is 'extremely worried' the US will attack Kim Jong-Un (pictured at a Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang today) after North Korea warned it has US bases 'in its nuclear sights' Pyongyang had earlier threatened 'catastrophic consequences' after Trump sent an armada of warships to the Korean Peninsula. North Korean officials are pictured applauding Kim Jong-Un as he presided over his parliament today War games: Pyongyang condemned Washington's order to dispatch the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to the region for US-South Korea military exercises. A row of F18 fighter jets are pictured on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson The Chinese army has deployed 150,000 troops to the Yalu River Bridge at the North Korean border in anticipation of a wave of refugees from North Korea if war breaks out. Meanwhile, the US Navy has moved the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group from Singapore to the North Korean peninsula The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, the guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer and the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain are pictured in March this year. North Korea has warned it is 'ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.' Last week, North Korea waded into the row over Syria by branding Trump's missile strike on an airbase in the war-torn country as 'an unforgivable act of aggression'. The US took action after 87 Syrian civilians were killed in a horrific chemical attack that Washington blamed on Assad's forces. Russia - which has backed the Syrian dictator's military - as well as Iran and its allies then said the US had crossed a 'red line' and warned they 'will respond to any aggression' in the future. This morning, North Korea warned of a nuclear attack on the US at any sign of pre-emptive action. Pyongyang's state newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression. 'Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland,' the Rodong Sinmun newspaper said. But South Korean officials today moved to quell fears on social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war. 'We'd like to ask precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula,' Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Escalating tensions over both the threat posed by North Korea and the crisis in Syria have sparked fresh fears the world is heading towards a new global war. Russian President Vladimir Putin today said he had information of future chemical weapons 'provocations' in Syria that would be used to frame Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad. Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured today) said he had information of future chemical weapons 'provocations' in Syria that would be used to frame Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad Last week, North Korea waded into the row over Syria by branding Trump's missile strike on an airbase in the war-torn country as 'an unforgivable act of aggression'. Syrian dictator Basha al-Assad is pictured G7 nations insisted Bashar al-Assad must step down as part of any peace solution in war-torn Syria and as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared it was clear that the 'reign of the Assad family is coming to an end'. G7 officials are pictured as they gathered in Italy today Standing alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella who was in Moscow for talks, Putin said: 'We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using (chemical weapons).' He did not offer any proof for that assertion. Putin also said he will appeal to the United Nations to investigate last week's chemical attack in Syria, which claimed 87 lives and prompted Trump's surprise cruise missile attack. 'It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq,' Putin told reporters on Tuesday. 'We have seen it all already.' Russia's foreign ministry says it hopes for 'productive talks' with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, as he heads to Moscow in his first visit as the top US diplomat. At the end of the week three-way talks are then planned in Moscow between the foreign ministers of allies Russia, Syria and Iran. The Pentagon revealed on Saturday night that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group had been dispatched to the region for US-South Korea war games. Last night, a spokesman for North Korea's foreign ministry said: 'This goes to prove that the U.S. reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase,' said a spokesman for the secretive nation's foreign ministry. US Marine Corps are pictured during a joint defence exercise against a possible attack from North Korea, in Pohang, South Korea, on Tuesday South Korean marine soldiers stand guard during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea, on Tuesday The joint defence excercises between US and South Korean Marine teams began on Tuesday, in Pohang, 360 km southeast of Seoul 'The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S,' he added. 'We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions,' the North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said, adding that Pyongyang would respond to 'provocateurs' with a 'powerful force of arms'. 'We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms,' the foreign ministry spokesman said, according to KCNA. The statement from Pyongyang comes as tensions on the divided peninsula are already high because of U.S.-South Korea wargames now underway and recent ballistic missile tests by the North. Pyongyang sees the annual manoeuvres as a dress rehearsal for invasion, while the North's long-range missile launches are a violation of U.N. resolutions. Aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and its wing of fighter jets were scheduled to make port visits in Australia but were diverted to waters off North Korea after the country conducted more missile testing, the Pentagon revealed on Saturday night. A US marine is pictured in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korean and US military Combined Forces Command is holding the Combined Joint Logisics Over-the-Shore US Marine Corps participate during a joint defence exercise against a possible attack from North Korea, in Pohang, on Tuesday Trump said today that he tried to persuade China's leader Xi Jinping to pressure North Korea to stop its nuclear programme in exchange for a good trade deal with the US. Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday: 'I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!' In a second tweet he wrote: 'North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.' The president made clear his hope that China will pressure its neighbour and close ally to stop its nuclear programme. He has also repeatedly attacked China for exporting more goods to the US than it imports. The Chinese army has reportedly deployed 150,000 troops to the North Korean border to prepare for pre-emptive attacks after the United States dropped airstrikes on Syria. President Donald Trump's missile strike on Syria on Friday was widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea. And now China, left shocked by the air strikes, has deployed medical and backup units from the People's Liberation Army forces to the Yalu River, Korea's Chosun.com reported. The troops have been dispatched to handle North Korean refugees and 'unforeseen circumstances', such as the prospect of preemptive attacks on North Korea, the news agency said. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of 'greater provocations' by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States. 'It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly,' said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. Mr Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Pyongyang's key ally to do more to curb the North's nuclear ambitions Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting 'big powers' for their 'expansionist' policy. 'The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination,' Russian news agency Tass quote the message as saying. North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States. Delegates from around the North have been arriving in Pyongyang ahead of the assembly session. They visited statues of previous leaders Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il, state media reported. Tensions continue to escalate over both the threat posed by North Korea and the crisis in Syria amid fresh fears the world is heading towards a new global war WHO SUPPORTS WHO IN THE BATTLE FOR SYRIA? PRO ASSAD Russia - Gives military support, condemns the US airstrikes and suspends deal not to clash mid-air Iran - Close strategic allies with Syria and has provided significant support including $8.69billion North Korea - UN probe found that North Korea was supplying arms to Syria Iraq - The Iraqi Government provided financial support and transported supplies Algeria - Rumours suggest Algerian military aircraft is regularly landing in Syria Venezuela - The South American country has shipped tens of millions of dollars worth of diesel to Syria Lebanon - Police arrested family after they protested about the Syrian Government Belarus - President Alexander Lukashenko supported Moscow's involvement and offered air strike Lebanese Hezbollah Party - Involvement has been substantial and has deployed troops since 2012 ANTI ASSAD US - President Donald Trump launched first airstrikes since six-year civil war started UK - Supports US cruise airstrikes as Theresa May said chemical attack was 'despicable' France/Germany - Both of the countries today said Assad bears 'sole responsibility' for US strike Turkey - Opposed to Assad but objects to Syrian rebels and wants control of Kurdish area Canada - Canada gave more than $4.97million to the Syrian opposition in 2013 Saudi Arabia - The Middle East country is the main group to finance the rebels and has provided a large amount of weapons Israel - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the first to praise the US's retaliatory attack, saying he 'fully supports' Donald Trump's decision to launch the cruise missile attacks Qatar- It was reported Qatar gave the Syrian rebels $2.98 billion at the start of the civil war in 2011 Advertisement China's top nuclear envoy arrived in Seoul on Monday for talks on the North Korean threat, as the United States sent the naval strike group to the region and signalled it may act to shut down Pyongyang's weapons program. Speculation of an imminent nuclear test is brewing as the North marks major anniversaries including the 105th birthday of its founding leader on Saturday - sometimes celebrated with a demonstration of military might. Wu Dawei, China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, met with his South Korean counterpart on Monday to discuss the nuclear issue. The talks come shortly after Mr Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Pyongyang's key ally to do more to curb the North's nuclear ambitions. '(We) are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to coordinate with us,' US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the summit. He added however that Beijing had indicated a willingness to act on the issue. 'We need to allow them time to take actions,' Tillerson said, adding that Washington had no intention of attempting to remove the regime of Kim Jong-Un. The meeting between Xi and Trump came on the heels of yet another missile test by the North, which fired a medium-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday. Pyongyang is on a quest to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead, and has so far staged five nuclear tests, two of them last year. '(We) are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to coordinate with us,' US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the summit (Mr Trump pictured with Xi Jinping) Mr Trump is pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida on Friday Satellite imagery analysis suggests it could be preparing for a sixth, with US intelligence officials warning that Pyongyang could be less than two years away from its goal of striking the continental United States. China, the US, South Korea and Japan all have dedicated envoys who meet at regular intervals to discuss the North Korean issue: a legacy of the long-stalled six-party process that also involved Pyongyang and Moscow. The North quit the negotiations in 2009. The isolated North is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology, but repeated rounds of sanctions have failed to arrest its nuclear ambitions. President Donald Trump's national security adviser General HR McMaster on Sunday said North Korea was engaging in 'provocative behaviour'. 'This is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear-capable regime. The president has asked to be prepared to give him a full range of options to remove that threat to the American people and to our allies and partners in the region,' he told FOX News Sunday. China has deployed medical and backup units from the People's Liberation Army (pictured above) forces to the Yalu River following President Donald Trump's missile strikes on Syria last week Trump has previously threatened unilateral action against the reclusive state, a threat that appeared more palpable after Thursday's strike on a Syrian airfield following an apparent chemical attack. Meanwhile, the United States has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week, a senior U.S. official said Monday. The official said a drone operated by Russians was flying over a hospital as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons. The official said the presence of the surveillance drone over the hospital couldn't have been a coincidence, and that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming and that victims were seeking treatment. The driver of a bus for special-needs students has been accused of sexually assaulting a female teenage passenger. The 51-year-old man allegedly assaulted the teenage girl in Sydney's south-west earlier this year while she was alone on the bus, police allege. After receiving reports about the alleged incident, detectives with the State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad searched the driver's home in Bass Hill around 6.45pm on Monday, police said. The driver of a bus for special-needs students has been accused of sexually assaulting a female teenage passenger earlier this year in Sydney's south-west (stock image) The detectives seized a bus to be forensically examined and arrested the driver before taking him to Bankstown Police Station. The 51-year-old man was charged with aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of aggravated indecent assault [victim under 16 and under authority]. He appeared in the Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday and was refused bail. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has urged Australians to avoid Cadbury's halal-certified Easter eggs and chocolate. In a video update about her progress with the Senate inquiry into third party food certification, Ms Hanson tells shoppers to boycott the Cabury eggs and encourages them to buy from Swiss chocolate manufacturer Lindt or Darrell Lea instead. 'We see these products that are halal certified - Cadbury chocolate for instance, halal certified,' she said. Controversial One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has urged Australians to avoid Cadbury's halal-certified Easter eggs and chocolate Holding up a golden Lindt chocolate rabbit she continues. 'If you want to get a product that is not halal certified I'd suggest Lindt, that's not halal certified.' 'Another good one is Darrell Lea, again, an Australian company, not halal certified.' Examples of the Australian brand were displayed on a nearby fence post. 'If you want to actually support these companies, do it,' she said. 'Go and buy some non-halal Easter eggs and chocolate and have a happy Easter everyone, and a very safe one.' A halal-certified food product means that it has been inspected and follows certain Islamic teachings. 'We see these products that are halal certified - Cadbury chocolate for instance, halal certified,' Ms Hanson said (stock image) Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says there is no evidence the Assad government is responsible for killing 87 civilians in a deadly chemical attack in Syria last week. Mr Wilkie, a former military intelligence analyst, said he was 'skeptical' about who was responsible for the April 4 attack. 'I'm actually skeptical about some of these claims,' he told ABC radio on Tuesday. Mr Wilkie, a former intelligence analyst, spoke out on Tuesday against Australia taking sides in the international push against the Syrian Assad regime Mr Wilkie also spoke out against Australia taking sides, as western leaders considered taking action following the chemical attack. 'We shouldn't be taking sides in this current mess,' he said. 'We need to be careful who we back too. About half of the anti-Assad groups are either jihadist or clearly Islamic State or associated with Islamic State. 'It's an absolute quagmire, we shouldn't have gone in the first place and we shouldn't be there now.' Mr Wilkie says there's no evidence Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (pictured) or his government are behind the chemical attack Tim Anderson claims Donald Trump is the 'mastermind of terrorism' and says Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has been set up. Anderson (right) and Assad (left) are pictured during academic delegation in 2013 Mr Wilkie's call comes after a senior lecturer at Sydney University claimed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was falsely accused of the war crime. Tim Anderson instead claimed Donald Trump was the 'mastermind of terrorism in the Middle East'. Mr Anderson, who was convicted and later acquitted for the bombing of Sydney's Hilton Hotel in 1978, made the controversial claims in a series of tweets last week. A senior politics lecturer on $130,000-a-year, Mr Anderson claimed Trump's decision to launch missile strikes on Syria was 'to prove he was better than [Barack] Obama'. He went on to claim Obama 'financed and armed all the terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq' before asserting George Bush was the undisputed 'Godfather of terrorism'. Anderson made the controversial claims in a series of tweets last week The contentious tweets were in response to a horrific sarin gas attack on a farming village near Homs last Tuesday which killed 87 Syrian civilians, including children. Assad's regime maintains it did not drop chemical weapons on the region and says it bombed Jihadi weapons stores which released the deadly nerve agent. But experts have rubbished that theory, saying sarin gas would be destroyed by an explosion rather than dispersed. Pictured: The horrific result of a sarin gas attack on a farming village near Homs last Tuesday which killed 87 Syrian civilians, including children Pictured: The horrific result of a sarin gas attack on a farming village near Homs last Tuesday which killed 87 Syrian civilians, including children Meanwhile, General Mohammed Hasouri, a squadron commander in Assad's army, was pictured being congratulated for the devastating raid on Twitter. Despite evidence seemingly pointing towards Assad's intentional involvement in the recent chemical attack, Mr Anderson claimed it could not be further from the truth. 'There is no credible evidence that the Syrian Army has ever used chemical weapons in the last six years,' he tweeted, linking to an article quoting Syria's Foreign Affairs Minister. 'On the other hand, there is independent evidence of multiple [chemical weapons] use by the NATO-Saudi backed al-Qaeda groups.' Anderson (pictured at a Cuban Embassy memorial for the life of Fidel Castro) was famously convicted and then acquitted in 1991 for the bombing of Sydney's Hilton Hotel in 1978 The Sydney University academic said that Obama 'financed and armed all the terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq' Anderson is pictured with Australian-Syrian woman Reme Sakr, who sued ABC for defamation after they described a story detailing her visiting her father in Syria as 'powerful PR for a brutal regime led by a man the UN has branded a war criminal' Malcolm Turnbull lashed out at Assad on Saturday, saying he had committed 'enormous' crimes against his own people after the chemical weapons attack. Assad's actions show he is unable to be part of a peaceful solution to the six-year civil war, Mr Turnbull said while speaking to reporters in Papua New Guinea. Anderson claimed there was 'no credible evidence' linking the Syrian Army to any chemical attacks in the last six years 'The crimes he has committed against his own people are so enormous. 'His actions, his horrendous, criminal actions - gassing women and children, babies - that surely disqualifies him from a continuing role.' A spokeswoman for Sydney University told The Daily Telegraph the university was 'committed to the expression and protection of free speech'. 'The university does not endorse the statements expressed by Dr Anderson,' the spokeswoman told the publication. '[However] academic staff are free to contribute to public comment in their area of expertise under terms outlined in the university's public comment policy.' Anderson has published a book titled 'The Dirty War on Syria' which expands further on theories surrounding the six-year civil conflict. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Anderson and Sydney University for comment. Ledelle Lee is set to be killed in nine days, and has been imprisoned for more than two decades for a murder he claims he didn't commit. He called the state's rapid fire plan for his execution 'barbaric' A death row inmate scheduled to be executed in what is being called an 'assembly line' of lethal injections by the state of Arkansas has spoken out about the controversial circumstance. The state is set to conduct back-to-back 'double executions,' putting to death seven inmates over a ten-day period due to the impending expiration of one of the lethal injection drugs. Ledelle Lee is set to be killed in nine days, and has been imprisoned for more than two decades for a murder he claims he didn't commit. He called the state's rapid fire plan for his execution 'barbaric'. 'They want to kill as many of us off as possible because they don't want to waste the drug. The authorities don't care about the protocol. They don't care about the procedure,' he told the Daily Mirror. Arkansas is racing to put eight men to death next month over a 10-day period, seen here from left are are inmates Don William Davis, Bruce Earl Ward, right of left who are set for execution on April 17. Continuing from left are Jack Harold Jones Jr.and Marcel Williams, , who are scheduled for execution on April 24, 2017 Kenneth Williams, left, is scheduled for execution on April 27, 2017 and Stacey E. Johnson is scheduled on a 'double execution' with Ledelle Lee on April 20 From April 17 to April 27, the two-a-day lethal injections will put to death 51-year-old Lee, Don Davis, 54, Bruce Ward, 70, Stacey Johnson, 48, Jack Jones, 52, Marcel Williams, 46, and Kenneth Williams, 35. Jason McGehee, 40, was originally set to be executed with the group, but was granted a stay of execution last week when his parole board successfully argued that he should have his sentenced reverted to life in prison. The controversial move by the state's Department of Corrections has been called a 'spectacular legal train wreck' by best-selling author John Grisham. 'An execution is the most serious act a government can undertake,' he said, according to the Huffington Post. 'Why assume so many risks in the name of expediency? Even if Arkansas pulls it off, justice will lose.' The need to expedite so many deaths is due to the expiration of one lethal injection ingredient, Midazolam. The drug has caused problems before - in Oklahoma, an inmate writhed and moaned on a gurney for 43 minutes after his injection, and in Arizona, where the fatal dose took nearly two hours to work The need to expedite so many deaths is due to the expiration of one lethal injection ingredient, Midazolam. The drug has caused problems before - in Oklahoma, an inmate writhed and moaned on a gurney for 43 minutes after his injection, and in Arizona, where the fatal dose took nearly two hours to work. The problems with the drug are what has motivated companies to stop producing it, prompting its permanent expiration. In order for Arkansas to not 'waste' their supply, they'll need to use it all before the end of April. Lawyers representing the men have attempted to appeal to a federal judge to halt the process of the speedy executions. Lee continued: 'They don't care about the drug that they've had so much problem with. One attorney said we need to kill all of them, and it doesn't matter if they suffer or not.' Lee's death sentence came after he was convicted of the murder of a 26-year-old woman Debra Reese, by beating her 32 times with a small bat then strangling her. He has maintained his innocence, and blames his defense attorney for his conviction who he says was corrupt and failed to call key witnesses. Having no further hope for an appeal or presidential pardon, Lee has since turned to God. He said: 'Just like everyone, I want to live a long and prosperous life. They say it is against the law to kill, they lock you up and put you on death row for allegedly killing and then they do the very thing they are going to kill you for doing.' 'It is the reality that I have been faced with for the past 22 plus years as an inmate on Arkansas' Death Row, slated to be murdered for crimes I had absolutely nothing to do with and it pains me deeply to be living in a reality that is evil to its core. The executions will be conducted at the Cummins Unit, seen here, where 27 inmates have been put to death since capital punishment was reinstated 'Anyone that's willing to help save my life from being taken from on April 20th, 2017, there are a mountain of evidence that proves I am in fact innocent.' His execution is planned to take place around 9pm on April 20. Arkansas has not executed an inmate since 2005 because of drug shortages and legal challenges. After the inmate is strapped on a gurney, the designated medical technician will administer intravenous doses of midazolam, the powerful sedative, followed by vecuronium bromide, a paralytic, and then potassium chloride to stop the heart. The midazolam expires at the end of April. If it fails to work properly, experts say, the inmate can remain conscious during the execution. A bizarre incident took place on Sunday when a US military plane came disconcertingly close to Air Force One just before its landing. The aircraft carrying President Trump landed without incident six minutes after a C-17 Globemaster curiously flew by it as the plane readied to descend into its home base at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The C-17 was spotted coming from the north and then abruptly veered to the right of Air Force One. A bizarre incident took place on Sunday when a US military plane came disconcertingly close to Air Force One just before its landing Reporters and photographers aboard were baffled by the C-17, but no indication of concern or the need for emergency action was taken by flight staff, VOA reported. One passenger included a television technician who has been a frequent flyer on Air Force One since President Jimmy Carter was in office commented that he'd never seen another aircraft in such close proximity to the official White House plane. 'I would say beyond all doubt that this is a strange occurrence,' said a retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel who specializes in geospatial intelligence. Most aircraft abide by separation measurements of 300 meters of vertical space or 4.8 kilometers of horizontal space. The aircraft carrying President Trump landed without incident six minutes after a C-17 Globemaster curiously flew by it as the plane readied to descend into its home base at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland The C-17 was spotted coming from the north and then abruptly veered to the right of Air Force One - a stock photo of the aircraft is pictured here Air Force One is granted more substantial space between passing aircraft. No explanation has yet been given as to why the C-17 was granted permission to pass so closely to the president. Trump was returning from his exclusive resort Mar-a-Lago where he has spent the last four days with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Over the weekend he ordered a controversial missile launch at an air base in Syria in retribution for a devastating chemical attack. Eric Trump has insisted that there is 'no-one harder' than his father as he says Donald Trump will not be 'pushed around' by Vladimir Putin (together in 2009) Eric Trump has insisted that there is 'no-one harder' than his father as he says Donald Trump will not be 'pushed around' by Vladimir Putin. The president's son described the Donald as 'a great thinker, practical not impulsive' while discussing the decision to launch air strikes against a Syrian airbase following the nerve gas attack which killed 87 people. Eric said his father was 'not a guy who gets intimidated' as he revealed Trump's decision to bomb a Syrian airbase was influenced by the reaction of his sister Ivanka, who had been 'heartbroken and outraged' by President Bashar al-Assad's gas attack. The 33-year-old said he was 'proud' of the actions by his father who launched almost 60 tomahawk missiles against al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs in Syria on April 6. He told the Daily Telegraph: 'I'm proud he took that action and believe me he thinks things through. 'He is not a guy who gets intimidated. I can tell you he is tough and he won't be pushed around. The cards will shake out the way they do but he's tough. 'If there was anything that Syria did, it was to validate the fact that there is no Russia tie.' The president's son said his father was not intimidated by the Russian president's threats of war (soldiers line up in Kiev in a protest against Russian banks) The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea Eric, whose wife is pregnant with their first child, denounced those behind the atack as 'savages' saying he was 'glad' his father bombed the country, Donald Trump, who was previously strongly opposed to a US intervention in Syria, said the US had to act after the Syrian dictator launched the 'horrible chemical weapons attack' on innocent civilians. 'Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack,' he said. 'It was a slow and brutal death for so many.' Eric said his father was 'deeply affected' by the nerve gas attack, adding that his sister Ivanka had also been appalled by the atrocity. 'Ivanka is a mother of three kids and she has influence,' he said. 'I'm sure she said "listen, this is horrible stuff." My father will act in times like that.' Pentagon officials said that the airfield was being used to store chemical weapons and was a base for Syrian air forces - including the aircraft that conducted the chemical weapons attack. Syria's state agency SANA claimed that the missiles killed nine civilians, including four children. There were reports nine Syrian jets were destroyed. The Pentagon has released dramatic footage of its missiles being launched from USS Ross, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, targeting the Syrian base. Eric revealed Trump's decision to bomb a Syrian airbase was influenced by the reaction of his sister Ivanka, who had been 'heartbroken and outraged' by President Bashar al-Assad's gas attack Eric (left, last month) added that his father (pictired on April 10) was 'not a guy who gets intimidated' However, Assad's ally Russia were infuriated by the move. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the strike as an 'act of aggression against a UN member' and suspended a deal to avoid mid-air clashes with American fighter jets over the war-torn country. The Kremlin's propaganda machine clicked into hear claiming the strikes had 'extremely low' military effectiveness and that just 23 of 59 cruise missiles reached the air base, destroying six Syrian jets but leaving the runway intact. Syrian Army officials called the US airstrike a act of 'blatant aggression', saying it had made America 'a partner' of ISIS, the ex-Nusra Front and other 'terrorist organisations'. The US used a special military-to-military hotline to warn Russia it was launching an airstrike on a Syrian air base about 30 minutes in advance - but the Trump administration did not ask Moscow for permission. It is likely Russia alerted the Syrians about the incoming strikes but this has not been confirmed. Eric, 33, who has taken over the running of his father's property empire said his father was committed to building the world's biggest peacetime military force, adding that Donald believed in Ronald Reagan's peace through strength belief. He added that his father would not be intimidated by Putin's threats of war over Syria. 'He is not a guy who gets intimidated,' he warned', I can tell you he is tough and he won't be pushed around. The cards will shake out the way they do but he's tough.' Advertisement Hammam al-Alil's sulphur springs and spa are an oasis in a war zone for both soldiers fighting in Mosul and the civilians trying to escape from the battle. The town and its newly reopened spa lies just a half-hour drive south of the front line in west Mosul, where Iraqi forces are trying to turf out Islamic State jihadists from their last major stronghold in Iraq. 'We fight on the front line and we come here when we get leave,' Sahad Mohammed Jaber, a 32-year-old member of a federal police artillery unit, told the AFP. 'We relax, take a bath and go back to battle.' Iraqi civilians and soldiers alike visit the spa for a respite from the fighting at Mosul's front line In Arabic, Hammam al-Alil means 'The bath of the sick,' and was long known for being a destination for those seeking a healthy retreat. Following the town's liberation from ISIL cluthes in November, the spa has been open to the tens of thousands of civilian men who flee Mosul each week as Iraqi forces continue to fight their way through the western half of the city. Despite the spa's grungy appearance, the civilians travel to Hammam al-Alil from nearby displacement camps, where everything from potable water to food and toilets are in short supply. Since the renewed offensive against the Islamic State was launched in mid-Februrary, more than 200,000 people have fled west Mosul. And it's at the spa, while relaxing in round pools of warm sulphur, where they might cross paths with the soldiers they might've passed by as they fled the front line. An Iraqi visitor gets covered from head to foot in the Hammam al-Alil spa's restorative mud A young boy relaxes in the grungy, but healing, sulphur waters at the Hammam al-Alil spa With Daesh gone, an Iraqi man is free to strip down and get soaped up by a spa attendant 'I fled from the Yarmuk neighbourhood but Daesh [Islamic State] caught me,' spa visitor Mohammed Aziz said. 'They took my ID, hit me on the head and searched me before killing people who were fleeing in front me,' he added, as he emerged from the shower. 'Many people, families... 19 people in total. They assassinated children the age of my son,' he said, squeezing Omar, his five-year-old boy. Aziz managed to escape with his life by claiming that he had a 'sponsor' in the Islamic State group. After almost three years living in the 'caliphate' that IS proclaimed, Aziz remarked that he was happy to be sharing the sulphur pools and baths with the same people that the jihadists believed were heretics that deserved to die. 'There are people from Basra, Diwaniya, Karbala, Baghdad... the people of the south are my brothers,' Aziz said. The staff at the Hammam al-Ali spa are equally pleased to welcome the soldiers and civilians. Despite the its grungy appearance, civilians travel to the spa from nearby displacement camps When Daesh left, they changed all the water at the spa because 'these people were very dirty' Young Iraqi boys dive into the healing sulphur pools at the Hammam al-Alil springs and spa Hamam al-Alil is about 30 minutes away (nine miles) from the southern outskirts of Mosul 'Under Daesh, people had no money so very few people came,' Hussein Abdallah, one of the spa's employees, said. 'Thank God, now salaries are being paid again and the security forces also come here.' With the departure of Daesh putting an end to bathers having to wear a knee to navel tunic as part of the Sunni Muslim movement's strict modesty code local residents have been returning to the spa, as well. 'If you had only swimwear, Daesh (Islamic State) would whip you,' 12-year-old Wael Abdullah told Reuters . 'The hisbah came checking that everyone had the right dress.' Still, there were some regular patrons under the caliphate rule. 'Daesh fighters would always come here. They would go to fight and then come here after the battle,' Abdallah told the AFP. He listed some of their nationalities: 'Iraqis, Europeans, Chechens, Chinese...' After recovering the town, though, government fighter Laith Ali Farhan noted, 'When we retook this area, we changed the water. Because you know, these people were very dirty.' Surgeons have implanted an artificial heart in a British child for the first time after doctors decided it was the only way to save her life. Chloe Narbonne, then 12, had the device installed during a nine-hour operation at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London after a transplant heart failed. Her medical team had the choice of keeping her on life-support while waiting for a second transplant, or performing the extremely risky surgery. She also became the first person in the world to be transferred between hospitals with her chest open ahead of the surgery in London, and was kept on an oxygen machine to save her life. The artificial heart then kept her alive until another human heart became available a few weeks later. Chloe Narbonne, 12, pictured centre, is the first child in Britain to receive an artificial heart. Also pictured are surgeon Andre Simon, right, director of transplantation at Royal Brompton Hospital and Rachel Hards, left, artificial heart nurse specialist While others have been linked up to a device known as a Berlin heart, which replicates the hearts functions outside the body, Chloe is the youngest person in Europe to have had an artificial heart implanted. The teenager from Worcester, who is now 13, told the Guardian: I feel well, like my normal self, but not quite my normal self, not after what Ive been through. I guess the artificial heart was my lifesaver; its what kept me alive until I got another heart. What Ive been through is life-changing. Sometimes I get frustrated or upset that I cant do certain things any more. I bump into things a lot and have to read some lines in a book a second time because a bleed on the brain has affected my peripheral vision, and I cant do PE at school. But its changed my perspective on life. Now I know that I have to grasp every moment. Chloe was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy when she was four weeks old, a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump properly. The operation took place at Royal Brompton Hospital, pictured, in May 2016 At the age of 11 she had a stroke while waiting for a new heart, and was left close to death when her eventual transplant failed to work. Heart surgeon Andre Simon was forced to rebuild parts of her atrium, or upper chamber, which had been removed during the failed transplant. Chloes mother, Fabienne Narbonne, said: How they saved Chloe should be recognised for what it is a miracle. Without the artificial heart she would be dead. It kept her alive for those crucial few weeks. By the time she got it she had run out of options. We owe the donors and their families eternal thanks. AT A GLANCE: WHAT IS DILATED CARDIOMYPATHY? Known as DCM, dilated cardiomypathy is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood properly around the body. This in turn affects other vital organs including the lungs, liver and kidneys due to the lack of oxygen supply. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fainting and increased heart rates. Although it is not always possible to identify a cause, the condition has been found to be passed down genetically while it has also been linked to alcohol abuse. Treatment includes implanting internal defibrillators as well as heart transplants in advanced cases. Advertisement Only 1,690 people in the world have received an artificial heart. Of those, 34 were under 18. The oldest person in the UK to receive one was 62. Chloe is the third youngest in the world, after a nine-year-old and an 11-year-old in the US. Dr Margarita Burmester, head of the hospitals paediatric intensive unit, said of the procedure: Its something that was thought to be impossible. Theres no doubt it was extremely high risk. Id never had a child without a heart before. It was completely novel, unprecedented. Belinda Van Krevel (pictured during a photoshoot last month) has pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing from a person 'Australia's most evil woman' Belinda Van Krevel has pleaded not guilty to stealing an elderly woman's handbag... despite already admitting to snatching the bag. Ms Van Krevel appeared at the Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday morning without a lawyer representing her. Police allege the criminal fiend who masterminded her father's murder stole the handbag from the Shoreline Cafe in Windang in mid-March. The matter returns to court on May 16. Just weeks ago, Ms Van Krevel told Daily Mail Australia she had already admitted to grabbing the bag. She said the bag was sitting out in the open and compared it with 'leaving a car in the middle of Redfern'. 'Look I didn't take it from a person,' Van Krevel said at the time. Ms Van Krevel's remarks last month came during an interview where she discussed how she wished she could swap places with her brother in jail - because he's a 'better person' 'It was sitting on the back of a table in a cafe. 'It was something that even the most innocent of people would have looked at twice and thought, jeez this is an opportunity.' Her remarks came during an interview where she discussed how she wished she could swap places with her serial killer brother, who is serving time behind bars. Ms Van Krevel then posed provocatively for the camera in a dark pair of sunglasses, at one point exposing her midriff. Ms Van Krevel 36-year-old now lives a quiet suburban existence, spending her days hanging out with friends, snacking on Burger Rings and talking about 'getting fit' Van Krevel's brother Mark Valera, (pictured) is serving two life sentences with no possibility of parole for brutally murdering two men, David O'Hearn and Wollongong Mayor Frank Arkell, in the late 1990s The word 'Satan' and a pentagram drawn in his victim's blood by Mark Valera before he handed himself in to police 'It was a bad decision, obviously,' Ms Van Krevel said in a later interview with A Current Affair Speaking of the alleged theft then, she said: 'I already said that I did it... 'I didn't hurt anyone. And I wouldn't, because I don't do that sort of thing.' 'I remember I jumped in the car that I hit my head that hard that I was seeing birds'. 'If you're so concerned about your belongings... It's like leaving a car in the middle of Redfern.' In a later interview with A Current Affair, she said she grabbed the bag because 'it was just sitting there like no one owned it, so I picked it up. 'It was a bad decision, obviously. 'No one owned it as far as I was concerned'. Malcolm Turnbull and the Indian prime minister have taken selfies on a New Delhi train as the leaders strengthen their partnership. Mr Turnbull has been discussing education, resources and terrorism with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The regional partners could be seen snapping selfies on the train in New Delhi on Monday. Malcolm Turnbull and the Indian prime minister have taken selfies on a New Delhi train as the regional leaders strengthen their partnership They could be seen riding the train to Akshardham Temple as they took selfies Mr Turnbull has been discussing education, resources and terrorism with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi Mr Turnbull and Mr Modi are pictured in a selfie posted to the Australian prime minister's Facebook page The pair also visited tourist attractions in the capital city. They could be seen riding the train to Akshardham Temple. Mr Turnbull has also met executives from Adani, the Indian company planning a huge coal mine in Queensland with the help of federal funding. Senior executives of Adani, including founder and chairman Gautam Adani, discussed India's growing need for energy during the private meeting with the prime minister on Monday evening. The company's $21.7 billion Carmichael coal mine project in Queensland was approved in December but has faced serious opposition from environmental and Indigenous groups. The federal government is considering a bid for a $1 billion concessional loan from its Northern Australia infrastructure fund to help build a rail line servicing the mine. Ahead of the meeting, Mr Turnbull insisted a decision on the potential loan was going through an independent process. The regional leaders wave to onlookers on Monday as they ride the train Mr Turnbull and Mr Modi wave to Indian people in New Delhi from the Delhi Metro Blue Line on Monday Adani representatives are understood to have mentioned the infrastructure fund during the meeting but made it clear they understood it was independent of the government. The Greens are planning an attempt to block any government funding for the Carmichael mine or its railway line via legislation introducing a suitable person test for infrastructure fund applicants. Environment spokeswoman Larissa Waters didn't believe Adani would pass the test. 'Overseas, Adani is under investigation for money laundering, fraud and corruption, including allegedly bribing public officials,' she told AAP. 'They have ignored environmental laws causing irreversible damage.' Mr Adani requested an early resolution of native title issues surrounding the mine, which was hit by a Federal Court ruling that invalidated deals with traditional owners across Australia. Commuters photograph Mr Turnbull and Mr Modi as they travelled on the Delhi Metro Blue Line in New Delhi, India, on Monday New Delhi locals snapped pictures of the leaders on Monday Legislation dealing with the problem is before the Senate and Mr Turnbull is understood to have assured the company the issue needed to be fixed and would be fixed. Earlier on Monday, in a joint press appearance with the Indian prime minister, Mr Turnbull talked up the importance of Australian resources and expertise to the Indian energy sector. Meanwhile, the Australian higher education and training sector is exploring how it can help India meet its goal of training 400 million people by 2022. Both countries see enormous potential for Australian universities and its training sector in helping India upskill 400 million people. Already Australia is the second most popular destination for Indian students, behind the United States, with more than 60,000 studying down under in 2016. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meets with India's Adani Group founder and chairman Gautam Adani in New Delhi on Monday Mr Modi and Mr Turnbull visit Akshardham Mandir Hindu temple in New Delhi on Monday A large delegation of education representatives, led by Education Minister Simon Birmingham, is in New Delhi this week to look at how to grow the partnership further. The Indian government has predicted to meet its goal by 2022, it will need an extra 4 million university graduates every year. 'Clearly that is a very challenging task to build your own system at a rate that enables you to produce that many graduates,' Universities Australia chief executive Belinda Robinson told AAP in New Delhi where she is part of the delegation. Universities are using the delegation's meetings to explore how they might help India with that task. Ms Robinson has noticed during the two-day summit a real desire from the Indian education sector to encourage more foreign institutions to work with them. There have been regulatory barriers for Australian universities wanting to set up undergraduate courses in India, but she is hopeful those will be eased. Mr Turnbull and his Indian counterpart make a joint statement at Hyderabad House in New Delhi The prime minister throws rose petals at the Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi on Monday In the vocational sector, Australian educators are piloting 'training the trainer' courses in five Indian cities, starting with 250 students. Senator Birmingham will formally launch the new courses - co-branded by the two governments - at the Australia-India Skills Conference in New Delhi on Tuesday. He believes Australia can play a role in building the capacity of trainers, 'the cornerstone of an industry-led vocational education system'. Mr Turnbull said his meeting with Indian counterpart Mr Modi on Monday included a 'very fruitful discussion' about education, and the role Australia could play. 'I have taken copious notes from Prime Minister Modi's advice on how Australian education institutions can be even more successful than they are today,' Mr Turnbull said. Mr Turnbull arrives at the Australia India Knowledge Partnerships Dinner in New Delhi Mr Modi and Mr Turnbull visit Akshardham Mandir Hindu temple on Monday 'His understanding of the need for training, the need for education and the role that Australia can play is extremely informed, very, very deep and very detailed.' Education exchange is about more than Australia taking on Indian students. Ms Robinson sees the education relationship as being on the cusp of a 'step-change' to move from delivery of training to genuine collaboration and exchange of knowledge. Formal research agreements between institutions have grown five-fold since 2003, with about 400 now in place. Mr Turnbull says in a world where growth is driven by technology, science and innovation, collaboration is the key to success. 'Knowledge shared is not diminished, but rather it is enhanced and for the benefit of both parties,' he told the Australia-India Knowledge Partnership dinner on Monday. Mr Turnbull disembarks from his plane after his arrival at New Delhi airport in India on Sunday Mr Turnbull will join strategic and foreign policy experts for an examination of Australia and India's strategic ties. The prime minister and his Indian counterpart signed new agreements for co-operating on combating terrorism and transnational crime, and civil aviation security at their formal meeting in New Delhi on Monday. On Tuesday, Mr Turnbull was scheduled to take part in a strategic roundtable meeting involving Australia and Indian security and foreign policy experts. The Indian prime minister said they both recognised their countries' future was tied to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. 'We are also aware that in this global world, challenges like terrorism and cyber security extend beyond the boundaries of one nation and therefore they require joint strategies and solutions,' Mr Modi said. The gunman who opened fire on his estranged wife at a San Bernardino elementary school had been married to the special needs teacher less than three months, it was revealed. Cedric Anderson, 53, walked into a classroom at North Park Elementary School and shot dead his estranged wife Karen Smith, 53, on Monday. After unloading his revolver, killing Smith and injuring two special needs boys standing behind her, Anderson then turned the gun on himself in the apparent murder-suicide. Both Anderson and Smith were found dead inside the classroom and one of the students, Jonathan Martinez, eight, later died from his injuries at a hospital. Police revealed that Anderson and Smith had just been married in late January but separated around a month ago after Smith learned that the man she married 'wasn't wonderful'. Scroll down for video Cedric Anderson, 53, opened fire on his estranged wife Karen Smith, 53, before killing himself at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, CA. on Monday. They were married in January (pictured) before they separated around a month ago The couple tied the knot in front of family and friends at Bethesda Temple Church on January 28 in Los Angeles, California (left), and went on their honeymoon shortly after in Sedona, Arizona (right) Smith (right) reportedly learned that Anderson (left) 'wasn't wonderful' like she thought, causing them to split. Her mother said they had been friends for four years before they were married Anderson injured two special needs students who were standing behind Smith. One of the boys, Jonathan Martinez, eight, later died from his injuries on Monday. Pictured: The school's 520 other children being evacuated Smith was a mother to four adult children from a previous marriage, reported the Los Angeles Times. Her mother, Irma Sykes, told the paper that the two had been friends for around four years before they were married. Anderson claimed to be a pastor and frequently posted religious things on Facebook but he was revealed to have a lengthy criminal history, with domestic violence, weapon and drug-related charges brought against him, police said. The seemingly happy couple was married at Bethesda Temple Church on January 28 in Los Angeles, California. They tied the knot in front of loved ones as the guests smiled on. Their honeymoon was in Sedona, Arizona, where they went hiking and ate steak dinners as Anderson uploaded videos to Facebook kissing his bride. Smith was a mother to four adult children from a previous marriage. Anderson also had children, but it is not known how many at this time Police rushed to the scene with SWAT teams and anti-terrorism units as news of the shooting unfolded San Bernardino police guides children on to the playground as multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the shooting Also on his personal social media page were frequent posts about Smith, as Anderson proclaimed that she was his 'angel' and that he loved being married to her. However, something shifted in the relationship and the honeymoon period was quickly cut short around a month ago. Speaking of her murdered daughter, Sykes said: 'She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all. He had other motives. 'She left him and thats where the trouble began. She broke up with him and he came out with a different personality. She decided she needed to leave him. She was going to divorce him.' Sykes did not wish to reveal what were the reasons that led Smith 'to pull away' from Anderson. Anderson was reportedly a pastor and filled his Facebook with religious posts. The man also had a criminal history, with domestic violence, weapon and drug-related charges Smith's mother said her daughter was planning on divorcing Anderson after discovering he had 'other motives' Anderson frequently posted about how much he loved his bride, saying she was an angel According to court records, Anderson was charged with assault and battery with brandishing a firearm and disturbing the peace in Los Angeles County in 2013. However, all charges were dismissed around a year later, the Los Angeles Times reported. What happened in the month of separation for the newlyweds was kept quiet, at least until Anderson appeared at Smith's elementary school on Monday morning and told the front desk he needed to drop off something for his wife. Police said he was known to the staff at the front office, who let him sign in and he began his path towards the special needs classroom that his wife taught. Anderson stepped inside the classroom of 15 young students and 'very quickly' began shooting his revolver at Smith, all without saying a word, San Bernardino police said. He unloaded his clip then reloaded once more, before killing himself. In the horrendous attack, he also injured two students who were standing behind Smith. Later on Monday it was announced that one of the children, Martinez, had died after he was taken via helicopter to the hospital. On Monday evening, the Riverside, California, home that Anderson and Smith shared during their brief marriage was cordoned off with police tape. The home, inside an upmarket gated community, belonged to Smith - who had previously lived in the property with her ex-husband Roderic, 53 Anderson was let into the school after he signed in at the front desk. Police said he was known to the staff On Monday evening, the Riverside, California, home that Anderson and Smith shared during their brief marriage was cordoned off with police tape Police SWAT team arrive at the Riverside home of Smith and Anderson. The home, inside an upmarket gated community, belonged to Smith - who had previously lived in the property with her ex-husband Roderic, 53 The other student is a nine-year-old boy, whose name was not released. He survived and is at the hospital in stable condition. Police arrived to the school less than five minutes after authorities were alerted to the shooting. All of the 520 students inside the school were rushed out onto the playground as law enforcement stood watch with large guns strapped to their chests. They were taken to California State University at San Bernardino to be counted by school officials and interviewed by police if necessary. On Monday evening a service was held to honor the victims killed in the shooting that is believed to have begun as a domestic dispute. The community held candles and several shed tears and the town was rocked by Monday morning's events. Betty Rodriguez, right, comforts her granddaughter Giselle, 11, during a prayer service held to honor the shooting victims Row: Hardline academic Yasir Qadhi (pictured) has been invited on an 'inspiring' UK eight-city tour for Islamic Relief A hardline US Muslim preacher allegedly recorded saying killing homosexuals and stoning adulterers is part of Islam will speak across Britain to raise money for a UK charity, it was revealed today. Yasir Qadhi, who also reportedly said cutting off the hands of thieves was 'very beneficial to society', has been invited on an 'inspiring' eight-city tour for Islamic Relief. Dr Qadhi has previously said Shia Muslims should be considered 'filth' and 'liars' and also said the Holocaust was a hoax before admitting this view was a 'mistake'. And he said that women should stay at home to take care 'of the small, little things of the house' and should dedicate themselves to 'please your husband.' According to The Times the Charity Commission has asked Islamic Relief why it has invited the Saudi-educated US-born academic to tour for them - but Islamic Relief insists they have done all the proper background checks. Islamic Relief, which receives funding from the Department for International Development and has a 100million budget, hopes Dr Qadhi's speaking events will raise money for their high profile East Africa Crisis Appeal. The eight-date tour called 21st Century Muslim: A Balance Between Hope and Fear has been described as 'inspiring' but makes no mention of the academic's controversial past. His lectures and dinners will be held at venues in London, Glasgow, Leicester, Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester for up to 20 per ticket. Dr Qadhi has been branded a hate preacher by some critics. Fundraiser: The eight-date tour called 21st Century Muslim: A Balance Between Hope and Fear has been described as 'inspiring' but makes no mention of the academic's controversial past But he says he has been threatened with death by ISIS because he is considered liberal and has condemned them. He has also rowed back on some of his more extreme views and seen by some British Muslims as a 'reformed character', according to The Times. Recordings of some of his controversial speeches remain online. In one he says: 'This is a part of our religion to stone the adulterer... and to kill... the homosexual.' He also said that the gay rights movement means society had 'regressed' and said gay people should be able to 'block' their urges. On crime and punishment in another he recording says: 'Cutting off the hands of the thieves. The one problem that will happen to this person, it will bring about a benefit to an entire nation. And we see statistics to prove it. Muslim countries that implement the hudud [Islamic punishments] are safer, less rape, less stealing.' One of his former students Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was nicknamed the 'underwear bomber' after he tried and failed to blow up an international flight on Christmas Day 2009 with a bomb in his pants. Dr Qadhi had met him in Houston in 2008 but 'only briefly interacted' with him and said Abdulmutallab, who was jailed for life without parole, had ignored the teaching of staff in Texas and gone to Yeman where he was radicalised. Dr Qadhi says his life has been in danger since he condemned the Charlie Hebdo attacks and says comments on stoning, for example, only applied to the Islamic world, not the West. He told The Times: 'It is an undeniable fact that mainstream interpretations of some classical texts command a nation that is governed by the laws of Islam to implement certain punishments against moral crimes. 'However, I have explicitly and on multiple occasions stated that Muslims living in the modern world need to rethink through our tradition and its heritage. Classical, historical interpretations of the Shariah are not necessarily binding in modernity. 'I have nowhere, repeat, nowhere called for violence against any person or nation state or army. I have made continuous refutations against jihadist groups and critiqued their actions and methodology beyond count.' He added in an email to MailOnline: 'I am one of the most prominent speakers and preachers of Islam in the Western world. Almost all of my lectures are publicly available, and are in the thousands. My reputation is well established, and of the aspects that people know about me is that I am attempting to carve out a safe space for Muslims in Western lands - a space that will allow them to practice their faith in their personal lives even as they remain loyal citizens abiding by the laws of the country they live in. 'I have refuted al-Qaeda, ISIS, Awlaki and a host of other jihadist teachers and thought. I am on the death-list of ISIS. I have never in my life been a part of any of those movements, or even sympathized with them'. MailOnline has approached Dr Qadhi and Islamic Relief for comment. Islamic Relief UK stand by their decision to invite him to the UK. A spokesman said: 'Dr Yasir Qadhi is a high-profile speaker with a large international following who has spoken out consistently against terrorism, extremism and anti-Semitism, and challenges Muslims to rethink old orthodoxies. 'Islamic Relief has invited Dr Qadhi to the UK to help the Muslim community here prepare spiritually for Ramadan, and to raise funds to fight famine in East Africa, where over 16 million people are at risk of starvation and Islamic Relief has unrivalled access in parts of Somalia and Ethiopia in particular. 'Like all our speakers, Dr Qadhi has been through a two-stage screening process that involved checking him against over 540 global watch lists of proscribed individuals and organisations to ensure no terror links, and then looking in detail at his views and track record in their full context through the lens of media coverage, YouTube videos and social media platforms. 'Islamic Relief abhors terrorism in all its forms and believes that anti-Semitism is every bit as unacceptable as Islamophobia. We work to uphold the highest humanitarian standards of neutrality, impartiality and independence, assisting people of all faiths and none without discrimination by race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.' U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will take a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border during a visit to Arizona on Tuesday. Sessions will tour what is mostly rough terrain along the international border in Nogales, Arizona, about roughly 70 miles south of Tucson. Sessions has made immigration enforcement a key Justice Department priority, saying he will speed up deportations of immigrants in the country illegally who were convicted of federal crimes. Scroll down for video Attorney General Jeff Sessions will visit the U.S.-Mexico border at Nogales, Arizona on Tuesday The number of people entering the United States illegally across the Mexican border plummeted in March Sessions has also defended federal immigration authorities who make arrests at courthouses, a practice advocates and the California Supreme Court chief justice say impedes on people's access to justice and deters immigrants from reporting crimes and going to court. The Tucson Sector, which comprises most of Arizona, was once the busiest area for illegal border crossings and drug smuggling, but movement has shifted in the past few years to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The Arizona area saw about 65,000 arrests last fiscal year, roughly half the number agents made in 2012, according to Border Patrol data. Marijuana seizures have also dropped by about 28 percent from 1 million pounds in 2012 to 728,000 last year. The Trump administration plans to erect a wall along much of the nearly 2,000-mile border Nogales is a popular border-jumping point for migrant workers, but also for human traffickers and narcotics smgglers In March, Sessions said that the Justice Department will expand an existing program aimed at holding deportation hearings for immigrants while they are still in federal prison known as the Institutional Hearing Program. Holding the hearings before the inmates' sentences are finished would allow the government to deport them immediately when they're released, as opposed to waiting until they go through an immigration court. Sessions' proposal would set up 14 federal prisons and six contract facilities for immigration removal proceedings. Following the border tour, Sessions will deliver a keynote speech at an International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Litchfield Park, Arizona. He'll also speak with service members at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix. Boris Johnson suffered a major setback today when his push for the G7 to impose tough sanctions on Russia and Syria was blocked. A summit of ministers from the powerful group of nations in Italy ended without agreement on punitive measures - although they have agreed that Bashar Assad cannot stay on as Syrian president. Mr Johnson had called for Moscow generals to be singled out for sanctions alongside top members of the Syrian forces. But his efforts floundered as Germany and other EU countries were unwilling to press ahead with the reprisals - insisting on waiting for a full investigation into the chemical weapons attack on Idlib province that killed scores of civilians. The joint communique from the gathering expressed 'shock and horror' at the atrocity, which the US and the UK have blamed on the Russia-backed Syrian regime. However, it made no mention of sanctions. Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano told the closing news conference that the G7 did not want to 'push Russia into a corner'. 'There is no consensus on additional new sanctions as an efficient instrument to deliver the goal we are aiming for,' he said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault suggested the question was given little attention by Johnson's counterparts. 'The question wasn't mentioned by anyone, except Boris Johnson, but we didn't talk about it any further,' he said. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (front of picture) are holding talks today with G7 ministers and Middle East allies in Italy Boris Johnson (second from the right) was pushing for sanctions at the meeting with G7 counterparts in Italy. Other minister attending were (left to right) EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Chrystia Freeland of Canada, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, Jean-Marc Ayrault of France and Japan's Fumio Kishida Mr Johnson, pictured today squeezed behind Mr Tillerson and Mr Ayrault, suffered a serious set back in his bid for a diplomatic solution to the crisis The lack of agreement will delight the Kremlin, and reduce the leverage for US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he travels to Moscow later for what could be crucial talks. Foreign Office sources insisted targeted sanctions were still 'on the table' once evidence of the sarin attack had been compiled. Mr Tillerson would carry a 'clear message' about the international community's view, they added. Mr Johnson said there was 'wide degree of acceptance' that sanctions could be needed if an international investigation confirmed the Syrian regime was behind the chemical weapons attack. 'After that of course if we can find people whether they are Syrian or Russian associated with the Syrian military it is in my view entirely appropriate that they should face sanctions,' he told journalists in Italy. Tensions with Russia have ratcheted up after Donald Trump launched missile strikes against the Syrian regime in response to the atrocity. The US has suggested that the Kremlin knew about the attack before it happened. The G7 gathering in Italy today was expanded to include key Middle East allies Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar. In a phone call last night, Theresa May and Mr Trump agreed that there was 'a window of opportunity' to persuade Russia to break ties with Assad. However, UK sources suggested this morning that Berlin and some other EU states were 'cool' on the idea of beefing up sanctions. German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel stressed the need for Russia and Iran to be brought into the process. Mr Tillerson, who is in Moscow for crucial talks, has said the US 'cannot' let chemical weapons use go unchallenged German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel, pictured left with Mr Tillerson today, was among those who resisted calls for immediate sanctions on Russia The Foreign Secretary and other ministers are hammering out an approach to Russia amid the continuing crisis in Syria 'Not everyone may like it, but without Moscow and without Tehran there will be no solution for Syria,' he said. Japanese foreign minister Masato Ohtaka said that 'in terms of dialogue and other political engagement I think a lot of countries think that Russia can play a key role'. As the summit kicked off yesterday, Mr Johnson said that the US willingness to bomb Syria was a 'game changer'. He urged Putin to recognise the strength of international condemnation. After holding an hour of private discussions with Mr Tillerson, Mr Johnson said they were in total agreement that Assad must go. 'The choice is to stick like glue to the Assad regime ... or to work with the rest of the world,' Mr Johnson told reporters at the summit in Lucca. Mr Johnson, pictured at the summit today with Italian host Angelino Alfano, had said restrictions should be imposed on Russian and Syrian generals Russia slammed Brtain after Boris Johnson cancelled a scheduled visit to Moscow over its support for the Syrian regime, claiming Britain has 'no real influence' internationally Mr Johnson said Russia's reputation was being 'toxified' by its connection with Assad. 'We will be discussing the possibility of further sanctions certainly on some of the Syrian military figures and indeed on some of the Russian military figures who have been involved in co-ordinating the Syrian military efforts and are thereby contaminated by the appalling behaviour of the Assad regime,' he added. Mr Tillerson said the US was re-dedicating itself to hold to account 'any and all' who commit crimes against innocent people. But Russia is attempting to defuse the issue by proposing an independent and impartial investigation of the attack in Idlib province last week. The Kremlin has claimed Assad's jets blew up a rebel stash of chemical weapons. Alongside sanctions, re-entry to the elite club of power nations is thought to be on the table as an incentive for cooperating. Russia was kicked out of what was the G8 in 2014 as punishment for the annexation of Crimea. Mr Johnson faced claims he was Washington's poodle over the weekend after he agreed to pull out of a planned visit to Moscow following discussions with the US. The trip was cancelled so the G7 Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and America could agree a joint plan to be delivered by Mr Tillerson. Mr Johnson, pictured at the summit yesterday, said Russia's reputation was being 'toxified' by its connection with Assad Sarah Maslin Nir (pictured) was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for an article exposing conditions in nail salons The New York Times is being sued for $4.75million by a journalist's best friend after the writer allegedly swerved onto the wrong side of the road, leading to a head-on collision while they were in Scotland on a horse riding trip. Leah Epstein, who owns the Ithilien Stables in New Jersey, had accompanied Sarah Maslin Nir, who was writing an article about horse riding in Scotland for the Times' travel section. Maslin Nir was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2014 after writing an expose about the exploitation of workers in New York nail salons. The story led to new national regulations on toxins used by nail salons. In September 2015 she was driving a car near Montrose in Scotland and her friend was in the back seat. Epstein suffered a fractured spine, damaged lungs and perforated bowels and underwent several operations and blood transfusions. Heatstreet reported that a lawsuit has been submitted by Epstein seeking $4.75million in damages from Maslin Nir's employer because she was working on a story for the paper at the time of the accident. But the pair remain close friends and are reportedly planning a return trip to Scotland. Nir suffered a broken hand, wrist and foot but was well enough to tweet about her nail expose a few days later, adding: 'If only I wasn't in Scotland!' A Gofundme page was set up after the accident to help pay Epstein's medical bills but it raised only $2,720 towards its $7,500 goal Documents filed in Manhattan Supreme Court said the car 'turned into the right lane...and into oncoming traffic, before colliding head-on with another motor vehicle'. Heatstreet reported Maslin Nir had actually swerved to avoid another car and was never charged with any motoring offences. Epstein, a horse riding instructor, was wearing a seatbelt but was seriously injured. A Gofundme page was set up by friends of Epstein. It said: 'Leah has touched many peoples and horses lives with her humor, kindness and passion for life. Please help us give Leah some financial support during this difficult time. The financial burdens she will endure are huge being away from her business and huge medical bills to follow.' The appeal raised only $2,720 towards a target of $7,500. Lawyers for the New York Times have reportedly denied negligence or liability. A spokesman for the paper told Heatstreet: 'The company has no first-hand knowledge of the facts. As in any accident case, discovery will determine whether the complaint is accurate or not.' Donald Trump Jr., rumored to be eyeing a move to follow in his father's footsteps into politics, will not be a candidate for governor of New York next year but is not ruling out a possible run for office in the future. The younger Trump, in an interview Monday with The Associated Press, categorically denied any speculation that he might challenge incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo. 'I am not running in 2018,' Trump Jr said in his first public comments about a possible candidacy next year. But he acknowledged having been bitten by the politics bug and said that he could consider a run at a later date. Donald Trump Jr (seen above with his sister, Ivanka Trump, during the inauguration of their father, Donald Trump) says he will not run for governor of New York in 2018 The political future of Donald Trump Jr., who along with his brother Eric has taken the helm of the Trump Organization since their father took office, has been the subject of repeated speculation since he played a very active role as a campaign surrogate for much of the last two years. His well-received speech at last summer's Republican National Convention electrified conservative circles and sparked talk that he might run for mayor of New York City. But Trump, the Republican nominee who would eventually go on to win the presidency, squashed that talk almost immediately, as did Trump Jr. again on Monday. 'People keep asking me: when are you running for mayor?' he said. Trump Jr (seen left with his father, President Donald Trump) did not rule out a future bid for office 'Well, I'm not. If I was, New York City mayor is much less interesting to me than perhaps other things like governor of a state. That's not saying I'm running. It's just saying that, hey, if I ever did something, I'd probably be more interested in something like that.' But Trump Jr. has long been comfortable in conservative circles and is scheduling a few high-profile appearances at Republican events including a fundraiser in Texas last month and one in Indiana next month. Speculation about his political future picked up again in recent days after The New York Post's Page Six reported that he told members of a Long Island club that he'd be interested in running for office. While making clear that he is not ruling out a future run, Trump Jr. also revealed that he shares his father's distrust of much of the media. 'If I say no, (the media) says "He's never going to do it" and if I change my mind, they try to kill you with it,' Trump Jr. said. The political future of Donald Trump Jr., who along with his brother Eric (right) has taken the helm of the Trump Organization since their father took office, has been the subject of repeated speculation His well-received speech at last summer's Republican National Convention (above) electrified conservative circles and sparked talk that he might run for mayor of New York City 'You always leave your options open.' Ed Cox, head of the New York State Republican Party called the younger Trump a 'very capable individual who would do very well at anything he wanted to do, including politics.' But Cox also indicated that being patient might be the right approach. 'The first duty of a member of the First Family is to help the president be the best president he can be,' said Cox, who is a son-in-law of former President Richard Nixon. 'The fact that he is not looking beyond that would be probably be the right decision on his part.' Trump Jr., a father-of-five, said that he has respected a 'firewall' between the workings of the White House and the Trump Organization. Though he says he has spoken to his father more frequently in recent weeks, the two men do not discuss the details of the family business or the policies of the West Wing, he said. But the younger Trump closely watches the doings in Washington and believes that any of the White House's early stumbles are 'understandable' due to the team's governing inexperience and said that his father would soon be considered a 'phenomenal' president. He singled out the decision to launch missile strikes on Syria in the aftermath of a chemical attack as a moment of strength. 'I think it's important that we show that America has its resolve back,' he said. 'I've seen more in the last two months than I've seen in the last two administrations in terms of fulfilling promises.' The biggest party in the European Parliament - which European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is a member of - has called for a Europe-wide ban on face veils. The European People's Party (EPP) claims the measure would be beneficial for security, and help 'human interaction'. It also called for measures to avoid concentrating thousands of 'third country nationals' in any one place, and said welfare payments should be linked to 'mandatory integration requirements'. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is a member of the EPP, which has called for the measure A ban on face veils was adopted by the centre-right party at its annual congress in March last week. The resolution was named 'For a cohesive society: Countering Islamic extremism', and specified the burka and niqab. EPP leader Manfred Weber told reporters in Germany: 'We want a total ban of face covering in the EU.' A measure introduced by the party states Islamic face coverings should be banned 'both for reasons of security and because seeing one anothers faces is an integral part of human interaction in Europe'. In December last year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for face coverings to be banned 'wherever it is legally possible' The party, which is affiliated with Angela Merkel's CDU party, holds 216 of 751 seats in the European Parliament. The British Conservative Party was a member of the EPP until 2009, but quit because it felt the group was too pro-Europe. Party insiders hope the measure will be will discussed by the EU, The Express reports. In 2010 France introduced a ban on face coverings, and parts of Switzerland soon followed. In December last year German Chancellor Merkel told her party conference that a full face veil is 'inappropriate and should be banned wherever it is legally possible'. Earlier this year British Prime Minister Theresa May resisted a similar move, saying: 'What a woman wears is a woman's choice.' Advertisement Egyptian security forces killed seven suspected ISIS militants as the extremists met on Monday to plan more attacks on minority Christians, the government has said. The men were killed in a shootout in the southern province of Assuit. Authorities say the militants were planning to attack a monastery in Durunka, Christians across Assuit and Sohag provinces, and attack police officers, government buildings and a courthouse. Authorities named three of the men as Hasan Abdel-Al Siddiq, 30, a government employee with the Directorate of Health, Islam Said Abdel Salam Ismail, 21, a law student, and 22-year-old Mustapha al-Sayyed Muhammad Dhahr. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi praised the work of his security forces and accused jihadis of trying to divide Egyptian society by attacking vulnerable minorities. Egypt's Interior Ministry said security forces killed seven jihadis who were planning attacks on Christians on Monday Authorities identified three of the men killed as Hasan Abdel-Al Siddiq, 30, a government employee , Islam Said Abdel Salam Ismail, 21, a law student, and 22-year-old Mustapha al-Sayyed Muhammad Dhahr (it is not known which of the men is pictured) Security forces opened fire on Monday after the men, who were inside a remote desert compound, shot at them with heavy weapons, authorities said Inside the bunker, officials found a variety of weapons plus documents outlining plans to attack a Christian monastery, police officers, judges and a courthouse The raid came hours after President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared a state of emergency and vowed a crackdown on extremists El-Sisi pledged to protect Egypt's religious minorities as part of his election campaign, and praised the work of his security forces after this raid took place on Monday Officials said documents inside the bunker also discussed the power-structure of so-called Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for two bomb attack on Christians on Sunday Also contained within the bunker was a motorbike. Officials gave no indication of what part it would have played in an attack Security officials discovered the men hiding inside this compound in a remote part of Assuit province on Monday A statement by Egypt's Interior Ministry said the shootout started when the jihadis opened fire with heavy weapons as they were approached by members of the security services. Security forces returned fire, killing the men. Images from the scene show a compound filled with machine guns, AK47s, belts and magazines of ammunition, and a motorbike. Also contained inside the building were pads filled with notes on the organisation of so-called Islamic State, and details of their attack plans. The raid came hours after Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency following two ISIS bomb attacks which killed 44 people in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday. The announcement follows on from campaign promises by Sisi to protect religious minorities, who have long complained of persecution at the hands of extremists. Elsewhere on Monday, hundreds of mourners gathered at Alexandria's Monastery of Saint Mina to remember the 17 people killed at the city's Coptic cathedral. The blast came hours after a bomb struck another Coptic church in Tanta, a nearby city in the Nile Delta, that took the lives of 28 and wounded nearly 80. In Alexandria, mourners were outraged by what they said was the state's failure to keep them safe on one of their holiest days. Devastated families of worshippers killed in an ISIS bomb attack in Egypt on Palm Sunday wept as they carried the coffins of their loved ones today Amid heightened security, hundreds of mourners gathered at Alexandria's Monastery of Saint Mina to remember the 17 people killed at the city's Coptic cathedral Hundreds gathered to pay their respects to those killed in the blast, in Alexandria. The explosion came hours after a bomb struck a Coptic church in Tanta, a nearby city in the Nile Delta, that took the lives of 28 and wounded nearly 80 In Alexandria, mourners were outraged by what they said was the state's failure to keep them safe on one of their holiest days A man grieves at the funeral for those killed in a Palm Sunday church attack in Alexandria Egypt, at the Mar Amina church, The twin attacks marked one of the bloodiest days in recent memory for Egypt's Christian minority,the largest in the Middle East Both attacks were claimed by the ISIS, which has waged a campaign against Egypt's Christian minority. The Copts, whose presence in Egypt dates to the Roman era, have long complained of religious persecution and accused the state of not doing enough to protect them. Women cry during the funeral for those killed in a Palm Sunday church attack in Alexandria Egypt Women hug and wail for the victims of the blast at the Coptic Christian Saint Mark's church in Alexandria They carried wooden coffins to the beat of drums interrupted by the wails of those dressed in all black. 'Where should we go pray? They are attacking us in our churches. They don't want us to pray but we will pray,' said Samira Adly, 53, whose neighbours were killed in the attack. 'Everyone is falling short...the government, the people... nothing is good.' Earlier mourners filled the church in Tanta that had been torn apart in the bombing to commemorate victims. They packed the streets leading to the Coptic Church of Mar Girgis - or St. George - to pay their respects while relatives inside laid their bodies across the coffins and wept. A suicide bomber slipped past security and detonated the bomb while Christian worshippers were observing Jesus' entry to Jerusalem, leaving blood splattered on the marble pillars while the sound of hymns turned to desperate screams. The blast killed 27 and injured 78 others. Just two hours later, a suicide bomber entered St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, and killed 17. Both explosions, claimed by ISIS, came at the start of Holy Week leading up to Easter, just weeks before Pope Francis is due to visit the Arab world's most populous country. ISIS claimed the attacks through its Aamaq news agency, having recently warned that it would step up violence against Egypt's Christians. The first explosion on Sunday occurred when a suicide bomber slipped past the church doors, which had already been closed as a security measure. The terrorist made it past metal detectors and detonated the bomb near the altar. Hundreds gathered outside the Tanta church shortly after the blast, some weeping and wearing black while inside, blown apart pews sat atop tiles soaked with blood. Women wailed as caskets marked with the word 'martyr' were brought into the Mar Amina church in the coastal city of Alexandria Mourners filled a church in Tanta, Egypt that had been torn apart in a terrorist bombing to bury the 27 victims claimed in one of two attacks on Palm Sunday People in Tanta packed the streets leading to the Coptic Church of Mar Girgis - or St. George - to pay their respects A suicide bomber slipped past security and detonated the bomb while Christian worshippers were observing Jesus' entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday Men carry a cross as mourners gather for the funeral of the victims of the Palm Sunday bombings at the Monastery of Saint Mina 'Deir Mar Mina' in Alexandria, Egypt Relatives inside laid their bodies across the coffins and wept. The bombing in Tanta killed 27 and injured 78 others The attack left blood splattered on the marble pillars of St George's Church while the sound of hymns turned to desperate screams. ISIS claimed the attacks through its Aamaq news agency, having recently warned that it would step up violence against Egypt's Christians Women in black cry outside the funeral for those kille. Women wailed as caskets marked with the word 'martyr' were brought into the Mar Amina church 'There was blood all over the floor and body parts scattered,' a woman who was inside the church at the time of the attack said. 'There was a huge explosion in the hall. Fire and smoke filled the room and the injuries were extremely severe,' another woman, Vivian Fareeg, said. CCTV footage captured the second attack in Alexandria, where a suicide bomber dressed in a blue pullover approached the gate at St Mark's before he was told to go through a metal detector. He passed a female police officer talking to another woman, and entered a metal detector before an explosion engulfed the area. The atrocity was thought to have been aimed at Pope of Alexandria Tawadros II, who drew an especially large crowd as the leader of the ancient Coptic church. He was leading prayers in St Mark's at the time but escaped unharmed. 'These acts will not harm the unity and cohesion of the people,' he was later quoted as saying by state media. Three officers who died in the attack were named as Ahmed Ibrahim, Brigadier General Nagwa El-Haggar and Emad El-Rakiby. After news of the two attacks sent shock waves across the world, Egyptians rallied against ISIS and declared 'your terrorism brings us together' on social media. Muslims were also pictured lining up to give blood in support of Christians, who make up about 10 per cent of the country's population. Relatives stood outside the city morgue to collect their loved ones, and they sobbed during a mass funeral attended by hundreds The assault on a religious minority increasingly targeted by Islamist militants poses a challenge to president al-Sisi, who has pledged to protect them as part of his campaign against extremism The first suicide bomber set off an explosion in Tanta. About two hours later, another explosion ripped through a cathedral in Alexandria. Both attacks targeted Coptic churches Nearly four dozen people were killed after two explosions targeting Coptic Christians in Tantra and Alexandria today. Pictured, the blood covered floor in St. George's Church in Tanta Priests saying mass in the cathedral in Tanta were sprayed with blood after the device exploded in the church's front row Approximately ten per cent of the Egyptian population are Christian and have been targeted several times by ISIS terrorists The three dead officers killed in the second attack in Alexandria were named as Ahmed Ibrahim, Brigadier General Nagwa El-Haggar and Emad El-Rakiby Muslim officer Emad El-Rakiby, 33, was killed when he prevented a suicide-bomber from entering St. Mark's Church in Alexandria Worshippers helped those who were injured by this morning's tragic blast. Pictured, the pews knocked out of place, and floors stained with blood Emil Edward Salib, pictured, was injured when the device exploded inside the church in Tanta during today's service The attacks occured on Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week that culminates on Easter Sunday, commemorates the day Christians believe Jesus entered Jerusalem and was welcomed as the messiah, only to be crucified five days later President Donald Trump tweeted that he is 'so sad to hear of the terrorist attack' against the U.S. ally but added that he has 'great confidence' that el-Sissi 'will handle the situation properly.' The two leaders met at the White House on April 3. Grand Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, head of Egypt's Al-Azhar - the leading center of learning in Sunni Islam - also condemned the attacks, calling them a 'despicable terrorist bombing that targeted the lives of innocents.' Both Israel and the Islamic Hamas movement ruling neighboring Gaza condemned the bombings as well. The bombings added to fears that Islamic extremists who have long been battling security forces in the Sinai Peninsula are shifting their focus to civilians. An Isis affiliate claimed a December suicide bombing at a Cairo church that killed about 30 people, mostly women, as well as a string of killings in the northern Sinai that caused hundreds of Christians to flee. Egypt has struggled to combat a wave of Islamic militancy since the 2013 military overthrow of an elected Islamist president. The Sinai-based IS affiliate has mainly attacked police and soldiers, but has also claimed bombings that killed civilians, including the downing of a Russian passenger jetliner in the Sinai in 2015. This killed all 224 people onboard and devastated Egypt's tourism industry. And in April 1, a militant group claimed responsibility for a bomb attack targeting a police training center in Tanta, which wounded 16 people. Egyptian media had previously reported that the church in Tanta had been targeted before, with a bomb defused there in late March. The Copts were largely supportive of the military overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, and incurred the wrath of many of his followers, who attacked churches and other Christian institutions. While the Copts have stood steadfast alongside the government, repeating the mantra that Egyptians were all being targeted by terrorists, an increase in attacks on Christians has tested that support. The Uzbek migrant suspected of killing four in last week's terror attack in Stockholm told police the atrocity was revenge for 'the bombing in Syria', it was claimed today. Rakhmat Akilov, 39, confessed to a 'terrorist crime' as he appeared before a judge in the Swedish capital. It came after police sources said he told them: 'I am a Muslim and a support ISIS.' He claimed the order to carry out the attack came directly from the terror group in Syria, Sweden's Aftonbladet revealed. 'The bombing in Syria needs to stop,' he reportedly said while being interrogated. Confession: Rakhmat Akilov, pictured in court, the Uzbek migrant suspected of killing four in last week's terror attack in Stockholm, has admitted to the atrocity in court today Atrocity: Akilov, above, 39, also allegedly left 15 wounded after ploughing through crowds of people in one of the Swedish capital's busiest shopping districts Terror suspect: Police sources said Akilov, pictured being taken into custody by police, told them: 'I am a Muslim and a support ISIS.' He claimed the order to carry out the attack came directly from the terror group in Syria, it was reported A sketch was taken of Akilov during his court appearanace in Stockholm today Appearing at Stockholm District Court today hidden under a green jacket, the lorry terrorist spoke only to confirm his identity before pleading guilty through his lawyer. Hunched over a desk beside his legal team with his back to the public gallery, the gaunt and hunched man later moved the jacket down over his shoulders to reveal a shock of greying hair. 'Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention,' his lawyer Johan Eriksson told a court custody hearing in Stockholm. He also left 15 wounded after ploughing a stolen beer truck through crowds of people in one of the Swedish capital's busiest shopping districts. A Swedish prosecutor demanded that Akilov remain in custody under maximum restrictions. Under the conditions, he would be kept in solitary confinement without access to television or internet and will not be allowed to communicate with the outside world. When the judge asked for a plea, Akilov's lawyer Mr Eriksson said: 'My client has confessed that he is responsible for these allegations.' The killer, who was known to have shown interest in jihadist organisations according to the police, then exchanged whispers with his lawyer before the judge ordered the court cleared of spectators so that the rest of the case could be heard in secret. The court had already rejected Akilov's request that his state-appointed lawyer be replaced with a Sunni Muslim, official documents revealed. Torture claims: Akilov's lawyer Johan Eriksson told a court custody hearing in Stockholm: 'Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention' Destruction: Akilov left 15 wounded after ploughing a stolen beer truck, above, through crowds of people in one of the Swedish capital's busiest shopping districts. The request was filed by his representative Mr Eriksson, one of Sweden's top lawyers, who wrote: 'According to my client, only a lawyer with that background could represent his interests in the best possible way.' Mr Eriksson told MailOnline that he has gotten on well with the terrorist, despite the killer trying to replace him with a Muslim attorney for a second time. 'We have a good relationship,' he said. He said his client will now undergo a psychiatric assessment to establish whether he is mentally sound - standard procedure in all murder cases in Sweden.' 'The evaluation is to see whether he is fit to be imprisoned or if he should be hospitalised after the trial has ended.' The lawyer made clear, however, that he had 'personally seen no evidence' to suggest that Akilov is mentally unsound. The results of the initial assessment will allow the court to decide whether the killer will require a more in-depth evaluation. The investigation could take a year, the lawyer added. Akilov's confession comes amid claims the alleged terrorist's asylum bid in Sweden was rejected after investigators discovered he had lied about being tortured in his homeland. Akilov applied for asylum in 2014 under the false name 'Rahmatgon Kurbonov', the Dagens Nyheter newspaper reported. Lies: Akilov's confession comes amid claims the alleged terrorist's asylum bid in Sweden was rejected after investigators discovered he had lied about being tortured in his homeland. Pictured: Footage purportedly showing Akilov being arrested following the terror attack 'Death is too good for him': Chef who tried to stop Stockholm terrorist says he is 'satisfied' the attacker will 'suffer' in prison A chef who tried to stop the Stockholm terrorist when he went on Friday's rampage today said 'death is too good for him'. Reacting to the news that fanatic Rakhmat Akilov, 39, has this morning pleaded guilty to the atrocity, Gaeton Graham, 43, said: 'I think death is what he wanted to achieve and he didn't get it. 'Seeing him pleading guilty is a bit of satisfaction for people like me. Thank God now he will face justice.' Justice: Gaeton Graham, above, a chef who tried to stop the Stockholm terrorist during his rampage, said he is satisfied he confessed and said 'death is too good for him' He added: 'He got what he deserved. If I had caught him I'd have killed him, but going to jail for life is better. He'll have time to suffer.' Australian-born Mr Graham, 43, ran after the speeding lorry when he saw it mowing down innocent people. He was determined to grab Akilov before he got away. Mr Graham told MailOnline: 'Around me, loads of people were screaming.' He added: 'I'm not a hard man, but I just felt so angry with this guy driving down the street hitting innocent people that I just really wanted him to be taken into custody.' After the terrorist disappeared, in desperation, Mr Graham went down into the subway to try to find him but was unsuccessful. CCTV has since shown that the killer entered the subway a few minutes after Mr Graham was looking for him. Horror: Australian-born Mr Graham, who chased the speeding lorry, told MailOnline: 'Thank God now he will face justice.' Pictured: The aftermath of Akilov's rampage Witness: Married chef Mr Graham said he saw the lorry turn a corner at excessive speed before it ploughed into people and crashed into a department store in Stockholm Married Mr Graham had been on Adolf Fredrik Kyrkogatan, in Stockholm, when he saw the lorry turn the corner at excessive speed. He said: 'I could get out of the way because I saw the truck coming down Adolf Fredrik Kyrkogatan from around 70 metres away. He drove with considerable precision. He added: 'I've been having counselling because I've been unable to sleep or eat after what I have seen.' Advertisement He claimed authorities in his native Uzbekistan had falsely accused him of being a terrorist and had tortured and assaulted him in custody. The fanatic told the Swedish Migration Board that he had been arrested during a demonstration and was subsequently tortured by police for nine days. However, a medical examination showed that torture had not taken place. Investigators concluded that his identity could not be confirmed as he had used several aliases when applying for asylum. A court also questioned his version of events, saying that his description of conditions in prison was too vague. He was unable to describe its appearance and anybody who was in prison with him. 'This was something he should have been able to describe quite thoroughly after nine days in prison,' the court said. 'He also hasn't given us information about other people in the demonstration even though he claims to have known many of them.' The court found that Akilov's story became more exaggerated as the case continued. Akilov said that he was only able to escape a longer prison sentence after his brother paid $10,000 in bribes. The court found this information unlikely, however, since he could not provide any details about how the money was paid. Tragedy: Young mother Mailys Dereymaeker, right, was revealed as one of the four victims of the terror truck. She leaves behind a young toddler. British music executive Chris Bevington, left, a married father of two, was one of four killed in Friday's horrific attack Tribute: Mr Bevington, pictured, 41, who was living in Stockholm, was the first victim to be named Remembering in prayer: A young boy offers a heartbreaking tributes to the dead and to the heroism of the emergency services, as memorials were laid across Stockholm in memory of the four victims and many more wounded Minute's silence: In front of a sea of flowers, a woman weeps with emotion as Sweden fell silent for a minute's commemoration for the victims of Friday's terror attack Light in the dark: Flowers and candles spread out across the scene of the terror attack in Stockholm as thousands paid their own personal tribute to the four victims killed by a careering truck During court hearings, the fanatic said that he came from a wealthy family and that his wife and children were still in his home country. His journey to Sweden took place by truck via Denmark and was arranged by his brother, he said, but the court found that this was also not reliable. In conclusion, the court decided that there was no reason to grant him asylum or citizenship in Sweden and ruled that he should be deported. 'His story cannot be seen as something he has experienced himself and therefore he is not in need of asylum,' the court's verdict said. The fanatic appealed the ruling, but on 14 December 2016 this was dismissed. Akilov was given four weeks to leave the country voluntarily, but failed to do so. In February, the case was handed over to police to enforce the deportation but by that time Akilov had gone to ground. The latest victim of Friday's terrorist atrocity in Stockholm was today named as 69-year-old Lena Wahlberg, an Amnesty International representative. Mrs Wahlberg, a stepmother of two who had been married to her husband for 37 years, is the second of two Swedish citizens to have been killed in the attack. The other was an 11-year-old girl. Mrs Wahlberg was from Ljungskile, a small town in western Sweden near Gothenburg, and was in the capital as a tourist. She owned four properties with her husband and was the local president of Amnesty International in her hometown. Other victims included Mailys Dereymaeker, a Belgian psychologist who worked with failed asylum seekers who were being deported. Gone: The latest victim of Friday's terrorist atrocity in Stockholm was today named as 69-year-old Lena Wahlberg, above, an Amnesty International representative Loved: Mrs Wahlberg, a stepmother of two who had been married to her husband for 37 years, is the second of two Swedish citizens to have been killed in the attack Moment of contemplation: Passersby gathered in silence to look at the candles burning in memory of the dead at the scene of Friday's terror attack Messages of peace: A woman places a post-it note on an already covered window of a shop in Stockholm, Sweden. Among the dead is Chris Bevington, a Briton who worked for Spotify The mother of one, from Lembeek, near Brussels, was waiting for friends from work when the carnage struck. Ms Dereymaeker, who had an 18-month-old toddler, worked with illegal immigrants facing deportation like her alleged killer, Akilov. The psychologist and music enthusiast who played the flute was in Stockholm for a well-deserved break with friends from work. 'It is difficult for me to talk about her death,' a friend told local media. 'She played the flute and taught music to children'. The mayor of Lembeek said: 'I met her several times. I know her parents very well. They are very nice people who have lived in Halle for a long time.' Mr Pieters added: 'I'm shocked after each attack, but when you put a face on a victim and personally know her parents, it's even worse.' Ms Dereymaeker was the second victim to be identified after Briton Crispin Bevington, 41, was named yesterday. An 11-year-old girl from Sweden was also among the dead. Today, the fourth victim was reported as a woman from Uddevalla, a small town in western Sweden. A local newspaper contacted the alleged victim's family but they declined to comment. As Sweden held a minute's silence for the victims, politicians demanded greater powers to monitor failed asylum seekers. Floral tribute: A police car was garlanded in memorial flowers in the aftermath of the vicious attack that left four dead Saddest display: In a stunning but heartbreakingly sad gesture of remembrance, a police van was garlanded in flowers, Swedish flags, candles and balloons People whose applications for asylum have failed could be made to report to police stations in a crackdown on the estimated 12,000 migrants awaiting deportation from the country. Workplace inspections could also be stepped up in a bid to root out those served with papers to leave Sweden and deported the back to their home countries. The tough new measures are being demanded after it was revealed Akilove had been told to leave Sweden in December. Like thousands of other failed asylum seekers he disappeared, and police admitted they had no idea where he was despite apparent sympathies to the IS terror cause bringing him to the attention of the country's security services. According to figures from immigration officials there are up to 12,000 people in the country who should have been deported. The Swedish Migration Board believes the figure will soar to 50,000 by the year 2021. Latest figures from the Migration Board show that 24,000 people were deported last year after Sweden accepted 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015. The number of people attempting to settle in Sweden last year dropped to just under 30,000 after the country turned its back on mass immigration. 'This is a wake up call for Sweden, ' said Paula Bieler, immigration spokesman for the Swedish Democrat Party. Writing against terror: Messages of support for the victims and of defiance against the terrorists fill the board that covers the crash site, where the truck smashed into a department store 'We now have to look into the possibility of giving the police more powers. It is outstanding in a bad way that we have 12,000 people in this country who have been told to leave and we don't know where they are. 'The police should be given more powers. One way would to make the migrants reports to a police station on a regular basis. They could also have greater powers to carry out workplace inspections and deportations carried out.' Bieler, and the leader of the Swedish Democrats Jimmie Akesson, want to see the Government take immediate action to deport failed asylum seekers back to their country of origin. 'We have agreements in place with these countries that they should be taken back. They have tried to gain asylum here and they have failed. They do not have the right to stay in this country,' said Bieler. Akesson said it was a 'scandal' that the alleged killer had been allowed to remain in Stockholm. A touching image shows the moment a dying man was granted his final wish by nurses - a cigarette and a glass of wine while watching the sun set. Nurses agreed to bend hospital rules so Carsten Flemming Hansen could enjoy his favourite things one last time before he died. Staff at Aarhus University Hospital shared the image of the 75-year-old, who doctors said was too ill to be operated on for internal bleeding. Carsten Hansen was pictured on the balcony at the hospital enjoying a last glass of wine and a cigarette Although patients are banned from smoking indoors, his nurse agreed to let him drink and smoke on a balcony, a decision which has been widely praised. Mr Hansen's daughter, Mette Gold Bech Demuth, told BT: 'My father's last wish was to be allowed to enjoy his wine and some cigarettes. 'It was the best thing for him. It meant a lot to him throughout life. He was annoyed that he was not allowed to smoke inside. He really wanted to have his very last cigarette.' Nurses decided it was best to allow him to enjoy his final days, and shared the image on Facebook after Mr Hansen's death. Rikke Kvist, a nurse at the hospital, told Danish newspaper Avisen.dk: 'It was a very cozy and relaxed atmosphere. 'Of course they were relatives also affected by the fact that he was going to die, and they were sad. But it was cozy and there was humour.' The hospital posted the picture on Facebook, stating: 'The family agreed that what Carsten Hansen wanted was more important than the treatment and prevention.' 'Cheeky' Christian Mackintosh was pictured appearing to swear in a photo to mark him being three weeks old A premature baby has been caught 'swearing' at his mother in a hilarious photo intended to mark him turning three weeks old. Christian Mackintosh, who was born eight weeks early weighing just 3lbs - was snapped by his doting mother Sam Docherty, 27, after she began documenting his milestones with a series of adorable photos. It wasn't until Ms Docherty, of Alloa, Scotland, and her partner, Paul Mackintosh, 31, looked back at the photo that they realised their son was showing off his middle finger. Christian, who spent 34 days in hospital after being born early, is now back home with his family. Ms Docherty, a full time mother of three, said: 'Christian had just let out a huge yawn when I placed the 'I am three weeks old' sign behind him. 'But as I took the photo, his middle finger came up as if he was actually swearing. 'It was hilarious and although Christian was obviously oblivious, his little face was actually grumpy too. 'Me and Paul have had a few laughs over it since, it's impossible not to notice his middle finger when showing people the photo. 'By this point he was much bigger than when he was first born. Christian was a bag of bones when he was born 32 weeks old.' Mother Sam Docherty, left with Christian, gave birth to her son, right, eight weeks early and he spent 34 days in hospital Ms Docherty and partner Paul Mackintosh, pictured with Christian and their older children Lucas, left, and Silver, right, are sharing the funny picture to raise awareness of premature births She added: 'I was terrified but decided to order the little signs online for every milestone he hit while in hospital as a distraction. 'They said things like, 'I'm breathing on my own,' 'first time I'm wearing clothes,' as I knew it would be nice to look back on when he's older. 'And after giving us his middle finger after turning three weeks old, I don't think we will forget that milestone for a long time.' Ms Docherty, who already has two older children, was terrified when doctors told her that her placenta had deteriorated and there was no fluid protecting Christian. She added: 'No one can prepare you for being told your baby is going to be born prematurely. 'After my caesarean, Christian was whisked away to a special unit for premature babies. Ms Docherty, right with Christian, said the baby was a 'bag of bones' when he was born Christian, pictured, had to be born via caesarean after Ms Docherty's placenta deteriorated and there was no fluid protecting the child. This picture is to mark the day he was taken off medical equipment 'Despite being small, he was very alert and his tiny body was really strong compared to others on the ward. 'I loved sharing his milestones on my social media pages as he was so tiny next to the signs that it made it even more adorable. 'You could really see how much he'd grown from two to three weeks after being born.' The couple hope the photo of their son will 'give everyone a laugh' and help relax parents of premature children Despite the couple's initial worries, they tried to enjoy their time with their premature son while in hospital. Ms Docherty, originally from Cambridge, added: 'I would tell any parents who have a premature baby to sit back and watch them grow. 'So much is taken away from you when you have a baby early that you should try your best not to stress and get anxious. 'It was horrible when we came home and he was still in hospital but we knew one day that he would be allowed home once he was strong enough. 'I took three positives from every day and I tried to focus on Christian coming home and how it would feel once we were all together.' The couple have decided to share their lighthearted story to raise awareness for premature births. She added: 'The photo of Christian swearing is so funny that it would be a shame not to share it. 'We've had a few laughs over it and we hope it will give everyone else a giggle. 'Christian has overcome a lot for such a small baby and we're so thankful to have our cheeky monkey home for good.' An Afghan war veteran dad has admitted bigamy as his first marriage collapsed after his wife tragically suffered a staggering nine miscarriages. Cpl Ross McCready, 38, was hauled into court yesterday when he confessed to marrying again after failing to divorce his first wife for more than a decade. McCready, based at Wattisham Airfield, Suffolk, has served in the armed forces for 18 years and had reached the rank of sergeant before being demoted. Cpl Ross McCready was see leaving South East Suffolk magistrates' court yesterday after admitting bigamy The highly-experienced career soldier was fined 1,500 at South East Suffolk magistrates' court, Ipswich, after he admitted bigamy. McCready married his first wife, whose full name was not disclosed, in December 2000 but they split up in November 2002, according to the East Anglian Daily Times. Sue Threadkell, defending, said their marriage did not 'survive the trauma' of an incredible nine miscarriages as they desperately tried to start a family. Mrs Threadkell said McCready's devastated wife repeatedly demanded a divorce but he refused. The serviceman flew home from a tough six-month tour of war-torn Afghanistan fighting the Taliban to find to his shock that she'd moved out and left him. He was fined 1,500 and ordered to pay 85 costs and a 150 victim surcharge Mrs Threadkell told JPs: 'He did not seek out his wife or the fundamental divorce.' She said the shattered soldier had been guilty of 'burying his head in the sand to a level that was incomprehensible'. McCready began seeing his future second wife, Gemma Halliday, in 2007. Lesla Small, prosecuting, said: 'They got engaged and started to make plans to marry.' Mrs Small said McCready told Ms Halliday he'd previously been married and she believed the marriage had been ended. She said the squaddie had returned from another six-month deployment in Afghanistan to find his new sweetheart had 'organised a lot' for their wedding. Mrs Small said McCready 'simply (got) swept along' and 'did not know what to say or what to do'. 'He agreed at that point he should have done something, but didn't,' she said. McCready got hitched to Ms Halliday in April 2013 in Woodbridge, Suffolk. But she began to suffer serious doubts about if he'd actually been divorced from his first wife and confronted him, the court heard. McCready told his shocked partner that he hadn't got legally divorced. Police were tipped off in November. McCready, who moved out of the family home, and Ms Halliday have a four-year-old daughter but have civil, daily contact. Mrs Threadkell said McCready admits he badly 'let down' Ms Halliday, who felt 'bereaved' after being hit by the shocking bombshell. The remorseful soldier's already been busted from sergeant to corporal by the army and received support for a 'breakdown', the court heard. As well as being fined 1,500, McCready was also ordered to pay 85 costs and a 150 victim surcharge. David Carey pleaded guilty to 13 offences and admitted having a haul of 9,000 vile images A pervert who admitted possessing thousands of 'stomach-turning' indecent images of children and animals has avoided jail. David Carey, 33, who lives with his elderly mother in Longbenton in North Tyneside, pleaded guilty to a series of charges regarding the 9,000 'extremely offensive' pictures and films discovered on his computer equipment. As well as possessing the vile library, he confessed to having distributed some of the child abuse images to others. A court heard the 33-year-old also had 73 images and 91 films of extreme pornography portraying people having sex with animals. Hundreds of them were classed as category A - the most serious. One offence was for the possession of extreme pornographic images, involving sexual activity with an animal, while another was for possessing an indecent cartoon. Carey admitted 13 offences covering the period between 2012 to 2016. Carey admitted six offences of making indecent photographs of a child as well as three of possessing indecent images. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of distributing indecent images, possessing prohibited cartoon images of a child and possessing extreme pornography. A court heard the 33-year-old, who lives with his elderly mother, also had 73 images and 91 films of extreme pornography portraying people having sex with animals Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said the defendant had come into contact with 'people of similar interest' on the internet and had downloaded the pictures and videos as well as distributing some of them. He added: 'Following his arrest, he was interviewed and he accepted he had shared indecent images of children. 'He had come into contact with individuals through social network sites. He had received images and videos and forwarded some on.' The court heard Carey, 34, had started off viewing adult pornography on the internet but had moved on to child pornography. Carey also admitted distributing some of the images to other perverts online Robin Patton, for Carey, said the defendant was of low risk. He added: 'He is somebody who has lived his life vicariously through a computer. He has not sought to meet or have a relationship with a child.' After reading the report, Recorder Andrew Dallas sentenced Carey, who had no previous convictions, to two years in prison suspended for two years. He told the defendant: 'You might imagine yourself in the privacy of your own home and your computer not harming anybody, in the sense that you are not touching anybody. 'But people like you perpetrate the abuse of children by encouraging others to commit abuse, photograph it and put it on the internet knowing there will be people like you who want to view it and download it. 'You are 34 years old, never been in trouble with the police before and live at home with your mum. You have never had a relationship with anybody other than your mother. 'You present as an isolated figure. I accept you drifted into this offending through adult pornography, which turned into this disgusting pornography, including the abuse and torture of babies.' He added: 'I accept there is a very low risk that you are likely to re-offend.' He imposed a two-year supervision requirement, with a rehabilitation activity, and ordered him to take part in a sex offenders programme. In addition, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order was made and Carey was also ordered to keep police informed of his address. Newcastle Crown heard Carey, 34, had started off viewing adult pornography on the internet but had moved on to child pornography A spokesman for the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children said: 'Carey's stomach-turning collection is a catalogue of crime scenes which show innocent children being robbed of their dignity. 'Behind every online abuse image is a child who has suffered a torrid ordeal in the real world but Carey's library shows that he was only bothered about his own gratification. 'Law enforcement must be given the resources to tackle this growing threat because they do not have a model fit for the future. 'The NSPCC wants to see a specialist digital child abuse unit in every police force, trained to deal with sexual and other online offences against children.' A frantic mother shoved a sandwich into the mouth of a mongrel in a desperate bid to save her screaming daughter, who was locked in its jaws. But the huge dog refused to relax its grip for ten terrifying minutes and shook the sobbing schoolgirl like a rag doll. And by the time it was hauled off, the child was left with blood dripping from terrible bite wounds to her leg. Ten-year-old Shakeisha Vowell was on a family picnic with mother Jade Douglas at the Vallis Vale beauty spot in Frome, Somerset on Sunday when the vicious attack happened. Ten-year-old Shakeisha Vowell was enjoying a day out with mother Jade Douglas, 32, at the Vallis Vale beauty spot in Frome, Somerset on Sunday when out of nowhere, a hound attacked her The aftermath: Shakeisha is being treated in hospital and it's feared she will need a skin graft after she was bitten by a dog on a family picnic It is the latest horrifying incident in which children have been attacked by dogs in recent weeks. Just last week a toddler in Kent has been fighting for its life after being mauled in a playground and just days later, another young child suffered wounds to the face from a dog in the street. Shakeisha is being treated in hospital and it's feared she will need a skin graft. The family had been enjoying the first Sunday of the Easter Holidays when a monster dog, described as a mongrel, appeared out of nowhere with no sign of its owner. 'We'd been having a lovely day - we usually go down Vallis Vale when it's sunny' Ms Douglas said. 'Shakeisha had been jumping in and out of the water enjoying herself. 'When she finished playing she started putting on her shoes when suddenly this huge dog came up and grabbed her. 'It was absolutely awful - she was screaming for her life. Mother Jade Douglas, 32, tried to distract the hound away using a sandwich from the family picnic (stock image) 'I started hitting the dog, swearing and screaming at it, trying to rip it from my daughter,' the upset mother explained. But when the beast refused to let go, she used a sandwich from the family picnic in a bid to divert its attention. Ms Douglas, 32, said: 'I tried shoving a sandwich in its mouth in an attempt to distract it but it was holding her leg too hard. 'For 10 minutes I couldn't get it off. 'Then we tried pouring water on it and in its mouth and got it to release its grip.' Shakeisha was taken by ambulance to the Royal United Hospital in Bath and was kept in for treatment. Her mother said Shakeisha could have died if the dog latched on to her neck. She said: 'She may need a skin graft. Luckily the dog didn't grab her by the face or neck. 'She might not be with us today if it had done that. 'Watching the dog with her leg in its mouth is the most horrible thing I've ever witnessed. 'I can't get the images out of my head. I honestly thought the dog, which looked like some sort of beast, was going to take her leg off. 'She'll certainly never be confident enough to go back down Vallis Vale or be around dogs again. She'll be traumatised for the rest of her life.' The mother is now urging owners to keep their dogs on a lead. 'I'm concerned that this sort of thing is becoming a regular occurrence,' she said. Ms Douglas' sister Terrie Vowellzey was with them at the time and said: 'Shakeisha was just enjoying the sun with her mum when the dog came up to her and tried biting her shoe. 'Soon as she tried moving away the dog latched on to her leg and wouldn't let go. 'She's just had the leg cleaned fully before they decide if she will need skin grafts or not. 'We are all very angry and want others to know the dangers of dogs not being on leads and also want some justice for a poor little girl who was just enjoying her Easter holidays. 'We tried everything to get the dog off but he wouldn't let go. 'Jade managed to kick the dog and he let go but by then Shakeisha was in shock and covered in blood.' Beauty spot: The family had been enjoying the sunshine at the Vallis Vale beauty spot in Frome, Somerset on Sunday when a dog came out of nowhere and set upon ten-year-old Shakeisha This is the latest in a series of troubling dog attacks across the UK. Last week an 18-month-old baby was severely injured after being mauled by a banned pitbull-type breed in Chatham, Kent. The infant - named as Victoria Resetnjova - was left fighting for her life in hospital after she was savaged by the animal as she played with her teenage sister at a park. The dog was shot dead following the vicious attack on Tuesday evening. And on Monday, April 3 a toddler in Derbyshire was left with horrific facial injuries when a dog she had been told was 'safe to pet' clamped its jaws on her face when she tried to kiss it. Ophelia Rozic, aged 18 months, was rushed to hospital in Derbyshire after the animal sank its teeth into her face when she went to give it a kiss. Her heavily pregnant mother, Nicol, 31, watched on in horror as the animal clamped its jaws around her daughter's head during the terrifying attack. In March a tragedy hit the headlines when a man, 41, was mauled to death by his own dog while being filmed for a BBC documentary. He was taken to hospital but couldnt be saved after suffering catastrophic blood loss and damage to the airways consistent with a dog bite. The dog, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier according to police, is believed to have attacked its owner in the street outside his home in Wood Green, north London. Russia says it will not shoot down US missiles if Donald Trump orders another Syrian airstrike because they are 'there to fight terrorism, not external threats'. America unleashed a wave of 59 Tomahawk strikes on one of Bashar al-Assad's airbases in the wake of a horrifying chemical attack on 87 Syrian civilians last week. Russia - which has backed the Syrian dictator military - as well as Iran and its allies said the US had crossed a 'red line' and warned they 'will respond to any aggression' in the future. But today the head of the Russian Federation Council's Defense and Security Committee insisted Kremlin forces stationed in Syria will not try to intercept US missiles should Washington order further strikes. Russia says it will not shoot down US missiles if Donald Trump orders another Syrian airstrike because they are 'there to fight terrorism, not external threats'. America unleashed a wave of 59 Tomahawk strikes (pictured) on one of Bashar al-Assad's airbases in the wake of a horrifying chemical attack on 87 Syrian civilians last week Russia - which has backed the Syrian dictator military - as well as Iran and its allies said the US had crossed a 'red line' and warned they 'will respond to any aggression' in the future. Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured Viktor Ozerov told the news agency Interfax: 'Our armed forces are in Syria to fight terrorism not to defend against external threats. Thats not our mandate, and were not going to intercept anything.' But he also warned that the Syrian military still had a 'legal right' to try to shoot down rockets. Some 87 people, including children, are believed to have been killed in a suspected sarin nerve agent strike on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun. US president Donald Trump ordered a strike by 59 cruise missiles on the base in America's first direct attack against the Syrian government. Last night, a senior US official said America had concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. The official said a drone operated by Russians was flying over a hospital as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons. Some 87 people, including children, are believed to have been killed in a suspected sarin nerve agent strike on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun A devastated father was pictured cradling the bodies of his dead twins after they were killed during the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, in the rebel-held central province of Idlib, Syria The official said the presence of the surveillance drone over the hospital couldn't have been a coincidence, and that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming and that victims were seeking treatment. The official, who wasn't authorised to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity, didn't give precise timing for when the drone was above the northern Syrian town. He also didn't provide all the details for the military and intelligence information that form the basis of what he said the Pentagon has now concluded. The allegation is grave, even by the standards of the currently dismal U.S.-Russian relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin won't meet with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (centre) when he's in Moscow on Wednesday - an apparent snub after the Trump administration dropped bombs on Syria last week Although Russia has steadfastly supported Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, and they've coordinated military attacks together, Washington has never previously accused Moscow of complicity in any attack that involved the gassing of innocent civilians, including children. The former Cold War foes even worked together in 2013 to remove and destroy more than 1,300 tons of Syrian chemical weapons and agents. Meanwhile, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, is due to snub Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he's in Moscow on Wednesday. Putin is passing Tillerson off to his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov. The Kremlin did not say why the Russian president was avoiding Tillerson after meeting repeatedly with his predecessor, John Kerry, in the Obama years. But it had ripped the US for its air assault in Syria and warned Donald Trump that he was 'one step from war' with the country after the attack. Levelling the charge that Putin's military knew about the attack in advance will only increase the tension. Shocking video showing two gay men being slapped by vigilantes who broke into their home before handing them over to police has sparked international condemnation. The men, both in their 20s, are being detained in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, where they could face 100 lashes for having homosexual relations. The footage shows one of the distressed men, who was completely naked, speaking to his family on a phone, while telling one of the vigilantes: 'Please brother, please stop.' The video shows the two men, obviously distressed, after a group of vigilantes bursts into the room The were taken to Wilayatul Hisbah, a Sharia police facility, after their arrest on March 28. They have been identified by the initials HB and MT, and were reportedly in the room of HB to have sex. Phelim Kine, deputy Asia division director at Human Right Watch, said after the video was shared around the world: 'These men had their privacy invaded in a frightening and humiliating manner and now face public torture for the crime of their alleged sexual orientation.' Kine said it demonstrates the 'abuse' embedded in anti-LGBT laws in the province of Aceh, where members of the public are encouraged to enforced strict Islamic laws. Authorities in the province of Aceh have been heavily condemned after the two men were detained One of the men pleaded with the enforcers to stop and was seen frantically talking to his family The region has since 2001 been allowed by the Indonesian government to adopt bylaws which criminalise homosexuality as well as punishing women who do not cover their bodies. Alcohol, gambling and extramarital relations are also banned in the region, and human rights groups have hit out at Banda Aceh's mayor, Illiza Saaduddin, who last year said she would create a team to tackle the 'threat' of LGBT people. In 2014, Aceh introduced a law which punishes anybody caught engaging in consensual gay sex with 100 lashes, 100 months in jail or a fine of 1,000 grams of gold. One man was wearing shorts while another cowered on the floor after the vigilantes burst into the room The men face 100 lashings under the strict laws which outlaw homosexuality in Aceh in Indonesia It also sets out punishment for sex crimes, unmarried people engaging in displays of affection, adulterous relationships and underage sex. Authorities in the province on the northern tip of Sumatra island caned 339 people in 2016 for a range of crimes, according to HRW. The Indonesian government has yet to respond to a letter from the United Nations, written in April last year, expressing concerns about the abuse of LGBT people in Aceh. Last October, president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo said police must defend the country's LGBT population, but Human Rights Watch has accused him of inaction since. President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has come under fire from human rights activists Kine said after the latest arrest: 'President Jokowi should urgently intervene is this case to demonstrate his stated commitment to ending discrimination against LGBT people. 'Jokowi then needs to act to eliminate Acehs discriminatory ordinances so these outrageous arrests dont happen again.' Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia that criminalises same-sex relations and that uses sharia as its legal code in addition to the national criminal code. 'The case has been sent to the sharia court of Aceh... It involves sodomy which can be punished by 100 lashes,' Marzuki, head of investigations with Aceh's religious police, said on Monday. Advertisement Poverty, sickness and pure survival - just a few reasons why genuinely needy people beg on the streets for money. But as these images show, the poor in southeast Asia are increasingly being joined by wealthy Western backpackers who are begging simply to fund their trips. The trend has caused outrage among locals, who say the tourists are taking money from the truly needy in order to finance lifestyle choices many consider a luxury. Western backpackers are increasingly taking to begging on the streets of southeast Asia in order to fund their trips across the continent, causing outrage among locals Maisarah Abu Samah, from Singapore, questioned why people who could afford expensive equipment such as amplifiers (pictured) would need to take handouts Others said tourists are taking money away from the truly needy in order to fund lifestyle choices many consider a luxury Westerns begging for travel money has become a common sight across Asia, including in Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand (pictured, people beg on the streets of Bangkok) Travellers also appear to be openly flouting strict laws on street begging in many of the countries they visit. For example, in Singapore, only visitors with a work visa are allowed to busk. Maisarah Abu Samah, who is from Singapore, posted two images of people begging on Twitter - one couple selling postcards and another playing music. Expressing her fury, she told France24 : 'It was the first time I've seen something like that and it stopped me in my tracks. 'First of all, you don't see many people selling knick-knacks or playing music in the street in Singapore because there are strict rules governing these activities. While some people play instruments for cash, another common tactic is to sell postcards with travel photos printed on them Ms Samah questioned why tourists sitting at the side of the road, often with expensive travel equipment, needed to be begging for money Referring to the man pictured as farang, meaning 'foreigner' or more specifically 'European', this image from Bangkok was posted online with the caption: 'Lost his money on girls, bar, or what?' 'And, if you do happen to see street vendors or street performers, they are usually in the town centre and not near a bus stop in a relatively middle class neighbourbood like this. I've also never seen white people doing that. Do you know these 'beg-packers'? Contact: chris.pleasance@mailonline.com Advertisement 'We find it extremely strange to ask other people for money to help you travel. Selling things in the street or begging isn't considered respectable. 'People who do so are really in need: they beg in order to buy food, pay their children's school fees or pay off debts. 'But not in order to do something seen as a luxury.' A video from The Star also showed a young man selling spray-painted portraits in Kuala Lumpur. Part of the outrage comes from a perceived unfairness between locals and tourists. Louisa, a Malaysian woman who studied political economics, told France 24 that tourists are often feel they can behave however they want while travelling in an 'exotic' place. It is not just young people found cash-strapped in Asia either, as these middle-aged women hold up signs in Hong Kong reading: 'Please help, need money for the ticket home. Thank you' A Malaysian woman attributed the begging to the fact that people are travelling in an 'exotic' place and feel able to behave in ways they wouldn't at home (pictured, a man begs in Bangkok) A Western traveller sitting with bags of fast food begs for money on a street corner in Bangkok as part of a 'beg-packer' trend She said: 'I want to ask these tourists: what makes you think that this kind of behaviour is normal in Asia? Why don't you do the same thing at home?' The same trend has also taken hold online, where people use crowdfunding or charitable giving websites to ask for donations for them to go on voyages. There is even a dedicated website, fundmytravel, which allows people to appeal for donations to 'fund meaningful travel experiences.' While many projects on the site seem to be linked to worthy causes - such as humanitarian work in impoverished countries - others seem to be less deserving. One recent appeal, entitled 'David and Bash extreme budget backpackers take on SE Asia!', seeks funding for David and partner Sebastian to enjoy 'outrageous adventure, eating bugs, cliff diving, scuba and jungle trekking.' Created two days ago, the pair are asking for $2,850 - $1,000 for airfare, $850 for accommodation, and another $1,000 to spend. So far they have received $20. Joseph Myhre of Collegeville, Philadelphia attached an electric shock dog collar to his two children according to court documents A father has been charged with using an electric shock dog collar on his two children aged 11 and 13 during a six-year abuse ordeal. Police claimed Joseph Myhre of Collegeville, Philadelphia purchased the electric dog collar - even though he did not own a dog - so he could use it on his son and daughter. According to court documents, the 44-year-old married father-of-two would adjust the intensity of the electric shock on a scale from one to 100. Lower Providence Township police Detective Reginald Nealy Jr. said Myhre's 13-year-old son described the alleged abuse. The boy described having the collar attached about 60 times, often on his legs or on his stomach. According to Nealy, the boy described in detail what his father would do with the collar. 'He usually put on a low number. It went to 1 to 100. It would be around a 40. If he was angry he would put it up to 100, which really hurt and took all the feeling out of my legs which hurt.' The girl said the collar was put on her neck, arms and calf and in her hand. She also described being punched hundreds of times, having her fingers squeezed with pliers and being choked into a 'dream state'. According to an affidavit of probable cause, police were alerted to the abuse after his wife attended hospital suffering from a fractured skull. Court documents claim Myhre jammed small blades under his children's fingernails and toenails. He is also accused of beating the children with a PVC pipe and wooden dowels. Nealy said the children's rooms contained 'closed-off wooden boxes for beds with a small opening and vents to let in air'. He said the living room of the family's home on the outskirts of Philadelphia had two large whiteboards with 'messages that were threatening and manipulative in nature'. Lower Providence Police Department arrested Myhre after his wife attended hospital suffering from a fractured skull Police said they began investigating after Myhre's wife was assaulted and drove herself to a hospital on March 15 and was found to have a fractured skull. Myhre is charged in Montgomery County with multiple counts of aggravated assault, strangulation, conspiracy, unlawful restraint and reckless endangering involving the children. He faces separate charges including assault, reckless endangering and harassment involving his wife. Court documents don't list a defense attorney on the charges involving his children, and a listed phone number for him couldn't be found Monday. A public defender representing him on charges involving his wife didn't immediately return a call seeking comment on Monday. Police said Myhre, who was ordered to be held in lieu of $1 million bail, told them he grabbed the children and hit them with sticks but didn't intend to harm them and they never cried or said they were in pain. Authorities, however, said a March 3 cellphone recording provided by Myhre's wife contains the sound of a child screaming 'It hurts so much!' and repeated cries of 'Please stop!' After the boy says he can't stand the pain, a male voice is heard saying 'Good,' authorities said. According to Philly.com the abuse started when the youngest child was aged between four and five. In a statement to police, one child said: 'Many times he would hit [my] head with a wooden stick. Another thing he would do is shock me with a dog collar. He would also bang my head against the wall or floor sometimes. Usually blood. It was so severe one time, I needed stitches.' Myhre is being held at Montgomery County Prison until a court appearance later this month. A man has claimed to have unmasked the identity of Banksy after taking a photo of a British street painter who he says is one of four different people behind the secretive artist. William Kasper took a photograph of an artist in Bethlehem in December 2007, who he believed was Banksy. The painter in the photograph was later identified as James Ame - also known as aka AM72 - a UK painter who lives in Israel. But Mr Kasper has now reiterated his claims, insisting Mr Ame is one of four people who has been responsible for Banksy's work the whole time. He came forward with the nine-year-old picture after recognising Mr Ame from a recent video, which another woman claimed showed Banksy at work in Israel. Scroll down for video William Kasper took these pictures in Bethlehem in 2007 and claim they are of UK painter James Ames - one of the artists responsible for the iconic street pieces of Banksy That video also shows Mr Ame carrying out some work at an art show at a shopping mall, which was curated by Banksy's former manager. The graffiti artist's identity has been shrouded in mystery for years, but some claim that he is Robin Gunningham, a man in his early 40s from Bristol. Mr Kasper said that Mr Ame 'fits the profile perfectly', but he could not be working alone because Banksy's body of work is too large for one person to accomplish. Banksy attracted more than 30 artists to his Santa's Ghetto gallery in Bethlehem 10 years ago and created an art trail around the city, spreading graffiti along the 425-mile West Bank wall built by the Israelis. Discussing his pictures, Mr Kasper said: 'The first photo was taken from a car window on the main road through Bethlehem. 'As I remember, the guy was painting an angel hovering over a Christmas tree stump. 'The second photo was taken as we approached the main checkpoint leaving Bethlehem later that day. 'Two guys in the car in front jumped out, we just assumed it was a mandatory security check so we got out too. Left: Mr Kasper said this man, pictured crossing the border into Israel, is James Ame - who fits the profile of Banksy 'perfectly'. Right: A Banksy piece in Bethnal Green, east London 'At that point the guy in the hat laid down the 'Welcome' mat, on the other side of the red and white barrier behind them is entry back into Israel. 'I have no idea what the Israeli security guard was laughing about but the 'Welcome' mat points into Israel.' He added: 'I was tipped off by a former associate who identified the man on the ladder painting the wall as Banksy. 'He is the same man in the photo who appears to be holding a British passport next to the 'Welcome' mat prank at the Bethlehem check point. A woman claimed she filmed Banksy after this man was captured working at an art installation in Bethlehem. Mr Kasper later claimed it was the same artist he has snapped weeks later 'The man in both photographs is one of the Banksy members and hides behind the artist name James Ame or Ame72. 'He is the same man filmed last week in Herzliya Marina, Israel. 'Ame fits the profile perfectly - a long term graffiti artist from the 80s turned gallery and street artist.' Mr Kasper's theory is backed up by a film captured in Herzliya Marina, Israel, earlier this month. A woman filmed the same man pictured by Mr Kasper, working on an art installation. Members of the public later identified him to be Mr Ame. Mr Kasper, who is currently writing a book, 'The Unusual Suspects', on his research into the true identity of Banksy, said : 'I never believed Banksy was one person. 'The body of work over the last 10 years is too large for one person to accomplish. 'This proves the group use different artist names as a cover and all collective members are hiding in plain view. 'Whoever came up with that idea is a genius.' Ame72 is yet to respond to requests for a comment. Advertisement The woman in a hijab who was subjected to a barrage of abuse from a far-right leader has met the woman who bravely intervened and thanked her for coming to her defence. Saffiyah Khan faced EDL supporters after around 25 men surrounded the woman during a march in Birmingham on Saturday, coming to her aid amid an aggressive confrontation. The footage of the brave Asian woman standing up against the hordes of far-right supporters, next to Saira Zafar, who was wearing a hijab, touched the hearts of people all over Britain. Meeting Miss Khan last night, Miss Zafar said: 'I just want to say thanks a lot for your help and for stepping forward and supporting me in that situation.' Heartwarming: This is the poignant moment that Saffiyah Khan (left) met Saira Zafar (right), the woman she defended when she was surrounded by far-right protesters on Saturday Row: This was the enduring image of the march, when Saffiyah Khan staring down English Defence League (EDL) leader Ian Crossland over claims a Muslim was surrounded and abused by up to 25 men Together: Meeting Miss Khan after the event, Miss Zafar said: 'I just want to say thanks a lot for your help and for stepping forward and supporting me in that situation' She added: 'It did really mean a lot. And together we defeated the EDL, I would say, at that rally,' reports The Guardian. Khan said: 'I wasnt going to let someone who was speaking the truth and being replied to aggressively be put in that position. You didnt look like you wanted to be there and I have an intrinsic problem with that.' The moment protester Miss Khan faced down extremist supporters including their leader Ian Crossland became the enduring image of the group's march in Birmingham on Saturday. In the face of vitriol she smiled and winked as she said she was 'not scared in the slightest' by the EDL but was taken away by police for her own safety during the stand-off. Miss Khan, a proud 'Brummie' born in the UK to Pakistani and Bosnian parents, said she felt compelled to confront Ian Crossland and more than 20 others because of the way they allegedly treated Miss Zafar. She said: 'A group of 25 quite big-looking EDL lads, they surrounded her. She was terrified. I don't like seeing people getting ganged up on in my town'. She added: 'The picture sums it up. It wasn't a pleasant interaction'. In response Mr Crossland described her as a 'left wing scrubber' who is 'lucky' to have teeth left in her mouth in an angry Facebook post. Response: Miss Khan said she 'was not scared in the slightest' but stepped in because she claims police did not protect the Muslim woman Protest: English Defence League members held a rally in Birmingham city centre - pictured is the woman in a blue headscarf, known only as Saira, who was abused by EDL extremists Response: Miss Khan was eventually taken away by police for her own safety, West Midlands Police said Brave: Saffiyah Khan spoke about her experience on the BBC and smiled and winked as she said she was not scared of the EDL (pictured) The woman in the hijab, known only as Saira, from Birmingham, said she travelled to the city centre to oppose the EDL. She said: 'I was born and bred in this country so for these people to be saying these things was very wrong. 'The majority of those people who supported me were not Muslim which shows it is a matter of humanity.' Saira told how the EDL protesters thrust a flag in her face and told her she was not welcome in the country. She said: 'There was someone behind me putting an Islamophobic placard above my head and resting it on my head and another person was shoving an EDL flag in my face. 'I was quite alarmed by the level of racism towards me. Response: Hope not Hate say this is what Ian Crossland had to say after Miss Khan afterwards 'They were looking at me with so much anger that they were almost looking straight through me with anger. 'There was just two or three police officers standing in front of me.' Saffiyah said police 'did nothing' to protect the woman and she was caught in stand off with EDL chief Mark Crossland, which was caught on camera. Miss Khan is seen stood with one hand in her pocket calmly looking down at irate Crossland, before smiling at him. Explaining what happened she said: 'I kept myself out of the way but sadly it did kick off between the EDL and a lady in a headscarf. 'A group of 25 quite big-looking EDL lads, they surrounded her. She was terrified. I stepped forward and identified myself as someone who supported her and contradicted them.' She added: 'I don't like seeing people getting ganged up on in my town'. In an interview with Victoria Derbyshire she added: 'There was very little conversation to be had. His aggression can be seen through the picture. 'Sometimes it is more important to smile than to shout and I did a fair bit of shouting, I'm under no illusions about that. But to smile is a more powerful message'. Saira said she was grateful for how Saffiyah stepped in to defend her. She said: 'She saw what was happening and the situation I was in with these people surrounding me trying to attack me. 'She stepped in to support me and I do really appreciate the fact she did that. 'It showed there was support for humanity and solidarity for humanity. 'I think the way Birmingham is portrayed by the EDL is very wrong. 'It's a very diverse city, you just need to go to the city to see how people of different religions and races are living side by side.' Police were then seen taking Saffiyah away but the West Midlands Police told MailOnline it was not an arrest. In response the campaign group Hope Not Hate posted an image from EDL leader Crossland's Facebook account reacting to the image. It said: 'The dirty unwashed left-wing scrubber was grinning because she managed to disrupt a demo. And the disrespectful witch chose the minutes silence for the victims of the terror attack in Stockholm and Westminster. She's lucky she got any teeth left' (sic). The picture showing the confrontation has been shared thousands of times across social media by celebrities and politicians. Dailymail.com editor-at-large Piers Morgan tweeted the photograph and wrote: '**PHOTO OF THE WEEK** Enraged EDL racist stared down by amused, contemptuous Asian woman.' Local MP Jess Phillips wrote: 'Who looks like they have power here, the real Brummy on the left or the EDL who migrated for the day to our city and failed to assimilate' The EDL rally in Centenary Square attracted approximately 100 supporters and passed off without any major disorder Officers policing the event were twice forced to form cordons to keep EDL supporters and anti-fascist activists apart People chat during a 'best of British' tea party for the public at the Birmingham Central Mosque in response to the English Defence League (EDL) protest Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson said that the picture was 'embarrassing' for the far right group in tweets Saffiyah, of Birmingham, said: 'The reason I was there was because I am a Brummie. This was happening in Birmingham and it felt right. I am not a political activist. 'I wasn't in a confrontational role, I wanted to keep a low profile. I was there with a few friends to look after people - because Muslims and people of colour are often abused. 'Nothing was really happening until a woman in a headscarf started shouting 'racist'. 'About 20 to 25 EDL people ran over and surrounded her. She looked absolutely terrified. I still hung back and waited for the police to sort it out. 'I waited two or three minutes and but the police did nothing, so I decided to go and try and get her out of there. 'It all happened very quickly. She left, but then I was identified as anti-fascist. The group turned on me. 'Ian Crossland was poking his finger in my face, but I just stood there. I didn't do anything, I wasn't interested, that wasn't my intention. 'But I wasn't scared in the slightest. I stay pretty calm in these situations. I knew they were trying to provoke me, but I wasn't going to be provoked. 'I was just holding out. Then I was just pulled out of there, I wasn't arrested or charged. I have lost my anonymity because of the picture, but on balance it was worth it'. The EDL rally in Centenary Square attracted approximately 100 supporters and passed off without any major disorder. West Midlands Police said two people, thought to be counter-protestors, had been arrested for alleged breaches of the peace. Officers policing the event were twice forced to form cordons to keep EDL supporters and anti-fascist activists apart. English Defence League (EDL) protestors demonstrate in the city of Birmingham, in the wake of the Westminster terror attack Balloons are released during a 'best of British' tea party for the public at the Birmingham Central Mosque An EDL march attended by an estimated 2,000 protestors in Birmingham on July 20 2013 saw missiles, including stones, bottles and broken glass, hurled at police officers in Centenary Square, resulting in several minor injuries. More than 50 men were later convicted of violent disorder, including a 21-year-old who was jailed for three years and 10 months. Reacting to Crossland's claims that she interrupted an minute's slilence, she said: 'There is no evidence supporting that. Everyone that was there with me can confirm that as well as video evidence. 'People that know me can vouch for me that if some was holding a minute's silence my respect for it would not be swayed. It is just a smear'. She said she has been inundated with messages from women telling her their daughters are looking up to her. She said: 'I have been trying to respond to most of the messages I have been getting. I haven't had a single negative message. 'I think the best messages I have received have been from people who have told me they had daughters who were looking up to me and I didn't realised a picture could have that effect. 'It is still in the process, they are groups that are more focused on community, I am hoping to help them.' Ian Crossland, EDL leader, told MailOnline their minute's silence was disturbed by protesters. He said: 'We were holding a minute's silence for the victims of the Westminster and Stockholm terror attacks. 'But members of Unite Against Fascism were screaming 'Nazi scum' and spitting at us. Yes, I look angry, but who wouldn't be if someone screamed and spat in your face? 'In the picture she [Saffiyah Khan] is laughing at me while I am telling her to get out of the demonstration and respect the silence. 'She's laughing because she's managed to disturb the demonstration, she's completed her aim. She's since claimed that we were abusing a woman in a headscarf. But that's not true. 'We only shouted at them after they disrupted the minute's silence. She is adjusting her story to suit her own ends. There are two sides to every story.' The divorced 44-year-old father of three, who runs a building company in Sheffield, has been an EDL member since 2013. He said the EDL were protesting against the radicalisation of Muslims in Birmingham mosques. A Swedish mail company has halted deliveries in a suburb close to a notorious 'no-go zone' because it is now considered too dangerous for their staff. PostNord is said to have stopped the deliveries in the Rinkeby borough of Stockholm - an area of Sweden which has been plagued with riots in the past. According to nyheter24, people living in certain areas of Hjulsta, in Rinkeby, will now have to pick up their post between the hours of 7am and 10am. It is thought around 120 households will be affected. Scroll down for video PostNord is said to have stopped the deliveries in the Rinkeby borough of Stockholm - an area of Sweden which has been plagued with riots in the past People living in certain areas of Rinkeby will now have to pick up their post between the hours of 7am and 10am The story comes after police were faced with rioters in February and had to fire warning shots to prevent them from setting cars alight Sources told the news organisation that the residents were not informed of this change of service by PostNord. Maria Ibsen, a press officer at PostNord, told nyheter24: 'It's been messy in the area and therefore a protective stop [has been put in place] to ensure the safety of our staff.' However, when contacted by MailOnline, Ms Ibsen claimed the situation had been 'solved' and the 'majority' of the residents would receive their post today. In February, police were forced to fire warning shots after a group of rioters began setting fire to cars, throwing stones at officers and looting shops in the district. Police said in a statement that at least seven or eight cars were burned, which has one of the largest immigrant populations in Stockholm. A photographer from the Dagens Nyheter newspaper also claimed that he spent a night in hospital after he was assaulted by a group of 15 people in Rinkeby as he attempted to report the unrest. 'I was hit with a lot of punches and kicks both to my body and my head. I have spent the night in hospital,' he said. Police later said they suspected that cars had been set on fire to lure them to the scene Police said in a statement that at least seven or eight cars were burned in the district, which has one of the largest immigrant populations in Stockholm A shopkeeper was also reportedly beaten while trying to protect his store, while another person was also beaten, with both taken to hospital for treatment. The disorder reportedly broke out after police arrested a wanted person, believed to be a drug dealer, at the subway station in Rinkeby. A similar incident took place in 2013 nearby in Husby, where four nights of rioting left hundreds of cars ablaze and saw mobs attacking police with bricks. The suburb, north of central Stockholm, has a population made up of 75 per cent immigrants. Congressmen and senators have warned the White House there is a danger that Rosneft, a corporation run by the Kremlin, could soon take control of Texas oil firm Citgo. Citgo was founded in 1910 by Oklahoma businessman Henry Latham Doherty but in 1990 it was sold to PDVSA, Venezuela's state-owned oil firm. Venezuela's economy is in dire straits and President Nicolas Maduro has been the target of violent demonstrations on the streets of Caracas. President Putin takes a keen interest in Rosneft and is pictured visiting one of their oil refineries in the Black Sea port of Tuapse in 2013 PDVSA, which is struggling with low global oil prices, last year took out two loans totalling around $3billion from Russia's state-owned oil firm, Rosneft, using Citgo as collateral. Now there are fears that if PDVSA defaults on those loans it might have to give Citgo to Rosneft. CNN Money reported a bipartisan group of senators led by Republican Marco Rubio of Florida and Democrat Bob Menendez of New Jersey wrote to US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin yesterday warning him of the dangers if Citgo were to fall into the hands of the Russians. The Mayor of Boston recently took action to preserve the iconic Citgo sign (pictured), a landmark for baseball fans heading to Fenway Park Once we were friends: President Putin shares a joke with Exxon-Mobil President Rex Tillerson in August 2011 when the company signed a strategic partnership agreement with Rosneft. But now Tillerson is US Secretary of State and relations are frosty Their letter to the Trump administration said: 'We are extremely concerned that Rosneft's control of a major US energy supplier could pose a grave threat to American energy security, impact the flow and price of gasoline for American consumers, and expose critical US infrastructure to national security threats.' Citgo employs 4,000 people, owns a string of gas stations across the US and has a refining capacity of 749,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It also owns three pipelines in the US and 48 petroleum terminals stretching from Maine to Florida and the Mexican border. The fears over Houston-based Citgo come as tensions remain high in the Middle East following President Trump's decision to fire 59 Tomahawk missiles at an air base in Syria controlled by Russia's key ally President Bashar al-Assad. Rosneft is also on a list of companies who are not permitted to trade with the US for 'violating international law and fueling conflict in Ukraine.' Ironically Rosneft signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2011 with Exxon-Mobil, whose then President Rex Tillerson is now US Secretary of State. Tillerson was pictured laughing and joking with Putin and when Trump picked him as his Secretary of State nominee there was much speculation that his good relations with the Russian President would help improve relations with the Kremlin. But last Friday the US attacked the Syrian air base in response to a nerve agent attack on a village in a rebel-held area of the country and relations have suddenly turned extremely frosty. A bungling police officer showing schoolchildren how to safely cycle down stairs toppled over the handlebars himself. The footage, filmed on an onlooker's camera phone, shows the man in full uniform wearing a helmet as he pedals across a short foot bridge. As he approaches six concrete steps at Prestwick Academy in South Ayrshire, Scotland, he slows his bike. The officer in full uniform can be seen starting the safety demonstration before he topples off the bike The demonstration takes a turn for the worse when the red-faced officer finds himself being launched over the handlebars - with onlookers reacting in shock He then attempts to cycle down while being watched by his colleague and a group of onlookers. But the demonstration takes a turn for the worse when the red-faced officer finds himself being launched over the handlebars. As he rolls on to the ground, the bike can be seen in the background while onlookers react in shock. One person can be also be heard saying 'oh crikey' - however it is unknown whether that is from the crowd or the officer himself. The footage was filmed by an onlooker at Prestwick Academy in South Ayrshire, Scotland The clip has gone viral on Twitter since being shared yesterday The clip has racked up almost 1,000 retweets since being shared on Twitter yesterday. The user who uploaded the video, known only as Derek, said: 'Police were staging a safe way for kids to go down the stairs on their bikes and the policeman failed miserably. 'He took it in good spirits. He was fine, just a bit embarrassed.' Twitter users have been quick to react to the calamity online. One follower wrote: 'Just gets better with every watch.' Another said: 'Must have been gutting yourself. Surprised they never made you delete it.' An elephant which trampled its owner to death before going on a rampage after tourists begged for him to be unchained has been shot dead. The 60-year-old bull elephant, called Atork, took two hours to die after police opened fire with AK-47 weapons. His mate wept as the huge animal lay mortally injured, according to reports in eastern Cambodia. The 60-year-old bull elephant, called Atork, took two hours to die after police opened fire with AK-47 weapons Atork and his female mate Me Krapum had bolted after being released from their shackles after tourists said they wanted to get better pictures of them. Owner Choeung Team, 47, was found dead after being trampled to death, and Atork reportedly went on the rampage, chasing people, destroying six homes and even damaging a police van. Police said they feared he would kill again and so could not wait for wildlife experts to arrive from the nearby Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre. The decision to kill Atork came from Provincial Governor Svay Sam Eang. Conservationalists have called for police to be armed with tranquilisers to prevent elephants being killed The 60-year-old elephant took two years to die after he was shot by police with an AK-47 He said: 'What if it killed a villager? Then who would take responsibility for that?' Police fired three shots from an AK-47 rifle at Atork, hitting him in the head, heart and leg. Local police chief Pech Sotheary said: 'We did not want to kill it, but we had no choice. It troubled the villagers at night and was not afraid of our warning shots.' A water cannon and fireworks had also been used to scare Atork away, but to no avail. Me Krapum's handler Thing Saom said: 'She stood near Atork when he was killed and tears kept falling down. 'Me and my relatives decided to take her home since we were afraid she might become fierce, like Atork.' The 60-year-old bull elephant Atork (left) is said to have killed his owner Choeung Team (right) Conservationist Nheum Thy said red tape had delayed his arrival at the scene. He said: 'If there is no permission, how can we arrange the technical equipment, and who is going to take the responsibility when something goes wrong?' Thing Saom added that local authorities should be equipped with tranquilisers themselves instead of having to wait for conservation workers to get to the scene of an elephant emergency. Choeung Team's widow Tri Yi and her family were allowed to keep Atork's tusks. Her family is now liable for the damage caused by Atork. She added: 'We also need to pay for rituals to chase away the bad luck for each house owner. At least one pig and two chickens, plus three jars of wine, will have to be given as offerings.' Atork was the family's most valuable asset, bringing in income from tourists as well as helping with farm work. Atork and Choeung Team were buried near each other, locals said. Although the incident is being investigated the owner's nephew, Saroeun Naro insisted: Atork used his trunk to beat him and trampled on him.' He told the Phnom Penh Post that a group of tourists whose nationalities have not been revealed asked Mr Choeung to release the elephants shackles so they could take photos of themselves with the animal. Later, while the group was getting ready for lunch, Atork walked away, with Mr Choeung heading off into the jungle to look for him shortly afterwards. I dont know what the problem with Atork was, said the guides nephew. Police fired three shots from an AK-47 rifle at Atork, hitting him in the head, heart and leg Maybe he needed a female elephant or he was angry with my uncle. District chief Long Vibol told the paper that villagers had used six elephants over recent years to show tourists around a typical ethnic village. Ms Jemma Bullock, an official with the Elephant Livelihood Initiative Environment, told the Cambodia Daily that Atork had been out on a tour with two other elephants and a group of tourists earlier that day. Another senior police officer, Touch Yun, said villagers would remain concerned about their safety until the elephant could be caught. Just last September 55-year-old Pop Sreang was also trampled to death in another district when he tried to recapture an elephant after it had escaped. French riot police have been involved in violent clashes with guards outside the biggest prison in Europe one notorious for producing jihadi terrorists. Around 350 militant wardens who work in Fleury-Merogis, in the southern suburbs of Paris, were protesting against conditions that have become a breeding ground for radicalism. They set up barricades and lit fires, before riot police moved in shortly after 10pm on Monday night. French riot police and protestors clashed yesterday outside the biggest prison in Europe Shocking footage posted on Twitter show the riots taking place outside Fleury-Merogis Around 350 militant wardens who work in Fleury-Merogis, in the southern suburbs of Paris, were protesting against conditions They set up barricades and lit fires, before riot police moved in shortly after 10pm on Monday night Salah Abdeslam who survived the November 2015 attacks on Paris The state against the state, was chanted, as the two sides began fighting each other and tear gas cannisters exploded around them. Videos posted on social media showed gendarmes wearing full riot gear using shields to push demonstrators back. The protests were organised by a number of prison officer trade unions who say their jobs are becoming harder every day because of overcrowding and increased violence. Last year a group of guards foiled at least 10 inmates who were planning a terrorist attack. The protests were organised by a number of prison officer trade unions who say their jobs are becoming harder every day because of overcrowding and increased violence Photographs show gendarmes wearing full riot gear using shields to push demonstrators back There are some 4500 inmates in the prison, which was built in the 1960s to accommodate around 3000 Protesters are seen sitting in front of gendarme vans last night during the protests The state against the state, was chanted, as the two sides began fighting each other and tear gas cannisters exploded around them The men who have since been separated and moved to other prisons wanted to stage a mutiny, escape, and then destroy targets in France. It was only thanks to undercover surveillance inside Fleury-Merogis that the plot was brought to a halt. There are some 4,500 inmates in the prison, which was built in the 1960s to accommodate around 3,000. Current inmates include Salah Abdeslam, the 27-year-old Islamic State operative who survived the November 2015 attacks on Paris, in which 130 people were murdered by explosives and machine gun fire. Abdeslam is in solitary confinement and awaiting trial for his part in the worst terrorist attack on Paris this century. The protesters were photographed kicking the tear gas canisters after they were set off The beginning of the protest, earlier in the day, saw the guards waving the French flag and setting tyres on fire They subsequently formed a barricade and wore scarves to hide their faces during the demonstration One man was seen addressing the crowd as the flag flew in the breeze in the background Those who have been radicalised in Fleury-Merogis over the years include Amedy Coulibaly, who shot dead a policewoman and four Jewish shoppers in January 2015. Coulibaly, who was himself killed by police when he was 32, was a bank robber with no particular religious affiliations before serving time in Fleury-Merogis. It was inside the prison that he came under the influence of other would-be Islamist terrorists. These included Cherif Kouachi, one of the Charlie Hebdo killers who murdered 12 in the officers of the satirical magazine in January 2015. One protester (centre) held a sign encouraging politicians to come and visit the guards 'but not as detainees' Sarah McInytre, 33, has been handed a 20-month prison sentence for an attack on a taxi driver in Liverpool A racist woman sank her teeth into a taxi driver's fingers while her mother filmed the disgusting attack on her phone. The attack came just weeks after Sarah McIntyre, 33, of Wavertree, Liverpool had bitten another victim. The mother-of-two broke Kacem Mehouen's little finger and punched him, after calling him an 'Egyptian c***' when he picked them up from Old Swan in Liverpool but refused to take them a certain route. Liverpool Crown Court heard it was the third time she had racially abused a victim and the second time she bit someone. Alpha Taxis driver Mr Mehouen collected McIntyre and her mother from Ennismore Road, Old Swan, at 2.55pm on November 25, 2015. Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, said McIntyre became 'quite aggressive' and ordered him to follow a specific route. The victim refused, informed his office and asked the operator to send another driver. Ms Mottram said both women were aggressive and refused to get out until the second car arrived. She said: 'The defendant was being abusive and racist and she called Mr Mehouen an Egyptian c***.' He got out and rang police, before realising McIntyre had taken his taxi badge, as they exited the vehicle. Ms Mottram said: 'She began to punch him to the face. 'He was blocking the punches with his hand. 'He nearly fell over in an attempt to avoid the blows that were raining down on him.' McIntyre's mother said she had him on video and he saw her filming him. Ms Mottram said: 'He then felt a sharp pain to the little finger of his left hand and looked down to see the defendant biting him.' He managed to get in his taxi and drive away, before going to hospital. Mr Mehouen suffered nerve damage and required stitches, a splint and five follow-up appointments. Pictured: Liverpool Crown Court where McIntyre was sentenced for assaulting taxi driver Kacem Mehouen He could not drive for two weeks, which cost him around 600, is now nervous at work and hopes to find another job. McIntyre made no comment to police, before being picked out by Mr Mehouen in an identity parade. She denied using racist insults and claimed she bit him in self-defence, but later admitted wounding. Her previous convictions include a racially aggravated public order offence, when she called a man a 'n*****' in 2012. Last July she received six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for racially aggravated common assault. She argued with a cousin in the street on October 5, 2015, when a woman asked them to keep the noise down. McIntyre was racially abusive, punched the victim in the face and bit her finger. Michael Bagley, defending, said she accepted racial language and the attack was 'wholly unacceptable'. He said she failed to attend court on August 23 because she feared she would be remanded in custody. She was arrested on warrant on February 2, when her suspended sentence was activated. He said McIntyre was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because of events in her childhood. Mr Bagley said the father of her children - who live with different grandparents - was jailed for armed robbery. He said the offences came when he was released on licence and 'stresses and strains' explained her 'bizarre behaviour'. The judge, Recorder Rowena Goode, said McIntyre caused Mr Mehooen - who was providing a public service - 'a nasty injury'. She handed her 20 months in jail, consecutive to her existing sentence. North Korean state media warned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed toward the western Pacific. President Donald Trump, who has urged China to do more to reign in its impoverished neighbor, said in a Tweet that North Korea was 'looking for trouble' and the United States would 'solve the problem' with or without China's help. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula amid concerns that reclusive North Korea may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test and after Washington said at the weekend it was diverting U.S. Navy strike group Carl Vinson from port calls to Australia toward the Korean peninsula as a show of force. North Korean state media has warned of a possible nuclear attack if the country becomes the target of American aggression. Above, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pictured above on Tuesday, attending a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang Officials stand and applaud as Kim Jong Un presides over the parliament meeting on Tuesday President Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy strike group Carl Vinson towards the Korean peninsula, in response to the country's continued missile tests U.S. officials have stressed that stronger sanctions are the most likely U.S. course to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear program but Washington has said all options, including military ones, are on the table and that a U.S. strike last week against Syria should serve as a warning to Pyongyang. Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any U.S. aggression. 'Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland,' it said. South Korea's acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of 'greater provocations' by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and ensure close communication with Washington. 'It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly,' said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. The US President wrote the message on Twitter after revealing he had urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to pressure its neighbor and close ally in to stopping its nuclear program The Chinese army has deployed 150,000 troops to the Yalu River Bridge at the North Korean border in anticipation of a wave of refugees from North Korea if war breaks out. Meanwhile, the US Navy has moved the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group from Singapore to the North Korean peninsula Trump said in a Tweet that a trade deal between China and the United States would be 'far better for them if they solved the North Korea problem'. 'If China decides to help, that would be great,' he said. 'If not, we will solve the problem without them!' Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to rein in North Korea. China's ambassador to the United Nations, Liu Jieyi, repeated China's call for a return to dialogue with North Korea. U.S. military soldiers gather at the U.S.-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea on Tuesday U.S. Marine soldiers walk around military vehicle in the U.S.-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea on Tuesday 'The situation is tense and we certainly want a peaceful solution and we believe that it is highly important to move toward denuclearization, to maintain peace and stability and its time that different sides sit down to talk about achieving these objectives,' he told Reuters. Asked about Trump linking a trade deal to Chinas help with North Korea: 'We need to look at the situation on the Korean Peninsula as something that we should work together on.' North Korea convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions attended by leader Kim Jong Un, and reported a successful national budget execution and personnel appointments, the official KCNA news agency said. The agency made no mention of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme or being under threat from the United States. North Korean students participate in a mass dance event to mark the occasion of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the National Defense Committee on Sunday, April, in Pyongyang On Saturday, the country will celebrate the birthday of the country's founding leader, the late Kim Il Sung North Korea often marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions South Korean officials sought to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis. DEFENSE SECRETARY: NAVY STRIKE TEAM WAS NOT MOVED FOR SPECIFIC REASON The movement of a U.S. Navy strike group toward the western Pacific Ocean is not tied to a specific event and is a prudent move, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday. ' As far as the movement of the (Carl) Vinson, she is stationed there in the Western Pacific for a reason, she operated freely, up and down the Pacific, and she is just on her way up there because that is where we thought it was most prudent to have her at this time,' Mattis told a Pentagon press briefing. 'It is not a specific demand signal or a specific reason why we are sending her up there,' Mattis said. The Carl Vinson will take more than a week to move toward the Korean peninsula, as concerns grow about North Korea's advancing weapons program. Advertisement 'We'd like to ask for precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula,' Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founding father and grandfather of the current ruler. A military parade is expected in Pyongyang to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Men and women in colorful outfits were singing and dancing on the streets of Pyongyang, illuminated by better lighting than seen in previous years, apparently practicing for the parade. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent congratulations, lambasting 'big powers' for their 'expansionist' policy. 'The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination,' the North's KCNA news agency quoted his message as saying. North Korea's foreign ministry said the approach of the U.S. Navy strike group showed Washington's 'reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase'. 'We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves,' an unidentified ministry spokesman said. U.S. officials said at the weekend the carrier group would take more than a week to reach waters near the Korean peninsula. A statement from U.S. forces in South Korea on Tuesday said General Vincent Brooks, commander of United States Forces Korea, would not attend a Congressional hearing expected for later this month because of the 'security situation on the Korean Peninsula.' The statement said the step was not unprecedented. North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. North Korea regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and its main ally, the United States. A team of cute robots have become the hardest workers at one of China's largest courier firms. The orange machines, each 7.5 inches (19cm) tall, took their posts at STO Express last November. These 'Little Orange' robots follows a pre-set route and carries parcels from the assembly line to the corresponding departure gates for them to be sent to different parts of the world. Small but strong: Officially known as the HIKVISION intelligent sorting robot, the machine can carry up to 11 pounds and travel at a maximum speed of 9.8 feet (three metres) per second Star robots: They have been billed as the 'cutest warehouse workers' after a video of them working at courier company STO Expressed appeared online In STO Express's warehouse in Linyi, Shandong Province, 300 'Little Orange' robots work together to sort 20,000 parcels an hour. After a video of them working for the courier firm appeared online, the machines have been billed as the 'cutest warehouse workers' by media. Compared to the traditional sorting method, these self-charging robots help the company save 70 per cent of manpower in the 21,000-square-foot warehouse. The adorable workers are developed by HIKVISION, a Chinese digital technology company based in Hangzhou. They're officially known as the HIKVISION intelligent sorting robots. According to the company, the robots not only increase the number of parcels handled per hour, they also improve the overall quality of the sorting process. With more than 300,000 employees, STO Express is one of China's largest courier companies. Workers are pictured sorting parcels at the company's Jiujiang branch in November, 2016 A team of 300 robots can sort 20,000 parcels an hour or 200,000 parcels a day. They help STO Express save 70 per cent of manpower in the Linyi warehouse. Pictured, STO Express workers are working in the company's Jiujiang branch A spokesman from HIKVISION told MailOnline: 'It would take workers five hours to sort the same number of parcels the robots sort in three hours. 'In addition, workers might make mistakes, handle parcels violently or become stressed and tired under high pressure.' Measuring 18 inches (46cm) long, 15 inches (38cm) wide and 7.5 inches (19cm) tall, one 'Little Orange' worker weighs 26 pounds (12kg) and can carry a parcel as heavy as 11 pounds (5kg). It travels at a maximum speed of 9.8 feet (three metres) per second, and finds its direction with the help of QR codes and its own camera. The machine takes an hour and a half to charge. Once it's fully charged, it can work eight hours non-stop. It's been estimated that they are helping the Linyi warehouse sort 200,000 parcels a day. Besides 'Little Orange' (third from the right), HIKVISION has also developed a warehouse robot (second from the right), a transferring robot (far right) and a parking robot (far left) 'Different delivery warehouse has different number of incoming parcels a day. In theory, as long as there is need, the robot can carry on working without stopping,' said the HIKVISION spokesman. The sorting machines is one of the four 'intelligent mobile robots' HIKVISION has developed. It's the cutest and smallest. Besides 'Little Orange', the company also has a warehouse robot, which can carry and transport half a tonne of goods; a transferring robot, which is designed to distribute goods between warehouses and production lines; as well as a parking robot which can allocate and move a vehicle to the best parking spot at a public car park. This astonishing footage shows the terrifying moment four thieves slammed a truck through a Florida gun store and stole firearms and ammunition. A Toyota pick-up truck rammed into a Zephyrhills gun store early on Sunday morning and at least four people are still on the loose following the daring heist that lasted only 31 seconds. Police said the Toyota was stolen in Pinellas County, after which the thieves drove it about a mile away and set it on fire along railroad tracks. Ammunition left inside was exploding so the fire department had to let it burn out. Derek Brewer, Public Information Officer for Zephyrhills Police Department, said: 'They had concerns about explosives and stuff so they didn't actually try to extinguish it. They just let it burn.' Ed Hinchey, who works next-door at Direct Auto and Life Insurance, told Fox 13 News: 'That's scary when you see something like that,.' He added: 'You can tighten security on anything, but somebody wants to get in, they'll get in. 'This is Zephyrhills, ma'am. This isn't downtown Miami. This isn't Tampa. This is Zephyrhills. God's waiting room, ma'am. To have something like this occur, that shakes people up.' The truck slammed through the store and the thieves made off with ammunition and firearms There are at least four people still on the loose tonight after the daring burglary After jumping out the vehicle, the thieves then stole firearms and ammunition in the raid that lasted only 31 seconds John O'Connell saw the truck in flames near the mobile home park where he lives. He said: 'The flames were going just as high as these trees. Just on the other side of the fence. 'Reminded me of Vietnam, that's what it reminded me of.' Authorities are now offering a $2,500 reward to help catch the thieves. A baker has been jailed for at least three years after pleading guilty to raping two women at his bakery after luring them under the pretense of job interviews. Habibullah Afghan-Baig, 40, owner of Afghan and Arab Bakery in the western Sydney suburb Fairfield, pleaded guilty to seven charges including two counts of rape, 7News reported. The court heard the father-of-two placed a job advertisement on Gumtree offering jobs with good pay and conditions at his new Lakemba store. Scroll down for video Sydney baker Habibullah Afghan-Baig (pictured) has been jailed for at least three years after being found guilty of raping two women at his bakery When two women showed up for their interviews Afghan-Bain sexually assaulted one woman and indecently assaulted the other in July and August 2015. The court was told one of the attacks was caught on CCTV footage by the bakery's security camera and lasted for about 30 minutes. When he was arrested at his bakery in August 2015, 7 News reported he initially claimed he was innocent and the sex was consensual. He was charged with four counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual intercourse without consent. Police also seized Afghan-Baig's phone after his arrest and found text messages in which he told one of the victims he was in love with her, 9News reported. The court heard Afghan-Bain sexually assaulted one woman and indecently assaulted another woman at his bakery The Afghan & Arab Bakery in Fairfield (pictured) in July and August 2015 The women were at the bakery on separate occasions after answering a job advertisement on Gumtree (pictured) offering work with good pay and conditions at his Lakemba store A mother-of-three accused of poisoning her husband by lacing his chilli con carne with a cocktail of drugs walked free from court on Tuesday after claiming she was framed. Roberta Maasdorp, 46, was accused of lacing Peter Maasdorp's evening meal with insomnia, anti-psychotic and anti-histamine medication as their 23-year marriage collapsed in 2015. Mr Maasdorp, who was planning to fight for custody of their children, said the meal tasted 'acidic', spat it out and ran to the toilet to wash his mouth out, the jury was told. But Mrs Maasdorp claimed the 'funny taste' was mint and mango chutney, accusing her husband of putting the drugs into the meal himself so she would be blamed. Roberta Maasdorp, 46, pictured with her husband, was found not guilty of lacing Peter Maasdorp's evening meal with insomnia, anti-psychotic and anti-histamine medication as their 23-year marriage collapsed Spiked: This is the chilli con carne that contained anti-histamine promethazine, anti-psychotic quetiapine and sleeping pill zopiclone and some nicotine A jury took less than 40 minutes to find Mrs Maasdorp not guilty of administering a poison with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy on Tuesday, following a trial, according to the Evening Standard. Following the acquittal, Recorder Simon Sterling refused to make a restraining order, which would have prevented Mrs Massdorp fro going to her family home. She has moved to Forest Hill in the months since the incident, and her husband has custody of their two younger daughters. Forensic testing found that the psychiatric nurse's evening meal, left for him in the microwave in their southeast London home after a late hospital shift, contained anti-histamine promethazine, anti-psychotic quetiapine and sleeping pill zopiclone and some nicotine. The court heard the drugs cocktail, if consumed, would make a victim drowsy, dizzy and confused. Mrs Maasdorp denies one count of administering a poison with intent and claims her husband did it himself to set her up, according to the Evening Standard. When arrested, she denied any knowledge of a poisoning plot and claimed her husband was angry because she had reported him to police a day before for assaulting her. After being questioned by police, she said her husband was 'angry' and told her she 'will pay for this'. 'He had the motive revenge for having to go to the police station,' her barrister Derek Barry said. 'And he would have had access to his wife's drugs.' Mrs Massdorp had told police that she didn't trust her husband and that she feared for her safety. Defence: Roberta Maasdorp, pictured, denied one count of administering a poison with intent and claims her husband did it himself to set her up Meanwhile, Mr Massdorp, a senior psychiatric nurse at Princess Royal University Hospital, told the jury that their relationship 'had broken down' by the time of the alleged poisoning on August 11, 2015, a night during which he says his wife had been drinking rum and coke. He said: 'I had made it quite clear I would proceed with the divorce and I would fight for custody of the children'. Mr Maasdorp said his wife had suffered with depression and was 'paranoid', and had hidden drugs at a friend's house. Describing what happened when he ate the meal he said: 'When I took a mouthful of the food, there was quite a distinct chemical taste to the food, it was chilli con carne that evening that was prepared by Roberta. It had a very acidic taste to it, very chemical. 'I spat the food out on to the plate that I had with me, then went to the bathroom to go and wash my mouth out. Describing her mood that night he said: 'She was quite agitated and she had quite clearly been drinking that evening'. At first thought he had been poisoned with a bottle of weedkiller sitting on their kitchen top in south-east London. Prosecutor John Evison said Mrs Maasdorp 'accepted she had made the chilli con carne and bought the ingredients, but denied lacing the food with drugs'. Mrs Maasdorp told the police it probably 'tasted funny' because of the mint and mango chutney and did not know there was any problem until she heard her husband coughing downstairs. She said: 'The next thing I knew the police were there'. Mr and Mrs Massdorp met in 1990 when they were training to be nurses in South Africa. They married in 1994 and moved to the UK five years later. Rex Tillerson says Russia can either keep backing Assad as he faces defeat or side with the US to secure Syria's future after declaring 'the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end'. The US Secretary of State, who is preparing for crunch talks in Moscow, says the Kremlin must now choose between aligning itself with the U.S. and like-minded countries or embracing Assad, Iran and the militant group Hezbollah. It comes as G7 nations agreed that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad must step down as part of any peace solution in the war-torn country. Top diplomats from the group were agreed that 'no future in Syria is possible' with the dictator still in power France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said at a G7 meeting in Italy. G7 nations have agreed that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad (pictured) must step down as part of any peace solution in the war-torn country The G7 officials met in Italy today. Pictured, from left: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Italy Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (pictured, centre) said it was clear that the 'reign of the Assad family is coming to an end' America unleashed a wave of 59 Tomahawk strikes on one of Assad's airbases in the wake of a horrifying chemical attack on 87 Syrian civilians last week America unleashed a wave of 59 Tomahawk strikes on one of Assad's airbases in the wake of a horrifying chemical attack on 87 Syrian civilians last week. Russia - which has backed the Syrian dictator military - as well as Iran and its allies said the US had crossed a 'red line' and warned they 'will respond to any aggression' in the future. A summit of ministers from the powerful G7 nations in Italy today ended without agreement on punitive measures on Russia and Syria despite calls for tough sanctions from Britain's foreign secretary Boris Johnson. But the diplomats have agreed that Assad cannot stay on as Syrian president. Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had merely been incompetent. But he said the distinction 'doesn't much matter to the dead.' 'We cannot let this happen again,' the secretary of state said. 'We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role,' Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. 'Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term.' A summit of ministers from the powerful G7 nations in Italy today ended without agreement on punitive measures on Russia and Syria despite calls for tough sanctions from Britain's foreign secretary Boris Johnson (right) Since the U.S. launched airstrikes against Assad's forces in retaliation for a chemical attack on civilians last week, Trump administration officials have offered mixed messages about whether Washington believes Assad definitely must surrender power - and when. Tillerson said it was clear the U.S. saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. 'It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end,' he said. 'But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria.' 'That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs,' Tillerson added. Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the 'like-minded' countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialised economies in Italy, days after the U.S. for the first time launched airstrikes against Assad's forces. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The U.S. and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. Since the U.S. launched airstrikes against Assad's forces in retaliation for a chemical attack (pictured) on civilians last week, Trump administration officials have offered mixed messages about whether Washington believes Assad definitely must surrender power - and when A devastated father has been pictured cradling the bodies of his dead twins after they were killed during the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, in the rebel-held central province of Idlib, Syria The U.S. raised the stakes significantly on Monday when a senior U.S. official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. Yet the U.S. has no proof of Moscow's involvement, said the official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity. That accusation will hang over Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say whether Putin would meet with Tillerson, in line with its usual practice of not announcing such meetings ahead of time. The United States has sought to minimise expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the U.S. will leave with any concessions from Russia regarding its support for Assad. Instead, the U.S. is hoping to use the visit - the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia - to convey its expectations to Moscow and then allow the Russians a period of time to respond. Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had information that the United States was planning to launch new missile strikes on Syria. He also indicated there were plans to fake chemicals weapons attacks there. Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured today) said Russia had information that the United States was planning to launch new missile strikes on Syria, and that there were plans to fake chemicals weapons attacks there Standing alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella who was in Moscow for talks, Putin said: 'We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using (chemical weapons).' He did not offer any proof for that assertion. The Russian military said Syrian militants are preparing to use chemical weapons and blame the Syrian government for the attacks in order to provoke more U.S. strikes. Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi of the military's General Staff said rebels are currently stockpiling toxic agents in the areas of Khan Sheikhoun, the Jira air base and west of Aleppo, as well as Eastern Ghouta near Damascus. Rudskoi said the militants' aim is 'to create another pretext for accusing the Syrian government of using chemical weapons and provoking new U.S. strikes.' The U.S. last week struck a Syrian air base it said was used for a chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun. Russia has insisted that the Syrian government wasn't involved in the attack. Putin also said today that Russia would be urgently asking the global chemical weapons watchdog - the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - to investigate the incident. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the U.S. strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as U.S. officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional U.S. military action if Assad's government continues attacking civilians. At Tuesday's meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim-majority nations including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the U.S. strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Mideast nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is vanquished. The tormented victims of a sadistic rapist who sexually assaulted eight women in the mid-1990s fear he will strike again after he was released from jail early. Graham Kay, 65, known as Sydney's feared 'North Shore rapist' will be electronically monitored for three more years after a judge found he was likely to re-offend. One of his victims, known only as Juanita, told A Current Affair she still got 'freaked out' when she went jogging and felt uneasy whenever someone came up behind her. She was in her early 20s when Kay, who planned his premeditated attacks on the phases of the moon, grabbed her from behind and raped her in a dimly lit tunnel. Scroll down for video Graham Kay, known as Sydney's feared 'North Shore rapist', sexually assaulted eight women in the mid-1990s 'I thought he was going to kill me. You just think it's going on forever, it just feels like forever,' she told the Channel Nine program, speaking out for the first time since the attack. 'I'm terrified that he's going to get me again... he's a threat to all women.' Another woman, who was the only one to provide a victim impact statement during Kay's trial and went by the name Angela, said the sentence was not long enough. 'That's nothing,' she told A Current Affair. 'He should know why he was in there. For every year he was in there. Because those girls didn't forget.' Angela and Juanita are both calling for more women who may have been assaulted by Kay to come forward. 'Do not be frightened of this man. We've still got a little bit of control over him at the moment. Let's stop him now from doing it again,' Angela said. After serving 18 years of a 20-year jail sentence for the assaults the 65-year-old was granted parole, prompting his victims to come forward and speak of their fear at his early release One victim, Juanita, said she still got 'freaked out' when she was running after Kay grabbed her from behind in a tunnel and raped her when she was in her 20s Kay served 18 years of a 20-year jail sentence after he was arrested in 1997 for the string of assaults in Sydney's northern suburbs. He would follow teenage and adult female victims and threaten them with a knife before raping them, the court heard. Since his 2015 release on parole he has been working as a warehouse manager in Southern Cross Produce at Flemington Markets. Despite hearing Kay's description as a 'model parolee,' Jusice Harrison ruled he must be continually monitored. 'I am satisfied to a high degree of probability that Mr Kay poses an unacceptable risk of committing a serious sex offence if he is not kept under supervision,' Justice Harrison said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. It was a feeling Ron Bakken isnt likely going to forget. Erickson Park in Chippewa Falls has been in the wish and then planning stages for five years. It will provide a 140-foot walkway over Duncan Creek to link the new park with Irvine Park, along with offering many activities for people with disabilities. On Tuesday, Bakken and others happily announced major funding for the park. Biggest grant ever, $851,000! Bakken said of the grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program. This is the largest Land and Water Conservation grant in Wisconsin, ever, said Beth Norquist, a grant specialist from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It is awesome. Almost words cant describe it, he said of how he was feeling. Now it will be up to the community to donate money for the project. Bakken said $400,000 has been raised so far, meaning another $451,000 needs to be raised to match the grant funds. Bakken, chair of the group Fish, Chippewa!, is optimistic the money will be raised. Chippewa is an amazing place, he said. The fishing group partnered in the project with Special Friends, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit that creates programs and events for children and adults with physical, cognitive and mental disabilities and their families. Donna Lowe of Special Friends said the group serves 275 people. They can all fish, she said, referring to fishing piers that will be disabled accessible for up to 150 people. Besides the walking bridge and large fishing pier, the park will have handicapped-accessible trails. There would also be handicap-access to a launch for boats, kayaks and canoes. Phil Johnson, landscape architect for Ayres Associates, said a ground breaking is tentatively set for Sept. 18 with park dedication on Aug. 4, 2018. He said work will start this year on the bridge and then the boardwalk, with park work being done at the end of June. State Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer) and Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman both hailed the grant and the project. Summerfield predicted it will become a community gem, and Hoffman said it will be a long-term attraction for Chippewa Falls. I want it to be here 50 to 100 years from now, Hoffman said. A kitten has been rescued after being trapped in a display window for three days in south-west China. The tiny feline was discovered in Sichuan Province by a worker at a KTV parlour, who tried to free the cat for three days, but to no avail. The man then resorted to the property management company, whose workers managed to save the cat by breaking the paving slabs underneath the window on April 2. The kitten was rescued after being trapped in a display window for three days in Chengdu city of China's Sichuan province The KTV worker, surnamed Dong, from Chengdu city saw the little cat being stuck in the gap during a night shift. He attempted to free the animal from the glass window. Yet it was sealed with aluminum alloy frame and there was no gap to pull it out. It remains unclear how the cat had got into the window. As the animal grew weak, Dong became increasingly worried about the animal's health. A KTV worker, surnamed Dong (pictured) discovered the trapped kitten during a night shift A video posted by CGTN shows Dong discussing with the property management team about a rescue plan. They finally decided to remove the paving slabs beneath the window to create a gap in order to pull the animal through. Eventually they managed to drag the feline out of the confined space. After trying to save the animal for three days, Dong was ecstatic to see the cat being freed. The man said he would adopt the moggy. Dong went to find the property management company, whose workers decided to remove the paving slabs beneath the window They removed the paving slabs to create a gap in order to pull out the animal The cat was gently pulled out of the glass window on April 2 by a worker after being stuck in the tiny space for three days The worker from the property management company gently held the cat after it was freed Police in Rock County, Wisconsin, released pictures of a wanted man's tattoos on Monday, nearly a week after he sent an anti-government manifesto to Trump, robbed a gun store and then disappeared. Authorities hope the pictures of Joseph A. Jakubowski's tattoos will help someone identify him and turn him in. The tattoos include the word 'true' on his right hand and the letters 'BOS' on his upper arm. He also has the word Jigga, a racial slur, on an inner forearm. Scroll down for video Police on Monday released pictures of Joseph Jakubowski's tattoos as they ramped up the search for the Janesville, Wisconsin man. The tattoo on the left reads 'Jigga' and the one on the right is the letters BOS He also has the word true on his right hand. He's pictured on the right in an older mug shot The 32-year-old is wanted for breaking into a gun shop called Armageddon Supplies in his home town of Janesville, about 70 miles southwest of Milwaukee, last Tuesday, April 4, stealing more than a dozen high-power firearms, as well as a bulletproof vest and helmet. Later that night, his truck was found nearby engulfed in flames, the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Police believe Jakubowski torched the truck. Before robbing the store, he had a friend film him mailing a 161-page anti-government and anti-religion manifesto to President Trump. 'Ya'll have no idea what's about to happen,' the friend warns in the clip. Authorities have since located the man who filmed the video, and say he is cooperating with police. Jakuobowski remains at large a week after mailing a 161-page manifesto to President Trump and robbing a gun store A friend recorded Jakubowski mailing the letter to to the President. 'You'll never forget this face, ever,' the friend said Investigators who analyzed the manifesto said it was filled with barbs directed at officials from all levels of government. They were also concerned about 'anti-religious views' in the document. 'When you look at the document that he wrote, it's really a long laundry list of injustices he believes that the government and society and the upper class have put forth onto the rest of the citizens,' Spoden said, declining to offer details. As a precaution, law enforcement officers increased their patrols at local churches and other places of worship on Sunday but no disturbances were reported, the Rock County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. A force of 150 law enforcement personnel, including Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, continued their manhunt for Jakubowski on Sunday. Security footage at a Mobil gas station shows Jakubowski almost six hours before he mailed the manifesto to President Trump The car registered to Jakubowski was found burning on a rural road not far from the gun shop he robbed after sending the letter FBI agents provide tactical support to sheriff's detectives during a search for Joseph Jakubowski, in Janesville, Wisconsin last Thursday A 15-minute-long social media video released Friday shows the footage of Jakubowski mailing a letter to the president. He poses with the envelope addressed to the president and mails what appears to be the anti-government manifesto. It was filmed by a friend who eerily says: 'Y'all have no idea what's about to happen,' as they wait for stamps at the post office. As Jakubowski stamps the envelope his friend says: 'You'll never forget this face, ever.' As they walk out of the post office, Jakubowski tells the camera: 'Anyone who got this letter, you might want to read it. There you see it's good s***. Revolutionary. It's time for change.' His friend says: 'It's D-day. Remember this face,' to which Jakubowski responds: 'F*** the system,' before smiling at the camera. Jakubowski marks the time he mailed the letter as April 4, 2017 at 5.43pm, hours before he is accused of robbing the gun store. Jakubowski is believed to be the man seen in this surveillance video of a gun shop burglary in Janesville, Wisconsin last Tuesday night Investigators say the suspect seen in this surveillance video stole 'a large quantity of high-end handguns and rifles' from the gun store Jakubowski became the prime suspect in the burglary of Armageddon Gun Shop after a car registered to his name was found burning on a rural road about three miles from the store within a half hour of the break-in. Photos show Jakubowski at a Mobil gas station at 1pm on Tuesday and his torched car. Spoden said an associate of Jakubowski told authorities he had been 'agitated' by national politics and 'recently verbalized a plan to steal guns and use them in an unspecified attack.' The interior of Armageddon Gun Shop is shown. Police fear that Jakubowski robbed the store and may act on recent unspecified threats against schools and public officials Jakubowski's car was found burning not far from the gun shop after the robbery The associate also said Jakubowski had made non-specific threats toward schools and public officials, according to the sheriff. Jakubowski, who served time in prison for trying to wrestle a gun away from a police officer, is believed to have become agitated about politics recently, authorities said. A person who knows Jakubowski said he had spoken of his plans to steal guns and stage some kind of attack, possibly at a school, Spoden said. It was unclear if Jakubowski, who according to local media was unemployed, remains in Wisconsin or if he had left the state. Federal agents were pursuing leads in other parts of the country. The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Authorities have warned people not to approach Jakubowski, calling him 'armed and dangerous.' Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). The passenger who was dragged from an United Airlines flight is 69-year-old grandfather Dr David Dao. Footage of the Vietnamese-American being hauled off the overbooked flight at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Sunday caused outrage on Monday. Dr Dao was heard in videos captured of his shocking eviction saying he needed to get home to Louisville so he could see patients. DailyMail.com can reveal Dr Dao is a father of five and a grandfather, who specializes in internal medicine. Four of his five children are doctors. His wife Teresa, 69, is a pediatrican who trained at Ho Chi Minh University in Saigon and also practices in Elizabethtown, Kentucky - about 40 miles south of Louisville. Their eldest son Tim, 34, practices medicine in Texas; their second son Ben, 31, is a medical graduate; their daughter Christine, 33, is a doctor in Durham, NC; and their youngster daughter Angela, 27, is a medical graduate of the University of Kentucky. Scroll down for video Dr David Dao has been revealed as the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and one of their grandchildren Beaten and bloodied: Dr Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare Dr David Dao and Teresa Dao are pictured with four of their grandchildren during a holidays celebration in 2015 Their other daughter, Crystal Christines twin is a married mother in Barrington, Illinois. Dr Dao has previously worked at Hardin Memorial Hospital and owned a medical practice. It was also revealed he had previously been given a suspended jail sentence for illegally obtaining and trafficking controlled substances by fraud and deceit. Dr Dao is also a keen poker player, and has competed in World Series of Poker events in the past - winning a total of $234,664 His license was suspended in 2003, and it was then partially re-instated in 2015. Dr Dao is also a keen poker player, and has competed in World Series of Poker events in the past. He joined the circuit in 2006, and had his best result when he finished second in a tournament in 2009. The WSOP's website claims he has pocketed $234,664 in winnings over his time on the felt. In the hours after his identity was revealed, United saw its stock price crash in morning trading action. The airline's share price hit a low of $68.39 at 11.13am, after opening the day at $70.15. It was a drop of about 2.6 per cent. But the price has recovered during the early afternoon, and is none back at $69.82, MarketWatch reports. It came after United CEO Oscar Munoz released a statement Monday night that doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent'. The airline is facing a furious backlash after footage emerged of the 69-year-old, bleeding heavily as he was pulled from the jet. Amidst the anger, Munoz issued a public apology saying he 'apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers.' But in a private email to employees, the CEO defended the crew's actions, calling the passenger 'disruptive and belligerent' and praising his staff for going 'above and beyond'. United Airlines' CEO Oscar Munoz (pictured in June 2016) has come under fire for his response to the scandal United CEO Oscar Munoz has doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent' Screaming: The man who had refused to to give up his seat on the overbooked United flight from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday night was dragged off the plane by three cops Social media erupted immediately, labeling Munoz and United 'tone deaf' and 'condescending'. Munoz said that while he was 'upset' to hear about the man being violently dragged off the flight, that airline crew had simply been following 'established procedures.' The CEO described how flight crews had offered up to $1,000 in compensation for anyone willing to catch the next flight before approaching the passenger to 'explain apologetically' that he was being denied boarding. He had then 'raised his voice and refused to comply' with the crew's requests to leave the aircraft, and became increasingly 'disruptive and belligerent,' he said. 'Our agents were left with no choice, but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight, he repeatedly decline to leave.' Munoz added that the passenger refused to comply with the officers who then 'physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both out crew and security officials.' The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police 'While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right,' he said. The CEO did, however, concede that there were 'lessons we can learn' from the experience and that United will continue to look into the incident. He also had a final reminder that treating customers with 'respect and dignity' should be matter of course, 'no matter how challenging the situation.' The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police. Others said that 'lousy protocol' was never an excuse for a 69-year-old man beating left bloodied by security. 'Beating and bloodying a 69 year-old doctor is "protocol" @United ?' one Twitter user asked. Distressing: Children were crying in distress as the three officers manhandled the man out of his seat. Passengers had been offered $800 to take a flight the next day but none volunteered Another said that Munoz was 'trying to shift blame to police/aviation security (not United employees). The public doesn't make a distinction.' Nicholas Kristof added: 'In any big company, staff will sometimes do stupid things. At United, the CEO then endorses the stupidity and claims it as company policy!' Others pointed out that the customer had also appeared to have followed 'protocol' right up until he was dragged off the plane. HOW DOES UNITED DECIDE WHO GETS BUMPED FROM OVERBOOKED FLIGHTS? United's contract of carriage states that passengers to be forcibly taken off a flight in the event of overbooking will be 'determined based on a passengers fare class, itinerary, status of frequent flyer program membership, and the time in which the passenger presents him/herself for check-in without advanced seat assignment.' That means that if you have a certain type of fare class, checked in early, have a flier status such as gold, or even just own a barely used frequent flier card, you are less likely to be bumped. But passengers taking advantage of budget seats appear to be of less value to the airline. Advertisement '#United Pay for your ticket, sit down, get attacked, bloodied and humiliated. And the CEO is now saying the person deserved it. #SHAME,' one Twitter user wrote. 'No accountability for lousy protocol,' another added. 'It will be a cold day in Hades before I allow these lackwits to fly me anywhere.#BoycottUnitedAirlines.' An airport cop who allegedly body-slammed the passenger was put on leave today - as his bosses condemned his actions amid mounting outrage over video of the incident. The Chicago Department of Aviation said it 'obviously' did not condone the behavior of the security officer who was filmed slamming the man into an arm rest, knocking him unconscious and dragging him away by his arms as he bled from the mouth at O'Hare. Another clip shows the dazed man chants 'just kill me, just kill me' as blood pours from his mouth. In his public apology, Munoz said today: 'This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. 'Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation.' The aviation department released a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times, which read: 'The incident on United flight 3411 was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the Department. Unhinged: The man claimed to be a doctor and screamed wildly and he was manhandled by the cops 'That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation.' One passenger also told the Washington Post the man claimed as he was being dragged off the plane he was chosen because of his ethnicity. 'He said, more or less, 'I'm being selected because Im Chinese",' the passenger told the Post. The same passenger went on to tell the newspaper a United official walked onto the plane during the incident and said the plane would not be taking off until four passengers disembarked so the employees could fit on. He said the official announced: 'We have United employees that need to fly to Louisville tonight. This flights not leaving until four people get off.' 'That rubbed some people the wrong way,' Tyler Bridges said, recounting the comment. Former President Barack Obama will take part in a discussion event with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin next month as Germany marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, organizers said Tuesday. The May 25 Protestant conference will take place in front of Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate, where Obama delivered a speech as president in 2013, Germany's Lutheran church and organizers of the German Protestant Kirchentag conference said. The discussion is being organized jointly by the conference, which is held every two years, and the Obama Foundation. Obama spokesman Eric Schultz confirmed the former president's plans to join Merkel for 'a moderated conversation on the importance of democracy and taking on responsibility locally and globally.' Former President Barack Obama will take part in a discussion event with Chancellor Angela Merkel (seen right with Obama in 2013) at a Protestant conference in Berlin next month as Germany marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation Obama spokesman Eric Schultz confirmed the former president's plans to join Merkel for 'a moderated conversation on the importance of democracy and taking on responsibility locally and globally' Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Germany's top Lutheran bishop, said Obama's participation 'underlines how internationally we are celebrating 500 years of the Reformation.' Bedford-Strohm invited Obama last May to visit Germany for the anniversary. Martin Luther was a German monk who is credited with spreading Protestantism. Luther's revolt against Catholic Church practices started in Germany in 1517. Obama was in Berlin in mid-November on his last European trip as president. Since leaving office, the 44th president has been photographed vacationing in exotic locales This will be the second official event at which Obama will appear and make remarks. On May 7, Obama is scheduled to receive the Profile in Courage Award at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, according to The Boston Globe. Schultz said that 'additional details' about Obama's upcoming visit to Europe will be relayed in the coming weeks. Also Tuesday, German market research group Media Control said Obama has been awarded its German Media Prize for 2016 for embodying a 'vision of a world in which there is hope and change for the better is possible.' It said Obama will receive the prize in Baden-Baden in southwestern Germany following his Berlin appearance on May 25, news agency dpa reported. Previous winners include Merkel and, in 1999, President Bill Clinton. Obama's successor, Donald Trump, is expected to visit Germany for the first time as president when Merkel hosts the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg in July. The Obamas were seen kicking back on Richard Branson's Necker Island, the billionaire's secluded getaway in the British Virgin Islands. Barack Obama is seen above kitesurfing Since leaving office, the 44th president has been photographed vacationing in exotic locales. Just weeks before signing a lucrative book contract that will pay him and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, a whopping $60million for two memoirs, the Obamas were seen kicking back on Richard Branson's Necker Island, the billionaire's secluded getaway in the British Virgin Islands. The former president was also spotted in Manhattan on a few occasions. He was seen catching dinner and a Broadway show with his daughter, Malia, who lives in New York and works for Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. The former president was also spotted in Manhattan on a few occasions. He was seen catching dinner and a Broadway show with his daughter, Malia (second from right), who lives in New York and works for Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein There will most likely be great anticipation to hear Obama's thoughts on current events and the job performance of his successor - though it is unclear if the former president will delve into those specific topics Just this past week, the Obamas were seen swimming and paddleboarding in the pristine waters of the South Pacific in French Polynesia. There will most likely be great anticipation to hear Obama's thoughts on current events and the job performance of his successor - though it is unclear if the former president will delve into those specific topics. While Obama meets Merkel in Berlin, the current president will attend a summit of leaders of NATO nations on May 25 in Brussels, the White House said on Tuesday. Trump's visit will give him an opportunity to press his case for why many NATO allies need to boost defense spending to help spread the cost of the security umbrella. A security guard has been suspended for grabbing a schoolboy by the throat in a shopping centre. Luther Small, 15, had been skateboarding with friends when he was ordered to leave by two guards at St David's Dewi Sant Shopping Centre in Cardiff. One of the guards told Luther, from Llanrumney in the city, to 'get out or I'll chuck you out' before grabbing him by the throat and pushing him. A guard told Luther Small, 15, to 'get out or I'll chuck you out' before grabbing him by the throat The middle-aged security guard has been suspended from his job and centre manager Mark Nott has apologised to the boy following the bust-up. Mr Nott said: 'We have been made aware of this incident and the security officer involved has been suspended with immediate effect. 'This is not the level of conduct we expect from our officers and we apologise to all parties involved. 'A full investigation is now taking place and we are liaising with the customers concerned directly.' Luther had been skateboarding with friends when he was ordered to leave by two guards But Luther's mother Carol said: 'Luther doesn't really want to take things any further. He accepts the guy overreacted but doesn't want him to be suspended.' Luther was with friends including Riley Mann when he was grabbed by the throat on Sunday evening. Riley's father Jason said the boys were trying to get food in the centre when they were told to leave. He said: 'They were not misbehaving or playing up, but were told they had to leave because they had skateboards. Luther was at St David's Dewi Sant Shopping Centre in Cardiff at the time of the incident 'My son and his friends told the guards they didn't understand. They were only having food. They hadn't even skated inside the centre. 'But security kicked them out. They tried their luck at another entrance and the security guards were waiting for them there. 'His mum was upset when she saw the footage, but I was just angry that someone in a position of power would abuse their rights. The boys are 15 at the end of the day. 'Even if they were mouthy and the security guard felt justified in throwing them out, you don't grab a young boy by the throat.' A fruit farmer who claims his fortune may have been hammered by Brexit is fighting his ex-wife over a 12.2million payout he was ordered to give her. Paul Mansfield, 56, was ordered to hand over the cash to his former wife of 26 years, Jane, from a family fortune worth about 30m. Appealing, Mr Mansfield claimed the award took no account of the impact of Brexit on his premium fruit farming business. He said it was wrong that his ex-wife should benefit from the part of the family fortune which came from gifts and inheritances from his father Buddy. Now, in a hearing at the Court of Appeal, Mr Mansfield has been granted permission to challenge the size of the payout before top judges. The Court of Appeal has granted fruit farmer Paul Mansfield, right, permission to challenge a 12million divorce payout he was ordered to hand ex-wife Jane, left Lawyers for Mrs Mansfield, who played a full role in the family business, said the decision would leave her 'life in limbo'. 'She has been kept out of her share of the assets for far too long already because of delays not of her making,' said her barrister, Jonathan Southgate QC. The court heard the couple married in 1988 and had two children, living first in London, but then moving to Buddy Mansfield's farm, near Canterbury, in 1996. Mr Mansfield Snr launched his farming business in the 1960s and by the time of his death in 2011 it was being run by his son and was worth millions. The value came mainly from the 2,000-plus acres of land at Broad Oak Farm, together with a cold storage and packing operation. After their separation, Mr Mansfield moved out, leaving his wife at the farmhouse at Broad Oak Farm with the children. He offered her 6million to settle their divorce, but she refused and the case went to the High Court in November 2015. However, almost a year passed before family judge, Mrs Justice Parker, delivered her final ruling and ordered the 12.2million be paid. In that time, the country had voted in the referendum in June last year, but the impact on the family coffers of Brexit was not known. Challenging the payout, lawyers for Mr Mansfield said the delay in the judgment being given meant the impact of Brexit had not been taken into account. He had asked for the chance to tackle the issue in a further hearing prior to judgment, but was refused permission by Mrs Justice Parker. James Turner QC, representing Mr Mansfield, argued that the judge should have allowedfurther evidence to be given. The UK leaving the EU could 'potentially undermine' the valuation of the family's assets, but without expert evidence, that was not considered, it was argued. However, Mrs Justice Parker had also gone wrong when assessing what part of the family's fortune should be shared between the couple, he continued. Mr Mansfield said the decision to award 12m payout to his ex-wife, pictured, was made without knowing the impact of Brexit on his business in Canterbury She had valued the entire business and awarded Mr Mansfield 55 per cent to take account of the input his father had made. Mr Turner said that was not enough to reflect the 'very great' input of Buddy Mansfield. His gifts of four farms had allowed 'very substantial wealth' to be brought into the marriage. 'The land and premises that form the main basis of the existing wealth in the present case derive in large measure from gifts and inheritances received by the husband from his father,' he said. Much of the wealth had been gathered by using the inherited and gifted farms as security to expand the business, he continued. In ordering that almost 5million be paid by June and another 7.7million by next March, the family judge had ordered 'too much too soon', he added. 'How on earth is he supposed to raise 5million by this June?' said Mr Turner. Mr Southgate said Buddy Mansfield's part in the family's success had been 'grossly exaggerated', because the business he had run was 'comparatively tiny'. 'It was the wife's case that it was their hard work over 26 years which created the current business,' he said. Giving judgment, Mr Justice Moylan said the argument about Brexit would not be likely to succeed on appeal and refused permission for it to go forward. But Mr Mansfield's claims about his father's contribution to the success of the family business were 'arguable', he continued. He said the ground of appeal had 'sufficient prospect of success'. Putting a brake on orders that sums be paid to Mrs Mansfield in June, the judge said it would not be fair until the full amount is determined for good. 'The husband and the wife need to know what his overall liability is before either the parties or the court can determine when and how it is to be paid,' he said. 'It's right that I don't cause him substantial prejudice by requiring him to pay a sum that would have a consequential impact on his business.' No date was set for the full hearing of Mr Mansfield's appeal. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says it is the United States' 'hope' that Bashar al-Assad will not be part of Syria's future - but the decision rests with the people of that country. Tillerson made the statement Tuesday as he concluded talks in Lucca, Italy, with other G7 diplomats after days of mixed messages from Trump administration officials on the future of the vicious dictator who gassed his own people. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said Sunday that the Syrian leader will be displaced because 'all of the parties are going to see that Assad is not the leader that needs to be taking place for Syria.' There's 'not any sort of option' for a political agreement that sees Assad stay, she said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer echoed Haley on Monday, saying at his daily briefing that it's not 'possible' to have stability and peace in Syria with Assad in charge. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says it is the United States' 'hope' that Bashar al-Assad will not be part of Syria's future - but the decision rests with the people of that country Spicer said Monday that Tillerson's claim that the Syrians will determine their future and Haley's statements were not necessarially at odds with one another, even though one had been on the Sunday shows arguing that Assad will go, and the other had said his fate remains to be seen and it's not up to the US. Tillerson tried to unmuddy the United States' position on Assad on Tuesday as he prepared to head to Moscow for a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 'Many nations look to the Geneva process to resolve the Syrian conflict in a way that produces stability and gives the Syrian people the opportunity to determine their own political future, and our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be a part of that future,' Tillerson said. President Donald Trump has been vague about vague about what he believes should happen to Assad. He told reporters Thursday, just before he authorized airstrikes on Assad's army, 'I guess he's running things, so I guess something should happen.' He's let his press secretary, secretary of state and ambassador to the UN to do talking for him since Thursday evening, when he delivered a statement on the bombings. Spicer would not say Tuesday that Assad must go when pressed to take a definitive stance on the dictator's future. He said peace and stability cannot be had in Syria with Assad there, but would not say that it is the United States' position that he cannot be allowed to stay. Tillerson said earlier on Tuesday, 'It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end. 'But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria,' he said. 'That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs.' A day before Spicer said Tillerson and Haley were essentially arguing the same thing as reporters repeatedly asked him to make sense of the contradictory claims coming out of the administration. 'One of them is saying, we dont see peace with him in charge. The other one is saying, we need to have him gone. I think thats the point of both,' he said. The Trump spokesman contended that they 'are mutually exclusive statements' and the goals of the United States remain the same: 'defeating ISIS, and...creating the political environment necessary for the Syrian people to have new leadership there.' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says Tillerson's statements are not necessarially at odds with UN ambassador Nikki Haley's, even though one had been on the Sunday shows arguing that Assad must and will go, and the other had said his fate remains to be seen and it's not up to the US To do that, the US will need the help of Moscow. Spicer said Tillerson will make sure that Russia 'fully understands' the situation on the ground and remind the Kremlin during his visit of the agreement it made with the international community to oversee the elimination of Assad's chemical stockpile. Russia offered to destroy Syria's chemical weapons in 2013, attesting afterward that it did. It obviously failed to live up to that commitment, the US says. The Assad ally claims that airstrikes on terrorists led to an inadvertent hit on a warehouse storing the toxins that poisoned and killed more than 80 people. Experts say the explanation is unlikely. The US, UK and other nations have blamed Assad. 'Getting them back on the same page, first and foremost, would seem the logical step,' Spicer said. 'But secondly, and I guess equally important is to make sure that the areas we can find a commitment to defeat ISIS is something that we share.' For the first time since Trump approved airstrikes on Syria's military the White House official clearly articulated the administration's priorities in the country and the role it wants Russia to play in the process it believes will lead to Assad's demise. Yet, in a contradiction of Tillerson, who said Sunday that ISIS must be decimated before a political process to ease Assad out can begin, Spicer said one does not have to come before the other. 'I think they kind of go hand in hand,' he said. Clarifying, Trump's spokesman stated, 'I don't think those are mutually exclusive statements.' It remains the case that a deescalation of the conflict in Syria will create an environment in which it will be easier to remove Assad, Spicer said. 'They can work in tandem,' he said, 'but the bottom line is the first priority is the containment of ISIS.' As part of that effort to 'resolve the conflict and eventually result in the transition of a new legitimate Syrian leadership,' the U.S. special envoy of Syria will be coming to Washington on Tuesday, Spicer said, to consulate with with State Department and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster. The strategy is not all too different from the one Obama's administration was pursuing at the end of his eight years in office, aside from the continued threat of airstrikes against Assad if he violates international norms. Already, the White House is climbing down from a suggestion Spicer made in that briefing that the president would hit Assad's army again if the Syrian dictator gasses more civilians. 'The President has been very clear that there were a number of lines that were crossed last week. Hes not going to sit down,' he said. 'If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb in to innocent people...you will see a response from this President.' Responding to a question about the use of chemical weapons as Trump's 'red line,' Spicer said, 'Hes going to keep his cards close to the vest. But make no mistake, he will act.' A White House official told ABC News after that 'nothing has changed' in the United States' posture toward Syria and Trump act 'whenever it is in the national interest.' The White House also had to play clean up on Spicer's charge that Assad's use of 'barrel bombs' would have the president 'instantaneously moved to action.' 'I think this President has made it very clear that if those actions were to continue, further action will definitely be considered by the United States,' he stated. As Vox pointed out, the United States would be engaged in a full scale war with Syria if it took that approach - Assad has been dropping dozens of barrel bombs a day. A White House official told AFP's Andrew Beatty that Spicer's comment specifically applied to bombs that contained banned chemical agents like chlorine. A Central Michigan University student has been charged with hazing after he allegedly smeared peanut butter on the face of a freshman with a peanut allergy during a hazing ritual. The Mt Pleasant Police Department issued a warrant for the arrest of 20-year-old Dale Merza, who was accused of smearing the peanut butter on first-year student Andrew Seely's face and he turned himself in on Friday, according to a police statement. Seely suffered a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction after the incident that took place in October 2016 when members of Alpha Chi Rho reportedly hazed him. The 19-year-old's eyes, lips and face swelled up immediately afterward, but he didn't seek medical attention until a professor persuaded him to go to the school's health clinic. Central Michigan University student, Dale Merza, 20, has been charged with hazing after he allegedly smeared peanut butter on the face of freshman, Andrew Seely (left), 19, who has a deadly peanut allergy. Seely (right) suffered a potentially fatal reaction after the incident Seely's mother, Teresa Seely, didn't find out about the incident until her son revealed the matter to her last month. She took to Facebook to expose the dangers of fraternity hazing, which prompted police to launch the investigation. Seely is pictured on campus Seely's mother, Teresa Seely, didn't find out about the incident until her son revealed the matter to her last month. She then took to Facebook to expose the dangers of fraternity hazing and said her son 'could have been killed'. Her Facebook post prompted Mt Pleasant police to launch the investigation. If Merza is convicted of the misdemeanor, he could get up to 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Merza is still a student at the university. Merza's lawyer, Bruce Leach told the Detroit Free Press that he believes his client is innocent. 'I'm confident that once the facts are laid out in court, Mr Merza will be found not guilty of any kind of hazing. This case has been blown way out of proportion by the individual's family members, who were not present and don't have any of the facts,' Leach said. 'Mr. Merza has never been in trouble before in his life. I don't believe he'll be convicted.' Andrew Seely had only completed one semester at the university before transferring to another school after the incident. Teresa Seely said she was devastated and shocked this could happen while students are away in college. Merza turned himself in on Friday after police issued the warrant for his arrest on charges of hazing resulting in physical injury. If Merza is convicted of the misdemeanor, he could get up to 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Merza is still a student at the university (pictured) 'We thought we were sending our child off to school in a safe environment, and obviously that wasn't the case,' she told the news site. 'He could have died from this. He has a deadly peanut allergy.' Mrs Seely said she is not sure why her son choose to keep the matter from her, but believes he was afraid of losing friends. Spokeswoman Heather Smith told the Detroit Free Press, that the university is investigating, however CMU police may not have jurisdiction because the fraternity is located off school grounds. Alpha Chi Rho is not officially recognized by the university after it was banned in 2011 for hazing Alpha Chi Rho was removed from campus in 2011 and is not officially recognized by the university because of hazing reports in the past. Smith also said the fraternity's bids to become reinstated have been denied. The fraternity released a statement, addressing the incident. 'In response to the unfortunate incident that occurred at Central Michigan University in October 2016, the National Fraternity of Alpha Chi Rho is appalled and upset by the actions taken by individuals against Andrew Seely,' they said. 'The individuals involved were not members and acted independently. Alpha Chi Rho does not condone this type of behavior - or any form of hazing - and it stands in conflict with our mission to cultivate men of character, honor and integrity. Alpha Chi Rho said the students involved had been 'improperly operating under' their name. University officials previously said the college was investigating for potential violations of the student code of conduct, which carry penalties including suspensions and permanent dismissal in serious cases, according the Free Press. But the status of that investigation is unknown. A Texas mother was jailed for 18 years on Monday after accepting a plea deal for her role in the attempted murder of her teenage daughter's boyfriend. Christina June Peyton and husband Jeffrey approached a witness in 2015 and said they wanted to hire a killer; he told police, who sent in an undercover cop to pose as a hitman. 'I want him gone,' the Witchita Falls mother, 41, told the witness, according to Dallas News. 'Not out-of-town gone. I want him dead gone.' Imprisoned: Christina Peyton (left, on Monday) has pleaded guilty to hiring a killer to murder her daughter's boyfriend, taking 18 years in a plea deal rather than a potential life sentence The witness told police on June 26, 2015, that the couple had asked him to find someone who could 'take out' their daughter's boyfriend for $300, documents say. He also provided recordings of their conversations. A cop then posed as an assassin who offered his services to the pair. According to the cop, the Peytons initially hinted about how they wanted the boyfriend dealt with 'permanently'. They were angry after a dispute over money, police said. Jeffrey Peyton, 59, then offered the cop $300 up-front and a further $200 when the contract was completed. Christina reportedly told the witness she and her husband would take their daughter to the movies so they wouldn't be around 'the day this happens'. Husband: She and husband Jeffrey (pictured) hired an undercover cop to do the deed. He then faked the death to fool them. Jeffrey was sentenced to 21 years in prison in March But to really catch the Peytons out, the officer went to the boyfriend and convinced him to play dead. The 'victim' posed for pictures pretending to have been shot, which were then shown to the bloodthirsty couple on July 2. They thought it was proof of a job well done - until they were both arrested later that same day. Christina Peyton avoided a potential life sentence by pleading guilty to Criminal Solicitation of Capital Murder on Monday, before she could go to trial. She will be credited for the 649 days of time she has already served. She was implicated in the bizarre affair by her husband, who was sentenced to 21 years in prison, with 611 days already served, on March 3. Neither the boyfriend not the Peytons' daughter have been identified. A policeman has been jailed for 18 years after he stabbed to death a family of three, cut up their bodies, then used a mincer and acid to try and destroy the evidence. When Mikhail Dronik, 40, was detained, investigators found him nonchalantly sitting with a cup of blood from his victims. He had chopped up the family's remains into small pieces, washed some parts into the sewer, and put the mother's head into his fridge, a Moscow court heard. But despite using a meat mincer and kitchen knives to mutilate the corpses, Dronik denied being a cannibal, saying he only wanted to cover his tracks. Mikhail Dronik, 40, has been jailed for 18 years after stabbing to death a family of three and mutilating their bodies using a meat mincer and sulphuric acid Dronik was found guilty of killing Vyacheslav Savyolov, 43, his wife Yulia, 42, and their son Nikita, seven (pictured together), who he shared an apartment with Arriving at the scene, on the outskirts of Moscow, his hardened police colleagues were 'overcome' by the horror, while others compared his massacre to the horror movie Silence of the Lambs. Former senior lieutenant Dronik was found guilty this week of murdering Vyacheslav Savyolov, 43, his wife Yulia, 42, and their son Nikita, seven, in the Moscow suburb of Lyubertsy. After police were alerted about the missing family, and former wrestler Dronik's disappearance, they broke into the flat which the policeman shared with them. The severed head of the man was in a fish tank filled with sulphuric acid. The woman's head was in the fridge, and the boy's was in a bucket, which Dronik was also trying to dissolve using acid. Police called to Dronik's apartment found Yulia's head in the kitchen fridge, Nikita's head in a bucket of acid, and father Vyacheslav's head in a fish tank also full of acid Despite being found holding a cup of blood, Dronik denied being a cannibal, saying he only used kitchen tools to cut up the bodies, not prepare them for eating Dronik was a senior lieutenant in the Russian police and a former army commander Anton Sidorov, of the Russian Investigative Committee, sometimes likened to the FBI, said: 'There was silence inside. 'Their guns ready, police went further and opened the door into one room. 'They saw missing Mikhail Dronik who sat on a chair, looking indifferent. Next to him was a cup of blood. 'He looked up and said: "Come on, guys, shoot. Waste your bullets on me." 'The scene shocked everyone - even in horror movies you hardly see this.' Some officers 'rushed out' feeling physically sick, he said. Investigator Natalia Goryacheva told how she saw body parts cut into pieces 'There was an aquarium, the head of a man was inside and sulphuric acid had been poured over it,' she recalled. 'Nearby was a plastic bucket with the head of the killed boy. 'We kept searching for the head of the woman. We went to the kitchen, and there were drops of blood everywhere. 'There was a chopping board and several knives and a metal handsaw. A broken mincing machine was there too. Detectives called to the apartment struggled to cope with the brutal scene inside, with many having to leave after feeling physically sick, a Moscow court heard Anton Sidorov, from Russia's Investigative Committee which is similar to the FBI, said the scene was worse than a horror movie 'One glance was enough to understand that all these tools were used to dismember the bodies. 'The mother's head was found on the lower shelf of the fridge.' Dronik denied he was a cannibal, she said. 'It was easy to get the impression he had been drinking blood and eating the meat of the killed people,' she said. 'But the criminal denied all this. According to Dronik, he used the tools only to mince the body parts. 'But the mincing machine soon got broken and he had to use a hand saw. He also used sulphuric acid trying to dissolve the heads.' Investigators said that there was a conflict over payments between the Savyolovs and Dronik, who rented a room in the flat. Dronik initially denied killing his neighbours, saying he had come home and found the bodies. Later he admitted knifing them but said he had acted in self defence after he was attacked by father Vyacheslav. He killed the wife and boy because they were witnesses, he said. Police said Dronik had got into an argument over rent with Vyacheslav before going out to buy acid and a fish tank to carry out the killings But a jury found him guilty of the 2015 crime after evidence showed he had bought the aquarium and acid two days before the murders. Sidorov said doctors had found him to be sane at the time of the slayings. 'He was not insane, he deliberately killed and dismembered these people,' he said. Police accept that he was not a cannibal. Dronik had been trained at the prestigious Ryazan paratroopers academy, before working as a commander of a radio brigade in Russia's missile troops. Later he became commander of a police guards unit. Prosecutors had asked for a life sentence, but the judge ordered him to serve 18 years. A neighbour called Natalia said: 'They were a friendly family. I had never heard them quarrelling or in conflict with anyone. 'They were a great family. What was this child killed for?' WASHINGTON No majority leader wants written on his tombstone that he presided over the end of the Senate, the minority leader said. He continued: Breaking the rules to change the rules is un-American. I just hope the majority leader thinks about his legacy, the future of his party and, most importantly, the future of our country before he acts. Are these the words of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as the Republican majority changed Senate rules last week to do away with filibusters of Supreme Court nominations? Actually, they were uttered in 2013, by then-Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, when Democrats pushed through a similar filibuster change for lesser nominations. That McConnell did a 180 on the topic going from the institutional defender of the filibuster to the man who destroyed it is unsurprising. He has frequently shifted his views to suit the needs of the moment. But in this case, McConnell was correct in 2013, and what he just did last week was even more ruinous than what he accused the Democrats of doing then. By rights, McConnells tombstone should say that he presided over the end of the Senate. And Id add a second line: He broke America. No man has done more in recent years to undermine the functioning of U.S. government. His has been the epitome of unprincipled leadership, the triumph of tactics in service of short-term power. Back in 1994, McConnell lamented to the conservative Heritage Foundation that Republicans hadnt used the filibuster enough: I am a proud guardian of gridlock. I think gridlock is making a big comeback in the country. For the next quarter-century, he made sure of it. Back then, he was fighting all attempts at campaign-finance reform and spending limits, championing disclosure of contributions as the antidote. But when the Supreme Court allowed unlimited dark money in campaigns without disclosure, McConnell reversed course and has fought all attempts to enact disclosure. McConnell famously declared in 2010: The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president. ProPublicas Alec MacGillis, author of a McConnell biography, The Cynic, reports former Republican Sen. Robert Bennetts account of what McConnell told fellow Republicans after Obamas election: Mitch said, We have a new president with an approval rating in the 70 percent area. We do not take him on frontally. We find issues where we can win, and we begin to take him down, one issue at a time. We create an inventory of losses, so its Obama lost on this, Obama lost on that. And thats what he did. By 2013, for example, 79 of Obamas nominees had been blocked by filibusters, compared to 68 in the entire previous history of the Republic. After Justice Antonin Scalias death was confirmed last year, it took McConnell less than an hour to say that the vacancy should be filled by the next president. He called keeping Obamas nominee off the court one of my proudest moments. While other Republicans have, at times, been willing to criticize Donald Trumps outrages, McConnell has been conspicuously quiescent. Although his predecessors at least attempted collegiality, McConnell practices no such niceties (recall his nevertheless, she persisted silencing of Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren). But most characteristic of McConnell is his tendency to shift his views to suit current exigencies (on the minimum wage, withdrawal from Iraq, earmarks, abortion, labor and civil rights) and his adroitness at gumming up the works: forcing clerks to spend hours reading a bill aloud on the floor; opposing immigration legislation hed encouraged; asking for a vote on a debt-ceiling proposal and then trying to filibuster it; urging the Obama administration to support a bipartisan debt commission and then voting against it. Now comes the filibusters demise. In the current cycle of partisan escalation, its only a matter of time before the filibuster is abolished for all legislation, killing the tradition of unlimited debate in the Senate dating back to 1789. The founders did this so minority rights would be respected and consensus could be formed and McConnell is undoing it. Two years ago, when a Democrat was in the White House, McConnell said he would only abolish filibusters of Supreme Court justices if there were 67 votes for such a change. Last week, he employed a maneuver to do it with 51 votes. It suited his momentary needs, but the damage will remain long after McConnells tombstone is engraved. Police in New Jersey on Tuesday arrested a man for allegedly stabbing to death his wife, whose lifeless body was discovered by her 12-year-old son the night before. Law enforcement officers and paramedics responded to 133 Chestnut Street in Kearny at around 6.45pm after getting a 911 call about a woman who was found unresponsive inside her second-floor apartment. Witnesses said they heard the sounds of an argument coming from the victims unit before the woman was killed. Scroll down for video Shocking scene: A 12-year-old boy discovered his mother stabbed to death inside the family's home at 133 Chestnut Street in Kearny, New Jersey, on Monday Homicide probe: The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office has confirmed the woman's death is being investigated as a homicide; a suspect is in custody The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday identified the victim as 46-year-old Luisa Cristina Reyna-Tello. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 7.10pm. Hours after the woman's killing, the Kearny Police Department arrested her husband and the father of her three children, 36-year-old Jose Castro-Lavado, and charged him with first-degree murder and two weapons counts. Jahn Camac, the victim's 16-year-old neighbor, described a troubling scene on Chestnut Street Monday, with one of Reyna-Tello's daughters screaming, 'why my mom, why my mom!' Speaking to NJ.com, Carlos Ramirez, who identified himself as Reyna-Tello's friend, revealed that he and the victim had known each other from the time they were children growing up in the same neighborhood in Peru. When Ramirez learned of the woman's violent death from some mutual friends, he drove from his home in Newark to Kearny. A long-time friend said the victim, a 36-year-old married mom-of-three, came to US from Peru in 2013 and worked two jobs to support her family 'My whole family is crying,' he told the news site. According to Ramirez, the mother-of-three had moved from Peru to the US in 2013 and her husband only recently joined her in Kearny. Reyna-Tello worked two jobs at Kearny's Red Bull Stadium and a pizza shop to provide for her children. Donald Trump promised the Chinese on Tuesday that they would get 'far better' trade terms with the U.S. if they managed to de-fang the hostile North Korean regime. But in the same digital breath on Twitter he pledged to handle Pyongyang with or without Beijing's help. 'I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!' Trump tweeted. The president is increasingly concerned with the threat of a nuclear program being developed by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. 'North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.' Trump continued. Scroll down for video Donald Trump has warned that 'North Korea is looking for trouble', insisting that if China 'does not decide to help', the US 'will solve the problem without them' The US President wrote the message on Twitter after revealing he had urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to pressure its neighbor and close ally in to stopping its nuclear program War games: Pyongyang condemned Washington's order to dispatch the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to the region for US-South Korea military exercises. A row of F18 fighter jets are pictured on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson The Chinese army has deployed 150,000 troops to the Yalu River Bridge at the North Korean border in anticipation of a wave of refugees from North Korea if war breaks out. Meanwhile, the US Navy has moved the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group from Singapore to the North Korean peninsula Pyongyang rattled a saber in Washington's direction on Monday, saying it would mount a defense against 'reckless acts of aggression' after the Trump administration sent an aircraft carrier strike group toward the Korean peninsula. The strike group consists of the USS Carl Vinson, a missile carrier and two destroyers. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said the North Korean foreign ministry criticized Trump's 'reckless acts of aggression' and said American aggression has 'reached a serious phase.' Pyongyang 'is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.,' the ministry insisted. Trump's public linking of U.S.-China trade and North Korea's nuclear ambitions came just days after he hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort club in Palm Beach, Florida. The two leaders established a new framework for trade negotiations during 'very frank, very candid' talks, according to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. They also came to an agreement on the 'urgency of the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons program,' Tillerson added. The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, the guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer and the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain are pictured in March this year. North Korea has warned it is 'ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.' The bilateral meeting, which seemed to all the world an afterthought in the wake of a U.S. airstrike in Syria, yielded hope for a 'more balanced economic relationship, specifically on trade,' Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said afterward. Trump's warnings on Tuesday came as Russia admitted it is 'extremely worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario.' Pyongyang had earlier threatened 'catastrophic consequences' after Trump sent warships in its direction. At the same time, China has moved 150,000 troops to its border to deal with a possible influx of North Korean refugees amid fears Trump may follow his Syria military action with a first strike against Kim Jong-un. North Korea in response is warning of a nuclear attack on the U.S. at any sign of pre-emptive action. 'Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland,' said the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, Kim's state newspaper. US Marine Corps are pictured during a joint defense exercise against a possible attack from North Korea, in Pohang, South Korea, on Tuesday South Korean marine soldiers stand guard during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea, on Tuesday The joint defence excercises between US and South Korean Marine teams began on Tuesday, in Pohang, 360 km southeast of Seoul 'We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions,' a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a lengthy statement, adding that Pyongyang would 'take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms.' Tensions on the divided peninsula are high because of U.S.-South Korea war games now underway and recent ballistic missile tests by the North. Pyongyang sees the annual maneuvers as a dress rehearsal for invasion, but its long-range missile launches are a violation of U.N. resolutions. The Carl Vinson and its wing of fighter jets were scheduled to make port visits in Australia but were diverted to waters off North Korea after the country conducted more missile testing, the Pentagon revealed on Saturday night. A US marine is pictured in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korean and US military Combined Forces Command is holding the Combined Joint Logisics Over-the-Shore US Marine Corps participate during a joint defence exercise against a possible attack from North Korea, in Pohang, on Tuesday China, left shocked by the Tomahawk missile launches against Syria's Bashar al-Assad, has deployed medical and backup units from the People's Liberation Army forces to the Yalu River, Korea's Chosun.com reported. The troops have been dispatched to handle North Korean refugees and 'unforeseen circumstances', such as the prospect of a preemptive U.S. attack. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of 'greater provocations' by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States. 'It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly,' said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. But South Korean officials took pains to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is pictured earlier this month. A spokesperson for the regime's foreign ministry says they are ready for war 'We'd like to ask precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula,' Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting 'big powers' for their 'expansionist' policy. 'The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination,' Russian news agency Tass quote the message as saying. North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States. Delegates from around the North have been arriving in Pyongyang ahead of the assembly session. They visited statues of previous leaders Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il, state media reported. Mr Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Pyongyang's key ally to do more to curb the North's nuclear ambitions China's top nuclear envoy arrived in Seoul on Monday for talks on the North Korean threat, as the United States sent the naval strike group to the region and signalled it may act to shut down Pyongyang's weapons program. Speculation of an imminent nuclear test is brewing as the North marks major anniversaries including the 105th birthday of its founding leader on Saturday - sometimes celebrated with a demonstration of military might. Wu Dawei, China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, met with his South Korean counterpart on Monday to discuss the nuclear issue. The talks come shortly after Mr Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Pyongyang's key ally to do more to curb the North's nuclear ambitions. '[We] are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to coordinate with us,' US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the summit. He added however that Beijing had indicated a willingness to act on the issue. 'We need to allow them time to take actions,' Tillerson said, adding that Washington had no intention of attempting to remove the regime of Kim Jong-Un. The meeting between Xi and Trump came on the heels of yet another missile test by the North, which fired a medium-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday. Pyongyang is on a quest to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead, and has so far staged five nuclear tests, two of them last year. '(We) are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to coordinate with us,' US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the summit (Mr Trump pictured with Xi Jinping) Mr Trump is pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida on Friday Satellite imagery analysis suggests it could be preparing for a sixth, with US intelligence officials warning that Pyongyang could be less than two years away from its goal of striking the continental United States. China, the US, South Korea and Japan all have dedicated envoys who meet at regular intervals to discuss the North Korean issue: a legacy of the long-stalled six-party process that also involved Pyongyang and Moscow. The North quit the negotiations in 2009. The isolated North is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology, but repeated rounds of sanctions have failed to arrest its nuclear ambitions. President Donald Trump's national security adviser General HR McMaster on Sunday said North Korea was engaging in 'provocative behavior.' 'This is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear-capable regime. The president has asked to be prepared to give him a full range of options to remove that threat to the American people and to our allies and partners in the region,' he told FOX News Sunday. China has deployed medical and backup units from the People's Liberation Army (pictured above) forces to the Yalu River following President Donald Trump's missile strikes on Syria last week Trump has previously threatened unilateral action against the reclusive state, a threat that appeared more palpable after Thursday's strike on a Syrian airfield following an apparent chemical attack. Meanwhile, the United States has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week, a senior U.S. official said Monday. The official said a drone operated by Russians was flying over a hospital as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons. The official said the presence of the surveillance drone over the hospital couldn't have been a coincidence, and that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming and that victims were seeking treatment. A Colorado State University graduate was found dead in a Panama creek on Saturday. Cody Oser, 24, from Broomfield, Colorado, was working on the Central American island for the Peace Corps. His body was found partially submerged in a creek in the Ngabe-Bugle Comarca region on Saturday. No details as to how he may have died have yet emerged or if police in Panama suspect any foul play. Cody Oser, 24, was found dead in a creek in Panama on Saturday. He was working as an engineering volunteer for the Peace Corps Local media reports that Oser still had his phone and wallet on him when he was discovered by local indigenous people. He showed no obvious signs of trauma. The Peace Corps confirmed his death in a statement which eulogized the young man as a 'remarkable' volunteer. 'Codys enthusiasm for helping others and knack for problem solving were remarkable and are a few of the many reasons he was so well-liked among fellow volunteers and in his community. 'His passing is a profound loss for the Peace Corps community as we mourn along with his family and friends,' director Sheila Crowley said. Oser hoped to use his engineering skills to improve living conditions in third world communities. Oser joined the Peace Corps in July last year. He is seen (left) in a photograph he shared afterwards to celebrate his enrollment and (right) with his parents Oser was found in a creek in the Ngabe-Bugle Comarca region of Panama on Saturday Police are investigating the 24-year-old's death. Before starting work in Panama, Oser spent time volunteering in El Salvador and Kenya Before joining the Peace Corps in July last year, he spent time traveling through El Salvador and Kenya where he volunteered on engineering projects. He graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2015. The youngster regularly shared photographs and anecdotes from his travels on social media. Last year, he excitedly posted a photo of himself wearing a Peace Corps badge, describing himself as an 'unofficial ambassador' of the US. The Ngabe Bugle district is home to one of Panama's largest indigenous populations and welcomes volunteers. Sales of Ivanka Trump's clothing collection soared last year as she rode the coat-tails of her father's fame during his Presidential campaign. A boycott of all Trump brands, using the hashtag #GrabYourWallet, began to bite in October but President Trump's daughter managed to increase her wholesale revenue by 61 percent over the year until the end of January. In February this year Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus dropped her clothing lines and several others stores, including TJ Maxx, have reduced their profile within their stores. Ivanka Trump, a former model, is a hard-nosed businesswoman and a chip off the old block Fortune.com reported that G-III, the clothing manufacturer who produce the Ivana Trump brand, had reported the upswing in their annual report to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The report noted that sales of Ivanka Trump licensed products rose to $47.3million, an increase in net sale of 61 percent. Ivanka was criticized at the Republican convention last summer when her company tweeted a picture of her giving a speech and mentioned where replicas of her dress were on sale. Last week Ivanka hosted a town hall event in Washington about the American business climate. She was joined by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross (left) and Reed Cordish (right), from the Office of American Innovation Last month it was reported that the Ivanka Trump brand had its best ever month in February, despite being dropped by Nordstrom and some other retailers. Ivanka brand merchandise is still carried by Macy's, Bloomingdales and Dillard's. Her brand of shoes are the best sellers, followed by dresses. Free advertising: Ivanka wore a pair of nude suede heels from her eponymous brand on Wednesday (above) February was a roller coaster month for the brand, from which Ivanka stepped down in January one week before she and her family moved to Washington DC. It all began when President Trump lashed out at Nordstrom for dumping his daughter's clothing line. 'My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by Nordstrom,' the president wrote on Twitter last month. 'She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!'. Popular: Ivanka Trump Eau de Parfum has been the top selling fragrance on Amazon for the past two weeks straight White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer then defended President Trump's comment later in the day, saying that he was responding to 'an attack on his daughter.' Spicer also implied that the Seattle-based retailer made the decision to drop Ivanka's line because they did not agree with President Trump's ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations entering the country. But Nordstrom revealed in a statement to DailyMail.com at the time that Ivanka was personally told about its decision in early January - weeks before the travel ban. 'To reiterate what we've already shared when asked, we made this decision based on performance,' read the statement. 'Over the past year, and particularly in the last half of 2016, sales of the brand have steadily declined to the point where it didn't make good business sense for us to continue with the line for now.' The statement went on to read: 'We've had a great relationship with the Ivanka Trump team. We've had open conversations with them over the past year to share what we've seen and Ivanka was personally informed of our decision in early January.' Vladimir Putin has accused America of plotting more missile strikes in Syria and warned of fake gas attacks designed to bring down the Assad regime. The Russian premier said he has intelligence that 'some kind of substance' will be used in Damascus and the Syrian authorities will be blamed. Asked about further American missile strikes, he said: 'We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using it.' Vladimir Putin has accused America of planning more missle strikes in Syria and warned of fake gas attacks in Damascus in order to bring down the Assad regime Putin said he will be calling on the United Nation to investigate the strike on Khan Sheikhoun which killed 87 civilians, saying there is no evidence that Assad is to blame He continued to deny that Assad's regime was behind last week's attack in Idlib which killed 87, saying Russia will be calling on the United Nations to investigate. Putin likened last week's use of chemical weapons to the supposed existence of weapons of mass destruction that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He said: 'This ended with the country's destruction, with the growth of the terrorist threat and the appearance of the Islamic State on the international stage, no more, no less.' He confirmed that Russia will urgently ask the global chemical weapons watchdog - the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - to investigate Idlib. Russia has defended the Syrian government, a staunch ally, against U.S. allegations it was behind the attack, saying there is no evidence to underpin such an accusation. Sergei Rudskoy, of the Russian General Staff, added that Syrian government is willing to let international experts to examine the airbase in Shayrat, which was bombed by Trump, for signs of chemical weapons. Russia will provide security for the visit, according to Rudskoy. However, a White House official responded to Russia's claims on Tuesday, saying the US is 'very confident' that the chemical attack in Syria was not carried out by rebels and was not fabricated. The official also said Russia has shown a clear pattern of trying to shift blame for chemical weapons attacks away from Syria's Assad. The comments came as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson landed in Moscow for talks over the Syrian crisis. Putin likened the gas attack last week, which prompted Trump to launch cruise missiles into Syria, to the weapons of mass destruction that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 Putin's comments came as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson landed in Moscow for talks, having earlier called on Russia to drop its support for Assad and Hezbollah Putin's spokesman has said there are no scheduled plans for the President to meet Tillerson, but Russian media have cited unnamed sources as saying that such a meeting will go ahead. Earlier on Tuesday, Tillerson spoke to a meeting of G7 leader in Italy, saying the time had come for Russia to abandon its support for the likes of Assad and Hezbollah. In response, Putin said Moscow would tolerate Western criticism of its role in Syria but hoped that attitudes would eventually soften. Elsewhere on Tuesday Turkey confirmed that sarin gas was used on Syrian civilians. Analysis of blood and urine samples from the attack in the northwestern Idlib province proved the use of the gas, experts stated. Turkish health minster Recep Akdag told state-run news agency Anadolu: 'It has been identified that sarin gas was used.' Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria. Officials from the World Health Organization and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies. A former kebab shop worker who murdered his ex-girlfriend using clingfilm and masking tape in a fit of jealousy has been jailed for life. Ahsan Hassan, 28, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, killed Zofia Sadowska, 20, in a takeaway after a series of stalking incidents triggered by her dating his childhood friend. He was later found at his home with deep cuts to his wrist, in what he claimed was an attempted suicide. CCTV footage shown during the trial showed 'utterly fixated' Hassan - known as 'Ali' - hiding behind bins to stalk Ms Sadowska weeks before he carried her 'limp and completely floppy' body out of the kebab shop and into a taxi. Ahsan Hassan has been jailed for life after killing ex-girlfriend Zofia Sadowska using clingfilm and masking tape Police and paramedics were called to Hassan's home in High Wycombe on September 20, 2016 Jurors were told Hassan admitted manslaughter by killing her in what he described as part of a lovers' suicide pact and denied murder. Hassan had stood in the dock with his childhood friend from Pakistan, Usman Ansar, who was accused of lying to police to protect his friend after feeling 'very guilty' about having sexual relations with Ms Sadowska behind his back. A jury took five hours and nine minutes to unanimously convict Hassan of murder and he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 24 years. His 40-year-old co-accused was cleared of perverting the course of justice. On September 18 at around 11.30pm, Hassan tricked his former lover to go to the Dennis kebab shop where he had worked previously and for which he still had the keys, despite it being closed. After murdering her in the takeaway, at around 2am he took her and put her into a waiting taxi, convincing the driver she was drunk and asleep and travelled to his home. The jury heard that emergency services discovered Hassan with slashed wrists next to Zofia's body in his room Hassan told officers that it was a suicide pact to try to cover up what he had done Emergency services were called just after 5am on September 19, to a report of an attempted suicide and Hassan told officers that it was a suicide pact to try to cover up what he had done. The jury heard that emergency services discovered Hassan with slashed wrists next to Zofia's body in his room on September 20. Junior prosecutor Lisa Goddard read out a victim impact statement written by Zofia's mother Katarzyna, on behalf of the family, which described the pain her daughter's death had caused. 'On September 19 our lives changed forever when the police explained to me on the phone that somehow my daughter had been found murdered,' she said. 'I just couldn't take it in. I hope she didn't suffer in any way.' She continued: 'When do we, as a family, sit down as a family, and begin to tell my grandson what has happened to his mum? This will be a hard thing to do. We don't have the words at the moment.' 'We will never get over her murder but we learn to deal with it every day,' she added. 'We sometimes think about the person who killed Zofia but we know no sentence will bring her back to us. Hassan was sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in jail, minus the 200 days he has already spent in custody, and will remain on licence for the rest of his life. Sentencing at Reading Crown Court Judge Johanna Cutts said: 'You inflicted mental and physical suffering on Zofia before her death. She must have been terrified when she came to realise what was happening in that place where nobody could find her. 'Having killed Zofia you realised you could not leave her there so you calmly took her body back to your address, claiming to the taxi driver that she was just drunk. He tricked his former lover to go to the Dennis kebab shop where he had worked previously and for which he still had the keys, and murdered her 'You have shown not a shred of remorse, even trying to persuade the jury that you killed her in pursuit of a suicide in pursuance of a suicide pact.' Moving onto the family's victim impact statement she said: 'No parent should have to cope with the loss of a murdered child and no child should have to grow up without a mother that is murdered. I have to sentence you here today but Zofia's family will forever have to live with her loss.' During his defence, Diana Ellis QC told how Hassan had fled his native Pakistan when his family tried to force him to marry his cousin against his wishes. 'He came to the UK in 2011 to escape a very difficult family environment,' she said. 'He comes from a family not without financial resources and his father is the oldest of the brothers but within the family, younger brothers had a great influence. 'There was a significant amount of pressure put on Mr Hassan that he should marry his cousin but this was something he refused to do and consequently he was quite badly treated by his family and fled to this country to escape that environment.' He was jailed today at Reading Crown Court, above, where he was sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in jail, minus the 200 days he has already spent in custody, and will remain on licence for the rest of his life A post mortem examination which was carried out on her body at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, revealed that there was no alcohol in her body at the time of her death, the cause of which was found to be asphyxia consistent with compression of the neck. Hassan's childhood friend from Pakistan, with whom he shared a room and bed in a house share in High Wycombe, Usman was said to have acted as a 'go-between' between the lovers during a break in their relationship. Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Stuart Blaik of Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Unit, said: 'I am pleased that Hassan has been convicted of his crimes. 'Hassan was deeply controlling, manipulative and consumed with jealousy. He evilly planned to murder Zofia and then showed cowardice when he tried to cover up his crime by falsely claiming that both he and Zofia had wished to commit suicide. 'Hassan has never admitted his crimes, which has made dealing with the loss of Zofia even more of a terrible ordeal for her family. I would like to pay tribute to Zofia's family for their courage throughout.' A suspected Gangster Disciples member has been arrested and charged in a horrific child abuse case believed to be tied to gang initiation. Antonio Lamar Banks, 25, was arrested on Thursday on felony gang, battery and child molestation charges in Lithonia, Georgia, in what police say may have been a despicable case of 'sexing' a member into a gang. Banks and a gang accomplice are accused of holding a boy of unspecified age under 16 in a gang hideout in the small town south of Atlanta, and attempting to perform oral sex on him, arrest warrants say. '(Banks) and another juvenile held (the victim) against his will after (he) tried to run from them while being initiated into the gang,' a detective wrote in the warrants, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. '(The victim) may have been a willing participant until oral sex became a part of it.' The alleged accomplice had not been identified, because he is a juvenile. The charges stem from two separate incidents in February and May of last year, according to police booking data. Antonio Lamar Banks (left and right) was arrested Thursday on felony gang, battery and child molestation charges in Lithonia, Georgia Details in the case are few, with police saying an investigation is ongoing. But it may relate to gang initiation practices, DeKalb County police spokesman Stephen Fore told the Journal-Constitution. 'It has been seen before where members are sexed into a gang,' he said, referring to the practice of making someone have sex in order to join a gang. Banks is charged with kidnapping, battery, aggravated child molestation, street gang terror and cruelty to children in the May incident, and in the February incident he has been charged with aggravated battery, street gang terror and cruelty to children. The Gangster Disciples are a violent criminal organization formed in Chicago in the 1970s through the merger of the Black Disciples and the Supreme Gangsters, federal investigators have said. The group is believed to be highly active in both Memphis, Tennessee and the Atlanta area in recent years. Lorraine Cenci, 45, helped herself to 50 while working at Marks and Spencer on Oxford Street in March A Marks and Spencer employee caught with her hand in the till just a year after she was recorded rifling through a 92-year-old woman's handbag while working as her carer has been spared jail again today. Lorraine Cenci, 45, helped herself to 50 while working at Marks and Spencer's flagship store on Oxford Street, London in March. This comes just twelve months after she was given a suspended sentence in March 2016 when she was caught stealing 40 from an elderly woman's bag while employed as a carer with SureCare. Cenci was caught for that offence after the niece of the woman set up CCTV in the home where she looked after her aunt. The family became suspicious when 210 went missing in three occasions in January last year and set up the camera. Cenci was seen helping the vulnerable widow, who suffers from osteoporosis, onto the toilet, only to then rush off, pick up her handbag and remove two 20 notes from an envelope inside. The mother of three admitted theft by employee while working for M&S and breaching the suspended sentence. Carly Loftus, prosecuting, said: She was working at Marks and Spencer on Oxford Street. Finance and Operating managers had noticed cash was going missing from the tills. The managers narrowed down who it was by working out where it had gone missing from and who was working. On March 15 managers placed marks notes into the till, and they recorded the serial numbers of those notes. Security staff were placed to watch the tills. She was seen to open the til when a customer was not present, and she then went to her locker room. Cenci was seen helping the vulnerable widow, who suffers from osteoporosis, onto the toilet, only to then rush off, pick up her handbag and remove two 20 notes from an envelope inside Caught on camera: Lorraine Cenci, pictured above, was seen helping herself to money from an elderly woman's purse. The cameras were placed inside the woman's room after her relatives became suspicious Ms Loftus told the court her locker had then been searched, and the 50 had been found, after which Cenci admitted having raided the tills before. She added that Cenci was in breach of a 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, as a result of the offence. Cenci stole the cash from M&S with just three days left on the suspended sentence. Stephen Sweeney, defending, said: She was working three jobs in relation to the first offence. She has three dependent children, and a husband with terminal cancer. She has experienced fear, stress, contrition, shame, embarrassment. Shes worried about the next tin of beans and feeding her children. Lorraine Cenci, 45, worked at the flagship Marks & Spencer store on Oxford Street in London Bench chair Rosemary Carawan handed Cenci a 12-month community order, requiring her to do 100 hours unpaid work, and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days. She said: This is a serious matter. Its the second time you have committed an offence like this. If you commit a further offence in all likelihood you will go to prison. There is significant personal mitigation. It is clear you have very limited means. This bench has concluded it is unjust to activate the suspended sentence in the circumstances, you had only three days left of the order, and had completed all your unpaid work. Cenci was also ordered to pay 50. Cenci, from Enfield, London, admitted one count of theft by employee. Large numbers African migrants are being traded in slave markets, with many subjected to sexual exploitation and others left to starve in Libya, the UN has said. The International Organisation for Migration says West African migrants have recounted being bought and sold in garages and car parks in the southern city of Sabha, one of Libya's main migrant smuggling hubs. They are traded for between $200 and $500 and are held on average for two or three months. The migrants - many from Nigeria, Senegal and Gambia - are captured as they head north towards Libya's Mediterranean coast, where some try to catch boats for Italy Othman Belbeisi, head of the IOM's Libya mission, told journalists in Geneva: 'Migrants are being sold in the market as a commodity. 'Selling human beings is becoming a trend among smugglers as the smuggling networks in Libya are becoming stronger and stronger.' The migrants - many from Nigeria, Senegal and Gambia - are captured as they head north towards Libya's Mediterranean coast, where some try to catch boats for Italy. Armed groups and smuggling networks often try to extort money in exchange for allowing migrants to continue, and most of those seized are used as day labourers in construction or agriculture. Some are paid and others are forced to work without pay. 'About women, we heard a lot about bad treatment, rape and being forced into prostitution,' Belbeisi said. The IOM said it had spoken to one Senegalese migrant who was held in a Libyan's private house in Sabha with about 100 others, who were beaten as they called their families to ask for money for their captors. He was then bought by another Libyan, who set a new price for his release. Some migrants who cannot pay their captors are reportedly killed or left to starve to death, and when migrants die or are released, others are purchased to replace them, the IOM said. Migrants are buried without being identified, with families back home uncertain of their fate. 'What we know is that migrants who fall into the hands of smugglers face systematic malnutrition, sexual abuse and even murder,' Mohammed Abdiker, IOM's Director of Operations and Emergencies, said in a statement. 'We are hearing about mass graves in the desert.' Libya is the main gateway for migrants attempting to reach Europe by sea, with more than 150,000 people making the crossing in each of the past three years. So far this year an estimated 26,886 migrants have crossed to Italy, over 7,000 more than during the same period in 2016. More than 600 are known to have died at sea, while an unknown number perish during their journey north through the desert. Two gamers have been indicted in a trans-Atlantic case of 'Swatting' after a Maryland man asked a British friend to make a fake hostage call about a rival player. Zachary Lee, 25, of Catonsville, Maryland allegedly contacted Robert Walker McDaid, 19, from Coventry, England to help him 'swat' rival gamer Tyran Dobbs by making an emergency call for help to provoke a police raid. According to the indictment, Lee and McDaid engaged in a practice known as 'swatting' by providing false information to emergency services to elicit a response. McDaid, allegedly claiming to be Dobbs, told police he was armed with a firearm and several explosive devices and would kill one of his three female hostages unless he was paid $15,000 within the next 15 minutes. Scroll down for video Tyran Dobbs, pictured, was shot in the face with a plastic bullet during a raid on his apartment in Maryland after a SWAT team responded to bogus reports of a hostage situation Police claim Dobbs, pictured, was targeted by a rival gamer Zachary Lee who enlisted Robert McDaid from the UK to make the false hostage call to Maryland's anti-terrorism hotline Courtesy of ABC7-WJLA Lee and McDaid allegedly told police Tyran Dobbs was holding three hostages with a gun as well as several explosive devices. They claimed the first hostage would be 'executed within 15 minutes' unless he received $15,000 in cash. Howard County Police Department claimed 'Dobbs was initially seen by officers crawling on the floor in front of a sliding glass door. 'He then came to the open slider twice and both times police repeatedly directed him to come out and show his hands. 'Mr. Dobbs did not comply and walked back into the apartment. The third time he walked to the glass slider, Mr. Dobbs was given the same direction by officers, but kept his hand inside the lower front of his shirt. 'Before he could again walk back toward the bedroom, where a woman who may be a hostage was still inside, he was struck with two non-lethal rubber rounds to prevent him from retreating back inside the apartment. 'Mr. Dobbs was struck in the torso and started to fall forward. A second round also intended for his torso struck Mr. Dobbs in the face as he was falling to the ground. A doctor who is part of the countys tactical response team was on-scene and rendered immediate aid before Mr. Dobbs was transported to the hospital.' According to police: 'Without question, Mr. Dobbs was targeted and victimized in this case by a fellow online gamer. The incident demonstrates the extreme risk and danger of swatting calls. Police would urge people to never provide personal information online.' Howard County Police Department raided Dobbs' home on foot of the false claims, file photo United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J Rosenstein said: 'We are working with officials in the United Kingdom to insure that Robert Walker McDaid is held accountable for his alleged actions because the alleged criminal activity represents a grave threat to public safety.' Court records showed that between February 17 and February 18, 2015, Lee and McDaid conspired to have Dobbs' apartment raided. According to the indictment, Lee messaged McDaid online and said: 'I have someone I need sw@tted.' McDaid allegedly asked Lee for the details and said: 'il do it when im up.' It is claimed McDaid made an internet telephone call to the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center's Terrorism Hotline. After police raided Dobbs' apartment, Lee allegedly posted on his Facebook page, 'Love my team'. According to Federal prosecutors, Lee and McDaid face 20 years in prison for the false information and hoax charge with a further consecutive two-year jail term for 'aggravated identity theft'. WASHINGTON It is either a turning point or a welcome aberration that Donald Trump found the cruelly extinguished lives of Syrian children to be compelling (or at least contributory) in his decision to use force in Syria. The nerve gas attack by the Bashar Assad regime, he said, crossed a lot of lines for me ... innocent children, innocent babies babies, little babies. Much of Trumps appeal during his presidential campaign was based on dehumanization the characterization of migrants as criminals, and refugees as terrorist threats. This is the first instance I can recall of Trump showing public empathy for the lives of foreigners. It was jarring in its humanity. Trump engaged in the humanization of Syrian war victims. And that merits praise. In one moment, the president also did something that President Obama could not manage in five years to be provoked or revolted enough to act decisively in Syria. Obamas tolerance for mass atrocities for the Assad regimes use of weapons of mass destruction, torture, forced starvation and barrel bombs was rooted in a tendency rather than a doctrine. At every point of decision during years of Syrian protest and civil war, Obama magnified the risks of action and miniaturized the prospect of gain. This series of indecisions fit Obamas inherent cautiousness. But it also added up to a bad case of Iraq War Syndrome a fear of inalterably escalating engagement. Until a few days ago, Trump was firmly in the same camp. Before becoming president, he did something of ambitious irrationality accusing his predecessor of being too engaged on Syria, too tempted by involvement. What will we get for bombing Syria, he tweeted during Obamas redline red-line crisis in 2013, besides more debt and a possible long-term conflict? So how do we explain Trumps head-snapping inconsistency on this issue? It is worth noting that Trump did leave himself an out of sorts a possible basis for action buried in his old tweets on Syria. We dont have the leadership to win wars or even strategize, he argued, raising the possibility that a different president might possess such skills. Trump clearly views himself as the change he has been waiting for. This, however, is probably too cynical. Seeing the corpses of Syrian children as a private citizen may provoke feelings of anger and helplessness. When a president sees the corpses of Syrian children, he is by no means helpless. When some moral norms are violated, it is not only the perpetrator who incurs responsibility; it is the bystanders as well. It seems that Trump felt this burden. And it is a sign that maybe, just maybe, the office has begun to shape the man. Whatever his motivation, Trumps military actions have moved beyond the Iraq Syndrome. And they represent a defeat for global Bannonism the search for stability through the cultivation of despots and strongmen. We still have no idea if Trumps military response was a moral impulse alone, or a policy change. A symbol or a strategy. We know that Trump is capable of impulsive ad hockery. There is less reason to be confident he is thinking three, four or five steps down the road. Does this signal a new attitude toward Russias expanded role in the Middle East or to the status of Assad in Syrias future? Will every future mass atrocity gain such treatment? And why, when you think about it, is the crime of using nerve agent against civilians more heinous than killing them with forced starvation or barrel bombs? The specter haunting American foreign policy is not so much the Iraq War as the Libya debacle. The imminent destruction of Benghazi provoked a moral and military response from President Obama an air campaign that worked well in its initial stages. But little thought and less resources were devoted to the follow-up. And what resulted was a jihadist playground. The problem with Obamas Syria response was not just its moral bankruptcy or its lack of credibility. It was a woefully inadequate response to the largest strategic and moral challenge of our time the collapse of sovereignty at the heart of the Middle East, with radiating effects throughout the region, Europe and beyond. And this failure would not have been rectified by a few dozen guided missiles. Our current president will find that a Tomahawk missile is not the equivalent of a particularly nasty tweet. It is the conduct of war against a foreign power. And it demands a strategy of equal seriousness. Reeling from a public relations debacle triggered by the forced removal of a passenger on Sunday, United Airlines saw its stock price dip by as much as 4.4 per cent before it recovered most of its losses and ended the day with a more modest drop. Shares of United Continental Holdings Inc. fell by as much as 4.4 per cent in early trading on Wall Street, wiping nearly $1billion off the company's value. But by the closing bell, the stock recovered somewhat and ended the day at $70.71 a share - which is a loss of 1.13 per cent. The airline ended the day having lost $255million. In premarket trading on Tuesday, the share price dropped by 2.4 per cent, according to MarketWatch. Investors currently peg United's market capitalization at $22.5billion. The 2.4 per cent drop is an improvement over the 6 per cent drop in share price that had been reported in premarket trading hours earlier. Shares of United Airlines fell by as much as 4.4 per cent Tuesday in early trading on Wall Street but then recovered somewhat Investors currently peg United's market capitalization at $22.5billion, so a drop of 4.4 per cent translates into loss of value of nearly $1billion. By the afternoon, the stock recovered a bit, as it was trading at a loss of 2.74 per cent (as seen above) With less than 20 minutes before the closing bell, the stock recovered somewhat but was still hovering at a loss of 1.51 per cent - resulting in a devaluation of almost $350million But after the closing bell, the stock recovered somewhat and ended the day at $70.71 a share - which is a loss of 1.13 per cent. The airline ended the day having lost $255million A drop in share price of 6 per cent would translate into a $1.4billion depreciation in value. Interestingly enough, the backlash that erupted on Monday had little effect on United's stock price. By the close of trading on Monday, United shares rose 0.9 per cent. But the premarket trading on Tuesday indicates that investors are nervous the public relations furor could very well put a dent in the airline's bottom line. Video of police officers dragging a passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday on social media, but United's CEO defended his employees, saying they followed proper procedures and had no choice but to call authorities and remove the man, who was later identified as 69-year-old David Dao. The airline is facing a public relations backlash after video emerged on social media showing a United passenger, David Dao (above), 69, being forcibly evicted from the plane in order to make room for flight crew in Chicago's O'Hare Airport The airline's flight from Chicago to Louisville was fully booked. It said it needed to fly four crew members to Louisville and asked passengers to volunteer to be bumped. Three agreed in exchange for compensation, but Dao refused, prompting the airline to forcibly remove him The sight of a bloodied Dao (left) being dragged off the plane was too much for other passengers (like the one on the right) to bear As the flight waited to depart from Chicago's O'Hare Airport, officers could be seen grabbing the screaming Dao from a window seat, pulling him across the armrest and dragging him down the aisle by his arms. United was trying to make room for four employees of a partner airline on the Sunday evening flight to Louisville, Kentucky. Other passengers on Sunday night's United Express Flight 3411 are heard saying: 'Please, my God', 'What are you doing?', 'This is wrong', 'Look at what you did to him' and 'Busted his lip'. Passenger Audra D. Bridges posted the video on Facebook. Her husband, Tyler Bridges, said United offered $400 and then $800 vouchers and a hotel stay for volunteers to give up their seats. When no one volunteered, a United manager came on the plane and announced that passengers would be chosen at random. 'We almost felt like we were being taken hostage,' Tyler Bridges said. 'We were stuck there. You can't do anything as a traveler. You're relying on the airline.' Oscar Munoz, CEO of United Airlines' parent company, apologized first in a written statement and then in a letter to employees Monday evening. Munoz said he was 'upset to see and hear about what happened' at O'Hare. He added, however, that the man dragged off the plane had ignored requests by crew members to leave and became 'disruptive and belligerent,' making it necessary to call airport police. The footage of the incident outraged many on social media who took United to task for the treatment of a paid customer Many have even called for a boycott of United in response to the incident as well as the company's reaction 'United taught me I can have the police beat my customers, take away what they paid for and call it re-accommodating them,' tweeted one Twitter user, who added the hashtag #boycottunited 'Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this,' Munoz told employees. 'While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right.' Munoz said that the airline might learn from the experience, and it was continuing to look into the incident. The flight was operated for United by Republic Airline, which United hires to fly United Express flights. Munoz said four Republic employees approached United's gate agents after the plane was fully loaded and said they needed to board. He said the airline asked for volunteers to give up their seats, and then moved to involuntary bumping, offering up to $1,000 in compensation. Dao told the manager that he was a doctor who needed to see patients in the morning, Tyler Bridges said. 'He was kind of saying that he was being singled out because he's a Chinese man' when speaking to the manager, who was African-American, Bridges said. 'You should know what this is like,' the man said, according to Bridges. Dao is Vietnamese-American. DailyMail.com can reveal Dr Dao is a father of five and a grandfather, who specializes in internal medicine. Four of his five children are doctors. His wife Teresa, 69, is a pediatrician who trained at Ho Chi Minh University in Saigon and also practices in Elizabethtown, Kentucky - about 40 miles south of Louisville. Their eldest son Tim, 34, practices medicine in Texas; their second son Ben, 31, is a medical graduate; their daughter Christine, 33, is a doctor in Durham, NC; and their youngster daughter Angela, 27, is a medical graduate of the University of Kentucky. Outraged United customers have taken to social media to lash out the airline and announce their intention to boycott the firm. Alongside a picture of a destroyed frequent-flyer card, Steven Reichert wrote: 'Cutting up my United frequent flyer card, and will NEVER EVER fly them again. #boycottunited #united.' Phyllis Brown added: 'Cutting up my United credit card in protest of their recent brutal treatment of a legal paying passenger. Please do the same.' A mother-of-three was on holiday with her sister last month when she came close to death after being bitten by a venomous snake in Bali. Renee Cunningham was outside her Ubud hotel room when she stepped on 'something slimy' before realizing it was a snake. 'I thought ''Oh my God a snake'' and I waited for my sister to confirm it was really a snake even though I saw it,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It was about 30cm long and brown'. Mother-of-three Renee Cunningham's holiday in Bali turned into a nightmare when she was bitten by a venomous snake Ms Cunningham said she had not walked two metres away from where she had been bitten when her leg started to bubble and blister The Perth woman was not sure if she had been bitten but within minutes she felt a severe pain in her lower leg. 'I went back to my room about two metres from where I got bitten... and it [my leg] was bubbling and blistering and stinging,' Ms Cunningham told Daily Mail Australia. Soon after Ms Cunningham began vomiting. She was swiftly taken to a medical centre near the hotel before heading to Ubud hospital. The 34-year-old said she was scared of going to a hospital in Bali. 'You hear horror stories,' Ms Cunningham said. 'The emergency ward was confronting and scary. There was no sheets and blood on the walls but the staff were amazing. They saved my life.' The Perth woman was rushed to an Ubud hospital where she received treatment for the venomous snake bite The mother-of-three was holidaying with her sister in Ubud when she stepped on 'something slimy' outside her hotel room Ms Cunningham initially didn't realize she had been bitten by the snake - but soon felt sharp pains in her leg and shortly after began vomiting Ms Cunningham stayed overnight where she was given antibiotics, anti-inflammatory's and steroids and then returned to a new five star room the hospital put her up in - at their own cost. She said she struggled to walk for a little while and had fluctuating blood pressure but is much better now. Following the nasty encounter the Perth woman said she is not deterred from visiting Bail again: 'It was a freak accident. It could have happened any where but the people were amazing'. Snakes on the other-hand, she says: 'I am a bit more weary of snakes'. Health officials in Hawaii are becoming concerned about a dramatic increase in cases of a deadly disease which affects the brain and spinal cord. The Hawaii State Department of Health has confirmed nine cases of rat lungworm disease so far this year - six on Maui and three on the Big Island. Parasitic worm larvae are carried by rats, left in their feces and then transmitted by snails and slugs. People become infected when they ingest fruit and vegetables which has not been properly washed and contains the tiny parasites. Ben Manilla and Eliza Lape (pictured) fell ill after returning from Hawaii where they got married Ben Manilla, 64, and Eliza Lape, 57, from California, caught the disease after returning after getting married in Hawaii in January. Ms Lape, from San Francisco, told Hawaiinewsnow.com: 'My symptoms started growing to feeling like somebody was taking a hot knife and just stabbing me in different parts of my body.' Mr Manilla, who teaches at the University of California at Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, spent a month in intensive care but is slowly recovering. The parasite is left in rat feces, is then spread by slugs and snails and infects humans if they eat vegetables which have not been properly washed Rat lungworm disease, a parasite officially known as angiostrongylus cantonensis, affects the brain and the spinal cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State epidemiologist Dr Sarah Park said there were usually around 10 rat lungworm cases in Hawaii every year and she said to have nine cases in three months was alarming. She told the New York Post: 'If you could imagine, it's like having a slow-moving bullet go through your brain and there's no rhyme or reason why it's going to hang out in this part of the brain or that part of the brain.' The disease has been found on both Maui (pictured) and the Big Island and is spread by rats, slugs and snails Maui District Health Officer Dr Lorrin Pang said they were investigating ways of breaking the chain which spreads the disease. He said the slugs could be poisoned but their bodies were then eaten by the rats, which continues the distribution of the parasite. He said: 'The slug is easy to kill, but the parasite; it's not so easy,' he said. Hawaiinewsnow.com said the parasite caused a form of meningitis. Some people get only mild symptoms while others can become violently ill with vomiting and pain. There is no way of treating the disease once it is contracted but the parasites die after several weeks. Stunned anglers reeled in an eight-foot shark after a dramatic struggle just yards from swimmers on a Cornish beach. Sam Narbett, 39, and friend Ian Tyldesley, 55, spotted the Porbeagle shark, a member of the Great white family, hunting for seal pups off the coast of St Ives. The anglers spent 90 minutes fighting the 28st razor-toothed predator after it became hooked on one of their lines. Pictured: Professional angler Sam Narbett, 39, while holding a Porbeagle caught on a fishing trip last year Porbeagles are common in British waters during the summer time as they head to our coast for the warmer conditions. Mr Narbett, who runs the Bluefin Charters fishing trip company, said that this was one of the biggest Porbeagles he had ever caught. He told the Sun: 'It was incredibly strong. My arms were aching trying to drag that weight through the water.' The father-of-three added on his Facebook page: 'At the end of last season I was lucky enough to be part of a team who boated a Thresher shark that was measured and calculated to be 209lb and the only thing I can say is that this fish is twice as big. 'We will never know the true wait as myself and Ian both agreed that we did not want to cause the fish any more stress by bringing her aboard so after a few photos and a Little pat on the head to say thank you for an amazing experience and fight we just pulled the hook and off she swam.' Despite their menacing appearance, Porbeagles have a reputation for being shy and have never fatally attacked a human. Porbeagle sharks are related to Great Whites and frequent British waters during the summers months (file photo) However, Mr Narbett warned that Porbeagles could cause dangerous injuries and they should be feared. He said: 'If it did confuse a surfer for a seal it could take a nasty bite out of one. We've seen these sharks come very close into land. They're not afraid of us.' Flemish minister Geert Bourgeois said there needed to be a good trade deal between the EU and Brexit Britain Belgium's Flemish region has begged the EU to offer Britain a good Brexit deal to help it avoid a devastating collapse in trade. Flanders sends 9 per cent of its exports to the UK every year - almost all of the Belgian produce that crosses the Channel. The demand is a boost to Theresa May because the territory's regional assembly will get its own vote on the final Brexit deal. Mrs May has said she wants a 'deep and special' relationship with the EU after Brexit that allows the continuation of free trade. The PM wants to negotiate the deal in parallel to the terms of Britain's divorce from the trading bloc - but she is facing resistance from EU chiefs. Flemish Minister-President Geert Bourgeois told Politico Mrs May's position was correct. He said: 'A couple of countries are in a punishment project. 'Some European countries export nothing or close to nothing to the United Kingdom, while Flanders will be hit hard by what I call a hard Brexit.' He added: 'We have to negotiate in parallel over the new agreement [on divorce and trade terms] so we dont get a situation where we have to fall back on World Trade Organisation rules.' He said Britain should have advantages over trade from the rest of the world when the final deal is hammered out. The minister warned: 'I think its important we keep in mind that we have common interests.' Mrs May's Brexit plans rely on Britain being able to maintain its current trade with Europe and expand exports to the rest of the world. The remarks are a boost for Theresa May as Flanders has a vote on the final Brexit deal and they mirror her demand for parallel talks to strike a comprehensive deal A study by the Commonwealth found that the volume of goods and services sold to the India could rise by 50 per cent if there is a free trade deal. The research points out that the EU has been trying to negotiate an agreement with India since 2007. But it says Brexit presents an 'opportunity' for London and Delhi to strengthen their ties. 'This proposed IndiaUK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) may be easier to negotiate than the India-EU FTA, as some of the sticking points in an India-EU FTA may be easier to resolve,' the report said. Currently tariffs on UK imports to India are on average 14.8 per cent. By contrast the equivalent figure for Indian exports to the UK are 8.4 per cent. The Commonwealth report suggests that bringing the value of the tariffs down to zero would increase UK exports from US$5.2billion (4.2billion) to US$7.8 billion (6.3billion). A Virginia family left their dog at an animal hospital in Stafford on Saturday while they took a beach-side vacation - little suspecting that he was planning a trip of his own. But the dogged determination of General the Great Pyrenees was more than the Aquia-Garrisonville Animal Hospital expected and at 4:15am on Monday he wandered off into the night Now CCTV footage of the crafty canine's bold break-out has surfaced, showing him opening four doors in the hospital before wandering off into the night. General the Great Pyrenees wandered off into the night in the early hours of Monday CCTV footage of the crafty canine's bold break-out has surfaced General the Great Pyrenees escaped from a Virginia animal hospital early on Monday morning. The ten-year-old dog had been left there while his owner went for a holiday The footage starts with General unlatching his cage door. When he departs the kennel room he leaves behind a startled and confused doggy neighbor General then wanders through the building's corridors and offices - apparently looking around to get his bearings Travis Campbell of Woodbridge, 23 miles from Stafford, told Fredericksburg.com that he has been taking his dogs to the facility for months without any problems. That would explain why ten-year-old, 124-pound General is so familiar with the terrain as he escapes under cover of darkness. The footage starts with him unlatching his cage door, then pulling open the door of the kennel room - leaving behind a startled and confused doggy neighbor. General opens another door, pulling the handle with his teeth, before wandering through the building's corridors and offices - apparently looking around to get his bearings. Finally, exterior footage shows the outside door opening and General wandering off through the parking lot. Hospital cameras saw the 124lb dog leaving the animal hospital through its parking lot General then wanders off. Luckily he was found on a lawn of a home close to the hospital at around 7.30pm - 15 hours after he mounted his escape Animal control officers, local sheriff's deputies and concerned locals were among those who joined the hunt for General the dog Campbell got a call from the hospital at 7.30am Monday, canceled his trip and returned home. He joined animal control officers, local sheriff's deputies and concerned locals in the hunt for General - initially without success. But the feisty fluffball turned up safe and sound on the lawn of a home close to the hospital at around 7.30pm that evening. General was found at around 7.30pm on Monday on the lawn of a home near to the hospital. He is said to be in good health The home's owners took a picture with the good-natured escapologist before he was returned to the hospital by sheriff's deputies. General is doing well. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad should be put on trial for war crimes after tests revealed sarin gas was used in an attack which killed nearly 90 people, Turkey's health minister has said. Analysis of blood and urine samples from the attack in the northwestern Idlib province proved the use of the nerve agent, experts stated. Recep Akdag made the comments today after he announced that blood and urine tests on victims confirmed the presence of the lethal gas. Akdag, in comments reported by the state-run Anadolu agency, said that international organizations and United Nations, 'should declare Assad as a war criminal and put him on trial.' He said: 'It has been identified that sarin gas was used.' The Syrian government has denied carrying out the attack, and Russia has defended its ally, denying that President al-Assad's regime had used chemical weapons. Blood tests from victims show sarin was used, Turkish officials revealed today Turkish health minister Recep Akdag said tests had confirmed that sarin gas was used in last week's attack Around 87 people, including children, are believed to have been killed in a suspected sarin nerve agent strike on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun last Tuesday. Turkey conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria. Officials from the World Health Organization and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies. Analysis of blood and urine samples from the attack in the northwestern Idlib province proved the use of the gas, experts stated Syria has denied that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad carried out a chemical weapons attack Assad 'risks suffering the same fate as Gaddafi', warns Iraqi cleric Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr on Tuesday warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that he risked suffering the same fate as slain Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi if he did not step down. The maverick cleric had last week condemned the suspected deadly use of chemical weapons by Assad's forces against civilians, becoming a rare Shiite leader to openly challenge the Syrian president's legitimacy. Sadr issued a new statement on Tuesday that reiterated his position. 'I have urged him to step down to preserve the reputation of the Mumanaa and to escape a Kadhafi fate,' he said, using a word that refers to a so-called anti-Western 'resistance front' that includes Lebanon's Hezbollah, Iran and Syria. The Libyan strongman was captured and brutally killed in 2011 after 42 years in power while trying to flee Sirte, his hometown, as NATO-backed rebels closed in. Sadr, who led a militia that fought the US occupation of Iraq, also condemned the American missile strike, urging all foreign parties involved in the Syria conflict to withdraw. Advertisement The Russian military has claimed today that Syrian militants are preparing to use chemical weapons and blame the Syrian government, in order to provoke more US strikes. Col Gen Sergei Rudskoi, of the military's General Staff, said rebels are currently stockpiling toxic agents in the areas of Khan Sheikhoun, the Jira air base and west of Aleppo, as well as Eastern Ghouta near Damascus. Rudskoi said the militants' aim is 'to create another pretext for accusing the Syrian government of using chemical weapons and provoking new U.S. strikes'. However, a White House official said on Tuesday the US is 'very confident' that the chemical attack in Syria was not carried out by rebels and was not 'fabricated'. The official also said Russia has shown a clear pattern of trying to shift blame for chemical weapons attacks away from Syria's Assad. The international chemical weapons watchdog has scheduled a meeting of its executive council to discuss the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. According to a written notification posted today on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' website, the behind-closed-doors meeting will be held on Thursday at its headquarters in The Hague. Britain's delegation says in a tweet that it will be expressing its 'horror' at the use of chemical weapons in the attack in Idlib province that left dozens dead. The OPCW said last week that its Fact-Finding Mission is 'gathering and analyzing information from all available sources' about the attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian government warplanes dropped barrel bombs on rebel-held areas of Hama province today, a day after the United States said their use could lead to further U.S. strikes in Syria. A Syrian military source denied the Observatory report and said the army did not use barrel bombs - drums or cylinders packed with explosives and shrapnel that cause indiscriminate destruction on the ground. US president Donald Trump ordered a strike by 59 cruise missiles on the base in America's first direct attack against the Syrian government in the aftermath of the chemical attack. The international chemical weapons watchdog has scheduled a meeting of its executive council to discuss the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (centre) pictured with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (right) and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kashida (left) at a G7 meeting in Lucca, Italy, today A Syrian child is treated in the aftermath of last week's attack in the Idlib province in northern Syria British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called for Moscow generals to be singled out for sanctions alongside top members of the Syrian forces at a summit in Italy today. But his efforts floundered as Germany and some other EU countries were unwilling to press ahead with the reprisals - insisting on waiting for a full investigation into the chemical weapons attack on Idlib province that killed scores of civilians. The joint communique from the gathering expressed 'shock and horror' at the atrocity, which the US and the UK have blamed on the Russia-backed Syrian regime. However, it made no mention of sanctions. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson joined Britain in blaming Russia for the horrific deaths of innocent Syrians. Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria British Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said Vladimir Putin was to blame 'by proxy' for civilian deaths in last week's attack The federation is facing the threat of fresh international sanctions over its support for the Syrian regime. It comes amid reports Russia, Iran and its allies said the US had crossed a 'red line' and warned they 'will respond to any aggression' in the future. Mr Johnson pulled out of planned talks with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov after discussions with the US, prompting claims he was Washington's poodle. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said Russia is responsible for 'every civilian death' in the Syrian chemical weapons attack, claiming Vladimir Putin was to blame 'by proxy' as the Syrian president's 'principal backer'. An Antiques Roadshow expert died after being restrained while suffering severe panic attack just five weeks after giving birth to her first child, an inquest heard today. Sotheby's jewellery expert Alice Gibson-Watt died in hospital following a suspected bout of postpartum psychosis, which can cause hallucinations and paranoia. West London Coroner's Court heard the 34-year-old had suffered a ruptured liver and suffered internal bleeding in November 2012. Alice Gibson-Watt died after giving birth to her daughter Chiara Charlotte. Her husband Anthony said she was suffering with panic attacks before her death In October she had given birth to her first daughter Chiara Charlotte with husband Anthony Gibson-Watt. Mr Gibson-Watt told the inquest jury on November 13 his wife suffered what was described as a panic attack at home and began to crawl around her bed on all fours shouting her daughter was unsafe. He tried to calm her but she made her way upstairs to their child's bedroom, picked up her baby daughter and shook her, fearing her baby was dead. Giving evidence Mr Gibson-Watt said: 'Neither Alice or I were at all aware of Postpartum psychosis. 'Up to the evening of her admission to hospital I was concerned about post natal depression, as any father would be, and that's why I organised a GP appointment on the day everything started to go wrong. She was an Antiques Roadshow expert and worked for Sotheby's 'But Alice insisted on keeping her appointment with the Parsons Green Nurse, but I went on my own to the GP appointment to talk about recent anxiety. 'What happened that first night was deeply traumatic and wholly unlike my dear wife Alice. 'After some 48 hours of her arrival at Lakeside Mental health unit, I was somewhat relieved she was in the right place to start receiving treatment. 'How wrong that turned out to be.' Concluding his short statement he said: 'She was enthralled by motherhood. One day I will tell our daughter more about her wonderful mother. 'I just hope now finally we get as close as possible to the truth of her passing.' Under questioning by the coroner he gave more background to the events and said: 'There had been a lot of anxiety. 'She was eating a lot, she was eating double the normal amount. 'I had set my alarm for the feeds in the night as we no longer had a maternity nurse. Alice had let her go earlier that week. 'It felt like all hands on deck. I was trying to keep her calm and get into a family routine. 'We were just settling down for the night in bed. Then she wailed and was very hot and screaming. She was on all fours in the bed and crawling around the bed.' Mrs Gibson-Watt had a panic attack on November 13 and was crawling around her bed on all fours shouting her daughter was unsafe Mr Gibson-Watt called 999 for an ambulance when his wife started shouting 'that Chiara was unsafe'. He said: 'I didn't want her to wake up, as would any father in that situation. 'So I was making sure Chiara was fine but obviously Alice was deeply agitated and felt she wasn't.' The court heard at one point Mrs Gibson-Watt 'called out Chiara is dead'. Mr Gibson-Watt said: 'I was trying to reassure her and say that she was asleep and she was fine. It fell on deaf ears.' Mrs Gibson-Watt then made her way to her daughter's bedroom and her husband tried to stop her from going inside. He said: 'I started to reason with Alice that Chiara was absolutely fine and she didn't need to go in there. 'But she did get passed me and she picked her up and was shaking her somewhat. It was very distressing.' He pointed out it was a 'very minor shake, about two or three movements at the most.' Mrs Gibson-Watt then went down the stairs to the front door and tried to get out to the street but the door was bolted. He said: 'At that point I held them both to try and calm everything down.' The jury heard the ambulance crew then arrived and one took the baby and then attended to Alice who was taken to the ambulance. Her husband then called for an ambulance, which took Alice to hospital, and she was restrained In the back of the vehicle she was held down by restraint straps and five people, including ambulance staff and police officers before she was taken to hospital. Introducing the case to the jury, coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe said: 'She had a baby on October 11, 2012 and four weeks later she had a panic attack at her home. 'Her husband called an ambulance and she was taken by ambulance with the help of the police to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and it was decided she needed to be admitted to a mental health ward as a voluntary patient.' She was admitted to the Lakeside Mental Health unit at the West Middlesex University Hospital in the hospital run by West London Mental Health Trust. The coroner continued: 'She then had another event on the November 15, 2012, on the ward. 'She was taken to a seclusion room for a few days and then went back to her bed on the ward. 'Then she suffered a cardiac arrest and she was taken to the intensive care unit at West Middlesex Hospital. 'It was while she was there it was decided she needed to go to theatre for urgent surgery and there was a tear found on her liver. 'It caused a large bleed in her tummy and she was transferred to intensive care at Kings College Hospital on full life support. 'It was there she died on November 20, 2012.' Mrs Gibson-Watt, who is believed to be related to the Duke of Buccleuch, met her husband through a mutual friend at a party when she was 18 and he was 21. The inquest, which is expected to last three weeks, continues. The passenger who was dragged screaming and bloodied from a United Airlines flight was accused of attempting to 'strike law enforcement officers' before he was ejected, DailyMail.com can reveal. United Airlines used its internal communications system to accuse Dr David Dao, a 69-year-old grandfather, of trying to attack police. Cellphone footage of his ejection has caused an uproar with critics claiming officers were heavy-handed in taking the senior from the flight and leaving him bloodied and needing hospital treatment. A note seen by DailyMail.com and accessible to United Staff on their internal systems stated that he had attempted to strike police officers before being forcibly removed. The note, written at Chicago O'Hare airport said: 'PAX (passenger) had to be removed by force by CPD and Airport police. What United claimed: The document attached to his passenger file which claimed Dr David Dao, 69, a grandfather, had tried to strike police officers Beaten and bloodied: Dr Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare Dr David Dao has been revealed as the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and one of their grandchildren United CEO Oscar Munoz has doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent' 'When he was advised he had to come off the plane to accommodate must-ride crew members, PAX attempted to strike law enforcement and refused to get out of seat. 'PAX was taken to hospital as he sustained injury while resisting the police. His wife Mrs. Teresa Dao went with him.' The accusation against Dr. Dao came after United's chief executive Oscar Munoz was criticized as 'tone deaf' for saying: 'This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers.' Dr. Dao, who has won sympathy globally over the incident, has a troubled past and it can be disclosed that he has been given a suspended jail sentence for illegally obtaining and trafficking controlled substances by fraud and deceit. He was also found to have in engaged in sex with a male patient and then supplied him with drugs in exchange for sexual favors. Oscar Munoz has doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent'. The airline is facing a furious backlash after footage emerged of a the 69-year-old, bleeding heavily after he dragged off an overbooked flight to Louisville on Sunday night. Amidst the anger, Munoz issued a public apology saying he 'apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers.' But in a private email to employees, the CEO defended the crew's actions, calling the passenger 'disruptive and belligerent' and praising his staff for going 'above and beyond'. Social media erupted immediately, labeling Munoz and United 'tone deaf' and 'condescending'. Munoz said that while he was 'upset' to hear about the man being violently dragged off the flight, that airline crew had simply been following 'established procedures.' The CEO described how flight crews had offered up to $1,000 in compensation for anyone willing to catch the next flight before approaching the passenger to 'explain apologetically' that he was being denied boarding. He had then 'raised his voice and refused to comply' with the crew's requests to leave the aircraft, and became increasingly 'disruptive and belligerent,' he said. Apology: United CEO has apologized amid mounting outrage at the video Screaming: The man who had refused to to give up his seat on the overbooked United flight from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday night was dragged off the plane by three cops 'Our agents were left with no choice, but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight, he repeatedly decline to leave.' Munoz added that the passenger refused to comply with the officers who then 'physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both out crew and security officials.' 'While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right,' he said. The CEO did, however, concede that there were 'lessons we can learn' from the experience and that United will continue to look into the incident. He also had a final reminder that treating customers with 'respect and dignity' should be matter of course, 'no matter how challenging the situation.' The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police. The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police Others said that 'lousy protocol' was never an excuse for a 69-year-old man beating left bloodied by security. 'Beating and bloodying a 69 year-old doctor is 'protocol' @United ?' one Twitter user asked. Another said that Munoz was 'trying to shift blame to police/aviation security (not United employees). The public doesn't make a distinction.' Nicholas Kristof added: 'In any big company, staff will sometimes do stupid things. At United, the CEO then endorses the stupidity and claims it as company policy!' Others pointed out that the customer had also appeared to have followed 'protocol' right up until he was dragged off the plane. '#United Pay for your ticket, sit down, get attacked, bloodied and humiliated. And the CEO is now saying the person deserved it. #SHAME,' one Twitter user wrote. 'No accountability for lousy protocol,' another added. 'It will be a cold day in Hades before I allow these lackwits to fly me anywhere.#BoycottUnitedAirlines.' An airport cop who allegedly body-slammed the passenger was put on leave today - as his bosses condemned his actions amid mounting outrage over video of the incident. The Chicago Department of Aviation said it 'obviously' did not condone the behavior of the security officer who was filmed slamming the man into an arm rest, knocking him unconscious and dragging him away by his arms as he bled from the mouth at O'Hare. Distressing: Children were crying in distress as the three officers manhandled the man out of his seat. Passengers had been offered $800 to take a flight the next day but none volunteered Another clip shows the dazed man chants 'just kill me, just kill me' as blood pours from his mouth. In his public apology, Munoz said today: 'This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. HOW DOES UNITED DECIDE WHO GETS BUMPED FROM OVERBOOKED FLIGHTS? United's contract of carriage states that passengers to be forcibly taken off a flight in the event of overbooking will be 'determined based on a passenger's fare class, itinerary, status of frequent flyer program membership, and the time in which the passenger presents him/herself for check-in without advanced seat assignment.' That means that if you have a certain type of fare class, checked in early, have a flier status such as gold, or even just own a barely used frequent flier card, you are less likely to be bumped. But passengers taking advantage of budget seats appear to be of less value to the airline. Advertisement 'Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation.' The aviation department released a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times, which read: 'The incident on United flight 3411 was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the Department. 'That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation.' The still unidentified victim - who claimed to be a doctor and said he needed to see patients the next morning - was one of four passengers selected by United to leave the 5.40pm flight from O'Hare to Louisville, Kentucky. One passenger also told the Washington Post the man claimed as he was being dragged off the plane he was chosen because he was Chinese. Unhinged: The man claimed to be a doctor and screamed wildly and he was manhandled by the cops 'He said, more or less, 'I'm being selected because I'm Chinese',' the passenger told the Post. The same passenger went on to tell the newspaper a United official walked onto the plane during the incident and said the plane would not be taking off until four passengers disembarked so the employees could fit on. He said the official announced: 'We have United employees that need to fly to Louisville tonight. This flight's not leaving until four people get off.' 'That rubbed some people the wrong way,' Tyler Bridges said, recounting the comment. Theresa May is currently away from No 10 on a short holiday to North Wales despite the high tensions around Syria Theresa May has stopped short of saying she would back fresh US strikes on Syria - despite America today making clear it will respond if chemical weapons are used by the regime. Downing Street said Theresa May fully supported last week's reprisals in the wake of the Sarin atrocity but was focused on finding a political solution to the crisis. The PM's spokesman has refused to be drawn on 'hypothetical' questions of whether the UK would support a decision by Donald Trump to launch more strikes. The two leaders presented a united front last night after speaking on the telephone, with No10 saying they agreed there was 'a window of opportunity' to persuade Russia to break ties with Assad. But there has been criticism that Mrs May has largely left the diplomatic response to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson while she is on a walking holiday in Wales. The PM has not yet spoken publicly on the issue. Mr Johnson suffered a major setback today when his push for the G7 to impose tough sanctions on Russia and Syria was blocked. A summit of ministers from the powerful group of nations in Italy ended without agreement on punitive measures - although they have agreed that Bashar Assad cannot stay on as Syrian president. Mr Johnson had called for Moscow generals to be singled out for sanctions alongside top members of the Syrian forces. But his efforts floundered as Germany and some other EU countries were unwilling to press ahead with the reprisals - insisting on waiting for a full investigation into the chemical weapons attack on Idlib province that killed scores of civilians. Boris Johnson, pictured today between US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (left) and France's foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault (right), has been squeezed out in his attempt to build a diplomatic solution to the Syria crisis The lack of agreement will delight the Kremlin, and reduce the leverage for US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who is now in Moscow for what could be crucial talks. Mr Tillerson was still repeating Mr Trump's uncompromising line on the use of chemical weapons today, telling journalists: 'We cannot let this happen again.' He added: 'We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role.' The government has indicated there are no plans to hold a Commons vote on Britain joining a bombing campaign against Assad. MPs refused to back such strikes in 2013, although they have since signed off on attacking ISIS targets in the wartorn country. Mrs May has been on a five-day walking holiday in Wales during parliament's Easter recess, though No10 insists she is being fully briefed and has been making calls to foreign leaders. Mr Tillerson, who is in Moscow for crucial talks, has said the US 'cannot' let chemical weapons use go unchallenged Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (front of picture) were at a summit of G7 ministers in Italy earlier today Mrs May, pictured with US President Donald Trump in January, is seeking a political solution to the crisis rather than rushing to join Mr Trump's military strikes Asked if the PM would support further strikes on Assad in response to chemical attacks, her official spokesman said the question was 'hypothetical'. 'What we are focused on is building international support for a political solution to end the conflict and bring lasting peace and stability to Syria,' he said. 'We are calling on Russia and Iran to do everything possible to bring about this settlement and to work with the international community to ensure last week's shocking events aren't repeated.' President Trump ordered a series of missile strikes last week in response to the deaths of more than 80 people, including children, during a chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun. But the joint command centre made up of Assad's allies, including Russia and Iran, issued a statement saying the US strike had crossed 'red lines'. 'From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well,' the statement said. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said Mrs May needed to 'take charge' of the situation. 'It is time Theresa May returned to Downing Street to take charge, rather than allowing the court jester to become the crown prince,' he said. Boris Johnson (second from the right) and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (third from left) pushed unsuccessfully for an agreement on imposing sanctions at the meeting with G7 counterparts in Italy What is it about tombstones and obituaries? Each tells something about an individual, especially when they were born and when they died. That vital information is separated by what is often referred to as a dash. Thats the shortest part of it all. I stood as straight as I could and allowed the taps played by the bugler to settle into my emotional thoughts. This was a special person to me. I had known him all of my life. What life? The obituary listed his entry into this world as November 22, 1924, and a departing date of March 30, 2017. I paid close attention to the two young men dressed so neatly in Navy blue and their unhurried folding of our countrys flag. Their salutes were sharp. Then one of them came in my direction and spoke: On behalf of our country ... The flag was turned over to one of our younger family members. Brother Don had arrived at his final resting place. Wars sure do mess up our lives. Such was the case on December 7th back in 1941. I was at the Eastman Theatre that Sunday. When the matinee movie was over, the theater manager jumped up in front of the silver screen and announced that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. It wasnt long before my brothers LeRoy and Don were in the military. Lee was Army, and Don was accepted for pilot training for the Navy. Eventually, Don was assigned overseas as part of Bombing Squadron 18. Statistics released later documented that Don and his buddies had sunk 33 ships, destroyed 12 aircraft, rescued 20 downed airmen and bombed various shore installations in the Pacific islands. On the last days of the war, the PBM Martin Mariner piloted by Don flew several admirals to the battleship Missouri for the signing of the peace treaty. Dons dash in life represents 92 years. He loved to fish and holds the familys record for a 32 and half pound muskie caught below the Mississippi River dam at St. Cloud, Minnesota. He loved the Vikings and the Johnnies. He worked for the post office and loved dearly the rural route he eventually acquired. He loved music, and, at an early age, purchased a wind-up phonograph. The sounds of the Mills Brothers, the Sons of the Pioneers and the big bands of Glenn Miller and the Dorsey Brothers were played over and over until he left for service and placed the phonograph in my care. After the war, Don brought to Minnesota a wife by the name of Emma Barclay. She had the charm of a southern-raised gal plus the experience of Mexican cooking. Together, they raised eight children. Don was a good and special brother to me he was my hero. And I certainly pray that there will be room for me, when my time is up, to be seated between my brothers Lee and Don. And you can bet that Ill renew the Packer-Viking rivalry with Don. In closing, there is no way that I could forget the wonderful celebration of Easter. God, in the person of Jesus Christ, came to save us. Thats a wonderful feeling when our human strengths shrivel and we need the help of others. The 33 years that Jesus took on our humanity are proof enough to generate a miracle in our lives. Thank you, Jesus. Horrific footage has emerged of a white Columbus, Ohio cop curb-stomping a restrained black suspect. DeMarco Anderson is seen being restrained by another officer, with his hands behind his back, at the start of the footage. 'Why are you being aggressive, sir?' he asks the cop. Suddenly, a second officer - Zachary Rosen - runs up from off-camera and delivers a punishing kick that bounces Anderson's head off the curb. The chilling act of violence, which was filmed on Saturday, comes just over two weeks after a grand jury decided not to indict Rosen and another officer for shooting a black man dead in 2016. Shocking: Video recorded Saturday shows officer Zachary Rosen (right) stomping on the head of DeMarco Anderson while he was being handcuffed. Anderson was not resisting arrest After the blow, Anderson is seen on the video saying to Rosen: 'Oh my god! Are you serious? I got cuffs on sir!' He then appears to accuse the police of planting drugs on him, and says that someone shot at him, so he was 'running for [his] life'. Investigated: Columbus PD said Rosen (pictured after being awarded medals for rescuing a man trapped by power lines in 2012) is being investigated Anderson is then seen being led away by cops, still complaining. Columbus Police said in a statement to the IB Times: 'Officer Zachary Rosen is under investigation for his actions that took place involving a suspect under arrest on Saturday, April 8, 2017. 'Officer Rosen has been reassigned to a non-patrol duty indefinitely.' It adds that Rosen's attack 'appears to be inconsistent with [CPD's] values and training,' and claims he 'self-reported a kick' while Anderson was in custody. The video shows all of the officers discovering that they are being filmed after the kick, with one of them asking the person recording the scene: 'Can we help you?' Police had been called on Saturday after John Marteny told 911 that Anderson had entered his house, woken him up and fired a gun. He told IBTimes that Rosen was 'totally justified' because Anderson 'could have got loose somehow.' On March 24, a grand jury chose not to indict Rosen or fellow Columbus cop Jason Bare for the fatal shooting of Henry Green, 23, on June 6, 2016. Green was shot seven times in the chest, left elbow, both forearms, left thigh, left hip and right armpit, an autopsy said. He died due to the chest wound. Green had been walking with a friend at around 6.30pm when the two officers - neither of whom were in uniform - pulled up in an unmarked SUV, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Spotted: Rosen (left) 'self-reported' the kick while Anderson was in custody, police said. The video shows the officers are aware that the apparent assault had been filmed Police said that the cops saw Green with a gun, identified themselves and ordered him to drop the weapon, then returned fire after he shot at them. Neither officer was injured. But Green's friend, Christian Rutledge, told The Dispatch he didn't realize the two men were cops until he was being handcuffed. There were protests outside the courthouse after the decision not to indict the cops was announced. Green's family have asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation for an independent investigation. Rosen was awarded the Medal of Valor and the Distinguished Service Medal in November 2012 after he rescued a trapped driver who was caught in fallen power lines, according to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus. A drunk couple returning from travelling could face prison after almost forcing a flight to be diverted when they swore at cabin crew and rowed with passengers in a dispute over a broken television screen. Musician Anthony Grant, 27, and Carola Conti, 26, were flying home from their adventures around Cambodia when they were arrested moments after their plane touched down at London's Heathrow on Wednesday, March 7. The nightmare ordeal began for passengers when the drunk pair boarded the 13-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to London and started threatening staff. They then swore at fellow flyers and split drinks in an episode of disruption that was so bad that the pilot considered an emergency diversion for the first time in his 37-year career. Pictured: Anthony Grant, 27, and Carola Conti, 26, (pictured) claimed they weren't drunk but admitted they had had a couple of drinks and accused a member of staff calling Carola Conti (left) a c*** The duo were asked to be quiet but refused, claiming they weren't drunk and accused a member of staff of calling Conti, an NHS worker from Hove in East Sussex, a c***. They were both charged with one count of entering an aircraft, which has a capacity of 494 passengers, while drunk and one count of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards a member of cabin staff on March 7. Grant (pictured) and Conti had been travelling in Cambodia but stayed nearly twice as long as they intended after he was bitten by a poisonous spider and needed hospital treatment The pair appeared in court today at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court where self-employed musician Grant, wearing a dark blue suit and NHS worker Conti, dressed in dark jacket and thick rimmed glasses, both pleaded guilty to the charges which carry a maximum sentence of two years in jail. Zara Khan, prosecuting, said police were called at 4.50am on March 7 after concerned crew members reported a couple had been drinking and abusing cabin crew members during their journey. She said: 'The aircraft landed at Heathrow and police arrested Miss Conti and Mr Grant and on boarding the aircraft and meeting other passengers it became clear the two passengers had been causing significant amount of trouble throughout the flight. 'Witnesses saw both drinking, being very loud and abusive to fellow passengers. They continued drinking swearing, banging chairs, spilling drinks and disturbing passengers around them. 'They caused such disruption people tried to move away from them. Crew told both to be quiet but received abuse from both. Conti and partner Grant had been travelling in Cambodia but stayed nearly twice as long as they intended after he was bitten by a poisonous spider and needed hospital treatment The court heard how from a statement made by the pilot who said it was the first time in 37 years of flying he considered diverting the aircraft because of how abusive and disruptive they were. Ms Khan said it was a 'dangerous' set of circumstances as the pair were a risk to the public. She said: 'They effectively denied they were drinking. Given the seriousness of the matter, the Crown say this should be sent to crown court for sentencing. There was clearly a risk to the public. 'It was a long flight, disrupting other members of the public and flying crew staff. It is clearly a dangerous set of circumstances.' Conti and partner Grant had been travelling in Cambodia but stayed nearly twice as long as they intended after he was bitten by a poisonous spider and needed hospital treatment. The defendants claimed they were not drunk and an argument broke out when one of the cabin crew called Conti a c**t. Chair of the bench, Benita Cox, sent the case to crown court where the pair will be sentenced next month Meena Shinh defending said: 'Both defendants are in a relationship and had been travelling from Cambodia and intended to remain there for three to seven weeks. She said: 'While there Miss Conti was supposed to return after three weeks but she stayed for seven weeks because unfortunately Mr Grant was bitten by a poisonous spider, which rendered him unable to travel and required treatment. 'It caused him to remain in Cambodia for seven weeks. They both lost their jobs and they spent all their savings because they had to remain there and get treatment. 'She had to undertake some work to pay their way. She is also unwell and suffers from anxiety and ran out of medication so needed to buy medication in Cambodia.' Conti had worked for the NHS while Grant was self-employed and a musician. Ms Shinh added: 'They accept they consumed a couple of drinks but they say they weren't drunk. They were not acting initially disruptive, both sat together but Miss Conti's screen was not working and she was trying to get it to work. 'This would have caused passengers in front to feel like someone was knocking the chair. It was not her intention to do so, she was only trying to make it work. 'However for some reason one member of staff began being rude and swore at her. She says that although she was called a c**t. 'Nonetheless she accepts what should have happened was that she spoke to a member of staff, pulled them to one side and resolved it amicably. 'Both accept they were in the wrong. When they were told if you don't stop arguing with staff we will stop the flight they stopped talking even to each other. 'These are not people who go out to deliberately cause arguments on flights..' Chair of the bench, Benita Cox, sent the case to crown court, as count one was too serious to be sentenced at a magistrates' court. Conti, of Hove, East Sussex, and Grant, of Sevenoaks, Kent, will next appear at Isleworth Crown Court on May 9 to be sentenced. Both were bailed until the hearing. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, who met with President Bashar al-Assad when she visited Syria, is being labeled an apologist for saying she's 'skeptical' he committed last week's sarin atrocity. 'There are a number of theories out there,' Gabbard said. 'There are a number of ways that you can point the finger.' With these remarks, some of her fellow Democrats are calling for her head. Scroll down for video Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, photographed speaking at the Democratic National Convention in 2016, is taking heat for saying she's 'skeptical' Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for last week's chemical attacks The Democratic congresswoman, who served two tours in Iraq, pointed out how she and other Americans should have been 'skeptical' of intelligence findings that got the country involved in the Iraq war as well For example, for Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean tweeted out a link to Gabbard's comments and added his own commentary. 'This is a disgrace, Gabbard should not be in Congress,' Dean wrote. When asked about it on MSNBC by Alex Wit, who pointed out that Gabbard wanted to see proof, Dean scoffed. 'If you're on the Foreign Relations Committee and you haven't seen the proof in the last five and a half years, there's something the matter with you,' Dean said. 'I am tired of people making excuses. This is no different than Trump making excuses for Putin. We've had enough of this.' 'Let's talk about facts and the fact is, Assad is a butcher, a murderer, and he has repeatedly over the past few years used chemical weapons on his own people! What more do you want?' Dean demanded. Neera Tanden, a top Hillary Clinton ally who heads the D.C.-based think tank the Center for American Progress, also criticized Gabbard and suggested her constituents vote her out of office. 'People of Hawaii's 2nd district was it not enough for you that your rep met with murderous dictator?' Tanden tweeted. Gabbard, who served two tours of duty in Iraq, said she wants a debate over military action. She was highly critical of Trump's missile launch into Syria last week. 'We need to learn from Iraq and Libya wars that were propagated as necessary to relieve human suffering, but actually increased human suffering many times over,' the Democratic congresswoman said in an email to the Hill newspaper. While her January visit with Assad raised eyebrows, Gabbard's remarks about intervention in Syria were in line with many of her fellow liberal Democrats' comments. During last year's Democratic primary, Gabbard broke ranks with the Democratic National Committee and endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders, considered the more dovish of the two leading candidates. 'I and thousands of my brothers- and sisters-in-arms went to war in Iraq based on false intelligence and lies from our leaders our president, military and political leaders. We should have been skeptical then, and we weren't,' Gabbard said. 'The cost was thousands of American lives and trillions of dollars down the drain. What to speak of millions of non-American lives.' Gabbard said she believed Trump's military involvement was unconstitutional and that he needed Congressional approval for it and future military action in the state. 'There is a reason our Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war: we should be shown evidence and given the opportunity to debate the strategy and sacrifice expected,' she argued to the Hill. 'No leader of either party, pro or against military intervention should let our president take us down the path to another regime change war without that debate,' she added. Online trolls and white supremacists have been attacking Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a top advisor, in an online 'onslaught' of anti-Semitic attacks, the Anti Defamation League has warned. The attacks come as Kushner has emerged as Trump's most trusted adviser as well as the most prominent Jewish member of his administration. Kushner is an unpaid senior adviser to the president, with an expansive portfolio that includes Middle East peace initiatives, an innovation panel, China, and other issues. The online attacks come as Kushner, who is an Orthodox Jew, faced off in a power struggle against Trump strategist Steve Bannon. Kushner is married to Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism. 'An anti-Semitic social media trolling campaign aimed at presidential adviser Jared Kushner has escalated from a series of tweets into a full-bore assault perpetrated primarily by white supremacists and anti-Semites of various stripes,' the ADL's Center on Extremism said in a statement Monday, the first night of Passover. Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner has been the subject of a vicious online campaign that seeks to paint him as the 'bloodthirsty' driver of a Zionist conspiracy to take over the administration's agenda 'What started as a few isolated anti-Semitic tweets suggesting that Jared Kushner should be fired because of his Jewish supremacist views has quickly metastasized into a full-blown onslaught of anti-Semitic hate speech, said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, the group's CEO. The campaign began with some tweets on April 6. By the following day, the hashtag #Firekushner was trending, along with #kushneratwar and #kushnerswar,' earning mroe than 130,000 mentions, the ADL found. The attacks come as Kushner's clash with Bannon reached the point where President Trump told the two clashing advisors to work out their differences. Bannon has denied making antisemitic remarks himself and is a key driver of Trumps nationalistic America First policy. A running theme of the attacks is that Kushner was responsible for President Trump's decision to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield following a chemical weapons attack in a rebel area that hit men, women, and children. 'It includes 'accusations that Jews in the Trump Administration are trying to start a war to advance the interests of Israel, and that President Trump has abandoned his America First policy because he is being manipulated by Kushner and other Jewish advisors,' according to the ADL. David Duke, former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard during the debate with Joe Hicks at Cal State University. He has attacked Kushner online as 'bloodthirsty' and retweeted a hashtag that came a forum for attacks VILE: People on the threat retweeted an image of President Trump and his team getting a secure briefing on Syria, and pasted Israeli flags on Kushner and other administration members MESSAGE OF PEACE: Ivanka Trump sent out a Passover tweet picturing her and her family on Monday White supremacist anti-Semite David Duke was among those on the online threat the Anti Defamation League warned turned into an onslaught of anti-Semitic hate speech Ivanka Trump tweeted out a photo Monday night, the first night of Passover, where she referenced Exodus. 'During #Passover, we reflect on the significance of the exodus from Egypt and celebrate the great freedoms we enjoy today! #ChagPesach,' she wrote, meaning 'happy Passover.' The Firekushner hashtag is filled with hateful comments that play on tropes of a secret cabal steering government policy. One, by 'Vile_Islam' states: 'Nice how Trump's 50% Jewish advisors are convincing him to send our 0.5% Jewish military to die for #Israel.' The tweet photo-shopped an image of Trump's team getting a briefing on the U.S. strikes on Syria and pasted Israeli flags atop several members of the administration, including Kushner. White nationalist anti-Semite David Duke tweeted: 'Tribalist, like Jared Kushner & many others surrounding President Trump, would love to witness another war where Whites slaughter ourselves.' He tweeted repeatedly about the Syria campaign, and retweeted the firekushner hashtag. 'These bloodthirsty Zionists have been licking their chops over the destruction of Syria for MANY years - will Trump serve them the meat?' Duke Tweeted. On Tuesday, he tweeted: 'Ivanka needs to be removed from the White House, along with her bloodthirsty, Zionist husband!', once again pushing the FireKushner hashtag. The troubled past of the doctor who was dragged off United Airlines in an incident which has plunged the company into crisis is revealed in official documents - including his felony drugs conviction and need for 'anger management'. Dr David Dao had a past of illicit gay sex with a patient in return for giving, and tested positive for drugs, official documents reveal. The medic, who specializes in lung disorders, was accused of refusing to give up his seat on Sunday's United Express flight UA3411 flight from Chicago to Louisville for the airline's staff. Cellphone footage of the Vietnamese-born grandfather's ejection has caused an uproar with critics claiming officers were heavy-handed in taking the senior from the flight. The doctor spoke to WLKY and told them 'everything' was injured. Dr Dao has not yet sued the airline but it is clear that if he did, the documents would likely be used by United in their attempt to defend their actions. But that would only intensify criticism of its treatment of Dr. Dao, with social media users saying his past is no justification for his brutal treatment on the plane. The row deepened on Tuesday as DailyMail.com revealed how United told its staff that the doctor 'tried to strike law enforcement'. That version of events is not apparently supported by videos taken by other passengers. The disclosure of what they said to their own staff came after United's CEO, Oscar Munoz, was accused of being 'tone-deaf' for his non-apology to the doctor. United lost $800 million of its value as shares plunged on Wall Street in the wake of the PR disaster. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Dr David Dao has been revealed as the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and their grandchildren. It was his wife who alerted authorities to his inappropriate relationship with a patient Dr David Dao has been revealed as the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and one of their grandchildren. It was his wife who alerted authorities to his inappropriate relationship with a patient Beaten and bloodied: Dr Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare Screaming: The man who had refused to to give up his seat on the overbooked United flight from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday night was dragged off the plane by three cops What United claimed: The document attached to his passenger file which claimed Dr David Dao, 69, a grandfather, had tried to strike police officers WHAT THE PSYCHIATRIST FOUND An official report detailed the findings of medical exams performed on Dr Dao and spelled out concerns over his mental state. A court case brought by him would inevitably have to consider whether the documents could be used by United. Among the findings were: Dr. Mary Gannon 'noted that Dr. Dao "lacked the foundation to navigate difficult situations, both interpersonally and in a complex profession". Dr.Gannon noted a need to control, avoidance, withholding information and magical thinking as problematic.' The report went on: 'Dr. Montgomery noted that Dr. Dao appeared to have difficulties with information processing. Neuropsychological screening did not suggest gross difficulties. 'However, in reviewing records, it was noted that Dr. Dao tends to have poor decision-making despite his overall level of ability. 'His choices have resulted in significant consequences over the years yet he continuesto function in this manner. 'He is generally not forthright regarding details of events unless challenged and at times he will tell different versions of a story to different interviewers. ' Later in the report it found: 'As far back as April, 2002, Dr. Brady notes " ... he would unilaterally chose to do his own thing'. 'This remains a concern to this day and without a high degree of structure and accountability he is at risk for further boundary related practice issues.' Advertisement The father of five, who has won sympathy globally over the incident, was given a suspended jail sentence for illegally obtaining and trafficking controlled substances by fraud and deceit. He was also found to have engaged in sex with a male patient- Brian Case, who he knew from the church they both attended - and then supplied him with drugs, including Oxycontin, in exchange for sexual favors. The sexual liaisons, which happened in motel rooms, were recorded by undercover agents. He paid $200 in cash each time he met Case. Case said he believed that Dr. Dao wanted to hook him on drugs so he would keep meeting him for gay sex. Dr. Dao was arrested when Case agreed to go undercover. Even when he was caught with his shirt off and pants unbuckled, he denied he was there for gay sex with Case. The secret sex and drugs life of the doctor first came to light in July 2003 when police alerted the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure of the allegations against him. In October 2003 he was indicted by a Jefferson County Grand Jury for 'criminal acts of trafficking in a controlled substance, obtaining drugs by fraud and deceit, and unauthorized prescribing, dispensing or administering of controlled substances'. His medical license was suspended later that month. Dr Dao underwent intense scrutiny and re-training for several years after his convictions. He also appealed unsuccessfully against conviction, including claiming the undercover video of him semi-naked broke his expectation of privacy. His wife Dr. Theresa Dao, who was with him on the ill-fated flight, has stood by him. She first alerted the medical authorities about her suspicions of her husbands involvement with a patient. In 2015, his medical license was partially re-instated with restrictions placed on his access to patients. The findings were revealed by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure in June last year and stipulated that monitoring had to be continued of the doctors behavior. It was found that Dr. Dao had become sexually involved with a patient who had been referred to his practice, who was known as 'Patient A'. He was named in criminal court as Case, who was 26 at the time, less than half the doctor's age. The board stated: 'During the initial evaluation, the licensee performed a complete physical examination, including a genital examination, for Patient A who had been referred for collapsed lungs and chest pain.' The board's finding went on: 'Shortly after his first appointment, the licensee made Patient A his office manager; according to Patient A, he quit that job because of inappropriate remarks made by the licensee. 'After he quit, the licensee pursued him aggressively, finally arranging to provide controlled substance prescriptions to him in exchange for sexual acts. 'This continued for some time, with Patient A and the licensee meeting at hotel rooms and some of these meetings were recorded. 'At some point, the licensee began splitting some of the prescriptions with Patient A and gave Patient A money to fill the prescriptions. Stock plunge: The battering taken by United Airlines was obvious in its five-day performance, which showed how it plunged as Wall Street opened Back practicing: How Dr Dao was able to return to medicine after his felony conviction Winning big: While he was suspended from practicing, he became a semi-professional poker player, and is said to have won a total of $234,664 since 2006, according to PokerNews. United Airlines' CEO Oscar Munoz (pictured in June 2016) has come under fire for his response to the scandal Home: Despite the gay sex revelations, Dr. David Dao continues to share the family home in Elizabethtown, KY, with his wife Teresa, who alerted authorities to her concerns UNITED CEO OSCAR MUNOZ's LATEST STATEMENT TO STAFF Dear team The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicted many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment. I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened. Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way. I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right. Its never too late to do the right thing. I have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix whats broken so this never happens again. This will include a thorough review of crew movement, our policies incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement. Well communicate the results of our review by April 30th. I promise you we will do better. Advertisement 'The licensee also assisted Patient A to fill the controlled substances prescriptions in a variety of names of other persons. 'Police were able to identify approximately 33 fraudulent prescriptions as part of their investigation with Patient A's assistance. 'The police were able to put together a sufficient case to arrest the licensee and bring charges against him in two counties.' GAY SEX, DRUGS AND FELONY SHAME OF THE UNITED DOCTOR What the Kentucky Board of Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure found: 'During the Board's investigation into the criminal charges against the licensee, the Board learned that the licensee had become sexually interested in a patient who had been referred to his practice, Patient A During the initial evaluation, the licensee perfonned a complete physical examination, including a genital examination, for Patient A who had been referred for collapsed lungs and chest pain; shortly after his first appointment, the licensee made Patient A his office manager; according to Patient A, he quit that job Because of inappropriate remarks made by the licensee; after he quit, the licensee pursued him aggressively, finally arranging to provide controlled substance prescriptions to him in exchange for sexual acts This continued for some time, with Patient A and the licensee meeting at hotel rooms and some of these meetings were recorded; at some point, the licensee began splitting some of the prescriptions with Patient A and gave Patient A money to fill the prescriptions the licensee also assisted Patient A to fill the controlled substances prescriptions in a variety of names of other persons Police were able to identify approximately 33 fraudulent prescriptions as part of their investigation With Patient A's assistance, the police were able to put together a sufficient case to arrest the licensee and bring charges against him in two counties Around the same time, the licensee was placed on a corrective action plan by Hardin Memorial Hospital due to disruptive conduct and referred to the Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation ("the Foundation'') for evaluation and anger management After his arrest, the licensee was tested by the hospital and tested positive for Ultramfframadol As a result of the drug test results and the criminal charges, the licensee's hospital privileges became suspended on September 13, 2003. Advertisement The Hardin Memorial Hospital, where he worked, placed him on ' a corrective action plan by due to disruptive conduct'. He was also referred to the Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation for 'evaluation and anger management'. He was also tested positive for Ultram/framadol and had his doctor's license suspended. In November 2004 a jury convicted him on felony counts of Obtaining drugs by fraud and deceit. The jury recommended a sentence of two years and eight months on each felony count. In January, 2005, Dao was sentenced in Jefferson Circuit Court to two years and eight months on each felony conviction. He was allowed a five year supervised probation. While he was suspended from practicing, he became a semi-professional poker player, and is said to have won a total of $234,664 since 2006, according to Poker News. But in May 2007 he was assessed as to his medical and clinical ability. He was found to be possessing medical knowledge 'that was outdated and also contained gaps that would not likely be fully explained by his time away from practice.' The board added: 'His areas of relative strength included occupational lung disease and pulmonary embolism. 'Dr. Dao's knowledge of current pharmacology was deficient He demonstrated some deficits that were surprising based on the common nature of the disorders.' The doctor underwent an ' Educational Intervention Plan' where he was re-trained and his progress monitored. During his assessments the report said Dr. Dao denied paying for sex. Yet he indicated that he deducted monies owed to him... for sexual favors. He denied trading drugs for sex while admitting to prescribing narcotics to the man while they engaged in a sexual relationship. 'Dr. Dao continues to maintain a pattern of deception that is inconsistent with the level of accountability necessary for a practicing physician.' His bid to renew his medical work was rejected because of the sex and lies he had been found guilty of as well as his outdated practices. 'It is the opinion of the assessment team that Dr. Dao is not safe to practice medicine at this time. This opinion is offered within reasonable certainty and based upon available information.' Two years later he returned to the same evaluator where a doctor Mary Gannon noted that Dr. Dao 'lacked the foundation to navigate difficult situations, both interpersonally and in a complex profession'. Dr. Gannon noted a need to control, avoidance, withholding information and 'magical thinking' as problematic. She also opined re-instatement of Dr. Dao's medical license as the primary motivation for therapy. During this evaluation Dr. Dao stated that regaining his medical license was a matter of 'family honor.' Four of his five children are doctors. His wife Teresa, 69, is a pediatrician who trained at Ho Chi Minh University in Saigon and also practices in Elizabethtown, Kentucky - about 40 miles south of Louisville. Their eldest son Tim, 34, practices medicine in Texas; their second son Ben, 31, is a medical graduate; their daughter Christine, 33, is a doctor in Durham, NC; and their youngster daughter Angela, 27, is a medical graduate of the University of Kentucky. Their other daughter, Crystal Christine's twin is a married mother in Barrington, Illinois. Dr Dao has previously worked at Hardin Memorial Hospital and owned a medical practice. His identity has been revealed after United CEO Oscar Munoz doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent'. The airline is facing a furious backlash after footage emerged of the 69-year-old, bleeding heavily as he was pulled from the jet. Amidst the anger, Munoz issued a public apology saying he 'apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers.' But in a private email to employees, the CEO defended the crew's actions, calling the passenger 'disruptive and belligerent' and praising his staff for going 'above and beyond'. Backlash likely: The reaction to revelations of the criminal past of the doctor suggests that United would risk further opprobrium if they used it in a potential court case United CEO Oscar Munoz has doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent' Social media erupted immediately, labeling Munoz and United 'tone deaf' and 'condescending'. Munoz said that while he was 'upset' to hear about the man being violently dragged off the flight, that airline crew had simply been following 'established procedures.' The CEO described how flight crews had offered up to $1,000 in compensation for anyone willing to catch the next flight before approaching the passenger to 'explain apologetically' that he was being denied boarding. He had then 'raised his voice and refused to comply' with the crew's requests to leave the aircraft, and became increasingly 'disruptive and belligerent,' he said. 'Our agents were left with no choice, but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight, he repeatedly decline to leave.' Munoz added that the passenger refused to comply with the officers who then 'physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both out crew and security officials.' The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police 'While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right,' he said. The CEO did, however, concede that there were 'lessons we can learn' from the experience and that United will continue to look into the incident. He also had a final reminder that treating customers with 'respect and dignity' should be matter of course, 'no matter how challenging the situation.' The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police. Others said that 'lousy protocol' was never an excuse for a 69-year-old man beating left bloodied by security. 'Beating and bloodying a 69 year-old doctor is 'protocol' @United ?' one Twitter user asked. Distressing: Children were crying in distress as the three officers manhandled the man out of his seat. Passengers had been offered $800 to take a flight the next day but none volunteered Another said that Munoz was 'trying to shift blame to police/aviation security (not United employees). The public doesn't make a distinction.' Nicholas Kristof added: 'In any big company, staff will sometimes do stupid things. At United, the CEO then endorses the stupidity and claims it as company policy!' Others pointed out that the customer had also appeared to have followed 'protocol' right up until he was dragged off the plane. HOW DOES UNITED DECIDE WHO GETS BUMPED FROM OVERBOOKED FLIGHTS? United's contract of carriage states that passengers to be forcibly taken off a flight in the event of overbooking will be 'determined based on a passenger's fare class, itinerary, status of frequent flyer program membership, and the time in which the passenger presents him/herself for check-in without advanced seat assignment.' That means that if you have a certain type of fare class, checked in early, have a flier status such as gold, or even just own a barely used frequent flier card, you are less likely to be bumped. But passengers taking advantage of budget seats appear to be of less value to the airline. Advertisement '#United Pay for your ticket, sit down, get attacked, bloodied and humiliated. And the CEO is now saying the person deserved it. #SHAME,' one Twitter user wrote. 'No accountability for lousy protocol,' another added. 'It will be a cold day in Hades before I allow these lackwits to fly me anywhere.#BoycottUnitedAirlines.' An airport cop who allegedly body-slammed the passenger was put on leave today - as his bosses condemned his actions amid mounting outrage over video of the incident. The Chicago Department of Aviation said it 'obviously' did not condone the behavior of the security officer who was filmed slamming the man into an arm rest, knocking him unconscious and dragging him away by his arms as he bled from the mouth at O'Hare. Another clip shows the dazed man chants 'just kill me, just kill me' as blood pours from his mouth. In his public apology, Munoz said today: 'This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. 'Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation.' The aviation department released a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times, which read: 'The incident on United flight 3411 was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the Department. Unhinged: The man claimed to be a doctor and screamed wildly and he was manhandled by the cops 'That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation.' One passenger also told the Washington Post the man claimed as he was being dragged off the plane he was chosen because of his ethnicity. 'He said, more or less, 'I'm being selected because I'm Chinese',' the passenger told the Post. The same passenger went on to tell the newspaper a United official walked onto the plane during the incident and said the plane would not be taking off until four passengers disembarked so the employees could fit on. He said the official announced: 'We have United employees that need to fly to Louisville tonight. This flight's not leaving until four people get off.' 'That rubbed some people the wrong way,' Tyler Bridges said, recounting the comment. Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after all during his stay in Moscow, a Russian television station has reported. Putin's spokesman had said Monday that the foreign leader did not plan to see Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state. Tillerson was to meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, instead. But there appeared to be a volte-face by the Kremlin as a station close to Putin said there would be a meeting. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday that if an invitation comes, Tillerson will 'of course' accept, but it up to the Kremlin to make that offer. The meeting - if it actually happens - is likely to be extremely tense. Tillerson hammered Russia on Tuesday, saying in a statement that Russia had 'failed in its responsibility' to locate and destroy Bashar al-Assad's entire stockpile of chemical weapons. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Donald Trump's chief diplomat after all during his stay in Moscow, a Russian television station has reported The Kremlin did not say why Putin was avoiding Tillerson - who arrived in Moscow late Tuesday evening - after meeting repeatedly with his predecessor, John Kerry, only that he was not on the president's schedule Semper fi: A handout photo made available by the US Department of State shows US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson posing for a photo with members of the Marine Security Guard Detachment at the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia Tillerson (L) and US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft shake hands at a welcome ceremony at Moscow's airport today. There was no official Russian presence Putin's plans appeared to change on Tuesday despite Tillerson hammering him on Syria, with a pro-Kremlin station saying the two would meet. He touched down in Moscow after the G-7 meeting in Lucca, Italy 'It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously or Russia has been incompetent, but this distinction doesnt much matter to the dead. We cant let this happen again,' Tillerson said. He told a reporter afterward during a media availability that the US believes that Russia could be persuaded to switch sides now that it knows Assad is an 'unreliable partner.' 'Russia has really aligned itself with the Assad regime, the Iranians, and Hizballah. Is that a...long-term alliance that serves Russias interest, or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?' Tillerson said. The US and its allies may already be chipping away at Russia's resolve. Putin has reportedly changed his mind about seeing Tillerson - a man he once gave a friendship award to - during his visit to Moscow. RBC, a Russian business broadcasting station, said Tuesday that a Putin-Tillerson face-to-face would happen. It cited two sources connected to Russian's foreign ministry, according to the Moscow Times. The White House declined to comment on the matter. Mark Toner, the State Department's top spokesman, said Tuesday in response to a question about the possibility of a meeting, that no offer had been made. 'If there is an invitation for him to meet with Putin, of course, hell do so. I think thats a decision for the Kremlin to make and to announce, and up till now weve not seen such an offer extended,' Toner said. 'Now, it could come. So as I said...hes certainly willing to meet with President Putin to discuss all of these issues.' Tillerson is expected to discuss the White House's goals of 'defeating ISIS, and...creating the political environment necessary for the Syrian people to have new leadership' with Russian officials during his visit. To meet those ends, the US will need the help of Moscow. The White House's top spokesman said Monday that Tillerson will make sure that Russia 'fully understands' the situation on the ground in Syria. He'll further remind the Kremlin during his visit of the agreement it made with the international community to oversee the elimination of Assad's chemical stockpile. Russia offered to destroy Syria's chemical weapons in 2013, attesting afterward that it did. It obviously failed to live up to that commitment, the US says. The Assad ally claims that airstrikes on terrorists led to an inadvertent hit on a warehouse storing the toxins that poisoned and killed more than 80 people. Experts say the explanation is unlikely. The US, UK and other nations have said it was Assad. 'Getting them back on the same page, first and foremost, would seem the logical step,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said. 'But secondly, and I guess equally important is to make sure that the areas we can find a commitment to defeat ISIS is something that we share.' Tillerson flew to Russia from Europe on Tuesday, where he attended meetings with the United States' allies in the fight against ISIS. At his press availability earlier in the day in Lucca, Italy, Tillerson said said the US wants to 'relieve the suffering of the Syrian people' and 'create a future for Syria that is stable and secure.' 'Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role, or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russias interest longer-term,' he said. 'But only Russia can answer that question.' The White House later accused Putin of spreading false information about the chemical weapons attack. Putin claimed the Assad regime is being framed for the gas attacks and he has intelligence that 'some kind of substance' will be used in Damascus again. 'We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using it,' Putin said after he was asked about further American missile strikes. Senior White House officials said Tuesday they are 'very confident' that the attack was not committed by non-state actors, however. 'I think it's clear that the Russians are trying to cover up what happened,' one said. Another White House official at the briefing suggested that Russia was complicit in the sarin gas assault because its troops are embedded with Syria's. The official would not charge Russia with active involvement in the attack yet noted that the two countries' militaries have been operating 'closely' together for the better part of two years and have a relationship that goes back more than a decade. 'We do think that it is a question worth asking the Russians about how is it possible that their forces were co-locate with the Syrian forces that planned, prepared and carried out the chemical weapons attack at the same installation and did not have fore knowledge,' the official said. Tillerson poses for a photo with members of the Italian Air Force before departing Italy en route to Moscow, Russia, at Pisa Military Airport in Italy The White House held the briefing on Russia's claims about what happened in Syria ahead of Tillerson's meetings tomorrow with the Kremlin. 'This is an opportunity for the Russians to choose to stop the disinformation campaign,' an official said of Tillerson's trip. Putin has continued to deny that Assad's regime was behind last week's attack in Idlib which killed 87 and says it will be calling on the United Nations to investigate. At a news conference on Tuesday he likened last week's use of chemical weapons to the supposed existence of weapons of mass destruction that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. 'This ended with the country's destruction, with the growth of the terrorist threat and the appearance of the Islamic State on the international stage, no more, no less.' Putin confirmed that Russia will urgently ask the global chemical weapons watchdog - the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - to investigate Idlib. White House officials said Tuesday afternoon that they'd welcome an OPCW review. US officials expressed a 'very high degree of confidence' that Assad was responsible for the chemical weapons attack that Russia had previously claimed was an accident. At the Pentagon today, Defense Secretary James Mattis said he had personally reviewed the intelligence 'and there is no doubt the Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and the attack itself' The chemicals spread after Syrian forces struck a terrorist warehouse filled with toxins, Putin's government had previously said. 'We think that the information is inconsistent with that narrative,' an official said. 'We don't see a building, again, with that chemical residue that we would expect if that Russian narrative was true.' Spicer said Assad's actions are worse than Adolf Hitler's. Even the 1940s Nazi dictator 'didn't even sink to ... using chemical weapons,' he said. One shocked reporter reminded Spicer that Hitler used poison gas to exterminate millions of Jews. Another gamely gave him a chance to sputter through a clarification. The embarrassing gaffe came as about six million American Jews and millions more around the world celebrate Passover. Hitler primarily used Zyklon B, a powerful cyanide gas, to exterminate Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, priests, political dissidents and other enemies of the state. Describing that historical horror, Spicer declared that Hitler 'was not using the gas on his own people.' HE GASSED THE JEWS! White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Assad's actions are worse than Adolf Hitler's. Even the 1940s Nazi dictator 'didn't even sink to ... using chemical weapons,' he said. One shocked reporter reminded Spicer that Hitler used poison gas to exterminate millions of Jews At the Pentagon today, Defense Secretary James Mattis said he had personally reviewed the intelligence 'and there is no doubt the Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and the attack itself.' Asked about Russian complicity in the deadly chemical attack, Mattis said the intelligence only supports the current conclusion that the Syrian government is to blame. 'And beyond that we cannot say right now,' the general noted. 'We don't know anything beyond that.' Mattis also pledged that the U.S. would not go to war with Russia over Syria. 'It will not spiral out of control,' Mattis said. 'As you know, Secretary Tillerson is in Moscow. We maintain communications with the Russian military and with the diplomatic channels. It will not spiral out of control.' Mattis explained that keeping peace with the U.S. is in the Kremlin's interest. 'I'm confident the Russians will act in their own best interest and there's nothing in their own best interest to say they want this situation to go out of control,' he asserted. The US Navy is funding the development of a million dollar robot surveillance system that can spy on humans. Researchers from Cornell University are planning to create a system to enable teams of robots to share information as they move around and carry out surveillance as a 'single entity with many eyes'. A lump sum of $1.7m was handed over to the researchers by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, which is dedicated to developing new forms of military and civilian technology. Researchers from Cornell University are planning to create a system to enable teams of robots to share information as they move around and carry out surveillance as a 'single entity with many eyes' It wants to develop a system which lets teams of surveillance robots gather and share intelligence 'at the speed of light'. Beyond surveillance, the new technology might help when teams of robots relieve humans of dangerous jobs like disposing of landmines, cleaning up after a nuclear meltdown or surveying the damage after a flood or hurricane. Robot observers may detect suspicious actors and activities that might otherwise go unnoticed. A person running may be a common occurrence on a college campus but may require further scrutiny in a secured area. The Navy is likely to want to fit the technology into drones. Kilian Weinberger, associate professor of computer science, said: 'Once you have robots that cooperate you can do all sorts of things.' The researchers will call on their extensive experience with computer vision to match and combine images of the same area from several cameras, identify objects and track objects and people from place to place. Last year it was revealed the same department discussed plans to fit humans with microchips and track their every move. Mr Weinberger, associate professor of computer science, is working on the project along with Silvia Ferrari, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Mark Campbell, the John A. Mellowes '60 Professor in Mechanical Engineering. A Ghanaian asylum seeker suspected of raping a woman in a nature reserve in Germany had received notice he would be deported just a few days before the attack. The man spotted a young couple camping in the nature reserve where the River Sieg flows into the Rhine, near Bonn in western Germany. He forced his way into the couple's tent, threatened them with a tree saw and ordered them to hand over their valuables. An e-fit of the suspect which was put out by the police. He was captured after a passer-by recognised him from the e-fit After robbing them he told the 23-year-old woman to come outside, where he raped her and forced her boyfriend to watch. The suspect was arrested on Saturday in nearby Siegburg after a man recognised the asylum seeker from a composite picture of the sex attacker. But it has now emerged that the 31-year-old, who cannot be named due to Germany's strict privacy laws, had been served notice by the German authorities ten days the attack that he would face deportation to Italy as his asylum application had been rejected. The refugee was arrested for dragging a young woman from her tent and raping her while she was on camping with her boyfriend at in the Siegaue Nature Reserve (pictured) He arrived in Italy in January but his asylum application was immediately rejected but by then he had made the journey to Kassel in Germany. The suspect lived for a time in asylum seeker housing accommodation in the town of Sankt Augustin, near Bonn. But local media have questioned why he was not immediately deported. Vanessa Nolte, of the Cologne district authorities, said: 'On 23 March he received the order, on 24th March he appealed it.' Bonn police spokesman Robert Scholten said: 'As well as from the rape, we found a lot of DNA samples at the crime scene, which are clearly from the arrested man.' A toddler has died in yet another case of being left alone in a hot car. One-year-old Christian Evan Sanders died Friday in Birmingham, Alabama, after a 911 caller reported that the boy was unresponsive after being left alone in a car. Police say Christian's father, an employee at healthcare services firm NaphCare, left the boy inside his red Ford F-150 in the office building's rear parking lot. First responders rushed to the office building at 4.38pm and found Christian in cardiac arrest, Vestavia Hills police captain Brian Gilham told AL.com. The parking lot where Birmingham, Alabama toddler Christian Evan Sanders was found in cardiac arrest is shown. His father worked in the office building shown An ambulance rushed the boy to the hospital with a police escort. The boy's father accompanied him to the airport, police said. The ambulance arrived at 4.53pm and Christian was pronounced dead at 5.06pm, authorities said. The cause of death has not been determined pending a toxicology screen, and no charges or arrests have yet been made in the death investigation. NaphCare provides healthcare services and electronic records management for local, state and federal prison inmates, according to the company's website. Christian's father is believed to be a software developer at the company. It's unclear whether or not the father was the one who called 911 and police have refused to comment on whether he accidentally forgot his child. The high temperature in Birmingham on Friday was just 68 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AccuWeather, but temperatures inside cars can quickly skyrocket in direct sunlight. Police captain Gilham said the scene was a difficult one for responders. 'When you're dealing with a child, it makes it very difficult,' Gilham said. 'I'm a father, many of our officers are parents, and our hearts go out to the family.' Hasan Minhaj, a comedian best known for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, will be the headline act for this year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, DC. The event, which is scheduled for April 29, will not be attended by President Donald Trump or any of his top aides the first time in over 30 years that a sitting president will skip the dinner, according to Huffington Post. Trump has taken a more adversarial tone in his attitude toward the press since his successful campaign for the presidency. Inviting Minhaj, 31, to entertain the dinner is also symbolically significant since he is widely known as the 'Muslim correspondent' on the Comedy Central satire. Hasan Minhaj (seen above performing in Atlanta in 2016), a comedian best known for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, will be the headline act for this year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, DC Minhaj will perform at the event, which is scheduled for April 29. It will not be attended by President Donald Trump (right) or any of his top aides the first time in over 30 years that a sitting president will skip the dinner Minhaj, a native of California, is the son of Muslim parents from India who immigrated to the United States. The Trump administration has made immigration from Muslim countries a hot-button political issue after imposing a travel ban from countries in the Middle East and Africa. Minhaj has been an outspoken critic of Trump's policies. When Trump's first travel ban was announced in late January, Minhaj recalled flying into Kennedy Airport in New York on the day it was implemented, according to Slate. 'Usually, being a Muslim at an airport sucks,' he said. 'But this weekend, it was like I was Weeknd [] Literally three white people ran up to me to thank me for being Muslim.' The dinner has traditionally been a festive occasion that attracts heavyweights from the media, Washington power brokers, and Hollywood celebrities. Then-President Barack Obama (right) is seen with comedian Joel McHale (left) at the 2014 dinner Past headline acts at the event include comedians Jimmy Kimmel (seen left in 2012) and Cecily Strong (seen right in 2015) 'Just look at what hes done at the airport: White women were turning their scarves into hijabs,' he said. 'Muslims were publically praying, and people were cheering them on! 'Congratulations, Mr. President. Mission accomplished.' In explaining the decision to book Minhaj, WHCA head Jeff Mason told MSNBC's Morning Joe that the comic 'brings comedy chops, but he also brings heart and I think that we're going to see that at this dinner.' In a statement, Minhaj said 'it is a tremendous honor to be a part of such a historic event even though the president has chosen not to attend this year. SAD!' 'Now more than ever it is vital that we honor the First Amendment and the freedom of the press,' he said. The dinner has traditionally been a festive occasion that attracts heavyweights from the media and the class of Washington power brokers as well as Hollywood celebrities. With Trump boycotting this year's event, the dinner will now be held under the banner of fighting for the First Amendment particularly in light of the administration's anti-media posture. In years past, CNN, a frequent target of Trump, would invite celebrities to the dinner. This year, it will bring journalism students. Also, unlike in years past, there won't be any after-party hosted by the likes of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two reporters who broke the Watergate story, will hand out awards to journalists. Texas State Student Destroys Anti-Abortion Display: 'I Engaged My Rage' Contact: Mark Harrington, Created Equal, 614-419-9000 COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 11, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Footage is going viral of a Texas State University student violently attacking a Created Equal pro-life display led by ministry partners Love of Truth Ministries. Even more shocking than the student's action was the later revelation he is currently studying "nonviolent social resistance." Read his justification below! In a video posted on Twitterwhich has since been removedIan Ramos says, "First off, I reject bigotry," according to a report by The Daily Caller. He continues, "I don't have to put up with anyone peddling some false, ignorant ideology. I engaged my rage." But goes beyond justifying himself, calling on others to follow his example: "I hope I was able to inspire a few of you all out there. I don't knowspeak up, wake up. Engage the opposition." "If his brand of 'engaging' is thuggery and censorship, one has to question the value of his 'nonviolent resistance' studies." -- Mark Harrington, National Director, Created Equal Ramos is now facing charges and will soon learn a concept apparently not taught in his coursework: the rule of law. The torso of a convicted rapist who was murdered almost seven years ago has been found by police. James Nolan's remains were discovered at an embankment in Tolka Valley Park in Finglas, Dublin, shortly before 2pm on Tuesday. His suspected murder first came to light when his arm was washed up on the beach at Dollymount Strand in 2011. Police hunting for the remains of convicted rapist James Nolan in Ireland say they found his torso in a Dublin park on Tuesday Officers began coming the area at the start of this month after his killer confessed in a suicide note that was mailed to his family Gardai have been searching the Finglas location since the beginning of this month after the killer confessed in a suicide note. Tuesday's discovery was made by officers who were working with specially trained dogs and machinery. A source said: 'The torso was buried but not very well.' State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy is expected to carry out a post mortem today. Nolan was jailed in 1986 with brother Robert after they gang-raped a 22-year-old woman in front of her partner. The pair were also found guilty of false imprisonment. In December, gardai said they planned to carry out a dig in the Finglas park because of details left in a suicide letter written by Nolan's killer and sent to his family. In the note, officers say the killer admitted to strangling Nolan in a graveyard then dismembering his body and scattering it in the park It is understood that yesterday's remains were found at the same location described in the correspondence. The letter states that James Nolan was strangled to death by his killer in Glasnevin Cemetery. His body was then brought to an address in north Dublin and cut into pieces at that address. The killer then disposed of most of Nolan's body parts in Co. Monaghan and at Tolka Valley Park. A 'damaged and dangerous' killer committed a 'sadistic' sexual attack on a 55-year-old woman after he was released from prison. Michal Podlaszczyk, 33, has been jailed for a minimum of seven-and-a-half years after subjecting the woman to a savage attack as she walked to the bus station through Bede Park in Leicester in the morning of October 29. Podlaszczyk punched the woman to the ground, raped her and stole the 1.15 in her purse telling the victim he needed the money for beer. Michal Podlaszczyk, 33, has been jailed for a minimum of seven-and-a-half years after punching a woman to the ground and raping her He has already served a 12-and-a-half year sentence for the equivalent of manslaughter in his native Poland in 2001, when he was 18. He was released from prison in July 2015 and moved to the UK in August 2016, carrying out the horrific attack in October of last year. While he was carrying out the attack, he asked the victim for her PIN which he used to steal 20 from her account after taking her bank card. Prosecuting, Jim Thomas said the defendant said the word 'love' in English and was 'commanding' his victim to say the same as he raped her. He said: 'The defendant was a stranger to (the victim). He has never met her before. 'Nothing about the person caused, at that stage, (the victim to feel) a threat of violence until she was suddenly and unexpectedly violently punched to the face by the defendant.' This caused her to have a denture knocked out of her mouth, the court heard. Mr Thomas said: 'He was demanding during the sexual assault to know her PIN for her bank card. 'This was the beginning of the process of ultimately robbing her and stealing from her. 'She was in such fear, she told him the correct number for her cards.' He raped the woman as she walked to work through Bede Park, Leicester in October last year. He was given a life term and will serve at least seven years As well as taking 1.15 in cash, the defendant withdrew 20 from the victim's bank account using the card and told her not to tell the police. Mr Thomas said the victim was left with injuries to her face and knees and was left 'distraught' by the attack. Reading from a victim impact statement, he said: 'She is frightened to go out and is constantly worried when there's a knock at the door.' He added the victim is frightened whenever she hears Polish spoken by men in public, and was unable to afford dental treatment for her injuries. Mitigating, Ramya Nagesh said: 'It was not a planned attack. Very clearly it was opportunistic.' Judge Philip Head said the attack was 'sadistic'. He said the defendant took 'great pleasure from it by humiliating her by some disgusting actions'. Speaking about the robbery, the judge said: 'This was motivated by sex and he thought he could profit at the same time.' Podlaszczyk, of no fixed abode, admitted counts including three charges of rape, sexual touching, assault, robbery and attempted robbery and showed no emotion as he was sent down. A federal appeals court denied a request to stay the deportation of an Ohio mother of four American-born children, effectively giving the green light for her deportation back to her home country of Mexico. The Cincinnati-based 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling Tuesday, as Maribel Trujillo Diaz was on her way to an immigration and customs enforcement facility in Louisiana, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Circuit Judges Ralph B. Guy Jr., David W. McKeague and Ronald Lee Gilman ruled on the motion Tuesday afternoon. Scroll down for video A federal appeals court denied Maribel Trujillo Diaz's request to stay her deportation on Tuesday; she is seen her with her family, including for US-born children, ages 3 to 14 Trujillo Diaz's lawyer, Emily Brown with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, filed an emergency request Monday to stop deportation proceedings, as the Fairfield women continued to seek asylum. Immigration officials filed their own motion to dismiss Trujillo Diaz's appeal, contending she had entered the United States illegally in 2002 and had exhausted her appeals. Her family has been targeted by drug cartels in Mexico, according to her attorney. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati had called for mercy, saying Trujillo Diaz has made positive contributions to her church and community in Butler County, just north of Cincinnati. The archdiocese has said deporting Trujillo Diaz wouldn't serve the Donald Trump administration's immigration goals of public safety and removing criminal elements because she has no criminal history and cares for children ranging in age from three to 14, the youngest with special needs. Sister Mary Wendeln with Nuns on the Bus speaks out in Cincinnati on Monday against the deportation of Trujillo Diaz However, the woman was already being moved from Ohio to a federal immigration detention center in Louisiana before the decision was handed down, Brown said Tuesday, as US authorities prepared to complete her removal unless the appeals court agreed to halt it. Meanwhile, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a get-tough approach to immigration prosecutions during a tour Tuesday of the US-Mexico border. He urged federal prosecutors to intensify their focus on immigration crimes such as illegal crossings or smuggling others into the US. A spokeswoman for Democratic US Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio said he had personally called immigration authorities urging them to reconsider the case of Trujillo Diaz. The office of Republican US Senator Rob Portman of Ohio was trying to help 'facilitate a solution,' according to a spokesperson. The archdiocese called the action to take her into custody last week 'cruel and unacceptable.' There have been vigils and rallies on her behalf. Ohio's Republican governor also spoke out against the immigration action. 'We have enough broken families in the country,' Governor John Kasich told The Cincinnati Enquirer's editorial board Monday. 'And now what we're going to do is go hunt them down and ship them out and break up the family and scare the kids?' But the state doesn't have jurisdiction in the immigration matter, Kasich said. 'There's nothing I can do about it,' said Kasich, who ran against Trump in the presidential primary race. 'In case you didn't know, I'm not president.' A man died early Monday morning after he was reportedly struck several times over the head with a beer bottle at a Florida bar. Vincent Hollingsworth, 62, was arguing with 32-year-old Marion Stephens on Sunday night at The Stinger Bar following a game of pool. St Petersburg police said Hollingsworth hit Stephens multiple times in the face with a cue ball. Vincent Hollingsworth (left), 62, died early Monday morning after he was allegedly struck several times over the head with a beer bottle by 32-year-old Marion Stephens (right) Sunday night Witnesses said Hollingsworth (pictured) was arguing with Stephens after a pool game. St Petersburg police said Hollingsworth hit Stephens multiple times in the face with a cue ball and Stephens then hit him with a beer bottle Witnesses said Stephens then came up behind Hollingsworth and hit him with the bottle. Police said bouncers tried to separate the men, but Stephens got around them and hit Hollingsworth several more times. Hollingsworth fell and hit his head on the pool table. He was rushed to the Bayfront Health St Petersburg where he was pronounced dead at 12.33am on Monday, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Authorities said Stephens left the bar in a cab following the incident, but he was arrested on Monday. Stephens has previous arrests on charges including battery on a law enforcement officer and cocaine possession, online records show. He was being held at the Pinellas County jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. Stephens is now facing a manslaughter charge. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Hollingsworth's death is the second time a man has died at the bar. In April 2015, Juan Javier Oquendo shot and killed James Cason, 33, after the two argued in the parking lot. A small plane ended up nose-down on the side of an interstate in Maine after its pilot was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday morning. The plane, piloted by John Gayley landed in the southbound lane of Interstate 295 in Bowdoinham at about 10.15am. It then crashed into a guardrail off the breakdown lane. Police say Gayley had minor facial injuries and was taken to a hospital. Passenger Rodney Voisene, Gayley's brother-in-law, received a minor arm injury and was also taken to a hospital. Scroll down for video A pilot ended up nose-down after making an emergency landing Tuesday morning in Bowdoinham, Maine Pilot John Gayley (left) and his brother-in-law passenger Rodney Voisene (right) sustained only minor injuries The plane, a Cessna 140 fixed wing manufactured in 1947, did not hit any cars during its landing - but police said one did have to swerve to get out of the way. Gayley reportedly told authorities that he had taken off from Twitchell's Airport and Seaplane Base in Turner, where he keeps two planes, and was switching over to his second fuel tank when his engine failed. Police say traffic in the southbound lane will be disrupted when the plane is removed from the highway on Tuesday afternoon. Gayley told authorities that his engine failed while he was switching over to his second fuel tank The FAA is investigating the crash, which happened on Interstate 295 The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. Daniel Henderson and Lee Gosselin Jr. were driving on the interstate in pick-up trucks when they witnesses the emergency landing. 'He was just above the trees,' Henderson told CentralMaine.com. 'There were five or six cars and, in a matter of seconds, everybody started moving over and made room for him.' Gosselin added: 'The traffic was coming at him. When he got slowed down, he turned into the guardrail. He touched down right as he was beside me, and clipped the guardrail right behind my truck.' Both got out of their cars to help Gayley and his passenger. Gosselin said the plane started to leak fuel, but Gayley explained how to turn it off to his passenger. The two then directed traffic while they waited for authorities to show up. Peru Two drugs mule Michaella McCollum has been pictured enjoying her newfound freedom by partying in Ibiza. The 24-year-old hit headlines when she was jailed in Peru in 2013 for attempting to smuggle 1.5 million of cocaine out of the country to Spain with Melissa Reid. But Michaella, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, appears to have put her troubles firmly behind her as she night out on the town with a friend. The former prisoner jetted to Spain earlier in the week for the first time since she and Reid agreed to try and bring in the drugs at the beginning of August 2013. Peru Two drugs mule Michaella McCollum (left) has been pictured enjoying her newfound freedom by partying in Ibiza with a friend The former prisoner jetted to Spain earlier in the week for the first time since she and Reid agreed to try and bring in the drugs at the beginning of August 2013 McCollum and her friend talk to security at the entrance to one of Ibiza's many nightclubs Michaella, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, appears to have put her troubles firmly behind her as she night out on the town with a friend She had only just arrived on the island two months before to work as a dancer in a bar. McCollum and Reid - dubbed the 'Peru Two' were each sentenced to six years and eight months in jail after admitting to trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. The pair, who initially protested their innocence, were found in possession of 11kg of cocaine hidden inside food packets in their luggage as they prepared to board a flight from Lima to Madrid. McCollum was released on parole in March 2016 after serving less than half of her sentence but was initially required to stay in Peru, where she carried out voluntary work. The 24-year-old hit headlines when she was jailed in Peru in 2013 for attempting to smuggle 1.5 million of cocaine out of the country to Spain with Melissa Reid McCollum (seen on her way to a nightclub with a friend) was released on parole in March 2016 after serving less than half of her sentence The pair were seen entering Pasha, which is one of Ibiza's most popular night spots They say it's the fastest way to get around busy cities with heavy traffic. But one city dweller may have found an even speedier mode of transport than the New York subway. Rich Harris, 32, ran against a downtown 5 train from Wall Street to Bowling Green to test his hunch that he might get there in better time. An art director who has lived in the city on-and-off for years, he rarely takes the subway because he thinks it takes too long. Rich Harris, 32, ran against the New York City subway to see if he was faster. He began by boarding the downtown 5 train at Fulton Street (left) then disembarked at Wall Street (right) while DailyMail.com stayed on board 'I drive, run, I also have a Vespa. Put it this way, I put $20 on a Metrocard and it'll last six months,' he told DailyMail.com. A keen runner, he was confident he could cover the 0.2 miles between the two stations on foot. To test the theory, he teamed up with DailyMail.com's video team which filmed the experiment. Rich began on the train, hopping off at Wall Street, as soon as its doors opened. By the time the train left the station, he was 20 seconds in to his run down Broadway and had a comfortable lead. The race was between the 4 and 5 train subway station at Wall Street (on the corner of Broadway and Recor Street) and Bowling Green at Battery Park Rich got a head start, running out of Wall Street station before the train had even closed its doors. Above, the view from his head camera By the time Rich was up on to the street (left), the train was still stationery on the platform (top right) The train doors still hadn't closed (top right) after he got off at Wall Street but Rich was 13 seconds in to his run down Broadway (left) Once the train began moving again, it overtook Rich quickly and crept towards Bowling Green long before he did The train caught up with his head start, overtaking him at Beaver Street to pull in to Bowling Green first. But by the time it came to a complete stop, Rich had caught back up. He swiped his Metrocard through the turnstiles and flew down the stairs to arrive on the platform just as the doors opened. He sauntered back on to the carriage where DailyMail.com had left him at the previous station, this time a little more out of breath. So, is running faster than the subway? Unfortunately, the answer can't be boiled down to a 'yes' or a 'no'. Rich sped towards Bowling Green station (left) exactly as the train drew into it underground (top right) before coming to a stop He pushed through the station entrance doors (left) before the train doors opened (right) Rich raced down to the platform and sauntered back into the carriage where he left DailyMail.com (left) at the previous station before the train moved off again The train moves more quickly once in transit without doubt, but the stopping, starting and delayed opening and closing of doors can set passengers back. And of course, not everyone may be quite as speedy as this experiment's guinea pig.(Rich's once-a-day running routine is now down to around three times a week). Nevertheless, he encourages other New Yorkers to follow his lead. 'I would encourage others to run if they can. I don't like being on the subway. Especially now that it's summer time,' he said. A cancer victim's body was sent to the wrong airport amid travel chaos caused by recent bad weather. Bryant Lee Raburn died of leukemia at his parent's home in Raleigh, North Carolina, but the 31-year-old's remains were due to return to Nashville, Tennessee for his funeral. However, as a result of bad weather, the Delta cargo jet was diverted to Salt Lake City, where Raburn's body was kept for two days causing significant distress for his family and friends. Bryant Raburn, 31, right, died last week following a four-year battle against leukemia Raburn returned to be with family in North Carolina where he died early last week His family arranged that his remains should be flown home to Nashville, Tennessee for a memorial service, however, Delta sent his body to the wrong airport on a cargo plane Raburn spent the end of his life with his mother and stepfather in Raleigh. David Rhodes, Raburn's stepfather told WTVF-TV in Nashville, that his son's remains were due to fly to Detroit and then to Nashville. However, the flight was diverted to Salt Lake City. Rhodes said: 'I was stonewalled by Delta at every turn.' He said he was forced to spend the night before his son's memorial in Nashville Airport working on a way of getting the body to the city in time for last Sunday's service. Raburn's body was stuck in a cargo jet in Salt Lake City airport for two days due to the mistake Luckily, officials found a flight which carried Raburn's remains to the airport with an hour to spare before the service was due to begin. Rhodes said: 'We wanted time to see him before the service started, but now we won't have that. It seems minor, but it's not.' He added: 'I just want Delta to review their policies, tighten them up, and know when human remains are involved they need to be monitored more closely. It's time sensitive.' Rhodes told AJC.com: 'If youve never lost a child, its a different hurt. We were there with him. I performed CPR on him until EMS got there. But he ended up passing away he was gone.' Delta apologized for the delay in a statement: 'Delta worked directly with the family to ensure their son's remains were delivered expeditiously and have offered continued support to make this right. 'We apologize for the disruption and any added burden this may have caused during an already difficult for the family.' The father of a Vogue cover model found dead in her dorm room in Bangladesh has filed a murder lawsuit a medical student over his daughter's death, despite officials ruling the cause of death a suicide. Nearly two weeks after Raudha Athif, 21, a second-year student at Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi city, was found dead in an apparent suicide by hanging, her father, Mohamed Athif filed a lawsuit against one of her female classmates. Athif, who made an appeal for 'a fair investigation' alleged that the classmate strangled his daughter outside her dorm room and later staged it to look like a suicide. Raudha Athif, a Vogue cover model found dead in her dorm room in Bangladesh, was murdered by extremists for not wearing Islamic clothing and did not kill herself, her family have claimed The model's (far left) fame grew and she eventually landed on the cover of Vogue India in October last year Athif's case was filed with the Rajshahi Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, and later accepted by the Metropolitan Magistrate Saiful Islam, according to The Daily Star. An autopsy report carried out in Bangladesh ruled Maldives native's death as suicide before her burial on Saturday. But her brother has since insisted that Raudha, who was Muslim, was murdered and that her death was made to look like a suicide. Her father Mohammed Athif has also dismissed the suggestion she took her own life, writing on Twitter: 'Maldivian medical student and my daughter Raudha Athif did not commit suicide. She was murdered at her hostel room. I've the facts.' Marks on her neck the family claimed to have seen were dismissed by the autopsy report as birthmarks - but Rayyan said she had none of these. Athif claims he saw finger marks on his daughter's neck. Police from her native Maldives are said to have met with Bangladesh's Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) and medical college bosses amid heightened speculation over the death. The Dhaka Tribune quoted Amin Hossain, assistant commissioner of RMP Detective Branch, as saying there was a '50 per cent chance that she did not commit suicide'. The door was locked from the inside and students broke into the room when they discovered Raudha's body. 'We primarily suspect it is a suicide case. However, we can't come to any conclusion until we get the autopsy report,' said the officer-in-charge Zillur Rahman. Her father Mohammed Athif has also dismissed the suggestion she took her own life and insisted on Twitter that her daughter was murdered Her body was recovered by police at around midday on Wednesday last week after classmates found their fellow student dead in her hostel room at Islami Bank Medical College (pictured) In Athif's case statement, he said that no one but the classmate he has accused of murdering his daughter saw her hanging from the ceiling. He said he 'can't understand how anyone could break into the room without leaving any sign of forced entry'. A week before her death, Raudha had complained that the accused classmate had mixed sedatives into her juice, Athif said. She also exchanged text messages with the accused classmate, and the messages show a bitter relationship between the two women, Athif claimed. Athif claimed that the accused knew Raudha's phone and social media passwords and misused Raudha's accounts after her death. Alamin Hossain, assistant commissioner of DB in the district, said the force was investigating the case. Raudha's body was recovered by police at around midday on March 29 after her classmates found her dead. The body was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for an autopsy, according to The Daily Star. Two weeks ago, Mahmuda Begum, the superintendent of the female hostel, said the model 'always looked happy,' and added, 'it is hard to believe she would commit suicide'. Ms Begum said: 'I was in my chamber. Suddenly, I heard screams of my students. 'Rushing to the second floor of this six-storey building, I saw some of the students trying to break the door of Athif's room.' An autopsy report carried out in Bangladesh ruled her death as suicide before her burial on Saturday Her brother, Rayyan Athif, told The Sun today that extremists were behind her death and that she was targeted for standing up for people bullied over their religious issues. 'There have been a series of murders in Bangladesh which have been staged to look like suicides and Islamic extremists have been suspected to be behind these atrocities,' he said. 'Her style of clothing was branded as 'immodest' and 'un-Islamic' even though she adhered to the dress code in the college premises by wearing a veil covering her face. 'But she was criticised for wearing jeans and was repeatedly told she couldn't wear it at the Muslim college - which has a lot of extremist connections and support. Other students have also been subjected to this type of bullying.' The model's first major breakthrough was a stunning image taken by photographer Sotti called 'Maldivian Girl With Aqua Blue Eyes,' which was praised by the former president of the Maldives over social media. The picture made her an internet sensation in 2014. Her fame grew and she eventually landed on the cover of Vogue India in October last year. 'Modelling is a hobby rather than a career for me, since I'm studying to become a doctor,' she told Vogue. For confidential support in the UK call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. For confidential support in the US call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255. For confidential support in Australia call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14. Malia Obama kept it casual on Tuesday while heading into work at The Weinstein Company as her internship with famed producer Harvey Weinstein enters its final weeks. It was a picture perfect morning in the Big Apple with lots of sun and some much-needed warm weather, and like millions of other New Yorkers across the city, Malia ditched the coat and pants in favor of a more summery frock. She was photographed making her way into work in an adorable cap-sleeved denim shirtdress that buttoned up the front. Malia kept the rest of her look casual as well, chucking on a pair of worn-in black Chuck Taylors and carrying the same trusty brown leather utilitarian knapsack she has been lugging around for the past year. Scroll down for video First intern: Malia Obama was spotted headed in to work at The Weinstein Company on Tuesday (above) Seeking shade: Temperatures in Manhattan were in the 70s most of the day and the sun was out from dawn until dusk Changes: Malia is now just months away from heading a bit further north to begin her freshman year of college at Harvard come August Malia is now just months away from heading a bit further north to begin her freshman year of college at Harvard come August. Before that however it will be back to Washington DC for the Chicago native, where her parents are staying for the next two years until Sasha graduates high school at Sidwell Friends. Malia has kept a relatively low profile during her gap years, despite the public interest in her post-White House life. It remains unclear if Malia even has a Secret Service detail with her in the city, with some on social media saying that she clearly does at times and others stating that she is with friends at those times. Under a 2013 measure that was signed into law by President Obama, all former presidents and first ladies are given lifetime Secret Service details, while the children of the president receive that same protection until they are at least 16. The length of the protection for the children of the president can be extended towards the end of their term, but the details are usually kept private for their safety. President Bush extended protection for his daughters Jenna and Barbara after he departed DC, who were both older than Malia and Sasha at the time. Meanwhile, just four days after her father vacated the Oval Office back in January, Malia made it clear just how disappointed she was in President Donald Trump by joining a rally protesting his plans to revive the Dakota Access pipeline project. The 18-year-old student was one of approximately 100 people who gathered on Main Street at the Sundance Film Festival to let it be known how upset she was with President Trump's plan to move forward with the controversial transport system. The group braved the blistering cold and heavy snowfall as they held up signs reading 'Exist. Resist. Rise.' and 'Impeach corporate control.' On her way: Malia has kept a relatively low profile during her gap years, despite the public interest in her post-White House life Capital return: Before she heads to college it will be back to Washington DC for the Chicago native, where her parents are staying for the next two years until Sasha graduates high school Confusion: It remains unclear if Malia even has a Secret Service detail with her in the city She wore her ombre hair half up and half down Safe and sound: Malia enters the building and is gone, until tomorrow That first sign expressed the group's solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, while the second expressed their displeasure with the Sundance Film Festival for allowing Chase Bank to be a sponsor of their event due to the fact that they are invested in the pipeline. This is why the rally was held directly in front of the Chase Sapphire on Main Lounge. And a few hours later, Malia was also one of the select individuals in attendance at a private event with Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault, a man who just last month publicly applauded her father when he put a halt to the pipeline after months of protests at the site. She landed in snowy Park City after spending a few days with her parents and sister Sasha in Palm Springs, California at the home of White House interior designer Michael Smith and his partner, former Ambassador to Spain James Costos. Malia has also enjoyed a long weekend in Aspen during the past few months, but has not been able to join her parents on any of their numerous trips to tropical islands. Barack and Michelle were in Necker Island from late January to early February and are now enjoying the warm weather and waters of Mo'orea, and island located in French Polynesia. home World Iraqi Christians embark on an 80-mile march for peace on Palm Sunday Iraqi Christians from villages surrounding Mosul have gathered in the Ashty Camp in Northern Iraq to embark on an 80-mile march to call for an end to violence in their country as well as other parts of the Middle East. The march, which began on Palm Sunday, will stretch for about 80 miles from the Ashty camp to the village of Qaraqosh, which is one of the largest traditionally Christian villages in Iraq. "On this Palm Sunday, we thank God for liberating our villages from the Islamic State," Father Youssef said, as reported by Sojo. "We hope that this Holy Week, we will rise again. We pray that peace comes, once again, to our lands," he continued. About 100 people, including a few foreigners, have signed up to participate in the peace march, according to Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad of the Chaldean Catholic Church. "They will walk from Irbil to Alqosh in the Ninevah Plain, needing one week or more because the journey is very long, some 87 miles. I will join them in a village near Alqosh on Holy Thursday," Sako told Catholic News Service. Instead of taking communion, Youssef encouraged the participants to take a single olive branch to symbolize the peace that they hope would come back to the Christian community after the defeat of ISIS. About 1.4 million Christians resided in Iraq in 2003, but their numbers have been reduced to only about 250,000. Many have been killed while others fled the deadly and frequent attacks carried out by the terror group. Iraqi security forces, with the support of a U.S.-led coalition, have recaptured several cities, including eastern Mosul, from ISIS last year. They are now engaged in a battle to liberate the western parts of Mosul. The organizers of the march, as well as other Iraqi Christian leaders, are encouraging the Christian community to return to their homes. But many displaced Iraqis are still wondering if they will ever be able to return home as some places, such as Bartella, Bashiqa, and Qaraqosh, are now largely ghost towns covered in rubble. Samira, a mother of five who has lived in the camp for the past two and a half years, had been informed by her sons that their home in Qaraqosh had been destroyed in the fighting. She said she is grateful that she was able to live in the camp, but she still yearns to go back to Qaraqosh. "I wish I could join the march, and live in Qaraqosh again. It's the most beautiful place in the world a but without our home it wouldn't be the same," said Samira. Police are appealing to the public for any information on a missing teenager who vanished almost a week ago. Rebeka Page, 17, was last seen in the Ilford area of east London at about 3pm on Thursday April 6. She is white, about 5ft 5ins, of slim build with brown hair. Rebeka Page is about 5ft 5ins, of slim build with brown hair which she had tied in a bun when she was last seen At the time of her disappearance she was wearing glasses, black jeans and a black, yellow and green t-shirt. Her hair was in a bun on the top of her head. It is believed this is the first time Rebeka has been reported missing. Officers are increasingly concerned for her wellbeing and would urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact police on 101 or @MetCC or Missing People on 116000. Officers checking on the welfare of a resident stumbled upon a possible homicide, an apparent suicide and a large-scale marijuana growing operation, authorities said. State police in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, said officers went Monday morning to a home in Mount Pleasant Township in the northeastern corner of the state, in search of property owner Joseph Mastropole after a woman in New York called with concerns about his welfare. Police spokesman Mark Keyes said a man at the door gave them a false name, said he was a roommate and hadn't seen the 54-year-old Mastropole. On a second visit, police saw a barn with signs of a lot of ventilation and smelled a strong odor of marijuana, so they came back shortly before 3.30pm Monday with a warrant. Knocking on the door of the home, they heard a gunshot and called for a special tactical unit, which later entered and found the body of 57-year-old Gaston Gomez, dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. In the barn, police found more than 100 marijuana plants and a smoldering burn barrel containing suspected remains which a forensic specialist said appeared to be human. More remains were found in the house, and an autopsy is scheduled Wednesday. Investigators are trying to determine whether the remains are those of one person or more, what was the cause of death and whether any of the remains are those of Mastropole, who is considered missing, Keyes said. Keyes said it's unclear what Gomez was doing at the home or what his relationship was, if any, with the homeowner. Investigators traveled to New York to interview the woman who called with concerns about Mastropole, whose picture was being distributed, along with a plea for anyone who knows him or Gomez to contact investigators. 'It kind of shows the dangers police walk into,' Keyes said. 'They go to do a welfare check and wind up with a (possible) homicide and suicide.' Advertisement The eight-year-old boy who was killed by his teacher's estranged husband in a San Bernardino classroom on Monday has been pictured for the first time. Jonathan Martinez was standing behind Karen Smith in her special needs classroom at North Park Elementary School on Monday morning when Cedric Anderson, her estranged husband, shot them. Another student, nine, was also struck but is in hospital in a stable condition. On Tuesday, officials told how he was 'up and watching cartoons'. Jonathan, who was born with genetic condition Williams Syndrome, was airlifted to hospital where he died of his injuries. The little boy had previously survived undergoing heart surgery as he suffered from heart problems due to the rare disorder that was also characterized by learning delays and mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities, according to Dale Marsden, superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District. 'By all accounts, Jonathan Martinez was a happy child,' Marsden said at a news conference. Smith, 53, died at the scene as did Anderson, 53, who turned the gun on himself after shooting his victims in front of 15 other horrified children. The couple married in January but she left him in mid-March after discovering another side to him following their wedding. He had been trying to win her back but began threatening her when she did not comply. Police said the mother-of-four did not take the threats 'seriously' and thought he was merely trying to win her attention but that Anderson reached 'boiling point.' On Monday, he signed in at the school reception where staff recognized him as her new husband before walking to his estranged wife's classroom with a hidden .357 Smith & Wesson handgun to begin shooting. The gun was not in his name. Scroll down for videos Jonathan Martinez, eight, died in hospital on Monday after being shot by his teacher's estranged husband at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino Karen Smith, 53, (left) was also killed by her estranged husband Cedric Anderson, 53. Jonathan was standing behind her when he opened fire on them He fired 10 rounds without uttering a single word, stopping to reload at least once before shooting himself. Police later found a note at the couple's home in which the self-described pastor and maintenance technician described feeling 'dishonored' and 'disrespected'. The two children hit were not targeted by the man but were struck because they were standing behind his wife when he opened fire. On Tuesday, Jonathan's bereft relatives shared tributes to him on social media. They described him as an 'angel' who had been taken from them 'too soon'. A GoFundMe page set up to help the family cope with the tragedy has raised more than $30,000. The newlyweds honeymooned in Arizona in January (above) but their relationship went sour weeks later once they were back in California and living together Smith and Anderson had been married for less than three months. The couple knew each other for years beforehand but did not have any children together. She has four adult children from a previous relationship. He also has three adult sons. After their January 28 wedding, Anderson, a self-described pastor and maintenance technician with a military background, 'turned' on his new wife. 'The real Cedric came out. He told her he would throw her out the window. She was shocked, like 'What happened?' He was so kind to her while they were dating. She had no idea,' her mother, Irma Sykes, 80, told The New York Daily News. Within weeks of their romantic Arizona honeymoon, he began threatening her with violence but she did not believe she was in immediate danger despite going to live with one of her adult children. She moved out when he accused her without evidence of being unfaithful to him, The Los Angeles Times reports. 'Those closest to her [Smith] said she had mentioned she was concerned about [Anderson's] behavior and he had made threats towards her. She did not take them seriously and thought he was trying to get attention. 'She had mentioned that his behavior was odd, and that she was concerned about his behavior, and that he had made some threats toward her [but] he did not make a specific threat to shoot her. 'It appears that he had been making efforts to contact her and to have her come back home and she was resistant to that. And I don't know if that just reached a boiling point, or what that was.' San Bernardo Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said at a press conference on Tuesday. The couple's relationship broke down in mid March but no one at the school knew. 'She effectively kept her private life private. They were both adults and they had adult children, so it's not like there were a lot of people who were truly engaged in their business,' Chief Garguan said. For months beforehand, Anderson littered social media with glowing tributes to his 'beautiful' bride and considered himself 'blessed' because of her. The abundant public affection hid a more sinister side of his personality. It stopped abruptly in mid-March, after which the normally active social media user went quiet. The other child was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition. Anderson opened fire on them in front of other youngsters after signing in at the front desk. Above, other students are evacuated from the school after the shooting at around 10.30am on Monday The school's 520 other children held hands as they were led by teachers across the playground and on to buses to be taken away from the scene Teachers and children lined up outside North Park Elementary School on Monday morning. The two students injured were taken to hospital Betty Rodriguez, right, comforts her granddaughter Giselle, 11, during a prayer service held to honor the shooting victims 'She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all,' Sykes said. On Tuesday, Smith's own children said she had 'no idea' she was putting anyone in danger when she went to the school as usual. 'She did not go to that school knowing she was putting anyone in danger. This is a surprise to us. She did not deserve to die like this,' one of her sons told NBC. They asked that their mother be remembered for her commitment to her students and love of teaching. 'My mother will be remembered as someone who above all loved God, her family, and her students.he loved her students very much and dedicated her entire life to them. It was her passion to see her students succeed,' her son Adam said on Facebook. He graciously asked friends to pray for her mother's killer's family before writing: 'I love you momma more than anything in the world... I will see you again beautiful.' Smith began teaching ten years ago after raising her family. Anderson is thought to have served in the Navy. In a news special several years ago, he complained about the fees attached to living in airbase housing. The NBC show heralded him as an eight-year veteran and said his first wife was a 19-year Air Force veteran. On Monday, he told staff at North Park Elementary School he was there to drop something off for his wife. He was signed in without incident and made his way to her classroom. Anderson and Smith married in January after knowing each other for four years. Her mother has told since her death how she recently left him after discovering another side to him Anderson has several past charges on his record, including domestic violence, weapons and drug-related charges, according to police On Monday evening, the Riverside, California, home Anderson and Smith shared during their brief marriage was cordoned off with police tape. The home, inside an upmarket gated community, belonged to Smith - who had previously lived in the property with her ex-husband Roderic, 53 Police SWAT team arrive at the Riverside home of the San Bernardino school shooter. This is the home of Karen Smith who was killed by her husband Cedric Anderson Anderson littered his Facebook page with glowing tributes to his wife. He called her 'sexy' and described her as an 'angel' Anderson described himself as an eight-year Navy veteran in an NBC special several years ago (above) Once inside, he unleashed the gun he had been hiding and began shooting. He fired 10 rounds in total at a range of 10 to 15ft. Anderson has several past charges on his record, including domestic violence, weapons and drug-related charges, according to police. It is not known if he was convicted of these charges. On Monday evening, the Riverside home Anderson and Smith shared during their brief marriage was cordoned off with police tape. The home, inside an upmarket gated community, belonged to Smith - who had previously lived in the property with her ex-husband Roderic, 53. As DailyMail.com watched, a crime scene investigation team were seen arriving at the house carrying cameras and forensic equipment. His eldest son Jacob was seen leaving the property with his hands raised in the air. He was questioned by police. At North Park Elementary School, police continued working into the night. Evacuated students were finally reunited with their families some three hours after the tragedy at another school nearby. Parents frantically rushed to North Park Elementary after news of the shooting emerged. Some were allowed to take their young children home after being able to find them outside straight away but others were forced to wait until officials checked everyone in. They desperately looked through the school's playground fencing to catch a glimpse of their children, unaware if they had been involved in the shooting when they arrived. A prayer service was held to honor the shooting victims and several members of the community attended the emotional ceremony after the events that shook the town of San Bernardino Police rushed to the scene with SWAT teams and anti-terrorism units as news of the shooting unfolded Elizabeth Barajas holds her daughter Marissa Perez, nine, who witnessed yesterday's shooting inside her classroom For Elizabeth Barajas it had been an hours-long nightmare waiting to learn the fate of the daughter she had dropped off at school a couple of hours before police reported gunfire in a classroom that left two adults and one child dead and another child wounded. Barajas learned her daughter, Marissa Perez, had been sitting at her desk Monday morning when a gunman stormed into her classroom, shot her teacher to death, killed one of her classmates and wounded another before killing himself. 'I don't know what to do. I don't know what to tell her,' Barajas said as the two held each other and sobbed after the ordeal that sent police flooding onto the campus of San Bernardino's North Park School. As Marissa and about 600 other students were shepherded to safety, Barajas and hundreds of other parents raced to the school. There they would endure an agonizing four-hour wait before learning that all but two of their children were physically if not emotionally unharmed. 'She just said she was scared. As soon as she saw the guy with the gun, she went under the table. She keeps telling me `My teacher got shot, my friend got shot,' Barajas said as she clutched her daughter's blood-stained sweatshirt. Marissa said the shooter didn't say a word as he opened fire. She pointed to her stomach to demonstrate where one of her friends was hit. Amberly Raffle, who had left her son with his pre-kindergarten class earlier that morning, said she wasn't sure what the sirens were about until her sister-in-law ran to her house to tell her there was a problem at the school. 'Policemen were everywhere and ambulances, firetrucks, helicopters,' she said of the scene she saw. 'I got really scared then.' The event was held in a church and members of the community filled the pews to honor the victims Police SWAT team walk the area where the estranged couple lived Parents rushed to the elementary school as news of the emergency spread on Monday morning. Some were able to reunite with their children to take them home but others were told to go to Cajon High School to be reunited San Bernardino police guides children on to the playground as multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the shooting Other children were forced to line up inside the school playground behind fences as police and teachers grappled with the situation. They waved to parents who had rushed to the scene but were not allowed to collect them to be taken home Police circled a blue BMW in the school parking lot after the shooting but they believe the area is now safe It was 'every parent's worst nightmare,' said Holly Penalber as she wiped tears from her face while waiting to hear the fate of her 9-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. Penalber, a Riverside County sheriff's deputy, was on a training assignment when she began getting frantic texts from her husband and mother, saying something had happened at the school. Then she waited hours outside a nearby high school where parents were eventually reunited with their children. She was too nervous to join Barajas and others in the library, saying there were more rumors than information there. But eventually she heard from someone who had seen her children and assured her they were safe. 'It was such a sigh of relief. But I won't feel good until I hold my kids,' she said. One of the first parents to be reunited with a child was Raffle, who cried tears of joys as she embraced her son. 'He doesn't really know what happened,' she said. 'I think we're blessed because of that.' Law enforcement agencies stood watch over the elementary students as they sat on the playground There was a large police presence at the elementary school throughout the afternoon as detectives continued investigating An ambulance driver rests her head on her hands outside of the elementary school after responding to the shooting One young student described being evacuated from her P.E. class after being reunited with her mother outside the school. 'All of the kids started running out. It was pretty scary,' the child said through tears. Other parents had to settle for catching a glimpse of their children through a fence as they were put onto a bus. SWAT tanks and anti-terrorism were among forces deployed to the school as the situation unfolded. San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis said President Trump had offered his condolences and assistance in a phone call on Monday morning. 'This is a tragic event. It's going to take time for ourr heads, our hearts to heal,' Mayor Davis said. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos shared her condolences for the victims on Monday afternoon. Parents were directed to Cajon High School and told to bring their IDs to be checked by police and school board staff At California State University, officials laid out glow sticks and set up a projector to keep the evacuated children entertained while they tried to work through the emergency 'My heart and prayers go out to the victims of today's horrible act in San Bernardino & to the whole North Park Elem. School community. 'I want to thank the first responders, teachers and school administrators who helped & protected students who found themselves in harm's way. 'I ask everyone to join me in keeping the victims and all those impacted by today's senseless violence in your prayers. The San Bernardino Fire Department first reported 'multiple' gun shot wound victims at the school. North Park Elementary School is just nine miles from the Inland Regional Center where 14 were killed and 22 were injured in the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack. School officials said North Park Elementary would remain closed for at least two days. A former Louisiana district attorney accused of extorting sexual favors from at least 22 women in exchange for favorable treatment from his office is being sued by the mother of one of his alleged victims. The mother of Danelle Keim filed the state racketeering lawsuit in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Monday against disgraced former St. Charles Parish District Attorney Harry Morel. Keim died of a drug overdose in 2013 after she began cooperating with the FBI's investigation of sex-abuse allegations against Morel, even going undercover so investigators could film Morel's inappropriate advances. Although Morel hasn't been charged with any sex crimes, the 74-year-old is serving a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty last year to obstructing the federal investigation. Scroll down for video 'Predator': Harry Morel (center) received three years in prison after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. Now the mother of an alleged victim is suing him 'Victim': Danelle Keim (right, with her son in an undated family photo) told police in 2010 Morel had groped her. She wore an wire for the FBI, but died of an overdose in 2013 Mother: Keim's mother Tammy Glover, seen in this file photo, filed a suit against Morel on Monday The lawsuit says Keim's mother, Tammy Glover, hopes legal action will 'put an end to the fear that many women and their families have been living with for decades because of (Morel's) sexual abuse.' 'We don't have the ability to know of everyone who was affected by this,' said Tregg Connell Wilson, one of Glover's attorneys. 'We invite them to come forward. We invite them to come and talk about what happened.' State and federal authorities called Morel a sexual predator who repeatedly abused his power to prey on vulnerable women, offering them or their relatives help with their legal problems in exchange for sex. During a news conference last year, investigators accused Morel of soliciting sex from at least 20 women during his 33-year tenure in office. But prosecutors said the investigation of the sex-abuse allegations was hampered by a statute of limitations on the crimes, significant problems with evidence and victims who could prove to be difficult witnesses. Morel's attorney, Ralph Capitelli, accused prosecutors of a smear campaign to influence sentencing. 'Devil': Glover called Morel 'the Devil.' The FBI said he offered leniency for sex to 20 women. But he only pleaded guilty to telling McGovern to destroy photos of them together Keim began cooperating with the FBI after making a 911 call to report that Morel had sexually assaulted her at her home in April 2010, shortly after her arrest on a drunken-driving charge. Keim's undercover work for the FBI was captured on videotape. Agents recorded a July 2012 meeting at her apartment, where Morel brought two bottles of wine, discussed her case and then began to grope her, the lawsuit says. Keim wasn't the first women to call authorities about Morel. Sheriff Greg Champagne has said he contacted the FBI after receiving a call in 2009 from a woman whose husband had been arrested on traffic charges, including drunken driving. That woman told the FBI that Morel offered to help her if she would agree to meet him at his camp in Mississippi to 'play,' according to Glover's lawsuit. The investigation of Morel also led to the June 2016 arrest of John Joseph Landry III, a Lions Club president accused of helping Morel fabricate bogus records of court-ordered community service by Keim and two other women who had been arrested on drunken-driving charges. Landry also is named as a defendant in Glover's lawsuit. St. Charles Parish is about 20 miles (30 kilometers) west of New Orleans. Morel served as the parish's district attorney from 1979 to 2012. He is serving his prison sentence at a facility in Seagoville, Texas, and has a tentative release date in August 2018, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons website. Sen. Bernie Sanders' Vermont constituents are especially feeling the Bern, ranking him, again, the country's most popular senator. Sanders received top marks from registered voters polled in a new Morning Consult survey, which asked constituents to rate their senators' job performance from the beginning of the year until March. Seventy-five percent of Sanders' constituents said they approved of the job he was doing, contrasted with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who's the only senator in the entire chamber to have a net negative approval rating. Scroll down for video I'M POPULAR: Sen. Bernie Sanders is the most popular U.S. senator among his own constituents a new Morning Consult survey has found On the flip side of the coin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the most powerful U.S. senator and among the most visible, is the only lawmaker in the body that has a net negative Forty-four percent of McConnell's Kentucky voters say they approve of the GOP leader, the chamber's most powerful member, while 47 percent disapprove. It's not all terrible news for the Kentucky lawmaker, as he's actually gained ground compared to previous Morning Consult polls. In September 2016, more than half of his constituents 51 percent disapproved of McConnell, while just 39 percent approved of the job he was doing. Additionally, it's not all sunshine and butterflies for Sanders, who's actually performing worse among his constituents than a 2016 survey. In September, Sanders received an 87 percent approval rating from his constituents, with 12 percent saying they disapproved of the job the democratic socialist was doing. Now Sanders' disapproval rating stands at 21 percent. Sen. Bernie Sanders actually lost some ground among his constituents in the last six months, as he had a higher approval rating in September Sanders wasn't the only senator who was seemingly downgraded by being in the national spotlight, eventual Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, has also lost some support in his state. Kaine's disapproval rating rose by 10 points since September, from 26 to 36 percent, though he still get a 50 percent approval rating from registered voters in his state. Campaign 2016 didn't sully every senator with his or her constituents, as evidenced by some Republican senators high approval ratings in their respective states. Ohio's Sen. Rob Portman, who was up for re-election last year, has an approval rating of 53 percent, up from the 40 percent he had in September, two months before voters headed to the polls. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., whose profile was heightened by his presidential run, was also on the ballot in November, and faced a barrage of negative ads. In the past six months, his net rating rose by 10 percentage points. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who also briefly ran for the White House, saw an increase of 5 percentage points in his net rating. Fact Check: true Mitt Romney really did have 'binders full of women.' The failed 2012 presidential candidate famously referenced the binders during a 2012 presidential debate, only to be mocked by his rival, President Obama, and various commentators for the awkward statement. Now, the actual binders have emerged as Romney considers a run for the U.S. Senate seat being held by Sen. Orrin Hatch. A former Romney aide dug up the binders and handed them to the Boston Globe, which described them as being white three-ring binders filled with nearly 200 cover letters and resumes of women. The binders carry the label of the Massachusetts Government Appointments Project (MassGAP), which compiled information on women seeking to join Romney's team. Mitt Romney awkwardly mentioned during a 2012 presidential debate having reviewed 'binders full of women,' and now the actual documents have emerged They weight 15 pounds, 6 ounces, the Globe found. They were tangible sign of the Bain Capital exec's desire to take a methodical approach to getting women into his administration. 'It was a response to a desire on the part of the Romney administration to access a pool of talent,' Linda Rossetti, who worked with the coalition, told the paper. 'They drummed up what was an inelegant way to get at this pool of talent.' Romney brought up the binders responding to a question at the debate. 'I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' and they brought us whole binders full of women,' he said. Romney brought up 'binders full of women' during a debate with President Obama, who whacked him for the comment the following day Beth Myers (r) managed Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, and commented on the newly emerged binders Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is up for re-election, but Republicans in the state are quietly trying to press the 83-year-old to retire, hoping that Mitt Romney would take his place Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (right) briefly flirted with President Donald Trump (left) over the position of secretary of state - now Romney is plotting his next move Obama pounced the next day from the campaign trail. 'I've got to tell you, we don't have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified, talented, driven young women,' Obama said. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week he had spoken to Romney, following reports that Romney is considering a run for the Senate. McConnell continues to back longtime Utah Senator Orrin Hatch if he wants the seat. Hatch was elected to the Senate in 1976. 'I've had some conversations w mitt Romney. Obviously I'm an Orrin Hatch supporter,' McConnell told reporters in the Capitol Friday. 'Orrin has to decide what he wants to do. If he wants to run again I'm for him,' McConnell said. Notes beside the tab for Lillian Gonzalez, a certified public accountant who wasn't a Republican and didn't hear back after seeking work, contain hand-written information in the binder prepared for Romney. 'Party? . . . Latino . . . May not be [Republican],' according to the Globe. Former Romney chief of staff and campaign manager Beth Myers said Romney 'wanted to have his cabinet and office staff well represented with women. We weren't getting a ton of names,.' She added: 'We used them throughout, especially for boards and commissions.' The Wisconsin man at the center of a nationwide manhunt after stealing an arsenal of weapons and threatening an anti-government 'revolution' in a 161 page manifesto mailed to president Trump has probably changed appearance, the FBI said Tuesday. They released an edited photograph of Joseph Jakubowski, 32, and doubled the reward for his arrest to $20,000. The FBI, ATF, Rock County Sheriff and Janesville Police unveiled the enhanced reward and the new image of Jakubowksi, who has now been on the run with 18 firearms since April 4, as DailyMail.com reveals his history of domestic violence, mental instability and substance abuse. Authorities have been searching for Jakubowski since he is believed to have stolen 18 firearms - including two semi-automatic rifles - from Armageddon gun store in his home town of Janesville, about 70 miles southwest of Milwaukee. Now Rock County court records obtained by DailyMail.com lay bare the violent break-up that Jakubowski blames for his downward spiral. Scroll down for video Jakuobowski remains at large over a week after mailing a 161-page manifesto to President Trump and robbing a gun store Speaking to DailyMail.com Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden and Janesville Chief of Police David Moore admitted that though law enforcement is following up more than 550 leads the last credible sighting of Jakubowski remains the gun store robbery on April 4. Sheriff Spoden said: 'When somebody wants to go off the grid it's difficult to find them if they're not really actively out there. 'You can hunker down in a farmhouse, in an abandoned building in Janesville - there's a lot of different things you can do. 'You can leave the community. He could be in a totally different state, in a totally different community. 'So are we closer to catching him? We are in a better position to understand how to catch him, we're in a better position to understand what motivates him, but to say we're any closer to catching him than first day? It would be very difficult to say yes or no on that.' More than 170 officers have been tasked with tracking down Jakubowski. The Sheriff and Janesville police are working with state police, FBI, ATF, DCI, Secret Service and others. Chief Moore said: 'Our folks are working 12 and 16 hour days on this. Our citizens will see the marked patrol vehicles and occasionally they'll see SWAT people out there but there's a lot larger footprint than what they see.' They revealed that the 161-page manifesto posted by Jakubowski to Trump was handwritten. According to Chief Moore, 'Mr Jakubowski certainly spent his share of time developing this document and it was meaningful to him, but it's certainly concerning to us.' He said that despite initial concerns that schools might be the focus of some sort of attack the manifesto itself singled out religion and the government as the targets of any outrage though Jakubowski made no specific threats. Sheriff Spoden said that they have not ruled out the person who filmed Jakubowski mailing the manifesto as a person of interest. He said: 'He has been co-operating and the fact is we simply don't know if he knew what was in that document. 'As we get more information that might change but right now it's no crime to film someone mailing a letter to the president.' The one-time roofer and construction worker was convicted of battery and domestic abuse in December 2008 following an attack that took place the previous January. According to his former girlfriend, Jakubowski, who has been in and out of jail over the past 15 years, became 'outraged' on the morning of January 11 when she returned to the apartment they had until recently shared to collect some belongings and clothes. She testified that Jakubowski had 'shoved her down' as she tried to gather clothes from a bedroom closet. He 'grabbed her hair and told her she could not take anything in the closet that belonged to himshe was pushed, kicked, slapped, struck with a closed fist, shoved, had her head banged, and..her hair pulled.' She estimated that she had been injured fifteen times. Jakubowski was on a signature bond at the time for driving a vehicle on a revoked license. Just three months later, on March 2 and while he was awaiting trial on the domestic abuse charges, Jakubowski was once again in the hands of law enforcement charged with resisting arrest and attempting to disarm an officer after he attempted to jump bail. In May 2008, Jakubowski wrote a letter to Judge Michael Byron pleading to be spared jail for both this offence and his earlier acts of domestic violence. In the note written in pencil, Jakubowksi claimed to be 'truly sorry' for his wrongdoings In another letter written to Judge Fitzpatrick, Jakubowski insisted that he 'could not afford' to complete the Domestic Violence Intervention Program - a condition of his rel because to do so would cost him his career. He stated that he worked six or seven days a week in construction The arresting officer reported that Jakubowski had tried to outrun him in his truck when he attempted to apprehend him after noticing his license was suspended due to unpaid tickets. In a bizarre series of events the cop noted that Jakubowski was 'holding both of his hands near his waist line in an unnatural position that led [him] to believe that the defendant may be reaching for something concealed under his coat.' On further investigation it became clear that Jakubowski was holding not a gun but a cigar which he then refused to drop when requested to do so. His eyes were 'darting around' leading the officer to believe he was 'attempting to look for an escape route.' He also 'fixed his gaze upon the officer's duty belt.' When Jakubowski tried to run, the officer brought him to the ground and in the tussle that followed Jakubowski 'grabbed upon the officer's gun and holster with both hands.' A violent altercation ensued with Jakubowski being struck several times in the face to no effect. The officer tried to used his taser but missed and both fell to the ground with Jakubowski still attempting to take the gun. When a backup officer arrived having responded to the officer's radioing for help, she removed her gun, pointed it at Jakubowski and threatened to shoot. He looked at her and said, 'Just f***ing do it.' Jakubowski was convicted of battery and domestic abuse in December 2008 following an attack on his ex-girlfriend at the they once shared She testified that Jakubowski had 'shoved her down' as she tried to gather clothes from a bedroom closet He 'grabbed her hair and told her she could not take anything in the closet that belonged to himshe was pushed, kicked, slapped, struck with a closed fist, shoved, had her head banged, and..her hair pulled' Just three months later, on March 2 and while he was awaiting trial on the domestic abuse charges, Jakubowski was once again in the hands of law enforcement charged with resisting arrest and attempting to disarm an officer after he attempted to jump bail Two months later, in May 2008, Jakubowski wrote a letter to Judge Michael Byron pleading to be spared jail for both this offence and his earlier acts of domestic violence. In the note written in pencil, Jakubowksi claimed to be 'truly sorry' for his wrongdoings. He begged for 'a chance to prove to you, myself and society that I can be a peaceful, trouble free citizen.' And dismissed his acts as 'a major slip in my life because I lost my beloved family and it hurt and still hurts deeply'. Having been jailed following the March incident, he claimed to be 'glad' to have been incarcerated as it took him away from 'the alcohol and the painful memories of my family.' He stated that he had got his 'strength and sense back' and said that he had lost everything 'half my fault, half cause the woman I love took it.' In a bizarrely dramatic plea he wrote: 'If in your mercy could you please give me my freedom with a rope to hang myself and I will prove to you and the D.A. I will use the same rope to save myself. All I'm truly asking for is help and the treatment I need so this never happens again.' As part of his sentencing on the domestic abuse charges he was compelled to take 'all Prescribed Medication.' But despite his pleas and promises to comply, three years later Jakubowski was reported by his probation officer for failing to complete the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) which was a condition of his release following the 60-day jail sentence he received. Police on Monday released pictures of Joseph Jakubowski's tattoos as they ramped up the search for the Janesville, Wisconsin man. The tattoo on the left reads 'Jigga' and the one on the right is the letters BOS In another letter written to Judge Fitzpatrick, Jakubowski insisted that he 'could not afford' to complete the DVIP because to do so would cost him his career. He stated that he worked six or seven days a week in construction. He claimed that he had changed his life around. Earlier today Jakubowski's stepfather Don McLean desperately pleaded for his stepson to give himself up. In an interview with the Associated Press, Mr, McLean expressed his fear that Jakubowski might try to commit 'suicide by cop' and said that both he and his mother, 'would rather have him alive.' On Monday, police in Rock County released pictures of Jakubowski's tattoos, nearly a week after he sent the anti-government manifesto to Trump, robbed a gun store and then disappeared. Authorities hope the pictures of his tattoos will help someone identify him and turn him in. The tattoos include the word 'true' on his right hand and the letters 'BOS' on his upper arm. He also has the word Jigga, a racial slur, on an inner forearm. He also has the word true on his right hand. He's pictured on the right in an older mug shot On the same night that he robbed the gun store, his truck was found nearby engulfed in flames, the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Police believe Jakubowski torched the truck. Before robbing the store, he had a friend film him mailing the 161-page anti-government and anti-religion manifesto to President Trump. 'Ya'll have no idea what's about to happen,' the friend warns in the clip. As Jakubowski stamps the envelope his friend says: 'You'll never forget this face, ever.' As they walk out of the post office, Jakubowski tells the camera: 'Anyone who got this letter, you might want to read it. There you see it's good s***. Revolutionary. It's time for change.' His friend says: 'It's D-day. Remember this face,' to which Jakubowski responds: 'F*** the system,' before smiling at the camera. A friend recorded Jakubowski mailing the letter to to the President. 'You'll never forget this face, ever,' the friend said Jakubowski marks the time he mailed the letter as April 4, 2017 at 5.43pm, hours before he is accused of robbing the gun store. Authorities have since located the man who filmed the video, and say he is cooperating with police. Investigators who analyzed the manifesto said it was filled with barbs directed at officials from all levels of government. They were also concerned about 'anti-religious views' in the document. 'When you look at the document that he wrote, it's really a long laundry list of injustices he believes that the government and society and the upper class have put forth onto the rest of the citizens,' Spoden said, declining to offer details. As a precaution, law enforcement officers increased their patrols at local churches and other places of worship on Sunday but no disturbances were reported, the Rock County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. A force of 150 law enforcement personnel, including Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, continued their manhunt for Jakubowski last Sunday. Security footage at a Mobil gas station shows Jakubowski almost six hours before he mailed the manifesto to President Trump The car registered to Jakubowski was found burning on a rural road not far from the gun shop he robbed after sending the letter FBI agents provide tactical support to sheriff's detectives during a search for Joseph Jakubowski, in Janesville, Wisconsin last Thursday Jakubowski is believed to be the man seen in this surveillance video of a gun shop burglary in Janesville, Wisconsin last Tuesday night Investigators say the suspect seen in this surveillance video stole 'a large quantity of high-end handguns and rifles' from the gun store The interior of Armageddon Gun Shop is shown. Police fear that Jakubowski robbed the store and may act on recent unspecified threats against schools and public officials Jakubowski's car was found burning not far from the gun shop after the robbery Jakubowski became the prime suspect in the burglary of Armageddon Gun Shop after a car registered to his name was found burning on a rural road about three miles from the store within a half hour of the break-in. Spoden said an associate of Jakubowski told authorities he had been 'agitated' by national politics and 'recently verbalized a plan to steal guns and use them in an unspecified attack.' The associate also said Jakubowski had made non-specific threats toward schools and public officials, according to the sheriff. Jakubowski, who served time in prison for trying to wrestle a gun away from a police officer, is believed to have become agitated about politics recently, authorities said. A person who knows Jakubowski said he had spoken of his plans to steal guns and stage some kind of attack, possibly at a school, Spoden said. It was unclear if Jakubowski, who according to local media was unemployed, remains in Wisconsin or if he had left the state. Federal agents were pursuing leads in other parts of the country. The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Authorities have warned people not to approach Jakubowski, calling him 'armed and dangerous.' Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). Israel Imwensi, 22, was returning from seeing Furious 7 at the cinema when he crashed his Audi A3 during a race through the Blackwall Tunnel in London last year. A Birmingham student who nearly killed his three friends in a car crash after watching Furious 7 has been spared jail. Israel Imwensi, 22, was returning from seeing the seventh instalment of The Fast and The Furious franchise at the cinema when he started racing his Audi A3 through the Blackwall Tunnel in London. The Birmingham City University student clipped an island and spun out of control into oncoming traffic, hitting a lorry head-on. He suffered leg and arm injuries in the crash on April 7 last year but his passengers - Teishan Mulholland, Evens Amisi-Fuma, and Latrelle Joseph - were left with brain injuries and broken bones. Imwensi pleaded guilty to three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, reports the Evening Standard. Sabrina Felix, defending, told Snaresbrook Crown Court: 'He gave in to this feel-good atmosphere shared with his friends and in a moment of madness started racing. 'He had just seen a movie involving cars and this is a clear proof of his lack of maturity and he almost killed his friends and himself.' He suffered leg and arm injuries in the crash on April 7 last year but his passengers - Teishan Mulholland, Evens Amisi-Fuma, and Latrelle Joseph - were left with brain injuries and broken bones Judge Robert Rhodes added: 'You saw a film about street racing and on your way home you raced someone and for some distance you sped. 'As a result of your driving you spun out of the road and hit a lorry going the other direction. Your friends were severely injured.' The busy road was closed for several hours while emergency crews worked to get the crash victims to hospital, and to allow London Air Ambulance to land. On the anniversary of the accident Imwensi posted on Facebook, calling the accident a 'day of victory' and adding: 'A traumatic experience sure, however it exposed how real my God is. 'If not for His sovereign grace and mercy today would have marked the one year anniversary of my death. 'I'm so grateful to be given a second chance at life, I just pray that the day I eventually pass away, His purpose and will for my life would have been fulfilled.' A Sacramento woman has captured the frightening moment a white cop grabbed her black friend by the throat, threw him to the ground and began punching him - for jaywalking. The video was recorded Monday in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood, when Nandi Cain Jr was filmed by his friend Naomi Montaie being attacked by the cop while walking home from work. 'I never witnessed anything like that. He just kept hitting him, and kept hitting him, and I was like, "Oh my God...why you hitting him like that? Why you hitting him like that?"' she told Fox 40. Choked: A Sacramento cop was filmed grabbing supposed jaywalker Nandi Cain Jr by the throat (right) on Monday. The cop was then filmed punching the man repeatedly in the face Things are already looking heated when the video begins, as Cain drops his jacket and stands defiantly in the road in front of the cop. Montaie, who is in the passenger seat of a car in the road, tells her 'nephew' - really just a close friend, she later said - to calm down. But it's the cop who loses his cool first. Cain remains motionless as the officer strides forward, grabs him with both hands around the throat and forces him back. The cop pushes Cain to the ground and is seen sitting on his chest and repeatedly punching him in the face as Montaie's car gets closer. The officer continues punching Cain as she gets out of the vehicle, then twists the man's arm behind his back and cuffs him as first one, then five more officers appear on the scene. 'Hey, why you beating him like that?' shouts Montaie, horrified. 'Oh Jesus! I seen this, Lord. He's breaking his arm!' 'Jaywalker': Police would only say Cain was being taken in for jaywalking. By the end of the clip several police officers have arrived on the street. Police are reportedly reviewing the video She appears to be on the verge of tears at one point. Montaie said police told her afterwards that Cain had been stopped for jaywalking. Cain's girlfriend, Antoinette Stewart, told Fox 40 that Cain, the co-manager of a TV store, was a 'goofy and spirited' man, and had never been to jail. 'I just want some answers,' she said. 'What happened?' Sacramento police told Fox 40 only that an officer had tried to stop a man for a violation at Cypress and Grand at around 5pm. It would not say what the violation was. They also wouldn't confirm Cain's identity. The department is reportedly reviewing the video. The Sacramento Police Department has been contacted by DailyMail.com for comment. The local police department's jaywalking policies - which see fines levied for those caught in the act - have been criticized as a money-making scheme since at least 2009, according to the Sacramento Press. Donald Trump declared Tuesday that a long-planned renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement will bear surprising fruit and re-energize the U.S. economy. 'NAFTA is a disaster,' the president told a room full of CEOs in Washington. 'It's been a disaster from the day it was devised.' But 'we're going to have some very pleasant surprises for you on NAFTA that I can tell you,' Trump pledged. His administration is expected to soon trigger a 90-day notice period with Congress, signaling its intention to renegotiate the 1993 trade treaty with Mexico and Canada. Also standing in his way is a slow-walk approach from Senate Democrats on the nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be Trump's U.S. Trade Representative. Scroll down for video Trust me: President Donald Trump told CEOs on Tuesday that they'll find 'pleasant surprises' at the end of the NAFTA do-over rainbow The president has bashed NAFTA as a disastrous economic treaty and is expected to soon trigger a 90-day waiting period before it can be renegotiated Democrats on the Finance Committee are demanding action on a bill protecting coal mining retirees' pensions, and nearly all of them boycotted a meeting last Thursday over the stalemate. That means Lighthizer won't likely be in his job until after May 1. Trump's other impediment is a slow-walk from Senate Democrats of U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer A draft of Trump's proposed NAFTA changes circulated around Capitol Hill last week, suggesting a milder approach than what the president telegraphed in his campaign speeches. Some Republicans were furious to learn that the president is willing to keep a provision that allows investors to use private arbitration, not sovereign courts, to resolve trade lawsuits. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said at the time that the draft document was 'not an accurate assessment of where we are.' One huge potential shift, though, would clear the way for the U.S. to institute tariffs against Canada or Mexico if a flood of imports threatens domestic manufacturers. Another would force the federal government to give preference to American vendors when procuring goods and services. The president campaigned hard on a 'Buy American and Hire American' platform. Trump told Blackstone chairman Stephen Schwarzman and other financial titans that relief from Dodd-Frank banking regulations is on the way The president joked with IBM CEO Ginny Rometty that he could give her $10 billion to replace the U.S. government's computers and still save money compared with maintenance costs He has said he sees NAFTA as a job-leaching pox on American business, and 'the worst trade deal' in U.S.' history. Trump has vowed to pull out of the pact entirely if a renegotiation doesn't shrink America's trade decifits. During Tuesday's sit-down with business leaders, the president renewed his commitment to paring back business regulations and lowering tax rates. 'Some of the things that we've done are big-league, and they are catching on,' he said, citing positive private sector job growth during his first 10 weeks in office. 'In the last two decades our nation has lost a third of its manufacturing jobs, and our business tax is one of the highest in the world,' Trump claimed. 'It actually is, of developed countries, the single highest tax anywhere in the world.' 'For too long we've punished production in America and rewarded companies for leaving our country, and we're going to reverse that.' Pointing to banking executives in the room, Trump restated his so far vague guarantee to gut regulations imposed by the 2010 Dodd-Frank law, signed by President Barack Obama as a check on Wall Street. Trump's meeting was one of a series of listening sessions with job creators from a variety of industries 'They'll be very happy,' he said of money managers, 'because we're really doing a major streamlining and perhaps elimination and replacing it with something else.' Trump claimed that the regulatory restrictions have made it harder for banks to lend to small businesses, putting a clamp on economic growth. 'We're going to put many millions of people back to work. The banks will be able to lend again,' he said. The president also said the cost of maintaining government computers, some more than four decades old, is now so high that 'we could buy a whole new system for less money.' He joked with IBM leader Ginni Rometty that he would give her $10 billion on the spot to replace the government's PCs and still save money. A Montana resident who wrote 'sexual favors' in the memo line on a check to pay his property taxes is complaining that the check hasn't been cashed. Scott Dion of the city of Havre says he sent the check for $745.77 to the local treasurer last November. Dion told the Billings Gazette that tax checks he sent in the past with similar memo line notes have been cashed. A Montana resident who wrote 'sexual favors' in the memo line on a check to pay his property taxes is complaining that the check hasn't been cashed (stock) Dion's lawyer Jamie Young sent a February letter to Hill County Treasurer Sandy Brown, saying that not cashing Dion's check amounts to official misconduct and the treasurer should be prosecuted. Young's follow-up letter in March was quoted as saying: 'There is no exception under the law permitting Ms. Brown to refuse to perform her duties because she is offended by Mr. Dion's personal memo.' County Attorney Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson declined to comment on Dion's situation specifically. However, she said in general the treasurer can't cash a check if it isn't clear what the funds should be applied to. Dion told the Billings Gazette he will dig up older cashed checks with memos that were cashed. He also indicated that an earlier tax check from last year with 'bull****' in the memo line was cashed. A sadomasochist tortured a woman with a home-made 'shocker', sending 240 volts through her vagina while she was strapped to a wooden board, a court was told. The alleged victim, 27, told police the sexual antics of Keiren Batten went much further than anything featured in the infamous Fifty Shades of Grey film and novels. She revealed how she went along with the wishes of Batten, 43, after he told her she was 'boring in bed'. The jury was told by prosecutor Simon Wilshire that the controlling and dominant Batten was 'obsessed with sadomasochistic sexual practices'. The alleged victim, 27, said the bondage-based antics of Keiren Batten went much further than anything the characters in the Fifty Shades of Grey film (shown) got up to 'He used her to satisfy his physical, dangerous sexual desires [with] bondage, sadism and restraint,' he told Cambridge Crown Court. It is claimed that Batten, of Hitchin, Herts, introduced a home-made electrical shocking device into their sex life. The alleged victim says she consented the first time - in which the device was attached to her nipples - as she was unaware of what the pain would be like. But the prosecutor said that when she realised what it was like she told him it was a 'step too far' and she never wanted to do it again. Mr Wilshire said that on a later occasion she allowed Batten to attach it to her vagina after he said he would not switch on the electricity. However is alleged he then went back on his word and turned on the current. In her video-taped police interview, the young woman explained how the pair's kinky sex life began. She said: 'It started with dressing gown cords and my arms tied to the end of the bed, like Fifty Shades of Grey but then it got further and further and I felt really uncomfortable but I just took it because he said I was boring.' 'I have never done that with anyone. He didn't do it out of nastiness but it would progress. He would bring like camping rope, proper thick rope. 'Then he brought the board and told me what it was for. I thought he was having a laugh but no, he was pretty serious. A sadomasochist tortured a woman with a home-made 'shocker', sending 240 volts through her vagina while she was strapped to a restraint board, Cambridge Crown Court was told 'The first few times he put me on it, it was not horrible at all. I felt brave enough to go on it. Like whipping, to give pleasure, not pain.' The woman said the wooden bondage board was about six foot long. 'I would be strapped down, arms tied to screws in the board and there are silver metal chains which cut into your wrists. And you would be tied around the waist.' The jury heard that Batten sometimes whipped her 'black and blue'. He had paddle whips and implements with metal spikes which left 'pinprick holes'. The alleged incident in 2014 which led to the charge of sexual assault relating to electrocution of her genitals began when Batten brought what he called a 'shocker'. The witness said: 'It's basically a plug with a lamp lead. It goes into the mains and the wires are split off with crocodile clips. 'The first time it was on the breasts. I was face down on the board. It bruised my hips where I jumped and slammed down on the board.' She described feeling scared about what he was going to do while she was tied down. Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in the film adaption of Fifty Shades of Grey, an erotic novel by EL James 'He turned it on and I just caught my breath because you think you are going to die. I have never experienced anything so hideous in my life. 'I never went on the board again. After that "I was rubbish in bed" and "everybody else was better", "I was just a prude".' The witness said: 'He calls it a torture and it is torture really. As I got a bit braver I said no and that's when he got bored and went elsewhere.' She described Batten as someone who 'cheated countless times'. Batten denies sexual assault and two offences of common assault involving an alleged head butt and a push during arguments. The woman went to the police to complain he was harassing her after she stopped seeing him and the alleged sexual assault emerged during interview. In his defence, Batten claims that the woman never went on the board and that the sex was consensual. He says he was the one on the board and the clips were attached to him, not her. The trial continues. Hotel housekeeper Pardeep Kaur, 30, was raped and murdered on October 17 last year A homeless man, who murdered a hotel worker and dumped her body under a bridge, faces life in prison. Vadims Ruskuls, 25, was captured on CCTV following 30 year-old Indian-born Pardeep Kaur as she made her way to the Sheraton Skyline Hotel near London's Heathrow Airport. He sexually assaulted her before dragging her half-naked body to waste land between the M4 motorway and a pedestrian walkway in Hayes, west London, and covering it with tree branches. Pardeep's disappearance at first caused suspicion to fall on her husband, Rachpal Singh, who initially lied to police because he was working illegally at Fresh Foods. Her body was found a week later stuffed inside a sleeping bag and Ruskul's DNA was recovered from under her fingernails as a result of her scratching his face in an attempt to fight back. Ruskuls, thought to have come to the UK at least three years ago, had been sleeping rough under the nearby Harlington Bridge with his mother after splitting up with his wife. He refused to cooperate with his legal team or give evidence at trial and was convicted of murder after a trial lasting just four days. Ruskuls did not react as the jury's verdict was read out. The Common Serjeant of London, judge Richard Marks QC will pass sentence at 10am tomorrow morning. The Old Bailey heard Mrs Kaur worked long hours, six days a week, at the Sheraton so she could send money back to her five year-old daughter in India. She used used to walk the 40-minute journey to work each day to avoid spending money on bus fare and on 17 October last year set off from her home in Hayes while it was still dark. CCTV cameras captured Mrs Kaur as she made her way to the pedestrian walkway under Harlington Bridge to cross the M4 at 6.33am. The area around the walkway was described in court as a 'bleak spot' used by rough-sleepers, drunks and drug addicts. Ruskuls was seen on CCTV at the same time as Mrs Kaur and was captured on film 25 mintues later dragging her body back down the ramp in the direction of the woodland where it was eventually found. Mr Singh, who married Mrs Kaur in 2009 and came to the UK with her in 2011, reported her missing when she did not return home that evening. He became the prime suspect when he lied about his movements and transferred 1,000 of his wages into the account of a friend in an attempt to conceal he was working illegally. But an examination of Mrs Kaur's mobile phone data revealed an unanswered call from her supervisor had been picked up by a mast next to the M4 motorway at 7.45am - some 45 minutes after she was due to start work. On 22 October officers spotted a human foot sticking out from beneath a sleeping bag covered with branches during a a search of woodland on the Hayes side of the motorway. CCTV shows the mother-of-one being followed by a stooped man who appeared to stagger around in the street Mrs Kaur's body was so badly decomposed the pathologist who conducted the post mortem examination had been unable to identify precisely how she died. They were also unable to say whether she had been sexually assaulted, although she was naked from the waist down and her top had been pulled up to expose her breasts. Her missing clothes were later found strewn across the area. Ruskuls had in fact been arrested less than 24 hours after the killing when he tried to get into the home of Ita and Daniel Baxter in Colbrook Avenue, Hayes. Mrs Baxter noticed a shadow on the other side of her front door and saw the handle of the front door being lifted up and down when she got out of bed to get a glass of water at around 1.30am on 18 October. Mr Baxter opened the door and found Ruskuls pointing at their car and saying something like 'bumper, bumper'. Ruskuls was barefoot and 'looked looking like he had been dragged through a hedge' because of scratches to his face. Mrs Kaur (pictured in CCTV) was reported missing by her husband when she failed to return home from the Sheraton Skyline Hotel in Harlington, Middlesex Police apprehended him a few minutes later but assumed he was drunk and offered him a lift home after he gave them the old address of a friend in Dominion Close, Hounslow. They returned to the address on 29 October after matching his description to the CCTV of the man dragging Mrs Kaur's body. When they found no trace of him, they managed to track down his mother who was living under the flyover. Ruskuls handed himself in to Slough police station on 31 October after his mother told him police were looking for him. His DNA was matched to traces found on Mrs Kaur's ankle and bra cup, on swabs taken from beneath her finger nails and on one of the branches used to cover the body. Ruskuls has been in the UK since at least April 2014 when he met Zane Elerte Rukule, a 36-year-old mother of three. He married her and moved in with her family in Feltham but the relationship ended in August 2015 and he began sleeping rough. Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC described the murder as a 'truly shocking crime'. 'The defendant must have pounced on Pardeep Kaur at some point on the ramp, sexually assaulted her and murdered her. 'There is some evidence that Mrs Kaur must have fought back. 'If she had cried out, however, her screams would have been drowned out by the sound of the early morning traffic. 'Pardeep Kaur cannot have just dropped down dead and then been hastily buried in the woods by a passing stranger. 'It is obvious, you may think, that Pardeep Kaur was murdered.' Ruskuls, of no fixed address, denied but was convicted of murder. The White House is accusing Russia's president of spreading false information about the chemical weapons attack last week in Syria. Vladimir Putin claimed the Assad regime is being framed for the gas attacks and he has intelligence that 'some kind of substance' will be used in Damascus again. 'We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using it,' Putin said after he was asked about further American missile strikes. Senior White House officials said Tuesday they are 'very confident' that the attack was not committed by non-state actors, however. 'I think it's clear that the Russians are trying to cover up what happened,' one said. Scroll down for video The White House is accusing Russia's president of spreading false information about the chemical weapons attack last week in Syria Another White House official at the briefing suggested that Russia was complicit in the sarin gas assault because its troops are embedded with Syria's. The official would not charge Russia with active involvement in the attack yet noted that the two countries' militaries have been operating 'closely' together for the better part of two years and have a relationship that goes back more than a decade. 'We do think that it is a question worth asking the Russians about how is it possible that their forces were co-locate with the Syrian forces that planned, prepared and carried out the chemical weapons attack at the same installation and did not have fore knowledge,' the official said. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Russia currently. He's scheduled to see Putin on Wednesday, Russian television network RBC reported. The White House held a briefing on the Russia's claims about what happened in Syria ahead of his meetings tomorrow with the Kremlin. 'This is an opportunity for the Russians to choose to stop the disinformation campaign,' an official said of Tillerson's trip. Putin has continued to deny that Assad's regime was behind last week's attack in Idlib which killed 87, saying Russia will be calling on the United Nations to investigate. Putin said he will be calling on the United Nation to investigate the strike on Khan Sheikhoun which killed 87 civilians, saying there is no evidence that Assad is to blame, even though the White House says there is At a news conference on Tuesday he likened last week's use of chemical weapons to the supposed existence of weapons of mass destruction that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. 'This ended with the country's destruction, with the growth of the terrorist threat and the appearance of the Islamic State on the international stage, no more, no less.' Putin confirmed that Russia will urgently ask the global chemical weapons watchdog - the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - to investigate Idlib. White House officials said Tuesday afternoon that they'd welcome an OPCW review. US officials expressed a 'very high degree of confidence' that Assad was responsible for the chemical weapons attack that Russia had previously claimed was an accident. The chemicals spread after Syrian forces struck a terrorist warehouse filled with toxins, Putin's government had previously said. 'We think that the information is inconsistent with that narrative,' an official said. 'We don't see a building, again, with that chemical residue that we would expect if that Russian narrative was true.' Putin likened the gas attack last week, which prompted Trump to launch cruise missiles into Syria, to the weapons of mass destruction that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 Russia has defended the Syrian government, a staunch ally, against U.S. allegations it was behind the attack, saying there is no evidence to underpin such an accusation. The US says there's no evidence to contradict its assertions that the attack was carried out by Assad's army. Sergei Rudskoy, of the Russian General Staff, added that Syrian government is willing to let international experts to examine the airbase in Shayrat, which was bombed by Trump, for signs of chemical weapons. Russia will provide security for the visit, according to Rudskoy. The White House urged the international community to get behind an OPCW investigation, as well. 'We are very confident that terrorists or non-state actors did not commit this particular attack. We are confident as well that these terrorists or rebels do not have sarin, so they would not be able to conduct a follow on attack of this sort given that...they did not conduct the first one.' Putin's comments came as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson landed in Moscow for talks, having earlier called on Russia to drop its support for Assad and Hezbollah Earlier on Tuesday, Tillerson spoke to a meeting of G7 leader in Italy, saying at the time had come for Russia to abandon its support for the likes of Assad and Hezbollah. In response, Putin said Moscow would tolerate Western criticism of its role in Syria but hoped that attitudes would eventually soften. Elsewhere on Tuesday Turkey confirmed that sarin gas was used on Syrian civilians. Analysis of blood and urine samples from the attack in the northwestern Idlib province proved the use of the gas, experts stated. Turkish health minster Recep Akdag told state-run news agency Anadolu: 'It has been identified that sarin gas was used.' Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria. Officials from the World Health Organization and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies. Security: Transport minister Marc Garneau (pictured) said the country was applying 'increased security measures' for flights from certain countries Canada is implementing new security measures for air travelers from certain countries, it emerged on Tuesday - although which citizens would be affected, and how, remains a mystery. 'I did put in place some measures to increase security for flights coming from certain countries where the destination was Canada,' transport minister Marc Garneau said. 'I am not in a position to tell you from where, for obvious security reasons, and I'm not in a position to tell you, specifically, the measures, either.' He added: 'And you will understand, for security reasons, we do not talk about these things.' A Canadian spokeswoman said the measures 'will not affect the passengers' on affected flights. But she would not say when the measures were put in place or what flights they target. 'Similar measures of varying levels have been in place for several years and are assessed on a regular basis,' she wrote in an email. Canada's move comes after the US and Britain last month banned some devices on plains coming from eight Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The country had weighed up introducing a similar policy, but Garneau said Tuesday that Canada has no plans to restrict laptop computers on planes entering the country. The measures, based on 'evaluation of risk' will be in place for the foreseeable future, Global News reported. Unknown: It's also not known how the new security measures will affect passengers, but officials said 'similar' measures had been in place 'for several years' And on Monday, as America reeled from video of a passenger's brutal ejection from a United plane, Garneau said a new bill would deal with the problem of people being bumped from flights due to overbooking. Garneau referenced the video, which showed Dr David Dao being violently dragged off a United plane, when speaking to press, The Globe and Mail reported. 'I certainly have seen what happened in the case of the United Airlines flight and that is why last November I announced that we would be putting in place what we call a regime of rights for passengers,' he said. 'We recognize that when a passenger books a ticket, they are entitled to certain rights.' The bill of rights will also lay out minimum compensation requirements for oversold flights and lost luggage. Press Secretary Sean Spicer went on CNN to fight for his job after favorably comparing Adolf Hitler with Bashar al-Assad at today's White House briefing. Spicer had said unlike the Syrian strongman, the 1940s Nazi dictator 'didn't even sink to ... using chemical weapons,' leaving reporters in disbelief and causing some critics to call for his head. 'I apologize, it was a mistake to do that,' Spicer said to the network's Wolf Blitzer, whose own parents survived the Holocaust. Blitzer's paternal grandparents were killed by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Scroll down for video Press Secretary Sean Spicer (pictured) went on CNN this afternoon to apologize for comments he made comparing Hitler, more favorably, to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad Press Secretary Sean Spicer (right) made his apology to CNN's Wolf Blitzer (left), whose paternal grandparents perished at Auschwitz and whose parents survived the Holocaust Horror show: White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer left the briefing room in stunned silence Tuesday when he claimed Adolf Hitler never used chemical weapons Hitler was responsible for the genocidal extermination of more than 6 million jews in gas chambers like the one at Auschwitz-Birkenau (left), using cyanide-based Zyklon B gas Auschwitz concentration camp victims, mostly Jews, were worked and starved tens of thousands at a time, and then gassed in large groups before their bodies were incinerated President Trump's spokesman explained that he was attempting to 'make a point about the heinous acts Assad had made against his own people last week using chemical weapons' when he made an 'inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust.' 'Which, frankly, there is no comparison,' Spicer said. During the briefing itself, one shocked reporter tried saving Spicer from himself, reminding the top spokesman that Hitler used poison gas to exterminate millions of Jews. Another gamely scribe gave him a chance to sputter through a clarification. Asked by Blitzer if he was aware that Jews had been gassed during Hitler's reign, Spicer said yes. 'Yes, clearly I'm aware of that,' Spicer said. The embarrassing gaffe came as about six million American Jews and millions more around the world celebrate Passover. Spicer noted the holiday in his apology as well. 'There's really is no explaining it at this point,' he said. 'It's just to say that especially this week, it was not something that was appropriate.' Asked by Blitzer, who, exactly he was apologizing to, Spicer said, 'Well, clearly, anybody who not just suffered in the holocaust or is a descendant of anybody, but frankly anyone who was offended by those comments.' Then, in another verbal hiccup, the spokesman said he hadn't meant to be a distraction as Trump tried to 'destabilize the region,' pointing to Syria and the Middle East. 'I should have stayed focused on the Assad regime and the dangers they have brought to their own people and the terrible atrocities that they did,' Spicer said. 'And to drag any other comparison into this was not appropriate.' Later he properly said the the US wanted stability in the region. Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad used sarin gas, a nerve agent created in Nazi Germany, to attack civilians last week amid an increasingly vicious civil war Hitler primarily used Zyklon B, a powerful cyanide gas, to exterminate Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, priests, political dissidents and other enemies of the state. Describing that historical horror, Spicer declared that Hitler 'was not using the gas on his own people.' Within an hour the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, a group linked loosely with the famed girl diarist, demanded Spicer's removal as it claimed he 'engaged in Holocaust denial, the most offensive form of fake news imaginable.' Assad deployed sarin gas, a chemical nerve toxin, against Syrian civilians last week in the latest atrocity to mar the Middle Eastern country's lengthy civil war. Spicer has been eager to condemn him, and equally enthusiastic about urging Russian president Vladimir Putin to break Moscow's 60-year military alliance with Damascus. 'You look we didn't use chemical weapons in World War II,' Spicer told reporters on Tuesday. 'You know, you had a you know, someone as despicable as Hitler, who didn't even sink to ... using chemical weapons.' 'So you have to if you're Russia, is this a country that you, and a regime that you want to align yourself with?' he asked in progressively more halting, choppy English. The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, a social justice group loosely tied to the late Anne Frank, called on President Donald Trump to fire Spicer shortly after he said Adolf Hitler had never used chemical weapons Twitter was awash with fury, rage and snark as members of Congress and a former first daughter took the opportunity to pillory Spicer Secretary of Defense James Mattis (left) told reporters that in the Nazi World War II era, chemical weapons weren't used 'on battlefields' Reactions in Washington were fast and furious. 'Someone get @PressSec a refresher history course on Hitler stat #Icantbelievehereallysaidthat,' wrote Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, who is Jewish. 'Never thought I would say this,' added California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, 'but Sean Spicer should go back to talking about crowd size at the inauguration.' And Chelsea Clinton, the former first daughter, sniped at Spicer: 'I hope @PressSec takes time to visit @HolocaustMuseum. It's a few blocks away.' But in a briefing at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary James Mattis seemed to defend the president's spokesman. 'Even in World War II, chemical weapons were not used on battlefields,' Mattis told reporters. 'Even in the Korean War, they were not used on battlefields.' 'Since World War I, there's been an international convention on this and to stand idly by while that convention is violated that is what we had to take action on that urgently in our own vital interest.' Assad's victims included children and babies, the sight of whom was said to have driven U.S. President Donald Trump to take military action against a Syrian airbase Hitler's victims included women, children and the infirm too many millions for post-war investigators to count Who's the bigger monster? Hitler (left) killed far more innocent victims than assad (right), but Spicer incorrectly gave the Nazi dictator credit for at least not gassing his own people Moments after Spicer put his foot in his mouth, he tried to charm his way past a briefing room full of slack-jawed journalists by fielding a softball query about the annual White House Easter Egg Roll event. 'I think we're going to have an egg-celent time,' Spicer quipped, drawing audible groans. 'Oh come on!' he joked. 'You can't ask the question and not get the answer.' But minutes later the groans turned to gasps when President Donald Trump's chief spokesman was asked to defend what he'd said about the genocidal Nazi regime. 'He was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Ashad [sic] is doing,' Spicer said of Hitler, mangling Assad's name in the process. At another point on Tuesday, the Syrian ruler's name became 'Bassad al-Ashar.' Apparently @seanspicer thinks concentration camps were called "Holocaust centers"?? pic.twitter.com/1X8QYWTffq Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) April 11, 2017 But as the air momentarily left the White House briefing room and one reporter yelled that the White House was neglecting Hitler's Jewish victims Spicer reached peak sputter. 'I mean, there was clearly I understand, I mean thank you I appreciate that there was not in the,' he stammered. Hitler had 'brought them into the Holocaust centers,' Spicer acknowledged. 'And I understand that.' 'But I'm saying in the way that Assad used them, where he went into towns, dropped them down to innocent, into the middle of towns, it was brought and so, the use of it, I appreciate the clarification. That was not the intent.' Spicer issued a statement after the Tuesday briefing in which he insisted: 'In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust' Not just Auschwitz: This Nazi gas chamber was in use at the Dachau concentration camp in Germany After the daily press briefing concluded, the White House issued a series of three different statements from Spicer, each meant to replace the last. 'In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust,' he insisted in the final draft. 'I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable.' Sarin was itself a product of Nazi Germany, invented as an experimental pesticide in 1939. Hitler's Reich quickly moved it into military mass-production, although it never deployed it against his Western enemies. There were reports in 1942, however, that Nazi armies used chemical weapons against Soviet forces during a siege in the Crimea, gassing thousands huddled in subterranean caves carved out of a quarry near the town of Adzhimushkay. Online reactions to Spicer's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad briefing ranged from shocking to mocking. New York Times columnist Max Fisher tried to put himself in the Trump spokesman's head. 'Spicers internal monologue: "Hmm, I need to argue that Assad is bad. Guess its time to downplay Hitler for some reason",' Fisher tweeted. 'My relatives didn't die in Holocaust Centers,' a social media manager at Random House Books wrote on twitter. '[T]hey died in Concentration Camps.' A grandmother has been found decapitated in a garage after a shocking attack as she was running errands with her young grandson. Rachael Christina Hilyard, 35, was arrested on suspicion of first degree murder Sunday, when police discovered the decapitated body of Micki Davis, 63, in her Wichita, Kansas garage. On Sunday afternoon, Davis and her grandson had gone over to pick up some of her son's belongings from Hilyard, an ex-girlfriend who used to date the son, according to police. Shortly after they arrived, a woman began viciously assaulting the grandmother in front of the nine-year-old boy, who fled in terror, Wichita police lieutenant Todd Ojile said in a press conference. Scroll down for video Grandmother Micki Davis (left) was found decapitated in a garage on Sunday. Rachael Hilyard, (right) the ex-girlfriend of Davis' son, has been arrested in the gruesome murder Hilyard made a series of unsettling posts on Facebook in the week leading up to the murder Hilyard reportedly suffered brain injuries in a car crash several years ago. She is being held pending $200,000 bail in the Wichita, Kansas murder The quick-thinking boy managed to grab a phone from his grandmother's truck, and called police around 1.30pm, police said. Police found the terrified child on his own nearly half a mile away, and the boy bravely led them back to point out the house he'd fled from. When nobody answered the door, officers checked the home's attached garage and made a gruesome discovery. Davis had been decapitated with some kind of knife, and no other injuries were immediately apparent, police said. Cops found Hilyard hiding inside the residence and took her into custody. In the days leading up to the murder, Hilyard made a series of bizarre posts on Facebook referencing serial murder and beheadings. 'Well this is how it feels to be insane. & i must say that i don't like it,' she wrote one week before Davis was killed. Hilyard wrote two poems posted Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, both of which seem to reference fears of having her own head cut off by 'they' or 'them' This late night post seems to be a joke, but took on disturbing new context after the murder 'They can try to cut my head off,' she wrote in verse on Wednesday evening, 'But what im sure/They don't know/Is that i knew more than you.' 'Well my Psychopathic Serial Killers for beginners in training class is over for the day...."whew" now for homework time or what kids?' another post after midnight reads. 'Please don't let them cut my head off,' yet another post an hour later reads. Hilyard was in a car crash several years ago that left her with brain injuries, according to friends of the woman cited by The Daily Haze. Court records show that Hilyard faces separate pending charges of trespassing, assault, obstruction, and trespassing in connection with unknown circumstances. She is being held pending $200,000 bail for the murder charge. 'Seriously troubled woman,' Hilyard's former roommate Jenn Wade wrote in a Facebook post after hearing news of the murder allegations. 'She had some serious mental issues going on, and I tried to reach out to her recently. I hope she gets help. So sad.' Suicidal: Steve Biggs, 53, the manager of Christiansburg, Virginia, shot himself after a four-hour standoff with police on Tuesday morning after being the subject of harassment allegations The newly hired town manager of Christiansburg, Virginia, shot himself in the head Tuesday morning, just over a month after a woman went to court accusing him of harassment. Police arrived at Steve Biggs apartment at around midnight after getting a 911 call, and made their way inside the residence after hearing a gunshot about four hours later. Biggs, 53, was flown to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries from the apparently self-inflicted gunshot, town officials said. Court documents indicate that a 23-year-old Christiansburg woman filed a complaint against Biggs last month, claiming he had always been obsessive toward her, and had begun harassing her and sending her hateful text messages. A judge issued a three-day emergency protective order against Biggs on March 8, but declined to grant a subsequent 15-day protective order after holding a hearing, court records show. State police also conducted an investigation into the womans claims, but Montgomery County's prosecutors found no probable cause to charge Biggs with stalking or any other crime. The protective order was first reported by The Roanoke Times. In her complaint, the woman claimed, among other things, that Biggs was using his position to look up her friends and had threatened one of them. She alleged that the married town official would tell her he 'loved' her and try to bring her gifts, but sometimes he would text her insults, calling her a 'piece of s***.' Biggs denied that he harassed the woman in interviews with the Roanoke Times last week and on Monday. Town police and Montgomery County sheriff's deputies responded to Biggs' apartment on Montague Street after midnight after getting a 911 call He said the two had a friendly relationship and he gave her financial help. He said the woman was simply offended by his comments. I offended ... I never threatened, he told the newspaper Monday. In court documents, Biggs accused the woman of seeking to discredit and undermine his standing professionally and in the community. Before coming to the southeastern Virginia community of under 22,000 inhabitants in July, the married father-of-three served for nearly two decades as town manager in Clayton, North Carolina. Clayton Deputy Town Manager Nancy Medlin, who worked with Biggs for about 17 years, said he was looking for a new challenge in Christiansburg. She said his wife remained behind in Clayton so that their youngest daughter could finish high school there. Medlin described Biggs as a real family man and great friend who is passionate about his work. She said she communicated with him periodically since he left North Carolina, and he seemed happy. I'm in shock this morning along with everyone else, she said. Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod told the News & Observer that he was shocked and saddened by the news. Veteran public servant: Biggs had served for nearly two decades as town manager in Clayton, North Carolina, before he was hired by Christiansburg in July Biggs, pictured in this undated photo frokm his days in North Carolina, has a wife and three children who still live in Clayton Shortly after midnight Tuesday, an emergency dispatch center got a 911 call about a possibly suicidal person at 10 Montague Street. Town police and Montgomery County sheriff's deputies tried to make contact with Steve Biggs and evacuated nearby homes as a precaution. At around 3.54am, a gunshot was heard in the apartment, prompting responding officers to enter Biggs' home, where they found the 53-year-old man suffering from a bullet wound to the head. There was no word on his condition Tuesday afternoon. Christiansburg Mayor Mike Barber released a statement on Tuesday afternoon praising Biggs for energizing the town and saying that the community is still reeling from the news and keeping the town manager and his family in their prayers. Javier Sotomayor was arrested for allegedly filming a naked woman in a tanning salon Police have arrested a man accused of hiding a camera in a tanning booth in order to film a naked woman. Javier Sotomayor, 36, was arrested for allegedly filming a woman at Zoom Tan in Miami, Florida. He was charged with video voyeurism Saturday. Sotomayor was caught after the victim noticed a cellphone camera pointing up from a crevice between her room and the room next door, according to the Miami Herald. After the tanning session, she went outside her booth to wait for the perpetrator. She confronted Sotomayor, who ignored her, then she filmed him leaving the salon. The unnamed woman called the police and videotaped the suspect who wandered around the strip mall before returning to the salon parking lot. His phone was impounded as evidence and police intend to issue a search warrant for his home. If convicted of video voyeurism, Sotomayor could be sentenced up to five years in prison. Defense Secretary James Mattis pledged that the U.S.'s recent military involvement in Syria will not lead to a war with Russia, which has backed Bashar al-Assad's regime. 'It will not spiral out of control,' Mattis said during a press conference at the Pentagon today. 'As you know, Secretary Tillerson is in Moscow. We maintain communications with the Russian military and with the diplomatic channels,' the defense secretary said. 'It will not spiral out of control,' he repeated. Mattis, sitting alongside the commander of US Central Command Joseph Votel, started out the news conference by pointing fingers exclusively at Assad's regime when saying who was responsible for last week's sarin attack. Defense Secretary James Mattis (left), flanked by Gen. Joseph Votel (right), promised that the U.S.'s recent involvement in Syria won't 'spiral out of control' into a war with Russia Secretary of Defense James Mattis (left) and US Central Command Commander Joseph Votel (right) spoke to reporters from the Pentagon today Defense Secretary James Mattis (left) said that there was 'no doubt' the Syrian regime was responsible for last week's deadly sarin attack, which led the US to react militarily James Mattis said he didn't believe Syrian involvement would 'spiral out of control' and turn into an armed conflict with Russia because it's not in the Kremlin's best interest 'I have personally reviewed the intelligence and there is no doubt the Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and the attack itself,' Mattis said at the beginning of the presser. When asked about Russian complicity in the deadly chemical attack, Mattis said the intelligence only supports the current conclusion that the Syrian government is to blame. 'And beyond that we cannot say right now,' the general noted. 'We don't know anything beyond that.' Mattis said the US made sure that no Russians were injured during Thursday's attack in which missiles were targeted at 59 locations at a Syrian air base, and 57 were hit, Votel noted. The attack took out 20 aircraft, Mattis suggested, though said he probably shouldn't have initially used the figure of 20 percent of the Syrian air force, as that statistic is difficult to verify. 'The Syrian air force is not in good shape, it's been worn down by years of combat plus significant maintenance problems,' the defense secretary explained. Several times, Mattis noted that the attack was a one-off and did not signal a change of strategy in Syria overall. 'It was not a harbinger of some kind of change in our military campaign,' Mattis said, explaining that the No. 1 goal of the US in Syria is still the defeat of ISIS. 'ISIS is in our crosshairs,' Mattis said. A potential war with Russia was brought up when a reporter asked about red lines, as both Russia and Iran warned the US government that they would attack if 'red lines' were crossed in Syria again. The red line being the US's missile strike. 'I don't believe I've talked about red lines, I generally shy away from it myself,' Mattis said. 'I recommend Assad be rather cautious of violating international law with chemical weapons, I suppose that can be considered a red line,' he added, before vowing things wouldn't get out of control with the Russians. When asked how he knew that Syria wouldn't result in a Russia versus US military tangle, Mattis pointed out what would be best for the Kremlin. 'I'm confident the Russians will act in their own best interest and there's nothing in their own best interest to say they want this situation to go out of control,' Mattis said. Europlacer Extends Direct Support in Europe Published: 11 April 2017 by Mike Buetow by Mike Buetow Blakell Europlacer International Limited is excited to announce an enhancement to its infrastructure in Europe, with new resources now in place to fully support activities directly in Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia. The company recently expanded its sales and customer support teams based at a new direct office in Trieste, Italy (Europlacer Italia Srl). Now the business, which has been well established in the region for more than a decade, is extending its Trieste operation to directly address the support needs of the Slovenian, Serbian and Croatian territories. We have a very strong installed base in these countries, explains Europlacer International Sales Manager, Stephen Farragher. Thanks to our continued growth in the Italian market, and the proximity of the Trieste office to these neighbours, it makes strategic sense to capitalise on these resources to deliver the exemplary service these customers require. Farragher knows that his team of professionals will match the high levels of service for which Europlacer is known and for which it has won a succession of prestigious industry awards. Our drive to expand our direct sales and support network infrastructure globally is working extremely well for us; this initiative is a natural continuation of that highly-effective strategy. Ebba Akerlund, 11, was killed as she walked home from school An 11-year-old girl who was walking home from school has been named as the latest victim of last Friday's jihadi atrocity in Stockholm. Schoolgirl Ebba Akerlund went missing in the panic which ensued when a terrorist mowed down innocent pedestrians in one of the Swedish capital's busiest shopping districts. The 11-year-old's grief stricken family launched a desperate social media appeal to find her after the atrocity - but tonight confirmed she was killed as she walked home. According to local media, Ebba's family are understood to have found out on Saturday she was one of the victims killed in the horrifying attack. In a statement, Ebba's family said: 'With all our heart we thank the Swedish people for all the warmth and love you have given us in a time of despair and pain. 'We now need peace and quiet to process our grief and ask for your understanding that we need to do it in peace.' Her family said Ebba knew the route well, and would take the bus from school to central Stockholm in the afternoons, before switching to the subway and continuing back to her parents' home. The 11-year-old's grief stricken family launched a desperate social media appeal to find her after the atrocity - but tonight confirmed she was killed as she walked home Ebba's photograph was shared across social media when she didn't arrive home last Friday. A failed asylum seeker who has professed his support for Islamic State today admitted carrying out last weeks terror attack in Stockholm. Rakhmat Akilov, 39, said he was responsible for the rampage in which four people were killed. The other three victims in the terrorist attack have been named as Lena Wahlberg, 69, from Sweden, Chris Bevington, 41, from Britain and Mailys Dereymaeker, 31, from Belgium. The construction worker from Uzbekistan was being sought by deportation officers when he used a hijacked 30-ton beer truck to mow down pedestrians on the Swedish capitals main shopping street. After being arrested, he allegedly told police that he had plotted the attack as revenge for the bombing in Syria. The scene of the terror attack in Stockholm has since been flooded with floral tributes Rakhmat Akilov, 39, said he was responsible for the rampage in which four people were killed He also left 15 wounded after ploughing a stolen beer truck through crowds of people in one of the Swedish capital's busiest shopping districts. Pictured, members of the public lay flowers at the scene Akilov also told authorities of his ISIS sympathies. He has previously expressed support for extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. The suspect appeared in a Stockholm District Court today, where his lawyer Johan Eriksson said: His position is that he admits to a terrorist crime and accepts therefore that he will be detained. A trial may not take place for another year as authorities try to determine if he was acting as part of a terror cell. A Swedish prosecutor demanded that Akilov remain in custody under maximum restrictions. Under the conditions, he would be kept in solitary confinement without access to television or internet and will not be allowed to communicate with the outside world. The doctor dragged off a United plane in scenes which created global outrage said through lawyers Tuesday that he is still in hospital. In a sign that he is planning to sue the airline in a case, David Dao issued a statement through two prominent firms of Chicago attorneys - one specializing in personal injury, the other which deals in corporate governance. The medic, in internist, was accused of refusing to give up his seat on Sunday's United Express flight UA3411 flight from Chicago to Louisville, close to his home, for the airline's staff. Cellphone footage of the Vietnamese-born grandfather's ejection has caused an uproar with critics claiming officers were heavy-handed in taking the senior from the flight. The move ups the pressure on United Airlines, which has seen its share price plunge and its chief executive make three attempts at an apology in the face of mounting public anger at how the 69-year-old grandfather was treated. His own troubled past has been revealed in official documents - including his felony drugs conviction and need for 'anger management' and that is likely to form a major part of United Airlines' legal defense if there were to be a trial, although using it would open a fresh P.R. nightmare for the carrier. Even the White House voiced disquiet at the 'disturbing' video and said the president is 'sure' to have seen it. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Dr David Dao has been revealed as the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and their grandchildren. It was his wife who alerted authorities to his inappropriate relationship with a patient Meet the team: Dr. David Dao has hired Stephen Golan (left) a corporate law specialist, and Thomas Demetrio (right), a personal injury specialist, in a sign of United facing a major lawsuit Dr David Dao has been revealed as the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and one of their grandchildren. It was his wife who alerted authorities to his inappropriate relationship with a patient Beaten and bloodied: Dr Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare Screaming: The man who had refused to to give up his seat on the overbooked United flight from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday night was dragged off the plane by three cops What United claimed: The document attached to his passenger file which claimed Dr David Dao, 69, a grandfather, had tried to strike police officers In the statement, his newly hired attorney Stephen Golan, said: 'The family of Dr. Dao wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received. 'Currently, they are focused only on Dr. Daos medical care and treatment.' The statement said he was still 'undergoing treatment in a Chicago hospital for his injuries' - a suggestion that the severity of his injuries is even more severe than had been realized when he was seen, bloodied, in video footage of the incident. The doctor himself spoke briefly to WLKY and told them 'everything' was injured. Golan is a specialist attorney in company law, including corporate law and governance. The other attorney hired, Thomas Demetrio, is a partner at Corby & Demetrio, which tells potential clients that it has achieved total compensation payments of more than $1 billion for those it represents. WHAT THE PSYCHIATRIST FOUND An official report detailed the findings of medical exams performed on Dr Dao and spelled out concerns over his mental state. A court case brought by him would inevitably have to consider whether the documents could be used by United. Among the findings were: Dr. Mary Gannon 'noted that Dr. Dao "lacked the foundation to navigate difficult situations, both interpersonally and in a complex profession". Dr.Gannon noted a need to control, avoidance, withholding information and magical thinking as problematic.' The report went on: 'Dr. Montgomery noted that Dr. Dao appeared to have difficulties with information processing. Neuropsychological screening did not suggest gross difficulties. 'However, in reviewing records, it was noted that Dr. Dao tends to have poor decision-making despite his overall level of ability. 'His choices have resulted in significant consequences over the years yet he continuesto function in this manner. 'He is generally not forthright regarding details of events unless challenged and at times he will tell different versions of a story to different interviewers. ' Later in the report it found: 'As far back as April, 2002, Dr. Brady notes " ... he would unilaterally chose to do his own thing'. 'This remains a concern to this day and without a high degree of structure and accountability he is at risk for further boundary related practice issues.' Advertisement His specialist area is the aviation industry. The two lawyers' hiring suggests that Dr Dao will pursue United not just for its treatment of him but the procedures which lay behind him being told he could not fly, to make way for United's own crew - one of the factors which has fueled the outrage over his case. But he is likely to face a torrid time in court if United deploy evidence from his own past - a felony conviction which led from him of illicit gay sex with a patient in return for giving him drugs. The doctor also tested positive for drugs himself, official documents reveal. A psychiatric report prepared for Kentucky's medical regulator revealed a series of issues, including that he 'is generaly not forthright', 'tends to have poor decision-making' and needed 'anger management'. The father of five, who has won sympathy globally over the incident, was given a suspended jail sentence for illegally obtaining and trafficking controlled substances by fraud and deceit. He was also found to have in engaged in sex with a male patient- Brian Case, who he knew from the church they both attended - and then supplied him with drugs, including Oxycontin, in exchange for sexual favors. The sexual liaisons, which happened motel rooms, were recorded by undercover agents. He paid $200 in cash each time he met Case. Case said he believed that Dr. Dao wanted to hook him on drugs so he would keep meeting him for gay sex. Dr. Dao was arrested when Case agreed to go undercover. Even when he was caught with his shirt off and pants unbuckled, he denied he was there for gay sex with Case. The secret sex and drugs life of the doctor first came to light in in July 2003 when police alerted the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure of the allegations against him. In October 2003 he was indicted by a Jefferson County Grand Jury for 'criminal acts of trafficking in a controlled substance, obtaining drugs by fraud and deceit, and unauthorized prescribing, dispensing or administering of controlled substances'. His medical license was suspended later that month. Dr Dao underwent intense scrutiny and re-training for several years after his convictions. He also appealed unsuccessfully against conviction, including claiming the undercover video of him semi-naked broke his expectation of privacy. His wife Dr. Theresa Dao, who was with him on the ill-fated flight, has stood by him. She first alerted the medical authorities about her suspicions of her husbands involvement with a patient. In 2015, his medical license was partially re-instated with restrictions placed on his access to patients. The findings were revealed by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure in June last year and stipulated that monitoring had to be continued of the doctors behavior. It was found that Dr. Dao had become sexually involved with a patient who had been referred to his practice, who was known as 'Patient A'. He was named in criminal court as Case, who was 26 at the time, less than half the doctor's age. The board stated: 'During the initial evaluation, the licensee performed a complete physical examination, including a genital examination, for Patient A who had been referred for collapsed lungs and chest pain.' The board's finding went on: 'Shortly after his first appointment, the licensee made Patient A his office manager; according to Patient A, he quit that job because of inappropriate remarks made by the licensee. 'After he quit, the licensee pursued him aggressively, finally arranging to provide controlled substance prescriptions to him in exchange for sexual acts. 'This continued for some time, with Patient A and the licensee meeting at hotel rooms and some of these meetings were recorded. 'At some point, the licensee began splitting some of the prescriptions with Patient A and gave Patient A money to fill the prescriptions. Stock plunge: The battering taken by United Airlines was obvious in its five-day performance, which showed how it plunged as Wall Street opened Back practicing: How Dr Dao was able to return to medicine after his felony conviction Winning big: While he was suspended from practicing, he became a semi-professional poker player, and is said to have won a total of $234,664 since 2006, according to PokerNews. United Airlines' CEO Oscar Munoz (pictured in June 2016) has come under fire for his response to the scandal Home: Despite the gay sex revelations, Dr. David Dao continues to share the family home in Elizabethtown, KY, with his wife Teresa, who alerted authorities to her concerns THIRD TIME LUCKY: TONE DEAF COMPANY APOLIOGIZES AT LAST Dear team The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicted many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment. I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened. Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way. I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right. Its never too late to do the right thing. I have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix whats broken so this never happens again. This will include a thorough review of crew movement, our policies incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement. Well communicate the results of our review by April 30th. I promise you we will do better. Advertisement 'The licensee also assisted Patient A to fill the controlled substances prescriptions in a variety of names of other persons. 'Police were able to identify approximately 33 fraudulent prescriptions as part of their investigation with Patient A's assistance. 'The police were able to put together a sufficient case to arrest the licensee and bring charges against him in two counties.' GAY SEX, DRUGS AND FELONY SHAME OF THE UNITED DOCTOR What the Kentucky Board of Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure found: 'During the Board's investigation into the criminal charges against the licensee, the Board learned that the licensee had become sexually interested in a patient who had been referred to his practice, Patient A During the initial evaluation, the licensee perfonned a complete physical examination, including a genital examination, for Patient A who had been referred for collapsed lungs and chest pain; shortly after his first appointment, the licensee made Patient A his office manager; according to Patient A, he quit that job Because of inappropriate remarks made by the licensee; after he quit, the licensee pursued him aggressively, finally arranging to provide controlled substance prescriptions to him in exchange for sexual acts This continued for some time, with Patient A and the licensee meeting at hotel rooms and some of these meetings were recorded; at some point, the licensee began splitting some of the prescriptions with Patient A and gave Patient A money to fill the prescriptions the licensee also assisted Patient A to fill the controlled substances prescriptions in a variety of names of other persons Police were able to identify approximately 33 fraudulent prescriptions as part of their investigation With Patient A's assistance, the police were able to put together a sufficient case to arrest the licensee and bring charges against him in two counties Around the same time, the licensee was placed on a corrective action plan by Hardin Memorial Hospital due to disruptive conduct and referred to the Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation ("the Foundation'') for evaluation and anger management After his arrest, the licensee was tested by the hospital and tested positive for Ultramfframadol As a result of the drug test results and the criminal charges, the licensee's hospital privileges became suspended on September 13, 2003. Advertisement The Hardin Memorial Hospital, where he worked, placed him on ' a corrective action plan by due to disruptive conduct'. He was also referred to the Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation for 'evaluation and anger management'. He was also tested positive for Ultram/framadol and had his doctor's license suspended. In November 2004 a jury convicted him on felony counts of Obtaining drugs by fraud and deceit. The jury recommended a sentence of two years and eight months on each felony count. In January, 2005, Dao was sentenced in Jefferson Circuit Court to two years and eight months on each felony conviction. He was allowed a five year supervised probation. While he was suspended from practicing, he became a semi-professional poker player, and is said to have won a total of $234,664 since 2006, according to Poker News. But in May 2007 he was assessed as to his medical and clinical ability. He was found to be possessing medical knowledge 'that was outdated and also contained gaps that would not likely be fully explained by his time away from practice.' The board added: 'His areas of relative strength included occupational lung disease and pulmonary embolism. 'Dr. Dao's knowledge of current pharmacology was deficient He demonstrated some deficits that were surprising based on the common nature of the disorders.' The doctor underwent an ' Educational Intervention Plan' where he was re-trained and his progress monitored. During his assessments the report said Dr. Dao denied paying for sex. Yet he indicated that he deducted monies owed to him... for sexual favors. He denied trading drugs for sex while admitting to prescribing narcotics to the man while they engaged in a sexual relationship. 'Dr. Dao continues to maintain a pattern of deception that is inconsistent with the level of accountability necessary for a practicing physician.' His bid to renew his medical work was rejected because of the sex and lies he had been found guilty of as well as his outdated practices. 'It is the opinion of the assessment team that Dr. Dao is not safe to practice medicine at this time. This opinion is offered within reasonable certainty and based upon available information.' Two years later he returned to the same evaluator where a doctor Mary Gannon noted that Dr. Dao 'lacked the foundation to navigate difficult situations, both interpersonally and in a complex profession'. Dr. Gannon noted a need to control, avoidance, withholding information and 'magical thinking' as problematic. She also opined re-instatement of Dr. Dao's medical license as the primary motivation for therapy. During this evaluation Dr. Dao stated that regaining his medical license was a matter of 'family honor.' Four of his five children are doctors. His wife Teresa, 69, is a pediatrician who trained at Ho Chi Minh University in Saigon and also practices in Elizabethtown, Kentucky - about 40 miles south of Louisville. Their eldest son Tim, 34, practices medicine in Texas; their second son Ben, 31, is a medical graduate; their daughter Christine, 33, is a doctor in Durham, NC; and their youngster daughter Angela, 27, is a medical graduate of the University of Kentucky. Their other daughter, Crystal Christine's twin is a married mother in Barrington, Illinois. Dr Dao has previously worked at Hardin Memorial Hospital and owned a medical practice. His identity has been revealed after United CEO Oscar Munoz doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent'. The airline is facing a furious backlash after footage emerged of the 69-year-old, bleeding heavily as he was pulled from the jet. Amidst the anger, Munoz issued a public apology saying he 'apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers.' But in a private email to employees, the CEO defended the crew's actions, calling the passenger 'disruptive and belligerent' and praising his staff for going 'above and beyond'. Backlash likely: The reaction to revelations of the criminal past of the doctor suggests that United would risk further opprobrium if they used it in a potential court case United CEO Oscar Munoz has doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent' Social media erupted immediately, labeling Munoz and United 'tone deaf' and 'condescending'. Munoz said that while he was 'upset' to hear about the man being violently dragged off the flight, that airline crew had simply been following 'established procedures.' The CEO described how flight crews had offered up to $1,000 in compensation for anyone willing to catch the next flight before approaching the passenger to 'explain apologetically' that he was being denied boarding. He had then 'raised his voice and refused to comply' with the crew's requests to leave the aircraft, and became increasingly 'disruptive and belligerent,' he said. 'Our agents were left with no choice, but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight, he repeatedly decline to leave.' Munoz added that the passenger refused to comply with the officers who then 'physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both out crew and security officials.' The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police 'While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right,' he said. The CEO did, however, concede that there were 'lessons we can learn' from the experience and that United will continue to look into the incident. He also had a final reminder that treating customers with 'respect and dignity' should be matter of course, 'no matter how challenging the situation.' The comments have sparked outrage online with people claiming that the CEO was attempting to shift blame to the police. Others said that 'lousy protocol' was never an excuse for a 69-year-old man beating left bloodied by security. 'Beating and bloodying a 69 year-old doctor is 'protocol' @United ?' one Twitter user asked. Distressing: Children were crying in distress as the three officers manhandled the man out of his seat. Passengers had been offered $800 to take a flight the next day but none volunteered Another said that Munoz was 'trying to shift blame to police/aviation security (not United employees). The public doesn't make a distinction.' Nicholas Kristof added: 'In any big company, staff will sometimes do stupid things. At United, the CEO then endorses the stupidity and claims it as company policy!' Others pointed out that the customer had also appeared to have followed 'protocol' right up until he was dragged off the plane. HOW DOES UNITED DECIDE WHO GETS BUMPED FROM OVERBOOKED FLIGHTS? United's contract of carriage states that passengers to be forcibly taken off a flight in the event of overbooking will be 'determined based on a passenger's fare class, itinerary, status of frequent flyer program membership, and the time in which the passenger presents him/herself for check-in without advanced seat assignment.' That means that if you have a certain type of fare class, checked in early, have a flier status such as gold, or even just own a barely used frequent flier card, you are less likely to be bumped. But passengers taking advantage of budget seats appear to be of less value to the airline. Advertisement '#United Pay for your ticket, sit down, get attacked, bloodied and humiliated. And the CEO is now saying the person deserved it. #SHAME,' one Twitter user wrote. 'No accountability for lousy protocol,' another added. 'It will be a cold day in Hades before I allow these lackwits to fly me anywhere.#BoycottUnitedAirlines.' An airport cop who allegedly body-slammed the passenger was put on leave today - as his bosses condemned his actions amid mounting outrage over video of the incident. The Chicago Department of Aviation said it 'obviously' did not condone the behavior of the security officer who was filmed slamming the man into an arm rest, knocking him unconscious and dragging him away by his arms as he bled from the mouth at O'Hare. Another clip shows the dazed man chants 'just kill me, just kill me' as blood pours from his mouth. In his public apology, Munoz said today: 'This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. 'Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation.' The aviation department released a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times, which read: 'The incident on United flight 3411 was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the Department. Unhinged: The man claimed to be a doctor and screamed wildly and he was manhandled by the cops 'That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation.' One passenger also told the Washington Post the man claimed as he was being dragged off the plane he was chosen because of his ethnicity. 'He said, more or less, 'I'm being selected because I'm Chinese',' the passenger told the Post. The same passenger went on to tell the newspaper a United official walked onto the plane during the incident and said the plane would not be taking off until four passengers disembarked so the employees could fit on. He said the official announced: 'We have United employees that need to fly to Louisville tonight. This flight's not leaving until four people get off.' 'That rubbed some people the wrong way,' Tyler Bridges said, recounting the comment. This is baby Charlie Gard clutching a St Jude medallion - the patron saint of hopeless causes and desperate situations - in a poignant reminder of the battle he faces to stay alive. The photograph of the little boy's tiny hand holding the Catholic pendant was taken by his parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates after a High Court judge ordered he should be allowed to die. The couple were heartbroken by the decision and broke down yesterday as Mr Justice Francis decided to ignore their own wishes for their little boy to fly to the US for treatment. After rushing to the eight-month-old's hospital bed last night they vowed to fight on and have three weeks to launch an appeal a decision friends said they would not hesitate to take. They will fight to the bitter end, they wont give up. They love that little boy and while theres still some hope they will carry on, a family friend told the Daily Mail. Scroll down for video Guardian angel: Charlie Gard holding a pendant showing an image St Jude - the patron saint of hopeless causes as his parents vowed to fight on to save his life Devoted: Chris Gard with his eight-month-old son Charlie in hospital yesterday, in a picture taken by Charlie's mum Connie Legal battle: Parents Connie Yates and Chris Gard at court - but they have vowed not to give up their fight As the judges ruling was delivered, his words were almost drowned out by a mournful wail of despair. Mr Gard could not bear to hear the words he had dreaded, that his beloved son should be allowed to die. Slumping forward, he sobbed No a low mournful cry which echoed around the courtroom, while Miss Yates wept silently beside him. The parents had begged the High Court to give their baby son his one chance at life experimental treatment in the US. But Mr Justice Francis ruled that such treatment was not in Charlies best interests as it could not reverse his severe brain damage but could cause him pain. The judge ruled doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital should stop his life support treatment. It would be impossible for his parents to get him overseas without the hospitals help. The couple now have up to three weeks to ask for permission to appeal although such permission is not automatically granted. Their lawyers will have to show that they have fresh evidence or a new challenge to the law. Great Ormond Street said Charlies life support would continue until a decision was made. Lawyers said they would fight the ruling. The judge ruled doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital should stop his life support treatment The couples battle for their son has prompted an extraordinary outpouring of public support which saw 82,000 well-wishers donate more than 1.2million to fund the experimental US treatment. But their hopes were dealt a crushing blow when the High Court judge said experts agreed such treatment was very unlikely to improve Charlies condition, regardless of whether his parents could afford it. Mr Justice Francis said he made the decision with the heaviest of hearts, but with complete conviction for Charlies best interests. WHY DIDN'T THEY GET LEGAL AID TO FIGHT FOR SON? The judge in the Charlie Gard case yesterday questioned why the parents had been given no legal aid. Mr Justice Francis said he found their lack of state funding remarkable as he could not think of a situation more profound. Postman Chris Gard and carer Connie Yates were unable to work for several months while keeping vigil at their sons bedside in Great Ormond Street Hospital. Fortunately law firm Bindmans stepped in to represent them for free. By law, a couple cannot receive legal aid if they have more than 30,804 pre-tax income, 8,796 disposable income and 8,000 savings and assets. Last night Bob Neill, chairman of the Commons justice committee, said that it was extraordinary the family might not have qualified. He called for the rules to be made more flexible and said: To apply an ungenerous means test in effect without any regard to the nature of the case and evidence required isnt fair. The way [legal aid] has been pared back in recent years has gone beyond what is reasonable and it only leads to injustice. After ruling that Charlies life support could be switched off, Mr Justice Francis said: I just want to raise this finally, the question of legal aid. Why werent the family given legal aid in this case? As I understand it, neither of them is working because theyve dedicated the last eight months to their son. It seems to me remarkable that in a public law care case, where some people get non-means tested legal aid ... I cant think of anything more profound than what the parents are facing here. A family legal representative said he did not have an answer to why they had not been offered legal aid. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said it did not comment on individual cases. Advertisement He told the High Court: Great Ormond Street Hospital may lawfully withdraw all treatment save for palliative care to permit Charlie to die with dignity. Mr Gard, 32, a postman, appeared to know the fight was over. As he waited for the judges ruling his red-rimmed eyes were screwed shut, his hands clasped over his face as his shoulders heaved uncontrollably. Charlies mother Connie Yates, 31, sat in silence, pain etched across her face as she stared despondently at the judges bench. Dressed in a navy floral dress and sombre black cardigan, she wore a white flower pinned in her hair a symbol of a mothers unwavering hope. Her father Matthew sat behind her, leaning forward to stroke his daughters long blonde hair in comfort. Her mother Elizabeth was absent from the hearing as she stayed behind at Charlies bedside in hospital. The courtroom was cleared as the couple broke down. Moments later they were whisked out of the High Court to rush to Charlies bedside at nearby Great Ormond Street. Charlie suffers from a rare genetic condition, a form of mitochondrial disease, which saps energy from his muscles, lungs and other organs. He is being kept alive by a ventilator. His parents, from Bedfont in south-west London, are adamant he shows signs of growing stronger, reacting to their presence and enjoying their touch. But the judge ruled that Charlie had suffered severe and irreversible brain damage and that the experimental treatment was potentially painful but incapable of achieving anything positive for him. He said the medical experts all agreed that the US treatment could not reverse Charlies brain damage, and said experimentation was not in the childs best interests, unless it could improve his condition. Mr Justice Francis, who had visited Charlie in hospital while hearing evidence in the case, said he sympathised with the parents desperation and praised their courage and dedication. He said: I want to thank Charlies parents for their brave and dignified campaign on his behalf. But more than anything to pay tribute to their absolute dedication to their wonderful boy, from the day that he was born. Lawyers for Charlies parents said they wanted to challenge the ruling and take the case to the Court of Appeal. The couples solicitor, Laura Hobey-Hamsher, said: Connie and Chris are facing every parents worst nightmare. They are struggling to understand why the court has not at least given Charlie the chance of treatment in America. The couples battle for their son has prompted an extraordinary outpouring of public support which saw 82,000 well-wishers donate more than 1.2million to fund the experimental US treatment She added: Connie and Chris want me to make clear how profoundly grateful they are for all of the help and generosity they have received throughout this time. This has been a difficult and painful case, and the support and phenomenal kindness of countless people has been a source of strength. The lawyer also said lessons need to be learned from the case, including how medical professionals face decisions such as this, how they act with sufficient speed, and how they communicate with the families of desperately ill children, such as Charlie. It is regrettable and inexplicable that much of the reasoning for their decisions only came to light after proceedings had been issued, she added. The court had heard that Charlies parents were described as a spanner in the works by one doctor after it emerged they were doing their own research in a bid to save his life. Lawyers for Charlies parents said they wanted to challenge the ruling and take the case to the Court of Appeal A spokesman for Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: We work extremely hard to offer innovative treatments, even if it is the first time they have been tried, when we believe they can benefit the child. In Charlies case we carefully considered the request for a therapy that had not been used to treat his condition. This included seeking multiple external opinions as to whether this therapy could improve Charlies chance of survival or quality of life. The consensus, which has been confirmed by yesterdays ruling, was that it would not. Our focus now is to work with Charlies family to plan for the next stages in Charlies care. The hospital will talk to the family and try to agree how long they need to say goodbye to Charlie, before he is taken off life support and allowed to die. Last night, supporters continued to donate on the couples GoFundMe website, despite the court ruling. If the couple appeal successfully, the money could still be used for the intended purpose of funding treatment. If not, Miss Yates has suggested they could set up a charity for other children with similar mitochondrial syndromes, and fund further research. A spokesman for the website said officials would talk to Charlies parents about what would happen to the money if they are unable to take him to America. Miss Yates has previously said: If Charlie doesnt get this chance we will make sure that other innocent babies and children will be saved. David Dao, the doctor who was dragged off the United flight, is a former poker champion who made hundreds of thousands of dollars playing while his medical license was suspended for trading drugs for sex. Dao joined the World Series of Poker circuit in 2006 and spent the next decade at the tables, earning him $234,664. His biggest win came during a game in Mississippi in 2008 when he took home $117,744, according to WSOP. It may have been a way for the doctor to make a little extra income while he was barred from practicing medicine in 2003 until 2015, when his medical license was partially re-instated with restrictions placed on his access to patients. Winning big: While he was suspended from practicing, Dao became a semi-professional poker player, and is said to have won a total of $234,664 since 2006, according toPokerNews. Dao joined the World Series of Poker circuit in 2006 and spent the next decade at the tables, earning him $234,664 Beaten and bloodied: Dr Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare What United claimed: The document attached to his passenger file which claimed Dr David Dao, 69, a grandfather, had tried to strike police officers WHAT THE PSYCHIATRIST FOUND An official report detailed the findings of medical exams performed on Dr Dao and spelled out concerns over his mental state. A court case brought by him would inevitably have to consider whether the documents could be used by United. Among the findings were: Dr. Mary Gannon 'noted that Dr. Dao "lacked the foundation to navigate difficult situations, both interpersonally and in a complex profession". Dr.Gannon noted a need to control, avoidance, withholding information and magical thinking as problematic.' The report went on: 'Dr. Montgomery noted that Dr. Dao appeared to have difficulties with information processing. Neuropsychological screening did not suggest gross difficulties. 'However, in reviewing records, it was noted that Dr. Dao tends to have poor decision-making despite his overall level of ability. 'His choices have resulted in significant consequences over the years yet he continuesto function in this manner. 'He is generally not forthright regarding details of events unless challenged and at times he will tell different versions of a story to different interviewers. ' Later in the report it found: 'As far back as April, 2002, Dr. Brady notes " ... he would unilaterally chose to do his own thing'. 'This remains a concern to this day and without a high degree of structure and accountability he is at risk for further boundary related practice issues.' Advertisement The father of five, who has won sympathy globally over the United Airlines incident, was given a suspended jail sentence for illegally obtaining and trafficking controlled substances by fraud and deceit. He was also found to have engaged in sex with a male patient- Brian Case, who he knew from the church they both attended - and then supplied him with drugs, including Oxycontin, in exchange for sexual favors. The sexual liaisons, which happened in motel rooms, were recorded by undercover agents. He paid $200 in cash each time he met Case. Case said he believed that Dr. Dao wanted to hook him on drugs so he would keep meeting him for gay sex. Dr. Dao was arrested when Case agreed to go undercover. Even when he was caught with his shirt off and pants unbuckled, he denied he was there for gay sex with Case. The secret sex and drugs life of the doctor first came to light in July 2003 when police alerted the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure of the allegations against him. In October 2003 he was indicted by a Jefferson County Grand Jury for 'criminal acts of trafficking in a controlled substance, obtaining drugs by fraud and deceit, and unauthorized prescribing, dispensing or administering of controlled substances'. His medical license was suspended later that month. Dr Dao underwent intense scrutiny and re-training for several years after his convictions. He also appealed unsuccessfully against conviction, including claiming the undercover video of him semi-naked broke his expectation of privacy. His wife Dr. Theresa Dao, who was with him on the ill-fated flight, has stood by him. She first alerted the medical authorities about her suspicions of her husbands involvement with a patient. In 2015, his medical license was partially re-instated with restrictions placed on his access to patients. The findings were revealed by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure in June last year and stipulated that monitoring had to be continued of the doctors behavior. It was found that Dr. Dao had become sexually involved with a patient who had been referred to his practice, who was known as 'Patient A'. He was named in criminal court as Case, who was 26 at the time, less than half the doctor's age. Dr David Dao has been revealed as the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and their grandchildren. It was his wife who alerted authorities to his inappropriate relationship with a patient Dr David Dao has been revealed as the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and one of their grandchildren. It was his wife who alerted authorities to his inappropriate relationship with a patient The board stated: 'During the initial evaluation, the licensee performed a complete physical examination, including a genital examination, for Patient A who had been referred for collapsed lungs and chest pain.' The board's finding went on: 'Shortly after his first appointment, the licensee made Patient A his office manager; according to Patient A, he quit that job because of inappropriate remarks made by the licensee. 'After he quit, the licensee pursued him aggressively, finally arranging to provide controlled substance prescriptions to him in exchange for sexual acts. 'This continued for some time, with Patient A and the licensee meeting at hotel rooms and some of these meetings were recorded. 'At some point, the licensee began splitting some of the prescriptions with Patient A and gave Patient A money to fill the prescriptions. Back practicing: How Dr Dao was able to return to medicine after his felony conviction United Airlines' CEO Oscar Munoz (pictured in June 2016) has come under fire for his response to the scandal Home: Despite the gay sex revelations, Dr. David Dao continues to share the family home in Elizabethtown, KY, with his wife Teresa, who alerted authorities to her concerns UNITED CEO OSCAR MUNOZ's LATEST STATEMENT TO STAFF Dear team The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicted many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment. I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened. Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way. I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right. Its never too late to do the right thing. I have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix whats broken so this never happens again. This will include a thorough review of crew movement, our policies incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement. Well communicate the results of our review by April 30th. I promise you we will do better. Advertisement 'The licensee also assisted Patient A to fill the controlled substances prescriptions in a variety of names of other persons. 'Police were able to identify approximately 33 fraudulent prescriptions as part of their investigation with Patient A's assistance. 'The police were able to put together a sufficient case to arrest the licensee and bring charges against him in two counties.' GAY SEX, DRUGS AND FELONY SHAME OF THE UNITED DOCTOR What the Kentucky Board of Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure found: 'During the Board's investigation into the criminal charges against the licensee, the Board learned that the licensee had become sexually interested in a patient who had been referred to his practice, Patient A During the initial evaluation, the licensee perfonned a complete physical examination, including a genital examination, for Patient A who had been referred for collapsed lungs and chest pain; shortly after his first appointment, the licensee made Patient A his office manager; according to Patient A, he quit that job Because of inappropriate remarks made by the licensee; after he quit, the licensee pursued him aggressively, finally arranging to provide controlled substance prescriptions to him in exchange for sexual acts This continued for some time, with Patient A and the licensee meeting at hotel rooms and some of these meetings were recorded; at some point, the licensee began splitting some of the prescriptions with Patient A and gave Patient A money to fill the prescriptions the licensee also assisted Patient A to fill the controlled substances prescriptions in a variety of names of other persons Police were able to identify approximately 33 fraudulent prescriptions as part of their investigation With Patient A's assistance, the police were able to put together a sufficient case to arrest the licensee and bring charges against him in two counties Around the same time, the licensee was placed on a corrective action plan by Hardin Memorial Hospital due to disruptive conduct and referred to the Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation ("the Foundation'') for evaluation and anger management After his arrest, the licensee was tested by the hospital and tested positive for Ultramfframadol As a result of the drug test results and the criminal charges, the licensee's hospital privileges became suspended on September 13, 2003. Advertisement The Hardin Memorial Hospital, where he worked, placed him on ' a corrective action plan by due to disruptive conduct'. He was also referred to the Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation for 'evaluation and anger management'. He was also tested positive for Ultram/framadol and had his doctor's license suspended. In November 2004 a jury convicted him on felony counts of Obtaining drugs by fraud and deceit. The jury recommended a sentence of two years and eight months on each felony count. In January, 2005, Dao was sentenced in Jefferson Circuit Court to two years and eight months on each felony conviction. He was allowed a five year supervised probation. While he was suspended from practicing, he became a semi-professional poker player, and is said to have won a total of $234,664 since 2006, according to Poker News. But in May 2007 he was assessed as to his medical and clinical ability. He was found to be possessing medical knowledge 'that was outdated and also contained gaps that would not likely be fully explained by his time away from practice.' The board added: 'His areas of relative strength included occupational lung disease and pulmonary embolism. 'Dr. Dao's knowledge of current pharmacology was deficient He demonstrated some deficits that were surprising based on the common nature of the disorders.' The doctor underwent an ' Educational Intervention Plan' where he was re-trained and his progress monitored. During his assessments the report said Dr. Dao denied paying for sex. Yet he indicated that he deducted monies owed to him... for sexual favors. He denied trading drugs for sex while admitting to prescribing narcotics to the man while they engaged in a sexual relationship. 'Dr. Dao continues to maintain a pattern of deception that is inconsistent with the level of accountability necessary for a practicing physician.' His bid to renew his medical work was rejected because of the sex and lies he had been found guilty of as well as his outdated practices. 'It is the opinion of the assessment team that Dr. Dao is not safe to practice medicine at this time. This opinion is offered within reasonable certainty and based upon available information.' Two years later he returned to the same evaluator where a doctor Mary Gannon noted that Dr. Dao 'lacked the foundation to navigate difficult situations, both interpersonally and in a complex profession'. Dr. Gannon noted a need to control, avoidance, withholding information and 'magical thinking' as problematic. She also opined re-instatement of Dr. Dao's medical license as the primary motivation for therapy. During this evaluation Dr. Dao stated that regaining his medical license was a matter of 'family honor.' Four of his five children are doctors. His wife Teresa, 69, is a pediatrician who trained at Ho Chi Minh University in Saigon and also practices in Elizabethtown, Kentucky - about 40 miles south of Louisville. Their eldest son Tim, 34, practices medicine in Texas; their second son Ben, 31, is a medical graduate; their daughter Christine, 33, is a doctor in Durham, NC; and their youngster daughter Angela, 27, is a medical graduate of the University of Kentucky. Their other daughter, Crystal Christine's twin is a married mother in Barrington, Illinois. Dr Dao has previously worked at Hardin Memorial Hospital and owned a medical practice. His identity has been revealed after United CEO Oscar Munoz doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent'. The airline is facing a furious backlash after footage emerged of the 69-year-old, bleeding heavily as he was pulled from the jet. Amidst the anger, Munoz issued a public apology saying he 'apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers.' But in a private email to employees, the CEO defended the crew's actions, calling the passenger 'disruptive and belligerent' and praising his staff for going 'above and beyond'. Backlash likely: The reaction to revelations of the criminal past of the doctor suggests that United would risk further opprobrium if they used it in a potential court case United CEO Oscar Munoz has doubled down on his airline crew's decision to remove an elderly passenger, claiming he was 'disruptive and belligerent With United Airlines the subject of public scorn and ridicule over its violent removal of a paid passenger on a flight just before it was about to depart Chicago, two of its competitors couldn't resist throwing some shade. Emirates Airlines, the Dubai-based carrier, released an ad on Tuesday mocking United CEO Oscar Munoz for past comments denigrating the company. 'Those [Gulf] airlines aren't airlines,' the graphic reads quoting Munoz. 'Well Mr. Munoz, according to TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, not only are we a real airlinewe are the best airline,' the commercial reads. Emirates Airlines, the Dubai-based carrier, released an ad on Tuesday mocking Munoz for past comments denigrating the company. An Emirates airline Airbus A380 is seen above in Hamburg, Germany in this 2010 file photo; the start quoted Mr Munoz's own words 'Well Mr. Munoz, according to TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, not only are we a real airlinewe are the best airline,' the commercial reads 'Not only are we a real airline...We are the best airline,' the next graphic in the ad reads The commercial then goes on to list awards the company has won from TripAdvisor this past year In a final insult, the commercial ends with the phrase: 'Fly the friendly skiesThis time for real.' United is famous for its advertising slogan - 'Come fly the friendly the skies' The commercial then goes on to list awards the company has won from TripAdvisor this past year. In a final insult, the commercial ends with the phrase: 'Fly the friendly skiesThis time for real.' 'Fly the friendly skies' is the slogan used by Delta Airlines. Royal Jordanian also took the opportunity to have fun with United. In one tweet, it said: 'We are here to keep you #united. Dragging is strictly prohibited.' 'We would like to remind you that drags on our flights are strictly prohibited by passengers and crew,' the graphic read. It then showed a symbol of a no-smoking sign using double entendre by invoking the word 'drag.' Another tweet by Royal Jordanian shows an image of a smiling pilot under the caption: 'Our pilots happily welcome you onboard our flights!' Royal Jordanian posted two notices on social media poking fun at United. In one tweet, it said: 'We are here to keep you #united. Dragging is strictly prohibited.' It then showed a symbol of a no-smoking sign using double entendre by invoking the word 'drag.' Another tweet by Royal Jordanian shows an image of a smiling pilot under the caption: 'Our pilots happily welcome you onboard our flights!' United Airlines sparked outrage on Monday for the treatment of a passenger who was physically dragged off a plane the airline had overbooked, and one of the security officers involved in the incident was placed on leave pending an investigation. Videos posted online by other passengers showed a man screaming as officers yanked him from his seat on United Flight 3411 before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. The man, David Dao, a Vietnamese-American doctor, was seen being dragged down the aisle on his back by his hands, body limp, bleeding from the mouth, glasses askew and shirt pulled up above his navel. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz (above) is wrestling with a public relations nightmare after his company forcibly evicted a passenger from one of its flights The videos sparked outrage on social media, the second time in less than a month that United was criticized for its treatment of passengers. In a letter circulated to employees, Munoz did not apologize for the way the passenger was handled, writing that the passenger had 'defied' security officers. Munoz said there are lessons the company can learn from this situation, though he impressed that he 'emphatically' stands behind his employees. 'We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation),' Munoz wrote. 'When we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions.' When Munoz was criticized further for failing to show enough contrition, he issued another statement later in the afternoon on Tuesday vowing that United would conduct its own investigation. 'I continue to be disturbed by what happened,' Munoz said in a statement. United Airlines sparked outrage on Monday for the treatment of a passenger who was physically dragged off a plane the airline had overbooked, and one of the security officers involved in the incident was placed on leave pending an investigation. The man, David Dao, a Vietnamese-American doctor, was seen being dragged down the aisle on his back by his hands, body limp 'I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way.' 'We are going to fix what's broken so this never happens again,' Munoz said. Munoz has a history of publicly clashing with Emirates. The United CEO as well as his counterparts with the other major American domestic carriers, Delta and American, have long complained that the Gulf trio of Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airway enjoy an unfair competitive advantage, according to Business Insider. The US carriers have tried to limit the Gulf companies' access to the American market because they say those airlines have the benefits of tens of billions of dollars in government subsidies. The Ministry of Defence is facing criticism for axing one of the Royal Marine's last remaining specialist fighting units. The prestigious 42 Commando outfit is to be withdrawn from front-line duties due to a funding shortage. Theresa May was attacked for the move by former Royal Marine Lord Ashdown, who accused her of sending a message of weakness amid the ongoing Syrian crisis. The unit, which is based in Plymouth, will lose 200 of its members and will change from a battle unit - which has served in Afghanistan and Iraq - to a maritime force. Two Royal Marines from 42 Commando open fire at the Forward Operating Base Price in Gereshk, Southern Afghanistan The Prime Minister is facing criticism for axing one of the Royal Marine's 42 Commando (shown during an attack by Taliban insurgents in Sangin, Afghanistan in 2007) Under its new remit, the unit will be protecting ships and hunting down modern-day pirates, among other things. The unit is one of three that is deployed on battle operations, the other two being 40 Commando and 45 Commando. Sergeant Alexander Blackman - also known as Marine A - was serving with 42 Commando in Helmand Province when he shot and killed an injured Taliban fighter in 2011. He became the first British serviceman convicted of murder on a foreign battlefield since the Second World War. However High Court judges quashed the conviction earlier this year, ruling it was not a 'cold-blooded execution' but the result of Blackman suffering from an 'abnormality of mental functioning' because of an adjustment disorder caused by combat stress. The outfit's axing comes during a funding crisis for the Royal Navy, with its two new aircraft carriers - named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales - coming in well over budget. The Ministry of Defence was quick to insist that the decision would not lead to any redundancies. Among those to criticise the move was former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown, who called the decision 'a folly which plays fast and loose with the nations defences'. Members of the 42 Commando unit are shown posing for a photograph shortly after recapturing South Georgia during the Falklands War The prestigious 42 Commando outfit (pictured fighting Taliban forces in Afghanistan in 2010) is to be withdrawn from front-line duties due to a funding crisis Speaking to The Sun, he added: 'In an unpredictable age, we need forces that are fast, flexible and mobile. Thats what the Royal Marines do at a world-class level.' The deal comes amid fears the Marines faced cuts of as many as 2,000 roles due to holes in defence spending. A recent report warned the Ministry of Defence has to find 5.6billion in savings over the next 10 years to make up shortfalls. Major General Julian Thompson, who commanded 3 Commando Brigade in the Falklands, warned last week that Britain would no longer be able to stage another Falklands-style operation should the Marines face heavy cuts. FROM WW2 TO THE FALKLANDS AND MIDDLE EAST The unit was first formed during the Second World War, when the Royal Marines were asked to provide their own Commando unit. It was raised in August 1943, and would serve in India and Burma from its inception up until 1945. After the war, the Marines disbanded three of its four commando brigades, leaving the 40, 42 and 45 Commandos as the only units. During the late 20th century, the unit was deployed in Northern Ireland and in South Georgia as part of the Falklands War. In modern years, the outfit has served with distinction in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in 2013 it took over from 45 Commando as the lead task group Advertisement Last month, the Mail also reported how large-scale overseas training programmes, such as a cold-weather mountain warfare exercise in Norway, may also be cut to save money. In March, Sir Michael Fallon refused to rule out a cut to the number of Royal Marines amid a funding shortfall in the Armed Forces. It is understood that under the proposals the navy numbers would remain the same, but the Royal Marines would be cut in order for more sailors to man new ships. There are around 7,000 Royal Marines a number that has remained around the same since the 1980s as sailor numbers have dwindled. Sir Michael said: We have got 7,000 Royal Marines. The actual balance, the number of sailors and the number of marines, thats a matter for the First Sea Lord to keep under review. He added: I have not agreed any cut in the size of the Royal Marines. What we are looking at is the way in which our armed forces work, the different tasks that they have and we are constantly looking to see that they are fit for purpose in what we do. So if something is no longer needed, if its redundant, we need to make sure that we can put the savings back into new equipment. That applies to buildings, it also applies to the way we work and the efficiencies we need. Left, a Marine from 42 Commando chats to a young girl during a patrol in East Falkland, while right, marines man a 81mm mortar in Zad, Afghanistan A 42 Commando patrol (shown) makes its way through the jungle in Sierra Leone in 2000 A Royal Marine from 42 Commando looks out to the desert (shown) during a patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Philip Jones, said: We must adapt to meet the challenges of a dangerous and uncertain world. The Government is investing in a new generation of ships, submarines and aircraft. As we introduce these capabilities into Service, we must ensure we have the right mix of skills across each of the Navys Fighting Arms to optimise how we use them, and the Commandant General and I have sought to find the right balance between sailors and marines in responding to this challenge. The Royal Marines remain bound in to every part of the Royal Navys future, from conducting sophisticated operations from the sea, at a variety of scales and against a range of threats, using our new aircraft carriers as a base, to leading the Services development of information warfare. They will continue to be as vital to the Defence of the Realm in the years ahead as they have been for the past 350. Chinese president Xi Jinping has pleaded for peace after Donald Trump warned the US is sending a powerful 'armada' to North Korea. The two leaders have spoken by phone in an apparent effort to avoid further escalation after Trump deployed the aircraft carrier-led strike group in a show of force to the Korean peninsula. The US president last night repeatedly accused Kim Jong-Un of doing 'the wrong thing' as he talked up the power of the fleet heading towards the Korean peninsula. China has made clear its frustration with Pyongyang's stubbornness but Beijing's priority remains preventing any military flare-up that could bring chaos and instability to its doorstep. In his phone call with Trump, Xi stressed that China 'advocates resolving the issue through peaceful means,' the foreign ministry said. China is said to have moved 150,000 troops to its border to deal with a possible influx of North Korean refugees amid fears Trump may strike Kim Jong-un following the surprise US missile attack on Syria last week. 'We are sending an armada. Very powerful,' Trump told Fox News on Tuesday amid rising tensions with North Korea TENSE STAND-OFF: The U.S. dispatched a naval strike group to the area amid continued missile launches and hot rhetoric from North Korea Chinese president Xi Jinping (right) has pleaded for peace after Donald Trump (left) warned the US is sending an 'armada' to North Korea Asked in an interview with Fox News whether he considers Kim Jong-Un to be mentally fit, Trump said: 'I don't know. I don't know. I don't know him. But he's doing the wrong thing.' He held back from interviewer Maria Bartiromo what his plans might be as he stated the immense capabilities of the naval strike group that is en route. 'We are sending an armada. Very powerful,' Trump said. 'We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier, that I can tell you. And we have the best military people on earth. And I will say this: He is doing the wrong thing.' Asked what his administration was doing right now on North Korea, Trump responded: 'You never know, do you? You never know.' 'That's all you're going to say?' Bartiromo asked. 'You know I don't talk about the military,' Trump responded. In the same interview, Trump also said Russian President Vladimir Putin is backing an 'evil person' in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 'Frankly, Putin is backing a person that's truly an evil person," Trump told the Fox Business Network, referring to Assad. 'I think it's very bad for Russia. I think it's very bad for mankind.' Of Assad, Trump added: 'This is an animal.' Trump is increasing pressure on Putin to abandon Assad, just as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is visiting Moscow. Tillerson is currently in Moscow, meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. President Trump spoke about the North Korea threat with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News President Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy strike group Carl Vinson towards the Korean peninsula, in response to the country's continued missile tests Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned that Russia-US relations have deteriorated since Donald Trump took office Putin warns that Russia-US relations have deteriorated since Trump took office Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia-US relations have deteriorated since Donald Trump took office in the wake of America's missile strike in Syria. The Russian President addressed the 'level of trust' between Moscow and Washington in an interview transcript released by Kremlin officials. 'It can be said that the level of trust at the working level, especially at the military level, has not become better but most likely has degraded,' Putin said. His statement came as Moscow delivered an unusually hostile reception to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a face-off over Syria. Just as Tillerson sat down for talks in Moscow, a senior Russian official attacked the 'primitiveness and loutishness' of U.S. rhetoric, part of a volley of statements that appeared timed to maximise the awkwardness during the first visit by a member of Trump's cabinet. Advertisement Earlier, Trump tweeted that North Korea was 'looking for trouble' and the United States would 'solve the problem' with or without China's help. He pressed Chinese president Xi Jinping during their summit Friday at Mar-a-Lago to help with North Korea's intransigence. As a backdrop to their meeting, Trump authorized the launch of 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield in response to the use of chemical weapons. 'If China decides to help, that would be great,' Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. 'If not, we will solve the problem without them!' Tension mounted amid concern North Korea might conduct its sixth nuclear test. In a show of force, the U.S. is diverting U.S. Navy strike group Carl Vinson from Australia toward the Korean peninsula. North Korea has continued to blast the U.S. in its pronouncements. Its ministry of foreign affairs called the deployment 'reckless acts of aggression' in a letter delivered to CNN in in Pyongyang: 'If the U.S. dares to choose a military option the DPRK is willing and ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S. 'Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland,' said the country's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper. The Chinese army has deployed 150,000 troops to the Yalu River Bridge at the North Korean border in anticipation of a wave of refugees from North Korea if war breaks out. Meanwhile, the US Navy has moved the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group from Singapore to the North Korean peninsula War games: Pyongyang condemned Washington's order to dispatch the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to the region for US-South Korea military exercises. A row of F18 fighter jets are pictured on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson President Trump wrote on Twitter after revealing he had urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to pressure its neighbor and close ally in to stopping its nuclear program North Korean state media has warned of a possible nuclear attack if the country becomes the target of American aggression. Above, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pictured above on Tuesday, attending a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang 'Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland,' the paper continued. Pyongyang rattled a saber in Washington's direction on Monday, saying it would mount a defense against 'reckless acts of aggression' after the Trump administration sent an aircraft carrier strike group toward the Korean peninsula. The strike group consists of the USS Carl Vinson, a missile carrier and two destroyers. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said the North Korean foreign ministry criticized Trump's 'reckless acts of aggression' and said American aggression has 'reached a serious phase.' Pyongyang 'is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.,' the ministry insisted. Video shows the moment a father-of-five was tackled to the ground in an arrest that injured four officers after an alleged high-speed drug-fuelled rampage. Vito Virzi, 35, was allegedly high on GHB or 'liquid fantasy' when he drove motorists off the road with speeds of up to 200km/h on Queensland's M1. When officers arrived he allegedly tried to force police vehicles off the road before his car ran out of petrol and came to a stop at Gaven on the Gold Coast. Vito Virzi, 35, was allegedly high on GHB or 'liquid fantasy' when he drove motorists off the road with speeds of up to 200km/h on Queensland's M1 Mr Virzi is facing six driving, drug and assault charges after Monday's alleged rampage Mr Virzi then allegedly assaulted several officers and tried to steal a police car. Video obtained by 9News shows police tackle the father-of-five to the ground on the motorway. Inspector Mark Pengelly said police were forced to use capsicum spray and a taser to subdue him. 'He was behaving very, very violently,' Insp Pengelly told reporters on Monday. 'Four of the officers actually ended up in hospital with injuries.' Video shows the moment a father-of-five was tackled to the ground in an arrest that injured four officers after an alleged high-speed drug-fuelled rampage Inspector Mark Pengelly said police were forced to use capsicum spray and a taser to subdue him The officers were cut and bruised in the arrest and had to be tested for diseases after being splattered with his blood. Mr Virzi is facing six driving, drug and assault charges after Monday's alleged rampage. He did not attend court on Tuesday because he was in a medically induced coma at the Gold Coast University Hospital due to his alleged level of drug intoxication. Mr Virzi will appear at the Southport Courthouse when he is discharged from hospital. He is expected to face court on Wednesday. As severe weather disrupted thousands of Delta fliers last week, the airline was also reportedly suffering from another major issue that caused even more chaos behind the scenes as their crew tracking systems failed. From Wednesday to Sunday, Delta airlines had canceled more than 3,000 flights as powerful thunderstorms moved across Georgia and other states in the Southeast during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Crew members said 'the airline's computer system lost rack of them' during the five-day crisis causing more flights to be delayed or canceled, Buzzfeed News reported. As severe weather disrupted thousands of Delta fliers last week, the airline was also suffering from another major issue that caused even more chaos behind the scenes as their crew tracking systems failed (file above) On Tuesday, the chairman of Delta's pilot union said in a letter to pilots: 'Pilots and flight attendants proactively attempted multiple contacts with Crew Scheduling, went days without receiving Crew Scheduling or Tracking contact, were placed on hold (in some cases for over six hours), and were camped out in crew lounges and airports resembling refugee camps.' Delta CEO Ed Bastian sent an internal memo to employees on Monday acknowledging the issue. 'Our recovery was hampered by a lack of available seats to accommodate customers as well as a failure of crew tracking systems to adequately position our people to do their jobs,' Bastian wrote in the memo. The airline said its operations were mostly recovered by Monday morning, and that they expected to operate more than 99 per cent of its scheduled flights. The letter from the pilots union added that the main issue was about connecting flight crews to planes. The pilots union also called for Delta to improve its systems. Crew members said 'the airline's computer system lost rack of them' during the five-day crisis causing more flights to be delayed or canceled (file above) 'Answers will include corporate information technology (IT) investments in crew tracking and operational control, and likely enhanced staffing in those areas,' the letter stated. 'We encourage the Company to expand the technology investments they have already accelerated since the recent IT 'disruption'.' Bastian noted in his memo that the company is continuing to make investments in upgrading technology, including 'significant enhancements to our crew tracking system.' He added that a new data center will go online this upcoming summer. This is not the first time Delta has faced such huge problems in this manner. Back in August, a power outage in Atlanta disrupted hundreds of Delta flights. 'Since the technology outage in August, it has been my top priority to make sure Delta people don't have to endure this type of situation again,' Bastian said. 'We have made progress but clearly must redouble our efforts.' A doctor imprisoned for drugging his beauty queen wife and leaving her to die in a bathtub so he could start a new life with his mistress may have killed himself, say Utah officials Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that they didn't find 'any signs of foul play' in their preliminary investigation, so they're investigating Martin MacNeill's death as a suicide. The 60-year-old MacNeill was found unresponsive Sunday morning near the greenhouse of the Olympus Facility at the Utah State Prison. Martin Joseph MacNeill (pictured left and right) was found dead at Utah State Prison in Draper on Sunday. The 61-year-old was serving time for murdering his wife in 2007 In 2014, MacNeill was sentenced to life in the Olympus Facility of the Utah prison system which is for prisoners with mental health needs Corrections officers tried to revive MacNeill, but he was declared dead at the facility. MacNeill had been in prison since September 2014 after his conviction for first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Michelle. He would not have been eligible for parole until 2052 when he would have been 96. No additional information has been given about how the incident happened. Officials say it may take up to 12 weeks to determine the cause of death. Martin Joseph MacNeill was serving life in prison for murdering his wife Michele MacNeill, where he drugged and left her to die in a bathtub in April 2007. Family members of Michele MacNeill faced her former husband and killer with her pictures during his trial in 2012 His former sister-in-law, Linda Cluff, says he took the 'easy way out,' according to Deseret News. She said she wanted him in prison, suffering. 'He is very evil, an evil man, who carefully planned my sister's death,' Cluff told the outlet, recalling how he laughed during her victim impact statement. She said news of his potential suicide mainly made her concerned about his children. 'Initially there was emotional turmoil, mainly over concern on how it would affect his daughters, and also some anger, I guess, because we were hoping that he would spend the rest of his life in prison,' she said. 'We feel like this is more of an easy way out.' 'He took the easy way out' former sister in law Linda Cluff said of the man who drowned her sister 'It's something that I feared ever since he was convicted' his lawyer Randy Spencer said of his potential suicide MacNeill's attorney and friend, Randy Spencer, says he believes his client took his own life. He said as early as a week ago, MacNeill hinted around that life was not worth living anymore. 'He told me when I visited him that living in prison is 'no life,' and that he doesn't wish to live like this,' Spencer said. 'It's something that I feared ever since he was convicted,' he told the Salt Lake Tribune. 'Im saddened, but not surprised. He was not happy in prison,' he said. MacNeill was sentenced up to life in prison for drugging his wife Michele MacNeill (pictured together) and leaving her to die in a bathtub after she had cosmetic surgery. He did this to be with his mistress Despite that, he said he client seemed in good spirits during their last visit and they discussed a potential appeal. Spencer argued during trial that MacNeill was at work while his wife drowned in the tub, the autopsy was inconclusive, and the case was circumstantial. 'Its just one more tragedy, if you will, through a series of tragedies that have followed this man and have been created by this man,' prosecutor Chad Grunander told Herald Extra. The disgraced doctor's death came less than a month after the Utah Court of Appeals rejected his bid for a new murder trial, reported the Salt Lake Tribune. The former physician was found unresponsive outside near a greenhouse at the state's Olympus facility (pictured). Investigators are looking into the cause of his death but suspect it was suicide He was serving time at the Olympus facility, which is designated for inmates with mental health needs. MacNeill attempted to commit suicide with a disposable razor while he was at a Utah County jail awaiting his sentencing in December 2013. He was convicted the month before. His long-awaited sentencing took several years after prosecutors accused MacNeill of knocking out his wife with a cocktail of drugs following her cosmetic surgery. Her body was found by her then-six-year-old daughter. Michele MacNeill (left) initially was ruled to have died of natural causes but her family hounded authorities until charges were filed five years after her death. MacNeill's secret lover, Gypsy Willis (right), was hired shortly after her death, as MacNeill introduced her as the new nanny He left her to drown in a bathtub after prosecutors said he gave her a fatal cocktail of prescription drugs so he could begin a new life with his mistress, Gypsy Willis, who he had hired on the pretext of being the new nanny, weeks after Michele died. However, his older daughters said they quickly recognized the woman as his secret lover and the subject of arguments between their parents. Prosecutors said he insisted his 50-year-old wife to get a face-lift and faked a medical condition of his own to throw off suspicion in the weeks before his wife's death. They pointed to erratic behavior and what they called phony grief the day she died. This domain was recently registered at Namecheap.com. Please check back later! Furious United Airlines passengers are swearing off the company after a passenger was dragged off of an overbooked flight. Many social media users posted photos cutting up their frequent flyer cards and United sponsored credit cards, and promised to cancel accounts with the airline. The actions were motivated by a shocking confrontation on Sunday in which a passenger was knocked out and dragged off of a United plane at Chicago's O'Hare International airport after he refused to give up his seat for flight staff. Many social media users posted photos cutting up their frequent flyer cards and United sponsored credit cards, and promised to cancel accounts with the airline Aninda Sadhukhan, a 35-year-old IT auditor, shredded his United MileagePlus Explorer card with Chase bank after cancelling his account. He told CNN that he'd had mounting issues with the airline, but seeing the bloodied photos of the brutalized elderly doctor 'crossed a red line' for him. 'Getting rid of the card is the first step in making myself feel accountable in not being able to fly United,' he said. Phyllis Brown, a nurse practitioner from Denver, CO, posted to Facebook saying that she was also destroying her United credit card 'in protest of their recent brutal treatment of a legal paying passenger'. Josh Perfetto said he cut up his new card and plans to never fly United again The actions were motivated by a shocking confrontation on Sunday in which a passenger was knocked out and dragged off of a United plane at Chicago's O'Hare International airport after he refused to give up his seat for flight staff She encouraged others to do the same, and added that though it would make it more difficult to visit her children who live in Africa, she would use different airlines to visit them. Steven Reichert said on Twitter: 'Cutting up my United frequent flyer card, and will NEVER EVER fly them again.' One twitter user named Alexis Roos posted a photo of her cut up card, with the caption: 'Dear #UnitedAirlines, I just 're-accomodated' my credit card.' The company's president released a statement in response to the incident, in which he apologized for having to 're-accomodate' 69-year-old Dr David Dao. Dao was forcibly removed from the flight because it was overbooked. He was selected to give up his seat to make room for flight staff who needed to board the aircraft headed from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky The Vietnamese-born physician was revealed on Monday by DailyMail.com to have a history of conduct violations, and was charged with a felony in 2003 after he traded prescription drugs to a male patient who he had a sexual relationship with. Dao was forcibly removed from the flight because it was overbooked. He was selected to give up his seat to make room for flight staff who needed to board the aircraft headed from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky. United lost $800 million of its value as share plunged on Wall Street in the wake of the PR disaster. It remains unclear if Dr Dao plans to sue the United. David Cameron and George Osborne damaged the civil services reputation for impartiality by dragging officials into the Brexit referendum campaign, MPs have said. A scathing report has criticised their inappropriate and counter-productive decision to spend 9.3million of taxpayers money on a leaflet sent to all households setting out the arguments for Remain. The Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee also said the civil service under Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood had failed to prepare for the possibility of Brexit. David Cameron and George Osborne damaged the civil services reputation for impartiality by dragging officials into the Brexit referendum campaign, MPs have said It accused ministers including the then chancellor of misrepresenting a series of reports drawn up by the Treasury warning about Brexit. In a report on what lessons should be learned from the EU referendum, it said the Remain campaign, which was dubbed Project Fear, had unfairly presented the Treasurys analysis. The committee gave the example of a report on the short-term impacts of Brexit, which was published just a month before the June 23 vote on the front page of the Treasury website with the banner headline: UK economy would fall into recession if Britain leaves the EU. This both misrepresented the analysis and was very obviously partisan in the context of the campaign, the MPs said. They added: The Government was legally obliged to publish reports on aspects of the UKs membership of the EU. However, the presentation of these reports, particularly those from the Treasury, and the decision to spend 9.3million on sending a leaflet, advocating a Remain vote, to all UK households, were inappropriate and counterproductive for the Government. These incidents strengthen the case for the purdah provisions of [the Local Government Act] to be extended to the full length of a referendum campaign. The committee was also highly critical of the way David Cameron held the referendum to call the bluff of his critics and to close down unwelcome debate and then resigned when he lost. Charge sheet laid at Remainers door... THE 9.3M LEAFLET Decision to spend 9.3million on sending a leaflet, advocating a Remain vote, to all UK households, was inappropriate and counterproductive. MISREPRESENTED TREASURY REPORTS Experts told MPs: The chancellor and others made a number of statements that Britain would be poorer by 4,300 per household, a level of certainty that was not justified by the underlying analysis. Criticised: Civil service head Sir Jeremy Heywood IMPARTIALITY OF CIVIL SERVICE DAMAGED There were many occasions when it appeared to many that civil servants were being drawn into referendum controversy. This damaged the reputations of the civil and diplomatic services for impartiality. OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE PREPARED FOR BREXIT In 1975, Whitehall undertook contingency planning for a possible vote in favour of withdrawal from the European Communities and there was no adequate reason for a refusal to prepare for either eventuality in 2016. Civil servants should never have been asked to operate in a climate where [this] was formally proscribed by the Government. CAMERON TRIED TO SHUT DOWN DEBATE ON EU The then PM held the vote with the aim of using a negative result to shut down the debate about the question at issue. Advertisement It said that in future referenda, the prime minister of the day should be prepared to carry on in office and to implement the result, whatever the outcome. MPs also said the civil service under Sir Jeremy had failed to prepare for the possibility of Brexit. They said: In 1975, Whitehall undertook contingency planning for a possible vote in favour of withdrawal from the European Communities and there was no adequate reason for a refusal to prepare for either eventuality in 2016. Civil servants should never have been asked to operate in a climate where contingency planning was formally proscribed by the Government. The MPs added: There was no proper planning for a Leave vote so the EU referendum opened up much new controversy and left the prime ministers credibility destroyed. It should be reasonable to presume that the sitting prime minister and his/her administration will continue in office and take responsibility for the referendum result in either eventuality. Tory MP Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the committee, said: The use of the machinery of government during referendums has a significant effect on public trust and confidence. Referendums, therefore, need to be designed in such a way as to provide the utmost clarity for parliamentarians, campaigners and, above all, the electorate. It is of the highest importance that the referendum process is seen to be fair, by both sides, and that the result is agreed to, even if not with, by both sides. An acrimonious Brexit could cause the European Union to lose its top credit rating, financiers have warned. The EU claims Britain owes 60billion euros and has demanded it pay up as part of the divorce negotiations. But Standard & Poors said the demand was unlikely to be legally enforceable, and that the EUs double A rating could then suffer if the UK didnt stump up the money. Poet Sylvia Plath accused her husband Ted Hughes of beating her two days before she miscarried their second child, according to unpublished letters. In what academics have hailed as a fascinating insight into how their relationship disintegrated in the 1960s, Plath also claimed he wanted her dead. The letters written to her former psychiatrist over the last three years of her life were put up for sale in the US by an antiquarian bookseller for 695,000. Sylvia Plath in 1954: The poet committed suicide nine years later In an extract, Plath makes what may be a reference to abuse by the late Poet Laureate: I have the consolation of being no doubt the only woman who will know the early years of a charming genius. On my skin. Like a Belsen label. However, the collection of 14 letters has been pulled from sale in a dispute over ownership after a US college said they are part of an estate bequeathed to it. Plath was treated by Dr Ruth Barnhouse after her first suicide attempt in 1953, before she left the States and moved to England, meeting Hughes at Cambridge, but continued to write to her. By the early 1960s her marriage was disintegrating, but the destruction by Hughes of the final volume of her journal which he said was done to protect their children has left scholars with a gap in understanding her state of mind. She killed herself in 1963, aged 30. Ted Hughes died in 1998 So there was huge interest when the letters emerged. They were amassed by a feminist scholar who reportedly claims to have been given them by Dr Barnhouse. The auction catalogue says they will change the face of Plath scholarship and detail physical abuse and psychological torture at the hands of her husband. According to The Guardian, they reveal Plaths accusation of physical abuse shortly before miscarrying their second child in 1961. In another letter, dated October 21, 1962, Plath claimed to Dr Barnhouse that Hughes, who died in 1998, told her directly that he wished she was dead. Seller Ken Lopez said nine of the letters represent the only documents extant of that time in her life, written by Plath and seen from her perspective. Mr Lopez told the Daily Mail the quote in which Plath refers to knowing a charming genius on my skin was not the source of his claim that they detailed domestic abuse at Hughes hands, but agreed it could be interpreted as a reference to violence. The letters are understood to have been removed from sale after Smith College in Massachusetts claimed they were part of Dr Barnhouses estate, which it said had been bequeathed to it. There has been a 42 per cent rise in students using technology to cheat in their exams since 2012, according to Freedom of Information requests. In 2016 there were 210 cases of students using hidden devices to cheat - and these 'invisible' aids can be bought online for as little as as $13.99 (11). Experts say the actual number of students cheating is likely to be much higher as devices have become so sophisticated lots of fraudsters won't even be caught. Scroll down for video In 2016 there were 210 cases of UK university students using hidden devices to cheat in exams - a 42 per cent increase since 2012, according to Freedom of Information requests (stock image) CHEATING TECH One in four students who are caught cheating have used electronics such as phones, smart watches and earpieces. An 'invisible' nano earpiece can be bought off ebay for as little as $13.99 (11). The earphone is an electromagnetic device with a micro earpiece that fits in the canal of the ear. Another website called Monorean sells invisible earpieces for students wanting to cheat their way through exams from 349 (298/ $370). Experts say the actual number of students cheating is likely to be much higher as devices have become so sophisticated lots of fraudsters won't even be caught. Advertisement One in four students who are caught cheating have used electronics such as phones, smart watches and earpieces, according to a Freedom of Information request by the Guardian. 'I was aware of a case of a student using a hidden earpiece and the only way [they were] found was when other students reported it', said Irene Glendinning, academic manager at Coventry University. 'The student had long hair and there was no way we would have known,' she said. Queen Mary University of London had 54 instances of cheating between 2012 and 2016. Two out of three of these cases involved students using technology. Newcastle University reported 91 cases of cheating - 43 per cent of which involved using technology. An 'invisible' nano earpiece can be bought off ebay for as little as $13.99 (11). The earphone is an electromagnetic device with a micro earpiece that fits in the canal of the ear. Another website called Monorean sells invisible earpieces for students wanting to cheat their way through exams from 349 (298/ $370). 'Cheat on tests with absolute discretion!' the website says. LEAGUE TABLES FOR CHEATING University Number of cheating cases using technology in 2016 Queen Mary University of London Newcastle University Royal Holloway De Montfort Sheffield Hallam University King's College London University of Surrey 36 39 20 18 12 9 9 'The best wireless and invisible earpiece for cheating on tests: wireless communication without being caught. 'Finally, your nerdy classmates can tell you all the answers!' it says. The Freedom of information request, which was answered by 41 out of the 154 universities in the UK, found that cheating was most common in maths and science-based subjects. A website called Monorean sells invisible earpieces for students wanting to cheat their way through exams. 'Cheat on tests with absolute discretion!' the website says 'The best wireless and invisible earpiece for cheating on tests: wireless communication without being caught', says the website Monorean which sells invisible earpieces 'These figures are only going to show what's been detected and students who cheat well won't always get caught, especially now there's so much mini-tech out there which is hard to spot', Thomas Lancaster, an expert on cheating and an associate dean at Staffordshire University told the Guardian. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education said: 'Clearly there's potential for wearable tech to allow dishonest students to cheat. 'We are looking into this and will raise this with the group of experts that is helping to steer our contract cheating work.' Cheating is not just confined to university students. A 2015 study found 11 per cent of students on all levels cheated in public exams. The study was conducted by The Student Room, an three million-strong online community for students aged between 14 and 24. More than one in ten GCSE, A-levels and university students have admitted to cheating on their finals this year, according to the study. And as they are not using their brainpower to study, time is spent exploring new ways of deceit, including using UV light pens, wireless headphones linked to phones and gadgets and storing formulae or facts on calculators. Many of us rely on using our fingerprints to unlock our phones and pay for shopping. But smartphone fingerprint scanners may not be secure as we think. Researchers have developed a series of 'MasterPrints' made from the common features of human finger markings which they say can unlock any smartphone. Scroll down for video Sample fingerprints that researchers compared against an artificial MasterPrint. Solid black squares around a print show when the MasterPrint 'matched' with a real fingerprint HOW DO MASTERPRINTS UNLOCK PHONES? MasterPrints are mosaics made from the common elements of all human finger markings. The surface of our fingers are covered in swirling friction ridges, which have evolved to heighten our sensitivity to touch. The intricate pattern these ridges form on our fingers are unique to every person and no two fingerprints are the same. But there are three basic fingerprint patterns that all ridges follow, which are known as the loop, whorl, and arch patterns. There are three basic fingerprint patterns that all friction ridges follow, which are known as the arch (left) loop, (middle) and whorl (right) While 60 to 65 per cent of all people have a loop pattern on their fingerprints, 30 to 35 per cent have a whorl and around five per cent have an arch. The researchers made use of these common patterns to create MasterPrints that roughly match a large number of real finger markings. They are artificially created using computer software, but closely resemble a real finger print. The artificial fingerprints work by exploiting the way smartphone scanners analyse your finger. Smartphone scanners are so small that they have to take multiple pictures of your finger or thumb, leaving more room for error. Smartphones often also let users to save several finger and thumb prints. Because a print only has to match one saved image to unlock the device, the sensor is more vulnerable to error. 'It's as if you have 30 passwords and the attacker only has to match one,' Professor Nasir Memon, from New York University, told the New York Times. Advertisement MasterPrints are artificial mosaics made from the common elements of all human finger markings. The surface of our fingers are covered in swirling friction ridges, which have evolved to heighten our sensitivity to touch. The intricate pattern these ridges form on our fingers are unique to every person and no two fingerprints are the same. But there are three basic fingerprint patterns that all ridges follow, which are known as the loop, whorl, and arch patterns. While 60 to 65 per cent of all people have a loop pattern on their fingerprints, 30 to 35 per cent have a whorl and around five per cent have an arch. The researchers made use of these common patterns to create MasterPrints that roughly match a large number of real finger markings. Scientists from New York University and Michigan State University found the artificial prints can unlock any phone 65 per cent of the time. Fingerprint scanners are incorporated into the home button of the iPhone 5 and newer models (pictured is a stock image of the iPhone 6), and on the front or back of most Android devices The digital fingerprints work by exploiting the way smartphone scanners analyse a finger. Smartphone scanners are so small that they have to take multiple pictures of your finger or thumb, leaving more room for error. 'A number of consumer electronic devices, such as smartphones, are beginning to incorporate fingerprint sensors for user authentication,' the scientists said in a research paper. 'The sensors embedded in these devices are generally small and the resulting images are, therefore, limited in size. 'To compensate for the limited size, these devices often acquire multiple partial impressions of a single finger during enrolment to ensure that at least one of them will successfully match with the image obtained from the user during authentication.' Smartphones also let users to save several finger and thumb prints. Because a print only has to match one saved image to unlock the device, the sensor is more vulnerable to error. 'It's as if you have 30 passwords and the attacker only has to match one,' Professor Nasir Memon, from New York University, told the New York Times. Fingerprint scanners are incorporated into the home button of the iPhone 5 and newer Apple models, and on the front or back of most new Android devices. But Apple said the chance of error for their fingerprint sensors is just one in 50,000 if one finger is saved, according to the New York Times. A company spokesperson added Apple had various other security features to prevent hackers getting into a stranger's phone. For example, Apple requires you to enter your PIN rather than your fingerprint when you first switch on your device. Birth order significantly impacts whether children are destined to be a CEO, astronaut or rock star, according to new research. First-borns are statistically more likely to become rock musicians, reality TV stars and astronauts, while middle children are more likely to become Olympic athletes and CEOs. The researchers hope their findings will show the positive differences between siblings - and the strong and lasting influence they have on each other. Scroll down for video Eldest children, like Neil Armstrong (left) are more likely to become astronauts. Middle children, such as entrepreneur Bill Gates (middle) are most likely to be company CEOs. Youngest children, like Mozart (right), are most likely to become musicians Middle-born children, such as Madonna (left) and Julia Roberts (right) were found to be 30 per cent more likely to become company CEOs KEY FINDINGS Middle-born children were found to be 30 per cent more likely to become company CEOs and 41 per cent more likely to become Olympic athletes. Eldest children were found to be 29 per cent more likely to become astronauts. For the youngest born, a career in classical music may well await as they were 50 per cent more likely to follow in the footsteps of Mozart than their older siblings. In families where there are four to six siblings, the eldest children had a 76 per cent higher tendency to choose an investigative career. Those growing up as an only child were found to be 181 per cent more likely to pursue a career as an artist thanks to perfectionist and mature personality traits. Advertisement A team of statisticians looked at a random sample of over 500 of the most successful individuals from 11 different career groups to identify statistically significant patterns. TV psychologist Emma Kenny, who is based in London and Manchester, led the research and concluded that birth order has a tangible and marked effect on career paths. 'The research conducted over the last month has shown that birth order is a significant factor in determining employment role types between siblings - overall there are far more typical cases than exceptions', said Ms Kenny. Middle-born children were found to be 30 per cent more likely to become company CEOs. This was due to personality traits including competitiveness, flexibility and diplomacy. Middle children are 41 per cent more likely to become an Olympic athlete compared to other children. One of the most successful entrepreneurs of modern times, the Microsoft genius Bill Gates, is also a middle child. His remarkable ability to think outside the box and take moderate risks are attributes often found in middle children. Many of our biggest celebrities, such as Julia Roberts, Madonna and Katy Perry are also 'middles'. THE EFFECT OF BIRTH ORDER ON CAREER PATHS Category Sibling Type Percentage of occurrence in the sample The percentage that it exceeds the expected average Reality TV Stars Eldest 46 32 Scientists and Engineers Eldest 37 7 Astronauts Eldest 50 29 Rock Stars Eldest 48 25 Politicians Middle 28 16 Olympians Middle 34 41 CEOs Middle 31 30 Authors Middle 40 66 Composers Younger 52 50 Explorers Youngest 43 12 Artists Only 18 181 Political giants such as ex UK Prime Minister Tony Blair (left) and American president Abraham Lincoln are middle children. Of all the US Presidents since 1787, no fewer than 52 per cent were middle children The list of presidential middles includes political giants such as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy as well as the previous UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Of all the US Presidents since 1787, no fewer than 52 per cent were middle children. Eldest children were found to be 29 per cent more likely to become astronauts - for example Neil Armstrong was the eldest of three. Stephen Hawking is among the 37 per cent of scientists and engineers who were eldest children. Often these siblings also came from families almost twice as big as the national average In families where there are four to six siblings, the eldest children had a 76 per cent higher tendency to choose an investigative career. Those growing up as an only child were found to be 181 per cent more likely to pursue a career as an artist thanks to perfectionist and mature personality traits, the study found. For the youngest born, a career in classical music may well await as they were 50 per cent more likely to follow in the footsteps of Mozart than their older siblings. They are also 48 per cent more likely to become rock stars like Mick Jagger who is an oldest sibling. By the time the youngest arrives, parents tend to be far more relaxed about child rearing and are more likely to be explorers like Bear Grylls (left) and British adventurer David Mayer de Rothschild (right) By the time the youngest child arrives, parents tend to be far more relaxed about child rearing and are more likely to be explorers like Bear Grylls and British adventurer David Mayer de Rothschild. On the other side of the spectrum, explorers, who are proportionately 12 per cent more likely to be youngest children, were found to come from families 86 per cent larger than the UK average. Stephen Hawking is among the 37 per cent of scientists and engineers who were eldest children often these siblings came from families almost twice as big as the national average. Explorers were found to come from families 86 per cent larger than the UK average. Christopher Columbus (pictured) grew up as one of five siblings, while English sea captain Sir Francis Drake grew up as one of 12 Christopher Columbus grew up as one of five siblings, while English sea captain Sir Francis Drake grew up as one of 12. The research paper was commissioned by Disney, makers of Frozen - which explores the relationship between two sisters - to celebrate National Siblings Day on 10 April. 'With this research we hope to show the positive differences between siblings - and the strong and lasting influence they have on each other', said Anna Hill, Chief Marketing Officer at Disney. Millions of objects floating in orbit around the planet could one day lead to a disastrous collision in space. That is the concern of the European Space Agency, that is hoping to tackle the growing problem of space debris. It fears could one day lead to an impact like an 'exploding grenade' on the objects in space, such as the International Space Station (ISS). Experts believe the junk could leave regions of space unsuitable for space flight and are holding an international meeting next week to address the issue head on. Scroll down for video Experts from the European Space Agency have warned that millions of objects floating in orbit around the planet could one day lead to a collision like an 'exploding grenade' in space - similar to scenes from the Hollywood blockbuster Gravity DEBRIS CLOUD Over the past 60 years of launching rockets, satellite and other spacecraft, a cloud of debris has accumulated in orbit of the planet. More than 18,000 of these objects are tracked from the ground, according to the ESA. There are at least 750,000 fragments of space junk the size of a coin floating above Earth, and millions that are even smaller. Only 1,100 of these objects are functional spacecraft. At typical impact speeds of 40,000 km/h (25,000 miles per hour), this material could do serious damage to satellites and spacecraft. Advertisement The European Space Agency (ESA) has released a new video exploring the issue, as well as the measures it hopes to take. Since 1957, more than 4,900 space launches have led to millions of objects above the planet. A tiny proportion of these are working spacecrafts, with the remainder - around 94 per cent - objects which no longer serve any useful purpose. About 64 per cent of the routinely tracked objects are fragments from 250 breakups, explosions and collisions of satellites or rocket bodies. And the fear is that these objects could one day cause catastrophic harm to astronauts or technology. Speaking in the ESA video Holger Krag, head of space debris at the agency, said of an impact: 'It is not comparable to a gunshot. 'The energy contained in a one centimetre (0.4 inch) particle hitting a satellite at that velocity, roughly corresponds to an exploding grenade. 'These collisions generate more fragments, and these fragments are candidates for new collisions to come.' Scientists from around the world will meet in Darmstadt, Germany, from April 18 - 21. Delegates at the seventh European Conference on Space Debris - held at ESAs European Space Operations Centre - will discuss tactics in debris avoidance as well as concepts for removing the debris and creating more junk. Dr Krag added: 'The largest fear we have is that we enter in some sort of cascading effect, where one collision triggers the next one. Since 1957, more than 4,900 space launches have led to millions of objects above the planet. At typical impact speeds of 40,000 km/h (25,000 miles per hour), this material could do serious damage to satellites and spacecraft Collisions generate more fragments, which could create a cascading effect where one collision triggers the next one. While this effect may not be as immediate as the one featured in the film Gravity (pictured), any single impact could be devastating 'This is not anything that will happen in a microsecond like in the movie Gravity. 'It will set in slowly, hardly noticeably, but unstoppable. 'Over decades, the frequency of collisions might increase without human influence. 'That is a situation that might render some regions in space unusable for space flight and that would be a disaster.' A number of possible solutions have been suggested for clearing away the debris. A number of possible solutions have been suggested for clearing away the debris, including nets (pictured), drag sails and harpoons In 2016, scientists at the University of Surrey announced plans to launch a satellite to test approaches for removing some of the 7,000 tonnes of space junk from earth's orbit. It will test nets, drag sails and harpoons as methods for dragging debris out of orbit, to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. It is expected to launch this year. From driving cars to beating chess masters at their own game, computers are already performing incredible feats. And artificial intelligence is quickly advancing, allowing computers to learn from experience without the need for human input. But scientists are concerned that computers are already overtaking us in their abilities, raising the prospect that we could lose control of them altogether. Scroll down for video Scientists are concerned that computers are already overtaking us in their abilities, raising the prospect that we could lose control of them altogether. Pictured is the Terminator film, in which robots take over - a prospect that could soon become a reality ROBOT TAKEOVER A recent report by PwC found that four in 10 jobs are at risk of being replaced by robots. The report also found that 38 per cent of US jobs will be replaced by robots and artificial intelligence by the early 2030s. The analysis revealed that 61 per cent of financial services jobs are at risk of a robot takeover. This is compared to 30 per cent of UK jobs, 35 per cent of Germany and 21 per cent in Japan. Advertisement Last year, a driverless car took to the streets of New Jersey, which ran without any human intervention. The car, created by Nvidia, could make its own decisions after watching how humans learned how to drive. But despite creating the car, Nvidia admitted that it wasn't sure how the car was able to learn in this way, according to MIT Technology Review. The car's underlying technology was 'deep learning' a powerful tool based on the neural layout of the human brain. Deep learning is used in a range of technologies, including tagging your friends on social media, and allowing Siri to answer questions. The system is also being used by the military, which hopes to use deep learning to steer ships, destroy targets and control deadly drones. There is also hope that deep learning could be used in medicine to diagnose rare diseases. But if its creators lose control of the system, we're in big trouble, experts claim. Speaking to MIT Technology Review, Professor Tommi Jaakkola, who works on applications of deep learning, said: 'If you had a very small neural network [deep learning algorithm], you might be able to understand it.' 'But once it becomes very large, and it has thousands of units per layer and maybe hundreds of layers, then it becomes quite un-understandable.' This is concerning, considering deep learning could soon be used to control deadly military weapons, and cars. In a recent study, a computer was tasked with predicting disease by analysing patient records. The findings are concerning, considering deep learning could soon be used to control deadly military weapons, and cars (stock image) Results showed that the computer was extremely accurate in diagnosing schizophrenia but even its creators did not know why. Dr Joel Dudley, who lead the project at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital, said: 'We can build these models, but we don't know how they work.' In the hopes of staying in control of these powerful systems, many of the world's largest technology firms created an 'AI ethics board' in 2016. Researchers with Alphabet, Amazon, Facebook, IBM, and Microsoft teamed up to create the new group, known as the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence to Benefit People and Society, to develop a standard of ethics for the development of AI. It was the handheld plastic digital toy that was so addictive it was banned in some schools and now its back. Tamagotchi, the classic 1990s virtual pet game, has become the latest retro gadget to make a comeback. Japanese toy maker Bandai has relaunched the tiny handheld game, featuring the six original pets. Tamagotchi, the addictive 1990s virtual pet game, has become the latest retro gadget to make a comeback (pictured is the 2017 version) TAMAGOTCHI 2017 Six original characters Low-resolution graphics Handheld colourful plastic eggs on a key chain Pets eat, sleep and go to the loo Available now from Amazon Japan for 2,000 yen ($18, 14) Advertisement The cult game will keep its low-resolution retro graphics but comes in newly created brightly-coloured eggs in two sizes. The devices are available now from Amazon Japan for 2,000 yen ($18, 14). Tamagotchi games were launched in 1996, with an incredible 80million units sold worldwide by 2010. The name Tamagotchi comes from the Japanese word for egg, 'tamago', and the English word 'watch', according to Bandai. The cult game will keep its low-resolution retro graphics but comes in newly created brightly-coloured eggs in two sizes Players have to feed (left) and clean up after (right) one of the six original Tamagotchi pets in the game In the orginal game, there were over 35 characters to look after. They lived on a keychain device and had to be nurtured by the owner, from an egg to adult life. Owners had to give them medicine when they were poorly and clean up after they'd been to the loo. The state of the creatures happiness and hunger levels were indicated by meters, which had to be monitored frequently. A tamagotchi pet takes a nap. The early versions didn't have a pause option and owners had to press a button every 30 minutes to feed them The early versions didn't have a pause option and owners had to press a button every 30 minutes to feed them, otherwise they would starve to death. This led to pupils the world over being distracted in class as they frantically tried to keep their Tamagotchis alive. It was a big enough problem for teachers in some schools that the toys were banned. Katy Perry (left) and Orlando Bloom (right), who were a couple until February 2017, wore matching Tamagotchis at the Met Gala 2016 in New York Addictive: The original Tamagotchi games were banned in some schools after children became distracted by their pets' need to be fed every 30 minutes And South Australian MP Nick Xenophon even tried to ban the game in 2005, claiming that the devices would encourage children to become the 'gambling addicts of tomorrow'. In November 2013, Bandai launched a revamped version of the cult game called Friends. The handheld game closely resembled the original but featured new and more life-like characters. In November 2013, Bandai launched a revamped version of the cult game called Friends. The handheld game closely resembled the original but featured new and more life-like characters Bandai said in 2013: Part fashion, part friendship, part community and all fun, the new Tamagotchi Friends combines the nurturing features and simple play pattern of the beloved handheld virtual pet, with exciting new entertainment that we believe will really resonate with Tamagotchi fans. And now, with the new bump feature, similar to whats found in todays smartphones, these lovable, whimsical friends can connect with each other for massively increased levels of interaction. UFO hunters have spotted an enormous 500-metre (1640 foot) long object off the coast of Antarctica. Some have claimed that it is a mysterious alien ship or base hidden underwater in the continent's ice. The object was spotted on Google maps and appears to show a large body of ice sheered off the edge of Antarctica. Scroll down for video UFO hunters have spotted an enormous 500 metre (1640 foot) object off the coast of Antarctica (pictured) ICEBERG OR ALIEN BASE? UFO hunters were particularly interested in the latest finding because of the object's bizarre shape. Normally icebergs come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. But the keen-eyed UFO hunters claim that this iceberg does not fit any of the most common categories of iceberg. 'Icebergs can be classified on the basis of their shape,' wrote UFO Sightings Hotspot. 'The two basic types of iceberg forms are tabular and non-tabular. 'The shapes and forms from this iceberg look very different if we compare it with all the different shapes and forms of tabular and non-tabular icebergs.' Advertisement But conspiracy theorists have put forward the bizarre claim that the object is in fact a large extraterrestrial base. The object can be seen on Google maps by searching the coordinates 7243'13.53"S 7840'21.56"W. 'I'm not an iceberg expert but this object is really peculiar and looks like a vessel disguised as an iceberg,' wrote the website UFO Sightings Hotspot. 'It looks out of place.' To most people Antarctica is a barren wasteland of ice and snow found at the bottom of the globe. But UFO hunters believe it could house extraterrestrial bases and life, acting as the perfect hiding spot due to its lack of human settlers. Previous strange theories around the continent have suggested that UFOs are parked inside of Antarctic caves. UFO hunters were particularly interested in the latest finding because of the object's bizarre shape. Normally icebergs come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. But the keen-eyed UFO hunters claim that this iceberg does not fit any of the most common categories of iceberg. The iceberg was spotted on Smyley Island (pictured), which lies off the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula Normally icebergs come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Different shapes include tabular (1), wedge (2), dome (3), drydock (4) pinnacled (5) and blocky (6) 'Icebergs can be classified on the basis of their shape,' wrote UFO Sightings Hotspot. 'The two basic types of iceberg forms are tabular and non-tabular. 'Tabular icebergs have steep sides and a flat top, much like a plateau, and Non-tabular icebergs have different shapes. 'The shapes and forms from this iceberg look very different if we compare it with all the different shapes and forms of tabular and non-tabular icebergs.' Advertisement Forget ball gowns or designer frocks, spending the day padding around in a dressing gown I discover, is one of lifes ultimate indulgences. Complement this with mesmeric views of Tuscanys otherworldly beauty - a sea of undulating green hills peppered with cypress trees and ancient ruins - then throw into the mix an innovative massage and an afternoon of hopping between thermal pools overlooking the Val dOrcia panorama, and Im set up for one of my most memorable birthdays yet. This year Ive forgone the decadent celebrations in favour of a blissful spa retreat at Fonteverde and Im smugly rewarded with delicious food, fortunate weather and total pampering. Pool with view: Swimmers at the infinity pool are treated to a panorama of Tuscanys undulating green hills peppered with cypress trees at Fonteverde Engulfed in the soothing warmth of the Bioaquam Pool, guests can enjoy jets of water, hydro massaging their backs while staring at the surrounds Fifteen miles from the village of Chiusi, Fonteverde is home to thermal springs rich in sulphur, calcium and magnesium which bubble from the ground at 42 degrees C. Romans and Etruscans flocked to these waters centuries ago to take advantage of their medicinal properties with hot springs recommended to treat ailments of the muscles, bones, respiratory system and skin. And now modern-day serenity seekers can benefit from this re-imagining of a Roman retreat. Guests at Fonteverde are provided with a peach dressing gown to wear all day, except for at dinner. Each pool features different types of hydro massage seats and beds to tone, sculpt and pummel the body In the salt room, right, guests can lie on a bed of salt crystals to stimulate their circulation and lymphatic system or take the plunge in an indoor pool, left Despite my partners initial reluctance to embrace this dress code we are soon both happily sporting our gowns over swimwear, enjoying the fact we dont have to make any effort for breakfast. Alongside a salt room, where guests can lie on a bed of salt crystals to stimulate their circulation and lymphatic system, there is a Turkish bath and a sauna, which is where we begin our spa journey. After sweating out the toxins, we shower and head to the spas circuit of indoor-outdoor thermal pools. Each pool features different types of hydro massage seats and beds to tone, sculpt and pummel the body. The Therapeutic Pool has a series of powerful swan neck jets and a vigorous waterfall, which teases the strains and knots out of the body. It also connects to the outdoor pools Inside the Turkish bath's sauna, left, and right, in addition to a fitness centre there are a number of spa treatments available at the retreat including equilibrium dietics, thermal treatments, physiotherapy massages, ancient Mediterranean and Asian treatments and beauty treatments Engulfed in the soothing warmth of the Bioaquam Pool, my stresses are melted away by the bubbling jets of water, hydro massaging my lumbar. Im staring at the sweeping landscape and the ashy grey skies of April cannot dampen this heavenly experience. We head inside to the Therapeutic Pool and suddenly sunlight breaks through the overcast day to drench the room in natural light. I languidly swim through a series of powerful swan neck jets and a vigorous waterfall, which teases the strains and knots out of my body. Back outside, I sink into the warm embrace of the thermal infinity pool, swim a few laps and hop back between each pool, on repeat. Its a little chilly to sprawl by the infinity pool but were hardy Brits so wrap ourselves in towels, unable to tear ourselves away from the intoxicating view and the first chance to sit outside after a bitter winter at home. Im only stirred from my sun lounger by the promise of a massage from an Indian Master Dipu. The outdoor pool, which is open during the summer or for brave holidaymakers at other times of the year Fonteverde is 15 miles from the village of Chiusi and a hotel transfer from the train station can be arranged. Above, a view of the hotel from Naomi's balcony I booked a session with this expert to tailor a personalised holistic treatment for me that combines Indian medicine with the therapeutic powers of the thermal waters. Like most frazzled city dwellers, my shoulders and neck are twisted with knots and Im buoyed through stressful days by caffeine. Im the first to admit I need a detox, so Im looking forward to a miracle massage to make me feel reborn on a day where I'm officially older. But my therapist has other ideas. He tells me Ive been grinding my teeth and the compression in my lower back is too strong for him to massage as it may leave me feeling swollen. Instead, he suggests a water massage and leads me to a backroom where we find a deep bathtub. Slightly unnerved I lower myself into the tub and stretch out on my stomach, worried by what Ive agreed to. Reasonably-sized bedrooms are decorated in a classic Italian aesthetic and feature a balcony, but most guests don't spend long in their rooms The spectacular Tuscan sunset view from Naomi's bedroom's balcony, which waylaid her dinner reservation Floating in shallow water, which takes my weight, Im suddenly blasted with what feels like two pressure washer hoses mimicking the motions of a massage. The water cools down and just as I start to shiver, a welcome surge of warm water returns cascading over my head and neck. The power of the water kneads my skin and spine and I feel like a vehicle in a car wash, as the therapist works through various sequences of this treatment. There is nothing tranquil about the hour-long process but afterwards I feel springy and supple, like my spine has been stretched out for the first time in years. With my body and mind totally relaxed, the biggest task of the day has arrived - getting dressed for dinner. This is exacerbated by our balcony overlooking the rolling countryside, which boasts one of the most spectacular sunsets either of us has ever seen. We keep taking photos, only for the blaze of pink to become more dramatic as it inflames the sky. Kind staff, embodying the hotels signature calm, provide attentive, impressive service throughout dinner Bubble of calm: The bar, left, and the lobby, right, conjure a timeless, regal ambience Thankfully, the kind staff, embodying the hotels signature calm, dont seem to mind that we are late for our dinner reservation and provide attentive, impressive service. We are seated in a restaurant with high decadent ceilings, water features and antique paintings adorning the walls which conjures a regal ambience. We have a candle-lit table by a window, alongside other couples. Waiters attentively ply us with wine as we enjoy a hearty Mediterranean lamb served with green vegetables. Then Im surprised by staff with a birthday cake, the final indulgence on a day of total pampering. Home to luxury labels such as Prada, Versace and Armani, Milan regards itself as not only the fashion and design capital of Italy, but also the world. This city of 1.3 million in Lombardy fizzes with energy. Rome may be revered and Florence feted, but it's this spirited northern powerhouse that dominates Italy's commercial and cultural life. It's perfect for a city break. Call of the cathedral: Milan is dominated by the epic space of the Piazza del Duomo WHEN TO GO: All year round. But it's lovely in spring. Both British Airways and Flybe launch extra flights this season: BA will fly from London City (from April 24) and Stansted (April 29) to Linate, Milan's most convenient airport, from 45 each way (ba.com). Flybe will fly from Southend to Malpensa from May from 39.99, (flybe.com). FASHION FLAIR: Designer Giorgio Armani, once a medical student in Milan, is lauded as the unofficial patron saint of shopping. As well as the boutiques of Quadrilatero d'Oro, find time for 10 Corso Como, in the Brera district. The store celebrates fashion, art, and great espresso (10corsocomo.com). WHERE TO STAY: On the luxury side, the Mandarin Oriental is well placed for sightseeing and shopping. From its location on Via Andegari, it's no more than five minutes' walk to the historic centre. Rooms from 463 a night (mandarinoriental.com). The most stylish suite is the Milano, at 5,562 (6,500) a night, with original furniture by 20th century artist Piero Fornasetti. For the rest of us, the Montenapoleone Suites hotel offers a central location and excellent value. Recently refurbished, rooms start from 150 a night (montenapoleonesuites.com). OUT AND ABOUT: The city is compact enough to explore on foot: starting from Piazza del Duomo, marvel at the white marble facade of the landmark cathedral, which has more than 2,000 marble saints, 135 spires and 95 gargoyles. Take the lift that whizzes you up 354ft to the roof terraces where, on a clear day, you can see all the way to the Matterhorn. You'll also be close to the golden Madonnina, the statue of the Virgin Mary that sits atop the main cathedral spire. After the Duomo, cut through the elegant glass-roofed shopping arcade, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and find yourself outside La Scala, Italy's greatest opera house. Mozart's Don Giovanni and Donizetti's Anna Bolena are in repertory this season (teatroallascala.org). Lock up your credit cards: The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of Europe's greatest malls SUPPER TIME: Leonardo Da Vinci painted The Last Supper (Il Cenacolo) on the refectory wall of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, between 1495 and 1497. Like the city itself, conquered by successive French, Spanish and Austrian armies, it has suffered assaults on its dignity. In the 17th century, a rectangle was cut in the bottom of the painting to make a door to the kitchen; later Napoleon's cavalry used the room as a stable. None of these insults, however, diminish its power to move. Tickets from 10 (vivaticket.it). ART ON TAP: The next stop for art pilgrims is the splendid Pinacoteca di Brera, home to Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and Bellini. That the gallery boasts so many masterpieces is thanks to Napoleon, who created his own mini-Louvre by plundering art from all over northern Italy. It's possible to take in its highlights in an hour, but do linger in front of Mantegna's Dead Christ, one of Italy's most famous paintings (pinacotecabrera.org). Beauty on tap: The Milan skyline is made all the more dramatic by its Alpine backdrop WHERE TO EAT: Milan is the spiritual home of ladies who lunch. Unlike their New York counterparts, these women love to eat and haunt the Mandarin Bar and Bistrot. The historic Peck in Via Spadari, near the Duomo, is a delicatessen-cum-restaurant serving creamy saffron risotto for 15 (peck.it). For delicious home cooking, the Ristorante San Tomaso, near Piazza Carmine, has main courses from 8, (ristorantesantomaso.it). DRINK UP: The Milanese excel at pre-dinner drinks aperitivo with stuzzichini (nibbles). For pure glamour, head south of the city to The Prada Foundation. The fashion house converted a former distillery into the swankiest of museums. You can tour the galleries before hitting Bar Luce, designed in retro style by film director Wes Anderson. For a great view of the city, visit Il Bar atop La Rinascente department store. Arrive before sunset and watch the Duomo's Gothic facade turn from white to pink then orange. She lives a jet-setting lifestyle, spending time in Paris and Los Angeles. So Lily-Rose Depp is quite familiar with the daunting TSA rules and travel procedures. When the 17-year-old approached a sign at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, she flashed a grin before removing her shoes for a screening. Top of the crops! Lily-Rose Depp went through a TSA body scan procedure at LAX on Monday wearing a red crop top and white boots that she had to remove Trendy traveler: The model-actress traveled with her boyfriend Ash Stymest The daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis was smartly dressed for her journey. She had on a cropped red tank top that flashed a hint of her toned midriff teamed with a pair of grey sweatpants. The model-actress, accompanied by her 25-year-old boyfriend Ash Stymest, completed the look with a pair of white booties that featured a chunky block heel, chic round sunglasses and a silver purse. Carry-on queen! The jet-setter put back her shoes on and collected her luggage after the scan Playing by the rules! Lily-Rose Depp reads a TSA sign and removes her shoes for a body scan Not easy! The model stretched her legs high to remove her boots Her hair was tied back into knot and she had on a soft touch of make-up. It would be no surprise if she had on Chanel beauty products, as she starred in her third campaign for the luxury brand in February to debut the Rouge Coco Gloss. The ambassador scored her first campaign with the fashion house when she was 16 years old, and she is also the face of the Chanel No.5 L'eau fragrance. Following in her footsteps: Her boyfriend, model Ash Stymest, entered the scanning machine wearing red socks The joys of travel! The knockout collected her things after they were scanned So chic! The daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis was smartly dressed for her journey Last month, she hit the runway for Chanel's Paris Fashion Week presentation. She was following in her famous parents' footsteps, as her mother Vanessa was also a face for the brand in 1991. And like her A-list movie star father, Johnny, she is making a name for herself on the big screen, too. Easy does it! Her hair was tied back into knot and she had on a soft touch of make-up Busy: She is due to reprise her Yoga Hosers role in Kevin Smith's comedy Moose Jaws Last year she starred in three films, including Planetarium with Natalie Portman; The Dancer; and Yoga Hosers alongside her father. She is due to reprise her Yoga Hosers role in Kevin Smith's comedy Moose Jaws, which is expected to film later this year. Warship Rating: Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby Rating: For anyone who doubts that Britains defence spending has hit critical new lows, Warship (C4) was an education. Watching the Royal Navys flagship Ocean limp along the Med was like following a brave but ancient VW camper van wheezing down the M5 on a Bank Holiday. Engineers wrangled with leaky pipes that sprayed jets of water round the hold. The electrics fused. And in the midst of an 80mph storm, one of the main engineheads disintegrated, leaving the helicopter carrier adrift at sea for almost 36 hours. For anyone who doubts that Britains defence spending has hit critical new lows, Warship (C4) was an education The crew put a brave face on it, refusing to admit that anything was wrong. HMS Ocean eats problems like this for breakfast, chortled Captain Robert Pedre, and to prove the point the cameras took us to the galley where cooks were preparing the mornings bacon and eggs for 1,000 hungry mariners. Words were chosen with such care that during the entire hour no one so much as said darn and bother on microphone. Ive heard fruitier language on Blue Peter. The documentary team were quite rightly determined to find a more honest assessment, and they got it from one of their stars, 17-year-old apprentice engineer Keira Parry. The youngest person on ship, Keira isnt even eligible to go to war till shes 18: if hostilities break out, she will have to be evacuated to safety. ASSASSIN OF THE NIGHT Wildlife Crime Officer Martin Beck was on the trail of a dastardly sheep killer in Devon And Cornwall Cops (ITV). He suspected the Exmoor villain could be a big cat. Talk about the Wild West Country! Advertisement Keira was having the time of her life, bopping with excitement to be at sea for the first time. But even she could tell that Ocean wouldnt pass an MoT. Its falling apart, everythings broken, she said candidly. Obviously, not everything, but its like it is. Its 20 years old, so what do you expect? To a 17-year-old, 20 is superannuated. The top brass had better not punish Stoker Parry for her guilelessness. The captain must have given permission for her to talk to the TV crew if he couldnt foresee the perils of that, he was the naive one. But the show failed to tackle the most pressing question of all: on a ship with just four women among the complement of 83 engineers, how do the officers prevent romances and jealous rivalries? And what do the wives and girlfriends of the lads feel about this situation? Both the Navy and Channel 4 refuse to admit that amorous difficulties could occur. Like the idea that mechanical breakdowns could imperil our sailors lives and this countrys safety, such a thought is out of bounds. Its simply unthinkable. Never mind Britannia, political correctness rules the waves. Watching the Royal Navys flagship Ocean limp along the Med was like following a brave but ancient VW camper van wheezing down the M5 on a Bank Holiday For sheer candour on camera, Keira was matched by a Samburu warrior called Jacob who works as a safari guide in Kenya. He told Giles Coren on Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby (BBC2) that he cannot understand why Western tourists fly thousands of miles to flog across the savannah in search of elephants and hippos. The Samburu farmers tend herds of cows and goats that are much more beautiful and useful, Jacob said. Why not save yourself some trouble and watch them instead? But if youre not an African tribesman, theres a magical appeal to the Giraffe Manor in Nairobis suburbs, where guests awake every morning to be greeted by long faces on long spotted necks, craning through the windows to be fed titbits. This made for ten minutes of adorable TV. After that, Giles and co-host Monica Galetti were pretty much out of ideas, and so they padded out the rest of the show with filler. How anyone can make a boring wildlife programme beats me, but they somehow managed. She's the glamorous WAG who's known for her fashion-forward outfits. And Nadia Bartel took to Instagram on Monday to showcase her chic 'office' attire in a mirror selfie. The 31-year-old flaunted her slender frame in a pair of tight ripped jeans and a lavish faux fur coat. Fur real beauty! AFL WAG Nadia Bartel rugs up in chic fur jacket while flaunting trim pins in tight denim at 'the office' on Monday The fashion blogger highlighted her trim pins in the sculptured distressed denim with side-striped design. Nadia rugged up in a grey faux fur jacket, with a black T-shirt tucked into her jeans below. She captioned the snap: 'Today in the office, perfect day for my fur.' The Melbourne-based socialite accessorized minimally, choosing to keep her look casual with white sneakers. 'Today in the office, perfect day for my fur': The fashion blogger is a known fan of faux fur, and usually pairs the look with tight jeans that flaunt her trim pins and slender frame The star's highlighted locks were styled in relaxed waves, draping over her shoulders to rest on her coat. Nadia sported a full-face of makeup, opting for strong contouring on her cheek bones, defined brows and taupe eyeshadow. Fans of the brunette stunner commented praise of her outfit on social media, writing 'this outfit is everything!', 'your style is insane' and 'outfit on point.' Another user wrote: 'Nadia you sassy thing! Gimme this whole outfit already!' Last month Nadia poured her heart out discussing the painful condition affecting her 14-month-old son, Aston. Bronzed beauty! Nadia sported a full-face of makeup, opting for strong contouring on her cheek bones, defined brows and taupe eyeshadow for the mirror selfie on Monday On her blog the wife of AFL player Jimmy Bartel said Aston suffers from silent reflex, a condition that she had not even heard of prior to her son's issues. Silent reflux is a condition in which stomach acid causes painful irritation in the esophagus and may leave babies irritable or refusing to eat. 'Aston was a really fussy baby from day dot. You know how a lot of babies are in that sleepy 'unawaken' newborn phase in the hospital and they just sleep a lot? Our boy never went through that stage. Poor bub! Last month Nadia poured her heart out discussing how her 14-month-old son, Aston, suffers from silent reflex 'He was constantly in a lot of pain, it seemed like it was more than just the normal baby fussy cries.' Nadia added that she's know had advice from doctors on how to keep it under control, but initially blamed herself and didn't understand what she was doing wrong as a first time mum. Later in a post on Instagram, Nadia said she didn't want to sound like she was 'whining' but hoped her experience could help others. She won praise for doing a shoot showing her 'mummy tummy' just three months after giving birth to baby Finley. And Rebekah Vardy says she has received 'so many lovely comments' for the photographs, adding that she wanted to show she's 'not ashamed' of her body. The 34-year-old WAG said she wanted to help 'new mums who might be be feeling self-conscious about their bodies'. 'I'm not ashamed of my body': Rebekah Vardy says she has received 'so many lovely comments' following her 'mummy tummy' photoshoot The mother-of-four displayed her post-baby figure in Calvin Klein underwear earlier this month. Speaking about the response she's received for the shoot, she told OK! Magazine: 'There have been so many lovely comments online about my mum tum photo shoot. 'It was something I wanted to do for new mums who might be feeling self-conscious about their bodies. Were so used to seeing celebrities bodies bounce back after giving birth but that isnt realistic for most people. 'Imperfection is beautiful': Rebekah, who gave birth to son Finley on January 8, shared an Instagram snap showing the stretch marks on her belly a few weeks after giving birth Doting mum: The model has filled her Instagram page with snaps of three-month-old Finley 'After I gave birth to Finley I had some nasty comments from people saying my thighs were fat, but I wanted to do the shoot to show that Im not ashamed of my body.' Rebekah, who gave birth to son Finley on January 8, shared an Instagram snap showing the stretch marks on her belly a few weeks after giving birth. She captioned the image with the words: 'Our bodies go through so many changes growing a baby, it's not easy it's tough on women! The trauma of childbirth, the sleep deprivation that follows, the ups and downs! We never fully recover! 'I had some nasty comments': The WAG said she had received some upsetting comments from trolls about her post-baby figure before doing the photoshoot 'Learn to love the wrinkly skin, the stretch marks, the deflated once perky boobs... Perfection doesn't exist... it's just an illusion! Imperfection is beautiful!' Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine The model, who shares daughter Sofia, two, with Jamie and has Megan, 11 and Taylor, six, from previous relationships, also received praise after sharing a photograph of herself breastfeeding her newborn while getting glammed up for a shoot. Meanwhile, in the interview with OK!, Rebekah described Mel B as 'really strong' following her split from Stephen Belafonte, amid allegations he was abusive towards her. Rebekah - who has experienced being in an abusive relationship - told the magazine: 'I know from personal experience how hard it can be to get out of an abusive relationship, as its something I experienced in the past; it takes a lot of strength and courage to leave.' Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine, out now She is known for her bumper chest. But it seems Ariel Winter is more proud of her washboard stomach after she showed it off yet again in a skimpy crop top in Los Angeles on Monday. The busty beauty seemed in high spirits indeed as she sucked on an iced tea while flaunting her wares in the trendy West Hollywood area. Scroll down for video Suns out tums out: Ariel Winter flaunted her washboard stomach yet again in LA on Monday The 19-year-old looked in fine form indeed in her revealing blue crop top, which she paired with ripped jeans and white trainers. And it seems one of her band of friends appreciated her stylistic mode, for she was given a hug by a jolly gentleman carrying some clothing before they headed into a building together. It seems they were going to have a lengthy conversation, as the small screen beauty was seen filling a parking meter with quarters before heading on her merry way. Ariel has starred as youngest Dunphy daughter Alex on the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family since 2009. Specs appeal: She was also wearing a pair of trendy spectacles That's torn it: She was also wearing a pair of ripped jeans on her outing Seal of approval: A male friend showed his delight with her look by giving her a hug The actress has credited her Latina lovely co-star Sofia Vergara for being a great role model and helping her become a confident young woman. She previously said: 'I had a great role model in Sofia growing up, with her being a curvy woman that was super proud of who she was and what she looked like. 'She could see that I was struggling a little bit with how to deal with my body, and was always trying to give me advice, like, "Here are some brands that would look good on our body type," or "Wear whatever you want, and feel good about yourself."' Giving quarter: She was spotted filling up her parking meter before heading to a meeting Quite the handful: She was carrying a drink, purse, phone and her keys at the same time He was left heartbroken after parting ways with Married At First Sight wife Vanessa because of their differing personalities. But despite the split, Andy Hill was on top of the world rather literally on Monday as he took to Instagram to document his attempt at scaling Mount Everest. The 30-year-old appeared to make good on his promise that he had more things to accomplish before he settled down, as he took on the world's tallest mountain. Scroll down for video Moving on up! Former Married At First Sight star Andy Hill was on top of the world on Monday as he took to Instagram to document his attempt at scaling Mount Everest The Queenslander shared a snap as he arrived at Everest's base camp, stopping at the flag-emblazoned memorial site. In the selfie he was appropriately rugged up for the cold conditions, donning a thick blue jacket, multiple layers and a grey beanie. He added reflective glasses as he stood in front of the dramatic mountainous background, protecting his eyes from the harsh snow glare. Reflecting on the dangers the mountain presents, he captioned his shot: 'Climbers memorial. Incredible the amount of lives this mountain has taken'. Pushing his body to the limit: The Queenslander shared a snap as he arrived at Everest's base camp, stopping at the flag-emblazoned memorial site Hard climb: Reflecting on the dangers the mountain presents, he captioned his shot: 'Climbers memorial. Incredible the amount of lives this mountain has taken'. Over the weekend he shared multiple photos from his ascent, including one of the early morning pink mist that had settled over the tip of the mountain and another as he stopped to point the way during the trek. 'Pretending I know which way to base camp at nearly 5km high,' he captioned the moment. Throughout his expedition Andy has also been trying to bring awareness to the hardships of the Sherpas, according to The Fix. He posted one photo of man crossing a rope bridge carrying supplies, which he captioned: 'These porters are paid by weight they carry. Some push this to the limit'. This way right? Over the weekend he shared multiple photos from his ascent, including one as he stopped to point the way during the trek 'Porters are paid by weight they carry': Throughout his expedition Andy has also been trying to bring awareness to the hardships of the Sherpas Stunning scenery: The reality star has shown the changing scnery throughout his journey, including posting a photo from below the mountain and one of the early morning pink mist He began the gargantuan climb last week, posting a quirky photo alongside his crew as they donned their sunglasses. Later he claimed he was already struggling though after reaching a personal best height of 3400m above sea level. 'Today was struggle city... just arrived at namche. Highest I have been,' he wrote. Ready to rock: He began the gargantuan climb last week, posting a quirky photo alongside his crew as they donned their sunglasses Early days: Later he claimed he was already struggling though after reaching a personal best height of 3400m above sea level The reality star should have found fewer difficulties with the snowy climate though, after spending time working in Antarctica. The former army combat engineer previously took a posting there as an aerodrome plant operator. He later joined Married At First Sight, where he was paired with Vanessa, but the two later split after she claimed he had an introverted nature. 'I think you're amazing and you have heaps of good qualities but it's not what I'm looking for in a relationship and it's unfair for me to ask you to be those things,' she said teary-eyed. She has carved out a successful career in the modelling world thanks to her iconic gap-toothed smile and killer physique. And Australian beauty Jessica Hart, 30, was every inch the off-duty model as enjoyed a laid-back lunch with a male pal in New York last Tuesday. Clad in a pair of skinny jeans and knee-high suede boots, the runway sensation beamed at onlookers with her iconic gap-toothed smile. Scroll down for video Effortlessly stylish: Jessica Hart, 30, was every inch the off-duty model as enjoyed a laid-back lunch with a male pal in New York last Tuesday Jessica completed her look with a black Kenzo T-shirt, Ray-Ban sunglasses and a pair of simple stud earrings. She went makeup-free for the casual occasion, leaving her hair to hang naturally by her shoulders. She was seen enjoying a chat with her pal before tucking into a meal at the swanky Sant Ambroeus restaurant. Say cheese! Clad in a pair of skinny jeans and knee-high suede boots, the runway sensation beamed at onlookers with her iconic gap-toothed smile Trendy: Jessica completed her look with a black Kenzo T-shirt and some Ray-Ban sunglasses Natural beauty: She went makeup-free for the casual occasion, leaving her hair to hang naturally by her shoulders Jessica appeared thoroughly relaxed as she sipped from a her wine glass. She and her pal also appeared to indulge in a bowl of ice cream. Later, Jessica was seen swathing herself from the cold with a maroon puffer jacket. Cheers to that! She was seen enjoying a chat with her pal before tucking into a meal at the swanky Sant Ambroeus restaurant Why not? At one stage, Jessica's friend was seen holding her cheeks and bending down as she sat at the table 'I still love pizzas and burgers... it's just about balancing it': Ice cream is no doubt a treat for Jessica, who recently admitted that she has had to trade her favourite indulgences of 'pizza and pasta' for healthier choices Ice cream is no doubt a treat for Jessica, who recently admitted that she has hadtrade her favourite indulgences of 'pizza and pasta' for healthier choices. Speaking to OK! magazine, she admitted: 'I still love pizzas and burgers... it's just about balancing it.' If she could eat whatever she wanted, she exclaims 'pizzas and pasta' would be high on her list, but added she has to resist: 'It's tough, but you just have to make healthier choices.' A girl can dream! If she could eat whatever she wanted, she exclaims 'pizzas and pasta' would be high on her list, but added she has to resist: 'It's tough, but you just have to make healthier choices' While many other A-list celebrities and models swear by green smoothies as a healthy alternative, the blonde stunner isn't a fan. 'I find them a bit of a chore to drink,' she said, while adding she'd much rather drink a carrot, beetroot, ginger and apple juice. A typical day sees Jessica eat granola, fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, chicken paillard for lunch, BBQ steak with spinach and rice for dinner with a healthy carrot stick with hummus snack as a pick-me-up during the day. Jessica, who has worked with brands including Victoria's Secret said she exercises as much as she can - and her regimen includes Pilates, spin classes and yoga. Her fitness efforts are usually seen in regular lingerie and bikini shoots, where she flaunts her washboard abs and toned physique. Katie Maloney went head-to-head with Scheana Shay on Monday during part two of the Vanderpump Rules Reunion. Scheana chastised 'Tequila Katie' for being 'mean' when she's drunk. 'Everybody here has made a comment about your drinking,' said Scheana, 31. Reunion drama: Scheana Shay confronted Katie Maloney over her drinking during Monday's second part of the Vanderpump Rules Reunion 'That's really foul,' shot back Katie, 30. 'It was a problem in your relationship, it's been a problem in your friendships,' Scheana insisted. 'I don't have a problem!' Katie said defiantly as Scheana shook her head in disbelief. Shortly afterwards Ariana Madix was confronted for saying she doesn't 'give a f***' about Stassi Schroeder. No problem: Katie who has been dubbed 'Tequila Katie' denied having a drinking problem Together again: The Vanderpump Rules cast gathered for the reunion show with host Andy Cohen 'I don't know why you don't like me,' said Stassi tearfully. 'You guys continue to put me in a position where you ask me questions, I give you an honest answer and then I'm the a**hole,' raged Ariana. 'It's really callous,' said Katie, who assured everyone that Stassi had changed for the better. Feelings hurt: Stassi Schroeder was hurt that Ariana didn't care about her Hard line: Ariana took a hard line toward Stassi who had been on a mission to become friends with her 'You just think the worst of me in every single situation,' Stassi told Ariana. 'I don't trust you,' scowled Ariana, 31. The show opened with talk of James Kennedy's expulsion from Sur. Former employee: James Kennedy was at the reunion following his expulsion from Sur 'Jax [Taylor] knows my triggers,' said James, a British DJ who has since gone sober. 'He's like a wind up doll,' said Jax, who was fresh from a botox session, which 'hadn't kicked in yet'. Former hostess Lala Kent blamed her 'anxiety' for bailing out of Ariana's birthday, but the others were skeptical. Constant comedy: Jax Taylor was getting a kick out of James who usually annoys him 'I don't want to beat around the bush, were you dating a married man?' asked the host Andy Cohen. 'No,' said Lala, while refusing to say her boyfriend's name. 'You don't get to come in and just lie about everything,' yelled Stassi, who said the rest of the cast had 'bled out for the show'. Private matter: Lala Kent was quizzed about her mysterious boyfriend refused to reveal his identity Instant reaction: Stassi reacted as Lala talked about skipping Ariana's birthday trip 'Do not f*** with my relationship b****,' yelled Lala, as Stassi persisted with her questioning. James and Kristen Doute got into a ruckus over James' alleged infidelities to Raquel Leviss. 'I'm speaking, how dare you,' huffed James who called her 'b****y'. Slow down: James and Kristen Doute also got into a heated exchange Lala admitted giving her friends NDA agreements, related to her mystery boyfriend, but the others refused to admit they'd signed anything. 'It's not like you're Cate Blanchett or something,' remarked Lisa Vanderpump dryly. Ariana talked about her repeated refusals to get married to Tom Sandoval. Good point: Lisa Vanderpump pointed out that Lala isn't Cate Blanchet or something 'I just don't see the point,' she frowned. At the other end of the spectrum was Jax's lady Brittany Cartwright, who'd been planning her wedding since she was a little girl. 'We're going to Denny's,' joked Jax, 37. Good one: Jax joked about getting married at Denny's restaurant 'She's so wholesome and he's the complete opposite,' piped up Lisa. Stassi's 12-year-old brother Nikolai dropped in to give some sage advice. 'It's time to add a little maturity to this group,' joked Andy. The host: Andy brought out a special guest to add some maturity Cook kid: Stassi's little brother Nikolai came out and gave some sage advice to the cast When Stassi talked about her break up from Patrick Meagher, whom she was with for over three years, Nikolai said: 'You can't get everything you want in life'. The wise child advised Tom Schwartz to stop calling girls the 'b-word' and told Katie to stop drinking. 'I would like to offer you a job as my chief advisor,' laughed Lisa, 56. Fan favorite: Stassi enjoyed a laugh during a lighter moment in the reunion A sneak peek of next week's reunion showed Mike Shay retuning amid tears and anger from his ex-wife Scheana. They had an intense exchange that ended with Mike saying he couldn't even look at her. Part three of the reunion will air next Monday on Bravo. She is a human rights advocate who uses her celebrity to call attention to issues that affect her to this day. And AnnaLynne McCord gave a boost of star power on Monday in New York City to a film screening for How To Be A Responsible Traveler In Cambodia and a panel on sex trafficking in the country. The 90210 actress stepped out in style wearing a white halter top with flared floral-print trousers. She teamed the chic-casual outfit with a fuzzy black coat and sleek black heels. Flower power! AnnaLynne McCord stepped out in floral-print trousers on Monday for the How To Be A Responsible Traveler In Cambodia screening in New York City Her blonde curls cascaded around her shoulder and she completed the look with rosy lip color. The subject of Cambodia is one that resonates with the 29-year-old, who made her first trip to the Asian country when she was aged 21. Collaborating with her Together1heart organization, which works to end sex trafficking around the world, she led a Facebook Live panel on the importance of 'traveling with integrity and the global impact of modern day slavery and how to join the fight to combat it.' Casual-chic: She teamed the chic-casual outfit with a fuzzy black coat and sleek black heels Global: The subject of Cambodia is one that resonates with the 29-year-old, who made her first trip to the Asian country when she was aged 21 The blonde recalled how after finding success in Hollywood, she felt a sense of emptiness that was compounded by past trauma. 'I grew up with nothing,' she began. 'I grew up in a trailer park, but I had a dream. I had a crazy dream to get out of my situation. As with dreams, we think about the what, but not the why. I got all the way there, but what now?' 'I turned 21 but didn't get close to a midlife crisis,' she continued. 'My sexual assault occurred at 18 years old by a friend. I was just desperate for anything of substance, and that's what got me on a plane to Cambodia... to hopefully make my mark on the world, and it turned my whole world around.' Blonde bombshell: Her blonde curls cascaded around her shoulder and she completed the look with rosy lip color In 2014 the actress revealed that she was victimized aged 18 by a male friend who violated her while she lay asleep in bed. She is now helping other sex abuse survivors to cope. 'All of our suffering is relative in this world because all pain is the same,' she said. 'What we have to remind people is that they are victimized, not victims.' For a good cause: The sex abuse survivor is using her star power to support victims around the world Among them, young girls in Cambodia who are kidnapped and sold into sex slavery, she said, adding that many children are often expected to work on the streets as young as 6 years old, where females are most vulnerable for abuse. 'You're dealing with a cultural system where young girls have to provide for their family,' she explained. 'One of the things we do with Together1heart, with young girls, we integrate them with their families and make sure they are safe, provide them with education and a survivor's network.' 'We provide them with a stipend of around $10 to give to their families as a show of honor and she can then go to school,' she added. 'It's a crucial way to deal with an impoverished culture.' They are rumoured to be expecting their first child, less than six month after tying the knot last year. And Margot Robbie, 26, and Tom Ackerley have done little to quell the swirling whispers this week, with the latter sharing a photo of himself kicking back on a tropical beach on Tuesday. Leaving some fans speculating as to whether he and his actress wife are enjoying a babymoon, Tom was seen perched at the top of a beach-side palm tree. Scroll down for video Babymoon? Margot Robbie, 26, and Tom Ackerley have done little to quell the swirling pregnancy whispers this week, with the latter sharing a photo of himself kicking back on a tropical beach on Tuesday 'Pretending that I haven't just managed to get stuck up a tree,' he wrote in the caption. Margot appears to be holidaying with her beau, having shared a similarly tropical-looking Instagram snap last week. It comes amid claims that the pair are may have been 'pregnant at their wedding', which took place in December last year. Getaway: Margot appears to be holidaying with her beau, having shared a similarly tropical-looking Instagram snap last week Maybe baby? This week, reports surfaced claiming that Margot is 'expecting her first child' and may have been 'pregnant at the wedding' According to NW magazine an insider told the publication: 'It's so exciting - although she's not really showing yet, so not many people have cottoned onto the news.' 'Given how far along we think she is, there's definitely a chance she was [pregnant] at the wedding. We're expecting an announcement any day now.' In the past, The Wolf of Wolf Street actress has been very open of her love for children admitting: 'I want tons of children. I grew up in a family of four [kids], so that sounds like a good number. Pregnant at the wedding? An insider said: 'Given how far along we think she is, there's definitely a chance she was [pregnant] at the wedding. We're expecting an announcement any day now.' And according to the insider, Margot is very clucky. They added: 'Margot's always going on about how cute Tom's nieces and nephews are and she hates having to to give them back. She's totally clucky and beyond ready [for her own].' Daily Mail Australia have contacted her management for comment on the claims. Clucky: They added: 'Margot's always going on about how cute Tom's nieces and nephews are and she hates having to to give them back. She's totally clucky and beyond ready [for her own].' The Critics Choice award-winner has completely thrown herself into work since marrying boyfriend of two years Tom in Byron Bay late last year, working on I Tonya - a biopic about disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding. The role saw her wear around 9kg of padding, which would easily hide any signs of pregnancy. The smitten couple first met in 2013 on set of Suite Francaise and have been together ever since. She previously shared her plans to relocate back Down Under when the couple have children. 'He loves Australia ... he says, 'I don't know why anyone leaves Australia,'' she told The Project last year. She's the socialite and self confessed swinger. And Christa Billich credits her ability to attract younger men down to her 15-year use of Botox which she says she is 'hooked' to. 'I think younger men think I'm younger than I really am because of it,' the Real Housewives star told Newscorp. 15 years of Botox: Christa Billich credits her ability to attract younger men down to her 15-year use of Botox which she says she is 'hooked' to. Pictured (left) at 70 and (right) and 58 years of age Youthful: 'I think younger men think I'm younger than I really am because of it,' the Real Housewives star said 'I get messages on my Facebook and Instagram from younger guys all the time, and there's nothing to not like about that! We're both open to dating others and have been throughout our marriage,' the 70-year-old added. Christa and her husband Charles open about their love of swinging and she likens its use to Botox. 'We've been called 'Sydney's most famous swingers', which is rather flattering. We just do what we want and, like Botox, if I want more, I can always have it,' Christa revealed. Swingers: Christa famously revealed her husband Charles spent their wedding night with the couple's wedding photographer when they married three decades ago Christa and her world-renowned artist beau have famously spent almost their entire relationship sleeping with other people. She famously revealed her husband Charles spent their wedding night with the couple's wedding photographer when they married three decades ago. The Austrian-born blonde told New Idea in an interview last year that she was 'upset at the time', but got over it quickly and the next three decades have been 'mostly happy'. Flamboyant: Christa and her husband Charles are seen here during one of their many extravagant trips oversees 'Charles promised he would be loyal but he would never be faithful, and he's kept that promise,' she said, admitting that the philandering cuts both ways. They are so open with each other about the arrangement that Christa is even good friends with some of the 83-year-old's ex-girlfriends - who say she is lucky to have him. The couple also revealed Charles had even had several extra-marital engagements, and that the key to the relationship working was to keep each other in the loop. When you're living life like an open book with no secrets, you're closer to each other,' the famous sculptor and nude painter said. Open: They are so open with each other about the arrangement that Christa is even good friends with some of the 83-year-old's ex-girlfriends - who say she is lucky to have him But the unconventional duo admitted their life isn't for everyone and their are plenty of drawbacks, such as that their marriage could never have survived having children. It also forced them to be independent and self-reliant, because their partner would never be as 'nurturing' as a conventional relationship. They also travel extensively, with houses in Sydney, Los Angeles and Monaco and Charles flying around the world to sell his art to everyone from presidents to Hugh Hefner. Their schedules meant they once didn't even see each other for a year. 'You have to be a pretty strong person to live like this and not depend on your partner,' Christa said. 'We travel a lot, he will be in Italy and I will be in other parts of the world missing him - by a country or two!' Sydney's Breaking Bad fans were sent into meltdown this week thanks to the arrival of a pop-up Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant. The fictional chicken restaurant, which served as the perfect cover for sinister meth dealer Gus Fring on the popular show, popped up in the Sydney CBD in honour of Better Call Saul third season release on streaming service Stan. Fans were able to experience a taste of the infamous eatery, with free meals of fried chicken, hot chips, sauce and drink on offer. Scroll down for video Did someone say, Heisenburgers? Sydney's Breaking Bad fans were sent into meltdown this week thanks to the arrival of a pop-up Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant None other than the fictional restaurateur/drug lord Gus Fring (played by Giancarlo Esposito) made an appearance at the Tuesday opening of the restaurant, leaving fans buzzing with excitement. Clad in a blue suit, American flag-inspired tie and rounded spectacles, Giancarlo made sure to remain in character throughout his appearance. Within hours of its Sydney opening this Tuesday, the restaurant was teeming with eager fans waiting to enjoy a bite of Gus Fring's famous chicken What's cooking? The fictional chicken restaurant, which served as the perfect cover for sinister meth dealer Gus Fring, popped up in the Sydney CBD in honour of Better Call Saul third season release on streaming service Stan Order up! Fans were able to experience a taste of the infamous eatery, with free meals of fried chicken, hot chips, sauce and drink on offer Albuquerque Down Under: None other than the fictional restaurateur/drug lord Gus Fring (played by Giancarlo Esposito) made an appearance at the Tuesday opening of the restaurant, leaving fans buzzing with excitement The pop-up event is located at Thirsty Bird in Potts Point and will be open for a limited time on Tuesday and Wednesday. While Gus met a shockingly grisly end in Breaking Bad's fourth season, the memorable character is set to make a comeback in the prequel series Better Call Saul. Giancarlo had initially expressed doubt about making an appearance on the show, however, telling Vulture: 'It's like when you make a really good souffle. It's very, very difficult to have it rise without falling and also have it be remarkable. Nailing the look! A slew of punters dressed up in full Breaking Bad cosplay, with one man donning Walter White's famous black bowler cap The king has returned! Clad in a blue suit, American flag-inspired tie and rounded spectacles, Giancarlo made sure to remain in character throughout his appearance Get in quick! The pop-up event is located at Thirsty Bird in Potts Point and will be open for a limited time on Tuesday and Wednesday Making a return: While Gus met a shockingly grisly end in Breaking Bad's fourth season, the memorable character is set to make a comeback in the prequel series Better Call Saul 'So for me to try to re-create that souffle without it falling was almost impossible.' The chance to find out more about the roots of the Gus will surely appeal to fans of the wildly successful Breaking Bad, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time His character was one of the most popular on the show, facilitating Walter White's rise in the drug trade. Swamped: The restaurant was teeming with eager fans waiting to enjoy a bite of Gus Fring's famous chicken Back for the third season: Giancarlo- who had initially expressed doubt about making an appearance on the show - is reprising the iconic role for the third season of the show Wary: The actor previously spoke to Vulture about his original reservations about being a part of the preque More to Gus than we know! The chance to find out more about the roots of the Gus will surely appeal to fans of the wildly successful Breaking Bad They first met just over a year ago. And JoJo Fletcher, 26, just revealed she is not in any rush to tie the knot with fiance Jordan Rodgers, in an interview with PEOPLE. The former Bachelorette star insists they are closer than ever, but have yet to make any concrete wedding plans or set a date for the big day. Taking it slow: JoJo Fletcher, 26, just revealed she is not in any rush to tie the knot with fiance Jordan Rodgers and they have yet to make any concrete wedding plans or set a date 'We're really enjoying out time together,' she explained. 'We met one year ago! We're still getting to know each other. I'm enjoying being a fiancee and having him still court me for a while.' When asked about setting a date, JoJo responded: 'Everyone wants to know! I think when we first got engaged, we were so excited and we were like: 'We're going to get married next year!' We were so hyped up and that we've settled, we're like 'this isn't something to rush into.'' The bride-to-be revealed she still doesn't even know what kind of wedding she wants. 'I think that I go back and forth with a ton of different styles. Right now, I'm kind of into that rustic, woodsy, nature thing.' Undecided: The bride-to-be revealed she still doesn't even know what kind of wedding she wants She continued: 'But I also see photos of these really beautiful, sophisticated, prim and proper weddings, and that's stunning too.' She also revealed if they are going to have a reality TV wedding to commemorate how they met, which JoJo didn't seem to rule out as a possibility She also didn't rule out the possibility of kids in the couple's future. Big family? The former Bachelorette also revealed she wants a family and will do so when the time is right 'I want kids. I can't wait to have a family, but in the right time,' said Fletcher. 'I obviously want to get married first and then have a certain amount of time where I can just enjoy being married. But say I got pregnant tomorrow, I would still be super excited! That's not in my plan, but I love kids and I can't wait to have a family.' JoJo also revealed her hubby-to-be is extremely romantic and he surprises his fiancee all the time. 'You don't know when it's coming, you know?' she added. 'Like he'll post a photo, I won't even know, and he'll write something so sweet. I'm like, 'God, that was amazing.' Romantic vacation: The couple recently returned from a romantic vacation where they spent time together in Fiji The couple recently returned from a romantic holiday in Fiji where they posted endless Instagram photos from their picture-perfect vacation. Writing from the Coral Coast of Fiji, JoJo shared that she was in a 'Real life paradise' and touted the pewter grey one-piece she'd got on 'bc my stomach is just completely fried right now.' An Instagram selfie she'd posted Thursday revealed she'd met up in Fiji with her pal and The Bachelor season 20 co-star Becca Tilley. Caitlin Stasey shot to fame as a 14-year-old when she starred as Francesca 'Frankie' Thomas in The Sleepover Club. Now 26, the actress was reminiscing about the days before she found fame on TV, when she took to Instagram on Tuesday. Seen sitting beside a friend on a park bench, Caitlin still bears a striking resemblance to how she appeared in her younger years - apart from the fashion sense, which she compared to something from novelist Jane Austen's era. Scroll down for video Throwback: Caitlin Stasey was reminiscing about the days before she found fame on TV, as she took to Instagram on Tuesday She captioned the image: 'When we used to dress like two spinster aunts from an Austen novel.' The former Neighbours star's black locks are as prominent ever as the fresh-faced youngster's smile reveals a couple of missing teeth. The sweet snap is in stark contrast to some of Caitlin's social media posts, which have been used in her ongoing support of the 'Free The Nipple' campaign. All grown up: The sweet snap is in stark contrast to some of Caitlin's social media posts, which have been used in her ongoing support of the 'Free The Nipple' campaign Just last month, the Melbourne native continued her crusade against Instagram over their nudity guidelines. The actress, now based in the USA, posted a photo of herself in a sheer baby doll dress which left her chest exposed below the fabric. She also broke Instagram's rules on nudity by leaving her nipples visible in the photo, as the social media app does not permit topless images of women. Amusingly, she did edit the photo before publication - but only to scrawl a cartoon face over her own. Daring to bare: Last month, Caitlin continued her crusade against Instagram over their nudity guidelines 'Parent teacher night': The Aussie actress shared a photo of herself in a sheer babydoll dress Caitlin captioned the photo: 'Parent teacher night'. This is the latest in a series of topless photos Caitlin has shared on Instagram in protest against their nudity policy, as part of the 'Free The Nipple' campaign. 'Free The Nipple' is an equality movement started by activist and filmmaker Lina Esco, which resolves to give women the right to bare their chests in areas where it is normally discouraged by police or criminalised. The movement - which counts Girls creator Lena Dunham and supermodel Cara Delevigne among its supporters - has also focused its attention on Instagram, which only allows males to appear topless. Protest: This is the latest in a series of photos Caitlin has shared on Instagram in protest against the website's nudity policy, which does not allow women to pose topless The website came under fire for deleting posts by its users - including high-profile figures like Rihanna and Miley Cyrus - featuring female nipples, which critics claim is a sexist double-standard. Their Community Guidelines state that 'some photos of female nipples' are not allowed, with the exception of images 'of post-mastectomy scarring and women actively breastfeeding.' In October 2015, CEO Kevin Systrom blamed Apple for the censorship of nudity, claiming the App Store - where users can download the Instagram app - has strict policies when it comes to adult content. They're The Bachelorette couple who are certainly not shy in showing their affection for one another online. And Georgia Love, 28, used a series of puns to gush over her reality star beau, Lee Elliott, 36, in an Instagram post on Tuesday. A snippet of a text message exchange saw the pair indulging in a hefty helping of cringe-worthy sayings. Scroll down for video 'Relationsheep' goals? The Bachelorette's Georgia Love, 28, used a hefty helping of sheep puns to declare affection for beau Lee Elliott, 36, in a text message exchange shared to Instagram on Tuesday The text message exchange along with Lee's Instagram Story, was shared with Georgia's 147,000 followers. 'You're such a baaaaaa-d girl!' began Lee's opening statement, to which Georgia replied: 'I just woolly love them!!' referring to her strong like for the use of puns. A series of cringe-worthy puns continued, including: 'Love is love babe. Sorry, I don't mean to ram the point home,' and 'I just can't help but think you're only in it for the sheep thrills!?' Clearly amused by the exchange, Georgia captioned the chat to Instagram: 'Legit conversations between me and @leeroyelliott,' alongside the hash-tags #justpostingthistomakehimfeelsheepish and #relationsheepgoals. 'You're such a baaaaaa-d girl!' Lee's opening statement began the series of sheep puns, to which Georgia replied: 'I just woolly love them!!' The pair are regular culprits in the use of social media puns. Just three days prior, Lee took to Instagram, declaring his love for Georgia, with another batch of puns, this time based on coffee. The Boomerang video shared with the plumber's 87,700 fans, saw Lee standing behind a coffee shop bench. 'Words can not espresso how much you bean to me': Lee gushed about Georgia using a series of coffee puns, in a post shared to Instagram just three days prior Pun addicts? The pair appear to have become quite obsessed with the use of puns in their various social media exchanges He grinned as he handed Georgia a coffee, who also returned the favour by beaming back at him. 'Words can not espresso how much you bean to me @georgiealove,' Lee captioned the video. Lee also added a series of hash-tags including: '#howyoubrewin, #wherehaveyoubeanallmylife, #youresobrewtiful and #livinlavidamocha. Joined at the hip: Georgia and Lee have become inseparable since finding love on last year's run of dating series, The Bachelorette Australia Georgia and Lee have become inseparable since finding love on last year's run of dating series, The Bachelorette Australia. The brunette beauty chose Lee over fan-favourite Matty Johnson, 30, in the dramatic finale episode. However it's not all doom and gloom for Matty, having recently begun filming on the next season of The Bachelor. Antonio Banderas and his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel continued to enjoy the Holy Week festivities in his Malaga hometown on Tuesday. At 56, the Spanish heartthrob is 19 years older than the Dutch investment advisor, and they shared the cover of Vanity Fair Spain back in November. The orange and black-clad couple were watching a parade from the balcony of his suite in the Room Mate Larios Hotel. Scroll down for video Still going strong: Antonio Banderas and his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel continued to enjoy the Holy Week festivities in his Malaga hometown on Tuesday Banderas and Kimpel began their May-December romance shortly after he separated from ex-wife #2, Melanie Griffith, in 2014 following 18 years of marriage. And the 59-year-old Oscar winner shared a video of the same parade captioned: 'El Cautivo en Malaga #semanasanta2017 #memorieslastforever #love Thank you Antonio.' However, the JL Ranch actress was not in Spain. She spent Monday night dining at West Hollywood hotspot Craig's. 'I still have a great relationship with [Melanie] and Nicole adores her,' Antonio (born Jose Bandera) told Spanish publication Diario Sur last week. Besotted: At 56, the Spanish heartthrob is 19 years older than the Dutch investment advisor, and they shared the cover of Vanity Fair Spain back in November Nice view: The orange and black-clad couple were watching a parade from the balcony of his suite in the Room Mate Larios Hotel PDA pair: Banderas and Kimpel began their May-December romance shortly after he separated from ex-wife #2, Melanie Griffith, in 2014 following 18 years of marriage 'The three of us have had dinner together.' The three-time Golden Globe nominee's 20-year-old daughter Stella with Griffith 'came all the way from LA' to visit him in Surrey town Guildford on February 7. The Finding Altamira actor announced he'd quit smoking after suffering a 'benign' heart attack on January 26. And the 59-year-old Oscar winner shared a video of the same parade captioned: 'El Cautivo en Malaga #semanasanta2017 #memorieslastforever #love Thank you Antonio' Not in Spain: However, the JL Ranch actress spent her Monday night dining at West Hollywood hotspot Craig's Antonio (born Jose Bandera) told Diario Sur last week: 'I still have a great relationship with [Melanie] and Nicole adores her. The three of us have had dinner together' His baby: The three-time Golden Globe nominee's 20-year-old daughter Stella with Griffith 'came all the way from LA' to visit him in Surrey town Guildford on February 7 'If there is something good that came from all of this, it is that I suddenly stopped smoking, without needing pills or anything like that. It's over!' Banderas told Diario Sur. 'I'm going to keep working but I'm going to do it at another rhythm. I am going to give myself space, take time between productions, and above all make the jump which I have yearned for a long time, and put myself behind the camera, write my scripts.' The Tony-nominated thespian has six films due out this year, including Black Butterfly and the trailer debuted March 22. Remake of Herve Korian's Papillon Noir: The Tony-nominated thespian has six films due out this year, including Black Butterfly and the trailer debuted March 22 BTS snap: Antonio plays Paul (an out-of-work screenwriter) in Brian Goodman's (L) hostage thriller also starring (from L-R) Abel Ferrara, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Piper Perabo Antonio plays Paul (an out-of-work screenwriter) in Brian Goodman's hostage thriller also starring Abel Ferrara, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Piper Perabo. The 33 actor will next be honored with the IV Royal Road Award from the Franklin Institute of the University of Alcala on April 26. The ABDesign founder also sells his 'Mediterranean-inspired' sunglasses, men's wallets, candles, and phone cases on the newly-launched Starlite Shop. Another one for the mantel! The 33 actor will next be honored with the IV Royal Road Award from the Franklin Institute of the University of Alcala on April 26 She's the former Australia's Next Top Model starlet who has walked for the likes of Miu Miu, Calvin Klein and Ellery. But mother-of-one Cassi Van Den Dungen swapped her glitzy gowns for a casual outfit as she visited the zoo with her son Drake and partner Brad this Tuesday. Cassi walked alongside her brood in a pair of skinny jean matched with a cherry red open-knit jumper that hung loosely around her hips. Scroll down for video Family outing: Cassi Van Den Dungen swapped her glitzy gowns for a casual outfit as she visited the zoo with her son Drake and partner Brad this Tuesday She appeared to go makeup-free for the occasion, while letting her light brown locks hang loosely by her shoulders. In 2014, Cassi sparked controversy when she walked for Alex Perry in 2014 looking extremely frail. Alex spoke about the scandal surrounding Cassi in the March 2016 issue of Australian Marie Claire, saying: 'I'd worked 16 hours; I was tired. It went through my mind that we should cancel, but I felt bad for her.' 'But the pictures were worse than I could have imagined. She was in about 20 other shows, but I was the one that got pulled up for it. Casual: She appeared to go makeup-free for the occasion, while letting her light brown locks hang loosely by her shoulders Zoo day: Cassi walked alongside her brood in a pair of skinny jean matched with a cherry red open-knit jumper that hung loosely around her hips That was awesome mum! Drake looked a little let down to be leaving the zoo More recently, however, the designer has claimed that he plans to work with Cassie in future regardless of the controversy. 'It was a conscious decision to do this because I think she is a really beautiful girl,' Mr Perry told Confidential in June last year. Chats: Cassi and her hubby talked as they walked along the tree lined path Designer bag: Cassi brought what appeared to be a high end bag along on the outing Home bound: The family of three headed to their car after the trip So cute! Drake donned green dinosaur themed gloves and matching beanie 'We had a mishap a few years ago where the lighting was brutal and it just didn't look good and she was slimmer then, but I didn't want that to be the defining image of my work with Cassi.' 'I am not going to be intimidated into not using a girl I think is beautiful.' In 2014, the statuesque beauty took to Instagram to slam anorexia criticism, telling fans that she is 'naturally tall and skinny.' Mum duty: Cassi was left carrying Drake's accessories when he took them off Fashion pack: Hubby Brad looked eye catching in a red Bob Marley shirt Bright looks: Brad wore jeans with an elaborate pale blue pattern 'I think a lot of overweight girls are hypocrites. I'm naturally tall and skinny, I eat what I want, I don't starve myself, and I am beautiful,' she wrote. 'So why are you allowed to love your 'curves' but it's wrong for me to love my 'bones'?' Cassi was the runner up in the 2009 cycle of Australia's Next Top Model which was won by Tahnee Atkinson, who is known for her curvy figure. Stylish: Brad finished his look with a hat under which he wore a bandana They were this big! Brad appeared to be discussing what the trio saw in the park Photo time: Cassi appeared to take some snaps of the animals At the time, Cassi drew media attention for her foul-mouthed outbursts on the show, before she famously turned down a modelling contract with a New York agency after the show's end. However, since finishing the popular competition series, Cassi has been working for high profile clients both locally and internationally. When she's not busy launching break-up apps or writing inspirational books, Zoe Foster-Blake can often be seen enjoying the company of husband Hamish and their two-year-old tot Sonny. And that's exactly what she did on Sunday, when the blogger was spotted alongside her family as they head to the fourth birthday of Fifi Box's daughter Trixie. The 36-year-old looked chic and graceful as she headed into the party, hiding her growing baby belly in a gorgeous floral print number. Scroll down for video Yummy mummy! Zoe Foster-Blake looked chic and graceful as she headed into the birthday party for Fifi Box's daughter Trixie The acclaimed author looked radiant as she walked with the boys in the sunshine through the tree-lined streets. She wore a long sleeve black and white top, with canary-coloured sections on the arms. Teaming it with a navy floral-print skirt, she completed her outfit with a pair of slip-on black flats that had a simple gold band across the front. The beauty carried a tartan-style handbag with her, as well as what appeared to be a present for little Trixie. Glowing! The soon to be mother-of-two looked radiant as she walked with the boys in the sunshine through the tree-lined streets Flower power: She wore a long sleeve black and white top, with canary-coloured sections on the arms, teaming it with a navy floral print skirt She pulled her brunette locks into a loose bun at the nape of her neck and kept the glare at bay with a pair of round sunglasses. Letting her natural beauty shine, Zoe appeared to opt for light shades of make-up, including a rosy lipstick. Young son Sonny walked ahead with dad Hamish, with the upcoming big brother looking adorable in his grey polo shirt and palm-tree board-shorts. Happy family: Zoe pulled her brunette locks into a loose bun at the nape of her neck and kept the glare at bay with a pair of round sunglasses Big brother walking here! Young son Sonny walked ahead with dad Hamish, looking adorable in his grey polo shirt and palm-tree board-shorts Watching on: Hamish took his young son's hand as the trio strolled along, with mum keeping a watchful eye behind them Prepared for any condition he also sported a light cap and blue Velcro sneakers. Meanwhile Zoe's radio host husband cut a casual figure in a white t-shirt, dark shorts and matching sneakers. He took his young son's hand as the trio strolled along, with mum keeping a watchful eye behind them. The group were joined later on by The Project's Carrie Bickmore and her nine-year-old son Oliver. Zoe and Hamish are keenly awaiting the birth of their second child after welcoming adorable Sonny Donald Blake into the world in 2014. He's the esteemed broadcast journalist who is the father of controversial artist and marijuana activist Jesse 'Sunset.' But Terry Willesee appeared less like his conservative self on Monday as he cruised California in the passenger seat of his son's convertible. The 72-year-old sported high spirits as he let his hair down while being filmed rapping and dancing as the pair ventured to In-N-Out burger. 'So tell me the story, is it love?' Famed journalist Terry Willesee had son Jesse 'Sunset' in sticthes by dancing, rapping and asking to meet his new fling Famous father: Jesse is the son of famed current affairs journalist and television presenter Terry Willesee. The media personality is pictured with his former Sky News team Jesse was taking his father to try the famed burger joint for the first time, with the journey including many laughs along the way. The 29-year-old artist and rapper chooses to debut a track to his father while driving, filming to gauge his reaction. Clearly enjoying the rap track, Terry broke into an impromptu dance with exaggerated hand rap gestures as Jesse laughed at the display. The TV journalist said: 'I like that song, but I prefer the Dolphin song better.' Time to dance! Clearly enjoying his son's new rap track, Terry broke into an impromptu dance with exaggerate hand rap gestures as Jesse laughed at the display Dad joke? After admitting he liked the Dolphin song better, he appeared to recite the lyrics incorrectly, prompting Jesse to let out a chuckle Jesse recently released the tune Dolphin with a pop video featuring porn star Alicia Amira, who spent $16,000 to look like a 'human Barbie' with J cup breast implants and blown up lips. His son asked him to recite some lyrics, to which he rapped incorrect lyrics and sent Jesse into more fits of laughter. It wasn't the last time Terry bopped to a rap track in his hooded sweatshirt, as Jesse later played Bad And Bouje by Migos in the carpark of In-N-Out. What a laugh! Jesse was taking his father to try the famed burger joint for the first time, with the journey including many laughs along the way The thought of ordering his first fast food meal from the American chain made a thought conveniently come to his mind. Terry turned to Jesse to say, 'Speaking of fries, when do I get to meet Frenchy, hey?' as his son looked taken back. Jesse was seen getting raunchy on a date with reality star and Gabi Grecko's ex Angelique 'Frenchy' Morgan, 41, at Soho House in Malibu last week. 'Speaking of fries, when do I get to meet Frenchy, hey?' Terry used his order at In-N-Out Burger as a segue for asking his son about his new friend Angelique 'Frenchy' Morgan What would dad say? Famed journalist Terry Willesee's son Jesse 'Sunset', 29, put on a racy display with busty Angelique 'Frenchy' Morgan, 41, in snaps shared to social media on Wednesday 'Dad, please?' Jesse appeared to bow his head bashfully, before pleading for him to stop by saying 'Dad, please?' and placing his palm to his face in shock as he quizzed him on the fling with the blonde bombshell The reputable current affairs presenter later pushed Jesse further, asking: 'So tell me the story, is it love? no, seriously.' Jesse appeared to bow his head bashfully, before pleading for him to stop by saying 'Dad, please?' and placing his palm to his face in shock. Jesse however did offer for his father to meet the blonde bombshell by suggesting: 'You should come out to Malibu and hang with us.' Get a room, guys! A later snap shared to Instagram saw Jesse and Frenchy putting on a raunchy display, with the porn star giving the lens a significant view of her posterior An image shared to Jesse's Snapchat saw the flamboyant personality cosying up to the Celebrity Big Brother star and ex of Gabi Grecko, at the upmarket Soho House venue last week. The conceptual artist sported a turquoise zip-up jacket, teamed with a pastel pink polo, skinny leg jeans and white trainers. A pair of Kanye West-inspired sunglasses drew attention to his straightened locks, dyed a candy pink hue. As Jesse wrapped one arm around Frenchy, the busty reality TV star was certainly not shy. The Botched star's surgically-enhanced assets spilled out of her skimpy bandeau bikini top, paired with minuscule pink shorts that accentuated her trim pins. Offering the camera a good look at her side profile, Frenchy, who appeared on Rock of Love: Charm School, drew the eye to her overly plump pout, left slightly agape. 'Sleepy Frenchy': One particular clip shared to the personality's Snapchat saw him playfully poking fun at his pal's tired demeanour Admiring the view: Jesse shared a candid snap of Frenchy perched on a ledge in front of a stunning vista, drawing attention to the blonde's trim pins A later snap shared to Instagram saw Jesse and Frenchy putting on a raunchy display. Positioned up close to his rumoured girlfriend, the Los Angeles-based musician playfully stuck his tongue out while pulling a hand gesture for the camera. Similar antics continued to fill Jesse's social media accounts, no doubt keeping the pair entertained. Antics: The musician certainly has a penchant for the hard-partying lifestyle, depicted in various scantily-clad images shared to social media La la land: Jesse currently lives in Los Angeles with the Willesee clan, working as a rapper and a conceptual artist His father Terry hosted his own program aptly titled Terry Willesee Tonight on the Seven network, before being poached to Nine. He went on to star as a Sky News anchor in the following years. With the Willesee family having moved to Los Angeles this year, the patriarch is currently producing and writing for Warner Bros show, Crime Watch Daily. Promotional commitments continued in earnest as Zoe Saldana attended a press conferment on behalf of her latest blockbuster on Tuesday morning. The Hollywood actress, 38, caught the eye in a vibrant red dress as she joined her co-stars at Tokyos Ritz-Carlton hotel the latest stop on their global launch campaign for new Marvel adventure Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2. With a ruffled neck-line and distinctive sheer arms the outfit ensured Zoe commanded attention while posing for a series of promotional photos. Scroll down for video Here she comes: Promotional commitments continued in earnest as Zoe Saldana attended a press conferment on behalf of her latest blockbuster in Tokyo on Tuesday morning A cinched waistline served to accentuate her slender physique, while matching strappy heels rounded off another glamorous ensemble. Joining actors Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista and director James Gunn, the actress was presented with a complimentary Guardians of the Galaxy bomber jacket as she celebrated its Japanese launch. Zoe plays alien orphan Gamora in the new film, the latest addition to the rapidly expanding Marvel universe and an adaptation of the popular comic book series. Colourful: The Hollywood actress, 38, caught the eye in a vibrant red dress as she joined her co-stars at Tokyos Ritz-Carlton hotel the latest stop on their global launch campaign for new Marvel adventure Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Tasteful: With a ruffled neck-line and distinctive sheer arms the outfit ensured Zoe commanded attention while posing for a series of promotional photos Gift: The actress was presented with a complimentary Guardians of the Galaxy bomber jacket as she celebrated its Japanese launch Vin Diesel and Sylvester Stallone also feature in the latest adventure, which follows the team as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage. Zoe, who also starred in science fiction epic Avatar and the reinvigorated Star Trek franchise, recently revealed that she likes starring in fantasy films as it has helped her see past gender and race. 'I love working with people who let their imaginations go. Plus, you get to play characters who defy gravity,' she told the Daily Telegraph. In good company: Zoe was joined by co-stars Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista and director James Gunn 'I like that. It makes me feel superhuman because, obviously, its been brought to my attention continuously since I was born that Im not a conventional person because of the color of my skin or my gender or my cultural background. 'So I think science fiction has given me the ability as an artist to be colorblind, and gender-blind, and to imagine and reinvent myself and be the chameleon actors are supposed to be.' After opening in British cinemas on April 28, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 will open stateside May 5. She's The Bachelor contestant facing criminal charges over allegedly running a drug syndicate. And after being arrested last month, Georgia Tripos has broken her silence on social media, sharing a series of bizarre photos and seemingly labelling herself a snake. The 25-year-old accused drug runner competed unsuccessfully for Richie Strahan's affection on last year's The Bachelor. Scroll down for video What is she trying to say? Former Bachelor contestant Georgia Tripos shares selfie labelling herself a snake after drug trafficking charges Georgia was last month charged with trafficking amphetamine and cocaine, allegedly running a drug syndicate with her friend Kristiana Karakostas, 9News reported. The pair, who were arrested at a Melbourne real estate agency they both worked at, are accused of selling the drugs online via Craigslist. The former Bachelor contestant was granted bail to live with her mother in North Balwyn, Melbourne. Was looking for love: The 25-year-old accused drug runner competed unsuccessfully for Richie Strahan's affection on last year's The Bachelor Different: The reality TV star, who describes herself as an artist in her Instagram bio, also posted a bizarre self-portrait to the social media site on Sunday On Tuesday, Georgia shared a selfie of herself in a car captioning the photo with an emoji of a snake. The reality TV star, who describes herself as an artist in her Instagram bio, also posted a bizarre self-portrait to the social media site on Sunday. The painting shows Georgia choking on a crucifix, with the former Bachelor hopeful writing in the caption: 'Sa. Cri. Fice. Your. So. Ul. [sic].' Another selfie posted last Wednesday shows Georgia pouting while looking to the ground, her midriff exposed and fishnet stockings visible beneath her ripped jeans. 'Wasted on the young': Another selfie posted last Wednesday shows Georgia pouting while looking to the ground, her midriff exposed and fishnet stockings visible beneath her ripped jeans 'Wasted on the young,' she captioned the photo to her 2000 Instagram followers. Georgia's time in the mansion wasn't without controversy, with the Bachelor reject going on a limo back seat expletive-laden rant after her eviction. Furious that she had been booted by Richie while intruder contestants had stayed, Georgia labelled them 'f***ing skanks'. But she would later tell news.com.au that the show's producers had 'threatened' her and she thought the cameras were off. They keep their Instagram feeds littered with hilarious exchanges. Yet Kate Beckinsale and her stunning daughter Lily opted for wholly different posts on Monday as they both shared sizzling snaps while clad in a bikini during a recent sun-drenched holiday. The 43-year-old Underworld star showed off her incredible physique in a tiny floral bikini while her daughter, 18, rocked a funky clashing bikini which flaunted every inch of her toned frame. Scroll down for video Hot mama... Kate Beckinsale and her stunning daughter Lily opted for wholly different posts on Monday as they both shared sizzling snaps while clad in a bikini during a recent sun-drenched holiday Kate ensured she made the most of her age-defying physique as she slipped into her stunning bandeau bikini, which featured a strapless top with low-slung bottoms. As she pulled her very best pout for the camera, she held her phone aloft while her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulder - making for a stunning shot. Ever the joker, she stood next to a black and white painting which resembled a psychological Rorschach test, in which subjects' unique perceptions of a mass of inkblots are recorded for assessment. She added a caption on the shot reading: 'Successfully completed the holiday Rorschach test without seeing a penis or my mother'. Ripped: The 43-year-old Underworld star showed off her incredible physique in a tiny floral bikini while her daughter, 18, rocked a funky clashing bikini which flaunted every inch of her toned frame Lily, whose father is actor Michael Sheen, meanwhile borrowed from her mum in selfie style as she showed off her incredible frame in floral bikini bottoms with a red strappy top. Her brunette tresses were worn in wet lengths tumbling over her shoulders while she held her hand up to her face to shield her eyes from the searing sun. Proving once again she has nabbed her mum's hilarious sense of humour, she posted the tongue-in-cheek caption: 'really busy day'. Just a day before, Kate once again delighted her fans when she shared a picture of her bikini-clad body on Instagram. 'Funny marks on my bum': Kate showed off her sensational figure in a red and white strapless bikini on Instagram on Monday as she lounged on a glorious hammock She looked incredible wearing a red strapless bikini and mismatching white bottoms as she relaxed on a hammock over the ocean. Poking fun of herself, she captioned the image with the words: 'Float float and some funny marks on your bum when you get up.' Kate looked stunning in the photo which saw her posing for a snap wearing her brunette locks down and in loose curls. Her eyes were protected from the sun with a pair of oversized shades, which added some extra pizazz to her look. Avoiding strap lines, the top half of her look was strapless and her bottoms had a ring detail on one side. Her nails were perfectly manicured and painted with a dark berry varnish. Cheeky! Kate recently proved she's still good friends with Lily's father Michael Sheen, as she took to Instagram with a very cheek snap of him unassumingly baring his bottom Meanwhile, Kate recently proved she's still good friends with her former beau Michael, as she took to Instagram with a very cheeky snap of him unassumingly baring his bottom. 'What were the qualities you were looking for in the father of your child? Honestly, just that je ne sais quoi and an affinity for rabbits,' the actress captioned the snap about Michael. The hilarious snap saw his shirt and blazer lift up and trousers pull down as he bent down - revealing a part of his derriere. Seeing the comical part of it, Kate, who regularly updates her Instagram with hilarious snaps, posted it on the social media platform. No shame in her game: Seeing the comical part of it, Kate, who regularly updates her Instagram with hilarious snaps, posted it on the social media platform Love story: Despite being together for eight years, the pair never married. They split when Kate fell in love with director Len Wiseman on the set of Underworld in 2003 (Pictured in 2001) Despite being together for eight years, the pair never married. They split when she fell in love with director Len Wiseman on the set of Underworld in 2003. Kate and Len, 44, married in the ritzy Los Angeles neighborhood of Bel-Air on May 9 2004. However, they announced their separation 11 years later and Len filed for divorce in 2016. Michael is now in a relationship with comedienne Sarah Silverman. Kate recently shared a throwback snap of her cuddling up to daughter Lily, who was dressed up with whiskers, when she was a toddler 'You made me sound like a loser': Kate recently admitted in an interview with TooFab that she got into a bit of trouble with Lily over an Instagram post about her To accompany the image, Kate wrote: 'It was quite common for @lily_beckinsale to have drawn-on nose whiskers while I was covered in blood . If she has grown up weird I blame Michael'. Kate recently admitted in an interview with TooFab that she got into a bit of trouble with Lily over an Instagram post about her. The Underworld actress acknowledged that her daughter wasn't too happy about her parents' enthusiasm over her college acceptance. 'I got into a bit of trouble at home for that,' Beckinsale said during the interview. She continued: 'She said, "I wish you'd said I got into the college of my choice, because it sounded like you had no hope of me getting into any college anywhere, made me sound like a loser!"' It's not the first time this month that Kate has been in a reflective mood when it comes to her daughter. Kate will next be seen in The Only Living Boy In New York, due out on August 11. She co-stars with Jeff Bridges and Pierce Brosnan in a story about a college graduate whose life is upended by his father's mistress. She was recently linked to Geoffrey Edelsten and real estate entrepreneur Drew Davison, but slammed romance rumours. And on Tuesday, Suzi Taylor, 45, was spotted enjoying the company of a mystery man in Brisbane. The Block star cut a casual figure, wearing a tight mini dress and had her hair in pigtails for the outing. Scroll down for video New man? The Block's Suzi Taylor was spotted in Brisbane on Monday catching up with a mystery male Suzi paired the look with black sneakers and a navy cap, and carried a Louis Vuitton bag around her shoulders. She had light makeup on, including dewy foundation and covered her face with stylish aviator shades. Suzi could be seen carrying a coffee and kissing her male pal on the cheek, who wore a white T-shirt and black shorts. Looking good: The 45-year-old brunette cut a casual figure, wearing a tight mini dress and had her hair in pigtails for the outing Close: The pair were seen talking before he appeared to hop in his silver Subaru wagon Hitting back: Suzi was recently linked to radio presenter David 'Luttsy' Lutteral, Geoffrey Edelsten and Drew Davison, but shot down reports on her Instagram The pair were seen talking before he appeared to hop in his silver Subaru wagon. Suzi was recently linked to radio presenter David 'Luttsy' Lutteral, Geoffrey Edelsten and Drew Davison, but shot down romance reports on her Instagram. She also previously told Daily Mail Australia she is 'very single.' Geoffrey claimed he was dating Suzi after meeting at a party in Melbourne - but she swiftly denied the claims. Still on the market? She also told Daily Mail Australia she was 'very single' Sorry Geoffrey! Geoffrey Edelsten (pictured) claimed he was dating Suzi after meeting at a party in Melbourne - but she quickly denied it Geoffrey told News Corp he felt 'euphoric' around Suzi, who he described as a 'beautiful looking lady.' Within hours, Suzi told Daily Mail Australia: 'I met him at a soiree... I'm actually very friendly, we really hit it off! 'But we're just friends,' she concluded. The following day, The Daily Telegraph published a report that Suzi had actually been dating Drew for about six months. Not true: Geoffrey told News Corp he felt 'euphoric' around Suzi, who he described as a 'beautiful looking lady' The publication quoted Suzi as saying: 'Yes, I am dating someone special.' She also confirmed KIIS FM's Summer Fling she was dating someone, but later said she was single on Instagram. Suzi, who has previously posed for the cover of Penthouse magazine and once dated INXS' Michael Hutchence, recently dated Channel Nine's Richard Wilkins. She previously told The Daily Telegraph: 'He gave me access to his house and I would be there in my underwear waiting for him when he got home from work.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Suzi for comment in relation to this article. Former flame: Suzi, who has previously posed for the cover of Penthouse magazine and once dated INXS' Michael Hutchence, recently dated Channel Nine's Richard Wilkins She's been enjoying a sun-soaked break in Barbados over the past several days. And Frances Cain continued to lap up the best of what the Caribbean island has to offer on Monday, as slipped into a leopard-print halterneck bikini for a leisurely day at the beach. With her shapely physique already boasting a deep tan, the glamorous ex-wife of Jeremy Clarkson was joined by a handsome mystery man, who went shirtless as he stepped out in swimming trunks for a cooling dip in the ocean. Scroll down for video Life's a beach: Jeremy Clarkson's ex-wife Frances Cain was spotted on a Barbados beach with a mystery man on Monday Frances, a regular visitor to the island, shielded her eyes from the intense sunlight with a pair of tinted aviator-style shades, while her golden tresses sat in a half updo. Also wearing sunglasses, Frances' silver-haired companion waded into the crystal clear waters by her side as they relaxed with family and friends. The 55-year-old, who was married to former Top Gear presenter Jeremy for 22 years, appeared to be having a great time on the picturesque island. Cooling dip: Frances looked sensational in a colourful leopard-print bikini as she enjoyed a cooling dip in the crystal clear ocean The outing comes after Jeremy, 56, stepped out publicly with his new girlfriend, Lisa Hogan, 46. After a string of holidays together over the last few weeks, Jeremy and Lisa made their first public appearance together as a couple at the Roundhouse Gala last week. They also stepped out together at an event held at the Royal Albert Hall as they cosied up for snaps together. The pair have been keeping their relationship under wraps, but the Irish beauty but was quick to gush about her new man after the London bash. The way they were: Frances was married to Jeremy Clarkson for 22 years until their 2015 split She told the Sunday Mirror in the couple's first public acknowledgement of their relationship: 'I'm very happy. He's really great.' Proving their relationship was going from strength to strength, Jeremy and Lisa also enjoyed a romantic getaway in Barbados last month. The pair, who had been seen together three times prior to their getaway, had been staying on the island as guests of the English impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber. Advertisement Chloe Goodman shot to fame as the 'butt double' for some of showbusiness' biggest stars. And it seems it runs in the genes as her sister Lauryn showed off her shapely behind on the sisters' trip to the Maldives. Lauryn outshone her Ex On The Beach star sibling as they headed out on an idyllic boat trip during their time at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef'resort in the Indian Ocean paradise. Scroll down for video Sister act! Lauryn and Chloe Goodman have certainly been showing off their figures in all their glory on their family trip to the Maldives She slipped into a barely there swimsuit, which left little to the imagination. Gazing out across the idyllic vista she flaunted her derriere and some seriously racy sideboob. Her sister was more covered up, but offered a racy new look for swimming gear as she slipped her amazing figure into bondage style white one piece. The pair were joined by their younger sister Amelia, 18, who has also seemed to have picked up their taste in skimpy swimwear. A real hattrick: The pair have also been joined by their younger sister, Amelia, who also packed a selection of racy swimsuits Cheeky view! Gazing out across the idyllic vista, Lauryn flaunted her derriere and some seriously racy sideboob All white: The trio enjoyed a wander through the crystal clear surf as they snapped some holiday memories on Go Pros Shady ladies: They all protected their eyes with a range of mirrored sunglasses Stepping up: The girls then headed out on boat trip and showed off their sensational curves in their barely-there swimwear Shell hunting: Chloe and Amelia wandered down the beach as Lauryn stopped to collect a beach keepsake Snap happy: They headed down the beach together and took in the sights, snapping away as they went The stunning red head slipped her figure into a white mesh one-piece which was high cut, showing off her legs. They headed down the beach together and took in the sights, snapping away as they went on Go Pros. Lauryn stopped at one point to scoop up a shell, perhaps a memento from the idyllic break away together. The sisters then headed out on a boat trip and took part in a snorkelling session. Thanks to Lauryn's skimpy one-piece, her behind was very visible above the water line as she paddled along. Chloe's sunshine break with her sisters has been a long time coming for the starlet who was seen sharing her excitement over the trip a fortnight ago. All aboard! The sisters then headed out on a boat trip and took part in a snorkelling session Deep blue: Lauryn checked her phone while her sisters checked out the sea from the boat Flipper! Chloe got ready to jump in the sea as she put on her snorkelling gear Gogglebox: Chloe looked a little uncomfortable in the goggles as she tried to get used to the equipment Little Mermaid! Chloe looked comfortable as she headed out into the deep blue Bottoms up! The sisters were both clearly visible from the ocean thanks to the shapely rears Out at sea: Chloe couldn't resist turning the deck of the boat into her catwalk as she posed up a storm Ship shape: The Ex On The Beach looked stunning as she cracked a smile while looking out to sea Selfie obsessed: The girls couldn't resist a selfie to share with their social media fans She shared an idyllic snap of the sought-after holiday destination alongside a heart-eyed emoji and told her 178k Twitter followers: 'Maldives in 2 weeks.' However, the raven-haired beauty's tweet caused a stir on the social media site as many fans were quick to link Chloe to Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers. Aaron had tweeted that he is also heading to the Maldives and teased he will be joined by a female companion. He tweeted on March 10: 'Maldives in just over a week with the beautiful smiler.' Putting two and two together, some fans suspected that he had been referring to Chloe, with one commenting: 'So @Chloe__Goodman is @AaronCGShore smile? what do u guys reckon!??' However, Aaron has since confirmed that he and Chloe are not dating and his latest flame is said to be Essex-based beauty, Danielle Scott. She wows fans on a regular basis with her incredibly slender and youthful physique. And Elizabeth Hurley, 51, showed no signs of stopping on Tuesday as she shared yet another sizzling bikini snap from her idyllic holiday in the Seychelles. The actress and model flaunted her ample cleavage and enviably radiant complexion in a vibrant turquoise bikini and shades, as she posed seductively for fans on a sun-soaked beach. Scroll down for video Bikini babe: Elizabeth Hurley, 51, showed off her enviably ample cleavage and radiant complexion in another sizzling bikini snap from her idyllic break in the Seychelles on Tuesday Topping up her tan in a daring plunging bikini top, the British beauty displayed plenty of ample cleavage and sun-kissed skin for fans to see. Zooming in for a closer shot than normal, the brunette gave a subtle tease of her flat and toned stomach while her bust took centre stage in the snap. Leaving her hair loose and her face completely bare, Liz then let her natural beauty shine through as she showed off an incredibly radiant and youthful complexion for her 51 years of age. Bikini babe: Liz has been heavily documenting her sun-drenched getaway to the tropical location on social media so far Perching trendy Aviator sunglasses onto her nose with a small smile on her face, the star looked utterly relaxed and glad to be soaking up the sun in the tropical location. Liz has been heavily documenting her sun-drenched getaway on social media so far - having shared a stunning video in a leopard print bikini on Sunday. The actress looked incredible in the clip in which she frolicked around, while the camera effect meant that every inch of her frame was highlighted - proving she was her own best advertisement as a successful swimwear designer. Wahey! She proved she was her own best advertisement as a swimwear designer on Sunday as she shared a sizzling video of her clad in a leopard print bikini on Instagram With her toned body and ageless beauty, Elizabeth certainly doesn't need to recruit the services of other models to advertise her eponymous swimwear line. Instead the ageless beauty keeps her social media feeds clogged with stunning snaps as she strips down to various states of undress. On Thursday, she took to Instagram once again to share yet another clip of herself - this time looking sensational in a skimpy white bikini. In the GIF, she is seen blowing kisses at the camera as she stands on the golden sands of a tropical beach while wearing the barely-there, bejewelled number, which she revealed has been named for her 'beautiful friend' Elle Macpherson. Playing around: The 51-year-old actress looked incredible in the clip in which she frolicked around, while the camera effect meant that every inch of her frame was highlighted Jumping around: With her toned body and ageless beauty, Elizabeth certainly doesn't need to recruit the services of other models to advertise her eponymous swimwear line Unsurprisingly, the show-stopping upload racked up more than 10,000 likes in just two hours as hordes of fans gushed over the stunning images. On Tuesday, the brunette beauty treated fans to another seductive beach snap, showcasing her impressive figure in a plunging navy swimsuit. The actress looked sensational in the simple yet sexy one-piece, which boasted a gold ring at the bust and a teardrop cut-out running down her stomach. Lip service: She also shared a clip of herself blowing kisses at the camera while wearing a skimpy white bikini on Thursday Name: In an accompanying caption, the beauty revealed that she named sizzling two-piece - from her eponymous swimwear line - for her supermodel pal Elle Macpherson Elizabeth's gym-honed arms and slender legs were on display in the tropical snapshot, which sees the beauty going make-up free behind a large pair of shades. The Royals star certainly wasn't short of compliments, with her male admirers showering her with compliments. 'How are you still single?', one asked, while another posted, 'What a woman'. Earlier this week, Elizabeth also shared a beach selfie with her 530,000 Instagram followers. Looking good: On Tuesday, she treated her fans to another seductive beach snap, showcasing her impressive figure in a plunging navy swimsuit The screen star pouted in the snap which showed off her pert bust in a skimpy tangerine halterneck bikini top. Elizabeth shot a wide-eyed, slightly distressed look at the camera and captioned the image 'Valley Of The Dolls'. She was referring to the cult 1967 film about three young women attempting to make it in Hollywood who succumb to ill-fated romance and the lure of drug abuse. Ahoy there! Earlier this week, the star looked sizzling in the saucy selfie as she posed in a tiny tangerine bikini top The face of Estee Lauder rocked a sexy bed-head hairstyle with her highlighted locks swept around her face. Her lashes were loaded with mascara and she sported a baby pink lip gloss. The mum-of-one has been enjoying spending some quality time with her 15-year-old son Damian recently. Elizabeth shared a touching selfie with Damian on Monday with the pair enjoying a long country walk together. Mother and son time! Elizabeth shared another selfie, this time taken during a long country walk with her 14-year-old son Damian The Bedazzled star rocked a fur trim hat as Damian grinned sheepishly behind her. Damian, whose father is Elizabeth's former partner billionaire Steve Bing, is clearly devoted to his famous mother. The school boy paid tribute to her on Mother's Day by sharing an adorable picture of the pair when Damian was just a toddler. He captioned the image: 'Happy Mothers Day Mummy xxx' Devoted: Damian paid tribute to his famous mother on Mother's Day with an adorable throw-back snap to when he was much younger She stunned fans by becoming embroiled in a huge Twitter war of words with the owners of a new LA restaurant last month. But former UK TV golden girl Cat Deeley is adamant moving to America hasn't changed her. The 40-year-old - who hails from the West Midlands - swapped Britain for LA in 2006 when she was called in as the host of So You Think You Can Dance? and has never looked back. Scroll down for video Just the same? Cat Deeley is adamant moving to America hasn't changed her despite shocking fans with her recent rant against a new restaurant in LA Her Twitter takedown of a restaurant's service stunned both the owners and her followers - but in a new interview with Grazia, the happy-go-lucky star insists she's still a down-to-earth Brit at heart. She explains: 'I don't think America has changed me. I mean, I do the green juice, I do yoga. But I've always don it - even in London.' She lives in the Sunshine State with her husband, her former Fame Academy co-host Patrick Kielty, and their one-year-old son, Milo. When asked if she would return to the UK for work, Cat insists only two things would take her home: an amazing job or a huge paycheque. She continued: 'The question isn't about leaving LA. It's about my little boy and my husband. And I was to going to leave them, it's either got to be something that drives me wild with excitement or something that pays me very well, if I'm being completely honest.' Golden girl: The 40-year-old - who hails from the West Midlands and shot to fame on CD:UK - swapped Britain for LA in 2006 when she was called in as the host of So You Think You Can Dance? and has never looked back Happy: She lives in the Sunshine State with her husband, her former Fame Academy co-host Patrick Kielty, and their one-year-old son, Milo and insists she won't return to the UK unless she gets offered an amazing job or a huge paycheque Cat is relishing motherhood, but while she reveals she would love more children, she is adamant she is too much of a worrier - and candidly admits she hated pregnancy. Talking to the magazine about motherhood, she says: 'It's the best - and hardest - job. (When it comes to another child) the thing is I'm a worrier. What if something happens? I do want more kids. I love kids. But I really didn't enjoy being pregnant and mine was easy. I was very wary of everything!' The revelations that she's an LA-girl for good comes after warned her fans to stay away from Italian restaurant Tom George after her 'disgusting' experience on Sunday in a slew of damning tweets. On its Facebook page, the restaurant claimed it tried to 'ease her pain' by giving her free food, but said that even halving her bill did not work. Fuming: The revelations that she's an LA-girl for good comes after warned her fans to stay away from Italian restaurant Tom George after her 'disgusting' experience on Sunday in a slew of damning tweets Defence: The restaurant wrote on its Facebook page that 'she didn't like the food' and that her tweets were 'inappropriate' She was so irate with Italian restaurant Tom George, which has also has outlets in Budapest, Hungary, that she shared a slew oftweets alongside a screen grab of its listing and a picture from outside of the venue. She wrote: 'The worst featuring! Worst food! As for the manager?????? Moron!!!!!' Before adding: 'The most disgusting restaurant, terribly run, by a manager who can only be described as an amateur. Avoid at all costs. #tomgeorge.' The restaurant then waded into the row by writing on Facebook: 'We are listening to any feedback because we need to provide the best service what we could do. 'In this case we couldn't do anything. She didn't like the food so we comped all of the food items, then she tweeted a lot of inappropriate tweet although we tried to ease her "pain". 'But she's still very welcome in our restaurant again if she gives us any chance to prove her, the lot of good reviews are for a reason.' Hitting back: The waiter who served her attempted to defend himself online, revealing she didn't leave a tip despite the issue not being with his service and over half of their food bill being comped Meanwhile the waiter who served her revealed she did not tip him, even though the celeb's issue did not appear to be with his service. In response to her tweet which included a snap of her bill, he wrote: 'Cat, as your server at TomGeorge I am hurt by your response to free food. 'I gave you respect, and I served you with love.' Retweeting his response, she added: 'And as I respectfully told you, the catalogue of errors were not your fault. 'However the mistakes were repeatedly not correctly rectified. 'The food was terrible and your manager was unhelpful and rude. Respect and love should be shown to all, attention to detail is necessary too! She's the darling of the fashion world and never fails to make a style statement at the world's hottest catwalk shows. And Olivia Palermo did not let her crown slip as she ran errands in Brooklyn, New York, on Monday. The socialite, 31, showcased her flair for fashion as she slipped into a quirky cream fishtail midi-skirt and a pair of jewel encrusted white sneakers by Roger Vivier. Scroll down for video A FLARE for fashion: Olivia Palermo slipped into a quirky cream fishtail midi-skirt and a pair of jewel encrusted white sneakers as she ran errands in Brooklyn, New York, on Monday Teaming her flared garment with a matching cream top, the fashionista kept the spring chill at bay with a taupe quilted jacket. The former The City star accessorised with a small blush pink leather handbag and kept the sunshine off her face with a pair of oversized shades. Olivia wore her light brunette locks loose and unstyled and opted for natural make-up to accentuate her pretty features. The style blogger - who regularly makes best-dressed lists - seemed happy and relaxed as she strolled through the streets on her low-key day off. Fashionista: The socialite, 31, accessorised with a small blush pink leather handbag by Elena Ghisellini and kept the sunshine off her face with a pair of oversized shades Olivia first shot to fame when she appeared alongside the likes of Whitney Port and Louise Roe in reality show The City, the New York-based spin-off of The Hills, which followed Whitney as she tried to forge a career in the fashion industry. The socialite has gone on to carve out a name for herself among the style elite, attending the world's hottest fashion shows and working as a brand ambassador for some of the globe's most luxurious labels. Olivia recently said of her style icon status in an interview with The Edit magazine: 'Its about mixing and matching. My aunt has always said, "If its great, its great and it doesnt matter how it costs". Fashion is for every woman. You can see if shes into it: her eyes light up when she talks about it. Check her out: The style blogger (pictured at the Fragrance Foundation Awards luncheon in New York last week) shot to fame in reality show The City, the New York spin-off of The Hills 'I love seeing a woman looking amazing walking down the street in New York, when you can see her confidence. I just think: "You go, girl"!' When it comes to her personal life, Olivia is just as successful. Olivia met husband, German male model Johannes Huebel, 39, through mutual friends nine years ago, before tying the knot in June 2014 in a low-key ceremony in Bedford, upstate New York. Discussing the secret to the couple's happy marriage, Olivia told Harper's Bazaar Australia: 'We try not to ever be separated more than seven days. Its just something we have always done.' But it doesn't look as though the couple will be hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet any time soon, with the socialite admitting she is 'very focused on work' at present. She added in an interview with the Daily Mail's YOU magazine: 'Im really focused on work. I have my hands full and I have to prioritise.' She's recently confirmed her romance with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange earlier this month. Currently swept up in her new relationship, Pamela Anderson visited one of the most romantic city's in the world Venice - albeit without her beau - on Tuesday in a striking pink dress. The 49-year-old actress looked her glamorous self in the form-fitting number as she roamed the idyllic Italian city with photographer David LaChapelle with a bottle of champagne in tow. Scroll down for video Pink to make 'em wink: Pamela Anderson visited one of the most romantic city's in the world Venice albeit without her beau on Tuesday in a striking pink dress alongside pal and photographer David LaChapelle Having a whale of a time, her classic silhouette garment highlighted her narrow waist as the scooped neckline amplified her buxom cleavage while she visited LaChapelle's exhibition Lost+Found. The skinny strapped piece displayed her taut stomach as it skimmed her slender thighs while the hem stopped at her knees to showcase her sky-high black sandals. Oozing Old Hollywood vibes, she placed a pair of oversized black retro cat-eye shades while her peroxide blonde 'do were styled into a glamorous vintage curl. The Baywatch babe teamed her retro ensemble with a equally sophisticated beauty look and a swipe of pink lipstick to rival screen icon Marilyn Monroe. Picture perfect: The 49-year-old actress looked her glamorous self in the form-fitting number as she roamed the idyllic Italian city with the photographer with a bottle of champagne in tow Classic: The skinny strapped piece displayed her taut stomach as it skimmed her slender thighs as the hemmed stopped at her knees to showcased her sky-high black sandals Second glance: The Baywatch babe teamed her retro ensemble with a equally sophisticated beauty look and a swipe of pink lipstick to rival screen icon Marilyn Monroe The mother-of-two appeared in high spirits as she playfully posed on a balcony with her creative friend egging her on while she held on tight to the champagne bottle. Sharing a giggle together, she was eventually led off the public balcony with LaChapelle gently holding her waist. Her carefree display comes after she finally spoke out on her admiration for 'romantic' Julian, following months of speculation about their bond. He's a 'gentleman,' she now says, and one of her favourite people, after developing an unlikely bond with the WikiLeaks founder. Chic: Her classic silhouette garment highlighted her narrow waist as the scooped neckline amplified her buxom cleavage while she visited his exhibition Lost+Found Vintage edge: Oozing Old Hollywood vibes, she placed a pair of oversized black retro cat-eye shades while her peroxide blonde 'do were styled into a glamorous vintage curl Cheers: The mother-of-two appeared in high spirits as she playfully posed on a balcony with her creative friend egging her on Having fun: Pamela cheekily waved to the growing crowd under her balcony On her blog earlier this month, she wrote: 'My relationship with Julian - it's no secret. He is one of my favourite people and he might be the most famous, most politicised refugee of our time. 'Famous for being persecuted is not a position of power but a position of vulnerability. I am concerned. 'Julian is a human being who is extremely empathetic and cares deeply about the world. And because of his work he has made some powerful enemies in a few countries, America especially, by exposing them.' Belt it up: The stunning TV star's designer look featured a chic skinny waist belt Camera ready: She smiled alongside photographer David while they got their picture taken The man in her life: The WikiLeaks founder has been living under political asylum for almost five years She added to People magazine: 'Julian is one of my favorite people. He's a gentleman, he is extremely smart, resilient. 'Julian is trying to free the world by educating it. It is a romantic struggle I love him for this.' Julian has been living under political asylum for almost five years at London 's Ecuadorian Embassy, but Pamela has been making regular visits - at least once a month since October 2016 - even occasionally bringing baked goods. What a bombshell: The Canadian beauty showcased her incredible body in the fifties inspired piece Paris Jackson has expressed concern for the welfare of her teenage brother after discovering he is living alone on the sprawling Jackson estate. According to TMZ the successful model, 19, is worried about 15-year old Michael, Jnr commonly referred to as Blanket as he reportedly lives at the Calabasas property without cousin Tito Joe, 38, and grandmother Katherine, 86, the guardians he was assigned following his pop legend father Michael's sudden death in 2009. The publication claim matriarch Katherine is recuperating with her oldest child Rebbie, 66, in Los Angeles after spending a reported two months in London, where she is thought to have received medical treatment. Scroll down for video Fears: Paris Jackson has expressed concern for the welfare of her teenage brother after discovering he is living alone on the sprawling Jackson estate TJ is understood to be sharing supervisory duties with his wife Frances, meaning at least one of them is always present at the Jackson ranch, but Paris is worried about her brothers prolonged separation from his close family members. She is also believed to harbour concerns about Rebbies alleged influence over Katherine, who has reportedly not spoken to her grandchildren since flying to London in January. Despite her fears, Blanket is said to be excelling at his private school, where he is described as extremely social and has been getting straight As. Not happy: TMZ claim the successful model, 19, is worried about 15-year old Michael, Jnr commonly referred to as Blanket as he reportedly lives at the Calabasas property without his legal guardians Katherine traveled to the United Kingdom with daughter Rebbie shortly before winning a restraining order against nephew-in-law Trent Lamar Jackson. According to the NY Daily News she said in legal documents filed in March that she is 'under a doctor's care' in London, 'in part because of the stress this situation with Trent is causing me.' She was granted a temporary restraining order February 9 against Trent after alleging she is the victim of elder abuse and that he has neglected her health needs. Getting better: The publication also claim matriarch Katherine is recuperating with her oldest child Rebbie, 66, in Los Angeles after spending a reported two months in London, where she is thought to have received medical treatment Trent, 52, who is related to Katherine via her husband Joe's side of the family, had been living in a guest house in the grounds of her Calabasas, California, home after serving for years as her personal driver. Katherine states in her filing that she was bullied by Trent and resorted to desperate measures to escape his constant monitoring. 'I believe he has put cameras and bugs in my home, so the only place I can try and have a private conversation is in my bathroom,' she wrote. Trent, the son of Joe Jackson's half-brother, attended a court hearing in LA Wednesday seeking to have the TRO against him removed. The temporary restraining order banned Trent from using Katherine's credit cards, staying in the guest house and coming within 100 yards of her. MailOnline has contacted Paris's representatives for further comment. Helen Skelton has given birth to her second little boy with husband Richie Myler. The TV presenter, 33, and the rugby player, 26, announced the arrival of their bundle of joy with a sweet black and white snap of the newborn's hands, posted to their respective Instagram accounts on Tuesday afternoon. Alongside the photograph, Helen - who is already a mum to son Ernie, 22 months, with Richie - simply wrote: 'Family of four'. Scroll down for video 'Family of four': Helen Skelton, 33, has given birth to her second child with husband Richie Myler, 26, announcing the arrival with a sweet black and white snap of the newborn's hands Growing her brood: Alongside the photograph, Helen )above) - who is already a mum to son Ernie, 22 months, with Richie - simply wrote: 'Family of four' A source confirmed to MailOnline that mother and baby are both healthy and the parents are over the moon. Followers immediately flocked to the social media site to congratulate the couple, who married in December 2013. One wrote: 'Huge congratulations to your family of 4!! It feels so amazing again this time round. Enjoy it, it is the best feeling ever!' as others added: 'welcome to this little cutie !!!! Take care !' and 'The most amazing gift ever!' A representative for Helen declined to provide additional comment. The birth was undoubtedly a happy surprise for the blonde - who revealed she had been up and about all week and doing Pilates just one day before the tot's arrival. 'Welcome to this cutie!': Fans immediately flocked to the post to congratulate the couple (above), who married in 2013 and are already parents to 22-month-old son Ernie Taking to Instagram on Monday, the Cumbria native had shared an image of herself impressively performing a stretch on a reformer, despite her burgeoning bump. Proving herself to be active throughout her second pregnancy, she captioned the shot: 'S T R E T C H at 39 weeks #Pregnancy #pilates #headspace' Helen announced she was pregnant back in November, having already welcomed little Ernie in June 2015. Surprise: The birth was undoubtedly a happy surprise for the blonde - who revealed she had been doing pilates just one day before the tot's arrival Heart-warming: Helen announced she was pregnant back in November with a sweet snap of Ernie clasping a sign reading 'Ready for my partner in crime, due Spring 2017' She had confirmed the exciting news to fans with an adorable photo of her first son - who was seen clasping a sign that read: 'Ready for my partner in crime, due in Spring 2017.' She had captioned the adorable shot, which garnered a huge 3,800 likes: 'Three set to become four #newbaby #feelingblessed.' However, the star had given an insight into her life as a mother back in January, as she admitted to having the 'worst day of parenting life' when she claimed she was asked to leave a playgroup with her 'screaming' son. Mum-of-two: Helen (above) announced she was pregnant back in November, having already welcomed little Ernie back in June 2015 'Worst day': However, the star had given an insight into her life as a mother back in January, when she claimed she was asked to leave a playgroup with her 'screaming' son Taking to Twitter to share her story, the former Blue Peter presenter revealed she was forced to abandon her hopes of finding the right playgroup for her son Ernie after he suffered a screaming meltdown. The BBC presenter had shared a sweet picture of her son walking into his new French playgroup, admitting she was 'nervous' for his first day. Captioning the photo, she wrote: 'French play group . lets do this . why do I feel sick .. #nervousparent #family #mum #toddler #childcare #school #family.' Not happy: Sharing a selfie from her car, she explained: 'Worst day of my parenting life. Asked to leave after 20 mins. Screamed the place down screaming his version of "mama let's go!" Relatable: Hundreds of fans had flocked to her social media site to confess their own similar struggles in parenting a toddler (Richie and Helen pictured with Ernie, above) Later on however, she revealed she was 'asked to leave after 20 mins'. Sharing a selfie from her car of the pair, she explained: 'Worst day of my parenting life. Asked to leave after 20 mins. Screamed the place down screaming his version of "mama let's go!" constantly. #parentfail #kidswinning #mumfail #childcare.' Hundreds of fans had flocked to her social media site to confess their own similar struggles in parenting a toddler - commenting jokingly: 'The first five years are hard and then it gets worse!' but also assuring her: 'I had the same with my youngest but now he gets upset when I pick him up - They all settle eventually!' In light of the story's reception however, Helen went on to describe the playgroup staff as being 'superb' and said that it was her fault in a Tweet which read: 'Wow storm in a tea cup: we love the French creche. Careful! However, Helen then went on to suffer a health scare during London Fashion Week after she fell down the stairs at eight months in a pair of sky high heels (above) Exciting day: Helen began dating rugby hunk Richie back in 2011, with the couple tying the knot two years later (above) 'Staff are superb! Can't account for a toddler mood sometimes! My fault not theirs xx' However, Helen then went on to suffer a health scare during London Fashion Week after she fell down the stairs at eight months. She had shared an image of her towering nude court shoes worn to the show that morning and admitted to followers they were 'the only thing that fits'. Going on to take a terrifying tumble in the heels, Helen later assured fans that she it was only her knee that had been injured, writing wittily on Twitter: 'Dont ask for the goodie bag before you sit down... Dont fall down the stairs I dont think I will be invited back My knees been bleeding for 12 hours! Helen began dating rugby hunk Richie back in 2011, with the couple tying the knot two years later before welcoming their first child Ernie. Tres chic: The family (above) subsequently moved to France, after Richie transferred from the Warrington Wolves to the Catalan Dragons, based in Perpignan in the Pyrenees Busy lady: One year after the birth of her first son (pictured), Helen had been separated from her family when she took on a presenting role at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics Dream team: Alongside Rebecca Adlington and Mark Foster (above), the presenter was based at the Olympic pool, hosting the events of the swimming, diving and water polo for UK viewers The family subsequently moved to France, after Richie transferred from the Warrington Wolves to the Catalan Dragons, based in Perpignan in the Pyrenees. However one year after the birth of her son, Helen was separated from her family when she took on a presenting role at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics. Alongside swimmers Rebecca Adlington and Mark Foster, the former Blue Peter presenter was based at the Olympic pool, hosting the dramatic events of the swimming, diving and water polo for UK viewers. Helen admitted how difficult the separation was going to be to The Mirror last summer, ahead of her stint in Brazil with the BBC. She said: 'It's hard because it's 20 days and I've never been away from him for one night. But you can't not do the Olympics.' Tom Cruise slipped back into character on Tuesday morning as filming continued in earnest on the set of his forthcoming blockbuster, M:I6 Mission Impossible. The veteran actor, 54, reprised his much loved role as secret agent Ethan Hunt for what appeared to be a pivotal action sequence on location in Paris, France. Sporting a black leather jacket and matching T-shirt, Cruise was fully immersed in his latest scene as he wound his way along a Parisian street on a large motorcycle Scroll down for video Speed demon: Tom Cruise sped across a Parisian street as he filmed scenes on the set of M:I6 Mission Impossible The scene, which required Cruise to ride the bike at speed, was one of numerous action scenes shot by the actor on Tuesday. Another found him caught in an apparent race against time as he charged past a large group of cameramen and production assistants. Adding to the drama, a group of extras dressed in police uniform trained their guns on an unseen assailant. The American actor later peeled off his jacket before hopping aboard a helicopter, where a pilot whisked him into the air for another dramatic sequence. Action! Tom Cruise slipped back into character on Tuesday morning as filming continued in earnest on the set of his forthcoming blockbuster, M:I6 Mission Impossible in Paris, France Plenty to talk about: The actor chatted to a member of the production team during a break between scenes Main man: The veteran actor, 54, reprised his much loved role as secret agent Ethan Hunt for what appeared to be a pivotal action sequence On the run: Sporting a black leather jacket and matching T-shirt, Cruise was fully immersed in his latest scene as he raced past a large group of cameramen and production assistants Focused: The actor has returned for his sixth outing in the Mission Impossible franchise Taking a break between scenes, Cruise was seen tucking into a healthy yoghurt while chatting to a small gathering of cameramen. No doubt anticipating a busy afternoon the actor wore protective pads on either knee as he prepared to climb back onto his motorcycle. Cruise has taken the helm of the other five films in the Mission Impossible series playing lead role Ethan Hunt, a mysterious secret agent working for the elite IMF agency. The cast promises to be one of the most star studded yet: including Alec Baldwin, Superman star Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby . Armed: Adding to the drama, a group of extras dressed in police uniform trained their guns on an unseen assailant Watch out: The small group of extras were armed against an unknown threat on Tuesday Meanwhile: Cruise furiously charged across the exterior set as a large camera followed his every move Cruise is said to have fought to have British actress Vanessa cast after being impressed with her performance in the Netflix Original series. Despite the original Mission Impossible coming out 21 years ago, when Cruise was just 33, he has maintained his youthful looks, and hardly looks different from the inaugural movie. The star has kept his slimline figure in check with gruelling workouts, with fitness being of utmost importance - for the last Mission Impossible film, he was famously trained to be able to hold his breath for six minutes. 'Normally in underwater sequences, people hold their breath for 10 seconds, 15 seconds max,' Cruise explained in a behind-the-scenes video for Access Hollywood. 'So I had to prove to everyone that it was actually safe and spend time with the safety guys and the safety officers to show them not only is it safe, it's better that I know how to hold my breath because I'm going to be very relaxed. 'No-one's going to have to rush in. No-one has to panic.' He's off: The American actor later peeled off his jacket before hopping aboard a helicopter, where a pilot whisked him into the air for another dramatic sequence Up in the air: Cruise occupied a seat next to the pilot as they took off In need of refreshments: After a stressful day on set the actor was seen tucking into a light lunch That's better: Cruise downed the last remnants of a yogurt during a break between scenes In good company: The Hollywood star was accompanied by various members of the production team Ready for action: Anticipating another lively scene the actor wore protective knee pads as he made his way across set Banter: Cruise shares a joke with a production assistant as he ate his lunch On your bike: After filming scenes on foot and in the air, Cruise climbed onto a large motorcycle While most of the details of the plot of the latest film in the franchise have been kept tightly under wraps, Skydance Media CEO David Ellison revealed that Tom will be performing the biggest stunt sequence of his career in the film. Ellison told Collider: 'What Tom is doing in this movie I believe will top anything thats come before. It is absolutely unbelievablehes been training for a year. 'It is going to be, I believe, the most impressive and unbelievable thing that Tom Cruise has done in a movie, and he has been working on it since right after Rogue Nation came out [in 2015]. Its gonna be mind-blowing.' M:I6 Mission Impossible is scheduled for a US release on 27 July 2018. Toned and trim: The star has kept his slimline figure in check with gruelling workouts, with fitness being of utmost importance Back to work: The American star weaved his motorcycle between cars as cameras prepared to roll Thrilling: While most of the details of the plot of the latest film in the franchise have been kept tightly under wraps, Skydance Media CEO David Ellison revealed that Cruise will be performing the biggest stunt sequence of his career in the film Last month, Ksubi founder Dan Single was rushed to hospital after shattering his legs following a fall from the third floor of his Paris hotel. And the fashion designer has spoken out publicly for the first time since the accident, saying he's grateful to be alive. Thanking his model wife Bambi Northwood-Blyth for her support, Dan, 36, created a Go Fund Me page on Monday, writing he's 'been given a second lease at life.' Scroll down for video 'I've been given a second lease at life': Dan Single has spoken out for the first time since shattering his legs and falling from the third floor of his Paris hotel (pictured with wife Bambi) 'It all sounds awful but the guy writing this mail has been given a second lease at life and is SO grateful, inspired and excited to be back soon,' Dan wrote on the page. 'I am also lucky to have my family here by [my] side, wife, mother, brother and at least a visitor a day.' Dan said he is hoping to raise $250,000 to help pay for his recovery and any associated costs. Opening up: Thanking his model wife Bambi Northwood-Blyth for her support, Dan, 36, created a Go Fund Me page, hoping to raise $250,000 Long way down: The hotel he fell from sits in a six-floor terrace and it's a terrifyingly steep drop to the ground below from the third floor 'Help fund the hospital bill, rehab bill, early flights home, being unable to make bread and work over the next [few] months and all the incidentals the family is covering at the moment,' he added. He also clarified that the media reports are correct, and that he shattered 'every bone from my feet to my hips and pelvis.' 'I fell three floors (35 metres) out of my hotel room in Paris, did a summersault and landed on my feet which saved my spine and my brain (a miracle says the doctor, one in 100 million chance).' Scare: He also clarified that the media reports are correct, and that he shattered 'every bone from my feet to my hips and pelvis' He added about his recovery: 'I have been in a coma for two weeks, had eight operations and am covered in pins and bolts in my bones.' 'I cannot use my legs for another month or two so will be in a rehab centre in Paris recovering.' In an update to the page, Dan said he was in 'PARIS, BED, BORED, SORE.' The post was captioned: 'Sh** got real.' Last week, Bambi shared an image where she appeared to be tired and emotional in the wake of the accident. She just waiting n wishing n hoping and praying' the 25-year-old wrote, referencing the song Wishin' and Hopin' by Dusty Springfield. Sombre: Last week, Bambi shared an emotional image in which she appears to be tired and emotional in the wake of the accident 'We got this': She also recently took to Instagram to share a shot of them kissing before the fall, with a message for Dan to stay strong She also recently took to Instagram to share a shot of them kissing before the fall, writing: 'DAN MAN. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT ... WE ARE GETTING THERE ...DAN KEEP ON BEING THE AMAZING FIGHTER YOU ARE... YOU GOT THIS !!!! WE GOT THIS XXX,' adding love heart emoticons. Dan's friend and owner of the Grand Amour Hotel where the fall took place, Andre Saraiva, recently shared a positive update on the designer's condition. '[He] is doing much better,' the French graffiti artist and hotelier told WHO magazine. Last month, The Daily Telegraph first reported the fall, with a source telling the publication: 'His legs are a complete mess; he won't be walking for a very long time. He is not in a good way. It's expected both he and Bambi will have to stay over there for quite a while because he's not able to fly.' The brunette beauty tied the knot with Dan in Byron Bay in January 2014, with Bambi becoming a step-mother to Dan's son Justice, 10, at the age of 22. He's undertaking one of the most iconic comedy characters in cinematic history. And Steve Coogan continued his transformation into Stan Laurel - one half of famous 20th century comic duo Laurel and Hardy - for new biopic Stan & Ollie on Tuesday in Bristol. The 51-year-old British actor sported a three-piece tailored suit for filming as he got into character while using The M-Shed and HMS Balmoral to recreate an Irish dockyard for their latest shoot. Scroll down for video Transformation: Steve Coogan continued his transformation into Stan Laurel (R)- one half of famous 20th century comic duo Laurel and Hardy - for new biopic Stan & Ollie on Tuesday in Bristol The Alan Partridge star teamed his wool suit with a white pinstriped shirt and red patterned tie as he played the revered Englishman in the upcoming BBC produced flick. He teamed a matching blue knee-length coat over his slender frame as he took on the renowned comedy actor's mannerisms. Starring alongside American star John C. Reilly in the feature, he continued his revamp while covering his brown locks with a navy beret. In between cameras rolling, Steve waited amongst the crowd of extras while the film's crew set up for the scene. Taking a break: The 51-year-old British actor sported a three-piece tailored suit for filming as he got into character while using The M Shed and HMS Balmoral to recreate an Irish dockyard for their latest shoot While US actor John wasn't spotted alongside Steve, he was later seen leaving the set covered in a quilted black jacket as he got into his waiting car. It was announced at the beginning of 2017 that the funnymen were set to take on the feat of the historic comedy duo for the silver screen. The film is titled Stan & Ollie and was written by Jeff Pope - who worked with Coogan on Oscar-nominated Philomena. Relaxed: The Alan Partridge star teamed his wool suit with a white pinstriped shirt and red patterned tie as he played the revered Englishman in the upcoming BBC produced flick Focused: He teamed a matching blue knee-length coat over his slender frame as he took on the renowned comedy actor's mannerisms The movie follows the story of their final tour in 1953, which saw them visit a number of music halls across the UK to entertain their fans one last time. Despite a low turnout at first, their stage farewell became a hit although Hardy was suffering with ill-health and they were coming to the end of their careers. With Jon S Baird directing the anticipated film, Head of BBC Films Christine Langan previously said Steve and John were 'dream casting'. Done for the day: While US actor John wasn't spotted alongside Steve, he was later seen leaving the set covered in a quilted black jacket as he got into his waiting car Warming up: The Stepbrothers star warmed up under his big jacket Langan told BBC : 'John C Reilly and Steve Coogan are dream casting for Stan & Ollie, bringing to life with uncanny accuracy and irresistible gusto the genius creative marriage that Jeff Pope's script explores so lovingly.' Englishman Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston - then in Lancashire, now in Cumbria - before he flew further a field and set up home in the US in the hope to find fame. It was in 1927 that Laurel was teamed up with heavyset Georgia native Oliver Hardy for short film Putting Pants on Philip - despite both having had successful careers of on their own merit. They became known for their signature tune The Dance of the Cuckoos which was played over the opening credits of their films. Hats on: Starring alongside American star John C. Reilly in the feature, he continued his revamp while covering his brown locks with a navy beret Steppng out: In between cameras rolling, Steve waited amongst the crowd of extras while the film's crew set up for the scene The performers remained a double act with the Hal Roach Film Studio until 1940 with Laurel playing the clumsy and childlike pal of the pompous Hardy all the while equipped in their trademark bowler hats. After they wrapped up their film commitments in 1944, the slapstick duo began a tour around England, Ireland and Scotland in local halls. They made their last screen appearance in Atoll K in 1950, after starring in 107 films together including 23 full-length feature flicks. Hardy passed away in 1957 at the age of 65 while Laurel died eight years later in 1965 aged 74. Over the weekend, she made her way over to Spain as she prepared to check into rehab as part of her effort to 'battle [her] demons'. And Danniella Westbrook appeared eager to make the most of her time in the UK before her Friday departure, as she was spotted soaking up the sun just a day before. The 43-year-old actress chowed down on a saveloy as she visited a local chip shop in Essex - moments after going for a run in the balmy spring weather. Scroll down for video Sunny day: Danniella Westbrook was spotted soaking up the sunshine in Essex on Thursday As she indulged in her meal, the former EastEnders star opted against sitting down, as she clutched the food boxes while chatting away on her phone. For her workout-cum-culinary session, Danniella went suitably casual, donning a hot pink sleeveless top with black leggings and taupe running shoes. Appearing to go makeup-free for the excursion, she tied a pillar box red bow around her golden tresses, which were set in a flowing ponytail. Oi oi! She was seen chowing down on a large saveloy as she chatted away on the phone Work it out: Moments earlier, she had just completed a workout as she went for an outdoor run On Tuesday, the Danniella's publicist - who has taken over the reins of her Twitter account as she seeks treatment - shared a shot of the star wearing a black bikini. The shot, which showed the actress smiling, was captioned: 'Danniella said "happy Tuesday all" she's done for the day & getting vitamin D.' Determined to succeed, the TV personality put her troubles behind her as she posted a painful goodbye to her son Kai, 20, at the airport on Thursday. Greetings: On Tuesday, her publicist took to Twitter to share a greeting from the actress The actress documented the pair's tearful farewell in a string of emotional Instagram posts, which saw her declare she will do whatever it takes to be 'a better momma and a better woman'. Clearly nervous about the coming weeks, Danniella took to Instagram to document her final hours in the UK before heading to Spain to attend a rehab centre. She first shared a sweet selfie with her 20-year-old with fans, as he dropped her off at the airport ahead of her long journey. Farewell: Danniella said a painful goodbye to her son Kai, 20, on Friday as he dropped her off at the airport ahead of her stint in rehab New chapter: The actress, 43, documented the pair's tearful farewell in a string of Instagram posts, which saw her declare she will do whatever it takes to be 'a better momma' While the pair smiled for cameras in hope for the future, Danniella then showed her determination to better herself in a caption posted on top. Ready to welcome treatment with open arms for the sake of her kids, she wrote: 'Saying goodbye to my kids is hard but it's gonna be ok we have a strong bond and I'm a strong woman and I will do whatever it takes to a better momma and a better woman.' After paying a tearful farewell to her son however, she then went on to share a number of emotionally-charged selfies of her crying, to display her heartache at leaving her three children behind. One saw a tear falling down her face with the caption admitting that her 'heart breaks' saying goodbye to Kai, while another saw her more determinedly write 'I got this' on a photo with her head in her hands. Upset: After saying goodbye however, she then went on to share a number of emotionally-charged selfies of her crying, to display her heartache at leaving her three children behind Emotional: One saw a tear falling down her face with the caption admitting that her 'heart breaks' while another saw her write 'I got this' on a photo with her head in her hands Beside the snaps she admitted she was devastated to be leaving her family, but acknowledged that they are her main motivation to succeed and find peace. She said: 'My heart breaks for all the right reasons x I know so many good things are coming I just gotta hold on and dig deep x mucho issues to put to bed once and for all xx but I got this #treatment #thewestbrook #thisgirlcan' The actress announced last month that she was checking herself into a rehab centre in Spain, after admitting her 'demons' were making her weak to her addictions. Nostalgic: She also shared a throwback snap of her and her kids from years gone by, as she jetted off to try and bid farewell to her 'demons' Danniella, who was formerly treated for a cocaine addiction, took to Instagram has to inform followers of her news - and reveal she had a miscarriage last year. The star explained that appearing on Channel 5's In Therapy show, where she discussed her experience of sexual abuse, was one of the reasons she was checking into a centre. Atop the appearance in June 2016, she also referenced her marriage to businessman Kevin Jenkins and her devastating split from ex George Arnold - before claiming she suffered a miscarriage last year. Big things: The actress announced last month that she was checking herself into a rehab centre in Spain, after admitting her 'demons' were making her weak to her addictions Honest: Danniella, who was formerly treated for a cocaine addiction, took to Instagram has to inform followers of her news - and reveal she had a miscarriage last year (above) She wrote: 'So I'm checking in to treatment again. The therapy show I did cost me a lot of heart ache painful childhood memories & trauma that the show didn't fix . 'Put that with a total lie and sham of a marriage the illness from botched bodies botching my health and a break up from the only man I ever loved and loosing a baby last year , I think it's time I did this once and for all for myself my kids and my very small but close circle of friends . 'Am I scared yes but I do want a quality of life I don't have today and the freedom of a life without Demons haunting me and making me weak to my addictions... Open wounds: The star explained that appearing on Channel 5's In Therapy (above) where she discussed her experience of sexual abuse, was one of the reasons she was returning to rehab 'So in a few weeks time I shall be checking in to a friends treatment centre and I won't be leaving until I'm a 100% well in my mind body and (love).' Danniella, who shares Kai from a brief relationship with Robert Fernandez, has previously revealed she suffered a miscarriage with ex Tom Williams in 2014 - yet details of losing a child last year have never been released. Fans swarmed the site to show support for the star, writing: 'Good luck to you it takes a brave person to face their demons and come out the other side, good on you and lotsa luck love and best wishes xx' Another added: 'Soo soo proud of you Danniella. Noo matter how many times you get knocked back down you always keep getting back up and dusting yourself off!' She was spotted filming her new movie The Greatest Showman in New York City with Hugh Jackman last week. But Michelle Williams, 36, appeared to take a quick break from filming for a Eurotrip holiday as she was spotted in Paris, France on Tuesday. Wearing a chic tan wool coat, the actress looked effortlessly stylish as she left the Jacquemart Andre museum with a male friend. Parisian Chic! Michelle Williams, 36, was spotted looking effortlessly stylish leaving the Jacquemart Andre museum in Paris on Tuesday in a cosy tan coat Michelle appeared to have had her signature peroxide blonde pixie crop cut even shorter, and fitted right into her surroundings with her Parisian-chic ensemble. The mother-of-one kept warm in a white turtleneck jumper, and her loose fitting denim mom jeans hung off her lithe frame, hinting at her slender figure underneath her off-duty outfit. True to the city she was visiting, Michelle rocked a pair of nude ballet pumps - the shoe became synonymous with the idea of the stylish French woman when they first came into fashion in the Noughties. Paris, J'taime! The mother-of-one kept warm in a white turtleneck jumper, and her loose fitting denim mom jeans hung off her lithe frame, hinting at her slender figure underneath her off-duty outfit The pretty actress shielded her eyes from the sun in a pair of large sunglasses, and carried a large white leather tote. Smiling at her male friend, Michelle looked to be having a wonderful time as she soaked up the city's cultural highlights. Michelle was spotted filming a romantic scene for her new movie The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman in New York City last week. Having a giggle: The actress laughed with her male friend as she left the museum, shielding her eyes from the sun's glare with a pair of large chic sunnies Dressed in elaborate costumes, the pair looked dreamily into each other's eyes, with Michelle looking up coquettishly at her lover. The talented pair were grinning at each other, Hugh's arm placed protectively around Michelle's upper back, clasping her hand in his, and they shared a tender kiss. The hotly anticipated musical, which is set to be released in December this year, will tell the story of the life of P.T. Barnum, a circus impresario in the 1800s. Michelle notably played Marilyn Monroe in the 2011 film My Week With Marilyn, and received an Oscar nomination for her role as Alma in Brokeback Mountain, the film where she famously met and fell in love with the now-deceased Heath Ledger. Hotly anticipated: Michelle was spotted filming a romantic scene with Hugh Jackman in New York City last week for new movie The Greatest Showman The couple had their daughter Matilda, now 11, in October 2005, just a few days before Brokeback Mountain's release. Heath tragically died of an accidental drug overdose in 2008, and Michelle has previously spoken about staying strong for her daughter as a single parent. Speaking to Porter magazine, the beauty said: 'In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I'm a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you've been. 'In pretty much all senses but one, I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not having her dad. You know, that's just something that doesn'tI mean, it just won't ever be right.' The Doctor Blake Mysteries was one of ABC's most popular original shows before being cancelled last month, amid rumours the public broadcaster felt it 'wasn't multicultural enough' and the cast was 'too white'. And now its star Craig McLachlan - who has a long and successful career working in commercial television - has slammed the taxpayer-funded network for failing its own audience. The Logie-nominated actor, 51, told The Daily Telegraph: 'Take away the peoples show, when you are supposed to be the people's network? I find it very, very disappointing. I find it exceedingly disrespectful to an audience that has been so extraordinarily loyal.' Scroll down for video 'You are supposed to be the people's network? I find it very, very disappointing': Actor Craig McLachlan has slammed ABC for cancelling one of its most popular original shows, The Doctor Blake Mysteries He also suggested ABC viewers who felt betrayed by the decision would flock to rival networks, telling Confidential: 'I will just say this, people vote with their remote'. The TV series, which follows a doctor who returns to Ballarat to take over his late father's medical practice after a 33-year absence, was a ratings hit for ABC and averaged 1.6 million viewers last year. Meanwhile, Craig revealed he had been speaking to 'friends from a commercial network' who told him they would be 'thrilled' to get half of The Doctor Blake Mysteries' audience. Successful: The TV series, which follows a doctor who returns to Ballarat to take over his late father's medical practice after a 33-year absence, was a ratings hit for ABC and averaged 1.6 million viewers last year It remains to be seen if The Doctor Blake Mysteries, which also stars Nadine Garner, will be picked up by another network - but Craig believes it could be a possibility. Last month, Craig took to Instagram to express his disappointment and disbelief at ABC's decision to cancel such a popular program with an international following. He wrote: 'Like "Poirot" or "Midsomer Murders", I always believed The Doctor Blake Mysteries could run and run. Certainly, one might think the viewing figures at home in Australia alone would support that notion. 'I always believed it could run and run': Last month, Craig took to Instagram to express his disbelief at ABC's decision to cancel such a popular program with an international following 'Consistent, stunning results mirrored in over 130 countries around the world. And that's all thanks to you guys! I've said it before, The Doctor Blake Mysteries is your show. 'And so, with an eager, loyal audience and absolute passion from "Team Blake" I honestly felt we could and should continue on our journey with Lucien and Jean. 'Friends, my glorious crew and I were ready to rock... what does that tell ya? There really is no business like show business!' There's still hope! It remains to be seen if The Doctor Blake Mysteries, which also stars Nadine Garner, will be picked up by another network - but Craig believes it could be a possibility The show's creator and producer, George Adams, also shared Craig's sentiments during an appearance on ABC Radio Ballarat. He said: 'I'm not really sure what the reasons are and to some extent, I don't really care. I've been doing this for 30 years and I've never been in a situation where a top rating show doesn't carry on until it's not a top rating show.' Last month, ABC denied rumours The Doctor Blake Mysteries was cancelled for 'not being multicultural enough', instead telling the Herald Sun that 'budget restraints' were to blame. A spokesman said: 'Dr Blake has had a sensational run... and we feel that the time is right to go out while we are still on top. 'When funding is tight, difficult decisions have to be made to make sure the ABC continues to deliver outstanding new Australian content.' The Doctor Blake Mysteries' fifth and final series will air on ABC later this year, followed by a television-movie special. Last year, Terry Biviano and Anthony Minichiello revealed they were planning to spend $560,000, revamping their run-down $3million Vaucluse home. And the pair have revealed this week that they are now building a new home. Shoe designer and WAG Terri, 42, told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday: 'It is in its very early stages, the slab hasn't even been laid yet.' Scroll down for video 'It's in its very early stages': Terry Biviano and Anthony Minichiello reveal they're building a new home...after buying a run-down in Vaucluse for $3million The pair kept the location of the new home and the expected costs, under wraps. In October last year, The Daily Telegraph reported the glamourous pair were set to spend a whopping $560,000 revamping their Vaucluse house. At the time, the pair were said to have been adding a second-floor level, a roof terrace and a garage extension to the 1970s property. Pricey! In October last year, The Daily Telegraph reported the glamourous pair were set to spend a whopping $560,000 revamping their Vaucluse house (pictured) Their vision: At the time, the pair were said to have been adding a second-floor level, a roof terrace and a garage extension to the 1970s property At the time of the purchase, one of Anthony and Terry's personal buyer agents, Oliver Berger, told Daily Mail Australia the couple were delighted with their $3.1million investment. 'They're extremely happy with it and signed the papers last night,' the agent said. 'They're either planning to knock it down or completely gut it out and renovate it.' Agent Mark Meyer of LJ Levi Real Estate added: 'One of the main attractions of the property was that it was built on 770sqm with a 20m frontage plus it's in a very nice part of Vaucluse. Their nest: At the time of the purchase, one of Anthony and Terry's personal buyer agents, Oliver Berger, told Daily Mail Australia the couple were delighted with their $3.1million investment Property market: The purchase came after Terry, 42, and former footballer Anthony, 36, sold their neighbouring waterfront Bondi Beach penthouse for nearly $2million 'It's a renovator's delight and the buyers saw a lot of potential to build the home they really want.' The purchase came after Terry, 41, and Anthony, 35, sold their neighbouring waterfront Bondi Beach penthouse for nearly $2million. The couple married in January 2012 at a lavish ceremony at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral. They welcomed their daughter Azura in December 2013. She's had her fair share of controversy since arriving in the spotlight on Married At First Sight. But getting her heart broken on national television seems to have paid off for Cheryl Maitland, 25, the reality TV star scoring a holiday at an upmarket rain forest retreat,The Daily Telegraph reports. The former topless waitress and her felon boyfriend Dean Gibbs having been holidaying in accommodation costing up to $715 per night, with a spokesperson for the hotel describing Cheryl's handout as 'mutually beneficial'. Scroll down for video Cheryl the social influencer? MAFS' unlucky in love Maitland scores 'mutually beneficial' luxury holiday alongside felon beau Dean Gibbs Cheryl and boyfriend Dean have been staying at the Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat, located in lush forest between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, where the hairdressing salon manager resides. The hotel complex features 13 rainforest-secluded bungalows costing up to $715 a night. A spokesperson for the accommodation told News Corp Australia a deal had been made for Cheryl to promote the site on social media, however, wouldn't go into any specifics of the arrangement. Nice gig! Cheryl and boyfriend Dean have been staying at the Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat Normal: The representative said the deal made with Cheryl and her boyfriend Dean (pictured) wasn't unusual 'It's mutually beneficial, I think it's good for her to document her stay here on social media,' he said. The representative said the deal made with Cheryl and her boyfriend wasn't at all unusual. 'We are approached by an number of notable identities, we work things out on a case-by-case basis,' he said. Working for her trip: A spokesperson for the accommodation told News Corp Australia a deal had been made for Cheryl to promote the site on social media Paying her way: Photos and videos from Cheryl's Instagram account, on which she boasts 147,000 followers, show the Gold Coast girl posting diligently from the luxury hotel Photos and videos from Cheryl's Instagram account, on which she boasts 147,000 followers, show the Gold Coast girl posting diligently from the luxury hotel. 'This morning with him @crystalcreekrainforestretreat you have honestly outdone yourself!' Cheryl captioned a photo of the pair lying together on a bed while having breakfast on Tuesday. Cheryl's relationship with Dean, who in 2014 was convicted of trafficking cocaine while a police officer, comes after her 'marriage' to Andrew Jones collapsed on national television. She recently put on a sizzling swimwear display as she promoted her new swimwear range Beach Angels in Barbados. Now back in the UK, Zara Holland, 21, swapped her skimpy bikinis for a pair of slinky white denims as she stepped out and about in London on Tuesday. The Love Island star highlighted her slender pins in the ripped knee jeans that hugged her pert derriere as she enjoyed an afternoon in the capital with her mother Cheryl Hakeney. Scroll down for video Pretty in pink: Zara Holland, 21, looked sensational as she stepped out in frayed white skinny jeans and a demure ribbon shirt on Tuesday Glamorous duo: She was joined by her lookalike mother Cheryl Hakeney who cut an ageless figure in a lace white dress Zara teamed her frayed skintight denims with a demure pink blouse, equipped with bow detail that rested under her bust. She stylishly left her sleek shirt unbuttoned and teased at her ample cleavage as she teetered from her waiting car in a pair of sky-high nude high-heels which added inches to her diminutive height. The former Miss Great Britain accessorised her look with a simple silver necklace and draped her Stella McCartney inspired handbag over her shoulder. Holding her purchases in her hands, she worked her golden locks into a voluminous curl which offset her dramatic smokey eye. Strutting their stuff: The pair turned the London streets into their very own catwalk as they walked side by side in their chic ensembles High spirits: Zara and Cheryl made sure to flash a smile in the way of photographers Zara's mum Cheryl, meanwhile, made sure to flaunt her bronzed glow from their recent getaway - Zara and her boyfriend Elliott Love had joined her family in Barbados - in a form-fitting white lace dress. She covered up in a tailored double breasted blazer in the same shade as her frock and stepped out in a pair of nude Valentino heels on her feet. Although, she was seen toting her trainers in a wicker handbag - no doubt having her sporty footwear at the ready if her feet began to tire! Zara and Cheryl were in high spirits as they strutted their way through the London streets and the mother, daughter duo made sure to flash a smile in the way of waiting photographers. Back on home soil: The former Miss Great Britain's outing came after she enjoyed a sun-soaked trip to Barbados with her family and boyfriend Elliott Love White hot: Zara Holland, 21, swapped her skimpy bikinis for a pair of slinky white denims as she stepped out and about in London on Tuesday. Denim days: The Love Island star highlighted her slender pins in the ripped knee jeans that hugged her pert derriere as she later met up with a pal Sleek: She stylishly left her sleek shirt unbuttoned and teased at her ample cleavage as she teetered from her waiting car in a pair of sky-high nude high-heels which added inches to her diminutive height Zara, meanwhile, was later seen out with a pal and feeling a chill since swapping climates, she wrapped her petite frame in a leather sleeved jacket with fur-trimmed hood while carrying a hot beverage in her hand. Her demure display comes after she returned from a sun-soaked break away to Barbados where she was seen putting on a loved-up display with boyfriend Elliott. Since getting together with her beau, Zara has insisted she wants to keep her relationship private and away from the public eye. Chilled out: Feeling a chill since swapping climates, she wrapped her petite frame in a leather sleeved jacket with fur-trimmed hood while carrying a hot beverage in her hand Speaking about Elliott in December last year, the Love Island star revealed her other half had no idea who she was when he met her - despite her starring on the dating show last summer. Zara told The Sun: 'He didn't know who I was. He didn't watch one episode of Love Island - he was the first guy I met coming out of the villa who didn't know who I was. 'When you know, you know... we clicked straight away.' She added: 'It just happened naturally and that's the best way, he just likes me for me which was so refreshing.' Simone Biles grew up in Columbus, Ohio with three other siblings and a mother battling drug addiction. By the time she was three years old, she was in foster care getting regular visits from her grandfather Ron. At the age of six, he adopted her. On Monday night's Dancing With The Stars Most Memorable Year week, the Olympic gold medalist broke down in tears while recalling 2000, the year of her adoption. Scroll down for video Emotional: Simone Biles fought back tears while discussing being adopted by her grandparents in the year 2000 on Monday night's Dancing With The Stars In the interview that aired before her dance, the 20-year-old described the conditions in which she grew up in before being placed in foster care. 'My biological mom was suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and she was in and out of jail.' She continued, 'I never had mom to run to. I do remember always being hungry and afraid.' Early life: The 20-year-old is seen in an undated photo from her youth before being placed in foster care 'Whenever we had visits with my grandpa I was so excited. That was the person I always wanted to see,' she told her partner Sasha Farber as her voice quivered from the emotional story. Her grandfather-turned-father is then interviewed, 'I didn't want the kids in foster care, I just said send them to me.' Simone and her sister Adria went to live with Ron and his wife Nellie Cayetano Biles in Texas. Adoption: In the year 2000, her grandfather Ron adopted Simone and her sister Adria They were told by her grandparents that the children could call them their parents if they wanted to. 'I could do that, yeah, sure, Mom and Dad,' Simone says in another scene. 'My parents saved me.' Dance: The gold medalist danced a Vietnamese Waltz with partner Sasha Farber For her performance on the competition show, Simone and her partner Sasha danced a Vietnamese Waltz to contemporary Christian artist Chris Tomlin's Good Good Father. As soon as the music started, the athlete was in tears but danced through them. She ended her dance by running up to her parents and hugging them. She ended the performance with a hug to her parents Ron and Nellie 'It made me cry even more that they were crying, Simone told E! News. The judges praised her performance, giving her nines across the board, putting her with 36 points out of a possible 40. When asked how she got through the emotional dance by host Tom Bergeron, she joked, 'Muscle memory.' Even before his daughter took her first breath this reality television star was a hands-on dad. Josh Altman's wife Heather has revealed the Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star took a very active role in the arrival of their first child - by delivering the baby. Sharing a picture of the moment she first got a chance to hold now one-week-old Alexis Kerry in her arms, the 32-year-old reflected on the birth Monday. Hands on dad: Josh Altman's wife Heather has revealed the Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star took a very active role in the arrival of their first child - by delivering the baby Heather revealed realtor Josh delivered their little one - or at least helped - saying: 'The most incredible moment of my life, holding my daughter right after her daddy delivered her. 'She stretched her long little arms up around my neck and gave me the biggest longest hug I'll never forget! I knew I loved her but seeing her and holding her made my heart explode. 'The instant feeling of unconditional love and protection I feel for her is unreal. I can't believe I have my very own baby!' Now that little Alexis is here, Josh has remained a hands-on dad with the 38-year-old sharing a photo of himself and his daughter curled up asleep in the hospital. Special bond: The 32-year-old new mom shared a picture on Monday of the moment she first got a chance to hold now one-week-old Alexis Kerry Growing girl: On Tuesday, heather also shared a snap of her little one to mark a week since her arrival on April 3 An exhausted but elated Josh wrote: 'Week one with my baby girl has been amazing and at the same time exhausting. '[Heather] took this pic of me when I was out cold with Alexis in the hospital a few days ago. This was after 2 nights of no sleep and I found a corner of the hospital that was quiet for a 30 min nap.' The couple welcomed daughter Alexis Kerry Altman on Monday April 3. Adding to the family: Alexis is the couple's first child and they announced her birth with a picture of them and their fur children The Newton, Massachusetts native said his daughter's birth marked 'the greatest day of [his] life,' noting that his first child weighed seven pounds and measured 20 inches long at birth. 'This angel is absolutely perfect. 'To experience the birth of your child is such a mind blowing event that is greater than anything I can describe. Bumpy beauty: The tandem chronicled their pregnancy via their social media accounts, such as this shot from last month 'I'm so happy and so proud of my wife for handling this like a champ. Life has definitely changed in an instant, and from gazing into my baby [girl's] eyes, I can tell you it just got much better.' The new parents explained to People earlier this year how the couple decided on naming their daughter Alexis Kerry. 'We wanted a name that started with an A,' the duo said, noting that their decision came down to 'a toss up between Aspen and Alexis'. 'We could picture her as a blonde or brunette as an Alexis because we don't know if she's gonna have her dad's tan, dark features, or her mom's beautiful blonde hair.' The couple said that the child's middle name Kerry was in memory of 'Heather's late father Kerry Bilyeu, who passed from cancer five years ago.' Josh and Heather are also celebrating their one-year anniversary, as they tied the knot April 2, 2016 in a lavish ceremony at Aspen, Colorado's St. Regis Aspen Resort. The nuptials were attended by prominent personalities such as Dexter actress Julie Benz and Shark Tank mogul Daymond John. She is rumoured to be responsible for a recent smile on Brad Pitt's face. But Sienna Miller was spotted out in New York with her ex fiance of three years Tom Sturridge on Tuesday. The British actress, 35, looked deep in conversation with Tom, who she shares four-year-old daughter Marlow with. Scroll down for video Good friends: Sienna Miller was spotted out in New York with her ex fiance of three years Tom Sturridge on Tuesday Dressed in Beyonce's Ivy Park sweater and fitted leggings, showing off her toned physique. Wearing her blonde hair loose and accessorising in sunglasses, she appeared relaxed with Tom who was dressed in ripped double denim. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar recently about Tom, who she split with in 2015, she described him as her 'best friend in the world'. New leading lady? Brad Pitt was reportedly seen getting flirty with the star of his new film, Sienna Miller, in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday night And revealing they spend a lot of time together for the sake of their daughter, she added: 'Everybody will stay over or well all go on holiday and thats because we genuinely want to be around each other. Its great for our daughter that she has two parents who love each other and are friends.' Meanwhile Brad Pitt, 53, was reportedly seen getting flirty with the star of his new film, Sienna in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, according to Page Six. And as news broke on Monday, the actress headed out with a spring in her step in New York. Behind the scenes: The soon-to-be divorced star and the blonde Brit attended the premiere of The Lost City Z separately but insiders claim at a dinner after the screening the pair got close The soon-to-be divorced star and the blonde Brit attended the premiere of The Lost City Z separately but insiders claim at a dinner after the screening the pair got close. Brad - whose company Plan B is behind the film - was doing some 'serious flirting' despite being surrounded in a group of about 25 people. A source told Page Six: '[They were] heavily enjoying each other's company and 'they were talking to each other all night.' Brad, according to another insider, seemed to perk up after the interaction as he was 'in very high spirits, which he hasnt been for a long time. He seems to be over a hump'. 'Talked all night': Brad - whose company Plan B is behind the film - was doing some 'serious flirting' despite being surrounded in a group of about 25 people Another source close to Sienna downplayed the possible flirtation and said the pair were part of a larger group so there were a lot of conversations going on throughout the night. Back when the movie was filming, Sienna was forced to deny that there was another going on with a then-very married Brad. She called a suggestion they were flirting 'insane' on Sway In The Morning on SiriusXM's Shade 45. The star said: 'The brilliant thing about that rumor is that yeah I haven't really read too much about it. 'So this is the truth about that, Brad Pitt is producing the movie that I just wrapped but I didn't see him, he's not been to the set. 'You know he's the producer of the film and I've met him twice - it's insane.' Ex files: The star split with wife Angelina Jole (pictured 2014) last Sepetmber Since his split with wife Angelina Jolie last year, Brad has been linked to actress Kate Hudson. Kate, however, has a new boyfriend and those close to Brad have denied any relationship between the two. Angelina announced their separation in September after more than a decade together, sparking a custody battle over their six children. Chatty Cathy: Sienna was also seen chatting the ear off her co-star Charlie Hunnam at the premiere of The Lost City Z The Fate of The Furious opens this Friday. And Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez were busy at work promoting the action-packed film in New York City on Tuesday. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Vin pays a secret tribute to Paul Walker in the latest installment of the street-racing series. Hustle: Vin Diesel, 49, and Michelle Rodriguez, 38, were promoting the action-packed street-racing film in New York City today Memorial: The star pays a secret tribute to Paul Walker at the end of The Fate of The Furious Four years after the tragic death of Walker, his character Brian O'Conner is honoured by Dom Toretto (Vin) at the end of the film. Dom discovers he has fathered a son with his ex-girlfriend and decides to name the boy after his former partner in crime. In the emotional scene, Dom announces his sons name while introducing him to his team. 'Youve heard me say that you never turn your back on family. And I want to thank you all for never turning your back on me. Alright. Everyone, meet Brian.' Biker chic: She rocked a black leather biker jacket decorated with studs, a black blouse and black skinny pants Walker tragically died in a single-vehicle collision on November 30, 2013, alongside friend Roger Rodas. The new film is the first in the series to be made without Walker. Analysts predict that the film should top $380 million and could even blow past the $400 million mark globally. That would outpace Furious 7s $397.7 million bow. Promote: Michelle looked every inch of the tough character, Letty, shes plays in the hugely successful series Back in New York, Michelle looked every inch of the tough character, Letty, shes plays in the hugely successful series. She rocked a black leather biker jacket decorated with studs, a black blouse and black skinny pants. The 38-year-old star sported eye-catching black and white high heels. The beautiful brunette's wavy tresses cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face which was expertly made up in neutral tones. Crowd control: Vin Diesel channeled his character, Dominic Toretto Looking good: He sported a tough looking black and white leather biker jacket with a black graphic tee underneath Meanwhile, Vin channeled his character, Dominic Toretto. The 49-year-old sported a tough looking black and white leather biker jacket with a black graphic tee underneath. Vin rocked distressed denim and black leather boots while donning a pair of dark sun glasses. Together: Vin and Michelle have starred in the action movies since The Fast And The Furious in 2001 Tough act: The actors were rocking chic leather urban wear as they spoke to a crowd on the streets of Washington Heights Vin and Michelle have starred in the action movies since The Fast And The Furious in 2001 and are set for the ninth and tenth movies in the franchise set up for 2019 and 2021. The new movie also stars Jason Statham, Ludacris, and Charlize Theron. It was directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Chris Morgan. Upcoming: The stars are set for the ninth and tenth movies in the franchise set up for 2019 and 2021 Casting call: The new movie also stars Jason Statham, Ludacris, and Charlize Theron Vroom Vroom: Cars from the movie were on display She's expecting her first child with beau Josh JP Patterson. And Binky Felstead showed off her growing baby bump as she filmed new scenes for Made In Chelsea with her fellow castmates on Tuesday. The 26-year-old looked chic in a cream jumper dress as she went out for lunch in Fulham to celebrate co-star Stephanie Pratt's birthday. Blossoming: Binky Felstead showed off her growing baby bump as she filmed new scenes for Made In Chelsea with her fellow castmates on Tuesday Opting for a casual yet stylish ensemble, she teamed the loose-fitting dress with a pair of white trainers, and a large cream tote bag. Wearing her brunette tresses down in loose waves, she shielded her eyes with a pair of tortoiseshell shades, before adding a rose-tinted lipstick to accentuate her lips. Binky looked relaxed as arrived at the restaurant with birthday girl Stephanie, carrying her pal's dog Henry. Stylish: The 26-year-old looked chic in a cream jumper dress as she went out for lunch in Fulham to celebrate co-star Stephanie Pratt's birthday Relaxed: Opting for a casual yet stylish ensemble, Binky teamed the loose-fitting dress with a pair of white trainers, and a large cream tote bag Day out: Binky was joined by her beau JP and Ryan Libbey at the birthday lunch Pals: Louise Thompson and Rosie Fortescue were also seen leaving the restaurant with their fellow MIC co-stars Mum-to-be: Binky, who recently returned to the UK following a babymoon in Mauritius with JP, wore her brunette tresses in loose waves, adding a rose-tinted lipstick to complete the look Stephanie, 31, also went for a dressed-down look, pairing a checked shirt with ripped light-wash jeans. Later peeling off the shirt to reveal a sporty white tank top underneath, she finished off the outfit with a pair of black leather boots and a large Chanel tote bag. The blonde beauty was also joined by Louise Thompson, Ryan Libbey, Rosie Fortescue and JP for the birthday lunch. Birthday girl: Stephanie, 31, went for a dressed-down look for the lunch, pairing a sporty tank top with ripped light-wash jeans Blonde beauty: She finished off the outfit with black leather boots and a Chanel tote bag High spirits: Stephanie looked to enjoy the lunch with her co-stars, bringing her beloved pooch Henry along to the restaurant as well Louise, who recently returned from a romantic getaway in Dubai with beau Ryan , showed off her tanned complexion as she arrived at the restaurant. The 27-year-old stunner opted for a relaxed look, teaming a mint sweater with a pair of distressed jeans and white pumps. Rosie, also 27, meanwhile went for a more daring ensemble, opting for a monochrome ruffled top and a pair of lace-up crossed jeans. Girl power: Louise, who recently returned from a romantic getaway in Dubai with beau Ryan , showed off her tanned complexion as she arrived at the restaurant with Rosie Keeping it casual: The 27-year-old stunner opted for a relaxed look, teaming a mint sweater with a pair of distressed jeans and white pumps Beau: Louise was accompanied by her personal trainer boyfriend Ryan, who also opted for a dressed-down look Since revealing her pregnancy news on in January, things are back to normal with filming for Binky, who has appeared on Made In Chelsea since the first season five years ago. Despite admitting that she was shocked by the news, she said at the time: 'We're starting this year with a completely blank slate. It's a new start. We're incredibly lucky, we feel so blessed to be bringing this life into the world.' Binky also revealed she is planning on awarding Ollie Locke with the coveted title of godparent, telling OK! magazine: 'I'm going to let Ollie Locke be the godmother! We're all going to be aunties.' She and JP recently returned from a babymoon in Mauritius, where they soaked up the sun before the arrival of their little girl. Stylish: Rosie, also 27, went for a more daring ensemble, opting for a monochrome ruffled top and a pair of lace-up crossed jeans Fashion forward: She finished off the ensemble with a pair of silver creepers and a multi-coloured handbag Catching up: Rosie was seen enjoying a chat with Louise and Ryan as they left the restaurant Friends: Louise and Rosie looked happy and relaxed as they walked to the restaurant Jennifer Lawrence is said to be 'heartbroken' over the sudden suicide of her 27-year-old friend, MTV reality star Clay Adler. 'Clay brings Jennifer back to her humble beginnings and really has made Jennifer feel heartbroken,' an anonymous source told HollywoodLife. The two used to pal around together when they were both auditioning in Hollywood and Adler was semi-famous thanks to his appearances on two seasons of Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County, a spinoff of the popular Laguna Beach. Hollywood dreams: Clay had hoped to become and actor but struggled to land a big role. At the time he was close to then fellow up and comer, Jennifer Lawrence (posing together on the red carpet at the Movieguide Awards in 2007) Clay became known for his appearances in two seasons of an MTV Laguna Beach spinoff, Newport Harbor Adler was only 27 when he took his own life while out in the desert with friends. His father Frank said there were 'no real signs' of what might have triggered the tragedy The photogenic pair attended the Movieguide Awards together in 2007. Jennifer's career skyrocketed, even winning her an Oscar in 2013. Adler's entertainment career never quite got off the ground after Newport Harbor. The source says the star is taking her old pal's death hard. 'It is really sad because she remembers him fondly and never wants to hear anything like this happen to anyone, especially to someone she once knew very well. Its a shame and she is really bummed out over it,' the person said. Adler reportedly was out in the desert on March 25 shooting guns with friends when he turned it on himself, shooting himself in the head, according to TMZ. Sad loss: Clay Adler, who once starred on MTV's Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County, has died after committing suicide (he is seen here in 2009) He died in hospital the following day. Police said there were no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time. He reportedly had a history of mental illness. His father, Frank, who confirmed the death was suicide, said his son was a caring person who would have been 'thrilled' that his organs were donated and able to save others. '[He's] already saved about four or five lives,' he told People. Frank said it was his son's idea to be an organ donor. Too young: The 27-year-old passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 26 (he i pictured with co-star and ex-girlfriend Chrissy Schwartz and co-star Allie Stockton) 'Clay had requested that his organs - and he did this years ago when he applied for a drivers license - that his organs be donated to people.' He added that his son had done 'amazing things' and beyond the four or five lives he's already saved, there could be more. As for what may have triggered his son taking his own life, Frank said he did not know. 'There were no signs. No real signs.' The devastated dad also said Clay had been 'clean for several years.' He said the family stayed with him for a day at the hospital and had an 'amazing time' with him. He said doctors kept him alive longer so his organs could be harvested. 'The hospital did say that hes donated more than theyve ever seen because his internals were in phenomenal shape,' he said. He added that 'several people' had already gotten in touch with him to thank him for his son's gifts. '[They were] incredibly grateful and incredibly sorry for our loss, but unbelievably grateful that theyre able to continue living. Clay would have been thrilled to know that,' he said. 'Truly heartbroken': His co-star Allie paid tribute to the 27-year-old as friends and family farewelled the avid surfer with a traditional paddle out at his local break 'Thats a good thing that came out of it,' he was 'Clay would be thrilled that these people are now living because of him.' On Saturday, friends and family bade farewell to the avid surfer with a traditional paddle out ceremony. After appearing on the MTV reality show, Clay tried his hand at acting but struggled to find his big break. The budding actor was close to then fellow up and comer, Jennifer Lawrence, who would go on to get three Oscar noms and one win. Big break: Clay appeared on two season of the MTV reality show in 2008 and 2007 which built on the success of the widely popular Laguna Beach On Saturday his former Newport Harbor co-star Allie Stockton paid tribute to her late friend. Posting a picture of them enjoying themselves at a Halloween party on Instagram, she said: 'At a loss for words and truly heartbroken. 'We love you so much Clay. I do hope you're in this outfit when I see you again.' Another friend, a photographer called John Russo, wrote on Instagram: 'Cherish your friends because you never know when one is going to leave.' An MTV spokesman said: 'We are saddened by the news of Clay Adler's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.' If you or someone you know is struggling or is considering suicide contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1800273TALK (8255) where help and hope is available. Emmy award winning actor Peter Hansen has passed away at the age of 95. Hansen's family reported on Legacy.com that that actor died in Santa Clarita, California on Sunday. The actor has played lawyer Lee Baldwin on General Hospital since 1965, with recurring appearances until 2001. Heartbreaking: Emmy award winning actor Peter Hansen has passed away at the age of 95 (pictured in 1997) He received a Daytime Emmy in 1979 for Supporting Actor. The Oakland born actor pursued acting after college and his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. Some of his earliest credits include roles in Branded, When Worlds Collide, and The Goldbergs. He's also appeared in The Golden Girls, Starman, The Lone Ranger, and The Adventures of Jim Bowie. Critically acclaimed: The actor received a Daytime Emmy in 1979 for Supporting Actor Making a toast: The actor has played lawyer Lee Baldwin on General Hospital since 1965, with recurring appearances until 2001 Hansen more recently appeared in the 2002 mystery Dragonfly, which starred Kevin Costner and Kathy Bates. The actor met his wife Florence Elizabeth when he was just in high school, according to his family. They were married for fifty years until her death in 1993, and have three children together. Earlier work: The actor appeared from 1954 to 1955 in The Lone Ranger Co-stars: Hansen with his General Hospital co-star Susan Brown She's been filling her Instagram page with bikini snaps from her sun-filled getaway in Barbados. And Zara Holland slipped into a bikini once again on Tuesday - but this time as she stomped her way through the streets of central London. With a huge pair of angel wings attached to her back, the Love Island star, 21, showed off her enviably toned figure as she promoted her new swimwear brand Beach Angels. Beach Angel: Zara Holland showed off her enviably toned figure as she promoted her new swimwear brand in London on Tuesday The former Miss Great Britain put on a busty display in a coral two-piece from the collection, which she teamed with a pair of metallic wedges. Wearing her honey-coloured locks down in loose curls, she opted for a glamorous make-up look, accentuating her eyes with lashings of mascara before adding a pink lipstick to finish. The former Miss Great Britain was flanked by four non-professional models, who were picked from her social media followers. Bikini queens: The former Miss Great Britain was flanked by four non-professional models, who were picked from her social media followers Zara has been busy promoting her swimwear range on her social media pages, including a silver halterneck bikini from the collection she slipped into while enjoying a boat ride in Barbados. She later shared another racy snap showing her in the same coral bikini top she was spotted modelling on Tuesday, opting for a mismatched look by pairing it with silver bottoms. Making the most of the stunning Caribbean backdrop, the television personality also shared a snap of herself showcasing a coral and turquoise bikini from the collection last week. Sizzling: Zara, who has been busy promoting her collection on Instagram, put on a busty display in a silver halterneck bikini as she enjoyed a boat ride in Barbados Stunner: She later shared another racy snap showing her in a bikini top with the same design, but this time in a striking coral colour Despite filling her Instagram page with sun-soaked snaps, she didn't post any snaps featuring her new beau Elliot while on holiday - despite the pair being spotted on the beach together. Since getting together with Elliott, Zara has insisted she wants to keep her relationship private and away from the public eye. Speaking about Elliott in December last year, the Love Island star revealed her other half had no idea who she was when he met her - despite her starring on the dating show last summer. Pool days: The television personality has just returned from a getaway with her family and boyfriend Elliot Love Zara told The Sun: 'He didn't know who I was. He didn't watch one episode of Love Island - he was the first guy I met coming out of the villa who didn't know who I was. 'When you know, you know... we clicked straight away.' She added: 'It just happened naturally and that's the best way, he just likes me for me which was so refreshing.' Sun-filled break: Zara shared a snap of herself showcasing a coral and turquoise bikini from the collection last week She has been busy filming alongside Hugh Jackman for their new movie The Greatest Showman. But swapping New York for the French capital, Michelle Williams has been taking a well-deserved break from her busy working schedule to enjoy some down time in Paris. And while there, the actress, 36, put in an appearance at the launch of Louis Vuitton's new leather goods collaboration with Jeff Koons held at the Louvre on Tuesday. Chic! Michelle Williams flaunted her sartorial excellence as she attended the launch of Louis Vuitton's new leather goods collaboration with Jeff Koons held at the Louvre in Paris on Tuesday Michelle flaunted her sartorial excellence for the star-studded event and cut a chic figure in an elegant and lacy design. Her unusual dress boasted a silk bodice with intricate black lace detailing and a floral patterned skirt that's hem cut off just below her knee. The Manchester By The Sea star decided to let her frock make a statement and sported no accessories at all other than her box clutch - no doubt holding her must-have evening essentials. Giving her attire an edgy vibe, Michelle teamed her dress with a pair of pointed heel boots and sleekly styled her elfin crop 'do. Edgy look: The actress donned an unusual dress that featured a silk bodice and a floral patterned skirt Natural beauty: Michelle opted for minimal make-up and boasted a dewy complexion, along with a deep pink lip She sported flawless make-up for the bash that included an enviably dewy complexion and showcased her natural beauty thanks to its subtle shades. Michelle finished off her look with a glossy deep pink lipstick on her lips. On arrival, she captured a moment by the impressive architecture of the Louvre before heading inside to rub shoulders with a bevy of stars on the Louis Vuitton guest-list. They included Jennifer Aniston - who stunned in plunging leather - and her husband Justin Theroux, as well as Cate Blanchett and Miranda Kerr. Perfect setting: She captured a moment outside the Louvre in Paris and cut an elegant figure with the idyllic architecture as her backdrop Style queen: Michelle flaunted her sartorial excellence for the star-studded event and cut a chic figure in an elegant and lacy design Beauty: Giving her attire an edgy vibe, Michelle teamed her dress with a pair of pointed heel boots and sleekly styled her elfin crop 'do See ya later! Michelle proved to be in high spirits as she exited the event while the sun set Sizzling: Inside the event, Michelle rubbed shoulders with Jennifer Aniston who looked sensational in a plunging leather corset and tailored suit Happy couple: The former Friends star was joined by her husband Justin Theroux Michelle's appearance in Paris comes after she has been working on set in New York for The Greatest Showman. The upcoming musical follows the life of circus owner PT Barnum and is set during the mid 1800's. Michelle plays the role of Charity Barnum and also stars alongside Zac Efron and Zendaya in the feature. Speaking about the upcoming release at CinemaCon at the end of March, Michelle's co-star Hugh revealed The Greatest Showman is a celebration of 'creativity and what is unique about each and every one of us.' He added that the movie had taken seven years to bring to life. In February he confirmed he was trying to 'fix things' with his ex Maddy King, and now it appears Kris Smith has marriage on his mind. The model took to Instagram on Tuesday to share of a video of himself singing the Ed Sheeran song Thinking Out Loud and declaring he wants to play it at his wedding. The 38-year-old captioned the image, 'Well it's out... I'm in fact a soft ass who has a love for soppy songs and chick flicks.' Scroll down for video Sing along! Kris Smith bleted out an Ed Sheeran song in the car during his E! interview with Ksenija Lukich and said he wants it played at his wedding He went on to praise the Ed Sheeran song he was belting out in the car during his E! interview with Ksenija Lukich. 'This is my fav song of all time and my future wife will have her first dance to this (I hope)' he wrote. The confession comes after Kris revealed that he had 'reconnected' with an ex, later confirming during a KIIS FM's Kyle And Jackie O show that it was Maddy King. He first revealed they'd rekindled their flame during an episode of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in February, telling Tegan Martin 'I'm not single.' The 38-year-old captioned the image: 'Well it's out... I'm in fact a soft ass who has a love for soppy songs and chick flicks' Wedding tune: 'This is my fav song of all time and my future wife will have her first dance to this (I hope)' he wrote Huge fan: Kris is a massive fan of Ed's hit hinking Out Loud The father of one went on to reveal to Ash Pollard that the woman he is dating is in fact an ex-girlfriend he was 'reconnecting with'. Kris confirmed his split with Maddy, 26, in October last year after four years of dating, saying, 'Our lives are just heading in different directions'. It's unclear if the pair have rebuilt their relationship with Kris telling Kyle and Jackie O in February that they were 'talking' at that stage. Coupled up? Kris recently confirmed he was trying to 'fix things' with his ex Maddy King Earlier this month, Kris showed off his newly buff body during a boys trip to Bali. Kris regained his stunning physique after losing almost seven kilograms and some muscle definition while filming in the South African jungle. Flaunting his six-pack alongside two mates, the model wrote: 'All the B's....... boys, Bali, Bintang and of course banter.' Buff again: Earlier this month, Kris showed off his newly buff body during a boys trip to Bali Boy's trip: Flaunting his six-pack alongside two mates, the model wrote: 'All the B's....... boys, Bali, Bintang and of course banter' Slimmer: Kris regained his stunning physique after losing almost seven kilograms and some muscle definition while filming in the South African jungle Last month, the Myer Ambassador opened up about his weight loss on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. 'Over five weeks, I lost about six-and-a-half kilos and here I am,' he confessed on the series. Over? Kris confirmed his split with Maddy, 26, in October last year after four years of dating, saying, 'Our lives are just heading in different directions' Amnesty International estimates that China alone killed "thousands" of people, a figure based on examinations of court records and news reports China executed more people in 2016 than all other nations combined, Amnesty International said Tuesday, even as death penalties in the world decreased overall. The human rights organisation estimates the Asian giant alone killed "thousands" of people, a figure based on examinations of court records and news reports. All other countries together executed at least 1,032 people last year -- a decline of 37 percent compared to 2015. Of those, 87 percent took place in just four countries - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan. Amnesty's report found that hundreds of death sentences, including cases involving foreign nationals, had been omitted from China's public database of court verdicts, suggesting a concerted effort to hide the extent of the country's killings. The ruling Communist Party considers the death toll a state secret. "China is really the only country that has such a complete regime of secrecy over executions," Amnesty's East Asia director Nicholas Bequelin said at a press conference in Hong Kong. "Probably the reason is the numbers are shockingly high, and China doesn't want to be a complete outlier in the world," he said. Despite local media reports saying at least 931 individuals were executed between 2014 and 2016, only 85 of them were in the online database, Amnesty said. In 2013, China's Supreme People's Court ruled that legal judgements should be made public, but the decision included many exceptions, including cases involving "state secrets" or personal privacy. Previous estimates from other rights groups also put the number of annual executions in China in the thousands. Chinese courts have a conviction rate of 99.92 percent, and concerns over wrongful verdicts are fuelled by police reliance on forced confessions and the lack of effective defence in criminal trials. The nation's top judge, Zhou Qiang, apologised in 2015 for past miscarriages of justice and said mistakes must be corrected. In December 2016, a Chinese court cleared a man executed 21 years ago for murder, citing insufficient evidence in the original trial. However experts say recent reforms have not been widely implemented. "For example, coerced confessions are supposed to be excluded from evidence. In practise, however, the police have unchallenged discretion to...extract confessions by detaining and torturing suspects for long periods," New York University professor Jerome Cohen told AFP. "Yet even the late Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong, perhaps the greatest executioner in human history, recognised the likelihood of mistakes when imposing the death penalty," Cohen noted. "Mao admonished his officials to bear in mind that, once someones head is cut off, it cannot grow back." A 2016 report from the US-based Dui Hua Foundation said China's average death row prisoner waits only two months for execution. Only a handful of countries still use the death penalty with regularity. The United States executed 20 last year, the lowest figure for the country since 1991. Then Alabama Governor Robert Bentley speaks during an event in Birmingham, AL, in 2011 The governor of the conservative southern US state of Alabama resigned Monday, shortly after lawmakers began impeachment proceedings linked to his affair with a senior aide that was made public in humiliating detail. Robert Bentley, 74, pleaded guilty in an agreement with prosecutors on Monday to two misdemeanor campaign violations and is barred from seeking public office again. "I have spent the last year in deep and earnest prayer over our state and our people. I pray every morning for wisdom and guidance and forgiveness for the sins I have committed," the former dermatologist and church deacon told a news conference announcing his resignation, never directly acknowledging his romantic relationship with 45-year-old political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason. The relationship between Bentley and his married aide became a topic of speculation in 2015, when his wife of 50 years, Dianne, abruptly filed for divorce. The scandal broke last spring when the state's top police officer -- fired by Bentley -- provided the news organization AL.com with salacious details of the secret romance. Robert Bentley, then Governor of Alabama, attends the groundbreaking ceremony for Airbus airplane-assembly plant at Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, AL, in April 2013 The media outlet reported on a 2014 phone conversation between Bentley and a woman he called Rebekah that was secretly captured by Dianne Bentley. "When I stand behind you, and I put my arms around you, and I put my hands on your breasts, and I put my hands (unintelligible) and just pull you real close. I love that, too," the governor is heard saying. "Baby, let me know what I am going to do when I start locking the door," he said during another part of the tape. "If we are going to do what we did the other day, we are going to have to start locking the door." Last week, an impeachment investigation report prepared for the Alabama House Judiciary Committee said Bentley tried to cover up the affair "in a process characterized by increasing obsession and paranoia." "To ensure the silence of his staff, Governor Bentley encouraged an atmosphere of intimidation," it added. "Concern over the recordings appears to have become an obsession." The report revealed that Bentley once opened the door of his hotel room in Washington clad in boxer shorts, thinking Mason was the other side when it was actually hotel staff. On the same trip in 2014, Dianne Bentley attended a group dinner with her husband and Mason, and saw the text messages he was sending his mistress while seated next to his wife, including "I can't take my eyes off of you." Bentley once mistakenly sent his wife a text message that said, "I love you Rebekah," accompanied by a red-rose emoji. Dianne Bentley was able to access other text messages sent by her husband because he had given her his state-issued iPad, not realizing texts from his iPhone would show up on her tablet because the devices were linked. As part of his plea deal, Bentley must surrender $37,000 in campaign funds and perform 100 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty to failing to properly report a $50,000 loan made to his campaign, and using campaign funds to pay nearly $9,000 for Mason's legal fees last year. Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey was sworn in as governor Monday evening. A commission led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan (C) called on the Myanmar government to close displacement camps in strife-torn Rakhine state Myanmar has started shutting down three displacement camps in strife-torn Rakhine state, a senior official said Tuesday, although it was not immediately clear where the inhabitants would go. Tens of thousands of people from Rakhine's Muslim and Buddhist communities ended up in internal displacement camps after sectarian violence ripped the impoverished region apart five years ago. The move to shutter the first of those camps comes after a commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan last month called on the government to close them as part of a series of measures designed to heal simmering ethnic tensions. National Security Advisor Thaung Tun said the government had begun with three camps named in the commission's report, including one sheltering ethnic Rakhines and one that houses Kaman Muslims. The largest of the three includes more than 200 houses full of Rohingya Muslims, a heavily persecuted minority. Tens of thousands of people from Rakhine's Muslim and Buddhist communities have ended up in internal displacement camps in the violence-hit region "We have initiated the process to close down three IDP (internally displaced persons) camps," Thaung Tun told a briefing, without giving details of where people would be moved to. "In Kyauk Phyu, there are IDP camps for Rakhines... Sittwe for the Rohingya group and Ramree... mostly for Kamans." Myanmar has long faced international condemnation for its treatment of Rakhine's more than one million Rohingya, who many from the Buddhist majority reject as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The vast majority are not granted citizenship and face severe restrictions on their access to education, healthcare, food and movements despite many living there for generations. The issue has reached boiling point in recent months after the army launched a bloody crackdown in the north of Rakhine thought to have claimed hundreds of lives after attacks on several police border posts in October. United Nations investigators say Myanmar's security forces may have carried out crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya during that crackdown. Myanmar's national security advisor Thaung Tun says the country has started shutting down displacement camps in strife-torn Rakhine state, April 11, 2017 De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week rejected the accusations, telling the BBC that the term ethnic cleansing was "too strong an expression". Thaung Tun also defended the government on Monday, saying authorities were doing their best to push forward the citizenship verification process. "We want to dissolve the issue of statelessness. We need the cooperation of all stateholders in order for us to go forward," he said. "It has nothing to do with discrimination... It has nothing to do with ethnic cleansing." Kidnapping for ransom was rife in the restive Niger delta until a 2009 government amnesty Gunmen have kidnapped two Turkish nationals from their hotel in southern Nigeria's oil-rich Akwa Ibom state, police said Tuesday in the latest unrest to hit the restive Niger Delta. "Two Turkish nationals working for a construction company in Onna local government area were abducted from their hotel rooms on Sunday," state police spokesman Chukwu Okechukwu told AFP. He said the men, who work for BKS Construction Company which is based in Onna, were seized by gunmen from a hotel in Eket, an industrial city which is home to Mobil, the Nigerian subsidiary of US oil giant Exxon. He said efforts were under way to free the pair. It was not immediately clear why they were kidnapped and so far no group has claimed responsibility. In January, a Turkish teacher was abducted from a school just outside Lagos along with another two staff members and five students, police said, indicating that they were freed two weeks later. No group claimed responsibility. Kidnapping for ransom was rife in the Niger delta until a 2009 government amnesty drastically reduced unrest in the region. Most kidnap victims were released unhurt after ransom payments. But the region has seen a resurgence of militancy since 2016, cutting Nigeria's oil output at a time of global low crude prices, hurting government revenue and forcing Africa's most populous country into a recession. An ongoing government truce with the rebels has significantly ramped up the nation's oil production. Former South African president Thabo Mbeki urges lawmakers to set aside political affiliation in next week's no-confidence vote against President Jacob Zuma South Africa's ex-leader Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday waded into a no-confidence debate against President Jacob Zuma, urging lawmakers to set aside political affiliation during next week's vote. A parliamentary motion of no confidence in the president is due on April 18 following the controversial sacking of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan last month. Zuma has easily survived previous such votes against him, thanks to the majority the ruling African National Congress enjoys in parliament. But in an article that extensively quoted the country's constitution, Mbeki said it is "obvious and logical" that lawmakers "must act in parliament as the voice of the people, not the voice of the political parties to which they belong." "It may be that the current controversy has` at last, imposed on our country the opportunity and obligation the better to define the constitutional and moral relationship between the people and their elected representatives," he said in an article published by The Star daily. Gordhan's removal has triggered unprecedented criticism from ANC leaders, including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as well as the party's chief whip, its treasurer and several ANC allies. But days later, after a party meeting, the ANC threw its weight behind Zuma and vowed to shoot down the no-confidence motion brought by the opposition. Mbeki, who succeeded Mandela as president in 1999, was himself recalled by the ANC in September 2008 before the end of his second term and Zuma took over. But Zuma's presidency has been dogged by corruption scandals and has widened divisions in the party and heightened calls for his resignation. Tens of thousands of protesters marched through South African cities on Friday demanding Zuma step down. More anti-Zuma demonstrations are planned for Wednesday in the capital Pretoria. Zuma, who turns 75 on Wednesday, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president ahead of the 2019 general election. Taiwan's ex-president Ma Ying-jeou, who has faced a string of lawsuits since stepping down last year, scored a legal victory in a defamation case against a commentator who claimed he had taken illicit donations ingTaiwan's ex-president Ma Ying-jeou, who has faced a string of lawsuits since stepping down last year, scored a legal victory Tuesday in a defamation case against a commentator who claimed he had taken illicit donations. Ma filed the libel lawsuit in 2014 against radio show host Clara Chou for alleging that he accepted Tw$200 million ($6.5 million) from scandal-hit food giant Ting Hsin International Group in exchange for favours. The high court overturned a previous ruling and convicted Chou of defaming the former president as she "failed to thoroughly verify" the allegations before reporting them. Ma firmly rejected Chou's accusations, saying his government fully investigated the company's alleged involvement in a number of food safety scandals and indicted dozens of people. The verdict, which requires Chou to either pay a fine of Tw$50,000 or sever a 50-day prison sentence, is Ma's second legal victory after a district court last month found him not guilty in a political leaks case. But the ex-leader faces a new trial starting Friday after state prosecutors brought fresh leaks charges against him last month. Ma has maintained his innocence and vowed to "fight to the end for justice". Ma had immunity from prosecution while in office. But since he stepped down in May last year after serving two terms, the 66-year-old has been hit with a raft of corruption and other allegations. Ma's Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) party held power from 2008 to 2016, before it was trounced by Tsai Ing-wen and her opposition Democratic Progressive Party. Ma is the third ex-president in Taiwan to be indicted on criminal charges. His predecessor Chen Shui-bian was serving a 20-year sentence for corruption until he was freed on medical parole in 2015. Lee Teng-hui was charged with embezzling state funds during his 1988-2000 presidency, but was acquitted. United Airlines is one of the world's biggest airlines with a total fleet of more than 700 planes China social media users were in an uproar Tuesday over viral footage of a passenger dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, after some reports suggested he was of Chinese origin. The videos taken on the plane and posted to Twitter showed the man, reportedly identified by another passenger as ethnically Chinese, being forcibly pulled screaming from his seat by three security personnel. "He said, more or less, `Im being selected because Im Chinese," fellow passenger Tyler Bridges was quoted as saying by The Washington Post. The mans ethnicity and identity were however not officially confirmed. Twitter -- along with other Western websites such as Facebook and Google -- is blocked on the mainland by the country's ruling Communist Party, which fears the unregulated spread of information it deems politically sensitive. But footage of the Sunday showdown on the flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky was reposted to China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, where the subject quickly became the top trending topic, garnering over 120 million views and 80,000 comments. Many of them were highly nationalistic in tone as they decried perceived racism. "Shameless! We won't forgive them. Ethnic Chinese around the world please boycott United Airlines!" wrote one commentator. "There is a long history of discrimination against Asians. I hope Chinese people realise this reality and support domestic products," another user said. "Don't feed those who look down on us!" It is a common sentiment among many mainlanders to view ethnic Chinese living abroad -- even those with no ties to China -- as compatriots. United Airlines claims itself to be the biggest carrier to China, with more nonstop US-China flights and to more Chinese cities than any other airline, according to their website. The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, but its CEO Oscar Munoz apologised for "having to re-accommodate" customers and said the manhandled passenger was being contacted directly to resolve the situation. "Asian American or not, as a consumer who paid for his ticket, he was treated like a prisoner," one Weibo commenter said. "Things are better here at home." The United Nations warned that "the risk of mass deaths from starvation ... is growing" among people in conflict and drought-hit areas of the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria The United Nations warned Tuesday of a growing risk of mass deaths from starvation among people living in conflict and drought-hit areas of the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria. An "avoidable humanitarian crisis... is fast becoming an inevitability", as the UN faces a "severe" funding shortfall to help people affected by famine, said UN refugee agency spokesman Adrian Edwards. UNHCR's operations in famine-hit South Sudan, and in Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen, which are on the brink of famine, are funded at between just three and 11 percent, he told reporters in Geneva. As a whole, the United Nations has requested $4.4 billion to address the crisis in the four countries, but has so far received only $984 million, said UN humanitarian agency spokesman Jens Laerke said. The current crisis risks becoming worse than the 2011 drought in the Horn of Africa that killed more than 260,000 people in Somalia alone, Edwards said. "A repeat must be avoided at all costs," he said. More than 20 million people across Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, are in areas hit by drought and are experiencing famine or are at high risk of famine, according to UN numbers. - 'Descent into disaster' - More than 20 million people are at risk of famine in Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia, where this malnourished child was being weighed by an aid worker "It is of immediate urgency that more funds are committed to avert a further descent into disaster in these acute crises," Laerke said. In conflict-ravaged South Sudan, where the UN warned in February that fighting, insecurity, lack of access to aid and the collapsing economy had left 100,000 people facing starvation, "a further one million people are now on the brink of famine," Edwards said. And in Yemen, which is already experiencing the world's largest humanitarian crisis, 17 million people, or around 60 percent of the war-torn country's population, are going hungry. In northern Nigeria meanwhile, seven million people are currently struggling with food insecurity, with the situation particularly bad in the northeast of the country, a stronghold of Boko Haram jihadists. The situation is also "very, very dire" in troubled Somalia, said David Hermann, who coordinates operations in the country for the International Committee of the Red Cross. "The response should happen now, because if it doesn't happen now... people are going to die from starvation," he told reporters. Edwards said the growing food insecurity was pushing more and more people to leave their homes across the region, with food needs cited as the main factor causing displacement in most locations in Yemen and South Sudan for instance. "In Sudan, for example, where our initial estimate was for 60,000 arrivals from South Sudan this year, we are in the process of revising the expected total upwards to 180,000," he told reporters. He said the lack of funding meant less food distributed to those who need it most: the more than four million refugees in the region, most of whom are children. "With no money to buy food, rations... are being cut," he said, adding that in Djibouti rations have been cut by 12 percent, in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Rwanda by between 20 and 50 percent, and in Uganda by up to 75 percent. This can have dramatic consequences, he warned, since "many refugees are without full access to livelihoods and agriculture or food production and their ability to take matters into their own hands and help themselves is limited." - Lake Chad 'crisis' - A woman spreads grain in front of her house in Koza on February 23, 2017, in the north of Cameroon near Lake Chad Meanwhile the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned that at least seven million people were at risk of severe hunger in the Lake Chad region, calling for "urgent support". The region straddles northeast Nigeria, the far north of Cameroon, western Chad and southeast Niger. The countries share a border on the shallow, freshwater lake. "The crisis .. is rooted in decades of neglect, lack of rural development and the impact of climate change," FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said in a statement. Sheltered beneath a canvas sheet, miles from any roads or power lines, children huddle around a tablet and experience the internet for the very first time in India's remote salt desert, the Little Rann of Kutch Sheltered beneath a canvas sheet to escape the blistering desert sun, miles from any roads or power lines, a group of Indian children huddle around a tablet and experience the internet for the very first time. The remote wi-fi connection is powered by a van bringing the digital world to around 10,000 families living on the inhospitable salt flats of western Gujarat state, where they work eight months a year in extreme conditions. The salt desert known as the Little Rann of Kutch, is roughly 180 kilometres (110 miles) from state capital Ahmedabad. The workers mining the land for salt live without electricity and other amenities while their children attend school in mud huts or tin sheds where they lack even the most basic learning supplies. Bringing the web to this isolated region is no small feat, with communities scattered over thousands of square kilometres. The crew from NGO Agariya Heethrakshak Manch, one of the stakeholders in the project, first erected a powerful digital tower on the outskirts of the desert capable of sending a signal up to 60 kilometres away. Then they fixed an antenna to the top of their van and hit the road armed with laptops, tablets and printers. They visit each of the region's 14 makeshift schools approximately once per week, teaching the students how to use technology to access the internet and learn digital skills. Indian salt pan workers toil in the remote and arid Little Rann of Kutch region for nearly eight months of the year in extreme conditions The students are eager to learn, crowding around to watch online videos about maths and science. "The internet and these tablets have made learning much more fun and engaging for all the children. They now have so much to learn and explore," Pankti Jog of Agariya Heethrakshak Manch told AFP. The youngsters are not the only ones discovering the joys of the web. This mobile service has also helped their parents -- migrants who make the annual journey to the salt plains for work -- access government welfare schemes online, Jog said. The crew hopes to increase the frequency of school visits to once every three days once they get more vans. Currently their single van speeds between three schools a day, spending about two hours at each, Jog said. "We have connected around 800 students to internet and digital learning in this remote region", she said. Syrians protest outside the United Nations office in Damascus on April 11, 2017 against last week's US strike on a government air base Hundreds of Syrian students gathered on Tuesday outside the United Nations headquarters in Damascus to protest last week's US strike on a government air base. Demonstrators waved the two-star flag of the Syrian government and pictures of President Bashar al-Assad outside the UN's office in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of the Syrian capital. Their placards read "Iraq will not happen again, this is Assad's Syria," and "Trump supports terrorism." Some protesters chanted, "Death to America, death to Israel!" US warships on Friday fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a central Syrian air base from which Washington believes government jets launched a chemical attack that killed at least 87 civilians. The Syrian government denied that it used toxic substances, saying it struck an arms depot used by jihadists and describing the US strike as "foolish and irresponsible behaviour". "We came to denounce the American strike," said Ayyad Talab, head of the university students' branch in the National Syrian Students Union (NSSU), which organised the protest. "We want to say that we are ready to defend our country, armed with our work, our minds, and our ideas and with our souls if necessary," he told AFP. The NSSU submitted a letter, addressed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, that the United Nations mission in Damascus said it would forward to his office. "We came to condemn the American aggression on our country. We consider it a disgrace to the democracy that America claims," protester Mahmoud Issa told AFP. The US retaliatory strike marked the first time the United States has intervened directly in the Syrian war against Assad's government. Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests but has since evolved into a complex war among government forces, jihadists, rebels, and Kurds. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pictured on the second day of a meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised countries in Lucca, Italy on April 11, 2017 The United States sees no place for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in any peace resolution for the war-torn country, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday. As the G7 called at a meeting in Italy for a diplomatic push to resolve the conflict and create a lasting peace for a unified Syria, Tillerson said: "Our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that future. "The United States' priority in Syria and Iraq remains the defeat of ISIS," he added, using a term for the so-called Islamic State (IS). "As events shift, the United States will continue to evaluate its strategic options and opportunities to de-escalate violence across Syria," added Tillerson, who was headed for crunch talks in Moscow after the meeting of G7 foreign ministers. The United States launched a retaliatory bombing raid on a Syrian air base after a suspected chemical weapons attack last week on a rebel-held Syrian town that killed at least 87 civilians. Washington and its allies are pushing for Russia to rein in the Syrian regime but the G7 ministers failed to agree on whether fresh sanctions should be imposed on Damascus and Moscow. Tillerson repeated his accusation that Russia had "failed to uphold the agreements that... stipulated Russia, as the guarantor of a Syria free of chemical weapons, would locate, secure, and destroy all such armaments in Syria". As he headed to talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, he said it was "unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously" or had "been simply incompetent". Iraqi forces backed by a US-led coalition launched a major offensive to retake Mosul from jihadists in October 2016 The Islamic State group now controls less than seven percent of Iraq, down from the 40 percent it held nearly three years ago, a military spokesman said Tuesday. Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and other support are now battling IS inside second city Mosul, after retaking much of the other territory the jihadists had seized. "Daesh controlled 40 percent of Iraqi land" in 2014, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told reporters, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "As of March 31 (this year), they only held 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory," said Rasool, the spokesman of the Joint Operations Command coordinating the anti-jihadist effort. Various members of the forces, Iraqi and foreign, battling the jihadists have disagreed in the past on figures about control of territory, but IS has been losing ground steadily for close to two years. Iraqi forces hold an Islamic State (IS) group flag as they advance northwest of Mosul during the battle to retake the city's west from the jihadists on March 8, 2017 The most brutal organisation in modern jihad shocked the world when it took over Mosul in June 2014 and then swept across much of the country's Sunni Arab heartland. Its reach in Iraq peaked in August the same year when a second offensive saw it take over areas of northern Iraq that were home to various minorities and had been under the control of forces from the country's autonomous Kurdish region's forces. Iraqi forces with the backing of the US-led coalition -- which has thousands of military personnel deployed in Iraq and carries out daily air strikes -- began a major offensive to retake Mosul in October 2016. - Coalition to stay - They retook control of the eastern side of the city, which is divided by the Tigris River, in January and have since mid-February been battling diehard jihadists holed up in their last west Mosul redoubts. A member of the Iraqi forces flashes the sign for victory from a damaged building in Mosul on April 10, 2017 The full recapture of Mosul, the de facto capital of the "caliphate" that IS proclaimed nearly three years ago, would end the jihadists' dreams of a cross-border state. Speaking at the same press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday, the spokesman for the US-led coalition vowed that Iraq would not be abandoned after the recapture of Mosul. "Once that task is accomplished, the coalition will be here to support our Iraqi partners as they eliminate IS from every corner of Iraq," Colonel John Dorrian said. "Though the fighting is going to be very hard... this enemy is completely surrounded. They aren't going anywhere -- they will be defeated and the people of Mosul will be free," he said. The coalition has come under criticism following an air strike in west Mosul last month that took a heavy toll on civilians, a strike it admitted may have been its own. "Every strike that we conduct, we conduct using precision-guided munitions. Every strike that we conduct is coordinated directly with the Iraqi security forces," Dorrian said. "We are very careful. We never, ever target civilians. Never. We reject anyone who says that we do, that is not happening, we only target Daesh," he said, using an Arabic acronym for IS. But even if IS members are targeted, the fact that they are operating in areas still home to large numbers of residents means that civilians can easily still end up the victims. IS still controls the large towns of Hawijah and Tal Afar, as well as remote areas along the border with Syria in western Iraq. In Syria itself, it also holds the city of Raqa and other areas. A North Korean soldier looks at the South side at the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas on July 27, 2013 US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is ready to solve the North Korean "problem" without China if necessary. "North Korea is looking for trouble," Trump wrote on Twitter. "If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A." Trump launched a missile strike on Syria late Thursday while meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The move was widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea as well as retaliation for the Damascus regime's suspected sarin attack against civilians in a rebel-held town in Syria. "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" Trump wrote in an earlier tweet. The United States has deployed a naval strike group -- which includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson -- to the Korean peninsula in a show of force. Trump has previously threatened unilateral action against Pyongyang if China, the North's sole major ally, fails to help curb its neighbors nuclear ambitions. Main Zambian opposition party United Party for National Development presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema delivers a speech during a last presidential campaign rally on August 10, 2016 in Lusaka Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who refused to accept defeat in last year's presidential election, was detained Tuesday on treason charges, his lawyer said. Police were not immediately available to confirm the charges, which came after a dispute over Hichilema's vehicles allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu's motorcade on a main road. More than 100 armed police surrounded Hichilema's house outside Lusaka overnight, and tear gas was fired before a raid when he was taken into custody, AFP reporters witnessed. "They have detained him on the basis that he committed treasonable charges," Jack Mwiimbu, Hichilema's lawyer, told reporters at the property. Hichilema -- who says he does not recognise Lungu as president -- allegedly refused to give way to Lungu's convoy as they were both travelling to Western province for a traditional ceremony at the weekend. Hichilema, head of the United Party for National Development (UPND), has launched several legal attempts to challenge the August election result. He says that the vote was rigged and accuses Lungu of an unprecedented bout of political repression in Zambia, which has been known for its relative stability. The election campaign was marked by clashes between supporters of Lungu's Patriotic Front (PF) party and the UPND. - 'Barbaric' - UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka told AFP that police had mounted a violent operation to detain their leader. "They broke (into) the house, tear-gassed the family including small children," said Katuka. "This is really barbaric." Hichilema, known as "HH", was taken to a police station for questioning. Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of death. "The PF party demanded action against HH after the motorcade situation," independent political analyst Neo Simutanyi told AFP. "HH is still trying to challenge the result through the courts, but Edgar Lungu is president in theory and in practice. "There is a lot of mistrust between the two sides. "Under the treason charge, HH could be detained for some time, so this will suit the ruling party who want to silence the dialogue (about) the election result not being recognised." Hichilema, a wealthy self-made businessman, has run for president five times and narrowly lost last August's elections. International observers said the vote was marred by restricted opposition campaigning, intimidation and biased state media. Last October, Hichilema and party vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba were arrested for unlawful assembly and sedition when they tried to visit supporters in jail. Zambia, Africa's second biggest copper producer, recorded GDP growth of three percent last year -- its slowest rate since 1998. Top British DJ Paul Oakenfold braved thinning air and freezing temperatures to host the 'highest party on earth' at Everest base camp on Tuesday, playing to around 100 climbers -- all in full mountain gear. The 53-year-old artist, who trekked for ten days to reach base camp, mixed his beats on a makeshift stone stage set against the spectacular backdrop of the world's highest mountains. With brightly coloured Tibetan prayer flags fluttering overhead, climbers and trekkers danced as best they could in their heavy hiking boots and thick down jackets. British DJ Paul Oakenfold plays a set to mountaineers and trekkers at Mount Everest base camp on Tuesday Base camp lies at an altitude of 5,380 metres (17,600 feet), and around 100 climbers and trekkers were there for the gig 'It was truly amazing. I feel very lucky to have played here. We did a wonderful event and had people from all over the world. I feel very blessed,' Oakenfold told AFP by phone from base camp after the performance. Base camp lies at an altitude of 5,380 metres (17,600 feet), and around 100 climbers and trekkers were there for the gig. 'It was pretty cool. I've been here many years but never seen anything like that,' 38-year-old American climber Ben Jones told AFP by phone. The number of trekkers at the camp will swell in the coming weeks as the climbing season gets into full swing. Hundreds of climbers spend weeks acclimatising to the altitude before attempting to reach the summit during the brief spring window when the weather is at its best. With brightly coloured Tibetan prayer flags fluttering overhead, climbers and trekkers danced as best they could in their heavy hiking boots and thick down jackets Oakenfold, who had never trekked before, trained for four months before arriving in Nepal, fitting it in between a hectic schedule of late night gigs Prior to the concert on Tuesday, he performed practice sets in villages on the way to base camp It was a dramatic departure for Oakenfold, who admitted he was more used to playing the world's top clubs and the beaches of Ibiza and Goa than the mountains of Nepal. Oakenfold, who had never trekked before, trained for four months before arriving in Nepal, fitting it in between a hectic schedule of late night gigs. 'I'm not going to pretend it was easy to get here... but it has been a wonderful trek. If you could see the view I'm looking at, it is very inspiring,' he told AFP on Monday. The gig is the first in the record producer's SoundTrek series, aimed at drawing attention to the effects of global warming and raising money for charities. The 53-year-old artist trekked for ten days to reach base camp where mixed his beats on a makeshift stone stage set Oakenfold, whose three-decade long career has included collaborations with Madonna and U2, is also raising funds to help survivors of Nepal's devastating 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and left thousands homeless. 'I want to support in the rebuilding and to shed light on the environment... I would like to do my bit,' the DJ, who made his name during the 90s rave scene, said. However not everyone is keen on the idea, with some complaining the renowned DJ is disturbing the peace and tranquility of the Himalayas. The head of one trekking company said the idea made him feel nauseated. Simon Lowe, of Jagged Globe, an expeditions company, said: 'To be honest, it makes me want to vomit but then I go to the mountains for their beauty and tranquillity rather than for narcissistic reasons.' The call by Democratic Republic of Congo's main opposition party for nationwide protests Monday appeared to have been ignored in Kinshasa Police said Tuesday they have detained dozens of people accused of violating a ban on protests against DR Congo President Joseph Kabila. "Police have arrested and detained 34 people in Kinshasa," after Monday's protests, said national police spokesman Pierre-Rombaut Mwanamputu. "Some wanted to breach the ban on a march, the others were preparing acts of vandalism." Late Tuesday he said all of them had been released. He gave no details of arrests in other parts of the vast country, where there is strong anger over Kabila remaining in office beyond the end of his mandate in December 2016. Human Rights Watch said in a blog that over 80 people were arrested in Kinshasa and several other towns, including Bukavu in the east and Lubumbashi in the southeast. The rights group told AFP that its figures include people who were arrested and subsequently released but was unable to say how many remained in detention. The call by Democratic Republic of Congo's main opposition party for nationwide protests Monday appeared to have been ignored in Kinshasa, however, where people stayed home fearing violence after the authorities banned the rallies. In the country's second city, Lubumbashi, Hubert Tshisuaka, the head of a local human rights group, told AFP he had no news of six people in a group of 24 detained by police on Monday. In northeastern Goma, six people who tried to barricade roads were briefly detained and then freed, a local police source said. The opposition is seeking to pressure Kabila, who has ruled since 2001, to implement a power-sharing deal brokered by the Catholic church to avert a crisis, by holding elections late this year. Under the accord, Kabila agreed to share power ahead of the polls with a prime minister from the opposition. But last week he named as premier a dissident member of the opposition, Bruno Tshibala. The main opposition has rejected this choice as being contrary to the letter and the spirit of the power-sharing accord. The UN Security Council is to vote on a resolution demanding that the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of the suspected toxic gas attack in Khan Sheikhun The UN Security Council is set to vote Wednesday on a resolution demanding that the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation of the suspected chemical attack in Idlib province, but Russia is likely to veto the measure, diplomats said. Britain, France and the United States put forward the draft text which was slightly revised from a proposal presented last week in response to the suspected sarin gas attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun. The vote is scheduled for 3 pm (1900 GMT) and comes as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Moscow to pressure Russia to reconsider its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Sarin gas: a deadly nerve agent Russia is expected to use its veto to block the measure, diplomats said. It would be the eighth time that Moscow has resorted to its veto power at the Security Council to block action against its ally Syria. The draft resolution expresses "horror" at the reported use of chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhun and condemns the alleged attack on April 4. The text expresses the council's full backing for investigators from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the joint UN-OPCW investigative panel tasked with determining who is responsible for such attacks. It calls on the Syrian government to provide flight plans, flight logs and other information on its military operations on April 4, hand over the names of commanders of any aircraft and provide access to air bases to UN investigators. The West has accused Assad's forces of carrying out the attack that killed at least 87 civilians, including 31 children, and shocked the world. On Thursday, the United States fired cruise missiles at a Syrian air base that Washington says was used to launch the chemical attack. - Everybody needs to know - The revised text incorporates suggestions from China, Russia and the other 10 council members. Russia is expected to use its veto power at the Security Council to block action against its ally Syria "We have drafted that resolution deliberately with consensus in mind," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters. "I find it very hard to understand how any member of the Security Council could vote against any part of that resolution." The Security Council last week discussed three separate draft texts but failed to agree on a way forward and there was no vote on any of the measures. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a thorough investigation by the OPCW and suggested that Assad was the target of false accusations. Syria has denied using chemical weapons. "It's very important that there is a full investigation so that everybody knows, everybody knows, so that the entire world knows how these horrible chemical attacks occurred and where they come from," French Ambassador Francois Delattre said. UN investigators already have the mandate under previous resolutions to look into allegations of chemical weapons use but the council wants to underscore its support for a thorough investigation in the Khan Sheikhun case. Syria is obliged to cooperate with the OPCW as a member of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which it joined in 2013, but access to sites has been a complicated issue. Turkey's health minister meanwhile confirmed post-mortem tests on victims showed that the deadly nerve agent sarin had been used in Khan Sheikhun. Activists of the Nepalese ethnic-based Madhesi minority chant slogans during a general strike in Kathmandu on March 10, 2017 Nepal's government on Tuesday registered a new amendment bill to its controversial constitution in a bid to persuade all political parties to take part in long-delayed local elections. The May elections -- the first at the local level for nearly two decades -- have left Kathmandu's already divided political establishment in turmoil. Parties representing the Madhesi ethnic group -- who have long complained of being marginalised at the ballot box -- have refused to take part in elections without an amendment to the constitution, while the largest opposition party has refused to back any charter changes. The new bill skirts the contentious issue of redrawing federal boundaries -- the central Madhesi demand -- instead proposing to set up a commission to recommend changes to the country's proposed provinces. "We decided to withdraw the previous amendment bill as it was unlikely to be endorsed from the parliament and even ruling parties were against it," Hit Raj Pandey, a member of the ruling Maoist party, told AFP. "The move of the government to register the new amendment bill is aimed at holding the local poll in the stipulated date and ensuring the participation of agitated Madhesi parties as well." Nepal emerged from a bloody civil war in 2006 and the local elections are a key step in the drawn out peace process that brought an end to the violence, transforming the country from a Hindu monarchy to a federal state. The local elections will pave the way for provincial and national elections, which need to be held by January 2018 according to the constitution. Laxman Lal Karn, a Madhesi leader, told AFP they had not made any decision whether they would now participate in the local elections. "We will take a decision only after the government passes the new amendment bill from the parliament," Karn said. The new constitution was passed in September 2015 on a wave of national solidarity after the deadly earthquake of April that year, but sparked bloody demonstrations from the Madhesi ethnic group who said it left them politically marginalised. The government registered an initial bill to amend the constitution last November but failed to pass it. "This amendment bill is a signal that we might be heading towards solutions. All parties want the election so this bill has a better chance of getting approved and paving way for the polls," Guna Raj Luitel, editor of the Nagarik newspaper. Saudi Shiites take part in a protest on January 2, 2016 in Qatif against the execution of a prominent Shiite Muslim cleric by Saudi authorities for his involvement in protests that broke out in 2011 The trial has begun in Saudi Arabia of the first woman accused of involvement in protests in a Shiite-majority area of the kingdom, a newspaper reported Tuesday. The Okaz daily did not name the accused, but gave her age as 43. It said she is "the first woman accused of being involved in terrorist activities" in Qatif, a coastal district where Shiites form the majority. In 2011, Shiite protests began in the area and developed into a call for equality in the Sunni-majority Gulf country. Most of Saudi Arabia's Shiites live in the oil-rich east, where they have long complained of marginalisation. More than 200 men have been convicted in relation to the protests, and some were sentenced to death, said Ali Adubisi, director of the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights in Berlin. He identified the accused as Naimah Almatrod, a nurse, and confirmed that she is the first woman to go on trial in connection with the Qatif demonstrations. "She is totally innocent" of anything other than protesting, he told AFP, describing her as a "human rights defender". At a hearing in Riyadh on Monday, prosecutors accused her of offences including "destabilising security, negatively affecting the social fabric, wreaking havoc, (and) inciting sectarian sedition", Okaz said. She is also accused of using social media to "incite against the government and justice". The accused asked the court for more time to prepare her defence "and to appoint a lawyer", Okaz added. Adubisi said it was unclear what sentence Almatrod could face if convicted. US Senator John McCain urged a new strategy aimed at putting Syrian President "Bashar al-Assad's air forces out of combat US Senator John McCain, an advocate for a tougher stance on Syria for years, on Tuesday demanded the end of Damascus' "murderous rampage" saying Moscow should cease its support for the regime. Syrian President "Bashar al-Assad must be stopped in this murderous rampage that continues," McCain told reporters in Sarajevo during a tour of the Western Balkans. "I was glad to see our Secretary of State just today say the Russians should divorce themselves from the conduct of Bashar al-Assad," the Republican said. McCain hailed as a "credible first step" the American air strikes on Syria last week in response to an alleged chemical attack that Washington has blamed on Assad's regime. The senator urged a new strategy aimed at putting Assad's air forces out of combat. "I believe we should not have Bashar al-Assad's air force continue the indiscriminate murdering of innocent civilians," McCain said, calling the Syrian president a "war criminal" and urging his defeat along with the Islamic State group. "When some of our leaders say, 'Well first we have to take care of ISIS then take care of Bashar al-Assad' -- the US are the most powerful nation on earth, we can do both at same time." He also lashed out at Russian military operations in Syria, saying that to a mother who loses her child as a result of actions by the regime or its ally, it "really doesn't matter much whether the child was killed by a chemical weapon or barrel bomb". "Needless and senseless slaughter of innocent men, women and children is an obligation for all of us to stop, including Russians who use precision weapons to attack hospitals in Aleppo," McCain said. Demonstrators protest against United Airlines at O'Hare International Airport on April 11, 2017 in Chicago The chief executive of embattled United Airlines unequivocally apologized Tuesday for an incident in which a passenger was dragged off a plane, promising a thorough review of the airline's practices. The apology came amid a torrent of criticism of the carrier's actions on a Sunday flight and its initial explanations. In images now seen worldwide, a passenger was forcefully removed and bloodied in the process -- the entire event captured on video by passengers and posted on social media. Passenger David Dao, 69, had refused to be "bumped" from the overbooked flight -- an airline practice that has now come under increased scrutiny. "I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard," CEO Oscar Munoz said. "We take full responsibility and we will work to make it right." The comments were in stark contrast to the company's initial response, in which it seemed to at least partially blame the passenger, inflaming worldwide outrage. Oscar Munoz, President and CEO of United Airlines says the company will conduct a "thorough review" of its procedures, including "how we handle oversold situations" and how the airline partners with airport authorities and law enforcement US media published an email Munoz sent earlier to employees, in which he said the passenger "defied" authorities and "compounded" the incident. "Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this," the CEO wrote. - 'Accountability and transparency' - Munoz said Tuesday the company will conduct a "thorough review" of its procedures, including "how we handle oversold situations" and how the airline partners with airport authorities and law enforcement. He vowed to release the review results by April 30. But the public relations damage was done, with calls for boycotts and the US Department of Transportation promising to review the airline's actions. Even the White House weighed in. "When you watch the video, it is troubling to see how that was handled," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said. Asian and Arab American groups rallied at Chicago's O'Hare airport Tuesday night, insisting airlines and security personnel improve treatment of minority groups. There have been calls to boycott United Airlines and the US Department of Transportation is promising to review the airline's actions in forcibly removing a passenger after overbooking the flight "We are here to demand accountability and transparency from United and the Chicago aviation police," said Tuyet Le of the group Asian Americans Advancing Justice. US Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, also speaking at the news conference, said she was considering legislation to stop the involuntary removal of travelers from airplanes. "Once a plane is boarded, no one should be asked to leave," she said. The furor battered United's stock Tuesday, which closed down 1.1 percent. The public relations firestorm followed a late March incident in which two teenagers were prevented from boarding a United flight in Denver because they were wearing leggings. The airline defended its action at the time by saying the girls were flying on passes that required them to abide by a dress code in return for free or discounted travel. - 'You don't really have any rights' - An attorney for Dao's family said he is in a Chicago hospital getting treated for his injuries. "The family of Dr. Dao wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received," said Chicago attorney Stephen Golan. The incident spotlighted the practice of overbooking and bumping passengers, which airlines increasingly rely upon to avoid losing money on seats left empty by no-show passengers. If they were to stop overbooking, "the only way of trying to compensate for that over the long term would be to raise fares on everyone else," said industry analyst Robert Mann. Instead, airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on a plane, and are generally able to properly forecast demand to avoid major disruptions, Mann said. But they sometimes miscalculate and inadvertently book more passengers than a flight can handle. In those instances, airlines offer travel vouchers and cash compensation to entice passengers to voluntarily give up their seats for later flights. When such enticements don't work, airlines have wide latitude under the law. "If you're still in the terminal waiting to board, you can be told you can't board, even if you have a reservation," Mann said. "Once you're on board, you are subject to being deplaned based on the order of the crew." "So you don't really have any rights." A group of US senators pushed for accountability from the airline. "Consumer trust and confidence are critical to ensure this industry continues to thrive," the 21 US senators said in a statement. "We hope United Airlines will work diligently to immediately address this incident and make necessary improvements to ensure it does not occur again," Last year, 434,000 passengers volunteered to be bumped from flights, while another 40,000 were bumped involuntarily and compensated. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault expressed his anger at an invitation to Paris being extended to Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Soussan "after the despicable chemical attack" that Western allies have blamed on the Syrian regime A top Syrian official attended a conference in Paris Tuesday on the invitation of French lawmakers, angering the government days after he was banned from a similar meeting in Brussels. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault tweeted that he was "outraged" by lawmakers from the conservative Republicans party's invitation to Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Soussan to a meeting on the conflict at the Russian cultural centre in Paris. European Parliament head Antonio Tajani had banned Soussan from a Brussels conference planned for April 10 in response to the suspected chemical attack on a Syrian rebel-held town that killed at least 87 people last week. Ayrault expressed his anger at an invitation to Paris being extended to Soussan "after the despicable chemical attack", which the US and Western allies have blamed on the Syrian regime. Republicans lawmaker Thierry Mariani told AFP that the event -- named "Syria, A Tragedy That Cannot Go On", had been organised before the attack, in collaboration with two Socialist lawmakers. "The conference had been planned for two months (to be held) in a room at the assembly," Mariani told AFP. "But after the cancellation last week of a meeting in Brussels with the deputy minister, I felt like there was a risk of the conference being cancelled." The event was subsequently moved to the Russian cultural centre, he said. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew into Moscow on Tuesday to confront the Kremlin over its support for President Bashar al-Assad as the US questioned if Russia was complicit in the alleged chemical attack. The attack in the town of Khan Sheikhun prompted US President Donald Trump to order cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base. Russia reacted with fury to the US strikes and continues to cast doubt on the regime's involvement in the Khan Sheikhun attack. WASHINGTON (AP) - Two Supreme Court members who formed an enduring friendship despite their ideological differences are being honored with an award for civility. The award to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the late Justice Antonin Scalia comes just hours after all the justices gathered at the White House to see Neil Gorsuch sworn in as their newest colleague. Scalia died last year, leaving a nearly 14-month-long vacancy filled after a divisive confirmation process. He and Ginsburg were close friends who often went on vacations together and shared a mutual love of opera. The award from Allegheny College was presented at the National Press Club to Ginsburg and to Scalia's wife, Maureen, and son Eugene. Ginsburg says collegiality "really matters" at the court. She urges lawmakers to "lead in restoring harmonious work ways." LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Police are investigating the vandalism of a local West Texas Democratic Party headquarters, which was spray-painted with a pro-Trump slogan. A Lubbock Police Department incident report filed Monday says the numbers 14 and 88, gun sights and the slogan "Support our Prez" were spray-painted in black paint on the front of the Lubbock County Democratic Party headquarters. Complainant Debra Spencer says she discovered the defacement when she arrived at the office for work Monday morning. Police spokeswoman Tiffany Pelt says investigators have examined the damage. The Southern Poverty Law Center says the numbers are often associated with white supremacists and neo-Nazis. The number "14" represents the number of letters in a slogan coined by David Lane, "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children." Lane is serving a 190-year sentence for his part in the murder of a Jewish talk show host. The number "88" represents the slogan, "Heil Hitler," both words of which begin with the eighth letter in the alphabet. CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on fatal shooting of a judge outside his Chicago home. (all times local): 8:45 p.m. The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who fatally shot a judge outside his Chicago home. Authorities say Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles and a woman were getting ready to go to a gym early Monday when they were shot outside his home. The 66-year-old Myles was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The 52-year-old woman was reported in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the leg. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples says the woman was walking to the garage at Myles' home when she came upon a man holding a gun. Words were exchanged and the offender shot the woman. Staples said when Myles heard the gunshot, he came outside to investigate. He exchanged words with the gunman before the man shot him several times. Staples said the shooting may have been the culmination of a robbery attempt. Chief Judge Timothy Evans' office confirmed Myles had been a Cook County judge since 1999. ___ 11:25 a.m. A Cook County Circuit Court judge has been shot to death outside his home on the South Side of Chicago. Chicago police say Associate Judge Raymond Myles and a female acquaintance were shot shortly before 5 a.m. Monday. Myles was pronounced dead at a hospital. The unidentified woman is expected to survive. Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples said at a news conference that the woman encountered someone with a gun outside the home, they exchanged words and the woman was shot. Myles heard the commotion and gunshot, and was shot multiple times after also exchanging words with the shooter. Staples says it doesn't appear that any property was stolen. Chief Judge Timothy Evans said in a statement that colleagues knew Myles "for his kindness and his impartial administration of justice." ___ 10:18 a.m. Police say a Cook County Circuit Court judge has been shot to death outside his home on the South Side of Chicago. Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says via Twitter that notifications to relatives "have been made in the senseless murder of Judge Raymond Myles." The Chicago Tribune and WLS-TV report that a woman was wounded in the shooting shortly before 5 a.m. Monday outside the judge's home in Roseland and that Myles was pronounced dead at a hospital. The woman's name has not been released. Myles was an associate judge in the court's criminal division. The shooting is under investigation. CHICAGO (AP) - Below is the text of the letter United Airlines' parent company CEO Oscar Munoz sent to employees after a passenger was dragged from a United plane at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The summary below the letter was compiled by United: Dear Team, Like you, I was upset to see and hear about what happened last night aboard United Express Flight 3411 headed from Chicago to Louisville. While the facts and circumstances are still evolving, especially with respect to why this customer defied Chicago Aviation Security Officers the way he did, to give you a clearer picture of what transpired, I've included below a recap from the preliminary reports filed by our employees. FILE- In this June 2, 2016, file photo, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz delivers remarks in New York, during a presentation of the carrier's new Polaris service. Video of police officers dragging a passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday, April 10, 2017, on social media, but United's CEO defended his employees, saying they followed proper procedures and had no choice but to call authorities and remove the man. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) As you will read, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. I do, however, believe there are lessons we can learn from this experience, and we are taking a close look at the circumstances surrounding this incident. Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation. Oscar Summary of Flight 3411 . On Sunday, April 9, after United Express Flight 3411 was fully boarded, United's gate agents were approached by crewmembers that were told they needed to board the flight. . We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation) and when we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions. . He was approached a few more times after that in order to gain his compliance to come off the aircraft, and each time he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent. . Our agents were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight. He repeatedly declined to leave. . Chicago Aviation Security Officers were unable to gain his cooperation and physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist - running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both our crew and security officials. Tevin Long, formerly a cadet at West Point in New York, has been dismissed from the US army after being convicted of dealing prescription drugs A West Point cadet has been convicted of distributing prescription drugs and has been dismissed from the U.S. Army. Tevin Long, of Richmond, Texas, was sentenced to 30 days confinement during his court martial proceedings on Monday. He also was ordered to forfeit any pay or allowances he received for selling the painkiller oxycodone and the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam, the Journal News reported. Information on his lawyer wasn't immediately available. Long had been on administrative leave since the investigation began last year into drug dealing at the storied military academy on New York's Hudson River. Long was tried in a military court and he was additionally was sentenced to 30 days in solitary confinement and ordered to forfeit pay he received from dealing drugs He would have graduated from West Point this year. Long also played football for the West Point Army Black Knights. He was a Defensive Back. Six other cadets, five of whom are also on administrative leave awaiting discipline, also have been charged in the probe. Long, pictured left while playing for the Army Black Nights, had sold painkiller oxycodone and anti-anxiety drug alprazolam One of the other cadets, Christopher Monge, was referred to military court, as Long was. In a statement released Monday, the academy said: 'Cadet Long's behavior is inconsistent with the values of the military academy.' The school added: 'The actions in this case were found to be in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the standards of conduct in the U.S. Army.' CHICAGO (AP) - After people were horrified by video of a passenger getting dragged off a full United Express flight by airport police, the head of United's parent company said the airline was reaching out to the man to "resolve this situation." Hours later on Monday, his tone turned defensive. He described the man as "disruptive and belligerent." By Tuesday afternoon, almost two days after the Sunday evening confrontation in Chicago, CEO Oscar Munoz issued his most contrite apology yet as details emerged about the man seen on cellphone videos recorded by other passengers at O'Hare Airport. FILE - In this Thursday, June 2, 2016, file photo, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz waits to be interviewed, in New York, during a presentation of the carrier's new Polaris service, a new business class product that will become available on trans-Atlantic flights. Munoz said in a note to employees Tuesday, April 11, 2017, that he continues to be disturbed by the incident Sunday night in Chicago, where a passenger was forcibly removed from a United Express flight. Munoz said he was committed to "fix what's broken so this never happens again." (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) "No one should ever be mistreated this way," Munoz said. The passenger was identified as physician David Dao, 69, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who was convicted more than a decade ago of felony charges involving his prescribing of drugs and spent years trying to regain his medical license. But while Dao's history quickly became a focus of attention, there's no indication that his past influenced how he was treated or that the airline or police were aware of his background or would have known anything about him other than basic information such as his name and address, if that. Screaming can be heard on the videos, but nowhere is Dao seen attacking the officers. In fact, he appears relatively passive both when he was dragged down the aisle of the jet and when he is seen standing in the aisle later saying quietly, "I want to go home, I want to go home." Munoz's latest statement described the removal as "truly horrific." He said the company would review policies for seeking volunteers to give up their seats, for handling oversold situations and for partnering with airport authorities and local law enforcement. An attorney who represents Dao said his client was being treated at a Chicago hospital for injuries he sustained on the plane and that the family would not comment. According to records from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, Dao went to medical school at the University of Medicine of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, graduating in 1974. He was licensed in Kentucky with a specialty in pulmonary disease. His legal troubles started in 2003, when his medical license was suspended after an undercover sting operation at a Louisville motel for allegedly writing fraudulent prescriptions. According to the documents, the licensing board had learned that Dao had become sexually interested in a patient and hired the patient as his office manager. That man later said he quit his job because Dao "pursued him aggressively" and arranged to provide him with prescription drugs in exchange for sex. Dao was ultimately convicted in late 2004 of several counts of obtaining drugs by fraud or deceit and was placed on five years of supervised probation and surrendered his medical license. His longtime effort to get his license back finally succeeded in 2015, when the licensing board allowed him to practice medicine again. About a year after his medical license was suspended, Dao joined the professional poker circuit, according to his World Series of Poker profile . His biggest competitive win came in 2009 when he took home more than $117,000 from a tournament in Mississippi. Airport officials have said little about Sunday's events and nothing about Dao's behavior before he was pulled from the jet that was bound for Louisville, Kentucky. Likewise, the Chicago Aviation Department has said only that one of its employees who removed Dao did not follow proper procedures and has been placed on leave. No passengers on the plane have mentioned that Dao did anything but refuse to leave the plane when he was ordered to do so. Also Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel called the way Dao was treated "completely unacceptable" and praised Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans for taking "swift action." He promised that a city investigation would "ensure nothing like this ever happens again." The event stemmed from a common air travel issue - a full flight. United was trying to make room for four employees of a partner airline, meaning four people had to get off. At first, the airline asked for volunteers, offering $400 and then when that did not work, $800 per passenger to relinquish a seat. When no one voluntarily came forward, United selected four passengers at random. Three people got off the flight, but the fourth said he was a doctor and needed to get home to treat patients on Monday. He refused to leave. Three Aviation Department police officers got on the plane. Two officers tried to reason with the man before a third came aboard and pointed at the man "basically saying, 'Sir, you have to get off the plane,'" said Tyler Bridges, a passenger whose wife, Audra D. Bridges, posted a video on Facebook. One of the officers could be seen grabbing the screaming man from his window seat, across the armrest and dragging him down the aisle by his arms. Other passengers on Flight 3411 are heard saying, "Please, my God," ''What are you doing?" ''This is wrong," ''Look at what you did to him" and "Busted his lip." The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that it is reviewing Sunday's events to see if United violated rules on overselling flights. Dao's relatives are focused only on his medical care, attorney Stephen L. Golan said. The family "wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received." ___ Associated Press Writer David Koenig in Dallas and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report. FILE- In this June 2, 2016, file photo, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz delivers remarks in New York, during a presentation of the carrier's new Polaris service. Video of police officers dragging a passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday, April 10, 2017, on social media, but United's CEO defended his employees, saying they followed proper procedures and had no choice but to call authorities and remove the man. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, file photo, travelers check in at the United Airlines ticket counter at Terminal 1 in O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. After a man is dragged off a United Express flight on Sunday, April 9, 2017, United Airlines becomes the butt of jokes online and on late-night TV. Travel and public-relations experts say United has fumbled the situation from the start, but it's impossible to know if the damage is temporary or lasting. Air travelers are drawn to the cheapest price no matter the name on the plane. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) This Sunday, April 9, 2017, image made from a video provided by Audra D. Bridges shows a passenger who was removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago. Video of police officers dragging the passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday on social media, and a spokesman for the airline insisted that employees had no choice but to contact authorities to remove the man. (Audra D. Bridges via AP) This Sunday, April 9, 2017, image made from a video provided by Audra D. Bridges shows a passenger being removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago. Video of police officers dragging the passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday on social media, and a spokesman for the airline insisted that employees had no choice but to contact authorities to remove the man. (Audra D. Bridges via AP) This Sunday, April 9, 2017, image made from a video provided by Audra D. Bridges shows a passenger being removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago. Video of police officers dragging the passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday on social media, and a spokesman for the airline insisted that employees had no choice but to contact authorities to remove the man. (Audra D. Bridges via AP) FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2015, file photo, a United Airlines passenger plane lands at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. Twitter users are poking fun at United's tactics in having a man removed from an overbooked Chicago to Louisville flight on April 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) IRBIL, Iraq (AP) - Since she got struck by mortar shrapnel in Mosul just over a week ago, 10-year-old Nabaa has not been able to speak. A shard in her skull damaged part of her brain and doctors aren't sure if she'll ever be able to speak again. The girl's family had been forced to flee their home in the northern Iraqi city because fighting was raging around them, government artillery and helicopters were bombarding their neighborhood, and their food supplies were running out, said Nabaa's mother, Umm Abdul-Rahman. But as they neared Iraqi military lines the night of March 31, mortars hit, wounding Nabaa and her two brothers, 7-year-old Basem and 11-year-old Abdul-Rahman. The mother said she saw three others lying wounded on the ground after the strike but she didn't know their fate. Hawra, 4-years-old, who was badly burned in the March 17 airstrike in western Mosul, sits on her bed at a hospital in Erbil, Iraq, Saturday, April 8, 2017. The fight for western Mosul is proving more brutal and destructive than the battle for the city's eastern sector, and Iraqi civilians are being caught in the middle. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) The family is among a large number of civilians who have been caught in the middle of what appears to be a far more brutal battle over the western half of Mosul than the preceding fight for the east. In the west, Iraqi government forces trying to wrest back the city from Islamic State fighters are relying on heavier firepower, including extensive barrages with mortars, rocket launchers and some improvised systems without guidance mechanisms. While the east was retaken by Iraq's special forces, much of the fighting in the west is done by militarized police units that have less experience in urban battle. Iraqi forces recaptured the east at the end of January and moved against the west in mid-February. "They see resistance and implement a carpet-bombing approach to advance. They do this to reduce their own casualties. This is disastrous for the civilians," said Col. Ahmed Shawki, a military analyst and retired Iraqi army officer based in the northern city of Irbil. At the same time, IS fighters in some cases are preventing civilians from leaving, keeping them in harm's way as shields. The number of casualties is hard to establish because only some of the wounded reach hospitals and most of the dead are buried immediately. At least 300 people were killed in western Mosul up to the beginning of April, according to the U.N. The World Health Organization says 1,683 wounded civilians were referred to hospitals between February 18 and April 8. Johannes Schad, a doctor in West Irbil Emergency Hospital, said that about 60 percent of the victims have blast injuries, mostly from shelling. Some 1,600 civilians were killed or wounded during the 100 days of fighting to recapture Mosul's less densely populated east. Dr. Shalan Ali, the Health Ministry official in charge of Ninevah province, thinks up to a thousand have already been killed in the west. The worst single attack came on March 17, when an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition hit a building in the New Mosul neighborhood, killing more than 100 civilians who were sheltering inside. The U.S. military is investigating the strike, and officials say IS militants - who have been seen elsewhere forcing civilians into buildings to use them as shields - may have played a role. The shelling in western Mosul has been much more intense than in the east. One police artillery unit based outside the city said they alone fired up to 200 shells a day. Police Lt. Col. Younis Sultan Jadalla told The Associated Press that they use drone footage to choose targets and only fire if there are no civilians nearby. Drone footage taken by the AP in the Dawasa neighborhood of western Mosul on April 5 shows entire streets reduced to rubble, with deep craters dug up by airstrikes. By comparison, eastern Mosul was generally preserved, with damage mainly concentrated on individual buildings and road junctions. Basem Mohammed, a resident of western Mosul's Nablous neighborhood, said IS fighters had a position in a nearby park from which they fired at Iraqi forces. In an apparent response from government forces, his street was hit by mortars on March 8, with shells hitting his neighbors' houses, wounding several people. He was wounded in the leg by mortar fire a week later, as he and his family fled. Much of the destruction is wrought by Iraqi and coalition air power. An analysis of bombing in western Mosul between March 8 and 25, conducted by Human Rights Watch and using satellite imagery, identified 780 impact sites that may have been caused by large, air-delivered munitions, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of buildings. The analysis called the destruction comparable in intensity to the Russian-Syrian air attacks on Aleppo in September and October last year. IS militants, too, are shelling the areas that have slipped out of their control. Among their victims is Nashwan Jamal, 25, who was hit on March 11 in the Tel Alruman neighborhood, four days after it was taken by Iraqi special forces. Jamal, his brother and a friend were sitting on the roof of their home when a mortar landed, wounding him in the leg. Several people who escaped western Mosul told the AP that IS forbade people to leave. Omar Marwan said IS fighters told people on his street that they had planted a bomb so that they wouldn't flee. "They told us, stay in the house, you can't get out. One of them even said, you have to stay until it is destroyed. No one can leave," said Alaa Hassan, 27, from the New Mosul neighborhood. "We tried to escape when they were busy fighting. But then we ran into them and they shot at us." Alaa Hassan's wife was killed in the March 17 airstrike, and his 4-year-old daughter, Hawra, was badly burned. Hawra's grandmother, Alia Ali, said the militants would not let them leave even after the airstrike on their house. "I went to them and told them we have a burned child and we need to take her out and they said no. They said, you have to stay here with us. And you will die here with us." They reached Iraqi lines two days later. Hawra, 4-years-old, who was badly burned in the March 17 airstrike in western Mosul, lies on her bed at a hospital in Erbil, Iraq, Saturday, April 8, 2017. The fight for western Mosul is proving more brutal and destructive than the battle for the city's eastern sector, and Iraqi civilians are being caught in the middle. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) Nabaa, 10-year-old, sits on her bed at a hospital in Erbil, Iraq, Saturday, April 8, 2017. Since she got struck by mortar shrapnel in Mosul just over a week ago, 10-year-old Nabaa has not been able to speak. A shard in her skull damaged part of her brain and doctors aren't sure if she'll ever be able to speak again. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) In this Friday, March 24, 2017, photo a man stands next to several bodies recovered from a house destroyed during fighting between Iraq security forces and Islamic State on the western side of Mosul, Iraq. The fight for western Mosul is proving more brutal and destructive than the battle for the city's eastern sector, and Iraqi civilians are being caught in the middle. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) FILE - In this Friday, March 24, 2017 file photo, civil protection rescue teams work on the debris of a destroyed house to recover the body of people killed in an airstrike during fighting between Iraqi security forces and Islamic State militants on the western side of Mosul, Iraq. The fight for western Mosul is proving more brutal and destructive than the battle for the city's eastern sector, and Iraqi civilians are being caught in the middle. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File) NEW DELHI (AP) - India on Tuesday warned Pakistan of serious consequences for their bilateral relationship if it executes a retired Indian naval officer convicted of espionage and sabotage. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told agitated lawmakers in Parliament that India would take up the issue with Pakistan at the highest level to ensure that justice was done to Kulbhushan Jadhav. He was arrested by Pakistan last year and convicted by a Pakistani military tribunal this week. Pakistan alleges that Jadhav was an Indian intelligence official who aided and financed terrorist activities in the southwestern province of Baluchistan and the port city of Karachi. In this March 29, 2016 photo, journalists look a image of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, during a press conference by Pakistan's army spokesman and the Information Minister, in Islamabad, Pakistan. The army said in a statement Monday, April 10, 2017, that Jadhav was sentenced to death on charges of espionage and sabotage. Pakistan says Jadhav was an Indian intelligence official who aided and financed terrorist activities. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) Swaraj dismissed Jadhav's trial as a farce and said Pakistan had ignored 13 separate requests in the past year to be permitted to offer him consular services. "The government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms, law, justice and international relations," she said. Swaraj warned "the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter." Lawmakers from opposition Congress and other parties asked the government to put international pressure on Pakistan to free Jadhav and return him to India. Pakistan's army released a video shortly after Jadhav's arrest last year in which he confessed to having spent years sowing unrest in Pakistan. It was not clear if he was speaking under duress. India's External Affairs Ministry said Monday that Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan was never explained credibly. It concluded that his death sentence, if carried out, would be regarded by the Indian government as premediated murder. Pakistan and India have tensed relations. High-level talks between the neighbors have been suspended since January last year, when India postponed scheduled meetings on Kashmir and other problems after an attack on an Indian air force base that killed seven soldiers. India says phone intercepts suggest the gunmen came from Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies. India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, the divided region both claim in its entirety, since they won independence from British colonialists in 1947. GRANDE-SYNTHE, France (AP) - Authorities and aid workers are searching for several hundred migrants who disappeared after a fire ravaged their camp in northern France, a shocking blaze that exposed anew the challenges and tensions around Europe's migrants just 12 days before France's presidential election. Police cordoned off the largely destroyed camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe on Tuesday and investigators inspected the site to try to determine the cause of the Monday night fire, which broke out following a fight between rival groups of migrants. Three mobile police units were deployed in the area to head off tensions prompted by the camp's demise, the government said in a statement. The interior and housing ministers headed to the scene in a sign of the government's concern about the issue. Ismael, a Kurd migrant, carries a guitar he salvaged from the burned remains of a migrant camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe, northern France, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Several hundred migrants have disappeared after they were evacuated from a camp in northern France that was ravaged by a shocking fire that left 10 injured, according to authorities and aid workers trying to ensure alternative shelter and calm tensions. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Most of the camp near the English Channel is now reduced to the charred remains of wooden shelters and sparse belongings of the migrants, who converged on northern France in hopes of reaching Britain as part of waves of recent migration to Europe. As many as 1,600 people were in the camp when the blaze broke out, according to Grande-Synthe Mayor Damien Careme and prefect Michel Lalande, the top government official for the region. Some 500 were taken to three local gymnasiums, including one set aside for children and families - but most of the other migrants remain unaccounted-for, the mayor and prefect told reporters Tuesday. Doctors Without Borders, which set up the site a year ago to replace filthy makeshift camps in the region, is holding meetings Tuesday to decide what to do next. Other aid groups are planning to distribute meals Tuesday to migrants in the gymnasiums and anywhere else they are found around town. The first priority is to find migrants dispersed by the blaze, said Corenne Torre, head of the humanitarian group in France. "We just don't know where they are," she told The Associated Press. She estimated that at least 600 migrants remain unaccounted-for. Some are believed to be hiding because they fear the authorities or because they fear rejoining a camp with rival gangs, she said. She said that 10 migrants are in local hospitals with light injuries following the fire. The prefect and mayor said authorities believe the fire was set intentionally and was linked to a fight earlier Monday between Kurdish and Afghan migrant groups involving up to 150 migrants. The camp will remain closed during the investigation, and local authorities will consider whether to open a new camp to replace it. It's a sensitive issue in France ahead of the two-round April 23-May 7 presidential election in which immigration is a key issue. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and conservative candidate Francois Fillon reiterated calls Tuesday for stricter border controls. The prefect took the opposite stance. "The issue today is to shelter those people who live outside at the moment, and to build a future for them," Lalande told reporters. France sheltered migrant populations in the past, he said, "so we are not going to stop the march of history. To the contrary, it is in the name of this history that we are going to build a future for these people." "I lost all my documents," said an Iraqi migrant who identified himself only as Albidani, standing outside the camp. "I just have only this paper that says I'm a refugee in France." "We are refugees here in France. We don't have any place. ... We don't know what to do. We lost everything," Albidani said. ___ Charlton reported from Paris. Thomas Adamson in Paris contributed. A partially burned push chair abandonned by migrants is pictured in a camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe, northern France, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Several hundred migrants have disappeared after they were evacuated from a camp in northern France that was ravaged by a shocking fire that left 10 injured, according to authorities and aid workers trying to ensure alternative shelter and calm tensions. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Police officers patrol the burned remains of a migrant camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe, northern France, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Several hundred migrants have disappeared after they were evacuated from a camp in northern France that was ravaged by a shocking fire that left 10 injured, according to authorities and aid workers trying to ensure alternative shelter and calm tensions. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Burned remains of wooden shelters used by migrants are pictured in a migrant camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe, northern France, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Several hundred migrants have disappeared after they were evacuated from a camp in northern France that was ravaged by a shocking fire that left 10 injured, according to authorities and aid workers trying to ensure alternative shelter and calm tensions. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) In this image made from video, blaze and smoke rise from a migrant camp near Dunkirk, France Monday, April 10, 2017. A huge blaze ravaged the migrant camp in northern France on Monday, destroying wooden shelters and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of migrants, hours after a clash involving up to 150 migrants, the prefecture of the region said. (AP Photo) KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says a group of children were playing with an unexploded mortar round when it blew up, killing four of them. Police spokesman Mafuz Akbari says the deaths took place Monday in a remote district controlled by the Taliban in the northern Kunduz province. He says another six children were wounded and brought to a hospital in the provincial capital. Afghanistan is littered with unexploded munitions left over from decades of war, which along with roadside bombs kill or wound an estimated 140 people every month. BERLIN (AP) - Ercan Karakoyun looks twice over his shoulder when he leaves his Berlin home to make sure nobody is following him. Karakoyun is a follower of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for an attempted military coup in Turkey last summer. The 37-year-old, who is the public face of the Gulen movement in Germany, says he has received several death threats since the aborted overthrow. The hostility hasn't escalated past the anonymous threats, but Karakoyun's experience is one happening across Europe as Turkey's government tries to root out and punish the U.S.-based Gulen's supporters both within Turkey and abroad. In this photo taken Tuesday, April 4, 2017 Ercan Karakoyun, chairman of the 'Dialogue and Eduction Trust', attends an interview with the Associated Press in Berlin, Germany. The 37-year-old, who is the public face of the movement of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen in Germany, says he has received several death threats since the aborted military coup in Turkey. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) "The witch hunt against us has reached a new level," Karakoyun, the son of Turkish immigrants and spokesman for the Gulen-affiliated Dialogue and Education Foundation in Germany, told The Associated Press. Surrounded by religious books in the foundation's Berlin office, he recounted how German police contacted him last week and warned him not to travel to Turkey. Karakoyun was among more than 300 individuals and dozens of institutions on a list the Turkish foreign intelligence agency MIT gave its German counterpart. MIT asked to have those named put under surveillance. To Ankara's irritation, German officials instead contacted and cautioned the individuals on the list, which included at least two German lawmakers. "Unfortunately, of course, intelligence organizations share such information with each other. This should not be leaked to any side. But it is clear that this information in Germany was given to government sources and they used it," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. "This is, first of all, not ethical. It does not fit intelligence practices." Gulen has been based in the United States since 1999 in self-imposed exile. His movement, centered on moderate Islamic teachings, ran schools and dormitories that grew into a worldwide network and where, Turkey says, his followers were groomed and eventually infiltrated state organs, including the judiciary, police and military. Turkish authorities say the coup-plotters arrested on the night of the coup were Gulen supporters. Among the evidence they have offered against them is an encrypted messaging application that prosecutors have claimed the coup-plotters used to communicate with each other. In Turkey, tens of thousands of Gulen's followers have lost their jobs or landed in jail. Erdogan has also called on nations to crack down on the Gulen movement's large network of schools and charities outside of the country. The tension between supporters of Gulen, who has rejected any involvement in the failed coup, and Erdogan's allies has become especially heated in recent weeks. Erdogan's government has been campaigning in Germany and other European nations to try to win support for referendum Sunday that would expand the president's powers. An estimated 3 million expatriate Turks were eligible to cast ballots in what is expected to be a close vote. About half live in Germany. Turkish officials' attempts to rally support for the referendum in other European countries caused widespread irritation in Germany. Several of their planned public events were canceled. Erdogan accused German officials of acting like Nazis, sniping that in turn prompted Chancellor Angela Merkel to publicly condemn his comment. Tensions also flared In the Netherlands when the Dutch government blocked two Turkish ministers last month from addressing political rallies. Turks in Rotterdam briefly clashed with police after the country's family affairs minister was prevented from entering the consulate and then escorted to the German border. Similar scenarios have played out elsewhere in Europe, where Gulen's supporters allege that members of Erdogan's AKP Party are creating a menacing atmosphere. In Denmark, more than 500 children have left 14 schools that the Turkish government singled out as being closely related to Gulen. Some parents said they received anonymous calls saying they would be arrested in Turkey or have their passports canceled if they didn't withdraw their children from the schools. An Austrian lawmaker presented documents last month purporting to show a Turkish global surveillance network aimed at undermining organizations loyal to Gulen. Germany's Interior Ministry said last week that prosecutors are investigating 20 people suspected of spying for Turkey in Germany on people thought to be Gulen supporters. Several calls and emails for comment on these allegations by the Union of European Turkish Democrats, which is close to Erdogan's AKP, went unanswered. Gulen followers are not the only ones complaining about threats from Erdogan supporters. Cem Ozdemir, a member of the German parliament and one of the heads of Germany's The Green party, said he has been verbally attacked by Turkish taxi drivers in Berlin who were upset about his anti-Erdogan stance. Sevim Dagdelen, a Turkish-German lawmaker with The Left party, said she received death threats and was assaulted on the street after speaking out publicly against Erdogan. She has been put under police protection and warned not to go out with her children in public. Dagdelen, the daughter of Turkish guest workers who came to Germany in the 1960s, called on the German government to help protect dissidents of the Erdogan regime both in Germany and Turkey, but expressed little hope that the situation would improve soon. "I don't believe that Erdogan will let himself be influenced by the outcome of the referendum in April," she said. "He has already made the decisions regarding his agenda a long time ago." ___ David Rising in Berlin, Jan Olsen in Stockholm, Denmark, Mike Corder in Amsterdam and George Jahn in Vienna contributed reporting. In this photo taken Monday, April 3, 2017 German lawmaker Sevim Dagdelen of the Left Party poses for a portrait prior to an interview with the Associated Press in Berlin, Germany. Dagdelen said she received death threats after speaking out publicly against Turkish President Erdogan. After Turkish newspapers published her picture and berated her as a traitor, people in Germany attacked or insulted her on the street, she said. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) FILE - In this March 15, 2014 file photo, Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, sits at his residence in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Followers of the Gulen movement in Germany have received several death threats since the aborted military coup in Turkey. (AP Photo/Selahattin Sevi, File) In this photo taken Tuesday, April 4, 2017 Ercan Karakoyun, chairman of the 'Dialogue and Eduction Trust', attends an interview with the Associated Press in Berlin, Germany. The 37-year-old, who is the public face of the movement of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen in Germany, says he has received several death threats since the aborted military coup in Turkey. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) LUCCA, Italy (AP) - The Latest on the meeting of the foreign minister of the Group of Seven (all times local): 1 p.m. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says Russia must choose between aligning itself with the U.S. and likeminded countries or embracing Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and the militant group Hezbollah. Foreign ministers and their staff sit at the table during a meeting of foreign ministers of the G7 in Lucca, Italy, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are expected to call for a new international push to end the war in Syria as they end a meeting in Italy Tuesday. (Riccardo Dalle Luche/ANSA via AP) Tillerson says it's unclear whether Russia failed to take seriously its obligations in Syria or has been incompetent. But he says that distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." He says of the recent chemical attack: "We cannot let this happen again." Tillerson says the U.S. sees no future role for Assad in Syria, but he says the U.S. isn't pre-supposing how Assad's departure will occur. Tillerson is traveling Tuesday to Moscow. He says Russia can play a role in Syria's future but that aligning with Assad won't serve Russia's long-term interests. ___ 12:45 p.m. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano says there is "no consensus" among G-7 countries for new sanctions on Russia over its support for Syria's Bashar Assad. Alfano says the idea was raised at a meeting in Lucca, Italy, by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. But Alfano said isolating Russia or pushing it into a corner "would be wrong." He says "the G-7's position is very clear - supporting the existing sanctions" against Russia over its military activities in Ukraine. ___ 12:35 p.m. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano says Russia must not be "pushed into a corner" over Syria, as the Group of Seven ignored calls by Britain and the U.S. for new sanctions on Moscow over its support of President Bashar Assad. Alfano says Russia should put pressure on Assad to stop the use of chemical weapons, and should join an international push for peace in Syria. Ending a G-7 foreign ministers meeting, he says "we must have a dialogue with Russia." ___ 11:30 a.m. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are expected to call Tuesday for a new international push to end the war in Syria, but are divided on whether to threaten new sanctions or other tough measures to pressure Russia over its support of President Bashar Assad. The G-7 blames Assad's military for a deadly chemical attack last week. Ministers meeting in Lucca, central Italy, have strongly supported U.S. missile strikes that targeted a Syrian air base believed to have been used to launch the attack. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the U.S. intervention had offered "a window of opportunity to construct a new positive condition for the political process in Syria." But he said a political rather than military process was "the only solution," according to Italian news agency ANSA. From left: High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, France Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson and Japanese Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, pose for the family photo during a meeting of foreign ministers of the G7 in Lucca, Italy, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are expected to call for a new international push to end the war in Syria as they end a meeting in Italy Tuesday. (Riccardo Dalle Luche/ANSA via AP) From Left: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and German Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, visit the Cathedral in Lucca, Italy, Monday, April 10, 2017. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are gathering in Lucca for a meeting given urgency by the chemical attack in Syria and the U.S. military response, with participants aiming to pressure Russia to end its support for President Bashar Assad. (Riccardo Dalle Luche/ANSA via AP) From right: Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and France Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, stand by the tomb of Ilaria del Carretto by sculptor Jacopo della Quercia, during their visit at the Lucca's Cathedral in Lucca, Italy, Monday, April 10, 2017. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are gathering in Lucca for a meeting given urgency by the chemical attack in Syria and the U.S. military response, with participants aiming to pressure Russia to end its support for President Bashar Assad. (Riccardo Dalle Luche/ANSA via AP) From Left: German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson and Italian Foreign Minister, Angelino Alfano, take a stroll in the centre of Lucca, Italy, Monday, April 10, 2017. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are gathering in Lucca for a meeting given urgency by the chemical attack in Syria and the U.S. military response, with participants aiming to pressure Russia to end its support for President Bashar Assad. (Riccardo Dalle Luche/ANSA via AP) Protesters march towards police during a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the G7 countries in Lucca, Italy, Monday, April 10, 2017. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are gathering in Lucca for a meeting given urgency by the chemical attack in Syria and the U.S. military response, with participants aiming to pressure Russia to end its support for President Bashar Assad. (ANSA via AP) CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Dartmouth College students can't live in the fraternity house that partially inspired the 1976 movie "Animal House" because the building lost its zoning classification when Alpha Delta was banned from campus two years ago, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The college revoked the fraternity's status as a student organization in 2015, after a string of disciplinary violations involving alcohol, hazing and burning brands into the skin of new members. At the time, an attorney for the fraternity said a small group of members voluntarily chose to get branded, which he compared to forms of self-expression such as piercings or tattoos. The town of Hanover later ruled that the fraternity's $1.4 million house was no longer a student residence because zoning rules require that such buildings operate "in conjunction with" an institution, such as the college. Alpha Delta argued that it should not be subject to that requirement because it used the property as a student residence before that zoning rule took effect, but the court on Tuesday rejected that argument. "We are pleased that the Supreme Court has upheld the town's decision regarding the interpretation of its zoning ordinances," college spokeswoman Diana Lawrence said. Alpha Delta had been a fraternity at Dartmouth since the 1840s. The building dates to 1920 and typically housed 18 to 22 students. None have lived there since June 2015, Lawrence said. Shortly after it de-recognized Alpha Delta, Dartmouth reinstated a policy that bars students from living in houses owned by unrecognized Greek organizations. An attorney for the fraternity did not return a call for comment Tuesday. TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Prosecutors have charged an Oklahoma man with second-degree murder in the death of his disabled 8-year-old son, who was overcome by carbon monoxide last month. The Tulsa World reports (http://bit.ly/2p17LKA ) that Noel Cruz, of Tulsa, was charged Monday in the death of Noah Cruz Campbell, who had spinal muscular atrophy and used a wheelchair. According to prosecutors, Cruz was found, passed out but alive, in a running vehicle in a garage adjoining his home. The door to the family's home was left open, allowing fumes from the garage to pollute the home too. An affidavit says Cruz told authorities he'd left the door open so he could hear if Noah called. The boy died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Cruz remains jailed on $500,000 bond. Court records don't list an attorney. PROVINCETOWN, Mass. (AP) - Coastal researchers in Massachusetts say they found more endangered right whales in Cape Cod Bay recently than on any one day in recent history. A spokeswoman for the Center for Coastal Studies says researchers found 112 of the rare whales in the bay Sunday. The spokeswoman says the next highest number for one day was 96 in 2014. There are only a few hundred North Atlantic right whales in existence. The sighting of 112 of them could constitute about a quarter of the entire population. The whales were hunted heavily during the whaling era. They're vulnerable to ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. Right whales come to New England in spring to feed. The first right whale babies of the year were recently spotted in the Gulf of Maine. "The Burial Hour" (Grand Central Publishing), by Jeffery Deaver The latest in Jeffery Deaver's series featuring forensic detective Lincoln Rhyme and his partner, Amelia Sachs, throws them both literally into foreign territory. A 9-year-old girl witnesses a man abducted on the streets of New York, and the kidnapper leaves a miniature hangman's noose at the scene. Rhyme and Sachs are called in to investigate and they soon learn of a video recording of the victim slowly being hanged by a man in the shadows while eerie music plays. He calls himself "The Composer," and with some quick thinking and deduction, they're able to find and rescue the victim before he dies. Unfortunately, The Composer escapes. This cover image released by Grand Central Publishing shows "The Burial Hour," by Jeffery Deaver. (Grand Central Publishing via AP) When an abduction occurs in Italy under similar circumstances, Rhyme and Sachs fly to Europe to assist in the capture of this elusive villain. Working with local authorities, they try to not only stop The Composer, but also uncover a motive. Will they be able to figure it out in time to save The Composer's latest conquest? Deaver is a master of plot twists, and they are abundant in this story that keeps the reader guessing about who can be trusted and what's behind the motivations of the abductor. Putting Rhyme and Sachs in unknown territory showcases a different side of their characters. Making them jump through hoops to keep international peace gives the story an extra edge. The usual aspect of terror and the ticking-clock plot device that Deaver is known for seems not to be as prominent in "The Burial Hour" as in previous novels, but that doesn't mean the story line isn't suspenseful. Perhaps it's the focus on so many new characters when the reader primarily wants to read about Rhyme and Sachs. Even with that in mind, this is still essential for fans of the franchise. HELSINKI (AP) - A center to combat such things as disinformation and fake news will be built in Finland following an agreement Tuesday of nine countries from the European Union and NATO. The countries - Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and the United States - signed the memorandum to set up the so-called "hybrid threat" center in Helsinki with the support of the Finnish government. The center will become operational later this year and will initially have a budget of 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) and be staffed by a group of experts and reasearchers from the founding members. Foreign Service Officer Donna Welton from the US, signs the Memorandum of Understanding in Helsinki, Finland, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A group of European Union and NATO nations have agreed to establish a European "hybrid threat" center in Finland to combat unconventional methods of warfare such as disinformation and fake news. (Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva via AP) Lorenz Meyer-Minneman, head of NATO's civil preparedness unit, said the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats will serve as a platform for EU and NATO to pool resources and share expertise. Over recent years, campaigns to discredit, misinform and spread fake news have become an increasing problem for policymakers in Europe and the United States. "Working together is essential in building resilience to hybrid threats," said Meyer-Minneman. Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini said the EU and NATO will face "the challenge of hybrid threats hand in hand." "Countering hybrid threats is a European priority," Soini said, adding, without elaborating, that Finland itself has become a target for "hybrid influencing" through constant disinformation campaigns and "malicious activities in the cyber domain." The EU and NATO pledged in July at the military alliance's summit in Warsaw to increase cooperation in the areas of cyber defense and countering hybrid threats. The new Helsinki center aims to closely cooperate with NATO's existing cyber defense center in Estonia and strategic communications center in Latvia. Nordic neighbors Finland and Sweden are members of the EU, but not NATO. The rest are members of both though Britain is preparing to leave the EU. In the past few years, the Nordic and Baltic countries have been particularly concerned over what they say are Russia's aggressive disinformation campaigns and systematic spreading of false news on their countries. HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) - A judge denied bail Tuesday to a Canadian man accused in a massive hack of Yahoo emails. Karim Baratov, 22, has alleged ties to Russian agents and access to significant amounts of cash, making him a serious flight risk if freed on bail, a prosecutor said Tuesday. Baratov was arrested last month and faces extradition to the U.S. He was indicted in the United States for computer hacking along with three other people, including two alleged Russian intelligence agents. Amedeo DiCarlo, left, the lawyer for Karim Baratov, arrives at the courthouse, Tuesday, April 11, 2017, in Hamilton, Ontario. The bail hearing for Baratov, who is accused in a massive hack of Yahoo emails, is continuing. In March, U.S. authorities indicted Baratov and three others for computer hacking, economic espionage and other crimes. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP) American officials have said Baratov has the money to leave Canada and the ability to destroy evidence while on the run. Justice Alan Whitten denied bail in a written decision. "Baratov is a flight risk. He could instantaneously access the funds," the judge wrote. "He can play his trade from anywhere in the world." Prosecutor Heather Graham noted earlier that Baratov owned a number of luxury cars and flaunted his lifestyle on social media. She also said he has webmail and PayPal accounts with "large unknown sums of money" accessible anywhere. Graham said police seized about $22,000 ($30,000 Canadian) cash from his home and another $670 ($900 Canadian) from his wallet when he was arrested. She also said there is evidence Baratov may have been trafficking in identity information. And there are allegations he continued hacking while on vacation in Jamaica. Graham also noted Baratov faces up to 20 years in a U.S. prison. "The evidence of Mr. Baratov's connections to Russian officials exponentially elevate the flight risk in this case,' Prosecutor Heather Graham said. U.S. law enforcement officials call Baratov a "hacker-for-hire" paid by Russian Federal Security Service members. He has Kazakh origins, arriving in Canada in 2007 and becoming a citizen in 2011. "It would appear that Baratov's activities were quite the cash cow: a million by age 15 and the array of extremely expensive sports cars," the judge said in his ruling. "There is the potential for further income ... Baratov would appear to be a valuable operative for the FSB." Baratov's parents had offered act as their son's sureties. The young man's attorney Deepak Paradkar argued Baratov would have never been alone because his father Akhmet Tokbergenov works at home. The father had agreed to turn off the internet in the family home if the court requests. The breach at Yahoo affected at least a half billion user accounts, but Paradkar said Baratov is only accused of hacking 80 accounts. He said the charges against his client have been "inflated" and said he financed many of luxury cars. Paradkar maintains an Instagram account under the name 'Cocaine Lawyer" and has often used the hashtag #bestcocainelawyer. Baratov's other lawyer, Amedeo DiCarlo, arrived to the courthouse again Tuesday in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce. In a scheme that prosecutors say blended intelligence gathering with old-fashioned financial greed, the four men targeted the email accounts of Russian and U.S. government officials, Russian journalists and employees of financial services and other private businesses, American officials said. In some cases using a technique known as "spear-phishing" to dupe Yahoo users into thinking they were receiving legitimate emails, the hackers broke into at least 500 million accounts in search of personal information and financial data such as gift card and credit card numbers, prosecutors said. The case, announced amid continued U.S. intelligence agency skepticism of their Russian counterparts, comes as American authorities investigate Russian interference through hacking in the 2016 presidential election. Officials said those investigations are separate. Alexsey Belan, one of the others accused, is on the list of the FBI's most wanted cybercriminals and has been indicted multiple times in the United States. It's not clear whether he or the other two defendants, Dmitry Dokuchaev and Igor Sushchin, will ever step foot in an American courtroom because there's no extradition treaty with Russia. The indictment identifies Dokuchaev and Sushchin as officers of the Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB. Belan and Baratov were paid hackers directed by the FSB to break into the accounts, prosecutors said. WARRI, Nigeria (AP) - Nigerian police say two Turkish nationals have been abducted and there has been no word from their kidnappers. State police spokesman Chukwu Okechukwu said Tuesday that the two workers for a construction company were taken Sunday in the town of Eket in Akwa Ibom state in the country's south. Police declined to give further details but said rescue efforts were underway. Turkey's embassy has not yet commented. Kidnapping for ransom is common in southern Nigeria but generally involves no fatalities, as hostages are returned unharmed once money exchanges hands. Two Turkish nationals were kidnapped from an international school in Ogun state in January but were released after 11 days. QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - Authorities have removed the last remaining protesters stationed in front of Ecuador's National Electoral Council calling for a vote-by-vote recount of the presidential election results. Police officials ordered the demonstrators to leave early Tuesday after more than a week of protests in support of candidate and former banker Guillermo Lasso. Lasso lost the presidential election to Lenin Moreno by less than 3 percentage points. He has refused to recognize the official results, citing ballot irregularities and fraud. The election was closely watched around Latin America as an indicator whether the region would continue to shift to the right following conservative wins in countries like Peru and Argentina. Moreno was the official candidate supported by current President Rafael Correa. Reruns of stories are available at http://apexchange.com, from the Service Desk at 800-838-4616, or your local AP bureau. Additional stories will be included in digest updates through the week. OF SPECIAL NOTE: EL FARO'S FINAL HOURS - an Only on AP narrative The Associated Press tells the story of the last day aboard the freighter, Oct. 1, 2015. The story was reconstructed using thousands of pages of public documents, hours of testimony before the U.S. Coast Guard's investigative board, and interviews with crew family members and maritime experts. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Amid howling winds, blinding squalls and massive waves, the freighter El Faro and its crew struggled for survival - unaware that their course was taking them directly into the path of Hurricane Joaquin. They battled all night, the fates of their lives and their ship hanging in the balance. This run was to be the El Faro's last before a major retrofit, but instead it ended with the cargo ship sinking, no bodies ever recovered - and it would be months before search crews found the wreckage. By Jason Dearen. 3,800 words, photos, video. With El Faro's Final Hours-How it was Done, El Faro's Final Hours-Widow, and El Faro's Final Hours-Investigator. Moved in advance for release at 1 a.m., April 12, and thereafter. FOR THIS WEEK (for immediate release, except as noted): DEMENTIA AND DOWNFALL - The path that took a suburban dad and nationally recognized school librarian to his death in a homeless shelter is being blamed on a brain disorder called frontotemporal dementia. By Jennifer Peltz. SENT: 1,810 words on April 10. Photos. An abridged version of 1,070 words has also been sent. THE NEW JUSTICE -Somewhere between the Republican caricature of the next justice of the Supreme Court as a folksy family guy and the Democrats' demonization of him as a cold-hearted automaton, stands Neil Gorsuch. The actual portrait is more nuanced than the extremes drawn by his supporters and critics. By Nancy Benac. SENT: 1,000 words on April 8. Photos. This story moved as this week's Sunday spotlight. SYRIA-WAR ATROCITIES - With its missile strike on Shayrat air base in central Syria, Washington signaled that it had judged President Assad responsible for the horrific chemical weapons attack in northern Syria that drew international outrage last week. But it is not the first or even deadliest atrocity of the war. SENT: 900 words on April 10. Photos. AGING INFRASTRUCTURE-NO QUICK FIX - A seemingly minor derailment in New York that ended up delaying hundreds of thousands of commuters for days highlights a reality about the U.S. transportation system: It is aging, congested and so vital that when things go wrong, big and costly disruptions can result. By David A. Lieb and Joan Lowy. SENT: 1,030 words on April 9. Photos. With TRAIN DERAILMENT-NORTHEAST CORRIDOR-Q&A - Questions and answers about the Penn Station derailment (sent). REBUILDING THE LOWER 9TH - It is one of the more heartbreaking and enduring images of the post-Katrina era: block upon block of overgrown lots, concrete steps the only reminder of where a family once lived. Now a major rebuilding project is set to bring hundreds of new residents into New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, but some residents view the development plan with trepidation. By Rebecca Santana. SENT: 1,043 words on April 10. Photos. AUTISTIC ADULTS-HOUSING DALLAS - Innovative housing developments are popping up across the U.S. to serve those diagnosed with autism as children amid increased awareness about the disorder and changes in how it's defined. By Jamie Stengle. SENT: 840 words on April 8. Photos. TV-TRUMP TALK - The unquenchable thirst for chatter about Trump has changed the dynamics of a fierce daytime television competition in much the same way as it has for late-night TV. By Television Writer David Bauder. SENT: 800 words on April 10. Photos. STAR WARS CANYON - Military planes roaring over national parks in the United States have long drawn complaints from hikers and campers. But in California, the unusually close-up view of jets zipping through a narrow gorge in Death Valley National Park nicknamed "Star Wars Canyon" has become such a popular spot that the National Park Service is considering making it an attraction with interpretative signs about the training dating to World War II. By Ben Margot and Julie Watson. SENT: 660 words on April 11. With STAR WARS CANYON-PHOTO GALLERY. ASIA-CHERRY BLOSSOMS-PHOTO GALLERY - Cherry blossoms across north Asia. SENT: 170 words on April 11. AUTOMAKERS-TRUMP - Trump's relentless push for more manufacturing jobs forces the auto industry into a delicate dance of contradictions in order to keep him happy, tell the truth, and avoid alienating customers in both red and blue states. By Auto Writer Tom Krisher. SENT: 750 words on April 10. Photos. CHINA-ISLAMOPHOBIA - Homeowners in a central Chinese city were so opposed to the planned construction of a mosque in their neighborhood that they buried a severed pig's head on the building site in protest. The dispute shows how a surge in anti-Muslim online sentiment in China is spreading into the offline world and risks further inflaming simmering ethnic tensions that have in the past erupted in bloodshed. By Gerry Shih. SENT: 1,720 words on April 9. Photos. The AP CHICAGO (AP) - Should middle-aged men get routine blood tests for prostate cancer? An influential health panel that once said no now says maybe. It says certain men may benefit as long as they understand the potential harms. Some key things to know about the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's draft recommendations : Q. What's the new advice? A: Men should decide for themselves if they want to get tested, the panel says. But first, they should have a talk with their doctor about the pros and the cons of the PSA test. That applies to men aged 55 to 69 of average risk for prostate cancer as well as those with higher odds, including blacks and men with a family history of the disease. Those 70 and older shouldn't get screened. Q: Is this a significant change? A: Yes, the panel in 2012 decided men shouldn't get tested, saying there was no evidence that benefits outweigh harms that can result from overdiagnosis and overtreatment. In 2008, the group said there was too little evidence to make any kind of recommendation for younger men but said those 75 and older shouldn't be screened. Q: Why the change? A: The panel says there's now some evidence that screening can save lives. New research shows testing men aged 55 to 69 may slightly reduce their chances of dying from prostate cancer. There's also newer evidence that "active surveillance," which involves repeated PSA testing and close monitoring, can help men diagnosed with cancer avoid harsh treatment or at least delay it. Q: What is PSA screening? A: It's a simple blood test for a specific protein. Elevated levels may be sign of cancer, but can be caused by less serious conditions, like an enlarged prostate or an infection. The goal is to find cancer at an early, treatable stage. Biopsies confirm suspicious results. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the test for screening in 1994. Q: How could a blood test be harmful? A: Prostate cancer usually grows too slowly to be lethal; most affected men will die of other causes and never experience symptoms. Positive tests may lead to treatment for something that isn't dangerous. Treatment often involves radiation or surgery, which can cause incontinence and impotence. Q: How common is prostate cancer? A: This year, more than 1 million men will be diagnosed worldwide including about 160,000 Americans; more than 26,000 U.S. men will die of the disease. Most men are diagnosed after age 60. Q: What challenges remain? A: Experts acknowledge that the PSA test isn't perfect. Researchers are seeking a more accurate way to detect prostate cancer and agree on the need for technology to identify which early-stage tumors will grow to become deadly. Q: What is the task force? A: The group is an independent panel of 16 doctors and other health experts who evaluate medical studies on screenings and other preventive medicine. Their recommendations influence U.S. government policy, primary care physicians and private insurers' coverage decisions. Medicaid and many insurers cover PSA screening. Q: What do other groups recommend? A: Most other leading groups agree that decisions should be made by patients after doctors tell them of all the pros and cons. The American Cancer Society says start PSA discussions at age 50 for men at average risk; at age 40 for men with a strong family history and age 45 for black men. The American Urological Association's recommendations cover ages 55 to 69 and say screening should be considered at earlier ages for blacks and men with a family history. The European Association of Urology says screening should be offered to well-informed men over 50 or over 45 for blacks and those with a family history. ___ Online: Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner at http://www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/lindsey-tanner BEIRUT (AP) - The statement by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the reign of President Bashar Assad's family "is coming to an end" suggests the U.S. is taking a much more aggressive approach about the Syrian leader. The remark Tuesday came after a U.S. airstrike in Syria and threats of more punitive action. Any attempt to unseat Assad faces huge hurdles and risks unleashing chaos. It could also relieve the suffering of nearly 1 million Syrians living under constant siege and bombardment. FILE -- In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo released by the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks to The Associated Press at the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement Tuesday, April 11, 2017, that the reign of President Bashar Assad's family "is coming to an end" suggests Washington is taking a much more aggressive approach about the Syrian leader. Taking him out of the equation without a clear transition plan would be a major gamble. (Syrian Presidency via AP, File) Despite six years of civil war, Assad is firmly entrenched in his seat of power, Damascus, largely thanks to powerful allies Russia and Iran who continue to prop up his government politically and militarily. Taking him out of the equation without a clear transition plan would be a major gamble with consequences that would likely resonate far beyond the Syrian borders and raises the following questions: WHAT IS THE U.S. POSITION ON ASSAD? The past week has brought about an almost seismic shift in the U.S. administration's position on Syria. Only weeks earlier, U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, were signaling a willingness to work with Russia and saying that Assad's status was not a priority for the time being. The April 4 chemical weapons attack that killed more than 80 people in an opposition-held town in northern Syria appears to have completely altered Trump's calculus, triggering the first direct U.S. airstrike on Assad's forces in the conflict. The Trump administration continues to offer mixed messages about its ultimate goal in Syria and whether Assad must surrender power - and when. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." WHAT IS THE ASSAD FAMILY'S POWER BASE? The Assad family has ruled Syria for nearly five decades. So entrenched is the dynasty that die-hard supporters label the country as "Assad's Syria." In battle zones, loyal fighters have sprayed "Assad, or we burn the country." Despite the spectacular devastation he has presided over, Assad has managed to retain a level of support. He maintained, from the beginning, that his war is one against terrorism, and through a deft policy of divide and conquer, he has made the war a choice between him and the Islamic extremists. Among his supporters are members of his Alawite sect, as well as other minority sects such as the Christians and Druze who fear reprisals by extremists in case they take over the country. Many in the powerful business community also support Assad and see him as a source of stability compared to other, opposition-held parts of Syria that are run by scores of rebel factions and warlords. Syria's powerful security agencies, notorious for human rights abuses, also will back Assad until the end. WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO ASSAD? There is no obvious replacement. Assad's term has been an extension of the rule by his father and his father's predecessor, both of which stifled any form of dissent for decades. Following the uprising, which began in March 2011, opposition figures have either been jailed, exiled or killed. Some analysts say the only replacement could be an Alawite army general, since the presence of such a leader would serve as a guarantee to Syria's minorities. Such a figure is not apparent for the time being. Thus, finding an alternative to Assad has bedeviled foreign policy experts for years. More recently, as Russia helped reverse his military fortunes and left him in control of most of the country's major population centers, much of the West had appeared to come to terms with the conclusion that Assad could stay on for the time being. COULD ASSAD BE REMOVED BY FORCE? The U.S. can take any number of measures against Assad to degrade and ultimately remove him from power. That includes bombing command and control centers, grounding his warplanes and significantly increasing weapons support for rebels fighting to topple him. Any such action risks a igniting a confrontation with Russia and Iran. Such flagrant action may also become counterintuitive and risk a backlash from rebel factions who may not welcome U.S. bombing of Syria even though they want Assad out. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE WAS OUSTED? Europeans and the previous U.S. administration have been very clear that they don't want a collapse of the regime similar to what happened elsewhere, including neighboring Iraq. The concern is that a sudden unseating of Assad would lead to a collapse of state institutions, unleashing sectarian massacres and facilitating the spread of militant groups, such as the Islamic State group, al-Qaida and the Shiite militias who have fueled violence in Iraq. Russian officials often cite the U.S. failures in Iraq and Libya, where state institutions disintegrated following Western military intervention, to illustrate the perils of forced regime change in Syria. ___ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed. In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, pro-government protesters hold a portrait of President Bashar Assad and a placard that reads, "Down with everyone who cooperated and supported the American aggression," during a protest against the U.S. attack on a military airbase last week, in front the the United Nations building, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement Tuesday, that the reign of Assad's family "is coming to an end" suggests Washington is taking a much more aggressive approach about the Syrian leader. (SANA via AP) FILE - In this April 20, 2014 file photo, released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, talks to government soldiers during his visit to the Christian village of Maaloula, near Damascus, Syria. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement Tuesday, April 11, 2017, that the reign of President Bashar Assad's family "is coming to an end" suggests Washington is taking a much more aggressive approach about the Syrian leader. Taking him out of the equation without a clear transition plan would be a major gamble. (SANA via AP, File) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson steps out of a plane upon arrival in Moscow's Vnukovo airport, Russia, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Tillerson's statement Tuesday that the reign of President Bashar Assad's family "is coming to an end" suggests Washington is taking a much more aggressive approach about the Syrian leader. Taking him out of the equation without a clear transition plan would be a major gamble. (AP Photo/ Ivan Sekretarev) FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, shakes hand with Syrian President Bashar Assad as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, looks on in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement Tuesday, April 11, 2017, that the reign of President Bashar Assad's family "is coming to an end" suggests Washington is taking a much more aggressive approach about the Syrian leader. Taking him out of the equation without a clear transition plan would be a major gamble. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File) From Left: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and German Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, visit the Cathedral in Lucca, Italy, Monday, April 10, 2017. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are gathering in Lucca for a meeting given urgency by the chemical attack in Syria and the U.S. military response, with participants aiming to pressure Russia to end its support for President Bashar Assad. (Riccardo Dalle Luche/ANSA via AP) BOSTON (AP) - It turns out Mitt Romney's "binders full of women" are actual binders after all - filled with the resumes of women who hoped to land jobs in his administration as governor. The Boston Globe reports Tuesday that it was shown the binders by a former Romney aide. The two white three-ring binders contain about 200 cover letters and resumes with some handwritten notes. The former Republican presidential nominee made the awkward reference during a 2012 debate in response to a question about workplace inequality. The women in question were seeking work in Romney's administration when he was governor of Massachusetts. FILE - In a Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 file photo, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney talks with reporters after eating dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at Jean-Georges restaurant, in New York. Romney's "binders full of women" are actual binders after all _ filled with the resumes of women who hoped to land jobs in his administration as governor. The Boston Globe reports Tuesday, April 11, 2017, that it was shown the binders by a former Romney aide. The two white three-ring binders contain about 200 cover letters and resumes with some handwritten notes. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) "I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' and they brought us whole binders full of women," Romney said during the debate. The binders - and the resumes - were the result of an effort to get more women into state government in Massachusetts after Romney defeated Democratic nominee and then-state Treasurer Shannon O'Brien for governor in 2002. The comment - which sounded tin-eared to some - became a punchline among Romney foes and late night comics. Ultimately Romney did get credit in Massachusetts for naming women to high positions in his administration and the state courts. Although the "binders full of women" comment quickly became a metaphor of sorts, the actual binders had remained out of sight until now. Romney's name has been floated as a possible candidate for U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch's seat if the seven-term Utah Republican decides against seeking re-election next year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday he'd reached out to Romney about possibly running if there is a vacancy. Romney owns a home in Park City, Utah. GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Two Salvadoran fugitive gang members were detained in neighboring Guatemala, where they had come to hide and buy weapons, and authorities said they were deported on Tuesday. Guatemalan police spokesman Pablo Castillo said the two men were taken to the border with El Salvador and handed over to authorities in that country. Both had been sought in El Salvador for crimes including murder, and one was among the country's most-wanted fugitives. According to investigators, they were buying guns that came from Mexico to send to El Salvador, Castillo said. Prosecutors and police carried out 24 raids in the Guatemalan capital and seized assault rifles, ammunition and other weaponry, along with money and stolen vehicles. Six other people were detained. Guatemala and El Salvador lie in what's known as the Northern Triangle, a tri-nation region of Central America that also includes Honduras. The three countries are plagued by violent street gangs and routinely record some of the highest homicide rates on the planet. Large swaths of Mexico, meanwhile, are dominated by drug cartels armed with high-power weaponry, much of it smuggled illegally from the United States. Salvadoran authorities say gangsters have sought to buy weapons from two Mexican drug organizations: the hyper-violent Zetas and the powerful Sinaloa cartel of imprisoned kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. In July 2016, El Salvador's Public Ministry said gang members were purchasing weapons in Honduras and Guatemala. Multiple suspects have been arrested trying to import assault weapons or on suspicion of providing them to gangs. WASHINGTON (AP) - As a top aide to Florida's attorney general, Carlos G. Muniz helped defend his office's decision to sit out legal action against Trump University. Now the president is naming him to be the top lawyer in the U.S. Education Department. President Donald Trump has announced his intent to nominate Muniz to serve as general counsel to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Muniz would face confirmation by the Senate. Muniz previously served as Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's chief of staff. Emails show that in 2013 he was included in discussions about student complaints alleging fraud with Trump's namesake real-estate seminars. Bondi personally solicited a $25,000 political contribution from Trump as her office was weighing its response. FILE - In this June 11, 2016 file photo, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi gestures as he speaks to supporters of then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a rally in Tampa, Fla. Carlos G. Muniz, a former top aide Pam Bondi involved in her office's decision not to pursue legal action against Trump University has been chosen to serve as the top lawyer at the Education Department. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) The White House did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with business leaders in the State Department Library on the White House complex in Washington, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Carlos G. Muniz, a former top aide to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi involved in her office's decision not to pursue legal action against Trump University has been chosen to serve as the top lawyer at the Education Department. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) This week's video of a man being dragged off an overbooked United Express flight has triggered outrage online. But it's far from the first time an airline has forcibly removed a passenger from a plane or been criticized for how it treats customers. These confrontations are getting more attention now because of ubiquitous cell phone cameras and the growth of social media. "Everybody has a camera and everybody is using it. So we're going to see it more often," said Dean Headley, a marketing professor at Wichita State University and co-author of the annual airline quality report that was released earlier this week. Here are a handful of past examples: - Last Thursday, a Lufthansa plane flying between Frankfurt, Germany, and Toronto made an unplanned landing in Manchester, England. The Manchester Evening News reported the plane landed so that a drunken passenger could be removed from the flight. - United Airlines refused to let two teenage girls board a flight from Denver to Minneapolis last month because they were wearing leggings. The airline said the issue was that the teens were flying under an employee travel pass that includes a dress code. United said customers were welcome to wear leggings on flights. - A woman was removed from a flight in Baltimore, Maryland, following President Donald Trump's inauguration in January after she berated a Trump supporter who sat down next to her. Videos of the confrontation were posted online. - A University of Michigan professor was removed from a Delta flight in Detroit on Dec. 12 after a confrontation with airport security. Rhima Coleman later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Video of her removal was also posted online. - Seven passengers were removed from a Spirit Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Dallas in November 2015 because the flight crew determined they were being disruptive. The passengers, who were all black, raised concerns about discrimination afterward. The New York Daily News reported that they were all rebooked on other flights. SAN DIEGO (AP) - An advocacy group said Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog fielded more than 1,000 complaints of sexual assault or sexual abuse from people in custody in a little more than two years. Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement is the latest group in recent years to document allegations of abuse at immigration detention centers, based on information obtained from public records requests. It comes as President Donald Trump seeks to expand detention capacity in a drive to deport more people. The numbers obtained by the group don't provide details on individual cases, including how many alleged perpetrators were detainees or staff, and it doesn't provide full accounting of how the complaints were addressed. Still, they suggest complaints are common. FILE - In this May 26, 2010 file photo men sit in the sun in a room for mental health patients in the health ward at the Otay Mesa immigration detention center in San Diego. An advocacy group said Tuesday, April 11, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog fielded more than 1,000 complaints of sexual assault or abuse from people in custody at immigration detention centers. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File) Homeland Security inspector general's office disclosed that it received 1,016 complaints from detainees reporting sexual abuse or assault from May 2014 to July 2016. More than 90 percent involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency within Homeland Security that has more than 30,000 beds at detention facilities nationwide. The inspector general received more than 33,000 allegations of a broader range of abuses from January 2010 to July 2016, including 702 for coerced sexual contact, 714 for physical or sexual abuse and 589 for sexual harassment, according to the group. The group's analysis showed the inspector general investigated 247, or less than 1 percent. But it was unclear how many others were taken up by agencies in the department, such as Immigration and Customs and Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection. The group cited the numbers in a complaint to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly that urges changes in how allegations are handled. Gillian Christensen, a Homeland Security spokeswoman, said the department would review the complaint "to determine if further action or recommendations are warranted." Christensen noted the allegations represent a small number of the more than 2 million admissions to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities in the six-year period covered in the report. She said the agency has a "zero tolerance policy" and listed steps it has taken to address sexual abuse of detainees, including a directive to employees on prevention and intervention. "While ICE's goal is to prevent all sexual abuse among its custody population, given the volume of individuals who annually pass through its detention system, the agency believes the overall incidence of such activity is very low," she said. The inspector general's office generally focuses on allegations of employee misconduct and often refers complaints of detainee abuse to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Professional Responsibility to follow up, Christensen said. Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement said it independently documented 27 alleged instances of sexual abuse. Most haven't filed grievances because they fear retaliation. Douglas Menjivar was allegedly raped by another detainee in the presence of four witnesses at the Joe Corley Detention Center in Conroe, Texas, in September 2013. The group says an official told him that he was stupid to let it happen and that the facility didn't document Menjivar's claim or provide medical or psychological care. Menjivar reported the incident to a doctor in November 2014, and after being interviewed twice, authorities told him that his allegations were unsubstantiated. The group also published figures, obtained from a records request by Human Rights Watch, that show private companies contracted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement had the most hotline complaints of sexual and physical assault from Oct. 1, 2012 to March 14, 2016, as opposed to centers managed by the agency. Detention centers managed by The Geo Group Inc. occupied first, third and fourth slots with facilities in Jena, Louisiana; Adelanto, California; and Tacoma, Washington. CCA Inc. facilities in Houston and San Diego occupied the second and fifth slots. PHOENIX (AP) - Police say a Phoenix man has been arrested for allegedly stealing a woman's purse during a first date. They say 38-year-old David Harlow met the woman on an online dating site and two talked for several weeks before meeting in person at a Phoenix resort. During the date, the unidentified woman went to the restroom and asked Harlow to watch her belongings. When she got back, Harlow and her purse were reportedly gone. Police say Harlow allegedly took the victim's credit card to a casino and tried to withdraw money from several banks. They say Harlow has been booked into jail on suspicion of felony theft, theft of a credit card and taking the identity of another person. It was unclear Tuesday if Harlow has a lawyer yet. A man was killed and four others were injured yesterday in an explosion at a huge factory in Missouri which makes ammunition for the US Army. The blast at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence happened on the same day the factory's operator, Orbital ATK, won a $92million contract to supply small arms ammunition to the Department of Defense. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said the man who was killed had worked at the plant for 36 years. He has not yet been named. One building at the sprawling plant shows the damage after yesterday's blast The explosion happened in a building where chemicals are mixed, according to the Army. Other explosions have occurred at the plant, including a 1990 blast that killed one worker and a 1981 explosion that severely burned a worker who later died, according to records. In 2011, six people were injured in a blast there. NASDAQ reported yesterday, before the blast, that Orbital ATK had secured a $92million order from the US Army for ammunition to be manufactured at the plant. Orbital also has a $21million contract with the US Navy and in January received a $50million order to supply the Pentagon 'in support of international allies'. This photo from video by KCTV5 shows damage to the side of a building in the aftermath of a fatal explosion The plant has been fined for workplace safety issues at least three times. All the plant's nearly 1,800 employees were sent home after Tuesday's explosion and told to call in before returning to work Wednesday. The four injured workers were evaluated at the scene and declined additional treatment, officials said. Lieutenant Colonel Eric B Dennis, the plant's commander, offered his condolences to family members of the worker who died. He said: 'Making ammunition is dangerous work and our employees risk their lives to protect the men and women in uniform. 'This is the sacrifice they make to support our country and I am humbled by the ultimate sacrifice this employee made today.' The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will lead the investigation. Workplace safety experts with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration also will be looking into the blast. The 77-year-old plant, created to help arm the U.S. military effort in the run-up to World War II, makes small-caliber ammunition and tests its reliability. The factory also operates the NATO test center. The plant, which sits on nearly 4,000 acres and is the first of a dozen Army small-arms factories, has undergone hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrades since the mid-2000s. The property has more than 400 buildings and nine warehouses, and has a storage capacity of more than 700,000 square feet. The factory has a governmental staff payroll of $2.9 million and a workforce that includes 29 Department of Army civilians and a soldier to provide contract oversight. Dulles, Virginia-based contractor Orbital ATK, the biggest maker of small-caliber ammunition for the U.S. Department of Defense, runs the plant. Since 2000, Orbital has produced more than 17 billion rounds of small-caliber ammunition at Lake City for military purposes. Jim Nickels, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK, said the explosion happened in a building where workers mix chemicals into the primer that goes into all small-caliber munitions. Orbital has received an order for 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm ammunition, adding that Orbital and the Army 'have made significant upgrades at the facility in recent years that have enhanced product quality; and performance, efficiency and operational improvements for safety and environmental stewardship.' Orbital has roughly 12,500 employees in 18 states and in several international locations. When the 2011 explosion occurred at the plant, injuring six people, Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, was the contractor operating the facility. OSHA fined the plant for workplace safety issues that year and also in 2008 and 2012. The largest penalty was in 2011 when Alliant was initially fined $28,000. It paid $5,600. OSHA had cited it for 'serious' issues with process safety management of hazardous chemicals. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A judge wants Philadelphia's top prosecutor to go on trial by next month on bribery charges because of what he called "the public's right to a speedy trial" and the case's potentially "calamitous effect" on the court system. U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond on Tuesday rejected a bid by prosecutors to designate District Attorney Seth Williams' case complex and give them more time to prepare. Such requests are routinely granted in cases like the 23-count bribery and extortion indictment issued March 21. However, Williams is running the office despite surrendering his law license after his arrest, Diamond noted. And he said the government's projected two-week case, which involves three alleged schemes, doesn't appear "especially complex." He set a tentative May 31 trial date, but said Williams can seek a delay once the government turns over its witness list. "I am hard-pressed to think of a case where the public's right to a speedy trial is more pressing than it is here: the largest prosecutors' office in the commonwealth is being run by someone who is not licensed to practice law and is himself charged with 23 federal crimes," Diamond wrote. He said federal prosecutors should not have issued the indictment unless they were ready for trial, since the charges "have an obvious and possibly calamitous effect on the city's criminal justice system as well as on the city itself." Williams, 50, already has taken heat from a magistrate judge when he sought to change lawyers a week after the indictment. The city paid his legal bills until he was charged, but Williams had to scramble afterward to hire a lawyer given financial problems that lie at the heart of the case. Williams makes $175,000 a year in the elected post, but has said he struggles to pay his bills following a divorce. He also is known to frequent upscale restaurants and social clubs and enjoy luxury vacations. The indictment accuses the two-term Democrat of accepting more than $100,000 in gifts in exchange for helping friends with legal problems. He also is charged with stealing $20,000 earmarked for his mother's nursing home care. Williams has belatedly reported accepting about $175,000 worth of gifts while in office. However, his lawyers deny that he ever promised any official favors in return. Defense lawyer Thomas Burke did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's frequent questioning about the integrity of his spy agencies is coming back to haunt him. As his administration used U.S. intelligence to pressure Moscow over its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin parroted back Trump's doubts about the reliability of U.S. spy agencies. "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq," Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters Tuesday, in response to U.S. agencies blaming Syria's government for using chemical weapons. "We have seen it all already." Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a joint news conference with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Putin, speaking Tuesday after talks in Moscow with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, said the U.S. invaded Iraq based on false allegations that it had chemical weapons. (Sergei Chirikov/Pool Photo via AP) Trump used the same argument in December, when the intelligence community issued its official assessment that Russia interfered with the U.S. election. Rejecting the assessment, Trump comparing the analyses to the false claims in the lead up the Iraq War. "These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction," the Trump transition team said in a statement. Trump has picked other fights with intelligence agencies, blaming it for the leaks about his associates' Russia ties. During the transition, he ripped the intelligence community for being behind the leaks and even compared them to Nazi propaganda. Lately, he has blamed Democrats, suggesting that they were using them as an excuse for Hillary Clinton's defeat. "Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to "leak" into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?" he tweeted in January. Those statements threaten to undermine the Trump administration's recent effort isolate Assad, in the wake of a chemical attack that killed dozens of Syrians. U.S. officials have accused Russia of knowing about the attack ahead of time and trying to help cover it up. Putin has called for a formal United Nations investigation. "Putin knows that Trump personally degraded U.S. intelligence credibility by attacking it over the Russian hacking and essentially going to war with the CIA and NSA," said Malcolm Nance, a veteran intelligence officer. He said Putin, a former director of Russian intelligence, "is now taking full advantage of the damage Trump caused with those attacks." TYLERTOWN, Miss. (AP) - Ever heard of a hog-dog rodeo? The attraction, and hog hunting, are popular activities in Mississippi and Louisiana - and apparently lucrative ones as well. Authorities caught four people illegally trapping and selling wild hogs last month, Maj. Lane Ball, of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, said Tuesday. In a hog-dog rodeo, a dog seeks to control a hog by barking and confronting it. Some people also buy wild hogs to train their hunting dogs - to hunt other wild hogs. "Hog hunting is a big deal," Ball said. "It's a very popular sport." The department cited the four on March 29, when officers raided a location in southern Walthall County that had once been used as a hog-dog rodeo arena and found seven hogs, Ball said. Christopher Miley and Mandy Miley, both 40-year-old residents of Franklinton, Louisiana, are charged with illegally importing, transporting and selling wild hogs, and trapping without a license. Their daughter, 19-year-old Sierra Miley of Tylertown, is charged with illegally selling wild hogs, as is 22-year-old Bethanie Toothman of Sulphur, Louisiana. The elder Mileys were arrested and are free on $1,500 bail. While potential jail terms are short for the misdemeanors, fines could be as high as $10,100 per pig. All four are scheduled to answer the charges April 27 in Walthall County Justice Court. None has an attorney listed in court records. Ball said the four were trapping hogs and selling them to people in Louisiana and Mississippi, charging as little as $50 apiece for young pigs, but more for older ones. The state has made it illegal to bring hogs into Mississippi or move them without a permit because they are animals that cause widespread damage and carry diseases. "They mess up everything from yards to food plots to timber, pine tree plantations," Ball said. "They're a huge problem." Those who are given legal permission to transport hogs must enclose them in escape-proof pens of less than 500 square feet (46 sq. meters), and only to fatten them for slaughter. Ball said the department is still investigating who bought the illegally trapped hogs. They could also face charges, he said. Andy Murray is targeting a return to competitive action in Monte Carlo next week after making his first appearance on court for a month in a charity match against Roger Federer in Zurich. The world number one has suffered with shingles and illness since the turn of the year and was forced to withdraw from the Miami Open in the middle of March after injuring his elbow. Murray subsequently missed Great Britains exit from the Davis Cup against France over the weekend but kept up his promise to play against Federer in The Match for Africa 3 at the Hallenstadion on Monday night. The 29-year-old lost 6-3 7-6 (7/5) against in-form Federer yet the result was far from the most important thing for Murray, with the ATP clay court season starting at the Monte Carlo Open on Monday. Speaking to Eurosport, Murray said: Monte Carlo starts in a week, so Im hoping, if I keep progressing as I have with the elbow, to play Monte Carlo. If not then I just need to stay patient and Ill try the following week. Im getting there, I just have to go slowly. (Ennio Leanza/AP/PA) Murray was diagnosed with shingles following his shock fourth-round exit from the Australian Open in January but insisted he was fully recovered when he returned to action in Dubai in February. He won that tournament but then suffered another surprise defeat to Canadas Vasek Pospisil at Indian Wells on March 12 - his last appearance before picking up the elbow knock. I enjoyed it, Murray said after his light-hearted clash against Federer. I havent played a match for five or six weeks so to come out and play in front of this crowd against Roger, I appreciate him asking me to come and do this. I was trying to get it to a third set, I just couldnt quite do it. Roger Federer plays with Andy Murray on a float in Zurich (Gaetan Bally/Keystone via AP) Reigning Australian Open champion Federer is set to take a voluntary sabbatical before the French Open begins at the end of May. Asked what his plans were over the coming weeks, Federer responded: Not very much. Ill be resting most of the time. The body needs a rest, I can feel it. Everything is good. I should be back for the French Open, thats the plan. A man who fatally shot his estranged wife and a special needs pupil in her classroom then killed himself had professed his love for her just last month on social media. Cedric Anderson married Karen Elaine Smith in late January, but the couple had been estranged for at least a month before her walked into a her elementary school in San Bernardino, California. Cedric Anderson shot his estranged wife and a pupil before also killing himself (San Bernardino Police Department/AP) Police said it was a targeted attack on his wife, while two of her pupils were also hit. On what appeared to be his Facebook page, Anderson posted photos in March smiling and hugging Ms Smith. Karen Elaine Smith married Cedric Anderson in January and was a teacher at the school In a short video posted on February 27, the 53-year-old looks into the camera and talks about why he loves her. She knows when to ignore me, he said with a laugh. Well, it makes a happy marriage. An elderly woman hands flowers to a police officer to honour the shooting victims (Jae C. Hong/AP) Parents and guardians of pupils at North Park Elementary School wait at Cajon High School to pick up their children (Jae C. Hong/AP) Anderson had posted that he loved being married to Karen Smith-Anderson! calling her an angel and posted a photo of the two of them on March 4 in what he described as a date night Several other of his posts quoted Bible verses. The page also had several photos of the wedding, and the couples honeymoon among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. His last public post on Facebook was on March 15. Anderson had a criminal history that included weapons charges, domestic violence and possible drug charges, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. We believe this to be a murder suicide. Happened in a class room. Two students have been transported to the hospital. Jarrod Burguan (@RetSBPDChief) April 10, 2017 Anderson walked into North Park School on Monday and told a staff member that he needed to drop something off to his wife, police said. He went to her classroom and without saying anything shot her with a large-calibre revolver, Mr Burguan said. Jonathan Martinez, eight, died shortly after being airlifted to hospital, while a nine-year-old boy was in stable condition. TV footage shows students being evacuated Colleagues remembered Ms Smith as a dedicated educator who loved her job. It takes a very, very special person to be a special education teacher, said Maria Garcia, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. We want her to be remembered for the amazing teacher that she was. Several hundred migrants have disappeared after they were evacuated from a camp in northern France that was ravaged by a fire that left 10 injured, according to authorities and aid workers. Police cordoned off the camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe and investigators inspected the site to try to determine the cause of the Monday night fire, which broke out following a fight between rival groups of migrants. Most of the camp near the English Channel is now reduced to the charred remains of wooden shelters and sparse belongings of the migrants, who converged on northern France in the hope of reaching Britain. As many as 1,600 people were in the camp when the blaze broke out, according to the Grande-Synthe mayor and the prefect, the top government official for the region. The blaze destroyed wooden shelters and forced the evacuation of hundreds of migrants Some 500 were taken to three local gyms, including one set aside for children and families, but most of the other migrants remain unaccounted for, the mayor and prefect said. Doctors Without Borders, which set up the site a year ago to replace filthy makeshift camps in the region, is holding meetings to decide what to do next. Other aid groups are planning to distribute meals on Tuesday to migrants in the gyms and anywhere else they are found around town. The first priority is to find the migrants dispersed by the blaze, said Corenne Torre, head of the humanitarian group in France. We just dont know where they are, she said. She estimated that at least 600 migrants remain unaccounted for. Some fear the authorities and others fear rejoining a camp with rival gangs, she said. The blaze destroyed wooden shelters and forced the evacuation of hundreds of migrants (AP) I lost all my documents, said an Iraqi migrant who identified himself only as Albidani, standing outside the camp. I just have only this paper that says Im a refugee in France. We are refugees here in France. We dont have any place We dont know what to do. We lost everything, Albidani added. Authorities say they believe the fire was set intentionally and was linked to a fight earlier on Monday between Kurdish and Afghan migrant groups. The camp will remain closed during the investigation, and local authorities will consider whether to open a new camp to replace it. A millionaire American financier who complained that his estranged wife pocketed too much money following the breakdown of their marriage has lost a Court of Appeal fight. Randy Work said a High Court judge did not give him a big enough share of a 140 million fortune. Mr Work said Mr Justice Holman, who concluded that Mandy Gray should get a half-share after analysing the case at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London, did not recognise the special contribution he had made to the creation of wealth. Mandy Gray (Nick Ansell/PA) He said he should get 61% share and his estranged wife 39%. But three appeal judges have dismissed his challenge after analysing evidence at a hearing in London. Mr Justice Holman had said, in a ruling in March 2015, that he had to consider the specialness required before concluding that a contribution to marital wealth was special. He said some judges had referred to a special contribution possessing the quality of genius in earlier rulings. But he said genius tended to be an overused word. I personally find that a difficult, and perhaps unhelpful, word in this context, Mr Justice Holman had said. Mr Justice Holman said they had been two strong and equal partners over 20 years and Ms Gray had been a good wife and home-maker. He suggested that without her contribution Mr Work, who worked for a Dallas-based private equity firm called Lone Star, would not have been able to amass the wealth. Appeal judges said Mr Work had failed to establish that Mr Justice Holmans decision was wrong. They said they agreed that the use of the word genius was unhelpful. Toshiba has warned over a potential collapse as it revealed soaring losses in a financial update that was not signed off by its auditors. The embattled firm deepened net income losses by 53.1 billion yen (386 million) to 532.5 billion yen (3.9 billion) in the nine months ending in December last year. It also warned that its annual losses could amass to more than one trillion yen for last year, which would be one of the biggest losses in Japanese corporate history. In a statement alongside its unaudited figures, Toshiba said: There are material events and conditions that raise substantial doubt about the companys ability to continue as a going concern. Toshiba's President Satoshi Tsunakawa speaks during a press conference at the company's headquarters in Tokyo (Shizuo Kambayashi/AP) The Japanese electronics giants failure to publish audited accounts for the third quarter, October and December, comes after its US nuclear engineering firm Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy last month. Auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata has been able to sign off the figures because of uncertainties over the Westinghouses takeover of nuclear construction company CB&I Stone and Webster in 2015. Failure to file audited accounts by Tuesday has fuelled speculation that the company could be kicked out of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. President Satoshi Tsunakawa apologised for the problems facing the firm, but said he did not foresee a need for any dramatic revisions in the earnings report. He called the auditors decision not to approve it truly regrettable and said he hoped the company would not be delisted. Toshiba has seen its earnings hit by surging costs linked to the Fukishima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, which sank into multiple meltdowns after the 2011 tsunami in northeastern Japan. A growing demand for natural gas in some countries, mixed with a waning appetite for nuclear power, has also taken its toll on the firm. The companys reputation has been tarnished by a scandal over doctoring of accounting books to meet unrealistic profit targets. It was announced last week that Toshiba is to take over the company planning to build a new nuclear power station in the UK. It will buy French utility company Engies 40% stake in NuGen, which is behind plans for the new power plant at Moorside, near Sellafield in Cumbria. A man has been killed and a number of other people injured in an explosion inside a workshop in Turkey where a police armoured vehicle was being repaired. The blast in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir caused part of the workshop an annex to the citys main police headquarters to collapse. One repair worker, who was trapped beneath the debris, later died in hospital, the Diyarbakir governors office said. It said other people injured in the explosion were being treated in hospital. Firefighters and rescue workers work at the site after an explosion (AP) The cause of the explosion is being investigated. However, interior minister Suleyman Soylu suggested the blast was caused by the repair work and was not the result of an attack. There was no external intervention, he said. The state-run Anadolu Agency said surrounding buildings and cars parked nearby were damaged in the blast. Ambulances, police and rescue teams rushed to the scene in the citys Baglar district, where thick smoke was seen rising into the air. Turkey is on edge following a string of deadly bomb attacks carried out by Kurdish rebels or Islamic State militants in the past two years. A retired lecturer suffering from terminal motor neurone disease has won the right to challenge a blanket ban on assisted suicide in the UK. Noel Conway, 67, who has less than six months to live, was refused a judicial review on right to die laws earlier this month but took the fight to the Court of Appeal. He will now get a second chance to challenge the ban, which forces hundreds of terminally-ill patients to travel to Swiss clinics, where assisted suicide is legal. Noel Conway, pictured with his stepson Terry McCusker and wife Carol, has won the right to appeal against the blanket ban on assisted suicide He wants a declaration that the Suicide Act 1961 contravenes European human rights laws relating to the respect for private and family life and against discrimination. On Tuesday, Lord Justice McFarlane and Lord Justice Beatson were asked for permission to appeal against the High Court's majority ruling that there was no arguable case to bring to a full hearing. The judges said they hoped to give their decision tomorrow morning. The proceedings follow an action brought by Tony Nicklinson, who suffered from paralysis after a stroke. That was ultimately dismissed in 2014 by the Supreme Court, which said it was important that Parliament debated the issues before any decision was made by the courts. Mr Conway's case is different in that he has a terminal illness and his legal team are setting out a strict criteria and clear potential safeguards to protect vulnerable people from any abuse of the system. In the High Court, Lord Justice Burnett said it remained 'institutionally inappropriate' for a court to make a declaration of incompatibility. Had Parliament done nothing after the Nicklinson case, Mr Conway's case for permission would be 'unanswerable', however, it might fare on further investigation. But both the House of Commons and the House of Lords had debated the issue, and Parliament decided not to provide for legislative exceptions to the 1961 Act. Noel Conway with wife Carol, stepson Terry McCusker and Sarah Wootton, CEO of Dignity in Dying (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Conway's counsel, Richard Gordon QC, told the Court of Appeal that the High Court's decision was flawed in law. The debates in Parliament were 'utterly irrelevant' to the legal exercise before them, he said. Mr Conway was not in court in London. Later, Mr Conway said: 'I am delighted that my case will now proceed to the next stage. 'Clearly the Court of Appeal has agreed that this is an issue deserving full and proper consideration and I look forward to a full hearing at the High Court. NOEL CONWAY'S LEGAL CHALLENGE Noel Conway was seeking a declaration that the Suicide Act 1961 is incompatible with Article 8, which relates to respect for private and family life, and Article 14, which protects from discrimination. His counsel said he wished to die in the country where he was born and lived for his whole adult life. 'The choices facing him therefore are stark: to seek to bring about his own death now whilst he is physically able to do but before he is ready; or await death with no control over when and how it comes.' Mr Conway contended that these choices, forced upon him by the provisions of the criminal law, violated his human rights. At present there is a blanket prohibition on providing a person with assistance to die. An action brought by Tony Nicklinson - who suffered from paralysis after a stroke - was ultimately dismissed in 2014 by the Supreme Court, which stated it was important that Parliament debated the issues before any decision was made by the courts. Mr Conway's case is different in that he has a terminal illness and his legal team set out a strict criteria and clear potential safeguards to protect vulnerable people from any abuse of the system. Advertisement 'Having overcome this initial setback in my fight for choice at the end of life, I am more determined than ever to continue. 'I have the support of my loved ones and many thousands of others behind me; people who have donated over 90,000 towards my legal costs and sent heart-warming messages of encouragement to me and my family. 'I have lived my whole life on my own terms, in control of the choices and decisions I make. Why then, when I am facing my final months, should these rights be stripped away from me, leaving me at the mercy of a cruel illness? 'I know I am going to die anyway, but how and when should be up to me. 'To have the option of an assisted death available in this country would provide me and countless others with great reassurance and comfort. 'It would allow me to decide when I am ready to go, rather than be forced into a premature death by travelling to Dignitas at great emotional and financial cost, or to suffer a traumatic, drawn out death at home.' Before his illness, Mr Conway, who is married, with a son, daughter, stepson and grandchild, was fit and active, enjoying hiking, cycling and travelling. He now uses a wheelchair and ventilation equipment and was not in court. His counsel, Richard Gordon QC, said he wished 'to die in the country in which he was born and has lived for his whole adult life. 'The choices facing him therefore are stark: to seek to bring about his own death now whilst he is physically able to do but before he is ready; or await death with no control over when and how it comes.' Mr Conway contended that these choices, forced upon him by the provisions of the criminal law, violated his human rights. The case follows that brought by Tony Nicklinson, who suffered from paralysis after a stroke. Lynda says Noel Conway deserves to make the decision about his own death #ImWithNoel pic.twitter.com/62qAqbx1Rx Dignity in Dying (@dignityindying) April 11, 2017 That was ultimately dismissed in 2014 by the Supreme Court, which said it was important that Parliament debated the issues before any decision was made by the courts. Mr Conway's case is different in that he has a terminal illness and his legal team are setting out strict criteria and clear potential safeguards to protect the vulnerable from any abuse of the system. His lawyers attacked the High Court's majority decision that it remained 'institutionally inappropriate' for a court to make a declaration of incompatibility. It said that, after the Nicklinson case, both the House of Commons and the House of Lords had debated the issue, with the result that Parliament had decided, at least for the moment, not to provide for legislative exceptions to the 1961 Act. Before his illness, Mr Conway, who is married with a son, daughter, stepson and grandchild, enjoyed hiking, cycling and travelling. He said after the hearing: 'I am very disappointed in the court's decision not to grant my case permission to proceed. 'Though this is a setback in my fight for rights at the end of my life, I will not be deterred and will be appealing this decision. 'I am fighting for choice and control over my death, because the current ban on assisted dying denies me these rights and forces me to face an unacceptable set of options that most people would balk at in disbelief. 'I am going to die, and I have come to terms with this fact. 'But what I do not accept is being denied the ability to decide the timing and manner of my death. 'I am not prepared to suffer right to the end, nor do I want to endure a long, drawn out death in a haze of morphine. 'The only alternative is to spend thousands of pounds, travel hundreds of miles and risk incriminating my loved ones in asking them to accompany me to Dignitas. 'This would also force me to die earlier than I would want. 'The option of an assisted death should be available to me, here in this country, in my final six months of life - this is what I am fighting for. 'It would bring immense peace of mind and allow me to live my life to the fullest, enjoying my final months with my loved ones until I decide the time is right for me to go.' Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: 'The current law simply does not work for dying people or their families. 'Terminally ill Britons are being forced to suffer against their wishes or take drastic measures at home and abroad in order to wrest back control over their deaths. 'People like Noel deserve choice and control at the end of life but the law denies them these basic rights. 'Noel, supported by Dignity in Dying, wants the courts to examine the evidence in full, taking into account the failure of Parliament to adequately engage with this issue and the progress made overseas in recent years. 'Noel and his family have received overwhelming support so far - the huge sums raised on a Crowdfunder for his legal costs are testament to this. 'Clearly there is great appetite for change; indeed 82% of the public would support a law to allow assisted dying as an option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults. 'We are indebted to Noel and his family for devoting their time and energy to this hugely important case. 'We now call on the courts to proceed as a matter of urgency - not only for Noel's sake but also because this is an issue that simply cannot be ignored any longer.' Yogi Amin, of law firm Irwin Mitchell, added: 'The world has changed phenomenally in the past few decades with many medical advances, but the law on assisted dying for those who are terminally ill hasn't changed for more than 50 years. 'We are pleased the Court of Appeal has today agreed that there is merit in hearing Noel's case. 'He is an extremely brave and proud man who is supported by his loving family. He would like the choice to be able to die with dignity.' Ends A spokesman for the Care Not Killing Alliance said: 'We are naturally disappointed that this case continues to drag on. 'If successful, it will usurp the democratic will of Parliament. 'Only a year-and-a-half ago, MPs looked very carefully at this complex issue and comprehensively rejected changing the law by 330 votes to 118. 'Changing the law is opposed by every major disability rights organisation and doctors' group, including the BMA, Royal College of GPs and the Association for Palliative Medicine, who have looked at this issue in detail and concluded that there is no safe system of assisted suicide and euthanasia anywhere in the world. 'Laws in Holland and Belgium that were only meant to apply to mentally competent terminally ill adults have been extended to include the elderly, disabled, those with mental health problems and even non-mentally competent children. 'While in Oregon, the model often trumpeted by those wanting to change the law, there are examples of cancer patients being denied lifesaving and life-extending drugs, yet offered the lethal cocktail of barbiturates to kill themselves. 'The current laws on assisted suicide and euthanasia are simple and clear. 'They exist to protect those who are sick, elderly, depressed or disabled from feeling obliged to end their lives. 'It protects those who have no voice against exploitation and coercion. It acts as a powerful deterrent to would-be abusers and does not need changing.' The parents of a terminally-ill baby are considering their next move after a High Court judge ruled that doctors could stop providing life-support treatment. Mr Justice Francis on Tuesday decided that eight-month-old Charlie Gard, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, should move to a palliative care regime and be allowed to die with dignity. Lawyers said Chris Gard and Connie Yates, who wanted their son to have a treatment trial in America, were devastated. Chris Gard and Connie Yates with their son Charlie Gard (Family Handout/PA) They said the couple wanted to challenge Mr Justice Franciss ruling in the Court of Appeal. Hospital bosses say doctors will continue to provide life-support treatment until appeal decisions have been made. Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London had asked the judge to rule that withdrawing life-support treatment would be lawful. Mr Gard and Miss Yates, who are both in their early 30s and live in Bedfont, west London, wanted to take Charlie to the United States for experimental therapy. Chris Gard and Connie Yates, the parents of eight-month-old Charlie Gard, arrive at The Royal Courts of Justice in London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) They had launched an appeal on a GoFundMe website and raised more than 1.2 million to pay for treatment in the USA after more than 80,000 people pledged money. Mr Justice Francis granted Great Ormond Streets application after analysing the case at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London over three days. He said he had reached his conclusion with the heaviest of hearts but with complete conviction that a move to palliative care was in Charlies best interests. Mr Justice Francis, one of the newest High Court judges in England and Wales, paid tribute to the couple and said they had shown absolute dedication to their wonderful boy. The parents of baby Charlie Gard are "devastated" by the High Court decision (Family Handout/PA) The judge, who had visited Charlie at Great Ormond Street, said it has been his sad duty to apply the law relating to a terminally-ill childs best interests when doctors and parents could not agree. I know this is the darkest day for Charlies parents who have done everything they possibly could for him, he said. My heart goes out to them as I know it does for every person who has listened to this tragic case. He said the couple had done what any parent would in trying to find a cure and treatment. Charlie Gard Mr Gard and Miss Yates sank their heads into their hands and wept as the judge announced his decision. They left the court building without listening to him spell out the detailed reasoning behind his ruling. Barrister Pravin Fernado, who represented the couple, told Mr Justice Francis that they wanted to appeal. The couples solicitor, Laura Hobey-Hamsher, said their immediate priority was to spend time with Charlie. She said they had three weeks to formulate an appeal and wanted time to consider their next step. Chris and Connie are devastated by todays decision, she said after the hearing. More women in the UK drink alcohol while pregnant than the rest of Europe. Researchers found that 28.5 per cent of women from the UK drink despite knowing they are pregnant. This is a sharp contrast to just 4.1 per cent of Norwegian women. Pregnant women in the UK are also among the most frequent drinkers, with nearly 3 per cent admitting to drinking up to two units a week. One unit is the equivalent of a a small glass of wine. Differences in expectant mother's drinking habits across Europe are thought to be due to varying exposure to educational campaigns and different attitudes to the habit. More women in the UK drink while pregnant than the rest of Europe, with 28.5 per cent admitting to indulging in alcohol compared to just 4.1 per cent of pregnant women in Norway Norwegian researchers analysed 7,905 pregnant women in 11 countries. After the UK, Russia topped the list, with 26.5 per cent of expectant mothers confessing to drinking while pregnant. Joining Norway as one of the lowest offenders was Sweden at 7.2 per cent. WHY PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD AVOID ALCOHOL The UK's Chief Medical Officers advise pregnant women avoid all alcohol. When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood into the placenta. Babies' livers are one of the last organs to develop and can't process properly alcohol. Drinking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and a low-birth weight. Drinking heavily increases the risk of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Children with FAS have poor growth, facial abnormalities, and learning and behavioural problems. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Study author Professor Hedvig Nordeng, said: 'Differences in pregnant women's drinking behaviour between countries can have many explanations. 'There could be differences in national guidelines or educational campaigns about drinking during pregnancy, differences in prenatal care and attitudes towards alcohol use in pregnancy, or a combination of all these factors.' Yet, the study also found that countries with a similar drinking culture to the UK, such as Poland, were less likely to drink while pregnant. Only 9.7 per cent of expectant mothers in Poland admitted to drinking. The study also found that women who drink while pregnant were generally older, more highly educated and employed. They were also more likely to have smoked before becoming pregnant. Pregnant women in the UK are also the most frequent drinkers, with 3 per cent drinking up to two units of alcohol a week despite the government's advise to refrain completely The researchers speculate older, more educated women may be critical of guidelines that recommend they abstain from alcohol. Educational campaigns advising women to avoid alcohol while pregnant may also not reach older expectant mothers. Smokers may also be more likely to drink when expecting if they are prone to risky behaviour when it comes to their health. A vagrant is facing life behind bars for snatching a woman under a motorway bridge, then killing her during a violent sex attack. Vadims Ruskuls, 25, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering hotel housekeeper Pardeep Kaur as she walked to work in October last year. The Latvian was thought to be sleeping rough with his mother beneath the bridge crossing the M4 when he pounced on Mrs Kaur. Video still of Pardeep Kaur captured on CCTV in the minutes before she was attacked On the morning of Monday October 17 last year, Ruskuls was caught on chilling CCTV footage as he stalked the 30-year old mother as she approached Harlington Bridge in Hayes, west London. They disappeared from view for 25 minutes before his shadowy figure emerged dragging Mrs Kaurs partly naked body on to waste ground, where she was hidden beneath branches and an old sleeping bag. Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC told jurors that Mrs Kaur had scratched Ruskuls face in a desperate attempt to get away but her screams were drowned out by the traffic. Pardeep Kaur The rough ground where her body was dumped was a bleak spot used by rough sleepers, drunks and drug addicts, he said. Her badly decomposed body was discovered almost a week later by a visiting Norwegian Detective Chief Inspector Kenneth Berg who spotted a human foot sticking out. Ruskuls was caught after local Pc Richard Lewis recognised the stooped figure in the CCTV footage as the man he had spoken to the day after Mrs Kaurs disappearance. Pc Richard Lewis In the early hours, the constable had been called to a house in Hayes to a report of a stoned man trying to open the front door looking like he had been dragged through a hedge. The officer found the suspect walking barefoot with scratches to his left cheek and neck, the court heard. Following his arrest for the murder of Mrs Kaur, Ruskuls DNA was compared with samples taken from her body. Vadims Ruskuls (Metropolitan Police/PA) It was matched to DNA from her ankle, sock and the left cup of her bra with a probability of one in a billion, jurors were told. DNA from the victims fingernails was also found to be a match, the court heard. A post-mortem examination failed to establish how she died but Mr Aylett said it was obvious from the way she had been found that it was murder. CCTV image showing Pardeep Kaur on her way home from work (Metropolitan Police/PA) Jurors were told that Mrs Kaur had come to live in Britain in 2011 with her husband, Rachpal Singh. She worked at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel in Harlington while Mr Singh had a job at Fresh Foods in Hayes. They both worked six days a week to send money to their five-year-old daughter who lived with her grandparents in India. Ricky Burns intends to show Julius Indongo he is not the retiring type when they clash in their super-lightweight unification fight on Saturday night. The unbeaten IBF and IBO world champion from Namibia is in Glasgow preparing to face WBA holder Burns at the citys SSE Hydro. The Coatbridge fighter will turn 34 on Thursday while Indongo turned 34 in February, although he made his professional debut in 2009, eight years after Burns entered the ring for the first time as a pro. Ricky Burns (Jane Barlow/PA) .@ricksterko on deck and he feels Saturday will be his night to unify the division! #SaySuhin #BurnsIndongo pic.twitter.com/DTlmaw2AkX Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 11, 2017 Speaking before a public workout at the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow, when asked how he rated the Scot, Indongo said: I thought he was retired by now. It is an honour to have him in front of me although I never expected it. I heard he was the same age as me, I had heard of him when I was young. Burns went through his paces later in St Enoch but, before he did, he told Press Association Sport that Indongo is set to discover that he is still very much a champion. He said: He is going to find out the hard way, hopefully. This is only the second time fighting out of Namibia so we will see how he is going to like the Glasgow crowd and we will also see how he is going to like it in the second half of the fight when I am sticking it on him. 10x800m's blasted out this morning, all hard work is done! Roll on Friday to get this weigh in over then best part to follow Ricky Burns (@ricksterko) April 9, 2017 It is going to be a good night. Training has gone well. The last week is a pain, with all the things to deal with but roll on fight night. Indongo won his belt with a first-round knockout of Russias Eduard Troyanovsky in Moscow in December. However, Burns, making the second defence of the title he picked up last May, played down what was a stunning victory. He said: It was the first 30 seconds of the first round, so you cant really take a lot from it. He could have caught that boy cold. It could have happened to anybody. Before that fight he had 20 fights and 10 knockouts. Obviously he can punch a bit. But I dont think he is this big puncher that he is making out he is but we are going to find out how good he is on Saturday. Great Britain does not exist in Slovakia where fines of up to 6,600 euro (5,600) can be issued for those who would disagree. State institution the Geodesy, Cartography and Cadaster Authority has warned Slovakian media that a 1995 law says the country that comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may only be called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or United Kingdom for short. It said using Britain and Great Britain is illegal. (Danny Lawson/PA) The authority said it plans to organise training on the proper terms before imposing fines. The British embassy in Bratislava and Slovakias own foreign ministry could face trouble over the law. Spokesman Peter Susko said the foreign ministry uses United Kingdom in official documents, and terms understandable to people in common communication. DUBLIN, April 10 (Reuters) - The Irish government may relax its cap on bankers' pay to allow Bank of Ireland to find a suitable new CEO, finance minister Michael Noonan said on Monday. Bank of Ireland CEO Richie Boucher announced last month that he will retire before the end of the year after almost a decade in charge of the country's largest lender by assets, which has begun the search for a replacement. Since Boucher was appointed CEO in February 2009, shortly after all Irish-owned lenders sought a state bailout, the government has imposed a cap of 500,000 euros ($530,000) on annual salaries at rescued banks. In a prospectus issued last week in relation to a proposed share consolidation, Bank of Ireland said the 500,000 euro pay cap "places it at an increasing competitive disadvantage in seeking to retain and attract staff, particularly those with certain skill sets and in international locations." Noonan said that as the government held only a 14 percent stake in Bank of Ireland, it might be more flexible over pay than it has been with the two other lenders it bailed out, which are still majority state-owned. "In the case of Richie Boucher's replacement, we'll see who the replacement is but Richie's salary was never bound by the cap and we are only a 14 percent investor in the Bank of Ireland," Noonan told reporters. "So if they appoint someone significant from outside, I think the parameters for negotiating pay will be somewhere in line with Richie Boucher's ... It will depend on who they find. It's not decided yet." Boucher's gross annual salary has remained at 690,000 euros throughout his tenure and his total compensation package was 958,000 euros last year. Ireland's two other domestically-owned lenders, Allied Irish Banks and permanent tsb, have changed chief executives since Ireland's banking crisis and had to adhere to the pay limits. Asked if he should get rid of the limits altogether, Noonan said he would maintain the cap. ($1 = 0.9439 euros) (Reporting by Conor Humphries, writing by Padraic Halpin, editing by Susan Fenton) By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE, April 10 (Reuters) - Serbia and the United States agreed to step up efforts to bolster regional security including joint military and police training drills, Serbian Prime Minister and President-elect Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday. Serbia is maintaining a balancing act between the West and Russia, its traditional Orthodox Christian and Slavic ally. Although it wants to join the European Union, Belgrade has adamantly refused to join NATO which bombed it in 1999 during the war in Kosovo. In 2008, with the U.S. backing, Kosovo declared independence. After meeting Republican Senator John McCain, who also chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, Vucic told reporters that the two sides will have "six or seven" joint training drills this year. During his one-day visit to Serbia, McCain attended a training between country's elite SAJ police unit, a detachment of the U.S. Special Operations Command and a military unit from Slovenia, a ex-Yugoslav republic and now NATO member. "I am sure Mosul and Raqqa will fall," McCain told a news conference speaking through an interpeter, referring to two Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria. "Many people (seeking to do violence) may (then) come to Europe and the U.S. ... therefore joint drills are important," McCain said. Vucic said the two also discussed regional stability, including talks between Serbia and Kosovo on normalising relations, and the political crises in ethnically divided Macedonia and Bosnia. In 2016, Serbia conducted 206 joint military activities with the United States and NATO, and 17 with Russia. It will later this year participate in a training drill in Kazkhstan staged by the Russia-controlled Collective Security Treaty Organization. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Jermey Gaunt) NIAMEY, April 10 (Reuters) - Niger security forces killed 57 members of Islamist militant group Boko Haram who attacked a village in the southeastern Diffa region overnight, the defence ministry said in a statement on Monday. Fifteen soldiers and two civilians were wounded during the attack by heavily armed men in Gueskerou village, which is around 30 km (22 miles) northeast of Diffa town, it said. "Among the enemy there were 57 terrorists killed, a Toyota pick-up recovered along with a 60 mm mortar, two RPG 7s (rocket propelled grenade launchers), five machine guns, 20 AK-47s and a lot of ammunition," the statement said. The report could not be independently confirmed. Boko Haram has killed 15,000 people and displaced more than two million during a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic state in Nigeria. A regional force that includes troops from Niger has retaken much of its territory in the last two years. In recent years its attacks have spilled into neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad. (Reporting by Boureima Balima; Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Larry King) KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Reuters) - Malaysia should investigate the possible transfer of funds to North Korea's leadership, the deputy home minister said on Tuesday, after Reuters reported that the head of a Malaysian conglomerate had for years funneled cash to Pyongyang. Reuters on Monday cited a North Korean defector as saying that Han Hun Il, the North Korean founding chief executive of Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), had funneled money to Pyongyang's leadership, the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party, for the past two decades. MKP's bank subsidiary in Pyongyang is also under investigation by the United Nations for possible violations of sanctions barring foreign companies from setting up joint ventures with, or taking an ownership interest in, North Korean banks. The reports risk damaging Kuala Lumpur's reputation as a financial centre, deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed told Reuters, and called on the central bank to investigate if there had been any misuse of the country's banking systems. "We have to investigate if, among other things, North Korea was using the friendship with Malaysia as a conduit for illicit activities," he said. The central bank did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comments. Malaysian police should conduct their own investigation into MKP and Han to determine if any crime had been committed, Nur Jazlan added. Last month, police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said authorities would assist the U.N. in its investigation into MKP. In February, Reuters reported that North Koreas spy agency was running an arms export operation out of Malaysia. Close ties between Malaysia and North Korea have come under scrutiny following the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the elder half-brother of North Koreas ruler, with the highly toxic VX nerve agent on Feb. 13 in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours): DATA The statistics office releases a second reading of March CPI at 1200 GMT. PENSION FUNDS In March Polish pension funds sold shares worth 131 million zlotys, according to Trigon DM brokerage data, quoted by Puls Biznesu daily. Supply consisted mainly of foreign shares, while funds bought Polish shares worth 36 million zlotys in the period. FX LOANS Returning to clients the excessive amount of money banks charged them for servicing foreign currency loans would cost the sector 9.1 billion zlotys ($2.28 billion), financial regulator KNF calculated on the basis of the president's draft bill, Puls Biznesu said. ****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.**** For other related news, double click on: Polish equities E.Europe equities Polish money Polish debt Eastern Europe All emerging markets Hot stocks Stock markets Market debt news Forex news For real-time index quotes, double click on: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX ($1 = 3.9992 zlotys) (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau) MOSCOW, April 11 (Reuters) - Russia may suspend charter flights to Turkey due to the "difficult political situation" there, the Federal Air Transport Agency has warned airlines, a source at one of the companies told Reuters. Russia and Turkey have a history of rolling trade and financial restrictions out against one other in political rows. Ties between Moscow and Ankara have become strained in recent days after Turkey called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a staunch Russian ally, to step down. The Federal Air Transport Agency declined to comment. If Russia goes ahead with the suspension, it could seriously hurt Turkey's already battered tourism industry which relies heavily on visitors from Russia. The Kommersant newspaper reported that, according to preliminary data, Russian travel agents have already sold up to 400,000 package tours to Turkey. In total, it said 3 million Russian tourists were expected to visit this year. For Russia, Turkey is an important agricultural buyer and news that Russia is mulling a charter ban comes weeks before Moscow and Ankara are expected to discuss why Ankara put purchases of Russian wheat, maize and sunflower oil on hold by imposing high import tariffs from mid-March. (Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; Writing by Polina Devitt; Editing by Andrew Osborn) By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, April 11 (Reuters) - The risk of mass starvation in four countries - northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen - is rising rapidly due to drought and conflict, the U.N. refugee agency said on Tuesday. About 20 million people live in hard-hit areas where harvests have failed and acute malnutrition rates are increasing, particularly among children, it said. In South Sudan, where the United Nations declared famine in some areas in February, "a further 1 million people are now on the brink of famine", UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards said. "We are raising our alarm level further by today warning that the risk of mass deaths from starvation among populations in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria is growing," Edwards told a news briefing. "This really is an absolutely critical situation that is rapidly unfolding across a large swathe of Africa from west to east," he said. People are on the run within their countries and greater numbers of South Sudanese refugees are fleeing to Sudan and Uganda, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. A preventable catastrophe, possibly worse than that of 2011 when 260,000 people died of famine in the Horn of Africa, half of them children, "is fast becoming an inevitability", Edwards said. TOO LATE "Always the problem that we have with humanitarian crises in sub-Saharan Africa is that they tend to get overlooked until things are too late," he said. "A repeat must be avoided at all costs." "There's acute malnutrition, very high rates, if you don't help people with worsening rates of malnutrition, people die." Seven million people in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin are suffering from food insecurity, Edwards said. Food security in 4 countries is expected to continue to deteriorate until at least mid-year, he said. UNHCR is scaling up its operations but has a funding shortfall, with some country programmes only funded at between 3 and 11 percent, he said. Overall the United Nations has appealed for $4.4 billion for the four countries but has received less than $984 million to date, Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. In northeast Nigeria, especially Borno state, aid workers had "almost zero access" a year ago, due to Boko Haram militants, Laerke said. "Now that access is opening up. That is one of the reasons why the numbers have grown. Because as we have pushed into these areas we have simply discovered more and more need of an extreme nature including extreme food insecurity so that there is a risk of famine," he said. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned in late March that the world had three to four months to stop starvation in the four countries. David Hermann, ICRC operations coordinator for Somalia, told the briefing: "If it doesn't happen now, there will be no escaping a situation that this country already experienced a few years ago, meaning probably people are going to die from starvation and disease." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt and Janet Lawrence) BERLIN, April 11 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama will join German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in May as part of celebrations to mark 500 years of Protestantism in Europe, officials said on Tuesday. They will discuss "shaping engaged democracy and taking responsibility at home and in the world" in front of the historic Brandenburg Gate, the officials with Germany's Protestant church said. The May 25 meeting is being organised by a church group and Obama's charitable foundation. It will be a centrepiece of the biennial gathering of the church, which is this year focusing on commemorations of the Reformation, launched in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral. Obama's visit to Germany will also coincide with a NATO summit in Brussels on May 25, which his successor Donald Trump plans to attend. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, who heads the Protestant church in Germany, sharply criticised Trump in February when he imposed a travel ban on people from some majority-Muslim countries. "President Barack Obama's participation ... on a joint stage with the Chancellor ...underscores how internationally we are celebrating 500 years of the Reformation," Bedford-Strohm said in a statement. "Those who are pious must also be political." Church officials said they expected more than 100,000 people to participate in the gathering which will take place in both Berlin and Wittenberg from May 24-28. A crowd of more than 200,000 turned out to hear the then presidential candidate Obama speak in Germany in July 2008. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by John Stonestreet) ONITSHA, Nigeria April 11 (Reuters) - Two Turkish men have been kidnapped from a hotel room in southeast Nigeria, police said on Tuesday. The pair, who worked for a construction company, were abducted on Sunday evening in the town of Eket in Akwa Ibom state, in the country's Niger Delta energy hub, police said. Kidnapping for ransom is common in some parts of Nigeria. "There is no word yet on them or the kidnappers but we are on their trail," said Ikechukwu Chukwu, a spokesman for Akwa Ibom police. The police declined to give details of the company the men worked for or their names. There was an increase in crime in the Niger Delta last year that coincided with a series of attacks on energy facilities. There have been no militant attacks on energy installations so far this year. (Reporting by Anamesere Igboeroteonwu; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Alison Williams) April 11 (Reuters) - OFID, OeEB and DEG team up to support Sri Lankan MSMEs through Seylan Bank PLC Vienna, Austria, April 11, 2017. Seylan Bank PLC (Seylan) of Sri Lanka has signed a term loan agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), the Development Bank of Austria (OeEB) and the German development finance institution DEG-Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH-to promote development and economic growth through micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) support in Sri Lanka. Alpen Capital introduced this transaction to OFID, who in the context of the recent Cooperation Agreement between both development finance institutions, extended an invitation to OeEB. The agreement represents the first joint financing facility between OFID, OeEB and DEG. It provides term loan financing of US$45m for a five year tenor and is part of the first round of international fund-raising for Seylan. Commenting on the agreement, OFID Director-General Suleiman J Al-Herbish said: "We need to work together and build effective partnerships. OFID welcomes this collaboration with OeEB and DEG to provide stable, long-term funding for Seylan, a leading bank in the country." Andrea Hagmann, Member of the Executive Board of OeEB also commented: "Together with OFID and as lead arranger for DEG we are able to support economic development especially in northern, rural regions of Sri Lanka. OeEB also contributes TA funds for enhancing environmental and social standards." Rena Terfruchte, Director Financial Institutions Europe/Asia at DEG, expressed her gratitude to the due diligence teams of the organizations for closing the deal successfully. The loan will contribute to the overall development of the countrys economy through the financing of MSME companies, therewith meeting one of DEGs central financing goals. Development agencies, OFID, OeEB and DEG, are united in their commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG8, focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. MSMEs in Sri Lanka contribute an estimated 50 percent to GDP and 45 percent of employment, but typically lack access to long-term finance. Support to these businesses is therefore central to promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. Seylan Bank, as one of the leading MSME banks in the country, is in an ideal position to support these goals. Seylan Bank CEO Kapila Ariyaratne commented: "SME growth is vital to Sri Lankas economic development and this agreement will help us plan for the longer term. Im hopeful that it marks the beginning of an excellent relationship that will enable us to improve the sector, improve the livelihoods of our people and mutually benefit our organizations." Over one third of the funding will support MSMEs in the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. These areas have been the most affected by the countrys civil war which ended in 2009. Despite strong economic growth and rapidly expanding urban populations, these regions continue to suffer from limited investment. About OeEB Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB) has been operating as the Development Bank of Austria since March 2008. It specialises in the provision of long-term finance for the implementation of private sector projects in developing countries which create sustainable development. Additionally, OeEB provides technical assistance, which can be used to enhance the developmental impact of projects. For more information, please visit www.oe-eb.at About DEG DEG is a reliable partner for private companies investing in developing and emerging-market countries. For more than 50 years, we have been promoting sustainable development that creates jobs, better living conditions and new prospects. We are committed to the long-term success of our customers: Therefore we do not only provide long-term capital, but also individual advice and support. With a portfolio of around 8.6 billion euros in more than 80 countries, we are one of Europes largest development finance institutions for the private sector. More information: www.deginvest.de About OFID The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976 by the Member States of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The primary aim of OFID is to contribute to the social and economic development of low-income countries. By the end of January 2017, OFID had committed over US$20bn in development financing to 134 countries spread across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe. About Seylan Bank Seylan Bank was incorporated in 1987 and ever since has shown a steady expansion of business and has been identified as a systemically important bank by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Seylan Bank recorded a Profit after tax of Rs.4, 010 Million for the year ended 31st December 2016, which is the highest profit reported since its inception. The Bank remains well capitalized with a strong core capital adequacy ratio of 10.74% and total capital adequacy ratio of 13.18% as at 31st December 2016. In 2016, Fitch reviewed the Banks rating and reaffirmed the Banks rating at `A-lka with a `stable outlook. Seylan Banks network consists of 167 branches and 202 ATMs island wide. For further information please contact: OFID: media@ofid.org OeEB: presse@oe-eb.at DEG: presse@deginvest.de Seylan Bank: tilanw@seylan.lk Content provided by OFID, via Reuters. April 11 (Reuters) - German industrial giant Siemens AG and Canada's Bombardier Inc are in talks to combine their train operations, which could be worth at least 10 billion euros ($10.61 billion), Bloomberg reported. The joint venture would team up the firms' train-making and signaling activities, Bloomberg said on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. https://bloom.bg/2o3m7GD Siemens declined to comment, while Bombardier was not available for immediate comment. The deal, which could come by the middle of the year, would require clearance from antitrust authorities and face potential opposition from unions, according to the report. ($1 = 0.9424 euros) (Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) By Ed Cropley PAGARINYA, Uganda, April 11 (Reuters) - A year ago the view from Ugandan teacher Richard Inyani's mud hut was wilderness, land untouched since the 1990s and the murderous rampages of Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. Now it's a sprawl of tarpaulin shacks housing thousands of South Sudanese, refugees fleeing a three-year civil war that has triggered the biggest cross-border exodus in Africa since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. And they keep coming: Last week, more than 3,000 people arrived at the border in a single morning after an alleged massacre by South Sudan government troops in Pajok, a South Sudanese town with a population of some 50,000. Pajok is now empty, refugees say. The influx of refugees is testing Uganda's generosity. While Inyani is happy to help fellow Africans in their hour of need - many Ugandans, including President Yoweri Museveni, were once refugees themselves - he is less enthusiastic about the sea of U.N. blue-and-white on his doorstep. One top government official said that Uganda's system of accommodating refugees, routinely touted as one of the world's most progressive, was on the brink of "explosive" collapse. Uganda's system allows villagers in impoverished border regions to donate land to refugees on the expectation that the foreign donor funds that support the refugees will also help the villages in the form of shared public services such as schools, roads, wells and clinics. The problem is that aid flows are not keeping up with the scale of the exodus from South Sudan - at least 832,000 have arrived in Uganda since fighting erupted in July last year - and the system is tottering. Inyani's village is one of those that donated hundreds of hectares of land expecting lots of investment in return. Some of it - like the new clinic on the edge of the Pagarinya settlement - has appeared. The clinic was paid for by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR and built by the Lutheran World Federation, a Christian charity. Two Ugandan nurses working inside said they were paid by Medical Teams International, a U.S. Christian aid group. But the new school in Pagarinya is massively overcrowded, the new bore-holes are too far for the Ugandans to use, there are no new jobs and, with refugees having cut down most of the trees in the area for firewood and shelter, the wind is whipping across the plains, churning up dust. Throat infections are on the rise and Inyani says the ancestral spirits are upset. "We looked at the refugees as a positive thing because it was meant to bring development," he told Reuters, as he mixed mud cement for a relative's hut. "Instead, it's just another headache." He is not alone in his frustration. Last week, South Sudan's Tamazuj news agency said four South Sudanese in Bidi Bidi, a 250-sq-km (100-sq-mile) settlement housing nearly 300,000 people, the world's largest refugee camp in terms of numbers, were attacked by machete-wielding members of their Ugandan "host community". "We have been given only one primary school and it is accommodating nearly 5,000 children. You can imagine how difficult the situation is," refugee elder Simon Lado was quoted as saying. "The problem began when rumours circulated around that a woman refugee poisoned a child, and then the fight began. No one has died but four refugees were wounded seriously." Bidi Bidi camp commandant Robert Baryamwesiga said he was unaware of the incident. "BREAKING POINT" Under a Ugandan law passed in 2006, refugees are granted freedom of movement, employment rights and access to public clinics and schools. Each family is also given a 30m x 30m plot of land on which to build huts, and a larger 100m x 100m plot on which to grow subsistence crops, to make them self-sufficient as quickly as possible. The system has made Uganda a frequent sanctuary for those fleeing the many conflicts that have roiled Africa's Great Lakes over the last three decades. "It's inherent in our traditional, historical and cultural practices to support and assist a neighbour in need," Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda told Reuters. But without money, the system breaks down. The United Nations refugee agency says it has secured just 10 percent of the estimated $300 million required for the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda this year, leaving it unable to meet the basic needs of refugees or locals. "We are at breaking point. Uganda cannot handle Africa's largest refugee crisis alone," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said. UNHCR officials said Uganda's crisis was also competing with other humanitarian disasters in Africa, most notably drought in Somalia and food shortages in northeast Nigeria stemming from Boko Haram's six-year jihadist insurgency. "There is a continuous influx and there are no corresponding resources from the international community," said the top Ugandan government official. "If we don't get the support, I think the situation will reach explosive levels." "THE LAND IS OURS" Kampala is in talks with the World Bank for a $50 million 5-year loan to help refugee-hosting communities, the official said. In the meantime, it has begun to curb its generosity. Dozens of refugees interviewed by Reuters said they or friends had missed out recently on the standard monthly food ration of 12 kg of maize and 4 kg of beans. Furthermore, none of the refugees interviewed by Reuters, including some who had been in Uganda since 2014, said they had received more than the standard 30m x 30m housing plot. "It's getting tougher," said Mark Manyuon, a 26-year-old South Sudanese who has been in Uganda for nearly three years. "You have to decide to eat just once a day." Without access to fertile land for cultivation - the soil in Pagarinya is stony and poor - they will remain reliant on handouts coordinated by the U.N.'s World Food Programme. Ugandan officials acknowledge shortcomings but said farmland would be allocated once the immediate crisis had been dealt with. "In an emergency, you're just thinking about saving lives. The rest can come later," said Godfrey Byaruhanga, commandant of the Palorinya camp 40 km (25 miles) away that houses 148,000 South Sudanese, more than the Ugandan population of the district in which it sits. But with South Sudan's civil war producing weekly reports of ethnic atrocities, there is little chance of the 'emergency' ending any time soon. Overall, the fighting has uprooted more than 3 million South Sudanese, and by July 5.5 million - nearly half the population - are unlikely to have a reliable food supply, according to the United Nations. Some will inevitably end up in Inyani's back yard. "We don't want money. We just want small things: boreholes, schools, roads, development," Inyani said. "We have the power to stop this. This is our land. One time, we will act. We will stop UNHCR. The land is ours." (Additional reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall) By Kit Rees and Danilo Masoni LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - A sharp drop in shares of Apple-supplier Dialog Semiconductor dominated trading in otherwise muted European stock markets on Tuesday as a shortened week and risk-off sentiment kept investors from making big bets. The pan-European STOXX 600 ended flat as gains in the luxury goods sectors offset weakness in chipmakers and financials. Better-than-expected quarterly sales at LVMH lifted shares of the world's largest luxury goods maker to a record high. European shares have been treading water in recent sessions, with the benchmark index little changed so far this month on mounting political tensions in the Middle East and North Korea, above-average valuations and caution ahead of earnings season. Expectations that European stocks might see bigger swings in the short term rose to their highest since end-February, following a similar spike in volatility on Wall Street overnight. On the day, tech stocks were the worst sectoral performers, with a sub-index tracking top European tech firms down 1.2 percent. Losses were led by Dialog Semiconductor, which lost 14 percent after a German broker said the company risks losing business from Apple. Broker Bankhaus Lampe cut its rating on the chipmaker to "sell" from "buy", warning that Apple could be developing its own PMIC (power management integrated circuit). Dialog Semiconductor supplies power management chips to Apple. "We hear from the industry that about 80 engineers at Apple are already working on a PMIC with specific plans to employ it in the iPhone by as early as 2019," analysts at Bankhaus Lampe said in a note. Dialog sharespared some losses as big banks including Barclays, Morgan Stanley and BofA-ML cast doubts on views that the firm risked losing business from Apple and called the share slide an over-reaction. Dialog had lost one-third of its market value at one point. Last week, shares in Imagination Technologies lost two-thirds of their value after Apple, its biggest customer, said that it would stop using Imagination's graphics technology. "(Dialog Semiconductor) could potentially go the same way as Imagination Technologies has recently. It just shows the risks associated with companies being very reliant on one key contract," Dafydd Davies, partner at Charles Hanover Investments, said. Industry peer AMS also came under pressure after UBS cut its rating to "neutral" from "buy", sending the stock down 9.5 percent, while STMicroelectronics fell 3.6 percent. Elsewhere, share price moves were driven by dealmaking expectations. French rail equipment maker Alstom fell 2.7 percent on reports that rivals Siemens and Bombardier were in talks to combine their rail operations. Italian restaurants firm Autogrill surged 8.2 percent to a record high after news that it plans to separate its food and beverage business fueled speculation of possible merger and acquisition activity. Banking stocks dropped 0.7 percent, with Banco Popular the biggest loser, down 9.7 percent and hitting fresh record lows. On Monday, the bank said that it was considering another capital hike to clean up its balance sheet and would consider a merger deal. (Reporting by Kit Rees and Danilo Masoni; Editing by Tom Heneghan) SANTIAGO, April 11 (Reuters) - Thousands of students marched in Chilean cities on Tuesday to demand improvements to the nation's higher education system, as lawmakers prepared to debate planned reforms. The demonstration was the first of the southern hemisphere academic year, and there were isolated skirmishes with police in the downtown area of Chilean capital Santiago. Student protesters argue that attempts by center-left President Michelle Bachelet to improve quality and access to higher education have been insufficient. Reforms by her government to date do not provide enough Chileans with free university education, they say. They also complain that the government did not seek their advice when drafting legislation. "I don't know if the government is playing stupid. You can't legislate without listening to the social movements," Daniel Andrade, head of the University of Chile student union, told journalists. The action demonstrates the difficulties Chile's next round of leaders will have in maintaining popular support in a nation where confidence in politicians is low. In November, Chile holds presidential elections. The current frontrunner, conservative Sebastian Pinera, has indicated that he will roll back recent educational reforms if elected, preferring a system of scholarships to free tertiary education for poorer students. That will likely put him on a collision course with the student movement. Pinera served as president from 2006 to 2010 but saw his approval ratings plummet after a series of massive student-led demonstrations against Chile's highly privatized education system. The education committee in Congress' lower chamber is due to vote later Tuesday on a bill that would lower costs for some students and limit profit-making in education. However, its chances of becoming law in Chile's divided parliament are tenuous. (Reporting by Gram Slattery and Fabian Cambero, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Cynthia Osterman) MILAN, April 11 (Reuters) - Italy's parliament approved on Tuesday measures to accelerate asylum procedures, cutting the number of possible appeals and speeding up deportations of rejected migrants. Since 2014 the number of migrants reaching Italy's shores has surged, with half a million arriving in the country, and under European Union law Italy has to set up so-called "hotspots" where migrants with the right of asylum are set apart from those without. As a result, Italy's asylum applications have jumped, burdening the national civil courts and with procedures further delayed by appeals that can take years. Under the new rules the asylum ruling can be appealed only once, instead of twice, and the request has to be submitted within a month. The law, named after Interior Minister Marco Minniti and Justice Minister Andrea Orlando, also creates 26 new sections in courts across the country, specialised in immigration. It enables the Interior ministry to employ up to 250 people in the next two years to work in specialised state-run committees dealing with the asylum request. Rights group Amnesty International said on Tuesday it was worried for the "significant reduction in the procedural gurantees for the asylum seekers" claiming that the new procedures could be unconstitutional and discriminatory. "Faster decision are in the interest of those requesting asylum but they must not lead to a limitation of (the migrants') rights," the head of Amnesty International in Italy Antonio Marchesi said in a statement. The new rules had already been adopted by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's government at the beginning of February with an emergency decree on the grounds that the court backlog was stacking up quickly and asylum-seeker shelters were filling up. Under Italian law, emergency decrees have to be converted into law by parliament within 60 days. Italy has estimated that it will spend about 3.9 billion euros ($4.1 billion) this year on managing immigration, almost three times as much as in 2013. The annual bill could rise to 4.3 billion euros if arrivals increase, the equivalent to a quarter of the country's annual spending on defence. ($1 = 0.9428 euros) (Reporting by Giulia Segreti; Editing by Alison Williams) By Julia Edwards Ainsley and Kristina Cooke WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO, April 11 (Reuters) - Two U.S. immigration judges recently sent to the Mexico border to process asylum requests from migrant women and children are being recalled as they have so few cases to hear, according to two people familiar with the matter. The dearth of cases at two Texas facilities where the judges are based can be traced to a sharp drop in illegal border crossings by women and children since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. Eight immigration judges were reassigned from their regular courts to detention centers at the border beginning on March 20 as part of Trump's executive order to curb illegal immigration. Six of the judges have had full dockets, handling dozens of cases per week. But the two at detention centers housing women and children in Dilley and Karnes County, Texas had so few cases their presence was deemed a waste of resources by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to one of the sources. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The number of parents and children apprehended at the U.S. Mexico border in March dropped to just over 1,000, a 93 percent fall from December, the Department of Homeland Security reported last week. The decline follows Trump's harsh rhetoric on illegal immigration and policies which classify almost all illegal migrants as subject to deportation. The judges were deployed to the border in an effort to quickly hear the claims of migrants seeking asylum so that those deemed ineligible could be deported. In more than three weeks at the border, the judge in Dilley had no hearings and the judge in Karnes County had four, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office of Immigration Review. The center in Dilley is run by CoreCivic Inc while the facility in Karnes is run by the Geo Group Inc, both private contractors. Populations at the two centers have declined drastically since Trump took office Jan. 20. Dilley, which held 1,499 women and children on Jan. 14, held only 259 on March 30. Karnes held 546 women and children on Jan. 14, but only 87 on March 30, according to a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The judges deployed to the border left behind scheduled hearings in their home courts. As of early March, immigration courts were weighed down by a record backlog of more than 542,000 cases. (Reporting by Julia Edwards Ainsley in Washington and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editing by Sue Horton and Andrew Hay) April 11 (Reuters) - Argentina's President Mauricio Macri campaigned on a promise to enact business-friendly reforms to attract foreign investment and spur economic growth after a decade of populist rule left multinational firms sidelined. Since he took office in December 2015, foreign companies have announced new investment plans worth about $33 billion in Argentina, with most coming from companies based in the United States, Germany, Canada, Spain and Brazil. Total investment, including local companies and joint investments between Argentine and foreign companies, has totaled $58.6 billion, according to Argentina's Trade and Investment Promotion Agency. Local consultancy Abeceb says the country will need investment to grow by at least $9 billion annually between 2018 and 2021 to guarantee sustainable growth. Below is a list of investments worth $1 billion or more announced by foreign companies since December 2015: SIEMENS AG The German engineering group plans to invest and provide financing for $5.6 billion in infrastructure, mobility and energy management over four or five years. Siemens would not itself invest the full amount of money, with some coming from public sources. DOW CHEMICAL CO The U.S. chemical company has said it will invest $2 billion in oil and gas projects with Argentina's state-owned oil company YPF SA. A December 2015 plan to invest between $400 and $500 million in shale exploration in the Vaca Muerta play was the first major investment announcement of Macri's term. AXION ENERGY The Argentine energy company, partially owned by China's CNOOC Ltd, will invest $1.5 billion to expand its local Campana refinery, Thomson Reuters publication Project Finance International reported in May. BANCO SANTANDER SA The Spanish bank said in November 2016 it would invest 20 billion pesos ($1.26 billion) toward modernizing branches, opening new ones, improving technology and building a new corporate office building. (http://bit.ly/2hxiPuI) ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC The Anglo-Dutch oil major said in September 2016 it planned to invest $300 million a year in Argentina through 2020 in exploration as well as refining, distribution and marketing. The company has been active in exploring Vaca Muerta. VALE SA The Brazilian miner said in April 2016 it would invest $1.5 billion to restart its Rio Colorado potash mine, which had been closed since 2012. (http://clar.in/2hNuinR) PAN AMERICAN ENERGY LLC The unit of BP PLC said it would invest $1.4 billion in exploring and producing Argentina's conventional and unconventional energy reserves. COCA-COLA CO The U.S. soft drink maker said in January 2016 it would invest $1 billion over four years in its bottling and distribution operations. ($1 = 15.8540 Argentine pesos) (Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Bill Trott) Avurudu Neketh Seettuwa (The document containing the auspicious times for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year) was handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena this morning at the Presidents Official Residence in Colombo. In keeping with the tradition, the document was handed over to the President by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs, S. B. Nawinna and the Secretary to the Ministry D. Swarnapala.Pix by President's Media At least 30,000 small bottles of snuff and 2,000 kilos of Beedi leaves worth Rs. 8 million were seized by the customs officials at the Peliyagoda container yard this morning. Customs Spokesman Dharmasena Kahandawa said another 1,500 slippers were also seized by the customs during the inspection. He said the consignment was imported from Chennai, India declared as textile by a businessman in Petah. Video by Buddhi The rising menace of Dengue and the plight of the IDH Dengue Management Unit Witnessing a significant rise over the past couple of years, Dengue has become a rising menace in Sri Lanka with the eradication of mosquito breeding grounds appearing to be a losing battle under the current context. With over 30, 486 cases being reported over the past three months, Dengue has become a widespread epidemic with approximately over 41. 10 % cases being reported from the Western Province alone. Speaking to Daily Mirror, Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama explained the crisis Sri Lanka is facing with regard to Dengue fever; while explicating on the symptoms and precautionary methods the public could employ in the event someone contracts the disease. He highlighted the plight of the Dengue Management Unit of IDH,which is currently run by a shortlisted and overburdened nursing staff. He also pointed out the immediate need to absorb more nursing staff to the hospital complex. Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama The rising trend During the dry period of February and March, the number of mosquito breeding grounds is minimal due to less water collection in the environment, said Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama. He pointed out that during the monsoon season, a high number of patients were being admitted to IDH. Based on statistics available, a gradual increase has been evident since the last couple of years in the number of Dengue patients reported countrywide. We simply cant imagine to what extent this situation would increase by May and June. We had more than 25,000 cases on Dengue fever reported with more than fifty deaths. Generally, there are four types of Dengue viruses identified. Throughout the last five years, Sri Lanka has been affected mostly by Dengue virus serotype 1. To make matters worse, this trend has been gradually replaced by Dengue virus serotype 2 since mid-last year. Compared to last year, the number of cases reported this year has increased twofold. This year, the Colombo District had about ten thousand cases and more than sixty per cent of them were admitted to IDH. The involved number of Dengue patients daily for treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital is nearly 200 while the number of admissions is around 80 -100 daily, Dr. Wijewickrama said. "We simply cant imagine to what extent this situation would increase by May and June. We had more than 25,000 cases reported on Dengue fever with more than fifty deaths" He said despite experiencing a drought in February, Sri Lanka also experienced several episodes of rain. This is one possible trend that has given rise to the increased number of Dengue cases over the past couple of months. Moreover, he noted that the mosquito eradication programmes run throughout the country should be continued without failure. Adding that the public should also play a proactive role in eradicating Dengue breeding grounds, he said it was crucial to ensure garbage disposal was done in an intelligent manner. The symptoms of Dengue are mainly fever, severe head and body aches. A patient may experience loss of appetite, nausea, sore throat and mild loose motion. These symptoms observed in an individual could lead to the possible suspicion that the patient is diagnosed with Dengue. A physical test is important to ascertain if a patient is diagnosed with Dengue fever or not. Secondly, Dengue patients should not be administered any pill except Paracetamol in case they experience fever, bodyaches and pains. Pills such as Diclofenac, Ibuprofen and Mefenamic acid should not be given to a Dengue patient under any circumstances. If a patient is suffering from fever, we strongly recommend that they do a full blood count at the end of three days, and if the report is positive, the patient should seek immediate medical advice. In case the first blood count report is normal, a second full blood count should be taken the following day regardless of whether the patient is experiencing fever or not. Such patients need to take ample rest while ensuring that the aforementioned drugs are not consumed. Most people suffering from Dengue fever are unable to eat due to the illness. However, it is vital that fluid intakes are given to patients to keep them hydrated. King coconut water, orange and lime juice, cunji, soup and Jeevani are generally recommended for this purpose. Also, it should be noted that apple juice is not going to have any special effect on the patient. Liquids like king coconut are comparatively a lot more cost effective and efficacious on the patient than apple juice. The common complications of Dengue fever may include plasma leakage and bleeding. If the bleeding is significant, it could eventually lead to the damage of vital organs in the body, he added. Plight of IDH Dengue Management Unit According to Dr. Wijewickrama, Kolonnawa and Dehiwela were hotspots with the highest number for Dengue patients and Dengue breeding grounds reported during 2009, 2010 and 2011. It is in this backdrop that it was decided to initiate a separate Dengue Management Unit within the hospital. The unit was initially established with sixteen beds for each patient and as the number of patients grew, the number of beds increased to twenty. When we started getting more admissions for Dengue fever, we were compelled to put the patients in other wards as well. Finally, we decided to admit only the serious cases into special ward and patients who were not critical were sent to other wards. Also, a new ward built by the Army was recently added to the hospital complex to treat residential Dengue patients. It accommodates about twenty five beds. Unlike in the past, we now get too many critical cases and are compelled to accommodate two patients in each bed in the Dengue Management Unit due to lack of beds. Therefore, we currently face a serious shortage in the number of beds available for patients in addition to being short staffed, he said. We are facing a serious problem due to the lack of sufficient nursing staff. The hospital is therefore facing a big crisis.The Health Ministry fails to take note of these problems. Lack of nursing staff is not a problem that is confined to this hospital only. However, considering the number of patients admitted to the hospital daily, our hospital is in dire need of more nursing staff. There is a group of nearly thousand nurses waiting for new appointments from the ministry. According to the ministry, these appointments were scheduled to be given on April 9. But, the ministry has taken lenient measures and have agreed to let them officially join duty after the New Year. The nurses who are already employed here have been working very hard despite being overburdened. We have been trying to convince the Health Ministry about getting these new appointees to officially join our hospital before the New Year, Dr. Wijewickrama added. In a final note, Dr. Wijewickrama noted that he expected the ministry would change its perspective on this matter and provide a favourable solution to address crisis faced by the hospital and its staff. This politico from Wayamba once functioned as a deputy purohita.He has made it a practice to attend every funeral that takes place in his area irrespective of the political affiliations of the deceased or the bereaved family. In fact, he has given instructions to his political faithfuls in different parts of the district to inform him whenever a death occurs in their respective area. As soon as hears about the death of a person he would rush to the funeral house and pretend grief as if he had lost a close friend. And very often the members of the bereaved family would invite him to deliver an oration at the funeral. Quite recently this politico rushed to pay his last respects to a deceased in a remote corner of the district and the funeral proceedings were already on at the time he reached the place. The kith and kin of the deceased who learnt about the arrival of the politico invited him to deliver an oration. The politico who happily accepted the invitation started addressing the gathering of the mourners. Passing away of my good friend is a great personal loss to me. In fact, we used to meet very often and in fact, I had occasion to have long chat when I met him last week too The politico with an eagle eye noticed that the people were looking at one another as if sharing a common message. Some were looking amused and there were also titters audible to him. Meanwhile, a friend standing by him whispered something into his ear. Of course, unfortunately my good friend at that time was unable to speak, he continued. But he told me a lot by sign language President Maithripala Sirisena said today the income from the taxes for liquor and cigarettes had been reduced for the first time of the history. The treasury reported the Cabinet that the income from the taxes for liquor and cigarettes has been reduced for the first time of the history. Though this is a decrease of the income for the government, we consider it as a great investment for the future generation, he said. President Sirisena said the Drug free Country program, inaugurated by the government to build a healthy nation by saving the future generation from the drug menace, had resulted in the decrease. The President expressed these views at the ceremony to open the new building complex of the Teldeniya District Base Hospital, Kandy today. He pointed out that the main benchmark of the development of a country is education and health. A country where educated and healthy people are living is rapidly moving towards development, he said. He said it is the governments goal to lead all sections of the country towards an efficient development. Today Sri Lanka is getting international support like never before. The governments objective is to use that support for the development of the country, the President added. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today accused the Lanka India Oil Company (LIOC) of illegally holding on to the oil tanks in Trincomalee. Party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a media briefing that this was clear when considering the Cabinet paper submitted by Petroleum Resources Minister Chandima Weerakody last year. According to this document, the Sri Lankan Government and the LIOC should have signed a tax agreement within six months after handing over the tanks in Trincomalee. However, that has not happened. In such a scenario it is obvious that the LIOC is holding on to the tanks illegally, the MP said. Between 2005 to 2009 the CPC has paid the LIOC Rs 692 million as taxes while the LIOC has paid only Rs.75 million. This is like renting a house for Rs.100,000 a month and obtaining a room from the tenants at a monthly rental of Rs.1 million, he said. He said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had meanwhile submitted a Cabinet proposal to hand over the oil tanks in Trincomalle to a public-private company with India despite what's happening with the oil tanks. The MP said National Policies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama was due to finalise an agreement with India by the end of this month. We will join the trade unions to defeat the moves being made by the government to handover the oil tanks in Trincomalle to this company, he said. Citing reasons to oppose this move, the JVP leader said the government would be able to save Rs.618 million annually if it distributed oil to filling stations in Anurdhapura, Polonnaruwa and the North from Trincomalle instead of transporting oil form Colombo as done currently. (Yohan Perera) Video by Buddhi Oman Air, the national airline for the Sultanate of Oman, will be adding to its exclusive portfolio of on-board products with a brand new collaboration with Roja Perfumes exclusively available to First and Business Class guests. These exquisite perfumes will join an impressive arrange of hand-picked cosmetics, perfumes and accessories available on Oman Air. On a special event under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Hamad Bin Thuwaini Al Said, the new perfume, Amber Aoud from Roja, was inaugurated on March 22nd and attended by distinguished guests as well as media representatives, together with senior officials from Oman Air and Muscat Duty Free. Abdulaziz Al Raisi Executive Vice President, Product and Brand Development said: Oman Air is delighted to be able to offer our guests the opportunity to buy the exclusive Amber Aoud perfume from Roja. The brand is an excellent fit with our own quality product, having carved out a niche for itself as being one of the finest perfumes available. Here at Oman Air we work very hard to ensure that we are providing our guests with the absolute best and that which encompasses every detail of their on-board experience including the products that we sell on our aircraft. Oman Air Sinbad Gold, Silver and Blue members who purchase Roja Parfums onboard will receive an exclusive discount of 10%, 7% and 5% respectively. Roja Perfumes, created by English born Roja Dove in 2001 are famous for using only the best quality materials and have established themselves as the finest perfumes in the world. The perfumer Dove is renowned for having one of the worlds most famous noses. Each Roja Parfums flacon is hand finished with bottles manufactured in France and made from only the purest and clearest glass. . The gold detail on the glass is screen-printed by hand in England through a process that takes three days to complete. Each perfume cap, the symbol of Roja Parfums, is set by hand using fourteen Swarovski crystals in a process that takes five days to finish. The scents are only available in some of the worlds finest department stores, including Londons famous Harrods. Oman Airs Product and Brand Development team is highly trained in selecting each individual product available on board the airline. A great deal of care and in-depth research is undertaken to ensure that they reflect the award-winning standards of the airline and Oman Airs unique personality and on-board service are enforced. Lenin saidseparate yourselves from Turati and then form an alliance with him. (Gramsci) Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is about to give Trincomalee to the Indians. According to the Political Column of a respected English-language Sunday paper, he rejected the mild concerns of two SLFP Ministers, derisively addressing the pairin Sinhala as Oi! at the last Cabinet meeting.The imminent ceding of strategic Trincomalee is summarized by Meera Srinivasan in The Hindu: India and Sri Lanka have, in principle, agreed to jointly operate the World War-era oil storage facility in Trincomalee, the strategically advantaged port town located on the islands east coastBoth the nations are hoping to firm up the deal before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled second official visit to the island in early May. Indian Oil Corporation subsidiary Lanka IOC, engaged in bunkering operations, runs 15 out of the 99 storage tanks in the lower oil tank farm in Trincomalee.The proposed joint venture pertains to the remaining 84 tanks in the upper farm, but Sri Lanka would retain 10 of those for use by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation... During his visit to Sri Lanka in March 2015, Mr. Modi had said the project to develop the upper tank farm in Trincomalee would help the coastal town become a regional petroleum hub.(Sri Lanka, India to develop Trincomalee oil tank farm, The Hindu, April 9th) Retaining a mere 10 out of 99 oil tanksi.e. a measly 10%, means giving the oil tank farm to India. Given the other agreements about developing the Port, an oil refinery and highways with India means ceding Trincomalee to Indiaa country of which the state of Tamil Nadu, just a few miles away, is a major stakeholder. Ceding Trincomalee gives the Indians a footprint and a foothold in that strategically vital port, ethnically sensitive border area and former warzone. India, like any big power, will now have a strategic reason for entrenching itself and protecting what it has been conceded; its stake. Its warships will constantly visit Trinco; there will be a security presence to guard the oil tank farm from Islamic terrorists, etc. India will never leave. Trincomalee will become an Indian base and mini-colony. With a large Indian footprint in Trincomalee there will be an ethnic power-shift in the North and multiethnic East, marginalizing the Sinhalese. The Governments draft for the new Constitution will be presented in May and will propose the transfer of all land and Police powers to the Provinces as well as the abolition of the Concurrent List and the neutering of the Governor. This and the Indian entrenchment in Trincomalee are sufficient conditions for the erection of Tamil Eelam. Any administration in Delhi can be pressurized someday by the Tamil populace of the North and East as well as the electorally crucial Tamils of Tamil Nadu, to carve out a separate entity (a la Kosovo and Iraqi Kurdistan) in our North and East. Did our military men fight and die, defeating the Tigers, for Trincomaleeto be given to the Indians --and ETCA signed? Can one think of a worse betrayal? From DS Senanayake on, our governments protected us as much as they could from India, knowing the impact of an Indian presence on the islands ethnic balance and domestic geopolitics. A great patriotic UNP leader Ranasinghe Premadasa pushed the Indians out of Sri Lanka. By contrast, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is not only facilitating Indian expansionism on our soil but will be responsible for the long term consequences for the country and especially the Sinhalese community (most particularly in the East). One can imagine what his distant relative Ravi Jayewardene would have said and done! I can hardly think of a more heinous historic crime than the one about to be committed by the Yahapalana Government. But what can be done? The administration of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe rests on one factor alone: The schism within the ranks of the broad anti-UNP forces and the SLFP in particular. He has learned from his father, Esmond, and his distant uncle JR Jayewardene, the strategic value of a split in the centre-left and especially within the SLFP --and how best to exploit it. The SLFP was not split by Mahinda Rajapaksa and his loyalists. In August 2015 at a crucial strategy meeting, I incurred the ire of Susil Premjayanth and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa by urging President Rajapaksa in the presence of the Feb 18thMahinda Movement leaders, to rupture with and contest separately from the SLFP because (1) we could preserve the militant spirit of the Mahinda Movement without dilution (2) the country was seeking something new and (3) MR would be under the official SLFP leadership whatever the election result. Mahinda demurred. From my early meeting with defeated President Rajapaksa at the residence of the Speaker, his brother Chamal, on January 10th 2015through to the Feb 18th2015 meeting at Nugegoda, I had been part of the fight-back at a time when some prominent SLFP (now SLPP) personages had decamped from Sri Lanka. Of those at theAugust 2015 meeting at MRs residence in Mirihana,only two of us took the same position on fielding a separate list -- Gotabaya Rajapaksa and I -- and we did so independently of one another. Neither of us wanted to be taken for a ride, or more crucially, for Mahinda and his supporters to be taken for a ride. We wanted to be politically self-reliant, not dependent on the decision-making of other power centres. But no one else supported us (apart from some friends, close loyalists and well-wishers of MR who came in as the meeting was dispersing)not even Basil Rajapaksa or the present JO and SLPP personalities. Mahinda just did not want to split the SLFP and nor did they. Days later, when a dispute erupted over the able and loyal young Prasanna Ranatunga, MR was ready to split, but I thought that was too personal an issue over which to do so, after morale had been raised by the unified SLFP slate. One might then ask why I seem to be opposing the SLFP split now. I am not! Even in Feb-August 2015, addressing grassroots audiences throughout the country, my line was that we should break with the collaborationist faction of the SLFP, establish our independent identity in Parliament, and then unite with the SLFP in a single frontnot a partyagainst the UNP. That is still my line. I am opposed to a combined list at the upcoming PC and PS elections, but I am for joint non-UNP administrations afterwards. The SLFP was not split by the formation of the SLPP. The SLFP split becauseand when--the party leadership decided (or agreed with CBK) to overrule the mandate obtained by the SLFP at the August 2015 parliamentary election. That explicit mandate was to reject a coalition with the UNP. Ignoring it, the party leadership hived off 40 plus SLFP MPs, having appointed through the National List quite a few who failed to secure preference votes, and leased them out as a prop for the UNP. Every betrayal exacts a price in terms of blowback. The formation of the new party, the SLPP, was an inevitable response tothe August 2015 morning after betrayal.It also meets the requirements for an alternative or substitute for the collaborationist SLFP and an electoral option for the pro-MR caucus of SLFPers who have refused to collaborate with the UNP. If not for the SLPP, the SLFPers who are faithful to the popular mandate of August 2015 could be blackmailed by the threat of expulsion and political homelessness. So its mostly good. But the SLPPs political line needs to be clarified, even rectified. oday is the International Day of Human Space Flight celebrating the beginning of the space era for the people. The United Nations General Assembly, in a 2011 resolution declared April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight. The aim is to celebrate each year at international level the beginning of the space era for the people, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals and increasing the well-being of States and people while ensuring the realization of their aspiration to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes. The UN points out that April 12, 1961 was the date of the first human spaceflight Vostok 3KA, carried out by the Soviet Unions famous cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. This historic event opened the way for space exploration for the benefit of all people. The General Assembly in its resolution expressed its deep conviction of the common interest of the people in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all people, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom. Yuri Gagarins historic flight lifted Unites States President John F. Kennedys vision also to space. He allocated billions of dollars to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and told them to launch spaceflights to the moon. This began the Apollo series and President Kennedys dream to put a man on the moon was achieved when on July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins sat atop another Saturn V at Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre. According to NASA, the three-stage 363-foot rocket used its 7.5 million pounds of thrust to propel them into space and into history. At 9:32 a.m. EDT, the engines fired and Apollo 11 cleared the tower. About 12 minutes later, the crew was in Earth orbit. After one and a half orbits, Apollo 11 got a go for what mission controllers call Translunar Injection - in other words, it was time to head for the moon. Three days later, the crew was in lunar orbit. A day after that, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin climbed into the lunar module Eagle and began the descent, while Michael Collins orbited in the command module Columbia. Michael Collins later wrote that Eagle is the weirdest-looking contraption I have ever seen in the sky, but it will prove its worth. When it came to set Eagle down in the Sea of Tranquility, Neil Armstrong improvised, manually piloting the ship past an area littered with boulders. During the final seconds of descent, Eagles computer was sounding alarms. It turned out to be a simple case of the computer trying to do too many things at once, but as Buzz Aldrin later pointed out, unfortunately it came up when we did not want to be trying to solve these particular problems. When the lunar module landed at 4:18 p.m. EDT, only 30 seconds of fuel remained. Neil Armstrong radioed Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed. Mission control erupted in celebration as the tension broke, and a controller told the crew You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, were breathing again. As they stepped out of the Lunar Module Neil Armstrogs first words were, It is one small step for a man, but a giant leap for all mankind. Some skeptics say the Russians and the Americans went to outer space and the moon because they thought they could find uranium or plutonium to make nuclear weapons. Whether or not this was the motive, let us hope that space medical research and communication technology will be used and there will be an equitable distribution of its benefits for the common good of all people with space being the common province of all. On April 10, Pakistan announced that it is sentencing to death Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. He was kidnapped inside Iran by Jaish ul Adl, the network of Pakistan-backed terrorists operating against Iran, and drug smugglers. Jadhav was subsequently ferried over the border quickly and handed over to Pakistans spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). My Baloch insurgent sources on the ground confirmed the news and shared more details about Jadhav's abduction. The government of India, through its High Commission in Islamabad, has repeatedly sought consular access to him, as provided for by international law. Requests to that effect were formally made 13 times between March 25, 2016 and March 31, 2017. The kidnapping of Jadhav doesnt really come as a surprise. Photo: Indiatoday.in But they were not entertained by the Pakistani authorities. Indias ministry of foreign affairs, in its press release, stated: If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder. Jadhav's abduction was executed just before the visit of Irans president Hassan Rouhani and foreign minister Javad Zarif to Pakistan, in 2016, and it showed Islamabads uncalled-for desperation over the Chabahar port project. Pakistani media had drummed up the story that Rouhani had discussions on the arrest of an Indian spy with former Pakistan Army chief Raheel Sharif reports that were subsequently denied by the Iran president. Such reports at the time the abduction was carried out, ahead of the visit of a high-profile Iranian delegation, dont seem to be a coincidence. In June 2016, Iran had foiled an attempt by the same terrorist group to bomb Chabahar. Chabahar was also targeted in the recent past in a suicide bombing by Jundullah in 2010, soon after the execution of its leader Abdolmalek Rigi. Iran had often shelled its hideouts in Pakistan. The kidnapping of Jadhav doesnt really come as a surprise. Multiple western countries are reported to be routing money to Pakistan to finance attacks in Iran, including an attempt targeted at its former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005. Jaish ul Adl is used in Iran the same way the Mujahideen was used against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Five Iranian soldiers were kidnapped and brought to Pakistan by Jaish-ul-Adl terrorists in 2014 and that incident had led to heightened tensions in Iran-Pakistan relations at the time. 2016 also saw the murder of a Baloch activist affiliated with Brahumdagh Bugtis Baloch Republican Party (BRP) inside Iran. BRP advocates for secession from Pakistan. Multiple attacks on members of the separatist Baloch National Movement have also taken place. The Sistan-Baluchistan province of Iran is a sparsely populated tribal area. It faces the drug menace and Tehran has a death penalty for drug trafficking. Opium is cultivated in Afghanistan by Pakistan-backed terrorist group Taliban, and the opium economy stands at a massive annual US $68 billion. The revenue serves not only to fund Talibans fight against the Afghan government and the NATO troops, but is also part of a smart model followed by ISI, which doesnt need to spend its own funds on Taliban. In fact, Pakistan gains from it, not having to expend money on this proxy war. The opium and processed opiates are smuggled from Taliban-held regions of Afghanistan to ports across Pakistan and Iran by ISI-linked drug smugglers and associated terrorists. Across both the Iranian side and Pakistan-occupied Balochistan, Pakistan has cultivated powerful smugglers who also act as warlords. In Pakistans Balochistan, it sponsors death squads run by them to kill pro-independence Balochis. In Iranian Balochistan, it uses them to attack the establishment as and when Pakistan is commanded by those funding it. Islamabad is known to sponsor terror in not just India but also Afghanistan, Iran and China. Its networks run far abroad. Pakistan's decision to sentence Kulbhushan Jadhav to death is an act of extreme provocation, especially since the sentence has been given by a military court and not by the government of Pakistan. The military courts of Pakistan have been acting notoriously in backdrop of the military-ISI-terrorist connections, and are part of the genocide unleashed in Balochistan, North Waziristan and Gilgit-Baltistan to ruthlessly silence dissent. The death sentence also must be viewed in the backdrop of what Sartaj Aziz, Nawaz Sharifs advisor on foreign affairs, said in December 2016 when he told a full Senate chamber that the dossier on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav contained just statements, and that additional evidence had to be collected. Pakistan's Dawn newspaper quoted Aziz as saying, "So far, we have just statements about the involvement of the Indian spy in terror activities in Pakistan. Geo TV had then quoted Aziz saying,"What the dossier contained was not enough. Now it is up to the concerned authorities how long they take to give us more matter on the agent." A press brief released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on April 10 stated that Jadhav arrested from Balochistan on March 3, 2016 for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan was tried by FGCM under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Section 3 of Official Secrets Act 1923, found guilty of all charges which he confessed to, and awarded death sentence. Was he really arrested in Balochistan? Photo: PTI The brief further said that the accused was provided with a defending officer, and that his death sentence has been confirmed by Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. That India has been consistently asking for consular access to Jadhav since the day his arrest was announced is a well-known fact one that Pakistan has consistently denied. The Army Act in any country is applicable to personnel of that army, both uniformed and civilians, no one else. Not providing consular access to India and saying a defending officer was provided is a facade and the identity of the so-called defending officer is unknown. India suspects that Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy personnel, was "snatched" by from Iran by Pakistani agencies in 2016. According to Pakistan, Kulbhushan is an Indian spy who was arrested near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border of Chaman in Balochistan for entering into the country illegally. The Iranian government had also said that Jadhav, who was in that country, was not engaged in any illegal activity. Why was his subsequent presence in Pakistan never credibly explained? In a piece of video "evidence" Pakistan produced to prove Kulbhushan had confessed he is indeed a RAW agent, he can be heard saying he served in the Indian Navy till the 2001 Parliament attack happened. Post the attack, Jadhav went undercover as Hussain Mubarak Patel to gather information and intelligence within India, the video suggested. But the confession seems to be tutored because if he was indeed an Indian spy, he wouldnt be carrying Indian passport in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel. There is every indication that Kulbhushan was kidnapped from the Iranian side and handed over to the Pakistanis. When news of his arrest broke, a well-connected Afghan journalist Malik Achakzai tweeted to report that Jadhav had been abducted. On the same day, in Karachi, a former and very knowledgeable German ambassador to Pakistan Dr Gunter Mulack, said, according to the Dawn that the Indian spy recently arrested in Balochistan was actually caught by Taliban and sold to Pakistani intelligence." The story of Indian #RAW spy is as fake as others; he's sold by the smugglers mafia on Iranian territory a source from the area told Malik Achakzai (@MalikAchkJourno) April 2, 2016 The sentencing of Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistans Field General Court Martial is miscarriage of criminal justice and violates the fundamental human rights of free and fair trial. The issue with international human rights law is that though it creates a treaty obligation, it does not really create any international obligation vis-a-vis another state. Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1967 Both India and Pakistan are parties to the 1967 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. According to Article 36 of the Convention: Consular officers shall be free to communicate with nationals of the sending State and to have access to them. Nationals of the sending State shall have the same freedom with respect to communication with and access to consular officers of the sending State. Consular officers shall have the right to visit a national of the sending State who is in prison, custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation. So, why did Pakistan turn down 13 requests for consular access to Jadhav? The problem with international human rights law is that though it created a treaty obligation, it does not really create any international obligation vis-a-vis another state. Another problem with the violation of international human rights law is that there is no international judicial forum for such violation to be challenged by a State. Yet, India can take the help from the UN and bring this matter before the International Court of Justice as a matter of violation of treaty obligation owed to India and, in the process, create an international obligation for Pakistan. Earlier precedents at ICJ There have been three precedents at the ICJ where a national of another State has been prosecuted and sentenced, and where both are parties to the treaty and the protocol: Paraguay versus USA in 1998; Germany versus USA, 1999 (known as the La Grand case); and Mexico versus USA, 2003 (the Avena and Other Mexican National case). All the cases involved the death penalty awarded by the US to the nationals of Paraguay, Germany and Mexico in violation of the treaty. Interestingly, all the petitioners, that is, Paraguay, Germany and Mexico were provided with the relief they were seeking an injunction on the death penalty. Clearly, if Jadhavs case reaches ICJ, it might hold the execution till the issue of merit is settled. Amnesty International raps Pak military court Amnesty International has criticised the Pakistan military court for awarding death sentence to Jadhav. It says, "The death sentence given to Kulbushan Jadhav shows yet again how Pakistan's military court system rides roughshod over international standards". Terming Pakistan's military courts an abusive system, the human rights organisation said: "Stripping defendants of their rights and operating in notorious secrecy, military courts do not dispense justice but travesty it. They are inherently abusive systems that are best left to deal with issues of military discipline, not any other crimes." There are six questions that Pakistan needs to answer about Kulbhushan Jadhav: 1. Why did Sartaj Aziz say there was insufficient evidence against Jadhav? In December 2016, Pakistan prime ministers adviser on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, was quoted as saying that the government was presented with insufficient evidence on Jadhav. He had said that the dossier received by the government had only statements and there was no conclusive evidence against him. 2. Is the confession video authentic? The MEA has said that the fact that he made statements of his own free will challenges credulity and indicates that he was tutored. The editing in the video also raised doubts about how much of what Jadhav said could be taken at face value. 3. How does Islamabad explain Jadhav's Indian passport? Why would an Indian spy go to Pakistan without Pakistani documentation? What experienced spy makes such a rookie mistake? 4. Was he really arrested in Balochistan? Theres also no proof of Jadhavs arrest having taken place in Balochistan. 5. Why block consular access to Jadhav? India repeatedly asked for consular access to Jadhav, which was never granted. 6. Why was the state being secretive about the trial? Finally, if there is as much evidence against Jadhav as Pakistan claims, then why was his trial a hush-hush military court affair? Pakistan wants proof against 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, but not before hanging an Indian citizen. This clearly indicates that the case involving Indian citizens is conducted with pre-mediated motive and the trial by a military court is nothing but sham. Why is there no military court for Saeed? Options before India External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha that she would "go out of the way to ensure justice for Kulbhushan Jadhav". "We are in constant touch with his family. If anything, he (Kulbhushan Jadhav) is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif has reacted to the development saying, We want a peaceful neighbourhood... shared prosperity rather than mutual suspicion... at the same time, despite our earnest desire for peaceful co-existence, we cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence." And Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit said, A terrorist should meet his fate for whatever he did. Clearly, Pakistan has also sent a strong message that it will not budge from the stand it has taken on Kulbhushan Jadhav. What is pertinent now is that India act aggressively and send out a strong message to Pakistan. Some of the options before India could be: 1. Put Pakistan on notice. 2. Issue travel advisory on Pakistan. 3. Scale down diplomatic ties. 4. Withdraw most favored nation status. 5. Raise stakes for Pakistan. 6. Start working to harness full potential of Indus Water Treaty. 7. Expose Pak terror in Balochistan. Despite all the bipartisan efforts to bring back alleged RAW spy Kulbhshan Jadhav, could it be that all that would come to a naught? BJP MP and former home secretary RK Singh has told India Today correspondent Supriya Bhardwaj that Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court, could have suffered custodial death after torture in Pakistani jail. According to the India Today report, the BJP MP from Arrah, Singh, said: "Pakistan must have tortured Kulbhushan Jadhav so much that he is no more and now Pakistan is making all this trail story to cover its sham." While Singh has echoed the Indian demand, made categorically by minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, that consular access to the former Indian Navy officer be given, he is the first to voice what has otherwise been whispered in hushed tones in the corridors of diplomatic powers. Singh has said: "I am concerned. We should immediately seek Kulbhushan's consular access, given the current scenario. Tomorrow Pakistan might announce that they have executed the capital punishment and hung him (Kulbhushan Jadhav)." "I'd caution the Pakistani government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter" - India pic.twitter.com/GgBYtztd8X Pakistan Defence (@defencepk) April 11, 2017 The spy games remain shrouded in extreme secrecy as Pakistan remains determined in its bid to execute Jadhav, if it hasn't already, in stark contravention of international law. Sushma Swaraj, in a passionate appeal in Parliament earlier today, called this an "act of premeditated murder". Pakisatn has alleged that Jadhav was a Research and Analysis Wing agent, and was involved in "subversive and terrorist activities". On Tuesday, April 11, Swaraj told Parliament: "I rise to share my concern with the House regarding the report that an Indian citizen, Shri Kulbhushan Jadhav, has been awarded a death sentence by a Pakistani military court martial on concocted charges, I repeat on concocted charges. I would like to inform the House that Shri Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him. Accordingly, from the time his abduction was known, our High Commission in Islamabad has continuously pressed Pakistani authorities for such access. Although this is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations, the Government of Pakistan did not permit it. That itself should tell us much about the strength of the case against Shri Jadhav. Hon'ble Members would also recall that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in this case. Deputy Chairman Sir, earlier this year, the Pakistan Government sought our assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process. In doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position. Nevertheless, in the hope that some forward movement could be made, our response was constructive. We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence. To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian. Our position on this matter is clear. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Shri Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder. Deputy Chairman Sir, yesterday, Foreign Secretary conveyed our position to the High Commissioner of Pakistan. Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter. Deputy Chairman Sir, I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Shri Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time." Even Amnesty International, the globally recognised human rights organisation, has dubbed the awarding of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav as Pakistan riding roughshod over international standards. Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav and why has he been sentenced to death by Pakistan military court? The public relations wing of Pakistan's spy agency ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) - Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - released a statement on April 10: "Indian RAW agent / Naval officer 41558Z Commander Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 through a Counter Intelligence Operation from Mashkel, Balochistan, for his involvement in espionage and sabotage acitivities against Pakistan. The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FCGM) under Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded death sentence. Today, COAS, General Qamar Bajwa has confirmed his death sentence by FGCM." Indian R&AW agent #Kalbushan awarded death sentence through FGCM by Pakistan Army for espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/ltRPbfO30V Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) April 10, 2017 Backstory Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian citizen, who has been recognised by the government of India as a former naval officer, was abducted and arrested by Pakistani officials on charge of espionage, as an undercover agent for India's Research and Analysis Wing. According to Pakistani government as well as its official spokespersons, defence think-tanks and journalists, Jadhav, also spelt as Yadav, was arrested near the Pakisatn-Afghanistan border of Chamn in Balochistan over "illegal entry" into Pakistan. Indian RAW's Kulbhushan S Jadhav sentenced to death for espionage & sabotage conducted against the State of Pakistan https://t.co/d2nZd6rHcu Pakistan Defence (@defencepk) April 11, 2017 However, counter-claims by Indian officials allege that Jadhav was abducted from Iran where he was on private business. Jadhav had retired from Indian Navy in 2001, and Pakistan claims that post the 2001 Parliament attack in Delhi, Jadhav became an undercover operative for RAW, gathering information on the Baloch insurgency, as well as other high-voltage political issues, on behalf of Indian government's top secret intelligence operations. Jadhav has also been accused of launching an operation to destabilise Pakistan from the Iranian port of Chabahar, which is of great geostrategic importance to a number of countries, including India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and of course Iran itself. India has said that a group named Jaishul Adil, affiliated to Al-Qaeda, was responsible for the kidnapping of Kulbhushan Jadhav. Pakistan's belligerence The story is naturally trending on the top in all of Pakistani media, and their jingoistic newspapers and TV channels are unanimously asking for Jadhav's execution as a clever deflection technique to distract international attention from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pak envoy calls ex-Indian Navy officer #KulbhushanJadhav a terrorist, says he deserves to die. #ITVideo pic.twitter.com/v8YxgKN8pD India Today (@IndiaToday) April 11, 2017 Think-tanks and bureaucrats too have echoed the sentiment, asking for capital punishment for the Indian citizen. India doesn't get to tout its dirty war in Balochistan & to cry wolf when the instruments of its war are punished. @SushmaSwaraj #Kulbhushan pic.twitter.com/nHmDVFNDD1 Pakistan Defence (@defencepk) April 11, 2017 Pakistan Army has the full backing of 200 million Pakistani citizens for the trial of the Indian terrorist who came to kill our people. https://t.co/vSuuFgntiP Pakistan Defence (@defencepk) April 11, 2017 Meanwhile, outrage in India continues. If Pak hangs Jadhav then India must recognise Baluchistan as an independent country Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 11, 2017 Abdul Basit, Pak HC provokes again. Says a terrorist must face consequences. (India must take hard measures now) https://t.co/TayXQCmFc5 GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) April 11, 2017 The material in Pak FO view was insufficient. Dossier contained mere statements. No conclusive evidence: Sartaj Aziz had said of Jadhav case GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) April 11, 2017 If Jadhav is executed, india will treat this as a pre meditated murder says the government of India. FS Jaishankar lodges strong protest Nidhi Razdan (@RazdanNidhi) April 10, 2017 @Wasifshakil Man's abducted in Iran, granted no consular access, tried in a kangaroo court... yeah, and you're looking for logic? Bobby Ghosh (@ghoshworld) April 10, 2017 Kulbhushan Jhadav deserves open and fair trial. He has been sentenced to death. Perpetrators of 26/11 roam free in Pakistan Kartikeya Sharma (@kartikeya_1975) April 10, 2017 This is disastrous, stupid & can ruin what remains of Ind-Pak relations. Secret court martial is no fair, open trial https://t.co/9ZI83dmXnx Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) April 10, 2017 Breaking: Kulbhushan Jadhav, alleged Indian spy, sentenced to death by PAK military court. Does he not deserve an open and fair trial? Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 10, 2017 Sinful????In 71...93K Pak soldiers set free by India,In 17 they r butchering 1 innocent Kulbhushan Jadhav without proof n fair trial ! @adgpi pic.twitter.com/5nnWQ8ezaB Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) April 10, 2017 What is the reality behind this game of extreme secrecy and rushed execution? Is Pakistan hiding something? It would seem so. Nevertheless, the joint drafting of the appeal on Jadhav is seeing luminaries from both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress, particularly enlisting help from Shashi Tharoor, who has been a United Nations undersecretary, trying their best to avert the international diplomatic disaster, which Pakistan is hurtling towards in full speed. Core Laboratories N.V. provides reservoir description and production enhancement services and products to the oil and gas industry in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Reservoir Description and Production Enhancement segments. The Reservoir Description segment includes the characterization of petroleum reservoir rock, reservoir fluid, and gas samples to enhance production and improve recovery of oil and gas from its clients' reservoirs. It offers laboratory-based analytical and field services to characterize properties of crude oil and oil delivered products; and proprietary and joint industry studies. The Production Enhancement segment provides services and products relating to reservoir well completions, perforations, stimulations, and production. It offers integrated diagnostic services to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of well completions and to develop solutions to improve the effectiveness of enhanced oil recovery projects. In addition, the company markets and sells its products through a combination of sales representatives, technical seminars, trade shows, and print advertising, as well as through distributors. It operates approximately in 50 countries. The company was founded in 1936 and is based in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. The company also underwrites bank-eligible securities and other fixed-income securities eligible for underwriting by financial subsidiaries; sells loans and derivatives; and offers advisory services. In addition, it offers various services, such as mortgage banking; title insurance and loan-closing; brokerage; correspondent banking; nationwide check clearing and remittance processing; trust, fiduciary, and agency; equipment finance; and investment and financial advisory services. Further, the company sells mutual fund and retail insurance products; and credit cards. It operates approximately 500 banking offices in 22 states under the First Horizon Bank brand; and 400 banking centers in 12 states under the FHN Financial brand in the United States. The company was formerly known as First Horizon National Corporation and changed its name to First Horizon Corporation in November 2020. First Horizon Corporation was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, transportation, logistics, and related services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options. The company also provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 200 countries and territories. In addition, it offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial and insurance services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 121,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 59,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut. Robert Half International Inc. provides staffing and risk consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through three segments: Temporary and Consultant Staffing, Permanent Placement Staffing, and Risk Consulting and Internal Audit Services. It places temporary services for accounting, finance, and bookkeeping; temporary and full-time office and administrative personnel consisting of executive and administrative assistants, receptionists, and customer service representatives; full-time accounting, financial, tax, and accounting operations personnel; and information technology contract professionals and full-time employees in the areas of platform systems integration to end-user technical and desktop support, including specialists in application development, networking and cloud, systems integration and deployment, database design and administration, and security and business continuity. The company also offers temporary and full-time employees in attorney, paralegal, legal administrative, and legal secretarial positions; and senior-level project professionals in the accounting and finance fields for financial systems conversions, expansion into new markets, business process re-engineering, business systems performance improvement, and post-merger financial consolidation. It is involved in serving professionals in the areas of creative, design, marketing, advertising, and public relations; and placing various positions, such as creative directors, graphics designers, web designers, media buyers, front end developers, copywriters, digital marketing managers, marketing analytics specialists, brand managers, and public relations specialists. The company provides internal audit, technology consulting, risk and compliance consulting, and business performance services. It serves clients and employment candidates. Robert Half International Inc. was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. First Hawaiian, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for First Hawaiian Bank that provides a range of banking services to consumer and commercial customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Other. The company accepts various deposit products, including checking and savings accounts, and other deposit accounts. It also provides residential and commercial mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, automobile loans and leases, personal lines of credit, installment loans, and small business loans and leases, as well as commercial lease and auto dealer financing. In addition, the company offers personal installment, credit card, individual investment and financial planning, insurance protection, trust and estate, private banking, retirement planning, treasury, and merchant processing services. It operates a network of 54 branches, which include 49 in Hawaii, 3 in Guam, and 2 in Saipan. The company was formerly known as BancWest Corporation and changed its name to First Hawaiian, Inc. in April 2016. First Hawaiian, Inc. was founded in 1858 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in banking, trust, securities, and other businesses related to financial services in Japan, the Americas, Europe, Asia/Oceania, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Retail & Business Banking Company, Corporate & Institutional Company, Global Corporate Company, Global Markets Company, and Asset Management Company. The company provides deposit products; syndicated, housing, and card loans; business matching services; and advisory services related to overseas expansions, and mergers and acquisitions-related services. It also offers consulting services, including asset management and asset succession; payroll services; and sells lottery tickets issued by prefectures and ordinance-designated cities. In addition, it offers financial solutions, such as bonds, mergers and acquisitions advisory, risk hedging products, etc. for corporate customers to meet their needs in fund-raising, investment management, and financial strategies; solutions based on their capital management, business strategy, and financial strategy; real estate agency services; advisory services and solutions, such as advice on proposals on various investment products to financial institutions; and financial services that include funding support and public bonds underwriting. Further, the company offers sales and trading services to meet needs for customers; investment products for individual customers; and consulting services for institutional investors. Additionally, the company provides products and services related to trust, securitization and structured finance, pension, and stock transfers; securities services; and research, private banking, and information technology-related services. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,061 branches and 3,381 automated teller machines (ATMs) in Canada, and 1,148 stores and 2,701 ATMs in the United States, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. It has a strategic alliance with Canada Post Corporation. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. 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. CULPEPER Germanna Community College has hired its first female president in the institutions 47-year history. Virginia Community College System Chancellor Glenn DuBois announced Monday that Janet Gullickson, president of Spokane Falls Community College in Washington State, will be the community colleges sixth president, effective July 1. Janet brings outstanding qualifications to this presidency, said DuBois. Shes a dynamic community college educator with an impressive resume of significant leadership positions. Im excited to bring her aboard and confident shell do a great job at Germanna. Gullickson was selected over two other finalists: John Donnelly, vice president of student services at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Albemarle County; and Linda Thomas-Glover, president of Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa. The national presidential search, which garnered about 100 applications, started after Germanna President David A. Sam announced his plans to retire June 30 after 10 years as the schools chief administrator. During a public forum in Culpeper on March 30, Gullickson repeatedly expressed that student success is her top priority. I have great passion for you. My door is always open to you. I understand that you are here to learn and get on with your lives and we are here to support you, she told a group of Germanna Scholars, who are pursuing associates degrees while still in high school. You are the reason I get out of bed every day. University of Virginia students Payam Pourtaheri and Ameer Shakeel had an idea, but no way to bring it to life. The students had worked with pharmacology professor Mark Kester on a non-toxic spray that could degrade pesticides the kind used on food crops in a few hours. This process usually takes up to two weeks, so the product potentially could be useful to farmers. Although they had the science down, Pourtaheri and Shakeel werent so clear on other things selling the idea to investors, for one, seemed like a daunting task. Ameer and I were just scientists, so we knew nothing about business, Pourtaheri said. As engineers and scientists, we didnt know how to convey our ideas in an accessible way. Thats why they sought out the help of Elizabeth Pyle, associate director of the universitys technology entrepreneurship program. Her first assignment to them was to give her a pitch as if she were a potential investor selling the merits of the spray. It was research oriented so it was difficult to get them to talk products and customers, Pyle said. They were very focused on research. Pyle told the student entrepreneurs to go out and meet potential customers (mostly wineries around the Charlottesville area) and to come up with a pitch that focuses on the real-world use of the spray. Pourtaheri and Shakeel came up with a new presentation that would resonate with investors a story about a farmer who wants to harvest his crop before an impending storm, someone who cant wait the customary two weeks for pesticides to degrade. To date, the students have secured almost $150,000 in funding and are working on a new venture called Agrospheres. Pourtaheri, who graduated last May, is working with Shakeel and Kester on getting the new company off the ground. This is an example of the kind of work UVa is doing to encourage student entrepreneurs students who are looking to turn their ideas into products. Two of UVas most famous alumni entrepreneurs Alexis Ohanian and Steve Huffman didnt have a technology entrepreneurship program to back them when they created Reddit in 2005. Their story is more typical of young tech entrepreneurs: they began from scratch and sought out investment after graduation. After an initial rejection, they won funding from the famed Silicon Valley venture capital group Y Combinator. But UVa administrators said they believe they can harness some of this creative energy in Charlottesville by providing ample support for students with big ideas. The Darden School of Business, for example, provides free legal help and support in its Innovation Lab. Still, the university seemed to be missing something, said Alex Zorychta, a UVa alum who directs a student entrepreneur support community called Works in Progress. Zorychta conducted interviews with hundreds of students and found many of them werent aware of the services offered at the university. More importantly, the ones who were serious about their ideas said they felt isolated at UVa. These students are spending 20, 30, 40 hours a week outside of class going after these projects, he said. They dont feel like most people understand them. Zorychta has tried to keep all of the students in touch with alumni who have started companies of their own in an effort to foster mentorships. Another one of Zorychtas solutions has been to try to bring the entrepreneurs together by giving them a casual space to gather a cross between a lounge and office space, where students simultaneously work on their laptops, relax on couches, bounce ideas off one another or just goof around. After trying and failing with several different spaces, they settled on a lounge in Thornton Hall, which the students dubbed The Lighthouse because of the large windows and ample natural lighting. Zorychta said Works in Progress has gone a long way in promoting interaction between the students. Not only do the students provide emotional support for one another, but they keep each other on track. Were having peers keep each other accountable because this is what they do, he said. Its kind of like having a gym buddy if you miss one session and its a small enough group, theyre going to notice it. Among the regulars at The Lighthouse is Jared Downing, a second-year student who develops mobile phone apps. Downing said Zorychta put him in touch with the chief technology officer at WillowTree, a local app development company. Downing said hes also benefitted from meeting like-minded students involved in Works in Progress. Everyone there is super driven and they want to work hard, Downing said. We have fun, but we see the value in investing in ourselves in the long term. A University of Virginia law professor has filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of a Buckingham Correctional Center inmate alleging that prison officials have failed to provide him treatment for a deadly infection. Elmo Augustus Reid, 60, claims in a suit filed in Charlottesvilles federal court that certain officials have contributed to the repeated denial of medical treatment for his hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver. Reid accuses the Buckingham Correctional Centers warden, Bernard W. Booker; prison health authority Pamela Shipp; and Virginia Department of Corrections official Mark Amonette of deploying irrelevant excuses and acting with deliberate and reckless indifference to his longstanding disease. Longtime UVa law professor George Rutherglen previously represented Reid and still hears from him from time to time, he said. Last summer, Reid sent Rutherglen a letter explaining his plight, prompting Rutherglen to take up his case at no charge. I think hes in a bad way, Rutherglen said. Being in prison is bad, but being in prison with hepatitis C is a very, very difficult situation, and I thought that anything I could do to improve the situation would be useful. According to the original complaint, Reid was diagnosed as having hepatitis B soon after he was incarcerated in 1988, a year before hepatitis C was discovered. In 2013, he was diagnosed as having Stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver and infection by the hepatitis C virus, which, if left untreated, can result in continuous damage to the liver. The diagnosis was confirmed again in 2014 and 2015 by the prisons medical department. Although Reid had received treatment with interferon, the condition of his liver and the extent of his infection had not improved significantly when the treatment ended. Then on June 9, 2015, the prison medical department informed Reid that the score on his test for cirrhosis did not warrant treatment for hepatitis C. Reids score on the liver function test was 0.467; the Department of Corrections guideline for receiving treatment is 0.5. Reid was never informed how this test result could be reconciled with the 2013 test results showing that he had Stage 4 cirrhosis, the suit continues. More than a year later, in August 2016, Reid was again told he was not eligible for hepatitis C treatment, this time being told that it was because he was scheduled for a parole hearing within six months. Accordingly, he has received no further tests since June 9, 2015. When Reid filed an informal complaint last September, again seeking treatment, his complaint was denied one day later by Shipp because he was about to parole. When Reid appealed the denial weeks later, he was denied by Booker due to a parole hearing scheduled within the next nine months. Booker told Reid at the time that you must have at least nine months remaining on your sentence to receive treatment, the suit states. Reid appealed again, telling prison employees that the denial of his treatment put [his] future health at risk, a plea that Amonette, the chief medical physician manager of the corrections department, concluded to be founded. He responded to Reid that all administrative remedies have been exhausted regarding this issue nonetheless, Reid has still not received treatment because the Department of Corrections guidelines for hepatitis C treatment are under revision. He has thus been subjected to yet another non-medical reason for the denial of treatment, precisely what he objected to in his appeal to Dr. Amonette, the suit concludes. The complaint alleges violations of Reids Eighth Amendment and 14th Amendment rights as the defendants cannot deny medical treatment to inmates if it constitutes deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. Reid demands that the defendants be ordered to give him effective treatment for his ailments and to pay for his court costs, along with any other relief to which the plaintiff is entitled as deemed by the court. Earlier this year, the defendants moved to have the case thrown out, claiming they were immune to litigation as state officials and that the lawsuit failed to specify each of their personal involvements in the matter. Judge Norman K. Moon denied the motion at the end of February, noting in a written opinion that Reid was adequately suing them in their official capacities, and that he had sufficiently shown the degree of each defendants involvement. An attorney for Booker, Shipp and Amonette did not respond to a request for comment on the case. While the suit aims to find relief for Reid specifically, Rutherglen said the problem is much larger than just one person. The American Association for the Study of Liver Disease estimates that more than 30 percent of inmates in the Virginia Department of Corrections are infected with hepatitis C, Rutherglen said, but prisons have a hard time keeping up with the high costs of treatment. The Department of Corrections, understandably, is reluctant to guarantee that treatment to the thousands of inmates that have hepatitis C; they dont have the money, Rutherglen said. But that leaves people like Elmo Reid suspended with increasing viruses in their bloodstream and likely continuing damage to their livers. With so many other inmates suffering from hepatitis C, Reids case, set to go to trial in January, may be the first of many. I think it will be a kind of test case, and I think there will be others brought by prisoners in the Virginia system, Rutherglen said. I think of him as the individual tip of a very big iceberg. No one should be surprised that wealthy families of applicants to the University of Virginia try to influence admissions decisions. It would be naive to expect otherwise: We live in a world that rewards power, not in a la-la land of peace, love and light. A deeper question is: Just how much success, if any, do influencers actually have? And: Does it matter? It matters because UVa is a state-supported school with an expected mission of educating as many of Virginias next-generation leaders as it can. That includes the moral responsibility to give a helping hand to studentsat least a proportion of themwho may show promise but lack the financial wherewithal or other means to gain admission to the states most prestigious university. For every student from an influential family who might be admitted despite marginal grades or other low-scoring criteria, a more deserving student might be rejected because that slot in the entering class was otherwise filled. It also matters to the extent that UVa has given the impression that it does not weigh wealth or family influence in its admissions decisions. Taxpayers want transparency from their flagship university. In the wake of allegations that a legacy heritage or donations of wealth may influence those decisions, the university denies that admissions can be bought. The advancement office is charged with wooing donors, points out a UVa spokesman. The admissions office is charged with making fair decisions on student acceptances based on stated criterianot on behind-the-scenes manipulations. The administrative separation creates a buffer zone between the two potentially conflicting goals. The admissions office makes the independent determination on whether a student is admitted or not, says spokesman Anthony P. de Bruyn. But evidence has surfaced supporting allegations that the advancement office tries to influence decisionsbut no commensurate evidence is available showing that the admissions office either resists or succumbs to those attempts. And thats not altogether surprising, either. In order to prove the admissions offices incorruptibility, one would have to be able to track individual applications all the way through the process, watching to see not only whether the advancement office sought to intervene in individual cases but also how such applications were handled once they reached admissions. That is not possible because privacy laws protect the names of applicants. What we do know from documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests is that the advancement office has been persistent and forceful in seeking special consideration for children of donors, potential donors or others with connections to the university. Names were redacted in the information released in compliance with the FOIA. And so it is impossible to follow an application to determine the outcome in any particular case. We have, instead, the universitys strong statement that the admissions office makes its own independent decisions. We also have evidence that the advancement office makes strong efforts to exert influence. It is reasonable to wonder whether the advancement office would take those steps if it did not expect its efforts to pay offliterally. And it is unfortunate that the admissions office has no way to counter those suspicions without revealing details about applicantssomething it legally cannot do. CHESHIRE - England - Kerry Katona, the alcoholic cocaine snorting celebrity star has given birth to a large bag of pure Colombian coke on an MTV reality show. Kerry Katona has thanked her fans for their messages of support from her hospital bed this afternoon after she gave birth to a large bag of pure white cocaine five weeks early. Doctors at Macclesfield Hospital delivered the package without any spillages after inducing labour early. A spokesperson from her publicists office told reporters: At present both mum and the yeyo are not in any distress and the mother has already started to snort the baby. Kerry Katonas spokesperson made a poignant statement from her bedside: Kerry would like to thank all the tabloids and gossip papers for their full coverage and attention and also the doctors and nurses who are providing excellent care in delivering the cocaine safely. The chavette face of Iceland and her family can begin snorting in earnest. Kerrys new baby will be called Charlie, named after her favourite pastime. The 27-year-old was believed to be in the middle of filming the final episodes of her controversial MTV fly-on-the-wall show, Crazy In Love, when her cocaine induced contractions began on Wednesday night. Her pregnancy has been plagued with rumours of photographers and film crews abandoning the birth coverage, allegations which she has denied vehemently. The celebrity mother has been allegedly filmed on multiple occasions drinking large quantities of alcohol, smoking cigarettes and snorting crack cocaine as well as freebasing the pure white crystals whilst pregnant. Last week Kerry was given the all-clear after an ultrasound scan revealed she is holding a bag of pure cocaine ripe for the snorting when it finally pops out of her. Her freeloader husband Mark, 37, was believed to have taken his heavily pregnant wife to hospital only after he finished the level he was playing on his computer game. The couple, of Warrington, Cheshire, are already parents to unlucky one-year-old Foo-foo Dust. Kerry has two other unfortunate girls with ex-Westlife star Brian McFadden Blow Dust, six, and Candy C, five. Pop megastar Madonna is to adopt a new husband from an underprivileged part of the world. The mum of four will travel to Africa and test males to see if they are worthy of adoption by the great Madonna. The stringent testing will involve mega sessions in bed with the 56 year old woman and rigorous body examinations to determine durability. Madonna will personally test all the males to see if theyre up to scratch. Her libido is immense and she sometimes needs to be sated 10 15 times a day, a spokesman for her Management company told us. The Madonna adoption convoy left London three weeks ago and is slowly snaking its way through Mali after passing through Morocco then cutting through Mauritania. If Madonna does not adopt a husband by that time they will carry on across to Chad passing through Niger then down to Gabon, Angola and Zaire. By that time if she still has not found an adopted husband they will carry on to Tanzania, Mozambique then finally ending in Lesotho deep inside of South Africa. African countries have been bristling with advertising announcing the Madonna New Husband Adoption Convoy. Ngiri Omdongo from Zaire has set about preparing his friends for the Madonna meetings that will take place next month: She is like royalty for us and if she picks one of us it will bring great riches and honour to our village. We will be living in London and Beverly Hills and drive fast cars woo hoo! The only painful thing we have to do is service the old granny every few hours, yes we can deal with it! One of the requirements Madonna has stipulated is that her new husband like her previous one, has to walk three steps behind her whenever they travel together and that they have to be quiet if addressed, only speaking if their opinion is required. She will still be looking to adopt a young one, but this time from an African background. It will also be good for little Banda who will have someone to play with, the spokesman for her Management company reiterated. LOS ANGELES - USA - There's a new pop act on the scene who is breaking through all the adverse economic barriers catapulted in front of the Music Biz. Her name is Lady KaKa, and her success is setting record company accountants on fire. The music biz was stagnating for a while after the advent of digital audio where anyone could download music for free without paying for it that is until Lady KaKa came onto the scene. People actually want to pay for KaKas music! Forget about downloading it for free, they want to buy this toilets music. Hell, they want to even buy the fuckin album. I nearly shit my pants when I saw that. We got her singing template songs through an Antares, with some vocoder or something, I dunno, we got her in a room with some engineers. She cant actually sing or write music, she cant play an instrument, she just dresses up with a toilet seat around her head or some such crap so all the little girls and gays love her. Who fuckin cares, I drive a Lamborghini Countach Quattrovalvole and own three mansions in Malibu because of this turd, Milton Earl III Esq. of Backsplash Records told MTV. Indeed, the Music Industry has never had it so good. There is finally some cash flowing into its empty coffers. The biz is now for people like KaKa, so we dont have to have anyone who can play, sing or compose music. You may think nothing has changed much but believe me when I say, we used to have a time once when real bands played actual music, Mr Earl added. It seems that this new character called Lady KaKa has created a new genre for herself; it certainly is not Dada or Surrealism but a dingleberry on the ass of the mindless generation of brainwashed consumer sheeple to devour without any thought or reason. The people now consume excrement without even batting an eyelid. This is why Lady KaKa is so popular and this is why my bank account is simply overflowing with cash, Mr Earl shouts from his Lamborghini before shooting off into the California sunset. Lady KaKa is to be honoured for services rendered to the Music Industry at the 136th Music Biz Awards in Los Angeles on April 23. LOS ANGELES - USA - Internet users are mourning the thoroughly entertaining Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin trying to stay away from the internet. The internet(s) is going to be so boring without Alec, he makes it so entertaining, one twitter user tweeted yesterday. The hot headed Hollywood actor shut his twitter account down for the fifth time last month after another hilarious angry tirade that had many of his fans whooping with joy. You ever seen a kettle blow up? Thats probably what he looks like when hes furiously typing away on the tiny keyboard on his smartphone with the veins on his forehead snapping away about some insignificant nonsense. It would be a joy to watch, hilarious in fact, another Baldwin fan revealed. John Lazarus, 23, a prominent tweeter from Kentucky said: What happens if he gets a fly in his Cheerios? Man, I would love to see that! Mr Baldwin was not available for comment, but his PA overheard him saying this from his office after a coffee spillage: F*ck, f*ck, f*ck, c*nt motherfu*king f*ckers, f*cking assh*le, sh*t head, f-u-ck! Aaaaargh! Aaaaargh! Argh! Huaaargh! GRIMSBY - England - Reality show, Britain's Got Talent is at the centre of an anthropological discovery that could change the face of human history as a cave woman somehow got to perform in front of millions of people on Sunday night. The cave woman even wore a primitive form of boot made from animal skins and performed a dance to the cheering audience. It was only after the show had ended that people realised the significance of the appearance by the cave woman. Quite possibly a glacier melted somewhere and she must have popped out and made her way to the BGT stage. I think she was wonderful and I give her a full recommendation for another appearance, Pierce Moron, one of the judges on the show revealed. Anthropologists from Cambridge University caught the cave woman afterwards and had to use a tranquilliser dart to put her in a cage. This discovery could throw some light on how our ancestors developed hundreds of thousands of years ago. From our initial analysis we estimate this woman to be from the Homo antecessor genus which is an extinct human subspecies dating from 1.2 million to 800,000 years ago. We, of course, need to conduct more research into this amazing discovery, professor Gerald Bryce, told the BBC. The cave woman has been named Nora by the scientific community who will be studying her. JEDDAH - Saudi Arabia - An enterprising young Saudi man has come up with the latest smartphone app that is taking the Saudi Kingdom by storm. The app is available on iPhone and Android smartphones and is a useful tool to help Saudis get to their nearest execution site on time. It comes with a handy map and even tells you the countdown to the nearest beheading so you dont miss the action. I was driving through traffic one day and I heard on the radio that I had just missed a beheading downtown. I was furious, because if I had known at what time and the exact location of it I would not have missed the Medieval practice so thats how I came up with the idea for the app, Ahmed Salah, the creator of the app told local news stations. The Saudi Beheading app has already received a massive following with over 2 million downloads just in one week. Now if Im out shopping, all I have to listen out for is the sound of sharpening knives, which is the signal that there is a beheading soon to happen close by. I havent missed one since I downloaded this app, Allah be praised, Mahmoud Jabar, a member of the Saudi Royal family told local news reporters from his Lamborghini before speeding off to catch the next execution. WINDSOR - England - Prince William is setting sail on a long Caribbean Navy cruise this summer, an alcohol-fuelled permanent photo-op party paid for by the tax-payer, we can reveal. Sub-Lieutenant Windsor, 25, will spend five gruelling weeks on HMS Photo Opp Amika, cruising the dangerous seas between the luxury resorts of Abaco, Bahamas and West Palm Beach, Florida. Armed with a champagne glass he will board and search luxury yachts in a bid to stop gallons of deadly champers from escaping the famous Boujis brigadier. Mid Rats His other duties will include assisting the Officer of the Watch on the warships bridge to direct photographers from Hello magazine to land safely on the ship plus disaster relief work if the ship runs out of gourmet tucker and booze. And on his rare days off the Prince will take part in community photographic opportunities with projects at local villages, like painting schools. Rear Admiral Robert Buttplug, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, said: Well need to watch his fatigue levels. Hes not as robust with the vodka like his brother Harry is. The guys going to be quite exhausted after all the partying and booze. William, who has just finished a photo shoot with the RAF, has been ordered by the palace on this 5-week Caribbean cruise to shake off his hanger-on girlfriend, Kate Middleton, who has aspirations on joining the royal family. The scheduled 5 week royal photoshoot tour of the Caribbean will be a good opportunity to slow Kates insistence on getting married. Prince William has been advised to switch off his mobile phone during the luxury cruise. The Queen herself has ordered the future king to ease the brakes on Kates constant endeavours to close the young prince off and force his hand into marriage. She knows that Kate is from a working class background and is simply worried for poor prince William who is being put into a corner by the ambitions of this freeloading young lady who has no job or title, a senior palace aide divulged. Official photos of the young royal in his uniform reveal a striking resemblance to his dad Prince Charles who served in a Navy photoshoot as well. Williams PR stunt is part of his plan to be photographed in all three Services before he leaves the military in January. He hopes it will prepare him for his future role as mascot of the Armed Forces. Navy chiefs considered sending him to the Gulf but feared William would be put in danger because of the war that is in progress at the moment. Commander Reginald Shister said: We didnt want him to be in a dangerous war situation even though he only ever participates in photoshoots just like his brother Harry. Before William leaves he will have to pass a sea-safety course, which includes keeping the drink in when there is a rough sea and posing correctly whilst negotiating with a Hello magazine photographer. Once on board he will sleep in a cramped four-poster bedded luxury cabin, replete with en suite bathroom and rise at 2pm every day, if at all. The British media is gearing up to a massive royal picture special extravaganza and are already preparing by having 3 million acres of forest cleared to print their newspaper spreads. Naval analyst Jason Cocklespart said: The first time Prince William carries out a raid on the captains drinks cabinet, the adrenaline will be going through his body. Previously Wills spent 44 weeks on a photoshoot as an Army officer followed by four months with the RAF. Rear Admiral Buttplug said: It will be a thrill and a privilege to have Prince William with the Royal Navynot a pain in the arse. LONDON - England - Comrade Brown is urging the people to not waste food rations and to recycle all that they eat. Comrade Gordon Brown our supreme unelected leader is urging the populations of the Soviet State of Britain to recycle cabbage rations. The Soviet state advises comrades and workers to recycle food by not wasting ti in any way. Your cabbage ration per week must be utilised to its maximum capacity. Already the central Politburo office has released the lyrics for a new Soviet song to be distributed amongst the workers: Comrades, do not waste your cabbage. You can make cabbage soup, cabbage ice cream, cabbage jam and toasted cabbage with cream. You can have cabbage with your sprouts or cabbage with your Soviet ale. How about a bit of cabbage sprinkled over a warm bit of gruel. Cabbage dessert on a Sunday if you please. Comrades, dearest comrades, you must not waste your cabbage for times are hard. Comrade Brown eats cabbage too and so should you. We must be strong comrades because our Supreme leader urges us to fight the terrible legacy of the previous Soviet Chancellor who has created the terrible situation we are in now. Luckily, Comrade Browns ten year cabbage plan will ensure that cabbage will be plentiful once again in about nine and a half years time from now. There will be further cuts in rationing from next week when all proles will only be allowed one cabbage per month. All Soviet citizens and brave Bolshevik warriors will have to survive on that single cabbage without exception. You are urged to refrigerate the cabbage so as not to see any rot setting in. Soviet comrades are urged to visit Comrade Browns information site to find recipes that they can utilise to create their cabbage dishes. Politburo officials for the Stasi councils will be going through all Soviet citizens rubbish. Anyone found to have thrown away any piece of cabbage or lard will be taken to their local eco-gulag and beaten with sticks as a punishment for wasting. Notice: B64575 INGSOCK Long Live the Gordo! BAGHDAD - Iraq - President Bush, who was visiting Iraq for the last time before he steps down, was in a jubilant mood as the Iraqis greeted him with a special shoe throwing ceremony. President Bush has big plans for the regeneration of Iraq and one of the first things he plans on doing is building as many shoe shops as he can for the Iraqi people. On his last momentous visit to Iraq, the president was greeted with many shoes from the Iraqi public showing their gratitude and happiness at his presence on their home soil. If the shoe fits.. In Iraq, if we really like someone we throw shoes at them and slap them around with the soles of our flip flops. It is a custom that has been around for a thousand years. This is why we greeted president Bush with the soles of our shoes. He has done so much for our country, Mahmoud Ali Akbar, who has had both of his legs amputated from the knee down and has no need for any shoes, told Iraqi Daily News. The signs of progress are all too clear. Bushs Perpetual War of Terror has brought wonderful delights to the Iraqi people, they are all now languishing in a quality of life that is unrivalled in the Middle East. Since the Americans came and installed democracy through the end of a barrel of a gun, we have been so happy. I have seen how democracy works from the inside of Abu Ghraib jail where I have been enjoying activities like waterboarding, electric musical chairs and scrotal bungee jumping, Walid Abdul Masjoud told Reuters. President Bush has been very proud of his achievements in Iraq and was on hand at the Iraqi conference to applaud his victory over the Iraqi people. Iraq is the new frontier in the Middle East for the New American Century. We now own this territory and we have conquered the valuable resources within this country. Every day, more oil and profits are taken from the land and we as Americans are safer in our SUVs and Hummers on American soil. We can live in the knowledge that gas prices will stay lower than many countries because we now own the second largest oil deposits in the world. TEXAS - USA - The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at George Bush, gaining instant hero status in much of the Arab world, has today been sentenced to three years torture at the hands of Cheney and Bush. Muntazer al-Zaidi, 30, who worked for the al-Baghdadiya television channel, shouted Long live Iraq when the sentence was read out. He is viewed by many in Iraq and the Arab world as a hero and already many shrines in his name have been built over the whole of Iraq. Speaking of his shoe-throwing antics Zaidi said: I am innocent. What I did was a natural response to the occupation. After the sentence was passed, the journalist was dragged out of the puppet court and beaten. He will be flown immediately to Texas where George W Bush and Dick Cheney will take turns on the fresh piece of meat, a CIA source told Fox News. According to the wives of Bush and Cheney, the two have been holed up in their private dungeons since retirement waiting for fresh deliveries eagerly. Laura Bush told Larry King on Tuesday: George has been itching to use those new mail-order electrodes and nipple clamps ever since he retired. Hes not used to the drought in fresh Arabs to perform his daily torture with. Im so used to the screams of agony emanating from the basement while I do my knitting, but there has been nothing for the past couple of months since that boy, Obama got into office. This Iraqi shoe-thrower should keep him and Dick happy for the next three years. Things are very hard for retired war criminals these days. LONDON - England - A brave veteran of the D-Day landings is to get media coverage and be given full honours from the prime minister reports claim. Reg Arbunkle, 87, who died yesterday is to get a full military state funeral and honoured in the media for his bravery and service to the country in the D-Day landings of Normandy during World War II. Reg was only a young lad but he was very brave. He came off those boats while all his comrades were being shot to pieces and he somehow got up the beach to secure a German machine gun post. It took him nearly eight hours to go less than 100 metres but he did it. Out of everyone from his regiment only six people survived of which he was the last one who passed away yesterday, historian, Mark Graham, told the Sunday Times magazine. It is the bravery of men like Reg Arbunkle who secured our freedom from the Nazis on the 6th June 1944 that should never be forgotten. The Sun newspaper and OK magazine, including other media outlets, were said to be preparing for special tribute issues to commemorate Mr Arbunkles bravery as well as all those brave soldiers who died in the service of their country. The D-Day landings were some of the most brutal military operations in all of history. Young men were simply picked off by the German machineguns as they came off the landing craft. The sea was blood red as many succumbed to the hail of bullets. These are the true brave warriors who fought and died to beat the German Nazi-regime, Mr Graham added. Prime Minister Gordon Brown will also make an address later on today to the fallen of the D-Day landings as well as those who still survive. There was relief within much of the Tory party today after unelected PM, Gordon Brown was allowed to stay as Labour leader by his cowardly cabinet members and backbenchers. It is in our interests that he is allowed to stay as Labour leader and destroy the party even further. After hes had his way I dont think Labour will be elected for another 15 or 20 years. Theres an old saying, Dont look a gift horse in the mouth. Well, we aint complaining with Gordo thats for sure. He was the best thing that ever happened for our party and because of his yellow cowardly party members who dont have a backbone between them he has guaranteed an election loss for Labour and a win for us, Alan Bates, Conservative MP for the South Suffolk constituency of Trumpington, told the Guardian newspaper. Looks like the yellow streak of cowardice runs deep in the Labour party, where no one apart from one minister had the guts to tell the loser in chief that HE was the problem. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Brown is so deluded that even though 90% of the country are dying for him to go he will hold onto his post purely for his ego and power crazy ideals of greed and waste. He is a bane and burden on this country and wishes to punish the people for denying him respect that he thinks is due to him. But how can you respect a power crazed control freak like him who releases stories of his daughters death on the eve before the country went to the European and district polls? He sold the story of his daughters death to garner sympathy which is a truly despicable way of trying to gain support in an election. It was a last ditch attempt by a man who who has no qualms about selling his own family so that he can stay in political power. In short, he is the sole reason the Labour party will be in the wilderness for the next 10 30 years minimum. The Tories should thank Gordon, a Labour backbencher disclosed to the BBC today. LONDON - England - All across the country there were celebrations and street parties to rival even the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the BBC reported. From Lands End to John OGroats, from Grimsby to Grimtowne, Britains streets were today awash with people dancing and celebrating after Gordon Brown announced the end of the biggest recession since the last Labour government was in power. Ive lost my home, my wife and kids, my job, everything I owned and even my dog. But, when I heard the announcement that Britains GDP rose by 0.00001% today and that were out of the recession, I fuckin jumped up in joy and said by gawd Im going to vote for Labour again. What a genius Gordon and his boys are, innit, George Numpty, 45, a resident of the Northern Yorkshire town of Grimness, told the BBC. Even a homeless man living under Waterloo bridge threw up his arms and was all praise for Gordon Brown: Gordos done it again, last year I had a successful business, a house and a future. Today, Ive got a cardboard box and a rolled up Mirror newspaper. Im so glad I voted for Labour, theyre financial geniuses they are. With the recession over, I think I might upgrade to a plyboard or MDF box. Unelected Prime Minister, Gordon Brown even made an appearance at a home for destitute pensioners, where they are processed before put in coffins and buried. He was cheered as he walked into the home to witness how the pensioners are disposed of. Waving resolutely, he even managed a smile before being ushered into the Nil by Mouth processing centre. LONDON - England - In dawn raids this morning, 38 Conservative MPs, including Tory leader, David Cameron, were held at undisclosed locations on suspicion of attempted kidnap. We have reason to believe that Liberal Democrat candidate, Nicholas Clegg was nearly kidnapped last night but the plot was foiled by our officers who had been tracking the Tories for some time, Detective Inspector, Michael Knutter told the Independent. The Conservative MPs tried to kidnap the popular Lib. Dem. leader from his home and ship him to France where he could be stranded, because of the volcanic ash travel chaos. The Tories were hoping that Mr Clegg would be stranded in France until after the election was over. We found intricate plans detailing the kidnap plot and we swooped on the properties of the Conservative MPs early in the morning. One particular MP even tried to hide in his duck house but was eventually discovered by one of our police dogs, Inspector Knutter added. Ever since the infamous election TV debates, the knives have been out for Clegg who has trumped both Labour and the Conservatives in popularity polls. WARSAW - Poland - Nazi stormtroopers have stormed a flotilla of ships carrying activists and aid supplies to a blockaded Jewish ghetto, killing as many as 16 of those on board. The Warsaw ghetto which has been blockaded by the Nazis has left the Jews inside without food, shelter or hope. There are many women and children who are without food or water because the Nazis are stopping anything coming through to the ghetto. This is why this last ship trying to bring in aid for the starving Jews was their last chance from the evil Nazi octopus grip of death. We fear many more will perish, a humanitarian aid worker revealed. A spokeswoman for the flotilla, Anne Frank, said she had been told ten people had been killed and dozens wounded, accusing Nazi troops of indiscriminately shooting at unarmed civilians. But a local Fascist radio station said that between 14 and 16 untermenschen were dead in a continuing extermination operation. LONDON - England - The Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke's U-turn on the Tory election pledge of hard-line tactics on violent crime is now proposing that criminals who commit violent offences like murder and rape should only be briefly imprisoned after their third murder, senior Whitehall officials disclosed. There is this misconception that the government is there to protect the public, nothing can be further from the truth, a prominent member of Whitehall disclosed on Tuesday. Part of the Coalitions cost cutting drive of reducing the prison population should also reduce the population as well. Were going for a two tiered approach here. The violent criminals, thugs and rapists which we will release onto the streets after they commit their heinous crimes will also help reduce the population of Britain as well. We are already in a population explosion situation in the UK with the cities becoming increasingly overcrowded. By increasing public unrest, riots, murders and violence, the government saves money on pensions, the ailing NHS, welfare and prisons. Its basically a win win situation for the government, because MPs will now be allowed to keep their expenses as well, Ken Clarke told a Commons hearing on Monday. The Justice Secretary also proposed that there should be a three strikes law for murderers: Murder is a pretty bad thing, but these people are clogging up our prisons at a great cost to the government. This is why I propose that Britains murderers and violent killers be given three chances, then after their third murder or stabbing, they should be incarcerated for a maximum sentence of three months, then released again to commit more murder and mayhem. Mr Clarke was praised in Westminster when he presented the green paper that watered down a catalogue of punishments. I think what Ken has done is a remarkable achievement. His wonderful proposals will release a torrent of filth, scum and violence onto the already filthy, scum ridden streets. Therefore there will be more aggro, violence and brutality meted out onto the deserving public. I just cant stop giggling at the thought of it all, Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg said during the Commons meeting. LONDON - England - An unnamed High Court judge has given himself a super-injunction gagging order, secret papers have revealed. The judge, who presides in the High Courts, decided two weeks ago to slap a gagging order on himself so that no one finds out about his extra-curricular activites. Hes very upset and he does not want anyone to know about the dungeons he frequents after court sessions, a court source told the Sun newspaper. Already on social networking sites like Twitter, there is a buzz about who the errant judge is. We need to take away this veil of secrecy with gagging orders. This judge may like to be gagged and whipped by a Madam in some Westminster dungeon, but whats he doing putting an actual gagging order on it whilst actually being gagged? Im outraged at the hypocrisy of it all, Lib. Dem. MP for Whittingshaw, Bernard Jenks, told the BBC from a West London brothel. LONDON - England - As if the UK taxpayer wasn't enough in the red, now the Coalition government is to build thousands of collectivist hovels all over the British countryside. Plans to allow unemployable work-shy buyers of new homes to borrow up to 95% of their value, with the taxpayer footing most of the risk, are to be unveiled by the Coalition. Instead of the taxpayer footing the bill to put these people up in rented council estates, we plan to blight the British countryside with unsightly tower blocks and rows upon rows of box houses so that they can own their own property, all funded by the lousy taxpayer, of course, Mr Cameron told a consortium of wide eyed property developers. Microdistrict Hell Planning permission has already been granted to build over the Cotswalds as well all Green Belt land in England and Wales. This is just another way to bankrupt the taxpayer further, because these people who will be given massive subsidies to move into these houses will have no means of paying for the mortgages the taxpayer has underwritten. Simple, where are the jobs? Its another nail in the coffin and a sure way to force the UK into the euro currency. That after all, is the ultimate plan by the Coalition and eurocrats, a Whitehall source told the BBC. It seems that as well as the bankers and energy companies getting healthy doses of taxpayer cash, now its the turn of the property developers. Its going to be a fuckin clean up session. The government is giving us a blank cheque so we can build sub-standard poorly designed blights on the landscape all over the countryside. Ive just put in another order for a Ferrari and Ive bought my wife a new Bentley, all thanks to the taxpayer, thank you very much, you stupid arseholes, Seamus Doherty, a property developer told Cowboy magazine. LONDON - England - David Cameron has defended his call for more understanding of why bankers commit banking - and rejected suggestions he wants people to "hug a banker". The Conservative leader said he wanted to understand whats gone wrong in these bankers lives. In a separate speech on Friday he also called for the FSA to do less banker bashing and more form filling. But Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls dismissed the Tory leaders approach as vacuous and wash-and-go politics. Bankers are people too In a speech on how bankers actually benefit society, Mr Cameron claimed bankers who hide in pin stripe suits are trying to blend in rather than appear threatening. Bankers wearing pin stripe suits and braces known as wankers have come to be viewed by some as a symbol of social disorder, chaos, greed and evil. Earlier Mr Cameron told BBC Breakfast he was still tough on financial greed. Of course people who commit to working in the banking industry should be held responsible. But I think people want their politicians to ask the question: What is it that brought that banker to commit to working in a bank at that time? Whats the background to it, what are the long-term causes of banking? If youre ill, its no good putting a sticking plaster on it. Youve got to get to the bottom of the illness. Lets try and understand whats gone wrong in these greedy fuckers lives and well find its about family breakdown, its about drugs, money, greed, escorts, fast cars, its about alcohol abuse, often its bankers who are brought up in privileged dysfunctional families when they should be in loving homes. Lets now deal with those problems. That doesnt mean at the same we cant be tough when a banker is caught banking. Mr Cameron has even gone as far to suggest that the nation sets aside a day to Hug a Banker and bring them back into decent society. But Labour has criticised Mr Camerons line, calling it a hug a banker plan. Mr Balls also claimed the Conservatives had regularly bashed bankers as much as anyone else. Sending out this hug-a-banker message just addresses one part of that, and its for todays headlines. Its a kind of wash-and-go approach to politics get the headline, move on, never repeat the thing again. There are continuing concerns for bankers welfare as many are now so persecuted that they are leaving the City in droves. This could be a tragedy for Londons cocaine and strip bar industry. COOKSVILLE - USA - Republican hopeful Rick Santorum today visited a sanitarium on the outskirts of one of the towns on his campaign trail but after entering was told he cannot leave. As Republican candidates go, you cant get more boring and clean-cut than Rick Santorum, that is until today, when he visited a sanitarium on his way to Michigan. Proprietor and keeper of the CC DeVille Sanitarium, Joel Aburdside, said: This Italian prick turns up, he keeps talkin about abortions, Satan and how were going to have to cleanse the nation. He kept babbling about the Pope and Jesus and looking around all wild eyed. Well, I thought to myself this guy aint all here. Anyone who starts talking to God and Jesus over their shoulder is clinically insane. We need to intern him for some psychiatric evaluations, stick him in the rubber room, dose him up with some chemical lobotomy shit. Well, we did just that folks, theres the paisan over there, hes in cell B7 right now talking about hells damnation and how hes gong to win the presidential elections. You cant get more crazy than that. What was meant to be a routine tour stop has turned out to be a nightmare for Mr Santorum, as he has been interned indefinitely in the sanitarium until he is seen fit to be released maybe in ten or twenty years. The presidential hopefuls aides and campaign managers were distraught today and running around like headless chickens. Poor bastard went in to the sanitarium and he cant get out now. This is some bad news for the Republicans, a chuckling Democrat on Capitol Hill told CBS news. BUGERWELL - England - The Roman Catholic Church is planning to enlist the support of more than a million regular worshippers in opposition to Coalition Government plans to restrict and curb paedophile Catholic priests. . Senior bishops are preparing to draw up a letter to be read at Masses across England and Wales when the Government consultation on plans to restrict the Catholic tradition of priest molestation of young boys gets under way later this month, it is understood. It would be only the second time in recent history that a joint pastoral letter on behalf of all Catholic bishops in England and Wales has been issued on an issue of political importance This is a direct attack on the institution of the Catholic church and its priests practices that have been going on for centuries and have been protected by every successive Pope since the beginning of our institution. We, and our clergy will fight to the bitter end to defend our priests who enjoy fiddling with little children in the name of Jesus Christ our lord. It is our fundamental right as Catholic Christians to be abused as children by these priests, and it is the right of the priests to do the dirty work, Cardinal Seamus McMahon, told members at the College of Cardinals, the body which elects popes. The Catholic church is known all over the world for its penchant for child abuse and the massive cover ups involved going up to the highest levels of the evil organisation. We still do not know what happens below the Vatican in the catacombs and secret tunnels. The current black pope, Ratzinger, goes down there for days as they have goats and young children delivered there never to return to the surface. The black masses and rituals they hold are a stark contrast to the fake rituals they perform above ground. Some say there are sacrifices to entities baying for blood, but no one has ever made it out alive, a Vatican investigator told Italian paper, La Stampa. It is quite ironic that the Catholic church officially opposes gay marriage yet 94% of their clergy are homosexual deviants who prey on little children, John Doherty, 45, a man who was abused as a child by a Catholic priest, who was never brought to justice, told the Dublin Times. After the shooting of that black boy for walking within our gated community housing area, we have decided to allow some black people the opportunity to see how white people live in America, Artie Meisner, a community watch leader for the Sanford gated community told Fox news. Even though US racial segregation supposedly ended in 1967, the black and white communities in America are probably even more segregated now than even in the past but the US government has plans to allow African Americans some access to gated communities which are mainly populated by white Americans. Any area where there is an influx of black people usually results in a phenomenon called White Flight. This is when whites leave in droves leaving nothing. Then the black people move in and that is that. We want to try and introduce black people in Florida into the lives of white people who live in secluded gated communities with armed guards patrolling them. If one of those white folk meets a black person, they might see that hes a real person and is not a mugger or a thief, congressman, Al Shipton, told CBS news. Professor Dean Markfloe, at the University of Southern Florida explained: Its called economic segregation. The move from overt segregation towards covert segregation utilising elements of economic technique to separate blacks from the rest of the population. Within American society most blacks are portrayed as stupid, oafish hip hop rapping, low pant slinging, freeloaders, and are actively segregated with their own shows, schools and ghettos. If one studies rappers like 50 Cent, you will see how blacks are exploited by white record executives and society in general and how public relation culture creators engineer new fads and youth movements that are followed blindly by millions of impressionable youngsters. 50 Cent may have fifty odd million dollars in his bank but he is still a product of the ghetto and he is still manipulated and milked by white executives and money men. His image like any other rapper or hip hop person is one of ridicule, not only because his culture was given to him by the white man so that he can be ridiculed but because he actually thinks he looks good hunching around his gold laminated cheap looking furniture holding bundles of money in his tasteless crib. These people are no more than uneducated thugs, they may have the money but money cannot buy a modicum of class or intelligence. In America, it doesnt matter how much money you have if youre black, youre still a ni66er, and that is what counts. Until black people reject hip hop and rap culture, they will only be viewed as caricatures and objects of ridicule, the professor, who is himself African American added. Indeed, it seems that having a black man walk along an American street wearing a hoodie is invariably viewed as more threatening than a white person doing the same thing. As is the case with Trayvon Martin, he was a victim of the black stereotype which was inflicted on him by his own African American brothers and sisters. They are as much to blame as any white propagandist or popular youth culture creator who exploits black people for profit because they have accepted and adopted the stereotypes given to them, to become reality. WASHINGTON DC - USA - Election experts are getting ready with their magnifying glasses again for those dimpled chads during the election voter count. Its that election time again and many are expecting the same sort of chad drama as was witnessed during the Florida count in 2000. I cant wait to see those dimpled chads and I been waiting four years for another dimple session, Chad Briers, an election official told CBS news. This year it could be down to the wire with Romney vs Obama in a dimpled chad showdown that could swing things for the right candidate. Dimpled chads, hanging chads, pregnant chads, ooh I cant wait to wade into those chads come election time, Jimmy Coursey, another vote official told ABC news. Things moved on good for us. We got an African president, we dunno if hes American though, but still hes black, Kleavon Johnsons, a community youth worker from Chicago told CNN yesterday. Martin Luther King, had a dream, he inspired a revolution with some Americans during the civil rights movement in the 1960s that quashed the states overt racist agenda, however all that he did has been lost in time as the black people of America are now covertly being subdued and their own actions and culture are not helping things either. Senior analyst at Washington D.Cs Population Matrix think tank reveals some very telling truths: What MLK did was to flick a switch from overt racism to covert racism. We now have quotas to put black people in jobs and universities whether they are qualified or not. Some say Obama is himself part of the affirmative action project, but he is part white, so there are other variables working with that one, I suspect if he was fully black he would never have got a look in. Most African Americans today are either in prison or living in ghettos, the ones that do escape through affirmative action are the chosen few. The celebrated thugs, the hoodies, the EBT card holders, the rappers and their hoes, the crack, the low slung pants, the prisons, the liquor stores, the flash mob robberies, the incessant violence, the ebonics, and social unrest are all entrenched in poverty of class and mind. American cities have been flooded with fatherless kids all milling around, bored out of their uneducated minds leaving destitution and carnage in their wake. Why do you think there is white flight when a neighbourhood becomes black? The answer is in the fact that Martin Luther Kings dream never happened and by the looks of it will never happen. Since 2001, 8,000 American soldiers have lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In the same time period, over 190,000 African Americans have lost their lives on the streets of America usually with black on black shootings and gang related violence. This is tribal warfare, pure and simple. One would have thought that president Obama would have been a champion of the African American people. Instead his tenure has seen more racial unrest, more African American poverty, more Obama sanctioned abortions and more overt hatred. It is with great generosity that Obama has given back Iraq to its people. We thank you. May Allah bless you Barack Hussein, you have taught that dog Bush a lesson. He was only fit for a shoe, you on the other hand are our brother. I send you a thousand blessings, a radicalised Islamist from Luton, England now fighting in Tikrit told Iraqi news agencies. The streets of Mosul and Tikrit were today filled with joyous chanting and bullet fire as Iraqis in the region celebrated with more beheadings. Meanwhile in Mosul, fighters seized a bank looting $429 million of cash, making them the richest Jihadis on earth. Were thinking of sending a thank you letter to Washington. Im so happy right now, I got some gold bars, my AK and road map to Baghdad, a multi millionaire rebel said from his Mercedes. Forget about think tanks, how about a question tank? The Question Tank, an independently funded question think tank sort of thing from Washington D.C. has a question that may lead to an answer somewhere. All you have to do is put two and two together, et voila. Former Bush Vice President, Dick Cheney on a recent radio interview claimed that another 911 attack on America will happen soon. Well, in no uncertain terms, how the hell is he so sure? Dr. Edelweiss Krantz, a chief researcher explains: Dick Cheney knows another 911 will happen soon, because he has high access. Thats all were going to say about that. If one reads the Project For the New American Century published in 2000, Dick Cheney and his cohorts laid out their plans for U.S. global hegemony. The 90 page document is basically a lamentation of the lacklustre nature of the U.S. military at the time and outlined how the whole system needed a major overhaul financially as well as technically. Mentioning a Pearl Harbor event on page 63, this event would give a tremendous boost to much needed post-Clinton military funding fast. Without the 911 attack in 2001, America would never have invaded Iraq or Afghanistan, thats a hard fact and not a conspiracy theory. The question will always be, cui bono, i.e. who benefited from 911? It certainly was not any Arab/Muslim entity or nation. I think there lies the answer to the initial question. Sacrifice Throughout history, there have been many such techniques utilised to go to war or instate inhibitive laws. In military academies throughout the world, and in intelligence agencies, this form of attack is an effective tool for rallying the people and increasing patriotic fervour, or bringing in further draconian laws on the indigenous populations. As for collateral damage, in every war, there are always civilian casualties, but the gains from Iraqs oil fields would outnumber any American civilian losses, theyre just numbers to the hierarchy. Some 9/11 technical similarities are also very prevalent in the 7/7 attacks on Britain; which ultimately enabled security forces to bring in hugely inhibitive laws and a mass surveillance society blanketing the whole of the UK. How does this fit into the current position the globe is in now? Well, Dick Cheney said there will be another 911 attack, therefore, he has admitted within that statement alone that he knows that there will be another attack imminent. This will probably be the next necessary step in the perpetual war of terror, it may equal complete economic meltdown, thus letting the Fed off the hook. Hey, it wasnt our fault, someone else did it. It is plainly obvious to many economists that the U.S. fiscal debt and liabilities are too high to ever pay off, there is only one way to solve that problem. Further reasons for another 911 style attack are too numerous to write here, but the benefits to the U.S. regime would be enormous. And there you have it, a brief analysis of the situation is clear to so many but the hypnotic shroud does not enable people to fathom the reality. Sometimes, you have to see the reality of the situation, however painful it is to your eyes, and your sensibilities. Now you know why not one fighter jet was scrambled on September 11, Why George W. Bush continued to read a childrens book in a class even when informed of the attack by an aide and why out of the fine dust of the twin towers, they magically found the intact passports of the perpetrators of that self inflicted crime. Make your own decision, but to see the truth, one must understand that statecraft does not see anything else but numbers. You are nothing but a number, and to gain conquest, the people have to take a hit sometimes. Human life is a mere statistic to the core, your life is not worth much when military expenditure or oil conquest is involved in the mix. The stakes are a lot higher this time, so I am sure the engineers behind the scenes will make a good one of the next 911. Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event like a new Pearl Harbor. Domestic politics and industrial policy will shape the pace and content of transformation as much as the requirements of current missions. Mumbai: From now on, claiming tax benefits on rent paid under House Rent Allowance rules of Income Tax Act will no longer be that easier. This especially when you are staying at your parent's or relative's place. Given the substantial rise in number of fake rent receipts that are being submitted with employers, the income tax department has decided to change some rule, and make them tough too. I-T department will subject such requests for exemption to strict scrutiny under income tax rules before any such benefit is granted to the taxpayer. The department will direct employers to ask employees asking for HRA exemptions to furnish 'substantial' proof. Majority number of employees under salaried class bracket claim income tax exemptions on HRA at the end of every financial year to pay lesser taxes as section 10 (13A) of the Income Tax provides for exemption. An Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in Mumbai recently denied a woman a claim on house rent allowance. Times of India report said she had paid rent in cash to her mother, "but was unable to substantiate it". Mumbai tribunal observed, "An assessee cannot be granted exemptions on house rent allowances (HRA) against 'sham' rent payments." Most of the exemptions claimed by employees in the name of parent's home will require more proof. Mumbai bench of tax tribunal read out a number of 'additional' documents needed by employees to support their claim of "staying at parent, relative's home". The bench has mandated employees to produce leave and licence agreement, letter to society intimating about tenancy, payment through bank, cash payments backed with known sources etc. Apart from that electricity bill payments through cheques, water bill payments through cheques etc besides the correspondence during the period of alleged tenancy will also be required. In past, petrol dealers have raised their demand for a hike in commission. Mumbai: As many as 25,000 petrol pumps in some parts of country will down their shutters starting May 14 every Sunday, according to a report in Business Standard. The call by petrol pumps under the umbrella of Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers was seen as in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for a less fuel consumption regime. However, the report adds the decision might be a pressure tactics employed by these dealers for getting a hike in commission on fuel sale. Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers claims it has some 25,000 petrol pumps in its kitty in parts of Maharashtra and some pockets of southern India. Interestingly, the All India Petroleum Dealers' Association has distanced itself from the announcement and said that it was not part of the agitation. Earlier, the CIPD has raised its demand for a hike in commission on fuel sales. The government has still not taken any decision on the demand, but it is now highly likely that government will accelerate its procedure to redress their appeal. "Except for emergency services like ambulance, fuel will not be available for other vehicles on Sundays," Business Standard quoted CIPD president A D Sathyanarayan as saying. The association is also considering an eight-hour working days from May, he added. New Delhi: The government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to monitor the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN which seeks to make flying affordable by connecting unserved and under-served airports. Besides, the panel would be responsible for coordination among stakeholders, including state governments, for "time bound" implementation of the scheme. The Civil Aviation Ministry has already awarded 128 routes connecting 70 airports to five airlines, including SpiceJet and an Air India subsidiary, under the scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik). Chaired by Civil Aviation Secretary, the 'Inter- Ministerial Monitoring-cum-Coordination Committee' would have representations from the ministries of finance, defence, home as well as petroleum and natural gas, as per a notification. Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman, representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) apart from officials of airlines and states concerned would also be part of the panel. If required, the panel's chairperson can co-opt any officer or expert, according to the notification issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry. The committee would be responsible for "overall monitoring of the schemes of promotion of regional connectivity by way of revival of unserved and under-served airports/airstrips and RCS-UDAN", it added. In the flights operated under RCS, around 50 per cent of the seats would have a fare cap Rs 2,500 per seat/hour. Apart from various incentives, the operators of such flights would be extended viability gap funding for which money is partly raised through a levy of up to Rs 8,500 on flights operating in major routes like Delhi and Mumbai. The viability gap funding would be in place for three years for the airlines concerned from the date of starting operations in a particular UDAN route. Other benefits include zero airport charges for the operators and three-year exclusivity on the routes. Income funds, which provide returns either on monthly or quarterly basis as opposed to capital appreciation, attracted Rs 1.22 lakh crore. New Delhi: Investors pumped in a record Rs3.43 lakh crore in mutual funds (MFs) in 2016-17, mainly into income and liquid schemes. According to the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) data, a net of Rs 3,43,049 crore was invested in these schemes last fiscal ended March 31, more than double of Rs 1,34,180 crore seen in 2015-16. This was the highest investment in MF schemes since 1999-2000. The data for entire fiscal prior to this period is not available with Amfi. "Financial year 2016-17 has been a golden year for Mutual Fund industry and much of the credit can be given to maturity of retail investors who have come up in the 'learning curve' by contributing 1.3 crore monthly systematic investment plans," Bajaj Capital Group Director Anil Chopra said. COO of Fundsindia.com, an MF investment portal, Srikanth Meenakshi said: "Retail investors appear to have become savvier, using liquid schemes to either earn higher returns or to run Systematic Transfer Plan (STPs) into equity funds. "Inflows into debt funds have risen. Deposit rates have been falling, resulting in lower returns for investors. Falling rates help debt fund returns as yields instruments rally, which could have additionally helped draw in investors," he said. Investors have put in most of the money in liquid, income and equity funds. Income funds, which provide returns either on monthly or quarterly basis as opposed to capital appreciation, attracted Rs 1.22 lakh crore. Such funds usually hold a variety of government, municipal and corporate debt obligations, preferred stock and dividend-paying stocks. Liquid or money market fund category saw net inflows of Rs 95,826 crore. They invest mainly in money market instruments like commercial papers, treasury bills, term deposits and have a lower maturity period and do not have any lock-in period. Equity and equity-linked schemes saw inflows of more than Rs 70,000 crore. The robust inflow has helped assets under management (AUM) of all the 41 active fund houses soared to a record Rs 18.3 lakh crore at the end of March 31, 2017 from Rs 13.53 lakh crore at the end of preceding fiscal. Global stocks of corn, wheat, rice and soybeans combined will hit a record 671.1 million tonnes going into the next harvest - the third straight year of historically high surplus, said US department of agriculture. Chicago: Iowa farmer Karl Fox is drowning in corn. Reluctant to sell his harvest at todays rock-bottom prices, he has stuffed storage bins at his property full and left more corn piled on the ground, covered with a tarp. He would rather risk potential crop damage from the elements than pay the exorbitant cost of storage elsewhere. Thats how poor people do it, said Fox, who has been farming for 28 years. You do what you have to do. Farmers face similar problems across the globe. World stockpiles of corn and wheat are at record highs. From Iowa to China, years of bumper crops and low prices have overwhelmed storage capacity for basic foodstuffs. Global stocks of corn, wheat, rice and soybeans combined will hit a record 671.1 million tonnes going into the next harvest the third straight year of historically high surplus, according to the US department of agriculture (USDA). Thats enough to cover demand from China for about a year. In the United States, farmers facing a fourth straight year of declining incomes and rising debts are hanging on to grain in the hope of higher prices later. They may be waiting a long time: Market fundamentals appear to be weakening as the worlds top grain producers ponder what to do with so much food. The persistent glut is a striking contrast from the panic a decade ago, when severe droughts in Russia and the US sent prices soaring. The shrinking supply forced big import-ers such as China to enact policies to encourage more domestic production and increase the volume of storage to improve food security. China abandoned that policy last year and is now selling off hundreds of millions of tonnes of old stocks. Russia, too, is looking at exporting from state-held stockpiles, with storage stuffed after a record harvest in 2016. A surge of Chinese and Russian exports would put even more downward pressure on prices in an oversupplied global market. That means US farmers will likely be producing more grain for less money. The USDA forecasts net farm income will fall 8.7 per cent this year to $62.3 billion the lowest level since 2009. On the other side of the globe in Australia, demand for the storage bags has exploded after farmers produced record crops of wheat and barley. Storing grain gives farmers more control over when and how they sell, to avoid low harvest-time pri-ces and to best take advantage of spikes in futures or currency swings. Permanent storage in the United States can handle about 24.3 billion bushels - well short of the 25.9 billion bushels of wheat, soybeans and feed grains the USDA said was piled up by the end of last autumns harvest. The overflow in the US has prompted a rush for temporary storage. The USDA has approved permits for more than 1.2 billion bushels of temporary and emergency grain storage - such as tarp-covered piles and open-air mounds. Thats a record amount, according to the USDA. In Kansas, some grain owners are renting airport tarmacs from decommissioned military bases, empty farm fields and parking lots to stash their corn as the situation becomes acute, according to farmers and local, state and federal officials. Meanwhile, there are no signs of a slowdown in grain production. The USDA already expects 2016/17 global harvests to be the highest since its records started in 1960/61 at 340.79 million tonnes of soybeans, 1.049 billion tonnes of corn and 751.07 million tonnes of wheat. Mumbai: No matter how many times the trolls target Rishi Kapoor, he, unabashedly, continues to tweet his heart out. After making headlines for sending abusive direct messages to a woman, the yesteryear actor is at it again and this time with people from across the border. In the wake of Pakistan slamming death penalty on former Indian Navy Officer Kulbhushan Yadav for allegedly being a spy, the actor spoke out against it on Twitter and received backlash for the same, especially from Pakistani Twitter accounts. He said: Sorry India.Tried to broker peace via actors,films,sports etc..with Pakistan,but they just want hatred,so be it!Taali do haath se bajti hai! Soon after, hate messages started to pour in from Pakistanis. Now Kapoor, who is never afraid to get back at haters, spotted each one of them and gave, as some would say, befitting replies. Here are some of the mean tweets that were directed towards the actor and his replies to them: Kapoor, however, found a supporter in one Pakistani girl and was all praise for her. Salman has always supported fresh talent and Akash Thosar would be a happy man. Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has shared a poster of 'Sairat' actor Aakash Thosar's next film 'FU'. The movie has been directed by Salman's friend, actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar. "Sairat throb #AakashThosar is back with @manjrekarmahesh's #FU," Salman posted on Twitter, alongside the poster which reads "He Is Back." 'FU' will release on June 2. This is Aakash's second film. The actor's debut Marathi film 'Sairat' directed by Nagraj Manjule, was a superhit. The film Bank Chor is a much delayed project, which was scheduled for an early 2015 release but is finally coming to theatres on June 16, this year. The film features Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi and Rhea Chakraborthy in the lead roles. The latest we hear is that the makers are planning to release the film in fewer theatres around India. They are aiming for a digital release (either with Netflix or Amazon prime). The producers have also allotted rupees one crore only for the publicity of the film considering it is a delayed project. adds a source. Vivek Oberoi Bank Chor is a comic-caper, that tells the story of three men trying to rob a bank, and pick the worst day possible. The film tells the story about how everything goes wrong and how theyre inadvertently caught in the crossfire between cops, industrialists and corrupt politicians. Bank Chor is directed by Bumpy and produced by Ashish Patil. However, when contacted, the spokesperson of Y-Films denied the development. Mumbai: Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk, who welcomed their first child together two weeks ago, have named their newborn daughter Lea de Seine Shayk Cooper. "They are both extremely thrilled and feel so blessed," a source told E! Online. Bradley, 42 and Irina, 31, are said to be already thinking about siblings for Lea. "Bradley and Irina love each other so much and this is not gonna be the only kid - there will be a few more after this one. Both families are very happy," the insider added. Shayk's pregnancy news broke last November after she was photographed on the Victoria Secret runway with ensembles that covered her midsection. It looks like Amy Jackson has got some serious competition in tinsel town. Popular Turkish model, theatre personality and actress, Berguzar Korel is making her foray into Kollywood with Arabu Thaakku. Directed by Francis, the movie has Nikesh Ram a discovery of ace filmmaker, Bharathan playing the lead. Set in Dubai, it is an intense love story which traces the difficulties faced by people from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, who go in search of jobs to Arab countries. Talking about choosing Berguzar for the film, Francis says, As per the script, the hero falls in love with an Arabian girl, who is keen on knowing about Tamil culture, and traditions. She also desires to learn the language. Despite the strict laws with respect to women in Arabic countries, how the hero accomplishes what he wants, forms the crux. When we were in search of a heroine, we came across a report that said Berguzar Korel (best known for her role in the Binbir Gece series) had been named as the best Turkish actress in a survey conducted by an Arab TV station. I felt she was a perfect fit for the role. The director claims that he plans to shoot at Burj Khalifa, the modern identity of Dubai, besides shooting in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Tamil Nadu. Theres a belly dance sequence in the movie as well, he reveals, as he signs off. A still from 'Baahubali: The Conclusion'. Mumbai: Looks like Prabhas' hard work for five-long-years is paying him back really well. After garnering huge appreciation nationwide, it is heard, the actor and his onscreen character 'Baahubali,' have fascinated the makers of 'Game of Thrones.' On this note, it is already known that a lot of International experts were part of 'Baahubali: The Conclusion' crew. Sources say that Prabhas aka Baahubali, presently, is a topic of discussion in the international circuit. The actor has dedicated five years of his life, living the character of Baahubali, to fulfill director S.S. Rajamouli's vision. Speaking on the same, Rajamouli was quoted saying, "Show me one actor, who can spend more than three years on a character he believes in." Well Prabhas' power packed performance surely justifies Rajamouli's claims! 'Baahubali: The Conclusion,' also starring Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Sathyaraj and Tamannaah Bhatia, is all set to hit the theatres on April 28. The harvested heart was yesterday transported from Unity Hospital in Gujarat's Surat to Fortis Hospital in suburban Mulund (Photo: AFP) Mumbai: A 27-year-old Ukrainian national got a new lease of life after she underwent heart transplant at a hospital in neighbouring Mumbai following organ donation by the family of a young road accident victim in Surat. The harvested heart was yesterday transported from Unity Hospital in Gujarat's Surat to Fortis Hospital in suburban Mulund in 1.32 hours, covering a distance of 317 km. The recipient, a housewife from Ukraine, was suffering from post-partum dilated cardiomyopathy, an uncommon form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth. The disorder carries a high mortality rate, a Fortis hospital release said. The harvested heart was taken out of the Surat-based hospital at 09.30 AM and transferred into a chartered flight that was on stand-by. The flight took off at 9.57 AM and landed in Mumbai at 10.30 AM. The ambulance carrying the harvested heart reached the Fortis Hospital in Mulund at 11.02 PM, the release said. The organ donation in Surat happened after a 22-year-old man, who worked with a bank, was declared brain dead following a road accident. The deceased's family was counselled by an NGO to donate his heart, liver, pancreas, corneas and kidneys. With the consent in place, the retrieval process started and the harvested heart was brought to Mumbai and transplanted into the Ukrainian national who was on the wait list, the release said. Fortis Hospital's cardiac transplant team head Dr Anvay Mulay said, "The surgery has been concluded and the recipient is now stable. We will continue to monitor her in the ICU for next 48 to 72 hours." "The donor family's contribution to the wait listed patients is unmatched. They've saved and enriched lives of seven recipients through their young son," he said. This is the 46th heart transplant carried out in the metropolis, the release said. "This achievement is fruition of efforts put in by all stakeholders who worked in tandem to breathe new life into our and six other deserving patients," Fortis hospital's zonal director Dr S Narayani said. "We extend our humble appreciation to the donor family. It is because of them that our clinicians have managed to save this young lady," Narayani said. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had earlier dropped hints to make the state polythene free while addressing the Republic Day parade here on January 26. Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday decided to ban the use of polythene and plastic bags in the state from May 1 to arrest growing trend of cattle deaths, caused by consumption of the synthetic product. Use of polythene and plastic carry bags has already been restricted in tourist places and holy cities in the state since January one this year. It has been decided to ban use of polythene and plastic carry bags in the state from May 1 in the interest of environment as well as to prevent deaths of cattle caused by consumption of these materials, state parliamentary affairs minister Narottam Mishra said. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had earlier dropped hints to make the state polythene free while addressing the Republic Day parade here on January 26. Polythene materials cause danger to environment and lives of cattle, he had said. Anybody caught using polythene carry bags will be punished after the ban on their use came into force in the state, he said. The decision came in the wake of directives by National Green Tribunal in Madhya Prasad, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to ban use of polythene bags nearly four years ago. Thiruvananthapuram: A man who was arrested for killing four people, told police that he allegedly committed the crime as part of an experiment to detach souls from human bodies. According to a Hindustan Times report, psychiatrists were called in after to interrogate the suspect, who also suffered from bipolar disorder. The suspect had claimed that the murders were part of an experiment in the field of astral projection. Astral projection involves separating ones soul from its physical body to create an out-of-body experience. The suspect was fascinated by the concept after coming back from Australia where he studied. Many pieces of circumstantial evidence had pointed to the culpability of Cadell Jeansen Raja, who was arrested on Monday and was being interrogated in connection with the murder of four including his parents and sister. The police, during the first day of probe on Sunday, identified the fuel pump at Pattom from where he purchased litres of petrol to burn the bodies. Until minutes before the house was set ablaze, he deliberately tried to hide his presence in the house. Furthermore, he is suspected to have laced the food eaten by his parents professor Raja Thankam, 60, Dr Jean Padma, 58, and sister Carol, 25, before allegedly murdering them. Phenol was purchased to camouflage the smell of putrefying bodies and police has identified the source. He stayed with the three dead bodies for over a day planning various ways to dispose them. Finally, he hacked his blind relative Anitha Jane, 70, into pieces on Friday. In order to avoid the maid, he asked her to cook food and keep it at his relatives house but did not show up there. The police were verifying whether a gaming addiction has served as a catalyst to his allegedly murdering his family. Cadell was sent to Philippines to study MBBS but discontinued his studies claiming computer engineering was his forte. Later he studied engineering in Australia but returned home after flunking. He has reportedly co-developed a gaming search engine which he sold to a multinational company earning big bucks that helped him thrive. Hyderabad: Short stature, a lean physique and a feminine voice forced an engineering student to end his life in Yadadri district. Guguloth Gopichand, 19, hailing from Khammam district, was found hanging in the college hostel on Sunday night. Gopichand was five feet tall. Gopichand joined ECE at the Tudi Ramreddy College in Gudur village, and was staying at its hostel. On Sunday midnight his roommates found the room locked from inside and despite knocking Gopichand did not respond. When they peeped through the ventilator they found him hanging on the ceiling. Police found a two-page suicide note in Telugu in which he stated that nobody liked him. Nobody is responsible for my death. I cannot mix with others. So nobody has a hand in my death. I am dying due to my own problems, the note said. Police found that Gopichand was depressed as he was short, lean and had a feminine voice. Prima facie we found that he was depressed with his appearance and voice. He attempted suicide in December 2016 but survived, Bibinagar sub inspector D. Suresh Kumar said. In the suicide note he said that he had been in love with a girl, but she wanted a good looking, educated guy. My academic performance is poor. So she rejected me, he said in the note. Police found from his college friends that he had been a loner who never mixed with his classmates. Based on his father Narsu's complaint, a suspicious death case was registered and the body was handed over to the family after post-mortem. New Delhi: The army was allegedly cheated by revenue officials into paying rent for land parcels which were in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told the house that nine such instances have come to light and an investigation is on. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said the CBI has already filed FIRs in two cases, while the State Vigilance Organisation registered an FIR in another. He said remaining cases are under confidential verification by the CBI. "There are all together 9 reported cases relating to alleged payment of rent for land in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said Out of these cases, the State Vigilance Organisation has filed FIR in one case and CBI has filed FIR in two cases," he further said. As per details placed by the defence minister, a total of 265 Karnals and one Marla (local measurements) of land in village Khamba in Rajouri district is "under occupation" since April 1, 1972 and rental has been paid upto march 2003. The state vigilance in its probe has found that documents were forged by the state revenue officials to show it was in India's possession though it was either under occupation of Pakistan or located in no man's land. According to the details provided by Jaitley, the second case involves a plot of land measuring 122 Karnals and 18 Marlas, also in Khamba village. The case is pending in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court after one of the suspects approached it in the wake of the CBI registering an FIR in January. The CBI has also filed an FIR in another alleged cheating case involving a plot of 258 Karnals and 13 Marlas. This piece of land is also in Khamba village in Rajouri district. In three other cases too, the land in question was in Khamba village, while two others were in Sarya village in Nowshera, also in Rajouri district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu, Home Minister Rajnath Sigh and SAD President Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting of National Democratic Alliance at Pravasi Baratiya Kendra in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Setting their sight on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, top National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders on Monday pledged to work unitedly to win a second term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserted his "strong" leadership was required for India's progress. Leaders of 33 NDA constituents also adopted a resolution endorsing Modi's leadership and his government's policies, while resolving to strengthen the alliance by expanding its base, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters. Replying to a question as to whether presidential election also came up for discussion, Jaitley said, "It was not on the agenda." Replying to an identical question, Telugu Desam Party Chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said NDA partners will collectively take a call on that whenever the issue was deliberated upon. All NDA constituents hailed the performance of the Modi government, especially the leadership of the Prime Minister, Jaitley told reporters. "The NDA allies also passed a resolution to work together to win a second term under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Modi in 2019," he said. The Minister said the ruling alliance has expanded its support base in the last three years during which its popularity and acceptability has also gone up. Echoing similar sentiments, Naidu said, "India will be the only country which will have double digit growth and this is only possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi." The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said the NDA allies are committed to working in tandem to win the 2019 elections under Modi's leadership. The meeting began with the inaugural address by BJP President Amit Shah. His speech was followed by those of SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal, TDP supremo Naidu and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who has often targeted the Modi government and BJP, was also present and addressed the gathering. PDP leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti could not attend the meeting and a representative deputised for her. The meeting, only the second such gathering of NDA constituents since it came to power at the Centre in 2014, was also attended by the new friends the coalition has won over in Goa and north-eastern states. Both Jaitley and Naidu unanimously identified "clean and corruption-free governance" provided by the Modi dispensation as its biggest achievement. "Today, under the able leadership of Modi, India's presence is being felt and acknowledged at the global level. Countrymen across the world feel proud about being Indian," Naidu said. Guwahati: An Assam court on Monday issued a bailable warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he failed to appear before it for hearing in a defamation case against him for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a '12th pass'. Modiji 12 pass hain. Uske baad ki degree farzi hai, Kejriwal had tweeted on December 15, prompting Assam BJP leader Surya Rongphar to file a defamation case against him. Following which, the police registered a case against the Delhi CM under Sections 499, 500 and 501 of the Indian Penal Code. The court, which was hearing the defamation case, issued the bailable warrant of arrest of Rs 10,000 as Kejriwal failed to appear before it for hearing on two occasions. The court will hear the case again on May 8. We have seen the petition submitted by Gurpreet Singh Uppal showing the ground that it is not possible for the accused, namely Arvind Kejriwal, to leave Delhi due to the municipality election in Delhi, Justice Naba Kumar Deka Barua of Diphu Court said in the order. On perusal of the record, it reveals that the accused has not appeared before this court on the earlier occasion on 30/1/2017 too, availing adjournment of more than two months. Considering this, the petition of Gurpreet Singh Uppal is rejected and a bailable warrant of arrest of Rs.10,000 has been issued against the said accused. Complainant to take step. The next date for appearance is fixed on May 8, 2017, the order read. New Delhi: A demand by a BJP MP to deport large number of illegal immigrants from India alleging they were involved in anti-social and terror activities on Tuesday triggered uproarious scenes in Lok Sabha. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey referred to the influx of large number of "illegal" people to India from countries like Bangladesh and demanded setting up of a commission to identify the areas and examine the demographic changes there. Dubey said the illegal immigrants were involved in various terror-related activities and impacting the livelihood of people across the country, including the North East. A number of opposition MPs strongly opposed Dubey's comments and even said that such action will go against India's age-old humanitarian approach towards refugees. Dubey said using Aadhaar card, some of these people were staying illegally in the country and trying to obtain citizenship, which was a matter of serious concern. He said the National Population Registrar should be linked with Aadhaar database to identify illegal immigrants so that they can be deported to the country of their origin. Opposing the BJP MP's demand, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said India has been welcoming refugees from across the world and alleged that disinformation campaign was being run against thousands of "defenceless" people, based on "unverifiable charges". Tharoor even said he had requested the Home Minister to come out with a refugee policy as several countries have such policies. CPI(M) MP A Sampath referred to the Ministry of External Affairs extending a grant of USD 1 million for the rehabilitation of Rohingiya refugees from Myanmar. It is a sensitive issue. Even the UN is involved in it, he said. In his remarks, Dubey had sought formation of a commission to identify the districts across the country which witnessed demographic changes due to the influx of illegal migrants. Mumbai: Kulbushan Jadhav, the alleged RAW officer, who was arrested by Pakistan for espionage, has claimed that he was treated well by the Pakistani authorities after they learnt that he was from the Indian Navy. However, Bhushan Chavan, brother of Chandu Chavan (22), who had crossed into Pakistan on September 29 and returned to India in January 2017, said that the Pakistani authorities tortured his brother mentally and physically. In his confessionary video, Mr Jadhav an Indian citizen, recognised by the Indian government as a former naval officer, said that he was involved in the job of collecting crucial secret information and sending to counterparts in India. He has also confessed that his job was to initiate dialogue with anti-Pakistan groups in Balochistan and Karachi and motivate them. However, when the Pakistani authorities caught me in March 2016, they treated me with full respect. They were very professional after learning that I was a Navy official, he allegedly said in the video. However, Bhushan claimed that his brother was tortured constantly and was abused physically everyday. They started treatment on my brother after they learnt that he was to return to India. My brother shared his troubles with me after returning to India. My brother (Chandu) has now resumed his duty back in Jammu, Bhushan said. The Pakistani forces arrested Mr Jadhav in March 2016. He was accused of being an undercover agent of Indias primary intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). He was also accused of being involved in propagating sectarian violence in Balochistan and helping terrorists financially to cause unrest in Karachi. New Delhi: Commenting on the death sentence given to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, former foreign minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Tuesday said that even Pakistanis were being tried by military courts. Kasuri, who was in Delhi for 'Improving Indo-Pak Relations' programme, further said India and Pakistan needed to cooperate with each other, "so that in the rivalry between US and Russia, we don't end up being losers." Earlier in the day, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit categorically said that Jadhav was indeed a terrorist. "It's a proven fact that India carries out terrorist-driven activities in Pakistan. When a terrorist himself has accepted he was a spy, the Indian Government is having issues. We haven't done anything wrong in giving the sentence to Jadhav. He should meet his fate," Samaa TV quoted Basit as saying on Tuesday. Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram had on Tuesday slammed the sentence calling it a kangaroo trial, adding that military courts do not have jurisdiction over foreign nationals. Basit was on Monday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India had also alleged that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. The centre had also issued a demarche against Pakistani military court for awarding death sentence to Jadhav. Further cementing the countrys stance, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Jadhav was the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter was clear, Swaraj said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she said in the Rajya Sabha. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday triggering tension between India and Pakistan. New Delhi: With India and Pakistan engaged in a diplomatic warfare over the sentencing of Kulbhushan Jadhav, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday called on the Centre to respond by declaring Balochistan an independent country. Speaking to ANI in Delhi, Swamy stated there is no point in speaking to Pakistan about due procedure, diplomatic and consular access or appeals. "Pak has selected Jadhav saying that he was trying to create problems in Balochistan. India should now declare Balochistan an independent country. There are enough Balochi's in Delhi who can be asked to form a government in exile. Ultimately Pakistan will end up in four pieces," he said. Highlighting that Pakistan was a terror friendly state and would not change its incorrigible attitude, Swamy noted that India cannot deal with Islamabad in a civilized manner. Meanwhile, the Parliament was rocked with the sentencing of Jadhav as both Houses witnessed an uproar over Pakistan's decision. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that Jadhav could not be a spy as he has a valid Indian visa, while Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj assured the Rajya Sabha that India would go out of the way to save him. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder. I would caution Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter." Jadhav was arrested in March last year, "for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan," according to a statement released by the Pakistan armed forces. The statement said Jadhav confessed that he was tasked by Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), to "plan, coordinate and organize espionage / sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan." A military court found Jadhav guilty on two counts of espionage and sentenced him to death. India has strongly objected to the sentencing, saying consular officials were denied access to Jadhav during his trial. An image of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, is shown during a press conference by Pakistan's army spokesman and the Information Minister, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mount diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court. "Death sentence is a deliberate provocation to India. BJP Govt needs to travel beyond advisories. PM must intervene to secure his release (sic)," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. He said India needs to immediately mount an international diplomatic offensive to free Jadhav, who was yesterday given a death sentence for "espionage and sabotage activities" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. Attacking Pakistan for conducting a hurried trial of Jadhav without a prior notice to India, Surjewala said the development was symptomatic of "Pakistan's Kangaroo court justice". He also cited media reports about Pakistan PM's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaz Aziz's statement in his country's senate in December last year that there was "insufficient evidence against Jadhav". "Will PM pickup the phone & tell Pak about the falsehood of case against KulbhushanJadhav as admitted by Sartaj Aziz? (sic)," his tweet accompanying a media report on Aziz's statement read. The OPS camp has gone a step ahead by submitting affidavits from office bearers at the ground level who have endorsed Mr Panneerselvam to take over the party and Two Leaves symbol be allotted to his faction. Chennai: With the RK Nagar by polls cancelled, the focus of the two factions of the AIADMK will now shift back to Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarters of the Election Commission, in New Delhi where a bitter battle would be fought to reclaim the magical Two Leaves symbol that has been frozen. The factions led by VK Sasikala and O. Panneerselvam have already begun burning the midnight oil to present affidavits and letters from party office bearers supporting their faction as the original AIADMK to the Election Commission before April 17. Having frozen the Two Leaves symbol that still holds sway over older generation of the AIADMK supporters, the Election Commission is gearing up for a detailed hearing of the case after which it will decide on who gets the symbol. The hearing is expected to begin anytime after the documents / petitions / affidavits are submitted by the aggrieved parties before the Election Commission. The full bench of the Election Commission would decide whether the hearing would be conducted on day-to-day basis or week-to-week basis, a senior official said. While the Sasikala camp says they have the support of 122 MLAs, 37 MPs and 95 per cent of the general council, the rival OPS camp questions the very appointment of Ms Sasikala as the general secretary saying she is not eligible to hold the post according to the AIADMK Constitution which was amended by late Jayalalithaa in 2007. The OPS camp has gone a step ahead by submitting affidavits from office bearers at the ground level who have endorsed Mr Panneerselvam to take over the party and Two Leaves symbol be allotted to his faction. We have already submitted 7,000 affidavits with signature from lakhs of party men and office bearers at the ground level. We are planning to file a few thousand more affidavits from thousands of branch secretaries of the party across Tamil Nadu and in 6 other states where the AIADMK has party structure before the Election Commission, MaFoi K. Pandiarajan, key strategist of the OPS camp, told Deccan Chronicle. Mr Pandiarajan explained that branch secretaries can also be counted as office bearers since they form the electorate that choose the general secretary of the party. So, we are targeting the branch secretaries by reaching out to them and explaining to them why the party should come into the hands of OPS, Mr Pandiarajan explained. However, AIADMK MP A. Navaneethakrishnan says the Sasikala camp is sure of getting the Two Leaves symbol since they believe in natural justice. We have the support of 90 per cent of the elected representatives and the General Council. Why should we be scared of others? We will get the symbol for sure, he said. New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said the limit on the maximum amount that a corporate can contribute to a political party has been removed. Donations to political parties by firms are governed by provisions of the Companies Act. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said following an amendment in the Finance Act 2017, "maximum amount that a political party can receive from a company in cash has been removed". "Section 154 of the Finance Act, 2017 amends section 182 of the Companies Act 2013," he added. Section 182 of the Companies Act relates to contributions to political parties by firms. Besides, there is no proposal to review the law on foreign contributions to political parties under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), the minister said. FCRA prohibits political parties from accepting foreign contribution from any foreign source including overseas companies. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) needs to address the corruption, which is allegedly rampant among the ranks in the two Kukatpally circles, 14A and 14B. Hyderabad: Summer is here, but the sanitation wing in Kukatpally twin circle is in need of a thorough spring cleaning. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) needs to address the corruption, which is allegedly rampant among the ranks in the two Kukatpally circles, 14A and 14B. Groupism amongst sanitation workers and Sanitation Field Assistants (SFAs) has led to rise in corruption in the department. Officials had earlier identified irregularities with groups comprising seven sanitary workers and SFAs. Some workers regularly draw their salaries without attending the work. Most of the SFAs had relatives or family members in the groups who would be there for attendance but would not even touch the broom sticks. Both circles have become a big problem for assistant medical officers. Health officers trying to put an end to corrupt practices are transferred. In the last 12 months, about four assistant medical officials have been transferred from the circles. A source from Kukatpally circle-14A said kin of SFAs working as sanitary workers either come for attendance or SFAs take biometric devices to their houses for taking attendance. SFAs and group leaders get some commission from the salary drawn by workers who do not attend to work," the source said.Mr Murlidhar Gupta, assistant medical officer, had earlier tried to focus on irregularities and warned SFAs. Soon after, anonymous complaints went out to top GHMC officials, stating that Mr Gupta was involved in a decade-old case related to issuing a no-objection certificate to a gas agency in Jeedimetla.The complaints led to an enquiry and his suspension. Mr. Laxman Singh took charge but sought a transfer. Freshly released statistics by the ministry of environment reveals that Chennai is among the seven metropolitan cities to have exceeded permissible noise pollution levels. Chennai: Singara Chennai has got a new tag. The city, which had managed to keep its noise pollution at check, with an exception during the festivals, is now on a high pitch. Freshly released statistics by the ministry of environment reveals that Chennai is among the seven metropolitan cities to have exceeded permissible noise pollution levels. While the combined noise pollution average for the city remains uncalculated, Deccan Chronicle analyses the average levels of all the ten noise-monitoring stations (for Sunday), only to learn that the numbers are much beyond permissible levels. The 10 monitoring stations maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board include all four categories of the noise pollution standards Quiet/ sensitive, commercial, residential and industrial. The data (refer box) explains the pathetic condition of Chennaiites as sensitive areas (hospitals, schools and parks etc) have recorded over 20 per cent more than the permissible data, questioning the health of the vulnerable fraternity. According to officials of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), the average noise pollution levels had seen a gradual increase in the past five years. Such alarming levels were earlier witnessed only during festivals and election canvass. The situation has deteriorated in the past five years, due to increasing vehicle population and ongoing civic construction works including Metro Rail project, said a senior official from TNPCB. Did you know that a horn in a bullet bike could produce up to 105 decibels? While lack of awareness is the root cause for the growing noise pollution standards, lack of coordination between the regulatory, monitoring and executive agencies is the spoilsport, say environmentalists. People dont realize how stressful noise pollution could be. It is the role of TNPCB to sensitise the general public on the permissible noise levels. The monitoring and executive agencies transport department and Public health are not concerned to put a check to the pollution. Coordination between the government bodies is not observed in any pollution control event, said Shweta Narayan, Coordinator of the Community Environmental Monitoring. The increasing craze for multi torn horns is yet another factor. Bike dealers at Pudupet told DC that they had been witnessing a spike in multi torn horns. We get more than 10 customers every day, who would want to tune their engines to produce a cracking noise. Demand to induce multi torn horns has also spiked up, said a shop owner at Pudupet, C. Babu. New Delhi: A day after former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav was given death sentence by a military court in Pakistan, the government on Tuesday assured the Parliament that it will make every effort to ensure the release of Indias son. On Monday, Pakistan had announced death sentence to Jadhav, 46, for alleged spying and stoking trouble in Balochistan, which took India by surprise and it warned Islamabad that if the verdict were to be implemented it would be premeditated murder carried out without observing basic norms of law and justice. In Lok Sabha, the Congress-led Opposition united against Pakistan and asked the government to get Kulbhushan Jadhav back. Pakistan lying that Kulbhushan Jadhav is spy, then why is government silent? Government will be termed weak, if they fail to free Kulbhushan, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the House that the government would do whatever it takes to bring justice to Kulbhushan Jadhav. India strongly condemns the death sentence. Basic norms of law and justice were violated. I want to tell the house that the government will do whatever it takes to make sure Kulbhushan Jadhav gets justice, Singh said in Lok Sabha. In Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj condemned the death sentence, saying, There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav and this is an act of premeditated murder. Ridiculous charges have been pressed against Kulbhushan. Sending a strong message to Pakistan, Sushma said verdict against Jadhav is indefensible and Pakistan must consider its consequences on diplomatic relations. Here are the highlights: Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister Charges against Kulbhushan Jadhav are concocted, farcical; there is no evidence of wrong-doing by him. Ridiculous charges have been pressed against Kulbhushan and this is an act of premeditated murder. We will do everything to save Indias son. Verdict against Jadhav is indefensible and Pakistan must consider its consequences on diplomatic relations. A senior Pakistan leader has himself expressed doubts about adequacy of claims in this case. Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Kulbhushan Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistani agencies from Iran and put through trial as RAW agent. A valid Indian passport was found on Kulbhushan Jadhav, which is proof he was not a spy. Kulbhushan Jadhav had a valid Indian visa, how can he be a spy? Consular access also been denied. The Indian government will do whatever possible for Kulbhushan Jadhav; want to assure all that justice will be done with him. Shashi Tharoor, Congress India should raise the matter at the international level, as Pakistan has violated the Geneva convention by denying consular access to Jadhav. There are countries who have financed Pakistan. They should be told that if this thing has happened to an Indian national today, it can happen to their national as well. This is a serious matter. We should take it up as world forum as well. Konda V Reddy, TRS Pakistan judiciary playing to the gallery. Contrast Jadhav's trial with our treatment of Ajmal Kasab. Tariq Anwar, NCP No civilised country denies legal help to an accused person. Ananth Kumar, BJP The entire house is with Kulbhushan Jadhav. We will respond, dont politicise the issue. Sougata Roy, TMC We condemn the attitude of Pakistan authorities and their vindictive action against Indians. Secret trial held in military court as Pakistan had no proof. Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM We have to save Kulbhushan Jadhav at any cost. The government should use its influence to bring him back. Government must use every trick in the book to free Jadhav. Pakistan military court is a banana court where they have given verdict without any evidence. Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Pakistan lying that Kulbhushan Jadhav is spy, then why is government silent? If Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan Jadhav, then it is murder. Government will be termed weak, if they fail to free Kulbhushan. Pakistan didn't follow international laws in the matter concerning Kulbhushan Jadhav. PM visited Pakistan but failed to raise Kulbhushan Jadhav issue with his Pakistani counterpart. Pakistani army chief had approved the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav for alleged "espionage and sabotage" activities. In retaliation, India decided not to release about a dozen Pakistani prisoners, who were to be repatriated on Wednesday The government feels that it is not the right time for the release of Pakistani prisoners, official sources said here. The prisoners were to be released as part of the practice by India and Pakistan to repatriate nationals lodged in each other's jail after they complete their sentence. The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) found him guilty of "all the charges", said the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in Rawalpindi. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and issued a strongly-worded demarche. New Delhi/Islamabad: Pakistans powerful military establishment announced on Monday that former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav would be hanged after a military court found him guilty of espionage and sabotage, in a move that quickly raised tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours. India slammed the decision and said in a demarche to Pakistans high commissioner Abdul Basit that Mr Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran, and his trial was farcical in the absence of any evidence against him. Foreign secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Mr Basit and handed over the demarche. Pakistani military courts have a notorious reputation for being kangaroo courts. It remains to be seen if India seeks global intervention through the UN or the United States to stop the hanging. India also pointed out that consular access had been repeatedly denied by Pakistan despite 13 requests in the past one year, and that New Delhi was not even made aware that he was being brought to trial. Pakistan has termed Mr Jadhav an agent of RAW, and has claimed that he is still a serving naval officer. However, India has said he was a former naval officer. Jadhav stayed in Iran after retiring The Pakistan militarys mouthpiece, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the death sentence had been confirmed by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. A security official said that the court-martial had been kept secret even within the ranks of the military. Pakistan has termed Mr Jadhav an agent of Indias external spy agency (Research and Analysis Wing) RAW, and has claimed that he is still a serving naval officer, while India has said he was a former naval officer. Indian government sources had said last year that Mr Jadhav became a businessman, and stayed in Iran after retiring from the Navy. India said he was abducted from Iran on the orders of Pakistani intelligence agencies. In a statement from Rawalpindi, the ISPR said, Indian RAW agent/naval officer commander Kulb-ushan Sudhir Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 through a counter-intelligence operation from Mashkel, Baloch-istan, for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. The spy has been tried through the field general court martial under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA), 1952, and awarded the death sentence. Jadhav was tried under Section 59 of the PAA and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923, the ISPR said. He confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by the RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espio-nage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace, it said. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was given a death sentence by a Pakistani military court, is a victim of Pakistans attempts to deflect attention from the country sponsoring terrorism. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism," Swaraj said in an identical statement in both Houses of Parliament. "Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she said, adding that the sentence by the Pakistani Military Court was based on "concocted charges". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations, she warned. "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," Swaraj said categorically in a hard-worded statement. She said the process adopted by the Pakistani military court to award the death sentence "tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian." Replying to a suggestion by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Swaraj said the government will not only ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, but will take up it with the President of Pakistan also. "Whatever is necessary, we will do," she said, adding that Jadhav was "not only the son of his parents, but is the son of India." Swaraj said Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. "The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him", which has been denied by the Pakistani authorities. "It is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India iteslf underlines the insufficiency of evidence," the Minister said. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. While condemning the action, Singh said that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. New Delhi: In an expression of unity against Pakistan for giving a sentence to former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asked Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to draft a resolution that would be used by both Houses. According to an NDTV report, Swaraj after her statement in the lower house went up to Tharoor and requested him for the same. Tharoor, after asking permission from his partys leader in the House agreed. With the nation in an uproar over Pakistan sentencing Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of being a spy, Tharoor had also called on the Centre to get the United Nations to haul Islamabad for blatantly violating international laws. "India has a very important responsibility in terms of bilaterally communicating to Pakistan as to what we expect from them. I hope we are putting serious international pressure on Pakistan, because what Pakistan was doing is a violation of international law and that's what keeps nations safe," Tharoor told the media here outside the Parliament. "If you are going to take arbitrary action like this against the citizen of one country, tomorrow other citizens will be unsafe," he added. Asserting that Pakistan has violated every international rule by sentencing Jadhav, Tharoor called on the Centre to draw the attention of the international community, particularly the UN, in hauling Pakistan. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that Jadhav is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on New Delhi, to deflect international attention from Islamabad's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Asserting that India's position on this matter is clear, Swaraj said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she added while expressing her concern on this issue in the Rajya Sabha. The External Affairs Minister further said Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed India's position to Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Monday. "Let me state clearly that the Government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan Government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," said Swaraj. "I would also like to tell the House that I have been in touch with the parents of Shri Jadhav and we are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time," she added. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on Monday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. Basit was yesterday summoned to protest at the conviction and sentence. India also said that Pakistan had ignored its multiple requests for consular access to Jadhav. Srinagar: The Congress on Tuesday said that it wont participate in the Anantnag constituency bypoll after Election Commission decided to defer the Lok Sabha by-poll in Anantnag constituency to May 25 in the backdrop of widespread violence witnessed during the by-election to the Srinagar seat on Sunday. Jammu and Kashmir PCC chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir, who is seeking election to Lok Sabha from home constituency Anantnag as the joint candidate of opposition Congress and National Conference (NC), said he will withdraw unless Governors rule is imposed in the State. The by-poll to the Srinagar seat was marred by violence in which eight people were killed and dozens wounded in security forces actions against protesters and stone-pelting mobs. The state also saw only a meagre 7.14 percent of over 1.2 million voters turn up. The voting in the Anantnag by-poll was to be held on Wednesday. The EC said that it decided to defer it following feedback of State election authorities. However, it also announced to hold re-polling at 38 polling stations of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency on April 13 which has surprised many here. Mir, who had opposed the deferment of the by-poll in Anantnag, told reporters that the PDP-BJP government failed to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the by-elections. This makes it beyond any doubt that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has failed, he said. He added, Jammu and Kashmir should be brought under the Governors rule immediately and if they fail to do so I will withdraw (from the fray). Former Chief Minister and acting president of the NC, Omar Abdullah, questioned the logic behind holding re-poll in 38 polling stations of Srinagar constituency after the EC postponed the by-poll in Anantnag. He tweeted, Situation isnt conducive for polls in Anantnag but its conducive for a re-poll in the areas worst affected by violence on the 9th. Logic?. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had earlier on Monday said that decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir has been reversed by the BJP government in less than three years. He also accused the PDP-BJP government in the State of having totally failed and said that the elections in the Valley reflect the total failure of the BJP-PDP alliance and the government's Kashmir policy. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik in a joint statement issued here said, The peoples verdict against occupation is loud and clear as is their commitment to achieving their fundamental political right expressing their will and aspirations. It added, The Government of Indias own index of treating elections as a gauge of people's faith in Indian democracy stands completely exposed as they were totally rejected and resisted by the people in one part of the Valley and forced to postpone the election in another. They further said that it was a clear ideological, political and moral victory for the people of Kashmir and a huge achievement they should be proud of. Hyderabad: Despite the efforts of the Hyderabad Traffic Police to curb driving by minors, two children were caught by traffic police on Tuesday morning driving to St Joseph School on a bike. The 12-year-old who was driving didnt have a helmet even; his younger brother was riding pillion. The Malakpet traffic police, who stopped the children near the Musarambagh TV tower, dropped them off at their school and seized the bike and told the parents to come and collect it. Malakpet traffic police say they have caught around 45 minors driving in this area in the past three months. After some major accidents in the city involving minors, the Hyderabad traffic police had caught and counselled thousands of minors, charge-sheeted the parents and produced them in court. Around 2755 minors were booked in 2016 and `7,23,900 was collected in fines. In 2017, 1,026 cases have already been booked against minors in just three months, which shows that the number of such offences is on the rise. Road safety activists in Hyderabad blame parents. S. Adishankar, secretary of the NGO Roadkraft, says parents encourage it. They feel very proud when their 10 or 12-year-old drives. Just go to any school in the morning... you will see lots of children coming in two wheelers, which is very dangerous. Traffic DCP A V Ranganath says minors are being prosecuted and parents are being charge sheeted since the last one year. Parents complain that children are not listening to them. Minors driving is increasing because of pampering of children by parents. Seventeen-year-old Bommarathi Shanmai Patel, who was caught driving in 2016 and was counselled by the traffic police, says he is shocked to know that even 12-year-old kids are driving to school on bikes. I seriously think the government should implement strict rules against minor's driving. I attended the counselling sessions conducted by the traffic police and I found it very useful, he said, but agreed that it doesnt always work. Bengaluru: Sexual harassment incidents are occurring in many schools, but are being hushed up with the connivance of the police and government officials, allege parents of schoolchildren. They are also worried about delay in cases, which denies the victims justice. These allegations seem to be confirmed by the information given by state education minister Tanveer Sait to former education minister Vishweshwara Hegade Kageri on the floor of the Assembly recently. Answering Mr Kageris question, Mr Sait said that in the academic years of 2014-15 and 2016-17, fifteen incidents of sexual assault targeting girl children have been reported in Bengaluru. But none of these victims have got justice yet, as the cases are at various stages of hearing and investigation. According to the data provided by Mr Sait, in several cases, the victims are girls from pre-nursery schools and the culprits are staff. An officer said that only a few cases have come to light and reported by the media. Fifteen cases in two-and-a-half years is really shocking, he said. Mr Nagasimha G. Rao, nodal officer, Child Help Line 1098, said the government should come out with concrete measures based on this data. Data provided by the government is like a mirror to our society. There is an urgent need for a concrete action plan, he said. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act has different definitions for sexual assault, sexual harassment etc. We need to sensitise teachers and children about these issues. But private schools are probably not doing it, and that is why children are vulnerable in such schools, he said. Source of information Information regarding sexual harassment/ assault was given by Tanveer Sait, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, on March 23 while answering a question by former education minister Vishweshwara Hegade Kageri. Major cases A teacher, Devaraj, of Gandhi Memorial School, RT Nagar, harassed girls in November 2014 A guard sexually harasses girls at Holy Christ School in Indiranagar in 2015 New Delhi: Cutting across party lines, Parliament on Tuesday united against Pakistan for giving the death sentence to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and vowed India would go out of its way to save him. While Ms Swaraj cautioned Pakistan and made it clear that if the death sentence was carried out, it could have serious consequences on the bilateral relations, home minister Rajnath Singh condemned the Pakistan courts verdict and said the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. Mr Singh reiterated, Jadhav will get justice. Asserting that India would go out of its way to ensure justice for Mr Jadhav, the external affairs minister yet again warned Pakistan that India would treat his execution as pre-meditated murder. She claimed that the charges against Mr Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, were concocted and the trial against him was farcical, leading to an indefensible verdict. Ms Swaraj said, Let me state clearly that the government and the people of this country would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen was facing the death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. Sushma to move Pakistan Supreme Court External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj added: Kulbhushan Jadhav is not just a son of his parents but also a son of this country, and to save him (if required) we will appeal in the Supreme Court (of Pakistan) and provide the best lawyers. Questioning the trial, she said Pakistan had sought Indias assistance to obtain evidence for its investigation and levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Talking of Pakistan's refusal to provide consular access to Mr Jadhav, the minister said Pakistan suddenly announced the death sentence. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, home minister, Rajnath said all norms of law and justice were ignored by Pakistan. He informed that House that Pakistan had briefed the media (that) Mr Jadhav was holding a valid Indian passport, and wondered why a spy would carry a valid passport, saying this exposes Pakistans action and intention. Though there was an unanimity among members over the issue, the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Mr Mallikarjun Kharge, took the opportunity to take a jab at the government. Referring to PM Narendra Modis attending the wedding of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's daughter in Lahore, Mr Kharge quipped: Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him (Sharif) on the issue. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan then said since everyone was equally concerned about Mr Jadhavs fate, there should be no spat TS BJP president K. Laxman, MLAs C. Ramachandra Reddy and N.V.S.S. Prabhakar, senior BJP leaders N. Indrasena Reddy and others were among those who participated in the four-day classes. Hyderabad: TS BJP leaders, hoping to come to power in the state in 2019, have fallen flat for Kubera Mudra. Kubera mudra is a Yoga asana that is considered a powerful mudra of wealth and one which fulfils desires. Mudras are spiritual hand gestures in Hinduism and Buddhism that redirect the flow of energy to specific body parts or organs, mind and spirit. About 400-odd BJP leaders, who attended the just-concluded training classes, were giving gruelling training on various aspects including BJP/RSS origins, BJP ideology, party working system, cultural nationalism, Modi mantra, Central government schemes and of course Yoga and its benefits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been promoting Yoga in a big way in India and abroad. TS BJP president K. Laxman, MLAs C. Ramachandra Reddy and N.V.S.S. Prabhakar, senior BJP leaders N. Indrasena Reddy and others were among those who participated in the four-day classes. A BJP leader who attended the training classes at Annojiguda on the city outskirts told DC that senior and junior party leaders evinced keener interest in the Kubera mudra compared to other mudras taught by yoga guru Aruna. The yoga trainer gave tips to party leaders on how to de-stress since they are involved in public life. She showed some useful mudras out of 108 mudras. But the most appealing mudra to all BJP leaders was the Kubera Mudra since the teacher said its the mudra of wealth and fulfils ones desires, a senior BJP leader said. He added, Party leaders repeatedly discussed this mudra with the yoga guru who explained to them how to do it again and again and its benefits. Said another BJP leader: Mudras have great healing power. They comprise five elements Earth, Sky, Water, Air and Fire. Kubera mudra is dedicated to the God of wealth, Kubera. The mudra increases the intent of our desires. Everyone there is eyeing MLA and MP seats. Naturally, that mudra was quite appealing. Meanwhile, more Union ministers and national BJP leaders, including Nitin Gadkari and Parshottam Rupala will descend on the TS capital soon to address party workers. Hyderabad: The Telangana Government has decided to increase reservation for BC-E Category (Muslim minorities) despite strong objection from the BJP. The reservation will also be extended to Scheduled Tribes. The TRS government had promised 12 per cent reservations each for Muslims and Scheduled Tribes, but the hike recommended by BC and ST commissions has been kept a secret. On Tuesday, the BC Commission, headed by B.S. Ramulu, met Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at his camp office and submitted its report with recommendations to increase the Backward Muslim quota. Currently, they have 4 per cent reservation. According to the Chief Ministers earlier statement in the Assembly, after passing the enhanced quota Bills, the State would request the Central Government to allow the quota Bill inclusion in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution to protect it from legal scrutiny. The overall quota, presently 50 per cent as per a 1992 Supreme Court cap, will be increased to over 60 per cent depending upon the enhancement. The State Government wants the Centre to protect the quota legislation on par with the 69 per cent reservation that was implemented in Tamil Nadu and included in the 9th Schedule. Mr. Rao called on Governor E. S. L. Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday and briefed him on the proposals. He has summoned a Cabinet meeting at Pragathi Bhavan, Begumpet, on Wednesday evening. Muslim quota may go up to 9 per cent The Chief Minister also decided to convene the special Assembly session starting from April 16 to pass both quota Bills and the GST Bill. Since the Assembly session was not prorogued by the Governor yet, Speaker S.Madhusudana Chary can summon the House that was adjourned sine die last month. A source said Muslim quota may be increased from the present 4 per cent to 7 or 9 per cent and ST quota from 6 per cent to 9 per cent based on the population and to avoid legal tangle though KCR desires 12 per cent. However, BC Commission members refused to comment. MIM, a TRS ally, asked the government to be cautious, take legal approval and avoid rejection of reservation to Muslims. BJP has opposed reservation based on religion and is sure to kick up a row. The BC Commission had submitted a report on the education and sociological backwardness among BC-E category communities, Muslim minorities, and recommended that they needed attention and support. The State government, based on the Commission's report, will have a wide range of discussions with communities concerned and take measures for the development and welfare of these communities, a CMO release said. Budgam (Jammu and Kashmir) : Around 1500 youths, including 500 from the Kashmir Valley, competed in the Indian Army's recruitment drive here to ensure that they lead a dignified life. The recruitment is being done for the Indian Army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) for the Kashmir region. Munnawar Hussain, whose son is participating in the recruitment rally, expressed his delight and said that he would be extremely proud if he is selected. "My son is here from the last 20 days. The army's center has been taking care of my son and other young boys like a mother takes care of her child," he told. Hussain, a former JAK LI soldier, said that Kashmiri youth shouldn't fall prey to the 'misinformation' and come at JAK LI centre to know what type of treatment the Indian Army gives to Kashmiris. He thanked his commander and JAK LI regiment for providing him the opportunity to lead a dignified and meaningful life. JAK LI employs only the residents of Jammu and Kashmir and gives additional points in the selection to the children of former JAK LI soldiers. A local Shahid, who has been selected in the JAK LI, told ANI that it would be his pleasure to serve the nation through the coveted Indian Army. Another local Mohammad Shabir, who has been selected, said that he would now be able to live a comfortable and dignified life, adding that he would not be able to cater to the needs of his family. He exhorted the stone-pelters and drug addict Kashmiri youth to desert the devastating path and try to join the Indian Army. "These youth should also think about their parents," said Shabir. Another local Mohammad Sadiq, who served in the JAK LI for 17 years, said there is no better job than this. His son also participated in the recruitment rally. An army officer, who monitored the entire recruitment process, said around 30,000 youngsters from Kashmir Valley participated in the Indian Army's recruitment drive in the recent past. "This shows patriotism is there in the hearts of Kashmiri youth and the army is also trying to create more vacancies for the Kashmiri youth," he said. When asked about the reason behind so many Kashmiri youths opting to join the Indian Army at a time when the situation in the valley is volatile, the officer said, "Patriotism and attraction for the Indian Army among the Kashmiris is not a new thing." "The common people, who waged an armed resistance to the Pakistani aggression in J&K, were initially called J&K Militia, which was later transformed into JAK LI," said the army officer. He informed that recruitment for the youngsters of Jammu, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, and Leh regions will be held on Wednesday. Allahabad: The Uttar Pradesh government has made arrangements for a speedy clearance of files pending on its table and a show cause notice will be served to ministers, officials who keep them for more than seven days. Informing this here, Women and Child Welfare Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi told reporters that measures have been taken to expedite this process and daily two to four departments are giving presentations. Every minister has been given the liberty to give suggestions another minister. "It is clear that under the previous government, contracts were given arbitrarily. Budgets were represented with increased amounts," she said. "We have decided that a probe will be done wherever it is necessary and where the investigation has been completed, action will be taken. But we will not waste time in it and it will be for the people to see before 2019 Lok Sabha elections what work we have done," she added. Joshi said the state government has opened 5,000 purchase centers for the sale of wheat and to eliminate middlemen who made profits through unfair trade which caused losses to farmers. "Surprise check will be conducted (at the centers) and the chief minister will himself visit then," she said. The minister said that the government's mining and liquor policies will be made clear in the next two weeks. Thiruvananthapuram: The universities in the state could not make it to the top ten ranks in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) due to the failure to produce sufficient research output and lack of external projects and industry-academic collaboration. The total research output of the university is one of the major factors for the rankings. The number of minor and major projects undertaken by a university and the effort taken by the university to foster industrial-academic interface are other grounds. Many private universities like Amritha have given top priority for complying with these parameters, said M. Abdul Rahman, Pro-Vice- Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. Since the ranking was finalised based on the documents uploaded by the universities on the website and not on physical inspection, lack of proper documentation played a major role, he said. MG University Vice-Chancellor Babu Sebastian said that most of the universities in the top bracket of the rankings were central. MG University is primarily an affiliating university which has only 91 faculty members directly under them. Even Kerala University which has a higher rank has 220 faculty members. The output would increase with the number of faculty members. Central universities have much bigger faculty strength which helps them increase their research output and achieve higher rankings. For instance, Pondicherry University has 400 faculty members and it helps them achieve a higher output. There is a demand for separate rankings for the central and affiliating universities, Mr Sebastian said. Some unique parameters peculiar to the university could not be uploaded. For example, the university had received the best university award from the Chancellor. They had also started many outreach programmes for local bodies. There was no provision to upload these parameters, he added. According to him the universities of the state had not fared all that badly. It is unfair to conclude that universities have ranked poorly. Kerala University is ranked 29th , Calicut University 57th followed by MGU at 67th and Cusat 86th, Mr Sebastian said. Mr K.L. Vivekanandan, general secretary, All-Kerala Private College Teachers Association (AKPTCA), said that the present problem has more to do with the mindset in the universities. We need to create a proper environment for achieving good research output. When I was studying for M Phil in IIT, Mumbai, I could see even women working at 2 a.m. in laboratories, he said. Do you think that such an environment prevails in the universities in our state? It was after a long fight by students of Karyavattom campus that the University was forced to allow the university library on the campus to function 24/7. However, a similar change in timings of the university library at Palayam which catered to more people, was yet to take place, Mr Vivekanandan said. While the performance of universities is not up to the mark, there is something for the state to cheer about in the college section. Kerala had the second highest number of colleges in the best 100 art and science colleges as per the NIRF rankings for 2017. The state with 14 colleges in the best 100 list is a distant second to Tamil Nadu which has 37 colleges. The NIRF covered 3,500 institutions in four categories: university, engineering, pharmacy and management. It identified 22 parameters in five major heads, several of them similar to those employed globally such as excellence in teaching, learning and research. A rare photograph of students wearing the Deccani sherwania long coat in dark-colours along with a cap attending classes at Osmania University. This dress code was prevalent from 1918 well into the 1950s. Women students wore salwar kameez and married women attending the university wore saris always covering their heads in keeping with the traditions. Hyderabad: From 1918 and well into the 1950s, students at Osmania University wore the Deccani sherwani and pyjama or salwar kameez and saris (the latter for married women), almost like a school uniform. In keeping with the times, women invariably had their heads covered. The Gandhi topi also made its appearance. The upper echelons of society wore western-style clothes. As the university, founded by Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan, celebrates its centenary, its alumni and others recall the traditions associated with the University. Ninety-seven-year-old Dr Hasnuddin Ahmed, a retired IAS officer who graduated with an MA in Economics in 1943, says that the sherwani was the norm. Its a long coat in a dark colour, not gaudy. We also wore caps. Students were highly disciplined and there was pin-drop silence in the class and the library Dr Ahmed told Deccan Chronicle. Students from the upper echelons of the society wear western outfits but cover their heads with caps while attending classes at the university. Mr Safiullah, a managing trustee of the Deccan Heritage Trust, says, It was considered highly improper not to wear the traditional dress. Mr Shahid Hussain, former GPA of the Nizam Trust is coming out with a book on Prince Mukkaram Jah, Nizam VIII, and his close association with him. Prof H. Venkateshwarlu, special officer, Osmania University Centenary Celebrations, says from the Universitys collection of videos and photographs its clear that the traditional sherwani was the preferred dress for male students. In the photographs we see male students in sherwani and women in salwar khameez. Boys and girls had separate classes. Courses started from intermediate and over a period of time, degree courses were added - BA, BCom and BSc in the Arts College - and subsequently post graduate courses were started, he said. After realising that the earlier government had permitted gold mining in the area by a private company, the state government had withdrawn the Conservation Reserve status to Kappattagudda. Bengaluru: After dilly dallying over restoring the Wildlife Conservation Reserve status for Kappattagudda, the state government has finally declared Kappattagudda again as a Conservation Reserve. While revenue villages and pattal lands are excluded from the conservation area, 89.923 hectares at Chikkawadatti village in Mundaragi taluk has been declared as a conservation area for medicinal plants. The government notification, which was issued on Tuesday termed the area as ecologically and economically important and also noted that it was rich, valuable, unique and irreplaceable if it was destroyed. The conservation reserve sprawls over three taluks of Gadag district, covering 17,872.248 hectares. While Gadag district has 401.811 hectares of the Reserve, Mundaragi taluk has 15,453.673 hectares and Shirahatti has 2016.764 hectares. After realising that the earlier government had permitted gold mining in the area by a private company, the state government had withdrawn the Conservation Reserve status to Kappattagudda. However, owing to public pressure and the advice of heads of local mutts, the government was forced to reconsider its decision. The issue was also discussed in the meeting of the Wildlife Advisory Board on February 20 this year, which resolved to leave the decision to the Chief Minister. After Mr Siddaramaiah signed the government order, a notification was issued in this regard. Thes also a big victory for environmentalists and green activists who had been stoutly opposing the withdrawal of the conservation reserve status saying it would provide mining companies easy access to the pristine forests and lead to destruction of its ecosystem. Alappuzha: A duty doctor at the General hospital here was beaten up by a patient in an inebriated condition when he was brought to the hospital after being injured in a clash at a bar last Saturday. Though the hospital superintendent complained to the police, the accused has not been arrested so far. According to the hospital authorities, the incident took place on Saturday night at 9pm. The patient Rinash, 22, Thayyil House, South Aryad, here was brought to the hospital by his friends with a wounded hand. When the accused was asked to lie down on the table, he pushed the doctor and punched a patient who was sitting near the doctor. The patient fearing further attacks, hid behind the doctor. Suddenly, Rinash allegedly went berserk bashing up both the doctor and the patient. They sustained minor injuries. The superintendent alerted the police and the accused was taken into custody. South police said that they were looking into the incident.Action will be taken. No FIR has been registered, police said. Sangeetha Joseph, member, Kerala Government Medical Officer's Association (KGMOA) said that the accused should be arrested immediately. This is the second time a doctor has been beaten up in the same hospital. In another incident a week ago, a doctor was beaten up by another drunkard who was brought for a medical check-up. Doctors feel insecure now, she said. New Delhi: Sixteen opposition parties on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to revert to the paper ballot system in future elections saying tampering allegations have created "trust deficit" on the reliability of the voting machines. The parties also slammed the Centre for failing to provide funds to the Commission to put in place sufficient number of voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The VVPAT dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party the elector has voted for using EVM. This proves that the EVM has faithfully recorded the vote. "We are not blaming the EC. EC feels EVMs are tamper-proof. Even Pentagon is not fool-proof. We have urged the Commission to revert to paper ballot system till the reliability of EVMs is proven beyond doubt by all stakeholders," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal told. He and T Siva (DMK) said the Commission would soon convene an all-party meet to further discuss the issue."The trust deficit amongst political parties in the electronic devices is too deep seated and pervasive. It has shattered the faith of the people in the fairness of the electoral process...the trust factor is getting eroded and it is incumbent upon the Election Commission to allay those fears and apprehensions," the memorandum submitted to the poll panel read. The memorandum said the lack of response from the government and its refusal to provide the funds for VVPATs "raises serious doubts about the intent of the Government and its commitment to the conduct of free and fair elections." The parties said that there is a consensus among the political parties on the mode of conduct of elections, "which for the present, is against the EVMs and in favour of reverting to the original practice of voting by paper ballot". They reminded the Commission that the issue of "widespread allegations" about the tampering of EVM machines in the recently-held assembly elections have been raised by almost all opposition parties in Parliament. The delegation told the three Commissioners that the recent allegations of tampering of EVMs in Ater of Bhind district in Madhya Pradesh "to suit BJP further lend credence to this apprehension of the opposition parties". They said similar allegations of EVM tampering have been reported in the Maharashtra local body elections -- BMC elections (Mumbai), Municipal Corporations of Pune, Nashik and Amravati. Leaders of various opposition parties had earlier today met in Parliament and decided to jointly meet the Election Commission, demanding that their concerns on the issue be addressed. Representatives of parties including Congress, BSP, DMK, Trinamool Congress and the Left were present at Nirvachan Sadan, the EC headquarters. The opposition leaders had earlier decided to put forth their demand before the EC for simultaneous use of VVPAT (paper trail of voting) and ballot paper in 50 per cent constituencies each for assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh slated later this year. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the Budget Session as a "winner" for the treasury benches as the government was able to secure the passage of many key bills in Parliament. Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting a day before the session ends, he also pitched for pushing the reforms and development agenda, asserting that there is a "positive" public mood in the favour of the ruling dispensation as it completes its third anniversary next month. "This is a golden opportunity for us to lift the lives of the poor, the deprived.This is the time for doing more development and reforms," he said. The BJP MPs were also informed about a one-long programme to celebrate the government's third anniversary from May 24. Briefing reporters following the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said that Modi called the session very constructive with the Lok Sabha passing 21 bills and the Rajya Sabha 14. These include the GST bills and also the politically important OBC bill. Referring to the massive win for BJP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the prime minister said the hope his government had generated among the masses in 2014 has turned into confidence. Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu addressed the party meet and outlined the one-month third anniversary programme, Kumar said. Heaping praise on Modi, Naidu referred to last night's meeting of 33 NDA constituents in which important allies like Parkash Singh Badal of Akali Dal and N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP spoke about his "transformative" leadership. "Modi has emerged as the poor's messiah," he claimed. On the occasion, Modi noted that it was the birth anniversary of Hanuman, a devotee of Lord Rama, and that he was a "living" example of a "dedicated social worker" which should inspire one and all. New Delhi: Following the cancellation of the by-polls in Chennai's R.K. Nagar constituency,Bhartiya Janata Party(BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday asserted that the Election Commission (EC) of India should also cancel elections in Kashmir for at least two years. "With the ruckus that is happening in Kashmir,Election Commission (EC) of India should cancel the elections for at least two years so that peace prevails and violence issues are sorted out," Swamy told. Swamy further said the government should send 10,000 soldiers to reside in Kashmir so that law and order is maintained in the state. "To maintain peace and serenity in Kashmir the government should send 10,000 soldiers with lots of arms, ammunitions and money, so that they can reside and maintain law and order in the state," Swamy said. Srinagar reported a poor 6.5 percent voter turnout during the by-polls for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency as intense clashes were witnessed between the youth and security forces. Violence was reported from Budgam area in central Kashmir, which is a part of the three districts - Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal- voting in the elections. Reports suggest that polling stations were attacked and the EVMs were broken at many places. Severe clashes were reported from Delwan and Chadoora areas where two people lost their lives. Locals said a group of boys tried to attack a polling station, but the security forces opened fire resulting in the two casualties. Three others were also injured in the incident. A similar incident was reported in Beerwah area where another person lost his life during the clashes. The violence affected the overall voting percentage. Earlier this week, at least three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter in Arwani area of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag on Thursday. The combing operation is currently underway. The Railway authorities earlier in the day suspended train services from Budgam-Banihal due to the encounter. Fresh exchange of fire started between terrorists and security forces in south kashmir's Anantnag district in the early morning hours. During the past eight days, from a height of 10,000 feet, atop the Indian Himalayas, an 81-year-old Buddhist monk has rattled China as never before. Yes, one is talking of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhisms tallest leader, who has made a tour of Arunachal Pradesh, choosing to lament the tragic situation in his homeland, Tibet, criticise Beijings censorship of the media, rejecting Chinas right to decide on his successor, saying it was for the Tibetan people to take a call on the next Dalai Lama. He made a clear distinction between the regime in Beijing and the Chinese people the Chinese people are wonderful and cultured while the government there is totalitarian. Well, the Dalai Lama said 90 per cent of Tibet wants him back there while a large number of the 400 million Chinese Buddhists, too, wants me, a direct claim of his mass support back home. This has been the Dalai Lamas seventh visit to Arunachal Pradesh since his flight from Tibet in March 1959, and he may have only reiterated most of the things he said, but the tour this time stands out for two reasons. First, Beijings response, both before and during the Dalai Lamas visit has been the sharpest and most confrontationist in decades. Second, New Delhi appears to have gone out of its way to facilitate the monks visit with the frontier states BJP chief minister Pema Khandu accompanying the Dalai Lama right from his departure from Guwahati on April 4. Inclement weather forced the Dalai Lama to travel by car, undertaking an arduous journey through bad roads with serpentine bends. This, of course, enabled more of his followers to catch a glimpse of their revered spiritual guru as the motorcade stopped by, thereby providing maximum opportunity to the media to engage with him. The result has been more quotes and bytes flowing out of this visit, amplifying its impact globally. China began by accusing India of using the Dalai Lama to undermine Beijings interests, ignoring diplomatic semantics, and had even summoned the Indian envoy in Beijing to formally lodge a protest. Beijing upped the ante with foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying saying China will firmly take necessary measures to defend its territorial sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests. The Indian response too began on expected lines with junior minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, saying the Dalai Lama was a guest of India, a democratic nation, and was free to go anywhere in the country. New Delhi actually sought to brush off the Chinese murmurs by saying Beijing was creating an artificial controversy. But Mr Khandu took the discourse to an entirely new level with the Press Trust of India quoting him as saying: China has no business telling us what to do and what not to do. It is not our next-door neighbour. India shares a boundary with Tibet, not with China. In reality, the McMahon Line demarcates the boundary between India and Tibet. The Dalai Lama actually is near central to Indias border dispute with China largely because of the 400-year-old Tawang monasterys links to Tibetan Buddhism. The Chinese argue that the Tawang monastery was a subsidiary of the Drepung monastery near Lhasa, one of the three major temples in Tibet. India, of course, considers Tibet an integral part of China while rejecting Beijings claims over about 90,000 sq. km (35,000 sq. miles) in Arunachal Pradesh. In fact, Tawang, where the Dalai Lama stayed for five days this time, is just about 40 km short of the McMahon Line drawn up by the British. This line is regarded as the de facto border between China and India. The Chinese do not recognise this boundary line because it was created as part of a secret agreement by Britain and Tibet in 1914. Beijing does accept the status quo, and talks, as we know, are on for long to resolve the border dispute. It is no surprise to see a far more assertive Delhi this time because there is a government that has an absolute majority in Parliament and has proved its strength yet again by winning Indias largest state, Uttar Pradesh, in the just-concluded elections. The so-called nationalist fervour is at its peak in the country at the bidding of a large section of individuals and groups close to the ruling BJP. Moreover, New Delhi has a lot of axes to grind. First, it was Chinese President Xi Jinping himself who cold-shouldered Prime Minister Narendra Modis request in July 2016 to allow India to accede to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Then, of course, theres the case of Beijing scuttling the move that would have had the UN censuring Jaish-e-Mohammed kingpin Masood Azhar by not approving sanctions against him. Now, can China execute its threat of action against India over the Dalai Lamas visit to Arunachal? Not really. First, 2017 is not 1962. India is strong militarily. Second, India is a huge market for Chinese products and with the balance of trade heavily tilted in Beijings favour, market forces would not like the Communist bosses to indulge in any misadventure. And last, but not the least, Beijing cannot afford to push New Delhi to the wall because India can be a key stakeholder in Chinas one road-one belt policy, by far the countrys biggest foreign policy push. To cap it all, India has many aces up its sleeve, including the Taiwan card, apart from the one on Tibet. As things stand now, it is only the Dalai Lama who can afford to crack a few jokes. I am a Marxist, I like its equal system. Im against Leninism The next Dalai Lama could be a woman an attractive woman For New Delhi, caution is the word. There is no scope of lowering the guard in the dizzy Himalayan heights. For China, the Dalai Lama would continue to rattle the Communist regime, threatening its image globally, and keep putting spokes in Beijings design on the reincarnation issue to pick the next Dalai Lama. It was seven years ago that WikiLeaks revealed a conversation Rahul Gandhi had with former US ambassador Timothy Roemer. That sharing of a pivotal idea scrubbed off much of the adverse imagery reserved for the Congress Party scion by his friends and foes in turn. What was vital was that the young politician had spelled out his blunt views on Hindutva. While there was evidence of some support for (Lashkar-e-Tayyaba) among certain elements in Indias indigenous Muslim community, the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalised Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and political confrontations with the Muslim community, Rahul had told Roemer. This was also how Nehru and Indira Gandhi would have liked him to frame the current challenge that India faces, preferably more openly, to his own people, not just to foreign diplomats. It was an improvement nevertheless from his views in 2004, the year the Congress defeated Vajpayees India Shining campaign. They have always tried to harm my family... They are a joke, he had said of Hindutva. Rahul had either evolved very rapidly in three years, or he had resisted saying in public what he knew or felt in his bones to be true. It was their crystal-clear understanding of Hindutva that became the main reason for Nehru and Indira Gandhi to be so reviled by the right wing, to the extent that PM Narendra Modi baulks at the thought of crediting Indira Gandhi with the war for Bangladesh. At a meeting of African leaders in Delhi, it was the visitors who reminded Mr Modi of their memory of Nehru and of non-alignment. Advisers first dragged Rajiv Gandhi to Ayodhya and got him to open the locks of the disputed Babri Masjid. After uncorking major trouble, to balance his folly, he began indulging the Muslim clergy. Rajivs law minister got him to embrace the clerics self-assigned prerogative to steal Muslim womens rights, which other Indian women had fought for and won from the grudging state. Rahul too could fall prey to bad advice, and, in fact, that may already be happening for all we know, a kind of Camelot of no proven abilities to lead India out of the mess. His advisers, instead of showcasing his stunningly astute observation to Roemer, sought to deny it. What then gives hope that the damage to India by Hindutva is reversible? Is it the 59 per cent vote that didnt go to Mr Modi? The Congress has the bulk of the votes from the Oppositions kitty. For better or worse, therefore, one cannot imagine a gameplan for secular India without the Congress, not necessarily in the engine room of the rescue ship, but as the much-needed sinews and ballast that stabilises the quest. Its unhindered pan-India reach, despite the steady erosion of followers over the years, makes the Congress vital for a last-ditch fight for the countrys secular soul. And, if the party accepts such a role with humility and wisdom, Rahuls help would become crucial to forge a united Opposition. For its own good, the most hopeful sign for the Congress is that the party today stands at its most abbreviated moment in history. As an embodiment of all that is good and wrong with Indian politics since Gandhi, the Congress with 40-odd seats might want to stand in front of the mirror. What it would see is that most of its right-wing flab is gone. Followers have fled to the BJP, as we saw in UP recently. Some more will go in the Gujarat and Karnataka campaigns. That is not a bad thing, really. The claim that 59 per cent voters didnt elect Mr Modi needs to be put to test, however. If the Indian majority has within it any remnants of Hindutva or right-wing nationalism still lurking, the Opposition could be eyeing the wrong victory. If the 59 per cent include the so-called soft Hindutva, the journey will be impossible. The Congress must discard its reactionary past. The Congress cannot afford to be a B team of Hindutva. Nor is any other Opposition party going to win two extra votes by competing on the BJPs pseudo-nationalist turf. Finally, if the 59 per cent majority comprises querulous parties whose selfishness produced the UP verdict last month, any hope of rescue in 2019 looks false. Plan to retreat instead. In any case, its time the real Rahul Gandhi stood up. Hindutva nationalism is setting the country on fire from Odisha to Gujarat, from Kashmir to Kerala. Who will douse the inferno, if anyone will? By arrangement with Dawn The decision of Pakistans Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa to confirm the death sentence handed by a military court on Monday to retired Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who Pakistan claims is a spy, speaks of confrontational behaviour by Islamabad. This puts the onus on India to summon a firm, clear-cut response. Bilateral ties have been frosty since late last year when this country conducted a so-called surgical strike across the Line of Control which it widely publicised in retaliation for a series of attacks on Indian military installations by anti-India terror squads in Pakistan that find official favour. The first of these at the Pathankot airbase in January 2016 appeared calculated to end the goodwill accruing from Prime Minister Narendra Modis impromptu visit to Lahore just weeks earlier, on Christmas Day 2015, to greet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. With the Pakistan PM facing political heat and being hauled up in the courts over allegations pertaining to the Panama Papers on offshore tax havens, the Army, always ideologically ill-disposed toward India, has clearly taken full charge of the India relationship. India has said if Pakistan proceeds to execute the death sentence, it will be seen as premeditated murder as the field general court martial proceedings appear to have been a total farce. The former naval commander was held guilty on all charges, but the charges themselves were not communicated to the Indian government, that wrote in vain to Pakistan 13 times to be given consular access to its citizen. The Pakistani military has said Mr Jadhav had confessed before a magistrate to being an agent of R&AW. If so, it is strange that he should be operating inside Pakistan with an Indian passport. Last December, the Pakistan PMs foreign affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz, had informed the Pakistan Senate that the evidence against Mr Jadhav was insufficient, and the dossier being prepared on him to be circulated internationally amounted to a string of statements but not evidence. Giving the death sentence to spies, even if Mr Jadhav was one, has hardly been heard of, and that makes this case curious. The confirmation of the sentence by the Army Chief also indicates that the matter does not now admit of an appeal. Much may depend on Indias response. No one in India had really paid too much attention when Pakistan had announced last year that it had arrested a spy working for the Research and Analysis Wing, Indias external intelligence agency. Kulbhushan Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was picked up by the Pakistani agencies under unexplained and implausible circumstances. Such things keep happening between estranged nations. But putting such a detained or arrested person through a field general court martial (FGCM), and then sentencing him to death, can throw up a storm bigger than what Pakistan may have envisaged. My limited knowledge of the law indicates the FGCM is something like Indias SGCM, where the word field is replaced with summary. Such GCMs are meant to be conducted under field circumstances but also need confirmation from a superior authority before being executed. In our case, the court of appeal is the Armed Forces Tribunal, which comprises a civilian judge and a senior retired military officer. In Pakistans case, it is the Military Appellate Tribunal, that only has serving military officers. The Pakistan Supreme Court can be moved and an appeal made to the President of Pakistan, but given the standing of the Army chief in that country it is doubtful if any of these will yield results. Jadhav had been denied consular access for the entire period that he has been in Pakistani custody, in gross violation of the Vienna Protocol on Consular Relations, which lays down the procedure for protection of arrested persons in foreign countries. In fact, his prosecution had been authorised by the Pakistan Army chief. The strange thing is that he was treated as a serving military officer and Pakistani military law invoked, despite the fact he had taken premature retirement way back in 2001. The entire episode is so murky that these allegations would never withstand international scrutiny. But we arent dealing with a normal state but an extremely irrational one called Pakistan. One can expect everything irrational, including probably a fast-track execution of Jadhav, an unfortunate pawn in a larger strategic game. Jadhav was arrested under unexplained circumstances, with even the location remaining unrevealed. One version is that he was kidnapped by the Taliban and sold to Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence. Many other versions exist. Jadhav was not an active Indian Navy officer, he had taken premature retirement in 2001 and was now a businessman running dhows to Irans Chabahar port. Pakistan had alleged he was an active R&AW agent on an undercover mission to spread turbulence in Balochistan and target the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in particular. The arrest, the charges and the apparent hurry to announce the verdict and sentence together all have reasons. On March 3, 2016, when Jadhav was arrested, the Chabahar issue was being pursued with great vigour by India in the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Tehran to sign the historic trilateral deal with Iran and Afghanistan. It worried Pakistan greatly as this was a strategic manoeuvre by India for access to Afghanistan, Central Asia and Russias North-South Corridor. Pakistans relevance was being marginalised. It used the indirect ploy of planting in the mind of Irans leadership that Indias presence would contribute to its greater support to Balochs, a large segment of whom are also in Iran. It was also a plan to plant into the minds of Chinas planners that India would go to any extent to target CPEC and thereby create greater disaffection for India. Although Jadhav was virtually given a clean chit by Irans ambassador to Pakistan and by many others of the diplomatic corps in the region, he was an excellent pawn to be exploited at an appropriate time. It is not unusual that cases of alleged spies usually drag on for years and they languish in jails amid high-decibel appeals by human rights activists and their families. But Jadhavs case goes way beyond that, and is a deliberate conspiracy for long-term strategic gains. Any Indian working out of Chabahar or any Iranian city closer to the Pakistan-Iran border could have fitted the bill for kidnapping, but with homework and research the ISIs luck was in place to find a former Indian armed forces officer in a place which suited its mission. To keep it all under wraps, he was portrayed as a serving Indian intelligence officer, and by a strange interpretation of laws Pakistans Army Act was applied to him. The public admission shown on television by Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations wing proved to be a mockery, with jerky sentences and cuts in his alleged admission. The second part of this sordid drama has now come up. Apart from the proclaimed verdict and sentence, it is the circumstances which catch the eye. A retired Pakistani lieutenant-colonel has apparently disappeared from Lumbini in Nepal. It is yet premature to link this event with others. However, strategic minds working overtime in Pakistan are looking at every possible angle of enhancing disaffection between India and China. With the Dalai Lamas visit to Arunachal Pradesh drawing Beijings ire, it is the time to give that impetus, reminding China about Indias intent against CPEC. Pakistans action is also designed to drive home the message that it has the strategic advantage, with India unable to protect its own citizen; cocking a snook as it were. Indias relations with Pakistan are likely to dip to another nadir and public disaffection will be high, considering the emotions let loose on the social media. With its ability to calibrate the violence in Kashmir and attempt to portray India in poor light, Pakistan also aims to dilute the perceived strength of the current Indian government, which is at a high internationally, more so after the recent Assembly poll results. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. If the threat to execute Jadhav is actually carried out, many across the world will be watching the Indian response. The government may be compelled to take public sentiment into account. If so, we are staring down an abyss of another major confrontation with Pakistan. Let us hope saner counsels prevail in Islamabad, and for that matter at the general headquarters in Rawalpindi. MAVEN has detected iron, magnesium, and sodium ions in the upper atmosphere of Mars over the last two years using its Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer instrument, making scientists speculate about their presence on other planets and moons as well. Mars has electrically charged metal atoms high in its atmosphere, according to new data from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft which can unveil previously invisible activity in the mysterious electrically charged ionosphere of the red planet. MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission) is exploring the Martian upper atmosphere to understand how the planet lost most of its air, transforming from a world that could have supported life billions of years ago into a cold desert planet today. Understanding ionospheric activity may shed light on how the atmosphere on Mars is lost to space, researchers said. "MAVEN has made the first direct detection of the permanent presence of metal ions in the ionosphere of a planet other than Earth," said Joseph Grebowsky of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in the US. "Because metallic ions have long lifetimes and are transported far from their region of origin by neutral winds and electric fields, they can be used to infer motion in the ionosphere, similar to the way we use a lofted leaf to reveal which way the wind is blowing," said Grebowsky. The metal comes from a constant rain of tiny meteoroids onto the red planet. When a high-speed meteoroid hits the Martian atmosphere, it vaporises. Metal atoms in the vapour trail get some of their electrons torn away by other charged atoms and molecules in the ionosphere, transforming the metal atoms into electrically charged ions. MAVEN has detected iron, magnesium, and sodium ions in the upper atmosphere of Mars over the last two years using its Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer instrument, giving the team confidence that the metal ions are a permanent feature. "We detected metal ions associated with the close passage of Comet Siding Spring in 2014, but that was a unique event and it didn't tell us about the long-term presence of the ions," said Grebowsky. The interplanetary dust that causes the meteor showers is common throughout our solar system, so it is likely that all solar system planets and moons with substantial atmospheres have metal ions, according to the team. Sounding rockets, radar and satellite measurements have detected metal ion layers high in the atmosphere above Earth. There has also been indirect evidence for metal ions above other planets in our solar system. When spacecraft are exploring these worlds from orbit, sometimes their radio signals pass through the planet's atmosphere on the way to Earth, and sometimes portions of the signal have been blocked. This has been interpreted as interference from electrons in the ionosphere, some of which are thought to be associated with metal ions. However, long-term direct detection of the metal ions by MAVEN is the first conclusive evidence that these ions exist on another planet and that they are a permanent feature there. The research was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Critical challenges threatening intelligent sharing are rising at a fast pace. A new report by McAfee reveals that 176 cyber threats (almost three every second), 88 per cent ransomware growth and 99 per cent mobile malware growth had been detected by the end of 2016. The report further details the challenges facing threat intelligence sharing efforts, probes the architecture and inner works of Mirai botnets, assesses reported attacks across industries and reveals growth trends in malware, ransomware, mobile malware and other threats in Q6, 2016. The security industry faces critical challenges in our efforts to share threat intelligence between entities, among vendor solutions, and even within vendor portfolios, said Vincent Weafer, Vice President of McAfee Labs. Working together is power. Addressing these challenges will determine the effectiveness of cybersecurity teams to automate detection and orchestrate responses, and ultimately tip the cybersecurity balance in favor of defenders. The report goes on to review the background and drivers of threat intelligence sharing; various threat intelligence components, sources, and sharing models; how mature security operations can use shared data; and critical sharing challenges that the industry must overcome. Those challenges include: Volume: A massive signal-to-noise problem continues to plague defenders trying to triage, process, and act on the highest-priority security incidents. Validation: Attackers may file false threat reports to mislead or overwhelm threat intelligence systems, and data from legitimate sources can be tampered with if poorly handled. Quality: If vendors focus just on gathering and sharing more threat data, there is a risk that much of it will be duplicative, wasting valuable time and effort. Sensors must capture richer data to help identify key structural elements of persistent attacks. Speed: Intelligence received too late to prevent an attack is still valuable, but only for the cleanup process. Security sensors and systems must share threat intelligence in near real time to match attack speeds. Correlation: The failure to identify relevant patterns and key data points in threat data makes it impossible to turn data into intelligence and then into knowledge that can inform and direct security operations teams. To move threat intelligence sharing to the next level of efficiency and effectiveness, McAfee Labs suggests focusing on three areas: Triage and prioritization: Simplify event triage and provide a better environment for security practitioners to investigate high-priority threats. Connecting the dots: Establish relationships between indicators of compromise so that threat hunters can understand their connections to attack campaigns. Better sharing models: Improve ways to share threat intelligence between our own products and with other vendors. Increasingly sophisticated attackers are evading discrete defense systems, and siloed systems let in threats that have been stopped elsewhere because they do not share information, Weafer continued. Threat intelligence sharing enables us to learn from each others experiences, gaining insight based on multiple attributes that build a more complete picture of the context of cyber events. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Swiss researchers said Monday they have developed a wireless camera system to monitor vital signs in premature babies, a move that could replace uncomfortable and highly inaccurate skin sensors. The skin sensors currently used to monitor vital signs in babies born prematurely generate false alarms in up to 90 percent of cases, mainly set off by the baby's movement. "This is a source of discomfort for the babies, because we have to check on them every time," Jean-Claude Fauchere, a doctor at University Hospital Zurich's neonatal clinic, explained in a statement. "It's also a significant stress factor for nurses and a poor use of their time -- it distracts them from managing real emergencies and can affect quality of care," he added. His hospital is preparing to begin tests of a new, contactless system created by researchers at the EPFL polytechnical university in Lausanne and at the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology, CSEM, in Neuchatel, the two schools said in a statement. The system should allow premature babies kept warm in neonatal incubators to be medically monitored using highly sensitive cameras that detect the newborn's pulse by detecting and analysing its skin colour, which changes ever so slightly every time its heart beats. "Breathing is monitored by measuring movements of its thorax and shoulders. At night, infrared cameras take over, which means that monitoring can be carried out non-stop," the statement said. The optical system was designed by CSEM researchers, who chose cameras sensitive enough to detect minute changes in skin colour, while the EPFL researchers designed algorithms to process the data in real time, it said. "We ran an initial study on a group of adults, where we looked at a defined patch of skin on their foreheads," EPFL PhD student Sibylle Fallet said in the statement. "With our algorithms we can track this area when the person moves, isolate the skin pixels and use minor changes in their colour to determine the pulse," she said, adding that "the tests showed that the cameras produced practically the same results as conventional sensors." Once the system has been extensively tested on premature babies, it could one day replace skin sensors altogether, the schools said. "In addition to cutting down on false alarms, it would also be more comfortable for the babies," the statement said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The eight identified groups include PetrWrap authors, who have attacked financial organizations worldwide, the infamous Mamba group, and six unnamed groups also targeting corporate users. Kaspersky Labs researchers have discovered an emerging and alarming trend: more and more cybercriminals are turning their attention from attacks against private users to targeted ransomware attacks against businesses. At least eight groups of cybercriminals involved in encryption ransomware development and distribution have been identified. The attacks have primarily hit financial organizations worldwide. Kaspersky Labs experts have encountered cases where payment demands amounted to over half a million dollars. The eight identified groups include PetrWrap authors, who have attacked financial organizations worldwide, the infamous Mamba group, and six unnamed groups also targeting corporate users. It is worth noting that these six groups were previously involved in attacks targeting mostly private users and used affiliate program models. Now, they have refocused their efforts on corporate networks. According to Kaspersky Labs researchers, the reason for the trend is clear criminals consider targeted ransomware attacks against businesses potentially more profitable than mass attacks against private users. A successful ransomware attack against a company can easily stop its business processes for hours or even days, making owners of affected companies more likely to pay the ransom. In general, the tactics, techniques and procedures used by these groups are very similar. They infect the targeted organization with malware through vulnerable servers or spear phishing emails. Then they establish persistence in the victims network and identify the valuable corporate resources to encrypt, subsequently demanding a ransom in exchange for decryption. In addition to their similarities, some groups have their own unique features. For instance, the Mamba group uses its own encryptor malware, based on the open source software DiskCryptor. Once the attackers gain a foothold in the network, they install the encryptor across it, using a legal utility for Windows remote control. This approach makes the actions less suspicious for security officers of the targeted organization. Kaspersky Labs researchers have encountered cases where the ransom amounted up to one bitcoin (around $1,000 to the end of March 2017) per one endpoint decryption. Another unique example of tools used in targeted ransomware attacks comes from PetrWrap. This group mainly targets major companies that have a large number of network nodes. The criminals carefully select targets for each attack that can last for some time: PetrWrap has been persistent in a network for up to 6 months. We should all be aware that the threat of targeted ransomware attacks on businesses is rising, bringing tangible financial losses. The trend is alarming as ransomware actors start their crusade for new and more profitable victims. There are many more potential ransomware targets in the wild, with attacks resulting in even more disastrous consequences, said Anton Ivanov, Senior Security Researcher, Anti-Ransom, Kaspersky Lab. In order to protect organizations from such attacks, Kaspersky Lab security experts advise the following: Conduct proper and timely backup of your data so it can be used to restore original files after a data loss event. Use a security solution with behavior based detection technologies. These technologies can catch malware, including ransomware, by watching how it operates on the attacked system and making it possible to detect fresh and yet unknown samples of ransomware. Visit The No More Ransom website, a joint initiative with the goal to help victims of ransomware retrieve their encrypted data without having to pay the criminals. Audit installed software, not only on endpoints, but also on all nodes and servers in the network and keep it updated. Conduct a security assessment of the control network (i.e. a security audit, penetration testing, gap analysis) to identify and remove any security loopholes. Review external vendor and 3rd party security policies in case they have direct access to the control network. Request external intelligence: intelligence from reputable vendors helps organizations to predict future attacks on the company. Train your employees, paying special attention to operational and engineering staff and their awareness of recent threats and attacks. Provide protection inside and outside the perimeter. A proper security strategy has to devote significant resources to attack detection and response in order to block an attack before it reaches critically important objects. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The Graphic and Intelligence based Script Technology, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune is executing a project titled 'Tools & Technologies for Development in Sindhi language' under the aegis of NCPSL. Bringing Sindhi language on to the digital platform, the National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing released software tools and e-books in Sindhi to mark the 50th Sindhi Basha Diwas here on Monday. The Graphic and Intelligence based Script Technology, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune is executing a project titled 'Tools & Technologies for Development in Sindhi language' under the aegis of NCPSL. A host of software tools like Sindhi language Unicode typing tool, Sindhi Unicode compliant fonts, Sindhi Office software, eBooks, Sindhi web browser etc were released to mark Sindhi Basha Diwas yesterday. According to a press release issued by C-DAC, the two year project, software like Sindhi typing tool on Android devices and desktop platform, Sindhi fonts, Sindhi eBooks, children software, graphics artists tools etc are being developed/localised in the regional language. Dr Hemant Darbari, executive director, C-DAC said that the organisation was committed to the proliferation of Indian languages on the digital medium. "We were the first to recognise its potential to actively preserve the cultural heritage of a community which is more or less embedded within its language. At the same time, we also realised that Indian languages would be our best ally in bridging the digital divide in a country like India that has around 22 official Indian languages," he said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. An increasing number of smartphone-makers are treating the fingerprint sensor as one of the most important features any device must have. The technology has enabled users to save time from manually entering passwords. In fact, a fingerprint is all users need these days to buy any product, thanks to services like Apple Pay and Android Pay. Online banking is made much easier too swipe your finger and you can instantly pay bills or transfer thousands of dollars. A new research by New York University and Michigan State University however, suggests that smartphones is amongst the easiest tools for hackers to manipulate and use it to their benefit. The paper shared by them investigates the security of partial fingerprint-based authentication systems, especially when multiple fingerprints of a user are enrolled. The sensors embedded in these devices are generally small and the resulting images are, therefore, limited in size, the report explains. To compensate for the limited size, these devices often acquire multiple partial impressions on a single finger during enrolment to ensure that at least one of them will successfully match with the image obtained from the user during authentication. Like mentioned previously, numerous cases are such wherein users are allowed to enrol multiple fingers. Since the impressions pertaining to multiple partial fingers are usually associated with the same identity (i.e. one user), a user is said to be successfully authenticated even if it were another person all together. Moreover, even if a partial fingerprint is obtained during authentication, the job of unlocking a device or even transferring money through online banking can be easily done. While investigating the possibility of generating a MasterPrint, which is a synthetic or real partial fingerprint, the research discovered that it is indeed possible to locate or generate partial fingerprints through various means. This in turn, makes it easy for hackers to impersonate a large number of users. The computer simulations conducted by the researchers allowed them to develop a set of artificial MasterPrints that could match real prints in smartphones as much as 65 per cent of the time. Its almost certainly not as worrisome as presented, but its almost certainly pretty darn bad, said Andy Adler, a professor of systems and computer engineering at Carleton University in Canada, who studies biometric security systems. If all I want to do is take your phone and use your Apple Pay to buy stuff, if I can get into 1 in 10 phones, thats not bad odds. When it comes to full human fingerprints, it can get rather difficult to falsify the same. However, finger scanners embedded in smartphones are small and thus, they only require partial fingerprints which makes the task for any hacker very smooth. Its as if you have 30 passwords and the attacker only has to match one, said Nasir Memon, a professor of computer science and engineering at N.Y.U.s Tandon School of Engineering. He further went on to indicate that if a hacker creates a magic glove with a MasterPrint on each finger, they could get into 40 to 50 per cent of iPhones within five tries or less. While Google declined to comment, Apple spokesman Ryan James has said that the chance of a false match in the iPhones fingerprint system is 1 in 50,000. Apple had tested various attacks when developing its Touch ID system, and also incorporated other security features to prevent false matches, he added. Dr. Memon still uses fingerprint security on his iPhone despite his research, saying, Im not worried. I think its still a very convenient way of unlocking a phone. But Id rather see Apple make me enter the PIN if it is idle for one hour. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Pirates told Reuters they would keep the crew to use as bargaining chips for the freedom of pirates jailed in India. (File Photo) Mogadishu: Somali security forces rescued a hijacked Indian cargo dhow on Monday, but pirates took the 11-member crew with them when they fled to land, authorities said. The Al Kausar vessel was seized earlier this month, part of a sudden string of attacks by Somali pirates after years without a reported incident. "We attacked the Indian ship and rescued it but the pirates took away the 11 crew. We rescued two crew and they went with nine crew into the hilly areas between El Hur and Hardheere," Mohamed Hashi Arabey, vice president of Galmudug state, told Reuters. Galmudug is a federal state within the Horn of Africa country that operates its own security forces. The two crew were in a car that the pirates had to abandon after they were chased, Galmudug's vice president said. Pirates told Reuters they would keep the crew to use as bargaining chips for the freedom of pirates jailed in India. "We encouraged our friends to run away with the crew if they are attacked so that they exchange for the release of 117 pirates jailed in India," pirate Saiid said. "We are ready to reinforce our friends so that Galmudug forces do not rescue the nine crew of the Indian ship." Somali pirate attacks peaked with 237 in 2012 but then declined steeply after ship owners improved security measures and international naval forces stepped up patrols. But this month has seen a new rash of attacks, with two ships captured and a third rescued by Indian and Chinese forces after the crew radioed for help and locked themselves in a safe room. Residents of the Somali coastline say piracy has resumed after local authorities issued permits for foreign fishing vessels to fish in Somali waters. They say the foreign vessels have cut nets belonging to locals and run down small boats. New York: The Panama Papers investigation was on Monday awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious award in US journalism, for 'Explanatory Reporting'. The Pulitzer Prize Board lauded praised the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) for using a collaboration of more than 300 reporters on six continents to expose the hidden infrastructure and global scale of offshore tax havens, according to a report in ICIJ. The Panama Papers reports were written by the ICIJ, the McClatchy Company, the Miami Herald, Suddeutsche Zeitung and other media partners. This honour is a testament to the enterprise and teamwork of our staff and our partners here in the United States and around the world, Gerard Ryle, ICIJs director, said. Were honoured that the Pulitzer Board recognized the groundbreaking revelations and worldwide impact that the Panama Papers collaboration produced, he added. The 101st edition of the awards was announced at Columbia University in New York. The ICIJ had last year published a massive trove of 'Panama Papers' information on detailed offshore holding of companies linked to more than 140 politicians in more than 50 countries including 14 current or former world leaders. Thousands of documents related to India, linking close to 2,000 individuals, entities and addresses from the country, were also exposed. The scandal broke last spring when the states top police officer provided the news organisation AL.com with salacious details of the secret romance. (Photo: AP) Washington: The governor of the conservative southern US state of Alabama resigned Monday, shortly after lawmakers began impeachment proceedings linked to his affair with a senior aide that was made public in humiliating detail. Robert Bentley, 74, pleaded guilty in an agreement with prosecutors on Monday to two misdemeanour campaign violations and is barred from seeking public office again. I have spent the last year in deep and earnest prayer over our state and our people. I pray every morning for wisdom and guidance and forgiveness for the sins I have committed, the former dermatologist and church deacon told a news conference announcing his resignation, never directly acknowledging his romantic relationship with 45-year-old political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason. The relationship between Bentley and his married aide became a topic of speculation in 2015, when his wife of 50 years, Dianne, abruptly filed for divorce. The scandal broke last spring when the states top police officer -- fired by Bentley -- provided the news organisation AL.com with salacious details of the secret romance. The media outlet reported on a 2014 phone conversation between Bentley and a woman he called Rebekah that was secretly captured by Dianne Bentley. When I stand behind you, and I put my arms around you, and I put my hands on your breasts, and I put my hands (unintelligible) and just pull you real close. I love that, too, the governor is heard saying. Baby, let me know what I am going to do when I start locking the door, he said during another part of the tape. If we are going to do what we did the other day, we are going to have to start locking the door. Last week, an impeachment investigation report prepared for the Alabama House Judiciary Committee said Bentley tried to cover up the affair in a process characterised by increasing obsession and paranoia. To ensure the silence of his staff, Governor Bentley encouraged an atmosphere of intimidation, it added. Concern over the recordings appears to have become an obsession. The report revealed that Bentley once opened the door of his hotel room in Washington clad in boxer shorts, thinking Mason was the other side when it was actually hotel staff. On the same trip in 2014, Dianne Bentley attended a group dinner with her husband and Mason, and saw the text messages he was sending his mistress while seated next to his wife, including I cant take my eyes off of you. Bentley once mistakenly sent his wife a text message that said, I love you Rebekah, accompanied by a red-rose emoji. Dianne Bentley was able to access other text messages sent by her husband because he had given her his state-issued iPad, not realising texts from his iPhone would show up on her tablet because the devices were linked. As part of his plea deal, Bentley must surrender USD 37,000 in campaign funds and perform 100 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty to failing to properly report a USD 50,000 loan made to his campaign and using campaign funds to pay nearly USD 9,000 for Masons legal fees last year. Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey was sworn in as governor Monday evening. The Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the US and the Philippines as a terrorist organisation, holds more than a dozen foreign and local hostages. (Photo: AFP) Manila: Five people including a Philippine police officer were killed on Tuesday in clashes with 10 suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group on the resort island of Bohol, authorities said. The incursion would be the first on a major Philippine tourist destination in recent years by the Abu Sayyaf, which has long engaged in kidnappings for ransom -- often targeting foreigners in the lawless southern Philippines. Five bodies have been recovered at the scene of the fighting, Philippine military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said on ABS-CBN television in Manila. At least one policeman was confirmed killed in the fight, national police spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said in a statement. "Security forces reported that the armed group is well-armed with heavy-calibre weapons, but now cornered in an isolated section" of Bohol, Philippine military chief of staff General Eduardo Ano said in a statement. It comes after the US and Australian embassies warned their citizens this week about possible kidnappings by "terrorist groups" in the central Philippines. Bohol is a major tourist destination, where foreign tourists swim with whale sharks and marvel at tiny primates called tarsiers, go on cruises aboard boats on crystal-clear rivers and lounge at white-sand beaches. Military spokesman Padilla said the army had received information over the past few weeks about "a potential activity on the part of some lawless elements to disturb the peace" in the area. "The clearing operations are ongoing and we are pouring in more forces to help and assist. We hope to finish this by the end of the day," the spokesman added. The gunmen sailed into the Bohol town of Inabanga on Monday, going upriver toward a remote section of the island aboard three fast boats, said Inabanga police officer Edwin Melicor on telephone. "Residents told us the gunmen could have been Muslims because they were aboard boats that are used only in Mindanao," Melicor said, referring to a Muslim-populated southern area. A clash broke out as police went to investigate early on Tuesday, Melicor added. The Abu Sayyaf, also blamed for deadly bombings, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement that holds large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Over the past year the Abu Sayyaf has been expanding its activities, boarding commercial and fishing vessels off their southern island stronghold of Jolo, near Malaysia, and abducting dozens of foreign crew members. They beheaded a German tourist earlier this year and two Canadian tourists last year, all three of them having been seized at sea. The ban remained in place after the wars end, as long-reigning autocrats Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan regularly clashed over water and other issues. (Photo: Pixabay/Representational) Dushanbe: After a 25-year break, fractious Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have re-established regular connecting flights, a spokeswoman at Tajikistans international airport said on Tuesday, paving the way for improved relations. An Uzbekistan airways flight (from Tashkent) landed at Dushanbe international airport at 8:03 am (0303 GMT), said the airport spokeswoman by telephone. The plane and the passengers were very well met. Doubts were cast over an apparent rapprochement between the two countries that have a traditionally fraught relationship when a long-awaited flight from Dushanbe to Tashkent was abruptly cancelled in February. Uzbekistan first banned flights from Tajikistan in 1992 after the outbreak of civil war in its smaller neighbour to the east. The ban remained in place after the wars end, as long-reigning autocrats Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan regularly clashed over water and other issues. Karimov was buried in his native city of Samarkand after a suspected stroke in September last year and successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev has moved to smooth ties with neighbours in the majority-Muslim ex-Soviet region. The US Navy's Carl Vinson strike group has been deployed to the Korean Peninsula in a show of force against growing threats from the North (Photo: AFP) Pyongyang: North Korea denounced Washington's deployment of a naval strike group to the Korean peninsula Tuesday, warning it was ready for "war" in a further escalation of tensions. The Carl Vinson strike group cancelled a planned trip to Australia this weekend to head to the region, in a show of force as Washington signalled it may act to shut down Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities. "This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase," a spokesman for the North's foreign ministry said according to state news agency KCNA. "The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US," he said, using the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. President Donald Trump, fresh from ordering a missile strike on Syria that was widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea, has asked his advisors for a range of options to rein in Pyongyang, a top US official said Sunday. Trump has previously threatened unilateral action against Pyongyang if China -- the North's sole major ally -- fails to help curb its neighbour's nuclear weapons ambitions. But Pyongyang's response suggested the reclusive state is determined to continue on its current path, despite repeated rounds of United Nations sanctions. "We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms," the foreign ministry spokesman said. "We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions." Sixth test? Speculation over an imminent nuclear test is brewing as the North marks anniversaries including the 105th birthday of its founding leader on Saturday -- sometimes celebrated with a demonstration of military might. Pyongyang is on a quest to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead, and has so far staged five nuclear tests, two of them last year. Satellite imagery analysis suggests it could be preparing for a sixth, with intelligence officials warning it could be less than two years away from achieving the ability to strike the continental United States. Seoul and Washington are also currently conducting joint military drills, an annual exercise which is seen by the North as a preparation for invasion. South Korea's top nuclear envoy said Monday after talks with his Chinese counterpart that the two nations had agreed to "strong" new measures to punish Pyongyang if it carried out another nuclear test. The talks came shortly after Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Beijing to do more to curb the North's nuclear ambitions. "(We) are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to coordinate with us," US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the summit. US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster on Sunday criticised North Korea as a rogue nation engaged in provocative behaviour and said denuclearisation of the peninsula "must happen". "The president has asked them to be prepared to give us a full range of options to remove that threat," he said on Fox News, apparently referring to Trump's advisers. South Korea's Unification Minister Hong Yong-Pyo said Monday that the repercussions of a potential military response were worrying. "Pre-emptive strikes may be aimed at resolving North Korea's nuclear problems, but for us, it is also related to defending the safety of the public," he told reporters. While a US unilateral strike on North Korea from a shorter range might be more effective, it would likely endanger many civilians in the South and risk triggering a broader military conflict, experts warn. Grande-Synthe: Authorities and aid workers are searching for several hundred migrants who disappeared after a fire ravaged their camp in northern France, a shocking blaze that exposed anew the challenges and tensions around Europe's migrants just 12 days before France's presidential election. Police cordoned off the largely destroyed camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe on Tuesday and investigators inspected the site to try to determine the cause of the Monday night fire, which broke out following a fight between rival groups of migrants. Three mobile police units were deployed in the area to head off tensions prompted by the camp's demise, the government said in a statement. The interior and housing ministers headed to the scene in a sign of the government's concern about the issue. Most of the camp near the English Channel is now reduced to the charred remains of wooden shelters and sparse belongings of the migrants, who converged on northern France in hopes of reaching Britain as part of waves of recent migration to Europe. As many as 1,600 people were in the camp when the blaze broke out, according to Grande-Synthe Mayor Damien Careme and prefect Michel Lalande, the top government official for the region. Some 500 were taken to three local gymnasiums, including one set aside for children and families - but most of the other migrants remain unaccounted-for, the mayor and prefect told reporters Tuesday. Doctors Without Borders, which set up the site a year ago to replace filthy makeshift camps in the region, is holding meetings Tuesday to decide what to do next. Other aid groups are planning to distribute meals Tuesday to migrants in the gymnasiums and anywhere else they are found around town. The first priority is to find migrants dispersed by the blaze, said Corenne Torre, head of the humanitarian group in France. "We just don't know where they are," she said. She estimated that at least 600 migrants remain unaccounted-for. Some are believed to be hiding because they fear the authorities or because they fear rejoining a camp with rival gangs, she said. She said that 10 migrants are in local hospitals with light injuries following the fire. The prefect and mayor said authorities believe the fire was set intentionally and was linked to a fight earlier Monday between Kurdish and Afghan migrant groups involving up to 150 migrants. The camp will remain closed during the investigation, and local authorities will consider whether to open a new camp to replace it. It's a sensitive issue in France ahead of the two-round April 23-May 7 presidential election in which immigration is a key issue. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and conservative candidate Francois Fillon reiterated calls on Tuesday for stricter border controls. The prefect took the opposite stance. "The issue today is to shelter those people who live outside at the moment, and to build a future for them," Lalande told reporters. France sheltered migrant populations in the past, he said, "so we are not going to stop the march of history. To the contrary, it is in the name of this history that we are going to build a future for these people." "I lost all my documents," said an Iraqi migrant who identified himself only as Albidani, standing outside the camp. "I just have only this paper that says I'm a refugee in France." "We are refugees here in France. We don't have any place. ... We don't know what to do. We lost everything," Albidani said. Brussels: The European Union has extended sanctions against Iran by another year over what the bloc says are serious human rights violations. The EU said in a statement it extended a travel ban and asset freeze against 82 people and also a ban on EU exports that might help in the repression of internal dissent. In 2011, the EU imposed the restrictions over the repression of peaceful demonstrators, journalists, human rights defenders and others. The sanctions also target those involved in torture, inhumane treatment and stonings or hangings. The extension prolongs the sanctions until April 13, 2018. The sanctions are separate from those over Iran's alleged nuclear program, which have been lifted. Russia's Investigative Committee last week named the eight suspects but not their ethnic origin. (Photo: AP) Moscow: Russia's security chief on Tuesday said all those detained over the Saint Petersburg metro bombing originate from Central Asia, urging tighter migration controls. The eight people detained in Moscow and Saint Petersburg over the April 3 bombing that killed 14 are "all originally from Central Asia", the head of the FSB security service Alexander Bortnikov said, quoted by RIA Novosti news agency. Bortnikov, speaking at a meeting of the National Antiterrorism Committee (NAK) that he chairs, did not specify the suspects' current citizenship. "To prevent attempts by fighters to enter Russia," there is a need for "additional measures of control on the state border... towards those suspected of taking part in terrorist attacks," the security chief said. The country's border guards are under the control of the FSB. Russia's Investigative Committee last week named the eight suspects but not their ethnic origin. The suspected suicide bomber has been named as 22-year-old Akbarjon Djalilov, who is thought to be a Russian national born in Central Asian Kyrgyzstan. Millions of migrants from the poverty-stricken ex-Soviet countries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan come to work in Russia. The core of "terrorist groups in Russia" is made up of citizens of ex-Soviet countries arriving "in flows of migrant workers," Bortnikov said. Some of these had trained and fought in Syria and Iraq, the FSB chief added. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia faces a threat from hardened Islamist fighters returning from Syria. The investigation into the Saint Petersburg metro bombing shows that "operational work on the ground still does not fully correspond to the threat from illegal terrorist organisations," Bortnikov said. Bortnikov linked the Saint Petersburg attack to the Islamic State jihadist group, which has however not claimed responsibility. He cited information according to which "the heads of terrorist groups active in the Middle East as part of IS are working on plans to carry out terrorist attacks in various regions of the world, including Russia." "Examples of this are the high-profile terrorist attacks in recent weeks in Britain, Russia, Sweden and Egypt," Bortnikov said. In Sweden, an Uzbek man is suspected of driving a truck into pedestrians in the capital Stockholm, killing four and injuring 15. IS has not claimed responsibility, but Swedish media reported the suspect had told investigators that he had received an "order" from the group. Moscow: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow on Tuesday with an ultimatum for Russia: Side with the US and like-minded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. It wasn't clear what the punishment would be for a Russian government that has used its military might to help Assad and his array of allies score a series of battlefield successes in their six-year war with Syrian opposition groups. Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately showed that he wouldn't back down, saying Russia knew about planned "provocations" to blame Syria's government for using chemical weapons. He said the UN should first investigate the attack. "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when US envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq," Putin told reporters on Tuesday. "We have seen it all already." Tillerson is in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It is the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet. It's unclear if Putin and Tillerson will meet. Before heading to Russia, Tillerson told reporters that Moscow had either failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had been incompetent. But, he said, the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." His trip follows on Monday's claim by a senior US official that Washington has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. The official, who wasn't authorised to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity, didn't offer concrete proof and others in the Trump administration cautioned that no final determination of Russia's foreknowledge had been made. "We cannot let this happen again," Tillerson said of the chemical attack. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance" with Syria and Iran. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks." It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the US-Russian relationship but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage." The trade of accusations followed a long-set pattern for Syria's civil war. Under President Barack Obama, the United States accused Russia of supporting Assad in war crimes against civilians and of employing a sophisticated disinformation campaign to protect its ally. Assad and Russia have accused the US of supporting terrorist groups, who've staged atrocities to gain international sympathy for their cause. There was one key difference: After the recent launch of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a Syrian air base, President Donald Trump can now offer each a credible threat that the US will use force in Syria if the stalemate persists. The Trump administration, however, has offered mixed messages about whether Assad must surrender power - and when. Tillerson said it was clear the US saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." Such clarity on Assad's future isn't shared by Russia, which insists that Syria's leadership cannot be a matter for outside powers. Tillerson said Russian-sponsored cease-fire talks could generate momentum toward broader talks about a political transition - if they create a durable cease-fire. The idea is for political talks to follow, but Tillerson acknowledged the lack of progress so far. Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the "like-minded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialised economies in Italy. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The US and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. That accusation will hang over Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say if Putin would meet Tillerson. The United States has sought to minimise expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the US will leave with any Russian concessions on Syria. Instead, the US is hoping to use the visit - the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia - to convey expectations to Moscow and allow Russians time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the US strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria. In Italy, diplomats spoke of possible new sanctions on Syria's and Russia's militaries, and additional US military action if Assad's forces continue attacking civilians. The boy said that he was forced to severe heads of victims with knives, fire guns and assemble weapons. (Photo: Youtube) Kurdistan: A seven-year-old Yazidi boy, who was held captive by Islamic State for two and half years, reveals how his masters forced him to undergo 30 days of horrific combat training. According to a report in Daily Mail, the Yazidi boy, who shared his experience in a video, described how the ISIS made him learn beheading of victims and handle weapons. The boy said that he was forced to severe heads of victims with knives, fire guns and assemble weapons. Speaking about his ordeal, the distress boy tells the camera: We would carry arms and fire. We would disassemble and assemble the rifles. The boy, who hasnt been named in the video, further said: They then taught us how to behead, catch heads and then chop them off with a knife. The video, which is believed to have been shot in Kurdistan, shows that more than 1000 Yazidi children were held captive and then forced to undergo combat training. The youngster was probably kidnapped during the horrific assault on Sinjar, Iraq, in 2014. He has now been reunited with his parents, who said they are desperately trying to remove ISIS influence from his mind. ISIS has killed thousands of Yazidi men and forced many Yazidi women to marry terrorists, or be raped by them. Officials said the authorities had finalised the dossier which included video evidences of an Indian submarine spying on multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in November - and confession and statements of RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav. (File Photo) Islamabad: The death sentence handed out to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for "spying" was on Tuesday described as "unprecedented" by the Pakistani media, with experts weighing in the diplomatic fallout of the move. A Pakistan military court sentenced Jadhav to death after he was convicted of "espionage and sabotage activities". Military's media wing said in a statement on Monday that the sentence was passed by a Field General Court Martial and confirmed by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Right-wing English-language newspaper 'The Nation' in its front page lead 'Death to spy spikes tensions' observed that "a military court on Monday sentenced a high-profile Indian spy to death, ratcheting up longstanding tensions between the nuclear-armed states." The paper also quoted political and defence analyst Dr Hassan Askari that the decision to execute Jadhav would "further increase tension between the two countries". "The military has given a severe punishment which is according to Pakistani law," Askari said. "But we will have to see if Pakistan can sustain the political and diplomatic fallout." The Nation is owned by Nawa-i-Qawt group, which is traditionally aligned to Pakistani establishment and is known for India bashing. The story was also published by other leading newspapers, mostly focusing on the sentence given to the alleged spy. The Express Tribune in the front page headline 'Self-confessed Indian spy awarded death sentence' termed the decision as "unprecedented". It reported that the decision immediately sparked a bitter diplomatic spat between the two "hostile" neighbours. It further said that Jadhav has been operating in Pakistan disguised as Hussein Mubarak Patel. The influential Dawn newspaper termed the decision as a "rare move" . The paper said that the development comes at a time whentensions between Pakistan and India are already running high. It published a full column on what experts feel about the decision. Some feel the reaction from India will be strong, others maintain there will be no dramatic shift in the relationship, it said. "For a long time now Pakistan has struggled to prove India's involvement in Pakistan's destabilisation. Our ambassadors have gone to various countries looking for help in that matter and showed them proof but to no avail. Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for India's retaliation," the paper quoted Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood as saying. "The decision is right, it is by the law and justified in legal terms, however, we should brace ourselves as there will be reaction, on international forums and Pakistan should even be prepared for a spike in Line of Control violations," Masood said. Political analyst Air Marshal (retired) Shahzad Chaudhry said, "I do not think our ties with India would change as a result of this decision". Hamid Mir, senior journalist at Geo News said, "First of all, Pakistan should make the evidence found against the spy public, share it with the country and also internationally." "Secondly, why is everyone talking about an Indian reaction already? My belief is that India should be sensible and not react to the news at all. If people remember when Ajmal Kasab was sentenced, Pakistan had remained silent about the whole thing. Our prerogative was simple, if there is evidence against Kassab then he should be sentenced according to the Indian law. "So India should be sensible, not react to the news, not try to paint Jadhav as a hero, the media should take that same tone," he said. Senior PPP leader and former interior minister Rehman Malik said, "If the law has found Jadhav guilty then we have the right to sentence him to death and the sentence should be carried out. We should not back down to any pressure, Indian or international and make sure that the sentence is carried out." The News International headlined the spy story as 'Military court awards death sentence to Kulbhushan'. Jelil Matniyaz, a ruling Communist party official in Chinas volatile Uighur Muslim majority Xinjiang province was demoted for the act. (Photo: AP/Representational) Beijing: A ruling Communist party official in Chinas volatile Uighur Muslim majority Xinjiang province was demoted for not daring to smoke in front of local religious leaders which is regarded as a sign of timidity in fighting against religious extremism. Jelil Matniyaz, the party chief of a village in Hotan, Xinjiang was demoted from senior staff member to staff member on March 25 for his infirm political stands...and for being afraid to smoke in front of religious figures, a notice posted on the Hotan Dailys social media WeChat account said. Smoking is a personal choice, and religious and ordinary people should respect each other, but his behaviour of not daring to smoke conforms with extreme religious thought in Xinjiang, the Global Times quoted a Hotan official as saying. As a party chief, he should lead the fight against extreme religious thought, otherwise, he would fail to confront the threat of extreme regional forces, the official said. According to local religion customs, smoking is not allowed in front of older or religious people, Turgunjun Tursun, a professor with the Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday. However, some religious people force ordinary citizens also to comply with the requirements, a senior official who had been working in Xinjiang for years, told the Global Times. The officials demotion is an isolated case, Tursun said, adding that the local government should balance de-extremist behaviour and local customs in the crackdown on extremism. The move to demote the official comes as authorities intensified their efforts to curb religious extremism, state-run Global Times reported today. Early this month, the province where the Chinese security forces are battling recurring attacks by Uighur militants enacted a new law banning a wide range of acts, including wearing veils or growing abnormal beards. In Xinjiang, the Turkic-speaking Uighurs are restive for several years over increasing settlements of Han population from other provinces. China blames separatist East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliated group for the spate of violent attacks in the province. A number of its members reported to have joined the Islamic State militant group to fight in Syria. China believes apprehends that they would return to carry out attacks in the country. Xinjiang issued a regional anti-extremism regulation in March which bans supporting extremism and curtailing religious freedom and activities. The anti-extremism campaign also requires officials to inform local residents about some customs that are used by religious extremists, Tursun said. Other 96 Hotan officials were also named and shamed in the notice for violating disciplinary regulations, including lax work styles, dereliction of duty, and bribery. Lahore: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Tuesday indirectly opposed the death sentence handed out to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for "spying", saying the issue is controversial but his party is against capital punishment "on principle". The issue of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is controversial. He must not have been here in the first place, Bilawal told reporters. Recalling that his maternal grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was also sentenced to death, he said his party is against capital punishment on principle. PPP Punjab president and former federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the India's reaction on Jadhav's death sentence was "natural". "In fact Nawaz Sharif government has failed to tell the world about the charge sheet on Jadhav. Had India arrested such a Pakistani spy it would have propagated a lot in the world, he said. Pakistan's former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan said Jadhav can file a review appeal before the army chief or the Supreme Court against his sentence. "In case of rejection of his petition, he may file mercy plea before the President, he said, adding this is a long process and it may take more than two years. Pakistan sentenced Jadhav to death for carrying out espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Karachi, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said in a statement. According to ISPR, Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage actives" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. An image of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016. (Photo: File) Islamabad: Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. Jadhav, 46, was awarded the death sentence by military field general court martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, the upper house of parliament, the Pakistani defence minister said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence had sparked an angry reaction from India which said Jadhavs execution would be treated as premeditated murder. Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law, he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. Its not premeditated murder, whats happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder), he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went on for three months, rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with iron hands. Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment, he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was a serving officer in the Indian Navy. The Pakistan Army had also released a confessional video of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. Somali security forces have liberated an Indian cargo ship from the pirates who hijacked it, but only two of the ten-man crew were rescued, authorities in central Somalia have said. Abdulahi Ahmed Ali, district commissioner for the pirate-hub region of Hobyo, told local press yesterday that the "Al Kauser" ship had been held off the Indian Ocean coast near Yemen after the hijacking on March 31. "We have the boat and two of the crew members but eight other members of the crew are still missing because the pirates took them off the boat," the commissioner said. Ali said the two rescued crew members from India were healthy and that authorities were seeking their colleagues. Their abductors are believed to be holding them near Hobyo. The pirates had "refused a call by the local authorities to release the vessel and local forces forcefully engaged them," local security official Qoje Abdulahi told AFP by phone. Somali security forces exchanged fire with the hijackers who fled to the shore aboard a fast boat, taking eight of their hostages with them, Ali said. The Al Kauser was the third vessel seized by pirates in less than a month off the coast of Somalia, with experts warning that ships have lowered their guard in the five years since the height of the piracy crisis. The Indian ship was carrying cargo including wheat and sugar from Dubai via Yemen to Somalia's Bossaso port when it came under attack, owner Isaak Them told AFP. The president of the Kutch Seafarers Association, Adam Them, from the western state of Gujarat where the vessel originated, told AFP last week that the pirates had made ransom demands. Somali pirates began staging attacks in 2005, seriously disrupting a major international shipping route and costing the global economy billions of dollars. At the peak of the piracy crisis in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 boats were held. Though anti-piracy measures ended attacks on commercial vessels, fishing boats have continued to face attacks sporadically. However on March 13, pirates seized the Aris 13 oil tanker and eight Sri Lankan hostages in the first attack on a large merchant vessel by Somali pirates since 2012. The pirates claimed to be driven by anger over illegal fishing in Somali waters which has long been seen as a key grievance behind piracy in the country. While some hostages have been held for as long as five years, the pirates released the Aris 13 and its crew just four days after it was seized. A week later a local cargo dhow was hijacked and taken out to sea, with the Oceans Beyond Piracy NGO warning it may be used as a "mother ship" for further attacks against larger vessels. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif today said the death sentence handed out to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for "spying" should serve as a warning to those "plotting" against the country. "Those plotting against Pakistan will not be spared," Asif said after the Pakistani military announced that an army court has sentenced Jadhav to death after finding him guilty of "espionage and sabotage activities" and the army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has approved his execution. Jadhav's sentencing by a Pakistani military court was according to the law, Asif told Geo TV. He said the death sentence handed out to Jadhav should serve as a "warning to those plotting" against Pakistan". Asif said that Pakistan would use all constitutional force available against those acting against the sovereignty of the country. "Soldiers and civilians of Pakistan have given sacrifices for this country and their sacrifices demand us to give a befitting reply to terrorists and those who aid and facilitate them," he said. The defence minister further said that Jadhav's "confession" was a public document and if India raises the issue of his death sentence, Islamabad will reply to New Delhi. Jadhav came (to Pakistan) with the approval of the Indian government," he claimed and said there is no doubt that India was "fueling terrorism in Pakistan." Replying to a question on dealing the issue on diplomatic and political fronts, he said that Pakistan would present the issue on every international forum. According to Asif, the world had acknowledged Pakistan's struggle against terrorism and the country was dealing with this "menace" from both the "eastern and western front". Pakistan sentenced Jadhav to death for carrying out espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Karachi, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. According to ISPR, Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage actives" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. Reacting strongly, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar in New Delhi summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and gave a demarche, which said the proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are "farcical in the absence of any credible evidence" against him. Asif rejected the Indian stance of terming death sentence as a premeditated murder and claimed Jadhav was involved in carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan and all legal formalities were met during his trial. He accused India of "committing premeditated murder of the innocent people of Kashmir since last seven decades". He said New Delhi's stubbornness is the biggest hindrance in the way of the relationship between the two countries. Asif made it clear that the law will take its course if anyone poses a threat to the security and integrity of Pakistan. He claimed India has not fulfilled its legal and moral obligations in brining perpetrators of Samjhauta Express train blasts to justice. Defending Jadhav's death sentence, Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said it was done according to the law. He made the remarks while responding to a question in Senate, the upper house of parliament. Aziz said that it was too early to say when the sentence would be implemented. Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti welcomed the decision. "I believe this is a good decision." Though the some senior official spoke on the issue, but so far the Foreign Office has not responded on the issue. The Union government on Monday contended before the Supreme Court the practice of Triple Talaq and polygamy denied the Muslim women full enjoyment of fundamental rights and should be declared as unconstitutional. It claimed these practices impact the social status and dignity of women. In its written submission on a batch of PILs, the government also maintained that Islam did not sanction these practices and that they existed due to social norms certain centuries ago. The matter would be examined by a five-judge Constitution Bench during the summer vacation. The government said, Practices such as polygamy cannot be described as being sanctioned by religion in as much as historically, polygamy prevailed across communities for several centuries including the ancient Greeks and Romans, Hindus, Jews and Zoroastrians. It had less to do with religion and more to do with social norms at the time. It also claimed that Triple Talaq rendered Muslim women vulnerable and without any security unlike women of other religions in the country. Such discrimination based on religion cannot be countenanced in a secular country, it said. Shiv Sena today said the media's extensive coverage of the Gaikwad-Air India row made even infiltrations from Pakistan "look bleak" and noted that it has now become a fashion to hold politicians responsible for everything. The Sena also asked why the government was only talking about discipline while flying and not on the ground as well, and why the Centre does not threaten to dissolve a state Assembly when there is even one incident of farmer suicide. "It was surprising that the media gave so much importance to the Gaikwad episode which made even infiltrations from Pakistan look bleak," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' today quipped. "If so much media coverage was given to farmers' suicides, the hearts of those in power would have melted over their plight," the Sena said. "It has become a fashion now to hold politicians responsible for everything," it said. Air India had on April 7 lifted its ban on Gaikwad after he expressed regret for assaulting one of its employees. The Osmanabad MP had assaulted the AI employee on March 23 after he landed here on a Pune-Delhi all-economy flight. Gaikwad later boastfully claimed on TV that he had hit the official 25 times with slippers. The Sena asked why the government is only talking about discipline while flying and not on the ground as well. "Why are there attempts being made to discipline only Gaikwad? A TDP MP at Vijayawada airport had recently slapped a duty manager and prevented an airline from taking off its flight. Why was Gaikwad formula not applied to him as well?" it asked. "We accept that representatives of the people should behave well but nobody spoke against this TDP MP or (standup comedian) Kapil Sharma who behaved in an unruly way or even the TMC MP who created a ruckus," it said. The Sena said the person who hit with the slipper has done wrong, but there also needs to be an inquiry if the one who got hit was a saint or a gentleman. The editorial said Air India's CMD may be a great man who has done great deeds, but where did his policy of firmly standing behind the airline employees get punctured in Vijayawada. "If Gaikwad is guilty, let the law punish him. But stubbornness of a few people over the episode means an absence of law," it said. "Aviation Minister (MoS) Jayant Sinha is a gentleman and we welcome his stand to bring in discipline, but under which disciplinary rule does Air India CMD's action of maligning the image of an elected representative on social media fit? What is Air India's definition of discipline?" the Sena asked. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Uttar Pradesh government to explain why it failed to get vacated bungalows allotted to five former chief ministers despite orders. A three-judge presided over by Justice Dipak Misra issued notice to the director of estate department and sought response within three weeks. Former CMs, who got bungalows allotted for life, were Ram Naresh Yadav, N D Tiwari, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati and Rajnath Singh. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted he would check if Union Minister Rajnath Singh has vacated the Lucknow bungalow or not. The court posted the contempt petition filed by NGO Lok Prahari through its general secretary S N Shukla for consideration on May 2. The top court in August last held that the former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh cannot be allotted government bungalows for life, saying the state cannot fritter away public property in favour of private persons. The court had noted that other constitutional post holders like Governors, Chief Justices, Union Ministers, and Speaker etc held only one official residence during their tenure. In its judgement, the court then said there was no justification likewise to provide government bungalows to private trusts and societies. It directed the state government to get vacated such premises within two months and recover appropriate rent from the occupiers. Allotment of government property to someone without adequate market rent, in absence of any special statutory provision, would also be bad in law because the state has no right to fritter away government property in favour of private persons or bodies without adequate consideration and therefore, all such allotments, which have been made in absence of any statutory provision cannot be upheld, the bench said. The court relied upon the Uttar Pradesh Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981 and found 1997 rules framed thereunder as bad in law which enabled the former Chief Minister to continue with the accomodation for life. When the 1981 Act enables the Chief Minister to have residential accommodation only during his tenure and for 15 days after completion of his tenure, the 1997 Rules providing for an accommodation for life to the Chief Minister cannot be said to be legal and valid, the bench said. The former CMs of Uttar Pradesh, including Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati, Ram Naresh Yadav, Narayan Dutt Tiwari and Kalyan Singh were ordered to vacate their bungalows within two months. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari today indirectly opposed the death sentence handed out to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for "spying", saying the issue is controversial but his party is against capital punishment "on principle". The issue of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is controversial. He must not have been here in the first place, Bilawal told reporters. Recalling that his maternal grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was also sentenced to death, he said his party is against capital punishment on principle. PPP Punjab president and former federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the India's reaction on Jadhavs death sentence was "natural". "In fact Nawaz Sharif government has failed to tell the world about the charge sheet on Jadhav. Had India arrested such a Pakistani spy it would have propagated a lot in the world, he said. Pakistan's former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan said Jadhav can file a review appeal before the army chief or the Supreme Court against his sentence. "In case of rejection of his petition, he may file mercy plea before the President, he said, adding this is a long process and it may take more than two years. Pakistan sentenced Jadhav to death for carrying out espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Karachi, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said in a statement. According to ISPR, Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage actives" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. Climate change scientists are heading to the Himalayas in a bid to become the first team to successfully drill through the world's highest glacier located in the foothills of Mount Everest. An international research team will spend up to six weeks working at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres on the Khumbu glacier in Nepal and will be using a specially adapted car wash unit to drill up to 200 metres into the ice. Once the drilling has been completed, the team, led by Duncan Quincey from University of Leeds in the UK, will be able to study the glacier's internal structure, measure its temperature, how quickly it flows and how water drains through it. "All the current data collected on these glaciers only just scratches the surface," Quincey said. "The data we will collect during this expedition is critical for us to be able to forecast how this glacier, as well as others in the region, will respond to climate change," he said. Glacier melt-water from across the Himalayan range supports the livelihoods of around 40 per cent of the world's population, researchers said. However, dams and lakes that form on the glacier present a significant risk of flash flooding for people living down- stream. "Understanding what actually happens inside these glaciers is critical to developing a better understanding of how they flow so that we can better predict when dams that form on these glaciers are likely to be breached, releasing vast volumes of water to the valleys below," said Professor Bryn Hubbard from Aberystwyth University in the UK. "This is a real risk in the Himalayas as it is in other regions such as the Andes, and has the potential to endanger the lives of thousands of people," said Hubbard. Located in north-eastern Nepal, the 17 kilometre-long Khumbu glacier is often used by climbers on their way to Everest base-camp and flows from an altitude of 7,600 metres. The team will be working at an altitude of over 5,000 metres and will have to contend with a number of physical and technical challenges. Equipment weighing about 1,500kg will need to be transported to the drill site on the glacier. Half the equipment will be airlifted by helicopter and half will be carried up by locally-hired Sherpa, yaks and the research team. Drilling will be done with a specially-adapted car wash unit that produces a jet of hot water at a pressure of up to 120 bar. This is enough pressure to penetrate through road tarmac, researchers said. The team will travel to the Khumbu glacier in the foothills of Mount Everest this month. It will be the first of two trips. The team is set to return for a second nine week expedition next year. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Uttaradi Mutt and Sri Raghvendra Swamy Mutt to perform 'Aaradhana' (worshipping) at Nava Vrindavana Gaddi at Koppal district for two days and one day respectively between April 13 to April 15 in view of their pending dispute over the property. Hearing an urgent plea made by Sri Raghvendra Swamy Mutt, a three-judge bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra refused to interfere with the Karnataka HC's order of April 4, saying why should court enter into all these things. The court, however, asked the HC's principal bench at Bengaluru to dispose of the pending dispute between the two groups within a period of four months. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and R Venkataramani, appearing for Sri Raghvendra Swamy Mutt, questioned the HC's order, contending why should an arrangement, wherein both the parties were allowed worshipping for equal amount of time for 22 years from 1993 to 2015, be changed. They sought permission for the mutt to perform 'Aaradhana' at least for one and half day in the three-day period. Senior advocate Harin P Raval, along with senior advocates Jay Vitthal Kolar and Dhyan Chinappa, representing the Uttaradi Mutt, submitted that the arrangement that continued for all these years, came to an end by the HC's order. The counsel, however, submitted if the other side perform 'puja' only for a day, they would not have any objection. The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Mohan M Shantanagoudar, observed, we will say do your 'puja' and tell the HC to dispose of the matter within four months. The court also clarified that the direction by the HC would be restricted only for three days between April 13 to 15. The interim arrangement is interim only. Any observation by the HC should not affect the outcome of the regular second appeal, the bench said. Both the Mutts are locked in a protracted legal battle claiming rights of over the portion of the land measuring 27.5 acres out 100 acres at Anegundi village, Gangavathi Taluka, Koppal District bound on the East, West, South and North by Tungabhadra River, popularly known as Nava Vrindavanagaddi. Both the Mutts also fought over the rights to perform the rituals at Sri Padmanabha Tirtha, the first disciple of Madhwacharya, at the Nava Vrindavan (an island). Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa today met Chief Election Commissioner and demanded for the disqualification of AIADMK (Amma) faction candidate T T V Dinakaran in the RK Nagar bypoll in Tamil Nadu over his alleged involvement in distributing money to voters. "The EC has assured to take action against T T V Dinakaran and his supporters who were involved in the malpractice," she said. Pushpa, who was expelled from AIADMK, also explained the poll panel about the circumstances which led to Sasikala Natarajan's elevation as AIADMK's interim general secretary and her nephew to the second top position after the death of then chief minister J Jayalalithaa. "Though T T V Dinakaran, who was ostracised by Amma, was never a primary member, he was given the post of party deputy general secretary after Sasikala Natarajan became interim general secretary," she said. The RK Nagar by-election was cancelled after the Election Commission took notice of the money being distributed in the constituency. Early this month, around Rs 15 lakh was seized and 28 persons were arrested for their alleged role in various incidents of money distribution to voters and violence in the run-up to the April 12 bypoll. Reiterating her stand, Pushpa said she was still a primary member of AIADMK. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued an ultimatum to Russia today: Side with the US and like-minded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. As he embarked on a trip to Moscow following urgent meetings in Italy with top diplomats, Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had merely been incompetent. But he said the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead". "We cannot let this happen again," the secretary of state said. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks". It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the Russia-US relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage". Tillerson is travelling to Russia several days after a chemical attack in Syria and a US airstrike on a Syrian government base that Moscow today dismissed as "an act of aggression". Moscow is a staunch ally of President Bashar Assad whom the United States blamed for the chemical attack. Since the US launched airstrikes against Assad's forces in retaliation for a chemical attack on civilians last week, Trump administration officials have offered mixed messages about whether Washington believes Assad definitely must surrender power, and when. Tillerson said it was clear the US saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." "That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs," Tillerson added. He said the ceasefire talks that Russia and Iran have helped broker in the Kazakh capital, Astana, could generate momentum towards broader talks about a political transition, if the Astana talks succeed in creating a durable ceasefire. The resulting political talks would take place under the auspices of the United Nations process in Geneva. "To date, Astana has not achieved much progress," Tillerson said. Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the "like-minded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialised economies in Italy, days after the US for the first time launched airstrikes against Assad's forces. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The US and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. The US raised the stakes significantly yesterday when a senior US official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. Yet the US has no proof of Moscow's involvement, said the official, who wasn't authorised to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity. That accusation will hang over Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans to meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say whether Putin would meet with Tillerson, in line with its usual practice of not announcing such meetings ahead of time. The United States has sought to minimise expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the US will leave with any concessions from Russia regarding its support for Assad. Instead, the US is hoping to use the visit, the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia, to convey its expectations to Moscow and then allow the Russians a period of time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the US strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as US officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional US military action if Assad's government continues attacking civilians. At today's meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G-7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim- majority nations including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the US strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Mideast nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is vanquished. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today accused Pakistan of attempting a "pre-planned murder" of former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and asserted India will do "whatever it takes" to ensure his release. "Pakistan is attempting a pre-planned murder of Kulbhushan Jadhav," he said, striking an aggressive posture against Islamabad over the death penalty awarded to the Indian national by a military court in the neighbouring country. "Jadhav is not a spy and should be released," Singh said while speaking at the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Awards here tonight. "He went out of India for business. Pakistan agencies kidnapped him. He was carrying an Indian passport. Do spies carry passports?" he asked, seeking to trash Islamabad's claim that the 46-year-old was involved in "espionage and sabotage activities". "We will do whatever it takes to ensure Jadhav's release. If needed we will take the issue to international fora," the Home Minister asserted. Speaking during an interactive session at the event, Singh maintained India won't hesitate to take "strong steps" to secure Jadhav's release. However, he did not disclose what "strong steps" New Delhi was contemplating. Jadhav, who hails from Maharashtra, was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistan security officials allegedly in Balochistan which, they said, he entered from Iran. He was sentenced to death by a military court in a secret trial and the Pakistan's army chief yesterday approved his execution. The Vidhana Soudha police have detained one Shanthakumar and four others for creating a ruckus at Education Minister Tanveer Sait's office on Tuesday. The five from Mysuru had come to meet the minister asking him to reduce minimum marks for the PU lecturers post from 55 to 50%. When the minister tried to reason with them that it cannot be done, they accused the minister of abusing them citing their religion. The staff of the minister called the police stating that they were threatening him with dire consequences. The police and detained them and registered a complaint and a counter complaint from both the parties. Indian online transportation network company Ola is going ahead with its plan to raise $250 million from existing shareholders as a part of its initiative to take on the competition from US-headquartered rival Uber. According to the documents filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), Ola plans to sell about 1.3 million preferential shares at Rs 12,905 each in a rights issue to shareholders. When DH reached out to Ola officials on the matter, the company official didnt comment. Bengaluru-based ANI Technologies, which owns Ola, in its RoC filing stated that it will use the funds to expand its business and strengthen its financial position. The company is going through a rough patch with regulatory hurdles in various states and drivers are up in arms against the company policy. Olas initiative to raise funds comes at a time when ecommerce counterpart Flipkart announced its success in raising $1.4 billion from Tencent, eBay and Microsoft. Both Ola and Flipkart have raised their concern against US rivals capital dumping game plan to crush Indian companies. Recently, media reported that RNT Capital Advisers, a venture fund setup by Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata, along with New York-based hedge fund Falcon Edge Capital is making an attempt to invest in Ola. RNT Capital, recently set up a $250-million corpus fund with University of California Investments (UC Investments) to invest in Indian companies. Besides Japans SoftBank Group as major funder, Ola raised about $1.5 billion in funds from Tiger Global Management, DST Global, Matrix Partners, Accel Partners and Sequoia Capital. Its highest valuation was $5 billion when it raised $500 million in a Series F round from Scottish investment firm Baillie Gifford, Chinas Didi Chuxing and other investors in November 2015. It was brought down 40% in its another round in 2016. While DST Global-led the investment of $400 million in a Series E round in April 2015, Ola also raised $210 million in its Series D round led by SoftBank in October 2014. Founded by Indian entrepreneurs Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati in 2010, Ola was valued at $4.8 billion in August 2015. While its revenues rose seven-fold to Rs 380.2 crore in FY 2015 from Rs 49.6 crore in FY2014, its net loss widened to Rs 754.8 crore from Rs 34.2 crore. DH News Service A woman employee at a leading supermarket who was fired for selling expired products to a customer has filed a molestation case against the managers. The 39-year-old woman, who worked at Big Bazaars Horamavu outlet, has charged that two managers Kiran, 35, and Karthik, 36 used to touch her inappropriately and misbehaved with her several times. The preliminary enquiry, however, found that the complaint was the fallout of professional rivalry. Police said the woman and her colleague Prashanth had sold an expired product to a customer on March 8. On the customers complaint about the case to the management, Kiran and Karthik checked the CCTV footage to identify the staffer responsible. When it was confirmed that the woman and Prashanth were involved, the managers sacked them on March 26. The woman went on to file a molestation complaint on March 28 against the managers. Police booked the two men under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty). They were arrested, but released later on bail. The Congress on Tuesday sought to reignite the debate over Prime Minister Narendra Modis educational qualification after an Assam court issued a warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning the same. The warrant against Kejriwal was issued on Monday after he failed to appear before it in connection with a defamation case filed by a BJP worker for claiming that Modis college degrees were fake. Why is Modi so secretive about his educational qualification? Obviously, he has lied to the people about his education, AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh said on Twitter. Dont people of India have a right to know the educational qualification of their prime minister? What is so secret about it, Singh tweeted. Three Pakistani Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) officials drowned, while two others were rescued in an accident, approximately 10 nautical miles off Jakhau coast in Kutch on Monday. One of the PMSA officials went missing. As per the information coming in, PMSA boats rushed towards the Indian waters to capture eight Indian fishing boats. As the boats were being taken to Karachi coast, one of them Mehnoor broke down and a mechanised Pakistani boat collided with it. Six Pakistani officials on-board their boat fell into the water. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Arinjay, on receiving the message, rushed to the spot from Okha on the Saurashtra coast and rescued two PMSA officials. However, by then, three other officials had drowned. The ICG is learnt to have issued an alert to Gujarat marine police regarding the missing Pakistani marine. Bad weather Pakistani news publication Dawn, on its website, confirmed the news of the boat capsize. It quoted PMSA spokesperson, who claimed that the boat had sunk due to bad weather. Dawn, however, claimed that four PMSA men died in the incident. The Indian boats that were captured are Uma Shakti, Parsuram, Trishul, Savan, Ashirvad, Kishan Kanhaiya, Baba Tajuddin and Mehnoor. The secretary of National Fish Workers Forum Manish Lodhari said PMSA had released these boats with 40 fishermen on-board. The family of Mumbai businessman and former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of spying, has left for an unknown destination. The family had been avoiding the media for the last two days. Jadhavs Mumbai-based friends are contemplating starting an online campaign against Pakistan and demanding secured and safe release of Kulbhushan Jadhav. The family and extended family of the 46-year-old ex-officer are based in Mumbai and its suburbs. The Sangli-born man had joined the National Defence Academy in 1987 and worked for the Indian Navy for 12 years before retiring and starting his own business. The Pakistani military court claimed he was an agent of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), the external intelligence agency of India. His childhood friend, Subroto Deb Mukherjee, said that the news from Pakistan came as a shock to him and his friends. We were expecting some other news, he said. Visiting former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Tuesday refused to be drawn into the row over the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, saying even his countrymen were tried by military courts. Even Pakistanis are being tried by military courts, Kasuri told media on the sidelines of a seminar here. Lets not let things drift. It is in the national interest of Pakistan to have good relations with India, Kasuri said at the seminar on Improving Indo-Pak relations organised by the Centre For Peace and Progress. Kasuri, the author of Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove: An Insiders Account of Pakistans Foreign Policy, said a solution based on force is not tenable. Pakistan can do nothing and neither can India. What has force got us? Simply outwitting each other will not work, he said. Earlier in the day, Pakistan-based Samaa TV quoted Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit saying that Jadhav was indeed a terrorist. Its a proven fact that India carries out terrorist-driven activities in Pakistan. And when a terrorist himself has accepted he was a spy, the Indian government is having issues. We havent done anything wrong in giving the sentence to Jadhav. He should meet his fate, said Basit. Pakistan wanted India to acknowledge the complicity of its top security officials with former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, in carrying out espionage and sabotage in the neighbouring country. Islamabad last month signalled that it could accept New Delhis request for consular access to Jadhav, if India acknowledged that its senior officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modis National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, had planned and monitored his operations to destabilise Pakistan, sources in New Delhi told DH. Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed the proposition to the High Commission of India in Islamabad in a communique dated March 21. It also sought New Delhis assistance for investigations against Jadhav, who is in the custody of the Pakistan Army since March 2016. Jadhav has been accused of working for Indias external espionage agency, Research and Analysis Wing, to foment trouble in Pakistan. Islamabad had charged that Jadhav had been in touch with Doval and top officials of RAW, an allegation which New Delhi had dismissed. Earlier this year, the Pakistan government sought our assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday. In doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Islamabad again reached out to New Delhi with the same proposal on Monday, just hours after announcing that a military court had awarded death sentence to Jadhav for his involvement in espionage and sabotage in Pakistan. To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission (in Islamabad) received an official communication from the foreign ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access, Swaraj said, adding: That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian. Islamabad had turned down 13 requests made by New Delhi between March 25, 2016, and March 31, 2017, to give the High Commission of India in Pakistan consular access to Jadhav. University of Mysore (UoM) authorities have landed in a soup as members of the Audit Committee of Karnataka Legislature unearthed a scam to the tune of Rs 14 crore. During a meeting here on Tuesday, the committee also charged that the UoM authorities had failed to produce documents for Rs 120 crore spent on various works from 1989. Committee president and K R Nagar MLA Sa Ra Mahesh, who chaired the meeting organised at UoM, said that the authorities had failed to initiate legal action against those involved in the irregularities. According to the committee members, the authorities have misused Rs 14 crore funds allotted for various works from 1989. DH News Service The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Uttaradi Mutt and Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt to perform 'Aaradhana' (puja) at Nava Vrindavanagaddi in Koppal district for two days and one day respectively between April 13 and April 15 in view of their pending dispute over the property. Hearing an urgent plea made by Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, a three-judge bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra refused to interfere with the Karnataka High Court's order of April 4, saying, Why should court enter into all these things? The court, however, asked the high court's principal bench at Bengaluru to dispose of the pending dispute between the two groups within four months. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and R Venkataramani, appearing for Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, questioned the high court's order, contending why should an arrangement, wherein both the parties were allowed worshipping for equal amount of time for 22 years from 1993 to 2015, be changed. They sought permission for the mutt to perform 'Aaradhana' at least for one-and-a-half days in the three-day period. Senior advocate Harin P Raval, along with senior advocates Jay Vitthal Kolar and Dhyan Chinappa, representing Uttaradi Mutt, submitted that the arrangement that continued for all these years, came to an end with the high court's order. The counsel, however, submitted that if the other side performs 'puja' only for a day, they would not have any objection. The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Mohan M Shantanagoudar, observed, We will say do your 'puja' and tell the HC to dispose of the matter within four months. The court also clarified that the direction by the high court would be restricted only for three days between April 13 and 15. The interim arrangement is interim only. Any observation by the high court should not affect the outcome of the regular second appeal, the bench said. Protracted legal battle Both the mutts are locked in a protracted legal battle claiming rights over the portion of the land measuring 27.5 acres out of 100 acres at Anegundi village, Gangavathi taluk, Koppal district, bound on the East, West, South and North by Tungabhadra River, popularly known as Nava Vrindavanagaddi. Both the mutts also fought over the rights to perform the rituals at Sri Padmanabha Tirtha, the first disciple of Madhwacharya, at the Nava Vrindavana (an island). DH News Service A 30-year-old African national has been arrested for cheating a DySP's son of more than Rs 14 lakh in R T Nagar. Steve Owen alias Hussain is a Nigerian and a resident of Ramamurthy Nagar. According to police, Owen had come to the city on a business visa five years ago and he had cheated the senior police officer's son on the pretext of giving him a job in Scotland that would pay him Rs 1.44 crore per year. The incident occurred around nine months ago and a cheating complaint was lodged at R T Nagar police station. The police officer's son was an MBA graduate and a job aspirant who had uploaded his details to a website seeking job. Owen contacted him on the pretext of getting him an HR executive post in a Scotland-based company and the offer letter was shown to him on a fake letterhead of the company. The Nigerian then sought his commission of Rs. 14.3 lakh which was transferred to his account promptly by the victim. After the money transfer, the Nigerian's mobile number was switched off. The victim then realised that he was cheated. He informed the matter to his father and registered a complaint with the R T Nagar police. However, the jurisdictional J C Nagar police have just registered a complaint of servant theft attempt and are sitting on the case, a family member said. It was around 11.45 pm on Saturday when I heard loud noises from Abba's room upstairs. I rushed to his room only to find all lights off and there was a man armed with a crowbar attacking Abba, said. Husna Sait, daughter-in-law of Mahmood Wahid (Abba), and a bridal designer. Wahid held on to the crowbar and was fighting back gasping for breath and, screaming. Husna started running towards the room and then downstairs screaming for help. The intruder along with two others, one waiting downstairs and the other-- their own security guard who was waiting outside near the gate-- managed to flee the spot. We had hired a Nepalese man, Gorkh Bhadur Shahi only about 45 days ago. He was recommended by our neighbours security guard who had vouched for him. So, we allowed him doing in-house chores as well like buying groceries, said Azam Mahmood, younger son of Wahid. Little did they know that Shahi was waiting to rob the family, with the help of his two associates. On Saturday night, Azam had stepped out with his friends to watch the IPL match while his father was babysitting Azams two children, a four-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son. There was also a maid at the house. Husna, Azams elder brother Afzal Mahmoods wife had returned home from work at around 8 pm after having dinner outside. All the others including the maid had dinner at home, which was laced with sedatives and had gone into deep slumber, she said. It was then Shahi and his two associates, carrying crowbars and screwdrivers attempted to loot the house thinking all of them were in deep sleep. Luckily, since my father-in-law had a little food and because I did not have dinner at home, we both got up and foiled their attempts, said Husna. My husband Afzal had the dinner and slept straight for over 35 hours. He slept at 11 pm Saturday night and only got up on around 10.30 am on Monday, Husna added. She realised that their dinner was laced with sedatives the next morning when it was served to two other relatives, who had come to console them, started complaining of giddiness after they ate their food. She immediately called her Azam and rushed everybody to the hospital. Wahid, his two grandchildren along with Afzal and the maid were admitted to private hospitals where given stomach wash, and all of them were declared out of danger. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Labhu Ram told DH: Since it was registered as a servant theft attempt, it was not brought to my notice. I have asked the ACP to visit the family and inquire into the incident in detail and accordingly appropriate IPC sections will be added, and the investigations will pursue. It was not just a case of robbery, but attempt to murder. We had little children who ate that dinner, and what if something could have gone horribly wrong. We explained everything to the police, but for them it looked trivial and they were very lethargic. We had even kept the samples of food for sending them to laboratory to find out what it was laced with, but the police were not keen, said Azam. Grit of a 74-year-old man and his 40-year-old daughter-in-law saved the day for their family in Jayamahal Extension in the city. The security guard of their bungalow attempted to rob them after spiking their dinner with sedatives on Saturday night. In fresh trouble for the AAP government ahead of the civil polls, the CBI has started a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on charges of laundering Rs 16.41 crore. The Delhi government rejected the registration of the enquiry as politically motivated, saying it was a defamatory, malicious and desperate attempt to malign Jains image ahead of the civil polls on April 23. According to the claims of the CBI officials, the minister has laundered Rs 11.78 crore during 2010-12 through Prayas Info Solutions Pvt Ltd, Akinchan Developers Pvt Ltd, Managalyatan Projects Pvt Ltd and Indometal Impex Pvt Ltd. He has also reportedly laundered Rs 4.63 crore as a public servant during 2015-16 through these companies. The officials said that Jain used this money for purchasing agricultural land worth Rs 27.69 crore in Delhi in the name of companies controlled by him. He is also accused of using his influence as minister in trying to convert the agricultural land into residential land. The PE was begun based on a reference from the Income Tax Department. The department is probing the matter under the new benami-prohibition law. The Karnataka Youth Congress (KYC) has decided to allow only those leaders who have performed well in the party to contest its upcoming elections. Indian Youth Congress (IYC) will soon announce what is called performers list. Candidates can contest for the post of state and district youth Congress president only if their names figure in the list. The move is aimed at promoting those who are actively involved in the party organisational work. The party commenced the process for conducting the elections on Tuesday. As per procedure, those who have already worked as office-bearers of district and state units are eligible to contest for the post of president. Starting this year, IYC has asked all officer-bearers to send a powerpoint presentation of work done by them to strengthen the party. The performers list will be prepared based on their work. The elections are scheduled to be held on May 13. KYC has a total of 4.59 lakh voters. The term of existing officer-bearers ended on Tuesday. MLC Rizwan Arshad was the KYC president till now. Bhupendra Singh, the returning officer for the polls, started the membership scrutiny on Tuesday. The elections to KYC are being held after a delay of one year. Children of cabinet ministers and senior leaders are among the aspirants to contest the elections. Mantar Gowda, son of Animal Husbandry Minister A Manju, is planning to contest for the post of KYC president, while Sowmya Reddy, daughter of Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, wants to contest for the post of Bengaluru city Youth Congress committee president, sources said. Former minister B Shivarams son Rakshit is also aspiring to become Bengaluru Youth Congress president. Basanagouda Badarli, Pushpa, Amrut Gowda, Umesh Bore Gowda and Kemparaju are among other Youth Congress leaders aspiring to contest for the post of KYC president, the sources added. DH News Service? Election schedule April 21: Filing of nominations April 22: Scrutiny of nominations April 23: Symbol allotment May 13: Elections May 14: Counting of votes The Madras High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Yogendra Vasupal, chief executive officer of online facilitator Stayzilla, in connection with a cheating case. When the petition came up for hearing, Justice S Baskaran issued bail on the condition that he deposit Rs 40 lakh before the magistrate court. Yasupal was arrested recently on the charges of payment default to the tune of about Rs 1.69 crore. Earlier, the court rejected Vasupals bail petition and granted custody to authorities of the central crime bureau. Now, it is the responsibility of Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa to rehabilitate Diddalli tribals of Kodagu. They have been evacuated by the forest department from Devamacchi reserve forest. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday to discuss ways of rehabilitating the tribals. On behalf of the displaced tribals, freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, advocate A K Subbaiah, Sirimane Nagaraj, film actor Chethan and others participated. The forest department razed the huts of 577 tribals at Diddalli last December saying they had encroached upon the reserve forest. Since then, the tribals, with support from non-government organisations and some individuals, have been staging protests condemning the eviction and demanding rehabilitation. After the meeting, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa told reporters that as many 577 tribal families were evicted overnight. They have been provided with temporary sheds. In Tuesdays meeting, the ways of providing permanent dwellings were discussed, he added. The minister said he would visit Kodagu on April 17 and 18 to meet officers and tribals. While officers say the tribals had occupied the forest area, the displaced persons have been arguing that they were living on revenue land. In case the land belonged to the revenue department, then within next 15 days, they would get possession certificates. In addition, they would also get houses, he said. Kagodu said that in case the records reveal that the land belonged to the forest department, then they cannot rehabilitate them at the same place. It is a challenge for the government to find a solution to this problem. I have accepted it, he added. Replying to a question, the minister said even now, bonded labour system continues in coffee plantations of Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru. This was pointed out at Tuesdays meeting. It is a shame that the system continues despite its abolition. Coffee plantation owners take away ration cards, Aaadhaar cards and voter identity cards of tribals to make them work in plantations. Revenue inspectors and village accountants will be asked to conduct a survey to identify the bonded labourers so that they can be rehabilitated, he said. DH News Service By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea For the first time, Thoroughbred aftercare will have a deserved spotlight in a part of the larger international racing conversation. Coinciding with the Pan American conference in Washington D.C., the newly established International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) May 17-18 hopes to highlight many topics including the promotion of Thoroughbreds in second careers, helping racing owners bridge the gap to their horses' retirement, and even ways to connect aftercare efforts and horseplayers. Emphasizing the diverse landscape that is aftercare, the event's two keynote speakers, one on each day, come from completely different realms. The first is two-time Olympian Boyd Martin, an eventing rider whose well-known mounts include off-track Thoroughbred Blackfoot Mystery. The second is film critic-turned-farm owner Michael Blowen, founder of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited Old Friends Equine, a Thoroughbred retirement facility that is home to champions Silver Charm and War Emblem, among others. The latter couldn't be more excited to share his story and exchange ideas with the international attendees. "I'm just so excited that all of these people from all over the world are really interested and seriously considering retirement for these racehorses, because (the horses have) earned it and deserve it," Blowen said. "It's a real thrill for me and it's a real honor that they'd think anything I'd have to say is important, so I'm very flattered." Michael Blowen at Old Friends. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt Although Blowen acknowledges that Old Friends is not the typical aftercare facility, since it is the final home for its horses, nor is its model the solution to what to do with horses after their racing and breeding careers are over, he thinks that the Old Friends' business strategy could appeal to others. "What I really want to discuss, what I'm really trying to establish, is that these horses have tremendous value once their racing and breeding careers are over," he said. "It's fairly obvious that Old Friends is not the solution to what to do with retired racehorses because we don't adopt them outonce they are retired to us they are retiredit's not a way to handle the larger (aftercare) picture. But it has proven in its own little way, that these horses do have tremendous economic value even if they can't be retrained and moved along. I'm hoping that people in other countries will recognize that these horses have value basically as celebrities, and people want to come and visit them." Since its founding in 2003, Old Friends has evolved from its initial one-horse operation in Georgetown, Ky. to a 175-horse herd and two other facilitiesOld Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, N.Y., and Old Friends at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky. In addition to Silver Charm and War Emblem, they are home to other grade 1 winners and fan favorites Amazombie, Little Mike, Alphabet Soup, Sarava, Touch Gold, and Game On Dude. One of the farm's income streams is its tourism draw, the popular daily tours, and the addition of an on-site rentable cottage. Also helping out with the expenses of caring for aging Thoroughbreds are its numerous sponsors and grants from the TAA and Thoroughbred Charities of America. As the organization estimates 25,000-30,000 visitors this year, Blowen hopes to see Old Friends be financially viable without donations within the next few years, a goal that he thinks will catch the attention of IFAR's attendees and help pave the way for more retired racehorses. "If we can keep proving that these horses have economic value, then I think the chances of more horses having really great retirements increases exponentially," he said. "It's obvious to a lot of people that there's a real connection and there's a moral factor (with retirement). When you keep talking about 'We should do something' or, 'We can do something for these horses,' that's one thing, but if you can actually prove it dollars and cents-wise, it helps the horses' chances so much more, and that's what I really want to concentrate on." CBSE and ICSE school managements associations in the state have instructed their member schools to cap the annual fee hike at 10%. The decision was taken at their Annual General Meeting held on April 7, where representatives of more than 200 schools were present. We came to the conclusion that schools should be self-regulatory and sensitive when increasing the fee. Almost all our member schools already follow this principle. There are very few who increase the fee by more than 10%, said Mansoor Khan of the Managements of Independent CBSE Schools Association. He added that ideally, they would recommend schools to keep the hike between 6 and 8%. Dr Mohan Manghnani, president, ICSE Schools Association and chairman, New Horizon Educational Institution said, We are sensitive to the needs of parents. I am happy that the schools were univocal in their stand, not to increase the fee structure at the whims and fancies of the managements. The latest decision will put a cap on all such moves and it will also bring in a sense of relief among parents. The association has also decided to launch a website and an email id for parents to submit their grievances on fee matters. This is expected to be launched within a couple of weeks. The National MSc Medical Teachers Association (NMMTA) is protesting the new norms under the clinical establishments (central government) rules on diagnostic laboratories, which deny them any role in clinical diagnostics, including signing the reports. It said while many corporate hospitals and private diagnostic laboratories in the country have medical MSc post-graduates interpreting and signing laboratory test reports, the new norms make it mandatory that all diagnostic laboratories have doctors (registered with Medical Council of India or State Medical Council) signing test reports. While 10 states and six union territories, except Delhi, adopted the rules, they are being implemented in Rajasthan and Jharkhand as of now. Sridhar Rao, NMMTA president, said, NMMTA protests this unjust exclusion and demands that the National Council for Clinical Establishment modify its guidelines to accommodate medical MSc degree (irrespective of PhD) as a qualification to interpret and sign diagnostic test reports in microbiology and biochemistry. Since medical MSc is included in the first schedule of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, the health ministry implored that medical MSc degree holders be registered in the central or state medical councils. Laboratory testing services are not the practice of medicine. Therefore, health ministry must not restrict the role of interpretation and signing laboratory reports to doctors only. Students also learn about the physiological functions of the body, the disease process and the various parameters in health and disease, which enable them to interpret the diagnostic tests, Rao said, urging the government to set right the anomaly. Petrol outlets in the state will be closed on Sundays and working hours will be reduced to a single shift from May 15 onwards, according to B R Ravindranath, president of the Karnataka Petroleum Dealers Association. We want to pressure the petroleum ministry to take up the issue of dealer margins. The Apoorva Chandra Committee had recommended a hike in 2011, but that is yet to be implemented, he said. The idea is not to cause inconvenience to the public, but only to make the government address dealers woes, he added. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for a reduction in fuel consumption, and the CIPD had requested its members to restrict working hours.About five lakh employees work at petrol pumps across the country, with a fifth being contract workers. Bansal said a meeting on May 15 would chalk out a plan of action if the dealers demands were not met. The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) has told its members to stop purchases on May 10 and keep pumps shut on May 14. The CIPD has called for fuel stations to shut down this Sunday. The All India Petroleum Dealers Association (AIPDA) is not supporting the shutdown. Both associations want an increase in dealer margins. The associations are also divided over keeping their pumps shut on Sundays and working only an eight-hour shift on other days. We are not for shutting pumps. We are in talks with Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and officials of oil marketing companies for increased margins and a revised wage structure for our employees, AIPDA president Ajay Bansal told DH from Delhi. While the AIPDA claims it has 43,000 members, the CIPD says it has 28,000. The CIPD met on April 8-9 in Kurukshetra, Haryana, and decided on the move. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. To meet this demand, about 36,000 units must remain on hand daily, according to statistics provided by the American Red Cross. The gravity of this situation was not lost on a group of area physicians who created the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank in 1960 to help shore up the reserves of one of our nations most valuable resources. With the founding of the Hershey Medical Center in 1966 and the growth of open-heart surgeries, the physicians group understood that there was a need for a blood bank, blood bank spokesman Jay Wimer said. What started with a telephone recruiter who solicited donations with the aid of a phone book, has since grown into an organization that employees 96 staffers and serves a total of seven counties, including Dauphin, Perry, York, Cumberland, Lancaster, Lebanon and Adams. The mission of the blood bank is brought into focus with sobering statistics like the fact that just one single car crash victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood, and about 1.69 million people are likely to be diagnosed with cancer this year. Many of those patients will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment. However, little has changed over time when it comes to blood donation. Because blood cannot be manufactured, maintaining adequate supplies is often an uphill battle. Although the local blood bank has benefited from the advent of social media in terms of getting the word out, collections still remain down as security measures are tightened and safety improves. Back in the 1970s, there were 12 screening questions; today there are 70, Wimer said. The number dwindles even further when you take into account that only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood at any given time, and less than 10 percent do so each year. The blood banks policy excludes potential donors for a variety of reasons, including: active allergies, symptomatic asthma uncontrolled by medications, blood pressure out of acceptable range, hepatitis after 11 years old and a history of melanoma, lymphoma or leukemia. Other donors may be deferred over a waiting periodnon-sterile ear piercing and tattooing/body piercing have a year deferral, while there is a 6-week waiting period for those who have just given birth. Others, including those who have had heart attacks or a history of other cancers, may be asked to donate at a hospital. With blood having a finite shelf life of just one year, the statistics of who can donate seem even more daunting. Thats why its up to the blood bank staff to maintain the ongoing effort to secure more donations, especially as summer approaches. Reserves are typically down in July, August, December and January, he said. For those who are apprehensive, Wimer insists there is nothing to fear and that the time investment is minimal. Donors receive a mini physical where we take their temperature, do an iron check, and ask a series of health-related questions, he explained. Afterwards, we do the blood draw and the donor can relax and enjoy refreshments for five or 10 minutes before theyre on their way. He estimates that the entire process from start to finish takes between 30-45 minutes. Peter Achor is just one volunteer who is passionate about being a donor. I realize its a good thing to do and is important to the community, he said. Achor learned at a young age about blood donation through role modeling. My father came home from work one day and he had a bandage around his arm. At that point, I was just a youngster, but it impressed upon me that my dad was taking time from his work, giving the gift of life. The Harrisburg man, who has been donating regularly for a period of about 35 years, recognizes the challenges faced by the blood bank. They have to quietly do their job while screening people out for one reason or another, so its important that those who can give be willing to do so. Wimer agrees that giving blood is one of the most meaningful ways to help the community. Every time we donate, we are giving a patient and a patients family another day, week, month, or lifetime. Some blood donations save a life, some enhance a life and all of these people are our family friends and neighbors. For more information about blood donation, visit 717giveblood.org. Carlisle Police reported Tuesday morning that both teens reported missing have been located and taken into custody. Police had released information Monday about the two juveniles who were reported missing Saturday. Posted earlier on Cumberlink: CARLISLE The Carlisle Police Department is asking for the publics help to locate two teenagers. Hunter Shane and Julia Hiester were reported missing and were last seen Saturday afternoon at the Speedway gas station on East High Street in Carlisle. The two are believed to be together and may be trying to leave Pennsylvania to go to Texas, according to police. Evidence indicates the teens were on Forge Road in Boiling Springs shortly after they left Carlisle. Shane is 5-foot-6 and about 140 pounds. He has sandy hair and brown eyes. Hiester is 5-foot-5 and about 115 pounds. She has black hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on the pairs whereabouts is asked to call the Carlisle Police Department at 717-243-5252. Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Hampden Township will host a series of four heroin/opioid awareness seminars for the community. The free seminars will explore topics associated with the heroin/opioid crisis and the local effect it is having on neighborhoods, schools, friends and families. The community is invited to any or all four of the seminars, which will be at 7 p.m. on consecutive Wednesdays at the church, 1480 Jerusalem Road, Mechanicsburg. Registration for the seminars is encouraged but not mandatory. To register, go to www.aldersgatechurch.net or contact the director of health ministries at 717-737-7923, ext. 104. The seminars are: April 26: Local statistical information and overview, featuring presenters Pastor Robert Bishard Jr. of Youngs United Methodist Church; Jack Carroll, executive director of the Cumberland County Drug and Alcohol Commission; and Fern Wilcox, executive director of Daystar Center for Spiritual Recovery May 3: What is happening in the neighborhood in the eyes of first responders, featuring presenters Dr. Carrie DeLone, medical director of Holy Spirit Medical Group; Steve Junkin, chief of Hampden Township Police; and Duane Nieves, director of field operations and chief of Holy Spirit EMS. May 10: How to safeguard students, featuring presenters Chad Acker, drug and alcohol prevention specialist from the Cumberland-Perry Drug and Alcohol Commission; David Gilbert, 10th grade vice principal at Cumberland Valley High School; and a representative from the RASE Project. May 17: Empowering friends and family, featuring presenters Bishard; the Rev. Troy Howell, pastor of Aldersgate UMC; and Kristin Varner, director of training and advocacy at the RASE Project. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is looking for information regarding a four-decades-old cold case after new information emerged. The center Tuesday said it is working with the Josephine Sheriffs Office and the Oregon State Medical Examiners Office to identify a girl who was found dead more than 45 years ago. The girl is believed to have been between 14 and 25 years old, and was found in 1971 near a campsite in Cave Junction, Oregon. The center said in a news release that new forensic isotope testing indicated that she may have spent time in the Northeast, moving west into the Great Lakes and even further west all the way to Washington state and Oregon. The girl may have lived or grew up anywhere along the line between the U.S. and Canada. The girl was found wearing a pink and beige waist-length coat, a tan long-sleeved turtleneck blouse with a neckline zipper, a pair of Wrangler jeans (size misses 13 to 14 slim) and a pair of square-toed brown leather shoes with gold buckles. Her jewelry included a mother of pearl ring with the letters A and L scratched into the surface, as well as coins dated 1970. The center is featuring her on its HelpIDMe Facebook page. Apple is accused of threatening Qualcomm to prevent the latter from making any public comparisons about the superior performance of the Qualcomm-powered iPhones. Qualcomm has now countersued Apple for breach of agreements and misrepresenting facts. Apple had sued Qualcomm in January for $1 billion, accusing the chipmaker for overcharging against use of its basic patents. Now, the San Diego-based chipmaker has formally offered its response to Apple's lawsuit, rejecting Apple's claims. Qualcomm claims that Apple has breached agreements and mischaracterised agreements and negotiations with the company. It also claims that Apple interfered with Qualcomm licensees that manufacture iPhones and iPads. Qualcomm also outlines that "Apple encouraged regulatory attacks on Qualcomms business in various jurisdictions around the world by misrepresenting facts and making false statements." In its lawsuit, Qualcomm states that Apple chose not to utilise full performance of its modem chips in the iPhone 7 range. "Apple misrepresented the performance disparity between iPhones using Qualcomm modems and those using competitor-supplied modems," Qualcomm has said in its lawsuit filing. Apple is also accused of threatening Qualcomm to prevent the latter from making any public comparisons about the superior performance of the Qualcomm-powered iPhones. "Qualcomm is the world leader in inventing and developing fundamental, ground-breaking mobile technologies that enable the worldwide mobile ecosystem. Today, Qualcomm's patented technologies remain the primary value driver for mobile devices," said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel of Qualcomm. Qualcomm was recently fined $854 million by South Korean antitrust regulators for abusing its dominant market position. Qualcomm had initially stated that Apple's claims were baseless and now the company says Apple has failed to engage in good faith negotiations. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC, and can shoot slow motion videos at 960fps. The Sony Xperia XZs, the new premium smartphone from the company, will go on sale from today in India. The smartphone is priced at Rs. 49,990 and will be available via Flipkart and other offline retailers. The phone will be available in three colours - Black, Warm Silver and Ice Blue. The design and build quality of the phone is pretty similar to the last Sony flagship - the Xperia XZ. The Xperia XZs was announced earlier this year at MWC, alongside the XZ Premium, XA1 and XA1 Ultra. While the XZ Premium is going to be the main flagship for the year featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, the Xperia XZs replaces the Xperia XZ for the time being. The new phone has almost the same specifications as the old flagship, but with a new camera. Looking back, it is powered by the very reliable Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC, has 4GB of RAM and will be available with 64GB of internal storage. The display is a 5.2-inch IPS LCD panel with 1080p resolution. The phone is also IP68 certified and can withstand dust and 1.5m of water for 30 minutes. The major upgrade comes in the form of the rear 19MP camera. Sony calls it the Motion Eye camera and uses a stacked CMOS sensor. The sensor includes large buffer and can produce better continuous shooting for stills. The sensor is further aided by a 5-axis image stabilization offering smooth slow-mo shots at 960fps in HD. Sony has also included laser-assisted autofocus, its hybrid autofocus system and its proprietary BIONZ X image processor. There is a 13MP front facing camera and the XZs runs on Android Nougat with Sonys Xperia UI on top. The 2900mAh battery supports Quick Charge 3.0 and Sony's Qnovo adaptive charging. The Board of Trustees of HACC, Central Pennsylvanias Community College, announced this month a $138-million balanced 2017-18 budget. The budget includes a 1 percent decrease in tuition for in-state credit students and 2 percent salary increases for employees, according to a news release from the college. Even though it is a modest reduction, we believe it sends a message that HACC is serious about containing costs and passing those savings on to our students to ease their financial burden, said HACC President John J. Ski Sygielski. A statement from the college said it has saved money by renegotiating contracts with vendors, consolidating supply agreements for commodities like electricity, and refining its process for buying or leasing computers. The tuition decrease is effective immediately for in-state students enrolling for the fall term that begins Aug. 28 at HACC campuses in Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York and online classes and programs. The 2017-18 college budget also includes a 2 percent salary increase for full-time employees and regular part-time employees. Credit adjunct tier rates also will be increased by 2 percent. This increase does not apply to casual employees or noncredit adjunct faculty. Additionally, the board lifted the 2016-17 reduction on out-of-state travel for employees, and no furlough days are scheduled. While we continue to be financially prudent in other ways, we felt it was important to provide a modest salary increase for HACC employees, Sygielski said. Hopefully, this action will express the colleges gratitude for hard-working and high-performing employees and it allows us to remain competitive when hiring new employees. You can still wait for some time to get your hands on the new flagships coming to India soon, which will possibly give you longer life span of usage than the Xperia XZs, which now runs on a year-old flagship processor. On overall terms, the Sony Xperia XZs is a fine smartphone that gets a lot of basics right. However, you may argue that with a number of newer flagships en route, the Xperia XZs may be a bit of a compromise. While that remains true, the Xperia XZs still provides good gameplay and movie streaming experience along with good audio, which will please many discerning buyers. The Sony Xperia XZs may have a previous generation processor, but is still well optimised for good performance. Alongside, it presents a compact, ergonomic build, a bright and vibrant display and a fairly decent camera. The battery life is the only element that is comparatively weak, but still lasts for an entire work day. Sony Xperia XZs detailed review Sonys Xperia lineup is often an exhibition of the best of technology that Sony makes for mobile devices, and the Sony Xperia XZs here is no less. While it is not radically new, it is an able contender among flagship smartphones of 2017. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, the Xperia XZs presents a reasonably compact form within a well-crafted chassis. The Xperia XZs is a stop-gap flagship, launched to fill the gap in Sonys portfolio until it unveils the all-new Xperia XZ Premium. Alongside being the device that keeps Sony active in the flagship smartphone business, the Sony Xperia XZs also unveils the companys dramatic new element - a mobile image sensor that can shoot nearly 6fps in RAW and produce 720p HD slow motion videos at a staggering 960fps. The Xperia XZs, as a result, is a demonstration of sorts of how the new image sensor would work in the flagship, which, in every possibility, will be more powerful and refined. As a result, we had to begin our review by testing the ultra-smooth slow motion videos. Slow motion videos The Sony Xperia XZs new sensor is being commercially dubbed as Motion Eye. With stacked CMOS architecture and significantly large buffer memory, the new camera can temporarily store much more data while a photo is being shot or a video is being recording, hence giving rise to the high frame rate count in videos. The 19-megapixel image sensor is paired with a Sony G f/2.0 lens and the proprietary BIONZ X mobile image processor, the smaller version of what resides in Sonys imaging products. To access the slow motion video mode, open the camera app, swipe right to enable video mode, and tap on the slow motion button that resides beside the traditional recording button. This opens the super slow motion mode. This particular mode has three functions - 960fps 720p video, one-shot super slow-mo (for slow mo snippet), and 120fps 1080p videos. You can choose each of the three slow-mo modes from the circular settings button to the bottom right of the screen. The 960fps slow motion mode records standard 720p videos, sections of which can be rendered at 960fps by tapping on the slow motion button. To begin with, the slow motion stretches are incredibly smooth, exhibiting no interpolation as you would expect in the 120fps/240fps videos that mobile cameras can render at best. You can effectively produce incredibly smooth slow motion stretches in video, albeit at a compromise. The Xperia XZs struggles with light when in slow motion mode, producing notable flickers as it adjusts to the shutter speed. Low light performance is also notably compromised, with heavy image noise affecting the overall videos, even in reasonably well lit environments. As a result, using the slow motion mode only makes sense when you are in a very well-lit area. It is certainly impressive, but limitations like no touch-to-focus without touch-to-shoot, heavy pixel noise and the limited video output resolution (720p only) somewhat restrict the potential that it has. The Sony Xperia XZs does have an incredible feature at hand, but its implementation still requires some amount of refinement. Despite these cons, though, the power of the image sensor really shows as the camera itself is fast, and does not struggle even if you use the slow motion stretches in rapid succession. The 960fps recording mode shoots for only 0.2 seconds, translating to eventual screen time of 6 seconds, which is not surprising given the amount of data stored in the buffer memory for producing 960fps videos. The new slow motion modes are somewhat of a mixed bag, impressing upon first glance with the uber-slow videos, but marring the overall experience with a few notable flaws. Primary camera Beyond the slow motion videos, the Sony Xperia XZs produces fairly impressive photographs. Photographs produce good details, and although fine details are slightly compromised, the overall sharpness is fairly decent. Colours produced are significantly better than Sonys previous flagship, the Xperia XZ, and although slight strains of oversaturation remain, colours are vibrant and produce tight contrast levels most of the time. This is further accompanied by good dynamic range, producing decently detailed shadows and limited noise. Sonys camera app is also more fluent now, while retaining the same UI. This gives a familiar playground for those who have used Sony smartphones before, while making the experience smoother by giving more fluent end-user experience. Shutter response is smooth and autofocus is responsive, and the standard shooting (or in manual mode) actually impresses more on overall terms than the slow motion modes. The Xperia XZs gets laser-assisted, phase detection and contrast autofocus working in tandem to produce servo autofocus in videos, which works seamlessly (servo AF is essentially continuous autofocus in videos). Even in still photographs, the camera does well to recognise faces and lock focus on subjects. More camera samples Build and Design The Sony Xperia XZs practically retains the same overall design that Sony labels as Loop. While this may be the same as its previous smartphones, it still stands out among other smartphones. The upright, rectangular stance is complemented by rounded edges, lending smooth symmetry to the smartphone. However, the rigid edges stand a chance of picking up abrasions, even in minute falls. There is a neat flow of symmetry about the device, with the physical power button to the middle of the right edge integrating the fingerprint sensor. The volume rocker and the camera button are placed to the lower end of the right edge, which contributes to ergonomics. One-handed usage is easy, aided by the compact body. The volume rocker falls seamlessly in reach of the right thumb even for smaller palms, and once you rotate the phone to horizontal orientation, even the camera button is placed perfectly for your index finger, just like the shutter button on cameras. The build quality, except for the corners that are prone to picking up bruises, is quite sturdy, with tactile buttons and IP68-rated dust and water resistance. The Ice Blue finish, in particular, looks the best among the Xperia XZs colours, and the phone looks and feels premium on overall terms. The earpiece and mouthpiece also double up as stereo speakers, the quality of which is discussed below. Display and UI The Sony Xperia XZs houses a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with screen resolution of 1080x1920 pixels. It has comparatively larger bezels, and we would have ideally preferred the bezel-less design that Sony implements on its XA lineup of smartphones. The display is fairly impressive, producing 705 lux of luminance at peak. Alongside, Sony has used its proprietary TRILUMINOS display panel with the X-Reality mobile engine to produce vibrant colours and good contrast levels, that produce bright whites and deep blacks. The range of colours produced by the display makes objects look sharp, and this is further aided by good viewing angles. For calibrating colours to your preference, Sony includes two settings, for white balance and image enhancement. For white balance, you get red, green and blue toggles to adjust the warmth of the display, which itself is slightly to the cooler side by default. Image enhancements are taken care of by the X-Reality engine, which you can either choose to switch off, use the X-Reality settings or put it on Super Vivid mode, which makes everything look a bit oversaturated. Touch response is fluid, and you barely ever register missed touches. Xperia UI on Android Nougat v7.1.1 retains its glass panel look, which seamlessly fits the overall bearings of the smartphone. You also get synchronised touch tones (which can, of course, be switched off), and only on-screen navigation buttons that are adaptive to content. The overall interface is also easy to use, and offers in-phone search for quick access to applications. All system menus and notification panels retain the stock Android look. Also included here for the first time are Xperia Actions, an AI assistant that performs certain actions that you carry out every day. Embedded in settings, you can choose to activate them as per your need. For instance, the assistant recognises when you put your phone on silent, and what notifications you mostly entertain at a certain time. Based on your usage, it does actions like turning off ringtone, enabling notifications and more. Unlike many assistants, this is fairly non-intrusive and works in the background. A neat addition, this. Performance The Sony Xperia XZs is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB native storage. The processor is underclocked to 1.6GHz, although that does not majorly impact overall performance. Everyday-usage applications like WhatsApp, Facebook, Chrome and Gmail load seamlessly and almost instantly with up to four apps open, and then tend to take a split second longer to load with heavy multitasking. For instance, with Facebook, Instagram, Gmail, Maps and Wynk Music open, the camera app takes a split second longer to load, with a black loading screen greeting you at first. This, though, is not a major deal breaker, and the Xperia XZs performs to its peak smoothness for the most part. It is, however, something flagship buyers wont appreciate. Gaming performance is seamless and heavy games like Asphalt 8 run at 30fps smoothly, without any stutters. Gameplay itself is smooth and the rich display further adds to the overall experience. In-game menus also navigate smoothly, but a slight split-second lag creeps in if you have multiple apps loaded at the same time. Calling and network retention worked as intended. In-call voice clarity is always up to the mark, and there were no unusual network drops when in stable network conditions. The Sony Xperia XZs also performs well in terms of audio, with the phone including Sonys proprietary DSEE HX audio upscaling for improving compressed audio files, ClearAudio+ to optimise headphone/speaker performance as per environment, and even a normaliser that levels volume differences in tracks. The phone itself includes stereo speakers, which are among the better speakers out there on a smartphone. The phone also profiles audio balance to personal listening patterns once you plug in earphones. Overall performance is decent, although the native speakers are slightly low on volume. Battery life The Sony Xperia XZs houses a 2900mAh battery pack, along with Qualcomms QuickCharge 3.0 and Qnovo Adaptive Charging. On PCMark, the device lasts for 7 hours and 11 minutes, which is about average. In real life, the Xperia XZs lasts for the entire work day, at best. With nearly two hours of phone calls, a total of about two hours of social media surfing and Internet browsing, 45 minutes of gaming, an hour of music streaming, 30 minutes of GPS-enabled navigation and 30 minutes of video streaming, the Xperia XZs lasted from 10am to 11pm, at which point it would be left with 5-8 percent of power. Charging it from zero to 100 percent takes 52 minutes on average, and the Qnovo Adaptive Charging adapts to your charge cycles to prevent the battery from overcharging. This is the same technology that we saw back in the Sony Xperia X, and takes over a weeks usage to become active. This is because the adaptive charging method takes time to read your usage pattern to charge the device to full. Essentially, Qnovo adaptive charging cuts off power once the battery reaches 90 percent. The rest 10 percent is only charged when the average time of your waking up is reached. On overall terms, the battery life is average at best, with limited idle discharge when the device is inactive. Bottomline The Sony Xperia XZs may have a previous generation processor, but is still well optimised for good performance. Alongside, it presents a compact, ergonomic build, a bright and vibrant display and a fairly decent camera. The battery life is the only element that is comparatively weak, but still lasts for an entire work day. On overall terms, the Sony Xperia XZs is a fine smartphone that gets a lot of basics right. However, you may argue that with a number of newer flagships en route, the Xperia XZs may be a bit of a compromise. While that remains true, the Xperia XZs still provides good gameplay and movie streaming experience along with good audio, which will please many discerning buyers. You can still wait for some time to get your hands on the new flagships coming to India soon, which will possibly give you longer life span of usage than the Xperia XZs, which now runs on a year-old flagship processor. Reliance Jio's Summer Surprise offer continues benefits of its Happy New Year offer for consumers who subscribe to its Jio Prime membership and Rs. 303/499 packs. Vodafone says Reliance Jio is still luring customers to subscribe to its Summer Surprise offer, even though regulator TRAI told the company to roll back the offer. Reliance Jio is continuing with this offer held as not meeting regulatory norms, in the garb of configuration changes. For past three days, it has been promoting and luring customers to quickly recharge to avail the benefits of a non-compliant offer and also asking its retailers to communicate the same, said Vodafone, in its letter to TRAI. Vodafones letter alleges that Reliance Jio sent SMSs to retailers and consumers, indicating that they should subscribe to the Summer Surprise offer soon. The Reliance Jio Summer Surprise offer was announced on March 31, when the companys Happy New Year offer ended. Jio basically extended the same offer to users who had bought its Rs. 303 pack and joined the Jio Prime service. The company would give these users 3 months of complimentary 4G service, with the same benefits as on the Happy New Year offer. This move, though, was found to be non-compliant of norms by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which then asked Jio to take back the offer. We request for TRAIs immediate intervention and issuance of suitable directions to Reliance Jio for withdrawing the said offer on immediate basis and notifying the consumers about withdrawal of said offer from the date of advisory received from TRAI, Vodafone wrote. In its letter, Vodafone also includes a sample SMS, allegedly being sent to retailers by Jio. The SMS, which is originally in Hindi, notifies retailers that Jio has given users time till 10 April, to recharge with its 303/499 packs. The SMS says consumers will get benefits till 28 July after subscribing to the offer. In our view, such promotion of the customers on an offer held as non-compliant, is a blatant violation and disregard of TRAIs advisory. Such promotions to customers makes the regulatory advisory meaningless, wrote Vodafone. Further, it paints a wrong picture to customers, of non-robuts regulatory framework where non-compliant offers are allowed to be sold in the market, reads the letter. Following TRAIs directions, Reliance Jio had earlier announced that the Summer Surprise offer will be withdrawn as soon as feasible. However, Jio said that all of its customers, who had already received the benefits of its new offer would continue to get the same. Answering Vodafone's claims, a Reliance Jio spokesperson said, "Please refer to our press release of 6th April 2017, wherein we made it clear that Jio Summer Surprise will be withdrawn as soon as it is operationally feasible, in compliance with the regulators advice. All the customers who have subscribed to Jio Summer Surprise offer prior to its discontinuation will remain eligible for the offer. We are pained to note such continued and deliberate attempts by competitors to create unnecessary confusion in the market." Independent Oil & Gas is to buy the recently decommissioned Thames gas pipeline in the southern North Sea from Perenco UK, Tullow Oil SK and Centrica Resources, for a nominal consideration, subject to regulatory consent. The pipeline will enable the company to export about 300,000 cubic feet per day in gas from its assets in the southern North Sea, the Blythe and Vulcan Satellite hubs, to the Bacton gas terminal. The acquisition will give the company complete control from field to market and enable it to deliver up to half a trillion cubic feet of gas resources to the UK market for 15 to 20 years starting from the end of next year. No tariff will be payable for the transportation of the gas to Bacton, but a processing tariff will be payable to Perenco, the terminal owner. Completion of the deal subject to regulatory consents and provision of security to Perenco to cover the cost of additional pipeline integrity surveys that may be required in the future, which is estimated to be about 500,000. Once completed the company will export gas from the Blythe and Vulcan satellite hubs, which require an estimated maximum throughput of about 150m cubic feet per day, which is well within the pipeline's anticipated capacity, so it could have sufficient capacity to also export gas from the Harvey discovery. Ahead of first gas export, the Company is also aiming to buy the onshore reception facilities at the Perenco Bacton terminal and a period of exclusivity has been agreed until the end of September 2018. IOG chief executive and interim chairman Mark Routh said: "We acquired most of our southern North Sea gas portfolio at low cost because the assets in this area were considered stranded without a viable export route. This acquisition allays those concerns and is therefore of great importance to IOG as we now have a route to market for our gas. We are also open to work with third parties who may wish to use our export facilities for a tariff. We believe this is the kind of innovation required to breathe new life into the Southern North Sea and is entirely in line with the principles of Maximising Economic Recovery, as championed by the UK Oil and Gas Authority." Shares in Independent Oil & Gas were down 2.1% to 17.99p at 0952 BST. Apple has been hit with a billion-dollar legal case from chip-maker Qualcomm just months after the tech giant launched proceedings against the same firm. In January, Apple filed a suit against Qualcomm that alleged that the chipmaker was charging for patents that were unrelated to the agreements made by the two companies. Qualcomm turned the tables on Apple overnight by accusing the Cupertino-based company of failing to pay royalties owed to it over the years it has provided chips used in the flagship iPhone device. The counter-case, which was filed at the US District Court for the Southern District of California, claims that Apple failed to honour the agreements made between the tech firms. "Apple refuses to acknowledge the well established and continuing value of those technologies." "Apple could not have built the incredible iPhone franchise that has made it the most profitable company in the world, capturing over 90% of smartphone profits, without relying upon Qualcomms fundamental cellular technologies," Qualcomm executive VP and general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. "Now, after a decade of historic growth, Apple refuses to acknowledge the well established and continuing value of those technologies." Apple's initial case claimed that it had been extorted by Qualcomm for what it referred to as "basic smartphone technology", something Rosenberg described as nonsensical. "[Apple] has launched a global attack on Qualcomm and is attempting to use its enormous market power to coerce unfair and unreasonable license terms from Qualcomm." Processor parallels The spat has parallels for UK chip designer Imagination Technologies, which earlier this month felt the sting from Apple's ongoing push to take more control over its hardware as the US giant said it plans to stop using the UK-based group's processor chips in its new products as it had developed its own version of the hardware. Imagination seemingly hinted at potential legal action, with Apple having used its technology at the core of its graphics processor in the operating system of the iPhone, iPod and iPad since they were first manufactured. "Imagination believes that it would be extremely challenging to design a brand new GPU architecture from basics without infringing its intellectual property rights, accordingly Imagination does not accept Apple's assertions," Imagination said. Analyst Nick James at broker Numis argued that the case against Apple "would be very strong" if it tried to go it alone without a commercial agreement. Japanese electronics firm Toshiba has increased doubts about its future after the release of its twice-delayed quarterly results on Tuesday, which were posted without the aproval of the companys auditors. Toshiba made a loss of $4.8bn for the period from April to December during 2016, with further losses expected for the remainder of the fiscal year. Tuesday was the deadline for Toshiba to report the figures after it was warned that it could face de-listing from the Tokyo stock exchange. The firm's problems originated with huge writedowns at its US nuclear operation Westinghouse Electric, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings last month. The firm's problems originated with huge writedowns at its US nuclear operation Westinghouse Electric "There are material events and conditions that raise substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern," Toshiba said in a statement. PriceWaterhouseCooper, the company's auditors, said it had refused to sign off on the accounts, leading to Toshiba taking the unprecedented action of releasing them without approval. "This evaluation process was continuing at the time of the reporting," it said in the statement. "As a result, the auditing firm was unable to judge whether the... financial statement requires amendments or not." Reports emerged on Monday that Toshibas chip business would be the subject of a bid as high as $27bn from Taiwanese company Foxconn, with the Japanese government currently contributing towards attempts to find a domestic buyer for the operations. US carrier United Airlines has faced criticism after a passenger was filmed being unwillingly ejected from from a flight before take-off due to overbooking. Just before departure of the flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, several passengers recorded the man being aggressively dragged from the plan by airport police. United offered several passengers a cash compensation to change their flights after it miscalculated the amount of available seats on the plane, having to accommodate four of its employees on the aircraft. One video posted by passenger Audra Bridges was uploaded to social media site Facebook and got more than 14.0m views on the site. In a statement released by United in response to the uproar, the company said that it had asked passengers to give up their seats voluntarily but none agreed to do so, forcing them to select from among the travellers themselves. "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United," CEO Oscar Munoz said in the statement. "I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened." "We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation," he added. Further videos posted online appear to show the man returning to the plane after the ordeal, but in a disoriented state. The Chicago Police Department confirmed that their aviation branch had been asked to address the incident. "The passenger in question began yelling to voice his displeasure at which point Aviation Police were summoned," police said in the statement. North Korea warned it would respond to "reckless acts of aggression" by America with "whatever methods the US wants to take", after US navy ships were redirected towards its waters. The country's "self-defensive and pre-emptive strike capabilities with nuclear force at their core" were justified by the current grim situation, officials from Pyongyang said in a statement provided to CNN. Those remarks come after the US decided at the weekend to redeploy a group of warships, including destroyers armed with the Aegis anti-missile defence system, from Australia to waters offshore the Korean peninsula, following another missile test by the nominally communist regime the week before. Pyongyang's twice-yearly Supreme People's Congress, which is often accompanied by the test-firing of missiles, is being held on Tuesday. "We will make the US fully accountable for the catastrophic consequences that may be brought about by its high-handed and outrageous acts," the statement said. During their meeting in Florida last week, US president Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed that a Chinese envoy would travel to South Korea to discuss the situation, amid recent reports that China was also becoming increasingly irritated by the North's constant sabre-rattling. For its part, on 26 February China stopped all imports of coal from North Korea, its main export product. China has remained in favour of only using diplomatic persuasion to rein in Pyongyang's ambitions. To take note of, on Tuesday morning South Korean news agency Chosun indicated China had deployed 150,000 troops to its border with North Korea to guard against a possible influx of refugees should the US launch a preemptive strike. In remarks to CNN's New Day programme, retired CIA and NSA chief General Michael Hayden said the White House faced a difficult task in trying to do just that. "No matter what we do, there is this move by North Korea to build missiles and put weapons on top of missiles," Hayden said. "This is what they count on for regime survival... The best we can do is box it where it is right now," he said. "I don't think we can make them give up the program." The European Commission has found that 67% of price comparison and travel booking websites are misleading users with unreliable price figures. A report from the EUs executive branch researched 352 price comparison websites in 28 different countries, finding a range of misdemeanours which were used to squeeze extra money from consumers. As many as 235 of the sites were found to have displayed prices which were "not reliable". This included tactics such as imposing additional tariffs towards the end of the booking process, or showcasing promotional offers which did not exist. "The Internet provides consumers with plenty of information to prepare, compare and book their holidays. However, if the reviews on comparison websites are biased or prices are not transparent, these websites are misleading consumers," said Vera Jourova, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality. As many as 235 of the sites were found to have displayed prices which were "not reliable" Websites such as Opodo and eDreams offer attractive prices on hotels, flights and car rentals, but the research found that such sites are not clear enough with statements related to scarcity and promotions. One-quarter of sites were found to have claimed things such as "only 2 seats left", but did not specify whether that is related to the sites supply or for the flight itself. Irish airline Ryanair has welcomed the report, which will now be followed up by the EU. Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs said that it was obvious that customers are being misled. "It's patently obvious that consumers across Europe are being misled and overcharged by some of these websites. We welcome this report, which exposes these anti-consumer practices and we hope its findings will lead to greater protection for consumers," Jacobs said. Defensive plays rose to the top towards the end of the session, with markets erasing early gains as geopolitical tensions took their toll amid holiday-depleted trading volumes. Overnight, North Korea warned that it would respond to any aggressive actions by the US. In parallel, a chill wind was blowing from the East as Moscow refused to confirm whether president Vladimir Putin would meet with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his inaugural visit to the country. Against that backdrop, front month COMEX-traded gold futures found a solid bid and at the end of trading in London were standing 1.63% higher at $1,274.20/oz.. Longer-term US Treasury note yields were also lower, falling back towards technical support as they retreated by a substantial six basis points to 2.31%. It was therefore scarcely surprising that Tuesday's leaderboard was a veritable 'who's who' of defensive sectors, including Real Estate Investment Trusts, electric utilities and Tobacco. Going the other way, losses in US-focused CRH and Ibstock more than offset a sharp rise for Balfour Beatty on the back of an upgrade out of Bank of America-Merrill Lynch. Meanwhile, a drop in Chinese steel rebar futures from $543.5 a metric tonne on Monday to $537.6 on Tuesday likely contributed to the drop in shares of Evraz. As regards Automobiles, traders at SP Angel referenced first quarter 2017 data from China which revealed a slowdown in growth following the expiration of tax breaks on small engine vehicles at the end of 2016. Top performing sectors so far today Mining 16,229.02 +1.45% Food Producers & Processors 8,044.00 +1.30% Chemicals 12,730.64 +1.17% Travel & Leisure 9,238.42 +1.02% Electricity 8,798.48 +0.97% Bottom performing sectors so far today Alternative Energy 0.00 0.00% Alternative Investment Instruments NULL 0.00% Automobiles and related providers NULL 0.00% Banking NULL 0.00% Beverages NULL 0.00% Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. India and Cuba resisted pressure from other members mostly developed nations - at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to start negotiations on e-commerce rules, stating that the digital divide is so great and the world is not yet ready to ink common global trade rules in areas such as e-commerce. South Africa also extended support to India's stance with its trade minister saying that with just 5 countries controlling 75 per cent of cross-border e-commerce, developing countries are not yet in a stage to sign trade rules in this area. Australia, the EU, Norway and China have stepped up a campaign to include e-commerce in the agenda for the year-end ministerial meeting of the WTO in Buenos Aires. The move is aimed at improving market access for those goods that finds no use in developed countries and even developing countries have joined the bandwagon in a bid to push the market access agenda. ''There is a pressure from both developed and developing countries to bring e-commerce formally in the agenda of the WTO negotiations,'' officials said, adding that New Delhi is reaching out to countries that share its opposition to the move. At a recent meeting of the WTO's goods council, India and Cuba took the stand that it was premature to discuss multilateral rule-making in an area like e-commerce. However, several other members such as Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Brazil and Argentina, said that an agreement on e-commerce was necessary for the WTO to demonstrate its continued relevance. India's opposition is not merely to setting e-commerce rules prematurely, but also because members could try to include a lot of aspects into it, including market access. Cuba particularly took issue with suggestions to negotiate liberalisation and market access in e-commerce and emphasised that there was no basis for doing so. Electronic commerce was made a part of the WTO in 1998, but in a limited way. Members had agreed to give a temporary moratorium on import duties on digital transmissions. This moratorium is extended every two years. It was also decided to hold discussions on various aspects of e-commerce, but there was no understanding on negotiating rules. Any move to allow foreign investment in e-commerce sector in India is extremely sensitive as it would open flood gates for foreign goods and saturate the country's markets with imports. The African countries and the least developed countries (LDCs) have not opposed discussions on e-commerce, but they insist that the focus be on the development dimension. Uganda, on behalf of the LDC Group, said that most of the proposals on the table fall outside the scope of the work programme on e-commerce, and that development should be the focus of e-commerce talks. South Africa, speaking on behalf of the African Group, said it would like the Goods Council to take up issues that place the needs of developing countries and LDCs at its core NEW BROCKTON The Coffee County Commission voted unanimously Monday to purchase a new trash compactor for the countys landfill. The compactor, valued at $730,500, will replace a unit that was 20 years old and is no longer operational, according to landfill manager Mike Thornton. Thornton said his office tries to keep two compactors operational year-round. Currently the landfill operates on one 10-year-old compactor. Thornton noted plans to purchase a new compactor had been made for the next fiscal year. Because of the lengthy process to build and install a new compactor, the purchase will be reflected in the 2018 fiscal year. In other action, the commission also voted unanimously to allow county engineer Randy Tindell to initiate a process to reclassify two of the countys roads. Tindell said if successful, reclassifying sections of County Road 107 and County Road 304 as collector roads will allow the county to apply for federal funds in the future. Currently two of the three sections of 107 are already listed as collector roads, or roads that help traffic navigate from residential areas to workplaces, Tindell said. Also Tindell noted 304 when it crosses into Pike County becomes a collector road. The commissioners also approved a plat for the Wellborn Way subdivision that will be located on County Road 606. Commission chairman Dean Smith encouraged residents to participate in the annual Dont Drop it on Alabama statewide spring cleanup. Alabama PALS (People Against a Littered State) organizes the event last year. Last years cleanup netted 368 tons of littler and debris in 61 of the states 67 counties. Groups or individuals who want to participate are encouraged to call the commission office at 894-5556 or the environmental services office at 894-6600. Bags are available for pickup at both offices. Truth can be buried in a grave but it wont stay there. That doesnt mean those left holding the shovel wont temporarily profit. Judas got his 30 pieces of silver and Barack Obama got his second term, thanks to those in his administration like Susan Rice who buried truth and misled the American people. The barbaric chemical weapon attack on innocent children, women and men that took place in Syria on April 4 seemingly contradicts what former National Security Advisor Susan Rice said a couple months ago. During an NPR interview on January 16, Ms. Rice claimed the Obama administration was able to find a solution that didnt necessitate the use of force that actually removed the chemical weapons that were known from Syria... She said they accomplished this by virtue of the diplomacy that we did with Russia... (yes, Russia!) We were able to get the Syrian government to voluntarily and verifiably give up its chemical weapons stockpile. Pitifully, the truth about chemical weapons came out by way of those succumbing to the horrific effects of the sarin gas attack. Might the Obama administrations so-called diplomacy really be collusion with Russia to keep Assad in power to secure the Iran deal? Years back, Rice seemed to grab rationalizations from thin air to explain away the attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Rice stood by the ludicrous claim that Benghazi burned and people died because of a video until, truth rose from the ashes like a phoenix to show the catalyst was really a terrorist attack, inconveniently contradicting Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign rhetoric suggesting al Qaeda was of little threat and on the run. A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by Judicial Watch suggests the Benghazi lies came from the top. Six weeks before the 2012 election, Ben Rhodes, an assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for strategic communications instructed recipients to communicate: ...the protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broad failure of policy and to reinforce the President and Administrations strength and steadiness in dealing with difficult challenges. Most recently, Rice is in the news for her alleged ties to the unmasked identities of Trump campaign associates incidentally swept up in surveillance of foreign targets. On March 22, 2017, Rice said on PBS she knew nothing about surveillance of Trump officials, apparently assuming nothing would come from the freshly turned dirt Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes uncovered. Not long after, the truth surfaced that Rice not only knew about it, the Daily Caller reports Rice submitted the requests forunmasking. Called out on it, Rice claimed the request to unmask several Trump campaign and transition officials wasnt politically motivated. Fred Fleitz, a former CIA analyst, says its hard to fathom how it wasnt politically motivated. In a Fox News op-ed, Fleitz wrote, Rices denials dont add up. For those living in Mythomania, facts dont need to add up because truth is a moving target. Theyll tell you two plus two equals five if it gets them closer to their goal. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) believes Rice committed a crime and should be forced to testify under oath.Even if she does testify, shell probably plead the fifth, as did so many Obama administration officials. For the rest of us, its important to remember there is such a thing as absolute truth and it is not relative to mood or circumstance or public perception or personal preference or political party. Therefore, we havent the luxury of customizing it to our liking, despite how much something is accepted by society. Wrong will never become right and lies will never become truth. In short, truth is truth. If we believe otherwise, we may get what we want temporarily like Obama got his second term but well lose ourselves along the way, as we slide down that slippery slope toward Mythomania. Susan Stamper Brown Susan lives in Alaska and writes about culture, politics and current events. She is a regular contributor to Townhall, The Christian Post, Right Wing News and GOPUSA. She was selected as one of Americas 50 Best Conservative writers for 2015 and 2016. Email her at writestamper@gmail.com. Carlingford and the Cooley peninsula will provide many of the locations for an upcoming 90-minute feature film. Filming is due to start in Carlingford on Easter Tuesday and the production team will in the peninsula for a further two weeks. The film, Writing Home, is part of the Filmbase Masters class, accredited by the University of the West of Scotland. Its hoped the film will premiere this summer at the Galway Film Fleadh. It stars well known stand-up comedian Tony Kelly and actresses Caoimhe OMalley and Geraldine McAlinden. The film tells the story of Daniel Doran, the writer of a string of international bestsellers of dubious literary merit. He returns reluctantly to a small rural village in Ireland where he has to deal with family politics, the old flame he walked out on and the friends and community that featured in his novels. Producer Mark Coffey and members of the production team have been busy scouting locations in Carlingford and around Cooley for the last week. Mark is the son of local man Nick Coffey, the former RTE political journalist. A recent graduate of Trinity College, Mark spent the last year working in the film industry in Los Angeles. According to Mark, the reaction from the local community has been top class. Carlingford and Cooley are the ideal locations for what we need. And the help Ive got from people like Richard Brennan from Visit Carlingford, local businessman Dan McKevitt and Derek McGarrity of Lily Finnegans of Whitestown (which will also be a location) has been extremely encouraging. Its great to know that the place I spent so many happy summers growing up is backing me all the way. The production team has truly international flavour. The directors are: Alekson Lacerda DallArmelina from Brazil, Miriam Velasco from Mexico and Nagham Abboud from Lebanon. The co-producer is Jannik Ohlendieck, born in New York. The camera crew consists of Declan Smiddy, Anthony Courtney, Derek Keane, Greig Stevens and Dylan Grant. The film has a projected budget of 15,000 and the team has been trying to raise funds through sponsorship and crowdfunding and will be appealing to the local community. As Mark Coffey put it This will be a great opportunity to showcase Carlingford and Cooley. And would appreciate your support. For further information contact Mark Coffey at 083 832 6603 or email coffeymn@tcd.ie. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Over 130,000 was raised by Tesco stores across the country on Friday, 7th April in support of Temple Streets Great Irish Bake. Tesco colleagues and customers baked, bought, ate and sold an abundance of culinary creations to help raise some much-needed dough for the childrens hospital. Tesco stores in Louth alone raised over 3,200 to support the little heroes of Temple Street. All 148 stores across the country took part in the national baking event, raising a total of 130,000 over the weekend alone, which will support the cost of constructing a new state of the art Ultrasound System and the purchase of new equipment for the Ear, Nose and Throat Department. Denise Fitzgerald, CEO of Temple Street Fundraising said: Temple Street has some of the best doctors and nurses in the world but without specialist facilities and equipment it is simply not enough. The effort put in by Tesco colleagues across the country was amazing and will really make a difference. All their hard work will help us purchase vital equipment such as a new state of the art Ultrasound System which is vital for putting IV lines in infants and premature babies safely. We are also able to purchase new equipment for the Ear, Nose and Throat Department which will ensure that we can open a second examination room and this will greatly reduce waiting times for our patients. On behalf of all the patients in Temple Street I would like to say a huge thank the customers and Tesco colleagues who helped make the event such a huge success. Tesco Ireland has been working with Temple Street as its charity partner since October 2014 and to date with the help of the Great Irish Bake has fundraised over 2.5m for the hospital, helping it to buy much needed life-saving equipment. Christine Heffernan Corporate Affairs Director Tesco Ireland said: We are really proud to have supported the Great Irish Bake and are amazed by the level of support, not to mention the culinary talent that we saw across the country It really shows what can be achieved when people pull together for a great cause. What a fantastic result for an invaluable service provided by Temple Street. Each year Temple Street Childrens University Hospital treats over 145,000 children from across the country and operates the busiest A&E department in Europe. For thousands of children, Temple Street is the only hospital in Ireland they can be treated in. Through the charity partner programme, Tesco colleagues and customers can help little people from all over Ireland get better and be real life heroes to children attending the hospital. A local woman has called on Dundalk residents to join the campaign to make key preventative medication available to cystic fibrosis sufferers. A third protest over the delays in securing approval for new ground-breaking drug Orkambi will be held at the gates of Dail Eireann tomorrow at 1.15pm. The medication, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, is the first therapy to treat the underlying cause of Cystic Fibrosis in 500-plus patients in Ireland, yet after months of discussions, there has been no agreement to provide it. Rachel Mellon, mother of young CF sufferer Adam, took to Facebook to detail the ongoing battle. "Adam takes 27 tablets a day, two nebulisers and undergoes airway clearance & physiotherapy, just to keep him well enough to be a happy little boy." "Like many other adults and children with CF, he would benefit from the drugs that our government is keeping from him. "Tomorrow will be the third time we have had to protest on this issue; Minister Harris needs to realise we don't have the time, there is being a price but on our children's lives. "Whoever is around on Wednesday please come and support us. If anyone wishes to buy a purple rose from me I will be in The Marshes on Thursday. ALL proceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis Dundalk Branch." : 15 6 , 2 Editor's Note: At the familys request, first names are only being used in their effort to protect the children from finding out how severe the diagnosis is at this time. The family has decided not to tell their twins that Sarah has cancer and requests that the public be understanding as well. The North County High School jazz bands will hold a concert on Thursday to help a girl who is battling cancer. Sarah Elizabeth, 11, is currently in London seeking treatment for DIPG (Difuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), a rare form of brain stem cancer. North County Band Boosters Secretary April Brannum said there will be performances by both jazz bands and some small ensembles. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the North County High School Auditorium. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for students at the door. Brannum said this is the first benefit concert the jazz band has held to her knowledge. She said the school has held various different fundraisers for Sarah and the teachers, superintendents and staff have been so giving and kind. A few of the kids in band wanted to do something extra to help this family and they came up with the idea of a benefit concert, said Brannum. Mr. Carroll, Mr. Sikes and Mrs. Dement were all happy to help with the event. We wanted to help in any way possible, so we volunteered to lend a hand with the concert. There will also be performances by some small vocal and instrumental ensembles made up of members of the high school band and choir, said Brannum. There will be a 50/50 drawing and donations will be accepted throughout the event. Brannum said the community has been so great to support the band throughout the last year as they've raised money for their upcoming trip to Disney World. In return, the band kids wanted to do something to give back to the community. With this concert, they return the favor and support one of their fellow North County students, said Brannum. All proceeds from the benefit concert will go to the SophiE's Quest for a Cure benefit account c/o First State Community Bank in Bonne Terre. Treatment in London Sarah was diagnosed with the inoperable tumor in December. Her parents, Jim and Mechelle were told her life expectancy is nine to 12 months. While there is no cure currently, the couple researched and found clinical trials being conducted to prolong life. They found a clinical trial in New York being done using Convection Enhanced Delivery which involves many surgeries and is very dangerous. They decided to search again and found a similar technique being used in London. A doctor is using nanobots to map the blood vessels and direct the catheter to the tumor. It consists of one surgery and has been prolonging lives. Since insurance does not cover this trial, members of the community stepped up to help with fundraisers under the name "SophiEs Quest For a Cure." The initial surgery is somewhere in the area of $80,000 and each treatment afterwards is $9,600. The family is now in London seeking pre-surgery care. They have been in to see Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist Dr. Stergios Zacharoulis at The Harley Street Clinic Children's Hospital in England. Sarah started her first round of medications last week. She will have to take these two medications eight to 10 weeks. Then the doctor plans on a different medicine for another eight to 10 weeks with several MRIs during all of this, said Mechelle. She is doing really well so far. After the rounds of medication hopefully she will be ready for the CED (Convection Enhanced Delivery) surgery, which she is supposed to have in a few weeks. Mechelle said right now, because of the medications Sarah is on, she has to have a weekly blood draws. It looks like they may remain in London for about 18 months. Between the current medications and the next round we are looking at four to five months before she could have the surgery. Once she has surgery, she would then have an infusion every six weeks, said Mechelle. There is no cure for DIPG. All we can do at this time is extend her diagnosis for as long as we can and like the doctor said, they are coming up with new treatments and one of them has to be the answer. One of them has to be because I could not even imagine a world that Sarah didn't exist in. Mechelle said Dr. Zacharoulis has a patient, Keira, who is at 32 months now, which is well beyond her diagnosis. Granted the medical treatment never ends for Sarah, but you never stop when it's your child, said Mechelle. You do what you have to do. I love that baby girl to the moon and will never give up. Mechelle said Sarah still doesnt know her diagnosis and they intend to keep it that way for as long as possible. She still thinks life is rainbows and butterflies and I will keep it that way as long as I can, said Mechelle. DIPG is a monster and 11-year-old little girls shouldn't have to fight monsters. As long as she stays this happy, her state of health has been better than expected. She surprised the doctors in St. Louis and she has surprised the doctors here. Each year approximately 250 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with DIPG, a rare high-grade glioma which is more common in elementary school-aged children, but it can affect children of any age. While in London the family is staying in a three-bedroom flat while maintaining their house in St. Francois County. Anyone who wishes to make a donation to Sarah Elizabeth and her fight against DIPG can do so at the First State Community Bank, SophiE's Quest for a Cure benefit account, or on the GoFundMe account, Sarah's Quest for a cure. Two city boards and one school board will hold meetings tonight. Park Hills The Park Hills City Council will meet tonight at 6 p.m. for a regular session in the municipal court chambers at city hall, located at 9 Bennett St. First on the agenda is a public hearing to gather input on rezoning as requested by a property owner. Next, two visitors are scheduled to speak before the council 911 Director Alan Wells will provide an update on the new St. Francois County communications center and Park Hills resident Theresa Naucke will address the council on the subject of council. The council will vote to approve the recent election results, followed by a swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected mayor and council members. New business will include a call-to-order for the new council, an election of a president pro tem, the appointment of a council representative to the planning and zoning commission, the appointment of a council or staff member as ex-officio member of the Park Hills Leadington Chamber of Commerce and approval of the delinquent tax list. Along with a mayor and council member discussion period, City Administrator Matt Whitwell will give reports on the citys Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Utilities departments. The meeting is open to the public. Leadington The Leadington Board of Aldermen meets in regular session tonight at 6 p.m. at the municipal building located at 12 Weir St. According to the tentative agenda, the board will swear in officials elected in the April 4 municipal election; open auditor bids, approve a tax collection agreement, discuss the purchase of office equipment, approve an MACA scholarship and training for the court clerk, consider a request for a cemetery plot buyback, approve backhoe repairs, discuss the mower and consider passage of a fair housing ordinance. The meeting will be open to the public. Bismarck Board of Education The Bismarck R-5 Board of Education will meet in regular session tonight at 6 p.m. in the elementary school library. According to the tentative agenda, following acceptance of last week's municipal election results the board will be reorganized and the oath of office will be given to the elected members. The board will also consider approval of the Professional Development Program report; the updated substitute list; policy and regulation updates; and selling of the trailer at 430 School St. The meeting is open to the public. A Dun & Bradstreet database, 52 GB in size and containing more than 33.6 million records with very specific details, has been exposed. Cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt, who received the database for study, on Wednesday confirmed that the records already were organized and developed as if intended for distribution to a potential client. The database belonged to NetProspex, a firm purchased by Dun & Bradstreet in 2015 for US$125 million, ZDNet confirmed. NetProspex had compiled the database which included personal information including names, job titles, job responsibilities and work email addresses and phone numbers for e-marketers, by all accounts. It presumably was meant as a tool to target customers via email campaigns and other communication methods. It is the type of data that can be purchased by clients and broken down either via bulk email addresses, or by specific records such as by company or industry. No highly sensitive personal information was included in the records, however, according to Dun & Bradstreet. Based on our analysis, it is our determination that there has been no exposure of sensitive personal information from, and no infiltration of, our system, a Dun & Bradstreet spokesperson said in a statement provided to the E-Commerce Times by company rep Deborah McBridge. The information in question is data typically found on a business card, the spokesperson added. As general practice, Dun & Bradstreet uses an agile security process and evaluates and evolves security controls to protect the integrity of our data. Generally, our legal agreements do require our customers to safeguard and maintain the confidentiality of the data they receive. Devil in the Details The database includes information only on Americans, Hunt found. California has the highest representation with more than 4 million records, followed by New York with 2.7 million, and Texas with 2.6 million records. That is in line with the population breakdown of the United States in general. The database is quite diverse, including information on organizations in the government and military sectors, as well as individuals in the commercial sector. The database includes details on more than 100,000 individuals working for the Department of Defense, and more than 88,000 employee records from the United States Postal Service. There are more than 76,000 records from the United States Army and United States Air Force combined. On the corporate side, the database includes records from several large-scale businesses, including AT&T, Boeing, Dell, FedEx, IBM and Xerox, as well as Walmart, CVS Health Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, Citigroup and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. Ohio State University is one of the centers of higher education listed by Hunt, with 38,705 of its employee records turning up in the database. Digital Commodity How the information was stolen isnt yet clear, but it doesnt appear that great sophistication was required, which is in itself worrisome. The D&B breach shines an uncomfortable light on a common fact of modern life that companies of most every sort consider personal customer information to be a valuable commodity, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. Once consumers provide information to businesses and other organizations, they have virtually no control over how it is handled, and few options when it is mishandled, he told the E-Commerce Times. This hack shows that these types of databases are the low-hanging fruit for hackers, said Pierre Roberge, chairman of Arc4dia. This wasnt a very technical hack, and there probably isnt a lot of money that will be made from it, but for some hackers this is enough so that they can eat and live, he told the E-Commerce Times. Going Into Crisis Mode Companies have been challenged to come up with effective responses to data breaches, cyberattacks and other hacks. Organizations that have been hacked or breached would do well to address the situation with full transparency, noted King. In fact, Yahoos situation is an exemplar of the bad tidings that can occur for a company and its shareholders when lack of transparency is the rule, he told the E-Commerce Times. Though Dun & Bradstreet insisted that no personally identifiable information was exposed, reports that the database includes peoples first and last names, their job titles, email addresses, and the organizations they work for suggests otherwise, King said. The company would do well to get out in front of this or risk suffering long-term damage. Threat Level Compared to recent cyberattacks and security breaches, this leak could rank more as an annoyance than as a grave security concern. This isnt voter data rolls, or very personal information such as what we saw in the Office of Personnel Management or healthcare breaches, said Eric Hodge, director of consulting at security research firm CyberScout. However, it could be a great first step for identity theft, he told the E-Commerce Times. The information can make it more convenient for criminals, but this information is already out there and could be picked off LinkedIn or Facebook, added Hodge. The bigger worry from this is that it casts a light on the global state of cybersecurity, observed Arc4dias Roberge. It might not be very sensitive, but it shouldnt end up on the black market so easily, he said. Follow-Up Attacks Identity theft is the biggest potential concern resulting from an attack like this one, but unlike the OPM breach, which included Social Security numbers, home addresses, and in many cases fingerprints, the information leaked here is less significant on a personal level. This is in the oh great, Im going to get more spam but anyone who thinks their information was breached should be more aware, cautioned Hodge. Id suggest checking credit card bills more closely, checking credit scores, and generally being vigilant, he said, even though this isnt the type of breach that should be cause for huge alarm. Still, enterprising hackers could use corporate email addresses in dangerous ways. The challenge with a breach of this nature is that it provides a lot of raw material for nefarious attackers to craft very convincing phishing or social engineering campaigns against decision-makers in corporations, said Dwayne Melancon, vice president of products at security and compliance firm Tripwire . Organizations should warn executives, he told the E-CommerceTimes, and educate them on the warning signs of business email compromise schemes. Mind of the Marketer The thieves apparently meant to sell the database to unscrupulous marketers. This does cast the spotlight inside the seamy underbelly of what you agree with when you check on agreements to use your personal information, noted CyberScouts Hodge. This information is what is considered acceptable to share when you check the box on agreements without reading the fine print, he added. It will open the eyes to what you give in the way of information to reputable companies, and this is good illustration of the reality of how this information is then shared. Google has made a practice of paying female employees less than their male counterparts, a Department of Labor official alleged in court testimony last week. The agency found systemic compensation disparities, regional director Janette Wipper said at a hearing in San Francisco, according to reports. The DoL confirmed the accuracy of the testimony to the E-Commerce Times. The hearing was in connection with the departments lawsuit over Googles failure to hand over detailed compensation data about employees at its Mountain View, California, headquarters. Based on what Google has produced thus far and based upon the departments investigation thus far, this investigation has revealed significant evidence of discrimination in pay against women at Googles headquarters, Department of Labor spokesperson Jose Carnevali told the E-Commerce Times. Google has vehemently denied Whippers allegations, insisting that its own analyses show no gender pay gap, and that the Labor Department has not provided any data or shared the methodology underlying its findings. Compliance Failure As part of its equal opportunity compliance review, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in 2015 asked Google to provide compensation data and documents from its headquarters. Since Google is a federal contractor, it must comply with the review. The DoL earlier this year filed suit against Google, asking the court to cancel all of Googles federal contracts and bar the firm from all future contracts. Gender discrimination has been an issue with particular currency in Silicon Valley for many years. In recent years, several high-profile cases have shone a spotlight on it. Among them were the US$16 million lawsuit Ellen Pao brought against venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, which she lost. Earlier this year, Pao returned to Silicon Valley as a partner in Kapor Capital, and chief diversity and inclusion officer at the Kapor Center for Social Impact. The pay gap remains a critical issue. Sixty-three percent of women receive lower salary offers than their male counterparts for the same job, while 53 percent of the time companies interview only male candidates for a job opening, according to a study Hired released last week. Systemic Issues Gender pay disparities are a systemic problem in the technology industry, according to Derecka Mehrens, executive director of Working Partnerships USA and cofounder of Silicon Valley Rising. Women hold only 25 percent of the high-wage, high skill programming and engineering jobs in the industry, she told the E-Commerce Times. They hold 40 percent of the blue-collar, subcontracted jobs that serve the industry, yet those jobs pay only one-sixth as much as the higher-skilled jobs. If tech leaders are serious about reducing the gender gap, they need to address pay discrimination among their direct employees, and raise wages for the subcontracted workers who keep their campuses running smoothly, Mehrens said. The DoL earlier this year filed suit against Oracle alleging the company paid white males more than it paid Asian, African American and female workers in similar roles, while favoring Asian-Americans for certain product development and other technical jobs. Oracle previously has denied the allegations, but the company declined to comment for this story. The DoL last fall sued Palantir Technologies, led by billionaire investor and PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel, on allegations it discriminated against Asian job applicants. The company has denied those allegations. 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The documents, including a BLM Priority Work list accompanying talking points memo, were drafted by BLM administrators and have been reviewed by Trump transition team members, but have not yet been circulated to staff. While wind and solar development earn small mentions, the documents emphasize main goals of making more federal lands available for energy development and streamlining leases and permits for oil, gas, coal and hardrock mining projects. The draft priority work list under the Making America Safe through Energy Independence includes: Make additional lands available for all of the above energy development Address backlog of Applications for Permit to Drill (APDs) and Expressions of Interest (EOIs) Streamline Federal coal leasing and permitting, and address backlog Streamline oil and gas leasing and permitting Streamline rights-of-way processing for pipelines, transmission lines and solar/wind projects Streamline leasing and permitting for hardrock mining The priority list was assembled by the team at the BLM to clearly lay out our continued commitment to ensure opportunities for commercial, recreation and conservation activities on BLM-managed lands, Megan Crandall, an agency spokeswoman, told E&E News in an email. No one voted to pollute our public lands, air or drinking water in the last election, yet the Trump administration is doing the bidding of powerful polluters as nearly its first order of business, Earthjustice attorney Jenny Harbine said after Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke ordered the lifting a moratorium on federal coal leasing. A coalition of groups, including Earthjustice, are suing the Trump administration over the order, which opens tens of thousands of acres of public lands to the coal industry. For a deeper dive: E&E, Politico Pro For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News. By Nika Knight Prestigious Pulitzer Prizes on Monday were awarded to investigations that tackled President Donald Trump, Big Ag and international offshore tax havens, rewarding reporters that took on todays powers-that-be. The Pulitzer Prizes this year came in the face of a combative stance from President Trump, who has called the news media the enemy of the American people,' as the New York Times noted. The prize shed light on a small family-run paper in Iowa that tenaciously challenged large agricultural corporations over water pollution. The Storm Lake Times forced documents to be released that showed powerful agricultural interests were funding a local countys attempt to quell a lawsuit over nitrogen runoff from farms contaminating drinking water. Art Cullen, the papers editor, slammed the close financial ties between Big Ag and county government in editorials described by the Pulitzer Committee as impressive and engaging, while also highlighting the catastrophic effects of nitrogen pollution. In one editorial, for example, Cullen wrote: Anyone with eyes and a nose knows in his gut that Iowa has the dirtiest surface water in America. It is choking the waterworks and the Gulf of Mexico. It is causing oxygen deprivation in Northwest Iowa glacial lakes. It has caused us to spend millions upon millions trying to clean up Storm Lake, the victim of more than a century of explosive soil erosion. Everyone knows its not the city sewer plant causing the problem. And most of us recognize that this is not just nature at work busily releasing nitrates into the water. Ninety-two percent of surface water pollution comes from row crop production. The Washington Posts David A. Fahrenthold also won an award for his persistent investigations into President Donald Trumps claims of charity donations throughout the 2016 campaign. The Pulitzer Committee described Fahrentholds reporting, which revealed that the presidents charitable donations frequently fell far short of his claims, as a model for transparent journalism. In addition, an international collaboration between McClatchy, the Miami Herald and the International Consortion of Investigative Journalists that resulted in the landmark Panama Papers investigation into offshore tax havens was awarded the prize for Explanatory Reporting. The Guardian listed the wide-ranging ramifications of the revelations contained in the Panama Papers: Icelands prime minister Sigmundur Davi Gunnlaugsson was forced to quit after it emerged that his family had sheltered cash offshore. There were demonstrations in Argentina and a small war in Azerbaijan, initiatedsome believedto distract from revelations concerning the president and his daughters. In China, censors blocked the words Panama Papers and jammed the website of the Guardian. In Russia, aides to Vladimir Putin fumed about a western spy conspiracy after it emerged that Putins oldest friend, the cellist Sergei Roldugin, had about $2bn flowing into a network of British Virgin Islands companies. The founders of the Panamanian law firm, Jurgen Mossack and Ramon Fonseca, were arrested in February. They are currently in jail on suspicion of money laundering following a coordinated swoop by prosecutors across Latin America. Other notable prize winners include Eric Eyre of the Charleston Gazette-Mail in West Virginia, for his investigative reporting on the states opiod crisis and the pharmaceutical corporations fueling it; the staff of the East Bay Times in Oakland, California, for their coverage of the Ghost Ship fire and city officials failure to take action that may have prevented the tragedy; and the New York Daily News and ProPublica for an investigation into the New York Police Departments abuse of eviction rules that led to calls for citywide reform. Reposted with permission from our media associate Common Dreams. Does anybody here remember Blanche Lincoln? She was a two-term senator from Arkansas, a moderate Democrat who prospered in a red state by defying liberal power brokers like big labor. The unions and ultra-left pressure groups went after her big-time in 2010, backing a primary challenge by Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter. She survived the primary -- barely -- but suffered mortal wounds in the process, and lost badly in the fall to Republican John Boozman. We thought of Lincoln as the purist wing of the Democratic Party re-emerged this spring and threatened to run primary opponents next year against senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana. Their sin: daring to support President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch. As one of those purist pressure groups, We Will Replace You, said in their manifesto: "The next crucial step is escalating our demands, and demonstrating that we won't accept anything less than full opposition -- by showing Democrats just how many people are willing to back primary challenges to Democratic collaborators and enablers of Trump." This harassment is beyond stupid. It's suicidal. Democrats are struggling to win elections and have lost control of both Congress and the White House. Trump won West Virginia by 67 percent, North Dakota by 62 percent and Indiana by 56 percent. The only Democrats who could possibly hold Senate seats in those states are ones like Manchin, Heitkamp and Donnelly: moderates who separate themselves from the rigid tenets of liberal theology. Lincolnizing them, purging them as heretics, would have only one result: making it easier for Trump and his congressional allies to retain power. Look at the facts. Yes, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by almost 3 million, but that's a highly misleading figure, based entirely on huge Democratic margins in a few coastal and urban enclaves. In California alone, Clinton rolled up a lead of 4.3 million; in New York, it was 1.7 million. Take away those two states and Trump's national margin was above 3 million. Trump won about 84 percent of the counties in America; Clinton, 16 percent. Only 26 percent of voters identified as liberals in Election Day exit polls, with 39 percent calling themselves moderates and 35 percent conservatives. Add the nature of the American system: House members represent individual districts that are often gerrymandered to protect the party in power; each state gets two senators, no matter its size; and the Electoral College determines the president, not the popular vote. The math is undeniable and unrelenting: Democrats cannot take back the White House or Congress simply by building up large majorities in Brooklyn and Boston. Politics is always about addition, not subtraction. Condemning moderates as "collaborators" and "enablers" will condemn the party to permanent minority status. Groups like We Will Replace You are directly connected to Bernism, the mass mania that infected liberals during the Democratic primaries. They deluded themselves into believing that a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, mouthing totally unrealistic slogans like "free college tuition," could actually win. Sure, Sanders backed Clinton after the conventions, but he stayed in the primaries far too long and convinced far too many of his followers that she was a flawed candidate not worth voting for. Yes, Clinton was a poor candidate, but without a doubt, Sanders helped elect Trump. He Lincolnized Clinton. The fallout from Bernism is not just bad for the Democrats; it's bad for the country. Moderates like Manchin, Heitkamp and Donnelly are an essential part of a functioning Senate. They are the dealmakers, the conciliators, the lubricators who make the legislative machinery run. Their shrinking numbers help explain why the Senate is imploding over Gorsuch's nomination to the high court. In 2005, a group called the Gang of 14 -- seven Democrats, seven Republicans -- brokered a pact over judicial nominations that avoided a partisan showdown. Only three of those 14 Senators, all Republicans, remain in office. All the Democrats are gone, including four moderates from red states: Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. There was no deal this year, comparable to the one forged 12 years ago, because there are so few dealmakers left. If the Democrats forget Blanche Lincoln, if they insist on purging anyone who strays from liberal orthodoxy, they will misread -- once again -- the nature of the American electorate. And they will weaken, not strengthen, their ability to resist Trump. Steve and Cokie Roberts can be contacted by email at stevecokie@gmail.com For decades, Shell and Dow hid a highly potent cancer-causing chemical in two widely used pesticides, contaminating drinking water for millions of people in California and beyond, according to lawsuits detailed in a new report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The chemical 1,2,3-trichloropropane or TCP, was formerly an unwanted and ineffective byproduct in Dows Telone and Shells D-D pesticides. Internal documents uncovered in lawsuits filed by communities in Californias San Joaquin Valley show that the companies saved millions of dollars a year by not properly disposing of TCP, a chemical a Dow scientist once called garbage, as hazardous waste. [facebook https://facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/10155383951619887/ expand=1] Shell stopped making D-D in 1984 and Dow later took TCP out of Telone, but not before it contaminated the tap water supplies of 94 California utility districts serving 8 million people. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency testing program found TCP in tap water supplies for about 4 million people in 13 other states between 2013 and 2015, but the chemical is unregulated at the federal level and in every state except Hawaii. Regulators in California will meet next week to decide whether to set a legal limit for TCP in tap water. Shell and Dow have paid multi-million dollar settlements to some communities to pay for filtering TCP out of water supplies, but dozens more cases are pending. Dow and Shell should have taken it out and disposed of it properly as a toxic waste. But that would have cost them a lot of money, so they left it in and continued to sell these pesticides to farmers throughout California, said Asha Kreiling, an analyst with the Community Water Center, which along with Clean Water Action has pushed the state to set a legal limit. This is an outrageous story of how Shell and Dow essentially got farmers who bought the pesticide to pay to help them get rid of a hazardous waste, said Bill Walker, EWGs managing editor and co-author of the report. How many other hidden examples are there of chemical companies endangering communities through toxic deception? TCP was synthesized in the 1930s as one of many byproducts from the manufacture of a chemical used to make plastics. After pineapple growers in Hawaii found that the mixture of byproducts could kill microscopic worms called nematodes, Shell and Dow began marketing slightly different formulations of the mixture and eventually D-D and Telone became the second most heavily used pesticides in California. But San Francisco attorney Todd Robins, who represents many smaller communities whose water is contaminated with TCP, said the companies knew TCP was useless as a pesticidein fact, it made the products less effective. Yet both Shell and Dow claimed on the labels that the products were 100 percent active ingredientsfalse claims that violated federal regulations for registering pesticides. Robins also said the companies knew as early as 1952 that TCP in fumigants did not break down in soil and could migrate into groundwater. Once there, it persists for centuries. In 2009, California state scientists set an extraordinarily low public health goal for TCP in drinking water of less than 1 part per trillion. Public health goals are not enforceable legal limits but minimal risk levels expected to cause no more than one case of cancer in a million people who drink and shower with the water daily for a lifetime. The only chemical with a lower California public health goal is dioxin, considered one of the most toxic substances known to science. Staff of the California State Water Resources Control Board have proposed a legal limit of 5 parts per trillion, the lowest level current technology can reliably detect. A public hearing on the proposed standard, which is supported by Community Water Center, Clean Water Action, EWG and other groups, will be held April 19 in Sacramento. Shell and Dow put greed for profits ahead of the health of the people who bought and used their products, said Andria Ventura, toxics program manager for Clean Water Action. We cant reverse the tragic consequences, but setting a drinking water standard thats fully protective of public health can stem the threat going forward. In its recent decision declaring that students with disabilities have a right to services thatto the greatest extent possibleenable them to acquire the same knowledge and skills as their peers without disabilities, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the legal basis for federal education policies stretching back to 1997 . Thats when Congress first said the expectations for students with disabilities should be substantially the same as those for other students. In 2001, Congress passed the No Child Left Behind law, which required states to begin assessing all students except those with the most severe cognitive impairments the same way they assessed non-disabled students and to publicly report the results. It also required schools to identify what was holding these students back, and to use federal funds to provide individualized instruction to help them catch up and graduate from high school ready for college and the labor market. The 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act strengthened the rights of students with disabilities to an education based on rigorous academic standards. Ten years later, the Obama administration, under which I served in the U.S. Department of Education, raised the bar for states in the annual-performance reports required by the IDEA. In addition to considering whether states were in technical compliance with the law, the Education Department began giving equal weight to student outcomes . The year before that switch, the department reported that 41 states and territories met requirements; the new criteria brought that number down to only 18. The Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced NCLB and goes into full effect this coming fall, gives states greater flexibility in how they measure student and school performance as well as in devising a plan for improving outcomes for all students. But it also requires states to ensure that the individualized education programs for students with disabilities be designed to help them master grade-level standards. Several analyses of the Supreme Courts decision in the recent Endrew F. v. Douglas County case predict it will spur more costly litigation, as parents seek more and better services for their children. Avoiding those lawsuits will require a concerted effort by the federal government, states, school districts, teachers, and institutions of higher education. The money that might otherwise be spent on lawyers would be better used fully implementing the aspirational policies of the past two decades. More students with disabilities are being taught in regular classrooms, and more are graduating from high school than in the past. But much more still needs to be done before the promises of the IDEA are fulfilled. Much more still needs to be done before the promises of the IDEA are fulfilled. Districts can impress upon all of their personnel their responsibility for all students, regardless of disability status. They can provide technology tools that allow general education and special education teachers, as well as school psychologists, social workers, principals, and parents, to all have access to data on every student. They can build in time for these teams to collaborate on interventions that work for each student and also to monitor those students progress and change course if necessary. They can provide teachers with professional learning opportunities to better understand how to adapt challenging lessons to the needs of their students, and they can assign other teachers to make sure that students with disabilities who are in regular classrooms receive the specific help they need. Parents are students first teachers. They have to be engaged as advocates for their children, and school districts must help them better understand their childrens needs. Schools should treat parents as important partners, taking their input seriously and altering teaching methods as needed. State policy and practice matter as well. State policymakers should use ESSA as an opportunity to build a statewide consensus around high expectations for all students, including students with disabilities. States can work to change the beliefs of some educators that students with disabilities cannot be expected to learn challenging material, even with modified teaching methods. They can help districts identify evidence-based practices that will meet students needs. In addition, they can change teacher licensing requirements so that all general education teachers are knowledgeable about the needs of students with disabilities, and all special education teachers are familiar with the state academic standards and curriculum. The federal government and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos also are on the hook. DeVos, who famously said during her confirmation hearing that she would leave enforcement of the federal IDEA up to states, did not get off on the right foot. She later clarified her views in a letter to a Republican senator, saying she would bring a sense of urgency to implementing and enforcing the law at the federal, state, and local levels and would work to strengthen IEPs. She also said she would push to make vouchers available for parents to send their children with disabilities to private schools. However, the programs she cited require parents using the vouchers to give up their rights to sue if their children are not well-served. What she should do instead is direct the Education Department to continue including student progress in its yearly monitoring reports. She should ensure that states accountability and improvement plans, required by ESSA, include most students with disabilities in their assessments and commit to addressing their specific needs. She also should push the Trump administration to increase federal spending on special education, to allow states to provide those services. More than 40 years after the first federal law requiring schools to meet the needs of students with disabilities was passed, it remains a work in progress, as it always will. Over that period, our understanding of what even students with profound disabilities can learn has changed significantly. The Supreme Court ruling is an admonishment that we have more work to do to build educational systems that recognize these students potential. And we must do our best to help them reach it. Skretting: Unlocking Zambia's potential through local investment Skretting becomes the first global fish feed company to open a dedicated plant in Zambia. The first dedicated fish feed plant in Zambia has been constructed by Skretting Africa to assist the country's fast-growing aquaculture industry reach its full potential. The investment is part of Skretting's 75/25 joint-venture with African Century Foods (ACF) for the production, sale and distribution of tilapia feed that was announced last year. Within the African continent, there are a handful of regions where aquaculture is developing very quickly: Egypt is leading the way, followed by Nigeria. Also making its mark is Zambia, despite being constrained by irregular access to high-quality feeds, explains Rob Kiers, managing director of Skretting Africa. "What Zambia does have is a tradition of eating fish and a shared ambition by government and industry to locally produce fresh fish for the domestic market thereby reducing the market's reliance on imports of frozen products. There is a clear vision from the country to become self-sufficient or at least largely self-sufficient for fish through aquaculture," says Kiers. The new plant, which has a capacity of 35,000 tonnes of feed, is located at Siavonga on Lake Kariba, close to the main fish farming areas in both Zambia and Zimbabwe. The facility houses a dedicated line for extruded tilapia feed and a mash feed line for other animal species. A part of the capacity will be used to supply ACF's tilapia farms (Lake Harvest) with the remaining supply going to the wider southeast African region. Test production at the new plant began in March with feeds being made available to the market in April. "Combined with Zambia's culture of eating fish, which is not the case in all African countries, the country has all the right natural attributes to be a strategically important aquaculture market, including the availability of large bodies of excellent quality water and the ideal temperatures for rearing tilapia. It is also growing a lot of important raw materials like soya and maize," Kiers adds. "The fish are there, many of the raw materials are there so it is a great opportunity to make use of raw materials grown and processed locally. By doing this, the fish feed production will stimulate local community development and economic growth. From a sustainability point of view, this supports the United Nations sustainable development goals." In addition to hiring many locals to work at the plant, Skretting Africa has hired an experienced general manager and a technical specialist who has a history of fish farming in Zambia and is tasked with helping progress the country's aquaculture development, while ensuring that the same robust standards, support and ways of working that are in place at all other locations operated by Skretting and parent company Nutreco are applied in the African country. "Zambia will share the same Skretting philosophy: We will make good quality feed; make best use of our R&D; we will have local validation of those feeds; and we will also heavily invest in providing technical support to the industry," Kiers says. "We see this as a long-term investment. Because the Zambian aquaculture market is relatively small compared with some other markets, it is absolutely right that momentum should come from serious players like Skretting on the feed side and large fish farming companies like African Century Foods together picking up the challenge to drive the market forward by investing in equipment, farming, training and management to really help the Zambian community produce sufficient volumes of fish." Kiers is also pleased that since the announcement was made that Skretting Africa would be constructing a new plant in Zambia, other fish and animal feed companies have confirmed investment plans for the country. "These markets have the potential to grow, but it takes more than one good player to unlock that potential in a sustainable way. I am very happy that other international companies are now also investing in African markets to really take them forward," Kiers comments. "It is widely expected that the population of the African continent will double in size in the coming decades so it will need to at least double its food production, which presents a huge challenge that can only be overcome by investing locally and producing food locally." "Countries like Zambia have the basics to be an important producer of food for the wider region but it takes local investment to unlock that potential," Kier says. "We 100 percent believe in the potential of the continent and we really believe we should do it in Africa with Africans for Africa." - Skretting Nan Yang Rising: Southeast Asian takes over from China as a world agribusiness locomotive An eFeedLink Hot Topic "Nan Yang": Literal translation is 'South Sea'. A Chinese term for the warm, fertile geographical region south of China, known as Southeast Asia Southeast Asia's 600 million people are taking over from China as the main driver of growing world demand for feed and meat. This can be easily seen in Alltech's Global Feed Survey data. After growing at 10% to 30% annual rates for thirty years, the years 2011 through 2016 inclusive saw China's feed output grew by a paltry 1.3% annually. Southeast Asia's 600 million people are taking over from China as the main driver of growing world demand for feed and meat. This can be easily seen in Alltech's Global Feed Survey data. After growing at 10% to 30% annual rates for thirty years, the years 2011 through 2016 inclusive saw China's feed output grew by a paltry 1.3% annually. By comparison, Southeast Asia's feed output expanded at a 9.3% pace over the past five years and by 10.8% in 2016. In quantitative terms, from 2011 through 2016 even after adjusting for China having 2.25 times more people ASEAN has been increasing its meat production tonnage volume approximately 3 times faster than China. Based on Alltech Global Feed Survey statistics, from 50 million tonnes in 2011, the ten member ASEAN community's collective feed output grew to 77.3 million tonnes in 2016. That is 2.5 times more than the 31 million tonnes of feed produced by India's 1.2 billion in 2016. It will total an eFeedLink estimated 83 to 85 million tonnes this year. Going forward, it would be a conservative to estimate that over the next 13 years, ASEAN's feed demand will grow by at least 7% annually and total 200 million tonnes by 2030. There are good reasons to believe that Southeast Asia's feed tonnage could be closer to 220 million tonnes by that time. First, while low population countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei face decelerating meat demand growth, ASEAN contains many highly-populated nations whose rate of feed and livestock growth is only starting to accelerate into the 10%+ annual range. Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, which collectively hold 80 million people. That is twice the combined populations of slower growing Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. This new wave of emerging economies will complement the average 6% to 8% growth rate that will be sustained in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. Second, 480 million of Southeast Asia's 600 million people are at lower meat consumption levels than China was in the 1990s, when its feed output was expanding by 10%+ annually. From 2007 through 2016 inclusive, feed production in Thailand (+8.5), Indonesia(+10.4%), Vietnam (+16.1) and Myanmar (14.9%) grew at average annual rates near 10% or higher. Southeast Asian agribusiness's immaturity relative to China and greater growth potential can be seen in its feed production per capita. Relative to America's 540kg of feed output per capita or Japan's 197kg, ASEAN's feed output per capita amounts to just 77kg. Myanmar (20kg), Indonesia (55kg), Philippines (120kg) and Vietnam (130kg) all have feed output per capita far below that of China (197kg). Third, due to their technological immaturity, nations such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos will be substituting corn and soy in place of traditional farm yard scraps. This will push feed demand growth several percentage points ahead of their 5% to 8% meat consumption growth. Hence, it not surprising that relative to China's feeble 1.3% annual expansion, 2011 through 2016 saw feed output in Indonesia (10.4%), Myanmar (14.9%) and Vietnam (16.0%) rise at 10% to 16% annual rates. Even Thailand, despite 235kg per capita feed output three times higher than the ASEAN average, saw mills expand output 8.5% annually in the years 2011 through 2016. That points to another Southeast Asian growth advantage: Once they accumulate sufficient agribusiness capital, many ASEAN nations will supplement rapid domestic growth with exports of poultry and seafood. All this implies that Southeast Asian feed has at least 20 years of near 6% to 10% annual growth, with much of it occurring at the upper end of this range through the late 2020s. Not not only are Southeast Asian nations following China's late 1990s growth path, they too are starting to have exert weight on the world market for feed inputs. From 4.95 million tonnes in 1990-91, Southeast Asia's total imports of corn, soya beans, soymeal and feed wheat increased at an 8.6% average annual rate, more than tripling to 18.6 million tonnes in 2006-07. Then from 2007 through 2017, feed input imports accelerated to 10% annual growth. From 2006-07 through 2016-17, the volume of corn, soy and feed wheat imported nearly tripled to 48.1 million tonnes. For example, from 2006-07 through 2016-17, Indonesian corn imports will have grown at a 19.9% annual rate, from 294,000 tonnes back then to 1.8 million this year. This is down from above 3 million tonnes several years ago, as the government imposed import barriers. That in turn induced massive inflows of feed wheat in place of formerly imported corn. Similarly, despite using feed wheat whenever its price made it economically sensible to do so, Vietnam's corn imports increased at a 32% annual rate. They jumped from 500,000 tonnes in 2007 to a USDA estimated 8 million tonnes this year. The Philippines, despite implementing several feed grain self-sufficiency programs, artificially high domestic prices and substitution of feed wheat, saw corn imports jump at a 28.8% annual rate over the past ten years, from 58,000 tonnes in 2007 to a USDA estimated 727,000 tonnes this year. Thailand, traditionally the region's most self-sufficient large meat producer, saw its corn imports rise at a 9.1% annual pace, from 2007's 250,000 tonnes to a projected 600,000 tonnes this year. The region has also seen sharp increases of oilseed-based feed inputs, be they soymeal or in the case of countries that opened new crushing facilities (eg. Vietnam, Indonesia), raw soybeans. After the opening and subsequent expansion of new crushing facilities from 2009 onwards, Vietnam soybean imports rose at a 32% annual rate, from 120,000 tonnes in 2007 to 1.75 million tonnes this year. They did not increase their oilseed imports as rapidly as Vietnam but Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia all saw their imports of either soybeans or soymeal increase by 5% to 8% since 2007. Clearly, Southeast Asia's appetite for meat greatly exceeds the feed crop growing capacity of its finite, water encircled land masses. It is this combination of low consumption, rapid economic growth, pent up demand and finite resources that defines Southeast Asia as the new global agribusiness growth locomotive. All rights reserved. No part of the report may be reproduced without permission from eFeedLink. Thursday morning they trooped to a Virginia hillside, speckled with white monuments standing out against the gray April skies, to reflect on, to salute, and then, with a bugler's sad tattoo, to bury the New Frontier. For placed into the freshly shoveled earth was America's last aviator avatar, a man remembered as the first of his countrymen to orbit the Earth, but also a combat fighter pilot, senator -- and symbol of a nation's highest hopes and its highest achievements. Also buried, along with John Herschel Glenn Jr., who died early last December but wasn't given Arlington Cemetery burial honors until this week, were the idealism and high-minded values of John F. Kennedy's New Frontier. To be sure, the New Frontier was more than a half-century old. Its mixture of national optimism, national purpose and -- lest we forget -- national security survived the assassination of its midwife. It was the soundtrack of the 1960s. Its spirit sent Americans into space through NASA, to foreign lands through the Peace Corps, to remote Appalachian hollows through VISTA. It sent scores of Americans into politics, some of whom mimicked the Kennedy style (hands in their suit-coat pocket), some of whom made the 35th president's causes their own. It battled segregation ("We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the Scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution") and cultivated the arts ("The new frontier for which I campaign in public life can also be a new frontier for American art"). It was an LP record that was played long after Victrolas -- the record player that the president used to play the recording of "Camelot" celebrating what the Broadway show called a "shining moment" -- faded from the scene. Indeed, by the turn of the century, let alone by the second decade of the 21st century, it became increasingly hard to recall that, as the "Camelot" lyrics put it, "once there was a fleeting wisp of glory" to the New Frontier. That is because the New Frontier was besmirched by tragic miscalculations in Cuba and Vietnam -- and because the New Frontier itself grew frayed around its edges. Americans lost the sense of national purpose and national destiny that the New Frontier promised, in part because of Vietnam, in part because any creed grows stale, in part because the troubadours of the New Deal grew old and frail and, like Glenn, died. Indeed, Glenn, who died at age 95, was very likely the last living symbol of the New Frontier. The 7-year-olds pictured in grainy films gazing with wonder into the skies as Glenn's Atlas booster climbed into space now are eligible for Social Security. Kennedy died in 1963; all the other of the Original Seven astronauts died before Glenn. And with the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in 2009, all the Kennedy brothers of the president's generation are gone. Frank Sinatra, whose "High Hopes" song was employed by the Kennedy campaign, died almost two decades ago. It's been a long time since anyone here has sung, as Sinatra did, of "high apple pie, in the sky, hopes." The New Frontier was Kennedy's effort to graft a youthful and inexperienced candidate onto a tradition of high-minded progressive ideals dating to the New Nationalism (Theodore Roosevelt), New Freedom (Woodrow Wilson) and New Deal (Franklin Roosevelt). Three decades later, Bill Clinton, himself deeply affected by the Kennedy legacy, spoke of a New Covenant, which echoed Kennedy themes: "a solemn agreement between the people and their government based not simply on what each of us can take but what all of us must give to our nation." In his speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president, Kennedy described the New Frontier not as a set of promises but "a set of challenges," encapsulating "not what I intend to offer to the American people, but what I intend to ask of them." Before long the term New Frontiersman came to mean a cadre of Americans of trim fitness, polished appearance and deep intellectualism, possessed of the early tools of the new technology and a broad sense of possibility. They went into jungles wearing shorts and carrying briefcases. Fluent in the newspeak of cost-benefit analysis and modern game theory, they spoke darkly of mutual-assured destruction and brightly of a war on poverty. They may have dived into swimming pools in poplin suits, but they also prepared for spaceflight in water. They were adept at dropping a line from Carlyle into a speech, but they also invited a poet to the president's inauguration. In a speech delivered a month before his death, Kennedy celebrated poetry in a remarkable passage, inconceivable for any of his successors and few of his predecessors: "When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations," he said at Amherst College, as part of a groundbreaking ceremony for the Robert Frost Library. "When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses." Glenn was no poet. In orbit the astronaut, bland but not blase, confined his remarks to the oh-what-a-view variety. He never mastered the poetry of campaigning as a presidential contender. But he endured as a symbol of American virtue and of New Frontier values for his vigor, courage, determination and optimism. On the launch pad as on the stump, his thumbs-up gesture was an irrepressible impulse. Glenn had the attributes the columnist Mary McGrory identified as being most cherished by President Kennedy: the "decorum and dash that were in his special style." This is not an age of decorum, nor of dash. It is a time of invective, not idealism; of crudity, not civility. In this context, elegies to the values of the New Frontier often prompt cynicism, for in the Kennedy years there was failure (the Bay of Pigs and the Vienna summit with Nikita Khrushchev), deceit (the assassination of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem), and deplorable moral lapses (wiretapping Martin Luther King Jr.). But by June 1963, when in consecutive days Kennedy delivered remarkable speeches on civil rights and international peace, there were glimmers of greatness in the Kennedy presidency. Even if the actions of that period never matched the values of that period, still the president reached for the stars, as did John H. Glenn, buried, along with the New Frontier he symbolized. David M. Shribman is executive editor of the Post-Gazette (dshribman@post-gazette.com, 412 263-1890). Follow him on Twitter at ShribmanPG. To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. April is turning out to be quite a busy month at the Park Hills Public Library with reading programs for young folks, an audio book walking club for adults, movies, crafts, more essential oils, a visit by a local author and, National Library Week activities. Registration began April 1 for the librarys spring reading program for kids. "Ice Cream for Books" is for children ages five to 12 years old. Participants who read at least five books reading them together and with parents counts will be treated to a special ice cream and movie night on April 25. For every five books a child reads, library staff will put an ice cream scoop on the wall with the childs name on it. All participants in the program must have at least one scoop on the wall to attend the movie night. Parents who want to sign their kids up should stop by the library to register and pick-up a reading log. Registration also began April 1 for Teen Book Club. Along with books geared toward teens and young adults, the club also offers movie nights where members can enjoy a movie, popcorn and soda provided by the library. Interested teens may register for the club at the library and must have a parent sign a consent form. Club members are required to sign a reading contract and agree to start reading the featured book at the beginning of the month. They also agree to attend two meetings during the month and to return the book in the same condition as when it was received. During the meetings, members discuss the book and share what they like or dislike about the story. Registration for an adult audio book walking club began April 1 as well. Its spring and people are getting out and trying to shed some of the weight they gained over the wintertime, said Library Director Lisa Sisk. (The club) is a good way to keep people reading but also to get some exercise while theyre doing it. Participants need a valid library card and a mobile reading device to join the club. What they need to do is come into the library with whatever device that they are going to be using to listen to the book, said Sisk. Well download the book onto their device. And we have pedometers available to check out with it so they can keep track of the amount they walk. Also, we have small notebooks available if they want to jot down their progress. At the end of the month, on April 28 at 4 p.m., club members are invited to attend a book discussion meeting to share their perspectives and observations of the book. Springtime also means the librarys fishing rod and reel loaner program is back. Provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), anyone with a valid library card is welcome to check out fishing equipment, including tackle boxes, just like books. The program aims to promote fishing in Missouris lakes, streams and rivers and to get kids and adults outside and involved in nature. Its free of charge to us and if the tackle doesnt come back they replace it; if rods and reels get broken, they replace them, Sisk said. Its a service we can provide but also it helps the Department of Conservation. As part of the fishing equipment loaner program, representatives from MDC recently visited the library to teach a fly tying class and, if there is enough interest, will be returning later in the year for other outdoor and hunting related programs. National Library Week, which began April 10, will include a variety of activities. Usually the first day is Patron Appreciation Day, said Sisk. I help make cookies and those are available all day. Also, you can sign up for giveaways on the last day and we have some attendance prizes that we give away. The week also includes Book Mobile Day, Library Worker Day and a come-and-go craft day for kids. Were going to make origami bookmarks, Sisk said, who added that the finalized schedule for the week will be posted on the librarys Facebook page soon. Also during the week, another in the librarys series of monthly essential oil classes will be taking place. Today, Nurse Lori Bourgeois will be educating participants about how to use essential oils to help balance hormones. The class is free and open to the public, although registration is required. From 9 a.m. to noon on April 15, local author Mary Jane Bryan will be appearing at the library for a book signing of her newly released mystery Errant. Everyone is invited to drop by, pick up a book and visit with Bryan. Also scheduled this month are the ever-popular Monday Make and Take Craft Night on April 17 and Zumba with local instructor Nettie Young on April 18. Registration is required for each class. Both start at 5:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public. To register for a class or for more information about any of the programs, inquire at the circulation desk or call the library at 573-431-4842. The Park Hills Public Library is located at 16 S. Coffman St. Brexit, pupil behaviour, trams to be discussed in HoK Chief Minister Howard Quayle will be asked about Brexit. Brexit, the behaviour of students in the Island's schools and tram tracks will all be discussed in this morning's sitting of the House of Keys. Douglas East MHK Chris Robertshaw will ask the Chief Minister whether the impact of the UK's departure of the European Union will be open to debate in Tynwald in the near future. Howard Quayle recently described Brexit as the biggest challenge to the current administration on the Isle of Man. Meanwhile, Education Minister Graham Cregeen will be asked his opinion on how Manx pupils behave in school, and Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer will explain how the tram tracks on King Edward Road are being used. The House sits from 10am. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Cyber crime seems to evolve and innovate as much as the tech industry it seeks to exploit. In recent times, ransomware has become an especially potent tool of cyber criminals looking to exploit compan... The European Union expressed its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of Sundays (9 April) attacks on the Coptic churches in the Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria. The attacks happened on one of the holiest days for Christians all over the world, Palm Sunday. They left at least 44 dead and the Islamic State claimed responsibility. Crusaders and their apostate allies should know the bill between us and them is very big and they will pay it with rivers of blood from their children, god willing. Wait for us, for we will wait for you, the ISIS said in their statement. The jihadist group further said that the blasts were carried out by two suicide bombers one targeted St Georges Coptic church in Tanta, leaving 27 dead. A few hours later, police stopped another suicide attacker from entering the St Marks Coptic church in Alexandria but he detonated his explosives outside, claiming 17 lives, including several police officers. Egyptian President Abdul al-Sisi announced a three-month state of emergency to allow the authorities to make arrests without warrants and search peoples homes. The ISIS has targeted Copts in Egypt recently most recently, in December 2016, 25 people died when a bomb exploded in a Coptic church in Cairo during a mass. Mr. Sisi said that the war against the jihadists would be long and painful and added that the state of emergency would come into force after it is approved by the parliament. The attacks came just before Pope Francis is expected to visit the country in support of Egyptian Christians who constitute about 10 percent of population. Algeria is seeking more investment from the European Union and a renewal of long-term gas supply contracts with EU members. Most of the countrys long-term gas deals with EU countries are due to expire between end 2018 and 2019. To support these efforts, Algerias Energy Minister Nourredine Bouterfa will be visiting Brussels this week just as his country is struggling to deal with a slide in crude oil prices, which are currently hovering at around $55, down from $100 a barrel in mid-2014. Mr. Bouterfa is going to meet EU Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete this week to facilitate and promote European investments in the sectors including natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, the Algerian ministry said. The state-run company Sonatrach said that Algeria would adopt a new approach to its long-term gas contracts. It will no longer demand contracts lasting 20 or 25 years and instead seek 10 or 15-year deals. The North African country, which is a major gas supplier to Europe, is currently trying to attract more EU investment in its energy sector. The EU has previously called on Algerian government to cut bureaucracy and offer more flexibility and adaptability to boost the countrys competitiveness in global energy markets. Both the EU and energy companies thus seek to boost the amount of gas Algeria pumps to Europe after years of falling exports. Algeria has nevertheless managed to lift its output despite cuts in energy subsidies and austerity measures as well as falling state revenues down to $27.5 billion in 2016 from $60 billion in 2014. This year, Algerias gas exports are poised to exceed 57 billion cubic meters, up from 54 billion cubic meters last year. In 2016, Algeria lived up to its role as a reliable gas supplier despite the general turmoil in the region, meeting 55% of Spains gas needs, 16% of Italys and 15% of Portugals. On 25 March 2017, European leaders gathered in Rome to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties. The process of the European integration that started in the aftermath of the two devastating wars has been a product of the imagination of pragmatic visionaries. In 1957, the founding members embarked on a journey without a defined destination, hoping to bring all Europeans to work together towards stability, prosperity and peace. 60 years into the project, the old continent has overcome deep historical divisions and cooperation among the European countries has become a day-to-day reality. Today, this cooperation is often taken for granted, as it has truly become the DNA of the new generation of Europeans. The European project has always managed to navigate challenges and bounce back but what the EU is facing today is more fundamental. For years now, the EU has been mired by multiple crises, which have weakened the major achievements of the integration. Although some progress has been made, the truth is that most crises have not been addressed in a sustainable way. The bloc is still suffering from collateral and cumulative damage caused by increased divergence, fragmentation, widespread frustration, and social and political cleavages. Crises have also normalized things that would have not been called normal before. As such, this time there are serious concerns and doubts whether the EU will emerge stronger. In the climate of Brexit and having to deal with Donald Trump over the Atlantic and Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, the EU is failing to reenergize the joint venture. EU governments do not share a common vision to tackle the current challenges and the distrust is getting more obvious. Therefore, the Rome Declaration celebrating the Unions 60th birthday is a rather lukewarm document full of compromises, reflecting the lowest common denominator among the 28 or already rather 27 EU member states. The most problematic issues, such as refugees, migration, and the completion of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), were pushed aside for a temporary peace of mind. Instead, European leaders pledged to make the EU stronger and more resilient to work towards a safe and secure Europe, a prosperous and sustainably Europe, a social Europe, and a stronger Europe on the global scene. The future of the EU will ultimately be defined by the two of its founding members France and Germany. Just like it all started, Paris and Berlin will either create a new momentum or not, which will depend on the new French president and the newly elected German federal government. A compromise between these key EU members will be necessary to obtain support for other members in an effort to tackle the many crises facing the EU. Even if the French and German elections end up in the EUs favor, there is always a risk of complacency and inaction. Lets hope that EU leaders will not defensively muddle through the problems as they have done in the past but instead embark on taking up courageous and forward-looking initiatives that will be acted upon. The Rome Declaration An Imperfect Display of Unity Commentary by Janis A. Emmanouilidis European Policy Centre (EPC). (The Commentary can be downloaded here) Protesters set alight the Congress building in Asuncion, Paraguay The increase in political uncertainty in Paraguay as demonstrated by protesters setting the countrys Congress building alight during last weeks Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) annual meeting in Asuncion might slow the countrys economic growth, but not derail it. That is the assessment of senior bankers in the country. Raul Vera Bogado, executive president at Banco Regional, argues that the biggest consequence of the violence will be a slowdown in proposed changes to the countrys fiscal responsibility law. The current law caps the fiscal deficit to 1.5%, but Paraguays finance minister Santiago Pena has been working to increase the laws flexibility to allow greater investment in infrastructure and give the country an ability to take a counter-cyclical stance. The protests [which were sparked by a constitutional amendment to allow president Horacio Cartes to run for a second presidential term] will make the proposed changes to the fiscal discipline law more difficult, which will also slow the growth of investment in infrastructure, says Bogado in an interview with Euromoney at the banks Asuncion headquarters. Infrastructure investment was going to be classed as structural deficit category in line with the fiscal discipline rules adopted in Chile. These changes will be more difficult now as will convincing people to accept higher government debt, which is a very sensitive issue in Paraguay. Straitjacket In March, Pena told Euromoney he had been working with Felipe Larrain, once Chiles finance minister, for a year and a half on a replacement fiscal law that provides counter-cyclical flexibility. Pena argued a simple cap of a 1.5% fiscal deficit is an unnecessary straitjacket on a country with such low debt (18.4% of GDP) and cyclical tax revenues external revenues related to trade and the Brazilian economy, and internal exposure to weather and agricultural productivity. We have exceeded capacity, Pena told Euromoney . Not financially, but legally in terms of the fiscal responsibility law. [The law] is extremely tight and doesnt make any sense for a country like Paraguay that has the lowest debt-to-GDP [in the region] to have a maximum deficit of 1.5%. We have had great results in the past couple of years given our exposure to agribusiness and commodities - Raul Vera Bogado, Banco Regional Pena had planned to introduce the new fiscal rules later this year with the intention it will govern the fiscal plans of the next government. However, Bogado says that despite the likely slower growth in government-led investment, the country should continue to grow strongly especially when compared with the rest of the region. We have a new PPP [public-private partnership] law, which will help investment to continue without relying on large government expenditures, he says. The first PPP, for two highways, was signed at the end of 2016 and ground should be broken on those soon. A second for a new terminal at the international airport is also about to be announced. Other infrastructure PPPs are expected to follow. Bogado also says the business-friendly policies 10% corporate tax, 10% VAT and 10% income tax and its recent economic decoupling for neighbouring Brazil and Argentina (Paraguay has had annual growth above 4% in the past few years as those countries have been stagnant or in recession) have seen a lot of international interest. We are seeing lots of interest from international companies interested in investing in Paraguay, says Bogado. Ricardo Maduro, finance director at BBVA Paraguay, agrees with this assessment of the outlook for the Paraguayan economy. He says the banks retail operation has been growing strongly in recent years and has been enjoying growth above the average of the banking system, which itself has been rapid: in the past 10 years, the ratio of deposits to GDP has grown to 47% from 21% and loans have grown to 41% of GDP from 18%. Despite this strong growth, the banking sector remains solid: the average tier-1 ratio is 12% (8% mandatory) and tier-2 is 12% (mandatory range of between 15% and 16%). The non-performing loan ratio is 2.8% and the coverage ratio is more than 110%. Battleground Maduro says BBVA will look to increase its market share in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector in the coming years which might be a key battleground for Paraguayan banks while continuing to invest in technology to improve digitization of channels and increase cross-selling of financial products within its client base. Regional is also looking at the SME sector for coming growth, albeit with a strategy that keeps its sector-specific approach. Regional is primarily an agricultural bank, says Bogado. We will continue to focus there, but we see potential in extending credit down the supply chain and covering logistic companies that serve the agribusiness industry. Regional has only a 6% market share in retail largely driven by the workforces of clients. And despite heavy investment in digital services, Bogado says Regional doesnt plan to push into the broader retail market. We are performing well we have a return on equity ratio of 21.1% which is in line for the industry, but considering our low retail share (which is typically a higher margin business), he says. We have had great results in the past couple of years given our exposure to agribusiness and commodities, and, as we expect these areas to bounce back in the next couple of years, we are well placed for even stronger performance. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Government is forming a public-private partnerships unit aimed at channelling more capital into infrastructure The state aims to privatize non-strategic assets, turning the private sector into the main engine of growth Sri Lanka is a great launchpad to India, and is finalizing or extending free trade agreements with China, Singapore and India Tax incentives based on investment relief are drawing more capital into the regions cleanest and most liveable country Key port and infrastructure projects are transforming Sri Lanka into an Indian Ocean power Sri Lanka is promoting itself as a destination for fund managers, with the aim of marketing Colombo as a regional securities trading hub Elliot Wilson, Euromoney Minister, you have said that the key to permanently high levels of growth is to build on strong foundations. With growth set to top 6% in 2017, do you feel you have achieved what you set out to do, and what would you like to accomplish in the year ahead? RK, MoF We are improving financial discipline, growth is on the rise and we are tackling the debt we incurred in recent years and bringing our finances into a more healthy state of affairs. That allows us to show the market how professional we are. We are forming regulations to promote public-private partnerships [PPPs] and, compared to the growth figures we faced in 2015 and 2016, we are extremely happy. In 2015, government revenues comprised 10% of GDP, which rose to 13.8% in 2016 and is on track to hit 15.1% this year. Its a positive picture compared to the turbulence we see elsewhere in the region. Euromoney And in terms of long-term growth? RK, MoF The wider market is certainly facing turbulence, stemming from the likes of the new US president. And were looking at rising interest rates in the US, which is causing some outflow of capital from emerging markets, which we are all grappling with, but feel we are in a very good place and making progress. Euromoney You spoke before about the importance of a robust and stable currency. Does the rupee now have the stability and strength you want? RK, MoF Our fiscal policy is definitely paying off; our monetary policy is still a work in progress. We are looking to privatize all our non-strategic assets in the years ahead, so on that basis we are moving toward our key targets. Euromoney What have been Sri Lankas greatest recent economic achievements and what can be done to encourage more investment in and by the private sector? DA, BISL This government has clearly stated it will focus on encouraging the private sector and on creating an environment where local and foreign investors feel they are part of an environment conducive to investments. From a foreign direct investment [FDI] standpoint, we have seen serious inquiries rise as we move away from an incentives-driven growth model based on tax holidays. If you invest more in capital and technology, Sri Lanka is an increasingly great place to invest. We feel 2017 will be a strong year and 2018 stronger still. From an FDI standpoint I am optimistic about the positive momentum. KDR, CBSL To achieve our full growth potential of 7% to 8% growth in the medium to long term, we definitely need to encourage far more overall investment. Investment as a share of GDP is around 30% at present; that needs to increase to around 35%. At the same time, as well as rising investment, we need to improve productivity, so the government is improving the countrys soft infrastructure, including skills development. MP, HSBC One of the keys to growth is trade. Sri Lanka occupies a strategic maritime location and is fortunate to have not one but three viable port facilities. Half of the worlds merchant fleet capacity passes just to the south of our shores each year. The country is in a good place right now, with strong international relationships with key trading partners, such as the US and the EU, and ongoing discussions on free trade agreements [FTAs] with the likes of Singapore, Bangladesh, Thailand and Turkey. AW, CCC One of the key things in terms of how investors perceive Sri Lanka is how we are rebalancing our growth model. Before, we had a very debt-driven and public infrastructure-heavy growth model that depended on consumption in sectors that dont work in a small economy of 20 million people. Under this government, we have made a timely shift toward more FDI, more international trade and more private sector-driven growth. We are boosting investment in infrastructure by bringing private capital into major new projects, with the government launching a specialist PPP unit. NM, WRMPP We spent last year figuring out how to help the economy to flourish. Large structural pieces are being configured and put in place, from new business zones to the introduction of a mass transit system in Colombo. Five years from now, you will find a fundamentally different capital city. We are electrifying our rail system, building new metro lines, expanding our main port and airport all big changes that will alter how we all live and work. We do need to deal with our housing problem, and the new PPP unit will help us channel fresh private capital into much needed infrastructure projects. RK, MoF We are transforming the private sector into the main domestic engine of growth and transforming government into a regulator. In the past, government tried to run the business sector, but those times are gone. We need to show the world that Sri Lanka is on the move. We had our problems, self-made as well as imported and beyond our control, but we are navigating ourselves successfully through these choppy waters and coming out the other side. NM, WRMPP There is also one important thing you cannot neglect: all the background work that has gone on in terms of reconciliation and maintaining peace after 30 years of war. A lot of time and energy has been expended by government on creating solid foundations that ensure we never again revert to conflict. Political and social stability, as well as the creation of a PPP division, gives investors confidence that 20 or 30 years from now, a toll road or power plant is still up and running and providing profit to investors. RK, MoF In the 18 months or so since taking office, you can see the confidence that has been created as a result of the main political parties working together. International investors are much more comfortable deploying their capital there. DA, BISL On a recent visit to Thailand, I was amazed at the level of interest on investing in Sri Lanka. Investors are keen for us to provide land and basic infrastructure and for them to bring the capital and the technology. Investors are now asking themselves: How can we not be in Sri Lanka. We are working with two Thai industrial zone developers who want to set up large joint ventures in Sri Lanka through the BOI [Board of Investment]. We also need to be opportunistic. There are positives coming out of the election of the new US president. The CEO of a Sri Lankan apparel multinational told me that before the US election, some of their partners were putting investments on hold as they were looking at TPP [Trans Pacific Partnership] countries such as Vietnam to access the US market. But post-election, his phone was ringing off the hook as they were looking to invest in Sri Lanka. And dont forget, we will have duty-free access to the EU with the GSP [Generalised Scheme of Preferences] Plus programme too. RK, MoF Market access is vital but so too is geographic location. Companies are relocating their production bases here. Many see us as a shining example of pro-business policy, which is helping create a better business environment, something that global corporates and investors can see. We hosted a major investor conference last year, in which we ran a survey asking participants what factors compelled them to invest in Sri Lanka. In almost every case the answer was that they were drawn to our place on the map. They saw the benefits of using Sri Lanka as a launch pad, say, for India, or due to our forthcoming FTAs [free trade agreements]. And more types of investors are looking to put their money to work here. The range of industries in which we specialize, once narrow, is widening. Euromoney Could you offer an example? AW, CCC A big automaker from Japan said they were keen to talk about a portfolio of their companies investing here. In the past, Sri Lanka wasnt able to provide a definitive answer to the question: What does Sri Lanka specifically offer? We can point to rebalanced foreign policy, new FTAs, an improving infrastructure, a more business-friendly environment. Investors are getting the picture. NM, WRMPP Weve had a great strategic location for 2,000 years but how do you take advantage of that? One key is FTAs and another is what happens at the border. So, how smooth are trade transactions and how do you make Colombos port as efficient as those in Dubai and Singapore? We are working on improving connectivity between the port and the highway network and being able to allocate land to consolidate logistics operations. The last missing piece of the highway, linking the airport to Colombo to the port, an eight kilometre stretch of road, will be completed within three years. Then you will have the airport and port within 25 minutes driving distance of each other. One of the reasons we have folks coming and talking to us is that Sri Lanka is hands down the best place to live in South Asia. If we are successful in completing some of the big planned infrastructure projects, it will really improve the citys liveability factor. RK, MoF With the southern expressway to the new port of Hambanotota, you have seamless connectivity in getting from A to B, so while we have Indian production coming into Colombos port, there is also plenty of Chinese and Japanese trade coming into Hambanotota and Trincomalee. The International Financial City being built in Colombo will be crucial in enabling us to showcase our credentials and attracting capital that would otherwise have been invested in Dubai or Singapore. Many people who live in Mumbai like to relocate here, and we pride ourselves on that. Exchange controls are being abolished and we are handing out extended visas, two of the ways we are attracting fresh capital to our shores. Euromoney Liveability isnt always mentioned when we talk about attracting long-term capital, but it is vital. What makes Sri Lanka liveable? RK, MoF As part of the Commonwealth, we have inherited a financial and legal system that is acceptable worldwide. We have an excellent level of spoken and written English, plus Sri Lankans are, by their very nature, friendly. We are building a clean society and have made a meaningful start at eradicating corruption. These things help to attract more capital. You dont need to have 25%, 30% of a projects capital in hand before starting a project. The big concerns that people had about investing here over the last decade are no longer there. Euromoney Are you seeing rising wealth translating into more companies wanting to list on the Colombo Stock Exchange? VK, CSE We are shifting our economic model so it is geared toward creating exports, boosting trade and generating more private-sector investment and growth. Our macroeconomic setup isnt perfect currency instability remains a problem. From a capital markets point of view, we want more listings to take place on the Colombo Stock Exchange. In the long term Id like to see more state-owned enterprises being listed on the bourse, which will encourage more fund managers to come here. The big local family-run firms need to list too. RK, MoF The problem with our private sector is they still want the government to do their job. I must be honest here. The private sector wants to be described as the countrys key income generator, but they dont believe or realize it yet. They want free fuel and oil to be handed to them. I know the challenges that still exist, the bottlenecks that have been, but we want and need big Sri Lankan firms to become flag carriers for the country. We need a unified and strong economy, and well-run and purposeful corporate leaders. Euromoney Which industries will be key growth drivers over the years to come? RK, MoF Tourism is a sector that is set to enjoy a rebirth, with SriLankan Airlines set to be privatized in order to become a genuinely powerful national carrier. In future, Sri Lanka will become a hubbing point between China and South Africa, and Australia and India. Sri Lanka will become a natural stopover destination for passengers flying between, say, Australia and Europe, as we are right in the middle of that route. These are great selling tools that can be used in the future. Finally, the financial sector can really accelerate over the coming years, whether that means the expansion of the insurance and reinsurance sectors, or in terms of an expanding banking sector, or in terms of new listings taking place here. We need more bank consolidation, with our main lenders emerging with stronger and healthier balance sheets. Euromoney You implemented a series of key tax cuts in last years budgets. How did they work out? What is your current thinking on tax relief as a tool to encourage more inward investment? RK, MoF We looked at tax holidays but past evidence suggests it doesnt attract new investment. We want to attract capital and the best way to do that is to offer tax incentives based on investment relief: invest here and you get it back later. Its a better approach than offering 20-year tax holidays. Laggard economic regions like the north of the country have been given a 200% investment allowance its an area of the country that really needs to be developed and encouraged. When you really look at giving tax holidays, it is not a convincing selling point. KDR, CBSL In order to maintain a sustained high rate of quality economic growth in the medium term, we need strong governmental institutions. The state has taken major steps toward the establishment of independent commissions spanning from the police to public services. This raises the transparency of policymaking and boosts confidence in government policy. Another major development is SOE policy. We have a clear government policy now, which is that operations of non-strategic public enterprises will be improved with private sector participation; PPPs will be rolled out and strategic public enterprises will be run in a far better and commercially viable manner, reducing the financial burden on government. Euromoney What has been your impression of Sri Lanka, Mark? You head a bank that has been here for 125 years, but you have a fresh set of eyes, having arrived six months ago. MP, HSBC It is difficult not to be optimistic about Sri Lanka over the long term. Sri Lanka has a lot to offer. The country is blessed with natural beauty, and tourism has seen a rapid increase since 2009, with 2 million arrivals in 2016 and a plan to grow that to 4 million by 2020. Significant infrastructure projects are already under way and the finance minister referred to the privatization of the national airline, and hopefully new routes connecting Colombo directly to key cities in Europe will materialize rather than having to connect via the Middle East. NM, WRMPP Around 30% of Indias cargo is transshipped through Colombo, and while Sri Lanka makes up just 0.25% of the worlds population, 12% of container shipping tonnage calls at Colombos port, according to McKinsey. VK, CSE And that is because of our place on the map. One of the great advantages we have is our location, which is right in the heart of several major shipping lanes. AW, CCC Key developments in terms of boosting trade include the South Asia Gateway Terminal, the Chinese-owned CIC Terminal that can accommodate mega-ships, and the new East Container Terminal that is coming up. These major projects have cemented our position as a serious commercial and business hub. DA, BISL For the first time, countries are competing to put their capital to work here. Sri Lanka now allows local non-strategic firms to be bought by foreign investors. This is important, as some foreign investors like to buy an existing bricks-and-mortar company before they make green-field FDI projects. Existing investors are expanding their operations. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, which has projects in Colombo and Hambantota, is planning a third project, pushing total investment to over $1 billion. Discerning investors see Sri Lanka as a slice of southeast Asia in south Asia. Its less chaotic, with cleaner streets. Many of the negatives associated with south Asia arent here. Diplomats always ask for extensions they dont want to leave. The fact that Sri Lanka is a highly liveable, peaceful and friendly place helps us immensely when pitching to CEOs and expatriates. MP, HSBC The president has made it clear that reducing bribery and corruption is a key ambition for the government, and this is a vital issue for investors. Sri Lankas FDI inflows have historically been modest, given the size of the economy, with inflows rarely exceeding 2% of GDP. There have been several factors in the past that have not helped, such as red tape, limits on land ownership and poor infrastructure, but the government is actively looking to address these areas, and we should see material improvements in FDI inflows in the coming years. Also a PPP unit has been established, and there will be many tenders for new projects in the next couple of years as the country embarks on several ambitious projects. Euromoney Is Sri Lanka unusual in having so many free-trade agreements in place, but in also being focused on bigger pan-regional trade deals? AW, CCC Actually Sri Lanka is unusual in not having many. For the past 15 years, Sri Lanka had a freeze on PPPs, inward FDI was low, exports declined and it was almost like we de-globalized, being more protectionist. That period is over, with new trade deals being signed or planned or expanded with China, India and Singapore. But we have much still to do: many of these FTAs are first-generation trade deals, and the world is moving toward far more comprehensive deals and a greater focus on trade facilitation. And while we are building strong trade links, aided by our position on east-west trade routes, we should also be trying to redefine ourselves as an Indian Ocean economy. KDR, CBSL In the 1980s, our total trade volume as a share of GDP was around 70%, a number that has since fallen to around 35%, so something clearly went wrong. Our share of trade with the outside world fell just as most countries were seeing their trade numbers soar. The 30-year conflict didnt help, but peace is here now and we need to boost trade with other countries. VK, CSE Another benefit we have is our cordial relations with all regional nations. No other nation has healthy relations with every other sovereign state in south Asia, so Sri Lanka is the obvious place to hold regional summits and conferences. NM, WRMPP We are the only country in south Asia where you can trade with every other nation in south Asia without preconditions. Euromoney What needs to be done in the next few years to transform Sri Lankas potential into reality? KDR, CBSL The economy has to grow and the right policies need to be set in place to realize the maximum possible rate of growth. That is being done, but we wont begin to see the results until late 2017 or 2018. Euromoney What challenges do you face in terms of convincing investors to come here? DA, BISL Its a very competitive global environment. We all compete for the same investment dollars, so we need to be better than the competition. We position ourselves as the ideal place to invest in south Asia. If an investor has an investment-related problem or bottleneck, we promise it will be resolved fast. There are high-powered committees appointed by the prime minister that look into new investment approvals and facilitation, and any outstanding issue will be addressed with the assistance of government agencies. VK, CSE Capital markets have a huge role to play in the development of the country. The challenge is transforming our capital markets so that there is enough liquidity and depth to serve the country. We are going to New Zealand and Australia in a few weeks to promote Sri Lanka as a destination for fund managers. Our aim is to market Colombo as a regional securities trading hub. We expect Maldivian firms to start listing on the main board soon, trading in US dollars. NM, WRMPP The main challenges are improving institutions, getting the right people in the right places and ensuring public services are run more efficiently. We have a very large public sector its too large really. We need key institutions like the Board of Investment, the Urban Development Authority and the Port Authority to be run leaner and more efficiently. MP, HSBC Over the years, we have exported a significant amount of Sri Lankan talent to other parts of HSBC. Sri Lanka has so much talent and ability, but they leave the country and rise to senior levels, so even if they want to come back, the kind of pay grades and positions they would demand and be great for are in limited supply. NM, WRMPP Thats true even when it comes to technical positions. We are trying to build a metro rail system in Colombo, so we are looking for Sri Lankans who have built metros around the world. And the pickings are rich; there are senior Sri Lankan engineers helping to run metros in London, New York, Dubai, Istanbul and Hong Kong. But the question is how we get this army of talented people to come home. DA, BISL Sri Lanka has highly skilled and adaptable human resources, as well as the highest literacy rate in south Asia. We have the second-largest group of UK-qualified chartered accountants outside Britain. Where there are gaps, such as in securing manual labour for large construction projects, the BOI secures visas for foreign workers. We are in the early stages of development as a middle-income country, but we are building foundations to become a higher-income country with advanced industries and services, in part using our strategic location. Euromoney Is the brain drain, which has been going on for decades, now being reversed? NM, WRMPP We have a couple of senior engineers with whom we are in talks, and we believe a few top engineers will come and join Megapolis. On the public sector side, you begin to see some more talent coming back to Sri Lanka. AW, CCC Some people want to return they like the idea of getting a job that expands their role, gives them more power and the chance to really build something. Plus they have emotional and family ties here. Euromoney The islands infrastructure is far better than it was, and though gaps still exist, youre working on them. How important are the likes of the Western Region Megapolis project to Sri Lankas future? NM, WRMPP Megapolis is all about creating a framework that allows Sri Lankas economy to evolve. Public transport use in south Asia, while high, is on a downward trend, in part because the quality of buses and trains hasnt kept pace with wages. Much emphasis is placed on building a rapid transit system, introducing electrification and modernizing the bus system. We have an 80% home-ownership rate, the highest in the region, but a key challenge is to give more people affordable and high-quality housing within a reasonable distance of the main centres of business. Manufacturing is scattered across the western province, making it hard to impose environmental regulations and making logistics expensive, so we are consolidating everything into two industrial zones, which firms will gravitate to. NM, WRMPP We have the broad structural stuff in place. The southern and central expressways are being joined up. The broader railway system we need to work out, but the urban light rail system is planned and funded and on track. DA, BISL Channelling more private-sector capital into foreign and local tourism, IT, knowledge services, infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics projects is key. There are a lot of countries competing for the same investment pie. The good news is Sri Lankan firms are very good in specific areas, being among the worlds most advanced apparel designers and manufacturers. One of the worlds largest high-end sports shoe manufacturers built a state-of-the-art facility right here, because this is a culture that respects patents and trade secrets. Sri Lanka is a 100% safe and secure place to do business in. I invite anyone thinking of investing in south Asia or southeast Asia to visit Sri Lanka and experience our conducive business environment, including a pro-business government, and highly capable and friendly people at the crossroads of Asia. AW, CCC We have one or two years to get some really serious reforms completed. That will convince investors that Sri Lanka is a great place to put their money to work and will differentiate our country from the likes of India and Bangladesh. No one expects big projects like Megapolis to be completed by 2020, but they are expecting clarity around new tax policies, around new reforms, on the pace of development of infrastructure. So if we get some of the big things done, it will send a big message out to investors. KDR, CBSL The key to the future is maintaining economic stability. Our historically high fiscal deficit has been a brake on macroeconomic strength, but were dealing with that. The government is committed to maintaining fiscal consolidation, and monetary policy is geared to maintaining inflation in single digits. Stellaj said: We are interested to learn why anybody would run a gites business if not financially viable? There has to be money to be made, or why would you do it, given beauracracy etc. 20,000 is to cover general bills, food, run a car, fly to UK bi monthly with occasional other holiday abroad. Is this enough or to much? Regarded gites what size of gite would generate 500 PW? Assume it is based on number of beds? Is one large gite better than two smaller ones? Does number or size of gites affect taxes differently or is it just based on income alone? Also is it better to have more land or does it not matter? If gites not viable is it possible to find other work? I also restore and refresh old but interesting furniture, painting them to look good in todays modern home. We are not pensionable for another 13 years so must make a living! Thanks Click to expand... do not under half You can make money from gites, we are looking at properties that claim to have potential income of 50000/season.Prices are between 300 & 700K here (Cevennes).We are also very interested to understand why many peoplesucceed with gites.Most people run a couple of gites as a sideline like Bev's friends do.Gites de France or Airbnb etc avoid you having to create & maintain your own website for reservations (for a percentage).There's also the question of healthcare insurance here in France. Where are you with that? We estimate that with income from gites (let's say 20000 after tax etc) we'll still need to work, at least one of us two, to contribute for social security.Making estimates on earnings and subsequent health insurance cost is fun and games because a multitude of administrations overlap. We all expect a shake-up following the elections during which time even specialists will have a hard time understanding consequences.I'd say that 20000/year = around 2000/month is enough for two people to pay bills, run a car etc but fly bi-monthly to UK and occasional holiday abroad also considering "surprise" expenses, you'd better consider 30000/year.As for gites at 500/week, please look at offers in your target region 600/week in high season and note the price differences per week in mid or low season to give you an idea.Price depends not only on n of beds but location, quality and services provided (pool, tennis, river, bicycles, horses etc).As I wrote yesterday, one gite for 10 to 12 people is proportionally much less work than 3 or 4 gites for 2, 3, or 4 people, "economy of scale" in DejW's post rings a bell with me.Number or size of gites doesn't affect tax, you'll be taxed on income. When buying, ask how much is the "taxe fonciere" and the "taxe d'habitation" fixed amounts payable yearly. If the gites (furnished accommodation) you are renting are part of your "residence principale" then you declare revenues as "benefices industriels et commerciaux (BIC)" on your French tax declaration (assuming you take up permanent residency in France?) and you pay 15.5% on that.If your revenues from gites are32900/year you're in the "microBIC category and taxed at 15.5% onyour revenue. (another example of why French people try not to earn too much with their gites - it's not worth it over a certain limit?) So you'll be paying around 5000 on 32000 which leaves you with 27000. Or does it?You can't rent part of your home for more than 4 months per year, otherwise it's no longer considered as being your "home" (to keep things simple) and a whole lot more rules apply...You can also deduct all costs from your result and reduce under the 32900 limit. See an accountant, that's out of my reach for the moment.Having land around can be a blessing or a nightmare. Privacy, parking space, install a pool, all positive for me. Grass must be mown, undergrowth cleaned (fire regulations). How much of that green stuff can you cope with? We have donkeys and I have vast tree-planting projects. 500m is a big vegetable patch. Look at ads to see how people use the land around their gites.My sister & her husband do airbnb in Sydney and also buy and customise 2nd hand furniture sold on eBay. It's a good idea. She makes around $1000AU/month. Look for a fair-sized workshop or garage to stock your treasures.Writing this helps me to get a perspective on our own situation here. Last week we were considering taking on a summer season restaurant. We are following several properties, visiting regions we already have a good idea about concerning tourist potential and will wait until September to see if some are unsold and lower prices?Cheers Hi all Buying a property in Normandy with a 17th Century Barn. It's a listed (MH) building (well the facade and roof is). I'm looking into the cost of repointing. I've been looking around and there is a real difference in quality. Really not a fan of that sort of pointing where you see more of the cement than stone, looks horrible. I love it when the stone is 3d like and neat. Anyway, does anyone have experience of pointing costs per M2? I'm guessing I'm going to need to use a proper Stone Mason, not an Expat who can do a bodge job. ThoughtS? Saudi Arabia is likely to support extending OPEC output cuts into the second half of 2017 in an effort to boost oil prices, according to a person familiar with the kingdoms internal discussions. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is scheduled to gather in Vienna on May 25 to discuss whether to roll over for another six months the 1.2 million barrels a day in production cuts it implemented in January. Several OPEC countries, including Kuwait, have expressed public support for an extension. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Investors who have accused oil and gas entrepreneur Brian Alfaro of operating a Ponzi scheme are seeking more than $44 million in damages from him and his San Antonio-based companies. But Frisco attorney Patrick Schurr, who represents Alfaro, said Monday said it wasnt Alfaros fault that their investment soured and that the 25 unhappy investors suing him represent only a small minority of Alfaros clients. When they came into these ventures, oil was at an all-time high in 2008, and it plummeted, Schurr said during opening statements of a trial in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio. They need a fall guy and his name is Brian Alfaro. He said the plaintiffs represent less than 10 percent of Alfaros clients. The group lost all of the roughly $14.7 million they invested with Alfaro and his companies and are seeking triple that amount, or about $44 million, in damages, their attorney Lawrence Morales II said in court. Alfaro is accused of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, deceptive practices and violations of state securities laws. About 20 people, comprised of investors and spouses many of them elderly, attended the first day of the trial. The bench trial is expected to last five to 10 days. The lawsuit was originally filed in Bexar County district court but moved bankruptcy court after Alfaros Primera Energy filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in June 2015. Alfaros wife, Kristi Alfaro, and other companies including Alfaro Energy and Alfaro Oil and Gas also are defendants. The investors accused Alfaro of operating a Ponzi scheme in which money invested in one well was used to pay back investors in other wells. They also allege that Alfaro used investor money to fund a luxurious lifestyle. Now, where did that money go? Morales asked during opening statements. He then said Alfaro lives in a $2.9 million house in Shavano Park, and has owned a $1.2 million house in Anaqua Springs Ranch in Boerne, a downtown San Antonio condo and a $1 million beach house on Mustang Island in Nueces County. (The Boerne estate and condo have since been sold, property records show.) Morales then rattled off Alfaros fancy automobile collection, which has included a $400,000 Lamborghini, $200,000 Bentley, $150,000 Ford Mustang, $100,000 Porsche and $100,000 Mercedes. Any argument that those toys were purchased with other income is inconsistent with what Mr. Alfaro already testified, Morales said. Morales accused Alfaro of making promises to investors that he didnt intend to keep, including that he would not receive transaction-based compensation and that the money from investors would go to drill and complete wells. Over a nearly 2-year period beginning in 2013, Alfaro took 483 separate owner draws that often coincided with investors cutting him checks, Morales said. The amounts were either exactly or almost 10 percent of the face amount on the checks in many instances, Morales added. In other instances, the amounts were about 5 percent, reflecting splits with members of his sales team. A typical investment of about $100,000 would purchase a 1 percent interest in a well. Alfaro sold interests in wells in Montague County in the Barnett Shale and in South Texas in the Eagle Ford Shale. Schurr described Alfaro as a businessman who has sold oil and gas investments for more than 17 years. He had a very good track record of making money for his investors and his companies, Schurr said. Some of his best customers have been with him since 2008. He described some bumps along the way, including a casing failure on one well that triggered litigation to recover losses. Schurr disclosed in a 2015 court filing that Alfaro was the target of an FBI criminal investigation and that he expected his client to be indicted. In the same filing, the lawyer added the IRS may be conducting its own criminal investigation. Nothing has come of those investigations and its unclear where they stand. Schurr made no mention of them Monday. Alfaro has had his share of troubles with regulators. In 2010, the Texas State Securities Board issued an emergency cease-and-desist order against Alfaro after he was accused of selling interests in inactive oil and gas wells. Two years later, Alfaro was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority from acting as a broker and associating with firms that sell securities to the public. The industrys regulatory agency accused Alfaro of running a boiler-room operation that raised $10 million from 100 investors. Investor James Peters of Quemado, a border city in Maverick County, testified Monday that he received a cold call from Alfaro and eventually bought 1 percent interests in two wells for about $200,000 combined. 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. Asked what he wanted the judge to do for investors, Peters replied, I think investors should be made whole. We were misled from the very beginning. Schurr noted during his opening statement that the bankruptcy trustee sold a few wells that were producing during the Chapter 11. But none of the investors lodged objections to the wells being sold, he added. When the trustee told the investors as owners of the wells to pay the companies creditors, Schurr said the investors objected by saying they did not own joint venture interests but rather working interests in the wells. The investors ultimately agreed to line up behind creditors in the pecking order of who gets paid first in exchange for a release of liability from Primera, he added. They got a get-out-of-jail-free card, Schurr said. pdanner@express-news.net Twitter: @AlamoPD United Airlines apologized on Tuesday and said it would review its policies after videos showed a passenger being forcibly removed from a full plane to make room for its own employees, setting off public outrage. Oscar Munoz, the company's chief executive, said in a statement that United would take "full responsibility" for the situation and that "no one should ever be mistreated this way." He committed to making changes to ensure that the situation would not repeat itself, adding that United would conduct "a thorough review of crew movement, our policies for incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement." The company said it will communicate the results of its review by the end of the month. The videos cast a sharp focus on airline overbooking, as travelers, already dealing with the myriad indignities of flying, realized they could be physically ejected from a seat they had booked and paid for in advance. Airlines can bump passengers from flights for a number of reasons, including favoring passengers who paid a higher fare or customers who have frequent-flier status. The reasons that four passengers in particular were bumped on the United flight on Sunday remain unclear. The airline said it needed seats to get its own employees to Louisville, Ky. Videos of the episode, in which one passenger was dragged along the floor on an airplane, spread quickly online. The Transportation Department is investigating whether the airline complied with federal rules on overbooking. Suddenly, all around the country, airline passengers have begun to realize that, even if they are sitting in a seat, holding a ticket and quietly scanning the in-flight magazine for movie choices, they can still get kicked off. Fairly randomly, it seems. Airlines often overbook flights, but it is rare to be denied boarding. Among airlines based in the United States, about 62 per one million passengers were denied boarding last year, according to the Department of Transportation. United was in the middle of the pack, ranked No. 5, with 3,765 passengers involuntarily denied boarding out of more than 86 million who were allowed on an airplane, according to the Transportation Department. (An additional 62,895 did not board, but on a voluntary basis.) Experts say airlines routinely study data to see which flights are most likely to have no-shows. Then they sell more tickets than seats on the plane, expecting several people not to show up, a strategy that ensures a full plane and maximizes profit. When there are not enough no-shows, airlines will begin offering bribes rewards usually in the form of travel vouchers, gift cards or even cash in the hopes that flexible customers will take the reward and reschedule their flight. For the truly flexible traveler, the system can be manipulated to their advantage, travel experts say. "There are people who fly around the world on credits they got from giving up their airline seats," said Seth Kaplan, managing partner at Airline Weekly, an industry publication. Typically, airlines began bargaining with passengers at the gate, offering travel vouchers of $400 to $600, at first. In the United States, compensation maxes out at $1,350, but experts say the reward offers rarely go that high. If the airline cannot get enough volunteers, however, it will choose passengers on its own. Each airline sets its own system for deciding whom to bump. Some choose the passengers who paid the lowest fares, while some choose the last passengers to check in, according to the Department of Transportation. The department requires airlines to give involuntarily bumped passengers "a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier decides who gets on an oversold flight and who doesn't," according to its consumer guide. "Once you have purchased your ticket, the most effective way to reduce the risk of being bumped is to get to the airport early," the department said. "For passengers in the same fare class, the last passengers to check in are usually the first to be bumped, even if they have met the check-in deadline." The United passenger removed on Sunday was already in his seat and had refused several offers by the airline to be compensated to reschedule the flight. In a letter to United employees on Tuesday morning several hours before he sent the contrite statement Mr. Munoz said that United needed the seats for employees who had to get to Louisville, the destination of the flight. When the airline could not get the necessary number of passengers voluntarily, it selected four to be bumped. A spokeswoman for United said that technically, the flight to Louisville was not overbooked, but that the company followed the procedure for such situations after four crew members arrived needing seats once passengers had boarded. She would not specify why the passenger in the video was chosen. Three passengers disembarked. But the fourth passenger did not give up his seat, and he was forcibly removed, dragged down the airplane aisle, his glasses askew, face bloodied, by several security officers. He has not been identified. One of the security officers has been placed on leave, according to the authorities. The episode stirred anger as the videos spread online, and many travelers responded with heavy criticism of United's tactics. It also became the focus of Chinese media attention and was the most popular topic on Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, with many users accusing United of racism by selecting the man, who appeared to be Asian. In his letter, Mr. Munoz said that employees "followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this" and that he "emphatically" stood behind them. "I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right," he wrote. "I do, however, believe there are lessons we can learn from this experience, and we are taking a close look at the circumstances surrounding this incident," he continued. "Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Twelve dinner guests smiled and laughed around a table of pink roses and wine-flecked plates. While the evening was joyous for these San Antonio residents, it began with somber undertones part of Seder, the Jewish tradition marking the start of Passover, is remembering the darkness of the past. We were slaves but now we are free, said Ron Aaron Eisenberg, a Jewish San Antonian who owns a communications firm. He was reading from the Haggadah, the Jewish text traditionally read during the Seder meal that instructs participants in the rituals and reminds them of their symbolic meaning. The guests plates, for example, were flecked with 10 drops of wine to represent the 10 plagues that convinced Pharoah to release the Jewish people from Egypt. Eisenberg held the dinner at his home in Alamo Heights for Jewish and non-Jewish friends. Im a Christian but my mom always loved everything Jewish, because youre the chosen people, Jenny Suniga said, laughing. So Im interested to learn more about this tradition and the meaning behind it all. Bill Wilkinson, a Quaker, said he grew up in New Jersey, where Judaism wasnt just a religion but also part of day-to-day culture. He said he looked forward to the nostalgia it would bring. Matza, the unleavened bread, lay wrapped in cloth on the table. In the middle was a tray with bitter herbs, horseradish, a lamb shank, an orange and an egg all representing the Jewish people, enslaved in Egypt and freed through what the Haggadah says was the work of divine intervention. The Eisenberg familys ritual wasnt seamless. At one point, Gina Galaviz Eisenberg, Rons wife, realized she forgot something crucial for Urchatz, the hand washing ceremony. You know what? I forgot to put water in these, she said. We can do it virtual! Ron proclaimed, and all the guests mimed washing their hands. Gina Eisenberg converted to Judaism about two years ago, and since then has hosted Seder dinners at her home. I mean Ive always been Jew-ish, she said, laughing. Just not Jewish, you know? The timing of her conversion was unsettling, Gina Eisenburg noted, given the recent increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the country. Well, the Rabbi, one of the things she asked is, Do you really want to be part of a group thats so vilified and attacked? Ron Eisenburg recalled. And I said, Well, Im Hispanic and a woman, so sure, Gina Eisenberg said. For her, the Seder meal was about coming together as a family, and also about social justice. Its about seeing people who are not as fortunate as us, and holding them in the same regard. That theyre important and deserve respect, Gina Eisenburg said. At the end of the day, we need to make the world a better place, and to me thats what Judaism is all about. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Legislature intended to discriminate on racial grounds when it approved Texas voter ID law in 2011, in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act, a federal judge has ruled again. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, based in Corpus Christi, said in a decision issued late Monday that civil rights groups that sued the state had provided evidence establishing that discrimination was at least one of the substantial or motivating factors behind passage of the law by the GOP-controlled Legislature. The ruling is the latest in the back-and-forth court battle over Senate Bill 14 and is the latest win for civil rights groups that challenged it. The decision comes days after the judge allowed the Justice Department under the new Trump administration to withdraw its support for the lawsuit. At one point, the lawsuit had reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which rejected an appeal by the state. In an analysis, Ramos focused on how lawmakers rejected efforts to soften the racial impact of SB 14, such as reducing the costs of obtaining ID cards or allowing voters to use more forms of ID. The judge noted the radical departures that the Legislature went through to rush SB 14 through the legislative process without the usual committee analysis, debate and substantive consideration of amendments. The court highlighted that the evidence shows a tenuous relationship between the stated goal of reducing voter fraud and the legislation ultimately passed, given the rarity of voter impersonation cases in Texas and that other, more prevalent forms of voter fraud were not addressed by the bill. This is a great win for Texas voters, said Myrna Perez, deputy director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center, which helped represent the plaintiffs. But it shouldnt surprise anyone who looked seriously at the evidence. Texas legislators crafted a law they knew would hurt minority voters, without any good justification or attempt to ameliorate the harms, and they mangled the legislative process to get it through. The opinion followed a hearing in February in which as directed by a higher court, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Ramos heard more arguments about the intent of lawmakers who passed SB 14. It is the fifth time the law has been declared illegal by various courts, though the state has appealed every decision. The state recently argued that lawmakers planned fixes to be made in Austin with a measure called Senate Bill 5. Last week, the judge ruled that the newly introduced legislation was irrelevant in the lawsuit. The courts decision makes clear that Texas voter ID law stands as one of the most discriminatory voter suppression measures in the country, and should issue the death knell for burdensome voter ID requirements in Texas and across the country, Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which helped represent the plaintiffs, said in a statement. Ramos set a status conference for June 7 in Corpus Christi to discuss what remedies the plaintiffs recommend as a result of the law being found unconstitutional. If further reviews of the case, which is all but certain to be appealed, continue to find that Texas violated federal law, the state could be forced back under the Voting Rights Acts purview, requiring state officials to get federal approval before making any election law changes. The plaintiffs included the Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches (Texas NAACP), the Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the Texas House of Representatives, La Union del Pueblo Entero, the League of United Latin American Citizens, several individual voters and Dallas County. At some point, this discrimination based on the color of Texas citizens must stop. The compact of legal protections for citizens applies without regard to race, creed, color or national origin, said Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP. gcontreras@express-news.net Austin Bureau reporter Bobby Cervantes contributed to this report. The arrest Sunday in Italy of former Mexican border governor Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba has raised questions about whether hell be extradited to the U.S., where hes accused of laundering drug money in San Antonio, or in Mexico, where he lived for several years as a fugitive. Mexico quickly took credit for the arrest, saying it would seek Yarringtons extradition to prosecute him on money laundering and organized crime charges. Italian authorities said in a statement that they were acting on information provided by the U.S. During a news conference Monday afternoon in Mexico City, Alberto Elias Beltran, the head of the international affairs office for Mexicos attorney general, said his country provided information to Italian authorities that led to Yarringtons arrest and that both the U.S. and Mexico would pursue his extradition. Right now, neither Mexico nor the U.S. is in a position to determine to which country he goes, and neither is Italy, Beltran said. More Information Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba timeline Nov. 29, 2011 - Zetas members dump the body of Alfonso Pena Arguelles on a street in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. They hang a banner accusing Yarrington of colluding with members of the Gulf Cartel and Pena Arguelles' brother Antonio. Jan. 31, 2012 - Mexican prosecutors announce that they're investigating Yarrington and two other former Tamaulipas governors. Feb. 6, 2012 - Federal agents raid a house in the Champions Ridge subdivision and arrest Antonio Pena Arguelles. Investigators say he was an intermediary between drug traffickers and Yarrington. May 22, 2012 - Federal prosecutors in Brownsville indict Fernando Alejandro Cano Martinez, a Tamaulipas businessman, on money laundering conspiracy charges. At the same time, prosecutors in Corpus Christi file civil lawsuits alleging that Yarrington used front men to launder money through Texas real estate investments. Aug. 29, 2012 - Federal prosecutors in Mexico issue a warrant for Yarrington's arrest. Dec. 2, 2013 - Federal prosecutors in Brownsville announce that they have indicted Yarrington on charges of racketeering, drug trafficking and conspiring to commit financial crimes. Yarrington remains a fugitive. April 22, 2015 - A judge rules that 46 acres of land in the La Cantera area that allegedly was acquired for Yarrington with laundered money can be sold. May 23, 2016 - In a settlement with federal authorities, the original owner of the property agrees to give the U.S. government $1 million of an expected $10 million sale in exchange for a forfeiture lawsuit against the property being dropped and prosecutors agreeing that the original owner was never charged. April 9, 2017 - Yarrington is arrested in Italy on Mexican charges of organized crime and money laundering, and Mexico is requesting extradition. See More Collapse Mexico requested Interpols help in locating Yarrington in 2012, he said, whereas the U.S. made an extradition request to Italy in March 2016. U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, a Brownsville Democrat who had been vocal about the need for Mexico to extradite Yarrington when the former Tamaulipas governor was living in his home country, said he was pleased with the apparent cooperation among the three countries and the fact that Mexico has its own charges against Yarrington. We need to get him extradited to the United States, but at the same time, we need to have some faith in the Mexican government just because theyve gotten to this point, Vela said. In 2013, a federal grand jury in Brownsville indicted Yarrington, who served as governor from 1999 to 2005, on charges of drug trafficking conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, racketeering and bank fraud. In an indictment against Yarrington and Mexican businessman Fernando Alejandro Cano Martinez, prosecutors allege that Yarrington used the Tamaulipas state police force to collect bribes from drug traffickers, took kickbacks from state contractors and eventually laundered millions of dollars in Texas through real estate purchases. In 2007, Yarrington negotiated a truce between the Tamaulipas-based Gulf Cartel and the rival Beltran Leyva smuggling organization to use a seaport in the neighboring state of Veracruz, according to the indictment. In exchange, prosecutors allege, Yarrington received a percentage of each load of cocaine snuggled through the port. In San Antonio, federal agents arrested the man they said acted as an intermediary between Yarrington and the leaders of the Zetas drug trafficking organization, which spun off from the Gulf Cartel. Laredo rancher Antonio Pena Arguelles was arrested in 2012 at a house he owned in the Champions Ridge subdivision on the North Side. After spending two years in jail, Pena Arguelles pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and was released. As part of that case, prosecutors seized an airplane and real estate across Texas, including a South Padre Island condo held in the name of a campaign worker and houses in Kyle and McAllen that were in the name of his girlfriend, Sindy Chapa, a former Texas State University professor. Prosecutors also alleged that dirty money from Tamaulipas was laundered through the purchase of 46 acres of undeveloped land on La Cantera Parkway, but they eventually reached a settlement with the owner to sell the property and take only $1 million. Despite reports that he was living in Mexico, Yarrington remained a fugitive for years, prompting Vela and other members of Texas congressional delegation to demand that the Obama administration pressure Mexico for the former governors extradition. Last year, Mexico announced that it was offering a 15 million peso reward, about $800,000, for his arrest on charges that had been filed in 2012. According to a news release from Italian police, officials there acting on information from the U.S. Homeland Security Department and Interpol located Yarrington in the town of Paola on the Tyrrhenian Sea, where hed apparently been living for several months under a false name. Italian police followed him to Florence, where they arrested the former governor Sunday near the citys historic center. Video of the arrest posted online showed Italian police approaching Yarrington and another man on the street. Another clip showed a man in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement jacket talking to an Interpol officer. Yarringtons Houston lawyer, Joel Androphy, said he didnt know his client was in Italy. Androphy said he was under the impression that all of Yarringtons charges in Mexico had been dismissed. Weve denied the charges from the very beginning, and we continued to deny them, he said. Theres no support for the governments charges, and the witnesses have no credibility based upon their interaction with government officials. Theyre paid informants or people trying to bargain for their own problems. In November, prosecutors asked the judge handling Yarringtons case in Brownsville for copies of his arrest warrant to prepare an extradition request that they said would be sent to Mexico. Houston attorney Andres Sanchez said it will be up to the Italian government to decide where Yarrington is prosecuted. In general, I think these things end up being political decisions, even when theres two states involved instead of three, he said. The facts of this case are, the crux of it all happened in Mexico. When you look at the factors, it weighs in favor of sending him to Mexico in my opinion, but (the extradition treaty) is written vague enough that they could send him to the U.S. and feel justified in doing it. Yaringtons arrest comes a year before Mexicos next presidential election and after prosecutors there have charged several other former governors in recent months. Alonzo Pena, the former deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said those charges are likely the result of pressure from the Mexican public over widespread corruption. Mexico may want to prosecute Yarrington to show that theyre serious about rule of law and anti-corruption and have a judicial system that works, Pena said. The Mexican government also may be concerned about what information Yarrington, who once sought the presidential nomination for the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, might give U.S. prosecutors, he said. Theres probably a lot of Mexican officials that are very concerned about what is going to happen, Pena said. Is he going to cooperate? Is he going to tell all and put other people in jeopardy? For the Mexicans, its better they control that information, versus it being directly in the hands of the U.S. jbuch@express-news.net Twitter: @jlbuch What do lobbyists in Austin and District 9 candidate Lynlie Wallace have in common? Its a timely question. At the moment, during the ongoing legislative session, lobbyists are prohibited by state law from contributing to the coffers of state lawmakers. Instead, theyre giving to Wallace: About a quarter of the most recent contributions to Wallaces council campaign came from that rarefied breed of influence peddler. Of nearly $60,000 raised by Wallace in the first three months of this year money raised to represent a slice of the North Side about $12,500 came from lobbyists at the Capitol, according to campaign finance reports and the Texas Ethics Commission. (Thats not counting contributions from the spouses of Austin lobbyists.) The most obvious connection is state Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, Wallaces boss. Wallace is chief of staff for Larson, who is supporting her in the council race. Larson is a powerful figure this legislative session. Hes an ally of House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, who assigned him in February to chair the Houses Natural Resources Committee. At the Capitol, committee chairs control the flow of legislation, making them magnets for cash from lobbyists just not during the legislative session. Thats illegal. The last day to accept contributions before the current session was Dec. 10, and the first day to accept contributions after the session ends is June 19. Members of the Legislature are subject to this moratorium on contributions. If you take a look at this period, if you look at the month before (the moratorium) and you look at the month after, theres like 10 million fundraisers, longtime lobbyist Bill Miller told me with a hearty laugh. Theyre dragging the sack big time. Miller is co-founder of the lobbying firm HillCo Partners, whose political action committee gave Wallace $250 in February. That month, Wallace held a campaign fundraiser at The Austin Club in Austin. I guess we do get on board, Miller said with another laugh when I mentioned the contribution. Speaking generally, he added, If I dont know somebody, and this person is a colleague and ally of someone I do know, thats a huge advantage, and Im predisposed to support them. Larson, naturally, is Wallaces advantage. In turn, Wallace is a boon to the lobbyists, who can appease a powerful lawmaker even during a freeze on contributions. As Wallace benefits from her boss, her own benefactors profit from her. Larson did not return a call for comment Monday. Beyond reaping from the clout of her boss, Wallace has something else in common with the typical Austin lobbyist: She also lives in Austin. The candidate has been leasing her District 9 home to a tenant for years, a tenant she falsely told San Antonio Express-News reporter Josh Baugh was her roommate. Meanwhile, she claimed a homestead exemption on a second home in Austin. Wallace has argued that the exemption has no bearing on where someone can run for office. If I had no homestead exemption, would I not be allowed to run for office anywhere? she asked last month. I did that to save money because taxes are higher there. City of San Antonio voters should be glad because now they have more of my tax dollars to spend right here. Council candidates are required to reside in-district for six months prior to applying for a place on the ballot. Whats a rule, though a residency requirement, a moratorium without a way around it? bchasnoff@express-news.net Wheat: Net sales of 568,400 metric tons for delivery in marketing year 2016/2017 were up 23 percent from the previous week and 48 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for unknown destinations (134,400 MT), Taiwan (98,200 MT), Algeria (92,300 MT, including 50,000 MT switched from unknown destinations), South Korea (65,000 MT), Mexico (55,900 MT, including decreases of 23,400 MT), and Japan (46,100 MT, including 46,700 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 2,000 MT). Reductions were reported for Guatemala (700 MT) and the Leeward and Windward Islands (300 MT). For 2017/2018, net sales of 87,000 MT were reported primarily for the Philippines (43,000 MT), unknown destinations (22,500 MT), Mexico (10,000 MT), and Italy (10,000 MT). Exports of 564,900 MT were up 14 percent from the previous week and 2 percent and from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily Mexico (127,700 MT), Japan (114,400 MT), Indonesia (75,700 MT), Thailand (58,200 MT), and Algeria (52,300 MT). Exports for Own Account: The current exports for own account outstanding balance of 24,900 MT is for Canada. Corn: Net sales of 1,138,100 MT for 2016/2017 were up 59 percent from the previous week and 13 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Mexico (280,500 MT, including 30,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 18,300 MT), Colombia (252,300 MT, including 206,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 104,300 MT), Japan (242,500 MT, including 65,400 MT switched from unknown destinations), Taiwan (135,500 MT), and South Korea (130,700 MT, including decreases of 67,000 MT). Reductions were reported for unknown destinations (287,900 MT), Haiti (700 MT), and the Leeward and Windward Islands (100 MT). For 2017/2018, net sales of 34,600 MT reported for Mexico (37,600 MT) and Guatemala (8,000 MT), were partially offset by decreases for Nicaragua (11,000 MT). Exports of 1,597,700 MT--a marketing-year high--were up 14 percent from the previous week and 11 percent from the prior 4-week average. The primary destinations were Colombia (474,500 MT), Japan (373,100 MT), Mexico (242,600 MT), Saudi Arabia (134,700 MT), and South Korea (133,500 MT). Optional Origin Sales: For 2016/2017, options were exercised to export 60,000 MT to South Korea from the United States. The current optional origin outstanding balance of 402,000 MT is for unknown destinations (203,000 MT) and South Korea (199,000 MT). Barley: No net sales were reported for the week. Exports of 700 MT were reported to Japan. Sorghum: Net sales of 130,200 MT for 2016/2017 were up noticeably from the previous week and 50 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for China (63,500 MT, including decreases of 1,300 MT), unknown destinations (53,000 MT), Mexico (13,200 MT), and Taiwan (500 MT). Exports of 220,500 MT were up noticeably from the previous week and from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were China (202,300 MT), Mexico (17,700 MT), and Taiwan (500 MT). Rice: Net sales of 86,800 MT for 2016/2017 were down 20 percent from the previous week, but up 22 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Libya (27,500 MT), South Korea (22,200 MT), Mexico (11,200 MT), Guatemala (10,300 MT, including 5,100 MT switched from unknown destinations), El Salvador (8,300 MT, including 5,100 MT switched from unknown destinations), and Haiti (7,300 MT). Reductions were reported for unknown destinations (10,200 MT) and Japan (200 MT). For 2017/2018, net sales reductions of 200 MT resulted as increases for Japan (300 MT) and Jordan (100 MT), were more than offset by reductions for Taiwan (600 MT). Exports of 95,700 MT were up 43 percent from the previous week and 31 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily Japan (26,700 MT), Haiti (15,100 MT), Honduras (14,300 MT), South Korea (10,000 MT), and El Salvador (9,000 MT). Exports for Own Account: The current exports for own account outstanding balance of 400 MT is for Canada. Soybeans: Net sales of 482,000 MT for 2016/2017 were down 29 percent from the previous week and 11 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for China (370,900 MT, including 120,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 5,100 MT), the Netherlands (84,700 MT, including 74,000 MT switched from unknown destinations), Indonesia (66,500 MT, including 56,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 1,300 MT), Pakistan (63,000 MT), and Turkey (41,200 MT, including 40,000 MT switched from unknown destinations). Reductions were reported for unknown destinations (293,100 MT) and Cuba (8,000 MT). For 2017/2018, net sales of 395,000 MT were reported for China (291,000 MT), unknown destinations (66,000 MT), Mexico (35,000 MT), and Japan (3,000 MT). Exports of 754,900 MT were down 21 percent from the previous week and 4 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily China (305,600 MT), the Netherlands (84,700 MT), Indonesia (83,600 MT), Egypt (67,600 MT), and Mexico (55,500 MT). Exports for Own Account: The current exports for own account outstanding balance of 20,000 MT is for Canada. Soybean Cake and Meal: Net sales of 229,100 MT for 2016/2017 were up noticeably from the previous week and 4 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Colombia (124,300 MT, including 25,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 4,500 MT), the Philippines (50,500 MT), Thailand (30,000 MT), Mexico (15,200 MT), and Canada (13,900 MT, including decreases of 100 MT). Reductions were reported for unknown destinations (42,200 MT). For 2017/2018, net sales of 2,800 MT were reported for Japan (1,800 MT) and Nicaragua (1,000 MT). Exports of 255,100 MT were down 24 percent from the previous week and 23 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily the Philippines (78,800 MT), Mexico (52,500 MT), Colombia (34,100 MT), Guatemala (15,800 MT), and Peru (12,100 MT). Export Adjustments: Accumulated exports to Colombia were adjusted down 96,700 MT for week ending March 23th. This shipment was actually corn and is reported in this weeks report. Soybean Oil: Net sales of 22,400 MT for 2016/2017 were up 79 percent from the previous week and up noticeably from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for South Korea (12,000 MT), Mexico (4,500 MT, including decreases of 1,000 MT), the Dominican Republic (3,000 MT), and Canada (900 MT). Exports of 33,000 MT were up 48 percent from the previous week and 44 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily South Korea (19,300 MT), Guatemala (8,500 MT), Mexico (4,600 MT), and Canada (200 MT). Cotton: Net upland sales of 270,000 RB for 2016/2017 were down 31 percent from the previous week and 16 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Turkey (100,400 RB, including decreases of 3,100 RB), India (77,500 RB), Vietnam (50,900 RB, including 2,400 RB switched from Japan and decreases of 1,200 RB), Bangladesh (11,400 RB, including decreases of 100 RB), and China (10,100 RB, including 3,700 RB switched from Hong Kong, 1,900 RB switched from South Korea, and decreases of 9,300 RB). Reductions were reported for Japan (14,600 RB) and Hong Kong (3,700 RB). For 2017/2018, net sales of 121,000 RB were reported primarily for China (55,000 RB), Indonesia (31,500 RB), and Mexico (9,900 RB). Exports of 447,300 RB were up 14 percent from the previous week and 9 percent from the prior 4-week average. The primary destinations were Vietnam (95,100 RB), China (88,500 RB), Pakistan (40,700 RB), Turkey (38,800 RB), and Indonesia (36,300 RB). Net sales of Pima totaling 14,600 RB for 2016/2017 were up 44 percent from the previous week, but unchanged from the prior 4-week average. Increases were primarily for India (4,900 RB), Peru (2,800 RB), Germany (2,400 RB), and Thailand (1,000 RB). For 2017/2018, net sales of 8,800 RB were reported for China. Exports of 16,100 RB were up 99 percent from the previous week and 39 percent from the prior 4-week average. The primary destinations were Vietnam (4,100 RB), China (3,900 RB), India (3,500 RB), Pakistan (2,000 RB), and Peru (1,400 RB). Exports for Own Account: New exports for own account were reported to Indonesia (1,800 RB), Bangladesh (800 RB), and Thailand (300 RB). Exports to China (1,100 RB) were applied to new or outstanding sales. Decreases were reported to Vietnam (1,100 RB). The current outstanding balance of 114,400 RB is for Indonesia (67,000 RB), China (25,600 RB), Taiwan (9,700 RB), Vietnam (3,300 RB), South Korea (2,600 RB), Bangladesh (2,500 RB), Thailand (1,900 RB), India (1,300 RB), and Pakistan (500 RB). Hides and Skins: Net sales of 225,900 pieces reported for 2017 were down 40 percent from the previous week and 34 percent from the prior 4-week average. Whole cattle hide sales totaling 225,300 pieces were primarily for China (119,400 pieces, including decreases of 7,700 pieces), South Korea (31,300 pieces, including decreases of 1,600 pieces), Taiwan (30,900 pieces, including decreases of 100 pieces), Mexico (30,100 pieces, including decreases of 400 pieces), and Brazil (5,900 pieces). Reductions were reported for Thailand (100 pieces). Exports of 470,100 pieces reported for 2017 were up 14 percent from the previous week and 18 percent from the prior 4-week average. Whole cattle hide exports of 468,100 pieces were primarily to China (330,500 pieces), South Korea (66,100 pieces), Thailand (19,400 pieces), Taiwan (16,700 pieces), and Mexico (16,200 pieces). Net sales of 216,400 wet blues for 2017 were up noticeably from the previous week and 74 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for China (82,700 unsplit and 1,800 grain splits), Italy (72,900 unsplit), and Mexico (31,300 grain splits and 100 unsplit). Exports of 139,300 wet blues for 2017 were down 14 percent from the previous week, but up 1 percent from the prior 4-week average. The primary destinations were China (51,600 unsplit), Italy (28,200 unsplit and 3,800 grain splits), and Vietnam (17,400 unsplit). Net sales of splits totaling 176,800 pounds for 2017 resulted as increases for China (180,300 pounds) were partially offset by reductions for Vietnam (3,400 pounds). Exports of 54,000 pounds were down 92 percent from the previous week and 91 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were China (50,000 pounds) and South Korea (4,000 pounds). Beef: Net sales of 19,300 MT reported for 2017 were up 78 percent from the previous week and 32 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Japan (10,900 MT, including decreases of 900 MT), Mexico (2,200 MT, including decreases of 100 MT), Hong Kong (2,000 MT, including decreases of 100 MT), South Korea (2,000 MT, including decreases of 200 MT), and Canada (1,400 MT, including decreases of 200 MT). Exports of 12,900 MT were down 11 percent from the previous week and 6 percent from the prior 4-week average. The primary destinations were Japan (4,000 MT), South Korea (2,600 MT), Mexico (1,600 MT), and Hong Kong (1,500 MT). Pork: Net sales of 21,500 MT reported for 2017 were up 2 percent from the previous week and 5 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Mexico (4,900 MT), Hong Kong (3,100 MT), South Korea (2,300 MT), China (2,200 MT), and Japan (2,100 MT). Exports of 22,300 MT were up 3 percent from the previous week, but down 2 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily Mexico (8,000 MT), Japan (4,100 MT), South Korea (3,000 MT), Hong Kong (1,900 MT), and China (1,500 MT). Source : USDA Paris Jackson is reportedly deeply worried about her brother Blanket's living arrangements. Paris Jackson The 19-year-old aspiring actress is said to be upset with her late father Michael Jackson's sister Rebbie, as Paris feels she is trying to stop the 'Thriller' hitmaker's brood - also including 20-year-old Prince - from seeing their grandmother Katherine Jackson, TMZ is reporting. The 86-year-old matriarch is staying at Rebbie's leaving Blanket practically alone at his grandparent's Calabasas property. Katherine has been away from her home for months having been in London for two months in January before returning to Los Angeles. This has sparked concern in Paris as Michael's choice of guardians in Katherine and 38-year-old cousin Tito Jackson are not looking after Blanket. According to the website, TJ Jackson and his spouse Frances Casey are said to be sharing the role as supervisory guardians of the teenager and check up on how he's getting on at his grandmother's, but Paris doesn't think they are doing enough. Another worry of Paris' is that Katherine hasn't been communicating with herself, Prince, Blanket or TJ since she went to stay in the UK capital and she is blaming Michael's siblings including Rebbie and Randy of trying to temper with their relationship with Katherine as according to sources, they are trying to get their hands on Katherine's fortune. Despite Paris feeling distressed by the parental care of Blanket, the youngster is said to be doing well at school. Katherine was living in London briefly after being granted a restraining order against nephew-in-law Trent Lamar Jackson. In February, Katherine was granted a temporary order against Trent after alleging he had abused her and that he had neglected her health. She said in her filing to the court: "I believe he has put cameras and bugs in my home, so the only place I can try and have a private conversation is in my bathroom." Trent, 52, has been living in the guest house of Katherine's Calabasas, California, home after previously serving as her personal driver for a number of years. However, their relationship has soured in recent times, with Katherine accusing him of bullying her and monitoring her behaviour. Meanwhile, Trent - who is the son of Joe Jackson's half-brother - has tried to have the temporary restraining order lifted, with his lawyer insisting he is not a threat to Katherine. Gearing up for the release of her new single later this month, multi-instrumentalist musician and producer Victoria Celestine continues to go from strength to strength, ready to take on the world of music and garner legions of fans while doing so. Victoria Celestine releases her new single this April We got the chance to put some questions to the young talent to find out a little bit more about her, how she works and more For those who may be new to your music, how best would you describe your sound? Synth-pop with an 80s influence. What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far? As a woman in the sound engineering realm, Ive had ups and downs It is a mostly male industry, and its important to have a support system of friends who are encouraging. How difficult would you say this career path is in terms of making a name for yourself? Just like anything, it takes time and persistence. I love writing, recording and producing music; Ill be doing it for the rest of my life. Not everybodys going to like my art. Realising that, Im in it for the long haul. How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce? It ranges from project to project. I enjoy making music in isolation from my little apartment where I have complete creative control, but collaboration can sometimes be just as fun. Both are important in the journey of getting to know yourself as an artist and producer. If you could collaborate with anybody going forward, who would you choose and why? As many people as I could collaborate with. I feel like if theres a musical connection between two musicians, something good will always come out of it. Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career? To keep on keeping on. And loving it in the process. Where do you hope to be this time next year? Touring! And coming back home to continue recording bands. What should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months? The video for Carrying On is coming out And some more singles before releasing the album! --- Victoria Celestine releases her new single Carrying On on April 21, 2017. by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Prince Charles kicked off the final day of his two-day tour of Cumbria on Tuesday (11.04.17). Prince Charles The 68-year-old royal - the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip - has only just returned from his tour of Europe with his wife Duchess Camilla but there's certainly no time to rest as he's now in North West England visiting the tour of Appleby to see how they have recovered following the horrific flooding the residents experienced there in 2015. As well as speaking to the locals, the prince will also tour Appleby Creamery, a cheese firm, which is partnering with local farmers and small producers to support the rural economy. Although today is a busy day, Charles didn't stop yesterday either as he arrived in Whitehaven to open the new Whitehaven Foyer, a charity providing accommodation to young people. He was then treated to a preview of the Rosehill Theatre ahead of it's opening in May. Meanwhile, last weekend, Charles and his sons Prince William and Harry travelled to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial near Lille in northern France on Sunday (09.04.17) to commemorate the 100th anniversary since capture of Vimy Ridge during the First World War. The Battle of Vimy Ridge took place over four days in 1917, and resulted in around 3,500 Canadian soldiers losing their lives, whilst another 10,000 were left wounded. The battle is regarded as Canada's most notable military victory and a symbol of the birth of the country's national pride. Prince Charles told around 25,000 Canadians who had gathered at the ceremony that although the battle marked the "bloodiest day" in Canadian history, it also showcased the country "at it's best." Adam Thomas always feels "broody." Adam Thomas The 'Emmerdale' actor already has two-year-old son Teddy with his fiancee Caroline Daly but has admitted he'd love nothing more than to give his little one a sibling in the near future - especially now his soap alter-ego Adam Barton is trying for a baby with his wife Victoria (Isabel Hodgins). Speaking to Star magazine, he explained of his pregnancy storyline: "Adam is madly in lovre with his wife and they're trying for a baby. I'm enjoying the trying! It's been good fun to have some sex scenes. A bit of kissy wissy. It's been good. It's been quite challenging but I really like them. It's nice to get your teeth into something, express your emotions and let loose a little. Get it out, why not. I'm broody anyway, to be honest!" The 28-year-old has starred in the long-running show since 2009 and, although he's had the opportunity to work with numerous people over the years, he has admitted he thoroughly enjoys having a large amount of scenes with Isabel because they're friends. He explained: "I love working with Izzy, it's so easy. She's talented and so professional. She's a force to be reckoned with, but I think she fancies me so it's a bit awkward. I've been married to her [on screen] for quite some time now! She's one of those people who you look forward to working with and seeing. Izzy is my rock at work." Meanwhile, as well as shooting for the soap, Adam is also trying to plan for his wedding with Caroline after they got engaged in Dubai last year. He said recently: "On the day I was going to propose, Caroline described her perfect engagement ring and it was exactly the same as the one I had bought. I thought she'd seen the ring - I was absolutely gutted." Gordon Ramsay has claimed he was asked to do the 'Great British Bake Off'. Gordon Ramsay The 50-year-old celebrity chef has revealed he was approached by bosses at Channel 4 after they snatched the baking series from the BBC last year but he turned down the offer because he didn't want to be Mary Berry's "sloppy seconds." Speaking to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, he said when asked if he'd ever tame his wild ways: "F**k, no! Tell me if I am, because I'll get the f**k out of here. I'll go back to Channel 4. They did ask me for '...Bake Off', anyway. "I'm not very good at sloppy seconds. I don't want to be the male version of Mary Berry. I'm 30 years younger and more wrinkly than her anyway. "I think [as] with 'Top Gear', we have an asset that is a crown jewel within a network. 14.5 million [viewers]: there will never be another cookery show with that number, ever again. For me, '...Bake Off' is like the Queen: it's something to be respected, listened to and cared for. Not sold off." The 82-year-old baking legend walked away from the popular programme "out of loyalty" to the BBC just days after it was confirmed Channel 4 had taken over. Producers were then tasked with the challenge of finding someone to replace Mary and work alongside Paul Hollywood - who agreed to stay with the show following an impressive lump sum - and, after months of searching, they secured Prue Leith. Although the 77-year-old restaurateur was thrilled with her new role, she was forced to accept round the clock protection out of fear that she would be "trolled." She said: "On the day that they announced who the line-up was, they wanted to send a close protection officer. My husband and a bunch of friends were going out to dinner to a really nice restaurant in London. I said, 'Don't be ridiculous, we absolutely do not need a copper standing there looking.' "But they said, 'No, no, no, we really must just to be on the safe side.' What did they think is going to happen? I'm not likely to be trolled. This is a nice family show." However, the 'Great British Menu' critic had no other choice but to accept the security measures after she noticed the protection team had ignored her refusal and had already pitched up outside her Cotswolds home. The 'Great British Bake Off' will return to screens later this year with Paul and Prue as the judges and Noel Fielding and Sandi Tosvig - who have replaced loveable presenting duo Mel and Sue - as the new hosts. Jools Holland would love for Stevie Wonder to guest star on the 50th anniversary series of 'Later ... Live with Jools Holland'. Jools Holland The 59-year-old musician is set to celebrate the shows milestone, and although he believes he has been "incredibly lucky" with the artists who have performed on the programme, he hopes one day he will be able to pin down the 'Superstition' hitmaker and book him to wow the audience on his musical programme in the future as he has "never" been in the country when Jools has previously invited him. Speaking in an interview with Sara Cox on BBC Radio Two's breakfast show on Tuesday (11.04.17), the television presenter said: "I have been incredibly lucky - I have had the best job in the world doing this. I think we've had most people on ... It would have been nice to have had Bach, perhaps maybe Diana Washington, but I think, with the living, we've done pretty well. "Stevie Wonder we haven't had on, only because he's never been in the country at the right time. But largely we've had everyone. Sometimes we've had people and I don't think they even knew they were on themselves." 'Later ... with Jools Holland' debuted in 1992 and today's episode will mark the first instalment as part of it's 50th anniversary series, as well as its 25th year on air, and will see musicians, including The XX and Jamiroquai take to the stage, whilst 'Castle on the Hill' hitmaker Ed Sheeran will perform in the following weeks. And the pianist believes the mix of various artists on the show has contributed to the programmes longevity and success. He explained: "I think that's the great thing with the show because there's always different people ... seeing the artists in that room watching one another ... and then becoming friends and having their ears and minds opened to other styles of music. "The great thing is that you're never quite sure what's going to happen "How are they [Stormzy and Blondie] going to get on? That's the thing, if people do get on, that's one of the things that makes the show unique. It's the mix of people in the room ... you want old legends of music and you want brand new people. We try to have that mix every week." 'Later.. Live with Jools Holland' will air the 50th eight-part series on BBC Two on Tuesday at 10pm. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. An Indian employee of a UAE-based company has been sacked for abusing author and independent journalist Rana Ayyub on social media. The 31-year-old man, Bincylal Balachandran, who is from Kerala, was working in Dubai for Alpha Paint, a sister company of National Paints in Sharjah, since 2015, media reports have said. The issue came to light when Ayyub took to Twitter to post the vulgar messages sent by Balachandran. How Ayyub deals with trolls Ayyub recently gave an exclusive interview to Femina, where she said, I guess I am the most abused person on Twitter, but honestly, it does not make any difference to me. The trolls are so irrational that they humour me. Yes, there has been a backlash. I was stopped by the Indian High commission in Doha from speaking at an event on APJ Abdul Kalam, post my book launch. In the past in lieu of the threats, cops in Maharashtra have offered me a license for a revolver for my safety. But I refused to keep it. I am an optimist and a believer in the goodness of the human creed and that is my only shield and hope. Courage uncensored On Twitter, Ayyub has been vocal about her political views, often taking on bigwigs. Ask her if there has been any backlash, and she laughs, My dad keeps asking me to be politically correct at times and not take on everyone every time! On a serious note, she adds, But, for me, as a journalist and an individual with a conscience, if I see any wrong, any kind of hypocrisy, it does not matter who that person iseven if it is the Prime Minister of the countryI have to raise my voice or opine about it, and that I believe is the beauty and strength of democracy. I have nothing personal against Modi or his government. My problem is with the criminality of Amit Shah and Modi in various cases and their governance. On various occasions, whenever the Modi-led government has taken a decision in larger public good, I have lauded it. People conveniently forget that I was critical of the Congress-led UPA government when it was in power and have done investigations against them. I am a journalist and my obligation is to the truth and nothing else, she reiterated. Gujarat Files Ayyubs journey as a writer and journalist has been nothing short of sensational. I joined Tehelka in 2007. It was during my stint there that my investigation into the fake encounters (case involving the extra-judicial killing of three people, including Sohrabuddin Sheikh) got BJP president Amit Shah, then the home minister of Gujarat, arrested for his complicity in the crime. After a stint defined by one explosive story after the next, Ayyub left the publication in protest of its handling of a sexual assault case against the editor-in-chief. The writer has since published Gujarat Files, an undercover investigation into the Gujarat riots originally commissioned by Tehelka. It was a journalistic operation, in which I went around posing as Maithili Tyagi, a student from the American Film Institute Conservatory. I had with me a 20-year-old French colleague, and I was just about 26. In a span of eight months, we did a sting operation on some of the top guys in the state. The last person I went to meet was Narendra Modi, after which Tehelka asked me to return and also decided that they could not publish the investigation citing political pressure. I had a contract with two publications, both of which eased out around the time Modi assumed power as PM in 2014. Finally, I decided to self-publish the book. I had to pawn my gold ornaments and take a personal loan to do this. The book has sold 70,000 copies in 10 languages and was one of the bestsellers of 2016. Using social media Ayyub finds the online space, especially Twitter, liberating for its accommodation of views that dont find acceptance in mainstream media. As far as haters online are concerned, the journalist says they do not bother her because she believes they are part of a paid syndicate. I know they are doing their job. Most of the times, they amuse me with their sheer irrationality. What bothers me is when people I admire and who have an iconic status in society take to trolling me to just please the establishment. The next few months will see Gujarat Files being published in four Indian and two foreign languages, and Ayyub is already working on her next book. I can promise that it will be a whistleblower too and shall bring forward many an uncomfortable truth. Here's what the journalist had to say on Twitter about today's events: Happy to be trending on twitter for a promising beginning. Hope we in India set a similar precedence of zero tolerance towards harassment. Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 10, 2017 UAE govt has revoked Bincy Lal's visa and r deporting him back to India. A lesson for those who harass us, will drag you out of ur ratholes Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 10, 2017 Deepika Padukone is on cloud 9 after her phenomenal Hollywood debut with Vin Diesel in xXx: Return of Xander cage. Back home, the Mastani is busy shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansalis next magnum-opus, Padmavati. Amidst all this madness, the actor has also been spotted at some noted award functions and made some uber graceful appearances on some talk shows. But one thing that has stuck with the actor is her use of the colour black in her style. Whether its an airport look or an appearance on the Late Late show Deepika Padukone has been sporting black and slaying it. Heres how: A number of well-known global brands, including Under Armour and Marks & Spencer, chose to visit last months Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Spring Edition for their sourcing needs. The visitor number was also up slightly to 71,450 from 103 countries and regions, compared to 71,163 from 100 countries and regions in the last years edition. The fair dispelled any uncertainty about the state of the global apparel fabrics and accessories industry in the coming year, with many exhibitors reporting strong increases in the number of contacts and enquiries they received compared to last year. While the quality of buyers sourcing at the fair continues to increase, many exhibitors also commented that they received a healthy spread of buyers to their booths, both from China as well as from key markets in Asia and Europe, and that a satisfying proportion of these buyers were new potential customers. Reflecting the fact that Intertextile Shanghais reputation as the industrys leading event to conduct business each March & October has been steadily increasing over recent years, the exhibitor number grew by 5.9 per cent this edition to 3,341 from 26 countries and regions, fair organizer Messe Frankfurt said. New exhibitor countries included Denmark, Malaysia and Poland. The top 10 visitor countries and regions, excluding Mainland China, were Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, the US, Taiwan, India, Russia, Turkey, Indonesia and the UK. A number of well-known global brands, including Under Armour and Marks & Spencer, chose to visit last month's Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Spring Edition for their sourcing needs. The visitor number was also up slightly to 71,450 from 103 countries and regions, compared to 71,163 from 100 countries and regions in the last year's edition.# Amongst the more than 71,000 trade buyers sourcing at this years fair were a number of well-known global brands taking advantage of the shows unrivalled product range. This included Under Armour, represented by John Hardy, director, Sportswear for UA Global Sourcing. This is my first time to Intertextile Shanghai, and Im here to source functional fabrics for a sportswear line we are currently developing. The fair is very beneficial and it is great to see all the fashion fabrics offered from different countries. Im very happy with the selection here. Coming to the fair is easy and hassle free, and I will be back in future editions. A veteran of around 15 years sourcing at the fair, Katie R Drummond, the menswear technical lead for Marks & Spencer, commented: The product variety and exhibitor quality are really good. We like the way the fair is laid out where you categorise the products into different zones and pavilions. Ive seen a significant improvement in the quality of the suppliers here too. Another fast-moving trend in the domestic market, which is mirrored in the buyer profile of the fair, is that of boutique online brands, and despite their small size, many were on the lookout for premium fabrics at the fair. Bulong Xu from Japans Uni Textile explained: In this edition, the new buyers we met were mainly young designer brands and fashion garment brands that are revamping their image, as well as e-commerce fashion brands. This included ladieswear brands selling on Taobao that will use our products to attract new customers. Part of the fairs recent success has been its ability to evolve to meet the changing needs of the market. The Functional Lab is one such example of this with the number of exhibitors nearly doubling this edition to 22, mirroring the continued strong demand for functional fabrics in both China and elsewhere. Chinese buyers also confirmed the domestic demand for functional fabrics remains high. The fairs Beyond Denim area also grew in size this edition, further cementing its place as the leading sourcing event for denim fabrics in China. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India At the first African-Asian Cotton B2B meeting hosted in Bangladesh by the International Islamic Trade Financing Corporation (ITFC), emphasis was laid on the development of the Bangladesh textile industry, which is the source of employment and export earnings for its economy. Bangladesh is currently the largest cotton importing country in the world. Bangladesh spends more than $3 billion to import cotton a year -- more than half of it comes from India. "The demand for cotton in the local textile sector is here to stay as RMG will lead our export sector for another twenty to twenty five years," said Bangladesh finance minister AMA Muhith who had inaugurated the programme. African countries are cost-effective alternative source of raw cotton, said Muhith adding that this will reduce the burden on the local farmers who are unable to meet the huge demand for cotton due to infrastructural problems. At the first African-Asian Cotton B2B meeting hosted in Bangladesh by the International Islamic Trade Financing Corporation (ITFC), emphasis was laid on the development of the Bangladesh textile industry, which is the source of employment and export earnings for its economy. Bangladesh is currently the largest cotton importing country in the world.# At present, Bangladesh grows around 180,000 bales of cotton a year, which is just 1.0 per cent of the annual demand. However, the local producers have set a target to meet 10 per cent of the demand by the end of 2025, according to Bangladesh media. During the event, Mohammad Shahidullah, Bangladesh Cotton Association president, talked the challenges of importing cotton from India and China. (RR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India HON PM BAINIMARAMA REMARKS AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF FIJIS COP 23 LOGO This is a very important day for Fiji the launch of our official logo for COP 23, which will be seen by billions of people around the world in the lead-up to the UN Climate negotiations in Bonn in November. Honourable Ministers,Your Excellencies,Members of the Diplomatic Corps,Ladies and GentlemenBula vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.Im delighted to be joined by the visiting German State Secretary for the Environment, Mr Jochen Flasbarth and the other members of his delegation.And before we move to the official launch of the logo, Id like to officially welcome him to Fiji on behalf of the Fijian Government and the Fijian people.Sir, its wonderful to have you here in Suva. And I would ask you to convey to your own government and the German people our warmest thanks for the support that Germany is giving Fiji as we prepare for COP 23.As many of you know, Fiji is the incoming president and I will be presiding over the deliberations in November. But there was no way that we could accommodate the more than 20-thousand people who are expected at COP here in Fiji. So Germany is very generously hosting the conference in Bonn and is picking up the cost of doing so some 70-million Euros or 155-million Fijian dollars.It is a wonderful gesture and especially when the German Government has said that it wants this to be a Fijian COP and has offered to pay for our branding of the event the Fijian performers and cultural items and artifacts that we will take to Bonn to infuse COP 23 with the Bula spirit. Sir, vinaka vakalevu, as we say in Fiji, for your wonderful generosity. And I want to say publicly that Fiji will be working closely with Germany and the UNFCCC to make COP 23 an unqualified success.Ladies and Gentlemen, were joined by Shaenaz Voss from Fiji Airways, our very successful national airline, which has generously donated the prizes for our logo competition. Shaenaz has 84-million reasons to be smiling after the recent announcement of the record profit for Fiji Airways.And I also ask her to pass on our warmest appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Airways, Mr Andre Viljoen, and the rest of the management and staff of Fiji Airways, not only for these prizes but for making us all so proud of our airline. Fiji Airways is committed to supporting Fijis Presidency of COP 23 and have not only donated the prizes for the logo competition, but will also be placing the logo on one of its planes, and we thank them for their support.Ladies and Gentlemen, now to the announcement of the winner of our national logo competition and the unveiling of the winning design.It is my great pleasure as Prime Minister and incoming President of COP 23 to announce that the winner is Mrs Ronna Sekiguchi of the Fijian design company the Greenhouse Studio.Ronna, please step forward while I tell everyone your story. Ronna was born in the Philippines and came to Fiji in 2004. Shes been a Fijian citizen since 2010. And in 2014, she founded the Greenhouse Studio, which employs seven people and has created a range of other logos for companies and institutions.And, ladies and gentlemen, the final design is based on her entry into the competition a logo that will be seen around the world in the coming months and a logo that every Fijian can be proud of.Please put your hands together for our winner. And Im very proud that Fiji has the talent to design such a world class product.As you can see, it captures perfectly the vulnerability to climate change of a small island developing state like Fiji. The island partially submerged and a huge wave bearing down on it. The wave as you can see is also in the form of a cyclone, with that eye in the middle. So especially in light of our experience with Cyclone Winston last year that caused so much heartbreak, this is a very stark and effective message to take to the world. The need for us all to come together to build partnerships for climate action between governments, civil society and the private sector. And work together to improve the climate resilience of vulnerable nations such as Fiji.We are not just sitting here in the Pacific bearing the brunt along with our neighbours - of some of the worst effects of climate change. With our Presidency of COP-23, we have been entrusted with the task of leading the world in the next phase of these negotiations. To preserve the multilateral consensus contained in the Paris Agreement for decisive cuts in carbon emissions. And keep up the momentum for its implementation with a wave of climate action that every global citizen can join.Ladies and Gentlemen, I know we said in the ad for our logo competition that we would have only one winner. But we got so many great submissions that Im very pleased to also announce two runners-up. Two young Fijians whose entries also featured the theme of a wave and who are both with us today.Shiristy Singh is from Adi Cakobau School and Mark Philitoga is from the Nadi Muslim Primary School.Shiristy and Mark, please step forward and hold up your designs. And, Ladies and Gentlemen, please give them both a round of applause.Im also very pleased to say that not only is Fiji Airways giving our winner Ronna a trip for two anywhere on the airlines network, but it has stumped up another two prizes for our runner-ups. Shiristy and Mark, you both have the choice of a trip for two to either Australia or New Zealand. And I hope you both have a wonderful time.So can I ask Shaenaz Voss to please present our winner and our two runners-up with their prizes.Vinaka Shaenaz. Ladies and Gentlemen, thats the end of our formal proceedings but I invite you all to stay on for some light refreshments and the chance to meet our winners.Thank you State Secretary for being with us and I now invite you to say a few words yourself.My thanks again also to Shaenaz Voss from Fiji Airways. But above all vinaka vakalevu to our winner and our runners-up.The creative spirit in Fiji is alive and well and that is something that all Fijians can celebrate.Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you. Kangana Ranaut's Reaction The 'Rangoon' actress spoke in favour of the victim and said, "We are here to talk about a brand, but what you mentioned is a serious topic. But whoever faces such situations and speaks up is courageous. Generally speaking, they should be encouraged to talk about it by their family, colleagues. They should not be shamed. Obviously, there will always be another side to the other story. But people should speak up, whether it is right or wrong." A Recap Of What Had Happened Reportedly, a a girl at Phantom has alleged that Vikas used to ask sexual favours from her and kept sexually abusing her for the last one and half years. Finally the girl decided to speak up and there were even reports that other partners at Phantom - Madhu Mantena, Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane have severed ties with Bahl and asked him not to report to office anymore. Vikas Had Denied All The Allegations Made Against Him He was earlier quoted as saying, "Nothing has happened. I am running the company. There is no complaint to HR and there is no Vishakha committee. I have heard about this particular lady you are speaking about and the Goa incident. She is not my employee." Vikas Claimed She Never Made Him Feel That She Was Uncomfortable Around Him Vikas had further added, "Yes, I am friends with her, we have worked together and there is a production job we have done together, but if she is feeling like this I would like to sit across a table from her and talk to her. I want to ask her if I have crossed a line, whether I have done anything to hurt her and if she feels that way I would like to apologise for it. I have known her for long. For two-and-a-half years she has never made me feel as if she is uncomfortable (around me)." Celebrated Hollywood actress Zoe Saldana states that she is excited about the upcoming film Avengers: Infinity War, where her character Gamora will brush shoulder with superheroes like Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and others. Saldana who plays the character of an alien in the Guardians of the Galaxy universe will now fight evil alongside Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and also with her Guardians of the Galaxy team. "I am excited for 'Avengers'. It will be amazing to have all of these characters of Marvel Universe come together and fight a supervillain, Thanos. We have shot some scenes and they are turning out to be amazing," Saldana said in a statement. "The thing that I am most excited about is that they are keeping the essence of what makes 'Guardians of the Galaxy' unique. We are the same -- our misfit self -- fighting with each other." Added Zoe Saldana. Zoe Saldana also said that she is a bit nervous to reprise her role in the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel because of the fact that expectation will be high. "I was nervous as sequels are like children. They are always meant to be better than their parents... In my head, I was thinking what this guy James Gunn is doing, but the moment I got off the plane and read the script and started rehearsing, I found it funnier and filled with heart," said Zoe. CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/10/17 -- QuintessenceLabs announced it was selected as one of the top 20 high-potential businesses as part of the Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow program, which selects 200 Australian businesses shaping Australia's future. Westpac recognized the 200 outstanding companies and the 20 high-potential honorees on April 7 in Sydney. The Westpac Group chose QuintessenceLabs for its revolutionary work helping to reshape the cybersecurity landscape, not only in Australia but around the globe. QuintessenceLabs helps organisations protect their data using a combination of advanced cyber-security and quantum technology, leveraging the quantum properties of nature to deliver next generation cybersecurity, today. "This recognition by Westpac of the work the QuintessenceLabs team has been doing is quite an accolade," said Vikram Sharma. "We proudly took our place among the initial 200, and are doubly honored by our inclusion in the list of top 20 high-potential companies. This is a further endorsement of QuintessenceLabs' innovative work as we deploy our highly secure solutions for a rapidly expanding roster of partners and customers." David Lindberg, judge and Chief Executive, Westpac Business Bank, said: "QuintessenceLabs is leading the way in advanced cybersecurity, delivering powerful, flexible and cost-effective solutions to protect data. QuintessenceLabs' use of technology backed by in-depth research and development has allowed the creation of a unique capability that meets a gap in the market. It's for these reasons QuintessenceLabs is one of Westpac's high potential Businesses of Tomorrow." The Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow program recognises and supports great Australian businesses with a clear vision for tomorrow. The program was announced in April 2016 to help them transition and grow in a changing economy. The program had an incredible response, receiving close to 2,000 applications. Businesses were chosen based on qualities such as: a track record of delivery, clarity of purpose and vision, outstanding value to customers, and capability to meet tomorrow's challenges. As part of Westpac's program, the top 20 high-potential businesses out of the 200 identified are awarded professional services tailored to meet their specific needs, along with a global study tour. In addition, they have been given the opportunity to participate in a mentor-matching program with Australian business leaders such as fashion designer Carla Zampatti and AGL chief executive Andrew Vesey. For more information on QuintessenceLabs and to learn more about its world-class cybersecurity offerings, visit www.quintessencelabs.com, or follow the company on Twitter at twitter.com/quintessencelab. For more information on the Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow program, visit: https://businessesoftomorrow.com.au About QuintessenceLabs QuintessenceLabs is a global leader in quantum cybersecurity. At the forefront of the commercial development of quantum cybersecurity solutions, we deliver unique products integrating high-value cybersecurity with advances in quantum technology. These include the world's fastest true random number generator; advanced key and policy manager and integrated encryption solutions for on-premise or in-cloud implementations. About Westpac Westpac Group is Australia's oldest company and bank, celebrating its 200th year in 2017. Its five key customer facing divisions -- Consumer Bank, Commercial and Business Bank, BT Financial Group, Westpac Institutional Bank and Westpac New Zealand -- serve around 13 million customers. Westpac's portfolio of financial services, brands and businesses is focused on a vision to be one of the world's great service companies, helping its customers, communities and people prosper and grow. From ensuring consumer customers can save and invest with confidence, to serving the financial needs of multi-national corporate, institutional and government clients, Westpac puts its customers at the centre of everything it does. Press Contact Jane Melia E: jm@quintessencelabs.com T: +1 408 597 7152 SINGAPORE and FOSTER CITY, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/10/17 -- Singtel subsidiary Amobee, a global digital marketing technology company, today announced the completion of the acquisition of Turn, a leading provider of a global technology platform for marketers and agencies. "The acquisition of Turn underscores Singtel's commitment to grow and scale Amobee to become a global digital marketing leader," said Samba Natarajan, Singtel's CEO of Group Digital Life. With the acquisition of Turn, Amobee now offers marketers an independent, end-to-end advertising and data management platform across all channels, formats and devices, as well as access to proprietary Amobee Brand Intelligence insights, advanced analytics and media planning capabilities. Kim Perell, CEO, Amobee said, "The powerful combination of Amobee and Turn addresses the rapidly changing digital marketing landscape. Together, we will bring marketers the most innovative, efficient, and data-driven approach to better understand and reach their customers, and enhance the way they engage them on a global scale." In addition to yielding efficiency gains, the unified platform also facilitates leading brands and agencies to plan and buy media for specific audiences in a more integrated way that maximizes their investments across desktop, mobile, video and social media. The combination of Amobee and Turn will offer marketers, agencies and brand clients, which include Airbnb, Dell EMC and Lexus, a more comprehensive and efficient marketing technology platform. "As a proud partner of Amobee, Airbnb is excited about the future innovation to come from the integration between Turn and Amobee. Both teams bring industry leading innovation and provide tremendous impact to their partners. Having both under the same roof will foster even more innovation, and we're excited to be a part of this journey," said Eric Toda, Global Head of Social Marketing and Editorial Content, Airbnb. For more information about Amobee and Turn, please visit www.amobee.com and www.turn.com. About Amobee Amobee is a global marketing technology company serving the world's leading brands and agencies. Amobee's patented Brand Intelligence technology measures digital engagement to provide a deeper understanding of audiences, their mindset and interests. Amobee's unified platform enables marketers to seamlessly plan and activate cross channel, programmatic media campaigns using Brand Intelligence, and includes ads API integrations with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat. Amobee is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singtel, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world which reaches over 640 million mobile subscribers. Amobee operates across North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia. www.amobee.com About Singtel Singtel is Asia's leading communications and ICT solutions group, providing a portfolio of services from next-generation communication, technology services to infotainment to both consumers and businesses. For consumers, Singtel delivers a complete and integrated suite of services, including mobile, broadband and TV. For businesses, Singtel offers a complementary array of workforce mobility solutions, data hosting, cloud, network infrastructure, analytics and cyber-security capabilities. The Group has presence in Asia, Australia and Africa and reaches over 640 million mobile customers in 22 countries. Its infrastructure and technology services for businesses spans 21 countries, with more than 370 direct points of presence in 325 cities. For more information, visit www.singtel.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SingtelNews About Turn Turn, a leading ad tech company, delivers real-time insights that transform the way media agencies and enterprises make marketing decisions. The Turn platform enables anonymous audience planning, data centralization, cross-device advertising, and advanced analytics, along with point-and-click access to more than 150 integrated technology partners. Turn works with the world's top brands and agencies, including DirecTV, HP, Kia, Kraft Heinz, L'Oreal USA, Thomas Cook and Zales. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Turn offers its products and services worldwide. For more information, visit turn.com or follow @turnplatform. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- TIMIA Capital Corporation ("TIMIA" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: TCA) is pleased to announce its Q1 results for 2017 show continued strong revenue growth in comparison to 2016. Total revenue for Q1, 2017 was $208,879 vs. $105,542 in the same quarter last year, an increase of 98%. The increase is due to the substantial growth of TIMIA's portfolio over the period. Q1 2016's revenue included $20,000 of advisory income in addition to $85,542 of interest income, while Q1, 2017 was comprised solely of interest income. The Company had a cash balance of $967,391 at the end of Q1, 2017, and expects to utilize those cash resources in the near term via investment into new portfolio companies. As these investments are completed, both interest income and advisory income will be earned. Total payments received from portfolio companies is another key measure of the Company's progress. These payments comprise both interest and principal repayments, and for Q1 2017 these payments totalled $234,968 vs $86,328 in Q1, 2016. Chart 1 below summarizes TIMIA's annualized cash payments received from our revenue finance investments. To view Chart 1, please visit the following link: www.marketwire.com/library/20170428-tca0428chart_full.jpg. All portfolio companies are current in their payments. TIMIA's non-GAAP measure Adjusted EBITDA(1) improved as well, seeing an increase to $4,138 in Q1, 2017 from ($15,963) in Q1, 2016. The Company expects to see continued improvement in this measure as the portfolio and related interest revenue scale up at a greater rate than operational costs. Cash-based operating expenditures, not including interest expense and non-cash items such as loan loss provision and share-based compensation increased to $204,727 in Q1, 2017, vs. $121,505 in Q1, 2016. This increase of 68% same quarter, year over year, reflects the addition of a 3rd senior team member, the opening of an office in Waterloo, Ontario, the installation of back office systems, and increased expenditures on brand building and investor relations. TIMIA's net loss increased in Q1, 2017 was ($133,108) vs. ($86,945) in Q1, 2016. This increased loss reflects increased interest expense and operating expenses, offset by the increase in interest revenue earned. 2017 Outlook As TIMIA Capital's portfolio matures, the Company looks forward to having a portion of its portfolio companies exercise their buyout options from their revenue finance facilities due either an acquisition or other refinancing. Management expects, that while difficult to forecast, these events will result in an accretive cash event for TIMIA and its shareholders. The Company also looks forward to continuing to grow its portfolio with new investments. These new investments will allow for both an increase in interest income as well as intermittent advisory income, both of which are expected to move the Company closer to cashflow breakeven. Annual General Meeting - The Company's Annual General Meeting is scheduled for May 10th at 10am at the University of British Columbia Robson Square Facility, Room C150. The Company will also be broadcasting the AGM on Facebook Live through the TIMIA Capital Facebook page. Management will provide a full update on the business at that meeting. About TIMIA Capital Corporation TIMIA Capital Corporation is a specialty finance company that provides revenue financing to technology companies in exchange for a royalty stream on revenue. The alternative financing option complements both debt and equity financing, while allowing entrepreneurs to retain control of their business. TIMIA's target market is the fast-growing business-to-business software-as-a-service (SaaS) segment. TIMIA is managed by a seasoned investment team with a track record of originating and managing debt and equity investments, as well as monitoring, compliance and workouts. For more information about TIMIA Capital Corporation, please visit www.timiacapital.com. (1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure comprising EBITDA - non-cash items such as Share Based Compensation and Loan Loss Provision +/- equity related realized and unrealized gains/losses. 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. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. The Company disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements except as required by law. Contacts: TIMIA Capital Corporation Mike Walkinshaw Chief Executive Officer (604) 398-8839 marketing@timiacapital.com LONDON (dpa-AFX) - The Swiss franc weakened against most major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday. The Swiss franc fell to nearly a 5-month low of 109.58 against the yen and a 4-day low of 1.2540 against the pound, from yesterday's closing quotes of 109.96 and 1.2521, respectively. Against the U.S. dollar, the franc dropped to 1.0094 from an early 4-day high of 1.0073. If the Swiss franc extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 108.00 against the yen, 1.27 against the pound and 1.02 against the greenback. 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. AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - Dutch export growth accelerated sharply in February to the strongest level in six years, figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics showed Tuesday. Exports surged 7.9 percent year-over-year in February, much faster than the 4.8 percent climb in January. The measure has been rising since June 2014. Moreover, this was the biggest growth since February 2011. In February, exports grew mainly from machinery, chemicals and transport equipment, the agency said. Imports also climbed at an accelerated pace of 4.0 percent annually in February, following a 2.6 percent gain in the prior month. 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. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday. The Australian dollar fell to nearly a 2-month low of 0.9987 against the Canadian dollar and a 4-day low of 82.88 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.9997 and 83.21, respectively. Against the U.S. dollar, the aussie dropped to 0.7494 from an early 4-day high of 0.7513. The aussie slipped to 1.4124 against the euro, from yesterday's closing value of 1.4117. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.98 against the loonie, 81.00 against the yen, 0.73 against the greenback and 1.44 against the euro. 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, 2017-04-11 09:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. (TSX-V:STMP) ("Stamper" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Sasko (Sashko) Despotovski to its board of directors. Mr. Despotovski is a seasoned investment banker and an active investor in both private and public companies. He is a Canadian national living in the Nordics, with international corporate finance experience in the energy, real estate, and technology sectors. Sashko has held posts within several funds and hedge funds in the investment banking capacity in USA and Canadian markets, as well as on the operational side as management and as a director for a number of companies. Sashko until recently was an M&A Director at one of the Big Four, and currently serves as Special Advisor to the firm, focusing on cross border transactions. His specialties are fundraising and fund dissemination. Sashko holds advisory board seats at Smart Plants AS, Excitus AS, Memobase AS and Teaja Inc. and is a board member of Vidom AS and Stamper Oil and Gas Inc. In 2006 he was inducted into the Golden Key Society of Canada as an honorary member. Sashko's peer reviewed manuscripts can be found in various medical and science journals; he was historically an editor and editor-in-chief of JEM. Sashko is a University of British Columbia (Jack Bell Research Centre) and University of the Fraser Valley science graduate and has held various alumni posts within both institutions. Mr. Despotovski has also been appointed to the Corporation's Audit Committee. David Greenway, President of Stamper commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Sashko to the team at Stamper as we move forward to better position the Company to refocus its efforts on international opportunities in the energy sector and evaluate projects in undervalued jurisdictions. Sashko has experience in North America and Europe with corporate finance, and working with companies implementing change strategies and improving corporate performance." "Stamper management has timed this transaction beautifully to coincide with the global oil and gas market trends. I'm thrilled at the opportunity to work with such a strong team, as we build value for our shareholders," stated Sashko Despotovski. About Stamper Oil and Gas Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. is a publicly traded junior development stage international oil and gas company. The Company is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas properties with the current focus on Latin America. The Company's strategy is centred on generating sustainable long term shareholder value by exploring and developing cost effective growth of light oil reserves. For further information on Stamper Oil and Gas please visit www.stamperoilandgas.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "David C. Greenway" President & Director 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 certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. 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 may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Stamper Oil and Gas Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Stamper Oil and Gas Corp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. For further information, please contact: Stamper Oil and Gas Investor Relations Phone: (604) 684-2401 Email: ir@stamperoilandgas.com Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Metsa Group Press Release 11 April 2017 Metsa Group's Wood Products Industry Metsa Wood has bought a 10 hectare industrial site in the city of Parnu, Estonia and commences the construction work of the new birch plywood mill immediately. The construction of the birch plywood mill in Parnu is part of the 100 million euro investment program Metsa Wood published in June 2016. The program is carried out during 2017-2018. The new mill will create approximately 200 jobs to Parnu. The mill will start production by the second half of 2018. "Metsa Wood is investing in birch plywood production to better meet the globally growing demand. The location of the new mill in Parnu offers very good logistical connections to our main markets. The birch veneers will be manufactured in Finland and converted into plywood at the Parnu mill. This is a major investment in our competitiveness. The annual birch plywood production capacity at the Parnu mill will be 50 000 cubic metres," says Jari Tikkanen, SVP Production and technology at Metsa Wood. The construction agreement signed between Metsa Wood and Nordecon AS includes the construction of the production hall of 29 000 square metres and the non-work rooms and office premises. For more information, please contact: Jari Tikkanen, SVP Production and technology, Metsa Wood, tel: +358 50 598 9176 www.metsagroup.com Metsa Group is a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsa Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards and tissue and cooking papers. Metsa Group's sales totalled EUR 4.7 billion in 2016, and it employs approximately 9,300 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries. Metsaliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsa Group and is owned by approximately 104,000 Finnish forest owners. www.metsawood.com Metsa Wood provides competitive and environmentally friendly wood products for construction, industrial customers and distributor partners. We manufacture products from northern wood, a sustainable raw material of premium quality. Our sales in 2016 were EUR 0.5 billion, and we employ about 1,500 people. Metsa Wood is part of Metsa Group. Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Starbucks will start testing a new lunch menu at more than 100 Chicago locations starting Tuesday. The move is part of its Mercato menu that was announced during the coffee giant's annual meeting of Shareholders. Kevin Johnson, who replaced Howard Schultz as CEO earlier this month, said in a Twitter post, 'Starbucks Mercato lunch available in Chicago in mid-April'. In the grab-and-go style offerings, a variety of sandwiches and salads will include to pair with the company's coffee selection. The company will offer Cubano sandwich, carrot and kale side salad and honey BBQ Sriracha chicken sandwich, among others. At its annual meeting of shareholders in late March, Starbucks had announced its plans to launch Starbucks Mercato, a new menu of lunch items that features fresh and flavorful grab-and-go salads and sandwiches. The company plans to expand the menu to other U.S. markets in the futures, but is yet to announce a date. In addition, the company plans to donate all leftover lunch items to local food banks through its Starbucks FoodShare program with Feeding America. Further, on the heels of the successful launch of protein-forward, wheat-free Sous Vide Egg Bites, Starbucks also introduced a Gluten-Free Smoked Canadian Bacon Breakfast Sandwich and certified vegan Sprouted Grain Bagel in Starbucks stores across the U.S. Starbucks, which has grown its food business by 1.5 times since 2013, said it plans to double its food business by the year 2021. The company also said it plans to create more than 240,000 new jobs globally, of which 68,000 in the U.S.. The coffee chain also reiterated its intent to open 12,000 new stores globally and 3,400 new stores in the U.S. by fiscal 2021. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de GLASGOW, Scotland, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, the Home Office have refused to grant residence status to the Loch Ness Monster, leading to fears that the elusive creature will be forced to leave the country. Amongst thousands of requests received by the Home Office for permanent residency in the wake of Brexit, one such application was filed on behalf of Nessie by Glasgow-based artists The Doing Group. However, in a letter dated April 4 the Home Office outlined their rejection of the application on the grounds that it was 'inappropriate', with the administration fee refunded in full. The group are currently considering their next steps, but say that it now looks very likely that Nessie will have to leave the UK. Hannah Kendaru, 23, a member of the group, said: "We filed the application in good faith. "However, the process was a difficult one. Nessie has a reputation for being elusive - signatures, passport photos and other information were very difficult to obtain." Nessie's application and the Home Office response can be found in full on the campaign's website http://www.ahomefornessie.com Nessie has lived in Scotland for many years, and while her contribution to society is of incredible cultural and financial benefit to the nation, her origins are unclear. Despite several discussions in parliament, no official state recognition of the creature exists. Irina Glinski, 27, another member of the group said: "We are disappointed by the response from The Home Office. "We are now in a position where we will have to consider the best course of action for Nessie's future. We have entered discussion with experts about how best to move Nessie in a humane and comfortable way." The group are appealing for members of the public from across the EU to suggest a new home for the monster. Individuals and communities are asked to enter their suggested lakes at http://www.ahomefornessie.com , along with an accompanying image and information such as temperature and measurements. Water samples for analysis in comparison with Loch Ness are also welcome. The group have already received applications from across Europe. Hannah added: "We can see how proud people are of their home lakes. It is heartening to see people eager to help and welcome Nessie into their waters." NOTES TO EDITORS The Doing Group are a performance collective based in Glasgow. The project is supported by the Goethe Institut. For images and documentation, please click here. http://www.ahomefornessie.com info@thedoinggroup.com Hannah Kendaru, +44-7707-508-618 Stanley Smith, +44-7880-544-896 MITSUBISHI GT-PHEV Concept MITSUBISHI eX Concept MMC Lineup at Auto Shanghai 2017 Mitsubishi Motors Public Relations Department http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com +81-3-6852-4275 TOKYO, Apr 11, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will be exhibiting a number of models at the 17th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition(1) to be held from April 19 through April 28. Main exhibits will be the MITSUBISHI GT-PHEV Concept(2) and the MITSUBISHI eX Concept(3), two concept models shown for the first time in China which showcase the company's next-generation electric-powered vehicle and all-wheel control technologies indicating the direction of Mitsubishi Motors vehicle development.Also on display will be the show model of Outlander PHEV which is applicable for the New Energy Vehicle being promoted by the Chinese government, and the Outlander which has been well received since its production launch in China.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MITSUBISHIGTPHEV.jpgMITSUBISHI GT-PHEV Concepthttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MITSUBISHIeX.jpgMITSUBISHI eX Concept1. MITSUBISHI GT-PHEV Concept: OverviewThe MITSUBISHI GT-PHEV Concept is a next-generation high-end crossover SUV powered by the MMC's own advanced plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) system with three motors that incorporates all-wheel control technology.- The front visage with its forceful presence employs MMC's DYNAMIC SHIELD front design concept that portrays an image of the front end's function of protecting both people and the car. From the side, the MITSUBISHI GT-PHEV Concept uses horizontal lines to convey its high-end crossover SUV styling and driving stability. With a muscularity and intensity that gives the impression it has been carved from a single ingot of steel, the body is clothed in refined styling that flourishes sculpted dynamism highlighted with precise detailing.- Inside, the MITSUBISHI GT-PHEV Concept uses a horizontal dashboard design that creates a spacious ambiance and makes it easier for the driver to sense changes in vehicle attitude.- The PHEV system comprises a next-generation, high-capacity drive battery package, three high-output and high-efficiency motors and an engine specially designed for the PHEV system and featuring improved electricity generation performance and motive performance. This combination delivers the punchy performance sought in a "ground tourer" and makes for relaxed motoring on longer trips with an electric-only range of 120 km and a combined hybrid cruising range of over 1,200 km.- The full-time 4WD powertrain, with one motor at the front and two at the rear, and MMC's own Super All-wheel Control (S-AWC) integrated vehicle dynamics control system, raises the bar in terms of handling performance and directional stability.- The MITSUBISHI GT-PHEV Concept also adopts the latest in connected car technology in extracting its performance and functionality to the full. The technology feeds to the car route information as well as data on weather and road surface conditions acquired from information networks and from on-board sensors and cameras in order to closely manage energy consumption such as electricity consumption and fuel economy as well as to provide all-wheel control best-suited to many motoring situations.2. MITSUBISHI eX Concept: OverviewThe MITSUBISHI eX Concept is a compact SUV concept car powered by a next-generation Twin Motor EV system mated with MMC's all-wheel control technology.- The exterior fuses coupe styling with shooting brake(4) elegance and uses MMC's DYNAMIC SHIELD front design concept. The form presents an intensity that gives the impression it has been carved from a single ingot of steel in an active and vibrant design.- Inside, different coloring is used for the driver and front passenger sides of the cockpit to create a unique ambiance in an elegant, bright and roomy interior space that is sporty overall.- The EV system comprises a next-generation, high-capacity drive battery package with compact, high-output, high-efficiency motors and gives a cruising range of 400 km. The underfloor drive battery package lowers the center of gravity and with the Twin Motor 4WD system (one at the front and one at the rear) and the S-AWC integrated vehicle dynamics control system, the MITSUBISHI eX Concept delivers point-and-go handling and outstanding directional stability.- The MITSUBISHI eX Concept also showcases connected car technology that utilizes next-generation information systems, as well as autonomous driving technology built around the latest in active safety systems.MMC Lineup at Auto Shanghai 2017http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MMCLineupAutoShanghai.jpg(1) April 19 and 20 will be Press Days; from April 21 to 28 the show will be open to the general public. The show is being held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). MMC will hold its press conference from 11:00 am on April 19, local time, at the Mitsubishi Motors' booth in the 4-1 hall.(2) Named from the Ground Tourer concept - ability for cruising across a vast land.(3) electric X (crossover)(4) A term for a coupe with flowing styling fused with a hatchback car, the term originates from British hunting-use horse carriages.About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation is the fifth largest automaker in Japan and the fifteenth largest in the world by global unit sales. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Throughout its history it has courted alliances with foreign partners, a strategy pioneered by their first president Tomio Kubo to encourage expansion, and continued by his successors. A significant stake was sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1971 which it held for 22 years, while DaimlerChrysler was a controlling shareholder between 2000 and 2005. Long term joint manufacturing and technology licencing deals with the Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea and Proton in Malaysia were also forged, while in Europe the company co-owned the largest automobile manufacturing plant in the Netherlands with Volvo for ten years in the 1990s, before taking sole ownership in 2001.Source: Mitsubishi MotorsContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. LONDON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading experts meet to discuss how Artificial Intelligence will transform the future of Transport, Finance, Insurance, Cyber Security, Healthcare, Education, Human Rights and more at the inaugural CogX London 2017 CognitionX, the Market Intelligence Platform which brings clarity to All Things AI, today announced CogX London 2017, an Innovation Exchange focused on the impact that AI will have across all industries, government and society as a whole. The event which will take place in London from 19th-21st June and will attract over 1,500 attendees to explore how we should navigate the new and complex landscape which is rapidly reshaping the world around us. This unique gathering will play host to over 100 expert speakers including: MC Srivas, Chief Data Architect at Uber and Alex van Someren, Co-founder of Cyber London (CyLon), and Managing Partner, Early Stage at Amadeus Capital Partners, as well as Calum Chace, AI expert and author of "The Economic Singularity", and Kenneth Cukier, co-author of NYT Bestseller "Big Data" and Senior Editor for Digital at The Economist. CogX is being hosted in association with the Alan Turing Institute, the UK's national institute of data science, members of which will be speaking on topics across the event. CogX will also include the inaugural AI Innovation Awards. These will recognise and celebrate the best use of AI in specific industry sectors and technology domains as well as applications in Social Good, Public Services and Ethics Leadership. Further information on the awards and a nomination form can be found at cogx.co/awards. London's historic venue, The Brewery, will play host to 18 separate sessions focused on understand the scale of AI's impact on our industries, government and society, as well as the social implications of automation, and human rights issues around privacy, representation and the challenge of unconscious biases when designing systems. The event is the first of its kind to deal with the understanding the wider impact of AI, addressing the potential threats posed, as well as the opportunities it creates. CogX will cover 18 topics, each will be opened by a keynote speech followed by a panel discussion and then a separate breakout session to raise the open issues share best practice and discuss solutions. This will result in 18 published reports which will capture the critical issues and provide recommendations from the panel and breakout session participants. CognitionX Founder and CEO, Charlie Muirhead, said, "Artificial Intelligence is changing everything, and the pace of change is unprecedented. CogX is an Innovation Exchange that will host detailed conversations about the critical issues and choices that lie ahead, and celebrate the incredible AI work that is already being done globally across every sector. "The UK's contribution to AI has already been substantial, and with the right support from the startups, corporates, investors, government, academia and the public, it could be the single biggest driver of productivity and growth for the UK economy." Global Client Services Director EY, James Bennet MBE, said, "All companies need to be disruption-ready, and AI will be the greatest source of disruption our society and economy have ever experienced. CogX will be an opportunity to debate and discuss the exciting opportunities that this technological shift will bring." Professor of Communications Systems at Cambridge and Faculty Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute, Jon Crowcroft, said, "We've wired the planet's nervous system - now's the time to install the brains. I'm looking forward to being part of CogX and the discussions around how we design, build and start to use all the different components in the most safe and ethical way." Chief Product Strategy and Innovation Officer, Paysafe Group, B D Goel, said, "We're seeing unprecedented change in fintech as the digitisation of commerce has created entirely new business models and transformed the expectations and behaviours of both consumers and business. That's why Paysafe's focus is on building for the future of payments - a platform to become the preferred destination for businesses and consumers around the world. Now more than ever is a fascinating time for Paysafe to explore new capabilities, new technologies and new thinking at events such as CogX that bring talent, innovation and curiosity together under one roof." Satalia Founder and CEO, Daniel Hulme, said, "From my experience in the US and elsewhere, I have seen the international reputation that the UK has built as a pioneer in the analytics and AI space, but we need to be shouting louder about it. CogX is a great opportunity to showcase these strengths at scale. CognitionX is growing an ecosystem that makes advanced AI innovations accessible, and I'm excited to be a part of this event which demonstrates the impact AI focused start-ups can have on industry the and the economy as a whole." To register and find out more information, please visit cogx.co. ABOUT COGNITIONX: CognitionX is a Market Intelligence Platform that brings clarity to the complex and fast-paced world of All Things Artificial Intelligence. Our mission is to democratise access to the information and research on the products and resources required to build AI solutions. By organising all the information from the industry and making it universally accessible and useful we empower everyone from enterprise to startups and governments - even individuals - to access and rapidly deploy AI. ABOUT THE ALAN TURING INSTITUTE: The Alan Turing Institute is the national institute for data science, with headquarters at the British Library. The group will work in collaboration with the broader data science community to undertake research and understanding the societal implications of Big Data. The Institute is named in honour of Alan Turing, whose pioneering work in theoretical and applied mathematics, engineering and computing are considered to be the key disciplines comprising the emerging field of data science. TORONTO, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Easton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC PINK: EAPH) announces it has finalized all terms of the Acquisition Agreement to acquire revenue producing vaporizer, e-liquids manufacturer iBliss Inc., of Toronto, Ontario, whereas legal counsel will be quickly concluding the closing of the transaction. After various delays and much negotiation, Easton Pharmaceuticals is pleased to announce that both Easton and iBliss have agreed to and finalized all terms of the Acquisition Agreement whereas Easton will acquire 100% of iBliss Inc. and its holding company from its subscribers in exchange for common restricted shares in Easton Pharmaceuticals. The subscribers of iBliss will conditionally receive restricted shares of Easton stock in exchange for 100% of the shares of iBliss Inc. based on sales milestones. The shares have been placed in escrow until other documents are executed and delivered, considered a formality. iBliss at its peak two years ago, maintained healthy sales of $15,000,000 but are once again on the rise and projected to again reach $15,000,000 due to new international distribution agreements recently executed. In addition to its e-liquids and vaporizer business, principles of iBliss will lend much know how and expertise of the medical marijuana industry which has led to a determination that Easton / iBliss fully intend on applying for a medical marijuana LP license for the country of Canada. iBliss and Easton believe its LP License application for Canada will get quickly approved by Health Canada due to successful businesses and sales and the availability of financial capital. Canada's federal liberal government is expected to announce the full legalization of recreational marijuana use for all of Canada, sometime in the next few weeks. Complete details of the closing terms and additional business development updates on iBliss's vaporizer, e-liquids and medical marijuana businesses are expected to be disclosed very shortly followed by regular updates. Hung Tran, President of iBliss commented, "iBliss and its principles are pleased to have reached a final Acquisition Agreement with Easton Pharmaceuticals. We are excited to partner up and work with Easton's management to continue growing our Vaporizer business and our consumer health products, paving the way for enhanced value and growth for all Easton shareholders." Mr. Tran further stated, "iBliss has had tremendous growth over the past 3 years of being in business, which includes sales throughout North America and recently adding several international markets in Europe, the Middle East and Russia which has it on track to once again reach $15,000,000 in sales with profits margins in excess of 40%. iBliss possesses in house manufacturing of its own line of e-liquids products in a certified and regulated laboratory." For More Detailed Information On iBliss Visit: https://iblissvapor.com About Easton Pharmaceuticals Easton Pharmaceuticals is a diversified specialty pharmaceutical company involved in various pharmaceutical sectors and other growing industries. The Company previously developed and owned an FDA-approved wound-healing drug and currently owns topically delivered drugs to treat cancer and other therapeutic products to treat various conditions that are all in various stages of development and approval. Easton has partnered with BMV Medica SA de C.V. and together, own the exclusive distribution rights in Mexico and Latin America for patented women's diagnostic and preventative care products from CommonSense Of Israel, along with two generic cancer drugs, Paclitaxel and Docetaxel from BioLyse Pharma of St. Catherine's Ontario, Canada. For More Information On Easton and Affiliated Company's Visit: http://www.eastonpharmaceuticalsinc.com http://www.bmvmedica.net http://ecigmarkets.com http://finance.yahoo.com/q's=eaph https://twitter.com/eastonpharma Safe Harbor This news release may contain forward-looking statements or expressions within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (The "Act"). In particular, when certain words or phrases such as "hope", "positive", "anticipate," "pleased," "plan," "confident that," "believe," "expect," "possible" or "intent to" and similar conditional expressions are expressed, they are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward-looking statements. Any investment made into Easton Pharmaceuticals would be classified as speculative and may contain risks. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, general acceptance of the company's products and technologies, competitive factors, the ability to successfully complete additional or adequate financing, government approvals or changes to proposed laws and other risks and uncertainties further stated in the company's financial reports and filings. Contact: Evan Karras CEO Tel: +1(416) 619-0291 Tel: +1(347) 284-0192 Email: info@eastonpharmaceuticalsinc.com SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The global human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) marketis anticipated to reach USD 1.06 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Application of hESCs as a promising donor source for cellular transplantation therapies is anticipated to bolster progress through to 2025. hESCs technology tends to be useful for tissue engineering in humans due to high histocompatibility between host and graft. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757 ) Maintenance of developmental potential for contribution of derivatives of all three germ layers is an important feature of these cells. This ability remains consistent even after clonal derivation or prolonged undifferentiated proliferation, thus pronouncing its accelerated uptake. In addition, these are capable in expressing high level of alkaline phosphatase, key transcription factors, and telomerase. These factors are found to be of great importance in the maintenance of the inner cellular mass pluripotency. Furthermore, hESCs can be easily differentiated into defined neurons, neural lineages, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. Aforementioned characteristic makes it useful in studying the sequence of events that take place during early neurodevelopment. However, use of stem cells derived from viable embryos is fraught with ethical issues, prompting scientists to explore other methods to generate ESCs. The other methods include derivation of embryonic germ cells, stem cells from dead embryos, and other techniques. Browse full research report with TOC on "Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC) Market Analysis By Application (Regenerative Medicines, Stem Cell Biology Research, Tissue Engineering, Toxicology Testing), By Country (U.S., UK, Germany, Japan, China), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/human-embryonic-stem-cell-market Further key findings from the report suggest: hESC derivation provides a unique opportunity for early human development studies It is believed to hold a substantial potential for regenerative medicine and biopharma Differentiated derivatives of these cells are applicable for screening assays in development of novel pharmaceutical moieties Screening for mutagenic as well as toxic compounds can also be carried out using such derivatives Presence of lack of suitable donor organs and tissues for regenerative medicine is expected to increase the demand thus influencing growth Stem cell research is anticipated to exhibit fastest growth amongst the other applications However, presence of controversies pertaining to their use as a consequence of ethical considerations is responsible for steady growth Europe accounts for considerable share of the market, following North America accounts for considerable share of the market, following As per a recent survey carried out by Swiss government, citizens there are more willing to accept embryonic stem cell research than politicians Asia Pacific is anticipated to drive market with fastest YoY growth is anticipated to drive market with fastest YoY growth Rising awareness amongst the population and physicians with respect to associated therapies is anticipated to propel progress Key players contributing in this market are CellGenix GmbH, International Stem Cell Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.; Kite Pharma, PromoCell GmbH, and Lonza Presence of clinical trial pipeline for embryonic stem cell derived therapy for targeting different diseases is expected to fuel growth. The diseases targeted include macular degeneration, Parkinson's disease, type I diabetes mellitus, and spinal cord injury. Browse related reports by Grand View Research: SNP Genotyping Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/snp-genotyping-m a rket Recombinant DNA Technology Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/recombinant-dna-technology-mark e t Healthcare Nanotechnology (Nanomedicine) Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/healthcare-nanotecholo g y Mononucleosis Diagnostic Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/mononucleosis-diagnostic-market Grand View Research has segmented the human embryonic stem cells market on the basis of application and region: Human Embryonic Stem Cells Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Regenerative medicine Stem cell biology research Tissue engineering Toxicology testing Human Embryonic Stem Cells Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK Asia Pacific Japan China Latin America Brazil Middle East and Africa (MEA) South Africa Read Our Blog: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/blogs/healthcare About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. Thecompany provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. ("Naturally Splendid") (FRANKFURT: 50N)(TSX VENTURE: NSP)(OTCQB: NSPDF) is pleased to provide the following update on its proprietary omega encapsulation technology HempOmega and the addition of Ms. Kelley Fitzpatrick to the Advisory Board. Since Naturally Splendid commercialized its first version of HempOmega in late 2015, the Company has been developing advancing formulations of its Omega encapsulation technology with it's R&D partner POS-Bio Sciences. The technology has proven to be feasible and economical for multiple applications. This includes the recent Dog Food trials as per the recently announced Canature Processing Ltd. agreement to create HempOmega infused dog food and treats. Naturally Splendid HempOmega updates: We are pleased to announce that we have created several new versions of HempOmega for various applications: HempOmega Beverages - With the cooperation of Dr. Rick Green, VP of Technology at POS Biosciences, NSE was able to fortify a juice beverage with HempOmega that delivered a plant based omega formulation solution for the beverage industry. The process incorporated encapsulated materials to inhibit oil oxidation while providing your daily dose of omega nutrition. HempOmega Flavored Protein Blends - Naturally Splendid has formulated HempOmega into two hemp protein powder blends, Isodiol's IsoSport Pro369 which features four flavours; Vanilla Caramel, Banana Chocolate, Mixed Berry and Tropical Powder - that received Natural Product Numbers "(NPN)"from Health Canada. NSE recently launched its own HempOmega infused hemp protein drink, NATERA Hemp Protein 369 at the recent Canadian Health Food Tradeshow "(CHTA)" in Vancouver, Canada. HempOmega Bakery - Naturally Splendid along with the Saskatoon Food and Development Centre, was able to create a successful unleavened bread product that incorporated HempOmega. This HempOmega version provides a solution to the frozen pizza, flat bread industry to incorporate plant based omegas as an ingredient into their products. HempOmega Pet Food - Working with the Alberta Food Development Centre, NSE created a nutritious pet food (dry kibble for dogs) that incorporated HempOmega. Our technology resolved the loss of lipids in the extrusion process. Testing conducted on the pet food prototypes demonstrated the profile for ALA, GLA, SDA from HempOmega survived the rigorus heat intensive manufacturing process. This demonstrated that HempOmega is suitable for pet food applications. HempOmega Livestock Feed - Animal studies were conducted at the university of Manitoba with the cooperation of Dr. James House, which demonstrated improved efficacy and bio availability for both broilers and layers. The thigh meat of the broilers and the eggs of the layers were analyzed and showed higher expression of omegas versus "normal" feeding methods. HempOmega Cosmetics - Naturally Splendid worked with Dr. Jeremy from the USA to create a topical solution that addressed anti-inflammation and joint pain by combining HempOmega with CBD. The antidotal feedback from Dr. Jeremy and his team was the immediate relief of joint pain. HempOmega Emulsion and Powder - The emulsion is the liquid precursor to the powdered version. The HempOmega powder increases the range of uses and applications depending on the manufacturing processes. Both the emulsion and the powder are commercially scalable and approved for animal and human consumption All of these versions are designed to be tailored to the specific needs of the product. NSE will continue its development of HempOmega for other markets. Naturally Splendid CEO Dave Eto States," These versions of HempOmega technology represent the initial stages of the many possible applications that are yet to be discovered. As mentioned in previous news releases our IsoSport Pro369 formulation and new Canture pet food and treat products are an example of HempOmega applications. While our current main focus is with hemp, it is important to understand that our omega encapsulation technology is not limited to hemp oil, but is in fact, applicable to any plant-based omega oils such as flax, chia and algae to name a few. We are in discussions with multiple companies covering the fore mentioned versions of HempOmega and I look forward to sharing our progress as these discussion mature. Kelley C. Fitzpatrick is the president of NutriScience Solutions, Inc., a Manitoba based consulting firm. Kelley is a well-recognized expert in numerous areas of Canadian agriculture, health, regulatory and government affairs. Kelley provides a unique and comprehensive perspective on the agriculture and health sector in Canada, having worked with all stakeholders including government, private industry, research, trade associations and as an entrepreneur. With over 25 years of experience, Kelley possesses extensive scientific, regulatory, promotion, marketing and management experience. She is a versatile professional with diverse leadership experience, association management expertise and business acumen. Kelley is an exceptional communicator, a respected and reliable industry representative, and an expert resource for private companies. Kelley is well-versed in board facilitation, governance and operation. Kelley's knowledge of scientific and marketing strategies, competitive assessment reports, business planning, research and sales support has assisted numerous stakeholders of novel food ingredients to introduce products to international food companies throughout the agriculture and food value-chain. Ms. Fitzpatrick has a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg. Company CEO Dave Eto summarizes, "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Kelley to our Advisory Board. Kelley was involved in preparing the initial Market Study on HempOmega for Naturally Splendid. Kelley is very knowledgeable of our proprietary omega encapsulation technology. Her years of experience in the agriculture and health sectors will be of great benefit in our efforts to further commercialize our Omega technologies". For more information on HempOmega please visit: www.hempomega.com About Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. Naturally Splendid is a multifaceted biotechnology company that is developing, producing, commercializing, and licensing an entirely new generation of plant-derived, bioactive ingredients, nutrient dense foods, and related products. Naturally Splendid is building an expanding portfolio of patents (issued and pending) and proprietary intellectual property focused on the commercial uses of industrial hemp and non-psychoactive cannabinoid compounds in a broad spectrum of applications. Naturally Splendid currently has six innovative divisions: (1) Natera brand of retail hemp superfood products currently distributed throughout North America and Asia; (2) Chi Hemp Industries Incorporated (Chii) is selling natural and organic hemp products through e-commerce (3) PawsitiveFX brand of pet care products; (4) NateraIngredients, division of plant-derived bulk ingredients including patent-pending HempOmega; (5) POS-BPC Facility a 12,000-square-foot facility which is managed for Naturally Splendid by POS Bio-Sciences - is positioned to offer commercial-scale custom processing solutions for biological materials, such as functional foods and natural health ingredients to a wide range of clients;(6) Naturally Splendid USA offers,NateraCBD brand of retail hemp based cannabinoid nutraceutical and cosmeceutical products and NateraSkincare brand of retail hemp based cosmeceutical products. Naturally Splendid's advanced technologies, industry expertise, and strategic partners allow for the creation of customized solutions with a consistent focus on quality and sustainability. For more information e-mail info@naturallysplendid.com or call Investor Relations at 604-673-9573 On Behalf of the Board of Directors Mr. Dave Eto, CEO, Director Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Naturally Splendid cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Naturally Splendid's control including, the Naturally Splendid's ability to compete with large food and beverage companies; sales of any potential products developed will be profitable; sales of shelled hemp seed will continue at existing rates or increase; the ability to complete the sales of all bulk hemp seed purchase orders; and the risk that any of the potential applications may not receive all required regulatory or legal approval. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Naturally Splendid undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. 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: Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. Office: (604) 465-0548 Fax: (604) 465-1128 E-mail: info@naturallysplendid.com Website: www.naturallysplendid.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Canacol Energy Ltd. ("Canacol" or the "Corporation") (TSX: CNE)(OTCQX: CNNEF)(BVC: CNEC) is pleased to report on the conventional natural gas prospective resources (resources other than reserves, ROTR) for its Esperanza, VIM-21, VIM-5, and VIM-19 exploration blocks in the Lower Magdalena valley basin of Colombia. Prospective resources are based on a new independent resources audit prepared by Gaffney, Cline & Associates ("GCA"), effective December 31, 2016 (the "GCA Report"). Canacol Energy Ltd Gross Prospective Resources Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross Prospective Resources (1) Mean Unrisked Prospective Risked Prospective Resources Resources ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Conventional natural gas BCF 2,037.0 482.0 Before tax EMV-10 (2) US $MM 789.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Gross prospective resources are represented at Canacol's 100% working interest share before royalties. (2) Expected Monetary Value (EMV) is stated in millions of USD and is discounted at 10 percent. Charle Gamba, President and CEO of Canacol, commented "The Corporation has achieved significant conventional natural gas exploration and development drilling success across its substantial acreage position in the Lower Magdalena valley basin over the past 3 years. Mark Teare, Canacol's Senior Vice President of Exploration will comment about our large inventory of conventional natural gas opportunities, and the Corporation's recent engagement of GCA to prepare an independent audit of the prospective resources of the inventory plays, prospects and leads." Mr. Teare said "GCA's independent prospective resources audit evaluated and estimated conventional natural gas prospective resources for 47 individual prospects and leads, which Canacol has aggregated to an unrisked mean of 2 trillion standard cubic feet or a risked mean of 482 billion standard cubic feet. The estimated prospective resources underline the significant potential of Canacol's exploration blocks located in the Lower Magdalena valley basin of northern Colombia. Using state of the art 3D seismic acquisition and processing technology, our subsurface G&G technical team has developed techniques to high-grade prospects that may be gas charged in the Oligocene aged Cienaga de Oro Formation ("CDO") thereby reducing the geological risk associated with drilling of the prospects. In addition, recent exploration drilling success at the Nelson 6 exploration well has opened up a new shallow gas play in the Miocene aged Porquero Formation ("Porquero"), which our subsurface G&G team is currently investigating further across our blocks. With an established prospect and lead inventory that contains multiple exploration drilling targets in the CDO, and a new gas exploration fairway proven in the shallow Porquero sandstone reservoir, we anticipate being very busy exploring our blocks in the foreseeable future." Third Party Independent Audit for Conventional Natural Gas Prospective Resources (Resources Other Than Reserves, ROTR) The following discussion is subject to a number of cautionary statements, assumptions and risks as set forth therein. See "Information Regarding Disclosure on Oil and Gas Resources and Operational Information" at the end of this release for additional cautionary language, explanations and discussion, and see "Forward-looking Statements" for a statement of principal assumptions and risks that may apply. See also "Definitions" in this press release. The discussion includes reference to prospective resources as per the GCA Report, which was prepared in accordance with the COGE Handbook. GCA was commissioned to conduct an independent prospective resources audit of Canacol's internal estimates of prospective resources for the Corporation's 100% Working Interest position in the Esperanza, VIM-21, VIM-5, and VIM-19 exploration blocks in the Lower Magdalena valley basin (the "Audited Areas") effective December 31, 2016. All references in the following discussion to prospective resources are in reference to conventional natural gas in the Audited Areas included in the GCA Report. On an unrisked and risked basis, the following table represents an aggregation of gross prospective resources and associated after royalty before tax expected monetary value for identified plays, leads and prospects (1, 2, 3) on the four exploration blocks. (1) Play: A family of geologically similar fields, discoveries, prospects and leads. (2) Lead: A potential accumulation within a play that requires more data acquisition and/or evaluation in order to be classified as a prospect. (3) Prospect: A potential accumulation within a play that is sufficiently well defined to represent a viable drilling target. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Risked Unrisked Prospective Resources Prospective (BCF) Resources BT EMV Low Best Mean High Mean ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- P90 P50 P10 (BCF) (US $MM) Total 1,418 1,910 2,037 2,768 482 $ 789 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cautionary Statement: 1. There is no certainty that any portion of the resources will be discovered. If discovered, there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources. 2. An estimate of expected monetary value of future net revenue of prospective resources is preliminary in nature and is provided to assist the reader in reaching an opinion on the merit and likelihood of the Corporation proceeding with the required investment. It includes prospective resources that are considered too uncertain with respect to the chance of discovery and chance of development to be classified as reserves. There is uncertainty that the expected monetary value of future net revenue will be realized. Table Notes (1) The GCA Report includes estimates of unrisked prospective resources, risked prospective resources and EMVs for individual prospects and leads. The aggregations of these estimates were prepared by Canacol. (2) The Corporation aggregates probabalistically to the country level for internal portfolio management and long term planning. As required by COGEH Volume 2, Sections 2.8.1, an explanation of this aggregation methodology is provided. A single distribution of prospective resource volumes on an unrisked and risked basis was generated by means of a multiple trial Monte Carlo simulation incorporating Chance of Discovery (Geological Chance of Success (GCoS)), and Chance of Development (CoD) of all 47 prospects and leads from GCA's audit. From the distribution, the Mean is the average value of the distribution, and as such represents the most accurate single point estimation of the expected recoverable volume. The Mean of the distribution is represented on a risked basis relative to the unrisked case to provide the reader a more balanced perspective on the likely outcome of an exploration drilling program of all 47 prospects and leads. (3) CoD was quantified by GCA for each prospect and lead by combining the chance of achieving a minimum economic field size (MEFS) with the chance that a discovery would be developed i.e. the chance of achieving commerciality. The overall risked volume for a given prospect or lead is the combination of GCoS and CoD applied to the unrisked volume with the exception that if the EMV for the prospect or lead is negative, the CoD was set to zero resulting in zero risked resource. (4) The volumes reported in the table above (Low (P90), Best (P50), Mean, High (P10)) are Gross Prospective Resources volumes at Canacol's Gross Working Interest (100%) in the exploration blocks. (5) All prospects and leads included in this release are conventional natural gas. Conventional natural gas volumes are reported in billions of cubic feet at standard conditions of 1 Bar and 20 degrees Celsius. (6) Opportunities reported above are potential hydrocarbon accumulations identified on the basis of available data, and depending on the level of information available for their assessment are sub classified as plays, leads and prospects. The assessed GCoS varies, from opportunity to opportunity, and GCA has stated that the leads may require additional seismic data prior to becoming viable drillable prospects. One third of the opportunities are classified as leads. (7) The mean aggregate Expected Monetary Value (EMV) in the table above are summations of individual prospect and lead mean EMVs which are calculated as being independent of each other. A schedule for exploration activity was applied to the economic analysis so that a reasonable timing assumption for drilling was represented. This schedule assumes the procurement of four rigs operating over three years to assess the potential of the portfolio. (8) The EMVs are the product of a decision tree analysis whereby cash flows using a 10% annual discount rate and incorporating the fiscal regime governing the prospects and leads are multiplied by GCoS and CoD, representing the success case, and added to the cash flow of the failure case of a dry hole multiplied by one minus the product of GCoS and CoD. For a given prospect or lead, the mean EMV represents the arithmetic average of expected EMVs. In the table, before tax EMV-10 is represented as the sum of the mean EMVs for each prospect and lead (9) Economic modeling was based on a pre-development study representing assumptions derived from the Corporation's experience of drilling exploration and development wells, construction of gathering systems and flowlines, and the expansion of processing facilities within the prospective area. (10) The gas price forecast used in the EMV analysis assumed US $5.62/mcf (the volume weighted average price of Canacol's signed contracts at the time of the analysis) escalated at 2%/yr starting in 2017. (11) To realize the modeled US $789 MM EMV10, the total risked capital to achieve commercial production in the mean case is US $742 MM. Over the 3 year schedule for exploration activity, the total capital associated with exploration activity is estimated to be US $194 MM (12) In estimating EMVs, no adjustment has been made for the risk that an economically viable discovery, if made would not be developed in a timely manner. (13) The EMVs reported here do not represent an opinion as to the market value of a property or any interest therein. The representation of prospective resources in the GCA report reflects the resource potential of the Corporation's 100% working interest land position (785,000 acres) in the Lower Magdalena valley basin. Of primary importance is the resource potential of the CDO comprised of up to 5000 feet of deltaic and marginal marine sandstones and shales. The CDO play is characterized by structural features such as faulted horst blocks and faulted three-way dip anticlinal closures. Specific prospects are identified and mapped using 3D seismic, and technical risk is further mitigated by the application of seismic attribute analysis to investigate the presence of gas-charged sandstones. The Corporation has enjoyed significant success in both its exploration and development drilling program with the CDO play, with 5 out of 6 exploration wells encountering gas (83% GCoS), and 4 out of 4 development wells encountering gas. The Corporation is committed to investigate new plays in addition to the CDO play to mitigate exploration risk. Of particular interest are the turbiditic sandstone reservoirs of the shallow Porquero. The new Porquero play is typically characterized by faulted, three-way dip anticlinal closures, but may also have a stratigraphic component. Porquero exploration prospects are identified and mapped using 3D seismic, and technical risk is further mitigated by the application of seismic attribute analysis to investigate the presence of gas-charged sandstones. Recent exploration success at Nelson 6 has successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of the seismic attribute analysis and confirmed the commerciality of the shallow Porquero play. Work in progress on recently reprocessed 3D seismic data has identified additional potential for the Porquero play. For both the CDO and the Porquero plays, and based upon the representation of prospective resources in the GCA Report, management expects that significant additional resources will be developed in the future with continued drilling success on currently undeveloped blocks. The significant factors that may change the prospective resources estimates include the outcome of further exploration and delineation drilling, which may change the estimates either positively or negatively, future technology improvements, which would positively affect the estimates, additional processing capacity that could positively affect the volumes recovered e.g. additional compression, and the requirement to meet regulatory contractual commitments to acquire seismic and drill exploratory wells to retain acreage. In accordance to the six considerations for Commerciality outlined in COGE Handbook Volume 2 Section 2.4.4, GCA represents risked prospective resources as a function of the Chance of Development (CoD) of any future discovery. Estimating CoD requires that the related development project be commercial such that the commerciality conditions of regulatory approval for facilities, flow lines and access to markets are met. All prospects and leads fall within 50 km of the Corporation's central processing facility at Jobo that may be easily expanded as required. The Corporation has successfully secured sales contracts for its existing production, and is confident of its ability to secure future contracts in an expanding market both along the Caribbean coast and inland Colombia. To achieve its current production levels for natural gas in northern Colombia, the Corporation has demonstrated its ability to manage other contingencies such as legal, regulatory, political, social license, internal and external approvals and access to project finance to ensure the timely execution of its exploration and field development plans in the future. Appropriate levels of capital investment are anticipated to ensure future full field development including drilling, tie-in, infrastructure buildout for facilities and flowlines, and abandonment and reclamation. The Corporation has prepared a realistic schedule for the execution of its proposed exploration drilling campaign over the next three years along with additional time scheduled for follow-up development drilling, installation of flow-lines, and plant expansion as required. Future field development will be for conventional natural gas. There is no expectation of HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) reservoirs in the Lower Magdalena valley basin. Any discovery will be developed using existing industry technology with standard gas completions in the well-bores, and standard surface treatment and compression facilities in a same manner as the seven operated fields presently under production (Nelson, Palmer, Clarinete, Oboe, Ariana, Canaflecha, and Katana). Definitions Resource definitions, including those set out below, are as specified by NI 51-101, including by reference to CSA Staff Notice 51-324 - Glossary to NI 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities and the COGE Handbook. "Resources" are quantities of petroleum that are estimated to exist originally in naturally occurring accumulations, including the quantity of petroleum that is estimated, as of a given date, to be contained in known accumulations, prior to production, plus those estimated quantities in accumulations yet to be discovered. "Prospective Resources" are defined as those quantities of petroleum estimated, on a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development, but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies. Contingencies may include factors such as economic, legal, environmental, political and regulatory matters or a lack of markets. As used in this press release, "BCF" means billion standard cubic feet. The above prospective resources volumes under the heading "un-risked" have not been adjusted for the Chance of Discovery and the Chance of Development, while the prospective resources volumes under the heading "risked" have been risk discounted for the GCA's estimates of Chance of Discovery (Geological Chance of Success (GCoS)) and Chance of Development (CoD) which involves assessing various risks based upon a number of assumptions and other factors. The Chance of Development is the probability that a resource, once it has been discovered, will ultimately be commercially developed. While the Corporation believes that such estimates and underlying assumptions are reasonable, many of these assumptions are beyond the Corporation's control, are subject to change and may not, over time, prove to be accurate. As a result, the actual level of various risks (including those currently identified and that may be identified in the future) could prove to be greater and the Chance of Development lower than currently estimated. Such differences could be material. The estimates of prospective resources provided in this press release are estimates only and there is no guarantee that the estimated prospective resources will be recovered. Actual prospective resources may be greater than or less than the estimates provided in this press release and the differences may be material. There is no certainty that any portion of the prospective resources will be discovered. If discovered, there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the prospective resources. Estimates of prospective resources are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and would require substantial capital spending over a significant number of years to implement recovery. Actual locations drilled and quantities that may be ultimately recovered from our properties will differ substantially. In addition, we have made no commitment to drill, and likely will not drill, all of the drilling locations that have been attributable to these quantities. The following classification of prospective resources represented probabilistically as used in this press release: -- Low Estimate means there is at least a 90 percent probability (P90) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the low estimate. -- Best Estimate means there is at least a 50 percent probability (P50) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the best estimate. -- High Estimate means there is at least a 10 percent probability (P10) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the high estimate. -- Mean Estimate represents the arithmetic average of the expected recoverable volume. It is the most accurate single point representation of the volume distribution. Information Regarding Disclosure on Oil and Gas Resources and Operations All amounts in this press release are stated in United States dollars unless otherwise specified. Other than as otherwise disclosed in this press releases, projects have not been defined to develop the resources in the evaluated areas as at the evaluation date. Such projects have historically been developed sequentially over a number of drilling seasons and are subject to annual budget constraints, Canacol's policy of orderly development on a staged basis, the timing of the growth of third-party infrastructure, the short- and long-term view of Canacol on gas prices, the results of exploration and development activities of Canacol and others in the area and possible infrastructure capacity constraints. Canacol is an exploration and production company with operations focused in Colombia and Ecuador. The Corporation's common stock trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the OTCQX in the United States of America, and the Colombia Stock Exchange under ticker symbol CNE, CNNEF, and CNE.C, respectively. Forward-Looking Information and Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect," "anticipate," "continue," "estimate," "objective," "ongoing," "may," "will," "project," "should," "believe," "plans," "intends," "strategy," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release reflect several material factors and expectations and assumptions of Canacol including, without limitation: that Canacol will continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with past operations; results from drilling and development activities are consistent with past results; the continued and timely development of infrastructure in areas of new production; the general continuance of current industry conditions; the continuance of existing (and in certain circumstances, the implementation of proposed) tax, royalty and regulatory regimes; the accuracy of the estimates of Canacol's resource volumes; certain commodity price and other cost assumptions; and the continued availability of adequate debt and equity financing and cash flow to fund its planned expenditures. There are a number of assumptions associated with the development of the prospects and leads, including the quality of the reservoirs, continued performance from existing wells, future drilling programs and performance from new wells, the growth of infrastructure, well density per section, and recovery factors and development necessary involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including those risks identified in this press release. Canacol believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information and statements included in this press release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such information and 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 information or statements including, without limitation: changes in commodity prices; the early stage of development of some areas in the evaluated areas; the potential for variation in the quality of formations, changes in the demand for or supply of Canacol's products; unanticipated operating results or production declines unanticipated results from Canacol's exploration and development activities; changes in tax or environmental laws, royalty rates or other regulatory matters; changes in development plans of Canacol, increased debt levels or debt service requirements; inaccurate estimation of Canacol's oil and gas reserve and resource volumes; limited, unfavorable or a lack of access to capital markets; increased costs; a lack of adequate insurance coverage; the impact of competitors; and certain other risks detailed from time to time in Canacol's public disclosure documents (including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release and in Canacol's most recent Annual Information Form). The forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and none of Canacol or its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. Contacts: Investor Relations 214-235-4798 IR@canacolenergy.com canacolenergy.com BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French shares eased slightly on Tuesday as rising geopolitical worries spurred demand for safe-haven assets. The benchmark CAC 40 was down 7 points or 0.13 percent at 5,100 in opening deals after losing half a percent the previous day. Banks were on the decline, with BNP Paribas and Societe Generale losing around 1 percent. Luxury goods firm LVMH advanced 1.5 percent after its first-quarter sales surged 15 percent, boosted by strong sales across the company's empire of luxury brands. In economic releases, Eurozone industrial production declined unexpectedly in February after rebounding in the previous month, data from Eurostat showed. Industrial output dropped 0.3 percent month-over-month in February, reversing a 0.3 percent rise in January, which was revised down from 0.9 percent. Economists had expected a 0.1 percent increase for the month. 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, BC--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - Press Release Highlights: First underground drill rig mobilized at Triangle, 10,000 meter ("m") definition drill program on the C2 structure to commence soon Groupe BBA Inc. ("BBA") retained as the Independent consultant to supervise and audit processes for the upcoming bulk sample at Triangle, which will commence in May 2017 The main exploration ramp at Triangle is now at 850 m in length and has reached the southwestern edge of the C2 structure - including secondary development (ventilation raise, muck and safety bays, electricals stations) a total of 1,345 m in underground workings have been completed Petra Decher, CPA, CA, Independent Director of the Company since March 2015 has been appointed Lead Director Integra Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ICG) (OTCQX: ICGQF) ("Integra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced a 10,000 m underground drill program at the Triangle Deposit ("Triangle") on its 100% owned Lamaque Gold Project ("Lamaque" or the "Property") in Val-d'Or, Quebec. The underground drill program has been designed to test the bulk sample target in the C2 structure ("C2") at 10 m centers. Drill bays for this program are located at the 76 level and 94 level (vertical distance in m from surface) of the Triangle exploration ramp. The completion of the bulk sample exercise is expected in the second half of 2017. "The beginning of the underground drill program at Triangle marks a new milestone for the Company. As the project advances, this program will help ensure the bulk sample is thorough and successful, from both geological and engineering perspectives," noted Stephen de Jong, President and CEO of Integra. "The exploration ramp has also been advancing on schedule, including 58 meters of total development last week, the most efficient week of ramp construction to date at Triangle. In addition to ramp construction and the underground exploration program at Triangle, the Company has 5 drills active at Lamaque, 3 on surface at Triangle, one underground at Triangle, and one on the Lamaque Deep target." BBA Retained for Triangle Bulk Sample Program After completing a rigorous selection process, the Company has retained BBA as its geological, engineering, mining and milling consultant for auditing of the bulk sampling processes at Triangle. BBA is an independent Canadian consulting engineering firm headquartered in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec. BBA consults in several geological and engineering disciplines with a particular focus on energy, mining and metals. Prior to the start of the bulk sampling program, BBA consultants will assist Integra technical staff in establishing the proper sampling protocols (both underground and at the mill), milling protocols, and reconciliation exercises required to validate the bulk sampling program. These protocols will ensure the following four objectives of the bulk sampling program are met: The bulk sampling program will further confirm the geometry and continuity of gold bearing structures through detailed underground mapping and core logging; The bulk sampling program will further analyze the gold distribution within the deposit using chip and muck samples, and reconciliation with other sampling methods; The bulk sampling program will compare and reconcile the geological resource estimates using wider spaced exploration diamond drill holes, closer spaced definition underground drilling data, chip and muck samples, and the milling results; The bulk sampling program will confirm gold recovery at the mill. Throughout the bulk sampling program, BBA will act as an independent consultant to regularly audit the sampling work and ensure established protocols are followed. Infill Drilling within C2 Structure Results in Substantial Resource Growth in Recent Resource Estimate Update, Increase in Indicated Ounces, Grade and Average Thickness The location of the bulk sample, the upper part of the C2 structure, has experienced substantial growth, in both tonnes and grade, through extensive drilling of the structure, an outcome not typically associated with infill drilling. The average thickness of the C2 structure has also increased from 3.2 m to 3.8 m. C2 is located near surface and would account for the majority of production in the first 4 years of the proposed mine plan. The underground drill program at C2 is also an infill drill program and will decrease spacing at C2 from approximately 25 m to 10 m. The following table has been prepared in order to illustrate that growth at C2. This updated resource estimate was not included in the recently completed Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"), which was announced on February 27, 2017. Comparison of C2 Structure Resources at 5 g/t Cut-off November 2016 versus March 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date Indicated Resource Inferred Resource ------------------------------------------------------------ Grade Grade Tonnes (Au g/t) Au Ounces Tonnes (Au g/t) Au Ounces ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 2016 432,800 7.79 108,350 271,500 7.03 61,350 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 2017 1,146,100 8.65 318,750 31,800 6.01 6,140 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Variance +165% +11% +194% -88% -15% -90% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Triangle Exploration Ramp Continues on Schedule, 58 Meters of Development Work Completed Last Week in Best Week Ever The Triangle exploration ramp has progressed 850 m at Lamaque, with 1,345 m of total underground development. Drill bays have been completed at the 76 level and 94 level (vertical depth from surface). A ventilation raise has been started at the 68 level which will connect to surface in late spring 2017. To view a plan of the exploration ramp with photos, click on the following link: http://www.integragold.com/site/assets/files/2255/updaterampgraphic_vuse.pdf Company Appoints Lead Director The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Petra Decher, CPA, CA, as Lead Director of the Company. Ms. Decher has been a director of the Company since March 2015. Ms. Decher was most recently the Vice President, Finance and Assistant Secretary for Franco-Nevada Corporation. Prior to Franco-Nevada, Ms. Decher was President and Chief Financial Officer for Geoinformatics Exploration Inc., an exploration company focused on projects in British Columbia, Nevada, Mexico and Australia. Petra is a Chartered Accountant and a Quebec native. Project and Company Profile Integra Gold is a junior gold exploration company advancing projects in Val-d'Or, Quebec, one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world. The Company's primary focus is its high-grade Lamaque South project. In the fall of 2014, Integra completed the accretive acquisition of the Sigma Mill and Mine Complex, a fully permitted 2,200 ton per day mill and tailings facility. With major federal and provincial permits in place, existing infrastructure and significant exploration potential, this acquisition removed major capital costs and shortened timelines typically associated with mine development projects. Integra has raised over $125 million since 2013, at successively higher share prices, despite depressed gold prices. Qualified Persons The Lamaque project is under the direct supervision of Herve Thiboutot, Eng., Senior Vice-President of the Company, Jacques Simoneau, P. Geo., Exploration Manager of the Company, Francois Chabot, Eng., Operations Manager, Jessy Thelland, P. Geo., underground Chief Geologist at Integra. The technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Thiboutot, Qualified Persons ("QPs") as defined by the National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephen de Jong CEO & President 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this release constitute forward-looking statements, including timing and results of future development studies, of a resource estimate on other deposits and the Sigma zone, and the results of future exploration work. In making the forward-looking statements in this release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company, including that the Company is able to procure personnel, equipment and supplies required for its exploration activities in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis and that actual results of exploration activities are consistent with management's expectations. Although the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Corporate Inquiries: Chris Gordon chris@integragold.com Or visit the company website: www.integragold.com Follow Integra Gold On: Twitter: http://twitter.com/integragoldcorp VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- GMV Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "GMV") (TSX VENTURE: GMV) is pleased to announce the results of its large scale (1 metre in diameter by 6 metres in height column) testing of material from a low-grade portion of the Mexican Hat gold resource. The test was designed to estimate gold recoveries from marginal-grade mineralization at Mexican Hat and its suitability for potential Run of Mine (ROM) heap leach processing. Results from screening analysis confirmed gold mineralization is generally confined to fracture planes. Thus, more heavily fractured rock within the gold zone carries higher grades and the rock will preferentially break along these fractures. Unfractured rock does not contain significant gold values, and is not as friable as the more heavily fractured, higher grade, sections of the gold zones. As a result, there is a strong positive correlation between gold grades and particle size, with the coarser material being significantly lower grade than the finer particles. Feed to the column graded 0.282 grams of gold per tonne (reconciled grades). Feed coarser than 2" represented 33.4% of the total mass tested, yet contained only 20% of the gold. Material finer than 2" represented 66.6% of the feed and contained 80% of the gold. The minus 2-inch material had a calculated head grade of 0.34 gpt gold and yielded 78% recovery of the gold. The plus 2-inch material had a calculated head grade of 0.17 gpt gold (less than cut-off grade) and yielded a 39% gold recovery for an overall recovery of 70% on 0.28 gpt feed. Ian Klassen, President of the Company reported, "These gold recoveries of 78% for our minus 2-inch low-grade mineralization confirms ROM leaching would be a viable recovery process. It is also of great importance that no clay or refractory issues were observed during testing. Previous testing of 2.4 tonnes of higher-grade material (crushed to 2 inches) at 0.5 gpt and 1.5 gpt returned 91.6% and 96.6% recoveries on the minus 3/4-inch component after 90 days and 80-90% overall recovery. It is very encouraging that the mineralization can be upgraded significantly simply by size and thereby offers potential for upgrading gold recovery in a mining scenario simply by concentrating the blast matrix. Further testing will be carried out to optimize metallurgical recoveries with a low-cost flowsheet as we continue to add tonnage and ounces by drill testing the Mexican Hat." Mr. John Fox, P. Eng., the Company's metallurgist reported, "these results together with more comprehensive bottle roll testing have confirmed that no significant differences or issues exist from all known mineralized rock-types from the property. This demonstrates substantial potential for a low cost ROM or ROM plus screening and single stage crush operation for the property. The results are materially better than average results for ROM testing, when compared to currently operating open pit heap leach operations in the world, thus confirming that this low-cost recovery method presents a viable option for the gold recovery of the deposit's lower-grade material." These test results are from a 20-tonne sample of low grade mineralization from Mexican Hat. The Company tested 7.0 tonnes in the 6m column at nominal minus 6-inch crush to determine ROM heap leach potential in a 135 day leach. Recovery curves reveal better leach results from finer-grained material with the minus 2-inch material grading twice that of the plus 2-inch material. Bottle roll testing of different mineralized rock types run during this program also confirmed excellent gold recoveries from all units identified on the property at all sample depths. Column testing was consistent, confirming 80% plus recoveries in all units with an appropriate crush with no apparent clay or refractory issues. Cyanide and lime consumption was 0.46 kg/t and 1.61 kg/t respectively after 135 days of leaching. All testing was conducted at Bureau Veritas Laboratories in Richmond, BC under the supervision of Dr. A. Shi and Mr. John Fox. Mr. John Fox, P.Eng. is the Q.P. for this release within the meaning of NI43-101 and has reviewed the technical content of this release and has approved its content. Five drill holes on the Hernandez Hill epithermal target intersected weak to moderate silicification in four areas. Three of these holes confirmed elevated to very elevated gold pathfinder elements including silver and gold, however no economic values were obtained. The target remains highly prospective and further exploration is planned. Lastly, pursuant to GMV's recently completed winter RC drill program, the Company is in the midst of modeling the results to determine: (a) how this will further enhance a revised resource calculation and NI43-101 expected later this year, and (b) assist the Company in the next phase of drilling to futher expand the known gold resource at the Mexican Hat. The Company is now permitting this next phase of drilling. About GMV Minerals Inc. GMV Minerals Inc. is a publicly traded exploration company focused on developing precious metal assets in Arizona. GMV, through its 100% owned subsidiary, has a 100% interest in a Mining Property Lease commonly referred to as the Mexican Hat project, located in Cochise County, Arizona, USA. The Mexican Hat property contains an inferred mineral resource of 23,452,000 tonnes grading 0.70 grams of gold per tonne hosting 531,400 troy ounces of gold. The project was initially explored by Placer Dome (USA) in the late 1980's to early 1990's. GMV is focused on developing the asset and realizing the full mineral potential of the property through near term gold production. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ian Klassen, 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. This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management of the Company regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements except as may be required by law. Contacts: GMV Minerals Inc. Ian Klassen (604) 899-0106 info@gmvminerals.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Tinkerine Studios Ltd. ("Tinkerine" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: TTD)(FRANKFURT: WB6B)(OTC PINK: TKSTF) is pleased to announce the signing of a partnership agreement ("Agreement") with MyClassNeeds, an affiliate of Curriculum Services Canada ("CSC") to provide 3D printing solutions for K-12 schools located in British Columbia and Ontario. Under this Agreement, the Company will provide the Tinkerine DittoPro 3D Printer Starter Bundle for qualified teachers seeking to expand on projects related to 3D printing and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math ("STEAM") education. Under this Agreement, Schools must be K-12 schools located in British Columbia or Ontario, Canada and must receive majority of their operational funding from public sources to be eligible to participate. This includes Catholic (and other faith-based) schools and independent schools as long as they receive the majority of their operational funding through the public system. First Nations schools funded by the federal government through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada are also eligible. Projects from all disciplines will considered, and each project must clearly identify a potential benefit to student learning. President and CEO Eugene Suyu states; "We look forward to expanding our user base with the partnership agreement with MyClassNeeds, and continue to identify and evaluate strategic relationships for the expansion of Tinkerine product sales and services in education institutions." Additional information on this program can be viewed at: https://myclassneeds.ca/en/initiative/tinkerine-2017/program-faq/ ABOUT TINKERINE STUDIOS LTD. Tinkerine Studios designs and manufactures user-friendly award winning 3D printers and software, with a focus on STEAM based educational content and online training tools. Tinkerine also manufactures its own line of high purity filament for 3D printers. Tinkerine and Ditto are registered trademarks of Tinkerine Studios Ltd., all rights reserved. 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: Dean Stuart Investor Relations 403 617 7609 dean@boardmarker.net HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Immunovaccine Inc. (TSX: IMV)(OTCQX: IMMVF), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, today announced that University Health Network's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) has received Health Canada clearance to initiate a clinical study evaluating immunotherapies from Immunovaccine and Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada). The Phase 2 triple-combination therapy trial is designed to evaluate the potential anti-tumor activity of Merck's pembrolizumab with Immunovaccine's lead cancer vaccine candidate, DPX-Survivac, in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Patients will also receive low-dose cyclophosphamide. "There continues to be a significant unmet medical need for many ovarian cancer patients and we are pleased to have Health Canada grant clearance for this triple-combination therapy trial, which may be a means to address the complexities of the disease," said Frederic Ors, Immunovaccine's Chief Executive Officer. "Research has shown that ovarian cancer can be positively impacted by the activation of T cells - the hallmark of our DPX-Survivac mechanism of action. We believe that DPX-Survivac is uniquely positioned to be the enabling agent of choice, with a novel, clinically demonstrated ability to generate relevant, sustained immune responses. The initiation of this trial will mark the next stage of development for an exciting triple-combination therapeutic approach." Merck is funding and contributing materials for the non-randomized, open-label trial, which is expected to enroll 42 subjects with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. Immunovaccine is contributing its product candidate as well as a related portion of analytical assays. The study's primary objective is to assess overall response rate (ORR). Secondary study objectives include progression free survival (PFS) rate, overall survival (OS) rate, and potential side effects, over a five-year period. DPX-Survivac is Immunovaccine's lead immuno-oncology candidate, generated by its novel proprietary DepoVax adjuvanting technology platform. The DPX-Survivac target, survivin, is present in more than 20 types of solid tumor and hematologic cancers. It is involved in multiple critical pathways of cancer cell growth and survival. Prior results from a Phase 1/1b study indicated that DPX-Survivac combined with a low dose of cyclophosphamide was highly immunogenic in individuals with high-risk ovarian cancer, inducing survivin- specific T cell immune responses in most trial participants. About DPX-Survivac DPX-Survivac consists of survivin-based peptide antigens formulated in the DepoVax adjuvanting platform. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has recognized survivin as a promising tumor-associated antigen (TAA) because of its therapeutic potential and its cancer specificity. Survivin is broadly over-expressed in multiple cancer types in addition to ovarian cancer, including breast, colon and lung cancers. Survivin plays an essential role in antagonizing cell death, supporting tumor-associated angiogenesis, and promoting resistance to anti-cancer therapies. Survivin is also a prognostic factor for many cancers and it is found in a higher percentage of tumors than other TAAs. The DPX-Survivac vaccine is thought to work by eliciting a cytotoxic T-cell immune response against cells presenting survivin peptides. This targeted therapy attempts to use the immune system to search actively and specifically for tumor cells and destroy them. Survivin-specific T-cells have been shown to target and kill survivin-expressing cancer cells while sparing normal cells. DPX-Survivac received Fast Track designation by the FDA as maintenance therapy in individuals with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer who have no measureable disease following surgery and front-line platinum/taxane chemotherapy to improve their progression-free survival. The FDA also granted orphan drug status to DPX-Survivac for the treatment of ovarian cancer. This designation is valid for all applications of DPX-Survivac in ovarian cancer without restriction to a specific stage of disease. About the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre of the Toronto Hospital The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has achieved an international reputation as a global leader in the fight against cancer and delivering personalized cancer medicine. The Princess Margaret, one of the top five international cancer research centres, is a member of the University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Michener Institute for Education; all affiliated with the University of Toronto. For more information, go to www.theprincessmargaret.ca or www.uhn.ca. About Immunovaccine Immunovaccine Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to making immunotherapy more effective, more broadly applicable, and more widely available to people facing cancer and infectious diseases. Immunovaccine develops T cell activating cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on DepoVax, the Company's patented platform that provides controlled and prolonged exposure of antigens and adjuvant to the immune system. Immunovaccine has advanced two T cell activation therapies for cancer through Phase 1 human clinical trials and is currently conducting a Phase 1b study with Incyte Corporation assessing lead cancer therapy, DPX-Survivac, as a combination therapy in ovarian cancer. The Company is also exploring additional applications of DepoVax, including DPX-RSV, an innovative vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which has recently completed a Phase 1 clinical trial. Immunovaccine also has ongoing clinical projects to assess the potential of DepoVax to address malaria and the Zika virus. Connect at www.imvaccine.com. Immunovaccine Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information under applicable securities law. All information that addresses activities or developments that we expect to occur in the future is forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. However, they should not be regarded as a representation that any of the plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to risks affecting the Company, including access to capital, the successful completion of clinical trials and receipt of all regulatory approvals. Immunovaccine Inc. assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements in this press release except as required by law. Contacts: MEDIA Mike Beyer Sam Brown Inc. T: (312) 961-2502 E: mikebeyer@sambrown.com INVESTOR RELATIONS Pierre Labbe Chief Financial Officer T: (902) 492-1819 E: info@imvaccine.com Patti Bank Managing Director Westwicke Partners O: (415) 513-1284 T: (415) 515-4572 E: patti.bank@westwicke.com MCKINNEY, Texas, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: TMK) will release First Quarter 2017 earnings after the market closes on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. At that time a copy of the Company's Q1-2017 earnings press release and any other financial and statistical information about the quarter will be available on the Company's website at www.torchmarkcorp.com on the Investors page. In conjunction with Torchmark's First Quarter 2017 Earnings Release, you are invited to listen to a conference call that will be broadcast live over the Internet on Thursday, April 20, 2017, at 12:00 pm Eastern (11:00 am Central). 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. SAN DIEGO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) ("Gopher" and the "Company"), a development-stage company, which specializes in the development of real-time, heuristic-based - mobile technologies, and its partner Guardian Patch, LLC ("Guardian Orb") announced today that they completed a two-day field test mainly in the San Francisco area. Danny Rittman, the Company CTO, stated, "We welcome the opportunity to test our product on third party network as it proved for us the diversity of our core technology, which in simple words, means it can comply and work on other networks." The Guardian Orb prototypes are working with the Company's mobile app, which can be downloaded for free at the Apple Store and on Google Play under the name "Guardian Pet Tracker." As a courtesy to the public, the Company previously released the Guardian Patch app to provide users with live views of the Guardian Orb units during testing. Guardian Orb will post images as well as short videos documenting the field test. For the purpose of this field test, the Company SOW's vendor programmed the Guardian Orbs to comply with the third party infrastructure platform. The Company is evaluating the results of the field test, including comparing and verifying the results to a third-party data base and will announce the results in the near future. The Guardian Orb Pet Tracker (Sphere Internal name - the "Sphere") system is a derivative technology of Gopher's Guardian Patch technology. The Sphere is designed to provide its users with local tracking capability using a re-chargeable/replaceable battery source. The objective of Gopher's current efforts, is to deliver for testing in a pre-designated area, a few mobile units of the Guardian pet devices along with a base station, test results and eventual manufacturing capability for both the mobile and the base unit. About Gopher Protocol Inc. Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) ("Gopher" and the "Company") (http://gopherprotocol.com/) is a development-stage company developing a real-time, heuristic-based mobile technology. Upon development, the technology will consist of a smart microchip, mobile application software and supporting software that will run on a server. The system contemplates the creation of a global network. Gopher believes this will be the first system that is developed using a human, heuristic-based analysis engine. Since the core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology that will be capable of being installed in any mobile device worldwide, Gopher expects that this will result in an internal, private network between all mobile devices utilizing the microchip by providing mobile technology for computing power enhancement, advanced mobile database management/sharing and other additional mobile features. Corporate Site: http://gopherprotocol.com Press page/ press kit - http://gopherprotocol.com/?page_id=228 Consumer and product website for Guardian Patch: http://www.guardianpatch.com/. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release. Contact: Dr. Danny Rittman CTO Gopher Protocol Inc. VM Only 888-685-7336 Media: press@gopherprotocol.com WALTHAM, MA--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - The New England Employee Benefits Council (NEEBC) announces its Annual Employee Benefits Summit & Trade Show "Riding the Winds of Change: Strategies for Success" on Wednesday, May 24 in Newton, Massachusetts. This year's premier benefits event will provide insight and guidance on the hottest topics in employee benefits, including why high-deductible health plans may increase employers' costs, how to prepare for new developments under the Trump administration and why it is important to develop a positive employee healthcare experience. Join keynote speakers Dr. Reed V. Tuckson, Managing Director, Tuckson Health Connections, LLC; Dr. Bruce Sherman, Medical Director, Population Health Management, RightOpt; and James Slotnick, Assistant Vice President, Government Relations, Sun Life Financial, for an educational and informative day that will help organizations prepare for the rapidly changing employee benefits environment. A leading voice in healthcare, Dr. Tuckson's vision of comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and integrated healthcare sets the stage for the first keynote address "Riding the Winds of Change: Where Are We Going and How Do We Get There?" Dr. Bruce Sherman, a former consulting corporate medical director with a particular interest in the area of the business value of health, will explain why high-deductible health plans may be increasing organization's healthcare costs in his keynote address "Wage Matters: Emerging Evidence on the Impact of High-Deductible Health Plans." James Slotnick will wrap up the morning keynote sessions with insight into upcoming benefits changes in "The Trump Effect: What the New Administration Means for Employee Benefits." In the afternoon, attendees can choose between two concurrent sessions. During session one, Willis Towers Watson will discuss why now is the time for employers to focus on behavioral health. In the concurrent session, Oliver Wyman will highlight the importance of addressing consumer health hassles through experience innovation opportunities. In session two, Fidelity Investments will prepare employers to drive employee engagement through financial wellness. The concurrent session features BJ's Wholesale Club, Harvard Medical School/Mass. General Hospital and Wellness Workdays who will provide an overview of their worksite wellness research study and provide employers with practical advice for measuring the impact of a wellness program. NEEBC's Annual Employee Benefits Summit will provide attendees with the opportunity to visit with more than 55 exhibitors, including brokers and consultants, to discover the latest in benefits-related products and services. The closing cocktail reception will be held on the trade show floor to allow more time with the Summit's exhibitors. Limited opportunities to sponsor/exhibit are still available. Click here for more information. NEEBC's Annual Corporate Partners for the May 24 conference are Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Neighborhood Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Mercer, Aetna, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Benefit Resource, Inc., Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Quest Diagnostics and Tufts Health Plan. The Summit will be held from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Newton Marriott, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, Massachusetts. More information about NEEBC is available at www.neebc.org. For details about the event, click here. Register for the event here, call 781-684-8700 or contact admin@neebc.org. About NEEBC NEEBC (www.neebc.org) is a Waltham, Massachusetts nonprofit that advances knowledge and education in employee benefits. NEEBC's 1,250 members manage benefits for an estimated 2.5 million employees. Members include employers and providers of benefits consulting and services throughout New England. NEEBC's monthly educational programs feature presentations by guest speakers on topics of interest to the benefits community. Members have the opportunity to discuss ideas, become informed about new developments in the field and network with peers. Follow NEEBC on Facebook, LinkedIn and on Twitter at @NEEBC. Follow the conference conversation on Twitter at NEEBCSummit17. Melissa Maichle Essentia Marketing & PR www.essentiamarketingandpr.com 781.534.8620 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Canadian Orebodies Inc. (the "Company" or "Canadian Orebodies") (TSX VENTURE: CORE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mackenzie (Mac) Watson and Mr. Robert (Bob) Middleton to the Advisory Committee for the Company. Mr. Watson and Mr. Middleton join Mr. James (Jim) Gowans in forming an experienced Advisory Committee who are external advisors to the Company and will assist Canadian Orebodies' Management and Board of Directors in advancing the Hemlo North Limb and Wire Lake properties. "I have worked with and known these three outstanding individuals for a long time and I am very pleased they have agreed to be advisors to our team," said Gordon McKinnon, President and CEO of Canadian Orebodies. "All three are highly respected mining professionals with an impressive track record of success. They each possess a tremendous depth of knowledge and technical expertise that will be instrumental in advancing the Company's Hemlo North Limb and Wire Lake properties." Mr. Gowans has been President, CEO and a director of Arizona Mining Inc. since January 2016. Mr. Gowans was formerly Co-President of Barrick Gold Corporation from July 2014 to August 2015 and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from January to July 2014. Mr. Gowans has more than 30 years of experience in mineral exploration, mine feasibility studies, opening new mines, commissioning mine expansions and in the development of best practices in mine safety, mine operations and economic performance improvement. Mr. Gowans is a Professional Engineer and received a bachelor of applied science degree in mineral engineering from the University of British Columbia and attended the Banff School of Advanced Management. Mr. Watson, BSc., P.Geol., P.Eng., has over 50 years experience in the exploration, development, and mining industry, and has been involved in the discovery of numerous mineral deposits in Canada. He is currently Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. Mr. Watson spent his career in the junior mining sector, as CEO of Lynx Canada Exploration from 1969 to 1985, and CEO of Freewest Resources Canada Inc. from 1985 until 2010 when it was taken over by Cliffs Natural Resources. Mr. Watson was awarded Canada's Prospector of the Year Award in 1991 for his contribution to the discovery of the Harker Holloway gold mine (Ontario), the Icon-Sullivan copper mine (Quebec), the Long Lake zinc mine (Ontario), the Ellison gold deposit (Quebec) and the Hebecourt copper deposit (Quebec); and again in 2010 for his contributions to the mineral discoveries in the Ring of Fire area of Northern Ontario. He was also awarded the Quebec Prospector of the Year Award in 1992 for his participation in the discovery of the Pusticamica and Verneuil gold deposits in Quebec. In January 2015, Mr. Watson was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame. Mr. Middleton, P.Eng., MSc., is a graduate of the Provincial Institute of Mining (Haileybury), and has a BSc and MSc in Applied Geophysics from Michigan Tech (Houghton). Mr. Middleton was the first Geophysicist for the Government of Ontario while mapping the Timmins Camp. In 1979, he led the Rosario Resources Corporation team that discovered the Bell Creek Mine in Timmins, Ontario and, in 1982, he played a role in drilling the discovery hole at the Goliath Mine in Hemlo, Ontario. He is also credited with discovering the Cross Lake zinc deposit near Timmins, Ontario in 1997 and conducted exploration in the Nipigon Plate that led to the discovery of the Seagull PGE deposits. He has carried out over 30 geophysical, geological and drill programs in the Hemlo area since the 1980's for various majors and juniors. The Company also announces that it has granted incentive stock options to Directors, Officers and consultants of the Company in the aggregate amount of 200,000 under the terms of the incentive stock option plan of the Company. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.47 per share for a period of five years and are subject to a four month hold period from the date of the issuance thereof. About Canadian Orebodies Inc. Canadian Orebodies is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with a portfolio of properties in Ontario and Nunavut. Canadian Orebodies is focused on generating shareholder value through the advancement of its two Hemlo area properties: the North Limb and Wire Lake. For more information please visit www.canadianorebodies.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 Information This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements relating to mineral resources, potential mineralization, exploration results and the Company's plans with respect to the exploration and development of the Properties) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, changes in commodity prices, changes in equity markets, failure to establish mineral resources, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory approvals, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other ecological data, and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. 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. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, 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 therein. Contacts: Canadian Orebodies Inc. Gordon McKinnon President & CEO (416) 644-1747 www.canadianorebodies.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Osisko Mining Inc. (TSX: OSK) ("Osisko" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce new results from the ongoing drill program at its 100% owned Windfall Lake gold project located in Urban Township, Quebec. The current 400,000 metre drill program combines definition drilling above the Red Dog intrusion ("Red Dog"), expansion drilling above and below Red Dog, expansion drilling to the NE of the main deposit, and exploration drilling on the greater deposit and Urban-Barry Project area. New analytical results from six drill holes in the Caribou, Underdog and Lynx zones are reported in this release and in the table below, with significant assay results including: 585 g/t Au over 2.8 metres (including 5.45 kilogram/t Au over 0.30 metres containing spectacular visible gold veinlets; main interval averages 11.5 g/t Au over 2.8 metres cut to 100 g/t) in hole OSK-W-17-743-W4; 19.4 g/t Au over 7.9 metres (including 29.7 g/t Au over 4.5 metres; main interval averages 16.4 g/t Au over 7.9 metres cut to 100 g/t) in hole OSK-W-17-789; and 24.9 g/t Au over 3.1 metres in hole OSK-W-17-W-802. Maps showing hole locations and full analytical results are available at www.osiskomining.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Au (g/t) Interval cut to Hole No. From (m) To (m) (m) Au (g/t) 100 g/t Zone Corridor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-743-W4 796.2 799.0 2.8 585 11.5 CS1 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 796.2 796.5 0.3 5450 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-786 652.3 660.1 7.8 5.17 CS3 HW Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 652.3 656.0 3.7 9.85 Caribou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-780-W1 1074.0 1091.0 17.0 5.97 FW0 Underdog ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 1079.0 1082.8 3.8 19.7 Underdog ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-789 853.0 860.9 7.9 19.4 16.4 FW1 Underdog ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 853.0 857.5 4.5 29.7 24.5 Underdog ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 883.9 885.9 2.0 9.15 FW1 FW Underdog ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 884.9 885.6 0.7 24.1 Underdog ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-802 363.0 366.1 3.1 24.9 VNCR Lynx ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 365.3 366.1 0.8 73.2 Lynx ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 378.7 381.3 2.6 3.99 VNCR Lynx ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 379.3 380.5 1.2 6.77 Lynx ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-803 137.0 139.3 2.3 5.23 HW Lynx ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 137.0 138.5 1.5 7.74 Lynx ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 169.0 171.9 2.9 19.1 Lynx ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: 1. True Widths for Caribou and Underdog Corridors are estimated at 65 - 80% of the reported core length interval. True widths in the Lynx Zone are yet to be determined. See "Quality Control" below. 2. Definitions: HW = hanging wall; FW = footwall. VNCR = crustiform vein. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Azimuth ( Dip ( Hole Number degrees ) degrees ) Length (m) UTM E UTM N Section ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-743-W4 334 -64 1477.5 452651 5434237 2525 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-786 337 -55 718.5 452673 5434412 2625 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-789 316 -38 1075 452546 5434390 2500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-780-W1 330 -60 1264.5 452929 5434378 2850 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-802 330 -54 400.5 453376 5434896 3475 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OSK-W-17-803 331 -64 412.5 453305 5434943 3450 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Caribou Corridor OSK-W-17-743-W4 returned 585 g/t Au over 2.8 metres (11.5 g/t Au over 2.8 metres cut) from the CS1 Zone. The hole is part of the 30 metre infill program in the Caribou Zone and mineralization includes two gold veinlets 2-5 millimetres thick within a semi-massive pyrite stringer. The host rock is a strongly sericitized andesite in contact with a felsic dike. OSK-W-17-786 returned 5.17 g/t Au over 7.8 metres from the CS3 Zone hanging wall (CS3 Zone in same hole returned 6.64 g/t Au over 4.9 metres, see March 22, 2017 press release). The CS3 hanging wall is 3.6 metres above the CS3 Zone. Mineralization is composed of up to 4% pyrite stringers. Underdog Corridor OSK-W-17-780-W1 is part of the Underdog 50 metre infill program. The hole returned 5.97 g/t Au over 17.0 metres including 19.7 g/t Au over 3.8 metres in the FW0 zone. Mineralization is comprised of up to 3% pyrite stringers in a strongly silica altered hosted in a felsic fragmental dike. The intersection contains grey quartz veins, 10-15 millimetres wide, with local visible gold. This interval is located 50 metres west of previously reported 3.3 g/t Au over 4.0 metres intersected in OSK-W-17-780 (see April 6, 2017, press release). OSK-W-17-789 previously intersected the Caribou Corridor (see April 6, 2017, press release) and also intersected two parallel zones inside the Underdog Corridor. New results from this hole in the Underdog Corridor include 19.4 g/t Au over 7.9 metres (16.4 g/t Au over 7.9 metres cut) and extend the FW1 Zone 50 metres west from previous intersections. Mineralization contains up to 4% pyrite stringers and local visible gold hosted in a strongly sericitized and silicified felsic porphyry. A second intersection associated with the FW1 footwall returned 9.15 g/t Au over 2.0 metres, including local visible gold in a semi-massive pyrite stringer. Lynx Corridor OSK-W-17-802 intersected two crustiform veins returning respectively 24.9 g/t Au over 3.1 metres and 3.99 g/t Au over 2.6 metres in the Lynx Corridor. Pyrite-tourmaline stringers are composed of up to 7% pyrite and local visible gold at the vein contact. This intersection is located 60 metres north-west of previously reported OSK-W-17-760 which returned 14.1 g/t Au over 3 meters (see January 11, 2017, press release). OSK-W-17-803 intersected two mineralized zone in the Lynx Corridor. The first intersection corresponds to the hanging wall of Lynx Zone, and returned 5.23 g/t Au over 2.3 metres. Mineralization is composed of sulphide-rich silica bands including local visible gold. The second intersection corresponds to the Lynx Zone and returned 19.1 g/t Au over 2.9 metres in the similar mineralization. Both intersections are located 60 metres north-west of OSK-W-17-802 (described above). Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Mr. Louis Grenier, P.Geo. (OGQ 800), Project Manager of the Windfall Lake gold project, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Quality Control and Reporting Protocols True width determinations in the Caribou and Underdog zones are estimated at 65 - 80% true core lengths. True width determinations in the Lynx Zone have yet to be determined. Assay are uncut except where indicated, and calculated intervals are reported over a minimum length of 2 metres using a lower cutoff of 3 g/t Au. All NQ core assays reported were obtained by either 1 kilogram whole rock metallic screen/fire assay or standard 50 gram fire-assaying with AA or gravimetric finish at ALS Laboratories in Val d'Or, Quebec or Sudbury, Ontario. The 1 kilogram metallic screen assay method is selected by the geologist when samples contain coarse gold or present a higher percentage of pyrite than surrounding intervals. All samples are also analyzed for multi-elements, including silver, using an Aqua Regia-ICP-AES method at ALS laboratories. Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards and blanks are included with every 20 samples for Quality Assurance/Quality Control purposes by the Corporation as well as the lab. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to secondary laboratories for check assays. About the Windfall Lake Gold Deposit The Windfall Lake gold deposit is located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in the Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada. The current mineral resource comprises 2,762,000 tonnes at 8.42 g/t Au (748,000 ounces) in the indicated category and 3,512,000 tonnes at 7.62 g/t Au (860,000 ounces) in the inferred category (sourced from a technical report dated June 10, 2015 entitled "Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Windfall Lake Gold Property, Quebec, Canada" with an effective date of April 28, 2015, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101). The Windfall Lake gold deposit is currently one of the highest grade resource-stage gold projects in Canada. The bulk of the mineralization occurs in the Main Zone, a southwest/northeast trending zone of stacked mineralized lenses, measuring approximately 600 metres wide and at least 1,400 metres long. The deposit is well defined from surface to a depth of 500 metres, and remains open along strike and at depth. Mineralization has been identified only 30 metres from surface in some areas and as deep as 870 metres in others, with significant potential to extend mineralization up and down-plunge and at depth. About Osisko Mining Inc. Osisko is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Osisko holds a 100% in the high-grade Windfall Lake gold deposit located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in Quebec and holds a 100% undivided interest in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area (82,400 hectares), a 100% interest in the Marban project located in the heart of Quebec's prolific Abitibi gold mining district, and properties in the Larder Lake Mining Division in northeast Ontario, including the Jonpol and Garrcon deposits on the Garrison property, the Buffonta past producing mine and the Gold Pike mine property. The Corporation also holds interests and options in a number of additional properties in northern Ontario. Osisko continues to be well financed with approximately $190 million in cash and investments. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the Windfall Lake gold deposit being one of the highest grade resource-stage gold projects in Canada; the current 400,000 metre drill program at Red Dog; the significance of new results from the ongoing drill program at the Windfall Lake gold project; new analytics from the four drill holes focused on the Lynx Zone discovery; the significance of assay results presented in this press release; the type of drilling included in the drill program (definition drilling above Red Dog, expansion drilling above and below Red Dog, expansion drilling to the NE of the main deposit, and exploration drilling on the greater deposit and Urban-Barry project area); potential mineralization, including the recently discovered Lynx Zone; the potential to extend mineralization up and down-plunge and at depth at the Windfall Lake gold deposit; the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic; the ability to complete any proposed exploration activities and the results of such activities, including additional drilling proposed to be conducted to the southeast of the Lynx Zone to further evaluate the abundance and true thickness of the veins and silicified bands; the continuity or extension of any mineralization; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Corporation, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Osisko to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of exploration activities (including drill results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability of Osisko to complete further exploration activities, including drilling; property interests in the Windfall Lake gold project; the ability of the Corporation to obtain required approvals and complete transactions on terms announced; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to mining activities; the global economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks; and community and non-governmental actions. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Osisko cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Corporation that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither Osisko nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Osisko does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. Contacts: Osisko Mining Inc. John Burzynski President and Chief Executive Officer (416) 363-8653 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (TSX: SBB) ("Sabina" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that crews have been mobilized and drilling has commenced at the Goose camp on its 100%-owned Back River gold project ("Back River" or the "Project") in Nunavut, Canada. Approximately 7,000 metres of drilling has been planned for 2017 in two drill programs, with the first 3,000 metres to be completed this spring, and the balance in a summer drill campaign to commence in August. Priority drill targets have been selected based on their potential to enhance project economics by adding or demonstrating potential additional mine life in the footprint of the proposed Goose Project. These targets include the high-grade Vault zone at Umwelt underground, significant step out along potential Llama underground, step out drilling at Echo, and follow up drilling of the GNS and Kogoyok targets. "We have over 50 significant exploration targets identified within our 100% controlled 80km of prospective iron formation stratigraphy," said Bruce McLeod, President and CEO. "We believe that there are new discoveries to be made at Back River and this will be a multi-generational project. At this time however, we are focused on adding near term value by potentially extending life at our proposed Goose Mine. We are also very fortunate to have a veteran crew skilled at operating our programs and drilling at these deposits." Spring Drilling Program This first phase of drilling will focus on the Umwelt Vault zone, the Llama Extension and GNS/Convergence Targets as described below. Vault Zone - Umwelt Initial drill testing will commence with one hole to target the Vault zone at approximately 650 metres vertical depth where an interpreted high grade zone at the lower limits of the current Umwelt reserves, remains partially unconstrained and merits follow up. This interpreted high grade zone is partly characterized by historic drillhole 12GSE217, which returned 49.24 g/t Au over 17.0 metres, drillhole 11GSE106 which returned 10.91 g/t Au over 29.85 metres and drillhole 11GSE075 which returned 13.43 g/t Au over 24.40 metres. Planned drill testing will target the potential for extension of this zone. Llama Extension Two drillholes totaling approximately 1,400 metres have been planned to test the down plunge extension potential of the Llama mineral system to a vertical depth of approximately 600 metres. Llama underground currently has Indicated Resources of 211,000 oz grading 8.72 g/t Au (which are not included in the current mineral reserves). These two holes are planned to test down plunge 300 metres from the current gold resources and 200 metres from drillhole 12GSE239 which intersected 6.90 g/t Au over 8.0 metres. Success from drilling within the area would demonstrate potential significant resource growth beyond the existing Llama reserves and resources. GNS/Convergence Two holes are planned at this target which is located approximately 2 kilometres to the west of the Goose deposit. The GNS target has been interpreted as a potential Echo Deposit analogue: moderate size, relatively shallow gold mineralization and favourable mining geometry. Drilling has been planned at the GNS target to assess the extent of the highest-grade portion of the zone, down-plunge from the best 2011 intercepts. Success in this program could allow consideration of resource development at GNS. Geophysics During the spring exploration program Sabina will additionally focus on the expansion of ground electromagnetic (EM) surveys at Back River. A total of approximately 250 line-kilometers of snowmobile-towable EM will be conducted on high priority areas of the Goose and Boulder property stratigraphy. Survey results once completed will be evaluated within Sabina's mutli-layered datasets for prioritizing further large-scale near surface targets with an intention for future drilling. Permitting As announced on February 16, 2017, the Company has submitted its Final Environmental Impact Statement Addendum to the Nunavut Impact Review Board ("NIRB") as part of the NIRB's reconsideration of the Project. The Project is now in the technical review phase with NIRB recently confirming final public hearings May 31 - June 3, 2017 in Cambridge Bay. NIRB will issue a new recommendation to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada in July, 2017. Qualified Persons The Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 as pertains to the Back River Project, is Angus Campbell, P.Geo, Vice-President, Exploration, for the Company. All drill core samples selected within the exploration program are subject to a company standard of internal quality control and quality assurance programs which include the insertion of certified reference materials, blank materials and duplicates analysis. All samples are sent to SGS Canada Inc. located in Burnaby, British Columbia where they are processed for gold analysis by 50 gram fire assay with finish by a combination of atomic absorption and gravimetric methods. Additionally, analysis by screen metallic processes is performed on select samples. SGS quality systems conform to requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17025 guidelines and meets assay requirements outlined for NI 43-101. Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is a well-financed, emerging precious metals company with district scale, world class undeveloped assets in one of the world's newest, politically stable mining jurisdictions: Nunavut, Canada. In September, 2015, Sabina released a Feasibility Study on its 100% owned Back River Gold Project which presents a project that has been designed on a fit-for purpose basis, with the potential to produce approx. 200,000 ounces a year for approx. 11 years with a rapid payback of 2.9 years. At a US$1,150 gold price and a 0.80 exchange rate, the Study delivers a potential after tax internal rate of return of approximately 24.2% with an initial CAPEX of $415 million. In addition to Back River, Sabina also owns a significant silver royalty on Glencore's Hackett River Project. The silver royalty on Hackett River's silver production is comprised of 22.5% of the first 190 million ounces produced and 12.5% of all silver produced thereafter. The Company had approximately C$39.9 million at December 31, 2016 and has budgeted $8.5 million as its base budget for 2017. The base budget delivers the completion of the environmental assessment process; advancement of Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement and land tenure negotiations with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association; completion of basic engineering and project execution plan; and, completion of a mapping, rock and till sampling and geophysical exploration field program. In addition, the Company has planned certain discretionary activities, including an exploration drilling program which has now commenced, completion of the water license review process and commencement of detailed engineering and project financing. Depending on the timing and success of the permitting process, total expenditures could range up to approximately $31 million in 2017. Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (the "forward-looking statements"), including our belief as to the extent, results and timing of exploration programs and various studies, permitting and environmental assessment outcomes, exploration results, and access to project funding. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the effects of general economic conditions, commodity prices, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government and regulatory authorities and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks associated with exploration and project development; the need for additional financing; the calculation of mineral resources and reserves; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; government regulation; obtaining and renewing necessary licenses and permits; environmental liability and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our officers or directors; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; labour disputes; competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price and volume; future sales of shares by existing shareholders; and other risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Back River Project and general risks associated with the mineral exploration and development industry described in our Annual Information Form, financial statements and MD&A for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws. This news release has been authorized by the undersigned on behalf of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. Bruce McLeod, President & CEO Suite 375 - Two Bentall Centre 555 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V7X 1M7 Tel 604 998-4175 Fax 604 998-1051 http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com To view the map accompanying this press release, click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Sabina411m.jpg Contacts: Nicole Hoeller Vice-President, Communications 1 888 648-4218 nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com Press-release Krasnodar April 11, 2017 PJSC "Magnit" Announces the 2nd Coupon Yield Payment Krasnodar, Russia (April 11, 2017): Magnit PJSC, one of Russia's leading retailers (the "Company"; MOEX and LSE: MGNT), announces the 2nd coupon yield payment against bonds of the BO-001P-03 series. Please be informed that today PJSC "Magnit" fulfilled its obligation of the second coupon redemption against bonds of the BO-001P-03 series in the amount of 528,500,000 rubles. Parameters of the bond issue: Type of securities: Non-convertible interest-bearing certified exchange-traded bonds of PJSC "Magnit" of the BO-001P-03series to the bearer with the obligatory centralized custody, placed under the Program of the exchange-traded bonds with the identification number 4-60525-P-001P-02E of 23.10.2015, International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) RU000A0JWCF4 Identification number of the securities issue and the date of its assignment: 4B02-03-60525-P-001P of 04.04.2016 Coupon period which the yield is paid for: The second coupon period ( 11.10.2016-11.04.2017 ) The total amount of the interest to be paid against bonds: 528,500,000 rubles excluding tax and other deductions The amount of the interest to be paid against one bond: 52.85 rubles The total number of bonds against which the yield is paid: 10,000,000 bonds The method of payment: Monetary funds in the currency of the Russian Federation by means of non-cash settlement The record date: April 10, 2017 The date of the obligation fulfillment: April 11, 2017 The total amount of the interest paid against bonds following the reporting period: Following the 2nd coupon period the amount of 528,500,000 rubles was paid excluding tax and other deductions. Obligation has been fulfilled. For further information, please contact: Timothy Post Head of Investor Relations Email: post@magnit.ru Office: +7-861-277-4554 x 17600 Investor Relations Office MagnitIR@magnit.ru Direct Line: +7-861-277-4562 Website: ir.magnit.com/ Media Inquiries Media Relations Department press@magnit.ru Company description: Public Joint Stock Company "Magnit" is one of Russia's leading retailers. Founded in 1994, the company is headquartered in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar. As of December 31, 2016, Magnit operated 35 distribution centers and 14,059 stores (10,521 convenience, 431 hypermarkets and 3,107 drogerie stores) in 2,494 cities and towns throughout 7 federal regions of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the audited IFRS results for 2016, Magnit had revenues of RUB 1,075 billion and an EBITDA of RUB 108 billion. Magnit's local shares are traded on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX: MGNT) and its GDRs on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: MGNT) and it has a credit rating from Standard & Poor's of BB+. Measured by market capitalization, Magnit is one of the largest retailers in Europe. SAN DIEGO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- A panel of marketing and advertising experts will discuss the importance of maximizing consumers as advocates for businesses on Thursday, April 27, 2017 from 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Pacific Time in Classroom 1 at the 2017 Response Expo held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, CA, located on One Park Boulevard. "The Consumer Journey: Advocacy" panel is sponsored by InfoWorx Direct, a pay per call media agency and will be moderated by Lindsey Carnett, CEO and President of Marketing Maven. Panel speakers include Vince Dargush, Vice President of Operations at ICTV Brands, Linda Goldstein, a Partner and Leader of Advertising, Marketing, and Media Practice at BakerHostetler, and Michael Weinstein, Chief Marketing Officer of Allstar Products Group. The moderator and panelists are all recognized for their expertise within the direct to consumer advertising and marketing industry. The panel is a continuation of "The Consumer Journey" series at Response Expo. During the advocacy portion of the series, panelists will share their own experiences with the evolution of the consumer over the past several years with the help of mobile marketing, social media, and other marketing channels. Panelists will also provide attendees key takeaways such as how to identify brand advocates and cultivate brand ambassadors, as well as why their role is so important in direct response marketing. "With the use of social media, consumers are more vocal about their purchases and the brands behind the products. Consumers have evolved from shoppers to brand advocates," said John Yarrington, Publisher of Response magazine and Co-founder of the Direct Response Marketing Alliance (DRMA). "It is important for direct response marketers to understand the value of consumers and how to convert them into a brand evangelist, giving respect to the new role consumers play in driving product sales for a brand." Carnett is recognized as a PR News 2016 Top Women in PR, Folio: Magazine 2015 Top Women in Media and had her company, Marketing Maven, recognized as Entrepreneur.com's "2016 Entrepreneur 360 Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America." Dargush is responsible for the ICTV Brands oversight of all direct to consumer operations, including all media and the customer experience. Goldstein is widely recognized as one of the leading advertising lawyers in the country as she provides counsel and regulatory advice to Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies. Weinstein is responsible for leading all marketing and media efforts for Allstar Products Group, including DRTV media, digital advertising and production. The Response Expo, which takes place on April 25 to April 27, 2017, is hosted by Response magazine and provides education programs for its attendees to grasp a more in-depth idea of building brand awareness and finding solutions to the challenges that multiply in today's consumer-driven environment. For more information or to attend the panel please visit: www.responseexpo.com/attend. ABOUT RESPONSE Celebrating its 25th year in publication, Response is the magazine for performance-based marketers. Response provides cutting-edge content, analysis, and research for professionals involved in direct, digital, and data-driven marketing. The magazine is the flagship of a brand that also includes the annual Response Expo -- celebrating its 11th year as the event for performance-based marketers on April 25-27, 2017, in San Diego -- and the DRMA -- the alliance for performance-based marketers. http://www.responsemagazine.com/ Kristyn Fryrear Media Contact Email: kristyn@marketingmavenpr.com Phone: (310) 405-0351 ACCRA, Ghana, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cargill inaugurates licensed buying company in Ghana Cargill's new cocoa purchasing model introduces first-of-its-kind innovative digital payment system for farmers Cargill reaffirms long-term commitment to Ghana by partnering with COCOBOD to boost sustainability activities and supply chain traceability Today, Cargill celebrated the establishment of its own licensed buying company (LBC) - Cargill Kokoo Sourcing Ltd - in Ghana, in the presence of a Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, a Deputy Minister designate for Food and Agriculture, Hon William Quaitoo, the Ambassador of the United States to Ghana, H.E Robert P. Jackson, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ghana, H.E Ron Strikker, representative of the Chief Executive Officer, COCOBOD and representatives from Cargill. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151112/286677LOGO ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/488979/Cargill_LBC_1.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/488980/Cargill_LBC_2_Infographic.jpg ) This new LBC has been fully operational since November 2016, and allows Cargill to directly source cocoa from certified farmers in Ghana for the first time - putting the farmer at the heart of our business. So far over 25,000 farmers are registered, of which 9,000 are actively pursuing selling beans through Cargill's LBC network. Cargill already sources directly from farmers and farmer organisations in other origin countries. Moving to this model in Ghana means that the company will be better positioned to efficiently implement the Cargill Cocoa Promise at scale and better serve its customers. Cargill's innovative high-tech purchasing model is built on the principles of sustainability and full traceability in Ghana. Farmers deliver their cocoa to community warehouses where their beans are digitally weighed in front of them, assigned a fully traceable bar code and funds are then transferred straight to the farmer's phone or e-wallet using E-money through partnerships with E-Zwich, MTM mobile Money and Tigo Mobil Money. The revolutionary move to mobile money in Ghana adds assurance for the farmer, improves their ability to trade more effectively and eradicates all risks associated with cash payments. Details of the beans are then recorded in a standardized management system before the beans are collected by larger trucks, which transfer them to central warehouses. Through Cargill's new bar code system, the company can now trace each individual bag of Ghanaian cocoa beans, sourced through the Cargill LBC, to the individual farm, creating a fully traceable supply chain down to farmer level for the first time in Ghana. Speaking about the importance of working with our partners to introduce this new payment system into rural areas in Ghana, Lionel Soulard, Managing Director West-Africa Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate said, "Never before has it been more critical for cocoa farmers in Ghana to be the master of their own destiny and improve their own livelihoods. With the introduction of an innovative digital payment system, or mobile money for short, this first-of-its kind initiative at scale in Ghana is creating a great opportunity for smallholder finance at the farm level. "We strongly believe that this way of doing business is the future for cocoa farmers in Ghana. Mobile money is the first step towards improving incomes for farmers, as we build the infrastructure and capabilities for a more efficient and effective supply chain. Our aim is to create an enabling environment for smallholder finance for the future, resulting in better entrepreneurial spirit already noticeable at the farmer level," continued Soulard. Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, CEO from COCOBOD said, "We are pleased to have worked with Cargill on such an innovative project, and this shows our continued partnership with Cargill goes from strength to strength. We see this model as the future of cocoa sourcing in our country. COCOBOD will continue to work with all stakeholders in the sector to support the livelihoods of the farmers to bring about efficiency in production and at the same time environmental sustainability and transparency in the sector." The introduction of this model reflects Cargill's commitment to transform the Ghanaian cocoa sector for the benefit of all stakeholders, and reaffirms the Cargill Cocoa Promise, Cargill's commitment to improving the lives of cocoa farmers and their communities and, in doing so, securing a long-term supply of cocoa. Soulard continued, "Having long standing relations with cocoa farmers and their communities is critical for the full implementation of our sustainability approach and we now intend to expand our existing sustainability activities to enable farming communities to benefit from training, community and farm development support. We intend to scale up existing activities to enable the current 9000 farmers dealing with the LBC to benefit from good agricultural practice training, community development, farm development and support in line with the COCOBOD strategy. Developing our sourcing capabilities in the world's second largest cocoa producing country is an essential step to meet growing customer demand for sustainable, certified cocoa." "We are excited to continue this sustainability journey in Ghana, in partnership with COCOBOD, to address key challenges for our industry such as deforestation. Together, we are investing in the next generation of cocoa farmers and supporting the development of farmer aggregates," said Soulard. "We look forward to building on our long history in the country and to embracing innovative sustainability practices and the latest technologies along the way. Above all else, we are committed to improving the livelihoods of Ghanaian cocoa farmers and their communities for generations to come." About Cargill Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 150,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center . About Cargill in Ghana Cargill has been buying cocoa from Ghana for over 40 years and in 2008 opened its state-of-the-art cocoa processing facility in Tema. Today the company has over 400 permanent and contracted employees processing cocoa products to service food and confectionary customers locally and around the world. Additionally, our animal nutrition business provides aqua feed which is supporting Ghana's tilapia fish industry. In 2016 we added a licensed buying company (LBC). Our LBC operations bring innovative ways to trade with our farmers placing emphasis on our sustainability and traceability efforts and build on our long-term commitment to the country and our relationship with the government. About the Cargill Cocoa Promise The Cargill Cocoa Promise launched in 2012 to align efforts in origin countries. It is Cargill's commitment to improving the livelihoods of farmers and communities in a holistic way that will secure a thriving sector for generations to come. The origin countries include Brazil, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia. Contact: Wendy Garbutt, +44-7748-933576, wendy_garbutt@cargill.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Abacus Mining & Exploration Corporation ("Abacus" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: AME) is pleased to announce that it has initiated exploration on the newly-optioned Willow porphyry copper-gold property in Douglas County, Nevada, USA (the "Property"). The Property is subject to an option agreement with Almadex Minerals Limited and its wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary Almadex America Inc. ("Almadex"), which gives Abacus the right to earn up to a 75% undivided ownership interest in the Willow property (see News Release dated February 15, 2017). The Property is located 65 km southeast of Reno, is accessible year-round by well-maintained secondary roads, and is close to infrastructure in Yerington, Nevada. The Willow property is considered prospective for porphyry Cu, porphyry Cu-Mo and for epithermal Au-Ag, as demonstrated by historical exploration and by more recent work undertaken by Almadex. The Property was previously explored in the 1960s to the early 1980s to identify a porphyry copper deposit analogous to the nearby Yerington Mine, which produced approximately 1.6 billion pounds of copper for Anaconda Copper from 1952 to 1978. Abacus is currently compiling and digitizing past work and has planned a field program designed to augment and enhance work done by Almadex. It will include a program of in-fill soil geochemistry and IP geophysics, a soil spectrometric survey, a ground magnetic survey, detailed mapping, and a follow-up program of diamond drilling. The target is a shallow, upright, preserved copper (+/- Mo) porphyry deposit. A secondary target is epithermal gold, which is often closely associated with porphyry copper deposits, and which have not been systematically explored for in the past. Abacus' 2017 program for the Willow property is budgeted at Cdn $790,000, which is in excess of the first two years of required expenditures under the option agreement. The Company is sufficiently funded to carry out exploration for this program, having recently closed a $1,020,000 financing (see News Release dated March 8, 2017). Interpretation of Past Exploration Work In the 1960s to the early 1980s, past operators had used the same model to identify a porphyry copper deposit at Willow analogous to the nearby Yerington deposit which is hosted within a Jurassic age (201-145 Ma) porphyry that is flat lying due to post ore tilting of the rocks. A series of shallow vertical holes were drilled, many of which intersected intense argillic alteration, and short intervals of economic grades of copper and molybdenum mineralization. Very limited historical assaying was done for gold. In 2008 Almadex staked the Property, and by 2011 had completed mapping and sampling, soil geochemistry, ground IP and a deep penetrating IP survey which identified a very large anomaly that continues to at least 1 km in depth. The geophysical anomaly is coincident with an extensive surficial Cu-Mo+/-Au soil anomaly, and an even larger area of argillic-phyllic altered rocks, that shows up well on satellite imagery of the property. Almadex also identified a planar, near-horizontal lithocap on the Property. The recognition of this unit led to an interpretation that the Willow porphyry system is upright, not inclined as previously believed, and that the entire system has been preserved from erosion. Limited age dating of broken core at one of the old drill sites also gave an age of 22 Ma, much younger than the Yerington deposit at 201-145 Ma. This implies that the Willow property may host a totally new, previously unrecognized mineralizing event. Interpretation by Abacus of the geological and geophysical targets on Willow suggest that historical drilling may have just grazed the core of a mineralized porphyry system, but that the drilling was not optimally oriented to test an upright system. The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul G. Anderson, M.Sc. P.Geo., a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. On Behalf of the Board, ABACUS MINING & EXPLORATION CORPORATION Michael McInnis, Chairman, President & CEO About Abacus Abacus is a mineral exploration and mine development company with a 20% interest in the Ajax Project located at the historic Ajax-Afton site southwest of Kamloops, B.C., and an option to acquire up to a 75% undivided interest in the Willow porphyry copper-gold property located in Nevada. The Ajax Project is a proposed copper-gold open-pit mine currently undergoing a provincial and federal environmental assessment process. Through KGHM Ajax Mining Inc., a joint venture company between Abacus (20%) and KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. (KGHM) (80%), the Ajax Mine is being funded in large part by KGHM and operated by its wholly-owned subsidiary, KGHM International Ltd. For the latest reports and information on Abacus' projects, please refer to the Company's website at www.amemining.com. Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements that are deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Abacus expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include changes to commodity prices, mine and metallurgical recovery, operating and capital costs, foreign exchange rates, ability to obtain required permits on a timely basis, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. 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: Abacus Mining & Exploration Corporation 604.682.0301 604.682.0307 (FAX) info@amemining.com www.amemining.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - PPG (PPG) announced it has acquired a 40 percent ownership interest in Taiwan Chlorine Industries Ltd. from China Petrochemical Development Corp. PPG funded the acquisition, which represents a minority interest related to one of PPG's legacy businesses, using cash on hand. Taiwan Chlorine Industries was established in 1986 as a joint venture between PPG and CPDC to produce chlorine-based products in Taiwan. In connection with the sale of PPG's original 60 percent ownership interest in Taiwan Chlorine Industries to Axiall, CPDC was granted an option to sell its 40 percent ownership interest in TCI to Axiall for $100 million following the three-year anniversary of PPG's commodity chemical business separation. Axiall was concurrently granted the right to name PPG as its designee to purchase CPDC's 40 percent ownership interest. In April 2016, CPDC elected to sell its 40 percent TCI ownership interest to Axiall, and in June, Axiall designated PPG to purchase this ownership interest. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. STOCKHOLM, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Swedish fashion sock startup William & Sterling launched its first collection of functional No-Show socks on the crowdfunding platform kickstarter.com. In less than 48 hours the company had reached full funding with over 1000 individual pledges, the majority from the US and Australia. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/488963/William_and_Sterling_collection.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/488964/William_and_Sterling_Balcony.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/488965/William_and_Sterling_Street.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/488966/William_and_Sterling_Blue_Argyle.jpg ) (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/488962/William_and_Sterling_Logo.jpg ) William & Sterling is a Swedish fashion brand specialized in designing and developing innovative No-Show socks. By combining an eco-friendly silicone solution in the heel, with a unique manufacturing technology, the socks have been specifically developed to adapt to the foot and stay up the whole day. The socks have other unique characteristics such as a patented antimicrobial solution, to prevent bad odors. Philip Abedian, co-founder comments, "We are very pleased and overwhelmed with the interest for our No-Show socks on Kickstarter as well as from distributors who have reached out to us. We are confident that the sock-less trend is growing and we are preparing to launch the product fully in North America and Australia in Q3, and later go into specific Asian markets in Q4 2017. "After the successful launch, where we achieved our funding goal in less than 48 hours, we anticipate to be able to raise approximately 100 000 USD in crowd funding capital before the Kickstarter campaign is over on May 8th, 2017". The excess funds William & Sterling raises through the campaign will be used for marketing and global expansion. William & Sterling is also planning to exhibit at the Premium fashion fair July 4-6 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Premium is a leading global trade show for fashion and lifestyle products. Press contact: Philip Abedian Phone: +46-70-718-70-60 Webpage: www.williamandsterling.com Media bank: https://goo.gl/FLQR1P Kickstarter: https://goo.gl/npfNvF MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Aurvista Gold Corporation ("Aurvista" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: AVA)(OTCQB: ARVSF)(FRANKFURT: AV2) is pleased to announce that the Company has filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for Mineral Resource Estimates (the "Technical Report") at the Douay Gold Project ("Douay"). The independent Technical Report was completed by Micon International Limited ("Micon"), titled "NI 43-101 F1 Technical Report, Updated Resources Estimate for the Douay Gold Project, Douay Township, Quebec, Canada" dated April 10, 2017 with an effective date of February 15, 2017. Highlights: -- Inferred ("Pit-Constrained") Mineral Resource Estimate of 2,813,000 ounces of gold in 83,327,000 tonnes at an average gold grade of 1.05 g/t Au (0.5 g/t gold cut-off grade). -- At a higher cut-off grade (0.7 g/t Au), the Inferred Pit-Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate stands at 2,177,000 ounces of gold in 49,700,000 tonnes at an average gold grade of 1.38 g/t Au, representing 77% of the overall pit-constrained Inferred ounces. -- Preliminary gravity and flotation metallurgical test results were relatively consistent, total gold recovery ranged from 88 to 97% (average 92%). -- All zones are still open in all directions and there is potential to increase the resources further once the true extent of the mineralization is outlined at the Douay Project. Aurvista's President and CEO, Jean Lafleur, stated: "The filing of the NI 43-101 Updated Mineral Resource Estimate marks an important milestone for the Company. Our technical team spent significant time completing a comprehensive re-logging and re-sampling program that resulted in standardized drill logging information and reduced rock types within our databases. This improved understanding of mineralization and deposit types has contributed to the resource growth and go-forward exploration plans at Douay." The table below outlines the "Pit-Constrained" Inferred Mineral Resource Estimates at various cut-off grades: Table 1: "Pit-Constrained" Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate Summary(i) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "PIT-CONSTRAINED" GOLD INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCE CUT-OFF GRADE TONNES GOLD GRADE METAL ESTIMATE(i) (G/T AU) (G/T) (OUNCES) ---------------------------------------------- 5.0 588,000 7.38 139,000 ---------------------------------------------- 3.0 2,143,000 4.73 326,000 ---------------------------------------------- 1.0 27,519,000 1.79 1,585,000 ---------------------------------------------- 0.7 49,700,000 1.36 2,177,000 ---------------------------------------------- 0.5 83,327,000 1.05 2,813,000 ---------------------------------------------- 0.3 143,566,000 0.77 3,567,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)A Mineral Resource is a concentration or occurrence of metals in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. Reasonable prospects for economic extraction implies a judgment by a Qualified Person in respect of the technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospect of economic extraction. An Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. "Pit-Constrained" Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate is an inventory of mineralization under an open pit scenario that under realistically assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions might become economically extractable. They have been prepared without reference to surface rights or the presence of overlying public infrastructure. The NI 43-101 Technical Report has been posted to the Company's website at www.aurvistagold.com and can also be found under Aurvista's Company profile on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com. Additional Details for the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimates and Technical Report The "Pit-constrained" Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate mineralized envelopes were modeled using Leapfrog Geo at a 0.3 g/t cut-off with the inclusion of lower grade material for modeling purposes, and are contained in eight separate zones: 10, 20, 531, Central, Douay West, North-West, Porphyry and Main, and may consist of a number of sub-parallel or parallel lenses. Bulk densities used: 2.88 - Douay West, 2.81 - Porphyry, 2.94 - 10, 2.67 - 20, 2.78 - North-West, 2.77 - Main, and the Central Zone and Waste used the global average of 2.82 as no test work was conducted for these areas. The overburden was assigned a bulk density of 1.5. Only the mineral resources for the Douay West, Porphyry and 531 zones were estimated using Ordinary Kriging with the remaining zones estimated using Inverse Distance Cubed, due to the number of data points for each zone. A block size of 10 m x 2 m x 5m was used. The search ellipses ranged from 50 m to 300 m and used three passes to fill the blocks within the model. The figures have been rounded to reflect that they are estimates. The multiple open pits used to constrain the "Pit-Constrained" Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate are comprised of the ultimate breakeven Whittle pit-shell cones, which do not consider pit design or minimum mining widths. The open pit parameters used to construct the optimization are: gold price of US $1,400 per ounce, an exchange rate (CAN$/US$) of 1.32:1, overburden stripping cost of CAN$2.50/t, open pit mining cost of CAN$2.78/t, processing cost of CAN$8.14/t, and G&A cost of CAN$2.47/t. Gold recoveries per zone are: Douay West - 85%, North-West - 52.5%, Porphyry - 94%, 20 - 92%, 10 - 88%, Central - 94%, 531- 93% and Main - 83%. Pit slope angles are: 55 degrees for the foot wall; 52 degrees for the hanging wall and 25 degrees for the overburden. The report for Aurvista Gold Corporation entitled "NI 43-101 F1 Technical Report, Updated Resources Estimate for the Douay Gold Project, Douay Township, Quebec, Canada" dated April 10, 2017 with an effective date of February 15, 2017, was co-authored by William J. Lewis, B.Sc., P. Geo., Antoine R. Yassa, P. Geo., and Richard Gowans, P. Eng.. Douay Gold Project and Company Profile Aurvista Gold Corporation is a leading gold exploration and development Company advancing the Douay Gold Project in Quebec. Aurvista's Douay Gold Project consists of a 100% owned interest in 541 mostly contiguous claims totaling 293 km2 and a 75% interest (25% held by SOQUEM) in 32 contiguous claims totaling 11.9 km2. In total, there are 573 claims covering 305 km2 located along a 40 km segment of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone in the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt of northern Quebec. Douay is located 40 km SW of the Matagami Base Metal Camp and approx. 140 km N of the Val-d'Or Canadian Malartic Gold Camp (both in Quebec). The Company has 138,545,780 shares outstanding trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and OTCQB in the US. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.aurvistagold.com. Qualified Person The technical contents in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Jean Lafleur, M. Sc., P. Geo., President and CEO for Aurvista Gold Corporation, and Mr. William Lewis, B.Sc., P. Geo., of Micon, who is independent of Aurvista and who is responsible for the "Pit-constrained" Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate. Both individuals are Qualified Persons under National Instrument 43-101. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. When used herein, words such as "anticipate", "will", "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Aurvista Gold Corporation's filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company's website at www.aurvistagold.com. Contacts: Mr. Jean Lafleur, P. Geo. President and CEO, Director Cell: +1 514 927 3633 Mr. Keith C Minty, P. Eng., MBA Chief Operating Officer +1 416 682 2671 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: AVU)(FRANKFURT: 8AM)(OTC PINK: AVPMF) is pleased to announce that it has arranged a financing to raise $225,000 by way of a private placement of 2.5 million common shares at $0.09 per common share. The offering will close shortly. The proceeds of the offering will be used for exploration and operations in Kosovo, Portugal, Vancouver and for general and administration costs. Paul Kuhn, President & CEO commented that, "With our new partner in Portugal funding the Alvito IOCG exploration, and our partner in Kosovo funding a large drill program at the Slivovo gold project, our costs in those locations are low. These new funds will cover costs to advance our other key projects." Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented exploration and development company focused on discovery, using a prospect generator model, of valuable mineral deposits in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, including Portugal, Kosovo, and Germany. The Company currently holds nine exploration licenses in three European countries, including six in Portugal covering 3,268 km2, two in Kosovo covering 47 km2, and one in Germany covering 307 km2. Avrupa now has four active option and joint venture agreements, three in Portugal and one in Kosovo, including: -- The Alvito Option Agreement with OZ Minerals Limited covering one license in the Ossa Morena Zone in southern Portugal, for IOCG deposits; -- The Alvalade JV, with Colt Resources, covering one license in the Iberian Pyrite Belt of southern Portugal, for Zn/Cu-rich massive sulfide deposits. The partner is currently in default under the terms of the JV agreement, and Avrupa is working on a route to consolidation of the program; -- The Covas JV, with Blackheath Resources, covering one license in northern Portugal, for intrusion-related W deposits; and -- Avrupa's partner at the Slivovo Gold Project in Kosovo is fully funding the program, allowing Avrupa to dilute its ownership in the JV operating company Peshter Mining JSC. If AVU ownership goes below 10%, the interest in the project converts to a 2% NSR. Avrupa is currently upgrading precious and base metal targets to JV-ready status in a variety of districts on their other licenses, with the idea of attracting potential partners to project-specific and/or regional exploration programs. On behalf of the Board, Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release. 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: Avrupa Minerals Ltd. 1-604-687-3520 www.avrupaminerals.com OutSystems today unveiled its new Global Partner Program, which connects systems integrators, technology consultants, and resellers with its industry-leading low-code development platform. This new alliance program builds on the current OutSystems partner program and now serves both global and regional partners. In the past 12 months, OutSystems saw a 51 percent increase in contributing partners and a 78 percent increase in revenue generated from partners. OutSystems has beenrecognised as a low-code leader for both general-purpose low-code development and mobile low-code development. Most recently, OutSystems was named a Leader in The Forrester WaveTM: Mobile Low-Code Development Platforms, Q1 2017 The OutSystems Global Partner Program gives members access to global sales, marketing and technical resources across OutSystems. This includes training and enablement, marketing content and assets, competitive intelligence reports, OutSystems certification, developer sandboxes, deal registration and additional benefits based upon contribution level. The program brings best-in-class regional practices to the world's leading technology experts, unlocking new opportunities for digital transformation. "With the launch of the OutSystems Global Partner Program, we are providing alliance members with expanded access to OutSystems tools, technologies and domain expertise," said Bob Wilson, VP of Global Channels and Alliances, OutSystems. "The new partner program is also designed to take us to the size and scale required to truly drive digital transformation, by certifying thousands of developers, implementers and consultants to give OutSystems the largest ecosystem of qualified technical capacity. We are excited to work closely with some of the most forward-thinking companies in technology to unlock unprecedented value for our customers." As part of the OutSystems Global Partner Program, OutSystems also unveils new collaborations with Cognizant, Deloitte, Persistent Systems, Carahsoft Technology Corp., Transnational E-Business Solutions, Inc., L&T InfoTech, PwC, CapGemini and KPMG. Cognizant and OutSystems are partnering to help mutual clients re-platform and modernise their infrastructure to achieve greater productivity gains from their application development cycles. Certified Cognizant developers, utilising OutSystems platform and low-code approach as a principle, are helping clients accelerate their digital transformations. Deloitte continues their partnership with OutSystems to free customers from the bimodal IT trap. Using OutSystems to replace customers' legacy systems over time, Deloitte is providing extended solutions as they help customers move to more agile architectures. "Clients are moving to more agile models because they need to make their legacy system more responsive to constant change and evolution," says Rui P. Vaz, Partner with Deloitte Consultores. "The era of 'monolithic' legacy core systems is over." For modernisation projects, from B2B applications that extend existing ERPs, to B2C projects for custom-made apps, Deloitte is partnering with OutSystems to lead the market toward digital transformation. Persistent Systems is partnering with OutSystems for their digital and continuous transformation projects. "Across industries, our clients need the ability to capitalise their data and be future-proof," explains Jacque White, Chief Customer Officer at Persistent Systems. "With low-code, we can rapidly design, develop, and deploy solutions that give our clients an immediate competitive advantage." Carahsoft serves as OutSystems' master government aggregator, supporting OutSystems' public sector channel partners and driving demand for the company's solutions throughout federal and state and local governments. "When we look at the digital transformation challenges facing the government today, from federal agencies to state and local organisations, we consistently see the need for agile strategies that will realise results fast," explains Michael Shrader, Vice President of Innovative and Intelligence Solutions at Carahsoft. "Our partnership with OutSystems gives us and our reseller ecosystem the ability to be nimble and increasingly digital." Transnational E-Business provides leading logistics and technology projects in South East Asia. "Investing in OutSystems as a platform has allowed our organisation to accelerate our initiatives towards digital transformation," explains Renvi R. Martinez, President and General Manager of Transnational E-Business Solutions, Inc. "We're leveraging the OutSystems platform to identify new enterprise opportunities across the continent, where low-code gives us an advantage amongst both local and global organisations." L&T Infotech (LTI) is collaborating with OutSystems for global IT projects, with a relationship aimed at driving business value for mutual customers. "Our clients are looking at us to create rich experiences, transform processes and build new businesses and as the low-code leader, we believe the partnership with OutSystems will help us partner with our clients in their digital transformation efforts," says Rohit Kedia Chief Business Officer, Manufacturing and ERP Services, Americas, LTI. PwC has built an OutSystems competence centre in Portugal to serve both European and American projects. By building a central team of certified developers, PwC can easily use the OutSystems platform for digital transformation projects around the world. "We're embracing low-code for both new business opportunities and for new projects within existing accounts," explained Miguel Pinto, Advisory Director of PwC Portugal. "The speed of development and delivery is unmatched, and without any compromise on the quality of the enterprise applications." CapGemini continues to focus on IT innovation and Digital Transformation as a means to enable their clients business growth. "With OutSystems, we're able to build proof of concept web based and mobile native sound applications across different sectors of business activities like financial services, manufacturing and life sciences. By building them quickly, and designing them to scale from the start, we're able to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of both the challenges and opportunities our clients face," explains Luis Batista, Principal at Capgemini. "OutSystems is the ideal partner for the agile project development we practice." KPMG and OutSystems are aligning digital transformation efforts in highly regulated industries, including banking and telecommunications. "By combining our respective domain expertise in complex industry verticals with the agility that OutSystems enables, we believe we can achieve a competitive advantage," explains Rui Gomes, Partner from KPMG. "We believe KPMG professionals can deliver enterprise applications to some of the most highly regulated industries, and OutSystems can improve time to market and flexibility in adjusting to changing market conditions." About OutSystems: Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. With OutSystems, you visually develop your entire application, easily integrate with existing systems, and add your own custom code when you need it. Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005657/en/ Contacts: Media Contacts: Paula Elliott C8 Consulting paula@c8consulting.co.uk +44 (0) 1189 497736 LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/26/17 -- Bayen Group announced today that it intends to spin off its technology services business as an independent company called Sileo Technology Solutions (SileoTech). The strategic goal of this transaction is to create two focused companies dedicated to providing current and future value to their clients with respective areas of expertise. "We spun off this technology company to increase focus on the capabilities of this outstanding, seasoned team and to better meet our clients' needs," said Greg Saliba, managing partner at Bayen Group and SileoTech. Through this strategic move, Bayen Group will continue to focus on providing expert solutions to both federal agencies and government contractors, while SileoTech will primarily focus on providing technology solutions to the private sector. The SileoTech team will leverage their expertise to build intuitive and engaging solutions focused primarily on technologies such as Cloud, Big Data and SharePoint technologies. As part of this announcement, the managing partners have named Eric Schrader as a partner of SileoTech and lead cloud solutions architect. "This exciting move provides our team the opportunity to focus on strengthening our partnerships and expertise with both Amazon and Microsoft," said Schrader. "It also enables us to have a deeper skillset of solutions while also being technology agnostic, ultimately benefitting our clients." About Bayen Group Bayen Group is a minority-owned and HUBZone-certified business providing consulting, technology, marketing and staffing solutions. Our emphasis is on relationships -- whether with our clients or employees -- we firmly believe in partnering. Together the team is greater than the individual. The combination of our seasoned professionals and our unique, collaborative work environment enables us to equip our clients with a team of specialists who can tackle the most challenging business problems. Please visit www.bayengroup.com for more information and follow us on Twitter @BayenGroup. About Sileo Technology Solutions Sileo Technology Solutions is a full-service global technology consulting firm that helps clients embrace technology to further enable their business. Seasoned consultants lead clients through the ever-changing world of technology. SileoTech focuses on the technical details, allowing clients to focus on what they do best. The team partners with clients to provide both short-term and long-term solutions that will meet their business needs, and leverages their marketing and technology expertise to build intuitive and engaging solutions catered specifically to each client. Please visit www.sileotech.com for more information and follow us on Twitter @sileo_tech. Contact: Christina Thompson cthompson@bayengroup.com (424) 271-9317 @BayenGroup LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 --Fortem Resources Inc. (OTCQB: FTMR) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that on April 7, 2017, it entered into and closed two Membership Interest Purchase Agreements with three arm's length vendors to acquire all the membership interests of Colony Energy, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company. Colony Energy holds a 100% interest in and to certain petroleum, natural gas and general rights, including Alberta Crown Petroleum and Oil Leases, in 20 contiguous sections totalling 12,960 acres located in the Godin area of Northern Alberta. The Godin land leases consist of the Wabiskaw formation on which an analog well (13-27-082-02W5/0) in the Western edge of the acreage has tested oil and showed moveable oil in the shakers during the drilling process. Approximately 26 kilometers to the east of our Godin property is the highly successful Canadian Natural Resources Limited ("CNRL") Pelican Lake Heavy Oil Project, also known as the Brintnell Project. Colony's Godin property is located between the 13-27-082-02W5/0 well and the Brintnell project where CNRL is producing approximately 50,000 Bopd from the Wabiskaw Formation. In the annual performance submission to the Alberta Energy Regulator by CNRL, they stated that primary recovery on their leases has been between 5 to 8%, while incremental polymer flooding has increased tertiary recovery to a range from 14 to 30%. Our review and due diligence of the Godin Heavy Oil property has revealed that there are many similarities between the two areas in the Wabiskaw formation. The Godin play is analogous to the CNRL Brintnell Project in that the proposed Godin development is analogous to the Brintnell in depth, porosity, oil saturation and structure. The Company intends to develop the Godin Project in three phases beginning with a four well vertical, followed by a four section pad development of 10 wells per pad/per section. Phase 3 is intended to be the full development of 20 sections. Michael Caetano, Director and CEO stated, "We are pleased with the addition of Colony Energy LLC, which comes at an important time during our company's restructuring phase. The Colony asset compliments very well with our 8 section (5,120 acres) Viking play in Compeer Central Alberta, which continues to show drilling activity from known companies. We look forward to building a successful oil and gas company that can withstand today's market prices while benefiting from future upside." Agreement Terms In consideration for the acquisition of Colony Energy, we issued an aggregate of 21,000,000 shares of our common stock to the three vendors on the closing date and agreed to issue an additional 3,000,000 shares on a post-closing basis with 1,000,000 shares to be issued to one of the vendors on the first, second and third anniversaries of the closing date. Colony Energy is a party to a Petroleum, Natural Gas and General Rights Conveyance dated as of March 31, 2017 with an arm's length vendor and the principal shareholder thereof, pursuant to which the vendor is entitled to receive certain milestone payments from Colony Energy in the aggregate amount of up to US$210,000 as partial consideration for the original purchase of the oil and gas assets described above. Pursuant to a Milestone Payment Addendum dated April 7, 2017, we agreed that if Colony Energy fails to make timely payment of any milestone payment and does not remedy such failure within 30 days after receipt of written notice from the vendor, the vendor may elect to: (i) have Colony Energy re-convey the purchased assets to the vendor; or (ii) receive 250,000 shares of our common stock, with such re-conveyance or issuance of shares to be in full and final satisfaction of all obligations to make any further milestone payment. None of the securities issued have been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. The securities issued must not be traded in or from a jurisdiction of Canada unless the conditions in Section 13 of Multilateral Instrument 51-105 Issuers Quoted in the U.S. Over The Counter Markets are met. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. About Fortem Resources Fortem Resources Inc. is a publicly traded oil and gas production, development and exploration company, which holds properties in Western Canada while seeking North American & International expansion through an acquisition strategy. The Company's common shares are quoted on the OTC.QB under the symbol FTMR. On behalf of the Board of Directors, FORTEM RESOURCES INC. "Michael Caetano" Michael Caetano Chief Executive Officer This news release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company, such as statements about: (i) the intention to develop the Godin Project in three phases beginning with a four well vertical followed by a four section pad development of 10 wells per pad; and (ii) the intention to fully develop the 20 sections in the phase 3 program. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) risks inherent in the oil and gas industry in general; (iii) the inability of the company to finance the execution of its business plan; or (iv) the inability of the Company to achieve the milestones required under the Milestone Payment Addendum. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. Contact: FORTEM RESOURCES INC. Michael Caetano Chief Executive Officer mcaetano@strongbowinc.com A strong foothold in a progressive, value-based healthcare market has enabled Arcadia to continue expanding in the United States MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Based on its recent analysis of the healthcare data analytics market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Arcadia Healthcare Solutions with the 2016 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Leadership. Arcadia's clinical and claims analytics platform, Arcadia Analytics, is an advanced solution that harmonizes medical and billing records of 20 million patients in the United States. Its new version including Care Management and Patient Outreach functionality has driven significant growth in client acquisition, making the company a name to reckon with in the North American healthcare data analytics market. Click here for the full multimedia experience of this release - http://bit.ly/2nID8bJ Arcadia aids users in developing a shared data asset including EHR, claims, and ancillary data for physicians, care managers, claims executives, and hospital CXOs. The web-based analytics platform sitting on top of this shared data asset helps clients identify cohorts of patients across the continuum of care and allows caregivers to allocate the best possible workflows to at-risk and chronic patients. Such data-driven treatments raise operational efficiency, prevent readmission, and improve pay-for-performance quality metrics. "Arcadia has integrated more than 35 EHR ecosystems in the last 15 years with its remarkable all-round ability to churn EHR and claims data around vendor-agnostic IT interfaces. It supports 40,000 providers in the United States with its comprehensive IT and managed care capabilities," said Frost & Sullivan Senior Analyst Koustav Chatterjee (KC). "Between 2013 and 2015, it expanded its analytics solution client base by five times and patient coverage by 100% to 23 million." Mature providers looking for higher spend visibility and centralized control are receptive to full-fledged platforms that offer data analytics at a community level. They are also keen for pure-play platforms that help them effectively negotiate payments with health plans. Arcadia's Web-based analytics solution addresses both objectives and is a value enabler for a diverse range of healthcare customers, delivering both value- and volume-based payment models. Significantly, Arcadia has additional capabilities such as: Code-free measure creation for quality reporting by non-technical staff Full database access for customers' analysts and business intelligence (BI) personnel Unprecedented integration of claims and EHR data for each patient into a remarkable longitudinal single patient report Modifiable validation algorithm for better IT alignment with customers Web-based access through iPads and smartphones Arcadia's managed care portfolio is positioned as a strategic business unit for health systems that are transitioning from volume to alternate payment models. It is one of the few companies to offer sound, value-based contracting advisory services, including design and deployment methodologies, to leading payers and providers. Its managed care experts advise health systems, outsource in-house BI units, revitalize poor-performing incumbent EHRs, and revamp IT security and infrastructure for cross-continuum health information exchange. "Arcadia's customers value its ability to match patients and their care members across data sources for developing a single patient view with almost 99% specificity and 93% sensitivity," noted KC. "Its unique managed care capability, coupled with agile IT solutions enabling population health management, has ensured exceptional customer value and loyalty." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a comprehensive product line that caters to the breadth of the market it serves. The award recognises the extent to which the product line meets customer base demands, the overall impact it has in terms of customer value as well as increased market share. Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for outstanding achievement in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research. About Arcadia Healthcare Solutions Arcadia Healthcare Solutions is an EHR data aggregation and analytics technology company supporting ambulatory networks taking on risk and transitioning to value-based care. Arcadia specializes in integration of data from over 30 EHR vendors, enriching it with claims and operational data, and using that data to drive improvements in patient care quality, practice efficiency, and financial performance. Trusted by independent provider groups, health plans, and integrated delivery networks nationwide, with expertise in both fee-for-service optimization and value-based performance environments, Arcadia supports providers with the benchmark data, insights, and outsourced services to excel in the evolving landscape of American healthcare. Founded in 2002, Arcadia is headquartered outside Boston in Burlington, MA, with offices in Seattle, Pittsburgh, and outside Chicago in Rockford, IL. 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 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - United States has warned the Syrian government against using chemical weapons ever again, and claimed that its air strikes on a Syrian airbase last week in retaliation for the deadly chemical weapons attack had destroyed a fifth of the war-ravaged country's warplanes. The U.S. Government's soft attitude towards Bashar al-Assad regime changed rapidly after the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun town in Idlib province last Tuesday that killed 86 people, including children. Nearly 60 Tomahawk missiles were fired from U.S. Navy ships in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea on Al-Shayrat Air Base Thursday night, from where the chemical attack on Syria's Idlib province was launched. Syrian army called it 'a blatant act of aggression.' In a statement issued Monday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said the assessment of the Department of Defense is that 20 percent of Syria's operational aircraft, fuel and ammunition sites, and air defense capabilities were damaged or destroyed in the airstrike. 'The Syrian government has lost the ability to refuel or rearm aircraft at Shayrat airfield,' he added. According to Mattis, the President directed this action to deter future use of chemical weapons and to show the United States will not passively stand by while Assad murders innocent people with chemical weapons, which are prohibited by international law and which were declared destroyed. The White House said the missile strike was conducted to stop proliferation and deterrence of chemical weapons. In a news conference Monday, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that America's number one priority is to defeat ISIS. 'But we're also, I think from a humanitarian standpoint and a refugee standpoint, ensuring that we create an environment that provides a safe place for them to ultimately remain,' he told reporters. 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. MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The US Justice Department has announced an extensive effort to disrupt and dismantle the Kelihos botnet - a global network of tens of thousands of infected computers operated by a Russian cyber criminal who was arrested in Spain last weekend. The Kelihos botnet was used to facilitate malicious activities including harvesting login credentials, distributing hundreds of millions of spam e-mails, and installing ransomware and other malicious software. Peter Yuryevich Levashov, also known in the hacking world as Peter Severa, was arrested in Spanish capital Barcelona on Friday at the US request. Levashov, who allegedly operated the botnet since 2010, was arrested in for his alleged role in hacking the US presidential election last year. 'The operation announced today targeted an ongoing international scheme that was distributing hundreds of millions of fraudulent e-mails per year, intercepting the credentials to online and financial accounts belonging to thousands of Americans, and spreading ransomware throughout our networks. The ability of botnets like Kelihos to be weaponized quickly for vast and varied types of harms is a dangerous and deep threat to all Americans, driving at the core of how we communicate, network, earn a living, and live our everyday lives,' said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco. Kelihos malware targeted computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system. Infected computers became part of a network of compromised computers known as a botnet and were controlled remotely through a decentralized command and control system. The Kelihos malware harvested user credentials by searching infected computers for usernames and passwords and by intercepting network traffic. Levashov allegedly used the information gained from this credential harvesting operation to further his illegal spamming operation which he advertised on various online criminal forums. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - United Airlines now has another public relations disaster to deal with after a video showing a passenger being violently dragged off a plane sparked outrage on social media. Videos of the incident posted online by other passengers showed the passenger, who appeared to be Asian, screaming and bleeding from the mouth as officers physically dragged him off an overbooked flight. The incident happened on the United Express Flight 3411 before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday evening. The video of the incident comes just weeks after the airline came under fire for its decision to bar two teenage girls from boarding a flight from Denver to Minneapolis as they were wearing leggings that were deemed as improper attire. But a letter by United Airlines Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz to his employees about Sunday's incident only added more fuel to the fire, after he described the passenger as 'disruptive and belligerent'. According to the letter, the passenger raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions after he was asked to leave the overbooked flight. 'He was approached a few more times after that in order to gain his compliance to come off the aircraft, and each time he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent,' Munoz said in the letter. The CEO added that as Chicago Aviation Security Officers were unable to gain the passenger's co-operation and as he continued to resist, he was physically removed from the flight. Munoz did not apologize for the way the passenger was treated. Instead, the CEO said he 'emphatically' stands behind his employees and commended them 'for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right.' However, he added that there were lessons the airline could learn from this experience. 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. Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2017) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC2) (OTC Pink: SNCGF) has received preliminary results from SGS-Lakefield of chemical analyses, mineralogical characterizations and assessments of the Company's Sharpe Farm and Moody Hill occurrences at its manganese property near Houlton-Woodstock, New Brunswick. Based on the initial drill assay results, chemical analyses showed manganese contents of 9.42 and 10.45% Mn in the Red and Grey composites respectively. From the X-ray diffraction and Qemscan (Quantitative Evaluation of Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy) studies it was determined that the manganese occurs in several mineralogical forms including carbonates and silicates where the concentration across the various manganese-bearing species averaged 23% Mn (grey) and 27% Mn (red) with individual values of up to 45% Mn. In addition to the determination of the mineralogical composition of the samples submitted, PMA or particle map analysis was also carried out which permits measurement of individual mineral grain sizes and liberation characteristics. This information will prove invaluable as the Company moves towards assessing proposals from various research establishments with the goal of upgrading the ore to produce a marketable manganese concentrate. In addition to a series of outreach proposals to commercial laboratories, the Company has also commenced discussions for a potential collaboration with NRC, the National Research Council Canada, which has expertise in mineral processing within the Energy, Mining and Environment sector and could offer assistance to the Company as it positions itself to be a significant supplier to the North American Li-ion market. 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 emanating with 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. BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- SV Health Investors, the venture capital and growth equity firm formerly known as SV Life Sciences, has closed on its sixth flagship fund. The fund closed at its target of $400 million. SV also manages the Dementia Discovery Fund, plus five other funds that aim to support entrepreneurs and companies that create and deliver breakthrough treatments and healthcare solutions. Together, the seven funds have had capital commitments of more than $2 billion. Over the past 20 years SV Health Investors has invested in over 175 companies. SV has added more than 10 new portfolio companies in the past year. SV VI, like the prior SV funds, will have a multi-sector focus. It will invest in and support early-stage opportunities in biotechnology; early-stage and revenue-stage opportunities in medical devices; and growth equity opportunities with healthcare services and digital health companies. "It's exciting to continue applying our team's expertise, networks and operating experience for entrepreneurs and companies that have the potential to develop and advance important new treatments and solutions. We are backing remarkable entrepreneurs and proven operating executives who are helping transform healthcare and improve patients' lives," said Paul LaViolette, SV Health Investors Managing Partner. Over the past 18 months, the firm has increased the size of its team by 30%, with the goal of supporting entrepreneurs, portfolio companies and new fund initiatives, he added. Said Gene Hill, Chairman of SV Health Investors, "We're grateful for the support for SV VI from our limited partners -- both our longstanding investors and the new LPs we're welcoming. We appreciate the enthusiasm they have expressed and demonstrated for our proven, diversified strategy within healthcare and for our team, both the veterans and those who have joined us relatively recently." SV Health Investors' venture partner program, in which experienced healthcare entrepreneurs serve as hands-on advisors and directors for portfolio companies, contributes to SV's appeal to both investors and entrepreneurs, he said. This month the firm changed its name to SV Health Investors, from SV Life Sciences, to better reflect the strategy and multi-sector focus the firm has pursued for more than two decades. SV Health Investors, headquartered in Boston, also has offices in London and San Francisco. For more information or an interview, please contact Katarina Wenk-Bodenmiller of Sommerfield Communications at (212) 255-8386 or Katarina@sommerfield.com. Contact: Katarina Wenk-Bodenmiller Sommerfield Communications, Inc. (212) 255-8386 Katarina@sommerfield.com A new tool that allows investors, regulators, NGOs, corporates, and consumers to monitor the sustainability of over 4,000 of the world's largest corporations has been launched today. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005772/en/ Arabesque S-Ray is designed to streamline vast amounts of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information into one easy-to-use, smart application. Its unbiased diagnostic technology processes countless data points to evaluate companies in three ways: GC Score a normative assessment of each company based on the core principles of the United Nations Global Compact. a normative assessment of each company based on the core principles of the United Nations Global Compact. ESG Score a sector specific analysis of each corporation's performance on financially material ESG issues. a sector specific analysis of each corporation's performance on financially material ESG issues. Preferences Filter a search tool that allows anyone to check the business involvements of companies against their personal values. The technology has been developed by Arabesque, an ESG Quant asset manager that uses self-learning quantitative models and big data to assess the performance and sustainability of companies. Speaking on the launch of Arabesque S-Ray, Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, said: "The power of transparency will help to create more sustainable corporate practices." Through machine learning and big data, Arabesque S-Ray systematically combines over 200 ESG metrics with news signals from over 50,000 sources across 15 languages. It is the first tool of its kind to rate companies on the normative principles of the United Nations Global Compact: Human Rights, Labour Rights, the Environment, and Anti-Corruption (GC Score). Additionally, Arabesque S-Ray provides an industry-specific assessment of companies' performance on financially material sustainability criteria (ESG Score). Both scores are combined with a preferences filter that allows anyone to better understand each company's business involvements, and how those activities align with personal values. Omar Selim, CEO of Arabesque, said: "With its name inspired by the impact of the X-Ray on medicine, Arabesque S-Ray enables anyone to look beneath a company's surface. Our objective is to take sustainability into the mainstream by making it available in a practical and cost efficient way. S-Ray's unbiased algorithms harness the power of artificial intelligence, processing big data to produce a daily snapshot of a corporation's sustainability." Confirmed to be piloted as an integrity measure by the United Nations Global Compact later this year, Arabesque S-Ray is available to the general public for free with a three-month data delay. A paid subscription service for corporations, investors, and investment professionals has also been developed, with access to daily information, an in-depth dashboard on each company, and download functions. John Ruggie, Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, said of today's launch: "Arabesque S-Ray is a unique initiative unleashing big data to provide rankings of the sustainability practices of the largest listed companies in the world. And not a moment too soon, given the precarious state of globalization today. May it move markets!" Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director of Transparency International, added: "The public availability of companies' sustainability data is crucial for the larger goal of good corporate governance and integrity." Ends Notes to editors For more information on Arabesque S-Ray, please visit www.arabesque.com/s-ray About Arabesque Arabesque is a specialist ESG Quant fund manager that uses self-learning quantitative models and big data to assess the performance and sustainability of globally listed companies. Its investment technology processes over 100 billion data points to select an investment universe of equities, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information with quantitative strategies. Arabesque was launched in 2013 following a management buyout from Barclays Bank PLC, and was built in cooperation with professors from the universities of Stanford, Cambridge, Oxford, Maastricht, and the German Fraunhofer Society, in support of the United Nations Global Compact. Arabesque Asset Management Ltd is a limited liability company registered in England and Wales (no. 08636689) with its registered office at 68 Brook Street, London W1K 5DZ, authorized and regulated by the FCA (no. 610729) and registered as an investment adviser with the SEC (#801-107600). Arabesque (Deutschland) GmbH is a limited liability company organized under the laws of Germany, registered with the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main (HRB no. 97525), and having its seat and business address at Zeppelinallee 15, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005772/en/ Contacts: For all media enquiries and interview requests: Arabesque Ciaran McCale Ciaran.mccale@arabesque.com 0044 7956 175 100 CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- This is the time of year Calgary Co-op members get to experience the biggest benefit of being a member of the co-operative. Beyond Calgary Co-op's year round focus on "inspired team members delivering exceptional customer experiences" the co-operative is pleased to offer their members another reason to celebrate. The 2016 annual member refund on purchases has been dispersed with a massive $31.3 million going right back into members' pockets. "With 2016 being one of the most challenging years in Alberta's economic history, we are thrilled the efforts of our 3,850 dedicated and inspired team members across Calgary Co-op have delivered a significant member refund of more than $31 million to share with our valued members," says Ken Keelor, CEO of Calgary Co-op. "We recognize the difficult times our members are currently experiencing. We worked all year to increase the efficiency of our team and invest in increasing the value we offer members every day. We are very proud to provide an annual refund that is truly meaningful at this time." Calgary Co-op promotes one-stop-shopping - members can conveniently fulfill their shopping needs and build their annual refund cheque and shares at food centres, pharmacies, gas bars, car washes, and wine, spirts and beer locations - all located on the same site in most cases. Members also earn rebates when they shop at Calgary Co-op's home health care centres. Business members earn further refunds at Calgary Co-op's commercial cardlocks. The more members shop at Calgary Co-op, the more they can earn on their annual refund. "We are pleased we can offer a substantial refund to our members every year, and while this year is no exception, it's extra special because of the economic downturn our province is enduring," continues Keelor. "As Calgary Co-op members are also owners of the co-operative, they benefit from everyday shopping convenience, discounts and deals, and have a platform to guide how they feel the business should operate to serve their needs and aspirations." Of the $31.3 million that was dispersed to members this year, $23.5 million was paid in cash and $7.8 million was paid in share equity or member shares in the co-operative. For 2016, member purchases earned at these rates: -- 2% on purchases made at food centres, convenience stores, home health care centres and wine, spirits and beer locations. -- 2% on the full price of prescriptions at the pharmacy -- 1% on travel purchases -- 6 cents per litre on fuel purchases - which is in addition to the 2 cents per litre grocery coupons Calgary Co-op dispenses instantly at the pump every time a member fuels up at their gas bars. Since 1957, $838 million has been shared with members through the annual member refund - just one of the many benefits members receive in exchange for their regular shopping and $1 lifetime membership. The results for Calgary Co-op's financial year ending October 29, 2016, were announced during the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, April 6. About Calgary Co-op Owned by members, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America. Our locations in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks and Strathmore include: Food Centres, Pharmacies, Gas Bars, Car Washes, Commercial Cardlocks, Wine Spirits, Beer Locations, and Home Health Care Centres. With over 460,000 members, 3,850 employees, assets of $565 million and annual sales of $1.18 billion, Calgary Co-op was recognized as one of Alberta's Top 70 Employers of 2017, and is committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience through inspired team members. Contacts: Media Contact Leanna Kruk Brookline Public Relations 403-538-5641 ext.121 lkruk@brooklinepr.com Angela Cabucos Brookline Public Relations 403-538-5641 ext.109 acabucos@brookline.com QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Note to editors: An image is included with this press release on Marketwired's website. B-TEMIA Inc., a leader in the human augmentation market, announces today that it has licensed its bionic augmentation technology Dermoskeleton to Lockheed Martin, who is eyeing a new generation of industrial and military exoskeletons. Dermoskeleton is the basis for computer-controlled devices that counteract overstress on the lower back and legs, which can increase mobility and load-carrying capacity. Lockheed Martin's technology license permits use of B-Temia technology to products for military, industrial, commercial and first responder applications. "This technology offers a pathway to increased loadbearing and greater agility for our FORTIS industrial exoskeleton," said Glenn Kuller, Advanced and Special Programs vice president at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "It can also help to solve existing limitations of powered exoskeletons for our military and first responders. We're excited about the potential we see here." "This agreement confirms our company's technology leadership and value of our work in increasing human mobility in both industrial and defense applications," said B-Temia President and CEO Stephane Bedard. "Our arrangement with Lockheed Martin provides another avenue for our bionic technology to enhance human performance." The FORTIS exoskeleton is an unpowered, lightweight exoskeleton that increases an operator's strength and endurance by transferring the weight of heavy loads from the operator's body directly to the ground through a series of joints at the hips, knees and ankles. Originating from Lockheed Martin's exoskeleton research to assist soldiers in carrying heavy equipment over long distances, the same principles were applied to exoskeleton development for use in industrial settings. For additional information, visit Lockheed Martin's website. About B-TEMIA Founded in 2010, B-Temia is a developer and manufacturer of bionic technology in the growing market of human augmentation. Its proprietary Dermoskeleton technology provides improved mobility, strength and autonomy to the user, with applications in the medical, industrial and military fields. For additional information, visit B-Temia's military website: http://military.b-temia.com About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For additional information, visit Lockheed Martin's website. To view the image accompanying this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/B-Temia.jpg Contacts: Source: B-TEMIA Inc. www.b-temia.com / http://military.b-temia.com (418) 653-1010 info@b-temia.com Media: Paule De Blois Chief Operating Officer (418) 653-1010 paule.deblois@b-temia.com TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2017 / XBRL Canada will be hosting a webinar on May 24th, 2017 to discuss the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) announcement requiring Foreign Private Issuers (FPIs) that report using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to file their periodic reports using XBRL. On March 1, 2017 the SEC published a taxonomy on its website to enable FPIs that prepare their financial statements in accordance with IFRS to tag those reports using XBRL. FPIs that prepare their financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB may begin immediately to submit their financial statements in XBRL. Otherwise, all such FPIs must submit their financial statements in XBRL for fiscal periods ending on or after December 15, 2017. XBRL Canada will host an information session providing an introduction to XBRL and provide an overview of the reporting requirements for SEC Reporting Issuers affected by this announcement. The Webinar will feature Walter Hamscher and Matthew Slavin from the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis at the SEC, as well as John Turner, CEO of XBRL International. The Webinar will be held on May 24, 2017 at 2 PM ET. Registration for the event is available at http://www.newsfilecorp.com/XBRL/ifrsXBRLWebinarXBRLCanada.php About XBRL Canada XBRL Canada is the Canadian jurisdiction of XBRL International and largely funded and administered by CPA Canada. The purpose of XBRL Canada is to provide support and encouragement for the adoption of eXtensible Business Reporting Language in Canada. XBRL is widely used around the world and recognized as the leader in advanced electronic business and financial reporting. To strive towards its goals, XBRL Canada holds seminars and webinars and issues various publications, including its bi-monthly Newsletter. It also leads projects to test and explore XBRL usage in various settings. For further information, please contact: XBRL Canada Gerald Trites, Project Director (416) 602-3931 Email: gtrites@cpacanada.ca SOURCE: XBRL Canada IRW-PRESS: Rock Tech Lithium Inc.: Rock Tech entdeckt neue spodumenhaltige Pegmatite bei Georgia Lake Rock Tech entdeckt neue spodumenhaltige Pegmatite bei Georgia Lake Vancouver, BC, Kanada - 31. August 2017 - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (das Unternehmen oder Rock Tech) (TSX-V: RCK; Frankfurt: RJIB) freut sich, ein Update zu den Probenahmen im Lithiumkonzessionsgebiet Georgia Lake in der Bergbauregion Thunder Bay in Nordwest-Ontario (Kanada) bereitzustellen. Diese Phase des Feldprogramms konzentrierte sich auf die Bereiche Nama Creek und Cosgrave Lake und den Bereich sudlich von Aumacho. Martin Stephan, Chief Executive Officer von Rock Tech, erklarte: Unser Feldprogramm hat zahlreiche Ziele fur weiterfuhrende Grabungen und Bohrungen hervorgebracht. Wir haben wahrend des Programms zwei neue Pegmatite neben der Hauptressourcenzone bei Nama Creek entdeckt. Einer dieser Pegmatite wies Anzeichen auf ehemalige Arbeiten auf, war jedoch nicht kartiert worden. Diese Pegmatite erganzen die ungetesteten und kartierten Pegmatite in unmittelbarer Nahe zum primaren Ressourcenareal und das neue Vorkommen, das wahrend der Schurfarbeiten 2016 entdeckt wurde. Diese neuen Entdeckungen machen das Wachstumspotenzial des Lithiumkonzessionsgebiets Georgia Lake deutlich. Herr Stephan sagte weiter: Wir warten nun auf die Analyseergebnisse dieses Programms, so dass wir ein weiterfuhrendes Programm umgehend planen und umsetzen konnen. http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2017/40770/20170831 - Rock Tech - Field Program Update_DE_PRCOM.001.jpeg Bei Nama Creek lag der Schwerpunkt des Programms auf dem Bereich rund um die ungetesteten, kartierten Pegmatite und die historischen Bohrlocher, die Berichten zufolge Lithiummineralisierung durchteuften, jedoch nicht in der NI 43-101-konformen Ressourcenschatzung des Unternehmens enthalten sind. Im Zuge des Programms wurde ein bisher unbekannter spodumenhaltiger Pegmatit entdeckt und erprobt. Eine visuelle Untersuchung des Ausbisses lie eine Spodumenmineralisierung erkennen; es sind jedoch weitere Grabungen und Bohrungen erforderlich, um die wahren Ausmae des Pegmatits nachzuvollziehen. Daruber hinaus war die Feldcrew in der Lage, die Pegmatitgange in Zusammenhang mit den historischen Bohrlochern NC-09, NC-39, NC-51, NC-52 and NC-54 ausfindig zu machen. Bei einer visuellen Untersuchung dieser Pegmatite wurde eine Spodumenmineralisierung festgestellt. Der Bereich Nama Creek beherbergt eine angezeigte Ressource im Umfang von 2,47 Millionen Tonnen mit 1,11 % Lithiumoxid (Li2O) und eine abgeleitete Ressource im Umfang von 2,50 Millionen Tonnen mit 0,98 % Li2O, die beide gema der Vorschrift NI 43-101 angefertigt wurden. Im Zielgebiet Cosgrave Lake und dem Bereich sudlich von Aumacho wurden weitere Pegmatite lokalisiert, erprobt und georeferenziert. Siebzehn (17) Proben wurden wahrend des Feldprogramms aus dem Bereich Nama Creek, jeweils sechs (6) Proben aus den Bereichen McVittia und Parole Lake, drei (3) Proben aus dem Bereich sudlich von Aumacho und eine (1) Probe aus dem Bereich Cosgrave Lake gewonnen und an das ISO 9001:2008-zertifizierte Analyselabor Actlabs in Geraldton (Ontario) zur Analyse ubergeben. Fur die Umsetzung des Feldprogramms zeichnete Pleson Geoscience verantwortlich, ein Explorationsberatungsunternehmen, das seinen Kunden erfahrenes Personal an die Seite stellt und effiziente Dienstleistungen bietet. Das Unternehmen legt sein Hauptaugenmerk auf die umweltvertragliche Erhebung hochauflosender Daten im Rahmen von anfanglichen Schurfarbeiten bis hin zu wirtschaftlichen Erstbewertungen. Alle wissenschaftlichen und technischen Daten in dieser Pressemitteilung hinsichtlich des Lithiumkonzessionsgebiets Georgia Lake wurden unter der Leitung von Locke B. Goldsmith, P.Eng., P.Geo., einem von Rock Tech unabhangigen qualifizierten Sachverstandigen, erstellt und gepruft. Uber Rock Tech Lithium: Rock Tech Lithium ist ein Explorationsunternehmen, dessen Hauptaugenmerk auf den Erwerb und die Exploration von Konzessionsgebieten mit potenziellen Vorkommen von Lithium und anderen ausgewahlten Metallen fur den Einsatz in Batterien gerichtet ist. Rock Tech ist das einzige Explorationsunternehmen in der Region mit einer NI 43-101-konformen Ressourcenschatzung. Die Ressourcenschatzung weist eine angezeigte Ressource im Umfang von 3,19 Millionen Tonnen mit 1,10 % Lithiumoxid sowie eine abgeleitete Ressource im Umfang von 6,31 Millionen Tonnen mit 1,00 % Lithiumoxid aus. Auerdem hat das Unternehmen metallurgische Untersuchungen an einer Massenprobe durchgefuhrt und dadurch seine Fahigkeit bewiesen, sowohl hochgradiges Spodumenkonzentrat als auch Lithiumcarbonat (Li2CO3) in Batteriequalitat zu produzieren. Die spodumenhaltigen Pegmatite des Gebiets Georgia Lake wurden ursprunglich im Jahr 1955 entdeckt. Fotomaterial, Videos und Landkarten zum aktuellen Explorationsprogramm finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://rocktechlithium.com/ongoing-exploration-program/ Fur das Board of Directors des Unternehmens: Martin Stephan Martin Stephan Director, Chief Executive Officer Weitere Informationen erhalten Sie uber: Brad Barnett Chief Financial Officer Rock Tech Lithium Inc. 777 Hornby Street, Suite 600 Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 1S4 Tel: (778) 358-5200 Fax: (604) 670-0033 E-Mail: bbarnett@rocktechlithium.com Die TSX Venture Exchange und deren Regulierungsorgane (in den Statuten der TSX Venture Exchange als Regulation Services Provider bezeichnet) ubernehmen keinerlei Verantwortung fur die Angemessenheit oder Genauigkeit dieser Meldung. Die in dieser Meldung enthaltenen Aussagen, zu denen auch Aussagen zu unseren Planen, Absichten und Erwartungen, die nicht ausschlielich historischer Natur sind, zahlen, gelten als zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen. Zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen sind anhand von Begriffen wie prognostiziert, glaubt, beabsichtigt, schatzt, erwartet und ahnlichen Ausdrucken zu erkennen. Das Unternehmen weist die Leser darauf hin, dass zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen - unter anderem auch jene, die sich auf die zukunftige Betriebstatigkeit und die Geschaftsprognosen des Unternehmens beziehen - bestimmten Risiken und Unsicherheiten unterliegen, die dazu fuhren konnten, dass sich die tatsachlichen Ergebnisse erheblich von jenen unterscheiden, die in den zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen beschrieben werden. Die Ausgangssprache (in der Regel Englisch), in der der Originaltext veroffentlicht wird, ist die offizielle, autorisierte und rechtsgultige Version. Diese Ubersetzung wird zur besseren Verstandigung mitgeliefert. Die deutschsprachige Fassung kann gekurzt oder zusammengefasst sein. Es wird keine Verantwortung oder Haftung: fur den Inhalt, fur die Richtigkeit, der Angemessenheit oder der Genauigkeit dieser Ubersetzung ubernommen. Aus Sicht des Ubersetzers stellt die Meldung keine Kauf- oder Verkaufsempfehlung dar! Bitte beachten Sie die englische Originalmeldung auf www.sedar.com , www.sec.gov , www.asx.com.au/ oder auf der Firmenwebsite! Die englische Originalmeldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=40770 Die ubersetzte Meldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=40770&tr=1 NEWSLETTER REGISTRIERUNG: Aktuelle Pressemeldungen dieses Unternehmens direkt in Ihr Postfach: http://www.irw-press.com/alert_subscription.php?lang=de&isin=CA77273 P2017 Mitteilung ubermittelt durch IRW-Press.com. Fur den Inhalt ist der Aussender verantwortlich. Kostenloser Abdruck mit Quellenangabe erlaubt. ISIN CA77273P2017 AXC0043 2017-09-04/07:58 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump lashed out at North Korea on Twitter on Tuesday, urging China to do more to rein in its communist neighbor. 'I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!' Trump tweeted. He added, 'North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.' The tweets from Trump come following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week. The meeting between the two leaders was largely overshadowed by Trump's decision to launch a missile strike at an airbase in Syria. North Korea has been on the administration's radar recently after firing a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan last Wednesday. (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. CRESCO, PA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC: NSAV) is pleased to announce that the Company will release financial statements for Shanghai Hua Si Tai Medical Consultation Company Limited (Shanghai) before end of market today. Highlights show a significant increase in profits with what execs believe to be a sustainable trend toward assertive growth for 2017 and beyond. For the fiscal year 2016, Shanghai posted a net profit of $ 165,000. U.S.D., compared to the fiscal year 2015, when Shanghai posted a net loss of $ 100,000. U.S.D. Operating income for fiscal year 2016 was $ 690,000. U.S.D. The Company attributes Shanghai's turnaround to cost cutting and improved efficiency, as it desired to enter the U.S. public markets. The Company believes that under the guidance of NSAV and its management, Shanghai's growth can accelerate to even greater levels. The Company converted the profit and operating figures into U.S. dollars from Chinese RMB and the financial statements will be audited by the Company's U.S. auditor. The complete financial statements will be posted on the Company's Twitter account and Facebook page before end of market today (4pm EDT) Last week, NSAV agreed in principle to acquire Chinese medical software company, Shanghai Hua Si Tai Medical Consultation Company Limited, which owns and operates Shanghai based Vital Strategic Research Institute (VSRI). VSRI is a medical research firm with a long history of expertise in design, clinical trials and global research. The Company sees VSRI as a major opportunity in the world's largest country and second largest market. NSAV also sees a valuable synergy between VSRI and its own medical cannabis technology business. VSRI has websites in both English and Chinese. http://www.vitalstrategic.com/company.html http://www.vitalstrategic.com.cn The Company feels that by acquiring VSRI it will open up the immense Chinese medical and medical cannabis markets to NSAV. Chinese entities hold an estimated half of the worldwide patents for cannabis and hemp. The Company also believes that because it is a public company, it can greatly assist VSRI grow and become even more prominent on the global stage than it already is. James Tilton, president of NSAV stated, "I am extremely pleased that we were able to release these financial statements even earlier than expected. It is rare that one can find a company which is already very profitable, has so much potential for growth and a great value. I consider myself and all NSAV shareholders extremely fortunate that we were able to locate this precious gem. As I have promised, solid acquisitions will be the key to our Company's growth." Mr. Tilton went on to state, "I am fully aware from the dozens of shareholder emails and Tweets I received, that bringing NSAV current on its SEC filings is priority number one. I can assure all of you that it is my top priority as well. Unfortunately, I inherited an unexpectedly difficult situation from the previous management and it has caused a delay in bringing NSAV current. I am on top of this and I will fulfill my pledge to have the SEC filings completed very soon." NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company that provides turnkey technological solutions to the medical cannabis industry, as well as other areas of the medical industry. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, advisory services, financial services, patents and trademarks and information technology. The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/NSAV_MJTechCo The NSAV Facebook account can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/Net-Savings-Link-Inc-768628693317257/ This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person. For further information, please contact NSAV at: 1 (570-595-2432) jamestilton@netsavingslinkinc.com Siauliai, Lietuva, 2017-04-11 16:25 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the year 2016 the income of Gubernija AB, code 144715765, made EUR 8.184 million, reduced 4 percent in comparison with the income of 2015 - EUR 8.526 million. The EBITDA index of the year 2016 made EUR 0.156 million and reduced 66 percent in comparison with EBITDA index of the year 2015 - EUR 0.463 million. In the year 2016 the loss without tax deduction made EUR 0.510 million, in the year 2015 the loss made EUR 0.264 million. The loss is mainly related to the compensation of the increased beer excise duty from inner resources; and loss of a certain share of the African exports market. We hereby present the Audited Financial Statements of the year 2016, prepared in accordance with Business Accounting Standards (BAS), as adopted by the Lithuanian Republic, together with Confirmation from responsible persons Annual Report and the independent auditor's report. This information is also available at www.gubernija.lt. Gubernija, AB General Manager Vijoleta Dunauskiene +370-41-591900 Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=625164 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. 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. MATTERSBURG, Austria, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The multiple industry awarded technology solutions provider signs cooperation contract with leading US communication services company Sprint to better serve the US MVNO market I-New Unified Mobile Solutions is one of the fastest growing technology solutions providers in the digital communication industry and is a leading provider of MVNE services over lightweight BSS supporting MNOs and MVNOs successfully. The company recently signed a cooperation contract with US communication services giant Sprint (NYSE: S) in order to provide enablement services to the North American MVNO market. Sprint serves around 60 million connections and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities and a global Tier 1 internet backbone. In recent years, I-New became a preferred business support partner of established Network Operators to enable the digital business transformation over lightweight and full digital Business Support Solutions. In cooperation with leading MNOs such as Telefonica Movil, Tigo, Spark, Hutchison Telecom, Entel or Telenor the company already operates digital service hubs across the globe successfully and reinforces MNOs ability to transform or launch MVNOs or b-brands swiftly. I-New helps MVNOs gain additional market share, pass regulatory or market based challenges and - most important - to unleash from cumbersome, inflexible and expensive legacy systems. In this way, I-New ensures full digitalization of the subscriber experience and service management quality through highly competitive and award-winning products and services at a fraction of legacy system costs. About I-New: I-New Unified Mobile Solutions is one of the fastest growing technology solutions providers in the digital communication industry. With offices and service hubs all across the globe, the Austria based company is capable of providing, implementing and running state-of-the-art products and services for successful digital business transformation over next generation platforms. I-New's comprehensive module system of highly competitive products and services enable full digitalization of most modern communication and transaction models. Multiple awarded as Best MVNO/E Solutions and Best Services to Telecoms from the global mobile and communication industry. Contact : I-New Unified Mobile Solutions AG Global Marketing & Corporate Communications Herbert Reinisch marketing@i-new.com +43-(680)-124-12-10 http://www.i-new.com SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - Davinci Virtual Office Solutions announced that it will be exhibiting at the Global Coworking Unconference Conference in New York City, May 5-7, 2017 (http://usa.gcuc.co). Davinci is the leading provider of virtual office addresses, on-demand meeting spaces and live receptionist solutions. The company also continues to create tailored programs that enable Coworking and business center operators to leverage and resell all Davinci services. "We are really looking forward to be part of GCUC in New York City this coming month. It really has become the leading industry event for workspace solution providers. Davinci's offerings and services have been adopted quickly by the rapidly expanding Coworking industry," said Martin Senn, CEO of Davinci Virtual. "We continue to design programs and marketing strategies that create significant revenue streams for Coworking operators and more traditional workspace providers alike," Senn added. "Davinci has been a rockstar in the workspace industries for over a decade now. Their programs and services allow many operators to generate additional income and profits without any downside," commented Liz Elam, Executive Producer for GCUC. "We are proud to have Davinci as a sponsor and exhibitor at GCUC USA," Elam added. Davinci Virtual Office Solutions was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the past decade, the company provided live receptionist services and virtual office solutions to over 40,000 companies and entrepreneurs throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Central America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Clients can obtain, prime business addresses, meeting & work spaces, live receptionist services, live web chat services and business support -- instantly -- with the click of a button. For more information please visit www.davincivirtual.com or www.davincimeetingrooms.com or contact 888-VOFFICE (888-863-3423). About Davinci Virtual: Davinci Virtual is the leading provider of turnkey virtual communications and virtual office solutions. Davinci's virtual offices and services include local or toll-free telephone and fax numbers, digital voicemail, electronic fax, email, online command center, unified messaging, voice and video conferencing, voicemail to email, fax to email, professional live receptionist services, virtual assistants, live call answering, live web chat, screening and forwarding, find me, follow me, surveys, outbound calling, customer service, appointment scheduling, order taking, and much more. Davinci offers virtual office locations and virtual office services worldwide. With professional business addresses in over 1,300 prime locations, mail forwarding, lobby and directory listings, access to conference rooms and day offices, catering, administrative services, virtual assistants, business support centers, resident agent services, license hanging and more, Davinci Virtual helps businesses maintain a global presence on a local budget. DavinciMeetingRooms.com is a comprehensive online reservation platform for business, providing access to over 5,000 conference rooms, day offices, meeting spaces and business support services around the globe. Users can book professionally equipped meeting spaces, as well as critical add-on services such as LCD projectors, video conferencing, wireless Internet access, catering services and secretarial support. Media Contact: Serena Johnston Davinci Virtual Office Solutions 801-990-9200 BERLIN and BOSTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego deploys largest Internet of Things platform from Current powered by GE, using device management technology by San Diego -based company The City of San Diego's recently announced Smart City platform, from Current, powered by GE (NYSE: GE), will be supported by technology from a local company: San Diego-based Proximetry, which was recently acquired by relayr, Current's CityIQ platform, powered by Predix*, GE's platform for the Industrial internet of Things, will use relayr's Proximetry technology for device management in San Diego. "San Diego companies are powering the Internet of Everything so it comes as no surprise that our smart streetlight network includes Proximetry device management from a local partner, relayr," says San Diego Deputy Chief Operating Officer David Graham. "Current's CityIQ platform is empowering city decision-makers and residents to improve the way we live, make us more safe and help the environment." Along with a 14,000-street light upgrade to Current LED technology, 3,200 CityIQ sensor nodes will be deployed across the city beginning in July. The universal nodes will use sensors to collect valuable metadata from the environment that can be used to improve parking, air quality, emergency response times and more. "GE is bringing the best technology together to make this installation a success," said Austin Ashe, General Manager of Intelligent Cities, Current. "When we discovered the local talent and capabilities of Proximetry, we immediately wanted their technology running on our platform to give us enhanced performance." Josef Brunner, CEO of relayr, stated, "With our offices in San Diego, the home and birth-place of our newly acquired Proximetry device management technology, we are proud to be a part of the San Diego Smart City efforts. Working also with the Cities of London and Paris, and other cities on their Smart Cities Internet of Things initiatives, I can say from first hand, that San Diego is one of the fastest and first cities to execute on this promise on such a large scale." In terms of the benefits of the solution, the city estimates cost reduction of power alone at $2.4 million annually. Added to this are the savings in fuel consumption and traffic accidents, due to faster and more efficient parking and less traffic congestion, as well as cost savings due to expected crime reduction. And there are long term benefits to be measured from better air and environmental quality on lowering health care costs. Video Feature:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eydYEEhPRkg GE Press Release:http://hub.currentbyge.com/h/i/330684840-san-diego-to-deploy-world-s-largest-smart-city-iot-platform-with-current-powered-by-ge About relayr relayr, based in Boston and Berlin, is a rapidly growing Enterprise IoT company, providing the enterprise middleware, device management and data analytics for the digital transformation of industries. As a thought leader in enterprise IoT, relayr develops sustainable IoT solutions, based on the OpenFog IoT reference architecture and it's own stack. It's Proximetry device management technology is deployed across multiple industries, and supports the GE Predix technology stack. relayr addresses the central challenge of the Internet of Things, digitizing physical objects, with an end-to-end development solution consisting of an IoT cloud platform that communicates from Any-to-Any (any service, any software, any platform, any sensor); open source software development kits; and a team of IoT experts to support rapid prototyping and implementation. About Current, powered by GE: Current is the digital engine for intelligent environments. A first-of-its-kind startup within the walls of GE, Current blends advanced energy technologies like LED and solar with networked sensors and software to make commercial buildings and industrial facilities more energy efficient & productive. Backed by the power of Predix', GE's platform for the Industrial Internet, and a broad ecosystem of technology partners, Current is helping businesses and cities unlock hidden value and realize the potential of their environments. http://www.currentbyge.com About GE: GE (NYSE: GE) is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. http://www.ge.com Contact Jackson Bond jackson@relayr.io +49-(0)1792989866 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Colliers International is pleased to announce two significant award wins at the Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards: the 2016 NAIOP Community Service Award and the Office Lease of the Year Award for their lease to Shopify Inc. The Office Lease of the Year Award went to Shopify, for their new Toronto headquarters at King Portland Centre. The Colliers International team, led by Tim Bristow, contributed to the lead tenancy of the 112,000 sq. ft. headquarter office space on behalf of Allied Properties REIT. Shopify is a Canadian eCommerce company and leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform. The company made the decision to relocate to one of the largest innovative buildings in Toronto, becoming an anchor building for the King Street West location. "I am extremely proud of our team and the Office Lease of the Year award win," said Tim Bristow of Colliers International. "Shopify presented a number of challenges; they were looking for a space that would meet their innovative design requirements, offer opportunities for periphery markets and accommodate immediate and future business expansions. They also wanted a location that would suit their corporate culture. The team delivered on all accounts, and this award solidifies that." Graeme Young, Senior Vice-President at Colliers International was been awarded the 2016 NAIOP Community Service Award for the Greater Toronto Chapter. Graeme Young has been with Colliers International for 25 years. His community award is most significantly connected to Eva's Initiatives, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk youth. Additionally, Graeme is a past recipient of Colliers President's Community Award. NAIOP is the North American commercial real estate development association. The Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards is a recognition program established to celebrate the achievement of office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate industry in Toronto and the surrounding areas. The focus of the awards is on results, skills, and values, including community and environmental awareness. About Colliers International Group Colliers International Group Inc. is an industry-leading global real estate services company with 15,000 skilled professionals operating in 68 countries. With an enterprising culture and significant employee ownership, Colliers professionals provide a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors worldwide. Services include strategic advice and execution for property sales, leasing and finance; global corporate solutions; property, facility and project management; workplace solutions; appraisal, valuation and tax consulting; customized research; and thought leadership consulting. Colliers professionals think differently, share great ideas and offer thoughtful and innovative advice that help clients accelerate their success. Colliers has been ranked among the top 100 global outsourcing firms by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals for 12 consecutive years, more than any other real estate services firm. For the latest news from Colliers, visit Colliers.com or follow us on Twitter: @Colliers and LinkedIn. To see the latest news from Colliers International in Canada, follow @collierscanada on Twitter and Colliers International Canada on LinkedIn. Contacts: Maxine Jakubke Talk Shop Media Phone: 604-738-2220 Email: maxine@talkshopmedia.com SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - Technology publisher Technica Curiosa, LLC, today announced the launch of www.TechnicaCuriosa.com, the new hub for a family of classic titles including Popular Electronics, Mechanix Illustrated, Popular Astronomy, and new media channels dedicated to artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and other technologies. The site's novel "hub" model, anchored by the reinvigorated brands, is key to covering technology in ways that will inform and inspire readers as the world enters the most innovative era in human history. "Because new ideas emerge at the intersections of technologies, the TechnicaCuriosa.com platform was architected specifically to foster the mobility of knowledge and to cross-pollinate content across disciplines," said TechnicaCuriosa.com publisher John Schroeter. "And that meant connecting the titles under one roof." That "roof" is TechnicaCuriosa.com -- whose name is taken from the 17 th Century tome that originated the "popular science" genre. Amplifying another aspect of the novel publishing model, TechnicaCuriosa.com bridges the gap that exists between scholarly journals and popular media. Utilizing a modern approach to long-form content, the unique editorial model enables technical concepts to be communicated in a variety of ways for multiple audiences. The iconic media brands comprising the TechnicaCuriosa.com platform are ideally positioned to accomplish this objective, as the titles are endowed with rich legacies of world-changing, decades-spanning influence. Just one issue of Popular Electronics (January, 1975), for example, played a central role in the creation of the PC industry; its articles famously inspired the launches of Microsoft and Apple. Moving ahead, the platform's thought-leading contributors span best-selling book authors to industry professionals to academia, including researchers from Stanford, Caltech, Columbia, MIT, and Oxford, as well as NASA, DARPA, and the National Labs. Moreover, the connective tissue of the TechnicaCuriosa.com publishing platform supports a broad readership, appealing to the tech-curious, technology professionals, researchers, and business people who are involved with developing and delivering new technologies at various stages from concept to commercialization. To further inspire technology entrepreneurs, TechnicaCuriosa.com also produces Moonshots -- a special series of eBooks featuring the world's great technology entrepreneurs, "...riffing on the innovations that are shaping life on planet Earth -- and beyond." Lastly, in keeping with the sharing economy, there are no paywalls to TechnicaCuriosa.com content. Tablet editions of the flagship titles, produced with high production values, will be distributed as free apps on all major digital newsstands. For more information, visit www.technicacuriosa.com or contact John Schroeter at john@technicacuriosa.com. About Technica Curiosa www.technicacuriosa.com Founded in 2009, Technica Curiosa is the new and exciting hub of a highly-connected family of iconic media brands -- brands endowed with rich legacies of world-changing, decades-spanning influence. As such, they are among the world's most recognized, respected, shared, and deeply read titles. By consistently and creatively tapping into readers' innate curiosity, imagination, and inventiveness, our brands have in turn inspired the creation of entire industries. No question, the road to innovation is quite literally paved with the content published in these exceptional titles. https://twitter.com/TechnicaCuriosa https://www.facebook.com/PopularElectronics/ Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/10/11G135570/Images/TC_Release_Image-e047938d930ea2e8b2902306dd32f2f5.jpg Media Contact: Lynda Kaye Kaye Public Relations for Technica Curiosa 250-266-5293 lynda@kayepr.com FRANKFURT, Germany, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Greek State receives 1.234 billion upfront payment - Fraport Greece will further invest about 400 million for improving and expanding the airports' infrastructure by 2021 - Focus on enhancing facilities, operational processes and the passenger experience - Single largest expansion of Fraport Group's international airport portfolio says CEO Schulte FRA/rap - Fraport Greece (73.4 percent owned by the Frankfurt based airport operator Fraport AG and 26.6 percent by Copelouzos Group) today commenced the 40-year concession for managing and developing 14 regional airports on the Greek mainland and popular holiday islands - a mamoth investment for the country's infrastructure and economically vital tourism sector. Following the operational transfer of the airports, Fraport Greece today paid the upfront concession fee of 1.234 billion - the biggest concession fee in Greece's history - to the state-owned Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF). Along with this upfront fee, an annual fixed concession fee of 22.9 million will be paid to the Greek State, as well as a variable annual fee based on 28.5 percent of Fraport Greece's yearly operational profit (EBITDA - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization). Actual ownership of the airports is retained by Greece. Dr. Stefan Schulte, Fraport AG's executive board chairman explained: "Since being selected as the winning bidder for the Greek Regional Airports in 2014, we have remained steadfastly committed to this visionary project. We believe in Greece and its potential as one of the greatest travel destinations in the world. The goal of Fraport Greece is to enhance the travel experience for visitors from around the world - by upgrading and expanding facilities and by improving operational processes, shopping and services. Today is a great day for Greece and its people. It is also an important day for us because Fraport Greece is the single largest expansion of our airport portfolio and a milestone in further growing our international business." Currently, Fraport generates more than 20 percent of its annual revenue through its portfolio of international airports and subsidiaries, bundled in the company's External Activities & Services business segment. With the operational transfer of the Greek airports, the Fraport Group will significantly enlarge its international activities, further broaden its worldwide footprint and reduce dependency on the development in single regions or markets. The 14 Greek regional airports served a total of 25.3 million passengers in 2016, an increase by nine percent year-on-year. Fraport Greece will operate, manage and develop the airports over the next four decades - with responsibility for aviation as well as non-aviation areas. The mainland airports include Aktion (PVK), Kavala (KVA) and Thessaloniki (SKG), Greece's second largest city. The eleven island airports are located in Kerkyra/Corfu (CFU), Chania/Crete (CHQ), Kefalonia (EFL), Kos (KGS), Mytilene/Lesvos (MJT), Mykonos (JMK), Rhodes (RHO), Samos (KGS), Santorini (JTR), Skiathos (JSI) and Zakynthos (ZTH). Alexander Zinell, Fraport Greece's CEO, emphasized: "Today marks the beginning of a new era for the 14 Greek regional airports. Within only twelve months we have created Fraport Greece, a world-class airport operator with over 500 highly motivated staff eager to move each of the 14 airports forward into the future. We will develop and manage the airports for the benefit of passengers and airlines - for all stakeholders. These mainland and island gateways will act as a catalyst of growth for Greek tourism as well as other industries. Well-managed airports have been proven to serve as dynamic economic engines for their regions. We appreciate the outstanding support received throughout Greece and look forward to the challenges and opportunties ahead." Under the concession agreement, Fraport Greece will be investing about 400 million for improving and expanding the airports' infrastructure over the next 48 months. Hence, Fraport Greece recently signed an agreement with the Greek-based Intrakat construction and engineering company to refurbish, expand and build new facilities at the 14 airports - including five new passenger terminals. In subsequent years, Fraport Greece will make investments for maintenance and demand-driven capacity expansions. Approximately 1 billion in long-term financing for the Greek Regional Airports project is being provided by a consortium of leading financial institutions. Some 280.4 million of the total loan will be used to finance construction projects at the 14 airports, while 688 million will be used as part of the upfront concession payment to HRADF. Fraport Greece recently raised its total equity capital to 650 million. For further information about Fraport AG please click here: http://www.fraport.com/en/the-fraport-group/about-us/fraport-at-a-glance.html Print-quality photos of Fraport AG and Frankfurt Airport are available for free downloading via the photo library located in our Press Center on the Fraport Web site. For TV news and information broadcasting purposes only, we also offer free footage material for downloading. If you wish to meet a member of our press team when at Frankfurt Airport, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our contact details are available here. Fraport AG Robert A. Payne International Spokesman Press Office, Corp.Communications 60547 Frankfurt, Germany Telephone: +49-69-690-78547 E-mail: r.payne@fraport.de Internet: http://www.fraport.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FrankfurtAirport DALLAS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Budcube Construction Services ("BCS"), a subsidiary of Cherubim Interests, Inc. (OTC PINK: CHIT) ("the Company"), an expansion-stage alternative construction and real estate development company, announces that it has executed a construction management agreement with Greenphoria Farms to perform industry-agnostic tenant finish out services. Greenphoria Farms is a cannabis producer with twelve proprietary strains and over 30 years of cultivation expertise in the industry. The company currently has approximately 20,000 sq. feet under lease in Hillsboro, Oregon, and intends on introducing its proprietary strains to the industry as early as 3rd quarter 2017. "We are excited to enter into the construction services niche for licensed cannabis farmers," said CHIT CEO Patrick Johnson. "We believe that Greenphoria Farms is the first of many opportunities in the Portland, Oregon area and we intend to capitalize on this momentum to attract additional cannabis producers not only in the Oregon market, but additional opportunities along the entire the West Coast." BudCube Construction Services will begin mobilization plans immediately and will open its construction office in Hillsboro, Oregon within the next two weeks. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: Cherubim Interests, Inc. (OTC PINK: CHIT) and BudCube Cultivation Systems USA is planning execution of its stated business objectives in accordance with current understanding of State and Local Laws and Federal Enforcement Policies and Priorities as it relates to Marijuana (as outlined in the Justice Department's Cole Memo dated August 29, 2013), and plan to proceed cautiously with respect to legal and compliance issues. Potential investors and shareholders are cautioned that the companies will obtain advice of counsel prior to actualizing any portion of their business plan. Advice of counsel with regard to specific activities of the companies, Federal, State or Local legal action or changes in Federal Government Policy and/or State and Local Laws may adversely affect business operations and shareholder value. About BudCube Cultivation Systems BudCube Cultivation Systems USA ("BCS") has developed a proprietary, fully portable and scalable, Controlled Environment Cultivation Technology that serves as a turnkey solution for cultivators of legal medical and recreational cannabis, as well as any other plant species. Coupled with a real estate development and property management business model, BudCube Cultivation Systems can position itself anywhere in the world where the cultivation of cannabis is legal. BCS provides cultivation solutions for commercial application. It offers cultivators quick entry into a fast growing market at a price point that is very attractive when compared to the traditional construction and cultivation solution. BCS features a business model unparalleled in the industry and stands to benefit greatly as more and more market participants seek to gain entry into this sector. For more information, visit www.budcube.com About Cherubim Interests Inc. Cherubim Interests specializes in alternative construction projects, as well as covering the entire spectrum of real estate development: due diligence, acquisition, planning, construction, renovation, and management; providing complete beginning-to-end development programs for mixed use, single, and multifamily projects and properties. For more information, visit www.cherubiminterests.com Safe Harbor Statement This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E and/or 27E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including statements as to the future performance of the company and the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to raise necessary financing, retention of key personnel, timely delivery of inventory from the company's suppliers, timely product development, product acceptance, and the impact of competitive services and products, in addition to general economic risks and uncertainties. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3128590 Cherubim Interests, Inc. Patrick J. Johnson Chief Executive Officer (844) 842-8872 pjohnson@cherubiminterests.com Service is based on benchmark research and data-driven analysis HANOVER, Maryland, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- When one-third of employers say their organization's recruitment process prevents them from competing for top talent, there is clear room for improvement. That's why Allegis Group, the global leader in talent solutions, has leveraged its global reach and relationships to conduct extensive benchmark research on recruitment best practices. Now, through its Talent Advisory Services offering, Allegis Group is extending its survey research expertise as a turnkey service to clients seeking to optimize their recruitment strategies and acquire talent needed to advance their business goals. "We know how important it is for clients to attract top-quality candidates to their organizations," says Allegis Group's Global Development Officer Chris Hartman. "As a talent advisor, Allegis Group will analyze skill sets, local labor markets and economic factors, providing valuable data that allows clients to more effectively target and attract top talent. Participating clients acquire the resources they need quickly and effectively, even for their most hard-to-find skill sets. They also reduce time-to-fill and retain quality talent - all while improving the candidate experience throughout the recruitment process." Allegis Group's Talent Advisory Services utilize benchmark data from the company's Talent Advisory Survey as published in a recent white paper, "Let's Talk: Focused Conversation Topics to Supercharge Recruiting Success." For example, while only 30% of hiring managers, 22% of talent acquisition professionals and 41% of candidates report satisfaction with their recruitment processes, high-performing recruitment organizations are 2.9 times more likely to be satisfied overall. In addition, employers who do not strongly agree that the recruitment process successfully balances the needs of hiring managers, recruiters and candidates are significantly more likely to have issues with time-to-fill compared to those who do strongly agree (35% versus 15%). This same dissenting group also takes 32% more time to fill high-skill, hard-to-find or manager/director-level roles, and they struggle to hire top-quality talent (62% versus 12%) when measured against their more satisfied peers. Allegis Group's Talent Advisory Services are straightforward and simple to engage, delivering insights into how an organization compares to the global leader's benchmark of recruitment practices. Participants will make better-informed workforce planning decisions through a scorecard process that helps them to: Establisha Benchmark: Obtain a means to objectively evaluate key stages of the recruitment process. Obtain a means to objectively evaluate key stages of the recruitment process. Understand Stakeholder Groups: Grasp stakeholders' perspectives, including hiring managers, recruiters and candidates. Grasp stakeholders' perspectives, including hiring managers, recruiters and candidates. Know What's Working Well: Identify and celebrate high-performing areas of their recruitment strategy. Identify and celebrate high-performing areas of their recruitment strategy. Detect Problem Areas: Isolate actionable opportunities for improvement. Isolate actionable opportunities for improvement. Grasp What Matters Most: Assess the extent to which behaviors impact overall stakeholder satisfaction to drive a positive candidate experience. Assess the extent to which behaviors impact overall stakeholder satisfaction to drive a positive candidate experience. Optimize Future Recruitment: Improve behaviors across the entire talent acquisition process. "Allegis Group believes in the power of a high-performing recruitment process," adds Hartman. "We are proud to serve as a trusted advisor to our clients and candidates and remain committed to helping both audiences navigate their way to higher levels of business performance and personal satisfaction." Allegis Group's Talent Advisory Services are available to select clients on a complimentary basis. Interested companies may complete the form on the Allegis Group website and a talent advisor will reach out soon. Clients may also call their local representative within one of the Allegis Group brands for information: Aerotek; TEKsystems; Aston Carter; Allegis Global Solutions; Major, Lindsey & Africa; Allegis Partners; MarketSource; EASi; The Stamford Group; and GettingHired. About Allegis Group Allegis Group is the global leader in talent solutions focused on working harder and caring more than any other provider. We'll go further to understand the needs of our people - our clients, our candidates and our employees - and to consistently deliver on our promise of an unsurpassed quality experience. That's the Allegis Group difference, and it's consistent across every Allegis Group company. With more than $11 billion in annual revenues and over 500 locations across the globe, our network provides businesses with a comprehensive suite of talent solutions - without sacrificing the niche expertise required to ensure a successful partnership. Our specialized group of companies includes: Aerotek; TEKsystems; Aston Carter; Allegis Global Solutions; Major, Lindsey & Africa; Allegis Partners; MarketSource; EASi; The Stamford Group; and GettingHired. Visit www.AllegisGroup.comto learn more. Julie McClure 410-694-5215 jmcclure@allegisgroup.com allegisgroup.com 7301 Parkway Drive Hanover, MD 21076 ASIT biotech has obtained positive clinical Phase III data with its gp-ASIT+ product candidate for grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis demonstrating for the first time ever the efficacy of allergen peptides in a real-life setting. product candidate for grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis demonstrating for the first time ever the efficacy of allergen peptides in a real-life setting. gp-ASIT+ induced a 15% to 21% reduction in the combined clinical symptom and medication score (CSMS), which is only slightly below the originally defined 20% threshold. As most important next step ASIT biotech will work with German regulatory agency to define a pathway to licensure. In this context the complementary analysis of the immunological readouts of the Phase III trial, which elucidate a clear and consistent mechanism of action of gp-ASIT+ TM even in an atypical 2017 pollen season, are expected to play an important role. even in an atypical 2017 pollen season, are expected to play an important role. Furthermore the understanding of the mechanism of action of gp-ASIT+ TM constitutes an outstanding strategic asset of the ASIT+ TM technology allowing now a rational design of other pipeline product candidates targeting important allergies. constitutes an outstanding strategic asset of the ASIT+ technology allowing now a rational design of other pipeline product candidates targeting important allergies. The safety and tolerability profile for hdm-ASIT+, the company second most advanced product candidate in house dust mite rhinitis, has been confirmed in a recent Phase I/IIa trial. A slight positive immunological and clinical impact could be observed in a limited number of treated patients, although the study was not powered to show statistically significant results. the company second most advanced product candidate in house dust mite rhinitis, has been confirmed in a recent Phase I/IIa trial. A slight positive immunological and clinical impact could be observed in a limited number of treated patients, although the study was not powered to show statistically significant results. ASIT biotech has received a 6 million grant from the Walloon government to support an ambitious development program to design, develop and clinically test new product candidates targeting various food allergies induced by peanut, egg white and cow's milk. This program is performed in collaboration with Imperial College of London (Prof. Mohamed Shamji) and Guy King's College Hospital (Dr. Stephen Till). ASIT biotech's cash position at year end 2016 was 13.4 million. Regulatory News: ASIT biotech (Paris:ASIT) (BSE:ASIT) (ASIT BE0974289218), a Belgian clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and future commercialization of breakthrough immunotherapy products for the treatment of allergies, today announces its annual results for the year 2016, prepared in accordance with the IFRS standards adopted by the European Union, as well as its recent clinical developments and 2017 outlook. Thierry Legon, CEO of ASIT biotech, says: "2016 was a very successful year of transformation for ASIT biotech in several aspects. From a financial perspective, our IPO in May 2016 provided us with the necessary means to effectively advance our various R&D programs. In this context we most importantly finalized the Phase III clinical trial with gp-ASIT+ in grass pollen rhinitis, the Phase I/IIa clinical trial with hdm-ASIT+ in house dust mite rhinitis, and the identification of a 3rd drug candidate in ragweed-induced rhinitis in accordance with our commitments. Based on the encouraging results of the Phase III clinical trial with gp-ASIT+ and the Phase I/IIa with hdm-ASIT+TM, we are embarking on 2017 full of confidence. For gp-ASIT+TM we will focus all our efforts to define and execute all necessary steps towards a first earliest possible market approval. Furthermore the understanding of the clinical mechanism of action of our lead product will significantly reduce the development risk in our upcoming work for our other product candidates derived from our ASIT+ technology platform. Financial results at 31 December, 2016 In thousands of euros IFRS 31.12.2016 31.12.2015 Revenue 4 Other operating income 1,667 -3 Research Development expenses -12,123 -6,691 General Administrative expenses -1,822 -947 Operating profit loss -12,278 -7,640 Financial income expense -60 -75 Tax -1 Net profit loss -12,339 -7,715 Operating income, which totaled 1.7 million, consisted of a recoverable advance of 663 thousand from the Walloon government for the hdm-ASIT+ program and research tax credit of 1,061 thousand. ASIT biotech recorded no revenue in 2016, as the Company is still in its clinical development phase. Research Development spending and General Administrative expenses totaled 13.9 million over the year 2016 (versus 7.6 million at 31 December 2015) given the acceleration in the Company's clinical development; R&D spending, which accounted for 87% of total operating expenses, was entirely devoted to the development of ASIT biotech's R&D programs and was allocated as follows: 80% for the most advanced drug candidate, gp-ASIT+, to treat grass pollen rhinitis; 15% for the second drug candidate, hdm-ASIT+, to treat house dust mite rhinitis; 5% for preclinical activities and the discovery of product candidates for other types of allergies. The operating loss over the year ending 31 December 2016 was thus -12.3 million, versus -7.6 million at 31 December 2015. Financial structure ASIT biotech had a net cash position of 13.4 million at 31 December 2016, compared with 4.6 million at 31 December 2015. The increase in the figure over the last 12 months was notably the result of: the 23.5 million raised by the Company's IPO on the Euronext Brussels and Euronext Paris regulated markets in May 2016; the conversion of 4.1 million of convertible bonds on 12 May 2016. The Company also benefited from repayable advances from the Walloon government: 1.3 million granted in December 2015 for the development of the hdm-ASIT+ drug candidate, of which 125 thousand is still to be gradually received as this program progresses; approximately 6.0 million granted in January 2017 to co-finance the research and development of product candidates to treat food allergies. Cash burn from operating and investment activities totaled 14.1 million, a level consistent with the Company's development budget over the last 12 months. The statutory auditors are currently still auditing the Company's consolidated financial statements to 31 December 2016. These auditors have already indicated that their report will include an emphasis-of-matter paragraph relative to continuity assumptions, which will be detailed in the financial statements. The annual financial report (regulated information) will be available in the Investors Documentation section of the Company's website from April 21 2017. Recent clinical and preclinical developments gp-ASIT+ (grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis): at the end of February 2017, the Company presented the results of the Phase III international clinical trial involving 516 patients suffering from grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis. gp-ASIT+ induced a 15% to 21% reduction in the combined clinical symptom and medication score (CSMS), which is only slightly below a originally defined 20% threshold. The complementary analysis of the immunological readouts of the Phase III trial elucidates a clear and consistent mechanism of action of gp-ASIT+ TM even in an atypical 2017 pollen season. This and the very good consistency of the overall results of the Company's lead product will allow further discussions with German authorities towards regulatory approval and with US authorities regarding the clinical development strategy for this important market. at the end of February 2017, the Company presented the results of the Phase III international clinical trial involving 516 patients suffering from grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis. gp-ASIT+ induced a 15% to 21% reduction in the combined clinical symptom and medication score (CSMS), which is only slightly below a originally defined 20% threshold. The complementary analysis of the immunological readouts of the Phase III trial elucidates a clear and consistent mechanism of action of gp-ASIT+ even in an atypical 2017 pollen season. This and the very good consistency of the overall results of the Company's lead product will allow further discussions with German authorities towards regulatory approval and with US authorities regarding the clinical development strategy for this important market. hdm-ASIT+ (allergic rhinitis to house dust mites): at the end of November 2016, the Company completed the enrollment of patients for its Phase I/IIa trial in allergic rhinitis to house dust mites undertaken in Germany. A total of 40 patients were successfully selected, of whom 36 were eligible and began the treatment with hdm-ASIT+. The results, published on 4 April, confirmed a good safety and tolerance profile. The trial showed a somewhat higher numerical reduction in the Conjungtivitis Provocation Test (CPT) reactivity in the treated group compared to the placebo group, although the study was not powered to demonstrate statistical significance. The absence of a larger reduction can be explained, at least in part, by a substantial response to placebo (55%), the limited number of patients and the short observation period in this perennial disease. An optimization of the product candidate will now be performed based on the mechanism of action obtained from the gp-ASIT+TM Phase III results. Organization and governance In 2016, the Company strengthened its governance and continued to put together its teams with a view to the ramping up of its R&D programs with the appointment of two world-renowned experts: Dr. Vincent Bille as Vice President of Manufacturing Controls; as Vice President of Manufacturing Controls; Dr. Mohamed Shamji of Imperial College of London as Scientific Advisor for the discovery of new drug candidates and for preclinical activities. With the positive results of the Phase III with gp-ASIT+TM in grass pollen rhinitis, ASIT biotech has reached a very important clinical development milestones under the presidency of Beatrice De Vos MD, PhD, BCPM. To face the new strategic challenges in regulatory affairs and business development, the Board of Directors has appointed Gerd Zettlmeissl, who is already serving on the Board of the Company since 2011, as Chairman in March 2017. To secure its development in the United States, ASIT biotech has signed an agreement with SynteractHCR, a CRO (Contract Research Organization) acknowledged for its expertise in running clinical trials in the field of respiratory disorders. Aside the strategic agreement, the Company has also set up a Key Opinion Leader Committee composed by: Dr. Linda Cox , former President of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma Immunology (AAAAI) and of the immunotherapy and allergy diagnostics committees of both the AAAAI and the ACAAI (American College of Allergy, Asthma Immunology); , former President of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma Immunology (AAAAI) and of the immunotherapy and allergy diagnostics committees of both the AAAAI and the ACAAI (American College of Allergy, Asthma Immunology); Dr. Peter Creticos, former Director of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Outlook and upcoming milestones In 2017, ASIT biotech intends to continue the preclinical and clinical development of its drug candidates in accordance with the planned timeline: gp-ASIT+TM in grass pollen rhinitis Scientific Advise Meeting with Paul Ehrlich Institute (Q2/Q3) to discuss Phase III data and to define route to German licensure; Preparation of a 2 nd Phase III in Europe in adults or in children depending on Paul Ehrlich Institute outcome (potential study start Q1-2018); Phase III in Europe in adults or in children depending on Paul Ehrlich Institute outcome (potential study start Q1-2018); Scientific Advise Meeting with FDA (Q3/Q4) to define the clinical development strategy towards licensure in the US. hdm-ASIT+TM in house dust mite allergy Compare immunogenicity profile of hdm-ASIT+TM to gp-ASIT+TM by ex vivo test on house dust mite allergic patients by Q3 to further confirm the product design and to define further clinical development program. food-ASIT in food allergy Assess immunogenicity profile of ASIT+TM by ex vivo test on: peanut allergic patients by Q3; cow's milk allergic patients by Q4; egg white allergic patients by Q4. About ASIT biotech ASIT biotech is a Belgian clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and future commercialization of a range of breakthrough immunotherapy products for the treatment of allergies. Thanks to its innovative ASIT+TM technology platform, ASIT biotech is currently the only developer of AIT product candidates consisting of a unique mixture of highly purified natural allergen fragments in an optimal size selection. This innovation results in a short treatment, expected to improve patient compliance and real-life effectiveness. ASIT biotech's product pipeline entails two novel ASIT+ product candidates targeting respiratory allergy with the highest prevalence (i.e. grass pollen: gp-ASIT+TM and house dust mite: hdm-ASIT+TM), that could significantly expand the current immunotherapy market. The Company believes that its innovative ASIT+ platform is flexible and would be applicable across a range of allergies. ASIT biotech has a headcount of 22 staff members, at its headquarters in Brussels and a laboratory in Liege, Belgium. Further information can be found at www.asitbiotech.com. Forward-looking statements All statements in this announcement that do not relate to historical facts and events are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "continue," "ongoing," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "seek" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategies, plans, objectives, targets, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this announcement and, without prejudice to the Company's obligations under applicable law in relation to disclosure and ongoing information, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements set forth in this announcement. Legal notice This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for shares of ASIT biotech SA (the "Company" and the "Shares"). Any purchase of, subscription for or application for, Shares to be issued in connection with the intended offering should only be made on the basis of information contained in the prospectus and any supplements thereto, as the case may be. This announcement does not constitute a prospectus and the information contained herein is for information purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. Investors should not subscribe for any Shares except on the basis of the information contained in the prospectus that the Company expects to publish after its approval by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority, and which can then be obtained at the Company's registered office and on www.asitbiotech.com. This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or to any U.S. person within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the intended offering of Shares in the United States, and does not intend to conduct a public offering of Shares in the United States. This announcement and the information contained herein are not for publication, distribution or release in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. The Company is responsible for the information contained in this press release. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411005919/en/ Contacts: Company Thierry Legon, CEO ASIT biotech Tel.: +32 2 264 03 90 investors@asitbiotech.com or Media and Investor Relations France NewCap Dusan Oresansky Pierre Laurent Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 92 asitbiotech@newcap.eu or Media Relations Belgium Laure-Eve Monfort Tel.: +32 2 290 90 93 monfort@comfi.be WAWA, PA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Wawa Inc. today announced that in honor of its 53rd anniversary in retail, this year's Wawa Day will be held on Thursday April 13, and Wawa will celebrate the occasion by offering customers free coffee, chain-wide, all day! Throughout the day, Wawa's goal is to give away 2 million free cups of any size coffee to customers at its more than 750 stores across its six-state operating area. In April of 1964, Wawa entered the retail business and opened its first convenience store. In April of 2014, Wawa celebrated its 50th anniversary in convenience retailing and marked the milestone with the first Wawa Day event and the launch of The Wawa Foundation, a 501c (3) non-profit organization founded to encompass most of Wawa's charitable giving. Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are committed to donating $50 million to causes supporting health, hunger and every day heroes by 2018. Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are pleased to announce that on Wawa Day, they will mark the distribution of $2 million in first-quarter grants to charitable organizations, bringing the total contributions made since the inception of The Wawa Foundation to $35 million. This year, Wawa's April 13th Wawa Day celebration gives the Company the chance to toast the community with free coffee, while celebrating its 53rd anniversary in retail and the third anniversary of The Wawa Foundation. "Wawa Day provides us with a chance to connect with and honor the millions of customers we've served over the past 53 years who have been so integral to Wawa's growth over that time," said Chris Gheysens, Wawa's President and CEO. "At Wawa, we exist to go beyond filling customer orders to fulfilling the lives that we touch every day. Our core purpose is exemplified through the commitment of The Wawa Foundation to give back to the communities we serve, as well as through the dedication of the thousands of Wawa associates who make our stores such special places. It's always exciting to celebrate our customers, associates and communities by giving away one of our most beloved products, Wawa coffee!" In addition to giving away an expected 2 million free cups of coffee for all customers chain-wide, Wawa will be celebrating the millions of magical moments that happen at Wawa each day with in-store digital tributes featuring photos of some of the many "Day Brighteners" at Wawa that celebrate the unique relationship between Wawa associates and customers. This year's goal of 2 million cups of free coffee would be the most given away to date. Happy Wawa Day, everyone, and cheers to you all! About Wawa, Inc. Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and "certified" process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960's, Grahame Wood, George's grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge-free ATMs. In 2015, Wawa was named "America's Most Beloved Convenience Store" by a Market Force study of 7,000 consumers, and in 2016 Wawa was recognized in Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers, a survey-based ranking of employers offering the best associate experiences and strongest opportunities. A chain of more than 750 convenience retail stores (525 offering gasoline), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. CONTACT: Wawa, Inc. public.relations@wawa.com Hereby, in accordance with 2931 (1) of the Commercial Code, the Management Board of Arco Vara AS discloses a draft resolution to the agenda of the general meeting, which will take place on 30 May 2017. The draft resolution to agenda's clause 2 is the following: to cover the net loss for the year ended on 31 December 2016 in the amount of 832 thousand euros from retained earnings; to pay dividends to the shareholders 0.01 euros per share, in the total amount of 65 070.12 euros. The list of shareholders entitled to dividends shall be fixed as at 14 June 2017, 23:59 PM. Dividends shall be paid to the shareholders by transfer to the bank account of the shareholders on 16 June 2017. Yours sincerely, Management Board of Arco Vara AS +372 6144 630 info@arcovara.ee 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. MILWAUKEE, WI--(Marketwired - April 20, 2017) - Attorney Michael Hupy was recently recognized as an AV Preeminent Attorney -- Judicial Edition -- a prestigious award based on review ratings of members of the judicial community. Attorney Hupy has been peer reviewed AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 20 years. Lawyers are surveyed on a lawyer's legal ability and ethical standards. Those survey results turn into a rating after a threshold has been achieved. The AV Preeminent judicial rating is the gold standard of lawyer ratings -- the highest possible rating in legal ability and ethical standards -- and has been since 1887. This award is compiled from judicial opinion about an attorney and is the pinnacle of professional excellence. Receiving this award is a sign that a lawyer has reached the highest possible standard of legal knowledge and ethical behavior in their field. It also is a reflection of opinions from both the judiciary and the bar. Recognized with a Litigator Award in 2015, Attorney Hupy was also named a Wisconsin Super Lawyer. Over his decades of practice, he has been involved with several lawyer organizations and is a member of the National Trial Lawyers, the American Association of Justice and a member of the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Additionally, Attorney Hupy is past president of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the Wisconsin Association of Justice Board of Directors. Hupy and Abraham, S.C. Founded in 1969 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, personal injury law firm Hupy and Abraham, S.C. has a proven record of success with large settlements in serious cases, collecting over a billion dollars for more than 70,000 satisfied clients. The firm has a long-established reputation of providing sound legal representation to accident victims, securing fair compensation for its clients and giving back to the community. With 11 offices located in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa, the law firm handles personal injury cases including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, pharmaceutical and medical device class actions and nursing home neglect and abuse cases. The firm's 25 experienced attorneys are committed to going above and beyond the call of duty for their clients by tirelessly representing them to the best of their ability while being involved in the local community -- from raising funds for local charities to participating in safety and accident prevention initiatives. In the past three years, the firm has donated more than $500,000 to more than 250 worthwhile causes. Hupy and Abraham, S.C. has received top ratings from a number of national professional organizations for many years and was voted Best Personal Injury Lawyers in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 and voted Best Personal Injury Law Firm in 2016, 2014, 2013 and 2012 in another popular poll, and named Best Law Firm in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Top Choice Award in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, the firm was named a Webby Award Honoree in the Best Law Website Category and was honored at the Legal Marketing Association's "Your Honor Awards" for Best Website: Reboot. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/20/11G136430/Images/MFH_Martindale-Hubbell_Awards_-_Coat_Off_2-466b9553a07ba530aa660433cfa0ec6c.jpg Contact Jill Wellskopf Hupy and Abraham (414) 982.2059 direct jwellskopf@hupy.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tuesday, US President Donald Trump signed the United States instrument of ratification of the Protocol for Montenegro's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This followed the Senate's March 28 overwhelming and bipartisan vote of advice and consent in support of ratification. President Trump looks forward to the May 25 NATO Leaders Meeting in Brussels and the opportunity to reaffirm those fundamental and enduring transatlantic values, the White House said. 'Montenegro will be there as well, signaling to other NATO aspirants that the door to membership in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations remains open and that countries in the Western Balkans are free to choose their own future and select their own partners without outside interference or intimidation,' it added. Montenegro will become the twenty-ninth member of the NATO Alliance. 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) -- 04/11/17 -- 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 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/NR17-09Figures.pdf. HIGHLIGHTS: -- Hole 22 extends the Alpala Central high-grade core approximately 200m shallower. -- Final results return: -- 730m @ 0.52 % copper and 0.23 g/t gold from 446m (0.66% CuEq at 0.30% CuEq cut-off, true width: 365m), including -- 384m @ 0.65 % copper and 0.34 g/t gold from 770m (0.86% CuEq at 0.50% CuEq cut-off, true width: 192m), and -- 100m @ 1.10 % copper and 0.57 g/t gold from 896m (1.46% CuEq at 0.70% CuEq cut-off, true width: 50m). FURTHER INFORMATION: The Cascabel Project is located within the gold-rich northern section of the Andean Copper belt (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). Fifteen individual targets have been defined at Cascabel. SolGold, the operator of the Project, has successfully drill tested three of the fifteen targets, being Alpala Central, Alpala Northwest, and Hematite Hill. Drill testing of a fourth target, at Alpala Southeast is currently under way (Hole 24) (Figure 3 and 4). The deposit at Alpala continues to grow with each new drill hole. Current drilling focusses on defining the geometry of the growing Alpala deposit, which is open in virtually all directions. Over 34,000m of drilling has been completed to date, and the arrival of Rigs 4, 5, 6 and 7 over the coming two quarters will see drill testing expanding to Alpala East, Alpala West, Trivino and Aguinaga by mid-year. The drilling program ramps up towards eight drilling rigs by year end, which will also see drill testing of the Tandayama-America prospect. Drill hole locations showing completed drilling and current holes 23R, 24 and 25 are shown in Figure 4. Hole 21 (CSD-17-021), situated approximately 250m along strike to the southeast of Hole 16 (856m @ 0.80% Cu, 1.04g/t Au), was completed to a depth of 1619.2m on March 17, 2017. Assay results for Hole 21 are being finalized and are expected in the coming week. Selected examples of mineralization encountered in Hole 21 are shown in Figure 5. Hole 22 (CSD-17-022) was completed to a depth of 1311.2m on March 5, 2017 testing approximately 200m up-trend of Hole 19 from the same drill site. Hole 22 extends the Alpala Central high grade core some 200m shallower. Final results return: -- 730m @ 0.52 % copper and 0.23 g/t gold from 446m (0.66% CuEq at 0.30% CuEq cut-off, true width: 365m), including -- 384m @ 0.65 % copper and 0.34 g/t gold from 770m (0.86% CuEq at 0.50% CuEq cut-off, true width: 182m), and -- 100m @ 1.10 % copper and 0.57 g/t gold from 896m (1.46% CuEq at 0.70% CuEq cut-off, true width: 50m). The position of Hole 22 is shown in cross-section A-A' in Figure 6. Selected examples of mineralization encountered in Hole 22 are shown in Figure 7. Holes 23R, 24, and 25 are in progress at current depths of 533.4m, 822.7m, and 835.5m respectively. A detailed update on the progress of these holes, testing both depth and strike extensions to the southeast of Alpala, is planned later this week. OUTLOOK Upgrade and expansion of site facilities are well underway at Cascabel as the project continues to expand towards 7 rigs by October and 10 rigs next year. The geology team has yet to define the extents of the Alpala porphyry system, and the deposit remains open in most directions, continuing to grow with each new drill hole. An aggressive drill program, producing around 90,000m of diamond drill core per annum from early 2018, is planned to delineate the system limits along the greater Alpala trend prior to a maiden resource statement. An increasing understanding of the deposit is now leading to much larger step-outs in drilling as Solgold directs its program towards the copper and gold at a prognosed large and rich heart of the Alpala system. 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. Plans: To date SolGold has completed geological mapping and soil sampling over 25 km2, along with and an additional 9km2 of Induced Polarisation and 14km2 Magnetotelluric "Orion" surveys over the Alpala cluster and Aguinaga targets. SolGold has completed 33,000m of drilling and expended over USD 4M on the program, corporate costs and investments into Cornerstone. Diamond drilling is planned for the next 12 months with multiple drill rigs. The Company is currently planning further metallurgical testing and completion of an independent Pre-Feasibility Study at Cascabel (which may or may not be the equivalent of a National Instrument 43-101/CIM definition standards Pre-Feasibility Study). SolGold is investigating both high tonnage open cut and underground block caving operations, as well as a high grade / low tonnage initial underground development towards the economic development of the copper gold deposit/s at Cascabel. 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, assaying and reporting 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 ALS Minerals Laboratories (ALS) sample preparation facility in Quito. Core samples are prepared crushing to 70% passing 2 mm (10 mesh), splitting 250 g and pulverizing to 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) (ALS code CRU-31, SPL21 and PUL-32). Prepared samples are then shipped to ALS in Lima, Peru where samples are assayed for a multi-element suite (ALS code ME-MSP61, 1g split, 4-acid digestion, ICP-MS finish). Over limit results for Ag (greater than 100 g/t) and Cu, (greater than 1%) are systematically re-assayed (ALS code Ag-AA62, 4-acid digestion, AAS finish). Gold is assayed using a 30 g split, Fire Assay (FA) and AA finish (ALS code Au-AA23). Drill hole intercepts 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 0.63, determined using an updated copper price of USD3.00/pound and an updated gold price of USD1300/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. True width of down hole intersections is estimated by SolGold to be approximately 25-50% of the core length. Quality assurance / Quality control (QA/QC) The ALS 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. Contacts: For investor, corporate or media inquiries, please contact: Investor Relations: Mario Drolet (514) 904-1333 Mario@mi3.ca WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Former President Barack Obama will travel to Germany next month to engage in a conversation about democracy at an event to commemorate the launch of the Reformation Summer. Obama is scheduled to hold a discussion with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the topic of 'Being Involved in Democracy: Taking on Responsibility Locally and Globally' on May 25th. Kirchentag President Christina Aus der Au and Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, EKD Council chair, will moderate the discussion at the Brandenburg Gate. 'President Barack Obama's attending the Kirchentag in Berlin, which will ring in the Reformation Summer, underlines the international character of our 500th anniversary celebrations,' said Bedford-Strohm. 'Together, as people of faith, we live from the firm hope for a better world,' he added. 'Anyone who is pious also has to be politically minded. I am looking forward to enthusiastic debates during the Reformation Summer 2017.' Bedford-Strohm noted he invited Obama to visit Germany for the Reformation anniversary in May of last year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Puma Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE: PUM)(SSE: PUMA) (the "Company" or "PUMA") has launched a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its high-grade Zinc Murray Brook Deposit (the "Deposit") located in the Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick. PUMA has appointed P&E Mining Consultants Inc. ("P&E") of Brampton, Ontario to lead the study and prepare an NI 43-101 technical report on the project by year end. P&E has previously completed an initial Mineral Resource Estimate and a positive PEA in 2013 on the high tonnage (17 M tonnes) lower grade open pit scenario of the Deposit and prepared an National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Mineral Resource Estimate on the underground high-grade Zinc portion of the deposit in December 2016. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) The updated PEA will assess the best means of extracting the mineralization and examine whether, owing to the current prices of metals, the project should commence as an open pit whith later transition to underground operations or only as an underground scenario. The capital expenditures and operating costs will be evaluated as well as the different options to monetize the oxide Mineral Resource located on the top of the Deposit. Different mining scenarios are possible at Murray Brook, since the Deposit starts at surface to 300 metres in depth with the higher grade zone is located between 200-300 metres. The Deposit remains open at depth. "The completion of the PEA will be a truly defining milestone for PUMA with the Murray Brook project. The potential to grow the Mineral Resource is significant according to the drill ready targets located along strike and toward the Caribou Mine" notes Marcel Robillard, PUMA's President. Open Pit Mineral Resource Estimates The Deposit contains sulphide historical resources of 1.078 Blbs of zinc ("Zn"), 183 Mlbs of Copper ("Cu"), 390 Mlbs of Lead ("Pb"), 23.9 Moz of Silver ("Ag") and 338 Koz of Gold ("Au") within historical measured and indicated resources of 17,884,000 tons at 2.73 % Zn, 0.47 % Cu, 0.99 % Pb, 41.7 g/t Ag and 0.59 g/t Au. The historical Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared for Votorantim Metals Canada in accordance with 43-101 in 2012 from 132 drillholes and used terminology compliant with the current reporting standards. PUMA has not made any attempt to reclassify the Mineral Resource Estimates according to current standards of disclosure, and is not treating the estimate as a current Mineral Resource. Investors are cautioned that historical Mineral Resources are considered conceptual in nature, and there is no guarantee that historic potential Mineral Resources will be able to be converted into current NI 43-101 Mineral Resource categories or demonstrate economic viability. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current Mineral Resource. Underground Mineral Resource Estimate The underground Sulphide Mineral Resource Estimate is comprised of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources totaling 5.28 million tonnes averaging 5.24% Zn, 1.80% Pb, 0.46% Cu, 68.9 g /t Ag and 0.65 g /t Au. It contains 610 Mlbs of Zn, 209 Mlbs of Pb, 54 Mlbs of Cu, 11.7 Moz of Ag and 111 Koz of Au at a C$85 per tonne net smelter return (" NSR") cut-off in the Sulphide Measured and Indicated categories. The National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for sulphide and oxide mineralization at an $85/t NSR cut-off was used. The drilling database of the Deposit contains 10,045 samples, all of which were analyzed for Zn, Pb, Cu, Ag and Au. A total of 7,964 assays from 141 drill holes have been utilized for the Mineral Resource Estimate. The drilling was carried on between 2010 to 2013. About Puma Exploration Inc. Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company with advanced precious and base metals projects in Canada. The Company's major assets are the 67.9-per-cent beneficial interest in the Murray Brook Property, the Turgeon Zinc-Copper Project, the Nicholas-Denys Project in New Brunswick and an equity interest in Black Widow Resources with the Little Stull Lake Gold Project in Manitoba. In 2017, PUMA will direct all of its efforts on the Company's three (3) main base metals projects in New Brunswick which are the Murray Brook, Turgeon and Nicholas-Denys projects with special emphasis on the Murray Brook Property. You can visit us on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more by consulting www.pumaexploration.com for further information on Puma Exploration Inc. The contents of this press release were prepared by Marcel Robillard, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Puma Exploration Inc. to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma Exploration undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the quarterly and annual reports and in the documents submitted to the securities administration. Contacts: Puma Exploration Inc. Marcel Robillard, President (418) 724-0901 president@explorationpuma.com SCHAUMBURG, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Although warm, spring weather means more time outdoors, it also means more bugs -- like bees, ticks and mosquitoes. The best way to deal with pesky bites and stings, say dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology, is to prevent them in the first place. This can also help you avoid an insect-related disease, which can put a damper on anyone's spring. "Although most bug bites are harmless, some can spread dangerous diseases like Zika virus, dengue, Lyme disease and malaria," said board-certified dermatologist Lindsay Strowd, MD, FAAD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. "Particularly if you're visiting areas with known insect-borne diseases, it's important to take steps to reduce your risk." To help prevent bug bites, Dr. Strowd recommends the following tips: 1. Use insect repellent. To protect against mosquitoes, ticks and other bugs, use insect repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Always follow the instructions on the repellent and reapply as directed. If you are also wearing sunscreen, apply your sunscreen first, let it dry, and then apply the insect repellent. Do not use sunscreen that contains insect repellent, as sunscreen must be applied liberally and often while insect repellant should be applied sparingly. 2. Wear appropriate clothing. If you know you're going to be out at night or hiking in a densely wooded area, dress appropriately to prevent bug bites. Cover exposed skin as much as possible by wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks and closed shoes instead of sandals. For additional protection, pull your socks up over your pants and tuck your shirt into your pants. You can also pretreat outer layers of clothing with insect repellent containing the active ingredient permethrin. Follow the directions carefully and allow the clothes to dry for at least two hours before wearing them. 3. Use bed nets. If sleeping in the great outdoors, use bed nets to protect against mosquitoes. Look for one that has been pretreated with pyrethroid insecticide. If it doesn't reach the floor, tuck it under the mattress for maximum protection. 4. Pay attention to outbreaks. Check the CDC Travel Health Notices website and heed travel warnings and recommendations. "Sometimes, despite one's greatest efforts, bug bites still happen," said Dr. Strowd. "Fortunately, most bug bites and stings can be safely treated at home." To treat bug bites and stings, Dr. Strowd recommends the following tips: 1. For painful bites, such as a bee sting, take an over-the-counter painkiller, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Always follow the directions on the label and use the correct dose. 2. For bites that itch, apply an ice pack or an over-the-counter anti-itch cream, such as hydrocortisone. Another option is to take an over-the-counter oral antihistamine. 3. To reduce swelling, apply an ice pack to the bite. "If you experience any serious symptoms after a bug bite, such as a rash, fever or body aches, see your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist immediately," said Dr. Strowd. "Make sure you tell the doctor about your recent bite so that they can examine you for a transmitted disease." These tips are demonstrated in "How to Prevent and Treat Bug Bites," a video posted to the AAD website and YouTube channel. This video is part of the AAD's "Video of the Month" series, which offers tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair and nails. A new video in the series posts to the AAD website and YouTube channel each month. Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 19,000 physicians worldwide, the AAD is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the AAD at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or aad.org. Follow the AAD on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology), Twitter (@AADskin), or YouTube (AcademyofDermatology). To view a media-rich version of this release, go to: http://aad.new-media-release.com/2017/bug_bites/ Jennifer Allyn (847) 240-1730 Email Contact Nicole DiVito (847) 240-1746 Email Contact Amanda Jacobs (847) 240-1714 Email Contact WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After giving back ground in the previous session, the price of gold showed a substantial move back to the upside during trading on Tuesday. Gold for June delivery jumped $20.30 to $1,274.20 an ounce, reaching its highest closing level in five months. The rally by the price of gold reflected geopolitical concerns on the heels of President Donald Trump's decision to launch a missile strike at an airbase in Syria. Trump also lashed out at North Korea on Twitter on Tuesday, urging China to do more to rein in its communist neighbor. 'I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!' Trump tweeted. He added, 'North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.' The tweets from Trump come following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week. 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. ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Fortis Inc. ("Fortis" or the "Corporation") (TSX: FTS)(NYSE: FTS) will release its first quarter 2017 financial results on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. A teleconference and webcast will be held the same day at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern). Barry Perry, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Karl Smith, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss Fortis' first quarter 2017 financial results. Analysts, members of the media and other interested parties in North America are invited to participate by calling 1.877.223.4471. International participants may participate by calling 647.788.4922. Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. No pass code is required. A live and archived audio webcast of the teleconference will be available on the Corporation's website, www.fortisinc.com. A replay of the conference will be available two hours after the conclusion of the call until June 2, 2017. Please call 1.800.585.8367 or 416.621.4642 and enter pass code 94192862. Fortis will hold its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern), 10:30 a.m. (Newfoundland), at the Holiday Inn St. John's, 180 Portugal Cove Road, St. John's, NL. A live webcast of the meeting will be available on the Corporation's website, www.fortisinc.com. About Fortis Fortis is a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry with total assets of approximately C$48 billion. The Corporation's 8,000 employees serve utility customers in five Canadian provinces, nine U.S. states and three Caribbean countries. Fortis shares are listed on the TSX and NYSE and trade under the symbol FTS. Additional information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com, www.sedar.com, or www.sec.gov. Contacts: Ms. Kealey Martin Manager, Investor Relations Fortis Inc. 709.737.2900 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Platinex Inc. (CSE: PTX)(CSE: PTX.CN)(OTC: PANXF) ("Platinex" or the "Company") announces that it has retained the services of CFN Media Group ("CFN Media") to assist with its investor relations activities. CFN Media will provide investor relations services to Platinex, including the development of investor information material through its premium publisher channels, network of investment professionals in the cannabis and industry, and assistance in maintaining awareness of Platinex in the investment community. In consideration of the services to be provided, the Company has agreed to pay to CFN Media a retainer of US$15,000, payable in three equal installments and within the 90-day term of the agreement. CFN Media does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in Platinex or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest. Platinex does not expect that this new cannabis project will involve a change in business and the Company expects to maintain a primary focus on mineral exploration. The cannabis project is a new business line in addition to exploration which is Platinex's continuous focus. About Platinex Inc. Platinex's goal is to create shareholder value through entrepreneurial endeavors and its existing mineral exploration activities. The mining focus is currently on the Shining Tree gold camp, which has received little modern exploration compared to other gold camps in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, but its potential is accentuated by several major discoveries along strike in recent years. Its current entrepreneurial activities include the establishment of a cannabis mall. Shares of Platinex are listed for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "PTX". To receive Company press releases, please email jtrusler@platinex.com and mention "Platinex press release" on the subject line. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain of the information contained in this news release may contain "forward-looking information". Forward-looking information and statements may include, among others, statements regarding the future plans, costs, objectives or performance of Platinex, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company does not intend, nor does the Company undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Platinex Inc. James R. Trusler President and CEO (416) 565-5616 jtrusler@platinex.com www.platinex.com Technavio's latest report on the data center market in ANZprovides an analysis on the most important trends expected to impact the market outlook from 2017-2021. Technavio defines an emerging trend as a factor that has the potential to significantly impact the market and contribute to its growth or decline. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411006009/en/ Technavio Announces the Release of Their Data Center Market in ANZ 2017-2021 Report (Graphic: Business Wire) The research study by Technavio on the data center market in ANZ for 2017-2021 provides detailed industry analysis based on infrastructure (IT infrastructure, power management solutions, general construction, cooling solutions, rack, security solutions, and data center infrastructure management (DCIM)). A data center is a centralized facility used for data computing, processing, and storage. Technavio analysts forecast the data center market in ANZ to grow to USD 6.18 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of more than 8% over the forecast period. Request a sample report: https://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=57270 Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. The top three emerging trends driving the data center market in ANZ according to Technavio information and communications technology research analysts are: Construction of green data centers Implementation of software-defined data centers (SDDCs) Adoption of modular/mini data center Construction of green data centers "Green data centers help in the operation of energy-efficient IT, power, and cooling infrastructure, thereby reducing the electricity consumption and carbon footprint. These advantages are driving the rise in adoption of these green data centerssays Abhishek Sharma, a lead analyst at Technavio for data center research. The increase in carbon emissions and consumption of electricity by data centers worldwide have created a need for green data centers. These facilities help in the operation of energy-efficient IT, power, and cooling infrastructure, reducing the electricity consumption and carbon footprint. Implementation of software-defined data centers (SDDCs) A software-defined data center refers to a data center where infrastructure is delivered as a service through virtualization of the physical infrastructure. It improves efficiency, lowers costs, provides applications quickly, offers higher availability and better security, and delivers workloads in the cloud. Enterprises that adopt cloud-based infrastructure opt for SDDC to achieve higher control over business-critical operations and enhance the management of their data center facilities. Also, vendors in the SDDC market, such as Dell Technologies, IBM, Cisco Systems, Citrix, HP, Fujitsu, and VMware, are developing offerings to support the centralized management of data center infrastructure. Adoption of modular/mini data center "Containerized, or modular data centers are portable data centers inside a shipping container with pre-installed data center infrastructure. These data center modules can host IT, power, and cooling infrastructure to power critical business operationssays Abhishek. The deployment of these container data center solutions is very affordable, which makes them suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Other benefits of these data centers include high efficiency through reduced power consumption along with a reduction in both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and OPEX. Browse Related Reports: Data Center Colocation Market in APAC 2017-2021 Global Data Center Rack Market 2017-2021 Global Software Defined Data Center Market 2017-2021 Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they're published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like IT hardwarecloud computing, and product lifecycle management. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, resellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170411006009/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- All amounts in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. Onex Corporation ("Onex") (TSX: ONEX) announced today that Onex Credit Partners, LLC ("Onex Credit") priced a transaction which extends the reinvestment period of its fourth collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") by four years from closing and increases the size by $105 million to approximately $600 million. Onex Credit focuses on non-investment grade credit investing. After giving effect to the closing of this refinancing and the recently announced European CLO, Onex Credit will manage approximately $8 billion. The securities offered in this CLO have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under that Act. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any such securities. About Onex Onex is one of the oldest and most successful private equity firms. Through its Onex Partners and ONCAP private equity funds, Onex acquires and builds high-quality businesses in partnership with talented management teams. At Onex Credit, Onex manages and invests in leveraged loans, collateralized loan obligations and other credit securities. Onex has approximately $24 billion of assets under management, including $6 billion of Onex proprietary capital, in private equity and credit securities. With offices in Toronto, New York, New Jersey and London, Onex invests alongside its fund investors and is the largest limited partner in each of its private equity funds. Onex' businesses have assets of $44 billion, generate annual revenues of $29 billion and employ approximately 161,000 people worldwide. Onex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol ONEX. For more information on Onex, visit its website at www.onex.com. Onex' security filings can also be accessed at www.sedar.com. This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations and are subject to known and unknown uncertainties and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Onex is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts: Laura Carrigan Director, Investor Relations 416.362.7711 INDIANA, PA--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF) announced today that it will webcast its 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. David S. Dahlmann, Chairman, and T. Michael Price, President and Chief Executive Officer, will share information about First Commonwealth and will answer questions from shareholders in attendance. Webcast Information: What: First Commonwealth Financial Corporation 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders When: 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday, April 25, 2017 Where:First Commonwealth's Investor Relations webpage www.fcbanking.com/investorrelations How: Live over the Internet To listen to the webcast, go to First Commonwealth's investor relations webpage at the address listed above, click on the "2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Webcast" link and follow the instructions. After the live presentation, the webcast will be archived on this website for 30 days. There is no charge to access this event. To Ask Questions: Shareholders who are unable to attend the session on April 25, 2017 may e-mail their questions to InvestorRelations@fcbanking.com. E-mail questions will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, April 24, 2017. About First Commonwealth Financial Corporation First Commonwealth (NYSE: FCF), headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is a financial services company with 135 banking offices in 20 counties throughout western and central Pennsylvania and northeastern and central Ohio, as well as a Corporate Banking Center in northeast Ohio and mortgage offices in Stow and Dublin, Ohio. First Commonwealth provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management and insurance products and services through its subsidiaries First Commonwealth Bank and First Commonwealth Insurance Agency. For more information about First Commonwealth or to open an account today, please visit www.fcbanking.com. Media Relations Amy Jeffords Assistant Vice President / Communications and Community Relations Phone: 724-463-6806 E-mail: AJeffords@fcbanking.com Investor Relations Ryan M. Thomas Vice President / Finance and Investor Relations Phone: 724-463-1690 E-mail: RThomas1@fcbanking.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/17 -- Battle Mountain Gold Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: BMG)(OTC PINK: BMTNF) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the final 40% interest in the Lewis Gold Project, pursuant to its April 2013 option agreement, by making a final $1,550,000 cash payment to an arm's length party. Battle Mountain now owns 100% of the project, located in Lander County, Nevada. The exercise of this option now provides Battle Mountain with full ownership of the Lewis Gold Project - a substantial 5,500 acre tenement adjacent to Newmont's producing Phoenix mine. In 2016 the Company also negotiated an important reduction of the royalty on the Lewis project as part of its project consolidation strategy, which will serve to significantly enhance future potential project economics. To find out more about Battle Mountain Gold Inc. please visit our website at www.battlemtngold.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors of BATTLE MOUNTAIN GOLD INC. Chet Idziszek, Chairman, President and CEO 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. This news release includes and is qualified by the Cautionary Statements following. Cautionary Statements This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities regulations. All statements other than statements of historical fact herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding our assessment of the future potential of our projects, and our other future plans and objectives, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and future events and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should conditions or our estimates or opinions change, other than as required by law. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks associated with mineral exploration, the capital markets, price volatility in the mineral commodities we seek, and operational and political risks. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Contacts: Battle Mountain Gold Inc. 604.331.8772 604.684.6024 (FAX) www.battlemtngold.com New Delhi: Mission Indradhanush to infuse capital in public sector banks is not the last step as far as their recapitalisation is concerned, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today, asserting that the government was fully supporting them. Replying to questions on the grave concern expressed by the opposition over the growing non-performing assets (NPAs) in these banks, he said the government was making all efforts to ensure that the health of the banking sector improves and the banks are repaid. He, however, said that the NPA problem related to some big accounts, which are not unduly large in numerical terms, and people have to realise that banks have to be paid back. "There are 20 to 30 large accounts where people have to realise that banks have to be repaid. If the current promoters are not in a position to repay back, then they have to develop alternate corporate strategies so that the companies pay back," he told the members. "The government will fully support the public sector banks because it believes they have a very important role to play... "The Indradhanush plan which envisages Rs 70,000 crore being given from the central budget is not the last step as far as recapitalisation is concerned," he told the members during the Question Hour. Jaitley said the assessment was that the public sector banks would require about Rs 1.8 lakh crore of capital to be infused in them. "As part of the Indradhanush scheme, the government, from the budgetary resources, had decided to infuse Rs 70,000 crore. "This means Rs 25,000 crore each in the first two years and Rs 10,000 crore this year and another Rs 10,000 crore the next year. The Rs 70,000 crore is to be infused in a phased period of time from the budget," he said. Jaitley, however, noted that the problem of NPAs was due to some people not paying up the banks for the loans taken and the burden comes on to the taxpayer. "As far as the action plan is concerned, several actions have been taken. These include empowering the banks by statutory changes, all laws have been amended and the Reserve Bank has come out with various schemes from time to time. "There are some other steps which are now being contemplated," he added. Jaitley said the government believes the public sector banks have a very important role to play in supporting a large number of social programmes and extending the reach of banking and supporting infrastructure in the country. He said once the market conditions with regard to the valuation of these banks improves, then the bank shares itself will be used for their further capitalisation. He also noted that banks as lenders and creditors have to act in larger public interest and ensure that the economy and growth itself is supported, he said, adding that whatever arrangement with loans are made, these have to be on a commercial basis. In his written reply, Jaitley said, "For resolution of stressed assets, RBI has introduced a number of tools such as Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR), Strategic Debt Restructuring Scheme (SDR) and Scheme for Sustainable Debt Stressed Assets (S4A)". He also said "the government has carried out the exercise of capitalisation of public sector banks to conform with regulatory capital norms as well as for driving credit growth to cater to the needs of a growing economy." Earlier, Minister of State for Finance Santosh Gangwar said the new S4A scheme of RBI was launched in July 2016 and its results will come soon. "It is a new scheme and will bear good results," he added. Just a few hours after I wrote that India's e-commerce players such as Flipkart and Snapdeal are more like pawns on a global chessboard, Flipkart announced its biggest investment yet from three investors including eBay -- the global rival of its main competitor in India, Amazon. The $1.4-billion round of investment that also roped in software giant Microsoft and China's Tencent Holdings only shows that the company founded by IIT-ans Sachin and Binny Bansal is no longer "India's Amazon" but more like a strategic entity in a planet-wide jigsaw that incidentally includes the markets of India and China as well. Amazon and China's Jack Ma-led Alibaba, which is an investor in Snapdeal and Paytm, now have a stronger incumbent in India. It seems eBay has things that Flipkart needs and in a way, the opposite is also true. By gobbling up eBay's Indian operations, the Bangalore company now led by hedge fund Tiger Global's appointee Kalyan Krishnamurthy is displaying a new potential to go global. Like telecom brand Airtel, we may well see Flipkart as an eBay partner having a potential footprint in places like Africa or Latin America, powered by Indian techies as well as service managers. On the other hand, eBay has been steadily building itself up as a global e-commerce player pitted against Amazon after shedding off Skype and PayPal that it once used to own and shifting far from its early days when it was an auction-driven "social commerce" site. Though eBay's focus has shifted, its early mover advantage as a creator of e-commerce technologies should provide Flipkart strong new muscle in deploying or creating new technologies. Apart from the mutually beneficial cross-border arrangement, eBay may also help transfer to Flipkart its global service standards and practices to counter Amazon, such as guaranteed delivery. The e-commerce game is not so simple as selling products online anymore. A lot of the clout in the coming days will involve managing the deployment and costs of emerging technologies that range from cloud computing to data science-driven customer services and smart bots driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Thanks to its Amazon Web Services, the Seattle-based giant led by Jeff Bezos is a cutting- edge player in cloud services. Here is where its cloud-era rival Microsoft fits in well as a future strategic partner for Flipkart. We should have guessed its significance two months ago when Binny Bansal shared the stage with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella as the two announced a partnership under which Flipkart's e-commerce business will use Microsoft's Azure platform on the cloud. Binny had candidly announced the machine learning and AI advantage then. The new investment is a vote of confidence in a long-term relationship. Tencent, just like Microsoft, is also now an ambitious player in artificial intelligence that helps bots to turn smart advisers for online shoppers. eBay is also pretty strong on bots. The three-way technological muscle that Flipkart will gain is the kind of story that stock analysts want to hear as long-term forecasters. On the other hand, the latest cash infusion will help Flipkart tide over the blues of its downvaluation from $15 billion to $11 billion levels over the past two years without looking over its shoulders on burning cash or be worried about being a local David against a global Goliath called Amazon. Flipkart is reported to have showed a loss of Rs 2,306 crore in the financial year 2015/16, and both profitability and IPO seem a bit far. What helps in the interim is the cash-plus-tech story to keep financial markets in the right mood. All that is good news for the Bansals and Tiger Global-led investors in the run-up to an expected IPO. Your moves, Jeff Bezos and Jack Ma! (The author is a senior journalist. He tweets as @madversity) A possibly never-heard-of restriction is on the way for hotels which will make foodies' palates wither. The NDA government is planning to fix portions of food served in hotels in order to control food wastage, according to a report in The Hindustan Times. In order to arrive at the quantum of food that can be served, the government will send questionnaires to hotels and restaurants. If a person can eat only two prawns, why should he or she be served six? If a person eats two idlis, why serve four, Ram Vilas Paswan, minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, has been quoted as saying in the report. According to him, it is wastage of not only food but also money. The move, according to the report, comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns about food wastage in the country in his programme, Mann Ki Baat on All India Radio. In his radio address on 26 March, the prime minister had raised concerns about food wastage in India. "Have you ever thought about how much food we waste? Have you ever thought how many poor people can be fed if we dont thus waste our food?," he had said, terming it a crime against society and also an injustice to the poor. He also said he wants the awareness about food wastage to be spread. Micromanaging hotels To be fair, food wastage is indeed a major worry for India. A government study had found that the country wastes Rs 92,651 crore worth or 67 million tonnes of food in a year. This is enough to feed a state like Bihar for a full year, according to this report. The study by ICAR and Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) was commissioned in 2012 and the report submitted in 2015. The value was arrived based on the production data of 2012-13 at 2014 wholesale prices. However, it has to be noted that the study was done on the wastage food after the harvest, and not cooked food as Paswan or Modi have alluded to. And this indeed is a bigger problem than the wastage of food at hotels and family gatherings. The study found that fruits and vegetables witnessed the maximum wastage of 4.58-15.88 percent, followed by fisheries which stood at 10.52 percent. The reason for the wastage is lack of adequate infrastructure. India at present has a gap of 3.28 million tonnes of cold storage facilities only for fruits and vegetables, according to a written submission by Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in Lok Sabha on 28 March, 2017. The government is taking steps to fill the gap in the food storage industry and is assisting 135 integrated cold chain projects of which 97 have commenced commercial operations. It has initiated processes to set up 100 new integrated cold chain projects. Seen in this context, the proposal to fix portions served at hotels to curb food wastage is hare-brained and amounts to micro-managing of businesses and individuals' freedom. Instead of giving in to such silly ideas, the government could speed up food infrastructure building process instead.. (Data from Kishor Kadam) The Reserve Bank of India has been a thinking body especially these last couple of years. Its latest thinking that has come as a whiff of fresh air is to have Long Term Capital Banks (LTCB) in the country in what many old timers would wistfully call the comeback of the now extinct development banks. But then a rose smells as sweet even if called by another name. The RBI has rightly diagnosed the malaise plaguing the banking sector especially the public sector banks (PSB). The banks have embraced universal banking with gusto so much so that they have entered the traditionally out-of-bounds territory of infrastructure financing, inevitably courting the bankers nightmare, asset-liability mismatch (ALM). If you accept deposits for 3 years you should also lend for 3 years goes the mantra and traditional wisdom. This had to be willy-nilly breached by the very nature of infrastructure financing. To be sure, the banking regulator was not oblivious of this danger. Therefore it wanted takeout financing to take roots in the country. Under takeout financing, banks run a sort of relay race. To wit, if an infrastructure project involves 12 year for completion, a single bank or a consortium of banks would be ill-advised to take on this onerous job of financing it all by itself given the ALM staring at ones face. In the USA this problem is overcome by a number of banks coming together. In this case it could be four. The first would lend for three years, the second would pay off the first and in turn lend for next three years and the third one would pay off the second and lend for the next three years and so on. But the danger for the subsequent lenders is with the baton it could also be passed on the buck---they may be willy-nilly buying a bad loan. In any case, the concept has not taken off in the country. The other palliatives and nostrums like Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR), Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR) have proved to be just that---painkillers at best and encouraging defaults at worst. The RBI thus has been driven into squaring its shoulders and addressing the problem without self-deception----bring bank development banking. To be sure again, corporate bonds can easily address the problem of ATM for banks. Bonds issued by infrastructure companies for example can be subscribed by anyone including banks and insurance companies who have long-term funds to spare especially if they are life insurers. These bonds are tradable on the bourses thus keeping the borrowers (read the corporates) on leash at the risk of antagonising the market which votes with its feet at the whiff of any incipient trouble. But for a variety of reasons corporate bonds have not taken off in a big way in the country. The RBI has therefore realised that development banks or LTCB brook no delay. The gross non performing loans (NPAs) of all commercial banks amounted to Rs 6.5 lakh crore translating into 8.6 percent of their aggregate loan book as at end of June 2016. The public sector banks have fared worse. Stressed assets i.e. NPAs plus restructured assets shown as standard in the books of the banks, stand at approximately Rs 12 lakh crore i.e. 12.1 percent of outstanding loans and advances. This has resulted in a marked reluctance to lend thus making banks shy away from their basic bread and butter function impacting the economy adversely. LTCB that the RBI has in mind would hopefully revive lending especially to infrastructure projects. Todays IDBI, ICICI and Axis Bank (formerly UTI) were all originally cast in the mould and role of development finance banks. But somewhere down the line the Indian banking sector was bitten by universal banking bug that gave the quietus to niche banking of which development finance is a species. LTCB would have long-term finance at its disposal to facilitate long term lending. New Delhi: Telecom operator Vodafone on Monday complained to Trai that Reliance Jio is still "luring customers" to subscribe to the 'Summer Surprise' offer despite the regulator finding it in violation of norms. "Reliance Jio is continuing with this offer held as not meeting regulatory norms, in the garb of configuration changes. For past three days, it has been promoting and luring customers to quickly recharge to avail the benefits of a non-compliant offer and also asking its retailers to communicate the same," Vodafone said in a letter to Trai. The letter also referred to SMSes allegedly being sent by Reliance Jio to consumers and retailers asking them to quickly recharge to avail the benefit of the scheme. An SMS content reads that Jio has given time till 10 April to its customers for enrolling for the scheme. The Mukesh Ambani-led Jio on 31 March had announced that the customers who were yet to register for its "Prime Membership Plan" will have time till 15 April to join the scheme by paying Rs. 99 and recharging with a minimum of Rs. 303, which will get them 3-month complimentary 4G service. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) asked Jio on 6 April to stop the offer as it was not in compliance with the norms. "In our view, such promotion of the customers on an offer held as non-compliant, is a blatant violation and disregard of Trai's advisory. Such promotions to customers makes the regulatory advisory meaningless," the letter said. Vodafone said that Reliance Jio's continuation of the scheme paints a wrong picture to customers of non-robust regulatory framework where non-complaint offers are allowed to be sold in the market. "Considering above, we request for Trai's immediate intervention and issuance of suitable directions to Reliance Jio for withdrawing the said offer on immediate basis and notifying the consumers about withdrawal of said offer from the date of advisory received from Trai," the letter said. When contacted, Reliance Jio spokesperson said the telco in its press release on 6 April made it clear that the 'Summer Surprise' offer will be withdrawn as soon as it is operationally feasible, in compliance with the regulator's advice. "All the customers who have subscribed to the 'Summer Surprise' prior to its discontinuation will remain eligible for the offer. We are pained to note such continued and deliberate attempts by competitors to create unnecessary confusion in the market," the spokesperson said. Vodafone, however, declined to comment on the letter it sent to the regulator. Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal also met on Monday Trai chairman R S Sharma and is believed to have discussed a range of issues, including the Jio offer, according to sources. Alankrita Srivastavas Lipstick Under My Burkha might not have met the approval of CBFC and Pahlaj Nihalani, but the film has got a green light from the prestigious Golden Globe Awards. The film features Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Ahana Kumra and others, was recently screened at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. The film opened the festival and had the films director and actress Ahana Kumra in attendance. Just before the films screening began, director of IFFLA, Christina Marouda announced "We are honoured that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has chosen our opening night film, Lipstick Under My Burkha, to be an official Golden Globes qualifying screening. The director of the film will now have the opportunity to properly plan a Golden Globes campaign should she choose to submit the film for nomination," reports Mumbai Mirror. The elated director said she was honoured that her film had been chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press. This was really unexpected to me. This is a big leap for me and my team," said Alankrita. CBFC had refused to certify the film calling it to 'lady oriented.' The film explores the lives of four women in a small town who indulge in small pleasures of autonomy behind the veil (literally and metaphorically). But the CBFC sees it as full of contagious sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and woman fantasies and thus, deemed it fit to not clear the film for theatrical release By Apoorva Sripathi In Kaatru Veliyidai, Mani Ratnams much-awaited 25th film, a number of lines stood out for me. When Dr Ilyas Hussain (played by an awkward RJ Balaji) asks why Leela (Aditi Rao Hydari) doesnt leave her abusive boyfriend and that surely there are many smart guys out there, Nidhi, another doctor (played by Rukmini Vijayakumar), replies: Where? Hussains answer defined the movie when he says, Enna love-oh (what love is this)? Hes right because what we see isnt romantic love between the protagonists; its a love for control over the other person and a compulsive need to break down their self-esteem. When the protagonist VC (Karthi), incarcerated in a Pakistani jail, reminisces about his time together with his girlfriend Leela, he stresses that they were as different as chalk and cheese here, darkness and light. VC is the darkness and like all Mani Ratnam heroines, Leela represents light. VC says (translated roughly from Tamil), What is light without darkness? To me, that line stood out not because it was deep, but because it shouldve perhaps been, Whats darkness without light? Because as cheesy as it sounds, there is darkness in this world without light; you just have to close your eyes. I say this also because Leela can easily survive, exist and live a comfortable life without VC we see that when she finally decides to walk out on him after months of surviving his abuse but VC cannot even fathom an existence without Leela, as he himself admits. Abuse might be the central theme of Kaatru Veliyidai, but Mani Ratnam taps into his often explored subject of the coming together of two people who dont normally go together diametric opposites falling in love. True, most romantic movies fall into that category: the hero is the alpha and the heroine the beta; the hero is macho and hardwired for violence and the heroine is a wisp of a woman, who loves astonishingly beautiful days in Ooty and Kashmir and walks with a spring in her step. Its the same contrast that Ratnam explores in Kaatru Veliyidai: VC is too cool for school, we are shown, by the way he steadily clings on to his aviators if he was Captain America, thatd be his shield the way he walks with a swagger, his haughty smile when one of his girlfriends asks him when theyll get married, how he playfully talks to his disapproving senior in Telugu even though said senior asks him to stop, only before making an inappropriate, misogynist quip about how a fellow colleague shouldve brought up his daughter better. Leela is his polar opposite she lives in the moment without any thoughts on the potential repercussions (especially the scene where they are in the midst of a snowstorm but all Leela wants to hear is, if VC wants her or his ex), she sings beautifully (like Meera of OK Kanmani), she dances gracefully (like Anjali of Agni Natchathiram), she prances in the snow wearing just a sari, she arrives at Kashmir to find VC and make him fall in love with her, she travels to Leh when she hears hes off to a camp This theme of attraction towards what one is not is something Ratnam is very familiar with. We see this in Mouna Ragam, where a college-going Revathi, initially sends her lover, a petty criminal played by Kathik, to jail only to end up falling in love with him. She is everything he is not she has a family, he has friends who are like family; she wants to get her fathers permission before marriage but he insists on a secret wedding; she is an upstanding citizen who reports him to the police, while he fights against the system, but promises to give it up only at her insistence. The legendary Thalapathi starring Rajinikanth and Shobana also explores this theme well. Again, he is a crusader of justice, helping the poor in Robin Hood-like ways. Hes an orphan, counting on his neighbours and friends as family. She, meanwhile, comes from an orthodox Brahmin family who is drawn to him, despite her disgust for the violence he swears by and like all the women who are shown trying to change the men in their lives, she too urges him to give it up. [Some spoilers ahead.] What separates Mouna Ragam and Thalapathi from Kaatru Veliyidai is that while in the former two films, the protagonists or the lovers don't unite because of their differences (in Mouna Ragam, Karthik unfortunately dies so that is ruled out and in Thalapathi, the heroines father refuses to get her married to a non-Brahmin orphan), in the latter, even after Leela forcibly takes herself out of the equation, moving to a place where VC cant find her, he tracks her down (around 10 years later) and they come together in an abrupt tearful union: on seeing his daughter, VC breaks down and hugs them in a tight embrace. Apparently, all is well and forgiven. It doesnt matter that VC uttered lines like Aambla vera pombala vera (men and women are different); it's biological, nee doctor thaane (arent you a doctor)?, or that he twists her arm in front of his colleagues, says sorry but again pushes her away so forcefully that she falls down, or that he yells at her in front of his parents while standing up for his mother, or that he promises to marry her and says hell meet her at the registrars office only to not show up. When she confronts him away from the milling crowd of his colleagues, he yells: My princess is angry. Because somewhere he is confident that she will come back. She does, but she also goes away. Only to be found later by him. Kaatru Veliyidai, which is set in Srinagar, is something of a throwback to another Kashmir film by Ratnam Roja. In Roja, Arvind Swamy (a cryptologist working for RAW, another similarity as VC is a fighter pilot for the IAF) is kidnapped by terrorists. And it is Roja (played remarkably by Madhoo) who saves him physically, by running from pillar to post, pleading with politicians, the military all while overcoming a language barrier. In Kaatru Veliyidai, the heroine is again the saviour, except she tries to help him mentally, by questioning everything thats wrong about him his chauvinism, his utter disregard for other people and their opinions, his misogyny. Two-and-a-half decades later, the hero has changed but Ratnam still wants the heroine to rescue the hero, albeit a jerk. What about Leela and her struggles how does she take it, months of abuse inflicted upon her by her boyfriend? But we never get to see her perspective unlike in Mouna Ragam where Revathi has a flashback dedicated to her story. Or even in Alaipayuthey, where Shalini comes from a lower middle class family who is determined to be a doctor and Madhavan is the rich kid who depends on his father for money. Its only after marriage, that a huge hit of reality forces him to start his business; the business is like their marriage, rough, rocky and requiring a lot of work. Which we see in the movie, when Madhavan searches for a missing Shalini and were shown their time together in flashbacks. Finally, when he realises that she has met with an accident and is fighting for her life, he confesses to her that he should be a better husband and that he will. Kaatru Veliyidai just gives us the movie satisfaction of happily ever after, which is problematic given that their sadly before this was riddled with unsolved issues. The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine Tamil actor Raadhika Sarahkumar's office in Chennai was raided by Income Tax department officials on Tuesday, 11 April 2017, reports Times of India. This news comes after the IT department also raided the houses and premises of her husband Sarathkumar, along with those of a few others, including Tamil Nadu health minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar. The celebrity couple's residence was raided on 7 April as part of a widespread crackdown on AIADMK ministers and close confidantes. "The department is keen on getting to know the money trail between Sarathkumar and the AIADMK. In Monday's grilling, we could not get much information from Sarathkumar. We have information that the money trail could lead us to his wife's company," the Times of India quoted an IT official as saying. The income tax officials carried raids on the residence and office premises of Sarathkumar, who is the chief of the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi, on Friday, 7 April, after he extended his support to TTV Dhinakaran from the Sasikala camp in the RK Nagar by-poll. The seat fell vacant following the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. However, nothing major was seized during the raids. Sarathkumar had appeared before the IT officials on Monday, 10 April, and he was grilled for almost eight hours after which the officers decided to carry out a raid on the office of Radaan Media Pvt Ltd, which is owned by his wife Raadhika Sarathkumar. The I-T dept is keeping an eye on all the developments related to the RK Nagar by-poll, which was scheduled to be held on 12 April, but has been cancelled by the Election Commission following allegations of the votes-for-notes scam. SINGAPORE U.S. crude oil rose for a sixth consecutive session on Tuesday to hit its highest level in five weeks, underpinned by tensions following a U.S. missile strike on Syria and a shutdown at Libya's largest oilfield.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 10 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $53.18 a barrel by 0009 GMT. The market has gained for six sessions in a row, its longest rising streak this year.The international benchmark, Brent crude futures, gained 9 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $56.07 per barrel.Libya's Sharara oilfield was shut on Sunday after a group blocked a pipeline linking it to an oil terminal, a Libyan oil source said. The field had only just returned to production, after a week-long stoppage ending in early April. The outage added to a rally that started late last week after the United States fired missiles at a Syrian government air base. While Syria produces only small volumes of oil, the Middle East is home to more than a quarter of the world's oil output. The gain in oil prices comes despite rising U.S. shale oil production. "Crude oil prices were firmer as oil investors shrugged off rising U.S. supplies and looked forward to the summer driving season," ANZ said in a note. U.S. crude inventories touched record highs both at the U.S. storage hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, and in the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent weeks, according to U.S. government data.Oil prices have also been supported by a deal led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day for the first six months of 2017, to get rid of excess supply. Libya and fellow OPEC member Nigeria are exempt from cuts.In a sign of OPEC confidence that the deal is working, Kuwait's oil minister said he expected producers' adherence in March to their supply cut pledges to "be higher than the previous couple of months." (Reporting by Naveen Thukral; Editing by Richard Pullin) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. On Monday, Pakistan sentenced former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for espionage and "subversive activities" across the country. While India has been maintaining that Jadhav is a former Indian naval official caught from Iran's Chabahar, where he ran a ferry business, Pakistan, on the other hand, claims he is a serving RAW officer who was covertly supporting the Baloch rebels. Caught on 3 March, 2016, Pakistan used the 'Jadhav card' to accuse India of creating trouble in Balochistan and other parts of the country. Pakistan also came out with Jadhav's confessional video in April 2016, where he conceded that his "purpose was to hold meetings with Baloch insurgents and carry out activities with their collaboration". The footage apparently also shows him saying that he had set up a small business in Chabahar in Iran which facilitated him to achieve undetected existence and visits to Karachi in 2003 and 2004. However, India had rejected the validity of the video and claimed that it was tutored or recorded under immense mental and physical pressure. Before Jadhav, another Indian citizen Sarabjit Singh was sentenced to death for spying. However, he died on 2 May, 2013, succumbing to his serious injuries after being attacked by his jail inmates in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail. While Sarabjit's story hogged media's attention, few other stories of alleged Indian spies could not get the same amount of attention from the Indian media. Shaikh Shamim While India has never hanged a Pakistani spy, Pakistan hanged an alleged "spy" in 1999. AFP had quoted Pakistani sources as saying that Shaikh Shamim was caught "red-handed" near the border with India in 1989. Pakistani police had also added that a transmitter he was allegedly using to communicate military secrets was also seized back then. Ravindra Kaushik Known in the internet world for being the possible inspiration behind the film, "Ek Tha Tiger", Ravindra Kaushik is one of the few Indians whose record as a "spy" is now well known. According to a report in Dawn, Kaushik was recruited by the RAW, trained, and sent to Pakistan in 1975. He later joined the Pakistan Army, reaching the rank of Major. Throughout his undercover days in Pakistan, he lived under the alias Nabi Ahmad Shakir. A classic case of human intelligence, the report added that between 1979 and 1983, Kaushik provided sensitive information to India. However, he was caught in the mid-1980s and jailed. He died in Multan jail in 2001 after contracting tuberculosis. Kashmir Singh While hundreds of Indians languishing in Pakistani jails fail to return home, Kashmir Singh had been one of the few lucky prisoners who could go back home. Arrested in 1973, he was convicted and sentenced to death for spying, a charge he denied for 35 years that he served in a Pakistani jail. However, Singh was pardoned by the then president Pervez Musharraf in 2008. He received a hero's welcome on his arrival, where he dropped a bombshell that he was indeed a spy. I was a spy and did my duty. I went to serve the country. Even Pakistan authorities failed to get this information from me, PTI had quoted him as saying. With inputs from agencies A huge number of people estimates range from 50,000 to 80,000 gathered in Budapest on Sunday, 9 April, to protest against the amendment to the Hungarian National Higher Education Act that targets the Central European University (CEU). The protest was one of the largest in Hungary in the recent years and comes on heels of smaller protests in Budapest against the same proposal. More protests are being organised in other cities in Hungary. The amendment in question, often referred to as 'Lex CEU', forces CEU to abandon its current model which rests on a dual accreditation (some programs are accredited in Hungary, some in the U.S.) and makes its everyday functioning more difficult. The university leadership opposes the proposal as a discriminatory rule since it targets only CEU. Support for CEU came from many places. Thousands of individuals have signed the petition against the legislative change. Nobel laureates, university heads, and university associations have publicly expressed concern over the proposed changes, and so have diplomats and politicians, including the former president of Hungary and former UN Secretary-General. As one of the leading social science research universities, CEU is very visible within Europe, which partly explains why so many individuals and institutions are interested in expressing their concern. Founded by the billionaire philanthropist George Soros, CEU was tasked with promoting open society. The idea of open society was developed by the philosopher Karl Popper and it has had a great influence on Soross approach to politics. In his own words: The separation of powers, free speech and free elections alone cannot ensure open society; a strong commitment to the pursuit of truth is also required...There is an important role here for the media, the political elite, and the educational system, which must all act as watchdogs. Indeed, beside funding many media and political organisations, Soros devoted a large portion of his wealth to supporting education in places characterised by inequality and exclusion. In Central and Eastern Europe, Soross support for education was based on the idea that democracy should be supported after the fall of state socialism. As the CEU mission states, Founded in 1991 at a time when revolutionary changes were throwing off the rigid orthodoxies imposed on Central and Eastern Europe, CEU is based on the premise that human fallibility can be counterbalanced by the critical discussion of ideas and that this critical spirit can be sustained best in societies where citizens have the freedom to scrutinise competing theories and openly evaluate and change government policies. These ideals of truth and transparency went hand in hand with very tangible political goal of democracy promotion. In practice, this has meant that part of CEUs work was to educate a group of people from Central and Eastern Europe who could bring Euro-American ideas about governance and politics into formerly socialist countries. However, this is far from all that CEU is. Over time, the commitment to open society and a free exchange of ideas broadened the appeal of CEU and expanded its more practical bent. Today, CEU includes not only departments of public policy and economics, whose alumni often spearheaded the transformation of post-socialist states including privatisation, but also sociology and gender studies, which tend to take a more critical look at the socioeconomic processes in these countries. (Indeed, it is often the latter that are critiqued in Hungary as standing against traditional values and national interests.) CEU has also offered free programs for Roma students and, recently, refugees. The complexity of CEU runs against the closure of debate in Hungary. The government run by Victor Orban, a self-proclaimed proponent of illiberal democracy, has been working hard to remake in political landscape in Hungary to fit its conservative nationalist agenda. The post-socialist changes of Hungarian economy that were based on privatisation made many people feel abandoned while a small layer of oligarchs was growing its wealth. Orban managed to tap into that feeling of resentment although, like in other places, he is helping the oligarchy as long as they are loyal by depicting Hungary as under attack by the West. This narrative has enabled him to go against local civil rights NGOs, the media, or refugees. But the cracks in this strategy are slowly appearing. Although the opposition to Orban is divided and does not manage to mount a strong enough attack to dislodge him, many people in Hungary are showing that they are not fully behind Orbans autocratic practices. The recent referendum on the refugee quotas, which asked the Hungarian people to reject the European policy of refugee resettlement, was declared invalid because less than 50 percent of the electorate voted. Although Orban won twice with convincing margins, his governments track record is very bad, with millions of people facing economic hardship. To avoid the questioning of his legitimacy, Orban reorganised Hungarian media to serve his purposes. Constant attacks on the enemies of Hungary are widely reported by pro-Orban media outlets to boost the governments popularity, but that strategy might be reaching the end of its efficacy. The attack on CEU could be read as yet another example of Orbans scapegoating of an organisation or a group of people for the problems that Hungary faces. But Hungary is not alone in the curtailment of academic freedoms and scapegoating in the media. Other countries, such as Russia and Turkey, have had their own versions of the clampdown on academic freedoms. They do not always proceed according to the same logic and under the same pretenses. However, attacks on universities appear as a tactic that regimes in countries that veer towards illiberal democracy are eager to employ. As Im writing these lines, news reports say that Janos Ader, the president of Hungary, has signed the law. Tens of thousands of people in Hungary that showed up to protest on Sunday will probably refuse to accept it, but the terrain on which this fight is happening keeps changing. We will have to wait and see if they will be successful in preventing the provisions of Lex CEU from making CEUs stay in Hungary impossible. If they succeed, they might give hope to people in other countries that are embracing the tools of authoritarianism. Following images have been sourced from here. In Mahatma Gandhis own words, Champaran was the place that first introduced him to India. To discover more about his association with the region, on the eve of the 100th year celebration of the Champaran Satyagraha Gandhis first Satyagraha movement in India this author wandered into Bihar, hoping to unearth glimpses of the past, unlearn modern history and stumble upon real people's stories. Searching through the ruins of Patliputra, multiple Gandhi ashrams and some of India's most bio-diverse villages in northern Bihar, I was on a quest to uncover embers that unshackle Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi from the prison of PR agencies, ad firms and currency notes. This piece attempts to paint an image of not just the person, but rather to canvas his ideas, thoughts and non-violent Satyagraha in a time of violence, greed and fear. The man born in "Leningrad" of India After turning off the Gandhi Maidan Chowk in Patna, I arrived at my first destination - the Gandhi Sangrahalya. Here, I met with its founder-secretary since 1959, Dr Razi Ahmad. Born in Begusarai, the "Leningrad" of India, Ahmad has written over a dozen books in English, Hindi and Urdu including one on Gandhi and most recently on Narendra Modi. Ahmad is the grand patriarch of the Sangrahalya and a living storehouse of memories and history associated with the Gandhian thought and philosophy. In his lifetime, he has crossed paths with leaders like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Zakir Husain, JB Kriplani, Balwant Rai, Ram Manohar Lohia and has worked "very closely with JP Narayan". The Partition, the Emergency, the demolition of Babri Masjid, the 2002 Gujarat Pogrom; Ahmad has lived through and seen a lot in his life. He knows and believes that the Gandhian way is perhaps the only route to save India, and this planet, from another holocaust. The 'miracle man' in Champaran "It all began with the greed of the British Empire and their Indigo planters... their insatiable corruption knew no bounds. First, they captured the Bettiah Raj (the second-largest zamindari estate in India, now known as Bihar) and then all of Champaran," Ahmad said. As per his research, since the 19 century, British planters had started to exploit farmers in India by forcing Indigo cultivation on them. Non-compliant farmers were harassed by the planters as ditches would be dug around their houses, to create a barricade for essential resources and services. The planters demanded triple taxation in form of kaithiya lagaan, and did not permit the planting of food crops. Local voices were brutally crushed and the lands of the resisting farmers were auctioned off. "It was since the entry of the planters and the establishment of the Indigo factories that the plight of farmers in Bettiah Raj, began. By 1907, a chain of rebellions against the planters had started. But, everything was not organised," "There was an Arya Samaj preacher by the name of Jamunananda, who went around Champaran telling people that a miracle man (Gandhi) was coming to Champaran. When Gandhi arrived, the farmers believed that he was the miracle man, and history has shown that he was indeed a miraculous man," Ahmad said. The arrival of Gandhi in Champaran gave the anti-planters movement direction. It also helped converge all forces fighting against the British atrocities. "At great personal cost, people like Kheda Rai, Gulab Rai and Sheikh Gulab prepared the ground for the Champaran Satyagraha, by resisting the British. We can never forget the role of Raj Kumar Shukla, who was involved in almost all of the rebellions before Gandhi.. he is responsible for bringing Gandhi to Champaran," "Today, great efforts are being made to re-write history abuse Gandhis name and Champaran Satyagraha for political gains. But, we as Indians can never forget what the people of Bihar, along with Gandhi, have done for the world. They have lit a path of us, that we need to follow in these troubled times," Ahmad said. The Times of Bettiah Champaran today is spilt into two districts, of East and West Champaran. It is, without doubt, one of the most fertile and bio-diverse areas of India. The legacy of the Bettiah Raj lies in ruins. Though one can still three peculiar things when wandering in these parts; that the people are simple, the mutton savoury and that there are no beggars. Though this part of Bihar is peaceful, Ahmad warns us that it may not be so for long. "Today, historian Bipin Chandra must be laughing in his grave, as his prophecy has come true. He had said, 'to save democracy, the leaders of oppositions shook hands with fascists back in the 1970s and the fate of India forever changed, Ahmad remarks. He is referring to the formation of the Jan Sangh and the first non-Congress government. "In my views, Narendra Modi is a direct result of the Sampurna Kranti of JP," Ahmad said. On being asked about the RSS, he said, "Well the RSS is spineless, as they can only trouble and torture the Muslims. That is there only agenda." Ahmad said that we was very much perturbed by the internal violence erupting in India. The divisions, the hate, he says, troubles his soul. He wonders is this Gandhis India? So, where do we go from here? What is the Gandhian way out? His answer was simple: "We have to save the Indian Constitution. That is our only saviour." There will be an attempt to change the Constitution by the present government and the corporations, but we have use Satyagraha to resist, he adds. For Ahmad, the Indian system of democracy is incomplete and broken as there is no right to recall, no accountability. "India belongs to every Indian rich, poor, Hindu, Muslim, etc. It troubles me to see what we have become, and it is very painful to know that this is the India we helped build, went to jail for... for which leaders like Gandhi died for," an emotional Ahmad added. Walking through Ahmad's recollections and memories does raise a vexing question: Where did India go wrong? The Pakistan Military Court's decision to hand a death sentence to Kulbhusan Jadhav, an Indian national, will ensure that any hope of reviving a dialogue between the neighbours has gone into cold storage, at least for now. Over the next few days, the Narendra Modi government will decide its reaction to this unexpected news from Pakistan. India's immediate response was to dub the death sentence as a "premeditated murder." "The Pakistan Army has upped the ante... but, I think it is a foolish move," former foreign secretary Shyam Saran said. He, however, does not believe that the two nuclear armed neighbours would go to war over the issue, though tensions are expected to escalate. "Pakistan is being deliberately provocative, trying to force our hand," said Kanwal Sibal, another former foreign secretary. Firing across the Line of Control (LoC), which had gone down in recent times, is expected to resume in full force and the possiblity of border skirmishes cannot be ruled out. The Pakistani press was also taken by surprise. In a report published in The Dawn, the fact that the announcement of Jadhav's sentence came from the army commander himself was termed as "unprecedented". "The spy was tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Today, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," the military's media wing said. Many in India, who felt that the new Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, as a professional soldier, would not be interested in getting into the affairs of the State were solely mistaken it seems. Soon after General Bajwa took over from Raheel Sharif, there was talk that things would be different under the new man. But, nothing much has changed in the Pakistan Army. The army has often said that India is bent on disrupting the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs through Balochistan. They claim that New Delhi and Kabul have together armed, trained and helped the Baloch nationalist movement. Former ISPR head, Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, had said, soon after Jadhav was shown confessing to his misdeeds that, "His goal was to disrupt development of CPEC, with Gwadar port as a special target... This is nothing short of state-sponsored terrorism... There can be no clearer evidence of Indian interference in Pakistan." Expectedly, India reacted angrily to Jadhav's sentencing. Immediately after the news came in, India's foreign secretary, S Jaishankar, summoned Pakistan's high commissioner, Abdul Basit, and issued a demarche. He dubbed the Field General Court Martial decision a "premeditated murder", and said that the trial conducted was "farcical". The harsh language reflects the anger of the government at the shoddy treatment meted out to Jadhav, a former naval officer who Pakistan regards as a spy. Though Jadhav was arrested in March last year, the Indian High Commission has not been granted access to him. Normally, embassy officials are allowed consular access. But, despite thirteen requests by India between 25 March last year to 31 March, 2017, the authorities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi bluntly turned down the High Commission's request. "If basic norms of law and justice are not observed, the government and the people of India will regard it as premeditated murder," the Ministry of External Affairs said in the demarche. "It is significant that our High Commission was not even informed that Kulbhushan Jadhav was being brought to trial," it added. Pakistan regards Jadhav as an agent sent out by India's spy agency RAW, to encourage subversive activities in the port city of Karachi and in several places across Balochistan. His confessional statements were played out on several news portals. India has rejected all these claims and has said that Jadhav was kidnapped and arrested from the Iranian border by Pakistan and has been falsely charged. India's options Sibal believes that New Delhi would raise Jadhav's issue in all diplomatic forums and talk about the 'farcical' trial. The fact that India was not granted consular access to the prisoner will also be brought up in subsequent exchanges. "Pakistan must be asked to provide proof after all, Sartaj Aziz himself had said some time back that there was not enough evidence,'' Sibal said. India will have to launch a diplomatic onslaught in the next few days. Apart from making loud noise, there could be action and kidnapping of Pakistani soldiers across the LoC... to use them as a bargaining chip, Sibal speculated. "Pakistan is feeling emboldened with China at its side and with Nikki Haley, US ambassador to United Nations, talking of President Donald Trump mediating between India and Pakistan on Kashmir,'' the former foreign secretary explained. Islamabad had always wanted a third country to intervene and if the US wants to play that role, it will be a godsend for Pakistan. At the same time, China-India ties have been strained in recent times, with Beijing batting for Pakistan both at the Nuclear Suppliers Group and at the UN Security Council. The current visit of Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has further strained ties. "All this is giving Pakistan the confidence to provoke India,'' he added. But perhaps better sense will prevail and after tempers cool, a swap can be arranged. But, good sense is usually the last thing one can expect from either side. Kulbhushan Jadhav has been sentenced to death by Pakistan on charges of espionage, conducting subversive activities and waging a war against the state (i.e. Islamabad in this case). Jadhav, who should have ideally been given consular access and a right to choose a lawyer to defend himself, was tried under the secrecy of a military court. These military courts are notorious for their arbitrary trial process and have been questioned time and again by the civil society and liberals from Pakistan itself. Sample this, "PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar had argued that the practice of military courts pronouncing death penalty against unnamed accused by unnamed judges sitting at an undisclosed location and without any mention of charges, the case of the prosecution, the defence plea and disallowing independent observers violated the requirements of adequate procedural safeguards."" These are the exact words of a Pakistani senator on these military courts as reported by Dawn. Here is another one: "The death sentence given to Kulbushan Jadhav shows yet again how Pakistan's military court system rides roughshod over international standards. Stripping defendants of their rights and operating in notorious secrecy, military courts do not dispense justice." This is what Amnesty International, an international human rights organisation had to say about Jadhav's sentence and Pakistan's military courts in general. Add to this, an arbitrary all encompassing law that renders the armed forces of a country omnipotent, rendering them over and above the democratically elected government of that state. Such was the jurisdiction system which was used to declare Jadav guilty. According to the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) statement, Jadhav was charged under the Section 15 of Pakistan Army Act (1952) (PAA) and Section 3 of Offical Secrets Act (1923). Both the laws give immense power to the military courts and Pakistan Army. Section 59 of the PAA states: (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), any person subject to this Act who at any place in or beyond Pakistan commits any civil offence shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence against this Act and, if charged therewith under this section, shall be liable to be [dealt with under this Act], and, on conviction, to be punished as follows, that is to say, (a) if the offence is one which would be punishable under any law in force in Pakistan with death or with 1[imprisonment for life], he shall be liable to suffer any punishment 2* * * assigned for the offence by the aforesaid law or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and (b) In any other case, he shall be liable to suffer any punishment 2*** assigned for the offence by the law in force in Pakistan, or 1* rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or 1* such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned. Provided that, where the offence of which any such person is found guilty is an offence liable to under any Islamic law, the sentence awarded to him shall be that provided for the offence in that law. This essentially means that the military courts can try and sentence to death anyone who has committed a "civil offence" against Pakistan even in a place beyond its territory. The subsection 3 of this clause further defines the power of jurisdiction that a Pakistani military court exercises. The powers of a court martial 2[or an officer exercising authority under section 23] to charge and punish any person under this section shall not be affected by reason of the fact that the civil offence with which such person is charged is also an offence against this Act. 3) (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force a person who becomes subject to this Act by reason of his being accused of an offence mentioned in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 2 shall be liable to be tried or otherwise dealt with under this Act for such offence as if the offence were an offence against this Act and were committed at a time when such person was subject to this Act ; and the provisions of this section shall have effect accordingly. Similarly, Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act determines the "penalties for spying". This is what it says: (1) If any person for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State- (a) approaches, inspects, passes over or is in the vicinity of, or enters, any prohibited place; or (b) makes any sketch, plan, model, or note which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to any enemy; or (c) obtains, collects, records or publishes or communicates to any other person any secret official code or pass word, or any sketch, plan, model, article or note or other document or information which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy. This law goes through a web of clauses and subclauses essentially to lay out that any person even perceived to have a 'purpose prejudicial to the safety or interest of the State' can be prosecuted and punished with a death sentence. It is instructive to note here that Pakistan had introduced these courts under an amendment introduced in January 2015. These ill-famed military courts were to automatically disband after a period of two years, i.e. January 2015. However, just days before Jadhav's conviction, on 22 March, Pakistan's senate passed an amendment to grant them extension (read legitimacy) for another two years, according to The News. A Pakistan military court sentenced Jadhav to death after he was convicted of "espionage and sabotage activities". Military's media wing said in a statement on Sunday that the sentence was passed by a Field General Court Martial and confirmed by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. India has warned Pakistan that bilateral ties would be hit if it went ahead with the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, who Islamabad says was arrested in Balochistan in March 2016. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj equalled the so-called justice system to a farcical charade to cast aspersions on India. She reiterated that if Jadhav was hanged, it would amount to premeditated murder. India maintains that the justice system was flawed, arbitrary and farcical and the fact that Pakistan didn't risk the scrutiny of a civil court in itself proves that the entire narrative is ridden with loopholes and cooked up to malign India. There is something exceedingly curious about the way Pakistan has handled the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. It holds that Jadhav is a serving military officer. It accuses him of carrying out acts of espionage, sabotage and terrorism in Balochistan. It has also taken the unusual step of condemning Jadhav to death after claiming that he was tried secretly in a Pakistani military court. New Delhi accepts that Jadhav is an Indian national but says the retired naval officer wasn't linked to any Indian intelligence agencies. It also points out that such assets rarely go about flaunting their nationalities in their passports. A former officer who has been part of 'Pakistan desk' for 25 years in Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), India's spy agency, told Praveen Swami of Indian Express that, "I can state with authority that he (Jadhav) was not connected with us. Retired officers are never made assets, and we would certainly never send anyone on a clandestine mission with an Indian passport. Pakistan claims that Jadhav is a 'big catch'. During the airing of Jadhav's purported confessional video a heavily edited one Pakistan army spokesman Asim Bajwa had alleged that the senior Indian "spy" was directly handled by India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, RAW chief and the RAW joint secretary and went on to boast that "if an intelligence or an armed forces officer of this rank is arrested in another country, it is a big achievement." This is intriguing. Spies are employed by all countries but unless the asset is sent on a suicide mission (an apparent contradiction since that would no longer be classified as 'spying') there are well-established behavioral and operational structures under which nearly all spies function. A spy agency would never send such a senior-ranking officer on a field mission in an enemy country bearing the passport of his own nationality and risk exposure instead of using the documents of a third country for plausible deniability. Pakistan's rather outlandish claims raise two possibilities: One, Jadhav has been inexpertly framed by Pakistan, or two, India's premier intelligence agency has a serious lack of intelligence. As strategic affairs expert and Observer Research Foundation fellow Manoj Joshi observed recently in The Wire: "The first big question is why a commander-level officer would be involved in a cross-border operation. His (Jadhav's) rank is the equivalent of a lieutenant colonel in the army, and officers of this rank run operations from a distance, they dont participate in them. Indeed, persons of this rank are not even forward-based on a border where captains and majors run the operations that are in turn executed by low-level agents, and non-commissioned officers, at least in the India-Pakistan context." Even so, let us play along with Pakistan's flawed argument and assume that Jadhav is indeed a spy. This is where things begin to unravel even faster for Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan are signatories to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963, and therefore both nations must abide by its rules and obligations. In a demarche following Jadhav's death sentence, India made it clear that between 25 March, 2016 and 31, March 2017, Pakistan has denied India consular access to Jadhav on 13 occassions. According to Article 36(1) of the Vienna Convention, the State which detains the national of another country must allow certain privileges to consular officers of the detainee's State. These are: (a) consular officers shall be free to communicate with nationals of the sending State and to have access to them. Nationals of the sending State shall have the same freedom with respect to communication with and access to consular officers of the sending State; (b) if he so requests, the competent authorities of the receiving State shall, without delay, inform the consular post of the sending State if, within its consular district, a national of that State is arrested or committed to prison or to custody pending trial or is detained in any other manner. Any communication addressed to the consular post by the person arrested, in prison, custody or detention shall be forwarded by the said authorities without delay. The said authorities shall inform the person concerned without delay of his rights under this subparagraph; (c) consular officers shall have the right to visit a national of the sending State who is in prison, custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation. They shall also have the right to visit any national of the sending State who is in prison, custody or detention in their district in pursuance of a judgement. Nevertheless, consular officers shall refrain from taking action on behalf of a national who is in prison, custody or detention if he expressly opposes such action. The provisions, mentioned above, make it clear that Pakistan has failed to comply with nearly all the rules of Vienna Convention while treating Jadhav as a spy. Not only that, Pakistan also flouted violated provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is a signatory. These international laws "dilute the evidentiary requirements under Pakistani law" points out Yashaswini Mittal, research fellow at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, in The Wire. In her article, she also writes that "consular access to detained or arrested persons is, itself, a substantive provision that is intended to serve as a check on the treatment meted out to such persons, and ensure that such persons are not coerced into accepting the charges laid against them by the detaining state a valid concern in the light of Pakistan releasing a videotaped confession by Jadhav." If this doesn't convince one of the illegality of Pakistan's actions, consider the fact that it chose to conduct Jadhav's trial in a military court meant for terrorists whereas spies when they are not made part of an exchange programme by mature nations in a quiet give-and-take either languish in foreign jails or in rare cases, are tried in an open manner in civilian courts. The very fact that Pakistan chose to conduct the trial secretly in a court where the judges are not even trained officers of law indicates that Pakistan was unsure of the viability of the charges and evidence against Jadhav and feared that these would not be enough to prosecute him in civilian courts. These fast-track courts were set up after the 2014 terrorist attack on a Peshawar school. Their high degree of convictions indicate that fairness of justice is an illusory concept. A report by Times of India points out that of the "274 convictions since February 2015 by these courts, 161 were sentenced to death. Of these, 144 convicts had 'confessed' to their crimes," and that "these trials kept under wraps" and that the "accused also did not have the right to appeal". These courts have attracted international censure from International Commission of Jurists and have also courted controversy within Pakistan because their jurisdiction exceeds that of the civilian courts. Instead of subjecting Jadhav to such a kangaroo court, Pakistan would have more credibility if it simply sentenced the Indian national without a trial. In any case, Pakistan's Foreign Office had to issue a hurried and heated denial after Sartaj Aziz, Nawaz Sharif's foreign affairs adviser, revealed last year in December that Pakistan had "insufficient" and "inconclusive" evidence on Jadhav. Aziz, speaking before a meeting of the House Senate Committee, said that the material on the Indian national was mere "statements" and "in our view, was insufficient". Just four months after this statement, Pakistan seems to have found rock solid evidence to hang Jadhav. The question to be asked is: Why did Pakistan subject itself to such international ridicule? At this stage, there are no clear answers, only speculation. Reports indicate that Pakistan's hurried conviction of Jadhav was necessitated by the "curious disappearance" of an ex-ISI officer from the Indo-Nepal border. Speculation in Pakistan is rife that Lt Col (retd) Muhammad Habib Zahir, who went missing from Lumbini on 6 April, was 'abducted' by Indian intelligence agencies for his role in running terror network in the region. Islamabad is reportedly in touch with Nepal over this 'disappearance'. India, for its part, has denied any knowledge of it. Did Pakistan invite international ridicule to trigger a 'spy swap' with India? There are also suggestions that Pakistan may have also indulged in this misadventure to prove to the world that India is involved in subversive activities in Balochistan. If that is the case, the generals in Rawalpindi have considerably weakened their case by acting in haste and flouting all international rules and obligations in dealing with the Indian national. In a classic show of bipartisanship, former minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor will help the government draft a resolution against Pakistan which sentenced Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death through a military court. According to a NDTV report, "foreign minister Sushma Swaraj asked the Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor to help with drafting a resolution that will be adopted by both houses" to which Tharoor agreed after getting the nod from Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. The draft resolution will then be vetted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political parties, a oneindia report said. Modi had asked Tharoor last year as well to draft a statement condemning Pakistan for freeing Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, a key plotter of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the NDTV report said. Earlier today, Swaraj warned Pakistan that execution of the death sentence handed down to Jadhav by a military court would be taken as "pre-meditated murder" and Islamabad should consider its consequences on bilateral relations. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism," Swaraj said in an identical statement in both Houses of Parliament. "Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she said, adding that the sentence by the Pakistani Military Court was based on "concocted charges". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," Swaraj said categorically. She said the process adopted by the Pakistani military court to award the death sentence "tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian". Replying to a suggestion by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Swaraj said the government will not only ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, but will take up it with the president of Pakistan also. "Whatever is necessary, we will do," she said, adding that Jadhav was "not only the son of his parents, but is the son of India." Swaraj said Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. "The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him", which has been denied by the Pakistani authorities. "It is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence," the minister said. Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh said the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. While condemning the action, Singh said that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. With inputs from PTI This might sound perverse but it is true. Pakistan sentencing former Indian Navy official Kulbhushan Jadhav to death in a farcical trial resoundingly demonstrates the success of Indias new policy towards its neighbour. Speaking of perversity, here is what South Asia expert Robert Kaplan said in an article adapted from his book, 'The Revenge of Geography': Perversity characterises Pakistan. Only the worst African hellholes, Afghanistan, Haiti, Yemen, and Iraq rank higher on this year's Failed States Index. The country is run by a military obsessed with and, for decades, invested in the conflict with India, and by a civilian elite that steals all it can and pays almost no taxes The absence of the state makes for 20-hour daily electricity blackouts and an almost non-existent education system in many areas. When Kaplan wrote this, in 2012, Pakistan stood at 13 on the Failed States Index and inched up to 14 in 2016. But then, Pakistan is one of those countries which never learns, despite being licked multiple times on multiple fronts military, economic, and diplomatic by India. The said perversity also rings true in a Nietzschesque fashion of the abyss staring back at you. With Pakistan, this abyss is its "destroy-or-Islamise-India" obsession. And, as things stand, it no longer has even fair weather friends to help lift it up unless we can count China, whose latest round of 'friendship' has been expressed as a $1 billion trade agreement to import donkeys. Pakistans current scale of isolation is truly unprecedented, given the short history of its existence as an independent nation. And, it desperately craves attention. While theres merit in the opinion as to the timing of Pakistans latest dastardly move, in the wake of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasinas recent visit to India, the "verdict" to execute Jadhav has more to it. Pakistans isolation also stems from numerous recent diplomatic moves, which include striking friendships with Arab nations, Indias Balochistan policy aimed to hurt Pakistan, last years surgical strikes, and the demonetisation drive, which was largely effective in curbing terror funding. Perhaps for the first time in more than thirty years, the notorious Pakistan policy of bleeding India by a thousand cuts has become a thing of the past, replaced by attempts at derailing trains. In other words, the situation today in Pakistan appears to resemble what it faced in the aftermath of its humiliating military defeat and its geographical vivisection in the 1971 war. Put another way, Pakistan is clearly not used to this kind of calculated encirclement and strategic aggression from Indias side, which is basically making the Pakistani political and military leadership eat the fruit of the seeds it had sown since decades. To put this in perspective, a senior defence bureaucrat once told Firstpost that the very notion that Pakistan even has a civilian government must count as the joke of the century and that it seems like the rulers of Pakistan must be made in the mould of dictators like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Zia Ul Haq and Musharraf to command the respect of its military and the ISI. Former Defence Minister Jaswant Singh made a rather farsighted observation in 2012, when he said that, "Without Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran acting in concert, no lasting solutions can be found; they certainly cannot be imposed unilaterally by the US and Nato." When we survey the scene today, its clear that India enjoys healthy relationships with Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan. Although China is Indias largest trading partner, this relationship comes at the cost of perpetual tensions. As it stands, it's clear that not only is Pakistan not working in concert, it continues to distinguish itself as a festering nuisance in the entire region. When we review Jadhavs death sentence in this backdrop, it states the obvious conclusion, echoed in this Firstpost column that it's "a disgrace and grave provocation." And, depending on the nature and force of Indias response, Pakistan might decide to implement its practised deception of either playing victim or indulging in graver provocations. As a first and welcome step, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has fiercely hit back at Pakistan, calling it a "premeditated murder". Equally gratifying was the stand taken against Pakistan unanimously by the Parliament, cutting across party lines. The other step that India has taken is to halt the release of twelve Pakistani prisoners. While this move has some merit, it amounts to nothing in reality. When we go by Pakistans track record, it becomes evident that it will not care either way. We must not forget that it trains, arms, and dispatches its own citizens to kill innocents or die on Indian soil. And when caught, it disowns them with impunity. As opined in an earlier Firstpost article on the surgical strikes, India must use a combination of shutting down the Pakistan embassy, choking the Indus waters, raising a massive stink internationally, and completely severing all ties. Or in Prime Minister Narendra Modis words, "We must talk to Pakistan in its own language and stop writing love letters to it." Jadhav's release must be non-negotiable. New Delhi: Pakistan will be condemned across the world if it hangs Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Tuesday. "We leave their (Pakistan's) people. They are not able to come out of their old habits. It is very unfortunate. Whole world is watching what is happening and it will attract worldwide condemnation," the information and broadcasting minister told reporters outside Parliament. A Pakistani military court has sentenced Jadhav to death in an alleged espionage case. Naidu also hit out at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks alleging BJP policies were to blame for poor voter turnout and violence in the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls. "Who is responsible for the Jammu and Kashmir problem?... Comments for short political gains are not good for anyone," the minister said. He suggested that one should think carefully and speak in favour of the country on such sensitive issues. "One should keep in mind the country's unity and integrity before speaking...Pakistan is creating problems and separatists are fuelling the fire," Naidu said. On Monday, Gandhi had said that decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir has been reversed by the BJP government. Eight people were killed on Sunday in firing by security forces during the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll. Only 7.14 percent of the electorate came out to cast their votes in the constituency. Let's get one thing straight. The moment the Pakistanis caught Kulbhushan Jadhav and trumped up the charges, the writing was clear on the wall. He was going to be used as a patsy and it would be payback time for the hanging of Ajmal Kasab in 2012. There is very little percentage in getting agitated whether in Parliament or on the streets. Showing our "upset" side is exactly the aim of the Pakistani exercise in spurious jurisprudence and even they know they do not have a case. But the "make India jump" option has to be exercised because it is central to the Pakistan triumvirate's policy towards India. This unholy trinity will never spare an occasion to rattle India's cage. Also, Islamabad firmly believes that India will not cross the thin red line which it did in September last year with eight surgical strikes. Over the past six months the pressure from India has eased up not just on Balochistan but also in the general scheme of things. Indian soldiers being pelted with stones in Jammu and Kashmir and a certain open house on slanging India combined with a relative silence from New Delhi has allowed Pakistan to pull in the slack and move towards creating a bargaining chip in the form of Jadhav. But Pakistan shall squirrel away till it can use Jadhav on the gaming table. That the swift verdict came just a few days after US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, stated that Washington would like to formulate a role for itself in the Indo-Pak equation could be a coincidence, but the fact that Haley is a Trump confidante and an Indian American to boot would have caused a certain amount of consternation. Ergo, let's press the Indian buttons a bit and get them on the backfoot. Especially since Haley speaks for the US president and has ominously indicated that the US does not feel it prudent to wait for something to happen before it steps in. Rather it would wish to pre-empt another armed conflict. Also, we tend to be forgiving and set that softness to music so that it is seen as a weakness. The attention given to Indian school children sending the longest love letter and continuing an enterprise that began in 2001 seems surreal under the circumstances. Despite evidence to the contrary the mindset in Pakistan is cemented of India being less warrior like, lacking the killer instinct and not ready to go for the jugular. Even now the thinking with reference to Jadhav would be to gauge the unfolding of India's reactions and choreograph their moves accordingly. They will keep playing "whack the mole" to irritate India. It is utterly pointless to make comparisons between the way we handled Kasab judiciously as per international law and this absurd travesty, but that is exactly Pakistan's point: we will do what we want. Tum kya karoge. What India should do is go behind the scenes and drum up global support to have Jadhav released. Don't let Islamabad see the cards in our hand and avoid being transparent. Hurt them in the bottom line and pile on commercial pressure. Nothing annoys the trinity more than not knowing what India is thinking. That's when it gets on the backfoot and flounders in the dark. It's time we learnt not to wear our hearts on our sleeve. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's strong condemnation of Pakistan as a state on the farcical military court trial and its capital sentence to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav is indicative that India is drawing fresh red lines to take on its neighbour in the strongest possible ways. She didn't mince her words while making a statement in both Houses of Parliament on this highly emotive issue that has inflamed passions and agitated people's mind in the country. While she reiterated that Field General Court Martial (FGCM) order of death sentence to Jadhav if executed, would amount to a "premeditated murder". The minister went much beyond than what Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had said a day ago in a demarche to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit. The fact that Swaraj said Pakistani military court martial order was on "concocted..ridiculous charges", a term which was repeated twice to put additional stress on her charge is indicative how the Indian official establishment is looking at the matter and how it wishes to deal with the issue. Saving the life of Jadhav, of course, is of paramount concern to all in India. The absurdity of Pakistani civilian establishment and its total subservience to the military establishment was apparent from the fact that hours after Jadhav's death sentence was announced by Pakistan army's Inter-Services Public Relations, Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad was communicated by the Pakistan foreign ministry for conditional consular access to Jadhav. "It is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence. To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian High Commission received an official communication from the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," Swaraj stated in Parliament. India has consistently maintained that Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped from there and taken to Pakistan. The exact circumstances of his kidnapping and transportation to Pakistan was unclear and can only be ascertained if India was granted consular access to him. "Accordingly, from the time his abduction was known, our High Commission in Islamabad has continuously pressed Pakistani authorities for such access. Although this is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations, the Government of Pakistan did not permit it. That itself should tell us much about the strength of the case against Jadhav," she said. The minister also referred to Sartaj Aziz, foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif statement to the full senate chamber of Pakistani Parliament where he had said the dossier on Jadhav contained mere statements. It did not have any conclusive evidence against him. While the Pakistan government sought "India's assistance to obtain evidence and other materials for the investigation process", it levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. "Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position. Nevertheless, in the hope that some forward movement could be made, our response was constructive. We pointed out that consular access to Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan," Swaraj said. Both Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistans well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder." The government's charge against Pakistan couldn't be stronger than this. The warning to Pakistan was unambiguous: "Let me state clearly that the government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter." Just after the death sentence was handed out to Kulbhushan Jadhav, the alleged Indian spy who was caught in Pakistan last year, media in both countries have been quick to dig deep into how this move by Pakistan would affect the tempestuous relationship between India and Pakistan. Pakistan media has focussed on Jadhav's confessions, claiming it be evidence of his guilt. Jadhav was handed out a death sentence after he was convicted of 'espionage and sabotage activities'. "There is not much worse that India can do," Pakistani newspaper, The Nation, said on Tuesday as New Delhi warned Islamabad against hanging alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. "It can be argued that the peace process between the countries will take a hit, but in reality there is no peace process," The Nation said in an editorial. The paper also quoted political and defence analyst Hassan Askari that the decision to execute Jadhav would "further increase tension between the two countries". "The military has given a severe punishment which is according to Pakistani law," Askari said. "But we will have to see if Pakistan can sustain the political and diplomatic fallout." The Nation is owned by Nawa-i-Qawt group, which is traditionally aligned to Pakistani establishment and is known for India bashing. "By all statements of BJP stalwarts, India wants Pakistan to be destroyed," it said. "Why should Pakistan pull any punches, when it is constantly demonised and humiliated by its violent neighbour?" The daily, however, described as "shocking" the Pakistani military's decision to award death sentence to Jadhav, who was arrested last year in Balochistan on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad. "This is a very strong message by Pakistan to India and the international community that it will not take Indian interference lightly," it said of the death sentence. The Express Tribune in the front page headline 'Self-confessed Indian spy awarded death sentence' termed the decision as "unprecedented". It reported that the decision immediately sparked a bitter diplomatic spat between the two "hostile" neighbours. It further said that Jadhav has been operating in Pakistan disguised as Hussein Mubarak Patel. The influential Dawn newspaper termed the decision as a "rare move" . The paper said that the development comes at a time when tensions between Pakistan and India are already running high. It published a full column on what experts feel about the decision. Some feel the reaction from India will be strong, others maintain there will be no dramatic shift in the relationship, it said. Hamid Mir, senior journalist at Geo News said, "First of all, Pakistan should make the evidence found against the spy public, share it with the country and also internationally." "Secondly, why is everyone talking about an Indian reaction already? My belief is that India should be sensible and not react to the news at all. If people remember when Ajmal Kasab was sentenced, Pakistan had remained silent about the whole thing. Our prerogative was simple, if there is evidence against Kassab then he should be sentenced according to the Indian law. "So India should be sensible, not react to the news, not try to paint Jadhav as a hero, the media should take that same tone," he said. The Daily Times carried an article with the headline, 'Be ready for more acrimony from India' The article said: "New Delhi will certainly ratchet up pressure to prevent any harm to Jadhav. It has a voice in the world that is heard - even if it may be on wrong side of the fence. Through strategic communication offensive, New Delhi will not only bring pressure upon Pakistan but also sully its image across the globe in whatever way it can." The Dawn, another Pakistani publication carried an article: 'Will Pak-India relations be affected by the Jadhav sentence?' The explanatory piece looks at the various opinions and analysis by experts. Jadhav was arrested on 3 March, 2016, reportedly in Balochistan's Mashkel area, for "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan", the ISPR said. The statement said Jadhav was tried under section 59 of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, and section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The Court Martial found Jadhav guilty of all the charges, the ISPR said. "He confessed before a Magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage, sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi," the ISRP said. With inputs from PTI Doomsday visions have suddenly started haunting tipplers. The happy hours of clinking glasses, saying cheers, pouring a peg more, indulging in boozy talk, breaking into a tuneless song and muttering goodbyes to friends that one sees in triplicates may soon be over. No more booze-powered raucous celebration over Team India's win or the pesky boyfriend or girlfriend finally calling it quits, or the small unanticipated joys that everyday life brings. There may no longer be a quiet drink at home to beat tiredness, boredom or just to chill either. The visions could turn real. The nanny state is in ascendance. It may soon be deciding how we let our hair down. The loud call for banning liquor emanating from states is one clear indicator. Gujarat is already a dry state. Bihar banned alcohol last year. Kerala did it earlier and is going for a phased closing of liquor vends. Madhya Pradesh is planning to go the same way soon and leaders have started of talking of liquor ban in Delhi as well. In Goa, a tourism hub, the government is getting tough on parties and consumption of liquor; in Tamil Nadu, the ruling party had promised a phased ban and may take it forward keeping women voters in mind. Theres news that women in several places in Uttar Pradesh have started attacking liquor shops. The government may ban sale of booze to oblige them as well. The Supreme Court has already banned liquor shops 500 metres from highways and it has led to closure of several drinking holes. The way liquor is being externed from state to state, the whole of India could go dry in the coming days. No wonder tipplers are having doomsday visions. If the article already appears sympathetic to people who drink, well, its not the case. The problems associated with alcoholism are too well-known to be overstated. It ruins lives and economies of families. The state needs to intervene when things go out of hand. However, theres something illogical in the direction the bandwagon is headed. Is a sledgehammer measure such as a wholesale ban a solution to the problem at all? Again, how fair is it to treat all tipplers as alcoholics? But first things first. If it's about morality, then the state has no business telling its adults what is good for them and what is not. If they dont know it already, they would be in jails. The job of the state is not to restrict freedom of individuals, no matter how justified or morally correct the pretext may sound. It need not be telling people what to eat or drink, who to date or how to lead their lives. It makes the government look totalitarian in appearance and character. Totalitarian governments seeking to control the lives of citizens have always been a disaster. If its about citizens getting out of control then there is the law. It kicks in when the former oversteps boundaries of civility and becomes a threat to other individuals or a nuisance in general. The state can bring in regulations to manage matters. By resorting to total bans, it only makes apparent its inability to tackle a problem. Liquor ban is like banning vehicles altogether as some people driving them get into accidents. Of course, it is well-known that such bans only encourage illicit trade and make people opt for cheaper and more dangerous alternatives the inventiveness of people to find a way out when they are stopped from doing something is enormous. Does it make sense to push people in that direction? The only people who benefit are the law enforcers or those into preparing spurious liquor. The countrys experience with liquor ban has not been a happy one. With populism in full swing, the tipplers can only rue their fate. They have to find new ways of saying cheers. New Delhi: A draft legislation to amend the Motor Vehicles Act to impose stiffer penalties for traffic rules violations and to protect the good Samaritans from legal harassment was passed by the Lok Sabha by voice vote on Monday. The bill proposes hefty penalties for various traffic offences, three-year jail term for parents of minors caught driving and causing fatal accidents, and a ten-fold increase in compensation for the families of accident victims, among other things. "Five lakh road accidents and 1.5 lakh deaths occur every year in the country, which is a matter of concern. The bill has been designed to address these problems through different measures," Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said during a debate over the bill. He said the bill has given more thrust to the road safety, controlling pollution and accidents. "The government has set a target to cut the number of deaths caused due to road accidents by 50 per cent over next five years. The government has also identified 786 blind spots across the country and will spend Rs 11,000 to remove them to curtail accidents," he said. Gadkari said there is a provision for creating a fund for extending compensation and medical help to the road accident victims. He said the government will try to incorporate the suggestion of lawmakers regarding road safety. The bill provides for facilitating delivery of services to the citizens and transporters, and proposes Aadhaar-based verification for grant of online services, including learner's licence. The changes in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016, were approved by the Union cabinet on March 31. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha last August and was referred to a parliamentary standing committee, whose suggestions have been endorsed by the Union Cabinet. Pakistan's conduct on the Kulbhushan Jadhav affair is a disgrace and its action a grave provocation. Not only did its kangaroo military court flout every rule in the book while sentencing an Indian national to death, it kept India totally in the dark about the trial. In fact, such was the 'secrecy' that it seems the Rawalpindi khakis did not keep even Pakistan's civilian government in the loop. #EXCLUSIVE -- #KulbhushanJadhav unlikely to be executed soon. Nawaz Sharif Govt was unaware of military court verdict on Jadhav pic.twitter.com/S75gR4VkDD News18 (@CNNnews18) April 10, 2017 AFP has quoted a security official as saying that the court martial had been kept secret even within the ranks of the military. It is significant that several hours since the announcement was made through a tweet, Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif has remained conspicuously silent leaving Khawaja Asif, the clownish defence minister, to do all the breast-beating. It is possible that Sharif is acutely aware of the consequences of putting the noose around Jadhav. The act by the Rawalpindi GHQ not only undermines Sharif's authority over the country's power structure, it presents the Pakistan premier with an escalating chain of events over which he may have little control. Even by Pakistan's dismal standards of upholding international conventions and norms, the Jadhav case is a new low. Right from his arrest, purported confession and subsequent 'death sentence', Pakistan has shown a marked disregard for not only all international laws, but also its own penal provisions. It claimed to have caught Jadhav red-handed for acts of "espionage and sabotage", yet its army and civilian government came out with conflicting versions of arrest. As The Indian Express notes in a report, Balochistan's home minister Sarfaraz Bugti announced in March last year that Jadhav has been "picked up from Chaman located on the eastern extreme point of Balochistan", while in a separate media conference, army spokesperson General Asim Bajwa said Jadhav was arrested from "Saravan which is near (the) Pakistan-Iran border to the south east of Zahidan. The distance between the two places is 868 kilometres by road." Perhaps Jadhav could appear in two places at once. Pakistan has presented a sleek confessional video where an upbeat Jadhav is seen happily confessing that he is a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agent tasked with stoking subversive activities in Balochistan. It is unclear why in that case Jadhav was carrying an Indian passport while being "caught" because spies do not go about flaunting their nationalities while conducting acts of espionage. If we are to believe that Jadhav is indeed linked to RAW, the worthies at India's espionage wing must be immediately sacked for sending an agent to an enemy country with a target painted on his back. Strategic affairs expert Pramit Pal Chaudhuri writes in Hindustan Times quoting former RAW chief AK Verma that "a lone agent does not work like this in a foreign country creating subversion or mischief. He needs local support. He has got to have local friendsSo far as this person is concerned, it appears that he was caught alone, single-handed. All this makes it a very highly and unlikely story of him being an agent." Amnesty India chief Aakar Patel has noted in a recent anecdotal piece why Jadhav couldn't possibly have been an Indian spy operating in Pakistan. India has never denied that the retired naval officer was its citizen but has maintained all along that Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran and "his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly." The demarche issued by India makes it clear that between 25 March, 2016 and 31 March, 2017, Pakistan has rebuffed 13 formal Indian attempts to get consular access in flagrant violation of the provisions of the bilateral Consular Access Agreement. The decision to conduct a "secret trial" also goes against all established international procedures witnessed even during the height of the Cold War. India's delinquent neighbour has also violated its own penal provisions by putting Jadhav, whom it accuses of espionage, in a military court meant to fast-track cases against terrorists instead of trying him in a civilian court. This limits Jadhav's options because civilian courts have no jurisdiction over these kangaroo military courts which have courted much controversy even within Pakistan. Moreover, as a News18 report points out, "according to Section 105 of the Pakistan Army Act, when a person is awarded death sentence, there must be an absolute majority of votes. If there is a difference of opinion, the decision goes in favour of the accused." There is no way of knowing whether these rules were adhered to or if Jadhav had recourse to a defending officer. Human Rights watchdog Amnesty International has expectedly reacted strongly against Pakistan's actions. In a statement, Biraj Patnaik, its South Asia director, said: "The death sentence given to Jadhav shows yet again how Pakistan's military court system rides roughshod over international standards Stripping defendants of their rights and operating in notorious secrecy, military courts do not dispense justice but travesty it. They are an inherently abusive system that are best left to deal with issues of military discipline, not any other crimes." These accusations are worn as badges by Rawalpindi khakis, who have executed a number of Indian nationals over the years. The decision to execute Jadhav appears most likely to be a case of false bravado to show that it has a compelling case against India when it comes to "fomenting terror on its own soil", an accusation that India has long levelled against it. It will be interesting to see if Pakistan has the nerve to act on its threat of executing Jadhav, or plans to use the death sentence as a leverage. Either way, the Narendra Modi government is unlikely to let this act of provocation go unanswered. We could be in for interesting times. This evening India received the news that Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death by the Pakistan Army on the charges that he violated Pakistan's Official Secrets Act by spying for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of the Indian Army. Jadhav is a former Indian Navy Commander and now a businessman and it is the Indian government's position that he has nothing to do with India's external intelligence agency and he had anciently strayed into Pakistani waters as he owned a cargo business in Chabahar Iran. But let's leave the question of if he was a spy or not aside for now. Jadhav was tried before a military court and not a civilian court which itself is quite problematic. Jadhav is no longer a member of India's Armed forces and since India is currently not at war with Pakistan, the law of war does not apply in this situation. Pakistan law may enable the nation to try Jadhav before a military court, however, the extent to which this process is valid under international law is questionable. The trial of spies in military courts during war time was acceptable under international law but the question of trying accused spies before civilian courts during peace time is not an accepted practice. It is a serious violation of due process to have tried Jadhav before a military tribunal rather than trying him before a civilian court. Compare this to Ajmal Kasab, who was an armed terrorist, who was tried before a civilian court in Mumbai rather than a military court despite the fact that he fired at civilians and was clearly involved in a quasi-military operation. Since he was not a member of the armed forces and India and Pakistan were not at war, trying Kasab before an army court would violate the laws of war. Pakistan officials also refused to give Indian officials consular access to Jadhav, which was in violation of his rights outlined under Article 36(1)(c) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963. Officials of the Indian High Commission have a right under international laws to have access to Jadhav. However, Pakistan denied this access, in turn violating the convention and breaching international law. India, on the other hand, had allowed Pakistani High Commission complete access during the Kasab trial and even allowed Kasab to write to the Pakistani envoy requesting help and assistance. Jadhav pleading guilty to the charges levelled against him makes the entire process look dubious. Why would a person plead guilty to a death sentence? Considering that the legal representation given to Jadhav was a Pakistan Army officer, it is not clear at this point whether he received impartial advice before making that plea. He plead guilty to an offence punishable by death and admitted to being a spy. We are also not aware if he did so after 'torture'. Kasab was provided with lawyers of his own choosing and was also represented by the best senior advocates on appeal. Jadhav's trial does not just fail by acceptable international standards, but calling it a Kangaroo Court would be doing a gross injustice to the reputation of Kangaroo Courts. Pakistan needs to immediately take steps to quash the verdict and release him at once or in the alternative, order a retrial before a civilian court and at least allow India's diplomatic officials access to assist him and observe the process. Tensions ran rife on Panjab University campus on Tuesday as students, protesting the fee hike for various courses, clashed with the police, according to media reports. Police sources said that a few students who had gathered near the vice-chancellor's office complex were injured after police resorted to use of water cannons and tear-gas to disperse them. Chandigarh: Panjab University students protest against fee hike in the campus. pic.twitter.com/eYa8nD0qvf ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 The students pelted stones at the police and broke window panes of the offices and damaged other university property, according to media reports. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, members of Students for Society (SFS) could be seen going from one department to another, urging students to boycott classes. However, they faced some resistance from students of the English and law departments. The Panjab University had hiked fees by an average of 12.5% for all courses of university departments and regional centres for the session 2017-2018 Later, a few students, who were being chased by the police, entered a gurdwara on the campus and took refuge. Police officials were reported to be negotiating with them to come out. A report by India TV said police also took a few of the students into preventive custody, including Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) president Nishant Kaushal and general secretary Ashiq Mohammad. Classes were affected in several departments on the Sector 14 campus of the university due to the protest shutdown called by the students. The fee hike was being opposed by the Students for Society (SFS) and other student organisations. With inputs from IANS The 10 April decision by Pakistan to sentence Kulbhushan Jadhav to death is an act of extreme provocation, especially since the sentence has been given by a military court and not by the Government of Pakistan. The military courts of Pakistan have been acting notoriously in backdrop of the military-ISI-terrorist connections, giving rulings coloured with radical Islamic fundamentals, and these military courts being part of the genocide unleashed in Balochistan, North Waziristan and Gilgit-Baltistan to ruthlessly stamp out dissent. The sentence also must be viewed in the backdrop of the utterances by Sartaj Aziz, Nawaz Sharifs advisor on foreign affairs in December 2016, wherein he told a full Senate chamber that the dossier on alleged Indian spy Jadhav contained just statements, and that additional evidence had to be collected. Dawn had quoted Aziz as having said, "So far, we have just statements about the involvement of the Indian spy in terror activities in Pakistan. Geo TV had then quoted Aziz saying,"What the dossier contained was not enough. Now it is up to the concerned authorities how long they take to give us more matter on the agent." A press release of 10 April by Pakistans notorious ISPR said that Jadhav arrested from Balochistan on 3 March, 2016 for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan was tried by FGCM under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Section 3 of Official Secrets Act 1923, found guilty of all charges which he confessed, and awarded death sentence. The press release further said that the accused was provided with a defending officer, and that his death sentence has been confirmed by army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. That India has been consistently asking for consular access from the day Jadhav's arrest was announced is a well-known fact, and one that Pakistan has consistently denied. The Army Act in any country is applicable to personnel of that army, both uniformed and civilians, not anyone else. Not providing consular access to India and saying a defending officer was provided is a facade and the identity of the so-called defending officer is unknown. In February 2016, a month before the arrest of Jadhav, Balochistan national media sources reported that the Pakistani forces ground attacks and air strikes against Baloch people continue across Balochistan. The Baloch Republican Party issued a statement saying, "Gunship helicopters and thousands of ground forces have attacked civilian populations in Pailawagh, Ledav Patti, Chubdar, Loup, Sohrabi, Peeshani, Seekhun and Doe Wadh regions. Dozens of houses have been destroyed in these attacks and it is feared that several people including women and children have been killed." Twenty-three persons (mostly farmers) had been abducted while the bodies of five previously abducted ones had been found. On 15 February, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had issued a statement to media that Pakistani forces killed many unarmed civilians and abducted more than 60 others during their attacks in Jaladi, Sangaan, Yakho, Sanjawal, Babar Kach and other surrounding area of Harnai, Sibbi and Bolan regions of Baluchistan. It is in this backdrop that the Pakistan Army alleged they had caught a serving Indian Navy officer in Balochistan working for RAW. According to Pakistani military intelligence, the arrested man identified himself as Kulbhushan Jadhav on deputation to Iran and was apprehended with a passport under the assumed name of Hussein Mubarak Patel and a valid Iranian visa. According to Pakistani officials, Jadhav had entered Pakistan illegally through the border with Iran and he was believed to be contracted privately with a construction project linked to the Chabahar Port in Iran. Significantly, the arrest was announced on the day Iranian president Hassan Rouhani landed in Pakistan for a bilateral visit, and just prior to the Pakistani joint intelligence team (JIT) heading to India for probing the Pathankot IAF base terror attack engineered by Pakistan on 2 January. With the type of massive Pakistan Army-cum-ISI-linked terror groups' operations in Balochistan, why would Jadhav cross the border from Iran? With Pakistani cross-border operations into Iran, was Jadhav lured into Balochistan by the ISI for using him to prove Indias involvement in the Baloch insurgency, all other efforts having failed? Was this to score a point against the Iranian president, telling him Iranian territory was being used for anti-Pakistan activities? Did the ISI arrange a passport for him with a fake name something that would be no problem with ISI expertise? Was Jadhav lured from Iran? What would one man crossing into Balochistan achieve when the digitised world is already flat, and when Balochistan is crammed with the marauding Pakistan Army? It is significant to note that while Jadhav was allegedly captured in Balochistan on 4 March, 2016, over 10 months later in December 2016, Aziz had stated that Kulbhushan Jadhavs dossier contained just statements, that were not conclusive evidence. When he added Now it is up to the concerned authorities how long they take to give us more matter on the agent", was it a hint to the Pakistani military-ISI to cook up evidence? Last year, Mehdi Honardoost, Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan dismissed Pakistans charge that Jadhav was a spy, saying that the claims were one hundred percent false. Had Pakistan believed RAW was operating out of Iran, it should have shared this information with Tehran. But more significant was the expose on this sordid affair by Gunter Mulack, former German Ambassador to Pakistan, who disclosed he had information that Jadhav had been kidnapped by the Taliban (on franchise by Pakistan) near Chaman, and sold to Pakistans ISI. It is quite obvious that Pakistan consistently denying consular access to Jadhav implies that the actual story will never come out. There could be several reasons for the timing of the sentence: First, it could be an attempt to divert the attention of the Donald Trump administration from the genocide unleashed by the Pakistan Army in Balochistan. In August 2016, Naela Quadri Baloch, president of the World Baloch Womens Forum accused Pakistan of using chemical weapons against Balochis in Makran and the Pakistan Army harvesting organs from abducted Balochis. Even the Sunday Guardian revealed in an article on 15 January, 2017, titled Pak army using chemical weapons against Pashtuns reports that in addition to Balochis, Pakistan is also using chemical weapons indiscriminately against Pashtuns in Waziristan and certain areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). This report also has photographs of victims of chemical attacks. Second, gung-ho with the success of inciting the youths of the Kashmir Valley and immediately after the violence-marred Srinagar bypolls, Pakistan has decided to provoke India further. Third, it could be a way to appease China or even at the insistence from China that is bristling from the visit of Dalai Lama to Tawang. Fourth, while the return of Jadhav can be ruled out, Pakistan may be angling to extract something from India in exchange for commuting the death sentence from hanging Jadhav to perhaps life imprisonment. After all, Pakistan did wriggle out from resolving the Kashmir issue and not returning some 65 Indian PoWs languishing in Pakistani jails even as India had released 93,000 Pakistani PoWs, with Pakistan conveying to Indira Gandhi they would execute Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. All said and done, sentencing Jadhav to death is an extreme provocation by Pakistan a test for the Narendra Modi Government. It is reiterated for the umpteenth time that in this era of hybrid warfare, we need to look beyond conventional response and diplomacy. The earlier the policymakers understand this, the better. The author is a veteran lieutenant-general of the Indian Army New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday rubbished reports that Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will help the Narendra Modi government in drafting a statement on Kulbhushan Jadhav to be read out in Parliament. "There is no dearth of talent in my ministry. I have the assistance of very able secretaries," she said in a curt tweet. She also posted the news report to which she was reacting. According to the news report, Tharoor, also a former minister of state for foreign affairs, will help the government draft the 'Statement of Solidarity' on the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav. This statement will be adopted by both Houses of Parliament. "The request to draft the resolution came from Swaraj after Parliament today condemned Pakistan for sentencing Kulbhushan Jadhav to death," the report said. Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan on the charges of "espionage and sabotage" activities, triggering outrage in India. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism," Swaraj had told both Houses of Parliament earlier in the day. The Centre told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy impact the social status and dignity of Muslim women and deny them fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. In a fresh written submission filed before the apex court, the government has reiterated its earlier stand and said these practices render Muslim women "unequal and vulnerable" as compared to men of their community, as well as women belonging to other communities. "There are unreasonable classifications which arise from practices such as those under challenge in the present petition, which deny to Muslim women the full enjoyment of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution," the Centre said. The apex court had on 30 March observed that these practices among Muslims were important issues involving "sentiments" and a Constitution bench would hear the pleas challenging these from 11 May. The Centre, in its written submission, has termed these practices as "patriarchal values and traditional notions about the role of women in society" and said that "the right of a woman to human dignity, social esteem and self-worth are vital facets of her Right to Life under Article 21". "Gender inequity has ripple effect on the rest of the community, preventing it from partaking in full, liberties guaranteed by a modern Constitution," it said. Seeking to declare these practices as unconstitutional, the government has said reforms in Muslim personal law have not taken place for over six decades in the past and Muslim women, who comprises eight percent of the population, have remained "extremely vulnerable" due to fear of instant divorce. "Even though it may be true to say that only some women are directly and actually affected by triple talaq and polygamy, the fact remains that every woman who is subject to the said law lives under threat, fear or prospect of these practices being invoked against her, which in turn impacts her status, her choices, her conduct and her right to life with dignity," the Centre has said. It has also raised a fundamental issue and asked whether in a secular democracy, religion can be a reason to deny equal status and dignity, which is available to women under the Constitution. "The conferment of a social status based on patriarchal values or one that is at the mercy of menfolk is incompatible with the letter and spirit of Articles 14 and 15," it said. "Practices such as polygamy cannot be described as being sanctioned by religion in as much as historically, polygamy prevailed across communities for several centuries including the ancient Greeks and Romans, Hindus, Jews and Zoroastrians. It had less to do with religion and more to do with social norms at the time," the submission said. Influential Muslim organisations like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) have opposed the courts adjudication of these matters, maintaining these practices stemmed from the Holy Quran and were not justiciable. Several Muslim women have challenged the practice of triple talaq in which the husband, quite often, pronounces talaq thrice in one go, sometimes over phone or text message. Nikah halala is a practice intended to curb incidence of divorce under which a man cannot remarry his former wife without her having to go through the process of marrying someone else, consummating it, getting divorced, observing the separation period called Iddat and then coming back to him again. The apex court had earlier said it would decide issues pertaining to the legal aspects of the practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims but would not deal with the question whether divorce under Muslim law needs to be supervised by courts as it falls under the legislative domain. The Centre had on 7 October last year opposed in the apex court these practices among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds of gender equality and secularism. The AIMPLB had told the court that pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary. The apex court had taken suo motu cognisance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or due to other marriages of their husband. Editor's note: This article was originally published on 11 April, 2017. It is being republished in light of the fact that the International Court of Justice will be announcing its verdict on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at 3.30 pm IST on Thursday. The International Court of Justice will pronounce its judgement on the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav, handed out by a Pakistani military court on Thursday, just 10 days after India approached it. India had approached ICJ demanding immediate suspension of the death sentence given to the former Indian Navy officer after Pakistan accused him of being an Indian spy. Jadhav was convicted of conducting "subversive activities" for the Indian government in Pakistan and has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on 10 April. Pakistani authorities had reportedly arrested Jadhav in what they termed as a counter intelligence operation in Mashkal, Balochistan on 3 March, 2016. He has remained in Pakistan's custody ever since. The decision has come at a time when the relations between the two neighbours are running through a particularly rough patch, with the two nations alleging sabotage and infiltration bids on each other. Here is all that we know about Jadhav so far. The curious case of Kulbhushan Jadhav has seen many twists and turns within a short span of one year since his arrest. While the Pakistani side has repeatedly alleged that Jadhav is a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) "spy" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, India had categorically denied Islamabad's charges. According to a Firstpost report, Jadhav owned three properties under the alias Mubarak Patel in Mumbai. According to the report, he was learnt to be residing on Delisle Road for a while as well. He also had a house in Powai, but that was shut for the last one year, ever since Jadhav was jailed in Pakistan. Though India has conceded right from the start that Jadhav was indeed an Indian national and a retired naval officer. The Indian side claims that Jadhav ran a legitimate business from Iran, and might have inadvertently crossed over to Paksitan. And that the Pakistani authorities had harassed him and charged him with spying. However, according to the press statement put out by InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) the media wing of Paksitani security forces Pakistan has claimed that Jadhav was involved in coordinating and organising "espionage activities" with an intent to destabilise and wage a war against Pakistan, as reported by a Pakistani news website The Nation. Another curious aspect of the case has been an alleged confessional video by Jadhav, widely circulated in the Pakistani media, wherein he had "confessed to his sabotage activities" and detailed his "networks with Indian spy agency RAW". Islamabad, in the presser has also claimed that it was on the basis of this confessional video, and "irrefutable evidence" that he was convicted and sentenced to death. The video, which was quoted by several media organisation, including The New York Times, is no longer available on YouTube. "He confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage, sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi," the ISPR said. According to a transcript of this alleged confession as reported in Dawn, Jadhav had claimed to be an "active navy officer" and conceded that his "purpose was to hold meetings with Baloch insurgents and carry out activities with their collaboration." The footage apparently also shows him saying that he had set up a small business in Chabahar in Iran which facilitated him to achieve undetected existence and visits to Karachi in 2003 and 2004. These activities have been of criminal nature, leading to killing of or maiming of Pakistani citizens. I realised during this process that RAW is involved in some activities related to the Baloch liberation movement within Pakistan and the region around it," the so called confession further reads. However, India has rejected the validity of the video and claimed that it was tutored or recorded under immense mental and physical pressure. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been using this arrest as a vindication to its stand on alleged Indian interference in Pakistan's Balochistan province. However, the story so far has been hazy and ridden with loopholes at best. The Dawn report from the time of Jadhav's arrest quoted earlier states that Jadhav was "caught red-handed while infiltrating into Pakistan from the Saravan border area of Balochistan with Iran." Another report in the news website said that Jadhav was transporting "anti-state elements" from Pakistan to New Delhi for training by RAW. Then, a report in Hindustan Times cast another shadow on the confessional video. The newspaper article argued that the video multiple quick edits and the audio appears to go out of sync from time to time, which indicates it was likely to have been shot under duress. Another report in India Today, states that the Indian intelligence services have reasons to doubt the Pakistani narrative due to several inconsistencies in the video. For instance, Jadhav's facial expressions, at many instances, do not match to what is being said. The audio too is poorly spliced. The article further said that Indian agencies believe that Jadhav may have been abducted by an extremist group named Jaishul Adi, rather than being caught during any military operation. Then, another report in NDTV states that government sources say there is no proof that could back Pakistan army's claim that he was arrested from Balochistan. Further doubts were raised as Pakistani adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that they did not have sufficient evidence against Jadhav and the facts as presented by security agencies was inconclusive. However, Aziz later retracted his statement when it was widely picked up by Indian media. "It has never been said that there was any lack of evidence against Jadhav," Aziz said. "His goal was to disrupt development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with Gwadar port as a special target," Pakistan Army chief Bajwa had said, adding, "This is nothing short of state-sponsored terrorism... There can be no clearer evidence of Indian interference in Pakistan." The Indian government has, although categorically denied these allegations, it has said it was not in a position to clarify the circumstances in which Jadhav reached Pakistan as despite repeated attempts Pakistan had denied India consular access. "Circumstances of his presence in Pakistan remain unclear, particularly because we have not been provided consular access despite our repeated requests," IANS quoted a government source as saying. India had also requested for Jadhav's extradition but in March this year, Aziz told the countrys Upper House that Islamabad wont extradite Jadhav. Think. Eat. Save. Thats the pithy slogan of this years World Environment Day. Think. Eat. Save. That sounds a lot more doable than combating climate change and melting polar ice caps a cheery three-step guide to a better planet. Even better for the average Indian consumer, its a slogan that allows us to point our fingers firmly at the government. As ThinkEatSave.org points out about one-third of food production worldwide, about 1.3 billion tonnes, gets lost or wasted along the way. A 2009 UNEP study claims India loses nearly 23 million tonnes of food cereals, 12 million tonnes of fruits, and 21 million tonnes of vegetables every year. Most of it lost due to improper storage and distribution. These numbers allow us to shake our heads and wag our fingers at the thieving, slothful, inefficient government. The Institution of Mechanical Researchers global food wastage report says clearly that at least 40 percent of all fruit and vegetables are lost in India between the grower and consumer due to lack of refrigerated transport, poor roads, inclement weather and corruption. All of that spells Big. Bad. Government. Blaming the government comes with a self-righteous feel-good factor unlike the twinges of guilt that accompany the Washing machine we are eyeing or that bigger car. Reduce your footprint But the Think Eat Save slogan also comes with a smaller easily-ignored subhead Reduce Your Footprint. Thats where reality bites and feel-good ends. India does not feature in the top 10 list of shame of countries that waste food the most. The gluttonous US tops that list. America wastes enough food to fill the 90,000 seat Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena every day. Per capita food waste there has doubled since 1974. Most Indians, on the other hand, still buy their groceries at the neighbourhood market or sabzi mandi. But though our per capita food wastage by consumers is low compared to developed countries, Hippu S Kristle Nathan writes in the Deccan Herald the same cannot be ignored given that nearly 70 per cent of Indians live with less than 2 dollar a day and dont contribute to the wastage. The average urban household in India wastes 100 kg of food per person writes Avalok Langer in Tehelka. Look in your refrigerator This is not just about the lavish buffet at the high society wedding. Its about the choices we make every day. Tehelka looked inside the refrigerator of a journalist who lives on her own in New Delhi. On that day she threw away a litre of milk, a packet of kaffir lime leaves, 2-3 dried lemons, a mango and some brinjals. The milk I forgot to put back in the fridge last night. The lime leaves were for a Thai curry, but I didnt know what to do with the rest. The lemons and brinjals were at the bottom of the vegetable tray in the fridge and going off. We have all been there especially those of us who dont live in large extended families. Every time we shop at a supermarket we buy that sealed packet of lime leaves or curry leaves and only use a handful. The rest rots quietly along with that half-empty can of coconut milk. We waste food because we buy what we want, not just what we need. Food might be lost on the highway. Food is wasted in our homes. There is a difference. We have higher standards for our meals, but diminished knowledge about how to maximize our use of food, writes Jonathan Bloom in American Wasteland. Many of us dont even trust our own noses to judge when an item has gone bad. Add to that what Bloom calls the pornography of perfect food which tosses aside that perfectly good but bruised fruit and food wastage balloons. Its epidemic in America and Europe. But India is getting there as well. Buffet table to garbage dump In India, these days, we love to eat out more and more. Food likely makes up 60 percent of the average sit-down restaurants dumpster contents, says Bloom. Forget swank hotels in the metros, a city like Bhubaneswar wastes around 26,000 tonnes of food in its restaurants, social gatherings and households annually, writes Tehelka. The Times of India estimates that in Pune nearly half of the over 130 tonne leftover food collected from its hotels and restaurants is fit for consumption but lands up in the bin or the garbage dump. Even worse, we waste food in a way that is no use to others along the food chain. Earlier, an entire food chain consisting of stray animals and birds were sustained on the leftovers but when we start throwing the food in plastic bags, it ends up into animals stomachs that causes their painful deaths, says Dilip Surkar, executive director of the Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre. Food with visas This is waste we dont really think about because it is miniscule compared to the food rotting in warehouses or on those trucks lumbering down potholed highways. Instead we go to that fancy restaurant because its new menu brags about its Chilean sea bass or Norwegian salmon or New Zealand lamb. We dont stop to think about what it takes to bring all that to our table from across the world. Or what it takes to send our best Hilsa fish abroad. Most of it goes to the US, says chef Joymallya Banerjee of the restaurant Bohemian in Kolkata. Most restaurants do hilsa festivals. Its all frozen fish from Bangladesh. Fish and meat with visas have become the passports to gourmet classiness a sign that we you have arrived. The irony is this is a country with miles of coastline and lots of local fish that never comes to the market anymore. Theres an immense variety of fish caught on the coastline that are not used, food writer Vikram Doctor said in an earlier interview. Meanwhile sea food restaurants are taking fish thats imported. Norwegian salmon is seen in the west as a problematic product. Here its a premium product. The best hilsa gets exported to America. The Norwegian salmon comes to India. The humble greens find fewer takers. And a billboard for a new restaurant promises "Food so good, youll never need to eat at home again". In India food was the way we measured out love. In the new India it has become just another way to measure aspiration. Unfortunately reducing our own footprint is not something we aspire to yet. Think. Eat. Save. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated farmers' body Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has raised a red flag against the existing government policies related to the agricultural sector and the bureaucratic functioning, alleging that these factors have impoverished Indian farmers and compelled them to commit suicide. Hundreds of farmers from across various states, backed by the BKS, hit the streets of New Delhi on Monday protesting against government policies and demanding immediate attention on farmers' issues. The right-wing farmers' body has urged the lawmakers to rise above party politics, do a joint analysis of various problems and issues plaguing the farm sector and chalk out a comprehensive national policy. The anger among the farmers was so strong that they didn't stop short of criticising the BJP government at the Centre and in the states. The BKS a union of 20 lakh farmers from 450 districts across the country has warned that if the government fails to pay heed to its demands, they would go on a massive agitation programme in September. Sharing a view similar to that of the apex court, the all-India general secretary of BKS, Prabhakar Kelkar told Firstpost, "Till Independence, India was dominantly an agricultural nation. But after that gradually under the Congress rule over the decades, there was decline in agricultural growth rate, in capital investment and in budgetary allocation. Had agriculture been given priority status, we could have been the largest exporter of food grains. It's high time that the MPs rise above petty party politics and chalk out a comprehensive national policy for agricultural sector by analysing the problems plaguing farmers." He said that both the government and the bureaucracy have to get rid of the colonial mindset of framing policies without consulting farmers who are the real stakeholders. "In the last 20 years, more than three lakh farmers have committed suicide in our country and lakhs of farmers are under heavy debt. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that the farmers would get right price of their produce, but unfortunately it didn't happen. If the situation continues, the farmers would be compelled to go on a large-scale agitation across the country. The time has arrived for the Indian farmers to rise and fight for their rights," he further added. The representatives of the Kisan Sangh, who personally visited the Prime Minister's Office on Monday afternoon to give a memorandum of their demands, have urged Modi for a 25-year roadmap to ameliorate the condition of farmers. "The government has to prepare a roadmap for 25 years, so that the decline in agricultural growth and impoverishment of farmers could be prevented. The lawmakers and bureaucrats of this country, who are involved in the decision-making process, should stop looking at foreign countries while drafting policies. The situation of the farm sector and farmers in India are different from other countries. Every country has its specific socio-economic needs and a global formula can't be implemented. The farmers' need to be consulted prior formulating policies," said Kelkar. Hundreds of farmers had gathered at Jantar Mantar on Monday for a day-long demonstration and consultation on what steps need to be taken to make the government listen to their demands. "Earlier, at the Centre it was the UPA government, with Congress party ruling in large number of states. But now the scenario has changed with the BJP at the Centre, which also has its strong government in many states. Still the condition for farmers hasn't changed. The BJP has failed to fulfill the promises it had made in its election manifesto in 2014. Government has no set standards even today for the prices of agricultural produce like wheat, mustard, etc," Sudhir Chaudhry, a farmer and BKS office-bearer from Jaipur pointed out. Many farmers, who came with documentary proofs collected through RTIs have different tales to tell on corruption, poor administration and bureaucratic red-tapism. "Take the case of Rajasthan. The farmers of this state suffer due to lack of water for irrigation and supply of electricity. It takes more than a month for the state's electricity department to give connection to a farmer, once he applies for it. Let the government gives us 2% interest on our land and do the farming, and then they will realise the pathetic condition of farmers," added another farmer Ramesh Chandra Sharma from Dausa in Rajasthan. "Besides, BKS, other farmers' unions in the country have also been raising issues, but government is maintaining a stoic silence. If the government fails to pay any heed to our demands, we'll undergo fast unto death agitation," quipped Balbir Singh, a farmer from Punjab. Besides, the issue of minimum support price (MSP), the BKS has also raised the issue of secondary source of income for the farmers. "At present, a farmer can't survive alone on farming. He has to have a secondary source of income. Besides, increasing the budgetary allocation in the farm sector, the government has to ensure to bring in the enterprising farmers in food processing sector, so that employment could be created," said Kelkar. Here are the list of demands of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh to the Prime Minister: Reacting strongly to Pakistan's decision to send Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national and a Indian Navy official, to the gallows, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that India will regard this as a "premeditated murder" if Pakistan carries out the death sentence awarded to Jadhav. She further said that such a move will not come without repercussions. In a strong message to Pakistan, Swaraj, who was addressing the Rajya Sabha on the issue on Tuesday, said that this was an "indefensible verdict on an Indian national," adding that Pakistan must "consider the consequences on our bilateral relations if they choose to proceed on this." Swaraj also added that much could be read from the fact that even after three hours after the officials announced Jadhav's death sentence and the media reported it, "the Indian Consulate was still receiving documents negotiating conditional consular access." Swaraj categorically denied that Jadhav was a spy. She said that Pakistan's pursuance of the entire matter reeked of a conspiracy. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing. This is nothing but a premeditated murder. The fact that they did not dare to try him in a proper court and refused him consular access as his right itself would tell us about the quality and process of his trial." "Jadhav has only fallen prey to Pakistan's plan to cast aspersions on India to divert attention from the issues raised by India on international platforms," Swaraj said. She said the government would appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and would petition the President of the country to save "the son of the nation". Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha too stood united in condemning the move. Member of Parliaments from the Treasury and Opposition benches, alike, strongly condemned Islamabad's move and demanded stern action by the government on the issue. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge moved a motion in the Lower House to discuss the issue, which was duly passed. Kharge, while introducing the motion said that he strongly condemns Pakistan's move to slaughter an Indian national in complete disregard to established practice of law. He however also sought answers from the government adding that if India couldn't save him, it will be indicative of our government's weakness. His remarks attracted the ire of BJP members who said the government was condemning the incident. "Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue," Kharge said referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to visit Pakistan to attend the marriage of Nawaz Sharif's daughter near Lahore. Treasury benches took objection to the statement and shouted, "don't politicise the issue," after which Union Minister Ananth Kumar stood up in response and urged the Opposition to not politicise the issue, adding that the home minister will reply to all the questions raised in the parliament. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said "there should be no spat on the issue. We all are equally concerned about the fate of Jadhav." Kharge said while India granted access to Pakistan to visit Pathankot to gather evidence on terror strike, Islamabad denied counsellor access to Jadhav. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and MP from Hyderbad Asaduddin Owaisi also condemned the Pakistani action strongly, while terming the whole process of Jadhav's indictment farcical. "Pakistan's military courts are no courts but are akin to a banana republic. They have no regard for international norms, valid proofs and evidence whatsoever. And I demand that the Government of India use it's full influence to ensure safe return of Jadhav. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed satisfaction on the way the whole House united up against the "condemnable move by the Pakistani government" and hoped that "this unity could translate at an international platfrom." Tharoor said that while India has always preferred not to internationalise its relations with Pakistan, it is time New Delhi tells the world that tomorrow one of their citizens can face a similar fate in Pakistan. Without naming any state, Tharoor also pointed fingers towards China stating that the time has come that GOI also gives a "strong message to those nations who have been aiding and promoting" rogue nature of Pakistan. All India Trinamool Congress MP, Saugata Roy also condemned the move adding that the fact that Jadhav was tried in a military court shows that the Pakistani dispensation was not confident of proving the allegations in a court of law. Meanwhile the Union Home Minster Rajnath Singh thanked the house for showing solidarity on the issue, assuring the MPs of complete and robust support to Jadhav's cause. While condemning the action, Singh told the Lok Sabha that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. Responding to concerns expressed by members cutting across party lines, Singh said Pakistan had told the media there that Jadhav was carrying a valid Indian passport. He wondered why a spy would carry a valid passport. "This exposes Pakistan's action," he said. The Home Minister was also critical of Islamabad's decision to deny New Delhi consular access to Jadhav on 13 occasions. He said he was happy that the Parliamentarians expressed their outrage on the issue, adding that "India mainatins that Kulbhushan Jadhav was never arrested but kidnapped from the soil of another nation." He said that Pakistan has only "told lies on the issue" and Jadhav was no spy but an ordinary businessman in Iraq. It is good to know that India's favourite jamai raja always has a thing or two to say on affairs, both domestic and foreign. If only Robert Vadra's brother-in-law had a similar panache for donating his views, we would have had a deadly jeeja-saala duo tormenting the Narendra Modi government. Luckily for the PM, Rahul Gandhi, whenever he speaks, rarely puts any sense into his words and Vadra routinely puts his foot in his mouth. Perhaps he was right when he famously claimed to be a mango man in a banana republic some years ago. His tongue slips so often that it seems Vadra keeps stepping on the skin of the fruity republic. For India's good, and his own, Vadra must continue to express his opinion without fear. There is a serious crisis in the country since Kapil Sharma had a tiff with Sunil Grover and, as a result, we may all be headed for collective depression. So it is imperative he continue to speak as often as possible to keep that depression at bay. There are some people who make us laugh even when they try to say profound, serious things. And there are some who make us roll by their mere presence. Kapil, please take note, Vadra has the knack for both. Prime facie, his sudden concern for Kulbhushan Jadhav, the man Pakistan wants to hang for some insane reason. Now, Pakistani military courts are the closest thing we have to the rabid Queen in Alice in Wonderland. Give them anything Indian and they would asininely chant, 'off with his head,' even if it is a daft businessman who probably got kidnapped by the Taliban and was gift wrapped for the ISI. If the Pakistan army wants to murder a man on flimsy charges without a proper trial, Vadra's blood, like that of all Indians, should indeed boil. But could Vadra please not embark on his customary fault-finding mission on this and keep petty politics out of it? Could he please keep those ''is-this-all-you-could-do" darts for practising at a suitable target at home? And could the Congress party please stop taking its cues from its favourite son-in-law's rants? Here's the thing: Unlike big government decisions, like where solar parks could be set up and how real estate investments close to them could lead to windfall gains, a crisis in international democracy can't be passed on as insider information in advance by crony chief ministers. Like an honest businessa term that may sound like an oxymoron to Vadradiplomacy is shaped by the unpredictable and the unknown. It is the art of dealing with the unexpected. So it is farcical to mock the government for not being able to predict Jadhav's fate. In all likelihood, Pakistan is trying to blackmail India and using Jadhav as a pawn to get some trade-off. As The Indian Express wrote on Tuesday, the Pakistani establishment may have summoned its kangaroo court to sentence Jadhav because the Indian intelligence may have captured a top Pakistan operative in Nepal. If that is the case, India can indeed come up with a strong response, belying Vadra's fear of not sending back Pakistani prisoners as "all we could do." Vadra observed, "I thought with the stop overs and celebrations of our premieres, we would have closer relations." Perhaps like Rip Van Winkle who slept for 20 years, Vadra missed everything that happened since the stop overs. We were attacked by militants from across the border in Uri. In response, our soldiers carried out surgical strikes deep inside enemy territory. Did the furore over brother-in-law's 'khoon ki dalali' barb not wake Vadra up to the post-stop over turn in the India-Pakistan narrative? Truth is, "is this all we could do" is a good question. On 11 March, when results of the UP polls were announced, as a senior member of the Gandhi household, Vadra should have sat his brother-in-law down, pointed at the Congress tally of seven seats and popped that question. Had he done so, we would have taken him seriously for a change, if not as a public figure at least as a concerned son-in-law. New Delhi: A demand by a BJP MP to deport large number of illegal immigrants from India alleging they were involved in anti-social and terror activities on Tuesday triggered uproarious scenes in Lok Sabha. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey referred to the influx of large number of "illegal" people to India from countries like Bangladesh and demanded setting up of a commission to identify the areas and examine the demographic changes there. Dubey said the illegal immigrants were involved in various terror-related activities and impacting the livelihood of people across the country, including the North East. A number of opposition MPs strongly opposed Dubey's comments and even said that such action will go against India's age-old humanitarian approach towards refugees. Dubey said using Aadhaar card, some of these people were staying illegally in the country and trying to obtain citizenship, which was a matter of serious concern. He said the National Population Registrar should be linked with Aadhaar database to identify illegal immigrants so that they can be deported to the country of their origin. Opposing the BJP MP's demand, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said India has been welcoming refugees from across the world and alleged that disinformation campaign was being run against thousands of "defenceless" people, based on "unverifiable charges". Tharoor even said he had requested the home minister to come out with a refugee policy as several countries have such policies. CPM MP A Sampath referred to the Ministry of External Affairs extending a grant of $1 million for the rehabilitation of Rohingiya refugees from Myanmar. It is a sensitive issue. Even the UN is involved in it, he said. In his remarks, Dubey had sought formation of a commission to identify the districts across the country which witnessed demographic changes due to the influx of illegal migrants. New Delhi: Setting their sight on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, top NDA leaders on Monday pledged to work unitedly to win a second term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserted his "strong" leadership was required for India's progress. Leaders of 33 NDA constituents also adopted a resolution endorsing Modi's leadership and his government's policies, while resolving to strengthen the alliance by expanding its base, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters. Replying to a question as to whether presidential election also came up for discussion, Jaitley said,"It was not on the agenda." Replying to an identical question, TDP Chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said NDA partners will collectively take a call on that whenever the issue was deliberated upon. All NDA constituents hailed the performance of the Modi government, especially the leadership of the prime minister, Jaitley told reporters. "The NDA allies also passed a resolution to work together to win a second term under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Modi in 2019," he said. The minister said the ruling alliance has expanded its support base in the last three years during which its popularity and acceptability has also gone up. Echoing similar sentiments, Naidu said,"India will be the only country which will have double digit growth and this is only possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi." The Andhra Pradesh chief minister said the NDA allies are committed to working in tandem to win the 2019 elections under Modi's leadership. The meeting began with the inaugural address by BJP President Amit Shah. His speech was followed by those of SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal, TDP supremo Naidu and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who has often targeted the Modi government and BJP, was also present and addressed the gathering. PDP leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti could not attend the meeting and a representative deputised for her. The meeting, only the second such gathering of NDA constituents since it came to power at the Centre in 2014, was also attended by the new friends the coalition has won over in Goa and north-eastern states. Both Jaitley and Naidu unanimously identified "clean and corruption-free governance" provided by the Modi dispensation as its biggest achievement. Today, under the able leadership of Modi, India's presence is being felt and acknowledged at the global level. Countrymen across the world feel proud about being Indian, Naidu said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday underlined his government's pro-poor agenda and stressed the need to ensure that the poor's trust in it is not broken as NDA constituents resolved to work toward its re-election in 2019 under his "strong" leadership. A meeting of BJP with its 32 allies set their sight on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as they passed a resolution endorsing the Modi government's policies and called upon people vote him back to power in the next general election. In his concluding remark after all allies expressed their views, Modi said that the work on the NDA's expansion will continue. He asked his allies to connect to the youth as he spoke about his agenda of a "New India". He also laid stress on the issue of electoral reform, saying that NDA constituents should strive for evolving a consensus among political parties. "Just finished a meeting with our valued NDA allies. We had a fruitful exchange of views on a wide range of issues," he tweeted after the meeting. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who has often targeted the Modi government and the BJP, had separate meeting with Modi in which he sought loan waiver for farmers in Maharashtra. The meeting, only the second such gathering of NDA constituents since it came to power at the Centre in 2014, was also attended by the new friends the coalition has won over in Goa and the north-eastern states. The resolution heaped praise on the Modi government's performance and highlighted its pro-farmer and pro-poor works, besides its "foreign policy successes". Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat met with Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath in Lucknow on Monday to discuss the the division of liabilities and assets pending between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Ever since the state came into being in November 2000, pending issues among departments of both states have caused problems in the execution of certain development plans for the hill-state. Till date, the two states have been unable to reach final decisions and the the issues have been left unresolved. It is the first time in the history, that all the governments in Centre and both the states are of same party and it is likely that it will pave the way for better coordination, resolving the long pending issues. More than a dozen departments have assets and liabilities, but are yet to be divided, such as the Ministries of Irrigation, Power, Transport, Finance, Housing, food and Civil Supplies, Home, Tourism, Training and technical Education, Information and Public Relations, Animal Husbandry, Rural Development, Forest, Agriculture, social welfare and Drinking Water and Sanitation. Uttarakhand is the source of many rivers, division of water related resources as canals, dams and barrages along with land of irrigation department, has been the apple of discord between both the states. 28 canals of Haridwar district and nine canals of Udham Singh Nagar district falls in the geographical boundaries of Uttarakhand and many residential complexes, guesthouses which are still under the control of the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department are yet to hand over to Uttarakhand irrigation department. Recently, after Uttarakhand Assembly election, the state has taken the control of 28 canals and 266 residential buildings in the state. According to a report, the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department would still have the ownership of 'Kumbh Mela Land' in Haridwar along with Bhimgoda barrage. Many important places and land including VIP ghat and Alaknanda Ghat are under control of Uttar Pradesh irrigation department. Consensus over Jamrani dam has been hanged between two states. Once it is executed then power woes would be solved for another 20 years with this project that is also expected to fulfill the power demand of neighboring states like Delhi and Haryana. In power department, the employees of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd are yet to receive their pending GPF amount from Uttar Pradesh. In transport, the division of assets of state guest houses in Delhi and Lucknow is not clear till date. The Awas Vikaas department of Uttarakhand is still looking for handover of its projects and property worth Rs 60.91 crores which is under the control of Uttar Pradesh Awas and Vikaas Parishad. As far the home department is concerned, 27,000 square feet land in Dharchula (Pithoragarh) is still under control of Uttar Pradesh police and is yet to be handed over to the Uttarakhand police. In the industrial development, Uttar Pradesh yet to pay the amount of interest which is more than 15 crore, while assets of UPSIDC are still undivided. In social welfare, Uttar Pradesh backward finance and development has claimed the amount of Rs 1.36 crore on Uttarakhand department. Uttar Pradesh seed development Ltd and Uttarakhand seed development department are still under legal dispute over assets and liabilities. Central Silk Board that has provided the loan of Rs 15 lakh in 1985, has increased up to Rs 66 lakh and now it has to be divided between Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh as a liability, payment of passenger tax in transport department, handing over the Kichcha bus station and sorting out the financial issues related to payment of pension and GPF, very soon. Demarcating the liabilities and assets can save both the states from undue disputes and take them to new heights in the near future. Editor's Note: A few days after Yogi Adityanath took charge as the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, and issued proclamations that his government would vigorously pursue and prosecute those "malfeasants" engaged in variously the running of illegal slaughterhouses, and harassing women on the streets, Firstpost asked Arpit Parashar to file ground reports documenting the doings of law enforcement forces deployed to shut meat shops, and apprehend "Romeos". This is the third in a multi-part series of stories Parashar sent us. After the BJP government came to power in Uttar Pradesh and Yogi Adityanath took oath as the chief minister of the state, the police and the bureaucracy were asked to clamp down on the illegal slaughterhouses in the state, which they have duly done over the past few weeks with an iron fist. However, in the urge to implement the 'rules' by the book, the state government has ended up encouraging the bureaucracy to exploit the call for implementation for 'law and order' by forcing even regular and license-holding meat sellers to cough up exorbitant amounts of money in bribes to keep their shops open. Riyaz Mohammad, who used to run his chicken shop in the Sector-9 area of Noida, which is also called the meat market because of the large cluster of meat shops in the area, was asked to deposit Rs 2 lakh with the officials of the Noida Authority to reopen his shop despite the fact that the license issued by the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration of the state government is valid till 2020. "They said this was a security deposit which had to be paid but that no receipt will be given for this. It will just be to ensure that no action is taken against us and our shops are allowed to remain open. We know this is just a bribe," he says. Apart from the officials, the policemen also came calling on his shop asking him to shell out Rs 50,000 as bribe-cum-security deposit to keep his shop running. "Their argument was that the rate of bribe to be paid to the police has gone up and that it would now be implemented from 2014 when the BJP had come to power at the Centre." This entails a monthly payment of Rs 500-1000 per meat shop, which was only Rs 200 earlier. The policemen have asked meat sellers to pay as per the revised rate, which means depositing 10,000-30,000 per shop depending on its size and sales, as well as deposit hefty amounts as security to ensure that no action is taken against them in the near future. Junaid Ahmed, who represents many pockets of Noida and Ghaziabad in the loosely organised Uttar Pradesh meat sellers' union, says, "They have threatened that no shop will be allowed to open without paying these bribes. They have instilled fear in us that they would act against us on the smallest complaint received even if we managed to open our shops based on the legal paper work. Such complaints can even be concocted or politically motivated since the BJP workers want to see us suffer. It is blatant extortion." The meat sellers across the state, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) districts of Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut have held many dharnas outside the offices of district magistrates as well as police headquarters and demanded that the extortion in the name of implementation of 'law and order' be stopped but to no avail. A senior police official from Ghaziabad, speaking on the condition of anonymity, nonchalantly said that when the notebandi happened many of the policemen lost their savings, which were presumably their earnings from bribes received through various means. "Many of them even gave the money back to a lot of people and distributed it among various relatives or even shop owners from their areas. This opportunity now is the way to earn some of it back." And so the meat sellers simply have to compensate for the empty pockets of the policemen by coughing up hefty sums. This move is politically motivated too. Lokesh Mishra, a BJP worker from the Vijay Nagar area in Ghaziabad, says, "Under the previous (Samajwadi Party government) rule these meat sellers would openly side with the SP or BSP but not support the BJP. They would arm-twist the policemen too by opening shops all over the district without even procuring licenses. Now that the police are cracking down on them they are making all sorts of noises on exploitation. They deserve it." This political patronage has allowed the police and administration officials to implement their own set of rules and terms of engagement on the ground. Most of the meat sellers did procure licenses from the state government, which were issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Junaid Ahmed says, "Very few meat shop owners from among the people I know were running their shops without licenses. The police are working to extort money despite that." Among the shop owners from the meat market area in sector-9, for example, 47 shops have been forced shut despite the fact that all of them have licenses and required permissions valid till at least next year; many got licenses renewed only last year and so can run their shops freely till 2021, as per the law. The plight of the meat shop owners whose licenses have recently expired is worse. They have been asked to deposit between Rs 3-5 lakh as 'security' which is non-refundable. Hearing a petition on the delay in issuing licenses to meat shop owners in the state, the Allahabad High Court has come down heavily on the Yogi government. Pulling up the state government for mal-administration in the civic bodies, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court issued an order on April 3 directing it to ensure that licenses of mutton and chicken shop keepers which expired on March 31 are renewed within a week. The bench also issued orders that within the administration must also provide facilities for a slaughter house for goats and chicken at the distance of every two kilometers within 10 days. The two-judge bench of Justice AP Shahi and Justice Sanjay Harkoli, hearing a PIL filed by Saeed Ahmed and others from the Bahraich district, pulled up the state government acknowledging that the non-renewal of licenses has adversely affected the livelihood of lakhs of people in the state. The petitioners had pleaded that their shops had been rendered illegal simply because the administration had been acting in an unconstitutional manner. The bench has warned the government that it will be held accountable for implementation of its orders, fixing April 30 as the next date for hearing. But the administration officials are in no mood to relent across the state. Leave along renewing licenses within a week, as per the HC orders, even the people holding valid licenses have not been allowed to open shop unless they have coughed up the exorbitant sums demanded by administration and police officials. The meat market in sector-9 only has a handful of meat shops open now while others are simply living off savings and hoping to borrow money from various sources to fill the pockets of the officials in return for 'permission' to resume their livelihoods. Click to read the first and the second part of the series here. Yogi Adityanath govt taking political advantage of negligent local authorities Yogi Adityanath and slaughterhouse ban: Political consideration, economic retribution spells doom for Muslims Moscow: Eight members of extremist cells have been arrested in connection with last week's deadly bombing on the subway in St Petersburg, Russia's intelligence chief said on Tuesday. The suicide bombing on the subway in Russia's second largest city killed 13 passengers and injured dozens. Akbardzhon Dzhalilov, a 22-year old Kyrgyz-born Russian national, has been identified as the bomber. Russian authorities have not reported his possible links to extremist groups but an unidentified law enforcement official told the Tass news agency that investigators were checking information that Dzhalilov may have trained with the Islamic State group in Syria. Tass said he reportedly flew to Turkey in November 2015 and spent a long time abroad. No one has claimed responsibility for Monday's subway bombing, but Russian trains and planes long have been targeted in bombings by Islamist militants. Alexander Bortnikov, chief of the FSB, the main successor to the KGB intelligence agency, said in comments carried by Russian news agencies on Tuesday that six members of terror cells were detained in St Petersburg and two in Moscow in connection with the attack. Bortnikov said all of them hail from former Soviet Central Asian republics and that the police found a lot of weapons and ammunition at their homes. Bortnikov admitted that intelligence agencies failed. "The investigation in the St Petersburg subway attack showed that the operative work did not fully meet the threat from terrorist organisations," Bortnikov was quoted as saying. Russian-based extremist groups are mostly made up of migrant workers who come from Central Asia and recruit in the migrant community, Bortnikov said, calling for tighter restrictions on immigration. The impoverished, predominantly Muslim countries in Central Asia are seen as fertile ground for Islamic extremists, and thousands of their citizens are believed to have joined the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said between 5,000 and 7,000 people from Russia and other former Soviet republics were fighting alongside Islamic State and other militants in Syria. Beijing: China on Wednesday said it will select the next highest monk of Tibetan Buddhism through the traditional way of drawing lots from a sacred urn at Dachau Temple in Lhasa, dismissing the Dalai Lama's assertion that Beijing cannot choose his successor. "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has lasted for centuries. All reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has followed the religious rituals and history rules, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in written response to queries about the Dalai Lama's recent comments made in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should follow religious rituals, history rules and national regulations, instead of whatever the 14th Dalai Lama said, it added. It said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be conducted according to tradition of drawing lots in front of Golden Urn Shakyamuni in Dachau Temple Lhasa (Jokhang monastery), which embodies the Buddhist spirit. "It needs approval from China Central government too. The rule was established as early as in 1793, the ministry said. The Dalai Lama had said in Tawang that Chinese government cannot decide who will be his successor. "It is quite nonsense. There may be some indication at the time of my death of the next Dalai Lama. I am only one soul," the 81-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader had said. The Foreign Ministry said the reincarnation of Living Buddha is a unique way of inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism. China adopts religious freedom policy which for sure, including respect and protect Tibetan Buddhism tradition, the ministry said, adding that the Chinese government issued Regulation on Religious Affairs and Management Rules of Tibetan Buddhism Reincarnation. "We have been following national regulations and respect religious ritual since the beginning, it said. The ministry also questioned the religious credentials of the Dalai Lama and reiterated China's claim over the Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as South Tibet. The Dalai Lama has never been a "purely religious person", but a political exile who has been engaged in anti-China separatist activities out of China, it said. "He has had a disgraceful performance on Sino-Indian border issue. He is active in disputed area in Sino-Indian border which itself is a major political event, it said. "No matter what the Indian government has arranged in disputed areas, and no matter what the Dalai Lama's speech in Arunachal Pradesh, it will never change the fact that there is a great controversy in eastern part of the Sino-Indian border, nor it will change Chinas position on this issue," it said. The India-China border dispute covers the 3488-km long Line of Actual Control. While China claims Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet, India asserts that the dispute covered Aksai Chin area which was occupied by China during the 1962 war. Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh): Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Tuesday wrapped up his week-long tour of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing had strongly objected to. The Dalai Lama left by helicopter for Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, on Tuesday morning from Tawang helipad. Thousands of people lined up along the road to see him off. Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries also saw him off at the helipad, a government official said. "The Chief Minister thanked the Dalai Lama for his visit and requested him to visit Arunachal Pradesh again in the near future," the official said. On Monday, the Nobel Peace laureate, who Beijing has called an "anti-China separatist", described his visit to Arunachal Pradesh as a "memorable one" that he would cherish forever. He also thanked the people, particularly from far off villages, who gathered in large numbers to welcome and listen to him at all the places that he visited. In fact, this is not for the first time that the 81-year-old Tibetan leader is visiting Arunachal or Tawang. In 1959, he escaped from China via Tawang and visited the state in 1983, 1997, 2003 and 2009. The Dalai Lama was to start his week-long religious visit to Arunachal Pradesh from Tawang on 4 April. But bad weather forced him to travel by road as his helicopter couldn't take off from Dibrugarh airport in Assam. The Tibetan spiritual leader reached Tawang - the high point of his visit to this mountainous state -- on April 7 after traversing over 550 km from Assam's Dibrugarh and crossed the 13,700 feet Sela Pass. The Dalai Lama stayed at the Tawang monastery belonging to the Gelugpa school of Mahayana Buddhism, which had a religious connection with Lhasa's Drepung monastery that continued during the British rule. Beijing refers to this connection to claim Tawang as part of China after invading and taking over Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama had stayed in the Tawang monastery for some days before he reached Assam after fleeing his homeland in 1959. During his religious tour to Arunachal Pradesh, the spiritual leader consecrated the Thupsung Dhargyeling monastery at Dirang on April 6. On Sunday, he also consecrated the Tara Temple 'Dolma Lhagang', Guru Padhmasambhava Statue cum Temple (Lumpo), and laid the foundation stone of Gyalwa Jamba (Kuber) statue to be built at Buri near the India-Bhutan border. He gave the name Jamtseling for the Jamba (Kuber) statue besides donating Rs 50,000 from his side for its construction. MEXICO CITY At least six people died and another 20 were injured after a structural collapse in a car park under construction in Mexico City crushed workers, local fire services said on Monday. Raul Esquivel, head of the city's fire services, told Mexican television there were also still people trapped at the building site in the western part of the capital. (Reporting by Dave Graham) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. North Korean state media on Tuesday warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of a US pre-emptive strike as a US Navy strike group led by a nuclear-powered aircraft steamed towards the western Pacific. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States. "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the US invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland," it said. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States. "It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. It did not immediately release details. But South Korean officials took pains to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war. "We'd like to ask precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of UN Security Council resolutions. Groups of men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on street corners in Pyongyang, which was illuminated by better lighting than in previous years, apparently practising for the parade planned for later in the week. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting "big powers" for their "expansionist" policy. "The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," the North's KCNA news agency quoted the message as saying. "The two peoples of Syria and the DPRK are as ever struggling for their rights to self-determination and national sovereignty and the security and prosperity of their countries." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by KCNA, said the US navy strike group's approach showed America's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase". "We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said. North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States. Sanctions warning North Korea is emerging as one of the most pressing foreign policy problems facing the administration of US President Donald Trump. It has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States. The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes, but US officials said non-military action appears to be at the top of the list. Russia's foreign ministry, in a statement ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said it was concerned about many aspects of US foreign policy, and particularly concerned about North Korea. "We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario," a statement said. "It's important to understand how that would tally with collective obligations on de-nuclearising the Korean peninsula, something that is underpinned in UN Security Council resolutions." Russia slammed US cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base on Friday, calling them an illegal attack on a sovereign state. The US Navy strike group Carl Vinson was diverted from planned port calls to Australia and would move towards the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a US official told Reuters over the weekend. US officials said it would still take the strike group more than a week to arrive near the Korean peninsula. Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to curb North Korea's nuclear programme. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. On Tuesday, a fleet of North Korean cargo ships was heading home, the majority of it fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return coal from the isolated state to curb coal traffic, sources with direct knowledge of the trade said. The order was given on April 7, just as Trump and Xi were set for the summit where the two agreed the North Korean nuclear advances had reached a "very serious stage", Tillerson said. Following repeated missile tests that drew international criticism, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26, cutting off the country's most important export product. The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellite at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. By Sue-Lin Wong | PYONGYANG PYONGYANG North Korean state media warned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed toward the western Pacific.U.S. President Donald Trump, who has urged China to do more to rein in its impoverished neighbour, said in a Tweet that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and the United States would "solve the problem" with or without China's help.Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula, with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States."Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland," it said.South Korea's acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States."It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal.Trump said in a Tweet that a trade deal between China and the United States would be "far better for them if they solved the North Korea problem"."If China decides to help, that would be great," he said. "If not, we will solve the problem without them!"Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to rein in North Korea. The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions attended by leader Kim Jong Un, and reported a successful national budget execution and personnel appointments, official KCNA news agency said. There was no mention of its nuclear weapons programme or being under threat from the United States, according to KCNA.South Korean officials took pains to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war. "We'd like to ask for precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said.Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital Pyongyang to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions.Men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on the streets of Pyongyang, illuminated by better lighting than seen in previous years, apparently practising for the parade.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting "big powers" for their "expansionist" policy."The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," the North's KCNA news agency quoted the message as saying. The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by KCNA, said the U.S. Navy strike group's approach showed Washington's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase"."We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said.North Korea and the rich, democratic South 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 its main ally, the United States. RUSSIAN WORRIES North Korea is emerging as one of the most pressing foreign policy problems facing the Trump administration. The North has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes, but U.S. officials said non-military action appeared to be at the top of the list. Russia's foreign ministry, in a statement ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said it was concerned about many aspects of U.S. foreign policy, particularly on North Korea."We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario," the ministry said."It's important to understand how that would tally with collective obligations on de-nuclearising the Korean peninsula, something that is underpinned in U.N. Security Council resolutions."Russia condemned U.S. cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base on Friday, calling them an illegal attack on a sovereign state.The U.S. Navy strike group Carl Vinson was diverted from port calls to Australia and would move toward the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a U.S. official told Reuters over the weekend.U.S. officials said the strike group would take more than a week to reach waters near the Korean peninsula. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. On Tuesday, a fleet of North Korean cargo ships was heading home, most of the vessels fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return the coal to curb the trade, sources with direct knowledge of the trade said.The order was given on April 7, just as Trump and Xi were set for the summit where they agreed the North Korean nuclear advances had reached a "very serious stage", Tillerson said.Following repeated missile tests that drew international criticism, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26, cutting off the country's most important export product.The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellite at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. (Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul, Idrees Ali in Washington and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Tom Heneghan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A retired Pakistan Army officer has gone missing for three days near the Nepal-India border, while visiting a Nepalese town for a job interview. The ex-officer, identified as Lt Col (Rtd) Mohammad Habib, has been untraceable since Thursday from Lumbini in Nepal. The developments in his case were brought to the fore following Pakistani military court's decision to sentence Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national, to death on Monday. According to a report in The Dawn, Habib had last contacted his family on Thursday afternoon and since then his phone numbers have not been reachable. Habib's family had reported his disappearance to the Foreign Office after not having been able to reach him. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammed Nafees Zakari said that the ministry 'has asked authorities in Nepal to look into the disappearance of Habib.' The story about the disappearance of the former military officer first surfaced in WhatsApp groups of retired military officers and was subsequently picked up by the media. Habib, who retired in October 2014, was currently employed with a private firm in Pakistan and had posted his resume online in search of employment. He was reportedly offered a job at United Nations in Lumbini and someone by the name of Mark Thompson had contacted him, both via email and telephone. He was also provided an air ticket, the report said. A Hindustan Times report said that as per the Pakistani embassy, Habib had applied for the job via a website. After he went missing, the website and twitter handle of the recruitment website were suspended and the mobile number shared with him was discovered to be fake, the embassy said. He departed from Lahore on Wednesday and reached Kathmandu on Thursday, from where he immediately flew to Lumbini. In Kathmandu, the information coming from retired army officers groups and verified by military sources revealed that he was provided a Nepalese cellphone sim card by one Javed Ansari, who received him there, the Dawn report added. The last message that he sent from Lumbini said that he had reached his destination. With inputs from PTI By Steve Gorman | LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES Police in San Bernardino, California, sought more clues on Tuesday to the marital discord they believe led a gunman to walk into an elementary school class taught by his estranged wife and open fire, fatally shooting her and a student before killing himself.Monday's shooting at North Park Elementary, the latest of dozens of U.S. schools traumatized by armed intruders in recent years, left a second child badly wounded and reopened a debate about what educators can do to safeguard students against gun violence.It was especially wrenching for the city of San Bernardino, the "Inland Empire" town about 65 miles east of Los Angeles where another shooting rampage 15 months ago left 14 people dead and more than 20 wounded at an office holiday party.Unlike the 2015 massacre, carried out by a radicalized Muslim couple in what authorities described as an act of terrorism, police said the latest shooting apparently grew out of a domestic dispute between the suspect and his wife. The gunman in the North Park shooting was identified as Cedric Anderson, 53, of nearby Riverside, who according to police had a criminal history that included weapons charges and domestic violence that predated his brief marriage to the slain teacher, Karen Elaine Smith, also 53.Her mother, Irma Sykes, told the Los Angeles Times the couple had been friends for four years before they married in January and that her daughter "decided she needed to leave him" after just a month. "She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all," Sykes was quoted as saying. "He had other motives. She left him, and that's where the trouble began." She declined to elaborate, the newspaper said. Anderson was reported in local media to have served in the military for eight years, though police said they are still seeking to confirm that.The two students hit by gunfire happened to have been standing behind Smith and were believed to have been unintentional victims, Police Chief Jarrod Burguan told reporters on Monday. One 8-year-old boy, Jonathan Martinez, died from his wounds. A 9-year-old classmate who was not publicly identified was admitted to a hospital, where he was said to be in stable condition. Fifteen students and two adult teacher assistants were in the classroom at the time of the shooting, police said.Police said Anderson was welcomed into the school as a legitimate visitor who stopped by to "drop something off with his wife," Burguan said. He kept his weapon concealed until opening fire in the classroom without saying a word, then reloaded and shot himself to death. Police and school officials said Anderson checked in at the school's front office and even showed his identification. It was not clear whether a police officer normally assigned to the school was present. (Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Dan Grebler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Mogadishu: Somali security forces have liberated an Indian cargo ship from the pirates who hijacked it, but only two of the ten-man crew were rescued, authorities in central Somalia have said. Abdulahi Ahmed Ali, district commissioner for the pirate-hub region of Hobyo, told local press yesterday that the "Al Kausar" ship had been held off the Indian Ocean coast near Yemen after the hijacking on March 31. "We have the boat and two of the crew members but eight other members of the crew are still missing because the pirates took them off the boat," the commissioner said. Ali said the two rescued crew members from India were healthy and that authorities were seeking their colleagues. Their abductors are believed to be holding them near Hobyo. The pirates had "refused a call by the local authorities to release the vessel and local forces forcefully engaged them," local security official Qoje Abdulahi told AFP by phone. Somali security forces exchanged fire with the hijackers who fled to the shore aboard a fast boat, taking eight of their hostages with them, Ali said. The Al Kausar was the third vessel seized by pirates in less than a month off the coast of Somalia, with experts warning that ships have lowered their guard in the five years since the height of the piracy crisis. The Indian ship was carrying cargo including wheat and sugar from Dubai via Yemen to Somalia's Bossaso port when it came under attack, owner Isaak Them told AFP. The president of the Kutch Seafarers Association, Adam Them, from the western state of Gujarat where the vessel originated, told AFP last week that the pirates had made ransom demands. Somali pirates began staging attacks in 2005, seriously disrupting a major international shipping route and costing the global economy billions of dollars. At the peak of the piracy crisis in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 boats were held. Though anti-piracy measures ended attacks on commercial vessels, fishing boats have continued to face attacks sporadically. However on March 13, pirates seized the Aris 13 oil tanker and eight Sri Lankan hostages in the first attack on a large merchant vessel by Somali pirates since 2012. The pirates claimed to be driven by anger over illegal fishing in Somali waters which has long been seen as a key grievance behind piracy in the country. While some hostages have been held for as long as five years, the pirates released the Aris 13 and its crew just four days after it was seized. A week later a local cargo dhow was hijacked and taken out to sea, with the Oceans Beyond Piracy NGO warning it may be used as a "mother ship" for further attacks against larger vessels. By Steve Scherer and Andrew Osborn | LUCCA, Italy/MOSCOW LUCCA, Italy/MOSCOW U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson carried a unified message from world powers to Moscow on Tuesday, denouncing Russian support for Syria and taking up America's traditional role as leader of the West on behalf of Donald Trump's administration.Tillerson took off for Russia on Tuesday from Italy, where he met foreign ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies. They were joined by Middle East allies to forge a united position on Syria, which has been catapulted to the top of the international agenda since a poison gas attack killed 87 people a week ago.Western countries blame Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the gas attack, and Trump responded by firing cruise missiles at a Syrian air base. That has put his administration in open dispute with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has stood firmly by Moscow's ally Assad, who denies blame."It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson told reporters in Italy before departing the G7 meeting for Moscow. "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar Al-Assad."He said Russia had failed in its role as sponsor of a 2013 deal under which Assad promised to give up his chemical arsenal."These agreements stipulated Russia as the guarantor of a Syria free of chemical weapons," Tillerson said. "It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously and whether Russia has been incompetent. But this distinction doesn't much matter to the dead. We can't let this happen again."In a statement released before Tillerson was due to arrive, Russia said it hoped its meetings with him would be productive but it was concerned about a number of areas of U.S. policy, including on North Korea, Libya and Yemen as well as Syria.The secretary of state's role as messenger for a united G7 position is a turning point for Trump, who in the past alarmed allies by voicing scepticism about the value of U.S. support for traditional friends, while calling for closer ties with Moscow.Tillerson himself is a former boss of the Exxon Mobil oil company which has gigantic projects in Russia. He was awarded Russia's "Order of Friendship" by Putin in 2013. He is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin has said Tillerson would not meet Putin during this trip, although some Russian media have reported that such a meeting may nevertheless take place. On Monday, Trump discussed Syria by telephone with British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel."I think we have to show a united position and that in these negotiations we should do all we can to get Russia out of Assad's corner, at least to the point that they are ready to participate in finding a political solution," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday.Britain and Canada said financial sanctions, imposed on Russia in 2014 over its annexation of territory from Ukraine, could be tightened if Moscow continued to back Assad, although France said this was not discussed deeply at the G7 meeting. Multi-billion dollar Russian oil projects by Exxon are among the biggest deals held up by sanctions.Western countries have been calling for Assad to leave power since 2011, the start of a civil war that has killed at least 400,000 people and created the world's worst refugee crisis. Assad's position on the battlefield has become far stronger since Russia joined the war in support of him in 2015. The United States and its allies are conducting air strikes in Syria against Islamic State, but until last week Washington had avoided targeting forces of Assad's government directly.ADDITIONAL STRIKES The United States said its strike on the Syrian airbase near Homs on Friday was a one-off, and not a strategic shift. But the White House has also said Trump could authorise more strikes if Syria uses chemical weapons again.White House spokesman Sean Spicer suggested on Monday that there could be a lower bar for further U.S. action, saying Washington could also retaliate if Syria uses "barrel bombs" - oil drums packed with explosives dropped from aircraft."When you watch babies and children being gassed, and suffer under barrel bombs, you are instantaneously moved to action," he said. "I think this president's made it very clear that if those actions were to continue, further action will definitely be considered by the United States." Retaliating for barrel bombs would require a major shift in U.S. policy since rebels say the weapons are used almost daily.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said Syrian warplanes dropped barrel bombs on rebel-held areas of Hama province on Tuesday. Syria has always denied using barrel bombs, though their use has been widely recorded by U.N. investigators. A source in the Syrian military denied it used them on Tuesday.Assad's allies have been robust in standing by him. A joint command centre made up of the forces of Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia said on Sunday that the U.S. strike crossed "red lines" - the term Washington has used in the past to refer to Syria's use of poison gas. The alliance supporting the Syrian president would respond to any new aggression and increase support for its ally, it said.The missile attack has increased expectations that Trump is ready to adopt a tougher stance with respect to Russia, and that he is ready to engage in world affairs instead of following the more isolationist position he had previously taken.Until the chemical attack, Trump had said Washington would no longer act as the world's guardian, especially if it was not in the interests of the United States.Trump's previous warm words for Russia were an issue at home, where intelligence agencies accuse Moscow of using computer hacking to help him win last year's presidential election. The FBI is investigating whether Trump campaign officials colluded with Moscow, which the White House denies. On Monday, Tillerson visited the site of a World War Two Nazi massacre in Italy and said Washington would never let such abuses go unchallenged."We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson told reporters in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. (writing by Peter Graff, editing by Peter Millershipand David Stamp) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Steve Scherer and Andrew Osborn | LUCCA, Italy/MOSCOW LUCCA, Italy/MOSCOW U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson carried a message from world powers to Moscow on Tuesday denouncing Russian support for Syria's Bashar al-Assad, as the Trump administration took on America's traditional mantle as leader of a unified West.Tillerson flew on the administration's first cabinet mission to Russia after meeting foreign ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies and Middle Eastern allies in Italy. They endorsed a joint call for Russia to abandon Assad.The administration of President Donald Trump, which came to power in January calling for warmer ties with Russia, was thrust into confrontation with Moscow last week when a poison gas attack in northern Syria killed 87 people.Western countries blame President Assad for the gas attack, and Trump responded by firing cruise missiles at a Syrian air base. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stood firmly by Moscow's ally Assad, who denies blame."It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," Tillerson told reporters in Italy before departing for Moscow. "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar Al-Assad."He said Russia had failed in its role as sponsor of a 2013 deal under which Assad promised to give up his chemical arsenal."These agreements stipulated Russia as the guarantor of a Syria free of chemical weapons," Tillerson said. "It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously and whether Russia has been incompetent. But this distinction doesn't much matter to the dead. We can't let this happen again."Russia says the chemicals that killed civilians belonged to rebels, not to Assad's government, and has accused the United States of an illegal act of aggression against Syria on a phoney pretext. Putin said on Tuesday he believed Washington planned to launch more missile strikes, and that rebels were planning to stage chemical weapons attacks to provoke them. "We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using (chemical weapons)," Putin said, standing alongside Italian President Sergio Matarella who was in Moscow for talks.Putin said Moscow would urgently ask the U.N. chemical weapons watchdog to investigate last week's incident. Western countries have dismissed Russian suggestions that the poison gas belonged to rebels as beyond credibility. TURNING POINT The secretary of state's role as messenger for a united G7 position is a turning point for Trump, who in the past alarmed allies by voicing scepticism about the value of U.S. support for traditional friends, while calling for closer ties with Moscow.Tillerson is a former boss of oil company Exxon Mobil which has gigantic projects in Russia. He was awarded Russia's "Order of Friendship" by Putin in 2013.He is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin has said Tillerson has no meeting scheduled with Putin this trip, although some Russian media have reported such a meeting may nevertheless take place. On Monday, Trump reached out to traditional NATO allies, discussing Syria by telephone with British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel."I think we have to show a united position and that in these negotiations we should do all we can to get Russia out of Assad's corner," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. Britain floated the idea of tightening sanctions on Russia, initially imposed in 2014 over its annexation of territory from Ukraine, although no such step was agreed at the G7 meeting. France said it was not discussed in depth.Western countries have been calling for Assad to leave power since 2011, the start of a civil war that has killed at least 400,000 people and created the world's worst refugee crisis.Assad's position on the battlefield became far stronger after Russia joined the war in support of him in 2015. The United States and its allies are conducting air strikes in Syria against Islamic State, but until last week Washington had avoided targeting forces of Assad's government directly.ADDITIONAL STRIKES The United States said its strike on the Syrian airbase near Homs on Friday was a one-off, and not a strategic shift. But the White House has also said Trump could authorise more strikes if Syria uses chemical weapons again. White House spokesman Sean Spicer suggested on Monday a lower bar for further U.S. action, saying Washington could also retaliate if Syria uses "barrel bombs" - oil drums packed with explosives dropped from aircraft."When you watch babies and children being gassed, and suffer under barrel bombs, you are instantaneously moved to action," he said. "I think this president's made it very clear that if those actions were to continue, further action will definitely be considered by the United States."Retaliating for barrel bombs would require a major shift in U.S. policy since rebels say the weapons are used almost daily.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said Syrian warplanes dropped barrel bombs on rebel-held areas of Hama province on Tuesday. Syria has always denied using barrel bombs, though their use has been widely recorded by U.N. investigators. A source in the Syrian military denied it used them on Tuesday.The U.S. missile strike increased expectations that Trump would adopt a tougher stance with respect to Russia, and engage more actively in world affairs instead of following the more isolationist position associated with some of his advisers.Until the chemical attack, Trump had said Washington would no longer act as the world's guardian, especially if it was not in the interests of the United States.Trump's previous warm words for Russia were an issue at home, where intelligence agencies accuse Moscow of using computer hacking to help him win last year's presidential election. The FBI is investigating whether Trump campaign officials colluded with Moscow, which the White House denies. On Monday, Tillerson visited the site of a World War Two Nazi massacre in Italy and said Washington would never let such abuses go unchallenged."We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson told reporters in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. (writing by Peter Graff, editing by Peter Millership and David Stamp) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed the U.S. instrument of ratification for Montenegro's accession to NATO, the White House said in a statement. Last month the Senate overwhelmingly backed the expansion of NATO to allow Montenegro to join the alliance, hoping to send a message that the United States will push back against Russian efforts to increase its influence in Europe. (Reporting by Washington Newsroom) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. China now has their own space station, successfully dock the final module of the Tiangong space station The US govt. banned NASA from working with Beijing in 2011. The Chinese govt., in a span of two years, sent up the core module, three manned spacecraft, the Wentian lab module and several cargo spacecraft to build their own space station. Beirut: A US strike on a Syrian air base is no substitute for a proper investigation and accountability after a devastating suspected chemical weapons attack, Amnesty International's chief said on Tuesday. "The biggest challenge we have in Syria, the reason why this keeps happening, again and again, is because there is no accountability and no justice," Salil Shetty said. "It's one thing to have some air strikes by the US on a one-off basis, but it's not going to address this problem," he said. Washington last week launched its first direct military action against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, after accusing the Syrian leader of using chemical weapons on a rebel-held town, killing dozens of people. But Shetty said a "knee-jerk reaction" to the attack on Khan Sheikhun was insufficient. "It has to be part of a much larger concerted effort to ensure accountability; you can't just have a knee-jerk reaction," he said, urging a UN investigation. Washington launched its attack on the Shayrat air base in central Syria's Homs province after the UN Security Council failed to take action, with Assad ally Russia opposing a draft resolution setting the terms for a swift enquiry. Moscow has regularly blocked Security Council resolutions it considers unfair to Damascus, and Shetty slammed all five permanent members of the council for playing "politics". "What does the situation in Syria symbolise? It symbolises the fact that our global ability to enforce human rights is in shambles," he said. "Instead of taking care of global peace and global interests, they play politics." He also criticised US President Donald Trump's attempts to bar Syrian refugees, saying they stood "in complete contradiction" to the concern he expressed for civilians in the wake of the Khan Sheikhun attack. More than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. More than five million Syrians have become refugees, with most finding safety in neighbouring countries, including Lebanon. Over a million Syrian refugees are being hosted by the tiny country, with just four million citizens, and their presence has led to increasing social tension and even calls to begin returning them. Shetty praised Lebanon for its welcome of refugees, and said Amnesty would continue pressuring the international community to provide greater assistance to the government to absorb spiralling costs. But he also warned against "a growing tide of xenophobic talk" in the country. "It is important for the leaders of this country to send a clear message...that is beyond the pale, that is not acceptable," he said. "The Lebanese have not been xenophobic: you've done so much and this is a good time for you to reign in those kinds of tendencies." Washington: US President Donald Trump's meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Florida last week was "unbelievably helpful" and "productive", the White House said on Monday. "I think we had an unbelievably helpful and productive meeting with the Chinese," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference. One of the most significant developments from these discussions was the agreement to create a 100-day initial plan, hopefully with some tangible near-term deliverables, to lead to a more balanced economic relationship between the two countries, Spicer said. Trump and Xi last week held their first summit at Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida where they announced a 100-day plan to improve strained trade ties, the only tangible announcement after their meetings that were overshadowed by the US military strikes in Syria. "As that develops, we'll make sure that we provide you with additional details," Spicer said. Last week, Trump had as many as three meetings with world leaders and he spoke with several others over phone, which Spicer described were "highly productive". "The President's obviously very pleased with the last week that he's had and the accomplishments, especially on the foreign policy front," he said. "His meeting with King Abdullah (of Jordan) was unbelievable. He's continued to have very strong foreign policy wins, in terms of relationships that we're making with other heads of state. The attack on Syria won not just bipartisan praise here at home, but world praise," he said in response to a question. "I think that he recognises that sometimes some of it spills over, these policy differences and discussions, and he's made sure that the focus stays on advancing the agenda," Spicer said. The White House Press Secretary, however, refuted the Russian observation that Trump's decision of a missile strike in Syria runs a danger of a real war in the Middle East. Clara007 said: I'm sure you realize that a portion of my post was exaggerated and willfully facetious. AND you know as well as I do that not all agricultural workers are registered migrants. This isn't JUST about agriculture. I do not think the general population understands the enormous impact migrants and undocumented workers have on our economy. I think this is one more example of how short-sighted the GOP continues to be and how their supporters continue to 'parrot' their talking points about illegals. Have they truly considered what happens AFTER all/most of the undocumented are gone?? Doubtful. Imagine a day without a Mexican. All gone. I can hear the GOPers cheering. No gardners, cooks, nannys, farm workers, roofers, cleaning crews, assistants to construction crews, painters, dish washers, maintenance staff.......endless list. Now imagine our economy. No more sales tax from gas, groceries, shoes, clothing, TV sets, computers, tools, equipment, building supplies, etc. No more property tax. No more payroll tax. No more paid into Social Security. Does anyone out there understand the implications of this?? Probably not...and I seriously doubt that U.S. citizens will be clamoring/begging for the jobs left behind or the chance to make up the financial difference. Click to expand... Well once again I'm going to have to disagree. Yes many do the jobs that Americans won't, but not for the reason most people think. It's NOT that Americans won't do those jobs, we've done them in the past. Its just that we won't do them for what amounts to slave wages. While many do participate in the economy they are also a disproportionate drain on government resources. An illegal isn't eligible for any sort of government support, but their born here children are !! And since many either work off the books or use fake SS numbers there's no way to prove they're committing fraud.Also, there are not 12 million gardeners and nannies out there. These people work for companies, corporations, small, medium and large. They are a major contributing factor to the wage stagnation we've seen over the past 2 decades. They are a large part of the labor glut in this country. Their very presence here keeps companies from having to raise wages. It's not just the bottom end job either. This ripples all the way up into the middle class. Even companies that don't hire illegals benefit from them being here. Because they displace one level of workers those people either have to compete for jobs the next rung up the ladder, or seek government assistance. When there are multiple people seeking every job companies simply don't have to pay. Illegals distort the natural supply and demand of jobs in the economy. Those citizen displaced by the illegals often have little recourse but to get on welfare and food stamps. So even if an illegal hasn't obtained government assistance chances are good they are forcing someone else to do so.Yes there would be an adjustment period as companies sought to replace the illegals in their work forces, but we would adjust. Wages would return to the normal supply and demand cycle and with more jobs available many people would be able to get off social programs. So on one hand wages would rise, increasing tax revenues, at the same time jobs held by illegals who aren't paying taxes, and whose employers aren't paying taxes, would be converted to legal jobs and both employer and employee would now be paying their taxes, so again revenues would rise. On the inverse the needs for social programs would be decreased saving revenue for other needs.E-Verify should be the law of the land. Any company caught with illegal workers should be shut down for 60 to 90 days, even if those workers are being used by a subcontractor. (This is how corporate America, including Trump get's around the law. They just blame it on the subcontractor).We also need a very simple change in the wording of our immigration law. There is already an exception when a diplomat has a child while stationed here. All we need to do is add language stating that if you aren't here legally AND with the intent of immigrating, then your child is NOT a citizen.I have no issue with immigration. We are ALL immigrants here. But the illegals are distorting the economy and creating a massive drain on government resources. FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. Elder financial abuse and fraud is typically underreported and costs older Americans $36.5 billion per year, according to research from retirement robo-adviser firm True Link. And it doesnt just harm retirees and seniors, but also those who take care of them, as elder financial abuse has a profound financial impact on the caregivers of those who are victimized -- and can have a negative impact on their ability to save for their own retirement, according to a new study from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. As Americas population ages, more people will be caregivers, said Allianz Life President and CEO Walter White. Unfortunately, these caregivers will be at risk of experiencing the negative effects of elder financial abuse perpetrated against the person theyre caring for. While a focus on protecting seniors from financial exploitation is vital, we also need to provide resources to caregivers who increasingly will become collateral victims of the elder abuse. Katie Libbe, vice president of Consumer Insights for Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, discussed the study with Fox Business and offered tips on how caregivers can protect themselves. Boomer: Why are caregivers likely to experience a financial impact when their loved one is a victim of financial abuse? Libbe: It is well established that elder financial abuse has a significant effect on the finances of elder victims. In fact, our recent Safeguarding Our Seniors Study found that each incident costs them an average of $36,000. Perhaps more surprising, however, is that this abuse has equally negative effects on the finances of caregivers, also costing them $36,000 on average. Although we were surprised that this number was so high, its understandable given the responsibility caregivers feel to protect their elders and help manage all aspects of their lives, including finances. Three-quarters of current caregivers in the study said that providing care for their elder is almost like a full time job, so its logical that caregivers would take on a great deal of the financial burden necessary to help make their elder whole again after a financial abuse incident. Boomer: Why are those providing care for past victims spending more than those caring for elders with no history of financial abuse? Libbe: Even without any history of financial abuse, we know that caregiving is expensive. The study found that the average caregiver spends more than $7,000 per year and provides more than 10 hours per week in noncash support (driving to appointments, paying for groceries and supplies, delivering meals, social engagement, etc.). Furthermore, less than half of current caregivers receive some form of financial assistance for that support. When you add a calamity like elder financial abuse to this equation, its important to understand that the elder is now behind the eight ball, facing an uphill battle to stay afloat and manage daily expenses. So, it stands to reason that meeting financial obligations may be more difficult as that elder tries to dig themselves out of the financial hole that theyve created. As a result, its common for caregivers to spend more 56 percent, or $3,000 more each year on average than caregivers caring for elders with no history of financial abuse. Boomer: What drives the cost of care for these seniors that have been abused? Libbe: In cases where the elder is a past victim, the need for those elders to receive some sort of direct financial assistance from their caregiver is more than double that of situations where financial abuse has not occurred. Its difficult to say exactly what is driving these costs, but its safe to assume that it takes a significant amount of time, effort and money to get a past victim back to square one. Another unfortunate aspect of elder financial abuse is that once a victim is on the radar of an abuser, that elder is very likely to be targeted again. In fact, four in 10 of the caregivers in our study confirmed that their elder has experienced financial abuse more than once. This is bound to have an effect on overall cost of care, putting both the elder and the caregiver in a more precarious financial position. Boomer: How does caring for victims impact the caregivers ability to save for their own retirement? Libbe: Two-thirds of active caregivers said the cost of providing care is having a significant effect on their finances, and they worry about having enough money to retire. As noted before, these caregivers feel a tremendous responsibility to manage every aspect of their elders lives, to the point that the vast majority say theyre often overwhelmed by the task. Its also quite possible that caregiving is impacting their ability to work full time, which will have a negative effect on their retirement savings. Once again, when past elder financial abuse is part of the equation, that anxiety is even greater. Nearly 80 percent of caregivers responsible for a past victim indicated concern about the effect caregiving is having on both their current finances and their retirement savings. In addition, this financial stress has created a moral gray area that many caregivers are constantly struggling to reconcile. Although the majority of current caregivers agree that its okay to accept some of the elders money to cover expenses, if offered, significantly fewer agree that its okay for a caregiver to reimburse themselves for any expenses without informing the elder every time. Boomer: What can caregivers do to better protect their financial security in retirement? Libbe: There are three essential steps that caregivers should take to protect their own financial security in retirement: 1) Start planning now and build your emergency fund; 2) Make sure you understand your elders health insurance ; and 3) Talk to your elder about their finances, including a third party in the discussion. If you are a caregiver now or know you will likely be one in the future, its crucial to have a long term financial plan that addresses your role as caregiver and the budget necessary to fulfill that role for as long as necessary. But, as our study reveals, its probably not enough to save only for expected costs. Boosting your emergency fund is a good idea in order to help deal with the unexpected, including the fallout from elder financial abuse. In addition to understanding their own finances, its crucial that caregivers understand their elders health insurance and everything that Medicare covers. It may be possible to qualify for respite care or home health care under Medicare, which could provide significant cost savings. The good news is that more than 90 percent of current caregivers in the study said they were confident in understanding health insurance and Medicare rules. Another smart move is for caregivers to begin having discussions with their elder about their finances today. Seven in 10 caregivers are currently talking to their elder about financial abuse and scams, but many feel these discussions are challenging. As a result, they are hesitant to have frequent conversations for a variety of reasons, including the belief that its none of their business, feeling that the elder is capable of managing their own finances, or belief that it makes the elder uncomfortable. CEOs, Syria and a wall-less wall; hereas whatas On Our Radar today: CEO Sit Down Trumpas sitting down with some CEOs today to talk tax reform and infrastructure. Twenty execs inclduing heads of General Motors (NYSE:GM), IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) are all said to be in attendance. The main focus will be on the administrationas plans for a $1 trillion infrastructure program for roads, the electrical grid, airports and broadband internet. Varney and Co. has coverage of the meeting at 10 a.m. EST. Like a G7 Syria is a hot topic during the G-7 Foreign Ministers Meeting. The gathering allows world leaders to discuss political and security issues of mutual concern. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Italy and said "it is our policy for a unified Syria that is governed by the people of Syria." This comes after the administration was slammed for sending out confusing messages about the goal of Americaas intervention. The Intelligence Report takes a look at the political fallout, 2 p.m. EST. You Have to See This: A wall-less wall? One company, Simularity, bid on Trumpas border wall and said tech is the only way to achieve real security. Check this out: Crude oil turned positive on Tuesday, reversing course on reports that Saudi Arabia has told OPEC officials it wants to continue output cuts for an additional six months. Oil futures have been pinned in a range, supported by production cuts from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cartel and other producing states but capped by rising U.S. shale oil production. The market, which retreated early in U.S. trading, turned positive after reports that Saudi Arabia said it wants to extend production cuts enacted in January for another six months when the group meets in May, according to the Wall Street Journal. OPEC members have previously said they lean toward oil cut extensions, as long as non-members are also involved. Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, settled up 25 cents at $56.23 a barrel, its highest since March 7. Brent has risen in each of the previous seven sessions, while WTI gained for the last six. Early in the day, prices had retreated on expectations U.S. inventories could climb again. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 32 cents to $53.40 a barrel, surpassing a five-week high. Analysts said, however, that there are worries demand growth could falter, and other indicators were warning that the market had not yet cleared enough of its surplus to keep prices rising. "There's a lot of heightened geopolitical tension on two fronts," said Phil Streible, senior market strategist at RJO futures in Chicago. Rising concerns about North Korea and Syria may depress oil demand, he said. North Korean state media warned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed toward the western Pacific. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a Tweet that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and theUnited States would "solve the problem" with or without China's help. "Geopolitical tensions are bad for global demand growth," said Olivier Jakob, managing director of Petromatrix, noting rising acrimony between the United States and North Korea. He also said the widening discount of the current Brent crude price to the contract in the next month is "basically telling you the market is not actually that tight." U.S. crude inventories have touched record highs at the U.S. storage hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, and in the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent weeks, according to U.S. government data. A Reuters poll of analysts forecast a rise in U.S. crude inventories for a fourth straight week. Inventory data from industry group API is due later on Tuesday, while U.S. Energy Information Administration figures will be released on Wednesday. (Reporting by Jessica Resnick-Ault; Editing by James Dalgleish and Dan Grebler) U.S. lawmakers are voicing concerns over the possibility that Rosneft, Russias state-run oil giant, could take over an American oil company: Citgo. The concerns are tied to money that PDVSA, Venezuelas national oil company, borrowed from Rosneft. Houston-based Citgo is owned by PDV America, a subsidiary of PDVSA. Venezuela obtained a loan from Rosneft in December, and it offered 49.9% of Citgo as collateral. PDVSA, which is short on cash, could run out of money and find itself unable to pay off the Russian loan. If that happens, Rosneft could gain control of Citgo by acquiring additional PDVSA bonds, thus pushing its Citgo ownership to over 50%. PDVSA will face its next large payments on the Rosneft loan in the fall. We are extremely concerned that Rosnefts control of a major U.S. energy supplier could pose a grave threat to American energy security, impact the flow and price of gasoline for American consumers, and expose critical US infrastructure to national security threats, a group of senators, including Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), wrote in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday. Citgo operates about four dozen oil terminals, three refineries and a system of pipelines in the U.S. Citgo-branded gas stations and convenience stores are independently owned and operated. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border on Tuesday to make his case for increased prosecutions of illegal immigrants, pressuring U.S. attorneys to prioritize cases against criminal migrants. Sessions, a long-time proponent of tougher immigration enforcement, told U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Port of Nogales, Arizona, that more illegal migrants should be prosecuted as criminals. It is normally the role of the Secretary of Homeland Security to meet border agents. But Sessions made the visit to highlight his focus on enforcing federal laws as dozens of U.S. cities try to shield illegal immigrants from stepped-up prosecution and deportation efforts. "Why are we doing this?" the former U.S. senator said. "Because it is what the duly enacted laws of the United States require." Sessions said that each U.S. attorney would be required to designate a point person on border security prosecutions by April 18. The person in that position, known as a border security coordinator, would be directed to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security, according to Sessions' memo. The directive did not go beyond existing laws, but Sessions said his order "mandates the prioritizations of such enforcement" by U.S. attorneys. The Trump administration has threatened to cut off U.S. Justice Department grants to so-called sanctuary cities that fail to assist federal immigration authorities. Police in such cities have argued that targeting illegal migrants is an improper use of law enforcement resources. Sessions has said a failure to deport aliens convicted of criminal offenses puts whole communities at risk. Under U.S. law, anyone who harbors or transports an undocumented immigrant, has crossed the border illegally two or more times, resists an immigration officer's arrest or commits travel document fraud is subject to criminal prosecution. Other immigrants apprehended for crossing the border illegally face civil procedures, with deportation the only penalty. Sessions' announcement was the latest move by the Trump administration to deter illegal immigration. President Donald Trump has also called for not releasing migrants with pending court cases, targeting more people in immigration raids and building a wall on the southwest border. Speaking just 50 yards from a border fence on the Arizona-Mexico border, Sessions said that adding more fencing to the border will be a "force multiplier" against illegal migration. He also said the Justice Department plans to add 50 more immigration judges in 2017 and 75 more in 2018. Immigration judges oversee civil immigration cases, but there is a backlog of over 540,000 pending cases due a shortage of judges. President Donald Trump met once again with a group of CEOs Tuesday at the White House, where the business leaders spoke with five cabinet secretaries about issues ranging from job creation to infrastructure and tax reform. aAt the top of our agenda is creating great high paying jobs for American workers ... We've created over 600,000 jobs already a and it's catching on,a the president told the press Tuesday, before adding Americans can expect asome pleasant surprisesa regarding NAFTA. As the president pushes for support for two of his major legislative items a repealing and replacing Obamacare and tax reform a he sought backing and input from twenty business leaders belonging to his aStrategy and Policy Foruma while Congress is away for Spring recess. aWeare going to reduce taxes, weare going to eliminate wasteful regulations a weare doing a major streamlining and perhaps elimination [of Dodd-Frank],a Trump said. Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway told Fox News ahead of the meeting that headway is being made on the presidentas promise to slash taxes for both individuals and corporations. Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com aWith all the tax policy talk, the tax relief packages that are underway here a the president will make good on a centerpiece of his campaign promise to deliver middle class tax relief and corporate tax relief so that youare spurring growth and more jobs,a Conway said during an interview on Fox & Friends. Tax reform has become a hot-button issue for the Trump administration after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer denied reports Monday that the president had scrapped his tax plan, though Spicer was less clear on a timeline. While Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin previously said to expect a tax bill signed by August, Spicer softened the rhetoric a bit. "It still would be a great opportunity before they leave for August recess, but we're going to make sure we do this right," Spicer said. On Tuesday, Conway said getting it done this year was still on the table. aYes, we believe that he can [get tax reform passed this year], but remember, we donat rush things here based on artificial timelines. This is a very big piece of his domestic case of agenda, a very big piece of his campaign promises, and I know that job creators like the corporations you mentioned, and middle class taxpayers across this country both will have relief after the tax plan is passed,a Conway told FOX Business. The president has also promised a $1 trillion-plus infrastructure package, to be funded through a combination of private and public means and rolled out over a period of ten years. The infrastructure bill would address everything from water and energy to veteransa hospitals. Full details are expected to be laid out later this year. On Tuesday, focus groups led by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao met with the CEOs in small groups before everyone assembled for a larger listening session. Tuesdayas meeting is a follow-up to the February 3 gathering of Trumpas Strategic and Policy Form; participants included many of the same executives, as well as some newcomers. Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone Group CEO (NYSE:BX) again led the group which included PepsiCo CEO (NYSE:PEP) Indra Nooyi, IBM (NYSE:IBM) CEO Ginni Rometty, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk and Blackrock (NYSE:BLK) CEO Larry Fink. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Russia ahead of a meeting Wednesday where his business experience in the country could improve prospects for a stable relationship between the two quarreling world powers. Amid flaring tensions between the United States and Moscow over the Trump administrations strong response to Syrias use of chemical weapons, the former ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) CEO on Tuesday questioned the sensibility of Russias loyalty to Syria. Is that a long term alliance that serves Russia's interests? Or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries that are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis? Tillerson asked during a press conference at the G7 summit in Italy. As a new Associated Press report surfaced Monday alleging Russia knew about the Syrian chemical attacks in advance, Tillerson and his Russian counterpart-- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovare expected to discuss Russias continued support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite the rulers brutal treatment of his citizens. It is the first official trip to Russia by a member of Trump's Cabinet; but the Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin does not plan on meeting with Tillerson while he is there. [Tillerson is] going to deliver a tough message. I dont think Russians are going to give an inch. [The U.S. is] not going to give an inch. Then we can start talking, Fred Fleitz, former State Department chief of staff to John Bolton and Robert Joseph, told FOX Business. On Sunday, Russia and Iran warned that U.S. aggression in Syria crossed red lines, and cautioned they would respond with force to any future incident. Tillerson, who has been heavily criticized for his ties to Russia during his ExxonMobil days, managed the companys Russian account throughout a period of his career. Now, his extensive business experience in Moscow may make him better equipped to handle Russias attitude shift. I think [Tillersons business ties] will help. Theres always a personal level in successful negotiations. Understanding Russia is useful, he said. Russian military involvement in Syria dates back to the 1950s, and Moscow has since become the countrys largest arms supplier, according to a Congressional Research Service Report analyzing government data. Since 2008, Russia has given Syria at least $3.4 billion worth of weapons deliveries, including 50 short range ballistic missiles in Februaryits largest missile shipment to date. Russia has also expanded its naval base in Syria, allowing 11 warships to be stationed there at any given time. While many Americans are worried about swelling strains in the relationship between the White House and the Kremlin, Fleitz said the Trump administrations hardline negotiating tactics should actually make the situation more stable when compared with the Obama administrations strategy. The president has proved he stands by his word the Russians respect strength. They dont respect people like [former Secretary of State] John Kerry whose position changes every time he meets with [them], Fleitz said. While the United States implemented sanctions against Russia for its aggression in Crimea last year, which Tillerson said would remain in place, there have been calls from U.S. lawmakers for tougher sanctions in light of recent events. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday he would be open to additional financial penalties. When it comes to trade, Russia does not even rank within the United States top fifteen trade partners, according to 2016 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2015, the U.S. was number 11 out of Russias top 15 export markets, according to Trading Economics. However, Moscow is on the list of countries adding to the U.S. trade deficit. In 2016 Russia contributed more than $8.7 billion to that sum. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2022 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian, the award-winning restaurateur and Food Network host, has reached a settlement with the Trump Organization over his decision not to open an eatery at Trump's Washington hotel property. On Monday, lawyers for developer Louis Ceruzzi and Zakarian announced the settlement, ending a battle that began almost two years ago, according to Eater. DC RESTAURANT SUING TRUMP HOTEL OVER 'UNFAIR COMPETITION' ALREADY FACING BACKLASH In 2015, The Lambs Club owner first backed out of a deal to open a restaurant in Trumps new luxury hotel, citing then presidential-nominee Donald Trumps statements about immigrants from Mexico on the campaign trail, stating that those remarks made it impossible to run a successful dining establishment in the Trump property. After the celebrity chef dropped out of the project, Trump initially planned to sue Zakarian for $10 million, later raising that figure to $14 million. Zakarian then countersued. In response to the settlement, Ceruzzi said, I am glad that we were able to work together cooperatively to put this matter behind us and wish Trump International the very best success going forward. With the recent opening of our new restaurant, Point Royal, in Fort Lauderdale as well as several other new restaurants in the pipeline 2017 is already shaping up to be a hugely successful year for us, added Zakarian. Zakarian is the second celebrity-chef to countersue the Trump Organization after backing out of a restaurant deal. Chef Jose Andres and the Trump Organization settled their legal dispute Friday. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS I am pleased that we were able to resolve our differences and move forward corporately, as friends, Andres said in the statement. The settlements between both parties remain confidential. The Trump Organization did not find a replacement restaurant to fill Zakarians spot, instead reserving it for a ballroom and meeting space. David Burke's BLT Prime has since opened in the space that was allotted for the Spanish-born chef. A man was charged Monday for allegedly hazing a Central Michigan University student with a severe peanut allergy by smearing peanut butter on his face, prosecutors said. Dale Merza, 20, of Rochester Hills, turned himself in to police on Friday, according to Isabella County Prosecutor's office. He was charged with hazing that resulted in physical injury. Merza is accused of smearing peanut butter on Andrew Seely's face while he was passed out at Alpha Chi Rho -- an off-campus fraternity at the university -- last October, police said. Seely, 19, was a freshman at the time. The incident caught nationwide attention in March when Seely's mother, Teresa Seely, posted a photo of her son's face after the alleged hazing incident, FOX 2 Detroit reported. He could have been killed, she wrote in the Facebook post, adding that she didn't find out about the incident until five months later. "He was sent to the campus health clinic by a professor and treated. Luckily, he is still alive," she said. Andrew Seely transferred to another college after the incident, though his mother did not reveal which school over fear of retaliation, according to The Detroit Free Press. ANGRY MOB PREVENTS PRO-POLICE AUTHOR FROM SPEAKING AT COLLEGE Merza's lawyer said Monday that Merza was innocent and is not guilty of hazing Seely. "This case has been blown way out of proportion by the individual's family members, who were not present and don't have any of the facts," his lawyer told the Detroit Free Press. Merza faces 93 days in jail and $1,000 if convicted, according to the prosecutor's office. Alpha Chi Rho said in a statement in March that it was "appalled and upset" by the alleged hazing. "Alpha Chi Rho does not condone this type of behavioror any form of hazingand it stands in conflict with our mission to cultivate men of character, honor and integrity," the statement read. In 2011, the national fraternity was banned from CMU's campus for hazing incidents, according to the Detroit Free Press. More from FOX 2 Detroit. Conservatives wonder: what the heck is Gary Cohn doing in the Trump White House? Cohn, a life-long Democrat and latecomer to the Trump train, is White House Economic Council Director. The former president of Goldman Sachs is reportedly ascendant, while Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro and Stephen Miller see their stars fading. This is not good news for Trump supporters, or for the GOP. Donald Trump was elected by angry Americans: people furious at Obamas progressive agenda, incensed that China was stealing our jobs and disgusted by milquetoast Republicans who had not delivered on campaign promises to ditch Obamacare, curb illegal immigration and spur faster economic growth. Trump voters were fed up with Obamas global ambitions and celebrated his America First message. His backers didnt care that Trump knew little about policy or Washington; he was in a sense an empty vessel when it came to translating common sense ideas into legislation and regulations. Now, though, they see that vessel being filled in part by individuals who do not share their views. One of those is Gary Cohn, who has emerged as a powerful but discordant voice. Democrats and the mainstream media have rejoiced as they have watched Cohn, along with Jared Kuschner, his wife Ivanka Trump and former Goldman Sachs partner Dina Powell, soften White House policy on issues such as cutting regulations, immigration enforcement and Obamacare repeal. When Gary Cohn recently lofted the possibility of bringing back Glass-Steagall, the Depression-era law that allowed big banks to engage in investment banking, Senator Elizabeth Warren was reportedly giddy with joy. The law, which was repealed by Bill Clinton in 1999, is viewed by progressives as having helped cause the financial crisis. Leaving a meeting in which Cohn mused about reinstating the bill, Warren reportedly said to an aide, Has the whole world gone mad? Am I on the same page as a former Goldman executive? My entire worldview has been shattered. Her confusion is understandable. Not that long ago, Cohn joined Trump in ardently pressing to dismantle the cumbersome bank regulations contained in Dodd-Frank. So upset was Warren over Cohns determination to knock down those rules, which are loathed by Wall Street, that she and fellow senator Tammy Baldwin wrote a letter to Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein demanding proof that he and his former colleague were not in cahoots. It is worth noting that while reinstituting Glass-Steagall would be problematic for all the leading financial institutions, it would hurt Goldman much less that the big banks who are its major competitors. Cohns former political affiliation and past support of President Obama is not important. What is important is how his liberal views could distort President Trumps agenda. For example, Cohn has taken a major role in crafting the White Houses stance on tax reform. Recently, in searching for a revenue source needed to balance proposed cuts in tax rates, it was reported that Cohn suggested a carbon tax. (He has since denied advocating that approach.) The idea was quickly shot down, but its very consideration was alarming. Trump campaigned on dismantling Obamas Clean Power Plan, has proposed sharp cuts in the budget of the EPA and wants to resuscitate our coal industry. How does a carbon tax fit into that program? Cohn is also reportedly a free-trade advocate, and has appointed Andrew Quinn to the Economic Council as Special Assistant to the President for International Trade. Quinn was one of the lead negotiators of the multi-national TPP trade pact that Trump savaged on the campaign trail and has since junked. How will Quinn work to revise our trade commitments and revise NAFTA? For the most part, Cohns hires for the National Economic Council have been right-leaning and likely to support President Trumps campaign pledges. Kenneth Juster, for instance, tapped to be head of international affairs, served under both G.W. Bush and his father, and is a strong advocate for boosting exports. It is also true that there are other sound voices on economic policy within the administration. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is nobodys fool, and will support an aggressive U.S. trade posture. Though conservatives have reservations about Steve Mnuchin, they applaud some of his picks, like economist David Malpass for international affairs and Drew Maloney for legislative. Mnuchins choice of major Hillary fundraiser Craig Phillips to oversee financial regulation, is less popular. Still, access to the president, enjoyed by Cohn and others on the White House staff, is critical. Cohn is known as a big, forceful straight talker. He is also successful the kind of individual that Trump instinctively trusts. One of his former Goldman colleagues describes him as a tough operator, who would be comfortable and probably victorious engaging in the kinds of turf battles rumored to be underway in the White House. It is early days, but ongoing power struggles could well determine the success of the Trump presidency. He needs to remember who put him in office, and who he will rely on to keep him there. It wasnt Manhattan elites or Democrats, it was people who are counting on him to cut taxes, bring back jobs, dismantle our stifling red tape, and rein in illegal immigration. A recent Quinnipiac poll showed Trump losing ground with exactly the people who elected him Republicans, white voters and men. And guess what, he isnt making up for those losses with newly affectionate Democrats. If youve been flying recently, whether on business, spring break with the kids, or off to a family gathering, you already know how bad it is. Airports are crowded, flights are over-booked, nerves are frazzled, and airline employees are being pushed to the limit of their patience. I was in LaGuardia last Saturday morning, hoping to catch an on-time departure for Detroit and was amazed at how many people were there, queuing up to go somewhere. The place was a madhouse at 7:00 a.m.: passengers shouting, pushing, demanding that someone pay attention to their particular needs. Fortunately, I made it to Detroit on time and back to South Bend by mid-day. It wasnt easy for Delta employees, but they had their A-Game on. Passenger service reps helped move people from one service counter to another to shorten lines. Gate agents processed stand-by and upgrade requests. Flight attendants helped passengers with the boarding process quickly and efficiently. It wasnt entirely seamless (more than 3,000 flights were cancelled last week, thanks to storms that moved through the American South). They made it work, though. My flight to Detroit, DL-955, was over-booked by 17 passengers, many of whom had been put there by cancelled flights the day before. Gate agents eventually offered many of them as much as $1,350 apiece in an AmEx gift card to give up their seats voluntarily. We boarded quickly and departed on time. Mind you, there are parts of the world where passengers are more patient than they are in New York, but this all worked nicely, thanks to the professionalism of Delta employees. No such luck for Dr. David Dao, an Elizabethtown, Kentucky physician. He boarded a United Airlines flight at Chicago OHare on Sunday, headed to Louisville. Gate agents had boarded all 50 passengers onto a Canadair Regional Jet operated by Republic Airlines and was ready to close the cabin door when four crew members showed up, needing seats. The airline asked for four passengers to leave the airplane to accommodate the crew. Three passengers selected by a DoT computer algorithm reluctantly agreed. At that point, United employees said they had no choice but to call security and forcibly yank the fourth passenger, Dr. Dao. Online video taken by passengers with their cell phones showed him being dragged from his seat, bloodied and abused. People onboard were horrified. The airline called Dr. Dao disruptive and belligerent. The cell phone video demonstrated otherwise. It didnt help that United CEO Oscar Munoz offered no real apology for the embarrassment and injuries to Dao, but instead doubled down on a tone-deaf statement about having to re-accommodate delayed passengers. As a direct result, Uniteds stock fell 6.3 percent by Tuesday morning, dropping $1.4 Billion from the companys market cap. While United has the right to refuse to board any passenger for any reason, and while Dr. Dao has his own history with law enforcement in Kentucky, this one seems entirely unjustified. More to the point, so does the Department of Transportation and just about the entire Internet. Conspiracy theorists are claiming anti-Asian bias, others are blaming airport police for ham handed tactics. I would drop the fault at United Airlines corporate communication doorstep for not adopting a more conciliatory view. Munoz said in an e-mail to his employees, I emphatically stand behind all of you. Had Dr. Dao been drunk, drugged, disruptive, or dangerous, I could see understand that approach. He was not. He simply did not want to leave a seat he had paid for and was given, saying I am a doctor. I have patients to see tomorrow. The real issue is what United Airlines frequent and occasional fliers think as they watch that video. Events like this no longer happen in a vacuum with people make conflicting claims about what happened. Everyone watching, listening, and reading thinks: That could be me. The $1.4 billion stock plunge many not be fully justified, but litigation costs and the loss of top-line revenue will surely hurt. The two most effective responses would be to apologize to everyone involved, pledge to investigate and then make it right. After that, how about a call to Deltas customer service folks in Atlanta? They may have some advice to share. Late last month the Justice Departments Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a74-page report on how the department oversees asset forfeitures-- the practice in which law enforcement and government agencies seize property they believe was connected to a crime. The asset seizures clearly needed a closer look. Regardless of how President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions feel about the topic and both have been skeptical of reforming this system -- the new report should inform the attorney generals newly announced Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety and prompt congressional leaders to take a closer look. According to the OIG report, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms grab the assets of thousands of people annually, and there is big money involved. The DEA alone has made more than 80,000 cash seizures resulting in forfeitures that totaled more than $4 billion over the last decade. The overall total for the Justice Department seizure program has grown over the same period to more than $28 billion. Fair enough, perhaps. But we cant tell. Of the agency-seized cash, 77 percent was forfeited administratively as opposed to civilly or criminally. This means no review by any independent court: the government agencies are policing themselves. Indeed, this is the normal practice for the Justice Department. Its policy manual on the topic specifies that administrative proceedings must be used except when the government is taking a home or other building or more than $500,000 in assets. Individuals whose property is seized can still challenge the administrative forfeiture in court. But obviously, it can be difficult for an individual to hire lawyers to pursue a case when the government has his money. Moreover, in civil court the government doesnt need to prove that a crime was committed under the reasonable doubt standard of a criminal case. Instead, the government merely must show a preponderance of the evidence -- just a little bit more likely than the odds that a coin flip comes up heads. At least as striking is what the OIG report doesnt find. The federal government, it seems, has essentially no mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of its asset forfeiture efforts. It does not, for example, actively evaluate instances of successful legal challenges to seizure operations, which would give overall sense of how often seizures are found to be unjustified. The OIG report also found that agencies do not collect data to measure how often seizures and forfeitures advance or relate to criminal investigations. To fill that vacuum, the OIG sampled 100 allegedly drug-related interdiction cases in which the DEA had seized assets without a warrant and without seizing any illicit narcotics. The investigation found that in most of the cases law-enforcement officers relied on their immediate, on-the-spot judgment, without any predicating information regarding involvement in drug trafficking activities. Moreover, the DEA could verify only 44 of the 100 seizures as having advanced or having been related to criminal investigations. Finally, the investigation found that different task force officers made different decisions in similar situations when deciding whether to seize all of the cash discovered. Even if we assume that law enforcement officers have been acting in good faith, the varying standards applied when government agencies seize peoples money -- and the fact that most seizures did not appear to advance any criminal case -- has to erode the publics trust in law enforcement as an institution, which can compromise legitimate efforts to prevent and prosecute crime. The lack of supervision also provides a perverse incentive for such seizures to increase. The current practice may even be unconstitutional. In a March 6 written opinion commenting on a Supreme Court decision not to consider a challenge to a civil asset forfeiture, Justice Clarence Thomas argued that the Court should reassess whether modern civil-forfeiture statutes can be squared with the Due Process Clause and our Nations history. Justice Thomass argument included evidence of egregious and well-chronicled abuses and noted, pointedly, that these forfeiture operations frequently target the poor and other groups least able to defend their interests in forfeiture proceedings. Of course, these groups are more likely to vote for Democrats, but the Republican Partys 2016 platform stated aggressively that civil asset forfeiture had become a tool for unscrupulous law enforcement officials, acting without due process, to profit by destroying the livelihood of innocent individuals, many of whom never recover the lawful assets taken from them. The platform urged Congress to enact reforms to protect law-abiding citizens against abusive asset forfeiture tactics. The question is whether President Trump and Attorney General Sessions agree. In a January meeting with local law enforcement officials, the president suggested loosening Obama-era constraints on forfeiture, which a Kentucky sheriff argued were constraining local budgets that share in seizures taken by the feds. Trumps view echoes that previously espoused by Attorney General Sessions, who in the Senate defended modern civil-asset forfeiture practice, saying that 95% of the individuals affected have done nothing in their lives but sell dope. Such sentiments are understandable because law-and-order Republicans tend to like the police departments that profit from the assets seized. But theres nothing Republican about allowing the government to take individuals property without due process of law. And the same principles underlying drug-enforcement seizures also apply to other areas of the government--including the IRS. In fact, the IRS Office of the Inspector General released its own report on April 4 that examined the tax agencys practice of civil asset seizure in structuring casesthose involving repeated large cash withdrawals, which are commonplace for many small businesses and farms. The report found that 91% of such seizures were taken from businesses and individuals that had obtained the money legally. In an April 5 memorandum, the attorney general asked his Public Safety Task Force to explore the governments use of asset forfeiture. Lets hope the task force does that with a critical eyeand that, regardless, Republicans in Congress take this cause to heart and work across the aisle with their Democratic colleagues for long overdue reforms in this area. This should be a truly bipartisan issue. The Palm Sunday bombings of Coptic churches in Egypt are a tragedy for Egyptian Christians, the Middle Easts oldest and largest Christian community and for all Egyptians who oppose the Islamic States intolerance and terror. But this calamity has political benefits for Egypts beleaguered President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi. The twin suicide bombings, the worst terror attack against Egypts Christians since 28 people were killed near St. Marks Coptic Cathedral in Cairo last December, have not only helped el-Sisi cement ties with President Trump, but they have given him even greater latitude to crack down on opponents of his policies. Hours after the bombings, el-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency, expanding his governments already enormous powers to detain and arrest not only potential terrorists, but political critics. Trump lost no time in reaching out to the Egyptian president, whom he had hosted in Washington days earlier, to reassure him of his administrations steadfast support in his fight against Islamic extremism. According to a White House statement, Trump called to extend his deepest sympathies to Egypt and to the families who lost loved ones in the heinous terrorist attacks against Christian churches on Palm Sunday. He not only condemned the attacks that killed at least 44 people and wounded dozens more, but he also expressed his confidence in President Al Sisis commitment to protect Christians and all Egyptians. The call, coupled with el-Sisis visit to Washington, which Egyptian officials quickly proclaimed a success, has bestowed on Egypts president the international legitimacy and American support he has craved but been denied for so long. President Obama did not hide his disapproval of el-Sisi, who came to power in July 2013 when the Egyptian army ousted the elected, but hugely unpopular, president Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. Washington suspended military aid to Cairo in October 2013 and didnt resume it until March 2015. Egyptians were particularly furious about the withholding of Apache helicopters, which officials complained were needed to fight Islamic militants on two fronts: in the Sinai Peninsula, where an intense insurgency has raged, and at its border with militant Palestinian Hamas, where Egypt has worked closely, but quietly, with Israel to close tunnels and prevent weapons smuggling. Since his election, by contrast, Trump has indicated on several occasions, most recently during el-Sisis visit, that he is willing to downplay concerns about el-Sisis repressive tactics at home mass detentions of tens of thousands, torture and extrajudicial killings so that the two countries can work together against the Islamic State and to defend Egypts Christians, who constitute an estimated 10 percent of Egypts 95 million people. During the visit, Trump enthusiastically praised el-Sisi, saying he has done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation. El-Sisi has worked assiduously to develop ties with Trump, meeting with him (and holding a less cordial meeting with Hillary Clinton) during a visit to New York before Trumps unexpected election victory. He was among the first foreign leaders to telephone to congratulate Trump after his victory. Americas $1.3 billion in annual military aid is vital for Egypt, whose economy is ailing after five years of political turmoil. El-Sisi has recently introduced a number of fiscal reforms, including cuts in subsidies for sugar, bread and fuel, and he has introduced taxes aimed at curbing a growing budget deficit. Last November, Egypt floated the Egyptian pound to alleviate a dollar shortage and attract foreign investment. But tourism, a mainstay of the economy, remains high, and so does unemployment, particularly among youth. American officials are increasingly worried about the growth of ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula. Eric Trager of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy estimates that 2,000 Egyptian soldiers have been killed in Sinai since September 2013, when Egypt began a major campaign against the Islamic State branch in Egypt. This is a shocking figure, he writes, since experts put ISIS in Sinais membership at 1,000-1,500. Although Egypt decapitated the groups leadership last summer, new leaders have emerged who are more closely aligned with the Islamic States leadership in Raqqa, Syria. They, in turn, have increasingly targeted Egyptian civilians, particularly Egypts Copts. The Islamic State has vowed to increase attacks against Christians and Christian churches. In February, hundreds of Christians were driven out of northern Sinai by a series of killings. El-Sisi has vowed to protect the Christian population and has increased security at churches, but so far he has failed to stop such attacks. Samuel Tadros, of Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom, estimates that there have been at least 100 major attacks on Christians and their churches since he came to power. Egyptian security will be sorely tested when Pope Francis visits the country later this month. With nowhere else to turn, Egyptians and Christians in particular will continue to turn to el-Sisi for protection and support. Hence, in the short run, he stands to benefit politically from this tragedy. In the longer run, however, tolerance for his repressive tactics is likely to wane if Christians are not protected, ISIS is not contained and Egypts economy stalls. So despite President Trumps kind words, el-Sisi should not take his newly restored American ties or Mr. Trumps support for granted. Skeptics note that Egypt got no new financial aid as a result of the trip. Nor did Mr. Trump renew the financing mechanism which would allow Cairo to buy weapons systems on credit. Finally, Mr. Trump has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, as Egyptians had hoped. Finally, although President Sisi has defended President Bashar al-Assad in his fight against ISIS, Egyptians were not pleased by President Trumps about-face on the Syrian leader and Americas bombing of a Syrian air base after Syria used chemical weapons. So while Egypt may once again be welcomed in Washington and warmer relations restored a long-standing Egyptian goal -- Sisi must tread carefully. This shortterm benefit may not translate into longer-term gain if he fails to show results at home, or policy disagreements between Washington and Cairo continue to grow. Oh no. Trump is tweeting again. North Korea is looking for trouble, he warned Tuesday morning. He also devoted some of his 140 characters to tell China that the USA would take care of business, with or without them. Does this tweet mean the president is planning to start World War III? Not likely. When it comes to dealing with the North Korean threat, President Trump is far more likely to pick up where President Obama left off. Trump has reportedly asked forand receiveda review of the full range of options for dealing with the growing nuclear threat from Pyongyang and the increasingly bellicose Kim Jong Un. Thats the right approach, and theres nothing novel about it. U.S. policy has long been everything is on the tablethe only practical policy when dealing with a regime that threatens to burn your cities to the ground. Circumstances may change, moving matters from the be prepared for anything stage to drastic, decisive action is called for now? But that day is not today. When the president reviews all the options, the first to drop-off the list is an escalatory military conflict. Most of Seoul, a city of 10 million, is within range of North Koreas cone of fire. An artillery and missile barrage from the North could be devastating. No president would choose, as Option One, a strike that would invite a response that could inflict mass civilian casualties among an ally. Likewise, the lets negotiate option was probably quickly dropped. Giving into North Koreas wild threats is exactly what Kim wants. Rushing to talk now would only encourage more provocative actions. That leaves the suitable and feasible options somewhere in the middle. This includes deterring North Korea with a protect-and-defend strategy. That involves showing our willingness to protect South Korea with missile defenses like THADD and U.S. ground troops, while demonstrating the capacity to reach out and touch the North Korean regime. The latter element is why we now have U.S. strategic bombers circling overhead and U.S. combat ships steaming to the peninsula. The other part of pressing Kim to back down is to squeeze the regime where it hurtsin the bank account. North Korea Despite what you may have heard, North Korea is not the most heavily sanctioned country on earth. Yes, a lot of sanctions have been imposed on the regime, as far as paperwork is concerned. But as Heritage Foundation analyst and regional expert Bruce Klingner has frequently noted, those sanctions are not fully and forcefully enforced. China, for example, routinely signs on to new sanctions, then just as routinely stops observing them within a few months. But cracking down on North Korea is a strategy that has given Dear Leaders pause in the past. Exasperated after trying everything else, even the Obama administration concluded in the end thats increasingly tighter sanctions are part of the best strategy for now. So, going back to the tweet, when Trump says we are going to deal with Kim with or without China, likely what he means is that Beijing can voluntarily agree to participate in the sanctioning regime or well do it with a heavy handone that will include Chinese firms and individuals doing business with North Korea. That would make the Chinese very uncomfortable, but Trump seems to be saying, itll happen unless they start working harder to get Kim to tone down his actand his actions. In other words, the free lunch for China is over. There are no easy answers for dealing with North Korean. There is a sensible package of isolation and defensive measures that can make U.S. policy make sense. What Trump ought to doand is most likely to dois follow this tough-minded but responsible middle course. A week ago Monday, the U.S. government said it was not seeking regime change in war-torn Syria. But the very next day as news emerged of a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town in Idlib province the tone from U.S leadership was starkly different. U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley vowed that President Bashar Assad had to step down, and for the first time in Syrias six-year war, the U.S. launched a direct attack on a Syrian army base. So where does this leave the peace process? Hadi al-Bahra, current member of the Syrian opposition movement and former president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, gave Fox News some insights this week on his groups vision for the country and what actions theyd like to see from the U.S. Fox News: What are your thoughts on the U.S. launching strikes for the first time against the Syrian army? Albahra: The Assad regime claimed that it has handed over all its chemical materials and weapons stockpiles, in compliance with U.N.S.C. resolution 2118 (2013). But from that time, it was proven that Assad continued using chemical weapons and targeting civilians. Chlorine gas attacks have become almost routine in northern Syria. Yet no action was taken by the previous American administration nor by the international community, which gave Assad the wrong signals, escalating his attacks on civilians, including his latest attack using nerve agents and other banned poisons. This time, the U.S. administration took the lead in denouncing the attack, and in taking a very limited military action by targeting the military airbase that it was responsible for carrying that chemical attack. We highly appreciate this action, which sent a clear message to Assad and his backers, "No more free rides, no more use of chemical weapons. But this action alone will not be enough. Assad will stay defiant. He will increase the use of conventional weapons and other prohibited bombs, and the killing will continue. What we seek in Syria is to put an end to all killings by all types of weapons, not only by chemical weapons. Fox News: What actions would you like to see the U.S. take now? Albahra: The U.S. should follow its military action by taking more steps on the legal, political and diplomatic fronts. The only way to stop war crimes in Syria is to put an end to the Assad's killing machine, and push for a genuine political transition. The U.S. should impose sanctions on supporters of the Assad regime, encourage negotiations to end ongoing atrocities, support prosecution of war criminals and declare the Assad regime and his government as illegitimate in all aspects, diplomatic, political and legal. Fox News: What is your vision for the future of Syria and how should the transition be handled? Albahra: First of all, to stop the ongoing bloodshed and slaughter, we seek the help of the international community to hold Assad accountable for his war crimes to bring Assad and all other war criminals to justice. We want to move forward with the full support of the international community, through a political negotiation process to achieve a genuine organized political transition. One that will unite the Syrian people under a new constitution and laws that provide equal rights and duties, for all citizens, guarantying the freedom of religion, speech and the press, the rights of assembly and petition. We want a democratic, multi-party political system. Reaching towards these goals will enable the Syrian people to carry on their fight against ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Syrians are the only force that will be able to uproot terrorism from Syria. We are the beneficiaries, we are the real stakeholders, and we want to achieve security, stability and peace for all Syrians without discrimination. Fox News: Who and what exactly is the opposition? Albahra: The term opposition is used by the international community for describing the two sides of struggle in Syria in the wrong way. In Syria, under the Assad rule, we never had a democracy, we never had a ruling party and opposition parties. What we have in Syria is a dictatorship. [Hafez] Assad, the father, was a dictator who did not permit any freedoms nor any opposition forces to develop, and after his death his son and family orchestrated an amendment on the constitution in a 15-minute session of the (supposedly freely elected people assembly), permitting Assad the son to become the new president. He continued governing the country by fear. So what we have in Syria is the people rising up and revolting against a dictator who deprives them from their human and constitutional rights. We are the Syrian people, doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, farmers, factory workers, students, men and women, the citizens of Syria, against a dictator. So if the international community labels us an opposition in only a political term, it's the wrong label. Fox News: Where do current peace negotiations stand between Syrias government and the opposition as mediated by Staffan de Mistura, U.N. special envoy to Syria in the quest to stop the bloodshed? Albahra: I do not think that there are currently any negotiations. What we have so far are talks and consultations with the U.N. special representative, no direct talks. The regime since the latest round of direct negations in 2014 has showed no interest in a real political resolution to the crises, so how can one negotiate if there is no second party to negotiate with? The regime and its backers still believe in a military solution, which they will not be able to achieve. TOP SYRIAN ARMY DEFECTOR NOT SURPRISED BY CHEMICAL ATTACKS, SAYS TOXINS STILL HIDDEN DESPITE RUSSIA AGREEMENT RUSSIA KNEW OF SYRIAN CHEMICAL ATTACK IN ADVANCE, US OFFICIAL SAYS Fox News: Does Russia really insist that Assad must stay or do you think they simply want any leader who will protect their interests? Albahra: Russia at the end has to look for its own national interests in Syria. There is a time, very soon, for the Russians to understand that assisting Assad to hang onto power means a complete loss of their interests, and I do not think they would risk that. Fox News: What is the biggest mistake the opposition has made since the revolution began? Albahra: The Syrian people believed that the free world would never stand idle, watching a dictator killing his own people and destroying his own country. We believed that the free world would stand for its values and ethics. We believed that the free world would deliver on its promises of support, aid and assistance. We underestimated the brutality and tyranny of the Assad regime, and we permitted the armed groups to go on a separate track without full coordination with the political track. The politicians should've stayed inside Syria wherever it was possible, and we should have made better use of the dissident army officers and soldiers. On the media front, we should have done a much better job in addressing the regime loyalists, and should have been more aggressive on our messaging against the extremists. Fox News: Given the recent attacks in Idlib province, is it possible that the Syrian army loaded chemicals into the weapons in 2013 before declaring all "stockpiles" were gone? Albahra: Yes, it is highly possible. I think they did exactly that. They knew they would be using them soon. We need the investigation process to be re-activated. Fox News: What role do you think Syrian allies Russia and Iran played in the chemical attacks this week? How much did they know or enable it? Albahra: I expect that Iran had a full knowledge of the attack. I even would think it pushed for it, while Russia bares a major responsibility, being the responsible party for guarantying the full compliance of the regime on the chemical weapons deal, under UNSC resolution 2118. That is why we need a full investigation to know the facts about the role of each party in this latest war crime. Fox News: Assad appeared to be on a winning track, why launch a chemical attack last week? Albahra: The lack of international reactions against Assad's continued and repeated use of chemical weapons, and the U.S. stating that they would no longer seek regime change. All of this gave the wrong signals to Assad, who wants to bring Syrian people to submission through tyranny, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Assad wanted to widen the divide among Syrian people and to change the current struggle permanently into a sectarian war by targeting the Sunnis, while spreading the word that the pilot who carried the chemical attack was an Alawite (an offshoot of Shiite). He wanted to let the Syrians believe that the Western world really does not care about whatever crimes he commits against them. He wanted to kill our resolve of continuing our quest to freedom and democracy. The White House is apparently worried about Donald Trumps presidency being judged by the coming 100-day mark, that artificial benchmark essentially created by the media. And so, in classic fashion, communications officials convened a meeting, details of which were immediately leaked to Politico. It increasingly seems that two officials cant exchange words in a White House bathroom without it immediately hitting the web. As a journalist I often benefit from talking to officials on background or off the record, but theres no question that the flood of leaks from this administrationas Kellyanne Conway acknowledged to me in a Sunday interviewisnt helping the president. Even in a five-day stretch in which Trump unleashed airstrikes against Syria and saw Neil Gorsuch join the Supreme Court, the stories about jockeying and feuding between Steve Bannon, Jared Kushner and others continued to draw considerable media attention. Trump did mention at yesterdays Gorsuch swearing-in that he had gotten his man confirmed in the first 100 days. The 100-day milestone is, of course, a snapshot (yes, Ive used it as well, and yes, Fox has a show called The First 100 Days). But its also somewhat arbitrary. When we look back at history, we dont particularly focus on what JFK, LBJ, Reagan, the Bushes, Clinton or Obama accomplished by April 29. But since the media are going to make it a huge deal, its a ritual in which every administration has to engage. So weve got an unnamed White House official telling Politico: One hundred days is the marker, and weve got essentially two-and-a-half weeks to turn everything around. This is going to be a monumental task. This is called trumpeting the communications strategy before you carry out the communications strategy, thereby making everything that follows look like PR packaging. But it gets worse. The session, convened by the new communications director, Mike Dubke, was described as dividing into three groups, scribbling ideas with whiteboards and markers, and that drew anonymous criticism. It made me feel like I was back in 5th grade, a White House aide told Politico. Dubke was quoted as saying it was nothing more than a brainstorming session and that he wished skeptics had spoken up to have an open and honest conversation rather than running to the press. He also said his notion that the first three-plus months had to be rebranded was misinterpreted, but that they did need to brand it before the media did it for them. Whats behind these leaks? People tend to dish anonymous criticism when theyre frustrated by their colleagues or have no confidence that internal complaints will be heeded. And there appear to be multiple sources here. The press, meanwhile, is all geared up to report on the early stumbles, from two immigration orders blocked by the courts to the failure of the ObamaCare replacement bill, and thats fair game. But there is also the Keystone pipeline, the killing of the Pacific trade pact, a boosting of economic confidence, an assault on regulations, and now the Syria airstrikes and the successful SCOTUS pick. Any new administration is a work in progress. As the year wears on, well see whether Trump can break through on some combination of tax cuts and infrastructure projects. And, as weve been reminded in recent days, a president is also judged on his ability to respond to unforeseen crises. China has sent a flotilla of North Korean freighters loaded with coking coal back to their home ports, according to an exclusive Reuters report. Meanwhile, China has placed massive orders for the steel-making commodity from U.S. producers. Information on the Thomson Reuters Eikon financial information and analytics platform revealed that 12 freighters were returning to North Korea. Reuters attributed news of Chinas rejecting North Korean coal to a trading source at Dandong Chengtai Trade Co., which is the biggest buyer of North Korea's coal. The Dandong Chengtai said it had 600,000 tons of North Korean coal sitting at various ports and that there were 2 million tons stranded at Chinese ports to be sent back to North Korea, Reuters said. The move reflects Chinas public commitment on Feb. 26 to join other nations in punishing North Korea for its continued nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development program. China said in February it was suspending North Korean imports for the rest of this year. China is North Korea's largest source of trade and aid and targeting coal imports are meant to deprive Pyongyang of an important source of foreign currency. As it halts imports of North Korean coal, China is increasing the amount of coal it buys from U.S. producers, Reuters said. Buying U.S. coking coal marks a U-turn for China: No U.S. coking coal was exported to China between late 2014 and 2016. By February, coal shipments from the U.S. to China amounted to more than 400,000 tons. Global coal supplies have tightened recently, partly as a result of China forcing domestic producers to cut output and a cyclone curbing Australian coal shipments. The effect of the tightened coal supply has driven the price of premium coking coal to three times the level it was just one year ago. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Top Democrats are taking aim at one of their own, assailing Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for appearing to defend Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad against allegations his regime dumped chemical weapons on a rebel-held area. Center for American Progress head Neera Tanden, who was a trusted adviser to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean lit into Gabbard on Twitter for her Syria stance. This is a disgrace. Gabbard should not be in Congress, Dean tweeted on Saturday. This is a disgrace. Gabbard should not be in Congress. https://t.co/yDTh43GZam Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) April 9, 2017 The former Vermont governor and short-lived presidential candidate was responding to a tweet from Tanden that highlighted Gabbard saying she was skeptical that Assads regime carried out the chemical attacks. Assads guilt has been accepted by most U.S. officials, and President Trump authorized a retaliatory strike on Thursday in response to the horrific assault. People of Hawaiis 2nd district was it not enough for you that your rep met with a murderous dictator? Will this move you? Tanden wrote. People of Hawaii's 2nd district - was it not enough for you that your rep met with a murderous dictator? Will this move you?1 https://t.co/jbwGuZIJ6R Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) April 7, 2017 But Gabbard, who met with Assad earlier this year, has appeared largely unmoved by evidence that Assad was behind the chemical attack on April 4 in Idlib that killed more than 70 people, including children, and injured hundreds more. U.S. attacks on Syria wont save children, rather will strengthen Al Qaedas attempts to overtake Syria, leading to more deaths and refugees, she tweeted Friday in response to the Trump-ordered missile attack. Gabbard has claimed that Assad is not alone in possessing chemical weapons, also suggesting that rebel and terror groups inside Syria have access to them; however, only Assads regime, among those groups, has jets such as the ones reportedly used to drop the chemical agent on Idlib. But as evidence mounts against Assad, Gabbards arguments have shifted to railing against the push for regime change. Escalating Syria regime change war = more children and innocent people dying. #ResistTrumpsWar now, she tweeted Friday, adding: Have we not learned from Iraq and Libya? The road to hell is paved w/ good intentions. Escalation means more dead children, more refugees. Escalating Syria regime change war = more children and innocent people dying. #ResistTrumpsWar now. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) April 9, 2017 On Monday, Gabbard addressed her critics: Those whove declared Trump a habitual liar now vilify those refusing to blindly follow him into another regime change war. Hypocrisy. Gabbard visited Syria in January, meeting with Assad during a controversial fact-finding trip in the region. She was accompanied by former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Fox News contributor, who at the time stressed the importance of letting Syrians decide their political future. Given Gabbards journey from rising Democratic star who also was under consideration for a Trump Cabinet position to her recent position urging caution in addressing Assad's atrocities, Tanden wrote that she felt deceived. Referencing a tweet from December 2012, when Tanden praised Gabbard as potential Senate material, Tanden tweeted: Yes, I thought this before she met with a ruthless dictator. I was had. Democrats are making a close race of the first congressional election since President Trumps White House win, in a Kansas district held by Republicans for more than two decades. The special House election Tuesday is for the seat former GOP Rep. Mike Pompeo vacated in January when appointed CIA director. Trump won 60 percent of the district's vote last fall. But Republicans are increasingly pouring time and money into the final days of the race -- including the president tweeting and making a get-out-the-vote call for GOP candidate state Treasurer Ron Estes. Ron Estes is running TODAY for Congress in the Great State of Kansas, Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. A wonderful guy, I need his help on Healthcare & Tax Cuts (Reform). Despite Republicans strength in Kansas, the race between Estes and Democrat James Thompson, a civil rights attorney, appears close. The venerable Cook Political Report recently changed its rating from safely Republican to lean Republican. However, its unclear whether the competiveness of the race speaks to a potential voter backlash against Trump, who has record-low approval ratings, or Estes connection to GOP Gov. Sam Brownback, among the least popular governors in the country. The race also includes Libertarian nominee Chris Rockhold. The south-central Kansas congressional district includes 17 counties and the state's largest city, Wichita. "Republican Ron Estes needs your vote and needs it badly," Trump said in his minute-long call to voters. "Our country needs help. Ron is going to be helping us, big league." In final-hour efforts to help Estes, Vice President Pence also recorded a call. And Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who won Kansas 2016 GOP presidential primary, campaigned Monday in the state for him. In addition, the National Republican Congressional Committee has spent roughly $90,000 in last-minute TV and digital ads. "I think it shows how desperate they are," Thompson said. "Rather than have a candidate who will actually get out and work and listen to people, they are trying to buy the campaign because that is what they do." Thompson raised nearly $254,000 -- with more than $248,000 of that money coming from individual contributions during the reporting period ending March 22. Recent campaign filings show he has raised nearly $23,000 since then in large donations of $1,000 or more. Political committees and groups have heavily bolstered Estes' campaign coffers. He has raked in about $312,000 from Jan. 1 to March 22, campaign finance filings show. That reporting period does not include almost $94,000 Este's campaign has received in recent days in large donations of $1,000 or larger. Trump's picks for top jobs in his administration and a California Democratic appointment have created five openings in the U.S. House, where Republicans have a 237-193 edge. Republicans are defending four GOP-leaning seats -- the Kansas seat plus Georgia, Montana and South Carolina -- while Democrats are protecting a seat in a liberal California district. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Defense Secretary James Mattis said Tuesday there is no doubt that Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime is responsible for gassing its own people and warned that the U.S. would respond again if Assad were to launch another chemical strike. I have personally reviewed the intelligence and there is no doubt the Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and for the attack itself, Mattis said during an afternoon briefing at the Pentagon. Mattis, speaking alongside U.S. Central Command head Gen. Joseph Votel, provided more details about why the Trump administration ordered U.S. warships to launch 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base last week. Mattis said the U.S. began a deliberate process led by the National Security Council to recommend diplomatic and military options to the president. We met over several days and I spoke with some of our allies, Mattis said. The National Security Council considered the near century-old international prohibition against the use of chemical weapons." Mattis maintains the Syrian regime repeatedly and deliberately violated the international law. The Pentagon says the response was a retaliatory strike for Assads chemical attack on innocent civilians including children. We determined that a measured military response could best deter the regime from doing this again, he said. As always, we examined how best to avoid civilian casualties in the execution of the strike and our actions were successful. The Pentagon said the strikes destroyed a fifth of Assads functioning, fixed-wing combat aircraft. Mattis also warned if Assad continues to use chemical weapons, the United States would continue to respond -- though he did not say how. He did say that Americas policy in Syria has not changed. Our priority remains the defeat of ISIS, he said, adding that the international terror group represents a clear and present danger and an immediate threat to Europe and the United States. Mattis warned, The Syrian regime should think long and hard before it again acts so recklessly in violation of international law against the use of chemical weapons. While the U.S. focuses on defeating ISIS, other Trump administration officials including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley have made clear in recent days that they want the Assad regime gone in the end. President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have made it clear they want to crack down on drugs, violent crime and illegal immigration, signaling what some experts say could be a shift in resources away from prosecuting white-collar criminals on Wall Street and beyond. Sessions, visiting the southern border, sent a memo Tuesday to all 94 U.S. attorneys asking prosecutors to put more focus on immigration offenses. This was after he sent a memo last week announcing the creation of task force groups to focus on violent crimes, sentencing policies, illegal immigration, human trafficking and more. Not on the list: white-collar crimes. White-collar prosecutions in the U.S. fall under a pretty big umbrella. Typically, they involve non-violent, financially motivated offenses that cover everything from insider trading to embezzlement to Ponzi schemes to identity theft. The push to prosecute these crimes exploded during the Bush and Obama years. Public rage grew as millions of Americans were forced to foreclose on their homes while big banks and Wall Street fat-cats profited. Some white-collar defense experts predict prosecutions of securities law and other financial violations will now take a backseat as the DOJ refocuses its mission. Alan Dershowitz, a prominent defense attorney and Harvard Law School professor, predicts a more conservative approach netting fewer prosecutions. Bill Black, an associate professor of economics and law at the University of Missouri, predicted in a TV interview that white-collar crime would have a "field day." While it's too early to track a pattern in prosecution stats, there are some signs the Trump administration is shifting its resources. President Trumps fiscal 2018 budget proposal calls for cutting 4 percent of the Justice Department's budget. While its not known exactly where that money would come from, Sessions office reiterated to Fox News that combatting violent crime and restoring public safety are top priorities. "To help achieve those goals, the Department, with the help of our critical federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will be focusing much of its efforts on thwarting violent crime, drug trafficking, gun crime and gang violence, and criminal immigration enforcement, the DOJ said in a written statement. When asked if white-collar crime prosecutions would be a lower priority, the DOJ said in a separate, subsequent statement that Sessions focus on violent crime should not detract from that effort. "The Attorney General has emphasized his commitment to prosecuting fraud and corruption, and that commitment will not be diminished by an enhanced focus on targeting violent criminals, the statement said. As attorney general, Sessions has a great deal of discretion as to what cases are brought and where the department will focus its enforcement attention. Another indication of the DOJs shifting priorities was the very public firing of Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney who had made a name for himself as the Sheriff of Wall Street. Bhararas team had aggressively gone after insider trading rings and market manipulators and had brought down Wall Street masterminds like Bernie Madoff and Raj Rajaratnam, former hedge fund manager and billionaire founder of the Galleon Group who received 11 years in prison -- the longest-ever sentence handed down for violating insider trading laws. During his tenure, Bharara obtained $14 billion on behalf of victims. In the final few weeks of the Obama administration, more than $20 billion in corporate fines and penalties were doled out against big names like Deutsche Bank and Rolls-Royce. Its up to the discretion of new presidents to replace U.S. attorneys, and Bharara was asked to submit his resignation along with almost every other U.S. attorney. Still, his situation drew added attention since Trump previously was thought to be keeping him on board, and Bharara refused to resign. Part of the reason I said I was not going to resign and be fired was because I want the record to reflect for all time that there was a deliberate decision, not just a bureaucratic sweeping away of what had been there in the past, but a specific decision to change ones mind and deliberately fire me, particularly given what my offices jurisdiction is and where my office is situated, Bharara said at The Cooper Union in New York City last week, alluding to the fact that both Wall Street and Trump Tower fell within his jurisdiction. On the campaign trail last year, Trump vilified Wall Street and repeatedly linked Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to the multimillionaires at Goldman Sachs. But like many presidents before him, his Cabinet and inner circle advisers now count several Goldman alumni, including National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and chief strategist Steve Bannon. But not everyone thinks Sessions will ease the pressure on white-collar criminals. Companies and corporate executives should not expect any lessening of the enforcement attention under Sessions, said Scott Fredericksen, a former federal prosecutor and white-collar criminal defense partner at Foley & Lardner LLP. Fredericksen believes the DOJ under Sessions has an appreciation for the deterrent value of prosecuting white collar crime and a willingness to use prosecutions to send a message of compliance. Sessions, who served as a Republican senator before being confirmed to his current post, has 16 years of experience as a prosecutor in Alabama at both the federal and state level under his belt. During a 2002 Judiciary Committee hearing, then- Sen. Sessions described himself as a tough prosecutor who prompted a lot better behavior in banking today. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not meet with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when the former Exxon Mobil CEO visits Moscow on Wednesday, a move that could signal tensions between Washington and the Kremlin. The Kremlins decision to avoid the meeting is notable. In 2013, Putin personally awarded Tillerson the Order of Friendship- which is a top state award in the country, Reuters reported. A Russian spokesman did not indicate why the two will not meet. Tillerson is emerging from the shadows with a leading public role in shaping and explaining the Trump administrations missile strikes in Syria. And, hes set for an even higher-profile mission, heading to Moscow under the twin clouds of Russias U.S. election meddling and its possible support for a Syrian chemical weapons attack. SUSAN RICE'S CLAIM ON SYRIA GETS FOUR PINOCCHIOS Tillerson was visible during last weeks announcement of the response to the gruesome chemical attack, fielding questions from reporters on and off camera, and then captured in an official White House photo seated next to President Trump as they heard the result of the 59 cruise missiles that struck a Syrian military base. Tillerson was a prominent fixture during the most important foreign policy period in Trumps young presidency: a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi that coincided with the strikes against Syria. He was by Trumps side during his meetings with Xi and spoke publicly multiple times to address both issues. It was Tillerson who delivered the Trump administrations first blistering condemnation of Russia in the hours after the strikes. Standing in a cramped conference room alongside national security adviser H.R. McMaster, Tillerson said Moscow had failed to live up to its obligations under a 2013 agreement to strip Syria of its chemical weapons stockpiles. Either Russia has been complicit or Russia has simply been incompetent in its ability to deliver on its end of that agreement, he said. On Sunday, he made his first network television interview appearances. In one interview, Tillerson said he sees no reason for retaliation from Russia for the U.S. missile strikes. Russia maintains a close political and military alliance with President Bashar Assads government and has been accused of supporting its attacks against Syrians opposed to Assads rule something Moscow adamantly denies. Tillerson said on CBS Face the Nation that Russians were not targeted by the strikes. He also said the top U.S. priority in the region hadnt changed and remained the defeat of Islamic State militants. Then he headed to Europe to gather with the foreign ministers of the other major industrialized nations before venturing on eastward to become the first Trump Cabinet member to visit Moscow and possibly meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The criticism from the foreign policy establishments left and right that has dogged Tillersons tenure is dying down. Tillerson had faced questions about whether he understood that his new position meant he was now the face of the United States to the world, that he had to answer no longer to a small group of top shareholders but to more than 320 million Americans. The secretary of state must be the spokesman for American foreign policy, said Eliot Cohen, a senior State Department official during George W. Bushs presidency. This is the administrations first crisis but it wont be their last by a long shot, so hes going to have to get used to this. Joining Trump at the presidents Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Tillerson was supposed to focus on the informal summit with Xi. Instead, he was thrust to the forefront after photos of the bodies piled in heaps in Idlib, Syria, dramatically altered the agenda. Only a week earlier, Tillerson had alarmed U.S. allies by indicating the U.S. was no longer interested in pushing for Assads removal from power. In the hours leading up to Trumps decision to order the strikes, Tillerson was among the most forward-leaning of Trumps top aides in suggesting the U.S. would deliver an appropriate response. He challenged Russia publicly in a way Trump appeared scrupulously to avoid and said of Assad early Thursday: It would seem that there would be no role for him to govern the Syrian people. After the cruise missiles crashed down in Syria, Tillerson was calm and commanding in a question-and-answer session with journalists. Cohen, a conservative critic of Trumps foreign policy who has chided Tillerson for his reticence, said he saw Tillerson growing into the job. I suspect youll see more of him as he grows more comfortable in dealing with the press and in his relationship with the president and the administrations national security team, Cohen said. Beyond Syria are disputes over Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea region and support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. At the same time, Tillerson carries to Moscow the weight of FBI and congressional investigations into Russias interference in last years presidential election. The Trump campaigns possible ties to the presumed Russian meddlers are also under scrutiny. This is going to be Tillersons biggest test to date, said Julianne Smith, a National Security Council and Defense Department official under President Obama. The Associated Press contributed to this report U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued a stern ultimatum to Russia Tuesday: side with America and its allies on Syria, or stand alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and the militant group Hezbollah. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters following urgent meetings in Italy with top diplomats. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term. "We cannot let this happen again," he added. The meeting of likeminded countries was arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of 7 industrialized economies days after the U.S. launched airstrikes against Assads forces, and hours before Tillerson is scheduled to make a tense trip to Moscow to pressure Russias leaders to end their support for Assad. Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had merely been incompetent. But he said the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." In addition to G-7 countries, diplomats at the summit are attending from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and others. The inclusion of the countries is important because the U.S. strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Middle East nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after ISIS is defeated. Diplomats made no remarks as photographers were allowed in briefly for the start of the meeting. The session lasted about an hour. Tillerson, who has been largely out of the public eye, was visible during last weeks announcement of the response to the gruesome chemical attack, fielding questions from reporters on and off camera, and then captured in an official White House photo seated next to President Trump as they heard the result of the 59 cruise missiles that struck a Syrian military base. Tillerson and U.S. officials have projected a sense of urgency about the Syria crisis, but have failed to set a strategy on how Assad must go, how to protect displaced Syrians and whether the U.S. should take further action. Successive attempts by top Trump administration officials to articulate a plan have only furthered the appearance of a policy still evolving. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson said Monday while visiting Sant'Anna di Stazzema, a Tuscan village where the Nazis massacred more than 500 civilians during World War II. Leading up to the U.S. missile attack, Trump's administration had said that Assad's future was up to the Syrian people. Then Trump, the day after the assault, said his thinking about Assad had changed. Tillerson answered a question about effecting regime change by saying the U.S. was organizing a coalition to do just that. The Associated Press contributed to this report. After four years of relative stability, Benton Countys budget is entering uncertain territory that is likely to be marked by rising personnel costs and unpredictable levels of state and federal support. That was the thrust of budget manager Pat Cochrans message to the Benton County Budget Committee. The committee, made up of the three county commissioners and three appointed citizens, held its first meeting Monday night at the Sunset Building. The panel is scheduled to meet at least seven more times over the next six weeks to consider the countys budget for the next two fiscal years. Cochrans proposal calls for a $242.7 million budget for 2017-19, up 10.8 percent from an adjusted level of $219 million for 2015-17, and includes a modest increase in the county work force from 471.01 full-time-equivalent positions to 476.79 FTE. It assumes that the countys local option levy will be renewed by voters in the November election for another five years at the current rate of 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Cochran noted the levy represents $14 million in general fund revenue in the 2017-19 budget, or 24 percent of the countys discretionary income for the biennium half of which would disappear if the levy goes away. Local option renewal is critical, he told the committee members during his hourlong presentation. Cochran forecast continued growth in property tax revenues, which have been rising due to the completion of The Retreat and other housing developments catering to Oregon State University students. The resolution of the HP Inc. and Comcast property tax appeals, he said, will also put more property tax money in the countys coffers. He also said the county is expecting a one-time windfall of $1.1 million in landfill surcharge fees from an extra half-million tons of garbage scheduled to be sent to the Coffin Butte Regional Landfill by Metro, the Portland-area regional government. But with Oregon legislators facing a $1.6 billion revenue shortfall for the next biennium, its far from clear how much support the county can expect from the state. Likewise, with a new administration in the White House, federal funding levels could also drop especially if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to withhold funding from sanctuary communities such as Benton County. One part of the budget that could take a big hit is the community health centers, in part because of reduced Medicaid funding. There are lots of questions around health center finances, Cochran told the committee. I think as this biennium rolls out, you will have to watch that. What is certain, however, is that personnel costs a major portion of the budget will rise substantially. Salaries and wages are expected to climb 2.5 percent a year during the biennium, but benefits will likely soar in two key areas. After several years of holding relatively steady, the countys health insurance premiums are projected to jump 14 percent in 2017-18 and another 12 percent the following year, Cochran said. And unless the Legislature comes up with a solution, the countys Public Employee Retirement System costs could increase by a staggering 20 percent. PERS is worth $2.7 million in the 2017-19 biennium, Cochran said. Thats the impact. So its a big item. Its also a recurring cost that could continue to put a drain on county resources for years to come, he warned. In my mind, you cannot view this budget without looking ahead to 19-21, Cochran said. Theyre connected. And theyre connected because of PERS. The budget includes money to continue renting jail beds from other counties to handle the overflow from the local jail, as well as four juvenile detention beds and some additional flex capacity, while maintaining funding for the Drug Treatment Court. It maintains funding for expanded primary care, behavioral health and dental services begun in the last biennium, along with some expanded mental heath services. It funds the completion of a $9.6 million project to renovate the Sunset and Public Services buildings and expand the Avery Building. What the budget does not do, however, is satisfy many of the staffing requests put forward by county department heads. This budget is within $300,000 of maintaining a match of general fund current revenue to current expense, Cochran wrote in his formal budget message. It does so by choosing not to fund nearly all new positions requests, some of which would otherwise deserve consideration, and it makes small reductions in existing positions. While Cochrans 228-page budget document will form the basis for the committees deliberations, it is far from the last word. Over the next several weeks, a parade of county department heads, outside agency representatives and private citizens will come forward to make their case for more funding. It will be up to the Budget Committee to balance those requests against Cochrans revenue projections and make the final decision. Shocking viral videos of security personnel forcibly removing a man from his seat and dragging him down the aisle of a United plane have many wondering what rights passengers haveif anywhen theyve been bumped from a flight. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, about one in every 14,000 fliers gets bumped every year, a very, very small number of the more than 631,000,000 passengers who boarded a commercial flight last year. But what happens if youre asked to leave and you don't want to? This is what the DOT and major U.S. airlines say about involuntary bumping. Why do airlines need to bump people from flights? Airlines routinely overbook flights because they want to make sure that each flight is as full as possible to maximize profits. (United has since admitted that the flight on which the incident occurred was not overbooked but passengers were asked to leave to make room for airline crewmembers who needed to travel to Louisville for work). Carriers expect that a certain percentage of fliers will cancel travel or decide not to show at the last minute for whatever reason and use various formulas to determine "no shows." UNITED CEO DEFENDS STAFF ACTIONS AFTER SHOCKING VIRAL VIDEO And the practice of overselling isnt illegal. According to the DOT, When an oversale occurs, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to ask people who aren't in a hurry to give up their seats voluntarily, in exchange for compensation. Those passengers bumped against their will are, with a few exceptions, entitled to compensation. Airlines are required by law to ask for volunteers first. In 2013, the latest year for which this data is available, eight times as many flyers voluntarily gave up their seats than those who were eventually asked to leave during an oversold situation. How do airlines pick who gets bumped? This can vary depending on which airline youre flying and can be found in an airlines Contract of Carriage, which stipulates the rules and regulations regarding passenger and airline rights. Each carrier has its own policies stipulating who gets bumped first if there arent enough volunteers. According to Uniteds contract, passengers who receive priority, i.e. those who are least likely to get bumped, include passengers who are Qualified Individuals with Disabilities, unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 years, or minors between the ages of 5 to 15 years who use the unaccompanied minor service, will be the last to be involuntarily denied boarding if it is determined by UA that such denial would constitute a hardship. Southwest, however, takes a more democratic first come, first served approach. According to the Dallas-based carriers contact, the last person who boards the plane will likely be the first person taken off a flight in an oversold situation. After those with priority boarding are assessed, major carriers like United and Delta also look at the price you paid for the ticket, fare class, your full itinerary (if you have several connections and would likely be a pain to rebook, that is taken into consideration) and your frequent flier program status to determine who gets asked to leave next. So how much you paid for a ticket and whether you're a loyal customer really does make a difference, as stipulated by the airlines. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS So what happens if I get bumped from a plane? You are entitled to some form of compensation, commensurate with how long it takes the airline to get to your destination past the scheduled time. From the DOT, if you arrive at your destination beyond: --One to two hours after your original landing time on a domestic flight, you'll get 200 percent of the cost of your ticket, up to $675. --Two or more hours beyond your original landing time on domestic flights gets you 400 percent of the cost of your ticket, up to $1350. --One to four hours beyond your original landing time on an international itinerary will get you 200 percent of the cost of your ticket, up to $675. --Four hours or more beyond your original landing time on international flights will net you 400 percent of the cost of your ticket, up to $1350. --Passengers using frequent flyer award tickets can cash based on the lowest amount paid for the airfare. Passengers may also request a full refund for the ticket cost, including any additional fees like checked luggage, seat selection or other extras paid during booking travel. If you have to wait until the next day to fly, most airlines will likely put you up in a hotel. Of course, there's an exception to every rule. According to the DOT, "no compensation is due if the airline arranges substitute transportation which is scheduled to arrive at your destination within one hour of your originally scheduled arrival time." The CEO of United Airlines has issued a stronger apology about a passenger who was dragged off a United Express flight, calling the Sunday afternoon confrontation "truly horrific." Oscar Munoz said in a statement issued Tuesday that he continues to be disturbed by the events that unfolded at Chicago O'Hare, adding that, "No one should ever be mistreated this way." Munoz was widely criticized for two statements Monday about the altercation, in which he described the 69-year-old man taken off the plane as "disruptive and belligerent." On Tuesday afternoon, however, the CEO changed his tune slightly, vowing to "fix what's broken so this never happens again." The full statement, which was also posted on Twitter, reads: The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicited many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment. I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened. Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way. I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right. Its never too late to do the right thing. I have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix whats broken so this never happens again. This will include a thorough review of crew movement, our policies for incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement. Well communicate the results of our review by April 30th. The statement was signed by Munoz. Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported the man dragged off the flight by airport police in Chicago is a Kentucky-based physician who was convicted more than a decade ago of felony charges involving his prescribing of drugs. Still, there's no indication his past influenced how he was treated or that the airline or police were aware of his background. And it's unlikely that officials would have known anything about him other than basic identifying information such as his name and address, if that. A person with knowledge of the Sunday evening flight who was not authorized to publicly release the information told The AP the passenger was David Dao, 69, of Elizabethtown, Ky. According to a statement released Tuesday Dao is undergoing treatment in a Chicago hospital for his injuries. The family of Dr. Dao wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received. Currently, they are focused only on Dr. Daos medical care and treatment, said Chicago attorney Stephen L. Golan of Golan Christie Taglia, who along with Chicago aviation attorney Thomas A. Demetrio of Corboy & Demetrio, represents the Dao family. While screaming can be heard on the videos, nowhere is Dao seen attacking the security officers. In fact, he appears relatively passive both when he was dragged down the aisle of the jet and when he is seen standing in the aisle later saying quietly, "I want to go home, I want to go home." The Associated Press contributed to this report. A fifth person has died of wounds from a multiple homicide and suicide at different locations in the Houston area last week. Police say Laverne Holmes was among those wounded Friday when her 29-year-old daughter, Dekitta Holmes, went on a shooting rampage, killing her sister, stepfather and another man before taking her own life. Officers found the bodies of the stepfather and Dekitta Holmes at a Houston home. Houston police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said Laverne Holmes also was found critically wounded and was taken to a Houston hospital. She died Monday. After responding to the shootings in Houston, police asked Fort Bend County sheriff's deputies to check on a home in Fresno, about 16 miles southwest of Houston. Silva said deputies found the body of the shooter's sister. A Georgia jury has convicted a pastor of molesting two teenagers who attended his church in coastal Brunswick. Media outlets report 57-year-old Kenneth Adkins was found guilty Monday of eight criminal counts, including aggravated child molestation. Prosecutors said the pastor pressured two teenagers a boy and girl, both 15 to have sex while Adkins watched in his office at Greater New Dimension Church in 2009. They said the pastor also touched the girl inappropriately. The male victim testified against Adkins during his trial. But the young woman testified the allegations were false. Jurors took about an hour to convict Adkins. Glynn County Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett scheduled sentencing for April 25. An Ohio man who was to face trial this week for setting a fire that killed a girl he was accused of raping and her grandparents apparently committed suicide Monday when he jumped from a fourth-floor courthouse balcony. Robert Seman Jr., 48, was returning to the Mahoning County Jail from the county courthouse in Youngstown when he suddenly ran to the balcony and hurled himself over the edge. He was coming from a status conference before his trial was set to begin Tuesday in Portage County, 35 miles away. "According to a couple of the attorneys and basically everybody there, it seemed like he was in pretty good spirits," Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene told the Youngstown Vindicator. "He was talking about the future of his trial, and he just decided to jump." I heard somebody shout and I looked up on the opposite side. I saw a deputy at the railing, and I saw this white object falling to the ground, Vindicator reporter Joe Gorman told WKBN. I knew what it was, and I just screamed." WKBN reported that Seman had been allowed to change out of his usual orange jail jumpsuit and wear civilian clothing to court. His only restraint was a brace worn under his pant leg to keep him from running. Greene said Seman's lack of restraint was a standard procedure "due to the fact that the courts do not want individuals on trial to be seen with restraining devices on, or per se, in custody." Seman could have faced the death penalty if convicted in the deaths of 10-year-old Corrine Gump, 63-year-old William Schmidt and 61-year-old Judith Schmidt. The March 2015 fire at the family's home occurred the day Seman's trial in Corrine's rape was scheduled to begin in Youngstown. Investigators concluded that the fire was fueled by gasoline. Burns were found on Seman's body after his arrest, prosecutors said. A Mahoning County judge declared a mistrial last September because a potential juror had prematurely concluded that Seman was guilty and discussed details about the case with fellow jurors. Seman's attorneys successfully argued that he could not get a fair trial in Youngstown because of pretrial publicity. Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa told news outlets Monday that Seman "knew" the evidence was against him. "Every witness we talked to in preparation for the case, they didn't know why he wasn't pleading guilty or asking for some sort of plea," Cantalamessa said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from WKBN.com. A man who shot and killed a Texas deputy constable last week killed himself the following day, investigators said Monday. Baytown police Lt. Steve Dorris identified William Kenny, 64, as the man who shot Harris County Precinct 3 Assistant Chief Deputy Clinton Greenwood April 3 as Greenwood arrived for work. The attack prompted a massive manhunt. Dorris said investigators hadn't identified Kenny as the gunman until late Sunday and had been searching for him Monday when they discovered he already was dead. Authorities determined he shot himself on April 4 outside Houston's Ben Taub Hospital, where the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office took jurisdiction of his body. Spokeswoman Tricia Bentley said the autopsy was completed the following day and a funeral home designated by Kenny's family picked it up Friday. The gun used to shoot Greenwood was the same one Kenny used to kill himself, Dorris said. Greenwood, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, was working for a Harris County constable's office when he was killed, but had previously worked for the county sheriff's office, the county prosecutor's office and in private practice as a lawyer. Dorris declined to reveal a motive for the shooting, explaining that the investigation is ongoing, and said investigators are still working to determine why Greenwood was targeted. However, Fox 26 reported that Kenny had a long history of filing complaints against Harris County officials, including accusations of corruption. Detectives told the station that Greenwood's name appeared repeatedly in writings on Kenny's website. The complaints began on Valentine's Day in 2012 after Kenney was accused of domestic violence against his estranged wife while they were in the midst of a divorce. "Will you let (Greenwood) know that I called and I'm confused as to why he's avoiding me," Kenny is heard saying in one recording on his website. "I don't understand." After Greenwood's death, authorities had placed a former district attorney under armed protection as a precaution. The gunman had stepped out from behind a dumpster as Greenwood, a married father of four, exited his SUV after arriving for work at a courthouse complex in Baytown. Dorris said surveillance video showing a car outside the courthouse east of Houston was instrumental in leading investigators to Kenny. He described a painstaking process over the last week to review video at the courthouse and also other video in the area used by convenience stores and others. "That was one of the reasons is took so long to get us to where we are," he said. Video at a convenience store provided a clear photo of Kenny, Dorris said, and investigators determined the vehicle was a rental and that it had been rented by Kenny. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from Fox26Houston.com. A Massachusetts man who has spent 36 years in prison for a murder he says he didn't commit has won a new trial. Frederick Weichel was convicted in the 1980 killing of Robert LaMonica. A judge overturned LaMonica's conviction Monday, finding that authorities failed to give the defense a police report suggesting another possible suspect. Convicted gangster James "Whitey" Bulger wrote letters from jail several years ago claiming he knew Weichel didn't kill LaMonica. Bulger said a friend of Weichel's told him he was afraid because he had beaten up a man in a fight and the man's friend, LaMonica, was promising retribution. Bulger said he told the man to "get him first, kill him." A spokesman for Norfolk County prosecutors say they're disappointed and are reviewing the case. The Pentagon has identified the soldier who was killed over the weekend while conducting an operation against Islamic State militants in Afghanistan. Military officials said in a news release Monday that 37-year-old Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar of Edgewood, Maryland, died Saturday of wounds sustained when his unit encountered enemy small arms fire in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province. De Alencar was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. De Alencar's remains will be returned Monday evening to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. A woman shot and wounded two people Tuesday outside an auto parts plant in Tennessee before turning the gun on herself -- in what appeared to be a case of domestic violence, police said. The shooting unfolded at the Ficosa plant in Cookeville. A wounded man and woman have been flown to hospitals for treatment, but their conditions were not immediately available. My heart is w/ the victims of this tragedy & I am following the situation closely. Thx to brave officers at @CookevillePD & @putnamsheriff1. https://t.co/OBsWJWIzBU Diane Black (@RepDianeBlack) April 11, 2017 CHICAGO JUDGE KILLED: FBI OFFERS $25G REWARD FOR INFO "It would appear right now that the shooter took her own life," Cookeville Police Major Carl Sells said. Two of the three were currently employed at the plant, Sells added. He also said two of them are in their early 20s. The scene is secure and there is no ongoing threat to the public, Fox 17 News reported. The plant, which develops automotive parts, opened in October of last year. The incident in this city just 80 miles east of Nashville came one day after a shooting at a San Bernardino, Calif., elementary school that police said was related to domestic violence. A man walked into his estranged wife's classroom there and opened fire without saying a word, killing her and an 8-year-old student before shooting himself, investigators said. A 9-year-old was also wounded. Click for more from Fox 17 News. A pro-police author who was scheduled to speak at a southern California college on Thursday was forced to livestream the speech instead due to 250 protesters who blocked the entrance to where the conference was to be held. Heather Mac Donald, the author of The War on Cops, was prevented from speaking at Claremont McKenna College after angry protesters interrupted the speech, The College Fix reported. The protesters were reportedly yelling, Fk the police and black lives matter. The protesters surrounded all the doors to the Atheneum where I was supposed to speak, so none of the students who had signed up to attend my lecture could get in, Mac Donald told The Fix. I was hustled from my guest suite by several police officers from Claremont PD into the lecture hall. It was decided that I would give the speech for live streaming to a largely empty hall. The organizers moved the podium so that it would not be visible through the windows to the students surrounding the building once night fell. We jumpstarted the timing of my talk as the crowd seemed to be getting more unruly. The protests reportedly grew due to Facebook postings. The school said it was disappointed that people could not attend the lecture. Based on the judgment of the Claremont Police Department, we jointly concluded that any forced interventions or arrests would have created unsafe conditions for students, faculty, staff, and guests, Claremont McKenna College President Hiram E. Chodosh said in a statement. I take full responsibility for the decision to err on the side of these overriding safety considerations. A Pennsylvania appeals court is being asked to review a judge's decision to keep sealed some of the filings in the criminal cases of three former Penn State University administrators. The Associated Press on Monday notified Judge John Boccabella it was appealing to Superior Court his order last month granting access to some sealed records, but leaving many others out of view. The judge ruled it wasn't feasible to unseal the titles of docket entries. He also didn't allow access to records relating to proffers to the court or involving claims of attorney-client privilege. Former Penn State president Graham Spanier was found guilty on March 24 of misdemeanor child endangerment. His former lieutenants Gary Schultz and Tim Curley pleaded guilty to the same offense. All three await sentencing. A $25,000 reward has been offered by the FBI seeking information that could lead to the arrest of the person who shot and killed a judge outside his Chicago home. Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles was gunned down outside of his home on Monday as he headed to the gym, police said. The 66-year-old Myles was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, and a 53-year-old woman with him was reported in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the leg. She is expected to survive. TEXAS OFFICER IN VIRAL HUG SAYS IT 'MEANT THE WORLD TO HIM' The woman was identified as Myles' girlfriend, The Chicago Tribune reported. Melissa Staples, the citys chief of detectives, said the woman was walking to the garage at Myles' home when she came upon a man holding a gun. Words were exchanged and the offender shot the woman. Staples said when Myles heard the gunshot, he came outside to investigate. He exchanged words with the gunman before the man shot him several times. Staples said the shooting may have been the culmination of a robbery attempt. FLORIDA SHERIFF UNDER FIRE OVER ANTI-DRUG VIDEO DEFENDS TACTICS: 'WE DON'T NEGOTIATE' Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Myles also "may have been targeted for one reason or another." No arrests have been made in the shootings that happened around 5 a.m. on Chicago's South Side. Police Deputy Superintendent Kevin Navarro called the shooting "a senseless act of violence." "Every day civil servants like Judge Myles and those of us in law enforcement work tirelessly to hold criminals accountable and make our streets safer," Navarro said. "That's why, when incidents like this occur, it's not only a reminder of the ever-present challenge we have with illegal guns and the offenders willing to use them, but it's also a direct attack on the criminal justice system that keeps our society safe." Chief Judge Timothy Evans' office confirmed Myles had been a Cook County judge since 1999. "I join all of the judges today in the Circuit Court of Cook County in expressing our sadness regarding the tragic passing of our colleague and friend," Evans said. "I have always known Judge Myles to be focused and determined in the pursuit of justice, and his conduct earned him the confidence and respect of the people who appeared before him," Evans added. "All of our colleagues at the Leighton Criminal Court Building will miss Judge Myles, who they came to know for his kindness and his impartial administration of justice." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cayla Chandara says she's heard of other stories like this, but never thought it would happen to her. When it did, it left her speechless. Cayla has been pulling double duty as a waitress at the cheesecake factory and Noi Thai Cuisine in Waikiki. She was waiting on a couple of visitors from Australia at Noi Thai, and says they hit it off. The three of them ended up chatting with them quite a bit. "They asked me where I was from and I told them I moved here for school but I was kinda in a little bit of debt and I couldn't go back to school because I couldn't afford it and the cost of living here," Cayla explained. After a good meal and even better conversation, the man and woman paid their $200 tab and left. Cayla was shocked to see they left a tip for four hundred dollars. READ MORE FROM FOX 29. Several students were hospitalized after a crash involving a Sarasota, Fla., school bus this morning, but all are expected to recover. The crash occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. The Florida Highway Patrol said the bus was traveling eastbound when a car tried to make a left-hand turn in front of the bus. POLICE: 3 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS KILLED IN SWEDISH BUS CRASH The front of the car slammed into the right front of the bus, sending the bus into a pole. The bus was headed to Oakpark School, a special needs school nearby. JUDGE: EVIDENCE IN DEADLY SCHOOL BUS CRASH TO REMAIN SEALED FOX 13s Kimberly Kuizon reports 13 students were on the bus. Seven of them were hospitalized, along with the bus driver and attendant. Bus did not catch on fire. There is a gas leak that firefighters continue to spray with foam @FOX13News #sarasota pic.twitter.com/HqNei8d67B Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) April 11, 2017 Firefighters say none of the injuries appeared to be severe. Crews are working to clear the scene and clean up leaking bus fuel from the bus. Click for more from Fox 13. A group of south Florida teens captured a 13-foot python on Sunday, according to police. With brush fires burning all over the state, including in the Everglades, snakes and other wildlife are more likely to enter residential areas to escape the smoke and flames. Thats the likely reason the 13-foot python ended up in a Pembroke Pines neighborhood over the weekend. PYTHON HUNTERS DESCRIBE DANGERS OF WRANGLING 15-FOOT SNAKE IN FLORIDA EVERGLADES The three teens found the snake in the Holly Lake community, and called police for assistance. The snake had burn marks on its skin evidence of being dangerously too close to the wildfires. The python was transported to Everglades Holiday Park where it will be examined. Click here for more from Fox 35. The next president of a southern Illinois community will be decided by the flip of a coin. "Heads or tails" will break the 11-vote tie between two candidates running for the job of village president. Candidate Tammy ODaniell-Howell is a lifelong resident of Colp, Ill., and has been the town clerk since 2009. She decided to run for village president to honor her father, the villages former mayor. COIN TOSS FOR A UTAH COUNCIL SEAT: TIED RACE DETERMINED BY CHANCE ODaniell-Howells competition is Southern Illinois University alum, Bryan Reikena, who describes his occupation as geek. Both candidates expressed disappointment in the fact that only 29 out of 250 registered voters in the village case their ballots in this election. EAGLES TO PICK NO. 14 IN NFL DRAFT AFTER COIN FLIP "I would have liked to see a little more than 11 or 12 percent show up," Riekena told UPI. Illinois law calls for a coin toss in situations like these, so despite low voter turnout, a village president will be elected on April 20, officials say. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ohio police are hunting two suspects Tuesday after an officer was shot during a traffic stop while trying to inspect a possible mobile meth lab. The Newcomerstown police officer who was identified as 38-year-old Bryan Eubanks -- has been released from a hospital in good condition after receiving treatment for an arm wound. FLORIDA SHERIFF UNDER FIRE OVER ANTI-DRUG VIDEO DEFENDS TACTICS: 'WE DON'T NEGOTIATE' Police believe a passenger in a Geo Tracker car fired at Eubanks. The driver of the car was wearing a tactical vest, Fox 8 reported, citing the state attorney generals office. The vehicle that was stopped in the eastern Ohio village had dark-tinted windows and no license plates. It was being inspected as a possible mobile meth lab, according to the New Philadelphia Times Reporter. Police earlier released a photo of a potential suspect in the case. He later turned himself into authorities and was cleared of any wrongdoing, the Newcomerstown police chief told Fox 8. One of the suspects -- both men -- was wearing a red sweatshirt while the other was wearing a green shirt, according to News 5 Cleveland. The attorney general's office told the station that they are armed with a shotgun and handguns. Newcomerstown is about 85 miles northeast of Columbus. Click for more from Fox 8. Shocking results of newly mandated background checks in Massachusetts for drivers of ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft have many advocates and lawmakers calling on other states to follow the Bay States lead and toughen their own reviews. Massachusetts new state records review resulted in the banning of more than 8,200 of the states almost 71,000 drivers who had already passed background checks conducted by ride-hailing companies. While most of those who failed the state-mandated background check did so because their license had been suspended, they had been licensed to drive for less than three years or they had multiple driving offenses, there were also more than 300 applicants who had felony convictions and 51 who were registered sex offenders. Its absolutely terrifying because if you multiply these numbers for Uber and Lyft on a national scale, you see why there are so many sex offenses from these drivers, Dave Sutton, a spokesperson for the for-hire vehicle safety group Whos Driving You, told Fox News. Whos Driving You is an initiative of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association. These company checks protect violent offenders and put people at risk, Sutton said. The results of the Massachusetts checks have prompted other states and municipalities to consider more stringent measures for evaluating drivers working for ride-hailing services. In Austin, Texas, city officials are pointing to the Massachusetts results as a reason why a proposed law in the Lone Star State to require only company background checks and prevent local governments from adding stricter measures should not pass. Uber and Lyft stopped operating in Austin last year after the city required background checks using fingerprints. Whats happened in Massachusetts seems to vindicate what our police chief told us: There is a value to having a [government] background check, Jason Stanford, a spokesman for Austin Mayor Steve Adler, told the Boston Globe. But all of that will be for naught if the state passes a law preempting our local law. Regulations must achieve the balance of appropriately ensuring the safety of our community while also not unfairly limiting economic opportunity for drivers. Adrian Durbin, Lyfts director of communications The state that most closely mirrors Massachusetts in terms of its checks is Maryland, which has removed about 6 percent of the states 74,000 drivers working for ride-hailing services since it started reviewing company background checks in 2015. Late last year Maryland granted waivers to Uber and Lyft drivers from a fingerprint check, but state officials say their checks are still some of the most thorough in the U.S. We just granted a fingerprint waiver, but we have also implemented a number of additional requirements for drivers, Tori Leonard, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Public Service Commission, told Fox News. The additional safety measures includes requiring drivers to agree to report arrests and convictions to the companies within three business days, making Uber and Lyft look back through the entire adult history of its applicants for convictions in Maryland and, where possible, convictions in other jurisdictions and ordering companies to revisit a background check of any driver the state believes may need to have his or her criminal history re-examined. In Uber and Lyfts home state of California lawmakers recently stipulated that ride-hailing services expand their background checks beyond the federally mandated seven years and bar drivers with violent felony convictions from working for their services. Spokespeople for both Uber and Lyft told Fox News that while passenger safety is a top priority, the expanded checks hurt the livelihoods of drivers who need the money and unfairly target some drivers for minor infractions that happened years ago. It is critically important to ensure drivers aren't unfairly prevented from pursuing economic opportunities as a result of certain infractions that happened many years in the past, Adrian Durbin, Lyfts director of communications, said in a statement. Regulations must achieve the balance of appropriately ensuring the safety of our community while also not unfairly limiting economic opportunity for drivers. Durbin added: It would be a mistake to prevent good and qualified drivers around the country from earning needed income as a result of one state's rulemaking." Ride-hailing companies also say that they are limited in how far back they can look into a drivers history by the Federal Trade Commissions Fair Credit Reporting Act. While the FCRA has no time limitation on reporting criminal convictions, some states have limitations on the length of time records may be reported and in addition many employers limit the use of older convictions for other, non-FCRA reasons. A spokeswoman for Uber told Fox News that since Massachusetts released its results the company has been flooded with calls from former drivers who are unsure what to do now that they cant work for the ride-hailing service. We have a lot of people who are concerned and a lot of people who have lost a big part of their bottom line, an Uber spokeswoman told Fox News. There are more than 8,000 people in Massachusetts who are now out of work. TOUGH TALK Pyongyang is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the U.S. move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula. The statement comes just after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said U.S. missile strikes against a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack carry a message for any nation operating outside of international norms. Last week, Gordon Chang, a North Korea expert, told FoxNews.com to watch to see Kim Jong Un's next move. He may disappear from the world's stage for a while. GINGRICH ON FOREIGN CHALLENGES FACING TRUMP 'TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT': DO DEMS STILL THINK TRUMP IS PUTIN'S PUPPET? 'ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE' In the wake of President Trump's missile strike into Syria, a source close to former Secretary of State Kerry reportedly said he was absolutely supportive of the decision and gratified to see that it happened quickly. A senior U.S. official says the United States has concluded that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week. The official says a Russian-operated drone flew over a hospital in Syria as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. 'SPECIAL REPORT': HOW THE AIRSTRIKES IN SYRIA WILL IMPACT FUTURE POLICY COURTHOUSE SHOCKER An Ohio man who was to face trial this week for setting a fire that killed a girl he was accused of raping and her grandparents apparently committed suicide Monday when he jumped from a fourth-floor courthouse balcony. FOX NEWS OPINION It's time to rethink how our federal agencies seize cash and property James R. Copland, a senior fellow and director of legal policy and Rafael A. Manguala legal-policy project manager with the Manhattan Institute write that the DEA alone has made more than 80,000 cash seizures resulting in forfeitures that totaled more than $4 billion over the last decade. COMING UP ON FOX NEWS CHANNEL 1 PM ET: AG Sessions tours the US-Mexico border and speaks with law enforcement and military personnel. Port of Nogales, Mariposa Crossing. Watch live on FoxNews.com COMING UP ON FOX BUSINESS 8:30 AM ET: Blackstone Group Chairman Stephen Schwarzman, live on "Mornings With Maria." An incident at a Michigan Pepsi bottling plant sparked environmental concerns after nearly 7,200 gallons of Mountain Dew syrup spilled into a floor drain and into the plants internal sewer system when a tank ruptured last month. Officials with PepsiCo and the city where the plant is located, Howell, said most of the spill was contained after it created a huge foaming event, the Livingston Daily reported Monday. Carla Davidson, an analyst with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, told the newspaper that the magnitude of the spill was highly unusual. The soda syrup could have a toxic effect on aquatic life if it got into rivers, lakes or streams. WOMAN CHARGED WITH CHOKING TEEN FOR BLOCKING VIEW AT DISNEY FIREWORKS SHOW Officials at the plant tried to treat the problem without any help for two days before the system became overwhelmed, the Livingston Daily reported. The DEQ received an alert from the Pollution Emergency Alert System when the syrup, mixed with waste water, sent more than 50,000 gallons of sugar-laced sewage flowing out of the system. Davidson said the waste water was mostly contained at the water detention basin at the plant, while a small amount went into a ditch behind Key Plastics. Howell City Manager Shea Charles told the paper that did not get into the public spill system. There are still questions that remain in the spills aftermath, Davidson said. She said she wanted to know why the tank holding the syrup ruptured and if any other tank could face a similar issue. As far as impact to the environment, I think Pepsi is cleaning it up, and well be working with them to prevent discharges like this from happening in the future, Davidson said. There was not a release to surface water that we know of, so thats also a positive. Click for more from the Livingston Daily. One person has died and four were injured Tuesday after an explosion at an Army ammunition plant in Missouri, officials said. The explosion took place in a mixing building at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri at approximately 1 p.m. One worker was killed and four were treated at the scene but refused further medical treatment, according to a spokesperson. Scott Allen with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said federal workplace safety officials are headed to Independence to investigate the cause of the deadly explosion. Lake City Commander Lt. Col. Eric Dennis said the explosion was in a primer mixing facility, where various chemical agents are mixed to create compounds used in ammunition. The plant manufactures small-caliber ammunition and operates the North Atlantic Treaty Organization test center. It sits on 3,935 acres in Independence, just east of Kansas City. An employee told Fox4KC that all workers are being sent home. The property has more than 400 buildings and nine warehouses, and has a storage capacity of more than 700,000 square feet. Its workforce includes 29 Department of Army civilians and a soldier to provide contract oversight. It has a governmental staff payroll of $2.9 million. A spokesperson says no further information about the accident was immediately available and the deceased victim's identity has not yet been released. According to the Kansas City Star, previous explosions in December 1990 and March 1981 killed and injured workers at Lake City. READ MORE FROM FOX 4 KANSAS CITY. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A volunteer fire company in Pennsylvania announced that for the first time in decades, its annual Easter egg hunt will be canceled, since it's become too dangerous -- not because of the kids, but because of the parents. The Norco Fire Company in Pottstown publicized the cancelation on Facebook. The post read, We know that the majority of our community is not the problem, but we cant risk injury to children because certain individuals cant control themselves. ALI FEDOTOWSKIS EGG-DECORATING TIPS FOR EASTER Apparently, some kids in previous years had to dodge parents who ran onto the field, even though officials warned the adults to stay off. They go in there and they push and shove, Deputy Chief Chuck Hipple told the Reading Eagle. Everybody just runs out there and they knock people over. Thats just not the way were going to run it. AT OUR PASSOVER AND EASTER TABLES LETS NOT FORGET THOSE IN NEED There were mixed reactions to the cancelation. Some people in the area agreed that parents could not seem to obey the rules, but others called the accusations a bunch of exaggerations. The fire company's finances may also have played a role in the decision. Hipple said the company spent hundreds of dollars each year to fund the egg hunt but could not afford the possibility of lawsuits over any injuries. In addition, the company reportedly is aiming to buy a new firetruck. This Easter egg hunt is not totally considered a bad egg, though. Hipple says he hopes that the hunt disappears for just one year, because hed like to see a gentle, kind, and more responsible form of the hunt reemerge next year. Pottstown is about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A new report says New Orleans prosecutors jailed at least six crime victims to make them testify last year, including a rape victim who was held for eight days. Court Watch NOLA says judges approved at least nine other material witness warrants for victims, but those people couldn't be found. The nonprofit wants District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro to reduce requests for such warrants, and to drop them entirely for sexual assault or domestic violence victims. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman says that since the group reported only one sexual assault or domestic violence case, Cannizzaro is surprised that the group "focused so much of its resources and attention" on the issue. He says Cannizzaro is more concerned about the 55 killings and 204 shootings so far this year. The suspected gunman behind a murder-suicide at a California elementary school had a brief, tumultuous marriage with his wife before he gunned her down on Monday -- and the woman's mother described him as a ticking time bomb. Investigators went the home of Cedric Anderson, 53, and seized electronics and a note, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said in a news conference Tuesday. CHICAGO JUDGE KILLED: FBI OFFERS $25G REWARD FOR INFO Burguan said the note, which investigators believe was written by Anderson, referenced his relationship with Smith, his need for closure and how he felt disrespected. The document, however, did not contain information that would indicate it was a suicide note, according to Burguan. 1 SHOT DEAD, 2 WOUNDED OUTSIDE TENNESSEE AUTOMOTIVE PLANT Anderson had a history of weapons, domestic violence and possible drug charges before his marriage to Karen Smith, 53, a teacher at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. He was arrested four times between 1982 and 2013, but was never convicted in any of the cases, Burguan said. Smith's mother, Irma Sykes, told The New York Daily News that "the real Cedric came out" after the seemingly happy couple got married in January. "He was a wolf in sheep's clothing," Sykes told the newspaper. She said her daughter had been friends with Anderson for about four years before they got married. "He was so kind to her while they were dating. She had no idea," Sykes said. Anderson accused Smith of infidelity within a month of being married, relatives said, though police have not verified that detail. Anderson's Facebook page told a different story of their marriage. He often gushed about Smith, calling her an "angel" while professing his love. He depicted a relationship that showed no signs of trouble. "I love being married to Karen Smith-Anderson!" he posted on Feb. 27 with a video. "She knows when to ignore me," Anderson said with a laugh. "Well, it makes a happy marriage." Another photo showed the two of them on March 4 in what he described as a date night. He also wrote about his religious devotion. "After watching Greenleaf with my wonderful little wife. She finally understands me and why I feel the way I do about many Black Churches and so called Pastors," Anderson wrote in a March 14 post. "God's people are their slaves, servants or just some thing to use." His last public post was on March 15. The relationship came to an end when Smith left him about a month and a half after their late-January wedding, police and family members said. "He had other motives," Sykes told The Los Angeles Times. "She left him and that's where the trouble began. She broke up with him and he came out with a different personality. She decided she needed to leave him." Smith moved out of their home and started staying with her children, police said. But Anderson continued to contact her after they separated and tried to get her to move back, relatives told police. The teacher also told family members that Anderson made threats toward her, but she never took them serviously, thinking that he was only acting oddly to get her attention, according to Burguan. No one at the school knew about Smith's marital discord, giving people no reason to suspect a possible shooting, according to the chief. She effectively kept her private life private, Burguan said. On Monday, Anderson walked into North Park Elementary where school staffers recognized him, school district officials said. Security footage showed he tried entering from another door, but it was locked, Burguan said. He followed the proper protocol and got into the school through the front office by saying he had to drop something off for Smith. Anderson then walked into the special needs classroom, where Smith was teaching, and fired 10 shots. Our condolences go out to the family & friends of Jonathan Martinez. A candlelight vigil will be held at North Park at 7 p.m. today. pic.twitter.com/yhYYIt3i7T SBCUSD (@SB_CitySchools) April 11, 2017 His estranged wife was his target and two boys, ages 8 and 9, were hit as he was firing at her, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. He emptied and reloaded the gun before turning it on himself. The 8-year-old student, identified as Jonathan Martinez, later died from his injuries. Martinez was described as a child with Williams Syndrome who previously had heart surgery. Sykes said her daughter was a dedicated teacher who took up the profession about 10 years ago after her four children grew up. Diane Abrams, a substitute at the school, told The Los Angeles Times that Smith dedicated her life to her students. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The federal government has agreed to halt the use of M-44 cyanide "bombs" to control predatory animals in Idaho after a 14-year-boy was injured and his dog killed by the controversial device. Canyon Mansfield, 14, was knocked to the ground last month when an M-44 predator control device spewed cyanide gas into his face and killed his dog. The family had no knowledge the device -- set by the U.S. government some 350 yards from the Mansfields' doorstep -- was there. Four conservation and animal-welfare groups also filed suit last week against the government over the M-44s after a gray wolf -- a protected species -- was accidentally killed by the device in Oregon. In a letter Tuesday to conservation groups, the USDA's Wildlife Services program which kills thousands of predators across the country annually said it was halting the use of M-44s on all private, state, and federal lands in Idaho. "We take seriously the incident in Idaho," the letter read. "Currently, WS has ceased all use of M-44 devices on all land ownerships in the state of Idaho," it said. "WS has also removed all M-44s currently deployed on all land ownerships in Idaho." It remains unknown whether Wildlife Services will decide to permanently halt the use of M44s. At least 19 conservation groups have filed a petition calling for the devices to be banned permanently. In its letter, Wildlife Services informed the groups that WS will notify you 30 days prior to placing any new M-44s in Idaho. The M-44s, also known as "coyote-getters," are designed to lure animals with a smelly bait. When an animal tugs on the device, a spring-loaded metal cylinder fires sodium cyanide powder into its mouth. The devices are placed on land by Wildlife Services -- a little-known branch of the USDA tasked with destroying animals seen as threats to people, agriculture and the environment. Over the years, thousands of non-target animals -- wild and domestic -- have been mistakenly killed by the lethal devices. Canyon Mansfield stumbled upon the unmarked device March 16 while running up a hill behind his parents' Pocatello, Idaho home with his 3-year-old golden Labrador, Casey. When the M-44 detonated, the boy watched as his dog lay dying, suffocating from the orange-colored cyanide sprayed by the device. Since the incident, Canyon has experienced headaches, nausea and numbness and has visited a neurologist for testing, his mother, Theresa Mansfield, told Fox News. The Mansfield dog's death follows a string of other recent incidents in which family pets and endangered species were accidentally killed by M-44s. The government, meanwhile, has called the accidental death of family pets from M-44s a "rare occurrence," and said Wildlife Services posts signs and issues other warnings to alert pet owners when traps are placed near their homes. On Tuesday, various conservation groups praised the decision to temorarily ban use of the devices in Idaho. "This could well be the tipping point that leads to a nationwide ban of these extraordinarily dangerous devices via the legislation introduced in Congress last month," said Brooks Fahy, executive director of the national wildlife advocacy group, Predator Defense. "As the recent cases in Idaho, Wyoming and Oregon amply demonstrate, M-44s endanger non-target wildlife, pets and children, no matter how they are used." Andrea Santarsiere, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, said, Were glad to see these indiscriminate killing devices being pulled from Idaho thats an important step toward protecting wildlife, people and pets from these cyanide bombs." The groups petitioning for the M-44 ban included Western Watersheds Project, Predator Defense, WildEarth Guardians, the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Clearwater, Western Wildlife Conservancy and Nevada Wildlife Alliance. Stranger danger is what we tell our kids to yell if a stranger tries to snatch them. We tell them to fight and run and yell for help. And that is exactly what two little girls in Olympia did. The girls and their dad showed us how they got away, as police continue to search for the man who tried to kidnap them. Sisters Aireyana and Ember love nothing more than playing together outside. But on Sunday afternoon, the girls say playtime went from fun to frightening. Olympia Police say it happened on Wiggins Road SE. The girls were riding their bikes, when 7-year-old Ember decided to chase a cat into a bushy area. Police say a man came out of bushes, grabbed her arm and tried to pull her away. I was really calm about it," said Aireyana. "She (Ember) was screaming and kicking him in the shin. She kicked him in the shin twice. Fighting and kicking and screaming, Ember says she broke free and ran home. But then, her 10-year-old sister said, the man grabbed her by the leg. I fell off my bike. I pulled away from him and got away, said Aireyana. Both girls ran home to tell their father, Robbie. "They were saying Daddy theres a man in the bush! Theres a man in the bush! and I came barreling outside, but by the time I got here, he was already gone, said Robbie. Read more from Q13 Fox. Wisconsin police told Fox News on Tuesday they were fully aware they could be engaged in a suicide-by-cop showdown if they encounter manhunt suspect Joseph Jakubowski, wanted for stealing guns and mailing a 161-page manifesto to President Trump. "I'm confident that if that were the case, we are going to do everything we can to keep our community safe and keep our officers safe," Rock County Sheriff Richard Spoden said on "America's News HQ." "We haven't had anyone get hurt and we certainly don't want him to get hurt." Burglary charges now filed out of Rock County against Joseph Jakubowski as manhunt continues: https://t.co/syESVZNHd6 pic.twitter.com/93IU04ETK4 FOX6 News (@fox6now) April 11, 2017 In addition, law enforcement officials said they would provide extra security to House Speaker Paul Ryan -- who hails from the city at the center of the search -- and his family. Jakubowski, 32, disappeared after allegedly stealing 18 firearms from a gun shop in Janesville. His stepfather, Don McLean, and the suspects mother told The Associated Press they wanted Jakubowski to give himself up because they would rather have him alive. Also Tuesday, police said Jakubowski may have shaved his head, releasing an image showing the suspect without hair. JOSEPH JAKUBOWSKI MANHUNT: SCHOOLS ON ALERT AS POLICE STEP UP THEIR SEARCH Janesville Police Chief David Moore told ABC News' "Good Morning America" the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would work with U.S. Capitol police to reduce the threat while protecting Ryan and his family. Janesville is Ryan's hometown. WISCONSIN MANHUNT PUTS CHURCHES ON ALERT Our concerns are with the speaker and his family, Moore added. Rock County sheriffs officials released new photos Monday evening and have received and followed up on hundreds of tips from the public, Fox 6 reported. Rock County Sheriff Richard Spoden said Jakubowski threatened to attack public officials and schools in his manifesto. While we know he had a plan, we dont know what the endgame is, David Moore, Janesville police chief said. More than 150 state and federal law enforcement officers are searching for Jakubowski. The FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are involved in this investigation. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the capturing of Jakubowski. Click for more from Fox 6. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nigerian police say two Turkish nationals have been abducted and there has been no word from their kidnappers. State police spokesman Chukwu Okechukwu said Tuesday that the two workers for a construction company were taken Sunday in the town of Eket in Akwa Ibom state in the country's south. Police declined to give further details but said rescue efforts were underway. Turkey's embassy has not yet commented. Kidnapping for ransom is common in southern Nigeria but generally involves no fatalities, as hostages are returned unharmed once money exchanges hands. Two Turkish nationals were kidnapped from an international school in Ogun state in January but were released after 11 days. After repeatedly bashing China on the campaign trail, President Donald Trump met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping for the first time last week at Trump's Florida estate. In speeches, Trump had labeled Beijing a "tremendous problem," accusing it of unfairly manipulating its currency and trying to "rape our country" with unfair trade policies. Shortly after his election, he upended decades of diplomatic precedent by taking a call from the president of Taiwan and suggested he might use the island China considers its own territory as a bargaining chip in China-U.S. relations. Since taking office, however, Trump has endorsed the "One China" policy that has underwritten U.S. relations with China for decades and backed off on his threats to impose a 45 percent import tax on Chinese goods and formally declare China a currency manipulator. While in Florida, Xi said the two delegations established a good working relationship, and Trump told reporters that he and Xi made "tremendous progress" in their talks, but neither leader was specific. Observers said the meeting appeared to indicate Trump recognized the importance of keeping ties stable between the world's two largest economies. Following the meeting, here's how a selection of people in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei, Taiwan, view America at this early stage of Trump's presidency. ___ BEIJING Housewife Wang Haiping, 44, said she sees frictions ahead as Trump seeks to maintain U.S. dominance over a rising China. "Trump certainly wants the U.S. to remain the most powerful country in the world, but the fact is that China might catch up with the U.S. in a few years," Wang said. Wang said she wants to send her 13-year-old daughter to the U.S. for college study, but is concerned about hardening attitudes toward foreigners under the administration. "Before I send my child to the U.S. to study, I probably need to ask again: 'Is the U.S. still a safe place?' As minority groups become less accepted in American society, the U.S. is no longer an ideal destination for Chinese students to study." Du Jiarui, 65, retired from a state-owned quality inspection company, said he thought the Trump-Xi meeting was productive and went a long way in promoting good China-U.S. relations, which also benefit other countries. "President Trump is not a person who behaves according to the rules," said Du, who helped to import American industrial technology and products during his career. As to whether Trump's policies will be good for both Americans and people of other countries, "You really need to wait and see," Du said. "There are still some potential risks over the South China Sea and trade issues, and I do hope the two governments can handle these issues properly," said Du, referencing China's increasingly robust assertions of its territorial claim to virtually the entire strategic waterway in which the U.S. navy has long operated. ___ HONG KONG Businessman Dennis Shia, 50, thinks that Trump's trade policies could be ultimately self-defeating. "For products like ours, America totally depends on imports so they should not make policies that are unfavorable (to the import countries)," said Shia, the CEO of a lighting manufacturer, most of whose products are sold to the U.S. and Canada. "This will only increase the price paid by their consumers." "We did think the U.S. might raise the import tax, but we don't worry that America will suddenly start manufacturing on a large scale what we are making," Shia said. He has been considering exporting half-finished goods to America and so the finishing process can be done there and treated as American-made under tax laws. Politics and military disputes could also upset the China-U.S. trading relationship, Shia said. "At the moment, China needs America a lot more than how America needs China," Shia said. "The U.S. buys a lot more Chinese goods than the amount of American goods sold to China. In this way, America has more bargaining power than us. I can say it is very effective for them to use an economic strategy." ___ TAIPEI Lin Fei-fan, 28, a political science graduate student at Taiwan National University, was chiefly concerned with Trump's policy toward Taiwan after he backed down over the "One China" policy in keeping with Beijing's wishes. "From Taiwan's point of view, we don't want Taiwan to become a bargaining chip at their negotiating table," said Lin, who had been a leader of the "Sunflower Movement," a group of student protesters who opposed closer relations between Taiwan and the mainland and occupied the national legislature and premier's officer in 2014. The movement helped propel Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party into the presidency in last year's elections. China has since given her the cold shoulder, cutting off contacts between the two governments in June and bringing diplomatic and economic pressure to bear in hopes of compelling her to sign on to Beijing's political formula that Taiwan and mainland China constitute a single Chinese nation. Although the U.S. State Department said before the meeting that Washington had "moved on" from the Taiwan issue, Lin said it was too early to tell what the outcome of the meeting between Trump and Xi would be. ___ AP journalists Peng Peng in Beijing, Josie Wong in Hong Kong, and Johnson Lai in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report. Follow Louise Watt on Twitter at twitter.com/louise_watt Great Britain doesn't exist in Slovakia. There's an institution with a power to issue fines of up to 6,600 euros ($7,000) for those who would disagree. The state Geodesy, Cartography and Cadaster Authority has warned Slovakian media that a 1995 law says the country that comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island man only be called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or United Kingdom for short. Using Britain and Great Britain are illegal. The authority says it plans to organize trainings on the proper terms before imposing fines. The British embassy in Bratislava and Slovakia's own Foreign Ministry could run afoul of the law. Spokesman Peter Susko says the Foreign Ministry uses United Kingdom in official documents, and terms "understandable to people" in common communication. Gay men are allegedly being put into concentration camp-style prisons in Russia, it has been claimed. Authorities have been accused of setting up several secret camps in Chechnya where men have been tortured or killed because of their sexuality, Novoya Gazeta reported. The Russian newspaper based their report on interviews with eyewitnesses and survivors who claim they were arrested and detained at one of the secret prison at a former military headquarters in the town of Argun. ATTACKS EXEMPLIFY ALLURE OF EXTREMISM IN EX-SOVIET REPUBLICS Former detainees told how they endured electric shock torture and violent interrogation, while others say they were held to ransom and used to extort their families. One prisoner who fled claimed he was blackmailed by Chechen police every month in order to survive before he was incarcerated. RUSSIA PLAGUED BY ISLAMIC TERROR ATTACKS It comes after Novoya Gazeta reported Chechen police had rounded up more than 100 men suspected of being gay killing three of them, last week. Chechens President Ramzan Kadyrov, who is a key ally of Vladimir Putin, accused of ordering the clampdown, denied the allegations claiming its impossible to persecute those who are not in the republic. The Chechen government suggested there are no gay people in their country. The Kremlin-backed Kadyrov is widely accused of extensive human rights violations. He has brought Islam to the fore of Chechnyas daily life, including opening what is called Europes biggest mosque. Human rights groups have accused security forces controlled by Kadyrov of resorting to disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial executions, and the collective punishment of suspects extended families in their fight with Islamist insurgents. Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch said: For several weeks now, a brutal campaign against LGBT people has been sweeping through Chechnya. Law enforcement and security agency officials under control of the ruthless head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, have rounded up dozens of men on suspicion of being gay, torturing and humiliating the victims. Some of the men have forcibly disappeared. Others were returned to their families barely alive from beatings. At least three men apparently have died since this brutal campaign began. Click for more from The Sun. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Ercan Karakoyun looks twice over his shoulder when he leaves his Berlin home to make sure nobody is following him. Karakoyun is a follower of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for an attempted military coup in Turkey last summer. The 37-year-old, who is the public face of the Gulen movement in Germany, says he has received several death threats since the aborted overthrow. The hostility hasn't escalated past the anonymous threats, but Karakoyun's experience is one happening across Europe as Turkey's government tries to root out and punish the U.S.-based Gulen's supporters both within Turkey and abroad. "The witch hunt against us has reached a new level," Karakoyun, the son of Turkish immigrants and spokesman for the Gulen-affiliated Dialogue and Education Foundation in Germany, told The Associated Press. Surrounded by religious books in the foundation's Berlin office, he recounted how German police contacted him last week and warned him not to travel to Turkey. Karakoyun was among more than 300 individuals and dozens of institutions on a list the Turkish foreign intelligence agency MIT gave its German counterpart. MIT asked to have those named put under surveillance. To Ankara's irritation, German officials instead contacted and cautioned the individuals on the list, which included at least two German lawmakers. Gulen has been based in the United States since 1999 in self-imposed exile. His movement, centered on moderate Islamic teachings, ran schools and dormitories that grew into a worldwide network and where, Turkey says, his followers were groomed and eventually infiltrated state organs, including the judiciary, police and military. Turkish authorities say the coup-plotters arrested on the night of the coup were Gulen supporters. Among the evidence they have offered against them is an encrypted messaging application that prosecutors have claimed the coup-plotters used to communicate with each other. In Turkey, tens of thousands of Gulen's followers have lost their jobs or landed in jail. Erdogan has also called on nations to crack down on the Gulen movement's large network of schools and charities outside of the country. The tension between supporters of Gulen, who has rejected any involvement in the failed coup, and Erdogan's allies has become especially heated in recent weeks. Erdogan's government has been campaigning in Germany and other European nations to try to win support for an April 16 referendum that would expand the president's powers. An estimated 3 million expatriate Turks were eligible to cast ballots in what is expected to be a close vote. About half live in Germany. Turkish officials' attempts to rally support for the referendum in other European countries caused widespread irritation in Germany. Several of their planned public events were canceled. Erdogan accused German officials of acting like Nazis, sniping that in turn prompted Chancellor Angela Merkel to publicly condemn his comment. Tensions also flared In the Netherlands when the Dutch government blocked two Turkish ministers last month from addressing political rallies. Turks who gathered outside the country's consulate in Rotterdam briefly clashed with police after Turkey's family affairs minister was prevented from entering the building and escorted back to the Germany border. Similar scenarios have played out elsewhere in Europe, where Gulen's supporters allege that members of Erdogan's AKP Party are involved in whipping up the threatening atmosphere among Turkish immigrants. In Denmark, more than 500 children have left 14 schools that the Turkish government singled out as being closely related to Gulen. Some parents said they received anonymous calls saying they would be arrested in Turkey or have their passports canceled if they didn't take their kids out of the schools. In Germany, where the movement operates dozens of schools, educational centers and youth clubs, many families also have pulled out. A senior Austrian lawmaker presented documents last month purporting to show a Turkish global surveillance network aimed at undermining organizations loyal to Gulen. Germany's Interior Ministry said last week that prosecutors are investigating 20 people suspected of spying for Turkey in Germany on people thought to be Gulen supporters. Several calls and emails for comment on these allegations by the Union of European Turkish Democrats, which is close to Erdogan's AKP, went unanswered. Gulen followers are not the only ones complaining about threats from Erdogan supporters. Cem Ozdemir, a member of the German parliament and one of the heads of Germany's The Green party, said he has been verbally attacked by Turkish taxi drivers in Berlin who were upset about his anti-Erdogan stance. Sevim Dagdelen, a Turkish-German lawmaker with The Left party, said she received death threats after speaking out publicly against Erdogan. After Turkish newspapers published her picture and berated her as a traitor, people in Germany attacked or insulted her on the street, she said. She has been put under police protection and warned not to go out with her children in public. Still, The Parliament member can also no longer travel to Turkey, even though she is her party's expert on the country. Dagdelen, the daughter of Turkish guest workers who came to Germany in the 1960s, called on the German government to help protect dissidents of the Erdogan regime both in Germany and Turkey, but expressed little hope that the situation would improve soon. "I don't believe that Erdogan will let himself be influenced by the outcome of the referendum in April," she said. "He has already made the decisions regarding his agenda a long time ago namely to turn Turkey into an oppressive Islamist regime." ___ David Rising in Berlin, Jan Olsen in Stockholm, Denmark, Mike Corder in Amsterdam and George Jahn in Vienna contributed reporting. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The Latest on the meeting of the foreign minister of the Group of Seven (all times local): 12:35 a.m. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano says Russia must not be "pushed into a corner" over Syria, as the Group of Seven ignored calls by Britain and the U.S. for new sanctions on Moscow over its support of President Bashar Assad. Alfano says Russia should put pressure on Assad to stop the use of chemical weapons, and should join an international push for peace in Syria. Ending a G-7 foreign ministers meeting, he says "we must have a dialogue with Russia." ___ 11:30 a.m. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are expected to call Tuesday for a new international push to end the war in Syria, but are divided on whether to threaten new sanctions or other tough measures to pressure Russia over its support of President Bashar Assad. The G-7 blames Assad's military for a deadly chemical attack last week. Ministers meeting in Lucca, central Italy, have strongly supported U.S. missile strikes that targeted a Syrian air base believed to have been used to launch the attack. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the U.S. intervention had offered "a window of opportunity to construct a new positive condition for the political process in Syria." But he said a political rather than military process was "the only solution," according to Italian news agency ANSA. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Doctors Without Borders says 600 migrants are missing after they were evacuated from northern French camp that was ravaged by a blaze. Corenne Torre, head of the humanitarian group in France, said Tuesday that 1,500 migrants were displaced by the Monday night fire that destroyed wooden shelters of the camp in Dunkirk's Grande-Synthe suburb. Torre said while 900 evacuees have been given alternative lodging with associations or in local gymnasiums, some 600 migrants are unaccounted-for. She said "we just don't know where they are." She said that 10 migrants are in local hospitals with light injuries following the fire that came hours after a clash involving up to 150 migrants. Officials linked the fight with the fire but stressed that an investigation is needed to determine the fire's cause. There was another show of force on the Korean peninsula. Nearly 4,000 U.S. and South Korean troops plus a lot of ships and trucks staging a mock amphibious landing of cargo at a South Korean coastal town. Logistical back-up were told that would be crucial in the event of any full-scale war with North Korea. It keeps us ready in the event of a miscalculated gambit by North Korea, noted Seoul-based North Korea expert KyongSoo Lho told us. This and other U.S.-South Korea military exercises drive North Korea up the wall, calling them a rehearsal for invasion. The regime today had equally tough words today for the deployment of the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, officials calling the move reckless and saying the North was ready for war. It is a big week in Pyongyang. Today saw their annual rubber-stamp parliament meeting. Saturday the anniversary of the birthdate of the countrys founder Kim il Sung. Along with the roll-out in the capital city of the latest in the regimes military might, experts say the regime might also launch another banned ballistic missile or test an even larger nuclear device. Trump administration officials call this the result of a failed 20 years of talks I wouldnt call it a failure, responded expert Lho, I think we could have done better. With President Trump again tweeting today that the U.S. could go it alone to deal with North Korea if need be, there are renewed fears of the fall-out from a military strike. Pre-emptive sounds good but in reality it could unleash a war on Korean peninsula, KyongSoo Lho says, There was a window when that would have been possible.that window has passed. Which leaves many people wondering, what is next for the Korean peninsula and the problem of Kim Jung Un. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has held a meeting with King Salman in Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos work. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Salman hosted Duterte for lunch Tuesday and that the two sides signed a number of memorandums, including some dealing with labor. A slide in oil prices as impacted Saudi companies and government spending, leaving tens of thousands of Filipinos and South Asian laborers without pay and, in many cases, without airfare or exit permits to return home. Duterte has said his visit would be aimed at broadening cooperation in trade, investments, security, labor, energy and anti-narcotics. In Saudi Arabia convicted drug smugglers are executed. In the Philippines, rights groups say thousands have died in Duterte's war on drugs. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Major repairs of Prague's Old City Hall have started, in a process that will see one of the Czech capital's major tourist attractions the famous medieval astronomical clock taken off site for months. Workers began Tuesday to erect scaffolding around the hall's tower to fix damage, some of which dates back to World War II. From May, the tower that offers a magnificent view of the picturesque Old Town will be closed for visitors. It's expected to reopen by December. City Hall spokesman Vit Hofman says the clock installed on the tower in 1410 will function until January when it'll be removed for restoration. Hofman says the clock will be "completely disassembled" and that it should be back in place in June or July next year. Top Russian officials -- including President Vladimir Putin -- blasted critics of the Syrian regime Tuesday over the apparent chemical attack, suggesting that the resulting U.S. missile strike was based on lies and exaggerations. "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq," Putin told reporters. "We have seen it all already." SYRIA CRISIS: BARREL BOMBS DROPPED BY GOVERNMENT, ACTIVISTS SAY He even said Russia received intelligence that opponents of Syria had planned what he called "provocations" using chemical weapons -- which the world would blame on the Syrian government. He gave no support for his claim. Western analysts have widely said that the evidence suggested a chemical attack carried out by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Still, the Russian military claimed the Syrian government was willing to let international experts examine its military base hit by the missile strike for signs of chemical weapons. Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy of the Russian General Staff added that Russia would provide security for those international experts. TILLERSON: REIGN OF ASSAD FAMILY IS ENDING Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow Tuesday to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. It was unclear whether he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as well. Putin said Russia had learned opponents also planned to "plant" some kind of substance in the southern Damascus suburbs but did not elaborate, Reuters reported. The missile strike early Friday severely damaged the Shayrat air base, which was believed to have been used for last week's deadly attack in Idlib province, according to the Pentagon. The Idlib attack killed some 80 people, including children. In the run-up to the Iraq war in 2003, claims from the U.S. and others emerged that Saddam Hussein's regime had weapons of mass destruction, but the claims were never proven. Putin said some Western countries have publicly supported last week's U.S. airstrikes on Syria because they are eager to improve ties with President Donald Trump. He also said Russia would appeal to the United Nations to investigate the Idlib attack. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The man-made nerve agent sarin gas was indeed used in last week's attack in northern Syria that killed more than 80 people, a Turkish official said Tuesday, citing autopsy results. Bblood and urine samples taken from victims confirmed that they were subjected to sarin, according to Recep Akdag, Turkeys health minister, speaking to the state-run news agency Anadolu. WHAT IS SARIN? IN SYRIA, POTENT GAS BEHIND FATAL ATTACK Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack. Officials from the World Health Organization and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies. The April 4 attack on the rebel-held town in Idlib province left nearly 90 people dead. The United States blamed President Bashar Assad's government and launched nearly 60 cruise missiles on Friday at the Shayrat air base in the central province of Homs, where it claims the attack originated. Turkish officials publicly claimed early on that sarin was used, The New York Times reported. Also on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the suggestions the Syrian government could be behind the attack in Idlib province. Putin told reporters that Russia knew about planned "provocations" to blame Syria's government for using chemical weapons. He said the U.N. should first investigate the attack. "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq," Putin said. "We have seen it all already." RUSSIA RUSHES TO SYRIA'S DEFENSE, CLAIMS MILITARY BASE OPEN TO CHECK FOR CHEMICAL WEAPONS Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy of the Russian General Staff said in televised remarks that Russia will provide security for international inspectors seeking to examine Syrian bases, and that Damascus has agreed to allow the inspections. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It is the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet. It's unclear if Putin and Tillerson will meet. Before heading to Russia, Tillerson told reporters that Moscow had either failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had been incompetent. But, he said, the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." His trip follows Monday's claim by a senior U.S. official that Washington has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. The official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity, didn't offer concrete proof and others in the Trump administration cautioned that no final determination of Russia's foreknowledge had been made. "We cannot let this happen again," Tillerson said of the chemical attack. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance" with Syria and Iran. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks." It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the U.S.-Russian relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage." SYRIA CRISIS: BARREL BOMBS DROPPED BY GOVERNMENT, ACTIVISTS SAY The United States has sought to minimize expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the U.S. will leave with any Russian concessions on Syria. Instead, the U.S. is hoping to use the visit the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia to convey expectations to Moscow and allow Russians time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the U.S. strikes last week also served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria. In Italy, diplomats spoke of possible new sanctions on Syria's and Russia's militaries, and additional U.S. military action if Assad's forces continue attacking civilians. The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says Russia must choose between aligning itself with the U.S. and likeminded countries or embracing Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and the militant group Hezbollah. Tillerson says it's unclear whether Russia failed to take seriously its obligations in Syria or has been incompetent. But he says that distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." He says of the recent chemical attack: "We cannot let this happen again." Tillerson says the U.S. sees no future role for Assad in Syria, but he says the U.S. isn't pre-supposing how Assad's departure will occur. Tillerson is traveling Tuesday to Moscow. He says Russia can play a role in Syria's future but that aligning with Assad won't serve Russia's long-term interests. A Venezuelan university student died of his wounds Tuesday after being shot in the neck during a protest near Caracas the day before, allegedly by the Bolivarian National Guard. Twenty-year-old Daniel Queliz is the second young man to die in the latest wave of protests that erupted on April 1 after the Supreme Court's rulings to take over the duties of Parliament. Jairo Ortiz, 19, was killed during a Thursday night protest in the city of Carrizal, just outside Caracas. The controversial rulings were partially cancelled later, but Venezuelans across the nation seem increasingly impatient and are demanding elections to replace socialist President Nicolas Maduro. Hundreds have been injured and arrested amid the increasing violence. On Monday alone, more than 200 people were injured, according to opposition reports. VENEZUELA PROTESTERS TARGET MADURO, VOW TO KEEP UP PRESSURE Government authorities have been using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, methods being criticized by international groups as an excessive use of force. During Monday protests, an 87-year-old woman reportedly died inside her Caracas apartment after inhaling tear gas. Venezuelan Ombudsman Tarek William Saab condemned the launching of "blunt objects" from the air to disperse opposition demonstrators, after anti-government leaders denounced the practice on the social networks. "We reject launching blunt objects from the air to disperse demonstrations, since they could have caused fatalities #DDHH," wrote the official on his Twitter account. The opposition MUD alliance and lawmaker and head of the anti-Chavez parliamentary faction Stalin Gonzalez also said on Twitter on Monday that "teargas bombs" were dropped from a helicopter onto the crowd. Gonzalez, who accused the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), Venezuela's militarized police, and the Bolivarian National Police (PNB), posted along with his Twitter message a videotape in which the teargas devices can be seen in the air. The ombudsman issued "a call to the public that the demonstrations be held peacefully within the framework of the law." Maduro accuses the opposition of fomenting unrest and conspiring with international actors to destabilize the country. He was in Cuba on Monday for a gathering of the Bolivarian Alliance, a leftist coalition of 11 Latin American nations. On Sunday the president called on the opposition to return to stymied efforts at dialogue and said he was eager for regional elections to take place. But opposition leaders renewed calls to take to the streets, saying Maduro's words have no credibility until a full election timeline has been formally established. "That's the only way there will be peace in Venezuela," said Julio Borges, president of the National Assembly. Socialist party leader Diosdado Cabello said on Twitter opposition members who "use violence and terrorism to impose (themselves) on the majority who want peace" should face the consequences of the law. "Enough with impunity," he wrote. EFE and the AP contributed to this report. Police in Zambia are questioning the main opposition leader over allegations that he obstructed the motorcade of President Edgar Lungu. Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development, arrived at a police station in Lusaka on Tuesday after officers raided his home overnight. Authorities allege that Hichilema blocked Lungu's motorcade with his own convoy of vehicles during a traditional ceremony in Zambia's Western Province over the weekend. They say Hichilema's motorcade did not yield after presidential security guards signaled for it to get out of the way. The opposition party has denied any wrongdoing. Hichilema, who lost an August election to Lungu, the incumbent, alleged polling irregularities after the vote and went to court. The nation's top court then rejected an opposition petition to block Lungu's inauguration. Romanos Macaroni Grill Celebrates Its Birthday by Declaring Wednesday, April 19, National Chicken Parmesan Day Restaurants Offer BOGO for Five Days to Celebrate DENVER - April 10, 2017 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Romanos Macaroni Grill, a national restaurant chain that creates authentic, inventive Italian dishes, is declaring its birthday, April 19, as National Chicken Parmesan Day and will offer a buy-one-get-one free Chicken Parmesan entree to their guests April 19 through April 23, 2017, at all of its 125 locations in the United States. Chicken Parmesan has been one of Macaroni Grills most beloved entrees since founder Phil Romano wrote the restaurants original recipe book for the first location on April 19, 1988. Inspired by the Southern Italian regions of Campania and Sicily, Romanos signature recipe features hand-pounded, fresh chicken breast coated with a Milanese-style breadcrumb parmesan mixture which is then topped with Pomodorina sauce made from Emilia Romagna tomatoes in Northern Italy and Buffalo Mozzarella from the Lupara family farm in Vitulazio, Italy. The entree is then served with a side of bronze-cut capellini imported from the Pastificio Guido Ferrara family just outside Naples, Italy. Using bronze cut dies creates imperfections in the pastas surface allowing it to hold more cheese, meat, and sauce than a perfect cut would. Macaroni Grills culinary team prepares each guests dish cooked to order in an open kitchen so guests can see the ingredients and culinary techniques in action. What better way to celebrate our birthday than with one of our most favorite dishes? said Holly Wagstaff, Vice President of Marketing for Macaroni Grill. Its a classic dish thats been a guest favorite since day one, so were happy to offer a free Chicken Parmesan entree that allows everyone to taste the extraordinary flavors of Italy. Macaroni Grills National Chicken Parmesan Day BOGO promotion will be available at all United States restaurants, excluding airport, Puerto Rico and Hawaii locations, for lunch or dinner, dine-in or take-out, from Wednesday, April 19 through Sunday, April 23, 2017. For more information on the offer, visit the companys Facebook page or at http://www.macaronigrill.com/Birthday. For Macaroni Grills full line of menu choices, visit www.macaronigrill.com. About Romanos Macaroni Grill Romanos Macaroni Grill is an Italian restaurant brand founded in 1988. Inspired by Italian country cuisine, Macaroni Grill restaurants feature an open kitchen that allows guests to see its ingredients and preparation techniques that blend Italian traditions with progressive culinary inspiration in a polished casual atmosphere. Named the No. 1 Italian Restaurant Chain in America by Nation's Restaurant News, Macaroni Grill has grown to approximately 125 company-owned locations in 30 states, plus 25 franchise locations in the U.S. and 11 other countries: Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and the Middle East (Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE). The company generates more than $300 million in U.S. sales and another $70 million through its franchise operations. For more information, connect with Macaroni Grill on Facebook or follow on Twitter or Instagram. Contact: Tricia Bennett For Romanos Macaroni Grill FitzgeraldPetersen 303-931-0013 tricia@fitzgeraldpetersen.com SOURCE Romanos Macaroni Grill ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus The overarching theme emerging from Chinas ongoing Communist Party congress is one of continuity, not change. The weeklong meeting is expected to reappoint Xi Jinping as leader, reaffirm a commitment to his policies for the next five years and possibly elevate his status even further as one of the most powerful leaders in Chinas modern history. For many Chinese, weary of pandemic restrictions, the more immediate question is whether there will be any easing of zero-COVID after the party congress. The answer is probably not immediately, and when changes do come, they will most likely be gradual. Belle Grove Plantation is known as the birthplace of President James Madison, but its also the final resting place of 10 people, including a veteran of the War of 1812. On Monday afternoon, the burial site of William Bernard III, who lived at Belle Grove in King George County after the war with England, received a plaque to mark it. As a breeze blew off the Rappahannock River, 27 members of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 gathered for a brief ceremony to remember him and other family members buried at Belle Grove. Nothing is really ended until it is forgotten, read Mary Duffe, the national first vice-president. Whatever is kept in memory yet endures and is real. Over the years, the 19th-century burial ground of members of the HipkinsBernard family was lost to time, until Michelle and Brett Darnell opened their bed and breakfast in 2013. She researched Library of Congress records and HipkinsBernard family papers at the College of William and Mary for nine months until she located a 12-by-12-foot plot in front of the mansion. She planted 10 rose bushes, so no one would walk over the graves, and the couple built a raised bed to mark the site. As fate would have it, she named the front bedroom after the family. That was before she knew exactly where the cemetery wasand that guests who stay in that room can see the burial grounds from their window. Tell me somebody wasnt talking to me, Michelle Darnell said. Later, she told the assembled group that of all the ghosts reportedly spotted at Belle Grove, the members of the HipkinsBernard family are the quietest. The Daughters of 1812 are gathering in Washington for the associations council meeting. The group, which included national officers and representatives from 12 states and Washington, D.C., visited Montpelier Monday before heading to Belle Grove for the presentation, followed by tea, scones and Victorian cookies adorned with images of cameos. Nancy Hill, national chairman for printed supplies, was thrilled to be able to remember a veteran of the War of 1812, which she referred to as The Lost War. She was shocked to hear the Darnells say that a medallion for Bernard, which had been placed at a memorial tombstone at nearby Emmanuel Episcopal Church, had been stolen. We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to right that wrong, she said about the plaque. This is what we do. Pam Armstrong, a member from Dallas, was one of the first people off the charter bus at Belle Grove. She proudly announced that Winifred Conway, whose family lived at Belle Grove in the 17th and 18th centuries, was her seventh great-grandmother. She was thrilled to be back on family soil. Im beside myself, Armstrong said. I feel like Im home when Im in Virginia because I have so many family ties from the 1600s and 1700s. Michelle Darnell got emotional when she thanked the Daughters of 1812 for their efforts. She said she will take care of the plaque and will remember those buried in the family plot. They will not be forgotten, she said. Even when dealing with clean energy, it all comes down to money. What is the revenue stream here? Culpeper County Board of Supervisors Rules Committee Chairman Steve Walker asked County Planner Sam McLaren Tuesday during a discussion about the solar energy companies that are now courting county landowners. The consensus was that nobody really knows. While different taxation rules generally apply to public utility companies, it remains unclear how private companies that generate electricity and sell it to public utilities can be taxed. With at least three companies contacting landowners in the eastern part of Culpeper County (which is flatter than the western part) about leasing land for solar farms, the Board of Supervisors will soon be asked to deal with this renewable-energy question. McLaren came before the rules committee Tuesday not to discuss taxation but zoning. Should the county require the rezoning of fields from agricultural to commercial to accommodate solar farms or should the land remain agriculturally zoned with companies being issued a special-use permitgood for a specific period of timeto operate? McLaren suggested that the special-use permit route was the way to go. That seems more practical than to rezone farmland in the middle of an agricultural community to a commercial designation, he said. McLaren added that issuing special-use permits is the way most counties being approached by solar generating companies are going, including Louisa, which last month granted one for up to 1,000 acres of solar electric generation. That use permit came with five pages of conditions, he added. McLaren said that giant companies such as Amazon and Microsoft are the primary force behind the increase in solar farms because they commit to buying a large percentage of the electricity produced. Solar farms, which receive federal tax credits, are becoming more popular in Virginia. Private companies such as Virginia Solar, which will build in Louisa, construct the farms and sell the energy to utilities such as Dominion Virginia Power and Rappahannock Electric. But McLaren said that most solar farms are eventually taken over by the large utility companies, which complicates local taxation issues. Commissioner of Revenue Terry Yowell, who was at the committee meeting, said no one is really certain how these companies can be taxed. Is the equipment involved taxable or partially exempt? Can land-use tax reductions still be applied if farmland is used to produce electricity? Yowell added that the Virginia Association of Assessing Officers will hold a meeting in mid-July to address the issue. She said that the Virginia General Assembly is also expected to weigh in on the regulation process. Supervisor Sue Hansohn wanted more information before recommending any action to either the full Board of Supervisors or the Culpeper County Planning Commission. McLaren said he did, too, and suggested having a representative from the solar company that is nearly ready to apply for a farm in Culpeper (the Stevensburg area) come to next months rules meeting to explain how solar farms work. Meanwhile, McLaren said he would do more checking in counties such as Louisa and Albemarle to see how they are handling the issue. New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone. Spotsylvania County veterinarian Kathy Kallay told a Republican candidate for governor that she started collecting a salary from her small business just this yearabout a decade after she launched 4 Paws Animal Hospital. Any profit we made, we had to reinvest in the business and try to build up our reserves and all that, Kallay, 42, explained to Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie on Tuesday. Gillespie, who will compete with two other candidates for the GOP nomination in the June 13 primary, swung by the animal hospital off U.S. 1 near Massaponax for a brief tour of the facility followed by a 20-minute chat with Kallay. Kallay said her sister-in-law, who volunteers for Gillespies campaign, arranged the visit. They discussed regulations, taxes and other issues in a small break room decorated with a humorous poster titled How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you. Gillespie repeatedly touted his proposal to reduce the individual income tax rate, saying the plan would help small-business owners such as Kallay. Virginias focus has been on big business rather than smaller enterprises, he said. Im all for Fortune 500 companies moving here, but I also think we need to make it easier for small businesses to open and to prosper, Gillespie said. Kallay said it is frustrating that her practices earnings are considered profit from a taxing perspective, even though she was not taking home any of the money until this year. Gillespie said he guessed she was referring to the Business, Professional and Occupational License tax, or BPOL, which he hopes to phase out as governor. Spotsylvanias recently approved budget, which takes effect July 1, exempts businesses from paying the tax if they collect $1 million or less in gross receipts. The current threshold for exemptions is $750,000 a year. Kallay said her husband handles the financial side of the business but that shes pretty sure they still pay the BPOL tax. Gillespie said localities could vote to keep the tax under his proposal, which he said would attempt to identify alternative sources of revenue. Kallay said regulations also pose challenges. For instance, she said she is allowed to provide customers with only a 3-day supply of compounded medication when their pets leave the facility. After that limited supply runs out, pet owners must order the drugs from a pharmaceutical company and pay for overnight shipping, Kallay said. Im going to look into that, Gillespie said, adding the law also inconveniences pet owners. Gillespie, who owns two Jack Russell terriers, said he actually considered becoming a veterinarian after reading All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot as a child. During his tour of the hospital, he attempted to greet a mixed-breed dog in its kennel, but the animal growled in return. He encountered a few other kenneled dogsone of which had been neutered that morningbut the pets did not pay any mind to the visitor wearing a suit and tie. Gillespie is competing against Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, and Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, for the Republican nomination. Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Former U.S. Rep. Tom Perrielloboth of whom have made stops in Fredericksburgare seeking the Democratic nomination. Kallay said she leans conservative, but has not made a final decision on her vote for governor. She said she tries to keep up with general political happenings, but tunes out the talking heads on the news who she said go on endlessly about things they dont even know about. I appreciate more, now that Im older and a business owner, how politics does impact me and why I should care and participate, she said. But on the flip side, the whole things kind of distasteful to me as a general rule, because of what politics tends to turn into. A nonprofit organization that monitors the nations waterways believes fracking poses such a threat that it has ranked the Rappahannock River No. 5 on its 2017 list of Americas Most Endangered Rivers. American Rivers released a report Tuesday that shines a national spotlight on the threat fracking poses to clean drinking water and emphasizes that the hazards the industrial activity pose to the rural and agricultural communities along the Rappahannock River are not going away. The Rappahannock is the only Virginia river named. The Most Endangered Rivers report doesnt list waterways that are polluted or degraded, but those that American Rivers deems are in imminent danger. Rivers on this years list are facing threats from a dam, hydropower project, mining or pollution from hog and chicken farms. The report also encourages decision-makers to take action. It calls on local governments in whats known as the Taylorsville basinfive counties east and south of Fredericksburg where land has been leased for possible natural gas drillingto pass land-use ordinances that protect the Rappahannock. The first line of defense lies with local government, the report states. The Rappahannock is the longest free-flowing river in Virginia and the centerpiece of recreational activity in the Fredericksburg region. About 84,000 acres in its watershed have been leased for possible drilling in the basin, which includes Caroline, Essex, King George, King and Queen and Westmoreland counties. For operators to reach the shale under the Taylorsville basin, theyd have to drill through the Potomac aquifer, which supplies drinking water to at least 3 million people in Virginia. Contamination of this water supply would be a major problem and should not be taken lightly, said Jessie ThomasBlate, coordinator of the Most Endangered Rivers list. In addition, drilling activities would directly impact the Chesapeake Bay and the investment in bay cleanup is too great to introduce a new source of contamination that could backtrack our progress. Miles Morin, the executive director of the Virginia Petroleum Council, disputed that. He wrote in an email that operators drill through aquifers in almost every well and with more than 2 million hydraulically fractured wells nationwide, opponents of oil and gas are still floundering to demonstrate any widespread contamination of drinking water. Kristin Davis, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, points to the Environmental Protection Agency for evidence. She said a recent report is based on the most complete examination to date of scientific data [that] documents that fracking can lead to water contamination, reduced water quality and declining water levels. But none of that has happened in Virginia, industry representatives stress. There have been more than 8,000 wells drilled in 60 years, and there were only six times when operations had a temporary impact on water wells, Morin said. There has never been permanent groundwater contamination or degradation due to fracking in Virginia, Morin said. But no Virginia operators have drilled into an area such as the Tidewater region, which includes the Fredericksburg area and a number of rivers, streams and waterways. The aquifers running through Southwestern Virginia, where most of the wells are located, are very different than the Potomac aquifer, which is in a coastal plain, said David Nelms. Hes a hydrologist with the United States Geological Survey, and he explained the differences in a 2014 story in The Free LanceStar. In the mountains, groundwater is concentrated in layers of fractured bedrock, but in coastal plains, it is found in pores between sediments. Plus, the region surrounding the Taylorsville basin has a number of sensitive resources that need to be protected, said Bryan Hofmann, programs manager for the Friends of the Rappahannock. He noted that the King George Board of Supervisors last August amended its zoning ordinance to require gas wells to be at least 750 feet from waterways and wetlands, occupied buildings and public roads. They essentially drew a map and said, if you want to do fracking, heres where you can do it, Hofmann said, adding the restrictions removed 91 percent of county land from fracking. All of our sensitive areas that we care about are no longer on the table. He and other FOR members, who applied to have the Rappahannock placed on the endangered list, want the remaining counties to pass similar land-use ordinances. Westmoreland County is considering an ordinance similar to King Georges, but with a buffer of 1,000 feet instead of 750 feet, while dozens of residents have called for an outright ban of fracking. Essex County has updated its Comprehensive Plan to address gas and oil drilling, but planners and supervisors in Caroline and King and Queen counties havent made any changes. Carolines ordinances do not allow fracking, said Planning Director Mike Finchum, so we are proceeding deliberately and do not feel pressured to make quick changes. The report encourages residents and local governments in the affected counties to decide whether this new industry has a place in their communities and then establish local land-use ordinances to ensure the long-term protection of the Rappahannock River and the Potomac aquifer. The report also calls for the Virginia General Assembly to uphold the governors new safeguards, and to demand that drillers list what chemicals are used in the fracking process so local fire and rescue crews can be prepared in the case of emergencies. Hofmann believes having the Rappahannock listed in a national report will help his group and others concerned with water safety ensure that all sensitive areas in the Taylorsville basin are protected. Thats what were looking for, and we think this report is going to help us achieve it, he said. Chesterfield County authorities may be trying to break new legal ground in prosecuting a 43-year-old woman for allegedly self-aborting her late-term fetus under a state law that does not appear to apply to expectant mothers. Prosecutors on March 20 obtained an indictment against Michelle Frances Roberts on a charge of producing an abortion or miscarriage with intent to destroy her unborn child, a Class 4 felony. After police learned of the situation in February 2016 from the mother of Roberts longtime boyfriend, an investigation ensued and authorities discovered fetal skeletal remains buried in the backyard of an address where Roberts was living in the 6200 block of Philbrook Road. Police said Roberts acknowledged that the remains were, in fact, buried there when they confronted her at the start of the investigation. Authorities believe the remains had been buried about five to six months earlier, and that Roberts fetus was aborted during the third trimester of her pregnancy. Police and prosecutors have not disclosed how they believe the fetus was aborted or provided a cause of death. The state medical examiners office apparently is withholding the cause and manner of death at the request of Chesterfield authorities. Although the language is unclear, the statute under which Roberts was charged indicates it applies to a third party who induces an abortion or miscarriage on a woman but not the expectant mother herself. The law, which dates to 1950, was used at least once previously in Virginia, to prosecute a mother in Suffolk who shot herself in the abdomen on Feb. 23, 2005, to end her full-term pregnancy. But the charge was dismissed by Suffolk Circuit Judge Westbrook Parker, who said the law that prosecutors used against the defendant did not apply to expectant mothers but only to third parties. The judge, however, said during the womans trial that he could not help but feel moral outrage at the defendants actions, according to news accounts. A lower court judge had reached a similar conclusion to Parkers several months earlier and dismissed the case, but prosecutors overrode him by obtaining a direct indictment from a grand jury. The case caused a sensation in Suffolk and prompted Del. S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, to sponsor a bill during the 2007 General Assembly that would make it a felony for an expectant mother to produce her own illegal abortion. But lawmakers in the Senate Education and Health Committee rejected the bill because some feared it might be amended later to restrict abortion further. Jones fine-tuned the feticide bills language and resubmitted it during the 2008 session, but it was again defeated. The bills in 2007 and 2008 passed in the House of Delegates but failed to do so in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Jones tried again in 2010 without success. Attorney Kevin Martingayle, who represented the Suffolk woman a decade ago, was quoted in news accounts in 2007 saying that its easy to point to a particular act and say it should be illegal, but its extremely difficult to draft a law that would catch only those who deserved to be prosecuted and no one else. Martingayle had argued in court that if his client could be prosecuted, it would open the door to other prosecutions in Virginia, and women whose fetuses died after the mothers drank alcohol or rode bicycles and fell could become vulnerable to prosecution. But Suffolk authorities said the woman was being prosecuted because she clearly intended to kill the fetus. She bought a gun and persuaded an unwitting friend to load the weapon and instruct her how to use it. The woman, then 23 and a single mother with two small children, called police at 4 a.m. to report falsely that she had been shot by a man and was lying in the parking lot of a car dealership. The woman later admitted she did not want the baby and had shot herself, on her due date, after feeling contractions. John Rockecharlie, an attorney who has no specific knowledge of the case and is not representing the woman in Chesterfield, said he could not find any cases in Virginia in which someone was convicted of the offense and appealed. My interpretation (of the law) is that it refers to a third person assisting a woman and is not applicable to the mother, said Rockecharlie, a former prosecutor in Richmond and Chesterfield. I can see where the commonwealth might argue that (Virginia law) states ... that an abortion in the third trimester can only be performed by a licensed physician, in a hospital, when the mothers life is in jeopardy and that lifesaving measures for the fetus must be in place, he added. Im assuming these measures were not in place in this case. Rockecharlie said the case may be a difficult one for a Chesterfield Circuit Court judge to decide, but based on the facts he read in a Richmond Times-Dispatch story about the case, he believes the statute under which the woman was charged does not apply. Because the case is pending trial, Chesterfield prosecutors Shawn Gobble and Erin Barr have declined to discuss the matter or their interpretation of the law. H. Pratt Cook III, Roberts court-appointed attorney, also declined to comment. According to court documents, the father of Roberts unborn baby is incarcerated in a Virginia prison, and Roberts was receiving low doses of methadone about four times a week from a Richmond treatment center during her pregnancy. In the Chesterfield case, the Virginia ACLU last week lashed out at county authorities for charging Roberts. No woman should fear arrest or jail for ending her own pregnancy or for pregnancy loss, said Gail Deady, the organizations Secular Society Womens Rights Legal Fellow, in a statement. The particular law implicated in this case does not apply to a pregnant woman it applies to third parties only. Although Deady said it remains unclear what precisely happened, it appears that this is another example of overreach and targeting of a pregnant woman in an attempt to shame and punish her for her circumstances. Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, said a majority of Americans believe that abortion should be prohibited after the midpoint of a pregnancy even if done by a so-called doctor, but killing an unborn child in the last weeks before they are born and burying their little body in the backyard is simply horrific. In the past, the General Assembly has failed to adequately address this issue, Cobb added. Because abortion in the last weeks of a full-term pregnancy is so complicated and potentially dangerous, Virginia law requires it be done in a hospital. It is remarkable that anyone would find it safe or reasonable for someone to take the life of their unborn child at that point without even minimal medical supervision. THE DAY after Neil Gorsuchs nomination to the Supreme Court was announced, I wrote about his sterling credentials, record of independence and long history of bipartisan supportand predicted they would matter little to hard-left special interests that invariably oppose the Supreme Court nominees of any Republican president. I asked Democrats to ignore those extreme voices and their attacks and join us instead in giving Gorsuch fair consideration and an up-or-down vote, as we did for the first-term Supreme Court nominees of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Unfortunately, Democrats made a different choice. Last Thursday, Democrats mounted the first successful partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee in U.S. history; in other words, a partisan Democratic minority tried to block the bipartisan majority that supported Gorsuch from even voting on his nomination. It was a direct attack on the traditions of the Senate and yet another extreme escalation in Democrats decades-long drive to transform judicial confirmations from constructive debates over qualifications into raw ideological struggles. Their success in tearing down Robert Bork in 1987 taught Democrats that any method was acceptable so long as it advanced their aim of securing power. In 2003, when President George W. Bush was nominating judges, Democrats pioneered the idea of using routine filibusters to stop them; in 2013, when Obama was nominating judges, Democrats invoked the nuclear option to prevent others from doing the same. It was a tacit admission that they should have respected the Senates long-standing tradition of up-or-down votes for judicial nominees in the first place. But Democrats did leave themselves one notable loophole, allowing future Supreme Court nominees to be denied an up-or-down vote via a partisan filibuster. Its a tactic that Democrats had tried beforemost recently when they attempted, unsuccessfully, to sink Bushs nomination of Samuel Alito Jr. in 2006and a tactic, by the way, that Senate Republicans have never employed. So why did Democrats mount this unprecedented partisan filibuster? Because Gorsuch wasnt qualified? No, our colleagues agree hes well-qualified. Their objection was really that a president of a different party had nominated himand because hard-left groups like those I warned about back in February demanded it. Some Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, even mused openly about holding the seat vacant indefinitely. So it didnt really matter who the nominee was, it became clear that Democrats were determined to deny that person a vote. This unprecedented attack on the traditions of the Senate, if allowed to succeed, would have resulted in a brazen new standardthat the nominees of Democratic presidents would be allowed to proceed to up-or-down votes, but the nominees of Republican presidents would have to secure supermajority support to do soan obviously untenable situation. I urged Democrats to reconsider. I regret that they could not be dissuaded from their latest and most audacious attack on the norms and traditions of the Senate. And while I regret the inevitable consequence of their decision, I welcome the opportunity to fully restore the Senate to its historic norms of up-or-down, majority votes for all nominations. That is how things operated before Democrats pioneered the idea of routinely filibustering judges 14 years ago. Moreover, since this rules change does not touch the legislative filibustersomething I will protect as long as I am majority leaderwhat happened in the Senate last week will actually change little moving forward. Most bills will still require 60 votes to get through. Nominees will require 51 votes to get through, as they did before. Thats just what happened with the Gorsuch nomination. I was proud to take that vote. I think hes going to make a fantastic addition to the court. The Senate, of course, does a lot more than confirm Supreme Court justices. This is an important institution with an important role to play in the many issues well consider in the coming months. Each member, regardless of party, can have a critical role in that processif they choose to do so. I ask Democrats to consider the significant things weve been able to achieve in recent years when we worked together. Democrats can continue listening to those on the left who call for blind resistance to anything and everything this president proposes, but we can get more done by working together. Perhaps this is the moment Democrats will begin again to listen to the many Americansthe people who sent us herewho want real solutions, so we can work together to help move our country forward. DOMINION Virginia Power should be applauded for its decision to ensure safe storage arrangements for its toxic coal ash, the byproduct of coal burned for electricity generation. The waste sits in ponds at four locations in Virginia, including its Possum Point plant at the confluence of Quantico Creek and the Potomac River, just upstream of Stafford County. The company announced last week that it would not contest legislation amended by Gov. Terry McAuliffe that requires Dominion to thoroughly study and assess how best to contain potential pollution from its coal ash collection ponds before seeking permits for the containment steps it intends to take. Before its announced change of heart, Virginias largest utility wanted to proceed with plans to simply cap the coal ash in place during the ongoing permitting process. In some instances, an honest assessment may indicate that sites be excavated, the coal ash hauled away from waterways and placed in lined landfills to prevent seepage. The leachate can contain heavy metals and other toxins. McAuliffe had amended the legislation into the form originally introduced by Sen. Scott A. Surovell, a Fairfax Democrat, and Sen. Amanda F. Chase, a Chesterfield Republican. The Senate had passed the bill, but it stalled in the House until a deal was brokered by Spotsylvania Republican Del. Bobby Orrock. The revised House version would have allowed Dominion to expedite in-place capping as it had wanted to from the beginning. Indeed, the House version barred the state Department of Environmental Quality from acting to suspend, delay or defer the issuance of any permit because site assessments had not yet been completed. All that changed, however, when the state legislature reconvened for last Wednesdays veto session. Reconsideration of the House-passed measure shows that the legislative process can work when the public, local officials and certain elected officials refuse to be ignored or be forced to accept the status quo. Of course, it doesnt hurt when those who are concerned have mounting evidence supporting their view. On-site testing had turned up leaks at power plant coal ash ponds in Chesterfield and Fluvanna counties. On top of that, Dominion had already agreed to pay for public water connections for residents near Possum Point who feared, apparently with justification, possible ash contamination of their drinking water wells. In addition, a federal judge ruled recently that ash ponds at the Chesapeake Power Station were leaching arsenic into the beleaguered Elizabeth River in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. In light of these developments, Dominions chairman, president and CEO, Thomas F. Farrell II, did what many felt he had to doagree to the course of action prescribed in the legislation, no matter what happened to the bill during the one-day veto session. Dominion would also adhere to a series of deadlines established in the final legislation. That means it could be a year or so before the company could seek permits for final closure plans for its coal ash ponds. In doing this, the company chooses the path of doing the job right the first time, rather than face the potential nightmare of paying huge amounts years down the road for the health issues or lives lost among clusters of people living near its coal ash lagoons. Dominions act of good faith on this issue could spur other companies like it to do the right thing without attempting to litigate their way out of it in a costly and perhaps losing effort. Its decision to act in the public interest is a big step in the right direction. Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. High disease pressure and a susceptible variety is hardly the recipe for a record-beating wheat crop, but thats exactly what New Zealand grower Eric Watson had to work with on his way to setting the new Guinness World Record yield of 16.8t/ha. Farming at Wakanui on the Canterbury plain, about six miles from the east coast of New Zealands South Island, Mr Watson puts his blockbuster yield down to a first-rate seed-bed, a comprehensive spray strategy and top-rate plant nutrition. The 11.9ha crop of Oakley winter wheat was drilled on 9 April with his Horsch Pronto, aiming to establish 110 plants/sq m into a min-tilled seed-bed. It went into ideal sowing conditions, says Mr Watson, who had four plots surveyed and registered for record attempts during the southern hemisphere autumn of 2016. See also: Video: How to tell if its time for a T1 fungicide in wheat This was to be his second attempt at smashing the the world record wheat yield, having last year fallen short of the 16.5t/ha record set by Northumberlands Rod Smith in 2015. A tebuconazole seed treatment was bolstered with Galmano (fluquinconazole), providing rust and mildew protection over winter, and the neonicotinoid Poncho (clothianidin) warding off autumn aphids. Both treatments turned out to be wise moves, as a mild winter saw rust developing on unprotected crops and high aphid counts spreading barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), which can spell significant yield penalties. Weve seen the effect of BYDV here in the past, explains Mr Watson, who followed up with three aphicides over winter, and more in the first fungicide passes, alternating actives to minimise risk of resistance. Weeds were kept in check with a flufenacet-diflufenican mix the day after drilling and Othello (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron + diflufenican) post-emergence. Fungicide strategy The first fungicide on this world record-breaking Oakley crop was a robust rate of epoxiconazole applied in late August, to clear up septoria and yellow and brown rust just ahead of the crop hitting growth stage 31. This was followed by a T1, T2 and T3 spray programme, plus a T4 application a fortnight after flowering to maximise late grain-fill something that is becoming increasingly common for irrigated crops in Canterbury. A selection of three different azole fungicides was backed up with the protectant chemistry of folpet to give an alternative mode of action on septoria early on in the programme, with the SDHI-azole product Aviator Xpro used at T2 and T3. At T3 and T4 a strobilurin spray was deployed to protect against brown rust and was also chosen for its greening effect. Nutrition Crop nutrition kicked off with an autumn application of superphosphate followed by three passes with nitrogen and one potash in spring. We used potassium sulphate to get sulphur on as well and because the ballistics mean we cant spread it accurately at 32m, notes Mr Watson. Wheat Guinness World Record history 1981 13.99t/ha Jim and Gordon Rennie, Mid-Lothian 13.99t/ha Jim and Gordon Rennie, Mid-Lothian 2003 15.02t/ha Chris Dennison, North Otago, New Zealand 15.02t/ha Chris Dennison, North Otago, New Zealand 2007 15.36t/ha Mike Solari, Southland, New Zealand 15.36t/ha Mike Solari, Southland, New Zealand 2010 15.64t/ha Mike Solari, Southland, New Zealand 15.64t/ha Mike Solari, Southland, New Zealand 2015 16.52t/ha Rod Smith, Northumberland 16.52t/ha Rod Smith, Northumberland 2017 16.79t/ha Eric Watson, Canterbury, New Zealand Variable rate lime, phosphate and potash on a couple of occasions applied over the previous six years meant soil fertility was already good and even across the field. Soil tests showed an average of 100kg of residual nitrogen in the soil in late July, and 40-50kg of mineralised N available in September. Three passes applying a total of 258kg of fertiliser as solid urea followed, the final dose coming at the flag leaf stage. We worked on 22kg of N from the soil and fertiliser per tonne of grain expected and thats exactly what it ended up at. Trace elements were applied based on tissue analysis results from Yara, including multi-mineral foliar spray and manganese and zinc-based formulations. The wheat was irrigated twice, with a total of 50mm applied, which Mr Watson says is less than an average crop would see. In a dry season we put 200 to 250mm on, says Mr Watson, who uses neutron-probe soil moisture sensors to schedule irrigation on his mostly silty loam over clay soils. Its good to have the record back in New Zealand again, said Mr Watson, reflecting on the records recent history. Its a huge task to register the crop and do everything required for a record attempt and credit to Bayer Crop Science and Yara for helping us with all that, he added. The world record isnt the only trophy in the Watson familys cabinet. They have won numerous farming awards over the years, including Lincoln Universitys South Island Farmer of the Year award and the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards Supreme title. The Pirbright Institute for farm animal health has won 77.3m of government funding to carry out two research programmes on virus spread and infection. The Surrey-based laboratory studies livestock diseases with potentially devastating impact such as African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, bluetongue, lumpy skin disease and avian influenza. It also carries out on-farm surveillance activities for animal health issues and disease movement in the UK. See also: Video: New research lab for IAH at Pirbright The first of the two five-year research programmes will focus on virus replication, evolution and transmission, while the second will study control of viral infection and examine why the diseases persist. How is Pirbright Institute funded? Total annual funding about 31m 25% BBSRC core grants and strategic funding 50% Research grants from government departments and charities 25% Commercial payments for its services The second programme will also include vaccine research and feed into the institutes gene editing technologies. The government money comes via the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) which assesses bids for grant funding before allocating its 470m annual budget to winning tenders. Pirbright director Bryan Charleston said the funding demonstrated the governments confidence in the institute in the face of a growing threat from exotic disease. The threat to the UK from viral disease is increasing. The impact of global warming for example means viruses that once only affected tropical regions, are now threatening those in more temperate climates, said Dr Charleston. Pirbrights research to understand and develop innovative ways of combating the threat of diseases that affect livestock and those that spread from animals to humans has never been more important, he added. Maize growers must not drill crops too early even though the recent warm weather has seen soil temperatures rising rapidly, forage specialist Grainseed has warned. Many areas of the UK are approaching the critical 10-12C soil temperature needed for the crop to germinate. But Grainseeds Lucy Smith-Reeve said the possibility of a sudden cold snap meant it was crucial for growers to hold back until the soil had warmed to a depth of 10cm. See also: Shredlage: The benefits of this new maize processing method To ensure successful establishment, you need soil temperatures of at least 10C for four consecutive days at a depth of 10cm when taken at breakfast time. Drilling before the soil has warmed sufficiently means seed sits dormant in the soil leading to greater crop losses, especially if it turns wet and cold, Ms Smith Reeve said. Minimising compaction She also warned growers to take more care with pre-drilling cultivation because of the dry conditions. It is important to conserve soil moisture so minimising compaction is critical to ensure optimum growth in the initial weeks after drilling. Ms Smith-Reeve advised that ploughs should be followed immediately with a press and cultivator on heavy land before the soil baked hard. If you are ploughing on lighter soils this is best done in front of the drill to conserve maximum soil moisture, she added. Soil temperatures also dictate certain soil nutrient levels with nutrients from FYM or digestate locked up until June when the soil is warm and biological activity increases, Ms Smith-Reeve explained. She recommended a placement fertiliser to help crops get away quickly and bridge the gap before the soil warms up. But she said any fertiliser applications should be based on soil analysis to optimise rates. With a full micronutrient analysis costing just 50 it is worth it to save any unnecessary fertiliser being used, she said. Story Highlights Current index reading similar to +5 from prior two weeks Economic outlook component remains at -1 for third consecutive week WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans remained slightly positive in their views of the U.S. economy last week. Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index was at +6, similar to the readings of +5 in the two previous weeks. 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 were to say the economy is doing poorly and getting worse. Though in positive territory, the index is on the lower end compared with most of its scores since the presidential election in November -- including a reading of +16 in early March, a record high in Gallup's tracking since 2008. Americans' confidence suffered during a rough patch for the stock market and has not recovered since. For the week ending April 9, 33% of Americans assessed the economy as "excellent" or "good," and 21% rated it as "poor," resulting in a +12 current conditions score -- slightly higher than the +10 score from the prior two weeks. Meanwhile, Americans are about as likely to say the economy is getting better (46%) as they are to say it is getting worse (47%). As a result, the economic outlook component of Gallup's index remains at -1 for the third week in a row. Bottom Line The stock market gains made in February partially dissipated in March, which may have dampened Americans' overall economic confidence. They remain on the fence about whether the economy is improving or worsening. Americans do see positive signs elsewhere, such as more positive reports of job creation where they work, consistent with the near-decade low in the government's report of unemployment. It is possible that confidence could rebound to a higher level if employment conditions continue to improve. But the index is also not far from negative territory and could retreat to its pre-November readings if the public perceives pullbacks in hiring or other negative economic signs. These data are available in Gallup Analytics. Story Highlights 14% recommend medical career to men; 24% to women Just over one in 10 recommend tech career to both sexes About one in five suggest that young adults follow their interests WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans are still most likely to recommend that young adults in the U.S. pursue a profession in the medical field, as they have since 2005. Fourteen percent advise young men to seek a career in medicine, while about one in four make the same recommendation to young women. Among the 24% suggesting a medical career for women, 6% specifically advise a career in nursing. Similar percentages of U.S. adults recommend technology jobs for men (13%) and women (11%). Top Five Careers Recommended for Young Men and Women in 2017 Supposing a young man/woman came to you for advice on choosing a line of work or career. What kind of work or career would you recommend? Recommendations for young men Recommendations for young women % % Doctor/Medical field/Nursing 14 24 Technology/Electronics/Computers 13 11 Trades/Industrial/Blue collar 9 5 Business/Self-employed/Sales 7 5 Engineering 5 3 GALLUP, March 9-29, 2017 These findings are from a March 9-29 Gallup poll, based on a question Gallup first asked in 1949. Gallup historically asked about career advice only for young men, but began including women in 1950 and routinely has done so since 1985. The latest findings come as the U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 4.5%, its lowest since May 2007. Apart from recommending specific career fields, nearly one in five Americans say young men (19%) and women (18%) should work in a field they like or that they are going to school for. These percentages are a bit higher than they have been over the past couple of decades. Gallup did not specifically code such responses until 1998, so it is unclear how many gave this response before that. After declining in the 1980s and 1990s, the medical field re-emerged as a suggested career in the 2000s, with steady increases for both men and women. Recommendations for women to enter the field peaked at 37% in 2009. In contrast, men were once much more likely to be told a career in medicine was best than they are now, with about three in 10 Americans recommending the medical profession to men from 1949 to 1973 -- versus the current 14%. The latest figures for the medical field as a recommended career represent double-digit drops for both men and women, although they remain the top choices. Among medical-field suggestions, nursing makes up a sizable percentage of recommendations for women, but this is not the case for men. Nursing was the top recommended career for women in 1950, at 28%, and has ranged from 4% to 13% in polls since. Blue-Collar Job Recommendations on the Rise for Men From 1949 to 1973, from 9% to 19% of Americans recommended that young men seek a profession in law or government. During this same period, blue-collar jobs -- including industrial, trade and construction jobs -- received few if any mentions. While blue-collar fields remained fairly low in recommendations throughout the 1980s and 1990s, jobs in these sectors took on new popularity at the dawn of the new millennium, with 7% suggesting them to young men in 2001. Recommendations for these jobs have not diminished since, with 12% in 2017 advising young men to take a blue-collar job -- the highest in Gallup's trend. Meanwhile, law and government jobs have never regained their prominence in Americans' career advice, with just 3% to 5% recommending such jobs to young men since 1985. Once Popular Recommendations, Few Suggest Teaching, Secretarial Jobs to Women When Gallup first asked about advice for young women in 1950, teaching (16%) and secretarial jobs (8%) were among the top careers Americans named. Recommendations for a secretarial job have steadily waned since, holding at 1% since 2009. Teaching, as a suggested profession, dropped to 4% in 1985 but saw 6% to 9% mentions from 1998 to 2009. But the latest survey finds that just 3% of Americans now recommend it as a career to young women. Bottom Line With the U.S. unemployment rate at its lowest since 2007, Americans are more inclined than they have been in the past to advise young people to seek careers that suit them best, rather than make a specific recommendation. This could reflect a number of changes in the nation's job market -- the rise of the gig economy, in which short-term and freelance work is common, uncertainty for the future of some fields, or a growing tendency for people to change jobs multiple times in their career. Despite a changing job market, the medical field remains prominent as a recommended career, as it has for several decades. But career advice, in general, has changed over time, often as a result of shifting gender expectations in the workplace. Americans had different advice for young women in 1950 than they do now -- their suggestions for women's jobs are much more on par with their suggestions for men. But men, too, are receiving different advice than they did back then, with Americans more likely to recommend a blue-collar job now than at any point in Gallup's trend. Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics. Story Highlights Approval hit seven-year high after Trump inauguration Republican approval drops from 50% in February to 31% Overall approval now back near levels of past several years WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressional job approval declined to 20% in April, eight points lower than the seven-year high reached in February after Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. The drop was driven mainly by a loss of support among Republicans, whose approval fell from 50% two months ago to 31% in April. Even with the drop in approval, the current percentage of Republicans who approve of Congress is still higher than at any point from September 2007 to February of this year. Republicans -- whose party controls both the Senate and the House of Representatives -- remain more likely than Democrats to approve of Congress, but the gap between the two parties has diminished from 39 percentage points in February to 21 points now. Democrats generally had been more likely than Republicans to approve of Congress after 2007, when the Democratic Party took control of the House and Senate. Democrats tended to be more supportive even after the GOP regained control of the House in 2011 and the Senate in 2015, perhaps because Barack Obama was still president and the GOP majority was able to accomplish little of their agenda. The current drop in support among Republicans could be tied to failure by party leaders to fulfill campaign pledges on major pieces of legislation such as tax reform and healthcare. By far the most prominent failure occurred last month when House Speaker Paul Ryan could not unite the different factions within Republican ranks to pass a bill replacing the landmark Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Public's Unhappiness Stretches Back Almost a Decade Americans typically do not have a high opinion of Congress. Gallup has measured approval of Congress 286 times over the past 43 years, and a majority approved only 22 times, with an average approval over time of 30%. The only times a majority approved were between 1998 and 2003 -- a period of economic prosperity followed by a surge in patriotism and trust in government after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the invasion of Iraq. However, even during the periods of negativity from 1974 to 2006, approval of Congress seldom was 20% or lower. During that time, yearly averages for approval fell below 20% only twice -- in 1979, a year marked by gasoline shortages, and 1992, a year of severe economic pessimism. Since the financial crisis in 2008, however, the annual averages have been below 20% every year but 2009, when Obama's inauguration lifted congressional approval above 30% for several months. The all-time low point came in November 2013, when approval fell to 9% after a stalemate in Congress led to a complete shutdown of the federal government. Bottom Line For most of the last decade, Americans of all political backgrounds -- Republican, Democrat and independent -- have overwhelmingly disapproved of Congress. Then came Trump's election, seemingly giving hope to enough Republicans to raise the rate of approval for Congress to 50% among GOP supporters in February. It was the first time at least half of any political group -- Republican, Democrat or independent -- had registered support for Congress since September 2009. However, two months into the Trump presidency, Republicans' views of Congress have soured considerably after the GOP's failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a law widely opposed by Republicans, whose opposition to it was a major factor in the party's success in the 2010, 2014 and 2016 elections. The slackening of Republican approval, combined with the continued low approval rates among independents and Democrats, has nearly pushed the overall approval rate down to the levels of the past seven years. These data are available in Gallup Analytics. The available council seats are in the city's Third, Fifth, and Ninth districts. Priyanka Garg cant swim. Thats meant some frustration for her, since shes missed out on opportunities to play in the water throughout her life. But the biggest reason she wants to learn to swim is so she doesnt have to be afraid of the water anymore. I just want to swim. I want to be able to leave this fear behind, said Garg. Thats why Garg decided to take a free six-week swimming course for adults at Oregon State University, which is funded by a $2,500 grant from United States Master Swimmings Adult Learn to Swim program. The class, which started last week and has around a dozen participants, is part of a national effort to reduce the number of people who drown; a figure the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is about 10 every day in the U.S. Garg said Thursday, during her second lesson in the program, that she was nervous to get into the pool for the first lesson, but the instructors were able to help her feel safe. They start at a very basic level just getting you comfortable with the water, she said. Although she started out feeling like she was drowning, by the end of the lesson she said she had already begun to lose her fear. I was so excited to come today, she said. I just love this class because the trainers are awesome. Drew Ibarra, director of physical activity programs with the College of Public Health and Human Sciences and organizer of the class, said he makes sure there is at least one instructor for every three students in the class, and has additional students doing independent study programs in the water to help out. This helps to manage risks and allows the students enough one-on-one time with instructors to develop relationships and trust with them, he said. Ultimately the concept is we want everyone to have the skills to swim safe, he said, but what we are really trying to do is building confidence so (the students) can feel comfortable in the water, Ibarra said. The free class, which was offered for the first time last year, is mainly graduate students, faculty and staff, he said, because undergraduates who cant swim are usually steered toward the 10-week swimming for non-swimmers physical activity courses OSU offers. Ibarra said many of the participants have had near-drowning experiences or are frustrated that not being able to swim keeps them from fun activities with friends and families. Learning to swim gives the participants self confidence, he said. In some ways its taking back control, he said. They know if I fall in, I can get back out. Vietnam's Q1 coffee exports to India cool after brief trade row over pests The first-quarter slowdown follows an annual surge of 67 percent for the whole of last year. Vietnam, the world's largest robusta exporter, shipped 7,700 tons of the commodity to India in the first quarter of this year, a drop of 35 percent from the same period last year, following a brief trade row last month, Vietnam Customs data shows. On March 1, the Vietnamese government gave a warning saying it would suspend imports of five Indian agricultural commodities in 60 days, citing a peanut beetle problem. On March 7, India slapped an immediate ban on imports of six commodities from Vietnam, including coffee, citing pest infestations. Traders and Vietnamese industry officials said India's reaction was only a 'tit-for-tat action' and that the restrictions would be short-lived. But the back-to-back bans have prevented Indian roasters from securing coffee beans while pepper prices in Vietnam have dropped to multi-year lows. The bitter coffee variety from Vietnam is used mainly for making instant coffee. In late March both sides removed the bans following talks between government officials, but Vietnam's coffee exports to the South Asian nation with a fast expanding coffee demand have suffered. India is home to the world's third-fastest growing retail coffee market after Indonesia and Turkey, while Vietnam ranks fourth, according to Mintel, a global market intelligence agency. In the first three months of last year alone, Vietnam exported 11,900 tons of coffee to India, a surge of 43 percent from the same period in 2015, while shipments in the whole of 2016 soared 67 percent to 45,800 tons, based on Vietnam Customs data released on Monday. India produced an estimated 5.33 million bags (320,000 tons) of coffee in the 2016/2017 crop year, down 8 percent from a year ago, according to the International Coffee Organization's estimates as of January 2017. India's coffee consumption in the current season ending September 2017 is forecast to edge up 2 percent from the previous 2015/2016 season to 1.4 million bags, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Issue of exhaust emissions : Congestion charges rejected Daily life on the Mulheimer bridge in Cologne in all lanes cars are stuck in long queues. Foto: dpa Bonn Many cities like Cologne have dismissed the issue of exhaust emissions or not even checked them in the first place. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Increased pollution levels, threats of traffic collapse, regulatory efforts in this triad, the suggestion of a city congestion charge (the City-Maut in German) for traffic plagued cities seems appropriate. But the debate will for now remain a flash in the pan. A few days ago in Cologne, the city council decided not to introduce additional charges for car drivers. Instead, along with the Cologne district government, the city council decided to develop a package of measures to reduce air pollution levels. The council stressed that the decision over the controversial congestion charges lies ultimately with the regulatory authorities. As reported, it was Colognes Head of Social Department Harald Rau who had brought the issue of additional charges into play. He had held out on the prospect of this, and expected a ban on diesel vehicles for the coming year. The administration and large sections in politics were in agreement in their surprise about the solo efforts of the department head. According to SPD criticism, both the charges and the ban would do damage to Cologne as a business location. The issue was then discussed even more controversially in the correspondence columns of the Cologne local press. In Dusseldorf, where the administrative court obligated the city council in 2016 to at least investigate a ban of vehicles in the city centre as part of their air pollution plan, the City-Maut was not an issue in municipal politics. Meanwhile, in a project group of the district government, a ban on diesel vehicles is in further discussion. The background to this is an EU environmental regulation which stipulates that in the yearly average values, no more than 40mg nitrogen dioxide per cubic meter should be emitted into the air. In many cities, including Bonn, this upper limit is exceeded. The city council is tending not to press ahead with this issue at the moment because as the Environmental Agency informs, nationwide laws concerning a ban on vehicles or a congestion charge are lacking. Instead of introducing drastic measures such as a ban on vehicles, priority should be placed on pollution control at the source, i.e. dealing with traffic emissions. In the meantime, the citizens initiative group for environmental protection in Bonn (Burgeraktion Umweltschutz Bonn) are tireless in their efforts for drastic measures they are demanding an extension of the environmental zone to cover the whole of the city centre in Bonn and Beuel, the introduction of a congestion charge and a blue plaque as an entry permit to the environmental zone, as well as a drastic increase in parking fees and a restriction on parking in public spaces. Construction in Bonn : Labs, offices and apartments on the Haribo site Bonn This summer construction work will begin on the 25,000m2 plot of land on Friesdorfer Strae. The commercial area will be finished in autumn 2018, followed by 80 to 90 apartments and a multi-story car park by the end of 2019. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken When you look at the former Haribo site on Friesdorfer Strae it may seem hard to believe that by the end of 2019 there will be a new outlet store as well as apartments, laboratories and offices. The gummi bear shop is very popular and lorries can still be seen on the plot of land between Friesdorfer, Truchse- and Weienburgstrae. But the largest part of the 25,000m plot has been left unused for many years. If all goes as planned by the Hafa Group, an amalgamation of four Bad Godesberg companies, this should change very soon. We expect planning permission to go through by the summer, says Andreas Thamm, who formed the Hafa Group together with Harald Gude, Frank Piotrowski and Achim Carl. Then construction work will begin on the Im Bendel Residential/Business Park which is divided into three construction phases as well as the land itself. The first construction phase involves the section which borders on the company Stolle. Here the diggers will start rolling in during the summer, if all goes to plan. An office and laboratory complex will be built and is to be occupied by the company Sicat GmbH with around 250 employees and 80 to 90 parking spaces, according to Carl. Traffic problems are not expected, because we estimate that less than half of the employees will come to work by car says the sales manager. Past experience has shown this to be the case: currently the Sicat employees work on the Brunnenallee and in several offices in the Fronhofer Galeria building. Most people travel to work by bike and this wont change in the future, says Carl. The former and the new sites are not far from each other. The second construction phase begins in autumn on the new Haribo outlet store. This will be located in the middle of the plot of land and will be around 1000m in size. There will be 100 car parking spaces as well as another seven for buses. Carl informs that this is more than there are now. The shop will be around the same size as now, but more modern, says Thamm. And there will still be enough room for the famous chestnut campaign. But that is not all: we are considering building a 3-D gummi bear. As far as he is concerned, the bear could be as tall as six metres. This has not yet been decided, however. These two construction phases, although one starts before the other will be finished at the same time, in autumn 2018. Once the outlet store has moved into its new home and the old building on the third part of the land has been pulled down, the final phase will start: construction of the apartments and a car park for 120 to 130 cars. Thamm explains that these will also serve as an optical and acoustic barrier. 80 to 90 apartments will be built in a mixed residential and business complex of 6500m. On the ground floor on the Friesdorfer Strae side, a small retail sector will be built to provide local shopping for residents explains Carl. For example, the Hafa team can imagine a bakery, a drinks market and a hairdresser. But they are open to other ideas. In addition, there will be a childrens playground. The first people will be able to move in at the end of 2019, says Thamm. This could be families or singles, old and young, commuters or couples. We want to have a mix of different people. It doesnt matter who moves into the one, two three or four room apartments; it is all about creating affordable housing, stress Carl and Thamm. They have noticed that particularly large families have difficulties finding a place to live. Their size is not the problem, but rather the number of rooms. In the 80s and 90s, larger rooms were increasingly built, but actually what we need are smaller rooms. This is a gap in the residential market which the Hafa Group is intending to fill. The buildings will form a U-shape with green spaces in the middle. The buildings which are parallel to Truchse- and Weienburgstrae will have two floors, those on the Friesdorfer Strae will have three. Presumably each one will have a penthouse level as well. The catchword is sustainable living, according to Carl. Greenery will be planted on the roofs; the buildings will be heated using geothermal power and photovoltaic systems will be installed. The development will be accessed via the Friesdorfer Strae: opposite the fire brigade for the Sicat GmbH building. The Haribo shop and apartments will be reached via an extension to the Elsasser Strae. Thus keeping Weienburg- and Truchsestrae quiet, say the investors. She is fed, bathed and cuddled by vets at the center, who also check her temperature regularly. The pangolin is the youngest ever to be taken in by the center and vets said that given their lack of experience, they felt stressed during the first few days. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. Sometimes, a bunch of small notes can deliver a stronger message than a thousand words. Vietnam's transport authorities announced on Tuesday that they will waive a road toll for locals who have been protesting paying fees for a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) financed road. Locals say they don't even use the road connecting the north-central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh. The announcement said all vehicles with less than 30 seats belonging to locals with residency or business licenses registered in the vicinity will no longer be subject to the fees issued at toll booths situated near Ben Thuy Bridge, which connects the two provinces. Many local drivers have been fiercely protesting the toll, saying it is eating up millions of VND per month. Since December last year, drivers have been resorting to banners, roadblocks and paying the fee with bags of small notes in an attempt to send a message to authorities. Vietnamese drivers win battle against road toll with bags of small notes Drivers get revenge for contested road toll by paying with bags of small notes Last week, the Ministry of Transport decided to reduce the toll by 50 percent for Nghe An Province residents, but that failed to satisfy locals. The latest decision from the ministry has been widely welcomed. Dang Thi Anh Phuong, 35, from Ha Tinh, said she was happy with the new policy, because she "had been gathering people to protest against that toll road every single day." Le Xuan Hai, 46, another local from Ha Tinh Province, was one of the drivers who was forced to pay the toll every time he crossed the bridge. Hai said he was pleased with the decision, but still wanted the toll booth to be moved. nametalkam at 11-04-2017 06:21 PM (5 years ago) (m) The Nigerian police force has filed homicide charges against one Musa Mai Shayi for molesting a 12-year-old boy, identified as 'Aminu' to death in Niger state. The Nigerian police force has filed homicide charges against one Musa Mai Shayi for molesting a 12-year-old boy, identified as 'Aminu' to death in Niger state. The Police Public Relations Officer(PRO), DSP Bala Elkana made this known to newsmen when he paraded the suspect recently. The police were not the initial prosecutors who secured the first conviction but the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security corps (NSCDC). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwAdMkmoT7s Elkana stated that the 12-year-old victim is dead and instead of pursuing a lesser charge or appealing the initial judgement, the police will rather go for a higher charge which will have a higher penalty, and in this is culpable homicide. Meanwhile, Mai Shayi has confessed to the crime. Below is a footage of an interview he had with journalists on the matter. Musa, who spoke in Hausa, admitted molesting the victim. The Police Public Relations Officer(PRO), DSP Bala Elkana made this known to newsmen when he paraded the suspect recently.The police were not the initial prosecutors who secured the first conviction but the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security corps (NSCDC).Elkana stated that the 12-year-old victim is dead and instead of pursuing a lesser charge or appealingthe initial judgement, the police will rather go for a higher charge which will have a higher penalty, and in this is culpable homicide.Meanwhile, Mai Shayi has confessed to the crime.Below is a footage of an interview he had with journalists on the matter. Musa, who spoke in Hausa, admitted molesting the victim. Post Reply I specialize in investigative reportage across several subject matter and sectors but mainly focus on metro events and investigation. Do leave your thoughts and opinion on my reports to let me know what you think about them. Thank you Posted: at 11-04-2017 06:21 PM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero Yahoo: Mail search to give relevant results News oi -Shilpa Quick and easy way to search Recently, Yahoo updated search tab in its mail app which was made available on both web as well as Android and iOS devices. It was a good move by the company because until then they had to spend quite a lot of time while searching for any emails. Now the emails will be sorted based on the relevance. Yes, when you search for any mail using a particular keyword, this new update will highlight the most relevant emails. So, this, in turn, reduces the time required to search. But if you are a kind of person who always wishes to find the emails based on the received time, then you don't have to be pissed off. Verizon to form 'Oath' after merging Yahoo and AOL Because other than the top three relevant search results, this new search system sorts remaining emails chronologically below it. Search ranking and relevancy algorithm which was developed and refined by the Yahoo Mail Research team in Haifa, Israel was used here to provide relevant top results. Not just search, it even restructured other important aspects as well. This new update also provides an auto-completion system which saves some more time of the user. Now, a user can just type little in the search box, so the remaining part will be filled by this new system. Marissa Mayer to get million parting gift from Yahoo Yahoo considers previous search history, emails and also user information such as gender, age, and location to employ this technique. Regarding this, Yahoo Research director Liane Lewin-Eytan and vice president Yoelle Maarek says, " The combination of all these signals improves the quality of the suggestions by up to 150 percent when considering the average rank of the clicked suggestion". With more than 225 million monthly active users, it looks like the company is trying to offer this kind of updates to retain them. Best Mobiles in India OPPO F3 Plus: Battery Endurance OPPO F3 Plus offers extended daily usage which is one of the device's core features. How does it achieve this? The smartphone is backed a massive 4,000mAh battery unit that gives the F3 Plus endurance of more than 20 hours in my real use. The long lasting battery is just ideal to support the massive 6-inch Full HD screen to stream videos, browse the web, play games, stream music or just making phone calls. The OPPO F3 Plus also uses cutting edge power saving optimizations that makes sure users have access to their smartphone's features when they are needed. OPPO F3 Plus: Enhanced Fast Charging Technology Another interesting aspect of the OPPO F3 Plus is that its massive battery unit is backed by a big charging adaptor that comes equipped with the company's in-house VOOC technology that can easily recharge the 4,000 mAh battery from 0 to 100 percent in less than an hour and half. Users will certainly benefit when their battery level is low as they will be able to charge their device very quickly. While that sounds impressive, OPPO's VOOC charging technology also features a five-layered protection system that utilizes a micro-programmed control unit (MCU), to charge the F3 Plus instantly in an efficient manner. Compared with the conventional high current protection, VOOC protective layering also runs from the adaptor to the port and interior of the phone. Thanks to its unique low-voltage approach, VOOC Flash Charge technology not only allows accelerated charging but also prevents the phone from overheating while charging. Vivo V5 Plus : Battery endurance & Dual-Charing performance And while comparing it with the recently launched Vivo V5 Plus, another selfie-centered smartphone, the handset come with a smaller but decently sized 3,055mAh battery unit. In our everyday usage, the Vivo V5 Plus manages to deliver 16 hours of display time on a single charge. Comparing it with the Vivo V5 Plus again, this smartphone has also been designed to help users make use of their smartphone for a longer duration. The Vivo V5 Plus features a Dual-Charging Engine technology which helps users to achieve a 43 percent charge in about half an hour. It also comes with Charging Protection System that offers a safer, worry-free charging experience. So it is quite clear that both of these smartphone use different fast charging technologies. But OPPO F3 Plus does get an upper hand as it flaunts a bigger battery capacity that will eventually deliver longer standby time than the Vivo V5 Plus. If you are one of those people who are usually out or people who are completely or partially work dependent on the smartphones, then OPPO F3 Plus definitely has a charging point to save you. OPPO F3 Plus vs OnePlus 3T Besides Vivo V5 Plus, we also compared the OPPO F3 Plus battery performance with the widely popular Oneplus 3T, which packs in a 3,400mAh battery unit supported by 'Dash' charging. While the dash charger that comes in the package is quite fast to recharge the battery, the battery itself drains quickly when you push the Oneplus 3T to its limits. The Oneplus 3T can last for a day with everyday usage. To evaluate the smartphone's real life battery performance, we streamed a full HD video on YouTube on Wi-Fi with brightness level set at 60%. OPPO F3 Plus saw a drop of 7% whereas OnePlus 3T's battery percentage dropped by 10%. OPPO F3 Plus vs Samsung C9 Pro Last but not the least, we also pit the OPPO F3 Plus with the recently launched Samsung C9 Pro, which also flaunts a 6-inch full HD display supported by a 4,000mAh battery unit. In our testing, we found that the galaxy C9 Pro lasts a bit longer than OPPO F3 Plus in everyday usage on a single charge. This is due to the fact that Samsung is using AMOLED panel that does not need power from battery to display black colour. On the other hand, the IPS panel on OPPO F3 Plus requires juice from battery to light up even the darkest colours on the screen. So in case you need better daylight readability and accurate colour tones, then the OPPO F3 Plus's IPS screen is the ideal fit, but if you prefer a bit unnatural saturated colour tones and slighly better battery backup, Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro with its AMOLED screen is the right option. However it is worth mentioning that OPPO F3 Plus's battery recharges in a very short span of time with the help of VOOC charger, while Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro's battery takes a while to reach the 100% mark. OPPO F3 Plus: A good overall performer OPPO certainly makes no compromise in terms of offering the best whether it is battery performance or bringing in some top-of-the-line features with its smartphones. The F3 Plus is no exception. Apart from the long lasting battery, the smartphone also offers great cameras, perfect for selfie lovers as well as for photography enthusiasts. The OPPO F3 Plus is armed with a 16MP primary camera paired with a 120 wide-angle secondary camera in the front for perfect group selfie. It is also equipped with a 16 MP rear camera, with customized sensor with support Dual PDAF, providing you best click in every light condition. It also provides 4GB RAM, 64 GB ROM and octa-core processor, giving a flawless user experience. Qualcomm reacts to Apple lawsuit, files Answer and Counterclaims News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Qualcomm reacts to Apple's lawsuit. Following the lawsuit filed by Apple against Qualcomm in January this year, the chip maker has filed an answer today. It has also counterclaimed against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Qualcomm's filing sheds light on the value of those technologies that they have invented, contributed and shared with the tech industry all through its licensing program. The company has also detailed Apple's failure to engage in negotiations for the license to 3G and 4G standard patents. The filing by Qualcomm outlines how Apple breached the agreements, and mis-characterized agreements as well as negotiations. Apple files lawsuit against Qualcomm over unpaid royalty fee It accuses that Apple had interfered with the long standing agreements of Qualcomm's licenses that make iPads and iPhones. It is claimed to have encouraged regulatory attacks on the chip maker's business in several jurisdictions across the world by making false statements and misrepresenting facts. Apple is claimed to have threatened Qualcomm to prevent it from making any public comparisons about the performance of iPhones using the chipset. Also Read: Qualcomm will continue to supply chips to Apple: Report Also, it is accused to have chosen not to utilize the full performance of Qualcomm's modem chips used in the iPhone 7 and misrepresented the performance disparity that exists between iPhones using Qualcomm modems and those using competitor-supplied modems. Among the rest, Qualcomm seeks damages from Apple for reneging on its assurances in several agreements and enjoin Apple from further interference with their agreements with the companies that make iPhones and iPads for Apple. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Overall, dont let the bhoot mislead you, nothing bhootiya about this story. Had the makers tried to push the envelope, the idea could have been outstanding for a bhootiya comedy. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, or FEWS NET, in 2017, some 70 million people across 45 countries will need emergency food assistance. Severe drought and economic instability are part of the problem, but so is violent conflict. Indeed, Its important to stress that these crises are largely man-made with other compounding factors, said Matthew Nims, Acting Director of USAIDs Office of Food for Peace. This is certainly true of South Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen. Famine was declared in parts of South Sudan in late February, while Nigeria and Yemen are at high risk of famine. In South Sudan, the civil war that began in December 2013 as a consequence of the power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar escalated into a civil war. An estimated 5.5 million peoplenearly half of South Sudans populationwill face life-threatening hunger due to this man-made crisis. In Nigeria, an estimated 5.2 million people will face severe food insecurity by June, particularly those displaced in Borno State.There are signs that famine likely occurred in 2016, and may be ongoing in parts of the state that humanitarian actors are unable to reach, said Acting Director Nims. The United States, said Mr. Nims, has provided nearly $386 million since Fiscal Year 2016 for people affected by the ongoing crisis in the Lake Chad Basin region. In Yemen, over 17 million people are food insecure, seven million of whom are in need of emergency food assistance. Starting in Fiscal Year 2016, the U.S. government has contributed nearly $432 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen, said Mr. Nims. In South Sudan, the United States has not waited for a famine declaration to intervene and will continue to respond robustly to save as many lives as possible. The U.S. is the single largest provider of humanitarian assistance to South Sudan, having provided more than $2.1 billion since the start of the conflict in December 2013. We remain committed to providing humanitarian assistance around the world as both a moral imperative and as a direct benefit to the well-being of the United States. Pakistani military court hands down death penalty to alleged Indian spy Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:48PM A Pakistani military court has handed down death sentence to an Indian man for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities. The man, identified as Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav, who also goes by the alias Hussein Mubarak Patel, was found guilty by the court and sentenced to death. A Pakistani military statement said on Monday that the army chief had confirmed the capital punishment. "Today, (Army Chief) Gen. Qamer Javed Bajwa has confirmed his death sentence," the statement read, without stating when the execution would take place. Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 in the southwestern province of Balochistan on charges of being an Indian spy and fueling unrest across the troubled province. Pakistani officials claim that Jadhav has confessed to being a spy for the Indian intelligence, India and Pakistan routinely accuse each other of sending spies into their countries, and it is not uncommon for either nation to expel diplomats accused of espionage. However, death sentences have rarely been issued in such cases in recent years. In 2013, Sarabjit Singh, an Indian national sentenced to death for spying in Pakistan, was killed in jail after being attacked by fellow inmates. Singh had been on death row for 16 years. In 1999, another Indian man, Sheikh Shamim, was hanged in a Pakistani jail almost ten years after he was caught "red-handed" near the border and detained on charges of spying. India denounces "premeditated murder" In reaction to Pakistan's announcement, New Delhi warned Islamabad on Monday that any move to execute the Indian national would be "premeditated murder." India's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner to New Delhi Abdul Basit to protest Jadhav's death penalty handed down by a court, which was closed to the public. In a letter issued to Basit, the Foreign Ministry said that India's government had repeatedly sought consular access to Jadhav, which was not permitted. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," said the letter. Indian media have described Jadhav as a former naval officer, calling the proceedings against him "farcical." The developments come as cross-frontier shelling between the two sides has intensified along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed region of Kashmir, leading to deaths of civilians and soldiers stationed along the disputed frontier. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir since their independence from Britain in 1947. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Awards Death Sentence to Alleged Indian Spy Sputnik News 18:34 10.04.2017 Pakistan has awarded the death penalty to alleged Indian spy, Commander Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel, for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. New Delhi (Sputnik) Jadhav was arrested by Pakistani officials last year when he allegedly had an Indian passport in the name of Mubarak Hussein Patel in his possession. "RAW agent Commander Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 and Section 3 of Ofcial Secrets Act of 1923 and awarded death sentence. Today COAS, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has conrmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," read a statement released by the Inter-Service Public Relations of Pakistan on Monday. "He confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organize espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi." Jadhav was provided with an officer to defend him as per legal provisions. Pakistan claimed that Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan after entering the country from Iran while India maintained that he was an Indian Navy officer. Pakistan has also shared a dossier including details of Kulbhushan Jadhav and his activities with the UN Secretary General. Jadhav's family members had met Indian government officials a few times and told them that he had resigned from the Indian Navy and was running a small cargo transport business, ferrying cargo between two ports in Iran. He had an Iranian visa valid up to June 2016. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Sentences Suspected Indian Spy to Death By Ayaz Gul April 10, 2017 A military court in Pakistan has sentenced an alleged Indian spy to death on charges of "espionage and sabotage" activities against the country, a rare move likely to fuel bilateral tensions. An army spokesman, while announcing details of the decision Monday, identified the man as Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav of India's primary foreign intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Jadhav was arrested through a "counterintelligence operation" in Pakistan's violence-hit southwestern Baluchistan province in March 2016, and the military court found him guilty of all charges, said Major-General Asif Ghafoor. "The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) and awarded death sentence," Ghafoor added and said the Pakistan army chief signed off on the verdict. The spokesman reiterated that Jadhav was a serving Indian navy officer and tasked by RAW "to plan, coordinate and organize espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan." Indian denials New Delhi has acknowledged that Jadhav was a retired Indian naval officer, but rejected he was connected in any way to the government. Shortly after Monday's announcement by the Pakistan army, India summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner and condemned the proceedings against Jadhav "as farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him." An Indian Foreign Ministry statement said Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been "credibly"explained. Since his arrest, India has made 13 requests, including one last month to seek consular access to Jadhav, but this was not permitted by Islamabad, it added. Pakistani officials maintain the law does not allow consular access to detainees facing anti-state spying charges. India also dismissed as "clearly absurd in the circumstances" the Pakistan army's assertions that Jahhav was provided, during what India called the "so-called trial," with a defending officer. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," it warned. Confession video The Pakistan military released a confessional video shortly after Jadhav's arrest in which he gave details of anti-Pakistan operations launched from neighboring Iran. "I am still a serving officer in the Indian Navy ... I commenced intelligence operations in 2003, and established a small business in Chabahar in Iran. As I was able to achieve undetected existence and visits to Karachi in 2003 and 2004, ... I was picked up by RAW in 2013, and ever since I have been directing various activities in Baluchistan and Karachi at the behest of RAW, and deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi," said Jadhav. The issue has also become an irritant in Islamabad's relations with Tehran. Soon after his arrest, Pakistani officials asked Iran to investigate Jadhav's activities on its soil. Pakistani officials say they have also shared with the United Nations documents detailing Jadhav's confession and other subversive acts India is allegedly undertaking to destabilize Pakistan. Relations between the two nuclear-armed rival nations have deteriorated in recent years and a wide-ranging bilateral dialogue aimed at normalizing ties remains suspended. The two countries have lately engaged in intense military clashes along the dispute border in Kashmir, a divide Himalayan region both India and Pakistan claim in its entirety. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 10, 2017 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, conducting 27 strikes consisting of 89 engagements against ISIS targets yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. U.S. Central Command continues to work with partner nations to conduct targeted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes consisting of 35 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Abu Kamal, four strikes destroyed two ISIS pumpjacks and two wellheads. -- Near Tabqah, 14 strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed five vehicles, two fighting positions and a vehicle bomb; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit. And, an additional seven strikes were conducted in Syria from April 7-8, which have been closed within the last 24 hours: -- On April 7 near Tabqah, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and suppressed five fighting positions, an ISIS tactical unit and a sniper team. -- On April 7 near Tanf, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 10 fighting positions. Strikes in Iraq In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 54 engagements against ISIS targets, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, five mortar systems, three medium machine guns and a vehicle; damaged 22 supply routes; and suppressed four mortar teams. -- Near Qaim, three strikes destroyed five fuel trucks and three explosives caches. -- Near Taji, a strike engaged an ISIS staging area, destroyed two ISIS-held buildings and damaged a supply route. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said. The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect. For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said. The task force does 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan-Japan working group on fishery cooperation convenes in Tokyo ROC Central News Agency 2017/04/10 12:28:59 Taipei, April 10 (CNA) The first meeting of a working group on fishery cooperation between Taiwan and Japan was held in Tokyo on Sunday, with the members discussing fishing rights and the management of fishery resources, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The meeting, held under the mechanism of a Taiwan-Japan dialogue on maritime affairs, tackled several fishery matters of common concern, including the thorny issues of fishing rules in the East China Sea near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands and fishing rights near the Japan-controlled Okinotori atoll, the ministry said in a statement Monday. The representatives of both sides also discussed the management of eel resources, small tuna long liners, and Pacific saury harvesting by the North Pacific Fisheries Commission, according to the ministry. It said although the two sides held different positions on the Okinotori issue, the discussion helped to promote mutual understanding. Japan classifies Okinotori, a 9-square-meter uninhabited Pacific atoll that lies 1,600 km east of Taiwan, as an island, which means it is entitled to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Taiwan, however, maintains that Okinotori is not an island because it is unable to sustain human habitation and has accused Japan of carrying out land reclamation to expand the atoll. A dispute erupted last April after a Taiwanese fishing boat was detained by Japan on the high seas near Okinotori. The administration of then-President Ma Ying-jeou () lodged a strong protest with Japan against the authorities' refusal to release the boat until the owner paid a security deposit of 6 million Japanese yen (US$54,000). Since President Tsai Ing-wen () took office last May, her administration has been pushing for dialogue between Taiwan and Japan on maritime affairs in an effort to promote bilateral ties and narrow the differences on controversial issues. (By Scarlett Chai and Y.F. Low) ENDITEM/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese coast guard enters Diaoyutai waters, ninth time this year ROC Central News Agency 2017/04/10 19:57:07 Beijing, April 10 (CNA) Four Chinese coast guard vessels sailed into waters around the disputed Diaoyu Islands, called Diaoyutai Islands in Taiwan, in the East China Sea on Monday, according to a statement on the official website of China's State Oceanic Administration. The boats were patrolling in an area Beijing considers part of its territorial waters, the statement said. It was the ninth time this year that Chinese coast guard has patrolled the area, which is claimed by China, Taiwan and Japan. Known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, the uninhabited island group is currently controlled by Japan. Japan's move in September 2012 to claim three islets in the disputed island group as part of its national territory ignited disputes over sovereignty among Taipei, Beijing and Tokyo. Since then, Chinese coast guard vessels have often sailed into the waters off Diaoyutai and even into what Beijing calls "territorial waters," 12 nautical miles around the island group, confronting Japanese patrol vessels. (By Lawrence Chiu and Elizabeth Hsu) ENDITEM/ AW/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ross, Porter Conduct TLAM Strikes into Syria Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170410-09 Release Date: 4/10/2017 9:59:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs MEDITERRANEAN SEA (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-Class guided-missile destroyers USS Ross (DDG 71) and USS Porter (DDG 78) conducted a cruise missile strike against Shayrat airfield in western Syria April 7. While operating in the Mediterranean Sea, the ships objectively coordinated flight paths in order strike targets simultaneously, launching a combined total of 59 Tomahawk land attack missiles into Syria. "The Tomahawk missile strike carried out by USS Ross was an 'All Hands' effort," said Cmdr. David S. Coles, executive officer of Ross. "The success of this mission hinged upon our Sailors' excellent training, technical knowledge, and their outstanding attention to detail and dedication to our work. The Ross team's willingness and eagerness to respond at a moment's notice proved again what makes the United States Navy great. Our core values of: Honor. Courage. Commitment." Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, departed on its fifth forward-deployed patrol April 3 and is conducting routine patrols in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. "Serving in the forward-deployed naval forces Europe means that you're constantly ready to execute military operations across the entire spectrum of your ship's capabilities," said Cmdr. Andria Slough, commanding officer of Porter. "Precision doesn't happen overnight -- it takes 300 warriors sacrificing throughout a prolonged period to develop the kind of proficiency needed to be successful out here. This mission was the culmination of innumerable hours of maintenance, training and preparation from the entire crew, and we're honored to have answered our country's call to duty." Porter, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, departed on its third forward-deployed patrol Nov. 30, 2016 and is conducting routine patrols in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. 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 and security and stability in Europe and Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Ross Arrives in Larnaca Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170410-03 Release Date: 4/10/2017 9:45:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs LARNACA, Cyprus (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) arrived in Larnaca, Cyprus, April 10, for a scheduled port visit to enhance U.S.- Cyprus relations as the two nations work together for a stable, secure, and prosperous Europe. The ship's presence in the Mediterranean is a demonstration of the U.S. Navy's continued commitment to strengthening our strategic partnerships in the European region. Quote: "Our wardroom and crew look forward to this port visit after an intense first week. It is a great opportunity to relax and experience the rich history of Cyprus before we continue on patrol." USS Ross Command Master Chief Richard L. James Quick Facts: Strengthening partnerships during the port visit to Cyprus demonstrates enduring relationships and a shared commitment we have to promote safety and stability within the region, while seeking opportunities to enhance our interoperability with partners like Cyprus. Previous U.S. ships that have visited Cyprus in the past year include USS Ramage in July 2016 and USS Truxtun in Feb. 2017. Ross is currently working with allies and regional partners to help develop and improve our maritime forces, maintain regional security and work toward mutual goals in order to advance security and stability in Europe. Ross, 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. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bonhomme Richard Completes Patrol, Returns to Sasebo Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170410-05 Release Date: 4/10/2017 9:48:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Mitchell, USS Bonhomme Richard Public Affairs SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived in Sasebo, Japan, completing its regularly-scheduled patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), April 10. Bonhomme Richard departed White Beach, Okinawa, after disembarking personnel, vehicles and equipment of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), April 8. "We completed some valuable training on this patrol," said Capt. Jeffrey Ward, Bonhomme Richard's commanding officer. "The crew did a fantastic job working with the Marines. We increased our level of knowledge and enhanced our readiness to respond, and we did it safely and as a team. We're returning to Sasebo with a sense of accomplishment and pride." During the patrol, Bonhomme Richard (BHR) and the 31st MEU completed amphibious integrated training (AIT) and a certification exercise (CERTEX). Bonhomme Richard is the flagship of the BHR Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The Bonhomme Richard ARG consists of USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and USS Ashland (LSD 48). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address During King Abdullah IIs recent visit to the White House, President Donald Trump pledged to preserve and strengthen the relationship between the United States and Jordan. At a press conference with the King, he noted that the historic ties and close friendship between the two countries date back three quarters of a century: In that time, the Middle East has faced many periods of crises and unrest, perhaps never like it is today, however. Through them all, America has looked to Jordan as a valued partner, an advocate for the values of civilization, and a source of stability and hope. One of the gravest threats to Jordan and the region is undoubtedly ISIS. President Trump praised Jordans role as a partner in the campaign to defeat the terrorist group and noted Jordans tremendous sacrifices in this battle against the enemies of civilization. He praised the courage of Jordans service members, many of whom have given their lives in the fight to defeat ISIS, and he called King Abdullah a thoughtful and determined partner and a great warrior. Mr. Trump also acknowledged the vital role Jordan has played in hosting refugees from Syria and noted that the United States will contribute additional funds to Jordan for humanitarian assistance. Both King Abdullah and President Trump condemned the recent chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime in Syria that killed dozens, including women and children. Mr. Trump called their deaths an affront to humanity, and King Abdullah agreed that such savagery should not be tolerated. Finally, President Trump said that both men had discussed ways to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East, including peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. King Abdullah praised the efforts by President Trump to engage on this issue, and said the President has Jordans full support and the support from many, many countries in our region. President Trump called the King a tireless advocate for a peaceful solution and someone who will help him achieve it. Working together, President Trump said, the United States and Jordan can help bring peace and stability to the Middle East. USS Leyte Gulf Visits Wilhelmshaven Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170410-02 Release Date: 4/10/2017 9:38:00 AM From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs WILHELMSHAVEN, Germany (NNS) -- The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) arrived in Wilhelmshaven, Germany for a scheduled port visit, April 9, to enhance U.S.- Germany relations as the two nations work together for a stable, secure and prosperous Europe. The ship's presence in the North Atlantic is a demonstration of our continued commitment to the collective security of NATO under Operation Atlantic Resolve. Quote: "We'll continue to be ambassadors of our Navy and our nation, as we have in past deployments. Amazing opportunities like this build lasting ties with our allies and allow our crew to experience the rich history of Wilhelmshaven. Both on duty and on liberty, our Sailors foster peace and friendship with our hosts while expressing our gratitude for their hospitality." -Cmdr. Steven McCauley, executive officer, USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) Quick Facts: Strengthening alliances during the port visit to Wilhelmshaven demonstrates the shared commitment we have to promote safety and stability within the region, while seeking opportunities to enhance our interoperability with allies like Germany. The United States continues to demonstrate its commitment to the collective security of our NATO allies and support for our partners in Europe. All DoD efforts in support of our NATO allies in Eastern Europe fall under the umbrella of Atlantic Resolve. Leyte Gulf departed its homeport in Norfolk March 27 to conduct maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 16 civilians killed in fighting in South Sudan Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 6:22PM At least 16 civilians have lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in clashes between government troops and armed rebel forces in South Sudan, official reports say. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement that the fighting had stemmed from a Sunday ambush of the South Sudanese government troops near the country's second largest city of Wau and had led to clashes the following day. "The Mission mounted two patrols into Wau on Monday and said it had observed the bodies of 16 civilians in a hospital. There were ten people who had been injured," the statement said. Reports said at least 3,000 residents of Wau, mostly women and children, had sought shelter in a Catholic church, while another 84 took refuge at a UN protection site to escape the killings. Wau is located in a region that has repeatedly changed hands between government troops and rebels loyal to former vice president Riek Machar since the country plunged into civil war in 2013. The city is some 650 kilometers from the capital Juba. UNMISS noted that troops, tanks and equipment from Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) had been deployed to areas controlled by the rebels in the southwestern part of Wau last week. South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, but descended into a bloody civil war in December 2013, when President Salva Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup against him. The two sides then got involved in a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the impoverished country along ethnic lines between the rival communities of Dinka and Nuer, killing thousands of people. A peace agreement convinced Machar to return to Juba, but a new wave of fighting broke out again in the African country in July 2016. Machar is currently in exile in South Africa after fleeing the new spate of violence. Numerous international attempts to reach a truce between the warring sides have failed. The persisting conflict has so far killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions of others from their homes, divided much of the population along ethnic lines and crippled agriculture. According to the United Nations, the impoverished country is also facing famine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 40 killed amid clashes, airstrikes in southwest Yemen Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 6:12PM More than 40 Yemenis have been killed in Saudi airstrikes as well as clashes between fighters from the Houthi Ansarullah movement and militiamen loyal to resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, military and medical officials say. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday that the skirmishes and aerial attacks in the Jabal al-Nar area, east of the Red Sea port city of Mukha in Ta'izz Province, had left 17 Houthi fighters dead. Another 11 Ansarullah members were killed in airstrikes on Kamaran Island and a base in the provincial capital city of Hudaydah. Unnamed medical sources said ten pro-Hadi militiamen had been also killed and 15 others wounded in the confrontations. Meanwhile, three civilians lost their lives and two others sustained injuries when a bomb attack targeted the convoy of a military commander. Yemeni snipers shoot dead four Saudi troopers Meanwhile, Yemeni soldiers, backed by fighters from Popular Committees, have shot dead a Saudi trooper in the kingdom's southwestern border region of Jizan in retaliation for Riyadh's military campaign against its crisis-hit southern neighbor. Yemeni forces shot and killed the Saudi trooper in Wadi al-Ma'ayen district on Monday evening, Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported. Earlier in the day, Yemeni soldiers and their allies fatally shot a Saudi soldier at al-Farizeh military base in the same Saudi region. Yemeni snipers also shot dead two soldiers in the al-Makhrouq military base of Najran region, situated 844 kilometers south of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 in an unsuccessful attempt to bring back Hadi, who is a staunch ally of Saudi Arabia, to power and to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement. The Riyadh regime has, however, failed to reach its goals despite going to great expense. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian army says killed four militants in gunfight in Kashmir Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:52PM The Indian army says its troops have killed four suspected militants in an overnight firefight at the borderline of the Indian-administered part of Kashmir. According to Colonel Rajesh Kalia, an Indian army spokesman, the incident occurred late on Sunday when the gunmen sneaked across the Line of Control (LoC) and on the Indian-held portion of the Himalayan region in Keran sector from the Pakistani-controlled Kashmir but were intercepted by Indian soldiers. "The four infiltrators were killed in an exchange of fire. Their bodies and four weapons have also been recovered," Kalia further said on Monday. The LoC is a heavily fortified borderline between the two arch-rival neighbors, separating the Pakistani-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan in the west and northwest, respectively, from India's province of Jammu and Kashmir in the north. The LoC, which dates back to over four decades ago, is not an internationally recognized demarcation line but serves as the de facto border between the two countries in the region. Also on Sunday, a local by-election in Kashmir for a vacant seat in India's parliament was marred by protests and violence, which claimed the lives of eight civilians and wounded almost 100 others, many of whom from bullets fired by Indian police and paramilitary forces. According to officials, around 100 police officers and paramilitary soldiers also sustained injuries in the clashes. In response, separatist leaders, who opposed India's military presence in the region, called for a two-day strike, prompting people to close shops and schools on Monday. Public transport was also suspended in a sign of solidarity with separatist leaders. Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both since the two partitioned and gained independence from Britain in 1947. The two countries have fought three wars over the disputed territory. They, however, reached an agreement to maintain a ceasefire in Kashmir in November 2003. Since then, there have been sporadic clashes - with the two sides trading accusations of violating the ceasefire - but no major armed conflict between the two countries. Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained in the past several months, with New Delhi blaming Islamabad for a raid on an army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir in last September, which killed 19 soldiers. The Indian army blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault. Islamabad denies any role in the attack. The volatile region has also witnessed an increase in mass protests and violent attacks since early July last year, when a top pro-independence figure was killed in a shootout with Indian troops. Dozens of people have lost their lives in the ensuing crackdown. The crackdown, however, has failed to halt the protests. India has already deployed around 500,000 soldiers in its portion of the disputed region, where militant groups have for decades been fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Duterte orders boosting of defenses in disputed territory, 'not militarizing it' Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:32AM The Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered military reinforcements in South China Sea territory disputed with regional power China, reassuring Beijing, however, that he is not "militarizing" the region. Duterte said on Monday that he had ordered the military to reinforce defenses on areas in the sea that are controlled by Manila but said his government would not place any "offensive weapons" there. He said Manila was trying to maintain the geopolitical balance in the region as well as peace and friendship with Beijing. China claims most of the sea, including waters and rocks close to the shores of neighbors, and has been building artificial islands and installing military equipment on them, including on some reefs in the Spratly chain, which are also claimed by Manila. Philippine defense and military officials also said on Friday that they would upgrade existing facilities on the islands but not occupy new territories. Duterte previously raised alarm when he said last week that Manila had to occupy the uninhabited islands that the Philippines claims. "We must build bunkers there or houses and make provisions for habitation." He even threatened to go to a disputed island himself and raise his country's flag on it. His Monday pronouncements, while still meant to assert Manila's stance, were, however, less inflammatory and clearly meant to assuage potential Chinese concerns. The South China Sea, through which more than five trillion dollars in global trade passes every year, is also contested by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Car bomb blast kills govt. official in Somali capital Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:23AM A Somali government official has been killed in a car bomb explosion in the capital, Mogadishu, officials say. "The car bomb killed a junior government worker," said Abdifatah Omar Halane, a spokesman for Mogadishu's mayor on Monday. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but the al-Shabab militant group has stepped up its deadly bombings in Somalia's capital since a new president took office in the country in February. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared a "new offensive against terrorist groups" on Thursday. He gave militants a 60-day deadline to lay down their arms and surrender. He also replaced military and intelligence chiefs, the country's police chief, and Mogadishu's mayor in an attempt to improve the worsening security situation in the long-chaotic Horn of Africa country. The al-Shabab group was forced out of the capital by African Union troops in 2011 but still controls parts of the countryside and carries out attacks against government, military, and civilian targets in Mogadishu and elsewhere. Separately, an assailant entered a military camp in the south of the capital and fired at soldiers before blowing himself up. He killed at least three soldiers and injured several others. The assailant had been "disguised as a member of the military" to gain access to the training camp, according to military official Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Abdirahman. The camp, which is one of the biggest in the country, was hosting a meeting of military officials when the attack took place. The al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that "tens" of people had been killed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuela's Maduro raps gas attack accusation by opposition figure Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 4:55AM Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has called for an investigation to be launched against an opposition figure over a bizarre accusation that the government was using "chemical weapons" against anti-government protesters. Caracas-area Mayor David Smolansky, a leading opposition figure, claimed on social media on Saturday that a red gas had been used to disperse protesters during recent anti-government demonstrations. Caracas was "beginning to use chemical weapons" against opposition forces, Smolansky tweeted. He likened it to what he said was a recent chemical attack in Syria. Maduro responded by saying on state television on Sunday that, "Venezuela never in its history has had biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons." The president then called for an investigation against Smolansky over the false accusation. The Venezuelan president added that by raising such false claims, his opponents were attempting to lay the ground for US military intervention in the oil-rich country. The divide between the socialist government of Venezuela and the opposition has been increasingly widening in the recent past. Tensions significantly rose with the 2015 elections, when the opposition gained control of the parliament amid public anger over the economic woes and the shortages facing the once-booming Latin American economy. Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves. The opposition says Maduro's socialist system is to blame for the country's problems, while the leftist government blames opposition forces for inciting political unrest. Last year, the opposition launched an abortive attempt to oust Maduro by seeking to hold elections. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bibilov Wins South Ossetia Vote Denounced by Georgia, U.S., And EU RFE/RL April 10, 2017 Officials in Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region say the speaker of the de facto parliament, Anatoly Bibilov, has won a presidential election condemned by Tbilisi and the West as illegitimate. The head of the separatist government's election commission, Bella Pliyeva, said on April 10 that with about 90 percent of the ballots counted, Bibilov had around 58 percent of the vote -- enough to avoid a second-round runoff. Incumbent leader Leonid Tibilov had 30 percent and regional KGB security service officer Alan Gagloyev had 11 percent, Pliyeva said. Pliyeva added that some 78 percent of voters supported a proposal to change the region's name from the Republic of South Ossetia to the Republic of South Ossetia-Alania. As with past ballots in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another Russia-backed breakaway region, the United States, the European Union, and Georgia called the April 9 votes illegitimate and said they would not recognize the results. In a statement on April 9, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said the name-change referendum in the region "aims at laying the ground for its illegal annexation" by Russia. Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent countries after fighting a brief war against Georgia in 2008, and maintains thousands of troops in both regions. With reporting by civil.ge, Interfax, and TASS Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/bibilov-wins-south-ossetia-vote/28420698.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Congratulates Bibilov on Election as S Ossetia President Sputnik News 19:05 10.04.2017(updated 19:17 10.04.2017) Vladimir Putin congratulated Anatoly Bibilov on winning South Ossetia presidential elections. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday congratulated Anatoly Bibilov on winning South Ossetia presidential elections, emphasizing Russia's continuing assistance in ensuring the republic's economic growth and security, the Kremlin said. "I am certain that after your election the relations between our countries, based on principles of alliance and integration, will receive a further impetus," Putin wrote in a telegram posted on the Kremlin's website. "Russia will continue to provide a full-scale assistance to S. Ossetia in resolution of current issues of social and economic development, as well as national security," the telegram said. The presidential election in South Ossetia was held on April 9. The breakaway republic of South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s. Russia recognized independence of the republics after the five-day war with Georgia following Tbilisi's offensive against South Ossetia. Georgia has not recognized the republics' independence and considers them part of its territory. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Congratulates Bibilov on Election as S Ossetia President Sputnik News 09:55 10.04.2017(updated 12:44 10.04.2017) Later this year, Serbia will take part in Collective Security Treaty Organization drills as a full-fledged member for the first time; the other six nations which comprise the regional military alliance are all close Russian allies and former Soviet republics. September 2017 will see Serbia's full-blown participation in the war games of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), according to media reports. The CSTO, which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, was set up by the former Soviet states in 1992 shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in a bid to facilitate cooperation and strengthen security in the region. Serbia and Afghanistan have observer status at the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly. The upcoming CSTO drills, dubbed "Indestructible Brotherhood," will be held in Kazakhstan; Serbia's army and police units are due to take part. "Given that the Serbian military already participated in similar previous exercises involving Russia and Belarus, Belgrade's cooperation with the CSTO in this sector looks logical," Serbian political scientist Dusan Prorokovic told Sputnik. When asked whether it will add to strengthening Serbia's military neutrality, he signaled Belgrade's interest in the matter. At the same time, Prorokovic said that "if you look at the [recent] agreements signed by our country, they indicate Serbia's push for NATO rather than the CSTO." "In the past four years, Serbia has signed three agreements with NATO, including a very controversial individual partnership action plan (IPAP). We often participate in military exercises with the CSTO countries, but as far as the formalization of our relations is concerned, it is lagging behind," he pointed out. According to him, the best way to finally consolidate Serbia's neutral status is to pass a special law to supplement the current parliamentary resolutions, which Prorokovic said do not work. "By doing so, Serbia would have showed that it remains a neutral state and can continue to cooperate with the CSTO without being lectured to on the issue," he said. Late last month, Russian expert Alexander Pivovarenko told Sputnik that Belgrade's drive to continue its course towards closer integration with the EU while maintaining its friendship with Russia and China underscores the multi-vector nature of Serbian policy. "Serbia believes that it can build constructive and working relations with Brussels, Moscow, Washington, and Beijing. In general, Serbian policy is a multi-vector one, with Turkish and Arab investments also being in place in this policy. In other words, Serbia is at the crossroads of many vectors," Pivovarenko said. Earlier in March, then-Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that "the vast majority of Serbian citizens support the continuation of reforms, the continuation of the European path of development for Serbia as well as maintaining our traditional friendship with Russia and China." Vucic was elected as Serbian President in the first round of the elections, which were held on April 2. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update: air strikes against Daesh 10 April 2017 The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Summary - Wednesday 5 April Typhoons supported Syrian Democratic Forces west of Raqqa, while Tornados assisted Iraqi troops both in Mosul and the western deserts of Iraq. - Thursday 6 April A combined Tornado and Typhoon formation destroyed a mortar team on a truck in Mosul and a Daesh team planting improvised explosive devices on the move west of Kirkuk. - Friday 7 April A Reaper provided close support over Mosul, destroying two terrorist mortar teams. - Saturday 8 April A combined Tornado and Typhoon formation struck a truck-bomb factory in Mosul. - Sunday 9 April Tornados bombed a stockpile of home-made explosives near Al Qaim in western Iraq. Detail The RAF is continuing to support Iraqi forces in their effort to liberate western Mosul. While the operating environment in the city is very challenging, particularly given the closely-packed buildings, very narrow streets, and the density of the urban population, our aircrew have continued to deliver precision strikes in close support of Iraqi troops on the ground. Daesh's current tactics, including the illegal use of civilians as human shields, and fighting from sites such as schools, hospitals, religious sites and civilian neighbourhoods, increases the risk to innocent life. While no military operations come without risk, particularly in dense urban environments and against such inhuman Daesh tactics, the RAF continues to take all steps necessary to minimise civilian causalities. Royal Air Force Typhoons provided close air support to Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday 5 April, as they consolidated their hold on the huge Tabqah Dam, recently seized from Daesh's control, to the west of Raqqa. Daesh had tried, in their desperation, to counter-attack with suicide truck-bombs, so the Typhoons conducted an air strike to cut the approach road to the SDF positions and make any further truck-bomb attacks much more difficult. Given attempts by both Daesh and Russia to claim falsely that Coalition air attacks have been directed at the dam itself, it is important to emphasise that the Typhoons' target was two miles to the south-east and posed no threat whatsoever to the dam's structural integrity. A pair of Tornados meanwhile supported the Iraqi forces driving Daesh out of western Mosul, and used a Paveway IV guided bomb to engage a mortar position. The Tornados then flew down to Iraq's western desert, where other Iraqi troops were operating against Daesh to the south of Al Qaim. A Brimstone missile was used to destroy a motorcycle combination carrying three terrorists at speed over the desert and a second Brimstone eliminated a light machine-gun position. A Tornado and a Typhoon flew as a pair on Thursday 6 April, armed with a mix of Paveway IVs and Brimstone missiles. Over north-western Mosul, they engaged a Daesh motor team who were moving to a new position on a truck. A number of unidentified individuals were seen on foot nearby, so our aircrew waited patiently until they had moved away from the immediate proximity of the vehicle. A Brimstone missile, which has a smaller warhead than a Paveway, was then used to destroy the target. The RAF flight then patrolled an area some 25 miles west of Kirkuk, where they were able to track a truck carrying a terrorist team who had been planting booby traps, scoring a direct hit on the moving vehicle with another Brimstone missile. On Friday 7 April, a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft flew overwatch for Iraqi troops in west Mosul. Coalition surveillance aircraft identified two Daesh mortar teams: one firing from the doorway of a building, the other from a small courtyard. The Reaper's crew were able to conduct successful attacks with Hellfire missiles which accounted for both teams. The following day, a Tornado and Typhoon pair used two Paveway IVs to strike a truck-bomb factory in Mosul. On Sunday 9 April, two Tornados patrolled the Iraqi border with Syria, where they bombed a stockpile of home-made explosives near Al Qaim. UK contribution to the fight against Daesh Map of UK forces committed to Operation Shader Campaign against Daesh Map of Daesh losses and gains in Iraq and Syria since September 2014 Previous update Sunday 2 April: Tornados, supported by a Voyager air tanker, patrolled over western Mosul. When Iraqi forces came under Daesh mortar fire, the Tornados' aircrew were able to identify the mortar team firing their weapon out of the ground floor of a large building. This allowed the Tornados to achieve a clear line of fire for a Brimstone missile, which scored a direct hit on the mortar team while causing minimal damage to the rest of the building. Monday 3 April: Tornados and Typhoons conducted attacks in western Mosul, also against Daesh mortars. The Typhoons had to bomb through cloud, but the Iraqi ground forces, only metres away, reported that the terrorist position had been struck accurately. The Tornados, also hampered by cloud, targeted a mortar that was firing on an Iraqi unit from the top storey of a tall building. A Paveway IV was employed with a carefully selected fuse setting, and it successfully demolished just the uppermost storey, leaving the rest of the building intact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Status Unclear of US-Russia Hotline for Syrian Airspace By Carla Babb April 10, 2017 The United States military says it is still able to deconflict operations with Russia over Syria, but it is unclear whether the two militaries are still using the two countries' established hotline, aimed at preventing midair collisions of their warplanes in Syrian airspace. U.S. Central Command spokesman Air Force Col. John Thomas told reporters Monday that the U.S. military had used the line of communication last week to notify the Russians about the impending U.S. strike on a Syrian airfield in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack that killed more than 80 Syrian civilians. "The regularly scheduled call did go off as normal the next day," Thomas said. "After that, we're not going to talk about the status of the deconfliction line because we're just going to let the situation settle and see what happens." Moscow asserted on Friday that it had suspended those communications in protest against the April 6 Tomahawk cruise missile strike on al-Shayrat airfield. The communication line is primarily used to ensure that Russian and U.S. planes conducting combat missions in Syria do not get into unintentional confrontations. The U.S. is using the airspace to conduct strikes against Islamic State terrorists. Thomas said the U.S. has "continued to deconflict as necessary with the Russians" using "all of the available means," but he declined to comment on whether the U.S.-Russia hotline was still available for use. 'Measured response' Also Monday, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis issued a statement on the U.S. strike on al-Shayrat, calling it a "measured response to the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons." Mattis said President Donald Trump "directed this action to deter future use of chemical weapons and to show the United States will not passively stand by while Assad murders innocent people with chemical weapons, which are prohibited by international law and which were declared destroyed." The defense secretary noted that the strike on the Syrian airfield resulted in the damage or destruction of fuel and ammunition sites, air defense capabilities, and 20 percent of Syria's operational aircraft. "The Syrian government has lost the ability to refuel or rearm aircraft at Shayrat airfield and, at this point, use of the runway is of idle military interest," Mattis said in the statement. While briefing reporters Monday, Central Command spokesman Thomas said the number of U.S. strikes against Islamic State militants in the region has been reduced as U.S. Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the ground commander for coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, repositions forces to assure force protection for his troops. U.S. officials have expressed concern to VOA that Russian or Syrian military forces might try to respond to the "one-off" U.S. assault by targeting U.S. troops fighting Islamic State inside Syria. Al-Tanf attack Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command said American special forces helped repel an Islamic State attack on a military base in southern Syria on Saturday. About 20 or 30 of the terrorist fighters attacked a gate at the al-Tanf garrison, using a vehicle-borne explosive device and suicide vests. Thomas told reporters that U.S. military forces were at the base and in other nearby areas. "There was close air support that was provided. There was ground support that was provided, and there was medivac that was supported by the coalition," Thomas said. No Americans were killed in the attack, but three members of the Syrian partner force died, according to Thomas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Afghan Forces Attack IS Stronghold in Eastern Afghanistan By Zabihullah Ghazi, Noor Zahid April 10, 2017 U.S. and Afghan special forces in eastern Afghanistan have cleared Islamic State fighters from much of a key stronghold IS has occupied since 2015, provincial officials and local residents told VOA. A reporter for VOA's Afghan service traveled to the remote Achin region over the last several days with Afghan forces. He found that village after village suffered destruction at the hands of IS. In the wake of a 10-day-long continuing offensive in eastern Nangarhar province that officials said killed dozens of IS fighters, the terror group left buildings crumbled, services cut off and residents traumatized. More than 200 houses have been destroyed, and hundreds of families fled their villages for secure places, locals told VOA. "We left our homes for our lives," said Mohammad Anwar, an Achin resident. "Our houses are fully destroyed and nothing has been left." Residents said they grew to believe that Afghan forces would never rid IS from the area. "Schools, markets, everything has been destroyed, and we hope everything will be rebuilt so that people can return," said Rahimullah, another local who, like most Afghans, uses a first name only. "But we are very happy that the government forces have arrived. We want peace in our country." Outside one village, the VOA reporter found a hole filled with what locals say are the bodies of IS fighters. Provincial officials said more than 120 militants have been killed in the ongoing air and ground offensive, now in its second week. "Afghan commando forces, as well as police and NATO forces, have launched the operation in the area," Achin district governor Islamiel Shinwari told VOA. Dozens of IS fighters have fled into the mountains in eastern Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan. "They [IS militants] were present in this area," Anwar said. "Afghan forces have arrived and the militants fled our areas." The anti-IS operation in Achin is part of a joint U.S.-Afghan military effort to eliminate IS from Afghanistan. "Our goal in 2017 is to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan," U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Salvin, spokesperson for Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, told VOA last month. IS's self-styled Khorasan Province branch (ISIS-K) has taken root in mountainous areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, increasing its recruiting efforts and terror attacks nationwide. Its name refers to a centuries-old description of Afghanistan and surrounding areas of Central Asia and Persia. NATO and the Afghan government say their security operations in recent months have reduced the extremists' strength in Afghanistan from several thousand to now under 1,000 fighters, and their territorial control from more than 10 districts to fewer than five. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cambodia Raises Diplomatic Alarm with Seabee Decision By Luke Hunt April 10, 2017 Cambodia's decision to walk out on a contract with a U.S. military unit has set-off alarm bells within the diplomatic community and raised concerns that Prime Minister Hun Sen is prepared to sacrifice millions of dollars worth of humanitarian work to appease regional powers like Russia and China. Diplomats and political analysts said they were stunned by a government notification ending work on schools and hospitals by the U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion, or the Seabees. "Well, I will find it extraordinary that Cambodians would happily cancel these types of projects without something coming in to replace it," said Billy Chia-Lung Tai, an independent human rights consultant at CL Consulting. "But who's going to be building these projects and where's that money going to come from? Or are these schools and hospitals simply just not going to be built and if that is the case are these projects now going to be picked up as Chinese funded projects," he said. Poke in the eye The Cambodian government has not said why it declined to renew it's Seabee contract, a move described by one diplomat as another "poke in the eye" for the Americans. It's a point of frustration for Washington given the nature of the Seabee work. "Since 2008 the Seabees have carried out $5 million worth of construction projects that benefited tens of thousands of Cambodians across the country," said Jay Raman, spokesman for the US embassy in Phnom Penh. "They've completed projects such as maternity wards, hospital improvements, water wells, bathroom facilities in public schools and similar projects, working hand in hand with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and local communities," he said. Whether China or Russia will step in to fill the breach remains to be seen, but the apparent use of genuine humanitarian works for political point scoring has left Cambodia's most vulnerable even further exposed. "They were scheduled to build six additional bathroom facilities at schools and two new maternity wards this year and next and they had many other projects coming out for 2018 and 2019, but unfortunately those have now been cancelled," Raman added. Encroaching power plays The cancellation of the agreement means at least 20 planned projects will be scrapped in a move reminiscent of Cold War plays. Carl Thayer, Emeritus Professor at the Australian Defence Force Academy, added Hun Sen might be attempting to re-position Cambodia politically on his belief that the U.S. is on the decline in East Asia while Russia is seeking to raise it's regional profile. This was helped by a shift towards China by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and a lack of clear foreign policy direction from the White House following the recent election of President Donald Trump. "With Duterte in Manila and Trump in Washington, perhaps Hun Sen sees the decline of the U.S. as a trend and is attempting to reposition Cambodia," he said. "The cancelling of the Seabee's work continues a pattern of anti-U.S. actions by Hun Sen that Russian diplomats would have picked up." Those anti-U.S. actions included a Hun Sen request for forgiveness of a $505 million debt owed to the U.S. for food and agricultural goods. The money was borrowed by the Lon Nol government in the 1970s, during its civil war with the Khmer Rouge. The Russians have also refused to renegotiate a $1.5 billion debt incurred by the Cambodians during the Moscow-backed Vietnamese occupation of the country in the 1980s. However, China did write-off debts incurred in the 1970s by the Khmer Rouge regime about 15 years ago. In January, Phnom Penh suspended joint military exercises with the U.S., citing the June elections as the cause while rejecting suggestions that its decision was related to military and financial ties with China. Beijing held its first joint naval drill with Cambodia last year after it funded lucrative contracts for Chinese-made weapons, jeeps, helicopters, and training. Cambodia looks north by north-east Thayer said it became clear about three to four years ago that Russian President Vladimir Putin was angling towards a re-engagement in the Asia-Pacific. "Not much was done because Vietnam was the only country with solid links," he said. "Last year Russia hosted a summit with ASEAN leaders in Sochi and this seems to have breathed new life into an older initiative." Thayer added the Russian navy had also conducted several exercises with its Chinese counterpart and last year had visited the Philippines after Duterte's pivot to China. "Putin rankles at the sanctions and isolation imposed on Russia by the U.S. and EU," he said. "He seeks to break out and demonstrate that Russia has foreign friends, hence the opportunistic approach to Cambodia." China and Cambodia are also steadily tightening their diplomatic relationship. In the past month, Beijing said it was expected to bestow sister city status on Phnom Penh while a separate agreement was struck with Shaanxi Province to increase trade and tourism. With commune elections due in June and general elections in July next year, the ruling party is increasingly relying on Chinese largesse as its backbone for a booming post-war economy. Two-way trade between Cambodia and China is expected to top $5 billion this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tillerson Vows New Commitment to Protect Civilians Worldwide By Ken Bredemeier April 10, 2017 U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, looking to rally world leaders in support of last week's U.S. missile attack on Syria, Monday promised a new U.S. commitment to facing the world's aggressors who attack their citizens. Tillerson joined other G-7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy in laying a wreath at a Tuscan village where Nazis massacred more than 500 civilians during World War II. He alluded to the American retaliatory airstrikes in Syria after Damascus launched a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of people and sickened hundreds more. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson said. "This place will serve as an inspiration to us all." The top U.S. diplomat, meeting for the first time with other leaders from the world's major advanced economies, is looking for support for the U.S. military action before heading to Russia later in the week for talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about Moscow's continuing support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described Assad as "toxic," saying it was "time for [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is propping up." Ahead of the formal G-7 meetings, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told Tillerson that Tokyo supports the United States in its effort to "deter the spread and use of chemical weapons." Bilateral meetings planned Before flying to Moscow, Tillerson also plans to meet Tuesday with counterparts from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates about the U.S. response to the Syrian chemical weapons attack. Aside from the six-year-old Syrian civil war and Russia's alliance with Assad, the G-7 foreign ministers also face other daunting issues, including the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons development program and Moscow's support of pro-Russian fighters in eastern Ukraine waging battles with the Kyiv government. The leaders of the G-7 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the U.S. - are gathering for their own summit in Italy in May; but, the foreign ministers meeting Monday and Tuesday are laying the groundwork for those talks, with a priority on their collective efforts to oust Islamic State fighters from Syria and Iraq. Tillerson said Sunday the United States remains committed to an international road map developed in Geneva in 2012 for bringing an end to the conflict in Syria, now in its seventh year. When that plan was developed, the civil war was just more than a year old and has since become a massive humanitarian disaster. The Geneva Communique calls for a new Syrian constitution and elections, but does not specify the fate of Assad. U.S. officials have in recent days offered contradictory statements on the long-held U.S. policy that Assad should be ousted. Tillerson has called for Assad's removal, but said Islamic State is the focus for now. "I think what the United States and our allies want to do is to enable the Syrian people to make that determination" about Assad, Tillerson told CBS News on Sunday. "We've seen what violent regime change looks like in Libya and the kind of chaos that can be unleashed." Libya, Russia, North Korea Libya is another topic for the G-7. The country has struggled with political instability since the 2011 ouster and killing of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi, with rival governments and militias seeking to assert authority and a U.N.-led process unable to establish a unified body. Most of the G-7 members took part in a NATO-led air operation backed by a U.N. resolution to protect civilians from strikes by the Libyan government. Russia expressed opposition to that mission, declaring the resolution to be overly broad in what it allowed. Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine led the G-7 to suspend Russia's involvement from what had been the G-8 group of nations. The conflict in eastern Ukraine is expected to be among the topics Tillerson raises with Russian officials in Moscow. In previewing the trip, a senior State Department official said Tillerson will likely push Russia to honor its commitments under agreements reached in Minsk to halt fighting in eastern Ukraine and work toward a peaceful resolution to that conflict. "He will reiterate that sanctions will remain in place until Russia reverses the actions that triggered them, and as well as on the Crimea-related sanctions that will stay in place until there is a change there," the official said. North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile tests will be another topic of discussion, but one where the U.S. and Russia hold similar positions, having joined other powers in issuing condemnations of a number of tests in the past year. A senior State Department official said generally Tillerson will stress that the United States is willing to work with Russia on areas that are beneficial to the American people, but will "hold Russia accountable when it violates international norms." The most glaring issue in the relationship may be the finding of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia interfered with last year's U.S. presidential election with the goal of boosting President Donald Trump's chances of winning. Tillerson is expected to raise the issue, and according to the senior State Department official, sees it as an example of areas where Russia is "creating tensions unnecessarily that erode trust." The talks about overall U.S.-Russia relations will also serve as a step in exploring whether a direct meeting at a higher level -- between Trump and Putin -- is to come. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ethnic Killings in South Sudan Leave 16 Dead By VOA News April 10, 2017 At least 16 people have been killed in South Sudan as militiamen targeted civilians based on their ethnicity. Witnesses say the Dinka militiamen, aligned with South Sudan's government, went house to house Monday in the town of Wau searching for people from the local Luo and Fertit ethnic groups. Residents say streets were deserted Monday as families hid inside their homes. The United Nations mission in South Sudan, or UNMISS, said its workers saw "the bodies of 16 civilians in a hospital. There were 10 people who had been injured." U.N. officials have repeatedly warned that South Sudan is at risk of genocide. U.N. officials say the killings were in retaliation for a rebel attack on government forces in Wau state on Sunday that killed two officers. UNMISS said about 3,000 people, mostly women and children, had fled to a Catholic Church in town. It said 84 people had sought protection in a civilian encampment protected by U.N. peacekeepers. Residents told reporters that army soldiers were blocking the main road to the encampment, preventing most people from reaching the site. South Sudan has been beset by violence for more than three years because of a political rivalry between the young country's two leaders. The power struggle between President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his former deputy, Riek Machar, a Nuer, broke out in December 2013, after the president accused Machar and 10 others of attempting a coup. Fighting has split the country along ethnic lines, displaced more than two million people from their homes, and caused food shortages in many areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egypt Declares State of Emergency After Church Blasts By VOA News April 10, 2017 Egypt has declared a declared a three-month state of emergency in the wake of two Coptic church bombings that killed at least 44 people. "A series of steps will be taken, most importantly, the announcement of a state of emergency for three months after legal and constitution steps are taken," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said in a speech aired on state television. The first blast was in the northern city of Tanta, where a powerful explosion ripped through a Palm Sunday service at St. George's Church, killing 27 people and wounding 78 others, state TV reported. The explosive device was planted under a seat in the main prayer hall, it said. Not long after that, at least 17 people were killed and 41 others wounded in a suicide bomb attack outside St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the phone Sunday with Sissi to offer condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. In a White House statement, Trump called the attack "heinous." "President Trump condemned the attacks that killed and injured dozens of Egyptians. The president also expressed his confidence in [the Egyptian president's] commitment to protect Christians and all Egyptians," the statement said. Egypt's Christian minority, which makes up roughly 10 percent of the population, has increasingly been targeted by Islamist extremists. Bishop Suriel, a Coptic Christian leader in Melbourne, Australia, told VOA that more needs to be done to increase security to protect Christians, as well as to combat terrorism that affects places all across the world. He said attacks like the ones Sunday do not deter Coptic Christians. "In fact, after such events we find that our churches are even more full and more people are coming to pray, and we raise their hearts to God for mercy and for strength," he said. He also expressed hope that an upcoming visit to Egypt by Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, will send a "very strong message of peace and hope." Pope Francis denounced the bombings Sunday and expressed "his deep condolences" to Tawadros II and "all of the dear Egyptian nation." Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, had been attending mass inside the targeted church in Alexandria but was not hurt, state media reported. The United Nations Security Council called the attack cowardly and urged all members to assist the Egyptian government. Members said any form of terrorism "constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security." Meanwhile, Israel closed the Taba border that leads to the Sinai peninsula on Monday, amid warning by its anti-terrorism office of an "imminent" attack. Yisrael Katz, Israel's transportation and intelligence minister, urged Israel citizens to leave Egypt. The minister said intel information shows "increased activity by the Islamic State militants" in Sinai, and because the terrorist group is losing ground in Syria and Iraq, there is a restored motivation to attack other areas. The border remains open, Katz said, for those wanting to return to Egypt. The announcement came hours before the beginning of the Passover holiday, a time where Sinai is a popular destination. VOA's Victor Beattie contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tillerson Heads to Russia as Relations Dip Over Syria Attacks By Daniel Schearf April 10, 2017 U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is heading to Moscow for talks Wednesday with Russian leaders amid a spike in tensions over attacks in Syria. Tillerson accused Moscow of complicity or incompetence in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians, while Russia called the U.S. response, a missile attack on a Syrian air base, an illegal act of aggression with negative consequences. Before his first visit to Russia as U.S. Secretary of State, Tillerson in Italy for G7 meetings attended a ceremony to mark a 1944 Nazi massacre of civilians. "We remember the events of Aug. 12, 1944. that occurred in Sant'Anna. And we rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," he said. Tillerson's pointed comment came just days after U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian air base allegedly used to launch gas attacks last Tuesday that killed up to 100 Syrian civilians. The top U.S. diplomat has accused Russia of failing to prevent the attack and is urging the Kremlin to rethink its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a call likely to be refused, say analysts. "But, right now, off the U.S. strike, it would be very difficult for Moscow to change its support for Assad. Because any change as ... any change can be perceived as something which is done under the U.S. pressure," said the Russian International Affairs Council's Andrei Kortunov. "The official Russian position is that it's for Syrians to decide who will be the boss there," said Victor Kremenyuk, of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of USA and Canada Studies. "Indeed, the business of the Syrian people [is] to elect their own leader, be it Assad or somebody else." 'Dangerous development' Damascus, and its Russian backers, deny any chemical weapons were used. Russia's Ministry of Defense claims the poison gas was being stored by Syrian rebels and released after the warehouse was bombed. Russia accused the U.S. of illegal aggression with the Friday missile strikes on Syria. Russia cut off Syrian air safety cooperation with the U.S., and a joint command center for Syrian operations run by Moscow, Tehran and Damascus threatened to respond to any further U.S. attacks. "That's quite possible that American or coalition aircrafts and missiles in Syria would be attacked by Russian and, probably, Syrian or Iranian anti-aircraft defense or fighter bombers," said Kremenyuk. "And that's, indeed, a very dangerous development." 'Mistrust on both sides' Despite tensions, and unlike his British counterparts, Tillerson's Moscow visit was not canceled a good sign, some say, for efforts to prevent a U.S.-Russia conflict. "But, I think it's clear that the starting position for these discussions are not that good," said Kortunov. "There is a lot of mistrust on both sides. And I'm sure that emotions will fly high at these meetings." The British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, canceled his April 10 trip to Moscow after the poison gas attack. Johnson and Tillerson met Monday in Italy ahead of the G7 summit. Even if little progress can be made on Syria, say analysts, Tillerson and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have much to talk about. "Syria is not the only issue here," Kremenyuk said. "[The] Korean peninsula, South China Sea, for instance, the so-called Islamic State, international terrorism, Ukraine, and so on." Tillerson's Moscow meetings, say analysts, could set the tone for U.S.-Russia relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. To Dismantle Cyber Network; Alleged Russian Mastermind Detained April 10, 2017 A civil complaint filed in U.S. court seeks to stop Pyotr Levashov, a Russian citizen, from continuing the scheme, the department said in an April 10 statement. Levashov, who allegedly operated the Kelihos botnet since approximately 2010, was detained in Barcelona on April 7 at the request of U.S. authorities, Spanish authorities said earlier. State-backed Russian TV channel RT quoted Levashov's wife, Maria, as saying Spanish police told her the arrest was made in connection with "a virus which appears to have been created by my husband [and] is linked to [U.S. President Donald] Trump's victory." Spanish police did not confirm a connection to the U.S. election. But the AFP news agency quoted an unidentified "legal source" as saying Levashov is "suspected of having participated in hacking the election campaign in the United States." In January, the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a hacking-and-propaganda campaign aimed at undermining faith in the U.S. election system and denigrating Trump's election opponent, Hillary Clinton. In its statement, the U.S. Justice Department said Kelihos malware targeted computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system and "harvested user credentials by searching infected computers for usernames and passwords and by intercepting network traffic." Levashov allegedly used the information gained to "further his illegal spamming operation which he advertised on various online criminal forums." "The Kelihos botnet generated and distributed enormous volumes of unsolicited spam e-mails advertising counterfeit drugs, deceptively promoting stocks in order to fraudulently increase their price...work-at-home scams, and other frauds," the statement said. Kelihos was also responsible for installing other malware onto victims' computers, including "ransomware and malware that intercepts users' bank account passwords." Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/spain-alleged-russian-hacker/28421472.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi's visit to US called constructive People's Daily Online (China Daily) 08:05, April 10, 2017 Meeting with Trump set positive tone for two nations, foreign minister says Talks between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week have set a constructive tone for relations between the world's two largest economies, according to Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Analysts said Sino-US relations are expected to make progress while maintaining stability as the two countries have a wide range of common interests. During the talks, the first face-to-face communications between Xi and Trump, the two presidents reached consensuses after spending a total of more than seven hours in deep discussion in several sessions, Wang said. The talks took place against the backdrop of mounting uncertainties, given tensions that have been rising in trade, maritime issues and the Korean Peninsula. Both sides agreed that the meeting, which has drawn worldwide attention, "was positive and fruitful," Wang said, adding that the meeting has set a constructive tone for the development of China-US relations, and helped set the direction for collective endeavors. The two presidents shared their state governance thoughts and domestic and foreign policy agendas, and the meeting increased mutual understanding and built good working relations, according to Wang. Xi invited Trump to make a state visit to China this year, and the US president accepted. Wang said they also agreed to remain in close contact through meetings, phone calls and written communications. The two leaders charted the course and established principles for their relationship. Xi said cooperation is the only right choice for China and the United States, while Trump said the US stands ready to work with China to eliminate factors and issues that stand in the way of their relations. China and the US agreed to facilitate the healthy development of two-way trade and investment, to advance negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty and to promote pragmatic cooperation in infrastructure and other areas, Wang said. Both sides plan to make good use of the joint staff dialogue set up to boost military communications, he said, adding that both countries intend to deepen cooperation in law enforcement and cybersecurity, and to boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides also initiated a comprehensive economic dialogue and a diplomatic and security dialogue, which make up two elements of the four-pronged dialogue structure they established. The other two are a law enforcement and cybersecurity dialogue and a social and cultural issues dialogue. The two leaders exchanged their opinions on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and other regional and global issues. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation at multiple levels in order to make contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity, according to Wang. The meeting of the two leaders has achieved the expected goals of enhancing understanding, building mutual trust and highlighting consensuses, Wang said. Su Ge, head of the China Institute of International Studies, a leading think tank in China, said that the meeting has not only facilitated the smooth transition of China-US ties, but also marks a good start for the progressive development of their relations in the new era. For large nations like China and the US, disagreements are natural, and the key is how to handle them, he said, adding that the two countries should uphold the principle of nonconflict, nonconfrontation, mutual respect, and cooperation for win-win results. Su Xiaohui, a researcher on international strategy at the China Institute of International Studies, said that the meeting has provided important opportunities for the two leaders to understand each other and gather points of consensus. The talks are of great significance because they are helpful in stabilizing the two nations' relationship, avoiding misjudgments and decreasing uncertainties, she said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Supermaneuverable Beasts: Russia to Supply 10 Su-35 Jets to China in 2017 Sputnik News 15:09 11.04.2017 China will receive 10 supermaneuverable Su-35 fighters from Russia in 2017. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) will supply 10 Su-35 4++ generation aircraft to China in 2017, UAC President Yuri Slyusar said Tuesday. "Our traditional buyer of 4++ generation aircraft is China. In 2017, we will supply ten Su-35 aircraft to China's Defense Ministry," Slyusar said, as aired by the Rossiya 24 broadcaster. In 2015, China became the first country to order the Su-35 aircraft, ordering 24 vehicles worth $2 billion. On Wednesday, reports emerged that Russia has already delivered four Su-35 aircraft to China. The Su-35 fighter is a 4++ generation aircraft employing technologies of the fifth generation, designed by the Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company, which belongs to Russia's United Aircraft Corporation. The first experimental Su-35 was first presented at Russia's MAKS-2007 air show and was later introduced to a foreign audience at the 2013 Paris Air Show. During operations against terrorists, Su-35S jets as well as Su-30SM aircraft provide air cover for Russian bombers. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea, China Agree on Action to End North Korea Nuclear Threat By Ken Bredemeier April 10, 2017 South Korea and China say they have agreed they will take strong action against North Korea if Pyongyang conducts more nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The top nuclear envoys from North Korea's neighbors, Kim Hong-kyun and Wu Dawei, discussed the latest developments Monday in Seoul. On Sunday, U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said President Donald Trump has asked officials to give him options for removing the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea. As a U.S. Navy strike group steamed toward the Korean Peninsula to send a message to North Korea, McMaster told Fox News, "This is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear-capable regime. ... So the president has asked us to be prepared to give him a full range of options to remove that threat to the American people and our allies and partners in that region." McMaster described the U.S. decision to send the Carl Vinson Strike Group to safeguard U.S. interests in the Western Pacific as "prudent." He said that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed at their summit in Florida last week that Pyongyang's "provocative behavior" developing nuclear weapons was unacceptable. "Presidents before and President Trump agreed this is unacceptable, that what must happen is the denuclearization of the peninsula," McMaster said. A South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman said Monday the deployment of the Carl Vinson to the Western Pacific region was in response to the "serious situation on the Korean Peninsula." Moon Sang-gyun said it is understandable that the U.S. and South Korea are "fully preparing for possible provocations by North Korea, considering that possibilities of Pyongyang's strategic provocations, including nuclear and missile tests, are increasing." North Korea has been trying to develop a long-range missile carrying a nuclear warhead that is capable of hitting the U.S. mainland, a distance of about 8,000 kilometers. It has staged five nuclear tests so far and could be preparing a sixth. North Korea last week conducted a ballistic missile test in spite of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning such launches. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, without directly naming North Korea, told ABC News, "If you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken." The Carl Vinson Strike Group was making a port call in Singapore and was scheduled to sail for Australia when the U.S. Pacific Command ordered the ships to sail north instead. "Third Fleet ships operate forward with a purpose: to safeguard U.S. interests in the Western Pacific," Commander Dave Benham, Director of Media Operations for the U.S. Pacific Command Third Fleet, told VOA. "The number one threat in the region continues to be North Korea, due to its reckless, irresponsible, and destabilizing program of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability," Benham said. The strike group includes its namesake aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, as well as three guided-missile destroyers. Pyongyang's reaction Pyongyang has repeatedly defied international warnings about conducting missile launches and testing nuclear devices. On Sunday, a North Korean Foreign Ministry official was quoted on state-run media as vowing to step up the country's defenses to protect itself from airstrikes like the U.S. carried out against Syria last week. The unidentified official told the Korean Central New Agency the airstrikes were "absolutely unpardonable," and proves Pyongyang is justified in having nuclear weapons. While Trump has not set out a clear strategy for dealing with the isolated nation, he has criticized the administration of former President Barack Obama for its policy of "strategic patience," in the face of North Korea's ongoing efforts to develop long-range nuclear strike capability. Trump has also called on China, North Korea's strongest ally, to take stronger action to curb those nuclear ambitions. Unilateral action? Earlier this month, Trump suggested the U.S. might take action unilaterally if China wasn't willing to do more. "If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will," Trump told The Financial Times on April 2. "China will either decide to help us with North Korea or they won't. If they do, that will be very good for China, and if they don't, it won't be good for anyone." Tillerson said that Xi, at his summit with Trump, signaled a willingness to do more to rein in North Korea. "They have indicated that they will and I think we need to allow them time to take actions," Tillerson said of China. Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Strike Force Heading Towards N. Korea Causing Anxiety Among Friends, Foes By Brian Padden April 10, 2017 By sending a U.S. navy strike force into waters near North Korea, President Donald Trump is raising concerns that he is prepared to put America's interests ahead of those of regional allies. The threat of force against North Korea has gained new credibility following U.S. airstrikes against Syria for using chemical weapons on its own people. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the military strike against Syria was a warning to other countries, including North Korea, that "a response is likely" if they pose a danger. "I think Kim Jong Un fears to see such a situation," said North Korea defector and analyst Ahn Chan-il, with the World Institute for North Korean Studies. The U.S. Pacific Command said it ordered the USS Carl Vinson group, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and accompanying ships, including guided missile destroyers and aircraft squadrons, to sail towards the Korean Peninsula as a "prudent measure," citing Pyongyang's "reckless, irresponsible, and destabilizing" nuclear and ballistic missile provocations. South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said Monday the deployment of the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to the region is defensive in nature. "Considering that the possibility of a North Korean strategic provocation, especially a nuclear test or missile launch is rising, (the U.S.) is adopting a full readiness posture," said Moon. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, also voiced support for the increased U.S. deterrence measures. "It all comes down to the fact that their (the U.S.) stance is that all options are on the table. Japan praises that kind of stance," said Suga. North Korea on the other hand said the U.S. strikes against Syria justify its efforts to develop a reliable nuclear deterrent against Washington's "ever more reckless moves towards war." The move comes amid reports that North Korea is posed to conduct another nuclear test, with movements detected by satellites at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. North Korea in the past has timed provocative missile tests to coincide with the April 15 birthday of its founding leader, the late Kim Il Sung, a holiday known as the Day of the Sun. Since January 2016 Pyongyang has conducted two nuclear tests, as well as launching numerous short and medium range ballistic missiles. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said earlier this year that his country is in the final stage of conducting a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could potentially reach the U.S. mainland. The Trump administration has placed a high priority on preventing North Korea from developing a credible long-range nuclear ballistic missile capability that could directly threaten U.S. national security. Risky proposition However there is growing concern in South Korea that the U.S. will actually launch a strike against a nuclear or missile facility in the North, if Pyongyang follows through with another provocative test. Political analyst Bong Young-shik, with the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies, said launching an attack against the North is a risky proposition, that is likely to cause more harm than good. "I question whether the United States is ready to assume all the responsibilities for the consequences of that action," said Bong. A U.S. unilateral attack would likely provoke nuclear North Korea to retaliate against the South, putting at immediate risk the millions of people who live in Seoul and other areas close to the inter-Korean border. Robert Kelly, a professor of political science at Pusan University, wrote in his Asian Security Blog, that the situation could quickly escalate and that "the slide from a limited action toward war would loom." Allies concerned Analysts say any U.S. unilateral action against North Korea that could also severely strain the alliance between Seoul and Washington. While official reaction in Seoul has been supportive of the U.S. naval strike force deployment, some candidates running for president in South Korea are urging caution. An interim government has been in place in South Korea following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye for her alleged involvement in a bribery scandal. An early presidential election has been scheduled for May 9. Both Moon Jae-In, the leading candidate in the race who represents the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, and a spokesman for the conservative Liberty Party Korea, called on the U.S. to consult with South Korea before taking any military action. China It is also unknown how China would react. Last week's Florida summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jingping produced no immediate breakthrough on how to deal with the increasing North Korean nuclear threat. "Both sides agree that the level of North Korea's WMD (weapons of mass destruction) threat has reached a very serious level, but I think they are still miles apart in terms of what kind of measures have to be taken to deal with the problem," said Bong. While Beijing opposes North Korea's nuclear program, it is reluctant to increase sanctions against its economically dependent ally for fear of causing widespread instability and losing a strategic buffer zone against the U.S.-South Korea alliance. On Monday, China sent it's top nuclear envoy to Seoul to discuss the increasing North Korean threat, the results of the Xi/Trump summit, and the contentious issue of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system being deployed in the South, which Beijing strongly opposes. Youmi Kim contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea Poses Threat of Chemical Attack - Japan's Defense Ministry Sputnik News 09:44 11.04.2017 Japan's defense minister said US deterrence was necessary for peace and stability in the region. TOKYO (Sputnik) The threat of chemical weapons proliferation and use is posed not only by Syria, but also by North Korea, Japan's Defense Minster Tomomi Inada said Tuesday. "The threat of proliferation and use of weapons of mass destruction [WMD], such as nuclear weapons and chemical weapons, is not only problem of Syria. It might happen in East Asia, in North Korea," Inada was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency. The defense minster added that the US deterrence was necessary for peace and stability in the region. The statement comes following the decision taken on Saturday to send US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and its strike group to Korean peninsula from Singapore. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump's national security adviser Herbert McMaster stressed that a preventive strike against North Korea would be legitimate, since the fact that Pyongyang possessed nuclear arms was unacceptable, adding that Trump asked military to be prepared for 'full range of options' to eliminate the threat from North Korea. The military build up near Korean peninsula comes against the background of a US missile strike on a Syrian military airfield in Homs province carried out on Thursday as a response to a suspected chemical attack in Syrian province of Idlib on April 4 that killed over 80 people and was allegedly launched by the Syrian government. Damascus refuted allegations, while Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that the Syrian air force hit a terrorist warehouse that stored chemical weapons slated for delivery to Iraq. On Thursday, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) launched the investigation into the incident. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that groundless accusations in the chemical weapons incident in Syria's Idlib were unacceptable before the investigation into the matter had been carried out, while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday criticized the US missile attack as a violation of the international law. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump: North Korea 'Looking for Trouble' with Nuclear Weapons Development By Ken Bredemeier April 11, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that "North Korea is looking for trouble" with its nuclear weapons development program and implored China to help rein in Pyongyang. Trump, in a pair of comments on his Twitter account, said, "If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!" He did not elaborate on what actions the U.S. might take. Trump said that he told Chinese President Xi Jinping at last week's summit between the two leaders that a Beijing trade deal with Washington "will be far better" for China "if they solve the North Korean problem!" China is North Korea's main benefactor, with the Council on Foreign Relations describing Beijing as North Korea's "most important ally, biggest trading partner, and main source of food, arms, and energy." But China has also grown weary of North Korea's repeated missile tests in violation of United Nations sanctions and five nuclear tests. Some analysts believe North Korea is preparing a sixth nuclear test. Trump last weekend dispatched a U.S. Navy strike group to the northern Pacific waters near North Korea to send a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea said that the U.S. missile attack last week on Syria for its use of chemical weapons justifies its nuclear development program for fear of a U.S. attack. Trump also urged Xi to help close the yawning U.S. trade gap with China, with Chinese interests last year exporting $347 billion more in products to the U.S. than American businesses sent to China. The U.S. imports consumer electronics, clothing and machinery from China, while U.S. manufacturers send raw materials to China for low-cost assembly of some consumer products. Trump has suggested he will try to impose tariffs on goods made overseas by U.S. companies who then bring the products back to the U.S. for sale to American consumers. But he has not made any tariff proposal to Congress, which would have to approve a new levy, which in turn could initiate a trade war with foreign governments and also boost the price of consumer goods in the United States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India to Buy Israeli Barak Eight Surface-to-Air Missile for Aircraft Carrier Sputnik News 16:07 10.04.2017 The Indian Navy will purchase additional Barak eight long-range surface-to-air missiles (LR-SAM) from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for its home-made aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant under the follow-on offer. New Delhi (Sputnik) The LR-SAM has long-range engagement capability to penetrate deep water and land to intercept all types of aerial targets like subsonic & supersonic missiles, fighter aircraft, maritime patrolling aircraft (MPA), helicopter and sea skimming missiles. It will be effective in countering newest generation anti-ship missiles like the Harpoon and Exocet. The Indian Navy has already decided to equip its all the naval ships such as INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai guided missile destroyers with the Barak 8 for air and missile defense. The LR-SAM has been jointly developed by DRDO and IAI, Israel to be launched from ship. It possesses high degree of maneuverability at target interception range. The Indian government signed a contract worth more than $1.6 billion on Thursday with IAI. In the course of the last three years, India signed ten defense contracts with Israel, which is second only to Russia. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Israel this July to mark the 25th anniversary of joint diplomatic relations. Modi's visit, which will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister, could yield some more defense deals between the two countries including armed Heron TP drone and Phalcon long-range Airborne Warning and Control System. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India Seeks to Enhance Naval Ties With Malaysia With Defense Deals Sputnik News 15:07 11.04.2017 Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman, the Chiefs of Staff Committee, began a five-day tour to Malaysia on Tuesday a week after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's India visit. During the Malaysian PM's visit, Adani Ports had initiated a deal to develop Carey Island near Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian partners. New Delhi (Sputnik) Admiral Lanba is expected to hold further discussions on the purchase of the Malaysian MiG-29 fleet and the supply of fighter jet spare parts to Malaysia. He is also to visit major naval establishments of the Royal Malaysian Navy including the submarine base. India seeks to receive some orders from the Royal Malaysian Navy. "During his visit, the Admiral will hold discussions with the Deputy Minister of Defense, Chief of Royal Malaysian Defense Forces along with the chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force of Malaysia. An inaugural field training exercise is also scheduled between both navies in June this year, coinciding with the visit of Indian naval ships to Malaysia," said an Indian Navy spokesperson. Admiral Lanba is visiting Kuala Lumpur in the backdrop of increased mutual trust between China and Malaysia, which was evident in January this year when in an unprecedented move, China docked its attack submarine at Sabah port in Malaysia. China will also supply four 68.8-meter-long Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) that displace about 680 tons at full load each to Malaysia by 2021. It is expected that 14 additional vessels will be built in Malaysia under license to replace several classes of ships operated by the Royal Malaysian Navy. Altogether, the Royal Malaysian Navy has proposed to replace 50 naval ships to prepare itself against the threat posed by Daesh and the rising tension in the South China Sea. During the Malaysian Prime Minister's visit, Indian company Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd in co-operation with MMC Ports and Sime Darby Property Berhad began a feasibility study for developing an integrated maritime city on Carey Island, Selangor, Malaysia. The maritime city is to support the proposed development of a new port on a greenfield site on Carey Island, which is located about 50 km southwest of Kuala Lumpur. Simultaneously, MMC Ports and Adani Ports have signed a separate memorandum of understanding to explore the feasibility of the Carey Island Port Project as an extension of Port Klang, currently the 11th busiest container port in the world. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran holds joint naval maneuvers with 3 countries IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, April 10, IRNA -- Three joint naval maneuvers with Oman, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan will start on Monday, said the Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. The Navy has performed the joint maneuver of rescue operation on the east of Straight of Hormuz with Royal Navy of Oman, said Rear Admiral Sayyari, stressing that the maneuver is performed annually. "The maneuver has been carried out in the event of the regional security establishment and promoting security," he also said. A tactical maneuver will be carried out tomorrow with Pakistan Navy and another deployed flotilla will have the joint maneuver with Kazakh Naval Forces, he added. 9411**1771 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran-Oman rescue and relief drills kick off IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, April 10, IRNA -- Iran and Oman joint rescue and relief operation started in the Indian Ocean on Monday. Commodore Seyyed Mahmoud Mousavi said an Iranian flotilla was deployed to the Indian Ocean through Muscat. He added in the first phase of the drills, numerous operations were done, including array change, trade and tanker caravans escort, fueling at sea, and telecommunications exchange. In the following phases, other operations will be done, such as specialized marine rescue and relief, quick reaction operations against unexpected incidents, and rescuing vessels. Mousavi added, 'Due to Iran and Oman's domination over the strategic Hormuz Strait, and the responsibility both countries have in rescuing the ships and tankers in trouble, we do the joint drills every year.' This year Oman is hosting the drills. 9417**1771 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President: Iran will never be first to breach JCPOA IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, April 10, IRNA -- President Hassan Rouhani stressed Monday that Iran will always remain faithful to its commitments if the other side does the same. At a press conference here with domestic and foreign media, President Rouhani said, "We will never initiate breach of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," between Iran and the six world powers. The president further underlined that the nuclear issue has no way but negotiation. "If someday, the other side decides not to remain committed, it will find out that it has done something wrong," the president stressed. The president referred to Iran's good interactions with the world, stressing that the the ties are valuable to the country. On Iran's relations with the world, President Rouhani announced that, with China's cooperation; Iran is reconstructing Arak heavy water reactor to make it more modern; Iran is also cooperating with Russia to produce stable isotopes in Fordow site; Iran at present sells its heavy water and buys yellow cake. The president added that several nuclear projects have been inaugurated in the country in cooperation with other states. Over 200 domestic and foreign correspondents, press photographers and camerapersons live covered President Rouhani's news conference today. 1483**1771 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Oman launch search, rescue drills in Strait of Hormuz Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 12:46PM The naval forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Oman have launched joint search and rescue (SAR) drills in the eastern parts of the Strait of Hormuz and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean. Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told reporters on Monday that the Islamic Republic and Oman stage the joint drills every year, adding that the two countries take turns in hosting the event. This year's drills are hosted by Oman, Sayyari said. He noted that three surface vessels and one helicopter are participating in the maneuvers, which aim to establish security in the region. The commander of Iran's First Naval Zone, Rear Admiral Hossein Azad, said on Saturday that an Iranian naval flotilla, comprising Sabalan destroyer, Lavan logistic warship and helicopter carrier, SH3D helicopter and Falakhan missile-equipped warships, had left Iran for Oman to take part in the joint drills with the Arab country. He added that it was imperative to improve security in Iran's southern waters and the Indian Ocean given their geographical significance in maritime economy and the busy traffic of ships and oil tankers. Iran and Oman have so far held several naval search and rescue drills aimed at enhancing readiness for providing relief services, conducting rescue operations, improving the level of regional cooperation, and exchanging experience. Elsewhere in his remarks, Sayyari said the Iranian and Pakistani naval forces plan to hold a tactical maneuver on Tuesday. The commander further added that an Iranian fleet had been also dispatched to Kazakhstan and would stage joint exercises with the country's naval forces on Tuesday or Wednesday. The commander of Iran's fleet of warships in the northern province of Gilan, Admiral Ahmadreza Baqeri, said on Saturday that the Iranian Navy had dispatched a flotilla to the Kazakh port city of Aktau for the first time. The 'Peace and Friendship' flotilla consists of Damavand destroyer and Peykan missile-launcher destroyer and plans to stay in Kazakhstan for three days, he added. The commander emphasized that the fleet would convey Iran's message of peace and friendship. In recent years, the Iranian Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers. In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been also conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries. Iran's Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tanker ships during its missions in international waters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran foresees sharp rise in uranium production Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:1AM Iran's nuclear chief says the country is to produce about 40 tonnes of uranium this year, more than half the total amount yielded over the preceding years. Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, made the remarks in a televised interview on Sunday. Over 70 percent of the country's terrain has been subjected to aerial prospecting for uranium, he said, adding, "Contrary to our previous perception, our country is not poor in uranium resources, and we will be able to satisfy our needs over the next several years." Should the country fail to produce its uranium, it will come under pressure in the process of obtaining it from foreign sources, Salehi said. The official said that since the conclusion of the nuclear accord between Iran and the P5+1 countries -- the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China plus Germany -- in July 2015, the Islamic Republic has purchased 360 tonnes of yellowcake -- a type of uranium condensate powder. As a member of the Procurement Working Group of the Joint Commission monitoring the implementation of the nuclear agreement, the UK prevented Iran from further purchases of 900 tonnes, Salehi said. "This is while it is up to us to decide how much (yellocake) we need. Therefore, we have to show to the opposite side that we are self-reliant so they do not make up excuses." Salehi said the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran and two other facilities which are to be built over the next 10 years will need a total of 600 tonnes of uranium a year for their operation. Iran's nuclear reversibility Salehi said if the Iranian committee, tasked with observing the nuclear accord, decides that the other party has violated the deal, Tehran will roll back its nuclear program in such a way that it will surprise the opposite side. As per the agreement, Iran is forbidden from producing uranium and plutonium metals over the next 10 years, the official said, adding, "Of course, we have produced uranium metal in the past and know the way to produce it." Small nuclear reactors Salehi said Iran has to build smaller reactors in the 100-megawatt range in the country's central parts because big reactors need to be built near the sea for cooling. According to the official, the construction of a 1,000-magawatt power plant similar to Bushehr requires some $5 billion of investment and involves energy waste during power transmission, while the cost of a 100-megawatt facility is significantly lower. Salehi said negotiations have been held with the Chinese to build two 100-megawatt power plants in Iran, while nuclear agreements have been signed with the Czechs and Hungarians. Iran is further working with Slovakia and France since becoming a member of Euroatom, he added. 'Building nuclear hospital afoot' Austrian experts, Salehi said, would come to Iran over the next weeks to break the ground on a "nuclear hospital." The facility, which would be unique in West Asia, would take four years to build and revolutionize the country's medical equipment. Iran and China are also expected to finalize an agreement on redesigning Arak heavy water reactor in the upcoming weeks, Salehi said. The 40-megawatt Arak reactor is intended to produce isotopes for cancer and other medical treatments. Iran is redesigning the planned research reactor to sharply cut its potential output of plutonium. Salehi has said the amount of plutonium the reactor will be able to yield will be reduced to less than 1 kg a year from 9-10 kg in its original design. Iran has removed the sensitive core of the Arak nuclear reactor and UN inspectors have visited the site to verify the move crucial to the implementation of Tehran's nuclear agreement with major powers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rohani Coy As He Kicks Off Election Season, Concedes He's 'Not Fully Satisfied' Golnaz Esfandiari April 10, 2017 President Hassan Rohani has defended his policies on the eve of the registration period for candidates in Iran's presidential election in May, saying his administration has helped boost prosperity and chip away at obstacles to openness in Iranian society. But the 68-year-old cleric and ally of reformers stopped short of announcing a reelection bid at his televised April 10 press conference, although aides have said in recent months that he will seek another four-year-term. "We have a prosperous Iran and we will definitely have a better Iran in the next years," Rohani said. Rohani cited improvements in the economy, energy, health care, culture, and even Internet coverage in the country, which blocks access for many of its 83 million people to a long list of foreign websites. He said his government has been working to improve the lives of the poor, the deprived, and the marginalized segments of Iranian society. The president also took a shot at conservative critics he said were constantly spewing "black smoke," and he hinted at obstacles in a system ultimately controlled by a supreme leader and other unelected officials, saying he was "not fully satisfied" and acknowledging that "some issues" are outside his government's control. Rights activists say the country's human rights situation has not significantly improved under Rohani and that attacks on the media and civil liberties have continued. The conservative elections supervisor, the Guardians Council, has considerable scope to exclude would-be candidates and routinely disqualifies far more applicants than it allows onto ballots. In a reference to the April 11-15 application period for candidates, Rohani said only, "If we wait for five days we will see who's entering the vote." One formidable hard-line challenger emerged last week when, Ebrahim Raisi, a former prosecutor and rumored insider to succeed Iran's supreme leader, announced his intention to seek the presidency. Rohani derided conservative critics of his gamble in striking a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015 in exchange for sanctions relief -- many of whom have said the hoped-for gains in trade and revenues have not materialized. "We shouldn't paint the future so dark," he said, adding that efforts should be increased to attract foreign investment. Iran has spent decades spurned diplomatically and economically by the West since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, and it continues to face U.S. and other sanctions over its alleged support for international terrorism, weapons programs, and its rights record. The nuclear deal in 2015 was regarded by some as the start of a new chapter in Iran's dealings with the West, a prospect that set Rohani starkly at odds with hard-line conservatives at home. Iranian rivals have accused him of ignoring Iran's national interests on the international scene and of overseeing the distribution of "astronomical salaries" for government employees while paying little attention to the plight of the poor at home. In his April 10 appearance, Rohani belittled critics "upset" over deals in the works to purchase passenger jets from Western manufacturers like Boeing. Rohani's appears to face a new headwind out of Washington, too. U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in in January vowing to "renegotiate" the Iranian nuclear agreement, which he called the "worst deal in history." Almost immediately, his administration included Iranian nationals among those targeted by a controversial travel ban, and Trump rolled out fresh sanctions on people and companies suspected of ties to Iran's missile program, among other things. On April 10, Rohani condemned the U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian air base on April 7 that came in response to a suspected chemical attack on the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun that killed dozens of people, including children. The United States and other Western countries said the Khan Sheikhun attack was carried out by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and have called out Assad's allies in the six-year war, Russia and Iran, over the tragedy. Rohani -- whose country has supplied military advisers and helped thousands of young men it calls "volunteers" join the fight for Assad in Syria -- reiterated his call for an international investigation into the attack, which he claimed could have been carried out by "terrorists," a term that officials in Tehran have used to refer to any armed groups opposing Assad. Rohani accused the United States of damaging talks -- already seemingly stalled -- aimed at finding a peaceful solution in Syria, where more than 300,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since Assad cracked down on demonstrators in 2011. The Iranian president on April 10 also returned to one of the domestic issues that helped him get elected in 2013, saying it did not make sense for Iranians to be jailed for "supporting a view, or a party, or a faction." He argued that the Iranian society has become more open during his presidency -- including universities, which came under intense pressure during the presidency of Rohani's predecessor, President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Still, critics say Rohani has done little to confront powerful hard-liners in charge of key institutions, including the Judiciary and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Rohani said he has ordered investigations into recent arrests that some have suggested are part of a pre-election crackdown by hard-liners. The interior and intelligence ministers, the president said, were tasked with looking into last month's arrest of several managers of reformist and pro-government channels on the Telegram app. Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/rohani-coy-election-campaign -starts-not-satisfied/28421444.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi CTS forces retake two more neighborhoods in western Mosul Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 4:43PM Iraqi government forces have liberated two more districts in the western flank of Mosul during wide-ranging joint operations with allied popular fighters to retake the country's second largest city from Daesh Takfiri terrorists. The commander of Nineveh Liberation Operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, said on Monday that members of the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) had reclaimed al-Sakak and al-Yarmuk neighborhoods, and raised the Iraqi national flag over a number of buildings there, Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network reported. Yarallah added that Iraqi forces had inflicted heavy losses on the Daesh ranks during the operations and destroyed a large amount of their military hardware. The developments came as the media bureau of the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, announced in a statement that pro-government fighters had shelled ten vehicles carrying munitions for Daesh extremists in al-Hamra village west of Mosul, destroying the weapons and killing all the militants onboard. Over 280,000 Iraqis displaced amid west Mosul battle Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement says over 280,000 people have been displaced amid an operation by Iraq's military and volunteer fighters to drive the Daesh terrorists out of western Mosul. The ministry said in a statement on Monday that 281,630 civilians had experienced forced displacement in the face of the military campaign, noting that the refugees had been accommodated in camps set up in the southern and eastern parts of Mosul. The statement further noted that the displaced families had been provided with basic commodities as well as essential medication. Iraqi army soldiers and popular fighters have made sweeping gains against the Takfiri elements since launching the operation to retake Mosul last October. The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19. Daesh executes 12 civilians in northern Iraq Separately, Daesh extremists have killed a dozen civilians near the town of Hawijah, situated about 282 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad. The terrorists executed the victims after accusing them of trying to contact Iraqi security forces via cellular phone, said the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC). New mass grave of Izadi Kurds found in Sinjar Furthermore, Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have found a mass grave in the country's northern province of Nineveh, which is thought to be containing the bodies of more than a thousand minority Izadis murdered by Daesh terrorists. A local official said on condition of anonymity that the grave contained the remains of 1,646 Izadi citizens. Mahma Xelil, the mayor of Sinjar, said the latest discovery brought to 31 the number of Izadi mass graves unearthed so far. He predicted that the number of the graves could increase to 50. Back in August 2014, Daesh terrorists overran Sinjar, killing, raping, and enslaving large numbers of Izadis. The town was later recaptured on November 13, 2015, during a two-day operation by Peshmerga forces and Izadi fighters. The Office of Kidnapped Affairs in the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk says around 3,500 Izadi Kurds are being held captive in the Daesh-held areas, and that a large proportion of the abductees are women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 50% Iraqis Risk Facing Food Insecurity - UN World Food Programme Sputnik News 16:40 10.04.2017(updated 16:46 10.04.2017) According to UN World Food Programme, 53 percent of the Iraqi population may be at risk of food insecurity and cannot bear any further food price increases. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A study found that 53 percent of the Iraqi population may be at risk of food insecurity and cannot bear any further food price increases, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said Monday. "The analysis found that 53 percent of [Iraqi] residents and 66 percent of internally displaced people are vulnerable to food insecurity. The prevalence of food insecurity was twice as high among internally displaced families compared to those remaining in their homes," the WFP said in its press release, citing the report conducted jointly with the Iraqi government in 2016. According to the WFP statement, "any further shocks such as conflict or increases in basic food prices" would be detrimental to the already precarious situation in which the Iraqis most vulnerable to food insecurity found themselves. The study also found that 2.5 percent of the Iraqis already were food insecure and almost 75 percent of children under age of 15 have to work to help their families procure food instead of going to school. The study was conducted among 20,000 Iraqi families in rural and urban areas, including permanent residents and internally displaced people. The research was carried out before the start of a recent operation to liberate Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State terrorist group, banned in Russia and many other countries. The offensive of the government forces backed by the US-led coalition began in October 2016. Local authorities told Sputnik last Friday that almost 500,000 people had fled Mosul since the beginning of the operation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Urgent action needed to stave 'hunger crisis' in Iraq UN food relief agency 10 April 2017 Warning that deepening food insecurity in Iraq could leave more than half the population facing "unprecedented levels" of vulnerability, the United Nations emergency food relief agency today called for improving nutrition awareness and strengthening social safety nets and livelihoods in rural areas, to avoid a hunger crisis in the country. In its Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis, prepared jointly with the Iraqi Government, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) also underlined the need to improve access to education, especially for girls, as an important component in the fight against hunger. "[The Analysis] should guide the work of the Government, policy makers, and humanitarians across the country to improve the food security and nutrition status of every Iraqi so that no one is left behind," the WFP Representative and Country Director in Iraq, Sally Haydock, said in a news release. The study one of the most robust technical food security studies ever conducted in Iraq was conducted prior to the recent offensive in Mosul and does not capture the food security situation among people fleeing these conflict areas. Data collection was concluded in 2016 and included first hand surveys with more than 20,000 families in urban and rural areas as well as with those who are internally displaced. Findings revealed that 2.5 per cent of the country's population is already food insecure a level of need that requires support. On top of this, rather than going to school, nearly 75 per cent of children under the age of 15 work to help their families put food on the table. Analysis also showed that 53 per cent of residents and 66 per cent of internally displaced people are vulnerable to food insecurity. "The prevalence of food insecurity was twice as high among internally displaced families compared to those remaining in their homes," noted WFP in the news release The highest concentration of food insecure families was found in the southern portion of the country, particularly in northern Muthanna and portions of Salah al-Deen, it added. The recommendations of the study will also be used by the UN agency and the Government of Iraq to work towards the implementation of the food-security related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 2 on ending hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition. It will also provide the basis for five to 10 years of strategic development planning. WFP assistance in country The UN agency has been operating in Iraq since 1968, providing emergency food assistance during crises as well as investing in development initiatives such as school meals, nutrition support for babies, pregnant and nursing mothers, tree planting, and assisting the Government with technical capacity building and reform of its food deliver systems. It has also been providing nationwide support to families displaced by the conflict through cash assistance programmes and monthly family rations. However, lack of funding continues to pose a serious threat to such operations. In Iraq, WFP urgently requires $113 million to continue to provide full monthly rations and cash-based assistance to cover the needs of 1.5 million vulnerable Iraqis until the end of September 2017. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Released From Jail RFE/RL's Russian Service April 10, 2017 MOSCOW -- Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny has been released from jail after serving a 15-day sentence in connection with anticorruption demonstrations he organized that jolted the country's political life. Navalny's release from custody on April 10 followed his arrest last month near the site of the March 26 demonstration in Moscow, one of the largest antigovernment street protests since a series of rallies in 2011-2012 that he also helped lead. He had been expected to be released from a detention facility in northwestern Moscow. But as journalists and reporters waited for him to exit the facility, his associate Leonid Volkov told the crowd that Navalny had been moved to a different facility in Moscow, where he was freed from custody. After initial confusion about his whereabouts, Navalny tweeted a photograph of himself following his release. He wrote in a blog post that he was "incredibly happy to be with you again." Navalny was sentenced on March 27, one day after the protest that the government called illegal because city authorities had not granted permission for a march and rally in the center of the city. Authorities say the rally led to violations of public order. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in dozens of cities across Russia on March 26 in the biggest grassroots protests in Russia since a series of demonstrations more than five years ago. Those protests erupted after parliamentary elections tainted by allegations of widescale fraud and were fueled by anger over Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency after a stint as prime minster. On March 26, more than 1,000 people were detained in Moscow alone. Both the United States and the European Union expressed concern over Navalny's arrest and Russia's broader reaction to the protests. A vocal critic of Putin, Navalny is seeking to run in a March 2018 presidential election that is widely expected to result in a new six-year term for Putin. The March 26 protests followed an investigative report in which Navalny's anticorruption organization alleged that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has used corrupt practices to amass assets including luxury real estate in Russia and abroad. Both the Kremlin and Medvedev have brushed off Navalny's investigation. Medvedev last week for the first time responded to Navalny's report, calling the allegations "rubbish" and "nonsense" but not offering specifics. Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russian- opposition-leader-to-navalny-to-be-released- after-15-days-in-jail/28420858.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's Admiral Grigorovich Frigate to Serve in Mediterranean Until Summer Sputnik News 13:38 10.04.2017 Russia's Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate will continue serving within the Russian Navy's permanent group in the Mediterranean Sea until the summer of 2017, a military-diplomatic source told Sputnik on Monday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Black Sea Fleet frigate has been serving in the Mediterranean since February 28, 2017. Earlier in April, the warship took part in bilateral Russian-Turkish exercises during an unofficial visit by the Turkish warships to Russia's southern port of Novorossiysk. "The Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate returned to the Mediterranean on April 8 after the visit of the Turkish warships. The warship will continue serving within the Russian Navy's group at the Mediterranean until summer of this year," the source said. According to the source, the return of the Russian frigate is not linked to the recent US missile strike on the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha'irat. "The visit of the Turkish Naval Forces ships on April 3-5 was planned at the beginning of the year, and the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate was chosen to host the visit at the same time," the source clarified. On April 7, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha'irat. US President Donald Trump said that the attack was a response to the alleged chemical weapon use in Syria's Idlib province on April 4, which resulted in the death of over 80 people, an incident which Washington blames on the Syrian government. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump may authorize further Syria attacks: The White House Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:56PM The White House says the US is open to the possibility of further missile strikes in Syria. "The sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action," said White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Monday. On Friday, US President Donald Trump ordered the military to carry out a barrage of missile strikes against a Syrian airfield. Spicer noted that the strikes had been carried out in response to "the threat to our national security." US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said her country was ready to hit Syria again. On Sunday, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson warned that the US could strike Syria again. Trump said the operation was in response to a suspected chemical attack, which Washington insisted was carried out by Syrian fighter jets operating from the base. Syria has categorically denied carrying out the gas attack, with the foreign minister stressing that an Idlib airstrike had targeted a depot, where terrorists stored chemical weapons. Russia knew about Syria chemical attack Earlier, US Senator John McCain has claimed that Russia had cooperated with the government in Damascus in the chemical attack. "The Russians knew about chemical weapons because they were operating exactly from the same base," he said. He added that the attack on the Syrian airbase was "in a response of a chemical attack." "I hope that this behavior by Syria, in what clearly is cooperation with Russia and Syria together, will never happen again," he added. Pentagon: Strike destroyed 20 percent of Syrian air force Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has announced that the last week strike destroyed one-fifth of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's operational air force. "The assessment of the Department of Defense is that the strike resulted in the damage or destruction of fuel and ammunition sites, air defense capabilities, and 20 percent of Syria's operational aircraft," he said in a statement. The Syrian government has lost the ability to refuel or re-arm aircraft at Shayrat airfield and at this point, use of the runway is of idle military interest," he added. Last week, a Pentagon official claimed that at least 20 Syrian fighter jets were blown up in the US military's missile attack on the Syrian airbase. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US national security adviser urges Russia to re-evaluate Syria support Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 2:15PM US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster has urged Russia to re-evaluate its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, suggesting that additional American military action against Syria is possible. In his first televised interview on Fox News Sunday, McMaster said the US will simultaneously fight the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group in Syria and seek to remove Assad from power. McMaster said Moscow is "part of the problem" because it is backing Damascus in the Syrian conflict. "If we would want to appeal rationally to Russia, this is a great opportunity for the Russian leadership to re-evaluate what they're doing," he said. "Right now, I think everyone in the world sees Russia as part of the problem." The comments came as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson planned to meet with Russian officials this week. Tillerson will be the first official from the administration of US President Donald Trump to visit Moscow. However, the Kremlin said on Monday that Tillerson will not meet President Vladimir Putin, highlighting tensions between Washington and Moscow. "We have not announced any such meetings and right now there is no meeting with Tillerson in the president's diary," Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters. He did not say why Putin was not planning to receive the top US diplomat. McMaster said the objective of the US missile strike against Syria on Friday was to send a "strong political message to Assad" to stop using chemical weapons. "We are prepared to do more," he said. "The president will make whatever decision he thinks is in the best interest of the American people." Two US Navy destroyers fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at Syria's al-Shayrat airfield early on Friday, in retaliation for a suspected chemical attack on April 6 that Washington insists was carried out by Syrian fighter jets operating from the base. The Syrian government has strongly denied responsibility for the gas attack, and there is no evidence that it was behind the assault. The Trump administration appears split on the policy in Syria. Tillerson has suggested that Assad's future was in the hands of the Syrian people, while US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has called for Assad's ouster. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US threatens Russia, Iran with more sanctions for Syria's support Iran Press TV Mon Apr 10, 2017 6:10AM The United States has threatened Russia and Iran with tougher sanctions over their support for Syria, saying nothing "is off the table" in this regard. "We're calling [Russia and Iran] out," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said in an interview broadcast on CNN on Sunday. "But I don't think anything is off the table at this point. I think what you're going to see is strong leadership. You're going to continue to see the United States act when we need to act," she added. The comments were made after US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would look into stepping up sanctions on Russia and Iran, which support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The two countries are already under various types of US sanctions. Washington has alleged that the government of President Assad is responsible for the last week's suspected chemical attack in Idlib province which killed more than 80 people. Moscow and Damascus have denied that the Syrian government had anything to do with the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry said the US had no proof of chemical weapons at al-Shayrat airbase, where it fired 59 Tomahawk missiles, killing several people and reportedly destroying a number of Syrian aircraft. Iran has condemned both the alleged chemical attack and the US missile strike on Syria, saying Washington's illegal action will embolden terrorist groups in the Middle East region. 'US has evidence that Assad was behind attack' In her interview with CNN, Haley insisted that the US administration has evidence that the Syrian government was behind the April 4 chemical attack "What we've seen is, you know, in our meetings this week, we were told of the evidence," she said. "We saw the evidence. The President saw the evidence. All of that is naturally classified. And I'm sure when they can declassify that, they will." On Sunday, Haley once again threatened Syria with further military action, saying President Donald Trump could order more strikes if necessary. She issued a similar threat hours after the April 7 missile strike. "I was trying to give warning and notice to the members of the Security Council and the international community that (Trump) won't stop here," she said, adding. "If he needs to do more, he will do more." 'US strike intended to send message to Russia' In a separate interview NBC News on Sunday, Haley said the US missile attack in Syria was intended to send a message to the Russian government. "The entire administration was in agreement that this was something that had to be done. This was something that needed to tell Assad, 'Enough is enough,'" she said. "And this is something to let Russia know, 'You know what? We're not going to have you cover for this regime anymore. And we're not going to allow things like this to happen to innocent people.'" She went on to say that the United States will not allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to "have Assad's back anymore." Tillerson asks Russia to drop support for Assad Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who is set to visit Moscow this week, on Sunday demanded that Moscow stop supporting the Assad government. "I hope Russia is thinking carefully about its continued alliance with Bashar al-Assad, because every time one of these horrific attacks occurs, it draws Russia closer into some level of responsibility," Tillerson told ABC News. The United States and its allies have repeatedly used chemical weapons as a pretext to pressure the Syrian government, despite the fact that Damascus volunteered to destroy its chemical stockpile in 2014 following a poisonous attack outside the capital. The deal was brokered by the US and Russia in 2013. Tillerson accused Moscow of failing to enforce the 2013 agreement meant to get Syria rid of its chemical arsenal. "I'm disappointed because I think the real failure here has been Russia's failure to live up to its commitments under the chemical weapons agreements that were entered into in 2013," he said. "Both by the Syrian government and by Russia as the guarantor to play the role in Syria of securing chemical weapons, destroying the chemical weapons and continuing to monitor that situation," he added. 'Russia also responsible for April 4 chemical incident' The top US diplomat said the April 4 chemical incident happened because of Russia's failure "to achieve its commitment to the international community." "I hope Russia is thinking carefully about its continued alliance with Bashar al-Assad," he added, "because every time one of these horrific attacks occurs, it draws Russia closer into some level of responsibility." The allegations of chemical arms use are still made against Syria even as the dismantling of the country's entire stockpile of chemical weapons as well as relevant production facilities was supervised by the United Nations. Foreign-backed militants have repeatedly used chemical weapons against Syrian troops, some of which have been verified by UN officials, but the attacks have often been ignored by Western governments. In December 2015, a cousin of former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi said that chemical weapons used in Ghouta which were blamed on the Syrian government were in fact stolen from Libya and later smuggled into Syria via Turkey. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Warns Of More Attacks In Syria As G7 To Pressure Russia On Assad April 10, 2017 The United States is warning that it could take further military action in Syria if the government there uses chemical weapons or barrel bombs. "The sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on April 10. His comments follow last week's missile strikes ordered by President Donald Trump against a Syrian airfield that Washington believes was used by President Bashar al-Assad's forces to carry out a chemical weapons attack. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said on April 10 that the missile strikes destroyed or damaged some 20 percent of Syria's operational aircraft. The warning also comes as foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations are meeting in Italy to try to hammer out a common approach to the civil war in Syria and to discuss ways to put pressure on Russia to break its ties with Assad. Speaking ahead of the two-day gathering in the Italian city of Lucca, Tuscany, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on April 10 that possible sanctions against Syrian and Russian military officials would be discussed. He said sanctions could target "figures who have been involved in coordinating the Syrian military efforts and are thereby contaminated by the appalling behavior of [Assad's] regime." The British foreign secretary said Russia has a choice: to continue backing the "toxic" Assad government "or to work with the rest of the world to find a solution for Syria, a political solution." It is "time for [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is propping up," he added. The G7 consists of the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, Italy, France, and Canada. Along with the G7 members, the foreign ministers of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar are also scheduled to take part in a special session on April 11 to discuss Syria, Italian news agencies reported. The alleged chemical air strike by Assad's forces on April 4 killed more than 80 people in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun in Idlib Province, triggering international outrage. Moscow and Damascus, which have given Assad crucial diplomatic and military support throughout Syria's six-year-long civil war, claim that the toxic gas was released when strikes by government forces hit a rebel weapons depot. The assertion is rejected by the United States and others. In response to the attack, two U.S. Navy ships fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at an air base in Syria on April 7, drawing condemnations by Russia and Iran. It was the first time Washington has intervened directly against Assad's forces. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said on April 10 that following the air strikes, the Syrian government "has lost the ability to refuel or rearm aircraft at Shayrat airfield and at this point, use of the runway is of idle military interest." "The Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons," the defense secretary said in a statement. Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson used a ceremony at a World War II memorial in Italy to declare that the United States will stand up to aggressors who harm civilians. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a wreath-laying ceremony to remember those killed in a Nazi massacre at Sant'Anna di Stazzema, Tillerson said, "We remember the events of August 12, 1944, that occurred in Sant'anna [di Stazzema] and we rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world." In TV interviews broadcast on April 9, Tillerson, who is due to travel to Moscow after the G7 meeting, stopped short of accusing the Russians of complicity in the alleged chemical attack, but said that "they've been incompetent and perhaps they've just simply been outmaneuvered by the Syrians." Tillerson also made clear that there had been "no change to our military posture" in Syria. Washington's "first priority" in Syria is to defeat the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, the secretary of state said. Addressing a news conference in Tehran on April 10, Iranian President Hassan Rohani warned against further military action by the United States against Assad's government, saying that it could be "very dangerous" for the region. Rohani also repeated his condemnation of the U.S. strikes and his call for an international investigation into the deadly incident. "Some chemical gas was disseminated in Khan Sheikhun, a number of people were killed and injured. Where did it come from? What was it? How did it happen?" he said. Also on April 10, Russia's Foreign Ministry said the Russian and Iranian foreign ministers condemned "aggressive" U.S. actions against Syria in a phone call. Sergei Lavrov and Mohammad Javad Zarif said such actions against a sovereign, independent country are "a flagrant violation of international law, above all, the UN Charter, create threats for regional security, and impair the fight against international terrorism," the ministry said in a statement. Reacting to Johnson's comments, Viktor Ozerov, head of the defense and security committee in Russia's upper house of parliament, said the imposition of sanctions against Russian military figures "will affect our actions [in Syria] in no way." Leaders from seven southern European countries defended on April 10 the retaliatory U.S. air strikes, saying they "had the understandable intention to prevent and deter the spread and use of chemical weapons and was limited and focused on this objective." The leaders of Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta issued the statement at the end of a summit in Spain. Meanwhile in Belgrade, visiting U.S. Senator John McCain accused Russia of having cooperated with Syria in the alleged chemical weapons attack. The Republican senator said on April 10 that he believes "the Russians knew about chemical weapons because they were operating exactly from the same base." McCain said the United States should "tell Russia that this kind of a war crime is unacceptable in the world today" and take out Syria's air force if Assad does not renounce the use of chemical weapons. With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters, TASS, the BBC, and RFE/RL's Balkan Service Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/johnson-g7-ministers- sanctions-syrians-russians/28421359.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House Sees No Way for Syria's Assad to Stay in Power By Ken Bredemeier April 10, 2017 The White House on Monday made clear it sees no way that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can stay in power for the long term. Sean Spicer, U.S. President Donald Trump's spokesman, told reporters, "You can't imagine a stable and peaceful Syria with Assad in charge. I don't think that's a scenario that's possible." The White House press secretary said the U.S.'s main priority is defeating Islamic State fighters in Syria and then to "create an environment for a change in leadership." He said one goal in ending the conflict, now in its seventh year, is to create a safe place for war weary Syrians to be able to remain in the country without having to flee the country for safe harbor. Trump last week launched a missile attack on the air field U.S. officials believe Syria used as a base to assault rebels fighting the Assad regime with chemical weapons. Dozens were killed and hundreds more were sickened. Spicer described Syria's subsequent use of the field for takeoffs as "a PR stunt," adding that the base's radar, refueling facilities and more than 20 percent of Syria's overall fleet of fixed wing aircraft were destroyed. Spicer said the U.S. attack might not be the last. "We hold open the possibility of future action," he said. "I think not just Syria, but what the world saw last week was a president that is going to act decisively, and proportionally and with justification." He added, "If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb in to [kill] innocent people, I think you will see a response from the president. That is unacceptable." He said Trump would "hold cards close to the vest, but make no mistake, he will act." Still, Spicer said the U.S. has no intention "to become the world's policeman." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish Forces Kill Seven PKK Fighters in Southeastern Province of Mardin Sputnik News 21:41 10.04.2017 Seven Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters were killed by Turkish forces in the Artuklu district of the Mardin province, according to media reports. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Seven Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters were killed during a security operation carried out by Turkish forces in the southeastern province of Mardin, local media reported on Monday. The clashes between Turkish servicemen and PKK fighters erupted on Sunday in the Artuklu district of the Mardin province, the Anadolu news agency reported citing the country's General Staff. The Turkish forces also managed to seize two M-16 and four AK-47 assault rifles, a gun, 30 clips and 10 hand grenades. On the same day security forces also found an improvised explosive device in southeastern Diyarbakir province's Hazro district while conducting a routine security check. The device was later destroyed by security forces. Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds, the largest ethnic minority in the country, escalated in July 2015, when a ceasefire between Ankara and the PKK collapsed because of a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by PKK members. The PKK, a militant group fighting for Kurdish independence from Turkey, is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara. Earlier on Monday, Turkish Minister of National Defense Fikri Isik said that since July 23, 2015, Turkey had neutralized 10,091 PKK fighters with 7,071 of them having been killed. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 10,000 PKK Fighters Neutralized in Turkey Since July 2015 Sputnik News 15:49 10.04.2017 Turkey's Minister of National Defense Fikri Isik stated that since July 23, 2015, to date, the Turkish security forces neutralized 10,091 PKK terrorists, of which 7,071 were eliminated, 1,020 were wounded, 963 were detained, 1,037 laid down their weapons and surrendered to the authorities. ANKARA (Sputnik) Turkish security forces have neutralized 10,091 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), of which 7,071 have been killed, Minister of National Defense Fikri Isik said Monday. "Since July 23, 2015, to date, the Turkish security forces neutralized 10,091 PKK terrorists, of which 7,071 were eliminated, 1,020 were wounded, 963 were detained, 1,037 laid down their weapons and surrendered to the authorities," Isik said as quoted by Anadolu news agency. Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds, the largest ethnic minority in the country, escalated in July 2015, when a ceasefire between Ankara and the PKK collapsed because of a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by PKK members. The PKK, a militant group fighting for Kurdish independence from Turkey, is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We have more newsletters Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter An officer at Gloucestershire County Council who made more than 330,000 in a year has been named the most expensive public servant in the South West. Peter Bungard, chief executive of the council, made 338,445 in the 2015/16 financial year, according to the Taxpayers' Alliance. But the council say his salary for that year included a one-off pension payment and his actual salary is now 131,036 per year. Each year The Taxpayers' Alliance publishes the salaries of local authority staff in Britain whose pay is more than 100,000. This year's Town Hall Rich List, released today, covers the 2015/15 financial year. The Alliance found Mr Bungard was one of at least 2,314 council employees whose salary was more than 100,000 per year. A further 539 council employees earned more than 150,000. Mr Bungard was the 24 biggest earner on a list of the highest paid council employees in Britain. The list was topped by Dave Smith, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, who earned a whopping 625,570. Jo Walker, the council's director of finance, said: "The chief executive's salary for 15/16 was 142,424. This is compared to 161,235 for 14/15 due to a reduction in the working week, which saves the council money. The salary for 16/17 is lower still at 131,036. "The Tax Payers Alliance is including a one-off payment to the local government pension scheme to cover pension costs as a result of the change. By doing so, the council saves a further 61,627 each year including pensions and national insurance costs. "The costs for the other two posts include redundancy payments as part of our reduction in senior managers." Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter Three men who appeared in court charged with assaulting a 33-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy in Cashes Green in March have been remanded in custody. Jonathan French-Bell, 27, and Stephen Randlesome, 19, both of Victoria Drive in Eastington appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court charged with section 18 grievous bodily harm against the man and actual bodily harm against the boy. Both were remanded into custody yesterday. A third man, Benjamin Strange, 21 and of Mitre Pitch in Wotton-under-Edge, was also charged yesterday with section 18 grievous bodily harm against the 33-year-old man and was remanded by the same court today. All three men will next appear at Gloucester Crown Court on 12 May. Inquires are continuing to identify all those who were involved in this incident. The charges relate to an incident that took place outside a shop in Queens Drive, Cashes Green at about 10.30pm on Sunday, March 26. *Yesterday police referred to Randlesome being 27 years old. He is in fact 19. French-Bell's age wasn't given but he is in fact 27. Virginia has agreed to repay the federal government $7.1 million for manipulating error rates in determining eligibility for food stamps under the SNAP program. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the settlement Monday of an investigation into allegedly improper methods used by the Virginia Department of Social Services and a private consultant to reduce error rates in the program early in the term of then-Gov. Bob McDonnell. SNAP is an important vehicle for helping needy families, said Chad A. Readler, the acting assistant attorney general in the Justice Departments Civil Division. This settlement reflects the Justice Departments commitment to ensuring that taxpayer funds are spent appropriately so that the public can have confidence in the integrity of vital programs like SNAP. Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel, who held the same job under McDonnell, said the state had hired a consultant then to find ways to reduce the number of errors it was making in eligibility determinations for the federal program, which the state helps to administer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hazel said he was unaware then of the details of measures taken to reduce the error rates, which improved enough to trigger bonus payments to the state by the USDA in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The next thing I knew, the data was looking good and the feds were giving us bonuses for it, he said. Hazel added, In retrospect, its obvious that the methods that were being taught were not something that was appropriate. The Justice Department investigation part of a nationwide audit of quality control in the SNAP program said Virginia had hired Julie Osnes Consulting, a quality-control company based in South Dakota, in 2010 to reduce the error rate in determining whether someone is eligible for SNAP benefits. The state Social Services Department acknowledged to investigators that the consultant trained state workers to use whatever means necessary to find a benefits decision correct rather than finding an error, the Justice Department said. Virginia social services officials also acknowledged to investigators that if they were unable to find a case determination to be correct, they were instructed to find a reason to drop the case, or eliminate it from the sample, the Justice Department said. The Justice Department said that beginning in 2015, the state had taken certain corrective actions, including terminating its use of the improper quality control methods devised by Julie Osnes Consulting. Hazel said the state terminated its contract with the consultant in 2012. Julie Osnes Consulting did not respond to an email request for comment or answer a phone call to the number on its website. The Justice Department also said the state had admitted that social services workers had not wanted to use the methods the consultant proposed because they believed the methods lacked integrity, injected bias into the quality control process and violated USDA requirements. However, a former state quality control manager allegedly pressured and intimidated these employees to force them to adopt these methods, the Justice Department said. Hazel said he was unable to comment because this is an internal personnel issue. COLLINSVILLE Located at 2163 Virginia Avenue, theres a new take on a former music store in the area. What used to be Woodalls Music now is Jrs Music Store and More, and its owned and operated by former Woodalls employee Lloyd France Jr. Amongst the displays of guitars, drums, amplifiers, microphones and other various musical instruments and supplies, customers will find a friendly atmosphere, at the core of it a man whose entrepreneurial spirit helps keep the musical community in the Martinsville area alive and well-supplied. The location serves as a one-stop-shop for all things music. From band rentals to music lessons, whatever one can imagine, Jrs Music Store and More likely can make happen. While it might be convenient to purchase instruments or strings online, there are certain perks to walking into a store filled with fellow music lovers. This is a hands-on business, France said. Its a place for people who want to put their hands on a guitar before they buy it. The brick-and-mortar store serves people who play at their leisure and also those who experience musical emergencies. We sell guitar strings here and you dont have to wait three or four days for a company to ship them to you. Its right here for them, France said. A bad chord can go out at any time. Store staff also help locals troubleshoot issues. In the case that a microphone goes out at church, France said representatives from the store are happy to go out and fix the problem. We like to say we can fix it before service starts, France said. Employees also can help people set up for concerts or events. France said his love of music started early in life. Music is something Ive been involved in since I started playing the drums, France said. When I came up in school, I played in the band and sang in the choir. Now, France is part of a historic gospel ensemble thats had a presence in the Martinsville area for more than seven decades. When France saw an opportunity to work at a music store a decade ago, he applied and got the job. Working at Woodalls helped him prepare to open his own shop when the timing was right. I thought it was a good opportunity, France said. Its been a challenge, but I see theres much need for music, especially with the school students. While the store helps school groups and church groups attain instruments for their programs, France also enjoys helping individuals with a passion for music. Those who want to learn about instruments are just as welcome as professional players. At the store, France offers several different types of classes. You can learn bass guitar, acoustic guitar or electric guitar, France said. He also invites older individuals whove always wanted to learn how to plan an instrument, but never had the time. Stop dreaming, start playing, is the stores motto, France said. Its something my wife and I came up with. For those who have dreams of being in the spotlight, an upstairs area of the store boasts a recording studio. Its for people who want to do a demo or lay down tracks for a CD, France said. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., France invites the community to visit his mom and pop shop. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C Wells Fargo & Co.s board of directors officially has placed the bulk of the blame for its customer fraud account scandal on the former head of its community banking division and retired top executive. The board released Monday a 110-page report that represents its seven-month investigation into how the fraudulent sales practices occurred and persisted. Wells Fargo had agreed Sept. 8 to pay a combined $185 million in fines to resolve regulatory complaints about 1.5 million potentially fraudulent customer checking and 623,000 credit-card accounts. Those accounts were opened by branch employees and managers in customers names to meet sales targets. Wells Fargo said its internal investigation goes back to 2009. John Stumpf, chairman and chief executive, retired in October as one ripple effect of the scandal. The board said Carrie Tolstedt, former head of community banking, was fired with cause. The board and management have taken decisive action to address issues raised by investigation, promote accountability, strengthen oversight and rebuild trust, it said in a statement. One repercussion was the board increasing the amount of executive compensation clawbacks from Stumpf and Tolstedt by an additional $75 million. The board said the investigation identifies cultural, structural and leadership issues as root causes of improper sales practices. Tolstedt and other community bank leaders were unwilling to change the sales model or recognize it as the root cause of the problem. (They) resisted and impeded scrutiny or oversight from corporate risk management and the board and, when forced to report, minimized the scale and nature of problems. The board said the banks decentralized corporate structure gave too much authority and autonomy to the community banks senior leadership without the necessary oversight and encouraged deference to the business units. As for Stumpf, the board determined he was too focused on the banks decades of success with cross-sell and positive customer and employee survey results. (He) was too slow to investigate or critically challenge the sales practices at the community bank and to appreciate the seriousness and the substantial reputational risk to Wells Fargo, the report said. Altogether, Stumpf lost $69 million in compensation and Tolstedt $67 million, which previously include $41 million from Stumpf and $19 million from Tolstedt in forfeited unvested equity awards. Part of what led to Stumpfs immediate retirement likely was his downplaying to Congress and to the board the enormity of the fraudulent account scandal. Stumpf was grilled by the U.S. Senate Banking committee on Sept. 28, drawing criticism from the committee for failing to answer many questions. It is not clear whether investors will respond overall favorably to the boards steps. At least two major shareholder services groups have called for the board to replace between six and 12 members as part of resolving the scandal. Sydney, Australia, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heron Resources Ltd. (ASX:HRR TSX:HER, Heron or the Company) is pleased to advise that it has initiated a follow-up drilling program at its wholly-owned Woodlawn Project, located 250km south-west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The program is targeting the resource expansion at the shallow G2 Lens position along with confirmatory drilling of the initial decline route, and shallow mine excavation drilling to assist with backfilling. The G2 Lens drilling returned significant results in 2016 and importantly represents the first mineralisation to be accessed in the new underground mine. A pre-mine entry drilling program at Woodlawn has been initiated and aims to cover: Resource expansion for early mine production from the shallow G2 Lens Confirmation of geotechnical conditions along the planned decline route, and delineation of shallow mine excavations for backfilling from surface The G2 Lens position represents the first underground production source, and resource expansion drilling here will follow-up several significant results reported in 2016, including: 8m @ 28% ZnEq [1] from 107m (8.7% Zn, 0.5% Cu, 5.2% Pb, 4.0g/t Au, 326g/t Ag) WNDD0110 Including 3.7m @ 56% ZnEq (18.7% Zn, 1.2% Cu, 10.0% Pb, 6.9g/t Au, 650g/t Ag) WNDD0110 0m @ 11% ZnEq from 133m (6.3% Zn, 0.5% Cu, 3.3% Pb, 0.1g/t Au, 10g/t Ag) WNDD0106 Commenting on this program, Heron Resources Managing Director and CEO, Mr Wayne Taylor, said: The program represents an important component of the Woodlawn mine optimisation and a vital step prior to mining commencing. Much of the G2 mineralisation is not in the current mining plan and excellent high grade results returned last year bode well for defining a significant zone of ore that can be accessed in the early part of the mine development. This program will generate information which is critical to finalising the mine design and will add to an improved plan for the early stages of mine production. A drilling contract has been entered into and the drilling rig and crew will be mobilised in late April with the program taking 2 to 3 months to complete. It is important to note that this drilling program is not a pre-requisite to project financing and is being undertaken now to complete mine planning prior to the start of mine development. Early Mine Plan Production - G2 Lens Drilling The G2 Lens is located to the south of the Kate Lens, and adjacent to the planned route of the decline between 100-200m below the surface (Figures 1 & 2). Drilling in 2016 targeted this area to test its ability to add immediately to the early mine inventory. Significant 2016 results for this area include: 8m @ 28% ZnEq from 107m (8.7% Zn, 0.5% Cu, 5.2% Pb, 4.0g/t Au, 326g/t Ag) WNDD0110 Including 3.7m @ 56% ZnEq (18.7% Zn, 1.2% Cu, 10.0% Pb, 6.9g/t Au, 650g/t Ag) WNDD0110 0m @ 10% ZnEq from 140m (7.9% Zn, 0.2% Cu, 0.7% Pb, 0.2g/t Au, 13g/t Ag) WNDD0110 9m @ 9% ZnEq from 160m (5.1% Zn, 0.3% Cu, 2.8% Pb, 0.5g/t Au, 11g/t Ag) WNDD0111 0m @ 11% ZnEq from 133m (6.3% Zn, 0.5% Cu, 3.3% Pb, 0.1g/t Au, 10g/t Ag) WNDD0106 The G2 Lens mineralisation typically consists of stringer zinc sulphides (sphalerite) with lesser lead and copper sulphides. However, the upper intercept in WNDD0110 is of high-grade polymetallic sulphides (Figure 1) within a broad, shallow-dipping mineralised envelope that contains the other intercepts (Figures 2). This represents a new high-grade zone which will be targeted in the first few holes of the program. The lower intercept in WNDD0110 (from 140m depth) is more typical G2 Lens stringer sphalerite and is associated with an off-hole EM conductor below the hole (Figures 1 and 2) which provides a clear target for future drilling. The intercept in WNNDD0111 is in the plane of the main G2 Lens and provides for continuity of the lens in the down-dip direction. The proposed program will consist of approximately 26 diamond core holes for 4,300m. The program is expected to deliver a significant addition to the early production base and will be sufficiently drilled to support detailed stope design and development planning. Encouraging recent metallurgical test work on the G2 mineralisation and a broader early production composite sample have returned higher metal recoveries than those used in the Woodlawn Feasibility Study and provides an excellent early production source for the operation. Decline Geotechnical Drilling and Mine Backfill As part of this program a number of holes for geotechnical purposes will be drilled to provide additional information for the new decline route and confirm the location of near surface underground workings prior to mine re-entry. The mine excavation drilling will assist with the early backfilling of selected voids from surface. Figure 1: Woodlawn G2 Lens long-section showing interpreted lens shape, recent drilling and proposed infill holes. The pit off-set refers the area from the pit surface projected out 200m and is a limited access zone as contemplated in agreement with Veolia. http://www.heronresources.com.au/tsximages/20170411/20170411_fig1.jpg [1] ZnEq % used in this release refers to the calculated Zn equivalent grade based on the Zn, Cu, Pb, Au and Ag grades, the formula for which is provided at the end of this report. Figure 2: Woodlawn G2 Lens cross-section showing lens position and location of DHEM modelled plates. http://www.heronresources.com.au/tsximages/20170411/20170411_fig2.jpg About Heron Resources Limited: Herons primary focus is the development of its 100% owned, high grade Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project located 250km southwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Compliance Statement (JORC 2012 and NI43-101) The technical information in this report relating to the exploration results is based on information compiled by Mr. David von Perger, who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (Chartered Professional Geology). Mr. von Perger is a full time employee of Heron Resources Ltd. and has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results and qualified person as this term is defined in Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Mr. von Perger has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release. Zinc equivalent calculation The zinc equivalent ZnEq calculation takes into account, mining costs, milling costs, recoveries, payability (including transport and refining charges) and metal prices in generating a Zinc equivalent value for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn. ZnEq = Zn%+Cu%*3.12+Pb%*0.81+*Au g/t*0.86+Ag g/t*0.03. Metal prices used in the calculation are: Zn US$2,300/t, Pb US$ 2,050/t, Cu US$6,600/t, Au US$1,250/oz and Ag US$18/oz. It is Herons view that all the metals within this formula are expected to be recovered and sold. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This report contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this report. This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, without limitation, estimates, forecasts and statements as to managements expectations with respect to, among other things, the timing and amount of funding required to execute the Companys exploration, development and business plans, capital and exploration expenditures, the effect on the Company of any changes to existing legislation or policy, government regulation of mining operations, the length of time required to obtain permits, certifications and approvals, the success of exploration, development and mining activities, the geology of the Companys properties, environmental risks, the availability of labour, the focus of the Company in the future, demand and market outlook for precious metals and the prices thereof, progress in development of mineral properties, the Companys ability to raise funding privately or on a public market in the future, the Companys future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as anticipate, believe, expect, intend, may and similar expressions have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is given, and on information available to management at such time. Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in currency markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, the ability of the Company to access sufficient capital on favourable terms or at all, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations, political or economic developments in Canada, Australia or other countries in which the Company does business or may carry on business in the future, operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration or development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities and grades of mineral reserves, contests over title to properties, especially title to undeveloped properties, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other geological data, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding, limitations of insurance coverage and the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, and should be considered carefully. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Companys actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this report is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective purchasers that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. No stock exchange, regulation services provider, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this report. For further information, please visit www.heronresources.com.au or contact: Australia: Mr Wayne Taylor Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +61 2 9119 8111 or +61 8 6500 9200 Email: heron@heronresources.com.au Canada: Tel: +1 647-862-1157 (Toronto) Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Canarc Resource Corp. (TSX: CCM, OTC-BB: CRCUF, Frankfurt: CAN) announces that it has received an updated, independent, resource estimate for the Fondaway Canyon property located in Churchill County, Nevada, USA. A technical report (technical report) documenting the new resource estimate will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Fondaway Canyon is an advanced stage gold exploration property located in Churchill County, Nevada, USA, part of an 11-property package acquired by Canarc in March 2017. The property includes 136 unpatented claims covering 900 hectares, and has a history of previous surface exploration and open pit gold mining in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Canarc commissioned Techbase International of Reno, Nevada to complete a technical Report for the Fondaway Canyon Project. The updated resource estimate included in the technical report is shown in the table below. Resource Category Tonnes1 (t) Grade (g/t) Au Ounces2 (oz) Au Type Indicated 2,050,000 6.18 409,000 UG/Sulfide Inferred 3,200,000 6.40 660,000 UG/Sulfide 1 Resource based on cut-off of 1.8m horizontal width >= 3.43 g/t 2 Rounding differences may occur 1. CIM Definition Standards were followed for reporting the Mineral Resource estimates 2. Mineral Resources are reported on a dry, in-situ basis. A bulk density of 2.56 tonnes/m3 was applied for volume to tonnes conversion. 3. The reporting cutoff grade of 3.43 g/t was based on capital and operating costs for a similar project, the three-year trailing average Au price of $US 1,225/ oz Au , a metallurgical recovery of 90%, and an underground mining method suitable for steeply-dipping veins. 4. Mineral Resources are estimated from surface to approximately 400 m depth. 5. The quantity and grade of Inferred Resources in this estimate are uncertain in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Environmental, geotechnical, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio political, marketing or other relevant issues could materially affect the mineral resource estimate. The Resource Estimate was prepared by Michael Norred, SME Registered Member 2384950; President of Techbase International, Ltd (Techbase) of Reno, Nevada and Simon Henderson, MSc, MAusIMM CP 110883 (Geology); Consulting Geologist with Wairaka Rock Services Limited of Wellington, New Zealand, both Qualified Persons (QPs), as defined by NI 43-101. The Fondaway Canyon mineralization is contained in a series of 12 steeply dipping, en-echelon quartz-sulfide vein-shear zones outcropping at surface and extending laterally over 1200m and vertically to depths of > 400m. The Paperweight, Half-moon and Colorado zones host the bulk of the resources, with the remainder in parallel veins or splays of the major vein-shears. A total of 591 historic drill holes were validated for resource estimation, with coordinate information and down hole assays. These included 8411m of core drilling in 49 holes and 40,675m of RC drilling in 551 holes. Drill core was inspected at the Fallon, NV storage facility and assay certificates were viewed to verify gold intercept grades used in the estimate. Check assays were run systematically on approximately 5% of the total assays, including 23% of assays greater than 3.43 g/t. Duplicate assays were run on slightly less than 1% of the total assays, including 14% of assays greater than 3.43 g/t. Consistency was good for the check assays and duplicates, with correlations greater than 98% in each case. A Mineral Resource was estimated for each vein using polygonal estimation on drill intercepts projected onto a vertical long-section parallel to the average strike direction of that vein. The polygons were truncated at faults that were interpreted to limit the extent of the mineralization. The Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off of 3.43 g/t, over a minimum horizontal width of 1.8m, based on projects of similar size, a gold price of $US 1,225 per oz, a metallurgical recovery of 90%, and an underground mining method suitable for steeply-dipping veins. A processing method has not yet been selected. Metallurgical testing showed that acceptable recoveries could be obtained from the sulfide material by using an oxidizing pre-treatment, followed by CIL leaching, with recoveries up to 86 to 95%. Further metallurgical testing and design work will be needed in order to design the most cost-effective method No capping or cutting of grades was applied. The assayed grades were found to be very consistent when compared to check assays and duplicates, as well as between twinned holes. The consistency in assay results was interpreted as being due to the very fine-grained nature of the gold mineralization (1 to 10 m). This consistency provided confidence that the higher-grade assays were reasonable. Figure 1 shows the location by zone of the Fondaway Canyon resources. To view the graphic in its original size, please click here The current Mineral Resource estimate relates only to the eastern half of the 4000m east-west striking mineralized system, and does not include any estimates for near-surface, oxide mineralization. Significant exploration potential remains both in the eastern section, and relatively untested western zone. Multiple exploration targets have been identified along favorable structural extensions that have potential to host additional significant gold resources. A 30-hole drill program, estimated to cost $2.0 million, has been recommended by Techbase International to explore these identified targets as well upgrade more of the resources into the indicated category. During April, with the support of two very experienced Nevada based geologists, Canarc will initiate a comprehensive review of all of its newly acquired Nevada properties to evaluate the potential of and prioritize exploration plans for each property. Mr. Catalin Chiloflischi, CEO of Canarc, stated: The confirmation of previous resource estimates for the Fondaway Canyon project marks another important step forward for Canarc towards expanding our gold resource base. During 2017, Canarc is planning to allocate additional resources in order to further advance its Nevada projects. We are very excited about Canarcs new focus and oportunities in Nevada. Qualified Persons: (1) Michael Norred, SME Registered Member 2384950; President of Techbase International, Ltd (Techbase) of Reno, Nevada is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific information on the Fondaway Canyon Project contained in this release. Michael Norred is independent of Canarc. (2) Simon Henderson, MSc, MAusIMM CP 110883 (Geology); Consulting Geologist with Wairaka Rock Services Limited of Wellington, New Zealand both Qualified Persons (QPs), as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific information on the Fondaway Canyon Project contained in this release. Simon Henderson is independent of Canarc. (3) Garry Biles, P. Eng, President & COO for Canarc Resource Corp., is the Qualified Person who reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Garry Biles is not independent of Canarc by the nature of his position with the company. Catalin Chiloflischi ____________________ Catalin Chiloflischi, CEO CANARC RESOURCE CORP. About Canarc Resource Corp. - Canarc is a growth-oriented, gold exploration and mining Company listed on the TSX (CCM) and the OTC-BB (CRCUF). The Company is currently focused on acquiring operating or pre-production stage gold-silver-copper mines or properties in the Americas and further advancing its gold properties in Nevada and BC. For More Information - Please contact: Catalin Chiloflischi, CEO Toll Free: 1-877-684-9700 Tel: (604) 685-9700 Fax: (604) 685-9744 Email: catalin@canarc.net Website: www.canarc.net Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Statements contained in this news release that are not historic facts are forward-looking information that involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the planned completion of the Acquisition, potential strategic M&A transactions being contemplated by Canarc, the future performance of Canarc, and the Company's plans and exploration programs for its mineral properties, including the timing of such plans and programs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "has proven", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "potential", "appears", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "at least", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the Companys ongoing due diligence review in relation to the Acquisition, risks related to the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; commodity prices; changes in general economic conditions; market sentiment; currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's ability to raise funds through equity financings; risks inherent in mineral exploration; risks related to operations in foreign countries; future prices of metals; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws. To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/Canarc04112017.pdfSource: Canarc Resources Corp. (TSX:CCM, OTCQB:CRCUF) To follow Canarc Resources Corp. on your favorite social media platform or financial websites, please click on the icons below. Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 Filing Services Canada Inc. As momentum builds to elect a new board, shareholders are reminded to vote their BLUE proxy TODAY no matter how many common shares they own. TORONTO, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ - Courtenay Wolfe and Harrington Global Opportunities Fund Ltd., the shareholders of Eco Oro Minerals Corp. (TSX: EOM) ("Eco Oro" or the "Company") who requisitioned the April 25, 2017 shareholders' meeting, call on Eco Oro's Board of Directors to come clean on their hidden agenda to destroy shareholder value and attempts to scare shareholders into supporting them. BOARD THREATENS AN EVENT OF DEFAULT ON BOARD CHANGE IN A FURTHER ATTEMPT AT ENTRENCHMENT OR IN AN ATTEMPT TO WIPE OUT VALUE OF COMMON SHARES We have filed a complaint with the British Columbia Securities Commission regarding the Board's innuendos regarding a possible event of default under the Notes and CVRs if the current directors are removed. At the outset, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR SHAREHOLDERS TO KNOW THAT, IF THE NOTES OR CVRS ARE IN DEFAULT BY VIRTUE OF THE RESULTS AT THE UPCOMING SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING, WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO REPAY THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS OUTSTANDING. In its management information circular and various press releases, Eco Oro has stated that: [i]f the current management and Board is replaced, the Company will be in default under its debt obligations with its investors, permitting those investors to exercise remedies available to them including foreclosing on certain assets or forcing the Company into bankruptcy proceedings [emphasis added]. From the outset, the Concerned Shareholders have sought to remove each of the incumbent directors and to elect a new board. To be clear, we have made no commitments to remove members of management. Accordingly, we can only assume that the current Board is asserting that the reconstitution of the Board will trigger an event of default. The Company has never disclosed how an event of default could occur upon the removal of all the directors so, as a result, it is entirely unclear what the Company means by these various threats. Perhaps the Board is planning to intentionally trigger an event of default upon a change of the Board as a "poison pill" in order to further entrench themselves and to seek to defeat the will of shareholders, or (worse) to wipe out the value of our shares. Shareholders have a right to know what the 'secret triggers' are so that we have a chance to address them. The Board's continued lack of transparency is yet another roadblock they have attempted to put in place to deny shareholders a chance to bring about badly needed change. SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD BE AWARE MORE DILUTION IS COMING! If the current Board is re-elected, things will continue to get worse. For example, buried in Eco Oro's most recently filed MD&A, the Company states that it "will require additional funding to finance the expected long-term ICSID Arbitration matter through to a successful conclusion." This means if the current Board is re-elected they will further dilute shareholders AGAIN! If, as a shareholder of Eco Oro, you were hoping that you might be able to benefit from the small remaining portion of the gross proceeds of the arbitration, AFTER pay-outs under the CVRs and the management incentive plan and AFTER all the expenses are paid, forget it. Without change, as a shareholder of Eco Oro, you will likely be left with NO VALUE. There is still time to make a difference! EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT AND YOU MUST TAKE ACTION NOW. VOTE YOUR BLUE PROXY FOR ALL OF OUR DIRECTOR NOMINEES TODAY. Even if you have voted the Green proxy, you can still change your vote. Only the last dated proxy counts. Time is running out. Do not wait. The cut-off to receive your BLUE proxy is 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on Thursday, April 20, 2017. Shareholders with questions or who need help voting should contact Kingsdale Advisors at 1-866-851-2484 toll-free in North America, or 1-416-867-2272 outside of North America, or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com. For further background on the reasons for the requisition of the shareholders' meeting and information regarding the need to fix the Company, please visit our website: www.fixecooro.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the intentions and success of the Concerned Shareholders to reconstitute the board of directors of Eco Oro and to repay obligations under the Notes and CVRs are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Concerned Shareholders current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Concerned Shareholders, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in providing forward-looking information, include, but are not limited to, the support expressed by shareholders to the Concerned Shareholders, our interpretation of certain provisions of the CVRs and the Notes and the current general regulatory environment and economic conditions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Concerned Shareholders do not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Concerned Shareholders undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. SOURCE Concerned Shareholders of Eco Oro Minerals Corp. GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - Angkor Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ANK) (OTC PINK: ANKOF) ("Angkor" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement. The Private Placement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The Company completed the sale of 1,506,250 shares of the Company at a price of C$0.32 per Share for gross proceeds of C$482,000. No commissions were paid on the private placement. Of the total, approximately 337,500 shares were purchased by management of Angkor. The Common Shares acquired by the subscribers are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day and may not be traded until August 11, 2017. The Company intends to use the funds raised from the issuance of the shares for general working capital and to continue to fund the on-going exploration programs at its properties located in Cambodia. The Company also announces that pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan it has granted 2,990,000 stock options at a price of C$0.38 per common share to directors, officers and consultants of the Company. The option grants will vest immediately. As per the Company's Stock Option Plan, the options granted are exercisable until April 10, 2022. Grant of the options is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Angkor will be applying to the TSX Venture Exchange for approval to extend the expiry date of 1,563,000 common share purchase warrants that were issued as part of a non-brokered private placement completed by the Company in July, 2016. The Warrants are exercisable for common shares of Angkor at a price of $0.50 per share. The Company is proposing to extend the expiry date of the warrants by an additional twelve (12) months to 4:30 p.m., Alberta time on July 29, 2018. All other terms and conditions of the warrants, including the exercise price, will remain the same. The proposed extension of the expiry is conditional upon the receipt of Exchange approval. ABOUT ANGKOR GOLD CORP. Angkor Gold Corp. is a public company listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange and is a leading mineral explorer in Cambodia with a large land package and a first-mover advantage building strong relationships with all levels of government and stakeholders. 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. Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information". In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Dallas has enjoyed enormous success in recent years. Texas third-largest city has seen the fastest job growth of any major metropolitan area in the country, as well as the second-fastest population growth. But despite its good fortune, Dallas has created a huge problem for itself -- one so big that even bankruptcy isnt off the table.The problem is the citys pension funding, particularly the cost of its commitments to public safety workers. The public safety pension fund has a shortfall somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 billion. The pension board would like the city to pitch in more than $1 billion -- an amount almost equal to the citys entire general fund. Meanwhile, Dallas is facing a lawsuit over back pay for police and firefighters that could cost the city up to $4 billion.The pension mess came about through a familiar set of circumstances. Back in the early 1990s, workers were offered generous benefits that included a guaranteed return rate of 8.5 percent on individual savings accounts. In order to pay for such benefits, the board engaged in some risky investments. They had some investments in real estate that unfortunately turned out to be disastrous, says James Spiotto, managing director of Chapman Strategic Advisors. They promised a high return. They earned far less than that.Not surprisingly, problems this big have triggered a good deal of acrimony. Mayor Mike Rawlings has been unable to convince public safety workers that theyll ultimately have to give up a lot of what theyve been promised. The mayor accuses the Dallas Police and Fire Pension Board of committing a grave breach of trust, and has called in the crime-fighting Texas Rangers to investigate the boards administration. The board is separate from the city, although it includes several members of the city council. Its also made up of police and fire workers and retirees.In the meantime, Rawlings has gone to court to try to block any of the citys retirees from taking money out of their deferred retirement funds. A group of workers also has sued, blocking a vote on potential voluntary benefit reductions.Given pension rules in the state, the legislature is going to have to sign off on any plan to address the problem. Lawmakers are confronting a similar-sized hole in Houston, but a crisis seems to have been averted there because the city and its employees have agreed to a deal. Dallas, by contrast, has been unable to bring state legislators an overhaul that has the blessing of both the city and its pension board. One proposal legislators are talking about would convert individual accounts of Dallas workers into annuities. That might save some money, but Texas lawmakers need to consider how they can reshape pension oversight to avoid similar problems in the future.The quasi-independent nature of pension boards in Texas may be one reason why its plans keep running into trouble. Seven Texas municipalities have filed for bankruptcy protection over the last 35 years, notes Frank Shafroth, a government finance expert at George Mason University and acolumist. The state of Texas needs to really think through what kind of structure they have that enables municipalities to avoid accountability, Shafroth says. Cara Valente, a state legislative analyst in New Mexico, knows what it's like to have her children punished because she missed a school lunch payment. At times, she and her husband had needed to wait until their next paychecks to cover the bill, even if that meant being a couple weeks late.But that tardiness had consequences: Per school policy, her children couldnt have the more expensive and nutritious meal.My kids were mad at us for not having paid the bill and causing them embarrassment, Valente says. I was angry because my kids were not doing as well in school as they could have been because they were hungry.This year, Valentes boss, state Sen. Michael Padilla, who also has a personal connection to so-called lunch shaming, sponsored legislation that makes New Mexico the first state to ban the practice."We experienced this ourselves growing up," he says.As children, Padilla and his sisters often mopped floors in exchange for meals at school.The law, which New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez signed last week, bans schools from withholding a nutritious school meal and from publicly identifying or stigmatizing students who can't pay for one. Although the Hunger-Free Students Bill of Rights Act is the first of its kind in the country, it likely won't be for long.The problem the law seeks to address is common across the country. About three-quarters of school districts have unpaid meal debt, according to a 2016 survey by the School Nutrition Association. It's less clear how common lunch shaming is, but a quick Google search turns up recent news stories about such incidents in Colorado Pennsylvania and Utah Most states don't have a policy for what to do when parents fall behind in their lunch payments, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That will change soon -- for better or for worse.Under a new requirement from the USDA, every state in the country must clarify its policy on meal debt by July 1. It's up to the states, though, to decide how lenient or punitive they want to be about late payments. Two states, California and Texas , are currently considering legislation that mirrors New Mexico's.In New Mexico, schools will not only have to stop lunch shaming, they'll also have to make extra efforts to contact parents about debt. In cases where families qualify for federal subsidies, school officials must try to help them sign up for the benefits. Schools can still use other tactics, such as revoking a parking pass or withholding students transcripts, to get parents to pay.Some states, however, will likely leave it to school districts to define their policy.So far, the idea of putting the health of students over the health of school budgets has garnered rare bipartisan support.The bill from Padilla, a Democrat, faced some initial skepticism from Republicans. But after members checked with school officials in their districts, many of them voted for the measure. It passed in the Senate 30-7 and in the House 60-0. When Gov. Martinez, a Republican, signed the bill, she noted that research shows children perform better in school when theyre not hungry.In California, Democratic state Sen. Bob Hertzberg's similar bill passed out of two committees this spring, unopposed and with Republican support.Its one of those issues that, irrespective of party, people understand that youdont visit on the child the sins of the parents, Hertzberg says. Its just not right. With the resignation of Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley on Monday, many are left asking what took him so long.News about a purported affair between him and a top aide broke wide open more than a year ago, including the release of a tape in which Bentley talked lovingly about putting his hands on her breasts.Nevertheless, Bentley spent months denying any wrongdoing or even having engaged in an affair."All the logic would have said he would have resigned long ago," says Wayne Flynt, a retired historian at Auburn University.Instead, the Republican governor waited well past his political sell-by date. He not only resigned but also pleaded guilty to two campaign finance violations.Bentley is far from the first politician who refused to step aside long after political logic seemed to dictate that he should have. There's a kind of hubris that can consume officeholders, convincing them that they're being judged unfairly or at least that they have the personal wherewithal and standing to survive a scandal."It's the kind of delusion that comes with power," says Bill Britt, editor-in-chief of the online news site Alabama Political Reporter. "One of the things we learned about Gov. Bentley over the last year is that he's like so many politicos in general who come to believe that they are not vulnerable or not subject to the same rules that the rest of us are."Unless there's an indictment -- and sometimes not even then -- politicians sometimes decide they can tough out the storm. They may refuse to resign on the advice of counsel because their resignation itself can be a useful bargaining chip with prosecutors. In Bentley's case, his immediate resignation was part of his plea agreement. He also agreed never to seek public office again.Bentley received a suspended sentence for converting campaign funds for personal use and for failing to have reported a campaign donation. He'll repay $8,912 worth of legal fees that were paid out of his campaign account. The remainder of his campaign fund, about $25,000, will be handed over to the state. Bentley will also be on probation for a year and perform 100 hours of community service as a physician.The governor had long spurned calls to step down. Successful politicians aren't quitters. They've worked hard to achieve their positions and won't give them up lightly -- especially if members of their own party won't give them a shove."In states where one party is dominant [like Alabama], it's easier for politicians to try to ride out a scandal," says John Marion, executive director of Common Cause in Rhode Island. "The politician's party doesn't have an incentive to toss them overboard."In southern states, where governors tend to have less power, there's even less incentive for the party to force out a weakened governor who can either be easily manipulated or, at best, serve as a caretaker.That's one reason Bentley was able to last so long: Members of his own party didn't particularly want him to go. Money trails led from major party donors into the hands of Bentley's mistress and her husband, making a serious investigation potentially embarrassing for many. Also, a number of Republicans have been hoping to succeed the term-limited Bentley next year. There was little appetite among them to see Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey establish herself as the incumbent governor."A lot of Republicans are terrified [that] if Kay Ivey is able to have two years of competent government, she is going to have the inside track," says Flynt. "They would rather have the humiliation and scandal of Bentley, rather than Ivey being able to strengthen her role."Similarly, Mark Sanford served out his term as governor of South Carolina more than a year after his extramarital affair had dominated national news in 2009. Andre Bauer, the lieutenant governor serving under him, came with his own baggage, including a number of traffic violations and an insensitive remark comparing poor people who receive public benefits to feeding stray animals."In Sanford's case, by the time they figured out how to replace him, his term would have ended," says David Woodard, a GOP consultant at Clemson University.But over the past few days, the political and legal tides finally turned overwhelmingly against Bentley, and reluctant Republicans have had no choice but to break with the governor.Last week, the state ethics commission found probable cause that Bentley committed multiple felonies in using state resources to cover up the affair. Separately, an investigator hired by the state House Judiciary Committee released a scathing report filled with excruciating detail about the governor's affair and his efforts to hide it. Impeachment proceedings got underway Monday. "You would have thought the humiliation would have led him to say, 'I've done terrible things, I'm out of here,'" says Flynt. "That's the logic of the evangelical tradition from which he comes."Yet as late as Friday, Bentley insisted he was the innocent victim of political enemies who sought to smear his name."Ultimately, there are two ways these things tend to end," says Marion, the Common Cause official. "One is that law enforcement pressure becomes so great that they have to resign or the party tosses them aside."The dam finally broke. Too much evidence had entered the public sphere. One by one, the top legislative leaders and the state party itself stated publicly that Bentley had to go.The end of the Bentley saga comes at the end of a particularly troubling year for Alabama and its Republican Party. In June, state House Speaker Mike Hubbard was convicted of felony ethics charges. In September, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended for the remainder of his term for violating judicial ethics.After more than a century out of power in the legislature, Republicans took control of all the political branches of Alabama state government in 2010. Now, the GOP, which forced the Democratic Party from power in large part through accusations of corruption, has to get its own house in order, after its own three most powerful members have all been forced from office."All the fighting will be within the Republican Party," says Flynt. "It's going to be a bloodletting from here on out. The next governor's race could well be about personal morality and making Alabama great again." Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey became the 54th governor of Alabama on Monday evening, after Robert Bentley pleaded guilty to campaign finance crimes and resigned.Bentley announced his resignation in a speech given not long after he'd been arrested Monday afternoon at Montgomery County Jail on misdemeanor charges, his arrest part of a deal that ended impeachment hearings. In the speech, the former governor said he'd spoken with Ivey, 72, about a "positive and peaceful" transfer of power.The second woman ever to hold the post behind Lurleen Wallace, Ivey took office shortly after 6 p.m. Monday. Acting Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Lynn Stuart -- who also took over after a male predecessor, Roy Moore, was forced out -- administered the oath of office."I pledge to do my very best," Ivey, an Auburn University graduate who coordinated Wallace's campaign efforts there and has since logged a long career in government, said after the oath. "The Ivey administration will be open, it will be transparent, and it will be honest."Efforts were unsuccessful Monday afternoon to reach Ivey through her staff. Her first priorities as governor, she said during a short televised speech, are to "steady the ship" and to improve Alabama's image.Ivey took no questions from reporters Monday but swore no interruptions in state operations or services, saying she'd soon meet with members of Bentley's administration to ensure a smooth transition.She characterized that transition as a "positive opportunity" for Alabama. It's also the final step on an unconventional path to the governor's office for the one-time schoolteacher and bank treasurer.After a failed bid as a Democrat for state auditor in 1982, Ivey in 2002 became the first Republican since Reconstruction to be elected state treasurer.After two terms, Ivey qualified to run for governor in 2010. She later agreed to switch races, eventually unseating then-lieutenant governor and Democrat Jim Folsom Jr.As allegations swirled around Bentley last year, Ivey was characterized as a politician ready with a plan should she be asked to step up.Ivey said Monday she'd been prepared to become governor since her first day as second in line, but "never desired" that.Her roots lie in Camden, the tiny Wilcox County city of 2,000 where she grew up, and where friends who now find they have the new governor's personal cell phone number believe she's up to the task of tackling state troubles."It's still kind of hard to absorb," said Bill Albritton, vice chairman of the Wilcox County Commission. Ivey in 2013 wrote him a recommendation for the job. "Of course we are really proud," he said."She's going to have a full plate," said former U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, also a native of Camden. He led Ivey through her first oath of office in 2003.Both men praised Ivey as being experienced and honest, patriotic and religious. Both acknowledged that she'll face big problems -- overcrowded prisons, budget negotiations and Medicaid expansion among them."She will prove more than capable," Bonner said.Ivey enters office with detractors already, though, carrying over from her time as state treasurer. She was meant to oversee the Pre-paid Affordable College Tuition program, or PACT, and garnered much of the blame when it lost nearly half its value after the Great Recession."I'm a little concerned," said Suzanne Clemons, a high school math teacher in Alabaster. Clemons paid into the PACT program for her son and her daughter, and says that now she's "not getting what we paid for.""I hope she doesn't do to the state what was done to that program," Clemons said. There's a new sheriff in town, and he is out with a stern videotaped message for Lake County heroin dealers: "We are coming for you. Run."Flanked by masked deputies wearing bulletproof vests, Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell says in the video posted Friday on the agency's website that dealers linked to overdose fatalities "will be charged with murder" and asked for the community's help in capturing them."Enjoy trying to sleep tonight wondering if tonight's the night the SWAT team blows your front door off the hinges," Grinnell, a Republican who was elected in November, says in the video.Produced in-house, the video had more than 700,000 views on the Sheriff's Office's Facebook page and garnered more than 1,000 comments by Monday. The clip also scored the sheriff an interview with the "Fox & Friends" television show Tuesday."It's really, you know, I guess they say -- gone viral," Grinnell said in an interview Monday with the Orlando Sentinel. "I'm just doing what I'm elected to do."Some have said the deputies next to Grinnell remind them of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.Others say it looks like a clip from a terrorism video."What's with the ninjas?" read a Facebook post."Looks like an ISIS recruitment video," another person wrote on Facebook. "Suppose to protect & serve not intimidate & scare.""Get em," wrote another person. "This goes for all across the country -- every county."Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks said he appreciated Grinnell's hard-hitting posture toward heroin dealers."I think it might be tough for some," Parks said. "But it sends a tough message to those that are selling in our neighborhoods and destroying our community."He added that Grinnell's video "is in line with President Donald Trump's focus on opioid abuse."Last month, Trump appointed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to head the new Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.Since October, Lake County has recorded 24 opioid-related overdoses, causing four deaths. Florida heroin fatalities have increased 279 percent from 2013 to 2015, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.The issue of heroin has come up "every time I talked with a civic organization" since he was elected, said Grinnell, who served as chief deputy under his predecessor, Gary Borders. "I realized that we need to take a proactive stance against this epidemic."He said he's not worried about some of the reaction the video has generated."I've seen some of the comments where some wanted to say this looks like an ISIS video, and I will tell you that those drug agents working up there with me, they're the ones working in the dark world ... that's what they do on a daily basis," he said.Grinnell has instituted several changes since taking office, including a more aggressive stance toward drunken driving and the formation of a Community Engagement Unit, which produced the video.He said there will be "weekly, if not daily" public service announcements to let residents know about crime trends in the county. Description GIS 11 April 2017: The three-day forum for the establishment of a Regional Livestock Policy Hub, an initiative of African Union Interafrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the COMESA in collaboration with the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, was kicked off today at Voila Hotel, Bagatelle. Some 40 foreign delegates are attending the forum. In his address, the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Mahen Seeruttun, recalled that the Livestock Policy Hub concept has stemmed from the continental programme Reinforcing Veterinary Governance in Africa (VET-GOV). As a multidisciplinary group, bringing together public and private stakeholders, the Livestock Policy Hub is a platform for ensuring broad stakeholder participation in the policy development process, he said. According to the Minister, in Mauritius also, the Livestock Policy Hub has contributed by identifying the priority gaps, the quintessential areas of intervention, which need to be addressed for the livestock sector to develop. Many of the recommendations of the Livestock Policy Hub have been included in the Strategic Plan of the Ministry and they are being implemented, he added. Like most African countries, Mauritius too, has yet to achieve its full potential in the livestock sector, underlined Mr. Seeruttun. We do recognise, however, the important role of livestock production in poverty alleviation and providing meaningful livelihoods to a large number of our citizens, he stated. My Ministry will provide all the required support to the Livestock Policy Hub to enable it to fulfill its role in the drafting of livestock policies that are meaningful for our farmers and for the country, he added. Mauritius has also benefited from financing under the VET-GOV programme for a pilot project, called Evaluation of Basic Veterinary Care which tackles a major area of intervention, recommended by the Livestock Policy Hub: the reform of the veterinary services. The pilot project was successfully completed and it provided clear directions for the reform of the veterinary services. Description GIS - 11 April, 2017: The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, lauded Ms Jane Constance for her designation as UNESCO Artist for Peace for a period of two years during a symbolic ceremony held yesterday afternoon at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis. The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, lauded Ms Jane Constance for her designation as UNESCO Artist for Peace for a period of two years during a symbolic ceremony held yesterday afternoon at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis. In his address Prime Minister Jugnauth expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Jane Constance for having achieved success, recognition and fame in respect of her singing talent conveying the message of peace, harmony and love to humanity. This recognition bears testimony to the hard work, determination and perseverance of Jane Constance who has made Mauritius proud throughout her singing talent which can serve as a source of inspiration for the younger generation, he recalled. The Prime Minister further invited the youth population to embark on such path and develop their talents in addition to their academic performance which in turn will contribute in helping the country to prosper. He pointed out that the achievement of Jane Constance fits in the philosophy and vision of the government which aims at encouraging and giving every youth equal opportunity to prosper. During the ceremony, Mr Jugnauth handed over a letter of congratulations and a souvenir to Ms Jane Constance. Were also present the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, and the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun who in turn presented a souvenir to Jane Constance. UNESCO works with these distinguished personalities so as to heighten public awareness regarding key development issues and to inform the public about the organisations actions. Ms Jane Constance was designated UNESCO Artist for Peace on 30 March 2017 and is the first Mauritian for having received this prestigious designation. UNESCO Artists for Peace are internationally renowned personalities who use their influence, charisma and prestige to help promote UNESCOs message and programmes.UNESCO works with these distinguished personalities so as to heighten public awareness regarding key development issues and to inform the public about the organisations actions. Every year, this publication gives out Best of the Web awards in recognition of cities and states that have produced excellent websites. However, while there are some great success stories, this is the exception, rather than the norm.Recently my colleagues and I set out to answer the question of why are so many government websites just plain bad? by reviewing the speed, security, mobile-friendliness and accessibility of nearly 300 of the most popular federal websites . What we found is that bad websites are rarely the result of bad intentions, as no agency sets out to build an inferior site. Instead, agencies tend to make mistakes along the way mistakes that fortunately can be avoided.To begin with, it is worth reiterating that government agencies are certainly capable of building great websites. Boston, for example, redesigned its website last year to make it more accessible and user-friendly. As part of its upgrades, the city improved its support for hosting content in multiple languages and updated its back-end hosting to create a faster, more responsive site. The result was a modern site designed to meet the needs of a diverse set of residents and businesses.But Boston built its superb website by partnering with IDEO, one of the worlds best design firms, and Acquia, a local technology company that also happens to be one of the most sophisticated cloud providers for Drupal website hosting, the popular content management system used by Boston for its website. While Bostons technology team was smart to work with these talented partners, they are not going to be feasible options for every government project because not all projects will command the same level of funding and attention. Instead most agencies must build websites with limited staff and resources, and while this makes building a successful website more challenging, its still possible.The first mistake some governments make is they ignore their own guidance and standards. Government agencies and public officials often make bold promises to build secure, user-friendly websites, but back down from these commitments once they face the day-to-day challenges of maintaining them. For example, many cities struggle to build citizen-centric sites where information is organized around user needs rather than agency needs. The result is inconsistencies as users look up information on city parks, trash removal and transportation, since each of these functions is typically run by a different organization. The solution here is stronger accountability, so that government agencies have clear performance criteria for their websites and are held responsible if they do not meet these benchmarks.The second mistake some governments make is ignoring best practices from the private sector. While some governments commit to security standards or accessibility guidelines possibly at higher rates than the private sector they tend to overlook best practices on design and performance. For example, relatively few government agencies commit to fast page load times or ensuring mobile-friendly Web design even though these are some of the most important metrics for the average commercial website. But user expectations are based on what people are used to, and so the public sector needs to ensure that its websites do not fall behind those of the private sector. To do this, governments should regularly update their website design guidelines to ensure they are adopting best practices from the private sector.The third mistake some governments make is that they keep websites around long past their expiration date. After all, many government websites are quite good for their age. But technology changes very quickly the first iPad was only released in 2010 and websites must keep up with this pace of change. However, not enough agencies treat their websites as they would any other asset and recognize that it has a finite life cycle and will need replacing. The result is that websites stick around well past when they should have been retired or refreshed. Better management of digital assets can avoid this problem.In short, government agencies can improve their online presence by developing stronger accountability, learning from the private sector, and better managing the life cycle of websites. Not every agency is going to win an award for Web design, but even if they are not all striving to be the best, they should all be striving to do better. Websites continue to be one of the most important ways that individuals and businesses interact with government , and so agencies should be committed to facilitating this communication as part of their mission. Ben Miller is the associate editor of data and business for Government Technology. His reporting experience includes breaking news, business, community features and technical subjects. He holds a Bachelors degree in journalism from the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, and lives in Sacramento, Calif. Boston wants to highlight the increased potential of its overhauled open data portal, Analyze Boston , and is doing so by hosting an open data competition for technologists. Analyze Boston is a new and enhanced portal that aims to make the abundance of open data sets the city releases more relevant and accessible to everyday residents. The Analyze Boston Data Challenge asks participants to pick one of five tracks for the competition, each of which was selected because it could make life better for people in the city. The tracks are: reducing Bostons carbon footprint; making open data local; learning more from BuildBPS data; identifying fire risks; and telling a story through data. Participants can work alone or with a team, and once a track has been selected, the nature of the project is entirely up to those working on it. In fact, the wording for the competition announcement calls for creativity, and developers are able to use any software or platform. One of the few stipulations is that after the competition concludes on May 6, they are encouraged to share their code, results and any other outputs in a place where the public can access them. Winners will receive yet-to-be-determined prizes. Analyze Boston was launched as a beta site earlier this year to solicit feedback and spark discussion. The portal overhaul was another step in the city's ongoing open data commitment. In July 2015, Mayor Marty Walsh announced the Open and Protected Data Policy , which encourages city agencies to publish data sets, while also providing guidance for which information must be protected. In May 2016, Boston hired Andrew Therriault to be its first chief data officer. Other data efforts in the city include CityScore , executive data dashboards to monitor city performance, a hazard information platform for firefighters called Building Intelligence System , and a data-sharing agreement with Waze that improves traffic flow on the streets. (TNS) -- For Ryan Bourque, development manager at the SkyVue Apartments on Forbes Avenue in Oakland, this is a regular scene as he works in the lobby: Residents who have called Uber for a ride gather in the lobby, track their ride on a screen behind a welcoming desk in the lobby and head outside when their ride is nearby.They are using TransitScreen, a service that provides real-time information on a variety of transit services in Oakland, including buses operated by the Port Authority, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft, car-sharing service Zipcar and Pittsburghs bike-sharing program.The service is free to the user and normally is paid for by a large employer or an apartment building operator. But in this case, the screens are a demonstration project funded for a year by the provosts office at the University of Pittsburgh; screens also were installed last month at the universitys Sennott Square and three medical facilities: UPMC Montefiore, UPMC Presbyterian and Falk Clinic.Im really glad we decided to be part of this, Mr. Bourque said. Its a service to our residents. Ive done my own little test while Im sitting here and I look up at the screen and see something is coming and I look outside and then it passes by, so it seems pretty accurate.The university is sponsoring the program as part of its Smart Living Program with the Oakland Business Improvement District so two computer professors in the School of Arts and Sciences, Alexandros Labrinidis and Kostas Pelechrinis, can test whether the program can be used to increase traffic at businesses near transit stops.The transit information also is available on mobile devices through the website pittsmartliving.org Mr. Labrinidis said they are testing whether commuters who know almost exactly when their transit will arrive would be willing to patronize nearby businesses while they wait, especially if they have an incentive such as a coupon.Were extremely excited, Mr. Labrinidis said. The big advantage of this is you dont have to go to four different apps to find the information. Its all available either on the screen or on your mobile device.The business community is interested in the possibility of TransitScreen increasing business, said Jonathan Winkler, spokesman for the Oakland business group.Without a doubt, this really helps people get from point A to point B efficiently, he said. Its pretty incredible and we are happy to have it here.Co-founder Ryan Croft said the system was developed in the Alexandria, Va., area two years ago after CEO Matt Caywood grew frustrated having to go to several apps to evaluate transit options. The system has more than 1,000 terminals in operation in about a dozen cities across North America.I think what were excited about in Pittsburgh is theyre going to study how its working and try to learn from it, Mr. Croft said.The company especially likes the visibility that comes from having screens in city halls across the country and is talking to Pittsburgh about installing one in the City-County Building. Karina Ricks, the citys director of mobility and infrastructure, would heartily support that idea, said Timothy McNulty, spokesman for Mayor Bill Peduto.TransitScreens ultimate goal is to have commuters use transportation options other than their own cars to reduce pollution and traffic congestion, Mr. Croft said. The company wants commuters to consider TransitScreen their personal transit dashboard, he added.Right now, TransitScreen can distribute more real-time information about Port Authority service than the agency itself, said spokesman Adam Brandolph, using information provided by Port Authority. The agency has one screen at the Wood Street station, Downtown, for bus service now and expects to add T service information this summer.Other screens may be available Downtown this summer, but the agency doesnt have its own mobile app yet, he said.Thats a great idea and were all for people getting information about public transportation in whatever form they can get it, Mr. Brandolph said. As long as they are providing accurate information, were all for it.The demonstration project has money to fund five more screen locations and would like to expand to the Downtown area, Mr. Labrinidis said. (TNS) -- The founder of a successful electronics company and a proud gadgets geek, Rep. Darrell Issa built a reputation as not only one of the few Republicans with a keen interest in protecting online privacy, but a go-to member of Congress when it came to the topic.Through legislation and the soapbox, and by using his office and off-the-beaten-path forums to discuss internet regulations at a granular level with some of the most interested people, he laid out a vision for an internet where people can freely share their ideas, have equal access to information, and where their personal information is kept private.But Issa and other Republicans are under fire from pro-digital privacy organizations after they voted for a bill that lets internet service providers continue to sell or give away information on the web sites that their customers visit though ISPs dont typically have access to information about what their customers do on these websites such as purchases they make. Some of those groups had long lauded Issa for his stands.Supporters of the bill say some businesses like Facebook and Google already are allowed to share such browser history and that would continue, adding that this measure would level the playing field for internet service providers.In a legislative career where he honed bills to keep private online data in the hands of its individual owners, this one Issa vote, in a sense, short-circuited with digital privacy advocates."We're disappointed that Rep. Issa voted to weaken privacy protections, said Ernesto Falcon, legislative counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights organization. The party line vote in Congress was a case of lawmakers putting the interests of cable and phone companies ahead of the privacy interests of Americans,The group previously commended the Vista Republican for pressing for answers about the prosecution of a cyber activist who committed suicide, his efforts to determine the impact international trade deals would have on intellectual property rights, and especially his opposition to legislation that would weaken online privacy at the expense of free speech.The legislation Issa and others supported rescinds Obama-era Federal Communications Commission regulations that had not yet taken effect. The rules would have prohibited internet providers from selling personal browser information without the customers permission, requiring customers to opt-in before their data could be shared.Calvin Moore, Issas spokesman, said the bills consequences for privacy were misunderstood by opponents.And so aside from this having less than zero actual impact on your privacy, it was rolling back a rule that unfairly favored some companies over others and amounted to a huge power grab by the FCC to regulate companies they didnt even have jurisdiction over until (former commission Chairman) Tom Wheeler unilaterally decided to call the internet a utility and seize that authority for himself, he said in an email.Craig Aaron, president and CEO of Free Press Action Fund, a pro-internet privacy organization, had a different view.Apparently they see no problem with cable and phone companies snooping on your private medical and financial information, your religious activities or your sex life, he said.His group maintains the Declaration of Internet Freedom that Issa has signed.The bill cleared the House 215-205 on March 28 on a near party line vote, and passed the Senate 50-48 the week before. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Monday.Cable and telecommunications companies supported the measure and argued that the FCC regulations put them at competitive disadvantage to companies that are regulated by more permissive Federal Trade Commission policies. Those policies allowed companies like Facebook and Google to share information.Todays Congressional action to repeal the FCCs misguided rules marks an important step toward restoring consumer privacy protections that apply consistently to all internet companies, said the trade group NCTA-The Internet & Television Association, after the legislation passed the Senate. The industry organization represents internet service providers, including Cox Communications, Inc.The telecommunications industry gave Issas 2016 campaign $144,800, and $542,343 through the nine-term congressmans career, according to an analysis by OpenSecrets, an organization that tracks political contributions. Issa is the chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, a body that has some impact on the telecom industry, but the Communications and Technology Subcommittee in the House Energy and Commerce Committee plays a much larger role.Issa received more from the industry in the 2016 cycle than all but 13 other representatives, including two who are from California.The telcomm contributions are a small sliver in comparison to what Issa has received from constituents and from from individual donors who believe in his work in Congress, including many who back him for his support of digital privacy issues, spokesman Moore said.While telecommunications companies contended the bill would create consistent regulations across different parts of the industry, privacy advocates and consumer rights groups worried that people who go online, either through a computer or smart phone or tablet, could lost control of their private data.It is extremely disappointing that Congress is sacrificing the privacy rights of Americans in the interest of protecting the profits of major internet companies including Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon, Neema Singh Guliani, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. The ACLU has supported internet and online privacy policies Issa championed.Issas vote isnt a retreat from his past efforts to keep peoples digital information private, Moore, said. The bill he supported doesnt have the type of impact opponents portrayed, and rolls back government overreach and creates a consistent regulations across internet-related industries.The Congressman become known as one of the fiercest and most outspoken defenders of individual privacy and thats something thats never changing, Moore said.Over the last five years Issa built a name for himself by trying to empower people to keep their online information private, and for net neutrality, a concept where internet service providers provide access to all online content, regardless of the origin, and without favoring one type source over the other.Issa penned op-ed columns where he urged his lawmaker colleagues to keep peoples online personal information private, and was the first member of Congress to sign the Declaration of Internet Freedom, where he affirmed he would Protect privacy and defend everyones ability to control how their data and devices are used.He received widespread praise for writing the first draft of the Digital Citizens Bill of Rights, a document that, among other provisions, says people have a right to privacy on the internet.Four years ago, when Reddit was a much more obscure forum, Issa used it to introduce the Internet American Moratorium Act, or IAMA (a reference to a hodgepodge of other acronyms I Am A and Ask Me Anything).He also put some of his internet-related legislation online in a way to crowdsource possible amendments from people who were willing to dive into the nuances of public policy.And last year he campaigned for re-election on his work keeping personal information out of the hands of hackers. I am proud to serve on the bipartisan Encryption Working Group where my colleagues and I are busy crafting policies to help U.S. companies can make secure technologies protect our privacy in a digital age, Issas campaign website says.Concerns about the bill were overblown or misunderstood, Moore said. It didnt change what internet service could already do with private information.Theres no one in Congress who has been as staunch of an advocate for digital privacy as Congressman Issa, Moore said. 1. Connecticut 2. Illinois 3. Kansas 4. Maryland 5. Massachusetts 6. Minnesota 7. Montana 8. New York 9. Washington 10. Wisconsin The signature of Donald Trump has landed on a number of controversial bills and orders since he took office Jan. 20. But perhaps none of them have intersected with technology quite the way that the rollback of impending Obama-era Internet privacy protections has.Removing the Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) limitations on Internet service providers' (ISPs) selling customer data such as geolocation, browser history and other personal data to third-parties has sweeping implications that span all American Internet users.Theres nothing stopping a big Internet service provider from selling that data of an individual to advertisers, to even law enforcement agencies, to whoever the highest bidder is, Steven Renderos, organizing director at the Center for Media Justice, told Jezebel.com , which also noted that once a user's data is out there, its analyzed and used to make decisions about how to tailor ads to you and, increasingly, make predictions about our behavior. But, Renderos told the news outlet, Algorithms that are supposed to make determinations about us often times make assumptions that may or may not be correct.And Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, has called the rollback "disgusting."When we use the Web, we are so vulnerable, Berners-Lee told The Verge . There are things that people do on the Web that reveal absolutely everything, more about them than they know themselves sometimes. Because so much of what we do in our lives that actually goes through those left-clicks, it can be ridiculously revealing. You have the right to go to a doctor in privacy where its just between you and the doctor. And similarly, you have to be able to go to the Web.Berners-Lee is not alone; this Internet privacy rollback has sparked a national trend of state legislative action meant to protect citizens from the sale of their data without consent.On April 5, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff announced plans to push for a state law to counter the federal rollback.Millions of Connecticut consumers are in danger of having their personal information about their Web-browsing history, and their childrens health, financial history and location that can be collected and sold, Duff said. "We're proposing an amendment that would bar any telecommunication company, certified telecommunications provider, certified competitive video service provider or Internet service provider from providing its services to a consumer on the grounds that the customer has not approved, so basically an opt-in provision, and from collecting customers' personal information."Duff also acknowledged that other states are going in this direction, and called the rollback "a gross violation of consumer rights and what most people would think is fair and reasonable."On March 30 in the Prairie State, the House Cybersecurity, Data Analytics & IT Committee endorsed two privacy measures to bolster consumers' Internet privacy rights.The first, according to the Associated Press , would allow consumers to request information on them that companies like Google and Facebook collect; the second would require that apps get consumer permission before tracking user locations.Though just proposed April 6, a new bill in the Kansas House would require ISPs to seek the approval of their customers before any information was sold for the purposes of generating advertising.The bill, proposed by Rep. Stephanie Clayton, a Republican representing Overland Park, would require ISPs to get approval from their customers before passing the information along to a third party.The need for privacy spanned across party lines, Clayton told . I would assume that any legislator that cares about the privacy of their constituents regardless of their party would be happy to support this, she said. My real question is: Who wouldnt?Though Maryland doesn't have legislation on the books, it's not for a lack of trying. On April 3, the state's House of Delegates voted 90-45 to allow introduction of an Internet privacy bill by Majority Leader Bill Frick just four votes shy of what's required for legislation to be considered this late in the session, which ended April 10.According to The Baltimore Sun, Frick, D-Montgomery County, sought a suspension of the rules to introduce his bill. He reportedly told delegates that the General Assembly should do what it can to address what he called one of the most pressing issues facing the United States. Had the bill been introduced, it could have received a hearing before a House committee.Frick also told the news outlet that the issue may still come before the legislature this year, as he has been working to write legislation with Sen. James C. Rosapepe, D-Prince George's County, who might attempt to introduce it in the Senate as early as the evening of April 10. Should the Senate move the bill through committee and pass it in the time remaining, according toit would come back to the House.In response to the federal rollback, six Republican state senators filed legislation on April 7 that would bar ISPs in Massachusetts from using or selling their customers data without getting the explicit permission, according to , which also reported that the bill would ban ISPs from charging extra for Internet service to customers who refuse to share their personal data.The federal government has created a situation that threatens consumer privacy, and it needs to be addressed, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr of Gloucester, one of the sponsors of the legislation, told the news outlet.On March 29, Minnesotas state senators voted to add broadband privacy protections at the state level as an amendment to the state's economic development budget bill, S.F. No. 1937 , introduced by Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park. Latz offered the amendment because he said it was urgently needed to protect Minnesotans privacy after the congressional vote, according to theShould the bill pass in the Minnesota House and be signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton, ISPs would be required to obtain express written approval from the customer before collecting customer information from their users. As in other states, it also forbids ISPs and telecoms from refusing to provide service to someone that refuses to approve the collection of their personal data.Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, even broke with his party to overturn the Senate presidents ruling and allow the Internet privacy amendment to continue by a single vote, the news outlet reported.We should be outraged at the invasion thats being allowed on our most intimate means of communication, Limmer, a longstanding privacy advocate, told the. This is an amendment that so urgently needs to be addressed.On April 3, the Montana Senate approved a budget provision that would bar ISPs from being awarded state contracts if they collect data from their customers without consent, according to the Associated Press."It has become apparent to us that they [ISPs] have the ability to use your information in ways to market to you, and, quite frankly, sell that information," Montana Sen. Ryan Osmundson, R-Buffalo, who introduced the measure, told the Associated Press. "We're basically saying they cannot do business with the state if they're collecting personal information without the consent of the individual."Sen. Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, introduced legislation on April 4 that, like other states, would prohibit ISPs from selling customer browsing history and other personal information to third parties. As a public utility regulated by New York state, ISPs must comply with state laws and regulations. This legislation would ensure that New Yorkers continue to benefit from the privacy laws that were implemented under President Obamas administration.When voters across the country elected this House and U.S. Senate last November, I doubt they were voting with the hope that their ISP would be allowed to sell their browsing history, Kennedy said in a statement . This kind of anti-consumer, anti-privacy action doesnt benefit anyone except large corporations. This is not an abstract threat to regular folks this is bad policy with real world consequences. The legislation I have introduced will ensure these actions never make it to New York state.After Trump signed the FCC rollback legislation April 3, a bipartisan coalition of Washington state legislators introduced two similarly themed bills in both houses of the state Congress in short order.The first, House Bill 2200 , outlines the need for ISPs to obtain written consent from their customers before passing it to a third-party. Additionally, the companies would not be allowed to deny services to customers who opt out of data sharing practices.The state Senates version, Senate Bill 5919 , though remarkably shorter, also places limitations on the sale of user data, but focuses on the state agencies in contract with and ISP. As in the house version of the legislation, the proposal limits the ability of telecommunications companies to refuse service based on whether customers opt out of sharing their data.In addition to new funds for broadband Internet service expansion in rural areas, the so called Rural Broadband Bill also takes aim through an amendment to the legislation at the controversial privacy rollback by requiring ISPs to obtain permission from their customers before any personal data is shared.Additionally, ISPs would be restricted from denying Internet services to customers who opted out of data sharing agreements. The initial bill was proposed by Republican Sen. Patrick Testin, of Stevens Point, but the amended customer consent language was added by Democrat Sen. Jennifer Shilling, of La Crosse. The bill cleared the Wisconsin State Senate April 4, and will proceed to the Assembly for another vote.If successful, the law would offer residents in the state the same protections offered by the repealed FCC rules. (TNS) -- DES MOINES A ban on texting while driving is on the way to Gov. Terry Branstad, who made the legislation one of his priorities this year.The GOP governor expressed appreciation Monday for the bipartisan support that Senate File 234 received, as the House voted 90-6 and agreed with the Senate to make texting while driving a primary offense.Floor manager Rep. Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake, said he would have liked a ban on the use of all hand-held communication devices, but said the bill accomplishes a lot of things that weve been trying to do for several years.Although short of a ban, Worthan said SF 234 will allow police to pull over drivers for using a phone to write, send or view electronic messages and texts, viewing social media and engaging in gaming.SF 234 would allow motorists to still use their device as a telephone, Worthan said, as well use GPS devices.Still, he said, law enforcement sees the bill as a huge improvement over current law that classifies texting while driving as a secondary offense meaning drivers can be cited for texting while driving only if they are stopped for some other offense.In the House version of the legislation, only warnings would have been issued during the first year. Worthan anticipates drivers will tell officers they were dialing a number, not texting, if they are stopped.But the stop has still happened. The conversation about the danger of texting while driving has happened, he said.The bill requires officers to get a search warrant if they seek to find if the driver was dialing rather than texting.Worthan said the ban on texting while driving was warranted because of the increase in crashes attributed to distracted driving. The Iowa Department of Transportation reported earlier that there were 1,100 crashes and 14 fatalities in 2015 as a result of drivers distracted by a phone or other electronic device. The total number of crashes caused by drivers distracted by a phone or other electronic device increased by 29 percent, and the number of fatalities doubled, between 2014 and 2015.An amendment calling for an effort to identify the prevalence of racial profiling in Iowa was withdrawn and another establishing rules for motor vehicles passing bicycles was ruled not germane to the bill.Trespass bill passesThe House voted 92-0 to add its approval to Senate File 260 and send the changes in Iowa trespass law to the governor. Under the bill, the owner, renter or lawful occupant of property has no duty of care to a trespasser. It does not change the common law doctrine of attractive nuisance, which imposes a duty on a landowner to protect children from dangerous conditions or from items that will attract kids on to the property.It was approved earlier 48-1 by the Senate.RIGHT TO TRY AMENDEDTerminally ill patients would have a right to try by gaining more access to experimental drugs under Senate File 404 , which was approved 96-0. The Senate approved it 49-0 earlier, but an amendment means it needs to return.It would permit manufacturers of investigative drugs, biological products or devices to make them available to eligible patients with terminal illnesses for use as a treatment so long as they provide written consent.Bill manager Rep. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, offered an amendment to make clear the right-to-try legislation shall not be construed to allow a patients treating physician to assist the patient in committing or attempting to commit suicide as prohibited by law. It was approved on a voice vote and returns to the Senate.FORFEITURE SENTOn a 95-1 vote, the House joined the Senate in approving changes to the state civil asset forfeiture law and sent it to the governor.The state can seize property if it can show by a preponderance of evidence it was used to facilitate a crime, furnished in exchange for a crime or is the proceeds of a crime.Rep. Greg Heartsill, R-Dallas-Melcher, said there have been cases around the country where asset forfeiture has been used in lesser degrees of suspected criminal activity. In some cases, the property owner could be innocent yet have property seized without due process.In some cases the legal cost to prove innocence and reclaim seized property greatly exceed the value of the property, Heartsill said.Under Senate File 446 , prosecutors would have to convict a suspected offender of illegal activity before seizing property valued under $5,000 believed to have been associated with crime.SF 446 would require forfeiture proceedings under $5,000 to go through a criminal process, rather than the current civil proceeding that does not require a conviction. (TNS) -- After a 2011 civil grand jury report excoriated Oaklands building services division, concluding that some inspectors were keeping property records in their desk drawers rather than a central database, the city purchased a multimillion-dollar software system to bring the department into the 21st century.But next door, in the Fire Prevention Bureau, which is tasked with annually inspecting all commercial buildings and certain residential properties, the staff was stuck with an older database that its users describe as a clumsy, incomplete repository of city properties.Its been cumbersome from the get-go, said acting Fire Chief Mark Hoffmann, adding that city officials have not paid for system upgrades over the years. Its not particularly user-friendly for people who enter data. You cant seamlessly go window to window.The systems deficiencies may have contributed to lapses in inspections of dangerous buildings. Three years after its report castigating the building department, the Alameda County grand jury came back with another censure, this time of the Fire Department, finding that it was not inspecting more than a third of all buildings required to be reviewed annually under California law.The warning from the civilian panel foreshadowed revelations about the Ghost Ship warehouse after a fire there killed 36 people in December. Despite a fire station being just a block away, the building wasnt in the Fire Departments database and no one had ever stepped foot on the premises for a formal inspection. Had inspectors done so, they would have found tangles of electrical wires, blocked exit pathways, a lack of smoke detectors and other safety hazards.Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf wants to create an information technology tool that would combine various city systems into an algorithm that could predict which buildings may be at risk for fire hazards or catastrophes. Her plan, announced in an executive order shortly after the Ghost Ship fire, was made more urgent when another blaze ripped through a West Oakland halfway house two weeks ago, killing four people and displacing more than 80.But theres no timeline for when that plan will be put into action. A report on the plan provided to the City Council in February doesnt specify when the project would be completed or how much it would cost.Ideally youd have a big map and all the databases talking to each other, said Claudia Cappio, an assistant city administrator. Those databases in Oakland include the Planning and Building Departments software called Accela; the Fire Departments system; a Public Works app that allows residents to report hazards; dispatch calls for police and medical services; and the program used by the citys finance arm to collect business taxes.Until a solution is put into place, the Fire Department and its Fire Prevention Bureau are relying on the existing OneStep database system, purchased in 2009, that Cappio called incomplete and inconsistent and problematic for engine companies.The city is exploring the idea of getting the Fire Department a module to use within the Planning and Building Departments Accela software, which cost Oakland $5 million, with an $800,000 annual license. Adding the fire capabilities to the system would cost upward of half a million dollars, said city spokeswoman Karen Boyd.In the meantime, Cappio said, The Fire Department can go to the Planning and Building Department and gain access to their computers. ... The offices are right next door to each other.Hoffmann said that doesnt happen, and as far as he knows, the fire marshal and inspectors use only OneStep.Records reveal a disjointed picture of the Oakland Fire Departments database.In the citys response to the 2014 grand jury investigation, Oakland officials said that because of the way properties were initially entered into the system by commercial business licenses there were often duplicate records of properties or no records at all.For instance, multiple licenses could be tied to one business, like a hair salon with several stylists, or many small suites could be located within a larger building but the OneStep system would tell inspectors to go review them all, the city said. Other times, they were instructed to inspect a building that turned out to be a post office box. A converted warehouse like the Ghost Ship wouldnt have been in the system either, because there was no business license associated with it.Some of these places are out of business or theyre in business but they dont want to pay the license fee, Hoffmann said.Firefighters have described occasions when theyve gone on a medical call, seen a hazardous situation in a property, but couldnt find the building in the database back at the station house.At one point in 2014, the problems with OneStep became so extreme that a fire lieutenant was removed from regular duties and put in a full-time assignment that involved reconfiguring the program and washing the database of duplicate addresses, according to the citys response to the grand jury investigation.A OneStep representative, who declined to give his name, said that all we do is just host the data they choose to collect and that Oaklands problems are probably caused by how properties were inputted by business license.We work with dozens of fire departments, he said. They dont regret buying our software because it works for them.Hoffmann said some of the issues with OneStep can be traced back to training. In September 2015, a firefighter who went on a call to the San Pablo Avenue halfway house wanted to refer the hazardous conditions there to the Fire Prevention Bureau. He did so by checking a referral box in the OneStep system, according to emails released by the city. In fact, Hoffmann said, referrals cannot be made within the database, and the box is supposed to indicate that a referral was made by phone or some other means not prompt a referral to be sent. Honda is working hard to have a new specification of its struggling 2017 engine ready to test after Bahrain. After the China-Bahrain double header, teams will remain on the island Kingdom for a rare in-season test, and sources in Japan claim Honda wants to have an improved power unit to run. According to Spain's Marca newspaper, Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa acknowledged that the problem at the moment is with "the combustion engine". The report said: "If it (the new engine) is above all reliable, and more powerful, it could debut at the fourth race in Russia, which is one race earlier than expected." Hasegawa said: "We do not want to set a date for this improvement, but we can do as many changes as we want because there are no tokens this year. "As soon as it is ready, we will use it," he added. (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has refused to comment on reports he will stay in charge at Ferrari beyond 2019. During the Shanghai weekend, reports from Italy suggested the 64-year-old will definitely step down as president of the Ferrari parent Fiat Chrysler. But other reports claim Marchionne will in fact "stay at Ferrari until at least 2021, even after his planned exit from FCA". When asked about that, the Italian-Canadian said: "Let's talk about something else." Indeed, another hot topic is the expiring contracts of both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, creating potential instability for Ferrari this year. But Marchionne was quoted by La Repubblica as insisting: "Not at all. We will solve that too." There is also the issue of Liberty Media's offer that top teams buy into F1, with Marchionne saying: "We have met with Toto Wolff to evaluate if it is worth it. "Of course, the opportunity is there. If it makes sense from a financial point of view, we will." And when told that Formula E might be a good fit for the Alfa Romeo brand, he answered: "Formula E is a good idea for many brands as well, for example Maserati." (GMM) Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has declined to hit back at a jibe made by Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda. Earlier, former Ferrari driver Lauda claimed the great Maranello marque was struggling in F1 because of its Italian "spaghetti" culture. Now, referring to new technical boss Mattia Binotto, Lauda said: "You consider Binotto to be Italian? Actually he is Swiss, and it shows. "Ferrari works now because there is a Swiss who organises the Italians, making them work but leaving them free to express their imagination and ideas." When told about Lauda's comments, Ferrari president Marchionne responded: "I will not talk. "If I do, I will send him a few insults. And I'm not going to insult a friend," he told La Repubblica newspaper. But the truth is, Ferrari's self-imposed media ban may now be lifting, as even its own high expectations for 2017 are surpassed by the early performance of Sebastian Vettel. "We are happy, no doubt about it," Marchionne said. Indeed, the 2017 car has been born well, but most insiders believe the title will be won by a more intense than usual development race. "Yes," Marchionne agrees. "In recent years we seemed to get a bit tired when developing the car. But this year we will not. "There is a programme that is going ahead at full speed. We just need a bit of time." (GMM) The new R-Car V3M SoC complies with the ISO 26262 functional safety standard, delivers low-power hardware acceleration for vision processing, and is equipped with a built-in image signal processor (ISP), freeing up board space and reducing system manufacturers system costs. Renesas is exhibiting its first Renesas autonomy demonstrator, developed based on the new R-Car V3M SoC, at DevCon Japan in Tokyo. Renesas Electronics Corporation launched Renesas autonomy, a new advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving platform. As the first product under the new autonomy platform, Renesas released the R-Car V3M high-performance image recognition system-on-chip (SoC) optimized primarily for use in smart camera applications, as well as surround view systems or even LiDARs. Renesas autonomy. Renesas autonomy is an open, innovative and trusted platform for ADAS and automated driving, consisting of Renesas scalable SoC and microcontroller (MCU) roadmaps. The platform gives system manufacturers access to Renesas expanding ecosystem of partners for ADAS and automated driving technologies, thereby improving development efficiency and speeding their time to market. Key solutions of the Renesas autonomy platform: Trusted scalable hardware lineup delivering a comprehensive portfolio covering high performance and low power. The Renesas autonomy Platform enables automotive system manufacturers to build a full range of ADAS and automated driving systems. System manufacturers can make the best use of the sustained, scalable roadmaps to develop solutions from entry to premium, re-use development efforts, and shorten time to market, benefiting from Renesas proven solutions and long-term commitment to the automotive market. Innovative accelerators and market-proven functional safety technologies. Renesas autonomy gives system manufacturers the option to select the most suitable IP cores, including hardware accelerators, offering functional safety and flexibility within an architecture capable of the highest performance at the lowest power consumption. In addition, system manufacturers can leverage Renesas expertise in integrating different IPs and in low-power design to reduce their bill of materials (BOM). Functional safety is essential in achieving automated driving. Renesas has provided functional safety to the market since the launch of its first automotive safety MCUs in 2008. To address the requirements for high-level functional safety for ADAS and automated driving applications, Renesas supports several ASIL levels with its latest generation high-performance SoC and MCU devices. In addition to ASIL-C support with the new R-Car V3M SoC, Renesas provides a wide range of ASIL-B SoCs (R-Car M3 and R-Car H3) and ASIL-D MCUs (RH850/P1X Series) that meet the requirements of the latest ADAS applications. Open development platform with access to complementary ecosystem partner technologies. Renesas has 195 key technology suppliers worldwide in its R-Car Consortium and is continuously adding partners from the ADAS and automated driving areas to support the Renesas autonomy Platform. The development platform is open, allowing system manufacturers to choose where to enter, either building directly on Renesas innovations or working with ecosystem partners. System manufacturers can choose to maximize the creation of value in-house, or significantly reduce their design efforts and shorten time to market by working with Renesas R-Car Consortium. R-Car V3M SoC for smart cameras. The R-Car V3M is a functionally safe, high-performance, low-power device, primarily aiming at smart camera applications, but also surround view systems or LiDARs. For smart camera applications, the R-Car V3M focuses on enabling NCAP features. It is equipped with an integrated ISP and delivers high performance for computer vision, while supporting low power consumption and a high level of functional safety. High-performance is needed to detect traffic signs, lanes, pedestrians, vehicles, and other obstacles in real time. Front cameras are mounted next to the windshield where they are exposed to direct sunlight. As a result, low power consumption of the SoC is crucial to minimize further heat dissipation in the smart camera housing. Securing functional safety is the final key element for front cameras to safely enable features such as automated emergency braking. Key Features of the R-Car V3M solution: Highly-efficient image recognition engine and functional safety. The R-Car V3M SoC implements a top-notch performance computer vision platform using different accelerators, including a versatile pipeline engine (IMP) and a computer vision engine (CVE), allowing the R-Car V3M to manage algorithms such as optical flow, object detection and classification and convolutional neural networks. The R-Car V3M integrates a dual ARM Cortex A53 for application programming and dual Cortex R7 lockstep cores to run AUTOSAR. The R-Car V3M achieves the hardware architectural metrics recommended for systems that require ASIL-B and higher functional safety levels to act as a real-time core safety island. High level of integration for reduced cost. The R-Car V3M includes an integrated ISP that enhances the raw image quality from the camera sensor and makes the image ready for computer vision. The integration eliminates the need for an external ISP component in the front camera or in the sensor itself. The system implements a single DDR3L memory channel to further reduce cost. Open solution for front camera. The R-Car V3M follows the principal of the Renesas autonomy platform and is supported by Renesas and its ecosystem of partners with complementary hardware such as sensors, operating systems, computer vision expertise and applications. This allows system manufacturers to maximize the creation of value in-house or shorten time to market by working with partnersa new freedom in the front camera market. Pricing and Availability. Samples of the R-Car V3M SoC will be available from December 2017. Mass production is scheduled to begin in June 2019. (Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.) The tremors you feel this week in HigherEdlandia are coming from New York State, where the legislature and governor worked out a tuition-free college deal for New York residents. The Excelsior Scholarship will cover tuition for New York residents with annual family incomes below $125,000 who attend public two-year and four-year colleges. (That's the SUNY and CUNY systems, for those of you who know your New York State higher ed acronyms). Robert Kelchen, the higher ed blogger and Seton Hall professor, raises three good questions: Will there be enough money? (Just ask Say Yes Guilford about the danger of failing to match budget to expectations.) Will colleges raise fees? Its possible. Nonetheless, now is a good a time as any to remind folks that free tuition is not the same as free college. And what about the post-graduation residency requirement? The really devilish detail of the plan requires grant recipients to stay in New York for some time after they graduate. If they dont, their grant becomes a loan they must repay. Kelchen questions New York States ability to monitor such a complex program. I question the utility of the residency requirement. The former N.C. Teaching Fellows Program worked the same way if the program gave you a four-year scholarship, you had to work four years at a public school in North Carolina or you would repay the grant. It seemed like a fair trade because North Carolina was using college scholarships to address a specific need in this case, a shortage of teachers in North Carolina public schools. I guess you could make the same argument with regard to the New York scholarship. Its state money, after all, so the state of New York should see some direct and immediate benefit. But the residency requirement seems too restrictive. This tethering definitely limits employment options and, depending on the wording of the statute, it might limit grad school options as well. Thats probably not a deal-breaker for most students. New Yorks a big state that also happens to have one of the worlds major cities inside its borders. Also, most graduates of community colleges and regional universities probably dont go too far from home after their get their degrees. (The Inside Higher Ed story I mentioned earlier says that 80-percent-plus of SUNY and CUNY grads stay in New York.) But I bet some graduates who want jobs and careers in New Jersey or D.C. or the Southeast or overseas will raise hell about this requirement. Some folks are already raising a stink about what they call "a very big catch." Meanwhile, New Yorks private colleges are worried about what this will do to their enrollment. What you're feeling this week is the equivalent of an earthquake in higher ed. Remember that earthquakes always bring aftershocks. Brace yourselves. Want to make sure you see these blog posts? Like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter. Have something to say? Email me at john.newsom@greensboro.com. GREENSBORO A vigil will be held tonight at 6 p.m. where two N.C. A&T students were shot to death Oct. 2. Before the vigil, a campus safety forum will be held at 4 p.m. in Room 218 of the General Classroom Building on the campus of N.C. A&T at 610 N. Benbow Road. The vigil will be held at 911 Circle Drive. Family members of both victims, Alisia Dieudonne and Ahmad Campbell, will attend both events. Police said Dieudonne and Campbell were innocent bystanders to a fight that broke out during a party. Officers responded at 2:11 a.m. to a reported disturbance at 911 Circle Drive. Before arriving at the off-campus residence officers learned the call had been upgraded to a potential shooting. Police found Dieudonne and Campbell shot inside the residence and took both college students to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead. With his Food for Soul project, Massimo Bottura aims to bring awareness to worldwide hunger issues. Photo: Nicolo Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images For chefs, worldwide renown often leads to lucrative expansion deals: Restaurants in tourism capitals like Tokyo, Hong Kong, Vegas, and Dubai are almost a given. Thats one reason why its so surprising that Massimo Bottura, the chef at Modenas Osteria Francescana one of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in Italy, and the world has expanded in a different way, keeping just one full-service restaurant (with all of 12 tables), while focusing his expansion energy on a nonprofit initiative that aims to feed the hungry. Lara Gilmore, Botturas wife, is the president of Food for Soul, a program that aims to promote awareness of hunger and food waste, while also opening ambitious community kitchens for needy patrons. The idea of offering food, in addition to a sense of culture and dignity, began as a happy accident in the run-up to Expo Milano 2015 when Bottura offered to make a sustainable contribution to the city and its residents, and found eager chef-collaborators like Alain Ducasse. That was followed by Refettorio Gastromotiva, which debuted during the 2016 Olympics. Next is Refettorio Felix in London (which will feature chefs like Ducasse, Clare Smyth, and Daniel Boulud), as well as Stateside expansion, thanks to a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation for more than $500,000. The first two American refettorios are scheduled to open in 2018 and 2019, with seven more locations slated to open around the country. Grub Street sat down with Gilmore and Bottura to talk about international accolades, getting robbed in Rio, and why theyre using their culinary stature to nourish some of the the worlds most in-need diners. Youre planning to open Food for Soul kitchens in the United States, which were first teased last summer when you posted on Instagram about a meeting with Robert De Niro about a Bronx location. Lara Gilmore: It wont happen with Robert. It got blown up on Instagram, and Massimo didnt know something could blow up like that. Massimo Bottura: But De Niro is De Niro! LG: Right now, were scouting nine U.S. locations, including the Bronx, but also Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Its important for us to evaluate if our model could have a positive impact on the economy and social fiber of those cities. Our model is more radical because its all about bringing people together to share a meal in a beautiful space, and engaging volunteers to be more physically invested in their communities. We need beauty more than we think. Its one of the few indivisible goods, and so often its not given enough value in regards to social change. Your next refettorio is opening in London, which seems generous, considering Britains attitude toward the rest of Europe at the moment. MB: London was about opening the door to the unexpected. When you are willing to open that door, you can do whatever you want. Surely your fame means plenty of doors are open. MB: You feel the vibes, and we felt London. London is a special place for me now that Paris has dropped in tourism, and in Italy we struggle so much. I think London is the real capital of Europe for me, for all its culture and art, even though there is Brexit. Thats why I said, immediately, we have to do London. We have architects and designers, and now we just need to approach Damien Hirst. We need to approach British artists to make art for the people. Do you ever feel pushback from Italians who want you to do more good closer to home? MB: Weve had a hard time doing projects in Italy. We were ready to do something in Palermo. The mayor was enthusiastic. The 20 best restaurants in the city were ready to help. LG: Finding the space is one issue. The other is managing the space every day, and the people there werent interested anymore. In Turin, it was the same thing. We have everything; we had support from Italy, all the food and chefs, and then one day you get the news its off. MB: But Modena will have one of the best. Massimo has folly in everything he does, and you cant teach someone to have that kind of personality. LG: Were trying a couple of different models in Italy, and one is working with existing soup kitchens, bringing in our know-how, our idea of the element of beauty and how important that is to nourishment design, lighting, simple things like a paint job. We want to create places where people are going to feel dignified, because theres a difference between eating at a plastic table and a wood table. We worked with a soup kitchen in Bologna to get them new tables and chairs, and found an architect to do pro bono work. And every Monday, we mobilize local chefs to come in and cook. And we started the same thing in Modena last December. Theres a canteen that has good food at low prices, and every Monday night, we run a soup kitchen there in a small chapel they use as a dining room. We asked a local graffiti artist to paint a mural of Saint Geminianus, the patron saint of Modena. MB: Three-hundred years after Christ, Attila the Hun was coming through Northern Europe, so the patron saint was in the church at the time, and he created a miraculous fog that bathed Modena in fog so thick that they didnt see it and passed through. LG: So the dining room begins in total darkness, completely black, then you see Attilas army the vikings, the horses, and the axes and then its enveloped in white fog. Whats the metaphor? Its what Massimo embraces: Believe in the impossible. Of course its impossible to create a wall of fog to protect a city, but if you dont have that kind of imagination, what are you going to accomplish? Thats Food for Soul. Its unrealistic that were putting money and energy into soup kitchens. Who gives a shit? Who cares? It seems impossible. It doesnt make any sense. There was no business plan. But there was energy and excitement, and at the end of the day, we have to believe that its all for good. You said that after a press conference for the London project, Alain Ducasse was the first to volunteer to cook there. Do you ever wonder why more top chefs dont undertake these projects? I assume once you make the Worlds Best list that you have access to connections and financing to pursue these kinds of projects. LG: He would never risk it. Its very risky. Massimo has folly in everything he does, and you cant teach someone to have that kind of personality. So its just something that makes a lot of sense for us. We only have 12 tables, and its never been a problem to fill our restaurant, and the restaurant is self-sustaining. MB: We met Mario Batali early on, in 1994 or 1995, when we opened the restaurant. He said, I want a great vinegar I can serve on the table and use in the kitchen, that isnt extra old, because aged balsamic isnt flexible enough in the kitchen. LG: So we created this artisanal blend thats easy to use, and Villa Manodori supported us. Step by step, we tasted and tested during the last 20 years, and now we have a vinegar that is amazing, that really sustained us. Its allowed us to bring on another chef, to redo the dining room, to travel to international chef congresses in 2004 and 2005, and thats how we got our name around, and how we communicated Massimos cooking and ideas to the international press. Then we got invited to cook dinners at hotels, and we had this supplemental income. And thats money we now put aside for Food for Soul. At one point, youre growing very slow, but once you realize that growth is sustainable and you could pay bills at the end of the month, and put everything from the vinegar aside then you realize you have to give back. We dont even know why we are doing Food for Soul, but its been such a positive response, and after all these years, we want to see more come out of the Osteria than just a fine-dining restaurant. Our goal is to finally do something that will have an impact on the general public. MB: The day we decided to do Rio, we received at 6 a.m. a WhatsApp message from the mayor of Rio, showing us hes watching Chefs Table on Netflix, and saying hes our biggest fan. I said, We have this message from Rio, and I answer by instinct, Why not? I said, Why not lets do this? Creativity, inspiration, they can happen at any time. Inside Rios Refettorio Gastromotiva. Photo: Courtesy fo Food For Soul Did the chaos of opening in Rio present a different set of challenges than the bureaucracy of opening in Europe? MB: Rio was extremely difficult in the way that we had to raise a lot of money. No one wanted to give us anything, but there was no bureaucracy, so we could do whatever we wanted. The difficult part was to connect with people there. It was a moment in which any moment you can expect anything even a gun to your head! You were robbed? MB: They arrived one morning, and they robbed computers and things. We were at the Museum of Tomorrow, but people were there, and they stole everything from the volunteers. It hasnt happened since. Maybe now we have the right guards. We chose the wrong security, and now we have the right security. And we have to fund this. Lets talk about the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list. There is a huge financial gain to be had if you rank highly, but once youve been on the list multiple times, does the continued recognition have any impact on the restaurants revenues? MB: The difference is in the title. The title on the people, on the media has an incredible impact. When they read the best restaurant in the world is in Italy, people come to experience a weekend in Emilia-Romagna, and the three Italian chefs who are on the list say, We need you to be number one again, otherwise its going to affect our business. I say, What do you mean? Its because when you are number one, there are so many people coming to Italy, and looking at Italy in a totally different way. You really feel thats more true this past year than when you were number three on the list? LG: Absolutely. Being responsible for promoting Italian food, culture, and for promoting Modena. Massimo could have opened in Milan or outside Italy, but he decided to stay in his small hometown. He decided to make it work and have people come to us. And isnt it the greatest, coolest award in the world to have people come to a small town like Modena, and have people bring that town to light, and letting people discover it? So is there a tension when you congregate with other chefs for the awards? Do you sense they all want what you have? LG: You should want it. It used to be the Michelin stars that kept you on your toes, that kept you in shape. And some people, they go the PR way, some people go through the tourism boards, but the smart ones get their shit together and they focus, and they become better restaurants. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. ASUS has added a small mini-ITX GeForce GTX 1060 to their lineup. It is a 3GB versions tagged under Phoenix branding. The dual-slot cooler has one spinner with a relatively simple black and white design. The graphics card has reference clock frequencies of 1506 MHz core, 1708 MHz GPU Boost, and 8.00 GHz (GDDR5-effective) memory. Keep in mind, the 3GB models (over the 6GB models) have less shader processors, 1,152 shader cores. The card feeds of one 6-pin power connector. Monitor ouputs are two DisplayPort, two HDMI connectors and a DVI port. ASUS has not shared details on pricing and availability. Haiti - Politics : Launch of Identity Document Call Center Monday, the National Archives of Haiti (ANH), the National Office of Identification (ONI), the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) and the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) lauched a Call Center for "Appointments and complaints" regarding the provision of identity documents to the population. This call center with for unique number "105", will be in operation every working day, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, to provide information on the status of applicants' files, to reduce the number of visitors to the offices responsible for receiving applications and to issue identity documents and finally to receive complaints from the applicants. In addition, it was confirmed the start shortly of operations of the "one-stop" concept at Verettes, Hinche and Cap-Haitien. The "one-stop shop" that already operates in the communes of Petion-ville, Port-au-Prince and Tabarre, brings together key institutions in the delivery of identity documents. According to the officials of the various entities concerned, these innovations are aimed at fighting corruption, reducing tthe influx at these services, and provide better service to citizens in dignity and respect. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20567-haiti-notice-new-addresses-of-oni-offices-metropolitan-area.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20110-haiti-politics-monitoring-of-the-process-of-passport-services-relocation.html HL/ S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : PNH dismantles a dangerous gang of criminals Monday, at a balance sheet press conference, Gary Desrosiers, the assistant spokesman of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) revealed that the PNH had dismantled a gang of dangerous criminals who operated in the metropolitan area, stating that the 13 members of this gang who were arrested were mainly ugitive from justice and a former police officer dismissed from the PNH. Gary Desrosiers said they are accused of multiple crimes including robberies, rape, armed attacks and murders. This gang is suspected of the assassination of the Spanish nun, Isabel Sola Macas, September 2, 2016 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18507-haiti-flash-a-nun-shot-dead-in-port-au-prince.html It would also be this gang who reportedly shot dead on February 10, Reynold Dauphin alias "Kamaz" the owner of "620 ans Band" a walking band very popular. Moreover, concerning the attack against the presidential motorcade at Arcahaie https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20605-haiti-flash-presidential-motorcade-attacked-moise-safe-and-sound.html he informed that 7 individuals had been arrested in a joint operation by agents of the PNH and Minustah specialized units. He also pointed out that Commissioner Junior Gracieux was no longer in charge of the Arcahaie police station and had been replaced by Commissioner Ader Jacques. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20605-haiti-flash-presidential-motorcade-attacked-moise-safe-and-sound.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18507-haiti-flash-a-nun-shot-dead-in-port-au-prince.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18527-haiti-religion-pope-francis-wants-that-violence-ceases-to-port-au-prince.html HL/ HaitiLibre By William Schwartz | Published on 2017/04/10 The two main conflicts this time are, for episode fifteen, the question of how to best spend vacation time, and for episode sixteen, the question of how to deal with incrementally chaotic financial situations. As is usually the case for "Strong Family", the conflicts are defined by their relatively minor scope. These are the sorts of issues normal families have to deal with on a regular basis, so the problems are quite easy to discuss. Advertisement Indeed, on further consideration, "Strong Family" is light on action and plotting and even jokes, at times, precisely because a lot of screentime is dedicated to just having the family discuss their predicaments with friends. And by friends, I mean that Cheon-il discusses them with his co-workers and Ra-yeon discusses them with her family. Cheon-il talks about family problems so much at work it took me way too long to realize that they work in the soju industry, of all things. Although really, what anyone's actual job is an office environment never really matters in most dramas, so there's no reason for it to matter here. Indeed, it allows the production team to put the focus on actual character relationships instead, which tend to be a lot more interesting. Static though Cheon-il may be when it comes to his co-workers, the constancy of those relationships is quite comforting in its own way, much as his wife is. I like how "Strong Family" never really tries to get into love so much as it does the proper maintenance of a happy household. Cheon-il constantly struggles with how much he willing to annoy his wife versus how far he is willing to go to make her happy. The fact that he talks about her with his co-workers is, if nothing else, a testament to how much he's always thinking about her. While Cheon-il is never really all that romantic, it's easy to appreciate how he makes an effort. And likewise, Ra-yeon is always there herself, ready to pitch in with whatever degrading solution she can think of in order to maintain that household. Note how her big climactic goofy scene in the sixteenth episode is prompted by Cheon-il's prompt text- because of course he wants to share the good news with her as soon as possible. I like how Cheon-il and Ra-yeon are always able to come to a proper understanding, even if the process is frequently a tad inconvenient. Review by William Schwartz "Strong Family" is directed by Choi Moon-seok, written by Jin Yeong and features Park Hyuk-kwon, Park Sun-young, Kim Ji-min, Uhm Hyo-sup, Park Hee-von, Kim Ki-ri and Lee Ho-won. By Vasia Orion | Published on 2017/04/10 The cat is out of the bag and now four leads get to engage in backstabbing pleasantries for episode five of "Whisper". Dong-joon is looking for allies in an effort to keep himself safe and conquer Taebaek. Il-hwan tries to help for his own revenge, but his pull is limited by his daughter's affiliations. Yeong-joo is pushed into a corner and makes some desperate decisions upon receiving bad news regarding her father's health. Advertisement The setup of "Whisper" dove into the main story pretty quickly and in order to keep the pace brisk and the happenings exciting, we are dealing with a cast of characters who simply do not take breaks or contemplate for long. The series has episodes to fill, however, so we are in for a lot of situations where everyone almost reaches their goals before being foiled. I hope that those will remain exciting throughout. There are interesting dynamics here, because while everyone aside from Yeong-joo (Lee Bo-young) and her family are willing to do everything in order to get or protect what they want, there are characters around who can keep everyone on their toes as their allegiances shift. Il-hwan (Kim Kap-soo) is such a character, because his thirst for revenge with Dong-joon (Lee Sang-yoon) as his tool is as big as his weakness for his daughter. I hope the story will continue to give power to Dong-joon, because as nasty as he is, he is also the only one who is in any position to bring Taebaek as it currently stands down. Jeong-il (Kwon Yul) has his father and a wide network behind him, but Dong-joon's days as a supposed beacon of impartiality leave him with only enemies. Il-hwan will not help him forever and neither will Song Tae-gon (Kim Hyung-mook), if he feels threatened. As for Yeong-joo, I am glad that her morality is being tested and I am glad that Dong-joon picks up on it. The scene where she sees herself in mourning as he once saw himself incarcerated is very impactful. I am not convinced of his little epiphany, however. I know the series wants to sell a deeper connection, but I wish Dong-joon's softening were more gradual and convincing. Speaking of the pair, the ending kiss is a hard one to stomach and not just because of the contrived escape causing it. I suppose a relationship baptized with betrayal and rape continuing with kiss-gagging is consistent, but I worry about where this is going. I can see it working as long as it is treated honestly, but this is Korean drama and so I will not hold my breath. "Whisper" is directed by Lee Myeong-woo, written by Park Kyeong-soo and features Lee Bo-young, Lee Sang-yoon, Kwon Yul and Park Se-young. Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings' Watch on Viki Note: Due to licensing, videos may not be available in your country Published on 2017/04/10 | Source The late actress Kim Young-ae entered her casket on the 10th amidst her beloved family and friends. Advertisement The actress passed away on the 9th at a hospital in Seoul. She was suffering from pancreatic cancer which she was diagnosed with in 2012. She thought she'd recovered after surgery but the illness recurred last year. Fellow actors and fans paid their respects to her at her funeral. Shin Goo, Na Moon-hee, Kim Hye-ja, Yeon Kyu-jin, Lee Dong-gun, Jo Yoon-hee, Ra Mi-ran, Oh Hyun-kyung, Hyun Woo, Choi Kang-hee, Cho Jin-woong, Cho Seong-ha, Kim Won-hae and others are some of the celebrities that were at her funeral. The casket will be buried in Bundang Memorial Park. Meanwhile, Kim Young-ae debuted in 1971 and started acting. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012 during "The Moon Embracing the Sun" but had surgery and starred in more dramas and movies. The KBS 2TV drama "The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop" became her last drama. Top Dems Attack Gabbard After She Fails to Blame Assad for Gas Attack by Charles Fain Lehman, Washington Free Beacon, April 10, 2017 (excerpt) Top Democrats are calling for the replacement of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D., Hawaii) after she refused on Friday to blame Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad for the chemical weapons attack in Syria that killed at least 100 Syrian civilians last week. Gabbard said during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Friday that she was "skeptical" Assad was responsible for the chemical weapons attack on Syrian citizens, CNN reported. Gabbard said the U.S. should not be "sending American tax payer dollars on these failed regime change wars." Gabbard's comments received instant back fire. Neera Tanden, a close confidante of Hillary Clinton and president of the Center for American Progress, took to Twitter on Friday to urge Hawaiians to vote Gabbard out of Congress, writing, "People of Hawaii's 2nd district was it not enough for you that your rep met with a murderous dictator? Will this move you?" Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean also castigated Gabbard on Twitter Saturday, calling the Hawaii representative's comments "a disgrace," and that she "should not be in Congress." Dean also compared Gabbard to President Donald Trump, writing, "she sounds like Trump making excuses." Gabbard was also unwilling to blame Assad for the 400,000 deaths in during Syria's civil war, instead saying, "there are a number of ways that you can point the finger, Wolf. I am interested in finding the solution." Gabbard further told Blitzer that she was worried about a possible nuclear war with Russia. On Thursday, Gabbard published a press release insisting that an investigation into who was responsible for the attack was still needed. read Attack Gabbard Background: Full Text: Arab Newspaper Describes Trump Role in Gabbard Syria Trip 2012 Flashback: To Stop Mufi, Mrs Abercrombie Joins the Chris Butler Cult This website uses cookies primarily for visitor analytics. Certain pages will ask you to fill in contact details to receive additional information. On these pages you have the option of having the site log your details for future visits. Indicating you want the site to remember your details will place a cookie on your device. To view our full cookie policy, please click here. You can also view it at any time by going to our Contact Us page. What is your current role and what brought you into it? Im the Human Resources Director for CocaCola South Pacific and Ive been here for 18 months. I was introduced to my boss, Roberto Mercade, Business Unit President of Coca Cola South Pacific, by Alison Watkins, Group Managing Director at Coca-Cola Amatil, our bottling partner. I had worked with Alison at GrainCorp and I saw going to work for one of the worlds most recognisable and valuable brands as a great opportunity. The Coca-Cola brand has been around for more than 130 years since our humble beginnings in a pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. Our beginnings in Australia more than 80 years ago are no less humble, from a warehouse in Woolloomooloo and a handful of trucks delivering in the Sydney area. Today, the Coca-Cola Company serves more than 1.9 billion drinks a day around the world, and 94% of all people on the planet recognise our red and while logo. Were obviously doing some amazing things with our brands, but I also learnt that were doing a lot of work on our products. This includes addressing peoples concerns around sugar by changing recipes and our packaging. While we celebrate our heritage and flagship product in our company name, we have more than 500 brands around the planet and we are truly a total beverage company producing what we like to call, Beverages for Life. It was that commitment to doing the right thing that sealed the deal for me. What are some of your current HR challenges? We are focused on continuing to develop a people strategy that enables our business to grow in a developed market and where consumer tastes are changing. Sustained growth in a mature business is really hard work. This means our business and our people need to be agile and focused on the work that matters most to execute our business strategy. To help achieve this, we have just launched our new Performance Management Practice Performance Enablement. With Performance Enablement we have eliminated the annual and mid- year performance conversations, we have eliminated end of year ratings and our people managers are no longer required to spend time on lengthy forms and system administration. Instead, our people will have much more frequent and personal contact with their manager there is a lot more feedback in the moment and at monthly catch ups, knowing where you stand at all times and no end of year surprises. There is also increased clarity on why the work you are doing matters and how it impacts the business. There is better time management thanks to knowing how to prioritise and deprioritise in line with the business strategy. What is the favourite part of your job? Working on important initiatives that can directly impact on the success of an organisation and ensuring that our people strategy supports the overall business strategy and drives results for the business. I know its something of a cliche, but in a company focussed on marketing and services our people really are our greatest asset. Its a hugely competitive market for the kinds of skills we use, so I also like solving problems and coming up with innovative solutions to ensure that we attract, retain and engage the best talent. What attracted you to a career in HR? HR as a career was something that I fell into. I was a lawyer working in a consultancy firm that provided HR/ IR and advocacy to clients. One of my clients asked to second me into a HR Manager role and I realised that my legal background provided great grounding for a career in HR. I really liked that HR allows you to build great talent, reward and recognise people and drive performance through engagement and world class best practice. I found it more rewarding than the law and I havent looked back. Whats one piece of HR related advice you would offer? Really take time to understand the strategy and the commercial drivers of the business and ensure that your HR Strategy is in service to that. Take the time to understand the numbers, use data to help you drive your strategy and contribute to the broader commercial agenda. What hobbies and interests do you have outside of HR? I have a 13-year-old son who is a fairly competitive rower, so in summer there are a lot of early morning starts for training and regattas. That also burns a lot of energy, so I spend a lot of time cooking to feed him to keep the fuel up. Apart from that, I love reading and listen to music. I try to run try being the emphasis. Moreover, in 2009, I was appointed to a role working on a large merger and acquisition in Ghana in West Africa for one year. It was a fantastic opportunity for myself and my family to work and live in a third world country. Please complete this sentence: If you werent working in HR, you would be working as a lawyer Seven West Media has announced the appointment of Katie McGrath as group executive of human resources. McGrath joins Seven from Enero Group, where she has been global HR director for the last seven years. Sevens former HR head Melanie Allibon left the company in December 2016, shortly after the two-year affair between former executive assistant Amber Harrison and CEO Tim Worner was made public. Allibon played a prominent role in the efforts to negotiate Harrison out of the organisation after executive chairman Kerry Stokes was told about Harrisons affair with Worner. Moreover, Allibon conducted a number of meetings with her about the affair, according to a claim filed by Harrison to the Human Rights Commission. She was also involved in the formation of a confidential deed designed to silence Harrison about the scandal. Before working at Enero, McGrath was national head of staffing for Bain & Company and has held senior HR roles for two decades. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW and a Post Graduate degree in Psychology from the University of Sydney. Speaking about her appointment, Worner said: Katie has an exceptional track record in all aspects of people strategy and leadership. She will lead the development of the most valuable resource we have at Seven West Media, our people. McGrath will lead HR across Sevens businesses, including the Seven Network, Pacific Magazines, the companys expanding portfolio of digital businesses and ventures, and Seven West Media WA which comprises The West Australian and The Sunday Times. (Reuters) BHP Billiton on Monday rejected a plan by activist shareholder Elliott Advisors to scrap the miners dual company structure, split off its oil business and return more cash to investors, saying the costs would outweigh any benefits. Elliott outlined the proposals in a letter to directors at BHP, adding the worlds biggest miner to a string of firms where it has lobbied for action to boost shareholder returns, including Samsung Electronics, Akzo Nobel and SABMiller. To read this article: MP Talk gives members of parliament the opportunity to share their views on Finnish society with an international audience. The opinions expressed in this column are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Helsinki Times. Finland is more connected with the rest of the world than ever before. What happens today in the Mediterranean Sea will affect what happens at the Finnish borders, and the results will be seen in your local town. At times I see confusion and misunderstandings when international relations of Finland are being discussed. Some people think that there are two opposite sides competing in Finnish societal life: one side that wants Finland to interact with the rest of the world, and another that wants Finland to live in isolation. However, this is far from the truth. As a Member of the Parliament of Finland, I have seen that all political parties want Finland to have active international relations and knowledge about foreign cultures. The question is how to do this and who should benefit. Europe started undergoing unprecedented migration from Africa and the Middle East one and a half years ago. Most of this migration is due to the difference in living standards between Europe and these areas. Finland, along with several other European countries, was seen as an attractive destination for migrants that lack the necessary skills for employment and the will to adopt local habits and values. Some people welcome this mass migration movement with joy and say that it brings tolerance to Finland. Unfortunately, whitepaper statistics show that mass migration has brought criminality and huge tax money losses to Finland. Becoming an international country can be done in a sustainable and healthy way, or in a destructive and impoverishing way. I appreciate the unique diversity of humankind and I am pleased that there are so many different cultures co-existing on this planet. I see the cultures of the world as a palette where each one is beautiful in its own way, but if you mix them all together you lose the diversity and end up with something of a mess. That is why I have notoriously criticized those parties that want open borders. In the past two years I have dedicated some of my time towards developing economic connections between Finland and Asian countries. I enjoy traveling, seeing new places and learning languages. I was an exchange student in Thailand in my younger years. These are examples of the ways that I would like to see countries and cultures connect with each other. There is no contradiction between a nationalistic mindset and international actions. This is also the general viewpoint of the Finns Party that I represent. Good relations with the outside world can help any country to achieve its own goals. When each nation takes care of itself, without violating the peace and resources of other nations, we can achieve a more stable and prosperous world. Ville Tavio is a Member of Parliament for the Finns Party. Born in 1984, Ville lives in Turku and is Chairman of the National Railroad Supervisory Board. Ville is a lawyer by training and founded his own law firm soon after graduating from the University of Turku. The Pirate Party won its first two seats in the municipal elections held on Sunday, after coming up empty-handed in the first three elections organised after its foundation in 2008. The Pirate Party of Finland is finally beginning to reap the fruits of its long-standing efforts to establish itself in the political arena, rejoices Tiina Malinen, a deputy chairperson of the partys district organisation in Pirkanmaa. Arto Lampila won a seat on the Jyvaskyla City Council with a tally of 147 votes and Petrus Pennanen a seat on the Helsinki City Council with a tally of 1,048 votes. Both Lampila and Pennanen are deputy chairpersons of the Pirate Party of Finland. They did not do it alone, but we are thankful for the breakthrough to our numerous supporters and active members across the country, Malinen writes in a blog on Puheenvuoro. Malinen also expresses her delight with both the political breakthrough of another fledgling party, the Feminist Party, and the losses suffered by each of the four largest parties in Finland the Centre Party, the National Coalition, the Finns Party and the Social Democrats. I am particularly pleased to see support for all of the four largest parties decline and 44 per cent of council seats being re-distributed, she said. The Feminist Partys Katju Aro won a seat on the Helsinki City Council with a vote tally of 1,542. Malinen estimates that the winners of the elections, the Green League and the Left Alliance, are both youthful parties capable of constructive co-operation with the Pirate Party of Finland. The election results on the whole seem to signal a power shift, perhaps not an immediate one but one in a positive direction, she says. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Emmi Korhonen Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi KEEPING calm and carrying on is the order of the day at Parliament following last months terror attack, according to John Howell. The Henley MP and scores of his colleagues were locked inside the House of Commons for almost five hours after the incident, which left four bystanders dead and more than 50 others injured. Despite the prevailing mood of shock and revulsion, Mr Howell says getting back to business at Parliament is important as it shows Britain will not let terrorism affect day-to-day life. At 2.40pm on March 22, Khalid Masood mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge while driving a rented Hyundai 4x4. He ploughed through a crowd of pedestrians at over 70mph, mowing many down and forcing others to leap off the bridge into the River Thames. The 52-year-old British citizen, who had a violent criminal record and had served time in prison, then crashed into the railings surrounding the Palace of Westminster. He ran through the main gates and stabbed unarmed police officer Keith Palmer with a knife before being shot dead by armed police. Paramedics and passers-by, including foreign minister Tobias Ellwood, fought to resuscitate Pc Palmer but he died at the scene. Two British nationals and an American tourist were killed on the bridge while a dozen of the remaining victims are said to have suffered catastrophic injuries. The Metropolitan Police is treating it as a terrorist attack. Investigators believe Masood, who was born Adrian Elms and changed his name after converting to Islam in 2005, acted alone but may have been inspired by the online propaganda of radical Islamist group ISIS. Mr Howell and about 100 other MPs had been voting on a series of amendments to the Pensions Bill when Lindsay Hoyle, the Deputy Speaker, announced at 2.45pm that proceedings were suspended. At this stage, they were only told that a serious incident had occurred. A few minutes later, the House was adjourned for the day but members were told to wait inside. The chamber was then locked by police, which is standard procedure in an emergency. About 1,000 members of staff, official visitors and members of the public were shut in other parts of the building or moved to Westminster Abbey. Prime Minister Theresa May was rushed to a waiting car by police and driven to safety. Mr Howell recalled: It all happened pretty quickly. The Deputy Speaker came in four or five more times in quick succession to give us updates, which many of us were already gathering from our mobile phones. We hadnt heard a thing because you cant once youre inside, but as time went on we gradually found out what had happened and just how serious it was. The first reaction was of horror and almost disbelief I say almost because were under high security all the time and under the full expectation that a terrorist attack will happen as we are a prime target. There was, of course, also great sadness at learning a police officer had been killed. I was impressed by how quickly the building had gone into lockdown within minutes of it occurring. The efficiency of the whole operation was just exemplary. Armed police were everywhere because at that stage nobody knew just what we were facing. They didnt know if the attack was a distraction for something bigger, or whether there were other attackers or even a bomb in the building. The atmosphere inside was quite good it was very cordial. Faced with a common threat, MPs behaved very calmly and patiently. We all chatted with one another and not necessarily just with those on the same side of the chamber. In view of what was going on and our inability to help, that was all we could do. Fortunately, the division lobbies were open so we still had access to toilets and water but we had been warned that we would be there for some time until the building had been swept and confirmed as safe. The police reported back to the Speaker and the Leader of the House periodically to tell them what was going on and at one point they brought a few snacks in as it was getting late and we hadnt eaten in a while. Members were finally allowed to leave at about 7.30pm, at which point Mr Howell briefly returned to his office at Portcullis House, which is across the road, before retiring to his flat nearby. The next morning, the Commons was full of members in a show of solidarity and defiance. The Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Speakers chaplain, read Psalm 23 while Mrs May condemned the depraved attack, offering prayers to the victims and promising that Britain would never allow the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart. Both were greeted with enthusiastic applause. Mr Howell said: It was one of the most moving experiences Ive ever had in the House. It summed up so perfectly what we were all thinking. We then resumed as normal as soon as we could in order to show we were back in business. Questions were put to the relevant ministers as usual and life carried on. It is important that this remains an open place. Members of the public have an access right and under no circumstances should that be curtailed. To be perfectly frank, it shows that no terrorist attack is going to disrupt our democracy and the way we go about things. Mr Howell did not know Pc Palmer personally but said he was a familiar face to everyone and would be greatly missed. The officers funeral will take place at Southwark Cathedral but the night beforehand his body will lay in rest at Parliaments St Marys Undercroft, where Margaret Thatcher lay before her burial in 2013. Mr Howell said: It is a fitting tribute to a loyal and valued Parliamentary servant. We all knew him from entering the palace and exchanging greetings on the way in. It made the attack feel that much more personal as he really was one of us. Meanwhile Mr Ellwood, a former Army infantry captain, is to be appointed to Her Majestys Privy Council for his intervention. Mr Howell said: I have spoken to Mr Ellwood and I think the whole House has expressed its feeling that he was a real hero for what he did. He was in the right place at the right time but the fact that he stepped in speaks volumes about the sort of man he is. He is very quiet but throughly competent and it is entirely appropriate that he be made a Privy Counsellor. Of course, all of the emergency services deserve to be praised for acting so quickly and so professionally. Although the Palace is patrolled by armed guards, both inside and out, Mr Howell said security had not noticeably increased since the attack. The building remains accessible to tour groups, who undergo airport-style security checks before they are let in, while the vehicle gates Masood entered are open as usual. The police officers at the gates wear knife-proof jackets but still do not carry weapons, although colleagues carrying sub-machine guns are on hand nearby. Mr Howell said: Without wishing to be crass, the system worked very well. The perpetrator was shot and its a tribute to the civility of all concerned that he was treated in the same way as his victim. There is a system of barriers and he did not get very far before he was stopped. It would not be practical to close the gates because of the number of vehicles that come and go every day. While there are doubtless lessons to be learned, this place is not exactly short of armed police officers. Members feel very safe here if anything, the biggest issue is the danger they face outside Parliament, as we saw with the murder of Jo Cox. In fact, a tremendous amount of effort is going into making sure that MPs have the best possible protection at their homes. Hundreds of floral tributes have been laid in Parliament Square along with candles, cards and messages of condolence. They include placards calling for peace between the different cultures living in Britain. Mr Howell said: In terms of reducing the risk of things like this, I think we have to reduce tensions and the amount of hate crime, which means working on all sides of the cultural divide. I know that might be an unpopular message but I deplore all hate crime and feel it fosters the kind of activity that a terrorist is likely to take to. I would stress that Im not blaming hate crime for terrorism, which would be completely wrong, but it creates the kind of conditions that help it to thrive. Laura Hilliard has not yet indicated how she will plead A pub-goer assaulted another woman by dragging her by the hair after an argument turned violent, a court heard. Laura Hilliard (29) was allegedly left holding a large clump of the victim's hair following the assault. A court heard Hilliard ref-used to let go of the injured party's hair and that the alleged assault was captured on CCTV cameras. Judge David McHugh accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case at district court level. He adjourned the matter to a date next month to allow Ms Hilliard to go through the evidence with her legal representatives. The accused, of St Brigid's Park, Blanchardstown, app-eared before Blanchardstown District Court charged with seriously assaulting another woman. The assault is alleged to have taken place at The Grey- hound pub on Main Street, Blanchardstown village, last August 21. The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed summary trial of the case in the district court where the penalties on conviction are less serious than in the circuit court. Dragged Outlining the allegation for jurisdiction purposes, Gda Sgt Maria Callaghan said it will be alleged that there was an altercation between the victim and Ms Hilliard. Sgt Callaghan said it will be alleged that Ms Hilliard then grabbed the victim and dragged her by the hair. She also alleged that Ms Hilliard would not let go of the victim's hair. The sergeant further claimed that Ms Hilliard pulled a large clump of hair from the victim's head. Sgt Callaghan said there was no medical report before the court because the alleged victim did not suffer any other injuries and did not require medical attention. The sergeant also said that the alleged assault was captured on CCTV cameras. Defence solicitor Valerie Buckley requested a copy of any statements in relation to the allegation, as well as the CCTV footage. Ms Hilliard has not yet indicated how she is pleading to the charge. Gardai in Tolka Valley Park, the scene of the grim discovery The torso of a convicted rapist, who was murdered almost seven years ago, has been found by gardai searching in a north Dublin park. The grim discovery of the remains of James Nolan was made at an embankment in Tolka Valley Park in Finglas shortly before 2pm yesterday. The shocking case of Nolan's murder first came to public prominence when his arm washed up on Dollymount Strand in 2011. Gardai have been searching at the Finglas location since the morning of April 1 and will continue looking for more of the murdered rapist's remains. Yesterday's discovery was made by officers who were working with machinery and specially trained dogs. "The torso was reasonably well buried in the embankment but not buried that deeply," a senior source said last night. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy is due to carry out a post-mortem on the remains this morning. The Herald first revealed in December that gardai had planned to carry out a dig in the north Dublin park because of details left in a 21-page suicide letter written by Nolan's killer and sent to family members. Sources say that yesterday's discovery was made at almost exactly the same location described in the lengthy letter. The letter states that Nolan was strangled by his killer in Glasnevin Cemetery. His body was then taken to an address in north Dublin and cut into pieces. The killer then disposed of most of Nolan's body parts in Co Monaghan and at Tolka Valley Park. Gardai have been involved in a detailed search of the park for more than a week. Specialist equipment and a cadaver dog are being used to support the search. It is understood that Nolan's severed arm, which was found washed up at Dollymount Strand, had been originally thrown into the Tolka River and then washed out to sea. Detectives are working on the theory that, after being strangled to death by the man - who was known to him - his body was dismembered, he was decapitated and his fingers were even cut off. The inquest into Nolan's death, which was held in February 2015, heard that his arm was found by a man walking his dog on February 8, 2011. It heard from Dr Cassidy, who said that Nolan's arm was "cleanly" severed post-death using a very sharp knife, and tattoos had been cut from the skin. Nolan was last seen collecting methadone from the Wellmount Clinic in Finglas on November 30, 2010. Killer He had been missing since shortly after being released from Portlaoise Prison, having served a three-year sentence for burglary in Booterstown, south Dublin, in 2005. In 1986 he was jailed for 14 years after he was convicted of rape and false imprisonment. The 1986 rape attack is considered one of the most savage to have ever happened in Ireland. The victim was brutally attacked in front of her partner. Sources say that the rape incident is being probed as a possible motive for Nolan's gruesome murder, even though his suspected killer was not present on the night. However, other motives have also been probed, including a cash row Nolan was involved in. The Garda Water Unit will dive at Blackrock island to search for missing crewmen A large-scale search operation along the west coast has been unable to locate the two missing Rescue 116 crewmen, but senior investigators said further efforts are being made to find them. One of Ireland's biggest maritime searches was carried out over the weekend, with more than 100 fishing vessels involved in the rescue operation. However, recovery teams were unable to find missing winch operator Ciaran Smith (38) and winch man Paul Ormsby (53) following extensive searches from Blacksod, Co Mayo, to Killybegs, Co Donegal. Scans The crewmen have been missing since their Sikorsky S-92 aircraft crashed 12km off the Mayo coast in the early hours of March 14. Supt Tony Healy said searches for the two men will continue, with divers from the Garda Water Unit expected to carry out examinations near Blackrock island once sea conditions improve. "Shoreline searches and surface searches will continue," said Supt Healy. "The sea search along the west coast has finished and now we're hoping to carry out more underwater scans in some areas when conditions improve." Some of the volunteers spoke out after they were told to pay motorway tolls as they returned from the search site. Michael Hickey, a spokesman with Carrick River Rescue, said his voluntary organisation is dedicated to finding the men, but they do not believe they should be charged the M7 tolls. "We raise our own funds, we have a second-hand shop in Carrick-on-Suir and the girls running it are voluntary too - nobody in our organisation gets one cent for what they do, nobody gets paid," he said. "They do it because they want to do it and they want to help families in trouble." The family of Ciaran Smith have called on local fishermen with intimate knowledge of the seas in the search area to help bring their loved one and his colleague home. Gerard O'Flynn, operations manager with the Irish Coast Guard, has thanked all organ- isations involved for their unstinting support over the past four weeks. He paid special thanks to coast guard, RNLI and Civil Defence volunteers and Defence Forces, including naval divers, ships and Air Corps. He added that the operation highlighted the value of inter- agency co-operation. A former bridal store owner has been given a 12-month suspended jail sentence after admitting stealing dress payments from brides-to-be. At her sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court, gardai accepted that Shirley Flanagan, the proprietor of Robelle Bridal, Annacotty, "did not intend to con" the women. Her barrister said she found herself in financial difficulties and in the throes of depression following the death of her young son in April 2011. Flanagan (36), of Rathuard, Donoughmore, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft totalling 3,600 on dates between January and May 2015. Gda Sean O'Regan told the court that gardai received a formal complaint from one of the shop's customers on May 7, 2015. A number of women had paid Flanagan cash for designer dresses. In some cases the women were given other dresses, while in other cases they did not receive any dress at all. The mother of one customer paid Flanagan 1,800 for a David Fielden dress, but never received it. In other cases, women gave Flanagan deposits for dresses designed by Kenneth Winston and Justin Alexander, but did not receive them. Orders Gardai were alerted to the thefts after the matter was highlighted on social media sites. They found no orders had been placed with suppliers, despite Flanagan receiving money. The court heard Flanagan had been severely traumatised by the death of her child. Gda O'Regan said the defendant had not "set out to con people" and was trying "to make a go" of the boutique business. Cathal McGreal, defending Flanagan, said she had set up the business as a "distraction" from her grief. Gda O'Regan told Mr McGreal: "Things ran away with her, she took risks." Flanagan co-operated with gardai and none of the weddings were cancelled as a result of her actions. In 2013, Flanagan pleaded guilty at Limerick District Court to five counts of deception and two counts of knowingly using a false insurance document. She admitted, dishonestly and by deception, inducing five men who worked in her father's taxi firm to give her a total of 4,400 on the pretence they would be issued with a valid motor insurance policy. Flanagan, who was a trainee teacher at the time, said she committed the fraud to pay her mortgage arrears. The court heard she later lost her home due to her not being able to meet repayments. Judge David McHugh imposed a two-month sentence but suspended it for 12 months. He also ordered Barr off the road for four years. (Stock picture) A young man caught behind the wheel a month after he received a two-year driving ban had just split from his girlfriend, a court heard. Jonathon Barr (20) was "not in a good place mentally" at the time he was stopped by gardai, his solicitor claimed. Judge David McHugh imposed a two-month sentence but suspended it for 12 months. He also ordered Barr off the road for four years. The defendant, of St Finian's Grove, Lucan, admitted before Blanch- ardstown District Court to driving without insurance or a licence. The incident happened at Blanchardstown Road South on January 10. Support The court heard that Barr has a previous no-insurance conviction. Defence solicitor Liam Cadogan said father-of-one Barr was not in a good place at the time of the incident, following the break-up of a serious relationship last December. He said it had had a serious and negative impact on the defendant, and he has been on antidepressants. The solicitor said Barr, who is unemployed, is living at home with his mother and stepfather and they have been a "tremendous support" to him. Mr Cadogan asked Judge McHugh not to send Barr to jail, saying that "custody wouldn't suit him". Election Day 2022 live updates: NH Gov says Trump announcement poor timing Officials are urging patience as ballots are cast in the first national election since 2020. Live election updates. CARSON CITY Justice Lidia S. Stiglich announced Monday the Nevada Supreme Court will celebrate 2017 Law Day with an essay contest focused on the importance of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The 14th Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868, and serves as the cornerstone of landmark civil rights legislation, the foundation for numerous federal court decisions protecting fundamental rights, and a source of inspiration for all those who advocate for equal justice under law. High school students may submit 300-word essays focused on the question: How has the 14th Amendment shaped American society? I am proud to sponsor this contest. We all learn when students share their perspectives about justice and equality, Stiglich said. To enter students should type the essay and email it by 5 p.m. on April 28. Email responses to lawdaylive@nvcourts.nv.gov. Entrants must be a high school student in Elko County and they must list their age, school and class level. The age and class level will be considered in the judging. Judges will award points for thoughtfulness, creativity, knowledge, and writing skills. Essays will be judged by the Nevada Supreme Court and are due by 5 p.m. on April 28. Winners will be announced the week of May 8. First place winner will receive $100, a tour of the Nevada Supreme Court, lunch with Stiglich, a signed certificate from Chief Justice Michael A. Cherry, and the essay will be published in the Elko Daily Free Press. The second and third place winners will receive $50 and a signed certificate from Cherry. The Law Day Essay Contest, a part of nationwide Law Day events sponsored by the American Bar Association, marks a commitment by the Nevada Supreme Court to the rule of law by exposing students to the judicial branch of government. LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) Cash is a different sort of hunting dog. Hes on the hunt for poachers and endangered species, using his specially trained nose to help Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Manager Brock McArdle. One of two nationally certified wildlife law enforcement dogs on the beat with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Cash is part of a pilot program to show how dogs can help sniff out poachers, evidence and the territory of certain species of concern. Hes got a good nose, said McArdle, who is assigned to the Red Feather District in northern Larimer County. Dogs as wildlife officers are not as widespread as canine cops on a traditional law enforcement beat, but they are working in the natural resources capacity in more than 24 states, including Kansas, Indiana, Idaho and California. The Colorado pilot program started with one dog, Sci, in the Colorado Springs area within the last year, and Cash joined McArdle in Larimer County earlier this year. Its gaining steam, said McArdle. The whole purpose of this pilot program is to show the benefits of these dogs. So far, the pilot program is completely funded by donations and grants. Bear Point Kennels donated Cash, and his $8,000 in equipment and training were covered by a series of grants from Great Outdoors Colorado, the Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Big Horn Society, Colorado Bowhunters Association, Northern Colorado Pheasants Forever and Operation Game Thief. Also, an internet donation site is set up to help pay for food and medical expenses for both Cash and Sci, anticipated to be about $1,500 per year per dog. Cash is trained to sniff out the scents of 11 commonly hunted species including moose, deer, waterfowl and pronghorn. This skill will help McArdle and other officers find evidence and traces of illegally killed animals during poaching investigations. Cash could help lead officers to evidence, or during checkpoints held in hunting season, he could provide officers with probable cause to search a vehicle. This particular dog, too, is trained to smell the black-footed ferret and the boreal toad, which are species of concern in Colorado. He can help biologists in the field as they survey locations to see how these species are faring in their habitat or in areas they have been introduced. Cashs nose can pinpoint where biologists should look, replacing teams of people simply following a grid in hopes of spotting a species. So this black Labrador, who is about a year old, is part criminalist, part scientist and part ambassador. McArdle will take him into the community for presentations with children and other groups to spread education and awareness about wildlife and the importance of stewardship. Though hes been on the job for only a short time, Cash has already made an appearance at a youth hunting event. Cash, too, may serve as a deterrent to poachers and other criminals, McArdle added. Cash is nationally certified, so he can work in any state, and though the team is based in Northern Colorado, McArdle anticipates helping out when needed statewide and maybe even north into Wyoming. He hopes that as Cash and Sci (who is dually trained as a wildlife dog as well as a traditional law enforcement dog who can help with arrests) show their skills, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will grow the program. But for now, the two will remain on the beat, helping with the protection and management of wildlife. And the hope is that Cash, like his namesake, may leave a legacy. Hes the dog in black, said McArdle. You know, like Johnny Cash, the man in black. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) A Utah committee overseeing the construction of shelters for the homeless approved a new shelter in South Salt Lake City on Monday despite protests from the citys mayor and residents that it would hurt their community. The State Homeless Coordinating Committee approved the location, which sits in a vacant lot in South Salt Lake near the countys jail. The site was recommended by Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, who was assigned by the state with finding a third shelter, in addition to two sites in Salt Lake City. The three homeless resource centers are part of a plan to replace an overcrowded shelter in downtown Salt Lake City that officials hope to close in 2019. Though the committee approved the South Salt Lake location, it must still sign off on a more detailed plan sometime in the months ahead that will lay out the designs and operations for the shelters. South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood told the panel that the shelter would hamper economic development, a parkway and neighborhoods in her city. South Salt Lake already shoulders a disproportionate amount of county facilities, including several jails and juvenile treatment centers, she said. Wood also said the location in her city isnt ideal for the homeless because its about a 45 minute bus and light rail ride from other homeless services in downtown Salt Lake City. We deserve more and the homeless deserve more, Wood said. Cindy Jones, a South Salt Lake resident, agreed with the mayor and asked for officials to pick another location. We are not saying not in my backyard, Wood said. What we are saying to you, is our backyard is full. McAdams settled on South Salt Lake after looking at more than 20 locations, including two locations much farther south of Salt Lake City in suburban Draper that resulted in a contentious hearing in which residents booed a homeless man who pleaded for understanding and threatened to impeach that citys mayor, who offered up his city for a shelter. The South Salt Lake site, near the Salt Lake County Jail and Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, is owned by a nonprofit organization. That means the city collects no property taxes on the land, so the city would not face a loss in taxable property if a homeless shelter is put up, McAdams said. McAdams said he would lobby for the county council to open a new library in South Salt Lake if it gets the shelter, plus additional open space and transportation investments. State lawmakers have set aside about $20 million over the past two years to pay for two new 200-bed homeless centers in Salt Lake City and this third one in Salt Lake County that could have up to 300 beds. Salt Lake City originally planned to add four homeless centers, but officials announced earlier this year that only two would be built there. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ The four-day state visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set a new benchmark and is a reassurance of the friendship between India and Bangladesh. Hasina was in India from April 7 to April 10 following an invitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was given a warm welcome, and in a rare gesture, which also suggests the importance of Bangladesh to India, Modi received her at the airport. It was her first bilateral visit in seven years and the last one before Bangladesh goes to parliamentary polls in 2018. The visit gained publicity because of the Teesta agreement. A water-sharing agreement on Teesta is pending since 2011 due to the objection by the West Bengal government. This has been a major point of contention between the two countries. The Opposition in Bangladesh was critical of the visit because Hasina has not been able to strike a deal on Teesta with India. However, leaders from both countries, especially Hasina, are worthy of appreciation for showing pragmatism and not letting the relationship to be held hostage because of this. The non-signing of a Teesta accord is a disappointment. There is recognition in India about the sensitivities attached to Teesta in Bangladesh and Modi has mentioned to resolve it. To continue with the spirit of neighbourly relationship, resolution of the Teesta agreement will be desired. But should Teesta be the only parameter for judging the visit? Besides, meeting Modi, she also met top leaders, including President Pranab Mukherjee, vice president Hamid Ansari and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. These meetings showcased the warmth between the two countries, and the desire to widen the horizon of cooperation. The joint statement issued during the visit gave account of the issues discussed and stressed on the values that would lead the future cooperation which could well be analysed from the headlines that divided the various sections. For example working together to create a secure environment, building bridges to optimise people to people contact, trade and investment promotion for shared prosperity, friends at home partners in the region and the world. Indicating Indias overall goal of creating a prosperous neighbourhood where Bangladesh as a key partner. The immediate outcome of the visit was the 22 agreements in various areas, including defence cooperation, civil nuclear cooperation, cyber security, power cooperation, skill development, developmental cooperation, etc. These agreements signify a keen desire to learn and share experiences and expertise. Many of these agreements will not only help in securing the region but also will improve trade and connectivity, and, in the long run, promote economic well-being for all. India offering to construct 35 community clinics in Bangladesh speaks of the ideal of shared growth and well-being of the region. Most significant is India offering a $4.5 billion line of credit, additional to $2 billion, to Bangladesh for various development projects. This line of credit will be beneficial both for India and Bangladesh as it will help to improve connectivity in the Northeast. Again, the visit shed the scepticism in the bilateral ties especially after Bangladesh bought two submarines from China many had expressed reservation about it. India also did not raise issues that might have disrupted the bonhomie. Some expressed displeasure over New Delhi not raising issues like illegal migration or atrocities on minorities in the Bangladesh. India-Bangladesh ties are on a new trajectory. To continue this momentum the two have to address each others concern and deliver the promises made. Joyeeta Bhattacharjee is fellow, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi The views expressed are personal In the urban milieu, a 1-BHK is the bare minimum a family should have, in terms of shelter. And that unit includes bathroom space, however, small. In fact, the government is working to ensure this through multiple schemes of housing for the poor. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), rural families that have access to homes are being motivated to build toilets and use them. Within this gambit, the one aspect that has not received enough attention is private bathing spaces within homes. This is especially a concern from the point of view of women. The 2011 Census reveals that only 25.4% households in rural India have bathrooms compared to the 19.7% who do not have a roof over their heads. The balance 55% has no private bathing space at all, forcing women to bathe in the open. When we study sanitation and hygiene practices, and the health of women in terms of extra workload, we find that 17% women in the rural areas must walk more than half a kilometre to get water from ponds, lakes or rivers for their families and cattle. With so much time and energy spent to get water for basic functions, fetching it for bathing seems like an arduous task. As a result, most women end up bathing at the water source. The situation is worse in areas of Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha that are drought-prone or face perennial water shortages. Through our community engagement in these states we realised the multi-faceted problem of bathing in the open. First, hygiene is compromised because when bathing in the open, women end up bathing with their clothes on. Second, the source of bathing water is the same as that for washing clothes, utensils and drinking water resulting in infections and further contamination of the water source. Third, bathing in water bodies have their own dangers in the form of water snakes, quicksand, cattle waste and garbage. Fourth, women become victims of eve teasing and lewd comments. Even though some communities have ensured strict dedicated times of the day for women to bathe in public places and are strict about men being spotted around those areas, this is not the case in a majority of communities and does not lessen the need for privacy for women. During summers, some women carry a bar of soap when they go to work in the fields or to the market. If they find a water body, tap or well, they manage a bath. Some women bathe in groups and catch up on community gossip or share their lives tales during this time. Some women have a bath at the community well, when the men leave for work in the fields. While women are tough and find ways to overcome challenges they face due to patriarchal mindsets and neglect for their well-being, they need to have the right to privacy to a place to bathe and a toilet. This apathy towards the dignity for women through access to sanitation and hygiene is more cultural than economic in nature. More rural households have access to mobiles and satellite television today than before. With multiple income generation programmes such as the MGNREGA, thrust to improve agricultural outputs, incomes and consumption are on the rise. A recent report found that rural India spends about three times more on alcohol (Rs 140) and tobacco (Rs 196) than healthcare (Rs 56) each month; and an average of Rs 500 (18% of the monthly budget) on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) like foods items, soaps, detergents, shampoos and hair oil. Various sectors have turned their attention to sanitation after the sector received the prime ministers attention. Similarly, there is a need to focus on creating safe and private spaces for girls and women to stay clean, maintain personal hygiene and live a dignified life. As BR Ambedkar said, I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved. Meghna Mukherjee and Minaj Ranjita Singh are research fellows, Tata Trusts The views expressed are personal Kangana Ranaut started a debate on nepotism in the film industry, but the actress said her remark on Karan Johars chat show was an observation and she does not have any objection with star kids joining Bollywood. The actor said she is not on a mission against star kids as everyone in the industry is working to make good cinema. If youre talking about nepotism, its not an objection, its an observation. As an individual, it is my prerogative to leave my footsteps behind for the ones who will follow me. It is important they know where I fell, where I walked, stayed and ran. We should all work on it and not point fingers and make it sound like a fight to make the society more democratic for everyone, said Kangana. The 30-year-old actor said the film industry has become more welcoming towards outsiders and the credit for the same goes to artistes coming from unconventional background and making it big in Bollywood. What is an outsider? We are all working to make cinema. Anyone working for some other intention is an outsider. I dont consider myself an outsider. Whoever comes from an unconventional background, they should work towards it and not say, Oh we have been lucky enough that we didnt face any discrimination or we are the chosen one, the industry has accepted us with open arms, she said. Kangana said the industry has a democratic environment today where actors can choose to openly say they cannot talk in English and will still not be looked at differently. The fact that today in the industry we have a lot more democratic environment is also because of people like us who have been working at it. I see newcomers easily say I cant talk in English I will only talk in Hindi. Its because we have made it appear cool. We are going to make outsiders feel and appear cool. Sonali Bendres Innova car, which was stolen from her house at Bandra in Mumbai, has been found in Barmer in Rajasthan. In November last year, Dhorimanna police in Barmer seized the car (MS02 CP 2030) during a manhunt to nab drug smugglers and arrested two accused. Subsequent investigation revealed the vehicle is registered in the name of Bendre. On being informed by the police, Bendres lawyer reached Barmer on Monday to seek release of the car from the court. The court later handed over the car to him. Confirming the development, house officer of Dhorimanna police Suresh Saharan said the car was stolen on October 1 last year. Bendres husband Goldi Behal had filed an FIR over the theft with Juhu police on the next day. The two smugglers arrested with the car have been identified as Bhajanlal Bishnoi and Ranaram Bishnoi. Police also recovered Rs 51 thousand from them. The duo were on their way to purchase doda, a derivative of opium, when they were intercepted by police. Saharan said that it is the usual modus operandi of the drug smugglers to use stolen vehicles for transporting contrabands to mislead police investigation. He further stated that carjacking gangs provide stolen vehicles to these smugglers. Union government has banned the use of doda, since April last year. Prior to the ban, use of doda was quite common in this part of western Rajasthan. It was sold even through the government authorized shops. But now possession of doda is a crime under NDPS Act. Doda abuse is rampant in this part of the desert state, prompting government to ban it as several de-addiction camps it organized failed to achieve desired result. Abusers, who cannot survive without regular dose of the sedative, now get it from illegal market, albeit on high prices. At least twelve major Chinese cities are requiring newly bought homes to be held for at least two to three years before they can be sold, the first time ever that cities in the country are taking such measures and suggesting intensified government efforts to cool the red-hot property market. The cities of Dongguan and Yangzhou - two major Chinese cities near the technology hub of Shenzhen and the financial hub of Shanghai, respectively - joined the list of cities seeking to restrict property supply to crack down on short-term speculation. Home owners who received property ownership certificate to their properties less than two years ago are not allowed to sell them in Dongguan and Yangzhou, effective Tuesday, according to the respective official statements posted on each governments website. Yangzhous new rules, though, were slightly more relaxed compared to Dongguans as they only applied to sellers with two or more properties in the city. These kinds of restrictions were the first such in the Chinese governments intervention history, analysts said, with some calling it a major policy innovation. These measures hit speculators looking for short-term gains very hard, said Beijing-based chief analyst Zhang Dawei with Centaline, a property agency. The new curbs came as China has stepped up the fight to contain rebounding home price growth in recent months, with at least 50 Chinese cities slapping harsher measures such as raising downpayment ratio for second-home buyers since mid-March. The southeastern port city of Xiamen was the first Chinese city to introduce such bans on property sales in late March. Since then, 11 other cities - Fuzhou, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Huizhou, Changzhou, Changle, Qidong, and now Yangzhou and Dongguan - have followed suit by adopting similar rules, Centaline estimated. Three domestic airlines have got time till at least October to shift operations to T2 from the existing D1 terminal at the IGI Airport here, a move that is likely to hit DIALs expansion plans. Currently, three budget carriers-- IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir-- operate from D1 terminal at IGI airport. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the joint venture firm, which runs the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, plans to expand the existing terminal to a much bigger facility. It wants these airlines to shift operations to T2, from where international flights used to operate the commissioning of the existing swanky T3. At a recent meeting, the three airlines told the Ministry and DIAL that since there were no extra facilities like additional parking bays or slots created by the private airport operator, it will not be possible for them to relocate even partial operations to T2 till the end of summer schedule, a source said. Consequently, it was decided that these airlines will continue to carry out their operations from the existing terminal only till at least October, a source privy to the development told PTI. As per the initial plans, SpiceJet and GoAir were told to relocate their operations to T2 from January 1 this year. However, the two refused to shift on the ground that IndiGo was being allowed to continue from the same terminal, forcing DIAL to defer it. According to sources, in mid-January it wrote to the IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir with a new plan, under which the three airlines were told to shift their Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru flights to T2 from February 15, sources said. However, the three airlines failed to meet this deadline as well. According to the master plan of expansion, cleared by the Civil Aviation Ministry last year, the existing terminal area would be increased to 1,33,000 sqm from the present 53,000 sqm, and it would be able to handle 23 million passengers. DIAL wants the airlines to shift operations to T2 as it will help the airport operator carry out expansion plan with much ease. As part of the expansion plan, 10 aerobridges will be constructed and the number of boarding gates will be increased from the present eight to 25. PTI IAS RAM JC IAS NP The London Stock Exchange is targeting more listings from companies in the Middle East, following a dearth of initial public offerings in the aftermath of Britains vote to leave the European Union. Money raised on LSEs equity markets fell nearly 40% in 2016 to 25.6 billion pounds ($32 billion). While funds raised from initial public offerings (IPOs) so far this year recovered slightly from 2016, they were much lower than in the previous two years. The exchange is now turning to the Middle East, an executive said, seeking to convince investors it is attractive despite uncertainty about how Brexit will affect London - a factor that contributed to the recent collapse of LSEs proposed merger with Deutsche Boerse. The biggest prize would be energy giant Saudi Aramcos planned global listing, and LSE Group Chief Executive Xavier Rolet joined British Prime Minister Theresa May on a trip to Saudi Arabia last week, courting a slice of the IPO, which could be the biggest in corporate history. Ibukun Adebayo, who is in charge of emerging markets at the London Stock Exchange, said other opportunities abound. Immediately, we see the bigger opportunity (for new listings) emanating from the Middle East, and then the longer term prospects are from the Indian subcontinent, and then Africa, Adebayo told Reuters. The LSE is promoting itself through events in the region, helped by index compiler FTSEs office in Dubai. It is targeting regulators and large companies, pointing to the large number of natural resources companies listed in London. LSEs Adebayo said he expected natural resources to continue to be a key sector for IPOs. But with fierce competition from exchanges globally and in the Middle East, as well as technical and regulatory hurdles, new business may be hard to secure. The London exchange also has a chequered history with companies from resource-rich regions. Prior to 2008 it courted Russian companies, landing depositary receipt listings of Sistema, Megafon and Gazprom. However three of those have delisted in the past six months, and it has faced questions over whether its entry requirements for them were too lax. The capital markets division, which includes IPOs, represents just over a fifth of the groups income. Getting an unlisted group onto the exchange, however, can drive revenue in bigger segments such as clearing and technology services. As a result, IPOs are a key battleground for exchanges. IPOs are a multiplier for derivatives, indices and clearing businesses: liquidity attracts liquidity, said Martin Steinbach, head of IPO and listing services at business services firm EY. COMPETITION A huge coup for London would be the listing of Saudi Aramco, which is expected to raise $100 billion out of an estimated $300 billion in Saudi privatisation opportunities by 2022. New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Toronto are also seeking to win a slice of the Aramco IPO and Saudi officials have been meeting with exchanges to decide where the shares should be traded. In the wake of the massive correction in oil prices, governments across the Middle East are looking to privatise their businesses to shore up state budgets. Adebayo says teaming up with local exchanges is key to the LSEs strategy. We consider London liquidity as complimentary, he said, adding that the group is working on fully fungible dual listings. The LSE boasts more than 40 companies from the Middle East and North Africa on the exchange but globally the proportion of cross-border listings is declining. Bankers say with technological advancement international investors can just as easily access stocks listed in local exchanges as in hubs such as London. One of the biggest European IPOs in the first quarter, toy seller Detsky Mir, managed to secure top international asset managers to take up shares, despite being listed in Moscow. Governments in the Middle East are intent on developing their domestic equity markets and Saudi Aramco is expected to list on the local Tadawul exchange - which opened itself up to foreign investors in 2015 - as well as on one or more overseas exchanges. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), valued above $15 billion, is expected to list on the Dubai or Abu Dhabi stock exchange this year. Governments have a natural interest to keep their companies at home, said EYs Steinbach, summing up what could be the biggest obstacle facing London. Crude oil edged back from a five-week high on Tuesday, as rising U.S. shale oil production weighed against a support from tensions in the Middle East and production cuts in OPEC and other states. Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, was down 10 cents from its previous close at $55.88 per barrel at 1051 GMT. Earlier in the session, Brent had climbed to its highest since March 7 at $56.16 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell by 12 cents to $52.96 a barrel, after touching a five-week high of $53.23 a barrel. Brent has risen in each of the previous six sessions, while WTI gained for the last five days. We are getting into the high risk part of this rally. It has been going on for a long time, said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney. I wouldnt be surprised to see a bit of book squaring going on now, ahead of the U.S. inventory data which is due on Thursday morning Asia time, he said, also noting that current prices have attracted shale oil producers in the past. U.S. crude inventories have touched record highs at both the U.S. storage hub of Cushing, Oklahoma and in the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent weeks, according to U.S. government data. A Reuters poll of analysts forecast a rise in U.S. crude inventories for a fourth straight week. Data from industry group API is due out on Tuesday, while figures the U.S. Energy Information Administration will be released on Wednesday. Several factors still offered support to oil prices. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said his countrys output cuts would reach 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) by mid-April, TASS news agency reported. Another shutdown at Libyas largest field Sharara also kept oil off the market. Russia was part of a deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producing countries to cut output by 1.8 million bpd in the first six months of 2017. We have seen quite an encouraging market, said Tamas Varga, analyst with PVM Oil Associates, adding Tuesdays dip in prices looked like a temporary pause. This market should be going higher. Tensions in the Middle East are also supporting prices, after last weeks U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base. Syria produces only small volumes of oil, but the Middle East accounts for more than a quarter of the worlds crude output. (Additional reporting by Naveen Thukral; in Singapore; Editing by Edmund Blair) The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside an order by the Appellate Tribunal For Electricity allowing compensatory tariff to Tata Power Ltd and Adani Power Ltd, sending down shares of both companies. Shares of Tata Power reversed early gains to fall as much as 6.78%, while Adani Power slumped up to 20% to its lowest since February 21. The tribunal, in April last year, had said the two companies needed to be compensated as the change in Indonesian laws on coal export prices were outside the control of these companies. Uber said it would relaunch its ride-hailing service in Taiwan following a two-month hiatus on the island after sparring with authorities over legal issues. The San Francisco-based giant, which has encountered regulatory roadblocks around the world despite its huge popularity, suspended operations in Taiwan in February due to an impasse with authorities who deemed it illegal. But on Monday the company said it would be reentering the market with a new business model. A brand-new Uber will serve Taiwanese once again, it said in a statement, without providing details or a date for the restart. A source at Uber who asked not to be named said the model would involve working with legal car rental operators. Since it entered the Taiwan market in 2013, Uber had been racking up fines for running a business without the proper registration to operate as a taxi service. In January authorities hiked the maximum possible penalty to Tw$25 million ($815,940) per driver -- the highest in the world. The company withdrew from the market a month later, criticising the governments actions for hindering innovation and called on President Tsai Ing-wen to take action. Taiwans transport ministry said it would welcome Uber as long as it works with licensed private drivers. The problem with self-use drivers was competition and inadequate protection for customers, Hu Ti-chi, an official at the ministrys department of railways and highways, told AFP. Local media reported that the firm still has about Tw$830 million in outstanding fines. Uber has faced stiff resistance from traditional taxi drivers across the world, as well as bans in some places over safety concerns. In neighbouring Thailand police have threatened to shut down Uber and recently taken to arresting and fining its drivers. However, the smartphone app insists it is not a transport company like taxi firms, and that it is simply a platform connecting drivers and passengers. In Myanmar it says it is in talks with Yangons regional government to launch in the city very soon. my/ds/eb Names of airports should be appealing to the masses with local fervour, a parliamentary panel said on Tuesday as it pitched for revisiting the current naming system followed for aerodromes. Further, the panel urged the civil aviation ministry as well as the governments of Punjab and Haryana to reach a consensus on naming the Chandigarh airport. The suggestions have been made by the committee on government assurances, chaired by BJP member Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, in a report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. In the report titled Review of pending assurances pertaining to the ministry of civil aviation, the panel expressed desire that the existing system of naming airports be revisited. It should be done in such a way that the names given to the airports of the country are mass appealing with local fervour and are able to portray the tourist attractions/cultural heritage of the state/region, the report said. The suggestion also comes in the backdrop of the government looking at naming new airports after cities of their location and terminals after eminent personalities. Meanwhile, the committee observed that the ministrys assurance, given back in November 2011, about naming Raipur and Chandigarh airports have not been completely fulfilled. Raipur aerodrome has been renamed as Swami Vivekananda Airport. With respect to Chandigarh airport, the report said no unanimous decision could be reached by Punjab and Haryana resulting in inordinate delay in naming the aerodrome. Except for maintaining that an agreement on the issue should be reached between the two states... the ministry has failed to take concrete steps to coordinate and hold further discussions with the two states and arrive at a solution, it added. There has been political controversy over naming of Chandigarh airport and many had favoured naming the aerodrome after Bhagat Singh. Last month, the government informed the Lok Sabha that a consensus view has emerged on naming airports after cities of their location. There are more than 75 operational airports in the country and many of them are named after personalities, including political leaders from the Congress. ...a consensus view has emerged to hereafter name the airports by the name of the city in which they are located/served and the terminals of the airports after eminent personalities in honour of their memory, minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha had said in a written reply. The view has emerged in the wake of lack of any firm and explicit instructions or guidelines for naming or renaming airports in the country, the minister had said. I learned that day how death smells: it smells of green apples. Mam Mahmoud must have told the story thousands of times over the 15 years since the horror had descended on his hometown and killed nearly 5,000 people, but the elderly Kurds reedy voice still shook a little when he told me about surviving Saddam Husseins gas attack on Halabja. He inhaled deeply when describing the odour of the sarin gas, and wheezed and coughed in the manner of the victims, many of whom had been his friends and neighbours. We met in the summer of 2003, in a then-incomplete monument and museum to what is still regarded as one of the worst atrocities of the modern era. I was in a small group of journalists and Peshmerga fighters he showed around the museum, and we kept a respectful silence as Mam Mahmoud frequently stopped to control his emotions. Photographs and dioramas showed bodies slumped in the street, some of them in pools of bilious vomit: Some faces were arrested in a twisted rictus of pain, others were surreally calm, even beatific. Mam Mahmoud had known some of them personally, and recalled little details of their lives and personalities. She made very good cakes, he said about one old women. About a boy of perhaps 10: He was very good in maths, and much older boys would ask him to do sums for them. When we arrived at a wall on which was etched the names of all the victims, he simply turned his face away and sobbed. Not one of us in the group was able to keep a dry eye: it was impossible not to be overcome by the sheer monstrosity that was being chronicled in the museum, and recounted by an eye-witness. As he spoke, the monster responsible for it was still at large, and Mam Mahmoud was anxious that Saddam might get away without answering for his war crime. What he did to us, only Hitler did before him, he told us. Justice was done to Hitler, and it should be done to Saddam. He, too, must smell the green apples. At the time, I didnt feel it was appropriate to correct Mam Mahmoud (Mam means uncle in Kurdish, and is used as an honorific for older men, in the way chacha is used in Hindi-speaking parts of India) on a small point: Hitler never used sarin. German chemists had invented the deadly nerve agent in 1938 sarin is an abbreviation of the names of the four scientists who created it: Schrader, Ambros, Ritter and von der Linde and the Nazis certainly planned to mass-produce it as a weapon of war, but Germany was defeated before the factories were completed. So Saddam Husseins Iraq was the first to actually use sarin as a weapon of mass destruction, his air force dropping in on Halabja late one March morning in 1988. Seven years later, a Japanese cult known as Aum Shinrikyo, released a small quantity of sarin in a Tokyo, killing 12 people. But it would be a full 25 years after Halabja before it would be used again in war. This time, it was in Ghouta, near the Syrian capital of Damascus, where another exceptionally cruel dictator, Bashar al-Assad, deployed it against his own people, killing nearly 1,500. And last week, he did it again, killing over 50 people in Khan Shaykhun. Lets quickly dispense with the conspiracy theories that both the sarin attacks in Syria were false-flag operations, designed to make Assads dictatorship look bad in the eyes of the world. There are some reports that rebel groups ranged against Assad have used mustard gas and chlorine in some attacks, sarin is a magnitude more sophisticated, and well beyond their ability to create, weaponise, store and deploy. The regime in Damascus, on the other hand, developed that capability over decades. After the Ghouta attack, under international pressure, Assad agreed to destroy his chemical-weapons stockpiles and infrastructure this was, incidentally, tantamount to an admission of guilt but American and European intelligence agencies have all along suspected he kept some. The Khan Shaykhun atrocity suggests they were right. What is to be done about it? The punitive American missile attack on the airport from where Assads planes had delivered the deadly payload was a good first step: it was necessary for the dictator, as well as his protectors in Moscow and Tehran, to know that such atrocities will not go unanswered. Welcome, too, are statements by Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, that the Trump administration has reconsidered its previous position that regime change was not the necessary outcome of the Syrian civil war. We dont see a peaceful Syria with Assad in there, she told CNN. Theres not any sort of option where a political solution is going to happen with Assad at the head of the regime. It must now be the goal of the US and indeed, of all right-thinking nations to bring Assad to justice. But the lesson of Halabja is that justice, even for so horrific a crime, can take years. A month after my conversation with Mam Mahmoud, American soldiers found Saddam Hussein cowering in a hole in the ground. He was never tried for the Halabja atrocity. Prosecutors at the special tribunal appointed to account for his sins had a great many to choose from, and tried him for a different mass-killing: he was hanged in 2006. But his cousin and chief executioner, Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali, was found guilty of masterminding the Halabja attack, and hanged in 2010. Theres hope, then, that Assad and his own Chemical Ali will one day meet justice, for having unleashed the smell of green apples on Ghouta and Khan Shaykhun. Bobby Ghosh is editor-in-chief of Hindustan Times Twitter: @ghoshworld SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dehradun: The move of the Uttarakhand government to denotify 64 state highways and categorise them as other district roads to safeguard its excise revenue from liquor shops is not going to yield the desired results. The state governments denotification order had come days after the Centre implemented Supreme Court order banning all liquor shops falling within a range of 500m from the edge of the national and state highways. A majority of the liquor shops in the hill state are located along the highways and had to be shut down. The government was expecting to get the shops reopened after denotifying the state highways as urban or local roads. However, the excise department officials have now found that most such shops still need to be relocated as they do not conform to SC order. Around 402 of the 526 liquor shops in the state are to be relocated following SC order. Of these around 176 were located on 64 state highways but as per excise officials only 35 shops could be reopened even after denotification of roads and converting them into Other District Roads (ODRs) as others are not conforming fully to SC order. We expected to save more than 600 crore by reopening 176 liquor vends following the governments decision to denotify the state highways. However only 35 of them could be reopened in present circumstances and only 150 crore could be protected. Some other measures have to be taken to bring liquor trade back to normal, said state excise commissioner Yugal Kishore Pant. Meanwhile, as per the sources in the department, the state government is still clueless as to how to re-open 247 liquor shops located along national highways. These shops are yet to get alternate sites for relocation. Government sources said it was very difficult to find suitable locations for the liquor vends in the hilly terrain. There is no other way but to file a fresh petition in the SC to protect our revenue interest. Continuous agitation by women (against relocating the liquor vends) in different parts of the state has worsened the situation, said a senior official requesting anonymity. Asked if government was mulling legal recourse, state excise minister Prakash Pant said, Options are open since Uttarakhand government was not a party in the SC order that directs shifting of liquor shops form national and state highways. Incidentally, while denotifying the state highways, the government had taken the ruse that highway specifications were coming in the way of their maintenance and expansion. Highway specifications are posing practical problems in the maintenance, development and expansion of state highways. Hence those falling in the area of local civic bodies will be denotified as state highways and classified as other district roads, it had said in an official release. The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting presided by chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. There are 64 state highways in Uttarakhand out of which 63 are located in local civic body areas. DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has announced its resolve to regulate fees of public schools, eliciting sharp response from schools which warned of education taking a hit. Education minister Arvind Pandey said the government is committed to ease out pressure on the people by fixing a cap on school fee. We will work to bring a framework under which public schools will not be able to charge more than Rs 15,000 annually up to class 5, Rs 25,000 from class 6 to 8 and Rs 30,000 from class 9 to 12, he said on Tuesday. The ceiling will be introduced from the next academic session, Pandey said, adding that the public schools will also not be allowed to change syllabus for at least five years. He said as the process of clearing the act will take some time, officials should take up fee complaints on a priority basis. Many schools have hiked fees for the current academic session by 25-30% or even more in some cases, associations representing parents allege. The previous Congress government had worked to formulate the draft of the Fees Control and Disposal of Complaints Bill to regulate fee structure of private schools but the Bill was not cleared during its tenure. School representatives, however, said the decision, if implemented, would not only impact the quality of education but would also force many educational institutions to shut down. The types of facilities we provide, the quantum of salaries we pay for hiring highly qualified teachers and expenditure made on maintenance of infrastructure make it necessary for us to hike fee, Principals Progressive School Association state president Prem Kashyap told HT. He said the public schools were willing to cooperate with the government, but it shouldnt happen at the cost of hampering the quality of education.. But parents lashed out at the government for failing to provide an urgent solution to the problem. Public schools are looting parents in the name of quality education. If it (government) is actually serious about the issue, then immediate action should be taken to provide relief to hapless parents, All Uttarakhand Parents Association president Neeraj Singhal said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PITHORAGARH: The recent snowfall has halted survey work of annual Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route that passes through this border district of Uttarakhand. A joint team of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) will now visit the first halt Sirkha in last week of April. The pilgrimage is set to start from New Delhi in the first week of June. The survey team were supposed to visit around this time but since the route is fully covered with snow therefore the visit has been rescheduled, said TS Martolia, general manager, KMVN the state owned government corporation that cares of the logistics. The upper reaches of Uttarakhand received snowfall in the first week of April. Every year, ITBP and KMVN take stock of the track and make necessary repairs. The track route camps at Sirkha, Bundi, Gunji , Kalapani and Nabhidhang are under heavy snow and possibly damaged. Located at an altitude of 19,500 feet, Kailash Mansarovar falls in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) which is under the control of China. In the Indian side beyond Malti, pilgrims have to trek remaining route on foot. The last station at Indian side is Liphulekh pass. The Ministry of External Affairs selects pilgrims after inviting applications for the pilgrimage. There are two routes - Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La (Sikkim) - for reaching Kailash Mansarovar. Mahendra Pratap, commandant of 7th battalion of the ITBP at Mirthi post, told HT that due to heavy snow fall after March 15, the force had to send another team for the second time to take stock of route beyond Gunji camp. Well prepare a report on the actual damaged done by weather and sent it to the MEA and the Pithoragarh district administration. Kailash yatra dates back to 1981 when India and China agreed to start the annual pilgrimage. There was no restriction on pilgrim movement to Kailash Mansarovar till the 1962 war. Post war, the relations between both the nations soured and as a result yatra was cancelled. It took two decades for China to give permission to Indian pilgrims to visit Mount Kailash. The Nathu La route was started in 2015. (With inputs from Anupam Trivedi in Dehradun) DEHRADUN: The government plans to develop a wooden bridge, once part of the Indo-Tibetan trade route, into a world-class skywalk track at the Nelong valley along the Indo-China border for promoting tourism in the remote part of Uttarkashi district. The second skywalk track will come up at Harki Pauri in Haridwar. The tourism department has identified a 160-metre long wooden bridge, popularly known as Gartang Galion, perched on a huge rock in Nelong Valley for the skywalk track project. According to tourism minister Satpal Maharaj, the Gartang Gali wooden bridge was left dysfunctional after the 1962 Indo-China war. This wooden bridge at Gartang Gali will be converted in a major tourist attraction as its an ideal site for the skywalk track project. It is more attractive than Grand Canyon in America.... It has been identified and I have asked the district administration to find out ways to start the work soon. Once commissioned, this track is bound to turn into a major tourism attraction for it also carries along the tag of heritage, Satpal told Hindustan Times. Located at an altitude of around 11,000 feet above the sea level and around 315 km from Dehradun, the Nelong valley falls under the Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi district. Foreigners are still not allowed to enter the region because of its proximity to the Indo-China border. He added that increased flow of Indian tourists in Nelong Valley will also be strategically important as its an inner line area of Indo-China border. As per our visualisation ,this will be a first-of-its kind tourist site in India where the track is cut through a rock . This track was originally carved out by locals and Tibetan travellers who frequented the two countries for trade till 1960, Satpal said. The tourism department plans to construct a similar skywalk track at Harki Pauri replete with religious colours, he added. On the ministers direction, we are preparing a proposal to get forest clearance for getting hold of the track since it comes under Gangotri National Park. Once legal formalities are over, the road map for revival of the heritage route will be taken. However, the structures character will not be compromised, Uttarakhashi district magistrate Ashish Shrivastava said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against a suspected Pakistani hacker who broke into the website of a Delhi University college. The Aryabhatta College website was hacked twice last year and defaced with anti-Indian and Israeli army slogans, says the FIR registered in March. In his complaint, college principal Manoj Sinha identified the hacker as Mehrab Hassan. The FIR, a copy of which is in possession of HT, says the colleges tech team tracked down Hassans Facebook page in which he named the Indian websites, including that of the Aryabhatta College, he had hacked. Hassan claims to be a part of Anonymous hackers group and has listed Paris as his city of residence and Pakistans Mandi Bahauddin as his native place. HT cant vouch for the veracity of the Facebook page. The college said the website was hacked twice, on the night of June 29, 2016 and again on July 25. Screenshots of the defaced website, submitted with the complaint, show a Pakistani flag in the backdrop with text: Hacked by Mehrab Hasan. Trust me I am a hacker. Shame on your security, reads another message, signed off by Pakxploiters . Palestine and Kashmir, too, find a mention. Message for endian army and Israel army. You both are same, killing innocent Muslims. endia killing them in Kashmir. Israel killing them in Palestine. Free Kashmir. Free Palestine The FIR has been registered under various sections of the information technology act for hacking, disrupting service and access computer system without permission. HT left a message on Hassans Facebook but was yet to hear from him. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The CBI on Tuesday registered a preliminary inquiry to look into accusations of money laundering by Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain, the latest blow to the Aam Aadmi Party that has been hit by charges of corruption. The inquiry was registered to look into allegations that the AAP leader, already battling charges of nepotism, laundered Rs 4 crore through a web of shell companies, Central Bureau of Investigation officials told HT. Jain controlled three private companies and was using them to launder money since 2010, sources said. He had quit positions in these companies but continued to control them and even bought agricultural land through the illicit money routed through these firms, they said. During his stint as Delhi minister he misused his position to covert this agricultural land into residential type, a source said on condition of anonymity. The matter was referred to the CBI by income tax department under the new benami transactions prohibitions act, a law brought in to fight black money. Tax authorities submitted their findings to the CBI and the enforcement directorate, which tracks money-laundering and investigates foreign exchange violations. A preliminary inquiry is not a formal investigation but a move to ascertain if accusations merit a probe. Jain has been in news recently after a three-member committee that examined various decisions taken by the Kejriwal government red-flagged his daughters appointment to the Delhi state health mission. Soumya Jain, who is an architect by training, didnt have the qualification for the job, the Shunglu committee said in its report. The Congress made the reports findings public after obtaining information through RTI. Jain dismissed the report as mud-slinging and said no irregularity was committed by the AAP government. He also rejected as all lies the allegations surrounding his daughters appointment. A 13-year-old girl was killed on her way to school when a private bus contracted to ferry schoolchildren rammed into her fathers motorcycle from behind in north Delhi on Tuesday morning. This was the second fatal accident of a schoolgirl in as many days, after a private school van ran over a four-year-old kindergarten student Anushka in east Delhis Shakarpur on Monday. Police said teenager Pooja Kumari was killed in the Burari area when the bus was rashly trying to overtake the bike of her father, Munna Lal. Pooja and sister Trinka were riding pillion. Pooja fell to her right on impact and instead of applying the brakes, the bus driver allegedly ran over her crushing her spine and head under the rear wheel. The father and sister, who fell to the left, watched in horror as Poojas bones snapped. The driver, 33-year-old Padam Singh, was arrested and a case registered against him, deputy commissioner of police (north) Jatin Narwal said. Lal said the bus hit his bike from behind and he lost balance. He said the driver did not stop and overtook from the right, crushing Pooja. When passersby tried to stop the bus, the driver abandoned the vehicle and ran away. The driver was not drunk, an officer said. Many schools in New Delhi and its satellite cities hire private buses to ferry children. The buses make headlines for fatal accidents and abusive behaviour of drivers and helpers towards kids, as laws and rules governing these vehicles are seldom implemented strictly and often broken. Parents complain and protest after each incident, but they are forced to go back to the faulty system in the absence of alternatives. The van involved in Mondays accident did not have rear-view mirrors on either side. The girl was standing behind and the driver reversed the van without giving a hoot if someone or something was at the rear of the vehicle. The driver was arrested. But most of them get bail while the maximum punishment for charges they face rash and negligent driving causing death is just two years in prison. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The CBI registered on Tuesday a preliminary enquiry (PE) to look into accusations of money laundering by Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain, the latest blow to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that has been hit by charges of corruption. The enquiry was registered to look into allegations that the AAP leader, already battling accusations of nepotism, laundered over Rs 4 crore through a web of shell companies, officials in the Central Bureau of Investigation told HT. A preliminary enquiry is done to ascertain if the accusations merit a probe. The development comes barely days before crucial elections to the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) and will potentuially give the BJP and Congress a chance to target the AAP. Jain, however, rejected the allegations, terming the CBIs PE as politically motivated ahead of the elections. The Delhi government has started providing healthcare free of cost to all Delhi citizens. It has affected the politicians and pressure groups. No other government in the country provides free medicines and free diagnostic tests, irrespective of the cost. So all this is expected, he added. Documents of Income Tax department state that Jain controlled three private companies and was allegedly using them to launder money since 2010. Sources in CBI however said Jain had quit positions in these companies but continued to control them and even bought agricultural land through the illicit money routed through these firms. The allegations against Jain pertain to the acquisition of agriculture land worth over Rs 27 crore in Delhi by private companies linked with him and misuse of his official position to influence regularisation of illegal colonies in the national capital, said CBI officials. IT documents suggested that Jain had purchased more than 200 bigha in north and northwest Delhi in close vicinity of unauthorised colonies in the name of companies controlled by him. During his stint as Delhi minister he misused his position to convert this agricultural land into residential type, a source said on condition of anonymity. The efforts of the AAP government to regularise unauthorised colonies during first tenure of AAP government from 28.12.2014 to 14.02.2014 and present tenure appears to be linked with the investments in agricultural land by Shri Jain. The proposed regularisation of unauthorised colonies will convert these agricultural lands into residential and commercial land which will provide huge returns on the investment by Shri Jain, read the IT documents. The matter was referred to the CBI by income tax department under the new Benami Transactions Prohibitions Act, a law brought in to fight black money. The I-T department has been probing Jain since June 2014, official documents with HT show.IT documents state that dummy directors of the shell companies were recorded in 2014 between June 26 to July 7. Dummy directors of these companies Bhawanath Jha, Gopal Maity, Mithilesh Kumar Mishra,Tara Kanth Choudhary, Rajesh Kumar Jha and Biswanath Maity, in their statements under section 131 of the act recorded on 27.06.2014, 26.06.2014, 27.06.2014, 26.06.2014, 02.02.2014, 27.06.2014 and 26.06.2014 had also accepted that shell companies were engaged in providing accommodation entries through cheque in lieu of cash received from beneficiaries by Shri Mishra, reads the document. Tax authorities submitted their findings to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which tracks money-laundering and investigates foreign exchange violations. Jain was in the news recently after a three-member committee that examined various decisions taken by the Kejriwal government red-flagged his daughters appointment to the Delhi state health mission. Soumya Jain, who is an architect by training, didnt have the qualification for the job, the Shunglu committee said in its report. The Congress made the reports findings public after obtaining information through RTI. Jain dismissed the report as mud-slinging and said no irregularity was committed by the AAP government. He also rejected as all lies the allegations surrounding his daughters appointment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A senior Punjab National Bank (PNB) manager and four others have been arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly siphoning off money from bank accounts using cloned cheques, police said on Tuesday. Police said the gang was working across the country. The mastermind, Chirag Chaudhary, a debt-ridden restaurant owner from central Delhi is currently in the US. Police said Chaudhary fled after he realised police were after his syndicate. Senior police officers said that they are in the process of issuing a look out circular (LOC) against Chaudhary. The five men had recently siphoned off Rs95 lakh from the PNB account of a south Delhi-based NGO and transferred the amount to another account of the bank in Haryanas Kurukshetra using a cloned cheque and forged signatures, said police. Police said the men in connivance with bank officials accessed confidential database of high-valued bank accounts and used it to prepare duplicate cheques for siphoning off money from such accounts. The arrested persons were identified as Pritam Das, senior PNB manager from south Delhis Khanpur branch, Gaurav Kumar Goel, Ashish Kumar Parashar, Amarjeet Singh and Sunil Sharma. Over 80 duplicate cheques of various public and private banks, fake stamps and samples of signatures of genuine account holders and other items used for cloning cheques were recovered from them. Despite several calls and a text message, there was no response from PNB over the issue. Chinmoy Biswal, additional deputy commissioner of police (south district), said that the gang had accessed 30 bank accounts of 17 public and private banks in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Dibrugarh, and Chandigarh. During the investigation into the complaint filed by the NGO, police learnt that a cloned cheque was used to transfer Rs95 lakh from their account to another account of the bank in Haryanas Kurukshetra. The complainant told us that the money was transferred even when the original cheque was in their possession and it was never issued to anybody. The account in which the money was transferred belonged to a private firm in Kurukshetra. We nabbed the firm owner, Amarjeet Singh, and interrogated him, said Biswal. Singh revealed that the cheque in question had been given to him by one Rajiv Gupta and his associates. He admitted for the fraudulent money transfer in his account after they promised him a commission of Rs30 lakh. Singh, however, did not know anything about Gupta except that the registration number of the Volkswagen car in which they travelled. Police traced the owner of the vehicle. The car was sold to five different persons. But we managed to track the present owner, Gaurav Kumar Goel. Goel confessed to contacting Singh by impersonating himself as Rajiv Gupta. Several duplicate cheques and other incriminating materials were recovered from him, Biswal said, adding Goels interrogation led to the other accused. Modus operandi Step 1: The fraudsters conspire with bank officials and access confidential database of high-valued accounts such as account holders details, signatures, stamps, details of the issued chequebooks, available amount in the account, etc. The insiders also supply blank cheque leaflets to them. Step 2: The fraudsters erase the Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) and Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Code (MICR ) and other details related to the account holder from the cheque by using extremely sharp blades to chip away the printed codes Step 3: The codes and other details of the compromised account are then reprinted on the cheque using some special ink procured from certain grey markets of West Bengal. The reprinting in the particular format is done using Corel Draw software and customised ink cartridges Step 4: The fraudsters then involve an account holder of the same bank and transfer the money from the compromised bank account to the other account holder, who agrees for the fraud in lieu of a 30 to 40% commission in the siphoned off money. Step 5: The transferred money is then transferred to various accounts opened using forged documents Goels interrogation revealed he prepared forged cheques on commission basis. The cheques were made available to him for sale by a network of operators, primary among them was Chirag Chaudhary of Delhi. Police said the men with the help of bank officials accessed confidential database of high valued accounts such as account holders details, signatures and stamps, details of the issued chequebooks, available amount in the account. The insiders also supply blank cheque leaflets to them. Das had supplied the confidential database of the NGOs account to the racketeers, Biswal added. Parashar used to erase the Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) and Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Code (MICR ) and other details related to the account holder from the cheque using a sharp object. The codes and other details of the compromised account were then reprinted on the cheque using some special ink procured from certain grey markets of West Bengal. The reprinting in the particular format was being done using Corel Draw software and customized ink cartridges. Further the cloned cheque was used to withdraw or transfer money from genuine customers account, said an investigator. The sudden death of Spains first woman defense minister has triggered a show of unity by the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), following months of bitter division that has pushed the main opposition group to the brink of breakup.The wake for Carme Chacon, a leading Socialist figure who served as housing and defense minister in Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapateros two back-to-back administrations (2004-2011), comes just six weeks before the PSOE is due to hold primaries to choose a new party leader. Former PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the wake. I.Mesa (EFE) Spains oldest political party has been under an interim management team since October of last year, when the secretary general, Pedro Sanchez, walked out in protest over the leaderships decision to help acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy, of the conservative Popular Party (PP), secure a second term in office and prevent a record third national election in Spain. She opened doors for some of us Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, Deputy PM Chacon, who had a congenital heart condition, died in her home on Sunday at age 46. She was found hours later after friends and relatives concerned that she was not returning calls contacted the emergency services. Her death seems to have served as a temporary reality check for PSOE party members, some of whom called for an end to the infighting. To all my colleagues: news like this one should lead us to argue about the important things, said Felipe Gonzalez, who was Spains longest-serving prime minister, at a wake held on Monday at party headquarters in Madrid. She was inspirational lets not let that die in the coming days, and lets allow it to remind us Socialists that we are part of a family, said the head of the Catalan Socialists (PSC), Miquel Iceta. As party officials milled inside the entrance hall of the Socialist party headquarters at 70 Ferraz street, where the funeral wreaths impregnated the air with a penetrating smell of roses, there was a notable absence of the kind of bitter criticism that party factions have been lobbing at one another over the past few months. Instead, everyone present joined in unanimous praise for Chacon, and most particularly for her defense of equal rights for men and women. "It was an honor to have her as part of my administrations. Wherever she may be now, I want her to know that we will remain firm in our quest for the freedom that she always defended, and for a better understanding between Catalonia and Spain, said former PM Zapatero, alluding to Chacons birthplace. Carme Chacon (r) on the Spanish navys Galicia-class landing platform dock Castilla in 2011. EFE Javier Fernandez, the regional premier of Asturias and head of the PSOEs interim team, listed a few of the highlights in Chacons career, including the day when she reviewed the troops as Spains new defense minister. It was 2008 and she had just become the countrys first woman to hold the post. She was also seven months pregnant at the time. Another stellar moment came in February 2012, when she narrowly missed becoming the first female secretary general of the 137-year-old Socialist Party. As a sign of respect, the three preliminary candidates to become the next party chief have cancelled all campaign events for this week. Today, all Socialists are crying together, said one of the candidates, Patxi Lopez, a former Basque premier. One of ours is gone, one of the great ones. Today, all Socialists feel a little colder. Yet for all the kind words, there was a palpable undercurrent of tension between the other two candidates Pedro Sanchez, who hopes to get his old job back, and Susana Diaz, currently the Andalusian premier. These two pointedly avoided each other the entire time that they remained inside party headquarters, according to Socialist sources. A female role model Outside the PSOE, some of Spains top female politicians also had words of praise for the deceased, regardless of old political rivalries. She opened doors for some of us, noted Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, of the PP. And Maria Dolores de Cospedal, the PP secretary general and current defense minister, underscored that Chacon was very brave in every sense of the word by breaking into a traditionally male-dominated sphere. To all my colleagues: news like this one should lead us to argue about the important things Felipe Gonzalez, former Spanish PM As a woman, I want to acknowledge that, as do all women in Spain, she said. The image of her reviewing the troops while pregnant is one of the 21st centurys most important images in the struggle for equal rights, said Ines Arrimadas, a leading member of the reform party Ciudadanos. English version by Susana Urra. A private school van ran over a four-year-old girl in east Delhis Shakarpur on Monday. Anushka was a student of LKG in Universal Public School in Preet Vihar. Police said the accident took place when the van dropped the girl near her house. Her parents were not present on the spot at the time of the accident. Anushka had got off the van when it hit her while reversing. Later, one of the passersby informed her parents, police said. The driver applied brakes when the children inside the van began shouting to alert him. However, by then Anushka had come under the wheel. The driver should have seen that the girl was standing nearby when he tried to reverse. The girl was standing near the left side of the vehicle. The driver moved the van without seeing her, said deputy commissioner of police (east) Omvir Singh. When the driver came out of the van, he was cornered by passersby who informed the police. Anushka was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared brought dead. Police was informed and a case under sections 304A (causing death due to negligence) and 279 (rash driving) of the IPC was registered against the 30-year-old van driver, Mohit, in Shakarpur police station. He was arrested on the spot. Anushkas father is an advocate in Karkardooma court in Delhi and mother is a homemaker. Something that began as a commercial project soon turned into a passion for artist, Charuvi Agrawal. When the painter was working on an animated project, based on Lord Hanuman, she decided to convert it into an exhibition. Called Hanuman Images beyond Imagination, this solo show presents mythology in a new format. Sherlock Homes, a fictitious character, has a landmark at Baker Street, London associated with him. Why cant we give life to the stories that weve grown up with? This exhibition is an amalgamation of art, sculptures, technology in larger than life virtues, says Agrawal. A gold medalist from Delhi College of Arts, along with a masters degree from Canada, Agrawal has been painting since childhood. After moving to Canada, I explored and experimented a lot with various art forms. I feel the subject of my exhibition touches the common mans heart. It is something that they all can relate to, adds Agrawal. Apart from the exhibits, which includes Kavad a hand-painted cabinet showcasing jewellery boxes of Lord Hanuman, Divine Vibration a 25-feet-high brass statue of the deity made of 26,000 bells and Forty Hymns the hand-printed rendition of the animated film, the 13-minute Shri Hanuman Chalisa film will also be screened at the exhibition informs Agrawal. CATCH IT LIVE WHAT: Hanuman, Images beyond Imagination WHERE: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) WHEN: till April 30 TIMINGS: 10.30am to 7pm NEAREST METRO STATION: Central Secretariat on Yellow and Violet Line SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Politics was once a career reserved for the wise, old men. This years civic body elections, however, show a promising trend, with most large political parties nominating young adults under the age of 25 years on many seats. Hindustan Times spoke to some of the youngest candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Swaraj India, to find out more about what they stand for. Will they prove to be the bastion of change that the common man hopes for? Or will they just be younger blood in older ideological bottles? The new kids on the block may lack political exposure, but they are anything but nervous. Wearing a white kurta, jeans and boots, Poorva Sankla, the candidate from Raghubir Nagar, leaves no doubt that she is contesting as a BJP nominee. The 22 year old ex-software engineer is clad in party merchandise, and walks into the room with a confidence that one would not expect of a newbie. Sankla said she thinks of her age an advantage more than anything else. Poorva Sankla, 22, is the BJP candidate from Raghubir Nagar. (HT Photo) My area has buildings with as many as five floors and they usually do not have elevators. As we are doing door-to-door campaigning, it helps that I am young and fit. Someone older may not be able to climb all those stairs, she said. The Congress candidate from Pratap Nagar, Himanshu Pahuja, also has the air of a seasoned leader about him. Wearing a white kurta and pyajama, the businessman seems to have garnered some popularity in his area; something not many 23 year olds can boast of. When I was 18, I was the youngest elected assembly president of the Youth Congress in Delhi in 2012. So I have been active since then, he said. Congress candidate Himanshu Pahuja during campaing in Janakpuri. He is contesting from Pratap Nagar ward. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo) If the leader is older, say 50,60 or 70; people hesitate in approaching him (or her). We are young kids. (Older people) toh hamaare kaan pakad ke bhi humse kaam karwa sakte hain. They can correct us if we are wrong, he said, while explaining how his voters tend to trust him because of his age. Kajal Sharma, the 21-year-old Swaraj India candidate contesting from Rani Bagh, has her own support system within her locality too. When Kajal had to present the documents needed to get the partys nomination, she was able to single handedly get 350 signatories to pledge their support to her, said Bhuwan Gaud, Sharmas beaming father. Swaraj India candidate from Rani Bagh, Kajal Sharma during the campaign. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo) Sharma, Sankla, and Pahuja may not have political godfathers, but they do have political fathers. Sharmas father, Gaud, currently serves as Swaraj Indias district secretary for Trinagar, Shakur Basti and Sadar Bazar. Sankla and Pahuja both claim that their fathers are not political leaders, but that they have both volunteered for their respective parties. Pahujas father has admittedly served as the president of RWAs, market unions and temple committees. It is true that you do not have to teach a fishs daughter to swim. But, I have reached where I am, because of my own capabilities and my hard work, said Sharma, echoing her fellow contenders. Leena Asiwal, the 21 year old AAP candidate from Vikaspuri who is a final year English (Hons) student at Delhi Universitys School of Open Learning, also got involved in politics because of her father. My father is the Vikaspuri Vidhan Sabha President for AAP. I started out by helping him out. I helped him set up around 41 jet pumps in Krishna Colony, she said. The AAP candidate from Rohini Sector-15, Abhinav Mishra, claims that his family has had nothing to do with politics. My father is the chief editor in the central government-run Lalit Kala Akademi, and my brother is a lecturer in Dyal Singh College... I got into politics through the social work we used to do, said the 24-year-old mechanical engineer, who has worked with automobile companies before joining AAP. Since then he has worked with AAP in Goa and Punjab, and has also served as the AAP social media coordinator. Will these youngsters help change the system, or end up as a cog in the machine? Experience does not come with age, it comes with work. I have worked with ABVP. I have also done some social work, and I am sure I can work for the betterment of society. I was grown up here. I know what the problems are, said Sankla, while adding that education is going to be an area of focus for her. Mishra and Asiwal, on the other hand, hope to clean up his neighbourhood. Mishra, on the other hand, hopes to clean up his neighbourhood. Sharma hopes to build a two-tier parking lot in the area to ease the parking woes and help generate revenue. Pahuja hopes to install smaller booths within each micro-locality to address the residents grievances so that they would not have to travel all the way to the councillors office to submit their complaints. However, systemic change is what most are gunning for. Any political partys ideology is not wrong, be it the BJP, Congress or AAP. The ideology and manifesto are usually good. The problem is with implementation. Young blood will be able to focus on implementation, said Mishra. The experienced are corrupt. The youth may be inexperienced, but they will be inexperienced in the matters of corruption too. They will be able to work with more energy, said Asiwal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Google Abdul Tunda and the website throws up more than 9,000 results of a man sporting heena-dyed hair and beard, accused of serial blasts across Delhi in the early 90s. In police records, the man, who was allegedly hiding in Pakistan, till his arrest, was Abdul Tunda alias Tunda the bombmaker. But very few people know that the man Indian authorities were hunting for was not named Abdul Tunda at birth. Born as Syed Abdul Karim, the 74-year-old alleged LeT bomb maker was named Tunda by intelligence officers and Delhi police after he lost his hand while allegedly making a bomb. Tunda is not alone in the list of those carrying infamous aliases. Most of the citys criminals and gangsters both dead and alive - have aliases which are quirky and unique to them. But many of these names have even more interesting histories behind them. While some acquired these names either from physical traits such as a missing hand, which could have been ripped apart in an explosion, there are criminals who got their aliases depending on the village or the caste to which they belonged, for example Vikas Langarpuria and Manoj Bakkarwala. Vikas is a Delhi gangster, while Manoj has been accused of stealing over 500 vehicles till date. Both the aliases Langarpuria and Bakkarwala were derived from the places they come from Langarpur village and Bakkarwala colony, said a senior police officer. But some gangsters got their names because of some special qualities or for the position they held in their gangs some for their sharp brains, some for shooting skills and some for their styles. Take for example Nafe Singh alias Mantri who was arrested from Najafgarh area in February. The alias Mantri was given to Nafe by his aides as he was quite intelligent and was almost the second in-command of the Manjeet Mahal group. He was a close aide of the gang-leader Manjeet and used to advice and pass orders to the gang members, said LN Rao, former deputy commissioner of police. The list doesnt end here. There are weird aliases as Imam Saab, Fauji, Shooter, Angrez, Kabar Khoda and Filmy among others. Most of these names were given to the criminals by their gang members and aides because of some qualities they possessed. An alleged criminal named Asif Kabar Khoda, who was killed in an encounter, got his name because of the threats he used to make Kabar Khod dunga (will dig a grave), said a senior police officer. Kishen Pehelwan gang member Shooter was given this name by his aides. He was the only person in the gang to shoot and kill people on orders. Dreaded criminal Sohanbir alias Sombir alias Filmy dropped out of school and joined the Rajesh Naharia-Satender gang as a minor. He was called filmy by as he was very fond of Bollywood heroes and used to imitate them. He even insisted that his aides call him as Bajrangi The making of a hard core criminal. The police is unsure of some aliases and said that some criminals like Bholu, Mangu, Pawan may have been given their names by their parents during childhood. But there are also criminals whose original names were either forgotten by cops or unknown. Ask any police officer about Raju Hakla, they wont be able to recall the original names. Hakla ran a gang of pick pockets, said an inspector of Delhi polices special cell. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India can never discriminate against its citizens on the basis of caste, creed, religion or colour. This is what home minister Rajnath Singh said in Lok Sabha in response to Opposition members raising objections to the remarks made by former BJP Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay in relation to the colour of south Indians. This country can never allow to differentiate on the basis of caste, creed and colour, Singh said. But there is a considerable disconnect between Mr Singhs heartening words and reality on the ground. There have been violent assaults on individuals based on religion, colour and caste in recent times by vigilante groups who have taken it upon themselves to dispense justice for various perceived wrongs. One of the most horrific was the lynching of a cattle trader who was running a legitimate business but was set upon by self-styled gau rakshaks in Alwar. The attack on Nigerians in Noida on suspicion of their involvement in the drug overdose death of an Indian student is another example of a race hate crime. These are just some of the incidents that have taken place recently but on which the law has not moved fast or decisively enough. Mr Singh must understand and acknowledge that we are a very discriminatory society in many areas. Ideally, awareness and education should serve to erase some of these prejudices, but as seen from our matrimonial ads and the actions of the khaps panchayats, to cite just two examples, this does not always hold good. As home minister and senior BJP leader, the message from him should be that such incidents will be dealt with severely and swiftly. We have seen that when it comes to mob violence of the sort we saw in Alwar and earlier in Dadri, apart from desultory arrests, the kingpins tend to get away with murder. Politicians must share the blame for this sort of vigilantism as the recent example of a BJP MLA exhorting people to behead those who oppose the Ram mandir construction shows. Those indulging in inflammatory rhetoric which incites crowds should be booked and not let off with a mere rap on the knuckles. As home minister Mr Singh can certainly take the lead in making sure that punishment for discriminatory offences is swift, certain and severe. At present, vigilante groups, who attack people who look, behave or dress differently, seem to have no fear of the law, often posting their ugly actions on social media. It is welcome that the minister has expressed these sentiments, he must now act to make sure that they are backed by action. Two of the countrys top engineering institutions, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and National Institute of Technology NIT, earlier known as Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs), will now audit the quality standards of technical training and other infrastructure of industrial training institutes (ITIs) in their respective states. Based on the audit, the National Council on Vocational Training (NCVT) under the Union ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship will award recognition to these ITIs. In a major policy shift, the ministry has decided that the NCVT will withdraw recognition of ITIs that fail the quality audit conducted by IITs and NITs. As an industry norm, the government-run organizations, public sector units (PSUs) and large national and multinational companies employ candidates only from NCVT recognized ITIs. Therefore cancellation of NCVT recognition could severely impact the probable employment of the trainees of such ITIs in reputed organizations and their career in long run. India has a total of about 13,000 ITIs. Of this, about 9000 are private and 4000 are government-run. Earlier, the recognition to the ITIs was used to be accorded by the NCVT on the basis of the audit report of Quality Council of India (QCI). KP Krishnan, secretary, ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship told HT that the government was withdrawing the role of the QCI in deciding the quality standard of ITIs. The top priority of the ministry is to strengthen the regulatory mechanism in the ITI structure to improve the employability of the trainees. For this, we have decided to change the norms fort the accreditation and recognition of it is, Krishanan said. The ministry has also decided to accord powers to state government for granting accreditations to the ITIs. It was earlier done by the directorate general of training on the basis of the audit report of the QCI. Krishnan said that the skill development ministry has decided that the respective state governments state council for vocational training (SCVT) will be allowed to accord accreditation. However, the ministry will have the power to cancel the NCVT recognition for the want of which the ITI might lose its significance in term of employability of its students. The ITI may get accreditation from state government/SCVT but if it fails on the audit of the third party which is IIT/NIT, NCVT will withdraw its recognition. Central government, PSUs and MNCs and other large corporation employ only NCVT products, Krishnan said. The NCVT had earlier cancelled the license of many under-performing ITIs but they moved courts against it. There are about 700 cases pending in various courts. NCVT will not cancel their license but withdraw recognition, said the secretary. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than half of all parents surveyed in a countrywide study have said that the school fees of their children were hiked between 11 and 20% this year, highlighting the mounting cost of quality education in India. A study by localcircles.com -- an online neighbourhood network -- comprising 9,000 parents and grandparents reported 54% people as saying that school increased fees by between 11% and 20%. Fifteen per cent said the hike was more than 20% and 31% said the jump was between 0 and 10%. The survey was done in September 2016. The findings confirm a common grouse of parents across the country: That as schools become more privatised and government institutes fall behind, affording quality education for most middle-class families is becoming a stiff challenge. Some governments such as that in Delhi have tried to rein in fees but with varying degrees of success. Private schools have been hiking their fee without stating any genuine reason for it. We are fighting for fee regulation, but private schools are running a monopoly since the government schools are not up to the mark, said Ajay Rai, president, Jharkhand State Parents Association. There was regional variation captured in the survey as well. More than 75% parents from Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Goa said that school has increased the fee by more than 10%. Around 50 -75% parents from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Delhi said the hike has been more than 10%. Only Gujarat and Bihar parents said schools increased the fee by less than 10%. Parents in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Chandigarh and other cities have held protests and sent memorandums to state governments seeking intervention to put an end to the arbitrary fee hikes. The Uttarakhand government said it had decided to act on the parents complaints. We will regulate the fee hike by public schools and fix a cap for the same to provide relief to parents, state education minister Arvind Pandey told HT. In Madhya Pradesh, parents told HT that almost all schools had increased fees by between from 10% and 28% in the name of improving facilities. Amit Taksali from an organisation of parents, Jago Abhibhavak Jago, said: The schools are increasing fees every year without consulting the parents. I have read the bylaws of CBSE and it clearly states that the school administrations should consult the parents before taking a decision on fee hike. Some parents have admitted their students in low profile schools due to the fees hike. The high profile schools are behaving autocratically and creating trouble for middle class families, he added. School education minister for state Deepak Joshi said a bill to regulate the fees would be approved by cabinet soon. In Uttarakhand, fees were hiked by 25-30% in schools, ostensibly for quality education. The types of facilities provided, maintenance of infrastructure and high salary of teachers make it necessary to hike fee, said Prem Kashyap, president of Principals Progressive School Association. A 45-year-old call centre employee allegedly jumped to death on Tuesday from seventh floor of her office building at Sohna road under Badshahpur police station. The woman, Pooja Vardhan, was reportedly suffering from depression and was employed at Convergys. Vardhan jumped at around 2pm between the empty space from the stairs inside the building. She was taken to a private Hospital for treatment but she succumbed to her injuries, the police said. She was a resident of Pink Town house in DLF phase-3 and was under training at the call centre for the last one month. Prior to that she worked with Google and Genpact but was reportedly under depression because of issues related to work, the police said. She joined Convergys a month ago and was undergoing training. No suicide note has been found. A case has been registered and we are investigating the matter, said ASI Munesh, investigating officer in the case. Police officials said that Vardhan was reportedly depressed and was also under medication because she was not satisfied with her performance at work. Her husband has been working in the same organisation for the last seven years. The police team found the victim lying in a pool of blood. She was taken to a nearby hospital but the doctors declared her brought dead, said Rajinder Kumar, SHO, Badshahpur. On May 15, 2016, a chief operating officer in a leading Multinational company had jumped to death from the 19th floor of a block at posh locality Belvedere Park in DLF Phase-2. The deceased had left behind a suicide note mentioning that he is responsible for his step. On April 21, 2016, a 32-year-old Chinese national, working as an engineer in a multinational company, allegedly committed suicide by jumping off eighth floor of Spaze Techpark building in Sector 49 at Sohna Road. The deceased was reportedly depressed and was restlessly talking on the phone before jumping down the gap between the staircase. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The pub and bar owners at CyberHub were relaxed and even broke into celebrations on Tuesday after they gathered from official sources that their establishments are likely to be ruled as being situated beyond 500 metres from the edge of the service lane of the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and the National Highway -8. A committee formed for the purpose, carried out measurement of the liquor establishments on Tuesday and official sources said that CyberHub was found to be 1,900 metres from the edge of service lane of the highway. Although excise officials did not disclose the results of the measurement, sources said that CyberHub and few more establishments, including some five star hotels, are not likely to be affected by the liquor ban as the motorable distance was found to be beyond 500 metres. After getting word that CyberHub, popular with both pub-hoppers and professionals, is likely to fall out of the purview of the 500 metre rule, the pub and bar owners heaved a huge sigh of relief saying that the reprieve would ease their nerves and help revive the dwindling footfall at their outlets. The owners of these establishments are already harbouring hopes of resuming normal operations next week. We are eagerly waiting to reopen the pubs and bars. Just a hint from the (excise) department that our establishments are safe would be enough to put the smiles back on our faces and ease the nerves of hundreds of our employees who had been spending sleepless nights (since the Supreme Court order, banning the sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways, came into effect) fearing job loss, Manvi Chowdhary, director Pier-38 CyberHub, said. Read I Liquor ban: Gurgaon team starts measuring distance of pubs, bars from highways More than 1,400 employees, including general managers, managers, stewards, utility staff and others, were in the panic, as there was no clarity on whether the Supreme Court would apply on the pubs and hotels they are employed in. Most were in danger of losing their jobs and pleaded with the government to suggest a way out for them. We heaved a sigh of relief after we heard that the motorable distance to our establishments was found to be more than 500 metres. It feels like we have been through hell and back. The last 12 days have been nightmarish. At one point, I even feared losing my job, which would have left me with no option but to return to my village in Punjab. But now, it looks like our jobs are safe and life would soon be normal again, Amanpreet Singh, a cashier at CyberHub, said. Earlier, each restaurant had as many as 40 employees. However, since the Supreme Court ruling came into effect, the staff strength was reduced to just five, as the rest of them were served notices by their employers in the light of the reduced footfall in the outlets. The place had lost its charm since the liquor ban came into effect. Now, the smiles are back on our faces and we are hopeful of recording normal footfall again. This sure calls for a big celebration. The Supreme Court ruling was unexpected and hit us hard. We had all been depressed since the day the liquor ban was enforced, Ashish Kapoor, director, The Wine Company, CyberHub, said. Before the liquor ban came into effect, CyberHub used to draw a footfall of 45,000 on weekends. The turnout had since dropped to less than 1,000. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A string of pubs and restaurants in Gurgaons upscale DLF CyberHub are likely to dodge a highway liquor ban because of an underpass that opened the day the Supreme Court order came into force. City authorities started measuring the distance between the establishments and the highway on Tuesday morning, and sources said the underpass pushed the length of the route beyond the court-stipulated limit of 500 metres. The measurement was around 1,900 meters from the highway at Cyber Hub, said Ashwini Choudhary director, Soi 7 Group. According to the Supreme Court, no shop, restaurant or establishment can sell or serve alcohol within 500 metres of any national or state highways. We were already safe. The department has not involved any pub/bar owner during the measurement process but they have fairly done their job. There has been huge loss in sales, revenue so now we should get back to work, added Choudhary. A team including officials from district administration, excise department, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD), and the police started measuring the distance of the establishments at 7.30 am on Tuesday with a measuring wheel. Physical route measurement of Cyber Hub on Tuesday was conducted on a route which is as per Huda approved master plan of the area said HC Dahiya, deputy excise and taxation commissioner (west). The west wing of the excise department measured distance of 46 establishments including 35 in Cyber Hub, and five in Ambience Mall. Measurement of The Leela, The Oberoi, Trident, Country Inn and Suites, Crowne Plaza, and West Inn hotels was also conducted. The report will be submitted on Wednesday to the deputy commissioner. The order came into effect on April 1 and 115 pubs were restricted from serving alcohol, shaving off crores of rupees in state revenue. A day after the ban, many establishments tinkered with their entrance and exit points to increase the motorable distance the route one takes to reach a facility by road and not the straight line shortest figure beyond the 500 metre mark. The underpass that is likely to save Cyber Hubs pubs was also opened on April 1. Even the erstwhile entrance of CyberHub which was less than 500 metres away from national highway 8 when measured in a straight line -- was shifted to the Belvedere Towers side on April 3, which is about 2 km from the highway. However on April 5, excise officials said diverting or changing the entry and exit would not provide any relief to the pub or bar owners. The department said it would follow the master plan and any modification to was to be considered a violation. This might have come as a boon to pub owners. Officials said the earlier entrance of CyberHub which would have shut the bars if considered -- was built through a makeshift shortcut in violation of the master plan, and the underpass was a part of the planning document. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Spains Royal Household spent only 88.42% of the 7,775,040 it was assigned in 2016, the same amount it was given within the governments budget in each of the two previous years, as part of a plan to make savings and thus make good on commitments to Brussels to reduce the countrys deficit. Spain's King Felipe VI and Japan's Emperor Akihito during the recent state visit to Japan. Javier Lizon (EFE) The reduced spending by the Spanish monarchy last year was largely a result of the political stalemate produced by the inconclusive elections of December 2015 and June 2016, which saw Prime Minister Rajoy of the Popular Party (PP) oversee a caretaker government until late October. During the first 100 days of 2016, events involving the monarchy fell by 57.8% on 2015 Last years spending figures, prepared by the royal households comptroller and posted on the website of the Zarzuela Palace, King Felipe and Queen Sofias official residence, are part of a broader report into the Royal Households financial affairs, which will now be audited externally by the State Public Accounts Department. The 900,000 savings have been achieved mainly by the reduced number of official events and overseas trips by King Felipe. As a result of the political stalemate last year, during the first 100 days of 2016, the number of events involving the monarchy had fallen by 57.8% on the previous year. The royal couple postponed trips to Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea. The Royal Household has also had to delay a number of projects related to new technology. The royal family spent the 662,316 assigned to it by the state last year, while it used up 97.09% of the 3.8 million for staffing. It spent 79.79% of the 2.9 million for goods and services. Of the 80,000 set aside for trips, only 33.69% was used. Spains Queen Letizia (in red) raised eyebrows when she broke protocol to kiss Masako, the Crown Princess of Japan during a recent visit to the Asian country. Javier Lizon (EFE) The Royal Households budget has decreased in recent years, with former King Juan Carlos beginning the process by taking a 2% cut in 2012 down to 8.2 million in that year, or 170,000 less than a year earlier. When King Felipe assumed the throne in 2014, among the changes he introduced were greater transparency regarding the royal households management and spending. King Felipe even slashed his own salary by 20%, bringing it down to 234,204, although this did not mean savings to the taxpayer as he raised the allocation for other items, bringing the total amount that the royal palace receives from the state back to 7.7 million. English version by Nick Lyne. A city-based animal rights organisation on Tuesday filed a police complaint against an organisation hired by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) in Sushant Lok area for allegedly drugging monkeys to capture them. The simians are allegedly being drugged with sedative-laced bananas. The organisation was hired to tackle monkey menace in the area under the MCGs project to relocate the simians to Aravalis. Gurmeet J Singh, honorary animal welfare officer with the Animal Welfare Board of India, in his complaint alleged that the organisation is not registered under AWBI, which is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF). Registration of such organisations is mandatory. Another activist Amit Chaudhery, president, People For Animals, Gurgaon, said,We have evidence that monkeys are being drugged with the help of fruits. Bananas inserted with intoxicated drugs are given to monkeys to make them unconscious. Then, they are transported to unknown areas. He alleged that the animals are carried in a vehicle in cruel manner without food and water during the process of relocation. The entire process of capturing and relocating was illegal, the activist said. MCG officials said they had been informed about the incident and they would look into it. Sudhir Kumar, sanitation inspector of MCG, said, We will investigate the allegations and will take immediate steps. Also, as the number of monkey bites has been increasing over the years and we also have to provide protection to residents. Last year in December, a 27-year-old man died after falling from the terrace of his house at Nathupur village in DLF Phase-3 while escaping a monkey attack. Out of 7372 cases of rabies reported at the citys Civil hospital in 2015, 387 were of monkey bites. On an average the hospital receives 32-35 cases of monkey bites a month, which means nearly one incident of man-animal conflict a day. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After protests against the steep passenger tax hike imposed by the Haryana government from April, many cab drivers said they have decided to cut their monthly visits to Gurgaon. Cab drivers in queue at the Delhi-Gurgaon border at Sirhaul on Tuesday also said it suited them better to pay a daily tax to the Haryana transport department instead of the steep monthly or quarterly payment. Prior to the ban, the quarterly tax was Rs 950 only and it did not cause much stress to them. But now they have to pay Rs 9,000 per three months. Ram Singh, a cab driver said, Now we have to pay Rs 9,000 quarterly tax, which means Rs 100 a day. My cab is engaged with a big firm but the management refused to pay me the (enhanced) tax amount as they use my cab hardly 15 days a month or less. Since the tax was not much earlier, I used to make frequent trips to Gurgaon and Delhi when it was Rs 300 month. I am unable to cope up with the situation now as we find it tough to collect extra amount from users. Cabs or taxis on NCR route permit are exempted from the hike and most of the Ola and Uber cabs run on the same permit. We have all-India permits. There are some cabs attached with Ola and Uber also but they are very few. Most of the tax drivers still have not understood the problem. We will soon hold a meeting of our members, said Delhi taxi tourists transporters association president Sanjay Samrat. The association held a protest in Delhi on Monday and burnt the effigy of Haryana CM ML Khattar. According to transport department officials on duty at the MG Road border, cab drivers are opting to pay daily tax because of which there are long queues at the counter. We advise them to pay online, monthly and quarterly. Instead, they wait in queue at the border in long queues and pay Rs 100 day, said a official on duty at the cash counter on MG Road. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Brad Pitt is set to star in James Grays science-fiction film Ad Astra, director James Gray confirmed. In the movie, the 53-year-old star will play the role of a slightly autistic space engineer, who makes a journey through the solar system, reported AceShowbiz. Gray broke the news in his recent interview with Collider and added that they would start shooting in July this year. Director of the movie James Gray (2nd R), producers Brad Pitt (R) and Dale Armin Johnson (L) and cast member Charlie Hunnam pose at the premiere of the movie The Lost City of Z in Los Angeles. (REUTERS) Yes, yes, and yes, Gray said when asked whether Pitt would have a starring role in Ad Astra. Im terrified by it. The science-fiction genre is so tricky because there are elements of fantasy usually involved, and there are also fantastical elements. What Im trying to do is the most realistic depiction of space travel thats been put in a movie and to basically say, Space is awfully hostile to us. He continued, Its kind of a Heart of Darkness story about travelling to the outer edge of our solar system. I have a lot of hopes for it but it is certainly ambitious... It starts shooting July 17th, so not too far away. Im filled with terror, but thats fine. Pitt is the executive producer of Grays new film The Lost City of Z. Follow @htshowbiz for more Weeks after some pictures surfaced in which Brad Pitt looked gaunt, he was spotted doing some serious flirting with another star at a private dinner. Page Six reports that Pitt, 53, was spotted having a great time with Sienna Miller, 35, at a restaurant in Los Angeles. They had just attented the premiere of The Lost City of Z, a film produced by Pitts banner Plan B. According to the witness, Pitt and Miller were heavily enjoying each others company, and they were talking to each other all night. Cast member Sienna Miller poses at the premiere of the movie The Lost City of Z in Los Angeles. (REUTERS) Another source told Page Six that Pitt was in very high spirits, which he hasnt been for a long time. He seems to be over a hump. This comes after he was spotted leaving an art studio looking thin and under the weather. Pitt separated from his wife Angelina Jolie in October 2016. A bitter custody battle over their six children followed. However, it was recently reported that the two were finally on speaking terms, and were concentrating on co-parenting their children. Miller on the other hand was last rumoured to be dating filmmaker Bennett Miller. She has one daughter with actor Tom Sturridge. Follow @htshowbiz for more Suri Cruise will turn 11 on April 18. She is the only child of actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. After spending her first few years in the limelight, Suri was taken out of the media glare by mom Katie Holmes after her divorce from Cruise in 2012. But Holmes frequently posts sneaky pictures of Suri, once the most famous star kid on the planet, on her Instagram account. Last week, she posted a picture of her and Suri out for a salon date. #salondays @djquintero @sergenormant A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes212) on Apr 4, 2017 at 11:03am PDT Here are some other pictures we found: A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes212) on Mar 29, 2017 at 1:01pm PDT My beautiful mom who inspires me everyday and my magical daughter who I am so very proud of. I celebrate all women today and everyday!!!!!! #weruntheworld #internationalwomensday A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes212) on Mar 8, 2017 at 9:43am PST And the winner is....congratulations to my sweetheart on her ballet win! #proudmom #love #mothersanddaughters #bunheads #art A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes212) on Feb 26, 2017 at 5:58pm PST A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes212) on Feb 6, 2017 at 10:03pm PST #family #love #blessed A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes212) on Feb 5, 2017 at 6:39pm PST #familytime #blessed #gratitude A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes212) on Feb 5, 2017 at 4:30pm PST birthday vibes ! A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes212) on Dec 18, 2016 at 3:52pm PST According to latest reports, Suris dad Tom Cruise has not seen her for years. He is also said to be dating British actor Vanessa Kirby, who is a co-star of his on the sixth Mission Impossible film. Follow @htshowbiz for more Flight operations to Shimla are unlikely to commence in the near future despite the airport being fully equipped and ready. Government-owned Air India has expressed its inability to operate on Delhi-Chandigarh-Shiimla route because it was not commercially viable. Air India informed the Supreme Court that it needs partial funding from the state government since Indias flag carrier is already running into loses and is thriving on equity infusion from the Centre. Appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar Air Indias counsel said that in view of the topography of Himachal Pradesh ATR-42 was a suitable plane to fly to Shimla. But, the airline did not have any aircraft. Its wholly-owned subsidiary Alliance Air Limited had the planes, but the same were already engaged in the North-East and Andaman and Nicobar. If Air India still flied on this route, it would have to take planes from international airlines or a domestic private airline on lease for which viability gap funding was needed from the state government as the number of passengers wasnt that high. As the Air India counsel told the bench that it might start flights to Shimla under the new civil aviation policy Udan - a regional connectivity scheme, the bench sought to know what kind of funding it wanted. Airports Authority of India (AAI) counsel, Ashwarya Sinha, opposed Air Indias argument and its request to seek funding. On its part AAI has said the airport was fit to accomodate ATR-42 aircraft. But, the bench gave time to Air India to come back and inform the court as to when can it start the air service and posted the matter for further hearing to April end. SC is hearing Air Indias against the Himachal Pradesh High Court order to start scheduled flights on trial basis between Delhi and Shimla. On earlier hearings the top court took strong note of lack of connectivity to Shimla and other hill regions. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Allahabad high court has granted bail to two of the several accused of lynching a Muslim man following rumours that he had slaughtered a cow in Dadri in Greater Noida in 2015. Justice UC Srivastava allowed the bail applications of Arun and Punit last Thursday on the condition that they will neither tamper with the prosecution evidence nor will delay the disposal of trial in any manner. The order was released on Tuesday. The court said it took the decision since they were not named in the FIR. It also said Shaishta, Mohammad Ikhlaqs daughter, did not name Arun and Punit in her statement to the investigating officer and disclosed their names before the magistrate 68 days after the date of the alleged incident. Read more | Dadri lynching: Allahabad HC stays arrest of Ikhlaqs family, except brother Even in her statement before a magistrate, she did not attribute any specific role to the two accused and made only general allegations. Both have been in jail since December 2015. On September 28, 2015, an angry mob beat up 55-year-old Ikhlaq and injured his son Danish, 22, at Dadris Bisada village after an announcement from a local temple that they had consumed beef and were storing it in their house. Ikhlaq had succumbed to his injuries while Danish survived with critical injuries. Ikhlaqs widow lodged an FIR against 10 known and 4-5 unknown under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 307, 302, 427, 458, 504, 506 IPC and Section 7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act 1932, at Jarcha police station in Gautam Budh Nagar. US national security advisor HR McMaster will be in India this weekend to discuss stabilisation of Afghanistan in the wake of threats posed by a resurgent Taliban and the expanding footprint of the Islamic State in provinces bordering Pakistan. Gen (retd) McMaster will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and foreign secretary S Jaishankar in addition to his counterpart Ajit Doval in what will be his first visit to South Asia since he took over in February. McMaster is expected to carry an invitation from US President Donald Trump for Modi to visit Washington in June. McMaster will visit Kabul and Islamabad before he lands in New Delhi for a day to discuss Afghanistan and renewal of India-US defence ties, top government sources confirmed to HT. South Block officials say the US is concerned over a newly formed Russia-China-Pakistan-Iran axis to promote the Taliban with fresh weapons supplies and strategic support for a future political role in Afghanistan. The axis is said to be supporting the Taliban with the justification that it is the only force that could take on the Islamic State. The US is concerned as 9,000 of its troops are on Afghan soil as part of the larger stabilisation effort with New Delhi helping in infrastructure development under the Asharf Ghani-led government. NSA McMaster, who was the key figure behind the US strike in Syria, will be in the region to assess the American role in Afghanistan and whether more troops are required in the near future, a senior official said. While McMaster, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, will also discuss the expanding Chinese footprint in the Af-Pak region, Islamabad watchers suspect that Pakistans award of the death sentence to alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav was meant to provoke India and create tension on the eve of the US NSAs visit. The visit will revisit India-US defence ties, with the bilateral defence technology and trade initiative (DTTI) not having taken off so far. The DTTI was launched by the previous UPA government with the Barack Obama administration. All projects under it such as the Javelin shoulder-fired missile, C-130 J roll-on roll-off, small UAV pathfinder and even a working group on hot engine technology are still in nascent stages of development. During McMasters visit, it is expected that both countries will identify new products under the Make in India programme. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Joint candidate of the Congress and National Conference for south Kashmirs Anantnag parliamentary seat, GA Mir, on Tuesday said he will withdraw if the governors rule is not imposed in the state. Mir on Monday had opposed the deferment of the bypoll in Anantnag parliamentary constituency. Talking to the media in Anantnag, Mir said the inability of the PDP-led coalition government in providing a peaceful atmosphere for the by-election had proved chief minister Mehbooba Muftis failure. According to sources, Mir will hand over a memorandum in this regard to the concerned returning officer of the constituency on Tuesday. The Election Commission has deferred the Anantnag by-poll to May 25. A court in Assam has issued an arrest warrant against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal after he failed to appear before it in a defamation case over his tweet on Prime Minister Narendra Modis education qualifications. The bailable warrant is the latest in a series of troubles that the Aam Aadmi Party leader finds himself over his utterances. He is being tried for defamation in a Delhi court in a case filed by finance minister Arun Jaitley. On Monday, judicial magistrate Naba Kumar Deka Baruah in Diphu in Karbi Anglong district issued the warrant against the AAP chief after a no-show on April 7. Modiji 12 pass hain. Uske baad ki degree farzi hai (Narendra Modi is only 12th pass and all other succeeding degrees are fake), Kejriwal had tweeted on December 15. A few days later, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council member Surjo Rongphar, who is also with the BJP, filed a case against Kejriwal, accusing him of making defamatory remarks about Modi. Kejriwals lawyer Gurpreet Singh Uppal said the chief minister was busy with the April 23 Delhi civic elections and it was not possible for him to be present in person in the court. On perusal of records, it reveals that the accused (Kejriwal) has not appeared before the court on the earlier occasion on January 30, too, availing adjournment for two months. Considering this, the petition of Gurpreet Singh Uppal is rejected, the court said. The Delhi chief minister has been demanding that Modis college and university certificates be made public, alleging that the Prime Minister had furnished wrong information about his education. The prime ministers office and government have denied the charge. The case will now be heard on May 8. The Congress, however, used the warrant to ask the Prime Minister why he was so secretive about his education. Dont People of India have a right to know educational qualification of their Prime Minister? What is so secret about it, party leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted on Tuesday. Don't People of India have a right to know educational qualification of their Prime Minister ? What is so secret about it ? digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) April 11, 2017 Why is Modi so secretive of his educational qualification ? Obviously he has lied to the People about his education. digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) April 11, 2017 Why is Modi so secretive of his educational qualification ? Obviously he has lied to the People about his education. The Congress leader then went on to say that the PM had lied so many times that one more lie wont make a difference. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On February 5, Mexican journalist Martin Mendez Pineda crossed into the United States, requesting asylum after he received death threats in his home state of Guerrero , in the south of the country. He presented all the necessary documents, following procedure to the letter of the law, providing proof that his life was in danger. Mexican journalist Martin Mendez Pineda. Cortesia More information Un periodista mexicano lleva mas de dos meses detenido en EEUU tras pedir asilo More than two months later, Mendez Pineda is being held in detention in El Paso, Texas, fearful that he may be deported back to Mexico at any time, with the US authorities saying they will not release him because they believe he may well flee while awaiting a decision on his asylum request. This is criminalizing asylum: he has been denied the right to post bond for no reason. This has to be seen as a political attack on the Mexican community living on the border, says Mendezs lawyer, Carlos Spector, blaming the tough immigration policies introduced by Donald Trump since he took office in January. It doesnt matter whether you are an asylum seeker or an immigrant with no papers, this is a shift toward a police state, says Spector. So far, the Mexican authorities have said nothing about Mendezs case Mendez, aged 26, worked at the Novedades de Acapulco newspaper, where, in February 2016, he published a story about abuses by federal police. A month later, six armed men turned up at his house and threatened to kill him. He moved to the Mexican border city of Tijuana, more than 3,000 kilometers from Acapulco, but the death threats continued. A friend and former colleague at Novedades says Mendez grew up in one of Acapulcos toughest districts and that he is used to the violence that has escalated there in recent years. But this latest episode was the straw that broke the camels back, she says, asking for anonymity. This has to be seen as a political attack on the Mexican community living on the border Carlos Spector, Martin Mendezs lawyer In March, Mendez established that the threat to his life was credible. What would normally happen after that is that an asylum seeker in the United States would be released by a special court. But US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) believes Mendez, who was going to stay with a relative who holds a US passport, is a flight risk. The surprising thing is that Martin has passed the test; they know that his life is in danger and they know that Mexico is a dangerous place for journalists, says Emmanuel Colombie, the Latin American representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is following the case. More than 100 journalists have been murdered in Mexico since 2000, and the country was ranked 149th out of 180 countries in RSFs 2016 World Press Freedom Index. Murdered Mexican journalist Cecilio Pineda. Facebook In a recent telephone conversation recorded with his former colleague at Novedades, Mendez explains his situation: The [ICE] strategy is lengthy detentions, they could keep me for a month, two months, up to a year Theyll let me out when they decide, but I dont know when, I should already be out. So far, the Mexican authorities have said nothing about Mendezs case. This is a very important case because it could set a precedent for Mexican journalists and others seeking asylum in the United States, says Spector. Cecilio Pineda, also from Guerrero, was murdered on March 2; over the following three weeks, two more journalists were killed in Mexico, Miroslava Breach and Ricardo Monlui. English version by Nick Lyne. After Bihar went dry, Bacchus lovers have been running to neighbouring states like Jharkhand, West Bengal and even the Himalayan country, Nepal, to quench their thirst. And the states have also not been far behind in encashing on the growing demand. The ban in Bihar has come as a blessing in disguise for these states as footfall of tipplers continues to surge everyday. In West Bengal, there has been a flood of applications for liquor shop licence, specially from the small towns in bordering areas, after Bihar went dry. These towns include even nondescript, dusty places like Dalkhola, Itahar, Ramganj, Islampur, Kumedpur, Bhaluka or Godai Maharajpur in Malda district. In the last few months, Bengal state excise department has received numerous applications for both on-shop and off-shop licences for India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) as well as the country liquor variety from these little known locations. Sources in the state excise department told HT that during the last three months, they had received at least 150 such licence applications from many bordering towns. And, most of the applications have been approved. For, West Bengal has been quick to realise that with total prohibition in Bihar, tipplers have been heading to Bengal to quench their thirst. This will provide a big boost to the cash-strapped West Bengal government, which is increasingly turning to liquor to raise revenue. Interestingly, during 2016-17 - the period when Bihar imposed total prohibition on April 5, 2016 - West Bengal realised Rs 4,778.29 crore against an excise revenue target of Rs 4,698 crore. In 2015-16, the target was Rs 3,891 crore. Hoping to ride the wave and capitalise on the slump in Bihars excise revenue, West Bengal has now raised the bar to Rs 5,781 crore for 2017-18. The Mamata Banerjee government has already taken two major steps to raise revenue from excise collection. It has cut down on dry days from 12 to 4.5 a year and has also allowed bars to keep their shutters open till 2am on weekends. With prohibition in Bihar, illegal liquor joints had mushroomed along the Bengal-Bihar border, and most shops were unlicenced. The state excise department does not have enough manpower to check this menace. So, it is better that licence is granted and the liquor business run in a legal manner, enabling the state also to get its share of the revenue, said an excise official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Condemning Pakistans military court for sentencing Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death despite a parliamentary government in place, Panthers Party leader and Supreme Court lawyer Bhim Singh on Tuesday said that he will move a petition before the top court of the neighbouring country against the capital punishment. Addressing the media here, Bhim Singh said, The judiciary in Pakistan, especially the Supreme Court of Pakistan, is highly judicious and justice shall be done to Jadhav. Read more | Kulbhushan Jadhav is Hindustan ka beta: Sushma warns Pak of impact on ties Singh, known for filing public interest litigations (PILs) in the apex court against human rights violations, said that the legal aid committee chaired by him comprises senior advocates of India and Pakistan. It has been giving free legal aid to Indian prisoners in Pakistan and vice-versa. Through his writ petitions, he said, the Supreme Court has released 700 prisoners and deported them to Pakistan. The Panthers Party is providing free legal aid to 54 Indian prisoners in Pakistan. If needed, I shall take the matter (Jadhavs case) to the International Court of Justice at the Hague, he said. Bhim Singh accused the Election Commission of discriminating against the people of Srinagar parliamentary constituency by holding the polls there and putting off the Anantnag byelections at the last moment. He said he will move the Supreme Court for cancellation of the byelections in both the constituencies. Most media publications in Pakistan have prominently featured reports on the death sentence awarded to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav for alleged espionage, and the subsequent condemnation by New Delhi. A release by Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations stated that the field general court martial had sent Jadhav to the gallows for espionage and sabotage activities. The move has dealt a big blow to the already frayed ties between the two countries, bringing even half-hearted back-channel efforts to normalise the situation to a screeching halt. While the Indian media decried what they termed was a kangaroo court verdict, news portals in the neighbouring country lent a lot of space to protestations from New Delhi especially external affairs minister Sushma Swarajs description of the death sentence as premeditated murder. An article in The Nation, titled Death to spy spikes tension, echoed Pakistans official line of Jadhav being a high-profile Indian spy. Jadhav confessed before a magistrate... that he was tasked by the Indian intelligence agency to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities aimed at destabilising and waging war against Pakistan... it said. The headline of another article in the Daily Times, authored by strategic affairs editor Imtiaz Gul, simply read: Be ready for more acrimony from India. Guls article predicted that India was certain to put pressure on Pakistan to protect Jadhav. New Delhi has a voice in the world that is heard - even if it may be on the wrong side of the fence. Through strategic communication offensive, New Delhi will not only bring pressure upon Pakistan but also try sullying its image in whatever way it can, it said. A reaction copy in The Dawn cited experts as saying that the move to hang Jadhav was the right thing to do. For a long time now, Pakistan has struggled to prove Indias involvement in Pakistans destabilisation. Our ambassadors have gone to various countries looking for help in that matter even showing proof but to no avail. Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for Indias retaliation, lieutenant general (retired) Talat Masood said in the article. It also lay emphasis on Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asifs statement that the death penalty should serve as a warning to those plotting against the country. If India takes the matter up internationally, Pakistan will defend its decision. Kulbhushans sentence is a warning for anyone with anti-Pakistan sentiments. The justice system will come down with full force on people working to sabotage Pakistan, Asif told Geo News. Soon after the sentencing, India summoned the Pakistani high commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over a demarche describing the court proceedings as farcical. It also put the release of several Pakistani prisoners, scheduled for Wednesday, on hold. Broadband internet services resumed after two days in the restive Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, though the region remained shut in response to a separatist strike over the killing of eight people in this weekends Srinagar bypoll violence. But mobile internet services were yet to be restored. Businesses and educational institutions were closed for the second consecutive day in Kashmir. Roads were deserted; security checkpoints and pickets dotted every neighbourhood, and only a handful of people ventured out in the curfew-like nervous calm. The Election Commission announced re-vote in 38 polling stations in the parliamentary constituency straddling Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts on April 13. Jammu and Kashmir chief electoral officer Shantmanu said these stations are mainly in Budgam district, where most of the violent clashes were reported. In 33 polling stations, electronic voting machines were snatched and damaged hence not usable now. And in another five, zero polling was reported as voters could not reach booths because of the violence, he said. He explained that repolling was ordered for Thursday despite the tense situation because by-elections must be held in the Srinagar constituency before April 16. Polls should be held within six months of a Lok Sabha seat falling vacant. In Srinagar, the bypoll was necessitated after Tariq Hameed Karra, an MP of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), resigned in mid-September last year when a massive public unrest engulfed Kashmir over the killing of a young militant leader. Mobs disrupted Sundays vote, throwing stones and petrol bombs at security forces, in reaction to a separatist call to boycott the by-elections in Srinagar and Anantnag. The violence prompted authorities to suspend internet services in the region. The poll panel postponed the Anantnag bypoll from April 12 to May 25 because of the rough situation. Besides, chief minister Mehbooba Muftis brother and the PDPs candidate for Anantnag, Tasaduq Mufti, told reporters that the state government had written to the poll panel that elections couldnt be held in the current climate of unrest. Jailed separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said in a statement that peoples rejection of so-called parliamentary polls was a referendum against India. The people of Jammu Kashmir by rejecting the sham polls have sent a clear message to the world that they wont accept anything less than freedom. The Srinagar bypoll recorded a 7.14% voter turnout, the lowest in three decades. The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), another separatist group, said its chairman Yasin Malik has been remanded in jail for five more days. He was arrested on March 18. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the Budget session as a winner for the treasury benches as the government was able to secure the passage of many key bills in Parliament. Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting a day before the session ends, he also pitched for pushing the reforms and development agenda, asserting that there is a positive public mood in the favour of the ruling dispensation as it completes its third anniversary next month. This is a golden opportunity for us to lift the lives of the poor, the deprived...This is the time for doing more development and reforms, he said. The BJP MPs were also informed about a one-long programme to celebrate the governments third anniversary from May 24. Briefing reporters following the meeting, Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said that Modi called the session very constructive with the Lok Sabha passing 21 bills and the Rajya Sabha 14. These include the GST bills and also the politically important OBC bill. Referring to the massive win for BJP in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Prime Minister said the hope his government had generated among the masses in 2014 has turned into confidence. Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu addressed the party meet and outlined the one-month third anniversary programme, Kumar said. Heaping praise on Modi, Naidu referred to last nights meeting of 33 NDA constituents in which important allies like Parkash Singh Badal of Akali Dal and N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP spoke about his transformative leadership. Modi has emerged as the poors messiah, he claimed. On the occasion, Modi noted that it was the birth anniversary of Hanuman, a devotee of Lord Rama, and that he was a living example of a dedicated social worker which should inspire one and all. It is 7 pm on Monday. A man who has tailored himself on Mahatma Gandhis sartorial preferences in his early days, alights from a train at Muzaffarpur Junction. Donning a traditional Kathiawadi pagdi (headgear), kurta and dhoti,he is escorted to a cart parked outside the railway station by large number of students. Thus begins the recreation of a historic journey undertaken by the Mahatma 100 years ago. Followed by nearly 20 bullock carts and a large number of people on foot, the cart pulled by students passes through Muzaffarpur localities like Motijheel, Harisabha Chowk, Tower Chowk and Kalambagh Chowk, before reaching LS College (formerly GBB College) here. Called the Heritage Walk, the procession was, in fact, an attempt by the district administration to recreate Mahatma Gandhis visit to the town about a century ago. The recreation of the event was part of the year-long centenary celebrations of Gandhis Champaran satyagrah. READ: Plight of farmers same as when Gandhi launched Champaran Satyagrah in 1917, says his grandson Gandhi had spent five days in this north Bihar district in 1917 and met local residents as well as prominent freedom fighters, before leaving for Champaran to espouse the cause of indigo farmers, who were being exploited by British colonial planters . It was in Champaran that Gandhi had started satyagrah, a non-violent movement against the then British rulers. Tirhut commissioner Atul Prasad was present at the historical Gandhi Koop (Gandhi Well) on LS College premises, to welcome the participants of the heritage walk. He said Gandhi, who had come here on the call of a farmer from Satvaria village of Chanpatia block, now in West Champaran, was received at the station by Acharya JB Kriplani, who then taught English and history at the Muzaffarpur college, and his students. Gandhijis tonga was then pulled to the college by Acharya Kriplani and his students. We have tried to recreate the event, said Prasad. When Gandhiji arrived here about a century ago, the then commissioner was in the role of a villain, as he was a Britisher. The incumbent commissioner (Prasad), by contrast, is proud to welcome the participants of the heritage walk, Prasad said. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, principal AN Yadav said the heritage walk was an attempt to give GenNext an opportunity to understand the essence of Gandhis philosophy as well as the spirit and intent of the supreme sacrifices made by freedom fighters. Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Tuesday said that his state has taken steps towards prohibition and as part of that, liquor sale will not be allowed in villages having a population up to 3,000. The sale of liquor has already been prohibited in villages having up to 2,000 population and now the government would keep villages with population up to 3,000 away from alcohol, Singh told reporters at the helipad in Munger, Bihar. The chief minister further said that his government has already done away with Kuchiya Pratha (outsourcing liquor sale to middlemen/contractors) and liquor is sold only from government outlets. He was here to meet Swami Niranjanand Saraswati of the Munger Yoga Peeth and congratulate him for getting a Padam Shri award recently. Sarawati hails from Rajangaon in Chhattisgarh but left home in early childhood to join Munger Yoga peeth in Bihar which he is currently heading. Earlier, before proceeding towards Munger, Singh paid a courtesy visit to his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar at the latters residence in Patna. Kumar presented a replica of Lord Buddha to Singh. At Munger, the helicopter in which Singh had to return to Patna had some trouble taking off due to high speed winds and sand dust. But, the administration quickly sprinkled water on the ground after which the helicopter took off. An unidentified man threatened to upload a morphed nude photograph of a minor on Facebook but police in Rajasthan allegedly victim-shamed the girl and asked her to delete her social media accounts, family-members have said. A police official in Udaipur also allegedly blamed her Bohra blamed for giving too much of freedom to their girls and ridiculed her parents for letting the minor have a cellphone, the minors elder sister, Saleha Paatwala, said in a Facebook post that has drawn praise for her courage. Saleha found support from Union women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi who responded to a Twitter post seeking help and asked police to take action against the culprit. The incident underpinned what many describe as insensitivity of police in handling cases of cyber stalking, a crime in India under stringent laws enacted in 2000. Activists say that only a fraction of incidents of cyber stalking a term used to describe online harassment are reported as women victims themselves are seen with suspicion due to deep-rooted patriarchy and misogyny. Convictions are even rare. According to Saleha, the unidentified man had sent the morphed photograph to the 17-year-olds account in Instagram, an online photo-sharing platform. The accused followed it up with a message to her threatening to upload the photograph on Facebook. The accused sent the photo and message from a handle called @aryan6687, she said. After the teenager immediately informed her family, they approached the local police station to lodge an FIR. My father and sister went to the Dhan Mandi police station in Udaipur to lodge an FIR. The cops said such complaints were taken by the cyber cell. The Suraj Pole branch of the cyber cell lodged an FIR but said they only deal with ATM-related cyber crimes, Saleha said in her Facebook post. She said her father and sister went back to the Dhan Mandi police station where they were asked to come back the next day (Sunday). On Sunday, the woman said, they were directed to the circle inspector (CI) and her sister narrated the incident again to a lawyer. The lawyer, CI, and an officer decided to morally lecture my sister and father. The officer said, Aap Bohra logo ko parents se bhaut azadi mili hui hai isliye ap logo ke sath ye bahut hota hai, she said. Dear @Salehapw1, quickly forward your contact number through DM. I will take immediate action. https://t.co/EoHgUuNG5L Maneka Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) April 10, 2017 She said the police official, SHO of Dhan Mandi police station Rajesh Sharma, told them to delete the social media accounts. Why do you post pictures on social media? What he has done with you, he will do it with others as well. You should delete your social media accounts in order to be safe, she quoted the police official as saying. The woman said that the SHO told her family that the matter has been escalated to the cyber cell and was under consideration. She claimed that when they asked for a copy of the FIR, police officials told them that the complaint has not converted into FIR as it was till being probed. The woman then sought help me from the WCD ministry, which has a hashtag #HelpMeWCD for people who want to report a crime. Gandhi responded and assured the woman of immediate action. My family was disappointed. Then I got a mail from the WCD ministry in our favour instructing all the concerned departments to do thorough investigation and to take strict action against the culprit, the woman told HT. The SHO of Dhan Mandi, however, denied the allegations and said the matter was under consideration and the cyber team was probing the matter thoroughly. Juhapura the largest Muslim ghetto in Gujarat has become one of its first localities to propose setting up a modern bovine shelter, 10 days after the state government made cow slaughter punishable with life imprisonment. The government has amended the states bovine protection legislation to award life imprisonment to offenders, making it the countrys strictest law against cow slaughter. It came a few months before the commencement of the state assembly elections in December 2017. Juhapura, which is home to around five lakh Muslims, was set up in 1973 to rehabilitate flood victims in western Ahmedabad. The colony has attracted community members from every economic stratum from elite Muslims to the displaced poor during riots that occurred sporadically in the 1985-2002 period. In the run-up to the crucial assembly election to be held later this year, Juhapura residents have begun holding mohalla meetings against cow and calf slaughter. The campaign was also part of the birth anniversary celebrations of Hazarat Ali, one of the biggest events celebrated by the community, in Juhapura-Sarkhej area on Monday night. Muslim leaders from the area said they have launched the campaign to prevent cow slaughter from becoming a rallying point for those indulging in divisive politics. We have written to the animal husbandry department about setting up a gaushala (cow shelter). Soon, our delegation will meet chief minister Vijay Rupani. Hopefully, we will be able to set up a shelter by the end of this year, said Anwar Shiekh of the Muhibban-E-Ahlul Bait Foundation. Islam does not allow any kind of theft. Many groups are involved in stealing cows and then slaughtering them. We have asked community members to keep away from such elements, said Imtiyaz Ladha, another leader. Our community believes in preserving cows. I personally rear three cows in Khanpur. Juhapuras initiative of setting up a cow shelter is welcome, said Dariyapurs Congress MLA Gyasuddin Shiekh. He is one of the only two Muslim MLAs in the states 182-member assembly. The other one, Javeed Pirzada, also represents the Congress. Muslim leaders said they will request the government as well as some Jain groups that own unutilised land around Juhapura to allot space for the shelter. They plan to run the gaushala through a trust or NGO. As we are followers of sufism, we respect the sentiments of others. Besides, why let people indulging in divisive politics take advantage of such an issue? Anwar asked. According to a report tabled by the Comptroller and Audit General (CAG) in March, nine slaughterhouses are located in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation limits. These establishments, which supply chicken and mutton, are located in Jamalpur and surrounding areas in the walled city. There are nearly 300 chicken and meat shops in Juhapura. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday, called for effective measures to combat forces of intolerance, which were becoming a big problem for the country and society. Intolerance in the country is growing with each passing day. A game of hatred is being played by some people who use the name of Gandhi for their selfish ends but have no faith in his ideology and principles. It is time to curb such forces, by application of force, if necessary, said Kumar. He was addressing a large gathering at a programme organised as part of the centenary celebrations of Gandhis Champaran satyagrah in 1917, when he took up the cause of farmers being tortured and exploited by the British indigo planters. Making out a strong case for a tolerant, and liquor-free, society, as favoured by Gandhi, the chief minister said that the relevance of Gandhian thought had gone up manifold in the modern day world, ravaged, as it was, by terrorism, instability and conflict. Gandhiji fought against social evils all his life. We have taken lessons from his teachings and ideology, to formulate many people oriented welfare schemes. Liquor ban and reservation for women in local bodies are examples of our commitment to the great mans ideals, he said. Kumar said his government would soon formulate new schemes to eradicate social evils like early marriage and dowry, among others. To proceed further on the path to social reform will be our true tribute to Gandhiji and the ideals he stood for, he stated. The chief minister urged the people not to attending wedding ceremonies, organized by those people, who took dowry. We are going to launch a strong campaign against the dowry system soon, he announced. Enumerating the gains of total liquor ban in Bihar, imposed a year ago, Kumar called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enforce a complete liquor ban across the country. He had imposed prohibition during his tenure as chief minister of Gujarat. Now, he heads the central government with big majority. So, the onus is on PM Modi to impose a country-wide ban of liquor, without thinking about any loss in revenue, said the chief minister. Speaking at the function, Bihar finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui said only Gandhian thought and ideology could save the country in the prevailing atmosphere of suspicion and uncertainty. The Mexican embassy in Uruguay on Monday strongly criticized what it described as the shameful and deplorable racist attitude of a poster in a Montevideo bar that read: No dogs or Mexicans allowed. The sign, according to the owners of the Coffee Shop bar , made reference to a line delivered in a scene from Quentin Tarantinos The Hateful Eight, in which American actor Samuel L. Jackson appears. A photo of the Uruguayan bar in question. EFE More information Mexico protesta por un cartel en un bar de Uruguay que prohibia la entrada a mexicanos y perros Via a statement sent to the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry, and to which news agency EFE has had access, the Mexican embassy said that it considered the Uruguayan establishment to have displayed a racist, discriminatory and xenophobic attitude, adding that it condemns and strictly rejects the public display of a poster that is offensive to, and discriminates against, Mexican nationals. It called for the respect and solidarity that has always prevailed between Mexico and Uruguay, and called for the countrys Foreign Ministry to demand that the business immediately and definitively stop fomenting insulting attitudes that are contrary to the values and principals of Uruguayan society. For their part, the owners of the business explained on Saturday, via their Facebook page, that the whole incident was a big misunderstanding. In this case in particular, the phrase is taken from the Quentin Tarantino movie The Hateful Eight, which takes place in the middle of the 19th century, they explained. We understand that it could have been accidentally insulting, which is why it is necessary for us to make clear that we would never make such a statement seriously. They added that absolutely no one has ever been discriminated against in our establishment. According to the local media outlet Montevideo Portal, city authorities in Montevideo opened up an investigation into the cafe and sent notice to the National Human Rights Institution and the Ombudsman in the Uruguayan capital. English version by Simon Hunter. A Pakistani military tribunal sentencing former Indian navy official Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of spying and sabotage is an act of desperation, say experts. They are of the opinion that the Pakistan army may have taken the lead in the regard for obvious reasons. This seems like a desperate move by the Pakistan army, said TCA Raghavan, former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan. He said the neighbours army needed a reason to divert attention from a series of terror strikes in Pakistan and its inability to contain them. This (Jadhavs sentencing) could well be a diversionary tactic. The Pakistan army is not getting the success it thought it would in the fight against terrorists, Raghavan added. Former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh said Pakistan was facing isolation on the issue of terrorism internationally and had taken a desperate measure to reclaim some ground and tell the world that it was a victim of terrorism from India. Pakistan may think this will help them. But the farcical trial and the way they have gone about with the entire process in a clumsy manner will not lend any credibility to their efforts, he said. Had they got enough evidence, they would have resorted to other means to put pressure on India. Since they didnt have much evidence, they took the route of a military tribunal court, Mansingh said. Strategic affairs expert Uday Bhaskar said the China angle, too, could not be ruled out. Pakistan has been saying India is out to damage the China-Pakistan economic corridor and hence, this could be a message for the Chinese. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The NDA government is preparing to fix portion sizes of dishes served by star hotels and restaurants, a fortnight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about wastage of food in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme. If a person can eat only two prawns, why should he or she be served six? If a person eats two idlis, why serve four! Its wastage of food and also money people pay for something that they dont eat, said Ram Vilas Paswan, minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution. The ministry is drafting a questionnaire for hotels and restaurants to explain what dish sizes they should serve to a customer. Read more: As India prepares to fix portion sizes in restaurants, heres how the world curbs food wastage They are the experts. They should tell us the maximum amount of a dish a person can eat. You go to a Chinese restaurant; they give you so much (of food). We are going to call them (stakeholders) for a meeting. The PM is concerned about food wastage and so we are going to issue instructions to these hotels (about the amount of food to be served), Paswan told HT on Monday. He, however, clarified the instructions would be applicable to standard hotels and not dhabas that usually serve thalis. In his Mann Ki Baat last month, Modi had flagged the issue of food wastage at feasts and termed it as injustice to the poor. Paswans latest move comes in addition to a slew of consumer-centric proposals that the ministry has incorporated in a new draft bill to amend Consumer Protection Act. The draft bill is at present under law ministrys consideration. In the new bill, the government has dropped the provision for imprisonment of celebrities for misleading advertisements; instead, a jail term has been proposed for producers or manufacturers. We dropped it (jail term for celebrities) after the group of ministers (GoM) decided to look at how other countries dealt with them. They either imposed a fine or ban (on celebrities) and so we decided to go for the same, said Paswan. As per the new proposal, if the producer is found responsible for misleading ads, the punishment would range from a fine to cancellation of license to a jail term, depending on the frequency of the offence. Read: Food India wastes can feed all of Bihar for a year, shows govt study Speaking on the controversy over cow vigilantism, Paswan said the PM has been clear from the beginning that there cant be goonda raj in the name of cow protection. What happened in Alwar (where a man was killed by cow vigilantes last week) was goonda-gardi (criminal act). Even an organisation like the RSS had to say this, said the Lok Janshakti Party leader. Amid speculation about the ruling NDAs likely presidential candidate, Paswan said that there should be one switch board and in todays context, its the PM. He (Modi) knows the direction the country should take. He hasnt said anything about Ram janmabhoomi or Babri Masjid or Article 370 (that gave special status to J&K), said Paswan, referring to what once defined BJPs ideological and political agenda. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Search engine Google paid special tribute to Indian artist Jamini Roy on his 130th birth anniversary by sketching an eye-catching Doodle inspired by his Black Horse painting. One of the most significant early artists in India, Roy portrayed rural scenario, ordinary people, animals and folk cults of the time and place. Born into a moderately prosperous family of land-owners in Beliatore village of the Bankura district, West Bengal, Roy went to study at the Government College of Art in Kolkata where he trained in British academic style of painting in 1916. Read: For arts sake: Meet the obsessed collector of Jamini Roys paintings But when it was time for Roy to develop his style of art, he returned to the folk and craft of his homeland. Untitled: Three Women (L). Untitled: Santhal Girl (Flower). When Jamini Roy was learning art and craft of paintings, he was heavily influenced by the wave of nationalism in the country. He took inspiration from East Asian calligraphy, folk arts and crafts traditions and from the 1920s onwards his paintings reflected the innocence and beauty of rural lives. Jamini Roy, who died in 1972, received several honours including, Padma Bhushan in 1954 and Viceroys gold medal in an all India exhibition for one of his work in 1934. Haryana bureaucrats violate the high court directions in contempt petitions with impunity, according to a sharply-worded letter dispatched by chief secretary DS Dhesi to administrative secretaries. It is now being repeatedly pointed out by the judges hearing contempt petitions that period fixed in the (Punjab and Haryana) high court orders for compliance of the court directions is rarely being adhered to and rather violated with impunity, Dhesi, the states top bureaucrat, has pointed out in his April 7 two-page demi-official letter. This is not for the first time that the chief secretary (CS) has cautioned the officers. In June 2015, too, the CS had directed all administrative secretaries of all departments, boards and corporations to ensure that replies/written statements are filed in all writ petitions three days prior and in contempt petitions seven working days prior to the date fixed for hearing. The officers were told that in case instructions were not complied with, the official(s) concerned will be liable for the costs (fine) imposed by the court, besides the departmental proceedings. However, the CS letter brings to the fore that despite earlier instructions the officers are not taking necessary steps. The HC has pointed out that neither the orders are complied with within the time prescribed nor any extension in time is sought from the courts giving any justified reasons for extension. Also, the replies are not filed a week before the date of hearing. It was also pointed out that when contempt petitions are filed and notices are issued by the courts even then after receipt of contempt notice, no action is taken promptly and process for compliance of court order is started a week before the date of hearing fixed in the contempt petition, said Dhesi. The courts have also conveyed that if citizens are forced to file the contempt petitions for non-compliance of the orders then the courts have to presume that non-compliance is wilful and that the official concerned is guilty of contempt even if orders are complied with after expiry of period prescribed or after filing of the contempt petitions. The officers failing to stick to the time schedule fixed by the courts for compliance of orders forces the court to summon higher officers for personal appearance, the letter says. The CS has stated that in case the court order isnt complied with within the time prescribed due to any valid reason, the department/official can seek extension of time so that citizens are not forced to file contempt petitions. Requesting the officers to adhere to the time schedule fixed by the court for compliance of directions and that replies must be filed a week before the date of hearing, the CS reiterated: failing which the officers concerned will be personally liable for non-compliance of court orders and the costs if any imposed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the income tax department to investigate how confidential data of a Right To Information applicants tax return was given to a third party without his consent, exposing the possibility of personal income data of millions of tax payers getting leaked. There is an emergent requirement to investigate the root cause of the leakage of confidential data filed by the tax payers and plug the loopholes forthwith. It is essential to protect the confidential financial data filed by millions of tax payers from falling into wrong hands in the larger public interest, said information commissioner Bimal Julka in his order directing the Income Tax department to conduct an investigation. Badal Satapathy, a resident of Bhubaneswar, told the commission that his income tax returns for financial years 2005 to 2011 were downloaded in 2012 and given to third party Lipipuspa Rozalina without his consent. Satapathy claimed that he was threatened on the basis of the personal information leaked and he informed the income tax department about it but no action was taken. He then filed an RTI application with the IT department seeking reply on how the information was given without his consent and what legal action has been taken against the person(s) responsible for leaking his personal income details. After not getting any response from the IT department even though his application was transferred 16 times to different wings, Satapathy filed an appeal with the information watchdog --- the CIC. Satapathy told the commission that some unscrupulous employees of the department were selling highly confidential financial data of tax payers to third parties without their knowledge or any court orders. Responding to his allegation, the income tax department said they were not aware whether any particular official has downloaded his income tax returns saying that creation of user identification and secrecy of data was responsibility of the regional computer centre. The department also said that they ordered an inquiry but failed to provide details of the investigations to the CIC. The commission expressed its dismay over the departments reply saying they were baffled as it claims exemption from giving information on the ground that it belongs to third party. The commission cited several high court and Supreme Court orders to state that income tax returns were personal information and cannot be shared without consent of the tax payer. In the present case, the personal and confidential information is alleged to have been compromised and no satisfactory response regarding status of the investigation was provided, the commission said while directing the Income Tax department to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 30 days to the applicant. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ram Vilas Paswan, minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution told HT on Monday that the NDA government is preparing to fix portion sizes of dishes served by hotels and restaurants, as a measure to curb food wastage. Concerns over food wastage abound across the world according to the UNs Food and Agriculture organisation, roughly one-third of the food produced for human consumption currently goes to waste every year, even as millions starve. In developing countries 40% of losses occur at post-harvest and processing levels while in industrialized countries more than 40% of losses happen at retail and consumer levels. The governments latest move seems to be aimed at tackling the latter, but capping portion sizes in restaurants is not the only way. Here is a look at the measures adopted by other countries to curtail food wastage: France France has the strictest laws regarding food wastage at the retail-level. On February 4, 2016, the French national assembly unanimously voted to ban supermarkets from throwing unsold food that had not spoiled. The law stipulates that supermarkets must donate edible, unsold food to charities. Supermarkets are also barred from deliberately spoiling the food they dump -- in some cases, supermarkets had resorted to bleaching food in order to prevent the poor from foraging from dustbins. Retailers in France now redistribute almost 100,000 tonnes to charity. United States According to a 2015 National Resources Defense Council report, the US wastes 40% of the food it produces. If those losses could be brought down by just 15%, it would be enough to feed more than 25 million Americans every year. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, signed into law by Bill Clinton, encourages restaurants and supermarkets to donate food to nonprofits by minimising the donors liability. The act eases the process of donating unspoiled, still wholesome food to charities. The US also passed the Federal Food Donation Act in 2008, which states that while awarding contracts for food purchases over valued at over $25,000, federal agencies must make provision for contractors to donate apparently wholesome food to nonprofit organizations. United Kingdom UKs Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into food waste after figures showed that a whopping 8 million tonnes of food is wasted post-manufacture in Britain. In the UK, government subsidies make it cheaper for businesses to turn food into fertiliser rather than donating to the poor. The UK Parliament is now considering a legislation to ban food waste, asking stakeholders including farmers and consumer groups to weigh in. Charity organisations such as The Real Junk Food Project have also stepped into this gap, by turning food meant for waste into meals for the poor. Germany In 2012, the German federal agriculture ministry started a too good for the bin initiative, where consumers could gain more information about when to throw away foods, and what the best before date (MHD) actually implied. Some restaurants in Germany have also lead the way by asking patrons to pay extra if they do not finish the food on their plate. The rationale behind is it is to encourage people to order only how much they will eat, not how much they will throw away. Scotland Scotland was able to reduce food wastage in restaurants through a simple solution -- offering customers branded doggy bags so they could get leftover food packed. The Good to Go scheme was piloted by Zero Waste Scotland, a government-funded organisation that aims to reduce waste,and within two years, more than 100 restaurants signed up for the programme. Restaurants that have adopted the scheme also ask consumers whether they want to change portion sizes or really order the side dishes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Somali security forces have liberated an Indian cargo ship from the pirates who hijacked it, but only two of the ten-man crew were rescued, authorities in central Somalia said Monday. Abdulahi Ahmed Ali, district commissioner for the pirate-hub region of Hobyo, told local press the Al Kauser ship had been held off the Indian Ocean coast near Yemen after the hijacking on March 31. We have the boat and two of the crew members but eight other members of the crew are still missing because the pirates took them off the boat, the commissioner said. Ali said the two rescued crew members from India were healthy and that authorities were seeking their colleagues. Their abductors are believed to be holding them near Hobyo. The pirates had refused a call by the local authorities to release the vessel and local forces forcefully engaged them, local security official Qoje Abdulahi told AFP by phone. Somali security forces exchanged fire with the hijackers who fled to the shore aboard a fast boat, taking eight of their hostages with them, Ali said. The Al Kauser was the third vessel seized by pirates in less than a month off the coast of Somalia, with experts warning that ships have lowered their guard in the five years since the height of the piracy crisis. The Indian ship was carrying cargo including wheat and sugar from Dubai via Yemen to Somalias Bossaso port when it came under attack, owner Isaak Them told AFP. The president of the Kutch Seafarers Association, Adam Them, from the western state of Gujarat where the vessel originated, told AFP last week that the pirates had made ransom demands. Pirate mother ship Somali pirates began staging attacks in 2005, seriously disrupting a major international shipping route and costing the global economy billions of dollars. At the peak of the piracy crisis in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 boats were held. Though anti-piracy measures ended attacks on commercial vessels, fishing boats have continued to face attacks sporadically. However on March 13, pirates seized the Aris 13 oil tanker and eight Sri Lankan hostages in the first attack on a large merchant vessel by Somali pirates since 2012. The pirates claimed to be driven by anger over illegal fishing in Somali waters which has long been seen as a key grievance behind piracy in the country. While some hostages have been held for as long as five years, the pirates released the Aris 13 and its crew just four days after it was seized. A week later a local cargo dhow was hijacked and taken out to sea, with the Oceans Beyond Piracy NGO warning it may be used as a mother ship for further attacks against larger vessels. An Indian man is set to be deported from Dubai after he abused a woman journalist on social media and posted offensive posts against Islam on Facebook, according to a media report. Rana Ayyub, an investigative journalist based in New Delhi, exposed the vulgar messages on Twitter sent to her by the man, following which some of her followers reported the matter to the management of the UAE company where the Indian worked, Gulf News reported. The 31-year-old employee identified as BB, from Kerala, joined Alpha Paint in Dubai, a sister company of National Paints in Sharjah, in 2015. He worked as a customer service employee. BB sent an abusive message with sexual overtones to Ayyub on Facebook messenger, the report said. Ayyub posted a screenshot of the message on April 6: Just a sample of the filth i receive on my facebook page. Time to name and shame this pervert pic.twitter.com/e6xeA019JF Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 6, 2017 Under the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cybercrime law, any form of misuse of a computer, smart device or an electronic network could fetch the violator, if found guilty, a lengthy jail term and/or a heavy fine. The company said it terminated the expats contract and will pay for his tickets and his rights according to the UAE labour law. The mans visa was cancelled on Monday and he was set to be deported, the report said. Shadi Al Refai, human resource manager of the company, said that they received the complaint by email on April 7 from a man saying that one of the staff members abused a woman on social media. The email included a copy of the abusive message sent by the BB. We verified the accuracy of the information and checked on the name of the man. On April 8, at 8 am the termination order of (BB) was issued, Al Refai said. The management summoned BB who admitted sending the abusive messages and promised not to repeat his action. When we checked on his Facebook account, we saw the abusive message which was sent to that lady in addition to offensive posts against Islam, he said. Ayyub told Gulf News that she will be filing a police case against the accused in New Delhi. A UAE-based company sacked an Indian employee for abusing a fellow Indian on the social media and for posting offensive posts against Islam on Facebook, a media report said. Rana Ayyub, a well-known investigative journalist based in New Delhi, exposed the vulgar messages on Twitter sent to her by the man, following which some of her followers reported the matter to the management of the UAE company where the Indian worked. The 31-year-old employee from Kerala was identified as BB. He joined Alpha Paint in Dubai, a sister company of National Paints in Sharjah, in 2015, the Gulf News reported on Monday. Ayyub posted a screenshot of the message one day last week, saying: Just a sample of the filth I receive on my Facebook page. Time to name and shame this pervert. Under the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cybercrime law, any form of misuse of a computer, smart device or an electronic network could fetch the violator, if found guilty, a lengthy jail term and/or a heavy fine. The company said it terminated the expats contract and will pay for his tickets and his rights according to the UAE labour law. The mans visa was cancelled on Monday and he was set to be deported, said the daily. Ayyub told Gulf News that she will be filing a police case against the accused in New Delhi. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that his country was peace loving but wasnt oblivious to defending its sovereignty and protecting independence as tensions with India mounted over a death sentence to former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. Sharifs comments came on a day foreign minister Sushma Swaraj warned Pakistan that bilateral ties would be hurt if Jadhav who was found guilty by a Pakistani army court of spying, espionage and waging war against the state was hanged. We want a peaceful neighbourhoodshared prosperity rather than mutual suspicionat the same time, despite our earnest desire for peaceful co-existence, we cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence, Sharif told cadets at an air force academy, according to Geo TV. Jadhav was arrested in March last year in the restive Balochistan province and accused of being a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) agent, who was fuelling the Baloch separatist movement and attempting to sabotage the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. India denies the charges. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder, Swaraj said in the Rajya Sabha, stressing that the Indian government will leave no stone unturned to save Hindustan ka beta Jadhav. Home minister Rajnath Singh also assured Parliament that all necessary steps would be taken to give Jadhav justice. Difficult talks await Tillerson in Moscow The United States will "hold to account" any government that commits atrocities against innocent people, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Monday, as key US allies met to work out a common stance on Syria. Tillerson spoke at an Italian war memorial before a meeting of foreign ministers from the G7 industrialized nations, which was dominated by the diplomatic fallout from the unexpected US missile strike on a Syrian airbase last week. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson said in a short statement commemorating a 1944 German Nazi massacre in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. On Wednesday, the US Secretary of State will travel to Moscow to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Tillerson said Russia should do more to meet commitments it made in 2013 to guarantee the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons. "That will part of the discussions when I visit Moscow next week is to call upon Foreign Minister Lavrov and the Russian government to fulfill the obligation it made to the international community when it agreed to be the guarantor of the elimination of the chemical weapons," he told ABC on Sunday. "And why Russia has not been able to achieve that is unclear to me. I don't draw conclusions of complicity at all, but clearly they've been incompetent and perhaps they've just simply been out-maneuvered by the Syrians." Russia has an enormous impact on Bashar al-Assad and should be able to force Assad to stop using such weapons. "I hope Russia is thinking carefully about its continued alliance with Bashar al-Assad, because every time one of these horrific attacks occurs, it draws Russia closer into some level of responsibility," Tillerson said. Analysts in Russia think that Moscow cannot stop its support to Assads regime. If the sides fail to reach an agreement, then the conflict in Syria might lead to clashes in Syria as a result of which Russian anti-aircraft missile systems will try to destroy US aircraft or missiles. And that will lead to a completely different situation. Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. Jadhav, 46, was awarded the death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, upper house of parliament, the defence minister said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence sparked angry reaction from India which said Jadhavs execution would be treated as premeditated murder. Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law, he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. Its not premeditated murder, whats happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder), he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went on for three months, rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with iron hands. Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment, he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was a serving officer in the Indian Navy. The Pakistan Army had also released a confessional video of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. India warned Pakistan on Tuesday of serious consequences for their ties if it executed a retired naval officer convicted of spying, and said it will do all it can to save the Hindustan ka beta. As anger grew in India over the Pakistani military courts order, Islamabads defence minister Khawaja Asif said Kulbhushan Jadhav had the right to appeal within 60 days. Asif, however, defended the verdict, and said due process of law had been followed. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif too took an aggressive stand, saying though his country was peace-loving, we cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence. Jadhav, 46, was convicted on Monday for alleged spying, espionage and waging war against the state of Pakistan. He was arrested from Balochistan in March, 2016. India says the charges are concocted. We have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of premeditated murder. Our position on the matter is very clear. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told Rajya Sabha. I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter. Parliament is likely to adopt a resolution condemning Pakistan on Wednesday. But although the treasury bench and opposition parties came together in a rare show of solidarity for Jadhav, the Congress took a dig at the government asking why it cant get access to Yadav. Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue, Congress Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Pakistan on the day of marriage of Nawaz Sharifs daughter. Later, Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha the Indian high commission in Pakistan was told three hours after the verdict that New Delhi could be given conditional consular access to Jadhav provided New Delhi accepted Pakistans position on the case. She said foreign secretary S Jaishankar has already conveyed Indias position to the Pakistan high commissioner. The minister also said she was in touch with Jadhavs parents. We are extending our fullest support to them in this difficult situation. A strong sense of solidarity expressed by the House will give them more courage at this time, she said. Kulbhushan Jadhav is not just the son of his parents but he is the son of entire India. And to save this Hindustan ka beta, we will not only appeal in the Supreme Court or appoint a good lawyer, but will also talk to the President, if needed. We will try to save him in whichever way possible. In Pakistan, defence minister Asif refuted Indias assertion that the sentence was premeditated murder. He told the upper house of Parliament that the law of the land was applied and the trial of the alleged spy went on for three months. We have done absolutely nothing thats against the rules and regulations, but there is premeditated murder going on even today in Kashmir, Asif told the senators. The Pakistani media largely welcomed the death sentence against Jadhav. (With inputs from Kumar Uttam) Opposition parties raised in Parliament on Tuesday the issue of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhavs death sentence by a Pakistan military court. The court, which passed the sentence on Monday, charged Jadhav with being a R&AW agent who was fuelling the Baloch separatist movement and attempting to sabotage the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. India denied the charge, and said the hanging will be premeditated murder if carried out. New Delhi also summoned Pakistani high commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over a demarche describing the court proceedings as farcical and put on hold the release of several Pakistani prisoners, scheduled for Wednesday. Here are the updates from Parliament: 12.10pm: A senior Pakistan leader has himself expressed doubts about adequacy of claims in this case, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj tells Lok Sabha 12.07pm: Charges against Kulbhushan Jadhav are concocted, says Swaraj in Rajya Sabha. There is no evidence of wrong-doing by him. 12.03pm: Hindustan ke iss bete ko bachane ke liye acha vakeel khada karna toh bohot chhoti baat hai, hum President tak bhi baat karenge: EAM Swaraj ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 12.03pm: Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj tells Rajya Sabha the government will go out of the way to save him, calls Kulbhushan Jadhav a son of India. 11.56am: I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter, says Swaraj. 11.55am: There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder, says Swaraj in Rajya Sabha. 11.52am: Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj makes a statement in Rajya Sabha on Pakistans death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav. 11.46am: Protest near Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi against death sentence given to #KulbhushanJadhav pic.twitter.com/oa9w0iJJ5i ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 11.35am: The Indian government will do whatever possible for Kulbhushan Jadhav, want to assure all that justice will be done with him, home minister Rajnath Singh tells Lok Sabha. 11.32am: Kulbhushan Jadhav had a valid Indian visa, how can he be a spy? Consular access also been denied: says Singh. 11.30am: Home minister Rajnath Singh makes a statement in Lok Sabha over Pakistans death sentence to KulbhushanJadhav. 11.18am: BJPs Anurag Thakur demands Parliament should adopt a resolution condemning Pakistan. A message should from this house that Pakistan is a terror nation, he said. 11.10am: Congress Shashi Tharoor demands India should raise the matter at the international level, as Pakistan has violated the Geneva convention by denying consular access to Jadhav There are countries who have financed Pakistan. They should be told that if this thing has happened to an Indian national today, it can happen to their national as well. This is a serious matter. We should take it up as world forum as well, Tharoor said. 11.08am: AIMIMs Asaduddin Owaisi says the government should use its influence and try to bring Kulbhushan Jadhav back safe. 11.07am: Pakistan military court is a banana court where they have given a judgement without any evidence: Owaisi. 11.04am: The entire house is with Kulbhushan Jadhav, Home Minister will reply on the issue, says Union minister Ananth Kumar in Lok Sabha. 11.02am: Kharge says if the government is unable to save him, it will reveal weakness on its part. 11.01am: If he is executed, we will consider it premeditated murder, says Congress Mallikarjun Kharge. 11am: Congress raises the issue of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, in Lok Sabha. Tension mounted at Motihari in Bihars East Champaran district after one of the two persons succumbed to burn injuries suffered during an immolation bid on Tuesday. Naresh Srivastava, 54, who had suffered 70% burn, died during treatment at the Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH),150 km from Motihari. The other person, Suraj Baitha, 50, was battling for life with 50% burn injuries . Srivastava and Baitha, both employees of now closed sugar factory at Motihari, were brought to PMCH on Monday after they jumped into a fire, which was ignited using firewood and rubber tyres during a protest demanding release of their unpaid wages since 2002. The news of Srivastavas death spread like wildfire , leading to heavy deployment of police around the closed sugar factory. The immolation bid, announced earlier, was part of the ongoing agitation by sugar factory workers for the last few days. As the two persons burned, agitators resorted to brickbatting. Seeing the rampaging mob, the police initially resorted to baton charge and then lobbed teargas shells. When matters worsened, the cops opened fire, injuring nearly 15-20 persons in the melee, some reportedly receiving splinter injuries. READ: 20 hurt as police fire, cane mob after two attempt immolation in Gandhis Champaran Meanwhile, the workers were joined in their protest by farmers who were yet to receive payments for the sugarcane they had sold to factory. The protestors also received support from opposition parties, including BJP and Madhepura MP Pappu Yadavs Jan Adhikar Party (JAP). Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi and state-level functionaries of JAP have already met the the protesting mill workers and extended full support to them. The incident has cast a shadow on the centenary celebrations of the Mahatma Gandhi Champaran satyagrah, which kicked off on Monday. Gandhi had visited Champaran in 1917 to espouse the cause of indigo farmers. Governor Ramnath Kovind is scheduled to visit here on April 13 as part of Champaran satyagrah celebrations, followed by chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is expected to participate in the proposed satyagrah smriti yatra on April 18. (With inputs from Sagar Suraj in Motihari) Contentious issues like the Ayodhya dispute and triple talaq will be high on the agenda at a two-day meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) here later this week. The executive meeting of the Board is scheduled to be held at Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow on April 15-16, AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali told PTI. He said the meeting will discuss the Ayodhya dispute against the backdrop of the Supreme Courts suggestion for an out of court settlement and the issue of triple talaq. The matter of Babri mosque is very crucial and discussion will be held whether there can be any way for talks for its settlement, the Maulana said. The meet will also discuss ways to highlight the boards functions and activities through social media and strengthen its womens wing. The AIMPLB has been facing resentment from Muslim women who are victims of triple talaq and many of them have filed PILs in the Supreme Court challenging the provision of triple talaq and nikah halala, terming them regressive. The board, however, opposed the PILs and also filed a counter affidavit in the apex court defending Muslim Personal Laws and triple talaq. The Muslim Personal Law Board had recently told the Supreme Court that the pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary. The Board had also said that the validity of Mohammedan Law, founded essentially on the Holy Quran and sources based on it, cannot be tested on the particular provisions of the Constitution. The Centre had on October 7 last year opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism. The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, had referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court. The apex court had taken suo motu cognisance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or due to other marriages of their husband. Prime Minister Narendra Modis economic policies won an overwhelming endorsement from BJP allies, who insisted on Monday that only his leadership can provide a stable government needed for the sustained development of the country. This comes just two years ahead of the 2019 general election and months ahead of the presidential election in July. There was also a suggestion to scout for more allies for National Democratic Alliance, which currently has 32 members. The allies met in New Delhi for the second time after Modi came to power in 2014, and approved his pro-poor policies that helped the ruling alliance win states, such as Uttar Pradesh, with a brute majority. The meeting also passed a resolution affirming its faith in the bold and decisive leadership of Modi. It spoke about the clean government that Modi provided in the last three years, the geographical and political expansion of NDA, and the pro-poor schemes initiated by the Centre. The meeting discussed the recent assembly election results, which points out the popularity of NDA continues to strengthen, finance minister Arun Jaitley said afterwards. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party supported the governments economic policies but insisted more remains to be done. We have to strengthen the NDA and this sustainability will come with a stable government, which can provide inclusive growth, he said. BJP president Amit Shah had a 20-minute meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on the sidelines. The two parties allies at the Centre separately fought the 2014 assembly election in Maharashtra and the recent municipal corporation polls. Sena is a valued and old ally. We keep meeting, Jaitley said, dismissing speculation about the strained relationship between the two. Sonia to host dinner for party leaders Congress president Sonia Gandhi will host a dinner for party leaders and MPs on Tuesday. Gandhi, also chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), usually hosts a dinner for MPs during the budget session. The meeting will give party leaders an opportunity to discuss the current political situation in the country. It will be held in the Parliament House complex. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi told NDA allies on Monday night that there were no differences between them, though some of the partners made discordant noises over issues such as the ban on beef and liquor shops. Modi tried to reach out to the allies, delivering a simple message on Tuesday to the NDA constituents to remove anxieties they might have had about the Big Brother BJP. Aap hum hain, hum aap hain (you are us, we are you), he said at a meeting, an outreach to the partners in the backdrop of the BJPs big wins in the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand elections. His remarks were in response to several NDA allies expressing resentment over a lack of sensitivity in dealing with local issues and culture. Government should ideally avoid occasional reference to issues such as beef, and instead should strive hard to ensure progammes announced for Dalits and backward classes reach them, suggested CK Janu, a popular Adivasi leader and head of the Kerala-based Janadhipathya Rashtriya Sabha. The ban on beef and the slaughter of cows is an emotive issue for the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), as well as Hindu right-wing outfits. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat demanded on Sunday a national law banning the killing of cows. But frequent attacks on Muslims and Dalits by cow vigilantes on the suspicion of cattle smuggling have put the BJP in a tight spot. Janus remarks at the NDA meet, also attended by BJP chief Amit Shah, reflect the unease within the allies, particularly parties from southern India and the Northeast, on issues such as beef. The Goa Forward Party (GFP) flagged concerns over the Supreme Courts ban on sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways, an order that will impact the tiny states economic mainstay the tourism industry. Also, the party is unhappy with a ban on loud music at night. There should be sensitivity about local culture and demands, GFP leader Vijai Sardesai said. BJP partners from the Northeast made similar suggestions on showing sensitivity to ethnic sensibilities. The NDA rules four of the eight states in the region. The allies, however, reposed faith in the leadership of Modi and asked people to vote his government back to power in 2019 to continue with the welfare schemes. Also, Modi advised fellow BJP members at a separate meeting to become dedicated social workers like Hanuman, underlining the Hindu gods legendary selfless service to the people. Take inspiration from Hanuman. He never took anything from anyone but he kept giving. You also need to give to people like him, he said, after his customary Hanuman Jayanti greetings. When Lakshman went into coma, Hanumanji went to find a cure without any prodding. Similarly, MPs must go ahead without waiting for instructions. They need to carry forward the governments work among the masses. The Prime Ministers message to his allies struck an instant chord. The Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal considered tough partners responded with effusion. The 89-year-old Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal said the BJP would rule the country for 50 years. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray pledged to stay united with the BJP. The Sena has had frequent run-ins with its coalition partner in Maharashtra and the Centre. Modi spoke about expanding the coalition ahead of the 2019 general elections and continuing the welfare schemes that helped the BJP win a series of polls after coming to power three years ago. We should change ourselves according to the new India that we dream about. Our priorities should be focused, he said during his 25-minute dinner speech. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centre and the Chhattisgarh police chief have been issued notices by the NHRC over allegations that security personnel raped a minor girl at a village in Sukma district recently. The Commission took cognisance of the matter on the basis of media reports and complaints by the victims mother brought to its notice by Delhi University Professor Nandani Sundar. In a statement, the rights body said, on April 2 some unidentified CRPF/Police personnel entered a house at Chintagufa village of Sukma district looking out for a man, purportedly a Maoist sympathiser, and raped his 15-year-old sister. Allegedly, they also severely beat her family members when they tried to rescue the girl. The victim and her mother are being kept in custody by the police and pressure is being mounted upon the victim to change her statement. The reporter of the newspaper, who had reported the incident, is also allegedly being questioned, said an NHRC statement. The Chhattisgarh DGP and the Union home secretary have been asked to respond within four weeks. The allegations, if true, raise an issue of violation of human rights, the Commission observed. Reportedly, the police authorities have denied the allegations saying that these have been levelled with an intention to defame and demoralise the police force, it said. The perpetrators are required to be booked under law. There is extreme need to provide protection and proper counselling along with relief and rehabilitation to the victim and her family members, NHRC said. The United Kingdom needs to be more forthright on terrorism, particularly on terrorism that flows across Pakistans borders into Afghanistan and elsewhere, defence secretary Michael Fallon has said, indicating a subtle shift in London on South Asia. Speaking to Hindustan Times on the eve of a three-day visit to Mumbai and New Delhi from Tuesday, Fallon, one of the senior-most figures in the Theresa May government, said Britain had made it very clear to Pakistan that there cannot be any excuse or justification for terrorism. Fallons remarks are significant in the context of Brexit compelling the UK to focus more on major economies such as India, and the grouse in New Delhi that unlike the United States contemporary view, India continues to be hyphenated with Pakistan in Londons outlook. On Washington issuing a strong statement after the September 2016 terror attack on brigade headquarters in Uri, Fallon said the UK did condemn the attack but agreed that We have to be more forthright on terrorismwe have to call it out for what it is. There is no excuse, justification for terrorism and we make that very clear in Pakistan, he said and added that his talks in India will also focus on what more Pakistan needs to do to tackle terrorism that flows across the border into Afghanistan and elsewhere. We have been trying to improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan because that is causing real difficulties in Afghanistan, the relationship needs to be improved rapidly. We have made that clear to the new Pakistani chief of army staff. We made it clear to them that they have work to do in the border areas. Fallon will be in Mumbai to inspect the guided missile destroyer Chennai, among other engagements, and in New Delhi for talks with defence minister Arun Jaitley, national security advisor Ajit Doval and Indian military chiefs to further the India-UK Defence and International Security Partnership. Terrorism will absolutely be part of the talks, he said. Keen to deepen existing links with Indian military and Indias defence industry, Fallon said British companies were now ready to enter arrangements under the Make in India programme, and plan new equipment to benefit militaries and defence industries of both countries. We are looking now at a range of different technologies, mainly to protect us against cyber attacks, to develop autonomous systems under water and aviation and to help us develop the next generation of aircraft, he said. One of the reasons for going to Mumbai is we want to harness Indian and British brain power. We need technology now to find us the solutions to our new equipment programmes and the way to do that is to develop cutting edge technologies with Indian brainpower and British experience and expertise together. It is important to look at India in the region and Indias role in the region: increasingly a leadership role as India becomes a military power in the region. Wed be looking to see how we can cooperate in future with our deployments once we have our own aircraft carriers in that ocean, Fallon added. On the visa restrictions that may hamper efforts to harness Indian brain power, Fallon said he was aware it is an issue and added the Home secretary Amber Rudd was aware of it. We need to make more progress on that issueIt is already relaxed for the professionals, already a different threshold of salary. We need to keep looking at thatits in our interest too if foreign companies come to Britain, they want to be able to bring in bright Indian graduates. We have to keep looking at that, he said. Finance minister Arun Jaitley (R) and British chancellor Philip Hammond ahead of a meeting in New Delhi on April 4. (AFP File Photo) Fallons three-day visit is the latest of several ministerial visits to India in recent days and weeks, reflecting the May governments focus on India in the post-Brexit scenario, particularly to forge a free trade agreement. Chancellor Philip Hammond was in New Delhi last week. My view is that as we leave the European Union, we have to work harder with our other allies. And you have seen lot of activity with India now. Our PMs visit, chancellors visit, so we will be intensifying that work and try to deepen the relationship, Fallon said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The administration in Ranchi invoked prohibitory orders and deployed heavy security on the streets on Tuesday to defuse communal tension after groups of Hindus and Muslims pelted stones at each other. The clash in MG Road, one of the busiest streets in Ranchi, was triggered by a devotional song with allegedly objectionable lyrics in the afternoon MG Road which has a mosque and a Hanuman temple within a radius of a kilometer, wore a deserted look soon after rumours of major communal clashes and tension went viral on WhatsApp. Police said there was no damage to life or property in the clash. Communal incidents have been on the rise in Jharkhand for the past couple of years, challenging the governments initiatives of maintaining peace during festivals. The administration in Ranchi deployed heavy security to break up a communal clash and restore order in the MG Marg locality. (Parwaz Khan/HT Photo) In April last year, a curfew was imposed in Hazaribagh after communal clashes during Ramnavami. Jharkhand also simmered with tension in October 2015 as communal clashes in four districts - Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Daltonganj, Latehar left one person dead and several others injured. In December 2015, curfew was imposed in parts of Ranchi after meat was found in two localities, including one with a famous Kali temple. The incident forced chief minister Raghubar Das to intervene. Tuesdays incident too happened on Hanuman Jayanti. Eyewitnesses told the media that some of those involved in the clash had gathered outside the mosque and shouted slogans belittling the other side. Police sources said that the incident happened soon after a few Muslims objected to a devotional song played outside the temple. Eyewitnesses also said that removal of makeshift shops near the Hanuman temple added to the tension. Ranchi superintendent of police Kishore Kaushal said that the situation was brought under control by evening. A particular community protested against some objectionable lyrics of a song played on MG Road. But rumours about major clashes added to the tension, he said. Kaushal added that the police barricades were opened by 4.30 pm and the shops too started opening. There is nothing to worry about. Please do not panic or pay attention to any such rumour, Kaushal said. Meanwhile, Bermo block in Bokaro district also reportedly witnessed communal tension after clashes between two groups, but the situation was brought under control by the local police. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Google Ad 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 Google Ad 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 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 The death sentence given to former Indian Navy officer Kulbushan Jadhav over allegations of spying was done "in accordance with due process of law, Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday. Refuting Indias assertion that the sentence was premeditated murder, the minister told the upper house of Parliament that the law of the land was applied and the trial of the alleged spy went on for three months. We have done absolutely nothing thats against the rules and regulations but there is premeditated murder going on even today in Kashmir, Asif told senators, adding there was nothing irregular in the legal proceedings. He also said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. As tensions with India mounted over the death sentence, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that his country was peace-loving but was not oblivious to defending its sovereignty and protecting independence. Sharifs comments came as external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj warned Pakistan that bilateral ties would be hurt if Jadhav who was found guilty by a Pakistani army court of spying, espionage and waging war against the state was hanged. We want a peaceful neighbourhoodshared prosperity rather than mutual suspicionat the same time, despite our earnest desire for peaceful coexistence, we cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence, Sharif told cadets at an air force academy. Pakistani media hailed the decision by the army to sentence Jadhav. Daily Express said the example has been set for others who tried such adventures. TV channels also applauded the army decision. TV anchor Dr Shahid Masood said that the army had managed to give a strong signal to India through this action. Pakistans Monday announcement of death sentence to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav for alleged spying and stoking trouble in Balochistan took India by surprise which warned if the verdict were to be implemented it would be premeditated murder. Sentencing of Jadhav is the latest blow to already strained ties between two neighbours. Rhetoric will only get shriller in the days to come, here is what has been said so far: Premeditated murder Shortly after Pakistani army announced the death sentence, Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar on Monday summoned Pakistan high commissioner to India Abdul Basit and gave a demarche, which said the proceedings against Jadhav were farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. If this sentence (is) against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder, the demarche said. India also put on hold the release of several Pakistani prisoners schedule for Wednesday. It is a warning Defending the move, Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said Jadhavs sentence should serve as a warning to those plotting against his country, as he accused India of committing premeditated murder of the innocent people of Kashmir. Those plotting against Pakistan will not be spared, Asif said. Soldiers and civilians of Pakistan have given sacrifices for this country and their sacrifices demand us to give a befitting reply to terrorists and those who aid and facilitate them. Good in law Pakistan prime ministers adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said the sentence was done according to the law but added it was too early to say when the sentence would be implemented. Pakistan hanged an Indian, Sheikh Shamim, on charges of spying in 1999 and had sentenced others to death over the same charge. Though several suspected Pakistani spies have been held in India over the years, none were sentenced to death. Kangroo court Islamabad had put its credibility at stake globally with its Kangaroo court approach, the BJP said. We need to bear in mind that no consular access was provided. He was travelling with his passport. The way the trial has been done also, statements are there from Pakistan and senior officials there who said there were only statements there, no supporting evidence, party leader Nalin Kohli said. Unacceptable Former union minister and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described the sentence as unacceptable and suggested that both India and Pakistan resolve the issue amicably. Certainly, I am hoping it is mainly sign of pressure that they want to put. Eventually, the two governments should talk and come to an amicable conclusion, Tharoor said on Monday. An honest truth is that as far as India is concerned if the Pakistanis carry through such an action, then absolutely it is a very grave matter that should go for the highest escalation on our part. UN intervention The Shiv Sena sought the United Nations intervention to secure the release of Jadhav. The Sena, which has been acting more like a foe than an alliance partner, slammed the Modi government for failing to get the former naval officer freed. The decision of Pakistani military court is sad, painful and agonising. The saddest part is that the Indian government could not secure Jadhavs release, Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said. ...If India has such Pakistani prisoners, it can think about awarding a similar sentence to them as a befitting reply to the neighbouring nation. A farce The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. It is significant that our high commission was not even informed that Jadhav was being brought to trial. human rights watchdog Amnesty International said. Under Pakistans military courts, no information about charges or evidence against suspects is made public, a statement said. A diversionary tactic Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the move was aimed at diverting the Pakistani peoples attention from failures of their government. We strongly condemn the act of Pakistan military. Its an effort to divert the attention of Pakistani people from the domestic failures and artificially counter the established fact that the neighbouring country sponsors terror activities in India, Fadnavis said. Its blackmail Former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief AS said the sentence amounted to blackmail and anything could happen in Pakistan. This issue amounts to blackmail. Anything is possible in Pakistan and having said that Im sure sanity will prevail. There are many of these kinds of cases all over the country. It is not something unique, Dulat said. Indian diplomats would have to work and resolve the issue at the earliest, said the former spy chief. Not another Sarabjit Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh who died in a Pakistan jail in 2013, said India should approach the International Court of Justice and ensure that the death sentence was not carried out. Our government should take appropriate steps. They should appeal in the International Court of Justice and seek a stay, Kaur said. (With agency inputs) A top election official in violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir said on Tuesday the impending panchayat elections in the state can be held in Jammu, Ladakh and north Kashmir from May 15, days after 8 people were killed in clashes with security forces during Sundays bypolls to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. The long-pending elections to urban local bodies (ULBs) and panchayats the two basic democratic institutions in the state continue to remain a casualty to violence in the state. While the last ULB elections were held in February 2005, fresh elections have been pending since 2010 after the five-year term ended. Panchayat elections were scheduled to be held in the state earlier this year after its term ended in July last year. So far, the state government hasnt approached us with regard to panchayat elections. By April 18, we will be done with final electoral rolls for the panchayat elections and if the state government intends to go ahead with them, notification for the same can be issued by April 20, the states chief electoral officer Shantmanu told Hindustan Times. Subsequently, 25-days time has to be given by election authorities for canvassing and other allied processes and panchayat polls can be conducted, at least in Jammu, Ladakh and north Kashmir, from May 15. South Kashmir can be dealt with later. Ideally, panchayat elections should have been conducted by the end of March, he added. On April 15, the counting of votes for the violence-marred Srinagar parliamentary constituency shall be held followed by biennial elections to the legislative council on April 17. The Election Commission of India deferred the April 12 Lok Sabha bypolls in Anantnag to May 25 after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked the poll panel to postpone it after widespread violence during a similar poll in Srinagar. In a striking contrast to the paltry turnout of 7.14%, the lowest in almost three decades, in the Srinagar bypolls, panchayats elections in 2011 that were held after a gap of nearly three decades witnessed a turnout of 80% to elect about 33,000 panches and sarpanches in the restive state. A former sarpanch was killed in Chewa Kalan area of Pulwama district on March 13 this year by suspected militants. All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, an umbrella organisation of panchayats in the state, had alleged that the killing was an attempt by militants to derail the process of panchayat elections. In the past 5 years, 15 sarpanches and panches have been killed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Petrol pump owners want an eight-hour, six-day work schedule for their employees, saying it is getting difficult to employ staff for longer hours without an increase in their margins. Besides, they want petrol stations to be closed on Sundays in line with the governments push for lesser consumption of fossil fuel as part of a green initiative. They said the two steps should be implemented from May 10. Fuel stations across the country employ roughly 500,000 employees, including 100,000 temporary contractual workers. The owners said if the margins cuts the dealers get for each litre of fuel sold were not increased they would be forced to sack the temporary staff. The dealer commission on petrol is Rs 2.56 a litre and Rs 1.65 for diesel, at present. The dealers demanded a hike, underlining that the current margins are insufficient to meet operating costs. The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) said the twin moves will reduce consumption by 25% in a country that depends heavily on fuel imports. However, petrol stations will make fuel available for emergency services such as ambulances on weekend holidays and during non-working hours on weekdays. The measures would enable pump owners cut costs. We dont see any major disruption if these steps are implemented, a member of the dealers association said. He explained that people can fill up their car tanks a day before the holiday or within the eight-hour period. It is just a question of adjusting to the new routine. Questions remained, though. What happens to travelers who might need to tank up on a Sunday or at a time beyond the stipulated working hours of petrol stations? Oil marketing companies or the government might not allow the changes. It is not a final decision and it is unlikely that such as a decision will be implemented. The government or the oil marketing companies may intervene, an industry insider said. The companies and dealers would incur losses running into thousands of crores if the twin moves were implemented, he warned. In January, the government intervened when the dealers threatened not to accept payments through plastic money over a bank surcharge on them. The governments wishes prevailed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Notwithstanding frequent disruption of Parliament over a host of contentious issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the Budget Session was a winner for his government as it could secure the passage of many bills, including the key GST legislations. Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting a day before the session ends, he referred to the partys victory in the recent state assembly elections and credited his governments delivery on its pro-poor schemes for peoples trust in it. The Prime Minister said a positive public mood in favour of the Centres ruling dispensation pervaded the country as its completes three years in office next month and pitched for a harder push to the reforms and development agenda He asked party MPs to claim credit for the governments achievements, saying they will be its face when it fights the next elections. This is a golden opportunity for us to lift the lives of the poor, the deprived... This is the time for doing more development and reforms, he said. The BJP MPs were also informed about the month-long programme to celebrate the governments third anniversary from May 24. Modi told them that the promise of garibi hatao (a slogan coined by Indira Gandhi) remained a catchphrase till his government assumed office and began acting on it. People are witnessing such development for the first time, he said. The hope people had from his government when it came to power in 2014 has changed into trust due to the work done by it, the Prime Minister said. Briefing reporters following the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar said Modi called the Budget Session very constructive with the Lok Sabha passing 21 bills and the Rajya Sabha 14. These include the crucial GST bills and also the politically important OBC bill. Referring to the massive win for BJP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the Prime Minister said it reflected how peoples hope in his government has turned into confidence. Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who also addressed the meeting, outlined the one-month third anniversary programme, Kumar said. From the party MPs to chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and office-bearers, all will travel across the country during the exercise. Heaping praise on Modi, Naidu referred to last nights meeting of 33 NDA constituents where important allies like Parkash Singh Badal of Akali Dal and N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP spoke about his transformative leadership. Modi has emerged as the poors messiah, he claimed. Noting that today people were celebrating the birth anniversary of Hanuman, Modi said the devotee of Lord Ram was an example of a dedicated social worker who inspired one and all. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modis day out on Monday. He travelled to Delhis Akshardham temple in a Metro with his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull, attended a Champaran Satyagrah event in the evening and ended his day with a patting on his back from allies. Prime Minister Modi delivered a lecture to 33 NDA partners at its second such meeting after coming to power. Here are the five broad takeaways from the meeting. 1. Modi, the prime minister: His economic policies and welfare schemes came in for praise from allies. A resolution adopted at the meeting praised Modi for inclusive growth and uplift of the social and economic status of the poor. This was in consistence with the BJPs effort to shed the pro-rich, pro-corporate tag that the Opposition has attached to it. 2. Modi, the leader: NDA allies expressed a deep sense of appreciation towards Modi for providing a decisive and bold leadership to NDA partners. They reposed faith in his leadership and asked people to resolve to vote another Government under Modi in 2019. Modi would be the NDAs face in the next election and the endorsement showed the confidence that allies had in his ability to win election. 3. Show of unity: The meeting coincided with the oppositions effort to cobble up an alliance against Modi in 2019. The size and the shape of any such alliance are still not known, and Modi wanted to take the fizz out of the exercise by showcasing the grand NDA parivar. It also came on a day several opposition parties approached the election commission with request to review the use of electronic voting machines (EVM) in election. The scale of Modis victory in the recent election has forced them to believe that EVMs were tampered. 4. Call for expansion: The NDA has presence in almost every state - from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra to Arunachal Pradesh. Still, the resolution adopted at the meeting called for the need to expand the NDA by taking other parties on board. There has been speculation about Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars overtures to the BJP. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Odisha Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had been part of the NDA in the past. While the BJP ruled out any truck with them in the near future, politics also leaves scope for interpretations. The exercise is also an effort to woo many smaller regional parties who can add muscles to the NDA. 5. Presidential election: India will elect a new president in July and the BJP is trying to keep its flock together to get its man elected to the top position. The issue did not come up for discussion in the meeting but the effort to reach out to allies was seen as an attempt to send a message to partners that the BJP values their position in the NDA. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON High courts must not allow medical and dental colleges to admit students until their legal dispute with the Centre over their affiliation is resolved, the Supreme Court held on Tuesday, in a verdict that would bring relief to several aspirants who often stand to lose in case the institutions lose the case. A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said HCs must circumspect before permitting the colleges to admit students even before their affiliation is approved because such orders can jeopardize a students future. It is not a construction which is built at the risk of a plaintiff or the defendant which can be demolished or redeemed by grant of compensation. It is a situation where the order has the potentiality to play with the career and life of young, the bench held, striking down the Bombay High Court order that allowed a dental college in Aurangabad to take students for its post-graduation course. The institution had approached the HC after the Centre refused to accord it permission for the postgraduate course in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics. The admission process undertaken was ordered to be at the risk of the college. Assailing the HC order, Dental Council of India (DCI) counsel, Gaurav Sharma, argued the directive was impermissible because it brings in anarchy and chaos in the process of admission to medical courses. By saying that the institution may give admission at its own risk invites further chaotic and unfortunate situations, he impressed upon the bench. The college could not have started a course in the absence of approval of the scheme, Sharma submitted. He contended the HC should have adjudicated the dispute to decide whether the college had actually removed the deficiencies pointed by an inspection committee or the decision making process in not recommending the approval was perverse. Sharma said the order virtually amounted to granting permission for the admission in certain courses that had not received sanction. Although the bench set aside the HC order, it gave some respite to three students who were admitted pursuant to the direction. SC ordered the college to adjust the three from the 2017-18 academic session. It also directed the college to deposit Rs 30 lakh before the top courts registry, saying it would decide later what to do with the money. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Life across the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday remained adversely affected due to the separatist called protest shutdown against the killing of eight civilians in firing by security forces. Authorities made heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in Srinagar and other places. Shops, public transport, other businesses and educational institutions remained closed for the second consecutive day on Tuesday. Train services between the valley and Jammu regions Bannihal town also remained suspended. Some private transport and three wheelers were however seen moving on the city roads in the morning. The Kashmir University has postponed all exams scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Internet services, both on mobile and fixed landline connections, remained suspended for the third day on Tuesday. Tension in south Kashmirs Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts reduced on Tuesday after the Election Commission announced deferment of Wednesdays poll in Anantnag. Voting for this Loksabha constituency by-election will be held on May 25. Separatists on Tuesday withdrew their call for a strike on Wednesday, a day after the Election Commission postponed the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll to May 25. We have withdrawn tomorrows strike call as the so- called election has been put off, the separatist leaders said in a statement. The Election Commission had on Monday decided to postpone the Anantnag bypoll to May 25, after eight persons were killed in firing by the security forces during polling for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday. The statement issued jointly by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik also called on people to march to Budgam district headquarters on Friday. To pay homage to the young martyrs (youth killed on April 9) and express solidarity with their families, the joint resistance leadership and people will offer joint Friday prayers in Budgam, the separatists said. Commenting on the 7.14% voter turnout in Srinagar constituency, they said the peoples verdict has been loud and clear as to their commitment to achieving their fundamental political right. Government of Indias own index of treating elections as a gauge of peoples faith in Indian democracy stand completely exposed as they were completely rejected and resisted by the people in one part of the Valley and forced to postpone the elections in another, they added. The separatists had called for a strike on Wednesday, the day on which polling was scheduled to be held for Anantnag seat. The government and the Opposition came together in a rare show of solidarity for Kulbhushan Jadhav on Tuesday but there was confusion over whether the two were working together on a resolution condemning Pakistan for sentencing the Indian national to death for alleged spying. A report by NDTV said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj sought Congress leader Shashi Thaoors help to draft a Parliament resolution condemning the verdict. Both Houses of Parliament are expected to adopt the resolution on Wednesday. Swaraj said in the Lok Sabha that Jadhav, who was arrested by Pakistani officials in March 2016 on suspicion of espionage, could not be a spy because he had a valid Indian visa. She then walked up to Tharoor, a successful career diplomat who was junior foreign minister in the previous UPA government. Swaraj asked Tharoor if he could help write the resolution, according to the report. The report said the Congress MP took permission from the partys floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge, a vocal critic of the BJP and who had earlier questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis Pakistan visit. Tharoor was later seen talking to Kharge. Yes. We spoke certain things regarding the resolution, as the Congress has been demanding such a step. But I cant say what transpired between Tharoor and Swaraj, Kharge told HT. In the evening, Swaraj played down the issue, tweeting: There is no dearth of talent in my ministry. I have the assistance of very able secretaries. She also posted a news report to which she was reacting. Tharoor has helped the Modi government in the past. The Prime Minister picked Tharoor as a brand ambassador for the governments signature Swachh Bharat scheme, although the Congress mocked at the countrywide cleanliness drive as a photo-op. On another occasion last year, the Modi government approached Tharoor to help draft a statement to condemn Pakistan for setting free terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the Lashkar-e-Taiba commander who masterminded the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. An earlier version of this story said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj sought Congress leader Shashi Thaoors help to draft a Parliament resolution condemning Kulbhushan Jadhavs death sentence. The story has been revised to incorporate Swarajs response over the issue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON What issues will national minorities raise in National Assembly? (video) Representatives of national minorities in Armenia are going to raise a wide range of issues in the National Assembly, Head of the Kurdish community of Armenia, Knyaz Hasanov, told a news conference today. "As representatives of national minorities, we will raise issues concerning our communities, including those related to education, culture, protection of individual rights, etc. Some of our villages do not have water, he said. Chairman of the Assyrian Union "Atur" Arsen Mikhailov says he is going to raise ethnic, cultural, and religious issues in the National Assembly and participate in the discussion of all laws as a full-fledged citizen of the Republic of Armenia. Before becoming lawmakers, we worked with the Armenian government for many years and we were able to solve some cultural and educational issues. We are often asked whether we need to have a representative in the National Assembly to be able to address all those issues. Yes, I think that now we can have those issues reach the addressee more quickly and transparently, he said. A man arrested for allegedly murdering four family members at their residence in Thiruvananthapurams posh Nathencode colony has reportedly told police that he was working on an experiment to detach human souls from their bodies. Baffled by such a peculiar motive on the part of 30-year-old Cadell Jeanson Raja, investigators had no choice but to include psychiatrists in the interrogation team. Police said Raja, who suffers from bipolar disorder, seemed unrepentant over murdering his relatives, including his parents and sister. He did not hesitate in admitting his involvement in the crime, stating that the entire episode was part of an experiment in the field of astral projection. Astral projection is an unscientific stream of esotericism that involves separating ones soul from its physical shell to create an out-of-body experience. Police said he was taken in by the abstract concept upon returning from Australia after completing his education. Raja takes pride in claiming that he has freed his relatives. Completely unrepentant, he cites weird philosophy to justify his deeds and at times contradicts himself, said a senior officer investigating the case. Police now believe that Raja was singularly responsible for the ghastly crime. It looks like he killed all the four with a sharp weapon on the same day, and then tried to burn their bodies, said another officer. The matter came to light when neighbours complained of smoke billowing from the house, situated just 500 metres from Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayans residence, on Sunday morning. When police went to investigate, they recovered half-burnt and badly mutilated bodies from the scene. The victims were identified as retired cardiologist Dr Jean Padma, her husband Professor Raj Thankam, their daughter Caroline, and a relative Lalitha. Caroline had come home on vacation from China, where she was studying medicine. While three bodies were charred, another was chopped up and kept in a bag at the multi-storeyed house. As there was no sign of forced entry into the house, police zeroed in on Raja who was absconding. He was arrested from the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station on Monday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PATNA Just days after raising questions about how members of his immediate family had come to own a highly valued piece of land on which a mall was coming up in Patna, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi fired another salvo at RJD president Lalu Prasad. Modi, on Tuesday, dared Prasads son, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and his mother Rabri Devi, a sitting MLC and former chief minister, to declare the landed properties of AK Infosystems Pvt Ltd, which, he claimed, was owned by them. Modi alleged that the company, which was formed way back in 2006 by Amit Katyal, his brother Rajesh Katyal and others, had landed assets worth crores of rupees, spread across Patna town. In 2014, all the shares of the company were transferred to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and by virtue of this the two had become owners of AK Infosystems Pvt Ltd, said Modi, while talking to newsmen on the sidelines of his weekly Janata Darbar. Producing relevant documents, the BJP leader said while the mother owned 4,000 shares, her deputy CM son had 1,500 shares in the company. The ownership of the company now vests in the family of Lalu Prasad, he added. Rabriji and Tejashwiji should disclose the locations of the plots of land of the company in a day or two, or else I will reveal the same, he said. Modi, however, refused to disclose the details of the properties, immediately. Let them declare the assets, he said. Tracing the history of the company, Modi said after its formation in 2006, by Katyal brothers and others, the deputy CM, his brother health minister Tej Pratap Yadav and their sisters Chanda Yadav and Ragini Lalu, were made its directors. Chanda Yadav and Ragini Lalu are still holding the positions of director of the company, while the rest had ceased to be directors. In June 2014, original promoters, Amit Katyal and Mahesh Sharma, transferred their shares to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav, making them absolute owners of the company, Modi said. Modi wondered why the Katyal family made RJD president Lalu Prasads daughters directors of the company. He also wondered why the Katyal family transferred its shares to Rabri Devi and the deputy CM. How come the two became owners of the company worth crores of rupees by merely investing Rs 55, 000? he asked. Modi alleged that it was in lieu of getting permission to set up a liquor factory at Bihta near Patna during the Rabri Devi government (2000- 2005), that the Katyal brothers handed over AK Infosystems Pvt Ltd to the Lalu family. The alcohol factory had been opened by the Katyals company, Iceberg Industries Pvt Ltd. RJD spokesperson Ashok Kumar Sinha, however, said that Modi had not substantiated his allegations against Lalu Prasads family. But he is free to approach any agency for a probe into the matter, Sinha said, adding, Modi was making frivolous allegations to regain the ground he had lost in his own party, the BJP. WORDS: 420 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three Christians were arrested from a village in Madhya Pradeshs Khandwa district on charges of converting people on Sunday, officials said on Tuesday, in what is being perceived as an attack on minorities in the state. Piplod police station in charge sub-inspector Shivram Patidar said they arrested Amarsingh, 35, of Khaknar Burhanpur, Kishor Barela, 30, Kalukhedi, and Prabhakar Barela, 39, of Jalgaon in Maharashtra from Sitabedi village, and booked them under the states anti-conversion law the Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam. They were produced before a local court and sent to jail, Patidar said. Police said the accused had organised a medical camp but told the villagers that they would be cured of their ailments if they embraced the cross and started believing in Jesus Christ. Patidar said the men belong to Delhi-based Indian Evangelical Team. He said a man called Raju Barela submitted a written complaint following which the arrests were made around 3pm on Sunday. Patidar said a cross and religious literature were seized from the camp that was being attended by about 40 to 50 villagers. Raju said he attended the camp because he had a stomachache and a headache. He added that when the organisers started talking about Jesus Christ, he left the camp and approached the police. Indian Evangelical team administrator Jais Varghese denied that any conversion was going on in the camp. These are false accusations. From what I could gather from my sources, it was a planned prayer meeting on Palm Sunday going on in the village when some people came with the police and made these charges and arrested the three persons, Varghese told Hindustan Times over the phone from Delhi. This is not the first time that charges of conversion have been slapped against Christians in the state under the tough anti-conversion law. There have been at least 4 such cases reported in the last two years in the state. Previous arrests December 28, 2015: 3 preachers arrested from Morani village, Barwani January 18, 2016: 12 arrested from Dhar district May 23, 2016: 3 arrested from Satna district June 23, 2016: 2 arrested from Rewa district Three Indians are among 90 Gates Cambridge scholars selected from nearly 6,000 applicants from around the world for postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge from the academic year beginning later this year. The three Indians in the Gates Cambridge Class of 2017 are Yaikhomba Mutum, Saloni Atal and Akhila Denduluri, the university announced on Monday. The 90 scholars, including 35 from the US, together represent 34 nationalities. Atal will study PhD in Psychology, exploring innovative and culturally appropriate solutions to tackle the problem of gaps in access to mental healthcare in India. In partnership with local non-profit organisations, her PhD will assess the impact and feasibility of training non-specialists, particularly community health workers, to support the mental health needs of slum-dwelling women. Denduluris PhD research in Chemistry will focus on developing biophysical tools to better understand and elucidate the protein chemistry and associated toxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. Mutum will pursue a PhD Biological Science at the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, looking at the mechanism of active proton transport in Complex I, an enzyme involved in making energy rich ATP molecules. Its dysfunction causes neuromuscular diseases like the Leighs syndrome. The new scholars include Leena Dahal from Nepal who will pursue an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies to explore identity and intersectionality in the context of South Asia, specifically how social media helped or hindered nuanced discussion of nationalism and identity in response to the 2015 unofficial border blockade between Nepal and India. The prestigious and fiercely competitive scholarships were awarded to 50 women and 40 men from a wide range of backgrounds. A total of 41 students will pursue a masters degree and 49 will pursue PhDs. The scholarship aims to identify and select applicants who are academically outstanding and are likely to be transformative leaders across all fields. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said: Gates Cambridge Scholars come from all over the world, but they have some important things in common: great leadership potential, a commitment to improving the lives of others and an unparalleled passion for learning. Cambridge vice-chancellor and chair of the Gates Cambridge Board of Trustees, Leszek Borysiewicz, said: Cambridge is a global university and the Gates Cambridge programme epitomises both its international, outward-looking nature and its mission to tackle global challenges and to improve the lives of others. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The vice president of AIMPLB (All India Muslim Personal Law Board) has said that the board will end the practice of triple talaq itself in one-and-a-half years so the government should not interfere in the matter. Kalbe Sadiq also advised Muslims against eating beef. He was speaking to reporters at the residence of the District Civil Bar Association president. The Shia scholar said the triple talaq system was unfair to women but it was a personal affair for the community and they would solve it themselves within one to one-and-a-half years. He said the government should not interfere in it. On the issue of beef consumption, he said in religious books eating beef is not advised and Muslims should not have it. Sadiq said if the government enacts laws banning cow slaughter and beef eating in the country, the Muslims would welcome it. He condemned the unlawful activities of cow vigilantes and demanded that it be stopped. On the Ram temple issue, he said the dispute should end now and the Hindus and the Muslims should yield some ground to each other so that a compromise could be reached. He said Muslims should not insist on making a mosque at the site where the temple would be built. Sadiq said Muslim leaders were responsible for the poor state of the community. He said Kashmiri youths should open their eyes and understand the nefarious designs of Pakistan. He said India should be united for it to become a prosperous country. The bankruptcy of US-based Westinghouse Electric Company, which was to build six light-water based nuclear reactors for the 6,600 MW nuclear power project at Kovvada in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh has put the entire venture under a cloud of uncertainty. Owned by Japanese conglomerate Toshiba, Westinghouse filed bankruptcy petition in a US court, virtually throwing up its hands in fulfilling its commitments to build nuclear reactors. As part of the civil nuclear liability agreement between India and the US, the contractual agreements for building six nuclear reactors at Kovvada by Westinghouse and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) should be finalised by June 2017. The troubled company has been put up for sale by Toshiba, but it hasnt found a prospective buyer. There have been reports that Chinese companies might bid for Westinghouse, globally, which might be opposed by the American government. If Toshiba doesnt find a buyer, even the Indian arm might go belly up. Westinghouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after Toshiba wrote off more than $6 billion in losses. However, the company had said that Chapter 11 will not impact its operations outside of the US, including those in India. According to the agreement, the US firm is supposed to build six light-water based nuclear reactors, each of 1,100 MW capacity. The first two reactors were planned to be completed by 2021 and thereafter, one reactor would be built every year. The fuel for the power generation, enriched uranium, was to be procured by Westinghouse Electric. But with Westinghouse now bankrupt, the ambitious project appears to be uncertain, though the US embassy in New Delhi issued a statement immediately after the development stating that the Westinghouse continues to stand behind the delivery model that it presented in its Technical Commercial Offer to India, which included an Indian construction partner, and looks forward to progress on an agreement in 2017. G V Ramesh, chief project engineer of NPCIL, told HT there were no indications from the US firm that it was dropping out from the Kovvada project. As of now, the project is on. Westinghouse has already signed an agreement with Indian construction major Larsen and Toubro for taking up civil works on the nuclear power plant. Setting up of nuclear reactors will be done at a later stage, he said. Environmentalists, who have been opposing the nuclear power plants, want the deal with Westinghouse to be scrapped immediately. As per the agreement, Westinghouse will bear a liability of only 500 crore in case of an accident in the nuclear reactors and the remaining loss has to borne by the Indian government. How can a bankrupt company pay this amount? said Prof P Purushottam Reddy, noted environmentalist and former professor at Osmania University. Sources in the Andhra Pradesh government said in the event of Westinghouse failing to fulfil its obligation of finalising the agreement with the NPCIL by June 2017 as scheduled, the US might rope in another firm, General Electric-Hitachi, to take up the Kovvada plant. But the NPCIL authorities have refused to confirm this. GE has not come up with any technical-commercial offer on Kovvada plant as of now, Ramesh said. The Andhra government has already initiated the process of acquiring 2,071 acres in the exclusion zone, where the nuclear reactors will come up. It would displace 1,983 households with a population of almost 8,000 in five villages under Ranasthalam block that would fall under the nuclear protected zone. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Despite Indias strong message to Pakistan over the death sentence to former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav on espionage charges, the course of action ahead for the condemned prisoner remains arduous. Jadhav has legal recourses at his disposal. He can move the Supreme Court of Pakistan, appealing against the military court which handed him the death sentence. If the Supreme Court upholds the sentence, Jadhav can seek Presidential pardon. In Islamabad, Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif told the upper house of Parliament that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. He also dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law, he said. External affairs minister Suhsma Swaraj said the government will ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and will also take it up with the President of Pakistan. However, in such cases it is not the legal measures that really work, but persuasive diplomacy. Though there is little room for hope considering the bilateral ties between the two countries are at a new low, India will be using diplomatic channels and other means to seek his release. India can also bring the matter before the United Nations and pile international pressure on Pakistan, making best use of its ties with many countries. Pakistan has violated every international rule by sentencing Kulbhushan Jadhav. The government should draw the attention of the international community, particularly the United Nations, Congress MP and former Union minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor said. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistans well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder, Sushma Swaraj told Rajya Sabha. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Heres a list of top 10 stories to bring you up to date. 1) Pakistan says will hang spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, India calls sentencing pre-meditated murder Pakistan said on Monday that a military court has sentenced to death Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for allegedly spying and stoking violence in Balochistan, drawing an angry response from New Delhi which said it will be a premeditated murder if carried out. India summoned the Pakistani high commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over a demarche describing the court proceedings as farcical and also put on hold the release of several Pakistani prisoners, scheduled for Wednesday. Read the full story here. 2) Will Kulbhushan Jadhav be hanged? Pak rights activists dont think so While the chances of Kulbhushan Jadhav being hanged by Pakistan are slim, there is also very little possibility that he will be released, human rights activists in Islamabad said on Monday. What the Pakistan Army has done is raise the stakes to publicly embarrass both the (Nawaz) Sharif and the (Narendra) Modi governments, said one of them. The announcement by the army to sentence Jadhav to death was widely hailed in Pakistan by various quarters. Many have called for his immediate hanging. This shows the decisive action of the army, said TV anchor Dr Shahid Masood. Read the full story here. 3) Spy vs spy: India has never sentenced a Pakistani to death for espionage No Pakistani national has ever been sentenced to death in India for spying, officials said on Monday as relations between the neighbours hit a new low after a Pakistani military court awarded death penalty to former Indian navy official Kulbhushan Jadhav. Several serving and retired officials HT spoke to said they dont recall any Pakistani being sentenced to death by India for spying. In a written reply to Parliament recently, junior home minister Kiren Rijiju said more than 250 Pakistani nationals were deported between 2014-2016. In contrast, Pakistan had executed one Indian national Sheikh Shamim in 1999, almost ten years after he was arrested on charges of spying. Read the full story here. 4) EC defers Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll to May 25 after Srinagar violence The Election Commission has postponed the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll to May 25 after violent public protests marred voting in the Srinagar by-elections this weekend, which left eight people dead and hundreds wounded. The poll panel said the Jammu and Kashmir administration has submitted that the law and order situation is not conducive to hold elections. The Valley saw a complete shutdown on Monday in response to a call from separatists. Read the full story here. 5) EC, home ministry in war of words over Kashmir bypolls The Election Commission has said that it has no obligation to consult the Union home ministry before holding elections, responding to an accusation of ignoring an advice to postpone bypolls in Jammu and Kashmir this April. The war of words broke out after violence engulfed Sundays by-elections to the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. Home ministry sources said the poll panel ignored its advice to postpone by-elections in Srinagar and Anantnag, where voting was slated for April 12. Read the full story here. 6) RSS converts 53 families in drive to make block in Jharkhand Christianity-free At least 53 families in five tribal-dominated villages returned to Hindu fold in the last one month as part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs Christianity-free block campaign in Jharkhands Arki, RSS workers have said. These families live in villages that are part of the Sindri panchayat, which the RSS says has been hijacked by Christian missionaries over the last 10 years. The alleged ghar wapsi, sources said, would continue throughout April. Read the full story here. 7) We must realise that the country is entering a saffron era: VHP Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an affiliate of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is promoting its Hindutva ideology by holding 5,000 rallies across India, including several across Maharashtra, and seeking support for the contentious Ram temple issue. The right wing outfit thinks this is the right time to give the issue an impetus. I think Yogi and Modi is a rare combination, which will never happen again. We have been demanding an amendment to the law to ensure that a temple is built on the disputed land, said Surendra Jain, joint general secretary, VHP. He added, We must realise that the country is entering a saffron era, with overwhelming support from the youth. With our ideology finding support at the Centre, we expect the actual construction work for the temple will begin in the next one year. Read the full story here. 8) Triple talaq, polygamy not sanctioned by Islam, Centre tells SC Triple talaq and polygamy practised by many Muslims are not sanctioned by Islam, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday. Urging the top court to declare these practices unconstitutional, the Centre asserted that they affected the fundamental right of Muslim women to live in dignity and without any security unlike women of other religions in the country. The arguments are part of Centres written submissions that would be taken up by a five-judge constitution bench during the ensuing summer vacation. The bench will determine the validity of the practices. Read the full story here. 9) Hashim Amla trumps AB De Villiers as KXIP beat RCB by 8 wickets Hashim Amla upstaged South African compatriot AB de Villiers in a Twenty20 clash for a change as Kings XI Punjab handed last years runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore their second defeat in the Indian Premier League on Monday. AB de Villiers smashed an unbeaten 46-ball 89 to guide RCB to a modest 148 for four. However, Kings XI opener Amla played a steady hand, scoring an unbeaten 58 off 38 deliveries to take his to 150 for two, completing the eight-wicket win in 14.3 overs. Read the full story here. 10) Mahesh Bhupathi handled it badly, Leander Paes also at fault: Anand Amritraj The latest episode in the controversial relationship between Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi is nothing but a new chapter in old story, feels former Davis Cup captain Anand Amritraj who criticized both the players for the current mess. Amritraj, Bhupathis predecessor, said the captain should have made it clear to Paes that he was not in the playing four and Paes should not have come to Bengaluru if he was not assured of a place in the playing squad. Read the full story here. Former South African pacer Allan Donald has dubbed AB de Villiers as the most scariest player on the planet after the latters splendid batting display during Royal Challengers Bangalores (RCB) eight-wicket defeat against Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash on Monday. De Villiers, who recently recovered from a back injury, came in as a replacement for Chris Gayle in his first match of IPL 2017 played at Indores Holkar Stadium. Although Royal Challengers Bangalore slumped to an eight wicket defeat, de Villiers smashed three boundaries and nine sixes in his 89-run knock off 46 balls to take RCB to 148 in their stipulated 20 overs. However, the 33-year-olds knock went in vain as the Kings XI Punjab chased down the score with more than five overs to spare, thanks to Hashim Amlas 58*. The former South African pacer, who picked up 330 wickets in 72 Tests, tweeted I did battle against some serious batters in my time. @ABdeVilliers17 is the scariest player on the planet I have ever seen. #breathtaking Allan Donald (@AllanDonald33) April 11, 2017 RCB will next lock horns with Mumbai Indians at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 14. Six months after the Rajasthan government decided to disinvest Giral Lignite Thermal Power Plant (GLTPP), it is yet to find a buyer. In November last year, global tenders were floated to invite bids for the plant. Officials involved in the process had said the sale would be complete by December and the new owner would run the plant from January this year. But the plant is still awaiting a buyer. Officials said five companies bid for the plant but instead of opening the bids and finalising a deal, the government has been extending the date. The new date for opening the bids is April 24. GLTPP chief engineer Rakesh Verma said he didnt know the reason for the extension. We received information from the state that the date for opening bids has been postponed, he said. The plant began commercial production in 2008 but because of high sulphur content in lignite and other technical problems, it was shut down three years ago. The plant was designed by the Bharat Heavy Electronics Limited (BHEL) to run on lignite with up to 1% of sulphur. However, the lignite supplied to the project from Giral village in Barmer contained 5-6% of sulphur, which led to operational losses. The plant suffered a loss of 985.91 crore in 2015-16 and 786.71 crore in 2014-15. According to Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Board norms, a unit is considered to be running into losses when it fails to achieve 75% of its anticipated capacity. GLTPP officials said the plant was unable to run at even 25% of its capacity. After deciding to disinvest GLTPP in September last year, the government appointed SBI Market Ltd as the advisory company for the disinvestment process. Prior to this, the government in February last year had appointed M/s Energo to prepare a valuation report of the project; the company estimated the project cost at 1,964 crore. The Congress had alleged that the governments decision was meant to appease private players. The plant can generate electricity at a cost of 3.5 per unit (1KwH), which is almost half the rate at which the state purchases power from private companies, said former Barmer MP and Congress national secretary Harish Choudhary. The government is showing loss as the reason to disinvest the plant by providing wrong information. Choudhary charged the government with selling the plant at a lower price. The cost of the plant is around 4,000 crore but the government wants to sell it for 1,000 crore, he said. -- THE PROJECT THAT FACED FUEL PROBLEM Two units of 125 MW each were established a decade ago at Giral village in Barmer. Commercial production began in 2008. According to experts, if both units were running on their anticipated capacity, they would generate 60 lakh units of electricity per day. Lignite with low sulphur content is available in Kapuradi and Jalipa mines in Barmer but the mines are owned by South-West Mining Limited, a JSW group company. JSW Rajwest Power Ltd operates 10 units of lignite thermal plant with fuel from these mines. GLTPP sought low-sulphur lignite from these two mines but the South-West Mining Limited refused. If the plant doesnt find buyers, it can be revived with lignite from Shivkar mines but theres been no exploration in these mines because of land acquisition issues BJPs attempts to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti in a Trinamool citadel ended in violence on Tuesday. Suri, the headquarters of Birbhum district and backyard of Trinamools heavy-weight leader Anubrata Mondal, turned into a battlefield as clashes broke out between the police and BJP supporters who took out a procession in the central part of the town. The trouble first started early in the morning when police tried to stop the procession since it was being held without permission. Though the police finally allowed it, tension gripped the central bus stand area when participants in the rally allegedly thrashed a civic police volunteer for recording videos. Two civic police volunteers entrusted with recording the procession were dragged inside a BJP office and beaten up. We had to resort to lathicharge, said a police officer. The clashes continued for nearly an hour and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed to bring situation under control. BJP strongly criticised the role of the police. While state president Dilip Ghosh accused Mamata Banerjee of running Taliban Raj in the state, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said in Kolkata, Such police attack on a peaceful procession on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti is unprecedented in the country. Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, has accused BJP of provoking communal tension. BJP is bent on sparking communal tension but we will not let that happen, party secretary general and state education minister Partha Chatterjee said. Read: Hanuman Jayanti celebrations hits the heart of Kolkata, VHP leaders express trust in Modi-Yodi combine to construct Ram Temple BJP state president Dilip Ghosh alleged the police intentionally denied permission on the eve of the event to discourage local people from taking part in the event. The police acted under instruction from their political masters. There was no reason for them to deny permission, said Ghosh. BJP members created the trouble. The police did the right thing, said Anubrata Mondal, the district Trinamool chief who is known more for his controversial remarks. During the 2016 Assembly polls he was kept under round the clock surveillance by the Election Commission of India. Before that he made news for instructing party supporters to hurl bombs at the police if the latter assisted his political opponents. Local people said that tension was brewing in the area over the past few days because a section of BJP workers demanded that the gate set up at the entrance to a mazar be demolished. Both Hindus and Muslims frequent the mazar. Read: BJP dares Mamata, welcomes leaders on dais with machete In a bid to counter the BJP in parts of Howrah, Burdwan and Birbhum districts, Trinamool Congress leaders took out several Hanuman Jayanti processions. This was the first time ruling party leaders were seen celebrating Hanuman Jayanti. They celebrated Hanuman Jayanti the day BJP took out rallies on Ram Navami, displaying swords and traditional weapons. The Saffron camp took Ram Navami- Hanuman Jayanti celebrations to the heart of Kolkata, where hundreds took part in a rally on Tuesday. Leaders of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) expressed confidence in Modi-Yogi combine for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. VHP national leaders stressed that a law should be passed in the Parliament for the construction of the temple. They also targeted Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress government for undermining the aspirations of Hindus in Bengal. Ram Navami-Hanuman Jayanti is being celebrated like never before in Bengal, as part of a push by saffron camp in Bengal. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has already targeted BJP over the issue and police have lodged FIRs against organisers for brandishing swords in the rallies. We have full faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. Their commitment towards construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is no less than our commitment and dedication. We have full faith in the government and we feel that the only way left is to pass a legislation soon to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, said Surendra Jain international joint general secretary of VHP. Read: In West Bengal, Ram Navami gets going on raths, provided by Muslims Jain held a press conference at Kolkata press club followed by the rally which was hailed as Dharma Sabha at Rani Rashmoni Road at the heart of the city. Hundreds of VHP followers and Bajrang Dal activists with lathis and saffron flags marched at Esplanade chanting Jai Shree Ram. Vishwa Hindu Parishad supporters organised a rally in celebration of Ram Mahotsav and Hanuman Jayanti and demanding construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya in Kolkata. (Samir Jana/HT PHOTO) VHP leaders ruled out out of the court settlement of the issues stating that Muslim bodies are not interested in discussions. When it is the question of triple talaq, Muslim bodies wants the court to be out of it. When it is a question of Ram Mandir they are unwilling to discuss and wants court to take a decision, said Jain. There are several instances when bills have been passed in parliament through joint session of both the houses. In Ram Mandir case also bill can be passed through joint session of parliament. Next year people of Bengal will visit Ayodhya to celebrate Ram Navami, said Jain when asked about NDAs lack of majority in Rajya Sabha. VHP leaders condemned Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that she is siding up with fundamentalist forces and ignoring Hindu sentiments in the state. International Joint General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Surendra Jain (Left) with Hindu leaders at a rally in celebration of Ram Mahotsav and Hanuman Jayanti in Kolkata. (Samir Jana/HT PHOTO) Saffron revolution has started in Bengal through Ram Navami processions. Have you ever seen Lord Ram without weapons. On one hand government lodges FIR against worshippers of Lord Ram, but turns a blind eye when weapons are brandished in Muharram, said Jain. VHP leaders warned that if the ruling party does not change its stance, it may soon be driven out of power in the state. Read: Sangh Parivar organise unprecedented Ram Navami celebration across Bengal Everyone was silent when police station was attacked in Kaliachowk, Malda by fundamentalists and criminals. However, when Ram Navami rallies take place with weapons it is has become an issue. The real issue is that lakhs of people have hit the streets which is a clear message that Hindus are consolidating, said Jishnu Basu, RSS secretary (South Bengal, during the public meeting. Religious leaders and leaders from various Hindu organizations participated in the rally. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday decided to provide uninterrupted 24-hour power supply in all district headquarters and 18-hour in rural areas and announced some relief to potato farmers and sugarcane growers. The state cabinet in a meeting, second since the installation of the new government last month, also decided that tehsil headquarters and backward Bundelkhand region of the state will get 20 hours of power every day. It also gave nod to waive off surcharge on all pending electricity bills, including those of domestic and commercial consumers. Briefing journalists UP energy minister Srikant Sharma said the chief minister, who chaired the three-hour long meeting held at at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow , warned officials against any laxity in implementing the order. He asked officials to ensure that power is made available at night and during exam hours for the benefit of students. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav was quick to react saying the announcement did not make any sense as his government was already implementing it. Sharma said though the SP government too had announced to provide 18-hour power to rural areas, it failed to implement it on the ground. But this government would ensure power supply is provided for the duration it has been announced. For this government, every village is a VIP and efforts are being made to ensure 24-hour uninterrupted power supply in rural areas also by October 2018, he said. Sharma pointed out that 24-hour power supply had been ensured during Navratra to all the shaktipeeths (religious places). About the one-time settlement scheme, Sharma said though surcharge has been waived of, principal amount will have to be paid. The waiver will cost the state exchequer around Rs 3,500 crore. The farmers having outstanding power bills of Rs 10,000 or more will be allowed to pay the same in four installments, the cabinet decided. It also decided to ensure that transformers were changed in 48-hours, instead of 72 hours, in rural areas and within 24 hours in the urban areas. The farmers will not be required to transport the malfunctioning transformers to the power station. This would be responsibility of the power corporation officials, Sharma said. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed under the union governments power for all project in the presence of Yogi Adityanath and union power minister Piyush Goyal in Lucknow on April 14, the minister said. The pact will be inked to meet the Centres target of making the state energy efficient by 2018. Relief for potato farmers The cabinet decided to purchase 1 lakh metric tonnes of potato at Rs 487 per quintal to protect the interest of potato farmers. The government wants to give adequate price to potato growers. Even if we cannot give them profit, we will ensure they do not incur loss, Sharma said. He said district magistrates were asked to set up procurement centres wherever needed. If the previous SP regime had played a proactive role, the condition of potato growers would have been better, he added. Sugarcane dues to be paid in 14 days The government also made it mandatory to clear the current dues of the sugarcane growers within 14 days and previous dues within 120 days. Legal action will be initiated against sugar mills if they fail to make payments, Sharma said. Steps to end shortage of building materials The state cabinet also decided to amend the Uttar Pradesh Minor Minerals Rules, 1963, in a bid to end the shortage of sand and coarse sand, which is adversely impacting construction activities. Health minister Siddharth Nath Singh said the state cabinet had constituted a committee, headed by deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, at its last meeting to look into the issue. The committee had submitted its report, he said. The state government will allow transportation of minor minerals with valid transit permits from other states. As a short term measure, district magistrates will issue e-tenders to allocate up to 10-acre area for sand mining for six months. He said short term measures had been initiated as implementation of long-term measures may take six to eight months. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The education department on Monday launched a campaign against private schools charging exorbitant fee and compelling parents to spend extra in the name of uniforms, books, etc. Even ICSE and CBSE institutions charging heavy fee would be checked. As per the chief ministers orders, schools would not be allowed to indulge in commercial activities on their premises. They would also be checked if they charge additional amounts from parents for TC, re-admission and other similar heads. RAIDS AT TWO SCHOOLS The DIoS team went to Raj Kumar Academy in Tikait Rai Colony to check sale of books. Officials found that school books were being sold through a shop nearby. The team alleged that the institution was selling books through this shops counter and seized the books and shop. The DIoS also ordered action against the school administration and store manager. A team led by District Inspector of Schools (DIoS) Umesh Tripathi raided two city schools during the day. The DIoS team went to Raj Kumar Academy, a school in Tikait Rai Colony, to check the sale of books. The officials found that school books were being sold through a shop nearby. The team alleged that the institution was selling books through this shops counter and seized the books and shop. The DIoS also ordered action against the school administration and store manager. The other step taken on the day included a raid at Exon Montessori School. When the team visited the school and tried to check into the schools accounts, no details could be found. The school office couldnt provide details of the salaries given to teachers and also of the fee charged from students, said a member of the DIoS team. Tripathi instructed the school to submit all documents and details soon. A few books were also found in the school, which were taken into custody by the team. Days after the All India Shia Waqf Board (AISWB) denounced triple talaq (divorce), Majlis-e-Ulema Hind (MUH), a consortium of various Shia organisations, urged members of the community not to meddle in the issue for political gains. There are other ways to seek empowerment of the Shias, who have been ignored by almost all regimes so far. But to further once own political agenda by interfering into issues of faith of other religious community is simply to vitiate the communal atmosphere, said Maulana Kalbe Jawad, a prominent Shia cleric of Lucknow. Shia clerics from Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi participated in the meeting of MUH held at Imambara Ghufranmab here in Lucknow on Monday. The issue of divorce can be amicably settled in the light of Quran and Sunnah (sayings and teachings of the Prophet of Islam) under the Jafri school of thought in Islam. But then different schools of thoughts have their own views. As such Shias should stay away from something that does not affect them, said Maulana Jawad, who is is also a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the apex governing body of Indian Muslims on religious matters, which is contesting the case against triple divorce in the Supreme Court. On Ayodhya issue, the religious body said while it favoured talks and an out of court settlement, but if these attempts failed, the final verdict of the Supreme Court should be welcomed by both Hindus and Muslims. Maulana Jawad condemned cow vigilantism and the killings and violence being unleashed in its garb. He said Islam did not permit disrespect for things sacred to other religions. It is the duty of the Centre to put a check on these so-called cow protectionists groups, he said. The MUH demanded a 20 per cent share in whatever quota was prescribed or given to Muslims under various welfare schemes and initiatives of the governments. Shias have been given short shrift in the recommendations made by the Sachchar Committee. We too want a separate commission to ensure social, economic and educational uplift of the Shias, said the outfit. We will write to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister and demand that they should be given their due rights and quota in jobs, said the Shia religious body. It also demanded a high level probe into alleged bungling, mismanagement and encroachment of Shia Waqf properties during the previous regime. Former revenue minister and senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse seems to be in trouble. The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Monday registered an FIR against him, his wife Mandatai and son-in-law Girish Chaudhari in connection with the alleged purchase of MIDC land in Bhosari near Pune. The ACB action comes a day before the hearing of a writ petition before the Bombay high court. In the last hearing in March, the high court ordered the ACB to register an FIR and submit an investigation report. The ACB is now expected to submit the FIR in high court on Tuesday. Khadse had to step down as revenue minister in June last following serious charges against him and his kin. The Fadnavis government has appointed a committee to probe into the land transaction. Khadse had refuted all charges calling it a political conspiracy. The police refused to divulge any information on the ground that registration of the complaint was in progress. Sources, however, said various offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act are being registered against Khadse, his wife, son-in law and a few unidentified people. The ACB plans to register the FIR under sections 13 (1), (2) and 15 of Prevention of Corruption Act and also section 109 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The original complaint was filed by Hemant Gawande in May 2016. Gawande had alleged in the complaint that Khadse misused his position as minister to purchase more than one hectare land in survey no 52 in Bhosari industrial estate. Gawande further alleged that Khadse, who was then revenue minister, had called a meeting of revenue officials in his office at Mantralaya, after which land was purchased in 15 days by his wife, son-in-law and others. Gawande stated in the complaint that the market price of the land was Rs31 crore, which was purchased for 3.75 core by Khadses relatives. The complaint also said the said land was supposed to be acquired by the government and the possible compensation was around Rs80 crore. Mere intention to purchase land was to get additional financial returns, Gawande alleged. Gawnde approached the Bombay high court when the police did not initiate action on his complaint. The police even told the high court that there was no prima-facie evidence in the case. The court did not agree with the police. It passed some strictures against the police and ordered an FIR and file investigation report. Significantly, a one-member probe committee appointed by the government under retired justice DB Zoting to probe the allegations against Khadse, has completed its probe after several extensions and the report is expected to be submitted in the next few days. The committee was accorded extra powers, by issuing a notification, under the Commission of Inquiry Act. Khadse has been claiming the land does not belong to the MIDC because it failed to follow a government order issued in 1995 making it mandatory to complete the acquisition in three years. Khadse, by raising this contention in the legislative assembly last week, had sought the clarification from the government. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, while replying to a question in the Assembly last week, did not come clear on the 1995 order and had said the law and judiciary department will be asked to clarify on it. Fadnavis, however, had said the Zoting committee report will soon be submitted to the government. Gavande demanded a probe into Khadses intention to purchase the land, which was acquired by MIDC 30 years back. He also wanted an inquiry into the Khadses sources of income for the purchase. Read Ethical hacker who claimed Eknath Khadse-Dawood Ibrahim link arrested for forgery Eknath Khadse skips CMs meet at Jalgaon SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After almost three years of bitter tussles, top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena made attempts to improve their relationship on Monday. Does this mean the bickering between the two parties will end, enabling chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to run his government without the Sena hampering him? Does this mean the Shiv Senas mouthpiece, Saamana, will stop targeting the Modi government over every issue? Leaders from both parties said recent developments indicate an improvement in the saffron allies relationship, but it is too early to conclude that things will change immediately. Both sides have grudges against each other and need to resolve a few prickly issues. The Shiv Sena will have to accept the fact that the BJP is its big brother even in Maharashtra. It must accept the role of a junior partner. The BJP will have to give the Shiv Sena a larger share of the power, said sources. It remains to be seen if the BJP will gift the Shiv Sena an extra ministerial berth in the Modi cabinet, or more departments in the Maharashtra government for supporting the partys presidential candidate. The Shiv Sena is likely to support the BJPs candidate in the presidential polls for the first time in 10 years. On Monday, Sena leadership said they were happy being part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). NDA constituents adopted a resolution to contest the 2019 lok sabha elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra at New Delhi. Uddhav Thackeray, along with other NDA partners, expressed faith in Modis leadership and resolved to contest the general elections as a unit, according to Union finance ministerArun Jaitely, who was speaking on the sidelines of the meet late on Monday. The meeting was called ahead of the presidential election scheduled in July. The Shiv Sena chief also met BJP president Amit Shah to resolve the differences between the allies. Sources said Shah insisted on better coordination between the two parties. The move is being seen as an attempt by both parties to ensure a smooth partnership at the Centre and in Maharashtra at least till 2019. Sources said the Shiv Senas leaders are likely to soften their anti-BJP stance in the wake of recent developments. It is wary of a split in the party in case it walks out of the BJP-led government in the state. The BJPs emergence as the single-largest party in all the elections held in the state over the past two years means that no party will dare contest against it for the mid-term polls. The Shiv Sena is no exception. Although they contested the 2014 Assembly polls separately, the parties came together as the BJP was short of 22 votes to run the state government. But, the two parties targeted each other during the recent civic polls. However, the BJP chose to support the Shiv Sena in the Mumbai civic body to retain power. Last week, Shah called Thackeray and invited him for NDA meet. Uddhav also decided to break tradition by attending the meet, as opposed to earlier years, when BJP leaders would go to Matoshree Thackerays Mumbai residence to discuss candidates for the post. Read Will Thackeray-Modi meeting improve BJP, Shiv Senas relationship? BMC results: Will the Fadnavis-Thackeray friendship see achche din again? Its Devendra Fadnavis vs Uddhav Thackeray in BMC polls SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) destroyed a water body near Sahar village by dumping debris into it over time, alleged city-based non-governmental organisation (NGO). NGO Watchdog Foundation filed complaints with the Union Environment Ministry and the civic body on Monday, alleging that the quarter-of-an-acre water body was destroyed almost 10 years ago. The NGO submitted satellite images of the water body as it stood in 2013, the state of the body in 2007 when the Mumbai airport was privatised and 2017, when the body cannot be seen at all. A 2003 satellite image identifying the water body. (HT) The water body was clearly visible earlier. The members of my NGO and I along have seen proof of its existence up till 2007, said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee, Watchdog Foundation. In 2007, the maps clearly show that the size of the water body was scaled down to almost negligible through the dumping of debris. Now, 10 years later, the water body has vanished, he said. MIAL officials denied the allegation, terming it false and baseless. Our records show that such a water body has never existed. Protecting the environment is of prime importance to us, and as a responsible organisation, we ensure absolute accountability in all our endeavours, said a spokesperson from MIAL. Pimenta said the NGO could not procure pictures of the lake as MIAL had cordoned off the area, citing security concerns. The central government is coming up with schemes to repair, renovate and restore such water bodies. But, this case is a blatant violation of environmental laws. Massive environmental damage has taken place, but no one is aware of it, said Pimenta. Water bodies such as lakes, ponds or tanks stabilise the coastline, control erosion, provide a habitat for plant and animal species, prevent floods and purify and increase the groundwater level during monsoons. They also regulate climate change by storing carbon. A 2001 Supreme Court order states that natural resources such as forests, tanks, ponds, hillocks, and mountains are integral to maintaining the ecological balance and need to be protected. It also states that if such sites fall into disuse, they cannot be used to build houses.Instead, authorities are duty-bound to clean and develop them to prevent an ecological disaster. Civic body officials said they had not received the complaint. We have past records of water bodies according to the development plan maps. We will check if the water body existed. We will investigate whether there has been a violation, said a senior official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A comprehensive mapping of the citys water bodies in 2007-08 by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region-Environment Improvement Society (MMR-EIS) found that of the citys 103 water bodies, only 10 were listed in the 1991 DP as either tanks or lakes. While six were classified as tanks, three as lakes and one as both a tank and a playground, none of these were protected under water body reservations. Status of water bodies in Mumbai A study found that 68 of Mumbais lakes were uncared for Of these, garbage was dumped in 63.2% About 60% were used to wash clothes and as toilets, with 22% used for bathing Religious offerings were disposed of in 41% of the lakes Sewage was released into 32.4% (Source: A study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Nature in 2009) What can you do? If you live near a water body, make sure you photograph it. It can stand as evidence in court if theres ever an attempt to reclaim it. If you see truckloads of debris being dumped into it, inform your ward officer and police station. You can file a written complaint to them as well as the city or suburban collector. Those involved in dumping debris from the developer to the contract workers can be booked under various criminal charges and under the Environment Protection Act. If you want to get a polluted water body cleaned in your neighbourhood, contact the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board on 022-24020781 / 24014701 / 24010437 Read In Mumbai: Citizens, BMC remove 1.2-lakh-kg trash from Poisar river in two weeks Mumbais Mithi is more sewer than river now SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bombay high court on Tuesday censured Maharashtra government for failing to make the State Police Complaints Authority, an independent body to look into complaints against police personnel, functional. For the past two years you are telling only one reason or the other, said the division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Anuja Prabhudessai. There is no staff, no rules of business and no complaints are still being received, the bench added expressing its anguish over the inordinate delay in setting up the authorities. Your officers appear very casual and callous about it, the judges told assistant public prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh. We are very sorry to say, but your officers have taken this (more than a decade old Supreme Court directives) very lightly, they added. Insisting that the state authority be made functional at the earliest, the bench asked the joint secretary of the home department to remain present in court on April 13, when the matter is posted for further hearing. More than a decade after the Supreme Court ordered all states to set up independent bodies to look into complaints against police personnel, a first-ever state-level authority was constituted in Maharashtra but it is still not functional. The government appointed the state-level authority under the chairmanship of Justice AV Potdar, a retired high court judge. It also includes retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officers RR Sonsukare and PK Jain and retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Ramrao and Umakant Mitkar as members. The additional director general of police (establishment) acts as member-secretary of the authority. Mitkar has been included as a person of eminence from civil society only after the high court insisted that the authority must have a representative from the civil society. The state government has earmarked 5,980-sq-ft at MTNL Building in South Mumbai for the authority, which will function as a full-time body and have 25 staff members. As far as regional authorities are concerned, the government earlier told the court that spaces have been identified for offices of the regional police complaints authorities at Nasik, Nagpur and Aurangabad and proposals to appoint chairpersons and members of the regional authorities have been submitted to the government. As informed to the high court earlier, divisional revenue commissioners had been told to identify office space quickly for three more divisional authorities, at Navi Mumbai (for Konkan region), Amravati (Vidarbha) and Pune (Western Maharashtra). The court was hearing a petition filed by Limbadri Vithal Bommer complaining that though he had lodged a complaint with a deputy commissioner of police against some police personnel attached to Wadala TT police station, no action was taken. He has also asked the court to direct the state government to set up independent police complaints authorities as ordered by the Supreme Court in September 2006. Also read: Close illegal pet shops at Crawford Market: Bombay high court to state Around this time five years ago, Vijay Palande was arrested and charged with murdering three people. The trial in one of those cases is yet to begin, the second has come to a halt, while in the third case, the victim is yet to be identified. Using a recent Supreme Court direction that asks all session courts to finish trials pending for five years by the end of 2017, Palande has written asking that his case be expedited, while blaming the prosecution for the delay. Palande was arrested in April 2012 for murdering Delhi businessman Arun Tikku and film producer Karankumar Kakkad. He had earlier jumped parole after being convicted of another double murder and sentenced to life in prison.The probe into the 2012 murders revealed how the two gruesome murders took place, Palandes past and the people who helped him (see box). Palande was also accused of a third murder that of an unidentified victimafter the police recovered a skull and bones. Blaming the prosecution for the delay in the trials, Palande wrote in a two-page application: I have been in jail for the past five years and the prosecution side is unnecessarily causing delays in conducting the trial without any just reasons. The trial in the Tikku murder case for which Palande was first arrested has not even began. In the Kakkad murder case, the trial has been stalled since November 2014, after the prosecution examined the first witness, Rita Kakkad. The third murder case is still not clear. The police have not yet come up with the identity of the deceased. The forensic reports revealed that of the bones the police allegedly recovered, one is of an animal, said Palandes lawyer, Prasant Pandey. In 2012, the state transferred the cases to fast-track court at Sewri, after which they were transferred to a sessions court. Ever since, none of the cases has progressed. Palande alleged the prosecution failed to provide copies of all documents and evidence to him. He asked for a consent agreement allegedly signed for a brain-mapping test the crime branch did. It has been a year, the prosecution has not supplied a copy. The court too ordered the crime branch to supply these documents, but the prosecution has been evading complying with the order, Pandey said. The prosecution, on the other hand, claimed Palande was causing delays by filing frivolous pleas. Even if there are several pleas, the trial can go on, Pandey said in reply. In January, the court decided to make a schedule for prosecution to speed up the trials. The prosecution was asked to bring witnesses from February. But the cases were transferred again to another court. After a month, Palande moved a plea for speedy hearing. The court wants the prosecutions reply. Who is Vijay Palande? Vijay Palande is a criminal suspected to be linked to gangster Santosh Shetty. He was convicted for a double murder in 2002, jumped parole, allegedly changed his looks and killed two other men 10 years later in 2012. Who is Vijay Palande and why is he back in the news? The story so far Early 90s: Vijay Palande meets Anup Das while working at a Juhu restaurant. Palande introduces Das to Simran Sood, who he claims is his sister January 26, 1998: Palande convinces Anup to go on a business trip with him to Mahabaleshwar. He sedates Anup on the way, murders him and throws his body down the Kumbharli valley February 2, 1998: Palande calls Anups father Swaraj Ranjan and promises to get him to meet his son. He kills Ranjan and dumps his body at Satara road February 27, 1998: The victims family files a kidnapping complaint against Palande at the DN Nagar police station April 2, 1998: The DN Nagar police arrest Palande, but release August 18, 1998: The police add the murder charge to the case against Palande November 3, 1998: Charge sheet is filed November 18, 2011: Palande given a life sentence for the murder of the two men 2003: Palande gets out of Kolhapur jail on a two-month parole, never returns to jail 2006: Palande is arrested from an Andheri apartment, where he was living with Simran. The police discover Palande had a fake passport with the name Kiran Kanubhai Rana. He is sent back to Kolhapur jail 2009: Palande is released on bail after his lawyer argues he spent nine years in jail March 6, 2012: Karankumar Kakkad, a newbie producer, goes missing. A missing complaint is filed March 10, 2012: Simran Sood is called for questioning, but she denies knowing Kakkad and the police let her go April 7, 2012: Businessman Arun Tikku is murdered at his Andheri flat April 8, 2012: Palande is detained for questioning in the Tikku murder case, as he was a tenant of one of Tikkus flats. He first denies involvement, manages to escape, is caught again and confesses to killing Kakkad and chopping up his body in to pieces He is arrested for masterminding the murders of Tikku and Kakkad. The police say both murders were for monetary gain A murderous web Simran Sood: According to the police, she is Palandes wife. From Jalandhar, she was a regular at page 3 and IPL parties. She has been with Palande since the murder of Anuj Das and his father. Palande used Sood as a honey-trap to lure rich youngsters wanting to make it big. Sood would generally introduce Palande as her brother Karan Sood Inspector Sanjay Shinde: A crime branch officer who is related to Palande. He is suspected to have facilitated the escape of Palande from police custody Constable Amol Deshpande: He is suspected to have helped Palande escape from police custody during questioning in 2012 Gautam Vora: A stock broker from south Mumbai, Vora allegedly helped Palande on the day he escaped from police custody. He is also said to be close to Sood. Dhananjay Shinde: Arrested for his role in both the Tikku and Kakkad murder cases. Shinde has since turned approver and is currently in judicial custody Manoj Gajkosh: Allegedly helped Palande execute the murders of Tikku and Kakkad. READ MORE Vijay Palandes aide seeks discharge in murder case SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union 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 Google Ad 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 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 It was the mobile phone records of the accused in the Charkop murder case that led to the police arresting Asha Wankhede, 60, wife of the murdered former banker Prakash Wankhede, and two others. An officer from the Charkop police station said that while they were checking three of the accuseds mobile phone records, they got suspicious as they were detected to be together right when Prakash allegedly went off the radar on April 11 and 12, 2016. He added that on interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime. According to the police, Prakash frequently suspected Asha of having an extra-marital affair. She got frustrated with the constant suspicion and decided to kill him. She sought the help of her sister Vandana Korve, 40, and Vandanas boyfriend Nilesh Supale, 36, to kill her husband. For this, she gave a cheque of Rs 2 lakh and Rs15,000 in cash to both of them and an extra Rs1 lakh in cheque to help dispose of Prakashs body. On April 10, 2016, Prakash, who retired as a deputy branch manager of a bank, and Asha left for Ahmednagar to attend a family function. They were joined by Vandana and Nilesh in an SUV that belonged to a friend of Nilesh. At the intervening night of April 11-12, last year, the trio fed kheer laced with sleeping pills to Prakash. When he fell unconscious, Asha hit him on the head with an iron rod and killed him. The trio bundled the body in a jute sack, loaded him in the SUV and dumped the body 27 kilometers away from her sisters house to Parner, said the officer. The trio then returned to Mumbai in the same SUV on April 12 as Asha told them that she was scared to return to Mumbai alone. After dropping off Asha, Korve and Nilesh returned to Ahmednagar. Two weeks later, Asha approached the Charkop police on April 27 last year and lodged a missing person complaint. She told the police that her husband had asked her not to contact him for 15 days and he wanted to be by himself. She claimed that she grew worried when he did not return home and went to the police. While investigating the case last year, the police found no leads. Interviews of family members led to nothing as none of the family members raised any suspicion on anyone. Another officer said that Vandana sought Nileshs help to kill Prakash as he was an RTI activist and was politically active in the local area. He also ran a security agency and so when Vandana discussed her brother-in-laws murder plan with him, he agreed to help hide his body. In return Vandana decided to share the contract money with him. Meanwhile, the Ahmednagar police had found Prakashs body but could not identified him because due to lack of any id on him. The Nagar police registered a case of murder but they did not find anything during investigation. It was only during the analysis of the accuseds mobile phone records did the police find a connection among the accused and arrested them. Also read: Wife, two others held for killing ex-banker who was reported missing a year ago SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After the enforcement directorate (ED) attached property worth Rs18.37 crore belonging to controversial televangelist Zakir Naiks Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), it is set to tighten the noose further. The agency on Monday approached a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, seeking a non-bailable warrant against him. Naik has been non-cooperative and has not appeared despite repeated summons, said a source close to the development. The court will hear arguments on Tuesday. The move comes in the wake of Naik failing to appear before the agency, despite them issuing him four summons. The ED first issued summons to Naik in January, after which summons were issued at regular intervals. Sources in the agency said Naiks overseas properties were also under the EDs scanner. Naik has failed to appear in person. Certain questions can only be answered by him. His presence is necessary, said an ED officer privy to the investigation. Though Naik offered to speak to the ED via video-conferencing or answer a questionnaire, sources said the agency was not keen on the idea, saying it would set a wrong precedent. The ED alleged that Naik established dummy companies in India and abroad for the diversion of funds. The probe gathered momentum with the arrest of Aamir Gazdar, a close confidante of Naik. Gazdar played a pivotal role in acquiring and disposing of the cash. Dummy companies were used to camouflage the diversion of funds received by Naik though his illegal activities and provocative speeches, alleged ED. The central agency said Gazdar was the director of at least six companies established by Naik, two of which are in England Universal Broadcasting Corporation Ltd and Lords production Inc Ltd. The rest are based in Mumbai Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, Long-lost constructions Pvt Ltd, Majestic Perfumes Pvt Ltd and Alpha Lubricants Pvt Ltd. The transactions between Gazdar and Naik are also under the agencys lens. The ED alleged that Gazdar would file IT returns in his wife and childrens names. ED revealed that videos of Naiks provocative speeches were produced and exported to Dubai to be telecast. Naik conducted transactions involving large sums through Gazdar, without leaving a trail of where the money came from or what it was used for. The cash was collected and disbursed to employees and officials of the IRF trust, the agency has alleged. The agency has recorded the statements of Naiks siblings his sister Nailah Noorani and brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik. They two said they were unaware of Naiks financial dealings. Read Is the Zakir Naik case falling apart? Zakir Naik owns at least 37 properties in country, 25 in Mumbai alone: NIA Money laundering: Zakir Naik responds to summons, offers to be quizzed on Skype SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Asha Wankhedes arrest for planning her husbands murder with her sister and her boyfriend has likely opened another murder case. The police on Monday arrested Asha, her sister Vandana Korve and her boyfriend Nilesh Supale for killing the retired banker last year. They now suspect that Korve may have killed her husband in a similar way as the police have not found his body yet, an officer from the Ahmednagar police said. All that Korve has revealed during interrogation so far is that her husband was also dead, a source said. This has increased the Mumbai polices suspicion that Korves husband may have been killed too, said the officer. Korve, a housewife, got into a relationship with Supale in 2012. Supale claimed to be an RTI activist with a Lok Hitwadi Seva Sangh and also works as a small time detective in Ahmednagars Nagar taluka. Officials said they will grill Korve and Supale to find out if her husband was killed in a similar manner. They said they will try to find the body of Korves husband. A Mumbai police official confirmed Asha had paid Rs2 lakh to Korve and Supale for murdering Prakash. To gather evidence, the police are now checking the bank statements of all the three accused. The evidence will be part of the charge sheet. The three will be handed over to the Ahmednagar police where they will be interrogated further for the murder of Prakash and the suspected killing of Korves husband too. In the case of Prakashs murder, the penny dropped when the police found disparity in the statements of the three people. Asha claimed to the police that she had returned to Mumbai alone on April 12 last year. However, investigating officials found that she had come back to the city with her accomplices. Their phone records and the locations also nailed their lies, said the police. READ Wife, two others held for killing ex-banker who was reported missing a year ago SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid tensions between the saffron allies over several issues, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray attended a meeting for leaders of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in New Delhi on Monday. The Sena chief even had a brief meeting with BJP president Amit Shah. The Sena is likely to support a BJP candidate in the presidential election, scheduled for July this year, even though it had voted for Congress candidates in the past two elections. The development is seen as a positive attempt to overcome differences between the ruling allies by leaders of both the parties in Maharashtra. The Sena also supported the decision of the NDA constituents to contest the next Lok Sabha election under Modis leadership. The Shah-Thackeray meeting was held just before the NDA meet. Sena sources said Thackeray will extend his support to an NDA candidate for president for the first time in 10 years. However, the question is whether the new bonhomie will lead to improving BJP-Sena relations that had turned sour or will it sustain until the presidential elections. The Senas 25,000 votes are crucial for the BJP to ensure its candidate crosses the 50% mark safely. As an NDA partner, Thackeray was invited for the meet chaired by Modi at Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan in Delhi. In the past, senior BJP leaders would visit Matoshree, Thackerays Mumbai residence, to discuss the candidates for the post. Despite this, the Sena had supported Congress candidates Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential elections held in 2007 and 2012 respectively. But Thackeray decided to break from that tradition. He also met Shah in a separate meeting and discussed issues the allies are struggling with. Sources said Shah also insisted on better coordination between the allies. The move is being seen as an attempt by both partners to have a smooth partnership in power at least till 2019. Although they contested the 2014 Assembly polls separately, the two parties came together as the BJP was short of 22 votes to run the government in Maharashtra. The two parties targeted each other again during the recent civic polls, but the BJP then chose to support the Sena in the Mumbai civic body to retain power. Last week, Shah rang Thackeray and invited him for the NDA meet. Sources said the Sena leadership is likely to soften its anti-BJP stance in the wake of recent developments. Further, it is wary of a split in the party in case it walks out of the BJP-led government in the state. The second factor is the BJPs emergence as a single-largest party in all the elections held in the state in the last two years considering which no party will dare to go for mid-term polls and Thackeray is not exception to the idea. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, leader of Opposition in the Assembly, criticised Thackerays Delhi visit saying he has lost his self-confidence. The Senas stand on a farm loan waiver was never authentic. Had it been, the Sena would have moved out of the state and central government. The Senas fake love towards farmers has been exposed, Vikhe Patil said in a statement. Read NDA allies pat PM Modis back, say decisive leadership can provide stable govt Uddhav Thackeray to attend NDA meet called by PM Modi today My brother is still alive on paper. Hanishkumar, the brother of Karankumar Kakkad who was allegedly killed by Vijay Palande and his wife Simran Sood said even after five years, the family has still not been able to get his death certificate. After the murder, we approached the municipal authorities. The authorities said as it is a different case (murder) they cant issue any certificate, Hanish told HT. Hanish said when the municipal authorities refused to give the certificate, they went to court. The case was transferred to a court in Sewri at the time. We approached that court but it had not yet received the records. We were asked to wait. We are still waiting. Palande was arrested in April 2012 for allegedly murdering Karan on March 6, hacking his body into pieces in the bathroom and dumping it at Kumbharli ghat. On March 9, Hanish lodged a missing complaint with the Amboli police. Hanish said the trial so far has left him disappointed in the system. We have no clue what is happening in Mumbai. About a year ago, I would keep calling officers for an update in my brothers murder case. They told me not to call and assured me they would call us with an update. It has been a year and we havent got any news. After the murder, my mother and I would come to Mumbai every month. This has hit our finances, said Hanish adding that losing Karan has left the family struggling to meet ends. Hanish runs a boutique now. We can no longer afford to come to Mumbai to keep a check on the case. Read Charged with 3 murders and in jail for 5 years, Vijay Palande asks for speedy trial SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As many as 516 answer-sheets of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams were allegedly stolen from a Dahisar school last week. The school authorities complained to the police that the papers were stolen by a man disguised as a scrap dealer. The Charkop police are investigating the case. Kiran Kumar Chavan, deputy commissioner of police (zone XII), said, The school principal approached us on April 8 and we have registered a case under section 380 (theft) of the Indian Panel code against an unidentified person. There is no CCTV cameras in the area where the answer sheets were kept so we will inquire the staff of the school about the scrap dealer, added Chavan The answer-sheets were given to Isra Vidyalaya at Dahisar East by the Maharashtra state board for evaluation, after the SSC exams concluded on April 1. The answer-sheets were largely unchecked and were stored in the principals cabin. The incident took place on April 3 around 1pm when most of the teachers had gone for lunch, said school principal Narendra Pathak, who has registered a complaint with the Dahisar police station. The man came to my cabin to collect old papers. I stepped away for 10-15 minutes and he ran away with the answer papers. Pathak is worried whether the incident will affect the SSC results, which are usually announced in June. He immediately informed the Mumbai divisional board about the incident. With so many papers going missing, it might affect the exam results. I am very stressed by the whole affair, said Pathak. Mumbai divisional board authorities said before taking any action they would wait until the police investigation was completed. We request students not to worry, we are positive that the police will find the papers, said Siddeshwar Chandekar, divisional secretary of the Mumbai division. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In January 2008, when filmmaker Rhea Lobo, 30, experienced excruciating pain in her left foot, doctors said it could be either a bacterial infection, cancer or tuberculosis. In a weeks time, a biopsy sample from her foot was sent to two laboratories- one at the hospital where she was being treated, another, to a private laboratory. The report from the private lab put her fears to rest. The report said it was a regular bacterial infection, said Lobo. Her doctors put her on antibiotics, but in a few weeks, she remembered about the other report. I asked the hospital about the second report, and it turned out that they had misplaced it, she said. When they finally located her reports duplicate copy, she found out she had tuberculosis of the bone - a diagnosis which was unsettling. Soon, there was swelling in her lymph nodes and she had to undergo three surgeries that year. She took TB treatment for over one and a half years to fully recover. For four years after the diagnosis, I didnt talk about it. My immediate family knew and were my strongest support system and saw me through my recovery. But I was told it would be best to hush it up for fear of getting stigmatised, Lobo said. Lobo shared her story at the recently-held TB Summit organised by the Union at Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh to raise awareness about extra-pulmonary TB. However, her biggest aim, she said, is to alleviate the social stigma that surrounds the disease which infects 2.2 million people in India each year. They told me no one would marry me, and that I wont be able to conceive. The list of rubbish I heard was endless. There are so many myths about TB that need to be broken, said Lobo, who is now a mother of 2 kids. In a five-minute film called Fight TB, stay beautiful which she directed, Lobo shares her story, which resonates the voices of many women TB survivors. A woman was allegedly duped of Rs41 lakh by an unidentified person who befriended her on social networking site Facebook while posing as a foreign national. Two men have been arrested but the mastermind is still at large. According to the cyber police, the complainant and the accused became friends on Facebook in December last year. To win her trust, the man told her he would transfer some money into her account if she helped him convert his two lakh British pounds into Indian rupees. He also said that he would come to Mumbai to meet her and her parents in April. Earlier this month, the man told her he had been detained by a customs officer at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and asked her to transfer money to help him get out of the situation. The woman believed him and transferred Rs41 lakh to three different bank accounts. She soon realised that she had been conned and alerted the Mumbai police and her bank. Acting on her complaint, the cops arrested two men on April 9 who tried to withdraw the amount she had transferred. The cyber police later came to know that the mastermind had used these two mens bank accounts while promising them a share of the spoils. The arrested accused are Shahabuddin Shaikh, 23, from New Delhi and Gulzar Shaikh, 24, from Uttar Pradesh, said the police. Deputy commissioner of police, cyber, Akhileshkumar Singh said, We do not know if the person who posed as her friend on the social network is an Indian national or a foreigner. An FIR has been registered under sections 419, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and 66D of the Information Technology Act. READ MORE Mumbai woman cheated by imposter posing as US Army official on Facebook Pune: FB friend dupes 64-yr-old ex-scientist of Rs94 lakh on pretext of marrying her The possibility of returning to the Devendra Fadnavis-led government now seems distant for senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former revenue minister Eknath Khadse, after the anti-corruption bureau registered an FIR against him and his family on Monday in connection with the alleged purchase of industrial land in Bhosari, Pune. It currently appears as though none of the party top brass want Khadse back, said a party insider. Khadse had to step down as revenue minister in June last year, following serious charges against him and his family. The former minister is now facing probes by multiple agencies, including trials by a committee headed by retired justice DB Zoting, an investigation by the Bombay high court and probes by the local police and the ACB. Despite Fadnavis assuring the public that the one-member committee appointed by the state under retired justice DB Zoting would complete its investigation within three months, the committee sought several extensions. It was accorded extra powers, after a notification was issued under the Commission of Inquiry Act. Though the committees report is yet to be submitted, the fresh FIR filed by the ACB poses a new challenge for the leader, who was keen to return to the government as a minister. The FIR came a day before Khadses hearing in the Bombay high court. At the last hearing in March, the court ordered the ACB to register an FIR and submit an investigation report. The police conducted a probe and found no substance in the Bhosari land deal allegations. The FIR was filed only after the government pleader told the court that the state would initiate a criminal case. Despite all the allegations levelled against me, I have come out clean in each case. This will not be an exception, Khadse told HT. The people whose vested interests were thwarted owing to my actions as minister are the ones who hatched this conspiracy. It is strange how allegations in various cases were levelled against me only in the year before I resigned, Khadse told HT. The original complaint in the Bhosari land deal case was filed in May 2016, by a man identified as Hemant Gawande. Gawande said Khadse had misused his position as revenue minister to purchase more than 1 hectare of land in survey no 52 in Bhosari industrial estate. Gawande added that Khadse had met revenue officials in his office at Mantralaya, after which the land was bought within 15 days by his wife, son-in-law and others. In his complaint, Gawande said the market price of the land was Rs31 crore, however, Khadses relatives bought it for Rs3.75 core. He said the land was to be acquired by the government and the potential compensation was around Rs80 crore. Khadse bought the land so he could get additional financial returns, Gawande alleged. Khadse said the land did not belong to the MIDC as it failed to follow a 1995 government order, which mandated that the acquisition was to be finalised within three years. He raised this contention in the legislative assembly last week,seeking a clarification from the government. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the law and judiciary department would be asked to clarify the order. Khadse has been cornered by his party several times, even on his home turf Jalgaon. Staunch Khadse supporter Gurumukh Jagwani was not renominated to the legislative council last year. Later, his supporters were denied tickets in the district council election. Worse, his arch rival in the party, water resources minister Girish Mahajan, was given a say in the decisions related to Jalgaon. Read ACB files FIR against BJPs Eknath Khadse Fresh corruption claims against ousted Khadse SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Call centre mastermind Sagar Thakkar alias Shaggy had gone to Dubai at least thrice to set up an IT venture before the Thane police busted his scam in October last year. A senior Thane police official said on Monday that Shaggy went to Dubai in June last year for the first time to start an IT firm there. This was followed by two more visits in August and September. He finally managed to start a small firm, Phoenix IT Infracture, by partnering with a UAE citizen, Abdulla, said the officer. He rented a small house in a down-market area of Dubai, ostensibly to provide IT solutions to companies in India. The police, however, believe that the firm was set up to launder earnings made from the IRS scam in the US to India. The police have found that a small apartment was booked in the vicinity of the office to be used as guest house for employees. It was in this apartment that Shaggy lived after he fled from India following the raids at his Mira Road call centre on October 4 last year, the officer said. According to the police, Shaggy learned the tricks of converting personal data into an enterprise over the internet soon after he graduated from the MG Science Institute in Ahmedabad. He dabbled in generating data about prospective clients for law firms in the United States, the Thane police officer said. He added that Shaggy befriended a US national, identified as Jerry Morris, over the internet for remittance of his earnings in that country. Morris would encash the payments made by Shaggys clients in the US through Green Dot Money Pack Codes and send the money through Western Union money transfer after keeping his commission, said the officer. He used his earnings to begin the more profitable but vicious business of fake call centres to make threatening calls to taxpayers in the United States by masquerading as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials and coercing them into paying up. The police have now launched a hunt to trace the person who helped Shaggy encash the iTunes cards and bitcoins procured through the IRS scam in India. Shaggy has erased information about his contacts and money trails by deleting his e-mails and call records. While we are trying to retrieve the data, we have identified his aides. They will be nabbed soon, the official added. Also read: Thane call centre scam kingpin Shaggy gave Audi, BMW to friends before fleeing SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Those living in chawls on textile mill lands in south and central Mumbai will get bigger tenements, with an area of 405 square feet, once they are redeveloped. They earlier stood to get 305-sq-ft homes. The state government will soon issue a notification for changes in the Development Control Rule (DCR) to give builders fungible FSI up to 35% without any premium. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis cleared the proposal at a meeting on Tuesday. Fadnavis said exchange for waiver, builders will have to give 100 more square feet to each tenant. He also clarified that the construction cost will have to be borne by builders as they have already been given an FSI of 4. Nitin Kareer, principal secretary of the urban development department, said, We have already issued the draft notification, inviting suggestions for changes to the DCR. The final notification, allotting the fungible FSI without any cost, will be issued soon. MLAs Ashish Shelar, Kalidas Kolambkar and Sunil Shinde were present at the meeting. Though developers and mill land owners have been demanding that construction cost of the additional area be born by tenants, the CM said the developer will have to bear it. He has warned of strict action against developers who fail to give bigger houses to tenants, Shelar said. READ MORE Can BDD chawl redevelopment script new history? Mumbais old gangland is now just chawls and malls SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three murder accused escaped from police custody on Monday evening while they were being brought from Khandala to Pune in a police vehicle. Police have launched a massive hunt for them. The accused, Kalya alias Raju Mahadeo Patre, Santosh Machhindra Jagtap and Lubya alias Santosh Chinchaman Chandilkar, are all residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad. Police said they are history-sheeters and were lodged in Yerwada Jail. The three were arrested in connection with a murder on Monday and taken to Khandala for a court hearing on Monday. On their way back to Pune, they requested the police escort team to stop the vehicle, saying they needed to relieve themselves. The driver halted near Katraj tunnel. According to a complaint lodged by the police, the accused pushed them and ran fled to a nearby jungle, taking advantage of the dark. Police teams had still not found them by Tuesday morning. A year after a 62-year-old retired banker went missing, the Charkop police on Monday arrested his wife, sister-in-law and her boyfriend for allegedly killing him. Prakash Wankhedes wife Asha, 60, had given her sister Vandana Korve, 40, and her boyfriend Nilesh Supale, 32, Rs2 lakh to kill the banker, said the police. The police said Prakash was suspicious that his wife was having an affair, which may have triggered her to plan the murder. The couple has three children, who are married and live at Vasai, Navi Mumbai and Mira Road. Our questioning revealed that while she did not have an affair, the constant suspicion frustrated her and so she planned the murder, said an officer from Charkop police station. On April 10, 2016, Prakash, who retired as a deputy branch manger of a bank and Asha left for Ahmednagar to attend a family function. She returned to Mumbai alone on April 12. But it was only on April 27 that she lodged a missing persons complaint. She had told us that her husband wanted to be by himself and did not wish to be contacted for 15 days, said another police officer. After reaching Ahmednagar, the couple stayed at a house with Vandana, said the police. On the intervening night of April 11-12, the accused fed kheer laced with sleeping pills to Prakash. When he fell unconscious, they killed him by hitting him on his head with an iron rod, said Vikram Deshmane, deputy commissioner of police, zone XI. They bundled the body into a Scorpio and dumped it at Parner, 27km from Ahmednagar, said the police. Back in Ahmednagar on the same day, the Nagar police found a mans body but could not identify him for lack of identification documents on him. They registered a case of murder. Based on technical evidence and their conflicting statements, the three were arrested, added Deshmane. They will be handed over to the Nagar police station. Korve is married and has two children. She was with Supale, who is an RTI activist and a small time detective. READ Engineer kills wife for refusing to stay with him in Mulund home, is on the run SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray climbed down from his high horse and deigned to attend a dinner thrown by Narendra Modi for allies of the NDA, two things were absolutely clear one, there was a trade-off between the Union government and its ally over Ravindra Gaikwads flying ban and two, that the BJP still needs the Shiv Sena one more time, before junking its troublesome ally forever. With presidential elections due in July and with no clear majority in the Rajya Sabha despite its good showing in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP cannot have forgotten that the Shiv Sena is a mischief-maker when it comes to presidential polls over the past decade. In 2007, the party opted for UPA-1 candidate Pratibha Patil on the ground that she was Maharashtrian and they could not have voted against their Marathi manoos ethos. But, what about 2012 when they voted for UPA-2 candidate Pranab Mukherjee? Bal Thackerays justification then was that Mukherjee was a great parliamentarian which was rather an insult to NDA candidate PA Sangma, who had also been a great parliamentarian and a speaker of the Lok Sabha. The BJP could do nothing in either case. It had to swallow its anger and continue the alliance as though this was no great breach of trust or betrayal. Despite a strong showing by the BJP in 2014 and in some states recently, the Shiv Sena is still being mischievous with regard to the presidential polls. It recently suggested the name of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, knowing that there was no way the BJP could reject that name outright. It was left to Bhagwat to deny his bid for the presidency and he had to be categorical. Even if my name is officially suggested, I am going to turn it down. In 2007 and 2012, the Shiv Sena chose to side with the winning candidate. This time, going against the BJPs choice of candidate would mean opting for a potential loser though the Congress has indicated that it will put up its own candidate, there is no way they can make up the numbers. But, taking advantage of the bad blood between the two saffron allies and the growing closeness between the Sena and the Congress-NCP in Maharashtra, it is not impossible that the Sena might just be preparing for a hat-trick in this regard, simply to embarrass the Modi government at the Centre. Which is why the Union government had to give in to the Senas demand to withdraw the flying ban against party MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who beat up an Air India employee and even boasted about it with a large dose of chest-thumping, and was unapologetic to the end. Both the government and the airlines were treading the right path on the issue until the BJP got tripped by its concerns over the presidential polls every vote counts and that is why the party has so far not allowed either Yogi Adityanath or Manohar Parrikar who were recently sworn in as chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Goa respectively to formally quit their parliamentary seats yet, as it will take them time to get elected to the legislatures in their states. They have not yet forgotten that the NDA government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee lost a vote of confidence by just one vote, which could easily have been that of Girdhar Gamang, then Orissa chief minister, who had not resigned his Lok Sabha seat and participated in the vote. But, even the Shiv Sena had contributed to that single-vote defeat party MP Mohan Rawle, who was Bal Thackerays bodyguard before being elected to the Lok Sabha, was missing in the House. He later resurfaced at a hospital miles from Bombay and Delhi saying he had to admit himself to treat his exhaustion and dehydration. The jury is still out on whether that absence was orchestrated by the party or if Rawle had been lured by the then Opposition (read Sharad Pawar) without the knowledge of Bal Thackeray a great friend of Pawars. For just a few years later, Thackeray helped to elect the latters daughter, Supriya Sule, to the Rajya Sabha by refusing to support the BJP candidate who had to withdraw to avoid the embarrassment of a defeat. At the best of times, then, the Shiv Sena has not played ball with the BJP. There is nothing to indicate it will do so now. Read Acche din for BJP-Shiv Sena relationship in Maharashtra? Shiv Sena wants NDA to consider RSS chief Bhagwat as President of India Frosty Shiv Sena-BJP ties thaw as Thackeray meets Modi, Shah in New Delhi SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A few days after the state government passed an order for an audit of the Ghaziabad development authority (GDA) by the Comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of India, state officials have now sought details of all engineers of the authority and their previous postings with other development authorities. There are 140 junior engineers, 31 assistant engineers, 10 executive engineers and two superintending engineers headed by a chief engineer in the GDA. The state administration has asked for engineers name, date of posting and previous posting tenures with other development authorities. The details have been sought from everybody from junior-engineer level to the chief engineer of the authority in a particular format, said DP Singh, officer on special duty with the authority. As the details are to be furnished by April 12, GDA officials were present in the office on Tuesday despite it being a holiday. They also prepared details for a meeting with state housing minister Suresh Passi to be held in Lucknow on Wednesday. During the meeting, details of under-construction projects are likely to be discussed. We have been asked to furnish details of the projects, unauthorised constructions and enforcement done in this regard. We have also been asked to give details of map clearances for housing projects, Singh added. GDA officials are of the opinion that the state government will come up with a policy decision to bring more transparency in the working of development authorities. The order for a CAG audit of the GDAs income and expenditure was also approved in a cabinet meeting held in Lucknow on Tuesday. The government order had already been issued on April 7. Briefing media persons about the decisions of the state cabinet on Tuesday, state ministers Srikant Sharma and Siddharth Nath Singh said chief minister Yogi Adityanath favoured transparency and the state government would allow audit of GDA or any of the 29 development authorities of the state by the CAG or any Central agency. The audit has been a contentious issue with the previous state government under the Samajwadi Party disallowing a CAG audit of the GDA, despite requests by state governor Ram Naik. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Builders in Noida and Greater Noida whose projects are nearing completion are in a hurry to get occupancy certificates so that these projects are not governed by new real estate regulatory authority to be effective from May 1 this year. With an aim to safeguard the interests of homebuyers, Uttar Pradesh government set up the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) following central governments approval. It is likely to be effective from May 1 across the state. Homebuyers alleged that some developers want to obtain occupancy certificates (OC) without providing required basic amenities so that the RERA rules dont apply to their projects. As RERA will ensure unscrupulous realtors face strict legal action and refund buyers money without any delay including other benefits (for buyers), many developers in Greater Noida and Noida are in hurry to get OCs. But we will protest if OC is given to an unfinished project, said Abhishek Kumar, president of Noida Extension flat owners welfare association. The rules define ongoing projects as ones where development is going on and for which the completion certificate has not been issued. As per RERA rules complete projects include those where all development work have been completed and sale/lease deeds of 60% of the apartments/houses/plots have been executed or where all development work has been completed and application has been filed with the competent authority for issue of completion certificate. As per the UP Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Rules, 2016 notified on October 27, 2016 a group housing project without an occupancy certificate (a documentary proof of completion) will be considered an ongoing project and it will be mandatory for the developer to get the project registered under the new regulatory authority. Realtors fear if their project comes within the ambit of RERA, they will face tough action, said Danish Khan, a homebuyer. Officials at the Greater Noida authority said that some developers are trying to bend the rules. They are applying for unfinished projects because they think by doing so they can escape RERA. They are also applying for part completion to stay away from the RERA ambit, said an official. As on date, six OC applications are in process in Greater Noida and many are under process in Noida too. The Noida and Greater Noida authorities chief executive officer Deepak Agarwal said that they will follow all laid down procedures before issuing an OC to a project. We will not issue an OC to a project until the builder submits all required certificates including fire NOC, environmental clearance papers and other necessary documents. If any builder wants to get an OC without submitting necessary documents, it will not be allowed at all, said Agarwal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Noida district administration on Tuesday formed a committee to probe allegations of fee hike by some private schools in the city. The move comes after a fortnight of sustained protests by some parents group against arbitary fee hikes by private schools. We have received a number of complaints against private schools stating that they have hiked fees without prior notice and in an unjustified manner. Therefore, we have decided to set up a committee to probe the allegations, said NP Singh, district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar. The committee constituted by Singh has three members the city magistrate, district school inspector and district basic education officer. They have been instructed to submit a report to Singh after within seven days. On Sunday, a group of parents had taken part in a silent march towards the district collectorate office to protest against what they termed was an unjustified fee hike by various private schools in Noida. For the past 15 days, parents in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad have been holding protests against various private schools for hike in fees. Taking cognizance of the matter, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath had held a meeting with the officials of state education department where prospects of introducing a regulatory body for private schools was discussed. Noida city magistrate, Ramanujan Singh, had also come out with a notice on Monday asking schools not to take any action against students whose parents have declined to pay the increased fees. The probe committee, officials said, will focus on four key allegations put forth by the parents Are private schools illegally hiking fees in an unexpected manner, are the private schools forcing parents to buy books, stationery, bags and other commodities from particular shops or their own campus, are schools flouting norms put by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) by forcing parents to buy books from different publications other than NCRT and are schools charging money from parents at the time of admission which has no context with a students education or development. The committee will look into all four allegations that the parents have put forth, said Singh. The committee will submit its report in a week with regards to the schools against which complaints have been received. Till now, we have received maximum complaints against Cambridge School and Delhi Public School in GB Nagar. Therefore, the committee will start its probe with these schools, said the district magistrate. Parents on Tuesday welcomed the foormation of a probe committee and said it was a step in the right direction. However, they said that the administration should launch a probe against all private schools against which parents have complained. We welcome the move by the district administration and I am sure that they have the right intention behind setting up this committee. However, a probe should be conducted against all private schools that have hiked fees. Orders should also be issued to such schools that they do not harass parents. Protesting parents have been receiving SMS from schools to pay the fees, said Niti Srivastava, a parent. The district magistrate said that parents can approach it with written complaints against specific schools and the committee will conduct probe against them as well. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The protests against two liquor shops in Govindpuram and Daulatpura in Ghaziabad continued on Tuesday, leaving excise officials at a loss regarding ways to pacify the agitators. The residents of Daulatpura have been protesting against the liquor vend in their area for a week now while the protests in Govindpuram entered into its third day on Tuesday. The agitators have demanded that the liquor shops be relocated out of residential areas as they pose issues for families, women and even youngsters. Angry residents have been staging protest infront of the model liquor shop in Govindpuram A-block and have forced it shut. Since this shop opened, I have had to vacate my house and shift to take up another place on rent. The liquor vend is in close proximity to residential houses, a temple and a school. We have been protesting against it for a long time. Now, we are optimistic that the new government under CM Yogi Adityanath will listen to our woes, said Nisha Goel, a resident. Women protesters of Govindpuram said they felt insecure from customers who visited the liquor shop in large numbers during daytime and in the evenings. They indulge in consumption of alcohol outside our houses. Women and families cannot move out. Some people can even be seen consuming liquor in glasses inside a nearby ATM. Women are often subjected to lewd remarks by these men, said another resident, Manju Teotia. The residents said that youngsters visited the liquor shop in the evening and can often be seen driving their bikes at high speeds. People drink inside cars which are parked outside our houses. One can also spot men urinating out in the open later. We cannot get into an altercation with them everyday. Since there has been a change in regime, we expect the state government to look into our issues now, sad Shashi Teotia, a resident. Owners of nearby areas also said they often shut shops by 5pm as people in large number start flocking the liquor vend in the evening. Residents of Daulatpur echoed similar woes and said they felt aggrieved by the social implications of a countrymade liquor shop running in their locality. Dozens of residents continued their sit-in protest outside the liquor shop on Tuesday. Officials of the district excise department said that the shops were given license as per norms. They added that the model shop at Govindpuram was located in a market complex. We have held many meetings with the locals at the two locations but they have refused to budge and have not allowed the opening of the shops. One liquor shop was vandalised on Monday at a locality under Masuri police station. We will hold more meetings to persuade the protesters, said Karunendra Singh, district excise officer. The death sentence awarded by a Pakistani military court martial (Monday, April 10) in respect of a purported Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav a retired Indian naval officer merits the prefix of a kangaroo court meaning that it that had arrived at the verdict even before the evidence had been objectively and judiciously assessed. Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan in March 2016 in Balochistan and he was accused of being an undercover RAW agent engaged in stoking the Baloch separatist movement and seeking to scuttle the high-profile China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. At the time Delhi had rejected these allegations and had sought consular access to Jadhav which was denied. In a matter of 12 months, the Pakistan military convened a field general court martial (FGCM) and gravely concluded that a death sentence was warranted. The Pakistani ISPR made the official press statement and not the Pakistan Foreign office and noted that Cdr. Jadhav had confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi. New Delhi has responded firmly and cautioned Islamabad in an unusual turn of phrase that this act by Pakistan would be deemed to be one of pre-meditated murder. Clearly the already strained India-Pakistan bilateral is all set to go further south and certain questions loom large. Why is Pakistan raising the ante against India now in such a brazen and provocative manner in espionage case that seemingly lacks credibility ? The kangaroo nature of the Jadhav verdict can be linked to a startling disclosure by the Pakistani media in early December 2016 when it was reported that the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz kicked up a controversy by stating in the Senate that government could not finalise a dossier on captured Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav because of inadequate evidence provided so far. This was the equivalent of setting the cat among the pigeons and within a few hours, the Pak Foreign office scrambled and the media carried another statement that totally denied the initial statement by Sarataj Aziz and the anti-India line was reiterated. While India conducted the 26/11 terror attack case against Kasab in the most transparent manner possible the Jadhav case has been rushed through in the most opaque manner. Pakistans brazenness in defying established international consular norms and cocking-a-snook at India may be attributed to a new surge of confidence about how Rawalpindi is perceived by the major powers in this case the USA, China and to an extent Russia. Projecting Delhi as the obstacle to the China-Pakistan economic corridor a month ahead of the mid May summit being convened by President Xi Jiping in Beijing is one strand the other being the feelers being put out by the Trump administration to ostensibly mediate in the troubled India-Pakistan bi-lateral. J&K is going through another cycle of violence and a sense of deja-vu is palpable. Punjab is all set to take a major leap in industrialisation, with leading captains of Indian industry on Tuesday offering a slew of investments and project initiatives in the state during separate meetings with Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on the second day of his Mumbai visit. While Reliance ADAG, headed by Anil Ambani, sought from the chief minister land for setting up testing ranges for its new defence projects, RPG Group chairman Harsh Goenka evinced interest in setting up a tractor tyre plant in the state, said in a press release. The chief minister invited them to explore the viability of the projects, extending his governments full support for the same by providing them the necessary land and other facilities for the development of industrial units. He also welcomed Mahindra & Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindras offer for digitisation of the states urban local bodies, besides the establishment of an integrated emergency management system. Hindustan Unilever Ltd CEO and MD Sanjiv Mehta, in his meeting with the chief minister, expressed his companys keenness to procure tomatoes and citrus fruits on a large scale from the state for its Kisan jams and squashes. During his breakfast meeting with Capt, Anil Ambani, pointing to the huge losses incurred by Punjab due to purchase of power at a high cost, offered power to the state at Rs. 1.75 per unit. He urged the chief minister to direct the power regulator and the state grid to go for the cheapest power, to which Capt promised to revisit all the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to assess the cost differential. Inviting Reliance ADAG to Punjab for setting up their defence projects, the chief minister promised to arrange land for the establishment of testing ranges in Bathinda and Rajpura. In response to a suggestion by Anil Ambani for introducing the metro rail service in the state on Build and Transfer model, the chief minister invited them to study the urban transport system in Ludhiana to explore the possibility of setting up an elevated metro. Later in the morning, the CM had intensive discussions with Anand Mahindra, with special focus on digital projects that could be undertaken by Tech Mahindra. In response to the state governments suggestion, Anand agreed to look at digitisation of the large urban local bodies, such as in Ludhiana and other major cities. Tech Mahindra is also keen to set up dial 100 emergency response system, on the lines of Uttar Pradesh Police Emergency Management System, which employs 1400 women to deliver a response time of just 15 minutes. The project, which is also being replicated in Jaipur, provides prompt integrated emergency services to ensure public safety for all, including those with special needs. Responding to Mahindras request for a land and incentive package for Swaraj tractors, the state finance minister said about 100 acres of land was available in Bathinda, the strategic gateway for Rajasthan and Haryana. Mahindra stressed the need for some sort of a certification body to ensure the quality of potatoes in Punjab. The company is supplying potatoes to McCain. On a suggestion from the company, the chief minister invited them to share the proposed business model for `Uberization of tractors. The finance minister also sought the companys support for the `hara tractor scheme, which the Congress manifesto proposes as one of the initiatives to generate employment for the youth in the state. Hindustan Unilever has also agreed to support the state governments plans to start an Ola-type service to facilitate self-employment for youth. In his meeting with RPG Group chairman Harsh Goenka , the chief minister assured all possible help from his government for setting up a tractor tyre plant in the state. Goenka further said he was looking for IT support, which Capt said was available in abundance with a large number of highly skilled and talented youngsters graduating every year from the Thapar Engineering College, Patiala. The meeting with HULs CEO and MD Sanjiv Mehta also centred on collaboration with the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) to enhance production of tomatoes, which the company was currently buying mainly from Nasik with Punjab contributing a little. The state government agreed to look at ways for augmenting the quantum of the produce to meet the needs of the company. Garbage processing for power projects also came up for discussion, with HUL agreeing to work on the same Punjab education minister Aruna Chaudhary on Tuesday directed compliance with the provisions of the fee regulation law to put an end to the malpractices by private unaided schools in the state. Referring to the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institution Act 2016, she said that no school would be able to increase fee by more than 8% annually. All other funds charged by the schools should also be within the provisions, she added in a statement. The minister further said that a regulatory authority has been formed at the divisional level to keep schools in check. Parents and students can register their complaints concerning levying additional fees and funds by unaided schools with the regulatory authority which will probe a case within 15 days and take a decision in 60 days, she said. In case of non-compliance with the act, primary schools would attract a fine of Rs 30,000, middle schools Rs 50,000, and secondary schools Rs 1 lakh. She also said the acts copy is available on the website of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. She instructed officers to make people aware about the act and convene meetings of management committees of schools to apprise them of the provisions too. Things turned ugly at Panjab University (PU) on Tuesday as the protest against fee hike witnessed police using tear gas and students replying with stone-pelting. At least 15 policemen and some students had to get medical help; some were still in hospitals and said to be in a stable state. More than 50 were taken into custody. The fee hike for the 2017-18 session purportedly necessitated by a financial crunch at PU meant some courses saw an increase of up to 1,000%. The Union ministry for human resource development (MHRD) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) have been pressing PU to increase income from internal resources if grants are needed. On Tuesday, students parties except the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had called for strike. The ABVP is protesting separately and their hunger strike entered its tenth day on Tuesday. Right from 9 am, members of Students for Society (SFS), which is a leftist union, was moving from department to department asking students to join the protest. Around 10.30, hundreds of students gathered outside the vice-chancellors office and started sloganeering against V-C Arun Kumar Grover, the MHRD and UGC, and the Modi government. Members of Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), Students Organisation of India (SOI) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) also joined. The students managed to dodge the police and university authorities to enter the arena right outside the V-Cs office. Watch | Why are students protesting at Panjab University, Chandigarh? As students tried to push their way to enter the office, the policemen pushed back. When the water cannon was used, stone-pelting started which smashed the windowpanes of the water-cannon bus of the police. However, some leaders then tried to pacify the students and told them not to throw stones. Students sat down and told the policemen to call an ambulance for those injured. They were also demanding to call the V-C out, but the authorities said he was out of station. When the students charged for a second time, the police resorted to water cannon and lathicharge. At the same time, students hurled stones and flowerpots at the police personnel. The police then fired teargas shells. Students dispersed but the police chased them and nabbed some of them. Many students were assaulted in full public view. One of the teargas shells entered a classroom in the chemical engineering department. Even photojournalists had to bear the brunt as the police did not spare them in the lathicharge. Some students took shelter at the university gurudwara. The police surrounded, but AS Ahluwalia, the professor who heads the management of the gurudwara, did not allow cops to enter the sanctum sanctorum to arrest students. Finally, some students called up the president of Chandigarh district bar association and other lawyers from the district courts, and in their presence surrendered before the police. As many as 40 students surrendered at the gurudwara. Amritpal Singh, an SFS leader who surrendered before the police, said, The movement will get stronger now. We were instigated to resort to stone-pelting. Our female members were injured and we were only calling for an ambulance. Damnapreet Singh, president of the SFS, said, This fee hike is also a form of structural violence. Our right to education at PU is being denied. Watch | Panjab University students arrested: Must read | Chandigarh: Panjab University hikes fee by up to Rs 82,000 a year SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Investigation into the broad daylight murder of Hoshiarpur sarpanch Satnam Singh alias Bittu, (38), sarpanch of Khurdan village in Hoshiarpurs Garhdiwala tehsil, outside a gurdwara in Sector 38 (west) Chandigarh has settled on contract killing. Police suspect that murder convict,Satnam Singh alias Rinda, fired all seven bullets at Satnam. Charanjeet Singh Charni, a Hoshiarpur-based transporter hired the accused to kill Satnam, alleged Prince, the brother of the deceased Satnam. Rinda, who hails from Tarn Taran has a long list of other criminal cases pending against him. A hardcore criminal, Rinda, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2011 for the murder of a youth in Tarn Taran in 2008, has been a wanted criminal for the Punjab Police. Police sources say that in January 2014, he had even attacked jail officials of Patiala Central Jail. Rinda was granted bail in this case and he might have jumped bail. He was one of the main accused, who had on April 8, 2016, fired eight bullets at Students Organisation of India (SOI) president while chasing him with four others for six minutes around Student Centre in PU. (clockwise from left) Deceased Hoshiarpur sarpanch Satnam Singh, accused Dilpreet and Harinder alias Akash. (HT Photo) Also read | Hoshiarpur sarpanch shot dead near gurdwara in Chandigarh NUMBER OF ACCUSED NOW GOES TO SEVEN After Mondays revelations, the number of the accused in the case has now gone up to seven Dilpreet, Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, Hawinder alias Akash, Tirath, Bobby and Arshdeep and an unidentified driver. The family members have identified Dilpreet, Harwinder Singh alias Rinda and Hawinder alias Akash, who as per the family members fired at Satnam Singh. Rinda is wanted criminal and police have already announced an award of Rs 50,000 on him, Prince said, adding that enmity between their family and Charnis men went back to 1993. CREMATION, POST-MORTEM TODAY We are waiting for our brother from Canada and only then we will cremate the body, most likely, on April 12, said Prince. Police sources said three visible bullet injuries on the right hand and the left foot were found on the body though detailed report would be available on Tuesday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three Dalit girls from Jharkhands Chatra district have levelled rape charges against a group of boys from the same region, and accused community elders of shielding the accused when the matter was brought to their notice. The girls said they were walking down the Chatra-Itkhori road on Friday evening when three boys accosted them near Trog More, 10 km from Chatra town. When the victims rejected their advances, the boys allegedly dragged them behind the bushes and took turns to rape them. Community elders were informed about the incident, but they allegedly tried to cover up the crime. Instead of taking action against the boys, they held several rounds of negotiations between the two parties through weekend. Exasperated, the three girls approached the Chatra Sadar police on Monday. Acting swiftly on their complaint, police nabbed the three boys also Dalits within a matter of hours. The girls said their families were advised against approaching the police. The community elders wanted us to resolve the issue without punishing the guilty, they stated in the complaint. While the victims belonged to Amukatu village, the boys hailed from nearby Trog. We took prompt action after the girls complained to us on Monday. We are also looking into their allegations of community elders trying to cover up the crime. That is a serious offence too, said Chatra Sadar police station officer-in-charge Ram Awadh Singh. The boys have confessed to the crime, he added. The Jharkhand high court on Monday sought personal appearance of the Ranchi mayor with explanations on the steps taken to curb breeding of mosquitoes in the capital city. Chief justice P K Mohanty had expressed surprise last month when he came across a PIL seeking judicial intervention to curb the mosquito menace. The CJ had admitted that he himself was a sufferer as he had been experiencing disturbed sleep due to mosquito bites. The court had asked the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) to carry out intensive and regular fogging exercises but not much was done. On Monday, the division bench headed by the chief justice sought the mayors personal appearance on April 18 and also asked the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) chief executive officer (CEO) to submit the list of various projects lying pending allegedly due to unresolved differences between him and mayor Asha Lakra. I use all types of mosquito repellants, but to no relief. Mosquitoes reappear. What can be assumed about other localities if the condition of VIP areas are so horrible. I have also checked and found out that in the name of chemicals, only kerosene is used for fogging by RMC, the CJ said and sought to know if the authorities make any inspection to find out the purity of chemicals. RMC health officer Dr Kiran Kumar, who was present in the court, informed that fogging exercises were being carried out regularly in every ward. We make inspection of chemicals when they reach godowns, she said. The court, however, pointed out that inspection should be done during fogging. Petitioner Deewan Indranil Sinha, who has filed the PIL, informed the court that the mayor and the RMC CEO were not on good terms and, therefore, civic amenities related work suffers. More than 100 projects were lying pending due to differences between the mayor and the CEO, the petitioner alleged. Sources in the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) said that the corporation has only 11 auto-mounted fogging machines, which are not enough to carry out daily fogging in all 55 wards. RMC officials, however, said that tender was floated to purchase 20 auto-mounted fogging machines but the bids are yet to be opened. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The controversy involving United Airlines that forcibly removed a passenger from an overbooked flight in Chicago raises questions about overbooking in India. Overbooking is more common on Indian airlines than you think. Passengers with confirmed tickets have been denied boarding at the last moment in the past. If you have been one of those unlucky few, or even if you havent, it might be a good idea to know your rights as a passenger. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Indias aviation regulator, has said 5,586 domestic fliers in India were not allowed to board and compensation worth around Rs 1562.12 lakh was provided to them in January and February this year. Airlines can deny boarding even if someone holds a confirmed booking and reports well within the specified time. (Shutterstock) What is overbooking? To reduce the possibility of a flight departing with empty seats, airlines generally overbook selling more seats than available to a limited extent. Most airlines use software programmes that suggest selling more than the available number of seats in a flight, based on an algorithm drawn from last-minute cancellations observed earlier. What does the DGCA say? If more passengers are expected to report for a flight than the number of seats available on a particular day due to overbooking, airlines can deny boarding even if someone holds a confirmed booking and reports well within the specified time. If you voluntarily vacate your seat, the airline will offer benefits or facilities at its own discretion. If you are bumped off against your wish, the airline is liable to pay monetary compensation in accordance with the DGCAs provisions. The provisions The DGCA rule Civil Aviation Requirements Section 3 Series M Part IV spells out what needs to be done. The ministry for civil aviation in 2016 proposed that an amount equal to 200% of booked one-way basic fair plus airline fuel charge subject to maximum of Rs 10,000 has to be paid to passengers in case an airline arranges alternate flight that is to depart after one hour but within 24 hours of the booked scheduled departure. How does it work? Mark D Martin, founder and CEO of Dubai-based aviation consultancy Martin Consulting, said in the case of overbooking, airlines usually compensate passengers with tickets on another flight departing around the same time as all the airlines have an internal system of cooperation. If there are no other flights available at that time, the passenger is compensated with accommodation in a hotel and given a seat on the next flight, the former vice-president of SpiceJet explained. The last resort would be to give monetary compensation. Indian perspective The aviation consultant said there was no proper roadmap if such an issue took place in India. The United Airlines incident will have a rippling effect on aviation industries around the world. However, in India, these situations dont arise because, in the case of overbooking, passengers are denied boarding before they get on the plane, Martin said. Most airlines use software programmes that suggest selling more than the available number of seats in a flight, based on an algorithm drawn from last-minute cancellations observed earlier. (Shutterstock) He said the United Airlines handled the situation in a very bad way and that airlines have to accommodate the passengers as far as possible and try to facilitate a pleasant journey no matter what. Even if a passenger is denied boarding once on the flight, India does not have as stringent laws as the US on aviation safety. We let people off the hook easily, as was seen in the case of MP Ravindra Gaikwad, he added. How not to get off the list? Some dos and donts according to aviation experts: * Once you book your ticket online, confirm your reservation with the airline. * Check for load figures how many seats have been already booked, the status of reservation and estimated. * Show up well before time especially for peak hour or peak-season flights. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON According to the Hindu mythology, the 15th day of the Shukla Paksha during the month of Chaitra is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman. This year, Hanuman Jayanti falls on Tuesday and is being celebrated across the country with much enthusiasm and devotion. TV stars talk about their perception of the Hindu god and open up about his significance in their lives: Niti Taylor Lord Hanuman is actually an idol for everyone. When we are scared or are in any trouble, we remember him and chant his chalisa. Every morning, when I am on my way to shoot, I listen to it in a baby voice. It brings so much of positivity and gives us courage to move ahead towards our goal. Helly Shah I worship Lord Hanumana. I chant his chalisa once a day and keep a small book with me all the time. I strongly believe that there is immense power in his chalisa which keeps us away from fear and negativity. I have heard his tales from childhood on how he helped us to be focused and help us overcome our weakness. I am happy that the series of Baal Hanuman and many spiritual shows are educating our society. Yuvika Chaudhury I do believe that god is one and only chant Gayatri Mantra. But yes, Lord hanuman and Ganapati are always in my mind. I have heard many tales about them which brings positive changes in our lives and also help us realise about humanity and karma. Whenever I am free, I watch stories on Youtube about Hanuman being a great son and devotee. Giaa Manek During my childhood, I have heard lots of story about Lord Hanuman; how he used to protect saints and how he used to worship lord Rama. Hanuman Jayanti is an important festival of Hindus. I read Hanuman chalisa daily as it is a symbol of strength and positive energy. Hanuman is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield rocks, move mountains. He is worshipped as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits. Roop Durgapal Lord Hanuman is the only God who is considered to be immortal and strongest in power. In childhood, I was told that in mostly every puja, there is always a place left for him as he is present in some form to protect those who worship him. There are several stories about him like his love for red colour, how he got his name Hanuman and how he once swallowed Sun, which fascinated me a lot as a child. Mahika Sharma I feel it is the era where most people, including me, worship and realise the power of monkey god, Hanuman and the elephant head god Ganapati. I have watched many shows about them. I have been educated from Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Tinsukia. We used to chant Hanuman chalisa every Tuesday and also used to have classes about spiritual tales. I am great devotee of his and chant his chalisa every Tuesday. Debina Bonnerjee I have been part of Ramayana essaying the role of Siya itself. So I feel that I have gained more trust over Hanuman as in how he helps people overcome their troubles and make one so much courageous, fearless and dedicated. I and Gurmeet visit Hanuman temple and offer our prayers. I believe god is one who guides us to live a life with humanity. Amrapali Gupta I am great devotee of Lord Hanuman. Even so is my husband Yash. We chant Hanuman chalisa every morning and night. My In-laws are from Bhagalpur district in Bihar and they are great devotees of Hanuman. So the festival is a small celebration for our family. We offer sindoor, prasad to God on the day and worship him. Follow @htshowbiz for more A Bhutanese businessman is the victim of a false flag assault in Charlotte by an African-American man who made the attack on the mans store appear to be the work of white supremacists. North Carolina police arrested on Sunday the man allegedly seen on a surveillance video setting fire to the store on Thursday and leaving a note threatening to torture immigrants and refugees and signing it White America, The Charlotte Observer newspaper reported. The Central Market, described as Nepali-Indian establishment that sells South Asian food and gifts, is owned by Kamal Dhimel, a refugee from Bhutan. On Thursday night, the stores front door was set on fire, a glass pane on the door was smashed with a stone and the note signed White America and warning that refugees and immigrant business owners would face torture if they did not leave and go back to where they came from was left there, according to police quoted by the newspaper. Investigators said a video surveillance of the incident showed a black male suspect, the Observer reported. African-American man Curtis Flournoy, 32, has been arrested and charged with ethnic intimidation, sending threatening letters, burning a business building and using incendiary material, according to the newspaper. Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera told the Observer that she was frustrated to see the hate crime take place. Ill continue to work around the clock to make sure that all businesses and all the residences feel safe, she added. Last month, Harnish Patel, an Indian-American businessman in Lancaster in neighbouring South Carolina state, was shot dead outside his home. There have been no arrests in the case. While attacks and threats against ethnic and religious minorities have always been a feature of America, activists and Democratic Party leaders have attributed recent incidents to President Donald Trump. In some cases they have proved to be false flag attacks carried out by others and made to look like they were committed by white supremacists. In the most notorious of those cases, a series of threats against Jewish institutions were sought to be linked by activists to the election of Trump, whose daughter is a convert to Judaism, and he was criticised for not acting on them. However, an African-American man in the US and a Jewish man in Israel were arrested in connection with the threats. In some places, including New York, false reports have been spread about raids on illegal immigrants to spook immigrant communities. In February, an Indian-American woman, Ekta Desai, was harassed on a New York-New Jersey metro train by an African-American man who threatened her using foul language and said she should get out of here. She uploaded the video of the harassment, but the Democratic New York city or state officials have not come forward to condemn it or take action against the man. US human rights organisations have not reacted to it either. In February, in a case directly attributed to white racism, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchsbhotla was shot dead and Alok Madsani was injured in Kansas, after they were mistaken for Middle Easterners or Iranians. The alleged shooter, a white man, has been arrested and awaiting trial. Last month, a Sikh in Kent, Washington State, was shot and injured by a man who shouted at him, Go back to your country. Authorities are still looking for the shooter. In another case last month, an Indian woman Sasikala Narra, 38, and her six-year-old son, Anish, were stabbed to death in New Jersey. That case has not been solved either. A leading rights group has dismissed Chinas claims of transparency in revealing the extent of capital punishments it carries out, saying it remains a deadly secret as Beijing executes thousands of people every year and hides the numbers behind an elaborate secrecy system. Rights group Amnesty Internationals (AI) report, Chinas Deadly Secrets released on Tuesday, says hundreds of documented death penalty cases are missing from a national online court database that was initially touted as a crucial step towards openness and is regularly heralded as evidence that the countrys judicial system has nothing to hide. The AI report contradicts what Chief Justice of Supreme Peoples Court (SPC) Zhou Qiang, Chinas Parliament, and the National Peoples Congress (NPC) say. Zhou said Chinas courts only handed out death sentences to an extremely small number of criminals for extremely severe offenses in the past ten years. He said the capital punishment had been strictly controlled and applied prudently since 2007, when the SPC reserved the right to review all death penalty decisions handed out by lower courts. Zhou, however, did not give an exact number of cases where death sentences had been applied. That is one of the main problems with the system, the AI report says. The AI report indicates that Chinas database deliberately contains information about only a fraction of death sentences the courts carry out each year reflecting the fact that the Chinese government continues to maintain almost total secrecy over the number of people sentenced to death and executed in the country. The report added that AI found only 701 individuals whose death sentences had been approved by the SPC between 2011 and 2016, while the organisation estimates that yearly the actual number runs into the thousands. Irrespective of the number of recorded cases, Amnestys research and analysis continues to show that China consistently carries out more executions each year than any other country in the worldkilling thousands of people annually, the report said. These executions take place within the context of a judicial system that is not independent from the authority of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and therefore subject to direct political interference, it said. The report mentioned troubling patterns in the databasedrugs and terrorism-related death penalty cases seemed to be missing from the database. The second troubling pattern Amnestys analysis reveals is that in line with what research on death penalty worldwide has identified, the death penalty in China seems to be meted out disproportionately to individuals who are poor, those with lower levels of education and members of racial, ethnic or religious minorities. China wants to be a leader on the world stage, but when it comes to the death penalty, it is leading in the worst possible way, said Salil Shetty, AI general secretary. The Chinese government continues to conceal the extent of the use of capital punishment in the country, despite claims that it has reduced the use of the death penalty, and despite claims that it is bringing about greater transparency and openness in its criminal justice system, said William Nee, AIs Hong Kong-based China expert. There have been a few high-profile exonerations in recent yearsof Hujilit and Nie Shubin. But without greater transparency, the Chinese public will have no idea how many cases like Nie Shubins there really are, he said. Amnesty International continues to estimate that thousands of people are sentenced to death and executed in China every year. Without transparency, the Chinese public is not able to engage in a rational, informed debate, he said. The report concluded that Chinese authorities seem to be engaged in an elaborate policy of systematic evasion, occasionally making partial disclosures or hinting at positive developments in order to stimulate reforms, overcome internal resistance or respond to international criticism to its capital punishment policies. Thousands of Chinese have praised the composure of Indian television anchor Supreet Kaur who learnt about her husbands death in a road accident while talking to a reporter on live television but continued reading the news. The news about Kaur with Chhattisgarh-based IBC-24 channel was widely picked up by Chinese media after Chinas official news agency Xinhua reported it over the weekend. Many media outlets from the mainland including Peoples Daily (Chinese), the Communist party mouthpiece, state-controlled China Daily and Global Times besides Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported the news, hailing Kaurs professional ethics. It was also picked up by popular Chinese news portals following which users of Weibo, Chinas Twitter, read the news and the video of her reading the news was widely circulated. The news anchor, Supreet Kaur, with channel IBC-24 in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh was told the information during a phone-in from a reporter about the details of a fatal car accident on Saturday morning in the state, the Xinhua report said. According to Kaur's colleagues, she realised that her husband was in the same vehicle in the accident at that moment, but she continued anchoring for another 10 minutes, the report added. Quoting Indian media, the report said: The moment the cameras were off, she began calling her relatives and broke down. She left for the accident site after that. Most online users praised Kaur for her fortitude and hoped she would eventually get over the tragedy. User Soumns xiaolongxia said: She really has the professional quality to continue reading the news even after hearing the tragedy. Another user Best pepi_pjy wrote: The anchor is devoted to her work so much. Weibo user Lost star wrote: I cried and felt really sad. And, user Fisherman in Panyang said: A strong woman. Hope she will get better. The South China Morning Post reported amazing grace was one of the many comments used to describe Kaurs composure. Quoting the World Health Organisation, it added a grim reminder that Indias roads are among the worlds deadliest, with more than 200,000 fatalities each year. Some of the Chinese websites translated chief minister Raman Singhs tweet, saluting Kaurs courage: Salute Supreet's strength in dealing with her husband's demise with extraordinary bravery & professionalism. May the departed soul rest in peace. The successor to the Dharamshala-based 14th Dalai Lama will be chosen in the traditional way of drawing lots from a sacred urn at the Jokhang monastery in Lhasa followed by the mandatory approval from the ruling Communist Party of China, Beijing has said. When required, the succession rules will follow traditional Buddhist religious rituals to be performed at the Jokhang temple, Tibetan Buddhisms holiest temple, and regulations set by the CPC, the Chinese foreign ministry told Hindustan Times in a written response. The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must be conducted according to religious rituals and historical conventions including drawing of lots from the Golden Urn in front of the Shakyamuni (Buddha) statue at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, which embodies the Buddhist spirit, the ministry said (and) not by what the 14th Dalai Lama has said. Finally the result must be reported to the central government for approval. This rule was established early in 1793, said the ministry, referring to the 29-Article Ordinance for More Effective Governance of Tibet, passed by the Qing dynasty, which had ruled that future Dalai Lamas would be chosen through a draw of lots of names inside the urn at the temple. The primary rules of naming the successor will follow the Regulation on Religious Affairs and Management Rules of Tibetan Buddhism Reincarnation, the ministry said. The emphatic statement from the Chinese government comes amid the ongoing Sino-India diplomatic spat over the Dalai Lamas visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims is part of southern Tibet with historical and religious links to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. On Tuesday, the Dalai Lama, 81, is learnt to have left Arunachal Pradesh and Tawang, leaving in his trail crowds of praying and chanting Buddhists and a seething controversy between India and China. Last week, the Dalai Lama had said it was up to the Tibetan people whether the institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not and that he wanted to start some sort of preliminary discussion on his succession this year. It is believed in Tibetan Buddhism that Dalai Lama is reincarnated as a child. For China, it is important that the 15th Dalai Lama is chosen from a Tibetan area within the country so as to nip in the bud any future for the movement for greater Tibetan autonomy. The reincarnation of Living Buddha is a unique way of inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism. China has adopted policy of religious freedom, which includes respect and protection of this Tibetan Buddhism tradition, the Chinese foreign ministry said. Calling the Dalai Lama a political exile who has had a disgraceful influence on the India-China border dispute, the ministry said he is not a purely religious person and has been engaged in anti-China separatist activities for years. He is active in disputed area in Sino-Indian border which itself is a major political event, the ministry said about the visit. It emphasised that no matter what the Indian government has arranged in disputed areas, and no matter what the Dalai Lamas speech in Arunachal Pradesh, it will never change the fact that there is a great controversy in eastern part of the Sino-Indian border, nor it will change Chinas position on this issue. A huge fire, apparently started deliberately, tore through the Grande-Synthe migrant camp near the northern French city of Dunkirk late on Monday, reducing it to a heap of ashes, the regional chief said. Firefighters said at least 10 people had been injured in the blaze at the camp, which was home to some 1,500 people, mostly Iraqi Kurds, living in closely packed wooden huts. There is nothing left but a heap of ashes, Michel Lalande, prefect of Frances Nord region, told reporters at the scene as firefighters continued to battle the flames which were visible from several kilometres away. It will be impossible to put the huts back where they were before. The fierce blaze destroyed most of the 300 huts in the camp and had still not been extinguished at 2:00 am on Tuesday (0000 GMT). Migrants evacuate as fire blazes through the Grande-Synthe camp outside the northern French city of Dunkirk. (AFP Photo) The migrants were evacuated and will be rehoused in emergency accommodation, the prefect said, adding that the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe had already made two gymnasiums available. Lalande said the blaze had been started after a fight on Monday afternoon between Afghans and Kurds at the camp that had left six injured with knife wounds. There must have been fires deliberately set in several different places, it is not possible otherwise. It seems that it is related to fights between Iraqis and Afghans, said Olivier Caremelle, chief of staff of Grande-Synthe mayor Damien Careme, an environmentalist who supported the building of the camp last year. What I can see for myself is that everything has burned down. There is a communal kitchen and the information point, but its impossible to walk through the camp and get a really accurate idea of the extent of the damage, Caramelle said. Plans to dismantle camp Fights between the migrants continued after midnight, with riot police struggling to contain them and occasionally being pelted with stones, according to an AFP correspondent. No one is able to explain how these events could have happened, said Lalande. Grande-Synthe migrant camp reduced to ashes. (AFP Photo) The population of the Grande-Synthe camp has swelled since the destruction last October of the squalid Jungle camp near Calais, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) away. According to several witnesses, disagreements arose after an increase in the number of Afghans who arrived from the Jungle camp. The Afghans were apparently unhappy at being put up in the communal kitchens while the Kurds slept in chalets. Their arrival had increased tensions, according to Caremelle. There have been several violent incidents at the Grande-Synthe camp, with police intervening last month after five men were injured in a fight. Another man was stabbed in November. French officials had said in mid-March that security forces were planning to start dismantling the camp following clashes at the site. The camp, built by the humanitarian group MSF (Doctors Without Borders), opened in March 2016 over the objections of the central government. Migrants sleep in a gym opened by Red Cross volunteers after the fire destroyed many wood houses at the camp. (Reuters Photo) For more than a decade Frances northern coast has been a magnet for refugees and migrants trying to reach Britain, with French authorities repeatedly tearing down camps in the region. Migrants gather along the northern coast in France seeking to break into trucks heading to Britain or pay smugglers to help them get across the Channel. The issue is a constant source of friction between Britain and France and an embarrassment for the French government, which has been criticised by the United Nations refugee agency for failing to provide adequate accommodation. The centenary of Mahatma Gandhis Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat was celebrated at the Nehru Centre here on Monday, with the screening of a documentary depicting its founding and construction. Titled Sabarmati Ashram: The Home of Gandhis Experiments with Truth, the documentary by London-based journalist Vijay Rana depicted to a discerning audience how Gandhi set it up on a 36-acre wasteland on the banks of the Sabarmati river, among other details. The area was then full of snakes, but Gandhi insisted that none of them were to be killed. It was at the ashram that many of his revolutionary ideas were conceived, such as economic liberation through spinning wheel and khadi, fight against untouchability, boycott of foreign goods, non-cooperation, peaceful civil disobedience and defying the Salt Law. While celebrating 100 years of Gandhis Sabarmati Ashram, this documentary is an attempt, in this age of social media when attention span is increasingly fractured, to retell Gandhis story with some interesting visual elements to the Internet generation, Rana said. The film included an eyewitness account of the April 1930 Salt March by one of his disciples, Sumangal Prakash, who was one of the 78 ashram residents Gandhi had selected as his co-marchers. AS Rajan, minister in the Indian high commission, said the documentary reflected the values of non-violence, peace, love and harmony that Gandhi espoused, while CB Patel, veteran editor and publisher of Gujarat Samachar and the Asian Voice published from London, remembered his first visit to the Ashram in 1949 as a 12-year-old. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The father of a Maldivian model who was found dead in her college last month in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, has accused her best friend, a student from Jammu and Kashmir, of murder, a media report said. Muhammad Atif, father of Raudha Atif, lodged a case with the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on Monday afternoon accusing her daughters classmate Sirat Parveen Mahmud, 21, who hails from Kashmir, Prothom Alo reported. Raudha, an MBBS second year student of Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi, was found dead in her college dormitory room on March 29. College authorities had informed Shah Makhdum police station that Raudha committed suicide by hanging herself. Sirat was one of Raudhas closest friends at the dorm and they lived in adjacent rooms. According to her earlier testimony, she was the last person to see Raudha alive, Dhaka Tribune reported. Athif said: I am certain my daughter was murdered. There were fingerprints around her neck. From the looks of these prints, Raudha was choked to death by a right-handed person. If she had committed suicide, then why was her body taken down before the police arrived? This is murder, he is quoted as saying. Advocate Kamrul Monir told reporters that the court has taken cognisance of the case and directed the Shah Makhdum Police to act on it. The lawyer said that about a week before Raudha died, she had told her mother that Sirat had given her fruit juice spiked with sleeping medication. According to college authorities, Sirat claimed to be the first person to discover Raudhas body on March 29. She had claimed to have seen her hanging body through the window, after which she allegedly broke the door down and brought down the body. But the door showed no signs of forced entry, and the fan was too high for a person to reach even if they got on a chair, the daily said quoting college authorities. The CCTV camera outside Raudhas room seemingly malfunctioned on the night of March 28, while working properly throughout the day, the daily said. Raudha and Sirat were both living in a separate building for international students on the campus. College authorities claimed to have advised Raudhas family of the developments. The autopsy was carried out at Rajshahi Islami Bank Medical College Hospital on March 31. The autopsy report said suicide was the cause of death. Raudha was buried on April 1 in Rajshahi by her family after they received the autopsy report. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Iftekhar Alam had said the police also suspect the cause of death to be suicide, brought on by depression. Last Thursday, two police officers arrived in Rajshahi from Maldives to look into the circumstances surrounding Raudhas death, the daily reported. Raudha, an international model, was on the cover of the October 2016 issue of Vogue India magazine. She was considered a rising star and was an MBBS student in her sophomore year at Rajshahi Islami Bank Medical College. British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke on Monday to US President Donald Trump and agreed that a window of opportunity exists to persuade Russia to break ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Mays office said. A spokeswoman for the prime minister said Trump had thanked May for her support following last weeks US military action in Syria against the Assad regime. The White House later on Monday said Trump had spoken with May and separately with German Chancellor Angela Merkel by telephone about the US attack and thanked them for their support. It said in a statement that May and Merkel expressed support for the US action and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable. In a shift in Washingtons strategy, US missiles hit a Syrian air base last week in retaliation for what the United States and its allies say was a poison gas attack by Syrias military in which scores of civilians died. The Syrian government has denied it was behind the assault. Trump had previously appeared disinclined to intervene against the Syrian leader and the attack raised expectations that he might now be ready to adopt a tougher-than-expected stance with Russia, Assads main backer. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to travel to Moscow this week and the spokeswoman for May said the two leaders had agreed during their conversation that the visit was an opportunity to make progress towards a solution. The prime minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest, the spokeswoman said. They agreed that US Secretary of State Tillersons visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement. The spokeswoman said the two leaders had also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses. Nepal government on Tuesday tabled a new constitution amendment bill in Parliament hoping to address demands of Madhes-based parties and pave the way for them to participate in the upcoming local polls. But the Madhes-based parties boycotted the regular proceeding of the House, saying the fresh proposals did not address their concerns. The proposal tabled in the House stated that changes in federal boundaries, a key demand of the Madhesis, will be examined by a new federal restructuring commission. G7 foreign ministers have failed to agree on whether fresh sanctions should be imposed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or his ally Russia, Italys foreign minister Angelino Alfano said Tuesday. At the moment there is no consensus on new sanctions as an effective instrument, he said at the close of a two-day meeting in Italy, after his British counterpart Boris Johnson raised the issue with the Group of Seven. There are clearly different opinions, Alfano said, adding that the G7 had reaffirmed its support for those sanctions already in place. Johnson on Monday raised the possibility of further sanctions on some of the Syrian military figures and some of the Russian military figures who have been involved in coordinating the Syrian military efforts. US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said last week that the US would soon impose additional sanctions on Syria, as part of a military, diplomatic and financial response to a chemical attack blamed on the regime. French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault confirmed Johnson had raised the issue on Tuesday morning but said the diplomats had not discussed the issue in any depth. Italys Alfano stressed that for Rome sanctions are a tool and not an end in itself and warned against measures that would isolate Russia and back it into a corner. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai a UN Messenger of Peace on Monday to promote girls education, more than four years after a Taliban gunman shot her in the head on her school bus in 2012. At 19, Yousafzai is the youngest Messenger of Peace, the highest honour given by the United Nations for an initial period of two years. She was also the youngest person to win the Nobel peace prize in 2014 when she was 17. You are not only a hero, but you are a very committed and generous person, Guterres told Yousafzai. Other current Messengers of Peace include actor Leonardo di Caprio, for climate change, actor Charlize Theron, whose focus is prevention of HIV and elimination of violence against women, and actor Michael Douglas, whose focus is disarmament. Yousafzai has become a regular speaker on the global stage and visited refugee camps in Rwanda and Kenya last July to highlight the plight of refugee girls from Burundi and Somalia. The Pakistani education activist came to prominence when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head in 2012 as she was leaving school in Pakistans Swat Valley, northwest of the countrys capital Islamabad. She was targeted for her campaign against efforts by the Taliban to deny women education. The extremists tried all their best to stop me, they tried to kill me and they didnt succeed, Yousafzai said on Monday. Now this is a new life, this is a second life and it is for the purpose of education. She now lives in Britain, where she received medical treatment after she was shot. Yousafzai said that when she finishes secondary school in June, she would like to study philosophy, politics and economics at university. North Korea denounced Washingtons deployment of a naval strike group to the Korean peninsula on Tuesday, warning it was ready for war in a further escalation of tensions. The Carl Vinson strike group cancelled a planned trip to Australia this weekend to head to the region, in a show of force as Washington signalled it may act to shut down Pyongyangs nuclear capabilities. This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase, a spokesman for the Norths foreign ministry said according to state news agency KCNA. The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US, he said, using the countrys official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. President Donald Trump, fresh from ordering a missile strike on Syria that was widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea, has asked his advisors for a range of options to rein in Pyongyang, a top US official said Sunday. Trump has previously threatened unilateral action against Pyongyang if China - the Norths sole major ally - fails to help curb its neighbours nuclear weapons ambitions. But Pyongyangs response suggested the reclusive state is determined to continue on its current path, despite repeated rounds of United Nations sanctions. We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms, the foreign ministry spokesman said. We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions. Speculation over an imminent nuclear test is brewing as the North marks anniversaries including the 105th birthday of its founding leader on Saturday - sometimes celebrated with a demonstration of military might. Pyongyang is on a quest to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead, and has so far staged five nuclear tests, two of them last year. Satellite imagery analysis suggests it could be preparing for a sixth, with intelligence officials warning it could be less than two years away from achieving the ability to strike the continental United States. Seoul and Washington are also currently conducting joint military drills, an annual exercise which is seen by the North as a preparation for invasion. South Koreas top nuclear envoy said yesterday after talks with his Chinese counterpart that the two nations had agreed to strong new measures to punish Pyongyang if it carried out another nuclear test. The talks came shortly after Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Beijing to do more to curb the Norths nuclear ambitions. (We) are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to coordinate with us, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said after the summit. US national security adviser HR McMaster on Sunday criticised North Korea as a rogue nation engaged in provocative behaviour and said denuclearisation of the peninsula must happen. The president has asked them to be prepared to give us a full range of options to remove that threat, he said on Fox News, apparently referring to Trumps advisers. South Koreas unification minister Hong Yong-Pyo said on Monday that the repercussions of a potential military response were worrying. Pre-emptive strikes may be aimed at resolving North Koreas nuclear problems, but for us, it is also related to defending the safety of the public, he told reporters. While a US unilateral strike on North Korea from a shorter range might be more effective, it would likely endanger many civilians in the South and risk triggering a broader military conflict, experts warn. While India was livid at the Ontario assembly carrying a motion last week referring to events of 1984 as genocide, New Delhi also believes the bilateral relationship cannot be held hostage to parochial politics and theres the necessity of looking at the larger picture. The motion, moved by a member of the Provincial Parliament or MPP belonging to the ruling Liberal Party of Ontario had attracted a strong rejoinder from the Indian external affairs ministry. But the overall view is India and Justin Trudeaus government in Canada need each other. In the case of the former, for instance, for support for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The motion may have resulted from a desperate ruling party in the province using it to try and win Sikh votes in the elections due next year. Support for the government of Premier Kathleen Wynne is cratering and, according to a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute, she has a woeful 12% approval rating, the lowest among her peers in the country. It also reflected the division within Canadian political parties in approaching the issue. MPP Dipika Damerla, also a minister in the Wynne government, was the only Indo-Canadian member of the Assembly to vote against the motion. In an email to Hindustan Times, she said, It is common for members from all parties to introduce motions that have international significance. Regarding this motion, it was a free vote and I voted with my conscience, as did the other members from all three parties. Given the sensitivity of the matter, she may have chosen her words carefully, but Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai was blunt. In a statement, he said, Today, there is outrage in the greater Indo-Canadian community that a motion was passed by the Ontario Legislature (the only one in the whole world) calling a terrible universally acknowledged criminal tragedy a genocide. To call this tragic event a genocide only gives political fuel to a Sikh separatist movement that has been around for some time now, and will cause irreparable damage not only between India and Canada, but also within Canadas own Indo-Canadian communities. This matter will certainly figure in future interactions between Indian and Canadian officials, including at the ministerial level. For now, the effort is to look beyond it, but with the understanding that if this were to become to template or benchmark for other provinces, that development could hamper the Indo-Canada dialogue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 31-year old Pakistani man has pleaded guilty for his role in a $140 million school and college diploma mill fraud run through a Pakistani company that was shut down by the countrys law enforcement. Umair Hamid of Karachi pleaded guilty before US district Judge Ronnie Abrams on Monday for conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with the international diploma mill scheme that collected tens of millions of dollars from thousands of customers. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and Hamid will be sentenced in July. He was arrested last December for his role in the scheme. As alleged in the indictment, Hamid and his co-conspirators made false representations to consumers on websites and over the phone to trick them into enrolling in purported colleges and high schools, and issued fake diplomas upon receipt of upfront fees from consumers. Operating from Pakistan, Hamid helped fraudulently rake in millions of dollars from unwitting American consumers who paid to enroll in, and get degrees from, high schools and colleges that did not exist. As a result of his fraud, people who thought they were investing in an education received nothing more than worthless diplomas and a harsh lesson in the worldwide reach of deceit, acting US attorney Joon Kim said. Hamid, using the aliases Shah Khan and the Shah, and others operated a massive education diploma mill through the Pakistani company Axact, which described itself as one of the worlds leading information technology providers. Hamid served as Axacts assistant vice-president of International Relations and made misrepresentations to individuals across the world, including throughout the US and in New York, in order to dupe these individuals into enrolling in supposed high schools, colleges, and other educational institutions. Consumers paid upfront fees to Hamid and his co-conspirators, believing that in return they would be enrolled in real educational courses and, eventually, receive legitimate degrees. Instead, after paying the upfront fees, consumers did not receive any legitimate instruction and were provided fake and worthless diplomas. Axact promoted and claimed to have an affiliation with approximately 350 fictitious high schools and universities, which Axact advertised online to consumers as genuine schools. During certain time periods since 2014, Axact received approximately 5,000 phone calls per day from individuals seeking to purchase Axact products or enroll in educational institutions supposedly affiliated with Axact. Once a consumer paid for a school certificate or diploma that falsely reflected a completed course of study, Axact sales agents were trained to use sales techniques to persuade the consumer to purchase additional accreditation or certifications for such certificates or diplomas in order to make them appear more legitimate. Axact, through Hamid and his co-conspirators, falsely accredited purported colleges and other educational institutions by arranging to have diplomas from these phony educational institutions affixed with fake stamps supposedly bearing the seal and signature of the US Secretary of State, as well as various state agencies and federal and state officials. Hamid controlled websites of purported schools that falsely represented that consumers who enrolled with the schools by paying tuition fees would receive online instruction and coursework, sold bogus academic accreditations in exchange for additional fees and falsely represented that the schools had been certified or accredited by various educational organisations. As a further part of the scheme, Hamid and a co-conspirator opened bank accounts in the US in the names of shell entities that received funds transferred by consumers in exchange for fake diplomas. In May 2015, Axact was shut down by Pakistani law enforcement, and certain individuals associated with Axact were prosecuted in Pakistan. However after May 2015, Hamid resumed his fraudulent business of selling fake diplomas to consumers in the US for upfront fees based upon false and fraudulent representations. Most recently, Hamid traveled to the US in 2016 in order to open a bank account used to collect money from defrauded consumers. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Pakistan wants good relations with all countries, particularly its neighbours, a day after a military courts order to execute Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav deteriorated relations between India and Pakistan. Sharif said Pakistans armed forces are fully capable and prepared to respond to any spectrum of threats. The nation has full trust in the countrys armed forces, he said, assuring the governments full support in equipping the forces to address modern day challenges. Sharif said the concept of national security has undergone a transformation and wars are no longer an exclusive sphere of military forces, Radio Pakistan reported. His remarks came a day after Jadhav was sentenced to death for alleged spying. Reacting strongly to the move, India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and warned Islamabad that it is a case of premeditated murder. Addressing the passing out parade of graduating cadets at Pakistan Air Force Academy (PAF) Asghar Khan in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, Sharif said that cooperation, rather than conflict and shared prosperity, rather than mutual suspicion, is the hallmark of Pakistans policy. Pakistan is a peace loving country and has always maintained the policy of having friendly relations with other countries particularly its neighbours, Sharif said. He said Pakistan on its part will never hesitate to extend the hand of friendship to all and will never waver from returning goodwill with even more goodwill. Sharif, however, said despite our desire for peaceful coexistence, we cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence. Russias security chief on Tuesday said all those detained over the Saint Petersburg metro bombing originate from Central Asia, urging tighter migration controls. The eight people detained in Moscow and Saint Petersburg over the April 3 bombing that killed 13 are all originally from Central Asia, the head of the FSB security service Alexander Bortnikov said, quoted by RIA Novosti news agency. Bortnikov, speaking at a meeting of the National Antiterrorism Committee (NAK) that he chairs, did not specify the suspects current citizenship. To prevent attempts by fighters to enter Russia, there is a need for additional measures of control on the state border... towards those suspected of taking part in terrorist attacks, the security chief said. The countrys border guards are under the control of the FSB. Russias Investigative Committee last week named the eight suspects but not their ethnic origin. The suspected suicide bomber has been named as 22-year-old Akbarjon Djalilov, who is thought to be a Russian national born in Central Asian Kyrgyzstan. Millions of migrants from the poverty-stricken ex-Soviet countries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan come to work in Russia. The core of terrorist groups in Russia is made up of citizens of ex-Soviet countries arriving in flows of migrant workers, Bortnikov said. Some of these had trained and fought in Syria and Iraq, the FSB chief added. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia faces a threat from hardened Islamist fighters returning from Syria. The investigation into the Saint Petersburg metro bombing shows that operational work on the ground still does not fully correspond to the threat from illegal terrorist organisations, Bortnikov said. Bortnikov linked the Saint Petersburg attack to the Islamic State jihadist group, which has however not claimed responsibility. He cited information according to which the heads of terrorist groups active in the Middle East as part of IS are working on plans to carry out terrorist attacks in various regions of the world, including Russia. Examples of this are the high-profile terrorist attacks in recent weeks in Britain, Russia, Sweden and Egypt, Bortnikov said. In Sweden, an Uzbek man is suspected of driving a truck into pedestrians in the capital Stockholm, killing four and injuring 15. IS has not claimed responsibility, but Swedish media reported the suspect had told investigators that he had received an order from the group. Suspected Stockholm truck attacker Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek and jihadist sympathiser, admitted on Tuesday to committing a terrorist crime by mowing down pedestrians on a busy street, killing four people and injuring 15 others. Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention, his lawyer Johan Eriksson told a custody hearing in a Stockholm district court. Akilov, who was arrested in a Stockholm suburb just hours after Fridays attack, appeared in the courthouses special heavily-guarded, high-security courtroom. Handcuffed and wearing a thick green hoodie over his head, he kept his head bowed down. Judge Malou Lindblom ordered him to remove the hoodie and he complied, revealing dark hair with streaks of grey. Akilov, a Russian speaker, had an interpreter at his side to help him follow the proceedings. He did not address the court directly. After Erikssons statement, the judge consented to the prosecutions request to have the rest of the hearing held behind closed doors due to the classified nature of the information in the investigation. After about an hour, journalists were readmitted into the courtroom and the judge remanded Akilov in custody. Court documents seen by AFP showed Akilov, who is facing life behind bars, had requested that his state-appointed lawyer Johan Eriksson be replaced by a Sunni Muslim, saying only a lawyer of this faith could assert his interests in the best way. The court refused the request. The four people killed in the attack were two Swedes -- one woman and an 11-year-old girl -- a British man, and a Belgian woman. Eight people were still in hospital, two of whom were in critical condition. Akilov, a construction worker who had been refused permanent residency in Sweden in June 2016, had gone underground last year after receiving a deportation order, police said. Order from IS Fridays attack resembled previous rampages using vehicles in Nice, Berlin and London, all of them claimed by the Islamic State (IS). IS has not claimed responsibility for the Stockholm attack, but Swedish media reports on Monday said Akilov had told investigators that he had received an order from IS to carry out the attack against infidels. The Aftonbladet newspaper reported that he had said he was pleased with what he had done. I mowed down the infidels, Aftonbladet quoted him as saying, citing sources close to the investigation and describing him as a father of four whose family had stayed behind in Uzbekistan. The bombings in Syria have to end, he was quoted as saying. On Sunday, a second suspect -- also from Uzbekistan according to media reports -- was formally placed under arrest, Stockholm district court judge Helga Hullman told AFP, refusing to disclose any links between the two suspects. Police have said they expect their investigation to take a long time to wrap up. It can take up to a year to finish the investigation, said the head of national police operations, Mats Lofving. Swedish politicians have meanwhile expressed anger over the failure by the authorities to deport the suspect, as police said around 12,000 people had absconded after being denied the right to stay. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, who led a nationwide minute of silence for the victims on Monday, said he was frustrated by the problem, while far-right Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson called it a huge scandal. However, national police commissioner Dan Eliasson said there was nothing in the system that indicated (the suspect) would do something like what he did on Friday. The country of 10 million people took in 244,000 asylum seekers in 2014 and 2015, the highest per capita in Europe. Justice Minister Morgan Johansson meanwhile told AFP he wants to beef up Swedens anti-terror laws. Weve criminalised foreign travel for terrorism purposes, weve extended (our laws) on terrorism financing. There is a possibility to extend them further. After a 25-year break, fractious Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have reestablished regular connecting flights, a spokeswoman at Tajikistans international airport told AFP Tuesday, paving the way for improved relations. An Uzbekistan airways flight (from Tashkent) landed at Dushanbe international airport at 8:03am (0303 GMT), the airport spokeswoman told AFP by telephone. The plane and the passengers were very well met. Doubts were cast over an apparent rapprochement between the two countries that have a traditionally fraught relationship when a long-awaited flight from Dushanbe to Tashkent was abruptly cancelled in February. Uzbekistan first banned flights from Tajikistan in 1992 after the outbreak of civil war in its smaller neighbour to the east. The ban remained in place after the wars end, as long-reigning autocrats Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan regularly clashed over water and other issues. Karimov was buried in his native city of Samarkand after a suspected stroke in September last year and successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev has moved to smooth ties with neighbours in the majority-Muslim ex-Soviet region. The governor of the conservative southern US state of Alabama resigned Monday, shortly after lawmakers began impeachment proceedings linked to his affair with a senior aide that was made public in humiliating detail. Robert Bentley, 74, pleaded guilty in an agreement with prosecutors on Monday to two misdemeanor campaign violations and is barred from seeking public office again. I have spent the last year in deep and earnest prayer over our state and our people. I pray every morning for wisdom and guidance and forgiveness for the sins I have committed, the former dermatologist and church deacon told a news conference announcing his resignation, never directly acknowledging his romantic relationship with 45-year-old political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason. The relationship between Bentley and his married aide became a topic of speculation in 2015, when his wife of 50 years, Dianne, abruptly filed for divorce. The scandal broke last spring when the states top police officer -- fired by Bentley -- provided the news organization AL.com with salacious details of the secret romance. The media outlet reported on a 2014 phone conversation between Bentley and a woman he called Rebekah that was secretly captured by Dianne Bentley. When I stand behind you, and I put my arms around you, and I put my hands on your breasts, and I put my hands (unintelligible) and just pull you real close. I love that, too, the governor is heard saying. Baby, let me know what I am going to do when I start locking the door, he said during another part of the tape. If we are going to do what we did the other day, we are going to have to start locking the door. Last week, an impeachment investigation report prepared for the Alabama House Judiciary Committee said Bentley tried to cover up the affair in a process characterized by increasing obsession and paranoia. To ensure the silence of his staff, Governor Bentley encouraged an atmosphere of intimidation, it added. Concern over the recordings appears to have become an obsession. The report revealed that Bentley once opened the door of his hotel room in Washington clad in boxer shorts, thinking Mason was the other side when it was actually hotel staff. On the same trip in 2014, Dianne Bentley attended a group dinner with her husband and Mason, and saw the text messages he was sending his mistress while seated next to his wife, including I cant take my eyes off of you. Bentley once mistakenly sent his wife a text message that said, I love you Rebekah, accompanied by a red-rose emoji. Dianne Bentley was able to access other text messages sent by her husband because he had given her his state-issued iPad, not realizing texts from his iPhone would show up on her tablet because the devices were linked. As part of his plea deal, Bentley must surrender $37,000 in campaign funds and perform 100 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty to failing to properly report a $50,000 loan made to his campaign, and using campaign funds to pay nearly $9,000 for Masons legal fees last year. Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey was sworn in as governor Monday evening. US authorities moved Monday to take down a global computer botnet behind the massive theft of personal data and unwanted spam emails, as Spain arrested the notorious Russian hacker who operated it. US authorities say the Russian, Piotr or Peter Levashov, had operated the Kelihos network of tens of thousands of infected computers, stealing personal data and renting the network out to others to send spam emails by the millions and extort ransom from computer owners. Levashov, also known in the hacking world as Peter Severa, was arrested at Barcelona airport on Friday at the US request. A Spanish judge on Monday ordered him to be remanded in custody as Washington is expected to seek his extradition. The US has 40 days to present evidence. Read: Scare and sell: Heres how an Indian call centre cheated foreign computer owners A US indictment unsealed Monday said Levashov, 36 and a native of St. Petersburg, had operated the Kelihos botnet since around 2010. Two years earlier he was already in the sights of US investigators running another botnet and managing the spam operations of a major US spammer, Alan Ralsky. Ralsky and others were jailed in that case but Levashov was never caught. 100,000 computers infected The Kelihos network is made up of private computers around the world running on the Microsoft Window operating system. The computers are infected with malware that gives Levashov the ability to control them remotely, with the owners completely unaware. According to the justice department, at times the number of computers in the network has topped 100,000, with between five and 10% of them in the United States. Through underground networks, Kelihos sold the networks services to others, who would use it to send out spam emails advertising counterfeit drugs, work-at-home scams, and other fraud schemes, the indictment said. They were also used for illegal pump-and-dump stock market manipulation schemes, and to spread other malware through which hackers could steal a users banking account information including passwords, and lock up a computers information to demand huge ransoms. Levashov was proud of his work. According to Justice Department filings, earlier this year he posted an ad for his work noting he had been in the spam business since the distant year 1999. During these years there has not been a single day that I keep still, by constantly improving quality of spamming, he said. His prices rose with the illegality of the operation. For legal ads, he charged $200 per million spam emails. For scams and phishing attacks, it was $500 per million. Read: Botnets explained: Those smart devices at home could turn hackers friends To help someone with a stock manipulation, he wanted a deposit of $5,000-$10,000 to share his list of 25 million traders. He also demanded 5 percent of the gains made on the stock. The Spamhaus Project, which documents spam, botnets, malware and other abuse, listed Levashov as seventh on its 10 Worst Spammers list and one of the longest operating criminal spam-lords on the internet. The ability of botnets like Kelihos to be weaponized quickly for vast and varied types of harms is a dangerous and deep threat to all Americans, driving at the core of how we communicate, network, earn a living, and live our everyday lives, said Acting US assistant attorney general Kenneth Blanco in a statement. Taking over the network Levashovs arrest was unrelated to investigations into Russian interference in last years US presidential election, US officials said. Earlier, the suspects wife had earlier told Russia Today that his arrest was connected to the election hacking case. In parallel with the arrest, US justice authorities announced an extraordinary move to bring down the Kelihos network, obtaining warrants that allows it to take control of the computers in the botnet by changing the malware to intercept its operation. That will direct the Kelihos traffic to sinkhole servers set up by authorities, overtime eliminating traffic through Levashovs server network. Such a move appeared to be the first ever application of controversial new investigative powers for US authorities which took effect late last year. While the move will give them access to private computers, investigators pledged to guard the privacy of computer owners. This operation will not capture content from the target computers or modify them in any other capacity except limiting the target computers ability to interact with the Kelihos botnet, the warrant said. Daring River Raid Puts Bow on Union Conquest of Forts Henry and Donelson [dropcap]A[/dropcap]s he sent word of the capture of Confederate Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, Brig. Gen. Ulysses Grant kept his emotions in check, his victory telegraph an unassuming Fort Henry is ours. Union Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote, whose naval forces actually won the battle that day, reacted with a little more flair, writing his wife: Bless the Lord who has given me the victory after a horrible fight of an hour and fifteen minutes. Taking it even further was District of the Missouri commander Henry W. Halleck, who excitedly informed Washington: The flag of the Union is re-established on the soil of Tennessee. It will never be removed. The biggest benefit of the victory, however, was not the capture of the fort itself, but that the Tennessee River was now open and vulnerable to thrusts by the Federal Navy. Without Fort Henry, the Confederates had no other fortifications blocking the river. If Union naval forces could now capture and destroy an important railroad bridge up the river, the Memphis & Ohio Railroad span a few miles to the south, it would puncture General Albert Sidney Johnstons defenses and keep the Western Confederate forces from being able to communicate and move quickly. In effect, the wings of Johnstons army would have to operate in the blind. Already confident of victory at Fort Henry, Flag Officer Foote in early February had issued instructions to his most veteran naval commander, Lieutenant Seth Ledyard Phelps, to do the bulk of the dirty work on the river. A longtime Navy veteran, Phelps had three solid timberclads at his disposal: Tyler, Lexington, and Conestoga, which had been converted to gunboats and covered with wood, a sturdy alternative to the Unions more famous City Class ironclads. Phelps led his boats south immediately after the fighting at Fort Henry. He steamed hard, but because he had left fairly late he didnt reach the Memphis & Ohio Railroad bridge until after dark on February 6. The span was actually a drawbridge, and Phelps found that the Confederates had closed it and disabled the machinery before they fled, meaning it could not now be opened. All the while, Phelps watched as about 1 miles above were several Rebel transport steamers escaping upstream. He had gone as far as he was ordered, but he wanted so much more. Thinking quickly, Phelps sent a party of machinists inland to get the bridge working. In one hour, he noted, I had the satisfaction to see the draw open. With nightfall and the need to secure the railroad, however, Phelps was torn between the bridge and his desire to hurry and catch the enemy boats, now with an hours head start. He left the slowest of his three gunboats, Tyler under Lieutenant William Gwin, at the bridge to take care of matters while he pursued with Lieutenant James Shirk and the faster Lexington and his own Conestoga. While Phelps sped away, Gwin and his crew spread out along the railroad and destroyed some of the trestle work leading to the bridge but not damaging the structure itself, thinking it would be useful when the Union armies pushed southward along the river. All the while, Phelps raced on with Lexington and Conestoga. Over the next five dark hours, Phelps and Conestoga outran Lexington and managed to close the gap with the Confederate vessels, eventually forcing all three to halt. The first he caught up with, the Samuel Orr, had on board a quantity of submarine batteries, which very soon exploded, Phelps reported. The other two, the Appleton Belle and Lynn Boyd, huddled near the bank at the mouth of the Duck River and were destroyed by the Confederates themselves. One of them turned out to be laden with powder, cannon shot, grape, balls, &c. and provided quite a fireworks show deep in the night. The massive explosion caused major damage to the surroundings, especially to a local residence on the bank of the river. Phelps reported it was the house of a reported Union man, and he suspected that there was design in landing the Rebels in front of the doomed house, which was, in Phelps words, blown to pieces. So too would have been Phelps had he not realized what was happening and halted short of the two enemy steamers. Even at a distance of 1,000 yards, Phelps gunboat still sustained damage from the falling debris. Even there our skylights were shattered by the concussion, he noted, the light upper deck was raised bodily, doors were forced open, and locks and fastenings everywhere broken. He added, the whole river for half a mile around about was completely beaten up by the falling fragments and the shower of shot, grape, balls, &c. Enough was enough, Phelps decided. Having caught the enemy steamers and survived the encounter, he wisely stopped his advance to await daylight as well as Tyler and Lexington. The latter had no pilot on board, and was especially vulnerable in the dark. Fortunately, both timberclads arrived safely, and Phelps flotilla was intact again. Phelps set out the next morning to inhibit more shipping on the river and to see how far he could go into Mississippi and Alabama. When the flotilla reached Hardin County, Tenn., at dark, Phelps found another prize. At the Cerro Gordo landing, he discovered the fabled Southern ironclad Eastport, still under construction. As the Confederate workers fled at Phelps advance, they peppered the Federals with rifle shots, though a couple of shells from the gunboats put a quick stop to that. When we fired two 24 pounder shots at her the crew left it to us, remembered one Tyler sailor. Phelps wisely sent men to immediately check for means of destruction that might have been devised, and sure enough, the Confederate workers had scuttled the boat, allowing water in through broken suction pipes. Phelps naval personnel were able to stop the leaks, which provided the North with yet another ironclad. Phelps noted the Eastport was in excellent condition, and already half finished. Around the yard also lay large quantities of lumber and iron plating as well as sundry items intended for use on the gunboat. Phelps had made a major catch. Eastports capture forced another decision on Phelps. He had always intended to travel along the river as far as he could go, but he certainly could not leave the ironclad alone, even with a small guard. If the timberclads left, it would likely be recaptured and sunk for good, Phelps reasoned. So he decided to split his force again, leaving the slower Tyler at Cerro Gordo with Eastport while he and Shirk moved on. Tylers crew was instructed to load all the valuable supplies and materials for the return north. On February 8, Phelps and Shirk passed Eastport, Miss., and soon captured two Confederate steamers at Chickasaw. One, Sallie Wood, was laid up and not worth much, but the other, Muscle, was laden with iron intended for the Confederate government. Next for Phelps was Florence, Ala., at the foot of the Muscle Shoals. The lieutenant noted that the Rebel steamers Sam Kirkman, Julius, and Time had been driven ahead of him, with the Confederates eventually torching all three to keep them out of Federal hands. Despite limited fire from the banks, Phelps quickly sent men ashore to save anything they could, and did manage to accumulate some supplies marked Fort Henry. Phelps had his men load all they could and destroyed the rest. In the midst of the destruction, a deputation of citizens of Florence visited Phelps. The locals had gathered some old relics, including a cannon on a carriage missing its wheels, to defend their homes. They wisely thought better of it, opting to ask for mercy instead. Thinking the Federals were marauding vandals, they first asked that they might be made able to quiet the fears of their wives and daughters with assurances from me that they should not be molested. Phelps told them in no uncertain terms that we were neither ruffians nor savages, and that we were there to protect them from violence and to enforce the law. Relieved, the citizens then discussed a more vital, economic concern: the railroad bridge crossing the river. Though important for Florence itself, the bridge was not on a main line, connecting instead with the trunk line of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad south of the river. Phelps again responded compassionately, stating that he could not proceed upriver even if the bridge was not there and that it could possess, so far as I saw, no military importance. Phelps thus left the bridge intact. Not so with the Southern communication ability. The Confederate telegraph operator at Tuscumbia, south of the river, reported that the enemy took the Florence office and found out nearly everything that was passing over the line before he was informed of their having landed. The quick-thinking operator disconnected the Florence line and cut them off. One newspaper nevertheless claimed the invaders sent some wondrous message to Richmond. Having gone as far as he could because of the shoals, Phelps turned around. It had been an extremely profitable raid. Phelps had captured three boats, including Eastport, and had forced the Confederates to destroy six more (though Southern reports indicated others were scuttled or burned out of the enemys view). [quote style=boxed float=left]Men, Women, and children several times gathered in crowds of hundreds, shouted their welcome, and hailed our national flag with enthusiasm.[/quote] Despite his success, Phelps had left two major bridges in Alabama intact: the one at Florence, but more important the Memphis & Charleston span at Big Bear Creek near the state line. While losing the Florence bridge would have done little damage to the Confederate rail network, destruction of the Big Bear Creek bridge on a major Confederate trunk line that Leroy Pope Walker described as the vertebrae of the Confederacy would have been disastrous. Phelps reached Cerro Gordo during the night on February 8, reuniting with Gwin and Tyler. That gunboats crew had been busy at work for the past 12 or so hours, loading lumber and preparing to set sail, and the crews of Lexington and Conestoga joined in after they arrived. According to Phelps, the raid had brought away probably 250,000 feet of the best quality of ship and building timber, and the iron machinery, spikes, plating, nails, &c., belonging to the rebel gunboat. Not wanting the local mill to provide any more lumber, Phelps also had it destroyed. Though anxious to be on his way, Phelps learned of another possibility he couldnt resist. Roughly 25 local residents had decided to join the Union Navy and told Gwin of a regimental encampment at Savannah just upriver. Phelps had passed the town twice that day, but had noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Now, he wanted the camp destroyed, and Gwin and Shirk agreed. This time, Phelps left Lexington to guard Eastport and took Conestoga and Tyler to Savannah. Gwin landed with several troops and a howitzer early in the morning February 9, broke up the camp, and then burned what they could not remove. Phelps and his men were surprised by the extensive pro-Union sentiments in the region. [W]e have met with the most gratifying proofs of loyalty everywhere across Tennessee, Phelps wrote, and in the portions of Mississippi and Alabama we visited most affecting instances greeted us almost hourly. The lieutenant also reported, men, women, and children several times gathered in crowds of hundreds, shouted their welcome, and hailed [our] national flag with an enthusiasm there was no mistaking. It was genuine and heartfelt. As the Federal vessels continued north later in the day, with Eastport, Sallie Wood, and Muscle in tow, the latter ship began to leak badly. Noted Phelps, all efforts failing to prevent her sinking, we were forced to abandon her, and with her a considerable quantity of fine lumber. More trouble occurred when the flotilla reached the Memphis & Ohio Railroad span, when Phelps discovered the taller Eastport could not pass through the drawbridge for several hours. Phelps flotilla finally reached Fort Henry on February 10. Foote was obviously overjoyed at the news, writing Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles that Phelps work has been thorough and merits the highest praise. His subordinate, Foote would write, has, with consummate skill, courage, and judgment, performed a highly beneficial service to the Government, which no doubt will be appreciated. There was no such celebration in the Confederacy. Reeling from the Fort Henry loss and fearing imminent action against nearby Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River, the South went wild condemning the naval events of early February 1862. In fact, one Confederate at Columbus, Ky., wrote his wife, I hear the Yankee gunboats are at Florence, Alabama! Newspapers reported that the Lincoln gunboats seem to have had quite a frolic up the Tennessee. In the Confederate psyche, Fort Henry was the key that unlocked the Lower South, and newspapers in Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans, among other locales, nervously reported the continuing increments of the Federal Navys thrust along the Tennessee. These developments were not good signs, as subsequent events would bear out. Confederate officials scrambled to contain the damage. Both wings of the armys Western defensive line retreated from Kentucky, and reinforcements were called up from New Orleans and Pensacola, Fla. In fact, the strategic concentration that led to the Battle of Shiloh two months later occurred as a result of Fort Henrys fall and the psychological effect of Phelps raid deep into the Confederacy, rather than the more commonly touted events later at Fort Donelson. Phelps raid blazed a trail that the Federal armies would ultimately follow. It refocused attention on the vulnerable Confederate west. At his Bowling Green, Ky., headquarters Albert Sidney Johnston faced some tough decisionsmainly courtesy of Seth Ledyard Phelps and his timberclads. This article is adapted from Timothy B. Smiths new book Grant Invades Tennessee: The 1862 Battles for Forts Henry and Donelson (University Press of Kansas, 2016). John Bigelows 1910 Study of Robert E. Lees Victory Over Joe Hooker Remains an Exemplar Tactical and operational studies occupy a prominent place in the literature devoted to the Civil War. Admirable examples of well-researched, analytical military narratives published over the past several decades include Edwin B. Coddingtons pioneering The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command (Scribners, 1968), Richard J. Sommerss detailed Richmond Redeemed: The Siege at Petersburg (Doubleday, 1981), John J. Hennessys graceful Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas (Simon & Schuster, 1993), Albert Castels revisionist Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864 (University Press of Kansas, 1992), and Timothy B. Smiths gripping Shiloh: Conquer or Perish (University Press of Kansas, 2014). Multiple volumes by authors such as Stephen W. Sears, Peter Cozzens, Earl J. Hess, and Gordon C. Rhea underscore the vitality of this genre of Civil War studies. Coddingtons book, which raised the bar for all subsequent campaign treatments, appeared more than half-a-century after John Bigelow Jr.s The Campaign of Chancellorsville: A Strategic and Tactical Study set a standard so high it retains a place among the very best works of its kind. Published in 1910 by Yale University Press, Bigelows 528-page masterpiece was reissued by Morningside Press in a first-rate reprint in the 1990s (all other reprints, which lack the originals superlative maps, should be avoided). Bigelow brought firsthand military experience to his project. A West Pointer who ranked 46th in the Class of 1877, he served with the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry in the 1870s and 1880s and received multiple wounds and won a Silver Star at San Juan Hill during the war with Spain. During an assignment to teach military science and tactics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1894, Bigelow chose Chancellorsville as the theme for a course of lectures.because that campaign presented a greater variety of military problems and experiences than any other in which an army of the United States had taken part. In addition, he added, no other battle approaching Chancellorsville in importance, has been so imperfectly apprehended and described. Bigelow mined a range of sources, including regimental histories, memoirs, congressional reports, newspapers, and, most important by far, the Official Records. The recent availability of a mass of reports and correspondence in the Official Records, he observed, allowed him to offer a certain minuteness of detail about the campaign. Because of these published documents, he noted approvingly, no war that has been fought admits of such thorough investigation as our Civil War. The phenomenon of historians across many generations immersing themselves in the rich bounty of the Official Records really began with The Campaign of Chancellorsville. Bigelow sought to evaluate commanders in light of what they knew when making decisions. Appreciating what is often termed the fog of war, he pronounced it a common fault of military narration to fail to give the mental point of view and field vision of the opposing commanders. He sought to keep the reader informed as to how much or how little each commander knew about the tactical or strategic situation. Scrupulously fair in assessing leaders on both sides and meticulous in charting the ebb and flow of the action, Bigelow fully met his stated goals to tell what was done, but also to show how it was done, to present a characteristic, or typical, view of the conditions and methods of troop-leading that obtained during our Civil War. Anyone who reads tactical history knows the value of good maps. I have tried to provide the reader with such maps as he will need, Bigelow stated with a striking degree of understatement and somewhat obscure phrasing, but am aware that I have not made his way a royal road. In fact, the 47 three-color maps in The Campaign of Chancellorsville constitute one of the books great strengths, often depicting the tactical situation in 30-minute increments and permitting readers to follow the action very closely. Bigelow credited the maps of Jedediah Hotchkiss, who had been Stonewall Jacksons cartographer, as especially useful in the preparation of his own. Bigelows summary judgments indict Joseph Hooker for fumbling an opportunity to punish Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. Hooker repeatedly displayed a lack of aggressiveness and strong purpose. The Federal commanders irresolution in this campaign was only partially due to the injury he received at the Chancellor House on the morning of May 4, insisted Bigelow: It was exhibitedlong before he sustained that injury, and would in all probability have lasted through the campaign had he not been injured at all. To the end, Hooker might have crafted a victory. No greater mistake was made during the campaign than Hookers final one of recrossing the Rappahannock, Bigelow asserted. Lee was about to play into his hands by attacking him on his own ground; the condition on which his plan of operation was based was at last to be realized, when he weakly retired from the contest. [quote style=boxed float=left]No war that has been fought admits of such thorough investigation as our civil war[/quote] Hookers post-battle criticism of 6th Corps chief John Sedgwick for not, in effect, saving the larger part of the Army of the Potomac on May 4 rankled Bigelow. If Hooker, with the mass of the army, could not safely undertake to join Sedgwick when Sedgwick was moving to join him, Bigelow commented sharply, it was hardly to be expected that Sedgwick, with a single corps, would succeed in joining Hooker. As for Robert E. Lee, Bigelow praised his brilliant use of interior lines and pronounced his strategic decisions generally sound and in accordance with the fundamental principles of war. Yet the magnitude of the Confederate victory yielded a mixed result. The two months following Lees victory marked the brightest period of the Civil War for Confederates. But its brightness, cautioned Bigelow, was that of a false and treacherous light. The overconfidence born of the victory at Chancellorsville carried the Army of Northern Virginia against the impregnable front of the Federal lines at Gettysburg. Very few scholarly books written a century ago stand up against more modern scholarship. Bigelows impressive treatment of Chancellorsville meets that test and merits the attention of anyone seriously interested in the compelling action that unfolded along the Rappahannock River frontier in late April and early May 1863. Pierre Fauroux was born in 1921. He graduated from the French Military Academy at St. Cyr in 1942, when Frances Vichy government was dominated by Germany. In 1943 he escaped from France via Spain and joined the Free French movement based in Britain. Trained by the British in special operations, he parachuted into France in June 1944 during the D-Day invasion. At the end of 1944 the restored French government sent Fauroux to Indochina to prepare for the return of French forces at the end of the war. He participated in many clandestine reconnaissance missions until he returned to France in late 1946. Fauroux returned to Indochina in 1952 as the executive officer of a parachute battalion and fought at Dien Bien Phu, a French defeat that set in motion a series of political and military decisions in the United States that would send U.S. ground combat troops to Vietnam in March 1965. Fauroux was captured by the Viet Minh, a Communist-controlled organization fighting for independence from colonial rule. He was repatriated in September 1954 and later served in Algeria. During his military career Fauroux was awarded the French Legion of Honor and the American Silver Star. Fauroux died in 2010. His memoir written six years earlier includes the following account of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, translated by retired U.S. Army Colonel Stephen Smith. Pierre Fauroux receives the Silver Star in 1993 for his service to the U.S. Army in World War II. (Courtesy off Stephen Smith) In 1952 I received orders to report to Quimper, in Frances Brittany region, where paratroop battalions were trained, on May 2 before heading back to Indochina. Major Marcel Bigeard was at Saint-Brieuc [a town in Brittany] in command of the 6th Battalion of Colonial Paratroops. My battalion was the 10th Colonial Paratroops, commanded by Major Jean Brechignac. In November 1952 we went to Marseilles to embark for Saigon. While in Marseilles we received orders reflagging us as the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment of Paratroop Chasseurs. Shortly after our arrival in Hanoi around Christmas 1952, we were transported to Na San in Tai territory [a section of northern Vietnam inhabited by people of the Tai culture], where an important strongpoint had been organized over the previous several months. Two Viet Minh divisions had knocked themselves out trying to attack it. The French Foreign Legion paratroops distinguished themselves there. Na San was without question a French victory that cost the Viet Minh very dearly. By the time we arrived, the worst of the fighting was over. We assumed responsibility for conducting all the patrols within a 30-kilometer radius around Na San. The objective was to make contact with the Viets there, who at that time refused to fight us. That, however, did not prevent us from having our first major engagement on April 1,1953. We fell upon a large enemy battalion and the fighting was violent. We suffered 10 killed, including one officer, 70 wounded and five or six missing. The Viet Minh battalion was practically annihilated, first from our fire and then from fighter aircraft that machine-gunned the entire area. We remained in Tai territory until Easter, April 5, 1953, and then went back to Hanoi to rest and reorganize for one week. For the next several months we took part in various operations in the Red River delta and other places in Tonkin. I still have bitter memories of two affairs we were involved in. There was a category of promotable colonels who commanded large Mobile Reconnaissance Groups, composed of various types of battalions. Before ending their tours of duty in Indochina and returning to France, they would mount an operation to burnish their campaign credentials. Command of a paratroop battalion lent a certain sparkle to their tenures. Twice, each time for a dozen days, we were the paratroop battalion involved, and it cost us two company commanders, among others. We paid dearly for this kind of foolishness, which contributed nothing to the wartime mission. We also executed an operational jump to the north of Tourane [Da Nang] in the coastal region nicknamed the Street Without Joy. [French soldiers were continually ambushed by Viet Minh fighters on a stretch of Highway 1 that ran through the area.] The Viets refused to fight, but we took a large number of prisoners, whom we brought back to Tourane and turned over to the navy for evacuation. In the spring of 1953 the French government decided to look for an honorable way out of the war that was bogging down. Unable to achieve victory over the Viet Minh, who were supported by Soviet Russia and Communist China, the government designated a new commander in chief and gave him the task of reinforcing the Franco-Vietnamese troops. It also undertook a series of diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving a negotiated solution to the war. The new commanding general, General Henri Navarre, was given a mission that included countering the threat while holding the Viet Minh divisions in the Red River delta, mounting precision operations in the heart of their supply zone and against Communist-infested areas in the center of Annam [a region in the central portion of what is now Vietnam] and organizing a large offensive supported by landings along the coast. Navarre replaced General Raoul Salan, who had been in Indochina since 1948. The senior commander in northern Vietnam was Lt. Gen. Francois de Linares, scheduled to rotate back to France. His designated replacement was Maj. Gen. Rene Cogny, already in Indochina and one of the very few senior officers interested in the job. Before departing, Linares, a Navarre classmate at St. Cyr and at the Ecole Militaire, warned the new commander in chief that Cogny was not a good fit for the job and not ready for senior command. It was Cogny who advised Navarre on the choice of Dien Bien Phu, though he later disavowed having done so and resisted sending reinforcements from the Red River delta. As soon as Navarre assumed command, his most immediate problem was northern Laos. If the Viet Minh infiltrated that area from the Mekong Valley and from middle Laos, they would threaten all of southern Indochina. Not defending northern Laos would amount to accepting a general catastrophe within a few months. Thus, the decision was made to reoccupy Dien Bien Phu, a jungle crossroads and a strategic point that the French had occupied periodically since the beginning of the century. Dien Bien Phu would be occupied this time by means of an airborne insertion. The 2nd Battalion, 1st Paratroop Chasseurs, was operating on the Tonkin plain near Seven Pagodas [near Chi Linh, halfway between Hanoi and Haiphong] when we were told to return immediately to Hanoi. We understood that something important was going on. Called to a headquarters meeting at the very highest level, Major Brechignac took me along. We learned that an airborne operation named Castor would plant us in the middle of Dien Bien Phu. The officers present, from various units, felt a sense of relief. At last we would be face to face with the entire Viet Minh army, and we were confident we would deliver a knockout blow. The drop zone terrain formed an elongated basin whose long axis was roughly north-south, with an average altitude of 500 to 700 meters. It was surrounded by wooded hills that overlooked the valley to the north and to the east, where a landing strip was located. The basins length from north to south was about 14 kilometers, and its width was 3 to 5 kilometers. The initial operation consisted of three elements. The Airborne command post was under Brig. Gen. Jean Giles, the commander of airborne troops in Indochina. The post directly controlled an airborne artillery group consisting of two batteries of 75mm guns, an airborne engineer company and an airborne surgical team. The 1st Airborne Task Force, under Lt. Col. Louis Fourcade, consisted of the 1st and 6th battalions of Colonial Paratroops and the 2nd Battalion, 1st Paratroop Chasseurs. The 2nd Airborne Task Force, under Lt. Col. Pierre Langlais, consisted of the 1st Battalion, Foreign Legion Paratroops; the 5th Battalion, Vietnamese Paratroops; and the 8th Battalion, Colonial Paratroops. The number of men dropped would be 4,825. It was the most important airborne mission ever executed by the French army. The operation involved 65 Douglas C-47 Dakota transports, 33 flying from Bac Mai, the remainder from Gia Lam [both Hanoi airports]. The drops would be executed in two waves at an altitude of 200 meters. The launch time was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, 1953. Intelligence estimated the enemy strength on the ground at eight companies and one heavy-weapons company with four 120mm mortars. The 2nd Battalion, 1st Paratroop, was part of the first wave, carried in 27 C-47s. I did not take part in that initial jump of Operation Castor. All forward-deployed parachute units require a solid rear detachment, ready to immediately resolve any resupply and replacement problems. Major Brechignac asked me to take charge of that detachment. The battalion encountered no resistance when it arrived on the ground and took two prisoners. Six soldiers were lightly injured in the jump. At the end of the first days operations, total French losses came to 15 killed (one during the jump) and 47 wounded. The Viet Minh suffered 147 dead, but most of their fighters fled into the mountains. Within three days the landing strip was improved enough to accommodate C-47s. After November 26,air-landed infantry units came to reinforce and relieve the paratroops. As the arrival of reinforcements permitted, the paratroop units were transported by air back to Hanoi December 8-17. The 2nd Battalion was withdrawn on December 10. From Nov. 26, 1953, to March 13, 1954, the base at Dien Bien Phu was continually improved and reinforced [primarily by setting up eight defensive positions, or strongpoints, each with a female name]. By December the garrison totaled some 12,000. A general sense of optimism reigned at the headquarters in Hanoi and Saigon. The intention was to finish off the Viet Minh. Drawing the Viets into the valley was the dream of the entire staff. We would finally have what we wanteda concentrated target that we could hammer. The entrenched camp appeared impregnable, and none of the civil and military dignitaries who visited it raised any concerns. And yet toward the end of December General Navarre realized the risks we were running at Dien Bien Phu. Very reliable military intelligence reports indicated the enemy was bringing in heavy artillery. All too late he understood that the coming battle required support from a much more powerful air force. Even worse, the entrenched camp could only receive aerial support from distant bases in the Red River delta, which would mean delays in getting assistance. While we waited for the Viet Minh to attack Dien Bien Phu, an event of great importance changed everything. We learned on February 18 that our national leaders had decided to meet to discuss the Indochina issue in Geneva at the end of April. General Navarre had not been forewarned. He later placed much of the blame for the failure at Dien Bien Phu on that conference: The news encouraged the Viet Minh to pull out all the stops so they could go to the conference carrying a big military victory to bolster their position in the negotiations. By the beginning of March the Viet Minh had encircled Dien Bien Phu with 60,000 to 80,000 troops from 28 infantry battalions, three artillery regiments, an anti-aircraft regiment and an engineer regiment. They had enormous stockpiles that were being augmented at the rate of 50 tons a day by an interminable supply chain that included coolies, heavily loaded bicycles and 700 Molotova trucks provided by Soviet Russia. In addition to our infantry forces, we had two battalions of 105mm artillery and one battery of 155mm artillery, two 120mm mortar companies, 10 M24 light tanks and two engineer companies. We had nine days of rations, eight of fuel and five of artillery ammunition. Colonel Christian de Castries commanded the garrison, and Langlais, the 2nd Airborne commander, led the paratroops. As the battle unfolded, however, it became primarily a fight conducted by lieutenants and captains. On March 11 the Viet Minh artillery began harassing fire and succeeded in destroying six Grumman F8F Bearcat fighters on the ground. We were really surprised to see that the Viet Minh had such artillery, which were sheltered in practically invulnerable tunnels hollowed out of the surrounding mountains. Every time they fired, they managed to hit something, and the French artillery at Dien Bien Phu was neutralized quickly. Faced with this failure, the French artillery commander, Colonel Charles Piroth, committed suicide in his bunker. The first assault, on the evening of March 13, was directed against the strongpoint designated Beatrice, defended by 450 troops of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade. The position fell just after midnight. On March 14 the 5th Battalion, Vietnamese Paratroops, dropped back in as reinforcements. Two days later Major Bigeard and the 6th Battalion, Colonial Paratroops, dropped back in. But strongpoint after strongpoint fell as the fighting continued without interruption through the rest of March. When the battle started on March 13, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Paratroop Chasseurs, was in southern Laos at Savannakhet, where we had taken part in clean-up operations in that region. We quickly headed back to Hanoi and immediately prepared to jump into Dien Bien Phu. In Hanoi we found peoples attitudes detestable. The news correspondents acted like the paparazzi do today, trying to interview every man in the street. Colonel de Castries wife was especially harassed. Editions of the news magazine LExpress with anti-military editorials appeared on the stands. We felt betrayed. We didnt understand why the French government wasnt doing more to support us. In that atmosphere we took off for Dien Bien Phu. We knew that the battle was already lost. Colonel Henri Sauvagnac, one of the founders of the French Airborne, came to see us off. He despaired to see those whose training had been his entire life deploy under such conditions. I remember that as we were heading toward the aircraft, we passed under a large photograph of the American film star Ava Gardner hanging on the wall of the embarkation hall. Brechignac said to me, She really is a beautiful woman! as if to say, This is the world we are about to abandon! And there we were, like others before us and others after us, a parachute on our back, another on our belly, a jump bag on a sling containing some poor little personal items, leaving for a lost battle, looking like so many penguins. After surviving a night of intense fighting on April 3, a French patrol tries to determine the enemys position. (Bettmann/Corbis) Our drop started on the night of April 1-2. The entire operation was scheduled for three waves on three successive nights. I jumped with the first wave close to midnight. No sooner did my parachute open than I found myself in the middle of an extraordinary spectacleanti-aircraft fire, illumination flares, tracer roundsit was a real Bastille Day fireworks show. I proceeded to an assembly point as quickly as possible, and it soon became evident that Brechignac had not jumped. The plane he was in had overshot the drop zone because of the heavy anti-aircraft fire, and there was no place beyond the perimeter where it was safe to jump. We had only two companies on the ground. I linked up with the command post, and Colonel Langlais sent us to take positions on the Eliane 4 strongpoint. Brechignac arrived the following night. Landing in barbed wire, he had to leave his trousers hanging on it in order to extricate himself. The battalion regrouped on Eliane 4. Like the men in other units, we would not see a calm day again until May 7. After the battles for the Huguette strongpoints during the first days of April, the fighting mostly concentrated on the Eliane strongpoints. We repulsed the attacks, often inflicting considerable losses, but enemy artillery fire was incessant and came in from all sides. As we lost soldiers, those still in fighting condition would reassemble. Starting on the night of April 9-10 more reinforcements jumped in, including the 2nd Battalion, Foreign Legion Paratroops, and about 700 volunteers who had never seen a parachute in their lives. As the month wore on, the supply situation became desperate. Because of the intense anti-aircraft fire, airlifted rations and supplies had to be dropped from higher and higher altitudes. Large amounts fell on enemy positions. During the later days of the battle, we benefited from the intervention of large American cargo planes flown by the pilots of Maj. Gen. Claire Chennaults Civil Air Transport airline [later the CIAs Air America], operating from Nationalist Chinese territory on Taiwan. Chennault had been the commander of the American Volunteer Group [Flying Tigers] in World War II. At Dien Bien Phu his planes took great risks by dropping supplies at low altitudes. Two of them were shot down. During the night of May 1-3, the Viets fired the longest artillery concentration of the battle. It lasted three hours and was principally directed at the Eliane positions. Our battalion suffered great losses, including one company commander and one lieutenant killed, two company commanders seriously wounded and some 30 soldiers killed. Only three days before the end of the fighting, the 1st Battalion, Colonial Paratroops, began to drop in. On May 4 and 5 the assaults on Eliane 2 and 4 multiplied. Rain interfered with the airdrops. Only half a company from the Colonial Paratroops 1st Battalion arrived on May 5. On the afternoon of May 6 Brechignac asked me to go with a radio operator toward the center of the fighting to look for a less pulverized place where we could reassemble the surviving elements of the battalion. I advanced through the trenches in mud up to my chest. The shells never ceased to fall. At a bend in a trench I lost sight of the radio operator. He must have been killed by a shell and swallowed up by the mud. I realized then that the end was at hand. I made it back to the command post. I can still see the dugout 2 meters under the earth where huddled together were Bigeard, Langlais, Major Pierre Tourret of the Colonial Paratroops 8th Battalion, Major Maurice Guiraud of the Foreign Legion Paratroops 1st Battalion, Major Hubert de Seguin-Pazzis from de Castries headquarters and my St. Cyr classmate Captain Robert Caillaud of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment. We never saw de Castries, who recently had been promoted to brigadier general. During the night of May 6 Brechignac sent his final message: They are here. I am destroying the radio. Adieu to all. Bigeard, Langlais and all of us believed that we should not surrender or hoist the white flag. De Castries sent us a message indicating his approval of a cease-fire without a white flag. All the units were contacted; all the arms and the radios weredestroyed. The general cease-fire took effect at 5:30 p.m. on May 7. Then the silence. We waited. Then we heard them coming, like a wave, a screaming crowd. We were reassembled outside, without any brutality. Our adversaries seemed very surprised and rather respectful. Then we were handed over to the political commissars, and that was the beginning of another story. The losses we suffered in the battle for Dien Bien Phu totaled 2,379 dead, 5,234 wounded (708 of whom later died of their wounds) and 11,579 taken prisoner. Only 3,290 of the captured men returned home. The enemy losses included 8,000 dead and 15,000 wounded, according to official estimates. The French army was beaten but it was not routed, as the newspaper Le Monde wrote in 2004. We young officers asked for only two things: First, to be well led; and second, to be helped, supported and supplied by those who sent us to war. It happens from time to time that the first condition is not fulfilled; the second one never is. When the end of the battle was announced in Paris, the Chamber of Deputies was in plenary session. The emotion was considerable. Many deputies wept and all of them stood for a long period of silenceexcept the Communist deputies, who remained seated. Stephen Smith, a retired Army officer in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps, is a civilian attorney for the Armys 21st Theater Sustainment Command in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Captain Pierre Fauroux was his father-in-law. For additional reading see Bernard B. Falls Hell in a Very Small Place and Martin Windrows The Last Valley. First published in Vietnam Magazines April 2016 issue. China sought to punish Vietnam, yet both sides claimed victory in the short but bloody war. On February 17, 1979, troops from the Peoples Republic of China attacked the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in what became known as the Sino-Vietnamese War. Although for many years China and the regime in Hanoi had been allies, as close as lips and teeth, this marriage of convenience slowly began to fall apart beginning in the 1970s when China was unable to match the Soviet Union in military support to Hanoi. During the First Indochina War (1946-54), Chinese military advisers had played an important role in the Viet Minh victory over the French. With the beginning of the Second Indochina War (1956-75), Hanoi accepted support from both China and the Soviet Union in its struggle to reunify North and South Vietnam by force of arms. During the war in Southeast Asia, China also supported the communist Khmer Rouge in Cambodia (as well as the Pathet Lao in Laos). The Vietnamese Communists and the Khmer Rouge normally cooperated during the war, but there were, nevertheless, a number of border clashes between Vietnam and Cambodia dating back to 1971. VIETNAM VS. CAMBODIA The Vietnam-Cambodia border conflicts continued sporadically until 1975, when relations began to deteriorate after Pol Pot came to power in Cambodia, which was renamed Democratic Kampuchea after the fall of Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge demanded that certain areas of land along the Cambodia-Vietnam border be returned to Cambodia and that all Vietnamese leave these areas that the Khmer Rouge claimed Vietnam had taken centuries earlier. Vietnam refused, claiming that this territory had always been part of Vietnam dating back nearly three centuries. In May 1975, naval patrols from Cambodia and Vietnam clashed in the vicinity of Phu Quoc Island, on their sea boundary. The next month, the Vietnamese attacked the Cambodian bases on Poulo Wai Island. This situation was somewhat diffused when both sides agreed to negotiate; however, the talks accomplished little and the subsequent lull in the conflict was short-lived. After the fall of Saigon in April 1975, Hanoi had increasingly turned to the Soviet Union for support. In the midst of the ongoing Sino-Soviet split, China was very concerned about this development. The leaders in Beijing were worried about the growing Soviet influence in the region. Accordingly, China increasingly leaned toward Cambodia as a counterweight to the Soviets and Vietnamese in Southeast Asia, ultimately sending military advisers to work with the Khmer Rouge forces. The border dispute between Vietnam and Cambodia reached a new pitch in April 1977 when Khmer Rouge forces attacked towns in six Vietnamese provinces that bordered Cambodia. At one point, the Cambodians drove four kilometers into Vietnam and occupied part of An Giang province. The Cambodians continued their raids and artillery attacks on Vietnamese towns and villages for the rest of the month and into May. The Vietnamese responded by moving troops into the area to combat the Cambodian troops. In June, the Vietnamese proposed negotiations, but the Cambodians responded with a counterproposal. Each side ignored the others call for talks and both continued their military preparations. In September 1977, Cambodian forces increased their raids into Vietnam, attacking six villages in Dong Thap province while three divisions from the Cambodian Eastern Military Region pushed into Tay Ninh province to a depth of 10 kilometers. There they massacred more than a thousand Vietnamese civilians. Vietnam responded with a counterattack that pushed the Cambodian forces several kilometers back into Cambodia. In December 1977, Vietnam launched a limited attack against the Cambodian forces that occupied Vietnamese territory. The Vietnamese forces, numbering more than 30,000 troops, pushed the Cambodian forces back, but failed to retake all the occupied area. Cambodia responded by suspending diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnam stepped up its support for the Cambodian guerrilla army of Heng Samrin (the Kampuchean National United Front for National Salvation, KNUFNS), which was trying to overthrow the Pol Pot regime. This only increased the tensions between Hanoi and Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh completely broke off diplomatic relations with Hanoi, and each side resorted to a war of words against the other. At the same time, the conflict between Vietnam and China grew. Vietnam began a new collectivization scheme in March 1978 that led to the exodus of ethnic Chinese from Vietnam, angering Beijing. Meanwhile, a series of disputes and confrontations occurred between China and Vietnam along their common border. The rift between the two increased as Vietnam tilted toward more cooperation with the Soviets. In the summer of 1978, Vietnam joined the Soviet-dominated Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) and signed a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union. These events further angered the Chinese, who claimed that the new treaty was a military alliance and part of the Soviet global strategy to marginalize Chinas influence. At the root of the conflict between China and Vietnam was Chinas concern about Vietnams ambitions in Southeast Asia and its growing reliance on the Soviet Union. China branded Vietnam the Cuba of the East and denounced the Vietnamese as tools of Soviet hegemonism. Meanwhile, the normalization of relations between China and the United States worried the Vietnamese, who were afraid that the new relationship gave the Chinese confidence to stand up to the Vietnamese and their Soviet patrons. Vietnam saw China as a growing threat to Vietnamese interests in the region. It believed that China would reinforce the military potential of its adversary in Cambodia and might even attack Vietnam directly. Things had gotten progressively worse along the Cambodia-Vietnam border. Cambodian refugees from the Eastern Zone had poured across the border to escape the earlier fighting. Pol Pot saw this as an insurrection against the Khmer regime and sent forces in to suppress the uprising. The suppression, relocation and massacre of those living along the border, including ethnic Vietnamese who lived in the area, convinced Hanoi that it was time to act. Politburo authorized a military operation to solve the Cambodian issue once and for all. The first phase of the operation, which Defense Minister Vo Nguyen Giap called a strategic offensive designed to exterminate the enemy and seize control, began on December 21, 1978, when two Vietnamese infantry divisions attacked out of the Central Highlands, driving along Route 19 to seize Stung Treng on the Mekong River. The second phase of the operation began on December 25 when Hanoi launched a full-scale invasion of Cambodia with over 12 divisions, totaling 100,000 troops. The Vietnamese ground forces, supported by the Vietnamese air force, struck across the border into northeastern Cambodia. In one attack, Vietnamese troops attacked west from Tay Ninh province along Route 7. Additional Vietnamese forces took Kampong Cham, while another column attacked west along Route 1 in the direction of Phumi Prek Khsay, the Mekong River gateway to Phnom Penh. The final Vietnamese thrust drove west from Ha Tien, Vietnam, to seize the ports of Kampot and Kampong Som to prevent the resupply by sea of retreating Khmer Rouge forces. By January 5, 1979, the main Vietnamese spearheads had driven to the eastern banks of the Mekong River. After a brief pause, the Vietnamese forces crossed the river and launched a direct assault on Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge leaders elected not to defend the city and it fell on January 7. The Vietnamese forces continued their attack to the west, driving toward the Thai border. On January 7, 1979, the Vietnamese took possession of all government buildings in Phnom Penh and installed a new government under Heng Samrin. By this time, most of the Khmer Rouge forces had withdrawn into less accessible areas, from which they launched an insurgency against the new government and the Vietnamese forces that stayed to consolidate Hanois hold on Cambodia. By early February, it was clear that Vietnamese forces were not going to withdraw and would in fact continue to occupy Cambodia. CHINA VS. VIETNAM Vietnams occupation of Cambodia directly threatened Chinese interests in the region. China could not sit idly by while the Vietnamese had their way in Cambodia. Beijing sent several thinly veiled warnings to Hanoi, but Vietnamese officials responded by agreeing to discuss long-standing border/ territorial issues only, refusing to address the presence of Vietnamese troops in Cambodia, which was the main point of contention in the escalating tensions between the two countries. The invasion of Cambodia and the ouster of the pro-Beijing Pol Pot regime ultimately proved to be the final straw for China, which condemned the invasion of Cambodia and the installation of Heng Samrin as Vietnamese hegemonism abetted by Soviet social-imperialism. The growing antipathy between China and Vietnam was further exacerbated by what China saw as persecution of 200,000 ethnic Chinese (Hoa) in Vietnam. There was some truth to this charge; Vietnamese Chinese were stripped of their citizenship and forfeited their rights to own businesses and hold public office. This only added to the rapidly worsening situation. Several Chinese officials were quoted as saying that China was probably going to have to teach Vietnam a lesson. On February 15, 1979, Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping publicly announced Chinas intention to strike back at the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. At dawn on the morning of February 17, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) launched a punitive expedition against Vietnam, attacking at numerous points along the 480-mile Sino-Vietnamese border after a massive artillery and rocket barrage. (See Sino-Vietnamese War map, p. 46.) The overall commander of the PLA forces was General Xu Shiyou, a member of the Politburo and a longtime supporter of Deng Xiaoping. Xus deputy, General Yang Dezhi, was in tactical control of the operations. Yang also had been the deputy commander of Chinese troops during the Korean War, during which he had developed the tactics of infiltration and envelopment followed by mass attacks. Yang was chosen to take tactical control due to the similarity of the terrain in northern Vietnam to that in Korea. Once the attack was joined in earnest, Beijing, concerned about Soviet reaction to the invasion, issued statements to deter Soviet intervention, justifying the action by claiming that it was in response to repeated violations of Chinese territory by Vietnamese troops. Furthermore, Beijing announced that Chinese troops would stay in Vietnam only for a short while and that talks should be initiated to resolve the border conflict as soon as possible. In response to the Chinese attack across the border, the Soviets sent several naval vessels to Vietnamese waters and initiated a Soviet arms lift to Vietnam. The Soviet military attache in Hanoi threatened that the USSR would carry out its obligations under the Soviet-Vietnam treaty, but Moscow made it clear to Beijing that it would not intervene as long as the conflict remained localized along the common border between China and Vietnam. The Chinese appear to have had several reasons for launching the attack. First, China wanted to punish Vietnam for the invasion of Cambodia and the toppling of the Pol Pot regime. They hoped that their massive attack would force Vietnam to withdraw troops from Cambodia and thereby remove the pressure on Pol Pots forces there. Second, the invasion was designed to deter extension of Vietnamese power across the border into China. Whether this threat was real or not was irrelevant; the Chinese made several statements reiterating their claims that there had been Vietnamese incursions into Chinese territory and that China would defend its territory and people from any Vietnamese aggression. Third, China was concerned about increasing Soviet influence and power in Southeast Asia. By attacking Moscows key ally in the area, Beijing could cast doubt on the extent of Soviet power in the region and thus avoid a direct threat to China while dealing a blow to Soviet prestige. The invading force included 11 Chinese armies of regular ground troops and militia from the Kunming, Chengdu, Wuhan, and Guangzhou military regions. It is thought that troops from Fuzhou and Jinan military regions also participated; if this is true, it means that troops from six of Chinas 11 military regions were involved in the campaign. Estimates of the total number of Chinese troops committed range from 200,000 to 450,000. The attacking forces included about 200 tanks and massive amounts of supporting artillery. After the initial broad thrust across the border, the Chinese attack focused on three objectives: Lang Son, Cao Bang and Lao Cai. Arrayed against the attacking Chinese forces were about 15 Vietnamese combat regiments controlled by four regular divisions a total force of about 50,000 augmented by local militia and border guards. Most estimates put the total number of Vietnamese defenders at around 130,000. The initial Chinese plan was to forge a shallow penetration all along the front, hoping to draw into battle and destroy the regular Vietnamese divisions, which the Chinese felt would be compelled to react to protect the provincial capitals and important communication centers that were threatened by the advance. This would result in major battles of attrition in which Chinese forces would inflict heavy punishment on the Vietnamese defenders. The main Chinese attack appeared to be against Lang Son, a provincial capital on the hills overlooking the Red River Delta, which lay only about 150 kilometers from Hanoi. The Chinese began their assault against Lang Son with an artillery barrage. After the barrage lifted, Chinese 55th Army attacked to seize Dong Dang and was to continue the attack toward Lang Son. At the same time, Chinese 43d Army initially focused on the Vietnamese positions in the hills around Chi Ma, and after taking the town was to turn northwest to secure its ultimate objective, Lang Son. For the attack on Lang Son, Chinese 54th Army was in reserve, following 55th Army. The plan called for 43d and 55th armies to link up southwest of Lang Son, effectively isolating Vietnamese 3d Division there, where it could be destroyed or forced to surrender. The Chinese had hoped to fight battles of quick decision, but their attacks were conducted in a slow and deliberate manner, normally involving massive frontal attacks that relied upon the weight of numbers and firepower to defeat the Vietnamese defenders. The Chinese also used tanks, which surprised the Vietnamese given the hilly nature of the terrain in the area, but the tanks proved useful in bunker busting. Chinese 43d Army achieved some success, but 55th Armys attack was slowed by stiff resistance that employed spoiling attacks, minefields and heavy artillery to disrupt and disorganize the Chinese advance. The terrain favored the Vietnamese defenders, and they occupied hills from which they could place devastating plunging fire on the attackers. Against this resistance, the Chinese were unable to maintain sufficient operational tempo to overcome the Vietnamese. Ultimately, Chinese 54th Army had to be committed to the fight. The reinforcements made the difference, but even so, the battle for Lang Son was not over until March 5. On the Cao Bang front, the attack began on February 17 with Chinese 41st and 42d armies attacking on two separate axes of advance toward the town. These forces would be supported by elements of 12th, 20th and 50th armies. The force allocated to this front numbered around 200,000 troops. Chinese 41st Army was to cross the border and attack Cao Bang from the north, while 42d Army was to attack it from the southeast. As on the Lang Son front, the Chinese advances were slow and deliberate against stiff Vietnamese resistance. Chinese 42d Army made some progress, but the cost was high; in one engagement, the Vietnamese knocked out a number of Chinese tanks. As at Lang Son, the terrain favored the greatly outnumbered Vietnamese defenders, and they made the Chinese pay for every inch they advanced. Eventually, the sheer numbers of Chinese troops prevailed and Cao Bang fell on February 25. Heavy fighting continued on the Cao Bang front for the next five days, but on March 3, Chinese forces from the Cao Bang and Lang Son fronts linked up at Duet Long, on Highway 4, effectively closing the gap between the two Chinese thrusts. On the Lao Cai front, the Chinese had attacked with elements of three armies, more than 125,000 troops. Chinese 11th Army attacked across the border from the northwest to seize the town of Phong Tho, about 65 kilometers from Lao Cai, to prevent reinforcement from the west. At the same time, 13th and 14th armies attacked south to seize Lao Cai itself. The Vietnamese defenders in this area included six regiments, totaling about 20,000 troops. As on the other fronts, the out numbered Vietnamese troops put up a stiff defense; after five days, the Chinese had advanced only a few kilometers. The Chinese employed human wave attacks to overcome the Vietnamese positions, but the battle continued until March 5 when Lao Cai fell to the attackers. While the main Chinese thrusts focused on Lao Cai, Cao Bang and Lang Son, several supporting attacks were conducted elsewhere along the China-Vietnam border. Many of these attacks resembled the larger Chinese operations. For example, in Quang Ninh, on the eastern edge of the border, a platoon of Vietnamese held up an attack on Cao Ba Lanh Mountain for five hours, inflicting 360 casualties on the attacking Chinese force that numbered over 2,800 men. The day after the Chinese captured Lang Son, Beijing declared that the gate to Hanoi was open; that the Vietnamese had been sufficiently chastised; and announced that it was withdrawing its forces. By March 16, all Chinese forces had crossed the border back into China, blowing bridges and railroads and generally laying waste to the Vietnamese countryside along the way. WINNERS AND LOSERS? The Chinese had hoped to win a quick decision against the Vietnamese, but they found out that their troops were no match for the better-trained and combat-experienced Vietnamese and that they only succeeded when their forces outnumbered the defenders. The Chinese had used outdated and obsolete equipment, some dating back to World War II and/or the Korean War, and their tactics were slow and deliberate. Rather than pursue the infiltration and envelopment tactics that had proved so successful in Korea, the PLA had most often turned to massive frontal assaults that were both wasteful and ineffective. Part of the problem was an antiquated command and control system that continually demonstrated issues with coordinating combined arms. Chinese artillery relied upon centralized planning and was not responsive to the support needs of the front-line troops. PLA communications were inadequate; few modern radios were available and forward units often resorted to runners to relay orders. Consequently, the Chinese had great difficulty in coordinating large-scale attacks. Logistics was also a major problem. PLA transport resources were inadequate and the Chinese frequently had great difficulty supplying their troops, often relying on local militia for logistics. Under these conditions, commanders repeatedly lost large numbers of troops to achieve minimal gains. The personnel system, which was based on each Chinese military region being relatively autonomous, was unresponsive, proving unable to provide sufficient replacements for the many casualties the Chinese suffered. Just how many casualties were incurred on each side is not clearly known. The Vietnamese claimed that the Chinese had lost 62,500 killed in action, but the Chinese only admitted to losing 20,000 total casualties. Harlan W. Jencks, a noted expert on the PLA, estimates that the Chinese lost more than 18,000 soldiers killed in the bitter fighting. The Chinese claimed that the Vietnamese had suffered more than 50,000 casualties, but most Western observers put the number at 20,000-35,000. Although the numbers remain disputed, it is clear that the Vietnamese forces incurred heavy casualties but at the same time inflicted a heavy toll on the Chinese attackers. By the end of the campaign, the Chinese army had clearly demonstrated shortcomings in organization, equipment, command and control, and tactics that had to be addressed if the PLA was to become an effective and modern force. As New York Times reporter Drew Middleton wrote in the conflicts aftermath, The Chinese army had numerical superiority over Vietnam in almost every category men, guns, tanks but it was unable to score the smashing victory that it sought because of the relatively slow pace of an offensive carried out by what was basically a marching army. After the war was over, Deng Xiaoping used the outcome of the bitter fighting to push through a number of measures meant to reform and modernize the PLA. Both sides claimed victory, but for the Chinese, the campaign to punish Vietnam had not turned out the way Beijing had expected. In assessing the outcome of the war, Gerald Segal concluded in his 1985 book Defending China that it was a complete failure: China failed to force a Vietnamese withdrawal [from Cambodia], failed to end border clashes, failed to cast doubt on the strength of the Soviet power, failed to dispel the image of China as a paper tiger, and failed to draw the United States into an anti-Soviet coalition. However, some observers claim that the campaign may not have been a total loss for China. In the 2001 book Modern Chinese Warfare, 1795-1989, Bruce A. Ellerman suggests that Beijing had launched the attack into Vietnam to expose Soviet assurances of military support to Vietnam as a fraud. Seen in this light, Ellerman writes, Beijings policy was actually a diplomatic success, since Moscow did not actively intervene, thus showing the practical limitations of the Soviet-Vietnamese military pact. Banning Garrett and Nayan Chanda agree that China had been successful in demonstrating that the USSR was a paper polar bear because it had not come to the aid of the Vietnamese. The Chinese may have achieved a diplomatic victory, as Ellerman suggests, but it appears that China was the overall loser militarily in the confrontation with Vietnam along their common border. The Chinese had taken all their military objectives, but Vietnam had stood against the Chinese onslaught and clearly demonstrated that it continued to be a power to be reckoned with. As for Vietnams relationship with the Soviet Union, the conflict only strengthened Hanois ties with Moscow. As for Cambodia, Vietnam did not withdraw its troops and would continue to occupy the country until October 1991. Thus, in the final analysis of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, the question is Who taught whom a lesson? James H. Willbanks is an ACG advisory board member and the editor or author of 13 books, including Abandoning Vietnam, The Battle of An Loc, The Tet Offensive: A Concise History, and A Raid Too Far: Operation Lam Son 719 and Vietnamization in Laos. Originally published in the September 2014 issue of Armchair General. T he worlds biggest furniture design festival basked in the Italian sunshine in Milan, where the key trade event, the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, also opened to the public. Kartell, king of plastics, made the first transparent chair in 1999 and turned French designer Philippe Starck into a superstar. Now, the Italian companys super-streamlined Organic Chair by Antonio Citterio uses a revolutionary new plastic made from plants. The fairs pioneering Salone Satellite hall celebrated 20 years of new design, where award winners this year were from Taiwan, China and Russia. Milan is a melting pot of new trends. Nows the time not just of mega brands, but makers, start-ups, self-productions, limited editions, e-commerce, 3D printing, re-use, web design, emerging countries, and fresh collaborations between new talent and big companies, said journalist Gisella Borioli. Homage: BMWs tribute at the Milan furniture fair to the citys visionary Memphis Group of the Eighties, founded by Ettore Sottsass to design postmodern furniture, fabrics, glass and metal pieces for the home And the evidence was there from Stefano Giovannonis new design-centred webshop Qeeboo to the plethora of designer-makers. Exuberant pattern elbowed minimalism aside and drowned bland Scandi-mod. Italian furniture maker Driade covered cupboard fronts and small tables with flowers. Printing laminates with new tech was young London designer Adam Nathaniel Furman. His pieces showed off Abet Laminatis laminate printing with impressive colour and detail. BEST OF THE REST Londoner Kit Miles covered carpet with digital-print florals and geometrics for Dutch brand Moooi. UK fashions style subversives Eley Kishimoto decked out a flat with OTT textiles and papers from Kirkby Design and used technology to glam up holograms, plus flocking and glitter, souping up their signature sharp motifs and deconstructed florals. Spanish maverick Jaime Hayon filled a palazzo with stone, stained glass and comic characters he called Stone Age folk crafted from Caesarstone, a quartz-and-resin composite that comes in more than 70 colours for custom-made worktops and furniture. Theres a new UK office, in Enfield. Shoreditchs Lee Broom dropped an exquisite turning carousel, filled with white lighting and furniture sculptures, into a railway arch under Milano Centrale station, while in a shopping arcade, Tom Dixon showed stunning lights and new colours for his Pylon chair, being made in south London. Ikea trumped them all with a fun and friendly festival for 2,000 people in a huge warehouse, with fantasy booths, art workshops, street food, films, podium talks and yoga. The Swedish superstore showcased affordable, portable furniture for renters, smart lighting with hand-held dimmer controls, and LED doors and light panels. As its fashionable for top brands to mix and match, we saw the Ferrari chair at Poltrona Frau, plus Versaces handbag club-chair, and Louis Vuittons leather lighting. It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home A charity, called "7-Inches For Planned Parenthood", aims to raise money for the women's healthcare organisation. Bjork, Laurie Anderson, Bon Iver and St. Vincent are among the acts who have been enlisted for a new series of 7" records aimed at raising money for women's healthcare organisation Planned Parenthood. Also among the acts involved are Mitski, Common, Feist, Nico Muhly, Mary J. Blige and Sleater-Kinney, while Elliot Smith, Margaret Atwood and comedian Jenny Slate. Planned Parenthood will release 7" records featuring collaborations between these acts over the coming months, while a boxset of the releases will also follow. Advertisement In a statement, 7" For Planned Parenthood said: "Lawmakers with extreme views are working hard to shut down Planned Parenthood. If they succeed, millions of Americans will lose access to basic health services, including STD testing and treatment, birth control, and life-saving cancer screenings. "7-inches for Planned Parenthood is a response to this threat. This curated series of 7-inch vinyl records is being made by a group of people who believe that access to health care is a public good that should be fiercely protected. Do we know theres a joke in the name? We do. We hope the title evokes the rich history of 7-inch vinyl records as a medium for protest music and resistance." United Airlines booted 3,765 passengers off flights last year just because it sold more tickets than there were seats on the plane, but none of those got as much attention as the man who was dragged off a plane in Chicago over the weekend. Airlines are allowed to oversell flights, and they frequently do, because they assume that some passengers won't show up. U.S. airlines bumped 40,000 passengers last year, not counting those who volunteered to give up their seats. But there are some federal rules that apply. Volunteers When they know a flight is oversold, airlines will ask for volunteers to give up their seats, usually for a travel voucher or other reward, and a seat on a later flight. According to the government, 434,000 passengers voluntarily gave up seats on the country's largest 12 airlines last year, including nearly 63,000 on United. The champion of overbooking was Delta Air Lines - about 130,000 passengers on Delta agreed to give up their seats last year. When voluntary offers don't work, airlines can deny boarding - or "bump" passengers against their will. When it comes to forcing passengers off a flight, Southwest is the leader among large airlines. It it bumped nearly 15,000 passengers last year, according to government figures. Federal rules spell out how much the airline must pay each passenger who is forced off a flight. Airlines must give bumped passengers a written statement that explains their compensation rights. Compensation Compensation varies by how long the passenger will be delayed. If the airline can rebook the passenger and get him to his destination within an hour of his originally scheduled arrival time, no compensation is required. If the passenger will arrive between one and two hours later than planned - or between one and four hours for an international flight - the airline must pay the passenger twice the amount of the one-way fare to his destination, up to $675. If the passenger will be delayed more than two hours - or four hours for international flights - the airline must pay him four times the one-way fare, up to $1,350. Avoid the bump Airlines will usually bump people flying on the cheapest tickets because the required compensation will be lower. Carriers have other rules, too. United Airlines says that when deciding who gets bumped, it considers how long it will take for passengers to reach their destination on a later flight, it won't break up a family group, and won't bump minors who are traveling alone. Airlines are most likely to oversell flights during busy times such as spring break and the summer vacation season, but bumping can happen any time there is bad weather that causes cancellations. A happy circumstance? Some savvy travelers see oversold flights as an opportunity - for them. They'll give up their seats if the airline makes a sweet enough offer. Some check their flight's seating chart ahead of time to see if it's sold out. If you aim to be bumped, sit near the gate agent's desk so you can pounce before others take that offer of travel vouchers, gift cards and sometimes cash. If offered a spot on a later flight, make sure it's a confirmed seat. Fox News Channel's parent company is investigating the network's top-rated host, Bill O'Reilly, after a Los Angeles radio personality leveled sexual harassment accusations against him. Wendy Walsh, host of the "Dr. Wendy Walsh Show" on Southern California airwaves, said O'Reilly pulled a job opportunity from her in 2013 after she declined to visit his hotel room - an accusation the conservative pundit has vehemently denied. 21st Century Fox said it was looking into Walsh's accusation. "21st Century Fox investigates all complaints and we have asked the law firm Paul Weiss to continue assisting the company in these serious matters," the company told the Washington Post in a statement Monday. The Paul Weiss firm had handled the channel's investigation into Roger Ailes, the Fox News chairman who was ousted after former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him and more than two dozen women came forward with harassment claims against him. Lisa Bloom, Walsh's attorney, said her client isn't seeking money - only accountability. On Twitter, she suggested the Paul Weiss lawyers are too close to Fox. Walsh, 54, said she dined with O'Reilly at a Los Angeles hotel four years ago and saw the meeting as a job interview. Then O'Reilly invited her to his suite, she said in an interview with the Post. O'Reilly, the host of America's top-rated cable news show, has faced a flurry of accusations of sexual harassment from former colleagues. Since 2002, four women have accused O'Reilly of making unwanted advances and one has accused him of verbal abuse, according to a New York Times investigation. O'Reilly - along with 21st Century Fox - paid the women about $13 million to not pursue the claims and keep quiet about them, the report found. In an expensive blow to Fox, more than 50 companies yanked ads from "The O'Reilly Factor" after the sexual harassment allegations surfaced. Walsh maintains she didn't demand or receive money. Unlike O'Reilly's other accusers, she didn't work with him at Fox News, so she wasn't bound by the company's nondisclosure rules. "By complaining, they're potentially facing financial ruin," she told the Post. "I'm free to speak. I can say whatever I want, as long as it's the truth." Neither O'Reilly nor Fox News responded to the Post's request for comment. On April 1, the host posted online a statement addressing the claims against him. "Just like other prominent and controversial people, I'm vulnerable to lawsuits from individuals who want me to pay them to avoid negative publicity," O'Reilly wrote. "In my more than 20 years at Fox News Channel, no one has ever filed a complaint about me with the Human Resources Department, even on the anonymous hotline." Walsh said that at the time of the dinner in 2013, she was hoping to land a contract as a contributor to Fox News, a role that could have netted her a six-figure annual payout. O'Reilly brought the opportunity up before she had the chance, telling her she was a natural fit for the network. Walsh had appeared on other Fox News shows, offering her perspective as a psychologist. She had recently taped her first segment with O'Reilly. The conversation, Walsh recalls, flowed easily. Then, she said it veered somewhere beyond professionalism. "He told me I was a very beautiful woman," she said, "and I thought, well, maybe he thinks that's relevant because television is a visual medium." He also started sharing intimate details of his life, she said. She brushed that off, too, figuring he wanted her professional opinion. After working as a television reporter, Walsh pursued her doctorate in clinical psychology. Walsh was stunned, however, when she said O'Reilly asked her: Want to go up to my suite? She wasn't sure how to respond, so she suggested taking the conversation to the bar. "The next line out of his mouth, was 'You think I'm going to attack you or something?' " Walsh said. After that, she remembers, he stopped making eye contact. And he never invited her on his show again. The promise of the contributor's contract evaporated, she said. Energy infrastructure giant Enterprise Products Partners said it will build a 571-mile pipeline from the Permian Basin to the Houston area to transport natural gas liquids. The pipeline project is another sign that West Texas is booming again with oil and gas and the Houston area is growing as the hub for those resources to either be processed or exported. Oil gets all of the attention, but the natural gas streams from the shale rock are used to create petrochemicals, electricity or other products. Houston-based Enterprise said the planned Shin Oak NGL pipeline will start northwest of Midland in Gains County and end at its Mont Belvieu complex, where Enterprise can separate the natural gas liquids into products like ethane, propane and butane. Ethane is the primary feedstock of the Gulf Coast's growing petrochemical sector. "The Permian Basin is currently the hottest play in North America and is expected to continue its strong growth for years to come," Enterprise CEO Jim Teague said. "This additional pipeline takeaway capacity to Mont Belvieu will provide Permian producers the flow assurance they need to continue the unfettered development of their reserves with confidence." Teague is emphasizing such pipelines will ensure that surging oil and gas production in West Texas won't create bottlenecks without enough pipeline capacity to move the growing supplies. Although drilling in the Permian is for oil, most of the wells also produce associated natural gas liquids. The extra NGLs are why producers don't need to drill specifically for gas in West Texas. Companies like Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline are building crude pipeline capacity, but Enterprise is focused on giving the NGLs a home. The cost of the Shin Oak project is not being revealed. Enterprise said the pipeline is expected to be completed in 2019. It will initially transport 250,000 barrels but could be expanded to carry 600,000 barrels daily. Likewise, in March, Houston-based Kinder Morgan said it plans to build a 430-mile natural gas pipeline from West Texas' Permian Basin to the Corpus Christi region. Enterprise's Mont Belvieu NGL complex is the largest of its kind in the world. Enterprise can sell the ethane to petrochemical plants or export the ethane, propane and butane to foreign markets. Enterprise also is building new fractionation capacity to separate the natural gas liquids into ethane, propane and more. Enterprise said in January it will build an isobutane processing unit at its Mont Belvieu campus to create chemicals used in the manufacturing lubricants, rubbers and gasoline additives. It's all part of Enterprise's strategy to derive as much value as possible from cheap and ample natural gas and components such as isobutane. Portions of the isobutylene will go into gasoline additives like alkylate and methyl tert-butyl ether, or MTBE, which is typically exported to Asian markets. Enterprise already operates an MTBE production facility in Mont Belvieu. This summer, Enterprise is expected to complete its neighboring propane dehydrogenation facility at Mont Belvieu. The plant would convert propane into propylene, which is one of the most common building blocks of plastics. Dehydrogenation is a process of removing hydrogen from molecule; the chemical composition of natural gas is mainly carbon and hydrogen. In the fall, Enterprise finished the world's largest ethane export terminal along the Houston Ship Channel. In less than a decade, greater Houston has shifted from net importer to net exporter as energy and petrochemical companies find international markets for crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products and chemicals, including methanol, ammonia and propylene. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Seth Wenig/STF Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Bill Montgomery Show More Show Less Airline customers seem to be complaining less often, according to an annual report on U.S. airlines' quality released Monday by Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Many passengers may have trouble believing those conclusions. Everyone has to take notes at some time in their life. Long ago, when I was a student (and later as a cub reporter), I took notes the only way possible - by scribbling furiously in a spiral-bound notebook, hoping I'd be able to decipher what I scribbled later. In the ensuing years, I must have tried every note-taking technology that came along, from pocket tape recorders to personal digital assistants, including (but not limited to) the Palm Pilot and Apple Newton. But nothing worked as well or as reliably as scribbling on a notepad, so that's what I did until about 20 years ago, when laptop computers became viable for taking notes. At first I typed my notes into a word processor document. This worked well and was markedly better than handwriting, since I could always read my typed notes. But it meant hauling my laptop with me if I needed to take notes, and required spare batteries or electrical outlets for extended sessions. Then Microsoft Word added Notebook Layout View, which allowed me to record audio in the same document I typed my notes into, with the audio "synchronized" with the words I typed. More Information Noteworthy On the web itunes.apple.com/us/app/notability/id360593530?mt=8 See More Collapse So, if the speaker said, "the internet," I'd type "the internet." Later, I could jump to that portion of the recording by clicking next to the words "the internet." These hybrid Notebook Layout documents, with their audio and synchronized text, were perfect for note taking, at least in my humble opinion. For more than a decade, I've relied on Notebook Layout for all my note-taking needs. Now for the bad news: While Notebook Layout is still available in my aging copy of Word 2011, it's nowhere to be found in the current version (Office 365 v 15.32). While Office 2011 still works OK under macOS 10.12 Sierra, there's no guarantee it will continue to work with future revisions of macOS. For what it's worth, in the current version of Office 365 you'll find some of the old Notebook Layout functionality in the Microsoft OneNote app. But the implementation seems clumsy compared to Notebook Layout in Word, so, last year I set out to find a better and more modern notetaking solution. I found it in a $9.99 iPad app called Notability from Ginger Labs, which does everything Word 2011's Notebook Layout view did and more. On my iPad Pro with a Logitech Create keyboard case, it's a notetaking dream come true. After using it for nearly a dozen notetaking sessions to date, I'm convinced it's the best and easiest way to take notes since Notebook Layout in Word 2011. With built-in iCloud support and extensive support for annotation, sketching and adding photos or videos, it's darn near perfect. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KOSSE - In a deepening pit in this small town southeast of Waco, workers aim a high-pressure water cannon that reduces small hills of clay-like sand into a watery slurry that is filtered, processed, dried into fine particles, and loaded onto trucks bound for hydraulic fracturing operations across Texas. It will take up to 1,000 trucks to haul enough of this sand to frac a single large well. As drilling has recovered in recent months, particularly in West Texas' Permian Basin, the sand mining industry has exploded. It is producing more than ever to meet the demand of an oil and gas sector that is using up to 20 times more sand per well than it did during peak of the last energy boom. Across the state, already home to nearly 10 frac sand mines, operators are moving to expand quickly, setting the stage for Texas to become a bigger player - and competitor - in an industry long dominated by purer Wisconsin and Minnesota sands. At the same time, the growth of sand mining is opening a new front in the battle between the energy industry and environmentalists, who argue the mines despoil pristine land and create health hazards by kicking up silica dust, which has been linked to lung cancer, tuberculosis and other lung diseases when inhaled. In Atascosa County, south of San Antonio, residents are fighting a 300-acre sand mine proposed by Preferred Sands of Radnor, Pa., citing health risks, potential well water contamination, truck traffic and potential damage to the site of the 1813 Battle of Medina, a bloody fight in the early years of Mexico's long war for independence. "What's more important? Breathing or having water to drink?" said neighboring resident Jessie Hardy, who voices local air and water pollution concerns through an opposition group, "Not just dust." Sand companies contend they follow regulations to limit silica air pollution and that they have almost no carbon emissions. They are pressing ahead to take advantage of demand and prices that have doubled in a little over a year. Several new sand mines or expansions, covering thousands of acres are proposed in Texas. Here, at the 300-acre, Superior Silica Sands mine in Kosse owned by Emerge Energy Services, employment over the past year has rebounded to 30 from its oil-bust low of four, and the company is looking to acquire another Texas sand mine any day now and expand it. "People were skittish in the beginning if the recovery was real," said the mine manager Dave Heagle. "But it seems like the real deal now." 'Propageddon' Sand is mixed into fracking fluids that crack shale rock to prop open the fissures to allow oil and gas to escape, hence the industry name "proppant" to describe the fine grains. The largest wells now consume up to 25,000 tons - 50 million pounds - of sand each, up from 1,500 tons, or about 3 million pounds, per well during the boom years through 2014. When oil prices crashed and companies sought ways to lower production costs, drillers began experimenting with the idea of using more sand - cheaper than chemicals and ceramic proppants - to increase oil and gas output. Drillers are creating much longer wells that extend a mile or two horizontally and sometimes pumping more than 5,000 pounds of sand per foot, according to energy analysts and executives, including Rick Shearer, the chief executive of sand manufacturer Emerge Energy Services. Nevertheless, the silica industry did suffer during the two-year oil bust. Some sand mines were mothballed and the sector remained in the doldrums last fall as energy companies exhausted their existing sand supplies. That finally changed near the end of 2016, Shearer said. "The switch is certainly flipped, and it flipped very quickly," Shearer said. "We've seen a dramatic shift in demand. We're scrambling now and sold out of some finer grades of sand." Oil prices and U.S. drilling rig counts have doubled from their 2016 lows. The sand comes into play when the drilling rigs finish their jobs. Companies are quickly moving to expand sand mines or open new ones. Shearer is eyeing expansion opportunities in Texas. Others have recently taken their sand companies public, sensing the timing was finally right. The downside is the surging demand is creating price spikes for sand, slowing the profit recovery for oil and gas producers, and creating more logistical bottlenecks with rail and truck shortages required to move the sand across the country. Industry average sand pricing rose from 2016 lows of less than $15 per ton to nearly $40 a ton now, executives and analysts said. Sand usage slowly rose during the shale oil rush from 2011 to 2014 with the thought that it would peak and reach a point of diminishing returns, said George O'Leary, director of oil services research at Houston energy investment firm Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. "What we saw was the inverse," O'Leary said. Instead, after oil prices began plummeting in late 2014, the industry consensus last year became, "We just want to pump a whole lot more sand," O'Leary said. "They took a lot of chemistry out of the well." The approach seems to be working and companies are increasingly pushing further in that direction with the fixation on sand. It's viewed as the best bang for the buck in wells. Nationwide, frac sand demand is expected to double this year to about 80 million tons - from roughly 40 million last year - and potentially hit 120 million tons in 2018, he said. The 2014 peak only consumed 54 million tons. Wells today typically use at least 5,000 tons each. Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy attracted attention late last year when it coined the term "propageddon" to describe using more than 50 million pounds of sand in a single gas well in northwest Louisiana with the stated goal of "unleashing hell" on every gas molecule. Chesapeake claims the effort increased gas output by 70 percent. The most coveted weapon for waging war on shale rock is so-called "Northern White" sand from Wisconsin and Minnesota because of its purer and rounder properties. However, cheaper costs and easier access increasingly are making brown sand from Central Texas and other parts of the state more appealing. Texas, Wisconsin growth Houston-based sand miner Hi-Crush Partners sources its sand from its Wisconsin facilities, but opted in February to spend $325 million to acquire and build out sand mining operations in Winkler County - near the heart of the Permian Basin. Hi-Crush is hiring 55 people to man the mine. The plant should open in October and churn out 3 million tons a year, said Hi-Crush co-founder and CEO Bob Rasmus. The Texas sand is cheaper so producers can use more of it, he said. "The more sand used, the better the well results." At the Superior Silica mine in Kosse, even the plant's adopted dogs, Red and Boudreaux, run around happily, seeking snacks from truck drivers picking up sand hauls. The mining operations last year switched from standard excavation practices to using a "hydro cannon" for hydraulic mining. Operators aim the hydro cannon at the clay-like sand and blast it into a watery slurry, which is drained and piped to the mine's "wet plant." There, the impurities are removed from the sand and it's separated out into different grades of sand. The sand then goes to the "dry plant" to remove the moisture and create the finished product. The sand is then dumped from silos into trucks ready to haul it to oil and gas fields. The mine's sand deposits go at least 100 feet deep, but they're only mining to 60 feet at this point. The mine is the company's smallest, but it's still churning out 30,000 tons a month. The hydraulic mining method reduces the amount of dust in the air by keeping it in a slurry form through much of the process. Wisconsin residents who aren't accustomed to the oil and gas sector have fought sand mining projects as well, but that hasn't kept business from booming. Chuck Young founded Smart Sand in 2011 and opened its Wisconsin facility to churn out 4.4 million tons a year. The idea was to ship sand to the shale gas fields in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but now about half of the supply is sent to Texas. Young followed suit, moving himself and the company headquarters to The Woodlands. The goal was to take the company public, but then oil prices went bust. "That made us shelve our IPO. We bootstrapped it, cut costs and rode it out," he said. He decided the time was finally right late last year. The initial public offering underwhelmed in November with potential investors still nervous. But the stock has already risen 45 percent from about $11 a share to $16 per share. Now, he's eyeing expansions and a possible Texas mine. The industry trend toward finer grains of sand has matched Smart Sand's production supply. Previously, it was believed coarser grains were needed to prop open wider the fissures in the shale rock to help the oil flow, said Lee Beckelman, Smart Sand's chief financial officer. "With finer mesh, you're pulverizing the rock," Beckelman said. "You have smaller fractures, but they keep those fracs open." There are some concerns about the stability of oil prices and whether sand companies are bringing on too much additional sand capacity too quickly. But analysts like George O'Leary see demand continuing to rise. "Sand really isn't that hard of a business, and, right now, it's a pretty attractive business." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON - Standing at the front of a windowless room in downtown Washington last week, Swiss energy economist Christoff Frei lectured on how the world's energy sector is about to undergo an upheaval the likes of which has not been seen in a century. Between the insurgence of electric cars, climate change policy and a host of economic factors, Frei posited the world's thirst for oil might well peak within the next decade as society gets more and more of our energy from the power grid. "Electricity is the new oil," he quipped. Asked what he was seeing that organizations including the International Energy Agency and Exxon Mobil are not, Frei turned coy. "They do quite a wide range of scenarios," said Frei, who was recently named secretary-general of the inter-governmental group World Energy Council. "But don't quote me on IEA scenarios." Peak oil demand theory has quickly become the conversation du jour within the world's energy corridors, following on from a surprise pronouncement by Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van Beurden in Houston earlier this year that their models showed demand potentially peaking as early as the late 2020s. With so many companies and organizations offering different forecasts - or scenarios, depending on their confidence - predicting the world's oil needs has become more a matter of art than science. Economists like Frie argue that the long-held correlation that with economic growth comes growth in energy demand is diminishing, as buildings and cars get more efficient and rapidly advancing digital technology allows humans to change their lifestyles. Think ride sharing instead of driving your own car or video conferencing instead of getting on an airplane. Add in the growing shift to natural gas and improvements in renewable technology, and not only is oil's market share shrinking, but so is the market itself. Yet the IEA, which has long served as a guiding light for the world's oil industry, said last November that even with the Paris agreement on climate change, oil demand would continue to rise through 2040. That mirrors predictions by the likes of Exxon Mobil. Peak supply debate Michael Lynch, a former researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who now runs the consulting firm Strategic Energy and Economic Research, likens the buzz around peak oil demand to that around peak supply in the early 2000s. At the time, Lynch drew angry criticism when he argued technology would ultimately win out and allow more oil to be accessed - as came to pass with the advent of hydraulic fracturing. Now, Lynch says, peak oil demand proponents are making too much of the impact digitization and renewables will have on energy demand. "I was looking at air miles traveled, and the internet doesn't seem to have made as much difference as people thought. It's slowed a little in the U.S., but not in other places," he said. "Let me ask you, When you saw this guy talk yesterday, was he present?" Lots of uncertainty What IEA is essentially counting on is that the trends of the oil industry's entire existence, that energy consumption rises with economic growth, will continue. With countries like China and India expected to grow their economies considerably in the decades ahead, it would make sense to assume they will need lots of energy to get there. That isn't proving out the way it used to, said Andrew Logan, director of oil and gas program at CERES, a nonprofit investment firm that advocates for corporate sustainability. "IEA projections are always declining. Every year they have to notch it down. It's pretty incredible they get it wrong year after year. I don't know the answer on when, he said of peak oil demand, "but the way we look at it, the future of energy is more uncertain than it's been in a very long time." So why would a CEO like van Beurden openly discuss a decreasing demand for his product within the next decade when environmentalists are not entirely convinced the timetable is so short? Lynch said he wasn't sure, but he offered, "It sounds a lot sexier than, 'We're going to keep driving cars with gasoline and diesel for the next 30 years.' " There are several positive factors in the mixed equation that is "Gifted," starring Chris Evans and the appealing 10-year-old Mckenna Grace: A brilliant and precocious yet sweetly empathetic young girl. A devoted and decidedly hunky father figure. And then there's math itself, presented not as a refuge for social misfits but as an exciting and elegant pursuit. Unfortunately, a movie about mathematical equations relies way too much on moviemaking formula, and the result is way less than the sum of its parts. Indeed, "Gifted," which opens locally Wednesday and was directed by Marc Webb, often feels like the incomplete shell of a movie, with the guts and connective tissue missing. This is hardly the fault of the cast, which also features the welcome (but underused) presence of Octavia Spencer and the estimable Scottish actress Lindsay Duncan. Rather, it seems due to the way-too-obvious dialogue and often unconvincing plot twists, not to mention a courtroom subplot that is, strangely, rarely interesting. We meet Frank (Evans) and 6-year-old Mary (Grace) as the two are readying for her first day of school. Until now, Frank, Mary's uncle who has been raising her since she was a baby, has home-schooled her, but that well has run dry. Mary, a child prodigy, is not excited for school, and one can see why: The children are asked simple addition questions, but Mary shows an ability to do complex multiplication in her head. Immediately, the teacher, Bonnie (Jenny Slate), knows she has a gifted child on her hands. More Information 'Gifted' Rated PG-13: for thematic elements, language and some suggestive material Running time: 101 minutes xx1/2 See More Collapse Mary has a caring disposition and a sweet smile, but also a dry wit when bantering with Frank. When Mary's teacher approaches Frank after school that first day, the girl whispers: "Oh, it's my teacher. She probably wants to remind me what one plus one is." When the school principal suggests - almost orders - that Frank enroll Mary in a school for gifted children, Frank insists otherwise. He has some knowledge from his own family of what it's like to live as a prodigy, cut off from a normal social life. He wants Mary to have friends and play dates. In marches Frank's mother, Evelyn (Duncan), a hard-edged Brit (and former mathematician herself) who has clear ideas of what she wants for Mary: a life of productivity, brilliance, academic fame. She brings Mary up to MIT, to show off the girl's mathematical brain. Most important, she sues Frank for custody. The first courtroom scene comes abruptly, with no real buildup. Then, the dialogue is so superficial that it just doesn't feel real. The same problem wends through all the courtroom scenes. As the plot unfolds, there's the occasional bright moment, usually thanks to Mary's wit (and Mckenna's genuine screen presence). One of the most amusing moments comes when teacher Bonnie, against her judgment, falls into bed with Frank after an evening of drinking. Mary, who's supposed to be visiting neighbor Roberta (Spencer), sneaks into the apartment to grab something and runs right into Bonnie, who's clutching a sheet around her naked body. The young girl's knowing look - and especially her three-word response - is priceless. More courtroom fighting comes, and once again, both plot and dialogue prove themselves overly simplistic and, in some cases, simply not believable. This is especially true in a final twist that feels utterly tacked on, to miraculously tie up the plot's loose ends. That's a shame because the sensitive performances here deserved a better vehicle. Nonetheless, there will surely come a moment deep in the film when your eyes will moisten because, hey, is anyone totally immune to a happy moment between an adult, a child and a one-eyed cat? It's too bad that by then, the whole thing feels just a little over-calculated. At least one person is dead after a south Houston shooting in south Houston at a gas station near the intersection of Old Spanish Trail and Highway 288, according to Houston Police Department homicide division. Police responded to a call 12:05 p.m. that two people were shot while driving a white Chevy Malibu, said John Cannon, HPD spokesperson. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has come and gone, but that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy many of the decorated wines from the annual International Wine Competition. The following were among the many receiving double-gold medals, meaning the judges on the tasting panels unanimously found them worthy of a gold and, as it happens, they offer exceptional value, too. With one exception. The 2010 Arinzano Gran Vino Blanco Pago de Arinzano is pricey at $75.69, but this first-ever white to win the Rodeo's Grand Champion Best of Show honors is, I think, well worth the splurge. Although it may be a Spanish chardonnay, you'll think you're tasting a great French white burgundy. The "Gran Vino Blanco" part of the wine's name is self-explanatory. The "Pago de Arinzano" requires some elaboration. To be a "Vino de Pago," a wine must show unique characteristics - specific climate and soil influences, for example - and the grapes must be estate-grown and the wine bottled on the property. Arinzano is the first certified Pago in Navarra, a region south of the city of San Sebastian, a bastion of Basque cuisine close to the French border that has become one of Europe's great culinary destinations, with more three-star Michelin restaurants per square meter than any city in the world except Kyoto, Japan. Mountainous northern Navarra, by the way, was also the setting for Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls." I'll be featuring more of the rodeo's double-gold wines that are easily found in the Houston market in the weeks ahead. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Julie Dodson's idea cottage in Round Top had its coming-out party - and aced it. The Houston interior designer, along with The Compound owner Mark Massey and builder Lewis Tindall, gave new life to an early 1900s farmhouse near Round Top. It was open for touring at the annual spring antiques event in late March, and Dodson and Massey hoped to raise $10,000 for animal shelters in Brenham and La Grange. "We raised more than $10,000, and donations are still coming in," said Dodson, who owns Dodson Interiors in Houston. Not only did they raise money for vaccinations and other health care for rescued animals, they also found homes for a handful of pups they had at the idea cottage. A mutt named Belle took a liking to Massey, and they're now close companions - and Belle loves her new job as mascot of The Compound. A sad dog, who'd looked like he wanted to be anywhere but in a cage in a shelter, is now with an animal rescue volunteer. And Brothers Tank and Shadow will be reunited with their new family in Colorado. One had been adopted earlier, and when the family learned their dog had a sibling, they wanted him as well. Another dog they took to The Compound had simply been separated from his owner. When the owner saw him, she got him back. Funds were raised from the 1,000 people who paid $10 each to tour the 609-square-foot storybook cottage. The cute cottage was sold on the event's first day to a family with property in Round Top who will use it as a guest house. Not only did the house sell quickly, but many of the items inside it sold as well. That meant Dodson made her rounds finding replacement items more than a few times. "The real hit was an old antique bench that you flipped over to be a bed. It's in the breakfast room with the table. Everyone loved that bench," Dodson said of a piece from artist and antiques dealer Adele Sypesteyn. Another item that drew raves was a pair of old shutter panels with cutouts. Dodson knew there was a window in need of attention, so she used these panels to turn them into something pretty. Other favorites included smallish chandeliers spread throughout the home. The living room had one that was more of a traditional antique, the bedroom chandelier was made from a large jar turned upside down (by ReworksHOME in Austin). And the dining room fixture dangles a little more sparkle over that quaint and lovely room. "Honestly, in my style I like the mix of antiques with other things and that a room doesn't have to be so serious," she said. "I like having one or two special pieces with an edge, or something unexpected - something with character." One trick she used that other homeowners should try was using a gray-blue-brown deck stain on the wood ceiling and on its beams. That it's meant for exterior use doesn't mean you can't bring it indoors. When it was over, Dodson and Kathy Johnston, production director of The Compound's antiques event, took a pile of cash to a bank to turn it into checks for the animal shelters. "When we got those checks, we both started crying. I can't tell you what the experience meant to me. It meant a lot to me to have support from community," Dodson said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A colleague who's new to Houston saw the recent announcement by Pena's Donut Heaven that they were introducing a kolache filled with chef Ronnie Killen's celebrated brisket, and he wondered if people would protest that combining these two iconic Texas foods was a sacrilege. Quite the contrary. The frisky little Pearland burger-shop-and-bakery's move seems inspired, and wholly natural. It reflects the trait that has most defined Houston food in recent decades: our enthusiastic borrowing from the diverse culinary strains that converge here. I'm not just speaking of the indigenous Southern, Mexican, Louisiana and smokehouse/cowboy influences that had begun to weave together in interesting ways by the 1970s and 1980s, in restaurants as disparate as Ouisie's and the various Jim Goode spots. I'm speaking also of the Asian and South Asian threads that emerged after the Immigration Act of 1965 abolished national quotas, setting the stage for today's flourishing Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Indian and Pakistani communities (among others) here in Houston. Our young chefs and food entrepreneurs grow up steeped in this unique Houston Gulf Coast blend, eating along Bellaire and Long Point, making a kolache-and-barbecue run to Vincek's Smokehouse in East Bernard, hitting chef L.J. Wiley's Taco Nuts food truck for tacos filled with avocado, tomato, mango and Thai herbs; or a torta stuffed with Southern-style sausage and collards. When they borrow, it's not so much a matter of top-down, concept-driven "Fusion" as it is a rootsy cultural exchange that comes naturally, from the bottom up. Mixing and matching has become our culinary birthright. In the nation that is Texas, Houston with its port and its flourishing economy and its early influx of international immigrants has been the leading edge of this trend. Whereas 20 years ago, the advent of a huevos ranchero kolache at the Kolache Factory attracted a bit of delighted surprise, now the reaction to Pena's idea of stuffing the TexCzech bun with Killen's sanctified brisket is more along the lines of "What took you so long?" Indeed, just hours after the brisket kolache was announced to the world, kolache baker extraordinaire Victoria Rittinger was already riffing further on the idea. Rittinger's extended family has plenty of Czech-belt cred, and she thinks nothing of adapting the family's original kolache recipe to include anything from Louisian boudin to Texas goat cheese and three-pepper jelly. She liked the brisket kolache initiative just fine, but she had an improvement in mind. Tweeted Rittinger: "I'd actually say beef ribs make better kolaches than brisket." Courtesy of theA Kingwood Area Republican WomenAs club Two Kingwood High School students have been chosen as scholarship recipients to attend the American Legion Auxilary's 2017 Girls State program in Seguin. From June 11-17, juniors Ingrid Pina and Jessica Bynum will have the opportunity to join other young women from across the state at Texas Lutheran University to learn about the innerworkings of state and local governments while developing skills to help them reach their potential as responsible citizens. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Micah Rajan appeared healthy in the first year of his life. He loved to toss a ball around with his father and giggle. He began to utter "Dadda" and other words. Then, suddenly, his speech stopped. He started isolating himself, and he lost all interest in his favorite games. His parents, Tom and Esra, were unnerved. When he was 2, they were told Micah had autism. He began attending a special education program through Fort Bend ISD until last year, when he enrolled at the Texana Center, a popular autism treatment facility in Rosenberg and Sugar Land. At Texana, his life has changed. He's responding to commands and speaking again - unthinkable actions months ago. "It's incredible," his mom said. Applied behavior analysis (ABA), the scientific-based, step-by-step treatment that's aiding Micah, now 5, and those like him, is a decades-old practice. It's recognized by researchers and the autism community as a highly successful treatment for children in the autism spectrum. Several states such as Oklahoma and Alabama already require licenses for specialists who use behavior analysis. That trend has grown in recent years as the practice has become more widely understood. Behavior analysts also practice in public schools, though in Texas, they have Texas Education Agency mandates to follow. Applied behavior analysis stakeholders and supporters in the state now are attempting to regulate the practice with two bills in the Legislature that would require behavior analysts to be licensed. Supporters say it is crucial not only to protect vulnerable people from untrained analysts, but also because it could affect medical insurance coverage. Senate Bill 589, by Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, is scheduled for a Senate committee hearing Tuesday. It faces an uncertain reception, though no public opposition has surfaced. "Right now, there's just no way for the state to regulate the profession," said Dorothea Lerman, director of the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Houston Clear Lake and president of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis."(The bill) is to protect the consumer, and the other reason is to protect our profession as well." The TxABA Public Policy Group has raised about $20,000 to pay lobbyist Courtney Hoffman to represent them at the Legislature, said Kate Johnson-Patagoc, director of specialized services at the Texana. One-on-one time Nationally, one in every 68 children is autistic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Applied behavior analysts identify specific issues an autistic child struggles with and formulate small steps to conquer them while rewarding a child for each step completed. They spend one-on-one time with a student for as many as 40 hours per week and track their progress through a detailed database. Behavior analysts also work with individuals suffering other mental disabilities. It's a costly treatment that's been the subject of numerous scientific journals and research. For Micah, conquering his speech impairment was priority one. After being mute not so long ago, his analyst, Holly Bihler, practiced words with him on a recent morning using flashcards with pictures. She held up one of a bee. "What's this?" she asked. "Be, be " "Bee," he finished. "Yes! Bzzz," Bihler responded while tickling him - one of his positive reinforcements. A large whiteboard hung over them with "Micah" spelled on it, followed by information on his behaviors and treatment procedures. The Texana Center's facilities serve a combined 150 autistic children up to age 21 with "comprehensive treatment," a 33-hour per week program of one-on-one ABA therapy that costs $70,000 per year, though parents pay anywhere from zero to roughly $15,000 based on income, grants and medical coverage, said Johnson-Patagoc. The center has a waiting list of about 200. It also provides twice-a-week treatment to another 300 children, and they have various mental health programs at behavior health centers across west Houston, as well as in-home care. Most children are enrolled at Texana for about two years. Their final step is a transitional classroom where they are mixed with non-autistic kids to prepare them for public school. The center is among a list of about 40 statewide applied behavior analysis facilities to back SB 589 and another measure, House Bill 26, both which would require behavior analysts to acquire licenses to practice. About 1,300 behavior analysts in Texas are certified through the national Behavior Analysts Certification Board that requires at least a master's degree from a credible ABA program at a university, along with field work and other mandates. But Texas has no legal requirement to hold non-board certified analysts accountable. Insurance changes Licensure could also push insurance companies that don't currently cover ABA treatment to change their policies, according to supporters. "These are some pretty powerful techniques we're using. But when done incorrectly, they can do more harm than good," said Bihler, who is board certified, arguing on behalf of state regulation. Sometimes people who take "a two-hour workshop in ABA are calling themselves a behavior analyst. And these parents thought they were working with a professional, but they really weren't." Two years ago, a licensure bill passed the full House before getting stuck in the Senate. This time around, Lucio's SB 589 is the priority for backers since there has already been proven support in the House, according to Lerman. Currently, the state spends about $7 million annually on autism programs. ABA licensure supporters are remaining cautiously optimistic this time around, said Johnson-Patagoc, who is planning to testify in Austin Tuesday in favor of the bill. "It's been a movement across the country," she said."I feel that the next step in our profession is to do this. We need to make sure children have quality intervention." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A massive manhunt for the killer who ambushed veteran lawman Clint Greenwood came to abrupt end Monday, when investigators discovered their prime suspect had been lying in cold storage at the Harris County morgue. After an exhaustive search for a suspect in the brazen slaying that had so far yielded few leads, investigators finally got their break Sunday and identified William Francis Kenny, 64, as the man behind the April 3 attack. Shortly before they were set to announce publicly they were searching for Kenny, they learned he had killed himself the day after the lawman's death. Kenny shot himself in the head about 8 a.m. April 4 near Ben Taub General Hospital with a gun just like the one he used to kill the lawman, police said. "The man was a coward - a coward in life and death," said Montgomery County Sheriff's Lt. Tim Cannon, Greenwood's close friend since middle school. "This just proves it." The incident ended a saga that gripped Houston for the last week, but raised nearly as many questions as it answered. Kenny's animus appears to have originated from a Valentine's Day incident in 2012 in which his estranged father-in-law called police to say Kenny had threatened him, according to court documents. No charges were filed against anyone, but the incident nevertheless appeared to consume him. He wrote letters to the judge in his divorce case and posted rambling grievances on a website, www.fryroad.com, against dozens of officials - including Greenwood - from the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office and the County Attorney's Office. Greenwood was among those included on what one investigator termed a "hate list" that accused them of failing to take action against deputies who responded to the 2012 call without questioning the father-in-law's allegations. "HCA (Harris County Administration) conspired to cover-up co-worker crimes by framing an innocent citizen," Kenny wrote on the website. He told the judge that "a police cover-up occurred and a criminal is going unpunished," in a letter sent just one day before his divorce was finalized. He does not appear to ever have met Greenwood, noting on the website that he had made numerous failed attempts to contact Greenwood, who later oversaw the sheriff's internal affairs division. "I'm thankful no other officers were injured, or we had to confront the guy," said Steve Marino, chief deputy at the Precinct 5 Constable's Office, another close friend of Greenwood's. "And that the family doesn't have to endure a trial." Greenwood is survived by his widow, Leatha Greenwood, and their four children. They have said little publicly, asking for privacy. A man who identified himself as Kenny's brother apologized to Greenwood's family. "I just wanted to express our condolences to the family of Constable Greenwood," John Kenny told reporters Monday outside his northwest Harris County home, where William Kenny had lived briefly. "We're so very sorry. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him. I don't know what to say. We're in shock, too." Greenwood, 57, was gunned down April 3 as he arrived for work at the Harris County courthouse annex in Baytown. He had started work Jan. 1 as assistant chief deputy of the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable's Office, where he was hired to modernize the department after serving four years as a major at the sheriff's office overseeing internal affairs, legal services and other offices. He also served as the top prosecutor over the Police Integrity Unit at the district attorney's office, and spent 20 years as a reserve deputy and a defense lawyer, often representing police accused of wrongdoing. Greenwood's work gave investigators a long list of people with possible grudges against him, and he had reported to a county official just days before he was killed that he felt threatened by a man he had once prosecuted. Kenny was none of those. A break in the case The break in the case came Sunday when investigators obtained high-resolution images of a man taken the day before Greenwood's murder at a convenience store in Baytown, according to a law enforcement source close to the inquiry. Those images matched Kenny's driver's license photo obtained after authorities determined he had rented a black Nissan Versa from a Houston area rental car company. Authorities figured out the Versa had been rented after noticing a sticker on its windshield as they scrutinized video of the vehicle used by Greenwood's killer during the murder, and the day before, as he cased Greenwood's parking spot. Once authorities could place Kenny in the Baytown convenience store in the general vicinity of the murder by matching the photos, they were able to obtain a warrant that led them to his email, the fryroad website and to his cell phone. As they began tracking signals from his cellphone early Monday morning, they determined that it was within a grid that encompassed Houston's downtown courthouse complex, where numerous county officials on Kenny's list worked. A number were contacted before dawn and told to stay home, or take precautions if they were coming to work, a source familiar with the search said. Teams of law enforcement officers from different agencies then descended on the area - many of them in plainclothes. "It was like, 'Holy crap - this guy is setting up there to kill someone else,' " the source said. But shortly after a search of the historic 1910 courthouse - as police were set to release Kenny's name and photo to the public - investigators learned that Kenny's body was at the Harris County Institute for Forensic Sciences. The medical examiner's office confirmed that Kenny committed suicide. It is still not clear exactly where the cell phone is or why it was emitting signals in that part of town. It is possible, sources said, that Kenny threw it away or otherwise tried to dispose of it in that area. Lt. Steve Dorris, with the Baytown Police Department, said the gun used by Kenny to shoot himself was "consistent" with the type of firearm used to kill Greenwood. Ballistics experts won't be able to make a positive match until they compare the rounds that killed both men. Uneasy solace Kenny had struggled after a divorce, business problems, and troubles with his children, according to a source who knew him well. Still, many questions remain. At a Katy home where his ex-wife has lived, no one answered the door although there were four cars in the driveway and a the sounds of hushed voices inside. Kenny had switched addresses frequently since his 2012 divorce, public records show. Records show he owned a technology company, but that it ended with tax troubles in 2012. At the time of his divorce, he told the court he was working for an online grocery-delivery site, that does not appear to still be in business. Friends of Greenwood expressed relief that police had found the man responsible, even as they continued to try to process the loss of their friend and the bizarre way he was murdered. Cannon recalled a strange encounter with a rambling, ranting Kenny at a past National Night Out event in 2015. "I don't think anything could have been said that would have put his obsession to rest," he said. Kenny's death brings uneasy solace. "The feeling overall is a feeling of relief, that this alleged person that committed this heinous crime is not capable of doing any more harm," Cannon said. "But it does go to show the dangers of someone who has a beef or some kind of retaliatory methodology in their brain. It could happen to any of us at any time." Keri Blakinger, Andrew Kragie and Brian Rogers contributed to this report. An armed robber is on the run after he shot a man in central southwest Houston early Tuesday morning, police say. Police found the victim with two gunshot wounds around 3:30 a.m. at Townwood Park off of Simsbrook Drive, HPD Lt. Larry Crowson said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mayor Sylvester Turner expressed optimism Monday about city efforts to resolve a federal finding that Houston housing policies violate the Civil Rights Act, saying U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson told him last month he "is very pleased with the direction in which we are going." HUD has not formally responded to the city's request for the agency to withdraw its January letter faulting Houston for perpetuating housing segregation. Turner, however, characterized his half-hour meeting with Carson two weeks ago in Washington, D.C., as "positive and productive." HUD concluded earlier this year that Turner's recent rejection of a proposal to build subsidized housing near the Galleria was discriminatory and violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits recipients of federal funding from discriminating based on race, color or national origin. The agency also said Houston's process for reviewing applications for a key form of low-income housing maintains segregation. Rather than pursuing corrective actions mandated by HUD, the city asked the agency in February to withdraw its finding, according to a letter obtained by the Houston Chronicle. "Contrary to its unsupported and misleading statement of facts, there is no evidence that Mayor Turner took any action that was discriminatory, had a discriminatory effect, or that was inconsistent with affirmatively furthering fair housing," City Attorney Ronald Lewis wrote on Feb. 24. "Houston denies that it discriminated against any Houstonian based on race or national origin or that its procedures for approving Low-Income Housing Tax Credit developments reinforces and perpetuates existing patterns of discrimination." HUD has not responded to the city's letter, and agency officials declined to comment on Turner's account of his conversation with Carson. Sara Pratt, a D.C.-based attorney who oversaw HUD's Title VI enforcement and compliance program for more than a decade, said she never has seen the agency withdraw a Title VI determination. "We fully expect that this administration will follow existing procedures and regulations and conduct enforcement activities," Pratt said. "I would expect a voluntary compliance agreement to be sent by HUD to the city in the not-too-distant future." 'High-opportunity' area Despite the Houston area's reputation for low-cost living, housing affordability has become an increasingly acute concern here over the last two decades. As of 2013, roughly 400,000 low-income Harris County families were spending more than 30 percent of their earnings on housing, according to the most recent federal data, up from 250,000 in 2000. Tracking of affordable housing options is inconsistent, but a 2015 city report determined Houston was home to just 78,000 subsidized units. Those homes are concentrated in lower-income, minority neighborhoods. The Galleria-area project at 2640 Fountain View would have been the Houston Housing Authority's first in a so-called "high-opportunity" area, which research shows gives children a better chance of upward mobility. Turner cited "costs and other concerns" in blocking the 233-unit, $60 million project last August, a justification the city reiterated in its letter to HUD. "There is no direct or circumstantial evidence that Mayor Turner acted with the intent to discriminate against the very class of people for which he has dedicated his entire career in government to serving," Lewis wrote. "The evidence HUD should have considered establishes that Houston's proffered alternatives to the Fountain View met fair housing standards; the historical background and sequence of events leading up to the mayor's decision do not support an inference of discrimination; and the costs for the proposed Fountain View (project) warranted second consideration by the new administration." Plan targets five areas Planning for Fountain View began under former Mayor Annise Parker. As for the city's procedures for reviewing tax credit applications, Lewis said Houston "does not have an established pattern of failing to site or support affordable housing projects in predominantly white neighborhoods." HUD said in a January letter that between 2012 and early last year, 85 percent of the tax credit proposals the city's housing department recommended for approval were for sites located in majority-minority census tracts. Lewis cited Houston's approval of six applications in the last two years for tax credit housing in predominantly white neighborhoods. The city attorney also said the eight remedies HUD requested in January are unnecessary because the city "has implemented or already had plans to implement actions similar to those proposed by HUD." Among other efforts, Lewis pointed to two initiatives city officials have discussed at length but have yet to formally unveil: Complete Communities and a voucher mobility program. Complete Communities, which the mayor plans to publicly announce next Monday, aims to "strengthen areas of our city that have been historically under-resourced and improve the quality of life for people who live there," according to an internal memo. The city plans to target five neighborhoods - Acres Homes, Gulfton, Second Ward, the Near Northside and Third Ward - and intends for the program to be interdisciplinary, touching on issues from housing to grocery options to transportation. Help for 350 families Houston's response letter to HUD, meanwhile, details its plan to help 350 families with a housing voucher and children in kindergarten through third grade move into low-poverty neighborhoods zoned to high-performing elementary schools by the end of 2018. City Housing Director Tom McCasland said he hopes to begin working with clients next May. The program will be run through the nonprofit NextQuest Houston and funded by a $1 million grant from the Houston Endowment. "For many of these areas with quality schools, 95-98 percent of the apartments zoned to those schools will not accept the vouchers, not through any fault of the tenants, but simply because they're coming with a housing choice voucher," McCasland said. Texas law allows landlords to refuse to rent a home to those receiving federal housing assistance. Local fair housing advocate Daniel Bustamante was enthusiastic about the mobility program but said he would need to see the details of Turner's Complete Communities plan before assessing it. As for HUD, Bustamante called for continued enforcement of civil rights laws. "I'm hopeful that HUD will continue to do what it's historically done," he said. AUSTIN - The number of Texas schoolchildren who have forgone medical vaccinations has soared in recent years, leading parents fearful of outbreaks or who have children with weakened immune systems to urge state lawmakers to make school-level immunization data public. Parents who opt against vaccinating are pushing back against calls for increased transparency, saying they want to protect their children's privacy and are hoping members of the conservative Senate will take their side. While most parents in Texas vaccinate their children, the number of parents opting out of immunizations for non-medical reasons is on the rise. Since Texas changed its laws to allow parents to opt out citing a conscientious objection, the number of unvaccinated children has shot up more than 1,700 percent in 13 years, to 45,000 from 2,300. In response, parents and health advocates are backing an effort to increase public reporting on how many students who have skipped vaccines attend each school. Currently, that data is housed at the state level and available via an open-records request. County and school district-level data also is available online. House Bill 2249 would require the Texas Department of State Health Services to publish school-by-school data that would indicate the total number of students who forgo vaccinations, including those who opt out by choice, such as a religious objection. No names or identifying information would be listed. Advocates for publishing the data say the information would offer parents insight into their child's school and help them weigh whether to switch, particularly for parents of medically fragile children like Riki Graves' daughter, Juliana. Now 3, she received a new heart at 18 days old, and doctors say she will need to attend a school where least 95 percent of the students are immunized. "My job as a transplant mom is to protect that organ," said Graves as she drove from her home in Sugar Land to Austin where she plans to testify before the House Public Health Committee on Tuesday. "We have the data there's no reason not to publish it." Opponents say there are plenty of reasons, including children's medical privacy. "If this is truly about keeping children safe, we have to have that honest conversation about keeping all people safe. It puts a target on the backs of children whose parents have chosen to opt out for various different reasons," said Jackie Schlegel, a mother of three and executive director of Texans for Vaccine Choice, a grass-roots parent group that has ballooned in recent years as the movement against vaccinating children has gained traction. The group is planning a rally at the Capitol on Thursday, dubbed the "freedom fight." "At schools where you do have a high number of opt-out, we are creating a witch hunt against families, and that's just unacceptable," Schlegel said. Most schools throughout Texas have few students without vaccinations, but data show that families that opt out tend to do so in clusters. For example, at Austin Waldorf School, 15 miles from the state Capitol, 40 percent of its student population is missing at least one vaccination. The opt-out movement taps fears from parents that vaccines can lead to long-term ailments, such as autism. Medical doctors and experts say those theories have been discredited. "To protect their children's sensitive feelings from the choice that their parents have made, someone else's child must die," said Jason Sabo, a lobbyist for the Immunization Partnership, a pro-vaccine group that has sprung up in the wake of the opt-out movement. "They're making the argument that other people's children are expendable to protect their, in my opinion, misplaced paranoia." Legislators in the House of Representatives passed an identical bill increasing reporting in 2015. The measure never got a hearing in the Senate. HB 2249 is one of more than a dozen bills by either sides looking to change state laws regarding immunizations, including a proposal to require parents to take an online course before opting against vaccinating their children. AUSTIN -- A House committee is scheduled to take testimony Tuesday on a bill that could make it easier to demolish historic buildings and much harder for cities to designate landmarks. Under existing law, local governments enjoy broad discretion to decide on how buildings and neighborhoods are preserved, and local authorities can set their own criteria for historic status. House Bill 3418 proposes a major change to the landmark process by limiting the availability of protected status as "historically important and significant" to the residences of historic figures and places where a "widely recognized" historic event occurred. In a measure that potentially could threaten already-protected buildings, authorities would have just 30 days to approve or deny property owners' requests to demolish or alter buildings, sharply limiting opportunities for review. If no response is given within that time frame, a request to tear down a historic building would be considered approved by default. The bill also would require city councils to approve any zoning changes to designate places as having historic, cultural or architectural importance with a three-fourths super-majority of all members. Current state law requires a three-fourths vote only in cases where at least 20 percent of property owners affected by a proposed zoning change have filed a protest against it. The bill was introduced by Rep. Gary Elkins, R-Houston, who worked in estate before founding the payday-lending firm Personal Credit Corporation, and supporters include developers, conservative groups advocating property rights and some property owners. Elkins said the impetus for the legislation was a recent case in Austin involving a circa-1910 house that is co-owned by former State Rep. Burt Solomons. After the owners applied for a demolition permit, the city's Historic Landmark Commission initiated plans to zone it as a landmark. The owners withdrew their application and the commission subsequently dropped plans to pursue the historic designation. "What we're trying to address are abuses that are going on by historic landmark commissions. These commissions do not have the right to hold property hostage," he said, noting that he had no intention of prevent historic building designations. "We would not allow the Alamo to be messed with." Local preservation authorities and advocacy groups are strongly opposed to the proposals and are expected to turn out in force to voice their concerns before the House Committee on Urban Affairs at Tuesday's hearing. "This really goes against the nature of what historic preservation is all about, which is keeping communities intact," says. Evan J. Thompson, executive director of the nonprofit Preservation Texas, who also notes that the wording of the bill could have unintended consequences. He says that by allowing any place where a historic figure lived to be declared a landmark, buildings where a famous person resided briefly in childhood could be protected, but one where he or she did meaningful and important work over many years excluded. The legislation also could disproportionately affect minority communities, where individuals and events may not yet be widely recognized and historical preservation efforts can serve to raise their profiles. "It takes away the ability of a local community to recognize and preserve what's important to it," said Steve Sadowsky, historic preservation officer for the city of Austin. Sadowsky noted that Austin's criteria for protection has changed over time according to community's needs and input, and that most applications to grant landmark status in Austin are submitted by property owners. "Historic preservation is an educational tool," he said. "It's not just to commemorate a person of importance. It can teach about architecture, community history, ethnic and and racial history," and preservation criteria should be allowed to reflect that. Shanon Miller, director of San Antonio's Office of Historic Preservation, expressed concerns over the impact of the proposals on the city's established processes and the time limits for approvals. "Thirty days is too short of a time period," she said, given the volume of applications, public notice requirements, and the involvement of different government bodies in the process. The bill fits with a broader trend of proposals by Republicans in both the House and Senate that began in the last legislative session to consolidate power at the state level by limiting cities and other local governments from exercising authority over an array of issue ranging from property taxes and gender-neutral bathrooms to the regulation of ride-hailing apps and bans on plastic bags. Gov. Greg Abbott has indicated a desire to see a more broad-based law providing that state legislation preempts local regulations. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN It's been nearly two years since Sandra Bland was found dead in her Waller County Jail cell after she failed to signal a lane change and was removed from her car by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper. Now, lawmakers are considering legislation known as the Sandra Bland Act that would increase officer training for mental health awareness, racial profiling prevention and de-escalation tactics. The bill, which received a hearing in the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee Tuesday, would require a county sheriff's office to notify a magistrate within 24 hours if an inmate is suspected of having a mental illness. It also would require the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to develop rules to require 24-hour mental health professional access for inmates. At least 35 people signed up to testify on the bill Tuesday, including Bland's mother, Geneva Reed-Veal. She was the final witness to testify on the bill, calling on lawmakers to take a stand for her daughter. Her emotional testimony brought murmurs of agreement in the room. "This is not about anti-police," Reed-Veal said. "I don't hate police. I hate the fact that we do not understand that this is going on too long by those who have been charged to serve and protect us." Sandra Bland, 28, ended up in the Waller County jail for resisting arrest and was found asphyxiated in her cell three days later. Her July 2015 death was ruled a suicide. The story drew national attention and became a rallying cry for activists protesting police brutality. The bill's author, Houston Democrat Garnet Coleman, said he filed a bill to "fix things across the board" in county jails. Garnet announced he would file the legislation after Bland's mother reached a $1.9 million wrongful death settlement with state and Waller County officials in September 2016. "This isn't a punitive bill on the police or peace officers," Coleman said. "But do we want to get at things that have been pervasive in law enforcement? Yeah, we do." He faces opposition from law enforcement officials, such as the Texas Municipal Police Association. Kevin Lawrence, executive director of the association, has met with Coleman to address his concerns, but said he still opposes the bill as written. "The whole tone of that preamble is somehow law enforcement is run amok, and we take exception to that," Lawrence said. The group also opposes portions of the bill that would divert inmates with a mental health illness from a jail. "While we agree there is a need to start diverting people with mental disabilities from our jails, we think the alternatives don't exist," Lawrence said, arguing that smaller counties don't have the resources to divert mental health patients. The Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas also opposes the bill. Chris Jones, a training coordinator for the group, said he opposes the measure despite changes made after working with Coleman. If passed, the bill's fiscal note estimates it would cost the state $2.7 million through the biennium. It also has received support from across the aisle. Texas Public Policy Foundation, one of the state's most powerful conservative lobby groups, showed up to support the legislation in committee. Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, called on the committee to move the bill forward out of respect for Bland's mother. However, Rep. Poncho Nevarez, D-Eagle Pass, said he did not feel comfortable passing it out of committee without Chairman Phil King present. Coleman told lawmakers that he felt comfortable leaving the bill pending in committee so he could make changes that everyone would agree on. The committee also considered similar legislation by Rep. Senfronia Thompson that she hopes will give police officers "a better opportunity to understand how to interact with the public." Thompson, D-Houston, said the bill would establish a training program on proper procedure for use of force for licensed law enforcement peace officers. It also would require information on handling traffic stops be included in the curriculum of driver education and driver safety courses. Chris Jones, a training coordinator for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, said the group supports the bill because it is an opportunity for police officers "to understand how to interact with the public" and teach drivers about what's expected of them when interacting with a police officer. Thompson's bill also was left pending. Does anyone still remember the Carrier deal? Back in December, President-elect Donald Trump announced, triumphantly, that he had reached a deal with the air-conditioner manufacturer to keep 1,100 jobs in America rather than moving them to Mexico. And the media spent days celebrating the achievement. Actually, the number of jobs involved was more like 700, but who's counting? Around 75,000 U.S. workers are laid off or fired every working day, so a few hundred here or there hardly matter for the overall picture. Whatever Trump did or didn't achieve with Carrier, the real question was whether he would take steps to make a lasting difference. So far, he hasn't; there isn't even the vague outline of a real Trumpist jobs policy. And corporations and investors seem to have decided that the Carrier deal was all show, no substance, that for all his protectionist rhetoric Trump is a paper tiger in practice. After pausing briefly, the ongoing move of manufacturing to Mexico has resumed, while the Mexican peso, whose value is a barometer of expected U.S. trade policy, has recovered almost all its post-November losses. In other words, showy actions that win a news cycle or two are no substitute for actual, coherent policies. Indeed, their main lasting effect can be to squander a government's credibility. Which brings us to last week's missile strike on Syria. The attack instantly transformed news coverage of the Trump administration. Suddenly stories about infighting and dysfunction were replaced with screaming headlines about the president's toughness and footage of Tomahawk launches. But outside its effect on the news cycle, how much did the strike actually accomplish? A few hours after the attack, Syrian warplanes were taking off from the same airfield, and airstrikes resumed on the town where use of poison gas provoked Trump into action. No doubt the Assad forces took some real losses, but there's no reason to believe that a one-time action will have any effect on the course of Syria's civil war. In fact, if last week's action was the end of the story, the eventual effect may well be to strengthen the Assad regime - Look, they stood up to a superpower! - and weaken American credibility. To achieve any lasting result, Trump would have to get involved on a sustained basis in Syria. Doing what, you ask? Well, that's the big question - and the lack of good answers to that question is the reason President Barack Obama decided not to start something nobody knew how to finish. So what have we learned from the Syria attack and its aftermath? No, we haven't learned that Trump is an effective leader. Ordering the U.S. military to fire off some missiles is easy. Doing so in a way that actually serves American interests is the hard part, and we've seen no indication whatsoever that Trump and his advisers have figured that part out. Actually, what we know of the decision-making process is anything but reassuring. Just days before the strike, the Trump administration seemed to be signaling lack of interest in Syrian regime change. What changed? The images of poison-gas victims were horrible, but Syria has been an incredible horror story for years. Is Trump making life-and-death national security decisions based on TV coverage? One thing is certain: The media reaction to the Syria strike showed that many pundits and news organizations have learned nothing from past failures. Trump may like to claim that the media are biased against him, but the truth is that they've bent over backward in his favor. They want to seem balanced, even when there is no balance; they have been desperate for excuses to ignore the dubious circumstances of his election and his erratic behavior in office, and start treating him as a normal president. You may recall how, a month and a half ago, pundits eagerly declared that Trump "became the president of the United States today" because he managed to read a speech off a teleprompter without going off script. Then he started tweeting again. One might have expected that experience to serve as a lesson. But no: The U.S. fired off some missiles, and once again Trump "became president." Aside from everything else, think about the incentives this creates. The Trump administration now knows that it can always crowd out reporting about its scandals and failures by bombing someone. So here's a hint: Real leadership means devising and carrying out sustained policies that make the world a better place. Publicity stunts may generate a few days of favorable media coverage, but they end up making America weaker, not stronger, because they show the world that we have a government that can't follow through. And has anyone seen a sign, any sign, that Trump is ready to provide real leadership in that sense? I haven't. Krugman is a New York Times columnist. The Village of Raymondville was one of three small Missouri communities selected to participate in the Feels Like Home program. Last Tuesday, representatives from Missouri Community Betterment visited the community to explore the villages assets and areas of concern to improve life there. Topics included conversations about potential business growth and the importance of the school district. The groups talks included lunch at Acledas Restaurant in Raymondville. Participants in the visit included: Teresa Keller, executive director of Missouri Community Betterment; Luke Holtschneider, manager of rural development with MCB; Tony Floyd, development director with Intercounty Electric Cooperative; Theresa Ballew, Missouri Department of Economic Development and Darci Malam, South Central Ozarks Council. The village was represented by Dennis Gross and Sharon Baker of the village council, city clerk Debbie Schweighauser, superintendent Dana Buschmann, village maintenance director Mark Moose Hartman as well as Mike and Kathy Brown of the community betterment group. A second visit will be scheduled at a later date for the team to offer advice and possible grant support. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. According to the organisation, CEO pay in New Zealand has risen by 85 percent in recent decades while regular employees have seen an increase of just 13.5 per cent its a difference Malcom says is not only unjustified but impractical too. Shareholders and workers alike need to call companies out on excessive CEO pay as not just bad for society, but bad for their own businesses, he said. Fairer societies work better for all of us, wage earners and CEOs alike. While the sentiment might not go down well with most CEOs, its seems an increasing number are actually on board with the approach including Dunedin entrepreneur Dean Hall. As the CEO of gaming studio Rocketwerkz, Hall made headlines recently when it was revealed his company offers unlimited annual leave and profit-sharing but he also pegs his salary at 10 per cent above the next highest paid employee. A lot of people have said; We like the sound of that and it seems rational and sensible, Hall said earlier this year. Hopefully we inspire a few other employers to think about the same things. Canadas Wonderland is big, and police didnt feel like running through the entire Toronto-area amusement park last weekend to chase three candy thieves. York Regional Police say they received a call from park security staff on Saturday night, who spotted three people entering a store to steal some sweets. Advertisement The thieves then left the store and vanished into the Vaughan, Ont. park, police said in a news release. Police used a helicopter and a thermal imaging camera to find the teens, who were hiding underneath a tree. Officers with the canine unit arrested them without incident. Two of the suspects are 16 years old and one is 15. They're all from Vaughan, police say. They cooperated and expressed remorse for their crime and all three were released to their parents and entered into a community service program. Advertisement Police say they released footage of the incident to deter anyone else who might think to trespass onto private property. Watch the clip embedded above. OTTAWA As the Liberal government prepares to table its marijuana legalization bill this week, several ministers walked out of cabinet Tuesday open to sharing their personal experiences with pot. Four years ago, Justin Trudeau told The Huffington Post Canada that he had smoked a joint while he was the MP for Papineau. As he walked by journalists Tuesday, however, he declined to reveal whether he had repeated the experience as prime minister. Advertisement His transport minister, Marc Garneau, candidly admitted that he had smoked pot when he was a student working on his Ph.D. Did it help him? I dont know! he told reporters. Heritage Minister Melanie Joly acknowledged smoking marijuana but before she was elected, she noted. Treasury Board President Scott Brison said he had inhaled marijuana, but not recently. It was a long time ago, he said, noting it happened as an adult. Advertisement Brison said he hoped the governments bill would make it more difficult for young Canadians to access cannabis. Right now, the rate of usage of cannabis among young people in Canada is higher than it is in many other countries, so legalization and regulation will actually reduce access, he said. The government whip, Pablo Rodriguez, said he used pot a few times as a teenager but did not particularly enjoy the experience. He suggested young people should not follow his example but if they did, to do so with moderation. Some ministers laughed off the questions from reporters. National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier and Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, for example, walked by with huge smiles when they were asked about their personal pot use. Andrew Leslie, the parliamentary secretary for Canada-U.S. relations, was coy about his experience. I have not even inhaled it walking down a corridor for about 37 years, he responded as he walked down a corridor in Parliaments centre block. Advertisement Leslie, a former Canadian Forces general, declined to say if he had smoked pot before joining the army. That was a long, long time ago, he responded. Other ministers, such as International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, said they have never smoked marijuana. "Im boring, arent I? Im sorry." International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau Ive never taken drugs in my life, Champagne said. Bibeau added: Im boring, arent I? Im sorry. Last year, then foreign affairs minister Stephane Dion surprised reporters when he said that he couldnt remember if hed ever used marijuana. I dont remember. I was too loaded, he joked. The parliamentary secretary in charge of the pot file and former Toronto police chief, Bill Blair, said he has never experimented with drugs, including marijuana. I have concerns about the use of this drug and the effect it could have on any of our citizens, Blair said. We want to make sure that we restrict the access that children have to it because thats where the greatest risk is, and for adults, we want to make sure that they can make healthy, safer and socially responsible choices. Advertisement While the Liberals intend to table legislation this week, Blair acknowledged a number of issues still need to be negotiated with the provinces, such as whether federal funds will be provided to help train police officers and how to monitor plant limits for personal use. Theres going to be a very important discussion that will take place between the federal government, the provinces, territories and municipalities. And I will acknowledge we have a great deal of work to do. The Liberals intend to allow adults over the age of majority, which is as young as 18 in six provinces, to legally purchase marijuana. A federal task force recommended a personal possession limit of 30 grams. Translation and files from Althia Raj Also on HuffPost Which Province Smokes The Most Pot? See Gallery You see it on TV and in the movies all the time: A heartbroken ex-lover crashes a couple's wedding, with the intention of objecting and putting an end to it all. It's so dramatic and shocking you'd never believe something like that could happen in real life, but it does. Advertisement In a recent Ask Reddit thread, Redditors who say they witnessed a wedding objection shared what happened after the uncomfortable situation occurred. (Note: we cannot verify whether these stories are true, so take them with a grain of salt.) "This happened at one of my friend's sibling's weddings. Her parents are suuuuper conservative and hadn't gotten the chance to know the daughter's fiance very well before they got married," reimaginingme wrote. "The dad of the bride stands up and says 'her mother and I object,' and then after a long hesitation sits back down. Silence. No one can believe that that just happened. Not knowing exactly how to handle it, the preacher just says 'OK' and finishes the ceremony as planned." Talk about awkward. Fortunately, redditor Star_Tropic, who said he or she works in the wedding industry and has attended more than 300 weddings, wrote that objections are a very rare occurrence. "I have never seen nor heard of this happening at any event I have worked. Nor have I heard of other industry professionals that I'm in contact with experience it," they revealed. Advertisement But just because one person hasn't seen it happen doesn't mean it never happens. Redditor Southern_Kisses shared another objection story, with a much sweeter outcome. "My dad marrying his third wife. My step brother and I were in the wedding party. He was about 6, I was 10," she wrote. "The preacher asks if anyone objects and my brother raises his hand so very politely. My dad asks why, and my step brother replies, 'because I want you to promise to take me fishing whenever I want, first.'" Mock objections are also apparently a thing. Redditor suitology shared a story from his friend's brother's wedding. The couple, who were both lawyers, planted a friend in the audience to object, only to be overruled by the presiding judge. "It seemed to have gone over well for most but I don't think some of their family members got it," he wrote. These days, most marriage ceremonies actually omit the drama-causing line altogether. "It has become obsolete," Paula Posman, a New York City-based officiant who runs the wedding services company A New York Way to Say I Do, told Live Science. The phrase, which originally read, "If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace," has been phased out in large part because there are very few legitimate grounds to prevent a wedding. "You can't object simply because you're in love with the bride. It has to be a legal reason why the couple can't wed," Posman explained. Advertisement But since not everyone knows this, some uncomfortable moments can still arise. If it does happen at your own wedding or at the wedding of a loved one, Dr. Jane Greer, a New York-based marriage and sex therapist, tells Brides.com, "Begin by calmly pausing the ceremony and taking the conversation off to the side or into a room that is more private." Once you are alone with the objector, Greer recommends responding with appreciation but remaining firm in your commitment to your relationship. Say something like, "'We appreciate you sharing your concerns, however, we feel differently.' Then, negate their concerns and show a strong commitment to one another by returning to the altar and continuing with your ceremony," says Greer. We have a problem, rather, a preoccupation with power. It is human nature to want and crave it, but the ways we get it and keep it are usually inhumane. The simplest, most base feeling of power is that of physical might. The ability to defeat one's foes in combat. It gets every layer of our psyche buzzing, from our amygdala governed emotional centre to the sense of moral righteousness that defines the zeitgeist. Now add in greed and you get something that should horrify us, but it is now something we accept as normal: the weapons trade and power projection via proxy wars. Take the 2003 Iraq war. The United States and Britain drummed up fears about weapons of mass destruction and the imminent danger we were all in and led the world into the quagmire that continues to have deadly consequences Advertisement The 2003 Iraq War as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman put it: "...wasn't an innocent mistake, a venture undertaken on the basis of intelligence that turned out to be wrong...The public justifications for the invasion were nothing but pretexts, and falsified pretexts at that." On the Syrian side of the border, the conflict initiated by players such as but not limited to members of NATO and the Kremlin are playing their proxy war in a country of over 20 million people. The question is again why did we get caught up in a war that was not ours, in a country that most of us had rarely (if ever) thought about? Strip away the veneer of excuses and you are left with the answer: power. In 1995, then popular and rapidly rising Tony Blair stated that "Power without principle is barren. But principle without power is futile," which is illuminating because it was him just a few years later who abandoned those principles and asked Britain to go to war without just cause. In 2016 Frank-Walter Steinmeier, then Foreign Minister of Germany and currently the President of Germany, spoke out against NATO conducting military exercises as a show of power against Russia, he stated: Advertisement "The one thing we shouldn't do now is inflame the situation with loud sabre-rattling and warmongering...We would be well advised not to provide a pretext to renew an old confrontation." It is the obsession with having and demonstrating power that leads us to fall in love with the very notion of it, as if might makes us right. The power of a weapon is intoxicating, and much like any other intoxicant, it clouds our judgement and rationality. This distorted view of minds is apparent when looking at how police conduct themselves. In the 12 months leading up to March 2016 police in Britain fired their weapons on only seven occasions. Contrast that with the U.S. where in 2015 alone police had killed approximately 776 people by September. It is the absence of weaponry which leads to more rational and human approaches. So deep is the love-affair with armaments that it is acceptable to admit it. When discussing a $1.1-billion arms deal for Saudi Arabia, CNN host Wolf Blitzer chided U.S. Senator Rand Paul's opposition, stating "So for you, this is a moral issue. You know, there's a lot of jobs at stake." adding "...if a lot of these defense contractors stop selling warplanes and other sophisticated equipment to Saudi Arabia there's going to be a significant loss of jobs, of revenue here in the United States. That's secondary from your standpoint?" Advertisement Fast forward to the poignant and iconic images of women linking arms along Westminster Bridge in solidarity against violence. People of all races, religions, and creeds came out in unity and in a segment covered by CNN's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour where the statement of "Love For All; Hatred For None" is particularly important. At the 14th National Peace Symposium, an event praised by British Prime Minister Theresa May, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Caliph of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, whose adherents number in the tens of millions of Muslims spoke about the need for world peace. The Caliph urged world leaders to strive for justice and to fulfill their obligation to guarantee the rights of their people, including that of safety. It cannot be only one group of Muslims that calls for peace, in this case Ahmadi Muslims. It must be all people of all religions and from every walk of life. Setsuko Thurlow a survivor of the Hiroshima bomb and peace activist was also honoured at the Symposium for her valiant efforts and campaigns calling for nuclear disarmament. We should draw courage from the efforts of all those who speak out against war and hatred. Seeking disarmament is not about surrendering to force, rather, it is about standing strong against violence and standing firm in the belief that peace must endure and prevail, lest we forget. Former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange's utterly fearless stand against nuclear weapons received a standing ovation with this: Advertisement "Rejecting the logic of nuclear weapons does not mean surrendering to evil; evil must still be guarded against. Rejecting nuclear weapons is to assert what is human over the evil nature of the weapon; it is to restore to humanity the power of the decision; it is to allow a moral force to reign supreme." Perhaps such a time will come when we can reclaim our humanity and discard our desire for all weapons. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook When I was a young child, my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Bill would visit quite often. Back then our family was close, both emotionally and physically, plus my grandparents lived just down the street about 10 houses down. My aunt and uncle lived less than an hour away. When I knew they would be visiting I would sit on the top step of our staircase, my palms under my chin, my elbows on my knees, and just wait. When I heard their car settle into our driveway I would spring to my feet. I could feel my heart skip and my face squish into a giant smile. I was about to take part in the very first tradition I remember having in my life: jumping from the staircase and into my uncle's waiting arms. Advertisement It was the kind of tradition that drove Aunt Debbie nutty, and rightfully so. And while I would never want to emulate this tradition with my own son, nothing could stop me from launching myself off that staircase, partly because I liked the rush, and partly because I knew my uncle would never drop me. I trusted him. I still trust him. I'm really kind of paranoid right now. In about 10 hours Uncle Bill will be having triple bypass surgery, and all I can think of is finding a way to catch him and keep him safe. It's silly, I know. After all, I am no doctor, and even though I have spent the last month fiercely criticizing the Newfoundland health-care system, I am now at its mercy. Good news, though: they are heralded in the realm of cardiology, partly because they have amazing surgeons and partly because they only have one hospital in the province that can perform these kinds of surgeries. People who criticize our universal health care for waiting times often use Newfoundland as their most alarming example, and Uncle Bill had waited two weeks just to get his angiogram -- plus another two weeks to finally get his surgery. I dare not ask how many patients have died while waiting. See, my own heart is fluttering, and I have to stop myself from thinking the worst. These strangers are experiencing the same unfamiliar setting, and an immediate bond is formed. Aunt Debbie and I sat with Uncle Bill, pre-surgery, in a four-patient room four floors above the operating room and ICU. A pastor visits, and I find myself participating in an on-the-spot prayer, which is strange for me due to my lack of belief, but I do it -- eyes open -- and suppress the voice inside that usually makes fun of people praying. Time and place, I tell myself. Advertisement Inside the four-patient room are the families of other people waiting for surgery. All of the patients were men, and so wives and daughters were everywhere. Friends, sons and other relatives came in and out, all sporting similar faces and demeanor as they offered their best-mustered words during such a worrisome time. Nobody is spared the anxiety of a patient in a hospital bed, with the generic food trays, the tubes and the tendency to make awkward jokes inside a tense and often tentative environment. But this unfamiliar setting is tempered with the graceful and mutual recognition that these strangers are experiencing the same unfamiliar setting, and an immediate bond is formed. These are now your brethren, your people, your family. Doctors would walk by the waiting area and purposely not make any eye contact with us and the other relatives, an apparent strategy that helps both sides of the equation feel better, for sure. There was this one man, whose name I never learned even though I spent hours at his side, who was waiting to hear if his wife was OK after receiving surgery to remove a brain tumour. Two weeks ago she was co-running their mom-and-pop snow-clearing company, a day later she got a headache. A week later she was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and a few days later she was under the knife. That sequence -- where you go from everything being fine to your whole world being at risk -- is the driving force behind a hospital family. It provides an insight to our mortality, our fragility, our strength and our ability to be resilient for other people. Advertisement That man then made eye contact with a doctor, and we all knew he was about to get news. He nodded his head as the doctor very quietly told him the status of his beloved. The doctor put his hand on the man's shoulder, walked away and did not look back. Our new friend turns toward us with his eyes heavy and lowered. He finally looks at us, begins to sob, and manages to say, "she's going to be OK" as he completely breaks down. We were united in our fear, tip-toeing around the broader topic of how devastating it would be to lose our loved ones. The strangers in the waiting room do not hesitate. We flock towards him and give him our hugs, our tears and our kind words of support. We tell him we are happy for him and thankful for his news. When the moment melts away someone else arrives, and we start the process of bonding through our worry all over again. Uncle Bill, for his part, forged a friendship with a fellow patient, Frank. They spent two weeks together, under the same dire circumstances, in beds just three feet apart. Frank's family mingled with ours, and we all took pictures or brought each other coffees. We were united in our fear, tip-toeing around the broader topic of how devastating it would be to lose our loved ones. Uncle Bill and Frank, ironically, were often the most jovial, the most positive. They both came out of their open-heart surgeries OK, and are now in the ICU waiting to be well enough to head to the recovery wing. They also made plans to visit each other when they are both back on their feet. Hell, even if they never actually see each other again they will still have this pocket of time to remember if they ever need to recharge their souls. Advertisement As for us -- the families who were experiencing the stresses of Uncle Bill, Frank and the others (albeit somewhat vicariously) -- we will look back on this as a glaring example of what it truly means to be human. The moment of helplessness, the rush, but then the feeling of being safe with your trusted family -- like a kid jumping off a staircase into the waiting arms of his favourite uncle. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Good nutrition is not only fuel for strong bodies, it also provides power that unlocks potential. This was a lesson I learned from 18-year-old Alima Mbaye, who lives in Thies, Senegal. I met Alima and her classmates on a field visit to the remote town of Notto Diobass. At first glance, Alima and her friends looked like typical high-school students. However, when I spoke with them, something struck me. Although they were at an age when Canadian girls would typically be graduating from high school, many of these girls were still years away from hitting that milestone -- if they hit it at all. Their male classmates were heading toward graduation, but they were being left behind. Advertisement Alima and her friends were at a point in their lives where their future and their potential should have been limitless. Instead, malnutrition -- and in this case, anemia -- was like a brake holding them back. Three out of 10 adolescent girls around the world are anemic, but in the region I visited in Senegal, it is double that rate. Anemia is a condition in which red blood cells are abnormal in number or size due to a shortage of iron in the body. If you have anemia, your ability to transport oxygen throughout your body is limited. Even though it is not always visible to the eye, when a girl suffers from anemia, her quality of life can be severely undermined. She may be tired or lethargic. She may be more susceptible to illness. She may not perform as well in school or be productive. Nutrition not only makes a difference, it is the difference. A girl with a lower level of education is more likely to marry early and have children, and if she has children, she risks severe complications -- or even death -- during pregnancy and delivery. If she gives birth, her baby is more likely to be small or born prematurely -- a major predictor of poor health, disability and disease later in life. Advertisement When malnourished mothers have babies with low birth weight, it can lead to a vicious cycle of malnutrition among their children and also affect their ability to contribute to the economy. Malnutrition, like poverty, is sexist. In too many regions, women and girls eat last and eat the least. Although women select, prepare and cook the food, gender inequity and cultural norms often mean that they get what little is left after others have eaten. Nutrition not only makes a difference, it is the difference. It's the difference between giving birth to a child and giving her life. For Alima and her friends, it's the difference between attending school and learning there. Fortunately, although the causes of anemia are complex, the solutions at hand are simple, and we can make a difference. Advertisement I was in Senegal with representatives of Nutrition International -- formerly the Micronutrient Initiative -- to launch Right Start. This Canada-funded program will reach 1.2 million Senegalese girls with critical inexpensive interventions, such as iron and folic acid supplements, iron-fortified foods, nutrition education and support. Right Start is part of the multi-country initiative that aspires to reach 100 million women and girls with improved nutrition by 2020. Improving the nutrition of women and girls is key to empowering them, but it also benefits entire communities. That is why Canada is proud to partner with Nutrition International to help Alima, and millions of girls like her around the world, to reach their full potential and become powerful agents of change. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: SMJoness via Getty Images British Columbia Parliament Building BC Flag Victoria BC Canada on a against a blue sky With a May 9th election approaching, people in B.C. are hearing good news about increased funding for mental health services. The B.C. government has accepted federal funding of $655 million linked to mental health services over the next ten years. As well, the current Liberal government is promising an additional $140 million to fund mental health care. However, both the Liberal Party and the NDP need to reorient themselves if they want to better meet the needs of the 4% of the population who develop psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Members of both parties, for instance, created the very problematic 2016 mental health policy document, Concrete Actions for Systemic Change, which emerged from the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth. Advertisement In rejecting suggestions to transfer child and youth mental health care from the Ministry of Children and Family Development to the Ministry of Health, the Committee made clear its perspectives. It didn't want to promote a "medical model" of care (p. 11)). This strong rejection of using medical perspectives to guide policies is an irresponsible way to respond to medical disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although the Ministry's Concrete Actions' recommendations talk about prevention, they fail to mention that neither schizophrenia nor bipolar disorder can be prevented. At the same time, the document fails to endorse the steps that could ensure that these illnesses don't unnecessarily become more severe. Here are five common sense steps that both parties should endorse in order to improve the outcomes for people who develop these disorders: 1. Develop Public Mental Illness Literacy Campaigns. Both B.C. and Canada have inadequate campaigns to educate the public about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The public doesn't learn about the early signs or ongoing symptoms of these illnesses or about the best ways to get knowledgeable help. This awareness is especially important since too many programs training credentialed mental health professionals don't yet require any science-based curriculum on psychotic disorders. Advertisement Many of us were disappointed that, despite requests, the Concrete Actions didn't endorse psychiatrist Stan Kutcher's school-based mental health/mental illness education program which has been shown to increase knowledge, improve help-seeking behavior and reduce stigma. 2. Expand access to Early Psychosis Intervention programs. B.C. was a national leader in implementing Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) programs. This model provides quick access for assessments and emphasizes comprehensive responses to young people experiencing the early stages of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychotic illnesses. It provides education about psychotic disorders to clients and their families. Unlike the rest of the mental health system that too often has a difficult time cooperating with family caregivers, this model emphasizes collaboration with clients and families. There are not enough EPI programs in B.C. and there isn't adequate awareness about the ones that do exist. I saw first hand the problems with putting services for severe mental illnesses into the Ministry of Children and Family Development over the many years I taught at a Vancouver secondary school. When EPI was first introduced, the local program had an education outreach worker who provided crucial training to Vancouver's school counsellors and others to help them recognize problems and assist students to get appropriate services. Eventually the Ministry cut this valuable position that provided the training that few counsellors had received elsewhere. 3. Improve community-based treatments. If Health Authorities implemented suggestions from the Mental Health Commission of Canada, family caregivers could be much more involved in planning and evaluating services. This inclusion could lead, for example, to improved programs for educating clients about their illnesses. As well, it could lead to implementation of the evidence-based cognitive remediation programs that are widely used in other countries. 4. Expand the BC Psychosis Program Some people have extremely severe forms of psychotic disorders. The BC Psychosis Program, (BCPP) located at UBC Hospital, focuses on these patients. Advertisement Unfortunately, this program, which serves the entire province, only has 25 beds. Dr. Randall White, the Medical Director of BCPP, said at a conference last year, that there are probably thousands of people in B.C. with psychotic disorders who could benefit from more intensive treatment. This program provides the comprehensive and long term care (4-6 months) that many people, ages 18 and up, need in order to get their illnesses under control. In the past year I've witnessed the benefits of this program unfold. Because many of my daughter's friends, like her, earlier on received extensive services for their illnesses, most have enjoyed years of stability. However, one friend, whom I'll call Jay, has been continually in and out of hospitals. Jay was very willing to take medications; he'd had solid psycho-education about his illness and understood their value. But he needed the kind of intensive help he eventually received at BCPP. The BC Psychosis Program changed Jay's life. He's now in the right kind of supported housing and has recently finished the culinary training program that Vancouver's Coast Foundation has developed. Jay has become much more physically healthy and now has a job in a restaurant. 5. Support the Redevelopment of Riverview into a Centre of Excellence The support of Lower Mainland mayors to transform the Riverview lands into a vibrant Centre of Excellence for mental health care resulted in this visionary document. However, the steps taken so far to realize this vision are not adequate. A trend in recent years has been to fund programs that supposedly improve everyone's mental health. At the same time, services and policies that are desperately needed to help people who develop the most severe mental illnesses need better funding in B.C. and across Canada. Advertisement Deaths from fentanyl have been receiving a lot of well-deserved attention in B.C. Many of the people dying in Vancouver's Downtown East Side developed addictions because their severe mental illnesses weren't treated earlier in their lives. Improved provincial mental illness polices can reduce these kinds of disastrous outcomes. Buildings are seen in the financial district in Toronto, January 28, 2013. Moody's Investors Service has cut the ratings of six Canadian financial institutions, including the previously I wouldn't claim that all of the big banks are caught up in scandals over high-pressure sales tactics. The people working at the big banks can tell you that. This headline from the CBC sums up the problem nicely: "'We are all doing it': Employees at Canada's five big banks speak out about pressure to dupe customers": Advertisement "An RBC teller from Thunder Bay, Ont., said even when customers don't need or want anything, 'we need to upgrade their Visa card, increase their Visa limits or get them to open up a credit line.' 'It's not what's important to our clients anymore,' she said. 'The bank wants more and more money. And it's leading everyone into debt.' A CIBC teller said, 'I am expected to aggressively sell products, especially Visa. Hit those targets, who cares if it's hurting customers.' On the same day, MarketWatch published this report: Are Canadian banks headed toward a Wells Fargo-style scandal over sales tactics? (Spoiler Alert: It sure looks that way). This breakdown of trust is a systemic problem. But it doesn't need to be this way. Using data to create low-pressure opportunities instead of high-pressure sales tactics I'm not against financial institutions that try to sell. That's just business. If financial advisers can actually provide appropriate investment options for clients in exchange for a reasonable fee structure, we're all for it. Advertisement There are ways for these banks to do precisely that, using better data. Financial institutions are already collecting lots of data on customers, but most aren't using it properly. Think about this. When you finally get to speak to a live representative in your local branch (after standing in line for 10 minutes), they're often trying to sell you something you don't want or need. It's annoying. Better data can help ensure clients get the offers they actually want, when they want them. No more advisers trying to sell you on the high-fee fund flavor of the month. Instead, you get a helpful ping on your smartphone about when and how to top up your RRSP or TFSA, just before tax season. The key is to ensure that offers are timely, appropriate and wanted. (Ethics dictates one should always be able to opt-out). They should take into account behaviour, transaction history and life events you discuss with your adviser, like getting married, having kids or retiring. With this information, it should be easier to make sure clients can get the right offers at the right time, in an unobtrusive fashion. Partly, that's a technical solution, involving coders, marketers and a host of other specialists. But it also comes back to the financial advisers. They need to ensure they're really asking the right questions and listening to what customers are telling them. Advertisement When banks can offer that, instead of focusing on one-size-fits-all sales quotas, customers will win out with convenient, non-intrusive service. Then the bank employees will be able to deliver service that's always for the benefit of the customer, not just to their duty to turn a profit. Once the banks solve the data problem, that will help solve the other, very human problem We also need to deal with human nature. It might not be ground-breaking or sexy, but banks just need to stop creating incentives for bad behavior. One simple solution: don't pay advisers commissions based on getting clients into different investment vehicles. Don't give them bonuses for getting a client to invest in a 'platinum account', whatever that might be. Bank employees operate just like other humans. When you reward people financially for steering customers into Fund A instead of Fund B, you'll see a lot of customers start moving their money into Fund A. That will happen, whether or not Fund A is actually the best fit for the client. Don't create a conflict of interest financial advisers. That way, their only focus is on maximizing the investment return for clients. Advertisement The solutions are right in front of us. It's going to take a bit of technical skill. Mostly, it will just take the will to do the right thing. Tea Nicola is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WealthBar, one of Canada's first robo-adviser services, with full-service online financial adviser offering diversified portfolios of low-cost ETFs, insurance and financial advice. Passionate about personal finance, Tea is looking to change the way Canadians save by making investing easier. Can you lose by winning? It's not a riddle, it's a fair question. Surveying the wreckage that now litters the Conservative landscape, it's a timely question, too. Because, make no mistake: the Conservatives' leadership race has dramatically set back their party, perhaps for years to come. Among other things, it has revealed the once-great Conservative Party of Canada to be nasty, brutish and short-sighted. It has transformed a modern, broad-based political party into a posse of xenophobic, paranoid Duck Dynasty types -- rubes who look like they'd rather jail an immigrant than attend a banquet with one. Advertisement By selecting a winner, the Conservative Party of Canada has rendered itself a loser, and wholly undeserving of power. Some historical context. Stephen Harper's greatest political achievements, you see, were not what you would think. They weren't the things that he didn't do. Five points. One, he didn't outlaw abortion or gay marriage, contrary to what this writer (and many others) predicted. Two, he didn't make the great global recession of 2008-2009 worse. While he may have initially denied the recession was coming, when it did, Harper tossed off his fiscal conservative cape, and commenced spending like a proverbial drunken sailor. It worked. Three, he didn't send us into war. When he was Opposition leader, Harper infamously called Canadians who opposed George W. Bush's Iraq war "cowards." But, once ensconced in power, the Conservative prime minister embraced his inner peacenik: he didn't put boots on the ground in the fight against ISIS -- Justin Trudeau did. And he didn't deploy Canadian Forces in the most lethal region in Afghanistan -- Paul Martin did. Advertisement Four, Stephen Harper -- unlike so many in the Reform Party firmament -- didn't ignore Quebec, or preside over a revitalized separatist movement. Instead, he started every single speech with French, no matter where he was. He didn't give the always-humiliated nationalists their hoped-for humiliations. And, as a result, his party didn't do badly in Quebec, at all -- in 2015, in fact, when the CPC lost power, the only province in which they grew was Quebec. Fifth and final, Stephen Harper didn't wreck the place. We're still here. And, when one considers the post-Brexit and post-Trump chaos that has descended on the heads of our two closest allies -- well, we are pretty lucky, aren't we? But those things -- what Stephen Harper didn't do -- aren't achievements. You don't get awards for what you don't do. You don't get your name on the side of a school somewhere for acting like a sensible, centrist adult. That's what you are supposed to be doing in the first place. No, Stephen Harper's two greatest political achievements -- and, by extension, the Conservative party's -- were the reason why he won in 2006, and again in 2008, and again in 2011. They are simply these: Advertisement He united the warring factions within the conservative movement -- Reform, Progressive Conservative, Canadian Alliance -- and led them to power shortly thereafter. The Conservative leadership race has been fractious and divisive. He rejected the sort of intolerance that had been synonymous with Canadian conservativism since Sir John A. -- and expelled the bigots from his caucus, and commenced the most successful "ethnic outreach" campaign in modern times. So, what has the post-Harper Conservative Party done? It has turned its back on Stephen Harper's two greatest achievements. It has repudiated the very things that won them power in 2006. The Conservative leadership race has been fractious and divisive. It has seen progressive conservatives like Michael Chong booed for promoting modernism -- and unrepentant Reformers, like Kellie Leitch, cheered for championing racism. It has seen smart, traditional PCs like Lisa Raitt marginalized and ignored, and immigrant-baiting nobodies like Steven Blaney and Brad Trost given marquee treatment. And, if the 2016-2017 Conservative leadership race is to be remembered for anything at all, it will be its willingness to replicate Donald Trump-style bigotry in Canada -- and the narrow, mean-spirited bumper-sticker politics it has championed along the way. Too many of their leadership candidates have forsaken what Stephen Harper did. Too many have forgotten that, by coming together and bringing new Canadians into the Conservative fold, the Conservatives finally won power. Advertisement The Conservative Party will have a winner in its leadership race in May, to be sure. It will have won that much. But, by winning, it will have lost the country, likely for many years to come. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: One thing that start-up businesses like mine need is certainty. The certainty of getting paid for our work so we can pay our staff, plan ahead and be profitable. Companies can have full orders books. But if clients fail to pay on time, they drive them out of business. Advertisement I often hear politicians say that fledgling businesses like mine are the backbone of our economy. But the government is failing to protect us by refusing to stop the scandal of big businesses withholding more than 26 billion from suppliers. That's why Labour's war on late payment is just what small businesses like mine want to hear. Action on late payments to small businesses has been long overdue, it is unacceptable that, on average, small businesses wait 72 days for pay. I run an 'engagement at work', survey business called The Human Energy Organisation, and we have been working extremely hard to make the launch a success. Late payments threaten our ability to cover our businesses' costs and to invest for growth, and risks forcing us out of business before we get established. It seems many other small business owners face a similar struggle. In 2015, the Federation of Small Businesses' survey of its members found 51% had experienced late payment in the previous 12 months. It may seem so obvious that it doesn't need stating, but we can't run a business unless we are paid for our work. The government's inaction suggests they don't share our view, otherwise they might have done something to address the problems sooner. Small businesses play a vital role in UK job creation, there are five of us in the Human Energy business and the threat to small businesses of late payments puts us all at risk. Advertisement The government's failure to tackle the scandal of late payments is stopping businesses like ours from growing and forcing 50,000 companies out of business each year. Despite late payments killing jobs and holding back economic growth, they are yet to act. Today's announcement that the next Labour government would require any company bidding for a public sector contract to pay its own suppliers within 30 days and would look at introducing for the private sector a system of binding arbitration with fines for persistent late payers is welcome news. Labour's policy is not only fair, but good for economic growth. Small businesses contribute billions of pounds to our economy a year, but the government's giveaways to big corporations at our expense is threatening to crush us. By promising not to increase the corporation tax rate for small businesses and scrapping the planned introduction of quarterly reporting for micro businesses, Labour is making sure taxes would fall on those with the broadest shoulders, rather than small business owners who strive to make a living from self-employment. The government's disregard for the needs of the self-employed was shown when they attempted to introduce a 2.5billion NIC tax hike in the Autumn Statement. Working people are our country's real wealth creators, and the government's approach to the economy is running down our country. As they offer tax breaks to their billionaire friends, ordinary working people are being hit. Advertisement I am glad that Labour is standing up for small businesses and sending a clear message that big corporations can't expect us to subsidise their cash flow. Yesterday, Jeremy Corbyn pledged that the minimum wage will rise to 10 an hour if Labour win the next general election, outstripping the Conservative's plan for a 'national living wage' of 9 by 2020. If enacted, it is projected that the proposal would lift the pay of nearly 6 million workers or one in five of the workforce. With the employment rate at a record high but rising numbers of people experiencing in-work poverty, our political parties are right to look beyond the quantity of jobs and think seriously the quality of jobs, including how much they pay. Nonetheless, an ambitious minimum wage hike is likely to worry many businesses. Over the summer, at least sixteen trade associations wrote to Greg Clark, the business secretary, arguing that the government should "exercise caution" and drop its 9 target for 2020. With productivity in the British economy lagging behind our European neighbours, there are far too many businesses paying low wages who feel like they can't risk offering a penny (let alone several pounds) more to their employees. Advertisement Forthcoming IPPR analysis shows that the UK's productivity problem is rooted in the UK's large proportion of low-performing businesses. These firms are characterised by three weaknesses: poor management, a lack of ambition to create high-skill jobs and a slow take-up of new technologies. UK manufacturing firms, for example, have an average 'management rating' in international comparisons which is consistently lower than countries such as Germany, Sweden, France and Australia. At the same time, one third of UK employees is overqualified for their current job, the highest rate in the EU-28. Only 83 per cent of businesses in the UK even have a website (compared with, for example, 95 per cent of businesses in Finland). The government's recent Industrial Strategy Green Paper focuses almost entirely on the external business environment - developing skills, upgrading infrastructure - while doing almost nothing to address the fundamental problems within businesses in the private sector. Increasing the minimum wage to 10 an hour will provide a welcome pay boost for the lowest paid, but unless it is combined with a more innovative approach to the way that most of the economy works it is likely to mean that even more than one in five of the workforce is stuck at the legal wage floor. Until now, industrial strategy has tended to try and support areas of the economy which have potential for high-growth, such as aerospace, automotive or precision medicine. The sectors and companies where the majority of people work have been ignored. If we want to ensure that the lowest paid get a sustainable increase in their pay, we need a plan to improve productivity and job quality in workplaces across the whole economy. Some of this work has begun, through the Productivity Leadership Group led by John Lewis Chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield. The government has provided seed funding for a new Productivity Council bringing together business leaders to engage with the rest of the economy to improve management, innovation, digitisation and work organisation. This work must be central to the UK's new industrial strategy, and quickly scaled up. In the end it is the only way we can sustainably end the British economy's addiction to poverty pay. Advertisement It's been nearly a week since US President Donald Trump ordered the use of force against Assad's Syria in retaliation for a chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun. Several theories have been advanced to explain this startling reversal of Trump's longstanding position that the US must not intervene in the war in Syria: it represents a turn towards a foreign policy based on global humanitarianism; it marks the start of a new policy of regime change in Syria; it was a knee-jerk reaction without a supporting strategy; it was undertaken as a ruse to distract critics at home from the (three) ongoing investigations into whether Trump's team conspired with Russian intelligence to influence the results of the US presidential election. Here is another explanation to consider: the action against Syria was an expression of Trump's presidential masculinity. Before the US presidential election, I wrote about the way that Donald Trump's masculinity on the campaign trail was composed of appeals to emotion, perception and irrationality balanced against more traditional macho, alpha male behaviour. Trump's sharp reversal on Syria fits this pattern very well. According to the televised statement that Trump himself made to announce the strikes, he was motivated to authorise military action against Syria by the suffering of the victims of the attack on Khan Sheikhoun, especially the children. That Trump would reach for military force as a response makes perfect sense: Trump has a visceral need to avoid any appearance of weakness and a fascination with the armed forces as an instrument of US foreign policy (perhaps the only one, now that the State Department's funding may face deep cuts). Advertisement Syria is only the most recent expression of Trump's presidential masculinity - other examples are all around us. Recently Time magazine interviewed Trump to find out how the new president has handled issues of truth and falsehood. During the course of the interview, Trump described himself as an "instinctual person" who relies on gut feelings when making decisions. This would explain a great deal, such as Trump's comfort with dismissing facts and evidence, his lack of interest in (and even active hostility towards) scientific research and his willingness to believe in conspiracy theories. But Trump's preference for instinct over other forms of acquiring knowledge is also reminiscent of "women's intuition", which implies a way of knowing that resists explanation and is completely outside the world of rationality and logic. All this feeling, emotion and instinct that Trump draws upon gets balanced by a hyper "manly" persona in office, as it did during the election campaign. Like Candidate Trump, President Trump puts macho, alpha male attitudes and behaviours front and centre. He frequently talks about "winning", but not only in the sense of introducing successful policies that will improve the US economy or make the lives of Americans better. For Trump, winning is vital because life is a series of zero-sum competitions. The alternative to winning is losing and therefore exhibiting weakness - a result to be avoided at all costs - while other possible outcomes, such as compromise and cooperation, seem barely to exist in Trump's world. We saw this approach in action during the attempt to replace the Affordable Care Act, when Trump first sought to intimidate Republicans in Congress into supporting the new health care bill and then withdrew it before a vote could be taken when it became clear that it would not pass. Advertisement Trump bolsters his masculine credentials by associating himself closely with that most typically masculine of all American institutions: the military. He surrounds himself with military men and he has made it clear that defence is his top spending priority. If Trump gets his way, the Pentagon will be awash with resources despite the fact that he doesn't seem to have a clear idea about how the threat or use of force would help to further the goals of US foreign policy. By choosing to focus his efforts at economic revitalisation on male-dominated industries such as coal mining and automobile production, Trump provides further reassurance that the benefits of his administration will be enjoyed by those who do manly, physical labour. And as Jill Filipovic in the New York Times has pointed out, those all-male photos marking the signing of Executive Orders or discussions held to decide important shifts in policy - including policies that primarily or exclusively affect women - are sending the message that men are back in charge. JACQUES DEMARTHON via Getty Images "If we don't say the last Labour government was good, why would anyone vote for the next one?" That question was recently posed to Progress readers by Harriet Harman. The obvious answer is that no one will. Yet the prevailing mood within the Labour party today towards that period of power is one of measured indifference - or, at worst, open disdain. It is what Tony Blair describes 'as the tragedy of Labour over the past decade'. Advertisement On the 20th anniversary of the 1997 general election landslide, it is worth once again taking stock of what was achieved. It is a period that saw the Labour Party's two largest ever parliamentary victories. It is a period that saw three consecutive working majorities, when Labour had never before won two in a row. It is a period that saw Labour govern uninterrupted for more than twice as long as it had ever previously managed. The electoral achievements, remarkable as they are, are not all of it. The New Labour government made history in changing Britain through the most consistently progressive policy agenda this country has ever seen. Though it is worth saying, too, that the policy agenda would not be possible without the election wins. It not only put Labour in a position to get things done, but it focussed the party on making progressivism popular. People did not just give Labour the opportunity to put its values into practice; they agreed with the values. What that popularity - not populism - presented Labour with was an opportunity the party had not previously had to shape society in a long-lasting fashion. In Record, published by Progress today, our writers attempt to take as full an audit as possible of those policies. What is included should show what an incredible government it was, and what is left out - and much is - should remind us how broad those successes were. Advertisement As Blair himself says, the idea that New Labour was 'some neoliberal government' does not stand up to scrutiny: record investment in the National Health Service, a national minimum wage, civil partnerships, millions lifted out of poverty, doubling the aid and education budgets, the Human Rights Act, Sure Start, the Good Friday agreement, a record fall in homelessness. It was a government that every social democrat should be proud of. 'That's not a betrayal of principles, it's the implementation of it.' The legacy of these achievements is something we still live with today. That is why we cannot forget who achieved them, and how. We did it, and it was not easy. There was nothing inevitable about the victory, and after 18 long years in opposition it did not come on a plate. An election win is not given but taken. We did not win because the Tories were not good enough, but because we were good enough - and a success such as the one in 1997 meant that Labour needed what Peter Mandelson has described as a 'Rolls Royce machine'. But excellence in organisation will only take you so far. You need to have a clarity of vision for the country: a coherent project that the public understands. You need strong values that allow your solutions to modern problems to be flexible, rather than rigid, unchanging ideology that merely aspires to relevance rather than attempts it. Those remain the lessons of the New Labour government. To reflect on and celebrate its achievements, both before and after 1997, is not merely nostalgia. It sharpens the mind to remind us what we can do, and how we can have the opportunity to do it. Two weeks ago the High Court in London ruled there is no 'justiciable defence' on Ukraine's part for the non-payment of a $3bn debt to Russia. Once again, Ukraine, beset by economic, military and political problems, is left in the unenviable position of being caught between Russian aggression and English legal sophistry. Ukraine's predicament regarding the debt goes back to beginnings of its ongoing conflict with Russia in 2013. Ukrainian president Yanukovych engineered a deal with Vladimir Putin which saw Russia agreeing a loan of $3bn. The country's economy was faltering and Putin's loan offered the chance of at least some stability. However, the deal also kept Ukraine firmly within the compass of Russian influence. The aid package was expressed in the form of a Eurobond which came under English legal governance. Subsequent events, including the bloody Euromaidan uprising, Russia's annexation of Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Donbass rendered Ukraine unable to repay the debt. President Yanukovych was ousted fled to Russia in 2014 and is wanted in Ukraine for high treason. Ukraine now argues that the loan was part of a political manoeuvre intended to keep the country tied to Russia. With all this in mind the current Ukrainian government argues that it has no intention of repaying the debt to Russia (it defaulted in 2015). Advertisement This year Russia instigated a lawsuit in London, arguing that the High Court should decide the claim without a trial, since, in Russia's opinion Ukraine was unable to defend its stance at a full trial. For its part Ukraine contends that the original deal was signed under 'unlawful, and illegitimate economic and political pressure' from Russia in 2013. Ukraine pressed for a full trial, as it argues that Russia's aggression and assault on the country's sovereignty has had a direct impact on its economy. In short Ukraine asserts that the case is not simply one of reneging on a debt. Instead, it wished to challenge the conditions under which the loan was made and show its actions regarding the debt against the current political situation. However, English law is nothing if it is not punctilious. Last week Mr Justice Blair ruled Russia's favour, saying 'Ultimately this is a claim for repayment of debt instruments to which the court has held there is no justiciable defence. It would not be right to order the case to go forward to a full trial in such circumstances.' Ukraine suspected this outcome and is set to appeal the decision. It is pressing its view that the debt is 'voidable' as it was made under 'duress.' While one could, arguably, applaud the unbiased qualities of the English judiciary in this case, the decision also seems invidious, given the state of British/Russian relations and Ukraine's predicament. Surely Ukraine should be allowed, at least, to offer her defence in a full trial. Last week's ruling certainly calls into question the judge's knowledge of the situation in Ukraine, for he did not take the geopolitical situation into account. Advertisement Ukraine is not a rich or stable country by any means. Being forced to repay the $3bn would throw the fragile Ukrainian economy into chaos, as this is approximately ten percent of the county's entire budget. Another major point of consideration is that Ukraine has to offer same terms to the other lenders with whom it has restructured its significant debts of almost $18 billion. If Ukraine will have to return a figure of around $20 billion this would be over 5th of the country's GDP. The Ukrainian economy could not sustain this. For centuries English law has often shown itself to be flexible rather than implacably fixed - this is its much vaunted boast. Beleaguered Ukraine is calling for a moral nuance to be applied to its case. I don't talk often about my experiences of balancing a career in the music industry with being a parent - it is something I, alongside thousands of others, just get on and do. But my start to parenthood was perhaps tougher than many - my partner left me whilst I was pregnant and my twins were born two months premature. I focused on bringing them up and realised I was doing an incredibly difficult thing, which gave me a huge amount of confidence. When my children were two years old I set up my own business bookkeeping for small creative businesses. I ended up at BASCA, studied for an MBA and was eventually promoted to the position of CEO. What helped me along the way? Well, fantastic friends - no one can do this on their own. I will never forget the amazing support I was given in the early years. I was also fortunate to move close to a very good state nursery and my children were given places. The latest Family and Childcare Trust's annual report says average UK fees for one child in part-time nursery and another in an after-school club are 7,933 per year. In the early noughties my two full-time London nursery places cost 12,000 per year, which I was able to pay for through Child Tax and Working Families Tax Credits. It left very little to live on but was just about manageable. Advertisement The childcare challenge is something every single working parent faces - not just those in the music industry. But there are definitely some greater barriers in music, such as the unsociable hours. When my kids were school age we had au pairs to live with us in order to help me. I recognise that for many single mothers this will not be an option, but I went without luxuries - and sometimes even basics - for many years simply so I could pay to go to work. I read with dismay about the ongoing reduction of benefits to parents, especially single parents, and the closure of SureStart centres and state nurseries. It is essential that good quality nursery provision is available and affordable for every working parent. We need more innovative childcare solutions, not fewer options. In UK Music's first workforce diversity survey which published its findings in January, women account for a little over half the industry workforce up to the age of 34, which is great. However, this number drops to a third by the time you get to my age, the over-45s. The survey itself did not pin down the reasons, but it may well have something to do with the parental duties women take on. These are issues we will discuss when I am among the speakers at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music's diversity event on April 19. My experiences have certainly made me a more understanding employer. I truly appreciated the understanding shown to me and, in turn, it has been my duty to pay back the same generosity to those whom I employ. In my small team I have two staff on maternity and paternity leave this year. I accept that for certain jobs in music, such as going on tour, it is going to be difficult for any parent. Yet with the right support it is entirely possible to have a great career - but we need enlightened employers who are willing to be flexible. Now I am not saying this is practical in every situation, but I know that employing parents and being understanding with them generates great loyalty and can be of real financial benefit to an organisation. Be family friendly - it is not just a one-way street. Advertisement My experiences also informed me in other ways. As a female working in a male-dominated environment, I became aware of equality and diversity issues. My MBA dissertation was a study into the "attitudes of employers in the music industry towards equality and diversity". I identified the key things a company needs in order to grow and maintain a diverse workforce including support from the leadership, regular staff involvement and ongoing measurement. What to know before you vote today 5 Reasons To Consider Getting A Music Degree While many musicians may already be skilled in their trade and less than keen to fork over the necessary money for a music degree, earning one still has many advantages, whether it's the opportunity to earn more money, or simply the deeper understanding that a close study of music imparts. _______________________ Guest post by Joy of the ReverbNation Blog But I already know how to play, you might say when asked if you want to study music. Why spend money on a degree? Its true earning a college degree is a cost, and it can certainly be an expensive one. But more than anything, a college degree isnt just a cost; its an investment, and making that investment can result in better returns from your career later on for a lot of reasons. No matter what instrument you play, getting a music degree can help to broaden your career and set you up for greater success, including financial success. Here are five reasons to get a music degree. Deeper Understanding Whether you complete a one-year certificate in music or earn a licentiate or doctorate, the study of music will deepen and broaden your understanding of how music works and this will carry over to your professional practice. Knowing music theory can help you write better guitar parts; studying piano can help you become a better composer; taking a class in orchestration will help you understand how instruments and voices work together as partners. Your practical music skills will expand and your performance and composition will improve. Greater Professional Opportunity Anyone can start a band, but not everyone can access professional work as a music educator, composer, or ensemble director. For that, you need a credential and earning it will open doorways into greater opportunities in performance, education, and composition. Many higher-paid opportunities in music, including session work, are only made available to degree holders so if you want to cash in on these opportunities, the investment of a degree in music is a must. More Money Most music degree holders at least dip their toes in the three main areas of musicianship performance, education, and composition. From teaching at a music academy to composing video game soundtracks, a degree is a requirement. Session work, especially, is often the meat and drink of musicians, and while not all music studios require session musicians to have degrees, the ones that do are often given first preference. Often, they are also given higher pay especially if they serve as session organizers or leaders. Overall, youll make more money even if you just finish an associates degree in music. Got a track to sell? Let us distribute it for you, fast and easy. More Collaborators A great many well-known and successful acts met while they were studying music at college or university. Attending school for a music degree will result in a lot of connections between you, your classmates, and even your professors people you may well wind up working with later on. If the sort of work you want to do involves working with other musicians, music school is a proof-positive course to forming working relationships with other skilled musicians. Travel Opportunities Have you always wanted to learn how to play the Japanese taiko? The Finnish kantele? The Chinese pipa? The Brazilian cavaquinho? Do an exchange program. Most colleges, universities, and conservatories offer exchange programs to students, offering a unique opportunity to study the music systems and instruments of nations around the world. These exchange programs can lead to travel opportunities post-study, as well, as you will form academic and professional relationships while youre abroad, just as you will at your home institution. Studying the music of other cultures will not only broaden your perspective, it will often broaden your professional horizons later on. While earning a music degree is not a requirement just to learn and play an instrument, it is a vital step to reaching greater realms of opportunity and financial success throughout your career. Whether you study at a famous conservatory or a state college, the investment of a music degree holds its value well. Share on: The Power Struggle of Music Versus the Machine The digital age has created previously unimagined opportunities for musicians, and changed music creation, distribution and discovery forever. But alongside those changes, the livelihoods of creators has been threatened. Now is the time to recapture the value that music creates, argues Sound Royalties Alex Heiche, and he sees signs that it's starting to happen. _________________________________ Guest post by Alex Heiche, the CEO and founder of Sound Royalties It is time for music to take back control from technology. Over the past several decades, new mechanisms have drastically improved listening quality, ease and accessibility for music fans. However, these advances have simultaneously and paradoxically hurt the livelihoods of those creative artists behind the very songs we love so much. From direct piracy on Napster to most streaming services now paying a fraction of what FM radio or physical sales paid, technology has delivered a critical blow to the income of the creators of music. But the tides are beginning to turn, starting with Spotify. The Tides Are Turning Over the weekend, hip hop icon Jay Z pulled all of his 12 albums from Spotify and most of his music from Apple Music the latest in a what seems to be a growing trend among many top artists. You could say it began when Taylor Swift removed her catalog from Spotify in 2014. Slowly, more artists began to follow. Last year, Spotify didnt have Beyonces new album, and you couldnt find any music from Jason Aldean or even The Beatles. Then recently, the industrys three major labels Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group, which together represent about 75 percent of global music recordings, made a power play demonstrating that they represent the interest of the overall music community in a streaming world. Each label individually allowed their long-term license deals with Spotify to expire. This has left Spotify on month-to-month licenses until longer-term deals can be renegotiated. The Power Has Finally Shifted Finally, enough music is on the bargaining table and the balance of power has shifted in favor of the music community, which is firmly re-positioned back in the drivers seat. That became clear Wednesday when Spotify weakened its position on selective windowing, (allowing additional music on streamings paid services that is not on the free version) in order to re-secure a long-term deal with Universal Music Group. While this practice is something Spotify has adamantly opposed in the past, additional reports indicate that the company is considering similar deals with the other labels that would allow windowing of blockbuster album releases to their premium paid window in exchange for lower royalty rates. Logic dictates that Spotifys in-progress and long-awaited IPO attempt will be contingent upon showing a path to profitability and long-term stability. In addition to Universal, deals with the other labels toward selective windowing to drive down the revenue Spotify shares with the labels, from 56 percent to around 51 or 52 percent, will help that profitability. But for stability, the company will still need to re-sign long-term license deals with each of three major labels. To grant Spotify what is needed, the labels have reportedly given the company several suggestions. The first suggestion is allowing blockbuster album releases to be selectively windowed between the freemium and the paid tier only. The second involves marketing guarantees that Spotify will promote blockbuster album releases. This is equivalent to providing top-shelf or end-cap positioning in the grocery store. A final suggestion is that if the revenue share percentage is lowered, Spotify should guarantee an increase in paid subscribers to help make up for that lost revenue. If it doesnt hit those growth targets, then the expectation can be that the reduction will be paused or reversed. As the consumption of music shifts into digital formats, it is important that the deals which are negotiated finally bring back the opportunity for the music community to provide a livelihood for themselves and their families. Creating music is an art, but it is also a trade that many choose to pursue as their lifelong careers. The creators to the soundtrack of our lives generate tracks that move us, motivate us, comfort us, and so much more. Something as simple as the format on which we enjoy their creations should not affect whether they get paid a viable income versus the allowance of a teenager. Recently, The Financial Times reported that Spotify and the major labels licensing talks have picked up considerably and that deals could be inked within weeks. That proved true for Universal, but remains to be seen for the other two major labels. Thankfully, this news comes at a time when the music community can clearly negotiate from a position of greater strength over the tech companies. Technology can be great, but in the music industry, it is also nothing more than a delivery mechanism. It should never dictate the human spirit or control creativity which are the heart and soul of music. Alex Heiche is the CEO and founder of Sound Royalties, a company working to transform the entire way that music professionals fund their creativity. Share on: Would You Pull Your Music Off The Radio? In an effort to correct the fact that artists haven't been properly compensated for having their songs played on the air the new bipartisan PROMOTE bill would give artists and labels the option to pull their music from broadcast radio. ____________________________ Guest post by Bobby Owsinski on Music 3.0 Almost from the beginning of the industry, recording artists have complained about not being compensated for radio airplay. Sure, songwriters get paid, but artists and labels never receive a dime. This is a phenomena unique to the United States, since in most other countries artist compensation has long been settled. While legislation to pay artists has been put forward from time to time over the years, the powerful NAB has managed to squash it every time. However, a new bill that thinks outside the box on the subject may finally bring the broadcasters to the table. Last week a bipartisan bill called the PROMOTE Act (Performance Royalty Owners of Music Opportunity To Earn Act) was reintroduced to Congress with an interesting twist that could make radio broadcast very interesting for a while. The bill gives a label the right to pull its music a radio station if it chose to do so. Of course, the reason that it would do that is so that the broadcaster would ultimately pay for the privilege of airing it. This could be interesting if a label pulled its big hits off a station, but imagine if it pulled its entire catalog? On the other hand, do artists feel secure enough knowing that a large group of potential fans might never be exposed to their music? Broadcasters have always maintained that although artists and labels dont get paid from radio airplay, what they do receive is substantial promotion in return which could make or break a career. This has been true through the decades, and is even true today as radio is still the number one place that people discover new music. That said, with streaming music having more and more influence on the typical listener, that perspective might be changing (Ed Sheeran and Drake havent seemed to need it lately). If a major radio station suddenly wouldnt have the latest Maroon 5, Taylor Swift or Katy Perry single, would that force listeners away and into streamings waiting arms? If it were your career, would you be willing to risk eliminating a huge potential audience as part of the battle to force broadcasters to pay? These are some of the deep questions for all involved, but should the bill pass (and theres no guarantee that it will), it will make radio a lot more interesting than it is today. Share on: Shire City Herbals has a purchase-and-sales agreement in place for this building on Commercial Street. Pittsfield To Consider Tax Agreement For Fire Cider Expansion PITTSFIELD, Mass. Last May, Fire Cider owner Dana St. Pierre said the company needed to find a new commercial kitchen within a year and a half or its growth would come to a halt. The company was searching locally for a spot to build out a commercial kitchen but struggled to find the right match. It seems the herbal tonic-maker has found it and this week the company will be asking the City Council for a tax increment financing package to help make the finances work. Mayor Linda Tyer put forth a petition to give Shire City Herbals a 10-year tax forgiveness package of its purchase and renovation of 15 Commercial St. The company is agreeing to create 10 new jobs by 2021, create a dozen construction jobs during the renovation, and invest a total of a half-million dollars into building upgrades. In return, the city will phase in the increased property assessment created by the renovations. For the first year the company will pay the taxes on the current assessment approximately $543,000 for a $21,600 tax bill and for the first five years the increased value will be added to the assessment 20 percent more each year. For the last five, it will increase at 10 percent more each year until the new assessment is reached. "An estimated $55,460 in real estate taxes will be paid on the incremental increase in valuation during the ten-year term of the TIF agreement and an estimated $27,310 in real estate taxes will be forgiven on the incremental increase in valuation," Tyer wrote. "The Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council has already approved the project subject to the City Council's approval of the local TIF agreement." Fire Cider is an old-fashioned New England cure-all that St. Pierre, his wife, Amy Huebner, and Brian Hueber turned into a commercial product in 2011. They began the business out of their Wendell Avenue home while using the commercial kitchen located in Greenfield to make it. The three found a niche and the product has taken off. The company moved its offices to space on West Housatonic Street the same building as Blue Q but still used the kitchen at the Franklin County Community Development Corp. The company is up to 14 full-time staffers and with a commercial kitchen, says it will hire more. Shire City Herbals is boasting of growing some 70 percent per year. The state's Economic Development Incentive Program is contributing $74,000 in tax incentives for the expansion. Shire City Herbals is looking to spend close to a million on the building including the purchase for which there is a purchase-and-sales agreement in place and $400,000 to build the commercial kitchen. In the future, the company seeks to spend another $100,000 to update the office spaces. "Brian [Huebner], Dana [St. Pierre] and I first started Shire City Herbals, in part, due to the incredible support we received from our community, including city officials and many local business owners. When we asked Mayor Tyer for help securing a longtime home for our growing business, she personally got on the phone and made us a top priority," Amy Huebner said in a release issued two weeks ago on the state's incentive. "The investment in a new building and subsequent modifications will allow for in-house product development and space for additional staff. We finally found our new home on Commercial Street and the tax credits we have received will go a long way in helping our business continue to grow. We look forward to moving in and hiring more than a dozen people from the Pittsfield community that has shown us so much love and support." The agreement will go to the City Council on Tuesday night and likely referred to the subcommittee on finance, which has already scheduled a meeting with the TIF on the agenda for Wednesday. Gabby Williamson, left, and Sarah Dejesus have been staffing the new program since it opened two months ago on West Main Street. Tapestry's Syringe Access Program Holding Open House NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Only one person entered Tapestry's new syringe access program on West Main Street during its first month in February. Then about 40 people came in during March. "I think once word of mouth started to spread and people knew we were open, every single day for the last three weeks we've had at least two new people come in," said Sarah Dejesus, a clinical medical assistant in the new office. The growing numbers point to the need for the program, the only one of its kind in the county. "It is sad in a way that there is such a need for us but I'm glad that we can be here for people," Dejesus said. "Everybody who comes through the door is like, 'I'm so thankful you guys are here ... It's such a valuable service.'" The office is holding an open house for the community from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday to answer questions and show how the program works. The syringe access program was approved by the Board of Health last year and opened at 6 West Main St. in a building provided by the city that formerly housed education staff. Mayor Richard Alcombright, a member of the local heroin working group and the Massachusetts Municipal Association's Opiate Abuse Task Force, has been strongly supportive of efforts to address substance abuse in the city. "We're just thrilled for Tapestry to be in the community providing the services for a needle exchange and other types of services for folks who struggle with substance abuse disorders and their families," he said. "This is a good resource for those folks." He credited the Board of Health for helping move items with some expediency, like the syringe program and the methadone clinic, and raising the tobacco sales age to 21. The Planning Board signed off in December "It's great, it's good to have these folks here and the city is very happy we're able to accommodate them in this building." Dejesus said the community as a whole has been very welcoming and that the mayor frequently stops in to see if they need anything. Tapestry already runs needle exchanges in Northampton and Holyoke and is in the process of opening one each in Pittsfield and Greenfield through the state Department of Public Health. The concept, supported and funded by DPH, is to reduce harm by providing syringes and injection needs to prevent larger-scale public health issues, like the spread of infectious diseases such as Hepatitus C and HIV. "There are a lot of programs for prevention, there's a lot of treatment programs, but the people that are actively using don't fit on either side and the still need care," Dejesus said. She likens it to driving a driver may be speeding or distracted by texting or eating or smoking but if he or she puts on a seat belt, at least it's a start to reduce harm. "It's just something people are going to do ... if we can provide the accommodations to do it safer ...," she said. "In everyday life, we all can make better choices in one way or another." The concept, supported and funded by the DPH, is to reduce harm by providing syringes and injection needs to prevent larger-scale public health issues, like the spread of infectious diseases like hepatitis C and HIV. Dejesus and co-worker Gabby Williamson, a licensed practical nurse, also provide basic wound care and can answer health questions for substance abusers who may hesitant to seek help for elsewhere. The clinic is funded by DPH but there may be minimal co-pays for services such as screenings for those with commercial insurance. "That would be the co-pay charge. But nine times out of 10, there's no charge for any of the services," said Dejesus, who began working with substance abusers a couple years ago after a decade as a reproductive health counselor for Tapestry in Pittsfield. Williamson, who's been involved in addiction nursing at several different treatment facilities, said a big part of their work is instilling trust in a vulnerable population that can lead them to recovery. "Your hope is that they come in every day, five-six-seven days, and maybe on the 10th day they're like, 'I don't want to do this anymore can you help me find somewhere to go?" she said. "You build that relationship and that trust ... the first time they come in they're shy, after that, they'll tell you everything." The clinic is entirely walk-in and people can come in as many times a day as they need. It's a safe space, said Dejesus, and nonjudgmental. It's open Monday through Friday from 8 to 4 and will fill a third full-time position. It's also casual no suits, no uniforms. "It's so they don't see someone as authoritative," Williamson said. "It's what works and what gets them to open up." Once they do, the office can help set them up with a program, find transportation and schedule an intake. "People who access a syringe program, they're five times more likely to seek treatment than people who don't have access to a program like this," Dejesus said. "It definitely will make things better as far as getting people into treatment but it's building that trust in people." Dreams turned into reality for Pampanga-based Marilyn Lagarde when she became the lucky recipient of a brand-new Lexus NX 200t and Php100, 000 worth of Caltex StarCash from Robinsons Rewards and Chevron Philippines Inc.s (CPI) Christmas promo. The grand prize winner recently received the Lexus NX 200t keys and Caltex StarCash from CPI country chairman Peter Morris and Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. President and COO Robina Gokongwei-Pe during the awarding ceremony at the Lexus Showroom in Bonifacio Global City. Robinsons Rewards and CPIs Christmas promo gave over a million Robinsons Rewards Card members a chance to win the compact luxury crossover, Caltex StarCash for free fuel and Robinsons gift certificates. RRC members simply had to present their Robinsons Rewards Card at participating Caltex stations to get an electronic raffle entry for every Php1,000 worth of fuel purchase from November 15, 2016 to January 15, 2017. Aside from the grand prize, the promo also gave away Php10, 000 worth of StarCash to 10 lucky RRC members and Php10, 000 worth of Robinsons gift certificates to another set of 10 lucky RRC members. The perks, discounts and rewards points I get for shopping and fueling up at Caltex make the Robinsons Rewards Card an indispensable part of my lifestyle. Promo partnerships between Robinsons and trusted brands like Caltex encourage loyalty among customers like me and allow us to maximize the value of our money. Now, I even won a brand-new luxury car because of their Christmas promo. Im excited to see the upcoming surprises Caltex and Robinsons Rewards have in store for Filipino consumers, said Lagarde. RRC members can earn points each time they shop at any Robinsons store or gas up at Caltex stations. These points can then be used to pay for future purchases at Robinsons stores and Caltex stations. RRC members get to experience the five key benefits of Caltex with Techron in every Caltex gas-up: maximized power, better fuel economy, smoother drive, lower emissions, and reliable performance. Our recent partnership with Robinsons Rewards allowed us to bring more value-added experiences to our shared customers. Were working on more exciting promos and surprises with the Robinsons team, so more customers will get to experience not only the best of our loyalty rewards, but also the key benefits of Caltex with Techron, said Peter Morris. Working with Chevron, a partner that shares the same vision of bringing more value to our loyal customers, has clearly made Robinsons Rewards the best rewards program in the metro. Our long-term partnership with Chevron will definitely bring forward more exciting deals, discounts and prizes for Robinsons Rewards cardholders, said Robina Gokongwei-Pe. Appliance giant takes to outer space aboard Shenzhou XI mission Global technology leader Haier takes another giant leap for mankind by joining the Shenzhou XI launch this October. This is the companys fourth time to join a space mission as part of research and development into aeronautic technology for commercial refrigerator applications. We are proud to be the only home appliance brand so far to ever reach space, said Yutaka Itamochi, President and CEO of Haier Philippines. Our company has gone a long way in terms of quality and innovation, and our technology is now making history thanks to space missions like Shenzhou XI. Shenzhou XI is a two-manned mission that is scheduled to dock at Tiangong 2 space laboratory where astronauts will spend about a month to test systems and perform experiments. The mission is part of Chinas efforts to establish a permanent manned space station by 2022. Tiangong 2 was only launched in September this year. Since 2006, Haier has been involved in the development of spaceflight technologies including refrigeration and remote monitoring and control. November 2011 marked the companys first success to join a launch with Shenzhou VIII, followed by another launch in June 2012 with Shenzhou IX where it was used to preserve medical reagents. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Following the release of X-Men Gold #1, Marvel found themselves in trouble after fans discovered anti-Semitic and anti-Christian messages in the comics artwork - a far cry from the X-Mens message of inclusion. Indonesian artist Ardian Syaf inserted numerous references to the ongoing Indonesian protests against the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. Syaf has since posted a statement to Facebook on the controversy, saying his career is now over following Marvels disciplinary action. The statement reads: Hello, Worlds My career is over now. Its the consequence what I did, and I take it. Please no more mockery, debat, no more hate. I hope all in peace. In this last chance, I want to tell you the true meaning of the numbers, 212 and QS 5:51. It is number of JUSTICE. It is number of LOVE. My love to Holy Quranmy love to the last prophet, the Messengermy love to ALLAH, The One God. My apologize for all the noise. Good bye, May God bless you all. I love all of you. Ardian Syaf. Within X-Men Gold #1, the most prominent references to the Indonesian protests was a t-shirt worn by the mutant Colossus which features QS 5:51, a reference to Quran Surah 5:51. That section translates, according to Qur'an.com: Oh you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Show all 34 1 /34 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 1. Captain America: Civil War Release date: 6 May 2016. Iron Man and Captain America are set to face off in this superhero blockbuster that will feature nearly all the Avengers but wont be an Avengers film. It will also mark the first time Spider-Man will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sony having made a deal with Marvel Studios. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 2. X-Men: Apocalypse Release date: 27 May 2016. Following the success of Days of Future Past, Apocalypse will follow the young X-Men team as the battle against Oscar Isaacs titular villain as he gathers his four horsemen; Magneto (Fassbender), Angel (Hardy), Storm (Shipp), and Psylocke (Munn). Expect carnage and no Wolverine. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 3. Suicide Squad Release date: 5 August 2016. The first supervillain film, Suicide Squad is also based in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe, where Batman and Superman live) and will introduce the world to Margot Robbies Harley Quinn and Jared Letos Joker. One of the more exciting upcoming DC films thats for sure. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 4. Doctor Strange Release date: 4 November 2016. Benedict Cumberbatch will debut in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Captain America and Iron Man live) as the Sorcerer Supreme. The film already has an incredible cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachael McAdams and Tilda Swinton. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 5. Untitled Lego Batman film Release date: 20 February 2017. Kicking off 2017 is the Lego version of Batman, who will lead his own spin-off, having already featured in the amazing Lego Movie. Will Arnett voices the titular character, while Zach Garfianakis - from the Hangover - will voice The Joker. But will he better than Leto? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 6. Untitled Wolverine film Release date: 3 March 2017. Having not starred in X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine will return to the big screen in a solo film which was recently made R-Rated following the success of Deadpool. It is expected to be Hugh Jackmans last outing as the titular character. Fox 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Release date: 5 May 2017. Chris Pratt and the crew are returning to space in the sequel to the surprisingly successful Guardians of the Galaxy. According to director James Gunn, the film will not feature Thanos, even though he will to play a major role in phase MCU Phase 3. Cast includes newcomers Kurt Russell and Pom Klementieff, as well as, rumour has it, Sylvester Stallone. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 8. Wonder Woman Release date: 23 June 2017. Gal Gadot is returning to the DCEU in her very own film, marking the first female-led superhero film on this list. Chris Pine is on board to play Wonder Womans love interest. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 9. Untitled Spider-Man reboot Release date: 7 July 2017. Yes, it is another Spider-Man reboot, having previously been redone with Andrew Garfield as the lead. However, this time it is part of the MCU, with Tom Holland as the titular character, and a heavily rumoured cameo by Iron Man could be in the pipeline. We can dream. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 10. Untitled Fox film Release date: 6 October 2017. In a strange announcement, Fox decided to withhold the release of Gambit until a future, as-yet unannounced date, which could be here, or this could be a completely separate project. Many suspect Deadpool 2 could nicely fit here, Fox capitalising on the success of the first film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 11. Thor: Ragnarok Release date: 3 November 2017. Chris Hemsworth will be returning as the Norse God in his third solo MCU film. Flight of the Conchords Taika Waititi is on board to direct, and promises a fun adventure that will likely lead into Marvels next project, Infinity War. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 12. Justice League Part One Release date: 17 November 2017. Hot on the heals of Thor comes Justice League Part One, the first DCEU team-up flick which will see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg work together to fight bad guys. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 13: Untitled Fox film Release date: 12 January 2018. Kicking off 2018 will likely be the second Deadpool film, but then again, this could very well be another X-Men team-up. Theres also talk of an X-Force film, with Deadpool and other mutants teaming up to fight evil. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 14. Black Panther Release date: 16 February 2018. The first non-white male-led superhero film in the MCU comes in the form of Black Panther, with Chadwick Boseman reprising the titular role, having also starred as the Panther in Civil War. Creeds Ryan Coogler is on to direct what could be a very exciting film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 15. The Flash Release date: 16 March 2018. The Flash will be the first DCEU film since Justice League, and sees Ezra Miller take the lead. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were supposed to pen the film before Disney snapped them up for the Han Solo-film, leaving Seth Grahame-Smith to take charge. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 16. Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 Release date: 4 May 2018. And so, we finally get to the point of all these Infinity Stones! Thanos will be the big bad, with the Avengers needing to team up to defeat their biggest foe yet. It has previously been described as the end of the Avengers as we know it. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 17. Ant-Man and The Wasp Release date: 6 July 2018. Peyton Reed will be back to direct this surprise sequel to one of the better received MCU films. While the name is ridiculous, at least Marvel are finally having a leading female superhero. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 18. Untitled Fox film Release date: 13 July 2018. Again, not much word on this one except it is thought to be X-Men spin-off New Mutants, something Josh Boone has been hit up to write. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 19. Animated Spider-Man Film Release date: 20 July 2018. Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, and Amy Pascal - the team behind the live-action Spider-Man films - are producing this unrelated animated adaptation of the hero. Because you can never have too much Spider-Man, right? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 20. Aquaman Release date: 27 July 2018. Another Justice League spin-off, Jason Momoa plays the leading man. Furious 7s James Wan is on to direct, but little else is known about the film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 21. Captain Marvel Release date: 8 March 2019. Weve hit 2019, and the first confirmed superhero film will be the first proper female-led MCU film. No-one is confirmed to be in the titular role of Carol Danvers just yet. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 22. Shazam Release date: 5 April 2019. Dwayne Johnson stars as the villain in this DCEU film which will be somewhat separate to the other DC films. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 23. Avengers: Infinity War Part 2. Release date: 3 May 2019. The conclusion to the long drawn MCU saga. Expect a big finish with at least a few planets being destroyed. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 24. Justice League Part Two Release date: 14 June 2019. Soon after the Infinity War story reaches its conclusion, so will the Justice Leagues. Not much is known, except Darkseid will likely be the villain for at least one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 25. Inhumans Release date: 12 July 2019. The concept of Inhumans (or Marvels mutants) has already been introduced in TV, through Marvels Agents of Shield, yet the film is expected to introduce the Royal Family who have yet to be seen in the show. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 26. Cyborg Release date: 3 April 2020. Having debuted in Justice League Part One three years previously, Cyborg will finally be making his own outing, with Ray Fisher as the titular character. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 27. Untitled MCU film Release date: 1 May 2020. The first of three untitled Marvel films. There are a couple of contenders, the first is a likely sequel to Spider-Man with Sony, or a third Guardians of the Galaxy film, thus finishing the trilogy. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 28. Green Lantern Corps. Release date: 19 June 2020. Before you start to worry, this has nothing to do with the Ryan Reynolds-starring flick that hit cinemas a little while ago. Instead, this will be another DCEU film that will likely spin-off from Justice League after the Green Lantern Corps cameo in one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 29. Untitled MCU film Release date: 10 July 2020. As well as Spider-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy sequels, a Doctor Strange or Black Panther one could fit in nicely here. Or perhaps Black Widow may finally get the solo-film she deserves. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 30. Untitled MCU film Release date: 6 November 2020. Some speculators also think a Blade film could fit in here, marking over 20 years since the first Blade. But many believe the character may be better suited to a Netflix series, as with Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Theres also talk of a Runaways film reaching cinemas at some stage. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 31. Untitled Ben Affleck Batman film Release date: TBA. Now were onto the TBA release dates, the first of which is a Batman solo film, written and directed by Ben Affleck. When this is due, no one is quite sure but expect it sooner rather than later if Batman v Superman is a success. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 32. Suicide Squad 2 Release date: TBA (rumoured 2017). A sequel to Suicide Squad is expected to come in 2017 according to recent reports, but nothing has been confirmed. If the first is successful, it should come as no surprise for Warner Bros to rearrange their schedule to fit in this surefire hit. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33. Venom Release date: TBA. This is an odd one, as it has been confirmed Sony are wanting to release a Venom film completely unrelated to the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. Venom, as you may know, is a Spider-Man villain, intrinsically linked to Spider-Man, so it seems odd they would release a film unrelated to the rebooted project and not linked to the MCU. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Anything else? Well, now you mention it, theres also that sequel to Fantastic Four that has seemingly been dropped by Fox. Plus, theres the Gambit film which has been put on hold (but will likely fill an untitled Fox slot so we havent added it extra). Then again, it could be shoehorned in somehow Marvel Marvel has since released a statement on the matter, reading: The mentioned artwork in X-Men Gold #1 was inserted without knowledge behind its reported meanings. These implied references do not reflect the views of the writer, editors or anyone else at Marvel and are in direct opposition of the inclusiveness of Marvel Comics and what the X-Men have stood for since their creation. This artwork will be removed from subsequent printings, digital versions, and trade paperbacks and disciplinary action is being taken. The X-Men were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, who were both Jewish, while Marc Guggenheim - who wrote the issue - is also Jewish. Guggenheim pointed fans towards Marvels official statement on Twitter. Meanwhile, the comic book makers found themselves in trouble recently following an executive's comments alluding to diversity being reason for the falling sales in comics. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} MGM and Paramount are being sued by The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada for its failure in paying the musicians who recorded the score for 2016 remake Ben-Hur, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film was scored by Marco Beltrami (Logan) whose work for 3:10 to Yuma and The Hurt Locker previously earned him two Oscar nominations for Best Original Score. The report claims: MGM and Paramount have failed and refused either to cause BH Productions LLC or the composer to comply with the compensation provisions of the Agreement, including those requiring the payment of wages, contributions to pension and health benefit funds, and residual revenue contributions to the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund, to or on behalf of the musicians employed in the scoring of BEN HUR, or in the alternative, to make such payments. 10 most pirated films of 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 10 most pirated films of 2016 10 most pirated films of 2016 10. The Revenant Worldwide gross: $533 million 10 most pirated films of 2016 9. Finding Dory Worldwide gross: $1,028 billion 10 most pirated films of 2016 8. Suicide Squad Worldwide gross: $745.6 million 10 most pirated films of 2016 7. Independence Day: Resurgence Worldwide gross: $389.7 million 10 most pirated films of 2016 6. Warcraft Worldwide gross: $433.5 million 10 most pirated films of 2016 5. X-Men: Apocalypse Worldwide gross in 2016: $543.9 million 10 most pirated films of 2016 4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens Worldwide gross: $2.068 billion 10 most pirated films of 2016 3. Captain America: Civil War Worldwide gross: $1.153 billion 10 most pirated films of 2016 2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Worldwide gross: $873.3 million 10 most pirated films of 2016 1. Deadpool Worldwide gross: $783.1 million In addition to the failed payment of wages, benefits, and residual compensation, AFM alleges that MGM and Paramount did not fulfill reporting and studio access obligations. It claims that no studio pass was assigned during working hours and that MGM and Paramount would not provide a B Form report which documents the time worked, services, wages, and contributions to pension and health benefit funds of every musician. Ben-Hur - Trailer The historical remake starred Jack Huston as Judah Ben-Hur, a prince whose adoptive brother, Messala Severus (Toby Kebbell), wrongly accuses him of treason. The film is based on Lew Wallaces best-selling novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, which inspired William Wyler's 1959 adaptation that went on to win 11 Oscars. The 2016 remake, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, was widely considered a critical failure. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ed Sheeran has reached a deal to end a lawsuit for $20m (13.8m) over his song Photograph, which was alleged to have been copied from a single released by X Factor winner Matt Cardle. Sheeran was accused of note-for-note copying from the song Amazing, which was released by Cardle five years ago. Thomas Leonard and Martin Harrington, who wrote the song, sued Sheeran and claimed he was unabashedly taking credit for their work. In a complaint lodged in the US in July, they said: This copying is, in many instances, verbatim, note-for-note copying, makes up nearly one half of Photograph, and raises this case to the unusual level of strikingly similar copying. The pair submitted the chord structures for both tracks and claimed the two songs shared 39 identical notes, with similarities they said were instantly recognisable to the ordinary observer. They were represented by Richard Busch, the lawyer who successfully worked for Marvin Gayes family over the Blurred Lines copyright infringement case that won a $7.4m settlement from Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams. Details of the settlement were not revealed in court papers, however an order signed by judge James Selna at a California court this week said that the case has been dismissed, after an agreement was reached between the parties. Mr Busch told Sky News: I can confirm the case has settled but cannot comment further. Photograph was released from Sheerans album x [multiply], and reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Independent has contacted representatives for Ed Sheeran for comment. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} There's been a lot of confusion over the release date of Kendrick Lamar's fourth studio album, with K-Dot declaring on very recent single 'The Heart Part 4': "Y'all got 'til April the 7th to get y'all shit together" only for the day to come and go with no new music. The US iTunes store then listed the album's 'expected release' date as 14 April, while the UK one said 16 April. We reached out to Apple for clarification, and a spokesperson said: "The album is going live at 9pm Thurs PST everywhere." That means LA will get the new record at 10pm on 13 April, New York at 1am on 14 April and London at 6am on 14 April. Kendrick, has not yet revealed the title of the To Pimp a Butterfly follow-up nor the reason for its slight delay, though he did retweet producer Steve Lacy last night, who wrote: "Are you having fun or just showing people you're having fun?", appearing to co-opt its sentiment. The new album will consist of 14 tracks - its eighth being the already released 'HUMBLE.' - with samples/collaborators including James Blake, Mike Will Made It, BADBADNOTGOOD, The Alchemist and, oddly, U2. We're seeking clarification on which streaming services it will appear on. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} ClientEarth the team of environmental lawyers that has twice taken Ministers to court and won has given the Government 21 days to explain why it has failed to produce a plan setting out how the UK will fight climate change as required by law. Under the terms of Britains Climate Change Act, the Government must come up with a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 57 per cent by 2032. According to official figures, the UKs emissions fell by 33 per cent between 1992 and 2014, largely because of the surge in renewable electricity generation and the switch from coal to gas-fired power stations. Climate change is altering global air currents, scientists warn But, with most homes heated by gas and most vehicles still using petrol or diesel, the UK is a long way off meeting the 2032 target. The Governments Emissions Reduction Plan is supposed to set out how this will be achieved and was due to be published at the end of last year, but has been repeatedly delayed. It is thought further significant cuts could involve policies that are too radical for the current Government, particularly during the upheaval caused by Brexit. For example, as part of its efforts, Norway has pledged to ban petrol-powered cars by 2025. Such a move is not considered likely in the UK. ClientEarth has a track record of forcing the Government to obey the law, twice forcing Ministers to rethink substandard plans to bring air quality to within minimum EU safety standards. In a letter to Climate Change Minister Nick Hurd seen by The Independent, ClientEarth said it was increasingly concerned that the Emissions Reduction Plan had still not been published. The strength of the [Climate Change] Act is that it enables long-term advance planning and investment, the letter said. Recommended UK carbon emissions at same level as when first petrol car invented An ambitious plan now will put the UK on the pathway to real emissions reductions and real investment in the 2020s and 2030s. Failure now to produce an ambitious plan that will put the UK on track to meet the legally binding fourth and fifth carbon budgets will only compound the earlier failures. ClientEarth has warned that it believes the Government could have been in breach of the Climate Change Act for years because its emissions plan for the fourth carbon budget the target level of emissions for the mid-2020s does not actually achieve the necessary reductions. The fifth budget, which runs up to 2032, was set by Ministers last year and requires its own emissions plan. The letter did not threaten legal action, but said ClientEarth would appreciate a response within 21 days spelling out when the plan would be published or reasons for the continued delay. It also suggested the Government could instead publish a draft plan for consultation as a matter of urgency so interested parties could help it produce an effective strategy. Karla Hill, director of programmes at ClientEarth, told The Independent that if no substantive response was received, it might take the Government to court but would prefer not to. Legal action is an option if we dont get any firm indication as to what they are planning to do, she said. Our ultimate goal in all of this is for the Government to produce a good plan and were not really interested in going to court just to force them to produce a plan they are legally obliged to produce any way. Our strong preference is for litigation to be a last resort. She spelled out the importance of the plan. The Emissions Reduction Plan is critical. It is important because it will send a signal that the Government is serious about the Climate Change Act, Ms Hill said. And it will drive huge amounts of investment into clean infrastructure and technology that will reduce emissions in the UK through the 2020s and into the 2030s. 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 Delay and inaction is not really an option under the Climate Change Act or under the international commitments the Government has made. They ratified the Paris Agreement late last year, thats a binding international commitment. Delay is what we are seeing at the moment, but inaction is not an option. Delay will make action more costly. Speaking to an MPs committee hearing earlier this year, Mr Hurd said the plan was so important it was felt the need to get it right was more important than the legal requirement to publish it as soon as practically possible after the carbon budget is set. A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which deals with climate change issues after Theresa May abolished the dedicated department, said: The Plan is a priority for this Government and our intention is still to publish it as early on in 2017 as possible, so that we can move on to the delivery stage. We are undertaking critical preparatory work to ensure we get it right and provide clear guidance on how the Government is planning to reduce emissions through the 2020s. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of the more spectacular triumphs of human culture over nature is our determination when eating to avoid touching food with anything but implements. Our self-satisfaction with this marvellous instance of artificiality, however, should not lead us to assume that people who habitually eat with their hands are any less determined than we are to behave properly; for they too overlay animal instincts with manners and indulge in both the constraints and the ornamentations which characterise polite behaviour. Forks, like handkerchiefs, look dangerously grubby objects to many people encountering them for the first time. To people who eat with their fingers, hands seem cleaner, warmer, more agile than cutlery. Hands are silent, sensitive to texture and temperature, and graceful provided, of course, they have been properly trained. Washing tends to be ostentatious and frequent among polite eaters with their hands. Ancient Romans, like the modern Japanese, preferred to bathe all over before dinner. The etiquette of hand-washing in the Middle Ages was very strict. During the washing ritual, precedence was observed as it was in the seating of diners at the table; the bows, genuflection and other ceremonial flourishes of the ewerers or hand-washers were carefully prescribed. It was often thought disgusting, as it is in India today, to dip ones hands into the basin of water: a servant had to pour scented water over the hands so that it was used only once. (The modern North American preference for showers over baths is similar.) In modern Egypt, the basin is sometimes provided with a perforated cover so that the dirty water disappears at once from view. Hand-washing rules always insist that one must not splash or swish the water; be careful to leave some dry towel for the person washing next; and above all touch as little as possible between washing and beginning to eat. Red-handed: Some consider it a crime to eat pizza with a knife and fork (Getty) (Getty Images) Desert Arabs go outside the tent, both before and after the meal, to perform ablutions by rubbing their hands with sand; they often prefer to perform this ritual before washing, even when there is plenty of water available. It is thought very rude to perform ones final washing before everyone else has finished eating; it would be the equivalent of our leaving the table while the meal is in progress. The corollary of this is that people who eat with their hands usually try to finish the meal together, since it is uncomfortable, for one thing, to sit for long when one has finished eating, holding out one greasy hand. Where family eating is done from a shared pot, there are rules about leaving some food over for the children, who eat more slowly than adults do. A great deal of attention, forethought, and control is required in order to finish a meal together. Right on: touch is as a sense much overlooked in the West when it comes to food (Getty) (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Delicacy and adroitness of gesture are drummed into people who eat with their hands, from childhood. It might be considered polite, for example, to scoop food up, or it could be imperative to grasp each morsel from above. It was once the mark of the utmost refinement in our own culture to deny oneself the use of the fourth and fifth fingers when eating: the thumb and first two fingers alone were allowed. Bones provided they were small ones could be taken up, but held between thumb and forefinger only. We hear of especially sophisticated people who used certain fingers only for one dish, so that they had other fingers, still unsticky and ungreasy, held in reserve for taking food or sauce from a different platter. This form of constraint was possible only if the food was carefully prepared so that no tugging was necessary: the meat must be extremely tender, cut up, or hashed and pressed into small cakes. None but the rich and those with plenty of servants were likely to manage such delicacy; it followed that only they could be truly refined. Left hands are very commonly disqualified from touching food at dinner. The Li Chi tells us that ancient Chinese children were trained from infancy never to use their left hands when eating. Ancient Greeks and Romans leaned on their left elbows when reclining at meals, effectively withdrawing their left hands from use. You had to lean on the left elbow even if you were left-handed: if you did not, you ruined the configuration of the party by facing the wrong way. The same problem confronted, even more vitally, an ancient Greek hoplite soldier. He formed part of a phalanx of shields, all of which had to be held on left arms so that they could overlap; fighting was done with swords grasped in the right. A shield on the right arm would have created a gap in the closed phalanx. The left hand is traditionally discouraged at table because it is the non-sacred hand, reserved for profane and polluting actions from which the right hand abstains. One example of these tasks is washing after excretion. Now it is invariably important for human beings both culturally and for health reasons to understand that food is one thing and excrement another: the fact that they are the same thing, that is, different phases of the same process, merely makes it imperative that we should keep the distinction clear, and continually demonstrate to others that we are mindful of it. Some foods, like croissants, are easier to eat without a fork and knife (Getty) (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Our fascination when we learn that people exist who will not touch food with their left hands is rather interesting. It begins with our conviction that civilized people (ourselves, of course) should eat with knives and forks in the first placethat is, try not to handle food at all. We do not like the reason left hands are most often said to be banned among certain foreigners, fastening as we do upon one reason when it is only one from a whole category of profane actions, because our taboo about washrooms is so strong that we cannot bear to be reminded of excretionwhich we are, by the prohibition. In other words, our taboo is even stronger than theirs. Moreover, left hands have in fact an unclean connotation in our own culture. Right, after all, means correct or okay in English. Sinister originally meant left. In French, a just man is droit, meaning both right and straight, while gauche (left) describes one who lacks social assurance, as well as dexterity and adroitness (both of which literally mean right-handedness). We raise right hands to take oaths and extend them to shake hands: left-handed people just have to fall in with this. In fact, left-handed people, like left-handed ancient Greeks, have always been regarded as an awkward, wayward minority, to the point where left-handed children have been forced, against their best interests, to use their right hands rather than their left. North Americans still prefer not only to cut with the right, but to bring food to their mouths with the right hand as well. Theres a reason why wings are called finger lickin good (Getty) (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Eating with the help of both hands at once is often frowned upon. The Bedouin diner is not permitted to gnaw meat from the bone: he must tear it away and into morsels using only the right hand, and not raise the hand from the dish in order to do so. Sometimes right-handed eaters confronted with a large piece of meat, a chicken, for instance, will share the task of pulling it apart, each of two guests using his right hand and exercising deft coordination; no attention should be drawn to this operation by any movement resembling a wrench or a jerk. Even on formal occasions our own manners permit us, occasionally, to use our fingers when eating asparagus, for example (this is an early twentieth-century dispensation), or radishes, or apricots. But all of these are taken to the mouth with one hand only. We are still advised that corn kernels should be cut off the cobs in the kitchen, or that corn should, better still, be avoided altogether unless the meal is a very intimate affair. One reason why this vegetable has never become quite respectable is that corn cobs demand to be held in two hands. (More important reasons are of course that teeth come too obviously into play when eating them, and cheeks and chins are apt to get greasy.) When we chew, we should also be careful to fill only one cheek not too full, to be sure. Two hands and two cheeks both signify indecent enthusiasm; cramming either hands or mouth is invariably rude. When we chew, we should be careful to fill only one cheek, some etiquette rules state (Getty) (Getty Images/iStockphoto) People whose custom it is to eat with their hands make a further rule: never take up and prepare a new morsel while you are still chewing. When left hands are allowed as well as right, it is quite dreadful to be feeding ones mouth with one hand while the other is groping in the dish for more. (We are far more lax than they on this point: we are permitted to use the knives and forks in our hands, and chew at the same time.) Ned Ward, in O Raree Show, O Pretty Show, or the City Feast, describes the dreadful manners of guests at the Lord Mayors Banquet in London, 1704: Then each tuckd his Napkin up under his Chin, That his Holiday-Band might be kept very clean; And Pind up his Sleeves to his Elbows, because They should not hang down and be Greasd in the Sauce. Then all went to work, with such rending and tearing, Like a Kennel of Hounds on a Quarter of Carrin. When done with the Flesh, they clawd off the Fish, With one Hand at Mouth, and th other in th Dish. Eating with ones hands is very often done from a common dish. Rending and tearing, and hurrying of any kind, become absolutely shocking behaviour, because you look as though you want to take your companions share of the food. You might also pay for such precipitousness by hurting yourself: Montaigne ate very quickly, and confessed in his essay On Experience that he sometimes bit his tongue and his fingers in his haste. The left hand is traditionally discouraged at the table because it is considered the non-sacred hand (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) Handling food is always tightly controlled by rules of etiquette. One is forbidden to play with food distractedly, or for its own sake. Europeans so often committed this fault before knives and forks became common that 17th century French had a disapproving word for it gadrouiller or gradouiller. Civilite books of the time say one should not dip ones bread into the sauce too deeply, or the fingers will go in as well; neither should one turn and turn the bread so that it soaks up gravy on all sides. One should dip neatly and chastely, once. Licking fingers is either sternly forbidden or allowed only if certain constraints are applied. B Meakin tells us for example that in Morocco in 1905, diners were allowed to lick their fingers, but only in this order: fourth (little) finger, second, thumb, third, first. Such a licker proved conclusively that he or she was not neglectfully lapsing from good form. In our own culture, of course, we use our fingers only in special circumstances, or when the rules are being consciously ignored. Licking fingers is more deliberately relaxed behaviour still even though we do not use our hands to take from a common dish, and other people do not therefore risk our touching their food with fingers we have licked. The marketers of a well-known brand of fast food, in claiming that the product is finger-lickin good, stress the informality with which they expect it to be eaten. The advertisers also suggest that their customers will not be able to resist polishing the product off to the last smear. It was our own choice to retreat, eventually, from the touching of food, but the process of giving up hands and taking up forks took many centuries to complete. At familial meals, it was common in Europe until recent times for a central dish of food to be placed in the middle of the table; from it everyone helped themselves. In medieval Hungary, for example, dining tables had holes cut in the middle of them to hold the communal cauldron of meat. Professor Robert Muchembled of Paris says that his own great-grandfather, in the second half of the nineteenth century, was the very first person in his village in Artois to renounce the traditional table with its thick top hollowed out in the middle to hold the food. He decided he would henceforth dine a lassiette, at his own place, and from his own plate. For a long time it was the height of sophistication to cut up our food with a knife and fork; but we would then put these instruments aside and lift the pieces with our fingers. Margaret Vissers The Rituals of Dinner published by Penguin in trade paperback, priced 9.99 For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Windows 10 Creators Update has officially started rolling out to PC users. It wont dramatically transform your computer in the manner of other Windows 10 updates over recent years, but introduces a number of fresh features, including the excellent-looking Paint 3D, Beam game streaming and braille support, as well as a multitude of performance and security tweaks and enhancements. Here are some important things to be aware of before updating your computer. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty You dont have to be patient Dont be surprised if your computer doesnt automatically prompt you to download the update on day one. Although Microsoft has officially released the new software, the rollout is being staggered, in order to avoid overwhelming the companys servers. Last years Anniversary Update took seven months to reach 90% of the Windows users eligible for the upgrade, and theres little reason to suggest the Creators Update rollout will be much faster. Fortunately, you dont have to wait if you dont want to. If you have an hour or so spare and want to get your hands on the update now, simply download the Windows 10 Update Assistant and follow its instructions. There are a couple of important things to consider first though. Privacy settings Jumping the queue and using the Windows 10 Update Assistant comes with one big drawback. Microsoft will reset your privacy settings if you choose to go down this route, forcing you to either accept the operating systems default options or comb through the entire menu again. While staying on top of security is hugely important, it can be an arduous process. With the default settings, youll automatically share your location and full diagnostic data with Microsoft, give Cortana access to your emails and calendar, and receive tailored ads. If you sit tight and wait for the update to come to you, however, Windows 10 will remember your existing privacy settings and preserve them. Protect yourself Major software updates can go wrong, so its sensible to take some precautionary measures before diving in. Creating a system restore point is a really quick and easy way to cover your back. All you need to do is search for create a restore point on the taskbar, select it and create a restore point under the System Protection tab. You can go a step further by backing up your files too. Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a Drive and pick an external drive or network location for your backups. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The iconic first-generation Tamagotchi has been re-launched, 20 years after it first came to the UK. Bandai has made the toy slightly smaller this time around and introduced six bold colour schemes, but the egg-shaped 90s gadget is still instantly recognisable. The digital pet was released in Japan in 1996, before conquering the rest of the world a year later. Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Show all 10 1 /10 Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Apple ipod 1st generation Getty Images Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Motorola StarTAC Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Sony Mini Disc Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Sega Mega Drive Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Nintendo NES Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Sony Walkman Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Nintendo Gameboy Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Nokia 3310 Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Commodore 64 Nostalgic gadgets we would love to see make a comeback Tamagotchi It became wildly popular with children, who had to feed, play with and clean up after a virtual creature, which would die if it wasnt cared for properly. A Tamagotchi was enclosed in the Blue Peter time capsule that was accidentally unearthed by builders 33 years early. Theres a very obvious sense of nostalgia lingering over the technology industry at the moment, and Bandai has become the latest firm to cash in on it. The unveiling of the new Nokia 3310 arguably eclipsed the launch of the 689 Samsung Galaxy S8, a handset thats being widely hailed as the most impressive smartphone ever made. In comparison, the 3310 costs less than 50 and doesnt even have a touchscreen. Though Bandai has released more advanced versions of the Tamagotchi over the past two decades, including one capable of sending text messages, its the original formula that really strikes a chord with its ageing fanbase. The re-launched Tamagotchi is currently only available in Japan, where consumers can snap it up for 2,000 yen (15) on Amazon. There hasn't been any talk of a UK release yet, but plenty will be waiting in hope. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} All girls aged between 12 and 13 are offered the HPV vaccination on the NHS. The vaccine predominantly protects against cervical cancer and is offered to girls in year eight at schools across the UK, however, it is currently not offered to boys despite the fact that males can carry the virus which can cause cancer in them as well as spread to females through sexual contact. The reason is it offered to young girls is to protect them before they become sexually active. Dr Christian Jessen, best known from the television show Embarrassing Bodies, is now calling for boys to become privately vaccinated too and has teamed up with Boots to offer both men and women the chance to be vaccinated across 68 of their UK stores. Dr Jessen told The Independent the fact that boys are not vaccinated is actually at odds with the way most healthcare systems around the world attempt to combat HPV. The NHS currently only offers the injection to girls. Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty Many other countries vaccinate both girls and boys at age 12-13 old years, however in the UK the NHS have to prioritise due to budget restraints, meaning that initially, they have targeted girls aged 12-13 years old, as well as other at-risk groups such a homosexual men. In order to further reduce the transmission of the HPV virus, its important that both girls and boys are vaccinated. This is an important topic and one that is part of an ongoing debate with campaigns for boys to be vaccinated underway right now. HPV is a common virus and has over 100 different types, most of which are harmless. However, others can lead to cervical, anal, penile and head and neck cancer. Other strains of HPV cause sexually transmitted infections like genital warts the second most common type of STI in England after chlamydia. HPV is very easily transmitted, a person does not have to have full penetrative sex in order to catch the virus, close skin to skin or sexual contact with someone carrying it is enough. The virus lives on the skin in and around the genital area and can be spread even if you dont have full, penetrative sex. In most cases, HPV infections do not cause symptoms and resolve without treatment thanks to the immune system clearing the virus, but in some cases, cells in the body change and become cancerous, which can lead to some types of cancer, Dr Jessen explains. It is thought that one in three people in the UK are currently infected with HPV, although Dr Jessen suggests the figure could be higher. Last week, a study revealed almost half (42 per cent) of American adults carry HPV leading researchers in the country to urge parents to get their children vaccinated. Dr Jessen says the vaccination can offer protection against the viruses responsible for 90 per cent of cervical cancers, 90 per cent HPV-related anal cancers, 90 per cent of genital warts, 85-90 per cent of HPV-related vulvar cancers and 80 to 85 per cent of HPV-related vaginal cancers. Dr Christian Jessen (Courtesy of Ask The Doctor magazine, photography by Dan Kennedy) I encourage parents to consider getting their sons and daughters vaccinated prior to them being sexually active to help prevent the spread of the virus, Dr Jessen said. As boys are at risk as soon as they become sexually active, the best time to vaccinate is naturally before the onset of any sexual activity. This too is in line with the NHS programme for girls and other immunisation programmes for boys in other countries like Australia, where boys have been vaccinated since 2013. In 99 per cent of cases, cervical cancer is caused by HPV. In 2014, there were 3,224 cases of the cancer in the UK and 890 deaths as a result of the cancer, according to Cancer Research UK. If almost all the cases of cervical cancer could be prevented by a vaccine then is it not time that men (who can pass the virus onto women) are vaccinated as boys? We know that pretty much all cervical cancer is caused by HPV, by vaccinating boys as well as girls we should see a dramatic reduction in cervical cancer, if not eradicate it completely. That being said, I recommend my patients are vaccinated at any age, as this will always offer some degree of protection," Dr Jessen says. Jeff Brazier, the former partner of television star Jade Goody who lost her life to cervical cancer aged 27, is also backing the scheme saying he would want his two sons he had with Goody to be vaccinated. Recommended Experts urges women to get smear tests on World Cancer Day Its been nearly ten years since my sons lost their mother to a HPV related cancer, meaning as a family we know first-hand how heart-breaking the consequences of HPV can be. Although awareness of female HPV-related diseases is relatively high, many parents dont realise how HPV-related conditions and cancers can affect boys as well as girls. Its essential that parents are fully educated on this and realise there are options for protecting their sons as well as daughters its particularly important to me as my boys are now coming up to the age when if they were girls they would be vaccinated under the NHS HPV vaccination programme. The private vaccination programme at Boots is available for both males and females aged between 12 and 44-years-old. For girls and boys aged between 12 and 14 years old, it will cost 300 for a course of two vaccinations. For those older, it costs 450 and is necessary to have three injections. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Top executives at Shell knew that money they paid as part of a $1.3bn deal for a huge Nigerian oil field would end up in the hands of a convicted money launderer who awarded the asset to his own company when he was oil minister of the country. Emails seen by The Independent and reported by anti-corruption campaign groups Global Witness and Finance Uncovered, show senior bosses at the UKs biggest company had been informed that hundreds of millions of dollars could flow through former oil minister Dan Etete to be paid in bribes to former President Goodluck Jonathan and other political figures. In a huge u-turn, the company has now admitted it knew Mr Etete was involved. It still maintains that it conducted a lawful transaction with the Nigerian government. The deal for one of Africas most valuable oil blocks, which contains an estimated 9 billion barrels of oil worth around half a trillion dollars has been mired in a massive corruption scandal for almost twenty years. In 1998, former oil minister Dan Etete allocated the OPL245 block to Malabu Oil and Gas - a company which he controlled - for a signature bonus of just $2m. After years of legal wrangling, Shell and Italian oil major Eni agreed to buy OPL245 in 2011 for a total payment of $1.3bn. The money was paid to the Nigerian government but instead of going to the people of Nigeria, 1.1bn was transferred to Malabu accounts or earmarked for other middlemen. According to Italian prosecutors $466m of that sum was then laundered through bureau de change and passed on to the then president, Goodluck Jonathan, and members of his government. The new cache of documents have exposed the extent to which Shell knew about the nature of the deal. Etete can smell the money", a Shell senior business advisor, Guy Colegate wrote to Guy Outen, an executive vice president in one newly uncovered email. If, at nearly 70 years old he does turn his nose up at 1.2 bill he is completely certifiable and we should then probably hold out until nature takes its course with him. But think he knows its his for the taking, Mr Colegate went on. Dan Etete photographed in 1998 when he was Nigeria's oil minister (Reuters) In a June 2010 email to Peter Robinson, vice president for sub Saharan Africa, Mr Colegate wrote: Etete claims he has shown (though not copied) a letter from President reiterating Malabus 11pc equity/contract award. This letter [is] clearly an attempt to deliver significant revenues to GLJ [Goodluck Jonathan] as part of any transaction. Another Shell man, former MI6 agent John Copleston, sent an email to several senior colleagues that read: Saw my Delta man. 245. He spoke to Mrs E[tete] this morning. She says E claims he will only get 40m of the 300m we offering - rest goes in paying people off. Mr Robinson later confirmed that he was aware the money was to be paid to Malabu OIl and Gas. He told colleagues: ENI will pay on behalf of itself and SNEPCO [a Shell subsidiary], an amount of $1.09 bln ($1.3bln less signature bonus) into a second escrow. This will be used by the FGN [Federal Government of Nigeria] to settle all claims from Malabu. Members of Shells legal team expressed concern about the structure of the deal to the highest level of the company in 2010, a year before it went ahead. In an email to then-chief executive Peter Voser and executive board member Malcolm Brindred, Shells legal director Beat Hass described the proposal as the least bad of all options. He added: Many legal risks remain, and I share Simon [Henry, chief financial officer]s concerns, particularly the risk of an unknown third party participant and difficulties with securing future cash contributions. Nevertheless, speaking for Shell Legal, we will do everything Within our control to bring this painful matter to a satisfactory conclusion." former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been implicated in the bribery scandal (AP) Simon Henry later acknowledged that the Nigerian government would receive no money at all for the valuable oil field. In a February 2016 telephone exchange covertly recorded by Dutch authorities, Shell's current chief executive, Ben van Beurden, appeared to brush off the significance of the discussions of bribery, describing them as just pub talk. There was apparently some loose chatter between people from the team, particularly the people that we hired from MI6 who must have said things like, Well, yeah, you know, I wonder who gets a pay-off here and whatever, so its unhelpful email exchanges. "Its, its I havent seen them but apparently they were judged to be, you know, just pub talk in emails which was stupid. But nevertheless its there. Mr van Beurden was not chief executive at the time of the OPL245 deal. Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty Despite the obvious problems with the purchase, it proved too lucrative for Shell to walk away from. The OPL 245 field would increase Shells proven global oil reserves by a third, according to Global Witness. By contrast, Nigeria's oil ministry described the transaction as highly prejudicial to the interest of Government. In a 2011 letter the director of the ministry described the OPL245 sale as "completely contrary to the law and the Petroleum Act in particular for a party to consent to the allocation or re-allocation of an OPL or OML [oil licences] by the Minister. The letter concluded that by agreeing to the proposal, the government would be throwing away an enormous amount of financial resources. The deal was ultimately concluded just months after Shell agreed to pay $30m under a US deferred prosecution agreement to settle separate bribery charges relating to an unrelated case in Nigeria. That should have put Shell on its best behaviour as it was being monitored closely by US authorities. Only now after the contents of internal emails have been published has Shell shifted its position and admitted it knew of Mr Etete's involvement. In a statement to the New York Times, Andy Norman, vice president for global media relations at Shell, said: Over time, it became clear to us that Etete was involved in Malabu and that the only way to resolve the impasse through a negotiated settlement was to engage with Etete and Malabu, whether we liked it or not. He added that Shell knew the Nigerian government would compensate Malabu to settle its claim on the block. Simon Taylor, founder of Global Witness, said: This is a huge U-turn that reveals Shells duplicity. For six years it has asserted it only paid the Nigerian government, insisting it has never been anything but transparent about the deal for the oil block, and that its actions were morally OK. Shell and Eni are currently facing criminal charges in Italy and Nigeria over the deal. Investigators in the Netherlands have also probed the sale, raiding Shells offices in the Hague in 2016. Shell facing legal action over oil pollution in Nigeria In January, Goodluck Jonathan issued a statement, saying he was not accused, indicted or charged for corruptly collecting any monies as kickbacks or bribes in the OPL 245 affair. Dan Etete has previously denied any wrongdoing. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Elon Musks Tesla has this week eclipsed General Motors to become the most valuable car company in the US. Just a week after surpassing Ford, Tesla ended Monday with a stock market value of nearly $51bn, exceeding GM's by about $1 million, marking a milestone moment for a company founded 14 years ago, according to Reuters data. The company's latest market surge came after Alex Potter, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, upgraded Tesla's stock from a price target of $223 to $368. "Tesla isn't just another company. More so than any stock we've covered, Tesla engenders optimism, freedom, defiance, and a host of other emotions that, in our view, other companies cannot replicate," Mr Potter wrote in a report seen by Reuters. The luxury electric car companys stock has surged by 35 per cent over the past month as a result of investors growing more confident that electric vehicles will eventually revolutionise the roads leading to a sales boom in the coming years. Earlier this month, Tesla said deliveries jumped 69 per cent from a year ago to a quarterly record of 25,000 vehicles in the first three months of the year, bouncing back from delays in the previous quarter. High-tech beauty gadgets Show all 6 1 /6 High-tech beauty gadgets High-tech beauty gadgets Tria Hair Removal System 235 lookfantastic.com High-tech beauty gadgets Clarisonic Mia Fit 153 johnlewis.com High-tech beauty gadgets Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer 299.99 johnlewis.com High-tech beauty gadgets Philips OneBlade Pro Styler and Shaver 64.95 johnlewis.com High-tech beauty gadgets Foreo Luna 2 for Men 169 lookfantastic.com High-tech beauty gadgets GHD Platinum Copper Luxe 175 johnlewis.com The company said it expects to deliver 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model X vehicles combined in the first half of 2017. But Tesla still has some way to go to becoming the worlds biggest carmaker. The Japanese carmaker Toyota currently has a stock market value of over $170bn. And Tesla reportedly still only accounts for 0.2 per cent of US cars compared to 17.3 per cent for General Motors. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk earlier this month acknowledge that his company could be considered 'absurdly overvalued' if based on past performance. But that's irrelevant, he tweeted. A stock price represents risk-adjusted future cash flows For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Uber has been banned in Italy after a Rome court ruled that it represents unfair competition for traditional taxis. The court said Uber could not use its apps in the country and could not promote or advertise its services, following legal action brought by Italy's traditional taxi unions, Reuters reported. Uber has ten days from the date of the court decision on Friday to shut down its services. Uber says it plans to appeal the decision. A spokesperson said: We are shocked by the Italian courts decision. Thousands of professional, licensed drivers use the Uber app to make money and provide reliable transportation at the push of a button for Italians. Italian taxi drivers have staged a number of strikes, protesting against Ubers presence in the country. They say the US ride-hailing service has an unfair advantage because, unlike normal taxi drivers, its drivers can purchase licenses in small towns where they cost less, and use them to work in cities, the Local reported. Uber has faced opposition in countries around the world as its rapid expansion has hit established providers. In pictures: Uber protests in France Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: Uber protests in France In pictures: Uber protests in France France Taxi drivers on strike burn tyres during a national protest against car-sharing service Uber in Marseille In pictures: Uber protests in France France French CRS riot police face demonstrators as striking taxi drivers block the Boulevard Peripherique near Porte Maillot in Paris In pictures: Uber protests in France France A leaflet which reads "Uber stop, outlaw" is seen on a taxi as striking French taxi drivers block the traffic during a national protest against car-sharing service Uber in Marseille In pictures: Uber protests in France France French CRS riot police arrive to intervene as demonstrators block Porte Maillot in Paris, as hundreds of taxi drivers converged on airports and other areas around the capital to demonstrate against UberPOP, a popular taxi app that is facing fierce opposition from traditional cabs. Access to three terminals at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and in a number of areas of Paris, especially Porte Maillot, were blocked In pictures: Uber protests in France France Taxi drivers on strike burn tyres during a national protest against car-sharing service Uber in Marseille, France. French taxi drivers stepped up protests against U.S. online cab service UberPOP, blocking road access to airports and train stations in Paris and other cities In pictures: Uber protests in France France Policemen stand on a road as taxi drivers on strike block the traffic during a national protest against car-sharing service Uber in Marseille In pictures: Uber protests in France France Taxi drivers on strike block the traffic during a national protest against car-sharing service Uber in Marseille Londons black cab drivers have staged protests against the service, which they say has an unfair advantage because it is subject to less stringent regulation and uses its international structure to pay less tax. In February, Uber laid out plans it hopes will bring its long-running war with black cab drivers to a close. Uber now lets traditional black cab drivers book their journeys through the app without paying the company. The company says that it can coexist with traditional taxi drivers in London. But it still says that The Knowledge test is outdated, that black cab drivers should get new cars and that taxi journeys should be made cheaper. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Smokers will no longer be able to buy cigarettes in packs of 10 after a new law to deter young people from taking up the habit is introduced next month. From 21 May, shops will be banned from selling small bags of rolling tobacco and 10-packs of cigarettes, meaning the cheapest packet will cost 8.82. This marks the end of a one-year transitional period after cigarette manufacturers were ordered to stop producing 10-packs and packs without standardised, plain designs in May 2016. Fruity-flavoured cigarettes and flavours including vanilla, spices and sweets are also banned by the new law. Menthol cigarettes are being phased out more slowly and will no longer be on shelves by May 2020. The minty flavour is said to make them more attractive to first-time smokers. Campaigners have said the Government initiative will prevent younger smokers from buying cigarettes as they tend to have less money. Two thirds of smokers start before the age of 18, according to Cancer Research. Plain cigarette packaging comes into force Show all 4 1 /4 Plain cigarette packaging comes into force Plain cigarette packaging comes into force Pg-23-smoke5-reu.jpg Reuters Plain cigarette packaging comes into force Pg-23-smoke1-reu.jpg Reuters Plain cigarette packaging comes into force Pg-23-smoke2-reu.jpg Reuters Plain cigarette packaging comes into force Pg-23-smoke3-reu.jpg Reuters Theres a great deal of evidence in the UK and around the world that price is the most effective mechanism to reduce consumption of tobacco, Hazel Cheeseman, director of policy at the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), told The Independent. It has a greater effect on younger people and those in low incomes, as for obvious reasons, theyre more sensitive to price. Younger people are less likely to be addicted to nicotine than long-term smokers, so it has a greater effect on them. Although the price of a stick will be similar, it will cost a lot more for a pack. Rolling tobacco currently comes in packs of 10g and 20g, but after 21 May will only be sold in packs of 30g. Now health warnings must cover 65 per cent of the front and back of the packaging of cigarettes and rolling tobacco, and promotional words such as lite, natural and organic are no longer allowed to be used. Since last May, advertising, promotion or sponsorship of electronic cigarettes has been banned on most media platforms, including the internet, TV and radio. British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International filed lawsuits against Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over the rules last year. Impact of smoking on lungs They argued that the regulations were disproportionate and violated a number of UK and EU laws as well as destroying valuable property rights. But the tobacco giants' challenge was overturned the day before the branded packaging ban was implemented and was also later rejected in the Court of Appeal. France and Ireland have also adopted the decision to end attractively-branded cigarette packets, which was pioneered by Australia in 2012. One in five adults smokes in the UK and according to the British Medical Association, smoking costs the NHS 2.7 billion each year. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Dorset have launched a crackdown on the theft of seagulls eggs by poachers who sell them to top-range restaurants. Organised gangs are believed to be stealing hundreds of eggs a year from the birds nests. Black-headed gulls eggs are considered a culinary delicacy and are served in many of Londons gourmet restaurants, often with asparagus. In response to a spate of poaching incidents, Dorset Police have established a new team of officers from its marine section. They will patrol the uninhabited islands off Poole Harbour where many of the gulls nest and lay their eggs. The work will be supported by the Metropolitan Police, which will help ensure that eggs being bought by London restaurants are responsibly and legally sourced. Under UK law, harvesting of black-headed gulls eggs requires a license. Only around 20 people have been licensed to collect eggs at five sites across the country. These do not include Poole Harbour or anywhere else in Dorset. The UK's top birds 2018 Show all 10 1 /10 The UK's top birds 2018 The UK's top birds 2018 10. Chaffinch Down one place on last year. Birdwatch has released this year's rankings for the most frequently spotted birds in the UK. Results were collected from 420,489 British birdspotters Getty The UK's top birds 2018 9. Long-tailed tit Up one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 8. Robin Redbreast Down one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 7. Great Tit Up one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 6. Goldfinch In the same place as last year Pierre Dalous The UK's top birds 2018 5. Woodpigeon In the same place as last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 4. Blackbird Down one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 3. Blue tit Up one place on last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 2. Starling In the same place as last year Getty The UK's top birds 2018 1. House sparrow In the same place as last year Getty Eggs sold legally retail for around 7 and the lucrative trade means many are being illegally collected. Poachers often mistake the black-headed gulls eggs for those of the Mediterranean gull a protected species. Many of the eggs being illegally sold may not be safe for human consumption, according to experts. The clampdown has been organised by Dorset Police in conjunction with the charity Birds of Poole Harbour. Police officer Joel Brooks said: Having a marine section gives us a waterborne capability to patrol these hard to reach areas meaning we can carry out night and day surveillance operations. Paul Morton, who works for Birds of Poole Harbour, said: Mediterranean gulls have the highest level of protection under the wildlife and countryside act, meaning it is highly illegal to interfere with their nests or eggs. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Fans of University Challenge have said Cambridge scholar Eric Monkman remains their unlikely hero, despite being branded useless by host Jeremy Paxman as his team lost out in the final. The Canadian captain of Wolfson College, Cambridge, has sent social media into a frenzy this series, with fans going into meltdown over his hotly anticipated head-to-head with Oxfords Joey Goldman, who also gained a cult following this season. Monkmania peaked this evening as Wolfson locked horns with Oxfords Balliol, showcasing the 29-year-old Economic's graduate's distinctive facial expressions and vigorously determined approach to answering the difficult questions. Recommended 8 most memorable University Challenge contestants Despite his best efforts, he could do little to prevent a comfortable win with a 50-point margin by the Oxford four. The Canadian made heroic efforts, nailing the starter questions time and again, but Balliol were much the stronger team and pulled away in the final stretch of the half-hour BBC2 show to win by 190 points to 140. When the Cambridge student stumbled as he made a guess midway through the show, host Mr Paxman snorted with his trademark disdain: That was a completely useless answer", this served only to endear Monkman further to his fans, especially when he self-deprecatingly agreed with the host. Recommended Paxman reveals why University Challenge contestants seem so smart Balliol captain Joey Goldman didn't lead from the front quite in the manner of Monkman but was ultimately more effective with a stronger supporting team. Monkman led enthusiastic applause for the victors, who were were awarded the coveted trophy by Professor Stephen Hawking, who gave a light-hearted speech. I have said in the past that it is not clear whether intelligence has any long term survival value. Bacteria manage to flourish without it. But it is one of the most admirable qualities, especially when displayed by such young minds. Many congratulations to both teams and especially to Balliol College, Oxford on becoming series champions on University Challenge, a programme I have long enjoyed. Monkman, who is currently job hunting in his hometown of Oakville after completing his Master's degree, said he finds his newfound cult celebrity status "a bit strange." Fans may be disappointed to learn he has a girlfriend, Jiang Na, a professor of law at Beijing Normal University. He told The Daily Telegraph that he doesn't think of himself as "an object of desire" and assumes people are being ironic when they suggest he is a sex symbol on Twitter. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A millionaire American financier who complained that his estranged wife was awarded too much money following the breakdown of their marriage has lost a Court of Appeal fight. Randy Work said a High Court judge did not give him a big enough share of a 140 million fortune. Mr Work said Mr Justice Holman, who concluded that Mandy Gray should get a half-share after analysing the case at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London, did not recognise the special contribution he had made to the creation of wealth. He said he should get a 61 per cent share and his estranged wife 39 per cent. But three appeal judges have dismissed his challenge after analysing evidence at a hearing in London. Mr Justice Holman had said, in a ruling in March 2015, that he had to consider the specialness required before concluding that a contribution to marital wealth was special. He said some judges had referred to a special contribution possessing the quality of genius in earlier rulings. But he said genius tended to be an overused word. I personally find that a difficult, and perhaps unhelpful, word in this context, Mr Justice Holman had said. To my mind, the word 'genius' tends to be overused and is properly reserved for Leonardo da Vinci, Mozart, Einstein and others like them. The couple, both from the the US, had begun living together in 1993 and were in their 40s when their 18-year marriage ended in 2013, judges heard. They moved to England nine years ago. Mr Justice Holman said they had been two strong and equal partners over 20 years and Ms Gray had been a good wife and home-maker. He suggested that without her contribution Mr Work, who worked for a Dallas-based private equity firm called Lone Star, would not have been able to amass the wealth. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters Appeal judges said Mr Work had failed to establish that Mr Justice Holman's decision was wrong. They said they agreed that the use of the word 'genius' was unhelpful. Mr Justice Holman had heard how the couple split after Ms Gray had an affair with their personal physiotherapist. He said they had spent nearly 3 million on lawyers during their titanic battle over the division of money. Press Association Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Less than half of teachers said they had been given training to recognise the signs of forced marriage, according to a new survey. One-third feared they could be seen as racist or otherwise prejudiced if they reported concerns about honour-based abuse including female genital mutilation, said the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) which conducted the poll of its members. The findings come after the NSPCC said a rise in the number of cases dealt with by the Governments forced marriage unit (FMU) was deeply worrying. Just 48 per cent of ATL members said they had been trained on how to spot the signs of forced marriage, while 71 per cent said the same of female genital mutilation. Twenty-nine per cent worried about how they would be perceived if they raised concerns over child abuse linked to religion and belief. Recommended One female genital mutilation case reported every hour in the UK The ATLs equalities co-ordinator, Helen Porter, told The Independent: Schools training of staff in terms of safeguarding in general has improved over the last few years. In our recent survey of honour-based abuse and reporting of it we found that 97 per cent of the respondents, that they understood their safeguarding responsibilities." She added: On the other hand, our survey did show that less than half of the respondents had been trained to recognise the indicators of forced marriage in particular. Theres certainly an improvement that needs to be made. I think the system in schools where they have a designated safeguarding lead is generally a good one. Staff within a school do feel that they can go to that person. That person would be highly trained. The FMU, run by the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, gave advice or support in 1,428 cases in 2016, according to the most recent figures. It was the highest number since 2012 and an increase of 14 per cent on 2015. More than a quarter of cases concerned people under 18. The unit said the increased number of reports could have been due to its extensive outreach programme of training and awareness events and that almost 80 per cent of calls came from professionals, or friends and family members of victims. It added: The fact self-reports represent a smaller proportion of calls may reflect the hidden nature of forced marriage and that victims may fear reprisals from their family if they come forward. An NSPCC spokesman said: Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can all be used to force a child into marriage, so this latest rise is deeply worrying. Sometimes children are too frightened to speak up because they worry they will get their family into trouble, be disowned by their parents, or believe they have no control over the situation. Forced marriage is illegal, a form of abuse, and no child should be made to marry someone against their will. It is vital anyone who suspects a young person is at risk of being forced into a marriage reports it so professionals can step in and protect the child. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters A fifth of its cases in 2016 involved male victims, the FMU said. Pakistan accounted for 612 cases, or 43 per cent of the countries where a victim was at risk of being taken to, or had already been taken to, in connection with a forced marriage. Bangladesh was next with 121 cases, then India, with 79. Eleven per cent, or 157 cases, had no overseas link with the potential or actual forced marriage taking place entirely within the UK, the FMU said. Forced marriage campaigner Jasvinder Sanghera, of the Karma Nirvana charity, welcomed the increase in cases. She told The Independent: For me the 14 per cent rise was positive. We cant afford to be seeing decreases in this. This is clearly under-reported. Of the ATLs findings, she said: What the teachers union need to consider is sending out a very strong message to schools. Its about hearts and mindstheres no excuse. Whats not happening on the ground is schools arent saying this is part of their business. Its certainly not part of the Ofsted framework. This is the time of year that schools need to be thinking about what they're doing to raise awareness, come May and June. Forced marriage affects children as young as five in the UK, she added, while Karma Nirvana, based in Leeds, receives some 750 calls a month to its helpline. According to the ATL, one primary school teacher told it: More and more demands are being placed on the average practitioner. I fear Ill miss the signs of a critical situation. The unions survey was completed by 361 teachers and support workers ahead of its annual conference this week. Ms Porter said she believed the survey sample was representative. Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: The forced marriage unit does a vital job in tackling an important issue. This is not a resource school leaders will naturally be aware of, so the Department for Education (DfE) should ideally ensure it makes schools aware of the issues, how to recognise the warning signs and the crucial distinction between forced and arranged marriage. However, the DfE guidance has not been updated for four years. This should be tackled to make sure school leaders have the support they need. A DfE spokeswoman said: Staff at schools and colleges have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. We updated our guidance to schools on safeguarding last year to include more forms of abuse, including honour-based violence. Schools and colleges also have the freedom to train their staff in the most appropriate way, based on local circumstances and priorities. The department said it had updated its Keeping children safe in school guidance in September 2016 to include more information about abuse like breast-ironing, FGM and forced marriage. The statutory guidance says all school and college staff should receive safeguarding and child protection updates at least annually. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Canadas foreign minister Chrystia Freeland has provided lukewarm support for fresh sanctions on Russia for its continued support of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. While Ms Freeland said Canada would not be "hesitant" in applying new sanctions on individuals in Russia and Syria, she added it was important to go through the necessary legal steps to assure ourselves we are targeting the right people for the right reasons. It comes after a meeting of the G7 allies Canada, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, US, UK, and the EU in Italy to discuss the possibility of sanctions on military figures in the two counties in the wake of nerve gas attack in the Idlib province of Syria last week. Asked whether sanctions will have a role in the effort to persuade Vladimir Putin to drop his support for Assad, the Canadian foreign minister replied: The G7 countries separately have strong sanctions against Russia and strong sanctions against Syria. Its something certainly we in Canada are looking at closely and I imagine our G7 allies will be as well. But pressed further on the issue on the BBCs Radio 4 Today programme Ms Freeland added: Certainly the Canadian position is that we are looking very carefully at additional sanction. From Canada I dont want to leave you with the impression that we are hesitant but its important for us in our sanctions process to go through all the necessary legal steps to assure ourselves we are targeting the right people for the right reasons. Describing the chemical attack in the Syrian village of Khan Sheikhoun last week as war crime, Ms Freeland added there was now a consensus among the G7 over the role of Assad. I think it is really clear now Assad has no role in the medium and long term, peaceful future of Syria thats an important message for Assads patrons in Moscow to hear, she added. Her comments come as the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson travels to Moscow later on Tuesday. He had hoped to take with him a definite statement of intent from the G7 nations and other partners, including Middle Eastern allies who are at the Lucca meeting. But it now appears unclear how prominent new sanctions will feature in the meeting with Russian officials as Mr Tillerson attempts to persuade Mr Putins government to drop its support for the Syrian dictator. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The push to impose new sanctions on Russia following the deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria has hit trouble amid claims that the EU and Germany are cool on the idea. Sources at the G7 in Italy told The Independent that Britain and Americas plan for new punitive measures on Moscow are being taken seriously, but face hurdles before receiving international approval. To win backing, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson may have to narrow the measures scope and already accepts none will be imposed before the completion of an investigation into the chemical incident at the village of Khan Sheikhoun last week. In a bid to give the plan force Theresa May and Donald Trump spoke on the phone on Monday night and agreed there is now a window of opportunity for Russia to ditch its support for the Syrian regime of Bashar Assad. Sources at the G7 said: The UK and the US are pushing but the Germans and the EU representative are cool on the idea. The sanctions are still on the table, but they know they will have to wait until the investigation into the chemical weapons attack before they can be implemented. Several people have referred to sanctions here so the US and UK are not isolated, but its not universal at this stage. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is travelling to Moscow imminently and had hoped to take with him a definite statement of intent from the G7 nations and other partners, including Middle Eastern allies who are at the Lucca meeting. In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: US missile strike against Syria In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The United States military launched at least 50 tomahawk cruise missiles at al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs, Syria, in response to the Syrian military's alleged use of chemical weapons in an airstrike in a rebel held area in Idlib province EPA In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Shayrat airfield in Syria Getty Images In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., after the US fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Reuters But with just hours left to negotiate it was unclear how solid his backing for new sanctions would be going into the meeting with Vladimir Putins representatives. A source at the EU told The Independent any sanctions by the block would need the unanimous support of member states, adding: There are clear procedures for sanctions at EU level. The White House said Mr Trump had called Angela Merkel to discuss Syria. But while officials said the German leader "expressed support" for the US military action and agreed on the importance of holding Assad "accountable", there was no mention of sanctions. A spokesman said: "President Trump and his counterparts agreed to stay in touch regarding Syria and other international issues of mutual concern." Even Canada, one of the closest allies of the UK and US, would only say it was exploring the idea of new sanctions on Tuesday. With wrangling still going on over the issue, Mr Trump thanked Ms May on the phone for her support in the wake of last week's US missile attack on the air base from which the chemical attack is believed to have been launched. A Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister and the President agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest. Russia and Iran have threatened the US over Syria They agreed that US Secretary of State Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement. There was outrage across the world after dozens of civilians were killed in what is believed by the West to have been a chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime. Anticipating tough language from the G7 in Italy, Russia and Iran issued on Monday a joint call for an unbiased investigation into the gassing at the Syrian village. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif agreed to demand the probe, while denouncing the US attack on the Syrian airbase as an act of aggression against a sovereign nation. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Death sentences are at a record high despite the number of executions falling by more than a third, according to a new analysis mapping the number of those put to death around the world. The report by Amnesty International also raises concerns that Britain may be damping down its criticism of countries that use the death penalty as it attempts to pursue post-Brexit trade deals and enters into new security arrangements. According to the organisations annual survey around 1,032 executions were carried out globally in 2016 a 37 per cent decrease on the previous year. In 2015, 1,634 people were executed making it the highest figure recorded in a single year since 1989. But despite the year-on-year fall of those put to death, campaigners warned the number of executions remained historically high and also found that 3,117 people were sentenced to death in 55 countries last year a significant increase on the two previous years. Amnesty International said this was "the highest number of death sentences ever recorded in a single year by the organisation" In reality, however, the figures are likely to be considerably higher as in some counties, including China and Vietnam, data on the use of the death penalty is classified as a state secret. It is believed that thousands were executed in China last year but authorities are deliberately obscuring the shocking scale of executions. The research adds: During 2016 little or no information was available on some countries in particular Laos, North Korea, Syria and Yemen due to restrictive state practice and/or armed conflict. The 47-page report adds that across the world there are at least 18,848 people who were known to be under sentence of death at the end of 2016. Of the executions recorded last year, Iran alone accounted for 55 per cent of the total figure while Iraq more than tripled its executions. In line with previous years, the organisation did not receive any reports of judicial executions by stoning but logged methods including beheading, hanging, lethal injection and shooting. Kate Allen, the director of the organisation, also voiced concern that Britain may be toning down its criticism of countries that use the death penalty as it pursues trade deals and entering into new security arrangements. We fear that trade and security issues are trumping human right, she said. With UK officials damping down their objections to the death penalty when it comes to countries like Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. When, shockingly, Bahrain executed three men after deeply unfair trials recently, the Foreign Secretary could muster only the mildest of rebukes. At its best the UK does some very important work in encouraging countries to end capital punishment, but with death sentences running at record levels around the world now is not the time to go quiet on the issue. Recommended Half of Leave voters want to bring back the death penalty after Brexit If governments in Beijing, Manama, Islamabad and Riyadh see theres very little public outrage over executions, then they're going to think theyve got a green light to carry on killing. Her comments also came after the Joint Committee on Human Rights in Westminster warned that human rights must form a key component of any future trade deal after Britains exit from the European Union. Just last week Theresa May went on a charm-offensive of the Middle East and visited Saudi officials for talks in Riyadh to boost trade and security ties despite the regimes dire record on human rights and its use of the death penalty. While welcoming the overall trend towards fewer executions, Maya Foa, a director at Reprieve, added it is disturbing that certain governments are increasingly using the death penalty as a means of crushing dissent. Many of those with the worst record on executions are countries which British Prime Minister Theresa May has been actively courting in recent weeks has been actively courting in recent weeks including Saudi Arabia, where juveniles face beheading and crucifixion, and Bahrain, where political protesters have been executed on the basis of forced confessions. The UK government must not let the trade agenda trump concerns for human rights. Ms May must condemn the use of the death penalty as a tool of oppression. At the beginning of 2016, the oil-rich Saudi regime executed 47 people in a single day, including the prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, leading to widespread demonstrations. Responding to Amnesty Internationals report, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said the UKs opposition to the death penalty is clear. We condemn and do not support it under any circumstances. They continued: The global trajectory is towards abolition and the UK supports this trend. We will continue to back the UN global moratorium on the use of the death penalty as the first step towards ultimate abolition. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn is to try and woo small business owners with a package of reforms aimed at helping small-time entrepreneurs, self-employed tradespeople, and local firms. In a speech at the Federation of Small Businesses the Labour leader will declare war on late payment as well as unveil plans to cut red tape for companies with an annual turnover of less than 83,000. He will also flesh out proposals for a network of regional investment banks, which he says will help smaller firms access the funding they need to expand. Recommended Half of UK small businesses to increase prices because of weak pound The Labour leader will link the help for small businesses to his partys overall strategy for growth and its more interventionist approach to managing the economy. He will also name and shame large firms including E.On, Capita, BT Group, Vodafone, National Grid and Marks & Spencer which he says contribute to withholding more than 26 billion from suppliers through late payment, driving 50,000 out of business ever year. Cash is king for any business, and big companies are managing their cash by borrowing interest free - from their suppliers, Mr Corbyn is expected to say. Some of the biggest names in business are holding cash piles that dont actually belong to them. Its a national scandal. And its stopping businesses from growing and causing thousands to go bust every year. It kills jobs and holds back economic growth. Mr Corbyn says any company bidding for public sector contracts under a Labour government will be bound to pay its suppliers within 30 days. The party will also consult on a system of binding arbitration to resolve late payments disputes in the private sector. He will also pledge to scrap quarterly tax reporting for small businesses, describing the proposal as a burden and distraction that would harm the economy. We will support those striving to make a living through self-employment and in small businesses, Mr Corbyn will say. Not just because it is the right and fair thing to do, but because millions of jobs and the future of our country depends on it. Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty He will continue: In last months budget, the chancellor bowed to pressure by delaying the implementation of quarterly reporting for small businesses by one year. Thats not good enough. Labour is against small businesses having to report quarterly. Its a burden, a distraction, that will hold entrepreneurs back. Labour will scrap quarterly reporting for small businesses with a turnover of less than 83,000 a year to help you focus on growing your business. Labour has used the parliamentary recess to announce a series of policy initiatives. On Monday Mr Corbyn re-launched plans for a 10 minimum wage; last week he spelled out plans for universal free school meals for all primary school children, paid for by taxing private school fees. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States are the most difficult they have been since the end of the Cold War, the Russian foreign ministry has said. The warning comes ahead of a visit to the country by Donald Trump's chief diplomat Rex Tillerson. Tensions between the two countries have soared over the conflict in Syria, with Russian President Vladimir Putin backing Syria's government and the US opposing it. Recommended UK and US push for Russia sanctions rejected by European allies Mr Trump launched cruise missile strikes on a Syrian regime airbase last week after reports that government forces had launched a gas attack against civilians, including children. "It's clear Russian-US relations have never been so difficult since end of Cold War," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. The ministry said it was concerned about many aspects of US foreign policy, including on Libya, Yemen and Syria, but said it was particularly concerned about North Korea. "We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario. "It's important to understand how that would tally with collective obligations on de-nuclearising the Korean peninsula, something that is underpinned in UN Security Council resolutions." US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach Show all 10 1 /10 US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US Marine soldiers patrol during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea. North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korean soldiers take part in the Operation Pacific Reach joint logistic exercise in Pohang, South Korea Reuters US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korean marine soldiers stand guard during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine takes part in Operation Pacific Reach joint logistic exercise in Pohang, South Korea Reuters US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine takes a position during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise at a beach in Pohang Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined distribution exercise focused on integrating the two sides alliance logistics capabilities, in Pohang, 260 kms southeast of Seoul Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined distribution exercise focused on integrating the two sides alliance logistics capabilities Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine walks past a military vehicle during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise in Pohang Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US Marines gather at a beach during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise in Pohang, 260 kms southeast of Seoul, South Korea Getty Images Mr Tillerson, the US secretary of state, says he is visiting Russia to develop "a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement" to the Syrian civil war. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson cancelled a visit of his own last week to make way for the US diplomat, prompting suggestions from domestic politicians and the Kremlin that he is a US "poodle". Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said ahead of the meeting that he is hoping for productive talks with Mr Tillerson and that he would like to know what the USA plans to do in Yemen and Libya. A Downing Street spokesperson said Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump had spoken by telephone and agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest. However, proposals for sanctions against Russia pushed by the UK were rejected by EU allies at a G7 meeting on Tuesday. The meeting is an attempt to come up with a united position with regards to Russias intervention. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Britain and America have failed to win immediate support from European allies for new sanctions on Russia following the chemical weapons attack in Syria. Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, spearheaded the drive at a G7 meeting of foreign ministers for punitive measures against Moscow, but could not win the full-throated backing he wanted from Germany, Italy or the wider European Union. British officials insisted that targeted sanctions are still on the table, but that moving forward with them would have to wait for a full investigation into the attack which killed scores in the rebel-held village of Khan Sheikhoun. Allies from the EU and Canada had also underlined the need for due process before moving on with any new programme of sanctions, the G7 did agree that no solution to the crisis in Syria was possible while Bashar al-Assad remained in power. Mr Johnson said: What we are doing now is tabling a resolution in the UN security council. There is going to be a chemical weapons inspection group investigation into exactly what happened. And after that of course, if we can find people whether they are Syrians or whether they are Russians who are associated with the Syrian military operation, it is in my view wholly appropriate that they should face economic sanction or sanctions of some other kind. Speaking to Sky News he added: And that is something, by the way, that had a wide degree of acceptance around the table last night, but youve got to do these things in the proper legal way. US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach Show all 10 1 /10 US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US Marine soldiers patrol during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea. North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korean soldiers take part in the Operation Pacific Reach joint logistic exercise in Pohang, South Korea Reuters US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korean marine soldiers stand guard during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine takes part in Operation Pacific Reach joint logistic exercise in Pohang, South Korea Reuters US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine takes a position during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise at a beach in Pohang Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined distribution exercise focused on integrating the two sides alliance logistics capabilities, in Pohang, 260 kms southeast of Seoul Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined distribution exercise focused on integrating the two sides alliance logistics capabilities Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine walks past a military vehicle during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise in Pohang Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US Marines gather at a beach during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise in Pohang, 260 kms southeast of Seoul, South Korea Getty Images Officials tried to play down the failure to win more vocal support for sanctions, saying gaining backing from the Germans and Italians was always likely to prove difficult. A British Government source told The Independent that the UK had gone into the G7 wanting unanimity on Assad needing to go and had won that, adding: Yes, we need more evidence to impose sanctions. But we are confident. Mr Johnson had arrived at the summit in Lucca, Italy, raising the prospect of targeted sanctions against senior Russian officers involved in the Syria conflict, along with top Syrian officials. Russia and Iran have threatened the US over Syria Despite a joint statement from Theresa May and US President Donald Trump saying that there was a window of opportunity for Russia to ditch its support for the Assad regime, backing for sanctions was never more than lukewarm at the G7. Earlier in the day, EU officials said no sanctions could be contemplated without the unanimous backing of all member states, while Canada underlined the need for due process before pushing ahead. The group of nations did give full support for the US missile strike on the Syrian airbase from which the chemical attack is believed to have originated, and were united in their condemnation of Assad. Frances Jean-Marc Ayrault said G7 foreign ministers, including Germanys Sigmar Gabriel, have insisted there can be no peace solution in Syria with Assad in power, while US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said it is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end. Mr Tillerson said: The US is grateful for the statements of all our partners for their support for our timely and proportionate response. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is meeting his Russian counterpart following the G7 (Reuters) As events shift, the United States will continue to evaluate strategic options and opportunities to deescalate violence across Syria. He also criticised Russia for having failed in its responsibility made under UN agreements to ensure that Syria would destroy all chemical weapons. Mr Tillerson is travelling to Moscow imminently and had hoped to take with him a definite statement of intent from the G7 nations and other partners, including Middle Eastern allies who were at the Lucca meeting. Syria: Man loses 25 family members in suspected chemical attack There was outrage across the world after dozens of civilians were killed in what is believed by the West to have been a chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime. Anticipating tough language from the G7 in Italy, Russia and Iran on Monday issued a joint call for an unbiased investigation into the gassing at the Syrian village. Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif agreed to demand the probe, while denouncing the US attack on the Syrian airbase as an act of aggression against a sovereign nation. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} UK Prime Minister Theresa May is on a five-day walking holiday in Wales while being constantly updated on heightening tensions in Syria, according to her spokesman. Ms Mays trip to Snowdonia with her husband, Philip, comes as her G7 counterparts meet in Italy to discuss a joint approach against Bashar al-Assads sanctioning of violence and destruction in Syria and the message the G7 leaders will communicate to his ally, Vladimir Putin, in Russia. The prime minister and her husband are taking a short UK break away from the office. She will continue to be briefed and updated as required. She is a regular visitor to Snowdonia to go walking, a No 10 spokesman said. The Prime Minister spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the US missile strike against a Syrian air base whilst on a short break from 10 Downing Street amid the Easter recess. She also attended a Palm Sunday service in St Marys Church in Dolgellau, Gwynedd. Ms May and her husband are regular visitors to the area and the nearby Brecon Beacons, and have also enjoyed trips to the Swiss Alps. She bought a sterling silver ring for 32 from the Celf Aran Arts shop in the town as well as some coasters made out of Welsh slate. Jeweller Anna Hicks told the Daily Post she was thrilled Ms May had bought some of her pieces. When I first heard she had bought some of my pieces, I thought it was a wind-up, but I am very pleased that she liked the rings, she said. They are practical rings that can be worn every day. We would be delighted if she came back to the shop. Apparently shes a regular visitor and I think its great that she buys locally when she is here. Theresa May accepts trade deal with EU will not be possible before Britain leaves union Matt Fletcher, who served Ms May in the shop, told the same publication that he was so nervous that he fumbled for the keys to the display case. I said to her, Is it you? And she said: Well, it depends on who you is. She was really down to earth," he said. Ms May told Wales Online this month: "Walking in Wales is an opportunity to get out and about and see scenery and clear your mind and your thinking." She added: We stay in a hotel and try to walk every day. Walking is about relaxing, getting exercise and fresh air. Theresa May arrives in Saudi Arabia without a headscarf She said that she and her husband steered clear of discussing politics on a hike for fear of losing their concentration and falling over. It is unlikely that politics will be far from her mind, however. Over the last few weeks alone she has triggered Article 50 to leave the European Union, dismissed Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeons request for a second referendum on Scottish independence and has visited Saudi Arabia to guarantee trade after Brexit. Foreign secretary Boris Johnson was tasked with meeting G7 leaders this week in Lucca, Italy, to discuss warfare in Syria and possible Russian assistance in launching a chemical attack which killed as many as 100 civilians. To divert the mind and relax, Ms May also enjoys cooking as she told Wales Online it was practical and useful. Ms Mays preferred food in Wales is lamb and cheese, rather than cakes, she said, as she has type 1 diabetes. Her predecessor David Cameron also enjoyed holidays in the UK, including surfing trips in Cornwall, and he was also snapped sipping coffees in Spain with his wife, Samantha Cameron. The Commons will return from Easter recess on 18 April. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ukip should disband and go home after achieving its primary objective of taking Britain out of the EU, the partys former MP has said. Douglas Carswell was the only Ukip MP to be elected at the 2015 general election but he quit at the end of March after a long-running feud with other elements within the party. Asked what he thought should happen to Ukip now, Mr Carswell joked about Nigel Farages reported wish to be knighted and said that if youve won a battle or a war you disband and you go home. The Clacton MP, who currently sits as an independent, also dubbed Theresa a real revolutionary and suggested that Mr Farage would have lost the referendum for the Leave campaign had he debated David Cameron head-to-head on television. Asked what should happen to Ukip, Mr Carswell said: Job done. Its one of those really weird things anyone who stuck a microphone under my chin for the last ten years will have heard me say weve got to leave the European Union. Theresa May then triggers Article 50 and I say job done and everyone says what did you mean by that?. I think weve done our job, and I think we should award ourselves a medal, or a knighthood, and take pride that weve won. But generally speaking, if youve won a battle or a war you disband and you go home and you reach out to the people that you beat and you try and win the peace. Thats what we need to do. Speaking at an event hosted by the Institute for Government Mr Carswell criticised those who would want to cry betrayal and re-live the campaign, adding: Its over and weve won. The comments come after another former UKip MP Mark Reckless last week left the party went announced he would now sit with the Tories in the Welsh Assembly. Former Ukip leader Diane James has also said he would consider standing for the Conservatives in 2020. In a wide-ranging discussion Mr Carswell also claimed Brexit was not an angry nativist xenophobic vote but rather a contest that was won precisely because it was an argument about Britain being open, internationalist, generous, and globalist. If you want evidence of this just imagine what would have happened in the referendum if my former party leader had led the Leave campaign and debates with my former-former party leader David Cameron, with Nigel having the Syria posters behind him and David Cameron having the business community behind him, he said. UKIP leader and MEP Paul Nuttall (Getty) "Imagine what the result would have been it could not have been won if wed focused on immigration. Referring to Theresa May, he said: In an age of anti-politics the real revolutionary weve got is a vicars daughter from Maidenhead. Isnt that vastly preferable to whats happening in France, isnt that vastly preferable to whats happening in Italy? I think the system works and actually Brexit will be seen as a profoundly different sort of upheaval. The rise and rise of Ukip the new party of the protest voter Show all 3 1 /3 The rise and rise of Ukip the new party of the protest voter The rise and rise of Ukip the new party of the protest voter 30-ukipprotest-gt.jpg Getty Images The rise and rise of Ukip the new party of the protest voter 30-ukipprotest2-gt.jpg Getty Images The rise and rise of Ukip the new party of the protest voter 30-ukipprotest3-gt.jpg Getty Images Mr Carswell defected to Ukip in 2014 at a by-election, after having previously held the seat as a Conservative. A Ukip spokesperson hit back: Though he might trust this Government to deliver, the signs are it will fail to deliver the clean Brexit that the country demands. It is a foolish general who disbands before the end of the process. There again, if he feels that way, why hasn't he resigned his seat? For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Parts of Africa and the Middle East face their worst drought in almost 70 years with a significant risk of starvation leading to mass deaths, the United Nations refugee agency has warned. Four countries Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen stand on the brink of a new humanitarian crisis brought about by drought and famine. Aid agencies have told The Independent that the bleak situation is likely to worsen significantly in the coming months as the so-called hunger gap takes hold. The numbers, released by the UNHCR, are staggering: 20 million people live in areas where harvests have failed and malnutrition rates are increasing, particularly among young children. One million people are now on the brink of famine. Recommended With no support women are being raped because of extreme drought UNHCR has raised its projections for the number of refugees displaced from their homes in the region, including in South Sudan and Somalia, where hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes to find food. The UN agency blamed a combination of war, political instability and environmental factors including climate change and said it was scaling up its efforts in the region. The worlds most vulnerable in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria are running out of time, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told The Independent. The risk of death from starvation is real. Time is of the essence here. If there ever was a more needed time for solidarity from the international community and individuals who can donate, it is now. He said the agency was preparing for a crisis at least as bad as in 2011, when over a quarter million people lost their lives in a drought described at the time as the worst in 60 years. Somalia, a Horn of Africa country of 12 million people, is facing its third famine in 25 years of civil war and anarchy (Getty) That could soon be eclipsed by this year's drought and famine, which is compounded by a funding shortfall that has meant an avoidable humanitarian crisis is fast becoming an inevitability, UNHCR said. Overall the UN has appealed for $4.4bn (3.5bn) for the four countries but has received less than $984m (790m) or 21 per cent to date. In Yemen, home to the worlds largest humanitarian crisis with almost 19 million people in need of aid, the situation is nothing less than catastrophic, according to Shabia Mantoo, the agencys spokesperson for the country. She told The Independent: Millions are going hungry, displaced, in danger and languishing in abysmal conditions. Those affected and displaced by conflict are struggling to meet primary needs food, water and shelter. People are dying, either directly as a result of conflict of because of preventable causes, others are living on the streets, more and more children are becoming malnourished and those most vulnerable, women and children in particular, are resorting to desperate measures to try and sustain themselves and their families at the risk of exploitation and abuse. Disasters Emergency Committee in Africa famine appeal In South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, close to one in five of the population has been displaced by the drought. Juliette Stevenson, a UNHCR representative based in the capital of Juba, told The Independent: The people in South Sudan continue to suffer immensely. There are over 1.9 million people displaced inside the country due to conflict, with many of them difficult to reach because of both the rampant insecurity and the huge logistical challenges working a country with vast distances and very few roads. Of particular concern to aid agencies are the summer months of June, July and August known as the 'hunger gap' or lean season when populations run out of food from the previous growing season but next years crops are not ready for harvest. A spokesperson for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the agencys medical teams were scaling up their efforts in Nigeria in preparation for an expected surge in hunger and malnutrition during the 'hunger gap'. In the north-east of the country alone, food insecurity is projected to affect 5.2 million people over the three month period. Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation Show all 11 1 /11 Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632483.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632484.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632485.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632486.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632487.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632488.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632489.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632490.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632491.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632492.bin Ed Ou Surviving Somalia: Photographer Ed Ou visits a food project as famine strikes in the East African nation 632493.bin Ed Ou Peter Lundberg, the UN deputy humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria, said the lean season also combined with Nigerias rainy season, making hard-to-reach communities even more inaccessible. In other circumstances we would pre-position food, but here that is a problem because of the conflict, he told The Independent. The Nigerian army is not happy to bring food and store it in remote areas. We may open up other routes from Cameroon, but were also looking at taking food in by air, but that will be the last resort as it is extremely expensive. As it stands right now they will not even have food for the lean season as the current funding promised only lasts until June. We hope and expect more funding to come but the difficulty with this type of operation is it needs planning, so the sooner we know what funding we have, the easier it is for the people dealing with the logistics. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Refugees and migrants are being sold at modern-day public slave markets in Libya, the UN's migration agency has said. International Organisation for Migration staff found hundreds of young African men are being traded in public in what they described as slave markets. The situation is dire, Mohammed Abdiker, IOMs Director of Operation and Emergencies, warned. The more IOM engages inside Libya, the more we learn that it is a vale of tears for many migrants. Some reports are truly horrifying and the latest reports of slave markets for migrants can be added to a long list of outrages. Previous reports found refugees and migrants are being forced into "modern slavery" by people traffickers. Italian coastguard rescues thousands of refugees off coast of Libya One survivor, a Senegalese migrant, said he was taken to a parking area in Sabha, southwestern Libya, after crossing through the desert from Niger in a pick-up truck organised by traffickers. As the truck reached Sabha, the driver insisted he hadn't been paid by the people smugglers and took his passengers to what the Senegalese man described as a slave market. Sub-Saharan migrants were being sold and bought by Libyans, with the support of Ghanaians and Nigerians who work for them, IOM Niger staff reported. The survivor described being "bought" and then sent to a "prison," a private home where more than 100 refugees were held as hostages. Migrants crossing the Sahara desert into Libya ride on the back of a pickup truck outside Agadez, Niger, May 9, 2016 (Reuters) He said the captors forced them to phone home and said they were often beaten while on the phone so their family members could hear them being tortured. His captors asked for 300,000 west African francs (390), which he couldn't raise, then sold him to a bigger house where a new 600,000 west African francs (780) demand was made. To avoid further beatings, he worked as an interpreter for the kidnappers and described dreadful conditions with food offered only once a day. He said some migrants who couldn't pay were killed or left to starve to death. If a captive died or was released, the survivor said the kidnappers returned to the market to "buy" more to replace them. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. Migrants who go to Libya while trying to get to Europe, have no idea of the torture archipelago that awaits them just over the border, said IOM spokesman Leonard Doyle. There they become commodities to be bought, sold and discarded when they have no more value. He added:"Tragically the most credible messengers are migrants returning home with IOM help. Too often they are broken, brutalised and have been abused, often sexually. Their voices carry more weight than anyone elses. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has resigned rather than face impeachment and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanour campaign violations that arose during an investigation of his alleged affair with a top aide. In a remarkable fall, the mild-mannered 74-year-old Republican and one-time Baptist deacon stepped down as the sex-tinged scandal gathered force over the past few days. Legislators turned up the pressure by opening impeachment hearings Monday. Last week, the Alabama Ethics Commission cited evidence that Bentley broke state ethics and campaign laws and referred the matter to prosecutors. There've been times that I let you and our people down, and I'm sorry for that, Bentley said in the old House chamber of Alabama's Capitol after he pleaded guilty. The violations were discovered during the investigation of his affair but were not directly related to it. In court, Bentley appeared sullen and looked down at the floor. One misdemeanour charge against Bentley stemmed from a $50,000 loan he made to his campaign in November that investigators said he failed to report until January. State law says major contributions should be reported within a few days. The other charge stemmed from his use of campaign funds to pay nearly $9,000 in legal bills for political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason last year. He did what he did, and he deserves now to be called a criminal, said Ellen Brooks, a retired district attorney overseeing the state investigation. The plea agreement specified that Bentley must surrender campaign funds totaling nearly $37,000 within a week and perform 100 hours of community service as a physician. The dermatologist also cannot seek public office again. Bentley's successor is Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey, who became Alabama's second female governor. The first was Lurleen Wallace, wife of segregationist and four-term Governor George C. Wallace. She ran as a surrogate for her still-powerful husband in 1966 when he couldn't seek re-election because of term limits. She won, but died in office in 1968. The Ivey administration will be open. It will be transparent. And it will be honest, Ivey said. Bentley said in his statement that he no longer wanted to subject his family and staff to the consequences that my past actions have brought upon them. His staff gave him a standing ovation as he entered and exited the old House chamber. Bentley's resignation follows the ouster of former House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who left office in 2016 after being convicted on ethics charges, and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was suspended from his post last year over an order opposing same-sex marriage. Bentley, a staunch family-values conservative who won two terms partly because of his reputation for moral rectitude, was first engulfed in scandal last year after recordings surfaced of him making sexually charged comments to the 45-year-old Mason. An investigative report prepared for the House Judiciary Committee and released last week said Bentley encouraged an atmosphere of intimidation to keep the story under wraps and directed law enforcement officers to track down and seize the recordings. The report portrayed the governor as paranoid and obsessed with trying to keep the relationship secret. The committee on Monday started what was expected to be days of hearings. Bentley lawyer Ross Garber had argued that impeachment should be reserved for only the most grave misconduct, noting that only two US. governors have been impeached since 1929, and both were indicted for serious felonies. It is not unusual for elected officials to have ethics and campaign finance issues. In fact, many governors face these things. It is very rare, though, for legislators to try to leverage those issues to impeach a governor. In fact, it is simply not done, Garber told The Associated Press in an email. Garber also represented former Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina and ex-Governor John Rowland of Connecticut during impeachment proceedings. The last US governor to be impeached was Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in 2009. He was removed from office and is now serving a prison sentence for conspiring to sell an appointment to President Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat. The investigative report contained text messages that the governor sent to Mason. They were intercepted by Bentley's then-wife, Dianne Bentley, who was able to read the messages because they also showed up on the governor's state-issued iPad, which he had given her. I sure miss you. I need you. I want you. You are the only one, one message read. Dianne Bentley divorced her husband in 2015 after 50 years of marriage. At one point, according to the investigative report, the governor sent the head of his security detail to fetch the recording from his son Paul Bentley, who responded: You ain't getting it. Dianne Bentley had secretly recorded her husband by leaving her phone on while she went for a walk. The former first lady's chief of staff also charged that Bentley threatened her job because he believed she had helped his wife make the recordings. Former Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier, who a day after being fired by Bentley last year held a news conference where he publicly revealed the affair accusation, said he feels vindicated by the resignation and plea deal. On Friday, the governor made a sombre plea for forgiveness from the steps of the Alabama Capitol, acknowledging that he had let people down but promising that he had done nothing illegal or anything to merit his removal from office. He has denied having a physical relationship with his former aide, though in some of the recordings he talked about the pleasure he got from fondling her breasts. GOP leaders in the House and Senate called on Bentley to resign, as has the Alabama Republican Party's steering committee. 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 It's really time for us to look ahead and start moving forward on more pressing matters, Republican Senator Cam Ward said. It was a constant distraction, one that was never going to change, and it's time for us to get back to work. Two of Bentley's predecessors in the past three decades have been convicted of crimes: Republican Guy Hunt in the 1990s, for misusing funds, and Democrat Don Siegelman, who was convicted of bribery in 2006. Associated Press Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Before Delores Shelbourne passed away, she and her husband of 66 years passed their time making blankets for local charities. Now, her husband is continuing their work even after her death. Eighty-eight year-old Clayton Shelbourne who admits he was never the seamstress in the operation has picked up the scissors and thread to keep the blankets coming. "I just felt there was a need," Mr Shelburne told local station CBS 4. While the Zionsville, Indiana couple used to make blankets for a camping club, Mr Shelburne has turned his efforts to the local police. He recalls being moved by story about a father who had to leave his young son on the side of the highway while he walked to get help with a breakdown. So far, Mr Shelburne has donated more than three dozen blankets enough to outfit every car in the Zionsville Police Department and the Boone County Sheriffs Office. Police say they will use them in cold-weather car crashes. That blanket will come in real handy when you wrap it around somebody in need, Sgt. Adrian Martin of the Zionsville Police Department told CBS 4. Now that hes covered the police and sheriffs department, Mr Shelburne is moving on to his local childrens hospital. Hossain Marandi, the president of nearby Peyton Manning Childrens Hospital, told The Independent the hospital is grateful for the donation. "This donation is perfect for all ages and provides comfort to many of our patients when they are getting ready for a serious procedure or surgery," he said. "The fun fabrics and soft material can also make the hospital seem less scary for some of the younger children." Mr Shelburne, meanwhile, says he will keep working as long as there is money for materials. Friends, family, and fans of his work often donate to the cause. "My time is nothing," said Shelburne. "Im 88-years-old, I can do this when its raining outside and I enjoy doing it. Im sure if my wife was here she would be happy Im doing this too. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Staff at the US Environmental Protection Agency are openly dismissing and mocking the environmental policies" of Donald Trump's administration, according to a former employee's scathing resignation letter to its director Scott Pruitt. Michael Cox, a 25-year veteran of the agency, accused Mr Pruitt of demonising and insulting staff, while showing a "lack of understanding" about what the organisation does. Along with many of his former colleagues, he said he had become "increasingly alarmed" about the agency's direction under the former Attorney General of Oklahoma. Staff morale was at its lowest since he started in 1987, said the 60-year-old. But he added that his former colleagues were openly dismissing and mocking the environmental policies" of Donald Trump's administration "and by extension you, the individual selected to implement the policies. Mr Trump has previously called global warming a concept that "was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive." Before his appointment to the role Mr Pruitt was a known climate change sceptic and he sued the EPA to block the implementation of President Obamas clean power plan. In a 2016 editorial, he called the debate on climate change far from settled and accused environmentalists of pushing a climate-change agenda. He was recently criticised after he claimed in an interview that carbon dioxide is not a primary contributor to global warming, a statement that prompted the American Meteorological Society to write him a letter correcting him about the assertion. Mr Cox wrote that "it was surprising, no shocking, when you stated on national television that carbon dioxide is not a primary contributor to climate change. He added: This is settled science and we have too many other important scientific issues to investigate related to climate change to waste our time debating this issue. He also demanded an explanation for recent budget cuts to the agency, which has seen its funding cut by 31 per cent and a quarter of its jobs cut under Mr Trump's administration. Mr Cox said this meant cuts to funding for Alaskan Native villages, the restoration of the Puget Sound ecosystem, and programs to retrofit school buses to reduce diesel emissions. Mr Pruitt had been complicit in the budget cuts, or not powerful enough to stop them, Mr Cox wrote. He also accused the director of not having done his homework on the Paris Climate Agreement, which Mr Pruitt once called a bad deal for the US. While not perfect, was a huge step forward in battling climate change and moving the world in the direction of newer cleaner energy, Mr Cox said. Finally, Mr Cox warned Mr Pruitt will alienate himself from his staff if he continues in the same trajectory. Criticising the organisation you lead is not the type of leadership that will produce results, Mr Cox wrote. As a leader, you need to motivate and inspire your staff. He added: We are counting on you to advocate for EPA...The health of the American people and our country depends on you." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} As James Thompson worked his way through a coffee shop, the Democratic candidate for Congress said something that got people to look up from their laptops. We've got a lead right now. Really? said Marla Flentje, a Republican who said she'd voted for him in early balloting. A trio of Democrats walked over to meet Thompson and tell him they'd vote Tuesday. I hope you do, because right now, we're winning, said Thompson. Thompson was not supposed to win - or even come close - in this largely rural 4th District, which picked Donald Trump for president by 27 points. Representative Mike Pompeo, R, vacated the seat to lead the CIA, and Republicans expected to hold it easily. But in the final days before Tuesday's special election, Republicans reacted to weak polling and turnout data by rushing resources to southern Kansas. A GOP super PAC rolled out robo-calls over the weekend from Vice President Mike Pence, and on Monday from President Donald Trump, in support of candidate Ron Estes. Ron Estes needs your vote and needs it badly, Trump said on the call. Ron is going to be helping us, big league. On Monday, Republicans also dispatched Senator Ted Cruz, Texas, for a fly-in, where he urged Kansans to vote if you're fed up with the stagnation under the Obama economy. Late Monday, the national House Democratic campaign arm announced that it was calling 25,000 households to counter the GOP influx. Readers of the liberal Daily Kos donated a total of $149,000 to Thompson over the final weekend. This - the home town of Koch Industries - is the last place the GOP expected to have to undertake a rescue mission. The Kansas seat is one of the reddest of the five House seats vacated in the Trump era, four of them by Republicans who joined the new administration. If Thompson ends up winning here, the national Democratic Party will claim the victory as a portent of bad things to come for Republicans in the 2018 midterms with Trump in the White House. Democrats also have an opportunity in Georgia's 6th District, where Jon Ossoff is surging in the race to replace former congressman Tom Price. R, who is now health and human services secretary. In Kansas, Thompson, a civil rights lawyer who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in the 2016 presidential caucuses, flew under the radar for weeks. Meanwhile, Estes, the state treasurer, got bogged down as his party staged an unsuccessful rebellion against deeply unpopular Governor Sam Brownback, R. Estes rarely mentions Trump, but he did reference fair trade at the Cruz rally, smoothing over an issue that divides Kansans. As the race has tightened, Republicans, who are still favoured to win Tuesday, have strained to make the election a referendum on liberalism. Brownback, invisible on the trail, didn't help matters by vetoing a bipartisan Medicaid expansion bill last month; his most favorable polling puts his job-approval rating below 25 percent, even in the 4th District. In November, as Republicans were scoring upsets around the country, they lost three state House seats in the Wichita area. Several more-conservative Republicans lost primaries to moderate candidates. People here still like Trump, said Thompson, whose campaign signs identify him not as a Democrat but as an Army veteran. It's not been a referendum on him. It's a referendum on the failed Republican leadership in the state. People don't want these policies taken to the national level. In Wichita, where turnout in early voting has been high, Brownback's name has the force of an epithet. As she settled in for lunch at the Anchor, a downtown gastropub where Thompson stopped to shake hands, Kayla Marshall said she didn't vote in the 2016 election. She would, she said, vote for Thompson - and to explain why, she talked about teachers buying pencils with their own money because Brownback had cut the education budget. Recommended Kansas rep Mike Pompeo confirmed as CIA director Lynn Jones, who opened his door to Thompson canvassers Monday morning, was quick to say he'd voted for George W. Bush. Brownback, he said, was nothing like Bush. OK, he was trying something new with his tax cuts, but the experiment didn't work, Jones said. When the laboratory explodes, you probably ought to try a different formula. Thompson, a first-time candidate, was generally ignored by both parties for most of the race. When his campaign asked the state Democratic Party to fund a mailer, it was turned down, later investing just $3,000. In an interview last week, Democratic National Committee Chairman Thomas Perez said the national party would not be transferring any late money. We can make progress in Kansas, Perez said. There are thousands of elections every year, though. Can we invest in all of them? That would require a major increase in funds. Thompson spoke before Sanders at a February rally and has been endorsed by Sanders' group, Our Revolution. According to recent fundraising reports, Estes has raised $459,000 to Thompson's $292,000. Outside groups, which are pouring money into Georgia ahead of the April 18 contest there, have left Kansas alone. The Democrats think so much of their candidate there that they've spent zero dollars, said Corry Bliss, executive director of the Republican-allied Congressional Leadership Fund. We'll win the Kansas election by double digits. His group is now funding robo-calls targeting local Republicans, who outnumber Democrats but have been sluggish to turn out. The National Republican Congressional Committee has spent close to $100,000, multiplying Estes's presence on the airwaves. Thompson's campaign reacted with delight to the robo-calls, viewing them as not just ineffective but as sign of his viability. Because he's getting so little attention - no trackers from the other party were following him Monday - Thompson talked freely with a voter concerned about abortion, agreeing that society should do more to lower abortion rates. He dismissed a last-minute TV ad accusing him of favouring abortions for sex selection as representing his views to a ludicrous and false extreme. His final TV spot featured him shooting an AR-15 as a narrator called him a fighter who grew up in poverty, but the National Rifle Association was not on the air to contradict him. What was on the air for Estes was rote - and telling of how Republicans have struggled to find a pro-Trump rallying cry. One of Estes' first commercials featured him in waders, joking that after eight years of Obama, America is weaker and the swamp is deeper than we thought, as an alligator poked its head up for emphasis. Democrats haven't won here since the early 1990s; then-Rep. Dan Glickman, D, was swept out by a Republican wave in 1994. Glickman vastly outspent his opponent, but the Republicans made up for it with a grass-roots surge of antiabortion activists. In 2014, when Bliss helped Sen. Pat Roberts, R, secure victory, he got a similar late-game boost from social conservatives. Those wins came when Democrats controlled the White House. On Monday, when more than 150 Republican voters piled into the Estes-Cruz rally, some wore anti-Hillary Clinton merchandise; all cheered when Cruz recalled how his lips curled into a smile when he saw a Democratic colleague mourn Clinton's defeat. The cheering was quieter when Cruz and Estes described the stakes of the election. They spoke generally about repealing the Affordable Care Act, though Estes said he opposed the GOP replacement bill that fizzled last month. Cruz talked up tax reform by staging a contrast: Unlike Obamacare, I'm convinced we can get it done. Estes, meanwhile, packaged himself as an agent of common sense and disruption, without mentioning the work he'd done with Brownback. I'm going to Washington to change Washington, he said. When I go to Washington, I want to get to a balanced budget. The Republican majority that Estes would join does not have a balanced-budget plan. In interviews at the rally, Estes' voters said they were thrilled that Neil Gorsuch had been confirmed to the Supreme Court, but they had little else to say about Congress. Asked what he thought of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., John Bernhardt, who sported an early-voting sticker on a red-white-and-blue polo shirt, answered with a grimace. Can I plead the fifth? he said. Joyce Wallace, who got a plum position near the rally stage, said she had no qualms about sending a Trump ally to Washington. I'm all for Trump, she said. I think he's fulfilling his campaign promises. 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 Not every Republican at the event agreed. Cathy Dowell, who like Wallace had caucused for Cruz in 2016, worried that Trump went back on a campaign pledge by attacking a Syrian airfield. I'm a little worried about Trump, Dowell said. I know he's not a conservative, and I think he's making a mistake in Syria. But the two Republicans found something to agree on: Both would be happy if Carl Brewer, the Democrat who just finished two terms as mayor of Wichita, replaced Brownback in the governor's office. The Washington Post Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Washington Posts David Fahrenthold has won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting, which included the revelation that Donald Trump had made false claims about his charitable fundraising as well as breaking the news of the tape in which the tycoon bragged about groping women. During the US election campaign last year, the reporter investigated the Presidents philanthropic works over his business career, revealing that Mr Trump had made his fundraising seem more impressive than it actually was. Following Mr Fahrenthold's reporting, the New York Attorney General opened an inquiry into the Trump Foundation fundraising practices, and ultimately issued a notice of violation ordering the foundation to stop raising money in New York. The Pulitzers, given out by Columbia University, are the most prestigious prizes in American journalism for newspaper and digital news coverage. A Pulitzer's nothing... Ebert enters elite club at 'New Yorker' Show all 4 1 /4 A Pulitzer's nothing... Ebert enters elite club at 'New Yorker' A Pulitzer's nothing... Ebert enters elite club at 'New Yorker' 600857.bin A Pulitzer's nothing... Ebert enters elite club at 'New Yorker' 600858.bin A Pulitzer's nothing... Ebert enters elite club at 'New Yorker' 600859.bin A Pulitzer's nothing... Ebert enters elite club at 'New Yorker' 600856.bin GETTY IMAGES His work included an article disclosing that Mr Trump had made crude comments about how his celebrity allowed him to grab women by the pussy during an unaired portion of an interview on Access Hollywood in 2005. The tape caused a howl of protest in the US and worldwide although it wasnt enough to prevent Mr Trump defeating Hillary Clinton in the election. Harvard graduate Mr Fahrenthold was honoured in the category of National Reporting, having spent 16 years at the Post. In May 2016, Mr Fahrenthold began his dogged investigation into Mr Trumps claim that he had given away millions from his own pocket to various charities, including veterans organisations. Recommended Donald Trump attacks on New York Times have sent subscriptions soaring He periodically posted updates to his Twitter account of the responses he had received from the charities Mr Trump had named, with only one charity out of 400 confirming they had received any money. Mr Fahrenthold paid tribute to his colleagues at the Post and thanked his readers and Twitter followers who he said had helped him along the way. Washington Post editor Martin Baron joked from the newsroom that Dave also won by the popular vote, in a pointed reference to Mr Trump. Heres what Dave did. He never took things at face value. Donald Trump claimed to be a generous guy. A foundation under his name was giving away money. But Dave thought to dig into whether it was really Trumps money and typically the answer was no. Mr Trump has all but declared war on a large section of the US media, consistently branding reports about his teams alleged links to Russia as fake news and repeatedly calling The New York Times a failing organisation. The President, who is yet to comment on the awards, has called the US media the enemy of the people and held an extraordinary press conference in the wake of BuzzFeeds publication of an unverified dossier written by a British spy which alleged the existence of a Russian sex blackmail tape against him. The New York Times, affectionately nicknamed the grey lady, won three Pulitzers at todays ceremony for breaking news photography, feature writing and international news. The New York Daily News and website ProPublica won the Pulitzer for public service for its joint series on the New York Police Departments widespread abuse of a decades-old law to force people from their homes and businesses over alleged illegal activity. The investigation looked into more than 1,100 nuisance abatement cases and found the Police Department almost exclusively targeted households and shops in ethnic minority neighbourhoods. The hard-hitting reporting resulted in sweeping reforms in the way the citys police handles nuisance cases. Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal won the prize for commentary for her columns that the judges said connected readers to the shared virtues of Americans during one of the nations most divisive political campaigns. 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 The local reporting prize went to The Salt Lake Tribune in Utah for its reporting on the callous treatment of sexual assault victims at Brigham Young University. The East Bay Times in California won the breaking news prize for its coverage of a Ghost Ship fire that killed 36 people at a warehouse party last December and probed the failings by officials that led to the tragedy. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, McClatchy, and The Miami Herald shared the prize for explanatory reporting for their coverage of millions of leaked documents known as the Panama Papers scandal. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The passenger who was forcibly dragged from an overbooked United Airlines flight and left with blood dripping from his face may have been breaking the law by refusing to leave the aircraft, an expert in aviation law has said. The man, reportedly a doctor called David Dao who needed to be at work in a hospital the next morning, was seen shouting while being violently removed from his seat and dragged down the aisle of the aircraft by security officers after he rejected calls from the crew to disembark. He was filmed by horrified passengers who posted the video online, showing him with blood pouring from his mouth, his shirt pulled up around his chest and his glasses askew. Footage was later released showing the man saying: I want to go home, I want to go home. The incident, which caused widespread outrage, occurred when the United Express Flight 3411 from Chicago OHare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, was overbooked and the airline required four passengers to leave the aircraft to make room for staff. Passengers were offered first $400 and later $800 to give up their seats, but when too few people volunteered they became selected by the airline at random. Chicago security officers were called in when the man was chosen to leave but refused to. Andrew Harakas, partner and aviation expert at Clyde & Co law firm, told The Independent that Mr Dao was effectively obliged to disembark under federal law if asked to do so by staff. Once youre a passenger on board an aircraft you cant interfere with the crew performing their duties or the aircraft being operated, thats the basic rule, he said. United risks a backlash from passengers, with many people threatening to boycott the airline at the start of a busy holiday period (Snapshot) He was denied boarding, he should have got off the plane but he didnt and the authorities were called. From a legal perspective, he was violating the law if he interfered with the crew members duties or the ability for the plane to be operated." Mr Harakas stressed this was a highly unusual situation as the passengers were asked to disembark after having already boarded the aircraft, adding: Until the facts all come down we cant assess it either way. Footage of a man being dragged off a United Airlines flight sparked outrage on social media (Jayse D Anspach) While incident is subject to US law, Mark Franklin, head of aviation at firm DLA Piper told The Independent the rules are practically the same in the UK. Once you are on board an aircraft it is a general requirement of conditions that you obey the orders of the pilot and cabin crew, he said, while adding that the orders often relate to safety instructions such as requiring passengers to fasten their seatbelts. Once you disobey an order of the cabin crew you are potentially in trouble, however unreasonable it is, he added. The security officer who grabbed the passenger has been placed on leave, according to Chicagos aviation department. In an official statement, United Airlines chief executive Oscar Munoz said the incident had been an upsetting event and that his team was working with authorities and conducting its own review into what happened. A leaked email to staff saw Mr Munoz defend his employees, calling the passenger disruptive and belligerent. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} News that a passenger was forcibly dragged off a United Airlines plane has gone viral all over the world, but in China the outrage has been fuelled by one uncomfortable fact: The doctor who was pulled off the plane, first screaming and then bleeding, appeared to be of Asian origin, and was overhead complaining that this might have been a factor in his treatment. He said, more or less, Im being selected because Im Chinese, fellow passenger Tyler Bridges was quoted as saying by The Washington Post. That quote, translated into Chinese, was widely circulated on social media here. By early afternoon on Tuesday, the topic had attracted 85 million readers on Sina Weibo, Chinas version of Twitter, and 56,000 comments, making it comfortably the top trending item of the day. Petitions to boycott United Airlines were also going viral on WeChat, a popular messaging service. United Airlines just randomly chose an Asian? Its blatant racial discrimination, a user called @Rhando_hiclarie wrote in a typical post. UA is super rubbish. Some users pointed out the irony of Uniteds motto: Fly the friendly skies, but many saw incident as an example of American hypocrisy, and what one user called a perfect illustration of human rights in the United States. I am going to tell you a joke: America is the country with the best human rights in the World, one user called @Youthliteratureandart wrote in a post that attracted more than 4,000 likes. Americans often say they have democracy and human rights, but they cant even respect people who have different skin colors, @Nanchigirl wrote. Americans are so barbarous, @_tua wrote. Overbooking is the airline companys own problem. This passenger didnt break the law. The security guy beat him until his face is covered in blood, is this the so-called American democratic society? Chinese-born comedian Joe Wong urged his followers to join the boycott of United. Many Chinese people feel theyve been subject to discrimination, but (fear of losing) face prevents them from speaking out, which leads to mainstream media in the West and the public not taking discrimination against Asians seriously, he said. Others made similar points. 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 Why dont you randomly choose a black person? another user asked in a post that attracted 1,294 likes, implying an Asian was an easier target for racial discrimination than an African-American. The calls for a boycott in China could have a real impact on the companys bottom line: as the Financial Times pointed out, United has often billed itself as the top American carrier to China, and offers direct flights from the United States to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xian. The Washington Post Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A politician has been called "racist" after she refused to apologise for claiming that she had to break up a 100 percent white male card game to get her colleagues to listen to a debate on Black Lives Matter. Melissa Hortman, the Minority Leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives, made the comment to voice her frustration over the lack of attendance while women of colour were speaking. Many of her colleagues were relaxing in another room instead of watching the speeches and some were playing cards. So Ms Hortman, a white Democrat, made a call of the House to get fellow legislators back to the floor. "I hate to break up the 100 percent white male card game in the retiring room, but I think this is an important debate, she told her fellow politicians, according to the US news channel Kare 11. Recommended Black Lives Matter protesters block Minneapolis highway Asked by a member of the rival Republican Party to apologise, Ms Dortman said she had "no intention" of doing so, adding that she was really tired of watching women of colour in particular being ignored. So Im not sorry. The politicians then went to hear Democrat, Ms Ilhan Omar, speak out against a proposed bill put forward by Republicans that would make protestors liable for law enforcement costs should they not disperse when ordered to. They would also face arrest. Democrats have claimed the bill introduced in response to Black Lives Matter protesters who shut down a popular Minneapolis shopping mall and several roads after Jamar Clark and Philando Castile were shot by police. A former refugee and the first Somali-American politician elected to office, Ms Omar said the activities of these protesters was closely connected to civil rights activists from the 1960s. Ms Hortman told the ThinkProgress website she thought it was an important debate about the work that needs to be done on civil rights by those in the state legislature who had never faced racism in their lives. But House Republican Majority Leader Joyce Peppin, called her "white male card game" comment racist. Dozens of his fellow party members have also signed a letter claiming Ms Hortmans comments needlessly invoked the race and gender of her colleagues, and called into question the motives of members during a lengthy floor debate. It will be entered in the Houses official journal. Ms Hortman was unrepentant. Im still not sorry, she said after the letter was made public. The bill nonetheless passed through the legislature and it will be up to the state's governor, Mark Dayton, to sign it into law as part of a larger public safety bill. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The US is to investigate possible Russian collusion in the suspected chemical attack carried out by the Syrian government. The White House said there was currently no consensus in the intelligence community about whether Russia knew about the chemical attack before it was launched last week, killing 80 people. Damascus denies it was behind the attack. An official at the White House said Vladimir Putin had isolated Russia by aligning himself with Bashar al-Assad, and accused Russia of showing a clear pattern of trying to shift blame for chemical attacks away from the Syrian government. The comments come after Mr Putin accused rebels of planning a fake chemical attack in order to frame Mr Assad. The Russian president, speaking in Moscow alongside his Italian counterpart, said: We have information from different sources that these provocations - I cannot call them otherwise - are being prepared in other regions of Syria, including in the southern suburbs of Damascus where there are plans to throw some substance and accuse the official Syrian authorities. In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: US missile strike against Syria In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The United States military launched at least 50 tomahawk cruise missiles at al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs, Syria, in response to the Syrian military's alleged use of chemical weapons in an airstrike in a rebel held area in Idlib province EPA In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Shayrat airfield in Syria Getty Images In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., after the US fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Reuters Mr Putin also called for his own investigation into the chemical attack, saying: We plan to turn to the United Nations bodies in The Hague and call on the global community to thoroughly investigate into this incident and make balanced decisions based on the investigations outcome. He added that some in the West are using Syria to cast Russia as a "common enemy". The dispute between the two world powers has erupted as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In the months before he murdered his wife, Martin Joseph MacNeill told family, his church and friends in Pleasant Grove, Utah, that he was dying from cancer. The doctor, a former Mormon bishop with eight children and a law degree, then rearranged his finances and took trips, ostensibly for medical care. But he didn't have cancer. He had a mistress, and a plan to kill his wife. Investigators believe this was part of Martin's plan to deflect attention away from him and to later remove himself from the events that would unfold on the day his 50-year-old wife Michele died, court documents said. Just before her death in 2007, MacNeill convinced the former beauty queen to undergo plastic surgery. When she returned home, he drugged her and left her to die in a bathtub, where she was found by their six-year-old daughter Ada, authorities said. On Sunday, nearly a decade after the killing, 61-year-old MacNeill was found unresponsive and declared dead at the Olympus Facility at the Utah State Prison in Draper, where he was doing time for his 2014 conviction of first-degree murder, second-degree obstruction of justice and second-degree forcible sex abuse. Prison officials said in a statement that MacNeill's death is being investigated, though there were no obvious signs of foul play. His first parole hearing had been scheduled for 2052. His attorney, Randy Spencer, told the Deseret News that MacNeill at attempted suicide at least once before while incarcerated. I feared this day would come, he said. It hasn't been officially released, but I suspect that that is what has happened. Last month, the Utah Court of Appeals turned down MacNeill's bid for a new murder trial, a case that garnered national attention as salacious details of the wealthy doctor's life emerged, including accounts of mistresses and falsifying transcripts to get into both medical school and law school. Prosecutors said he killed his wife because he wanted to be with his latest young mistress, a nurse named Gypsy Willis, who moved into the home after the murder under the pretence of being a nanny. MacNeill soon named Willis as his beneficiary. MacNeil told so many lies over the years and was so good at deception that the chief investigator of the Utah County Attorney's Office compared his life to the movie Catch Me If You Can, telling the Deseret News that the movie paled in comparison. A month after his wife's death, MacNeill abused an adult daughter, who testified that she woke up at her parent's house to find her father rubbing her buttocks and licking and kissing one of her hands, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Years passed, but he was eventually convicted of that crime. Two years after the murder, MacNeill and Willis were sent to prison after being convicted of multiple accounts fraud for using one of MacNeill's adopted daughter's social security number to open bank accounts under a false name in order to escape bad credit, ABC News reported. But it wasn't until 2012 - five years after his wife's death - that MacNeill was charged with her murder. He was also charged with obstructing the investigation into her death, largely due to his behaviour on that day of the incident. Investigators said that MacNeill called 911 after his daughter found her in the tub, but he lied to the dispatcher about performing resuscitation and lied to police about events surrounding her death in an effort to hinder, delay or prevent any investigation, according to the charges, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The dispatcher, Heidi Peterson, testified that MacNeill yelled so loud over the phone that she couldn't tell what he needed help with or where to send an ambulance. He also gave an incorrect address, she testified. Scott VanWagoner, the emergency room physician who attended to Michelle MacNeill, testified in Provo's 4th District Court that Martin MacNeill offered me $10,000 to continue my resuscitation and not quit. At the time, he didn't understand why. I think she was dead by the time she arrived at our door, he testified. Investigators said Martin MacNeill also provided misleading information to the state medical examiner. After an autopsy in 2007, her manner of death was ruled natural, the result of chronic hypertension and damage to the heart muscle. But a report issued in 2010 noted the combined effects of heart disease and drug toxicity, and said the manner of death was undetermined, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. 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 After MacNeill's conviction, 4th District Judge Derek Pullan sentenced him to 15 years to life for murder as well as 15 years on the obstruction charge. MacNeill did not speak during the sentencing. Mr. MacNeill, as you deprived Michele MacNeill of her life, the state of Utah exacts from you today the liberty that you otherwise might have enjoyed in your remaining years, the judge said. The Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Chinese government official has reportedly been demoted after refusing to smoke in front of religious people. Jelil Matniyaz, the Communist Party chief of a village in the semi-autonomous, Muslim-majority province of Xinjiang in north-west China, had his title changed from senior staff member to staff member. This was changed because of his infirm political standsand for being afraid to smoke in front of religious figures, according to the state run Global Times newspaper. Recommended China is worried that the US is about to escalate with North Korea "Smoking is a personal choice, and religious and ordinary people should respect each other, but his behaviour of 'not daring' to smoke conforms with extreme religious thought in Xinjiang," said an unnamed local official. "As a Party chief, he should lead the fight against extreme religious thought, otherwise, he would fail to confront the threat of extreme regional forces," the official added. According to local customs, it is considered wrong to smoke in front of older people or those who are religious. Some religious people attempt to force other citizens to follow this tradition. Those that do so are often accused of not being committed to secularisation. Government officials are currently attempting to clamp down on religious extremism in Xinjiang, which is home to a number of different ethnic and religious groups, including the Muslim community known as the Uighurs. In pictures: Severe flooding hits China Show all 18 1 /18 In pictures: Severe flooding hits China In pictures: Severe flooding hits China Rescuer workers carry an injured woman through flood waters in Jiujiang EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits China People attempt to push a car through flood waters in Jiujiang EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits China Aerial view of submerged Binjiang East Road along the Liujiang River in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Rex Features In pictures: Severe flooding hits China A woman sheds tears at the gate of her home in Puhe Community of Qijiang District in Chongqing Rex Features In pictures: Severe flooding hits China People walking at a flooded road in Jiujiang EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits China A driver leaving his car in the flood in Jiujiang EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits China Rescuers evacuating victims trapped in floodwaters at a village in Poyang county AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Severe flooding hits China A rescuer grabs a rope to prevent a raft carrying residents from being flushed away as residents are evacuated from a flooded area in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province REUTERS In pictures: Severe flooding hits China A truck submerged in floodwaters at a village in Poyang county AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Severe flooding hits China An aerial view of the flooded town after a dyke along Bingtian River broke in Poyang county in central China's Jiangxi province EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits China Rescuers evacuating victims trapped in floodwaters at a village in Poyang county AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Severe flooding hits China A village submerged by floodwaters in Poyang county AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Severe flooding hits China A resident making his way through a flooded area in a village in Poyang county, in southeast China's Jiangxi province AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Severe flooding hits China A man standing on the rood of a flood-inundated building in the flooded ancient town of Longshan county AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Severe flooding hits China Rescuers evacuating villagers trapped in a flooded village in Duchang County, Jiangxi Province EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits China A village submerged by floodwaters in Poyang county AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Severe flooding hits China Workers trying to open a sewage well on a flooded road in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits China Residential buildings are flooded after heavy rainfall in Hengyang, Hunan Province Reuters In March, the provincial government issued new rules that aimed to clamp down on extremism by banning the wearing of veils and growing of abnormal beards. There have been a number of violent attacks in the province in recent years, which China blames on the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM). The Uighur ethnic group in Xinjiang wants greater autonomy from China but has been met with opposition from the Beijing government. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} North Korean authorities are ready for war following the USs reckless moves for invading and sending battle ships within their coastal waters. We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions, a spokesman for its Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. The US sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its group of battle warships to waters off the coast of the Peninsula in a display of defiance against the Republic and to conduct exercises with the South Korean Navy. This goes to prove that the USs reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario, the spokesman continued. If the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for preemptive attack and removal of the headquarters, the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US. US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach Show all 10 1 /10 US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US Marine soldiers patrol during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea. North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korean soldiers take part in the Operation Pacific Reach joint logistic exercise in Pohang, South Korea Reuters US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the US move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korean marine soldiers stand guard during the US-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea AP US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine takes part in Operation Pacific Reach joint logistic exercise in Pohang, South Korea Reuters US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine takes a position during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise at a beach in Pohang Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined distribution exercise focused on integrating the two sides alliance logistics capabilities, in Pohang, 260 kms southeast of Seoul Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined distribution exercise focused on integrating the two sides alliance logistics capabilities Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach A US Marine walks past a military vehicle during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise in Pohang Getty Images US/South Korea joint exercise Operation Pacific Reach US Marines gather at a beach during a Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CJLOTS) exercise as part of a joint defence exercise in Pohang, 260 kms southeast of Seoul, South Korea Getty Images The Northern Republic is vowing tough retaliatory moves amid escalating conflicts with the US, shortly after North Korea tested out ballistic missiles and justified the test as self-defence while engaging in war games with its southern neighbour. President Donald Trump said the US was prepared to act alone to deal with the threat from North Korea to test more ballistic missiles and develop one that could reach the US. Such tests are banned under United Nations resolutions. Donald Trump could lead US into new war with North Korea, warns former MI6 chief The official response followed US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons statement on US missile strikes against a Syrian airbase in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack carried out by Bashar al-Assad. He did not specify North Korea, but his message was clear. If you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken, Mr Tillerson told ABC. US naval ships in the area are not uncommon. On Saturday night the Pentagon ordered a Navy carrier strike group to move towards the western Pacific Ocean to be more of a physical presence in the region, a move that Mr Trumps national security adviser H R McMaster called prudent. Officials from South Korea and China, North Koreas closest ally, threatened to impose strong additional measures if North Korea carries out more nuclear tests. China has already executed sanctions, including banning all North Korean coal imports for the last two months. As reported by South Korean news agency Yonhap, the US, South Korea and Japan are meeting this month to plan a joint response to North Korea. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The adage about a week being a long time in politics has never been truer than in South Korea, a tumultuous young democracy where politicians and parties rise and fall almost as fast as a North Korean missile. This time last week, Moon Jae-in, the Democratic Party nominee for president, had a strong lead in the polls and hardly a rival in sight with just over a month until the 9 May election. The conservatives were in disarray, having split into two factions following the fall of their leader, former President Park Geun-hye, whose impeachment last month triggered the snap election. Both factions' candidates were polling in the single digits. Unless something went drastically wrong, the race was Moon's for the taking, analysts said. Recommended South Korean President forced to leave presidential house Fast forward to this week, and the one-horse race is suddenly neck-and-neck. Something has gone drastically wrong for the liberal Moon: His support levels have flatlined, while a ragbag of conservatives, centrists, Ban Ki-moon backers and Moon Jae-in skeptics have rallied around Ahn Cheol-soo, a 55-year-old moderate who leads the centre-left People's Party. Ahn is now regularly polling within a few points of Moon, and some surveys even put him in the lead. A poll published on Monday by the conservative Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's biggest newspaper, put Ahn two points ahead of Moon, with 34 to his rival's 32 per cent. A Yonhap-KBS poll released on Sunday had Ahn at 36.8 per cent against Moon's 32.7 per cent. "People are disappointed by the politics because politicians compete among themselves instead of seeking to find out what the public wants," Ahn told the Korean Chamber of Commerce in a speech on Monday. "I have always had people in mind when setting up visions and policies." Ahn, a medical doctor turned computer-doctor tycoon he invented the anti-virus software used by almost every South Korean ran for the presidency in 2012, against Moon and Park. Ahn dropped out to throw his weight behind Moon, who lost to Park. He hadn't been considered much of a contender this time around, until Moon's victory in the Democratic primary last week. That event, combined with a lacklustre performance by the two main candidates from the conservative side, has caused a coalescing of support around Ahn. Fans of Ban, the former UN secretary general who made a short-lived attempt at running for president, announced on Sunday that they would support Ahn. And conservatives who had previously supported Park appear to find Ahn more palatable than the 64-year-old Moon, whom they view as a radical. "It's a question of whether the election is about stopping Moon, or if it's just about being post-Park," says Scott Snyder, a Korea expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. "When the focus was on Park, the Democrats were winning a lot of support. But as it moves to a more careful examination of Moon, the broad ambivalence to him as a leader is returning." 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 In an attempt to reach out to a broad spectrum of voters, Ahn has used language that will be familiar to Americans who supported former president Barack Obama. "There's not a liberal Korea and a conservative Korea; there's a people's Korea," Ahn said when winning his party's nomination last week, echoing an Obama refrain. Ahn has vowed to take a more centrist approach, particularly when it comes to foreign affairs. He has vowed to respect the decision to host a THAAD antimissile battery good news for the United States, but bad news for China, which is strongly protesting against the deployment. "At a time when the deployment [of THAAD] is underway, it would not be responsible for a presidential aspirant to oppose it and promise to cancel it if elected," Ahn said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency. If the alliance with the United States is broken, South Korea will not be able to solve the North Korean nuclear problem, he said. "We have to consult closely with the Trump administration and to that end, it is important to maintain a trusting relationship," Ahn told Yonhap. Conversely, Moon has said he would review the previous South Korean government's decision to host the American defense system and would seek a meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang as a priority over going to Washington. Advisers to Moon say privately that they have been taken aback by Ahn's sudden surge in the polls and are worried about the "veto" that conservatives hold against their candidate. But Snyder says he thinks that the continued presence of two conservative candidates, even if they are struggling, could split the anti-Moon vote. "I'm sceptical that Ahn will catch up with Moon unless the conservatives really fold their tents," he says. The Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Gay men are being held in camps in the Chechen Republic where they are subjected to torture and beatings, human rights campaigners have claimed. The claims follow reports last week that 100 gay men had been rounded up and imprisoned in Chechnya, with at least three people allegedly murdered. The allegations were made by a Russian newspaper and human rights campaigners. In Chechnya, the command was given for a prophylactic sweep and it went as far as real murders, independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta claimed. At the time, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrovs spokesperson denied the claims on the grounds that no one in Chechnya is homosexual. You cannot arrest or repress people who just dont exist in the republic, spokesman Alvi Karimov told Interfax. Reaction to gay couple in Russia: a social experiment If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them since their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return. It is thought that the men are allegedly being held in camps in the town of Argun, according to reports. Speaking to the MailOnline, Svetlana Zakharova from the Russian LGBT network, said: Gay people have been detained and rounded up and we are working to evacuate people from the camps and some have now left the region. Those who have escaped said they are detained in the same room and people are kept altogether, around 30 or 40. They are tortured with electric currents and heavily beaten, sometimes to death. The Russian LGBT network has said it had set up a hotline for people seeking help. The network claims to have received reports of the abuses and torture inside the prison through the hotline. Abuses allegedly included men being taken outside and beaten several times a day, having their hands electrocuted and being forced to sit on bottles, Novaya Gazeta reported. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hundreds of refugees who had been living in the Dunkirk refugee camp are said to be unaccounted for, including several groups of unaccompanied minors, after a fire ravaged the encampment in northern France. Charities have warned that while most refugees in the camp are now in three local gymnasiums under the orders of the local authority, several hundred have left the Dunkirk area and are thought to have made their way to Calais. As many as 1,600 refugees were in the camp when the blaze broke out on Monday evening, according to Grande-Synthe Mayor Damien Careme and prefect Michel Lalande, the top government official for the region. Three mobile police units were deployed in the area to head off tensions prompted by the camps demise, the government said in a statement. Mr Lalande said about 1,500 people, including hundreds of children, had to be evacuated, and that while up to 300 people had already been taken to makeshift shelters, others had simply run away. Volunteers told The Independent on Tuesday that several hundred people were walking on foot to Calais from the Dunkirk site, among them groups of children. Annie Gavrilescu from charity Help Refugees told The Independent: There are a few hundred refugees somewhere between Calais and Dunkirk, with a few groups of mainly kids, making their way to Calais after what happened. We dont know exactly how many. Were trying to find these people and offer them food and blankets. For hours after the fire broke out it seemed the authorities just didnt know what to do, and then they opened three gymnasiums that are not being used at the moment but thats not a permanent solution and it isnt clear how long people will be allowed to remain there. The camp was meant to stay open until September, but now there appear to be no plans to rebuild. We really dont know whats on the cards. The local authority must provide long term solutions for those who lost everything in the fire, as the initial tensions themselves seemed to be about a shortage of accommodation available in the camp. Weve set up an emergency fund to help them respond to the situation as quickly and effectively as possible, but the French authorities need to create an appropriate solution for these people. Its now more urgent than ever. Ms Gavrilescu added that unaccompanied minors who were living in the camp are a primary concern, particularly as some already appear to be going off the radar. While local authorities have said there are only about 10 unaccompanied minors, charities have put the number at more than 100. Recommended Surge in child refugees in Calais creates terrifying new market The unaccompanied minors are a particular concern, she said. We have received some reports that some lone children are being turned away from the family gymnasium, and faced with the choice of either staying with adult men or wander the streets. Some are making their way to Calais, where nothing is available to them. The children with family in the UK shouldnt have been in the camp anyway. They have documented family links, but because the family reunification process isnt working, they ended up in the camp and stayed there for much too long. Michael McHugh, from the Refugee Youth Service, said it was concerning that there was no accommodation designated for unaccompanied minors, and that children were subsequently sharing small spaces with potentially dangerous adults. Theres no separate accommodation for minors. One gymnasium is mainly families, another majority Kurds and another that is Afghans. But they dont seem to have any age-appropriate for unaccompanied minors. Housing unaccompanied minors in gymnasiums with adults, without safeguarding in place is not ideal and is not good practice, he told The Independent. Were now in a situation where individuals who have potentially been involved in this violence are in the same space as people who are victims of it. Fire ravages Dunkirk refugee camp in northern France One unaccompanied minor was turned away from a centre because he was told he was not with a family and it was for families only. There is a real lack of child-focused response to this. Because the lone children are incredibly vulnerable, and this is a crisis within a crisis and people tend to wander off. What is the plan? Are we to move children back into the gymnasium for a few days only to put them back into a camp, even though 80 per cent of them do have family in the UK that were aware of? Last month the French authorities said the camp would be dismantled because of growing violence between those living there. Police were regularly being called to deal with occupants of the camp trying to stop traffic on the main road nearby so they could board lorries on their way to the UK. Charities are now liaising with French authorities to ensure unaccompanied children are offered safety, and calling on the UK Government to immediately transfer 80 children they had identified in the camp as having relatives in the UK and the legal right to be safely and legally transferred. Safe Passage, which has been working in the camp in partnership with the Dunkirk Legal Centre and Help Refugees, has sent the list of 80 Dublin eligible children to the UK Home Office, and will be sharing that list with their French counterparts. Currently no arrangements have been made by French or UK authorities for the safe accommodation of unaccompanied children from the Dunkirk camp, leaving the children at real risk of disappearing in the chaos, the charity said. Rabbi Janet Darley, spokesperson for Safe Passage said: The children Safe Passage are working with in Dunkirk should never have been in the camp in the first place; they have a moral and a legal right to be with their relatives in the UK. The Government needs to learn the lessons of the Calais camp and the fire in Dunkirk and put a fully functioning family reunion system in place between France and the UK. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hundreds of migrants have been evacuated after a huge blaze ravaged their camp in northern France. The fire at the camp outside the port city of Dunkirk destroyed wooden shelters, and came hours after a clash involving up to 150 migrants, the prefecture of the region said. Riot police moved into the camp to break up the trouble that one migrant said pitted Afghans against Kurds. Five people were injured in the fight among 100 to 150 migrants, leaving three of them in hospital with knife wounds, the prefecture said. Officials linked the fight with the fire that broke out hours later but stressed that an investigation is needed to determine its cause. No injuries were immediately reported because of the blaze. Firefighters worked to contain the flames lapping the night sky and devouring the fragile shelters of migrants who were evacuated to local gymnasiums. The prefect, the highest state official in the region, rushed to the scene. I lost all my documents, said an Iraqi migrant who identified himself only as Albidani, standing outside the camp. I just have only this paper that says I'm a refugee in France. He said Kurds and Afghans had clashed before the fire erupted, but he did not know why. We are refugees here in France. We don't have any place... we don't know what to do. We lost everything, Albidani said. Firefighters extinguish burning shelters at Grande-Synthe (Pascal Rossignon/Reuters) Up to 1,500 migrants were living in the over-populated camp, the prefecture estimated, The camp in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande-Synthe was set up a year ago by Doctors Without Borders. The neat rows of wooden shelters replaced a squalid makeshift tent camp nearby rife with traffickers preying on migrants. Humanitarian groups said the original camp was filthier and more dangerous than a huge makeshift camp in Calais, about 19 miles to the west, that was dismantled by the state in October. The population of the new Dunkirk camp swelled after the one in Calais was torn down. Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The Solidarity With Refugees group said Saturdays protest aimed to show our Government and the world that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees. Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis People march through central London as they take part in a protest rally organised by Solidarity with Refugees in a bid to urge the Government to take more action on the migrant crisis Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The protest comes days before world leaders meet to discuss crisis at UN General Assembly Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Demonstrators made their way from Park Lane to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Marchers chanted refugees are welcome here and waved banners reading no-one is illegal and lets help people Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The march was supported by charities and groups including the Red Cross, Asylum Aid, Save the Children, Hope Not Hate, Oxfam and the UN Refugee Agency Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis In the wake of Alans death, David Cameron pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK over the coming five years but there have been additional calls to re-home those who have already reached Europe, as well as asylum seekers coming from other conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Rex Features Clashes, as well as small fires, have occurred in the past in the La Liniere camp. French officials decided last month that the camp population must be reduced to 700 and security increased to keep out traffickers. The authorities said the camp must be dismantled bit by bit with migrants housed in special centres, like the thousands of migrants evacuated from the Calais camp. Associated Press For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ercan Karakoyun looks twice over his shoulder when he leaves his Berlin home to make sure nobody is following him. He is a follower of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for an attempted military coup in Turkey last summer. Mr Karakoyun, 37, who is the public face of the Gulen movement in Germany, says he has received several death threats since the aborted overthrow. The hostility hasn't escalated past the anonymous threats, but Mr Karakoyun's experience is one happening across Europe as Turkey's government tries to root out and punish the US-based Mr Gulen's supporters both within Turkey and abroad, with a crucial referendum at the end of the this week. Recommended Upcoming referendum could end what little democracy is left in Turkey The witch-hunt against us has reached a new level, Mr Karakoyun, the son of Turkish immigrants and spokesman for the Gulen-affiliated Dialogue and Education Foundation in Germany says. Surrounded by religious books in the foundation's Berlin office, he recounts how German police contacted him last week and warned him not to travel to Turkey. Mr Karakoyun was among more than 300 individuals and dozens of institutions on a list the Turkish foreign intelligence agency MIT gave its German counterpart. MIT asked to have those named put under surveillance. To Ankara's irritation, German officials instead contacted and cautioned the individuals on the list, which included at least two German legislators. Unfortunately, of course, intelligence organisations share such information with each other. This should not be leaked to any side. But it is clear that this information in Germany was given to government sources and they used it, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. This is, first of all, not ethical. It does not fit intelligence practices. In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters Mr Gulen has been based in the United States since 1999 in self-imposed exile. His movement, centered on Islamic teachings, ran schools and dormitories that grew into a worldwide network in which, Turkey says, his followers were groomed and eventually infiltrated state organs, including the judiciary, police and military. Turkish authorities say the coup-plotters arrested on the night of the coup were Gulen supporters. Among the evidence they have offered against them is an encrypted messaging application that prosecutors have claimed the coup-plotters used to communicate with each other. In Turkey, tens of thousands of Mr Gulen's followers have lost their jobs or landed in jail. Mr Erdogan has also called on nations to crack down on the Gulen movement's large network of schools and charities outside of the country. The tension between supporters of Mr Gulen, who has rejected any involvement in the failed coup, and Mr Erdogan's allies, has become especially heated in recent weeks. Mr Erdogan's government has been campaigning in Germany and other European nations to try to win support for a referendum on Sunday that would expand the president's powers. The post of president used to be mostly ceremonial, but under the new system if voters assent Mr Erdogan will be able to stand in two more election cycles, which means if he wins the 2019 and 2024 polls he could potentially stay on as a powerful head of state until 2029. He could also return to the leadership of the Justice and Development party (AKP), which he co-founded, and which holds the overwhelming majority in parliament. An estimated three million expatriate Turks were eligible to cast ballots in what is expected to be a close vote. About half live in Germany. Turkish officials' attempts to rally support for the referendum in other European countries caused widespread irritation in Germany. Several of their planned public events were cancelled. Mr Erdogan accused German officials of acting like Nazis, sniping that in turn prompted Chancellor Angela Merkel to publicly condemn his comment. Tensions also flared In the Netherlands when the Dutch government blocked two Turkish ministers last month from addressing political rallies. Turks who gathered outside the country's consulate in Rotterdam briefly clashed with police after Turkey's family affairs minister was prevented from entering the building and escorted back to the Germany border. Hundreds of pro-Turkey protesters clash with police in Rotterdam Similar scenarios have played out elsewhere in Europe. In Denmark, more than 500 children have left 14 schools that the Turkish government singled out as being closely related to Gulen. In Germany, where the movement operates dozens of schools, educational centres and youth clubs, many families also have pulled out. A senior Austrian legislator presented documents last month claiming to show a Turkish global surveillance network, aimed at undermining organisations loyal to Mr Gulen. Germany's interior ministry said last week that prosecutors are investigating 20 people suspected of spying for Turkey in Germany on people thought to be Gulen supporters. Turkey has rejected previous accusations of using a network to spy on Mr Erdogan's critics, with a senior government official calling the most recent claims completely false. Several calls and emails for comment on these allegations by the Union of European Turkish Democrats, which is close to Erdogan's AKP, went unanswered. Gulen followers are not the only ones complaining about threats from Erdogan supporters. Sevim Dagdelen, a Turkish-German MP with The Left party, says she received death threats after speaking out publicly against Mr Erdogan. After Turkish newspapers published her picture and berated her as a traitor, people in Germany attacked or insulted her on the street, she says. She has been put under police protection and warned not to go out with her children in public. The parliament member can also no longer travel to Turkey, even though she is her party's expert on the country. Ms Dagdelen, the daughter of Turkish guest workers who came to Germany in the 1960s, calls on the German government to help protect dissidents of the Erdogan regime both in Germany and Turkey, but expresses little hope that the situation would improve soon. I don't believe that Erdogan will let himself be influenced by the outcome of the referendum in April, she says. He has already made the decisions regarding his agenda a long time ago namely to turn Turkey into an oppressive Islamist regime. Associated Press For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Russia has information about an attack on Damascus orchestrated by opposition rebels involving chemical weapons that would be blamed on Syrias Bashar al-Assad in an attempt to frame him, Vladimir Putin has claimed. Without offering any proof to support the assertion, the Russian President made reference to suburbs in the south of the Syrian capital which he suggested would be the target of the strikes. He also attempted to link the US strike on a Syrian air base last week with claims about weapons of mass destruction that were used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying: "We have seen it all already." The provocative comments come as the Russian leader warned of the worst relations between Moscow and Washington since the end of the Cold War. Responding to questions about the escalating dispute with the US, Mr Putin said Moscow would tolerate criticism from the West of its alliance with Mr Assad, but that it remained hopeful that attitudes would eventually soften. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday - hours before US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to arrive in Moscow - Mr Putin said he would appeal to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate the recent alleged chemical attack in Syria. "We have information from different sources that these provocations - I cannot call them otherwise - are being prepared in other regions of Syria, including in the southern suburbs of Damascus where there are plans to throw some substance and accuse the official Syrian authorities," Mr Putin said, after holding talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella. He added that some countries had voiced their support for the US air strike on Syria in order to build closer relations with the new Trump administration. Drawing a comparison with the controversy surrounding claims, later proven to be incorrect, of WMDs being stockpiled by the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Mr Putin said: "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when US envoys to the [UN] Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq." On the investigation into the chemical attack, Mr Putin said: We plan to turn to the United Nations bodies in The Hague and call on the global community to thoroughly investigate into this incident and make balanced decisions based on the investigations outcome. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is to meet Mr Tillerson on Wednesday. Earlier reports suggested Mr Putin would also meet the US diplomat, something Moscow has not commented on. In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: US missile strike against Syria In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The United States military launched at least 50 tomahawk cruise missiles at al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs, Syria, in response to the Syrian military's alleged use of chemical weapons in an airstrike in a rebel held area in Idlib province EPA In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Shayrat airfield in Syria Getty Images In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., after the US fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Reuters Despite heightened tensions between the US and Russia, the foreign ministry has said it continued to hope for productive talks with Mr Tillerson. In a three-page statement issued ahead of his arrival this evening, officials said the outcome of the talks was important not just for Russia-US ties but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage. Russia has been a long-time supporter of Mr Assad's government, which was accused of launching a chemical weapons attack on Idlib province. That incident prompted Donald Trump to launch a cruise missile strike from two warships based in the Mediterranean targeted at an air base said to have been the base from which the original chemical attack was launched. Meanwhile, Russia's General Staff has said the Syrian government is willing to let international experts examine its military base for signs of chemical weapons. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was unable to glean many secrets about Israel, newly declassified documents reveal. Around 1 million previously unseen documents recently released by the US spy agency illustrate the nature of the relationship between the two allies. They reveal that the CIA established a dedicated team to assess the physical and mental health of world leaders including Soviet Union general secretaries, Frances Francois Mitterrand and former Cuban president Fidel Castro. As well as analysing video footage and photos for signs of ill-health, the team also employed expert psychiatrists to assess the mental state of global politicians and brief US Presidents on what tactics to adopt in discussions with them. Despite this, the CIA was completely unaware that Golda Meir, the Prime Minister of Israel between 1969 and 1974, had terminal lymphoma. Agents only found out about it when Ms Meir died in 1978. We had absolutely no idea of her fatal illness, one wrote in a classified document, according to Israel's Haaretz newspaper. The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child They also reveal that the US was not aware of the motivations behind Israelis decision to use public radio to issue a mock call-up notice to army reservists in April 1959. The real reason for the fake call-up notice was to set up an ambush for the Egyptian Air force by creating the impression that Israel was about to attack. Israeli leaders believed Egypt would respond to the announcement by sending its planes to conduct surveillance missions over the Negev desert, where the Israeli Air Force could intercept them. The US has long enjoyed a close relationship with Israel but the new documents raise questions about the degree of trust between the two countries intelligence agencies. However, the papers relate to events that took place more than 30 years ago and are not necessarily evidence of the nature of the USs relationship with Israel today. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Simba the lion and Lula the bear the only animals left alive in Mosuls zoo have been evacuated from the war-torn city. The creatures, which until Monday were housed in the Montazah al-Morour Zoo, in Iraqs second city, were first discovered in February in appalling conditions. Vets from the charity Four Paws International coordinated the rescue mission, taking Simba and Lula first to the nearby city of Erbil, from where they were flown to Jordan. Their rescue came a month after a failed attempt to save the animals saw Simba succumb to an illness while stuck in a lorry being held at a checkpoint. They were subsequently returned to their enclosure. Lula in her cage in Mosul before the rescue (Getty) Amir Khalil, the lead vet coordinating the evacuation, told the AFP news agency: "This is a beginning of a new life for the animals. "From now on, they won't have to be part of this war." Montazah al-Morour Zoo is in the east of Mosul, where a battle raged between Islamic State militants and Iraqi government forces earlier this year. The animals rescue was delayed last month after an attempt to remove them from the city was aborted when a lorry carrying them was detained. Iraqi forces had cleared a window of a few hours to allow rescue workers to enter the zoo and prepare the bear and lion for transport. But the vehicle they were in was held at a road checkpoint for nine days, causing them to miss the flight and leaving Simba with a respiratory illness. The fate of three monkeys, three peacocks, two goats and a pregnant horse which were bought to the zoo by private owners after they discovered it was still open is unclear. Iraqi forces recaptured the less densely populated east at the end of January and moved against the west in mid-February, where fighting is on-going. 'Large wild animals such as bears and lions kept in desolate cages, can pose a threat to humans,' says Dr Khalil (Four Paws) Around 1,600 civilians were killed or wounded during the 100 days of fighting to recapture the east of the city. The number of animal deaths has not been recorded. The Iraqi military says Isis has lost more than three-quarters of the territory it seized when it swept across the country in the summer of 2014. Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, a military spokesman, said the extremist group currently controls less than 12,000 sq. miles in Iraq, or 6.8 per cent of the country's territory, down from more than 40 per cent at its height. The extremists have suffered a string of defeats over the past year in both Iraq and Syria. Brig. Gen. Rasool said more than half of western Mosul has been retaken from the militants. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} As the campaign period before Turkeys referendum on April 16 reaches its final stretch, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pulling out all the stops to attract yes voters. One such move that has baffled supporters and critics alike has been to sign an emergency decree into law which gives beauty industry workers the right to operate certain tools to perform laser hair removal, al-Monitor reports. People from Turkey's beauty industry chamber of commerce were invited to an auditorium at Mr Erdogans $615 million (495 million) palace on March 29, where he delivered a rally broadcast live on national television - titled For a beautiful Turkey, of course, yes - and then signed the legislation. He was cheered on for around an hour by a crowd of beauticians and other industry workers. Turkey's Erdogan steps up anti-Europe rhetoric Turkey is still technically in a state of emergency following last Julys failed military coup, which gave Mr Erdogan the power to bypass parliament in passing the law. Before the new bill was signed, the Turkish Health Ministry said that only medical staff were permitted to operate laser hair removal machinery because of thousands of burns cases caused by improper use. The move, while criticised by some dermatologists, is expected to boost job creation in Turkeys beauty industry, which has grown six per cent since 2014. In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters Many Turks took to social media to express their disbelief that Mr Erdogan was allegedly using the countrys state of emergency to canvass votes. While the president has broad support among more conservative sections of Turkish society, several theologians pointed out that the hair removal decree is not likely to go down well with deeply religious people, since the Quran goes into detail about how changing ones God-given image for the purposes of vanity is frowned upon. Turkeys public will vote on constitutional reform on Saturday April 16, with current polls pointing towards a very narrow no win. The proposed changes which proponents in Mr Erdogans ruling AK party say are necessary to deal with Turkeys fragile economic and security situations would abolish the position of the prime minister, giving the sitting president the power to appoint and dismiss ministers, to once again become head of a political party, and possibly govern until 2029. Opposition politicians and democracy activists have said the bill is dangerously close to a form of authoritarianism. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It is clear "to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said. The United States "hopes" for a Syria without Bashar al-Assad in charge, he added at a summit in Lucca, Italy. It came as Britain and America failed to win immediate support from European allies for new sanctions on Russia following the chemical weapons attack in Syria. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had lead the effort to impose sanctions over Russia's support for the Assad regime. Mr Tillerson said: "The question of how [Mr Assad's rule] ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria. "That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs." "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Mr Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks" when the top US diplomat visits Moscow. It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the Russia-US relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage". On Monday night US Defence Secretary James Mattis warned the Syrian government it would be "ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons", and US officials said they had concluded Russia knew about the attack, on the village of Khan Sheikhoun, in advance. Gen Mattis' strong rhetoric followed two days after Russia and Iran told the US they would "respond with force" if their own "red lines" were crossed in Syria. "What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines. From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well," the joint command centre for powers allied with Mr Assad said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A senior US official has said that US investigations have concluded that Russia was aware in advance of the Syrian governments alleged chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held village. A Russian-operated drone flew over a hospital building in Idlib province on April 4 as victims were rushed there for treatment, a Trump administration official said. The hospital was then bombed by either Russian or Syrian forces in what American intel believes was an attempt to cover up the alleged usage of chemical weapons. The drones presence - which before Monday the US had not known was Russian-operated - could not have been a coincidence, an official speaking on the condition of anonymity told the Associated Press. Spicer slips up in press briefing and says America's aim is to destabilize Syria The official did not give precise timing for when the drone was in the area, where more than 80 people were killed by what the Turkish Health Ministry said autopsies showed was exposure to both sarin and chlorine gas. The official also didn't provide details for the military and intelligence information that form the basis of what the Pentagon now believes. The US has no proof of Moscow's involvement in the alleged initial attack, another senior official cautioned, after the grave allegation - the first direct assertion from the US Moscow could be complicit in attacking civilians - was put to them. In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: US missile strike against Syria In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The United States military launched at least 50 tomahawk cruise missiles at al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs, Syria, in response to the Syrian military's alleged use of chemical weapons in an airstrike in a rebel held area in Idlib province EPA In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Shayrat airfield in Syria Getty Images In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., after the US fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Reuters Both Damascus and Moscow have denied the regime used chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun, maintaining that the casualties were caused by gases released after an al-Qaeda-affiliated ammunitions depot was hit by conventional munitions in a government air raid. Neither government has produced any evidence to back up the claim, which has been derided by medical NGOs and Western intelligence services. The US decision to launch a retaliatory strike against a Syrian regime airbase last Friday has further complicated the already dazzlingly complex Syrian civil war. President Donald Trumps administration had up until last week prioritised defeating Isis as the US main focus in the six-year-old conflict, rather than removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power. On Monday UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that Russian parties could possibly be subject to economic sanctions over the countrys support for Mr Assad. Prime Minister Theresa May and Mr Trump spoke on the phone ahead of the G7 meeting in Italy on Tuesday, agreeing there is now a window of opportunity to persuade Russia to ditch its support for the Syrian regime, officials said. The Associated Press contributed to this report For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In the wake of the US air strike on a Syrian airbase last week Moscow is sending more ships to Syrian regime controlled waters, a US defence official has said. Two Steregushchiy-class corvettes, an ocean tug and a fleet oiler left Kaliningrad over the weekend, the unnamed official confirmed to USNI News on Monday. The Baltic Navy vessels are expected to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in the next five days and will probably be based in Tartus, which is home to a Russian naval base. Spicer slips up in press briefing and says America's aim is to destabilize Syria The surface action group of ships joins the cruise-missile armed Admiral Grigorovich, which began its journey from the Black Sea on Friday. The [Grigorovich] will operate in the region in accordance to the changing military situation, Russia state media reported, adding that it carries cruise missiles, a missile defence system, artillery, anti-aircraft guns, torpedoes, and can dock a helicopter. The frigate was previously used in the bombardment of rebel-controlled Aleppo last year. The recapture of the city - in large part thanks to Russian firepower - has decisively turned the tide of the war in Russian ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assads favour. In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: US missile strike against Syria In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The United States military launched at least 50 tomahawk cruise missiles at al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs, Syria, in response to the Syrian military's alleged use of chemical weapons in an airstrike in a rebel held area in Idlib province EPA In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Shayrat airfield in Syria Getty Images In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., after the US fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Reuters Steregushchiy-class corvettes, some of Russias most modern ships, are also capable of firing long range cruise missiles and were used in the Aleppo campaign. The new fleet joins the six other Russian warships and four support vessels currently stationed in the eastern Mediterranean. The US maintains a four ships deployment in the same area, including the USS Porter and USS Ross, which were used to launch a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles at regime-operated Shayrat airbase near Homs on Friday. The attack - which marked the first direct action taken by the US against the Syrian government in more than six years of the civil war - killed six soldiers and caused some damage to jets, runways and hangars, but has had little impact on the Assad air forces capabilities overall. Russia was among countries that also used the base, but advance US warning to Russian forces ahead of the strike meant that there were no Kremlin casualties. The retaliatory strike was a warning shot from the US over the Syrian governments alleged chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held village of Khan Sheikhoun last week, which killed at least 80 people. Autopsies carried out by the Turkish Health Ministry showed the victims had been exposed to both sarin and chlorine gas. Damascus and Moscow have denied the regime attacked the village with chemical weapons, maintaining that the casualties were caused by gases released after an al-Qaeda-affiliated ammunitions depot was hit by conventional munitions in a legitimate government air raid. Syria: Man loses 25 family members in suspected chemical attack The US attack on a Syrian government target has further complicated the already dazzlingly complex Syrian civil war. President Donald Trumps administration had up until last week prioritised defeating Isis as the US main focus in the conflict, rather than removing Mr Assad from power. On Monday, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that Russian parties could possibly be subject to economic sanctions over the countrys support for Mr Assad. Prime Minister Theresa May and Mr Trump spoke on the phone ahead of the G7 meeting in Italy on Tuesday, agreeing there is now a window of opportunity to persuade Russia to ditch its support for the Syrian regime, but the proposals have been met with a lukewarm response from European allies. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Everyone sings really badly here, says Bob Shevlin. But it doesnt matter its an expression of soul. Its not easy in 2017 to find places that feel more magical than mass market. The originally hippie heavens of Goa, Thailand and Bali are overrun with smoothie-slurping yoga nuts or digital nomads trying to launch an IPO-worthy company. Trancoso feels like discovering Goa in the 1960s a secret to be whispered round a fire and drawn on an old-school map. Shevlin has lived here on and off for 13 years. On the outside (because everywhere beyond the towns quadrado, or square, feels like a different world from Trancoso), hes a successful businessman, co-owner of the towns trendy Uxua hotel. But here in his natural habitat dressed in harem pants, with long hair, Amazonian beaded bracelets and upcycled jewellery made of pigs tusks you might mistake him for a hippie who never went home. In one of the poshest restaurants in town, neither the outfit nor his cultured chat about art collections in Italy merits a second glance. The white church dominates the village landscape (Uxua Casa Hotel) (Uxua Hotel) Most tourists to Brazil blindly head for Rio, forgetting this enormous country has over 4,000 miles of coastline. Bahia, perhaps its most laidback state, is home to the Discovery Coast, where Trancoso sits on Unesco-protected shores. Porto Seguro (an hour away and the nearest airport) is where the earliest Portuguese explorers first set foot on Brazilian soil in 1500. Backed by thick jungle on three sides, ocean on the fourth, Trancoso has developed separately from the rest of the world. Time and, to some extent money counts for little, here. Theres little distinction between the days; people amble between the beach, the grassy rectangle of the quadrado and their hammock. The brightly coloured shops and restaurants that line the two long sides of the square open up for business at the end of the afternoon, and as darkness falls, the only illumination comes from the lights strung between the trees like a festival in a far-flung field. After a couple of days, even the other side of the quadrado seems too far to stagger for a caipirinha. Kids swing from the smaller trees, half-naked and happy with no parents in sight while the village elders congregate around a smooth-with-age communal table that sits under the biggest tree this Table of the Old is the slow, steady beating life force of Trancosos soul. Life revolves around the beach (Uxua Casa Hotel) (Uxua Hotel) In Trancoso, people earnestly discuss concepts like their soul and the ever after. Cynicism seems to evaporate in the warm air within days your shoulders drop, your heart rate slows and you start planning a permanent move. The attitude isnt unusual for Brazil, of course; but what is different is that the people youre having deep and meaningfuls with are as likely to be billionaires as bums and gap year kids. Where it also differs from other parts of Brazil is that Trancoso is a town untouched by the gaudy ritual of Carnival. Instead, they celebrate saints day Sao Bras (St Blaise) on 2 February with a 36-hour party that includes drunken 5am processions, the raising of a painted pole (on which women are invited to sit to encourage fertility) and a hypnotic song thats repeated for the entire day and a half. It emanates like a rumble from the Table of the Old until the entire town gathers and proceeds to the Casa de Festa, the party house, carrying the beat like an ember that must not be allowed to die. A blend of Catholic and African influences, the ritual includes mass in the white church at the end of the quadrado, sacrifices in the sea to appease the sea goddess Iemanja, and a village party complete with rock band and food stands. Trancosos church is the setting for the Sao Bras festival (Georgina Wilson-Powell) This embrace of differing traditions is what makes Trancoso so special. When the hippies discovered the town in the 1970s, it was off the beaten track, literally there were no roads here, and no electricity. They arrived, bringing macrobiotic cafes, yoga and free love; and the Bahian locals simply shrugged and welcomed them in. Uxua, Shevlins hotel thats arguably put Trancoso on the map among the hip global elite, is partly housed in some of the fishermens casas that Wilbert Das, (ex-creative director of Diesel) bought from the original wave of hippies. Over the last six years, hes created a jungle paradise that regularly welcomes Victorias Secret models and Oscar-winning actors into the cottages that form its rooms. But unlike the luxury hotels of Rio and Sao Paulo where theyre feted upon entrance, here in Trancoso theyre treated no differently to you or me. The hotels success has made Das money, of course, but hes also brought traditional building and craft skills back to Trancoso, supports local artisans and funds hospitality initiatives and capoeira schools. So whats there to do in Trancoso? Thanks to the upmarket-yet-under-the-radar guests, the shops leading off the quadrado are as likely to house Brazils coolest fashion designers as they are flat whites (minimalist furniture designer James, for example, has just moved its store from Paris to Trancoso). Theres horse-riding on the beach, and cooking lessons, yoga classes or jungle excursions. But really this is all missing the point. Trancosos at its best when theres no plan. Ditch the shoes and smartphone, drag your soul from where its been cowering, and just turn up, tune in and drop out. Grab a hammock to ponder the meaning of life (Uxua Casa Hotel) (Uxua Hotel) Travel essentials Getting there TAP Portugal flies from Heathrow, Gatwick & Manchester to Salvador via Lisbon from 503 return. From there, Azul flies to Porto Seguro, an hour away, from 92 return. Staying there Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa has doubles from $550 (440) per night, B&B. For something more affordable, Pousada Big Bamboo has doubles from 69, B&B Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Gold is everywhere in Rangoon. The skyline is dominated by the gilded dome of the 100-metre-high Shwedagon Pagoda. Gold temple bells chime at every corner. Worshippers pay their respects by layering gold leaf on temple-dwelling Buddhas. Shops are filled with dangling chains and ornate baubles. Yet despite a goldsmithing tradition dating back more than 2,000 years, 98 per cent of gold jewellery sold in Rangoon (also known as Yangon) is machine-made. Today gold in Burma is more about currency than craft. Political and economic instability has transformed gold into the only reliable currency, says Natalie Ortiz crafts programme manager at NGO Turquoise Mountain. People buy gold as an investment and theyre unwilling to pay for craftsmanship. As a result the market is flooded with cheap jewellery aping designs from nearby China and India. Handmade filigree, open-wire work and indigenous motifs have, in recent years, been nearly impossible to find. When Turquoise Mountain was planning to work with Aung Sang Suu Kyis Suu Foundation to reinvigorate the Burmese craft industry and renovate the capitals decaying heritage buildings, it was a slog to find traditional workers. In 2015, senior designer Hla Thaung and Pippa Small, a London jewellery designer, scoured Rangoon for skilled artisans but found nobody. They widened the net again and again. Eventually their search took them to turbulent Rakhine state, where, on Ramree Island, they encountered a goldsmithing community with a precarious future. Shelling out: Burmese artisans use seashells to cast gold (Turquoise Mountain) Ramrees goldsmiths belong to a tradition of producing coins reaching back to the sixth century; by 17th century they were also outfitting the royals of the Arakan kingdom (which ruled the area thats now Rakhine state). The two designers found the men still working as they have done for generations using seashells to cast and paying homage to Buddhist iconography as well as local flora and fauna in their motifs. But the rise of machine-made jewellery has recently been killing their community with young islanders forgoing apprenticeships in favour of farming, fishing or menial labour abroad. One, Aung Chay, was about to emigrate to Japan to work as a dishwasher when Pippa Small and Hla Thaung came calling. Hed once been tipped as one of Ramrees most promising goldsmiths but was unable to make a living either on the island or in Rangoon. It was time, hed decided, to admit defeat. Turquoise Mountain asked Aung Chay to return to Rangoon to head its one-man-band goldsmiths studio. His mission: to reinterpret traditional Burmese designs for a contemporary market, something the NGO had done successfully with a similar venture in Kabul. This collection, though, had something else going for it. Burmese gold is extremely rich in colour, Small tells The Independent. And the Burmese have used unique, ancient techniques uninterrupted for hundreds of years. It was the shell casting and handworked fish-scale motifs that drew her to Rakhine State, she says. The inaugural Pippa Small for Turquoise Mountain collection, sold at Smalls Notting Hill HQ last year, an instant hit. In February Aung Chay moved out of the tiny studio and into a handsome colonial shophouse on Shwe Taung Tan, in the heart of Rangoons gold market area. He wasnt alone, either: eight goldsmiths work in the new space, where they have their own foundry as well as a little shop of their own. I knew I could continue my work with pride, says Aung Chay. Gold fingers: NGO Turquoise Mountain saved Aung Chay from emigrating to Japan (Turquoise Mountain) Next up for Aung Chay and his colleagues is a collaboration with individual mining families through a union in Mandalay province. Starting next month, the project will support two communities in upgrading their mining practices, including abandoning the traditional use of mercury to isolate gold from rock and debris. Although Burma is known for the quality of its gold, explains Natalie Ortiz, most of the countrys reserves are located in areas where poverty is endemic. While gold panning remains a vital source of income for many in the countryside, mercury poisoning is linked to the deteriorating health of the Irrawaddy River, and pollution of the flood plains north of Mandalay. Turquoise Mountains artisanal gold will be shipped straight to Aung Chay and his colleagues, in order to make Burmas first fully ethically produced line of gold jewellery. Another project will work with a womens group in Mogok a Mandalay village famous for its gems to source semi-precious stones responsibly. While Burma has large reserves of sapphires, rubies and jade, most of the mines are controlled by military or foreign investors. Land-grabbing, tax evasion and human-trafficking are commonplace. Ring the changes: initiative is bringing fair trade to Burma's jewellery industry (Turquoise Mountain) We knew early on that we had to start our own workshop [in order to] maintain standards, says Ortiz. Turquoise Mountain artisans enjoy a safe working environment and fair pay, while the organisation is committed to sourcing fairly, without exploiting communities or the environment. That also explains why the prices may be more than you'd expect while rings start from 120, pendants start from 900 and earrings from 160; necklaces are from 610 with each link crafted by hand. It may not be cheap and cheerful, but its certainly ethical. In the light-filled workshop on Shwe Taung Tan, the Ramree goldsmiths are busy. Aung Chay is fusing gold beads on to a pair of earrings. Nearby, his brother-in-law puts the final touches on a pair shaped like jasmine flowers. An apprentice cuts a sheet of gold into strips that will be woven into the shape of a fish the same technique that first attracted Smalls attention. Visitors drop in now and then to gasp at the skilled craftsmanship which, a year ago, was in danger of disappearing. When we met Aung Chay he was on his way to Japan, says Ortiz. How unfortunate for Burmese goldsmithing if he had. Turquoise Mountain Artisan Goldsmith Workshop takes visitors by appointment at 26 Shwe Taung Tan, Lanmadaw, Rangoon. Call: 00 95 1 540 198; facebook.com/turquoisemountainmyanmar. Open 10am-4pm. Email: sandar[AT]turquoisemountain.com to book. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An Easter festival in Malaga turned into a stampede in the early hours of this morning after rumours circulated around the crowd that there was a terrorist attack at the event. The rumour, which was untrue, was sparked by a fight which broke out between several people according to police. Seeing people lying on the ground, confused spectators believed that a terrorist in a truck was intentionally ploughing into members of the crowd, sparking mass panic. Recommended The London attack proves we need to give streets back to the people The incident took place at 2.10am on the morning of April 11 in the city in southern Spain, and was captured on video. At least two people were injured as a result of the thousands of fleeing spectators. One woman cut her leg on a fence and a man received a serious blow to the arm. As panic started to spread through the crowd, people began running to try to escape, including those who were part of the Cautivo procession of religious floats. Parade organisers tried to intervene in the ensuing chaos, but it took 20 minutes before calm was restored. A police officer on the scene emphasised that the situation could have been much more serious earlier in the day. He said: If this had happened when there were more people on the street, the consequences could have been much worse. A fight broke out at Malaga's Easter parade leading to rumours of a terror attack (Twitter/Bajopaliocsr) Onlooker Daniel Lopez told Sur.es: At first it was a fight between two or three young people, but in a matter of seconds more and more people started to join in and that created a situation of panic that spread quickly. It was all very fast, we could hardly realise what was happening. The incident echoes real terror attacks that have happened across Europe in the last year. Last month, a man mowed down members of the public on Londons Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring 50 others. In December, a man ploughed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12. And in July 2016 a lorry was driven into crowds in Nice whod gathered to watch a fireworks display to celebrate Bastille Day. Frank Brehany, MD of consumer complaints website HolidayTravelWatch, told The Independent that holidaymakers should always take stock of the situation before getting carried away. He said: Throughout Spain, this is a major week for pilgrimages and tourism. People are on edge about the prospect of attacks, but there is a need for people to take very careful stock of their surroundings and to always take note of what the authorities are saying. 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Show all 20 1 /20 2016 Easter celebrations around the world 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines Willy Salvador, 59, hangs from a cross as part of his penitence during a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan, Pampanga Getty images 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines articipants lie on the ground after whipping their bloodied backs with bamboo as part of their penitence during a ceremony reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan. Getty images 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines articipants whip their bloodied backs with bamboo as part of their penitence during the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan. Getty images 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Hungary Dancers of 'Matyo Folklor Art Association' in traditional clothes, react as boys throw water in Mezokovesd, some 130 km east of Budapest. Getty images 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines A resident carries a statue of Jesus Christ to the church in preparation for the Good Friday procession during Holy Week celebration in Gasan, Marinduque. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines Ruben Enaje, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 30th time, screams while a resident acting as a Roman soldier pulls up a nail on his palm Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines Penitent Ruben Enaje, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 30th time, is carried on a stretcher by rescuers after he was nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion reenactment in Cutud town, Philippines Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Mexico A man holding a rabbit looks at men dressed as ancient Romans as they take part in a procession, during Holy Week celebrations, in Taxco. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world South Africa Nuns carry a cross during a silent march celebrating Good Friday in Durban. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Mexico Masked penitents prepare before the start of a procession, a part of Holy Week celebrations, in Taxco. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines Penitents locally called "Morions" wear masks and centurion garbs as they take part in a Good Friday procession as part of Holy Week celebration in Gasan, Marinduque. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world El Salvador Members of the El Jesus Nazareno brotherhood participate in the Los Cristos Procession as part of Holy Week celebrations in the town of Izalco. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Paraguay Actors take part in a re-enactment during a Holy Week procession to prepare for Good Friday celebration in Luque city. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Paraguay Actors take part in a re-enactment during a Holy Week procession to prepare for Good Friday celebration in Luque city. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Peru Local and foreign inmates participate in a performance of the play Jesus Christ Superstar to celebrate Holy Week at Sarita Colonia prison in Callao. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines Penitents wearing masks, known locally as "Morions" take a selfie during the start of Holy Week celebrations in Mogpog, Marinduque. Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Hungary Hungary Reuters 2016 Easter celebrations around the world Philippines Resident portraying Roman soldier pulls up a nail on a foot of penitent Ruben Enaje in Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters Holidaymakers should not react straight away unless something big is obviously happening. If you take a moment, you can assess whether a threat is real or not in seconds. Wherever they are, tourists should be taking their cue directly from police or law enforcement agencies. Failure to do that raises the possibility of serious injuries, like those seen last night. Its really important before you go on holiday to research and actually look at what police are saying or the home affairs department of each country. If you understand what the issues are in terms of security, especially at large gatherings and public events, youll be far more likely to think before you act and take stock. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Here is a one-question quiz to find out if you are a member of the Out Of Touch Liberal Elite: is Boris Johnson a buffoon who makes Britain a laughing stock in the world? If you say yes, welcome to your premium membership of the OOTLE. The Foreign Secretary is the second-most popular politician in Britain, overtaken only, when she became Prime Minister, by Theresa May herself. If there is one person who won the referendum on leaving the EU, it was he. There wasnt one person, of course; Michael Gove, who declared for Leave first, helped to pave the way for him. Jeremy Corbyn was quite important, in the negative sense of failing to mobilise the Labour vote for the Remain cause. Even Douglas Carswell, the Conservative defector to Ukip who helped to sabotage his new party and to keep Nigel Farage out of the official Vote Leave campaign, played a part. But Johnson was the most powerful actor on the Brexit stage. And like many actors he has a clownish side, but to dismiss him simply as a joke would be to misread politics and to misunderstand one of the central puzzles of the May Government. That puzzle is the background to Johnsons uncertain handling of the Syria crisis. Inevitably, the true story is more complicated than the caricature of Boris as Donald Trumps blunderingly incompetent poodle, which was the media consensus over the weekend. When the Foreign Secretary cancels a trip to Moscow the day before he was due to fly, as Johnson did on Saturday, it was clear that something was not right. But it was unclear whether it was the US, Number 10 or Johnson himself who was most important in the decision to cancel. In fact, it was sensible to stay away: there was a risk that the Russian government would try to play Johnson off against the Americans or to humiliate him. But Johnson does seem to have misjudged todays meeting of G7 foreign ministers, having talked up sanctions against the Syrian regime and the Russians yesterday only for the others to back off from pushing Russia into a corner in the words of Angelino Alfano, the Italian foreign minister. Which is awkward, given the reports of a split between Johnson and May that surfaced in The Sun yesterday he was said to be more hawkish about supporting future US strikes against Syria than the Prime Minister. Recommended The G7 is now a global security force making plans for Syria I will leave others to pronounce on who is right, and to try to interpret whether the policy of the UK Government or of the Trump administration is to tolerate Bashar al-Assad, preferably without chemical weapons, or to replace him, and, if so, with whom. What may be more important for British politics is what it means for the relationship between May and her Foreign Secretary. The main point of Johnson, to return to the Brexit referendum, is that he wanted to be prime minister, and that Mays appointment of him to one of the great offices of state meant that his ambition might have been deferred rather than denied. She certainly seems to regard him as a rival for her job who must be contained. He was not allowed to bring Will Walden, his adviser and spokesperson, with him when he joined the Government. She made him the butt of her jokes, asking the Tory party conference last year: Can Boris Johnson stay on message for a full four days? And the teams around May and Johnson seem to get on badly; journalists are often told different things by the two camps. This does not feel like a story that is going to end well. Johnson has been unsackable for the past nine months, as the most important member of the Brexit ring of steel around the PM in the Cabinet. Now that May has invoked Article 50, however, she does not need her human shield so much, although it would still be damaging to her to lose him. Here she is in a catch-22 familiar to prime ministers through the ages: she needs him because he is popular, but then he is a threat; he would be less of a threat if he became less popular, but if he did that by doing the job badly it would hurt her Government too. It is possible, however, that the Prime Minister is mistaken if she feels that he is a threat to her position. In the days after the referendum Johnson, on the cusp of seizing the premiership, seemed to have had a crisis of confidence in himself. It was not just that Gove betrayed him, damaging as that was, but that his hesitation and indecision helped push Gove into treachery. It may be that, deep down, Johnson doesnt think he is up to the top job. He may be a buffoon, but he is much more interesting than that. How his personality and popularity play out could be the most unpredictable plot line in the story of Theresa Mays Government. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnson declaring that G7 foreign ministers were in Italy to give Rex Tillerson a clear mandate to take a ditch-Assad message to his meetings in Moscow straight afterwards sound almost quaint. Has he been paying attention? Washington doesnt do clarity any more, especially when it comes to Syria. Lets start with Tillersons head. At the G7, he vowed that henceforth the US would hold to account, any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world. He was making reference, of course, to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Bashar al-Assad against his own people and the US missile strikes that quickly followed. But was he saying Assad should go? Maybe. Maybe not. In a television interview just before leaving Washington for Italy his first since being confirmed Tillerson demurred when asked to state that the removal of Assad had become official US policy again. I think the president has been quite clear. First and foremost, we must defeat ISIS, he weaselled, adding that it is for the Syrian people to decide Assads fate. It gets more confusing because at the same moment on a different channel, Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, was saying the opposite. If you look at his actions, if you look at the situation, its going to be hard to see a government that's peaceful and stable with Assad, she told CNN. Never mind that she was contradicting a statement she had made on 30 March that, our priority is no longer to sit and focus on getting Assad out. But that, of course, was before the gas attack. The Washington chatterati, by the way, are all about Haley right now because she precisely seems to be eschewing team play and carving her own, notably aggressive, narrative. While her boss, Donald Trump, still declines to criticise Russia directly or Vladimir Putin she has shown no such coyness. How many more children have to die before Russia cares? she asked at a Security Council meeting, glaring at her Russian counterpart and holding up blow-ups of teh some of the youngest victims of the chemical crime. Nikki Haley, the United States' Ambassador to the United Nations, holds up images of victims of a chemical attack in Syria (EPA) She is able to freelance precisely because Trump and his advisors offer no coherent policy on Syria or on much else on the foreign policy front. Haley in fact seems deliberately to be exploiting the muddle at the White House to expand her footprint. As she collects more power and influence, so speculation that she has presidential ambitions becomes more credible. By the time Tillerson was preparing to leave Italy for Moscow, he was warning Putin that Assad was an unreliable partner for him, a curious understatement in the circumstances. He went on to say that the Assad reign was coming to an end, but added that the question of how that ends adn the transition itself could be very important. Clear as mud, that. Much of the mud emanates from Trump himself, of course. He was elected on a promise to put nationalism before globalism and has repeatedly expressed the view, going back to before he even ran for top office, that the US has no business intervening in Syria. And then came his Tomahawk rainstorm against Assad, spurred, seemingly, by pictures of the children killed in the chemical attack, as if such atrocities hadnt been committed before. Having consistently played down human rights as an area of US concern, suddenly he was using them as justification for military action. Trump calls his unpredictability a strategy, which he presumably imagines excuses him from seeking either UN or Congressional approval before attacking another nation. It is probably true that the action took Assad by surprise. It took lots of people by surprise. And other regimes likely to attract his wrath, including in North Korea, will probably be more wary of him going forward. Still, it would be nice to imagine that at least he knows what is coming next, on Syria especially. Will he now make the removal of Assad a priority or wont he? If the day comes when Russian and US forces clash inside Syrias borders, what will he do? Are boots on the ground in Syria a possible option for him or not? Is he prepared to take ownership of Syria after the conflict like Bush did Iraq, to everyones great cost? And on and on. Just as baffling to Americas allies, meanwhile, is Trump on the one hand preaching America First while on the other submitting a request to Congress for an historic increase in spending on the military. Is this Trump adopting the Reagan doctrine of deterrence through ever- expanding military capability or is this Trump just enamoured (bigly) with the notion of strong? It doesnt help or maybe Trump thinks it does that there is no consensus in his own party on military and foreign policy doctrine either. The old Republican guard in the Senate which believed America had a global responsibility to hold the peace, sacrificing blood if necessary, is mostly gone, including World War II veterans like Robert Dole and Daniel Inouye. John McCain, a Vietnam War veteran, keeps that flame burning with support from Senator Lindsey Graham but not many others. But if McCain and Graham cheered the strikes on Syria, others like libertarian senator Rand Paul excoriated it. There are isolationist breezes running through the GOP today reminiscent of the America First Committee that, with help notably from Charles Lindbergh, fought so hard to prevent President Franklin Roosevelt from committing the US to the allied fight against Hitler until the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour breezes that Trump himself frequently fans. Thus the flaying he has received from voices on the far right, who see his strike against Syria as a simple betrayal of all those supporters who believed his America First rhetoric. Media THRILLED that Trump is destroying his presidency, Ann Coulter, the conservative commentator, snarled via Twitter. Is this a president with enviable room for manoeuvre on foreign policy or a president stumbling cluelessly as his party and even his own cabinet lieutenants similarly fracture all around him. Either way, its no wonder Americas allies, including the other G7 countries, are straining to see clarity where there is none. Boris Johnson take note: the Washington DC subway stop for Tillersons State Department is not Silver Springs or Crystal City. Its Foggy Bottom. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Despite my support for new sanctions on Russia, I am anxious that the West is getting closer to directly supporting the moderate rebels and focusing on overthrowing Assad. If the rebels ever did come to power, this would surely lead to further conflict; firstly, many of Assad's sympathisers would still exist and therefore form new resistance and secondly, the current rebel groups are incredibly divided and there is a high chance that they would start fighting amongst themselves if they formed a government together. As much as I think Assad is a tyrant and that he should go, avoiding bloodshed is our utmost priority. I am anxious that the West are looking for the perfect solution they won't find it. We need to compromise in order to preserve life. Lewis Chinchen Sheffield US Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that he cant imagine a stable and peaceful Syria with Assad in place. I have the sense that if, because eventually it will happen, a regime change will be enforced on Syria by the US, then we all can breathe easy and celebrate the success of the introduction of parliamentary democracy in that country, just as we had reasons to celebrate regime change and the introduction of democracy in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. It would be churlish of me to suggest that all of these regime changes have a well-documented history of having caused sectarian strife and killings of the most horrendous kind of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people. None of the western do-gooders, mainly the US and the UK, have any strategy in place to broker an acceptable peace settlement in Syria. By all accounts, it was the West, Turkey and Saudi Arabia who supplied weapons to the opposition in Syria. And that started some five years ago now. The body count continues. The wolves continue circling the camp. When Angela Merkel met with US President Trump recently, she suggested that it would be better if we would talk with each other, rather than about each other. Did anybody else hear her cry from the wilderness? Gunter Straub London, NW3 Following the recent chemical attack in Syria and the US response, calls that Assad must be removed have intensified. I hope that in the eventuality of this happening that the West, this time, have a plan as to what happens next. Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria when will our politicians realise that there is no parliamentary democracy waiting in the wings? Chris Elshaw Headley Down Double standards I suspect I fall into a common bracket of readers who cant determine whether the American administration was right or wrong to bomb a Syrian aerodrome in retaliation to the likelihood that the Syrian air force used nerve or poison gas against innocent civilians last week. However, I do know that one innocent childs life has the same value regardless of its geographic location or ethnicity, or its parents religion. This for me makes it very difficult to understand how the American and UK Governments can justify taking military action in Syria whilst supporting other attacks against innocent children elsewhere. Our Government is supporting Saudi Arabia with armaments supplies and the provision of military experts whilst we know that their actions in Yemen have caused many civilian deaths, and their continued blockade of essential supplies of food and medical aid are causing extreme hardship for the Yemeni civilians, with the greatest impact being on babies and small children. Perhaps one of your excellent reporters could ask our Prime Minister and the US President on my behalf why they place such a high value on Syrian babies and children whilst apparently placing no value on those of Yemen? David Curran Feltham I pity those who think President Trump was really agonised by watching horrid scenes of Syrian children drenched in blood. President Trump is only worried about his survival chances at home. Military attacks do not do anything for those living on the rubble of their neighbourhoods; for those agonising in pain without essential medicines, vaccinations, life-saving equipment, and so on, and for those undertaking treacherous voyages across raging seas to reach safety in continental Europe. What Trump has really achieved is bolstering Putin's military and navy presence in Syria and deflecting to some extent attention from his own troubles at home. Nothing was best in achieving this than by using Arabs and Muslims as pawns in his chess game with his political adversaries. Also a lot of questions remain unanswered: first, every missile launched costs 800,00 dollars who paid for the 95 missiles? Why not do something to save innocent civilians being persecuted and brutally murdered in Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and Burma? Why not make a U-turn and rescind the travel ban on Syrian refugees then? Why not end the plight of Israelis and Palestinians locked down in a brutal show for over seven decades? More importantly, why not focus on the US itself? According to Trump, the murder rate there is the highest ever in 47 years. Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob London, NW2 Local newspapers Oh how I agree with David Barnett's article about local newspapers (Its not the internet thats destroying local news its greed, 5 April). There is a real need for local press in addition to national press. No national newspaper is going to be report on what our local councils are up to, or what devious goings on might be happening locally. Equally, I do not look to my local Gazette for reports on Westminster machinations. I need both to get a full picture. And on the matter of being promoted out of your favourite job, that is widespread among other professions, eg education. Who was it who said, We are all in danger of being promoted to at least one level above our level of competence? Patrick Wise Cirencester Picture protest No doubt youve seen the report of the Asian woman who confronted a male EDL supporter at a rally in Birmingham last weekend. The man's name was Ian Crossland. This is what he posted on Facebook on 5th June last year: Good night folks. Peace out unless you're Islamic, then may the fleas of a thousand camels infest your arse hole. And he describes himself as South Yorkshire's finest on that same page. Patrick Cosgrove Shropshire Todays biggest weapon If youve not read it, you must read George Orwells essay You and the atomic bomb. One line struck me as particularly relevant considering the mass technological change we have seen in the past few years: Ages in which the dominant weapon is expensive or difficult to make will tend to be ages of despotism, whereas when the dominant weapon is cheap and simple the common people have a chance. I wonder what Orwell would have made of todays society and in particular the dominant weapon of the time, the internet. The late noughties saw a wave of optimism in the internet and its emancipatory power. Stories of bedroom start-ups making millions, small niche businesses expanding their reach to a global audience and free flowing information that enabled all, no matter how remote, to see the truth. If the past 12 months have taught us anything, it is that far from being the weapon of the common people, the internet has become a nexus of control and political influence that would impress the most effective of propaganda machines. At face value, by Orwell's standards, should we not be pleased? For the price of a Sky broadband tariff, and inexplicably a landline charge, we too have access to the weapon that the Kremlin has, that GCHQ has and that Donald Trump has. But do we really? We are all becoming increasingly aware of Russian involvement in swaying the US presidential election. What too is coming to light, and in my opinion is far more terrifying is the impact Cambridge Analytica had on the EU referendum. A company owned by friend of Nigel Farage, Robert Mercer, used hugely advanced and expensive data analytics tools to construct psychometric profiles of British voters in an effort to influence their votes through Facebook advertisements. Far from this being a hysterical fear by one paranoid millennial, this weapon used by the Vote Leave campaign is seen as so powerful that it has warranted an investigation by UK privacy watch dog the ICO. Fears over the exploitation over personal data and the weaponisation of the internet are growing. This is where my point lies, the internet gives us all the power to expose injustices in 140 characters or less. But don't be fooled, the internet is not a cheap weapon that puts us the common people on a level playing field with the elite, the internet is a weapon that is expensive and extremely difficult to make. It's time we all woke up, before the clock strikes 13. Jasper London, E5 Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Perhaps the cathartic experience of being dragged off his plane to Moscow cleared his mind, but Boris Johnson has said something sensible. It wasnt much, he may not have meant it, and he hasnt a clue how to bring it about. Even if he did, a British foreign secretarys opinion is a devalued currency these days even more so than sterling. But still, it doesnt happen that often that we should ignore it when it does. So balaclavas off to Boris, on being unmuzzled by the PM to give his twopennorth on Syria, for this: I think the Russians need a way out and a way forward. Well, duh, you might say. Of course the Russians need a way out. The Russians have needed a way out, and from more than Syria, for ages. The issue is whether the United States can find one and offer it without the usual mix of contempt and condescension which inevitably pushes the Russians even further into their corner. And the answer, you suspect, is this: Dont. Be. Silly. The post-Cold War history of relations with Russia has been one of counterproductive idiocy largely because, in tone, it isnt post-Cold War at all. After a brief, relatively amicable period following the collapse of the Soviets, the Evil Empire mindset reasserted itself. Boris Johnson: Syria chemical attack offers Russia a 'choice' When Russia needed gently guiding towards a permanent accommodation with (if not a lusty embracing of) Western democratic values, the bear was continually poked with a sharpened stick. To a country which constructed a vast defensive empire to protect the integrity of her borders, encouraging Ukraine to join Nato was a needlessly provocative move with predictable results. Nothing that follows should be misinterpreted as a paean to Vladimir Putin, let alone any sort of justification for Russian complicity (if there was any) in Assads nerve-gas outrage of last week (assuming he was responsible, as seems likely). Anyone but a revisionist Stalinist maniac disapproves mightily of his autocratic disdain for human rights, and much besides. Yet you neednt approve of the man and his methods to appreciate the need to work with rather than against him in ventures such as the effort to crush Isis. And you need not be a Russian nationalist to understand why his people are a little fatigued by being lectured about military interventions in Syria by politicians from the countries whose recklessness destabilised the entire region in the first place, and then decided (wisely, in my opinion) to sit this one out. Sarin gas is a peculiarly disgusting agent of death. But Britain and the US have used disgusting weapons too. If the moral distinction about killing civilians with depleted uranium shells is that they were collateral damage, and not the intended targets, you can imagine how consoling that would sound to the parent of a child dying in agony from radiation poisoning. For a moment, the dream of America dropping the moral superiority act was almost tangible. It was the one silver lining in the indescribably forbidding sky in the election of a pussy grabber who makes little pretence to any morality at all. Boris Johnson looks 'daft' after pulling out of Moscow trip - Alex Salmond If we had to have Donald Trumps tiny hands hovering over the codes, the saving grace was that his puppyish admiration for the Kremlin strongman would mean a radical reboot for Russo-Western relations. So much for that. The allegations about his campaigns collusion with Russia and those rumours about hotel CCTV tapes pissed all over that one. Already, the political pressure to escape his caricature as Putins bitch had probably nudged the challenge of reengagement with Moscow beyond even his silky diplomatic skills. Then, possibly from a natural human response to heartrending footage (as well as any desire to deflect from his domestic grief), he sent the Tomahawks raining down and put Team America back on the world policing beat. Nowadays Britain doesnt even qualify as its trusty constable. So we find Theresa May, fresh from her jolly selling arms to a Saudi Arabia which has killed so many of Yemens beautiful babies, joining the non-uniformed support staff. While she parrots the White Houses call for a tougher international stance towards Russia, Boris advocates harsher sanctions. Here we go again with that Einsteinian definition of insanity. Every time the geniuses behind the triumphs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya strike a moral pose to lecture Russia, Russia becomes that bit more entrenched. If the West won the Cold War (which, given the shockwaves still resonating from its end, is debatable), it cannot win this absurdist pastiche in the same way. The real Cold War was an attritional battle between opponents who seemed evenly matched for decades, until the Soviets ran out of money. This proxy version, fought by Russia with modern asymmetric warfare tactics such as cyber hacking, is a catchweight contest between the lone surviving superpower and the former one with a trifling, fragile economy. Russia has no claim to equivalence beyond the nuclear arsenal no one believes it would use. The more the US and its echo chamber across the pond treat Russia as their number one ranked enemy, the more they elevate Russia to punch above its true weight. So Boris is correct about finding Russia a way out. Its a lovely idea. But how it happens without the US finding an exit route of its own, from the psychological Cold War maze in which it blunders about with Britain yapping shrilly at its heels, is even harder to imagine now than before. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Italy-hosted G7 meeting of foreign ministers, including Boris Johnson, concludes today. For the fourth year running, it is only the G7 foreign ministers (Japan, United States, Canada, Germany, France, United Kingdom and Italy) rather than the G8 (which includes Russia). Russia joined the summits from 1997 to 2013, but following the annexation of Crimea, Moscow has been told it can only rejoin if it changes course and an environment is once again created in which it is possible for the G8 to hold reasonable discussions. As discussion in Italy of the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine and also Syria exemplifies, the prominence of geopolitical and security issues in G7 meetings continues to be striking. In recent years, the G7 has for instance played a significant orchestration role in the Wests response to the crisis there, and the leaders will probably use the summit next month to reiterate support for the Kiev government. What this underlines is the G7s often underappreciated importance as an international security lynchpin. This is despite the fact that the group was originally conceived in the 1970s to monitor developments in the world economy and assess macroeconomic policies. Outside of Ukraine, G7 foreign ministers are not just spending much time on Syria, but are also likely to echo Natos warnings that the security of Europe is continuing to be undermined by wider turbulence in North Africa and the Middle East. Aside from Syria, this years hosts, Italy, want to make a particular push to foster stability in Libya which split into a patchwork of rival fiefdoms after the collapse of the Gaddafi regime. Russia says G7 held hostage by Ukrainian government Migration from Libya to Italy is a pressing issue, driven by post-Gaddafi instability. A key reason for urgency is not just the number of migrants, but also the fact that the death rate on this sea route is much higher than between Greece and Turkey. This Middle East discussion follows the debate at the Japan G7 last year when the region was also a key area of dialogue from Syria to Iran, Iraq, and Libya. Ahead of that summit, Japan pledged $6 billion in aid between 2016 and 2018 to help tackle violent extremism and bring greater stability to the region. The G7s involvement in this multitude of geopolitical dialogues has met with some international criticism. For instance, China strongly objected to discussion of maritime security in Asia, especially the South China Sea, at the Japan summit. Last year, G7 foreign ministers warned of any intimidating coercive or provocative unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions in both the South and East China Seas given the territorial disputes over several archipelagos there involving countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. China, which claims much of the South China Sea, asserted in response that the G7 should focus its time instead on its founding mandate of global economic cooperation against what was in 2016 the backdrop of sub-par performance of the international economy. It is also sometimes asserted, especially by developing countries, that the G7 lacks the legitimacy of the UN to engage in these geopolitical and security issues, and is a historical artefact given the rise of new powers, including China and India. However, it is not the case that the international security role of the G7 is new. In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: US missile strike against Syria In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The United States military launched at least 50 tomahawk cruise missiles at al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs, Syria, in response to the Syrian military's alleged use of chemical weapons in an airstrike in a rebel held area in Idlib province EPA In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Shayrat airfield in Syria Getty Images In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., after the US fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Reuters An early example of the lynchpin function the body has played here was in the 1970s and 1980s when it helped coordinate Western strategy towards the then Soviet Union. Moreover, following the September 2001 terrorist attacks, the G8 (including Russia) assumed a key role in the US-led campaign against terrorism. This began with coordinated activities helping to tackle sources of terrorism finance and, later, a Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Another key security role came over Kosovo in 1999. Following unsuccessful efforts to resolve the crisis in the UN Security Council, compromise was reached between the West and Russia in the G8. Foreign ministers then drew up a resolution that was agreed at the UN. Taken overall, the G7s current attention on Syria underlines yet again the significant geopolitical focus of the body, despite criticism of its actions in this area. The bodys longstanding track record as a security actor underlines the fact that this role is not only likely to continue but could grow in significance, much to the opposition of some other key countries, including China. Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics Enda Kenny has denied he panicked and forced the resignation of the country's Garda chief over revelations of unlawful telephone recording systems at stations country-wide. In the wake of a State inquiry into the affair, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin accused the Taoiseach of having been "alarmist" in pushing out then-Garda chief Martin Callinan over the discovery of the decades-old secret taping system. The Fennelly commission's final report, published last week, showed the consequences of the recordings as predicted by Mr Kenny, on the advice of the Attorney General Maire Whelan, were "significantly overestimated", he said. "You said the entire criminal justice system could break down, convictions would be overturned, entire court proceedings would be rendered null and void," Mr Martin told the Taoiseach in the Dail. "But more serious than that, it is very clear that the alarmist and overactive response of the government forced the removal of a Garda commissioner on that specific issue." Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan unexpectedly resigned in March 2014, the morning after a top government official visited his house late at night to tell him the Cabinet may no longer have confidence in him over the phone-taping scandal. Mr Martin said the then Garda chief was "about the only person who acted appropriately" over the affair, having demanded it be halted as soon as he became aware it and notifying the Justice Minister. The Fianna Fail leader said the Attorney General then "bypassed" the then-Justice Minister and went straight to Mr Kenny to warn the "heavens were about to fall". "It reveals a bizarre dysfunctionality at the heart of a government," he said. Mr Martin pressed the Taoiseach to accept that sending a top government official to the Garda chief's home, effectively forcing his resignation, was the "wrong thing to do". But Mr Kenny said the remarks about Ms Whelan were "quite extraordinary" in "attacking an officer of the State" who was not in the Dail to defend herself. The Attorney General could not have known the extent of the issues at the time and acted "quite appropriately" in bringing them to his attention, he said. Mr Kenny said the interim findings of the Fennelly commission made it very clear he had no intention of forcing the resignation of Mr Callinan and that he had decided to retire. "This was not a case of overreaction and panic," he said. "It was a very important element of the security of the state and confidence in the gardai." The Fennelly Commission interim report in 2015 ruled Mr Kenny did not sack the Garda chief or intend to pressure him into quitting. But it also found his orders left no choice but for Mr Callinan to "walk off the pitch". Last week's final report found that the Garda is unlawfully in possession of countless recordings of telephone calls spanning decades, some of which contain sensitive details of people's private lives. The secret taping of non-emergency phone calls at 22 Garda stations country-wide violated the rights of citizens under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights Act, it further concluded. But it concluded the debacle, blamed on a technical misunderstanding which led to the unwitting go-ahead for the system, did not involve a Garda system of snooping, spying or intrusion into private life and "certainly not of listening to solicitor/client calls". Some of the oldest surviving biblical manuscripts have gone on display at the Chester Beatty library in Dublin Some of the oldest surviving biblical manuscripts are on display in Dublin. The texts, which caused a global sensation in 1931 when they were bought by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty, contain both Old and New Testament books and date from 200 to 400AD. And as Easter approaches, the library named in the collector's honour is showing St Paul's Letter To The Corinthians, which recounts how Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again. Jill Unkel, curator of the Western Collection at the Chester Beatty Library, said: "It's a very, very significant collection. "It's the earliest collection of Pauline epistles on book. There are surviving fragments dated earlier but it's the earliest known collection. "They are really important finds for biblical scholars, for Christian scholars and for a lot of Christians who come to the library to see these texts." The manuscripts were written in Greek on papyri in Egypt and contain no illustrations. They were said to have been found on the banks of the Nile in the 1920s, although the exact location is unknown. It took Sir Alfred Chester Beatty the best part of a decade to gather all the manuscripts by contacting dealers in Cairo and elsewhere. It is believed that they were written by Christian scholars for the elite who had converted to the faith or for the hierarchy to promote the religion. Among them are The Book Of Numbers, which was the oldest surviving book of the Bible until the Dead Sea Scrolls were unearthed. There is also the oldest manuscript of Paul's letters (dated AD200) and the oldest surviving codex or book containing all four Gospels and the Acts Of The Apostles. Parts of the collection are on permanent display in the library. Countries hoping to lure banks after Brexit are offering differing regulatory standards, raising fears at the ECB that light-touch supervision could undermine its aim of making financial regulation consistent across the bloc, according to financial newswire Reuters. The news bears out fears raised last month by Financial Services minister Eoghan Murphy. A gap in EU financial rules means member countries can offer looser regulatory standards as they vie to attract the trading operations of London-based investment banks. The European Central Bank is the eurozone's banking supervisor. However, under EU law it does not have direct responsibility for the parts of big banks that conduct most of their market trading - known as broker-dealers - even though they are some of the most complex and riskiest parts of their businesses. This is largely because when the ECB became responsible for eurozone supervision in 2014 the bulk of broker-dealers were in London and therefore not under its purview. This means banks now looking to relocate these operations, to continue to trade continental securities after Britain leaves the EU, will have businesses approved and supervised by the national markets regulator of whichever country they move to. Such inconsistencies mean broker-dealers trading in the same markets in Europe could be subject to different regulatory requirements, the newswire reported, and raise the prospect that some would take on more risks than other regulators would deem appropriate. It is an issue that has already been flagged here by Minister Murphy, as Ireland competes with other EU countries for companies and jobs displaced from London as a result of the Brexit vote. Mr Murphy said last month that Ireland faces "dangerous competition" for Brexit-related spoils and questioned whether regulators in some other EU capitals were being prudent. He said he believed there was "regulatory competition" going on to try and attract firms and sectors that could be looking for a "back door" into the single market. "Some of the feedback that I'm getting from companies interested in relocating out of London into Ireland is that some of the things that are being suggested to them by regulators in other jurisdictions make me worry about relaxed standards being applied by other regulators so they can be more competitive in attracting competition," Mr Murphy told the Irish Independent at that time. He cited sectors such as insurance and fund management and signalled suggestions were being made to companies by regulators that might not be doable within the European context. It is understood that concerns related more to smaller jurisdictions, rather than the larger EU capitals. Mr Murphy raised his concerns at a meeting with European Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis. Across the eurozone, the likes of Frankfurt, Dublin, Luxembourg and Madrid are vying to lure banks, hoping to benefit from the tax revenues and jobs they would bring. Regulation is one way to differentiate themselves. However, the Central Bank of Ireland has stressed that it has adopted a consistent position in relation to Brexit-related supervisory queries. Governor Philip Lane has said the bank's approach is in line with sound practices being agreed across Europe. And he has said any entity locating here needs to be substantively run from Ireland. Additional reporting by Reuters Irish book chain Eason has appointed Liam Hanly as the group's new managing director. Mr Hanly joined the company in 2010 and serves as director of finance, IT and logistics. He will replace Conor Whelan who announced his decision to step down earlier this year. "The board and I are very pleased to have someone of Liam Hanly's calibre to take over from Conor Whelan as managing director of Eason," said James Osborne, chairman of Eason "Liam Hanly brings a wealth of retail knowledge and experience of the business and on behalf of the board I wish him every success in his new role," Mr Osbourne added. Mr Hanly said: "I am delighted and honoured to be taking over as MD of Eason, one of Ireland's most iconic businesses and brands. I look forward to leading the business through the next exciting phase in its development." Eason employs over 1,000 people across 65 stores in Ireland. The group's turnover hit 220m, according to latest company filings. Michael Murphy, a top executive at insurance brokerage and consultancy, Willis Towers Watson, has been named as the managing director of New Ireland Assurance, ending a near-year long search for a leader of the Bank of Ireland subsidiary. The appointment follows a management shake-up at the life assurance and pensions company in October. It will be viewed by many in the industry as an effort to draw a line under the misdeeds of the past. Last July, New Ireland was fined 650,000 by the regulator and reprimanded for two breaches of the Consumer Protection Code. The Central Bank accused the company of providing incomplete information to consumers about the structure and performance of its investment products. The breaches occurred between July 1, 2012 and November 30, 2014. Pat Healy, chairman of New Ireland, said Mr Murphy "brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this important role, and has an exceptional track record of growing businesses and delivering strategic transformation". He added the appointment "reflects" the board and Bank of Ireland's ambition "to grow our position in this important sector". The top job at New Ireland had been vacant since April 2016, when Sean Casey resigned after a six-year tenure at the helm. His departure ended a 16-year career with the company. New Ireland said Mick Sweeney, the interim managing director, will return to a senior position in the Bank of Ireland Group once Mr Murphy takes up the reins in July. Brexit has so far failed to dent the Irish economy with Michael Noonan yesterday indicating that a softer budget in 2018 is potentially now on the cards. The Finance Minister will today formally set out new estimates showing economic growth this year is running well ahead of the forecast when this year's Budget was set back in October. "There will probably be some additional funds available from the extra growth," he said at an event in Dublin yesterday. Department of Finance forecasts for economic growth have been lifted to 4.3pc this year - up from the previously expected 3.5pc. Growth in 2018 is now tipped to be 3.7pc of gross domestic product instead of 3.4pc. The big change is Brexit, which officials had thought would have hit the Irish economy harder by now, the minister said. "The adjustment made for Brexit didn't come through," he told reporters at an event at the Central Bank organised by the European Investment Bank. Mr Noonan also indicated that financial support from the EIB could help fund key infrastructure projects including a Cork-Limerick motorway, a Dublin to Derry motorway and a Metro scheme in Dublin city. The latest growth forecasts will be presented to the rest of the Government today. They have been prepared for the draft 2017 Stability Programme Update, part of the EU's budget monitoring system. The full updated document is expected to be published ahead of the minister's appearance in front of the Oireachtas Budget Oversight Committee on Thursday. Announcing the revisions yesterday means the news is going out to investors before the National Treasury Management Agency is due to borrow 1.25bn on the markets tomorrow - and could potentially help reduce borrowing costs. Asked if better growth will see him open the budgetary purse strings, the minister said the overall effect would not be large. "There are two problems at budget time. "The first problem is that you actually have the money and the second problem is, even if you have the money, would you be allowed spend it under the fiscal rules," he said. "It (higher growth) is not going to make a lot of difference to fiscal space but, yes, it probably throws up buoyancy of taxation all right that will be useful," he said. The department hasn't yet recalibrated the numbers for 2018, he said. "We'd hope that as the year goes by, it may loosen out, but nothing dramatic. We won't be throwing our hats in the air," Mr Noonan (pictured) said. A key factor in the latest estimates was higher than expected growth in the economy at the end of last year. After a lull in the immediate wake of the June Brexit vote,activity picked up rapidly in the last three months of 2016 as investors and consumers appeared to shrug off any adverse impact from the referendum. "We probably ended 2016 better in terms of the vital statistics, so we started further up the road than we'd thought in January," the minister said. Despite that, Mr Noonan warned that risk "is tilted towards the downside". At home, the risks include potential loss of competitiveness and housing pressures, while abroad the principal risk for Ireland is Brexit with the potential for a US border tax also a concern. Despite a drop in tourism numbers in the first quarter of the year, Dublin Port Company said that there was a 1.9pc rise in the number of trade vehicles passing through during the same period. Stock image Passenger numbers at Dublin Port fell by almost 10pc in the first quarter of this year, according to latest data released by the Dublin Port Company. The number of passengers travelling through Dublin by sea dropped by 9.3pc in the first three months of the year to a total number of 270,171. In addition, Dublin Port said that there had been a fall of 4.9pc in tourist vehicles over the same period compared to 2016, with more than 4,000 fewer vehicles using the port over the months in question. Those figures will be of concern to Irish policymakers who were put on alert earlier this month following data released that showed tourism numbers from the UK had fallen by 5.9pc between December and February. Dublin Port said the drop in numbers could be attributed to Easter falling in April this year. On a more positive note, the data showed there was a rise of 1.9pc in the number of trade vehicles passing through. The fall in tourism numbers is at odds with the other activity in the port, with freight tonnage passing through of 8.7 million for the first three months, a rise of 4.2pc. The Dublin Port Company added it will pay a dividend of almost 12m to the State this year. The dividend payment will account for 30pc of last year's profit and surpasses the 10.9m paid in 2016. The company has now contributed just over 100m to the State since 2007. There were a total of 1,843 ship arrivals during the three-month period, an average of 20 ship a day. Turnover at the company rose by 5.1pc last year, with the group's EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) up by 8.8pc to 53.6m. Overall, growth at the port has risen by 25pc since 2013. "Long-term growth requires additional capacity and we have a 10-year 600m capital investment programme well under way to make sure that Dublin Port can continue to meet demand between now and 2040," said Eamonn O'Reilly, chief executive of the Dublin Port Company. "Alongside our large planned expenditure on capital projects, it is important that we continue to pay a dividend to the State and I am delighted that we are in a position this year to pay an 11.7m dividend, equivalent to 30pc of last year's profits," Mr O'Reilly added. The port hit the headlines for other reasons in January of this year after almost 40m worth of cannabis was seized following an operation involving Gardai and Revenue officers targeting organised crime gangs. The drugs are believed to have been destined for the notorious Kinahan cartel. There has been a record number of data privacy complaints in Ireland over the last year, new figures from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner show. The regulator reported a spike in overall complaints last year to a record level of 1,479, rising from 932 in 2015. However, it also received almost 35,000 queries, mostly by email and phone. In her offices annual report, published today, Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon said that there were 2,224 security breach notifications reported here, a slight decrease from 2,317 notifications reported in 2015. She said that there were only 25 Right To Be Forgotten requests received by her office in Ireland last year, with six upheld, 15 rejected and five currently still under investigation. Disappointingly, compliance with individuals access rights to their personal data remains low, said Ms Dixon. Employee monitoring by means of CCTV remains a concern [while] ongoing leaking of data from government bodies to private investigators remains a challenge to be tackled. Ms Dixon said that she expected investigations into Whatsapp and Yahoo to conclude this year. In the Whatsapp case, the Irish office is seeking to determine whether consent was properly sought from users when WhatsApp updated its terms of service and privacy policy in August 2016 to including references to the sharing and matching of WhatsApp user data with Facebook user data. The Yahoo investigation centres around a massive data breach affecting the personal details of 500m Yahoo users. Ms Dixon said that her office had an active year engaging with multinational tech firms based in Ireland. The result of such interactions, she said included Facebook Ireland updating its cookie-banner notification to include more precise information on its usage of cookies for commercial purposes. She also said that the office had consulted with Apple on the review of its new education service and participation in several meetings with organisations exploring the possibility of establishing in Ireland as either a data controller or processor. Ms Dixon also criticised government departments seeking to sidestep data protection regulation themselves by saying her office should deal with issues that arise. State bodies need to comprehend that the obligations in law, and the requirement to be accountable for their processing of personal data, rest with them and they cannot simply legislate to transfer their obligations to the independent regulator, she said. Ms Dixon added that a proposed role for the DPC in the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill represents a very serious challenge to the required independence of the DPC. Meanwhile, the DPC office is to double its staff to 130 people and is to seek a second new Dublin office. The regulators office, which is responsible for overseeing some of the biggest tech companies in the world, has expanded from 30 people in 2013 to 70 people now. However, Ms Dixon says that the relentless pace of work means that further expansion is required. Such is the rate of our recruitment programme that an additional nearby premises is now being sought by the DPC to house the further staff members who will join the DPC over the next two years, bringing our Dublin-based staff to around 130, said Ms Dixon. The regulator intends to hire 35 extra staff this year and a further 25 staff next year. The extra resources are partially necessary, she says, to prepare for one of the biggest legal events in data protection history next year, when the General Data Protection Regulation takes effect. Once the GDPR comes into force on 25 May 2018, the DPC will be the lead data-protection authority for the regulation of multinationals that have their main establishment in Ireland under the one-stop-shop model, she said. As China's middle class develops its taste for imported food and drink, fresh produce suppliers in New Zealand and Australia are topping up nature's bounty with anti-counterfeiting technology in a bid to protect their business from fakes. Suppliers of goods from fruit to wine and lamb are teaming up with makers of tracking systems, codes and powders to combat fakes that cost the global food business billions of dollars. As tech tools become cheaper, services like China's popular WeChat smartphone app are also being deployed, offering consumers a free scanning ally to work out what's on Chinese store shelves. Smaller players, such as meat company Silver Fern Farms and Synlait Milk have tapped local tech firms like Dunedin's Oritain, which measures food isotopes as a checkable 'fingerprint'. But Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is also in on the act with a pilot Blockchain-based tracing system, signing up Kiwi dairy giant Fonterra and Australian vitamin supplier Blackmores as partners. "We see the Australian and New Zealand markets setting the tone for the rest of the world when it comes to integrity, safety and quality of food supply chains," said Maggie Zhou, Alibaba's Australia and New Zealand managing director, in comments published to mark its project launch at a ceremony in Canberra. "It was a natural decision to pilot a programme here." Dislodging counterfeit food, now a well-established business of its own, presents no small challenge. Fraud costs the global food industry an estimated $40bn a year, Alibaba said, citing research conducted by Michigan State University. In China, $1bn (940m) in counterfeited goods was seized in 2014, according to the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition. "Categories that are faked so regularly are the (fresh produce) ones where New Zealand and Australia are strong," said Mark Tanner, director of Shanghai-based China Skinny, a firm that advises Western businesses operating in China. But firms in Australia and New Zealand are going to increasing lengths to protect sales they rely on for growth. New Zealand's total exports to China have quadrupled to NZ$12bn (8.12bn) since 2007, mostly food and drink. Australia agriculture exports to China were worth around A$10bn (7.2bn) in 2016, double the amount five years earlier. Widespread use of apps like WeChat, owned by Chinese internet giant Tencent make it easier and cheaper for smaller tech firms to develop anti-counterfeiting technologies. That lower cost base has brought tracking systems previously solely in the realm of multinationals within reach of the small to mid-level firms that are the backbone of the food and drink business in New Zealand and Australia. Auckland manuka honey firm Oceania Natural chief executive Walker Zhong said he used his knowledge of Chinese consumer habits in building Oceania's own scanning system at a cost of NZ$1m (600,000). Oceania Natural's tool revolves around WeChat - which Zhong knew Chinese consumers would already have on their smartphones. Pitfalls remain. Packaging can be tampered with, or even faked, and that many exports like meat are still sent to China in bulk shipments without any packaging for consumers. "The only real way of knowing is testing the actual product," said Sam Lind, operations director at Oritain. (Reuters) British artist David Gray has spoken out about Ireland's abortion laws ahead of his performance at the upcoming Repeal Project fundraiser at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin. The fact that abortion remains illegal in Ireland is quite frankly staggering. There has to be a choice," he said. The gig will raise funds for the Repeal the 8th movement which campaigns to change the Irish law which equates the life of an unborn child with the life of the mother*. Grey adds, "I am more than happy to do any small thing I can to help draw attention to this issue. This is the 21st century not the dark ages, it needs to be put right." Repeal: A Night in the Key of 8 on Sunday April 23 will also feature performances from Mary Black and her daughter Roisin O, as well as Neil Hannon, Camille O'Sullivan, Loah, Le Galaxie, Lisa O'Neil, Wyvern Lingo and Print Clips featuring Paul Noonan and guests. Speaking ahead of the gig, Roisin O said, "Im honoured to be able to lend my voice to such an important movement. Womens rights over their body is one thing that Ireland has left behind in our great leap forward as a country in the last 30 years. "Personally I feel, that no matter what my views, or anyone else's in this country, are, we dont have the right to force those views on any woman. "Every woman should be entitled to make their own decisions about their body and that can only be achieved by repealing the 8th amendment." Roisin's mum Mary added, "The 8th amendment discriminates against all women living in Ireland. The amendment equates the life of a pregnant woman with that of an embryo and has created an unworkable situation as was evidenced in the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar in Galway. "This repeal will ensure that if a mothers life it at risk from a pregnancy she will be protected." Paul Noonan also supports the project. He said, "I think most Irish people now feel that the law is out of step with their compassion for women who are pregnant and distraught, and need to not be at least one of those things. "I feel that repealing the 8th and replacing it with something more in line with that compassion will be another important milestone in our journey from theocracy to a more free society." Video of the Day Performer and activist Panti will also contribute on the night as well as other writers and campaigners including Ailbhe Smith (convenor of the coalition to repeal the 8th), Roisin Ingle, Tara Flynn, Una Mullally, Paul Meehan, Independent Senator Lynn Ruane, Eileen Flynn, Claudia Hoareau and Spoken Word Artist Felicia Olusanyo and activist Helen Lenihan. Comedian, author and activist Tara Flynn has a more personal reason for getting invovled. "The 8th has affected me directly," she said. "I had to travel for healthcare that should have been available to me at home. But I'm one of the lucky ones who was able to travel. We need to look after all our citizens, particularly those in vulnerable situations. We deserve equality and autonomy, the right to determine our own futures and what happens to our own bodies. Panti added, "Repeal The 8th for me is about bodily autonomy. I believe that everyone should be free to make their own decisions about their own bodies. Women should be able to make their own informed decisions about their own health. And the rest of us should trust women to know what's right for them in their own circumstances. "I want to support the show because I want to support the women in my life, and because I think it's important to publicly show that support. Wyvern Lingo see the movment as "a sign Ireland is capable of moving beyond its oppressive past" while Loah adds that it "means honouring the truth about reproductive rights in this country so that women can finally have this right respected and attended to by our own professionals on our own shores - at home." Le Galaxie stated, "Abortion is not outlawed in Ireland, it is outsourced." Funds raised on the night will go to The Repeal Project - Tickets from 28.50 available from Ticketmaster. *The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act 1983 (article 40.3.3) states: The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right. Kendrick Lamar and U2 have collaborated on a new song US rapper Kendrick Lamar has confirmed his latest album features a collaboration with U2 as he unveiled the records track listings and artwork. The album, titled Damn, is Kendricks third studio record and features an appearance from Rihanna on Loyalty and a track called xxx featuring U2. The musician posted the 14-track albums artwork on Twitter on Tuesday morning, with the cover featuring him standing in front of a brick wall in a simple white T-shirt. It is not understood if the song is a collaboration with U2 or if the rapper just samples a track from the Irish rockers' catalogue. Expand Close Kendrick Lamar's album artwork for Damn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kendrick Lamar's album artwork for Damn Fans were excited by the presence of a Rihanna collaboration but some were unsure about Kendrick's partnership with Bono and Co. Damn is the follow-up to 2015's To Pimp A Butterfly. It was made available to pre-order on iTunes last week under the title ALBUM. Composer credits on the pre-ordered album list James Blake, Steve Lacy of The Internet, DJ Dahi, BadBadNotGood, 9th Wonder and The Alchemist. It hasn't been confirmed if these artists will be on the album titled DAMN. what could kendrick possibly have in common with u2, the boring band whose fans insist are good despite all evidence to the contrary an absolute legend (@bnmrsl) April 11, 2017 Kendrick Lamar featuring U2 haahhaaaa Gold Panda (@goldpanda) April 11, 2017 i can understand everyone's bewilderment at the U2/Kendrick thing. But some rap is quite good so lets listen b4 we say bono has sold out! Daniel McCormick (@McCormickDaniel) April 11, 2017 Kendrick lamar and u2 ... how random chris (@CTollerfield) April 11, 2017 Lamar recently described the album as very urgent, saying he wants to return to addressing the problem the way he did on To Pimp A Butterfly. I think now, how wayward things have gone within the past few months, my focus is ultimately going back to my community and the other communities around the world where theyre doing the groundwork, Lamar told The New York Times. "To Pimp a Butterfly was addressing the problem, he continued. Im in a space now where Im not addressing the problem anymore. Were in a time where we exclude one major component out of this whole thing called life: God. Nobody speaks on it because its almost in conflict with whats going on in the world when you talk about politics and government and the system. Damn is out on Friday. The second and final part of RTE series Ireland's Property Crisis prompted strong reaction on social media on Monday night as viewers raged about the issue. The episode provided a snapshot of the lives of a couple struggling with heavy mortgage arrears, just one of 77,000 houses in arrears in Ireland today. Expand Close Ireland's Property Crisis Katarzyna / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ireland's Property Crisis Katarzyna Viewers also saw a young Dublin family's quest to get keys to their new social house - after waiting ten years in a country where there are currently 91,000 people on social housing waiting lists and 7,000 in emergency accommodation. The solutions to these issues are perhaps not straightforward, but Twitter was alight with opinions on how best to tackle everything from negative equity to renting to arrears and social housing. Expand Close Ireland's Property Crisis Ray Cooke Auctioneers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ireland's Property Crisis Ray Cooke Auctioneers And of course there was a splash of trademark Irish wit... Here is just a flavour of the overwhelming reaction via #IrelandsPropertyCrisis: We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. 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Manage Preference Video of the Day We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference The sister of a teenager killed by a soldier in Co Derry has said she feels "a great sense of peace" after a coroner declared the shooting was unjustified. Manus Deery (15) was killed as he stood outside a chip shop in the Bogside area with friends in May 1972. He was struck in the head by fragments of a bullet fired by Royal Welch Fusilier William Glasgow that ricocheted off a wall. Yesterday, Coroner Adrian Colton ruled that not only was Mr Deery "a totally innocent victim", he was "not involved in any unlawful organisation or unlawful activity on the night of his death". Mr Colton added: "He did not pose a threat to a soldier or to anyone else. I have no hesitation or doubt in making this clear. The outcome of this inquest, above everything else, must be seen to vindicate fully the character of Manus Deery." Speaking outside court, Manus's sister Helen Deery said she was delighted his name had finally been cleared. She said: "We always knew Manus was innocent. This has been a long, drawn-out process, there has been lots of hurdles along the way, but it was worth it. "I loved my brother. I am a bit sentimental today, kind of peaceful too. In a way, it brings closure, there is a peaceful feeling and hopefully we can lay Manus to rest." Ms Deery also referred to a meeting with John Wilson, who was the army major in charge of Mr Glasgow and a 'Soldier B' at the time of the shooting. "He [Mr Wilson] was very emotional," she said. "I accepted his apology. It meant the world to us that he met us and it meant the world to see that he was so sorry about it." Mr Colton was heavily critical of the versions of what happened given at the time by Mr Glasgow and Soldier B, who were in an army look-out post on Derry's Walls. Mr Colton did not believe there was any gunman in the Bogside where Manus and his friends were standing, and he described Mr Glasgow's decision to shoot Mr Deery as "unjustified". Criminal proceedings have commenced over the handling of collective redundancies at Clerys department store. Businesswoman Deirdre Foley faces a single charge of impeding a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) inspector, as well as three counts of breaking protection of employment laws. Two other executives, as well as the previous owners, OCS Operations Ltd (now in liquidation), and Natrium Ltd, which took over the department store in 2015, have been served summons with connected charges. The case had its first listing at Dublin District Court yesterday before Judge John Brennan, who granted an adjournment until May 19. None of the defendants have yet entered a plea. Breffni Gordon, for the prosecution, told Judge Brennan the prosecutions have been instituted by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the WRC. OCS Operations petitioned the High Court for liquidation on June 12, 2015. This was followed by the collective redundancies in which 460 people lost their jobs, he said. The judge was told Ms Foley has an application before the Court of Appeal on April 28 in a bid to overturn a High Court ruling last year dismissing her challenge to the investigation. Mr Gordon said that during the investigation a laptop was seized at the offices of Ms Foley's firm, D2 Private Ltd, but it was returned to her after a forensic image of it was taken. OCS Operations Ltd has three charges. It operated Clerys Department Store and Warehouse from 2012 until a liquidator was appointed in June 2015. Offences The alleged offences are under the Protection of Employment Act for failing to initiate consultations with representatives of employees' affected by the collective redundancies in OCS Operations Ltd, failing to supply employee representatives with all relevant information relating to the redundancies and not notifying the jobs minister in writing on June 12, 2015 - the day of the Clerys takeover. There is one charge against Natrium Ltd, which is co-owned by property developer Ms Foley and a UK-based property investment and hedge fund business which has an 80pc stake. Natrium Ltd is accused of obstructing or impeding a WRC inspector on June 27 last year at 25-28 North Wall Quay, the company's address. Ms Foley, of Hollybank Avenue Upper, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, faces four charges. One count alleges it was with her consent or connivance that Natrium Ltd impeded a WRC inspector on June 12, 2015. Her other three charges are the same as those against OCS Operations Ltd. Also before the court is Mark Redmond, an employee of D2 Private Ltd, who faces the same charges for allegedly failing to notify the minister or consult with workers' representatives or provide them with relevant information about the redundancies. Brendan Cooney, a director of OCS Operations Ltd, with an address at Weirview Drive, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, also has the same charges plus an additional one under the Workplace Relations Act of giving false or misleading information to an inspector. Jashua Robert Tremblay originally said he was only 16 when he started talking to the young Irish girl A CANADIAN father who flew to Ireland twice to have sex with a 13-year-old girl he groomed on the internet is due to be sentenced today. Jashua Robert Tremblay, who is in his early 30s, pleaded guilty to three charges under Canadian child sex tourism legislation. His victim was only 13 when the online grooming began in late 2012 and she was 14 when Tremblay had sex with her, local radio station 630 CHED reports. He had originally told the girl he was 16 when they started talking but revealed his real age before travelling to Ireland. Tremblay flew to Dublin Airport and then made his way to south Kerry. The Kerryman reported in 2015 that concerns were then raised by locals when they were spotted at a rental accommodation together. Expand Close Jashua Robert Tremblay Photo: ALERT / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jashua Robert Tremblay Photo: ALERT He was reported to gardai by a local in Portmagee who became suspicious of the pair's relationship. It is understood that when Mr Tremblay was questioned in the company of the girl, he initially claimed he was her father. However, he was subsequently arrested in another jurisdiction and was deported. Gardai then began a major joint Irish-Canadian investigation. The young girl was interviewed by gardai and they examined all her computers and phone, when they discovered Tremblay had been using his real name on social media to contact her. Read More Explicit sexual images were also discovered, which Tremblay initiated. He pleaded guilty last December on three counts: Online luring to facilitate the making of a child pornography; Online luring to facilitate sexual contact with a person under the age of 16; Sexual contact with someone under the age of 16. Under Canadian law, citizens and permanent residents can be prosecuted for certain sexual offences committed against children in other countries. He will be sentenced at the Edmonton Law Courts in Canada. A MOTHER-OF-NINE has secured a temporary High Court injunction halting the sale of her family home. Patricia McLeish told the High Court she has been living in rented accommodation after she and her family had to leave their home at Coolisteigure, Clonlara in Co Clare after it was repossessed by Bank of Ireland. The property, she said, is due to be sold at auction. She said that in 2004 a repossession order was made in respect of her home in favour of BOI by Clare Circuit Court. She claims that after 12 years of postponements the order was not executed until October of last year. IR50,000 was borrowed from BOI to acquire the property in the 1990s. However, arrears on mortgage repayments built up and 139,000 remains outstanding on the mortgage, she told the court. However, Ms McLeish claims that the 2005 repossession order is flawed and invalid and has launched proceedings aimed at having that order set aside. As a result she has brought proceedings against Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank, the Country Registrar for Clare, as well as Ireland and the Attorney General. She has also sought an injunction halting the auction and preventing the the sale of the family home pending the outcome of her case. At the High Court on Tuesday Mr Justice Donald Binchy granted Ms McLeish of Aughboy, Clonlara a temporary or interim injunction preventing any offers from being accepted on the property. The Judge said the injunction did not mean the auction could not proceed, only that no offers could be accepted on the property. The injunction was granted on an ex-parte basis, where there was only one party present in court. The Judge said he was satisfied at this stage that Ms McLeish, who is not represented by solicitor or barrister in the action, had raised a fair issue to be tried. The Judge, who strongly suggested to Ms McLeish that she try and obtain legal advice, adjourned the case for a period of two weeks. The court heard that Ms McLeish's action is brought on grounds including that the 2004 repossession order was granted by a County Registrar in 2004 who has no power to grant such an order, and the Circuit Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case. She also claims that her rights as an EU Citizen were breached when the courts failed to recognised the unfair terms of her contract with Bank of Ireland. She further claims that the repossession order was granted on the basis her property was rateable. However The Court of Appeal has ruled that the Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction to hear repossession cases where the property is defined as not rateable, as hers was in 2004, within the meaning of the Valuation Act 2001 Ms McLeish, a homemaker who is estranged from her husband said that seven of her children are under the age of 18 years. She said that she and her children have been living in rented accommodation for the last number of weeks. The long-awaited payment recognises the danger faced by crews aboard LE Eithne, LE Niamh, LE Samuel Beckett, LE Rosin and the LE James Joyce, who worked with the Italian Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre to rescue migrants fleeing North Africa Members of the Irish Defence Forces who risked their lives to save more than 15,000 migrants from the Mediterranean are to get an additional 15 a day in 'danger' pay. Approximately 385 soldiers, sailors and air crew will now get a total of 70 tax-free a day in additional payments when the new payment is factored in, PDForra, the association representing Defence Forces members, has confirmed. They were deployed to the humanitarian and rescue mission 'Operation Pontus' in six 90-day tours of duty since 2015. The long-awaited payment recognises the danger faced by crews aboard LE Eithne, LE Niamh, LE Samuel Beckett, LE Rosin and the LE James Joyce, who worked with the Italian Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre to rescue migrants fleeing North Africa. The payment takes into account the constant threat of bombardment as naval ships neared the hostile Libyan coast. It also acknowledged the trauma suffered by crews dealing with the harrowing rescue of desperate and dying men, women and children, PDForra general secretary Gerry Rooney said. "Even though it was an humanitarian mission, there was a constant threat," he said. Minister with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe said it was a welcome resolution. He added: "I have been eager for a conclusion to this matter for some time. I am pleased that following the request of the arbitrator, that PDForra and my department have worked together to successfully resolve this matter." TJ Duffy (21) was rushed to Beaumont Hospital where he underwent brain surgery over the weekend. Gardai are still on the hunt for the attacker in a serious assault in Monaghan that left a young man fighting for his life with head injuries. TJ Duffy (21), from Ardee, Co Louth, was rushed to Beaumont Hospital where he underwent brain surgery over the weekend. Mr Duffy suffered serious head injuries when he was assaulted outside a Paddy Power bookmakers, close to Fiddlers nightclub, in Carrickmacross on Saturday. The incident occurred shortly before 4am. A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Independent that the incident was still under investigation. No arrests have been made. They said that Mr Duffy was still in a critically injured state. It is not yet known if Mr Duffy's head injuries happened from being hit or from falling on the ground after being hit. He was found shortly after the incident by a passer-by who alerted gardai. Older people are likely to undergo a means test and pay a significant out-of-pocket payment towards home care under the first statutory scheme to be introduced here. The public will be able to say how much they can pay and what they want from a scheme which would guarantee a minimum level of home care. A report into the review by the Health Research Board is being published by Minister for Older People Helen McEntee today. However, the report reveals how statutory schemes, which support older people to live out their lives in their own homes, are under growing pressure in other countries. They are having to charge more for the service. Read more: Extra fees for cranberry juice over orange, immobile residents paying for 'activities' - Nursing home hidden charges revealed The analysis by the Health Research Board comes in the wake of ongoing dissatisfaction with the lottery faced by thousands of older people who cannot get a HSE home care package and are ending up in nursing homes. More than 5,200 elderly are on waiting lists for a home care package, home help or some other form of support to allow them remain their own homes. Currently all HSE home care packages are provided free, without a means test, after an older person's needs are assessed. But the demands for these packages are growing as the population ages and many elderly are left struggling. Today's report, commissioned as a first step in the process by the Department of Health, provides a stark insight into the cost of statutory home care schemes in Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. The report reveals: People in Germany and the Netherlands are paying compulsory long-term care insurance and are also liable for means-adjusted co-payments. In Scotland the threshold for access to professional home care has been raised and only people with the highest level of needs are cared for. People are given personal budgets to control costs. The report said that the needs of the older person, rather than ability to pay, is an underlying principle in all countries and they have a formal system of assessing this. However, "Scotland and Sweden have a long standing rights-oriented home care services sector which is increasingly rationed by stricter eligibility criteria." Ireland will also have to foot the bill for the regulation of home care services which currently are not subject to any inspection for quality and safety. The minister told the Irish Independent: "My priority is to ensure that our older people get the best care possible. "For many that is long-term nursing home care, but for others that care can be provided in their own homes, surrounded by the people and communities that they love. "Unfortunately, as a country, the only statutory scheme we have in place at present to care for our elderly is the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, 'a Fair Deal'. I am determined to change this and to establish a new statutory homecare scheme. "Homecare is an increasingly important part of the supports we offer to older people. "It is estimated that about 20pc of the over 65 population receive some form of community-based support service annually from the State. "The publication of the findings of the review by the Health Research Board is an important step in the process, currently underway in the Department of Health. "Work is under way to determine what type of home care scheme is best in relation to both regulation and funding. "I am committed to progressing this, as a priority. The development of the scheme is complex. We need to get it right." The number of data-protection breaches involving sensitive personal information held by the HSE almost doubled to 212 in 2016. (Stock image) Patient records were accidentally left on the roof of HSE staff cars or found scattered in hospital grounds, internal documents have revealed. These were just some of a litany of data protection breaches recorded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) last year. The number of data-protection breaches involving sensitive personal information held by the HSE almost doubled to 212 in 2016. The incidents included two cases in which staff members left patients' records on the roof of their cars before driving away and in another data breach, a doctor left confidential records relating to patients in an apartment that he had vacated. They were discovered by a new tenant and later returned to the HSE. Three separate incidents in which sensitive patient documents were lost or found in the vicinity of hospital grounds occurred during February and March 2016 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. In February, wind scattered documents being carried by a staff member between buildings at the hospital. Two pages were never recovered. Later that month, a handwritten note containing a patient's personal details was found in a waiting room; and in March, a document containing information relating to 13 patients was found "in the vicinity of the hospital grounds". In October, files belonging to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, were found by Hiqa in an empty building that was in the process of being renovated for use by the charity Rehab. The HSE said that the records could not have been accessed by members of the public, and a review of the incident was undertaken with the aim of ensuring that the same mistake does not happen again. Last April, the Data Protection Commissioner was actually a party to a breach at Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore, when a patient's data was accidentally faxed to the Commissioner's office instead of the individual's GP. Later that month, a device containing patients' personal information was sent for repair to a company in the UK by Saolta University Hospital Group. Instead of the company returning the device, it was reconditioned and provided to an NHS hospital in Hull. The hospital's IT department discovered the device still contained data and contacted the HSE. In May 2016, a nursing report sheet and X-ray order sheet containing details relating to 27 patients was found misplaced in a building adjacent to University Hospital Limerick. A month later, a large quantity of files relating to 27 more individuals including patient diagnoses was found on the ground across the road from the hospital. No explanation was offered by the HSE but the importance of data protection awareness was raised at a subsequent team meeting. The details of 212 data-protection incidents were released under the Freedom of Information Act. In 2015, the number of data-protection incidents reported by the HSE was 113. Almost one-in-three people in Ireland uses e-cigarettes in their attempt to quit smoking. Stock Image: PA A popular pill prescribed by Irish doctors may offer people who want medicinal support the best chance of success to quit smoking. A popular pill prescribed by Irish doctors may offer people who want medicinal support the best chance of success to quit smoking. The anti-smoking drug Champix, either on its own or in combination with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), has been highlighted in a new assessment by the watchdog, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa). Almost one-in-three people in Ireland uses e-cigarettes in their attempt to quit smoking. But despite some promising results, Hiqa said there was not enough evidence to reliably demonstrate their effectiveness as an aid to stop smoking just yet. It warned they may encourage people who have never smoked to take up smoking. However, the risk to bystanders from "passive vaping" appears to be very low. Hiqa was asked by the Health Minister to carry out a health technology assessment (HTA) of stop-smoking aids. Hiqa's director of health technology assessment Dr Mairin Ryan said the report found the HSE should try to increase the uptake of Champix either alone or in combination with NRT among smokers who wish to use pharmacological support. Garda managers say recent scandals surrounding the force are denting their confidence when doing the day job. An Garda Siochana has been dogged by controversy since the start of the year with details emerging of inflated breath tests and wrongful road traffic convictions. Speaking at the annual Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference in Killarney vice president and crime prevention and community relations officer in Donegal, Paul Wallace said: "It certainly dents your confidence doing the day job when all these allegations are swirling around in a vortex above your head. "You still have to provide a service to the public. We have to do the best we can, with the resources we have. That hasn't changed. Its the perception that is the big one for us. "I think the public are as bewildered as we are. There has been one scandal after another and there are so many people looking at us. Its not getting to the answers quickly enough". He said he did not know what had been going on with exaggerated breath test figures. "Sure, the commissioner has said she doesn't know what's going on". He criticised the decision to pull the plug on in-service training and continuous professional development, the withdrawal of resources during the recession, but still expecting the organisation to function normally. Read More Sergeant Nicola Brady, who is based in Blanchardstown station, West Dublin said: Our job and not just mine, every members job is being made a lot more difficult recently with all the negativity thats on the ground, but ultimately there is a job to be done and is being done and will continue to be done regardless. General secretary John Jacob said there was a crisis of confidence in the Garda organisation and it was up to the Tanaiste and the government to address it. He expressed disappointment that the Tanaiste did not attend but said his association would not shirk its responsibility and they would face up to it if some of its members were found to be at fault. But firstly he wanted to give an assistant garda commissioner and the Policing Authority the opportunity complete their inquiries and it was unfair for others to be pointing downwards before that conclusion. He said many AGSI members feared that they would be blamed for the crisis. The finger of blame is pointing downwards without having the evidence and that can't be correct. Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan is due to attend the AGSI conference in Killarney this afternoon. TANAISTE Frances Fitzgerald is facing criticism after it emerged she attended a local Fine Gael branch meeting despite claiming she was too busy to address the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI). Ms Fitzgerald spent over three hours at the Maldron Hotel in Newlands Cross last night, having earlier turned down an offer to address representatives of the 2,500 mid-ranking gardai. The union has been highly critical of Ms Fitzgerald's decision not to attend the three day conference in Killarney, describing it as "extremely disappointing". Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan addressed delegates today. Its now emerged the Justice Minister spent several hours at the Fine Gael event, which was also attended by Health Minister Simon Harris, who has described her as his mentor. Ms Fitzgerald had originally intended to travel down to the conference. However, her officials told AGSI that her schedule was too full, given that she had to attend Cabinet and a number of Cabinet sub-committees. Ms Fitzgerald also had to respond to a Fianna Fail motion in relation to garda management. A spokesman for the Tanaiste said: The Tanaiste regrets that because the pressure of Govt business this week, in particular Garda matters in the Dail, she is not in a position to attend the AGSI conference, which she had very much hoped to attend. AGSI members have been critical of the Tanaiste's decision to attend the local branch meeting after snubbing their annual conference. Read More President Antoinette Cunningham, while not commenting specifically on the Tanaiste's decision to attend the Dublin meeting, said that AGSI attempted to accommodate Ms Fitzgerald but that these offers were rebuked. "We only asked for the Minister to attend the meeting for one hour, and we could have accommodated her on any of the three nights. If she really wanted to be here, she would be." Ms Cunningham added that their position remains the same on their disappointment in the Tanaiste refusing to attend the 39th AGSI conference. Lurcher Iggy died in the attack in Stockholm on Friday A memorial has been set up for an Irish dog that was killed in the Swedish terrorist attack on Friday. Four people tragically died when a lorry was driven through a busy pedestrian shopping district, while 15 others were injured. One of the victims of the attack was a rescue dog called Iggy, who was originally adopted from Dogs Aid in Dublin. Iggy moved with his family to Stockholm in 2012 and was being walked in the city when he was killed. Dogs Aid revealed the sad news on Facebook and extended their condolences to Iggy's devastated family. They wrote: "We are deeply saddened to learn that one of our dogs was killed in the terrorist attack in Stockholm. Expand Close Part of the memorial that was set up for Iggy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Part of the memorial that was set up for Iggy Read More "Dogs Aid Iggy found his beautiful home in Sweden in 2012. R.I.P. beautiful, special boy. "Run to the Bridge dear one, all of your Dogs Aid friends will be waiting for you. One hundred thousand stars will light your way." They continued to say that many animal lovers are marking the spot where the lurcher died. They said: "A memorial in tribute to Iggy where he took his last walk is now full of flowers, candles and candy. Our thoughts are with Iggys family. "They loved him so much and gave him the best life imaginable. His family would like privacy at this sad and traumatic time." A thrilled Irish woman said she had to sellotape her reg plate to her car before she scooped near 300,000 on the EuroMillions. Galway woman Niamh O'Meara admitted she was down to her last 24 before she netted the windfall and thinks the money is a gift from her late mother. She won an incredible 297,860 through the Match 5+ Lucky Star prize on April 4 after buying her Quick pick ticket at Super Valu in Portumna, Co Galway. Speaking at the National Lottery's Dublin headquarters today, she said: "This came at the perfect time for me. I was down to the last 24 in my bank account. "Last week the registration plate fell off the back of the car. I had to resort to the sellotape to keep it hanging on. "Not any more though, my first purchase was a brand new car once I realised I had hit the jackpot." Read More Niamh was speaking as she picked up her winnings at the National Lottery's Dublin headquarters with her two sisters today and said she already has plenty of plans for the cash. She said: "Ive played the Lottery every week since I turned 18. I play the Euromillions every Tuesday and Friday, and pick up the odd scratchcard every now and again. I always felt I would win the lottery, and that one day I would be here in the National Lottery picking up a cheque. "Our mam passed away a few years ago and in some ways I think this was a gift she has sent me. Im off on holidays on Monday to celebrate and after that a new house and some celebrations with the family are in order." Niamh continued to say: "I honestly just cant believe it, it really is a dream come through, my whole family are only delighted for me." Tensions have been running high between Communications Minister Denis Naughten (pictured) and Rural Affairs Minister Michael Ring for several weeks. Photo: Tom Burke A very public spat has broken out between two ministers over who is responsible for securing the future of the troubled An Post network. Tensions have been running high between Communications Minister Denis Naughten and Rural Affairs Minister Michael Ring for several weeks - but spilled onto the airwaves yesterday. Mr Naughten said his Government colleague "threw in the towel" by asking the Cabinet to formally acknowledge the job of sorting out the postal network lies with the Department of Communications. But Mr Ring quickly hit back, claiming the Independent minister had been trying to "shirk his responsibility". Government sources last night expressed concerns about the impression two ministers publicly arguing will give to the electorate. "We are already struggling to convince people this arrangement is working and then they start fighting on the radio over who gets to deliver bad news stories. It's childish," said one senior source. A separate clash is also brewing over who takes overall responsibility for the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan. This is considered to be a "good news story" for the Government and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has been tasked with refereeing the dispute between Mr Naughten and Heather Humphreys. The Irish Independent understands the An Post row dates back to a Government memo dated July 19, 2016 which "transferred responsibility for the post office network from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs". Mr Naughten took this to mean that Ms Humphreys and Mr Ring were in charge of the area. However, Mr Ring has argued that legal responsibly still lay with Mr Naughten. The clash comes ahead of the publication of the McKinsey report on the future of An Post, which is believed to suggest the closure of up to 500 offices. Closing even a fraction of that number would lead to a massive backlash against the Government. Mr Ring oversaw the commissioning of the McKinsey report and two others into the future of An Post but says he has no legal powers to bring about policy change. "I was given three jobs to do. I did them and I can do no more," he said. Late last week he wrote to a group of rural TDs stating his only duty was "to develop policies to support the overall sustainability of the network". "Overall responsibility for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post, falls under the remit of Minister Denis Naughten," he said. Yesterday, Mr Naughten said he was "quite happy" to be the lead minister for An Post. "I want to deal with these up front and that's what I'm about," he said. On March 28, the Cabinet agreed that Mr Naughten would take full charge of the post office situation. A spokesperson for the minister said that in the interests of clarity he "requested the Cabinet to reverse the Government decision of July 19, 2016". The minister said: "The idea was to rejuvenate and transform the post office network, to ensure it was a viable entity into the future and now that responsibility has been transferred back to me. "I'm quite happy to take it, I've said that categorically at Cabinet." FINANCE Minister Michael Noonan will face questioning before a Commission of Investigation over his role in the controversial sale of Nama's Project Eagle loan book. Mr Noonan has rejected criticism from the Public Accounts Committee that his meeting with the eventual successful bidders was "not procedurally appropriate". However, under the draft terms of reference for an inquiry into the sale of Nama's Northern Ireland property portfolio, Mr Noonan and his colleagues in the Department of Finance will have to explain their decision to meet Cerberus the day before the bidding process closed. The Commission will investigate "if decisions and actions of the Minister for Finance and the Department of Finance relating to the disposal of the Northern Ireland portfolio, including communications with members and officials of the Northern Ireland Executive, were appropriate in the circumstances." The terms of reference, which were drafted by the Department of the Taoiseach, also call for the Commission to investigate whether it was appropriate to sell the loan book as a single asset and if the minimum price applied was appropriate. The management of the sale and potential conflicts of interests relating to members of Nama's Northern Ireland Advisory Committee will also be investigated. Specifically, alleged success fees to be paid former Nama advisor Frank Cushnahan will be investigated. The Commission will report back to the Taoiseach with an interim report by the end of June The grim discovery of the remains of James Nolan was made at an embankment in Tolka Valley Park in Finglas. Photo: Collins The torso of a convicted rapist who was murdered almost seven years ago was found by gardai searching for his remains in a north Dublin park. The grim discovery of the remains of James Nolan was made at an embankment in Tolka Valley Park in Finglas shortly before 2pm yesterday. The case of Nolan's suspected murder first came to public prominence when his arm was washed up on Dollymount Strand in 2011. Gardai have been searching at the Finglas location since April 1 and are expected to continue looking for the rest of the murdered rapist's remains in the coming days. Yesterday's discovery was made by officers who were working with specially trained dogs and machinery. "The torso was reasonably well buried in the embankment but not buried that deeply," a senior source said last night. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy is due to carry out a post-mortem on the remains this morning. It was previously revealed that gardai had planned to carry out a dig in the north Dublin park because of details left in a 21-page suicide letter written by Nolan's killer and sent to family members. Sources said that yesterday's torso discovery was made at almost exactly the same location described in the lengthy letter. The letter states that Nolan was strangled to death by his killer in Glasnevin Cemetery. The killer then disposed of most of Nolan's body parts in Co Monaghan and at Tolka Valley Park. Gardai have been searching the park for over a week. Specialist equipment and a cadaver dog are being used to support the search. It is understood Nolan's severed arm, which was found washed up at Dollymount Strand, had been originally thrown into the Tolka River and then washed out to sea. She is a "mischievous" bundle of energy, according to her doting mother, but less than two years ago Anabel Murtagh was 12 hours from death. Today, a bright and giggly 20-month-old, Anabel earned the nickname "warrior princess" from mum Farrah Tayob because she fought deadly meningitis and septicaemia in Temple Street Hospital for over a week. The 37-year-old mum from Churchtown told the Herald: "Every night I tiptoe into her room, the quietest I could possibly be, and Anabel always wakes up and she just stares up at me. She's so mischievous, but she's my warrior princess, so she gets away with it." In January last year, when Anabel was only five-and-a-half months-old, the adorable little blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl woke up one night with a slight temperature. Farrah did what any mother would and administered the old reliable, Calpol, before taking her daughter to bed with her. Instead of sleeping soundly, the baby began tossing and turning and, in the morning when her big brother, Alexander (7), went to give Anabel the usual kisses he showered on her, the infant began screaming. Expand Close Farrah Tayob with her children / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Farrah Tayob with her children By evening the baby's temperature had gone up a little and she was still irritable, but Farrah was unable to get a doctor's appointment and was assured it was probably just teething. But by night-time Anabel had started screaming again and, although there were no symptoms, no visible rashes and she didn't notice that she was irritated by light, Farrah decided she would take the baby to the hospital. "Something kicked me in the stomach, a sense, and I just knew I didn't want to be anywhere else but in a hospital with my child," Farrah said. "You don't want to be a time-waster taking a child to hospital, but I just knew something was very wrong. Expand Close Meningitis: Rash doesn't fade under pressure is a cause of concern / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Meningitis: Rash doesn't fade under pressure is a cause of concern "As soon as we started driving to the hospital, she started being sick in the car and by the time I arrived at A&E she was limp and her lips were blue. "There were no visible symptoms of meningitis but, thank God, this nurse spotted two pin pricks on each of Anabel's legs and knew it was septicaemia. "The doctors started pumping antibiotics into her even before they knew what was wrong. "It turned out Anabel had a very rare form of meningitis, the w135 strain, and my son, who had just come back from a family holiday in Dubai had been the carrier, but had not been sick. "The doctors asked who had been within kissing distance of Anabel the past week and I said only me and Alexander, and then I realised the kisses he always gave his baby sister had actually caused her to be so very ill. "Thank God he didn't get it too. The doctors told me if I'd waited 12 hours, which it would have been if I'd waited to get a GP appointment, I would no longer have had Anabel. "This was a particularly aggressive form of meningitis and it raided her little body. It took her almost a week to fight it, but she did. Anabel fought with all her might, my little warrior princess." Farrah's advice to other parents is that, even if you don't spot any obvious signs, you should act "on your gut" if you see something is very wrong. "I had been watching One Born Every Minute the week before this happened and saw a baby get meningitis and that child went on to need lifetime care," Farrah said. "I remember sitting there crying and I realise now that show helped save my daughter's life because I really took that in. "I knew there was something seriously wrong with my baby because her whole personality changed - the Calpol didn't work and she was cranky. "Someone was watching out for me and her." Just over a week after coming so close to death, little Anabel was back to her normal self, sitting up, laughing and blabbering. "My friend was visiting her and Anabel just started giggling when we were laughing," Farrah said. "I said, 'That's my girl'. I knew she was getting better then." Sometimes it seems Anabel takes the "warrior" part of her nickname a little to heart. "Her brother still gives her kisses but sometimes, if he's irritating her, she'll give him a punch on his nose," Farrah said, laughing. "She has a lovely personality, I'll give out and she takes a fit of giggles. She's my miracle baby, my little strong girl. "I do still worry sometimes because she had two hearing tests and the first one was inconclusive as she was too young and the second she failed, but she had a cold so there would have been fluid in her ears. "So we have another one in August,but I'm sure she'll be fine. I always check on her to make sure she's sleeping, but she always wakes up. She just doesn't want to miss a thing." Even though there is controversy surrounding the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, Heather Keating (26) is adamant that if she were offered it now, she would take it without a second's hesitation. The reason being, that even though she is so young, she has already survived the ravages of cervical cancer. Getting sick was the last thing Heather anticipated while she was happily growing up in a rural setting near Cashel, Co Tipperary. After school, she enrolled in Templemore College of Further Education to do hairdressing. Eventually, she came to the realisation that hairdressing wasn't for her, so she went back to college, and two years later, she qualified as a veterinary assistant. She then got a temporary position with Mo Chara Animal Rescue, in nearby Thurles. This was followed by a job with a chain of pet stores. Part of Heather's brief was to visit schools and youth centres as a pet-care advocate. Apart from her training as a veterinary nurse, Heather is well qualified to talk about pets, as she has a dog, a cat, a guinea pig and an aquarium at the home in Carlow she shares with Daniel, her partner for the past eight years. However, the fabric of her somewhat idyllic lifestyle started to unravel just over a year ago, when Heather noticed she was bleeding between periods. At first, she wasn't too concerned. But when she began to bleed after being intimate, she went to the doctor and was referred to a gynaecologist. "It was a public appointment and took four months," Heather explains. "So I got on with my life. But over time, the bleeding got worse, and by the time I saw the gynaecologist at South Tipperary General Hospital, I was already anaemic. Having examined me, the consultant realised something was wrong and arranged for me to have a colposcopy the following week. During this procedure, my cervix was examined in more detail." Following this investigation, Heather learned that a biopsy would have to be done. When she asked if she should be worried, she was told that many biopsies come back perfectly clear. So she was somewhat reassured. However, when Heather returned to the hospital four weeks later, she discovered that, unfortunately, the biopsy had been inconclusive, so she was referred on to St Finbarr's Hospital in Cork, where another colposcopy and biopsy were done. Eventually, Heather, with her mother by her side, was seen by a consultant at Cork University Hospital (CUH). "Two words came out of his mouth; two words you never, ever want to hear," Heather recounts, her voice trembling. "'It's cancer'. Then silence. I looked at my mother, her eyes filling with tears. My heart broke; not for me, but for my family; that they would have to go through this journey with me. Or they would be left to suffer if the worst happened." Further investigations, including an MRI scan, were undertaken to ascertain if the cancer had spread to any other part of Heather's body. If it had spread, surgery would not be advisable. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments would then be the only options; but they could in themselves threaten Heather's fertility. However, if the cancer was confined to the cervix, then a radical trachelectomy might be possible. During this procedure, the cervix and nearby tissue are removed, but the womb is left in place. Heather had to wait a week for the results of the scan. "That was the very worst week of my life," she says. "I was literally walking around in circles. I was shaking and I couldn't eat. Oddly, I was able to sleep for 12 to 14 hours a night. I think that was my body's way of coping." But finally, she got great news - the cancer hadn't spread. "I chose a radical trachelectomy in the hope of preserving my fertility," she explains. Read More Four weeks later, in November 2015, she had the surgery. "It was done robotically," Heather explains. "As far as I know, the consultant wasn't even in the same room. He was next door, managing the robot, using monitors. During surgery, they removed my cervix, lymph nodes and some surrounding tissue to test the margins. There was very little pain during my recovery. Two weeks later, the results came back clear, so I didn't need chemotherapy or radiation. It was the most unbelievable relief." Nonetheless, Heather has check-ups every three months, so the specialist, whom she praises unreservedly, can keep a close medical eye on things. The reason why Heather is talking about such a recent traumatic personal experience is to encourage other young women to go for free smear tests, which are available from the age of 25. "Cervical cancer is such a preventable disease," says Heather. "We now have a test to sound the alarm early, when the chances of recovery are high." Her other motivation is to promote a vaccine which helps prevent the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. There has been controversy surrounding this vaccine since it became available in 2010, to all girls, in their first year at secondary school in Ireland. A small number of those who were given the HPV vaccine, have reported that they now suffer from chronic-fatigue-type symptoms. However, Dr Rob O'Connor, head of research at the Irish Cancer Society says, "The HPV vaccination programme is safe. HPV causes a number of cancers in men and women. For women, ongoing HPV infections can lead to cervical cancer. The HPV has also been linked to other forms of cancers in men and women, including cancers of the anus, throat, mouth, tongue, tonsil, vagina and penis." Heather comments, "I've done a lot of research and I do believe the vaccination does prevent a lot of cancers. In Australia, they also give it to young boys, and since its introduction 10 years ago, the number of cancer cases has dropped." As far as her future is concerned, Heather is positive. She is now working for the Dogs Trust as an education officer, and loves her job. "I take Ted, my education dog, to work with me," she says enthusiastically. As to having a family, she says: "I have eight nieces and nephews, and I love every one of them dearly. But Daniel and I can't wait to have children of our own. And any child I have will get the HPV vaccine." Cervical Cancer Prevention week takes place from today, January 22. The Irish Cancer Society urges women between the ages of 25-60 to go to their GP for a free smear test. This is part of the CervicalCheck screening programme. See cancer.ie/cervical or cervicalcheck.ie On a hot, blue-skied day in West Cork last summer, my 13-year-old son, Caoimh, braced himself for one of the greatest adventures of his life so far. A family day-trip to Mizen Head wouldn't score high in a typical teenager's excitement ratings. But Caoimh isn't a typical teenager. Aside from being a highly sensitive and unusual human, Caoimh is disabled, non-speaking, and severely autistic. Caoimh was locked in, unable to communicate beyond basic needs and wishes, until last year - when, after massive sustained effort on both our parts, he finally acquired the manual dexterity to point with a pencil at letters on a large metal stencil. That breakthrough came through the revolutionary teaching technique called the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM). Because of RPM, Caoimh is among the first few thousand severely autistic non-speaking people in the world to achieve real communication. (There are about 40 others in Ireland, and the number is growing.) Caoimh's sensory processing differences, anxiety levels, health problems, fine and gross motor disabilities, obsessive compulsive disorder and stress-related extreme behaviours have drastically limited his childhood experiences. For example, by the time he got his assistance dog, Cosmo, at the age of six, Caoimh had been house-bound (apart from going to special school) for two years. It took being attached to Cosmo for Caoimh to access the outside world. In West Cork, I spend the whole morning preparing Caoimh for our Mizen trip. I cook his non-processed everything-free wholefood for the day. I pack his change of clothes, his visual schedule, and his book of Velcro-ed pictures with which he communicates his basic needs. Then I show Caoimh a map of West Cork, charting for him the route we're taking on our hour-and-a-half car journey. I present him photos of the Mizen lighthouse and its Atlantic coastline. I sit him down and read him my own hand-written, two-page story about our excursion, including what we will be doing at Mizen and what he can expect to see; a forewarning about the tourist crowds; rules for his behaviour; and reminders that if he gets stressed, he is to invoke the relaxation response that I've been teaching him. Without the gifts of RPM, I would have been unable to prepare Caoimh sufficiently for the trip. My 16-year-old son, Fiach, and my sister, Geraldine, are coming with us. It would be dangerous for me to take Caoimh on an excursion like this by myself, given how his behaviour might go. Caoimh runs up and down the length of the bungalow, hyperactive and agitated, vocalising loudly. I make him sit on the couch. I spend 10 minutes 'regulating' his nervous system with the joint-compressions that Caoimh's occupational therapist has taught me. I finish with my own hand massage technique. "Lovely to get a hand massage," says Geraldine. "That really calmed him down," says Fiach. We tell Caoimh we know he can do it, and embark on our expedition. It's 11am. I feel I've already put in a full day's hard work. The most disabling aspect of Caoimh's condition is that until very recently, his mind and thinking were profoundly misunderstood by most of the people around him - including doctors, therapists, educationalists and care-givers. The misunderstanding is not the fault of these individuals. It is the fault of the prevailing hardwired, erroneous theory that autistic people who are non-speaking (or 'non-reliably speaking', in the case of those with limited, or seemingly non-sensical, speech) de facto have poor understanding of language and an 'intellectual disability' - aka cognitive impairment/delay and low IQ, and previously termed 'mental retardation'. So while, as his life progressed, Caoimh's sensory sensitivities were increasingly understood and addressed with occupational therapy; and his anxiety, need for routine, poor impulse control and 'behaviours that challenge' were met with psychological interventions based on visual scheduling, and rewards and consequences for behaviours, and an acceptance of how stress-free his environment needs to be; and he was taught basic means of communication using a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and as much sign language as he was able, given his very restricted hand movement ability - while all this was going on, Caoimh's true intelligence remained hidden. The presumption that Caoimh's comprehension of language and concepts is very poor has controlled and directed every aspect of his life. I remember being devastated after an assessment when Caoimh was five. The psychologist told me to limit the language I used with Caoimh to short simple statements, such as "Go car." Through tears I asked, "Are you telling me I should stop talking to my child?" She was. The reasoning was that because Caoimh was incapable of understanding speech, the blur of chat would serve only to distress him, and hence cause yet more 'challenging' (ie, appalling) behaviours. It's true that in his heightened states, which are frequent, Caoimh fares best when spoken language is curtailed. In the midst of the fight/flight response, when it is impossible to think coherently, it's much more calming to have a laminated sheet handed to you with text and visuals saying, 'First dentist, then home,' than to hear your stressed mother's agitated voice repeating, "It'll be over soon, everyone needs to get their teeth checked, you can relax when we're home, calm down." Caoimh wouldn't be the first male on the planet who, when feeling stressed, bad-tempered or upset, needs to be left alone and not spoken to. It's because speech, when you're in that state, is aggravating not because it's incomprehensible. Imagine how much more irritating spoken language might sometimes become when you're only ever on the receiving end of it. Aside from Caoimh's need for everyone to zip it when he's stressed or sensorily overwhelmed (consider hallucinating on LSD 24/7 for a taste of the autistic sensory world), another, fundamentally misunderstood aspect of Caoimh's autism stems from his misdiagnosis of intellectual disability. Caoimh was locked in for 13 years. During that time he underwent many psychological assessments to gauge his intelligence. Caoimh comes out from these tests with a 'moderate' intellectually disability - an IQ of 35 to 49 (average IQ is 100). For people who can't speak, pointing is used to indicate comprehension during the tests - for example, out of a range of four pictures, the child is asked to point to the picture of fire. Picking the wrong picture is interpreted as not understanding the word. This method may work for someone who can control their body. But people with Caoimh's severe type of autism can't control their bodies. Not only do their bodies not do what their minds ask them to do - their bodies do things their minds don't want them to do. People with severe non-speaking (or non-reliably speaking) autism have a neurological problem that results in extreme brain-body disconnect. That's why real speech is impossible for them, the potential for sign language is very limited, and typing is a skill that may take years to acquire. Brain-body disconnect is why, at age 13, Caoimh still can't write, or wash his hands or brush his teeth by himself. It took several years of daily practice when Caoimh was very young, shaping his index finger into a point, before he finally acquired hit-and-miss pointing ability around 6-years-old. Even now, Caoimh's pointing isn't reliable. During IQ tests, how can Caoimh show his comprehension through pointing, when the stress alone would make his pointing go awry? In a nutshell: Caoimh is told to hand the assessor the blue cup. He picks up the yellow plate. He passes it to me, not the assessor. The assessor marks: "Failure to understand 'blue', 'yellow', 'plate' and 'cup'; confusion between the words 'me' and 'mum'." Down goes the label: intellectual disability. Caoimh's entire education; the professional advice on how he should be spoken to; goals based on his potential; his future prospects; belief in whether he has anything in his mind about which to communicate, even if he had a way to - all of this is now governed by his 'intellectual disability', a stamp he received first as a toddler, and was repeatedly marked with, up until two years ago. Here's the heretical, myth-debunking truth: non-verbal autism is not a severe form of Asperger's Syndrome. It is a subset of autism that shares the sensory processing- and neuro-differences of other types of autism, but also includes a movement disorder - severe dyspraxia - that binds and misdirects the autistic person's mouth, hands, body, and even facial expressions. This is what we mean by 'locked in'. There is nothing wrong with having an intellectual disability. But when a person has no means yet to show their comprehension, and a body that may not be under the control of their brain, how can you be sure what is, or is not, happening in their minds? Until the advent of sign language, the presumption was that deaf children were intellectually disabled. No one thinks that any more. The cutting-edge mantra in autism is this: Presume competence. It is cruel, unjust, and dangerous (given the self-injurious and aggressive behaviours that can result) to leave disabled people islanded and drowning in the same babyish school curriculum right up to their late teens, because they are unable to prove, through pointing or some other body movement, their understanding of - and hence merit in being moved beyond - the simplest of concepts. No one ever made a concerted effort to teach Caoimh to read - the unconscious reason being that it was pointless. Yet when I started RPM with him when he was 11, it gradually became apparent, to my joy and delight, that he had the vocabulary and spelling ability of a highly literate adult. He says he taught himself to read at age two. It was impossible for him to show anyone his ability to spell, until RPM helped him acquire control over his hand movements and sensory distractions. A year ago at school, Caoimh was still trying to prove his understanding of the difference between 'big' and 'small', through consistently correct (and hence impossible) matching and pointing; while at home, through RPM, I was plumbing the depths of Caoimh's true intelligence with questions like: 'If time is the noun, what is the adjective?' In answer to which - after 18 months of daily practice of hand-movement skill-building on his large metal stencil - he now had the fine-motor ability to slowly and painstakingly point out: 'T-E-M-P-O-R-A-L '. The school Caoimh's been attending since last September - St Joseph's Special School in Balrothery, Tallaght, Co Dublin - is fully supportive of developing Caoimh's letterpointing as a way for him to show his comprehension of age-appropriate academic material. We are enormously relieved by this, given that most kids like Caoimh remain trapped at toddler level for their whole educational lives. Imagine how isolating life would become if even your loved ones withdrew their inclusion of you in age-appropriate chats, book-reading, discussions, observations and life-lessons through spoken language. And instead of being nourished by this ever-evolving richness, you were left for years to stagnate with communications such as, "Go car." Imagine having no way to tell the people talking over your head that in fact you can understand language, and that you are not only intellectually intact, but extremely smart. The flawed theory that severe autism is an input as well as an output problem perpetuated Caoimh's exclusion from society. It curtailed his engagement with stimulating life experiences and knowledge. It caged him behind invisible bars, isolated and emotionally stranded. For years Caoimh has lived in solitary confinement. Now that he's out, he uses every opportunity he gets to speak on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of non-verbal autistic people around the world who are still trapped. So much for 'lack of empathy' - another mistaken theory about autism. At Mizen Head, on the most beautiful day of the summer, you don't have to have autism to be overawed by the beauty and power of cliffs and sea. For Caoimh, whose life has been so restricted, the experience of the cliff walks is mind-blowing. He appears reasonably calm at first, but he soon starts to engage in increasingly bizarre behaviour, in order to regulate his senses. He dashes about, shouting wordlessly, one arm weirdly stuck up in the air; he runs around in circles; he gets trapped in corners watching his own shadow-play. He takes off at a shockingly fast pace up a very long steep flight of steps, with me in pursuit. At the lighthouse visitor centre, he becomes stressed by the crowds. He stampedes around the rooms, pacing frantically and droning at the top of his voice. I brazen people's stares and judgments. We have a right to be here. "Your son is anxious," a woman points out. "Yes, I know," I say. "He's autistic." That evening, for the first time ever, Caoimh is able to tell me what impressed him most about a place he'd never been to before. His answer: "ROLLING WET RIP-TIDES." When times get tough, and I am exhausted, and I wish I had an easier life, I remind myself that I've freed my son. Everything else is icing on the cake. * For more about RPM, visit rpmireland.com Fiach: Bouncing back Expand Close Sixteen year-old Fiach Connolly. Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sixteen year-old Fiach Connolly. Photo: Tony Gavin Living with a brother who has autism is a blessing and a curse. For months at a time, Caoimh could be an absolute angel child. Barely causing any trouble, he would make everyone in my family happier. He would hum instead of shout, skip instead of stomp, hug instead of hit. But then I'd wake up and find my brother has been replaced by some sort of evil doppelganger - one that is no longer a sweet, loving kid, but a screaming, aggressive madman. In my opinion, a lot of this anger comes from the frustration of not being able to communicate with people. For the first 13 years of his life, Caoimh's only way to talk with us was the word 'no', pointing and PECS. This is a method of communication in which he has a folder with pictures of food, activities, facilities etc that he gives us to tell us what he wants. However, it lacked the depth that he needed to express himself. Then we came across RPM. RPM (Rapid Prompting Method) is a fantastic method of communication. It involves my mother sitting with Caoimh and holding up a letter board. On it is the entire alphabet. Caoimh uses a pencil to point out what letter he wants and my mum writes it down. Letter by letter, word by word, Caoimh can start sharing what is on his mind. The goal is that he'll be able to type independently on a device. Now that Caoimh has become proficient at talking to my mum like this, I can soon start learning how to communicate with him using the same method. Knowing that Caoimh and I have a future where we can talk to each other is an absolute game-changer. Caoimh's odd behaviour has led to some amusing circumstances. One time, he was bouncing on his trampoline, when all of a sudden he was desperate for a drink. He jumped off the trampoline and sprinted inside, where he locked his eyes on a glass vase holding flowers. Before my mum could stop him, he ripped the flowers out, flung them across the kitchen and chugged down half the water in the vase. Living with Caoimh has many challenges, but it also has many upsides. I love him like anyone loves their siblings. Fiach Connolly (16) Caoimh: RPM freed me Expand Close Thirteen year-old Caoimh Connolly who uses a stencil to communicate. Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Thirteen year-old Caoimh Connolly who uses a stencil to communicate. Photo: Tony Gavin I am a thirteen-year-old non-speaking autistic boy wrongly diagnosed with intellectual disability. Tonnes of useless words have been written about me - wrong theories that we aren't smart. News is that we are! When I was small my IQ was wrongly assessed as being low. Wrong IQs fail people. Know that people with autism who can't speak are so wrongly treated. We get misdiagnosed with intellectual disability when in fact we are so intelligent. Since I started letter-pointing I feel so liberated. My whole life has changed because I can communicate. I can now imagine a life in which I'm free instead of trapped. Other non-speaking autistic people need help to get RPM not SLT [speech and language therapy]. I spent years trying to learn to talk without success when I should've been learning how to letter-point. My hope is that my words reach the right people so that many more autistic people may get the chance to learn to communicate. It's wrong to withold a way that can free someone from a life of isolation. We need to work together to bring RPM to those who need it. Let's do it. My purpose in life is to let the world know that wrong things are happening to people like me. Please help us to spread the word that RPM works to free trapped people. To please my mum I'll mention some sensory aspects of my autism. You learn to read by yourself at a very young age because you have photographic memory. You see stones as jewels. You hear stones. You feel your mind leaving your body. Your senses are so powerful that they take over. We are like people from another planet. Please understand this. My autism isn't me. Try to see that so we can be included in society. The world needs our intelligence now to make it through to the next stage of evolution. We will show the way to where we need to go. To understand us is to understand what needs to change in the world. Please try to understand us. Caoimh Connolly, letter-pointed on a metal stencil So it's back to Egypt's ghastly prisons, no arrest warrants, fearful interrogations, and a presidential state of emergency which brings the army back on to the streets. But it's also a frightening prospect for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in the aftermath of the church attacks and the slaughter of 45 Coptic Christians - for it means that Isil has "crossed the canal", something which his army has been trying to prevent for months. Donald Trump may think that Mr al-Sisi has done "a fantastic job in a very difficult situation" but in fact he's done a deplorable job, presiding over multiple disappearances of anyone the police don't like, allowing torture to resume in police stations (we should not forget the Italian student found tortured and murdered beside a highway outside Cairo), and pretending that the Muslim Brotherhood, whose government he overthrew in a coup d'etat, is Isil. It is not. The unspoken fact is that much of the Sinai peninsula has been under Isil control for months as the puritan gunmen of this most horrifying phenomenon have attacked Christians and soldiers and police in the land between the Suez Canal and Gaza. Mr al-Sisi felt able to claim - how often do we hear this nonsense from world leaders - that he was "winning the war against terrorism". In fact, his pernicious laws are creating more terrorism by isolating thousands of young people from any hope of a return to democracy. Yet for months after he staged his coup and then became president, after the usual fantastical Egyptian election victory, those who supported his takeover insisted that he had kept Isil on the other side of the canal. But the army and police failed to keep them there. Isil is now in Cairo, Alexandria and, presumably, all the other dirt-poor cities up and down the Nile. We are going to see further killings in the streets of the capital after the bombs in Alexandria and Tanta, which is why the army is being brought back on to the streets; it will be the army's job to fight in the streets if necessary, just as it has in Sinai towns over the past two years. Mr al-Sisi, however, has other problems. By declaring that Egypt will now be under emergency laws - for three months, he insists, but I'll bet you it will still be going strong in a year's time - he's effectively proving to the world that private investment cannot increase over the coming months. And this after March figures showed the Egyptian private sector economy has not improved. And all this, also, after currency "reforms" and austerity measures which brought fury to the poor of Egypt's cities. After all, who wants to invest in a country whose capital is invested in by Isil? Even Hosni Mubarak and Anwar Sadat informed their robotic parliaments and cabinets that they planned to introduce emergency laws. Mr al-Sisi didn't even bother; the first his government heard about it was when he responded to the Christian deaths in Alexandria and the Nile Delta. That's what military dictators do - even if Mr al-Sisi still claims to be a "democrat". And the Trump administration's response to the human rights crimes of Mr al-Sisi's police? Unlike Barack Obama, according to the usual anonymous White House official, "our approach is to handle these types of sensitive issues in a private, more discreet way". But why should human rights crimes be a sensitive issue in the first place? We don't take such a sensitive approach to human rights issues elsewhere in the Middle East. Iraq comes to mind, and Syria. Mr Trump may believe Mr al-Sisi is doing a fantastic job, but he's not. He's driving his country into the ground in the same blunt paternalistic, brutal way as his predecessors, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat, Hosni Mubarak. It's not that Egypt's history repeats itself. It just goes on, year after year, decade after decade, with its infantile reversion to emergency laws, violence and poverty. And the hangman's noose. Stand by now for "special courts". 19. As he makes his way to see his sister Princess Charlotte for the first time, he's joined by Prince William and the cutest knee socks of all time. Made In Chelsea star Alexandra 'Binky' Felstead with Josh 'JP' Patterson as they appear in this week's edition of Hello! Picture: Hello!/PA Wire File photo dated 16/09/1984 of Prince William waving to the crowd as he leaves the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital, London, with his nanny Barbara Barnes, after spending approximately 20 minutes visiting his mother the Princess of Wales and his new-born baby brother Prince Harry. Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge show their new-born baby boy to the world's media outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London on July 23, 2013 Binky Felstead attends the Aspinal of London - Presentation during the London Fashion Week February 2017 collections on February 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) File photo dated 16/9/1984 of the Prince of Wales and his two-year-old son Prince William entering the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital, London, to visit the Princess of Wales and Prince Harry who she gave birth to the previous day. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, with their newborn daughter The Princess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday May 2, 2015. See PA story ROYAL Baby. Photo credit should read: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire Prince George outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, London with his parents Kate Middleton and Prince William. Josh 'JP' Paterson (L) and Binky Felstead attend the World Premiere of "Another Mother's Son" on March 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage) Made in Chelsea star Binky Felstead wants to welcome her first child in royal fashion. The 27-year-old is expecting with on/off boyfriend JP Patterson and while their journey to parenthood is playing out on our screens on the hit British reality show, they're off-screen plans for the next few weeks are possibly even juicier. Binky reportedly wants to give birth in the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital, which is perhaps best known in recent years for the hospital where Kate Middleton gave birth to Prince George and Princess Charlotte in 2013 and 2015, respectively. "Binky is talking about booking a bed in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. She wants to have the baby delivered by Tom Setchell, the son of Marcus Setchell. Marcus not only delivered Binky and her siblings, but Prince George too," a source told heat magazine. We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference "Marcus retired a couple of years ago but Tom is very highly thought of indeed. "Binky wants the best and loves the idea of having her little girl delivered by the 'royal doctor'. She's been joking that she's basically a princess anyway so if it's good enough for Kate, she's happy." But a royal birthing plan doesn't come cheap - it's believed the cost of a natural birth at the wing costs nearly 12,000. As for her relationship with JP, the reality tv star said they are more in love than ever and that the pregnancy has brought them closer together. Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, with their newborn daughter The Princess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday May 2, 2015. See PA story ROYAL Baby. Photo credit should read: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, with their newborn daughter The Princess of Cambridge. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday May 2, 2015. See PA story ROYAL Baby. Photo credit should read: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire "We are beyond the boyfriend and girlfriend thing," she told Mail Online. "A lot of people automatically thought that the baby could be a bad thing for our relationship, and that if we got together again it was just for the baby. Video of the Day "We have always loved each other. The love was never gone." When their baby girl arrives, Binky will have her mother Jane, who regularly appears on MIC, on hand to support her too. Cedric Anderson shot and killed his estranged wife and one of her special needs pupils. Three people have died, including an eight-year-old child, in a murder-suicide at a primary school in San Bernardino. What happened? After telling school staff he needed to drop something off to his estranged wife, Cedric Anderson walked into her special-needs classroom in San Bernardino, California, and opened fire without saying a word, killing her and a pupil before shooting himself. The child who died and another nine-year-old student who was critically injured were behind teacher Karen Elaine Smith, 53, when Anderson fired his gun. After the incident, hundreds of parents waited at a local high school to be reunited with their children. Could the shooting have been foreseen? Karen Elaine Smith had been estranged from her husband of four months for a month prior to the shooting, although police chief Jarrod Burguan told reporters no-one has come forward to say they saw this coming. However, Anderson has a chequered history, with weapons, domestic violence and possible drug charges prior to his marriage to Smith. Smiths mother, Irma Sykes, said her daughter had been friends with Anderson for about four years before they got married. She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all, Sykes told the Los Angeles Times. He had other motives. She left him and thats where the trouble began. She broke up with him and he came out with a different personality. She decided she needed to leave him. The US blamed Bashar Assad's government for the attack and launched nearly 60 cruise missiles on Friday at the Shayrat air base (US Department of Defence) Test results confirm sarin gas was used in an attack on a northern Syrian town earlier this month, Turkey's health minister has said. The results were announced as the Russian military said the Syrian government is willing to let international experts examine its military base for signs of chemical weapons. Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy, of the Russian General Staff, said Russia will provide security for international inspectors seeking to examine Syrian bases, and that Damascus has agreed to allow the inspections. His comments came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will appeal to the United Nations to investigate the attack on Khan Sheikhoun. The April 4 chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town in Idlib province left nearly 90 people dead. The United States blamed President Bashar Assad's government and launched nearly 60 cruise missiles on Friday at the Shayrat air base in the central province of Homs, where it claims the attack originated. Moscow, which is a strong backer of the Syrian government, has dismissed suggestions that Damascus could be behind the attack. The Syrian government also denied the allegation, saying its air force bombed a rebel arsenal that had chemical weapons stored inside. Mr Putin told reporters on Tuesday that Russia would appeal to a UN agency in the Hague, urging it to launch an official probe. The Russian president also said Moscow has received intelligence about planned "provocations" using chemical weapons that would be used to pin the blame on the Syrian government. The Russian statements came as US secretary of state Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow where he will meet Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. In Turkey, a main backer of the Syrian opposition, health minister Recep Akdag said test results conducted on victims of the Khan Sheikhoun attack confirm that sarin gas was used. Mr Akdag said that blood and urine samples taken from the victims confirmed that they were subjected to the nerve agent. Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria. Officials from the World Health Organisation and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies. In Damascus, a Syrian official said foreign minister Walid al-Moallem will visit Russia on Thursday where he will meet officials in Moscow. The official said that there might be a three-way meeting later this week in Moscow between officials from Russia, Syria and Iran. France said it will be pressing again for a UN Security Council resolution condemning the chemical attack in Syria and calling for a thorough investigation so the world knows how it occurred and who was responsible. France's UN ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters at the UN's headquarters it is important that the council put its weight behind the investigation process. The international chemical weapons watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, is already trying to ascertain the facts concerning the April 4 attack on Khan Sheikhoun. Mr Delattre said it was too early to say whether France, Britain and the United States will move ahead with the text of the resolution they put forward last week or change it. US Senator John McCain said stopping President Assad's "murderous rampage" does not preclude America from fighting the Islamic State group. At a press conference in Sarajevo, the Republican senator said the US "is the most powerful nation on earth" and "can do both at the same time". Mr McCain said Assad is "a war criminal and must go". He said the "needless and senseless slaughter of innocent men, women and children is an obligation for all of us," including Russia, to stop. Later, White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested Adolf Hitler did not use chemical weapons. Mr Spicer, comparing Hitler to Syria's Assad, said Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons". He tried to clarify his statement, saying Hitler did not use chemical weapons on his own people "in the same way" as Assad. AP Syrians check the damage to a school after it was hit by an air strike in Tal Rifat on the outskirts of Aleppo (AP/ Khalil Hamra) Clashes have been reported in the Syrian city of Daraa between government forces and insurgents, with opposition activists saying government aircraft dropped barrel bombs on the city. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting broke out when rebels launched an offensive on a government-held area in central Daraa on Monday. It said that by Tuesday, 16 pro-government fighters, including an army colonel, had been killed. Daraa-based activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh and the Observatory said warplanes carried out raids on Daraa while helicopter gunships dropped at least eight barrels loaded with explosives onto the city. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Monday that the use of barrel bombs, which government forces have repeatedly employed throughout the six-year conflict, might bring a US response. The clashes came as Russia's defence ministry said two Russian officers had been killed and one gravely wounded in a mortar attack in Syria. Russia is a staunch backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad and has been waging an air campaign in support of his forces since 2015. Meanwhile, a Syrian official said residents will begin evacuating two besieged areas in north-western Syria on Wednesday, in the latest population transfer arranged by the warring sides. Hakim Baghdadi said authorities have prepared 100 buses to move 5,000 people out of the Shiite villages of Foua and Kfarya. Mr Baghdadi, a member of the relief committee for the two villages, said they will be taken first to the nearby city of Aleppo, then on to other destinations. The predominantly Shiite villages have remained loyal to the Syrian government while the rest of the surrounding Idlib province has come under the rule of hardline Sunni rebels. The rebel commander in charge of two opposition-held towns in western Syria said evacuations will also begin from his districts on Wednesday. The commander said residents and fighters electing to leave will be taken out of Madaya and Zabadani on Wednesday, before the towns are returned to government control. An arrangement between the government and rebels has linked the fate of the four besieged towns since 2015. The UN has decried the arrangement, saying it has served to obstruct the provision of badly needed assistance. The evacuations will be the latest in a string of population movements that have reshaped the demographics of the country. The government has used sieges to force populations opposed to its rule out of areas of the country's largest three cities. The UN has said the "forced displacement" amounts to "war crimes". AP The estranged wife of former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs says she wants their divorce court fight over money to end as "swiftly and amicably as possible". Stacey Giggs said she was "disappointed" to have needed the "assistance" of a judge. Her lawyer James Brown told a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London that she wanted to avoid "upset and distress to her family". "Mrs Giggs's primary focus is wanting to bring this sensitive and difficult process to a close as swiftly and amicably as possible and enable her family to move on with their lives," said Mr Brown. "She is disappointed that she has needed the assistance of the court in an attempt to do so but hopes that outstanding matters can be concluded soon." Mr Justice Cobb is likely to be asked to decide how big a share of the marital asset kitty Mrs Giggs should get if agreement is not reached. He said a trial was unlikely to take place for some time. Ryan Giggs was not in court. Lawyers indicated that he was abroad. Mr Justice Cobb said he had agreed that the star need not attend. News that the pair were embroiled in a dispute emerged earlier this year. In February, Mr Justice Cobb forbade reporting of financial information aired during the litigation. The judge also said the pair's children should not be named in any report of proceedings. He said journalists could report that the pair were involved in a dispute and name them. A woman lays flowers in front of the department store in Stockholm that was hit by the truck in the terror attack. Photo: AP A Belgian psychologist who worked with asylum seekers facing deportation was among the victims of the Stockholm truck attack, it emerged yesterday. Mailys Dereymaeker (31) was named by Belgian newspaper 'Nieuwsblad' as one of the four people who were killed when failed asylum seeker Rakhmat Akilov is alleged to have ploughed a truck into a crowd in central Stockholm. Ms Dereymaeker, who was the mother of an 18-month-old child, used to work as a psychologist in several Belgian immigration detention centres, 'Nieuwsblad' reported. In a bitter twist of irony, the newspaper said she often worked with failed asylum-seekers. Akilov, a 39-year-old from Uzbekistan, had his asylum claim in Sweden rejected last year. The Swedish authorities have been strongly criticised for failing to carry out his deportation order, and the government has said it is reconsidering its policy. A British father, Chris Bevington (41), has also been identified as one of the victims. He worked in Stockholm as a director at the music streaming service Spotify. His family have described him as "a wonderful husband, son, father, brother and close friend to many". It was also claimed yesterday that Akilov chatted with Isil supporters before and after the attack, boasting in one message that he had "run over 10 people". The terror suspect had been in contact with an extremist calling himself Abu Fatyma via the online messaging service WhatsApp, Swedish newspaper 'Expressen' reported. According to screen shots of the WhatsApp messages, Akilov told Fatyma he was trying to build a bomb. "How do I make explosives? Tomorrow I want to find a car and run it into a crowd," he is said to have written. "Do not waste time in vain," Fatyma replied. After hijacking a truck as it waited at a restaurant near Queen's Street, Akilov is said to have driven it at high speed and crashed it into a department store, killing four people and injuring 15 others. Just an hour after carrying out the attack, Akilov is reported to have told Isil supporter Fatyma: "I ran over 10 people in the centre of Stockholm, now I have to get out of here." Fatyma responded: "Allahu Akbar, my brother, I cry, I love you." He then asked Akilov to send a video of the scene, which appears to have been the suspect's last WhatsApp message before he was arrested. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh city Party Committee Vo Thi Dung and Lao Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Somxay Sanam-Oune (Photo: VNA) Deputy Secretary Dung congratulated Laos achievements gained under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party during the national construction and development over the past 40 years. Ms Dung stressed that Ho Chi Minh city would do its utmost to boost relations with Lao localities, contributing to fostering the friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and profound loyalty between Vietnam and Laos. Lao Consul General in Ho Chi Minh city Somxay SanamOune thanked Ho Chi Minh city leaders for their congratulations on the occasion of the Lao traditional New Year and the citys effective assistance for the Lao Consulate General, the Lao community in the city, and for Lao localities construction and socio-economic development. He expressed his belief that the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh city with Lao localities, would be further reinforced and deepened in all areas, bringing benefits to the two peoples and prosperity to each country./. European Commissioner for Cimate, Miguel Arias Canete, Energy ministers, Germany's Rainer Baake, United States' Rick Perry, Canada's James Gordon Carr, Italy's Carlo Calenda, France's Segolene Royal, Britain's Nick Hurd, Japan's Yosuke Takagi and International Energy Agency Executive Director Faith Birol pose for a family photo during a G7 Energy meeting, in Rome, Monday, April 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Italy Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (Getty Images) The Group of Seven major global powers will be joined by Middle East allies on Tuesday in a push to isolate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, hours before the US secretary of state flies to Moscow, Assad's top backer. G7 foreign ministers hosted by Italy invited their counterparts from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar - all of whom oppose Assad's rule - to sit down in the morning and discuss Syria. Pressure on Russia to break its ties with Assad, who stands accused of launching a nerve gas attack on a rebel-held town last week, appeared to be building on Monday. Britain and Canada said sanctions could be tightened on Moscow if it continued to back Assad as the civil war, now in its sixth year, drags on. "I think we have to show a united position and that in these negotiations we should do all we can to get Russia out of Assad's corner, at least to the point that they are ready to participate in finding a political solution," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday. "It is the right moment to talk about this, how the international community, with Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Europe, with the US, can drive forward a peace process for Syria and avoid further military escalation of the conflict." On Friday, the US fired missiles at a Syrian air base in retaliation for the alleged chemical weapons attack by Assad's government on civilians, including many children. That has increased expectations that President Donald Trump is ready to adopt a tougher stance with respect to Russia, and that he is ready to engage in world affairs instead of following the more isolationist stance he had previously taken. Up until the chemical attack, Trump had said Washington would no longer act as the world's guardian, especially if it was not in the interest of the United States. But on Monday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited the site of a World War Two Nazi massacre in Italy and said Washington would never let such abuses go unchallenged. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson told reporters in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. G7 efforts to build a united front against Assad come just ahead of Tillerson's planned trip to Moscow, the first for a high-ranking Trump administration official. Russia has rejected accusations that Assad used chemical arms against his own people and has said it will not cut its ties with the Syrian president. That leans Tillerson, who has significant business experience with Russia as a former chief executive at Exxon Mobil but none in government, is about to face his toughest test yet in international diplomacy. Besides Syria, the ministers will talk on Tuesday about Libya, where people smugglers operate with impunity and rival governments and militias vie for power. Growing tensions with North Korea are also expected to be on the agenda, as the United States moves a navy strike group near the Korean peninsula amid concerns over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. Cedric Anderson, who police identified as the person who shot dead death Karen Elaine Smith, as she taught a special education class (San Bernardino Police Department/AP) A man who fatally shot his estranged wife and a special needs pupil in her classroom then killed himself had pro fessed his love for her just last month on social media. Cedric Anderson married Karen Elaine Smith in late January, but the couple had been estranged for at least a month before her walked into a her elementary school in San Bernardino, California. Police said it was a targeted attack on his wife, while two of her pupils were also hit. On what appeared to be his Facebook page, Anderson posted photos in March smiling and hugging Ms Smith. In a short video posted on February 27, the 53-year-old looks into the camera and talks about why he loves her. "She knows when to ignore me," he said with a laugh. "Well, it makes a happy marriage." Anderson had posted that he "loved being married to Karen Smith-Anderson!" - calling her "an angel" - and posted a photo of the two of them on March 4 in what he described as a date night Several other of his posts quoted Bible verses. The page also had several photos of the wedding, and the couple's honeymoon among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. His last public post on Facebook was on March 15. Anderson had a criminal history that included weapons charges, domestic violence and possible drug charges, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. Anderson walked into North Park School on Monday and told a staff member that he needed to drop something off to his wife, police said. He went to her classroom and "without saying anything" shot her with a large-calibre revolver, Mr Burguan said. Jonathan Martinez, eight, died shortly after being airlifted to hospital, while a nine-year-old boy was in stable condition. Colleagues remembered Ms Smith as a dedicated educator who loved her job. "It takes a very, very special person to be a special education teacher," said Maria Garcia, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. "We want her to be remembered for the amazing teacher that she was." AP Mars, as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope (Nasa) We are just days away from an announcement by NASA where details of oceans discovered beyond earth will be divulged. Here is everything you need to know: What is it? The space exploration agency is due to reveal new details about ocean worlds in our solar system. The event is somewhat shrouded in mystery, which the agency tends to do when they have big announcements. Results will be presented from the Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope. The Cassini aircraft went to Saturn and also explored dwarf planets that may contain life. NASA is not underselling the significance of what is due to be discussed stating that the results will help inform "the broader search for life beyond Earth". In recent times there have been some significant reveals including the discovery of water on Mars and an entire potentially habitable solar system near our own. Who will be there? The event is being co-ordinated from Washington but experts from across the US will be taking part including Hunter Waite, who is one of the leads on the Europa Clipper mission due to begin in 2020. The mission plans to do a detailed exploration of Jupiter's largest moon. The results due to be discussed on Thursday will also help inform this mission NASA said. How can I watch? The briefing will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's website. You can also tune in via YouTube. It will broadcast at 7.00pm (Irish time) on Thursday. Anything else? Yes, you can ask questions during the event. Members of the public can submit questions by using the hashtag #AskNASA. The Irish Innocence Project has described the expedition of the death penalty in a US state as "disgusting and inhumane". Seven people are due to be executed in the space of ten days in Arkansas due to the fact a lethal drug Midazolam will expire on April 30. Officials in Arkansas will begin the killings of the men on death row on April 17. One of the inmates facing death, Ledell Lee, was convicted of murder 22 years ago but claims he is innocent. The move came as Arkansas' supply of Midazolam is set to expire at the end of the month. The controversial drug has been used in a number of botched executions in recent years, with people's deaths lasting hours. Expand Close Seven inmates have been scheduled to die at the prison in Arkansas this month (AP/Kelly P Kissel) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Seven inmates have been scheduled to die at the prison in Arkansas this month (AP/Kelly P Kissel) This has resulted in pharmacies discontinuing the drug - prompting Arkansas' rush to carry out the executions. Vice chairperson of the Irish Innocence Project at Griffith College, Dr Edward Mathews, has condemned the actions. "138 people have been released from death row in the US following a review of their convictions, it is something which has been used to kill innocent people in the past," Mr Mathews told Independent.ie. Read More "The death penalty is a racist instrument, it is an instrument that has been used against people that are intellectually disabled and it is a grotesque exercise of state power. It is, quite frankly, disgusting and inhumane. "This is an issue which would resonate in Ireland because in the last year, we had the first ever presidential pardon for a person executed in this state. The Irish Innocence Project, along with the family of Harry Gleeson, worked to achieve this. To think that this is still happening in 2017 is both heart-wrenching and disgusting." Mr Mathews said that while it is a good thing the drug is being discontinued, "one worries because they will find another way to implement the death penalty." Lawyers for the men facing death have began presenting a collective case to try instate a permanent block on the killings which they denounce as "execution by assembly line." Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said the action is "necessary" to fulfil the requirement of the law. Eight inmates had been scheduled to die but Jason McGehee was granted a stay of execution as he was re-sentenced to life in prison. The seven men facing the death penalty are: Bruce Earl Ward, Don Williams Davis, Stacey Eugene Johnson, Jack Harold Jones, Marcel Willliams and Kenneth Williams. A total number of 3,117 people were sentenced to death in 55 countries in 2016. Here is the text of the letter United Airlines' parent company chief executive Oscar Munoz sent to employees after a passenger was dragged from a United plane at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The summary below the letter was compiled by United: Dear Team, Like you, I was upset to see and hear about what happened last night aboard United Express Flight 3411 headed from Chicago to Louisville. While the facts and circumstances are still evolving, especially with respect to why this customer defied Chicago Aviation Security Officers the way he did, to give you a clearer picture of what transpired, I've included below a recap from the preliminary reports filed by our employees. Expand Close An image made from a video shows a passenger who was removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago (Audra Bridges via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An image made from a video shows a passenger who was removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago (Audra Bridges via AP) As you will read, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. I do, however, believe there are lessons we can learn from this experience, and we are taking a close look at the circumstances surrounding this incident. Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation. Oscar Summary of Flight 3411 On Sunday, April 9, after United Express Flight 3411 was fully boarded, United's gate agents were approached by crewmembers that were told they needed to board the flight. We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to 1,000 dollars in compensation) and when we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions. He was approached a few more times after that in order to gain his compliance to come off the aircraft, and each time he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent. Our agents were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight. He repeatedly declined to leave. Chicago Aviation Security Officers were unable to gain his co-operation and physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist - running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both our crew and security officials. The letter comes after a video of a doctor "being dragged like a rag doll" off the plane sparked uproar on social media. Videos taken by other passengers show security appearing to pull the man out of his seat and drag him along the aisle. Witness Audra Bridges claims that the man returned to his seat but looked dazed and disorientated and was then brought away again. Expand Close Blood drips from the mouth of the doctor as he is dragged off the United Airlines flight / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Blood drips from the mouth of the doctor as he is dragged off the United Airlines flight Read More The man can be heard screaming in the clip, while someone else says: "This is wrong." Onlooker Jayse D Anspach claimed: "A couple of airport security men forcefully pulled the doctor out of his chair and to the floor of the aisle. "In so doing, the doctor's face was slammed against an arm rest, causing serious bleeding from his mouth. "It looked like he was knocked out, because he went limp and quiet and they dragged him out of the plane like a rag doll." Police stand watch over students as multiple law enforcement agencies respond to a fatal shooting at North Park Elementary school in San Bernardino, California. Photo: Rick Sforza/Los Angeles Daily News via AP Two adults were killed and two students critically wounded in an apparent murder-suicide inside a California primary school that spread panic across a city still recovering emotionally from a terror attack at a community centre just 15 months ago. One of those killed was a teacher and the other was the suspected shooter who opened fire in a classroom at North Park School in San Bernardino. A school official said the attack was believed to stem from a "domestic dispute" and that the teacher knew the gunman. The two wounded students were flown to a hospital where they were listed in critical condition. "The children we do not believe were targeted. The suspect had come to the classroom to visit," police Capt. Ron Maass said. Panicked The 600 other students at the school were bused to safety at California State University's San Bernardino campus, several kilometres away. As word of the shooting spread, panicked parents raced to the school. They were told to go to a nearby high school where they would be reunited with their children. As the buses pulled away, some parents raced frantically alongside, waving and trying to recognise their children inside. Many said their children were too young to have mobile phones. Others said the phones just rang unanswered. "I just wish I could talk to them to make sure they're OK because they don't know what this is all about," one parent said. One local woman, Marina Ramos, said she rushed to the school to try to pick up her grandson. She said she spoke to him, and he was safe. "He was crying. He's scared," she said. "It was a typical morning and then chaos broke out." San Bernardino, a city of 216,000 people about 100km east of Los Angeles, was the site of a December 2015 terror attack that killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at a meeting of San Bernardino County employees. Husband-and-wife shooters Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik were later killed in a gunbattle with authorities. Malala Yousafzai attends a ceremony with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres after being selected a United Nations messenger of peace in New York, NY, April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith Malala Yousafzai attends a ceremony after being selected a United Nations messenger of peace in New York, NY, April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith Malala Yousafzai attends a ceremony after being selected a United Nations messenger of peace in New York, NY, April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith Malala Yousafzai attends a ceremony after being selected a United Nations messenger of peace in New York, NY, April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith Malala Yousafzai attends a ceremony after being selected a United Nations messenger of peace in New York, NY, April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai a U.N. Messenger of Peace on Monday to promote girls education, more than four years after a Taliban gunman shot her in the head on her school bus in 2012. At 19, Yousafzai is the youngest Messenger of Peace, the highest honor given by the United Nations for an initial period of two years. She was also the youngest person to win the Nobel peace prize in 2014 when she was 17. "You are not only a hero, but you are a very committed and generous person," Guterres told Yousafzai. Other current Messengers of Peace include actor Leonardo di Caprio, for climate change, actor Charlize Theron, whose focus is prevention of HIV and elimination of violence against women, and actor Michael Douglas, whose focus is disarmament. Yousafzai has become a regular speaker on the global stage and visited refugee camps in Rwanda and Kenya last July to highlight the plight of refugee girls from Burundi and Somalia. The Pakistani education activist came to prominence when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head in 2012 as she was leaving school in Pakistan's Swat Valley, northwest of the country's capital Islamabad. She was targeted for her campaign against efforts by the Taliban to deny women education. "The extremists tried all their best to stop me, they tried to kill me and they didn't succeed," Yousafzai said on Monday. "Now this is a new life, this is a second life and it is for the purpose of education." She now lives in Britain, where she received medical treatment after she was shot. Yousafzai said that when she finishes secondary school in June, she would like to study philosophy, politics and economics at university. NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (left) and Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian NA Jakab Istvan (Source: VNA) The two sides highly valued the outcomes of the seventh session of the Vietnam Hungry joint committee on economic cooperation in Budapest on March 23rd-24th. They agreed on bilateral cooperation plans, including measures to strengthen trade and economic exchanges via regular organisation of trade fairs and exhibitions. Vietnam suggested Hungary increase investment in water resources, environment, medicine and pharmacy, food processing, bio-fertilizer production, and renewable energy. Vietnam also welcomes Hungarys policy to boost bilateral economic ties, including the signing of a framework agreement on credit cooperation worth EUR440 million. Education-training is a traditional cooperative field between the two countries. Hungary provides 100 scholarships each year for Vietnamese students to pursue studying in majors that are Hungarys strengths such as renewable energy, support industry, environmental protection, water resources treatment, information technology, economics, agriculture, and health. The two top legislators acknowledged the mutual support and coordination at regional and international interparliamentary forums. They agreed to boost high-level delegation exchanges between legislative agencies and parliamentary friendship groups. Speaker Laszlo affirmed to continue supporting and sharing experience in building law, monitoring the operation of the State apparatus and training personnel for Vietnam. Both sides concurred to step up the implementation of cooperation agreements signed by the two countries governments along with their strategic collaboration projects. They supported Vietnamese and Hungarian governments, localities, businesses and peoples to enhance exchanges for better understanding and win-win cooperation. Chairwoman Ngan took this occasion to thank Hungary for supporting Vietnams candidacy for a seat in the Economic and Social Council for the 2016-2018 tenure and the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. She affirmed Vietnams advocacy for Hungary to run for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council in the 2017-2019 tenure. For his part, Speaker Laszlo said Hungary has considered Vietnam to be its strategic partner in the Southeast Asian region since 2010. He urged the two countries to boost cooperation in economics and trade, noting that the bilateral trade reached around USD266 million in 2016, a year-on-year rise of 36 percent. After the talks, the two top legislators met with the press to inform the outcomes./. An image made from a video shows a passenger who was removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago (Audra Bridges via AP) The CEO of United Airlines has issued a stronger apology after a passenger was dragged from a United Express flight, calling the confrontation "truly horrific". Oscar Munoz said in a note to employees he continues to be disturbed by the events on Sunday night in Chicago. He said: "No one should ever be mistreated this way." Mr Munoz was widely criticised for two statements on Monday about the altercation in which he described the 69-year-old man taken off the plane as "disruptive and belligerent". On Tuesday, Mr Munoz said he was committed to "fix what's broken so this never happens again". He pledged to review the company's policies for seeking volunteers to give up their seats, for handling oversold flights and for partnering with airport authorities and local law enforcement. The company plans to share results of the review by April 30. Earlier, US President Donald Trump's spokesman said it was "troubling" to watch video of the passenger being dragged from the flight. But White House press secretary Sean Spicer said it was unlikely the federal government would launch a separate investigation. Mr Spicer said local authorities and United were reviewing the incident in which a man was forcibly removed at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Video of the confrontation spread across social media. Mr Spicer said he was sure Mr Trump had seen the video but that any comment from the president could influence a potential outcome of the investigation. He added that he thinks everyone who has seen the video can agree that the situation could have been handled better. The passenger has been named as Kentucky physician David Dao. Video of police officers dragging the passenger from the overbooked flight sparked uproar. As the flight waited to depart, officers could be seen grabbing the man from a window seat, pulling him across the armrest and dragging him down the aisle by his arms. United was trying to make room for four employees of a partner airline on the Sunday evening flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky. Other passengers on Flight 3411 are heard saying, "Please, my God," ''What are you doing?" ''This is wrong," ''Look at what you did to him" and "Busted his lip". Passenger Audra Bridges posted the video on Facebook, and it has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, and triggered strong criticism of United. Her husband, Tyler Bridges, said United offered 400 dollar (322) and then 800 dollar vouchers and a hotel stay for volunteers to give up their seats. When no-one volunteered, a United manager came on the plane and announced that passengers would be chosen at random. "We almost felt like we were being taken hostage," Tyler Bridges said. "We were stuck there. You can't do anything as a traveller. You're relying on the airline." When airline employees named four customers who had to leave the plane, three of them did so. The fourth person refused to move, and police were called, United spokesman Charlie Hobart said. "We followed the right procedures," Mr Hobart said. "That plane had to depart. We wanted to get our customers to their destinations." AP Russia has been told it must side with the US and like-minded countries or embrace Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and militant group Hezbollah. The ultimatum came from US secretary of state Rex Tillerson as he arrived in Moscow following urgent meetings in Italy with top diplomats. It was not clear what the punishment would be for a Russian government that has used its military might to help Assad and his array of allies score a series of battlefield successes in their six-year war with Syrian opposition groups. Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately showed that he would not back down, saying Russia knew about planned "provocations" to blame Syria's government for using chemical weapons. He said the UN should first investigate the attack. "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when US envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq," Mr Putin told reporters. "We have seen it all already." Mr Tillerson is in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It is the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trump's cabinet. Before heading to Russia, Mr Tillerson told reporters that Moscow had either failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons or had been incompetent, but, he said, the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead". His trip follows Monday's claim by a senior US official that Washington has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. The official did not offer concrete proof and others in the Trump administration cautioned that no final determination of Russia's foreknowledge had been made. "We cannot let this happen again," Mr Tillerson said of the chemical attack. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Mr Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance" with Syria and Iran. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks." It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the US-Russian relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage". The trade of accusations followed a long-set pattern for Syria's civil war. Under president Barack Obama, the United States accused Russia of supporting Assad in war crimes against civilians and of employing a sophisticated disinformation campaign to protect its ally. Assad and Russia have accused the US of supporting terrorist groups, who have staged atrocities to gain international sympathy for their cause. There was one key difference: After the recent launch of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a Syrian air base, President Donald Trump can now offer each a credible threat that the US will use force in Syria if the stalemate persists. The Trump administration, however, has offered mixed messages about whether Assad must surrender power - and when. Mr Tillerson said it was clear the US saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." Such clarity on Assad's future is not shared by Russia, which insists that Syria's leadership cannot be a matter for outside powers. Mr Tillerson said Russian-sponsored ceasefire talks could generate momentum towards broader talks about a political transition - if they create a durable ceasefire. The idea is for political talks to follow, but Mr Tillerson acknowledged the lack of progress so far. Mr Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the "like-minded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the G7 industrialised economies in Italy. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The US and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. That accusation will hang over Mr Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans to meet Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov. The United States has sought to minimise expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the US will leave with any Russian concessions on Syria. Instead, the US is hoping to use the visit - the first by a Trump cabinet official to Russia - to convey expectations to Moscow and allow Russians time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the US strikes last week also served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria. In Italy, diplomats spoke of possible new sanctions on Syria's and Russia's militaries, and additional US military action if Assad's forces continue attacking civilians. A second wave of construction on a bike path alongside Business 40 downtown has been approved by the Winston-Salem City Council, with work possibly taking place at the same time as Business 40 roadway improvements in 2020. The city council recently approved a resolution that authorizes the city manager to enter into a contract with the N.C. Department of Transportation for construction of parts of the bike path alongside Business 40 from Green Street to the Strollway. The full pathway, when finished, will connect Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center to downtown on a route that makes it possible for bicycle riders to get downtown without having to tackle the big hills on First Street or Glade Avenue. City transportation officials believe it will encourage more people to commute by biking. The way the Business 40 path ties in with the Strollway and Green Street, it means those neighborhoods will have nice access to downtown and Old Salem, said Matthew Burczyk, who handles bike transportation planning for the city. It really ties everything together. Business 40 is scheduled for a major do-over starting with the reworking of the Peters Creek Parkway interchange, which starts later this year and wraps up in the fall of 2018. After that is done, Business 40 will close for reconstruction between Peters Creek Parkway and U.S. 52, the work involving the replacement of all bridges and the improvement of off- and on-ramps. The entire road reopens in 2020. City officials want as much as they can to build the bike path at the same time work on Business 40 proceeds. Sections of the path had already been made part of the Business 40 construction plans. They include a portion of the pathway that will cross Peters Creek Parkway from south to north, then pass through a tunnel leading under the parkway near BB&T Ballpark. As part of the same project, a portion of the pathway near Brookstown Avenue is to be built. The more recently approved sections from Green Street to the Strollway carry a $2 million price tag, but the city only has to pay about $400,000 to get the remaining $1.6 million from the N.C. Department of Transportation as part of the draft 2018-27 state transportation plan. Although that plan doesnt get passed until June, the bike path work scored well in the planning process. Slated for construction in 2021 in the state transportation plan, the city is asking the state to move forward the Green Street-Strollway work to 2020 so that it fits the Business 40 timetable. Even the newly approved sections will still leave a segment unfunded between Green Street and the ballpark. Also, theres no money yet for the path leading west from Peters Creek Parkway toward Lockland Avenue. Assistant City Manager Greg Turner said that while theres no money yet for the missing segments, the city can pursue grants or possibly include the project on a 2018 bond issue. Council Member Robert Clark questioned the good of the project, saying he had doubts about how much it would get used: I have never seen a community put a sidewalk beside an interstate, Clark said. I cant think of a place where I would rather not walk than an interstate. Council Member Dan Besse, who chairs the citys public works committee, defended the pathway as one that will be used mainly by people on bikes. Clark was the only council member voting against the proposal. Burczyk said the city hopes to eventually connect the Business 40 path to another north-south bike path being built in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. That path is to be linked to the Salem Creek Greenway, so when everything is put together, he said, all of a sudden you have a connection from Baptist through to Salem Lake. To have that kind of connectivity is our goal, Burczyk said. Wells Fargo & Co.s board of directors has placed officially the bulk of the blame for its customer fraud account scandal on its former head of its community banking division and its retired top executive. Wells Fargo agreed Sept. 8 to pay a combined $185 million in fines to resolve regulatory complaints about 1.5 million potentially fraudulent customer checking and 623,000 credit-card accounts. John Stumpf, chairman and chief executive, retired in October as one ripple effect. The board said Carrie Tolstedt, former head of community banking, was fired with cause. The board released Monday a 110-page report that represents its seven-month investigation into how the fraudulent sales practices occurred and persisted. Those accounts were opened by branch employees and managers in customers names to meet sales targets. Wells Fargo said its internal investigation goes back to 2009. The board and management have taken decisive action to address issues raised by investigation, promote accountability, strengthen oversight and rebuild trust, it said in a statement. One repercussion was the board increasing the amount of executive compensation clawbacks from Stumpf and Tolstedt by an additional $75 million. The board said the investigation identifies cultural, structural and leadership issues as root causes of improper sales practices. Tolstedt and other community bank leaders were unwilling to change the sales model or recognize it as the root cause of the problem. (They) resisted and impeded scrutiny or oversight from corporate risk management and the board and, when forced to report, minimized the scale and nature of problems. The board said the banks decentralized corporate structure gave too much authority and autonomy to the community banks senior leadership without the necessary oversight and encouraged deference to the business units. As for Stumpf, the board determined he was too focused on the banks decades of success with cross-sell and positive customer and employee survey results. (He) was too slow to investigate or critically challenge the sales practices at the community bank and to appreciate the seriousness and the substantial reputational risk to Wells Fargo. Altogether, Stumpf lost $69 million in compensation and Tolstedt $67 million, which previously include $41 million from Stumpf and $19 million from Tolstedt in forfeited unvested equity awards. Part of what led to Stumpfs immediate retirement likely was his downplaying to Congress and to the board the enormity of the fraudulent account scandal. Stumpf was grilled by the U.S. Senate Banking committee on Sept. 28, drawing criticism from the committee for failing to answer many questions. The boards goals in conducting the investigation were to understand the root causes of improper sales practices in the community bank, to identify remedial actions to ensure these issues can never be repeated, and to help rebuild the trust customers place in the bank, the board said. The law firm of Shearman & Sterling LLP assisted the bank in the investigation, conducting 100 interviews of current and former managers, employees, board members and other relevant parties. The law firm searched more than 35 million documents. It also reviewed information concerning more than 1,000 investigations of lower-level employees terminated for sales integrity violations, which Wells Fargos internal investigations group conducted. This exhaustive investigation identified serious issues related to Wells Fargos decentralized structure and the sales culture of the community bank, all of which the board and management have been working diligently to rectify, Chairman Stephen Sanger said in a statement. It is not clear whether investors will respond overall favorably to the boards steps. At least two major shareholder services groups have called for the board to replace between six and 12 members as part of resolving the scandal. In the aftermath of the scandal surfacing, the bank has: promoted Tim Sloan as chief executive; named Mary Mack as head of community banking; split the positions of chairman and chief executive; added two board members; eliminated retail product sales goals in community banking; and also terminating for cause on Feb. 21 four senior managers in the community bank. On March 1, the board announced the banks top eight executives will not receive cash bonuses for fiscal 2016. The executives, including Sloan and David Carroll, head of wealth and investment management, also could see the value of stock awards received from 2014 to 2016 cut by as much as half. The board said the combined compensation reduction for the eight executives is valued at $32 million based on 2016 target bonuses and the current price of Wells Fargo shares. For example, Wells Fargo said in its fiscal 2015 proxy report that Sloan, then president and chief operating officer, had been made eligible for more than $15 million in stock awards for 2014 and 2015, and was paid $1 million in cash incentives pay. Bank officials said the cash incentive pay is synonymous with cash bonuses. The board has total confidence in management, and while this investigation has concluded, our oversight of the company and commitment to accountability are stronger than ever, the board said. Sloan said he supported the boards actions on the cash bonuses and believes they are critical to Wells Fargos commitment to our customers. The bank has said it cannot rule out that 38,722 unauthorized customer accounts were established in North Carolina and 23,327 in South Carolina. In December, nine Democratic U.S. senators scolded the board for what they consider the banks foot-dragging on disclosing more details. The issues that the banking committee want to know more about include: Officially identifying the independent directors serving on the banks internal investigative committee; Why wasnt such an investigative committee in place before the settlement? How will the bank make its report known to shareholders and the public? What was the boards knowledge of the scandal before Sept. 8? And What other business lines had been affected by the fraudulent employee behavior? Doing Business in India 2021 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in India. Compiled by the ... New York, Apr 11(Just Earth News): Despite daunting challenges, United Nations agencies and partners in war-torn Yemen have completed a major nationwide polio inoculation campaign, vaccinating nearly five million children under the age of five against the paralyzing disease. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)-UN World Health Organization (WHO)-World Bank supported campaign was launched in February and saw thousands of health workers, health educators, religious leaders and local council officials mobilize their communities to maximize the campaign's reach, including in high-risk groups, such as internally displaced persons and refugees. Every minute, the situation of Yemen's children gets worse. It is unacceptable that children in the country are dying of preventable diseases, said the UNICEF Representative in Yemen, Meritxell Relano, in a news release on Monday. This is why, together with partners, we are sparing no effort to save more lives. Through the campaign, more than 369,000 children between the ages of six months and 15 years in the violence struck Sa'ada governorate were also inoculated against measles a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease. WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank, are working closely with health authorities to keep Yemen polio-free and curb the spread of measles, noted Nevio Zagaria, the WHO Representative in Yemen. Prior to 2006, measles was one of the leading causes of death in children under five in the country. But several vaccination campaigns have succeeded in drastically reducing child deaths from the disease. This partnership provides continuous support to national health authorities to increase vaccination coverage for vulnerable children across Yemen, Dr. Zagaria added. Vaccinating children is one of the safest and most cost effective health interventions to protect them from potentially fatal and debilitating diseases. Immunization campaigns are important, not only, to keep communities polio-free but also help minimize the risk of poliovirus coming into them. The World Bank is committed to investing in children's health, which is a vital investment in the country's future, through working with our UN partners in Yemen and strengthening the local health institutions said Sandra Bloemenkamp, World Bank Country Manager for Yemen. The United Nations has been supporting Yemen's health system, which has been hit hard by the ongoing conflict. In addition to providing essential health services for children. During this campaign, UN agencies delivered fuel, generators and solar-powered refrigerators to keep vaccines at a constant cool temperature. They also helped transfer of vaccines from national and provincial cold rooms to local health facilities and vaccination tea Photo: UNICEF/Al-Zikri Source: www.justearthnews.com At the signing ceremony (Photo: CPV) Mrs. Than Thi Thu, a member of the Ho Chi Minh city Party Standing Committee and Head of the city Party Committee Commission on Popularization and Education; and Tran Doan Tien, a member of the Party Standing Committee of the Party Central Committee Commission on Popularization and Education, CPV Online Newspaper Editor-in-Chief, attended signing ceremony. Under the deal, Ho Chi Minh city and the CPV Online Newspaper will work together to increase the dissemination of information about the leadership and management of the city Party Committee and authority; the citys socio-economic achievements; the citys Party building; culture; defence affairs and external affairs. The dissemination effort aims to create a consensus among cadres, Party members and people on the leadership and management of the city Party Committee and authority in realizing the citys target boosting economic development is a central mission and building Party is a key task. It also helps domestic and foreign readers have a deeper understanding about the role, position, internal strength, history and culture of Ho Chi Minh city, which serves the target to build quality of life in the city and make it an advanced, modern and affectionate city. After the signing ceremony, the CPV Online Newspaper debuted a Ho Chi Minh City Page which is the most important content of the cooperation deal. The Ho Chi Minh city Page Vietnamese language version includes the columns: News; Development and Integration; Party building; 7 breakthrough programs; For a peaceful life; Advanced and affectionate city; Videos and Clips; and Photo Gallery. Delegates press a button to debut the Ho Chi Minh city Page on the CPV Online Newspaper (Photo: CPV) Based on the deal, the CPV Online Newspaper will focus on effectively disseminating information about the leadership and management of the city Party Committee and authority in realizing socio-economic development targets and Party building work; firm and creative solutions of the city Party Committee and authority in successfully implementing the 12th National Party Congress and the citys 10th Party Congress resolutions; and outstanding issues in political, economic, cultural, social, defence, security and external affairs, as well as the citys integration and development. In addition, the citys 7 breakthrough programs aiming to accelerate development and integration and increase the city residents living quality will also disseminated on the CPV Online Newspaper. Together with it, increasing the studying and following of President Ho Chi Minhs ideology, morality and style among the city Party Committee and all classes of people will also be a focus of the dissemination, while the citys cultural values, tourism and unique beauty, as well as its affectionate tradition, will also be promoted on the CPV Online Newpaper. The dissemination will also be run on the English, French and Chinese pages of the newspaper. The cooperation deal also targeted to carry out Resolution 16-NQ/TW dated August 10th, 2012, by the Politburo on the orientation and tasks for development of Ho Chi Minh city until 2020 in which the Politburo stressed that Ho Chi Minh city would be built into a special urban area; a large economic, cultural, educational and training, scientific and technological centre; a driving force that has great attraction in the southern key economic region and politically important position of the nation. The Politburo also identified to build Ho Chi Minh city into an advanced and modern city which plays the role of a special urban area and leads the national industrialization and modernization, making greater and greater contributions to the regional and national development./. New York, Apr 11(Just Earth News): The United Nations population agency, with financial support from the European Union (EU), has increased its humanitarian response in Iraq to meet the urgent needs of women and girls as fighting peaks in the war-torn country. Thanks to an additional five million euros contribution by the European Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is able to up-scale its urgent frontline assistance. Through this EU partnership, UNFPA will provide much needed reproductive health services to more than 700,000 conflict-affected women and girls in Iraq. Furthermore, over 120,000 newly displaced women and girls from Mosul will receive first line relief items, as part of the Rapid Response Mechanism Consortium, which also includes UNICEF [UN Childrens Fund] and the World Food Programme (WFP), said the UNFPA representative in Iraq, Ramanathan Balakrishnam, in a press statement. The provisions include lifesaving reproductive health services in the recently re-taken areas of East and West Mosul as well as the delivery of first assistance kits to displaced women and girls from Mosul and other active conflict areas in Iraq. According to UNFPA, the EUs generous support will contribute to establishing and running of three field maternity hospitals that will offer safe delivery options and lifesaving obstetric emergency services to conflict-affected women from West Mosul. Bringing back essential health services in conflict-affected areas in Mosul is a priority for the EU, said Javier Rio-Navarro, ECHO head of office in Iraq. The EU contribution also supports the procurement and running of two mobile delivery units and two mobile reproductive health clinics in retaken districts and neighbourhoods in East and West Mosul, as well as similar services in Anbar, Kirkuk and Salah al-Din governorates. Pregnant women and displaced women and girls who have survived the hardship of conflict will receive much needed emergency medical services, he added. UNFPA delivers a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child birth is safe and every young persons potential is fulfilled. Photo: UNFPA Source: www.justearthnews.com Stockholm truck suspect 'admits terrorist crimes' at remand hearing Rakhmat Akilov, the chief suspect in last weeks truck attack in central Stockholm, "admits terrorist crimes," his lawyer Johan Eriksson told a court Tuesday during a remand hearing. GALLERY Police have since Friday conducted more than 600 interviews and continue their raids in the greater Stockholm area as part of the investigation. Stockholm (dpa) - Eriksson said that the 39-year-old man from Uzbeikstan did not contest the prosecutions request that he be held on remand.Deputy chief prosecutor Hans Ihrman earlier said Akilov was suspected of terrorist crimes in connection with Fridays attack.Four people died and 15 were injured after a hijacked lorry ploughed through pedestrians in a city shopping area before crashing into a department store, Ihrman told the court.Ihrman requested that the hearing at the Stockholm District Court continue behind closed doors in order to present evidence assembled in the case against Akilov. Eriksson and his client did not contest the request.Judge Malou Lindblom then ordered members of the public and reporters to leave the court room.When Akilov entered the court room, he had covered his head with a green pullover, which the judge ordered him to remove, according to reporters present.Swedish courts do not allow cameras or television images inside a court room.It emerged Monday that Kilov had requested to replace Eriksson with a "Sunni Muslim" attorney. The court denied the request.Security was tight at the court. Visitors were forced to pass through security screens similar to those at airport checkpoints, while the street outside the building was also blocked off and stationed with armed police.On Monday, national police chief Dan Eliasson and other police officials declined to confirm or comment on whether Kilov had admitted to the attack, whether he had ties with extremist Islamist groups, or had volunteered any motive since his arrest late Friday.Police have since Friday conducted more than 600 interviews and continue their raids in the greater Stockholm area as part of the investigation. PDS board approves interim dividend of Rs2.50 per share PDS Limited has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company on Monday has approved an Interim Dividend of Rd2.50 per share. The Company adopted a dividend distribution policy... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 3:10 pm Rajesh Exports incorporates 100% subsidiary ACC Energy Storage; Stock climbs 2% Rajesh Exports Ltd. has announced that it is foraying into Advanced Technology Solutions with a focus on Energy Storage Solutions. REL has been selected by the Government Of India as one ... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 2:42 pm Markets under selling pressure with Nifty around 18,100-levels Domestic benchmark indices trading mixed after a gap-up opening on Monday. Both the Sensex and Nifty benchmarks are marginally lower in the afternoon market session. On the sectoral front... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 2:00 pm Rupee rises 23 paise to 82.12/ $ Early on Monday, the rupee strengthened versus the US dollar by 23 paise to 82.12 amid rising local stocks and falling oil prices. The native currency rose 23 paise from its previous close to t... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 1:20 pm Cineline India opens 5-Screen multiplex, MovieMAX in Mumbai; Stock jumps 3% Cineline India Limited stocks in the fast lane after announcement of opening of 5-Screen multiplex at Sarvodaya Mall Kalyan, Mumbai. In a regulatory filing, the company informed the ... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 12:47 pm Romain Grosjean boasts a positive track record at Bahrain and is bullish on keeping the good stats coming, even after a frustrating Chinese weekend. The Frenchman endured a difficult race in the mid-field in Shanghai, finishing just outside of the points in eleventh place. Grosjean has scored points in four of his five career F1 starts at Bahrain. His best finish is third, earned twice in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013. "I love the track in Bahrain," admits the Haas driver. "On paper, it doesnt look like the most exciting one, but driving it is pretty good fun. Big braking I brake late. I love braking hard and late. "It probably explains why my qualifying sessions in 2012 and 2013, I could have done better. The car was pretty good on tyres in the race. "Its hard on tyres as well, but I was good with that, probably another thing that helped. I love racing in Bahrain." Speaking of tyres, teams will be supplied with the same compound mix as China - medium, soft and supersoft. But Grosjean doesn't believe the choice provides any predictability because of the very different environments which separate Bahrain from Shanghai. "It doesnt mean a lot that weve got the same tires," he says. "Conditions are going to be very different. Bahrain is a very aggressive track with a high temperature. China is a very smooth track with low temperature. "Shanghai is front limited, Bahrain is rear limited. Theyre two very different circuits. "If you look at the first four races of the calendar, if we do well out of those four and manage to get a good consistency, we can then be very hopeful for the rest of the year." The wider tyres this year from Pirelli have led to cars enjoying a rather delicate balance and narrow spectrum of grip, enhancing the art of set-up for drivers and engineers. "Finding the balance is never easy," insists Grosjean. "Its about finding the setup that fits you and finding what is the limit of the car. "Its true that now we have more downforce, whenever the car goes sideways we lose all downforce, and the percentage of loss is bigger than it was before. "Thats probably why we see cars not possible to recover. Driving to the limit is what were here for and what we love." GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter Veteran actor Anupam Kher has shared his e-mail address on social media as he wants to connect with "lonely or depressed" people. He feels that there is a need to listen to the young generation and not pass off their silence. Twitter/Anupam Kher Anupam's comment comes after Arjun Bhardwaj, an engineering student checked into a suite on the 19th floor of a hotel before daybreak on Monday. Hours later, he broke a window and jumped, according to reports. Anupam then shared his e-mail address with his fans and asked them to connect with people, who are feeling lonely. "Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.":) Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) April 11, 2017 "Please write to me at anupam@anupamkhercompany.com if someone you know is feeling low, lonely or depressed. Will be happy to talk to them," he tweeted. "Arjun Bhardwaj's suicide is a reminder that we live in the times where feeling lonely and depressed has become so common with young people," Anupam said. The actor says he grew up in a joint family and didn't know what depression was. Please read & share. Arjun Bhardwaj suicide: Anupam Kher to develop website to help the lonely and depressed https://t.co/fjGi2ln0Lq Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) April 10, 2017 "Having lived in a poor but a joint family during my growing up years... was always surrounded by people. Didn't know much about depression," he said. "We need to talk to and listen to the young generation. Not pass off their changing moods and silences as 'they are like that only.' Arjun Bhardwaj," he added. After undergoing a shocking transformation for Sarbjit, Randeep Hooda is now gearing up for his next titled Battle Of Saragarhi, in which he's playing the role of Havaldar Ishar Singh. The actor recently revealed his look from the movie, and it has convinced us that he might be the next Mr. Perfectionist after Aamir Khan. After having revealed his look from the movie at Captain Amarinder Singh's book launch, Randeep Hooda gave us chills posing next to the photo of Havaldar Ishar Singh and looking almost identical being dressed up as him. Randeep is sporting a fierce and bearded look in a Khaki uniform along with a turban. Isn't it difficult to spot the difference? After having watched his brilliant performances in films such as Highway and Sarbjit among others, one cannot doubt Randeeps acting skills, and by showing his look in this snap, we are sure he is going to ace the role. The story of the film revolves around the namesake historical war that took place between British Indian Army (including 21 Sikhs) and Afghans, in 1897. The Sikhs were led by Havildar Ishar Singh who fought to death against 10,000 Afghans, setting a great example of bravery that the world still applauds. Randeep Hooda, we are so looking forward to Battle Of Saragarhi! Continue to be brilliant. Carme Chacon who commanded Spain army as defence minister when she was seven months pregnant was found dead at her home on capital Madrid on April 9. Chacon was the first Spanish woman to command its army in 2008 and when we saw her inspecting the forces with seven-month bump, many found inspiration in her while some left awed. Reuters Official said she died of a congenital heart condition at the age 46. She came as a big moment for Spain When the world saw a visibly pregnant woman striding down a line of the honour guard of the Spanish armys peacekeeping forces for United Nations, every left jaw-dropped. Her photos became instant hit across the world and it became a moment, the Spain as a country would cherish for long. She visited Afghanistan as well Reuters The pictures that are there in the story were clicked when she was on her visit to Lebanon, barely two weeks after she took office. Later on the same trip, she visited Afghanistan as well. Just two months later she gave birth to her son, Miguel. Her appointment was part of a drive promoting gender diversity Spain as all other European powers was patriarchal, but Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, prime minister of a socialist government wanted a gender diversity in his government. Therefore he appointed more women than men in his cabinet after he got re-elected in 2008. Reuters During his first term, hed passed laws against domestic violence and in favour of same-sex marriage, and mandated that political parties must have gender parity. Chacon flourished under Zapateros government With PM Zapatero willing to support its women ministers, Chacon, the daughter of a firefighter and a lawyer herself flourished. She served as housing minister before being handed defence. She had moved into the defence ministry in part because it had its own kindergarten. She took on military leaders and fired many After delivery, she returned to work after a maternity leave of just six weeks (Spanish law allows for four months of paid time off) and instantly fired and replaced a number of military leaders whom she thought arent up to the mark. Reuters Some hardline traditionalists called the choice of Chacon as defence ministershe was a pregnant woman, had no military experience, and was trained originally as a lawyera sign of contempt for the armed forces. But many saw her as a highly competent, compassionate leader, whose appointment showed doubters that barriers to womens power can be overcome at any time of life. Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of five IT and hospitality companies in Kerala held an unusual meeting, to raise public awareness about the growing pollution in the ocean and protecting marine life. BCCL The first of its kind meeting was held on Monday at the famous Kovalam beach in Kerala. The meeting which lasted around 20 minutes was held on the ocean floor. The underwater conference titled 'Ocean Love' was attended by Raja Gopal Iyer (Udaya Samudra Group of Hotels), Hema Menon (UST Global), Dinesh P Thampi (TCS), Dr Shyam Kumar (Neologix) and Rony Thomas (Avon Mobility Solutions). BCCL "Through this unique event, we also wanted to bring the attention of international and national policy makers on the increased risks and consequences of global warming and marine pollution on the mother planet," said Jackson Peter, the managing director of Bond Safari. Dressed in their scuba diving gears, the CEOs said the aim is to create public awareness. BCCL Kovalam, one of the most sought after tourist destinations in India has been registering an alarming increase in pollution. BCCL/ File Every year tonnes of plastic waste end up in the sea killing seabirds, turtles, seals and other marine mammals that ingest the plastic debris. BCCL/ File As the effects of marine pollution are not visible to us, awareness about the ocean is the need of the hour, Rajagopal Iyer, another CEO who participated in the event said. While it is the first of its kind meeting in India, one of the most noted such acts was held in 2009 in Maldives. In order to create awareness about the challenges of global warming and sea level rise, the then Maldives government led by President Mohamed Nasheed held a cabinet meeting on the ocean floor. AFP/File The Indian ocean archipelago is one of the countries which will be most affected by sea level rise which is caused by global warming. McLaren-Honda heads to Bahrain with its usual selection of worries and weaknesses as one race looks like the next in its present times of troubles. Since Bahrain appeared on the F1 calendar, McLaren has surprisingly never won at Sakhir, while Fernando Alonso has racked up three wins in the desert, the best record of any driver on the grid. Sadly, the Spaniard's odds of adding to that tally are as low as a snake's belly. But he'll still drive his heart because that's just the way Alonso rolls. "Im looking forward to going back to Bahrain, especially as I missed last years race I have good memories from my three victories there, and racing in twilight is always a fun experience," he said. "The Bahrain Grand Prix is always a pretty long race, so our first priority is to ensure we have reliability against the heat and harsh conditions of the desert before we can start thinking about performance. " Alonso labeled his race in China, before his untimely retirement, as another 'incredible' drive. Whether he was sincere or using a bit of self-persuasion, there is no doubt he gave it his all, which in itself is also an incredible feat given how McLaren-Honda's persistent troubles would erode the morale of the average F1 driver - which Alonso clearly is not. "On the performance side, before retiring the car in Shanghai I was running in a very promising position, and our pace was much stronger than anticipated, so Ill be pleased if we can have some more good surprises in Bahrain!" Still, he knows what he's up against in Bahrain, and he'll be once hoping for the best while expecting the worst. "It will be another challenging race for us; the long straights dont make it easy and theres a lot for the engineers to work on. Brake wear and fuel consumption is high, and set-up is tricky as the track temperatures change a lot during the weekend, as we race later into the evening compared to the usual schedule. "Im pushing hard to get the absolute maximum out of our package every time I leave the garage, and in Bahrain Ill approach the weekend in exactly the same way." GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter Arvind Kejriwal may or may not be a politician to your liking but we can all agree that he is pretty open about his thoughts on his Twitter handle. In fact, he's far too open for his own good. huffpost In his latest bout of bad-luck, a judge from Assam has issued a bailable arrest warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case arising out of his tweet on the Prime Minister's educational qualification. First class Magistrate, Diphu, Naba Kumar Deka Baruah, issued the warrant of Rs 10,000 yesterday and summoned the AAP leader to appear before the court on May 8. Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council Executive Member, Surjya Rongphar, had filed the defamation case in the magistrate's court on December 26 last year. The magistrate had issued summons against the Delhi Chief Minister to appear in his court on January 30 last. The AAP leader through his lawyer, Gurpreet Singh Uppal, had sought time from the court until April 7, saying that it would not be possible for him to leave Delhi due to the MCD polls on April 23 and the nature of his work. The magistrate in his order said yesterday, "On perusal of case record, it reveals that the accused Arvind Kejriwal has not appeared before this court on the earlier occasion on 30/01/2017, availing adjournment for long duration of more than two months by a prayer as submitted by his advocate although the accused was not dispense with personal attendance by this court as provided by Section 205(I) of the CrPC, 1973 as amended up to date". "Considering the above, the petition of his advocate is rejected", the order said. Minister for water resources and Siolim MLA Vinod Palyekar has claimed that the police crackdown on late night parties in Vagator area has resulted in the majority of them shutting down. The minister has promised to put a complete halt on the loud music parties in the coming two weeks. BCCL/Representational Image "We have already stopped 80% of these parties. Within two weeks, all the parties will be shut. The police have already been instructed," Palyekar said, adding that the stopping of such rave parties is the first step in stopping the infestation of drug trade along the coast. The Siolim MLA has said that the late night parties in his constituency are creating a problem for the old age population as well as the student community who are answering their board exams. BCCL/Representational Image "In spite of several warnings & reminders late night music goes on till 3 to 4 am in the morning which is creating problems not only for Old aged Citizens but also to the Student Community who are answering their Board exams," he said. The minister also complained that despite the clear instructions, some people in Siolim are misusing his name in front of the police to not act and hold rave parties. BCCL/Representational Image "The only obstruction is coming from some of the hoteliers as their business is getting impacted. I have given a final warning to the Police now & would be meeting the chief minister on this matter," he said, adding that late night parties are not part of our culture and should not be encouraged. On the birth anniversary of Jyotirao Phule today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the exemplary man, who was one of the leading social reformers of India. Heres all you need to know about him: Mahatma Phule was a stalwart ahead of his time, who gave voice to the marginalised & sought to end their suffering. Tributes on his Jayanti. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 11, 2016 1. Born on April 11, 1827 Jyotiba Govindrao Phule was a well-known social reformer and thinker in 19th century India. 2. He worked towards eradicating caste restrictions in the country and even spoke widely against the elite attitude of the Brahmins. Instead, he acted towards gaining more rights for peasants and other low-caste people. DNA 3. Along with his wife, Savitribai Phule, he garnered rights for women and their right to education. Also read: As We Mark 186th Birth Anniversary Of Savitribai Phule, Here Are A Few Things We Must Know About This Social Reformer. 4. In fact, he taught his wife how to read and write English and she later went on to teach in the girls school they set up together in 1851. mahatmaphule.com 5. Later, he opened two more schools for girls and another one for children from lower castes. 6. It was widely believed that he was the first Hindu to establish an orphanage for unprotected and unaccompanied children. 7. Jyotirao, also known as Mahatma Phule, also built an ashram for widows, while spreading the idea of widow remarriage. mahatmaphule.com 8. In 1873, he organised the Satya Shodhak Samaj or Society of Seekers of Truth to systematically dissolve accepted beliefs about the elite status of Brahmins, and the caste system in general. 9. Jyotirao is the man who coined the word Dalits, which covered, and still does, all people believed to belong to lower castes. 10. Finally, the great social reformer suffered a stroke in 1888 and passed away on November 28, 1890. India needs to follow his teachings in order to develop into an equal and just society. The Survey of India, oldest scientific establishment in the country, on Monday launched a portal,'nakshe' (maps) - which will allow free download of 'open series maps' (OSMs) for public use and announced that it would "re-measure" the height of Mount Everest this year as an India-Nepal joint scientific exercise. ap/representational image The login access to the 'nakshe' will be provided to public via 'Aadhar' enabled user authentication process. Users can download all the topographic maps or the OSMs, containing natural and man-made geographical features, in the PDF format on 1:50,000 scale. Launching the portal on the occasion of the Survey of India's 250th anniversary, the Union science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan said the idea of providing "open and free maps" to public arose when he visited the Survey of India institute last year. "I felt the wealth of data can be used by public", he said. ap/representational image The announcement of "re-measure" the height of the Mount Everest was made on Monday as part of the Survey of India's 250th years celebration. India was the first country under Sir George Everest's leadership as 'Surveyor General of India' to have declared the height of Mount Everest and establish it as the highest peak in the world in the year 1855. India had later carried out the exercise again and declared the height of Mount Everest in the year 1956. ap/representational image "After the Gorkha Earth Quake in the year 2015, various doubts were raised by the scientific community. In response to this, the Survey of India proposed re-measuring the height of Mount Everest as an 'Indo-Nepal Joint Scientific Exercise' along with survey department of Nepal. The proposal has been forwarded to Nepal through diplomatic channels and the expedition will start after the formal concurrence of the government of Nepal is received", said an official statement. Twitter loves to troll! These days Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chilling with Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull and the pictures are all over the internet. The Australian prime minister arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on a four-day visit to the country. His trip, as we'd like to believe was fabricated around the idea of building bilateral relations, signing MoUs, cementing ties with Australia and a lot more. However, twitter refuses to settle for this boring information. On board the Delhi Metro with PM @TurnbullMalcolm. We are heading to the Akshardham Temple. pic.twitter.com/AiP4BAqhLY Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2017 After Turnbull tweeted about their Akshardham trip, twitter began losing its mind over the hysterical picture, but it left everyone in splits after this image was put online. And here's how it went from there 1. Yaar abb shadi toh karli lekin ghar walon ko kya jawab denge? pic.twitter.com/zGJa7nwEHb Mask (@Mr_LoLwa) April 10, 2017 2. Pic 1 - Incident Pic 2 - Friend Pic 3 - Male Fan Following Pic 4 - Female Fan Following pic.twitter.com/CqowaMZlpM Chicken Biryanii (@ChickenBiryanii) April 10, 2017 3. Aaj se tum dono pati patni hue, doodho nahao puto phalo pic.twitter.com/vjsCAZIxO6 Sir Bumraaah! (@Ibleed_sarcasm) April 10, 2017 4. Chalo ab toh pandit ji bhi aa gaye. pic.twitter.com/gIFqwN2oxy Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) April 10, 2017 5. 6. Bhaag chalte hain, Nagpur waale nahi maanenge pic.twitter.com/7kjUDAXr8Z Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) April 10, 2017 Certainly not the first time that Modi was brutally trolled on twitter. A couple of months ago he took a picture of a tiger and twitter trolled him left, right and centre. Let's hope that the trolls continued, as they do. As many as 25,000 petrol pumps across the country have reportedly decided to remain closed on Sundays from May 14. The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) on Monday, asked its members to shut shop on Sundays. The decision comes at the time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pushing hard to reduce the consumption of petroleum. azertag/representational image The associations have almost 25,000 petrol pumps in the South and Maharashtra. CIPD president A D Sathyanarayan told Business Standard that, except for emergency services like ambulance, fuel will not be available for other vehicles on Sundays. The association is also considering eight-hour working days from May. BCCL However, Petroleum Dealers Association has come out in the public distancing itself from the decision. Distancing itself from the move, president of All India Petroleum Dealers' Association Ajay Bansal said, "This will create panic. The association that has called for such a move has a presence in only Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. We are not supporting this decision, while we also have the same demands to increase (dealer's commission)." India has 56,190 fuel outlets in total, out of which Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum have a combined network of 52,604 outlets. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's infamous Ghar Wapsi programme has returned to threaten the right to religion of the people of India. The organisation claimed that it has performed 'Ghar Wapasi' for 53 tribal families in Jharkhand. AFP/ Representative Image The initiative was a part of the RSS's Christianity-free block campaign in Jharkhands Arki, Hindustan Times reported. According to the RSS, these tribals were from Sindri panchayat which has been hijacked by Christian missionaries over the last 10 years. RSS leader Laxman Singh Munda, who is spearheading the campaign told Hindustan Times that the outfit will establish a Christianity-free block. You cannot call it conversion. We are only bringing our lost brothers and sisters back to their religion. BCCL/ Representative Image The families underwent 'Shuddhikaran', or a purification ceremony performed by Hindu priests. Munda alleged that the tribals were lured into Christianity by the missionaries. He also claimed that the Ghar Wapsi programme continue through the month of April. Jharkhand, which has a significant tribal population has seen an increase in those converting to Christianity. According to the latest census data, of Jharkhand's 3.2 crore population, 67.8% or 2.2 crore are Hindu and 4.3% or 14.1 lakh are Christian. RSS and its affiliate groups have been performing Ghar Wapasi, which they say is not conversion, but returning to one's original roots. BCCL/ Representative Image In 2014, the mass reconversions had sparked controversy over allegation of intimidation and threats by rightwing groups on minority communities. This picture captures the moment when 75-year-old, Carsten Hansen was enjoying his last few hours at the hospital. His only wish as his life slipped through his fingers, was to smoke a cigarette, sip a glass of wine while watching the sun go. Facebook/Aarhus Universitetshospital And, a Danish hospital broke all the protocol to fulfill Mr.Hansen's wish. Hansen was brought to the hospital with a burst artery in his abdomen. The surgeons said he was too sick to undergo an operation and said that he would die within hours or days. The news devastated Hansen, but that did not stop him from enjoying his every last minute. His family sat by him as he watched the sun go. A local news website quoted Hansen's daughter as saying, "I think that the nurses chose to bend the rules because he is human. They showed empathy and tenderness for my father.It also meant a lot to us as a family that my father could have his last wish fulfilled." The picture captioned "a dignified death" has touched millions of hearts across the world. United Airlines has been under fire after videos emerged of law enforcement literally dragging a 69-year-old Asian passenger off the Sunday evening flight out of Chicago that was overbooked. Videos posted online by other passengers showed a man screaming as officers yanked him from his seat on United Flight 3411 before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky. What exactly happened? The incident began after the airline was looking for people to give up their seats on a flight that was overbooked. Passengers were offered a hotel stay and compensation ranging from $400 to $800, in accordance with US Transportation Department rules. @WHAS11 No one volunteered, so @United decided to choose for us. They chose an Asian doctor and his wife. Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) 10 April 2017 According to reports, the Audra Bridges, who posted a video of the account on Facebook, said that when no one volunteered to give up a seat, the airline said a computer would randomly pick passengers to be removed from the flight. @United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Here's how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) 10 April 2017 Bridges said that man who identified himself as a doctor said he had patients to see in Louisville in the morning. and refused to move and that's when the airline staff dragged him out. While being dragged the man fell causing injuries in his face and leaving him disoriented. A new shocking video shows the man with blood on his face repeatedly saying, I have to go home and just kill me. The Airline's Response: In a letter circulated to employees and seen by Reuters, United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz did not apologise for the way the passenger was handled, writing that the passenger had "defied" security officers. United CEO response to United Express Flight 3411. pic.twitter.com/rF5gNIvVd0 United (@united) April 10, 2017 Munoz said there are lessons the company can learn from this situation, though he impressed that he "emphatically" stands behind his employees. "We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation)," Munoz wrote. "When we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions." Munoz also shared a statement that United Airlines posted on social media. The Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement that one of the officers did not follow protocol and added that he had been placed on leave pending a review of actions not condoned by the department. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) said it was reviewing whether United complied with overbook rules that require airlines to set guidelines on how passengers are denied boarding if they do not volunteer to give up their seats. "While it is legal for the airlines to involuntarily bump passengers from an oversold flight when there are not enough volunteers, it is the airline's responsibility to determine its own fair boarding priorities," a DOT spokesperson said in a statement. The incident sparked outrage on social media and here's how twitter reacted: Guys #United has a new evacuation plan for their flights you might want to know about... pic.twitter.com/VYEBCGBsJR Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 10, 2017 . @united You are literally the most disgusting, unbelievable, and despicable people in the world, and im a fucking porn site. Pornhub ARIA (@Pornhub) April 10, 2017 United Airlines is pleased to announce new seating on all domestic flights- in addition to United First and Economy Plus we introduce.... pic.twitter.com/KQjPClU2d2 McNeil (@Reflog_18) April 10, 2017 Yo using "re-accomodate" to mean "physically assault" might be the most dystopian cyberpunk evil corporation shit I've ever seen https://t.co/bEjV26XTfX Anthony Carboni (@acarboni) April 10, 2017 Late last month, two teenage girls dressed in leggings were denied boarding on a United flight from Denver to Minneapolis because their form-fitting pants did not conform to the dress code for employees or family members using free passes. Reuters Inputs Even after the countrys execution rate fell sharply over the decade, China outnumbers the rest of the world when it comes to using the death penalty. According to a report by Amnesty International, 1,032 state-sponsored executions happened worldwide in 2016. This number does not include China, as the true number is unknown because the government considers it as a state secret. Chinas secret executions In 2015, Amnesty International recorded 1,634 executions in 25 countries worldwide - a historical spike unmatched since 1989. The report suggests that most executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan, forming about 87 per cent of all the executions. AFP The report further suggests that the number of executions in China would be extremely high however, it did not offer a more precise estimate due to lack of information. It is expected that China carried out thousands of executions. AP The human rights group Dui Hua, estimates about 2,000 executions took place in China last year, down from a 6,500 a decade ago, said the groups executive director, John Kamm. The tally was based on research into lower-level court cases and contacts with government officials and Chinese and Western legal scholars, Kamm said. Yet as other countries shift away from capital punishment, China increasingly is seen as an outlier, said Amnesty International East Asia Director Nicholas Bequelin. Government officials did not immediately comment on Amnestys report. But Chinas chief justice, Zhou Qiang, told the national legislature last month that over the past decade executions were limited to an extremely small number of criminals for extremely serious offences, reports AP. The international community has been pressurising China for quite some time to curb its use of death penalty. Where does India stand? A total of 26 executions under capital punishment have taken place in India since 1991. BCCL The global report on death sentences and executions revealed that India awarded as many as 136 death sentences in 2016 as compared to 75 death sentences in 2015. The crimes for which capital punishment was awarded mainly included murders. As of July 2015, President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected 24 mercy pleas including that of Yakub Memon, Ajmal Kasab, Afzal Guru. As per the National Crime Records Bureau and ACHR statistics, India did not execute under capital punishment in 2016. The US records the lowest number since 1991 The US recorded 20 executions, its fewest in 25 years, partly because of court rulings and partly due to shortage of chemicals used in lethal injections. BCCL This is the first time when US is not in the list of five biggest executioners, falling to seventh place behind Egypt. Facts in numbers In 2016, 23 countries, about Eight of all countries across the world, are known to have carried out executions. In 1997, the number of countries which carried out executions was 40. Chad, Jordan, Oman and United Arab Emirates all countries that executed people in 2015 did not report any executions last year. Amnesty International reports that it recorded 3,117 death sentences in 55 countries in 2016. In 2015, the 1,998 death sentences were recorded in 61 countries, marking a significant increase in the current year. It is reported that at least, 18,848 people were on death row at the end of 2016. REUTERS Beheading, hanging, lethal injection and shooting were used as the method of execution across the world. AI also indicated that at least two people, who were under 18 at the time of the crime, were executed in Iran in 2016. The United Nations has long been fighting for the abolition of the death penalty across the world. As yet, there is no general prohibition against the death penalty in international law. The issue of abolishing capital punishment still faces strong resistance among the UN member states. On the back of a fruitless race weekend in Shanghai, Williams will be looking to bounce back in Bahrain with a performance worthy of its potential. Williams satisfactorily jumped Saturday's qualifying hurdle in China, with both Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll achieving a top-ten grid position. Race day dawned full of hope of a good showing, only for the team to go backwards as a result of poor performance from Massa, and unlucky circumstances for Stroll. "These are the days where we need to convert our disappointment into constructive development," said Paddy Lowe. "It was a tough day for us. It was always going to be a difficult and long afternoon in the mixed conditions. "Unfortunately, Lance's race ended very quickly after being hit from behind at Turn 10, which was a shame after his strong qualifying result. "On Felipe's side, it was an incredibly painful afternoon and he was lacking in grip throughout." The Bahrain circuit, which led F1's expansion into the Middle east in 2004, offers its own set of unique challenges, with high temperatures, dust and sand around the 5.4km layout. "Bahrain is a great track that has been transformed since becoming a twilight race in 2014, with a great atmosphere in the build up to lights-out, with a magical feel as it ends under the lights as darkness falls," Lowe explains. "We have seen some very exciting battles on track there between drivers over the years, and this year promises to be no different." Peak performance in the desert environment and heat will be hard to come by, and even more difficult to sustain. "It is very tough on brakes so it will be interesting to see how well the teams fare with this generation of faster cars. "It can be hot, testing the cooling systems, and the wind and sand can also be a factor, especially during the early parts of the weekend, so it has the ability to be quite a tricky test for both the teams and driver GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter New research indicates a large number of cyber attacks around the world were conducted using top-secret hacking tools exposed recently by WikiLeaks, according to security research group Symantec. Reuters The group implied on Monday that the cyber attacks on various organisations were likely carried out by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Files and emails earlier posted by WikiLeaks seem to show internal CIA discussions regarding hacking into smartphones, computer, software and chat apps, and even smart televisions. Symantec now says its connected at least 40 attacks on organisations in 16 different countries to the tools published by WikiLeaks, though the the research firm cannot officially pin blame on the CIA owing to its company policy. So far, the CIA has refused to confirm the authenticity of the documents published by WikiLeaks, though other sources confirmed to Reuters that they were genuine. Meanwhile, CIA spokeswoman Heather Fritz Horniak says that any WikiLeaks disclosures aimed at damaging the intelligence community not only jeopardize U.S. personnel and operations, but also equip our adversaries with tools and information to do us harm. It is important to note that CIA is legally prohibited from conducting electronic surveillance targeting individuals here at home, including our fellow Americans, and CIA does not do so, she added. However, shes declined to comment on Symantecs research. The CIA hacking tools that were leaked do not involve mass surveillance, something the agency is prevented from doing on American soil, though the organisations targeted in Symantecs research include government entities and targets of national security value, lead researcher Eric Chien said. In fact, some of these targets are in US-allied countries in Europe, some of whom Symantec says it was surprised were targets. The hacked organisations included those in the financial, telecommunications, energy, aerospace, information technology, education, and natural resources sectors. Other targets included those in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. One computer that was infected in the United States, something Symantec was likely an accident, had the infection removed within hours. All the programs involved in the campaign were reportedly used to open back doors, and collect and remove copies of files, rather than to destroy anything. Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. Sauber has confirmed that Pascal Wehrlein will be back behind the wheel of his Sauber for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. After a two race hiatus after pulling out of the Australian GP, Wehrlein will resume his duties and finally kick off his 2017 season. The German driver did not travel to China last week, preferring to remain in Europe and focus on upgrading his fitness which had taken a hit following a crash earlier this year in the Race of Champions event in Miami. "My back was extremely compressed in the crash and there were three small hairline fractures in the area of the thoracic vertebrae," the 22-year-old told TZ. "A normal person could have resumed his job after a few days, but this is not the case with a professional athlete. Wehrlein says that he is now all set and ready to go! "After some special training in Salzburg, I feel ready now." Good news: We are pleased to inform that Pascal Wehrlein will be back in the car as of the #BahrainGP! #F1 @PWehrlein pic.twitter.com/rnWbfYsK9k Sauber F1 Team (@SauberF1Team) April 11, 2017 GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter The Hellenic Bank Association (EET) on Tuesday said an out-of-court settlement framework should be limited to businesses entities that owe a minimum of 50,000 euros in arrears, whereas a suspension clause -- from the period from when a debt relief petition is filed until it is adjudicated -- should also be abolished. "Russia Is Preparing For Hot War" Video "I think this is the most dangerous moment in American, Russian relations since the Cuban Crisis" - Stephen Cohen, Professor emeritus of Russian studies at Princeton University and New York University Posted April 11, 2017 Empire Files: US-Russia Relations in "Most Dangerous Moment" Dr. Stephen Cohen tells host Abby Martin that the real alarming danger today is "a new, multi-front Cuban missile crisis." ABBY MARTIN: While many in power recklessly escalate tensions with Russia, there is very little discussion of the geo-political significance of this aggression and the dangerous consequences people could suffer as a result. The establishment's anti-Russian sentiment goes beyond allegations of election hacking, with the leading US intelligence officials labelling Russia as the number one existential threat to the United States. One of the foremost experts on US-Russia relations is sounding the alarm that the potential for nuclear confrontation is greater than ever before, fueled with virtually no debate by the mass media. Dr. Stephen Cohen is one of the leading scholars on Russia. He's Professor Emeritus of Russian Studies at Princeton and New York University and is the author of many books on the subject, including: "Soviet Fates and Lost Alternatives, from Stalinism to the new Cold War," and the forthcoming book, "Why Cold War Again? How America lost Post-Soviet Russia." The Department of Defense has just declared Russia as the number one existential threat facing this country. Professor, it seems so interesting that we just came from a War on Terror to now a War on Russia, despite the rise of ISIS. STEPHEN COHEN: Right, well they didn't just do this. I mean, this business, that Russia is the number one existential treat has been unfolding this drama, this false drama at the expense of our national security, maybe for a decade. But it certainly intensified under the Obama Administration because you had the American commander of NATO, the Joint Chiefs of Staff here all saying, "Number one existential treat." Meanwhile, Russia was of course, in the person of Putin, repeatedly almost begging the United States to join it in an alliance against terrorism, not only in Syria but a kind of global war. I don't know if a global war against terrorism is possible. That's a separate issue. ABBY MARTIN: Uh huh. STEPHEN COHEN: But Russia wanted to partner with the United States. Obama was inclined very briefly in September, 2016, I think. But that was killed by our Department of Defense when they attacked those Syrian troops. And so Russia's been made the number one existential threat. I think that folly because certainly it's not even on the list of the top five or ten, in my judgement of what really threatens us, has become linked inextricably with this wild demonization of Putin personally. Because it's the demonization of Putin as a man who assassinates his enemies, who invades countries, who is a... I mean, now in 2017, we're being told that his alleged hacking of the American election was only part of his plan to destroy democracies around the world, and now he's going for Europe. I mean, it has really become right up there with the former Soviet threat, but now it's personified in Putin. It's this loathing for or demonizing or vilifying of Putin as a leader, as a person, which shades occasionally into Russia-phobia, transferring this ... But not that often into vilification of Russia. I think that's really behind this notion that this is our number one threat. And by the way, it's not only to the United States, as I said, they're now talking about the 2017 elections in Europe, and Putin will probably hack those too. I mean, it's just... there's no facts or logic to any of this. It's taken on a life of its own. So, we've got Senate Hearings and Obama's threatened some covert action against Russia, which is very dangerous, because the Kremlin regards this as a declaration of war. ABBY MARTIN: Oh, absolutely. STEPHEN COHEN: We don't know is he going to attack banks or nuclear command and control. I mean, you just don't do things like this when both sides have got bad nerves and nuclear weapons. ABBY MARTIN: But the military intelligence community certainly understands. Why this deflection, why this misdirection? It's a potentially dangerous tinder box. STEPHEN COHEN: I've been around long enough to observe and I've had enough former students go to work for intelligence communities, and I can remember what happened involving the intelligence communities regarding the Bay of Pigs, when Kennedy was so angry at the bad information they gave him. He said he'd like to break them up. I can remember the bogus information they gave Johnson about the so-called Tunt-Ken(?) Resolution, that dragged us deeper into Vietnam. I can remember Iran Gate scandals witch the CIA was behind under Reagan. We all mention the bad information intelligence gave about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. There's a long history of wrong intelligence, so let's deconstruct that. It's politicized intelligence. So, there is no as far as I know no "the intelligence community". There's not even a "the CIA". There are groups, different political impulses, different vested interests in these organizations and often they've been at war among themselves within say the CIA. We know this. ABBY MARTIN: Uh huh. STEPHEN COHEN: It's a fact. I think we're seeing that now with the hacking allegations. And in all likelihood later we will discover this was a war within the CIA itself. I mean, the FBI tried not to get involved. It said, "We don't know." But it got dragged into it. ABBY MARTIN: Uh huh. Uh huh. STEPHEN COHEN: So, now your question, what do they really know? I know as close as I can say for a fact, and since we don't seem to do facts in America anymore, when it comes to Russia we should be careful -- that there are very different views about Washington's policy towards Russia inside the intelligence community. I don't want to be hyperbolic but to me, this may be the single-most dangerous moment in American-Russian relations. The Cuban Missile Crisis is always said to have been the turning point in our awareness of how dangerous the Cold War was, and that after we avoided nuclear Armageddon over Khrushchev having put missiles or at least the silos in Cuba and then backed down in light of Kennedy's leadership, that both side became wise. And the Cold War continued but there was a code of conduct. Everybody understood where the danger lines were and that never again did we advertently at least, there were some near misses accidently when radars indicated a nuclear attack and there was none. It was a large seagull or something. We all live at the mercy of this technology. And that was true though for... until Gorbachev and Reagan thought they had ended the Cold War... thought they had ended the Cold war. There was a code of conduct between the Soviet Union and the United States. That doesn't exist today. ABBY MARTIN: There's barely any communication on a diplomatic level. STEPHEN COHEN: It's even worse than that, that after the Cuban Missile Crisis '62, the two sides began to develop interactive cooperation, student exchanges, scientific exchanges, hot lines, constant talks about nuclear weapons, nuclear reductions, trade agreements, cultural ... and all this. That's come to an end, along with communication and yet... And yet, that against this backdrop, I've been saying we were in a New Cold War or moving there with Russia for more than ten years. We are certainly there today. But here's what's also different, there are now three fronts in the New Cold War that are fraught with the possibility of actual war. There's the Baltic Region in Poland, where NATO is unwisely building up its military presence. There is, of course, Ukraine, which could explode at any moment. ABBY MARTIN: Uh huh. STEPHEN COHEN: And of course, there's Syria, where you've got Russian and American aircraft and others all flying. So, you've got a multi-front potential Cuban Missile Crisis and meanwhile, here in the United States, this hysterical reaction to alleged, because there's no proof been produced, that somehow Putin put Trump in the White House. This combination of demented public discourse and grave danger abroad, I think makes us in a danger at least comparable to the Cuban Missile Crisis. And yet nobody protests, nobody notices and people march on. ABBY MARTIN: And you've compared it, you know, to the Cuban Missile Crisis, saying then we at least knew what was happening. Here this is all based on classified intelligence. We'll never see an investigation. We'll never see the evidence, Right? STEPHEN COHEN: Yeah. ABBY MARTIN: And 52% of Democratic voters don't just believe that Russia hacked the DMC and Podesta's emails they think that Russia actually altered the vote. STEPHEN COHEN: Yeah. ABBY MARTIN: That's a whole other level. STEPHEN COHEN: Times have changed. When I entered public life such as it was, as a kind of commentator on public affairs, as a young professor at Princeton, there was a debate in the late '70's and even in the '80's after Gorbachev came to power -- should we pursue more Cold War with Russia or should we have what's called Detente? Detente then... nobody imagined you could actually end the Cold War at that time. But Detente meant introducing more elements of cooperation in the relationship, so we'd be safer. There was a lot of space, political space, media space for both sides in the '70's and '80's. It was a fair fight. Now it's not. It's one hand clapping. The Cold Warriors dominate the media. Now how that happened, the journalism schools who are supposed to say something about media malpractice seemed silent. They're too busy deploring RT. ABBY MARTIN: That's why it's so scary, because you look... people can mock RT and state media, but when you have a corporate media apparatus that essentially mimics what state media would do, where the New York Times and the Washington Post just paint the narrative for war time and again, whether it's Libya, Syria or Russia. It seems like this acquiescence and unquestioning stenography. You've talked about how these false narratives that dominate the discourse today are more dangerous, of course, than the so-called fake news hysteria. One is that Putin is responsible for the build-up of the New Cold War and one senior military official recently admitted that there are US special operations forces in every single country surrounding Russia. The build-up of NATO forces, of course, at Russia's border is a huge source of tension. Professor, tell us about the agreement between Gorbachev and Reagan. What NATO was initially supposed to be and how that promise has been broken today. STEPHEN COHEN: So, you know, the history is well-known. The issue in 1990 was whether or not Germany would be reunited. But the issue became then once Germany is reunited, where does it sit geo-politically, or strategically? And it was proposed to Gorbachev that Germany be put in NATO. England and France, which feared Germany, thought this wasn't a bad idea, because they could keep control of Germany's any military aspirations ... But for Gorbachev it was really a hard sell at home. After all, 27.5 best we know, Soviet citizens had died in the war against... For Gorbachev this was a hard sell at home and then the issue became NATO itself, which already was in Western Germany. Where would it go? And Baker was later quoted as having promised, he was Secretary of State, NATO would not move one inch east, one inch east. George Cannon(?) whom I knew well when I was at Princeton, and once was thought to be the wisest American about Russia. I'm not sure he was, but he was thought to be, an iconic figure, warned repeatedly when Clinton was considering NATO expansion, this would be the most grievous mistake and it would lead to a new Cold War. But it didn't take a profound mind to understand this. NATO was a military alliance, had been created in the late '40's to deter or fight Soviet Russia. Russia was no longer Soviet, but was still Russia. When you begin to move it slowly, slowly, creep, like Pacman gobbling up all the way to Russia's border, where it sits now, that worse than trouble is going to ensue. And the way it ramified of course is it was the driving force behind the Georgian War of 2008. We created a proxy army in Georgia. But people say it had nothing to do with the Ukrainian Crisis, but it had everything to do. People say, well... The European Union offered Ukraine a very benign economic relationship. That wasn't a benign agreement, about 1,000 pages long, and I reported this in one of my first articles on the Crisis and everybody got very angry with me. There's a section called Military Security Issues and it's very clear that any country that signs this so-called Eastern Partnership Agreement with the EU is obliged to adhere to NATO security policies. By signing that you became a de facto member of NATO and this was just more of the attempt by Washington to get Ukraine into NATO if not openly, through the back door, and they're still at it. So, what can we say? That the decision to expand NATO all the way, including Ukraine and Georgia, has created this situation in which none of us are safe. And they call that national security? ABBY MARTIN: Professor, I wanted to talk briefly about Syria because of course, the US has been screaming about Russia's intervention in Syria, not really speaking much about their long-standing intervention as well with the funding and arming of Islamic extremists on the ground. Objectively, what has Russia's interference been? Like, why did they intervene? What was their purpose and what has the outcome been? STEPHEN COHEN: Well, let's start with the outcome, the fall of Aleppo. ABBY MARTIN: Uh huh. STEPHEN COHEN: There are two narratives. Well, there's probably a third, but there are two competing around the world, that the Russian-Syrian-Iranian taking of Aleppo was an act of great liberation. The city was liberated from terrorists. And there's plenty of footage, the footage can be faked, of people rejoicing when the Syrian Army entered on the ground and the Russians sent in the humanitarian trucks. The other is it was a war crime committed by Russia and Syria against people called rebels and their kids. I believe, though I know, that war... that's why we call war hell, the innocent suffer above all -- that the truth is closer to the liberation scenario, than to the war crimes scenario. ISIS retook Palmera, the city that the Russians had liberated and had that concert at some months before. Clearly imbedded by the United States, which is allowing as the United States seeks to "liberate Mosel" allows the jihadists to go from Iraq unfettered into Syria probably to help retake Palmira. ABBY MARTIN: Yeah, right, they left that back door open. STEPHEN COHEN: Right. I mean, they see them, they could bomb them if they wanted to, but they're moderate jihadists, I guess. But why did Russia go in? That really is the best question and in some ways we could discuss today because it was left out of all the scenarios, demonizing Russia. You get the opinion because it's left with you that Russia has no legitimate national interests abroad. Russia should be okay with a NATO military base right on its... several places, from Ukraine up to the Baltics, on its border which, you know, we're good guys. Why? And you know you can do the usual analogy. What if it was a Chinese Russian base in Canada or Mexico? I mean, this is just preposterous. ... But Syria seems remote but it isn't. Russia has a very serious problem with domestic terrorism at home in the caucuses. It has had for a long time. Somebody did the numbers, I can't vouch for them but the number of people lost to terrorism on 9/11 here, and other terrorist acts involving Americans, and those lost to terrorism inside Russia are about the same, somewhere approaching 4,000. But Russia's continues to grow because it has this terrorism. Putin was very clear, from the beginning. But the number one reason for sending the Russian air force to fight in Syria was, and Putin put it like this, "It's either Assad in Damascus or it's the Islamist State in Damascus. And if the Islamic State is in Damascus our national security, Russia's, is gravely threatened." For Putin, and it's not just Putin, for the Russian security elite, the fall of Damascus to the Islamic State would have been a national security disaster as they saw it. They counted on the American promise for two years that they were going to destroy the Islamic State. ABBY MARTIN: Right. STEPHEN COHEN: And they said, "Good, let the Americans do it. We don't need this." What happened during those two years? ABBY MARTIN: The Islamic State grew. STEPHEN COHEN: It took more and more territory in Syria, leave aside Iraq, correct? ABBY MARTIN: Uh huh. STEPHEN COHEN: Until we had something new, we never had before, we had a terrorist organization that actually had become a state. I mean, they were running in their own way, while they weren't chopping off heads, municipal government, collecting taxes. ABBY MARTIN: Currency. STEPHEN COHEN: Currency, running schools and the rest -- we never had this kind of phenomenon before. And the Russians were deeply worried and the Americans said, "Don't worry. We'll take care of it." But they didn't. They were too busy trying to get rid of Assad. So, when people say Putin's a liar, we see this almost every day in the New York Times. They have to add that he didn't go to Syria to fight terrorism, he went to bolster Assad. You have to connect the dots. In Putin's mind, bolstering Assad, which meant what was left of the Syrian state and the Syrian army, was essential to sopping ISIS or the Islamic state in Syria. You couldn't separate the two. Not only was Putin candid about this, but he came to the UN a couple years ago, whenever, and in his speech said, "This is what we're confronting, join us." Russia has never said Assad forever I Damascus. That's the so-called political process. But the Obama White House which sent our Secretary of State, Kerry forth to negotiate with this with Lebraw(?) and seems to have constantly or repeatedly or at least once, reached an agreement for this alliance, was sabotaged in Washington. It was more important for the forces in Washington to be rid of Assad or to prevent Putin from any kind of "victory" than it was to fight the terrorism in Syria. But you could go on. Is there any major issue that we say we care about: climate change, energy reserves, trafficking in women, trafficking in drugs, anything where Russia is not either complicit enough to help out, or central enough to help out? There is nothing can be solved of this magnitude without Russia. So the gravest danger today is not ending this American fostered new Cold War, and turning Russia even more into an opponent of our mutual interests -- that's the gravest danger. The other grave danger, of course, is that no sensible person should trust the so-called nuclear safeguards. We're on the razor's edge of accidental nuclear war launch. Weapons on both sides are still on high alert. High alert means that the leader of the other country has somewhere between 13 and 25 minutes, 13 minutes and 25 minutes to know whether that's a large seagull coming in or a nuclear weapon, and to retaliate. Because the whole system is based on you won't attack me because I will... ABBY MARTIN: Right. STEPHEN COHEN: Russia could be an immense threat to us by continuing to treat it the way we are. But you could turn this around in important ways, very, very quickly. And of course, the main stream will resist. It will fight. But politics is about fighting, so the handful of us, or maybe there are more, who think we have to do this for our own security, will have to fight. More by Stephen Cohen The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Is Trump Enlisting in the War Party? By Patrick J. Buchanan April 11, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - By firing off five dozen Tomahawk missiles at a military airfield, our "America First" president may have plunged us into another Middle East war that his countrymen do not want to fight. Thus far Bashar Assad seems unintimidated. Brushing off the strikes, he has defiantly gone back to bombing the rebels from the same Shayrat air base that the U.S. missiles hit. Trump "will not stop here," warned U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on Sunday. "If he needs to do more, he will." If Trump fails to back up Haleys threat, the hawks now cheering him on will begin deriding him as "Donald Obama." But if he throbs to the war drums of John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio and orders Syrias air force destroyed, we could be at war not only with ISIS and al-Qaida, but with Syria, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. A Syrian war would consume Trumps presidency. Are we ready for that? How would we win such a war without raising a large army and sending it back into the Middle East? Another problem: Trumps missile attack was unconstitutional. Assad had not attacked or threatened us, and Congress, which alone has the power to authorize war on Syria, has never done so. Indeed, Congress denied President Obama that specific authority in 2013. What was Trump thinking? Here was his strategic rational: "When you kill innocent children, innocent babies babies, little babies with a chemical gas that crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line. And I will tell you, that attack on children yesterday had a big impact on me my attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much." Two days later, Trump was still emoting: "Beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror." Now, that gas attack was an atrocity, a war crime, and pictures of its tiny victims are heart-rending. But 400,000 people have died in Syrias civil war, among them thousands of children and infants. Have they been killed by Assads forces? Surely, but also by U.S., Russian, Israeli and Turkish planes and drones and by Kurds, Iranians, Hezbollah, al-Qaida, ISIS, U.S.-backed rebels and Shiite militia. Assad is battling insurgents and jihadists who would slaughter his Alawite brethren and the Christians in Syria just as those Copts were massacred in Egypt on Palm Sunday. Why is Assad more responsible for all the deaths in Syria than those fighting to overthrow and kill him? Are we certain Assad personally ordered a gas attack on civilians? For it makes no sense. Why would Assad, who is winning the war and had been told America was no longer demanding his removal, order a nerve gas attack on children, certain to ignite Americas rage, for no military gain? Like the gas attack in 2013, this has the marks of a false flag operation to stampede America into Syrias civil war. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter And as in most wars, the first shots fired receive the loudest cheers. But if the president has thrown in with the neocons and War Party, and we are plunging back into the Mideast maelstrom, Trump should know that many of those who helped to nominate and elect him to keep us out of unnecessary wars may not be standing by him. We have no vital national interest in Syrias civil war. It is those doing the fighting who have causes they deem worth dying for. For ISIS, it is the dream of a caliphate. For al-Qaida, it is about driving the Crusaders out of the Dar al Islam. For the Turks, it is, as always, about the Kurds. For Assad, this war is about his survival and that of his regime. For Putin, it is about Russia remaining a great power and not losing its last naval base in the Med. For Iran, this is about preserving a land bridge to its Shiite ally Hezbollah. For Hezbollah it is about not being cut off from the Shiite world and isolated in Lebanon. Because all have vital interests in Syria, all have invested more blood in this conflict than have we. And they are not going to give up their gains or goals in Syria and yield to the Americans without a fight. And if we go to war in Syria, what would we be fighting for? A New World Order? Democracy? Separation of mosque and state? Diversity? Free speech for Muslim heretics? LGBT rights? In 2013, a great national coalition came together to compel Congress to deny Barack Obama authority to take us to war in Syria. We are back at that barricade. An after-Easter battle is shaping up in Congress on the same issue: Is the president authorized to take us into war against Assad and his allies inside Syria? If, after Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Yemen, we do not want America in yet another Mideast war, the time to stop it is before the War Party has us already in it. That time is now. Patrick J. Buchanan is the author of the new book "The Greatest Comeback: How Richard Nixon Rose From Defeat to Create the New Majority." To find out more about Patrick Buchanan and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators website at www.creators.com . Arms and the Babies: Unbridled Compassion for All the Casualties of War By George Capaccio We must not conceal from ourselves that no improvement in the present depressing situation is possible without a severe struggle; for the handful of those who are really determined to do something is minute in comparison with the mass of the lukewarm and the misguided. And those who have an interest in keeping the machinery of war going are a very powerful body; they will stop at nothing to make public opinion subservient to their murderous ends. Albert Einstein, 1934 April 11, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, is justifiably outraged by the slaughter of innocents in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun where rebel forces are lodged. At least eighty-six people, including women and children, died from exposure to chemical weapons. Doctors Without Borders and the World Health Organization, after examining the bodies of victims, believe their deaths were caused by a possible nerve agent such as sarin. Western states, in particular, the US, France, and Britain, blame the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the attack, which left hundreds in need of emergency care. During an emergency meeting of the Security Council, Ambassador Haley threatened unilateral action to punish the Syrian government for its armys alleged use of poison gas. Sporting a sapphire blue dress while displaying photographs of dead Syrian children, Haley warned that if the UN fails to respond to this latest atrocity, the United States will take matters into its own hands. "There are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action," she said, echoing former president George W. Bush. At the start of the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Bush asserted that America doesnt need a permission slip to wage war. It will do whatever is necessary to preserve and defend its national security. UN Charter and international law be damned! As befits a monolithic empire, the law is what we say it is. And Congress, the theoretical arbiter in matters of war and peace, will naturally be sidelined. Who needs Congressional approval to start a war of aggression when all that really matters is our unqualified right to stand tall, act tough, and murder whomever we please. In response to the deaths from poison gas, Haleys boss in the White House, during a press conference with Jordans King Abdullah II, lamented the killing of babies, "innocent babies babies! little babies ." Now, only a few days after the attack, Trump has demonstrated his fighting spirit by launching scores of Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian government military base. I wager lots of folks in the media and the upper echelons of government bureaucracy are swooning with delight over the Big Guys swagger, his willingness to throw caution to the wind and risk all-out war with Syrias most powerful ally Russia. And to do so while no one knows for sure who gave the order to deploy chemical weapons, what weapons were actually used, and whether the Syrian government or any one of the numerous opposition groups was behind the attack, hoping the use of an illegal weapon would draw the United States into direct confrontation with Syrias armed forces. I was struck by Trumps repeated reference to "babies," innocent little babies choking to death in clouds of poison. Perhaps Trump was genuinely moved by the horrific manner of their dying and decided he had to do something to show the world that America, beacon of freedom, democracy, and human rights, does not stand idly by while the most innocent, most vulnerable little beings among us are deliberately and savagely targeted. And yet, whomever the perpetrator(s) may turn out to be, a few things are abundantly clear to anyone who has been following events in the Middle East. For starters, we need look no further than our own government as a major threat to that region of the worlds most vulnerable and at-risk populations. In 2015, Physicians for Social Responsibility published the results of their investigation into the death toll from the "war on terror," begun by the Bush Administration after the tragic events of 9/11: This investigation comes to the conclusion that the war has, directly or indirectly, killed around 1 million people in Iraq, 220,000 in Afghanistan and 80,000 in Pakistan, i.e., a total of around 1.3 million. Not included in this figure are further war zones such as Yemen. The figure is approximately 10 times greater than that of which the public, experts and decision makers are aware of and propagated by the media and major NGOs. And this is only a conservative estimate. The total number of deaths in the three countries named above could also be in excess of 2 million, whereas a figure below 1 million is extremely unlikely. Furthermore, the United Nations International Childrens Fund (UNICEF) estimates that 8 to 10 million Iraqis are in need of humanitarian assistance out of a total population of roughly 36 million people. About 4.7 million, or half of those in need of assistance, are children under the age of 18. The rapid spread of extremely dangerous jihadist groups, particularly Islamic State or ISIS, has generated a worsening security situation and new waves of internally displaced persons (IDPs) across central Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. As of January 2016, according to UNICEF, over 3.3 million people were displaced across Iraq with 1.5 million IDP children in need of immediate protection and assistance. It bears repeating that much of the bloodshed, the rise of ISIS, the displacement of millions of families, the seemingly intractable refugee crisis, and the growing number of terrorist attacks in Europe are partially due to US interference in the Middle East, its preference for conflict over diplomacy, and its hegemonic drive to control the regions trade routes and energy resources. While Ambassador Haley and President Trump are wringing their hands over the truly tragic slaughter of innocents in Syria, one wonders how they responded to news that in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul just a few short weeks ago, on March 17, hundreds of innocent civilians perished when their homes were bombed by U.S.-led air strikes against Isis strongholds in the city. While the exact number of deaths has yet to be determined, the US military confirmed "that a coalition airstrike had hit an Islamic State-held area of Iraqs Mosul where as many as 240 civilians may have been killed as a result of the air raid." A statement issued by US Central Command noted that Iraqi security forces requested the airstrike and that the targeted area was the same location where civilian casualties were reported. The International Business Times, an online news source, has published a series of photos documenting the aftermath of the airstrike. I may be mistaken but I dont recall seeing Ambassador Haley holding up any of these or comparable images of grief-stricken Iraqi parents weeping over the bodies of their children killed in the strike. Could their apparent indifference to the fate of these children be due to the cause of death? Instead of being the victims of the Syrian governments alleged use of poison gas, they died from American bombs, blessed by God and the Almightys second-in-command, the US Joints Chief of Staff. I guess that crucial difference the type of weapons used and the side that used them determines who is and who isnt worthy of our most righteous indignation and loudest saber rattling. One of the victims of the US bombing of Mosul in March is four-year-old Hawra . Before the airstrike, her father, Alaa Hasan, left to buy food at a nearby store. A short time later, two explosions reduced their home to a pile of rubble. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter "I saw Hawra under some concrete, yelling," her father said. "Her face was black, smashed." He carried her to safety then searched for his wife, Mayada, whom he soon found. "I saw there was a body without a head, only a leg and this, he said, pointing to his torso. He knew it was his wife." The good news for the residents of Mosul still trapped inside their homes and facing the prospect of starvation is that the US military takes care to avoid excessive collateral damage. According to US Brig. General Rick Uribe , "Were here to defeat them [the Islamic militants] and were going to do it the moral way." And what could be more moral than dropping bombs on crowded urban dwellings where militants may be using civilians as human shields and where targeting miscalculations are almost certain to produce casualties, or "collateral damage" in the language of military obfuscation. As of this writing, no tears have yet been shed by our glorious heads of state for the besieged people of Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, where Saudi Arabia and its own set of coalition predators, including Qatar and United Arab Emirates, are raining down death and destruction in "Operation Decisive Storm," a brutal bombing campaign against Houthi rebels. In January 2015, the rebels succeeded in ousting Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi mainly because of their opposition to Hadis proposal to divide Yemen into six federal provinces. If enacted, the proposal would have weakened Houthi influence over Saada province in the north, the movements traditional base. The Houthis assumed control of the central government shortly after the coup, which the UN Security Council officially denounced on February 16. One month later, on March 26, a Saudi-led, 10-member coalition began bombing Houthi positions in the city of Sanaa, Yemens capital. Saudi Arabia argues that the Houthi movement receives substantial support from Iran, the countrys foremost enemy and the dominant Shia power in the Middle East. Before beginning their bombing campaign, the Saudis went to Washington to request the approval of the Obama Administration, which they received, along with diplomatic cover and direct material aid in the form of U.S.-manufactured bombs, like cluster bombs (CBU-105 munitions), formerly made by Textron in Wilmington, Massachusetts, and the provision of refueling services to coalition planes that are carrying out the bombing. As if that largesse werent enough, since 2010, "the Obama administration authorized a record $60bn in US military sales to Saudi Arabia. Since then, the administration concluded deals for nearly $48bn in weapons sales triple the $16bn in sales under the [previous] administration." Though Obama blocked a portion of arms sales to Saudi Arabia in the final months of his administration owing to pressure from human rights groups and opposition from the House of Representatives, President Trumps State Department rescinded Obamas decision in early March. Since then, Trump has signed off on an expanded new arms package for Saudi Arabia despite that countrys two-year assault on the people of Yemen, its continuing violation of human rights, and its likely commission of war crimes, including the blockading of Yemens major ports, thus preventing vital food, medicines, and fuel supplies from reaching the people. Thanks in no small measure to US complicity in what is turning into one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, at least 10,000 Yemenis have been killed since the conflict. However, the economic blockade, according to reporter and historian Gareth Porter , is causing even greater suffering than the actual bombing: But whats really been happening for well over a year, I think its fair to say a year to a year and a half, is that more people are dying of starvation-related or malnutrition-related diseases and starvation, than from the bombs themselves. And this is a fact which Im sorry to say simply has not gotten into the press coverage of the war, thus far. The children of Yemen are bearing the brunt of the suffering. Approximately 1.7 million, or 31% of Yemeni children under the age of five suffer from severe malnutrition as a result of the U.S.-condoned, Saudi-led blockade. Many of these "innocent little babies," to borrow Donald Trumps words, are quite literally starving to death in a country where our money, munitions, and diplomatic support are enabling Saudi Arabia and its partners to slaughter the innocents with the weapon of starvation. According to David Sim of the International Business Times, "Of Yemens 28 million people some 21 million need some form of humanitarian aid. Intensive care wards in Yemens hospitals are filled with emaciated children hooked up to monitors and drips." We wont be seeing Nikki Haley, our UN Ambassador, waving photos of these children and calling for an immediate halt to the bombing of Yemen and a lifting of the blockade. Nor can we expect Trump to shed anything but crocodile tears for the victims of our various strategic alliances with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and their war in Yemen. Firing cruise missiles into Syria wont do anything for the people of Syria beyond exacerbating an already horrendous situation. And continuing to support Saudi Arabia in its fight against Houthi rebels will only contribute to the growing misery and suffering of the Yemeni people, especially the children. Perhaps there is hope in the wise counsel of Albert Einstein whose words introduced this essay: "We must not conceal from ourselves that no improvement in the present depressing situation is possible without a severe struggle. George Capaccio is a writer and activist living in Arlington, MA. During the years of US and UK-enforced sanctions against Iraq, he traveled there numerous times, bringing in banned items, befriending families in Baghdad, and deepening his understanding of how the sanctions were impacting civilians. His email is Georgecapaccio@verizon.net . He welcomes comments and invites readers to visit his website: www.georgecapaccio.com US Aircraft Carrier Deployed in Direct Threat to North Korea By Peter Symonds April 11, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " WSWS " - Just days after launching its criminal cruise missile attack on Syria, the Trump administration has provocatively authorised the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, together with its full strike group of guided missile destroyers and a cruiser, to waters off the Korean Peninsula. The move is a direct military threat to North Korea, which was at the top of the agenda in talks last weekend between the US and Chinese presidents. An unnamed US official told the Financial Times that the deployment was designed to be a show of force. The carrier strike group had taken part in joint US-South Korean war games but was heading south for port calls in Australia before being ordered to turn north from Singapore. The Navy Times noted that announcing carrier movements in advance is rare, and generally done to send a clear message. US Pacific Command spokesman Dave Benham declared the decision was a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific, then castigated North Korea in blunt terms. The number one threat in the region continues to be North Korea, he said, due to its reckless, irresponsible and destabilising program of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capacity. The Navy Times boasted that the strike group brings with it a ton of firepower, including the strike- and air-combat capacities of the Hornets [fighter aircraft], early warning radars, electronic-warfare capabilities and more than 300 missile tubes on the carriers escorts. The dispatch of the Carl Vinson is a deliberate escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the Trump administrations completion of a lengthy review of US strategy toward North Korea. NBC revealed last Friday that three military options were under active consideration: the return of US nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, decapitation attacks to kill the North Korean leadership and covert operations inside North Korea to sabotage nuclear, military and industrial targets. Speaking on Fox News on Sunday, President Donald Trumps national security adviser, General H. R. McMaster, justified the deployment of the Carl Vinson as prudent, adding: This is a rogue regime that is now a nuclear-capable regime. The president has asked [us] to be prepared to give him a full range of options to remove that threat to the American people and to our allies and partners in the region. Citing US officials, the Navy Times reported that the Pentagon and US Pacific Command have been sharpening plans for military strikes on the North as an option should the administration want to pursue that action. All these highly provocative options threaten to trigger a devastating war on the Korean Peninsula that could kill millions. The Navy Times suggested that an all-out regional conflict would bring the US and its allies head-to-head with not only North Korea, but perhaps with Chinathat is, a conflict between the worlds two largest economies, both nuclear-armed. Trump undoubtedly exploited the threat of military action against North Korea to pressure Chinese President Xi Jinping to take tougher action against the Pyongyang regime. Speaking after talks between Trump and Xi last weekend, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told CBSs Face the Nation yesterday that Xi clearly understands ... that the situation has intensified and has reached a certain level of threat that action has to be taken. Tillerson ruled out any talks with North Korea at present, saying only that we can work together with the Chinese to change the conditions in the minds of the DPRK [North Korean] leadership. But if Beijing fails to bully Pyongyang into accepting Washingtons demands, Tillerson left no doubt that the US would take aggressive measures against North Korea. Trump bluntly told the Financial Times last week: If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter In an interview yesterday with ABCs This Week, Tillerson was asked whether North Koreas development of an intercontinental ballistic missile would constitute a red line. He answered ominously: If we judge that they have perfected that type of delivery system, then that becomes a very serious stage of their further development. Drawing a link with last weeks attack on Syria, Tillerson said: The message that any nation can take is if you violate international norms, if you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point, a response is likely to be undertaken. The North Korean regime denounced the US missile strikes on Syria as an unforgiveable act of aggression, adding that the US has been picking only on countries without nuclear weapons. A spokesman declared: The reality of today shows that we must stand against power with power and it proves a million times over that our decision to strengthen our nuclear deterrence has been the right one. In reality, Pyongyangs limited nuclear arsenal has only provided US imperialism with a pretext for a massive build-up of its military forces in Asia, which are not primarily directed against North Korea, but China. Trump is continuing and expanding the Obama administrations pivot to Asia in a bid to ensure the continued US dominance of the Asia Pacific region. While North Korea is not the same as Syria, the US will not hesitate to use military force against Pyongyang to further its strategic ambitions. US Defence Secretary James Mattis has already warned North Korea that any attempt to use its nuclear weapons will be met with an effective and overwhelming response. The Carl Vinson strike group alone has the capacity to carry and deliver enough nuclear weapons to obliterate North Koreas industrial and military capabilities. Moreover, no one should conclude that the strikes on Syria will preclude a US attack on North Korea. Damascus and Pyongyang are just the proxy targets for a far broader strategy of subordinating Russia and Chinaand thus the Eurasian landmassto the hegemony of US imperialism. The bitter infighting within the American political, military and intelligence establishment over tacticswhether to confront Moscow or Beijing firstdoes not rule out attacks on both Syria and North Korea, with devastating consequences for humanity. Donald Trumps War Crimes By Marjorie Cohn April 11, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Just two and a half months into his presidency, Donald Trump has already distinguished himself as a war criminal. His administration is killing unusually large numbers of civilians, in violation of US and international law. Killing Civilians in Record Numbers The Trump administration began to kill civilians over inaugural weekend, with two drone strikes in Yemen that claimed 10 lives. One drone struck three people on a motorcycle. The other hit seven people riding in a car. Neither Trump nor Defense Secretary James Mattis admits to having approved the strikes. It is not clear who authorized them. One week after his inauguration, Trump bemoaned the death of a US Navy Seal in a botched raid he personally ordered in southern Yemen. Trump made no mention of the 30 people, including at least 10 women and children, killed by the US bombers. The attack badly damaged a health facility, a school and a mosque. Over the past month, the US-led coalition has killed an inordinate number of civilians. Almost 1,000 non-combatant deaths have already been alleged from coalition actions across Iraq and Syria in March a record claim, according to Airwars , a non-governmental organization (NGO) that monitors civilian casualties from airstrikes in the Middle East. These reported casualty levels are comparable with some of the worst periods of Russian activity in Syria. Airwars says that US aircraft have inflicted most of the casualties in the coalition strikes. Indeed, so many civilians have died from coalition airstrikes since Trump took office, Airwars is reducing its work on alleged Russian actions in Syria so as best to focus our limited resources on continuing to properly monitor and assess reported casualties from the US and its allies. During the last part of March alone: US drones bombed a mosque in Aleppo, Syria, claiming at least 47 civilian lives. US aircraft bombed homes, a school and a hospital in Tabqah, Syria, killing 20 civilians. A US-led coalition airstrike on a school that was housing 50 families displaced by the fighting near Raqqa, Syria, killed at least 33 civilians. A US airstrike in Mosul, Iraq, killed more than 200 people, causing the largest loss of civilian life since the United States began bombing ISIS in Syria and Iraq in 2014. The attack was approved somewhere in the Middle East, according to US defense officials, probably by a one-star general or a team working under her or him. Abu Ayman, who lives in Mosul, told Reuters he saw several flattened houses and severed limbs scattered around. I ran to my next-door neighbors house and with others we managed to rescue three people, but at least 27 others in the same house were killed, including women and children of relatives who fled from other districts, he said. We pulled some out of the rubble, using hammers and shovels to remove debris. We couldnt do anything to help others as they were completely buried under the collapsed roof. Another Mosul resident said, Now it feels like the coalition is killing more people than ISIS. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter Chris Woods, director of Airwars, told the Washington Post. Casualty numbers from western Mosul are absolutely shocking. In Syria its a car here, a family there. It happens every day. The coalition forces use of white phosphorous, a chemical weapon that burns to the bone, has been documented in Mosul. And the US Central Command has confirmed that it has used depleted uranium, arguably a war crime, against ISIS in Syria. Coalition Airstrikes Violate US Law The Trump administration, like its two immediate predecessors, justifies the use of armed drones and other forms of targeted killing with reference to the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) that Congress passed just days after the September 11, 2001, attacks. In the AUMF, Congress authorized the president to use force against groups and countries that had supported the terrorist strikes. But Congress rejected the Bush administrations request for open-ended military authority to deter and preempt any future acts of terrorism or aggression against the United States. Deterrence and preemption are exactly what Trump is purportedly trying to accomplish by sending robots to kill suspected militants or those who happen to be present in an area where suspicious activity has taken place. In 2013, the Obama administration promulgated a Presidential Policy Guidance for targeted killing outside areas of active hostilities. The guidance allows the targeting of a person who poses a continuing, imminent threat not just to U.S. persons but also to another countrys persons. A 2011 Department of Justice white paper, leaked in 2013, said a US citizen could be killed even when there is no clear evidence that a specific attack on U.S. persons and interests will take place in the immediate future. This makes a mockery of the imminent threat requirement. There is presumably an even lower bar for noncitizens. In addition, the guidance requires near certainty that an identified HVT [high-value target] or other lawful terrorist target is present before using lethal force against him. Yet, like the Obama administration, the Trump regime probably mounts signature strikes that dont necessarily target individuals, but rather all males of military age present in an area of suspicious activity. And the guidance says there must be near certainty that non-combatants [civilians] will not be injured or killed. Given the large number of civilian casualties from drone strikes and other targeted killings, the Trump administration does not appear to be complying with this requirement. Now, the Pentagon is proposing to expand the battlefield beyond Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, so that other designated countries wont be considered outside areas of active hostilities. The threshold for protecting civilians would thus be lowered from near certainty that civilians wont be injured or killed to a reasonable certainty. This will invariably result in even more civilian casualties. Trump has designated three areas in Yemen, and will soon designate Somalia, areas of active hostilities, or temporary battlefields. Moreover, the National Security Council is contemplating whether to rescind the Obama guidance altogether, eliminating the continuing and imminent threat requirement. Its possible that it could modify the near certainty standard to apply only to women and children, but not to men of military age. Trump has granted broad power to the CIA to conduct lethal drone attacks. Obama had largely limited that power to the Defense Departments Joint Special Operations Command. The CIA, unlike the Pentagon, doesnt have to report how many people it kills during a strike. In mid-March, 37 former government officials and national security experts from across the political spectrum sent a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis, warning the administration to proceed cautiously when reviewing the targeted killing guidance. The letter said, Even small numbers of unintentional civilian deaths or injuries can cause significant setbacks. Regardless of the guidance, however, the coalition is still constrained by international humanitarian law. Coalition Airstrikes Violate International Law Self-defense, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, is a narrow exception to the Charters prohibition of the use of force. Countries may engage in individual or collective self-defense only in the face of an armed attack. To the extent the United States claims the right to kill suspected terrorists or their allies before they act, there must exist a necessity of self-defense, instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation, under the well-established Caroline Case. Trumps targeted killings do not meet this standard. Drone attacks off the battlefield violate well-established principles of international law. Targeted or political assassinations sometimes known as extra-judicial executions run afoul of the Geneva Conventions, which include willful killing as a grave breach. Grave breaches of Geneva are punishable as war crimes under the US War Crimes Act. The United States has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states: Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. The Covenant also guarantees those accused of a crime the rights to be presumed innocent and to a fair trial by an impartial tribunal. Targeted killings abrogate these rights. There is also a legal obligation to comply with the requirements of proportionality and distinction, two bedrock principles of international humanitarian law, as delineated in the First Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions. Proportionality means an attack cannot be excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage sought. The administration is using drones to take out convoys and is killing large numbers of civilians, compared with the number of militants it is targeting. Distinction requires that the attack be directed only at a legitimate military target. The coalition has been targeting sites with no clear military purpose, including hospitals, schools, mosques and passenger ferries. And if the Trump administration is continuing Obamas policy of launching signature strikes, bombs are being dropped on unidentified people located in an area of suspicious activity. The Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court defines the following as war crimes: willful killing; willfully causing great suffering or serious injury; intentional attacks against civilians or civilian objects; and intentionally launching unjustified attacks, knowing they will kill or injure civilians. US-led coalition bombings of schools, hospitals, homes and mosques, resulting in high numbers of civilian casualties, constitute war crimes. Mosul Eye, a monitoring organization, warned Iraqi troops that civilians were trapped in homes days before the US airstrike, even sending the coordinates. Amnesty International concluded that the US-led coalition should have known its airstrikes would cause many civilian casualties because the government had told people to remain in their homes. Amnesty International said the coalition was not using sufficient precautions to avoid civilian casualties in Mosul, calling it a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. Disproportionate attacks and indiscriminate attacks violate international humanitarian law and can constitute war crimes, Amnesty International noted. Trump Escalates in the Middle East Meanwhile, the US military is planning to deploy an additional 1,000 troops to northern Syria. There are roughly 500 US Special Operations forces there already, as well as 200 Marines and 250 Rangers. The administration reportedly plans to lift the troop caps of 5,000 in Iraq and 500 in Syria that were established by the Obama administration. Trump is asking Congress to add $54 billion annually to the military budget for what he refers to as his public safety and national security budget. Disturbingly, Trump has not ruled out the use of nuclear weapons as he prosecutes his war on terror. In an interview on MSNBC, he wondered, Somebody hits us within ISIS [also known as Daesh], you wouldnt fight back with a nuke? And Trump made the troubling assertion that he would consider killing innocent families of suspected terrorists, declaring, When you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families. Targeting civilians violates the Geneva Conventions. The Trump administration will likely relax the rules of engagement for targeted killing, resulting in the deaths of increasingly large numbers of civilians, in violation of US and international law. Under the doctrine of command responsibility, commanders all the way up the chain of command to the Commander-in-Chief can be liable for war crimes if they knew or should have known their subordinates would commit them and did nothing to stop or prevent them. Command responsibility is enshrined in Supreme Court case law and the US Army Field Manual. Trump and other high officials in his administration should be held accountable for war crimes. Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she taught from 1991-2016, and a former president of the National Lawyers Guild. She lectures, writes, and provides commentary for local, regional, national and international media outlets. Professor Cohn has served as a news consultant for CBS News and a legal analyst for Court TV, as well as a legal and political commentator on BBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, and Pacifica Radio. This article first appeared on Truthout. Home A Multi-level Analysis of the US attack on Syria By The Saker April 11, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " The Saker " - The latest US cruise missile attack on the Syrian airbase is an extremely important event in so many ways that it is important to examine it in some detail. I will try to do this today with the hope to be able to shed some light on a rather bizarre attack which will nevertheless have profound consequences. But first, lets begin by looking at what actually happened. The pretext: I dont think that anybody seriously believes that Assad or anybody else in the Syrian government really ordered a chemical weapons attack on anybody. To believe that it would require you to find the following sequence logical: first, Assad pretty much wins the war against Daesh which is in full retreat . Then, the US declares that overthrowing Assad is not a priority anymore (up to here this is all factual and true). Then, Assad decides to use weapons he does not have . He decides to bomb a location with no military value, but with lots of kids and cameras. Then, when the Russians demand a full investigation, the Americans strike as fast as they can before this idea gets any support. And now the Americans are probing a possible Russian role in this so-called attack . Frankly, if you believe any of that, you should immediately stop reading and go back to watching TV. For the rest of us, there are three options: a classical US-executed false flag a Syrian strike on a location which happened to be storing some kind of gas, possibly chlorine, but most definitely not sarin. This option requires you to believe in coincidences. I dont. Unless, the US fed bad intelligence to the Syrians and got them to bomb a location where the US knew that toxic gas was stored. What is evident is that the Syrians did not drop chemical weapons from their aircraft and that no chemical gas was ever stored at the al-Shayrat airbase. There is no footage showing any munitions or containers which would have delivered the toxic gas. As for US and other radar recordings, all they can show is that an aircraft was in the sky, its heading, altitude and speed. There is no way to distinguish a chemical munition or a chemical attack by means of radar. Whatever option you chose, the Syrian government is obviously and self-evidently innocent of the accusation of having used chemical weapons. This is most likely a false flag attack. Also, and just for the record, the US had been considering exactly such a false flag attack in the past. You can read everything about this plan here and here . The attack: American and Russian sources both agree on the following facts: 2 USN ships launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Al Shayrat airfield in Syria. The US did not consult with the Russians on a political level, but through military channels the US gave Russia 2 hours advance warning. At this point the accounts begin to differ. The Americans say that all missiles hit their targets. The Russians say that only 23 cruise missiles hit the airfield. The others are unaccounted for. Here I think that it is indisputable that the Americans are lying and the Russians are saying the truth: the main runway is intact (the Russian reporters provided footage proving this) and only one taxiway was hit. Furthermore, the Syrian Air Force resumed its operations within 24 hours. 36 cruise missiles have not reached their intended target. That is a fact. It is also indisputable that there were no chemical munitions at this base as nobody, neither the Syrians nor the Russian reporters, had to wear any protective gear. The missiles used in the attack, the Tomahawk, can use any combination of three guidance systems: GPS, inertial navigation and terrain mapping. There is no evidence and even no reports that the Russians shot even a single air-defense missile. In fact, the Russians had signed a memorandum with the USA which specifically comitting Russia NOT to interfere with any US overflights, manned or not, over Syria (and vice versa). While the Tomahawk cruise missile was developed in the 1980s, there is no reason to believe that the missiles used had exceeded their shelf live and there is even evidence that they were built in 2014 . The Tomahawk is known to be accurate and reliable. There is absolutely no basis to suspect that over half of the missiles fired simply spontaneously malfunctioned. I therefore see only two possible explanations for what happened to the 36 missing cruise missiles: Explanation A: Trump never intended to really hit the Syrians hard and this entire attack was just for show and the USN deliberately destroyed these missiles over the Mediterranean. That would make it possible for Trump to appear tough while not inflicting the kind of damage which would truly wreck his plans to collaborate with Russia. I do not believe in this explanation and I will explain why in the political analysis below. Explanation B: The Russians could not legally shoot down the US missiles. Furthermore, it is incorrect to assume that these cruise missiles flew a direct course from the Mediterranean to their target (thereby almost overflying the Russian radar positions). Tomahawk were specifically built to be able to fly tangential courses around some radar types and they also have a very low RCS (radar visibility), especially in the frontal sector. Some of these missiles were probably flying low enough not to be seen by Russian radars, unless the Russians had an AWACS in the air (I dont know if they did). However, since the Russians were warned about the attack they had plenty of time to prepare their electronic warfare stations to fry and otherwise disable at least part of the cruise missiles. I do believe that this is the correct explanation. I do not know whether the Russian were technically unable to destroy and confuse the 23 missiles which reached the base or whether a political decision was taken to let less than half of the cruise missiles through in order to disguise the Russian role in the destruction of 36 missiles. What I am sure of is that 36 advanced cruise missile do not just disappear. There are two reasons why the Russians would have decided to use their EW systems and not their missiles: first, it provides them plausible deninability (at least for the general public, there is no doubt that US signal intelligence units did detect the Russian electronic interference (unless it happened at very low power and very high frequency and far away inland), and because by using EW systems it allowed them to keep their air defense missiles for the protection of their own forces. Can the Russian really do this? Take a look at this image, taken from a Russian website , which appears to have been made by the company Kret which produces some of the key Russian electronic warfare systems. Do you notice that on the left hand side, right under the AWACs aircraft you can clearly see a Tomahawk type missile turning around and eventually exploding at sea? How this is done is open to conjecture. All that we are told is that the missile is given a false target but for our purposes this really does not matter. What matters is that the Russians have basically leaked the information that they are capable of turning cruise missiles around. There are other possibilities such as an directed energy beams which basically fries or, at least, confuses the terrain following and or inertial navigation systems. Some have suggested a kill switch which would shut down the entire missile. Maybe. Again, this really doesnt matter for our purposes. What matters is that the Russian have the means to spoof, redirect or destroy US cruise missiles. It sure appears to be that for the first time these systems were used in anger. [Sidebar: for those interested in seeing what such a system looks like here is a short video made by the Russians themselves showing how such a system is deployed and operated: In terms of technical details, or we are told that this system can jam any airborne object at a distance of 200km] I would note that those who say that the Russian air defense systems did not work dont know what they are talking about. Not only did Russia sign an agreement with the US not to interfere with US flight operations, the Russian air defenses in Syria are NOT tasked with the protection of the Syrian Air Space. That is a task for the Syrian air defenses. The Russians air defenses in Syria are only here to protect Russian personnel and equipment. This is why the Russians never targeted Israeli warplanes. And this is hardly surprising as the Russian task force in Syria never had the mission to shut down the Syrian air space or, even less so, to start a war with the USA or Israel. However, this might be changing. Now the Russians have withdrawn from their agreement with the USA and, even more importantly, have have declared that the Syrians urgently need more advanced air defense capabilities. Currently the Syrians operate very few advanced Russian air defense systems, most of their gear is old. Legal aspects of the attack: The US attack happened in direct violation of US law, of international law and of the UN charter. First, I would say that there is strong legal evidence that the US attack violated the US Constitution, Presidential War Powers Act and the 2001 Authorization of Military Force (AUMF) resolution. But since I dont really care about this aspect of Trumps criminal behavior, I will just refer you to two pretty good analyses of this issue (see here and here ) and just simply summarize the argument of those who say that what Trump did was legal. It boils down to this: yeah, its illegal, but all US Presidents have been doing it for so long that they have thereby created a legal precedent which, uh, makes it legal after all. I dont think this kind of defense is worthy of a reply or rebuttal. So now lets turn to international law. Most people think that crimes against humanity or genocide must be the ultimate crime under international law. They are wrong. The ultimate crime is aggression. This is the conclusion of the Nuremberg Trial on this topic : To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole . So, following the long and prestigious list of other US Presidents before him, Donald Trump is now a war criminal. In fact, he is a supreme war criminal. It only took him 77 days to achieve this status, probably some kind of a record. As for the UN Charter, at least for articles (1, 2, 33, 39) ban the kind of aggression the USA took against Syria. I think that there is no need to dwell on the total illegality of this attack. I would just underscore the supreme irony of a country basically built by and run by lawyers (just see how many of them there are in Congress) whose general population seems to be totally indifferent to the fact that their elected representatives act in a completely illegal manner. All that most American people care about is whether the illegal action brings victory or not. But if it does, absolutely nobody cares. You disagree? Tell me, how many peace demonstrations were there in the USA about the totally illegal US aggression on Yugoslavia? Exactly. QED. Political consequences (internal) My son perfectly summed up what Trumps actions have resulted in: those who hated him still hate him while those who supported him now also hate him. Wow! How did Trump and his advisors fail to predict that? Instead of fulfilling his numerous campaign promises (and his own Twitter statements) Trump decided to suddenly make a 180 and totally betray everything he stood for. I cant think of a dumber action, I really cant. I have to say that Trump now appears to make Dubya look smart. But there is much, much worse. The worst aspect of this clusterf**k is how utterly immoral this makes Trump appear. Think of it first Trump abjectly betrayed Flynn. Then he betrayed Bannon. [Sidebar: I mostly liked Flynn. I had no use for Bannon at all. But the fact is that they were not my best friends, they were Trumps best friends. And instead of standing up for them, he sacrificed them to the always bloodthirsty Neocons in the hope of appeasing them. This is what I wrote about this stupid and deeply immoral betrayal the day it happened: Remember how Obama showed his true face when he hypocritically denounced his friend and pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. ? Today, Trump has shown us his true face. Instead of refusing Flynns resignation and instead of firing those who dared cook up these ridiculous accusations against Flynn, Trump accepted the resignation. This is not only an act of abject cowardice, it is also an amazingly stupid and self-defeating betrayal because now Trump will be alone, completely alone, facing the likes of Mattis and Pence hard Cold Warrior types, ideological to the core, folks who want war and simply dont care about reality . The worst aspect of that is that by betraying people left and right Trump has now shown that you cannot trust him, that he will backstab you with no hesitation whatsoever. Would you ever take a risk for a guy like that? Contrast that with Putin who is notorious for standing by his friends and allies even when they do something really wrong! There is a reason why the AngloZionists could not break Putin and why it only took them one month to neuter Trump: Putin is made of titanium, Trump is just an overcooked noodle] And now Trump has betrayed HIMSELF by turning against everything he, himself, stood for. This is almost Shakespearean in its pathetic and tragic aspects! During his campaign Trump made a lot of excellent promises and he did inspire millions of Americans to support him. I personally believe that he was sincere in his intentions, and I dont buy the it was all an act theory at all. Just look at the total panic of the Neocons at the prospects of a Trump victory and tell me this was all fake. No, I think that Trump was sincere. But when confronted with the ruthless opposition of the Neocons and the US deep state, Trump snapped and instantly broke because he is clearly completely spineless and has the ethics and morals of a trailer park prostitute. So what we really have is a sad and pathetic version of Obama. A kind of Obama 2.0 if you want. The man inspired millions, he promised change you can believe in, and he delivered absolutely nothing except for an abject subservience to the real masters and owners of the United States: the Neocons and the deep state. Trump did get what he apparently wanted, though: the very same corporate media which he claimed to despise is now praising him. And nobody is calling him a Putin agent any more. None of which will prevent the Neocons from impeaching him, by the way. He chose a quickfix solution which will stop acting in just days. How totally stupid of him. He apparently also chose the option of an attack for show to begin with, which turned into one of the most pathetic attacks in history, probably courtesy of Russian EW, and now that the USA has wasted something in the range of 100 million dollars, what does Trump have to show? A few flattering articles from the media which he has always hated and which will return to hate him as soon as ordered to do so by its Neocon masters. Pathetic if you ask me. Ever since he got into the White House, Trump has been acting like your prototypical appeaser (it makes me wonder if his father was an alcoholic). How a guy like him ever made in business is a mystery to me, but what is now clear is that the Neocons totally submitted him and that they will now turn him into political roadkill. I am afraid that the next four years (or less!) will turn into a neverending Purim celebration Political consequences (external) Trump has single handedly destroyed any hopes of a US collaboration with Russia of any kind. Worse, he has also destroyed any hopes of being able to defeat Daesh. Why? Because if you really believe that Daesh can be defeated without Russian and Iranian support I want to sell you bridges all over the world. It aint happening. What is much, much worse is that now we are again on a pre-war situation, just as we were with Obama and would have been with Clinton. Let me explain. The following are the measures with Russia has taken following the US attack on Syria: Denunciation at UN (to be expected, no big deal) Decision to strengthen the Syrian air defenses (big deal, that will give the Syrians the means to lock their airspace) Decision to cancel the Memorandum with the USA (now the Russians in Syria will have the right to decide whether to shoot or not) Decision to shut down the phone hot line with the US military (now the US wont be able to call the Russians to ask them to do or not do something) The combination of decisions 2, 3 and 4 does not mean that the Russians will shoot the next time, not by itself. The Russians will still be restricted by their own rules of engagement and by political decisions. But this will dramatically affect the US decision-making since from now on there will be no guarantee that the Russians will not shoot either. The Russians basically own the Syrian airspace already. What they want to do next is to give a similar capability to the Syrians. Not only will that allow the Syrians to defend themselves against any future US or Israeli attacks, it will provide the Russians plausible deniabilty the day they decide to shoot down a US aircraft or drone. Finally, the Russians are rushing back some of their most advanced ships towards the Syrian coast. So after giving Trump the benefit of the doubt, the Russians are now returning to a Obama-times like posture in Syria. Bravo Trump, well done! Yes, I know, Tillerson is expected to meet Lavrov this week. This was discussed ad nauseam on Russian TV and the consensus is that the only reason why the Russians did not cancel this meeting is because they dont want, on general principle, to be the ones to refuse to speak to the other side. Fine. Considering that we are talking about a potential international thermonuclear war, I can see the point. Still, I would have preferred to say Lavrov telling Tillerson to go and get lost. Why? Because I have come to the conclusion that any and all types of dialog with the United States are simply a meaningless and useless waste of time. For one thing, there is no US policy on anything. Over the past week or so we saw both Nikki Haley and Rex Tillerson completely contradict themselves over and over again: no we dont want to overthrow Assad. Yes we do want to overthrow Assad. Yes we do. No we dont. This is almost painful and embarrassing to watch. This just goes to show that just like the Obama Administration, the Trump people are or not agreement capable. I explain this term in this analysis (written about Obama! Not Trump): The Russians expressed their total disgust and outrage at this attack and openly began saying that the Americans were . What that word means is literally not-agreement-capable or unable to make and then abide by an agreement. While polite, this expression is also extremely strong as it implies not so much a deliberate deception as the lack of the very ability to make a deal and abide by it. For example, the Russians have often said that the Kiev regime is not-agreement-capable, and that makes sense considering that the Nazi occupied Ukraine is essentially a failed state. But to say that a nuclear world superpower is not-agreement-capable is a terrible and extreme diagnostic. It basically means that the Americans have gone crazy and lost the very ability to make any kind of deal. Again, a government which breaks its promises or tries to deceive but who, at least in theory, remains capable of sticking to an agreement would not be described as not-agreement-capable. That expression is only used to describe an entity which does not even have the skillset needed to negotiate and stick to an agreement in its political toolkit. This is an absolutely devastating diagnostic. This is bad. Really bad. This means that the Russians have basically given up on the notion of having an adult, sober and mentally sane partner to have a dialog with. What this also means is that while remaining very polite and externally poker faced, the Russians have now concluded that they need to simply assume that they need to act either alone or with other partners and basically give up on the United States. That applies only to the official Kremlin. Independent Russian analysts are not shy about expressing their total contempt and disgust for Trump. Some of them are suggesting that Trump decided to show how tough he is in preparation for the Tillerson trip to Moscow. If that is the case, then he is badly miscalculating. For one thing, a lot of them as saying that what Trump has engaged in is a totally fake shows of force which really shows nothing. What is certain is that demonstrations of force are very much frowned upon on the Russian culture which strongly believes that a really tough guy does not have to look the part. [Sidebar: if John Wayne is the prototypical American hero, Danilo Bagrov, from the movies Brother and its sequel Brother 2 is the prototypical Russian hero: rather shy, softly spoken, of modest means, a times charmingly clumsy and naive, but in reality the toughest of us all (as he is called by another character in the sequel (if you have not seen these two movies, I highly recommend them though I dont know if they exist with English subtitles (dubbing them would be a crime)). What is sure is that the John Wayne types would never survive in the Russian street, they would be immediately perceived as fake, weak and showing off to try to conceal their lack of strength and they would be crushed and humiliated. Nowadays when Americans adopt what I call the Delta Force/Blackwater style (pointy beard, long hair, dark sunglasses, and a ton of muscles etc.) they look comical by Russian standards, Russian special forces (and I have met a lot of them) *never* look the part if only because they try hard not to look it]. Personally I dont think that impressing the Russians was Trumps plan. Nor do I believe, like some, that launching that attack during the visit of Chinese Premier Xi was a deliberate affront or some kind of message. In fact, I dont think that there was much of a plan at all beyond showing that Trump is tough and no friend of Putin. Thats it. I think that the so-called elites in charge running the USA are infinitely arrogant, stupid, uneducated, incompetent and irresponsible. I dont buy the managed chaos theory nor do I buy the notion that if before the Anglo-Zionists imposed their order on others now they impose their dis-order. Yes, that is the consequence of their actions, but its not part of some diabolical plan, it is a sign of terminal degeneracy of an Empire which is clueless, frightened, angry and arrogant. I have already explained in my previous analysis why Trumps plan to defeat ISIS is a non-starter and I wont bother repeating it all here. What I will say is that Erdogans endorsement of Trumps attack is equally stupid and self-defeating. I really wonder what Erdogan is hoping to achieve. Not only did the Americans almost kill him in a coup attempt, they are now working on creating a semi-independent Kurdistan right on the border with Turkey. Yes, I know, Erdogan wants to get rid of Assad, fair enough, but does he really believe that Trump will be able to remove Assad from power? And what if Assad is removed, will Turkey really be better off once the Emirate of Takfiristan is declared in Syria? I very much hope that after the referendum Erdogan will recover some sense of reality. What about the Israelis, do they really believe that dealing with Assad is worse than dealing with this Caliphate of Takfiristan?! But then, we can expect anything from folks with such a long history of making really bad decisions. Still, it really looks like the all have gone completely insane! Then there is the embarrassing standing ovation coming out of Europe and the Ukraine. I really am embarrassed for them. They are rejoicing at the attempted removal of one of the last mentally sane and secular regimes in the Middle-East. Dont these European leaders realize that if Syria is replaced by a Caliphate of Takfiristan all hell will really brake loose for Europe? I am amazed at how blind these people are Now lets look at what happened from the point of view of China and the DPRK. First, as I mentioned, I dont think that Xi felt that the attack during his visit to the USA was a slap or an affront. From another civilized country, maybe. But not from the USA. The Chinese are absolutely under no illusion of the total lack of sophistication and even basic manners of US Presidents. That is not to say that they were not outraged and very concerned. It goes without saying that they also noticed the coincidence that The USN has canceled planned port calls in Australia for the USS Carl Vinson and is instead sending the aircraft carrier and attached group towards the Korean Peninsula. They also noticed that this move has been given maximal visibility in the US propaganda machine. One show of force in Syria is now followed by another show of force in East Asia. Typical, isnt it? If anything, this move will only strengthen the informal but very strong and deep partnership between China and Russia. Just like the Russians, the Chinese will keep on smiling and make very nice statements about international peace and security, negotiations, etc. But everybody who matters in China will understand that the real message of out Washington DC is simple: now its Assad but you could be next. Which leaves the DPRK. I am no mind-reader and no psychologist, but I ask myself the following question: what is worse if the Americans fail to really scare Kim Jong-un or if they successfully do? I dont have the answer, but considering the past behavior of the DPRK leaders I would strongly suggest that both scaring them and failing to scare them are very dangerous options. The notion of scare should not be included in any policies dealing with the DPRK. But instead of that, the dummies in DC are now leaking a story (whether true or not) that the US intelligence agencies have finalized plans to, I kid you not, eliminate Kim Jong-un . And just to make sure that the message gets through, the latest US harpy at the UNSC threatens the DPRK with war . Have they all really gone totally insane in Washington DC? Do I really need to explain here why war with the DPRK is a terrible idea, even if it had no nuclear weapons? Conclusion: what happens next? Simply reply: I dont know. But let me explain why I dont know. In all my years of training and work as a military analyst I have always had to assume that everybody involved was what we called a rational actor. The Soviets sure where. As where the Americans. Then, starting with Obama more and more often I had to question that assumption as the US engaged in what appeared to be crazy and self-defeating actions. You tell me how does deterrence work on a person with no self-preservation instinct (whether as a result of infinite imperial hubris garden variety petty arrogance, crass ignorance or plain stupidity)? I dont know. To answer that question a what is needed is not a military analyst, but some kind of shrink specializing in delusional and suicidal types. Some readers might think that this is hyperbole. I assure you that this is not. I am dead serious. Not only do I find the Trump administration not agreement capable, I find it completely detached from reality. Delusional in other words. You think Kim Jong-un with nukes is bad? What about Obama or Trump with nukes? Aint they much, much scarier? So what can the world do? First, the easy answer: the Europeans. They can do nothing. They are irrelevant. They dont even exist. At least not in the political sense. Some countries, however, are showing an absolutely amazing level of courage. Look at what the Bolivian representative at the UNSC dared to do: And what a shame for Europe: a small and poor country like Bolivia showed more dignity that the entire European continent. No wonder the Russians have no respect for the EU whatsoever. What Bolivia did is both beautiful and noble. But the two countries which really need to step up to the plate are Russia and China. So far, it has been Russia who did all the hard work and, paradoxically, it has been Russia which has been the object of the dumbest and most ungrateful lack of gratitude (especially from armchair warriors). This needs to change. China has many more means to pressure the USA back into some semi-sane mental state than Russia. All Russia has are superb military capabilities. China, in contrast, has the ability to hurt the USA where it really matters: money. Russia is in a pickle: she cannot abandon Syria to the Takfiri crazies, but neither can she go to nuclear war with the USA over Syria. The problem is not Assad. The problem is that he is the only person capable, at least at this point in time, to protect Syria against Daesh. If Assad is removed, Syria falls and Iran is next. Russia absolutely cannot afford to have Iran destroyed by the Anglo-Zionists because after Iran, she will next. Everybody in Russia understands that. But, as I said, the problem with military responses is that they can lead to military escalations which then lead to wars which might turn nuclear very fast. So here is my central thesis: You dont want Russia to stop the USA by purely military means as this places the survival of of mankind at risk. I realize that for some this might be counter-intuitive, but remember that deterrences only works with rational actors. Russia has already done a lot, more than everybody else besides Iran. And if Russia is not the worlds policeman, neither is she the world savior. The rest of mankind also needs to stop being a silent bystander and actually do something! Russia and China can stop the US, but they need to do that together. And for that, Xi needs to stop acting like a detached smiling little Buddha statue and speak up loud and clear. That is especially true since the Americans show even less fear of China than of Russia. [Sidebar: the Chinese military is still far behind the kind of capabilities Russia has, but the Chinese are catching up really, really fast. Just 30 years ago the Chinese military used to be outdated and primitive. This is not the case today. The Chinese have done some tremendous progress in a record time and their military is now a totally different beast than what it used to be. I have no doubt at all that the US cannot win a war with China either, especially not anywhere near the Chinese mainland. Furthermore, I expect the Chinese to go full steam ahead with a very energetic military modernization program which will allow them to close the gap with the USA and Russia in record time. So any notions of the USA using force against China, be it over Taiwan or the DPRK, is an absolutely terrible idea, sheer madness. However, and maybe because the Americans believe their own propaganda, it seems to me like the folks in DC think that we are in the 1950s or 1960 and that they can terrify the Chinese communist peasants with their carrier battle groups. What the fail to realize is that with every nautical mile the US carriers make towards China, the bigger and easier target they make for a military which has specialized in US carrier destruction operatons. The Americans ought to ask themselves a simple question: what will they do if the Chinese either sink or severely damage one (or several) US Navy carriers? Go to nuclear war with a nuclear China well capable of turning many US cities into nuclear wastelands? Really? You would trade New York or San Francisco for the Carl Vinson Strike Group? Think again.] So far China has been supporting Russia, but only from behind Russia. This is very nice and very prudent, but Russia is rapidly running out of resources. If there was a sane man in the White House, one who would never ever do something which might result in war with Russia, that would not be a problem. Alas, just like Obama before him, Trump seems to think that he can win a game of nuclear chicken against Russia. But he cant. Let me be clear he: if pushed into a corner the Russian will fight, even if that means nuclear war. I have said this over and over again, there are two differences between the Americans and the Russians The Russians are afraid of war. The Americans are not. The Russians are ready for war. The Americans are not. The problem is that every sign of Russian caution and every Russian attempt to de-escalate the situation (be it in the Ukraine, with Turkey or in Syria) has always been interpreted by the West as a sign of weakness. This is what happens when there is a clash between a culture which places a premium on boasting and threatening and one which believes in diplomacy and negotiations. [Sidebar. The profound cultural differences between the USA and Russia are perfectly illustrated with the polar difference the two countries have towards their most advanced weapons systems. As soon as the Americans declassify one of their weapon systems they engage into a huge marketing campaign to describe it as the bestest of the bestest in the world (always, in the world as if somebody bothered to research this or even compare). They explain at length how awesome their technology is and how invincible it makes them. The perfect illustration is all the (now, in retrospect, rather ridiculous) propaganda about stealth and stealth aircraft. The Russians do the exact opposite. First, they try to classify it all. But then, when eventually they declassify a weapons system, they strenuously under-report its real capabilities even when it is quite clear that the entire planet already knows the truth! There have been any instances when Soviet disarmament negotiators knew less about the real Soviet capabilities than their American counterparts! Finally, when the Russian export their weapons systems, they always strongly degrade the export model, at least that was the model until the Russians sold the SU-30MKI to India which included thrust vectoring while the Russian SU-30 only acquired later with the SU-30SM model, so this might be changing. Ask yourself: did you ever hear about the Russian Kalibr cruise missile before their first use in Syria? Or did you know that Russia has had nuclear underwater missiles since the late 1970s capable of flying under water as speeds exceeding 230 miles per hour?] No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter Russia is in a very difficult situation and a very bad one. And she is very much alone. European are cowards. Latin Americans have more courage, but no means to put pressure on the USA. India hopes to play both sides. Japan and the ROK are US colonies. Australia and New Zealand belong to the ECHELON / FIVE EYES gang. Russia has plenty of friends in Africa, but they more or less all live under the American/French boot. Iran has already sacrificed more than any other country and taken the biggest risks. It would be totally unfair to ask the Iranians to do more. The only actor out there who can do something in China. If there is any hopes to avoid four more years of Obama-style nightmare it is for China to step in and tell the US to cool it. In the meantime Russia will walk a very fine like between various bad options. Her best hope, and the best hope of the rest of mankind, is that the US elites become so involved into fighting each other that this will leave very little time to do any foreign policy. Alas, it appears that Trump has figured out that one way to be smart (or so he thinks) in internal politics is to do something dumb in external politics (like attack Syria). That wont work. Maybe an impeachment of Trump could prove to be a blessing in disguise. If Mike Pence becomes President, he and his Neocons will have total power again and they wont have to prove that they are tough by doing stupid and dangerous things? Could President Pence be better than President Trump? I am afraid that it might. Especially if that triggers a deep internal crisis inside the USA. The next four years will be terrible, I am sorry to say. Our next hope however thin for somebody sane in the White House might be for 2020. Maybe Tulsi Gabbard will run on a campaign promise of peace and truly draining the swamp? Maybe America first will mean something if Gabbard says it? Right now she seems to be pretty much the only one refusing the accept the Assad did it nonsense . So maybe she can provide the mix of peace and progressive social policies so many Americans really want? Maybe she could become the first woman President for all the right, rather then wrong, reasons. I dont know. 2020 is still very, very far away, lets just hope we all make it to that date before some imbecile in DC decides that war with Russia is a good idea. What is certain is that the Democrat vs. Republican and Conservative vs Liberal dichotomy only serves to perpetuate a system which manages to betray the values of BOTH the Left and the Right. This is paradoxical because it is pretty darn clear that most Americans want their country to be at peace, to stop being constantly at war, and with civilized social and labor standards. Sure, the hardcore libertarians still believe that laisser-faire is a great solution, even if that hands all the power to corporations and even if that leaves the individual citizen defenseless against the oligarchy. But bet you that even hardcore libertarians would prefer statism (as they would say) with peace than statism with war. Likewise, many hardcore progressives want to severely limit the freedoms of many Americans (small business entrepreneurs, gun owners), but even they would prefer peace without rules and regulations than war without rules and regulations. So I think that the possibly unifying platform could be expressed in the notion of peace and civil rights. That is something which the vast majority of Americans can agree upon. Even the Black Lives Matter folks should agree to that kind of peace and civil rights platform. That, I think, ought to be the priority of the Federal government dismantle the war machine and dismantle the state repression machine: a full pull-out of US forces deployed worldwide combined with a full restoration of civil and human rights as they were before the 9/11 false flag. And let the States deal with all the other issues. Alas, I am afraid that the plutocracy in power will never allow that. The way the crushed Trump in one month tells me that they will do that to anybody who is not one of their own. So while hope is always a good thing, and while I like dreaming of a better future, I am not holding my breath. I find a sudden and brutal collapse of the Anglo-Zionist Empire followed by a break-up of the USA (as described here ) far more likely. We better prepare ourselves for some very tough times ahead. Our only consolation is that all the dramatic events taking place right now in the USA are signs of weakness. The US elites are turning on each other and while the Neocons have broken Trump, this will not stop the fratricidal war inside the US plutocracy. Look at the big picture, at how the empire is cracking at every seam and remember that all this is taking place because we are winning. Imperialism will die, discredited and hated by all those who will have to live through the upcoming collapse of the US-based AngloZionist Empire. Hopefully this time it will be the last empire in history and mankind will have learned its lesson (it would be about time!). The Essential Saker: from the trenches of the emerging multipolar world $27.95 The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. What's your response? - Scroll down to add / read comments Please read our Comment Policy before posting - It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. Click here to comment on our Facebook page There was unrest in the premises of University of Ibadan today (Tuesday) as the students of the institution protested the expulsion of three of their colleagues by the schools management and also the poor facilities in the university. According to the President of the Student Union Government, Mr. Ojo Oluwanifemi, told newsmen in Ibadan that students were being victimised by the school authority. They also called on the Federal Government to review the funding of the school because it is not enough to take care of the needs of the school. They urged the provision of facilities that will aid learning. Oluwanifemi told our correspondent that while Anyam Kingsley was expelled for insulting the vice-chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, on Facebook, Philip Olatinwo expelled for disrupting a party two years ago. Oluwanifemi said, Olatinwo explained that he was not among those who disrupted the party and that he was only unfortunate to be around the area while the act was being perpetrated. He said he was on his way to buy food when the disruption happened. But he was expelled on the ground that during the Senate probe, he was rude to the members. As the students union president of the school, I was supposed to be at the sitting, but I was prevented from the chamber. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) Professor Dapo Folorunsho Asaju, Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, ACU, Oyo State, has ordered that the school be shut. Prof Asajus directive may not be unconnected to a physical assault on him by male students at the weekend. A 300L student of the institution on condition of anonymity told DAILY POST Monday afternoon that the VC has equally ordered disciplinary action against the students. They are to appear on Tuesday before the Students Disciplinary Committee (SDC). Trouble started last Friday when some male students of Ibadan Hostel and JA (Joseph Adetiloye) Hostel allegedly fought over a female student. The VC was said to have directed internal security personnel to put the situation under control before it escalated. When security staff got there, the guys rather than stop the commotion continued, the source told our correspondent. Some students then poured water on the security personnel. Word got to the VC who decided to personally intervene. On his arrival, the students got violent and said he should leave. As the situation got tensed, some yet-to-be-identified poured water and thrash on him. Prof Asaju was so angry that he cursed them and vowed to take action. Again on Sunday during church service, some students whose phones were seized disrupted service in protest. The VC got up and said since the it appeared students were getting out of control, he would shut the school and punish any one indicted in recent incidents being investigated by the SDC. Responding to DAILY POST enquiry, Shina Bello, Deputy Bursar (Admin) denied any plan to shut the school. Im not aware of any assault on the VC. The school is not in session and students who have no genuine reason to be around should normally be in their homes. Less than 10 minutes after his denial, our source forwarded a text sent to all students by the VC, Prof Asaju. See screenshot below Source: Dailypost Former Nigerian First Lady, Patience Jonathan, on Monday visited the Maitama branch of the Skyebank in Abuja to withdraw part of her $5.9million recently unfrozen by a Lagos High Court. But she met a brickwall. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had procured a stay-of-execution of the judgement and also simultaneously filed an appeal against the judgment given last week on 6 April by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, News spread quickly that she visited the bank on Monday, following another visit on Friday 7 April. Unconfirmed reports said that she wanted to withdraw as much as $1million, but was given $100,000 by the bank. She returned at 10:00 a.m. and had a closed-door meeting with an Executive Director of the bank. She finally left the bank at 4:05 p.m. but declined to speak to newsmen who sought to know why she was there. One of her aides, who declined to disclose his name, told newsmen that everything was okay. A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday vacated its order which in 2016 froze the Skye Bank account of the ex-first lady. The account had a balance of $5.9 million dollars at the period. Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, set aside the No-Debit Order which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission earlier placed on the account on allegations that the money found in it was a proceed of crime. Patience Jonathans lawyer, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), had urged the court to unfreeze Jonathans account on the grounds that she was not a party in the suit leading to the freezing order. Citing judicial authorities, Adedipe contended that the suit was an abuse of court process as the court had no Jurisdiction to make an order against one who is not a party in a suit filed before the court. The EFCC did not file a response against Adedipes suit. Source: Guardian The Police in Akwa Ibom say two Turkish construction workers were abducted by gunmen in their hotel rooms at Eket, Eket Local Government of Akwa Ibom on Sunday. Mr Chukwu Okechukwu, an ASP, and public relations officer of the command, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Monday that the Turkish nationals worked for BKS Construction Company in Onna Local Government Area of the state. He said that they were seized at Airstrip Hotel in Eket by the gunmen. The state police command is working tirelessly to rescue the expatriates. The Commissioner of police has mobilised the anti-kidnapping unit and a special anti-crime unit to ensure that they are freed unhurt, he said. The police spokesman said at the time of their abduction, their identities, nationalities and work place were unknown. He said no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and no ransom demand made. NAN Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has said that the initiative of the trade blockade of Donbas had been organized in the interests of the Russian Federation. "We should call things as they are: the blockade, which was to ban Ukraine's access to its own resources - I call it economic and energy blockade - was in the interests of the Russian Federation. I think this is another qualitative special operation of the enemy on our territory," he said at a press conference on the results of the year of the government's performance in Kyiv on Tuesday. According to Groysman, the one who conceived this, who was the leader of this blockade, he "absolutely clearly played along with the Russians." An organizations domain name may be its most important asset, and losing control over it affects more than its website. For a large Brazilian bank, a domain hijacking operation last fall resulted in attackers stealing payment card data, taking over customer accounts, and infecting customers with malware. While the actual bank heist began on Oct. 22, 2016, at around 1 p.m., the preparations for the attack were underway at least five months in advance, said Kaspersky Lab researchers Fabio Assolini and Dmitry Bestuzhev at last weeks Security Analyst Summit. The sophisticated cybercrime group gained access to the banks domain registrar and modified the Domain Name System (DNS) records for the banks all 36 online properties. [ Expand your security career horizons with these essential certifications for smart security pros. | Discover how to secure your systems with InfoWorld's Security Report newsletter. ] DNS translates human-friendly domain names to the IP address of the servers hosting the website or the application. By changing the DNS record, the attacker can reroute all users to some other destination than the actual server even though the user is using the correct web address. In this massive bank fraud operation, the group sent the banks customers to near-perfect copies of the banks sites hosted on Google Cloud Platform. The researchers originally thought the attack was simply another site-hijacking-and-phishing operation, but quickly realized the attackers were interested in more than harvesting login credentials and downloading malware: They had taken over the banks entire internet presence. All domains, including corporate domains, were in control of the bad guy, Assolini said. Complete pwnage The attackers, believed to operate out of Brazil, interfered with the banks online banking, mobile app, point-of-sale terminals, ATMs, and investment transactions. By routing the ATM and point-of-sale systems, the attackers collected payment card details for anyone who used their credit or debit cards during the attack window. Anyone who attempted to access the banks sites were infected with malware, which stole login information and email contact lists from Outlook and Exchange. The attackers phished credentials from everyone logging into the online banking application. A phishing campaign targeted specific banking clients. It took five to six hours for the banks security team to regain control. Even worse, the bank couldnt notify its customers of the attacks because the attackers controlled the domains used by the banks email and FTP servers. Employees couldnt even communicate with each other. What were they going to do, use Yahoo? Hi, I am the security officer of your bank. Yeah, thats not going to work, said Bestuzhev, director of Kasperskys research and analysis team in Latin America. While researchers still dont know the full extent of the damage, the attack is a wake-up call for banks and other organizations to consider how the insecurity of their DNS could result in a complete loss of control of their online presence. If your DNS is under the control of cybercriminals, youre screwed, said Bestuzhev. This kind of domain hijacking isnt unusual, as attackers tamper with DNS records to send users to malicious websites. For example, back in 2013, the Syrian Electronic Army successfully hijacked The New York Times domain to a page displaying its logo. Experts have long warned that DNS is vulnerable to attack and needs better security, but those warnings frequently get drowned out with other, more immediate security concerns. This is a known threat to the internet but weve never seen it exploited in the wild on such a big scale, said Bestuzhev. It all began with the domain name The attackers compromised the banks DNS provider Registro.br and gained control of the banks DNS records, but the researchers still dont know what method they used. Back in January, the registrar had disclosed a cross-site request forgery vulnerability in its website that would have let a malicious actor authenticate to accounts, but the registrar claimed the flaw was not used during the bank heist, Bestuzhev said. The initial attack vector could have been as mundane as a spear phishing email sent to employees at the registrar. If the victim employee had access to the DNS tables, the damage the attackers could have caused would be far more widespread than taking over a single bank, Besuzhev said. Because the bank didnt use two-factor authentication, though the registrar offered the security option, the attackers were able to access the account and change the information for all the DNS records. Two-factor authentication could have prevented the compromise or at least warned the banks defenders that something unexpected was happening. Elements of the operation With the domain under their control, the attackers needed a place to direct the users, so they went to the cloud. The banks desktop and mobile website domains were painstakingly cloned on Google Cloud and used valid certificates issued in the banks name by free certificate authority Lets Encrypt. The sites looked the same as always, and the browser showed the correct URL, HTTPS, and the closed padlock icon. No wonder the users were fooled. Users visiting the banks website during the course of the attack were infected by a malicious .JAR file masquerading as an update to the banks Trusteer security plugin. Once installed, the malware used Avenger, a legitimate penetration testing tool, to disable existing security software installed on the victims computer. A different module collected login credentials, email and FTP information, and email contact lists from Outlook and Exchange. Another part of the malware looked to see if the victim had accounts with other banks in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Japan, Portugal, Italy, China, Argentina, the Cayman Islands, and the United States and attempted to harvest those login credentials. The choice of Google Cloud was interesting. Since the attackers infrastructure had better performance and reliability than the banks own datacenter operations, IT never got warnings from customers or employees about slow performance or sluggish service, Besuzhev said. There was one silver lining for the banks defenders: The banks mobile app used certificate pinning, a security mechanism designed to prevent attackers from impersonating websites with fraudulent certificates. As a result, attackers were unable to cause much damage via the app. DNS needs to be securedperiod The internet relies on DNS, and DNS is notoriously fragile. Many organizations rely on a third-party provider for their DNS infrastructurethe outage with Dyn last fall highlighted that fact very clearlywhich makes them particularly vulnerable to this type of attack. Regardless of who controls the DNS, the organization still has to enable the security protections. Not all registrars offer two-factor authentication to protect the accounts, but even for those that do, customers dont bother to turn on that security layer. Some registrars offer DNSSEC, a type of registry lock to prevent DNS records from easily being modified, but it is not widely used. While the bank ultimately regained control, likely by calling (or faxing!) the registrar to fix the DNS records, the victim machines are still infected with malware and could still be stealing information from victims, the Kaspersky researchers said. To give a sense of scale, the researchers described the bank as a large institution with more than $25 billion in assets, 5 million customers worldwide, 12,000 employees, 1,000 endpoints, and 500 branch locations in Brazil, Argentina, the United States, and the Cayman Islands. Organizations should have incident response teams dedicated to keeping an eye on the domains and DNS issues so that they can detect these kinds of changes faster, Bestuzhev said. If all the attacker has to do is to take over the domain name, then it doesnt really matter how locked down the network is, how secure the application and website is, or what layers of security the defenders may have in place. The five largest publicly traded, U.S.-based self-storage real estate investment trusts (REITs)CubeSmart, Extra Space Storage Inc., Life Storage Inc., National Storage Affiliates Trust and Public Storage Inc.have announced when and how they will reveal their earnings statements for the quarter that ended March 31. CubeSmart CubeSmart will release its first-quarter financial results after the market closes on April 27. An accompanying conference call will be held at 11 a.m. ET on April 28. A live webcast of the conference call will be available from the investor-relations page of CubeSmart.com. The dial-in numbers are 877.506.3281 for U.S. callers, 855.669.9657 for Canadian callers and 412.902.6677 for other international callers. To avoid delays in joining the call, participants can pre-register and receive a special dial-in number and PIN at http://dpregister.com/10104336. After the live webcast, the call will remain available on the company website for 30 days. In addition, a telephonic replay of the call will be available through May 28. The replay dial-in number is 877.344.7529 for domestic callers, 855.669.9658 for Canadian callers and 412.317.0088 for other international callers. The conference number is 10104336. CubeSmart owns or manages 834 self-storage facilities across the United States. Its operating portfolio comprises more than 52 million square feet. Extra Space Storage Inc. Extra Space will release its financial results for the quarter that ended March 31 after the market closes on April 26. The company will host a conference call at 1 p.m. ET on April 27 to discuss the results. Hosting the call will be Joe Margolis, CEO, and Scott Stubbs, executive vice president and chief financial officer. During the call, company officers will review performance, discuss recent events, and conduct a question-and-answer period for registered financial analysts. All other participants will have listen-only capability. The phone number for the call is 855.791.2026 for U.S. callers and 631.485.4899 for international callers. The participant passcode is 2211675. The conference-call playback, which will be available through May 2, will be accessible at 855.859.2056 in the United States or 404.537.3406 internationally. The participant passcode is 2211675. The conference call will also be available on the investor-relations page of ExtraSpace.com. Those who wish to listen online should visit the website at least 15 minutes before the event start time to register and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available online for 30 days. The full text of the earnings report and supplemental data will also be available on the company website immediately following the earnings release to the wire services on April 26. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space owns or operates 1,427 self-storage properties in 38 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. The companys properties comprise approximately 960,000 units and 107 million square feet of rentable space. Life Storage Inc. Life Storage, formerly Sovran Self Storage Inc., will issue its quarterly results after the market closes on May 3. The company will conduct a conference call to review the financial results on May 4 at 9 a.m. ET. The call can be accessed at 877.737.7051 within the United States or 201.689.8878 internationally. Participants can pre-register and receive a passcode and unique PIN at http://bit.ly/2nVbsge. Management will accept questions from registered financial analysts after prepared remarks. All others are encouraged to listen to the call via webcast from the investor-relations page at LifeStorage.com. The webcast will be archived for 90 days. A telephone replay will be available for 30 days after the meeting by calling 877.481.4010 and entering conference ID 10314. Based in Buffalo, N.Y., Sovran operates more than 650 self-storage facilities in 29 states, under the Life Storage and Uncle Bob's Self Storage brand names. Its portfolio of owned and managed facilities comprises about 45 million square feet. National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSAT) NSAT, a Maryland REIT, will reveal its earnings statement for the quarter that ended March 31 after the market closes on May 3. The company will conduct a conference call to review the financial results on May 4 at 1 p.m. ET. The call can be accessed at 877.407.9711 within the United States or 412.902.1014 internationally. Management will accept questions from registered financial analysts after prepared remarks. All others are encouraged to listen to the call via webcast from the investor-relations page at NationalStorageAffiliates.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived for 30 days. A telephone replay will be available by calling 877.660.6853 in the United States or 201.612.7415 internationally. The conference ID number is 13646795. Headquartered in Greenwood, Colo., NSAT is a self-administered, self-managed REIT focused on the acquisition, operation and ownership of self-storage properties within the top 100 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas throughout the United States The company has 452 self-storage facilities in 23 states comprising approximately 28 million net rentable square feet. It's owned by its affiliate operators, who are contributing their interests in their self-storage assets over the next few years as their current mortgage debt matures. Public Storage Public Storage will release information about its first-quarter 2017 earnings on April 26. A conference call is scheduled for April 27 at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the results. The dial-in numbers for the live conference call are 866.406.5408 for U.S. callers and 973.582.2770 for international callers. The conference ID is 4988562. The live webcast will be available through the investor-relations page of PublicStorage.com and accessible on demand through May 11. For the conference-call replay, the domestic dial-in number is 800.585.8367, the international number is 404.537.3406, and the conference ID number is 4988562. Based in Glendale, Calif., Public Storage has interests in 2,348 self-storage facilities in 38 states, with approximately 152 million net rentable square feet. Operating under the Shurgard brand name, the company also has 219 facilities in seven European countries, with approximately 12 million net rentable square feet. London is creating a new fintech center to rival the financial hub at Canary Wharf. Innovate Finance, a trade group for U.K.s global fintech community, plans to open a new office in Broadgate Estate, an area under redevelopment near Londons Liverpool Street station in the heart of the city, according to Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Wintermeyer. The group is expanding to the new hub for financial, technology and professional services firms, without giving up its first home at Canary Wharf in East London, he said in an interview. Canary Wharf, the bustling business district where Barclays, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and HSBC Holdings have offices, has been a popular venue, closer to the suburbs, for fintech firms to set up shop. But now theyre being lured to the City of London, near traditional financial firms, such as UBS Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, which reside in the financial district and historic center of Englands capital. A new city fintech cluster will open in the coming months, Mark Boleat, chairman of the policy and resources committee at the City of London Corporation, the local authority supporting the areas activities, announced Monday at the Innovate Finance Global Summit. The development marks just the first, but a significant step in the evolution of City of London, according to Boleat. With Innovate Finance moving to the City, we are expecting that to encourage more people in the area, he said in an interview following his speech at the summit in London. Last year, Switzerlands UBS moved into a large building in the Broadgate Estate area, which is being redeveloped before the opening of a station for Londons Crossrail, a new railway under construction to ease congestion. Several other companies are likely to move to the new campus, Boleat said in the interview following his presentation, noting the discussions are ongoing. A spokeswoman for the Broadgate development didnt immediately provide comment. Innovate Finance is based at the renowned Level 39 complex in Canary Wharfs Canada Square tower, sharing building space with about 213 other fintech companies, some backed by global banks and venture capital firms. Level 39, which opened in 2013, is the largest dedicated fintech space in Europe, occupying three floors at One Canada Square. We will stay at our hub in Level 39, but are looking to set up a campus in the City, Wintermeyer said. The City of London has a bold vision for fintech, recognizing the need for an innovative center bringing fintech, regtech and insuretech firms - businesses that provide new technology for finance, regulation and insurance - together with professional services groups and lawyers who can assist with their development, he said. The City of London funds 30 percent of Innovate Finances expenses, according to Wintermeyer, who said the trade association is planning to have a pop-up presence in several global cities in next three years, including New York, Mumbai and Shenzhen. I think well end up with sites not just in Canary Wharf and Broadgate, but pop-up campuses in New York and hubs in Europe and Asia, he said. Asif Faruque, spokesman for Canary Wharf Groups Level 39, said he supports Innovate Finances decision to embrace a multi-location strategy. Patrick Groenendijk has left the Chicago-based asset manager after being named global head of equity strategy in May. Northern Trusts top equity strategist has left the firm after less than a year in his role. Patrick Groenendijk, global head of equity strategy, left the Chicago-based asset manager on March 31, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. A Northern Trust spokesman confirmed the departure, saying the firm hasnt found a replacement. Groenendijk declined to comment. The equities offerings at Northern Trust, which had $942 billion in assets under management at the end of last year, are focused primarily on factor-based strategies, which screen for such risk factors as value and quality to produce excess returns. Groenendijk joined the firm in 2014, after nearly nine years as chief investment officer of Pensioenfonds Vervoer in the Netherlands. He was hired to build out Northern Trusts outsourced CIO business, and in May, was appointed to lead the firms equities strategy. Before joining Pensioenfonds Vervoer in 2005, Groenendijk was a client relationship manager in Amsterdam for Barclays Global Investors, and held roles at Dutch pension funds PME and ABP, according to his LinkedIn bio page. BlackRock bought Barclays Global Investors, the British banks fund management business, in 2009. A continuing court saga between rival brokers could ultimately determine the extent to which companies in the U.K. can hold departing employees to their non-compete contracts. A development in a UK court hearing this week may ultimately make it tougher for firms to enforce non-compete agreements, which are meant to prevent departing employees from starting new jobs under certain circumstances. Per the development, UK firms may have to prove that certain client relationships were cultivated and developed specifically by a departing staff member while working at the company if the firms are to successfully enforce contracts that prevent employees from taking customers with them when they leave the company. Thats pending the outcome of a continuing high court battle between two of the worlds largest interdealer brokers, ICAP and BGC Partners, which is scheduled for a showdown at the end of the month. ICAP is trying to enforce a non-compete agreement with Dean Berry, the former head of its Global Broking e-Commerce business, whom ICAP alleges breached a clause in the agreement when he joined rival firm BGC. Berrys ICAP contract prevented him from approaching former clients with whom he had built a relationship for nine months after leaving the business. It covered all relationships developed in the year before the termination of his employment, according to court documents. Berrys attorneys argue that ICAP is trying to bar him from speaking with any clients with whom the firm had a relationship and not just the clients he specifically developed and that this would prevent him from being able to have a career in the industry. In Tuesdays hearing ahead of the trial, scheduled to start on April 26 Justice Finola Mary OFarrell said the onus is on the plaintiff to identify which clients have formed a relationship with the staff member that is leaving. In court proceedings on Tuesday, Berrys legal team challenged ICAP to prove which relationships belong to their former employee after the attorneys suggested many relationships were, in fact, not uniquely his and were long-standing relationships with other senior directors at the company. Today, Mrs. Justice OFarrell told the legal team representing ICAP that the lawyers must hand over details of all expenses and meetings for Seth Johnson, CEO of ICAPs EBS Brokertec business, and Don McClumpha, deputy CEO of Asia, for the 12 months ending on July 26, 2016. Justice OFarrell said this would enable all parties to identify the relationships that were formed by the business and those formed specifically by Berry during his time at the firm. Johnson and McClumpha did not respond to a request for comment. In my judgment it seems to me that this is a legitimate request from the first defendant [Berry], the judge said. It is very much a matter for the [plaintiff] to identify the clients that are alleged to have formed a relationship with the first defendant, and this should be straightforward. ICAP will now have to provide the names of the people that McClumpha and Johnson met with over that 12 month period and specify whether the type of meeting was a lunch, outing at a sporting event, or something else. The business will also have to explain how frequently meetings took place. Melanie Stancliffe, an expert in employment law and partner at British law firm Irwin Mitchell, says the recent trend UK courts has been to avoid enforcing agreements that prevent departing workers from taking new jobs, as long as there are sufficient protections from clients being solicited away. When asked to comment, a spokesman for TP ICAP said, We do not comment on litigation matters or those of a confidential nature. BGC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Dean Berry and his legal representatives at law firm Doyle Clayton did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This content is from: Video The president will take a more aggressive stance with China and Russia if Republicans win the House or the Senate, according to BCA Researchs Matt Gertken. Partnerships between specialist and general insurance brokerages are going to be key to the success of the industry moving forward, one broker has said.As business risks continue to evolve and develop into more complex areas such as trade credit, cyber and management liabilities, general insurance brokers should look to team with specialists to help grow their businesses.Prudence Chang, sales manager of Victoria and Tasmania for National Credit Insurance Brokers, told Insurance Business that partnering between firms will be important over the coming yearsSpecialised brokers, they are specialists for a reason, Chang said.I do feel that we need to open up our thought process for brokers without borders. A border isnt just the business that you are working in. You can become friends with other brokers and use their experience and their businesses to be able to increase your own book.Chang is one of a handful of brokers to appear on Insurance Businesss Elite Broker list and became chairperson of the Victoria/Tasmania branch of NIBA s Young Professional committee last year.In her chairperson role, Chang noted that the committee will look to further develop the idea of brokers without borders at networking events over the course of 2017.In the future, brokers will need to understand that they cannot be everything to every client and will need to look towards partnerships as client expectations see an increased desire for a wider range of expertise.With disruption a watch-word for the insurance industry at the moment, Chang is not the first to stress the importance of broker partnerships.At the recent Insurtech Conference hosted by ANZIIF Lambros Lambrou , CEO of Aon Risk Solutions, said that with technology and insurtech on the rise, brokers will need to partner up. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has said the government would propose the parliament to abolish taxation of pensions for working pensioners from October 1. "Our reform foresees that from October 1 we will offer to abolish taxation of pensions for working pensioners," he said at a press conference on the results of the year of the government's activity in Kyiv. At the same time, the prime minister stressed the only thing necessary is support of the Ukrainian parliament. He predicted that from October 1 pensions for Ukrainians will be increased by UAH 200-1,000. "We will "modernize" pensions for 5.6 million Ukrainian citizens. About 1.308 million Ukrainian citizens will receive an increase in pensions up to UAH 200, some 1.208 million will get the increase in pensions by UAH 200 to UAH 500 per month, while almost 2 million Ukrainian citizens will get UAH 500 to UAH 1,000 higher pensions per month," Groysman said. He added that pensions for another 1.1 million pensioners will be raised by more than UAH 1,000. Pepsis reputation is currently in the can and the fallout from its controversial Kendell Jenner advertisement demonstrates the importance for corporations of considering reputation insurance.The soda giant pulled an ad last week after it was widely mocked and criticized for appearing to trivialize protests for social justice causes.Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize, PepsiCo said. The company said it was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding, but would be removing the content and halting any further rollout.The ad shows Jenner, a member of the Keeping up with the Kardashians reality TV family, stepping away from a modeling shoot to join a crowd of smiling, young protesters. The protesters cheer after Jenner hands a can of Pepsi to a police officer, who takes a sip.Critics say the image of Jenner handing the officer a Pepsi evoked a photo of Black Lives Matter protester Ieshia Evans approaching an officer at a demonstration in Baton Rouge last year. The website Gothamist expressed a common sentiment online in calling the ad gloriously tone-deaf.Among others mocking the ad was Bernice King, who tweeted a photo of her father, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., being confronted by a police officer at a protest march. If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi, the tweet said.But despite the very public ridicule, the soda company may end up dodging a financial bullet.Nir Kossovsky, CEO of Pittsburgh-based Steel City Re, which specializes in reputation insurance, does not think this Pepsi debacle would be bad enough to cause insurers to need to step in.At least, he said, not this time.Pepsi has stepped into the area of race, religion, sex, topical issues, and politics now, he said. Its bad judgment, in terms of trying to hijack a very sensitive issue for what is otherwise a brown, sugary drink. But its not as much a function of a failure in process in the big sense of corporate governance as a failure in some marketers lack of appreciation of hot buttons.Now does it actually have an impact on Pepsis reputational value or is it merely a lot of noise that has triggered a lot of people to vent and, when theyre done venting, they go back and drink their Pepsi? I would suggest [this is the case].However, if an event was to be of enough significance to have a material impact on an institutions reputational value, it could trigger an insurance policy if the company holds one.What this [Pepsi incident] does do, it will be in peoples mind a bit, Kossovsky said. Everyone is allowed to screw up once. [But] if it happens a second time we come to the question, is this just a screw-up or is this some sort of systemic issue or bias within the organisation, a cultural failure? And the moment that question is raised, and we move from a stupid ad to an ethically-challenged organisation where governance is not sensitive to the importance of this issue and is allowed to repeat itself through actions by the marketing department, then there may be material changes, in fact, in the way stakeholders interact with the firm and consequently damage arising from reputational crisis.If customers boycotted the product as a result of publically-perceived enterprise-level failure, for example, then a policy could pay out, Kossovsky added. Anything that reduces revenue, creates cost, or otherwise impacts income or reduces the companys reputational value, could be grounds to claim on a reputation policy.As Pepsi illustrated so well: damage from reputation risk is at least partially self-inflicted, by definition, he said. Reputation risk is the risk of disappointment. Disappointment is the consequence of failure to meet expectations. Pepsis stakeholders saw the advert and concluded that Pepsi should have known better. And, as is custom today, they piled on Twitter to share their disappointment.The open question is whether stakeholder disappointment persists and leads to actions adverse to Pepsis economic interests. additional content from Canadian Press The insurance operation of XL Catlin has appointed Nancy Bewlay as global chief underwriting officer for it casualty insurance arm.Bewlays appointment is effective April 17.As global chief underwriting officer, Bewlay will assume underwriting and portfolio management for all of XL Catlins casualty insurance coverage around the world. She will be based in Stamford, Connecticut and will report to chief executive of insurance underwriting Neil Robertson.Bewlay has more than 25 years of experience in reinsurance, with a focus on primary and excess specialty casualty lines. She was most recently managing director and head of casualty for the US and Canada for Swiss Re Nancys intense casualty underwriting experience will be invaluable in monitoring our casualty exposure worldwide, refining our underwriting performance, and growing our casualty businesses by developing innovative casualty coverage that addresses our clients changing business risks, said Robertson.Bewlay is a graduate of Catholic University. She began her career in insurance as an underwriter for General Star Management Company, in the excess/umbrella division. Independent broker Heffernan Insurance has announced its acquisition of Arizona-based National Truck Services Group (NTSG), which boasts expertise in insuring trucking firms.The broker said it has purchased the assets of NTSG, which has headquarters in Phoenix, effective the start of April. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.PRNewswire said in a report that NTSG point personnel will oversee Heffernans office in the locale. Specifically, sales manager AJ Planeta and commercial lines manager Kathy Herter will facilitate the transition following the acquisition.NTSG has over 30 years of industry experience with a team of experts serving the trucking industry in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Nevada, which Heffernan considers a pronounced enhancement to its niche practice in the transportation sector.Were confident that the teams breadth of experience in the trucking industry, coupled with the access to an array of solutions to fulfil their buyers needs, will enable them to drive our growth in Arizona and beyond, said Mike Heffernan, Heffernan president and chief executive.In 2016, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) reported robust prospects for the sector.According to our data, trucking revenues topped $700 billion for a second straight year, setting an all-time record of $726.4 billion in 2015, while trucks moved more than 10 billion tons of freight, ATA chief economist Bob Costello in a statement published on the organizations website.He added: While the first half of 2016 has been challenging for the industry, trucking is coming off two very strong years and we are optimistic about the future. In the months since Hurricane Matthew, Dawn Sawyer has watched her 9-year-old, Sam, bite his nails down to nubs. Shes never seen him do that before. As Sam remembers it, he slept right through the storm. He knows the water was high that night, but he only worried about a swaying tree outside his bedroom window. Dawn recalls it differently. Sam woke up in the middle of the night when she did. They could hear yelling in their Windsor Woods, Virginia Beach, Va., neighborhood, and when they looked outside, they saw bobbing flashlights from people trying to wade out of their flooded homes. The Sawyers stayed inside without power for a day before walking to a friends house. When they returned, Dawn noticed Sam seemed nervous. He doesnt spend as much time downstairs, where the floor is still concrete and the smell of water damage and mold lingers. And Dawn knows Sam has been waking up in the middle of the night to check on his mom and dad, as he did that a few years ago when she had cancer. I felt terrible, Dawn said. We couldnt reassure him that it cant happen again because we dont know. Six months after Hurricane Matthew swept through the area, destroying homes and upending lives, the Sawyers are one family among hundreds still trying to scrape together some shreds of normalcy. Many live in one of the hardest-hit areas, Windsor Woods. About 1,400 properties flooded in the storm, 250 of them in that neighborhood. Residents have criticized the city for its slow and limited response, angry that the rebuilding process has dragged on. In a recent interview, Deputy City Manager Steve Cover said officials responded as fast as they could but are limited in what they can give homeowners to help. The city, he said, has funneled millions of dollars into recovery efforts by replacing city property, helping displaced residents and committing money to fix drainage problems. But many people are falling short of what they need to finish all the renovations and get their lives back on track. And many think the city should help them with that. The Sawyers house had flooding on the bottom floor. Dawn and her husband, Chris, are still dealing with the insurance and mortgage paperwork to finish the repairs. The carpet has been ripped up and some of the walls replaced, but the family cant find a contractor that will work within the requirements of their mortgage company to finish the job. Sam doesnt mind much that his house isnt totally fixed yet. Compared to some of his friends, he said, he was lucky. Most of his neighbors and friends are back home now. For a few months, the street was eerily empty. It was really weird, he said. No one else was around. It was pretty much a ghost town. Now, kids are playing in the street again next to industrial-sized dumpsters and storage pods. I think hes OK, Dawn said. But, she added: He wont forget it. Before Hurricane Matthew, Michelle Michaelian helped organize aid trips to far-flung locales for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. When most people think of mission trips to help to rebuild storm-ravaged communities, they probably envision Guatemala or Haiti, or maybe post-Hurricane Katrina Louisiana, she said. But then devastation came to her doorstep. This is home for me. When youre in this kind of work and it happens here, this is our disaster, said Michaelian, who had a day job as an office manager at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Our kids go to school with these kids. We go to the grocery store with these kids. We go to church with these people. Before long, shed swapped her day job for a mission in Hampton Roads, putting in 70-hour weeks to keep a steady stream of Methodist volunteers flowing into the area. They joined the nonprofits and religious charities that rushed to fill the gap once federal aid dried up. One recent Saturday, a crew from Herndon replaced the insulation under a house on Little Neck Road. The basement and crawlspace had flooded during the storm and the insulation was infused with mold. The family didnt realize it until the childrens respiratory problems forced multiple trips to urgent care, Michaelian said. With everything shed seen of disasters elsewhere, Michaelian saw Matthew coming not the specific storm, but the scenario. It was a matter of time for all of us living here. We got lucky until now, she said. Were already planning for the next one. Jakki Santellas home felt brand-new last October. The month before, she and her husband finished renovations they had to start because of a sewage backup. They redid their bottom floor like a beach cottage, with bamboo flooring and quartz countertops. Then the hurricane struck. Water seeped from underneath the floors as neighborhood drains backed up and her street filled with water. The Santellas were out that night, but they knew Windsor Woods often flooded in heavy rain. When they waded back to their house through waist-high water the next morning, it was clear their newly renovated home was ruined. They could make do in the upstairs of the 1970s-era split-level house, but the first floor was unusable. With three kids, a full-time job and a full course load in nursing school, Jakki decided to go home despite the damage. We were trying to keep life as normal as possible, she said. Today the couple are still working on repairs. This time, there is no bamboo just regular flooring that wont cost so much to replace, Jakki said. Theres a maze of paperwork to navigate, between the insurance and mortgage companies and the bank. The couple dipped into their retirement savings and fell behind on their mortgage payments because Jakki had to take so much time off work to make her home livable. And Christmas was more sparse than it has been in past years. I just feel so heartbroken, she said. You dont plan for this. Jakki tried to get help from the city the week after the storm when a Disaster Recovery Center was set up to help with immediate needs such as food, housing and clothing. While she could live in her house and had clothes, most of her food had gone bad. But there werent many options at the center besides public assistance, and the Santellas dont qualify. A friend bought them groceries that week. The neighbors were the most help, Jakki said. Linda Reynolds was due for retirement in January, but after Hurricane Matthew, she has put it off several times. Everything has changed in our life, she said. Im not so sure Im going to be able to retire. She and her husband, Curtis, wanted to spend some time in the home they own in West Virginia and go to California to see Curtis family. But even casual traveling might be out of the budget now, she said. Curtis has always fixed things around the house, but this is his biggest project yet. He spends most of his days in their Windsor Woods ranch home ripping up flooring, tearing out walls and cleaning water damage. The Reynolds have put tens of thousands of dollars into their home. Still, about $50,000 worth of work needs to be done, Linda estimated. She worries her husbands work wont be enough and theyll be stuck in their home, dealing with flooding when they should be enjoying retirement. The biggest thing is that, once we get the house together, is if its going to be able to sell, she said. Curt and I will survive. If worst comes to worst, we can just lock up the house and go to West Virginia. Linda has lived in the home since 1989. She had never seen flooding like Hurricane Matthew brought, but noticed it get worse over the years. I think the city dropped the ball a long time ago, she said. I want them to do something so this doesnt happen to our neighborhood again. Welcome to half a house, David Crawford announced as he walked into his home of 31 years. With no floors and walls torn down to the studs, the house on Forest Trail in the Bow Creek area looks like its being built from scratch. Only one bathroom door still hangs inside, showing how far the flood waters rose 18 inches. The demolition has been a family affair, with Crawford tearing out carpeting and drywall with his sons, siblings and in-laws. Since October theyve filled five dumpsters with trash and three storage units with salvaged materials. The family lost two cars. Furniture will have to be replaced, including kitchen appliances and the couch where Crawford huddled with his wife, son and dogs to avoid the rising waters. Crawfords wifes wedding dress, stored in a chest on the floor, was ruined. Crawford had flood insurance, and after a month, an insurance adjuster finally arrived from Florida. As he went back and forth with Crawford, the family waited in a house without interior walls or floors. Some of those nights that got down to 20 (degrees), with no insulation in the walls, the heat couldnt keep up, Crawford said. This winter, Crawford bought a trailer secondhand just to have a place to eat and sleep while the house was waiting to be overhauled. Its parked on the front lawn, next to the dumpster. Contractors have only just started rewiring the electrical system and installing a new fireplace and AC unit. In the kitchen, at a stove that stands alone, Crawford stirred pasta into boiling water and said he hopes the family will be able to move back into the house by the end of April. Nobody in their right mind thought it would take this long. Information from: The Virginian-Pilot Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Flood Hurricane Numbers Virginia Starbucks Corp. will provide Chinese workers with health insurance that extends coverage to their parents, a unique offering by the coffeehouse chain that may be used by more than 10,000 people to treat conditions such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimers. The new policy is a response to traditional values in China, the company said, as children often care for their parents and grandparents in a society that doesnt have a comprehensive safety net for the elderly. The plan, covering 30 critical illnesses and some surgeries, will be available starting in June, Executive Chairman Howard Schultz said. This is the first time weve done anything like this, and the reason for that is that it was clear there was an emotionally driven concern among partners about their ability to take care of their parents, Schultz said in an interview in Beijing. I heard firsthand very emotionally driven, tragic stories about whats taking place with the parents who got sick, and many passed away. The program addresses a critical need for an aging population thats contending with increasing rates of major diseases from cancer to heart ailments. Its also a strategic move to retain employees, many of them recent college graduates in low-skill jobs, and create goodwill toward the company at a time of increasing political tensions between the U.S and China. Domestically, Starbucks has moved to improve employees benefits. In 2015, the company said it would offer full tuition for workers to get an online degree from Arizona State University. Its also loosened its dress code, and offers one free pound of coffee a week all in an effort to appease and retain talent. Starbucks shares have gained 4.4 percent this year through Mondays close. On Tuesday, they fell less than 1 percent to $57.51 in New York trading. Pro-Chinese Image This insurance move is about recruiting and retaining talent but also about creating an image of Starbucks that is pro-China, pro-Chinese, said Shaun Rein, managing director of the China Market Research Group in Shanghai. If there are bilateral tensions and Starbucks doesnt have good public relations and a good image in China, they become a target for protests. The swelling burden to pay for illnesses is stressing Chinas government-run health insurance programs, which provide basic coverage for 95 percent of its 1.4 billion people. Families in China can still face catastrophic medical bills for costly treatments not covered by public insurance, and the government has long sought private companies to fill that gap. When Starbucks approached the countrys insurers on the plan, they were often met with surprise, said Belinda Wong, chief executive officer for Starbucks China business. There wasnt such a program in place and one had to be customized for Starbucks, according to the company. The Starbucks plan complements the existing China Social Medical Insurance Program. Families are given a lump sum upon diagnosis of a covered illness, and the patient will receive subsidies for treatments for as many as three years. The program will cover a significant percentage of total medical costs, according to the company. Private Insurance Parents must be younger than 75 and reside in mainland China to qualify, the company said. Starbucks will pay the full premiums for eligible workers those whove been employed by the company for at least two years. The company has about 40,000 employees in China, Schultz said. The plan was devised after employee surveys found that 70 percent of workers were concerned about the health of their elderly parents, according to the company. Starbucks also noticed an increasing number of requests for financial assistance from employees to help cover parents health costs. Once we sit down and listen to those stories, we could not be a bystander, Schultz said. The private health-insurance sector in China is expanding rapidly: Premium income for commercial health insurers jumped by almost 68 percent in 2016. Policies offering a one-time payment in case of specified major illnesses, such as when the customer is diagnosed with specific types of cancer, currently dominate Chinas commercial health-insurance market, according to an August report by Boston Consulting Group Inc. and Munich RE. Strategic Investment The plan is a multimillion-dollar investment annually, the company said. Starbucks said it was designed by one of Chinas biggest insurance companies, though it didnt name the insurer. The move is a strategic one for Starbucks as many multinational companies in China are planning how to contain the fallout if President Donald Trump implements policies that affect business ties or trade with that nation. Trump and China President Xi Jinping met last week for the first time in Florida, and the leaders agreed to a 100-day plan to discuss trade. Trump previously vowed to close the trade deficit with China, which reached $347 billion last year. Schultz reiterated that China is the most important market for the company ahead. Starbucks generated about 14 percent of last fiscal years revenue in Asia, including China, compared with about 6 percent three years earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. We are playing a long game, Schultz said. Starbucks is here to stay. We believe theres a very significant opportunity to build long-term growth. With assistance from Leslie Patton. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics China Ebix Europe, the electronic messaging communications specialists for the global re/insurance market, announced that insurer Beazley is the latest carrier to join its EbixExchange accounting platform. Using ACORD standards, the platform adds transparency and accelerates the accounting and settlement process, while allowing the insurer to receive and respond to electronic back office transactions (EBOT) messages, regardless of location, said Ebix in a statement. Beazley was introduced to EBOT after it was given free access to Willis Towers Watsons Willis Accounting platform, also built by Ebix Europe, Ebix said. Beazley worked closely with Ebix Europe to implement EBOT messaging with participating brokers, providing a common market gateway solution for E-accounting with brokers, through our participation in the Ruschlikon* UK Implementation Group, commented Saad Jassani, Underwriting and Claims Operations, Beazley. This offers us a standardized business process that can be rolled out across our global credit control teams in the UK, USA, Germany and Singapore, Jassani added. The new process will allow upfront query and resolution on payment amounts prior to funds being transferred by the broker, helping reduce our unallocated cash. The first broker that we are using this service with is Willis, with Guy Carpenter and JLT among other brokers we will engage with in 2017, Jassani went on to say. Beazley quickly realized that there were other brokers outside the Willis Accounting platform who were also enabled to send them EBOT messages, said James Pring, head of Sales, Ebix Europe. They saw the potential to improve internal processes, remove unallocated cash and receive money in a quicker fashion. Future plans include connecting with the remaining brokers and addressing ways to integrate the data with back office systems to fully automate the process, Pring continued. Before the launch of the Willis Accounting platform in 2015, there were around 50 entities enabled to receive EBOT messages, which has now increased to more than 850 carriers, said Ebix, noting that this has had a positive increase on message volumes with Willis Accounting contributing more than 150,000 technical accounts. As a result of Willis Accounting and EbixExchange, a significantly larger number of carriers account and settle technical and financial transactions in this way, thus helping to rid the global market of inefficient and costly accounting practice, Pring added. Any carrier on the WillisTowersWatson accounting platform that wants to trade electronically with any other Ruschlikon-enabled organization can do so by moving to full e-accounting and requesting simple promotion to the EbixExchange platform, explained Ebix. At that point, EbixExchange becomes the carriers message management tool (MMT) to respond to EBOT and electronic claims office transactions (ECOT) messages from any enabled broker, said Ebix, noting that a similar user interface allows a seamless transition for users when switching from Willis Accounting to EbixExchange. * The Ruschlikon Initiative connects players of the re/insurance industry to advance back office processes such as technical accounting, claims and settlement, using ACORD message standards for re/insurance and commercial business. Source: Ebix Europe Topics Carriers Agencies Europe Industrial lines insurer HDI Global Insurance Co., based in Chicago, has added personnel to its Engineering Lines and Construction division. Mark Groenheide, vice president, engineering lines underwriting manager, is responsible for the strategic growth of the portfolio and will lead all North American underwriting efforts. He joins from Generali U.S. in New York, where he served as vice president and North American practice leader of the construction division. Nicholas Mazza, assistant vice president, senior engineering lines underwriter, is responsible for the East and West Coast regions. Having held various leadership positions with ACE, XL Group, and AXA, he brings 10-plus years of underwriting experience and a wealth of insurance knowledge to the team. Serena Wannemacher, senior engineering lines underwriter, is responsible for all underwriting for the South and Southwest regions. She joins from AIG, where she was most recently a senior construction underwriter. She has worked for several leading brokerage firms in Texas, including AON and JLT. Rachel Oleniacz, engineering lines underwriter, is responsible for all underwriting in Hawaii. She joins from Swett & Crawford, where most recently she was an account manager handling specialized risks such as vacant buildings, large fine art schedules, and builders risks. Tom Vala, engineering lines underwriter, joins from HDI Global SE, Australia, where most recently he served as construction and engineering lines assistant underwriter. In his new role, he is in charge of all underwriting for the Central and Southeast regions. Prior to joining HDI, he worked in London as a bonus account executive for Aviva. He started his career as a heavy transport underwriter at Lumley Insurance in Sydney. Ashley Brice, associate engineering lines underwriter, joins from Starr Cos., where most recently she was a junior construction underwriter. In her new role, she will handle all underwriting for the Northwest and Midwest regions. As an industrial lines insurer, HDI Global SE (HDI) meets the needs of SMEs, industrial companies and corporate customers with insurance solutions that are specifically tailored to their requirements. In the USA, HDI operates with its subsidiary HDI Global Insurance Co., a commercial property and casualty insurer headquartered in Chicago, Ill., and licensed in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. HDI Global SE is a company in the Talanx Group and manages the industrial lines division within the group. Source: HDI Global Insurance Co. Topics USA Underwriting Construction Margaret Temponeras, 52, of Portsmouth, Ohio, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, which she did through a pain clinic and dispensary, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Ohio. The USAO said the statement of facts in the case showed that Temponeras owned and was the physician at Unique Pain Management in Wheelersburg, Ohio. Her father, John Temponeras, 82, was also a physician at the clinic. From June 2005 until May 2011, Temponeras and her father saw more than 20 patients per day, who paid cash payments starting at $200 for each medical examination. Many patients received monthly prescriptions for similar combinations of medications namely, 120-150 pills of 15mg Oxycodone, 120-150 pills of 30mg Oxycodone and 90 pills of 2mg Xanax. Patients were referred to Raymond Fankell, 62, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, who owned Prime Pharmacy, to fill their prescriptions. Temponeras became aware that some pharmacies in the Scioto County area had declined to accept or fill her prescriptions from Unique Pain Management so she opened the dispensary Unique Relief LLC from the same location as her clinic in order to fill her own prescriptions. Temponeras and Fankell have each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, which is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. John Temponeras pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone, which carries the same potential maximum sentence. The investigation was jointly conducted by Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Cincinnati Field Division, Steven W. Schierholt, Executive Director, Ohio State Board of Pharmacy; and the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Oakley and Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case. Source: U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio Topics USA Ohio Drugs Michael Johnston, the great, great grandson of the founder of one of the first Baptist churches in Texas, grew up being constantly warned about sin, including the evils of television and dancing. Thus it is a bit strange even to him that he has come to be known as the marijuana guy among insurance claims professionals. He thinks his leading qualification for the honor may be that he went to college in the 70s with roommates who rolled joints the size of Cuban cigars and had a dormitory neighbor who cultivated pot plants on the roof. He actually does have additional real qualifications, too. He graduated law school and is an attorney with Brown Dean Proctor & Howell, a Houston-based corporate and insurance defense firm. I did inhale, he admitted to his audience of claims practitioners at the 2017 Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) conference in Boston in March. I never thought I would see the day when insurance would combine with marijuana, he said before sharing his written legal research and insights on the effects of marijuana on property insurance claims and the strategies for handling them. Insurance Dilemma Whether a substance is legal is an important consideration under insurance policies, he stressed in describing the current dilemma for the insurance industry. Weve got more than half the states with some form of legalized marijuana, he said. Theyre all kind of different. In fact, 28 states and District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana in some form and about eight have legalized recreational use to some degree, his research for the PLRB session revealed. But marijuana is a defined, controlled substance under federal law, a Schedule 1 illegal drug under the federal Controlled Substance Act with a high potential for abuse considered as bad as heroin. So weve got federal law telling us its illegal to possess, sell or handle it and weve got these state laws saying that in some circumstances and under some limitations its OK. And even OK to sell. So where does that get us? he asked. Although marijuana possession is legal in many states, that is not the final insurance answer. Insurance coverage is very much an open question for a variety of reasons including that policies typically do not mention or are ambiguous about marijuana, possession is illegal under federal law but the federal government has looked the other way, and the rules and science around marijuana intoxication are unclear. In the course of his presentation, Johnston asked and answered: is there coverage for marijuana plants stolen from a home, or for harvested products by a grower whose business policy excludes growing crops, or if an insureds live-in boyfriend burns down a house while toking up, or if an insured driver gets into an accident while using a controlled substance? Policy Language Most homeowners policies do not specifically mention marijuana but many do have applicable provisions that may limit an insurers liability in marijuana claims, according to Johnstons research report. In cases where marijuana is being distributed for profit, profit business exclusions or limits on business personal property loss could prevent claims for large quantities. Also the trees, shrubs, plants or lawn provision limits how much can be paid for a plant and it may apply to claims where there is distribution or growing of marijuana plants. Some states permit caregivers (often not a defined position) to grow a certain number of marijuana plants for their patients. This could be seen as business activity and thus excluded from liability coverage, although the home insurer is often not told about the activity, according to the Texas lawyer. Unless specifically excluded, a harvested marijuana product may be covered just like alcohol or tobacco, Johnston cautioned. He said state regulators have generally not gotten involved in marijuana coverage. The general feeling is that marijuana is legal and that legal amounts should be covered unless a policy specifically excludes it, he wrote, adding that it remains to be seen if insurers will try to introduce exclusions. He recommends that insurers clearly express their intent regarding marijuana in all homeowners and dwelling forms. It is easy to see that ambiguity in current policy language opens the door for many potential issues, he stated. Johnston said insurers should be most concerned about the potential for larger losses like home or building fires related to marijuana use or production. Court Cases There are only a handful of court cases thus far to provide guidance on marijuana-related claims. Johnston provided summaries of some key cases. In a 2013 case (Tracy v. USAA), the claimant in Hawaii wanted USAA Insurance to pay $45,000 for the loss of 12 legal medical marijuana plants stolen from her home. The policyholder cited the trees, shrubs and other plants clause. But USAA got the federal district court to agree that the plants are illegal under federal law and thus not covered In 2013, Nationwide Insurance paid a $160,000 claim by a Michigan homeowner policyholder whose house burned down. Several months later, the insurer sought to recover the money (Nationwide v. Kasey McDermott) it paid after it found out that the fire was caused by her live-in boyfriend who operated a butane honey oil lab in the basement to create a concentrated form of marijuana for his patients. The fire was caused when he lit a sample for himself. Nationwide argued several grounds for denying the claim including that the manufacturing facility in the home was illegal, that the insured misrepresented the use of the property, that it fell under the increased hazard and intentional acts exclusions, and that there was no accidental direct physical loss to property. Michigan courts sided with Nationwide because the loss was not the result of an accident and because it was the result of an increased hazard within the insureds knowledge and control. A 2016 federal district court ruling out of Colorado (Green Earth Wellness Center v. Atain Specialty Insurance Co.) involved the loss of marijuana plants and harvested products by a marijuana growing business, Green Earth Wellness Center. The policy covered stock but had an exclusion for growing crops. The policyholder argued that growing crops referred only to plants in the earth and it was still covered for most of its potted plants. The court disagreed and said the exclusion covered all the plants. However, the court did find coverage for the harvested products. It rejected the insurers argument that the products fell under the contraband exclusion, finding that the federal governments erratic enforcement of federal laws criminalizing marijuana versus state laws legalizing rendered the term contraband ambiguous. For the same reason, it rejected the argument that the policy was unenforceable as against policy. While the federal government talks a wait-and-see approach to state experiments in marijuana legalization, insurers can expect more of their insureds to argue that courts should ignore federal law and precedent when interpreting insurance contracts for medical marijuana-growing businesses, Johnston warned in his report. Driving Under Influence In the area of auto insurance, it is a crime to drive while intoxicated in all states, and there are objective standards for determining intoxication. But the rules around marijuana intoxication are hazy with uncertainty over what constitutes intoxication and how to reliably test for it. States tend to rely upon the observations of the police, Johnston noted. While some states enforce a zero-tolerance approach, the defense attorney said this approach is open to both scientific and legal challenges. He cited a case involving Arizonas zero-tolerance law regarding marijuana and driving. Two drivers appealed their driving under the influence (DUI) convictions after they were not allowed to use their medical marijuana cards for their defense. The court ruled the two were not immune to DUI prosecution but given they had legal authorization for medical reasons, they could be exonerated if they could prove that the amount of marijuana in their system was not enough to cause impairment. He said some states presume that if a driver tests positive for any marijuana at all, the driver is presumed to be under the influence and must prove otherwise. Making a Federal Case Even with uncertainty over federal law enforcement, Johnston advises an insurer looking to escape a cooked-up marijuana claim to make a federal case out of it. Federal law is an insurers best hope in such cases due to the U.S. Constitutions supremacy clause that favors federal over state laws when the two conflict, according to Johnston. State laws legalizing marijuana obviously conflict with the federal controlled substance act under which marijuana is illegal. Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. attorney general said as long as the state regulations are reasonable and the person complies with the state regulation, the federal government would not prosecute. However, it is unknown if the Trump Administration and Jeff Sessions, the new attorney general, will follow the Obama approach or begin enforcing the federal law on marijuana. We dont know whats going to happen? Johnston told the PLRB audience. What the Trump team does bears watching. A more hardline approach could see prosecutors going after users, producers and distributors under federal statutes, or filing civil suit to challenge state laws on the basis of preemption, Johnston wrote in his report. Should that occur the ramifications for insurers and other industries serving the marijuana industry could be significant. He advised insurers on two ways they can get a marijuana-related claim into federal court. The insurance company can beat the plaintiff to the courthouse, he said. Federal courts have limited jurisdiction, as prescribed by Congress. Among the cases heard by federal courts are those with diversity of citizenship, meaning if the plaintiff and defendant are from different states, and where the amount in controversy is at least $75,000. Policyholders are required to notify their insurer before filing a suit. Typically a policyholders lawyer wants the case heard in state court so they sue someone in the state who is the adjuster for the carrier in addition to the carrier, Johnston said. He said an insurer with advanced notice can beat the policyholder to the courthouse by seeking a declaratory judgment making itself, not the policyholder, the plaintiff. This way an out-of-state insurer creates diversity with the in-state policyholder and the case can qualify for federal court. The other way to get to federal court is if there is a federal question at stake in the claim, such as whether state or federal law applies. This may work even if there is no diversity, Johnston said. Related: Topics Carriers Legislation Claims Cannabis Property Homeowners The Justice Department said it has made payments totaling more than $800 million from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund to compensate thousands of U.S. victims of international acts of terrorism by state sponsors of terrorism. The government said the fund will continue making payments in the coming weeks that will bring the total to more than $1 billion. The recipients, many of whom have been waiting years for compensation, include the Iran hostages held from 1979 to 1981 and their spouses and children, and victims of the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, and other international terrorist incidents. The fund, established by legislation in 2015, is administered by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section in the Criminal Division. Congress authorized the department to deposit certain forfeiture proceeds, penalties and fines into the fund if they come from civil and criminal matters involving prohibited transactions with state sponsors of terrorism. Originally, Congress provided $1.025 billion for payments to victims, and recent Justice Department prosecutions and U.S. government enforcement actions have increased the total available for initial payments to more than $1.1 billion. Kenneth R. Feinberg was appointed the special master to administer the fund. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters USA Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has expressed hope that the management of Rivneazot and Cherkasy Azot, part of Ostchem Group, will resume operations at the plants in autumn 2017. "I instructed the first deputy premier, we've checked provision with fertilizers for the spring sowing campaign, but we need to prepare for autumn. And I hope that management of the plants will resume the work of these enterprises," Groysman said at a press conference on the results of the year of the government's activity in Kyiv. According to him, he is interested in the work of Ukrainian producers of fertilizers, but all of them are private enterprises. "There is the demand for nitrogen fertilizers, and this is a mysterious question for me why these enterprises do not work. The plants can directly buy gas all over the world to produce mineral fertilizers," the prime minister added. As reported, on December 27, 2016 the Interdepartmental Commission for International Trade decided from February 2017 to introduce anti-dumping duties on Russian mineral fertilizers, but later the imposition of protective duties was postponed until July 2017. LevelFirst, the wholesale broker and MGA binding facility owned by IIAT Services Co., has appointed Richard Deal as business development manager. Deal is tasked with maximizing the potential of existing relationships as well as growing revenue from new business and augmenting the potential of producers. Deals industry experience includes work as a national sales director for Aetna Retirement Services, an underwriter for EMC Insurance, and as a retail agent. He is a certified financial planner. Source: LevelFirst David McIlhatton knows terrorism cannot be prevented. But measures to keep people safe often deter people from visiting sites or cities. We dont want a strong physical (security) presence because that doesnt do anything to engage investment, he told The Journal Record in Oklahoma. McIlhatton studies terrorism and its societal influence at Coventry University in England. He and University of Central Oklahoma real estate professor David Chapman are working on a study about terrorism and the built environment. Their work started last fall. McIlhatton gave an update on their work at the Central Oklahoma Commercial Association of Realtors annual summit on April 6 at the UCO Nigh University Center in Edmond. McIlhatton and Chapman have issued a survey to architects, engineers, city planners, investors and other real estate professionals. It has been answered by more than 150 people worldwide. Theyve conducted interviews in Sydney, Belfast, London, New York City and Oklahoma City. They will travel to Washington, D.C., to visit with real estate professionals there as well. McIlhatton said many survey takers said preventing an attacks impact isnt the top of their buildings design priorities. But the threat is real and needs to be understood better, he said. Chapman said for him, the surveys have revealed two surprising answers. The first result is that some architecture firms see a competitive edge in implementing designs created to limit an attacks impact. The other result came during interviews in Oklahoma City, where architects said they would ask their next client about implementing such a design. Chapman said hes concerned that the counterterrorism measures would take away from a privately owned buildings urban design. Typical urbanist design calls for close curb cuts, while terrorism-prevention ideas like those seen in a federal building call for the building to be far from vehicles. Im convinced we can create place and still keep people safe, Chapman said. McIlhatton said whatever designs are constructed to limit terrorisms impact must be proportional to the threat, which is a recommendation that will come in their final paper. During his presentation, he showed downtown Belfast, where people went through airport-like security to get into the area. There was also a curfew. But getting building owners to put in designs that limit an attacks impact could come with cost and change the pro forma. Thats where incentives would be needed, Chapman said. The real estate industry dealt with a similar issue when buildings were required to get sprinklers. Insurance companies offered discounted premiums, helping to offset the installation costs. Chapman said one survey question is what incentive would be required to get owners to put impact-limiting designs in their buildings. We want to protect people, but we still want to make it an exciting place to come, he said. The final recommendations will be published in a paper this fall. Chapman said the results could become construction-code changes, similar to changes made for buildings to stand up to tornadoes or earthquakes. If (these designs) are thought of at the earlier stages its much cheaper than going back and designing the space, McIlhatton said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Oklahoma Tim Brady, shareholder and senior vice president of Texas-based Brady, Chapman, Holland and Associates Inc., has been elected to the board of directors of RiskProNet International, an association of leading independent insurance brokers in North America. RiskProNet member firms have combined annual revenues of $548 million and more than $5.5 billion in annual written premium. Tim Brady joined the firm in 2008, following in the footsteps of his father, Jeff Brady, BCH president and CEO; his aunt, Jan Clark, senior vice president and chief operations officer; and his grandfather, Tim Brady, founding partner and chairman of the board. Prior to joining BCH, he began his insurance career in the wholesale brokerage and insurance company sectors at AmWINS Brokerage of Texas. While at AmWINS he worked with both property brokers and casualty brokers. He also worked for a key construction and manufacturing insurer, Amerisure Insurance Co.y, where he completed the developmental marketing underwriter program. The program included a focus on underwriting, loss control and claims. In addition to holding numerous professional designations, he is a member of Community Associations Institute, Growth Advocates and CEO Network Partners. At RiskProNet, each member is an equal owner in the association, which gives the network the geographic diversity and shared knowledge base to serve clients with national, international or highly specialized exposures to risk. RiskProNet International is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif. Source: RiskProNet International Topics Agencies South Carolina authorities say a bounce house was lifted into the air by a gust of wind, sending several children to the hospital. Taylors Fire Battalion Chief Ricky Reed told The Greenville News that the accident happened 2 p.m. Saturday at a church carnival near Greenville. Springwell Church issued a statement that the inflatable amusement was part of its annual Spring Carnival. It says that five children were taken to the hospital but didnt have further information on their conditions. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics South Carolina The owners of a cleaning company serving luxury hotels in Southern California and Nevada have pleaded guilty in connection with a nearly $7 million insurance and tax scam. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Hyok Steven Kwon and his wife, Woo Stephanie Kwon, owned Irvine-based Good Neighbor Services. They were accused of concealing the existence of 800 employees over nearly a decade to avoid paying millions in payroll taxes and workers compensation insurance. Steven Kwon pleaded guilty to felony charges related to fraud and employment tax evasion last month. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. His wife admitted to similar charges in December and was given more than six years in prison, but shes now serving part of her term on probation. Several others were charged in the case. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Workers' Compensation Fraud More than half of all claims from workers living in Californias Sierras involve only four industries, according to a report out today from the California Workers Compensation Institute. The CWCIs California Workers Comp Regional Score Card examines the claims experience of workers living in the Sierras and compares it to the experience of injured workers from the rest of the state. The Sierra Score Card is the last installment of an eight-part series initiated last fall that uses a database to profile claimant characteristics and highlight data compiled from claims filed by residents of different regions of the state. The score card uses data from 32,000 accident year 20052015 claims filed by residents of 11 counties that comprise much of the Gold County and the mountainous areas that border Nevada from Sierra County south to Death Valley. Though the region accounts for only 1.7 percent of all California workers comp claims. The reports findings conclude: More than half of all claims from the region involve workers employed in just four industries (construction, retail trade, healthcare, and hotel and food services). Three diagnoses that represent just 4 percent of the regions claims account for 20 percent of all loss payments. The Sierras have the highest percentage of temporary disability claims in the state but permanent disability claims are less prevalent. Despite relatively low attorney involvement rates, short claim durations, and few lien claims, over the past decade the Sierras have experienced some of the fastest growing claim costs in the state. All eight Regional Score Cards and the summary bulletins are available to CWCI members and research subscribers, while others may purchase them on the groups website. Topics California Claims Workers' Compensation Top News - Investor Idea Cleantech and Climate Change Podcast Interview with Founder and CEO of Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN) Discussing Recent Acquisitions, Rollout and Manufacturing of EV Line of Products Vancouver, Kelowna, Delta, BC - November 7, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a global news source and leading investor resource covering cleantech and renewable energy stocks issues a new edition of the Cleantech and Climate Change Podcast, featuring an interview with Mr. David Michery, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Electric Vehicle Company, Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN). Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) AI Driven Financial Technology Patent Application Received a Notice of Publication San Diego, CA - November 3, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) received a notice of publication for its financial software patent application. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: Intellagents, a FatBrain AI (OTCQB: LZGI) Company, Announces Hiring of Insurtech Industry Veteran as Chief Revenue Officer NEW YORK, NY - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, announces the hiring of Euan King, an experienced and respected Insurtech industry leader as Chief Revenue Officer for insurance technology-focused subsidiary Intellagents. Top Health and Wellness News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures $3.8M Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA from Italy CAVE CREEK, Az. - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-based, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured a new $3.8 million USD order for its newly acquired, non-nicotine based vape product, HYLA from customers in Italy. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire Ukraine and the U.S. plan to discuss topical issues of deepening cooperation in the space sector within the framework of the next meeting of the bilateral working group on cooperation in the field of research and use of outer space for peaceful purposes scheduled for June. According to the press service of the Ukrainian space department, the relevant plans were confirmed by the parties during the talks between acting Head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU) Yuriy Radchenko with the Associate Administrator of the U.S. National Space Agency (NASA) on human exploration and operations William Gerstenmaier during the 33-rd Space Symposium, which was recently held in Colorado Springs (U.S.). As part of the participation in the leading world forum on space activities, the Ukrainian side also held talks with representatives of the U.S. State Department, as well as with world leaders in the aerospace sphere - American Boeing and Lockheed Martin, as well as the Canadian MDA, a report says. As it was reported, the first meeting of the Ukrainian-American working group on cooperation in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes was held in the U.S. in May 2016. The parties are holding a dialogue in the new conditions on a qualitatively new content of the agenda of bilateral technological and industrial cooperation in the space sector. Among the new promising areas of partnership are, among other things, rocket engine building, the fight against space debris. Also, Kyiv hopes for a breakthrough in its intercourse with Washington on procurement of components for advanced missile technology. During the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s time and again he went to the frontlines as a member of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards Basij units despite his high school and college studies. He suffered a major injury in 1986, rendered an amputated leg in a field hospital. From the war he moved on to the Foreign Ministry in 1989 and served in various posts for 18 years. At the age of 30 he was appointed as head of the Foreign Ministry Inspections Office and remained at this position until 1996. When Mohammad Khatami became Irans president in 1997, Jalili was appointed as the deputy of a sensitive Foreign Ministry department in charge of relations with the U.S. It was also during Khatamis tenure that Jalili was stripped of this position and appointed as manager of ongoing inspections in the office of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. With the beginning of Mahmoud Ahmadinejads tenure as president in 2005, Saeed Jalili was once again appointed to the Foreign Ministry and even considered Ahmadinejads first pick as the regimes top diplomat. However, various factors played in and he was eventually placed at the helm of the most important Foreign Ministry department, in charge of issues related to Europe and the U.S. Enjoying Ahmadinejads all out trust in foreign policy, Jalili went on to be appointed as secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council in early fall of 2007 after current parliament speaker Ali Larijani resigned from this post. In early summer of 2008 Khamenei issued an order appointing Jalili as his representative in the council. He served in this post and launched the Iran nuclear negotiations and during his years in the Supreme National Security Council the international community issued three U.N. Security Council resolutions under Article 41 of Chapter 7 in the U.N. Charter, describing Iran as a threat to world peace and security. On September 10th, 2013, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani replaced Jalili with Ali Shamkhani as secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council. Jalili moved on to take part in the 2013 presidential elections and came in third. He has also been a member of the regimes Expediency Council since September 12th, 2013 and member of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, chairing the bodys Political Commission from June 15th, 2014 to this day. Inflexible, ideological and a close ally of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is how The Washington Post described Jalili back in 2013. In the 2013 presidential elections Jalili was considered Khameneis desired candidate to lead the next government, according to Radio France International. However, he lacked any executive experience and the necessary colleagues for his cabinet. As a result, his cabinet would have been filled with former Revolutionary Guards commanders and clerics from Khameneis inner circle, RFI added. Pyongyang has vowed a tough response to any military action from the US after it sent warships to waters off the Korean Peninsular. Washington has dispatched the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to the region for US-South Korea wargames. Tensions on the divided peninsula were already high because of recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea. Pyongyang sees the annual wargames as a dress rehearsal for invasion, while the North's missile launches violate UN resolutions. "We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions," a spokesman for North Korea's foreign ministry said. The statement comes after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said US missile strikes against a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack carry a message for any nation operating outside of international norms. He did not specify North Korea, but the context was clear enough. "If you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken," Mr Tillerson said. The North has long claimed the US is preparing some kind of assault against it and justifies its nuclear weapons as defensive in nature. "This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario," the North's statement said. "If the US dares opt for a military action, crying out for 'pre-emptive attack' and 'removal of the headquarters,' the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US." North Korea's formal name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. US navy ships are a common presence in the Korean region and are in part a show of force. On Saturday, the Pentagon said a navy carrier strike group was moving towards the western Pacific Ocean to provide more of a physical presence in the region. President Donald Trump's national security adviser, HR McMaster, described the decision to send the carrier group as "prudent". - AP KYIV. April 11 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman expects the resumption of privatization of Odesa Port-Side Chemical Plant after the change of leadership of the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPF). "I see that we can conduct an effective sale of the plant, and such a question will arise for the new leadership of the fund, when it appears," he said at a press conference in Kyiv. The prime minister noted it is not the government that sells the plant, but the State Property Fund is obliged to prepare the enterprise for privatization. "We approve only the terms of the tender," Groysman said. He noted that the fund's inefficient preparation of two tenders for the sale of Odesa Port-Side Chemical Plant caused criticism of the current leadership of the agency. The head of government said he expects the adoption of a package of privatization laws at this session of the Verkhovna Rada. "And we could immediately move to the formation of a large privatization," he said. He stressed due to changes in legislation the transparency and competitiveness of privatization should increase. Russia has been told it must choose between aligning itself with the US and like-minded countries or embracing Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and militant group Hezbollah. The ultimatum came from US secretary of state Rex Tillerson as he embarked on a trip to Moscow following urgent meetings in Italy with top diplomats. Mr Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons or had merely been incompetent, but he said the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead". "We cannot let this happen again," the Secretary of State said. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Mr Tillerson added. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." Since the US launched air strikes against Assad's forces in retaliation for a chemical attack on civilians last week, Trump administration officials have offered mixed messages about whether Washington believes Assad definitely must surrender power - and when. Mr Tillerson said it was clear the US saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." "That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs," Mr Tillerson added. He said the ceasefire talks that Russia and Iran have helped broker in the Kazakh capital, Astana, could generate momentum towards broader talks about a political transition - if the Astana talks succeed in creating a durable ceasefire. The resulting political talks would take place under the auspices of the United Nations process in Geneva. "To date, Astana has not achieved much progress," Mr Tillerson said. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks". It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the Russia-US relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage". Mr Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the "like-minded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialised economies in Italy, days after the US for the first time launched air strikes against Assad's forces. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The US and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. The US raised the stakes significantly on Monday when a senior US official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. Yet the US has no proof of Moscow's involvement, said the official. That accusation will hang over Mr Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say whether Mr Putin would meet Mr Tillerson, in line with its usual practice of not announcing such meetings ahead of time. The United States has sought to minimise expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the US will leave with any concessions from Russia regarding its support for Assad. Instead, the US is hoping to use the visit - the first by a Trump cabinet official to Russia - to convey its expectations to Moscow and then allow the Russians a period of time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the US strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as US officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional US military action if Assad's government continues attacking civilians. At Tuesday's meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim-majority nations including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the US strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Middle East nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the so-called 'Islamic State' group is vanquished. The promise comes as the Government starts on its review of its plans to spend on roads, rail, housing and schools over the next 10 years. Mr Noonan in a speech at a conference involving the European Investment Bank which backs long-term investments in infrastructure said the Government is prepared to increase capital spending. He said that the Government is expecting the economy to expand 4.3% this year and create 55,000. In 2018, GDP will grow 3.7%, he said. The position would allow investors to take a view on duration in a market that the bank considers expensive, its economists said. Goldman Sachs economists said the upcoming presidential elections could have an effect on French government bonds. They said a victory by either of the centrists, Francois Fillon or Emmanuel Macron, would see the French government bond yield spread over Germany fall whereas a win for either anti-establishment party headed by Marine Le Pen and Jean Luc Melenchon would see the gap increasing. Given that geopolitical tensions escalated last week, it is reasonable to expect a shift in favour of the US dollar, at least in the short-term, analysts at Rabobank said in a note. The euro edged lower and Frances borrowing costs hit their highest level over Germany in six weeks as investors fretted over the rise of far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon in polls before this months presidential vote. Melenchons emergence over the past week has raised the possibility that he will square off against far-right leader Le Pen in the decisive second round in May, making the final result far more unpredictable. Frances bond yield spread over Germany hit 70 basis points at one stage yesterday, its highest since late February. There was muted trading volumes across many financial assets and the dollar rising to a three-week high underscored investor caution against making big bets in the face of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Korean peninsula. The dollar inched higher drawing support from US rate hike expectations while global stocks, reaching the point where some see them as expensive, were stuck in neutral ahead of US earnings season this week. The increased geopolitical risks continued to spur investors to move into safer assets such as government debt. The market is focusing a bit too much on the extreme possibilities, but I guess with the elections coming up so soon some nerves are inevitable, said DZ Bank strategist Christian Lenk. But at the end of the day I think (the second round) will be Macron versus Le Pen. Futures gained for a fifth day in New York, adding to last weeks 3.2% gain following a US military strike on Syria. Libyas Sharara field halted production just one week after reopening, with the National Oil Corporation declaring force majeure on exports, according to a copy of its decree obtained by Bloomberg. In Russia, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said last week his ministry had been in talks with oil companies regarding the need to prolong the six-month deal with Opec. Support from some members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to extend the curbs has sparked a rally above $50 a barrel. The cuts have stabilised the market and Russia will continue to watch inventory levels, but its too early to decide whether the pact should be prolonged, Novak said. Libya is exempt from the agreement. It said Sharara had been pumping 200,000 barrels a day before the latest disruption, according to the National Oil Corporation. A week earlier, exports were interrupted by a pipeline halt. The Libyans are constantly shutting and reopening their fields because of political and technical issues, Michael Lynch, president of the Strategic Energy and Economic Research in Massachusetts said. The talk of an extension, strength of the US economy and ongoing minor supply problems like Libya are leading people to think the market will probably be getting tighter. Brent for June settlement climbed 58c, or 1.1%, to $55.82 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange after advancing 35c late last week. West Texas Intermediate for May delivery rose 58c, or 1.1% to $52.82 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained 1.1% to $52.24 late last week, the highest close in a month. Russia, which pledged to trim output by as much as 300,000 barrels a day by the end of this month, will make a decision on prolonging the curbs after monitoring results in April and May, according to Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. Cuts so far havent delivered the expected price boost, he said at an Energy Ministry conference in Moscow on Friday. While the nation isnt a member of Opec, Russia and 10 other countries joined the group in cutting output from January. Liam Hanly, who is the current group finance, IT and logistics director, will take over as boss following the decision of Conor Whelan to step down. Mr Whelan, who has been in the position since 2009, told the board he was leaving earlier this year after the development plan for the companys coming years was agreed. He will remain until June to ensure the transition was a smooth one, Eason said. Figures provided by the Department of Transport show that since 2010, over 30m has been paid in compensation to the operator of the Limerick Tunnel and 12.2m to the operator of the M3 Clonee-Kells motorway. The payments are made by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under a mechanism designed to compensate the two public-private partnerships if sufficient volumes of traffic dont use the routes. On the countrys six other toll roads which operate under a public-private partnership contract, the risk in terms of revenue generated by traffic levels rests entirely with the toll operator. The growing economy meant last years payments of around 5.2m were the lowest annual amount since 2010 with almost 4.4m paid to the operators of the Limerick Tunnel and just under 840,000 to the M3 concessionaire. At the lowest traffic levels in 2013, the Limerick Tunnel operators received over 7.8m while the M3 operator was paid almost 2.7m. TII is potentially liable to have to make annual payments to compensate for low traffic volumes for several more decades as the current contracts run until 2041 for the Limerick Tunnel and 2052 for the M3. On the plus side, growing traffic on the countrys motorway network also boosted the States coffers by an extra 3.5m last year. Under contracts applying to the public-private partnerships which operate the countrys other six motorway tolls, TII is entitled to a share of the revenue from an increase in traffic levels in a mechanism designed to protect against operators benefitting from super-profits. As a result, TII was paid over 2.5m by the operator of the M4/M6 Kilcock-Kinnegad motorway last year the highest annual payment ever from a scheme that has returned over 9.5m to the taxpayer. The operator of the M1 Dundalk Western Bypass also made a contribution of around 1m in 2016. As part of the public-private partnership contracts, with the exception of the M4/M6, there is also a mechanism to allow for insurance risk sharing between the operators and TII. It led to the TII receiving over 1.1m last year due to lower than predicted insurance costs. TII was paid a further 1.6m last year under a revenue sharing contract with the operators of three motorway service areas located on the M1 at Castlebellingham, Co Louth, and Lusk, Co Dublin, and at Enfield, Co Kildare, on the M4. A TII spokesman said it had plans for three more motorway service areas at Athlone, Co Westmeath, on the M6, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, on the M9 and Gorey, Co Wexford, on the M11. The opening of all three service stations has been held up since May 2015 as a result of a legal action brought by Applegreen and Tedcastles Oil Products against the awarding of the contract to run such outlets to Topaz. A decision by the Commercial Court on the case is expected soon. Separately, TII operates the M50 Westlink crossing and the Dublin Port Tunnel, which respectively generated 111.2m and 13m in 2015 the latest year for which figures are available. Picture: Darren Kelleher, left, director, with cast members Nina Therese Ni Mendes, Alma Kickham, Owen OMahony, Miriam Kelleher, Emily OMahony, and Deirdre Dunlea from Actorsvision/Bolt productions, who are fundraising for their forthcoming film Empire Of Dirt. With just 16 days left to raise the additional 23,000 needed to get the project off the ground, Actorsvision a group of actors based in Cork are hoping their kickstarter campaign will be a success. Empire of Dirt tells the tale of a wild band of natives in 18th century Ireland, struggling to keep their settlement from descending into anarchy. The group plans to begin filming this summer across a number of locations in Co Cork including Gougane Barra, Glengarriff, Bantry, Kinsale, Barleycove, and Kealkil. Director Darren Kelleher said the group is hoping to build on the success of The Young Offenders by showcasing local talent. A comedy written, directed, and co-produced by Peter Foott, The Young Offenders was based around the seizure off the West Cork coast of a major cocaine haul. Sometimes, if you live in Cork or you live in Limerick, you might think Ah sure look, I live in a small city but the closeness to something big, the line between here and something big is so small, said Darren. Ireland is a small country. If you get into something of quality it will draw a spotlight to you. The Young Offenders is a testament to that. Its phenomenal what talent we actually do have in this country. Its a local production trying to do something on an international scale and we just need a little bit of a push to get there. We just need as little as 1 from enough people to get us over the line. Its a film made in Cork, of Cork, by Cork. Like The Young Offenders, if you are doing something that shows off the landscape that then travels internationally, we all benefit from that. The group decided to create their own opportunity, instead of waiting for one to arrive, Darren said. Were trying to provide [the actors] with an opportunity to create their own work because a lot of actors are waiting for their break so we have to get busy while were waiting. I think a lot of actors sit around waiting for the call and the danger is when youre waiting for somebody to give you an opportunity, that can take years. Its not until youre on the job doing something every day do you really learn your job. No degree can give you that. The director said the group is hopeful they reach the required target of 35,000. If you dont reach your target you lose it all. Im not a mathematician but Ive made so many calculations in my head the last week, you wouldnt believe! If you got 35,000 people to put in a euro you can pledge as little as a euro. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has denies the threat of losing independence by the supervisory board of Naftogaz Ukrainy. "I would not exaggerate any threats. As the prime minister of Ukraine, I will do everything to ensure that the Naftogaz supervisory board is independent. We highly appreciate the work of the supervisory board with independent representatives who are competent enough," he said at a press conference in Kyiv. According to the prime minister, he supports the speedy reform of Naftogaz with the introduction of modern corporate governance methods. "I think the stage has come when we should analyze where we are today. I would like to see Naftogaz to be more quickly reformed so that transport, production and gas sale and purchase are separated in the country, the most modern methods of corporate governance are introduced, and in general the creation of the full-scale gas market is accelerated," the premier added. Groysman noted today a discussion is being held with international partners on the existing nuances of forming national legislation for the creation of the gas market. "There are different ways, and we are looking for a compromise. I think that compromise will be found and everything will be fine," he said. The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) is also concerned that non-smokers who vape will switch to tobacco cigarettes. Hiqa is the first authority in the EU to examine the cost-effectiveness of e-cigarettes as an intervention to assist people in giving up smoking. It has advised the Health Minister Simon Harris to await results of ongoing vaping trials before deciding whether to recommend e-cigarettes. Hiqa found that almost one in three people use e-cigarettes in their attempt to stop smoking, even though there is insufficient evidence to reliably show they work. E-cigarettes are not advocated by the HSE as a means of quitting because of a lack of long-term data on their safety, but it does provide behavioural support to those using e-cigarettes in their attempts to quit. Hiqa is concerned that the widespread promotion of e-cigarettes by health professionals could have the effect of normalising nicotine consumption, or act as a gateway to using tobacco, for new generations of people who never smoked. There are around 820,000 smokers in Ireland, and half of them make at least one attempt to quit each year. Around 40m is spent every year on helping people to stop smoking. Hiqa said State investment in interventions to help people quit smoking not only works but is good value for money. It found that varenicline was the most effective single therapy and recommended it be used alone or with nicotine patches. The prescription-only medicine reduces the urge to smoke and relieves withdrawal symptoms. Hiqas director of health technology, Dr Mairin Ryan, said using varenicline, together with nicotine replacement therapy, is more than 3.5 times as effective as using no active medication. However, the combination therapy would add 7m to the annual cost of providing smoking interventions. The study found that e-cigarettes and using varenicline, either alone or in combination with nicotine replacement therapy, were the most cost-effective strategies. Hiqa said pregnant women who smoke should be given counselling to help them stop. Vape Business Ireland said the report points to the many positives for the 29% of adult smokers who choose to vape as an alternative to smoking. The groups spokesman, Alan Buckley, responded to Hiqas concern about vaping being a gateway to smoking. He said: The departments Healthy Ireland survey shows that 99.9% of vapers are ex-smokers, so we remain unclear where this concern comes from as the report does not in itself provide any research or even anecdotal evidence to back this up. Minister of state for health promotion Marcella Corcoran Kennedy said they have a responsibility to ensure smokers who want to quit are provided with the best chance of success. Many of the victims also worked for British Intelligence and were apparently sacrificed to protect the identity of Freddie Scappaticci, code-named Stakeknife, so he could continue to spy for British Intelligence. A BBC Panorama investigation reveals that Scappaticci, from an Italian immigrant family, doubled as a British agent and the IRAs top spy-catcher. In an interview with John Ware to be broadcast tonight, Northern Irelands Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory tells the programme a classified report detailing Stakeknifes connection to these murders made for very disturbing and chilling reading. Some of the 18 victims are themselves understood to be agents or informers providing information to the British security forces in the North during the Troubles. Stakeknife became head of the IRAs internal security unit in the 1980s. It was also known as the Nutting Squad because it rooted out suspected British spies and interrogated them before shooting them dead. In 2015, Mr McGrory asked the chief constable of the PSNI, George Hamilton, to investigate allegations that Scappaticci was involved in up to 50 murders. He set up a 35m (41m) criminal inquiry named Operation Kenova which is investigating whether Stakeknifes fellow spies were sacrificed by his security services controllers so that he could continue as a British spy. Panoramas own investigation suggests that Stakeknifes protection as a prized agent was prioritised over the lives of other agents. The programme highlights the case of Joe Fenton, an agent working for the RUCs Special Branch who was killed by the IRA. Stakeknife had alerted his own British Army handlers that Fenton had been targeted for execution but no action appears to have been taken to prevent the killing. The 35-year-old father of four was shot dead on February 26, 1989, shortly after Stakeknife left the house where Mr Fenton was being held by the Nutting Squad, having forced him to confess after a violent struggle. Former operatives from British military intelligence, Special Branch, and MI5 are being investigated by Operation Kenova, led by a former counter terrorism detective Jon Boutcher, now chief constable of Bedfordshire. Meanwhile, a British soldier who killed a totally innocent teenager when he fired close to a crowd of youths was unjustified in discharging the fatal round, a coroner has ruled. Manus Deery, 15, was killed as he stood near a chip shop in Derry socialising with friends in May 1972. His sister Helen said her familys campaign for a new inquest had been vindicated by the coroners ruling. We always knew Manus was innocent, she said. The teenager, who had just started his first job two weeks before he died, was struck in the head by fragments of a bullet that ricocheted off a wall. It was fired by a soldier from a fortified observation sanger high above the Bogside area on Derrys historic city walls. Coroner Mr Justice Adrian Colton, who presided over a fresh inquest into one of the most contentious deaths of the Troubles, rejected the soldiers claim that he fired at a gunman. Panorama: The Spy In The IRA, airs at 10.45pm on BBC One Northern Ireland The Canadian national, Jashua Robert Tremblay, 33, has pleaded guilty to three charges under Canadian child sex tourism legislation. The prosecution is the result of a highly unusual joint Canadian-Irish police investigation. Under Canadian law, its citizens can be prosecuted for certain sexual offences committed against children abroad. Tremblays victim was aged 13 when the online grooming began in late 2012 and 14 when the sexual activity occurred the following year. Tremblay pretended he was 16 when the contact started and later said he was 19. Before he travelled to Ireland, he told the girl his real age. Tremblay visited the south-west of the country twice, in 2013. Concerns were raised by locals in November 2013 after Tremblay and the girl were noticed at a rental accommodation. By the time gardai were informed, Tremblay had returned to Canada. A major investigation began. Gardai interviewed the girl and examined her electronic devices. Gardai discovered Tremblay used his real name in the social media platforms. Explicit sexual images were shared, something Tremblay initiated. Gardai conducted a forensic examination at the rental property. They contacted Interpol who informed the Canadian authorities. The Garda file was transmitted to Canada. Tremblay pleaded guilty last December on three counts: Online luring to facilitate the making of child pornography; Online luring to facilitate sexual contact with a person under the age of 16; Sexual contact with someone under the age of 16. When contacted by the Irish Examiner, Supt Flor Murphy of Killarney Garda Station said: The case highlights the very obvious dangers of the internet. In this incident, a 30-year-old father living thousands of miles away in a different continent, groomed a 13-year-old vulnerable schoolgirl online and then sexually exploited her during the course of two visits to Ireland in 2013. The case also highlights the extensive engagement and co-operation by An Garda Siochana with police forces throughout the world. International borders did not deter or hinder An Garda Siochana in bringing to justice an international sex predator who committed very serious offences in this jurisdiction on a young person. Earlier this year, a Facebook post by Irish Retriever Rescue (IRR) about four pairs of middle-aged dogs in search of a home, went viral. Six-year-old brothers Bill and Ben were one of those pairs. Initially, they were fostered by a family in the UK as they waited for word on their permanent home. However, the foster family fell in love with the brothers and were unable to let them go. In January, we picked up Bill and Ben, our first time fostering a pair of brothers, said the brothers new owner. They arrived incredibly traumatised and couldnt be more than a few feet away from each other without becoming anxious and distressed. They werent keen on other dogs, were nervous in the house and needed lots of reassurance, patience and understanding on their journey to prepare them for their new lives. In the very early days, we didnt think we could do it, their needs seemed huge. But somewhere along the way they stole our hearts, and our minds and melded into our family, both human and canine so perfectly we knew we couldnt ever let them go. IRR said that the family who gave the brothers up for rehoming did so on the agreement that the pair would remain together. Bill was relinquished with his brother Ben, on the understanding that they would be re-homed together, which IRR endeavours to do unless the dogs fight or prove to have a negative impact on each other, IRR said when they were put up for adoption. The brothers, who were used to children, ended up needing a new home because their previous owners became busier with work and family commitments. It was thought more sensible to rehome them. The brothers were described as being very much a bonded pair and even walk in step with each other, both on and off lead. IRR put up a notice online earlier this year about four pairs of golden retrievers that needed rehoming, all on the condition that each pair would remain as one. The charity assesses each dog thoroughly and organises their temporary fostering before vetting and accepting families willing to home them permanently. After IRRs post went viral the charity was inundated with hundreds of applications to rehome the pairs of dogs. These applications had to be carefully assessed before permanent matching could be completed by the dog charity. The news of the four pairs spread all over the country with sisters Millie and Daisy even making an appearance on The Ray Darcy Show. IRR rescues Golden Retrievers across the UK and Ireland for rehabilitation and re-homing. It rescues approximately 100 dogs a year. The Irish Examiner understands the review began last week and is due to be completed by Easter in response to Communications Minister Denis Naughten heavily criticising colleagues after commercially sensitive parts of his national broadband plan were leaked without his knowledge. Last week, Mr Naughten raised concerns that a key part of his national broadband plan about the involvement of private firm Eir, which was published last Tuesday, was leaked to a number of media outlets on Monday evening. Mr Naughten and his own Department said last week it did not release the information, which received negative coverage on Tuesday morning, and accused other ministers of being behind the leak. In response, Mr Kenny ordered an internal investigation to find out which ministers, ministerial advisors and department general secretaries are potentially leaking official memos before they reach cabinet. And while most ministers privately believe it is unlikely the review will find anyone personally responsible, the situation could result in memos not being circulated until the cabinet meeting itself begins, significantly reducing the ability of ministers to discuss proposed Government plans. It is understood the leaks review is being overseen by Department of the Taoiseach secretary general Martin Fraser and is due to be completed by Easter. As part of the investigation, Mr Fraser will both meet in person and speak over the phone with all ministers and their advisors, in addition to secretaries general of government departments to uncover who is leaking the information. While no decisions have been made, it is believed Mr Fraser may consider ordering all memos to be kept back from circulation to ministers and their advisors until after cabinet meetings begin. Should the culprit be uncovered, he may also seek the resignation of one or more advisors, an issue which would cause intense criticism from the respective minister. The National Museums Mammals of the World exhibit includes a dog-like creature from Australia known as the thylacine. Its not a specimen of which the museum should be especially proud. When curator Roberst Scharff attended a conference in Australia in 1914, he committed what would nowadays be considered an unforgivable wildlife offence. Dublin already had a skeleton of the critically-endangered mammal; a specimen obtained, ie shot, in 1884. Skulls, dating to 1889, were also in the collection but Scharff wanted to acquire a better example of this rapidly disappearing species. A hunter was asked to find and kill a thylacine, the skin and bones of which were shipped to Dublin for mounting. The predator is better known as the Tasmanian wolf or tiger but, although it resembles them superficially, its not related to either species. Indeed, over 140m years have passed since it shared a common ancestor with the mammals of the Old World. All of Australias native furry creatures, apart from bats the egg-laying platypus and short-beaked echidna, are marsupials, the best known members of this clade, or single branch on the tree of life, being the kangaroos. Roo females have pouches in which to carry their joeys. Thylacines go one better; the males also have a pouch, a scrotal sack which helps protect their genitals. Thylakos is Greek for pouch. The thylacine, it is thought, became extinct in mainland Australia over 2,000 years ago. It managed to survive in Tasmania until European settlers arrived and sheep-farmers put a bounty on its head. Persecution followed. By the late 1920s, the thylacine was on the brink of extinction. The last known one died in Hobart Zoo, Tasmania, on September 7, 1936. The species was formally declared extinct, after the mandatory absence of 50 years, in 1986. 1935, Hobart, Australia. The Thylacine, called the Tasmanian Tiger or Tasmanian Wolf, was a large marsupial that is now almost certainly extinct. The female pictured here was the last one to be captured and died in the old Hobart Zoo, now closed, on September 7, 1936. Picture: John Carnemolla/Corbis But is it gone? Some Australians refuse to believe in this, almost mythical, creatures demise. The Queensland night parrot, they point out, although not seen for 100 years, was rediscovered and photographed in 2013. They argue that the thylacine, another nocturnal and secretive species, could also have survived. Sightings of dog-like wild animals, other than dingoes and foxes, are reported from time to time. Doubtful car-headlight glimpses, a few grainy photographs and 10 seconds of indistinct 8mm film footage, are not enough to convince scientists that thylacines are still out there. Organisations devoted to proving the creatures continued existence, are dismissed as animal equivalents of the Flat Earth Society. Some recent reports, however, are being taken more seriously. An employee of the Queensland Park Service in the Cape York Peninsula has described a close encounter, in the dead of night, with four animals resembling thylacines. A person, who camps regularly in forests in the area, has come up with a similar story from a different location. Details of the incidents are being kept secret lest unscrupulous hunters invade the forests. Interviews with the supposed witnesses have impressed scientists from James Cook University. Cape York seems an unlikely place for the thylacine to have survived; the peninsula is about as far north of the island of Tasmania as you can get in mainland Australia. How could a relatively large animal have been there for thousands of years without some trace of its presence coming to light? Yet, Richard Dawkins, not a man to jump to hasty conclusions, seems intrigued by the possibility; I want it to be true he tweeted. Starting this month, James Cook scientists will set up 50 camera traps in the target area. Although they think it unlikely that thylacines will be photographed, its considered worth doing because the devices will produce a wealth of valuable data on the animals of the area. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has proposed to give ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko who signed the gas contract to Russian's Gazprom if Ukraine loses a lawsuit in the Stockholm Arbitration Institute's Chamber of Commerce. "If we won justice for Ukraine would be restored. If, God forbid, we have another court decision, these are dozens of billions of U.S. dollars which cannot be brought, as this is the result of signing the contract by Tymoshenko We would have to give Tymoshenko instead of money: if she signed let's her be responsible. Why Ukrainian citizens must pay for this? There is no other option," Groysman said at a press conference devoted to one year of his government's performance held in Kyiv on Tuesday. As reported, Gazprom in June 2014 filed a lawsuit to the Stockholm Arbitration Institute's Chamber of Commerce seeking to collect a debt for gas supplied in 2013-2014 from Naftogaz Ukrainy and funds under the take or pay formula. Naftogaz filed a lawsuit seeking a retroactive revision of the price and compensation for the amount overpaid and the removal of bans to re-export gas. The court has combined both cases. The arbiters could make the decision on the gas supply contract April 2017. Naftogaz Ukrainy Head Andriy Kobolev said on April 7, 2017 that recent information from the Stockholm Arbitration Institute's Chamber of Commerce is optimistic for Ukraine. Tuesday, April 11th, 2017 (2:23 pm) - Score 3,546 None of the 17 initial pilot locations announced for BTs pilot of 330Mbps capable G.fast (ITU G.9700/9701) broadband technology has included anywhere in Northern Ireland, but all that changed today after they confirmed that 4,000 premises in Antrim would benefit. The current G.fast pilot has already made the service available to around 138,000 UK premises, with the vast majority being in England and only a few in Scotland and Wales. However a report in the Belfast Telegraph has said that the town of Antrim (we assume they mean the town since Antrim is also the name of a county) in the North-East of Northern Ireland has now joined the list, although only 4,000 premises will be added. BT Ireland has also revealed that G.fast could then be expanded to cover 200,000 homes and businesses in N.Ireland by the end of 2020. The pilot is BTs final step before they start a full commercial deployment, which will aim to reach 10 million UK premises by 2020 and then most of the UK by 2025. We think that most will probably equate to around 60% UK coverage (inc. FTTP) but this is not confirmed. Mairead Meyer, BT N.Irelands MD of Networks, said: We are delighted to announce that parts of Antrim will be among the first locations in the UK to get ultrafast speeds using G.fast technology. We recently rolled out ultrafast in Newtownards and it proved very successful for local residents and we look forward to offering Antrim the same benefits. The technology works by running a fibre optic cable to your local PCP Street Cabinet, which is then extended in size via the addition of a new extension pod that houses the G.fast line cards. Properties that exist less than 350 metres from this cabinet (copper line distance) should be able to receive speeds of up to 330Mbps (50Mbps upload). A 160Mbps (30Mbps upload) option is also available. Generally youll need to be within 500 metres of the cabinet to stand a chance of getting the service. Interestingly the announcement makes no mention of BTs deployment in N.Ireland being part of a pilot, although we assume that it is since previous documents have suggested that the commercial roll-out probably wont begin until the latter half of 2017 and were still waiting for the final product pricing to be confirmed (pilot prices). However this may also be due to the fact that Openreach doesnt technically exist in N.Ireland (regulatory fun). Funnily enough we recall that the County Antrim area was also one of the very first areas in the United Kingdom to test FTTC technology, all the way back in 2005. UPDATE: Confirmed that Antrim is indeed part of the G.fast pilot, as expected. Its hardly a revelation that a fair number of introverts are working in the technology sector. But those of us who have either covered the profession or worked in it for any time at all are very much aware that it has its fair share of extroverts, too. So how do you go about managing both personality types while optimizing the work experience of each? I recently had the opportunity to discuss that question with Steven Pruden, senior vice president of human resources at Appirio, an Indianapolis-based cloud services provider that was acquired by the Indian IT consulting giant Wipro last year. Pruden, whose placement on the introvert/extrovert spectrum he describes as right in the middle, just slightly on the extrovert side, said Appirio has gained quite a bit of insight on this topic by virtue of having grown up in a virtual team environment: Through our 10 years of existence, we have not invested a lot in office space and real estate we have a virtual work force that works from everywhere. In order to manage that work force, we have had a lot of flexibility in how we manage people. That gives us a unique slant on managing introverts especially, because if you are an extremely introverted person, a remote work environment sounds like a really good thing you dont have the pressure of all the group meetings and lunches and all of the things that maybe youre not comfortable with, or maybe you feel is a detriment to your productivity. If we can provide a structure for people to work where theyre most productive, in a very quiet place they can create for themselves, they can be highly productive in that environment especially in tech, where ever since the first dot-com bubble burst, its been all open workspaces and compressed cubicles its loud, its noisy. Some introverted people, especially if theyre more on the developer side, need time to get in the zone and become productive. If that zone is interrupted, their productivity falls off a cliff. That creates a frustrated work environment, a frustrated experience for that worker. It can lead not only to inefficiencies for the employer, but to things like turnover and unnecessary stress. So I think just by the nature of Appirios existence, and how weve evolved, gives us a pretty unique view in hiring those more introverted people, and in how you maximize their productivity and their employment health over the course of their career with you. Pruden went on to share a few tips for managing introverts and extroverts together: My first tip is that an employer should not assume that a one-size-fits-all strategy is going to work. In fact, they should assume that thats not going to work. As youre creating HR policies, or creating workspaces for people, or helping to define or refine a culture, if you can bring flexibility into your planning immediately, youre going to be in pretty good shape. Thats mission No. 1. The next step, he said, is to embrace managing various types of workstyles and work preferences: For me, the introvert/extrovert spectrum really comes down to separate work preferences or workstyles. If youre an extroverted person, youre going to be most productive when you are working in a group, where things are maybe a little bit more chaotic. Your creativity is drawn toward that you can bounce ideas off of people, and it becomes very productive. If youre introverted, you need the exact opposite. You need a safe place to get in the zone and think. It needs to be quiet, and you need concentrated work to be done. That is something that is very tough to do in tech, because it flies against everything that tech does when designing an employment workspace, or when designing the corporate culture. At Appirio, weve focused on those two groups we want to give people the flexibility to get their work done in a way that works for them. The third recommendation is to ensure that theres an enabling computing/collaboration infrastructure in place: For years, businesses invested millions and millions of dollars in technology to bring people together across large distances think of a Cisco TelePresence room, or something like that. At Appirio, we have a culture of how we get work done, which is very one-on-one videoconference-centric. It would be very rare at Appirio for you and I to be talking over a conference line we would be talking face-to-face through Google Hangouts, or GoToMeeting, or some other collaboration means. Thats very important for connecting an introvert who needs a quiet work environment they need to feel connected to their employer, just like the extroverted folks do. But youve got to have that robust collaboration infrastructure. At Appirio, being a 100 percent cloud-based company, we have the luxury of being able to take advantage of being able to work anywhere in the world, as long as you have a relatively quiet place and a reliable internet connection. We dont have firewalls, and VPNs, and things like that that create friction for our remote work force. So the collaboration infrastructure is the last pillar in what you would need to have. Finally, in light of Appirios acquisition by Wipro, I asked Pruden if hes found employees from India in general to be any more or less introverted than employees in the United States. He said he has not: They would have the same variation in work preference and introvert vs. extrovert, just like anywhere else in the world. There may be corporate culture differences between [Appirio and] how the overall organization works. But I think down at the individual level, you have the exact same spread of preferences as you would in North America. Weve seen no difference. A contributing writer on IT management and career topics with IT Business Edge since 2009, Don Tennant began his technology journalism career in 1990 in Hong Kong, where he served as editor of the Hong Kong edition of Computerworld. After returning to the U.S. in 2000, he became Editor in Chief of the U.S. edition of Computerworld, and later assumed the editorial directorship of Computerworld and InfoWorld. Don was presented with the 2007 Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity by American Business Media, and he is a recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence in news coverage. Follow him on Twitter @dontennant. Microsoft is set to improve Azure with its planned acquisition of Deis, a startup described by the company to be "at the center of the container transformation". The acquisition was announced on Monday via the company's blog. The acquisition is one major step for Microsoft to ensure that Azure stays on top of its game. The company realized that its cloud computing service is facing what it describes as an "explosive growth in both interest and deployment of containerized workloads". Microsoft figured that with the help of Deis, Azure can keep up with the advancements in the container technology. Aside from the Azure Container Service, others in the company's container portfolio that will benefit from the acquisition are Linux and Windows Server Containers and Hyper-V Containers. According to the official blog post from Microsoft, Deis will provide developers a venue to build, run and upgrade applications particularly their efficiency, reliability, and agility via the Kubernetes system, a Google-backed tech. Software containers are currently one of the leading technologies in terms of building, packaging, delivering and managing applications. A number of companies are already engaged in container technology as many of them are already working with third-party public clouds such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. As Windows Central noted, the small San Francisco-based company has also been training its sight on open source technology. This is another reason why Microsoft deemed it necessary to bring the startup along with the brilliant minds that make up the company into its fold. Scott Guthrie of Deis issued a statement not only to explain the move but also to thank the customers for their "GitHub issues, pull requests, help in our #community Slack channel, bug fixes, and shared experiences". Both sides have not revealed how much the acquisition will be worth. However, Microsoft and Deis are one in voicing their excitement over the new-found partnership and the endless possibilities the deal brings in terms of container technology. The most effective cyberattacks turn the tables on the security measures we take to ward off attacks. Were always countering the attacks that have worked in the past, rarely thinking about the opportunities our countermeasures might open up. And opportunities always abound. If malware is being delivered via attachments, we put out memos forbidding employees from opening attachments from strangers. Cybercriminals see this, and they come up with phishing sending out attachments in emails that appear to come from the recipients close co-workers. So then we warn employees to not open an attachment unless it was expected. All right, say the attackers; well just wait for an attachment heads up and then launch our attack. What brings this to mind is a recent attack on a Brazilian bank. Weve all been warned to make sure that the sites we visit are the intended ones not altered by a strategically placed typo and those warnings are especially important when it comes to banking sites. Attackers, of course, know that weve been trained to be wary. So the Brazilian thieves didnt attack the bank well, they did, but only after they had attacked the banks DNS provider. That allowed them to purchase valid digital certificates for the banks domain. Then they attacked the bank, planting malware that disabled antivirus apps. A story detailing this attack in Dark Reading noted that customers accessing the banks online services were hit with malware posing as a Trusteer banking security plug-in application. The malware harvested login credentials, email contact lists, and email and FTP credentials. The bank and the DNS provider did apparently make some mistakes and mistakes are a great way to learn, especially if they are made by someone else. First, the bank had declined to use the DNS providers two-factor authentication. Had it done so, the attack might have never worked. Second, the DNS provider, according to Kaspersky Labs, had patched a cross-site request forgery flaw on its site, Dark Reading said. That flaw, coupled with an email phishing attack of the DNS firm, may have provided the initial access prior to the patching. This is a reminder of how dependent companies are on their business partners. You can secure your systems and your people brilliantly, but if a supplier, distributor, DNS provider, cloud provider or contractor is compromised, so are you. Unfortunately, this huge hole in your security strategy cant be resolved with Legal adding in a few extra clauses in your standard partner contract. Its no longer adequate to set security specifications for your partners. You must have mechanisms in place to periodically test them unannounced, ideally and dole out severe punishments if holes are found. The intent is not to be punitive. The goal is to force all partners to take their security as seriously as you do. Oh, one other thing. If a partner offers you better security as in two-factor authentication take it up on it. The refusal by the bank wont play well in a courtroom if lawsuits result from this attack. Given that we are talking policy, you might want to consider a rule that no one can decline a partners extra security offer without several levels of approval. In writing. Nothing makes employees take security more seriously than the threat of paperwork. This story, "Bank gets lesson in the security failings of third parties" was originally published by Computerworld . Ukraine intends to stop buying steam coal from Russia, but no ban to import coal introduced - PM Ukraine in the conditions of halting supplies of anthracite from areas that are not under control of the Ukrainian government in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone would cut consumption of anthracite and will cover its shortage thanks to diversified imports, refusing to ship coal from Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said. "Of course, we need to buy lacking coal in different countries. I want to say: I back purchases in the United States, Australia in other countries, but not from the aggressor," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday. "There is not a resolution [banning imports of anthracite from Russia], but I think that it is important for us to diversify and not supply it from Russia," he added. The prime minister recalled that Ukraine managed to stop buying Russian gas. "Ukraine has not received any drop of Russian gas for 501 days," Groysman said. The head of the government said that synchronously thanks to modernization of two units of Zmiyivska thermal power plant (TPP) this year switching them from anthracite to gas coal the need in anthracite would be reduced. He said that the same modernization for UAH 1 billion will be carried out at Trypilska TPP. The prime minister said that the reduction of anthracite consumption would be also reached thanks to boosting electricity generation by nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power plants. The Galaxy S8 is one of the most exciting Android phones in years, we cant wait to get our hs on it. But despite the sleek curved screen, next-gen chip, new AI assistant, theres a hidden wrinkle: The S8 runs Nougat 7.0. But that might not be the case for long. ile Samsung didnt specifically mention the OS at its Unpacked event, some reps we spoke to were already floating the idea of a 7.1 update in the works. And now it looks like that might come sooner than later. Samsung has been hard at work updating its suite of apps for the Galaxy S8, but the latest As for the S Health Game Tuner apps (as spotted by Sammobile) also bring support for Android Nougat 7.1. So, with the phones not scheduled to arrive until next Friday, theres hope that an update could come at or around the same time. There arent a ton of new features in 7.1 that the S8 would take advantage of. The biggest would be Daydream support, but its doubtful Samsung will be rushing to add it, with free Gear VR headsets shipping alongside every pre-ordered S8. However, each OS update always brings performance optimization improvements that would be certainly nice to have on the newest flagship. th or without the update, however, Samsung announced this week that sales of the Galaxy S8 are off to a roaring start. The company said it saw double digit growth over the Galaxy S7 pre-order, particularly for the larger S8+. The Korea Herald reports that the company has received more than 600,000 S8 preorders in its home country of South Korea, with an additional 150,000 units of the exclusive 128GB variant. y this matters: Android updates are a bone of contention for anyone who doesnt own a xel or Nexus phone, so we know itll be a long time before the S8 is updated to the next version of Android. Thats why wed like to make sure were on the newest version now, so we hope to see a 7.1 update arrive sooner than later. Qualcomm is seeking damages from Apple, alleging that the iPhone maker interfered with long-term agreements between the chip company and licensees that manufacture the iPhone and iPad, and encouraged actions by regulators against the company by giving government agencies "false and misleading information." Apple did not use certain high-performance features of the Qualcomm chipsets for the iPhone 7, claims Qualcomm. When iPhones with the Qualcomm chipset still outperformed iPhones that used a chipset from key rival Intel, Apple is said to have publicly claimed that there was no discernible difference between iPhones using Intel chipsets and those using Qualcomm chipsets, when it knew the opposite to be true, according to a filing Monday by Qualcomm. Apple warned that if Qualcomm were to make or sponsor public comparisons of the Intel and Qualcomm-based iPhones, Apple would use the marketing resources at its disposal to retaliate against Qualcomm and its standing as an Apple chipset supplier would be jeopardized. The filing Monday by Qualcomm in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California is in response to a lawsuit Apple filed against the company in January, accusing the chip supplier of charging "exorbitant" licensing fees for its cellular technology. Apple is seeking nearly US$1 billion in compensation for paying excessive royalties to Qualcomm. The company said in its filing in January that Qualcomm's licensing model is based on the final selling price of a device, so that the royalty paid for its standard-essential patents by makers of high-value phones will be higher than that paid by makers of basic cell phones. The smallest salable unit for a cellular SEP license should be no greater than the baseband processor chipset, Apple argued. It also wants Qualcomm to negotiate single-patent licenses rather than offer a license to its patents as a single portfolio. Both companies have a lot at stake in the dispute. Apple would like to find ways to lower the cost of its iPhones, particularly in newer, price-sensitive markets, while Qualcomm makes a significant portion of its revenue from licensing its intellectual property. In its response Monday, Qualcomm portrays Apple as using its considerable power to try to get lower royalty rates from the chip company. After filing the lawsuit in the court in California, Apple also sued Qualcomm in China, the U.K. and Japan as part of its aggressive strategy of constructing commercial disputes and then claiming it has been victimized, according to the filing. On Monday, when asked for comment, a spokesman for Apple referred back to the company's statement in January in which it claimed that Qualcomm had insisted on charging royalties for technologies they have nothing to do with. "The more Apple innovates with unique features such as TouchID, advanced displays, and cameras, to name just a few, the more money Qualcomm collects for no reason and the more expensive it becomes for Apple to fund these innovations," the iPhone maker said in that statement, when filing the suit against Qualcomm in the California court. Apple said that Qualcomm has taken increasingly radical steps, including most recently by withholding nearly $1 billion in payments from Apple as retaliation for its "truthful responses" to law enforcement agencies investigating the chip company. Qualcomm holds that late-comer Apple contributed virtually nothing to the development of core cellular technology and has depended heavily on Qualcomm technology to become the dominant player in the cellphone market. Now, Apple wants to pay far less than fair value for a license to Qualcomm s patents, it added. The chip maker alleged that Apple interfered, and continues to interfere, with the chip makers long- standing contracts with the manufacturers of Apples cellular devices, leading them to withhold certain royalties owed to Qualcomm, according to the redacted filing. The contracts with manufacturers like Compal, Wistron, Pegatron and Foxconn were signed even before Apple started using Qualcomm chipsets in its products. Rather than enter into a contract directly with Qualcomm, Apple chose to rely on the contracts Qualcomm had with the manufacturers. The chip maker also claims that Apple has withheld money owed to Qualcomm under another contract relating to a high-speed feature of its chipset. In negotiations between the two companies for a patent agreement, Apple is said to have offered to pay Qualcomm royalties per phone that would be a small fraction of the royalty paid by other smartphone vendors. Qualcomm also accuses Apple of giving false information to regulators. The chip company was fined in December by South Koreas antitrust regulator for violating antitrust laws. By January, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission accused it in a lawsuit of strong-arming phone makers into accepting unfair licensing terms while giving Apple a break in exchange for exclusivity. The chip company now charges that Apple misled the Korea Fair Trade Commission on August 17, 2016 , by testifying, for example, that Apple has yet to add a [second chipset] supplier because of Qualcomms exclusionary conduct. Apple had already at the time added Intel as a second baseband chip supplier and purchased Intel chips to include in the iPhone 7, which was only a few weeks away from its September release, according to the filing. Today Sunny to partly cloudy. High 79F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tonight Some clouds. Low 61F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tomorrow Sun and a few passing clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 69F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Heads of railways of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan propose to create JV to Ukraine on Transcaspian route Heads of railways of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan has proposed to Ukraine to create a joint venture (JV) on the Transcaspian international transport route, the press service of the Ukrainian government has reported. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman on Tuesday met heads of railways of the Transcaspian region. According to the report, Ukraine is ready to participate in the creation of new transport corridors to develop its transit potential and join the existing routes going southwest from the Middle Asia across Georgia and Azerbaijan to Europe. Groysman said that cooperation in the transport area with GUAM members (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) and Ukraine's partners in the Middle Asia is a top priority shared by the Ukrainian government and the governments of partner countries. "During the conversation heads of railway companies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan proposed to the Ukrainian government to join the development of the Transcaspian international transport route and maybe to create a joint venture that would allow implementing the "one face to the customer" approach for cargo processing sent on this route," the press service said. Heads of the railway companies said that this could be a large competitive advantage of the countries in using transit opportunities. "We welcome various forms of cooperation. If we are able to create a common transport corridor and a joint venture, these are normal approaches. Our union would come to good for our states. Submit your proposal," Groysman said. The Ukrainian prime minister instructed Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Kistion to work out a road map for joint work and approve concrete decisions. A group of people's deputies has proposed to legislatively consolidate the political status of the currently occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea as the national and territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people within unitary Ukraine. Corresponding bill No. 6315 "On the status of the Crimean Tatar people in Ukraine" was registered in the parliament on April 7, the website of the Verkhovna Rada says. "The definition of the political status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea as a national and territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people established within the territory of the Crimean peninsula as part of a sovereign and independent Ukrainian state will finally correct the legal nonsense that was created in February 1991 with the creation of Crimea's autonomy on a territorial basis and with complete disregard for the right to self-determination of the indigenous people of the peninsula," an explanatory note to the bill says. Over the past day, the militants have fired on Ukrainian positions in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) area 64 times, wounding five servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the press center of the ATO headquarters has said. "The situation in the ATO area is becoming more complicated. Over the past day, the Russian-occupation forces fired on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces 64 times [] five servicemen of the ATO forces were injured," the ATO headquarters said on its Facebook page on Tuesday morning. In the Mariupol sector, 122mm artillery, 120mm mortars, grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and infantry fighting vehicle weapons were used to shell Vodiane, the press center of the ATO headquarters said on Facebook. It said also that the militants fired 120mm mortars and grenade launchers upon Ukrainian military positions in Novotroyitske and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems and large-caliber machineguns upon those near Berezove, Maryinka and Krasnohorivka. The militants also fired anti-tank grenade launchers upon Ukrainian positions near Hnutove and Hranytne, large-caliber machineguns and infantry fighting vehicle weapons on Hnutove and Talakivka, and small arms upon Shyrokyne, the press service said. Snipers were also targeting the area near Maryinka, it said. In the Donetsk sector, 120mm mortars and large-caliber machineguns were used against the Butovka mine, the press service said. The militants also used 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems and large-caliber machineguns against Avdiyivka and Opytne. Grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns were fired on Ukrainian positions near Zaitseve, Pisky and Luhanske, and large-caliber machineguns and small arms against those near Kamyanka, it said. In the Luhansk sector, militant forces used 82mm mortars to shell Krymske and Katerynivka, fired grenade launchers upon Valuiske, Stanytsia Luhanska and the village of Donets, and used small arms against Ukrainian positions near Lobacheve, Kyiv said. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have once again seized ammunition of Russian and Soviet origin in the area of the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO). As the SBU press center reported on Tuesday, law enforcement officers discovered two anti-personnel mines PMN-2 of Soviet manufacture on the outskirts of the village of Troyitske (Luhansk region). These munitions, in accordance with the Ottawa treaty ("Convention on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction"), are prohibited for use in military conflicts. Russia, unlike Ukraine, ultimately refused to sign this document, the SBU reminded. According to the SBU, these mines are delivered by the LPR militants from the territory of Russia. In addition, SBU operatives seized a hand thrown grenade with a fuse in the area of Krasnohorivka (Donetsk region). According to experts, it was produced in Russia in 1995. THIS years Young Enterprise saw seven teams from Isle of Wight schools and colleges competing to secure funding in a Dragons Den-style event. Each of the teams were successful, with pupils from Sandown Bay Academy, Ryde School and two teams from Christ the King College being awarded the 60 grant to invest in their business idea. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman is confident that the Russian Federation will pay compensation to Ukraine for the occupation of territories, as Germany was forced to do in follow up of the World War II. "It's not only the occupied part of Donbas, but also Crimea, when the Russians came in and in fact everything that belongs to Ukrainian citizens, was stolen for their own needs. I understand that [this return of lands, mineral resources, enterprises to Ukraine] will not take place tomorrow, but I know for sure that as Germany paid the affected countries, so will Russia pay to Ukraine and all other countries that were caused harm to," Groysman said at a press conference following the government's performance in Kyiv on Tuesday. The Czech Republic supports maintaining sanctions against Russia until the Minsk agreements on the settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine are fully implemented, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek has said. "The Czech Republic supports the sanction regime until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented. Our sanctions are connected with the illegal annexation of Crimea and the use of force after that," Zaoralek said at a joint news conference with the Ukrainian, Slovak and Hungarian foreign ministers in Kyiv on Tuesday. According to him, the Russian aggression against Ukraine which started three years ago is also a threat to peace and security in Europe. "Since the Cold War, the European security has not been subjected to such a threat as it is now," the minister stressed. Zaoralek also noted the importance of combating corruption in Ukraine, as well as the continuation of reforms in the country. Tillerson assures Poroshenko in telephone conversation that U.S. would allow no package deals to resolve crises in Ukraine, Syria United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who spoke by telephone with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the eve of talks in Moscow, stated the unacceptability of package deals to resolve the situation in Ukraine and Syria. "The head of the U.S. Department of States said that Washington would allow no package deals on resolution of the situation in Ukraine and in Syria," the Ukrainian president's press office said on Tuesday. Tillerson reassured Poroshenko that the U.S. supported Ukraine's territorial integrity and insisted on implementing the Minsk Agreements for settling the situation in Donbas, in particular, on maintaining the ceasefire, it said. Poroshenko thanked Tillerson for supporting Ukraine's actions in Donbas and for not recognizing Crimea's annexation. "Petro Poroshenko also stressed that today Ukraine and the U.S. together are protecting democratic values which unite our countries, so the sanctions must remain in place until full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity," the press office said. The parties agreed to continue bilateral consultations after Tillerson's visit to Moscow. The other day, I was riding on the subway when I heard a commotion behind me. People started running around in the car, and a young girl slammed into my seat as if she was fleeing some kind of murderous thug. The reason for the panic was a crack-head who had decided to beat up on a young, innocent man who happened to be riding on the same car. The poor young man who just happened to cross paths with the addict was bleeding from the forehead, but was helped off the train and seemed to be OK. Physically, at least. I can't vouch for his peace of mind, or discount any nightmares he might have well into the night. This incident, though brief, stayed with me long after the train doors closed and we were safely home. I posted about it on Facebook, and the way that people reacted had a lot to do with the way they approached drug addiction. Those who had either suffered from addiction and then recovered, or who had family members who were in the throes of addiction, were angry. One old friend from grade school posted some searing criticisms, a few of which were unnecessarily personal and vitriolic, and un-friended me. Many others were in agreement that just because someone is an addict, that doesn't mean we need to ignore the fact that they are capable of hateful, criminal, destructive behavior that destroys countless other lives. They were sympathetic to the idea that even though we can feel sorry for the abuser (even though many of us refuse to call it a "disease"), it was more important to recognize the pain of the innocent victims, like the young man on that train. We have a society that is waking up to the scourge of addiction, and that is a good thing. We have programs for those who cannot rip the heavy chains of addiction from their necks, and who fall, and rise, and fall even further even after mountains have been moved to help them. We show concern for the afflicted, even though in many cases that affliction was self-imposed. In other words, we are a compassionate society that tries to help our loved ones and strangers escape the hell of addiction. That's good, because the alternative is losing generations. Not even a heartless, bitter woman like yours truly thinks that is a good idea. But while we are so concerned with the addicts, let's also pause for a moment to consider what we owe to those who are the silent victims of the scourge: Families, friends, and strangers whose only crime is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Frankly, I'm tired of the do-gooders preaching to me to shut up about my anger at these destroyers of peace. I'm fed up with the holier-than-thou masses who shout down at me from their mountains of superiority, giving me lessons in how hard it is to shake an addiction. I'm over the people who keep saying "it's a disease, dammit!" and plug up their ears when I say "a self-inflicted one, dammit!" I'm even willing to bow to the experts on addiction and concede that there is some truth to the science of addiction, because I have seen firsthand how normal humans can be biologically transformed into hollow-eyed zombies looking only for their next fix. There is an alchemy there, a change worked upon the body and the spirit by these toxins. But I'm not going to be silent when I see humans turn into animals and prey on other innocent beings, or bow my head and pray for their redemption. I will pray, all right, that the victim is made whole and brought to a place of peace and safety. Only then will I have some consideration left over, a few beads on my rosary, for the suffering, victimizing addict. And if that guarantees for me a place in purgatory, or hell, so be it. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said he considers it essential to strengthen jointly with the EU measures to combat Russian propaganda. "This is about Russian propaganda and the non-traditional war against the entire EU. Here, of course, I categorically call for doing more to fight it, to fight the creation of so-called fake news," Klimkin said at a joint press conference with the heads of foreign ministries from Hungary, Czechia and Slovakia on Tuesday in Kyiv. According to Klimkin, Russia spends a tremendous about of money to create a "parallel universe." "We will be travelling later to Warsaw to participate in the Visegrad Four meeting and the EU Eastern Partnership Initiative that gives countries an opportunity to join the European project," Klimkin said, noting that the program helps strengthen partnership between countries and support for those on the European path. As earlier reported, Klimkin will attend the Visegrad Four (Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary) meeting foreign ministers on April 12. Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has rejected a bill on Constitutional Court of Ukraine (No. 5336-1) discussed at second reading on Tuesday. Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy put this document for voting four times to send it to the committee for repeated second reading, but lawmakers failed to have enough votes to make this decision. An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported that the bill was discussed from 10:00 until 17:15. The bill is considered rejected. The bill on the Constitutional Court of Ukraine concerns the procedure of organization and activities of the Constitutional Court, the status of the Constitutional Court judges, sets out rules for the grounds and procedure of appeal to the Court of Justice, procedures for revision of cases and enforcement of judgments. The document proposes introducing an institution of constitutional complaint as an additional mechanism to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens. Any individual or legal entity could be able to file a constitutional complaint. The Constitutional Court could operate in the form of judicial boards, the Senate or the Grand Chamber. The boards would decide if to launch constitutional proceedings. The Senate would consider constitutional complaints by individuals, according to the document. 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 [JURIST] A Guatemalan court on Monday convicted a former police official for the killings of 37 people when the Spanish Embassy burned down during the countrys civil conflict in 1980. Pedro Garcia Arredondo, a former special investigations chief for the Sixth Commando of the National Police, was sentenced [NYT report] to 90 years in prison for the homicides, and crimes against humanity for ordering officers to keep anyone from leaving the embassy as it burned. On January 31, 1980, a group of farmers and students stormed the Spanish Embassy in Guatemala City to bring awareness to the massacres during the countrys 36-year civil war. Police surrounded and sealed the facility. Arredondo had proclaimed his innocence. Amnesty International welcomed the verdict [press release] as a victory for the victims. Earlier this month, the retrial of former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt was delayed [JURIST report]. Montt is being tried for ordering military operations that led to the torture, rape and murder of 1,771 indigenous Ixil Mayans between 1982 and 1983, part of Guatemalas bloody 1960-1983 Civil War [Global Security Backgrounder]. The war resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, mostly among Guatemalas large indigenous Mayan population. According to a UN report [text, in Spanish] released in 1999, the military was responsible for 95 percent of those deaths. In May the Guatemalan Congress approved a resolution [JURIST report] denying any existence of genocide during the civil war. Rios Montt was previously protected [JURIST report] from prosecution because he was serving as a member of congress, an immunity that had been lifted due to his departure from the legislature. Rios Montts trial marks the first time a former head of state has been prosecuted for genocide in a national court, and the UN has praised [JURIST report] Guatemalas efforts. [JURIST] US District Judge Nelva G. Ramos found [opinion, PDF] Monday that a controversial Texas voter ID law [materials] was passed in part with discriminatory intent. The plaintiffs argued [Reuters report] that the law burdened minority voters who are more likely to not carry identification. They say such a burden was intended by Texas Republicans to suppress voters who tend to favor Democrats. While the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals [official website] held that there was sufficient evidence to prove discriminatory intent, the court nevertheless remanded the case to reexamine such evidence. Ramos found that the drafters implemented unduly strict terms with an awareness of the laws likely disproportionate impact. Ramos further stated that the laws strict terms do not justify Texass stated purpose-to combat voter fraud. While the ruling may effectively strike down the law [NYT report], Texas officials have suggested the states plan to file an appeal. Since being signed into law in 2011 by former governor Rick Perry, the law has been a contentious issue for the Texas legislature, citizens and judiciary. In February the US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] introduced a motion to withdraw [JURIST report] from the case, and abruptly reversed its original stance that the bill was created with discriminatory intent. In January the US Supreme Court [official website] declined to hear an appeal [JURIST report] involving the law. In September a federal judge ordered Texas to revise its voter ID materials [JURIST report], as it had been found to not comply with an order to relax the law. [JURIST] Judge Neil Gorsuch [SCOTUSblog profile] was sworn in [press release] Monday, becoming the 113th person to serve on the US Supreme Court [official website]. Gorsuchs confirmation will return the court to a balance of four conservatives, four liberals and Justice Anthony Kennedy as the swing vote. In accepting the post, Gorsuch stated [ABC report], To my new colleagues and the staff of the Supreme Court, thank you for the very warm welcome. I look forward to many happy years together. Kennedy administered the oath of office to Gorsuch using the family Bible while his wife and two daughters watched. Gorsuch was a judge on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals [official website] in Denver. He graduated from Harvard Law and holds a PhD from Oxford, where he was a Marshall scholar. Gorsuchs confirmation ends a contentious battle between Democrats and Republicans over the Supreme Court vacancy. Following Scalias death in February 2016, then-President Barack Obama nominated [JURIST report] federal appellate judge Merrick Garland. Senate Republicans refused to consider [JURIST commentary] Garland, insisting that the next president should chose the nominee. Following Trumps election to the White House and Republican retention of control over the Senate, the nomination of a conservative judge appeared likely. Trump fostered intrigue over his nomination by releasing a list of 21 potential nominees [Politico report] before ultimately selecting Gorsuch. Despite a Republican majority in the Senate, Gorsuchs confirmation was not unchallenged. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell had to invoke the so-called nuclear option [NYT report] to bypass a filibuster by Democrats, which reduced the number of votes needed to invoke cloture from 60 to 50. The move was necessary because the 52 Republican members of the Senate would not have the votes to defeat the filibuster without Democratic support. New York became the first state to offer free college tuition to residents on Monday when governor Andrew Cuomo approved the 2018 State Budget [text, PDF]. The budget, unanimously passed [materials] by the Senate, invests $163 million in the Excelsior Scholarship [government website] program, making tuition free for middle class and low-income students attending 2 and 4-year SUNY and CUNY [official websites] colleges. Cuomo said he hopes other states will adopt similar programs. By making college at our world-class public universities tuition-free, we have established a national model for access to higher education, and achieved another New York first. Education funding has led to numerous legal challenges across the US. In September, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that Governor Matt Bevin did not have the authority to unilaterally cut the budget for state universities. In 2015 the Supreme Court of Washington ordered [JURIST report] the state to pay a fine of $100,000 per day for each day that it fails to comply with a previous court ruling mandating adequate funding of public schools. In August 2015 the US Senate passed a bill [JURIST report] to revamp the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. The US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled [JURIST report] in July of 2015 in favor of tight regulations pointed at the for-profit college industry. The court ruled that the Education Department has the right to demand that schools show that their graduates are financially dependent enough to repay their student loans. In August 2014 a judge for a Travis County Civil Court in Texas ruled [JURIST report] that the Texas legislature failed to meet its constitutional duty to provide for Texas public schools because the school finance system is structured, operated, and funded so that it cannot provide a constitutionally reasonable education for all Texas schoolchildren. KYIV. April 11 (Interfax-Ukraine) Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Ukraine Du Wei has said the meeting of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Davos this January gave a signal for the further development of the Ukrainian-Chinese relations. "The cold winter has already passed and now we are greeting the energetic spring, just as on the cover of the special issue of this magazine, the meeting of the heads of our state in Davos has shown the direction for the further development of relations between Ukraine and China," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday dedicated to the presentation of the special issue of the 'Ukraine-China' magazine dated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries. The ambassador expressed the hope that representatives of all areas who are contributing to these relations will receive this signal, take this opportunity to further promote the development of relations between the countries. He noted that this issue of the magazine is very informative and contains an overview of the entire 25-year history of Ukrainian-Chinese relations. Du Wei also said that a week of cultural exchange between China and Ukraine will be held in the Ukrainian House on April 24 to April 30. This event will showcase elements of traditional Chinese culture: silk, porcelain, medicine, works of art, music, in addition to a business forum, which will also take place as part of these events, he said. The 'Ukraine-China' magazine is a joint publication of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after Krymsky of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Association of Sinologists published since 1999. Starting from 2017 the magazine will be periodic. The special issue presents a wide range of opinions on the history and current state of the Ukrainian-Chinese relations US business Bright People Foods is preparing for the nationwide roll out of its new instant noodle brand, Mikes Mighty Good Craft Ramen, later this year. Key unique selling points for Mikes Mighty Good Craft Ramen, Carolyn Vinnicombe, head of sales and member of the founding family at Bright People said, are the quality and values that Bright People bring to the table. We are making our own organic noodles from scratch, every day in California, so what you are tasting here is made in Woodland, in Yolo County, where a lot of organic agriculture is grown in California. We wanted to bring people the best ingredients so we are not using any palm oil, we are using organic ingredients, simple ingredients, we are not sourcing GMOs. We are doing ramen the right way. Vinnicombe said the value of the Mikes Mighty Good Craft Ramen brand also lies in the relationship the company is forging with consumers. People want brands that they can trust. People want to know who is making their food. We have the trust of our consumers. We want to bring people good ingredients but also let them know that there are real people that have strong values making their food. Bright People Foods is planning to get its message which centres on the quality of its product and the ingredients that go into it out to consumers via social media as well as an extensive point of sale marketing campaign, slated for later in the year. We have relationships with bloggers across the US, we are doing recipes on our website, turning up the dial on our social media campaign. We are also doing a lot of cooking demos at retailers across the US. We want to show people exactly how to make the ramen bowl of their dreams in just minutes. We think the ramen bowl could be the new smoothie bowl. The company, which showcased its products at the Natural Products Expo West trade show last month, expects Mikes Mighty Good Ramen to hit shelves throughout the US in June. The group has already secured listings with the likes of Whole Food Market and is in discussions with other retailers. We have had the most amazing response, Vinnicombe said. Mikes Mighty Good Ramen appeals to both snacking and meal occasions, Vinnicombe explained. We view ourselves as partners in cooking, we want to bring a gourmet experience to everyone. Really, we want to raise the calibre of food out there. We get excited and we are motivated by people experiencing a mindful moment in their daily lives, a quality of food that they havent been able to have before. We understand that people are busy but that people also want to have the best food possible, she explains. We have actually made a cookbook. With just a few simple ingredients you can make ramen for lunch, for dinner, as well as a healthy snack. Mikes Mighty Good Craft Ramen will be rolled out at a price point of US$2.39 per cup, which Vinnicombe said reflects the brands premium quality while remaining affordable. NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Style Daily Update The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Style Weekly Update A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Style Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter. Dallas, 04/11/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/ One of two survivors in a seven-car semi-truck crash that killed five nursing students has been compensated $15 million by a Georgia jury. As reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the accident, which occurred in 2015, claimed the lives of five young women between the ages of 20 and 21 all students at Georgia Southern University who were en route to their last day of clinical requirements to become nurses. According to court documents, the truck driver failed to brake as he was traveling 70 miles per hour on the highway. He crashed into several stopped cars on the highway, causing a pileup that killed the women. Truck Driver Sentenced to Five Years in Prison The truck driver pled guilty to five counts of first-degree vehicular homicide and was sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of probation. The trucking company who employed the driver settled other lawsuits with the family members of the women killed in the crash, as well as the other survivor of the accident. According to the report, the woman who survived suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes health problems two years after the accident. She also experiences anxiety and mental stress related to the accident, and her roommate testified that she suffers nightmares and a fear of death following the accident. The trucking company reportedly offered to pay her medical bills, along with a fair amount of compensation, however, the parties were unable to agree on a settlement figure. The jury in the case voted unanimously on a $15 million verdict. Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Costly Texas truck accident Attorney Amy Witherite explains, Each semi-truck accident case is different, and the damages compensated in each case vary. However, because the victim in this case was so young at the time of the accident, the jury most likely considered her long-term medical expenses and other costs when deciding how much to compensate. Traumatic brain injuries, which are a contributing factor in one-third of all injury-related deaths in the United States, are among the costliest of all personal injuries. On average, traumatic brain injuries cost victims and their families $76.5 billion annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident, its important to protect your rights. Dont wait to speak to an attorney. 1-800-Truck-Wreck Lawyers http://www.1800truckwreck.com/our-locations Media Contact: Lucy Tiseo Eberstein & Witherite, LLP Phone: 800-878-2597 Email: [email protected] www.1800truckwreck.com Connect with Eberstein & Witherite on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter source: http://www.1800truckwreck.com/texas-truck-accident-lawyer-discusses-15-million-jury-verdict-fatal-truck-crash-case.html Social Media Tags:Fatal Truck Crash Case, Texas truck accident, Texas truck accident Attorney Amy Witherite, Texas truck accident lawyer, Vehicular Homicide Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print New York City, NY, 04/11/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/ According to a newly released joint report from the New York City Department of Health and the Department of Transportation, individuals in poorer areas are more likely to be struck and killed by a motor vehicle. In fact, the report found that pedestrian deaths are an astounding three times higher in economically challenged neighborhoods compared to more affluent areas of the city. Pedestrian Deaths Higher on Average in Poorer Areas Across the Country Furthermore, the report is consistent with data gathered in other major cities in the United States. Similar studies performed in other major U.S. cities have found that people who live in more economically depressed areas are more likely to be injured or killed as a pedestrian. The NYC report studied pedestrian deaths occurring between 2012 and 2014. For every 100 miles of roadway, there were an average of nine pedestrian fatalities in poor neighborhoods and three in wealthier neighborhoods. Safety experts point to a number of possible reasons for this disparity. Some believe that pedestrian deaths are higher in poorer neighborhoods because those neighborhoods lack the infrastructure to support pedestrian safety. However, a separate study conducted by the nonprofit organization, Transportation Alternatives, found that pedestrian deaths tend to be higher around public housing, where there is increased mid-block crossing behavior due to [the] superblock layout of developments. The executive director of that organization says that the roads around public housing developments are inherently dangerous due to flawed design, stating, Low-income New Yorkers are more likely to live on streets that are wide and fast and dangerous. NYC Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Discusses Injuries Caused by Counterfeit Products New York City pedestrian accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter states, Socioeconomic status should not determine a persons right to be safe while walking or riding a bike on New York Citys streets. Pedestrian deaths have risen in recent years. Hopefully, reports like the one conducted by the Departments of Health and Transportation will help authorities and city planners identify areas in need of more infrastructure to support pedestrian safety. If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian or bicyclist in New York City, dont wait to speak to an attorney. Protect your rights and your right to receive full and fair compensation for your injuries by getting in touch with an attorney right away. Talk to a New York City pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case. Sources: Media Contact: New York City pedestrian accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter. T: 866-324-9211. source: http://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/2017/04/08/pedestrian-deaths-higher-economically-disadvantaged-areas/ Social Media Tags:NYC Pedestrian Accident, NYC Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, Pedestrian Deaths Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Dallas, TX, USA, 04/11/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/ Many people who are accused of a federal crime have heard of a PSR. In talking to my clients and their family members, I have noticed that there is a lot of confusion about what it is and what it does. This post will explain it, says Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms. PSR stands for Pre-Sentence Report. It is a report that is prepared by a United States Probation Officer for use at a defendants sentencing hearing. A Pre-Sentence Report is prepared for every defendant who has been found guilty in a federal criminal case, which can occur either because the defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty by a jury at a trial. In many state systems, including Texas, a jury can decide the defendants sentence based on testimony by witnesses. In the federal system, however, a judge is always the one who decides what the sentence will be. The Pre-Sentence Report gives the judge detailed information about the defendant and the crime that the judge needs to decide what sentence to give. The judge makes that decision at a hearing in court. The defendant, the defense lawyer, and the prosecutor are present at that hearing, and each has the opportunity to speak to the judge about the sentence. Before the sentencing hearing, the judge gets a copy of the Pre-Sentence Report, reads it, and meets with the Probation Officer who wrote it to discuss the report and sentencing options. It is called a PRE-Sentence Report because it is prepared BEFORE the sentencing hearing to give the judge information for use at the sentencing hearing. As I will explain in more detail, the defendant and the defendants criminal defense lawyer, as well as the prosecutor, get copies of the Pre-Sentence Report well in advance of the sentencing hearing. They also have the right to make comments on preliminary versions of it and to object to anything in the report with which they do not agree. What exactly does the Pre-Sentence Report contain? It has a lot of information about the defendants background, including the defendants family life when growing up, education, and job history. It also includes details on the defendants criminal history, including arrests and convictions. These personal details give the judge a sense of what the defendant is really like. They might tell the judge, for example, that the defendant grew up in a broken home with no role models and that the defendant never had a chance to get a good education. Another section describes the crime. It tells the judge what role the defendant played, what the defendant did, how many victims there were, if any, and other information that helps the judge to understand the seriousness of the crime and how bad or harmful the defendants conduct was. Another section of the report calculates the defendants recommended range of prison time according to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This is a range of months, such as between 57 and 72 months. The Sentencing Guideline range takes into account the seriousness of the crime and the defendants criminal history. The judge is required to calculate the Sentencing Guideline range at the sentencing hearing. The judge is not required to sentence the defendant within that range, but the judge must carefully consider that range and explain the reasons if the judge sentences above or below that range. Most judges will sentence the defendant within the Sentencing Guideline range in most cases. This makes the calculation of the Guideline range a critical part of the Pre-Sentence Report. In most federal courts, it takes at least three months between the defendants guilty plea or guilty verdict at trial and the sentencing hearing. During that time, the Pre-Sentence Report is prepared by the Probation Officer and reviewed by the parties. The process begins shortly after the defendant is found guilty. A Probation Officer is assigned to write the Pre-Sentence Report, and the Probation Officer schedules interviews with the defendant and the lead law enforcement agent who investigated the case. During these interviews, the Probation Officer gathers the information for the report. The defendants lawyer should be present during the defendants interview. The Probation Officer may also interview others, like the defendants family members, to verify the information. Once the Probation Officer has finished the first draft of the report, a copy goes to the defendant, the defendants defense attorney and the prosecutor. They review the report to see whether they have any disagreements with anything in it. Probably the defense lawyers most important job at this stage is to review the Sentencing Guidelines calculation to determine if there is any objection that could be made that would lower the recommended range of prison time. To do this well, the defense lawyer must have a thorough command of the details of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. If either the defense or the government disagrees with anything in the initial report, they can make a written objection to it. The Probation Officer then considers any objections from either side. If the Probation Officer agrees with an objection, the Probation Officer will prepare a revised report that makes the necessary change. Again, all sides get a copy of the revised report and have an opportunity to object. If the Probation Officer disagrees with an objection, the objection is noted, and the judge will rule on the objection at the sentencing hearing. When all objections have been made and the Probation Officer has made all necessary revisions, the final version of the Pre-Sentence Report is sent to the judge and all parties. At the sentencing hearing, any facts in the final Pre-Sentence Report for which no objection was made are taken as true. Any objection that was not made during the revision process usually cannot be raised for the first time at the sentencing hearing. The final Pre-Sentence Report therefore includes most of the facts and information that the judge will use at the sentencing hearing. It also contains the Sentencing Guidelines calculation that will apply to the defendant unless there are objections to it that the judge must decide. Experienced federal criminal defense lawyers know what to do during the pre-sentence process to help their clients get the fairest possible sentence. That involves knowing not only what objections to make to the PSR, but how to make them persuasively, and how to support the objections with convincing evidence. As a former federal prosecutor who has worked with PSRs from both the prosecution and defense sides, I know that the federal sentencing system is unique. It is therefore very unwise to put yourself in the hands of a lawyer who does not have substantial FEDERAL criminal experience. If you, a family member or someone you know has been charged with a federal crime or any other crime in the Dallas area, contact Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms at (214) 666-8010 or fill out the online contact form. You can discuss your case, how the law may apply and your best legal options to protect your rights and freedom. source: http://johnhelms.attorney/federal-criminal-sentencing-clarified-dallas-criminal-lawyer/ Social Media Tags:Federal criminal defense attorney, Dallas criminal lawyer, Criminal lawyer for Dallas and Collin County Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print The first freight train to run from Britain to China left a depot in Essex on Monday to start its 12,000-kilometer journey to Yiwu, east Chinas Zhejiang Province. [Photo: CGTN] The first China-bound cargo train carrying British products left London on Monday for an eastern Chinese city, highlighting another historic moment in the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative. The cross-continent freight, loaded with 32 containers carrying products including milk powder and soft drinks, left from east London's DP World gateway for the Chinese city of Yiwu amid cheers and applause. The front of the red locomotive was seen with a sign board that reads "First London-Yiwu Train." The 12,000-km journey will pass through nine countries in 18 days. During the trip, the train's locomotives have to be changed due to different railway gauges in the countries. The train, carrying vitamins, baby products and other goods, is expected to take around three weeks to arrive in China. [Photo: CGTN] Ma Hui, a senior official with the Chinese embassy in Britain, said the direct freight train service is "very meaningful and important" against the backdrop of slowing world trade and the rise of protectionism. "The service injects fresh impetus into the joint efforts by China and UK in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said. "The train carries not only goods, but also the bilateral confidence to score a win-win." Rupert Soames, British prime minister's business ambassador for infrastructure and transport, said at the launching ceremony of the event, which he dubbed "historic", that such a rail service helped provide jobs to his country. The train is part of the efforts to boost the China-UK trade partnership under the Belt and Road Initiative. [Photo: CGTN] Kevin Lam, general manager of the global management office with Kerry logistics which is a key custom for the freight train, told Xinhua that he is expecting to see more frequent direct freight between Britain and China. "The cost for the current freight batch is almost the same as the sea transportation," said Lam, whose company uses 10 out of the 32 containers, "But it is twice faster than through the sea route." He added that his company is willing to see the number of the direct freight service increase to once every week. Jacob Gan, operations manager of the local branch of the YXE International Container Train, operator of the direct rail service, told Xinhua that his company will monitor the operation of the service and evaluate when more such service could be provided. London is the 15th European city on an expanding map of destinations for China's rail cargo.The first Chinese freight train arrived in London in January. BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with the United States to progress negotiations on the bilateral investment treaty, Premier Li Keqiang said Monday. As each other's largest trading partners and with economic interests highly integrated, China and the U.S. can achieve win-win through deepening cooperation, Li said when meeting with the first delegation to China from the new U.S. congress. "China is willing to expand trade, two-way investment and cooperation at the local level and handle any disputes or frictions through dialogue with the U.S. to realize a more balanced trade relationship," Li said. The premier said a healthy and stable China-U.S. relationship and enhanced cooperation is in the interests of the two countries and is conducive to the world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Li said the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump several days ago set the tone for the progression of bilateral relations. He said China was willing to work with the U.S. to enhance exchanges and dialogue in various fields and at all levels and promote greater development of relations based on mutual respect and benefits. U.S. senators Steve Daines, John A. Barrasso, Rob Portman, John Neely Kennedy and congressmen Chris Stewart and Brad Wenstrup said the U.S.-China relationship was the most important bilateral relationship for the U.S.. The U.S. delegation said congress will strengthen its relations with China and expects more lawmakers to visit China and contribute to mutually beneficial cooperation. CHICAGO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz apologized Monday for having to "re-accommodate" the customers in an overbooked flight after videos showing an Asian man dragged from his seat in an United flight, which sparked wide-spread criticism on social media. "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United," Munoz said in the statement, adding the United is "reaching out to this passenger" and "further address and resolve this situation." Earlier, videos on social media showed an Asian man was dragged forcibly from his seat on a flight by three security officers, causing the man to scream in agony. The officers then dragged the man along the aisle, with his glasses askew and his shirt above his abdomen. Other pictures taken at the same flight showed the man had blood near his mouth. According to Chicago Tribune, the incident happened on an United flight at Chicago's O' hare international airport Sunday evening. United Airlines had the flight overbooked and asked for four volunteers to give up their seats to United employees, after everyone was already boarded. When no one answered, United Airline announced that they would draw volunteers randomly by computer. One passenger was drawn, but he refused to leave. The United employees called security, who then dragged the passenger from his seat and off the plane. Videos taken by other passengers on the same flight drew more than a million hits on social media, with many criticizing United Airline's handling of the incident. KIGALI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda hailed China's supportive role in the country's health sector as the 17th Chinese medical team completed one-year medical service there. At Kibungo Hospital in eastern Rwanda and Masaka Hospital in Kigali, the team received up to 4,355 cases, performed 450 surgical operations and 992 acupuncture treatments, according to officials. Speaking at a farewell ceremony for the group in Kigali on Monday evening, Rwanda's health minister Diane Gashumba hailed the Chinese cooperation in the development of the country's health sector. She cited construction of Masaka Hospital and support toward Kibungo Hospital through construction of staff quarters among the areas of Chinese health intervention. "The Chinese have also equipped Masaka Hospital with appropriate equipment ranging from clinical equipment to office furniture to cover all the different hospital departments. Talking of education, Rwandan professionals are going for short courses and study tours to gain experience from their colleagues in China," the minister said. At the same ceremony, the 18th medical team from China was welcomed. Gashumba said the support of the Chinese government in form of infrastructure, education and equipment is very important in the development of Rwanda's health sector. Rao Hongwei, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, hailed the medics who were set to leave the country, saying they made "real contribution" towards health services in Rwanda. China started sending medics to Rwanda since 1982. Up to 800,000 people have been treated since then, according to officials. THE HAGUE, April 10 (Xinhua) -- "Laten Wij Over Mao Zedong Lezen" ("Let's Read About Mao Zedong"), the Dutch-language version of a Chinese children's book was launched Monday in The Hague. The book is one of the most important titles of the year 2017 that were specially selected for the Dutch-language market, said Lenard Wolters, founder and CEO of Leonon Media, a Dutch publishing house. "Mao's thoughts and ways of practice have deeply influenced and shaped China as it is now. Without understanding Mao Zedong, it will be very hard to truly understand the present China," explained Wolters. "I hope this book will provide an opportunity and new point of view for the European readers, to understand China's great man Mao Zedong, his ideals, his pursuits, and his wisdom." Anne Marie Westra-Nijhuis, the Dutch translator of the book, said: "There's nothing more rewarding than to be able to communicate in another language and to understand and learn from other people from different cultures." The book has sold over 100,000 copies since its publication a year ago in China. Gold Jewelry: Sound Investment and Timeless Fashion Statement What are your prized possessions? These days, as gadget companies try to integrate technology into the lifestyle of consumers more seamlessly, wearable gadgets are all the rage. Think of smartwatches, high-tech rings and other wares merge the conveniences of modern technology and the appeal of fashion accessories. Did you know that ages ago before wearable tech became a thing, the concept of multi-purpose wearables has been around for some time now in the form of jewelry? Contrary to what others may think, jewelry is not only a show of status symbol in the society and infusing a look with a different level of flair. A piece of jewelry definitely gives every outfit a touch of luxury. Imagine those huggie earrings, a gold watch or, a gem-encrusted ring that can certainly give that "shine bright like diamonds" effect to the wearer. In addition, gold jewelry seems to be always on the radar of fashion influencers--just in different interpretations. But beyond aesthetics and creative expression, jewelry is actually a practical commodity and I agree with that 100%. Want to know why? Read more below :) Gold Jewelry: Sound Investment and Timeless Fashion Statement Good as Gold Gold is a precious metal that can be made into many forms, which makes it useful across different industries. As the most malleable of all metals, it can be shaped and beaten into tiny and thin pieces, but it can still last for years or even decades if taken care of properly. Due to its distinct characteristics, gold is highly valued everywhere. Gold Jewelry: Sound Investment and Timeless Fashion Statement image from pexels.com Gold as Jewelry Gold becomes an attractive accessory and becomes a fashion statement. Gold is a valuable possession. Gold jewelry is versatile enough to be used from day to night. You can wear gold in many ways. Gold is an investment. It retains its value unlike currency and other possessions such as gadgets and cars. It is also easily transported when needed and is widely recognized and accepted for trade. Good investors know very well how worthwhile gold is in wealth management. In essence, gold is a wearable investment that serves multiple purposes. Gold Jewelry: Sound Investment and Timeless Fashion Statement image from pexels.com Just Jewels. For those who have no idea of this unique jewelry store, Just Jewels offer every piece of jewelry with distinct cuts and shapes that create a perfectly imperfect accessory that is just as unique and beautiful as you. In the Philippines, one of the best places to check out for unique gold jewelry isFor those who have no idea of this unique jewelry store,offer every piece of jewelry with distinct cuts and shapes that create a perfectly imperfect accessory that is just as unique and beautiful as you. Gold Jewelry: Sound Investment and Timeless Fashion Statement Just Jewels does not just sell pieces of jewelry. They will help you choose from a delectable selection of rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and set pieces that will make your true self-shine brighter and more brilliant than any gem in existence. They have 13 branches nationwide and an easy-to-use online shop. I was browsing their Instagram a while ago and found out that they have over a thousand designs in their selection that you will see in stores.does not just sell pieces of jewelry. They will help you choose from a delectable selection of rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and set pieces that will make your true self-shine brighter and more brilliant than any gem in existence. Gold Jewelry: Sound Investment and Timeless Fashion Statement Don't worry if you feel like you have a tight budget but you really want a piece of jewelry because aside from straight cash and credit card payment, Just Jewels also offer a layaway plan for jewelry payable in four or six months, gold trade-in to exchange old gold items for new jewelry, and an installment program, which can be paid from six to 12 months. Start investing in gold jewelry today! I'm planning to invest too :) Visit their website and comment below what piece/s your eyes are glued to. For more information on Just Jewels http://www.justjewels.com.ph/ visit their website: Just Jewels Philippines Like them on Facebook: Follow them on Twitter: @justjewelsph Follow them on Instagram: @jusjewelsph Good Times! HAIKOU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Svetlana Shipetko and her two sons did not just come to south China's tropical island of Hainan to escape the freezing Siberian weather. Shipetko had an equally important goal -- to ease her lower back pain. Instead of prescribing painkillers, Shipetko's Chinese doctor Tang Yi performed the traditional Chinese therapy of "tuina," which literally means "push-and-pinch." Every morning, Shipetko received the therapy at the Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, then spent the rest of the day bathing in the sun. "It is great," she told Xinhua through an interpreter. "No pills, no injections, but I feel much better." Shipetko is one of tens of thousands of Russians who flock to Hainan every year. The island province has received 800,000 Russian tourists in the past seven years. Almost 80 percent of them tried some form of traditional Chinese therapy during their stay -- either to treat a particular ailment or simply for wellness, health authorities said. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has in recent years gained popularity in a world dominated by modern Western medicine. Clinics have proliferated outside of China, but many face challenges such as getting herbs across the border or luring experienced professionals to work overseas. As a result, more foreigners are coming to China for TCM treatment or therapy. The boom is particularly felt in Sanya, where Russian-language advertisements for acupuncture pop up across the city. GLOBAL FLOW OF PATIENTS International medical tourism became popular in the mid-20th century with wealthy European and North American patients traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery sprees. In the markets that first responded to the demand, such as Brazil, South Africa, and Costa Rica, a variety of modestly priced procedures were offered. The sector flourished with the rise of quality health care, commercial aviation, and the Internet. It is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. U.S.-based industry resource company Patients Beyond Borders estimates between 9.8 million and 14.8 million patients visited overseas hospitals and clinics in 2016. People are tempted by lower costs, quality care, improved patient experience, specialty treatments, and the lure of "the new and different," according to the company. It said that in 2013 alone, more than 900,000 Americans headed overseas for "nearly every imaginable type" of medical treatment: weight loss surgery in Mexico, heart valve replacements in Thailand, hip resurfacing in India, and fertility treatments in Israel. In Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea are the rising stars, drawing a great majority of patients within the region. "We see a rising market in China," said Patients Beyond Borders CEO Josef Woodman in an e-mail interview. He said China can successfully compete with mature markets in the region, as it is strong in TCM treatment and its health care infrastructure is fast improving. BEYOND CUPS AND NEEDLES Acupuncture, cupping, tuina massage, and herbal medicine are some of the best-known TCM treatments overseas, but TCM master Prof. Hu Kaiwen believes the ancient healing system has even more to offer. Hu, president of Dongfang Hospital in downtown Beijing, is a veteran oncologist who specializes in integrating TCM with conventional Western medicine to treat advanced tumor patients. While Western medicine sees cancer as abnormal cells to be annihilated, TCM considers the ailment a sign of imbalance of body and mind and prioritizes restoring balance rather than annihilation. Hu said one Chinese philosophical saying applies: "Going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short." His therapy combines minimally invasive surgery with post-surgery TCM care. It offers an alternative to patients who do not respond well to chemotherapy or radiation. Hu said the herbs can work just as well to lengthen the lifespan and improve quality of life, but cost only a fraction of costly targeted Western drugs. Wang Tiansong, president of Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said foreign patients with cerebral palsy and strokes have also responded well to TCM treatment. Last year, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine set up a Chinese medicine center in St. Petersburg as an outpost. "TCM is centered around being green and natural, making it compatible with Russians' passion for nature," said the center's Chinese director Wang Chaoyang. INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTION Hainan is not the only spot where foreign medical travelers swarm. In China's northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Russians are joined by Kazakhs and other Central Asians from across the border. At the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University in Urumqi, signs are written in three languages -- Chinese, Uygur, and Russian. About 80 foreigners sought treatment in the first three months after the hospital opened its international department. Wu Yue, a top hospital official, said the demand from across the border is so strong that the hospital plans to start building an Asian Orthopedic Center. These developments have been incorporated into the Belt and Road Initiative the Chinese leadership proposed in 2013. Xinjiang has positioned itself as a regional hub that offers services to the region, including health care. Meanwhile, Hainan, once a key stop on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, is already being marketed as an international tourist island. Investors now set their eyes on medical infrastructure. A public-private-partnership cancer hospital, which cost 2.9 billion yuan (426 million U.S. dollars), opened last year in Hainan's capital city of Haikou. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and 1,200 beds, the hospital mainly targets wealthy treatment seekers from outside the province. China's State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Development and Reform Commission late last year set a target to build 10 TCM health tourism model zones offering medical treatment, wellness, recuperation, and elder care by 2020. Woodman said China is on the path to establishing quality health care infrastructure. In 2007, there were only three Chinese medical centers accredited by the Joint Commission International, while today there are more than 77. The next step, he said, will be to work toward promoting China as a medical tourism destination by working with the travel and economic development sectors. Some have sensed the business opportunity. Russian national Yana recently quit her tour guide job to join the Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a marketing officer. Yana, who has been a tour guide in Sanya for 12 years, said her new job is promising. "A lot of my Russian clients know about TCM and are interested in coming over," she said. LEXINGTON A former rural Cozad church employee pleaded guilty to felony theft last week in Dawson County District Court. In November, Candice Hasbrouck, 34, of Cozad was charged with theft of more than $5,000, a Class IIA felony. The charge was amended to theft of $1,500-$5,000, a Class IV felony; which she pleaded guilty to on Thursday. The charge stems from an accusation that Hasbrouck embezzled more than $46,000 from St. Johns Lutheran Church where she had been the treasurer since 2009, court records say. After church personnel were encouraged to set in place more detailed accounting records, court records say, they found questionable transactions in September, including the movement of $4,000. This explained the alleged disappearance of money from the churchs account, court records say. Court records say church personnel later told law enforcement that a professional accounting firm audited the churchs financial records from between November 2013 and September 2016 and indicated that the church was missing $46,109. Hasbrouck is set for sentencing on May 22. She faces up to two years in prison. (File photo) Cyber security will gain a new place of prominence in Chinas IT industry in the near future, according to the predictions of Qi Xiangdong, president of Chinas leading cyber security company Qihoo 360. Qi forecasts an era in which cyber attacks go beyond financial theft and unwelcome advertisements to become life-threatening. Over the past 12 years, cyber security has been subordinated in the IT industry of China, where multi-trillion-RMB investment far outpaces the billions spent on cyber security. The IT industry revolves around a consumer-oriented internet. It can be predicted, then, that the industry will go beyond online shopping to become industry-oriented. Once everything is internet-based, normal operations and product reliability will hinge upon cyber security, said Qi, on the sidelines of a Hack for Security conference held by Qihoo 360 in Shenzhen on March 30. For the past 12 years, cyber security has only threatened consumers personal information. While this can lead to fraud and financial loss, peoples lives could be at risk in the next era of industry-oriented internet, Qi warned. Companies at bay According to the Economic Daily, the estimated damage caused by cyber attacks on companies amounts to $500 billion every year, and that number keeps rising. High on the target list are companies specializing in communications, electronics, oceans and ports, energy and chemicals, and transportation, aerospace and aviation. In 2016, Kaspersky Lab found that some 92 percent of more than 200,000 industrial control systems used across 170 countries and regions were found to contain security vulnerabilities, which could be taken advantage of by hackers. Last April, a nuclear power plant in Germany was temporarily shut down after a cyber attack implanted a destructive Trojan virus, the newspaper reported. Individual enterprises are not capable of dealing with such high risks, admitted Ling Yun, chief information security officer at Chinas leading online travel agency Ctrip, when talking to reporters on the sidelines of the conference. Ling pointed out that his 30,000-person company has an internet security group of 40 people, who are solely responsible for detecting vulnerabilities in the companys products to safeguard millions of users personal information. This is a relatively big group already, compared with many other internet companies, he noted. According to Qi, cyber security investment now accounts for 1 percent of total IT investment in China. The average proportion in the West is about 15 percent, but there is now an increasing awareness of cyber security industry-wide, so more investment in China is likely to follow. I believe we can catch up in five to 10 years, Qi said, adding that he has already observed a growing emphasis on internet security. As of 2016, over 80 percent of Chinese ministry-level government bodies had purchased cyber security monitoring services from Qihoo 360; of the 103 central state-owned enterprises, more than 80 are in cooperation with the company on cyber security, Qi noted. (File photo) White hat vigilantes Help sometimes comes from online vigilantes, or white hat hackers, who hack into protected systems and networks to test and assess their security conditions. On Qihoo 360's security monitoring website Butian, over 30,000 registered white hat hackers help detect vulnerabilities on company websites. The companies usually offer thousands of RMB as a reward for this information. The use of white hat hackers is also common in the U.S., according to Wang Ning, chief operations officer of HackerOne, a San Francisco-based vulnerability coordination and bug bounty platform. HackerOne serves multiple high-tech companies, from Uber and Yahoo to smaller startups. Wang explained that registered HackerOne white hat hackers help to detect vulnerabilities while under contract with different companies. The platform also encourages transparency when it comes to hackers identities by offering higher-paying contracts to those who share more personal information. Similarly, Butian also requires identity registration. For certain public projects, it even works with the National Research Center for Information Technology Security to monitor white hat hackers by offering authorized, monitored access to the systems being tested. China has been credited as the rising emperor of white hat hackers, who are young and talented but seldom willing to work in state-owned enterprises or government bodies. When cyber security is the core of the IT industry, they will be essential. Thanks to them, I believe more private companies will rise to the stage in the years to come, Qi said. Bald eagles, gray wolves and American alligators are just a few of the animals that were brought back from the brink of extinction thanks to the Endangered Species Act. Now these species, as well as over 1,600 other protected creatures, are in danger of losing protections. These are some of the bills that are attacks on our wild animals: - The Federal Land Freedom Act, currently in the U.S. Senate, giving states control over fossil fuel interests on federal lands, exempting federal reviews. - The 21st Century Endangered Species Transparency Act, in the U.S. Senate, would require all scientific data the government uses to list a species as endangered or threatened to be made public. This would allow some politicians to claim a species only appears as endangered because of poorly conducted research. - The Listing Reform Act, in the House of Representatives, would require the government to weigh the economic costs of listing an imperiled animal based only on the order in which the proposed protections are received, meaning that companies would be free to conduct business as usual in the meantime, even if the survival of a species is at stake. President Trump has signed four bills that roll back many environmental regulations. One bill lifts inhumane hunting tactics on federal wildlife refuges in Alaska, making it legal to shoot hibernating bear and wolf families in their dens. In Nebraska, we are blessed with hundreds of thousands of birds that use our Platte River and Prairie Pothole areas for their north/south migration. This includes the bald eagle and the whooping crane, both endangered species. The prairie chicken has made a comeback due to conservation efforts. These spectacular birds are an economic and environmental boom for our state. Please do not support any legislation that puts our wild birds and animals at risk. Jayne Lyons, McCook The announcement that McCooks JCPenney store will close next month has put new emphasis on the loss of shopping opportunities and the need to support local businesses. Yes, it is important to do what we can to keep our friends and neighbors in business, but its good for the economy in general, not just the local business climate. Our total U.S. economy depends, in large part, on small mom-and-pop ventures. The U.S. Small Business Administration defines a small business as an enterprise having fewer than 500 employees. There are almost 28 million small businesses in the U.S. and more than 22 million self-employed workers with no additional payroll or employees mom-and-pop businesses with annual receipts of $1,000 or more and subject to federal income taxes. More than half of the working population, 120 million of us, work in small businesses, which have generated more than 65 percent of the new jobs since 1995. Its not an easy task to start a small business; some 543,000 owners try every month but more than that shut down. Seventy percent of new firms with employees survive at least two years, half at least five, a third at least 10 years and a quarter stay in business 15 years or more. More than half of all small businesses, 19.4 million of those are sole proprietorships, 1.6 million are partnerships and 1.4 million are corporations. The latest figures show the fastest type of freelance business is auto repair shops, beauty salons and dry cleaners. Nonemployer business people arent getting rich; the average revenue is $44,000 but many southwest Nebraska residents would be happy to establish that sort of enterprise. So while we mourn the loss of a landmark downtown retailer, and work to maintain and cultivate local business activity, lets make sure we at least do as little as possible to hinder local entrepreneurs and all we can to encourage them. McCook Daily Gazette HOLDREGE Avis Nelson arrives early before each chapel service at Christian Homes Care Community. She walks the long hallways, knowing which residents will want to attend the service and need assistance. She approaches each of the residents, greets them warmly by name and asks them if they are ready to go to the chapel. She waits for their response and then pushes their wheelchairs to the chapel. At one point, she helps adjust a residents blanket so she wont get chilled while listening to the service. She greets employees and other residents while she makes her rounds. It doesnt take too long to get the names and stuff. You know the ones that do come to chapel and the ones that dont, Nelson said. Once she has helped residents get to the service, she makes sure they have songbooks and helps them put on an earpiece, if they need it. Nelson will sit through the service. When its finished, she escorts the residents out of the chapel. Every Sunday and most Wednesdays Nelson is at Christian Homes to bring residents to the chapel. Along with volunteering during the church services, she also is a hospice volunteer for ruralMED. For her service at Christian Homes and in hospice, Nelson of Loomis is the 2017 Kearney Hub Humanitarian Freedom Award recipient. Nelsons parents moved into assisted living at Christian Homes in 2005. When her father died the same year, Nelson and her husband, Marvin, began attending church with Nelsons mother. Wed always come. After Dad passed away, my daughter would come and fix moms hair on Sunday, and wed go to chapel with her. We just started from there. We just started helping out on Sunday mornings, Nelson said. Wayne Carlson, a layman, conducted the chapel services and asked Nelson if she would be interested in assisting the residents before the services. She has been a wonderful asset in that service, said Carlson, who nominated Nelson for the Freedom Award. She places the ones she knows that need a songbook. She places them close to a center aisle. ... She goes very quietly and turns the pages for them there. She makes them feel part of the service. She makes them feel important. Nelson continued to volunteer after her mother died in 2015. She retired from Loomis Public Schools as a bus driver and custodian five years ago. As a mother of five with a full-time job, she didnt have time to volunteer during the week at Christian Homes. Once she retired, AseraCare Hospice volunteer coordinator Marlene Williams asked Nelson if she would be interested in hospice volunteering. Hospice was never something Nelson thought she would take part in. I would have never thought of it because I really didnt know anything. Id heard about hospice, but I didnt have any idea until Marlene said something. She needed volunteers. I thought, Well, I can do that, Nelson said. Nelson started hospice volunteering with AseraCare, but she now volunteers with ruralMED in order to stay closer to the area. She visits two residents at Christian Homes twice a month as part of her hospice volunteering. Along with volunteering with hospice during the week, Nelson has also begun helping with the Wednesday chapel service. Sunday services have become a family affair for Nelson. Her husband, daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren often attend and help during the service. Its been good for them, too. Theyre not scared now, Nelson said about her grandchildren helping with the residents. For Nelson, the best part of volunteering at Christian Homes is working with the people, from the residents to employees who used to attend school in Loomis. Its just neat you get to connect with them afterwards, she said. Along with volunteering at Christian Homes, Nelson also participates in Relay for Life, the Walk to End Alzheimers and Toys for Tots. When Nelson learned she won the Freedom Award, she was surprised. But as Carlson said, it couldnt have gone to a more deserving person. She will just do anything for anybody at any time. Thats Avis, he said. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form USS Gerald R. Ford Underway for Builder's Sea Trials on 8 April 2017. (Photo: wikipedia.org) The newest aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navys fleet, the USS Gerald R. Ford, began its first set of sea trials, known as Builders Sea Trials, on Saturday. The systems, components, and compartments of the Ford will be tested at sea for the first time, according to a news release by the U.S. Department of Defense. The $13 billion carrier, the most expensive warship ever built, departed Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, after more than a years delay and billions in cost overruns. Construction on the Ford started in 2009. The Defense Department estimated the cost of the carrier at $10.5 billion, with delivery expected in 2015. But issues with the carriers advanced systems and technology delayed the ship. In March, U.S. President Donald Trump promised to rebuild the U.S. military and called for a 12-carrier Navy aboard the new warship during a visit in Newport News. In his remarks, Trump called U.S. carriers the centerpiece of American military might overseas. We are standing today on 4.5 acres of combat power and sovereign U.S. territory, the likes of which there is nothing to compete. There is no competition to this ship, Trump said. Trump called the Ford a monument to American might. The new warship will carry 4,500 personnel and 70 aircraft and will be able to project American power to the farthest reaches of the world, said the Defense Department. Currently, the U.S Navy has 10 aircraft carriers, the Navy Times reported. Following several years of scandals and unflattering publicity, United Airlines is once again under fire after it forcibly removed a passenger from an overbooked flight on April 9. The incident, which caused the second social media frenzy surrounding United Airlines in as many weeks, took place on an overbooked flight that was scheduled to depart OHare International Airport in Chicago for Louisville, Kentucky. The victim, reported to be a 69-year-old Chinese-American man, was dragged down the aisle by a security officer after he refused to be bumped from the flight. The disturbing scene was captured on the cell phones of several witnesses, and soon ignited widespread indignation. As of press time, various social media platforms have been flooded with angry comments from concerned citizens worldwide, with many questioning the legitimacy of the airlines actions. The top 10 trends on Reddits video section are all related to the incident, while the hashtag UnitedForcedPassengerOffFlight has garnered over 63 million page views on Sina Weibo, making it the hottest topic of the day. The event has also drawn attention from politicians and authorities. Jan Schakowsky, a House Democrat who represents Chicago, issued a scathing statement on April 10, condemning United Airlines for its use of extreme force, stressing that this is far from the end of the story. In response to the incident, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz apologized for having to re-accommodate the passengers, but his apology has been widely ridiculed as insufficient. Urban Dictionary, an online dictionary for slang, even added an entry for re-accommodate, defining the word to mean beating up and violently dragging paying passengers off an airplane in order to make room for airline crew on stand-by. The federal Transportation Department is currently investigating the incident, and one of the officers involved in the episode has been placed on leave, according to media reports. Questionable service This is not the first time United Airlines has been bombarded with criticism for its approach to customer service. In March, two girls wearing leggings were barred from a flight, as their outfits were deemed to violate the companys dress code. In 2008, United breaks guitars, a trio of protest songs by Canadian musician Dave Carroll, became an immediate Youtube sensation after the songwriter chronicled his experience of having his instrument broken during a United Airlines flight. As a frequent passenger of United Airlines, I am dissatisfied with their service. I have been bumped from their overbooked flights several times, and the only compensation is a voucher, normally valid at limited airports. Im skeptical of their so-called random rule of bumping passengers, as it has happened to me many times and I am Asian, a netizen with the screen name Nickcp39 wrote on Zhihu, a Chinese question-and-answer website. Technically speaking, overbooking is not illegal in U.S., and passengers are sometimes required to leave an overloaded flight. But whether United Airlines complied with rules regarding overbooking is still in question, Wang Yuen, a Beijing-based lawyer, told the Peoples Daily Online. According to rules released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), when a flight is oversold, the DOT requires airlines to ask passengers to give up their seats voluntarily. If passengers are bumped without their consent, the airline must give them a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier decides who stays on an oversold flight and who doesnt. Instead of bumping the victim, United should have increased their offer until a passenger chose to leave the flight willingly. They should have at least offered him a written explanation, said Wang. Wang also noted that airline employees should have asked for volunteers during check-in or in the boarding area, rather than forcing passengers to deplane once they were already on board. The victim explained that he was in a hurry due to a surgery he was scheduled to perform, and I think the airline should have taken this into consideration. Moreover, the problem was caused by United Airlines itself, as it was looking for extra seats for its own employees. I wonder if the overbooking rules apply in this scenario, said Wang. Racism or just being rude? The shocking scene also raised questions about possible racism, as the victim is reportedly Chinese-American. According to CNBC, United CEO Oscar Munoz called the passenger disruptive and belligerent in a letter to employees on April 10, claiming that the planes staff had followed established procedures when removing the passenger from the flight. It may be true that the passenger was not chosen because of his ethnicity, but you cannot deny that Uniteds reaction subsequent to the incident is a humiliation to Asian-American communities. I wonder what Mr. Munoz would say if the victim were African-American? Alex Shen, a Chinese student living in New York City, told the Peoples Daily Online. I dont think we should read too much into the incident, as its unlikely that the airline would bump a passenger due to his ethnicity, countered Wang. But it is unacceptable that the company failed to issue a decent apology to the victim. 880 Shares Share A few years ago, my colleagues and I started a non-profit called Women in Anesthesiology. I started medical school late and had two children in residency (earning the delightful label of elderly primigravida or, if you prefer, geriatric pregnancy). My co-resident and I noticed few women in our department, and even fewer in leadership. We charged forward, starting a local, then national group. At the same time, a separate Facebook entity called Physician Anesthesiologist Mom Group (PAMG) grew from a few hundred to over 2,300 members, while the Facebook Physician Moms Group (PMG) skyrocketed to over 63,000. The time is right. Everywhere we look, we see public discussion of women in the workforce and large institutions are addressing the issues of equity and equality. The #ILookLikeASurgeon, #whatadoctorlookslike, and #IamBlackwell hashtags are social medias contributions to changing the image, understanding, and bias associated with medicine and women. Sheryl Sandbergs Lean In (both the book and the website), the Huffington Post, and the New York Times are all throwing their media weight behind the idea that though it may be a challenge, now is a great time to be a professional woman. And, if its not a great time, then at least its not supposed to be a lonely time. However, I was a little lonely two nights ago when I stayed up while my five-year-old daughter puked every 20 minutes from 2:15 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. She then passed into a deep and restful sleep for two hours, woke up, had two cups of mint tea with honey and wanted to play. I (ex-elderly primigravida here) couldnt play and couldnt sleep at 7:30 a.m., two hours past my usual wake-up time. I sat outside and drank coffee while my usual list of tasks buzzed around my body, said hello to its old pal insomnia and finally settled in its usual place, right around where my heart is. After the day finally came to its blessed end, I sat on the couch and sent several detailed texts to my husband and nanny regarding what the kids exact schedule is for the next four weeks, including therapies, camps, and dentist appointments. Ill be out of the country for ten days, visiting my 80-year-old father who recently had a heart attack. But he lives 23 hours away by plane, so ten days it is. I was reminded of a post in a Facebook group, detailing both the posters mommy guilt and her guilt over complaining, while her life was so good compared to others. Guilt over guilt! Well, as my best friend always says, suffering is not relative. You are allowed to feel sad that you havent seen your kids in two full days just because of your schedule, even if others have gone longer. I cannot convince my kids to eat all their food by telling them about the famine in Somalia. We all just get depressed when I do that. If youve seen the movie Bad Moms (written by two men), you know that it hit a cultural nerve. Current popular culture seems to have glommed on to the idea that no one can have it all. Now, I hear, You can be a mom, a doctor and a wife, but you have to pick which two youll be good at. Work-life balance seems less like a goal than a lesson in treading a tightrope. And sometimes, I feel like if I lean in anymore, I may just fall over. The thing is, I like my job, and I am moderately ambitious. I love my kids, and I miss them. My husband still makes me laugh, and he smells good. And to survive my life choices (job, marriage, kids, mortgage) intact, Im going to have to lean out a little. Having it all, all of the time, is a well-understood myth. No one has it all, whatever their all is. So, Im shooting for 80 percent. Im saying no 20 percent of the time, I am exercising three days a week instead of four, and Im not giving up carbs, only 80 percent of them (OK, 50 percent of them). It is insanely freeing to give up on perfection as a goal. I still have anxiety about producing at work or showing up at school, but much less so than when Im trying to do 110 percent of my own abilities. I think the best thing about leaning out is that I set both bars: my perception of me at 100 percent and my goal at 80 percent. No interviewer says, We hope you consider giving at least 80 percent. But heres my takeaway for overachievers everywhere: Shhh. Your 80 percent is enough, most of the time. Having cortisol rushing through your bloodstream at all times doesnt have to be your normal. The quality of the 80 percent that you do choose to do may be improved, because you are having more fun and enjoying your life a little more. Its a trope for a reason: I wont look back at my life wishing I had spent more time in meetings and less time with my family and caring for myself. There are some nights that are going to be filled with puke and list-making; I cant avoid them, but I can avoid making myself feel a failure about it. So, I am going to continue to lean out a little. I hope you will join me, even if for only 80 percent. Rekha Chandrabose is an anesthesiologist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 246 Shares Share Recently, the AHCA was pulled from the House floor after not enough votes could be secured in favor of its passage. A Washington Post article reported President Trumps thoughts on the matter: We couldnt get one Democrat vote, not one. They [Democrats] own Obamacare. So when it explodes we make one beautiful deal for the people. Journalist Robert Costa asserted there was little evidence that either Trump or House Republicans made a serious effort to reach out to Democrats. Well Robert, I sure did. And I did not get very far. In the interest of full disclosure, over the past 20+ years, I have been a Democrat, Republican, and just about everything in between. I recently reached out to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, yet the responses were lopsided. A recent entry myself into the political physician realm, I gave a presentation on lowering Medicare drug costs to the National Physicians Council for Healthcare Policy (NPCHP), in the Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing Room in Washington, DC. This phenomenal group of physicians was assembled by Congressman Pete Sessions (R) from Texas; and they are innovative, engaged, and working to improve the lives of their patients and fellow physicians. Six weeks prior to my Washington DC visit, I reached out to three local lawmakers in the interest of discussing health care: Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R), Congresswoman Jaime Hererra-Beutler (R), and my own local congressman (D), who I am not naming because of the story below. Both Congresswomen responded and met with me briefly; they were gracious, honest, and forthright about their support or lack thereof for the AHCA. Despite three attempts to set up a meeting with my own representative, I have yet to receive a response. In my opinion, not engaging with practicing physicians on the subject of health care reform is a lost opportunity. There was very little chance my Democratic representative would vote in support of the AHCA (which is perfectly acceptable), but why is it not worth his time to exchange ideas with a local practicing physician? Eighteen months ago, my representative and I were both in attendance with our respective extended family members at a local theater production watching our children perform. During the event, I responded as a Good Samaritan for a relative of my congressman. Without a second thought, I jumped up quickly to respond. To qualify for Good Samaritan protection, you must meet three qualifications: there must be an emergency, aid must be rendered outside a hospital or a place with medical equipment, and care provided must be voluntary. In the interest of privacy, suffice it to say, this particular situation met all three criteria and I rendered all necessary and appropriate treatment. Partisanship has no place in the rendering of health care services and should play no role in the work of advancing health care reform. Regardless of party affiliation, lawmakers should solicit recommendations from local practicing physicians whenever they are able. Both Representatives McMorris-Rodgers and Herrera-Beutler set aside time to speak with a concerned physician from their home state about impending health care legislation. They are both strongly committed to ensuring the populations of Washington State have timely access to health care. I realize their time is precious. So is mine. Practicing physicians are partially to blame for not insisting our voices be heard by lawmakers. As a group, we willingly lend our expertise assisting others in our offices, our communities, and our country, yet we accept the status quo as second-class citizens when it comes to having a place at the proverbial health care policymaking table. This must change. Lawmakers who passed the foundering ACA and burdensome MACRA legislation consulted very few practicing physicians on the front lines, and their legislative plundering is destroying our once noble profession. The last independent pediatric group in my local congressmans hometown was recently purchased by a hospital conglomerate as a direct result of the ACA legislation he supported. Everyone seeking pediatric care in that county will see their costs rise significantly as a result of the mandatory facility fee imposed by the hospital for primary care services. This is a loss of affordable access for his community. After pulling the AHCA bill, Trump said, As you know, Ive been saying for years that the best thing is to let Obamacare explode and then go make a deal with the Democrats and have one unified deal. I agree with him. It will ultimately result in a better health care plan for us all. First and foremost, however, lawmakers responsible for ACA and MACRA legislation must be held accountable for the unanticipated consequences resulting from coverage with no access to care; the folly of which is unfolding before our very eyes. Physicians care deeply about our patients and our communities. Physicians must ensure they have input on the next health care go-around. Meaningful health care reform will require pragmatism, diligence, compromise, and patience. Working across the aisle is vital to developing better health care legislation for the American people. It is time lawmakers consider front-line doctors as the industry experts best positioned to contribute to the development of effective and enduring health care reform rather than relying on the renderings of lobbyists who are padding their own pockets as well as those of legislators. In response to Robert Costa at the Washington Post, I believe President Trump when he said they could not obtain one single Democratic vote. My own Democratic representative would not spend five minutes discussing health care legislation with me, a practicing physician from the district he represents in Congress. It is time to roll up our sleeves, shake hands, and get to work. Niran S. Al-Agba is a pediatrician who blogs at MommyDoc. This article originally appeared in the Health Care Blog. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 123 Shares Share Thankfully, the GOP did not pass Paul Ryans repeal and replace bill for Obamacare. Immediately after, I saw a headline hopefully concluding, Medicare for all may be next. In Medicares current form, this would be devastating for the health of America. I am a young geriatrician; I know a heck of a lot about Medicare. Most people dont. They just see it as a great perk of turning 65 in America and the social health care we offer to elderly and disabled. I did too, until I became a physician who only sees Medicare patients. Medicare originated in 1966 in recognition that we needed to do a better job as a nation at caring for our aging and disabled who could not get employer-provided insurance. In 1989 the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act established a fee schedule for Medicare payments. This assigns relative value units or RVUs to everything we do for our patients in medicine. The formula that determines RVUs disproportionately favors procedural care to time-based care. Essentially, Medicare pays and incentivizes medical providers to do things to patients and actually disincentivizes physicians from taking their time with patients. If you wonder why the doctor-patient relationship is not doing well right now, wonder no more. Trust takes time. Even family doctors who take Medicare have to turn their practice into a patient or low-risk procedure mill to make ends meat. Medicare will pay a physician between $70 to $80 to freeze off a wart, a procedure that takes about 2 minutes to do, and 1 minute to document in an EMR. In contrast, I can spend an hour with an elderly patient with multiple complicated issues, addressing their concerns, reviewing and adjusting their many medications, and coming up with a plan and then having to take 30 minutes later to document what happened and get paid essentially the same amount (about $80) had I just spent 3 minutes removing a wart and sending them out the door. Is it any wonder that geriatrics is a dying field? There was a time, however, when despite the RVU working against physicians who primarily use their time and knowledge to diagnose and care for patients, physicians still did it because they could make a decent living while being fulfilled in the solace they were helping. But times have changed. My father is a geriatrician. He went to the equivalent of his state medical school from 1978 to 1982 for $5,000 a year in tuition. No loans needed. Had I gone to my state school (same as his) from 2006 to 2010, in-state tuition would have been $25,000 per year. I came out of medical school with roughly $200,000 in debt at anywhere from 7 to 15 percent interest that accrues quarterly, and Im lucky. The physicians today in their fifties to seventies truly cannot comprehend the financial sacrifice new physicians make when committing to primary care today. But, its not all about the money. There is far more paperwork, tracking of useless data, non-patient care related work that we are forced to do that merely detracts from the already limited time we have to see patients and develop a relationship. And we have to deal with this burden from day 1 of our practicing lives. Many of the older docs have moved into administrative roles yet still remember clinical practice how they experienced it. In turn, they create detrimental policies and regulations to feed metrics in the name of quality all while being clueless as to what it is like to actually treat patients in the modern era. Some might argue that by expanding Medicare for all, it would cover less complicated patients so the current model shouldnt be a problem. Id also beg to differ on that one. Doing things to people, even prescribing medications, is dangerous and should not be taken for granted. Medicare still incentivizes doing more invasive things for the least complicated patients. Say we expand it to everyone, and a 22-year-old comes in with the cough shes had for five days. Its viral. Viruses are the worst. There is no treatment other than time and support. But convincing patients of this when they know I have the power to prescribe a Z-pak and they always get better on the Z-pak (20 percent of the effect of any treatment is placebo) takes a long empathetic conversation. You know what is quick and easier? You got it, just writing the darn script and moving on to the next person so I can get paid more. And then we have massive bacterial resistance to azithromycin (the Z-pak) and C. diff is on the rise. The numbers on all accounts point to the reality that Medicares RVU system of paying providers is causing worse outcomes, is unsustainable in cost, and is not attracting young talented physicians to the most needed primary care fields. I wonder how many of the new family docs will inevitably succumb to 10-minute visits with high procedures and more referrals to costly specialists or ultimately opt-out of Medicare and insurance for direct primary care? Medicare spent 650 billion dollars in 2015. An underestimate suggests 200 billion dollars (or 30 percent) was spent on beneficiaries in their final year of life. That means we as a medical community, despite probably knowing the patients were dying, kept doing procedures and tests and more treatments to people because that is what we are paid to do. American culture indoctrinates us that death is optional. Its really not. But why would a physician take the time explain to a patient and family the reality of their situation, a conversation that is exhausting and challenging for everyone involved, when they are paid about 5x more to just offer another procedure or test and move on? And then we spend billions of dollars doing things while ignoring the essentials that require time, and we get the worst outcomes. The current Medicare, if expanded to all, will only exacerbate the costly failures of our current system. A single-payer universal coverage system? Yes, please! But not Medicare as we know it. Heed the geriatricians now while you still can. Were the most needed physician endangered species. Shannon Tapia is a geriatrician who blogs at Medicine on Tap. Image credit: Shutterstock.com [File photo] Local authorities in Wengan, Guizhou province have promised to protect a precious fossil site after it was partially destroyed by the local mining industry. The mining area in Wengan is the only place in the world where scientists can observe the early history of biological evolution. We reserved three valuable sites in November of last year, but when we came back in April, one of them had completely collapsed, Zhu Maoyan, a professor at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Science and Technology Daily. According to Zhu, the unique fossil site was destroyed due to excessive mining. As one of Asias phosphorite "warehouses," Wengan is famous for its mining industry, which is responsible for up 60 percent of the local government's revenue. Both local government and the public have failed to realize that the local fossil site is unique and extremely valuable. The protection of the site doesnt require huge economic sacrifice; all we need to do is choose a core area and then protect it, said Zhu. In response to the incident, local authorities have stopped mining activities around the reserved sites, and fossil protection work is now underway. In 1998, a large number of 600-million-year-old animal fossils were excavated in Wengan. The fossils were determined to predate the Cambrian period - at that time believed to be the earliest era in which animals roamed the earth - by 60 million years. New plans to grow Kilkenny's tourism appeal are moving forward, with a process now under way to identify key stakeholders and sites around the county. Meetings are being arranged with interested parties and organisations in the three municipal districts with the ultimate goal of converting local assets into one coherent tourism proposal. At last week's meeting of the Piltown Municipal District, councillors discussed a number of possible attractions in the area, and who might be involved in a destination group. Director of services Mary Mulholland said the idea was to come up with community hubs or destination groups and to decide what they are going to do and be. This may include local businesses, people in the tourism industry, Kilkenny Leader Partnership, and others. You cant say the whole county is going to be a destination hub, said Ms Mulholand. So, consider in the Piltown Municipal District - is there a defined area? Maybe there are two. Once the stakeholder group is formed, more progress can be made. Ms Mulholland said that, to start that process, the members should look to hold an initial meeting in mid-May. There is a desire there to use the momentum from the recent opening of the Medieval Mile Museum (pictured), and the growing success of the Irelands Ancient East brand. Area chairman Ger Frisby said what was missing in south Kilkenny was a link to get people out of the city and into the county. Waterford is a destination here, and we in south Kilkenny are a link between Kilkenny and Waterford, he said. We need to keep tourists in the south-east and in this region. Cllr Melissa O Neill asked if the local PPN could be included. Ms Mulholland said yes, and proposed that the PPN be a stakeholder. She said that the intention was not to compete with the big attractions such as Kilkenny Castle and Waterford Crystal, but to see what could be added. Cllr Eamon Aylward said there was scope potentially to develop a couple of areas, listing a number of potential attractions including Poulanassy Waterfall, Tory Hill, and Harristown Dolmen. I know you dont want to have them dotted all over the place, he said. Cllr Tomas Breathnach said that Brian Tyrrell had been at pains to emphasise the idea of one Kilkenny, and it was important that if this process was started that it was let evolve, but not let finish. He called for the establishment of a regional forum. Cllr Eamon Aylward noted the pre-planned routes and tight schedules of the big tour operators, which he said may not be conducive to stopping somewhere for an hour or so to wander and look around. I think focusing on the big tourism operators if we go that route, we are going to be left behind, he said. Ms Mulholland said that the one Kilkenny approach would mean engaging with the large-scale tourism operators. However, a large part of the project is about providing what the visitor wants. I think the Piltown Municipal District is in a particularly good area to provide a lot of options,said Ms Mulholland. It's about how you develop that. Cruinniu na Casca, is a new family friendly Easter festival which will take place throughout the country on Easter Monday. It is a Creative Ireland initiative, in partnership with Local Authorities. Kilkenny County Council is partnering with the Kilkenny Civic Trust to host a free family event on the grounds of the new Medieval Mile Museum. The event will run from 12 noon til 4 pm on Monday 17 April. The festival allows families to wander through a medieval village with period tents furnished with authentic medieval utensils and belongings. Meet some interesting people along the way such as monks,knights , and merchants. Speak to medieval craftspeople about daily life, while they demonstrate skills such as; leatherwork, coin striking, weaving, arrow making and fletching. Marvel in the weaponry display and try on chainmail and helmets while handling weapons (all under strict supervision!). To finish why not experience Irelands newest attraction The Medieval Mile Museum. Discover 800 years of history under one roof with free entry for children on Easter Monday. Colette Byrne, Chief Executive Kilkenny County Council in welcoming this new festival said Kilkenny County Council is delighted to work with Creative Ireland to roll out the Cruinniu Colette Byrne, Chief Executive Kilkenny County Council in welcoming this new festival said Kilkenny County Council is delighted to work with Creative Ireland to roll out the Cruinniu na Casca festival. Our arts, heritage, creativity and culture are central to our identity, well-being, and economy in Kilkenny. It is very fitting that Kilkennys newest cultural attraction, the Medieval Mile Museum, is the venue for Cruinniu na Casca event. We welcome everyone to come along and experience a family friendly day of medieval life on Irelands Medieval Mile. For further information see https://cruinniu.rte.ie/ and http://www.medievalmilemuseum.ie/events/ or contact info@medievalmilemuseum.ie Tel: 056- 567817022. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, April 11 -- President Xi Jinping met Tuesday with Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the newly appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing. Congratulating Lam on her victory in the election as the HKSAR's fifth-term chief executive and ensuing appointment by the State Council, Xi said Lam's victory is well deserved and she meets all the central authority's standards for the role. With 36 years of government work experience, especially the multiple important posts she held after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Lam has shown "a firm stance in loving the country and Hong Kong, a diligent, pragmatic and responsible work style, as well as rich administrative experience and ability to handle complicated situations," Xi said. Lam also enjoys high recognition in Hong Kong society and has the mind, capability and sense of responsibility to serve the country and Hong Kong, Xi said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong. "Hong Kong has experienced its share of ups and downs during the past 20 years, and faces challenges and risks as well as opportunities and hopes in this stage," Xi said. "Over the past two decades, great success has been achieved in the implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle in Hong Kong," said Xi. "The special administrative region system, stipulated in the Constitution as well as the Basic Law, operates effectively, and Hong Kong continues to enjoy prosperity and stability, winning high praise from the international community," Xi noted. Xi also stressed that the practice of the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong is an unprecedented cause and needs to be advanced through fresh explorations. "As the newly appointed chief executive, you have a heavy responsibility and a glorious mission," said Xi. The central government is determined to stick to the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, Xi noted. That determination would not change or waver, said Xi, adding that full support would be given to Lam and the HKSAR government to carry out their duties in accordance with the law. Xi expressed the hope that Lam could live up to the great trust, rely on the people of Hong Kong, comprehensively and precisely implement the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, and contribute to the development of Hong Kong. Senior leaders including Zhang Dejiang, Li Yuanchao, Li Zhanshu and Yang Jiechi attended the meeting. Lam won the chief executive election with 777 of 1,163 valid votes on March 26. She is expected to assume office on July 1, 2017. Williamsburg County School Districts English and Social Studies teachers met for a collaborative professional development session on Wednesday, March 15. Michael Allen of the National Park Service and Michael Boulware Moore, president and CEO of the International African Museum in Charleston,were the guest presenters for a half-day session entitled Reconstructing Reconstruction: Reclaiming Americas Past. Michael Allen, a 1978 graduate of Kingstree Senior High School, engaged teachers in a thorough discussion about the creation of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (GGCHC). Allen discussed, in detail, the Gullah Geechee peoples role in shaping the country during and after the Reconstruction Period. Michael Boulware Moore shared with teachers how his experience as an advertising executive managing iconic global brands, LED technology and consumer products companies. Photo Provided Given recent events in Syria, as well as genuine concern over North Koreas nuclear ambitions, gold is reacting in a rather subdued and lackluster manner. Although trading well off todays lows as of 4 oclock EST, gold futures are trading off by approximately one dollar at 1256.30. Even though the U.S. Navy is currently sending a major strike group towards the Korean Peninsula, safe haven assets such as gold and the U.S. dollar remained flat on the day. According to the Washington Post, A U.S. Navy strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was making its way toward the Korean Peninsula on Sunday to maintain readiness as Kim Jong-uns regime in North Korea prepared to mark key anniversaries in the coming weeks. Last weeks military action by the United States, in response to Assads gassing of his own population, immediately moved gold to higher ground. However, it was short-lived, at best, as gold prices softened shortly thereafter. There could still be real repercussions resulting from last weeks actions. As reported in the Telegraph, Russia and Iran have threatened military retaliation against the U.S., accusing Donald Trump of crossing red lines by ordering a cruise missile attack on a Syrian air base. Based on recent activity in the precious metals markets, it appears market participants are not reacting in any significant manner to the events which occurred last week. There also seems to be little reaction to the news that the United States is sending a Navy task force into the Korean Peninsula. According to Kitco News, The world marketplace is not showing a significant reaction to the weekend news that the U.S. is sending a Navy task force to waters off North Korea, to conduct exercises with the South Korean navy. Still, the tensions between North Korea and the U.S. are on the rise and this matter could be the next major geopolitical crisis that would have a major impact on world markets, and be bullish for the gold market. While recent events have triggered strong upside price movements in gold, they have not been able to sustain those price increases. On a technical basis, we have identified strong price resistance at approximately 1261 in gold. On Friday, gold prices surged to an intraday high at just above 1270 per ounce. However, those gains quickly eroded intraday as traded gold fell below the critical price support level of 1260. Still, it is the belief of many analysts that the tight range exhibited in gold prices point to a potential breakout if gold can trade and close above the current resistance level at 1260. For those who would like more information, simply use this link to go to our website, or to sign up for a free trial. Wishing you as always, good trading, As there seems to be a lot of interest in some of the currencies I would like to show you some charts weve been following for a very long time. Most of the charts will be long term in nature which wont do us much good in the short term, but they will keep us in tune to the direction these currencies are most likely to take Knowing what to expect in the Longer term is important not only to currency and commodity traders but to the very Countries whos currencies are impacted and to their exporters and importers as well. Long time members may remember some of these massive tops in 2011 which led to the sharp decline in the PM complex and commodities. I wont spend a lot of time on these charts as theyre pretty self explanatory. The $CAD, Canadian Dollar, has built out a massive double top formation, broke below the double top trendline in 2015, followed by a backtest. You may have noticed the H&S top which formed the right top. Below is the weekly chart which shows the double H&S top in more detail. The weekly chart for the $XBP, British Pound, was one of the first times I showed how a triangle can morph into a bigger consolidation pattern, as shown by the red circles. The backtest to the bottom rail produced a H&S top which launched the multiple impulse moves down followed by a consolidation pattern. The 30 year monthly chart for the $XBP is setup a little different than some of the other major currencies. In the 1990s the $XBP built out a double bottom which had a measured move up to the 211 area. After the small H&S top was in place the $XBP basically crashed below the double bottom hump all the way down to the previous multi year lows. After chopping sideways for almost 5 years the $XBP took out the multi year lows on the BREXIT vote. Next is the $XAD, Australian Dollar, which shows its 2011 H&S top with several odd numbered reversal patterns. This monthly chart shows the double H&S top and the blue triangle that is currently under construction. The $NZD, New Zealand Dollar, has been holding up better than most currencies, but it may be getting ready to decline once again, as it looks like its breaking down from the blue bear flag that is forming the right shoulder of a large H&S top. Below is the monthly chart for the $NZD building out the right shoulder. Next is a monthly chart for the $XEU, which shows its massive double H&S top and the blue triangle that is building out the possible right shoulder of the 2nd H&S top. This 7 year weekly chart for the $XEU shows the one year blue triangle that has been building out with a breakout and multiple backtests to the bottom rail which would also be the right shoulder on the chart above. The weekly chart for the $XJY, Japanese Yen, shows its double H&S top. The green circles shows the gaps made on neckline #2 telling us the neckline is correctly placed. This next chart for the $XJY is a 35 year look whch shows the H&S top that ended its bull market in 2011. This next currency is a weekly look at the $XSF, Swiss Franc, which looks much different than most of the massive H&S tops weve looked at. Starting at the spike high in 2011 you can see a series of lower highs and lower lows which constitutes a bear market. Whichever way this multi point black falling wedge breaks out a big move will follow. Im going to focus in on the US dollar and some of the the US dollar currency crosses in the Weekend Report as there are just too many charts to put into one post. You will see some charts I have not posted before, so stay tuned. All the bestRambus Flags produced with Permission from http://www.theodora.com/flags/ SEOUL, April 11 -- South Korean lawmakers of the biggest Minjoo Party on Tuesday raised voice against the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in their territory, calling for a resolution through dialogue and negotiations. A discussion session was hosted by the People's Solidarity for Democracy and Peace, an association composed of 22 Minjoo Party lawmakers, to find alternative to the planned THAAD installation, to which Seoul and Washington agreed in July last year. On March 6, two mobile launchers and other first elements of THAAD were delivered to an unknown U.S. military base in South Korea. One THAAD battery is comprised of six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors, an AN/TPY-2 radar, and the fire and control unit. "Just one month is left before a presidential election. It was very deplorable for acting president and defense chief to press ahead with the THAAD deployment, an issue which is extremely crucial to people," said Rep. Sul Hoon of the Minjoo Party who leads the association. The lawmaker noted that the THAAD deployment indicates South Korea becoming part of the U.S. missile defense (MD) networking in the region, demanding such a significant issue influencing the country's security be ratified in the parliament. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has served as an interim president since a bill to impeach former President Park Geun-hye was passed in the National Assembly in December. Park was removed from office on March 10 in the historic ruling of the constitutional court, but the acting leader pushed for the THAAD deployment by allowing the first elements of the U.S. missile shield to be delivered to the country. During the session, local experts said the THAAD installation would worsen South Korea's relations with China and Russia. It would lead to difficulties for South Korea to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and look for cooperation from the two countries in the eventual reunification with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). They said the deployment decision was hurriedly made without any parliamentary and public discussions and also without any close consultations with neighboring countries, increasing the diplomatic burden for next president. An early presidential election is scheduled for May 9. Moon Jae-in of the Minjoo Party and Ahn Cheol-soo of the center-right People's Party are having a close race in recent presidential polls. Regional countries, including China and Russia, have strongly opposed the THAAD deployment in South Korea as it breaks regional strategic balance and damages security interests of the two countries. To resolve the THAAD issue, the main panelist proposed to the next South Korean government taking the lead in talking the DPRK into freezing its nuclear and missile developments first. Then, Seoul can discuss a gradual lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang with China and the United States to achieve the ultimate goal of the denuclearization on the peninsula. Cheong Seong-chang, director of unification strategy studies program at the private Sejong Institute, depicted the approach as the re-internalization of the Korean Peninsula issues in which two Koreas take the initiative to resolve the peninsula's nuclear issue. Cheong recommended the next South Korean president to hold summit talks with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un to agree on the immediate stop of Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests in exchange for the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the DPRK's border town as well as the restart of tours to the DPRK's Mount Kumgang resort. If the agreement is reached, China and the United States can agree on the partial lifting of sanctions on the DPRK. In that case, there would be no need to deploy THAAD in South Korean soil. Cheong said the DPRK's nuclear capability had advanced significantly in comparison to the one in 2006 when the country carried out its first nuclear test, and that the advanced capability would have made the U.S. think of it as a real threat to its security. As a few more nuclear and missiles tests can lead the DPRK to own nuclear-tipped missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland, it would be urgent to stop any further advancement in the DPRK's nuclear and missile capabilities, the senior researcher added. April 11 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to open flat on Tuesday, while BHP Billiton , saw its U.S.-listed shares rise after the miner rejected a plan by activist shareholder Elliott Advisors to scrap its dual company structure. BHP Billiton on Monday shot down a plan by activist shareholder Elliott Advisors to scrap the miner's dual company structure,saying the costs would outweigh any benefits. The local share price index futures dipped 2 points to 5,899, a 13.9-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark rose 0.9 percent to a near 2-year high on Monday. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 1.96 points, or 0.03 percent, in early trade. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For a summary of overnight action across global markets, double click on For a digest of the day's business stories in Australian newspapers, click on ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru) Myanmar could be getting its own gold trading bourse with the help from the operator of Hong Kongs gold exchange, South China Morning Post reported. This is the right timing for Myanmar to establish a gold exchange as the country is very keen on modernizing its economy, Haywood Cheung Tak-hay, president of the Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society, said in an interview. The Hong Kong Myanmar Chamber of Commerce will provide advisory and technical support to the new bourse for a fee. Gold trading is likely to continue to be active for the rest of this year, said Jerry Jrearz, vice president of the Hong Kong Myanmar Chamber of Commerce. Hong Kong is a platform for mainland and international investors to trade gold in different currencies ranging from U.S. dollars, Hong Kong dollars to the yuan. Major steps still need to be accomplished before this becomes a reality, including getting the formal regulatory approval in Myanmar, according to the media report. Myanmar lies on the route of Chinas One Belt, One Road project, which enables it to capture the growing opportunities of commodities and other types of trading in the region, Cheung said. The One Belt, One Road project was established in 2013 with the goal of connecting dozens of countries between China and other Asian and European nations with various trade and infrastructure plans, including building roads. And this massive project of trade expansion includes Myanmar. HONG KONG, April 11 (Reuters) - Shandong Molong Petroleum Machinery Co Ltd said on Tuesday it had "significant doubts" about its ability to continue operating with its liabilities exceeding assets by 15.83 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) at the end of 2016. The petroleum equipment maker, however, said it also had sufficient funds to maintain normal production and operation, but did not say for how long. The firm said it was taking measures to reduce production costs, expand its financing channels and diversify its sources of income. Controlling shareholder Zhang Enrong will also provide financial support, the company said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. The company's shares in Hong Kong, which fell 20 percent on Monday, climbed 8.4 percent in early trade on Tuesday. Shandong Molong said it failed to maintain effective internal controls of its financial reporting at the end of last year. The company, along with Enrong and its general manager, are under investigation by China Securities Regulatory Commission for possible securities violations. The company faces the possibility of being delisted from the mainland stock exchange, after reporting two straight years of losses. Last year's net loss widened to 612.5 million yuan. ($1 = 6.8988 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Randy Fabi) (Kitco News) - Gold buyers, settling contracts using the London Bullion Market Association PM Gold Price, got a great deal Tuesday as the benchmark ended up being set almost $15 dollars below where spot prices were trading at the time. The PM Gold Price, which comes out around 10:30 a.m. showed a benchmark at $1,252.90 an ounce; however at the time, spot gold prices were trading around $1,267 an ounce, with prices heading towards a new five-month high. In a statement to Kitco News, the LBMA said that it is currently reviewing what happened during the PM auction. ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of the electronic auction did not respond to an email from Kitco News. The large discrepancy between spot and the benchmark once again put the markets transparency in the spotlight; however, Jeff Christian, managing director at CPM Group, a leading commodity research firm, said that he doesnt see it as nefarious manipulation but the effects of poorly conceived regulations and a faulty price discovery mechanism. He said that the problem is that the auction process still relies on market participants to provide liquidity. However, because of regulations, banks and other financial institutions are backing away from becoming market makers. This has resulted in a sharp reduction in liquidity during the auction process, creating a large discrepancy in prices. Its not just happening in the precious metals markets it is happening across all commodities. We saw this trend starting in 2001 and in the last 15 to 16 years it has only gotten worse, he said. According to the LBMA, there are only 10 firms providing bids during the electronic auction: Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Goldman Sachs, HSBC Bank USA NA, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), INTL FCStone, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. London Branch, Morgan Stanley, The Bank of Nova Scotia ScotiaMocatta and Toronto-Dominion Bank. of those members, only five firms actually participated in the auction. Four other banks are scheduled to join the auction but no deadline has been set. There is something wrong with the process. You have a working spot market and then you have to stop that to then go over to this auction, said Christian. It just doesnt make sense. This isnt the first time the LBMA has had problems with its benchmarks. Last year silver made headlines after its fixing price was well outside the market price. While the use of the fix has lost some relevance over the years, Christian said that it is still important for some gold market participants. He added that discrepancies like this hurt the markets credibility. Instead of using an auction process, a simple solution, according to him, would be to use the current spot market and use the average of prices traded at 10:30 a.m. EST as the benchmark. The LBMA Gold Price was introduced in 2015 after it was announced that the London Gold Fix was terminating its telephone-based auction process. The benchmark auction has come under intense scrutiny in the last few years after some research showed alleged manipulation during the process. In December, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $60 million to settle gold manipulation lawsuit. The bank also agreed to provide evidence to help the plaintiffs to pursue claims against the other defendants. In October, a New York judge ruled that the lawsuit had merit and could move forward. Judge Valerie Caproni of the US District Court, said in her opinion that the plaintiffs "plausibly allege that each of the Fixing Banks acted recklessly in creating artificial price dynamics in the gold markets around the PM Fixing." HANOI, April 11 (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 0716 GMT. April 11 USD/VND mid-point 22,321 USD/VND interbank 22,653/22,657 USD/VND unofficial 22,680/22,695 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.42/36.64 Interbank offered rates Overnight 4.6-5.2 1 week 4.7-5.2 1 month 4.8-5.3 3 months 5.0-5.3 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) BUENOS AIRES, April 11 (Reuters) - Union representatives and executives from miner Southern Copper in Peru failed to reach an agreement to end an indefinite strike after a long meeting on Monday night, the union said on Tuesday. The company did not agree to the union's main demand for a greater share of profits, Raul Urere, a leader of a union representing 2,200 workers, told Reuters. He said another meeting was scheduled for Wednesday. The strike started on Monday following labor disruptions at Peru's biggest copper mine, Cerro Verde, and Chile's Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, earlier this year. Southern Copper said on Monday operations were little affected, with the Cuajone and Toquepala mines producing at 98 percent while the Ilo refinery was operating at full capacity. The union said 80 percent of operating capacity had been impacted, however. Southern Copper, owned by Grupo Mexico , boosted its copper output by 21 percent to 900,000 tonnes last year on the back of an expansion at a mine in Mexico. (Reporting by Marco Aquino: Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) * Possible U.S. military moves seen stymieing fiscal stimulus * U.S. 30-year yield touches lowest level since January * U.S. sells $20 billion 10-year notes to soft demand (Recast, update market action, add quote) By Richard Leong NEW YORK, April 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. government debt market rallied on Tuesday with the 30-year yield touching near three-month lows as fresh concerns about the French presidential election and possible U.S. military action against Syria and North Korea spurred safe-haven demand for Treasuries. The decline in bond yields was limited by selling among investors and dealers to make room for this week's $56 billion of coupon-bearing government debt supply, which included $20 billion worth of 10-year notes sold on Tuesday. Trading volume has been muted due to the Passover and upcoming Easter holidays. U.S. financial markets will be closed on Friday in observance of the Good Friday holiday. "The catalyst today was largely geopolitical with heightened concerns about Syria and North Korea," said Craig Bishop, RBC Wealth Management's lead strategist for U.S. fixed income in Minneapolis. North Korean state media warned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States in retaliation to any signs of U.S. aggression amid worries about Pyongyang's advancing weapons program. The White House also signaled it was open to additional strikes on Syria if its government uses chemical weapons again or deploys barrel bombs. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on a Syrian air base last week in response to an alleged Syrian military attack using poison gas that killed scores of civilians. A new poll in Europe suggested a tightening presidential race in France, stoking worries about an anti-EU candidate - either National Front's Marine Le Pen or far-left wildcard Jean-Luc Melenchon - winning it all in next month's runoff. The Trump administration's focus on Syria and North Korea has led investors to rethink on its commitment on tax cuts and infrastructure spending. "Anything that pushes us away from the possibility of fiscal stimulus is causing a further reversal of the reflation trade," said Mike Lorizio, head of Treasuries trading at Manulife Asset Management in Boston. Part of the so-called reflation trade that stemmed from Trump's campaign pledge on fiscal stimulus to bolster the economy was the unloading of longer-dated Treasuries. Traders have stepped back into bonds in recent weeks in the wake of Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress failing to enact healthcare reform. U.S. benchmark 10-year Treasury yields fell 6 basis points to 2.302 percent. The 30-year bond yield was down over 5 basis points at 2.931 percent after touching 2.925 percent which was the lowest since Jan. 17. U.S. yields briefly retreated from session lows after a soft 10-year note auction. Tuesday, April 11 at 1500 EDT (1900 GMT): Price US T BONDS JUN7 153 1-7/32 10YR TNotes JUN7 125-128/256 0-152/256 Price Current Net yield change (pct) (bps) Three-month bills 0.81 0.823 -0.013 Six-month bills 0.9275 0.9448 -0.020 Two-year note 100-8/256 1.2338 -0.040 Three-year note 100-26/256 1.4652 -0.056 Five-year note 100-52/256 1.832 -0.068 Seven-year note 100-24/256 2.1104 -0.071 10-year note 99-148/256 2.298 -0.063 30-year bond 101-104/256 2.9289 -0.057 DOLLAR SWAP SPREADS Last (bps) Net Change (bps) U.S. 2-year dollar swap spread 32.25 0.00 U.S. 3-year dollar swap spread 24.50 -2.25 U.S. 5-year dollar swap spread 10.00 0.50 U.S. 10-year dollar swap -4.25 -0.50 spread U.S. 30-year dollar swap -40.25 -0.25 spread (Reporting by Richard Leong, editing by G Crosse) (Updates with quotes, market comment) By Matt Painvin LONDON, April 11 (IFR) - The Republic of Austria is offering a generous premium to sell its first syndicated bond of the year, which is coming against a volatile backdrop for eurozone sovereigns ahead of the French elections. The lead managers started marketing the 10-year benchmark on Tuesday morning at initial price thoughts of 17bp area through mid-swaps. "The guidance is pretty generous," said a banker away from the deal. There was a 4bp new issue premium at that starting level, according to several market participants. "They need to offer a large discount," said a trader away from the deal. "We are at the top of the market, spreads are volatile and Austria has held in relatively well compared to the soft core (countries)." European credit spreads have been under pressure since the beginning of the week, driven by French politics. Austria's 0.75% October 2026 has widened 4.5bp against Germany over the last couple of days while French bonds have underperformed by 9bp. Indications of interest at the first update had reached over 4.25bn, including 550m of demand from the joint lead managers. At the same time, books officially opened unchanged from IPTs at swaps less 17bp area. "IoIs are impressive," said the first banker. "The timing is interesting as it is the first week of reduced QE and they probably wanted to send a strong message." The bond, due 20 April 2027, is expected to price later today. Bank of America Merrill Lynch (B&D), Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Nomura and UniCredit are lead managers and the remaining primary dealer group will be invited to participate as co-leads. Austria is rated Aa1/AA+/AA+/AAA (all stable). (Reporting by Matt Painvin; editing by Helene Durand, Julian Baker) (Updates with statement, background) * Novo Banco sold to U.S. private equity firm in March deal * Bondholders say bank sale breached public tender rules * Central bank says does not comment on legal proceedings LISBON, April 11 (Reuters) - Bondholders led by U.S. funds Pimco and Blackrock have filed an injunction to block the sale of Portugal's Novo Banco over the central bank's transfer of bonds worth 2.2 billion euros ($2.33 billion) to a bank for bad loans, the group said on Tuesday. The transfer in 2015 of the bonds from Novo Banco to Banco Espirito Santo, which was turned into "bad bank" after it collapsed in 2014, led to losses for bondholders of around 1.5 billion euros, the group said in a statement. Portugal agreed in March to sell Novo Banco to U.S. private equity firm Lone Star in exchange for a 1 billion euro capital injection. A spokesman for the bondholders said an injunction was filed on Sunday to a Lisbon court against the sale of Novo Banco. The group said in a statement it had launched the action because of "discriminatory and prejudicial action" by the Bank of Portugal, or central bank. It said the sale process "breached the applicable rules of public tenders," including preventing members of the group bidding because they had challenged the bond transfer. "The Bank of Portugal changed the rules during the course of the tender process, which allowed Lone Star to benefit from a number of conditions that were not offered to other potential bidders," the statement added. A spokesman for the central bank said it did not comment on legal proceedings while they were ongoing. Officials at the Finance Ministry were not immediately available to comment. Banco Espirito Santo collapsed in 2014 under the debts of its founding family. The state injected 4.9 billion euros to rescue the bank and transferred the main operations to a new institution, Novo Banco. Banco Espirito Santo was left holding the bad debts. The central bank's decision in 2015 to transfer bonds from Novo Banco, a move that boosted its capital ratios, raised protests from bondholders at the time. In its statement, the bondholders said the group included Blackrock and others who had been "large and long-term financial partners of the Portuguese government, financial institutions and corporates." The Bank of Portugal "continues to disregard the law and the most basic principles of market economy, to the detriment of the reputation of the Portuguese republic," the group said. ($1 = 0.9425 euros) (Reporting By Sergio Goncalves and Axel Bugge; Editing by Edmund Blair) Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian Armed Forces have 111 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said Apr. 11. The Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns. The Azerbaijani army positions located in the Kamarli, Gizilhajili villages and on nameless heights of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located on nameless heights of the Noyemberyan and Ijevan districts of Armenia. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani army positions in the Alibayli village of the Tovuz district were fired at from the Armenian army positions located in the Aygepar village of the Berd district of Armenia. The Azerbaijani army positions were also fired at from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Sarijali, Marzili villages of the Aghdam district, Kuropatkino village of the Khojavand district, Gorgan, Horadiz, Garakhanbayli, Ashagi Seyidahmadli villages of the Fuzuli district, as well as from the positions on the nameless heights of the Tartar, Aghdam 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 Trend: Despite a deadly spike in the confrontation over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region and limited progress overall, the OSCE persists in striving towards peaceful and durable settlement to this conflict, says the OSCE Annual Report 2016. Conflicts in the OSCE area continued to dominate the organizations agenda in 2016, reads the report. The renewed escalation of violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in spring 2016 necessitated intensified crisis management. The German chairmanship invested considerable efforts in addressing these and other conflicts with the aim of strengthening OSCE formats for conflict resolution and improving the living conditions of people affected by these conflicts, said the report. With regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the chairmanship reacted swiftly after the escalation of hostilities at the line of contact in April 2016, initiating a special meeting of the Permanent Council and advocating the implementation of agreements reached at the presidential level in Vienna and St. Petersburg concerning the expansion of the office of the personal representative of the chairperson-in-office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, and the establishment of an investigative mechanism, said the OSCE report. The [OSCE] chairmanship called for the resumption of a political negotiation process to settle the [Nagorno-Karabakh] conflict, the document said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 Trend: Azerbaijan and Russia have a common opinion that the Convention on the status of the Caspian Sea, which is expected to be adopted by the Caspian littoral states, should ensure the sovereign rights of each of the littoral states and meet their interests. This was stated during the Azerbaijan-Russia political consultations on legal status of the Caspian Sea, held in Moscow on Apr. 10, the Azerbaijani embassy in Russia told Trend. The consultations were held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijans Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov and special envoy of the Russian president, Ambassador-at-large Igor Bratchikov. The sides exchanged views on implementation of agreements reached during the Baku meeting of the Special Working Group of the Caspian littoral states (Feb. 25-26) and continued discussions on open issues. The importance of reaching agreements on open issues before the upcoming meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Caspian littoral states was noted during the consultations. The Caspian littoral states Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran signed a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November 2003. Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use in July 1998. The two countries signed a protocol to the agreement in May 2002. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea and a protocol to it on Nov. 29, 2001 and Feb. 27, 2003, respectively. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003. Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev and Head of Azerbaijans Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev held consultations on security issues in Baku, TASS reports citing the press service of the Russian Security Council. The two sides discussed the situation in the Middle East and Syria during the consultations. Patrushev and Mehdiyev stressed that Russia and Azerbaijan have strategic partnership relations, and the dialogue between the two countries is constructive and is built upon mutual confidence. The Russia-Azerbaijan security cooperation was discussed as well, including cooperation in fighting terrorism and prospects for strengthening of cooperation in the fight against smuggling of goods and people across the Russian-Azerbaijani border. At the end of the working visit to Baku, Patrushev and Head of Azerbaijans State Security Service Madat Guliyev discussed the interaction of the special services of the two countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 Trend: Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Bulent Bostanoglu has arrived in Azerbaijan on an official visit, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Apr. 11. The admiral is expected to hold meetings in the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry within the framework of his visit. In particular, the delegation led by Bostanoglu is expected to familiarize itself with the Azerbaijan Higher Military School named after Heydar Aliyev within the program of the visit. The visit will last until April 14. By Nam Hyun-woo Dark clouds are on the government's plans to salvage Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), as Clarksons Research, an authoritative market consultancy, revised its 2018 outlook on ship orders more skeptically. Its previous positive outlook offered strong grounds for the bailout scheme of providing new loans and rescheduling debts for the cash-strapped shipbuilder. Also, the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), which leads the debt rescheduling negotiations, and the National Pension Service (NPS), which is one of DSME's largest corporate bondholders, failed to iron out their differences, raising the likelihood of DSME being placed under court receivership. According to industry sources on Tuesday, Clarksons Research recently came up with a new report where it reduced the expected number of ship orders for 2018 by 13 percent compared to its previous report released last September. Worse, it turns particularly pessimistic for container ships and LPG and LNG tankers where Korean shipbuilders have an edge. Citing an optimistic September 2016 report, the government decided last month to provide new loans worth 2.9 trillion won ($2.59 billion) to DSME on condition that creditors and bondholders agree to a 2.9 trillion won debt-to-equity swap and a 900 billion won debt rescheduling. A government official said, "Even after the downward revision of 2018 orders, Clarksons Research expects the shipbuilding industry will rebound anyway." But criticisms have erupted that the Seoul administration depends too much on a report that can be revised every six months. The government had already experienced a debacle after relying on a different Clarksons reports. While making a separate 4.2 trillion won support package for DSME in October 2015, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) cited Clarksons' estimation that DSME would win new orders worth $11.5 billion in 2016. However, DSME ended up netting merely $1.54 billion last year, over which FSC Chairman Yim Jong-yong said, "We committed a mistake by not being conservative enough." With questions lingering on the DSME support plan, the ailing shipbuilder is nearing court receivership as creditors are failing to narrow their differences. Before infusing fresh taxpayer money in DSME, the government requested corporate bondholders and commercial paper holders to agree on a 50 percent debt-equity swap and 50 percent debt rescheduling on their receivables worth 1.5 trillion won. The NPS, which holds DSME corporate bonds worth 390 billion won, has been calling for KDB to shoulder more of the burden. However, KDB on Monday flatly refused such a request, saying "there is no room for us to accept such calls." The NPS on Tuesday said it cannot accept the bailout plan. "Though it may take time, DSME and the main shareholders of KDB and the Export-Import Bank of Korea should make a decision which can be accepted by involved parties." With the conflicts deepening, a two-day DSME corporate bondholders' meeting will begin on April 17. If bondholders, including the NPS, fail to agree on the government's plan, DSME will be placed under a pre-packaged plan, a mixture of court receivership and a debt workout plan. Sohn Hae-il, president of PEN International Korean Center, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the association's headquarter's in Yeoduido, Seoul on April 5. / Courtesy of Lee Soo-jin PEN Korea's president aims to create translation center By Kwon Mee-yoo Korean novelist Han Kang drew global attention when her novel "The Vegetarian" won the Man Booker International Prize for fiction last year. "The novel was published years ago in Korean, but it did not gain international attention before it was translated into English. It is an example of the significance of translation in literature," Sohn Hae-il, president of PEN International Korean Center, said at an interview with The Korea Times last week. The PEN International was founded in London in 1921 by Catherine Amy Dawson Scott and John Galsworthy to create bonds among writers worldwide. The regional centers of PEN International also recommend candidates for the Nobel Prize in Literature every year. The history of PEN International in Korea dates back to 1954, when Korea was recovering from a war-scorched land. "Back then, Korea was an underdeveloped, divided country burned to the ground by war. Nobody expected literature from the poor country. Then-President Syngman Rhee sent poet Mo Yoon-sook to the 1955 International PEN Congress in Vienna to persuade the members that Korea was able to join PEN International," Sohn explained. Inaugurated in March, Sohn is an active poet as well. "I started my literary career in 1978 and it has been 40 years. I headed a few literary organizations including the Korean Modern Poet Association and that hands-on experience will help me manage the Korean Center," Sohn said. Currently, about 3,600 members belong to the Korean Center, which include poets, essayists and novelists. Those who made their literary debut at least five years ago and have published at least one book can join the PEN International Korean Center. The newly-elected president aims to lay emphasis on the internationality of the organization. "PEN International is a global association endorsing friendship and cooperation among literary people. We want to promote Korean literature and take it to another level by working closely with PEN International," Sohn said. Promoting Korean literature overseas Sohn believes that Korean literature is the next hallyu. "Korean literature will become popular worldwide just like K-pop someday. As Korean culture gains popularity across the globe, more and more people are interested in learning the Korean language to understand the lyrics of K-pop and the words of Korean television dramas," Sohn said. "Korean literature should reach a wider audience, but the lack of quality translation has prevented Korean literature from resonating with readers in other languages." The Korean Center published a quarterly magazine "Korean Literature Today" introducing Korean literature and translating Korean literary works into English from 1996 to 2005, but the project ceased due to budget problems. Sohn pledged the rebirth of the magazine as one of his campaign pledges. The association released the first in its "World PEN Friends Together," a book of Korean poems and novellas with their English translations last autumn as an attempt to promote Korean literature overseas. The book includes five poems written by Sohn, translated by the nation's top literary talents who are fluent in both languages. "I think we should translate the literary works with universal values so they can resonate with global audiences. "Among my works in the book, 'Flowing and Staying' compares flowing water to human life and 'Mist Flower of the Sea at Dawn' describes a scene at sea, which can be found anywhere in the world. 'The Salt Flower' was inspired by a Korean salt field, but the concept of light and salt is rather religious. 'A Performance for the Light' from 1978 symbolically portrays the pro-democracy movement against political suppression," Sohn explained. "We should give wider publicity to translated Korean works. It is useless if we just pass the anthology along only in Korea. I think it should be sent to foreign embassies, overseas libraries and international literary agencies. It is too costly for an individual to do, so it is something a literary association like us has to do," Sohn said. "I'll take this book to the PEN International Congress in Lviv, Ukraine, in September and share the value of Korean literature with writers from other countries." He also plans to establish a translation institute under the Korean Center to translate more Korean literature into English. "Every year, Koreans anticipate poet Ko Un to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, but Korea still has a long way to go to achieve the honor. Korean literature is like a big fish in a little pond, because it cannot reach international audiences due to the language barrier." Sohn said creating a translation center is not a simple task. "It's not just translating Korean into English. We need a pool of talent who are fluent in Korean as well as the target language and with literary caliber. Korean writers proficient in other languages or foreigners who are familiar with Korean culture and literature are competent for the job," he said. Sohn emphasized the importance of having a literary sense in translating. "There are many people who are fluent in both Korean and English, but not all of them can interpret the rhyme and linguistic subtleties of a poem into a different language. The translators need training in understanding the implications in poems, different from everyday language." China's government has issued an official directive ordering trading firms to return their coal imports from North Korea after banning coal imports from the communist neighbor for the rest of the year, a news report said Monday. Reuters cited an unidentified source at Dandong Chengtai Trade Co, the biggest buyer of North Korean coal, as saying that about 2 million tons of North Korean coal are at various ports in China waiting to be returned. It was unclear when China's customs department issued the return order. Last Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping held his first summit talks with US President Donald Trump, a meeting that Trump had repeatedly pledged to use to get Beijing to use more of its leverage over Pyongyang to bring the recalcitrant regime under control. In late February, China suspended North Korean coal imports through the end of the year in accordance with the latest UN Security Council resolution adopted in December to punish Pyongyang for its fifth nuclear test in September. The resolution centers on putting a significant cap on North Korea's exports of coal the country's single biggest export item and source of hard currency. The cap was set at whichever is lower between 7.5 million tons or $400 million. The suspension of coal imports also came days after the death of Kim Jong-nam, North Korean leader Kim's half brother, in what is believed to be an assassination by the regime in Pyongyang, which some experts saw as an affront to China as Kim Jong-nam was close to Beijing. (Yonhap) South Korea, the United States and Japan are arranging a meeting to coordinate their joint response toward North Korea's nuclear and missile threats amid growing concerns that Pyongyang might carry out a major provocation, a foreign ministry official here said Tuesday. A Japanese media report said earlier that top nuclear envoys of the three countries are planning to hold a trilateral meeting in Tokyo later this month, citing multiple government officials. "We are in consultations with the other two countries to set the date for the meeting," a foreign ministry official said on the customary condition of anonymity. He said that there is a need to hold such a meeting in that South Korea has to share with the US and Japan the results of its recent bilateral talks held with China on the North issue. Kim Hong-kyun, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the South Korean foreign ministry, met with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei in Seoul on Monday. They agreed to take stronger measures if the North carries out an additional nuclear or missile test. Kim and his US and Japanese counterparts Joseph Yun and Kenji Kanasugi held their latest trilateral meeting in Washington in February. Tensions are running high around the Korean Peninsula amid speculation that the North might carry out an additional nuclear test or a long-range missile launch this month filled with big events which Pyongyang has often celebrated with a show of military force. The US dispatched the USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, to waters off the divided peninsula amid signs of the North's provocations. The North warned of the "toughest" counteraction against the move. (Yonhap) North Korea and Syria have reaffirmed efforts to step up relations in their recent exchanges of congratulatory messages on key anniversaries as the recent US strike at a Syrian air base alarmed the countries. North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent two congratulatory messages to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the occasions of the 105th birthday of national founder Kim Il-sung and the 5th anniversary of the current leader's election to the top posts. "The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," the KCNA quoted the Syrian messages as saying. "The two peoples of Syria and the DPRK are as ever struggling for their rights to self-determination and national sovereignty and the security and prosperity of their countries," the messages said in what could possibly be an insinuation about the US air strike on Friday. The KCNA also said the messages "expressed belief that the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would grow stronger in conformity with the interests of the two peoples." The missile attack was in response to the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons on its civilians and raised an alarm that military forces might also be used by the US in dealing with a recalcitrant North Korea. The Syrian messages followed a similar telegram by Kim Jong-un sent to the Syrian president last Thursday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Ba'ath Party there. In the message, Kim voiced support for the Syrian government and vowed tighter consolidation between the countries. During the reign of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, North Korea reportedly provided an array of weapons technology to Syria and the friendly relations have continued into today. (Yonhap) South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday urged "calm and consistency" amid growing concerns that North Korea could stage provocations in time for its key political events this month. During a Cabinet meeting, Hwang also stressed the need to strengthen the country's vigilance posture against the North "based on the South Korea-US security alliance." Experts say that the wayward regime could conduct nuke and missile tests to mark its major events such as its parliamentary session this week, the 105th anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung's birthday on Saturday and the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on April 25. "What is more important than anything else is to cope with pending diplomatic and security issues with calm and consistency," Hwang said. "In time for various events such as the North's parliamentary session that began today, Pyongyang could carry out a grave provocation." The acting president also ordered the government to thoroughly examine volatile international geopolitical and economic situations to prevent them from having any adverse impact on South Korea. "Tensions between major powers have flared up following the U.S. military's action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and uncertainties over the global economy and trade have increased with weakening international cooperation over free trade," Hwang said. "Particularly at this juncture, the government and all citizens have to squarely face the current situation and thoroughly cope with them." Touching on the May 9 presidential vote, Hwang renewed calls for concerted efforts to ensure the election is held in a "transparent and fair" manner. He also stressed the need to sternly deal with election crimes such as inaccurate and biased opinion polls. (Yonhap) North Korea vowed Tuesday to take the "toughest" counteraction against the United States as Washington is sending its strategic assets near the Korean Peninsula for what the North calls an invasion of Pyongyang. The North's warning was made after the US dispatched the USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, again to waters off the divided peninsula amid signs of the North's provocations. North Korea's foreign ministry warned that the country is ready to take the toughest actions to defend itself with powerful weaponry against what it calls Washington's provocations. "We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions," a ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Tensions on the peninsula have heightened amid speculation that North Korea may conduct its sixth nuclear test or launch a long-range rocket around its key anniversaries in April. Concerns about a possible pre-emptive US strike against North Korea are growing as well. US National Security Advisor HR McMaster told Fox News that President Donald Trump has ordered him to prepare "a full range of options" to respond to nuclear and missile threats North Korea poses to Washington and its allies. North Korea claimed that Washington's military threats justified its development of nuclear and missile programs. "The prevailing grave situation proves once again that (North Korea) was entirely just when it increased in every way its military capabilities for self-defense and pre-emptive attack with a nuclear force as a pivot," the spokesman said. Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, warned that it can carry out a pre-emptive attack against the US. "We are ready to counter any type of an aggression war. It will be desirable for (the US) to ditch its plan of preemptive strikes (against us) to a trash can," the newspaper said in a commentary. Meanwhile, the Korean People's Army (KPA), North Korea's military, condemned the US for applying a "double standard" to South Korea's provocations. The North was referring to South Korea's test-firing of a new 800-kilometer-range Hyunmoo-type ballistic missile that can reach anywhere in North Korea. "This is a brazen-faced stance quite different from its reaction to the routine rocket firing exercise of the KPA," a spokesman for the General Staff of the KPA said. This series of bellicose North Korean rhetoric comes as Seoul and Washington are conducting their two-month-long joint military drills that will wrap up at the end of this month. Pyongyang has long denounced the exercises as war rehearsals for a northern invasion despite Seoul and Washington's assurances that they are defensive in nature. "The military exercises are aimed at countering North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," said an official at South Korea's unification ministry. "The purpose is to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula." (Yonhap) By Digital News Team Will North Korea conduct a nuclear test in coming days? And will the United States punish it with a military strike, as Donald Trump pledged as one of the options to curb the North's nuclear ambitions? Any military clash between the two countries could lead to the worst-case scenario of a full-scale war on the Korean Peninsula. Many South Koreans are increasingly uneasy about possible exchanges of fire -- between the two Koreas or a three-way battle involving a third country, most likely the U.S. -- that could throw their lives into unprecedented chaos. The unplanned deployment of a U.S. carrier strike group to waters close to the peninsula has stoked worries. Adding fuel to the fire are widespread "warmongering rumors" on the internet, with detailed prospects, including when and how a second Korean War would break out. Many experts and government officials called the rumors "baseless," but that seems to have done little to contain rising public anxiety. The Korea Times interviewed four experts on North Korea and international relations to draw up a likely scenario that will play out in coming days. A dominant prospect was that North Korea would make some form of provocation before or after the 105th anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung's birthday, which falls on Saturday, but it would be non-nuclear -- possibly a ballistic missile launch -- so that the U.S. won't respond with a strike and the two Koreas would avoid a bloody head-on fight. Nevertheless, given the fact Trump is as unpredictable as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, it would be wise to say that things are still up in the air. Three questions were equally given to four experts: Prof. Kim Dong-yub of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies, Kyungnam University; Dr. Chung Sung-yoon of the Korea Institute for National Unification; Prof. KimJae-chun of Sogang University and Dr. Cheong Seong-chang, senior research fellow in the Unification Strategy Studies Program of the Sejong Institute. 1. Kim Dong-yub Kim Dong-yub Q. Do you think North Korea is likely to conduct a nuclear test before or after April 15? A. If North Korea conducts provocative action, the ballistic missile launch is the most likely. The possibility of the sixth nuclear test is very low. The nation takes those actions not to celebrate or commemorate a certain date, it does it by the change of domestic circumstance. Q. If a nuclear test takes place, do you think the United States will take any form of military action against North Korea? When? And how? A. That is a different problem. If the U.S. does react to North Korea's provocation, North Korea will retaliate against South Korea. This would seriously harm the Seoul-Washington alliance. Furthermore, expecting the neighboring countries' negative reactions to the attack, it is hard to anticipate that the U.S. will counter-attack North Korea. By Yi Whan-woo Chun Doo-hwan While meeting a visiting U.S. official in 1986, then-President Chun Doo-hwan said if South Korea had just three nuclear bombs, it would be enough to induce North Korea to inter-Korean talks, according to diplomatic documents declassified Tuesday. Chun told this to Edward Rowny who came to Seoul on Oct. 15, 1986, as an envoy of then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Rowny made the visit to brief the South Korean government on Washington's arms reduction negotiations with Moscow. "North Korea will comply with a call for inter-Korean dialogue only if we have three nuclear weapons," Chun reportedly said. "Of course we won't use it, even if we have one." Chun continued, "Communists never respond to pleas if they do not have weak points." The comments are viewed as a euphemistic expression of his regret over the suspension of South Korea's nuclear development program. The Chun government reportedly gave up nuclear development initiated by the previous Park Chung-hee government to gain support from the U.S., which was worried about the program. The declassified documents also showed that the Chun government sought to prevent human rights violations in South Korea from being discussed in Europe ahead of Chun's trip to the United Kingdom, West Germany, France and Belgium in April 1986. From 1985 to 1986, South Korea stepped up diplomacy to persuade Europe against branding it a violator of human rights. The Chun government ordered its ambassador in Belgium to convince the members of the European Commission to exclude South Korea from the list of countries sponsoring human rights violations. The measure came after an AFP report in May 1985 that South Korea was to be included on the blacklist again following its removal in 1983. The ambassador highlighted South Korea's positive aspects concerning human rights, expressed regrets over the country being included on the list and requested the commission to remove Seoul from the blacklist. In October 1985, the commission then adopted a resolution on human rights without South Korea on the list. In the lead-up to Chun's 1986 European trip, Foreign Minister Lee Won-kyung sent a message to South Korean ambassadors there to cooperate on preventing mentions of South Korea's human rights situation during Chun's summits with the leaders of the host countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 Trend: Under the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Head of the Azerbaijani State Security Service, Lieutenant-General Madat Guliyev met with the delegation headed by Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, the Azerbaijani State Security Service told Trend Apr. 11. Guliyev informed about the reforms successfully conducted in the country under the leadership of President Aliyev, social and economic development and measures, carried out to strengthen stability and security. Patrushev stressed the importance of expanding the ties between the relevant bodies of the two countries in the fight against common threats. During the meeting Guliyev and Patrushev also exchanged views on other issues related to the prospects for mutually fruitful cooperation in the field of security. Members of the Chadwick International School outdoor education program pose on their first backpacking trip to the Yeongnam Alps in Ulsan last May. / Courtesy of Chadwick International By John Redmond The Songdo campus of Chadwick International School will host an open house and film screening, Friday. Participants will be able meet and ask instructors about the outdoor education program comprising a gear swap, climbing wall and "Reel Rock" short film screenings. Guests will have the chance to sell old, outgrown or used equipment during the gear swap. The Chadwick climbing wall will be open to the public, and there will be gear and shoe demos from manufacturers. A table will be set up where families can meet and ask instructors questions or check out gear, and potential instructors can find out more about how to work for the Chadwick program. In the "Reel Rock 11 Film Tour," the audience will see five short climbing films, including "Brette," "Dodo's," "Rad Dad," "Boys in the Bugs" and "Young Guns." The films explore climbing themes, including climbing remote Arctic cliffs to a youth movement resetting the standards. "The five new films deliver edge-of-your-seat action, globetrotting exploration, big laughs and true inspiration," the school said in a press release. "Reel Rock" films contain some mild adult content such as alcohol use and occasional coarse language. The open house, gear swap and climbing wall event will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The film tour will screen at the Bell Tower Lawn and in the Main Theater promptly at 7 p.m. Screenings are free. Guests are asked to bring a blanket or chair. People with high-back chairs will be asked to sit toward the back. Outside food and drinks are not allowed. Food and beverages will be available for sale on campus. Alcohol is not allowed. Members of the public not associated with Chadwick will need to register online and bring a form of identification for security. They will be asked to leave it with security on arriving and will receive it back when leaving. Located in Songdo in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, Chadwick International has grown from its opening enrollment of 260 students in kindergarten through grade 7 to its current student body of 1,100 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Chadwick's outdoor education program is closely tied to the school's mission of developing "global citizens with keen minds, exemplary character, self-knowledge and the ability to lead," states the school website. For reservations and more information visit facebook.com/groups/songdocommunity and find a link posted April 9. By John Redmond Ukraine and Korean photographers hold an exhibition entitled "Life of Deportation and Settlement: Koryo-saram, Samosely and Abandoned Places in Ukraine" at the KF Gallery in Seoul until April 28. Held in cooperation with the Shcherbenko Art Centre in Kiev, Ukraine, the exhibition displays photos of Korean artist Jung Sung-tae and Ukrainian art duo Krolikowski Art. "Jung's photos shed light on the stark reality of the Koryo-saram, ethnic Koreans who were once deported from their homes in the Russian Far East and later settled in Ukraine, and examine the lives of the Samosely, or self-settlers, who remained in or returned to the exclusion zone around the site of the Chernobyl nuclear accident," states the program. "The photographs by Krolikowski Art mirror the artists' memories of their own hometown, ravaged by undeclared war that hit Eastern Ukraine." Through Jung's photos, retracing the history of the Koryo-saram resettlement, and his works about the Samosely, who still live amidst the aftermath of Chernobyl tragedy, along with memories captured by cameras of Krolikowski Art, the exhibition reflects the exhausting process of letting go of the past. Artist Jung received an MFA in photography and motion pictures at Kyungil University in 2017. Krolikowski Art is Ukrainian artists Alexander Krolikowski and Alexandra Krolikowska. The duo has conducted extensive research in contemporary visual art, especially photography. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Ukraine, as well as the 80th anniversary of the mass deportation of ethnic Koreans from the Russian Far East in 1937. The exhibition is free. Gallery opening hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Sundays and April 14. KF Gallery is on the 2nd floor of the Mirae Asset Center 1 Building in central Seoul. To get there from Eulgiro 1-ga Station, follow the signs for Ferrum Tower and then those for Mirae Asset. This will take you directly into the building. The exhibition will also be staged in Kiev and Dnipro, Ukraine, later this year. For information, email kfcenter@kf.or.kr, visit en.kf.or.kr or call 02-2151 6520. A U.S. Marine soldier conducts the U.S.-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the U.S. move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula. / AP-Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye Military experts downplayed any possibility of an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula in the near future, Tuesday, despite rumors of a pre-emptive strike against North Korea by the United States. They said it was unlikely that Washington would actually launch a military attack on the Kim Jong-un regime in consideration of reactions from China and Russia, as well as the fact the North possesses a nuclear capability unlike Syria. "China and Russia are strongly opposed to a pre-emptive strike against the North, which can be construed as implying that military intervention by Beijing and Moscow could also follow if the U.S. launched such an attack," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. "So, the U.S. might not be able to push for the strike." Yang said if the U.S. were really willing to attack Pyongyang, it would not mention such a possibility openly. The Donald Trump administration has said it will mobilize "a full range of options" to remove the North's nuclear and missile threats, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson openly mentioning military action during his visit to South Korea last month. The U.S. Pacific Command also sent a Navy strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Carl Vinson to waters close to the peninsula, with its spokesman Dave Benham calling the North "the number one threat in the region" Sunday. Tension over Washington's possible use of military force against the North has also escalated following the surprise U.S. strike on an air base in Syria last week in response to the latter's use of deadly chemical weapons against civilians. Tillerson said Monday the strike was a warning to other nations, including North Korea, that "a response is likely" once any nation poses a threat. A court refused to issue an arrest warrant for a former presidential secretary on Wednesday implicated in an influence-peddling scandal that removed President Park Geun-hye from office. Prosecutors on Sunday asked the Seoul Central District Court to issue the writ to detain Woo Byung-woo, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs from 2015 to 2016, on charges of abuse of power, dereliction of duty and perjury. The same court also refused to approve his arrest sought by an independent counsel team in February. The former aide of the ousted president is accused of aiding and abetting her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil in meddling in state affairs and amassing profits using her ties to Park. Woo has denied any wrongdoing. Prosecutors suspect he tried to disrupt a special presidential inspector's investigation into the scandal and interfered with the personnel issues of government officials. He is also accused of lying under oath at a parliamentary hearing when he denied intervening in a prosecution probe into failed rescue efforts during the 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry. Though they could not put Woo under arrest, prosecutors are expected to indict him along with Park later this week, before the official campaign period for the May 9 presidential election begins Monday. Park was arrested late last month in a number of criminal cases including her friend taking bribes from South Korea's largest business group Samsung. Choi and several former aides of Park are under detention. (Yonhap) By Lee Han-soo A record number of South Koreans living overseas will cast ballots for the May 9 presidential election, the national election watchdog said Monday. The National Election Commission (NEC) said 294,633 of an estimated 1.97 million Koreans overseas, or 14.9 percent -- up 32.5 percent from the previous presidential election in 2012 -- will participate in a six day-poll from Apr. 25 to 30 at 204 polling stations in 116 countries. Increased attention to politics as a result of the corruption scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye and her friend Choi Soon-sil is believed to be the biggest contributor to the hike. The United States accounts for the biggest portion (68,244) of the overseas voters, followed by China (43,912) and Japan (38,009). Ballots will be brought to South Korea in diplomatic pouches and be kept at the NEC, to be counted with ballots cast on election day. "We will do our utmost to get overseas voting done in a fair and transparent manner," a NEC official said. "We ask the voters to vote after carefully reviewing the candidates' policies and commitments." People's Party presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, in the left photo, talks about his campaign pledge on education at a gathering of kindergarten teachers in Songpa-gu, Seoul, Tuesday, while Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea discusses how to develop the southeastern parts of the country during a media briefing at the Changwon Exhibition Convention Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Both candidates' aides have intensified smear campaigns against the children of the two rivals. / Yonhap By Kim Rahn Presidential candidates here have often been embroiled in influence-peddling or other allegations involving their children, regardless of their political career, family background and ideology. And this election is no exception. Such smear campaigns involving children usually work, and experts say it is because nepotism and favoritism allegations agitate voters emotionally. Also they are an easier way to offend rivals rather than finding out the flaws in their campaign pledges. Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is facing allegations that he helped his son land a job unfairly at the state-run Korea Employment Information Service in 2006 when he was a senior presidential secretary. His opponents claim that the son submitted his resume after the application deadline. Then after just one year of working, the service allowed him to take two years' leave of absence to study overseas. But after returning to Korea, he quit the job. Then-opposition parties first questioned this in 2007. However, a labor ministry audit found no evidence of favorable treatment although there was a flaw in the recruitment. The issue re-emerged in the presidential election in 2012 and again this time. "I've repeatedly explained it for 10 years, and the audit has already proven it false," Moon said. By Yi Whan-woo Presidential frontrunners Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo have virtually dropped their opposition to the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile shield in South Korea in an apparent bid to appeal to conservative voters. Moon, a former chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Tuesday that South Korea can "push ahead" with the ongoing installation of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery if North Korea's military threats continue to escalate. "The deployment of the THAAD battery can be pushed ahead with if North Korea carries out nuclear provocations again, and makes advances in its nuclear program," he said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. Ahn, a former co-chairman of the People's Party, said it would be irresponsible for any presidential candidate to talk about the withdrawal of THAAD in a separate interview with the newspaper. He also said he will convince party lawmakers opposed to THAAD to drop their objections. "I initially opposed THAAD deployment because the Park Geun-hye administration inflicted a loss to the national interest by going ahead with the plan without trying to convince China," Ahn said. "But as the THAAD installment is under way, it would be irresponsible for presidential candidates to say the deployment can be withdrawn if they take power." The shift in views of the two liberal presidential candidates toward THAAD comes amid the growing importance of wooing conservative voters as Moon and Ahn are in a neck-and-neck race. Brazil's largest city Sao Paulo has designated August 15 as "Korean Culture Day," raising the prospect of enhancing the Korean community's image in the South American country and boosting the city government's financial support for Korean culture-related events, South Korean officials said Monday. The designation of Korean Culture Day came after a Koreatown was formed in 2010 in Bom Retiro, a densely populated area in Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo's Mayor Joao Doria signed a document on the designation of the culture day on Friday as he met with South Korean Consul General in Sao Paulo Hong Young-jong, representatives of a group of South Korean residents and South Korean businesspeople. Doria was also quoted as saying during the meeting that he will push ahead with a project to make Bom Retiro "Little Seoul." Under the project, the Brazilian city government will install monuments symbolic of South Korea, set up places to promote Korean foods and products and give support to Korean artists taking part in cultural exchanges with their Brazilian counterparts, according to the officials. Hong expressed thanks to Doria for his support for the Korean community and expected that the designation of Korean Culture Day will deepen cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. The South Korean resident group, meanwhile, plans to hold this year's "Korean Culture Day" event, the 11th of its kind, for Aug. 11-12 in Koreatown. (Yonhap) By Andres Oppenheimer SEOUL If you wonder why most Asian countries have done so much better than Latin American nations in recent decades, I strongly recommend that you do what I did during a trip to South Korea visit a local school. I spent a recent afternoon at the Seoul Robotics High School, a vocational school where students learn to build and operate robots, as part of my research for a forthcoming book on automation and the future of jobs. I had long known, from visiting similar schools in China and Singapore in recent years, that Asian youths study much harder than their Latin American counterparts. But visiting the 455-student, state-run robotics school was a powerful reminder of why South Korea has become so much richer than Latin America. South Korea is as beset by political corruption scandals as most Latin American countries its recent president Park Geun-hye was put in jail last week and was as underdeveloped as the poorest Latin American nations only five decades ago. And yet its attitude toward education has been markedly different from Latin America's. During my visit to the South Korean school, I asked 17-year-old student Surim Kim to describe a typical day. She told me that she wakes up at 6:30 a.m., has breakfast and starts classes at 8 am. The school's regular classes last until 4:10 p.m. From 4:10 p.m. to 8 p.m., she attends after-school classes for help in getting her national certificate in math and other technical skills, she said. When does she do her homework? "From 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., or later," she told me. "Several days a week, I study until 1 a.m." When I raised my eyebrows, she shrugged, as if surprised by the fact that I found her daily schedule unusual. "That's normal here," she said. On the weekends, she studies for about six hours a day. And during her summer vacations, she either goes to a private school or does an internship at a company, she added. While Kim studies an average of sixteen hours a day, most Latin American high school students spend about half that time or less doing academic work. And while South Korea has a 220-day school year, most Latin American countries' school years are 180 to 200 days, although because of frequent teachers' strikes, they often end up closer to 170 days. Also, South Korean teachers have to pass much tougher examinations, are better paid and enjoy a much higher social status than their Latin American counterparts. Only the top 5 percent of South Korean college graduates can aspire to become teachers, while in Latin America teachers must meet relatively low academic requirements. Not surprisingly, South Korea comes up in the top 10 on international standardized PISA tests of math and reading comprehension for 15-year-old students, while most Latin American countries rank in the bottom 10. And not surprisingly, South Korea registered 18,000 patents of new inventions a key measure of innovation in the U.S. Office of Patents and Trademarks last year, compared with Brazil's 320, Mexico's 170 and Argentina's 70. All Latin American countries together register less than 5 percent of South Korea's patents a year. In part because of its obsession with education, South Korea has become much richer in recent decades, whereas most Latin American countries have remained largely stagnate. According to the International Monetary Fund, South Korea's per capita GDP is $37,000, while Chile's is $24,100, Argentina's is $20,000, Mexico's is $18,000 and Brazil's is $15,000. South Korea doesn't have all the answers. For example, its relatively high youth suicide rates may be an indication that something is wrong with its educational system. My opinion: South Korea's obsession with academic success may place too many burdens on young people, but Latin America's culture of complacency is just as bad, if not worse. It breeds inequality and chronic backwardness. Visit any South Korean school, and you will realize why South Korea is developing so much faster than Latin America: It has a lot to do with education. Andres Oppenheimer is a columnist for the Miami Herald. Readers may email him at aoppenheimer@miamiherald.com. It appeared in Miami Herald and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Doug Bandow SAO PAOLO Entering Brazil, like most countries, is simple. The passport line was long, but the process was elementary. I had to apply for a visa, but there was no special vetting. Put simply, Brazil isn't afraid of the world. The government in Brasilia apparently isn't cowering at the thought of a people visiting or refugees resettling. Contrast that with the U.S. Fear drives President Donald Trump's infamous "travel" restrictions. American officials are afraid of foreigners coming to the U.S. Not just from failed states. But also from supposedly friendly countries, "liberated" by American force of arms. Much of the world is in flames, but Brazil enjoys peace and security. Not so the U.S., despite having the world's biggest "defense" budget and most powerful armed forces, and possessing the most military bases, carrier groups, and allies on earth. So President Donald Trump believes that America's only hope is more rigorous self-isolation. That's a sad course for a country which has long seen itself as being a democratic model, a city on the hill, a light to the world. Of course, the president justified his executive order in terms of U.S. security. But assume that the administration is right that the only way to protect Americans is to keep lots of foreigners out. It is time Americans seriously asked: why do so many people apparently want to kill us? It's not because Americans are so free and virtuous. In fact, if Islamist terrorists want to target godless decadent hedonists, there are many contestants to wear that crown. Plenty of other countries are "free" in ways which offend Islamic radicals. There is one very important difference, however. Washington's foreign policy. America is far more likely than Brasilia to interfere in other nations. Support authoritarian and overthrow democratic governments. Bomb other lands. Invade other countries. Occupy other places. And kill other peoples. These days one nation seems to go out of its way to create enemies. Stir hostilities. Generate anger. And make every one of its citizens a terrorist target. Thanks Uncle Sam. This international approach goes back years. But the end of the Cold War freed Washington policymakers to see themselves as Masters of the Universe unconstrained by anyone or anything. Then the U.S. went into overdrive in its inadvertent campaign to create terrorists. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is exacerbating the problem in virtually every aspect. President Trump appears ready to embrace just about every regime which jails and oppresses its own people. Administration officials are getting all giggly over the Egypt's new Pharaoh Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who makes ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak look like a sissy. The administration has been trying to make nice with Turkish Sultan wannabe Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is attempting to formalize his Putinesque presidency after reigniting the civil war with his nation's Kurdish residents. Washington also has warmed ties with Bahrain, where a repressive Sunni monarchy, backed by Saudi Arabia, holds a Shia majority in bondage. A case can be made for working with all three regimes. However, abandoning the slightest pretense of caring about the people as well as the dictators is not likely to be forgotten. Similar is the impact of the president's tighter embrace of Israel's radical Netanyahu government, which seems determined to kill any possibility of a two-state solution, consigning Palestinians to a status akin to that of Sparta's helots or Apartheid South Africa's blacks. Worse, though, is the administration's apparent intention to intensify every war started or continued by President Barack Obama. At least the previous administration felt some embarrassment about the Saudi royals, even as it backed their murderous campaign in Yemen. However, the Trump administration has announced a fulsome embrace of a frankly totalitarian regime, as it kills people who not only have done nothing to hurt Americans. President Trump ran for office criticizing the Bush administration for its foolish intervention in Iraq. Yet he embraced the Obama campaign against ISIS, supplanting the regional powers which had the most incentive to destroy the Islamist menace. Now the Trump administration is intensifying the U.S. military commitment to Syria and talking of a well-nigh permanent presence in Iraq. It is almost as if President Trump is inviting more terrorist attacks on America. Washington's foreign policy explains why some others want to do the rest of us harm. That doesn't justify terrorism, but understanding it should help us better combat it. The starting point should be to stop making so many unnecessary enemies. Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He is the author of "Foreign Follies: America's New Global Empire." Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Anakhanum Hidayatova Trend: The EUs Eastern Partnership initiative is and will remain a priority, Johannes Hahn, commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, said in a statement posted on the European Commission website. The success of the Eastern Partnership is based on our shared values, Hahn said. Our partnership aims to deliver tangible and visible results for our citizens. He added that he is looking forward to participating in the forthcoming Ministerial Meeting on Eastern Partnership, organized by the Visegrad Group. The meeting, to be held Apr. 12 in Warsaw, Poland, will bring together Hahn, ministers of foreign affairs from the EU and from Eastern Partnership countries. In the last year, we have been advancing in priority areas economic development, strengthening institutions and good governance, mobility and people-to-people contacts, and notably connectivity, but still more needs to be done, said Johannes Hahn. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will also take part in the Warsaw meeting. The Eastern Partnership is an initiative of the EU governing its relationship with the post-Soviet states Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine intended to provide an avenue for discussions of trade, economic strategy, travel agreements, and other issues between the EU and its Eastern European neighbors. The Visegrad Group was established in February 1991. Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia were the members of the Group. After Czechoslovakias dissolution, the Group started to be referred to as the Visegrad Four. The National Tax Service (NTS) has imposed more than 300 billion won in back taxes on Oracle Korea, the local unit of American tech giant Oracle Corp., for alleged evasion. The tax agency took the action in January last year after discovering through an audit that Oracle had omitted profits it made in Korea by sending them to its unit in Ireland, a famous tax haven. Oracle Korea had sent its profits from software licensing fees to its headquarters in the United States until 2007. Under the Korea-U.S. tax treaty, the NTS imposed a 15 percent tax on the fees. Since 2008, however, Oracle has not paid corporate taxes in Korea because of the Korea-Ireland tax agreement as it began to transfer the software licensing fees to the Irish unit. The tax agency carried out an on-site inspection and allegedly discovered circumstantial evidence that the U.S. IT giant had evaded taxes. The NTS said the Irish unit had been established to help Oracle evade taxes, noting that most of the fees Oracle paid to the Irish unit eventually flowed to the U.S. headquarters. Oracle Korea denied tax evasion and filed a complaint with the Tax Tribunal in April last year. But the tribunal dismissed the complaint in November. Oracle Korea then filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Administrative Court in February this year, seeking to nullify the tax levy. Whether the tech giant violated the law will be eventually determined by the court. But this case is noteworthy in that it is the first time that a multinational company has been caught for evading taxes in Korea. What draws our particular attention is that most multinational companies such as Google and Apple have taken advantage of tax havens to dodge taxes. This means that our tax agency needs to look into other multinational companies to find out if some of them have evade taxes in a similar fashion. Needless to say, the NTS should do whatever it can to prevent multinational companies from dodging taxes in order to enhance justice in taxation. It is also necessary for the tax agency to scrutinize possible legal and institutional loopholes in our tax regulations. Let's not get carried away with rumors on national security Concerns over a national security crisis are rising due to North Korea's possible provocations later this month when Pyongyang marks some major political events. North Korea will celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birthday of its founding leader Kim Il-sung on April 15 and the Korean People's Army's 85th anniversary falls on April 25. In addition, its parliamentary sessions begin this week. Pyongyang has used such occasions to carry out military provocations. In light of the looming security crisis, NBC's Lester Holt anchored the broadcaster's Nightly News from Osan Air Base earlier this month. Rumors of an "April crisis" on the Korean Peninsula have been spreading quickly on SNS with the likelihood of a sixth nuclear test by Pyongyang. The rumors include a pre-emptive strike on North Korea and the assassination of Kim Jong-un after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime. Tensions are simmering after the U.S. sent a Navy strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to waters close to the Korean Peninsula, only three days after the first summit between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week in Florida. It is rare for the Vinson to cancel a planned trip to Australia to return to the region after participating in the annual Foal Eagle-Key Resolve exercises last month. North Korea lashed out the U.S. Navy move, saying that it was ready for war with the U.S. By Choi Sung-jin As far as the Korean Peninsula issues, including the North's nuclear crisis, are concerned, the U.S.-China summit over the weekend seems to have produced disappointingly little results. The situations here have remained unchanged, or rather aggravated, from before the first meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Washington has redirected its aircraft carrier-led strike force toward this peninsula for the second time in less than a month. The move appears to aim at warning Pyongyang against possible provocations and urging Beijing to dissuade its troublesome ally from making any further reckless acts. In response, China is telling the U.S. to refrain from activities that raise tension unnecessarily in this part of the world. There were not without some subtle changes in the U.S. attitude, though. In his interview with the CBS Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hinted at the possibility of dialogue with the North on condition that Pyongyang "suspends all tests," including missile launches. That marked progress from Tillerson's visits to Korea, China and Japan last month when he ruled out any chances of resuming talks with North Korea unless the latter begins the denuclearizing process. The top U.S. diplomat's remark, however, has its limitation in that it effectively called for China to put pressure on the recalcitrant regime. To sum up, the G2 still keeps passing the buck to each other. Agonizingly absent through all this process is South Korea and its rudderless government since ousted former President Park Geun-hye was embroiled in corruption and influence-peddling scandal about half a year ago. While the South is mired in the aftermath of presidential impeachment and the upcoming election, the fate of 50 million South Koreans has come under the thumbs of two impulsive and unpredictable leaders Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. "Korea passing" is on the lips of every political commentator. In many ways, though, the situation might have been little different had Park remained in office and merely followed the hardline U.S. stance. Washington has overestimated China's influence on North Korea, either knowingly or not. If Beijing stops oil and food supplies, the North may crumble creating chaotic situations in northeast China or exasperate Pyongyang might even fire a missile to the west, not east. Tillerson and other U.S. officials were right all attempts to denuclearize North Korea have failed but the communist regime is like a hedgehog which huddles itself up harder as external pressure intensifies. The more the U.S. attempts to unarm North Korea, the stickier Pyongyang's adherence to its nuclear arsenal. The best, maybe the only, way Washington can solve the problem is through a bold deal in which its incumbent president is reportedly an expert between Pyongyang's dropping its nuclear ambition and Washington's diplomatic recognition, signing of peace treaty and lifting of economic embargoes. That is the last remaining path the U.S. has not taken in earnest. Keeping Washington from applying this win-win formula the U.S. can preempt business opportunities in the North as it did in Myanmar and Vietnam although the price will be a little higher in nuclear-armed North Korea is the ego of a superpower and the interests of its military-industry complex. The coming 30 days or so are crucial for 80 million Koreans. April provides three ominous anniversaries for North Korea the fifth anniversary of Kim Jong-un taking office, the 105th birthday of North Korea's founding president Kim Il-sung, and the 85th anniversary of the foundation of the North Korean army. If Pyongyang conducts its sixth nuclear test or launches a long-range rocket to celebrate these days, the tension between Koreas will reach an uncontrollable level. A momentary misjudgment or misunderstanding of the other's intention could lead to an all-out war costing at least hundreds of thousands of lives. South Korea should conduct diplomacy overtly and covertly to prevent the slightest opportunity of such disasters. It is a fatal dereliction of duty in this regard that the administration of acting-President Hwang Kyo-an is doing nothing. Seoul should warn Pyongyang to refrain from further provocations and tell Washington not to make any unilateral military moves unless U.S. troops and citizens in this part of the world are in danger at least until South Koreans elect a new leader on May 9. It would be better still if all presidential candidates voice the same message, either separately or in unison. And the next South Korean president should be the one who will and can take the initiative in dissolving the nuclear crisis and a decade-long stalemate in the inter-Korean relationship. He or she should be able to use both carrot and stick or hammer and steak in its enhanced version to bring Pyongyang back to the dialogue table as well as maintain an airtight alliance with Washington while not estranging Beijing. Seoul can ill afford to remain as a pawn in regional chessboard between G2. No single leader and his or her administration alone can conduct such bold and shrewd diplomacy without bipartisan and national support. Making North Korea what it is today were pseudo-hawks of the two conservative governments who loudly disgorged confrontational rhetoric but offered no plausible visions for the peaceful reunification of the divided nation. That is the biggest point voters ought to remember in the run-up to the crucial elections. Choi Sung-jin is a contributing op-ed writer for The Korea Times. Contact him at choisj1955@naver.com. By Yoon Sung-won Samsung Electronics' new flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone series has drawn nearly 1 million preorders nationwide, according to Samsung and mobile operators, Tuesday. The company started to receive preorders for the S8 and S8 plus, Friday. The number of preorders topped 500,000 in just two days; and telecom companies will continue to receive them until April 17. The Galaxy Note 7 drew 200,000 preorders within two days of its release last year, while the S7 series got 100,000 over the same period. "The Galaxy S8 series has already broken the two-day preorder record set by its predecessors," a telecom industry official said. "The number may have approached 1 million considering the enthusiastic market response." Samsung Electronics plans to hold a press conference on the S8 series in Seoul Thursday, where it is expected to release its sales goals and projections. Samsung is expected to start selling the S8 series amid an upbeat atmosphere. Despite the Note 7 fiasco last year and consequent damage to its reputation, no other premium smartphones with Google Android's mobile operating system have succeeded in replacing the Galaxy series as the market leader. Lower-than-expected prices of the S8 series have also been considered a main driving force of the handset's early popularity. The 5.8-inch Galaxy S8 with a 64-gigabyte storage capacity has a price tag of 935,000 won ($829) in Korea. Market expectations were that the handset's price would be higher than 1 million won as it is packed with new features including the digital assistant Bixby. Samsung's mobile business chief Koh Dong-jin has said the S8 series will outsell its predecessor about 49 million S7 series smartphones have been sold globally so far. Counterpoint Research, a consultancy institute, expects Samsung to sell more than 50 million S8 phones globally this year. Samsung will roll out the smartphones, April 21, in Korea, Canada and the United States. Those who have preordered the S8 or S8 Plus are expected to receive the handset before the official launch unless the company experiences a supply shortage. By Yoon Sung-won All eyes are on global enterprises such as Google, Apple and Cisco after Oracle was charged with heavy back taxes by the tax authority here over alleged tax-dodging practices, according to the industry, Tuesday. Government data shows that taxes collected from foreign enterprises here settled at about 5.27 trillion won ($4.6 billion) in 2015, down 35.1 percent from 8.12 trillion won in 2012, despite the massive profits they generated in Korea. Tax authorities have been urged to tighten monitoring on foreign companies and their tax-paying practices to uncover the reason for the decrease. Against this backdrop, the NTS reportedly slapped a back tax of over 310 billion won on Oracle Korea. Expectations are other global enterprises such as Google, Apple and Cisco could be the next targets of the National Tax Service (NTS). "The NTS has been closely looking into multinational companies and their subsidiaries in Korea over their taxpaying and transferring of gains," a tax policy expert said. "There are multiple loopholes in Korea's laws on foreign firms and their taxation, which some companies seemingly exploited to dodge taxes," an industry source said. "Taking Oracle's case as an opportunity, the authority should strengthen monitoring of possible illegalities for the sake of taxation justice." With regard to Oracle Korea, the tax authority claimed the company sidestepped corporate taxes by shifting over 2 trillion won of gains it has generated in the Korean market between 2008 and 2014 to a tax haven in Ireland. Protesting the NTS, Oracle Korea filed a suit with the Seoul Administrative Court this February, calling for the cancellation of the measure. Besides Oracle, many other global enterprises such as Google, Apple and Cisco have been accused of avoiding or shrinking taxes in controversial fashions. Many multinational companies headquartered in the United States are basically subjected to heavy U.S. corporate taxes reaching 35 percent. For this reason, some of them have chosen to save the taxes by transferring the profit rights to a subsidiary in one of many tax havens such as Ireland, Bermuda and the Virgin Islands. According to the Korea Mobile Internet Business Association, Google gained 4.5 trillion won in Korea last year by operating Google Play, the mobile application market for Android devices. The association also expects Google Play will generate more than 5 trillion won of revenue this year. Google has aggregated the profits in its Google Play business here to those made in other countries, thus paying less in taxes here. As a limited liability company Google Korea thus is not obligated to share information about its earnings and taxpaying. "Google follows the laws and pays all applicable taxes in Korea. The Korean government recently completed an audit of Google Korea and found that the company is in compliance," Google Korea said. Cisco, which is the dominant provider of network equipment in Korea, has made its smaller local distribution partners directly make deals with its U.S. headquarters or suppliers in other countries. This way, the company registers its sales here to a branch in a country with a low tax rate, according to industry sources. Globally, such methods have been called the "base erosion and profit shifting" and tax authorities around the globe have long discussed an effective way of preventing this practice. A customer shops for eggs at a discount store in Seoul, Tuesday. The Korea Consumer Agency said the average price of eggs in March rose 31 percent year-on-year. / Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk The custom of giving decorated eggs as gifts for neighbors will likely not be as popular this weekend on Easter Sunday at most Catholic and Protestant churches in Korea due to economic reasons. Due to a price hike led by an avian influenza outbreak over the past few months, Myeongdong Cathedral in downtown Seoul and most other churches said they have decided to give flowers and rice cakes to their neighbors, instead of giving thousands of eggs as they usually do. The churches have been concerned that their bulk purchases of eggs might end up causing a further rise in egg prices, thus troubling consumers who are already suffering from rocketing egg prices. Following the moves, large discount chains and online marketplaces in Korea, which in previous years offered discounts to boost sales of eggs ahead of Easter, also remain reluctant to hold promotional events for eggs this time. Given the shortage of eggs after decreases in the number of chickens, retailers expected egg prices will not fall by the end of this year. According to Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), the average price of 30 eggs on Monday was 7,509 won ($6.5), up 46 percent year-on-year and 34 percent higher than usual. Many people buy trays of 30 eggs at a time at discount chains here. The Korea Consumer Agency also said the average price of eggs last month jumped 31 percent from a year earlier, and has continued to rise over the past three months. Industry officials attributed the latest price hike to the government's decision to halt egg imports from the U.S. following a bird flu outbreak in Tennessee last month. Although the government announced last month it would import eggs from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, their quantities don't seem large enough to stabilize egg prices here, according to industry officials. They said the increased demand at schools during the semester will also keep the prices high. Still, the government bans most farmers from raising chicks again within a 10-kilometer radius of the farms that suffered bird flu outbreaks. By Lee Hyo-sik E-Land Group will dispose of Ashley, Pizza Mall and 16 other restaurant brands to raise capital to improve its deteriorating financial health, company officials said Tuesday. The mid-tier fashion-and-retail business group recently signed an agreement with MBK Partners, giving it exclusive sales negotiating rights. Korea's largest home-grown private equity fund has been conducting due diligence on E-Land Park, which operates the group's hotels, restaurants and other leisure-related businesses. The financially strapped company may sign a sales contract with MBK in June if everything goes as scheduled, according to the officials. "About a week ago, MBK asked us to sell our restaurants brands to them. Since then, everything has been proceeding smoothly," an E-Land Group official said. "We cannot say exactly how much we would like to get for our restaurant chains. But if the deal goes through, this will definitely bolster our financial soundness." The group's debt-to-equity ratio is about 240 percent but it plans to slash the ratio to below 200 percent by the year's end. According to industry analysts familiar with the matter, the envisioned sale of E-Land's 18 restaurant brands, which earned a combined 680 billion won in sales in 2016, could reach as much as 1 trillion won ($885 million). The move comes several days after E-Land decided to give up taking E-Land Retail, which runs Kim's Club and other retail outlets, public this year as the local bourse operator is reluctant to let the firm raise money on the capital market. This was largely due to the controversial mistreatment of part-time workers by E-Land Park. E-Land Retail holds an 85.3 percent stake in E-Land Park. Last December, the company caused a public outcry for withholding about 8.4 billion won in wages from 44,400 part-timers working at its restaurant chains. Since then, the KRX has been refusing to start the initial public offering (IPO) review process for E-Land Retail. The group plans to first separate E-Land Park from E-Land Retail and start the IPO process again in 2018. Over the past year, E-Land has been trying to raise fresh funds to improve its declining financial soundness. It sold Teenie Weenie to Chinese fashion brand, V-GRASS, for 1 trillion won, and disposed of real estate. But to put an end to investors' lingering concerns about its financial health, E-Land needs to list its shares of E-Land Retail and raise trillions of won in capital. The group has also had its conflicts with Korea Investors Service, Korea Ratings and other credit ratings agencies, which either downgraded its credit ratings or threaten to do so, citing its shaky financial state. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 Trend: Acting President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Hwang Kyo-ahn has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Azerbaijan. I would like to express sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and convey the warmest greetings of the government and people of the Republic of Korea to the president and people of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said Hwang Kyo-ahn in his letter. I am very delighted with the fact that the relationship between our two countries have been developed in every and all spheres including political, economic, cultural areas, in particular since the establishment of the diplomatic ties in 1992, and through official visits of high ranking officials of our two countries, your visit in 2007 and many others, a framework of the future-oriented cooperation has been established, and the economic cooperation and the cultural exchange are being further widened, noted the prime minister. Based on our mutual efforts to build up a friendship during the last quarter of a century, I wish to actively promote mutual and beneficial cooperation. And I also hope to deepen bilateral strategic cooperation in various fields, such as energy infrastructure, transportation and telecommunication, including construction of the petrochemical complex, he said. I would like to appreciate your Excellencys unwavering interests and support for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and wish you good health and your country endless prosperity, added Hwang Kyo-ahn. President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid has also congratulated President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Azerbaijan. It is my great pleasure to convey my warmest felicitations to the Government and the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Azerbaijan, said Abdul Hamid in his congratulatory letter. The fraternal ties between Bangladesh and Azerbaijan are rooted in history, common faith, culture and traditions. I am confident that our two friendly countries will further deepen our cooperation in the field of economy, trade, investment and commerce to the mutual benefit of our two peoples, he noted. I convey my best wishes for your good health, personal well-being and happiness and for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Azerbaijan, added the Bangladesh president. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Lee Min Ho has just showed the other side of himself, as he generously helped out his fellow friends in the acting industry. Just recently, reports say that Lee Min Ho sent a large food court to his fellow friend, Choi Jin Hyuk. This was to be used in his friend's new and upcoming drama which is set to air on OCN, Ilsan, South Korea. It is known that the two actors have been friends since 2013, and since then, their friendship grew. The similarities and connection that they had while they were working together in the "Heirs" drama TV series was what spearheaded their friendship. They were even called to have a bromance by many media outlets. According to Mobipicker, Choi Jin Hyuk was seen to be very happy and delighted as soon as he received a food cart from his close friend, Lee Min Ho. The food car even had a banner which tells Choi Jin Hyun to eat a lot so that he can do his job properly. The message was Lee Min Ho's word of advice to his fellow friend. According to Soompi, Choi Jin Hyuk wasn't the only one who benefited from the actor's gift, as the cast and all the staff members of the upcoming show all had a happy stomach as they feasted on the food cart. The whole vibe in the set also became lighter and more positive, thanks to Lee Min Ho's gift. The new show, "Tunnel", will air every Saturday and Sunday at exactly 10:00 PM KST. Lee Min Ho sure knows how to treat his friends really well. What's really good about it is that a lot of people get a slice of his gift. Hopefully, Lee Min Ho will continue to stay this way as he will surely be remembered as one of the most thoughtful actors in the K-pop industry. Choi Jin Hyuk and others can surely attest to it. There is no doubt that Lee Min Ho has been through a lot in the filming of his DMZ documentary. During a recent press con, Lee Min Ho revealed that it was indeed one of the most challenging projects that he had undergone. At one point, he even said to himself why he agreed to do it. He even says that he was expecting a lot of things to see in DMZ, however, he jokingly said that what he came across instead were land mines. According to The Jakarta Post, one of the most challenging things that Lee Min Ho did during the documentary's filming was when he stayed up all night just to take photos of mountain goats. He did this at a very freezing temperature of negative 20 degrees Celsius. He also said that he had also climbed up a very steep mountain and went down on it again, which was about a whole kilometer high. However, Lee Min Ho also revealed that it was very exciting for him to go around the place during the first days. But as weeks went by, he realized that it was indeed a very exhausting and tiring place to shoot. The actor even considers DMZ as the worst place to film in Korea, implying that the experiences that they went through during the documentary's filming was not an easy task. Reports also claim that Lee Min Ho examined a dead elk, as well as touched a snake. According to Soompi, Lee Min Ho concludes the press on saying that DMZ is proof that Korea is still at war with each other. With his experiences in the filming of his documentary, Lee Min Ho sure knows how to prepare for his upcoming military enlistment. Lee Min Ho and the rest of the documentary's staff spent roughly two years in its filming. There is no doubt that Lee Min Ho and Suzy Bae are one of the hottest K-pop couples in the industry. It is also really good to know that despite all of the rumors and speculations regarding their relationship, they still manage to not mind it at all and just continue being professionals and keeping their love for one another burning. Now, reports are suggesting once again that Lee Min Ho prefers to have Song Hye Kyo as his leading lady in "The Heirs 2", and Suzy Bae is really not happy with it. In one of the statements released by Lee Min Ho, he says that he would prefer Song Hye Kyo to be his next leading lady as she praises her for her professionalism, as well as her good looks. It is also worth noting that Song Hye Kyo is the rumored girlfriend of Soong Joong Ki. According to Celebeat, Lee Min Ho says that Song Hye Kyo is her ideal type of leading lady as she features an elegant and classic personality. In addition, the actor also praises her as having an outstanding talent in the acting industry. According to Korea Portal, he also tries to imply that he could learn a lot of things from Song Hye Kyo if they work together. With a lot of rumors coming in, such as Suzy Bae's jealousy of Park Shiny Hye and Soong Hye Kyo, as well as the upcoming drama of Suzy Bae with Lee Jong Suk, it still is very nice to know that the celebrity couple is still able to not mind all of these. It sure just proves that Lee Min Ho and Suzy Bae really in love with each other, as no matter what odds are thrown on them, they can still make it through it. An Asian doctor was forcibly removed from his United Airlines flight on Monday. The incident was captured on a 30-second viral video that showed security dragging the poor man's unconscious body along the aisle. The United Airline flight was from Chicago, Illinois to Louisville, Kentucky. As a result of overbooking, the airlines had to bump passengers to the next flight to give way for 4 United Airlines employees that have to be in Louisville the next day. United Airlines started to ask 4 volunteer passengers to give up their seats to make way for the airline company employees. If they do so, the passengers will be compensated with ticket vouchers amounting from $300 up to $1,000. According to Koreaboo, everybody refused to give up their seat. United Airlines crew then decided to do a random lottery. According to the reports, a couple was randomly selected to be bumped onto the next flight. The couple agreed and left the United Airlines flight voluntarily. However, when this elderly Asian doctor was randomly chosen, everything went nuts for United Airlines. The Asian doctor refused to give up his seat. The reason he refused was because he was a doctor and had patients to attend to the next morning in Louisville. After a long deliberation, United Airlines employees called security to remove the man from his seat. All of it was captured in a 30-second video which has now garnered more than 6 million views on Facebook. It can be seen how the security violently removed the Asian doctor from his seat. The poor man can also be seen hitting his head on a seat's armrest, which caused him to bleed and lose consciousness. According to Chicago Tribune, the Asian doctor made his way back into the United Airlines flight. The moment was also capture on video, with the man running across the United Airlines plane's aisle repeatedly shouting "I have to go home". "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened," said United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz. The United Airlines CEO also added that they are currently reaching out to the passenger to resolve the situation. There is currently no statement coming from the Asian doctor at the moment. Meeting with alumni has taken place in the International School of Economics of UNEC. Director of the International School of Economics Anar Rzayev informed the graduates about the latest innovations of UNEC. He provided them with detailed information about the Electronic University Model, Differential Salary System, dual diploma programs and new syllabuses. Then the graduates met with students. The alumni spoke to students about the career choice, difficulties to be met in the direction and current state of the labor market. At the same time, they provided the students with the recommendation about the graduate program. Speaking about their graduate studies, the alumni provided the students with information about the university they graduated from. Graduates who were satisfied with the meeting proposed to establish unique alumni network of the university. Note that, there were graduate students of the world class universities such as Cambridge, LSE and Edinburg University and those who are employed for the UN, Engine, and Khazar Shipping Company among them. UNEC is the brand of Azerbaijan State University of Economics. The brand of UNEC has been registered and patented by the State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patent on January 21, 2016. Rector of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) Elmar Gasimov met with representatives of Baku office of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency under the Prime Ministry of the Republic of Turkey (TIKA) including Coordinator Adem Urfa, Deputy Coordinator Mehmet Ali Yetis and staff member Abbas Humbatov. At the meeting, which took place at the Higher School, the guests provided information about TIKA and its activities in Azerbaijan and worldwide. Issues related to development of cooperation between two organizations were also discussed. Speaking about brotherly Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, the rector Elmar Gasimov emphasized that two counties have developed long-term successful partnership in many fields including education. Talking about prospects and spheres of cooperation between two organizations, the rector said that TIKA could arrange training courses on management and administration at universities for the Higher School staff members. In his words, such courses may help to further increase the effectiveness of BHOS activities. Coordinator of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agencys Office in Azerbaijan Adem Urfa told about TIKA activities and projects implemented by the agency in economic, social and cultural spheres. He reported that TIKA opened its first office abroad in Turkmenistan and that it has more than 100 representative offices in 54 countries around the world including Azerbaijan. In addition, TIKA has established cooperation with development centers in nearly 100 countries. The major objectives of the agency include establishment of social structures in Turkish speaking states, their sustainable development and provision them with technical support. By now, TIKA has implemented many projects and programs in education, health care, construction, agriculture, finances, tourism and other sectors. The meetings participants agreed to develop cooperation between BHOS and TIKA. Adem Urfa informed the BHOS rector Elmar Gasimov that necessary steps to implement this initiative would be taken in the nearest future. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Ilhama Isabalayeva Trend: It is impossible to regulate the prices for hotel accommodation in Azerbaijan, the countrys Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev told Trend Apr. 11. He was commenting on the fact that in Azerbaijan, the hotel rooms prices offered to foreign travel companies are lower than those offered to local ones. The minister added that each hotel in Azerbaijan has its own pricing policy and cheap price offers to foreign companies are due to early booking. Each hotel has its own system, Garayev said. Hotels offer corporate prices. The prices are lower for those who book earlier. As hotel rooms in Azerbaijan are booked earlier from abroad, the price becomes cheaper. Every enterprise, every hotel wants to plan its work in advance. If Azerbaijani travel companies book earlier, they can also benefit from the discounts. Earlier, Muzaffar Aghakarimov, adviser to the chairman of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AzTA), told Trend that Azerbaijani hotels offer foreign travel companies rooms at prices much lower than the prices offered to local travel companies. Azerbaijani travel companies are unable to buy cheap hotel rooms, so they lose in competition with foreign companies, he said. As a result, the prices of tour packages to Azerbaijan offered by foreign companies are cheaper than those offered by local companies. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Azad Hasanli Trend: The State Seed Fund of Azerbaijan has announced a tender for the purchase of a plant for seed processing, a warehouse and auxiliary buildings, according to the message from the countrys tender commission. Tender participation fee is 500 manats. All those interested to participate are invited to send the necessary documents no later than 17:00 (UTC/GMT +4) May 5 to: Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street, 80, Baku, Azerbaijan. Bids will be accepted at the above-mentioned address no later than May 22. Tender procedure will be held May 23 at 11:00. For more information, please call: (+99412) 498-08-44 (188) Contact person: Nizami Farzaliyev. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Estonia and Azerbaijan may exchange experience in the banking sphere, Mihhail Korb, the minister of public administration of Estonia, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. "I think the Estonian banking sector is strong enough and this is the sphere where we can exchange experience," he said. "I am not familiar with the Azerbaijani banking sector, but in Estonia the banking sector is the driver of development of the IT sector." Nevertheless, the minister added that none of the countries have yet touched on this topic in their discussions. However, he didnt rule out that the banking sector could be discussed at the next stage of the talks. There are 32 banks in Azerbaijan, including 16 with foreign share. Estonia has 16 banks. As for the current cooperation, Korb noted that Estonia is working closely with Azerbaijan in the IT sector. "I think there are also prospects for cooperation in agriculture, mechanical engineering and energy," Korb added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: French Areva and Kazakh KazAtomProm signed an agreement to strengthen their long-standing cooperation in the uranium mining sector in Kazakhstan, Kazatomprom said in a message. The agreement extends production at the South Tortkuduk project for the next two decades. The project is developed by Katco a joint venture of Areva (51 percent) and Kazakh KazAtomProm (49 percent). Created in 1996, the Katco joint venture successfully produces uranium by the method of in-situ recovery at the Muyunkum deposit located in the South-Kazakhstan region. With its production activities, Katco relies on international experience and knowledge of Areva and KazAtomProm, two leading uranium mining companies in the world. Kazakhstan is the biggest uranium producer in the world. The country produced 24,000 tons of uranium in 2016. Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Once the construction of the Astara-Rasht railway in Iran is completed as part of the International North-South Transport Corridor, a train will be sent on the Baku-Nakhchivan route, said Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov. He made the remarks at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, dedicated to the first quarter of 2017 and future tasks, held under chairmanship of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev. Gurbanov reminded that transportation is already being carried out via the international Nakhchivan-Mashhad high-speed train route. After completion of the Astara-Rasht railways construction, the Baku-Nakhchivan train will be launched. This will provide the population of Nakhchivan with easy access to Baku. Travertine, marble, gypsum, Badamly and Sirab mineral waters, salt, as well as various agriculture products from Nakhchivan will be delivered to Baku in 30-32 hours, noted Gurbanov. It will also be possible to export these goods to neighboring countries markets. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Historic ties of north Meck span throughout region Though the north Mecklenburg area didnt see significant population growth until a few decades ago, its rich history dates back to the Revolutionary War. That was the basis of... An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at... Baku, Azerbaijan, April 11 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Kazakhstan plans to sell 325 state-owned objects and companies within the privatization program in 2017, Kazakh Finance Minister Bakhyt Sultanov said, presenting a report at the government meeting. As much as 30 of these objects and companies are owned by directly by the state, 117 by municipal administrations, 67 by National Holdings and 51 by socio-entrepreneurial corporations. As much as 29 objects planned for privatization in 2017 are the prioritized ones, including 8 objects owned directly by the state, one object owned by Sumruk-Kazyna National Fund and one owned by Baiterek National Holding. In 2018 within the privatization program Kazakhstan plans to sell 61 state-owned objects, including 4 objects owned directly by the state, 19 objects owned by municipal administrations, 35 objects owned by National Holding and 3 objects owned by socio-entrepreneurial corporations. In 2018 it is planned to sell 21 state-owned masthead objects, including one object owned by municipal administrations, 10 by Samruk-Kazyna National Fund, three - by Baiterek National Holding, three - by KazAgro National Holding and four directly by the state. In 2019-2020 it is planned to sell 18 biggest companies owned by Samruk-Kazyna. As much as 8 of them will be sold in the framework of IPO/SPO. The minister noted that the privatization was fostered and the target plan within the privatization program was updated in order to complete the program by the end of 2018 in line with the presidential order. The privatization program was initiated by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Within the privatization plan, Kazakhstan will transfer such large state-owned companies as Kazakhstan Railways, KazMunaiGas, Kazatomprom, Samruk-Energy, Tau-Ken Samruk, Kazpost, Air Astana, Kazgeology, Kazmortransflot National Maritime Shipping Company, Atyrau Refinery, Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant, and PetroKazakhstan Oil Products to a competitive environment. Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova PRESS RELEASE British To Push More Sanctions April 10, 2017 (EIRNS)British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will be carrying the ball for the British flight-forward against Russia at the G7 foreign ministers two-day meeting in Lucca, Italy. Johnson will call for tightening sanctions against Russia following the latest developments in Syria, according to The Times. "Britain is pushing Western nations to impose new sanctions on Russia if it fails to cut ties with President Assad as the conflict over Syria escalates. A paper on sanctions has been prepared for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Lucca, Italy, which starts today," the Times writes, continuing that the British "foreign secretary believes that the chemical attack, and the swift use of force by President Trump, who fired 59 cruise missiles into a Syrian airbase, presents a new opportunity to alleviate the countrys suffering after six years of civil war." The paper also said that "Johnson wants the G7 to issue a joint declaration that Russia should end its support for the Assad regime, and remove its forces from Syria to enable aid convoys to return. ... If President Putin refuses, new sanctions on Russiaon top of those in place because of the incursion in Ukrainewill be introduced, aimed at making life very difficult for government figures." No doubt Johnson thinks U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be at his side. Johnson has cancelled his trip to Moscow on the pretext of "Russias continued defense of the Assad regime" and has said Tillerson, who will be in Moscow on April 12, will be carrying Johnsons message. This drew a caustic remark from Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who told TASS on April 8: PRESS RELEASE Gabbard Leading Democratic Resistance to Neocon War April 10, 2017 (EIRNS)Over the weekend, a number of Democrats have had the courage to question the line, that Trumps apparent adoption of the neo-con "Assad must go" attitude toward Syria is just what the country/world needs at this moment. Most assertive in this discussion has been Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), who, in addition to questioning Trumps response, has even questioned whether the gas attack itself actually occurred, saying she was "skeptical." Gabbards comments came in an interview with CNNs Wolf Blitzer, Saturday, during which he showed a clip of Rex Tillerson saying he had a "high degree of confidence" on the nature of the Syrian attack (based on information we now know was falsified). Replying that she was "skeptical," Gabbard expanded for her incredulous host: "Wolf, I remind you about what happened before we launched an invasion and occupation of Iraq. Then, Colin Powell and many others within the administration came to Congress and came to the U.N. claiming they had the evidence proving that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. We launched a completely destructive, counter-productive war based on that intelligence, which, now, years later, has proven to be wrong. "So, yes, Im skeptical, because we have to take at a premium the cost of these wars, not only on the Syrian people and the people of the Middle East, but the cost of these wars here, in the United States...." For this transgression, Gabbard had (within hours) drawn the ire of two establishment Democratic figureheads, former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, and Neera Tanden, John Podestas stand-in at his Center for American Progress. Tanden tweeted, "People of Hawaiis 2nd districtwas it not enough for you that your rep met with a murderous dictator? [Assad]" Hyperventilating on that theme, Dean later tweeted, "This is a disgrace. Gabbard should not be in Congress." Appearing Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press, Bernie Sanders said, "What we have got to do is be smart and figure out what is the rational solution. Is putting 50 missiles into Syria going to solve that problem?" Proposing sanctions as the alternative, Sanders said, "At the end of the day, in my view, weve got to learn about the failure of our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, not repeat them." Appearing on the same show, Virginia Senator (and former Hillary runningmate) Tim Kaine said, "We dont have a system where the president just gets to launch missiles against anybody they want to," instead arguing for Trump to come before Congress. On the same theme, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey told CNNs State of the Union that he "would not vote to allow him to do it. But at least the American people would be entitled to is that full debate". In a statement, Congressional Progressive Caucus leaders, including Democratic Reps. Raul M. Grijalva (Ariz.) and Keith Ellison (Minn.), also called for Trump to come before Congress, warning that "the unauthorized attacks could pull the United States into a regional war and escalate this unprecedented humanitarian crisis." Justice Democrats, a group formed in January by former disgruntled Sanders campaign aides, posted a petition to demand that Congress come back into session and debate the issue "before Trump starts an unconstitutional war." PRESS RELEASE The White Helmets Are a British Creation April 10, 2017 (EIRNS)When reports broke out in media all over the bworld April 3 of a "chemical weapons bombing" of civilians in Idlib Province by the Syrian air force, all witness accounts and evidence, including that in President Trumps briefing the next day, was provided by the "Syrian Civil Defense" group known as the "White Helmuts." There were no western journalists in Idlib. The early source reports of the event gathered by telephone by wire service journalists in places like Beirut, included some which spoke of "three or four rockets fired" (as in Associated Press). But they were immediately replaced by "eyewitness accounts" from the al-Qaeda center in Idlib where the chemical burnings and deaths took place, and those all were of "planes dropping gas bombs from the sky." Those reports all came from, or through, the White Helmets. Experts with long experience such as Scott Ritter have profiled the White Helmets. Ritter wrote, "The organizational underpinnings of the White Helmets can be sourced to a March 2013 meeting in Istanbul between a retired British military officer, James Le Mesurierwho had experience in the murky world of private security companies and the shadowy confluence between national security and intelligence operations and international organizationsand representatives of the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the Qatari Red Crescent Society. Earlier that month, the SNC was given Syrias seat in the Arab League at a meeting of the league held in Qatar. "At that meeting, the SNC assumed Syrias seat, and the Arab League authorized member states to actively provide support, including arms and ammunition, to the Syrian rebels. The Qataris, working through the SNC, helped assemble for Le Mesurier $300,000 in seed money from Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom for a seven-day course designed to train and equip a 25-person rescue team, recruited by the SNC, for duty in so-called liberated areas of Syria." The White Helmets have worked exclusively in such "liberated areas," meaning those controlled by anti-Assad jihadi groups. And they have received $30 million annually from the British Defense Ministry, U.S. AID, and the Dutch, Danish, and Japanese governments, about $100 million in total. A profile by Max Blumenthal in October 2016 adds the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the White Helmets funders. They are supported through a non-governmental organization called The Syria Campaign and a Washington, D.C. State Department contractor and public-relations firm, Chemonics; and have been lionized by a Netflix film"The White Helmets"which was given an Academy Award by adoring Hollywood. It is documented in Blumenthals profile, that the supposedly "strictly neutral" White Helmets lobby aggressively, through The Syria Campaign and Chemonics, for "safe zones" in Syria to be created by the United States "coalition," which can only be done by war against Syrian air defenses and military forces. And that the White Helmets have frequently been shown in videos assisting at executions by al-Qaeda militants, particularly of Syrian soldiers. Some also show White Helmets dancing with al-Qaeda flags, and carrying weapons. The airline and banking industries may seem to be about as different as chalk and cheese, but United Airlines and Wells Fargo have been shown to share a common bond: toxic corporate cultures that can be blamed on the men at the top, their chief executives. Wells Fargos John Stumpf is gone, having resigned last October in the aftermath of the banks fraudulent account scandal. Uniteds Oscar Munoz only took office in September 2015. This weeks crisis over the airlines violent deplaning of passenger David Dao to make room for a traveling crewmember was a major test of his leadership, and he flunked. Munozs response to the incident, like Stumpfs tolerance of the misbehavior of one of his top lieutenants and her employees, threaten to make things immeasurably worse for his companys customers. For a CEO, thats a cardinal sin. What these companies have in common is the status of the employees at the center of their crises: Its low. Patrick Smith, the air travel expert who helms the Ask the Pilot website, attributes the United incident to the gate staffs lack of empowerment. That term also could describe the beleaguered Wells Fargo salespersons who opened thousands of fake accounts in customers names to meet crushing sales quotas. Advertisement I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, congratulating his workers for an incident that resulted in a passengers injury The relentless pressure on low-level bank employees to open multiple accounts per customer came from the head of the retail bank division, Carrie Tolstedt, who reported directly to Stumpf. Tolstedt was known as an inflexible hard-charger who guarded her divisions prerogatives jealously, even forbidding her own subordinates to provide sales information to top corporate officers. As Stumpf probably knew, Tolstedts management was a torment for her employees. Turnover in her division reached at least 30% every month from 2011 through 2015, and 41% through most of 2012. In the Los Angeles region and others, managers applied extreme pressure, calling their subordinates several times a day to check in on sales performance and chastising those who failed to meet sales objectives, according to an internal investigation of the scandal released Monday. The salespersons met the very definition of powerlessness; failure to meet quotas meant dismissal, and there was no path for complaints or respite from the demands. The numbers were everything, and no one looked too closely at how they were reached. That attitude came directly from the corporate suite. To Stumpf, Tolstedts flaws where outweighed by the profits her division was producing. The report states that Stumpf acknowledged to the board of directors problems with Tolstedts leadership style, including that she was controlling, but also praised her as the best banker in America. When the board tried to clip her compensation, Stumpf fought back, and won. As a relative newcomer to United, Munoz has had a different impact on the corporate culture. A longtime board member at Continental Airlines who stayed on when it merged with United in 2010, Munoz was thrust into the CEOs job in 2015 to replace Jeff Smisek, who resigned in connection with a federal investigation into corporate graft. With management stints at Pepsico, Coca-Cola, AT&T and the railroad company CSX, Munoz had never run a service company such as an airline, whose workforce deals directly with paying customers. Munoz began his tenure by making friends with Uniteds unhappy workforce. Just a month ago, he was named U.S. Communicator of the Year by PR Week magazine, largely for his success in reaching out to the airlines pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and other workers. Yet in the wake of Sunday afternoons incident at OHare Airport in Chicago, Munoz failed for two days to reach out to the traveling public. At OHare, gate staff informed passengers already seated on the Louisville-bound aircraft that four would have to give up their seats to make room for a crew due at the destination. When none accepted the airlines offer of $800, overnight accommodations, and a flight nearly 24 hours later, the staff selected four passengers by computer. Dao, a 69-year-old physician, refused to give up his seat. Instead, airport police forcibly removed Dao from his seat and dragged his bloodied body down the aisle. In two statements Monday, including an internal letter to employees, Munoz chose to see the incident entirely from the workers point of view. He depicted the airline staff as having treated Dao politely and apologetically and Dao as disruptive and belligerent. He said the airline agents were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight. He added, While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you . Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are. In a third statement issued Tuesday, Munoz finally made the right noises. I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard, he said. No one should ever be mistreated this way. He pledged to work to make it right via a thorough review of passenger bumping policies as well as Uniteds relationship with local law enforcement agencies, with a public report due by April 30. The available videos of Sundays events dont depict the prelude to the arrival of airport police on board. And the Vietnam-trained Dao has had a checkered disciplinary history with Kentucky medical regulators. But theres been no indication that he behaved improperly before the United staff demanded his seat. And judging from the infuriated public reaction, removing already-seated passengers from a flight to make room for airline employees plainly strikes travelers as irregular and improper. Munozs initial failure to consider the passengers point of view bodes ill for Uniteds customer relations in the future unless his approach changes dramatically. His knee-jerk support of Uniteds staff threatened to encourage intransigence among employees at the gate and on board in dealing with problems. This has been a long-standing issue with United. According to federal statistics, for example, the airline is in the middle of the pack among U.S. airlines for involuntary bumping at about .45 per 10,000 passengers in 2016. But its number of consumer complaints for bumping and other issues has been consistently among the highest of U.S. carriers: In January, United passengers lodged 174 complaints with federal authorities, compared with only 87 against Southwest, even though Southwest on average carries nearly twice as many passengers. The difference may lie with employee attitudes and their latitude to manage the myriad problems that crop up at the airport and on board. Munozs reaction also glossed over what may be real constraints on United employees ability to manage workaday glitches. At the United gate in Chicago, Smith conjectures, the airlines staff reached a point, after perhaps offering whatever dollar amounts their procedures called for, where they simply didnt know what to do, and nobody was brave enough, or resourceful enough, to come up with something. Summoning the police simply became the easiest way to pass the buck. Thats typical of the culture of big airlines, Smith adds. Everything is scripted and rote and procedural. . Workers are deterred from thinking creatively exactly when they need to. While the full details of Sundays incident still arent known, solutions to the problem of getting a four-person crew to Louisville short of ejecting paying passengers are obvious: the airline could have had them driven to their destination, a trip of less than five hours; or it could have chartered a plane for them; or United could have offered more than $800 to find passengers willing to give up their seats. But that would have required empowering the employees on the ground. Munozs response doesnt achieve that. He hasnt given a concrete indication of plans to change Uniteds culture to encourage creative thinking on the ground. If Uniteds culture doesnt change, hell have to take the blame, like John Stumpf. 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. ALSO Uniteds CEO turns contrite as fallout spreads from passenger mistreatment David Dao, United passenger who was dragged from plane, says hes still in the hospital United passenger threatened with handcuffs to make room for higher-priority traveler UPDATES: 3:18 p.m.: This post has been updated with United CEO Oscar Munozs statement of apology for Sundays incident. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Azad Hasanli Trend: In January-February 2017, banks of Azerbaijan sold foreign currency in cash equivalent to 622.02 million manats, which is almost twice less than in the same period last year, reads the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) report. As before, US dollars were in greatest demand among Azerbaijani banks clients. In January-February 2017, their sale amounted to equivalent of 255.36 million manats (reduction by almost three times during the year). Sales of the British pound declined twice during the year, to the equivalent of 3.5 million manats, sales of euro declined by three times, to almost 33 million in manat equivalent. The smallest reduction is observed in the sales of the Russian ruble. The sales of the Russian ruble declined by only 8.15 percent, to 330.26 million in manat equivalent. Similar situation is observed regarding the purchase of foreign currency by banks. In January-February 2017, banks bought US dollars in the volume equivalent to 185.57 million manats, which is 3.7 times less than in January-February 2016. Banks of Azerbaijan also significantly reduced interest in buying euros, and for the year this figure fell by three times, to the equivalent of 17.68 million manats. The opposite situation is observed regarding the purchase of the British pound and the Russian ruble. Banks of Azerbaijan slightly increased (by 0.1 percent) the purchase of the British pounds to 653.7 million in manat equivalent and increased the purchase of the Russian rubles by 23 percent, to 1.6 billion in manat equivalent. There are 32 banks operating in Azerbaijan, including two banks with the state participation. Outrage over United Airlines violent removal of a passenger in Chicago has crossed the Pacific, extending the companys public relations fiasco to one of its most crucial international markets. The haunting cellphone video, which shows an Asian man hurled from his seat and dragged off a flight Sunday, inundated Chinese social media Tuesday and evoked tens of thousands of livid responses. Viewers picked up on translated comments from a fellow passenger that suggested the unidentified man thought he was selected because Im Chinese. Advertisement Many accused the company of racism and urged customers to stop booking flights on United. The topic drew 110 million readers on Weibo, a Chinese rival to Twitter, and more than 72,000 comments. Petitions to boycott the airline circulated on the popular social media app WeChat. Why are Chinese being bullied everywhere? said one user on Weibo, where it became the days most popular topic. The Communist Party-run newspaper, Peoples Daily, displayed photos of the passengers blood-spattered face and reprimanded the airline for not doing more to vilify such treatment. United did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company has said it asked the man and three others to leave an overbooked flight to Louisville, Ky., when no one else volunteered. He refused to move, so employees called police. United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz referred to the incident as upsetting on Monday and apologized for having to re-accommodate these customers. He said the airline was reviewing employees conduct. Passenger Jayse Anspach, in a Twitter post, said the man identified himself as a doctor and indicated he needed to work at the hospital the next day. Peoples Daily called it gravely disappointing that the airline mentioned nothing of the violence against the Asian passenger. The backlash here is potentially wounding for a company that lauds itself as the top U.S. carrier to China. United launched its fifth nonstop flight to mainland China in summer, from San Francisco to the tech hub of Hangzhou. It also offers nonstops to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xian and Hong Kong. This marks the second social media controversy for the airline in less than a month. A gate agent barred two girls from a flight in March because they were wearing leggings. Their attire violated dress code for people who fly under a friends-and-family program of United employees. Social media users called the policy sexist and outdated. But the most recent episode touched on a deeper anxiety in China, unleashing a reservoir of frustration about behavior toward Asians and the seemingly contradictory actions of a nation that preaches human rights. The security guy beat him until his face is covered in blood. Is this the so-called American democratic society? one Weibo user asked. Another scolded the U.S. for promoting itself as the most democratic and advanced country in the world, but at the same time doing so many anti-human things against other countries! Still others used the moment to underscore the challenges faced by Asian communities in the U.S. Many Chinese have experienced racial discrimination and they never dare to say it aloud because of losing face, said Joe Wong, a popular Chinese American comedian. As a consequence, most mainstream Western media and the public underestimate the discrimination against Asians. More than 10,000 people shared his post. Johnny Gaochao Zhang in the Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. ALSO United Airlines suffers more bad publicity after a passenger is dragged from an overbooked plane Hiltzik: United finds a new way to make itself look awful, and then its CEO shows how to make things worse United Airlines says customers are welcome to wear leggings unlike teens who used special passes Sacramento will lose 1,100 jobs over the next 18 months as rocket engine maker Aerojet Rocketdyne plans to relocate or cut positions in that facility and move jobs to Alabama, Canoga Park and other locations. The job changes are the next phase of a multiyear plan initiated in 2015 to reduce costs and increase operational efficiency, said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdynes chief executive. She said these changes will move common work with common facilities, adding that much of the work done in Sacramento is related to defense. Advertisement By the end of 2018, defense-related program management, engineering and related support positions in Sacramento will move to Huntsville, Ala., where the companys defense business unit is based. Huntsville is also the final assembly site for Aerojet Rocketdynes new AR1 rocket engine. Sacramento jobs in space programs will move to Canoga Park, where the company has its space headquarters and develops several different kinds of rocket engines. Aerojet Rocketdynes Canoga Park location also has a 100,000 square-foot manufacturing facility where several machines create parts through additive manufacturing, better known as 3-D printing. As part of this plan, Aerojet Rocketdynes Gainesville, Va., engineering facility, will close next year, and about 170 jobs will either be eliminated or relocated to Huntsville or another facility in Virginia. The multiyear plan is expected to give the company about $230 million in annual savings. The consolidations in Sacramento and Gainesville will save about $85 million, said Paul Lundstrom, the companys chief financial officer. Lundstrom said the company had not yet determined the exact number of jobs that would be moving to the various locations or be eliminated. Employees who are laid off will receive a severance package, Drake said. Aerojet Rocketdynes Sacramento location currently employs 1,400 people. After the job changes, that facility will house shared services for the entire company, including issues related to the supply chain, finance and human resources. Huntsville will gain 800 jobs after the moves are complete, through a combination of relocated employees and new hires. Aerojet Rocketdynes parent company, Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc., is based in El Segundo. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga New York pastry chef Dominique Ansel, who earned a fervent following for inventing the Cronut, said Tuesday that L.As Grove shopping center will be home to his first full-service restaurant. Ansel, who was just named Worlds Best Pastry Chef by an international panel that rates restaurants, announced in February that his first full-on eatery would be in Los Angeles but didnt identify the location. Luring him to the Grove was a coup for its owner Rick Caruso, who is known for developing high-end shopping centers including the Grove and Americana at Brand in Glendale. Advertisement Ansels decision to be in a mall is also a sign of the times. As online sales eat away at business in many brick-and-mortar stores, retail property landlords are scrambling to give shoppers experiences they cant get delivered in a cardboard box. Buzz-worthy dining venues are in especially high demand. Grove competitor Westfield Century City mall, for example, is set this summer to open the West Coasts first Eataly, a popular Italian food marketplace co-developed by celebrity chef Mario Batali. French-born Ansel, 39, is also one of the worlds hottest chefs. The New York Post dubbed him the Willy Wonka of New York for his crowd-pleasing confections including frozen smores, baked-to-order madeleines and the copyrighted Cronut, a cross between a doughnut and a croissant said to provoke swooning. When word went out that Ansel would open a temporary pop-up store at Barneys in the Grove in February 2014, about 750 people lined up starting at 2 a.m. in the midst of a downpour. The turnout caught him by surprise. We were warned that people dont drive in L.A. when its raining, he recalled in a phone interview from New York. And we had a crazy line. Grove workers brought coffee to the people waiting, entertained them with live music and set up a sound system so Ansel could speak to his fans. The turnout and the support from the Grove helped persuade Ansel to land there, he said, as did the size of the kitchen he will occupy. Ansel will take over one of the prime spaces at the Grove that has been home to Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro since the mall opened 15 years ago. Morels will close at the end of the month. My first kitchen was 8 by 10 feet with one table, Ansel said. To have more space for me to express myself with a restaurant is an important opportunity for me. When it opens in the fall, his yet-to-be-named eating house will seat 150 in an upstairs space that includes an outdoor terrace and a 10-seat private dining room. Downstairs in a bakery setting will be indoor and outdoor seating for another 70 diners. Backing Ansel will be about 80 employees. The expansion comes with some risk to Ansels reputation. His bakeries in New York, Tokyo and London have brought him acclaim as a pastry chef, but lunch and dinner are a new frontier. Early in his career he trained as a savory chef and since then I have learned how to cook, he said. Its too early to say precisely what he is going to serve, Ansel said, but its going to be exciting and creative food that makes people feel comfortable. Caruso scoffed at the notion that malls are growing obsolete visitor traffic was up 8% last year at the Grove and the Americana, he said but acknowledged that he feels pressure to attract alluring shops and restaurants as guests tastes grow increasingly sophisticated. We are working harder to find more unique offerings that are first to market, he said. Standing out in the competitive local restaurant scene is especially challenging. L.A. is more of a foodie town than it ever has been, Caruso said. People expect super cool food at every price point. Carusos company is particularly good at making shopping centers experiential, said retail real estate consultant Peter Lynch of A&G Realty Partners, who was not involved in the deal between Ansel and Caruso. Ansels high profile casts a wide net, Lynch said. Baby boomers will respond to a name like Dominiques, he said, even though they dont visit malls much anymore. Millennials arent typically fond of malls either, but they do crave new experiences and love to go out and eat. To Ansel, the move is a gamble because he doesnt think he has found a reliable formula for success. People ask for my marketing strategy and my PR campaign, he said, but his bakery took off by itself from that tiny kitchen he founded in 2011 with all his savings and four employees. You keep on trying and you keep on testing to keep customers excited, he said. You cannot plan on something like this to happen. roger.vincent@latimes.com Twitter: @rogervincent ALSO Plans revealed for $250-million Queen Mary Island complex next to the historic ship in Long Beach Theres another Frank Gehry building going up in town. Its under the radar in El Segundo Every day is bring your dog to work day at more and more L.A. offices Public relations professionals say United Airlines move to drag a bloodied passenger off of a flight looked like something straight out of a horror movie. But experts in crisis reaction say the companys initial response may prove scarier still. In acknowledging Sundays incident, in which airport police yanked a passenger off of a plane in Chicago to make room for company personnel, United's chief executive, Oscar Munoz, on Monday apologized only for having to re-accommodate passengers on the flight bound for Louisville, Ky. Even as footage of the encounter spread like wildfire on social media, Munoz doubled down on defending his company. In a prepared statement, he said United employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this," and accused the passenger of being disruptive and belligerent. Such a defense surprised public relations experts queried by The Times, who said United had embraced two common but ineffective crisis responses while shying away from the only reaction likely to quell the controversy. It wasnt until Tuesday, two days after the incident and as United shares slipped on Wall Street, that Munoz issued a broad apology. Heres how United tried to handle the public fury and where public relations professionals say it went wrong. Issue a non-apology Companies in the wrong often issue a non-apology an empty statement that acknowledges an event but shirks responsibility. This was Uniteds first resort, according to Ed Zitron, chief executive of PR firm EZPR, who described the airlines initial response as a failure by committee. Here was a bunch of people who got together and failed to show any compassion and humanity, Zitron said of United. Maybe its a really bad interpretation of the phrase, When youre going through hell, keep going. A lot of CEOs and companies are terrified of apologies. They dont want to look weak. But they apparently dont mind looking horrible." In refusing to admit fault or even acknowledge that a passenger was hurt on its flight this particular non-apology went beyond a typical brand gaffe, Zitron said. "Since 9/11, one of the key things of airlines is safety, and the one thing theyve gained here is the literal image of what can happen to you on United Airlines, Zitron said. Even if United was adamant about not apologizing, it could have at least acknowledged that the situation got out of control, and that what happened to the passenger was unacceptable. I want to know why no ones statement involved the safety of that man, Zitron said. Why didnt anyone say anything? They could have said 'this is a legal minefield and we do not have all the details, but we hope the man is OK. That would have been 100 times better than what they actually said." Blame the passenger A non-apology would have been bad enough, PR experts said. But United then fanned the flames by casting the passenger as a belligerent customer who refused to comply." This was a catastrophic move for them, said Zitron, not just on the level of bad human beings, but anyone ever flying on United should now fear whatever established procedures United has up its sleeves." Not that blaming the passenger has ever worked for United. Last month, when the airline stopped two teenage girls from flying because they were wearing leggings, United, rather than apologize, tried to rationalize its actions. They said they were family members of employees and had to adhere to a dress code, said Nicole Ferry, executive director of strategy at branding firm Sullivan. But to Twitter and everybody else, it just looked like they were punishing [teenage] girls for wearing leggings." A United Airlines jet at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., in 2015. (Mel Evans / Associated Press) (Mel Evans / AP) Apologize Any company can bounce back from a PR crisis, but apologizing is often the first step. They could have come out and said the behavior was not living up to their brand or their values, Ferry said. They talk about flying the friendly skies. Well, here was a clear brand behavior that did not live up to their promise." Despite United digging its heels into the ground, PR experts had said it wasnt too late for the company to apologize. They can put Munoz back on TV and say, We reacted quickly. I did not make the right decision in what I said. I did not deal with this in a way that shows compassion and humanity. This is not what we support, said Zitron. And after relentless backlash from customers, a stock price that plunged 4% in the wake of the incident, and a thorough skewering on social media, thats exactly what United did Tuesday. "I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way, Munoz said in a statement. "I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right. It's never too late to do the right thing." UPDATES: 12:45 p.m.: This article was updated to include a new apology from United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz. This article was originally published at 11:20 a.m. Its hard to find examples of worse decision-making and customer treatment than United Airlines having a passenger dragged from an overbooked plane. But Uniteds shabby treatment of Geoff Fearns, including a threat to place him in handcuffs, comes close. Fearns, 59, is president of TriPacific Capital Advisors, an Irvine investment firm that handles more than half a billion dollars in real estate holdings on behalf of public pension funds. He had to fly to Hawaii last week for a business conference. Fearns needed to return early so he paid about $1,000 for a full-fare, first-class ticket to Los Angeles. He boarded the aircraft at Lihue Airport on the island of Kauai, took his seat and enjoyed a complimentary glass of orange juice while awaiting takeoff. Advertisement Then, as Fearns tells it, a United employee rushed onto the aircraft and informed him that he had to get off the plane. I asked why, he told me. They said the flight was overfull. Fearns, like the doctor at the center of that viral video from Sunday night, held his ground. He was already on the plane, already seated. He shouldnt have to disembark. Thats when they told me they needed the seat for somebody more important who came at the last minute, Fearns said. They said they have a priority list and this other person was higher on the list than me. They said theyd put me in cuffs if they had to. Geoff Fearns Heres United Airlines latest PR nightmare. (April 11, 2017) Apparently United had some mechanical troubles with the aircraft scheduled to make the flight. So the carrier swapped out that plane with a slightly smaller one with fewer first-class seats. Suddenly it had more first-class passengers than it knew what to do with. So it turned to its How to Screw Over Customers handbook and determined that the one in higher standing more miles flown, presumably gets the seat and the other first-class passenger, even though hes also a member of the frequent-flier program, gets the boot. I understand you might bump people because a flight is full, Fearns said. But they didnt say anything at the gate. I was already in the seat. And now they were telling me I had no choice. They said theyd put me in cuffs if they had to. You couldnt make this up if you tried. It shouldnt make any difference where a passenger is seated or how much he or she paid for their ticket. But you have to admire the sheer chutzpah of United putting the arm on a full-fare, first-class traveler. If theres anybody whose business you want to safeguard and cultivate, its that person. So how could United possibly make things worse? Not to worry. This is the airline that knows how to add insult to injury. A United employee, responding to Fearns complaint that he shouldnt have to miss the flight, compromised by downgrading him to economy class and placing him in the middle seat between a married couple who were in the midst of a nasty fight and refused to be seated next to each other. They argued the whole way back, Fearns recalled. Nearly six hours. It was a lot of fun. Back in Southern California, he consulted his lawyer and then wrote to Uniteds chief executive, Oscar Munoz, who commended airline workers after the passenger-dragging incident for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. Fearns requested a full refund for his flight from Kauai and asked for United to make a $25,000 donation to the charity of his choice. This is how rich guys do it. He received an email back from a United corporate customer care specialist apologizing that Fearns apparently had an unpleasant experience. But, no, forget about a refund. As for that charitable donation, what are you kidding? A hard no on that. Instead, the service rep offered to refund Fearns the difference between his first-class ticket and an economy ticket about a week later, as if that wasnt the first thing they should do in a situation like this and to give him a $500 credit for a future trip on the airline. Despite the negative experience, we hope to have your continued support, the rep concluded. Your business is especially important to us and well do our utmost to make your future contacts with United satisfactory in every respect. I reached out to United and asked if anyone cared to comment on Fearns adventure in corporate catastrophe. No one got back to me. Julia Underwood, a business professor at Azusa Pacific University, said Uniteds actions in both the dragged-off-the-plane episode and with Fearns reflect a coldhearted mindset utterly devoid of compassion for customers. Theyre so locked into their policies, theres no room for empathy, she said. As a result, Underwood said, situations that should be manageable spiral out of control and result in unnecessarily messy PR disasters. What United and all companies need to do is to train and empower workers to deal with specific issues as they arise, she said. Dont just follow whatever is written in your policies. I couldnt agree more. United is neck-deep in trouble this week because its workers are clearly out of their depth in handling out-of-the-ordinary events. You have to think someone on the flight crew would have been able to step up, if given the trust and authority to do so by the carrier. Fearns said three different members of the crew on his middle-seat, economy-class return to L.A. apologized for how he was treated in Hawaii. But they said they were unable to do anything. Hes now considering a lawsuit against United and he certainly has the resources to press his case. I asked if hell ever fly United again. Fearns could only laugh. Are you kidding? David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com. ALSO Were United Airlines, you do what we say: Kimmel skewers the embattled airline Uniteds CEO apologizes for passengers mistreatment; parent companys stock falls Michael Hiltzik: At United Air and Wells Fargo, toxic corporate culture starts with the CEO Werner Herzog is at a booth in a Sunset Boulevard restaurant, just down the hill from where he once rescued Joaquin Phoenix. The rescue happened 11 years ago when the freshly Oscar-nominated Phoenix flipped his car on a winding road in Laurel Canyon. The actor, upside down and out of it, reported hearing a gentle tapping on his window, then a voice with a thick accent telling him to relax. Thats Werner Herzog! the actor said to himself. Theres something so calming and beautiful about Werner Herzogs voice, he told reporters afterward. Advertisement What Phoenix didnt say, but Herzog did in the narration he provided for the 2010 animated short When Herzog Rescued Phoenix by Sascha Ciezata (of When Lynch Met Lucas fame), is that the upside-down Phoenix was trying to light a cigarette while gasoline dripped into the cabin of his car a Dodge Challenger, if the short is to be believed. Herzog confiscated the lighter, smashed in the back window, dragged Phoenix to safety and then dashed off, like a Bavarian Batman driving a Volkswagen Beetle, before the sirens drew too close. One of the shorts more than 205,000 YouTube viewers commented, God has the same voice as Werner Herzog its weird. To which another replied, Gods real name is Werner, but hes too shy to admit it. On this Friday afternoon of light breezes, mild temperatures and unusual milestones even for a guy with a capacity for milestones, the voice of God is registering slightly apprehensive. Its a little weird, he says, acknowledging mild anxiety, because there are two films out on the same day. WATCH: Filmmaker Werner Herzog reflects on filmmaking and on living in Los Angeles: The city has been good to me. Read the full interview here. We said we want to move to the city with the most substance, and it was immediately clear that Los Angeles, thats the place. Werner Herzog The films Queen of the Desert, starring Nicole Kidman, and Salt and Fire, starring Michael Shannon, Herzogs new Klaus Kinski, some might say are the directors first narrative offerings in nearly eight years. If you didnt know any better, you might guess hed ordered up the combo platter himself to trumpet his return to fiction after his prolific near-decade of making documentaries, including last years Into the Inferno and Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World. Oh, for Gods sake, no. I wouldnt have such a crazy idea. I tried to prevent it, but, uh, my influence has been limited, the director says, dispelling the notion of an intentional Herzog double feature. It might happen that the films obliterate each other. My output is too large. Too big. Though we may think concerns about the commercial fates of his films too petty for visionary iconoclasts such as Herzog, he says hes not one to make art just for arts sake: I make them for audiences, always. Not for my own pleasure. Though Salt and Fire could be taken as a lament, its still full of Herzogs idiosyncratic humor, a characteristic he feels the media often miss. Not that there isnt some fun in coming back with a bang, right? Yes, I try to see the fun inside of it, he smiles. Herzog is a fit 74, with eyes that actually twinkle and a traditional Bavarian Trachten jacket carefully placed on the chair next to him for a later photo shoot. Searching for the fun inside the mysteries of life, fate and peoples obsessions would seem to sum up Herzogs mission, whose arrival as a visionary filmmaker began in 1968 when his first feature film, Signs of Life, won a grand jury prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. That search has led him to death row, under Antarctic ice, into ancient caves and up to the mouths of active volcanoes usually with a sense of play about what hes doing, even in extreme conditions. The new films are set in deserts on opposite sides of the world, and though Salt and Fire could be taken as a lament, its still full of Herzogs idiosyncratic humor, a characteristic he feels the media often miss. Take a recent Rolling Stone article. They [used] a photo where I look as grim as grim, and gloomy and crazed. Its how the media wants to portray me, Herzog says, scrunching his face into an impression of the photo. I think I have a good sense of humor. Director Werner Herzog at the Sunset Strip restaurant Estrella. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) And if the media dont always get him, Herzog insists his audiences do. They always laugh. Its sometimes a strange, dark unusual sense of humor. Its not the Eddie Murphy humor; its something else. Herzog says his humor has been buoyed over the past 20 years by his living in Los Angeles, which he turned to after things didnt work out with San Francisco. My wife and I found it not the most exciting place in the United States and we said we want to move to the city with the most substance, and it was immediately clear that Los Angeles, thats the place. As for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Herzog says, that is a very thin crust. Behind it is an enormous intensity of culture and creative energy and things that ultimately decide the big things, the big internal movements of the planet. Things get done here. Among those things: The collective dreams of the world in cinema and acceptance of gays and lesbians as an integral part of a dignified civilization, and many, many other things that are just wonderful. You see the influx of the Mexicans, which I find very invigorating. If you can imagine California or Los Angeles without the Mexican population, it would be the instant end of California. To Herzog, someone like Elon Musk epitomizes the spirit of Los Angeles, with his outsize ambitions to day-trip private citizens to the moon and eventually colonize Mars. The kind of confidence of Elon Musk you dont find it anywhere else, Herzog says. It has advanced what weve done on this planet considerably. And yet Los Angeles, Herzog admits, has also contributed its fair share to the big cultural stupidities, such as hippies (The worldview was just not adequate to the real problems of the time, he says), childrens yoga, the choco-nut smoothies on the breakfast menu here and, despite his admiration for Musk, colonizing Mars. Mars is an ill-conceived idea. Its definitely ill-conceived and its not going to happen, Herzog says. We should look after the habitability of our planet rather than making an inhospitable planet, Mars, somehow livable. Herzog, though, might be willing to join Musk on one of his lunar jaunts provided certain conditions were met. Well, I have said it to him, just to get some spark of a reaction out of him, Yes, of course, Id like to go only if I had a camera along. Sure, that would be wonderful, he says, grinning. They always send technicians out into space and they havent sent a poet out there yet. The impulse to send civilians into space does strike a chord with Herzog, who thought the idea to give a seat on the space shuttle Challengers doomed 10th mission to schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe was inspired. My breath and my heart stopped for a moment, because all of a sudden there was some new idea. Send somebody who would go back to her classroom and have some exciting stories for the kids. Back on terra firma, Herzog says hes always seeing something new and inspiring in Los Angeles. All the time, all the time, he says. Theres never been a dull day here in Los Angeles. Oh, for Gods sake, no. I wouldnt have such a crazy idea. I tried to prevent it. Werner Herzog on having two movies out at the same time Herzogs first U.S. city, however, was Pittsburgh, when as a 20-year-old student from the Bavarian Alps he studied film at Duquesne University. I had worked in a steel factory as a welder during high school to earn money for my first films. So, I thought, thats the right men out there for me, he says. But [the steel industry] was in decay already. It was in full decay and it was clear it would not recover. In Pittsburgh, though, and in traveling throughout the Midwest, Herzog says he saw the best of the country. I was picked up, literally, from the street by a family who gave me shelter when I dropped out of university I was homeless and I had lost the money of the scholarship and all of the sudden, enormous hospitality. In all the difficulties I had at the time, Americans of the heartland had been the best of the best. Herzog isnt surprised that the issue of Rust Belt decay has finally found its way to the top of the national conversation. Theres justice in it, he says, because for years, I have been complaining to my friends, liberals, Democrats men and women who have a lot of sense, make good observations, but they came to politics between Seattle and Boston and New York and Los Angeles and would speak about the rest of America as the flyovers. And, I said, Thats a cynic way to look at the heartland of America. Though Herzog thinks its good that the heartland found its voice, he knows all too well what can happen when that voice curdles. In my childhood and in my adolescence, I saw the aftermath of what should have never happened. But let me say something about America. America, no matter what, always has this enormous, mysterious way to rejuvenate itself and pull itself out of crisis, and that is something that always gives me confidence in your country. Its reassuring, perhaps, that Herzog, an artist who has mined as deeply as any the absurdities and pratfalls of our existence, is optimistic about the future. Im not into the mood of Weltschmerz, he says, using the German word for world weariness that describes how many are feeling these days. Im into the mood of joy of the world, absolute joy and curiosity. Im full of projects. Im full of joy and full of things that I see on the horizon. ------------- Salt and Fire Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes Playing: Through Wednesday, Arena Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood; also streaming on Amazon and VOD. ------------- Queen of the Desert Rated: PG-13, for brief nudity and some thematic elements Running time: 2 hours, 8 minutes Playing: AMC Rolling Hills 20; AMC Orange 30 Sign up for our weekly Indie Focus newsletter calendar@latimes.com Twitter: @joedjoedonnelly MORE ABOUT WERNER HERZOG: Review: Werner Herzog travels to Arabian lands and Bolivian loopiness in Queen of the Desert, Salt and Fire The brazen Bavarian Werner Herzog is back with his latest directorial effort, Salt and Fire Review: Director Werner Herzog risked his life for the thrilling volcano documentary Into the Inferno Review: Lo and Behold, Werner Herzog terrifies us about the future Re-release of Werner Herzogs Nosferatu: Its not a remake Filmmaker Werner Herzog on his new box set and more Werner Herzogs walking blues Werner Herzogs cautionary tale for texters The La La Land effect is still going strong in fashion post-Oscars season. The Nordstrom-owned styling and shopping concept Trunk Club has linked with Oscar-nominated costume designer Mary Zophres to curate looks inspired by the film with hopes the movie will remind men and women to incorporate color and classic style into their wardrobe (through more shopping, natch). An invite-only event at Trunk Clubs Los Angeles space on April 11 is timed to the movies digital HD release the same day and its home theater release on April 25. Zophres will be on hand to help guest curate looks from Nordstrom during the cocktail-hour event. Advertisement The movies characters, Mia and Sebastian, played by Best Actress winner Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, exemplify themes similar to the Trunk Club ethos, according to Zophres: investing in essential pieces and building a timeless and personalized wardrobe. So many people have come up to me to say they are in love with the classic silhouette of Mia-Emmas dresses and how flattering they could be on many figures, said Zophres. With Sebastian, we raise the effort in wearing clothes. The effort of putting on trousers with a blazer tells the world you care, and it looks good. Linda Bartman, chief marketing officer of Trunk Club, noted that the spring collection could easy transition into fall. Our customers love the fact they can buy in spring and be versatile. Women are always looking for dresses in the fall and you can add coats, tights and boots to these looks, she said. Nordstrom is a place you know you will find a more classic take on things, added Zophres. Theres always a place in the store to find a classic silhouette no matter thats going on in fashion, Zophres said. Her edit will be available for a limited time to customers who request a La La Land trunk via the Trunk Club stylists, though the company left things open ended on future collaborations. Zophres is currently at work on a series of Western short films called The Ballad of Buster Scruggs directed by her frequent collaborators, Joel and Ethan Coen, as well as Oscar-winning La La Land director Damien Chazelles new project, a Neil Armstrong biopic starring Gosling. Since Western-style clothing and the Sixties era are evergreen fashion themes, theres a strong chance Zophres will return for more Nordstrom tie-ups. ALSO The red carpet erupts in cheers for Emma Stone Oscars 2017 live updates: Moonlight wins best picture after La La Land incorrectly called Graffiti artist Andre Saraiva on why he likes the vibe and spirit of L.A. and his new Uniqlo collaboration Eloquii, the fast-fashion brand for women sizes 12 to 28, has teamed with Teresa Maccapani Missoni on a limited-edition capsule collection launching Tuesday for the spring season. Bringing a designer touch to the assortment reflects Eloquiis mission to be fashion first and provide new collections of plus-size apparel, wide-width footwear and accessories each month, according to Mariah Chase, Eloquiis chief executive officer. We are absolutely open to partnering with external designers or creative entities if we believe our customers and community will respect the outcome and we can execute it well, Chase told WWD. Missoni represents Eloquiis first designer partnership, though last year the privately held company worked with Stone Fox Bride on a capsule bridal collection. Advertisement Chase said the idea to work with Missoni was at the suggestion of a friend in the industry, and that she, along with Jodi Arnold, Eloquiis creative director, and Eloquii chairman and founding investor John Auerbach, visited with Missoni to first discuss the project. Teresa Missoni is the granddaughter of Rosita Missoni and her husband, the late Ottavio Missoni, founders of the Missoni fashion brand. Teresa for Eloquii also represents a temporary step up in the price point, with Eloquii typically priced from $40 to $170, whereas Teresa for Eloquii ranges from $75 to $325. While the Missoni brand is best-known for colorful knits, Teresa for Eloquii consists of 24 pieces including day-into-evening dresses, pants, tops and jackets with handmade treatments, silk crepe, cotton eyelet and chiffon, with details such as lurex crochet, hand beading, embroidery and seashell motifs inspired by Missonis visits to Sardinia, Africa and India. Among the styles are an embellished maxiskirt, priced $195; a coral print silk fit-and-flare shirtdress, priced $295; a crochet seashell crop top, priced $145; and a cotton voile lace peplum top, at $75. The collection is available at Eloquii.com, and at Eloquiis sole brick-and-mortar location, a temporary concept shop at the Fashion Centre in Pentagon City in Arlington, Va. A three-month lease that runs through the end of May was signed, but Eloquii could decide to extend it. Eloquii is based in Long Island City, N.Y. and Columbus, Ohio. Missoni characterized the collection as unique yet timeless with choices that stand apart from trends and that instill confidence. Its her first effort designing plus sizes. It was very important for Teresa to make clothing for women that havent had many options when shopping, said Chase. She wanted to give this community an elevated product that was designed especially for them and really represents Teresas creative vision. We followed her direction for materials and silhouettes and exclusive prints, rather than giving her a fabric or price architecture within which she had to design, added Chase. We wanted to execute against what she believed was important from a design point of view so that it was authentic to her creative inspiration. It was important to us that we didnt water the collection down or force it to be in line with our core offerings. ALSO New Coach & Rodarte collaboration is seriously stylish and slightly surreal Graffiti artist Andre Saraiva on why he likes the vibe and spirit of L.A. and his new Uniqlo collaboration & Other Stories teams with L.A.-based Toms label for new apparel and footwear collection A San Francisco retailer is willing to drop claims against Ivanka Trumps brand accusing it of getting an unfair advantage given its close association with the White House for now. Modern Appealing Clothing, a family-owned boutique selling lines like Dries Van Noten and Comme des Garcons out of two San Francisco locations, told a local court on Wednesday that it would like to drop the unfair competition lawsuit it launched in March against the First Daughters brand holding company, Ivanka Trump Marks LLC. Although the boutique, better known as MAC, said at the time that the Ivanka Trump brand was getting an unfair advantage over other retailers with a public affiliation and at times direct support from her fathers administration, it now sees the purported goal of the legal action fulfilled as media coverage has elicited a response from the White House. Shortly after articles appeared in the press about this lawsuit, the White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced that Ivanka Trump had agreed to follow federal ethics rules as they apply to her work at the White House, MAC said in a filing. Advertisement The boutique said its primary purpose in bringing this lawsuit was to ensure that Ivanka Trump did not continue to exploit the power and prestige of the White House to promote her brand and that goal has been achieved by the White Houses announcement, according to its filing. Accordingly, and unless Ivanka Trump does not subsequently abide by the White Houses promise that she will follow federal ethics rules, plaintiff MACs primary goal in bringing this lawsuit has been achieved, MAC said. With that, the boutique asked that its lawsuit be dismissed without prejudice, which would leave MAC able to refile the lawsuit in the future. As for reasoning behind the proposed dismissal, MACs lawyer R. Michael Lieberman said the company is willing to take Trump and the White House at their word, and highlighted that should the allegedly unfair business practices continue, nothing can stop us or anyone else from filing these claims again. When asked if MAC would continue to monitor Trumps White House role and the association with her, Lieberman said, Yes, but now the whole world is watching too. A White House spokesperson could not be reached for comment. While MACs concerns over Trumps relation to her brand may have been relieved, Senate Democrats arent convinced. At the tail end of March, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Tom Carper (D., Del.) told the U.S. Office of Government Ethics that Trump should not be allowed to reap the benefits to her namesake fashion and accessories brand while taking on an official role in the White House. This week, Trump received the title of assistant to the president, a role that will go unpaid, according to the administration. The senators however pointed to Trumps remaining business interests including her continued brand ownership and earlier claims by the White House that she would not become a formal employee along with promises to abide by ethics rules as the cause of substantial confusion. That confusion includes what laws exactly apply to Trumps White House position, and the senators asked the Office of Government Ethics for clarity by April 13. They also asked for a determination on whether Trumps role in the administration is lawful and what disclosures, financial and otherwise, are required of her. The White House last week dumped online dozens of financial disclosures by financial staffers, including that of Trumps husband, Jared Kushner, who is a senior advisor to President Donald Trump. While the disclosure revealed Kushner and Trump hold real estate investments worth about $741 million, specifics on earnings from the Ivanka Trump brand were not specified beyond a valuation of over $50 million. An individual financial disclosure for Trump has not been disclosed. ALSO San Francisco boutique files class action lawsuit against Ivanka Trump brand, alleges unfair advantage Ivanka Trump gets formal White House role, with ethics obligations but no pay Scarlett Johansson, baffled and disappointed by Ivanka Trump, calls her cowardly Growing up in La Puente in the 1980s, Alex Espinoza was a typical child of the Reagan era. He collected Star Wars action figures and played with Rubiks Cube. But Espinoza was Mexican, born in Tijuana and brought to the United States by his mother when he was about 2 years old. He downplayed his Mexican roots to fit in. At the time, it seemed the worst thing in the world for a boy to be labeled as a TJ literally someone from Tijuana, but also shorthand for an unassimilated Mexican. I grew up preferring the taste of a Big Mac over a burrito. I grew up preferring the taste of tuna noodle casserole over menudo, he said. Until I went to Mexico as a grad student, Mexico was this kind of static in the background. Advertisement Three decades later, President Trump has sparked a new debate over immigration and assimilation that has Espinoza and many others reflecting on what it means to blend into American culture. Share your thoughts: What does it mean to be American? While much has been made about Trumps harsh talk of deporting those here illegally, the presidents comments about the need for immigrants to fully embrace American culture has renewed a long-running debate that dates back generations. Not everyone who seeks to join our country will be able to successfully assimilate, President Trump said in a campaign-trail speech in which he called for new immigrants to pass an ideological certification to make sure that those we are admitting to our country share our values and love our people. In one Republican debate, Trump declared that we have a country where, to assimilate, you have to speak English This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish. Though Espinoza and others might disagree with Trumps policies on immigration, they say discussions about assimilation get to the heart of a balancing act all immigrants face: being American while preserving a strong sense of where they came from. Have I been assimilated? I dont know, said the 45-year-old director of the graduate creative writing and literary arts program at Cal State Los Angeles. Some people will probably say yes look at how I dress and speak and where Im educated. And some people will say no he speaks Spanish and has a Mexican passport. When he went to Mexico for the first time as an adult, the way he spoke, tripping over some Spanish words, instantly pegged him as American. Espinoza is a permanent legal resident but believes that even if he became a U.S. citizen he would never be considered fully American by some people. Even if I started right now speaking in a Southern drawl and listening to country music, Im still going to be Mexican, he said. My skin is still going to be a certain shade. Assimilation is not this thing where its like, OK, Im one of you. Though people often define assimilation in starkly different ways, a Pew Research Center survey released in February showed that 92% of Americans say its at least somewhat important for a person to speak English to be considered truly American, with 70% saying its very important. More than 80% of the surveys respondents believed that sharing American culture and traditions is at least somewhat important to national identity. We at least have absorbed and believe this national narrative that we are a nation of immigrants, said Bruce Stokes, director of global economic attitudes at Pew. But ... its not so easy once you get into some of the details of diversity. People are saying, This is good for the country, but its not good for me, and that Diversity is good, but I actually I dont like the fact that someone speaks Spanish in the store I go to. Alex Espinoza, a Cal State Los Angeles professor, at his home in El Sereno. Have I been assimilated? I dont know, says the 45-year-old who was born in Tijuana and brought to the U.S. at age 2. (Jenna Schoenefeld / Los Angeles Times) These questions have dominated immigrant communities dating back to the 19th century, when the Italians, Irish, Germans, Chinese and other groups faced questions about whether they were true Americans. The foreign-born share of the U.S. population has quadrupled in the five decades since the establishment of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which ended a quota system based on national origin that favored white European immigrants. In 1960, 9.7 million foreign-born residents were living in the U.S. In 2014, there were 42.2 million, according to census data and the Pew Research Center. Kevin Solis, who works for the immigration advocacy group Dream Team LA, said politicians statements about assimilation just add fuel to an already sensitive subject. When you say, They need to assimilate, youre already beginning with the false notion that they dont want to, that theyre coming here as an invading force, he said. Its coded in the sense that these are other people, foreigners who want to do harm to our nation, and thats not the case. Jim Chang, an information systems specialist from Irvine, recalled meeting with one of his sons teacher; she kept repeating what he was saying. I know he was repeating, you know, saying it more than once because she was worried I didnt understand, Chang, 53, said. Though he spoke English fairly well and understood it even better, Chang said his Korean accent meant he would always stick out. It doesnt matter if you have 12 years or 20 years in the U.S. If they hear us sound a little different, they judge, he said. Thats something he said he believes his son, a fifth-grader, shouldnt have to face. Chang speaks Korean to him, but his son, Jimmy, responds in English. I realize that we dont plan to return to live in Korea. We belong in California now, Chang said. But Carmen Fought, a linguistics professor at Pitzer College, said that everyone has an accent regardless of how well they speak English. Whether its the Cajun or so-called Minnesota nice or Bronx or other accent not quite on the radar of American pop culture, everyone in the U.S. speaks with an accent, she said. Not all accents, however, are perceived as equally American. A way of speaking thats associated with a group thats stigmatized is also going to be stigmatized, Fought said. Theres also going to be racism and prejudice against that way of speaking. Karen, a 24-year-old honor student at Cal State Fullerton, is an aspiring certified public accountant. She volunteers for the IRS where her ability to speak Spanish is a major asset helping low-income people fill out their taxes. The night Trump was elected, Karen a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipient who asked that her last name not be used because she fears deportation suddenly felt as if she stood out even though she was an infant sleeping in the back seat of a car when she was brought to the U.S. illegally from Mexico. Karen hasnt been back to Mexico since then but grew up in the overwhelmingly Latino community of Huntington Park, watching Spanish-language television with her grandmother and working in a Mexican restaurant. Moving to Orange County for college was like moving to a different world, Karen said. At least until Trumps election, she felt that she was safer as a college student than her parents, who have labor-oriented jobs. Her younger brother is a DACA recipient also, and she had him move in with her so they could remove their parents address from their federal forms. Sometimes I feel like I dont belong anywhere, she said. In Mexico, I would be seen very differently because of my accent. Its like, god, what do I do? If I were to go back, I wouldnt have anything back there. On the one side, the Hispanics tell you, Youre way too American. On the other, youll have the Americans telling you youre too Hispanic. Its hard to be in the middle. What makes me American? Its not only the 24 years of my life, she said. Its that this is all I know. To read the article in Spanish, click here hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson Times staff writer Anh Do contributed to this report. ALSO Boy, 8, and teacher slain in San Bernardino school shooting; gunman kills himself Trumps border wall will get its start in San Diego County Charter schools are expanding where they arent needed especially in Los Angeles, new report says Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 Trend: Georgia will refuse to purchase natural gas from the Russias Gazprom company, the Business Georgia portal reported citing Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze. He said that no deals will be concluded to purchase Russian gas until late 2017. Since April 2017, Georgia will completely switch to supplying the population and enterprises with gas from Azerbaijan, the report said. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR and the consortium for the development of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field are the suppliers of gas to Georgia. Thus, the share of Russian gas in the total volume of imports will amount to four percent. At the same time, the Georgian Energy Ministry cites data on the already completed deals with the Gazprom. Thus, in January-March 2017, the volume of Georgias purchases of natural gas from Russia amounted to 100 million cubic meters. The Georgian Energy Ministry also estimated the projected volumes of gas supplies to Georgia. This year, Georgia will receive 2.457 billion cubic meters of gas, of which deliveries from Azerbaijan will amount to 2.347 billion cubic meters of gas (95.5 percent). In 2017, the volume of gas produced in Georgia will amount to 10 million cubic meters. Photoshopped campaign mailers sent in a Los Angeles City Council race in the San Fernando Valley are sparking accusations of election law violation and counterallegations of hypocrisy. A political advocacy group called Latinas Lead California sent a cease and desist letter Monday to Council District 7 candidate Karo Torossian, demanding he stop using photoshopped images of rival candidate Monica Rodriguez in his mailers. The group is backing Rodriguez in the race for District 7, which includes Sylmar, Sunland and Pacoima. Advertisement The mailers show Rodriguezs head attached to the body of a woman in a black suit holding a sign that states, I am funded by Chevron, against the backdrop of an ominous-looking oil-drilling operation. The womans body was taken from a stock photo, according to Rodriguezs campaign. The original image also shows the woman holding a blank sign. Latinas Lead California and Rodriguezs campaign say Torossians campaign is violating California Elections Code section 20010. The election law says campaigns cant falsely represent a candidate by superimposing the candidates image onto another picture or photograph unless accompanied by a disclaimer. Latinas Lead California argues that the mailer gives the false impression that Rodriguez is holding the Chevron sign. It is this type of false, misleading, and gutter-style politics that often prevents women from running for office, the letter states. It is signed by Julissa Gomez, board vice chair of Latinas Lead California, and nine others. Gomez said the group had not submitted the letter to local or state election authorities. Rodriguez campaign spokesman Josh Pulliam accused Torossian of attacking his opponent with fabricated images in a statement Monday. Chevron has become a controversial issue in the May 16 runoff election because the oil company backed Rodriguez in the primary. In an email, Torossian campaign spokesman Eric Hacopian called the allegations over the mailer ridiculous. He pointed to a mailer sent out by Rodriguez in her 2007 race for Los Angeles City Council. In that race, Rodriguezs campaign photoshopped the head of then-candidate Richard Alarcon onto the body of a cartoon frog. In a 2007 radio interview, Rodriguez said her mailer was done to demonstrate to the voters pictorially that Mr. Alarcon has hopped from job to job. Asked about the frog mailer, Pulliam said Rodriguez was told that her campaign communications complied with the law and had met the disclaimer requirements. A version of the mailer accessible on her former consultants website does not make it clear if it included a disclaimer. Fred Woocher, a Los Angeles-based attorney who specializes in election and constitutional law and is not involved in the race, said he believes the photoshopped mailer showing Rodriguez with the Chevron sign comes too close to the line in violating the state election law. But it could be protected political speech under the U.S. Constitution, he added. Given the apparent gray area, Woocher said he wouldnt advise a client to send the mailer. Rodriguez and Torossian were the top two vote-getters in the March 7 election for the Valley seat, which was vacated when Felipe Fuentes stepped down to join a lobbying firm. dakota.smith@latimes.com Twitter: @dakotacdsmith ALSO L.A. City Council backs plan to borrow $60 million to pay off legal settlements The number of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers killed in L.A. traffic rose sharply in 2016 L.A. district attorney reviewing complaint over councilmans two marriages A 78-year-old hiker who has gained a measure of international fame for hiking to the top of Mt. Baldy more than 700 times has been missing on the mountain since Friday. More than 40 people and search-and-rescue teams from San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles and Riverside counties Monday were looking for Seuk Doo Kim in the rocky terrain north of Upland, authorities said. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department confirmed that the car of a 78-year-old hiker was found Sunday near the Baldy trailhead, at Manker Flats, but would not reveal the hikers name. Advertisement David Kim, Seuk Doo Kims son, confirmed that the search is for his father. A colorful character known to many repeat hikers on Mt. Baldys rocky trails as Sam, Kim has set his sights on summiting Mt. Baldy for the 1,000th time in 2017. This is better than church. Seuk Doo Kim, while hiking Mt. Baldy in December Richard Tufts, a friend who lives in a cabin at the foot of Baldy, said he received a call Sunday morning from a member of Kims family, which was worried that he was uncharacteristically late to return from the hike that he once made 100 days in a row. Tufts, 73, said he immediately started up the mountain to look for his friend along the Ski Hut Trail, but was unsuccessful. He said he was worried about the possibility that Kim succumbed to hypothermia because it rained on the mountain Friday evening. Deputies used a helicopter Sunday to conduct an aerial search while 25 volunteers swept the area along Ski Hut Trail through the evening. 1 / 13 By his count, Sam Kim has climbed Mt. Baldy nearly 750 times and aims to log 1,000 summits by next year. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 13 Sam Kim nears the summit of Mt. Baldy, a trek he has made more than 700 times. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 13 If you go to Baldy tomorrow, you will run into him, said his son, David Kim. You will never see another man who loves hiking or who is as obsessed with hiking as him. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 13 Sam Kim hikes off trail, up a steep slope on the approach to Mt. Baldy. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 13 Kim takes a break at the San Antonio Ski Hut at 8,300 feet, along the trail up to Mt. Baldy. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 13 Im feeling Gods embrace this is better than church, Sam said on the way up. My shortcut is the Holy Spirit. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 13 Sam Kim arrives at a plaque atop Mt. Baldy. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 13 Sam Kim unfurls flags on the summit of Mt. Baldy, the highest point in the San Gabriel Mountains at 10,064 feet. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 13 Sam has made the journey more than 240 times this year alone, and he has the time-stamped photos to prove it. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 13 Sam Kim takes a break with spicy Cheetos and Funyuns, favorite foods to power him along, at the San Antonio Ski Hut at 8,300 feet along the trail to Mt. Baldy. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 13 Sams enthusiasm for the 10,064-foot mountain the highest point in the San Gabriel range and Los Angeles County has inspired dozens of hikers to share stories on blogs and social media. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 13 Kim hikes off trail, up a steep, rocky slope on the approach to Mt. Baldy. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 13 Kim takes in the sunset light bathing the shoulders of the San Gabriel Mountains on hike down from the Mt. Baldy summit. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) On Monday, the search expanded to include a team of 11 rescuers who were taken to the summit by helicopter. If needed, the search will continue throughout the week with additional assistance being requested, said Jodi Miller, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. Kim has a reputation for being irrepressible on the trail, handing out jelly beans and Doritos, demanding other hikers pose for selfies and chatting with everyone he meets. Speaking to a Times reporter while climbing the mountain in December, Kim said: Im feeling Gods embrace this is better than church. In 1981, Kim and his family moved from South Korea to Southern California, where he worked as a manager at the Bank of Seoul. Sam is just a good soul. Brent North, hiker who has met Kim on the trail Kims enthusiasm for the 10,064-foot mountain the highest point in the San Gabriel range and Los Angeles County has inspired dozens of hikers to share stories on blogs and social media. Brent North has talked to Kim dozens of times while hiking Mt. Baldy. Sam is just a good soul, and you learn that quickly, North said. He is a generous man who enjoys sharing his religion of the mountain with people. Sons David and Ken Kim said they helped out on the search effort Monday but could not find their father. On their drive home to Los Angeles Westside, they pondered what may have happened on the mountain. Maybe he lost his way in the rain and got hypothermia. Maybe he slipped on ice and injured himself. But they were confident their father was always prepared for the conditions, taking crampons, an ice ax and proper clothing. He knew the mountain so well, David Kim said. My dad is a resilient man, and we are hopeful that he can find his way out. Ken Kim said he remembered his father enjoying the quiet of the mountain. It was his way of finding peace in this crazy city, he said. He always believed in finding enlightenment, and in some way he felt that climbing helped him do that. ben.poston@latimes.com Follow @bposton on Twitter. ALSO Manhattan Beach teen dies after skateboard skitching trick goes wrong No charges in drowning of Navy SEAL candidate Grief counselors to offer support to students, staff as San Bernardino school shooting probe continues Karen Smith tied the knot in January with a man she had known for years. A pastor her own age with a military background, Cedric Anderson seemed like a man of faith with whom she could share the next chapter of her life. But after they wed and he moved into her Riverside home, another side of her new husband emerged. Advertisement Police say Anderson, 53, had previous domestic violence allegations against him, but its unclear what Smith experienced. Her mother said it was enough to break up with him and pursue divorce. On Monday, the tumult of their brief marriage burst into a San Bernardino elementary school. Anderson walked into Smiths special-needs classroom and opened fire, fatally wounding her before turning the gun on himself, police said. One of Smiths students, an 8-year-old boy, was also struck by the gunfire and died. A second child was injured. The violence has devastated Smiths friends, family and colleagues. It has also exposed a troubled relationship between Anderson and Smith two people with very different pasts who had once seemed so in love. She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all, said Smiths mother, Irma Sykes. He had other motives. She left him and thats where the trouble began. At North Park Elementary School, Smith, 53, was known as a caring educator with a special affinity for working with children with learning disabilities. To her classroom, she brought the wisdom and patience of raising four children of her own, who are all now adults. For some parents, Smith seemed like a miracle worker. Rachel Valles said Smith was persistent in helping her son, Ethan, improve his reading. At the start of the school year, he could read only basic words, but now gets excited by learning new vocabulary. She did so much for him, Valles said. I would ask her, How do you do it? Substitute teacher Diane Abrams said Smith dedicated her life to her students. Smith, who spent most of her life in the Harbor City section of Los Angeles, had pursued a teaching career much later than other educators, earning a degree and her credentials about a decade ago, according to her mother. She wanted to help children with autism and learning disabilities, taking after her mother, who was a teacher for 41 years. As her career bloomed, Smith also ended her first marriage, after 21 years, in 2009, according to court records. At some point around 2013, she met Anderson. He had lived around Atlanta, Las Vegas and towns across Southern California. At some point in the late 1990s or early 2000s, Anderson participated in an expose by an NBC affiliate in Las Vegas about housing fees at Nellis Air Force Base, according to a copy of the segment that Anderson appears to have published on YouTube. The report said Anderson had been in the Navy for eight years and was married to a 19-year Air Force veteran who had been deployed to Pakistan. But a military spokesman said Tuesday that there was no record of someone with Andersons name serving in the Navy. Anderson had at least one son, about whom he spoke proudly on social media. Najee Ali, a community activist in Los Angeles and executive director of Project Islamic Hope, said he knew Anderson as a pastor who attended community meetings. He was a deeply religious man, Ali said of Anderson, who sometimes preached on the radio and joined community events. There was never any signs of this kind of violence on his Facebook he even criticized a man for attacking a woman. His effect on Smith was obvious. One neighbor along Mt. Wasatch Drive in Riverside, who declined to be identified, recalled Smith becoming more outgoing and cheerful a noticeable change from years past. They seemed to be happy, the neighbor said, and once were overheard praying together, but never fighting. 1 / 45 North Park student Elijah Beaven attends a candlelight prayer vigil with his mother, Laura Beaven. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 45 North Park Elementary School Principal Yadira Downing is comforted after the candlelight prayer vigil on the schools playground. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 45 The mood is somber as hundreds of residents, students and faculty attend a prayer vigil on the playground of North Park Elementary. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 45 Adrian Newton of San Bernardino attends a candlelight vigil at North Park Elementary. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 45 Students spend time at a memorial near North Park Elementary after a prayer vigil. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 45 Adrian Newton, 8, of San Bernardino brings a bouquet of flowers to place at a memorial for shooting victims Jonathan Martinez, 8, and Karen Smith the day after the two were shot in a classroom at North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 45 Ellie Paez places homemade Stars of Hope along the fence at North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 45 A young boy pays his respects at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 45 Bobbie Haywood, who lives in the neighborhood, stops by to pay respect at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 45 Denna Lopez and her 9-year-old son, Raymond Lopez, brings a stuffed animal to place at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 45 A sidewalk memorial in front of North Park Elementary on April 11, 2017, a day after a gunman walked into a classroom and opened fire on his wife, a teacher there, also wounded two students, one of whom died, and then killed himself. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 45 Betty Rodriguez hugs her granddaughter Giselle Rodriguez, 11, during a prayer vigil outside Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 45 Residents hold a prayer vigil outside Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 45 A child rests his head on his fathers shoulder during a prayer service at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 45 Parents wait to be reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 45 Children walk in single file to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 45 A parent and child hug after being reunited hours after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 45 Parents are reunited with their chidlren at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 45 A police officer leads children to be reunited with their parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 45 Parents are reunited with their kids at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 45 A SWAT officer stands guard with evacuated children on the playground at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino after a shooting in the school. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 45 Summer Terrell hugs her daughter Jaylah James, 5, after being reunited with her at Cajon High School hours after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children who were evacuated after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 45 A woman is tended to outside North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 45 San Bernardino police officers help evacuate children to awaiting school buses after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 45 Children are led across a playground, holding hands. Students were being evacuated to Cal State San Bernardinos physical education building. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 45 Children are evacuated from North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. Two injured students were airlifted to a local hospital, authorities say. One student later died. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 45 SWAT officers stand guard with students waiting to be taken to Cal State San Bernardino. Parents were directed to go to Cajon High School, where officials will verify their identity before sending them to the college to pick up their children. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 45 SWAT officers walk through the playground after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 45 Evacuated students and teachers gather on the playground after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 45 A San Bernardino police officer puts up crime scene tape after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) In photos posted on social media, Smith and Anderson are seen on the beach, leaning toward each other and smiling, as Smith holds a small white dog in her lap. Another shows their legs crossed in front of a fireplace, with Smiths flip-flop-clad foot touching Andersons leg. After their Jan. 28 wedding at a church on Crenshaw Boulevard, the couple retreated to Sedona, Ariz., for a honeymoon. We are having such a good time, Smith says in a video shared on Facebook after Anderson kisses and hugs her. We are having a ball, Anderson says into the camera, adding: Its been nice. Anderson seemed to relish the lighthearted squabbles of domestic life, saying in a Facebook video in late February: What I love about my wife, boy. She is making me really happy. She knows when to ignore me, he says, pausing to laugh. That makes a happy marriage. But after about a month of living together, Smith put an end to it. She was contemplating divorce, her mother said, and police described them as estranged. Although Smiths mother declined to elaborate on what happened in the home, Andersons past may offer clues. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said Andersons criminal history included allegations of domestic violence, weapons charges and possible drug charges. Anderson lived in Torrance at least from 2012 to 2013, a period when Torrance police were called to his address on five occasions, according to Sgt. Ronald Harris. In 2012, he was arrested on suspicion of spousal battery, and the next year, he was arrested for allegedly brandishing a knife, Harris said. In 2013, Anderson was charged in Los Angeles County Superior Court with assault and battery, brandishing a firearm and disturbing the peace. Court records, however, show that the charges were dismissed in May 2014. Nearly two decades earlier in 1993, Anderson faced two misdemeanor counts of battery in Kern County Superior Court, but according to records, he was exonerated six months after the case was filed and both charges were dismissed. Burguan said investigators are still piecing together information on what led to the couples estrangement. It was that appearance of a happy union that allowed Anderson to get onto the school grounds so easily. When he stopped by the office to check in, his presence went unquestioned. No one saw a weapon, no one suspected anything was amiss between the couple until the gunfire. He killed her, and he killed himself, Sykes, her mother, said. And I want to see what hes going to say to God about that. maya.lau@latimes.com |Twitter: @mayalau richard.winton@latimes.com | Twitter: @LACrimes laura.nelson@latimes.com | Twitter: @laura_nelson matt.hamilton@latimes.com | Twitter: @MattHjourno Times staff writers Sonali Kohli, Paloma Esquivel, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Etehad, Ben Oreskes and James Queally contributed to this report. ALSO Mommy, I still have blood on my sweater: Girl recounts deadly shooting in her classroom Teacher killed in classroom shooting was devoted to her students, mother says Boy, 8, and teacher slain in San Bernardino school shooting; gunman kills himself UPDATES: 8:30 a.m. April 11: This story was updated with more information about Andersons criminal record and a spokesman saying there was no record of Anderson serving in the Navy. 11:00 p.m.: This article was updated with details on an NBC report that Anderson appeared to have participated in. This article was originally published at 10 p.m. April 10. A gunman who shot and killed his estranged wife, a student and himself at a San Bernardino elementary school Monday had made threats against the woman before but she didnt take them seriously, according to police. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said at a news conference Tuesday that special education instructor Karen Smith had been concerned about her husband Cedric Andersons behavior just prior to the shooting at North Park Elementary School. Smith and Anderson had been married for just two months when she moved out of her house in Riverside, spurred by his accusations that she had been unfaithful to him, Burguan said. Advertisement Smith, 53, spent the next month staying with her adult children in Moreno Valley and Riverside, as Anderson contacted her repeatedly trying to persuade her to come home, Burguan said. She had mentioned that his behavior was odd and that she was concerned about his behavior and that he had made some threats towards her, the chief said. Anderson had threatened his wife multiple times but did not specifically say he would shoot her, Burguan said. Smith resisted moving back in with Anderson, but didnt necessarily take those threats serious, Burguan said. She thought he was reaching out for attention. Anderson fired 10 shots with a Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolver inside a North Park classroom, stopping once to reload, Burguan said. The rounds struck his wife and two children next to her, before Anderson turned the weapon on himself. Only one of the children survived. Burguan told reporters that there was no verification that the infidelity accusation was true. Smiths colleagues at North Park, where she had worked since 2015, only knew that she was a newlywed. She didnt mention that she had left her husband. She effectively kept her private life private, Burguan said. They were both adults and they had adult children, so its not like there were a lot of people who were truly engaged in their business. School employees did not realize anything was amiss when Anderson arrived at the campus Monday morning. Security camera footage shows him walking around the perimeter of the school, trying to open doors that were locked, before walking to the front office to check in, San Bernardino City Unified School District Supt. Dale Marsden said. An employee there recognized him as Smiths husband, Marsden said, and after asking him to sign in, allowed him to walk alone to her classroom, which is not uncommon for family members of teachers and other employees, he said. They knew nothing about the crisis they were in, Marsden said. There was no indication to anyone on staff that there was a potential threat. Smith died at the scene. Jonathan Martinez, 8, was airlifted to a hospital and died before entering surgery. A 9-year-old boy who was injured by gunfire was at Loma Linda Medical Center was listed in serious condition Tuesday morning. Authorities have not released his name. Marsden said counselors met with Jonathans parents on Tuesday. He said the boy had Williams syndrome, a rare congenital disorder. A makeshift memorial sprang up outside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, where a gunman opened fire on his estranged wife, a teacher at the school, and then killed himself. Stray bullets struck two students, killing one. Hours after the shooting Monday night, hundreds of people gathered at a Catholic church in San Bernardino on Monday night to mourn the victims. Sometimes all we can do is cry. And today is the day for that, said Bishop Gerald Barnes, of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Well get up again, well move on, well become stronger. But today is the day to cry, that we have come to such a state. The crowd came from all parts of San Bernardino. They included students who had been evacuated from their school; parents, teachers and volunteers who had rushed to Cajon High School in the afternoon to offer help; and longtime city residents who had watched yet another local tragedy play out on live television. Barnes recounted the horror of the day, while asking those gathered to look toward the good. To see eyes of the parents filled with terror and anxiety, waiting to see how their child was, to see the children running up to their parents, to see those hugs, one can only imagine what that was like, he said. Theres a goodness there. Theres a beauty there but we do cry, because innocent life was lost. Marsden offered condolences to the families of the victims. We want you to know that our hearts are broken, as yours are, and we are also looking to you and to each other as we begin today as the first step toward our healing together. Mayor R. Carey Davis said the shooting had affected the citys most vulnerable residents its children. Im sorry our students, parents and teachers have suffered these events, he said. But I find comfort in joining with you in prayer and hope for the families impacted. Later, after the mourners had gathered briefly outside, carrying candles and offering more prayers, Marsden urged parents to talk with their children about what had happened on Monday. We need to talk to them, we need to let them tell their stories, and more than once, he said. Grief counselors were on hand Tuesday to support students, parents and staff. As a result of this tragedy, North Park Elementary will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday and Del Vallejo Middle School will serve as a temporary location to provide counseling and support services to North Park staff members, parents and students on Tuesday and Wednesday, the school district said in a statement. The district attempted to reassure parents concerned about school safety, saying it was taking extra precautions to ensure all our schools are safe. A school shooting has left San Bernardino reeling from violence once again. (April 11, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR) The gunman, a 53-year-old Riverside resident, had a criminal history, including weapons charges and a domestic violence past that preceded his relationship with Smith, Burguan has told reporters. Los Angeles County Superior Court records show that Anderson was charged in July 2013 with assault and battery, brandishing a firearm and disturbing the peace. San Bernardino Police Lt. Mike Madden said Tuesday that Anderson had not been convicted of a criminal charge in Torrance however, and that it appeared it was lawful for him to own a firearm. Burguan said it was not uncommon for a person to be able to gain access to a campus to meet his or her spouse. Marsden said the schools staff followed entry procedures, including asking Anderson for identification. Anderson was known to the schools staff, he said. As with any policy, we want to take all things that we learned and revise any work that we do, Marsden said. Armed security officers are not assigned to any of the districts elementary schools, said Maria Garcia, a school district spokeswoman. But she described security on the North Park campus as very, very tight. Smiths mother, Irma Sykes, said her daughter and Anderson had been friends for about four years before getting married in January. A month after they moved in together, Anderson showed a different side to his personality and Smith decided she needed to leave him, Sykes said in a telephone interview. She said her daughter pursued a teaching career after raising four children. Smith earned a degree and teaching credentials at Cal State San Bernardino about a decade ago, Sykes said, because she had a passion for helping children with autism and learning disabilities. Rachel Valles son, second-grader Ethan Valles, was in Smiths class at North Park. He wasnt in school on Monday when the shooting happened, and his mother was at once relieved and devastated at the loss of her sons teacher and his classmate. I want to feel happy, she said. At the same time, Im heartbroken. Smith was a loving, dedicated and patient teacher, Valles said. When her son started her class this year, he had difficulty reading anything more than basic words, she said. But Smith was persistent in working with him. She offered students small prizes things like a balloon or a ball when they read 15 books, and Ethan thrived under her guidance, Valles said. Smith would describe to her how Ethans eyes lit up every time he learned a new word. She did so much for him, Valles said. I would ask her, How do you do it? veronica.rocha@latimes.com Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA ALSO Murder-suicide in San Bernardino classroom: He just shot everywhere She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all Teacher killed in classroom shooting was devoted to her students, mother says UPDATES: 1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan and details about the student who was killed. 11 a.m.: This article was updated with the condition of the surviving pupil. 9:45 a.m.: This article was updated with information on a Monday night vigil and comments from police. This article was originally published at 6:45 a.m. Lots of people were unhappy about the Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad including, it turns out, the San Francisco Police Department. In a behind the scenes video about the ad that was uploaded to Pepsis YouTube channel, the shot of Jenner handing the officer a Pepsi is shown from another angle. From there, you can see the emblem on his sleeve, which reads San Francisco Police and uses a facsimile of the departments logo. KENDALL JENNER: PEPSI AD MAY HAVE CROSSED LEGAL LINE With San Francisco PD https://t.co/nJvkRKuEdU Think SFPD will pursue this? Harvey Levin (@HarveyLevinTMZ) April 7, 2017 Advertisement According to the San Francisco city attorneys office, Pepsi did not ask permission before using the logo for the ad. Were demanding that Pepsi not run any footage or photos associated with this ad that reference the San Francisco Police Department. If they dont comply, we will explore all legal options, said San Francisco City Atty. Dennis Herrera in a statement. There is nothing San Franciscan about Pepsis ham-handed attempt here to fatten its own bottom line. The real San Francisco Police Department logo. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times) The behind the scenes video, along with the original ad, has disappeared from Pepsis website and YouTube channel. Pepsi released the commercial last week. Almost immediately, it became the object of scorn and mockery on the internet and late-night TV. Pepsi was accused of appropriating imagery from the Black Lives Matter movement and trivializing the confrontations between protesters and police. The next day, Pepsi issued a statement defending the ad. Hours later, the company changed course and pulled it. Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize, Pepsi said in a statement. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position. In the mean time, social media impressions for the brand jumped by more than 7,000%. One brand management expert estimated that the company has yielded $300 million to $400 million in publicity as a result of the outcry. jessica.roy@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @jessica_roy. The former leader of a small Native American tribe in Northern California was sentenced to death Monday for fatally shooting four people and trying to kill two others at a 2014 tribal meeting considering her eviction. Cherie Rhoades, 47, shook her head as she listened to Judge Candace Beason read the sentence during a three-hour hearing in Modoc County Superior Court, the Sacramento Bee reported. Beason rejected the option to modify a Placer County jurys death sentence to life in prison, calling the killings at the Cedarville Rancheria Tribal Headquarters intentional, premeditated and willful. Advertisement The Feb. 20, 2014, attack happened as the Cedarville Rancheria Tribal Council was meeting to consider Rhoades appeal of her eviction from tribal housing. She had been suspended as tribal chairwoman three weeks earlier, pending a federal investigation into allegations that she embezzled at least $50,000 from the tribe. Her brother Rurik Davis, 50, was serving as interim tribal chairman. During the hearing, Rhoades opened fire with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol, killing Davis, two other Tribal Council members and a tribal administrator, according to court documents. The slain council members included Rhoades 19-year-old niece, Angel Penn, who was holding her newborn on her lap when she was killed. The baby wasnt hurt and was placed with a family member. After running out of bullets, Rhoades grabbed a kitchen knife, police said. She was stabbing someone in the parking lot when officers arrested her, court documents said. In 2011, after Francisco Carrillo Jr. had spent 20 years in prison for a fatal drive-by shooting in Los Angeles County that he didnt commit, his conviction was overturned. News reports pointed in large part to the reliability of the witnesses, all of whom eventually recanted their identification of Carrillo who was 16 at the time of the killing and had consistently maintained his innocence or were deemed to have been unable to properly see the shooter. Carrillos experience is one of 2,000 such cases in the National Registry of Exonerations, an online database of wrongful convictions that have been overturned dating to 1989. Advertisement The registry is now being housed at UC Irvine, where it will become a resource for faculty and students studying the criminal justice system. The university was selected because of its concentration of faculty in the area of wrongful convictions. This university can really provide muscle to what is a still-developing group of cases, said Maurice Possley, senior researcher for the registry, which was created in 2012 as a joint project between the University of Michigan Law School and Northwestern Universitys Center on Wrongful Convictions. I tend to think this database can be one of the most influential factors for reform and change in the criminal justice system in many years. The purpose of the registry, Possley said, is to collect data on the causes of wrongful convictions which typically include mistaken witness identification, false confession, official misconduct, false or misleading forensic evidence, false accusation and inadequate legal defense in order to prevent them in the future. Such a large bank of empirical data, he said, offers support to researchers, activists and legislators who are seeking change to the criminal justice system. A March analysis of the registrys data, for example, found that African Americans make up a majority of innocent defendants wrongfully convicted of crimes and later exonerated. Innocent black defendants are about seven times more likely to be convicted of murder than innocent whites, the report found, and murder exonerations with black defendants were 22% more likely to include police misconduct. Simon Cole, director of the registry and UC Irvines Newkirk Center for Science and Society, said the database is being used for research across the university, from law to literary journalism. In addition, Cole and Possley teach an undergraduate course that shows students how to use the registry. Ive taught that class for a long time, and before we used the registry I would get the response, I didnt know any of this stuff. I didnt know that our justice system had these issues. I thought it worked perfectly, said Cole. I was always surprised at the number of students for whom this was totally new to them. Added Possley, a former journalist who lives in Laguna Beach: It gives them an appreciation of the work that goes into undoing a wrongful conviction. Its part of the fabric of the criminal justice system that you dont normally get exposed to. Carrillo, who now serves on the registry board, said the database helps people such as him understand that they are not alone. Its a place where you can go to realize your case isnt unique, he said. For those who need the extra layer of research, its great that its there, versus, Just take my word for it that Im innocent. But perhaps even more important, said Carrillo, who received a settlement of millions last July, is its potential for educating the public and potential jurors. In wrongful convictions, the jury at some point was misled, either by false testimony or bad evidence, he said. Its the unspoken piece that the jurors the public are the ones who are ultimately used to convict someone unjustly because they were misled. When youre selected, youre officially deputized to be part of the system, and the jury cant take the nonchalant position of, The professionals know what theyre doing, were just here. No, youre a key part of this. You have to think about it, and if you dont ask, if you dont speak up if theres a doubt, someones life could be ruined. Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil is a contributor to Times Community News. President Trumps proposed wall with Mexico will kick off in the San Diego border community of Otay Mesa, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Monday. The community is home to one of two border crossings in San Diego and will be the site where 20 chosen bidders will erect prototypes of the envisioned wall. Winners will be selected around June 1, the agency said. While funding for the massive infrastructure project is still not set, up to 450 companies submitted designs last week. The agencys bid said roughly 20 companies will be selected to build the prototypes 30 feet long and up to 30 feet high. Advertisement The models will be built on a roughly quarter-mile strip of federal land within 120 feet of the border, said a U.S. official with knowledge of the plans quoted by the Associated Press. Border Patrol spokesman Ralph DeSio did not say exactly where the construction will take place, saying only that it would occur in the Otay Mesa area. He added that plans were subject to change. Of the possible border locations in the region, building the prototypes near the Otay Mesa crossing makes the most sense because it allows companies to test out designs in a heavily trafficked area that still has room and flexibility, according to Eric Frost, director of San Diego State Universitys graduate program in homeland security. Frost, interviewed before the location was confirmed by the federal agency, said Otay Mesa would be a better place to start than the desert to the east or near a river often empty locales. A lot of trucks already use it, he said of the Otay Mesa crossing. You want to look at how they actually interact with the fence. Construction of the models, which will likely take place in June, may attract protesters, but law enforcement officials said they were committed to supporting 1st Amendment rights. As part of our community policing philosophy, we work closely with any party or group that wishes to express their views in a law-abiding manner, San Diego police spokesman Lt. Scott Wahl said in a statement. Officials declined to say if officers or deputies would be on site while the construction takes place, but made clear the location will be monitored by law enforcement agencies and Customs and Border Protection. Security was already an issue for companies bidding on the wall. In a Q&A on FedBizOpps, the federal contracts website, some bidders asked what would happen if employees came under attack during construction, if they could use firearms in states with stricter gun laws and if the government would provide legal assistance if they had to use deadly force. Customs and Border Protection officials said it would respond if needed to an attack, but that companies were responsible for their own security. The agency also would not waive state gun laws or provide legal support for deadly force. Beyond just prototypes, CNN said it reviewed documents revealing that wall construction could start in San Diego. The initial $999-million request would fund 14 miles of new wall along the citys border with Mexico, 28 miles of new levee wall barriers and six miles of new border wall in the Rio Grande Valley region. The request would also cover 14 miles of replacement fencing in San Diego, CNN said. Frost said San Diego would be a good place to start the wall, as opposed to Texas, where rivers and private property will likely complicate construction. Those locations are also a long way from resources needed for building. Youre not spending all your transportation out to nowhere, he said. Frost added the wall could be a benefit to both nations if, for example, it helps alleviate notoriously slow wait times for trucks crossing through Otay Mesa. He envisions an intelligent wall with sensors and wireless technology that can start tracking trucks before they reach a border guard, speeding up the process to move goods between the two nations. Theres a positive in here, if you can design a wall that works way better, Frost said. Funding for the wall has not been secured. Trump said during the election that Mexico would pay for the wall but has since sought out federal money. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday on ABCs This Week that in a recent meeting with Mexico Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray, they did not discuss Mexico paying for the wall. Phillip Molnar and Lyndsay Winkley write for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Karen Elaine Smith, the teacher killed in a shooting at a San Bernardino elementary school, was described as a caring teacher with a special affinity for working with students with learning disabilities. Smith and an 8-year-old boy were shot and killed Monday morning when the teachers husband opened fire inside a special-needs classroom before turning the gun on himself, police said. Cedric Anderson, 53, of Riverside entered a classroom at North Park Elementary School and shot Smith, 53. He did not speak and reloaded the weapon before shooting himself, police said. Advertisement Smiths mother, Irma Sykes, said her daughter and Anderson were friends for about four years before getting married in January. The couple first began living together once they got married, but their cohabitation at Smiths residence in Riverside lasted only about a month before Smith decided to pull away, Sykes said. She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all. He had other motives, Sykes said. She left him and thats where the trouble began. She broke up with him and he came out with a different personality. She decided she needed to leave him. She was going to divorce him. Sykes said she didnt want to describe the details of what Smith experienced in her relationship with Anderson before their breakup, choosing instead to focus on the memory of her daughter, who lived most of her life in Harbor City. She was a very fine person, Sykes said. She was a Christian. She loved the Lord and served Him, and she was a dedicated teacher. Sykes said Smith pursued a teaching career later in life after raising four children, who are now adults. Smith earned a degree and teaching credentials about a decade ago, she said, because she had a passion for helping children with autism and learning disabilities. She took after her mother, who was a teacher for 41 years. Los Angeles County Superior Court electronic records show Anderson was charged in July 2013 with assault and battery, brandishing a firearm and disturbing the peace in May of that year. Court records, however, show that the charges were dismissed on May 28, 2014. Najee Ali, a community activist in Los Angeles and executive director of Project Islamic Hope, said he knew Anderson as a pastor who attended community meetings in Southern California. ALSO Mommy, I still have blood on my sweater: Girl recounts deadly shooting in her classroom Search teams combing Mt. Baldy for hiker, 78, who climbed peak more than 700 times Former tribal leader in Northern California gets death penalty for 2014 killings Alma Soller McLay, the last surviving member of the U.S. team that prosecuted many of the highest-ranking Nazi war criminals at the famed trials in Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II, has died at the age of 97. McLay is credited with later helping compile the official U.S. record of the trials, a painstaking four-year task that resulted in a 12-volume collection that offered many Americans their first unvarnished look at the atrocities committed by the Nazis and Adolf Hitlers diabolic vision for rolling across the globe, enslaving and killing people as his troops advanced. A secretary by training, McLay was thrust onto the world stage at the age of 25 and asked to fulfill the role of documentarian for what would be the worlds first international criminal tribunal. Advertisement The Nuremberg trials became a postwar spectacle as 24 ranking Nazi officials were indicted for war crimes, conspiracy and crimes against humanity. Twelve were given death sentences, though one committed suicide and another was reportedly killed while trying to escape. The rest were hanged in a gymnasium near the courthouse. Most of the other defendants were given prison sentences. Hitler and several of his closest confidants had committed suicide at the end of the war. The U.S. prosecution was led by then-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, who hand-picked McLay to be part of his 18-person team. McLay had just returned to the Pentagon after a two-year government assignment in Alaska when she met Jackson at his home in Virginia. She later recalled that she was weary of traveling, but was immediately won over by the justices endearing personality. McLay later told her son Derek that she recalled asking Jackson about the swing set in his backyard. Do you have grandkids? she wondered. No, he said, the swing set was for him. Thats where I do my thinking. McLay traveled with Jacksons legal team in June of 1945 to London, where the U.S., England, France and Russia drew up the blueprint for the International Military Tribunal, which would weigh the evidence against the accused wartime criminals and, accordingly, hand down its punishments. For its era, the trial had shades of advanced technology. Testimony, questions, answers and even evidence was rapidly translated into four languages, which lawyers and others could listen to on headphones. A team of interpreters were housed in a soundproof glass box in the courtroom to handle the translations. The U.S. wrapped up its prosecution in early 1946, and Jackson, sensing that the documented record of the dramatic proceedings needed to begin immediately, sent Lt. Roger Barrett, a lead government attorney, and McLay back to Washington to start pulling together the record of what was transpiring at Nuremberg and the chilling evidence that had been unearthed. The facts in this circumstance are so horrific, no one would believe the facts unless they had access to the documents, Jackson reportedly said. John Q. Barrett, a law professor at St. Johns University in New York who is now writing a biography on Jackson, said McLay a working woman in a male-dominated bureaucracy likely never got the full credit she deserved for her work transcribing the testimony, often in various languages and in shorthand, and collating the evidence. When published, the collected volumes came to be known as the Nuremberg red set, which as the world was still trying to wrap its head around the barbarism that had been unleashed by the Nazis came to form the spine of the Holocaust, Barrett said. The government documents continue to be a much-used resource for researchers. This was, in real time, the story of the Third Reich and the horrors of the Holocaust, Barrett said. Born Alma Florence Soller on Dec. 28, 1919, McLay grew up on a chicken farm in Narrowsburg, N.Y. To help make ends meet, the family sold doughnuts from their farmhouse. McLay began work with the Department of Defense in 1941 and moved to Rancho Palos Verdes in 1954 with her husband, Stanley, an Air Force colonel. She retired from government work in 1984. McLay died Wednesday in Torrance. She is survived by her son Derek; a daughter, Alma; and three grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband and a son, Murdoch. steve.marble@latimes.com Twitter: @stephenmarble Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Russias Energy Ministry will soon start consultations with the Russian oil companies on extending the countrys participation in the OPEC deal, Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said. The decision on extending OPECs oil output cut deal depends on developments in the oil market in April and forecasts for May and June, TASS quoted Novak as saying at the Federation Council Apr. 11. The minister said that as a result of participation in the OPEC deal, the share of energy revenues in Russias budget increased from 38 percent to 50 percent in the first quarter of 2017. Russia will be able to reduce the daily oil production by 250,000 barrels by mid-April, added Novak. Russia agreed to cut its oil output by 300,000 barrels per day under the OPEC deal signed in Vienna. In December 2016, OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached their first deal since 2001 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices. Non-OPEC oil producers such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, and South Sudan agreed to reduce output by 558,000 barrels per day starting from Jan. 1, 2017 for six months, extendable for another six months. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from Jan. 1, with top exporter Saudi Arabia cutting as much as 486,000 barrels per day. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn The White House and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged heated charges Tuesday over last weeks poison gas attack in Syria, stoking fresh tensions as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow with demands that Russia withdraw support for the Syrian government. The Trump administration released a declassified intelligence report that it said provided evidence that Russias explanation for the deadly April 4 chemical attack was false and that Moscow engaged in a deliberate coverup to protect its embattled ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. I think its clear that the Russians are trying to cover up what happened there, said a White House official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss the four-page report. The Russian narrative is false. Advertisement U.S. intelligence officials have not concluded that the Russian military authorities knew in advance about the gas attack, and denied published reports to that effect. There is not a consensus on our side about Russian foreknowledge, the White House official said. The White House wants Russia to stop the disinformation campaign and work to prevent Assads forces from launching more chemical attacks, a second White House official said. At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis warned that Assads government would pay a very, very stiff price if it used chemical weapons again. Mattis said he could not say if the Russian government had played a role in the attack, which killed about 80 civilians, including children, and injured hundreds more. It was very clear the Assad regime planned it, orchestrated it and executed it, he said. Beyond that, we cant say right now. For his part, Putin criticized President Trumps decision to launch a retaliatory cruise missile strike Thursday on the Shayrat Airfield, the Syrian air base that the Pentagon says was used to launch the chemical assault. Putin called the airstrike a provocation designed to distract the public from Trumps problems, and suggested that the White House was planning other provocations in Syria, including near Damascus, that it would use to justify further U.S. attacks. He compared the Trump administrations analysis of the chemical attack to the faulty intelligence about weapons of mass destruction that the George W. Bush administration used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which Russia opposed. It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq, Putin told reporters Tuesday in Moscow. We have seen it all already. Tillersons one-day visit to Moscow, his first since taking office, initially was billed as following up on Trumps campaign promises to try to repair relations with Russia, and to capitalize on Tillersons personal ties to Putin from when the U.S. envoy headed Exxon Mobil. Although Trump has not spoken in public about a possible Russian role in the Syrian attacks, the latest high-level sparring and the FBI investigation into whether the Trump campaign cooperated with Russian intelligence agencies during the 2016 presidential race appeared to sink any chance of a thaw. Tillerson has repeatedly said since Thursday that Putins government was either complicit or incompetent because it failed to rid Syria of chemical weapons, as required under a 2013 agreement brokered by the United Nations with Russia as the guarantor. Tillerson told reporters Tuesday that he would urge Russian officials to drop support for Assad, Moscows most important Middle Eastern ally, and that he was confident Assad was on his way out much as Obama administration officials often predicted. I think it is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, Tillerson said at a G7 summit of industrialized nations in Lucca, Italy, before he left for Moscow. But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important, in our view, to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria. Tillerson said he would argue that Russia is isolating itself by joining forces, at least tacitly, with Iran and its militant proxy Hezbollah in the Syrian war. Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russias interest, or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis? he asked. Tillerson will not be able to threaten new international sanctions against Russia. The Group of Seven colloquially known as the G7 could not agree on adding sanctions after Italy and Germany raised objections. We must have dialogue with Russia, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said. We must not push Russia into a corner. In their final communique, the G7 members called for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate the gas attack. They also urged Russia to change its attitude and help resolve the conflict and restore a stable and unified Syria. Tillerson is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday. Though it is customary for Putin to meet with visiting U.S. secretaries of State, the Kremlin said Monday that the president will not receive Tillerson. In his Senate confirmation hearing, Tillerson said cutting multibillion-dollar oil deals in Russia when he headed Exxon Mobil had taught him how Putin operated, how he thinks and what makes him act. In the briefing Tuesday, U.S. officials gave their first theory about Syrias alleged motivation for using chemical agents. They said Syrian rebels were close to capturing a strategic airfield, near the government-held city of Hama, that Assads forces relied on to attack rebel positions across central Syria. U.S. officials believe that threat may have prompted Assads forces to use gas against villagers in Khan Sheikhoun, about 20 miles from Hama. There was a calculus that the regime and perhaps their Russian advisors made to use chemical agents as part of a defensive strategy, a White House official said, noting that Assads military forces were spread quite thin. The newly released U.S. intelligence report says a Russian-built, Syrian piloted Su-22 fixed-wing aircraft took off from Shayrat Airfield and dropped the nerve gas on Khan Sheikhoun about 6:55 a.m. It adds that personnel historically associated with Syrias chemical weapons program were at the airfield in late March to help prepare an attack, and were present again on April 4. Russian troops and aircraft were deployed at the northern edge of the base, but the report does not say if they were present that day. It also does not say if U.S. officials believe Assads forces hid the lethal toxic agent from U.N. monitors in 2013, or if they had secretly prepared a new batch. It dismisses Russian and Syrian claims that a conventional bomb had struck a chemical weapons stockpile used by rebel forces, and that the rebels then had fabricated evidence including grisly videos posted to social media shortly after the attack to blame Assads forces. Doing so would have required a highly organized campaign to deceive multiple media outlets and human rights organizations while evading detection, it says. It accuses Moscow of concocting multiple, conflicting accounts in order to create confusion and sow doubt within the international community. U.S. officials also fought back against suggestions that the U.S. missile strike was largely symbolic. They said it destroyed 23 Syrian aircraft, although Syrian planes still were able to use the two runways shortly after the U.S. attack. After the U.S. attack, Russia said it would suspend a special telephone hotline set up to prevent U.S. and Russian warplanes from colliding or accidentally firing upon each other in the skies over Syria, where both are conducting bombing missions. The Pentagon has refused to say if the so-called de-confliction line was shut down, however. Col. John Thomas, spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, told reporters Monday that were going to make sure that we maintain the best possible communication in the airspace to keep it safe. tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter Times staff writer W.J. Hennigan in Washington and special correspondents Mansur Mirovalev in Moscow and Christina Boyle in London contributed. ALSO U.S. missile strike in Syria dashes hope of improving ties with Russia President Trump sees pushback from far-right supporters over U.S. airstrike in Syria Syrian villagers near U.S. missile strike know the sound of battle but never as horrific as this UPDATES: 4:13 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes from the White House, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis, along with other additional information. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions has directed federal prosecutors in the states bordering Mexico to crack down harder on migrants who repeatedly enter the country illegally. A memorandum made public Tuesday morning orders each of the five federal Southwest border districts spanning California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to appoint a border security coordinator to oversee the investigation and prosecution of migrants under the new policy. For those that continue to seek improper and illegal entry into this country, be forewarned: This is a new era. This is the Trump era, Sessions said Tuesday in a speech at the Nogales port of entry in Arizona. Advertisement The crime of improper entry by a migrant is currently a misdemeanor. Under the new policy, it will be prosecuted as a felony for migrants who already have two such misdemeanor convictions or for those with one conviction if there are aggravating circumstances, such as gang affiliation. Speaking to a group of Customs and Border Protection agents in his first trip to the border as the nations top prosecutor, Sessions portrayed the new policy as a move aimed at preventing drug cartel workers from entering the country. Cartels are criminal organizations that turn cities and suburbs into war zones, that rape and kill innocent citizens, and who profit by smuggling poison and other human beings across our borders, he said. But immigrant advocacy groups criticized the new policy for what they said amounted to targeting migrants who pose no threat to U.S. citizens. Once again, Atty. Gen. Sessions is scaring the public by linking immigrants to criminals despite studies showing that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than the native born, said Gregory Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Assn. He and President Trump are wasting more federal taxpayer dollars going after illegal border crossers instead of protecting the American public. Advocates of reducing immigration and strengthening the borders hailed the new policy. The strategy is to enforce the laws, and these are crimes that should be prosecuted, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies. Adding the emphasis on entry or reentry is what a lawful society calls for. The policy is part of a broader plan to toughen immigration laws and speed deportations, said David Lapan, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. You have individuals being caught here unlawfully who are issued notices to appear two years down the road, he said. The goal is a surge of more judges to the border area to try to shorten those waits, he said. Sessions had already called for immigration courts to speed up prosecutions and for the Justice Department to hire 75 more immigration judges, along with 60 more border enforcement prosecutors. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is moving forward with plans to build a border wall that would require Congress to appropriate billions of dollars. This is no accident, Sessions told the federal agents. This is what happens when you have a president who understands the threat, who is not afraid to publicly identify the threat and stand up to it. He also said that having relatives in the country legally was no protection from deportation. He was responding to a question from a reporter about Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, 36, who had been convicted of using false work papers and was suddenly deported in February despite having two teenage children who were U.S. citizens. Just because a child or family member enters the country lawfully doesnt mean someone else cant enter unlawfully, Sessions said, For 20 years in the Senate, including a recent stint as chairman of the Judiciary Committees immigration panel, Sessions was among the loudest voices opposing illegal immigration and programs for guest workers. In his confirmation hearings to become attorney general, he faced harsh opposition from Democrats who questioned his record on civil rights. His trip to the border was his first as the nations top prosecutor. He was scheduled to continue his Arizona tour on Tuesday in the city of Litchfield Park at the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police Division Midyear Conference, followed by a tour of Luke Air Force Base. Staff Writer Joseph Tanfani contributed to this report from Washington. Follow Nigel Duara on Twitter: @nigelduara nigel.duara@latimes.com UPDATES: 7:06 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Sessions and background on the new policy of prosecuting improper entry into the U.S. as a felony. This article was originally published at 4:45 p.m. David Dao, a Kentucky physician who touched off a national debate over airline overbooking policies Monday when he was dragged off a United Airlines flight, was still recovering in the hospital Tuesday after suffering injuries from the incident, according to a Kentucky television station that spoke to him. Dao told WLKY-TV that he was not doing well and that he was still in a hospital in Chicago. When asked what his injuries were, he said everything, the station reported. In a statement, one of his attorneys, Stephen L. Golan, said Daos family was appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received and said they would not make any further statements until he is released. Advertisement Dao had boarded a United flight from Chicago to Louisville that the airline had overbooked. When flight staff chose four passengers to get off the plane to make room for United employees, Dao refused, saying that he was a doctor who needed to go back home to see patients. The airline summoned police, who dragged a shrieking Dao out of his seat and off the plane. Footage of the incident, taken by passengers, many of whom were distraught over Daos treatment, later showed Dao with a bloody face. The incident has sparked criticism of United Airlines handling of the incident. United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz initially said Dao, whom the airline did not publicly identify, was disruptive and belligerent when airline employees told him he would have to relinquish his seat because the flight was overbooked. But as criticism mounted on Tuesday, Munoz issued another statement saying Dao had been mistreated and added, I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. Little is known about Dao or why he was so adamant about remaining on the flight, leading news organizations to probe his history. The Louisville Courier-Journal and other news organizations reported Monday that Dao had previously been convicted of six felonies related to his medical practice in 2004, in which he was accused of illegally prescribing painkillers to a patient in exchange for sex. He was given five years of supervised probation. Dao surrendered his medical license in 2005, and applied for reinstatement, telling regulators it was a matter of family honor. In a 2014 letter, his attorney described Dao as a grandfather, an active participant in his local church who supports an organization that helps the homeless in his community, Elizabethtown, Ky. According to publicly available state licensing records reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, Dao has a history of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, for which he has received treatment. A 2011 psychological evaluation of Dao concluded that he lacked the foundation to navigate difficult situations, both inter-personally and in a complex profession. That evaluation also said Dao has struggled with poor decision-making and a lack of awareness around his personality and relational issues. The records said Dao had been previously cited by a hospital in the 2000s for disruptive conduct and was ordered to seek evaluation for anger management issues. In 2002, another doctor wrote that Dao sometimes unilaterally chose to do his own thing. But another psychological evaluation administered in 2013 concluded that Dao emotionally was free of debilitating anxiety, depression, or psychological turmoil to the extent that it would affect his ability to function in activities of daily living or manage the practice of medicine. Regulators cleared Dao to return to medical practice in 2015, in which he was initially restricted to working one day a week, supervised by another doctor. The Times has been unable to reach Dao for his version of events. The Chicago Department of Aviation suspended an officer involved in the incident, the handling of which was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure, the department said in a statement. The department did not respond to The Times requests for the officers name and service history. matt.pearce@latimes.com Twitter: @mattdpearce ALSO United fiasco shows airlines power over passengers and how it might change United passenger threatened with handcuffs to make room for higher-priority traveler In China, the United Airlines incident unleashes frustration about treatment of Asians in America UPDATES: 2:25 p.m.: The story was updated with a statement from Daos attorney. This story was originally published at 1:35 p.m. Efforts in Congress to protect gay men and lesbians from discrimination in the workplace have languished for years. But last week a federal appeals court in Chicago ruled that Congress already has made such discrimination illegal. That may sound like an audacious conclusion, but its the correct one. In an 8-3 ruling, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals held that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which bans job discrimination on the basis of sex, must also be read to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The court ruled that Kimberly Hively, a part-time community college professor in Indiana, could pursue her claim that she was denied a full-time job because she was a lesbian. In 1964, when Congress enacted Title VII, few if any members of Congress were thinking about discrimination against gay men and lesbians. The modern gay rights movement was in its infancy. But Chief Judge Diane Wood, writing for the majority, made a persuasive case that sex discrimination includes not just discrimination based on gender, but also discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Her legal analysis should be endorsed by the Supreme Court, which likely will have the final say on this issue. Advertisement First, Wood noted, that in the years since 1964, Title VII has been understood to cover far more than the simple decision of an employer not to hire a woman for Job A, or a man for Job B. The Supreme Court has held that the prohibition against sex discrimination covers sexual harassment in the workplace, including same-sex workplace harassment; it covers discrimination based on actuarial assumptions about a persons longevity; and it covers discrimination based on a persons failure to conform to a certain set of gender stereotypes. It is quite possible that these interpretations may also have surprised some who served in the 88th Congress. Among the Supreme Court decisions Wood cited, one stands out: a 1998 case called Oncale vs. Sundowner Offshore Services. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a male oil-rig worker who alleged that he had been the target of sexually oriented touching and rape threats from male co-workers. The majority opinion in that case acknowledged that when Congress enacted Title VII, male-on-male sexual harassment in the workplace was assuredly not the principal evil Congress was concerned with. Thats an understatement. But the court added that statutory prohibitions often go beyond the principal evil to cover reasonably comparable evils, and it is ultimately the provisions of our laws rather than the principal concerns of our legislators by which we are governed. The author of that majority opinion, some will be surprised to learn, was the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Scalia was renowned for subscribing to the notion that legal documents should be construed based on their text and original meaning a philosophy also attributed to the justice who was sworn in to replace Scalia this week, Neil Gorsuch. Yet Scalia had no difficulty recognizing that a law against sex discrimination could cover situations not anticipated by the members of Congress who enacted it. The dissenters in last weeks decision argued that extending Title VIIs ban on sex discrimination to discrimination against gay men and lesbians took flexible interpretation too far. Judge Diane S. Sykes (who, like Gorsuch, appeared on a list of potential Supreme Court nominees released by the Donald Trump campaign last year), noted that when Congress wanted to target discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation it knew how to do so. For example, she noted, the Violence Against Women Act prohibits funded programs and activities from discriminating on the basis of both sex and sexual orientation. But Wood convincingly countered that the law often protects the same interests in several different ways, what lawyers call a belt and suspenders approach. She also noted that some members of Congress may have been influenced by the fact that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency responsible for enforcing Title VII, announced in 2015 that it regarded discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as a violation of Title VII. This page long has supported efforts in Congress to enact legislation making it explicit that it is illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. But if the Supreme Court were to rule that such protection is afforded by Title VII, that would be an acceptable alternative path to justice. The 7th Circuit has shown the way. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook The best way to refute the arguments that War on Cops author Heather Mac Donald makes in her book about policing in America is to read it and systematically dissect her assertions point by point. A decent backup plan might be to attend one of her campus lectures like the one she delivered last week at Claremont-McKenna College by live stream after protesters blocked the entrance of the hall at which she was speaking and subject her statements to pointed questioning and critique. Instead, the approximately 250 protesters whittled even shallower arguments into shouted slogans that they paired with a display of brute force, declaring in essence that there was no debate to be had, because they had already done all the thinking and drawn all the conclusions and no one else need inquire into the issue. Thats an assertion, and those are tactics, that would be frighteningly familiar to anyone who has suffered under a populist but repressive dictator. The only thing that was shut down was tough questioning of the sort that Mac Donald encountered at a recent talk at UCLA. Advertisement Its also a laughably dated approach, as if the protesters were shutting down a campus speaker sometime in the early 1990s, before cellphone cameras, live streaming and social media. Those no-longer-new technologies allowed Mac Donalds talk to proceed and to be heard then or later by anyone who cared to listen. The only thing that was shut down was tough questioning of the sort that Mac Donald encountered at a recent talk at UCLA. The Claremont protesters, in other words, silenced their own arguments but not Mac Donalds. In fact, they gave her significant free publicity that she otherwise would not have received. It was also a tacit admission of intellectual defeat an admission by the protesters that they lacked the intellectual heft, or at least the courage, to challenge on their merits Mac Donalds assertions that crime poses a bigger threat to African Americans than police abuse, and that police are undeservedly branded racist for doing a necessary and dangerous job. Thats disturbing in part because because while so much of Mac Donalds argument is somewhat shallow, there is a grain of it that holds up. African Americans are indeed disproportionately the targets not just of institutional racism but of violent crime. And few police officers are likely outright racial bigots, or at least no more so than society at large; indeed, abuses alleged against police in cities from Los Angeles to Baltimore focus on officers and victims of all races, so the argument that police misconduct is a function of racist cops is simplistic at best. Police are called on to do the largely thankless work of a society that continues to struggle simply to recognize, let alone purge, the racial attitudes and disparities structured into American life. But to turn those basic truths into an argument against criticizing police behavior and against criminal justice reform, as Mac Donald does along with, apparently, President Trump and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions is over-simplification at its worst. Its an argument that needs to be refuted, passionately, persuasively, intellectually. It should not be merely shut down by sloganeers. It is a common assertion of the American right that college campuses, once vigorous defenders of free and open debate, have become zones of political correctness in which dissent from the prevailing views will not be brooked. That critique too often rings true, as was the case Friday at Claremont McKenna. Protesters insulted the 1st Amendment by preventing students from hearing Mac Donald speak. In an era in which the president is criticized (and rightly so) for selecting facts to suit his narrative while ignoring others, it is disturbing to see similar tactics employed by students on college campuses, even when especially when they are employed to press the other side of the debate. As was the case with the violent protests that shut down an appearance by right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos at U.C. Berkeley in February, and controversial author Charles Murray at Middlebury College in March, the events Thursday at Claremont McKenna College undermine the free and open debate essential to democratic government. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Since the election, liberals have been accused of living in an elite bubble. Hillary Clinton voters, supposedly, do not understand the rest of the country; they must get outside their comfort zone and embrace the real America. Its becoming increasingly clear, though, that if anyone is living in a bubble, its the Trump administration. Inside that bubble are white people, narrowly defined. And outside it is everyone else. Whenever circumstances force them to venture outside the bubble, they fumble and gasp for air. On Tuesday, the Justice Department circulated prepared remarks by Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions that referred to criminal immigrants as filth. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, for his part, claimed that not even Hitler had used chemical weapons, as Syrian President Bashar Assad did last week. Later he clarified that Hitler had not used chemical weapons against his own people the same way as Assad, but had instead sent his victims to Holocaust centers. Advertisement These incidents the first offensive to immigrants, the second to Jews are not entirely equivalent, but theyre symptomatic of the same problem. Perhaps realizing that the word filth was going to result in pushback, Sessions left it out of his address on the U.S. Mexico border. Still his remarks used apocalyptic, dehumanizing rhetoric. Referring to criminal immigrants, he said, Depravity and violence are their calling cards, including brutal machete attacks and beheadings. Thats frightening language coming from the nations top lawyer. Now more than ever, Republicans compulsively draw distinctions between true Americans and untrustworthy outsiders merely pretending to be Americans. Spicers comments, on the other hand, seemed mostly animated by confusion and ignorance. Holocaust centers isnt a neo-Nazi dog-whistle; its just a phrase that pops out of your mouth when you have no idea what youre talking about. The claim that Hitler didnt use poison gas is nonsensical check any history textbook to learn about the gas chambers. The press secretarys confusion was telling, though. Stumbling about in the vast empty reaches of his mind, Spicer sought to distinguish Hitler and Assad, presumably in an effort to justify Trumps decision to bomb Syria. What Spicer came up with was a distinction based on nationality; Assad gassed his own people, Hitler gassed the Jews. While it is true that many of the Jews that Hitler gassed were not German, some of them were. Of course Hitler did not consider them to be Germans because he was a racist, genocidal monster. American press secretaries, as a rule of thumb, should avoid cosigning Hitler where possible. The Anne Frank Center characterized Spicers remarks as Holocaust denial. Critics on the right no doubt believe that its only fair to forgive and forget Spicers seemingly unintentional embrace of Nazi racial nationalism. But we shouldnt let Spicer off so easy: Racial nationalism was, after all, the foundation of his boss campaign. Now more than ever, Republicans compulsively draw distinctions between true Americans and untrustworthy outsiders merely pretending to be Americans. Donald Trump built his candidacy on white identity and on excluding as many people as possible from that identity. Trump said an American judge was untrustworthy because of his Mexican heritage. He promised to ban Muslim people from entering the U.S. And, of course, he pledged to build a wall on the southern border to keep out what Sessions speechwriter would call filth. Trump deliberately and even obsessively positioned himself as the candidate for white people. His message was that America would be great again for white people. After the election, he publicly celebrated the fact that black people had not come out to vote in large numbers. Those comments were addressed, obviously, to white voters. When Trump and his entourage try to speak to nonwhite voters or marginalized people, they do it clumsily, like people who have no practice and dont want to be there anyway. Trumps infamous Cinco de Mayo taco bowl message is one grotesque example, but there are many others. Spicers Holocaust centers is only the most recent (as of publication time). Behind all such comments including the Holocaust centers gaffe and the filth aside is white identity politics. Trump and his cronies do not feel like they need to represent, or speak to, or understand all Americans, much less their histories. Trump was slow to condemn bomb threats on Jewish community centers because he resented the suggestion that white people might be abusers rather than the abused; he did not want to be forced to identify with Jews. He was gleeful when it turned out that the perpetrators were a black man and an Israeli teen more of those people. Such comments are an indication of who Trumps administration values and of what imagined community they see themselves as speaking to and for. Trump, by inclination and deliberate choice, is president of white people. Jews, Hispanics, black people, immigrants, Muslims the Trump administration will condescend to them, or attack them, or deport them, or target them for violence depending on circumstances. But the only people Trump and his representatives feel accountable to are in the white bubble. Its not surprising that those are also the only people they know how to talk to. Noah Berlatsky is the author of Corruption: American Political Films. He is writing a series on fascism in film at Splice Today. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook MORE FROM OPINION Bias against gay people is sex discrimination Syria strike aftermath: Theres a new sheriff in town, but what does he want? Whats the most dangerous country in the world to be female? I know firsthand KABUL, AFGHANISTAN I was born in Kabul, raised in Pakistan and returned home after the fall of the Taliban to work in what is now the most dangerous country in the world to be female. My parents generation had much more freedom than I and the other girls in my family did, and the downward trend continues. Young girls today are even more limited in their choices than I was. In Afghanistan, 60% of us are forcibly married by age 16. Only 15% of our girls are educated, and fatwas have been issued in some regions banning girls from going to school at all. Women and girls are punished for any immoral act that brings shame to the family, including elopement or perceived sexual misconduct. Acid attacks, stoning, rape and murder are all deemed acceptable punishments when a mans honor has been threatened. Invasions by Russia and the United States, alongside the ever-present threat of the Taliban and other groups, has meant that Afghan girls and women are in danger both inside and outside our homes. And the situation is only getting worse. Women who try to change the system by entering politics are particularly at risk of being targeted with violence. There is almost nowhere safe for us to go, and when we try to make things better, we put our lives at risk. Advertisement There is almost nowhere safe for us to go, and when we try to make things better, we put our lives at risk. Since unlike so many others Ive had the benefit of an education, Ive put my privilege to use by working for an Afghan womens group that runs an emergency womens shelter in Kabul. We provide a refuge for women and girls fleeing sexual or domestic violence. Zarmina is one of the many girls who have sought our assistance. Now 14, she was only 2 years old when her mother sold her off to a 22-year-old Taliban member. Four years ago, he forced her to move in with him. Between then and last September, when she came to the shelter, Zarmina was given food only once a day and was raped on a regular basis. When we met her, she was ill and deeply traumatized. We helped her get urgent medical treatment and support in the shelter. She soon went back to school, but with nobody else to support her, Zarmina is dependent on us. If she returns to her village, the Taliban will stone her to death. Another girl, Mah Jabin, was 10 years old when she was handed over to a man who beat and raped her over the course of three years. In despair, she poured a gallon of gasoline over herself and lit a match. Her mother found her just in time and put the flames out. She spent a month in the hospital with life-threatening burns and lived with us for a year under continuous medical treatment. We helped her get a divorce and a warrant was issued for her husbands arrest. She is now also back at school. These are just two of the roughly 200 cases that we take on every single year. Every instance of injustice and violence is shocking, but the world is now more likely to see atrocities as part of a seemingly never-ending war the longest in U.S. history which was supposed to liberate women but did no such thing. War cant liberate us, but our lack of liberation can certainly lead to war. Theres a direct link between the civil unrest we have dealt with in Afghanistan for several decades and what happens inside Afghan homes. As Valerie Hudson writes in Sex and World Peace, the greatest predictor of whether a nation goes to war is the level of violence against women in that country. We need a new, wholistic approach to peace, one which meaningfully includes women in government positions and in active decision-making on the countrys future and one which acknowledges the connection between violence inside and outside of the home. Until that happens, Ill need to keep the shelter running. Najia Karimi is executive director of the Humanitarian Assistance for the Women and Children of Afghanistan, a partner of the global womens group Donor Direct Action. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook. MORE FROM OPINION My phone was searched at LAX, which apparently is the new normal Why a moms Facebook warning about human traffickers hurts sex-trafficked kids Scott Pruitt undermines the EPA with anti-scientific ignorance To the editor: The crisis in Syria reminds us all, including President Trump, of the tremendous weight of the American presidency. (Syria crisis tests Trumps plan for a new world order, April 7) Seeing pictures of Syrian children gassed by their own leader prompted the president to retaliate with a missile attack. Whether this was the right thing to do remains to be seen. Was it a noble and strong warning to Bashar Assad that we will not tolerate this cruelty? Or will it spur further attacks on innocent Syrians? Will the United States respond to further acts of violence? This is not easy. As the debates over healthcare and immigration and now the strike against Syria show, the person who holds this office bears the weight of millions of human lives. This is not about winning, as there is much more at stake here than money. Advertisement Christina Gilmore, San Diego .. To the editor: Exactly what do we call the mass murder of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children? Would anyone morally responsible consider the genocide of the Syrian people the right of a sovereign state? I can only speak for myself when I say is it difficult to look at Assads smiling face in the news when he bombs and gases his own people. It is equally disturbing to hear his most important ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, describe the strike in a Syrian air base as an act of aggression against a sovereign state in violation of the norms of international law. Barbara Porter, Palm Desert .. To the editor: I am neither an isolationist nor a pacifist , yet I am appalled by the generally positive reaction to Trumps action of firing cruise missiles at the Syrian military base. Has this country still not learned the hard lesson that its much easier getting into a war than getting out? Isnt it clear that we have a narcissist president who may take aggressive military action just to garner positive reviews? Heaven help us when his unformed foreign policy, subject to impulsive action, turns to such dangerous conundrums as North Korea. Daniel Hennessy, Arcadia .. To the editor: When will we see the same concern for children and other civilians who were killed in a U.S.-led air strike in Mosul last month? Innocent people were killed there too, and by our own planes, but we see no crocodile tears from Trump over them. Joyce Hargreaves, Redondo Beach Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Immigration and Customs Enforcement is suspending a recently adopted practice of reporting cities that dont cooperate with federal detention efforts after the first few reports were plagued by errors. The new policy, an attempt to pressure cities and counties that refuse to hold people in the country illegally for immigration agents, was a priority for President Trump. Last month, Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions promised to push back against these sanctuary cities, possibly by denying them federal funds and using other methods of pressure. The weekly declined detainer reports by ICE were supposed to be a first step, focusing attention on jurisdictions that were releasing immigrants from jail or after arrest. Advertisement But the plan didnt go smoothly. In some cases, ICE mixed up names, confusing Franklin counties in Iowa, New York and Pennsylvania, said David Lapan, chief spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. In other cases, the detainees had already been picked up by ICE, or had never been released in the first place. The reports were suspended after two weeks. There have been some data processing errors, and some other issues, Lapan told reporters on Tuesday. We want to make sure we look at this holistically and make sure we are getting this as accurate as possible. The department still intends to let the public know which jurisdictions have policies that do not assist ICE in its mission, he said, adding that he didnt know when the reports would resume. Under the Obama administration, a program called Secure Communities enlisted local police as partners in immigration enforcement. But there was a backlash after immigrants were detained and deported after minor violations like traffic tickets. And some court rulings have questioned the legality of police or jails continuing to hold someone without due process. One immigration rights advocate said the pullback points out the flaws in the new get-tough policy. One of the fundamental problems with what the attorney general and President Trump are trying to do is to mobilize a massive deportation task force by shaming and pressuring states and cities, said Gregory Chen, director of advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Assn. The fact that the federal government has had to pull back and apologize is a perfect example of how the federal government is overreaching here. Another point of contention: Just what does it mean to be a sanctuary city? Some cities that wont honor detainers still work with ICE, by letting the agency know when someone is about to be released. One of them is Franklin County in south central Pennsylvania, which landed on the uncooperative list after ICE said the county jail was not honoring requests to hold five prisoners. We looked at the information we had and it didnt match up with the information in the report, said David Keller, chairman of the county commission. They said, yeah, the information is not correct, and we apologize. They created the impression we were not cooperating, we were releasing people to the street that they were interested in, and that just wasnt accurate, he said. Keller says his county jail sends a list of prisoners to an ICE office every day, and the agency picks up three to four of the countys prisoners per month. I personally think thats a good thing. We need to have rule of law, he said. But Keller says Franklin County, like about 20 others in Pennsylvania, will not honor ICE requests to hold someone for 48 hours after their scheduled release date. In 2008, a U.S. citizen was mistakenly held for three days in Allentown, Pa., after a mistaken detainer request. He sued and received settlements of about $150,000. We try to protect our citizens from unnecessary liability, Keller said. joseph.tanfani@latimes.com Twitter: @jtanfani Records show ex-Trump campaign chief Paul Manaforts firm received payout from Ukraine ledger under investgation Last August, a handwritten ledger surfaced in Ukraine with dollar amounts and dates next to the name of Paul Manafort, who was then chairman of Donald Trumps presidential campaign. Ukrainian investigators called it evidence of off-the-books payments from a pro-Russian political party and part of a larger pattern of corruption under the countrys former president. Manafort, who worked for the party as an international political consultant, has publicly questioned the ledgers authenticity. Now, financial records newly obtained by the Associated Press confirm that at least $1.2 million in payments listed in the ledger next to Manaforts name were actually received by his consulting firm in the United States. They include payments in 2007 and 2009, providing the first evidence that Manaforts firm received at least some money listed in the so-called Black Ledger. The two payments came years before Manafort became involved in Trumps campaign, but for the first time bolster the credibility of the ledger. They also put the ledger in a new light, as federal prosecutors in the U.S. have been investigating Manaforts work in Eastern Europe as part of a larger anti-corruption probe. Separately, Manafort is also under scrutiny as part of congressional and FBI investigations into possible contacts between Trump associates and Russias government under President Vladimir Putin during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. The payments detailed in the ledger and confirmed by the documents obtained by the AP are unrelated to the 2016 presidential campaign and came years before Manafort worked as Trumps unpaid campaign chairman. In a statement to the AP, Manafort did not deny that his firm received the money but said any wire transactions received by my company are legitimate payments for political consulting work that was provided. I invoiced my clients and they paid via wire transfer, which I received through a U.S. bank. Manafort noted that he agreed to be paid according to his clients preferred financial institutions and instructions. Previously, Manafort and his spokesman, Jason Maloni, have maintained that the ledger was fabricated and said no public evidence existed that Manafort or others received payments recorded in it. The AP, however, identified in the records two payments received by Manafort that aligned with the ledger: one for $750,000 that a Ukrainian lawmaker said last month was part of a money-laundering effort that should be investigated by U.S. authorities. The other was $455,249 and also matched a ledger entry. The newly obtained records also expand the global scope of Manaforts financial activities related to his Ukrainian political consulting, because both payments came from companies once registered in the Central American country of Belize. Last month, the AP reported that the U.S. government has examined Manaforts financial transactions in the Mediterranean country of Cyprus as part of its probe. Federal prosecutors have been looking into Manaforts work for years as part of an effort to recover Ukrainian assets stolen after the 2014 ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who fled to Russia. No charges have been filed as part of the investigation. Manafort, a longtime Republican political operative, led the presidential campaign from March until August last year when Trump asked him to resign. The resignation came after a tumultuous week in which the New York Times revealed that Manaforts name appeared in the Ukraine ledger although the newspaper said at the time that officials were unsure whether Manafort actually received the money and after the AP separately reported that he had orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation until 2014 on behalf of Ukraines pro-Russian Party of Regions. Officials with the Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau, which is investigating corruption under Yanukovich, have said they believe the ledger is genuine. But they have previously noted that they have no way of knowing whether Manafort received the money listed next to his name. The bureau said it is not investigating Manafort because he is not a Ukrainian citizen. Still, Manaforts work continues to draw attention in Ukrainian politics. Last month, Ukrainian lawmaker Serhiy Leshchenko revealed an invoice bearing the letterhead of Manaforts namesake company, Davis Manafort, that Leshchenko said was crafted to conceal a payment to Manafort as a purchase of 501 computers. The AP provided to Manafort the amounts of the payments, dates and number of the bank account where they were received. Manafort told the AP that he was unable to review his own banking records showing receipt of the payments because his bank destroyed the records after a standard seven-year retention period. He said Tuesday the computer sales contract is a fraud. The signature is not mine, and I didnt sell computers, he said in a statement. What is clear, however, is individuals with political motivations are taking disparate pieces of information and distorting their significance through a campaign of smear and innuendo. Leshchenko said last month the 2009 invoice was one of about 50 pages of documents, including private paperwork and copies of employee-issued debit cards, that were found in Manaforts former Kiev office by a new tenant. The amount of the invoice $750,000 and the payment date of Oct. 14, 2009, matches one entry on the ledger indicating payments to Manafort from the Party of Regions. The invoice was addressed to Neocom Systems Ltd., a company formerly registered in Belize, and included the account and routing numbers and postal address for Manaforts account at a branch of Wachovia National Bank in Alexandria, Va. The AP had previously been unable to independently verify the $750,000 payment went to a Manafort company, but the newly obtained financial records reflect Manaforts receipt of that payment. The records show that Davis Manafort received the amount from Neocom Systems the day after the date of the invoice. Leshchenko contended to AP that Yanukovich, as Ukraines leader, paid Manafort money that came from his governments budget and was stolen from Ukrainian citizens. He said: Money received by Manafort has to be returned to the Ukrainian people. Leshchenko said U.S. authorities should investigate what he described as corrupt deals between Manafort and Yanukovich. Its about a U.S. citizen and money was transferred to a U.S. bank account, he said. A $455,249 payment in November 2007 also matches the amount in the ledger. It came from Graten Alliance Ltd., a company that had also been registered in Belize. It is now inactive. The AP reported last month that federal prosecutors are looking into Manaforts financial transactions in Cyprus, an island nation once known as a favored locale for money laundering. Among those transactions was a $1-million payment in October 2009 routed through the Bank of Cyprus. The money was deposited into an account controlled by a Manafort-linked company, then left the account on the same day, broken into two disbursements of $500,000, according to documents obtained by the AP. The records of Manaforts Cypriot transactions were requested by the U.S. Treasury Department Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which works internationally with agencies to track money laundering and the movement of illicit funds around the globe. Dozens of Ukrainian political figures mentioned in the Black Ledger are under investigation in Ukraine. The anti-corruption bureau, which has been looking into the Black Ledger, publicly confirmed the authenticity of the signature of one top official mentioned there. In December, the bureau accused Mykhaylo Okhendovsky of receiving more than $160,000 from Party of Regions officials in 2012, when he was Ukraines main election official. The bureau said it would identify more suspects in the coming months. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr. 11 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Ashgabat hosted a meeting of Turkmenistans Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov with a Japanese delegation led by Yuko Tamai, director of Office for Promotion of International Project, Infrastructure System and Water Industry of Japans Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry. The Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message that the Japanese side presented the Turkmen side its proposals on expanding partnership in gas sphere, the issues of which were discussed at previous meetings. During the meeting, the sides noted the positive dynamics and strategic nature of bilateral relations. There was also noted the interest in further expansion of cooperation in various areas, including energy cooperation being one of the priority spheres. Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during the Turkmen-Japanese negotiations in Ashgabat in October 2015, said that his country is ready to provide Turkmenistan with its experience and advanced technologies. During the visit, bilateral documents were signed on projects for the construction of a gas chemical plant, a power plant and others. Total cost of these agreements is more than $18 billion. Japanese companies also expressed interest in participation in projects on development of industrial infrastructure of Turkmenistans giant gas field Galkynysh. Karen Smith tied the knot in January with a man she had known for years. A pastor her own age with a military background, Cedric Anderson seemed like a man of faith with whom she could share the next chapter of her life. But after they wed and he moved into her Riverside home, another side of her new husband emerged. Police say Anderson, 53, had previous domestic violence allegations against him, but its unclear what Smith experienced. Her mother said it was enough to break up with him and pursue divorce. On Monday, the tumult of their brief marriage burst into a San Bernardino elementary school. Anderson walked into Smiths special-needs classroom and opened fire, fatally wounding her before turning the gun on himself, police said. One of Smiths students, an 8-year-old boy, was also struck by the gunfire and died. A second child was injured. The violence has devastated Smiths friends, family and colleagues. It has also exposed a troubled relationship between Anderson and Smith two people with very different pasts who had once seemed so in love. She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all, said Smiths mother, Irma Sykes. He had other motives. She left him and thats where the trouble began. At North Park Elementary School, Smith, 53, was known as a caring educator with a special affinity for working with children with learning disabilities. To her classroom, she brought the wisdom and patience of raising four children of her own, who are all now adults. For some parents, Smith seemed like a miracle worker. Rachel Valles said Smith was persistent in helping her son, Ethan, improve his reading. At the start of the school year, he could read only basic words, but now gets excited by learning new vocabulary. She did so much for him, Valles said. I would ask her, How do you do it? Substitute teacher Diane Abrams said Smith dedicated her life to her students. Smith, who spent most of her life in the Harbor City section of Los Angeles, had pursued a teaching career much later than other educators, earning a degree and her credentials about a decade ago, according to her mother. She wanted to help children with autism and learning disabilities, taking after her mother, who was a teacher for 41 years. As her career bloomed, Smith also ended her first marriage, after 21 years, in 2009, according to court records. At some point around 2013, she met Anderson. A maintenance technician who spent at least eight years in the military, Anderson had lived around Atlanta, Las Vegas and towns across Southern California. At some point in the late 1990s or early 2000s, Anderson participated in an expose by an NBC affiliate in Las Vegas about housing fees at Nellis Air Force Base, according to a copy of the segment that Anderson appears to have published on YouTube. The report said Anderson had been in the Navy for eight years and was married to a 19-year Air Force veteran who had been deployed to Pakistan. He had at least one son, about whom he spoke proudly on social media. Najee Ali, a community activist in Los Angeles and executive director of Project Islamic Hope, said he knew Anderson as a pastor who attended community meetings. He was a deeply religious man, Ali said of Anderson, who sometimes preached on the radio and joined community events. There was never any signs of this kind of violence on his Facebook he even criticized a man for attacking a woman. His effect on Smith was obvious. One neighbor along Mt. Wasatch Drive in Riverside, who declined to be identified, recalled Smith becoming more outgoing and cheerful a noticeable change from years past. They seemed to be happy, the neighbor said, and once were overheard praying together, but never fighting. 1 / 45 North Park student Elijah Beaven attends a candlelight prayer vigil with his mother, Laura Beaven. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 45 North Park Elementary School Principal Yadira Downing is comforted after the candlelight prayer vigil on the schools playground. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 45 The mood is somber as hundreds of residents, students and faculty attend a prayer vigil on the playground of North Park Elementary. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 45 Adrian Newton of San Bernardino attends a candlelight vigil at North Park Elementary. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 45 Students spend time at a memorial near North Park Elementary after a prayer vigil. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 45 Adrian Newton, 8, of San Bernardino brings a bouquet of flowers to place at a memorial for shooting victims Jonathan Martinez, 8, and Karen Smith the day after the two were shot in a classroom at North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 45 Ellie Paez places homemade Stars of Hope along the fence at North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 45 A young boy pays his respects at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 45 Bobbie Haywood, who lives in the neighborhood, stops by to pay respect at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 45 Denna Lopez and her 9-year-old son, Raymond Lopez, brings a stuffed animal to place at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 45 A sidewalk memorial in front of North Park Elementary on April 11, 2017, a day after a gunman walked into a classroom and opened fire on his wife, a teacher there, also wounded two students, one of whom died, and then killed himself. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 45 Betty Rodriguez hugs her granddaughter Giselle Rodriguez, 11, during a prayer vigil outside Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 45 Residents hold a prayer vigil outside Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 45 A child rests his head on his fathers shoulder during a prayer service at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 45 Parents wait to be reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 45 Children walk in single file to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 45 A parent and child hug after being reunited hours after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 45 Parents are reunited with their chidlren at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 45 A police officer leads children to be reunited with their parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 45 Parents are reunited with their kids at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 45 A SWAT officer stands guard with evacuated children on the playground at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino after a shooting in the school. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 45 Summer Terrell hugs her daughter Jaylah James, 5, after being reunited with her at Cajon High School hours after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 45 Parents are reunited with their children who were evacuated after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 45 Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 45 A woman is tended to outside North Park Elementary School. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 45 San Bernardino police officers help evacuate children to awaiting school buses after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 45 Children are led across a playground, holding hands. Students were being evacuated to Cal State San Bernardinos physical education building. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 45 Children are evacuated from North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. Two injured students were airlifted to a local hospital, authorities say. One student later died. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 45 SWAT officers stand guard with students waiting to be taken to Cal State San Bernardino. Parents were directed to go to Cajon High School, where officials will verify their identity before sending them to the college to pick up their children. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 45 SWAT officers walk through the playground after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 45 Evacuated students and teachers gather on the playground after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 45 A San Bernardino police officer puts up crime scene tape after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) In photos posted on social media, Smith and Anderson are seen on the beach, leaning toward each other and smiling, as Smith holds a small white dog in her lap. Another shows their legs crossed in front of a fireplace, with Smiths flip-flop-clad foot touching Andersons leg. After their Jan. 28 wedding at a church on Crenshaw Boulevard, the couple retreated to Sedona, Ariz., for a honeymoon. We are having such a good time, Smith says in a video shared on Facebook after Anderson kisses and hugs her. We are having a ball, Anderson says into the camera, adding: Its been nice. Anderson seemed to relish the lighthearted squabbles of domestic life, saying in a Facebook video in late February: What I love about my wife, boy. She is making me really happy. She knows when to ignore me, he says, pausing to laugh. That makes a happy marriage. But after about a month of living together, Smith put an end to it. She was contemplating divorce, her mother said, and police described them as estranged. Although Smiths mother declined to elaborate on what happened in the home, Andersons past may offer clues. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said Andersons criminal history included allegations of domestic violence, weapons charges and possible drug charges. In 2013, Anderson was charged in Los Angeles County Superior Court with assault and battery, brandishing a firearm and disturbing the peace. Court records, however, show that the charges were dismissed in May 2014. Nearly two decades earlier in 1993, Anderson faced two misdemeanor counts of battery in Kern County Superior Court, but according to records, he was exonerated six months after the case was filed and both charges were dismissed. Burguan said investigators are still piecing together information on what led to the couples estrangement. It was that appearance of a happy union that allowed Anderson to get onto the school grounds so easily. When he stopped by the office to check in, his presence went unquestioned. No one saw a weapon, no one suspected anything was amiss between the couple until the gunfire. He killed her, and he killed himself, Sykes, her mother, said. And I want to see what hes going to say to God about that. maya.lau@latimes.com Twitter: @mayalau Times staff writers Sonali Kohli, Paloma Esquivel, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Etehad, Ben Oreskes and James Queally contributed to this report. ALSO Mommy, I still have blood on my sweater: Girl recounts deadly shooting in her classroom Teacher killed in classroom shooting was devoted to her students, mother says Boy, 8, and teacher slain in San Bernardino school shooting; gunman kills himself A proposal to build a Chick-fil-A on the site of the former Grant Boys store in Costa Mesa was unanimously rejected by the Planning Commission on Monday over concerns that the restaurant could hinder traffic flow in the area. The proposal called for demolishing the existing structures and building a new 1,999-square-foot fast-food restaurant at 1750 Newport Blvd., near the intersection of Rochester Street in the downtown area. The restaurant would have had drive-through and walk-up service, but no interior seating. The commissions decision followed almost two hours of discussion and public comments, most of them in favor of the project. Though commissioners said they werent against the concept of a second local Chick-fil-A location, they were united in believing the property in question isnt the right fit. A substantial sticking point for commissioners, city staff and some residents was how Chick-fil-A proposed to handle traffic flowing to and from the site. Under the plans reviewed Monday, vehicles would enter the property from Rochester a two-lane street and exit onto Newport Boulevard. Given how busy Newport Boulevard gets, commissioners said they could foresee cars lining up while drivers wait for a break in the traffic so they can leave the site. The gremlin in the machine is Newport Boulevard and exiting the site thats the problem, said commission Chairman Stephan Andranian. Commissioners and city staff members also said they were concerned that traffic could back up onto Rochester during busy periods. Theres no margin for error in this location, said Public Services Director Raja Sethuraman. Its very tight, and for a store to operate like this, I cannot imagine how it would work. We think that Chick-fil-A, a store that sells chicken and is open six days a week, is a good trade for a store that was open seven days a week and sold guns. Randy Garell, who co-owned and operated Grant Boys, in urging the Planning Commission to sign off on the project Supporters, though, touted the proposed restaurant as a prime reuse of a property thats been vacant since Grant Boys an outdoor-gear store that sold camping materials, clothes, fishing equipment and firearms closed in 2015. Though Grant Boys eye-catching Old West-style exterior helped make it something of a local landmark, some said they favor getting a more modern-looking facility on the site. Others praised Chick-fil-A, saying the company has a long record of being a good neighbor and quality operator at its current site in Costa Mesa on Harbor Boulevard. They have been a wonderful community partner they support major events around town in many different ways, said Tom Johnson, president of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce. I can only imagine how much better it would be if we had two. Project consultant Ed Hale said the proposed restaurant was designed so customers could quickly and efficiently enter, get their food and leave. We believe that the numbers, the hard data, support our proposal and alleviate the nebulous concerns that have been presented by the staff, he said. Randy Garell, who co-owned and operated Grant Boys, also urged the commission to sign off on the project. Garell said many undesirable businesses such as bars and nightclubs expressed interest in the property but that he and his family chose Chick-fil-A because they run a very clean, efficient operation. We did not want to bring someone in who would not be good for the community. We think that Chick-fil-A, a store that sells chicken and is open six days a week, is a good trade for a store that was open seven days a week and sold guns, Garell said, noting that Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays. Hardly anyone ever gets killed by a chicken. Andranian, though, said the proposed restaurant presented potential dangers of its own. While I appreciate that hardly anyone ever gets killed by a chicken, unfortunately people do get killed in traffic accidents, Andranian said. And this is kind of an accident waiting to happen. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney Months of hard work culminated in a scene worthy of significant dignitaries Monday at Thurston Middle School. Ninety sixth-grade students had one minute to share anecdotes and wisdom from people they interviewed as part of a 37-year-tradition at the Laguna Beach school oral history projects. About 250 parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors filled Thurstons gym to listen to the first of three days of speeches. Students lined up next to each other, waiting for their turn at the podium. Most students spoke of grandmothers and grandfathers, neighbors and friends, all of whom must be at least 50 years older than they. Aden Cattan, 12, said he heard about the oral history project last year when he graduated fifth grade. He had the ideal person in mind his grandmother Kate Zane-Ellis. She never gave up, no matter what happened, Aden said in an interview following his speech. I had a lot of challenges in my young life, I was a widow at a young age [with two children to raise], said Zane-Ellis, who took her first flight in 27 years from her home in Amherst, N.H., to watch her grandson give his speech. Sixth-grader Charlotte Riches gets a hug from her grandfather John Hall as grandmother Cari Hall looks on after Charlotte shared her interview of him during an oral history luncheon at Thurston Middle School in Laguna Beach. (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot) Students started the project in December when they conducted interviews. They had a list of questions to ask and recorded the interview. Classes watched interviews online to gather tips on extracting more information and asking follow-up questions, said Sarah Schaeffer, project coordinator and Thurston teacher. In the ensuing months, students created a news article about a significant historical event that occurred during the life of their interviewee, and wrote poems and biographical narratives of their selected person. The kids get so much out of it, Schaeffer said. Theyll say, I thought I knew everything there was to know [about the person]. They learn how different life was, but also recognize the similarities. They were a kid too. A common takeaway among several speakers was technologys grasp on society with instant access to information on smartphones and computers. Rusty Lamboley gives his grandson Lio Balossi a hug after Lio gave a speech about him during an oral history luncheon at Thurston Middle School in Laguna Beach. (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot) Zane-Ellis chose the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 as the historical moment that stands out most for her. It meant a great deal to my grandson to learn that history, she said. It was a huge impact. It was a depressed time for society. At the end of each speech, students asked their interviewee to stand, which elicited rounds of applause. A sampling of the advice students relayed from their interviews included: Its important to take risks in life; find a partner who loves you and can accompany you in hard times; and the key to living a happy life is to be truthful to everyone. bryce.alderton@latimes.com Twitter: @AldertonBryce It amazes me that, despite available knowledge about sun damage, people still get sunburned. And especially despite warnings that most sunscreens dont meet their promised SPFs. So what if I was the only person on Waikiki wearing a sweatshirt and jeans? I got to do what I wanted, which was sit in the shade of a palm tree, sipping an occasional umbrella drink and reading. Having hours on end to read is a luxury for me, and doing it with the aquamarine ocean in front of me and Diamond Head to my left, no wonder they call Hawaii paradise. I know its not everyones vision of paradise. For instance, when my mother, in her 70s, came back from her first trip to Hawaii, I asked if shed had a good time. They put teriyaki sauce on everything, she said. My mother wanted to travel, but my father did not. She went with a seniors group to Hawaii and also to Europe. Howd you like Europe? I asked. It was old and dirty, she said. Im ecstatic that Lee and I started traveling before Mother did or I might have stayed home. Lee and I traveled almost everywhere. It was such a privilege and, for us, a pleasure. Although we almost never argued, we fought when we traveled. Eventually, I identified that we had different expectations when we left home. Lee looked forward to a vacation, getting away from work and phones, relaxing. I looked forward to a trip, going and seeing and doing, and rush, rush, rush to cram in everything. Cruising was the perfect compromise. Lee would go on excursions with me, and the rest of the time, he could relax, while I could take a class on how to play the ukulele (or whatever). For me, relaxing had been a foreign concept. I suppose its my guilt-unless-multi-tasking personality. Lee mono-tasked. We visited Hawaii frequently. Once wed finished sight-seeing, I became able to relax there. While Lee did crossword puzzles in the palm shade, I could read by his side. I dont travel as much now, but I had a craving to go to Hawaii to get away from being myself. Daughters Jan and Cheryl didnt want to go to Hawaii. Best friend at work Marian didnt want to go. But Maura, my friend who is younger by 20-plus years, was eager to go. She was a perfect travel companion. Neither of us felt like sight-seeing. We spent six days on Waikiki, laughing and chatting, eating or shopping, and except for attending a luau and visiting a friend at Uncle Bos just relaxing. Maura, a water-baby, wanted to spend time in the ocean, and thats what she did. I, covered from chin to toes, enjoyed the ocean air, reading and watching people sunburn. I havent worn a bathing suit since I was in my 30s. I quit sunbathing cold turkey when I learned about the hole in the ozone layer, the danger of skin cancer from sun exposure, and the particular susceptibility for the fair-haired, blue-eyed of Eastern European descent. The clincher was the high risk for those who had experienced frequent sunburns in their youth. I had been a beach bunny. Each summer, the one to get the first sunburn won. Although I was of the baby-oil-and-Mercurochrome generation, I needed no help. I just won. Dont touch me. Im sunburned! That was bragging! Ah, youth! And to show, for that carefree era, I have a heap o brown spots. Yet, for wising up 40 years ago, I have no skin cancer. Ah, maturity! And that takes me back to Waikiki, and to my friend Maura, who has beautiful Irish skin. Who slathered on a top-rated sunscreen regularly. Who enjoyed the beautiful Pacific like a porpoise. Who got one heck of a sunburn. Author LIZ SWIERTZ NEWMAN lives in Corona del Mar. Remember the Maine, To Hell with Spain! This was the attention-grabbing headline of the Hearst newspaper at the beginning of the Spanish-American War in 1898. In the years before radio and television, newspapers were the major source of national and international news, and people read the newspapers voraciously. Newspaper boys found peddling newspapers on the streets to be an important way to make a little extra money for themselves and their families. Newspaper owners found that a catchy headline helped to sell more newspapers faster. So what is the history behind this headline? The Cubans had been struggling for 30 years to assert their independence from Spain, which had once dominated the international world. Now the Cubans had garnered the sympathies of the American people to their cause. President William McKinley was hopeful of a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He had no desire to engage in war with Spain. As conditions worsened, however, the State Department sent the U.S. battleship Maine to Havana to make sure American citizens were safe and their interests were protected. Over the years, trade between America and Cuba had flourished. America imported sugar from Cuba, and 40% of Cubas imports came from the United States. Unfortunately an explosion destroyed the U.S. battleship Maine while moored in Havana harbor. Despite the fact that Spain denied having any part of the matter, the American press insisted otherwise. Hence the inflammatory headline, Remember the Maine, To Hell with Spain! William Randolph Hearst, of Hearst Castle fame here in California, and Joseph Pulitzer of New York, published the anti-Spain propaganda in their competing newspapers. Crisis at Hand and Spanish Treachery were other headlines in their newspapers. While stories were based on actual facts, the papers exaggerated and sensationalized what was happening. Hearst, for example, sent artist Frederic Remington to Cuba to draw pictures of the impending war in Cuba. Remington wired back to Hearst, Everything quiet. There is no trouble here ... to which Hearst supposedly replied, You furnish the pictures, and Ill furnish the war. Such was the nature of what came to be known as Yellow Journalism. It is interesting to note that more than 75 years later a private investigation into the explosion that sunk the battleship Maine concluded that it was not due to a mine planted by the Spanish, but rather due to a spontaneous internal explosion which may have started in the coal bunker. At the time of the explosion, public opinion and Congress were for war even though it was against McKinleys better judgment. He continued to seek a peaceful resolution for relations with Spain, but in April 1898 he decided that war was inevitable and sided with Congress when they declared war. Theodore Roosevelt quickly gathered a group of cowboys and college friends which became known as the Rough Riders. They eventually charged up San Juan Hill outside of Santiago, Cuba. While it was a dangerous event, it was a rather small part of the war. Roosevelt became famous for his bravery, and his fame eventually took him to the White House as president. While Roosevelt and the Rough Riders took most of the newspaper headlines, Commodore George Dewey commanded the Navys Squadron in Manila Bay, which drove out the Spaniards for a quick victory in the Philippines. After the 10-week war against Spain, Cuba was granted independence, and the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico (all of which had been apart of Spains Empire) became U.S. territories in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. The U.S. agreed to pay $20 million to Spain to cover the physical damages and loss to that country, and the United States now had the dubious role of being an imperial power with colonies. Newport Beach resident SHERRY MARRON has a doctorate in American studies. She has taught at the University of Connecticut and Orange Coast College. California is experiencing a teacher shortage, the most severe in nearly three decades. That fact is not in dispute. The nonprofit Learning Policy Institute reported in February that the shortage, which affected 75% of districts in California in 2016, had deepened just in the past year. Many districts in the study acknowledged hiring teachers who werent fully credentialed out of sheer desperation. It could get worse still. The Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning estimates that California will need an additional 100,000 teachers over the next decade. It will be a struggle to meet that demand with enrollment in teacher-preparation programs currently near a historic low. The problem has many perceived causes. Recruitment of newcomers to teaching can be hampered because of the relatively low compensation compared with other professions requiring similar education and skill levels. Theres a high turnover rate, which some education experts link to difficult working conditions and a lack of involvement by teachers in making decisions that directly affect how they run their classrooms. Waves of retirements create openings that can be difficult to fill quickly with qualified applicants. What many people likely dont realize, however, is that the shortage is much worse in certain geographical areas and in particular subjects. Like many issues in education, this reflects and exacerbates inequality. It also leads to a complacency in some communities a my school is doing fine, why worry? kind of attitude. Unfortunately, the teacher shortage typically hurts the schools most in need of help, those in urban and low-income neighborhoods where teachers are often paid less, receive less support from parents and hard-pressed administrators, and sometimes work under stressful physical and emotional conditions. In areas like these, an estimated 20% to 30% in some schools even as many as 50% of teachers dont last beyond their first five years. These are the places most likely to hire new teachers that havent even completed the necessary requirements to become fully credentialed. Contrast that with a district like Irvine Unified, considered by many measures to be one of the top districts in the state and one of the most attractive to teachers. Were probably atypical for a district, said Eamonn ODonovan, assistant superintendent of Human Resources at Irvine Unified. Weve been able to fill all of our positions. The shortage also shows up in other ways. Teachers with training in certain subjects math, science and special education are in particularly short supply at a time when the need for these specialists is great. There are no simple answers. One bill under consideration in Sacramento would offer teachers a temporary tax break and another would restart a student-loan forgiveness program for teachers in certain areas. Both of those proposed solutions would only nip at the heels of the problem. Perhaps more effective will be the active efforts underway by some institutions to attract more people into the field, and to give them more support so that they will continue teaching. Cal State Fullerton, for instance, has waged an aggressive campaign to recruit new students into its teacher-training program. We are going out and talking to everyone who will listen to us, said Lisa Kirtman, dean of Cal State Fullertons College of Education. Were making sure they understand the positive side of teaching. Kirtman is also working on removing barriers for students who might be interested in pursuing a teaching career. That doesnt mean lowering standards, she emphasized. Instead, she is focused on funneling scholarship money to education students to help defray the cost of items such as fees for standardized tests and applications. She has also championed, in accordance with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, an integrated pathway that enables students to take all the required courses to earn both a bachelors degree and a teaching credential in four years instead of five. And shes working in partnership with low-income school districts to help them secure resources such as computer tablets for classrooms and access to professional development so that teachers can continue learning and growing on the job. The results so far have been positive, Kirtman said. Enrollment in CSUFs education department is up 15% over last year. At a recent university job fair, 68 districts sent representatives and many new hires were made on the spot. Other organizations are also working on the issue. The Orange County Department of Education, for example, is among those entities using state grant money to provide tuition assistance to aspiring teachers. Its Institute for Leadership Development works on strategy with other groups to and is developing training programs aimed specifically at substitute teachers. All of these efforts will help, but we still have a long way to go to fill the immediate hiring needs of schools throughout the state, and to address the longer term issues that plague this most important but grossly under-appreciated profession. Perhaps if theres any reason for optimism, its because of educators like Kirtman, whose passion and dedication to teaching are downright infectious. Its not the easiest job in the world, she acknowledged, but I believe in my heart and soul that it is the greatest profession. Lets hope her enthusiasm will be shared by many more in the years to come. PATRICE APODACA is a former Newport-Mesa public school parent and former Los Angeles Times staff writer. She lives in Newport Beach. Ten Years Ago Pleasant Care Corp, then a La Canada-based company with a building on Foothill Boulevard, filed for bankruptcy protection in the midst of elder abuse and wrongful death allegations related to its operations. At the time, Emmanuel I. Bernabe, chief executive officer of the firm, owned or had interest in more than 30 nursing homes throughout California and two years earlier had been targeted by state Atty. General Bill Lockyear, who filed a 13-count complaint against the corporation. Twenty Years Ago Sister Mary Denis, a math and computer teacher at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, celebrated her Golden Jubilee in the Dominican Order, which she had entered as a teenager in 1945. Thirty Years Ago A fire of suspicious origin destroyed a large storage building, consumed chemicals inside it and partially burned a company pick-up truck at Your Pool Company, located at the northeast corner of Foothill Boulevard at Cornishon Avenue (where Georges Upholstery operates today). For 90 minutes, Foothill was closed from La Canada Boulevard to Angeles Crest Highway while firefighters and a hazardous waste team worked at the scene. Forty Years Ago The La Canada Crest Annexation Committee met to gear up its petition drive to bring a 35-acre residential and commercial section that had previously been considered part of La Canada into the new city of La Canada Flintridge. The area, located south of Foothill Boulevard and stretching east from Pickens Canyon to Rosebank Drive, had been excluded by the county Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) when boundaries for the proposed city were set during the summer of 1976. Fifty Years Ago A La Canada man who dozed off behind the wheel on a Sunday in April 1967 somehow managed to escape injuries when his station wagon knocked over a telephone pole at Church of the Lighted Window (La Canada Congregational Church), went through a hedge and came to rest against a tree near the churchs office. Sixty Years Ago Three hundred Boy Scouts and their leaders were planning their Spring Camporee to be held at Oak Grove Park. A dozen troops from the La Canada-Linda Vista district, along with six troops from the Mt. Wilson district would participate in the event, which was to include lessons in signaling, knot-tying, first-aid-bandaging, nature observation and starting campfires using flint and steel. Join the conversation on Facebook Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci. Afghanistan Center is her monument to her great love Nancy Dupree, an American now in her 80s, came to Kabul in the 1960s and never left. She has just opened a research library/museum called the Afghan Center at Kabul University. It was an extramarital affair that scandalized Kabul. It would also fuel a lifelong adventure and help create a legacy for Afghanistan. Author Nancy Hatch Dupree, eightysomething, recently opened the Afghanistan Center at Kabul University to commemorate her great love, archaeologist Louis Dupree, and return something to the country that brought them together. Little did she know in 1962 when she arrived in Afghanistan what a twist her life would take. Her husband at the time, Alan Wolfe, was a diplomat assigned to the American Embassy in Kabul, the capital. The U.S. ambassador invited Nancy along as trip historian to Bamian, the site of two ancient Buddhist statues, because she'd studied Buddhist art. On their return to Kabul, she mentioned to an Afghan tourism official how scandalous it was that no guidebook to the site existed. Write one yourself, he replied. She jumped in, researching over several months information drawn from academic tomes that she then rendered in her characteristic witty, accessible English. As she neared completion, she had a couple of points to clarify and was directed to Louis Dupree. "Who the hell is Louis Dupree?" she recalls thinking. The ex-paratrooper and Harvard-trained archaeologist would later be described by historian and writer William Dalrymple as an adventurer who "made Indiana Jones seem positively suburban." She tracked down Dupree and left the manuscript, returning a few days later to find he'd trashed it, noting, "Adequate but nothing original." She thanked him, and as she stormed out, she turned around and said, "This is for tourists, not academics." "Wait, come back," he called after her. "I did and never left," she said recently. "Who knew why he called me back, although I was not too unshapely at the time. I think he liked my spirit." Their romance blossomed, but that meant a double divorce since he was also married. They spent time apart to finalize the paperwork. When Nancy returned to Kabul to be with Louis, the scandal was the talk of the town, all the more so when her ex-husband married Louis' ex-wife. Confronted with the wife- and husband-swapping in his delegation, the U.S. ambassador decided to face it head on by hosting a huge engagement party for Nancy and Louis at the embassy. They were married in 1966. Born in Cooperstown, N.Y., Nancy inherited a love of adventure from her father, a rural development expert, and her actress mother, who raised her in the U.S., India, Costa Rica and Mexico. Louis, who was born in North Carolina and spent time behind enemy lines during World War II, had a passion for Afghanistan that was infectious, Nancy said. For years, the couple lived a charmed life. Louis would travel to prehistoric Afghan digs and she'd tag along, collecting material for her five guidebooks well regarded for their humor, insight and breadth and for hundreds of articles. He made several important discoveries of sophisticated ancient tools so impressive that scholars called their creators the "Michelangelos of the Paleolithic." (Many of his finds would be looted from the Kabul Museum by the mujahedin and the Taliban.) When winter cold set in, the couple would retreat to Kabul then known as the Paris of the East, with its jazz bands, cafes, short skirts and rich social life hosting evening cocktail parties dubbed the "five o'clock follies." Louis kept promising Nancy a honeymoon. She recalled that she repeatedly responded: Every day with you is a honeymoon. Everything changed in 1978, however, when Afghan Marxists staged a coup. Louis was accused of being a CIA agent, not unfathomable given that British spies had long used archaeology as a cover. Interrogators were particularly interested in the five o'clock follies, which apparently were seen as some secret society. When the Marxists detained him for 10 days, they went to the couple's house and mistakenly grabbed Nancy's suitcase. "He was in jail and all he had to wear was my underwear," she said. They were deported. They applied for asylum in Pakistan and spent the next decade shuttling between the United States, where Louis taught at Duke University and gave lectures at several top colleges, and Peshawar, with its burgeoning Afghan refugee population. Periodically, he would slip into Afghanistan with mujahedin rebels. His 1973 book, "Afghanistan," remains a primary source on the country's history and culture. During their years in Peshawar, then as now a wild frontier city, Nancy moved in diverse circles that led to a brief encounter with a young Osama bin Laden, who approached her about exporting heavy construction equipment to Afghanistan. She couldn't help him, and he moved on. She recalls a shy, soft-spoken man. She also made friends with Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's president, who helped her circumvent a few hurdles to establishing the center. She'd visited Kabul several times during the Taliban years, a rare foreigner allowed in because of her long-established links to the country. Many Taliban were ordinary, if supremely unqualified, officials trying to do their job, including illiterate librarians hired solely for their religious or political credentials. "They're not all with horns and forked tails," she said, her white hair pulled back in a bun, wearing a black sweater, dark flower-patterned dress and tassel loafers. After her husband died of cancer in 1989, Nancy remained in Pakistan to continue the work they'd started: collecting United Nations, charity and foreign government reports about Afghanistan that others considered rubbish. The growing trove of documents was stored in their two-story home. At one point, she heard rumors that the Taliban planned to destroy the Bamian statues and routed a message to reclusive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. He was sympathetic, but even militants have their organizational problems. The Taliban are 'not all with horns and forked tails." Nancy Hatch Dupree "Mullah Omar issued eight different proclamations about preservation, including for Bamian," she said. "But hard-liners at a cabinet meeting decided to blow it up." That was evidence that he was losing clout to Al Qaeda extremists, she said. "I felt sort of sorry for him," she said. In a move that shocked the world, the Taliban destroyed the two statues in 2001 with dynamite, rocket launchers, tanks and antiaircraft guns. When the Taliban fled after the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, many emigres rushed back to Kabul. Nancy waited in Peshawar, concerned that a hard-liner with a match or an American "daisy cutter" bomb could destroy the valuable papers. Finally in 2005, she loaded about 36,000 documents into 299 plastic fertilizer bags and smuggled them to Kabul in trucks and on buses without losing a page. Once in Afghanistan, the collection of books, magazines, U.N. crop tables and mujahedin reports tripled. This created storage problems that ultimately led Nancy to campaign to create the $2-million Afghanistan Center, which opened in Kabul University this year. Her efforts were inspired by her late husband's belief that for Afghanistan to prosper, it needs an informed citizenry. Funded by the U.S., Afghan and Western European governments, it stands as a vote of confidence in a nation better known for blast walls and barbed wire. The collection is now being digitalized so it can be enjoyed globally and survive the next war. "It's fantastic that Nancy's been able to do this," said Nasrine Gross, a Kabul-based sociologist. "Collecting information from all sides in this divided country is great and will hopefully help teach the scientific method. But we also need to produce a generation of educated people, to reconnect, peel away the layers of lies that those in authority put on you." Nancy's half-century love affair with Afghanistan has seen her guide countless relief efforts, help refugees, advise the U.N. and inform journalists. Among her pet projects these days are mini-libraries books in a box sent to provinces, including areas controlled by the Taliban. She's an equal opportunity critic. She condemns the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's strategy, saying it is crafted by misguided foreigners hiding in heavily guarded compounds who rarely meet Afghans. "You don't win hearts and minds by throwing around big chunks of money with no purpose," she said. "Development takes a long time, lots of cups of tea." She's also critical of Afghans whose society has deteriorated into chaotic infighting. "Afghans have been a tolerant people, with ethnic groups living in peace for centuries," she said. "These days every time things seem to be going in the right direction, someone always wants to stir the pot, fanning ethnic differences, screaming this or that person is not a good Muslim." Approaching her 10th decade, she's handing off more responsibility to Afghans and talks about returning to the U.S., recounting her father's advice that anyone hanging on too long is a failure. But she's lived too many adventures to relish settling in a house in the American countryside and watching the birds. "What do you do with yourself when you get old?" she said. "I don't recommend it." Special correspondent Hashmat Baktash contributed to this report. Contact the reporter Follow Mark Magnier (@markmagnier) on Twitter Follow @latgreatreads on Twitter Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Apr. 11 By Demir Azizov Trend: An integrated action program was approved in Uzbekistan to reform the countrys internal affairs agencies under the President Shavkat Mirziyoyevs decree "On measures to radically increase the efficiency of the internal affairs bodies activity, strengthening their responsibility for ensuring public order, protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens. The decree states that the work of internal affairs agencies should be aimed at rendering timely and qualitative assistance to the population. Under the decree, tasks and functions of subdivisions of internal affairs bodies should be clearly defined and organizational structure should be optimized. Another priority will be to improve the legal culture of all segments of the population, instill respect for the law and intolerance to any manifestations of violations of the law. The system of training, retraining and professional advancement of employees of internal affairs bodies will also be revised and improved. The arrest of a former governor of the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas caps a five-year, seemingly desultory search for the ruling-party politician accused of organized crime and money laundering. It may have been one of the least serious searches in history. Analysts say the government was loath to arrest one of its own, a man who reflected badly on the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, and who may have held sensitive information on other corrupt officials. U.S. prosecutors have publicly alleged since 2012 that Tomas Yarrington accepted millions of dollars in drug cartel bribes and invested it in Texas real estate. But Mexico didnt offer a reward for his capture until last November. Advertisement The current Tamaulipas governor, Francisco Garcia Cabeza de Vaca, said Yarrington who left office in 2005 and has faced charges since 2012 had a government-provided bodyguard assigned to him until late last year. The farcical nature of a policeman assigned to guard him while he was on the lam ended only because Garcia Cabeza de Vaca won the 2016 election and belongs to the opposition National Action Party, or PAN, the party said in a statement Monday. Yarringtons long-cold trail finally led to Italy, where he was detained Sunday in Florence. Alberto Elias Beltran, the chief Mexican prosecutor in charge of extraditions, said Yarrington was found carrying false documents suggesting he was living under a fake name. Elias Beltran said that Mexican and U.S. prosecutors had provided intelligence information that lead to the arrest and that Mexico and the U.S. have requested Yarrington be extradited. Italy will decide which country he is sent to. In a statement, the PRI praised the arrest but acknowledged it had taken the party four years to expel him after the allegations first surfaced. Yarrington is the first of a triumvirate of PRI fugitive governors accused of corruption to be arrested. The other two are Cesar Duarte and Javier Duarte no relation the former governors of Chihuahua and Veracruz states, respectively. Both supposedly have international detention notices, but despite being very well-known and recognizable figures, no trace of them has been seen since they left office last year. But few well-known politicians have been on the lam as long as Yarrington, who allegedly took bribes from the Gulf and Zetas cartels to allow them to operate in his state. In the ensuing years, the gangs essentially took over Tamaulipas, killing thousands of people, instituting a reign of terror of widespread kidnapping and extortion. The state was left littered with mass graves and burned-out homes. A day after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi ordered a state of emergency following two deadly church bombings, militants in the Sinai Peninsula fired a rocket into Israel on Monday, casting doubt on the presidents ability to counter a growing Islamist insurgency. Sisi, a former general, rose to power four years ago on promises to confront extremists and secure the country and its economy after the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. During a visit to Washington last week, Sisi portrayed himself as a moderate bastion against terrorism, deflecting criticism about his record of suppressing political dissidents and human rights activists. We agree on so many things, President Trump said after meeting Sisi at the White House. Hes done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation. Advertisement But Sisi, once dubbed the new idol of the Nile valley, with sandwiches named after him and his face emblazoned on chocolates, has seen his standing decline at home. He now faces criticism not only from television hosts and columnists, but from average Egyptians in coffee shops, on street corners and on Twitter. Sisi has definitely not kept the country safe since becoming president, said Hazem Hafy, 29, a Cairo University business school student who was walking in the busy Dokki neighborhood Monday. He questioned what additional powers Sisi needs, saying the president already has all kinds of authority. The current regime wants to cover its own problems up and hide behind emergency laws, Hafy said. The three-month state of emergency approved by Egypts Cabinet on Monday expands the governments ability to monitor, detain and quickly try suspects. Civilians can be tried in emergency courts, which have no appeal process and issue verdicts that Sisi can amend, suspend or overturn. It also grants the government greater power to monitor communications, censor and confiscate publications, impose curfews, close businesses and seize property. People are starting to think, Well, these people were targeted as they were praying, whos to say this wouldnt happen to me when I walk down the street? Alaa Hamed, a Cairo math teacher Some Egyptians said they were encouraged by the measures, which must be approved by parliament within seven days to remain in place. The emergency law is necessary after what happened, said Alaa Hamed, a Cairo math teacher. People are starting to think, Well, these people were targeted as they were praying, whos to say this wouldnt happen to me when I walk down the street, or to children in schools? said Hamed, 59. For others, the state of emergency was but the latest in a long line of repressive measures dating back to the government of longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted in the 2011 Arab Spring protests. What will be different about this emergency law? Can we protest right now? No, of course not, because effectively we are already living under emergency law, said Mona Hatem, 32, who works at a Cairo import company. Really, the emergency law has been around since Mubarak. But has it worked for us? No. Magda Naguib, a 66-year-old Coptic Christian, was disturbed by Sundays bombings, which killed 45 people and wounded more than 100. But she said the new state of emergency made her feel even less safe. How will it work? We dont know anything yet. Will it target me or you? How do they know whos a terrorist and who isnt? said Naguib, as she emerged from a Cairo metro station. David Butter, an Egypt analyst at the London think tank Chatham House, said Sisis response was not surprising, given the scale and frequency of recent attacks. Security and turning around the economy were a big part of his pitch, and a lot of middle-class people went along with him on both fronts, Butter said. It puts the onus on him to do something. Samer Shehata, an associate professor of Middle Eastern politics at the University of Oklahoma, said it was significant that Sundays attacks targeted churches in mainland Egypt, home to 97% of the countrys population of 85 million, as opposed to the rugged northern Sinai, long the scene of a simmering Islamist insurgency. The violence, the terrorism, has now forcefully left Sinai and come to the delta, the mainland of Egypt, and is no longer going after security targets but civilians, and in particular the Christian community, he said. Shehata believes the extremists are attempting to ignite a sectarian war in Egypt, as was done in Iraq a decade ago. By attacking Christians, the militants are also taking aim at Sisi himself, he said, because the Coptic community is an important base of support for this regime. Experts are skeptical, however, that Sisis strategy will reduce the number of attacks. The state of emergency may help Sisi crack down on Morsis Muslim Brotherhood but it wont get at the real problem, said Eric Trager, a fellow at the Washington Institute specializing in Egyptian politics. The real problem is the Egyptian military refuses to adopt a counterinsurgency strategy in the Sinai. Until that changes, its hard to imagine the security situation improving. Instead of winning over the local population and mobilizing it to fight the extremists, Egyptian security forces are going in heavy, casting a very broad net for their repression, to the extent that its alienating the local Sinai population, Trager said. In the meantime, the extremists are strengthening their ties to Islamic State in Syria, professionalizing their tactics and outreach. Since Sisi took office, 2,000 Egyptian soldiers have died battling a small number of militants in Sinai, about 1,000 to 1,500, Trager said. On Monday, Israel closed its Taba border crossing to those departing for neighboring Sinai after its anti-terrorism office warned of an imminent attack. The Israeli military later said that a rocket fired from Sinai hit a greenhouse, causing no injuries. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack through its media arm, Amaq. The attack came hours before the start of the Passover holiday, when the Sinai Peninsula is a popular vacation destination for Israelis. It also came before a scheduled visit by Pope Francis to Egypt this month to mend ties with Muslim leaders. Islamic State has waged a deliberate campaign against Egypts Coptic Christians, who represent about 10% of the population. The militants claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Coptic chapel in Cairo in December that killed 29 people. In February, they displaced hundreds of Coptic families amid a series of targeted killings in northern Sinai. Some in the Coptic community who once saw Sisi as a champion fighting Islamist extremists now fear hes impotent. His state of emergency did little to reassure them. It will not help. Plus, it will affect the countrys economy in a negative way, said George Gad, 58, a mechanical engineer who attended a funeral Monday for the 17 victims of the Alexandria attack, which his sister survived. I would love for my sons to leave the country. Rida Ghattas Kamel, 55, a math teacher, traveled several hours by bus to attend the funeral, having watched coverage of the bombings the day before with his 20-year- old daughter. She became so distraught, he said, she collapsed. Why such Muslim people kill us? she asked him. We live together. We eat together. We study together. Why do they hate us and kill us? Kamel didnt have an answer. And he wasnt sure what to think of Sisis proposed state of emergency. I hope it can help prevent terrorism, Kamel said. But he did not feel more secure. He felt caught in the middle. Strict Muslims are bombing our churches and killing us to put Sisi in an embarrassing situation: that he cant protect Copts, he said. Special correspondent Medhat reported from Cairo and Times staff writer Hennessy-Fiske from Irbil, Iraq. Special correspondent Makarios Nassar contributed from Alexandria. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com Twitter: @mollyhf ALSO Egypts Christians bury victims of bombings as Israel closes border at Sinai Egyptian Christians flee Islamic State violence on Sinai Peninsula Archaeologists in Egypt discover massive statue in Cairo slum All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. Uruguay needs $2bn to finance infrastructure projects and is looking to tap investors in the second half of the year, sources say Nintendo's "Pokemon Sun and Moon" has been slowly but steadily delivering legendary "Pokemon" distribution events ever since its official launch, which has allowed players to collect rare and exclusive mythical Pokemon like Magearna. Now, the Japanese gaming company has officially revealed that the next upcoming mythical Pokemon will be Marshadow, a fighting/ghost type Pokemon According to Polygon, Marshadow, has been known and talked about ever since November of last year, when "Pokemon Sun and Moon's" Z-moves were first revealed. A new teaser video has been uploaded, announcing that Marshadow will finally be available soon. Additionally, Marshadow's vitals have long been examined, despite the creature only being formally announced just recently. Marshadow is one of seven Generation 7 mythical and legendary Pokemon and is listed as a fighting/ghost type monster in "Pokemon Sun and Moon." The latest legendary Pokemon released, Magearna, was made available to every "Pokemon Sun and Moon" player via a QR code in December 2016. With that, it is possible that Marshadow may be offered in the same way, with several other news reports saying that Marshadow cannot be captured in normal gameplay. According to Escapist Magazine, Nintendo revealed the new Pokemon Mashadow but didn't post any details about it or how "Pokemon Sun and Moon" players will be able to get it. Marshadow is a dual-type Pokemon, having both Fighting and Ghost types and the Technician ability. The area around Marshadow's face is pretty similar to a headgear and has been rumored to be turning green when it is attacking or using its exclusive Z-Move. In addition to that, the bulbs on Marshadow's arms can turn green as well in "Pokemon Sun and Moon." Marshadow has been featured in the newest Pokemon: The Movie - I Choose You film. With that being said, it would be safe to assume that the Pokemon will be distributed at least in Japan alongside the movie, as it has done in the past, while as for the US, an online distribution event is going to be likely in "Pokemon Sun and Moon." Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Apr. 11 By Demir Azizov Trend: Uzbekistans national airline, the Uzbekistan Airways, on Apr. 11 carried out the first flight to Tajikistans capital Dushanbe, said the companys press service. Flights from Dushanbe to Tashkent will be carried out twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday," said the press service, adding the flight duration will be about one hour. After the opening of this route, tourists and representatives of various organizations will have more opportunities to use the national airlines services during transit flights through Tashkent. In addition, citizens of the two neighboring countries will be able to make mutual visits in a relatively short time, the press service cited an Uzbekistan Airways representative. The flights between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan stopped in 1992 after the Tajik Civil War broke out. In November 2016, a protocol was signed in Dushanbe to resume the flights between the capitals of the two countries in the first half of 2017. Hyosung Corp., South Koreas leading chemical and textile company, is accelerating its foray into Iran, a country rich in natural gas and oil reserves and dubbed as the gateway to other markets in the Middle East, Europe and Africa, reported Pulse. According to chemical industry sources on Sunday, Hyosung recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Irans state-run National Petrochemical Company in the business of polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic polymer used in making plastic products and home appliance, products. The Korean company said it has been in talks with its Iranian counterpart to determine the feasibility of its PP business in the country, but has not made any conclusion yet. Industry experts expect Hyosung looking to expand its offshore manufacturing network would set up a PP production base in Iran. The company has inked an agreement with Vietnamese government to build a PP plant at a cost of $336 million in February last year. Iran has been attracting investments from abroad on expectations on economic renaissance following the lifting of international sanctions. The country has the worlds second largest natural gas deposit and the fourth largest crude oil reserve on top of its geographical advantage offering easy access to other Middle Eastern markets as well as Europe and Africa. Currently, Korean companies are working on nearly 60 petrochemical projects in Iran. Cho Hyun-sang, Hyosung president who visited Iran as a member of the business delegation when former Korean President Park Geun-hye made a state visit to the country in May last year, has been building business networks with the Iranian government since then. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 11 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: A flotilla of the Iranian Navy has docked in the Kazakh port city of Aktau for the first time, Fars news agency reported. The flotilla consists of Damavand destroyer and Peykan missile-launcher. The flotilla is scheduled to join naval drills alongside with Kazakh navy during the three-day visit. The home-grown Damavand destroyer, equipped with modern radar, electronic and reconnaissance systems, was delivered to the countrys naval forces stationed in Iranian northern port city of Anzali in March 2015. Damavand destroyer over the past years has docked in the southern Russian port city of Astrakhan and Azerbaijani port city of Baku. Iran has recently made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems. The Islamic Republic says its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence. A 21-year-old man was stabbed by another man who offered a "high-five" on an Allentown street Monday night. The victim walked to Sacred Heart Hospital with stab wounds to his upper torso, said police Capt. William Reinik. Reinik said the victim, whose name was not released, reported he was walking in the 300 block of Monroe Street when an unknown man attempted to "high-five" with the victim. The man who had made the gesture then stabbed the victim with a knife. The victim arrived at the hospital at 9:38 p.m. and was transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township because of the severity of his injuries, Reinik said. A description of the suspect was not provided. Reinik said anyone with information can call the Allentown Police Department detective bureau at 610-437-7721. Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook. A problem between two women escalated to one of the women pointing a gun at a car with the other's kids inside in Allentown, according to police. Nicole Wimberly is accused of pointing the semiautomatic handgun at Khaleefah Long and her car, then following Long and her family as they drove away, police said. Wimberly repeatedly pointed the gun at Long as Wimberly followed the other woman into Whitehall Township, police allege. The 34-year-old Wimberly was arrested Tuesday in a car that was reported stolen, police said. Wimberly, of the 1500 block of Liberty Street in Allentown, was arraigned in two cases and is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail total. Police were initially called for a road rage incident the evening of April 4 in Whitehall Township. Long reportedly told officers that day she went to Allentown to fight Wimberly, and that the two argued before Wimberly left in a light blue BMW. Long followed Wimberly for a few blocks, before she got lost and stopped the chase, police said. Long picked up her two kids and their father, and was stopped at the traffic light at Eighth and Tilghman streets in Allentown, when Wimberly pulled up next to her in the light blue BMW. Long alleges Wimberly got out of her car with the handgun, and pointed the gun at Long and her car with the kids inside. Long said this time, she drove off and Wimberly followed her, and the chase ran from the city into Whitehall Township. Long eventually lost Wimberly in the township and called 911, police said. Surveillance cameras recorded some of the incident, police said. On Tuesday morning, police said they found the stolen BMW in the 100 block of Gordon Street in Allentown, and watched as Wimberly got into the driver's seat with the key. The car was purchased over the phone with a stolen credit card from a Salisbury Township dealership, and Wimberly picked up the vehicle, police said. In an interview with police, she reportedly admitted to picking up the car at the dealership. Wimberly is charged with theft, receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a vehicle in connection with the car, and carrying a firearm without a license and four counts each of simple assault and reckless endangerment in connection with the armed car chase. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A 19-year-old Bethlehem man was fatally injured in a single-vehicle crash Monday night, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. Victor Jose Hierro Reyes, of the 500 block of Ontario Street on the city's South Side, was pronounced dead at 12:20 a.m. Tuesday at the crash by Deputy Coroner Jackie Seidman. The crash occurred about 11:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of City Line Road in Bethlehem, the coroner's office said in a news release. Reyes was driving a vehicle that left the road and struck a tree. Following an autopsy Tuesday morning, the cause of death was determined to be injuries suffered in the crash, and the manner of death was ruled an accident. There was no indication Reyes had any passengers. The coroner's office and Bethlehem police were continuing to investigate the crash, with the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Auto body repairman Steven Dowling said he was too broke to pay his electric bill. His phone was shut off so he couldn't contact his customers. So the 60-year-old Upper Black Eddy man decided to snatch a woman's purse, a decision he regretted the instant he executed it. "I can't believe I did it. Things had gotten really bad for me," he told Northampton County Judge Anthony Beltrami. "It was something stupid to do from being cold and hungry." Beltrami sentenced Dowling to one to two months in Northampton County Prison plus a year of probation. He's eligible for parole since he's been in prison since the Jan. 10, 2017, robbery. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to robbery. Police said he grabbed the purse and pushed the woman on the ground in the parking lot of the CVS Pharmacy at 620 Philadelphia Road on South Side Easton. Dowling said the woman fell because he stopped trying to grab the purse and let her keep it. "It kind of hit me right then: 'I'm not doing this'," he said. Assistant District Attorney Erika Farkas said Dowling's criminal record only includes drug paraphernalia charges in New Jersey. "This really is an aberration," said defense attorney Syzane Arifaj. "During the commission of the crime he sort of abandoned the crime. She basically fell as he let her have the purse." Dowling said he was too stubborn to ask his family for financial help. He said he plans to move to New Hampshire to live with his brother. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Pennsylvania is hoping to recoup some of the costs associated in cleaning up a March snowstorm that dumped up to 2 feet of snow in parts of northeastern Pennsylvania. On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf said the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency had requested federal review through a formal Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment in search of federal aid for counties and communities in northeastern Pennsylvania. Lehigh and Northampton counties aren't part of the request because they didn't qualify based on snowfall amounts, emergency management officials said. Eligibility would require a record or near-record snowfall, and the storm that hit over two days March 13-14 fell far short of the 30 inches that fell in January 2016. "We could take beatings now," said Scott Lindenmuth, Lehigh County's emergency management coordinator. Lehigh County got 13.7 inches at Lehigh Valley International Airport. Northampton County got up to 17 inches in some spots, but even that was well short of qualifying, said Todd Weaver, director of Northampton County Emergency Management Services. Based on snowfall totals, counties under consideration for potential funding include Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Montour and Northumberland, said Ruth Miller, a PEMA spokeswoman. Federal officials will be at PEMA headquarters Tuesday to begin the validation process for numbers already received, Miller said. State officials have asked affected counties to review costs and damages and return with a final tally April 19. Wolf said he also plans to request a Presidential Declaration of Disaster Emergency, pending the formal assessment. "PEMA has worked hand-in-hand with the Federal Emergency Management Agency since the storm began and will continue to make every effort toward getting a presidential declaration to get federal aid to these communities," he said in a statement. Preliminary estimates supplied by counties to PEMA and reviewed informally by FEMA suggest the region may not reach thresholds, but the formal FEMA review will confirm whether or not the federal government will reimburse counties and communities. Even if formal assessments do not show counties meeting the threshold, Wolf said he may still request a presidential declaration in hopes that the severity of the storm may grant northeast Pennsylvania special status to get relief. Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook. The verdict came as a shock to some in the courtroom. After only four hours -- including an hourlong lunch break -- the jury found 29-year-old Daniel Lawrence guilty of murder and weapons charges for a 2014 stabbing. A woman in the audience cried before storming from the courtroom in anguish. "Melissa Woody is the real (expletive) murderer!" she screamed. "She's the reason why it happened! She's the reason!" Lawrence was accused of fatally stabbing 30-year-old Warren Moore, of Jersey City, outside Woody's home on East Washington Avenue in the borough of Washington. Both men had prior relationships with Woody, whose testimony proved to be a central element of the trial. Warren Moore in an undated photo. (NJ Advance Media file photo) Warren County Assistant Prosecutor Victor Jusino said the killing was done in a jealous rage. Lawrence's attorney, Edward Hesketh, argued it was a matter of self-defense -- that the victim was actually the aggressor. On Monday morning, a week after testimony began, both sides presented their closing statements at New Jersey Superior Court in Belvidere. The jurors -- six men and six women -- began deliberations at noon and returned with a verdict at 4 p.m. Authorities said that on Sept. 2, 2014, Moore went to Woody's house to pick up a bag and got into a confrontation with Lawrence. Moore was stabbed nine times, and a knife with Lawrence's ID cards attached was next to him when rescue crews arrived. Both Lawrence and Woody remained on scene and gave statements to police that night. Lawrence took the stand in his own defense, saying that he actually stepped in to protect Woody from an angry Moore. Lawrence said Moore grabbed him by the throat and pummeled him, and that his stabs with a utility knife were done out of desperation. Jusino, the prosecutor, said Lawrence's story did not match the physical evidence, which he emphasized in a dramatic closing statement in which he pantomimed the fatal thrusts of the blade. He also said the brevity of the focused the jury on a few key witnesses: the medical examiner, Woody and Lawrence. "When you looked at all the evidence, it was clear his story was fabricated," the prosecutor said after the verdict was read. "I think what really resonated with me was his claim that he was protecting Ms. Woody. If that was really the case, why wouldn't Ms. Woody come forward and state that? ... Why didn't he say so the day of?" Authorities investigate a fatal stabbing Sept. 2, 2014, at 276 E. Washington Ave. in the borough of Washington. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo) Lawrence's attorney, however, said he felt the jury's decision to convict after only four hours was "incomprehensible." During that time, the jury asked two questions of Judge H. Matthew Curry: one about the burden of proof in a self-defense claim, and the other about the medical examiner's testimony. They later determined a replay of the testimony was not necessary. "Seems like they were more interested in going home," Hesketh said. Lawrence, wearing a light gray suit, was led from the courtroom in shackles past some of his family. His sentencing is tentatively scheduled for May 19. Hesketh said an appeal is possible. In the meantime, Jusino said the verdict provides closure for Moore's family and justice for the victim. "I'm happy that justice was served," he said. "Our job is to protect the citizens of Warren County and the citizens of New Jersey. And that's what we did today." Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UK Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump emphasized during a phone call the importance of the international community, in particular China, putting pressure on North Korea, considering the threat it poses, a Downing Street spokesperson said Monday, Sputnik reported. "The Prime Minister and President also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses," the spokesperson said. In March, Trump said Chinese authorities have done "little to help," to address the threat posed by the North Korean nuclear program. However, on April 2, he said the United States counted on China's assistance in solving the problem of North Korean threat, but was ready to act alone in case of Beijing's abstention. Since the beginning of 2016, North Korea carried out a number of missile launches and nuclear tests, prompting worldwide criticism, including from Beijing. As a result, the UN Security Council tightened the sanctions regime for North Korea in an attempt to force Pyongyang to stop ballistic missile launches and nuclear tests, including imposing a measure intended to affect the countrys trade, export of natural resources, arms trade and banking sector. Father Thomas Delahunty, a native of Cullohill, has died suddenly in California, just short of his 90th birthday. Originally from a family of nine from Newtown, Cullohill, his passing now leaves just one remaining member of his family - Julie Bergin in Abbeyleix. He was a regular visitor home and in the summer of 2015, he spoke to the Leinster Express about his eventful life. We reproduce that article here: A Cullohill priest who recently celebrated his diamond jubilee, returned to the US over the August bank holiday weekend. Father Thomas Delahunty spent 28-years as a US Army Chaplain and held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, a role which saw him posted to places as diverse as Hawaii, Berlin and South Korea. From a family of eleven, Fr Delahunty was born in Newtown, Cullohill in May 1930. Following the death of his brother Dan in Rathdowney last year, himself and a sister are now the last remaining members of his family. Tom Delahunty commenced his education at the local national school in his native Cullohill. From there he entered St. Kierans College in Kilkenny where he was to remain for the next eleven years. He was ordained in June 1955, after being accepted for the diocese of Sacramento in California, during his first year of philosophy. He arrived in Sacramento to take up residence just after Christmas in 1955. The next few years were spent working in a number of parishes in that diocese. In 1962 he was assigned to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Carmichael in Sacramento. It was to prove a propitious posting for it was at this stage that his incumbent Bishop asked him if he would consider part time duty with the US Army Reserve, headquartered in Sacramento. Part time Reserve duty entailed weekly drill training and occasional weekend training, as well as a fortnight of training once a year. The duty afforded Tom the opportunity to go to the US Army Chaplain School in Fort Hamilton, New York where he completed the basic and advanced chaplain courses. During this time he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Against the background of the escalating conflict in Vietnam and a shortage of militarychaplains, Fr Tom decided he wanted to step up to the plate as he put it himself He asked his Bishop if he would consider letting him go on active duty with the military. The Bishop duly consented and, in October 1967, Fr Tom received his first military assignment to Fort Irwin in Southern California. It was the start of a military career which was to take him all over the world, but during which he saw no hostile action. A number of assignments followed in quick succession. In 1969 he was assigned to ASCOM, a large Army depot and Medical Evacuation Hospital in Yongsong, South Korea. The hospital was the centre where naval personnel were brought following the Pueblo incident a year earlier, in which a US naval vessel was captured by North Korea. During this tour in South Korea, he was promoted to the rank of Major. Korea was followed by a posting to New Ulm, Germany in 1970. From there he was sent to Fort Ord Basic Training Centre in Monterey, California. His next assignment was to the US Army Chaplain School in Fort Hamilton, New York and to Long Island University for a full year of study. Then it was back to the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. This was followed by an assignment to the Tripler Army Medical Centre in Honolulu. It was during this time in Hawaii that he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His next assignment was to the US Army base in the Presidio in San Francisco. After this he went to Karlsruhe, East Germany, followed by two years with the Berlin Brigade in Berlin. He cites Berlin as his favourite posting. It took place at a time when the Cold War was at its peak. It afforded him the opportunity to take many trips into East Berlin. Following Berlin he spend 13 months in Sinop, Turkey on the Black Sea. He was the only Army Catholic Chaplain in the country, a factor which required him to undertake a lot of travel, visiting the different installations in Turkey where US troops were stationed. Honolulu was the next port of call and from there he began his last assignment with the 18th Medical Command and Army Hospital in Seoul. During this time in Seoul, he was awarded the Legion of Merit for his exceptional performance during 26-years of service. Fr Tom retired from the US Army in August 1993, having served a total of 28-years of active military service. During his retirement he has assisted with work in many of his local parishes. He now lives in Cameron Park in Sacramento. Fr Tom expressed thanks to family and friends for their support and encouragement from the beginning to the present. He also thanked the bishops, priests, and religious he has worked with over the years. He is also grateful to the different parishes and military communities for their support, friendship and encouragement. During my time in the military I worked with many religious denominations and people of all faiths. "There would normally be four chaplains on a base. The support I received was remarkable," he recalls. "It was an on-going education for me. For example, in Turkey I used to visit the local Imam. "Its a great joy for me now to look back on the all work that was done during those years." Fr Tom has been a regular visitor back to Ireland and Laois, where he has many nieces and nephews and relations. Camross, Mounrath and the wider hurling family were deeply saddened with the passing of Tim Keenan of Church Street, Mountrath and formerly of Roundwood which occurred on Tuesday April 4. The eldest of four children of Frank and Sheila Delaney of Roundwood, Tim had been ill for some time and passed away in the wonderful care of the staff of the Midlands regional Hospital Portlaoise, surrounded by his adoring family. Tim will be best remembered for his contribution to hurling in Camross from his first appearance in a minor final in 1962 until his last senior medal success in 1980, helping the club to their second five in a row. He won four out of five in the first five in a row in 1969. His goal in the Leinster final in 1976 is part of folklore of the club. Outside of hurling Tim was simply a workaholic from the time he left Killanure national school around the late 1950s. Hylands sawmills in Ballybrittas was where he worked for many years, then felling trees in many forests. However, he always found time for training. He met the love of his life, Helen just down the road and they moved to live in Mountrath where the family became hugely popular when they began a taxi service that served people far and near. Tims health deteriorated in recent times and he spent time in Portlaoise Hospital. There was always hope he might recover but on Tuesday, April 4 he lost his battle for life. He reposed at his residence on Wednesday and Thursday where a constant stream of people came to pay their respects. On Friday morning removal took place to St Fintans Church Mountrath for Requiem Mass. The coffin was draped in Black and Amber. The Chief celebrant, Fr Joe Brophy spoke of a gifted sportsman and great employee and, more recently, a generous employer. Fr John Lalor PP Camross concelebrated. After Mass the cortege stalled briefly in Church street en-route to Roundwood, where he was born and resided on both sides of the road, then the final journey for burial to the family plot in St Fergals cemetery Camross. As the cortege approached Scullys cross Camross GAA club formed a guard of honour and Tim became the second player from the 1979 County final to be laid to rest in a week. On Thursday March 30 "Maggie" Walsh was laid to rest in Ballinakill. While the sporting world will miss him, his loss will be felt most at home by Helen and Declan and his grandchildren Eimear and Oisin, whom he adored. Chief mourners are his wife Helen, son Declan, grandchildren Eimear and Oisin, daughter-in-law Paula, brothers Frank and PJ, Sister Sheila Dowling, brother-in-law Paddy, sister-in-law Teresa. nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family, many friends and great neighbours in Mountrath and Roundwood. Four secondary school students from Mountrath Community School have team competition at the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) final in Dublin. The team consisted of Alex Moore, Domhnall OFarrell, Aisling Page and Christopher Carrew. The Mountrath students beat off competition from 42 other schools around Ireland to take the team trophy. The AILO competition has been run by the ADAPT Centre for Digital Content Technology since 2009 and challenges students to use their ingenuity, creativity and skill to decipher languages with examples of translations. The AILO final saw the top 100 students out of a starting line up of over 4,000 opponents compete. Competitors are challenged to engage in code-breaking tests to unlock information in unfamiliar languages. No prior knowledge of a second language is needed with competitors required to use logical reasoning and out-of-the-box thinking to solve the problems presented. Speaking about the competition, Professor Vincent Wade, Director of the ADAPT Centre said: The All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad puzzles are a mix of maths, science and humanities. The increasing popularity of the competition highlights the Irish publics interest and appreciation for the imporance and applicability of problem-solving skills across science, the economy and society. We are looking forward to hosting and running a free, family-friendly problem-solving festival in Dublin Castle on 5th August which is open to all. Run by the Science Foundation Ireland funded ADAPT Centre, AILO aims to inspire the next generation of multilingual technology graduates, who possess a combination of language competency and problem-solving expertise. Participants in AILO 2017 received tuition from experts at the ADAPT Centre to assist them in how to approach the puzzles. My journey as a volunteer began last November on a chilly Tuesday night in Dublin. I had dropped my daughter and her cousin off to the Justin Beiber concert in the 3 Arena and had a lovely dinner with my sister and sister in law. We decided to take a walk up Grafton Street to do some window shopping in the Brown Thomas window and other shops along the famous street. However, it wasnt what was in the windows along that well walked street that caught my eye, it was what was in the doorways. The issue of Homelessness has been well documented in the media and as much as I sympathised and thought I knew a little bit about the situation until I was actually face to face with cardboard beds and life possessions placed in a plastic bag I realised I really had no idea of how huge the problem is. I remember walking around watching some of the people trying to bed down for the night and I was thinking thank God it is a dry night. As it was a Tuesday it was a fairly quiet night by Dublin standards but still there was a lot of noise and laughter and traffic and of course bright lights. How could you drown out all of that and try to get some peaceful sleep???? I was also thinking how do these poor people manage to get any sleep on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, traditionally the busiest nights in Dublin city centre. Then I looked around at all the people walking along that street just like my companions and I. They walked on, to me, oblivious to the existence of the people in the doorways. Or perhaps they were just so used to seeing them that they didnt actually see them anymore. In the same way as the people in the doorways had to drown out all the distractions around them, the late night walkers had drown out the sight of these makeshift beds and their occupants. I just thought this is wrong on so many levels. I was heartened that night to see that there were some angels walking around offering hot tea and coffee in flasks to anyone who was still awake in the doorways. I thought that it was such a simple yet such a powerful thing to do. It might not change the situation but at least these angels were doing something to make a difference. I decided I would love to do the same if I could. And then I discovered P.A.T.H. P.A.T.H. is the Portlaoise Action Towards Homelessness. They are a volunteer group who go to Dublin every Saturday night to help the people on the streets. I went along to the monthly meeting in the Leisure Centre, listened to what they do and signed up as a volunteer. My first night was December 16th 2016. I was extremely nervous, anxious, worried and yet excited (and although that doesnt seem to be the appropriate word in the context, it was how I felt at the time). I met the group of volunteers at St Peter and Pauls Church at 5 o clock. We drove to Traceys restaurant and collected trays of stews in sealed takeaway cups and fresh sandwiches, all of which are given by the fabulous staff every week. Once loaded up we headed to Dublin to begin our nights work. As on that first Tuesday night in November, it was a cold night out. This night however the city was thriving. It was the middle of the Christmas party season and Dublin was alive with flashing lights, music, laughter and people. P.A.T.H. have a set route they walk each Saturday and the people on the streets know it well. One gentleman waits just up from where the van is parked. He was eager to receive the hot stew and tea and even more eager for the company and a chance to talk and be listened to. I stayed in the background happy to pour tea or coffee, but I too listened as he spoke. After a while we moved on but not very far. Every 5-10 metres we met someone in need. Again the hot food and drinks we had to offer were very much needed but so was the human interaction, the kind words, the smile, the acknowledgement that these are not invisible people and that for a little part of their day someone was listening to them and talking to them as a human being. Walking through Grafton Street this time was almost a surreal experience. On one hand you have the late night shops with plenty of people happy to part with their hard earned money looking to buy that special gift for loved ones. You had party goers in pairs or small groups giddy with excitement for what the night will hold. You had families out looking at the Christmas shop windows and lights. Everyone was in fine festive form. And then you had the people on the streets. I dont know if there were more people this time or if I just looked and saw properly this time. Many could not bed down for the night because their doorway was still open and they were most certainly not welcome inside. I met people of all ages, from all parts of the country and the world. There is Jack. A gentleman in his late 70s perhaps early 80s who is from England but who has been living in Ireland for more years than he can remember. His doorway is just around the corner from Dail Eireann. I met Travis, a 4 year old boy and his parents. They had his Santa picture clutching it so proudly like any other parent would. Travis was so excited and gratefully accepted the chocolate and sweets we had, delighted with his stash as any child would be. They were on their way to get the train out to the B&B they were staying in that night. They were unsure if they were going to be in the same place the following week when Santa was arriving but we all assured Travis that Santa would know where he was. I really hope he found him. There was the lady with the guide dog. There was a gentleman from Poland. There were young men and women some still in their teenage years who were on the street for many, many reasons. Our mission was not to know the reason, although many of them were willing to tell us. Our mission was to provide them with some hot food and drink and a listening ear. As the night got colder we continued on and met more people on the way. Most of the people we helped knew P.AT.H. and greeted the group with enthusiasm and gratitude. The Portlaoise Stew is famous among the street people of Dublin. In fairness, many people who passed us when we were stopped put money in the donation box and told us we were doing a great job. Many of the people on the streets also put some money in the donation box. All donations are gratefully received and put to great use. Volunteering in any way is a very satisfying thing to do. A lot of the people who receive the help from volunteers appreciate the time that is given above all else. That is one of the things that struck me most on my first night and the nights that have come after it with P.A.T.H. Yes we give hot food, drinks, toiletries etc but most importantly to the people on the streets we give them our time. If you would like to know more about P.A.T.H. you can come along to their monthly meetings on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 8pm in Portlaoise Leisure Centre. Donations of hats, scarves, underwear (new) socks, toiletries, chocolate, crisps can be left in the Parish Centre. Donations of cash are also accepted you can contact the team via their facebook page. Donations of time are also very welcome. Lethean in Portlaoise is hosting The Spring Fling Music Festival this Sunday, April 16, to raise funds for the Temple Street Childrens Hospital. Another Easter Sunday and another Spring Fling, with this local one-day music festival going from strength to strength each year. This will be its fourth consecutive year running and it looks like this year could be the best yet. Doors open at 4pm, 5 entry with all proceeds going to Temple Street Childrens Hospital. Some fantastic local acts will be taking to the stage, including The Valves, Little Smoke, Apestar, White Riot, Radio Nowhere and Lounge Act, to mention but a few. Last year a staggering 9,711 was raised through the Spring Fling Committee for charity and with local help the venue hopes to do it again. Before all that, on Saturday, April 15, The Adam & Paul Experience will be playing in Lethean at 10pm. The band, made up of Jerry Deegan and Brian Loughnane, have been gigging exclusively to Lethean for the past two years. Both Jerry and Brian are on vocals and guitar and have a massive range of music to suit all tastes. IT may take a lot longer than people think to get Brexit negotiated, Taoiseach, Enda Kenny told a Fine Gael organised meet on Brexit at the Westgrove Hotel in Clane on April 10. There will be uncertainties in Brexit but there will be advantages, he said, at a meeting chaired by TD, Bernard Durkan. Mr Kenny also said that Ireland also had to look beyond Brexit to the EU agenda to bring peace and economic stability, not only to Europe but other parts of the world. He said Ireland had to develop commercial space, build new houses, motorways, improve broadband etc. He said a 42 billion fund was not enough. The European Investment Bank will provide serious investment projects provided there are income stream for example a motorway toll from Limerick to Cork. He cited example of Athlone eduction public private partnership, where schools are built with private funding. The EU has agenda beyond Brexit, he said. There are currently forty wars around the world but none in Europe. We have that peace and young generations do not live in fear. The EU plan is to have young people be able to live and work in their own countries, if they wish, he said. He also said Europe must have an agenda to deal with others - by going and helping them. You have to look beyond Brexit. Of Brexit talks, Mr Kenny said: We are staying with the EU and negotiating Brexit with 27 other countries. Rather than 27 in the room, you get a task force to deal with all the issues in the negotiations and refer them to the European Council to make the decision at the end of the day. Gerry McCormack, from Siptu, said a lot of workers will suffer from Brexit. People who have to go across the border in white vans to work will suffer. We would ask for social dialogue needs to be put in place not social partnership. Matt Dempsey, former editor of the Farmers Journal, said that economic history had shown following the 1947 act that Britain got cheap food from world markets while protecting its own farmers from competition. He predicted that the single farm payment to farmers in the UK will be replaced by environmental taxes. Maynooth University Professor, John OBrennan, said that Ireland could gain education wise with many EU citizens and Erasmus student currently in the UK seeking security and work within the EU. He said it is incredibly irresponsible to suggest that Ireland leaves the EU. But he also said that Brexit could provide accommodation challenges for Kildare and Ireland. Citing the Erasmus student programme, he said Maynooth University had to send foreign students out of Kildare to Mullingar, Lucan and Central Dublin to find accommodation. Professor OBrennan said that if Le Pen wins in France, the EU will face an existential crisis. MEP, Mairead McGuinness, said and the Taoiseach agreed, that fishing would be a major bone of contention with Brexit as 60% of the Irish catch is in UK waters and others have quotas in UK waters. Fishery meetings have been the most difficult areas, she said Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, said the EU had been set up to achieve peace. The Afghan Special Forces eliminated 250 militants of Daesh terrorist group, in eastern Nangarhar province, Sputnik reported. According to Tolo news, the militants were eliminated in Kot and Achin districts during a recently launched 10-day Hamza operation. Apart from the Daesh terrorists, seven militants of the Taliban radical movement, were killed. The Afghan troops did not sustain any casualties. "Afghan security forces have not sustained casualties so far. Posts will be established in the area cleared of insurgents," Achin district governor Esmail Shinvari was quoted as saying by the media outlet. According to Shinvari, the operation would continue until the region cleared of militants. Afghanistan is experiencing political, social and security instability, mostly attributed to the activity of the Taliban. The crisis in the country has prompted the emergence of local cells of additional extremist organizations such as Daesh. A Rathangan businessman is calling on all Kildare businesses, who are unhappy with their recent rate valuations to sign a new online petition. Jason Cross, who comes from a local agricultural company, is frustrated at the lack of action on the issue and has organised a meeting at Rathangan Community Centre at 8.30pm tonight. I was sick of being ignored by local politicians in relation to the rates charges. With only being 25 years of age, they didn't seem to take me serious. Due to this I have created the following website. Not many of you might know this, but our commercial property rates have risen 765% in the past month, he said. I have recently created a website to bring all Kildare companies together and sign a petition against the planned increased rates for county Kildare." Over 100 businesses have already signed the petition, and Mr Cross has contacted over 2,000 companies to inform them about www.kildarerates.ie He said the aim of the campaign is to get people to come together and stand against the rate increases. There is also a rate increase calculator and an event page on the site. You can also click on to the campaign's facebook page. All are welcome to tonights meeting and businesses from across the county are invited. CORPORATE visitors from the UK are comprising a larger proportion of visitors to the Punchestown Festival every year, the chairman of Punchestown, told a public meeting. Speaking at a Fine Gael organised meeting attended by Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, in the Westgrove Hotel, Clane on April 10, David Mongey said that corporate guests will comprise 17,000 of the total 120,000 expected at the Festival between April 25-29. Around 20% will be from the UK. He said this figure was growing at 5% a year. Mr Mongey was stressing the importance of maintaining current arrangements and agreements with the UK with regard to the equine industry, post Brexit, as so much money is tied up with the UK. In Kildare, it is estimated that 4,000 people are directly employed in the equine industry. Mr Mongey said the thoroughbred industry contributes 1.1 billion to Ireland with 14,000 direct jobs. The non thoroughbred sector provides 700m with 11,000 direct jobs. He said the Punchestown Festival would bring 70 million to the our economy and would employ 1,000 people. He said there was a lot of talk of free movement of people but it was vital that that a tripartite agreement between England, Ireland and France thoroughbred industries, stayed in place, such was the importance of the equine industry to the economy. Mr Mongey said that 90% of all horses which ran at the two Northern Ireland racetracks, Down Royal and Downpatrick are from Irish trainers. He said visitors to Ireland for horse events, mostly thoroughbred, came fro the quality of services, friendliness and hospitality they found in Ireland. He pointed to the fact that the headquarters of many equine organisations are based in county Kildare - Horse Racing Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland, Showjumping Ireland, The Equine Centre, Race, the National Stud and the Turf Club - the direct jobs. Then there are the indirect feeds, saddlery, transport, going to UK. Ireland exports of thoroughbreds in 2016 is worth 225m, not including private sales. 65% of annual foal crop is exported and 80% of that sold to Britain. In 2016, 1,471 trained horses in UK and took 15m and 75% of runners in UK are from Irish bred horses - outstanding relation. He referred to 80,000 people come to Ireland on equestrian holidays. I also ask them why come to Ireland. It is key, that relationship between the two. What if Brit rises tariffs, taxes and "other incentives" we cannot match. It will increase cost of business and reduce free movement or horses. We must secure this industry Taoiseach. We have been very bless down years with plic down years, part with this this Government and the last Government, with subsidised and they have looked after the industry so well. Of 27 race winners in Cheltenham at last meeting 19 were Irish trained. We have a fantastic industry. We must protect it, was his parting message to the Taoiseach. Naas politicians have expressed concern about the safety of the cranes in the unopened shopping centre in the town. Labour councillor Anne Breen has asked Kildare County Council (Naas Municipal District) to seek information from NAMA. At an NMD meeting today in Naas Cllr Anne Breen asked if KCC is happy with the condition of the cranes and she also asked for an update on the inspection reports dealing with the safety of the cranes. KCCs response was that the shopping centre is in NAMA and the responsibility for the condition of the cranes lies with the developer and NAMA. The council has no role, it added. Cllr Seamie Moore said it is his understanding that the cranes will have to be taken down if the centre is bought. KCC has previously indicated that certificates were provided before indicating that the structures are completely safe. This coming Easter Saturday, girls and parents from all around Leitrim will have the opportunity to drop in to The Bush Hotel between 4-5 pm to meet the Leitrim Rose co-ordinators and the 2016 Leitrim Rose, Annmarie Keegan, to find out about all the fun that any girl will have if they enter this years Leitrim Rose Selection. Brendan Galvin from the Leitrim Rose Centre said, "Every girl that applies for the Leitrim Rose has an absolutely fabulous time. It is such a friendly atmosphere and terrific fun on the selection night." The lucky girl who is chosen to represent Leitrim, will head off on an adventure of a lifetime to the International Rose of Tralee Festival in The Dome in August. Outgoing Leitrim Rose Annmarie Keegan from Aughavas stated that " This year has been the most incredible year of my life. Not only did I get to experience all the fun of the festival in Tralee, but my Rose opportunities extended to Belarus with Chernobyl Children and even to New York with all my Rose sisters to march in the St Patricks Day parade over there." The Leitrim Rose centre are looking for for at least one girl to represent each village and town in Leitrim. This year's selection is on May 6th in The Bush Hotel. Further information on www.roseoftralee.ie The Hollidge family would like to thank all the local businesses and people who contributed to the auction which was held on Friday, March 31 in the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon and to all those who turned up on the night. Also a huge thank you to all the committee members and friends who organised and helped make the evening such a success. The money raised will go directly towards Rebeccas medical costs. Rebecca is a sixteen year old girl from Annaduff, in Co. Leitrim who has suffered very severe ill-health following the 'HPV anti-cervical vaccine Gardasil' . She now needs to travel abroad to get treatment which, hopefully, will improve her condition. In the last three years her health has deteriorated to the extent that she has to spend up to 22 hours a day in bed with chronic pain, she suffers temporary limb paralysis, heart palpitations, confusion, nausea and memory loss (to name a few) and has been unable to go to school since she was found collapsed in a bathroom. She also 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. Over 1,750 was raised by Tesco stores in Ballinamore and Carrick-on-Shannon in support of Temple Street's Great Irish Bake which was held on Friday last, April 7. Nationally 130,000 was raised as Tesco colleagues and customers baked, bought, ate and sold an abundance of culinary creations to help raise some much-needed dough for the childrens hospital. All 148 stores across the country took part in the national baking event, raising a total of 130,000 over the weekend alone, which will support the cost of constructing a new state of the art Ultrasound System and the purchase of new equipment for the Ear, Nose and Throat Department. Tesco Ireland has been working with Temple Street as its charity partner since October 2014 and to date with the help of the Great Irish Bake has fundraised over 2.5m for the hospital, helping it to buy much needed life-saving equipment. Each year Temple Street Childrens University Hospital treats over 145,000 children from across the country and operates the busiest A&E department in Europe. For thousands of children, Temple Street is the only hospital in Ireland they can be treated in. Through the charity partner programme, Tesco colleagues and customers can help little people from all over Ireland get better and be real life heroes to children attending the hospital. I would like to make a further call for evidence regarding my independent inquiry into the processes and culture within the party, with a focus on issues relating to race and ethnicity. Thank you to all those who have already contributed to the review, whether by written testimony, in person or via other means. There is no set deadline for the submission of evidence however, as I begin to draw together my initial findings, it is important that I hear from all those who have relevant experiences, insights and views to help me form an accurate picture of the party as a whole. I want to stress however, that evidence will be accepted at every stage of the process. As outlined in the original call for evidence, it would be helpful if feedback could be given around these five areas: 1. Are there barriers to participation for BAME members? If so, what and where are they? 2. Do barriers differ in different parts of the party? 3. How effective are existing mechanisms/procedures in addressing the issue? 4. Does the Party do enough to engage with BAME voters and ensure accessibility for potential BAME members? 5. What further steps should, or could, be taken by the Party to address the issues identified in this review This list is by no means exhaustive and I will accept relevant evidence outside of the areas outlined above. Please note, however, that I am not mandated to make judgements regarding the innocence or guilt of any individuals or specific cases. It is also important to stress that all submissions and material will be treated with the strictest of confidence. Written evidence should continue to be sent to me at either [email protected] or [email protected] or in hard copy to me at Professor, the Lord Alderdice FRCPsych Millbank House House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW * Lord John Alderdice, a former Leader of our sister party the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, and former President of Liberal International is currently leading the independent inquiry into culture and processes within the party with a particular focus on race and ethnicity. A MAN who stuffed tissue paper in the letterbox of a neighbours home before setting it alight has avoided a prison sentence. Michael O'Donovan, aged 56, of Emmett Place, St Joseph's Street, pleaded guilty to a charge of arson relating to an incident at Wolfe Tone Street in the early hours of April 2, 2015. During a sentencing hearing last December, Limerick Circuit Court was told the injured party was alerted at around 4am when his fire alarm went off. He told gardai he also heard noises at the letterbox and that when he went to investigate he saw a small blaze on the tiled floor inside the front door. Garda Ciaran Young said the fire was quickly put out and that no damage was caused. Traces of accelerant were found at the scene and CCTV footage obtained, including from Mr ODonovans home, during the garda investigation. John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, said the defendant was 110% cooperative following his arrest and that he expressed deep remorse and shame. Mark Nicholas SC, said his client had developed a nervous condition due to antisocial behaviour in the area during which his car was attacked and the windscreen smashed on two occasions. He said he eventually snapped and reacted in an extraordinary way. He told the court Mr ODonovan, who has no previous convictions, had been drinking and got into a crazed delusion resulting him setting the fire. Judge Tom ODonnell was told the occupants of the house were completely innocent. He behaved in a very dangerous way. At the time he was a very different man because of pressure on him which had nothing to do with the victim. The mind can be convinced of things and he could not take any more and he struck out. It was like a kettle coming to the boil, a pressure cooker, Mr Nicholas submitted. Imposing sentence this week, Judge ODonnell said the actions of the defendant had been completely and utterly misguided and he commented that the consequences could have been catastrophic. However, he accepted the case was one of recklessness rather than premeditation. The judge noted the parties are on good term now and that an offer of 500 in compensation had been accepted by the injured party. He imposed a three year prison sentence, suspending the full sentence for three years on condition Mr ODonovan stays out of trouble. CALLS have been made for Limerick City and County Council to prohibit any additional vehicular access to South Circular Road. In a motion which was before the Travel and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee, Cllr Elenora Hogan says local resident are very concerned given the number of planning applications that are currently pending. Her motion, which was discussed at the meeting, called for a commitment from the council that at no occasion in the future will any further traffic from any future development of Greenpark Racecourse be allowed to access the South Circular Road. Proposing the motion, Cllr Hogan said local residents are concerned given the current traffic levels in the area about the potential impact of any additional traffic, She added that she believes sections of South Circular Road are too narrow and cannot accommodate any increase in traffic. Cllr Daniel Butler seconded his party colleagues motion saying congestion at South Circular Road is already an issue. Again, he submitted that there no capacity to facilitate any new access and suggested any increase in traffic would create safety issues. Cllr Sean Lynch told the meeting he was fully supportive of the motion saying he believes any further increase in traffic would have a detrimental impact in the area. In a written response to Cllr Hogans motion, Director of Service Kieran Lehane, who has responsibility for the Metropolitan District said any development which is proposed in the area will be subject to the normal planning process. He added that the indicative route which is proposed at Greenpark under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund allows for access off the Dock Road and links to Courtbrack Avenue. The indicative route does not connect to the South Circular Road, he confirmed. The motion, which was passed without a vote, will now be referred for discussion at a full meeting of the local authority later this month. It is understood that while all 40 members of the council can note the motion and the views of the SPC, any recommendation they may will not be legally binding. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the upcoming referendum on constitutional reforms proposing among other things a transition to a presidential system is not about just one person or a party, but it is about the future of Turkey, Anadolu reported. Addressing a rally in northern Corum province on Monday, Erdogan said: "Constitutional change is a deep rooted, national and state project." He said leading political figures of the country, including the late Presidents, Turgut Ozal and Suleyman Demirel, and the late Prime Minister, Necmeddin Erbakan, and the founders of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Grand Unity Party (BBP), Alparslan Turkes and Muhsin Yazicioglu, support the proposed presidential system. He said: "They have seen the key to Turkey's permanent stability in the presidential system." He added the upcoming vote on April 16 was never about a person or a political party. "This is a reform related to Turkey's future," Erdogan said. Next Sunday, Turkish voters will be asked to vote Yes or No to an 18-article constitutional reform bill that would shift the country from a parliamentary system of governance to a presidential one. The Yes campaign is backed by the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and the opposition MHP, while the main opposition Republican People's Party has conducted a No campaign. Apr 11, 2017, 4 AM Bold, clear Pony Express strikes are found on this 1860 cover carried from San Francisco. It is among the many postal history offerings in the April 27-30 Schuyler Rumsey auction at Westpex. The 1923 1 green Benjamin Franklin stamp created from rotary sheet waste and perforated gauge 11 is an important United States rarity. This example will be auctioned by Schuyler Rumsey during the Westpex show in San Francisco. By Michael Baadke Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions of San Francisco, Calif., will hold its next public auction in association with the Westpex 2017 stamp show and exhibition. The four-day auction begins April 27, one day before the show opens, in the Bayside Ballroom II at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront, 1800 Old Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, Calif. The auction opens with stamps and postal history of Great Britain and the British Commonwealth, followed by general foreign and continuing into an extensive run of United States postal history and U.S. stamps, including back-of-the-book, possessions, Civil War and Confederate States, and more. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The auction concludes April 30 with a wide range of U.S. and worldwide collections. A key item among the U.S. stamp offerings is the rare 1923 1 green Benjamin Franklin stamp created from rotary sheet waste, perforated gauge 11 (Scott 596). It is one of only 15 recorded examples of this major variety, 10 of which are overprinted with a Kansas City, Mo. precancel, as this one is. According to the Rumsey catalog description, the stamp has rich color with a faint vertical crease at left, still Fine. The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values this stamp in the grade of fine at $100,000 with the precancel. This example is accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certificates from 1967 and 2008. An important U.S. production error from 25 years ago is represented in the Rumsey auction in an attractive block of four that illustrates two distinct error varieties. Two panes of 40 of the 29 New York Stock Exchange stamp (Scott 2630) were discovered with each having 28 stamps where the engraved black central design elements are inverted printed upside down with relation to the rest of the design (Scott 2630c) and 12 where those black elements are completely missing (2630b). This four-stamp multiple includes two stamps at right with the invert error, attached to two additional stamps with the color missing error, plus margin paper at left with U.S. Postal Service inscriptions. A se-tenant pair is listed as Scott 2630d in the Scott U.S. Specialized catalog, and valued therein at $22,500. Rumsey uses that figure to provide a $45,000 value for this block of four. Among the other inverts offered in this sale is a 1901 4 deep red-brown and black single with center inverted (Scott 296a) a bottom margin plate number single with siderographers initials and lightly hinged original gum. A standout from the postal history offerings is an 1860 Pony Express cover carried on the Dec. 8 trip from San Francisco, a journey that suffered delay because of snow. The blue folded cover, addressed to New York, is franked with the perforated 1859 10 green George Washington stamp (Scott 35) with guideline straight edge at right. The stamp is tied with a San Francisco circular datestamp and a bold strike of the blue Running Pony oval datestamp. It is endorsed pr Pony Express at upper left, as well as oz for the $2.50 quarter-ounce rate. Additional markings include a clean and clear strike of The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, San Francisco. Cal. oval handstamp on the front, and a neat green Pony Express, The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Dec 23 oval datestamp on the reverse. The cover has a tiny erosion spot in ink mark, Rumsey notes, but no repairs or restoration of any kind. It is described as very fine, accompanied by a 1984 Philatelic Foundation certificate, and carries an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. A significant selection of California postal history in this sale begins with material from the John Drew collection of early California history of Monterey and San Jose, and a 1775 letter from Monterey to Mexico described as one of the earliest California mission letters in private hands, written only five years after the founding of the mission. Choice U.S. revenue stamps on offer include an 1871 $500 second-issue documentary stamp, a well-centered example of the prize known to collectors as the Persian Rug (Scott R133). The stamp has a neat face free circular cut cancel and rich color; a tiny thin spot is noted, but the stamp is described as otherwise Extremely Fine by Rumsey. Its value in the Scott U.S. Specialized catalog is $17,500. This example is ex-Joyce, Zoellner, and Floyd, and carries a 2001 Philatelic Foundation certificate. The Westpex auction is listed online, where individual lots are pictured and online bids can be placed. For additional information, contact Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, 47 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94108. The post-World War I Schleswig plebiscite and the stamps that honored it, explained Apr 29, 2021, 7 PM Two designs were used for the first issue of Schleswig. The lower denominations feature the coat of arms of the plebisite, and the high-denomination stamps show a view of Schleswig. Plebiscite stamps were overprinted to serve as Official stamps by the government within Schleswig. Following the vote Feb. 14, 1920, the Schleswig plebiscite stamps were reissued in new denominations in Danish ore and kroner and with the overprint 1. ZONE. By William Hughes One of the objectives of the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended World War I, was to make it possible for areas of mixed ethnicity to determine their national affiliation. To achieve this objective, various plebiscites were held in Europe under the auspices of the League of Nations. A plebiscite is defined by Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary as a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal, especially on a choice of government or ruler. A number of disputed areas were placed under the temporary administration of the Inter-Allied Control Commission, pending the plebiscites. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The Grand Duchy of Schleswig was part of Germany but with a mixed German and Danish population. Located at the southern end of the Jutland Peninsula, Schleswig originally had been a Danish province. Following the War of Schleswig in 1864, the Treaty of Vienna awarded the territory to the Kingdom of Prussia, and it eventually became part of the Prussian province of Schleswig-Holstein. In 1871, Schleswig-Holstein became part of the newly founded German Empire. Section XII, articles 109 to 114, of the Treaty of Versailles called for a plebiscite to determine the future border in Schleswig between Denmark and Germany. The process was to be monitored by a commission (Commission Interalliee Slesvig) with representatives from France, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Sweden. France strongly supported the plebiscites because they believed that the probable loss of some portion of Schleswig to Denmark would weaken Germany. The Schleswig plebiscite area was divided into two zones: Zone 1, the northern and largest part of Schleswig, was populated by a majority of ethnic Danes, and Zone 2, in the middle of the region, consisted of about 80 percent Germans. There was a third zone to the south, but because the region was primarily populated by ethnic Germans, no vote was taken. Special stamps promoting the upcoming vote were issued for most areas where plebiscites were to be held. Postage stamps were ideal because they were visual, inexpensive, and widely disseminated. To advertise the upcoming Schleswig plebiscite, 14 stamps of two designs were issued Jan. 25, 1920, under the direction of the commission. Ten stamps, denominated from 2 pfennigs to 75pf, portrayed the coat of arms of Schleswig (Scott 1-10). An additional four larger stamps, denominated from 1 mark to 10m, showed a birds-eye view of Schleswig (11-14). Both designs, pictured nearby, were inscribed in Danish with Schleswig and Plebiscite. The stamps were printed by typography on paper watermarked with Multiple Crosses, a Danish watermark, implying that the stamps were produced in Denmark. The fact that the stamps are denominated in German currency but inscribed in Danish is likely due to the commission wanting to appear impartial in its promotion of the plebiscites. Additionally, the 14 stamps were overprinted CIS, the abbreviation for Commission Interalliee Slesvig, which oversaw the plebiscite. The newly overprinted stamps (Scott O1-O10; O11-O14) were intended for official government use within Schleswig. Examples are shown nearby. Forgeries of the overprinted stamps are known. Posters also were widely used to promote the plebiscites. The plebiscite for Zone 1 (northern Schleswig) took place Feb. 14, 1920, with the result that three-quarters of the population voted for a return to Danish rule, although a small German majority existed in several towns. Therefore, northernmost Schleswig, renamed Southern Jutland, was returned to Denmark June 15, 1920 (the transfer of Northern Schleswig to Denmark was the only one of the German transfers of territory after World War I that would not later be disputed by the Third Reich). On July 10, 1920, as part of an extended celebration of the return of northern Schleswig, King Christian X of Denmark crossed the border at Frederikshoj for the first time, purportedly riding a completely white horse. On May 20, after the vote, the Schleswig plebiscite stamps were reissued in Zone 1 with new denominations in Danish ore and kroner and overprinted 1. ZONE. These stamps (Scott 15-28) were used until June 1920, when they were replaced with Danish stamps. The second plebiscite, in Zone 2 (central Schleswig), took place March 14, 1920, and resulted in 80 percent of the vote being in favor of remaining with Germany. Zone 2 and the southern part of Schleswig are part of the present-day German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Post-World War I plebiscites, accompanied by special issues of stamps, also were held in Allenstein, Marienwerder, Eastern Silesia, Upper Silesia, Carinthia, and Saar. Critics said that the U.S. is not ready to handle China. (Photo : Twitter) China-U.S. ties were in the center of attention last weekend as the two most powerful leaders of the world met in Florida. The two leaders concluded the meeting with an agreement to cooperate in terms of trade and to work together on global security issues. China agreed that it will give concessions to beef exporters and American investors in the financial sector. Advertisement Both leaders agreed that the details of new trade arrangements will be smoothened out in the next 100 days. President Xi Jinping said that there are more reasons to build on the China-U.S. relationship than destroy it. "We have a thousand reasons to get China-U.S. relations right, and not one reason to spoil the China-U.S. relationship," Xi told Chinese state media. President Donald Trump said that he was happy to have formed a friendship with China but "time will only tell on trade." After the meeting, experts weigh in their opinion on what transpired. Most of them agree that the U.S. is not prepared to complete the 100-day timeline. Asia expert Michael Auslin of the American Enterprise Institute said that the "Trump administration is still largely bereft of high-ranking political appointees fit to make Asia policy." Even White House officials are not confident with the timeline. U.S. Commerce Secretary Ross Wilbur said, "If we don't get some tangible results within the first 100 days, I think we'll have to examine whether it's worthwhile continuing them." Despite the lack of confidence from the Pentagon and the cynicism from critics, Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High-Frequency Economics, said that the meeting between the U.S. and China showed progress in closing the trade gap between the two countries. He added, "U.S. consumers' access to less expensive imported goods will be unaffected, but incremental jobs will be created by incremental production." We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. China Must Choose Dalai Lamas Successor and Determine the Future of Tibetan Buddhism, Says Expert China said that the next Dalai Lama should be chosen by the Communist Party. (Photo : Getty Images) The future of Tibetan Buddhism should be in the hands of the Chinese government, according to Wang Dehua, the co-director for the Centre for South Asia Studies of Tongji University in Shanghai. The rule of choosing the next leader dates back to the Qing Dynasty where it gave power to itself to approve the reincarnations. Advertisement He said, "The government of the People's Republic of China has proclaimed the power to approve the naming of 'high' reincarnations in Tibet, based on a precedent set by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty." The expert also said that the Dalai Lama is in no position to change the tradition because the rule was already in practice since 1959. The Chinese government will support the next Dalai Lama if the leader follows Chinese history and traditions. The Dalai Lama claimed, in Tawang, near the Chinese border in Arunachal Pradesh, that the next Tibetan spiritual leader should be chosen by the people. "Beijing's bid to name my successor to undermine the Tibetans' cause is 'nonsense,'" he said. "As early as 1969, I had said the Tibetan people will decide if this very institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not. If this institution is no longer relevant, it should stop," he added. He also said that it is not unusual for China to put political color to his visits to Arunachal Pradesh. He also compared the atrocities in China to the deaths caused by Cambodia's Pol Pot. The Dalai Lama said that Tibet is open to having good relations with China and respects the One China policy. He also said that Tibet only wants respect to their language and culture. "Tibet has had very good relations with China for thousands of years. I have no issues with One China policy ensuring economic benefit to Tibet provided we have the right to preserve our culture and language," he said. China's Anti-Graft Campaign (Photo : Getty Images) The Chinese government has trimmed down its budget for official overseas travels, authorized use of allotted vehicles, and dining for foreign officials in the country in an effort to boost its anti-graft campaign. Advertisement For a long time, Chinese officials have been using overseas trip, vehicles and reception as a means to splurge assigned funds. However, the budget for the three public consumptions has been tightened for this year. The cut was made amid the preparations of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping for the Congress at the latter part of this year. The congress is held every five years. China has long been bedeviled by officials using their expenses accounts to travel in the name of official visits, use work vehicles on personal errands, and enjoy luxurious receptions and accommodation, according to a report by the state-controlled China Daily newspaper. But still, the authorized budget remains huge even with the cut. The Central government departments will spend a maximum of 6.15 billion yuan ($891 million) on the three public consumptions in 2017, down 31 million yuan from 2016, the finance ministry said as quoted by the state media. Expenses on overseas visits will reach no more than 1.88 billion yuan, while 3.5 billion yuan was budgeted for the purchase and maintenance of government vehicles and 761 million yuan for official receptions, China Daily reported. According to the ministry, the reduction is supposed to aid the streamline expenditure and properly allocate the budget for crucial overseas tours, holding receptions for dignitaries and replacing old, polluting vehicles with more modern ones with strict emission controls. The anti-graft campaign began in early 2013 when Xi Jinping was appointed as the general-secretary of the CPC. It has been his signature campaign ever since. A ban on red-carpet receptions for officials and use of public vehicles for private affairs, reduced meetings, avoided traffic disturbances such as road closures, and ordered austerity in official meals, travel and housing has also been included in the anti-graft policies. In the past four years, nearly 200,000 party and government staff, including those with senior positions, had been punished for breaking the frugality rules, according to a statement released by the CPCs anti-graft agency late last year. They were involved in more than 146,400 cases, about one-quarter of which involved the use of public vehicles and dining out on public funds, China Daily reported. The Xi Jinping leadership continues with its anti-graft campaign, aiming to eliminate corruption in China. Trivisa (Photo : GSC Movies/YouTube) After bagging the Best Film award given by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in January, the crime thriller Trivisa swept awards again at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday. The event was held at the Hong Kong Cultural Center. Sweep of Awards Besides the Best Film Award, the movies directors, Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky Wong, also bagged the Best Director Award, Global Times reported. The Best Actor Award went to Lam Ka-tung, also from Trivisa, a movie composed of three short films about the three most famous criminals in Hong Kong. Advertisement But the Best Actress Award went to Kara Wai for her performance in Happiness. The film is about Alzheimers disease which Karas mother suffered from. The actress said she hopes the movie would bring more public attention to the ailment. Other awards garnered by Trivisa were the Best Screenplay and Best Film Editing. It was the first Best Actor Award for Lam Ka-tung who portrayed the 1990s king of thieves in one of the trilogies. It was the second Best Director Award for Jevons Au who directed the Best Film Ten Years at the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2016, according to The Hollywood Reporter. New Generation of Filmmakers The Sunday awards night marked the triumph of a new generation of filmmakers. Also winners are Wong Chun, director of Mad World, and Steve Chan, director of Weeds on Fire. The two movies, produced at the cost of $257,000 each, won the First Film Initiative Award. Their funding came from CreateHK, a department of the Hong Kong government. Besides the Best Director Award of Wong Chun, Eric Tsang and Elaine Jin, won the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress Awards, respectively. Two-thirds of the length of the Great Barrier Reef is suffering from bleaching, a condition likely to cause mass coral die-offs. The Australian Research Council (ARC) announced yesterday (April 10) that 900 miles (1,500 kilometers) of reef have bleached in 2017, meaning the symbiotic (and often colorful) algae within the coral's tissues are expelled. The most severe impacts were seen on the middle third of the reef's length; the entire reef stretches for 1,430 miles (2,300 km) off northeastern Australia. Bleaching doesn't necessarily kill corals outright, but leaves them crippled in their ability to get enough nutrients to survive. The algae within the corals, called zooxanthellae, provide the corals with crucial nutrients and help the corals remove waste. Without them, the corals are more vulnerable to disease. If the algae are unable to recolonize the corals, the corals are also vulnerable to starvation. [See Images of the Great Barrier Reef Through Time] "This is the fourth time the Great Barrier Reef has bleached severely in 1998, 2002, 2016 and now in 2017," James Kerry, a marine biologist with the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, said in a statement. "Bleached corals are not necessarily dead corals, but in the severe central region we anticipate high levels of coral loss." Lost hope Bleached corals are visible from the air near Cairns and Townsville in North Queensland. (Image credit: Ed Roberts) In 2016, aerial surveys conducted by the ARC Center of Excellence revealed the most severe bleaching on record at the time. That bleaching event was partially spurred by El Nino, which brings warm water to reefs. High temperatures are a major source of stress for corals, which respond by expelling their algae, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). During last year's bleaching event, scientists found some hope in that the lower two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef had not been badly affected, and said that the bleached areas might bounce back. "It's really just a matter of whether or not we get another bleaching event in the next 10 years that would impede recovery," Rebecca Albright, a marine biologist with the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C., told Live Science at the time. That second bleaching event has already arrived, and in a non-El Nino year, to boot. "Mass bleaching events 12 months apart offer zero prospects of recovery for reefs that were damaged in 2016," Kerry said. New damage Whereas, the new damage to the reef is most severe in the middle third, in 2016, the northern end of the reef took the most damage, the ARC reported. Tropical Cyclone Debbie, which made landfall in Australia last month, worsened the situation by damaging a swath of reef 62 miles (100 km) wide. But scientists are most concerned about the main culprit in reef bleaching events: global warming. Climate change not only heats up the oceans, it increases ocean acidification, another stressor for coral. Changes in ocean currents might affect reefs, as well, while altered precipitation patterns can influence runoff into vulnerable areas, according to NOAA. Already, 80 percent of hard coral cover in the Caribbean is gone, a 2003 study in the journal Science reported. The Indo-Pacific, home to 75 percent of the world's reefs, lost approximately 1 percent of its coral each year over the past 20 years, according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. In the 1980s, the PLOS ONE study authors reported, coral cover in the Indo-Pacific averaged 42.5 percent, an average that dropped to 22.1 percent by 2003. Before-and-after pictures show the rapid pace of change globally. Original article on Live Science. A host of hardy microbes may be living miles beneath the ocean floor, new research suggests. Complex chemical compounds found in the rocks spewed from oceanic mud volcanoes suggest microbial life-forms may be dwelling some 32,800 feet (10,000 meters) beneath the seafloor. Though scientists have not yet found a smoking gun proving that life exists in these subterranean depths, similar chemical compounds have been found in other places where hardy microbes cling to life. "Although we cannot pinpoint the exact origin of the organic matter, chemical analysis of the constituents resembles molecular signatures that could be produced by microbial life deep within or below the mud volcano," the researchers wrote in the study. For more than two decades, scientists have known that life lurks beneath the Earth's crust. For instance, in 2010, scientists found microbes nearly 0.75 miles (1,391 m) beneath the planet's surface, in the mysterious gabbroic layer of Earth's crust, the deepest portion of the crust that lies above the oozing mantle. The mucky sediment in the ocean's crust may also teem with microbes that live in a thriving community, according to a 2013 study. Still other work has shown that microbes live in the watery portions of the Earth's mantle, which lies even deeper. The deeper that scientists have looked, the deeper life has seemed to go. [Photo Timeline: How the Earth Formed] In the new study, which was published yesterday (April 10) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers ventured to the remote reaches of the South Chamorro Seamount, an underwater volcano close to the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean. The seamount is part of a vast string of ocean-buried volcanoes that span the 1,740-mile-long (2,800 kilometers) subduction zone from Tokyo to Guam, where the Pacific plate is diving beneath the Philippine Sea plate. To search for possible life signs beneath the seafloor, the team sampled serpentinite taken from just beneath the ocean-floor surface. Serpentinite is a greenish rock that forms when mantle rock called olivine reacts with water, producing methane and gases that some microbes consume as food. The team estimated that the serpentinite came from more than 12.4 miles (20 km) deep. Other work has tied the presence of serpentine rocks to primitive microbes. The team found chemical traces that could have been associated with amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, although other organic processes can also produce these signatures, the researchers wrote in the paper. Other traces of organic matter with complicated chemical structures were also found, as well as tiny flecks of nickel-iron alloys that are often formed by primitive microbes in hydrothermal vent areas. "We suggest, based on the similarities with molecular signatures of bacteria-derived biopolymers, that the organic matter may represent remnants of microbial life within or even below the mud volcanoes," the researchers wrote in the paper. At this tectonically active part of the ocean, ocean water, oceanic crust, mantle and sediments are all churned and transported into a region in the mantle called the forearc mantle. From there, fluids may seep through fractures and fissures into the oceanic plate and mantle lying on top of it. This combination of fluid and rock may have provided the Goldilocks environment needed for microbes to thrive, the researchers explained. Though it's not clear exactly how deep microbes could dwell (if there are any such microbes), the team did a rough calculation to estimate that limit. Past research showed that life can survive at temperatures as hot as 251 degrees Fahrenheit (122 degrees Celsius) and at pressures 10,000 times higher than atmospheric levels. Using a simple model for temperature and pressure, the team estimated that primitive microbes such as Archaea could dwell up to 32,800 feet (10,000 m) below the surface. Originally published on Live Science. AI-Enabled Machines Can Do What People Cant Do, Alibabas Jack Ma Says Alibaba's AI Robot (Photo : Getty Images) Alibaba founder and executive chairman Jack Ma expressed optimism that the development of artificial intelligence (AI) will enable people to do more things than they can think of, thenews.com reported. Advertisement Ma said that using AI capabilities, machines will be able to do the work for humans. "Machines can do what people can't. We must make machines our best partner, rather than letting them replace us," Jack Ma added. "We shall not be worried about how much the Internet is impacting traditional business. Rather, we have to use [the] Internet and AI to our advantage." Ma made these pronouncements during the China IT Summit held in Shenzhen on Sunday, April 9, where executives of two other Chinese Internet giants Baidu and Tencent were also present, to talk about plans for a more intensive development of AI in the country. The executives of the three tech giants believed that the industry will reach its golden age in the coming decades. "We used to see artificial intelligence only as a way to improve our computing and processing abilities. But, actually, AI can use data for self-study and make our rules," Ma Huateng, chairman and CEO of Tencent, said. AI enthusiasts around the world witnessed how AlphaGo, Google's artificial intelligence program, triumphed over South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol in a five-round match in March last year. Jueyi, an AI program developed by Tencent, achieved a similar feat, winning several matches around the world. "If we develop a simulator, define its parameters, let it fully explore, study and make mistakes, programs will make out how things work, far exceeding our imagination," Ma said, adding that a number of Chinese IT companies are developing AI in some cities. In March, China's search engine Baidu set up a national deep learning tech lab in Beijing, where AI experts from Baidu, Tsinghua University, Beihang University and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology can work. According to Li Yanhong, Baidu chairman, the Internet is only a precursor of things to come as AI will be the main focus of the future, where machines that can understand humans will be developed. Baidu has poured huge money on AI-related technology such as image recognition, machine-aided study, voice recognition and driverless cars. "AI will be a magnanimous industry and will last for a very long time. I'm certain that the industry will develop fast in the next 20 to 50 years," Li added. The Chinese government has also thrown its support in the industry. , Zhang Yongqiang, deputy director of Zhongguancun Management Committee, said during another AI conference in Beijing last week, that the government has several policies that promote the AI industry, which is coming to a "new age." Last year, the government issued a three-year action plan for the development of AI in the country. According to the China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the AI market in 2016 was worth about 23.9 billion yuan ($3.5 billion) and it is estimated to reach 38 billion yuan ($5.5 billion) in 2018. Children who witness domestic violence may be more likely to have psychopathic traits in adulthood, according to a new study. In the study, the researchers looked at psychopathic traits among nearly 130 male prisoners and asked the men whether they had witnessed domestic violence in childhood. Although the term "psychopath" is sometimes incorrectly used by non-experts to describe someone who is brutish or cruel, in psychology, the term has a specific meaning. The traits of a psychopath include an unrealistic sense of superiority to other people, a tendency to manipulate others, a lack of empathy and a tendency to commit antisocial actions such as crimes. Previous research had found a link between experiencing abuse in childhood and a higher risk of developing psychopathic traits. However, the new study is the first to show that even witnessing the abuse of one's family members in childhood is related to psychopathic traits among adults who have committed crimes, study co-author Michael Koenigs, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said in a statement. [Understanding the 10 Most Destructive Human Behaviors] In the new study, the researchers looked at psychopathic traits among 127 prisoners in Wisconsin. The researchers chose to study prisoners because psychopathy is much more common in this population compared with the general population, said lead study author Monika Dargis, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, the researchers focused on the prison population to better understand more severe presentations of the disorder, she said. The scientists evaluated those prisoners' levels of psychopathic traits using a scale that ranges from zero to 40, with a score of 30 or more indicating that a person is a psychopath. Results identified 51 prisoners (about 40 percent) as psychopaths, the study said. The researchers found that the prisoners who had seen parents or siblings abused at home during childhood were more likely to score highly on the scale of psychopathic traits than those who did not witness domestic violence in childhood, said the study, published in February in the journal Law and Human Behavior. However, although the study shows that there is a link between witnessing domestic violence in childhood and psychopathy, the results do not prove that witnessing domestic violence in childhood is a cause of psychopathy, Dargis said. The exact mechanisms behind the potential link are unclear, the researchers said. However, it is possible that children who observe the manipulative and coercive behaviors displayed by the perpetrators of domestic violence may eventually develop these behaviors too, Dargis said. But it is also possible that kids learn to manipulate and lie to avoid being victimized by the perpetrators of domestic violence at home, Dargis told Live Science. In other words, these children develop psychopathic behaviors to avoid becoming targets of the abuse that has affected their other family members. One limitation of the study was that the researchers collected their data at a single point in time, and therefore the researchers were not able to examine a potential causal relationship between witnessing domestic violence and the development of psychopathic traits, the scientists said. Future research, conducted over longer periods of time, should examine how witnessing domestic violence in childhood may contribute to, or aggravate, the development pf psychopathic traits, the researchers said. Originally published on Live Science. Donkeys from Pakistan (Photo : Getty Images) Pakistan is planning to export donkeys to China, following a Rs 1 billion ($9.5 million) investment in its Donkey Development Programme. The plan aims to attract Chinese investors in the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province. Actions are being made to increase the donkey population in the province. China highly values donkeys for its hide which is used in manufacturing medicine and other products, an official document said. Advertisement According to a report by The Express Tribune, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa-China Sustainable Donkey Development Programme is one of the numerous investment portfolios the province has prepared to encourage Chinese investors in its agriculture sector. The project is under the bold China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) worth $46 billion. The report said that the plan to export donkeys will be introduced to investors in two-day road show scheduled in China this month. The proposed project will help improve the socio-economic status of donkey-rearing communities by improving the health and production of local donkeys. New technologies will be introduced and work will be done on capacity building of donkey breeders and services they provide," the document said. The government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province will develop linkages in order to improve prices of donkeys and enhance the income of breeders and traders," it added. The document also justified the Rs 1 billion cost of the project by asserting that the plan will meet not only its investment cost but also generate a good amount of revenue. Animal shelters, buildings for semen production, offices, as well as residential compounds for the staff shall be constructed by the investors. The investors also have to buy the animals and the needed machinery and set arrangements to generate necessary electricity from solar energy. On the other hand, the provincial government will watch over the utilities and supply technical and non-technical workers to the farms. The project can be executed through joint venture mutually agreed between the provincial government and the investor. It is also open for state-owned, state-supported and private entities, the document said. Pakistan hopes to attract Chinese investors through its plan to export donkeys to China. A man who was fatally shot by police in Fremont on Sunday night fired at officers from atop a box truck before he was killed, officials said. The man has been identified as 24-year-old Roger Perez of Orinda, according to the Alameda County Coroners Bureau. Perez is the third person to be shot and killed by officers from the Fremont Police Department this year. Fremont Police Chief Richard Lucero described cases in which officers must use lethal force as very difficult but said the three recent fatal shootings by his officers were all very different, with one key similarity. What they have in common is that they all involve very dangerous violence against officers, Lucero said. Fremont police were initially contacted around 11:30 p.m. Sunday when an officer from the East Bay Regional Parks District Police called for an emergency response to the parking lot of a 7-Eleven on Decoto Road and Fremont Boulevard, where occupants of a vehicle allegedly had a firearm, police said. Perez held a handgun as he fled the vehicle and ran across Fremont Boulevard to the area behind a Walgreens, according to police. When responding officers spotted Perez on top of a box truck, he opened fire on them, prompting two officers to return fire, according to Officer Michael Gilfoy, a spokesman for the Fremont Police Department. A gun was found in close proximity to Perez, who was pronounced dead at the scene, Gilfoy said. Law enforcement officials from eight different East Bay agencies swarmed the area during and after the shooting, according to police. The two officers, whose names have not yet been released, are being represented by Pleasant Hill defense attorney Michael Rains, Gilfoy said. Rains has represented law enforcement officers in some of the Bay Areas most high-profile cases related to alleged police misconduct and brutality, including the Oakland Riders police misconduct scandal and the case of the Corcoran eight, involving correctional officers at the state prison in Corcoran (Kings County) accused of setting up gladiator fights between prison inmates and ultimately acquitted. Police do not believe there is body camera footage of the shooting because Fremont police officers, other than traffic officers, do not wear body cameras, Gilfoy said. He added that police vehicles have front-facing cameras on their windshields, but he did not know whether cameras on the officers vehicles caught any of the Monday shooting. Following standard procedure, the two officers are on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated, according to Gilfoy. Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival began its 50th year of celebrations in San Franciscos Japantown Saturday a little wet, but undeterred. Though morning rain delayed setting up for many vendors and community groups at the annual celebration of Japanese culture, some festivalgoers had been long camped out for one of the events most anticipated happenings. Ive been in line for the Hello Kitty Cafe truck since 8:30 this morning with my umbrella, said Rochelle Martinez of Daly City, who was first in line. Im here with an online meet-up group of other Kitty fans, Ive been a big fan since 1979. The line for the truck reached halfway down Post Street by 9:30 a.m. as die-hard fans of the Sanrio character waited for their chance to buy Kitty merchandise and special food treats, including macarons and petits fours emblazoned with the characters likeness. The truck has been a regular feature at the festival for the past three years. The festival is geographically centered around the Japan Center at 1737 Post St. and closes blocks on Post, Webster and Sutter to traffic. By 10:00 a.m. the rain had mostly dissipated and some of the 200,000 expected visitors to the festival in the next two weeks began to fill the streets. Some came in traditional Japanese kimonos, others, like Dan Solace of San Francisco and Audrey Lynn of San Jose, embraced the festivals reputation for costume-play (cosplay) and dressed as anime and comic characters. Im Venom Pool: Thats a combination of a Venom and Deadpool costume, Solace explained, adjusting his red mask. Lynn was dressed in rabbit ears and a pinafore dress as Black Rabbit, a character from a Japanese anime. Kelly Tran of Hayward and Miu Liu of Oakland embraced Japanese Harajuku subculture fashion and wore girlish sweet Lolita costumes, which even included fake candy accessories in their hair. As always, the food booths, serving Japanese favorites ranging from teriyaki to udon, were among the festivals busiest destinations. We werent going to let a little rain get in our way, Said Brian Lew of San Francisco, who was managing the Mochi Waffles booth, which benefits San Franciscos Re:Acts Ministries. Were doing it for the kids we support. Since our waffles are vegan and gluten-free, we usually do very well. Away from the food bazaar, the Japanese skill game Kendama, in which a player juggles a ball on a string between three cups and a spike on the same stick, attracted its own crowd as some of the 90 competitors in the festivals Sakura Classic demonstrated their techniques. The sport has been around for about 100 years, said Jake Wiens, a professional Kendama player from Oakland. This is my third time as part of this competition. Its a really great event, and we get a lot of support from the Japanese consul general to make it happen. We literally have players as young as 8 years old from all over the Bay Area that have discovered it. The festival began in 1968 and is considered one of most prominent celebrations of Asian culture on the West Coast. The festivals website says its mission serves to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and United States using culture as its bridge. Last year it rained on opening day too, but like today, the sun eventually came out, said Akira Ichioka of the Japanese consul generals office in San Francisco. Its an event that isnt just about Japan, its also about the Americans who want to learn about Japanese culture. San Francisco isnt just excited about Japan during this festival, this is a city where people come out all year round. Were not just thinking about the next 50 years of this festival, were thinking about the next 50 to 100 years. Tony Bravo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tbravo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TonyBravoSF Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival: Sunday and next Saturday and Sunday surrounding the Japan Center Mall, 1737 Post St. The festivals parade will begin at 1 p.m. next Sunday at City Hall and conclude in Japantown. The grisly murder and dismemberment of a San Bruno man, allegedly by his neighbor, stemmed from a dispute over the price of a used space heater, officials said. The victim was identified by prosecutors as Benjamin Roybal, who was in his 70s and lived down the street from 50-year-old David Stubblefield, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held in jail on $10 million bail. Investigators searching for Roybal, who was reported missing March 29, went to Stubblefields home on Thursday and discovered human body parts inside his house and in the backyard. The dispute arose over the price of the space heater the victim had agreed to buy, said San Mateo County Assistant District Attorney Albert Serrato. Officers visited Stubblefields home on the 3700 block of Pacific Heights Boulevard in the course of searching for Roybal, San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said Friday. While at this residence, detectives located what appeared to be a dismembered human corpse in the rear yard, Barberini said. He added that a portion of the body was outdoors and a portion was in a structure. According to San Mateo County district attorney Steve Wagstaffe, the suspect used pepper spray on the victim, then shot him with a handgun, then dismembered him, then used chemicals in an initial attempt to hide the body. Investigators found chemicals around the room, the district attorney said. "It was a very inartful attempt to get the body to decompose like what you see on TV, when they throw the body in acid, Wagstaffe said. That's what he tried to do." According to Wagstaffe, the suspect was convicted two decades ago of possession of methamphetamine for sale. Roybals remains were found about a week after he was reported missing. As of Tuesday morning, the San Mateo County coroners office has not yet positively identified the remains as belonging to Roybal, and the San Bruno Police Department has said that until they do, the investigation into his disappearance will remain open. Stubblefield was interviewed by police and booked into San Mateo County Jail late Thursday night. He made his first appearance in San Mateo County Superior Court on Monday and was appointed an attorney to represent him. Stubblefield is scheduled to be arraigned on April 24 on charges of murder, unlawful possession and use of teargas, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chronicle staff writer Michael Bodley contributed to this report. Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi Evan Sernoffsky / A 33-year-old motorcyclist driving by a fight in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco was hit by a stray bullet, police said Tuesday. Two men, ages 19 and 23, were at the scene of an argument that broke out at Turk and Taylor streets around 8:37 p.m. Monday when the 19-year-old fired a gun, said Officer Robert Rueca, a San Francisco Police Department spokesman. Not all mummies are fit for a sarcophagus. Four arrived inside an old cigar box when arts patron Gilbert M. Denman Jr. donated his collection of Egyptian antiquities to the San Antonio Museum of Art in 1991. It was believed the small, brown bundles contained the preserved remains of baby Nile crocodiles, perhaps once left as an offering to the god Sobek. But thats the trouble with mummies short of unraveling them, theres no telling exactly whats under the crumbling strips of linen, at least not without the help of modern technology. Recently, museum staff got a chance to peek behind the wrappings with the help of staff at the UT Health San Antonio Medical Arts & Research Center. Ten animal mummies from the museums collection were transported from museum storage to the facility on a cloudy Sunday morning to undergo X-rays and CT scans. Of the group, only one an ibis has been exhibited at the museum before. I never put any of them out after I came precisely because we hadnt done this research, said Jessica Powers, who joined the museum staff as curator of art of the ancient Mediterranean world in 2006. So I was really kind of waiting for the opportunity and the right specialist on staff to be able to do this. That opportunity arose last year when the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded the museum a grant that allowed the institution to hire Sarah Schellinger as a post-doctoral curatorial fellow. Schellinger, who has focused her work on the architectural development in the ancient Mediterranean and Red Sea areas, is developing exhibitions and programs built around the museums Egyptian and Near Eastern art collection. A small show of the animal mummies is planned for next year. Everybody knows the Egyptians mummified humans, but not everyone knows there was this enormous practice of mummifying animals as well, Powers said. So I think its something that has the potential to have huge interest for our visitors. Ancient Egyptians mummified animals for various reasons. A beloved pet might be mummified so it could accompany its owner to the afterlife. Victual mummies frequently birds were buried as food for the dead. The animal mummies in the museums collection are classified as votive mummies. The animals were raised by temple priests who then made them into mummies using techniques similar to those used to prepare bodies for burial. The the museums mummies have not been dated, but the popularity of votive mummies reached its height between 712 BC and AD 364, Schellinger said. Pilgrims bought the votive mummies and used them as offerings so their prayers would be addressed by a specific god or goddess. Divinities were associated with a certain animal or animals. Among them, Sobek, the god of fertility and rebirth, was represented by a crocodile; Bastet, the goddess of warfare, was represented by a cat; Thoth, the god of knowledge, was represented by an ibis or baboon; and Horus, the god of protection, was represented by a falcon. The practice was so popular that some of the animals became scarce, Schellinger said. That lead to the proliferation of fakes or dummy mummies. Some wrappings might be empty. Others might contain odds and ends from one or more animals. Instead of wrapping one ibis completely, (the priests) would take maybe the beak and wrap that and then put in clumps of straw or feathers or something like that, and wrap it in a more intricate fashion to show that it was an ibis that was supposed to be inside, she said. What youll find is that a lot of times the simpler wrapped animals generally do contain the complete mummies whereas, when you see more elaborate wrapping, the chance is there will not be a complete animal inside. When priests sold incomplete mummies, they were not necessarily pulling a fast one, Schellinger explained. As long there were some bits in there, it was enough to represent that animal and therefore, it still served its function as a votive offering, she said. An avid collector, Denmans first passion was Greek and Roman art, said Gary Scott, director of the American Research Center in Egypt, but he was also interested in ancient Egyptian art. Scott was recruited for a curating position at SAMA by Denman, a museum trustee, and worked there from 1990 to 2003. Before donating his collections to the museum, Denman kept them in an apartment on the River Walk where he sometimes crashed after working late and where he entertained friends. He was always very careful of them, but they were on display. People could see them, Scott said. To him, I think, the animal mummies were a minor aspect of his collection. He really was an art collector, so it was his Egyptian sculpture that he valued the most. After donating the Egyptian material to the museum, Denman missed having a collection, Scott said. With the then-curators help, he put together a smaller collection. Among the pieces Denman acquired were a pair of ibis mummies that previously had been in the collection of the Toledo Museum of Art. He placed them on loan to SAMA and one of them was displayed in the Egyptian galleries for several years. They were part of Denmans bequest to the museum when he died in 2004. In addition to the animal mummies from Denman, the museum was given three falcon mummies by Houston collector Beryl McCleary in 2003. Museum staff was pretty certain those were complete because some of the wrapping has torn away, and so you can see some of the talons or the beak or things like that, Schellinger said. The others, however, were something of a mystery. In addition to four crocodile mummies, Denmans gift to the museum in 1991 included what was believed to be a cat mummy. Roughly the size of a loaf of bread, it was bent in a U shape as if it had been broken. The museum invited Rob Coke, senior staff veterinarian at the San Antonio Zoo, to be there when the X-rays and CT scans were done. He jumped at the chance. They know mummies. They know art. They know natural sciences, Coke said. As a veterinarian, I know animals, and specifically being a zoo veterinarian, I know birds and reptiles all the extra animal weird things of the world. So they thought my expertise in the animal side of things would help them figure out whats actually inside these wrappings. Wrapped in crepeline a sheer fabric and nestled in multiple layers of foam inside a specially made case, the mummies were transported to the UT center inside boxes covered with clear plastic bags to protect them from the threat of rain. At the center, a handful of UT Health and museum staff clustered around the medical equipment, eager to see what technology could reveal. X-rays were done first to get a quick overall picture of what was inside each mummy and to determine if any foreign bodies for example pieces of metal were present. To the untrained eye, the first image to appear on the lead radiology technologist Yvette Garzas computer screen looked like, well, a ghostly gray blob. But Coke could see something else: the centuries-old remains of a hatchling Nile crocodile. Knowing the species helps, he said. If you were not giving me any species, that would probably be a little challenging. An extension of X-ray technology, CT scans provide a better view and can be used to create a 3-D image. A CT scan of what had been thought to be a cat mummy revealed the biggest surprise of the morning: an elongated lower jaw more likely to belong to a member of the canid, or dog, family such as a jackal. The most significant preliminary findings from the X-rays and (CT) scans are that all of the mummies did contain animals, Schellinger said, via email. In other words, the museums animal mummies are no dummies. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In anticipation of Fiesta, Im cracking open my own brand of cascarones to see what sort of TV confetti pours out. Crack! After a half-hour of stories about politics, the strike on Syria and all kinds of other tensions and conflicts, what a tonic it was to see anchorman David Muir of ABCs World News Tonight turn to a final story that celebrated the courage of a San Antonio woman. The latest Person of the Week, his signature Friday feature, was Yvonne Llanes, a mom who made good on a promise that not only turned her life around but inspired many others. Llanes, Muir explained, was a teacher, a principal; she is a devoted mom of four. Her story, as told by ABC News: Nearly 12 years ago, a freak accident changed her life, leaving her with injuries so serious that both of her legs had to be amputated. RELATED: San Antonio TV station unveils big surprise It happened in a store parking lot in Yuma, Arizona, in 2005. She was putting away bags in the back of her vehicle and was hit from behind by another driver and pinned between the cars. Doctors had to amputate both legs above the knee. She was 36. For nearly 10 years, Llanes used a wheelchair to get around, and she grew increasingly depressed. I was sad. I was mad at the world, she said on the broadcast. I wanted my life back. I wanted my legs back. A promise she made to her late father made the difference. It took her to the Hanger Clinic's boot camp for amputees in Oklahoma City. I met a group of amazing amputees. They were up, Llanes recalled. And they were walking. And they were out of their wheelchairs. And I was just incredibly amazed. And I told myself, I want to be like them. RELATED: HBO's John Oliver invokes San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan in latest rant After months of determination and hard work, and with the aid of prosthetic legs, she, too, got out of her chair. Just this week, Muir said, Yvonne was back at that clinic. This time shes the one inspiring others. I want to be able to show people, she said, that its never too late to get up and live out your dream, And so we choose Yvonne Llanes, Muir concluded. We needed that tonight. Thank you, David. So did we. Crack! An outpouring of dismay, mixed with good wishes, continues to follow meteorologist Katie Vosslers recent departure from KSATs weekend news. People have emailed and posted on Facebook and Twitter how much theyll miss her knowledgeable weathercasts, sunny delivery and, last but not least, Vosslers love of dogs and other animals, which she exhibited week after week during on-air pet segments. San Antonios loss, however, was the gain of Tylers ABC affiliate, KLTV. The married mom of baby daughter Grace accepted a job there to be closer to family in East Texas, where she grew up. RELATED: Naughty local radio ex wants to shake up S.A. again Vossler checked in the other day to reveal more about her new post. Shes now forecasting weekdays as the stations morning meteorologist. Im loving it, she wrote in a Facebook message. East Texas is home, and KLTV feels like home, too. Meanwhile, KSAT has hired a couple of new weather talents to take up the slack. It takes two to replace Katie, the stations creative services director, David Cuccio, quipped in a recent email. One is Clark High alumna Sarah Spivey, who comes from a station in Oklahoma and joins KSAT as weekend morning meteorologist on April 15.. Sliding into Vosslers evening seat on Saturdays will be Kaiti Blake, who hails from the Houston area and most recently had a morning and noon gig on Abilene TV. She started at KSAT Tuesday and will debut as weather anchor Saturday night. RELATED: Movie star Michelle Rodriguez shares memories of San Antonio spankings Crack! Peter Capaldis final season on Doctor Who as the ancient alien who, with the help of a time-traveling spaceship, protects individuals and, at times, rescues entire civilizations begins at 8 p.m. Saturday on BBC America. The opener is full of suspense, danger and intriguing twists. Its also a charmer, thanks to the engaging chemistry between Capaldi and spritely Pearl Mackie as Bill, the Doctors new traveling sidekick and the series first openly gay companion. It will be sad to see Capaldi, the oldest actor to play the Doctor since William Hartnell of the classic series, exit on the 2017 Christmas special after such a solid three-year turn. While grounding the character with wisdom and reason and an inner strength as pronounced as those signature arched eyebrows of his he also injects him with humor and whimsy, particularly when the Doctor brings out his electric guitar and plays with abandon. The good news? Capaldis last hurrah promises to be an unusually captivating one with loads of adventure and monstrous scares. RELATED: San Antonio-area star had fab time with Pierce Brosnan in TV series 'The Son' Crack! Speaking of scares, BBC Americas hip new coming-of-age Doctor Who spinoff, Class, provides plenty of those, complete with gore galore and jump-from-your-seat encounters with creepy monsters. The eight-part series debuts at 9 p.m. Saturday. It follows four very different Coal Hill Academy students from various ends of the social spectrum a cocky athlete; a nice girl whod love to be viewed as enticing; an intellectual prodigy whose youth makes her feel alone and awkward; and a guy whos not only dreamy but hides a mysterious and regal past. They form an unlikely alliance after a visit by the Doctor (Capaldi in a guest-starring role) causes a rip in the wall of space and time, letting in all kinds of alien threats. The high schoolers join together to battle these terrifying visitors while dealing with typical teenage angst. A standout of the lovely cast is Katherine Kelly, who plays physics teacher Miss Quill. Her stern beauty and no-nonsense magnetism is reminiscent of the young Helen Mirren. Jeanne Jakles column appears Wednesdays and Sundays in mySA. jjakle@express-news.net Two culinary superstars who helped redefine modern Mexican cuisine will be in Houston for a one-night-only dinner that promises to be one of the culinary events of the year. Enrique Olvera, chef/owner of the internationally acclaimed Pujol in Mexico City, will team with Daniela Soto-Innes, chef de cuisine at his acclaimed Cosme restaurant in New York, for a multi-tostada menu on May 5 at a dinner to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston. The dine-around dinner, called The Big Pop-Up, will take place at Ecclesia Houston, 1100 Elder; tickets ($225 for VIP, $150 for general admission) are available now. AI: China Is the Leader in Global Executions; More People Sentenced to Death This Year Many criminals in China are sentenced to death and a large number are unreported. (Photo : Getty Images) There are more people sentenced to death in China this year, according to a report released by human rights group Amnesty International. The top five countries that contributed to 90 percent of executions are China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan. The number of executions decreased in the U.S. and has been consistently low for the past 20 years. Advertisement There was an increase of people sentenced to death last year, which is more than 3,000 people and a rise of 56 percent from 2015. Amnesty International believes that there are thousands of people executed in China and more than the total number of deaths in 23 countries. Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty International's regional director for East Asia, said that China is the only country that sentences in a large scale and as quickly. He said, "China now wants to assume a global leadership role. In respect to the death penalty, it is leading in the worst possible way." "Nobody executes at that scale. Nobody executes with such secrecy. Nobody executes so quickly," he added. Most of China's executions are unreported, according to Bequelin. The actual number of deaths by execution is a state secret. The human rights group reported that in 2016, they were able to identify 305 executions by using a Chinese search engine but only 26 were reported in the national database. Bequelin said, "Whatever is recorded officially is only the tip of a huge, shameful iceberg." China's head of the Supreme People's Court, Zhou Qiang, said that the court will only impose the death penalty on an extremely small number of criminals who committed extremely serious crimes." Amnesty's director said that Zhou's statement is "misleading and disingenuous." Other countries who belonged to the top five--like Pakistan--had a surge of deaths due to the lifting of the moratorium and the conduct of military courts, which practiced indiscriminate killings of criminals. China Will Not Form Trilateral Defense Alliance with Russia and India China refused an invitation from Russia to form a trilateral alliance with India. (Photo : Getty Images) China made it clear that it will not join an initiative led by Russia to form a trilateral defense relationship. The communication came last week from Beijing as the Dalai Lama came to visit the Arunachal Pradesh despite protests from the Chinese government. India has refused to consider China's request. Advertisement An invitation came from Moscow for a trilateral meeting on April 25 and a day before the Moscow Conference on International Security, to be attended by India's defense minister, Arun Jaitley. The three countries were supposed to explore the dynamics of the trilateral arrangement. However, China refused to attend and did not give any details. Russia then conveyed the message to India. There is speculation that Beijing's decision is due to the sensitivities of the country's partnership with Pakistan, which has a long-standing dispute with India. China, Russia and Pakistan have an alliance on their own and was formed to battle Afghanistan and was a result of the failure of the U.S. to bring stability in the region. The conflict in Afghanistan is a pressing concern for Pakistan because the war is hampering development in the region. Analysts think that Pakistan has no other recourse but to get support from other countries. Defense analyst Retired Lieutenant General Amjad Shoaib said, "Due to these compulsions Pakistan has now reached out to Russia and other regional countries." The military analyst added that Washington has shown little interest in bringing peace to Afghanistan and is more keen on extending the armed conflict. He noted that Pakistan has made it clear to the U.S. that if they fail to control the Taliban, then Pakistan will get support from Russia and China. "This is a realistic approach and is good for our interests," said General Shoaib. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Volunteers have been combing a southeast Houston neighborhood, searching in the trees that line residential streets for the body of a 26-year-old woman who has been missing for more than two weeks. They looked blocks from the woman's house in the 7400 block of Lakehurst Drive, where Houston police suspect her boyfriend shot and killed her on March 25. Even though the woman's body hasn't been found, charges have already been filed for the accused killer, 27-year-old Miguel Buezo, who fled the country the day after the apparent murder. GONE GIRL: Small town Texas teen disappeared in the middle of the night As Buezo evaded arrest, authorities patched together clues of what happened to the missing woman, Karen Ramirez, from the bloodstains and bullets found in her abandoned car. Authorities found the car miles away from Ramirez and Buezo's home, parked among warehouses in the 8300 block of Tiligham, according to court documents. A bullet was lodged underneath the driver's seat, which was coated in blood. Ramirez's purse was on the seat. There was a hole in the passenger door, which appeared to have come from a gun fired inside of the car. Blood had dried on the carpeting in the trunk of the car, which, days later, smelled like the pungent odor of a decomposing human body. Police suspect Buezo shot and killed Ramirez and then stuffed her in the trunk. He is accused of dumping her body and abandoning her car. STILL SEARCHING: Quest ongoing to find traces of woman who vanished in 1993 The couple was last out together at the La Playita Bar and Grill, late on March 24 and into the early morning hours of March 25, according to court documents. The pair headed to their home in the 7400 block of Lakehurst Drive, where neighbors heard them arguing in the driveway between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. "Shut up, calm down," Buezo yelled in Spanish at Ramirez. "I'm going to shoot at you like I shot at you the other time." During or after that argument, police suspect Buezo murdered Ramirez. Ramirez's car was still outside the couple's house the following morning. Surveillance video caught Buezo staring into the trunk of Ramirez's car, then shutting it and walking back into the house. Though Buezo was romantically involved with Ramirez, he had been married to another woman since 2011, according to court documents. The couple was separated at the time of the suspected murder, but Buezo enlisted his wife's help disposing Ramirez's body. TRAGIC END: Bones found near Texas-Mexico border identified as missing teenage girl His wife told authorities Buezo came to her house later in the day on March 25. Buezo told her his mother was sick and he was flying to Honduras where she lived. He also told his wife he had gotten into an argument with Ramirez. He asked for his wife's help in moving Ramirez's car out of his neighborhood. His wife unwittingly obliged. The pair dumped the vehicle in west Houston. Police found the car days later, on March 31. Murder charges were filed April 6. By then it was too late. Buezo was out of the country, according to court documents. Buezo's wife watched him buy a Spirit airline ticket to Honduras. A day later, on March 26, she gave Buezo a ride to the aiport to catch his flight. It was only after Buezo had left that his wife realized, upon speaking with Buezo's brother, that Buezo's mother was not actually sick, according to court documents. Buezo was still at large Tuesday afternoon. As of Tuesday afternoon, Ramirez's body still had not been found. No one has seen her since March 25. Scroll through the gallery above to see other missing persons cases around Texas Hoosick Falls Thousands of emails belonging to the former mayor of Hoosick Falls were turned over to a Glens Falls law firm that has delayed releasing the records to the village's new mayor, Rob Allen. The Glens Falls firm, FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth, recently took possession of the email records belonging to former Mayor David Borge, who for many years used the private gmail account for public business, which is not improper. The emails related to Borge's government work are a matter of public record and must be kept on file by the village. On Friday, Allen wrote a letter to the law firm's managing partner, John D. Aspland Jr., threatening to seek "judicial recourse" on behalf of the village. "Despite multiple requests, conversations, and emails with your firm and Mr. Borge, both prior to my tenure as mayor and after, I still do not have access to these files," Allen wrote. "I am asking first and foremost that you make sure not to modify these records in any way. Additionally, I am asking that these electronic records be made available to me by the close of business today." In response, Aspland sent Allen a response on Saturday saying the mayor had received inaccurate information and that the emails would be turned over to him by Monday. Aspland said Thomas Ulasewicz, an attorney with the firm, also indicated the same thing in emails with Allen last week. No emails were delivered Monday during office hours. Aspland did offer for the mayor to drive to Glens Falls and pick them up which Allen ignored. The law firm said Monday they would use an overnight courier to deliver the emails contained on a digital storage device to the village offices on Tuesday, Allen said. "I am surprised and disappointed by the attached letter which alleges some inappropriate action on the part of my firm and threatens legal action," Aspland wrote to the mayor. "In light of the series of emails exchanged between you and Tom and I since Monday, the allegation of a violation of the law is wholly without foundation and I ask that you write a retraction immediately, to be placed on the village's letterhead in the same fashion as the attached memo." On Monday, in response to questions about the matter, Aspland said: "I have no idea what you are referring to on Dave Borge's emails and any delay or questions," he wrote in an email. "Can you explain what you mean? Rob Allen is absolutely entitled to the official correspondence of the prior administration, I'm not aware of anyone saying otherwise, are you?" The law firm has represented the village since November 2015 in negotiations with two companies blamed for polluting the village's water supplies. The firm is also vetting the village's responses to multiple Freedom of Information Law requests, including some seeking Borge's emails. Allen began inquiring about access to his predecessor's email account, which has an estimated 13,000 emails, on March 24. He said that Borge denied to relinquish control of the email account and instead gave the account's database to the Glens Falls law firm. The account was then shut down on March 31, which was roughly Borge's last day in office. Over the past 10 days, Allen, a high school music teacher who ran unopposed for the mayor's seat, wrote several emails to Aspland demanding that the records, which are village property, be returned. Last Wednesday, Aspland wrote an email to Allen explaining how his firm came into possession of the emails and providing assurances they would be returned to the village. Aspland confirmed his firm had them "for purposes of responding to the FOIL requests" and that they would be paid for that work. Aspland also wrote to Allen that some of the communications are exempt from FOIL, and "that is why we have the emails that Dave provided from his gmail account." The village board does not currently have independent legal representation. Last month, the law firm of the village's longtime attorney, John R. Patterson, Jr., was acquired by Aspland's firm. Patterson's contract as the village's attorney expired March 31. In a recent response to a FOIL request filed by the Times Union, Aspland's firm declined to release many of its communications with the two companies blamed for polluting the village's water supplies Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell International. Many of the emails that were released had significant sections blacked out. The firm's decision to conceal portions of those emails is improper under the law, according to the state Committee on Open Government. For instance, emails from an attorney for Saint-Gobain to the village's attorneys had sections blacked out even though the company's communications with the village should be released in full under state law. Robert Freeman, executive director of the state's open government committee, said the law firm's assertion that the emails exchanged between their attorneys and officials with the two companies are privileged attorney-work product is misplaced. The Times Union is appealing the village's response. The village board recently rejected a $1.04 million draft settlement agreement, which included roughly $310,000 in fees payable to the Glens Falls law firm, after outcry from residents and state and federal legislators. The concerns centered on a part of the agreement that would have prohibited the village from bringing future claims against Saint-Gobain and Honeywell related to pollution of the village's existing well field. blyons@timesunion.com 518-454-5547 @brendan_lyonstu Lee Ching-yu, wife of Taiwanese pro-democracy activist Lee Ming-che, was refused entry into China. (Photo : Twitter) Lee Ching-yu was banned by Chinese officials from entering the mainland to visit her detained husband, Lee Ming-che. The activist's wife was able to obtain a travel permit and was already set to leave Taiwan when she was notified by airline staff that her permit was canceled. "I wonder why China needs to stop me, a defenseless woman, from visiting," Li told reporters at the airport. Advertisement Lee Ching-yu was going to China to visit her husband whom she has not seen since March 19. Prior to her visit, a middleman from the Chinese intelligence went to her and asked her to be "obedient and quietly cooperative." The middleman is former Taiwanese intelligence officer Lee Chun-min, who threatened Lee that if she fails to cooperate, the Chinese government will release videos of a confession from her husband. The former intelligence officer was also trying to convince Lee Ching-yu to keep a low profile so that her husband will be released immediately. Lee Ming-che was arrested by Chinese officials in Macau because he was deemed as a threat to national security. Lee Ming-che was in Macau last month to attend a meeting when he went suddenly missing. He has been very vocal about China-Taiwan relations on WeChat. Lee Ming-che is also a strong supporter of Taiwan's independence from China. A representative from the Taiwanese Affairs Office, Ma Xiaoguang, said, "Regarding Lee Ming-che's case because he is suspected of pursuing activities harmful to national security, the investigation into him is being handled in line with legal procedures." The disappearance of the activist had caused anxiety and panic among his family and friends, according to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Lee was a member of the party. Lee Ching-che and many other foreign nationals who have shown criticism to China's policies are being detained. The government releases videos of them confessing to undermining the government. The detainees later recant their testimonies after release. BAD AXE A Bad Axe man decided to keep legal matters in his own hands as he stood mute to a slew of charges in connection to an alleged drug bust and, if convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Michael J. DePatty entered Huron County Circuit Judge Gerald M. Prill's courtroom Monday morning and awaited his arraignment. The 35-year-old faces one count of delivery of a controlled substance-hydrocodone, three counts of resisting/obstructing a police officer and habitual offender-fourth stemming from his arrest in February. Before all parties moved forward with the arraignment, DePatty informed Prill he would be representing himself. However, at the district court level, Judge David B. Herrington appointed Bad Axe-based attorney Andrew Lockard to appear with DePatty as standby counsel. Prill quickly made the defendant aware of his right to an attorney. "I'm facing life," DePatty told Prill. "If you're going to give me life, I want to do this by myself." "Mr. DePatty, I don't like this," Prill responded. "It's my constitutional right, your honor," DePatty said. After clearly, and repeatedly, making sure DePatty wanted to continue without legal counsel, Prill reviewed the alleged incident and charges DePatty is facing. It's alleged that DePatty delivered hydrocodone pills to a confidential informant at the Bad Axe Wal-Mart on Feb. 10, according to police reports. DePatty requested marijuana from the informant in exchange for the hydrocodone pills, Huron County Prosecutor Timothy J. Rutkowski told the judge. He was arrested the night of the incident. DePatty stood mute to all charges and the case will move forward with an anticipated one-day trial scheduled for June 13. A final pretrial was ordered for June 5. DePatty said he would be filing for an evidentiary hearing on allegations of entrapment. An evidentiary hearing is a proceeding, after a criminal complaint has been filed by the prosecutor, to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial. A hearing would be scheduled when the court receives proper notice of his request, Prill said. Before adjourning, bond was discussed. Previously, Herrington ordered the defendant be held without bond. DePatty, on his own behalf, asked for a personal recognizance bond. Rutkowski disagreed. "He's a danger to the community and a major flight risk," Rutkowski said, noting DePatty's past convictions in Michigan, Virginia and North Dakota. Prill set the bond at $250,000 cash, and as of Monday, DePatty remains locked up in the Huron County Jail. By Mary Drier For the Tribune TUSCOLA COUNTY A federal lawsuit has been filed against the Caro Center because of health and safety issues regarding mandatory overtime. Complaints of excessive mandatory overtime at the center have been made for more than two years. There have been pickets by staff members in an effort to raise public awareness and bring about change. Because of the conditions at the center, Alan Teasel, who is one of the involuntary patients at psychiatric hospital outside of Caro, had Attorney Bruce Miller of Detroit file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division. The suit alleges excessive overtime is jeopardizing the health and safety of patients as well as staff at the center. The class-action suit is against the state and Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the patients. The suit blames mandated overtime of residential care aides "for riots" at Caro Center, which make conditions dangerous for patients and staff. "In plaintiff Teasel's hospital, there have been riots, patient-on-patient and patient-on-staff assaults, suicides and attempts at suicide, self-maiming and attempts at self-maiming, intoxication from excessive ingestion of water, and attempts to escape and actual escapes from the premises," according to the complaint. The facility at 2000 Chambers Road houses individuals who are mentally ill, have been found not guilty by reason of insanity or have been deemed incompetent to stand trial. Teasel claims patient care is lacking because staff is too tired from working overtime. Teasel alleges residential care aides are too tired to talk and interact with patients; patients are being over medicated at a higher rate; and patients are being written up more for confrontations because the staff is exhausted. "Almost every day, I see staff asleep in their chairs. The staff will only wake up when there is a loud noise near them," he said in court documents. "I have heard and witnessed multiple incidents of patient violence caused by or escalated by this situation." In July 2015, workers at the Caro Center staged an informational protest on mandatory overtime. The health and safety of persons who are involuntary patients at state mental health institutions are entitled to be safe in their confinement. "It is cruel and unusual punishment to hold a convicted criminal in unsafe conditions" and that "excessive mandatory overtime for (residential care aides) has created a clear and present danger to the safety and health of patients." Jennifer Eisner, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, declined to comment on the accusation because of the pending litigation. Besides compromising the health and safety of patients, overtime is also allegedly taking a toll on employees. Renae Goyette resigned as a residential care aide at the center due to excessive overtime effecting her health and wellbeing. According to Goyette, during a typical two-week period, she was mandated to work an additional eight-hour shift seven to eight times. "It is absolutely critical that a (residential care aide) on a one-to-one watch remain alert. The life and safety of the patient, and others, could depend on the (residential care aides) noticing dangerous behavior," Goyette stated in her affidavit, noting patients can have "assaultive and murderess criminal records and suffer psychotic contentions ... so a wakeful and alert staff is required at all times." A tabulation of hours worked shows some employees worked a 16.98 hour shift. So far this year, from January through February, there have been 333 shifts where employees worked more than nine hours a day. A Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports "deteriorating conditions at the Caro Center resulted in patients inflicting the following injuries on staff: fractured skull and leg, detached retina, torn rotator cuffs, torn bicep tendons, torn shoulder cartilage, concussions, ruptured discs, hair torn out, and bruises. The complaint is asking the court to prevent the Caro Center from mandating any more overtime, even though the same issues are occurring in other facilities. "Currently, there are 150 adults housed at the Caro Center and 340 staff," said Angela Minicuci, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. "And, there is a waiting list for the center. For the last three years, there has been a waiting list of over 200." Gov. Rick Snyder is proposing about $110 million in the 2018 budget go toward building a new state hospital, including a $7 million increase in staffing at the state hospitals statewide. It is only a proposal at this point. Annually, around 120 million Chinese tourists travel around the world. (Photo : Getty Images) On April 9, Zhang Chunxian, who is a member of the politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China, along with other Chinese delegates, visited Dubrovnik-Neretva Country to meet its prefect, Nikola Dobroslavic, and hold discussions strengthening the China-Croatia tourism pact. According to a report from Total Croatia News, the two officials talked about "special interests in cooperation in the field of tourism." Advertisement Zhang and Dobroslavic also covered topics on other possible areas of partnership including infrastructure projects and improved air connections via European air hubs. Currently, around 120 million middle- to upper-class Chinese citizens travel across the globe. Both China and Croatia are set to build on common interests so as to optimize the services that can be offered to Chinese tourists traveling to the country nestled in Central and Southeast Europe. Last year, Chinese tourists who visited the "pearl of the Mediterranean" reached a record high of 125,000. The figure was a 46 percent jump from the previous year. China and Croatia are set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the countries' diplomatic ties this 2017. Croatian Ambassador to China Nebojsa Koharovic told in an interview with the Global Times that the country will be focusing on its people-to-people relations with the Asian giant. As a member of the European Union, Croatia committed to becoming more active in the China 16+1 framework, which is an initiative between China and Central and Eastern European countries. The ambassador further shared that Croatia eyes to attract more Chinese firms to set foot in their market, remarking that over 300 million dollars worth of investments is expected to be received in the next two years. On the aspect of China-Croatia tourism pact, Koharovic said that they are targeting to reach 150,000 Chinese tourists this year. "Tourism will also be our focus. We have an extremely well-developed ecological tourism package. We have the cleanest rivers and lakes, and after Norway, we have the best quality water on the continent," he shared with the Global Times. The diplomat also expressed hopes to open the Croatian Tourism Board office in Shanghai this year. Presidential daughter Ivanka Trump's children, Arabella and Joseph, serenaded President Xi Jinping during his visit to Florida. (Photo : Twitter) U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the Mar-a-Lago Resort in Florida and discussed important issues on the global economy and sensitive security issues such as the nuclear crisis in North Korea. The meeting was highly anticipated and regarded as a determinant of the world's future in trade and security. Trump was very vocal with his disagreement with China's policies and even accused Xi of currency manipulation and violating trade regulations. Advertisement However, the meeting was softened as the American president's daughter, Ivanka Trump, ushered in her two children, Arabella and Joseph, to recite poems and serenade the Chinese president and first lady. "We wanted to make you feel at home," Ivanka said. The children sang a Chinese folk song titled "Jasmine" and recited verses from the "Three-Character Classics" as well as Tang dynasty poems. Ivanka Trump was observed as employing tactics to warm the relations between the U.S. and China. The presidential daughter has no distinct role in the cabinet but is seen to be eager to help her husband, Jared Kushner. Kushner is a special assistant to the president and is tasked to broker deals with domestic and international leaders such as Xi. Ivanka Trump made a special appearance at the Chinese embassy in Washington during the Lunar New Year festivities. The visit by the presidential daughter was the first high-level act of diplomacy from the first family. According to Zhang Baohui, a professor of political science at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, "Beijing is keenly aware that Trump relies closely on a very small group of advisers to guide him on policy issues, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump." Chinese state media holds Ivanka in high regard and her acts of aiding China-U.S.diplomacy. State-run publication Global Times called her as the "most influential first daughter" and her "words and deeds are also believed to carry more weight." April 12, 1947: Junior high student Gene Wright, 12, was buried for about 15 minutes under several hundred pounds of dirt before being rescued. He and several friends were digging a tunnel in the side of the draw that collapsed. --Plainview is again submitting a petition to Southwestern Bell Telephone in hopes of securing a dial telephone system for the city. --Myra Applewhite will have her poem, Idle Observation, published in the National High School Poetry Associations Texas Anthology. She is a student of Mrs. Nils Akeson. April 12, 1957: Among the area men inducted into the U.S. Army on Wednesday and sent to boot camp are Thomas Wayne Heflin and Ruben Sansom of Plainview and Jay G. Cannon of Hale Center. --Elected into membership in Beta Sigma Phi during a preferential tea were Elizabeth Patterson, Ruth Graham, Mary Worley, Pauline Cooley and JoAnn Owen. Doyle Saul of Plainview is on his way to Lake Charles, La., where he will judge quarter horses in a three-day show. He is a quarter horse breeder and rancher at Quitaque. April 12, 1977: Dwayne and Ruth Ann Allen discovered a wall safe discarded in a tail water pit west of Halfway. When sheriffs deputies cut into the metal safe, it was empty. --The reorganization of the Plainview Police Department has been completed with the transfer of Capt. William Mull from head of the uniform patrol to head of criminal investigations. --Minerva Stovall has been awarded a teachers scholarship by Delta Kappa Gamma. April 12, 1997: A twister struck west of Plainview on Thursday night, along with marble-size hail. The Larry Beerwinkle farm, about 7 miles west of Plainview on U.S. 70, sustained damage to two barns. Several trees were also uprooted by the twister. --Amber Dickson was shown in a photo competing in the 400-meter run during a recent track meet. --Showing at the Granada Twin Cinema are Star Wars and Dangerous Ground. Regular admission is $1, with 75-cent admission each Tuesday on bargain night. To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry. Disclaimer Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes. One of the prime suspects in the Alexandria church bombing on Palm Sunday was extradited from Kuwait to Egypt prior to the attack at the request of Egyptian authorities, according to Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas on Monday. The newspaper reported that, according to Kuwaiti security sources, the suspect entered Kuwait in 2016 and worked there as an accountant. Kuwaiti intelligence then summoned him for questioning after receiving information from Egypt suggesting he had links to the Islamic State (IS) group, according to the article. The suspect was then extradited to Egypt after Kuwaiti security services confirmed his links to the group. However, once in Egypt, the suspect was apparently released, for reasons that are unclear, the sources told Al-Qabas. According to Al-Ahram daily newspaper, Egyptian officials have established the identities of those responsible for the Palm Sunday bombings, but their names have yet to be made public. The IS group claimed responsibility for the two deadly blasts that hit Egypt's St George Cathedral in Tanta and St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday, killing 44 and injuring dozens more during prayer services, naming the Alexandria suicide bomber as Aba Isaac Al-Masry (Aba Isaac the Egyptian) and the Tanta suicide bomber as Aba Al-Baraa Al-Masry (Aba Al-Baraa the Egyptian). On Monday, Egypt's interior ministry said that security forces had killed seven suspected IS group sympathisers thought to be planning more attacks against Coptic Christians. There was, however, no official statement naming prime suspects in Sunday's bombings. Copts, who make up about one tenth of Egypt's population of more than 92 million and who will celebrate Easter next weekend, have been targeted by several terrorist attacks in recent months. In December, a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed 29 worshippers at a Cairo church. In recent years, Egypt's security forces have been battling a militant insurgency in North Sinai, mostly led by an IS affiliate called Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, leaving hundreds of security forces killed. The group has also claimed responsibility for several attacks in other parts of the country, including the capital. Security forces say they have killed hundreds of militants in recent years. Last March, the army said a prominent leader of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis was killed in a raid in North Sinai. Search Keywords: Short link: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Texas Department of Public Safety Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Texas Department of Criminal Jus Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Show More Show Less 5 of 5 A confirmed member of the Aryan Brotherhood who bolted from a halfway house is now considered a top fugitive in Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety is searching for 58-year-old Billy Wayne Gilliland, who was convicted of murder in 1988. The Legislature intended to discriminate on racial grounds when it approved Texas voter I.D. law in 2011, in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act, a federal judge has ruled again. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, based in Corpus Christi, said in a decision issued late Monday that the civil rights groups that sued the state had provided evidence establishing that discrimination was at least one of the substantial or motivating factors behind passage of the law by the GOP-controlled Legislature in 2011. The ruling is the latest in the back-and-forth court battle over Senate Bill 14, and the latest win for civil rights groups who challenged it, coming days after the judge allowed the U.S. Department of Justice under the new Trump administration to withdraw its support for the suit. At one point, the suit had reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which rejected an appeal by the state. In her analysis, Ramos focused on how lawmakers rejected efforts to soften the racial impact of SB 14, such as reducing the costs of obtaining ID cards or allowing voters to use more forms of ID. The judge noted the radical departures that the Legislature went through to rush SB 14 through the legislative process without the usual committee analysis, debate, and substantive consideration of amendments. And the court highlighted that the evidence shows a tenuous relationship between the stated goal of reducing voter fraud and the legislation ultimately passed, given the rarity of voter impersonation cases in Texas and that other, more prevalent forms of voter fraud were not addressed by the bill. This is a great win for Texas voters, said Myrna Perez, deputy director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center, which helped represent the plaintiffs. But it shouldnt surprise anyone who looked seriously at the evidence. Texas legislators crafted a law they knew would hurt minority voters, without any good justification or attempt to ameliorate the harms, and they mangled the legislative process to get it through. The opinion followed a hearing in February in which as directed by a higher court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Ramos heard more arguments about the intent of lawmakers who passed SB 14. It is the fifth time the law has been declared illegal by various courts, though the state has appealed every declaration. The state recently argued that lawmakers planned fixes to be made in Austin with a measure called Senate Bill 5. Last week, the judge ruled that the newly introduced legislation was irrelevant in the lawsuit. The court's decision makes clear that Texass voter ID law stands as one of the most discriminatory voter suppression measures in the country, and should issue the death knell for burdensome voter ID requirements in Texas and across the country, Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which helped represent the plaintiffs, said in a prepared statement. The judge set a status conference for June 7 in Corpus Christi to discuss what remedies the plaintiffs recommend as a result of the law being found unconstitutional. If further reviews of the case which is all but certain to be appealed continue to find that Texas violated federal law, the state could be forced back under the Voting Rights Acts purview, requiring state officials to get federal approval before making any election law changes. The plaintiffs included the Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches (Texas NAACP), the Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the Texas House of Representatives (MALC), La Union del Pueblo Entero and League of United Latin American Citizens, several individual voters and Dallas County. At some point this discrimination based on the color of Texas citizens must stop. The compact of legal protections for citizens applies without regard to race, creed, color, or national origin, said Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP. gcontreras@express-news.net Austin Bureau reporter Bobby Cervantes contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO - A former Southwest Independent School District teacher was arrested Monday accused of hitting a child. Rosemary Diaz, 63, was arrested on two counts of injury to a child at her residence near downtown, Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesman deputy Leonard Lopez said. A warrant was issued for her arrest earlier Monday. RELATED: Texas high school coach arrested during track meet for arson Deputies did not provide the details behind the accusation. Her warrants were not available Monday night as she was still being processed through the Bexar County Magistrates Office. Diaz, a former teacher at Indian Creek Elementary School, was fired in March after she had been suspended Feb. 1 and accused of "alleged misconduct toward a student," a spokeswoman for the Southwest Independent School District said at the time. Editor's note: The suspect's age has been corrected. jbeltran@express-news.net Twitter: @JBfromSA SAN ANTONIO Heavy rain and thunderstorms predicted for Monday night-Tuesday morning did not come to fruition, with little-to-no rain sprinkling the Alamo City area overnight, according to the National Weather Service. The widespread heavy rainfall event did not materialize overnight as our official forecast and most of the computer models advertised yesterday, NWS meteorologist Jason Runyen said in an early morning news release. The cold front that was to have assisted with the development of storms stalled overnight north of the area near a Temple to Junction line. The revenue cap debate has been marred by misinformation. For many years, state legislators have decried excessive spending by local governments while simultaneously requiring local leaders to pick up the tab for unfunded state mandates. The Bexar County Commissioners Court has reduced the property tax rate 20 percent in the past 23 years. Commissioners Court approved and enacted a freeze on property taxes for homeowners older than 65, eligible spouses and disabled residents in 2005, leading to cumulative savings of $166 million for Bexar County residents. In that same time, the Texas Legislature has passed many costly unfunded mandates. In a survey, the Texas Association of Counties found that counties paid $216.1 million for statewide indigent defense costs in fiscal year 2016, a 136 percent increase since 2001. Indigent defense costs in Bexar County were $12.1 million last year and have totaled $70.5 million since 2002. Counties statewide paid $1.57 billion for the judicial system in fiscal year 2016, a 20.9 percent increase since 2011. Judicial services costs in Bexar County rose to $89.1 million in 2016 from $78.5 million in fiscal year 2011. The state mandates that counties comply with jail standards, some of which are arbitrary. County governments spent $1.38 billion in fiscal year 2016 to operate jails and comply with state jail standards, a 20.1 percent increase since 2011. Bexar County spent $66.2 million to operate the jail last year, a 10 percent increase since 2011. The Legislature has an obligation to finance and construct state-owned highways, but it has failed to do so in a timely manner. As a result, Bexar County has financed $294.6 million to accelerate the construction of state-owned roads. These construction projects have included improvements to U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 ($192 million), Blanco Road ($30.4 million) and Culebra Road ($23.4 million). The Legislature is responsible for funding public education. A gradual and consistent decrease in state school funding has caused school districts to rely heavily on property tax revenue. As a result, more than half of every property dollar paid by Bexar County residents goes to school districts. The Senate recently adopted a budget that would further shift the burden to finance schools to property taxpayers. The Legislature should provide real tax relief by equitably funding schools from the state general fund. The Bexar County Hospital District is funded by property taxes and is responsible for providing medical services to indigent patients. When the governor rejected Medicaid expansion, the district lost $503 million in revenue. Property taxpayers are on the hook for this loss of potential Medicaid revenue. Texas could provide real property tax relief by joining 31 other states in accepting Medicaid expansion. Supporters of Senate Bill 2 are fond of saying that property taxpayers deserve relief. We agree, and would be willing to build on a proven track record of tax relief provided that the Legislature pick up the cost of state mandates, fulfill its responsibility to finance and construct state roads, and pursue real opportunities to improve services while reducing property tax burden. Nelson Wolff is Bexar County judge. Americans have learned that Middle East dictatorships are less like pottery store merchandise (You break it, you own it) and more like Jenga towers: Remove one piece and the whole structure collapses. Ignoring that lesson in Syria could easily cause more harm than good. After the U.S. military strike on a Syrian airfield, President Donald Trump called for changing Syrian President Bashar Assads behavior, and he asked for Gods wisdom as we face the challenge of our very troubled world. Given the history of U.S. intervention, trying to impose a new government in Damascus would be not just unwise but quite dangerous for the Syrians whom Trump now professes to care for. The call for removing Assad rests on a powerful emotional premise: Anyone who ordered an attack that left infants choking to death in their parents arms should reckon for his crimes by force if necessary. But even if the case for ousting Assad reflected the best of intentions, it rests on the dubious assumption that Assads departure would make Syria a safer place for Syrians and for the world. Its an assumption disproved by the current landscapes of Iraq and Libya. In Iraq and Libya, ill-conceived attempts at delivering humanitarian relief ripped social fissures that the U.S. military could not mend. The consequences for ordinary Iraqis and Libyans have been devastating. Countries that no one thought could get any worse got dramatically worse. State violence ebbed briefly, but communal violence expanded indefinitely. Murderous rulers disappeared while murder proliferated. In these situations, ordinary people faced wrenching choices. Lethal chaos has often meant Libyans and Iraqis could protect themselves and their children by either acquiescing to local militias or fleeing the conflict zone. Libyan fathers and mothers who loathed Moammar Gadhafis tyranny have watched their country become a mosaic of warlord fiefdoms. Their counterparts in Iraq have been compelled to weigh the threat of sectarian killing squads against the risks of leaving altogether. These are calculations no parent would wish on another and the lessons of Iraq and Libya ought to weigh heavily in formulation of U.S. policy on Syria, a country already reeling from a six-year civil war, the onslaught of the Islamic State group and multiple foreign air campaigns. Until recently, regime change in Syria looked inconceivable. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley had stated that we no longer sought to end the Assads brutal 47-year dynasty. Then came the Syrian militarys reported chemical attack in the rebel-controlled town of Khan Sheikhoun that asphyxiated upward of 90 people, including 26 children and infants. Within days the Trump administration had spun around 180 degrees, speaking as if the United States would seek to remove Assad from power. If the Trump administration is serious about ending the war in Syria, its approach must look further back than the latest chemical attack and consider options that leave Assad in power. A punitive regime change policy based solely on our gut reaction to the Khan Sheikhoun massacre will not end Syrias tragedy and could make it much worse, for example, by leaving families who live in areas of government control vulnerable to retribution from portions of the countrys long-persecuted Sunni Arab majority. Launching more cruise missiles or threatening a larger intervention may play well to some Americans but will not resolve the Syrian crisis. A more productive route would be for the United States to promote a negotiated settlement that does not raze the Syrian state and thrust countless more innocents into armed conflict. In 2012, the Obama administration reportedly rejected a Russian proposal for ending the conflict. The Trump administration could now put its own proposals on the table or, at the least, actively join the framework of the Geneva talks. Either approach will require working with Russia and not demanding Assads departure as a precondition of any solution. Jason Brownlee is a professor of government and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Egyptian authorities confiscated the print run of Al-Bawaba newspaper for the second day running on Tuesday due to their take on the suicide bombing of two Coptic Orthodox churches on Sunday, after the newspaper pointed to an alleged security lapse" in relation to the attacks and blamed the interior minister. The twin bombings in Alexandria and the Delta city of Tanta left 46 people dead and over 100 injured as Christian worshipers gathered for Palm Sunday services. The deadliest attack against Christians in the country's recent memory prompted President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to declare a state of emergency on Sunday night "upon completion of legal and constitutional procedures," providing the state with exceptional powers, including more powers to control the media. "The two issues of Al-Bawaba newspaper of Monday and Tuesday have been withdrawn from the print house upon the orders of the authorities," said editor-in-chief Abdel-Rehim Ali, speaking to parliamentary reporters on Monday. "Is the interior minister above questioning and criticism or even being sacked? This is unbelievable. I was asked to withdraw the article criticizing the interior minister or the newspaper would be confiscated," said the editor. Ali, who is member of Egypt's parliament, also criticized the cabinet's approval of the state of emergency without a vote by parliament, in what he called "a clear violation to the country's constitution." According to the Egyptian constitution, any state of emergency must be confirmed in parliament by majority vote within seven days of its declaration by the president. The Egyptian parliament is set to vote on the state of emergency on Tuesday. Parliament has cancelled a Monday session with the ministers of interior and justice to deal with the deadly bombings. "I said in the newspaper that there is a security lapse that should require the questioning of the minister of interior. What is wrong with that? I will continue to say that over and over, and will continue to hold him accountable for security lapses that resulted in the attacks," the editor said. A statement on the newspaper's website on Monday night said it was shocked by the seizure of its print run for the second consecutive day, describing the step as dangerous and threatening, not only to the freedom of the press but also to democracy and freedom in general. "The newspaper respects the country's constitutional institutions and national unity, and will continue doing its job for the sake of freedom of the press and expression," the statement concluded. Search Keywords: Short link: The Texas Legislature needs to make available some of their rose-colored lenses through which it envisions continued growth in the Texas economy while shamelessly slashing higher education funding. Higher education is what primes the workforce pump. Shortchanging the development of skilled and trained people by cutting the funding for their education is counterproductive. Texas has a goal but lacks a vision for how to accomplish it. Last year, with much fanfare, the state laid out a lofty goal of having at least 60 percent of its residents between the ages of 25 and 34 with a certificate or degree by 2030. But now we have the Senate Higher Education Committee considering at least five separate bills that would limit college tuition increases. As if that were not enough to hamstring higher education, the proposed budget from the Senate calls for a 6 percent to 10 percent funding cut for colleges and universities. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick listed tuition as one of his top priorities for 2017. It sounds great. Making college affordable for students and their families is an admirable goal, but limiting tuition growth works well only if the revenue reductions are offset. Limiting all revenue sources for Texas colleges and universities is not a workable solution. In 2003, the Texas Legislature gave public universities the right to set their own tuition and slowly started reducing the higher education funding. This forced the schools to make up the difference with tuition revenue. Since 2008 the state funding per college student has dropped $1,800 a year. Reducing the state budget by cutting higher education funding may play well to the fiscally conservative political base back home, but it is not a workable solution for a state working to develop more top-tier universities. A college degree or at the very minimum a post-high school certification is necessary to make a living wage in todays job market. By 2020, at least 30 percent of job openings will require some college experience or an associate degree. Higher education is an investment with the potential for tremendous returns for students and the state. Its a false calculation to think reducing higher education funding is in the best interest of a state looking to grow its economy. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Sudan's foreign ministry said on Monday that its decision requiring Egyptian men between 18 and 50 to obtain entry visas to travel to Sudan is aimed at preventing "terrorists" from infiltrating the country. Egyptian women are still allowed to enter without visas. "The decision to impose visas for Egyptians was taken after consultations between the two countries," Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters. "It aims to ensure organised entry of citizens in both countries and to prevent terrorist elements from entering." On Friday, Sudan's ambassador to Cairo told Ahram Online that imposing the visa was part of "technical procedures that are regularly revised." He added that the visa, which can be obtained from Sudanese embassies and consulates, would be free of charge. While Egyptians could previously enter Sudan without a visa under a deal signed between the two countries in 2004, Sudanese nationals had to obtain visas before entering Egypt. Sudanese media reports say Khartoum's decision may have been taken after the arrests of several Arab nationals over a blast in an apartment in the capital in February. One man was wounded in the blast while assembling explosives in the apartment. However, Egyptian media outlets have suggested that there are tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Last month, several media outlets in Egypt and Sudan engaged in a sparring match after Sudans media minister said that his country's civilisation is older than that of Egypt. Media figures also argued over the Halayeb Triangle border region, which comprises three cities and is under Egyptian authority. The area has been a source of tension for decades, with rows occasionally erupting over which country has the right to manage the area's natural resources. Search Keywords: Short link: Almost thirty invited guests packed an authentic, renovated, retro Routemaster bus run by Vintage Tea Tours, where they enjoyed a full, traditional afternoon tea while travelling through Dublin city centre. Shortly after guests disembarked at The Polo Club in Phoenix Park, where a live three-piece Jazz ensemble headed by Stella Bass entertained the crowd while sipping flutes of Bollinger Special Cuvee. On the return trip, stylist Marietta Doran, acting as MC, interviewed the celebrity Bollinger Best Dressed Lady judges Aisling OLoughlin and Blathnaid Treacy about what to look for during the festival. Aisling O'Loughlin spoke about how the winners would "pop out" at the judges and so she hadn't fixed ideas of what to look for, instead trusting Irish women's innate sense of style to inform her decision. Blathnaid Treacy, meanwhile, said that with the different themes women can choose from nowadays - vintage, modern, etc. - that she's looking for those who look comfortable and confident in their outfits and are creative in assembling them. Both were eagerly looking forward to hearing the stories behind some of the ensembles, with some items in an outfit sometimes carrying an interesting history, such as a key piece originally belonging to a beloved family member. Bastien Mariani, Export Manager for Bollinger Champagne, will also be present at the Punchestown Festival to assist the celebrity judges in choosing this year's Bollinger Best Dressed Lady. He will be keen to find someone who perfectly matches the "Bollinger Style" that the Champagne itself is famous for: elegant, poised, and with a classic elegance. With smooth jazz, vintage buses and crisp, elegant Bollinger Champagne, the exciting run-up to the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown was launched in excellent style. The format for the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady Competition runs over the first four days of the Punchestown Festival when judges and style scouts find the most stylish ladies in attendance and select a number of finalists each day. The daily winner will then progress to the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday, April 28. For those planning on dressing up for Punchestown, its important to note that gates open at 12 noon each day and scouting will commence early, festival organisers are encouraging ladies to be on site from 1pm if they are interested in the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady Competition. Bollingers philosophy is that Life Can Be Perfect, and the family-owned Champagne House stays true to form with a bespoke prize created especially for the winner of Irelands most coveted fashion title. The 2017 Bollinger Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown will receive a VIP trip for two taking in the Bollinger Estate, Reims and Paris complete with private chauffeur, Michelin-starred dining and luxury accommodation, not to mention a years supply of Bollinger to top it all off! Not be forgotten the finalists who will each receive a luxury goodie bag filled with luxury treats including Topflight vouchers, Race Tickets, Bellamianta Tan and much more! The Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday to Saturday, April 25 to 29. The action packed, fun filled, style showcase attracts over 120,000 people to the Co Kildare venue, with packages ranging from high-end hospitality to great value admission only tickets and are available at www.punchestown.com or by calling +353 (0)45 897704. Prices start from as little as 25pp with concessions for groups, seniors and students. The famous Punchestown hospitality package range is available from just 109pp. You may also like to read: Nally Bros Hyundai in Ballymahon are new sponsors of Longford GAA Race Day Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys TD, has joined with Paddy Mahon, CE of Longford County Council to encourage everyone in Longford to take part in the first Cruinniu na Casca, a new national day of culture and creativity, which will take place nationwide on Easter Monday as part of the Creative Ireland programme. Cruinniu na Casca is a day-long national celebration of culture and creativity which will take place in Dublin city centre and around the country. From live music and dance, to coding, theatre, art and music workshops, talks and tastings, readings and screenings, for the first time this year, special Cruinniu na Casca events will take place in each of the 31 Local Authorities in every county across the country. Admission is free (although tickets are required for some events with limited capacity) and there is a special focus on events for families and children. Highlights of the Longford Cruinniu na Casca include: The Cruinniu na Casca magical mystery tour discovering Creative Longford celebrate our history, heritage, dance, music and art. A family afternoon of storytelling and exploring the legend of Midir and Etain in the woodlands of the historic village of Ardagh. The beautiful village of Abbeyshrule is hosting a Ceremony of Light and Music at the ruins of their 12th century Cistercian abbey. Speaking about Cruinniu na Casca Minister Humphreys TD said: Creative Ireland is all about putting culture and creativity at the heart of communities nationwide and Cruinniu na Casca will do just that this Easter Monday. We want to encourage everyone to become involved in the cultural life of this county and to participate and enjoy this national day of creativity. I am delighted that people in Longford and right across the country will have the opportunity to come together and participate in cultural and creative activity on Easter Monday, driving our collective wellbeing and our sense of community. I would like to acknowledge and thank Paddy Mahon, CE of Longford County Council County Council and the newly formed Culture Team for all their help in putting this programme together. Paddy Mahon, CE of Longford County Council added: We are delighted to be involved in the first Cruinniu na Casca programme and are especially pleased at the enthusiastic and creative response from the community in County Longford . We feel this is a very positive start to Creative Ireland in this county and are looking forward to showcasing all that Creative Longford has to offer over the coming year. Another protest over the delays in securing approval for new ground-breaking drug Orkambi for people with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland will be held at the gates of Dail Eireann tomorrow, Wedsesday April 12 at 1.15pm until 2.30pm. This is the third Dail Eireann protest organised spearheaded by Jillian McNulty from Longford town and it is supported by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. The ground-breaking drug Orkambi made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals is the first therapy to treat the underlying cause of Cystic Fibrosis in 500-plus patients here, yet after months of discussions there has been no agreement to provide it. Jillian herself has been on Orkambi for three and a half years and it has completely transformed her life. "I was part of the Orkambi clinical trial in Ireland and am still receiving as part of a managed access scheme. I have received a commitment that I will continue to receive Orkambi pending the outcome of discussions over reimbursement but no assurance beyond that. "Patients, their families and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland are very much supportive of efforts to reduce the price of Orkambi and of putting in place an affordable shared-risk agreement with the Health Service Executive. "However, people with cystic fibrosis and their families do not have the luxury of waiting an indefinite period. They are demanding a speedy and positive resolution that would see Orkambi made available now. Talks are currently ongoing with HSE and Vertex and it is an announcement expected (but not guaranteed) this week." TDs and Senators will once again meet with organisers to show their support. A minute's silence will be held for those who have lost their lives to Cystic Fibrosis, and attendees are asked to wear purple if possible. Egyptian authorities have indentified the individuals who plotted the Palm Sunday church bombings that killed 46 people in Tanta and Alexandria, a prosecution source told Al-Ahram daily newspaper. The identity of the suspects has not been made public. The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the two deadly blasts that hit the St George Cathedral in Tanta and St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday during prayer services. On Monday, Egypt's interior ministry said that security forces had killed during a shootout in Assiut seven suspected IS sympathisers thought to be planning more attacks against Coptic Christians. Copts, who make up about one tenth of Egypt's population of more than 92 million and who will celebrate Easter next weekend, have been targeted by several terrorist attacks in recent months. In December, a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed 29 worshippers at a Cairo church. In recent years, Egypt's security forces have been battling a militant insurgency in North Sinai, mostly led by an IS affiliate called Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, leaving hundreds of security forces killed. The group has also claimed responsibility for several attacks in other parts of the country, including the capital. Security forces say they have killed hundreds of militants in recent years. Last March, the army said a prominent leader of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis was killed in a raid in North Sinai. Search Keywords: Short link: Style / Jewellery Filled with stunning jewels and ornaments that were once owned by royalty, the collection can be seen in Paris until June Apr 11, 2017 | By Vimi Haridasan Royal collections are always fascinating. Filled with history and crafted by those who have helped shape the world of fine jewellery as we know it today, it is difficult to tear your eyes away from those fine creations. Paris is currently hosting one such collection that showcases the jewels owned by the rulers of India. Held at the Grand Palais in Paris, the exhibition called From the Great Mughals to the Maharajas: Jewels from the Al Thani collection will run until June 5. Joining these exceptional creations, are other major works that are on loan from reputable institutions and private collections. Organised by Reunion des Musees Nationaux and in collaboration with the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques it is a chance to learn more about the developments in Indian jewellery traditions over the years. With creations that date as far back as five centuries the 250 items on display are on loan from the Qatari royal family and have already been on display in New York and London. From turban ornaments to cut diamonds, this truly is a treasure trove of royal jewels from the bygone era. Some of the items that have caught our attention include the Tiger Eye Turban Ornament from Cartier that was crafted in 1937. Commissioned by the Maharaja Digvijaysinhji of Nawanagar, it features an unusual 61.50 carat cognac-coloured diamond that is surrounded by baguette cut diamonds. Other noteworthy pieces include The Idols Eye that holds the title of being the largest cut blue diamond in the world since the mid 19th century. The 70.2 carat diamond holds an interesting backstory, where it may or may not have been taken from a statue of a Hindu deity in a temple in India. Proving that the use of gems was not limited to jewellery alone, the exhibition also features a Rosewater Bottle from North India that boasts gold, rubies, emeralds and pearls. Dating back to the late 17th century it was used to show hospitality to guests at the end of meals. The From the Great Mughals to the Maharajas: Jewels from the Al Thani collection exhibition is now on till June 5 at the Grand Palais in Paris. Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail addressed members of parliament on Tuesday before a general session to vote on imposing the state of emergency declared by the president following the twin suicide bombings on churches in Alexandria and Tanta on Sunday. Ismail told parliament that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has declared the state of emergency "in accordance with his constitutional authorities and national responsibility," affirming the country's determination to exterminate terrorism. "These terrorist acts require exceptional steps to allow the country to reinforce its capabilities and powers in a legal and constitutional frame to face this exceptional threat," Ismail added. According to the Egyptian constitution, any state of emergency must be confirmed in parliament by majority vote within seven days of its declaration by the president. The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the two deadly blasts that hit the St George Cathedral in Tanta and St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday, killing 46 and injuring dozens more during prayer services. On Monday, Egypt's interior ministry said that security forces had killed during a shootout in Assiut seven suspected IS group sympathisers thought to be planning more attacks against Christians. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi, : Reacting strongly, India today said it will regard as "premeditated murder" if Pakistan carries out the death sentence, awarded to its national Kulbhushan Jadhav "without observing basic norms of law and justice". Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and gave a strongly-worded demarche, which said the proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav were "farcical" as there were no "credible evidence" against him. Reacting to a press release by Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Jadhav, India said he was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly. India, through its High Commission in Islamabad, has repeatedly sought consular access to him, as provided for by international law and 13 such requests were formally made between 25 March 2016 and 31 March 2017, the demarche said. "This was not permitted by the Pakistani authorities," it said. The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are "farcical in the absence of any credible evidence" against him, it said, adding it is significant that Indian High Commission was not even informed that Jadhav was being brought to trial. "Senior Pakistani figures have themselves cast doubt about the adequacy of evidence. The claim in the ISPR release that Jadhav was provided with a defending officer during the so-called trial is clearly absurd in the circumstances. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," the foreign secretary said in the demarche. Jadhav was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistani security forces in the restive Balochistan province after he reportedly entered from Iran. Pakistan has alleged that Jadhav was "a serving officer" in the Indian Navy and deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The Pakistan Army had released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India has acknowledged that Jadhav served with the navy but denied he has any connection with the government. PTI Celebrating the ever-growing popularity of Japanese shopping in the Philippines, Daiso Japan has opened its 60th store in the country to enable more Filipinos to Daisofy their lives with affordable and high-quality Japanese-inspired office and home items. Located at the UP Town Center in Quezon City, the newest addition to the local network of Daiso Japan outlets is also introducing a new design style one that is reminiscent of its stores in the Land of the Rising Sun. The new store concept for Daiso Japan allows our products to take front and center bringing it closer to Filipino consumers. The store was designed with elements that will keep it clean, bright, airy, and streamlined, making it easier for visitors to maneuver and explore the whole store, said Katherine Yu, Daiso Japan general manager. The new store design is in line with the mantra of the brand to provide quality, variety, and uniqueness in our product line. Some of the design elements include polished stainless, laminate and metal decking floor pattern that brings to life a sleek and industrial interior. Aside from showcasing its new and exciting interiors, Daiso Japan also welcomed loyal customers to its latest store with a flash sale where items were sold for P60, P160, and P260 only! The opening day was also dotted with fun activities and treats, including free ice cream for everyone. As a special treat, customers can avail of the exclusive Robinsons Rewards Card for only P 100 when they visit the Daiso Japan UP Town Center outlet during its opening weekend. Points will immediately be credited for every purchase at the store. At Daiso Japan, every product from office knick-knacks, home and kitchen ornaments, beauty essentials, and practical but curious merchandise brings utmost value for money! Come visit any of the 60 Daiso Japan stores today. For more updates, follow Daiso Japan on Facebook ( www.Facebook.com/DaisoJapanPH ). Egypt's parliament voted unanimously in a plenary session on Tuesday in favour of imposing a three-month state of emergency in accordance with a decree by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday. El-Sisi's four-article decree (no.157/2017) states that "in accordance with Article 154 of the constitution, the state of emergency will be imposed nationwide for three months, starting 1pm Monday." According to Egypt's 2014 constitution, any state of emergency must be confirmed in parliament by majority vote within seven days of its declaration by the president. The decree states that while military and security forces will do everything possible to stand up to terrorism and safeguard the country, the prime minister will be mandated with exercising all the powers necessary to implement the state of emergency. The state of emergency comes following two deadly suicide bombings that hit Egypt's St George Cathedral in Tanta and St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday, killing 46 and injuring dozens more during prayer services. Kamal Amer, the head of parliament's defence and national security committee, said the two suicide attacks justify President El-Sisi's decision to impose the state of emergency. "These attacks... show that we need exceptional measures to safeguard the country against [terrorism]," said Amer, adding that "the committee's members approved the state of emergency as an effective tool in uprooting terrorism." Parliament also approved on Tuesday an amendment drafted by independent MP and security expert Tharwat Bekheit to the emergency law. Amer said that the amendment "allows state authorities to detain anyone suspected of terrorist activity for seven days after getting the prosecution's approval." "It also authorises Emergency High State Security courts to order the detention of highly dangerous elements for one month in jail, which is subject to renewal." Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal supported the state of emergency by saying that most European countries have tough anti-terror laws allowing authorities to detain suspects for certain periods of time. "So we are not doing something different, and because we are in a war against black terrorism, we have to invoke all measures necessary to reinforce our internal security," said Abdel-Aal. Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said he has high hopes that the media will also observe the state of emergency. "As is the case in European countries that imposed a state of emergency following terrorist attacks, the media should be careful not to stir up social unrest or harm the nation's supreme interests," said Abdel-Aal. Abdel-Aal said social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter will be also regulated by the emergency law. "I have information that some groups used these websites to exchange information related to terrorist attacks in Egypt," said Abdel-Aal. Abdel-Aal also said that three regulatory press and media councils which were officially formed on Tuesday will help observe the performance of the media to ensure that it seeks the country's supreme interests. "I am sure that these laws will make sure that the media will act in a more disciplined way in the coming period," said Abdel-Aal. Ali Abdel-Aal told MPs that President El-Sisi's implementation of the state of emergency goes in line with Article 154 of the constitution and Article 132 of parliament's internal by-laws. "All ordinary citizens should be aware that the emergency law only targets suspected terrorists and criminals. We send a message to the majority of Egyptians that parliament approves only what leads to reinforcing their country's security and stability," said Abdel-Aal. Abdel-Aal said "the imposing of the state of emergency should not lead some to claim that it will remain in place for 30 years as was the case in the past." Under the rule of former president Hosni Mubarak, a state of emergency was repeatedly renewed every three months for the entirety of the autocrat's 30 years in power. "We have strong reasons that justify imposing the new state of emergency, as you see terrorist activities have hit different countries, and we are not an exception," said Abdel-Aal. Many MPs have also said that state authorities should do more to tighten control on sources of funding for terrorists. Mostafa El-Guindi, an independent MP and head of parliament's African Affairs Committee, said "we know that some countries are behind funding terrorist activities in Egypt, and I want to know what we will do to confront these countries." Speaker Abdel-Aal said that "an international conference on terrorism will be held very soon, and Egypt will take the opportunity at this conference to publicly name countries highly suspected of funding terrorist activities." "Teams of Egyptian lawyers will be formed to sue countries involved in funding terrorism, and I think you know them by name," Abdel-Aal said. Abdel-Aal said parliament will soon discuss a new law on the formation of the Higher Council on Combating Terrorism and Extremism, which "will be responsible for developing a long-term strategy against terrorism and extremism." Search Keywords: Short link: click to go to homepage Kuwait, 11 April 2017 The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) has signed a Strategic Partnering Agreement with the Engineers Australia Association (EA). The Partnering Agreement consents ACK to become EAs Primary Partner in the Middle East and North African countries as well as Cyprus and Turkey. The signing ceremony was held at ACK in the presence of Mr. Abdullah Al-Sharhan, Chairman of ACK, Prof. Isam Zabalawi, President of ACK as well as Mr. John McIntosh, Engineers Australia National President. Dr. Mohamed Gaith Associate Dean of the School of Engineering at ACK, stated: The Partnering Agreement is a first step in establishing Engineers Australia overseas chapters in Kuwait and other countries in the region. ACK and EA will work collaboratively towards joint community and government engagement initiatives to raise quality and perception of engineering in the Middle East. This includes conferences, hosting of renowned international speakers, online professional development, as well as online and digital presence in the region. Dr. Gaith emphasized that this Partnering Agreement is very crucial to ACK as it will not only serve professional engineers in the region, but will also act as a catalyst for professional development of ACKs engineering students and faculty. The presence of EA in the region will facilitate non-Australian engineering professionals who are keen to advance their career and get their experience recognized by a reputable engineering body such as EA and work towards EA chartered status. ACK is honored of this achievement and is looking forward to work with engineering professionals, regional engineering firms as well as local companies and agencies for the best interest of the engineering community in the region. About Australian College of Kuwait (ACK): Interview with Mr. Abdullah Al-Sharhan, Chairman of ACK: Experiential Learning at Australian College of Kuwait (ACK), the Pioneers of Education in Kuwait In an exclusive interview for Marcopolis, Mr. Al-Sharhan further commented on the institutional cooperation of ACK followingly: Our main partner is the Central Queensland University in Australia. It provides ACK with programs in mechanical and civil engineering as well as business. Our other partner is Cape Breton University in Canada that provides ACK with petroleum programs in addition to electronics and control. ACK also collaborates with Aalborg University in Denmark, which is a leader in Project Based Learning. We send our faculty to be trained by them as well as hosting workshops conducted by their instructors. When it comes to local partnering agreements, ACK has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to enable our students to gain field experience. Another MOU was signed with The Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) to conduct joint research in various aspects of the petroleum industry and the environment. Another MOU was signed with the Arab Planning Institute (API) to collaborate in supporting entrepreneurship. Where funding research and convening specialised seminars are concerned, ACK enjoys the support of The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). They have been collaborating with us for a long time. FAIR USE POLICY This material (including media content) may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed. However, linking directly to the page (including the source, i.e. Marcopolis.net) is permitted and encouraged. Egypt's newly formed Supreme Council to Combat Terrorism and Extremism will be tasked with issuing "decisions and procedures" to combat terrorism in accordance with a national strategy to fight the phenomenon, the presidency announced on Tuesday. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi first mentioned the formation of the council in a late night speech to the nation on Sunday following twin terrorist attacks that targeted churches in Alexandria and Tanta, killing 46 people and injuring dozens. Presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement that the council will ensure participation by all segments of society, as well as develop security plans to face dangers. The council will also aim to "rectify wrong perceptions used by the terrorist organisations to attract new recruits." The council will include ministers and the heads of state apparatuses involved in fighting terrorism, as well as permanent committees that include public figures and experts "in all fields." According to the statement, these figures should help in analysing terrorist organisations, as well as inspecting and tracking their activities and extremist ideologies domestically, regionally, and internationally. They will also suggest security plans and legal strategies and follow up on their implementation. A three-month nationwide state of emergency has been approved unanimously by parliament in response to Sunday's church attacks. Search Keywords: Short link: STUART Many times, folks have heard about organizations like the Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of the American Revolution, but when asked who the groups are or what the members do, non-members are oftentimes at a loss. On Monday, at the regularly scheduled monthly meeting, Regent Louise Hansen of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Colonel Abram Penn Chapter in Stuart helped paint a clearer picture of the women-only group. While the name of the organization might suggest a soldier in the family line fought to gain Americas freedom, thats not always the case. For example, Hansen said, some religions prohibited combat. The Quakers, theyre not supposed to be fighting in a war, Hansen said. However, if Quaker ancestors supported the cause in some way, a female descendent could still be sworn into the group. My ancestor gave cattle, said group chaplain Flo Bell. He had a cattle farm and contributed beef. Among Shelby Cochrans ancestors, shes found 10 who either fought or supported Americas freedom. Mine gave supplies for the soldiers, Cochran said. Mine gave beef and hay for the soldiers. Presenting proof of particular documents that ancestors signed could also grant a woman membership. If they signed the Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth during Revolutionary times a descendent could become a member, Cochran said. Hansen said its interesting to learn about the connections still alive in Patrick County that began in the American Revolution. Hansen recently learned that she shares the same great-great-grandfather as another member. Sometimes, the news the women uncover about the lives of their ancestors isnt information they cared to know. I have an ancestor who fought under Benedict Arnold, Bell said. Im not sure if thats something to be proud of or not. At the meetings, held the second Monday of every month at the Landmark Center, the girls engage in conversation over a meal. Painting the past DAR members also welcomed local artist Greg Arens on Monday, as he presented slides of paintings hes created over the years using mediums of oil, acrylic and watercolor. Arens spoke about the highlights of his experience as an artist living in Patrick County. During his senior year of high school, the Michigan native decided to enter a piece of artwork in a competition. He painted a house based off of an image he saw from Hurricane Camille in 1969. I told myself that if I won anything significant, Id take Art in college, Arens said. When he won first place, the high school senior said, I thought that was my sign. After spending three years in college, Arens said a decision faced him. Either I could throw myself into artwork or I could become like Henry David Thoreau and live out in the woods, Arens said. I went the Thoreau route. Arens moved to Patrick County where he built a cabin in the woods. There, he devoted himself to his artwork. The scenes Arens paints come from real-life experiences. Oftentimes, he walks or bicycles to his location, art supplies in tow. He paints realistic pictures, mostly of nature. Some of his favorite scenes include water flowing over rocks and various landscapes all over the world. While hes painted in Sweden, Ohio and Montana, one of the artists favorite landscapes is just a hop and a skip away. Highland County is the most beautiful county east of the Mississippi, Arens said. While intricate landscapes with fog rising attract him, Arens also has an eye for dilapidation. I love things that are falling apart, Arens said. You dont see any manufactured urban paintings from me. Whether focusing on industrial collapse or tiny flowers dotting the expansive Blue Ridge Mountains, Arens completed on-location paintings provided a topic of interest for the DAR group. Hosting a variety of speakers throughout the year, the DAR focuses on three major areas, which create the groups mission: preservation, education and patriotism. In one recent preservation effort, the Colonel Abram Penn Chapter members made a monetary contribution to the Constitution Room at James Madisons Montpelier estate. For those interested in membership in the DAR, Hansen said the Colonel Abram Penn Chapter always welcomes newcomers. We welcome persons who are interested in becoming members to attend our meetings, Hansen said. In order to become a member, persons must obtain documents showing their line of genealogy or their heritage. MARTINSVILLE A drive- through unwanted Prescription Drug Take Back is set for April 29 at the Martinsville Fire Department at 65 West Church Street. The Martinsville Police Department has teamed with the National Drug Take Back Imitative for several years, said Martinsville Deputy Police Chief Eddie Cassady. Last year was the first year in several that we did not team with DEA (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) to do one. This year, we are teaming with DEA, Drug Free MHC and the fire department to host the event for our citizens. For Bonnie Favero, projects like this help address the drug problem in Martinsville and Henry County. Favero works as prevention manager for Piedmont Community Services, helping people overcome their addictions. Prescription Drug Take Backs are one way to work on the crisis in our community and across the country around Rx drugs, Favero said. Opiates or pain pills are prescribed by physicians often in great quantity, which is not needed. If people leave the excess drugs in their cabinets, they easily make their way into the hands of people who may abuse them. It appears some of the projects, like organizing drug take backs, are having an impact. By the end of January, Martinsville and Henry County had the highest rate for emergency department trips involving unintentional opiod, heroin or unknown substance-related overdoses, coming in at 32 per 100,000 people. The average in Virginia is nine. By the beginning of March, that number dropped to 15.3 visits per 100,000 residents. Take Backs give people the opportunity to safely dispose of these drugs in a way that keeps the environment clean and also prevents the drugs from being abused, Favero added. We are fortunate to have community partners who are willing to help us with this. Mary Kate Dillon is the Partnerships for Success coordinator with Piedmont Community Services. Favero is her supervisor. Piedmont Community Services was one of 10 community service boards in Virginia to receive a Partnership for Success grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for five years to combat and reduce prescription drug and heroin use and abuse. According to Dillon, last October, Americans turned in more than 730,000 pounds of prescription drugs at almost 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Dillon cited high rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States as well as accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. She noted that studies show more than half of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets. Also, people need to know that flushing unused medicines down the toilet and throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards, according to Dillon. Where to go Cassaday said the local Prescription Drug Take Back will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Martinsville Fire Department . Citizens can enter on the Moss Street side and pull through the fire department and exit on the church street side, he said. Now there are some rules to follow. Different types of medications have to be dropped off at specific places. Bring your pills for disposal (to the fire department), Dillon said. The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. She added that the event is designed for people, not companies, to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs. The event comes at a time when city and county officials and partners are trying to address the areas high opioid overdose rates. Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin as well as powerful pain relievers available legally by prescription, says a report on the National Institute on Drug Abuse website. [That includes] oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl, and many others. These drugs are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain. It adds: Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but they are frequently misused (taken in a different way or in a greater quantity than prescribed, or taken without a doctors prescription) because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief. Regular useeven as prescribed by a doctorcan produce dependence, and when misused or abused, opioid pain relievers can lead to fatal overdose. The current epidemic of prescription opioid abuse has led to increased use of heroin, which presents similar dangers. On Friday, 7 April at 2:53 pm, a truck crashed into the department store Ahlens City in Stockholm, after first going on a rampage along Drottninggatan. Four people were killed, 15 wounded and 9 are in critical care. We strongly condemn this terrorist attack and our deepest sympathies are with all the people affected. A truck driver had been unloading his truck at a restaurant at Adolf Fredriks kyrkogata, when a person jumped into the front seat and drove away. The driver was hit when he tried to stop him, but didnt receive any serious injuries. The attacker then continued straight into the crowd at Drottninggatan, towards Ahlens. In response to this deadly attack, the people of Stockholm showed spontaneous solidarity opening up their homes and offering transportation to those who were stuck in Stockholm when the trains stopped running. This was organised under the hastag #openstockholm. On Sunday a rally was also held to honor the victims, with an attendance of tens of thousands. During the evening Stockholm was quiet and still. People had to walk when the underground and the trains were halted. Ahlens closed several stores, and theaters and cinemas were also shut. Many people stayed at home. Photo: Frankie FouganthinThe police has arrested a 39 year old man for the attack, who later confessed to the crime and expressed sympathies for the reactionary terrorist sect, ISIS. During Sunday morning, yet another suspect was arrested. Increased repression is no solution The Stockholm attack is the most recent in a string of similar attacks with vehicles. The first one was in Nice in July, when a man drove a truck into a crowd who were celebrating Bastille Day. 86 people were killed. The attack had seemingly been organised in collaboration with ISIS, who took responsibility for it. This attack was followed by the one in Berlin, in December 2016, where an Islamist terrorist stole a truck, which he then drove into a christmas market killing 12 and wounding 56. Meanwhile, five people were killed in London on 22 March, when a man drove a car into the sidewalk. The following day they stopped a man from carrying out a similar act in Antwerp and in Berlin. The media and the politicians have been quick to blame the attacks on mass immigration and Muslims. They are using these events to advocate increased surveillance and the use of force by the police. In Britain, social media surveillance was increased, while in Germany the surveillance of asylum seekers was increased and their freedom of movement limited. In Sweden the police and the Security Service have been ordered to ramp up surveillance through IPRED and FRA similar to the laws passed after the 2015 Paris attacks. Swedish State Television carried an interview with Peder Hyllengren, a the terror expert who claimed that extremism faces too little resistance in Sweden. The Minister of Justice and Migration, Morgan Johansson, suggested introducing legislation to target people who are connected with designated terror groups. Increased powers for police means increased powers to harass all so called suspects of terrorism, which for the most part just means ordinary Muslims. We have seen examples of how police has tried to stop terrorism after the Paris attacks of 2015, when the Swedish Security Service published the name and picture of a man supposedly suspected of terrorism. The man was later shown to be completely innocent. In 2011 the national task force, at the advice of the Security Services, stormed the houses of four different families with children - all because of a person claiming to overhear plans of a bombing. Her testimony was also later shown to be completely false. The arrested 39 year-old from Fridays attack, has previously occurred in the Security Service investigations, but has been dismissed. This shows that it is not possible to prevent terrorism through more surveillance. In fact, the small number of young men who become terrorists, often do so under the impact of the racist discrimination they are forced to endure in Europe. At the same time European countries and the US has been bombing large parts of their home countries to pieces. If anything the constantly increasing powers of the police to fight terrorism makes it even easier for Islamists to recruit more people to their mad terror organisations. That is exactly what these groups are rooting and hoping for- the division of society on religious lines rather than class lines. Hypocrisy from the highest level While expressing sympathy with those affected, we have to talk about the background of the attack. Terrorism does not originate in a vacuum, and Islamic fundamentalism is not created out of any particular culture among the people of the Middle East, but rather from the interventions of US imperialism in the region. Photo: Christian TriebertImperialist countries has been involved in financing, building and educating groups who are the direct predecessors of ISIS. This was a way to build an alternative to the communist and left wing nationalist tradition that used to have a mass base in the region. They gave support to the Taliban in Afghanistan during the 80s, a direct predecessor of Al-Qaida and what later became ISIS. Recently they have given support to a horde of Islamist groups in the Syrian civil war, among others the al-Nusra-front. But countries like France, Britain, Germany and to some extent Sweden, also carry responsibility. All of these countries have contributed either with troops or with support for the invasions of US imperialism in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, destabilising the entire region. The government of Lofven carries a direct responsibility. At the moment, it is moving towards membership of NATO, an organ of US imperialism which is actively participating in the criminal Saudi destruction of Yemen. Saudi-Arabia has previously been among the biggest export markets for Swedish weapons. In the fall of 2015, the government made a lot of noise about not making a new deal with the Saudis. But to improve the frosty relations, numerous trade delegations have been making trips there, and they have founded a Swedish-Saudi trade council. In October 2016 Swedish state TV revealed that Stefan Lofven, Marcus Wallenberg (vice chair for the investment company Investor) and Maria Rankka (CEO of Stockholm Chamber of Commerce) were doing a joint visit to Saudi Arabia, to improve the relationship with the country. The Wallenberg family is the capitalist family currently gaining most from the Swedish export of weapons. While the government and the right-wing are calling for unity against terrorism, they are in reality cooperating with the country that for decades have been the bastion for Islamic fundamentalism and reaction in the Middle East - and a direct backer of ISIS. They are also exporting weapons to Pakistan, where the military has different kinds of cooperation with Islamist militias, and the United Arab Emirate, who together with Saudi-Arabia is now bombing Yemen back to the stone age. Fascists breathing fresh air The attacks against Muslims and increased resources for the police will also encourage the fascists. After the television program Kalla Fakta last week made unconfirmed claims, that the Al-Azhar School in Stockholm separated boys and girl in the school bus, politicians came using very aggressive rhetoric to condemn the school. It wasnt long before the fascist group Soldiers of Odin, showed up outside the school. A mother of one of the girls told the Swedish daily Dagens nyheter: I was really terrified when I understood what the consequences would be of the so-called revelation, made by Kalla Fakta this Tuesday. I thought, oh no, now we are going to get another Trollhattan, where a madman will show up thinking were a bunch of illiterates who are indoctrinating our children. Hours later, Soldiers of Odin was standing on the school yard. The persecution of Muslims breed more terrorism. In Sweden the last terrorist attack occurred in October 2015, when a masked nazi with a sword attacked people at a predominantly immigrant school in Trollhattan. Despite the fact that three people were killed, the Swedish Security Service chose not to name it a terrorist attack, seemingly just because it was a white terrorist with racist motives. The same is the case with the string of arson attacks against the asylum seekers housings. It shows that for the authorities, terrorism is not deemed to be important when it is Swedish youngsters who murder, carry out bomb attacks and commit arson. The racist Sweden Democrats and their band of followers will try to use this to blacken the name of Muslims, but they forget that the right-wing terrorism that their sympathizers are responsible for, claim lives every year in Sweden. The biggest terrorist attack in Scandinavia in modern times was carried out by Anders Breivik at Utoya, and was directed against youth from the labour movement. From the point of view of the victims, it doesnt matter if the perpetrating right-wing extremists are claiming loyalty to Islamism or to Nazism. On the front-lines against Open Sweden Photo: Frankie FouganthinAfter it was revealed that the man suspected of having carried out the attacks was a refugee scheduled to be deported from Sweden, both the Social Democrats and the right-wing started demanding more police, stricter rules and more controls. But its obvious that this wont stop terrorist attack. Its not a leap of the imagination to assume that the decision to deport him from Sweden, accelerated his desperation and the process of radicalization, just as was the case when a mentally confused man who carried out a double homicide at Ikea in Vasteras in 2015. In January, a 16 year old boy who was an unaccompanied asylum-seeker, committed suicide in Vannas. On the following day two more boys seeking asylum tried to kill themselves. According to the campaign group Vi star inte ut (We cant take it) there are hidden groups on social media where unaccompanied minors are planning collective suicides. But no special commissions are appointed to fix these conditions that are crying for change. Let us remember that the government, consisting of the Social Democrats and the Greens, has been leading the way setting up obstacles for refugees, through border controls, restrictions in the right of asylum and through the EU. The European Union has given 27 billion dollars to Turkey to stop asylum seekers (people in need of protection) coming to Europe and to build a wall towards the rest of the world that would make Donald Trump himself proud. The lack of legal inroads to the EU force people escaping the terror and chaos of groups such as ISIS, to travel in sub-par boats over the Mediterranean Sea. This state terrorism claimed on average 15 lives every day last year. The statements by the government and the right-wing to defend what they call the Open Sweden is hypocritical to the core. It is an open insult to all refugees that are refused their right to asylum and are being sent back because of these unjust restrictions that the government is carrying out. Sweden is not more open or democratic than any other European country - but on the contrary one of the key players in building Fort Europe. If there is anything open and democratic left to defend, it is being abolished by the current government and the right wing. . Its a lie that we are standing united against terrorism. There can be no unity with a government that is selling weapons to Saudi-Arabia, or with the ruling class that supported them from the very beginning. Nor can we support the police that that defend their power and privileges, and ignore nazi terrorism while deporting refugees to misery, persecution or a sure death. Marxists are fighting for a real unity against terrorism - which can only be the unity of the international working class in the struggle against this parasitic system. Abolish racism and fundamentalism - abolish capitalism In capitalism, economic warfare in the form of tariffs, agreements and trade barriers is normal. But the weakening of US imperialism has changed the balance of forces and created room for new aspiring powers in the Middle East, including Turkey, Russia, Iran and Saudi-Arabia. In Syria, Libya and Iraq imperialist powers are arming different groups in a war over control of trade routes or resources. Terrorism is a symptom of the crisis of capitalism. In the Middle East, right-wing extremists are connecting their rhetoric to Islam, and are eager to pose as anti-imperialists. But these people have never had anything to do with anti-imperialism. In fact, Islamic fundamentalism has always been the tool of western Imperialism in the Muslim world. Without the direct aid of western Imperialism and its Middle Eastern puppets, it could not survive a single day. When a new economic crisis is lurking around the corner, when poverty and misery is spreading, when right-wing extremists are burning the homes of asylum seekers and police brutality continues with impunity - in such a situation its no wonder that there is a small, but marginal, audience for these ideas in Europe. In that sense the right-wing nationalists and the Islamic fundamentalists lean on each other to polarise society along national and religious lines rather than along class lines. Our first task is to counter all attempts to use the terrorist attack to restrict democratic freedoms, increase government surveillance or give more powers to the police. Its not only ineffectual against terrorism, but will be used against everyone whom the bourgeois state deems hostile. That includes left-wing activists, but eventually also ordinary workers that are striking or demonstrating. The government is already trying to put nazi and Islamist terrorism and left-wing self-defense in the same category, using the label violent extremism (valdsbejakande extremism). Our second task is to answer the propaganda from the racist sympathizers of the Swedish Democrats that will try to use the terror attack to attack muslims and refugees. We have to explain that the people really responsible for the chaos in the Middle East are located in Europe and USA, cynically providing the most reactionary elements with money and weapon to further their own interests. We have to organize the people who are fleeing here into a joint struggle against the exploiters and oppressors of the ruling class. There is no other way to stop terrorism than crushing the system that creates it. The crisis of capitalism is creating unemployment and poverty everywhere, but also war and misery. Rosa Luxemburg once said that humanity is facing a choice between socialism or barbarism which is a fitting description of our current situation. The only way out is a socialist revolution, and the only way to honor the victims of the terrorist attack in Stockholm and prevent more attacks, is to fight for the victory of socialism in Sweden and internationally. Down with racism and attempts to split the working class! Down with Islamic terrorism and imperialism! Against the barbarism of capitalism - for a socialist revolution! Zambian police detained opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday after raiding his home, his spokesman said, but authorities could not immediately say why he was being questioned. Hichilema, a wealthy economist known as "HH", was defeated by President Edgar Lungu in an election last August, which he described as fraudulent. His attempts to mount a legal challenge have so far been unsuccessful. "HH is now at Woodlands police station awaiting processes there. They are questioning him now," Hichilema's media aide Clayson Hamasaka said in a statement. Hichilema's lawyer Jack Mwiimbu said the opposition leader had been moved to Lilayi Police Training School in the capital for questioning. "We have no idea what they want ... we are on our way to Lilayi. This is something strange. It has never happened before. He is not well because of the tear gas. His wife fainted three times last night because of the tear gas," Mwiimbu told Reuters. A spokesman for Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND), Charles Kakoma, said police broke doors to the opposition leader's house in an exclusive suburb of Lusaka and fired tear gas canisters into the mansion. He said police had blocked the access road to the residence but did not say what they were looking for. "They broke the doors and teargassed the house," Kakoma said. "They left the home after picking him." Neither police nor Hichilema were available to comment. On Sunday, presidential spokesman Amos Chanda said Hichilema had obstructed Lungu's motorcade, saying Hichilema's motorcade maintained its lane instead of getting off the road. Hichilema was granted bail in October after being charged with sedition, a move his team said was an attempt by the ruling party to silence dissent. The opposition leader had been accused of assembly without a permit after he gave an impromptu address in the rural town of Mpongwe, police said. Search Keywords: Short link: expo.png (SUBMITTED IMAGE) HOLYOKE -- The annual "Table Top Expo" of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Holyoke Community College Bartley Center, 303 Homestead Ave. "Every year about 200 small business professionals and entrepreneurs attend the Holyoke Table Top Expo to take their business to the next level and to develop their business leads," a chamber press release said. "The Expo is a multi-chamber event that includes Holyoke, Chicopee, Easthampton, and Northampton Chambers with vendors from Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties," the press release said. The event places dozens of local business owners and managers in one place where they can display products and services and make connections with other proprietors and learn ways to improve and adapt their businesses. "We're pleased to bring local small business owners and entrepreneurs together to network and learn about the newest products and services out there. It's a great learning tool to assist the local entrepreneurs in their daily tasks and long-term goals,' said Kathleen G. Anderson, president of the chamber and of the Greater Holyoke Chamber Centennial Foundation Inc. The trade show is scheduled to include representatives of banks and credit unions, hotels, colleges and auto dealerships along with printers, coffeemakers and restaurants. The show this year will include a collaboration with Name Net Worth, a company that makes a smartphone app that allows for swapping information, eliminating business cards and keeping connections organized. "Allows you to send and receive referrals, within a trusted network, with your colleagues, friends or contacts," the press release said. The app gauges "your networking performance, letting you know the return on your networking efforts," the press release said. This is the first year the trade show will be held at Holyoke Community College. The event grew each year and exceeded the capacity of longtime venue the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, the press release said. "Exhibitors will miss the great service and warm environment that that the Log Cabin provided but will be rewarded significantly with a larger facility and plenty of convenient parking," chamber Program Manager Wanda Zabawa said. Vendor tables are $150 each with 50 percent off for new Holyoke chamber members, the press release said. Business owners and managers were asked to call their local chambers of commerce about reserving a table or sponsoring the event. For more information call 413-534-3376. Vendors scheduled for Table Top Expo of Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd -Police detained several dozen people accused of violating a ban Monday on protests against DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, police sources said Tuesday. "Police have arrested and detained 34 people in Kinshasa," said national police spokesman Pierre-Rombaut Mwanamputu. "Some wanted to breach the ban on a march, the others were preparing acts of vandalism. Their fate will be known during the day." Mwanamputu said he had no details of arrests in other parts of the vast country, where there is strong anger to Kabila remaining in office beyond the end of his mandate in December 2016. The call by Democratic Republic of Congo's main opposition party for nationwide protests Monday appeared to have been ignored in Kinshasa, however, where people stayed home fearing violence after the authorities banned the rallies. In the country's second city, Lubumbashi, Hubert Tshisuaka, the head of a local human rights group, told AFP he had no news of six people in a group of 24 detained by police on Monday. In northeastern Goma, six people who tried to barricade roads were briefly detained and then freed, a local police source said. The opposition is seeking to pressure Kabila, who has ruled since 2001, to implement a power-sharing deal brokered by the Catholic church to avert a crisis, by holding elections late this year. Under the accord, Kabila agreed to share power ahead of the polls with a prime minister from the opposition. But last week he named as premier a dissident member of the opposition, Bruno Tshibala. The opposition has rejected this choice as being contrary to the letter and the spirit of the power-sharing accord. Search Keywords: Short link: Tillerson warns Russia that it must choose between Assad and the US G7 foreign ministers insist there can be no peace solution for war-torn Syria with President Bashar al-Assad in power, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Tuesday. The ministers, meeting in Italy as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson readies for crunch talks in Moscow, were agreed that "no future in Syria is possible with Bashar al-Assad", Ayrault told reporters. He said the message for Russia was: "That's enough now. There must be an end to hypocrisy and a very clear return to the political process". "This is not an aggressive stance towards Russia, rather a hand out-held, with clear intentions," he said. Ayrault was speaking at the close of the two-day ministerial meeting of the G7 which groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued an ultimatum to Russia on Tuesday: Side with the U.S. and likeminded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had merely been incompetent. But he said the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." "We cannot let this happen again," the secretary of state said. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." The United States has hardened its stance on Damascus since a suspected chemical weapons on a rebel-held Syrian town that killed at least 87 civilians and triggered a retaliatory US bombing raid on a Syrian air base. The West is also pushing for Russia to rein in the Syrian regime, with the war now in its seventh year. Tillerson headed from Italy to Russia, where he is set to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The U.S. and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. The U.S. raised the stakes significantly on Monday when a senior U.S. official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. Yet the U.S. has no proof of Moscow's involvement, said the official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity. That accusation will hang over Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say whether Putin would meet with Tillerson, in line with its usual practice of not announcing such meetings ahead of time. The United States has sought to minimize expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the U.S. will leave with any concessions from Russia regarding its support for Assad. Instead, the U.S. is hoping to use the visit the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia to convey its expectations to Moscow and then allow the Russians a period of time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the U.S. strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as U.S. officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional U.S. military action if Assad's government continues attacking civilians. At Tuesday's meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G-7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim-majority nations including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the U.S. strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Mideast nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is vanquished. Edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Russia's defence ministry said Tuesday that two soldiers acting as military instructors to government troops in Syria had been killed by rebel forces. "Russian professional servicemen who were in a unit of Syrian forces as instructors... came under a mortar attack from a group of rebel fighters," the defence ministry said in a statement quoted by Interfax news agency. "As a result of a mortar explosion, two Russian servicemen died. Search Keywords: Short link: Bullock highlights renewal of Montanas sterling bond rating by national rating agency Governor Steve Bullock today highlighted Standard & Poors recent renewal of Montanas high AA bond rating and warned legislators that he will not accept a budget that puts the states fiscal standing in jeopardy. "This is a timely reminder to all legislators that we cannot ignore what has ensured our states fiscal strength: maintaining a healthy rainy day fund, making sure we dont spend more than we take in, and using best practices to govern responsibly," said Governor Bullock. "Montanas strong record of fiscal management means we can leverage dollars to invest in priorities like infrastructure to build Montana communities and create thousands of jobs across Montana." Full Story: http://governor.mt.gov/Newsroom/governor-bullock-we-cannot-ignore-what-has-ensured-our-fiscal-strength Planners talk growth at City Club Missoula forum Unlike other cities in Montana such as Kalispell, Bozeman, Billings and Helena, there are severe geographical constraints that pose a challenge to growth in Missoula. There are simply many places where its less than ideal to build more houses or developments. Not only are there steep hillsides and mountains surrounding the city, but there are public recreation lands, ecologically important river riparian zones, floodplains, areas with agriculturally important soils and a big airport exclusion zone. The question facing city planners then, as the population continues to grow and a dearth of housing options makes living here increasingly unaffordable, is how does Missoula want to grow? DAVID ERICKSON [email protected] Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/planners-talk-growth-at-missoula-city-club-forum/article_86cf164a-aeb9-5d1e-8695-57ea74128072.html *** If you were unable to participate today, you can watch the forum on MCAT http://www.mcat.org/ at the following times. (MATR will post the full video when available) 4/23 at 5:00 PM 4/24 at 8:00 AM 4/30 at 5:00 PM 5/1 at 8:00 AM 5/7 at 5:00 PM Many thanks to MCAT for making these broadcasts available to all Missoula citizens. http://162.219.73.99/Cablecast/public-site/index.html#/show/6932?channel=1 You can view previous CCM Forums here: http://162.219.73.99/Cablecast/public-site/index.html#/search?channel=1&query=city%20club *** Video: City Club discusses challenges with Missoulas continued growth Missoula planners continue to find room for development to accommodate the citys continued growth. The Missoula City Club hosted their monthly gathering, with this months topic on "The Enigma of Growth in Missoula" Monday. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Missoula has gained about 5,000 more residents since 2010, bringing the countys total population to over 116,000 residents. By Don Fisher Full Story: http://www.kpax.com/story/35116187/city-club-discusses-challenges-with-missoulas-continued-growth *** Missoulas inward development key to slowing urban sprawl As Costco hunts around for a new Missoula location, its final choice could hold implications for growth and development for years to come, with some suggesting that a move to a far-flung location could open the gates to urban sprawl. Backed by recent statistics and the latest growth plans passed by local governments, presenters with the WGM Group said Monday that local residents must decide what kind of future they want to see, be it a compact city built around essential services, or a sprawling metropolis that gobbles up farms and distant communities. The question is, is Missoula ready to grow up instead of out? By Martin Kidston/Missoula Current Full Story: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/growth-and-development/2017/04/missoula-inward-development/ Intent on "not setting up anyone for failure," Missoula Mayor John Engen pulled a $12,500 request to help finance a workforce study from Monday nights City Council agenda. Whether it returns will depend on the answers to several questions hell ask city staff and the Missoula Economic Partnership, which is leading the investigation into local workforce shortfalls. The study carries a $62,000 price tag, to be paid with a $25,000 state Department of Commerce grant, and equal $12,500 contributions from the city, Missoula County and MEP. By Sherry Devlin/Missoula Current Full Story: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2017/04/missoula-workforce-economic-development/ *** The City of Missoula agrees to help fund workforce study with the Missoula Economic Partnership At the urging of the mayor, members of the Missoula City Council this week agreed to contribute $12,500 to a workforce study to determine the needs of area businesses and how to fill training gaps in the jobs sector. http://www.matr.net/article-76355.html *** Video: City Club discusses challenges with Missoulas continued growth http://www.matr.net/article-76417.html Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter vetoed one of the Legislatures attempts to keep quagga and zebra mussels out of Idaho, but encouraged groups to continue to work on the issue. Quagga and zebra mussels are invasive aquatic species introduced to the United States from the Black Sea in the 1980s. They have surfaced in lakes and rivers in most states and have proven nearly impossible to eradicate. Kimberlee Kruesi / Associated Press , KTVB Full Story: http://idahobusinessreview.com/2017/04/11/otter-vetoes-invasive-species-bill/ Idahos governor has vetoed a bill that would have drastically limited when police can take a citizens property. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says hes not aware of any allegations that Idahos law enforcement officers are inappropriately seizing citizen property. Kimberlee Kruesi / Associated Press , KTVB Full Story: http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/capitol-watch/governor-vetoes-bills-on-civil-forfeiture-invasive-species/429533208 *** Montana Governor Steve Bullock Signs Law To Protect Innocent People From Having Their Property Seized By Police http://www.matr.net/article-65952.html Civil Forfeiture Laws Pit Police Versus Everybody Else http://www.matr.net/article-72801.html What life is like after police ransack your house and take every belonging then the charges are dropped http://www.matr.net/article-70991.html The feds have resumed a controversial program that lets cops take stuff and keep it http://www.matr.net/article-70955.html Print pros at PFL bring your vision to life. Weve been partnering with professional graphic artists, designers, artists and marketers for over 20 years. See how we can help you: http://www.printingforless.com/Print-Reseller-Program.html Le ministre de lIntegration Sociale a repondu a la Private Notice Question du Leader de lOpposition lors de la seance parlementaire du 20 Juin 2019. PNQ NCSRF 20 June 19 Reponse d'Alain Wong a la PNQ de Xavier Luc Duval sur le National Corporate Social Responsibility Foundation (146,5 KiB, 356 hits) Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires The nonprofit Tansy Aspinall was launched among the gorillas at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, England. One little girl helped with everyday activities in the familys charity, The Aspinall Foundation, working to rehabilitate gorillas who had been in captivity. The nonprofit organizations goal is to be able to release the gorillas back into their native habitat in West Africa. 12 years ago, they released two gorillas, Bimms and Djalta, who were born in an Animal Park in Kent, as part of a program to reintroduce gorillas back to their natural environment. In 2014, Tansy and her dad Damian traveled to Gabon where theyd been released, to see if they could find their old friends. Its just amazing to watch both Djalta and Bimms respond to Damians voice. And then, the way they react to Tansy, who was just a toddler when they first met? This left me absolutely speechless. Watch for yourself below This was the most moving thing Ive seen in a long time! Just incredible that they recognized each other after all those years. Please pass this along so that more people can also experience this magical moment. WE loves animals and believes in treating them with utmost respect. Please like if you do, too. The Islamic State group now controls less than seven percent of Iraq, down from the 40 percent it held nearly three years ago, a military spokesman said Tuesday. Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and other support are now battling IS inside second city Mosul, after retaking much of the other territory the militants had seized. "Daesh controlled 40 percent of Iraqi land" in 2014, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told reporters, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "As of March 31 (this year), they only held 6.8 percent of Iraqi territory," said Rasool, the spokesman of the Joint Operations Command coordinating the anti-IS effort. Various members of the forces, Iraqi and foreign, battling the militants have disagreed in the past on figures about control of territory, but IS has been losing ground steadily for close to two years. The brutal organisation shocked the world when it took over Mosul in June 2014 and then swept across much of the country's Sunni Arab heartland. Its reach in Iraq peaked in August the same year when a second offensive saw it take over areas of northern Iraq that were home to various minorities and had been under the control of forces from the country's autonomous Kurdish region's forces. Iraqi forces with the backing of the US-led coalition -- which has thousands of military personnel deployed in Iraq and carries out daily air strikes -- launched a major offensive to retake Mosul in October 2016. They retook control of the eastern side of the city, which is divided by the Tigris River, in January and have since mid-February been battling militants holed up in their last west Mosul redoubts. The full recapture of Mosul, the de facto capital of the "caliphate" that IS proclaimed nearly three years ago, would end the militants' dreams of a cross-border state. Speaking at the same press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday, the spokesman for the US-led coalition vowed that Iraq would not be abandoned after the recapture of Mosul. "Once that task is accomplished, the coalition will be here to support our Iraqi partners as they eliminate IS from every corner of Iraq," Colonel John Dorrian said. "Though the fighting is going to be very hard... this enemy is completely surrounded. They aren't going anywhere -- they will be defeated and the people of Mosul will be free," he said. The coalition has come under criticism following an air strike in west Mosul last month that took a heavy toll on civilians, a strike it admitted may have been its own. "Every strike that we conduct, we conduct using precision-guided munitions. Every strike that we conduct is coordinated directly with the Iraqi security forces," Dorrian said. "We are very careful. We never, ever target civilians," he added. But even if IS members are targeted, the fact that they are operating in areas still home to large numbers of residents means that civilians can easily still end up the victims. IS still controls the large towns of Hawijah and Tal Afar as well as remote areas along the border with Syria in western Iraq. It also holds the city of Raqa and other areas in Syria. Search Keywords: Short link: Hundreds of Syrian students gathered on Tuesday outside the United Nations headquarters in Damascus to protest last week's US strike on a government air base. Demonstrators waved the two-star flag of the Syrian government and pictures of President Bashar al-Assad outside the UN's office in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of the Syrian capital. Their placards read "Iraq will not happen again, this is Assad's Syria," and "Trump supports terrorism." Some protesters chanted, "Death to America, death to Israel!" US warships on Friday fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a central Syrian air base from which Washington believes government jets launched a chemical attack that killed at least 87 civilians. The Syrian government denied that it used toxic substances, saying it struck an arms depot used by militants and describing the US strike as "foolish and irresponsible behaviour". "We came to denounce the American strike," said Ayyad Talab, head of the university students' branch in the National Syrian Students Union (NSSU), which organised the protest. "We want to say that we are ready to defend our country, armed with our work, our minds, and our ideas and with our souls if necessary," he told AFP. The NSSU submitted a letter, addressed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, that the United Nations mission in Damascus said it would forward to his office. "We came to condemn the American aggression on our country. We consider it a disgrace to the democracy that America claims," protester Mahmoud Issa told AFP. The US retaliatory strike marked the first time the United States has intervened directly in the Syrian war against Assad's government. Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests but has since evolved into a complex war among government forces, jihadists, rebels, and Kurds. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday warned of future chemical weapons "provocations" in Syria to frame President Bashar al-Assad, just as Washington's top diplomat arrived for talks in Moscow. "We have information from various sources that such provocations -- I cannot call them otherwise -- are being prepared in other regions of Syria, including in the southern outskirts of Damascus, where they are again planning to throw some kind of substance and accuse Syrian official authorities of using it," Putin said at a televised press conference. He said Russia was set to appeal to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and "call on the international community to thoroughly investigate such incidents". Putin insisted that reports over the suspected chemical attack in Syria that killed dozens of people in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun last week was reminiscent of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, justified by the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction. "This ended with the country's destruction, with the growth of the terrorist threat and the appearance of the Islamic State on the international stage, no more, no less," he said. Russia's defence ministry also said it had information that rebel fighters were bringing "poisonous substances" to the areas around the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun and Eastern Ghuta, among other places. "The goal of these actions is to create yet another reason to accuse the Syrian government of using chemical weapons and provoke new strikes by the United States," it said in a statement. The latest claims came as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson touched down in Russia to confront the Kremlin over its support for Assad on the first visit by a senior member of Trump's administration. Putin said Russia and Syria were being portrayed as a "common enemy" in a bid to bring together the United States and its Western allies after many leaders criticised Trump ahead of his election. "We are ready to tolerate this, but we hope that this will nonetheless lead to some kind of positive cooperation trend," he said. Moscow has sought to deflect blame from its long-time ally Assad over the alleged chemical attack and says Syrian jets struck a rebel arms depot where "toxic substances" were being put inside bombs. Following on from the Tillerson visit, Moscow has announced Lavrov will host three-way talks with his counterparts from Syria and Iran later this week. Search Keywords: Short link: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew into Moscow Tuesday to confront the Kremlin over its support for Bashar al-Assad as the US questioned if Russia was complicit in an alleged chemical weapons attack. Tillerson is the first senior US official to visit Moscow since President Donald Trump took office promising to seek closer anti-terrorist cooperation with Russia, but as he arrived relations were already tense. Last week, the US fired a volley of cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase in response to an alleged regime attack using a suspected nerve agent that killed at least 87 civilians in a rebel-held town, many of them children. Russia, which along with Iran has deployed forces to help Assad in the six-year-old civil war, reacted with fury to the US strike and continues to cast doubt on the regime's involvement in the chemical attack, to Washington's disgust. Tillerson did not cancel his visit, however, and he will hold talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday. It is not yet clear whether an expected meeting with President Vladimir Putin will go ahead. At the talks, Tillerson will challenge Russia to distance itself from Assad and his Iranian backers and to work with Washington's Western and Arab allies to find a political solution to the conflict with Syria under new leadership. As the top diplomat landed, a senior US official accused Moscow of carrying out a misinformation campaign to "confuse the world" and said Washington was investigating whether Russia was complicit in the alleged chemical weapons attack. "How is it possible that their forces were co-located with the Syrian forces that planned prepared and carried out this chemical weapons attack at the same installation and did not have foreknowledge?" said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We do think it is a question worth asking the Russians." Speaking to reporters before he left a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Italy for Moscow, Tillerson said: "Russia has really aligned itself with the Assad regime, the Iranians, and Hezbollah. "Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russia's interest?" he asked. "Or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?" As Tillerson flew to Russia, evidence against Damascus appeared to mount. Assad foe Turkey said blood and urine samples taken from victims of the alleged attack confirmed that the banned sarin nerve agent was used. Britain, France and the United States later presented a new UN draft resolution demanding an investigation of the suspected chemical attack in Syria after the Security Council failed last week to agree on a response. Russia has remained unmoved by the international chorus of outrage. The foreign ministry called Tillerson's comments "muscle flexing ahead of the talks" and he is likely to face a chilly reception whether or not he meets Putin. The Russian leader in televised comments on Tuesday not only repeated his defence of Assad but suggested the Syrian leader's rebel opponents were preparing future faked attacks in order to encourage US intervention. Putin said Moscow also wanted to see a "thorough" probe of the incident conducted through the UN and slammed US accusations as reminiscent of the weapons of mass destruction claims that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In Italy, Tillerson attempted to rally the world's leading economies behind fresh sanctions against Assad's regime but, despite much outrage over the Khan Sheikhun killings, he failed to win consensus. He did go some way towards clarifying the US position on Syria, however, which had become muddled by apparently conflicting statements from senior officials in Trump's administration about Assad's fate. Tillerson said the US goal of defeating the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria remains a priority, but that Washington hopes a UN-led peace process will allow the Syrian people to oust their own leader. "To be clear, our military action was a direct response to the Assad regime's barbarism," Tillerson told the G7, insisting that the missile strikes were not the start of a military effort aimed at regime change. As G7 ministers urged a new diplomatic push to end the conflict and create a lasting peace for a unified Syria, Tillerson said: "Our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that future." The ministers however failed to agree on whether fresh sanctions should be imposed on Damascus -- or Russia itself. "At the moment there is no consensus on new sanctions as an effective instrument," Italy's Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said, after his British counterpart Boris Johnson had raised the issue. In a show of defiance as it came under fire for its ties, Moscow said it would host the foreign ministers of Syria and Iran for three-way talks after Tillerson's visit. Washington's threat to carry out more punitive strikes if Assad is once again accused of using chemical weapons will likely top their agenda. Several rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 320,000 people since March 2011. Search Keywords: Short link: A fleet of North Korean cargo ships is heading home to the port of Nampo, the majority of it fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return coal from the isolated country, shipping data shows. Following repeated missile tests that drew international criticism, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26, cutting off the country's most important export product. To curb coal traffic between the two countries, China's customs department issued an official order on April 7 telling trading companies to return their North Korean coal cargoes, said three trading sources with direct knowledge of the order. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were discussing North Korea at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on April 7. Shipping data on Thomson Reuters Eikon, a financial information and analytics platform, shows a dozen cargo ships on their way to North Korea's main west coast port of Nampo, almost all carrying cargoes from China. Chinese authorities did not respond to requests for official comment. The Trump administration has been pressuring China to do more to rein in North Korea, which sends the vast majority of its exports to its giant neighbour across the Yellow Sea. But U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said last week's U.S. military strike against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons was a warning to other countries, including North Korea, that "a response is likely" if they pose a danger. As a U.S. Navy strike group headed to the region in a show of force, China and South Korea agreed on Monday to slap tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carries out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. North Korea marks several major anniversaries this month and often marks the occasions with major tests of military hardware. TWO MILLION TONNES A source at Dandong Chengtai, one of China's biggest buyers of North Korean coal, said the company had 600,000 tonnes of North Korean coal sitting at various ports, and a total of 2 million tonnes was stranded at Chinese ports. Eikon data shows that most of these ships have recently left Chinese coal ports, including Weihai and Peng Lai, returning to North Korea full or mostly filled with cargo. Last month, Reuters reported that Malaysia briefly prevented a North Korean ship carrying coal from China from entering its port in Penang because of a suspected breach in sanctions. The ship was eventually allowed to unload its 6,300 metric tonnes of anthracite coal. North Korea is a significant supplier of coal to China, especially of the type used for steel making, known as coking coal. To make up for the shortfall from North Korea, China has ramped up imports from the United States in an unexpected boon for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has declared he wants to revive his country's struggling coal sector. Eikon data shows no U.S. coking coal was exported to China between late 2014 and 2016, but shipments soared to over 400,000 tonnes by late February. This trend was exacerbated after cyclone Debbie knocked out supplies from the world's top coking coal region in the Australia's state of Queensland, forcing Chinese steel makers to buy even more U.S. cargoes. The other big coking coal supplier that has ramped up exports to China since the ban on North Korean cargoes is Russia. Search Keywords: Short link: Authorities said Monday they arrested and charged a McDowell High student with having pot during a random drug search. Deputy Jason Cook of the McDowell County Sheriffs Office charged 17-year-old Jared Michael Gragg of Goforth Road in Marion with possession of marijuana. On Thursday, March 30, multiple agencies, including 10 separate K-9 units, conducted a random drug search at the school. McDowell Sheriffs Office K-9 Kessy, who is partnered with Deputy Steven McPeters, alerted on a Honda Civic in the student parking lot. A search of Graggs vehicle turned up 1 gram of marijuana. Gragg was issued a citation. Russia's security chief on Tuesday said all those detained over the Saint Petersburg metro bombing originate from Central Asia, urging tighter migration controls. The eight people detained in Moscow and Saint Petersburg over the April 3 bombing that killed 13 are "all originally from Central Asia", the head of the FSB security service Alexander Bortnikov said, quoted by RIA Novosti news agency. Bortnikov, speaking at a meeting of the National Antiterrorism Committee (NAK) that he chairs, did not specify the suspects' current citizenship. "To prevent attempts by fighters to enter Russia," there is a need for "additional measures of control on the state border... towards those suspected of taking part in terrorist attacks," the security chief said. The country's border guards are under the control of the FSB. Russia's Investigative Committee last week named the eight suspects but not their ethnic origin. The suspected suicide bomber has been named as 22-year-old Akbarjon Djalilov, who is thought to be a Russian national born in Central Asian Kyrgyzstan. Millions of migrants from the poverty-stricken ex-Soviet countries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan come to work in Russia. The core of "terrorist groups in Russia" is made up of citizens of ex-Soviet countries arriving "in flows of migrant workers," Bortnikov said. Some of these had trained and fought in Syria and Iraq, the FSB chief added. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia faces a threat from Islamist fighters returning from Syria. The investigation into the Saint Petersburg metro bombing shows that "operational work on the ground still does not fully correspond to the threat from illegal terrorist organisations," Bortnikov said. Bortnikov linked the Saint Petersburg attack to the Islamic State group, which has however not claimed responsibility. He cited information according to which "the heads of terrorist groups active in the Middle East as part of IS are working on plans to carry out terrorist attacks in various regions of the world, including Russia." "Examples of this are the high-profile terrorist attacks in recent weeks in Britain, Russia, Sweden and Egypt," Bortnikov said. In Sweden, an Uzbek man is suspected of driving a truck into pedestrians in the capital Stockholm, killing four and injuring 15. IS has not claimed responsibility, but Swedish media reported the suspect had told investigators that he had received an "order" from the group. Search Keywords: Short link: President Donald Trump said in a note on Twitter on Tuesday that he told China's President Xi Jinping that Beijing would get a better trade deal with Washington if it helped solve the U.S. problem with North Korea. "I explained to the president of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!" Trump, who held talks with Xi in Florida last week, wrote on Twitter. "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!" he added in a second note. Trump launched a missile strike on Syria late Thursday while meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The move was widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea as well as retaliation for the Damascus regime's suspected sarin attack against civilians in a rebel-held town in Syria. The United States has deployed a naval strike group -- which includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson -- to the Korean peninsula in a show of force. Trump has previously threatened unilateral action against Pyongyang if China, the North's sole major ally, fails to help curb its neighbor's nuclear ambitions Search Keywords: Short link: Hundreds of thousands of commuters in Sao Paulo were stranded Tuesday as a train strike hit the suburbs of Brazil's biggest city. The train workers' union said in a statement that the strike, announced only late on Monday and starting at the morning rush hour, would run "indefinitely." Two heavily used lines have been paralyzed by the action, which seeks to pressure the company into giving workers bonuses. One line serves 370,000 passengers daily and has stopped functioning, while another serving 430,000 people a day has only partial service, the train company CPTM said. CPTM called the strike "irresponsible" and asked workers "to be sensible and to provide the service on which 800,000 people depend each day." The train workers' union was to meet later Tuesday to decide on what to do next. Strikes and street protests are becoming increasingly common across Brazil as Latin America's biggest country struggles through its third straight year of recession, with unemployment at more than 13 percent. Search Keywords: Short link: Lying in a hospital bed, the last thing you should have to worry about is a personal data breach. Yet recent research co-authored by a Michigan State University business scholar found nearly 1,800 occurrences of large data breaches in patient information over a seven-year period. The study, by Xuefeng "John" Jiang, MSU associate professor of accounting, and colleagues from Johns Hopkins and Ball State universities, is published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The data breaches occurred in health care facilities ranging from UC Davis Medical Center in California to Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan. "Our findings underscore the critical need for increased data protection in the health care industry," Jiang said. "While the law requires health care professionals and systems to cross-share patient data, the more people who can access data, the less secure it is." The researchers examined Department of Health and Human Services data for the period October 2009-December 2016. By law, hospitals covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPPA, must notify HHS of any breach affecting 500 or more individuals within 60 days from the discovery of the breach. What they found was alarming: Healthcare providers reported 1,225 of the 1,798 recorded breaches, while business associates, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses reported the rest. 257 breaches reported by 216 hospitals. 33 hospitals experienced more than one breach - many of which are large, major teaching hospitals. This research reinforces the critical trade-off patients face: healthcare systems having access to information they need, versus a hacker planning to spend your savings at Best Buy. Researchers at the University of Zurich have identified the brain mechanism that governs decisions between honesty and self-interest. Using non-invasive brain stimulation, they could even increase honest behavior. Honesty plays a key role in social and economic life. Without honesty, promises are not kept, contracts are not enforced, taxes remain unpaid. Despite the importance of honesty for society, its biological basis remains poorly understood. Researchers at the University of Zurich, together with colleagues from Chicago and Boston, now show that honest behavior can be increased by means of non-invasive brain stimulation. The results of their research highlight a deliberation process between honesty and self-interest in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC). Occasional lies for material self interest In their die-rolling experiment, the participants could increase their earnings by cheating rather than telling the truth (see box below). The researchers found that people cheated a significant amount of the time. However, many participants also stuck to the truth. "Most people seem to weigh motives of self-interest against honesty on a case-by-case basis; they cheat a little but not on every possible occasion." explains Michel Marechal, UZH Professor for Experimental Economics. However, about 8% of the participants cheated in whenever possible and maximized their profit. Less lies through brain stimulation The researchers applied transcranial direct current stimulation over a region in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC). This noninvasive brain stimulation method makes brain cells more sensitive i.e., they are more likely to be active. When the researchers applied this stimulation during the task, participants were less likely to cheat. However, the number of consistent cheaters remained the same. Christian Ruff, UZH Professor of Neuroeconomics, points out "This finding suggests that the stimulation mainly reduced cheating in participants who actually experienced a moral conflict, but did not influence the decision making process in those not in those who were committed to maximizing their earnings". Conflict between money and morals The researchers found that the stimulation only affected the process of weighing up material versus moral motives. They found no effects for other types of conflict that do not involve moral concerns (i.e., financial decisions involving risk, ambiguity, and delayed rewards). Similarly, an additional experiment showed that the stimulation did not affect honest behavior when cheating led to a payoff for another person instead of oneself and the conflict was therefore between two moral motives. The pattern of results suggests that the stimulated neurobiological process specifically resolves trade-offs between material self-interest and honesty. Developing an understanding of the biological basis of behavior According to the researchers, these findings are an important first step in identifying the brain processes that allow people to behave honestly. "These brain processes could lie at the heart of individual differences and possibly pathologies of honest behavior", explains Christian Ruff. And finally, the new results raise the question to what degree honest behavior is based on biological predispositions, which may be crucial for jurisdiction. Michel Marechal summarizes: "If breaches of honesty indeed represent an organic condition, our results question to what extent people can be made fully liable for their wrongdoings." Article: Increasing honesty in humans with noninvasive brain stimulation, Michel Andre Marechal, Alain Cohn, Giuseppe Ugazio, and Christian C. Ruff, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1614912114, published online 10 April 2017. Diagnosis Advertisement Age of Onset Significance of Celebrating World Parkinson's Disease Day Symbol of Parkinson's Disease - Red Tulip Exercising for 2.5 hours Slows Parkinson's Progression Time taken to get up from a chair Time taken to walk about 10 feet Time taken to sit back down on the chair He won the Sir CV Raman Award as well as the Doctors Day Award as well as the Doctors Day Award He was a consultant for WHO for Tsunami relief projects. for Tsunami relief projects. He is a part of the expert panel for Department of Science and Technology (DST) for Department of Science and Technology (DST) He is a part of The National AYUSH Committee for Integrative Medicine His interests include Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Public Health and Yoga, Community Psychiatry and Mental health. He has authored more than 300 research publications Currently there are no laboratory tests that are available to diagnose Parkinson's disease. Doctors use a neurological examination and medical history to establish the condition.Parkinson's disease is found to begin when the individual is aroundof age, but there are instances when there is early onset of the condition. Currently, there is no known cure for the condition and treatment helps in managing the condition, and delaying progression.involves the use of surgically implanted electrodes that produce electrical impulses which result in the stimulation of parts of the brain that are associated with movement.is the birth anniversay ofwho was the first one to describe the disease in "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy" in 1817. Dr. Parkinson detailed a condition which had lowered muscle power, a tremulous motion that was involuntary and which could not be controlled even if it was supported. The patients had an increased inclination to bend their body forward, switching from walking to running involuntarily with deteriorating intellectual ability.Theis one of the most well-known symbols of Parkinson's disease and it was associated with the day during the Luxembourg Conference, marking the 9World Parkinson's Day. J.W.S Van der Wereld, a Dutch Horticulturalist who suffered from this condition grew the red and white tulip and named it after Dr. Parkinson.Parkinson's disease is associated with a difficulty to walk and stiffness, with constant tremors. A new study published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease details a research study conducted on 3,400 patients in North America, Israel and Netherlands. The characteristics of the patients that were studied includedThe patients were then asked to maintain 150 minutes of exercise every week. The study by a research team from Northwestern University showed that there was lower decline in the quality of life, as well as, mobility over a period of two years when compared to patients who did not exercise.As a part of World Parkinson's Day 2017, Medindia conducted an exclusive interview with, Director, The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (), on his pioneering groundbreaking research on Parkinson's. Dr.Gangadhar has more thanof extensive experience in the area of, which includes clinical as well as academic perspectives.: What are the causative factors for Parkinson's disease?: The degeneration of the neurotransmittor dopamine in the basal ganglia is the prime reason. This reduction triggers the symptoms. It is partly genetic but there are many other factors that could contribute to the development of this condition.What are the treatment methods that are currently available?The treatment methods depend on the severity of the disease, whether it is in its early stage or in the late stage. Initially, the patient is given medications to help cope with the condition, it increases the amount of dopamine in the brain. There are surgical interventions that can be used to treat the condition in severe cases.: People with Parkinson's most often suffer from depression that needs immediate attention. This is due to their "Western Nations get Parkinson's" perception, your comments?That is not true, there are many patients in India, with a growing trend in the recent years.Can Parkinson's affect people in their 30s?Some people get Parkinson's syndrome, with many similar characteristics and traits. These may be caused due to different level of dopamine, medications used, encephalitis, lack of sufficient blood supply to the brain and various types of intoxicants. This type of Parkinson's syndrome may occur early, but it is not known if everyone with Parkinson's syndrome will develop Parkinson's disease later n in life.How can the disease progression be prevented?Through the use of medicines and physical activities.What is thecurrentresearch onParkinson's?There is a lot of research on Parkinson's. India has pioneered a lot of research. Dr. Verma from NIMHANS developed a chemothalamectomy injection for Parkinson's, which involved injecting medicine into the brain. This was way back in the 1960s and there was considerable relief for the patients. Research continues to spearhead our initiative for Parkinson's.Is there a cure in sight for people with Parkinson's disease?There is no cure at the moment, it may take a while, but I am confident with the steps that are being taken that it will be developed.What is your advice for people on World Parkinson's Day 2017?Lead an active life. Take your medicines regularly and visit your neurologist periodically. An active life has been shown to slow progression of the disease. Most people hesitate to do their daily chores once they are diagnosed with the condition, which makes it worse for physical health, as well as, for mental health. Try to be as independent as possible.Source: Medindia The Pulitzer Prize is the Grammy and Academy Award of the book world. So, yes, you should know that fact; not many do. What you should also know is that, for anyone who wants to become a critically-acclaimed, writer, author, journalist, or really just anything of repute in the literary world, the Pulitzer Prize serves as the epitome of weightage to be given. In the past, the honour of a Pulitzer Prize has been awarded to the likes of Pearl S Buck, Margaret Mitchell, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner. Its the ultimate honour. It puts you in the league of extraordinary men and women of substantial intellect. And every year, scholars, journalists, writers and authors come together, either to celebrate the winners, be the winners, or hope for the winners they want. Others hope that someday, they might win such an honour. One such entity is a small, family-run newspaper, called Small Iowa Times. So imagine, a dream like this actually come true, without having expected it! Thats exactly what happened for Art Cullen of the Storm Lake (Iowa) Timesa newspaper run by the 10-member family. Having won the award for Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing, Cullen has been putting out stories confronting the state's most powerful agricultural interests, including the Koch Brothers, Cargill and Monsanto,, as well as the secret funding of the government defense of a big environmental lawsuit. Guardian UK What this shows is simple. You dont need to have a fancy office or a big corporate banner backing you up. All you need to have is the grit and determination to get shit done, the right way, the qualitative way and not bother about the things that come your way. So, if youve been thinking of writing that book, or starting your own media house, however small and unfunded it may be, dont give up on it. You never know whos watching you climb the ladder, slowly; but, surely. When asked what was the most intriguing mystery in the world, famous cosmologist Stephen Hawking replied, Women. If the physics genius who unraveled the most difficult mysteries of space, has a hard time understanding women, theres little hope for us ordinary mortals. Stand-up comic Amit Tandon speaks for every man who has found himself in a tight spot after his wife/girlfriend asked him Tumko Mujh Mein Kya Achcha Lagta Hai? YouTube Talking about how Bollywood romantic movies have made women have unrealistic expectations from men, Tandon blames Gulzar for making everything sound poetic. Of course, the common man who works in a 9-to-5 job cannot match the poetic might of Gulzars romantic verses spoken by Amitabh Bachchan against a misty forest backdrop. Watch him hilariously break down the most difficult question in history. The sight of a passenger being dragged across the floor in an airplane only because the airlines has overbooked a flight is the new form of institutional arrogance. The staff of Kentucky-bound United Express Flight 3411 asked passengers to volunteer to get off the plane because they had overbooked. Despite the $1,000 compensation being offered in return, no one volunteered, which is when the staff picked up 4 people randomly and asked them to get off. While 3 of the passengers got off the plane, the fourth one, a doctor, refused to and told them he had to be home urgently to attend to his patients. YouTube What followed was a violation of human rights and an exercise in institutional might. The man was violently dragged out of the flight, his cries of refusal ignored as he kept saying, I want to go home, I want to go home. He ended up with a bleeding lip, even as other passengers watched in horror. @united @FoxNews @CNN not a good way to treat a Doctor trying to get to work because they overbooked pic.twitter.com/sj9oHk94Ik Tyler Bridges (@Tyler_Bridges) April 9, 2017 Was it just incidental that the man was Asian? Why didnt they pick someone else if he didnt want to go? A doctor who wanted to go home because he had patients to attend to was meted out this merciless treatment, and for what? Because they had to make space for their staff on the plane. @Tyler_Bridges @united @FoxNews @CNN Asian medical doctor rushing home to see patients gets knocked out and dragged out for declining to give up seat to United employees. WTF. Domo-kun (@domosauce) April 10, 2017 And just when you thought the airline would realise its mistake and apologise, the companys CEO Oscar Munoz sends his employees an email that makes things even murkier. Twitter Even if its a private airline, its working in the public service sector and it cant treat passengers like their personal property. When we talk about the sense of entitlement people with money or power exercise, it is this too. Organisations with money and power who serve in the public sector cannot use arm-wrestle tactics to get their way with customers. It seems like Google is already looking to introduce a brand new curved screen to the follow up of their already popular and all-rounder flagship phone. A report from South Koreas Electronic Times suggests that the Search Engine giant has already started negotiation with LG and has offered to invest at least $880 million in LG display Co. This investment comes for the sole reason so that Google can have a stable supply of flexible OLED screen so that it can be used in the companys next flagship smartphone. YouTube Google investing exorbitant amounts of money into curved displays is not really a shocker since Samsungs new Galaxy S8 features one and so will the next iPhone. Apple has apparently come to an understanding with Samsung to secure at least 160 million screens for the next iPhone. YouTube However, LG has not inked a deal with Google yet and is still considering the offer. Google might have to sweeten the deal since they do not have many options to obtain a curved screen for the next Pixel smartphone. Since Samsung has already penned a deal with Apple, it is unlikely that the Korean company will be able to manufacture and meet Googles demands for flexible OLED screens. Rival OLED screen manufacturer Japan Display Inc. has also said in a statement that they will not be ready to produce flexible OLED screens until 2018. We're sorry, but we're unable to locate the page you requested. The page may have been removed, renamed, or deleted. You can try searching for the topic using the search button in the right hand corner above. BAD AXE The Bad Axe United Methodist Women is hosting a soup bread and dessert supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Bad Axe located at 216 E. Woodworth St. Dinner includes a large variety of homemade soups, homemade breads and homemade deserts. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for children 10 years and under and children age 5 eat for free. GAGETOWN The East Region Council of Catholic Women Spring will meet Wednesday, May 10 at Our Lady of Consolata Parish, St. Agatha Church in Gagetown. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with meeting running from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The day includes a light breakfast, morning prayer, rosary, mass, lunch and speakers in the afternoon. The speakers will be Deacon Jene Baughman and his wife, Lee Baughman on Mission in Nigeria. Cost for the day is $10 per person. HURON COUNTY With two recent influenza-related deaths reported in Michigan, local health officials are still urging the public to get vaccinated as the flu season is still showing widespread activity. Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, severe aching and excessive discharge. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently reported the first two pediatric influenza deaths in the state for the 2016-17 flu season. Nationally there have been 61 pediatric deaths reported since September 2016, but none in Huron County, according to Jessica Vigenski, emergency preparedness coordinator with the Huron County Health Department. Some of the best ways to prevent the illness, Vigenski said, are covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough and washing your hands regularly. The No. 1 way of preventing it is getting your influenza vaccine, Vigenski told the Tribune. I think the biggest misconception is everyone thinks influenza is stomach flu, nausea and diarrhea, which its the complete opposite. ... If you come in contact with somebodys secretion, thats when you can expose yourself to it. Once a person receives the vaccination, it takes two weeks for it to become effective. All ages are open to catching influenza even though the flu season is coming to its unwritten end of the year. A typical flu season is September to April, she said. This year has been a really high activity season so typically, its (flu season) the end of March beginning of April. However, were still seeing several cases reported of influenza. Adults may visit the Huron County Health Department between 8 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for the flu vaccine. However, children must have an appointment. For further details, contact the Huron County Health Department at 989-269-9721, ext. 133. I think we need to continue to encourage folks to come in and get the vaccination, Vigenski said. Aside from the six-year-old Syrian civil war and Russia's alliance with Assad, the G-7 foreign ministers also face other daunting issues, including the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons development program and Moscow's support of pro-Russian fighters in eastern Ukraine waging battles with the Kyiv government. Before flying to Moscow, Tillerson also plans to meet Tuesday with counterparts from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates about the U.S. response to the Syrian chemical weapons attack. Ahead of the formal G-7 meetings, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told Tillerson that Tokyo supports the United States in its effort to "deter the spread and use of chemical weapons." British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described Assad as "toxic," saying it was "time for [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is propping up." The top U.S. diplomat, meeting for the first time with other leaders from the world's major advanced economies, is looking for support for the U.S. military action before heading to Russia later in the week for talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about Moscow's continuing support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world," Tillerson said. "This place will serve as an inspiration to us all." Tillerson joined other G-7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy in laying a wreath at a Tuscan village where Nazis massacred more than 500 civilians during World War II. He alluded to the American retaliatory airstrikes in Syria after Damascus launched a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of people and sickened hundreds more. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, looking to rally world leaders in support of last week's U.S. missile attack on Syria, Monday promised a new U.S. commitment to facing the world's aggressors who attack their citizens. The leaders of the G-7 countries -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the U.S. -- are gathering for their own summit in Italy in May; but, the foreign ministers meeting Monday and Tuesday are laying the groundwork for those talks, with a priority on their collective efforts to oust Islamic State fighters from Syria and Iraq. Tillerson said Sunday the United States remains committed to an international road map developed in Geneva in 2012 for bringing an end to the conflict in Syria, now in its seventh year. When that plan was developed, the civil war was just more than a year old and has since become a massive humanitarian disaster. The Geneva Communique calls for a new Syrian constitution and elections, but does not specify the fate of Assad. U.S. officials have in recent days offered contradictory statements on the long-held U.S. policy that Assad should be ousted. Tillerson has called for Assad's removal, but said Islamic State is the focus for now. "I think what the United States and our allies want to do is to enable the Syrian people to make that determination" about Assad, Tillerson told CBS News on Sunday. "We've seen what violent regime change looks like in Libya and the kind of chaos that can be unleashed." Libya, Russia, North Korea Libya is another topic for the G7. The country has struggled with political instability since the 2011 ouster and killing of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi, with rival governments and militias seeking to assert authority and a U.N.-led process unable to establish a unified body. Most of the G-7 members took part in a NATO-led air operation backed by a U.N. resolution to protect civilians from strikes by the Libyan government. Russia expressed opposition to that mission, declaring the resolution to be overly broad in what it allowed. Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine led the G7 to suspend Russia's involvement from what had been the G-8 group of nations. The conflict in eastern Ukraine is expected to be among the topics Tillerson raises with Russian officials in Moscow. In previewing the trip, a senior State Department official said Tillerson will likely push Russia to honor its commitments under agreements reached in Minsk to halt fighting in eastern Ukraine and work toward a peaceful resolution to that conflict. "He will reiterate that sanctions will remain in place until Russia reverses the actions that triggered them, and as well as on the Crimea-related sanctions that will stay in place until there is a change there," the official said. North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile tests will be another topic of discussion, but one where the U.S. and Russia hold similar positions, having joined other powers in issuing condemnations of a number of tests in the past year. A senior State Department official said generally Tillerson will stress that the United States is willing to work with Russia on areas that are beneficial to the American people, but will "hold Russia accountable when it violates international norms." The most glaring issue in the relationship may be the finding of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia interfered with last year's U.S. presidential election with the goal of boosting President Donald Trump's chances of winning. Tillerson is expected to raise the issue, and according to the senior State Department official, sees it as an example of areas where Russia is "creating tensions unnecessarily that erode trust." The talks about overall U.S.-Russia relations will also serve as a step in exploring whether a direct meeting at a higher level -- between Trump and Putin -- is to come. The United Nations position comes after Hungary passed a law on March 28 for tougher immigration stances that led to the building of camps. According to a UN statement, as of April 7, there were 110 people, including four unaccompanied children and children with their families, held in shipping containers. Hungary's policy also includes deporting any migrants who do not hold official papers. UNHCR said the situation in Hungary has gotten worse since the country's new policy to detain new asylum seekers, including children, in shipping containers surrounded by high razor fences at the border for the entire time of their asylum procedures. The UN refugee agency on Monday urged European Union members to temporarily suspend transfers and returns of all asylum seekers to Hungary. "The situation for asylum seekers in Hungary, which was already of deep concern to UNHCR, has only gotten worse since the new law introducing mandatory detention for asylum seekers came into effect," said Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Reports say the unusual move will bring more attention on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government, which has been condemned by rights groups on its strict policies on migrants. "While acknowledging the authorities' recent efforts to address police violence, we remain very concerned about highly disturbing reports of serious incidents of ill-treatment and violence against people crossing the border into Hungary, including by State agents," Grandi said. "These unacceptable practices must be brought to an end and I urge the Hungarian authorities to further investigate any allegation of abuse and violence," he added. The United Nations urged EU members to suspend migrants' return under the Dublin regulation, a rule that says any asylum seekers must have their cases handled in the first EU country they have entered, and should be returned there if necessary. Grandi said the suspension should continue, "until the Hungarian authorities bring their practices and policies in line with European and international law." "It is important that asylum systems, as well as reception conditions, are further improved in many EU and candidates States. This will help reduce irregular onward movements and the increasing reliance on smugglers. It will also help to reduce current pressure at the Hungary's southern border," Grandi said. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids is doing something right when it comes to food and drink because recognition keeps coming its way. The World Food Association, a leading authority on food and beverage tourism, has announced the winners of the 2017 FoodTrekking Awards for excellence in food and beverage tourism. Grand Rapids came in second place in the Best Food & Beverage Destination Experience category. Grand Rapids has 'Best Beer Scene' in America, USA Today poll says Grand Rapids' submission highlighted its booming craft beverage and food scene. Ontario, Canada took first place in the category. "Beer City USA pairs perfectly with the emerging culinary scene in Grand Rapids," said Kate Herron, Director of Marketing with Experience Grand Rapids in a statement. "We have a plethora of artesian culinary businesses popping up, and high quality restaurants as well which all contribute to this award in their own way." Seven food, drink and tourism experts from five different countries including USA, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Israel did the judging in all categories. Winners were selected from all submitted applications. Judges were asked to evaluate the business strategy for the submitting company or organization; the marketing communications that support the product or business; the overall public reputation of the company or product; and as needed, the individual product itself. Each application was reviewed by a minimum of two different judges. For each category, there was one first place winner and up to one second place winner. Not all categories had second place winners. Applications for the 2018 Awards will open in October 2017. To see current and past winners, visit http://foodtrekkingawards.org/winners Scene from The History of Kindergarten (2) (image courtesy of Match Frame Creative).jpg Robert McCarter, architecture professor and Frank Lloyd Wright expert, talks to Scott Bulman in "The History of Kindergarten." (Courtesy | Match Frame Creative) GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Kindergarten is a commonplace part of education in the United States today. Almost everyone with formal education now attends kindergarten. But where did it come from? The 180-year-old, design-focused preschool program is the topic of a documentary by Scott Bultman, a toy designer. "The History of Kindergarten" dives into the life of Friedrich Froebel, who coined the term kindergarten, as well as the rise and fall of his influence on the educational system in America. "Froebel invented kindergarten, the first play-based system of education, and helped children develop design, creative problem solving and critical thinking skills because he saw those skills as fundamental to their success as adults and to the success of society as a whole," Bultman said. On Wednesday, April 12, Bultman will premiere an extended trailer for his documentary at Kendall College of Art and Design. Bultman is developing the documentary in collaboration with Match Frame Creative, a West Michigan-based visual arts company. Froebel designed the kindergarten program to leverage the natural creativity of children. The idea spread rapidly. He developed educational materials, called Froebel gifts, to introduce children to different concepts like speed, color and perspective. Bultman's interest in Froebel began in the mid-90s, when his toy company, Uncle Goose Toys, was approached to manufacture blocks designed by Froebel. "As I learned more about Froebel, I came to see how incredible his contributions to the world really are," Bultman said. "His ideas about education were so influential, and they made so much sense to me. I realized that not only was this the biggest business opportunity I would ever have, it was my best chance to positively impact people as well." Bultman later left Uncle Goose Toys to found Froebel USA, a publisher and distributor of Froebel's educational materials. He also organized international Froebel education conferences, one of which is planned for August 2017 in Grand Rapids. Bultman teamed up with Match Frame Creative to film the documentary, which seeks to connect with individuals, organizations and schools still using Froebel's tools to encourage creativity and innovation in the 21st century. "The History of Kindergarten" will feature educators, designers and other professionals who are all passionate about American education and see Froebel's creative programming as the future for education. The trailer screening at will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in room 217 inside the Woodbridge N. Ferris building. The building, located at 17 Pearl St. NW, is part of the campus of Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design in downtown Grand Rapids. GVSU holds sexual assault town hall Wrist bands were available for audience members to pick up during a town hall about sexual assault in the Kirkhof Center at Grand Valley State University in Allendale on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Mike Clark | MLive.com) (Mike Clark) ALLENDALE, MI - In response to a blowout about rape culture at Grand Valley State University, the student organization Eyes Wide Open hosted an event to better define the term for the campus community. "Unpacking Rape Culture" aimed to do just that - unpack the word and define it in more concrete terms, as well as give the word context and teach students what they can do to dismantle it. The event comes after an uproar in response to one student's post on social media. On April 3, a member of GVSU's student senate, Patrick Borum, posted a status on Facebook that read "rape culture isn't real." Other students and senators saw the post and were upset, calling for the student to leave student senate. The next day, student senate was hosting a town hall focusing on sexual assault and what GVSU is doing to combat it. Though the public event was originally focused on things like adding lighting to sidewalks and the potential addition of campus call boxes, much of the conversation was centered on Borum's actions, the repercussions he should face and the larger idea of rape culture on GVSU's campus. In the wake of the incident, the student did resign from student senate and his fraternity membership was revoked. Alyssa Phillips, president of EWO, wanted to do something about the misinterpretation of the term "rape culture" that was part of the incident. "It's in response to the need that the campus community felt for more education," she said. EWO is made up of students acting as peer educators on topics of sexual assault and consent. Each student goes through training twice per year about how to talk about and educate other people of the issue. EWO had already planned on giving a similar rape culture presentation to its members, but Phillips decided that the timing of the event was right, so she opened the event to the public. "With any term that gets used with social issues, it gets misused so often that people are unsure about what it means," said Philips. "It's also a part of rape culture itself, we don't really talk about it, that's why it gets misused." The event covered topics directly relating to rape culture, like toxic masculinity, and taught attendees what they can do to combat the perpetuation of rape culture. "Reaching out, learning more, even just Googling it and learning what you can do is helpful," said Philips. "Rape culture is closely intertwined to rape and sexual assault, but also to gender roles and to the perpetuation of hypermasculinity and the oppression of women. "It's a lot of critical thinking and constantly questioning what you're taking in." EWO is giving the same presentation to Kappa Sigma, the fraternity that Borum was previously a member of. "There was a good willingness there," said Philips. "I think it was a surprising shift for some people of what we expect from Greek culture, but they really are good people." EWO can give presentations to any student group that reaches out to them as well as offer one-on-one education for students, faculty and staff. The organization also hosts events throughout the school year focused on awareness and preventing sexual assault. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The chief financial officer for the city of Grand Rapids who helped lead the organization through major financial changes has announced his retirement. Scott Buhrer will be retiring in May from a 13-year career with the city. City Manager Greg Sundstrom called Buhrer a "heroic character" and a world-class problem solver. Sundstrom announced his plan to fill Buhrer's post at the Tuesday meeting of the city commission. Scott Buhrer Jeff Dood, who is overseeing the city's income tax department, will be the acting chief financial officer with Buhrer's departure. Filling Dood's place in as acting income tax administrator will be Jennifer Woodard. Buhrer worked closely with Sundstrom as the architect of several major operational changes throughout his tenure to help the city overcome major budget deficits. After voters passed the income tax, Buhrer designed a transformation fund partially kick started by the elimination of 500 positions across city departments. The investment and innovation funds covered improvements across all of the city's services and ultimately increased efficiencies, according to city officials. Buhrer also lead the city through major changes to its retiree healthcare, employee healthcare and pension plans - moving to a defined-contribution retirement plan for general employees. Buhrer was hired in 2004 by former City Manager Kurt Kimball as the city's chief financial officer, a time when the city was facing a $28 million hole in its $121 million general operating budget. Buhrer filled an 18-month vacancy in the job after longtime CFO Robert White took an early retirement. Buhrer, a Jenison native, came to the role in Grand Rapids at the age of 48 after serving an eight-year stint as the chief financial officer of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The Silicon Valley transit agency was forced to make deep service cuts because of California's budget crisis -- and Buhrer's budget-cutting experience there made him a good fit to Kimball. Buhrer is a graduate of what was then Ferris State College and worked for the Kalamazoo office of the Alexander Grant accounting firm. He transferred to Denver in 1980 and moved to San Jose in 1996. Buhrer's departure will be the latest in a series of personnel changes in the city manager's office in the past year. Former Assistant to the City Manager Haris Alibasic left his post last fall to take a university job in Florida, and the other assistant to the city manager, Tom Almonte, was promoted to the role of director of public services. Sundstrom will be hiring a new assistant to the city manager that will work for both him and Deputy City Manager Eric DeLong. HOLLAND, MI - Starting this fall, Hope College will bring together faculty and students from multiple divisions and disciplines in exploring the important issues facing the world in which the students are preparing to live and work. The exploration of "grand challenges'' is an initiative being funded with an $800,000, three-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The plan is to support the development of about six projects per semester, involving two or more faculty members, developing a potential total of about 50 new linked courses. The college recently announced the first round of recipients of grants to develop new and revised courses. A full description of the projects are available on the website. William Pannapacker, who is the DuMez Professor of English and senior director of the initiative, said Grand Challenges has been enthusiastically received, with many proposals being submitted, making the review process more competitive. "We want them to show how the liberal arts have a transformative role to play in the world: that everyone across the divisions can benefit from the critical thinking, creativity and performance, and also the knowledge and skills developed in complementary disciplines," said Pannapacker, after the grant was announced. Nineteen faculty members from 10 different departments and every division of the college will receive more than $128,000 for six Grand Challenges projects: Sociological and Historical Imagination of Peace Movements, Pamela Koch (sociology), Jeanne Petit (history) The Healing of Memories in Post-Conflict Societies, Ernest Cole (English), Deirdre Johnston (communication) Nations, Citizens, and Outsiders: Paris Stories. Principal recipients: Lauren Janes (history), Heidi Kraus (art history) and Natalie Dykstra (English). Building Meaningful Connection across Cultural Divides, Michelle Bombe (theatre), Joanne Stewart (chemistry) and Elizabeth Trembley (English). Going Global, Starting Local: Disability in Contemporary Societies. Principal recipients: Wei Yu Wayne Tan (history), Dennis Feaster (social work) and Alyssa Cheadle (psychology). Immigration Stories, Berta Carrasco (Spanish) and Debra Swanson (sociology). Hope will develop linked courses across the disciplines and establish faculty-student research opportunities built around large-scale, relevant themes such as post-conflict reconciliation, religious coexistence, and globalization or freedom of speech. In addition to addressing the questions themselves, the program will also be modeling how bringing together the skills and insights of multiple disciplines provides the best hope of addressing complex issues. "The initiative will support faculty members working together, with students, across disciplines, on the most significant challenges of our time," Pannapacker said. The courses can be for any level of student. The initiative is expected to help create a larger continuity within the rest of the college's curriculum. Hope officials say the program ties particularly to a variety of objectives in the college's strategic plan, "Hope for the World: 2025," adopted in 2015, including emphasis on providing faculty-supervised experience that link intellectual skills developed through the liberal arts with vocational experiences; engaging multiple perspectives and disciplines in teaching, learning and scholarship; and enhancing cross-cultural and global learning. "I think this will help us fulfill our liberal arts mission in a way that is more relevant, vibrant and practical, and has some added payoffs for students," said English Professor Curtis Gruenler, a member of the initiative's leadership team, after the fall grant announcement. Wu and Kim warned they will take strong measures against North Korea in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions if the regime carries out another provocation like a nuclear test or a test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Wu met Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se before sitting down to talks with his South Korean counterpart Kim Hong-kyun at the Foreign Ministry. Wu repeated his country's opposition to the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. here. But in a meeting with a South Korean official late last year, he said Beijing is aware that its economic retaliation is a "double-edged sword" from which China too will suffer to some extent. On Tuesday, Wu meets Song Young-gil, the campaign manager of Minjoo Party presidential candidate Moon Jae-in, and Park Jie-won, the chairman of the centrist People's Party, whose presidential candidate is former software tycoon Ahn Cheol-soo. He will also meet the presidential candidate of the splinter conservative Bareun Party, Yoo Seung-mi, Yoo's spokesman said. On Wednesday, he meets the candidate of the rump-ruling Liberty Korea Party, Hong Joon-pyo. _W5B0617.JPG A pair of Trumpeter swans at Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) LAKE COUNTY, MI - Boredom can sometimes lead to bad decisions. Look no further than rural Northern Michigan for evidence of that. According to an official report by the Michigan Department of Resources, two juveniles in Lake County were petitioned into probate court after they killed two swans with a pellet gun. The incident occurred in late March when Josiah Killingbeck, a conservation officer in DNR District 4, received a complaint from local dispatch of two swans shot on a pond behind a residence. Killingbeck responded and found two trumpeter swans that had been shot by what appeared to be a pellet gun. Upon further investigation, Killingbeck was able find the two juvenile suspects. According to the report, the children had gotten bored of shooting at cans and when they saw the swans swimming in the pond, they made the decision to shoot them. DNR District 4 includes Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola and Wexford counties. Senior officials in the Trump administration have signaled the possibility of a preemptive strike against North Korea, resulting in rumors spreading in South Korea of an imminent attack. They were spurred by reports that a U.S. Navy strike group headed by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson has been dispatched to the waters off the Korean Peninsula, and stories in the Japanese press that the return of the Japanese ambassador to Seoul was aimed at facilitating the evacuation of Japanese citizens in case of a war. On social media, people were soon claiming that foreign businesses are pulling out or that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un plans to defect. A preemptive strike is certainly one of the options on the table for the new U.S. administration. President Donald Trump is probably the most likely American leader so far to consider the option. But any military operation requires a clear objective as well as a detailed follow-up plan, and when it comes to North Korea both of these points are murky at best. Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo on Monday voiced opposition to a preemptive attack, saying South Korea "cannot but consider various problems" such a move would entail. The U.S. defense secretary has always stressed the side effects of a preemptive attack when briefing the president about such an option. Perhaps the chances are no longer zero, but the North Korean nuclear crisis can still be handled through diplomatic pressure. Stoking fears of an imminent attack is highly irresponsible. A likelier outcome is a repeat of the pattern seen over the past 20 years, when tensions flared on the Korean Peninsula only to be followed by dialogue. Tillerson said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, "In terms of North Korea, we have been very clear that our objective is a denuclearized Korean Peninsula." But he added, "We have no objective to change the regime in North Korea -- that is not our objective." Tillerson added, "And that's what we have asked for, is for them to cease all this testing before we can begin to think about having further talks with them." That suggests that the Trump administration is seeking a nuclear weapons and missile freeze rather than dismantlement before starting talks. It is hard to determine what exactly those comments mean, but they certainly signal a notable change. The North Korean nuclear impasse began in the early 1990s and has since gone through a vicious cycle of heightening tensions leading to talks and rewards, only to be followed by the North reneging on all its promises and ratcheting up tensions again. This was partly due to the U.S.' focus on short-term, easily publicized achievements rather than seeking fundamental changes. The pattern must not be repeated. Instead, the UN must strengthen sanctions against North Korea and see them through. China must be made to feel a clear need to get on board. Thae Yong-ho, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the U.K. who defected to South Korea last year, has testified that the North Korean regime is under enormous strain. Now is a time for patience, strict implementation of sanctions and firm diplomatic pressure on the North. Food chief sentenced for graft From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-04-11 01:40 A former vice president of Shanghais food giant Bright Dairy has been sentenced to three years with a five-year reprieve for taking bribes of more than 1.2 million yuan (US$173,730), said Minhang District Peoples Court. Li Ke, 49, helped Shanghai Xinyu Trade Co in business between the second half of 2007 and July 2010 while she was the marketing director of the state-owned Shanghai Bright Dairy and Food Co. In return, she accepted more than 900,000 yuan from Xinyus boss. She also received a Bvlgari bracelet valued at 300,000 yuan from the operator of Shanghai Pantian Spice Co in return for business favors. According to the court, Li confessed her crimes during an in-house investigation last September 6. The same day, Bright Dairy announced Li had resigned her position. She was detained but granted bail the next day. The court handed a suspended sentence down to her as she had admitted guilt and returned all of the ill-gotten gains. She was also fined 400,000 yuan. Last November, Bright Dairys former president Guo Benheng was jailed for six years for taking bribes of about 3.3 million yuan for helping others, including his staff, win contracts and promotions, during his term in office from 1999 to 2014. The bribes included millions of yuan and US dollars and expensive gifts, including travel packages, for his family. Guo also quit his job after an anti-graft investigation was launched against him. Another former executive, Wang Zongnan, who resigned his positions as president and Party chief in 2013, received an 18-year jail term in August 2015 for bribery and embezzlement, totaling almost 200 million yuan, while leading Lianhua Supermarket Holdings Co and subsidiaries. Electronic music fest coming to Shanghai From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-04-11 01:40 LEADING electronic music festival Ultra announced an expansion to Chinas mainland and India yesterday, sensing a bright future for the booming genre. Ultra Music Festival, launched in 1999 in Miami when electronic dance music was beginning to find mass audiences in the West, also plans to head to Australia, which will bring the party to six continents. The September 9-10 edition in Shanghai marks the first entry of an international music festival into Chinas mainland, which has a number of homegrown events that have drawn global talent. Russell Faibisch, Ultras president, CEO and executive producer, said he has been spending time in China since 2012 and sensed a strong appetite for electronic dance music. There is no other genre like electronic music now, or ever, in the history of music, Faibisch said. Its the one genre that brings everyone together no matter what country youre in, what language you speak. Ultra will come to India in September in New Delhi with a second edition set for February 2018 in Mumbai. The Indian events for now will be Road to Ultra shows which have single rather than multiple stages. Electronic music revelers, often decked out in extravagant outfits for hours of sweaty dancing, have increasingly crossed borders. Ultras flagship event in Miami last month drew 165,000 people from more than 60 countries, according to organizers. Faibisch, who said Ultra tailored each event to local musical preferences, witnessed growth potential in Asia by seeing so many fans travel within the region. Elsewhere in Asia, Ultra has editions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. I think the artists really love going and playing there because the fans are so enthusiastic about it, Faibisch said of Asia. Their energy is very high, maybe because its something thats newer in that region. China and India used to be relative backwaters for Western concert promoters but they have seen musical tastes shaped by the streaming revolution with fans enjoying access to DJs who once seemed remote. There is a restructuring exercise underway at the American Express Bank as it rejigs its top management, sources privy to the information told CNBC-TV18. The company's Regional President, Sanjay Rishi, will be relocated to the US, while Manoj Adlakha will be elevated as the Senior Vice-President of the India business. The Regional President post will be discontinued. Adlakha will also continue as the CEO of the American Express Banking Corp. He plans to expand the bank's reach across lower income groups in India and also expand to smaller towns. He will also focus on growing the payments business in India. Meanwhile, Sanjay Rishi, after relocating to New York, will focus on "inorganic growth opportunities" for the company. Rishi had taken charge as the regional president in 2012. A man talks on his mobile phone as he walks past an ITC office building in Kolkata September 4, 2012. ITC Ltd sells 80 percent of the cigarettes in the world's second most populous country where 275 million people use tobacco products. But as India follows the rest of the world in adopting anti-smoking regulations, the company's core tobacco business is getting squeezed and it is venturing into dairy products, drinks and perhaps even healthy breakfast foods to try to expand its money-losing consumer products business. Picture taken September 4, 2012. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS HEALTH) - RTR37J7R live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Diversified ITC is expanding its juice portfolio with an aim to garner around 20 percent market share in five years in the packaged fruit juice segment, currently estimated to be around Rs 2,500-crore. Apart from adding new flavours and focusing on local fruits, the company is expanding its sales network to meet the target. It has also roped in Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty as brand ambassador for B Natural juices and beverages. The Kolkata-based firm also plans to expand retail points of its luxury chocolate brand Fabelle and take it outside its hotel premises, where it is only available currently. "We are going to add 2 to 3 percent market share every year and in next five years. It should be around 18 to 20 per cent in the next five years," ITC Foods Division Divisional Chief Executive Hemant Malik told PTI. ITC ventured into the juice segment two years back and has presently around 7 per cent market share. Market research firm Nielsen has estimated the packed juice segment market to be around Rs 2,500 crore and is growing rapidly, he added. In order to expand its juice product portfolio, he said ITC is focusing on local flavours and sell them under the same local name such as 'Kinnow' and 'Jamun Joy' under the B Natural brand. "Today we have added pomegranate," Malik said. Commenting on network expansion, he said as the category is very less penetrated the focus is to make it available to a wider range of consumers. ITC is a late entrant in the packaged juice segment, which is largely dominated by PepsiCo's Tropicana and Real from homegrown FMCG major Dabur. ITC had forayed into the premium packaged fruit drinks market in 2015 with the acquisition of the B Natural brand. Annual revenues of telecom companies fell for the first time in seven years to Rs 1.88 lakh crore and is expected to decline further to Rs 1.84 lakh crore in 2017-18, according to broking firm CLSA. Things could start looking up the following year, but the projected revenues of Rs 1.87 lakh crore in 2018-19 will still be lower than the Rs 1.93 lakh crore grossed in 2015-16. A Livemint report quoting CLSA cites aggressive pricing by Reliance Jio, and the consequent price war in the sector, as the main trigger for the decline in revenues. In the December quarter, revenues of nine telecom operator declined by 1.1 percent, according to CARE Ratings. The operating margin for the industry stood at 28.43 percent. Profitability in the quarter stood at its lowest in last six quarters, CARE said. While the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked Reliane Jio to remove its Summer Offer an additional three months of free data and voice service existing customers will enjoy the benefit. That alongwith new offers from incumbents will continue to dilute the average revenue per user (ARPUs) at the upper end of subscribers, according to CLSA. In the December quarter, ARPU of Bharti Airtel fell by 10.4 percent to Rs 172 while Ideas declined by 10.8 percent to Rs 157, as per CARE data. With data gaining more traction over voice and revenues declining for voice and text, telecom companies have started focusing more on profits and average revenue per user (ARPUs). In the current fiscal, CARE is expecting some de-growth as the dual SIM users--who signed up for Jio's free offer--may surrender one of the connections. However, a report by the CRISIL also mentions that Jios entry will increase the data traffic three fold. In the near-term, intense competition, set off by Reliance Jio will weigh on the financials of telecom companies, according to a report by India Ratings. In the long-term, the consolidation in telecom will lead to a better pricing discipline. Return on capital employed is likely to improve for the industry by around 300 basis points in next two years, the report said. Reliance Jio, launched in September 2016, has signed up more than 100 million subscribers. Jios entry has also start industry consolidation which is evident in recent telecom mergers of Vodafone-Idea and Airtel-Telenor India. With consolidation, only 3-4 major players will left in the sector, according to analysts. TRAI has also said that the lower tariffs and promotion offers are lowering the government revenue and hitting financials of the sector. The regulatory authority is concerned that this could impact the telcos capability to meet contractual commitments, payments for spectrum and also, repayment of loans. 3 killed in tunnel car accident From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-04-11 01:40 THREE people were killed and two injured in a single car accident in the citys Yangtze River Tunnel yesterday afternoon, police said. The accident took place at about 2pm as the car was being driven from Chongming Island to Pudong. Police said fire fighters pulled the injured out of the car, but three of them later died at hospital. The accident caused congestion as two lanes were shut down for the rescue, with traffic order restored after 4pm. Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran promised Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to visit Punjab soon to explore possibilities of setting up a major venture. Singh met Chandrasekaran on the first day of his three-day visit to the country's financial capital to woo investors, as part of 'Invest Punjab' initiative, and urged him to invest in the state. Singh also met ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar who agreed to consider the possibility of shifting the bank's back-end operations to Mohali in the next stage of expansion. Singh, who is leading a delegation, promised to streamline the systems and processes to make the state more investor- and industry-friendly, while reiterating his commitment to provide power to industry at Rs 5 per unit. Besides one-on-one meetings with Chandrasekaran and Kochhar, the chief minister also held separate meetings with Goldman Sachs Chairman Sonjoy Chatterjee and Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej. During his meeting with Chandrasekaran, he said that Punjab was the only power surplus state in the country and at Rs 5 per unit, it would be the second state after Himachal Pradesh to provide cheap power. During his talk with Kochhar, he suggested that ICICI Bank move its back-end operations to Mohali, as HDFC Bank and Infosys were already doing. The ICICI Bank chief said they would consider this as and when they decide to expand, according to a press release of the state government. They also worked out plans for development of the chief minister's ancestral village Mehraj, as a model digital village and support to small dairy farmers, besides training and skill development of farmers and unemployed youth were other issues. Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who is a part of the delegation, urged ICICI Bank to consider developing 200 model dairy farms in the state exclusively for breeding. Adi Godrej, during his discussion with the chief minister said his company was constantly looking at expanding further in Punjab with more ventures in the future. Godrej, who is also chairman of the Indian School of Business, expressed concern about imposition of GST on private educational institutions and urged the chief minister to pursue the central government for exemption. During its second cabinet meeting after the Bharatiya Janata Party formed the government in the state, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet took a handful of decisions for the power and agriculture sector. Key highlights of the meeting: The big focus was on power and farmers. The UP government is planning to sign an MoU with the Centre for 'power to all' scheme to ensure that there is power supply in various parts of the state. In districts, the target is 24 hours while in rural areas the government is targeting 18 hour power supply and 20 hours a day in towns. UP Cabinet aims to achieve this by 2018 and before 2019. For potato farmers, the government has decided to introduce minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 487 per quintal. And, sugarcane farmers can also heave a sigh of relief as the government has decided to clear their dues of around Rs 6,000 crore. To introduce transparency and check corruption, the cabinet has decided to allow Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and other central agencies to conduct audits for various development authorities in the state and also boards. The government has also decided to adopt e-tenders at the district levels for the mining sector for a period of six months to fight the crunch of raw materials. Parts of Uttar Pradesh including Gorakhpur, the parliamentary constituency of Yogi Adityanath, are dealing with the problem of Japanese Encephalitis (JE). The chief minister has sought a proposal from the health department to see what measures have been taken to eradicate the disease. The government will launch a drive to prevent JE and will also draw a contingency plan which will include supplies at hospitals and also prevention through fogging. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More In a bid to meet the clean up deadline, banks managed to sell over 50 percent of their bad loans worth Rs 35,000-40,000 crore to asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) in the last two weeks of FY17. About half of Rs 70,000 crore worth of assets have been sold to ARCs which have paid about Rs 18,000 crore for the sales. Bulk of it has come in during last month, especially in the last two weeks. A majority of the asset sales was seen coming from the private sector banks including ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and IDFC Bank, said two people aware of the development. After the asset quality review (AQR) exercise conducted in the second half of calendar year 2015, banks were pushed to recognise potential non-performing loans. This, under the aegis of former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, was done in order to clean up the banks balance sheets by March 2017. A chief of an ARC said, Banks are coming forward and selling more now as they will now have to require more provisions towards the bad loans. So far, half of Rs 70,000 crore have been sold and banks are willing to negotiate on the pricing as well. According to the ARC chief, about Rs 18,000 crore have been paid by ARCs for the total sales made so far. Echoing similar numbers, another ARC head said, About Rs 30,000-35,000 crore have been sold this year and we will see more sales going forward. In FY17, the ARCs issued a total of Rs 15,000 crore worth of security receipts and the rest in cash. Reports suggest that Edelweiss ARC bought almost two-thirds of the NPAs worth about Rs 22,000 crore. JM Financial ARC and Phoenix ARC bought Rs 4,800 crore and Rs 4,200 crore, respectively. ICICI Bank and Axis Bank sold the maximum at about Rs 5,000-6,000 crore of loans each, while IDFC Bank sold about Rs 4,000 crore. Other banks including South Indian Bank sold Rs 2,000 crore while HDFC Bank sales stood under Rs 1,000 crore. In the April monetary policy meet, RBI also allowed minimum capital to be infused into ARCs from Rs 2 crore to Rs 100 crore to drive more cash sales. Many ARCs including Edelweiss, International ARC and others are looking at raising more capital to facilitate higher cash sales, which is preferred by banks. India said that it was keen on bolstering its strong ties with the UAE and asserted that increased bilateral coordination was needed to face challenges posed by fast-paced international developments. Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar, in his address here at the 11th forum of UAE ambassadors and heads of representative missions, said India was interested in strengthening its relations with the UAE. He stated that India wanted to boost bilateral ties in light of the prospects for bilateral cooperation, regional and fast-paced international developments and shifts, the state-run WAM news agency reported. Akbar said that the two countries need to further boost coordination and understanding in order to face challenges posed by these shifts and invest in available opportunities. During the forum, being organised by the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation from April 9-13, a special session was dedicated to UAE-India relations and international developments. The session was moderated by the UAE Ambassador to India, Dr Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Banna. Meanwhile, the UAE International Investors Council (UAEIIC) and UAE-India Business Council (UIBC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for facilitating trade and investments including for the expansion of joint ventures, technological and industrial collaboration. The MoU was signed by Jamal Saif Al Jarwan, Secretary- General UAEIIC, and Abdul Salam, Director General, UIBC, during the seventh edition of Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Dubai. As per the agreement, UAEIIC and UIBC will work together to facilitate, strengthen and diversify the cooperation between the UAE and Indian businesses, for pursuing a constant expansion of the trade and investment between both the countries through exchange of business delegations, trade related information, and jointly organising trade shows, seminars and technical workshops. Both sides reached extensive consensus on working towards tracking UAE investors' issues and concerns and facilitating in resolving them in the best possible manner through a constructive dialogue between the investors and government agencies. UAE International Investors Council was formed with the vision of acting as a link between investors abroad and the government in order to promote the competitiveness of Emirates investments abroad. UAE-India Business Council (UIBC) is the official Joint Business Chamber set up by both the governments for promoting economic synergy between the UAE and India. UIBC was formally launched in September, 2015, in New Delhi by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Maharashtra and the United Kingdom today held deliberations on investment opportunities in the Defence sector in the state and have decided to form a joint team to enhance business relations. The decision was taken during a meeting of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and U K Defence Secretary Michael Fallon here today. "Had a nice meeting with UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and delegation this morning and good discussion on various bilateral issues, "Fadnavis said on Twitter. "We discussed on investment opportunities in Maharashtra especially in Defence sector and decided to form a joint team to enhance business relations," he tweeted. In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Nitin Patel, Director of Sadbhav Infrastructure Project spoke about the latest happenings in his company and sector. "The significant increase in revenue growth for February and March period will continue to sustain over the period of FY18", he said. Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview. Q: With this 18 percent growth that we have seen across the board on the 10 SPVs that you are operating, would you say that this is the kind of growth that is sustainable and is demonetisation now completely out of the picture? A: If I bifurcate the revenue growth particularly between January, February and March January there was almost dip in across all the SPVs, so more rises in the month of February and March. So going forward, we are of the view that the economic activity has clearly signalled that it is picked up. The significant increase in February and March according to us will continue to sustain over the period of FY18. So definitely this is a good sign for all the toll operators, all the development companies. Q: Did you take an increase in terms of toll charges in the quarter January to March? A: January to March there is no increase but April 1, across the board the toll has been increased as per the formula even in individual concession agreements. Q: On an average by how much across tolls that you operate? A: All these National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) projects the increase in the toll rates is almost closer to 4 percent itself and it will be further added by increase in the traffic growth as compared to the quarters of the previous years. Q: This growth that you have seen in Q4 is not universal across your 10 projects right, so I was just seeing some of your projects has seen growth of just between 3-4 percent in fact in Hyderabad Yadgiri Tollway Private Limited(HYTPL), the project that you have, you have also seen a marginal reduction. Any reason for that? A: Basically the traffic where we have seen the configuration because some of the roads we have seen that the traffic configuration has also got a bit changed mainly between the car traffic and the commercial traffic. In commercial we have seen that some of the three axle and two axle vehicles are getting converted into either LCV or the multi-axle and in car traffic, the growth is there but obviously it is not adding that much percentage as compared to what the commercial is adding. So where the commercial traffic is high, the revenue numbers are higher. Q: I do not know how much this links into the numbers that you are telling us but the fuel consumption growth over the last three months has been quite soft as compared to the growth we have seen before that? That is also the diesel side, the large part of the blame can be assigned to trucks, any thoughts? A: As I have mentioned the commercial traffic growth indicates the absolute growth in the toll revenue. In our portfolio also, basically the component of the non-commercial is hardly around 20-22 percent as compared to the total revenue. Q: With the goods and services tax (GST) rollout now almost certain, how could it affect traffic? A: The consumption drives the traffic and I am of the view that there may not be any significant change across the roads where the project of our company is situated. Q: Would it not make the state check-post redundant? A: There are two-three things. First is that the sales tax department is running the check-post so we are not running any check-post business for sales tax department. Q: There were some news reports earlier on that there was sort of a income tax raid on your premises earlier, is there any truth to it? A: It is a normal course of business activity by the department. It has been conducted in the premises and the recorded documents have been taken by them and the department is also cooperative and we are also cooperating. Q: Has any order of attachment or anything come up? A: No, there is no such attachment. It was only basically taking up the recorded documents of the company. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More You may have to alter the weekly fill of fuel for your vehicle as petrol and diesel retailers across the country plan to remain closed on Sundays beginning May 10. The fuel retailers could also decide to be operational only for 8-9 hours on weekdays, according to multiple media reports. The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) meeting, attended by representatives from various states, has threatened to close fuel pumps on Sundays if their demand for an increase in dealers commission is not fulfilled by the central government. In January, petrol pump owners had withdrawn their strike after public oil companies assured them of a revision in commission rates. So far, no concrete decision has been taken on the matter. According to an Indian Oil Corporation circular, dealer commission on petrol currently stands at Rs 2.56 per litre while on diesel, the commission is Rs 1.65 per litre as on April 1. On May 10, there will be 'no purchase' of diesel or petrol. From May 14 onwards, petrol pumps will remain closed on Sundays. Petrol & Diesel Rates Yesterday Petrol Rate in Mumbai Yesterday Current Petrol Price Per Litre 106 106 View more Diesel Rate in Mumbai Yesterday Current Petrol Price Per Litre 94 94 View more Show While CIPD is all for a quiet agitation, the All India Petroleum Dealers Association have decided to distance themselves from it. "This will create panic. The association that has called for such a move has presence in only Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. We are not supporting this decision, while we also have the same demands to increase (dealer's commission)," Ajay Bansal, President of AIPDA told Business Standard. Petroleum Dealers' Association said that dealers were only following Prime Minister Narendra Modis message of cutting fuel costs per day. India has nearly 56,190 retail outlets. Of this, 52,604 are owned by public oil companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. The three PSUs also control 95 percent of the market. A recent report also suggests that the petrol pumps could have different fuel prices everyday. The state oil companies plan to review rates daily in sync with international practice, as against current practice of reviewing the every month. India lifted control on diesel price in 2010 and petrol price in 2014, leaving them to be governed by market forces. The Securities and Exchanges Board of India has put a spending limit on the Investor Protection Funds (IPF) of stock exchanges. In a move to check misuse of funds, the market regulator has said that stock exchanges, which independently run the IPF, can spend up to a maximum of 25 percent of the interest income. According to the SEBI circular issued in the last week of February, exchanges have also been asked to carry forward over 75 percent of interest income earned on the fund. There will be tax levied on the amount carried-forward. The IPF serves to compensate investors if the broker defaults. Investors are also paid out of the fund when they are fighting an arbitration case with brokers. The exchanges have been using interest income, among other things, on investor education, and research. SEBI has decided to tighten the purse strings of exchanges in the wake of reports that the corpus is being used for promotional activities. The regulator took this decision after getting a numbers of complaints against misuse in the name of investor protection fund, a source close to the development told Moneycontrol. A former Managing Director of a stock exchange told Moneycontrol on condition on anonymity that bourses have been spending this money for their muscle power -- especially on media houses. Such complaints have triggered the regulator into taking such a harsh step, the person said. The regulator had informally told the exchanges that investor awareness programmes need not be conducted in five-star hotels, a practice which has been in observance until now leading to higher overheads. SEBI is also likely to mandate that only 3-star hotels be hired as venues for such programmes. Exchanges Opposed However, SEBIs move hasnt found favour with the exchanges. Exchanges are planning to write to the regulator for re-considering this proposal since it will have an impact on the corpus of investor protection fund, a source close to development told Moneycontrol. Some market experts argue that a cap on spending interest money will hamper investor awareness programmes. It is worth remembering that the regulator had asked the exchanges to open local offices in remote towns. In order to run these outfits, the exchanges would need money which will have to come from the interest money. For its part, the regulator has sought details of investor awareness programmes which exchanges had conducted in the last one year. SEBI hopes to ascertain the number of new investors who had entered the market via these programmes. As of current date, the IPF corpus of National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange stand at Rs 800 crore and Rs 600 crore, respectively. It is believed that SEBI may expand this proposal to other financial institutions including the mutual fund industry. Benchmark indices are already trading near record highs but the further rally will be dependent on a recovery in earnings which looks unlikely in the near term. The S&P BSE Sensex is likely to hover around 29000 by December-end. Consensus earnings expectations for FY18 are on the higher side and to that extent, our senses is that until we see earnings expansion, it is difficult for the market to re-rate. We have a December-end target of 29,000 on the S&P BSE Sensex, Abhay Laijawala, Head - India Research at Deutsche Equities said in an interview with CNBC-TV18. For any kind of upmove, we do need earnings to recover. The expectations for FY18 appear to be on the higher side. In the last couple of month, D-Street made revisions in FY17 numbers on account of various factors but they have not touched FY18 forecasts which made numbers look inflated, he explains. He further added that in the next 12 months we will witness a transition from a developing world system to a better than developed world system and that will have some impact which could lead to near-term disruptions. Outlook for March quarter Sectors such as IT and autos might report muted earnings growth. In the banks, earnings will look amplified on a YoY basis but with loan growth under pressure and absence of treasury gains, earnings may well just disappoint. In the December quarter, treasury gains constituted for 20-25 percent of earnings which might not be there this time around, explains Laijawala. Underweight & overweight sectors There are more headwinds rather than tailwinds for the financial sector and we remain underweight. The loan growth has come off to about 4.2-4.3 percent which is a multi-decade low. In addition, there will be pressure on net interest margins (NIMs) with banks being flushed with liquidity and slowdown in loan growth. But, within the sector we like smaller banks, said Laijawala. Within the private sector, smaller banks are in a positive situation because they are growing and commands a premium. In India, small is beautiful in the India banking industry, he said. These banks are growing at 3x-4x the system loan growth and in addition, they are taking market share away from many of the public sector banks. The market share of PSBs are likely to drop from 66 percent now to 60 percent and large part of the market share will be taken by these smaller banks, said Laijawala. Deutsche Equities is overweight on IT, autos, staple, material and utilities. Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview. Latha: With market so gung-ho, the first as we cast our eye on your report, you have a Sensex target that is 29,000, a tad lower than where we are already. So, you are not expecting immediate gains, some headwinds? A: Our view is that before you really see any kind of an up move, you do need earnings to recover. At this point in time we are seeing that expectations for FY18 appear to be on the higher side. So, I think what the street has done over the last couple of months is they have made revisions to the FY17 number on account of the various factors including demonetisation. However, they have not necessarily touched their FY18 forecasts. So, arithmetically, you have seen earnings cuts for FY17, you have not seen similar cuts for FY18 and therefore the base leads to an amplified year-on-year (YoY) increase. It is a year in which we are going to see a transition. In fact Indias taxation system is transitioning from a developing world system to better than a developed world system. That has to have its transition impact. There will be near-term disruption and therefore our sense is that consensus earnings expectations for FY18 are on the higher side. So, to that extent, therefore our sense is that until we see earnings expansions, it is difficult to expect the markets to re-rate. Sonia: As we head into earnings season, which are the sectors or pockets that would make you a bit cautious now where you expect earnings to be slightly on the weaker side this time around? A: We think that sectors like IT services, sectors such as autos, these are sectors where we expect the earnings to be relatively sedate. We are also looking at banks. In the banks, obviously, earnings will appear to be amplified on a YoY basis because last year in Q4 you had the credit cost going up on account of the high provisioning. That will obviously not be there this year and therefore earnings will appear to be high. However, with loan growth under pressure for the entire system, and with treasury gains also not being there like you had seen previously, overall earnings may probably disappoint. Remember, in the December quarter, treasury gains for the banks had constituted close to 20-25 percent of the earnings. That will obviously not be there in this quarter. Latha: So banks may disappoint inspite of the low base? A: That is right. Latha: In your underweight category, you have financials, healthcare, industrials, and telecom. While others are self-explanatory, financials what would you classify as underweight? Are you not even bullish on what seems to be the evergreen sector through 2016, NBFCs? A: Let me lay out what are thesis over here is. Our thesis as far as the overall sector is concerned is that there are more headwinds than tailwinds at this point in time. Loan growth has come off; it is at about 4.2-4.3 percent. It is a multi-decade low, and yes, this could be on account of the disintermediation. We are seeing bond markets come in and probably if you add bond markets to loan growth, then it is not as bad. However, for the banks, obviously it is lower growth. In addition, there will be pressure on net interest margins (NIMs) as we move forward. NIMs for the banks are going to be under pressure with banks being flushed with liquidity as well as loan growth slowing down. In addition, the environment for treasury gains also appears to be muted. Now, let us break up the sector and within the sector now let us look at the smaller banks. So, the smaller private banks are today in a very positive situation because a) they are small, and clearly there is a premium -- small is beautiful at this point in time in the Indian banking industry, and they are growing. They are probably growing at 3-4 times the system loan growth. In addition, they are taking market share away from many of the public sector banks. So, our banks analyst Manish Karwa forecasts that public sector banks are likely to see the market share drop from 66 percent right now to probably about 60 percent in the next five years and a large part of that market share will be taken by the nimble smaller banks. In addition, we also like some of the NBFCs because obviously if the banks are going to be compelled to cut deposit rates, the wholesale funded banks, wholesale funded NBFCs will be gainers. So, this is what therefore our strategy is, with overall underweight banks, within banks, favour smaller banks, favour those banks that are focused on retail and least focus on the corporate side. Sonia: I was going through your top midcap ideas and it is interesting that you have a lot of interest in some of these rural plays whether it is UPL, whether it is Shriram Transport Finance, and a couple of others as well. Are you positive or are you hopeful of a good monsoon this time and is this the best time to play the rural theme? A: There are concerns with regard to the El Nino this year and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that there is a high risk of an El Nino setting in. However, the timing of the El Nino appears to be perhaps July or August. So, to that extent, perhaps the first part of the monsoon which is important for the kharif crop, doesnt look like it is going to get impacted so significantly. In addition, as a result of the very good monsoon rains last year, we have seen parts of the rural economy begin to come back. Plus, we are positive on the rural side also because we hear that the governments revised estimates for food grain production are predicting a very robust growth. Plus, we were also very encouraged to see that horticulture production in India has also been the highest in a long time. So, clearly, food grain production being very high, horticulture production being high, very good monsoon last year, so, there is a feel good effect coming back. In addition, the normalisation following demonetisation is also setting in. So, all of this should board very well for the rural economy particularly in the June quarter. Latha: I have always known you for a very long time as the best expert on metals. Tell us how you will play the industrials, where is it coming in underweight? However, there is still a decent amount of higher prices for global metals, you are not touching them now, you think they are priced? A: On metals, we are overweight. So, on materials we are overweight. Latha: Industrials will be capital goods? A: That is right. Materials we have been overweight now and within materials the preference is for metals and mining over the cement producers. For metals, the good times are set to continue, at least until the plenary in China in July. There is a very strong expectation that the Chinese economy will remain robust with fixed asset investment staying robust until June or July. However, perhaps some time in July we will have to see what China is doing because with pressures coming back, China may look at cooling the economy given that debt to GDP is already in excess of 250 percent. However, yes, until then, metals do look very good. Even as far as the domestic scenario is concerned, it is very encouraging to see that the government has been very proactive on the metals front. This morning as well we have heard that the import duty, the hurdles for imports on hot rolled coils have been raised, hurdles on cold rolled coils have been reduced. So, this is very positive because this morning we have also heard that Chinese steel companies have cut steel prices and this could obviously lead to worries that Indian steel producers cut could cut prices. However, with the developments of this morning, Indian steel companies will probably be insulated from the global pricing decline. In addition, coking coal prices have moved up. I believe coking coal prices are now about USD 290 and this will probably allow Indian companies to pass on some of their pricing pressure. Even as the market clocked new highs over the past one month, skeptics raised concerns on high valuations and volatile movements. Inflows into the markets have been swelling, with investments both by domestic and foreign investors. Kotak Mahindra AMC is hoping to buy stocks on exit by FIIs. So, how must an investor play on this situation? The fund house observed that the cycle of easy money-making was now over. The market will be volatile in the near-term. Investors could invest in a systematic investment plan (SIP) and for a longer term and diversify the allocation, too, Nilesh Shah, Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra AMC, told CNBC-TV18 in an interview. In the information technology (IT) space, Shah sees headwinds as well as slower global growth. IT firms are sitting on cash and not willing to return cash to the investors, he told the channel. Among capital goods, he highlighted how the government was looking to spend more on roads, railways and urban infrastructure and sees construction firms benefitting from government spending. Shah sees no value in building materials. There was value in November and December, but they have all bounced back smartly and clearly there is no value now, he said. On the aviation sector, he is waiting to study the developments. Experience of investors have not been encouraging from this sectorone should not invest in a firm because other aspects have moved, he added. Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview. Latha: Market at elevated level just before the earning season. Are you buying or keeping the powder dry? A: We do not take cash call. We remain fully invested across our funds and yes, the flows have been very strong and market near all time high level, so it's a difficult task. For 24 years of my career I used to pray that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) should buy so that my investors can make money. Today my prayer is that FIIs should sell so that I can buy stocks cheap for my investors and get them money. Sonia: What are you advising your investors to do now? What are the pockets that still look good? A: We have been advocating our customers that the easy money making part of the market is over - that was there in November and December 2016. Now the hard part of making money in the market has come. There could be volatility in the market going ahead. So, invest on a systematic investment plan basis, invest for a longer term duration, maintain asset allocation, spread bets across largecap, multicap, smallcap, midcap but do not invest in lump sum. Come through systematic investment and if there is volatility in the market, do not get dithered by it. Try to take advantage of it. Latha: What would you look at sectorally? Is it going to start off with IT companies - avoid? A: We are far more bottomup stock pickers rather than topdown sector pickers but within IT sector today you are seeing huge amount of headwinds, globally growth is slowing down, we are seeing IT companies still sitting on cash and not willing to return cash to the investors. We have seen global, when one large IT company decided to pay back to investors which had hitherto never declared dividend, suddenly this stock appreciated. So we expect IT companies to deliver something like that in order to boost up return on equity (RoE) and in-turn prices. Sonia: Flesh out the theme of capital goods a bit more because everyone is talking about a turnaround in the capex cycle. We have not seen any great evidence of that just yet but stocks like Larsen and Toubro (L&T) are never the less at 52 week highs. What interests you here, in this pocket? A: In the capital goods and industrial sectors, we are seeing that there are couple of trends which are working out. One, the government has the budgetary ability to spend money and their spending is more related to road sector which is going to be beneficial to construction companies. Second, it is going to be spent on railway which will benefit companies which are engaged in that sector and third thing could be related to urban infrastructure and smart cities and so on and so forth. So there is one segment of capital goods and industrials which is going to be benefited from the government spending, bulk of that is known and bulk of that is priced into the market. The second segment is related to whole focus of government on affordable housing; lots of steps have been taken in Budget to push affordable housing in terms of increasing the definition of affordable housing from build-up area to carpet area, giving tax exemption, giving infrastructure status, giving interest and subvention to consumers, allowing Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) subscribers to take out 90 percent of their retirement corpus for buying house. All these things, w believe will create a push in the affordable housing segment and instead of buying real estate companies, which are developing affordable housing; they are far more focused on ancillary sectors which are going to benefit from the affordable housing boom; they are building material suppliers, they are cement makers, they are housing finance companies etc, so this we believe is the way to probably play the industrial and capital goods sector. Latha: Cement stocks - haven't they gone up a goodish bit. Some of the stocks have gone up 60-70 percent in the cement space. Look at India Cements; it's up 78 percent year-to-date. Orient Paper and Industries, Prism Cement, Kakatiya Cements, J. K. Cement, all of them are up about 30-40 percent. Still value there? A: There is no value in building material. There was value in November-December 2016 period where due to demonetisation everyone thought that there is an end to the building material companies. They have all bounced back very smartly from those levels and there is no value which is why we are taking a longer term call to invest into these companies. These companies have one big advantage that a lot of them were facing competition from unorganised sector, not much in cement but much more in building materials. These unorganised players who were not paying taxes properly, who were not paying minimum wages properly, they are all coming under pressure because of GST, because of demonetisation, because of legislation which makes payment of salaries in wages by way of cheque. So there will be a shift from unorganised sector to organised sector. Of course there will be consolidation in organised sector and there will be large companies emerging from there but by the time that happens the existing listed large midcap companies will benefit from this trend and they will be able to make money. Sonia: You haven't been recommending spaces like aviation etc but wanted to know what your view is now because there are certain regulatory issues improving for the aviation space, crude has fallen quite a bit over a year. Is there any potential that you see in this area? A: One thing we have to be constantly aware of is that we should not be investing into company because other things have moved and this thing hasn't moved. There is no point in investing on relative basis. You have to invest based on your understanding of this sector. Unfortunately for us, for the aviation sector, for a large part of our career, we were brought up on Warren Buffett's advice that if someone had shot down Wright Brothers so many investors would not have lost money in aviation sector - that's more on the light side but the reality is that in the aviation sector the experience of investors have not been very encouraging over past many years and yes, there are exciting changes happening in the aviation sector but we need to see it over a cycle before we can take an investment call. So maybe people who can understand aviation sector, it's a great buy for them. For us, we need to study it in detail. Latha: Your top sector? A: I would say bottom up approach rather than top down but within that I find mega trend developing on unorganised sector ceding market share to organised sector. Courtesy the brand consciousness, demonetisation and goods and service tax (GST) rollout - we will see this trend accelerating and there are host of companies in auto components, chemicals, speciality chemicals, textile, garments, building materials where this trend will be visible and over there valuation in some sectors have become expensive but if you can take a longer term view, you will get many winners from that trend. Drivers say funds frozen by platform From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-04-11 01:40 LOCAL drivers say they have been unable to take out their earnings from car-hailing service platform Yidao Yongche. Money stuck in drivers accounts ranges from several hundred yuan up to nearly 20,000 yuan (US$2,900). The Beijing-based car-hailing company said that the problem was caused by its system becoming unstable after connecting to the Beijing authorities system. This was done to apply for an online operation license after the new regulations on car-hailing service took effect. It added the issue was expected to be resolved soon once the required procedures had been gone through, though it did not give a specific date. More than 20 drivers gathered at the car-hailing companys office in Shanghai yesterday afternoon to find out what was happening with their funds. Jin Xueming, 55, a full-time car-hailing driver, said he had more than 16,000 yuan in his Yidao account. However I tried to make a withdrawal several times since January, but the system kept telling me theres an error, Jin said. He added he had come to the office in March to report the problem, when he was told the system would be back to normal this month. But it still did not work. This is my income, and the money also includes my expenditure on petroleum, Jin said. My wife is so angry with me now. Another driver, Tang Jinhong, who has about 8,300 yuan in his account, said he had not been able to make a withdrawal this month though he had successfully done so twice last month. Responding to Shanghai Daily, Yidao said some functions of its system had been affected by the data connection with the authorities systems, which had caused problems for some drivers trying to access their funds. It denied rumors that the company was restricting withdrawal amounts. However, many drivers said they were not willing to take new orders for fear of not being paid back. Jin said at least 100 local Yidao drivers had suffered similar cash problems. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the South China Sea on April 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters North Korean state media on Tuesday warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of US aggression as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed towards the western Pacific. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has urged China to do more to rein in its impoverished neighbour, said in a Tweet North Korea was "looking for trouble" and the United States would "solve the problem" with or without China's help. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States. "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland," it said. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States. "It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. Trump said in a Tweet a trade deal between China and the United States would be "far better for them if they solved the North Korea problem". "If China decides to help, that would be great," he said. "If not, we will solve the problem without them!" Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to rein in North Korea. The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. It did not immediately release details. But South Korean officials took pains to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war. "We'd like to ask precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on the streets of Pyongyang, illuminated by better lighting than that seen in previous years, apparently practising for the parade planned. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting "big powers" for their "expansionist" policy. "The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," the North's KCNA news agency quoted the message as saying. The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by KCNA, said the U.S. navy strike group's approach showed America's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase". "We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said. North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States. Russian worries North Korea is emerging as one of the most pressing foreign policy problems facing the Trump administration. The North has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States. The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes, but U.S. officials said non-military action appeared to be at the top of the list. Russia's foreign ministry, in a statement ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said it was concerned about many aspects of U.S. foreign policy, particularly on North Korea. "We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario," the ministry said. "It's important to understand how that would tally with collective obligations on de-nuclearising the Korean peninsula, something that is underpinned in U.N. Security Council resolutions." Russia condemned U.S. cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base on Friday, calling them an illegal attack on a sovereign state. The U.S. Navy strike group Carl Vinson was diverted from port calls to Australia and would move towards the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a U.S. official told Reuters on the weekend. U.S. officials said the strike group would take more than a week to reach waters near the Korean peninsula. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. On Tuesday, a fleet of North Korean cargo ships was heading home, most of the vessels fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return the coal to curb the trade, sources with direct knowledge of the trade said. The order was given on April 7, just as Trump and Xi were set for the summit where they agreed the North Korean nuclear advances had reached a "very serious stage", Tillerson said. Following repeated missile tests that drew international criticism, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26, cutting off the country's most important export product. The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellite at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Flipkar's Binny Bansal with Satya Nadella Justifying the decline in Flipkarts valuation, Binny Bansal in a letter to the employees said that the company was still having a 'double-digit valuation which was healthy, reflective of the current business and the global economy'. The e-commerce major on Monday announced that it has raised USD 1.4 billion from Tencent, eBay and Microsoft in a down round. Post the transaction, the company is valued at USD 11.6 billion against USD 15.2 billion during its last cash funding round in 2015. Bansal pointed that the company will be cautious when it comes to spending and growing the business. Such a message shows the level of maturity the Indian e-commerce sector is moving towards which was marred with deep discounts till late 2015. "And, while this funding round provides the fuel we need to reach that goal, we have to continue growing our business with careful considerations to costs," he said. Citing that the potential for online retail is about USD 100 billion, Bansal said that they have just scratched the surface till now. Launched in Bangalore in 2007 by IIT-Delhi graduates Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, Flipkart claims to have over 100 million registered users. It has so far raised USD 4.6 billion, including this round. Here's the email from Binny Bansal to Flipkart's employees: Hi all, I have some important news to share with you. As you may have read in the media, we were in the process of shaping an investment round these past few months. I'm glad to let you know that today we entered into strategic agreements with three of the world's biggest tech companies -- Tencent, eBay and Microsoft -- who join us as partners in our Indian e-commerce journey. This latest funding round is significant for a few reasons: it is the largest in our 10-year history as well as the Indian internet sector. It provides solid growth capital so we can cement and extend our lead in India's e-commerce market. And our valuation remains healthy and in double-digits, reflective of the current business and the global economy. I'm particularly excited from the strong confidence global tech giants have shown in our abilities. It's not just an acknowledgement of the strides we've taken in improving people's lives, it's also an endorsement of the opportunities ahead. As I have said before, the potential is vast and we have only just scratched the surface. E-commerce accounts for less than 2 percent of all retail in India and the potential for online retail alone is about $100 billion. Which is why these deals are particularly important for all of us. These partnerships bring in a lot more than funds. They set us up to compete more aggressively through innovations. We can now collaborate deeply with eBay on cross-border trade and ensure our customers have a wider selection of international products to choose from. Tencent, one of the largest internet companies in the world, and Microsoft also join us as strategic investors. I'm also happy to let you know that eBay.in is now part of the Flipkart group. It will continue to operate as an independent entity, maintaining its brand, business and operations. The eBay.in business will report to Kalyan. As I write this note, I cannot help but reflect upon our trailblazing journey so far and its impact on the Indian e-commerce ecosystem, to a point where the biggest tech names in the world are now our partners, and we are now set to succeed in the long term. I must stress that we still have some distance to go before fulfilling our mission -- to transform commerce in India through technology. And, while this funding round provides the fuel we need to reach that goal, we have to continue growing our business with careful considerations to costs. I look forward to your continued support. Please do take a moment to celebrate what we have together accomplished and then gear up for what we can do next. Congratulations to each and every one of you! Well done! Cheers, Binny Stayzilla founder Yogendra Vasupal The Madras High Court today granted a conditional bail to StayZilla co-founder Yogendra Vasupal in a cheating case filed against him by a Chennai-based advertisement firm. Terming the case as a business dispute between two businessmen, Justice S Baskaran in his order said that the accused is granted bail on a condition to deposit Rs 40 lakh to the account of the crime number in the Magistrate Court. Vasupal was arrested on March 14 following a complaint by Jigsaw Advertising for defrauding a sum of Rs 1.69 crore. The issue became public when an emergency e-mail by co-founder Sachit Singhi to investors Nexus Venture Partners and Matrix Partners asking for help was made public on social media. In a blog post on March 15, Vasupal said that the dispute with Jigsaw Advertising was because of a severe deficiency of services, even though Stayzilla had already paid it about Rs 6.5 crore. He also mentioned that he and another co-founder Sachit Singhi had received veiled threats to their families adding that Sachit got some doll delivered to his home on March 9th with the image of his son. (Also read: Stayzilla co-founder gets threats to childs life) Post the arrest, Vasupal's wife Rupal Yogendra told Moneycontorl.com: "What should have at the max been a civil court case is turned into something else altogether. Being treated as criminals for years of an earnest effort to run a Pvt Ltd. Please note that Yogi has not confessed to any of these false allegations despite all day's grilling at the station yesterday. Family in distress. Prayers needed." Later, founders of 73 startups in the country wrote an open letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh requesting a fair investigation into the Stayzilla issue. The letter sent to the Union Home Minister is supported by Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, and former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai among others. (Also read: #HelpYogi: 73 startup CEOs pen letter to govt seeking fair probe for Stayzilla founder) On February 23, Yogendra Vasupal announced that StayZilla is going to halt its operations in its current form and will go with a reboot with a different business model. Stating the reasons for the failure he said, The travel marketplace does not have local network effects and, therefore, we cant really take a focused city-by-city approach in terms of matching supply and demand. The demand and supply for homestays were non-existent 18 months back, excluding a few small pockets. As a result, we had to invest extensively in both sides of the marketplace, creating homestays as well as guests who would choose a homestay across the country. This was further exacerbated by the discounting based growth rampant in the travel industry since 2015. Forced to match prices, we could not even recoup what we put in, necessitating very large capital requirement simply to sustain growth, he added. Founded in 2005, the company raised a total of USD 33.5 million from investors Matrix Partners India, Indian Angel Network and Nexus Venture Partners. Bull's Eye, CNBC-TV18's popular game show, where market experts come together to dish out trading strategies for you to make your week more exciting and compete with each other to see whose portfolio is the strongest. Remember these are midcap ideas not just for the day, but stocks that look attractive in the medium-term as well. This week, Vijay Chopra, Ruchit Jain and Jay Thakkar battle it out for top honours. Below their top stock picks and analysis: Ruchit Jain of Angel Broking Buy Punjab National Bank (PNB) with a stoploss at Rs 147 and target of Rs 160 Buy Canara Bank with a stoploss at Rs 297 and target of Rs 330 Buy Jain Irrigation with a stoploss at Rs 97.50 and target of Rs 108 Buy Tata Elxsi with a stoploss at Rs 1520 and target of Rs 1640 Vijay Chopra of enochventures.com Buy Tata Investment with a stoploss at Rs 640 and target of Rs 690 Buy Sintex Industries with a stoploss at Rs 107 and target of Rs 113 Buy JSW Steel with a stoploss at Rs 198 and target of Rs 212 Buy Jet Airways with a stoploss at Rs 495 and target of Rs 535 Jay Thakkar of Anand Rathi Securities Buy Jindal Poly with a stoploss at Rs 415.90 and target of Rs 438.70 Buy Capital First with a stoploss at Rs 754.40 and target of Rs 803.7 Buy Dredging Corporation with a stoploss at Rs 665.40 and target of Rs 714.40 Buy Apollo Hospital with a stoploss at Rs 1155.10 and target of Rs 1216.90 Gaurav Bissa of LKP Securities told CNBC-TV18, "My first recommendation would be buy on Engineers India (EIL) futures. We have seen the stock coming out of a range, good amount of long positions are seen getting built. It can test levels of Rs 160, one can have a stop loss of Rs 151 and be long in the name." "Second would be buy on Jubilant Foodworks. The stock has seen good amount of short positions. There is some exhaustion that is seen near, it is near the support levels. A bounce back till Rs 1,060-1,080 cannot be ruled out. With a stop loss of Rs 1,015 one can go long on Jubilant Food futures," he said. "Final recommendation would be sell on Tata Steel . It has been trading in a range; Rs 495 is the immediate resistance. Using that as a stop loss, one can go short for immediate target of Rs 480." Copper cooking pots still in use today, some dating back to King George IV, sit on racks in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace in London March 25, 2011. Staff at Buckingham Palace have lifted the lid on preparations for Prince William's wedding next month, giving an insight into what guests can expect and the amount of work they have put in to make the event a success. REUTERS/Nick Ansell/POOL (BRITAIN - Tags: ROYALS ENTERTAINMENT POLITICS FOOD) - RTR2KJGP Angel Commodities' report on Copper LME Copper prices plunged by 1.5 percent yesterday as risk appetite plunged after Syrian allies including Russia, Iran and some militias criticized the US attack on Syrian military airbase and warned it would respond to any new aggression with force. Outlook LME Copper prices are trading higher by 0.2 percent currently at $5765/t. Prices are expected to trade sideways today as risk appetite is likely to be under pressure today following news of a probable US navy strike on North Korea owing to the latters advancing weapons programme. Also, Russia, Iran and militias supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad criticized US attack on Syrian air base. We expect MCX copper prices to trade sideways today in line with international trends. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More In an interview to CNBC-TV18's Sonia Shenoy and Surabhi Upadhyay, SP Tulsian of sptulsian.com shared his readings and outlook on the fundamentals of the market and specific stocks. Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview. Surabhi: Let us talk about a couple of the pockets that are excited today. In particular, all the tire stocks, some more duty measures coming in and of course, talk of price hikes as well by some companies. What is your reading? Would you buy anything fresh? A: Tyre stocks have all risen quite a lot. I agree that there has been positive news maybe of the falling rubber prices, increase in the selling prices. But probably the levels at which they have all been ruling, I am not comfortable as an investor. You may have the momentum, but momentum is not the right strategy now to look to buy any of these tyre stocks because the kind of volatility that we see, they have generally been seen trading in a range. When they correct, they correct swiftly by about 5-10 percent which we have seen in case of all these tyre stocks whether you talk of Apollo Tyres, Ceat, MRF and that is seen quite severe by a trader. So, I do not think there is any point or risk reward in favour of buying tyre stocks now at current levels. Sonia: 16 percent lower on Adani Power. How have you reacted to this news flow and for an investor, what should the strategy be now? A: The Supreme Court judgement has to be read very carefully and if you see this judgement, I will quickly touch upon what I have understood that court has said that there is no force majeure clause because if you really see and rightly so, why I say so because if you see Tata Power, Mundra Ultra Mega Power Projects and Adani, both were based on the imported coal and they have done their homework very well because if some companies going on the imported coal base, they have to secure the supply from the international market. And the change in the international law cannot be taken as a Force Majeure clause on which both these companies have been relying upon and they have fought before Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and Appellate Authority and all sort of things. So Supreme Court has given the judgement that the change in Indonesian law cannot be taken as a shelter by these companies to ask for a revision in the power tariff because they have submitted the whole structuring of the power project. If you recall, even the Krishnapatnam and Tilaiya projects which ADAG withdrew from both those ultra mega power projects, even they were based on the imported coal. So, Mundra Ultra Mega Power Projects was based on imported coal and you cannot take the plea that Indonesian laws have changed and now, we have all been taken away with the mining rights which we have and because of that, we are asking for an increase in the price. And because there was, in the interim period for some time, there was shortage of coal, that probably because I have not read the judgement whatever the by-lines which I have been seeing here on TV that court has allowed only for that interim period that because there was genuinely shortage of coal either in the international market and for that only, that kind of price increase has been given. So, I think this sets aside the entire all kind of confusions which have been prevailing upon both these companies, Tata Power and Adani Power for quite some time after the Supreme Court judgement. Surabhi: Ashwani was just talking about Karnataka Bank and obviously the market has taken note of what has happened. I am not suggesting anything, but ICICI Bank, buying almost, it was 30 lakh shares, that is what the exchange filings revealed. Another bank which is actually flat today, Corporation Bank, but look at the one year chart just to give a sense of the waves of buying that some of these midcap PSU Banks have seen. Is there anything you would read into it? From the government's point of view, no one is openly talking about merger and acquisition (M&A) but midcap PSU banks, what do you think? A: Difficult to take a call right now at this stage for the PSU merger, maybe M&A happening there because, State Bank of India (SBI) has recently happened. Definitely the things will be seeing happening in the PSU banks also. But may not be in the near-term in the next 3-4 months. But as regards the private sector banks, you referred the name of ICICI Bank, definitely, they have all been scouting for the acquisitions. And difficult to pinpoint that which are all the banks, whether you can name Karnataka Bank, Federal Bank, City Union Bank, there are many banks available either with no promoter or maybe with having promoter stake in a single digit. So, that is bound to see happening, but specifically coming on PSU bank or maybe a bank like ICICI bank, in fact that is what I have been stating for the last one week that I am very hopeful on the resolution of the stressed loan and if you see the announcements which has been flashed on the channel that RBI or maybe the banks are not in favour of granting Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A) status to Bhushan Steel, in fact that is seen positive though the market has seen that as negative because if they continue, if the banks for that scheme for the resolution of the structured assets, sustainable structured assets, if the banks take the call with the existing promoter, that is single, I do not think that at any point, because that too when there are prospective buyers lined up like Vedanta and JSW Steel having shown interest in Bhushan Steel. So, banks will definitely be looking to go for strategic debt restructuring (SDR), have 51 pecrent stake as they have done in Monnet Ispat and then will look to induct the new partner. So, the resolution on the stressed loan assets and if you see the Finance Minister statement who has been saying that there are only 30 accounts, rightly so, because Rs 45,000 crore is the exposure to Bhushan Steel and if these kind of accounts get resolved, that will be seen very positive for the PSU Bank and the banks like ICICI Banks. So, overall things are looking quite positive on the banking fronts whether from M&A space or from the resolution of the stressed loan assets which are expected to happen in maybe in the next couple of weeks. Some at least movement will start in that direction. Surabhi: Any estimates as to what is going on and this is not just a one-day move, these stocks are sitting almost at one-year highs. A: One point which has not been widely discussed is the power consumption or the power growth which you will be seeing in the UP state. If you have seen the video which has been circulating in social media of Piyush Goyal where he has been categorically said that by September 8, 2018 they are aiming to provide power 24/7 in UP states in all the villages and that is seen huge because let us not forget that 17 percent of the country's population lives in UP, about 21-22 crore people and we have all been knowing that UP has been power starved. The work on war footing is going on for providing the power because we have seen huge investments having made in transmission and distribution (T&D) and even the instructions which have been given by Chief Minister and the Power Minister that change the transformer, improve the T&D line, cut transmission losses and those things are seen quite positive. So, what will be the effect that we will be seeing the advantage of operating leverages to all the power generation companies which have all been operating at a plant load factor (PLF) of maybe sub-70 percent as of now. And that will ultimately, eventually because if you see the maximum non-performing asset (NPA) in the financing field has been in the sector or steel, power and infrastructure. So, if you are able to tackle the steel and if you are able to tackle the power, that will be seen quite positive. And Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) are power dedicated financials solely financing the power this one and that is the reason, today if you see the PTC India also, which I have been recommending for the last one week that PTC India is also looking quite good because that is the only company which is a power exchange or which is a power trading company. Sonia: Any takeaways from the latest that is coming in from the UP Cabinet? And anything that investors can bet on? A: I was coming on that only. If I just quickly finish off this sugar arrears that Rs 6,000 crore of that only Rs 3,800 crore is due from the three listed mills that is, one is Bajaj Hindustan, second is Simbhaoli Sugars and third is Rana Sugar. Except for this, there are no dues from any of the sugar mills, let me make that categorical statement, number one. Number two, I have stated that the replacement for transformer which is critical for the uninterrupted power supply. And if you go into the transformer space and yes, you have referred Transformers and Rectifiers but add the name of Voltamp Transformer, Bharat Bijlee, GE T&D India, CG Power, they all are seen the huge beneficiary and in fact, that is what I was referring to that work is going on on war footing and as I said, September 8, 2018 that means about 15 months from here, when the centenary celebration of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya will get over, they have set the target of providing power to all 24/7 in entire UP and that has been their biggest promise on which they will not falter because 2019 general elections is all there on their minds. So, yes, that is what I was saying that hugely positive for power sector and for the sugar sector, for the sugarcane areas, eventually that will also be seen positive because of the consumption increasing in UP and as I said, there are none of the listed stocks except these three sugar that is Bajaj Hindustan, Simbhaoli and Rana who have the sugarcane areas in the private mills. So, overall very positive for the power generation company, very positive for the T&D space and very positive for the sugar mills going forward. Sonia: ITC, once again has bounced back on the buyer's radar. Today as well the stock was up about 3 percent. At this level of Rs 282, how are you positioned in ITC? A: I have always been maintaining that probably ITC moves in a range and you see more kind of technical trades in the stock happening. Sometimes, if you want to have the positive bias seen building in the market, this is used as a tool, so I have never been looking at stock from an investment point of view. If you are trading in a range, probably this is the time to exit and look for the stock to correct by about Rs 8-10 and enter again at those levels. Electricity, gas, water supply growth demonstrate an encouraging recovery by 4.4 percent. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of Reliance Power added more than 1 percent intraday Tuesday as it has signed agreements with Bangladesh Power Development Board. The company has signed agreements with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDP) for phase I of 750 MW LNG based combined cycle power project at Meghnaghat near Dhaka in Bangladesh. These agreements include a power purchase agreement (PPA) and implementation agreement (IA) for the proposed integrated combined cycle power project. The company has also signed a MoU with PetroBangla for setting up a 500-mmscfd LNG terminal at Kutubdia Island near Chittagong in Bangladesh. At 11:23 hrs Reliance Power was quoting at Rs 49, up Rs 0.05, or 0.10 percent on the BSE. Posted by Rakesh Patil Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com told CNBC-TV18, "I have a mix of buy calls and sell calls. We have got a mix of choppy market that offers opportunities on both sides but the sell calls should be taken carefully. One of them is United Breweries. You know what the story is for United Breweries, for McDowell. They are breaking support levels consistently and UBL is now on the verge of a new decline below a significant support. So, that is a short sell. You can hold for sometime." "Second short is Bharat Financial Inclusion. It is a stock which is doing very different chart patterns as compared to the other NBFCs. It has already broken down from a support level. I have no idea why but it deserves a short sell," he said. "The buying opportunities are in strong midcap stocks starting with Adani Ports, it had a three day mild correction. That correction should end in and advances should continue." "Then we have Petronet LNG. It is now at the higher end of a trading range and on the verge of an upside breakout. The stock has been an outperformer and that should continue." "Finally, Piramal Enterprises which comes in my list perhaps for the first time, it is in the F&O now, the stock has been going up it. It is again on the verge of another breakout. That is something you might like to talk about also." live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Share price of Suzlon Energy rose 2.3 percent intraday Tuesday as it has received repeat order from a leading IPP company. Suzlon Group has won a repeat order of 50.40 MW wind power project from a leading IPP company. This is a maiden order for 24 units of Suzlons new S111 120m hybrid wind turbine generator, each with a rated capacity of 2.1 MW. The project is located at Karnataka and will be completed by June 2017. The company will execute the entire project on a turnkey basis and will also provide operation and maintenance services. JP Chalasani, Group CEO, Suzlon Group said, The project will see the first batch of our new S111 120m hybrid wind turbine generator being installed on a commercial scale." "The S111 120 m is an innovative product and will be a game-changer in the Indian wind industry, with its cost effective design and superior technology S111 120m will further reduce the levelised cost of energy (LCoE), he added. At 09:20 hrs Suzlon Energy was quoting at Rs 19.60, up Rs 0.25, or 1.29 percent. Posted by Rakesh Patil Xi says ready to boost China-U.S. ties from new starting point with Trump From:Xinhua | 2017-04-07 19:11 Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in the latter's Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago in the United States, April 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) MAR-A-LAGO, United States, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that he is ready to work with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump to push forward China-U.S. relations from a new starting point. While meeting with Trump in the latter's Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago, Xi said "there are a thousand reasons to make the China-U.S. relationship work, and no reason to break it." Since the normalization of China-U.S. relations 45 years ago, the bilateral relationship, even though experienced ups and downs, has made historic progress and brought enormous and pragmatic benefits to the two peoples, Xi said. The Chinese president said it takes political resolve and historical commitments from leaders of both countries to enhance the bilateral relations in the 45 years to come. Xi also invited Trump to pay a state visit to China in 2017. For his part, Trump accepted the invitation with pleasure, and hoped to make the trip at an early date, according to officials. If you think that cracking down on slaughterhouses and barring liquor vends near highways impinges upon your freedom of choice, you may be in for a bitter surprise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government plans to direct hotels and restaurants to fix the portion of food served to you. The government is drafting a questionnaire for hotels and restaurants seeking to assess the quantity of food a customer should be served. On March 26, Modi had raised concerns over wastage of food in Mann ki Baat his weekly address to the nation. He even said food wastage at social gatherings is injustice to the poor. Explaining the rationale behind the proposal, Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, said people are paying for something they dont eat. He asked why should a person be served four idlis when he can eat just two. The move is part of a draft bill meant to amend the Consumer Protection Act and the Law Ministry is perusing it. Globally, about 1.3 tonnes, or one-third of the total edible items produced, of food is wasted every year, according to a report by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). India ranks No. 7 on the list of countries in overall food wastage agricultural produce, poultry and milk according to a report by National Resources Defence Council. The FAO report states that even if just one-fourth of the food currently lost or wasted globally is saved, 870 million hungry people can be fed. In a relief to meat-eating citizens and meat traders of Uttar Pradesh, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court had last week ruled had ruled that food and food habits are connected to the right to life and livelihood guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Citizens and meat shop owners in Uttar Pradesh have been bearing the brunt of Yogi Adityanath -led state government's crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses. A Bitcoin (virtual currency) logo is pictured on a door in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris May 27, 2015. British authorities have come out in support of digital currencies in the name of promoting financial innovation, while proposing that regulations should be drawn up to prevent their use in crime. But it is technophiles who are leading the drive to make London a real-world hub for trade in web-based "cryptocurrencies", of which bitcoin is the original and still most popular. Picture taken May 27, 2015. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier - RTX1EWRL BJP MP Kirit Somaiya has raised concerns on how there is a lack of regulatory structure around bitcoin and wants it to be declared illegal in the country. During demonetisation, bitcoin trading volume spiked a lot in India and many were worried that it was being used to launder black money. Speaking to Moneycontrol, Somaiya said that he is expecting a meeting with a senior official from the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) to discuss the sudden jump in bitcoin trading in India during the period of the cash ban. After the government's landmark decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, those hoarding black money tried their hand at various ways through which to convert their ill-gotten stash. In fact, in the immediate wake of the decision, prices of alternate asset classes such as gold or real estate shot up in the gray market. Unscrupulous jewelers and developers were able to back-date purchasers and pass off old notes which were used to buy assets in the past. Reports also came which suggested bitcoin to be a possible means to launder black money. In the Parliament, Somaiya has hit out at the increasing use of bitcoin in India and has termed the digital currency as "hypothetical" and a "pyramid ponzi scheme". He has further said that if bitcoin is being used like a currency then it falls under the duty of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the central bank cannot afford to be a silent spectator and needs to act. Below is the complete transcript of the conversation with BJP MP Kirit Somaiya. Sidhartha: You have raised concerns over the use of bitcoins in India and how in the name of this technology some are trying to dupe innocent people. You want it to be declared illegal in India as there are no regulations around it. But some countries have laid down rules and recently Japan even declared it as a currency. Your views on it? A: It is illegal. How a private person or a few individuals remain behind curtains can develop their own currency? This self-regulation is nonsense. In a Ponzi scheme, all such arguments like multi-level marketing (MLM) and a pyramid structure have been floated. This is a civilised society; a currency can be owned, floated, regulated, monitored only and only by a sovereign government. Block technology is a technology. It cannot be converted into currency. A group of people come together and they say we are having our own transaction, what is this? A simple technological legal meaning is 'hawala', nothing else. Simple meaning is non-transparency. If you want to deal among yourselves, you deal through any currency. It could be through dollar, it could be pound, it could be rupee. But you are developing in the name of a modern transaction and it cannot be allowed because nobody owns this; nobody regulates it. How can I allow unregulated currency? All these are absurd arguments. The few with vested interests, people like zamindars or crony capitalism supporter, have come out with this argument. I cannot agree. I have told the RBI also and SEBI, also. On one side, if you declare it as illegal, how can you allow it to be functioning in the country? It is impossible. Tarun: So, why are investigation agencies sitting on it and not taking any action? A: Due to our efforts, now in parliament, the government has gone on record; it is illegal. The first time now, a small group of people, experts representing SEBI, Ministry of Economic Affairs, the RBI, is formed. I do not agree with Japan and what has happened in Japan, nobody knows. It is our country, our nation. I want to see what is bitcoin. On one side, they are using the word currency. Once you use the word currency, it is automatically illegal. How can a civilised society allow it? Today, bitcoin has come, tomorrow, 'chandi-coin' will come, tje third day, 'plastic-coin' will come. What is bitcoin? What is its value, what is its net-worth? What is its guarantee? And now bitcoin is used for purchasing drugs in colleges. And now, a mis-sell is being done so that you can invest in bitcoin. What nonsense is going on? If it is a currency, how can a person invest in it? And they say it will be increased by 4,000 percent. So, all this is nothing but a scam. I told RBI people that during 2007, 2008 and 2009 there was a foreign exchange scam when India lost more than Rs 1 lakh crore. You may recollect that yen price will go up. All top businesses and banks have lost hundreds of crores of rupees. And, now the regulator in America has found out that it was a scam. And top companies have been penalised. What has happened in India? Nothing. So, the RBI wants all authority; it wants all power. Then, it becomes the responsibility of the RBI. If they cannot allow, I disagree with RBI. They said it is illegal. Now, people who are doing business doing it at their own risk. I do not agree. The RBI has to take action and I will see that they do take action. Tarun: What about Sebi? Will it also regulate bitcoins? A: Certainly, because SEBI has asked me to give some information about the exchanges; so, I am trying to collect the information on how it can be traded on the exchanges. But all such exchanges in a way are illegal. If they are the official exchange, go and get regulated by SEBI. If private exchanges say they are on the internet, then how can my Indian money be invested. How? In air? You have to pay something initially. Either you have to give something in kind or in rupee or in dollar. It means it is a currency. And if bitcoin is a product, what are they doing; what are they manufacturing; what are the services; what is the profit and loss account; what are the balances; who is controlling bitcoin? A group of people? Then, it is a barter system. So, we want to go back 1,000 years? What is blockchain? Blockchain is used for currency or for trading transactions. That means this is hawala or barter system. So, I am very much against it. Tarun: Do you think that during demonetisation bitcoins were used for money laundering or tax evasion? A: A few people have expressed such concerns. I am expecting a meeting with a senior official from the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID). I do not want to pass a comment on that. Tarun: Transactions over these exchanges happen on the banking side. So, how come banks are allowing this kind of trade? A: I am going to approach Enforcement Directorate (ED) also. It is the duty of ED; some foreign transactions are taking place in India, through India, through Indian bank accounts. Somebody has to check it. And that is why I am very unhappy with the RBI. How can they knowingly ignore such a thing? It is the parliament of India, it is the constitution of India; the central bank has to not only regulate but monitor it also. If through an Indian bank account, some transaction takes place with the foreign banks, if bitcoin is a foreign product, that means it is a foreign transaction; they have to submit details and that is why, I am planning to approach ED and I have written to the government. The Vivo XPlay 6 is displayed at the Qualcomm stand at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Paul Hanna - RTS10YKQ Nearly four crore members of retirement fund body EPFO will soon be able to settle their claims like EPF withdrawal through mobile application UMANG. "The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is developing online claims settlement process by receiving application online," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The minister also said, "The application will be integrated with Unified Mobile App for new-age governance, (UMANG) App, to receive the claims online. However, the timeframe to roll out the same has not been finalised." The EPFO receives close to 1 crore applications manually for settlement of EPF withdrawals, pension fixation or getting group insurance benefit by the deceased. A senior official said over 110 regional offices of the EPFO out of 123 field formations have already been connected with the central server. The official explained that it is a technical requirement for connecting all regional offices with the central server for rolling out the facility. Earlier in February this year, EPFO Central Provident Fund Commissioner had said, "The process of connecting all field offices with a central server is going on. We may introduce the facility for online submission of all types of applications and claims like EPF withdrawal and pension settlement by May this year." The EPFO has an ambitious plan to settle the claims within a few hours after filing of the application. For instance, it has plans to settle the EPF withdrawal claim within three hours of the filing. As per the scheme, the EPFO is required to settle all claims within 20 days from filing of the application for settlement of pension or EPF withdrawal. The minister also told the House that the EPFO has engaged the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, as its technical consultant to upgrade its technology and the body is installing latest equipment at its three central data centres in Delhi, Gurugram and Secunderabad. An official spoke of the requirement of seeding Aadhaar and bank accounts with the Universal (PF) Account Number (UAN) for settling EPFO claim online. In a separate reply to the House, the minister said that out of the 3.76 crore contributing members as on March 31, 2016, as many as 1.68 crore have linked their Aadhaar numbers with UAN. The EPFO has already made it mandatory to provide bank account numbers with IFSC codes and Aadhaar of subscribers. PTI KKS . Losing His 'Cool', Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad Attacks AI Staffer With Slipper , Leaving from the Parliament on 23march 2017. Express photo by Renuka Puri. Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad plans to take the Rajdhani back to Mumbai despite his flying ban being lifted as he feels he is "an aam aadmi" (common man). On March 23, Gaikwad had hit an Air India staffer with a slipper 25 times because he was shifted to the economy class. In the aftermath on the incident, the national carrier and a few private airlines had imposed a ban on him. Earlier this week, Gaikwad had reached the national capital by train. Gaikwad boarded the the Mumbai-Rajdhani Express to reach Delhi, a railway official said. Gaikwad had also used the Mumbai-Rajdhani Express to return to Mumbai last week. Last week, speaking publicly for the first time after he was banned by major airlines for assaulting the airline's staffer, Gaikwad had claimed his innocence and said he was a victim of a media trial. "I am not guilty, I have not done anything wrong," Gaikwad, an MP from Osamanabad in Maharashtra, told the Lok Sabha. He claimed that he did not thrash anyone and did not create any ruckus inside the aircraft, but had merely given his seat in the business class to a senior citizen. He alleged Air India management changed the story. In reply to his claims, Ashok Gajapati Raju, Civil Aviation Minister, said safety in the flight was compromised. "Aircraft are machine on which people fly and safety is paramount which can never be compromised," said the Aviation Minister. However, the ban on Gaikwad was revoked last Friday after the intervention of the Civil Aviation Ministry as the Shiv Sena had threatened to boycott a National Democratic Alliance dinner. Four private carriers also lifted the ban on the Osmanabad lawmaker. The two leaders are holding delegation level talks. (File photo: Reuters) China today denied any credit for the Indian Navy for rescuing a cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the strategic Gulf of Aden, claiming that its naval ship equipped with a helicopter saved the 19-member crew. Declining to acknowledge any role for the Indian Navy which said its chopper provided the air cover for the Chinese soldiers to enter the Tuvalu-flagged ship OS35, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the air support was provided by Chinese helicopter attached to the ship. The missile frigate Yulin circled the ship while its helicopter provided air cover, she said, making no mention of the Indian Navy's helicopter support to the Chinese troops. The Chinese naval ship, part of the 25th convoy of Chinese navy which was conducting the escort mission in the Gulf of Aden in Somali waters, rushed to the hijacked ship as soon as it received a message from UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) on April 8, she told reporters here. "Rescue operation was launched on early Sunday morning. Sixteen Chinese soldiers successfully boarded the timber-carrying freighter, and freed its crew," she said. "They also conducted a comprehensive search of the ship to make sure no pirate was on board. 19 crew members released from the strong room where they had taken shelter, while also searching the ship to ensure there were no further threats," she said. "We believe the aforementioned operation demonstrated the effectiveness of China's naval forces in the field of fighting against pirates, as well as China's image as a responsible major country in safeguarding regional peace and stability," she said. When questioned about the absence of any reference to the Indian Navy's role in the operation, Hua said China's Ministry of Defence should be approached for details. "I have already given to you what I have learnt. The Chinese convoy received report from the UKMTO and conducted rescue operation. With regards to details I refer you to the Chinese defence ministry," she said. "As I just said the Chinese side is always positive towards international cooperation against pirates. This position is very clear," she reiterated. Her comments followed a Chinese navy statement last night that omitted any reference to the Indian Navy in providing helicopter cover to the Chinese soldiers. When asked about the Chinese navy's statement, Indian Navy spokesperson in New Delhi referred to his tweet, "Indian Navy Chetak Helicopter on top of PLA Navy boats carrying boarding party to MV OS35 in coordinated anti piracy ops @SpokespersonMoD". He also posted a picture which showed an Indian helicopter flying over a Chinese navy vessel. The surprise omission of Indian Navy's role in the operation comes as the Indian Navy in New Delhi said that the navies of the two countries worked in a well-coordinated operation to rescue the vessel. The Indian Navy yesterday said it sent its frontline warships, INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash, to coordinate with the Chinese navy. The two Indian ships were in the region as part of an overseas deployment. The Indian Navy also said that the Chinese navy thanked it for its role in the operation. "In a show of international maritime cooperation against piracy, a boarding party from the nearby Chinese navy ship went on board the merchant ship, while the Indian naval helicopter provided air cover for the operation. It has been established that all 19 Filipino crew members are safe," Indian Navy spokesperson Capt D K Sharma said yesterday. China's disinclination to acknowledge Indian Navy's role came amid a strain in ties between the two countries over a range of issues including the Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, China's opposition to India's NSG membership and Beijing blocking India's effort to declare JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist by the UN. China and India have been operating ships in the Gulf of Aden for several years. In May 2011, China had acknowledged Indian Navy's help in saving 24 Chinese sailors aboard Panama-flagged bulk carrier, Full City, from pirates. At that time, Chinese navy's flotilla was on an escort duty in the Gulf of Aden - 1,200 nautical miles away from the scene of the assault. Q1. It was originally started in 1940 and ran successfully till it was closed for a few years during the Indo-China War. Chen re-opened it, joining hands with a partner Tham Mouyiu, in 1968, and is actively involved in the day-to-day operations of running the restaurant. The restaurant runs solely on word-of-mouth publicity of its loyal patrons which include Bollywood royalty from Shashi Kapoor to Rekha and Kajol , to the who is who of politics including VK Krishna Menon. One of the most unusual gues was Deng Pufang the paraplegic first son of the Chinese premier Deng Xiaoping. Identify this legendary Mumbai establishment which recently shut shop. (Representative image) (Shiv Visvanathan is an eminent sociologist. He is currently Professor, Vice Dean and Executive Director at the Centre for the Study of Science, Society and Sustainability at the Jindal School of Government and Public Policy. He spoke to Moneycontrols Gaurav Choudhury on the governments plans to direct hotels and restaurants to fix the portion of food served to customers) I do not think this is the right way of governance. From fixing food portions in restaurant meals, the government may later define purity and impurity in food. We need a different approach to governance. It places the onus entirely on the citizens to prove themselves, including their patriotism. The government does not need to prove anything. In many respects, what we are witnessing is an ugly manifestation of the Panopticon penitentiary model of surveillance, using fear as a tool for citizens to fall in line. Using fear as a tool is a way of cutting down on peoples choices. Also read: After meat and liquor bans, is a curb on food portions on the plate? The principle of Panopticon penitentiary or prison was theorized by Jeremy Bentham. (Bentham was an English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer. He is regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism). The Panopticon penitentiary is an 'Inspection House' with the prisoners' cells arranged around the outer wall and the central point dominated by an inspection tower. From this building, the prison's omnipotent guard would keep a constant vigil over the inmates behaviour and conduct, although the inmates could not see the guard. This overall of act of surveillance by the current government is devastating. More so because some of these, including making Aadhaar mandatory for many activities, are being carried out through legislative changes. The pre-dominantly legislative way of implementation eliminates the option of choice for the citizens. Rules framed through laws force citizens to forego the right to agree or disagree. They have to accept the rules. The governments line of thinking seem to be: If you are with us, it is fine. Otherwise, accept the rules. This has covered security, morality, dress and now, food. Clearly, this is not an aberration. These are signs of para-totalitarianism. This is not the way to run a democracy. If the government was so concerned about food and wastage, why dont they meet distressed farmers? Accusing the Congress of painting Aadhaar as a curse, the government Monday asserted that no poor person would be deprived of the subsidy benefits by making the Aadhaar mandatory and that privacy of individuals will be protected. Minister of IT and Law Ravi Shankar Prasad stated this in the Rajya Sabha while replying to a discussion on Aadhaar against the backdrop of concerns expressed by the opposition over making the biometric-based identification system mandatory for availing of government subsidies. "I want to make it very clear on the behalf of the government that no poor shall be denied his subsidy rights at all. Be very clear about that. Whether it is, a mid day meal or any other benefit, we have said that you come on Aadhaar but no denial will be there," he assured the House. "The right of privacy of individual must be respected... The question to be considered is, are we invading privacy through the Aadhaar law, the answer is 'No'," he said. Observing that at present, over 113 crore residents in India have Aadhaar, Prasad said that "Aadhaar is safe, let me say proudly that the data is secure". He said that in the last six years, the government has cancelled and blacklisted 34,000 operators who tried to pollute the system or tried to make fake Aadhaar cards. "Since December 2016, we have taken action against 1,000 operators. We have a proper oversight system available which we do at all the authority at our command," he said. Accusing the Congress of trying to paint Aadhaar as a curse, Prasad outlined several benefits associated with it. "You need to come on Aadhaar but the benefits will not be denied to you, you can come with alternative identity proof be it ration card, MNREGA Card, driving licence or others. But please apply for Aadhaar, that is the whole essence," he said. "Fake bank accounts is a known phenomena. We cannot wish away that poor people have lost their savings. So these realities are known," Prasad said. To back his assertion of Aadhaar data being secure, the Law Minister reasoned that minimum data is collected by the authorities, and information related to an individual's religion, caste, language, medical history or ethnicity is not profiled. "Let me outline minimum data is being taken for preparation of Aadhaar card, the authorities are under strict instructions to maintain that secrecy and if they flout they can also suffer three years of imprisonment and prosecution," the Law Minister argued. Pointing out that national security is important, he said that even in cases of national security, a high-level mechanism has been put in place whereby a designated officer of the Home Ministry shall for reasons to be recorded in writing certify disclosure of a person's Aadhaar data. Further, he said that a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary will ascertain and confirm that a person's Aadhaar data needs to be disclosed in such cases. "This is the kind of safeguards we have given that the biometrics of an ordinary person even in case of national security cannot be opened unless certified by this level of higher authorities," Prasad said. The Law Minister categorically denied claims of the NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid) being linked to Aadhaar. Referring to the two interim orders passed by the Supreme Court on August 11, 2015 and October 15, 2015, permitting a set of subsidies to be given through Aadhaar, Prasad outlined that there was no Aadhaar legislation in place at the time. "Legally speaking, the law is well settled that Parliament can remove the lacuna which the court points out and if one of the arguments in the court is that there is no legal framework available, the Parliament has come up with the Aadhar Act," he said. Referring to a recent CAG report which had found that 92 per cent of the savings in LPG subsidy was due to fall in global crude oil prices and not due to Aadhaar seeding, Prasad termed it a "sketchy report". "I very seriously respect the institution of CAG but the CAG has got no mechanism to make a comment that this saving is only due to the lowering of the international crude oil prices. This is too judgemental, not factual," the minister said. A disturbing video of a passenger being dragged off an United Airlines aircraft has sparked social media outrage. The airline, which overbooked a flight, physically threw out a man who refused to leave the plane. The video posted by other passengers showed a man screaming as the airline officers dragged him off his seat on a Kentucky-bound United flight. @United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Here's how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017 Here is the video taken by a passenger on the flight: One of the officers involved has been placed on leave pending an investigation. The Federal Transportation Department is also investigating whether the airline compiled with overbooking rules. The United CEO, Oscar Munoz, later took to Twitter, to apologise for the incident: United CEO response to United Express Flight 3411. pic.twitter.com/rF5gNIvVd0 United (@united) April 10, 2017 After the video went viral on Monday evening, outrage over the treatment by airline officials spread viral. This is not the first time that the airlines is in social media soup. In March last week, United Airlines has barred two girls from boarding becasue they were wearning spandex leggings. Another girl, 10-year-old, was asked to change into a dress before boarding. The airline had later defended itself in a string of tweets, which referred to its 'Contract of Carriage' dress code. It also said that the girls barred were guests of airline staff, for whom the airline follows a stricter formal dress code norm. Ex-choir director in Bucks County pleads no contest to molesting two students, secretly filming another Letter to editor: Voting is necessary to protect democracy April 11, 2017 Is There A New U.S. Syria Policy? Is There One At All? What does the U.S. administration want with regards to Syria? The elements were clear just a few days ago. The U.S. would split off the east and set up a Kurdish enclave which it would then occupy with the help of proxy forces. It would use the leverage to push for political regime change in western Syria. Israel would occupy another piece of the Golan. While that looked somewhat favorable for the U.S. in the short term it was bad long term strategy. U.S. forces in the east would be surrounded by hostiles, cut off from the sea and under permanent guerilla attack from various opposing forces. But it looked at least like a viable short term way forward. The new strategy, which may not be one at all, and the new U.S. commitment is all over the place: As various officials have described it, the United States will intervene only when chemical weapons are used or any time innocents are killed. It will push for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria or pursue that only after defeating the Islamic State. Americas national interest in Syria is to fight terrorism. Or to ease the humanitarian crisis there. Or to restore stability. I don't get it. The cacophony of the last days does not make any sense. There is no viable endgame I see here that would be advantageous for Trump or general U.S. borg policy - neither internationally nor domestically - neither short term nor long term. Trump is now losing the "America First" followers he will need to win another election. Due to the anti-Russian panic Trump surrendered to the neocons. Suddenly the borg is lauding him for a senseless escalation. The neocons want chaos but chaos is not a plan. There seems to be no plan that will help any cause. There is no chance that the U.S. can split Syria from its allies, Hizbullah, Iran and Russia. While Russia is under pressure in Kaliningrad, Crimea and Syria it has lived through way worse situation and these have always increased its determination. I don't see how or why it would fold now. Trump had an intelligent strategy when he won against Clinton. He deftly use his advantages. There are few advantages that he has and can play with regards to Middle East policy. Use pure military force? That's not a strategy, just tactical game play. Though the generals who run his cabinet may not be capable to see that. If he destroys Syrian then Lebanon and Jordan will also fall to radicals. Other countries will follow. Iraq would again throw out all U.S. troops. Would the U.S., or Israel, want that? Why? Whatever one might say about Trump, he is not stupid. He must have some kind of plan. Help me out. What are his thoughts behind this. Or are there really none at all. Posted by b on April 11, 2017 at 10:54 UTC | Permalink Comments next page The only one that couldn't make it had a pretty good reason not to be there... 2 hours ago Three people were arrested on Saturday in Morganton after a toddler was found sitting in the middle of a road. Police also found several pounds of marijuana inside a home nearby. Dylan Ray Hildebran, 24, of Morganton, and Bobbi Jean Colon, 23, of Morganton, were charged with maintaining a dwelling for sale of controlled substances, possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance and child abuse and neglect, according to a press release from Morganton Department of Public Safety. Nathan Michael Santiago, 23, of Morganton, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance. Morganton Department of Public Safety officers were called out to 212 Summit St. when a caller near the residence said there was a toddler in the middle of Summit Street, the release said. The callers girlfriend picked up the (20-month-old) toddler and noted a strong odor of marijuana in his hair, the release said. The caller could see the front door to 212 Summit Street was standing open. The caller walked up to the door, knocked for approximately five minutes before a white male came to the door and grabbed the child and pulled him inside, the release said. When Public Safety Officers J. Jones and G. Davis arrived, they spoke with Santiago, who was walking toward a car parked in front of the house, the release said. He told police he was visiting friends and did not live at the house. After police searched Santiago, they found half a pound of marijuana and $700 in cash, the release said. Police smelled a strong odor of marijuana when Hildebran opened the front door of the house, the release said. After MDPS officers received a search warrant to enter the house to investigate the possibility of child abuse, they found approximately three pounds of marijuana, packing supplies, a digital scale, drug paraphernalia and several weapons, the release said. The conditions of the residence were deplorable, the release said. Excessive amounts of trash, moldy and rotten food, and dirty diapers were noted throughout the residence. Burke County Department of Social Services took custody of the toddler, the release said. An agent with the North Carolina Internal Revenue Service arrived and seized two vehicles belonging to Hildebran and Colon, as well as $800 in cash, the release said. Hildebran, Colon and Santiago all were given $25,000 secured bonds and had court dates on Monday. Pinarayi Vijayan has thanked FIFA for acknowledging the state's passion for football by tweeting about the Pullavoor cut-outs. The first quarter of 2017 passed without any major disruptions. Financial market volatility was the lowest for a decade and investment performance reflected this after a quarter of strong gains. Supporting this were a series of strong data releases globally including upbeat corporate profitability announcements as well as cheerful surveys of economic confidence. This more than offset the potential headwinds of political uncertainty and delicate central bank tightening. The U.K. also commenced its official divorce from the European Union by invoking Article 50, while European contagion risk temporarily settled following the failure of the populist movement in the Dutch elections. This positivity has prompted action from some central banks, with the Federal Reserve hiking rates in the U.S. for the third time since the financial crisis. China also joined the tightening camp, with a similar hike at the end of the quarter. Given this favourable backdrop, it should not be a surprise that risk assets performed best over the first quarter, with equities comfortably outperforming bonds. Emerging market equities topped the table, posting near-double digit gains, while developed markets also produced healthy mid-single digit returns. Underlying the strong gains were a muddying of the value revival seen during the second half of 2016, with energy companies dropping following a 9% fall in crude oil prices, while technology and healthcare rallied strongly. Currency-wise, the major development was a rebound from emerging market currencies, although the US dollar stayed broadly in line with the pound sterling and the euro. Which Bonds Bucked the Trend? While fixed income markets generally underperformed equities, modest gains were recorded following a reasonable January and February. Some of this was offset, however, as the U.S. market saw bond yields stabilise as the Trump bump lost energy, while in Europe there was a subtle shift towards higher bond yields in politically sensitive economies. The standout was once again emerging market local debt, which rose 7% over the quarter. Looking forward, many participants are citing the separation between political uncertainty and market volatility as a noteworthy development. While this is undoubtedly important in the lead up to the French elections, we would suggest investors instead focus on what is knowable, implying an increased focus on the sustainability of asset price gains relative to their fair value. This valuation-driven philosophy leads us to favour cautious positioning as valuations for equities and bonds remain stretched. If you want to know how healthy a companys balance sheet is, look at its dividend policy, says Ben Lofthouse, manager of the Henderson International Income Trust (HINT). Royal Bank of Scotland still pays no dividend after cutting it after the credit crisis, and Barclays keeps cutting and pushing back its dividend pay-outs. You will not find Barclays (BARC) or RBS (RBS) in Lofthouses portfolio not just because his dividend policy metric, the companies do not look as if they are faring well. The five-star HINT only invests in companies listed outside of the UK, excluding dual listed stocks too. Before we launched the trust in 2011 we asked invested what they wanted from a new closed-end fund, says Lofthouse. We found that many of them had UK equity trusts and global trusts with a UK allocation. What they needed was true diversification you think you have diversified by buying three different funds and then an event such as the BP (BP.) Macondo oil spill happens and you realise you have a triple holding in a tanking stock. So we hold absolutely no UK listed companies. Lofthouse cautions that diversification only outs over the long-term, and urges investors to abandon short-termism. Short-term all stocks are correlated. You can invest in three very different pharmaceutical companies, and think you have diversified but actually they all have the same profit pool and short-term they are all vulnerable to a tweet from a presidential candidate, he said. Longer-term, fundamentals will out. Financial Stocks Offer Income HINT invests in companies with a high return on equity companies whose management have a track record for adding value. Although Lofthouse says he is not an activist investor, he does look for turnaround stories, saying: We dont agitate, we dont assume we could run a company better than those in charge, but I do look for signs of change companies which are investing in their future. Although many financial stocks especially across Europe are still troubled, there are banks displaying these characteristics. Lofthouse likes banks which do things a little differently those which offer more than just bread-and-butter banking. He holds ING Groep (ING), for example, which is a challenger bank, and French bank Natixis (KN), which has an asset management firm. We highlight five of HINTs financial holdings, and including Morningstar equity analysis where applicable, below. Natixis (KN) Yield: 6.09% Natixis provides investment and financial services. The Company's three core businesses are: Wholesale Banking, Investment Solutions, Specialized Financial Services. This is Lofthouses eighth largest holding in the trust. Yield: 4.94% ING is well positioned to focus on improving its core banking operations, as the bank has completed the majority of its restructuring efforts, says Morningstar equity analyst Stephen Ellis. In 2014, ING floated its European insurance arm, NN Group, and its U.S. insurance group, Voya Financial, and has repaid its obligations to the Dutch government. The shift from a universal model of banking, joint insurance and banking operations, into a commercial and retail bank is beneficial for the business. It should be easier to achieve consistent profitability by allowing managers to focus on a narrower set of operating activities that they have executed well in the past. JP Morgan (JPM) Yield: 2.25% JPMorgans combination of scale, diversification, and sound risk management seems like a simple path to competitive advantage, but few other firms have been able to execute a similar strategy, says Morningstars Jim Sinegal. Through acquisitions and organic growth, JPMorgan has become the largest bank in the United States. The firms diversified business model stabilises results, increases customer switching costs, and allows the company to generate more revenue per dollar of assets than smaller peers. Van Lanschot (LANS) Yield: 1.98% Van Lanschot NV is an independent, specialised wealth manager, providing private banking, asset management and merchant banking services. Lofthouse first bought this Dutch company in September last year, adding 3 million worth of shares resulting in a 1.28% position in the portfolio. It has proved a savvy investment the shares are up an impressive 14% year to date. He has recently added to his position. Yield: 5.72% Macquarie is the largest investment bank, investment advisory, asset-management firm listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Macquarie Group began trading in 1969 as Hill Samuel Australia, obtained its bank licence in 1985, and listed in 1996. It's Australia's only sizeable listed investment bank, now internationally diversified, operating in corporate finance, treasury, and commodities, equity markets, and funds management. This is a new acquisition for Lofthouse, adding 3.5 million shares in December. The Australian company is up 2% year to date. Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive. To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research. Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process. In missives sent to Toronto mayor John Tory and to Ontario finance minister Charles Sousa last week, federal finance minister Bill Morneau expressed concern over dramatic house-price increases will have long-term implications for housing affordability and housing-market stability, and encouraged these officials to moderate outsized housing activity in Toronto.Morneaus letters, which requested policy meetings with the officials, emphasized the difficulties that federal authorities have encountered in trying to address the red-hot growth of the Canadian housing sector, particularly in Toronto and Vancouver.In March alone, Toronto average home sale prices spiked upwards by nearly 29 per cent year-over-year (up to $916,567), while sales volume grew by 17.7 per cent in the same time frame, Realtor.com reported.Sousa indicated that the Ontario government agrees with Morneaus assessment that first-time home buyers are among the most disadvantaged segments in the current home pricing regime.Recently, Tory noted that while the Toronto government is already taking steps to help address the affordability crisis and improve supply, theres still no consensus on the nature of the forces that are pushing the prices up the way they are, as well as the most effective and appropriate response to the issue.Tory was also hesitant to support the growing calls for a foreign buyers tax, as definite figures on the proportion of non-Canadian real estate investors in Toronto are unavailable.I dont know how you can make a decision on a huge public policy matter that can have an impact on the marketplace without having that data, the mayor said in a Bloomberg interview.Tory added that hes more willing to explore a tax on vacant properties to make more homes available. How would you like to share this content? Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 74F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 53F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. We are collating signatures to petition ... GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Florida regarding the recent wildfire activity. Florida wildfires have already burned 250 percent more acreage during the first three months of 2017 than during the same time period last year. There are currently more than 100 active wildfires across more than 20,000 acres in Florida. And, conditions across the state are expected to remain hotter and drier than normal in Florida during the coming months. "As wildfires impact our state, our incredible firefighters and first responders have bravely rushed to aid our communities and worked tirelessly to protect our homes and families," Scott said. "Much of Central and South Florida are approaching drought-like conditions and the chances for wildfires are continuing to increase with hotter temperatures and low rainfall. "This may only get worse as we enter the hotter summer months and it is crucial that we take every action right now to be prepared." Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said the state has not seen this active a wildfire season since 2011. "Were seeing that every area of our state is susceptible to wildfire," Putnam said. "I thank Governor Scott for signing this executive order, which will ensure we have every resource available to us to combat these wildfires to protect life, property and wildlife." On his second try, Precinct 3 Constable Terry Timms has been recommended to receive $34,837 from the Justice Assistance Grant Program for the purchase of a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe 4-wheel-drive SUV to use as a patrol vehicle. The funds are scheduled to be released Oct. 1. The new patrol vehicle will replace his current 2010 pickup which shows 122,000 miles on the odometer. The entire cost of the vehicle with emergency equipment installed is $45,042.06, Timms reported to Hale County Commissioners on Monday. I initially requested the full amount, but reduced the request to the cost of the vehicle after we learned there was a $93,000 shortfall on funding. Hopefully, well be able to use the proceeds from a trade-in or the sale of my current patrol unit to pay those costs. County Judge Bill Coleman credited Abernathy City Manager Mike Cypert with helping Timms craft the grant request to receive favorable consideration. Mike has had a lot of success with grant writing in the past, and his expertise obviously paid off. The grant applications were reviewed Thursday by the South Plains Association of Governments, with results announced Friday. Ten grant requests were reviewed, with nine ranking high enough to receive at least partial funding. Top-ranked was Lamb County with a request of $33,935. Timms was one point behind, in second place. Next was the City of Floydada at $11,100; Yoakum County, $31,404.96; City of Crosbyton, $20,754.75; Floyd County, $23,400; City of Idalou, $32,517.87; City of Shallowater, $37,500; and City of Brownfield, $40,561.42 of a total request of $65,660. A $53,393.75 grant request from the City of Olton was not ranked high enough for qualify for funding. I was in the same position last year, Timms noted. This year we were much more successful. In other action Monday, commissioners: --Authorized Coleman to sign letters of engagement with the accounting firm of Davis Kinard & Co., PC, to perform the year end 2016 audits of Hale County and Plainview/Hale County Airport. --Approved changes to the countys collateral securities policy. --Reappointed Precinct 2 Commissioner Mario Martinez to the County Investment Committee. The county auditor and treasurer also serve on the panel. --Approved the Supplemental Account Agreement with Happy State Bank, the countys funds depository, for the next two years. --Approved current accounts payable of $374,685.86. --Approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Hale Center to authorize Texas Communities Group LLC to market tax forfeited trust properties in that community. --Tabled action on a request for the county to consider regulating towing charges. Coleman said he anticipates the City of Plainview to consider the same matter, and the county may follow its lead. --Authorized the county auditors office to utilize the jury room attached to the third-floor courtroom for records storage. --Authorized Goen Irrigation of Olton to place an underground pipeline across CR B about three miles south of CR 20. The work is being done for farmer Kevin Belt. --Declined a request from Sheriff David Mull to adjust the salary of 64th District Court bailiff in the event the vacant post is filled by a licensed peace officer. Eight members of the Sheriffs Office staff have applied to fill the vacancy, including three certified peace offices. The others are licensed jailers. As it stands now, an outside deputy will face a pay cut if selected to the bailiffs position which only requires jail certification. --Authorized the sheriff to send an employee to Tyler Technology computer training at a cost of $1,367, which will be paid from the countys computer fund. --Approved a three-year renewal of the countys contract with NTS for telephone and internet service. The cost is about $35,930 annually, which represents a savings of more than $20,000. The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread soaking rain will developing during the day Wednesday across the Texas Panhandle-South Plains region, eastward into the Rolling Plains and central Oklahoma. The widespread rainfall will continue overnight before diminishing on Thursday. Minor flooding is likely as showers and storms will be slow moving, NWS forecasters indicate. Most of the central Panhandle and South Plains will receive at least an inch of precipitation with Plainview expected to see 1.76 inches or more. Eastern Floyd County, all of Hall County and areas around Childress could receive 2 inches or more during the event. HARTFORD The state Department of Transportation is withdrawing from a regional study into a mileage-based tax, citing budget constraints. Transportation Commissioner James Redeker told the I-95 Corridor Coalition in a letter last week that the agency is facing large budget cuts that prevent us from providing any state matching funds, although he maintained support for the study. I continue to believe that this collaborative effort is a great opportunity to learn and gather critical information about a potential future revenue source, Redeker wrote April 6. The state would have had to pay $300,000 for its participation in the study, with the federal government matching the contribution. Vermont, Delaware and Pennsylvania are also in line to participate in the study, which is scheduled to begin this summer and expected to cost $2.98 million. The study would examine the possibility of implementing a regional mileage-based tax across multiple states. Connecticuts participation had hinged on its ability to find $300,000 within its existing resources, as the expense never appeared in Gov. Dannel P. Malloys proposed budget. Still, lawmakers from both sides claimed victory upon the announcement. I am pleased that the DOT has finally pulled the plug on the mileage tax study, said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. It was clear from the outset that the Senate Democrats opposed the mileage tax study. I am glad that the DOT is seeking to re-prioritize these funds in order to address critical projects. Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said it was about time the DOT backed out of the study, and he blamed Democrats for not making the decision sooner. This issue could have been resolved months ago if Democratic lawmakers would have joined Republicans to vote against piloting the tax last session, but they refused, he said in a statement. Nevertheless, I am glad to see Connecticut finally withdraw from the program and Democrats joining Republicans in claiming victory. The voices of the people of Connecticut were heard loud and clear. Republicans have been using Democrats reluctance to block the bill against them, even getting a bill out of the Transportation Committee that would have prevented the transportation commissioner from expending funds to participate in the study. The bill passed 19-16, with Reps. Emil Buddy Altobello, D-Meriden, and Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, the only Democrats supporting the bill. Many on the committee, including the two Democratic co-chairman, said they didnt support a mileage tax but felt the DOT needs to be able to study possible revenue streams. Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, who introduced the bill, said he was elated that the state avoided the extravagant, wasteful spending. He also continued to disagree with claims from Democrats that the state needs to find new transportation revenues, saying Malloys 30-year, $100-billion plan is too ambitious. I think if we passed the mileage tax, it would be the end, he said. We would definitely be finished, because it would be such a desperate move and it would say so much negative about the state. Altobello disagreed with Suzio. He said his vote to block the mileage tax study was based on opposition he had heard from constituents, but he still thinks the state needs to find new transportation-related revenues. msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino NORTH HAVEN Students from the Quinnipiac University School of Law told hospitality industry employees this week that no one employee will see all the signs of possible human sex trafficking, making communication critical among staff members. A group of four students also said traffickers are looking for establishments that cater to a large number of customers daily, allowing them to move clients and victims around anonymously. Because of that, traffickers view you as anonymous and they view the use of your business as low-risk, said John Sonderegger, one of the students. The students also urged hospitality workers to watch for signs of labor trafficking, which they said can have some similarities. A state law passed last year requires hospitality industry employees to undergo training on how to recognize human trafficking and to report any suspicious activity. That contact can be made with police, the state Department of Children and Families, or certain organizations focused on stopping human trafficking. Quinnipiac has partnered with Grace Farms Foundation, DCF, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and the states Commission on Women, Children, and Seniors to develop a program largely modeled after training that Marriott International created for its employees. Mondays event was the third of its kind and the first open to the public. Krishna Patel, general counsel and director of justice initiatives for Grace Farms, said the hospitality industry has been incredibly positive in its response to the training. The law passed last year, which also requires hotels to keep records on file to aid investigations, is the first of its kind, Patel said. She said the biggest issues have been easing concerns about lawsuits for false allegations and the possibility of heavy police presence. She said hotels likely cant be held liable for reporting tips, just as citizens do for suspicious activity, and police will handle calls subtly to avoid violent reactions from possible sex traffickers. No hotel wants lights and sirens for the rest of their customers, for their reputation, but law enforcement knows how volatile that situation is, she said. Conversely, hotels are suddenly becoming the subjects of civil action if they fail to report suspicious activity. A lawsuit was filed last month against a Philadelphia hotel, and Patel said shes aware of five such cases around the country, including some that appear to be strategic. The training sessions come as the legislature continues to look for ways to address human trafficking in general, with an emphasis on sex trafficking. The legislatures Judiciary Committee approved several bills last week, including one that would raise sex trafficking to a Class A felony. Patel called human trafficking the fastest growing criminal enterprise worldwide. The International Labor Organization estimates that the industry makes as much as $150 billion a year. The National Human Trafficking Hotline states there were 7,572 reported cases of human trafficking in the U.S. last year, up from 3,279 in 2012. In Connecticut, there were 54 reported cases last year, up from 27 in 2012. Those figures dont include referrals to DCF for cases involving minors, which rose from 44 to 193 during the same time span. msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A man was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Fremont on Sunday night, the third such incident involving Fremont police this year, officials said. The shooting unfolded around 11:30 p.m. after East Bay Regional Parks District Police called Fremont Police for an emergency response to the parking lot of a 7-Eleven on Decoto Road and Fremont Boulevard, police said. What East Bay Regional Parks police put out was that there was an officer who had contacted occupants of a vehicle and there was a firearm involved that was the preliminary information, said Sgt. Ricardo Cortes, a spokesman for the Fremont Police Department. Multiple units responded to the scene and officers saw a man fleeing on foot, Cortes said. Police found the man in an alley behind a Walgreens across the street from the 7-Eleven. Two officers opened fire, killing him, according to Cortes. The officers were not injured and the circumstances of the shooting were being investigated by the Alameda County district attorneys office, police said. It was not clear if the man who was shot was armed. Other occupants of the car were detained, but Cortes could not say whether any were arrested. The Alameda County coroners office said theyve tentatively identified the man killed by police, but his name was being withheld pending notification of his relatives. Rory Christy, 38, said he had parked his car at the 7-Eleven and went to visit a friend who lives nearby. When he returned to the store, he said he saw an East Bay Regional Parks District officer standing with his gun drawn on the occupants of a parked car. The driver got out and ran straight across the entire parking lot, said Christy, who lives in Fremont. He said the parks police officer stayed at the car holding his gun on those inside, while Fremont police cars swarmed the area. Christy said he continued into the 7-Eleven, and heard gunshots as he exited the store. I came out the front door and I heard gunshots right across the street. It sounded like at least nine, said Christy. Two other people have been killed in shootings involving Fremont police officers this year. Nana Adomako, 45, was shot to death in February by an officer responding to a battery call, and 16-year-old Elena Ebbie Mondragon was killed in March when Fremont detectives fired on a car she was riding in after it allegedly rammed their unmarked vehicle. Aparna Sharma, 45, a longtime resident of Fremont who works near the scene of Sunday nights incident, said she is surprised by the uptick in shootings involving Fremont police. We dont see that much of this stuff in Fremont, she said. Theres shootings going on everywhere even good cities have this problem. Theres so many things going on, Sharma said. She added that she thinks more money should be put into youth programs. Ive worked in a liquor store for 20 years. I have seen nice kids turned into punks, Sharma said. Jail is not always an answer. Others who work in the area were surprised to hear of the recent shootings involving police in their community. My perception is that the violence around here is pretty low, said Ernesto Medina, 30. I feel like its very safe, compared to other places. Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi Lennar has joined the lineup of homebuilders in The Groves, a community off of West Lake Houston Parkway in Humble. Lennar will offer 16 home plans priced from about $240,000 with sizes from 2,047 to 2,871 square feet. Two model homes will showcase some of the designs, which offer three-, four- and five-bedroom plans. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Can one of San Antonio's most popular morning radio personalities in broadcast history here -- an outrageous guy who was equated with Howard Stern and drew No. 1 audience numbers with his crazy crew and naughty stunts -- make a comeback today in San Antonio? Well, the guy known as Dr. Drex on KTFM from 1995 to 2002, who recently moved back to the Alamo City, is itching to give it a try ... if he can find a willing station. "I would love to do mornings in San Antonio again," DreX (who has dropped the 'Dr.') said in a phone chat. RELATED: S.A. radio hosts have faces too So far, he has laid fairly low since relocating here during the holidays last year, spending time remodeling a home with his fiancee Sharon LePere, who's in sales at KENS-TV. But he's ready now to come out of the shadows. "The piped-in, canned, syndicated nonlocal, more music morning show out there is not what people want," DreX, whose real name is Kevin Buchar, added. "People want to be spoken to and entertained -- and have fun. That's how we won in the ratings for 19 quarters in a row. That's my formula." To be fair, there are still a few ensembles making waves here; for instance, the irreverent and raunchy "Billy Madison Show" on 99.5 KISS-FM. RELATED: Another San Antonio TV news staple loses job But in general, San Antonio is wanting for an all-local chat show in the mornings, one that would tackle hot-button topics, poke fun at the latest trends and engage in high-profile hi-jinks. Back in the day, when the then-Dr. Drex and his sidekicks -- most notably, Roberta Varela and a statuesque transgender woman known as Miss Ree -- ruled mornings from 1995 to 2002 on KTFM, he got people talking daily with stunts like: Shooting Elmo in protest of the Tickle-Me-Elmo doll craze. Causing all kinds of havoc when he brought an actual longhorn steer into work at KTFM during San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo time. Inviting wives who hated their husband's "dead animal trophies" to a burial ceremony in front of the station. Installing "copulating reindeer" cutouts outside of KTFM. "And who could forget the time we lined I-10 with strippers and shut down the traffic?" DreX mused. I'm willing to bet a lot of folks would like to forget that one. In any event, radio became less, um, colorful when Drex picked up and left the Alamo City for a high-paying gig in Chicago radio in 2002, taking his latest KTFM crew, Mel T (for Tovar) and Petey Galindo with him. "We did KISS-FM (WKSC 103.5) in Chicago, and dominated that city for a decade," he recalled. But he continued to long for the folks of San Antonio, and after trying out San Francisco radio for a while, made the decision to return, hopefully for good, he said. "I love the audience here in San Antonio. People are so loyal. Even when we streamed in Chicago, so many would continue to listen," he said. "Well, the state of DreXas is back baby," added DreX, who's older now, of course, but still a man of 35 in his head, he said. "I told Mel T and Petey we need to put the band back together. San Antonio radio needs to be shaken up, that's for sure. People want to hear local commentary and have a conversation." DreX also is intrigued by all the TV lifestyle shows that have popped up since his departure. "I'm very interested in being part of that, too." What do you think? Is this what you'd love to hear again on the local airwaves? Let us know, or write him @planetdrex on Twitter. Meanwhile, why not indulge in some radio nostalgia and flip through the slideshow above past DreX to other personalities who were big here on the radio during the '60s, '70s, 80s and '90s? jjakle@express-news.net U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are cracking down on Easter travelers planning to bring cascarones, or confetti-eggs, into the country for the upcoming holiday weekend, the agency said this week. Travelers can bring up to 12 cascarones into the country, but no more, officials said Monday in a news release. The shells can be decorated, but they must be clean, dry and free of egg residue to prevent transmitting an avian flu into the U.S., the release states. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Fairfield Countys ceramics aficionados gathered at the Bruce Museum to learn about the history of color glazes, and indirectly, the history of China and its artisans. Robert D. Mowry, the Alan J. Dworsky Curator of Chinese Art Emeritus at Harvard University, spoke at the Connecticut Ceramic Study Circles 2017 Seminar on Monday. Attendees said Mowry always brings something new to the table. Its like going to a big house thinking, Oh, its nice, said Debby Dearhorn, CCSC program chair. Then you back into another room that leads to another and another. And then theres another door, it chips away at your mountain of ignorance. Mowry specializes in Asian art a passion sparked by a two-year stint in the Peace Corps where he taught English at Seoul National University in South Korea. Once youre hooked (to ceramics), youre hooked, said Jean Lebedeff, CCSCs nominating chair, during lunch. Mowry delivered three different lectures to members and guests of the Study Circle, beginning with the earliest ceramic glazes when artisans only knew how to use colorants that could stand the heat of a blazing kiln: iron oxide and celadon. Until the second half of the 10th century, he said, artisans using iron ozide could get glazes varied from light brown to black; they could get a limited spectrum of olive green by using celadon. When artisans realized the difference between reducing and oxodizing atmospheres, and that colors are affected by using coal- or wood-burning kilns, they expanded their palette. They learned a sealed kiln, without oxygen, creates a bluish-green hue from celadon. This led to different shades of blue ceramics, Mowry said. I collect, said Carol Ann Bender, a longtime CCSC member who has heard Mowry speak at previous lectures. I love ceramics. The brown wares, thats kind of different (from Mowrys other lectures). I knew about the blue and white and the celadon, (but) you can always learn something new. Audience members were also interested in how the techniques were shared, through trade across the Silk Road and throughout the Mongolian Empire, as much as the colors themselves. Its interesting talking about the pots, said Margi Anderson, a guest from New Canaan, but talking about the potters migrating (through China), thats such a long way to go. Anderson and CCSC President Janice Rabinowitz have their own collections of Asian ceramics, but Rabinowitz said not all seminar attendees are collectors or scholars, nor are they all from Connecticut. Joy Mercer, a ceramics enthusiast, traveled to the Bruce Museum from New Jersey after reading about the CCSC seminar in the Bees Antiques and the Arts Weekly. She also traveled to London for a seminar hosted by Christies Auction House. There are two things that are hot in the market today, said Mercer. Modern and contemporary paintings and Asian art. Thats whats hot. E: jturiano@greenwichtime.com; T: @jturianoGT; IG: @greenwichgreen This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany After a mediation session, the Syracuse-area firm COR Development has failed to reach a settlement with disgraced lobbyist Todd Howe in a lawsuit that claims he owes COR repayment of an $85,000 loan. Lawyers for Howe, however, maintain that COR's payment was actually a bribe that was "part of an illegal conspiracy" to buy influence from state officials, and that he should not have to repay it. In September, Howe pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in a federal corruption probe that also brought about the arrests of Joe Percoco, a former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as well as SUNY Polytechnic Institute President Alain Kaloyeros and six upstate development executives, including COR's Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi. All are accused of taking part in an overlapping series of schemes that traded money for official actions, including bid-rigging. With the exception of Howe, all have pleaded not guilty. The criminal case is expected to go to trial at the end of October, though several of the upstate defendants have asked for it to be split into two trials because of the complexity of the matters at hand. Albany attorney George Carpinello was selected to serve as mediator between COR and Howe, and the two sides met Friday per the U.S. District Court's order. They reported no success. The final segment of the Park Row thoroughfare has opened in the Energy Corridor, making the four-lane road now drivable from Dairy Ashford Road at Interstate 10 to the city of Katy. The final segment, which has been called Park Row's "missing mile," runs from the Addicks Park and Ride to North Eldridge Parkway. Its completion is the last piece in the roughly 10-mile Park Row, giving commuters and workers an alternate route from I-10 in an area dominated by Houston energy companies. "It's important not only for daily commuting for people getting back and forth between home and the area, but it's also for emergencies," said Carolyn Wolff Dorros, executive vice president at Wolff Companies, the developer of Park Row. "For example, when we experience (severe weather), for people to be able to use another route is crucial." The road is a private-public project mainly between the Energy Corridor District, city of Houston and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It has cost about $25 million. Construction occurred in two phases beginning in 2013. The first phase took the road from the Addicks Park and Ride east to Central Park West Boulevard, while the second phase extended it to North Eldridge Parkway. The project also included construction of two bridges over Langham Creek - property that is maintained by the federally-funded Corps of Engineers - as well as drainage improvements, street lighting and landscaping. "This was a very complicated project, which required many different businesses, organizations and governmental entities to work together to ultimately increase economic activity and quality of life," said David S. Wolff, chairman and president of Wolff Companies. "We are celebrating more than the completion of an important thoroughfare which has become one of the best business addresses in Houston. We are celebrating the collaborative spirit that built both this road and west Houston." The Energy Corridor is home to oil giants such as BP, ConocoPhillips and Shell Oil. It will also house a future MD Anderson Cancer Center facility. Wolff companies developed the first segment of Park Row in the 1970s. Stakeholders believe its final segment would be crucial not just for the corridor's workers, but everyone else as a parallel option to I-10. Dorros said the project experienced delays mainly due to its second phase, which ran through a waterway connected to the Addicks Reservoir. The Corps of Engineers had to study the effects of the road to the waterway before construction could begin. The area was also affected by catastrophic flooding about a year ago. Larry Johnson, president/CEO of Johnson Development Corp., said drainage should be a priority for the next several years. Several area leaders representing entities such as the Grand Parkway Association met recently to discuss continued investment into west Houston, where they said good schools, brand-name corporations and affordable homes make the area attractive. The road is part of a larger effort by the Energy Corridor to improve transportation to one of Houston's busiest places. The district has improved sidewalks and roads, and there are plans for busses to transport some of the energy employees, Dorros said. "It's a wonderful luxury and a long-term project for an area that continues to develop," she said. "We anticipate that growth will continue on Park Row, and this (road) is crucial for that." There needs to be some changes in the state of Texas, particularly when it comes to the Legislature. After more than 15 hours and going through about 400 amendments, the state House of Representatives passed a two-year, $218.2 billion budget. The final 131-16 vote came about 1:30 a.m. Friday. The budget uses about $2.5 billion from the Rainy Day Fund, which may be a point of contention with the Senate. According to Speaker of the House Joe Strauss, "The budget provides an additional $1.5 billion for public schools, $500 million to address a shortfall in the health care program for retired teachers, and an increase of more than $450 million to address crises in Child Protective Services and foster care. It also puts more resources toward mental health services and Texas Grant scholarships, and it protects voter-approved funding for transportation improvements." Now members of the House and Senate will get together and hammer out differences in the budget. The problem with the budget is that it is for two years. The Texas Legislature meets every two years and must come up with a spending plan to last until the next session. The problem is how tight the budget is and if Texas gets a windfall - like if the oil industry ramps up in the coming year and boost Texas' coffers - programs like education won't get a break and see a boost in sorely needed spending. It would make more sense if the Legislature met yearly. For instance, this year is the year the Legislature meets for its biennial 140-day session. Legislators pass bills - good and bad - and the big things like the budget. If the Legislature met next year and revisited the budget, it could make adjustments as needed. Cities, counties and school districts all across the state pass budgets on a yearly basis, oftentimes using figures based on the state budget. If it is okay for local entities to pass yearly budgets, is it not good enough for the state? Texas is too big of a state to only address its spending needs once every two years. Yes, I know the governor can call a special session at most any time. In fact, Gov. Greg Abbott can call as many special sessions as he wants, all for 30 days at a time. But the budget should not be a special session. Texas needs to look at its spending every year. One more thing: stop adding amendments to the budget. Amendments, or riders, should not be added to something as important as the budget. The budget should be a standalone thing and not something legislators use to sneak their legislation into law. It's bad enough legislators spend too much money on things we don't need and don't spend enough on things we do need. We really don't need them adding in laws that have nothing to do with spending all willy-nilly, too. All this will require some changes to the Texas Constitution, which happens all the time. Unlike the U.S. Constitution which limits what can be done by government on a national level, the Texas Constitution basically says what the Legislature can do. That means every time the Legislature wants to do something, the state constitution has to be amended. Thanks to this process, the Texas Constitution is one of the longest there is, having been amended more than 480 times. It is time to add in a new amendment that says the Legislature needs to address the budget on a yearly basis. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Harold Ringer remembers one of the last times he worked on the underside of the Rainbow Bridge, spanning the Neches River between Bridge City and Port Arthur. It was the summer of 1957. He was 24, standing on a catwalk near the top of one of the bridge's tallest legs, close to the arc-shaped structure that gave the bridge its name. As he approached the end of the catwalk, he slipped. Twelve feet below, he caught himself, grabbing a conduit pipe with one hand and dangling until he could pull himself back up. He remembers staring down at a giant concrete slab at the base of the bridge more than 150 feet below him. Ringer, now 83, worked the rest of the day on the job as usual, and the next day as well, removing rust spots and painting. After that, the fall caught up with him. Two days later, "I couldn't get off the pavement, it ruined my climbing," he said. He left the Texas Department of Transportation paint crew he had work on for several years, moving to departments that kept his feet on the ground. Ringer returned to the bridge last week, almost 60 years after he was pictured on the cover of Tx-DOT's September 1957 Texas Highways magazine with his co-worker Virgil Ingram, now 86. Both men were covered in paint. "Being back here, it brings back a lot of memories," Ringer said. "I wish Virgil was here." Ringer, who was raised in Orange, now lives outside of Kirbyville. He said he lost touch years ago with Ingram, who lived in Orange but recently moved to Missouri. "They usually had a paint crew they used every time," he said of the people he worked with on bridges around TxDOT's Beaumont district. "We got to be good friends." In the picture, Ingram, then 27, was sitting on the railing, his back to the river, while Ringer hung over the side, wrapping his arms around the steel. Spot-painting was a typical task for the two, who worked for the agency for more than 60 years, combined. "That was a summer deal, we worked for about three months up there. We went all over that bridge, in the holes, on the sides, there wasn't a place we didn't go," said Ingram, who worked on bridges for 10 years and retired from TxDOT after 40 years. The job wasn't quite as colorful as the picture made it seem, Ringer said. "You don't get that covered unless you're spray-painting," which they weren't that day, he said, so the photographer grabbed a brush and started flinging red and yellow paint at the men. It took hours to take the paint off that night, he recalled, saying he had to use plenty of Vaseline and Noxzema. They didn't consider themselves daredevils, though their jobs required crawling and climbing around a structure that stood 170 feet above the river. "I was young, I didn't have more sense," Ingram said. "It was just a job." "I never did think about the height," Ringer said, until the fall shook his confidence. "It was a good job," he said, despite the way he left it. "I enjoyed it." LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Sydney Key was afraid to put her son on a school bus Monday. Key, 34, was one of several parents to receive an alarming phone call from Beaumont ISD last Wednesday after a school bus returning from a field trip with 43 Charlton-Pollard Elementary School students aboard crashed into a culvert off U.S. 69 near West Walton Road in Lumberton. Nearly two dozen children were taken to local hospitals. Key's son, 9-year-old Peter Wright, was taken to Christus St. Elizabeth with back pain. He was released later that day and stayed home from school the rest of the week. "He's so upset about getting back on a bus. He's begging me not to have to ride it again," Key said. "Right now, I'm not comfortable putting him back on there either." Meanwhile, without insurance or full-time employment, Key is confronting the fear of looming hospital bills and future doctor visits. "My child's health is more important than my credit," Key said. "I just have to bite the bullet. It just seems unfair to have to pay for something that is not our fault." BISD spokesperson Nakisha Burns said Monday that the district recommends parents use their own insurance for immediate health care needs. She said the district planned to talk to parents asking for financial help with claims. "These bills are going to not just affect us today," Key said. "If I can't come up with the money, this will affect all of our futures." One student was airlifted to Hermann Memorial hospital in Houston with head trauma. Beaumont ISD said Monday that the student is still hospitalized. Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins said he interviewed two children involved in the wreck Wednesday, both of whom told him the bus driver looked as if "she may have been going to sleep" at the time of the accident. Read more in today's print edition of The Enterprise. Click here to have the eEdition delivered to your inbox daily. DThompson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/daveth89 BAD AXE Farmers who adopt solar energy practices could contribute to reduced energy costs in Michigan. More than 20 people gathered at the Farm Bureau Building last week to hear a presentation on solar energy by Al Go of Michigan State University's Michigan Farm Energy Program. Go presented an overview of the benefits of solar energy in agriculture. Most of Michigan's energy sources petroleum, natural gas, coal and uranium are imported. As a result, "when energy prices spike, the state of Michigan jumps," Go said. Michigan has the highest electrical prices in the Midwest, he added, at 14.1 cents per kilowatt-hour. Go said that wind and solar power installations are emerging faster than any other electric power source. Wind and solar energy are becoming cheaper than electricity generated by fossil fuels, Go said. "It helps Michigan not to be as dependent on fossil fuels," Go said. Although the state is not warm year round, he said, Michigan has the same solar index as many southern states, so it is worth harvesting solar energy here. Go presented case studies from solar installments on three farms in Michigan, and encouraged the audience to reach out to those farms for information and advice. What means the most, he said is the word of one farmer to another. The farms were: Black Star Farms of Suttons Bay, Pork Chop Hill Farm of Reading and King Orchards Fruit Co. of Kewadin. Commissioner David G. Peruski attended the presentation, and asked what kind of chemicals or compounds are associated with solar arrays. They have a silicon base, Go said. He said he has not heard any environmental complaints about disposing of solar panels. "The main complaint of solar is, they take up space," he said. Because of the space available on farms, it makes sense to power farms that way, rather than residences. There are also financing incentives for solar in the form of tax credits, utility rebates, accelerated depreciation, and grants from the United States Department of Agriculture. Financing is available from the Michigan Energy Office, Michigan Saves and GreenStone Farm Credit Services. Go encourages farmers to request a rate analysis from their utility or energy provider to check for residential versus commercial rates, sales tax exemption, and time or day or other use options. Farmers can check for discounts with their energy supplier and shop around, he said. A renewable energy assessment is required to get USDA and other funding, he added. These are reports that assess the technical, economic and implementation aspects of a renewable energy project. Go offered a "trade secret" for applying for USDA and other financing. "You get bonus points on your application if you buy Michigan-made or Michigan-assembled products," he said. FAIRFIELD French and music have long been central for high school junior Sarah Grinalds, who has played guitar for a decade and whose mother has always spoken French around the house. Both hold significance for her family her parents met in a college French class and went dancing on their first date. Weve always thought of that as how they met, Grinalds said of music and French. The Fairfield Ludlowe High School student is now combining both for a six-week class she is teaching at the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, titled Beginning French Set to Music. The course, running April 13 to May 18, is part of Grinalds independent study on language cognitive maintenance. In addition to teaching seniors each week, she will survey the attendees as they learn. She was inspired to teach at the senior center from past visits to see her grandmother at a local nursing home. Grinalds would bring her guitar and play jazz songs for her grandmother and other residents, who heard her playing and requested a song. They reacted so well to it, and people would come up to me afterward and talk about where they first heard the song or how much they liked listening to it when they were younger, she said. It had a profound effect on me, and I never forgot it. Grinalds, who has taken four years of French classes at school and improved from speaking at home and frequent family trips to France, plans to teach basics focused on conversational French greetings, goodbyes, subject pronouns, basic verbs, pleasantries, numbers, time, the alphabet and situational vocabulary, like restaurant ordering. More Information Sarah Grinalds' six-week Bigelow Center for Senior Activities course "Beginning French Set to Music" will be held Thursday evenings from 4:30-5:30 p.m. April 13 to May 18. Seniors can call 203-256-3166 to reserve a spot. See More Collapse I want it to be a really practical use of French because I think thats how you learn a language to begin with, she said, adding of the six classes, Its supposed to be really relaxed. Held Thursday evenings, seniors can come to any number of the free classes and will not need previously skills for any of the sessions, intended to be a relaxing approach to learning. For her musical twist on a classic introduction to foreign language, Grinalds will start each class with a French song. Her first class will open with La Vie en Rose, a 1940s French classic first crooned by Edith Piaf, which she chose for its familiar melody. Grinalds will have seniors sing along, go through an English version line by line and later fill in the blank with the proper word as they listen to the French recording. Associating French with a melody, she said, will help the knowledge stick. The musical hook aims to boost memory and cognition, while also offering a fun, relaxed learning environment. Theres this idea of singing the songs together. Theres a sense theyll be able to have a little bit of camaraderie, building relationships, Grinalds said. I think the music not only provides a positive atmosphere, but I think it gives the seniors a sense of confidence because music, its pretty easy to catch on to a melodyTheres this hope their confidence would be boosted because of it. Grinalds personal passion for language extends beyond French as well. Ludlowes Arabic Cultural Club president, the Fairfield native began learning the language on her own and from classmates. Now she learns Arabic from a local resettled refugee and former Syrian professor, who she met doing outreach with Syrian refugee families in Fairfield through the club. She struggles so much in this country, Grinalds said of the woman, who she said is laboring to learn English from scratch, but she is so remarkably American in that she refuses to give up. She is putting in all of this effort for the goal of making a better life for her children. It inspires you definitely in the way you live your life. Grinalds is also president of Ludlowes Students Against Exploitation Club and a swimmer. Training is a big part of her life, she said during a phone call in a break from competing at nationals. The freestyle swimmer narrowly missed the qualifying time for Olympic trails last year and has her sights set on a future Olympic run. lweiss@hearstmediact.com; @LauraEWeiss16 BAD AXE Members of the public will be able to air concerns about solar energy development in Huron County next month at a special meeting of the Huron County Planning Commission. Officials last week scheduled a public hearing on solar energy for May 10 in the Huron County Building. The Huron County Board of Commissioners had sent the planners a resolution recommending a moratorium on solar development for review. The planners decided to hold a public hearing on the issue. Comment on the year-long moratorium is due back to the county board by May 23. Cypress Creek Renewables of Arizona has been courting local landowners to sign leases allowing commercial solar farms, which reportedly can be worth $800 an acre which is more than can be made farming. In other business at last week's planning commission meeting: Planners unanimously recommended denial of a Public Act 116 partial termination application to the board of commissioners. The application was by International Transmission Company (ITC), which wants to build an electrical substation on part of 14.77 acres in section 34 of Sigel Township. The land is currently owned by Andrew and Phyllis Woycik, but ITC plans to purchase it. A public hearing was conducted to rezone an area adjacent to the Verona Tavern from agricultural to commercial, so that the tavern's parking area can expand. The planner unanimously voted to recommend approval to the board of commissioners. Planners also unanimously passed a proposed 6,702 square-foot expansion to Valley Enterprises on Leppek Road, Section 15 of Bingham Township. The expansion will allow an office and tool room on the south side of the existing building, and additional parking. Sarah Ravani / Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle Two shootings were reported less than two milesapart in San Francisco over the weekend, injuring three people, police said Monday. A 21-year-old man was walking to a friends house in the citys Portola neighborhood just before 11 p.m. Friday when a car with four people inside approached, according to the San Francisco Police Department. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Montgomery County Toll Road Authority will consider an agreement for a traffic and toll study for the Texas 249 toll road project Tuesday. MCTRA, which is made up Montgomery County commissioners, will meet at 9:30 a.m. during the Commissioners Court meeting on the fourth floor of the Alan B. Sadler Administration Building. According to information from the county, the authority will consider awarding a contract to Houston-based CDM Smith Inc. for the study. However, there is no cost associated with the item. Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said he was not aware of the agenda item until Monday and had no other details, including the cost of the study. Noack did question how the county is going to fund the Texas 249 project. It is a 3.6-mile stretch of what has become known as the "Aggie Expressway" because it will connect Houston to College Station via Texas 249. The Texas Department of Transportation is constructing other portions of the highway. However, years ago, Montgomery County agreed to fund its small stretch and planned on paying for it through tolls on that stretch from Spring Creek to FM 149 in Pinehurst. The cost has been estimated at anywhere from $80 million to $100 million for the Montgomery County portion. The MCTRA already took out a $10 million loan from the county for the engineering and right-of-way acquisition. "I have some concerns with this," Noack said. "The MCTRA continues to authorize expenditures for a road project that we have no idea how it is going to be funded." Noack said he will ask the County Attorney's Office to provide funding options for the Texas 249 tollway. "I also want the County Attorney's Office to provide options for this potential bonding project to be put before the voters," said Noack, adding other toll road authorities, such as Dallas and Harris counties, have put similar projects to voters for approval. "In a time where transparency in county government is questioned we need this to be vetted by the voters." While there is an option for residents to vote on the project, the deadline already passed to place it on the May ballot, leaving the November election as the only other date this year. However, if county commissioners elect to pay for it through revenue bonds, then voters may not have a say in the project. Noack has been a vocal opponent of the county constructing the stretch of Texas 249 in West Montgomery County for several reasons, including the funding of the project and County Judge Craig Doyal's relationship with Halff Associates Vice President Bobby Adams. The county originally awarded Halff Associates the general engineering consultant contract on the Texas 249 toll road project in January 2015. While Noack doesn't question Halff Associates' qualifications, he said due to Doyal's personal and business relationship with Bobby Adams, a vice president with Halff Associates, the county judge should recuse himself from the discussion and vote. Doyal and Adams are longtime friends who co-own Spring-based holdings company WS&G LLC. They started it in 2010 and are part-owners in another business venture. Doyal has been involved in every vote regarding Halff Associates' approximately a dozen contracts worth around $3 million since that time. In other county business: Budget packets County Auditor Phyllis Martin is seeking approval of the 2018 Budget Packet that includes a request for all department heads to cut their budgets by 5 percent. The request is prompted by the court recently adopting a 20 percent homestead exemption beginning in 2018. However, Martin noted the court is committed to public safety and providing additional funding to maintain and improve public safety but asked the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to identify opportunities to reduce the operation budget providing more resources to be dedicated to licensed peace officers. Strategic planning Sheriff Rand Henderson will present his strategic plan for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Runway cleaning The court will consider approving $209,151 for the cleaning and repainting of runways at the Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport. Airport Director Scott Smith has requested the funding from 2012 certificates of obligation. Texas is run by people who hold economic growth up as a kind of secular sacrament, whining against the regulations and fees that throttle businesses and cost jobs and whatnot. Its a reliable line of attack in the state Legislature, used for a range of issues, like tort reform, environmental regulation and who should use which bathroom. So why did lawmakers devise and refine a school finance system that relies on some of the economic impediments they regularly wail against? At the moment, top whining rights belong to property owners in the Austin Independent School District, which pays more in recapture payments than any district in Texas. Recapture is the term for the money the state collects from property-rich districts for distribution to property-poor districts. In Austins case, recapture throttles one of the states economically thriving cities with a special state tax that sucks more than $400 million out of the taxpayers who are trying to keep their education system up to the standard that will keep that economy thriving. For AISDs fiscal 2017, the amount is $406.1 million; the district projects it will pay $533 million to the state in fiscal 2018. Without that recapture, property tax rates in the states capital would drop 35 cents. If the state were doing this to an industry, legislative lips would quiver with rage. But the state is doing this to AISD or, more accurately, to the property owners and taxpayers in AISD. Austin is the biggest fish in this net, a liberal city being milked to avoid state spending by a parsimonious Legislature. Houston is joining the club this year. Dallas is close behind. The states school finance scheme has been tagged as Robin Hood a balancing mechanism that takes money from districts with more valuable property and gives it to districts that have less valuable property. The idea is to make sure each district has enough money to provide every kid in Texas with the same quality of education. Everything in the previous paragraph has been argued in the states courts for years, and one need not employ an oracle to find out whether those arguments will continue. They will; this is about money, after all. But Robin Hood is only part of the mechanism. Local districts put up some money for public education thats where the biggest chunk of your rising local property taxes goes. The federal government puts up a chunk. The state government puts up a chunk. Generally speaking, the Robin Hood money balances the local funding differences between districts. The more dependent the overall system becomes on local financing and local property taxes the more money the rich districts pay to the poor districts. Within reason, thats no different than any transfer of wealth. The residents of some states pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits; some of the states counties send less money to the state than they receive in services, and so on. Thats how this deal works. But in school finance, the subsidies get bigger when the states share of public education spending drops. And one effect of that when property taxes are a big a part of the mix as they are in Texas is that the state puts the arm on its boomtowns. Texas would still have Robin Hood if the state government spent more on education, but Robin Hood wouldnt be nearly the size it is now. Ten years ago, the state paid about 45 percent of the cost of public education the same share paid by local school districts. The federal government, as it still does, paid the remainder. But the states share has dropped to 38 percent, shifting more of the load to local school districts. And because those local school districts dont raise the same amounts of money even when their tax rates are equal, that increases the load on Robin Hood. Property owners in the property-rich districts pay more so that the property-poor districts can keep up a job made more difficult when the state cuts its share. State officials will tell you correctly that the state is spending more money on public education now than it did 10 years ago. Its just not spending as much per student. Somebody has to make up the difference. --- texastribune.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Houston man was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without parole after being convicted of capital murder in the 2015 shooting deaths of three people at a northside car dealership. James Tinsley IV listened without flinching as state District Judge Brad Hart announced the verdict after jurors deliberated more three hours in a trial that began a week earlier. Tinsley, 23, was arrested after three men were found dead at their family-owned Immaculate Auto Sales in the 200 block of Little York near Airline on Jan. 8, 2015. Two brothers, Jesse and Tony Contreras, were dead at the scene with shots to the head. Casey Contreras, Tony Contreras' 22-year-old son, was also shot in the head and died the next day. A mechanic discovered the victims in a pool of blood in the office. Defense attorney Casey Keirnan said Tinsley was shocked by the decision. "He's maintained his innocence since the very beginning," Keirnan said. "He's in the holdover cell weeping. He's crying. He's stunned." Keirnan had argued that Metro records show Tinsley was on a bus, albeit in the area, when the gunman was caught on video. Prosecutors have said they believe Tinsley was so upset that a car he had bought at the dealership had been repossessed that he killed the men and tried to set the dealership on fire. brian.rogers@chron.com twitter.com/brianjrogers This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Micah Rajan appeared normal in the first year of his life. He loved to toss a ball around with his father and giggle. He began to utter Dadda and other words. Then, suddenly, his speech stopped. He started isolating himself, and he lost all interest in his favorite games. His parents, Tom and Esra, were unnerved. When he was 2, they were told Micah had autism. He began attending a special education program through Fort Bend ISD until last year. Now, he is enrolled at the Texana Center, a popular autism treatment facility in Rosenberg and Sugar Land. At Texana, his life has changed. Hes responding to commands and speaking again unthinkable actions months ago. Its incredible, his mom said. Applied behavior analysis, the scientific-based, step-by-step treatment thats aiding Micah, now 5, and those like him, is a decades-old practice. Its recognized by researchers and the autism community as a highly successful treatment for children in the autism spectrum. Several states such as Oklahoma and Alabama already require licenses for specialists who use behavior analysis. That trend has grown in recent years as the practice has become more widely understood. Behavior analysts also practice in public schools, though in Texas, they have Texas Education Agency mandates to follow. ABA stakeholders and supporters in the state now are attempting to regulate the practice with two bills in the Legislature that would require behavior analysts to be licensed. Supporters say it is crucial not only to protect vulnerable people from untrained analysts, but also because it could affect medical insurance coverage. Senate Bill 589, by Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, is scheduled for a Senate committee hearing today. It faces an uncertain reception, though no public opposition has surfaced. Right now, theres just no way for the state to regulate the profession, said Dorothea Lerman, director of the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Houston Clear Lake and president of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis. (The bill) is to protect the consumer, and the other reason is to protect our profession as well. The TxABA Public Policy Group has raised about $20,000 to pay lobbyist Courney Hoffman to represent them at the Legislature, said Kate Johnson-Patagoc, director of specialized services at the Texana. Nationally, one in every 68 children are autistic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Applied behavior analysts identify specific issues an autistic child struggles with and formulate small steps to conquer them while rewarding a child for each step completed. They spend one-on-one time with a student for as many as 40 hours per week and track their progress through a detailed database. Behavior analysts also work with individuals suffering other mental disabilities. Its a costly treatment thats been the subject of numerous scientific journals and research. For Micah, conquering his speech impairment was priority one. After being mute not so long ago, his analyst, Holly Bihler, practiced words with him on a recent morning using flashcards with pictures. She held up one of a bee. Whats this? she asked. Be, be... Bee, he finished. Yes! Bzzz, Bihler responded while tickling him one of his positive reinforcements. A large whiteboard hung over them with Micah spelled on it, followed by information on his behaviors and treatment procedures. The Texana Centers facilities serve a combined 150 autistic children up to age 21 with comprehensive treatment, a 33-hour per week program of one-on-one ABA therapy that costs $70,000 per year, though parents pay anywhere from zero to roughly $15,000 based on income, grants and medical coverage, said Johnson-Patagoc. The center has a waiting list of about 200.. It also provides twice-a-week treatment to another 300 children, and they have various mental health programs at behavior health centers across west Houston, as well as in-home care. Most children are enrolled at Texana for about two years. Their final step is a transitional classroom where they are mixed with non-autistic kids to prepare them for public school. The center is among a list of about 40 statewide applied behavior analysis facilities to back SB 589 and another measure, House Bill 26, both which would require behavior analysts to acquire licenses to practice. About 1,300 behavior analysts in Texas are certified through the national Behavior Analysts Certification Board that requires graduation from a credible ABA program at a university. But Texas has no legal requirement to hold non-board certified analysts accountable. Licensure could also push insurance companies that dont currently cover ABA treatment to change their policies, according to supporters. These are some pretty powerful techniques were using. But when done incorrectly, they can do more harm than good, said Bihler, who is board certified, arguing on behalf of state regulation. Sometimes people who take a two-hour workshop in ABA are calling themselves a behavior analyst. And these parents thought they were working with a professional, but they really werent. Two years ago, a licensure bill passed the full House before getting stuck in the Senate. This time around, Lucios SB 589 is the priority for backers since there has already been proven support in the House, according to Lerman. Currently, the state spends about $7 million annually on autism programs. ABA licensure supporters are remaining cautiously optimistic this time around, said Johnson-Patagoc, who is planning to testify in Austin Tuesday in favor of the bill. Its been a movement across the country, she said.I feel that the next step in our profession is to do this. We need to make sure children have quality intervention. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Google Maps Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google Maps Show More Show Less 3 of 3 SAN ANTONIO -- A woman was killed and an 18-month-old boy was sent to the hospital after her vehicle rolled over off a Northeast Side highway. The woman was in a 2003 gray Nissan Sentra was heading north at about 3 p.m. in the 7100 block of Northeast Loop 410, according to preliminary information from San Antonio police. A husband and wife accused of operating an Austin prostitution ring are facing felony charges following an investigation that began when police discovered a waste pipe connected to the business was clogged with "hundreds of condoms," according to records. Juan Wang and her husband, Joseph Emery, the owners of Jade Massage Therapy LLC, each face a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity. Neither suspect was listed as an inmate at the Travis County Jail on Tuesday afternoon. The investigation into the massage parlor began Feb. 7, when the property manager for the Jade Massage location in the 11400 block of North Ranch Road called police to express her suspicion that prostitution was happening at the business. RELATED: SAPD: Armed assailant robbed man of pickup truck at North Side car wash Google Maps She "became aware of a problem when an industrial waste disposal unit connecting the property to city sewer services became clogged and destroyed by hundreds of condoms," affidavits for Wang and Emery state. The property manager's tip was the second complaint of possible prostitution at Jade Massage that police had received in three months. After the discovery of the destroyed pipes, police searched Backpage.com, which often solicits prostitution services, for advertisements for the business. They found several. Advertisements for Jade Massage were posted on Backpage.com as often as two to three times per day, the affidavits state. RELATED: Pot found in truck that hit church bus near Leakey, DPS says In the following weeks, police staked out Jade Massage's second location in the 9100 block of Anderson Mill Road. Officers pulled over a couple of suspected john's who had gone into the massage parlor, who allegedly both admitted that they had paid for sexual services during their time inside. On March 22, members of the Austin Police Department Human Trafficking Unit and members of the Criminal Conspiracy Unit executed search warrants at the Alameda Trace Circle location. Inside, Wang was found inside a room with a nude man, and another woman was found inside a different room with another nude male, the affidavit states. Police simultaneously executed a search warrant at Wang and Emery's home and discovered over $65,000 in a safe. RELATED: Boarded-up East Side home goes up in flames, arson investigators on scene Further investigation into the couple revealed Wang had been stopped Feb. 5 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport by a TSA agent who found $30,000 in "duct taped bundles" of cash in her possession. She claimed the money was earned from her massage business and that she was taking it with her to China to pay for a medical procedure. She was allowed to pass through with the money, but only after the agent called Emery to verify her story. Both Wang and Emery would later tell police that they didn't know the names of their employees, who were all located and recruited by a "friend." Ledgers for Jade Massage showed no payments to the women, but they did show that Jade Massage's customers, almost all of whom were men, regularly tipped between $40 and $120 on top of a $60 charge. cdowns@mysa.com Twitter: @calebjdowns The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Sunday, April 9 12:59 a.m. Police were sent to a report of a loud party in the 4900 block of Russell Street. 3:49 a.m. Deputies were sent to a report of loud music at a Greendale Township home. 12:03 p.m. Property in the 4000 block of Whiting Drive was damaged. 12:31 p.m. Gasoline, valued at $20, was stolen from a Greendale Township gas station. 7:17 p.m. A deputy was called to Lee Township by a resident who believed someone was poaching animals using a BB gun. No criminal activity was found. 8:16 p.m. A Saginaw man, 42, was arrested in Greendale Township for driving while his license was suspended. 9:26 p.m. A motorist was arrested at Poseyville Road and East Main Street for drunken driving. 10:58 p.m. Property was stolen from a vehicle parked in the 700 block of Village East Drive. 11:06 p.m. A Breckenridge man, 41, was arrested in Lee Township for drunken driving. The mans motorcycle crash into a ditch. 11:37 p.m. Deputies were sent to Hope Township for a single vehicle crash, and found the driver was an intoxicated juvenile. No one was hurt. A report is being sent to the prosecutor and probate court. Saturday, April 8 3:36 a.m. A deputy responded to a be-on-the-lookout report for a vehicle being driven recklessly by a possibly intoxicated driver in Greendale Township. The vehicle was stopped and was found to be having mechanical difficulty. The driver was sober. 3:40 a.m. A deputy assisted Midland Police with a disorderly person in the city. 10:57 a.m. A deputy was sent to apartments in the Village of Sanford for a report of possible drug activity. No violations were found. 11:01 a.m. A deputy was sent to Lee Township for a report of two children playing on and near a road with no adults around. A report was filed with Child Protective Services. 3:32 p.m. Deputies were sent to domestic assault involving a mother and daughter, ages 52 and 30, at a Lee Township home. A report is being sent to the prosecutor. 7:34 p.m. A deputy investigated a hit and run crash that occurred in Lee Township. A report is being sent to the prosecutors office for review. Friday, April 7 2:01 p.m. A Homer Township man, 59, reported receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Department of Health and Human Services. No personal information was given out. 4:09 p.m. Police investigated a retail fraud case in the 900 block of Joe Mann Boulevard. 7:40 p.m. A Greendale Township woman, 36, reported someone used her personal information to make a total of $2,000 worth of purchases in Lansing. 8:01 p.m. A vehicle sustained $100 damage while it was parked in Greendale Township. 8:48 p.m. Deputies were sent to a Greendale Township location for a report of an assault that occurred at a gas station. The victim, a 57-year-old man, refused to cooperate and did not want a formal report. He also refused treatment for his injuries. 10:02 p.m. A Homer Township resident reported purchasing a bedroom set and finding a firearm in a drawer. The firearm had been forgotten by the seller. The firearm was returned to the registered owner. A residence in the 1200 block of Joliet was burglarized between 3 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Taken were Pioneer-brand audio equipment valued at $59 and a bottle of vodka worth $15. --A Plainview woman suffered bodily injuries as the result of domestic violence about 9:45 p.m. Saturday in the 1500 block of Fresno. --A trailer hitch valued at $75 was stolen off of a 2013 Ford F150 pickup in the 2600 block of West 20th about 11:45 a.m. Friday. --A juvenile was handled about 11:45 a.m. Friday for possession marijuana under 2 oz. The incident occurred in the 2200 block of West 20th Street. --A 28-year-old Plainview woman was held in Hale County Jail Monday on $2,000 bond for driving intoxicated. She was arrested about 2:15 a.m. Sunday in the 2600 block of West 10th Street. --A 41-year-old Lockney man was held in Hale County jail Monday on $1,500 bond for driving while license invalid with no insurance. He was arrested about 4:20 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of East Fifth. --A 34-year-old Plainview man was held in Hale County jail Saturday on $1,500 bond for driving while license invalid with previous convictions and without financial responsibility. He was arrested about 1 p.m. Friday in the 1700 block of West 13th Street. --A 55-year-old Monrovia, Calif., man was held in Hale County jail Saturday on $1,500 bond on the charge of assemble/operate amusement ride while intoxicated. He was arrested about 7:30 p.m. Friday at 20th and Yonkers. --The windshield of a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse was broken while the vehicle was parked in the 300 block of Southwest Alpine between 3:30-5:30 p.m. Friday. Damage was estimated at $500. --Two individuals were arrested about 9:15 p.m. Saturday in the 600 block of North Columbia for outstanding warrants. A 38-year-old Plainview man was held in Hale County jail Sunday on $1,500 bond for theft of property over $100 but less than $750. A 56-year-old woman was held in Hale County jail Sunday for Class C misdemeanor theft. Bond had not been set. --A 33-year-old Plainview man was held in Hale County jail Saturday on $200 bond for Class C misdemeanor theft. He was arrested about 12:10 p.m. Friday in the 4000 block of Olton Road in connection with the theft of a six-pack of Budweiser. The beer, valued at $9, was recovered. --A 38-year-old San Antonio man was held in Hale County jail Saturday on an outstanding Justice of the Peace warrant for theft under $2,500 with two or more previous convictions. Bond had not been set. --A residence in the 200 block of Ash Street was burglarized between 1-6 p.m. Saturday. A 42-inch Sanyo-brand flat screen TV valued at $500 was taken. A window and an entry door and frame were damaged, with damage set at $700. (Anyone with information on crime in Plainview and Hale County may contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 293-8477 or 293-TIPS.) Yellow journalism is a type of journalism from the late 1800s that was based on an appeal to sensationalism and crude exaggeration of the facts in a story. Even though its use has diminished from news reporting over the years, that is exactly what the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board employed in its April 2 editorial The concerns of East Side belong to all. Its description of the East Side of the city, the predominantly African-American community, is egregiously unfair and an insult to the thousands of decent, law-abiding, family-oriented men and women living in the community. In a poor example of research, the paper concluded that the East Side is a war zone, hopeless, unsafe and broken. Using any form of analysis, their conclusion would be considered flawed. I can easily identify four or more who would disagree with perceptions of those interviewed in the story on which the editorial was based. D.L Grant, branch manager of the Carver Public Library and a lifetime resident of the East Side, would disagree with that analysis. I am certain that Shirley Coleman and her husband, John, both prominent residents, would also disagree. No doubt Nettie Hinton, a strong advocate for special projects on that side of town, would find fault also. Influential activists such as Taj Matthews, Charles Williams and William Johnson would take issue with the anti-violence outreach worker who claims there is no hope for that side of town. Anji Hall Johnson, the librarian at S.J. Davis Middle School who provides students with quality learning, reaching out to them with books carrying positive messages about their community, would disagree with the Editorial Boards assertion that students in her school receive a poor education. An additional example of this flawed editorial is apparent: If you live on the East Side, you can walk around the wrong corner at the wrong time and get shot. Isnt that true for all sections of the city? There were 151 homicides citywide last year, and 42 occurred on the East Side. A total of 109, an overwhelming majority, were outside the boundaries of the East Side. Thus, you can make the same statement about the other areas in the city. While many of our leaders, community activists and teachers are desperately working to convince our young people there is value in their lives and within their community, the Express-News delivers this devastating analysis that, if read by the young, could negate the good work being done by others. The writer fed into a negative perception of inner-city communities. Residents are not going around shooting at each other on every other corner. I spend many hours at the Carver Library working on various cultural programs with Mr. Grant, and when I am there, the facility is filled with men and women of all ages working on computers or reading magazines, newspapers and books. The childrens section is always busy, with parents reading to their young. After the 1967 riots in cities across the country, the Kerner Commission Report on the causes admonished newspapers to stop writing only about the negative aspects of African-American communities. Evidently the writers for the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board need to revisit that report 50 years later. Frederick Williams is a San Antonio resident and a retired adjunct professor of American government at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Alamo Community Colleges. Retired Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz would tell his students the oft-repeated secret to good lawyering. When the law is on your side, Dershowitz would say, pound the law into the table. When the facts are on your side, pound the facts into the table. And when neither the law nor the facts are on your side, just pound the table. In attacking so-called sanctuary cities, conservatives dont have either the facts or the law on their side. So they pound the table. They oversimplify, contradict themselves and talk in circles. Do they support states rights? It depends. California lawmakers are advancing a sanctuary state bill that would keep state and local police out of the immigration enforcement business. SB 54 which cleared the state Senate recently prohibits police from asking people about immigration status, allowing federal immigration agents to interview someone in custody, or assisting those agents in the enforcement of immigration law. Conservatives are furious. They say California has gone rogue and that it has to be reined in. Yet just a few years ago, in defending Arizonas racist immigration law, they argued in favor of states rights and commended localities for challenging the federal government. How about the independence of local police departments? Do conservatives support that? It depends. Recently, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered a review of consent decrees between the Justice Department and local police departments accused of abuse. Championing the autonomy of local authorities, Sessions wrote in a staff memo: Local control and local accountability are necessary for effective local policing. It is not the responsibility of the federal government to manage nonfederal law enforcement agencies. Except, it seems, when those local law enforcement agencies refuse to cooperate with federal immigration agents. At that point, it is the responsibility of the federal government not just to manage the localities but to crush them. The very idea of sanctuary cities has turned conservatives into a hot mess. So theyve created an alternate reality. Imagine a scenario where illegal immigrants flood unchecked across the U.S.-Mexico border and prey on Americans at will robbing, raping, assaulting and killing. Then they flee to these sanctuaries where they live out the rest of their days without fear of federal authorities. And, on the rare occasion that one of these predators winds up in the county jail, theyre coddled by local law enforcement officials. When Immigration and Customs Enforcement asks that local authorities hold them there so they can be questioned about their immigration status, that request is ignored and the scofflaw is released into society. Indeed, you have to imagine it. Because its not real. No matter what conservatives say, this is not whats happening all across America. If youre an illegal immigrant, there are no magical places where federal immigration statutes are null and void. Local police are not legally required to be errand boys for federal authorities. They may cooperate if they like, out of professional courtesy. When I tell this to conservatives, they change the subject and accuse local police, mayors, city councils and county boards of supervisors of actually aiding and abetting the undocumented by shielding them from federal immigration agents. But thats not true either. The local authorities say they just want to see a warrant with the individuals name on it before they hand him over; of course, that means convincing a judge that the person is in the country illegally, and that takes evidence which the feds usually dont have. Besides, if the federal government is truly interested in cracking down on those who aid and abet the undocumented, why not go after the people who give them money? Theyre called employers. And theyre likely to put up some resistance. ruben@rubennavarrette.com No one questions the seriousness of North Korea as a danger to regional and global security. President Barack Obama even warned the incoming president that his top security issue was North Korea. The challenge is how to diplomatically respond to a growing nuclear threat. President Donald Trump recently stated that he was ready to solve the North Korea problem unilaterally if necessary. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson then confirmed that a pre-emptive strike was an option if provoked by North Korea. This would be a colossal mistake. After the 2002 speech by then-President George W. Bush, in which he identified North Korea as one of the axis of evil countries, I traveled to South Korea to interview academics and government officials about their personal views on how to effectively relate to North Korea, and to ask whether reunification was a realistic goal. My visit also followed the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Every person I interviewed agreed that North Korea would logically conclude that serious nuclear defense capability is necessary to prevent the U.S. and allies from attempting regime change in North Korea. Today, its been confirmed that North Korea has second-strike capabilities through the use of mobile, land-based nuclear missiles. These cannot reach the U.S., but they can destroy cities in South Korea and Japan. A nuclear attack on Seoul or Tokyo would immediately trigger a global economic crisis. Japan has the third-largest economy in the world and the second largest in developed countries. South Korea has the third-largest economy in Asia and the 11th largest in the world. A pre-emptive strike by the U.S. could lead to a nuclear response that would create the worst global economic crisis in history. A pre-emptive strike could also lead to an environmental and humanitarian refugee crisis surpassing any in human history. South Korean scholars I interviewed were adamant that the U.S. should never contemplate military action against North Korea without South Koreas support. If the U.S. goal was regime change, the U.S. and South Korean military would send troops to take control of North Korean nuclear sites. Today, with Pyongyangs second-strike capability, China would likely send its military into North Korea in such a scenario. China is not pleased with North Korea nuclear testing, but having a nuclear buffer to deter South Korea is quietly welcomed. China also would not sit idly by and allow the U.S. and South Korea to put a temporary government in power that would be pro-Seoul. China likely would send military to Pyongyang to see that a pro-Chinese government remained in power. Attempting regime change would bring the U.S. and South Korean military face-to-face with North Korean and Chinese military. At a recent conference on North Korea held at St. Marys University, several speakers stated the chaos that would result from an attempted regime change would lead to the greatest humanitarian crisis the world has ever seen. They said that both South Korea and China would put military on their borders to prevent massive numbers of North Koreans from crossing into their territory. The U.S. wants immediate solutions, while South Koreans want to move slowly and deliberately. I have spoken with scholars who had been to Germany to research reunification. They said the merger of West and East Germany was the joining of first- and second-world economies. South Korea and North Korea would be joining a first- and fourth-world economy. Thus, the need to proceed cautiously. Scholars say reunification would be possible in three to four generations, if nuclear proliferation is managed. Internal change is occurring within North Korea, albeit at a snails pace. There are currently 1,200 North Koreans studying business abroad at Asian universities. Sanctions could be strengthened. Presently, only 76 of 193 U.N. member states report implementation of sanctions against North Korea, according to the Associated Press. Enforcement by international banks is weak. Greater cooperation is needed in breaking up North Korean crime syndicates that are quite sophisticated, especially in counterfeiting U.S. currency, controlling gambling enterprises in Japan, and trafficking humans and drugs. A sound threat-reduction strategy would be to implement stronger global sanctions and assure the Pyongyang government there will be no foreign attempt at regime change. This would be far more diplomatic than tweeting military threats against a regime willing to commit national suicide and cause global chaos. Larry Hufford, Ph.D., is a professor of political science and the graduate program director of international relations at St. Marys University. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has warned cities anew that they risk loss of federal funding if they do not fall into line on enforcing immigration law essentially, if they dont become de facto immigration agents. And the problem is that this coerced help to the administration will make communities less safe and make already vulnerable immigrant communities more so. The presidents executive order goes beyond preventing sanctuary jurisdictions; it blatantly mandates snarling, hostile cities and counties when it comes to immigrants. And, as with so much of what the administration proposes these days, there is a question of constitutionality. Cities and counties including San Antonio and Bexar County should stand united in resisting the presidents executive order on sanctuary cities in court. In January, the president signed an executive order that sought to address the issue of sanctuary jurisdictions cities, counties and states that allegedly aid and abet undocumented immigration. Such entities, the order says, that fail to comply with applicable federal law do not receive federal funds, except as mandated by law. The federal law the executive order refers to is 8 U.S.C. 1373. It says that states, cities and counties may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual. In short, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus cannot, without risking federal funding, tell his officers not to inquire about immigration status when conducing police business. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar cannot do the same with his patrol deputies. The county already complies within reason with detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for those in jail suspected of being undocumented. The questions about constitutionality arise from the administrations threat to force compliance by mere order or by withholding federal funds. The Supreme Court has already said that the federal government cannot order local officials to enforce federal laws. That came in Pritnz vs. United States in 1997. The federal government had required local law enforcement to do background checks on possible gun owners until the federal government came up with a system. The high court said no. The latest precedent against the federal government coercing state governments by threatening to withhold funding came in the 2012 Obamacare case National Federation of Independent Business vs. Sebelius. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Obama administration could not force Medicaid expansion by threatening to withhold those funds. States also challenged the order, and the high court sided with the states 7-2. And then there is the constitutional question of detainers, in which local jails are asked to hold at their expense those who are suspected of being undocumented immigrants because their names matched ones in the federal database. ICE reportedly asks they be held for 48 hours. But what if the arrest charges have been dropped or bail has been met? Local authorities arent allowed to do this without a court warrant or probable cause to believe they have committed a crime undocumented immigration is typically a civil matter. An ICE detainer request is an administrative device, not a court warrant. But aside from these constitutional problems, the presidents executive order is flawed in other intrinsic ways. Immigrants will be less likely to report crimes, to come forward as witnesses, and to cooperate with police and prosecutors if they believe these local authorities will turn them in to immigration officials. That means no cooperation on the street or in courtrooms, and if the impediments on officers to inquire on immigration status are removed, there is also the potential for more racial profiling. The Texas Legislature is also considering a sanctuary city measure. While this does not necessarily suffer from the same constitutional flaws, it has the same effect. Cities and counties become less safe, and immigrants who the data show commit fewer crimes than the native-born are more at risk. At both the state and federal level, cities and counties must resist. Budget shortfalls demand tough calls, and the Texas House of Representatives made one when it deleted the Texas Enterprise Fund designed to lure new businesses with incentives. That fund has overpromised and under-delivered for years. There are plenty of other places in state government where its $43 million could be spent over the next two years. In good times, the Legislature could tolerate something like the Enterprise Fund. Its goal was to attract new employers to Texas with tax breaks and other financial incentives to help startups get established. On paper, it sounded OK. But the incentives often went to large corporations that were going to locate in Texas anyway. Incredibly, some even said that. Under previous Gov. Rick Perry, the incentives often went to businesses owned by his major contributors. What a coincidence. Ron Sachs/TNS Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., will hold an hour-long town hall meeting at 11 a.m. Monday at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 2850 19th Ave. in San Francisco. It is the first town hall hosted by Californias senior senator since President Trump took office. People who want to attend must obtain a free ticket in advance by going to the Eventbrite page at https://t.co/ghLeBbfJEd. One ticket is allowed per person. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate VIA Metropolitan Transit has purchased a vacant industrial complex in a rundown part of the near West Side as part of its plan to turn its VIA Villa into a mixed-use development centered around its headquarters. The transit agency bought the 270,000-square-foot Scobey complex earlier this month from two partnerships managed by local developer Ed Cross, property records show. The historic six-building complex, at 301 N. Medina St., is a few doors down from VIAs headquarters and its Centro Plaza transit hub that opened in 2015. The agency is calling the area VIA Villa. The purchase price was $5.2 million, VIA spokesman Stephen Andy Scheidt said. He wouldnt provide more details about the agencys plans for the complex. RELATED: Details in Alamo plan show museum with rooftop garden, canals, closed streets Cross, who is CEO of local real estate firm San Antonio Commercial Advisors, has failed in numerous attempts to redevelop the Scobey since he bought it in 1999. He was under contract to sell it last year to another developer who planned to turn it into a mixed-use complex, but the deal fell through. Its a difficult building to take on, said Leonard Rodriguez, CEO and president of the nonprofit Westside Development Corp. Even if you take it on, you have to be very comfortable with the environment that the Scobey is surrounded by. The surrounding neighborhood, Cattleman Square, is a mixture of vacant lots, abandoned industrial sites and government buildings such as the hulking Bexar County Adult Detention Center. It hasnt experienced much residential growth its one of the few near-downtown neighborhoods without a registered neighborhood association. But some new development has come to the near West Side over the last few years, including the Peanut Factory Lofts. In addition, UTSAs downtown campus is just a few blocks south of the Scobey. The areas been so distressed, its really more of an economic detractor than attractor, Rodriguez said. VIAs plans are what its going to take to turn that area around, making it feel like its more associated with the downtown core. VIA might be able to benefit from a Federal Transit Administration program to create mixed-use developments around transit stations. Last year, San Antonio was selected to receive assistance from the program, and local officials plan to use it to revitalize the area around Centro Plaza. RELATED: Construction projects that will transform downtown San Antonio Downtown developer David Adelman is listed as the treasurer of one of the partnerships that sold the Scobey to VIA, corporate filings show. Cross and Adelman didnt respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The Scobey dates to about 1940, according to county property records, but one of the buildings has a cornerstone indicating it was built in 1913. It was the hub of a transportation and logistics company until the early 70s, according to the Express-News archives. When SAWS decided to move its headquarters in the early 2000s, Cross proposed the Scobey as a potential site, but SAWS instead bought the former headquarters of Valero Corp. near Brackenridge Park. Cross later proposed the site as a new headquarters for the San Antonio Police Department, but the department instead chose a nearby site on Santa Rosa Avenue. rwebner@express-news.net @rwebner This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate How much do you have to make to live comfortably in San Francisco? A hundred thousand? A hundred fifty? A little over a month ago, an anonymous Twitter engineer in the city told the Guardian that he was barely getting by on a $160,000 annual salary. Granted, he said he had a family to provide for, but $160K a year is not enough?! Have you talked to any San Francisco school teachers lately, fella? A new study by the finance site GOBankingRates finds that of the 50 most populous cities in the country, San Francisco requires the most income to reach a comfort level determined by the 50-30-20 budgeting rule. Under the rule, 50 percent of income covers necessities, 30 percent covers discretionary items and 20 percent is for savings. If your income is sufficient to cover your cost-of-living expenses, you can live comfortably. The study found that you would need to earn $110,357 to achieve that goal in San Francisco more than New York, Honolulu or Washington, D.C. In fact, the three largest cities in the Bay Area ranked in the top four: San Jose was second ($87,153); New York third ($86,446) and Oakland fourth ($80,438). Another study, by Attom Data Solutions in January, calculated that renters in the Marin County/San Francisco metro area will spend more than 77 percent of their salary, on average, to pay rent in 2017. The national average is 38.7 percent. If you're hoping to live in the Bay Area while paying off your student loan or saving for a down payment on a house or even simply socking away funds for retirement, good luck if you don't have a low six-figure salary. Even that may not be enough. There was one speck of good news for San Franciscans in the GOBankingRates study. The required income for city dwellers actually declined $9,213 from the preceding year. Still, if a lower cost of living in a big city appeals to you, you might want to consider moving to Detroit ($42,161 needed to live comfortably), San Antonio ($46,154) or Las Vegas ($48,111). In California, the most affordable metropolis is Fresno ($44,648). GOBankingRates ranked each of the 50 most populous cities by its comfortability index (how much income is needed to live comfortably) vs. its median household income. The above gallery shows the 10 best and the 10 worst. SALT LAKE CITY and DALLAS Now through May 3, Stripes Convenience Stores and APlus Stores will be asking customers to Put Their Money Where the Miracles Are and purchase a $1 Miracle Balloon to raise funds for Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals). Stripes and APlus, operated by Sunoco LP, have partnered with CMN Hospitals since 2000, raising more than $11 million for sick and injured kids. In 2016, Sunocos team members raised more than $1.8 million during their spring campaign. Sunoco LP is committed to serving the needs of the communities in which we live and work, said Eduardo Pereda, vice president of convenience brands for Sunoco LP. Over the past 16 years, our guests have inspired us through their generous spirit by showing incredible support for our local childrens hospitals. That generous spirit has energized all of us at Sunoco LP to continue the partnership in 2017 in the hopes of helping even more children in our communities. Funds raised through the in-store campaigns are unrestricted, meaning the hospitals can use the funds where they are needed most. Donations raised during the campaign have a direct impact on the millions of kids treated at local CMN Hospitals. These funds help kids like Morgan, a leukemia patient treated at Hendrick Childrens Hospital in Texas. Donations helped purchase infusion kits that helped Morgan get better. Stripes and APlus Stores are a huge part of helping kids in the communities these stores serve get better, said John Lauck, president and CEO of Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. I cant thank stores customers and employees enough for all they do for the kids. Funds raised from the CMNH partnership with Sunoco will stay in the local communities. These donations help make miracles happen by funding vital medical care, equipment and therapy programs that save and improve the lives of more than 10 million sick and injured children a year. By Lambert Strether of Corrente Readers, this is another travel day for me, and so Im posting a bit early, hence no statistics, although plenty of other business news. But theres plenty happening, and if these topics dont do it for you, talk amongst yourselves! lambert Trade Is globalisation dead? [Ann Pettifor, Prime]. [C]ontrary to Hayeks expectations, financial globalisation has proved that it is market fundamentalism, and not the regulatory state that is leading the world into an era of authoritarianism and totalitarianism in the US, Eastern Europe, India and China. In the UK, average real wages are today lower than in 2008, no higher than they were in 2005, and in general we have to look back to Victorian times for such a stark period of stagnation. In the US, the position has been even more severe for huge numbers of working people. Median annual earnings in the Bretton Woods period rose steadily until just after 1970. Then throughout the age of globalisation or financial deregulation, American male real wages have stagnated. This, I contend, explains the rise of Donald Trump. It is an explanation, not a defence of his authoritarianism or of his administrations irrational protectionism. Politics Syraqistan G-a-a-a-a-a-a-h: .@SenSanders: "Yes, we have to get rid of AssadBut we cannot do it unilaterally." #MTP pic.twitter.com/Vg5EZQNwSt Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 9, 2017 Sanders has never been good on foreign policy, and I dont think this is good (although, to be fair, the war fever in the Beltway is just as crazypants as it was before Iraq; I mean, Democrats rehabilitated George W. Bush! So I can see Sanders getting caught up in the madness, and wishing to appear responsible). That said, this is a self-own by Sanders for two reasons: (1) It muddies the clarity of his message on voting against the Iraq War. Now hes lying down with the Clintonite/neocon dogs of war, and hes sure to get up with fleas. (2) There are Trump voters who are rightly very angry at Trump for flip-flopping on Syria, and Im guessing some of them would be reachable with a hitherto by Sanders. Now hes written them off. Sanders may think hes being clever, since multilateral solutions are as far to the left as the Overton Window allows, and a multilateral solution isnt visible anywhere, leaving Sanders free to be against whatever unilateral solution The Blob comes up with. But thats 11-dimensional chess, and I dont think we want or need that right now; Sanders should stick to one-dimensional chess a solid and consistent message on policy, endlessly repeated most especially because its worked for him. And I would argue that foreign policy realism ought to be part of his message. The American people can take it. 2016 Post Mortem Forthcoming research by Alexander Hertel-Fernandez of Columbia University suggests that limits on collective bargaining, which are mainly aimed at public-sector unions, made government workers in Indiana and Wisconsin less likely to take part in political campaigns, or to vote. In a study of 111 border counties in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, he also calculates that the right-to-work laws they introduced between 2012 and 2016 could account for two percentage points of Mrs Clintons underperformance in those states compared with Barack Obama in 2012. Given that Mr Trumps victory in the electoral college was based on a combined total of 70,000 votes across Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, that could have cost her the presidency [The Economist]. Even if Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had won last years Democratic presidential primary, he wouldnt have defeated Donald Trump in the general election, says former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley (D) [HuffPo]. I dont believe so, OMalley speculated Friday on DC/BS, a political podcast hosted by Jon Allen and Peter Ogburn. OMalley 2020 The choice of a new generation! Realignment and Legitimacy The coming constitutional convention train-wreck [Alice Marshall, Medium]. Both the Koch Brothers and TYTs Wolf PAC are pushing for a Constitutional convention, the latter with the goal of getting money out of politics: The idea that you could open a Pandoras box like a constitutional convention and confine it to getting money out of politics is delusional. When Louis XVI called the estates general he intended it to confine itself to solving the nations fiscal crisis, but as we all know, it overthrew the entire French ancien regime. The difference between myself and Bernie Sanders is that Bernie thinks that we need a political revolution whereas I think that we are going to get one whether we want it or not. Our 18th Century constitution is coming apart at the seams. We need to study the revolutions of Eastern Europe of 1989, we need to study the Philippines snap election, and the Costa Rican revolution of 1948. In short, we need to study every revolution that left people better off than they had been before and learn from their example. Above all, we need to put aside all illusions about our present situation. GA-06: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) released a memo Monday detailing the groups efforts in the district, noting that the number of paid staffers to help 30-year-old Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff has significantly grown, from eight staffers to more than 70 over the past month [The Hill]. The race, which President Trump won by only 1 percentage point, has become a center of Democratic efforts to show evidence of a growing anti-GOP wave. Nonsense. The race is important to the Democrat Establishment (unlike Quist and Thompson) because if they can win a race with a vacuous no-message candidate who raises enormous amounts of money and appeals to suburban Republicans, especially women, then Clintons 2016 strategy was correct and nothing needs to change. Stats Watch Public Relations: Dragging a bloodied Asian guy off a plane isnt a good look in China. More on the United United Express Flight 3411 debacle: wow. More than 64 million Weibo views for #UnitedForcesPassengerOffPlane. Nothing goes viral like China viral pic.twitter.com/lPztwUm6uP Te-Ping Chen (@tepingchen) April 11, 2017 Thats unfortunate: China is the second largest aviation market in the world and a key focus for United, which claims it operates more nonstop US-China flights, and to more cities in China, than any other airline' [CNN]. Public Relations: Heres the first paragraph of the CEOs letter to United Staff [Hong Kong Standard]: Dear Team, Like you, I was upset to see and hear about what happened last night aboard United Express Flight 3411 headed from Chicago to Louisville. While the facts and circumstances are still evolving , especially with respect to why this customer defied Chicago Aviation Security Officers the way he did, to give you a clearer picture of what transpired, Ive included below a recap from the preliminary reports filed by our employees. Oscar Leaving aside Oscars nauseating Dear Team verbiage a team is the very last thing United is, as this comment by JerryDenim makes clear notice: (1) facts and circumstances do not evolve, although our interpretations of them may, and (2) what clearly gets Oscars goat is a failure to comply (defied). Corporate America! Public Relations: United chief defends staff after screaming man dragged off flight [Financial Times]. Nice headline! And about the cops that did the dragging: The Chicago department of aviation, whose officers were involved in the incident, said in a statement that the handling of the situation was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and was not condoned by the department. That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation, it said. Where the heck does the Chicago department of aviation work out of? Homan Square? Somebody should ask Rahm about this, although not will never happen. Public Relations: A man wouldnt leave an overbooked United flight. So he was dragged off, battered and limp [WaPo]. Their wrap-up. For battered, read bloodied. Fixed it for ya. Democracy dies in darkness, ya know. Public Relations: A top public-relations outlet named United CEO communicator of the year weeks before a passenger was dragged off a United flight [Business Insider]. Oopsie. Concentration: We determined that variation in airline service quality related substantially to changes in the level of competition within airline markets, the DOT inspector-generals report [here] concluded. Specifically, reduced airline competition increased both the length of delays in some markets and the number of flight cancellations in others' [Buzzfeed]. Less competition means you dont have to worry as much about annoying people with delays or overbooked flights. It also means you can make a lot more money. Theres less pressure to cut ticket prices even when the price of oil, an airlines biggest cost, is plummeting and its easier to introduce ever-more obnoxious fees and charges. Concentration: Now we find ourselves at a moment when nearly all the promises of the airline deregulators have clearly proved false. If youre a member of the creative class who rarely does business in the nations industrial heartland or visits relatives there, you might not notice the magnitude of economic disruption being caused by lost airline service and skyrocketing fares. But if you are in the business of making and trading stuff beyond derivatives and concepts, you probably have to go to places like Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Memphis, St. Louis, or Minneapolis, and you know firsthand how hard it has become to do business these days in such major heartland cities, which are increasingly cut off from each other and from the global economy [Washington Monthly]. In some ways, then, BlueSession has already taken place. And not in a good way. Concentration: After years of 15 percent growth, the craft sector is down to the single digits. Part of that is to be expected in a maturing part of any market but its also a result of a pushback by a handful of gargantuan global brewers, aided by slack government antitrust oversight [New York Times]. We have seen a dramatic consolidation in our industry in recent years. It started in 2008 when the Department of Justice approved the creation of a duopoly in the beer industry by greenlighting a joint venture between Molson Coors and SABMiller (creating MillerCoors) and, five months later, the merger of Anheuser Busch and InBev. Overnight, about 90 percent of domestic beer production was in the hands of two brewing giants. Todays Fear & Greed Index: 37 Fear (previous close: 40, Fear) [CNN]. One week ago: 46 (Neutral). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Apr 10 at 4:56pm. Per note, quite early. Health Care Another state is at risk of having only one Obamacare health insurer [WaPo]. No death spiral here, no sireee bob. How Many Americans Will Die Needlessly Before Congress Finally Passes National Improved Medicare for All (NIMA)? [Joe Firestone, Medium]. Class Warfare Service Employees International Union cutting headquarters staff [The Hill]. The Service Employees International Union is reportedly laying off staff at its headquarters after spending about $60 million on politics and lobbying and $19 million on the Fight for 15 movement in 2016. News of the Wired HG Wells made a series of utopian predictions 100 years ago and was right about nearly all of them [Quartz]. And so did H.P. Lovecraft. So there! Terry Gilliam Reveals the Secrets of Monty Python Animations: A 1974 How-To Guide [Open Culture]. This animation technique is really neat, and looks like it would be fun to learn and do. * * * Readers, feel free to contact me with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, and (c) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. And heres todays plant (DB): DB writes: Taken in Ireland last week, on a hike up a mountain in the Burren. Reminds me of the Maine Coast Readers, Water Cooler is a standalone entity, not supported by the very successful Naked Capitalism fundraiser just past. Now, I understand you may feel tapped out, but when and if you are able, please use the dropdown to choose your contribution, and then click the hat! Your tip will be welcome today, and indeed any day. Water Cooler will not exist without your continued help. After weve been writing about the problem of the ticking time bomb of bank legacy systems written in COBOL that depends on a shrinking pool of aging programmers to baby them for now nearly two years, Reuters reports on the issue. Chuck L flagged a Reuters story, Banks scramble to fix old systems as IT cowboys ride into sunset, which made some of the points weve been making but frustratingly missed other key elements. Heres what Reuters confirmed: Banks and the Federal government are running mission-critical core systems on COBOL, and only a small number of older software engineers have the expertise to keep the systems running. From the article: In the United States, the financial sector, major corporations and parts of the federal government still largely rely on it because it underpins powerful systems that were built in the 70s or 80s and never fully replaced Experienced COBOL programmers can earn more than $100 an hour when they get called in to patch up glitches, rewrite coding manuals or make new systems work with old. For their customers such expenses pale in comparison with what it would cost to replace the old systems altogether, not to mention the risks involved. Heres what Reuters missed: Why young coders are not learning COBOL. Why, in an era when IT grads find it hard to get entry-level jobs in the US, are young programmers not learning COBOL as a guaranteed meal ticket? Basically, its completely uncool and extremely tedious to work with by modern standards. Given how narrowminded employers are, if you get good at COBOL, I woudl bet its assumed you are only capable of doing grunt coding and would never get into the circles to work on the fantasy of getting rich by developing a hip app. Im sure expert readers will flag other issues, but the huge shortcoming of COBOL is that there are no equivalent of editing programs. Every line of code in a routine must be inspected and changed line by line. How banks got in this mess in the first place. The original sin of software development is failure to document the code. In fairness, the Reuters story does allude to the issue: But COBOL veterans say it takes more than just knowing the language itself. COBOL-based systems vary widely and original programmers rarely wrote handbooks, making trouble-shooting difficult for others. What this does not make quite clear is that given the lack of documentation, it will always be cheaper and lower risk to have someone who is familiar with the code baby it, best of all the guy who originally wrote it. And that means any time you bring someone in, they are going to have to sort out not just the code that might be causing fits and starts, but the considerable interdependencies that have developed over time. As the article notes: It is immensely complex, said [former chief executive of Barclays PLC Anthony] Jenkins, who now heads startup 10x Future Technologies, which sells new IT infrastructure to banks. Legacy systems from different generations are layered and often heavily intertwined. I had the derivatives trading firm OConnor & Associates as a client in the early 1990s. It was widely recognized as being one of the two best IT shops in all of Wall Street at the time. OConnor was running the biggest private sector Unix network in the world back then. And IT was seen as critical to the firms success; half of OConnors expenses went to it. Even with it being a huge expense, and the my client, the CIO, repeatedly telling his partners that documenting the code would save 20% over the life of the software, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Even with the big commitment to building software, the trading desk heads felt it was already taking too long to get their apps into production. Speed of deployment was more important to them than cost or long-term considerations.1 And if you saw this sort of behavior with a firm where software development was a huge expense for partners who were spending their own money, its not hard to see how managers in a firm where the developers were much less important and management was fixated on short term earnings targets to blow off tradeoff like this entirely. Picking up sales patter from vendors, Reuters is over-stating banks ability to address this issue. Here is what Reuters would have you believe: The industry appears to be reaching an inflection point, though. In the United States, banks are slowly shifting toward newer languages taking cue from overseas rivals who have already made the switch-over. Commonwealth Bank of Australia, for instance, replaced its core banking platform in 2012 with the help of Accenture and software company SAP SE. The job ultimately took five years and cost more than 1 billion Australian dollars ($749.9 million). Accenture is also working with software vendor Temenos Group AG to help Swedish bank Nordea make a similar transition by 2020. IBM is also setting itself up to profit from the changes, despite its defense of COBOLs relevance. It recently acquired EzSource, a company that helps programmers figure out how old COBOL programs work. The conundrum is the more new routines banks pile on top of legacy systems, the more difficult a transition becomes. So delay only makes matters worse. Yet the incentives of everyone outside the IT areas is to hope they can ride it out and make the legacy system time bomb their successors problem. If you read carefully, Commonwealth is the only success story so far. And its vastly less complex than that of many US players. First, it has roughly A$990 billion or $740 billion in assets now. While that makes it #46 in the world (and Nordea is of similar size at #44 as of June 30, 2016), JP Morgan and Bank of America are three times larger. Second, and perhaps more important, they are the product of more bank mergers. Commonwealth has acquired only four banks since the computer era. Third, many of the larger banks are major capital markets players, meaning their transaction volume relative to their asset base and product complexit is also vastly greater than for a Commonwealth. Finally, it is not impossible that as a government owned bank prior to 1990 that not being profit driven, Commonwealths software jockeys might have documented some of the COBOL, making a transition less fraught. Add to that that the Commonwealth project was clearly a big IT project. Anything over $500 million comfortably falls into that category. The failure rate on big IT projects is over 50%; some experts estimate it at 80% (costly failures are disguised as well as possible; some big IT projects going off the rails are terminated early). Mind you, that is not to say that it is impossible to move off legacy platforms. The issue is the time and cost (as well as risk). One reader, I believe Brooklyn Bridge, recounted a prototypical conversation with management in which it became clear that the cost of a migration would be three times a behemoth banks total profit for three years. That immediately shut down the managers interest. Estimates like that dont factor in the high odds of overruns. And even if it is too high for some banks by a factor of five, thats still too big for most to stomach until they are forced to. So the question then becomes: can they whack off enough increments of the problem to make it digestible from a cost and risk perspective? But the flip side is that the easier parts to isolate and migrate are likely not to be the most urgent to address. ____ 1 The CIO had been the head index trader and had also help build OConnors FX derivatives trading business, so he was well aware of the tradeoff between trading a new instrument sooner versus software life cycle costs. He was convinced his partners were being short-sighted even over the near term and had some analyses to bolster that view. So this was the not empire-building or special pleading. This was an effort at prudent management. Sherman & Sterling, engaged by Wells Fargos board to investigate its fake accounts scandal, issued a 113 page report which includes more ugly details about the California banks abusive sales practices. In connection with the release of this document, Wells announced that it was clawing back $28 million more from former CEO John Stumpf, who had already voluntarily given up $41 million, and $47 million from the former head of the community bank, Carrie Tolstedt. The chairman of the board was also making the media rounds trying to persuade skeptical newscasters that having Stumpf retain 3/4 of the pay hed earned when the abuses were underway (they now are acknowledged to have been visible as early as 2002) was adequate. The New York Times depicted the report as scathing. In fact, it is a carefully crafted document to dump all responsibility on Stumpf and Toldstedt, both of whom clearly are culpable, and shield the board and the new CEO. Anyone who knows much about banking will see clear footprints that the board ignored basic risk management failures and poor governance structures. Ironically, the only part of the cover-up that might be plausible is that the new CEO, Tim Sloan, as having been head of a completely unrelated business until he was elevated to Chief Operating Office in 2015, does appear to have been organizationally removed enough to be blameless. He also appears to have tried taking action against Tolstedt fairly quickly given how loyal Stumpf was to her (as in Sloan would have been forced to proceed carefully). First, well go through how Sherman & Sterling covered up for the board. Then well discuss other issues, such as what the new developments say regarding legal liability and the possibility of prosecution. The Coverup Effort to hide fundamental risk management failure in plain sight. The report describes the glaring risk management failures we had mentioned before, ones that were obvious, and others our retail banking/IT expert Clive had correctly identified were in play. But the report tries to normalize them as being unfortunate features of how Wells did business that worked out badly rather than glaringly obvious control failures where not only top executives but ultimately the Board is responsible. Even worse, the report proves the boards negligence by indicating it had noticed a major deficiency, that control functions were reporting to unit/profit center managers like Tolstedt, in 2013, yet was leisurely about addressing it. Keep in mind that is exactly the same kind of deficient structure that led to the JP Morgan London Whale scandal. It is a basic risk management failure to have control staff report to profit center managers. In fact, they are designed to be for show only. Does anyone with an operating brain cell think someone would make their boss look bad? Even though there were corporate level control staff too, the report makes clear that corporate control functions were culture of substantial deference to the business line managers like Tolstedt. Translation: they were toothless. Get a load of this: As events were unfolding, his [the Chief Risk Officers] visibility into risk issues at the Community Bank was hampered by his dependence on its group risk officer and he was essentially confined to attempting to cajole and persuade Tolstedt and the Community Bank to be more responsive to sales practice-related risks. Yet a plan to fix it was still incomplete as of 2016worse, even after the Los Angeles Times first reported on the fake account abuses in 2013. From the report: The Risk Committee of the Board, consisting of the chairs of all the Boards standing committees, was created in 2011 to oversee risk across the enterprise. This involved a multi-year plan starting in 2013 to substantially grow Corporate Risk, to move toward centralization of more risk functions and to enhance Corporate Risks ability to oversee the management of risk in the lines of business. Consistent with this plan, the Board supported major funding increases for Corporate Risk for 2014-2016. But, as problems with sales practices in the Community Bank became more apparent in 2013-2015, Corporate Risk was still a work in progress and the Chief Risk Officer had limited authority with respect to the Community Bank. Note that the report points to something even worse than simply limited scope of the Chief Risk Officer (as well, as the report points out, of the legal department and human resources). Despite being corporate level functions, as in theoretically senior to business units, they were also de facto subordinate. This is not uncommon in unregulated business, but even so, the norm there should be that the control function, particularly the legal department, can escalate matters to the CEO and board. Here, it doesnt simply appear that that was not a viable option due to Tolstedts tight personal relationship with Stupf. It appears that this could never have happened with any business unit. That means supervision across the bank was fundamentally defective. Deficiencies of that magnitude mean not only was the CEO asleep at the wheel or an active enabler. The board was culpable too. No mention of clearly deficient financial controls. Regular readers will remember how FTI Consulting helped CalPERS perpetrate a sham investigation of private equity compliance because the questions FTI was asked to investigate could not be answered with the methodology they employed. Even with private equity being fabulously secretive, we were still able to find significant errors in FTIs report. Here, we have FTI apparently not digging deep enough, again by design, as well as the report failing to mention that a big chunk of the work was to compensate for the absence of basic financial controls. From the report: The firm analyzed various metrics to assist in determining the impact of the Community Banks sales culture. First, it examined Wells Fargos investigations data for allegations of sales integrity violations and associated terminations and resignations. And second, it analyzed information relating to the rate at which the Community Banks customers were funding that is, making initial deposits into new checking and savings accounts. While there can be many reasons a customer might not fund an account, lower funding rates (the proportion of new accounts with more than de minimis deposits) suggest that some customers were sold accounts that they may not have wanted or needed. The pressure associated with the campaign manifested itself in higher rates of low quality accounts, as confirmed by the Rolling Funding Rate, a quality metric used by the Community Bank to track the rate at which its customers fund (place more than a de minimis amount into) new checking or savings accounts. And this was in a footnote: To determine whether these trends in Los Angeles were affected by simulated funding the phenomenon in which bankers used customer funds from one account to surreptitiously fund another account, identified in Wells Fargos settlement with the CFPB on September 8, 2016 FTI Consulting conducted an analysis backing out all potentially simulated funding accounts identified by Wells Fargos consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers. What were the corporate risk officers doing? This section makes clear that metrics that should have been reviewed on a corporate wide basis were instead not merely prepared by Tolstedts unit but not shared with anyone at the corporate level. This is utterly inexcusable. As Clive pointed out earlier: Opening up fake products to claim a sale is a trick which goes back to when a TBTF tried to sell Noah Ark insurance. When I started in retail at a TBTF nearly 30 years ago, senior management (as a minimum the VP or equivalent in charge of a geographical area) would get reporting from the internal compliance or risk function about the number of accounts opened which had low turnover. A low turnover account is a serious red flag for either mis-selling or even (as was the case that has been exposed at Wells) the salesforce boosting their figures by robo-applications. Of course, it all comes out in the wash eventually the customer didnt want the product in the first place and if they didnt want it, they almost certainly wont use it. This will result in a low (or no) activity account. Simplistic attempts are generally made in the banks operations to prevent this kind of sales practice. The most common is that if within in a certain timeframe (a month or 6 weeks is usual) there hasnt been a transaction on the account or the card hasnt been activated, the account will be closed and this low activity account sale will be clawed back from the salesforce. But of course, this is widely known in the bank employees, so the standard ruse is to diarise a follow-up customer service call, tell the customer some cock-and-bull story about how the bank employee has noticed a potential security issue with one of their cards and could they phone the security team just to confirm the card is still in their possession. Or another variation is to tell the customer If they want to call into the branch, they can sort the problem out, while in the branch they get the customer to phone the activation line, then check everything is okay by doing a cash advance at the counter on the card (theyll even refund the fee, how kind!). These are just some tricks, readers can get the gist of how it works and probably even think of their own alternatives. But theres still a trail of evidence which the bank should be following accounts which are very light in transactions after 6 months or dormant in a year. These are always investigated, not for the customers benefit but because it costs the bank money to maintain the account. They are invariably force-closed due to low activity (this will be in the products standard Terms and Conditions, to give the bank the ability to do this). This management information is collated and picked over endlessly by the P&L accountants. Too many customers attracted to the brand, sold product to, but who then walk away are value-destructive. Senior management (one part of the senior management team, anyway) are all over this metric like a rash. Not at Wells, needless to say. We skipped over FTIs overly cursory personnel review. FTI was tasked to look into Wells Fargos investigations data for allegations of sales integrity violations and associated terminations and resignations. In other words, all FTI did was review Wells data. Notice this also: Shearman & Sterling has conducted 100 interviews of current and former employees, members of Wells Fargos Board of Directors and other relevant parties. Shearman & Sterlings interviews focused primarily on senior members of management across all of the areas that had significant contact with sales practice issues. In addition, Shearman & Sterling reviewed the product of hundreds of interviews of more junior employees conducted by or on behalf of Wells Fargo. Shearman & Sterling also reviewed information concerning more than 1,000 investigations of lower level employees terminated for sales integrity violations, which Wells Fargos Internal Investigations group conducted. This is inadequate to get at the question of to what degree these sales integrity violations were actually trumped up to punish employees who refused to engage in aggressive sales practices, or as others allege, they were terminated on thin and unrelated grounds when they started complaining. Interviews by Wells Fargo are worthless for lack of confidentiality; even ones conducted by third parties are suspect by virtue of how keen Stumpf was to blame the fake accounts scandal on low-level workers. And other experts were not impressed either. From the Financial Times: Dennis Kelleher, chief executive of the advocacy group Better Markets, said that Wells directors had failed to take responsibility. He called on shareholders to vote against all of them at the banks annual meeting this month. Consistent with their past too-little, too-late cosmetic actions, blaming and punishing two previously fired executives are little more than standard moves in a PR playbook, Mr Kelleher said. Can We Hope for Criminal Prosecutions and Other Issues The Wells board and Stumpf thought penny-ante stealing was not stealing. The fact that the total hard dollar customer losses were small despite the brazenness and scale of the fraud was the big reason the former CEO thought he could brazen this out. And given that sanctimonious Wells had taken vastly more from customers via foreclosure abuses, this lackadasical might have otherwise seem reasonable. After all, the traditional check on this kind of nickel and dime grifting, class action lawsuits, have become almost as rare as the dodo bird thanks to the successful efforts of Corporate America to cut them back. Several prosecutors are supposedly still looking into further action. The most promising legal theory would appear to be Sarbanes Oxley. False certifications of the integrity of controls, which are made by at a minimum the CEO and CFO, which would include the adequacy of risk management, are Sarbox violations. And Sarbanes Oxley is designed to allow prosecutors to readily turn civil charges into criminal ones if discovery turns up solid evidence of severe misconduct. But no one has every use Sarbox, so this idea seems remote. Another wee problem is that the Department of Justice under Jeff Sessions is likely to sit this one out. But the Los Angeles City prosecutor was the one that developed this case and got $35 million of the original $180 million settlement, so they seem the most likely to try to take this sordid matter further. Another source of more legal shoes dropping is whistleblower retaliation claims and other types of wrongful termination suits. Enough employees could be affected to add up to more serious payouts, and even more important, continued media focus on Wells bad conduct. Wells is not out of the woods, but sadly it is more likely to suffer the drip drip drip of individual cases than a prosecution or even a nice juicy civil suit against Stumpf or board members derelict in their duties. And I would be delighted to be proven wrong. Silver circuits on foil allow curved touchscreens (Nanowerk News) INM will be presenting the so called photochemical metallization on this years Hannover Messe at the Stand B46 in hall 2 from 24 April to 28 April. For the proper functioning of touchscreens in smart phones or tablets, microscopically fine conductor paths are required on their surfaces. At the edges of the appliances, these microscopic circuit paths come together to form larger connective pads. Until now, these different conductive paths had to be manufactured in several steps in time-consuming processes. With the photochemical metallization this is now possible in one single step on flexible substrates. The process offers, has several benefits: It is fast, flexible, variable in size, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Furthermore additional process steps for post-treatment are not necessary. For the new process, the foils are coated with a photoactive layer of metal oxide nanoparticles. After that we apply a colorless, UV-stable silver compound, Peter William de Oliveira, Head of Optical Materials explains. By irradiation of this sequence of layers, the silver compound disintegrates on the photoactive layer and the silver ions are reduced to form metallic, electrically conductive silver. In this way, paths of varying sizes down to the smallest size of a thousandth of a millimeter can be achieved. Photochemical Metallization allows conductor paths on flexible foils as well as on stretchable silicone. (Image: Gabi Klein, INM) This basic principle allows conductive paths to be created very individually. There are different possibilities we can use depending on the requirements: Writing conductive paths using UV lasers is the process which is particularly suitable for the initial customized prototype manufacture and testing a new design of the conductive path. However, for mass production, this method is too time-consuming, the physicist de Oliveira explaines. The researchers are currently working intensely on a further method, the usage of transparent stamps. These stamps push out the silver compound mechanically; conductive paths then only occur where there is still silver compound, de Oliveira stated. Since the stamps are made of a soft plastic, they can be arranged on a roll. Because they are transparent, researchers at INM are now working on embedding the UV source directly in the roll. Clonmel Show Bursary awards winners were presented with their scrolls and cheques by show president Carrie Acheson at an awards ceremony in Hotel Minella. Mrs Acheson congratulated the winners and praised their parents for supporting their sons in their respective studies. Clonmel Show Bursary awards winners were presented with their scrolls and cheques by show president Carrie Acheson at an awards ceremony in Hotel Minella. Mrs Acheson congratulated the winners and praised their parents for supporting their sons in their respective studies. Joint chairman of Clonmel Show, and innovator of these annual bursary awards, Tom Acheson congratulated the winners and regretted the fact that not every entrant could be a winner. He said he was delighted that the awards, now in their fourth year, had attracted so many enthusiastic entrants with such a diversity of projects over the past four years. He was also delighted that so many of the previous winners had completed their projects and also found time to help with the preparation for and tidying-up after the show which is held annually on the first Sunday in July. Former County Manager and chairman of the independent panel Bursary award adjudicators, Ned OConnor, said they were enthused and thrilled with the quality of the projects and their presentation. He congratulated Clonmel Show for their foresight and generosity in presenting these annual bursary awards, which are worth 15,000 in total. He hoped that the recipients got satisfaction and fulfilment in the pursuit of their projects. He expressed a wish that there might be greater diversity of topic in the projects entered in future years Several NATO Allies and European Union members came together in Helsinki on Tuesday (11 April 2017), formally agreeing to establish a European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in the Finnish capital. At a ceremony attended by Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini, officials from NATO and the European Union welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Centre, which will open later in 2017. In total, nine nations signed the Memorandum: Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Other NATO and EU nations are expected to join the Centre in the near future. While not signatories themselves, NATO and the EU will participate actively in the Centres activities. Countering hybrid threats is a priority for NATO, as they blur the line between war and peace - combining military aggression with political, diplomatic, economic, cyber and disinformation measures. NATOs counter-hybrid strategy includes strengthened coordination with the European Union, and also involves our new Intelligence Division, more training and exercises, and our work to actively counter propaganda with facts. Other Centres of Excellence already contribute to NATOs efforts to counter hybrid threats, including the Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga, Latvia; and the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia. Centres of Excellence are international research centres, which are nationally or multi-nationally funded and staffed. They work alongside and contribute knowledge and expertise to the Alliance, but they are not NATO bodies. (Natural News) With each passing day, the world seems to look more and more like a science fiction film. We are constantly developing new forms of medicine and technology, most of which didnt even exist in our wildest dreams not long ago. Cell phones, for instance, were once nothing more than a concept routinely portrayed on episodes of Star Trek. The idea that two people could communicate over long distances on a device no more than a few millimeters thick was almost inconceivable, and yet today, those devices not only exist but are also used for a lot more than just communicating. Indeed, with continuous advancements in technology, virtually anything is possible. In February, Rear Admiral Tim Szymanski, the commander of all Navy special operations units, called for the development of brain stimulating technology that could be used to enhance the cognitive skills of Navy Seals. We plan on using that in mission enhancement, Szymanski said at a conference near Washington D.C. The performance piece is really critical to the life of our operators. Shortly after the conference, Szymanski elaborated on his vision during a brief interview. He said that, while he is keeping an open mind and looking into various technologies, what he is most interested in is technology that would apply direct stimulation to the brain. In experiments, people who were watching these screens. Their ability to concentrate would fall off in about 20 minutes, the Rear Admiral explained. But they did studies whereby a little bit of electrical stimulation was applied, and they were able to maintain the same peak performance for 20 hours. Its easy to see how such technology would benefit those fighting out on the battlefield. Having enhanced brain function and cognitive skills would give SEALs a significant advantage over the enemy, and in some cases could even mean the difference between life and death. Despite the statement made by Szymanski just a few weeks ago, cognitive enhancement is a technology that has been explored by multiple SEAL units, ever since former Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that it was part of his Defense Innovation Unit, or DIUx, in July of 2016. Captain Jason Salata, a spokesman for the Naval Special Warfare Units, said in a statement, Earlier this year, Naval Special Warfare units, working with DIUx, began a specific cognitive enhancement project with a small group of volunteers to test and evaluate achieving higher performance through the use of neuro-stimulation technology. Halo Neuroscience is the company that is responsible for making the brain stimulating devices, which apparently look similar to typical headphones that one would use to listen to music. Although the technology was originally developed for athletes, the technology could also be used to improve shooting performance by allowing the brain to enter a state of hyper-elasticity. But technology for our soldiers isnt just limited to devices that affect the brain. For quite some time now, the military has been looking for ways to develop specialized armor that can enhance the physical capabilities of those fighting out on the battlefield. Some armor even has the ability to absorb bullets like a sponge, such as the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) created by Special Operations Command. TALOS is made from liquid body armor, which has the ability to solidify within milliseconds after being hit with a bullet. This allows those who wear it to stay protected without sacrificing mobility. In addition, TALOS uses skin sensors to detect the soldiers heart rate and other vital signs. (RELATED: Could WWIII be fought with robotic exoskeletons?) With technology constantly being thrust into a forward motion, it is a relief to see much of it going to good use. After all, there arent many people more deserving of it than our brave men and women who put their lives on the line for our country. Follow more news on medical and neuroscience discoveries at Discoveries.news. Sources include: Military.com Futurism.com Tuesday, April 11, 2017 by: JD Heyes Tags: Facebook , fake news , far Left , Google This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author (Natural News) In a normal world, in normal political times, this kind of buffoonery would be easily discernible: Google, one of the worlds largest media companies, is using other media entities as fact-checkers who have themselves been repeatedly found to be altering facts in order to push a far-Left Marxist agenda. But alas, we dont live in normal political times. Partisanship between Right and Left is the highest its ever been in the modern era. Republicans and Democrats occupy ground on either side of a widening ideological chasm that many political scientists and analysts believe has grown too big to bridge. One major reason for the existence of the divide and its yawning gap is the so-called mainstream media, which was always Left-leaning but which has exposed itself since the election of Donald J. Trump as nothing more than a propaganda instrument for the Marxist Democratic Party. (RELATED: Washington Post Caught In Blatant Fake News LIE, Forced To Change Article) The mainstreams narrative following Trumps historic win was that he was assisted, in large part not by Hillary Clintons uninspiring, criminally investigated campaign, but by a host of fake news that wildly distorted her views and records while promoting Trump and downplaying his flaws. Google and other social media sites, such as Facebook, then came under fire from other media for not filtering out the allegedly false news surrounding Trump and Clinton. What to do? The solution was to merge with other media to fact-check news stories running on their massive news feeds. But the goal has never been to fact-check the mainstream outlets; no. The only ones fact-checked are going to be the pesky alternative media sources who scored bombshell after bombshell during the campaign, as the only news sites willing to scrutinize Clinton properly. Google along with the other social media behemoth, Facebook is clearly in the camp of the Marxists, so any notion that the company plans to be fair and accurate when it comes to telling readers what is and is not valid news should be dispensed with. We can tell there is no effort to be fair because of who the company has chosen to fact-check the news: Outlets themselves who have demonstrated a propensity to publish fake news. As noted by The Daily Wire: Who are the vaunted checkers, the ones charged with sussing out the truth and stating it without bias? Salon. Buzzfeed. Snopes. The Washington Post. Politifact. Seriously. Couldnt they find more liberal news sites? Google calls them authoritative sources. Snopes? Buzzfeed? And The Washington Post of today is nothing like it was 40 years ago. Jeff Bezos has taken the paper far left, and its day-to-day content skews hardcore liberal. Take as an example, some information that was fact-checked by Snopes. If you look up the phrase, Hillary Clinton sold uranium to Russia on Google, the results will return a small icon at the bottom that says, Fact-check by Snopes.com: False. (RELATED: Check out the truth about Snopes.com at Truthwiki.org) False? As secretary of state, Hillary Clinton was one of several government officials who oversaw and approved the sale of one-fifth of U.S. strategic uranium reserves to a state-owned Russian company (all while millions in donations flowed to the Clinton Foundation). How true is it? From The New York Times: Whether the donations played any role in the approval of the uranium deal is unknown. But the episode underscores the special ethical challenges presented by the Clinton Foundation, headed by a former president who relied heavily on foreign cash to accumulate $250 million in assets even as his wife helped steer American foreign policy as secretary of state, presiding over decisions with the potential to benefit the foundations donors. [T]he ultimate authority to approve or reject the Russian acquisition rested with the cabinet officials on the foreign investment committee, including Mrs. Clinton whose husband was collecting millions in donations from people associated with Uranium One. [Emphasis added]. Maybe Clinton didnt sell the uranium herself, but she certainly had a hand in approving the sale. Not false. Dont be duped by these media fakes. GoodGopher.com is a non-corporate-owned search engine designed to protect your privacy and bring you unfiltered news from quality alternative sources, while Censored.news is a collection of the most reliable news and information sites on the Web today, updated hourly. J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel. Sources: DailyWire.com NYTimes.com NewsCartels.com South Africa, home to 80 percent of the world's rhino population, is moving for the approval of the legalization of domestic rhino horn trade. This is after the country's constitutional court dismissed an application to appeal from the government to keep a ban of the rhino horn trade in place. The ruling is likely the concluding decision in a long legal battle to ban all kinds of rhino horn poaching in South Africa. Since 1977, an international ban on trade in rhino horns has been cemented. While the international treaty bans trade across borders, it does not prevent trade within a country. However, South Africa imposed a moratorium on the domestic trade in 2009. The court's recent decision to overturn the moratorium will let the rhino horn trade commence as soon as the legislation is final. National Geographic cited that some of the provisions drafted state that anyone with a permit will be able to buy and sell rhino horns and that foreigners will be allowed to export a maximum of two rhino horns for "personal purposes," which is an undefined term in the proposal. Why is South Africa pushing for this? National Public Radio cited that as per the report of Peter Granitz, a correspondent in Pretoria, "South African rhino breeders want the government to legalize the sale so, they say, they can flood the market and decrease the cost of rhino horn. They argue that would drive down demand for poached rhinos." Smithsonian Magazine noted that The Private Rhino Owner Association argues that legalizing the rhino horn trade protects the animals because the horns of the rhinos will be removed "properly" without supposedly harming them. They also cited that with the proper process, the horns will regrow eventually. Environmentalist and animal rights groups contend that the reasoning of the groups that call for the legalization of the domestic rhino horn trade is preposterous. They emphasized that there is no demand for rhino horns locally, and that these "businessmen" will likely smuggle the rhino horns outside the country to earn profits from the cruel trade. Legalizing domestic rhino horn trade will only fuel more demand and risk an increase in illegal poaching. Last March, two armed men broke South Africa's Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage and shot two 18-month-old white rhinos, Impy and Gugu, before viciously removing their horns. Poaching of rhinos in South Africa jumped massively from just 13 animals killed in 2007 to 1,215 in 2014. HarperCollins Publishers India (HCI) is granting their employees "pawternity leaves" when they newly adopt a pet. Starting this year, those who take in a dog, cat or any other pet will be entitled to up to five working days of paid leave to settle in with their new animal friend, according to a report from Huffington Post India. It might seem strange but anyone who has ever had a pet can attest that settling in at home with a new pet can be nearly as stressful as taking care of a newly born baby. Companies like HarperCollins seek to encourage responsible adoption of animals as well as make life easier for their staff who choose to open their homes to furry friends. "At HarperCollins we want the very best of work-life balance for our colleagues, and that includes being mindful about their family needs," Ananth Padmanabhan, CEO of HarperCollins India, explained. "Pet children need as much attention [as human children], if not more. We don't want colleagues to worry about the number of leaves they have before deciding to start a family." READ: Life With Pets: Talking to Dogs, Cats Is Actually a Sign of Intelligence Aside from the pawternity leaves, the company will be letting their employees bring their beloved pets to work should the need arise. The pets will be able to stay in a designated area in the office while their owners work. More and more people are opting to get pets nowadays, so pet-friendly companies could expect appreciation from job-seekers, particularly the younger generation. Research has shown that millennials are more likely to choose to have pets than children. "Pets are becoming a replacement for children," San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge told Washington Post. "They're less expensive. You can get one even if you're not ready to live with someone or get married, and they can still provide companionship." There has been a growing trend in giving employees time off for their pets, according to a report from Business Insider. Mars Petcare, BitSol Solutions and BrewDog also offer pawternity leaves, while Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in San Francisco, Mars Inc., Maxwell Health in Boston, and Trupanion let their staff take some time off to grieve a pet who just passed away. READ: Even Dogs Have Gotten Into the Plastic Surgery Craze With Botox, Nose Jobs and More A new study from the University of Zurich revealed that the honest behavior of humans can be influenced by a simple, non-invasive brain stimulation, making them less likely to cheat. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that making the brain cells in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) more active can positively affect the deliberation process between honesty and self-interest. For the study, the researchers asked 145 participants to complete a dice-rolling experiment. The participants were allowed to cheat by misreporting their outcomes, increasing their earning. Researchers observed that most people cheated a significant amount of time. However, there are still some that reported their real outcomes, regardless of their earnings. Overall, about eight percent of the participants cheated whenever possible in order to maximize their profits. "Most people seem to weigh motives of self-interest against honesty on a case-by-case basis; they cheat a little but not on every possible occasion," said Michel Marecha, a professor of Experimental Economics at the University of Zurich, in a press release. The researchers asked the participants to repeat the experiment. But this time, the researchers applied transcranial direct current stimulation over a region in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to make the brain cells more sensitive. When the simulation was applied during the task, participants were less likely to cheat. However, those who consistently cheated during the first experiment did not show any changes in their honest behavior and still cheated to maximize their earnings. In a follow-up experiment involving 156 participants, the researchers found that the positive effect of the brain simulation is only applicable when their dishonest behavior benefited the participants themselves rather than another person. This suggests that the stimulated neural process specifically resolves conflicts between honesty and material self-interest. Nevertheless, the result of the experiments shows that can be strengthened by noninvasive interventions. On a windswept cliff of the Point Reyes National Seashore above hundreds of reclining elephant seals a tiny science class of two students and their teacher began its weekly tally of the bellowing creatures below. Unlike most classrooms where smell is usually not a consideration, the wind delivered the elephant seals dramatic aroma to the groups vantage point. The smell was the hardest part, observed student scientist Luz Torres. Just to find out thats their regular smell. North Bay Students Keep Tabs on Elephant Seal Population Torres has gotten to know the smell well having made weekly trips to the seashore to help count the unique mammal colony which is spread between four sites near Drakes Beach. The group has braved soaking rain, daily squalls and the aforementioned stink to record the animals fluctuating numbers for the National Park Service. I like aquatic species, I had a couple fish, Torres revealed, but i never thought Id be here counting elephant seals. Neither did Torres anticipate shed get so up-close-and-personal with the creatures, venturing past gates and barriers with the park services blessing in order to get close enough to make out the tags on the animals tail with a spotting scope. Our key purpose to be looking for tagged animals, said professor Doreen Gurrola. It supports the data that the park service is doing. Gurrolas class has visited the site weekly since the first of the year compiling data used by the park service which is keeping tabs on the population. The Pacific Elephant Seal was once hunted to near extinction, dropping to only about 20, but have rebounded into the thousands and continuing to grow. Point Reyes along with Ano Nuevo north of Santa Cruz remain two of Californias most populated colonies. The populations have been growing, Gurrola said, so its important to see where that population is growing. Biologists with the National Park Service have tagged many of the returning population with colored tags designating where the animal is from. Point Reyes tags are pink. On a recent day, Gurrola and her students also recorded tags from the Ano Nuevo colony as well as a white tagged female from a colony at San Simeon. We want to see what age classes are using which beaches and how often, Gurrola explained. Aside from the main colony of hundreds of elephant seals on Drakes Beach, the professor and her students roamed the three ancillary beaches where a smattering of elephant seals had hauled out and were slumbering in the sand. A count from one nearby outlook identified 12 live sea lions and four dead pups. The two students noted the macabre finding with the clinical demeanor of a doctor. Theres a lot of pup mortality but you cant prevent it, said student Sheridan Wilner. Its wildlife. Were just here to observe it. On this day in early April, the massive and territorial male elephant seals had already moved on leaving mothers, the young and the newborns full run of the beach. Even though technology such as transmitters and mounted cameras have taken the study of the creatures to new levels, there was still no replacement for a set of eyes to count and record behavior. The park service will incorporating the students data into its own, expanding its ability to keep an accurate grasp of the population. Gurrola said the students would compile their observations and possibility present them at wildlife conferences this Spring. Even in the normally sterile domain of science and its ubiquitous charts and numbers, the site of a particularly big-eyed newborn seemed to melt the stoic reserve of the budding researchers. Oh look at the tiny one there, Torres squealed before returning to the business of counting. A Cook County judge was killed early Monday in what Chicago police called "another senseless" shooting on the city's South Side. Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles, 66, was fatally shot just before 5 a.m. outside his home in the 9400 block of South Forest, police said. Police said a 52-year-old woman walked out of her house and encountered the gunman. Words were exchanged, and the suspect shot her in the leg. Myles heard arguing and the gunshot and came to the aid of the woman, a friend the judge worked out with daily, according to police. Myles "exchanged words with the offender," Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples said, and he was shot multiple times. Police said the shooting could be the result of a potential robbery, though it does not appear any property was stolen. Police do not believe the woman knew the gunman. She is expected to survive. "It's a direct attack on the criminal justice system that keeps our society safe," First Deputy Superintendent of Police Kevin Navarro said. "You have our word that we will not let Judge Myles' life be lost in vain, and we will hold his killer accountable." Navarro - who called the judge's killing "another senseless act of violence" - said Supt. Eddie Johnson ordered the department to use every resource to track down the offender. The FBI has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to Myles' killer. I join all of the judges today in the Circuit Court of Cook County in expressing our sadness regarding the tragic passing of our colleague and friend, Associate Judge Raymond Myles," Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said. "I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in the Criminal Division. Staples said the department is "actively pursuing multiple promising leads" and reviewing footage from nearby private video cameras. Anyone with information is asked to contact Area South detectives. While the real Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is locked up in a cold, tiny cell in New York, his career as a drug lord apparently over, his fictional counterpart is free and in top form in Colombia, where the Univision network and Netflix are filming a television series about his life. Ironically, Guzman's re-arrest in 2016 after two dramatic prison escapes has created such a bloody power struggle for his Sinaloa cartel in Mexico that the series' producers thought it would be safer to film in Colombia, the country that used to be the epicenter of the hemisphere's drug violence. Guzman was extradited to the United States in January, and his lawyers complain the conditions he faces at a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial are so restrictive they violate his rights. The filming in Colombia was so cloaked in secrecy that the crew told locals they were filming a mythical TV soap opera, "Dolores de Amor," roughly "The Pains of Love." The Associated Press attended one filming session in the town of Taibo, where a half-dozen extras said they didn't know what the series was about. Its real title is fairly self-explanatory: "El Chapo." At the time filming started, Guzman was still in Mexico and the series' location was shifted for security reasons, said producer Daniel Posada. "Colombia was a good option, because we have well-trained crews and it is very similar in appearance to Mexico." Taibo has a colonial town square, church and park that look like they could be found in rural Mexico. The effect will be completed in post-production by adjusting the intensity of the light to match Mexican skies. Colombia may also be a little less legally complicated. Guzman employed a cadre of lawyers to file a seemingly endless array of legal appeals in Mexico. One of the lawyers, Jose Refugio Rodriguez, suggested the producers could suffer legal consequences for using Guzman's name and story without his permission. "If they are producing something that he (Guzman) has not authorized, if they start attacking him, or publishing things from his private life, then clearly there will be a legal response," Rodriguez said. When Netflix and Univision announced the series last year, they said it is "based on the life story of one of the world's most notorious criminals." Another Guzman lawyer, Andres Granados, told The Associated Press at the time that the two networks would have to pay for the right to use Guzman's name and nickname, which can be translated as "Shorty." "If they air this, they are immediately going to be sued," Granados said. "They, by necessity, need the authorization of Mr. Guzman, because he is not dead." Guzman earlier gave rights to his life story to Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, who arranged a secret 2015 meeting with the then-fugitive drug boss and actor Sean Penn. Del Castillo hasn't said what she would do with those rights. Posada, the producer, said he hasn't received any threats. The series is scheduled to have its U.S. premiere on Univision April 23, and a couple of months later will have a worldwide release on Netflix. Marco de la O, the 38-year-old Mexican stage actor who plays Guzman, bears an extraordinary resemblance to the drug lord after coming out of a makeup session. Speaking before a pursuit scene that included gunfire and screeching tires, De la O said: "It was a challenge to play Chapo, because of his complexity." Guzman, the son of impoverished farmers, rose to a spot on the list of the world's richest people. Asked if he plays Guzman as a hero or a villain, De la O said "I can't judge him. From an actor's perspective, you don't judge whether the characters are good or bad ... We tell the truth, and that truth can be harsh." Research for the script started three years ago, based on meetings with reporters who covered the drug trade, acquaintances, DEA reports and psychological profiles of Guzman drawn up in prison. "I have never known of a drug trafficker who has had such a long career, and from each stage of his life there are accounts that have allowed us to construct a portrait of his personality and psychological characteristics," said Gerardo Reyes, the Univision research director who served as an adviser on the show. The final script turned out to be a mix of reality and fiction. "It's normal; some things we agreed on, some things we didn't," said Reyes. "We have avoided the Robin Hood image that many have wanted to project on him" Reyes said. "He came from a poor background and was obsessed with not returning to it, and this obsession was also extremely violent." But the story is not just about Guzman's obsession; it's also about the government corruption in Mexico that allowed him to flourish. "The series examines the situation in which two types of ambition can coexist and intertwine," said Humberto Busto an actor who plays the corrupt politician Don Sol in the series. "It leads the two characters (Don Sol and Chapo) to the same question: 'For what?'" "If in the end all of us wind up in a grave and we're not going to take anything with us, what are we doing all this for?" AP Writer Maria Verza contributed to this report. At least six Russians have been arrested in Europe on international warrants since July, McClatchy Newspapers reported. The arrests are part of a larger push on Russian hacking, according to a former high-ranking U.S. intelligence official who spoke to NBC News. Some of the hackers in the dragnet may have information on the election hacking. Cyber experts have long reported that Russian security services use "patriotic" hackers to carry out attacks on intelligence targets. If a hacker refuses to help, it could lead to trouble with Russian authorities. Pyotr Levashov, 32, was the latest Russian hacker arrested, just last week in Barcelona. Others were arrested in Prague, Thailand and Finland. Turkey's health minister said Tuesday that test results confirm sarin gas was used in an attack on a northern Syrian town earlier this month and the Russian military said the Syrian government is willing to let international experts examine its military base for signs of chemical weapons. Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy of the Russian General Staff said in televised remarks that Russia will provide security for international inspectors seeking to examine Syrian bases, and that Damascus has agreed to allow the inspections. His comments came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will appeal to the United Nations to investigate the attack on Khan Sheikhoun. The April 4 chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town in Idlib province left nearly 90 people dead. The United States blamed President Bashar Assad's government and launched nearly 60 cruise missiles on Friday at the Shayrat air base in the central province of Homs, where it claims the attack originated. Moscow, which is a strong backer of the Syrian government, has dismissed suggestions that the Damascus could be behind the attack. The Syrian government also denied the allegation, saying its air force bombed a rebel arsenal that had chemical weapons stored inside. Putin told reporters on Tuesday that Russia would appeal to a U.N. agency in the Hague, urging it to launch an official probe. The Russian president also said Moscow has received intelligence about planned "provocations" using chemical weapons that would be used to pin the blame on the Syrian government. The Russian statements came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow where he will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday. In Turkey, a main backer of the Syrian opposition, Health Minister Recep Akdag said test results conducted on victims of the Khan Sheikhoun attack confirm that sarin gas was used. Akdag said that blood and urine samples taken from the victims confirmed that they were subjected to the nerve agent. His comments were reported by the state-run Anadolu news agency. Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria. Officials from the World Health Organization and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies. In Damascus, a Syrian official said Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem will visit Russia on Thursday where he will meet officials in Moscow. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said Tuesday that there might be a three-way meeting later this week in Moscow between officials from Russia, Syria and Iran. Syrian government forces battling insurgents in Daraa have dropped several barrel bombs on the southern city, opposition activists said Tuesday, a day after the White House suggested that the use of the crude explosive devices could bring a U.S. response. Russia's Defense Ministry meanwhile said two of its army officers were killed and a third seriously wounded in a mortar attack in Syria, without specifying when or where it took place. Russia has been waging an air campaign in support of Syrian forces since 2015. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting in Daraa erupted Monday when rebels attacked a government-held area in the city center. It said 16 pro-government fighters, including an army colonel, have been killed. Both the Observatory and Daraa-based activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh said warplanes carried out raids on Daraa while helicopter gunships dropped at least 14 barrels loaded with explosives. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday that the use of barrel bombs, which government forces have repeatedly employed throughout the six-year-old conflict, might prompt a U.S. retaliation. A Syrian official, meanwhile, said residents will begin evacuating two besieged areas in northwestern Syria on Wednesday, in the latest population transfer arranged by the warring sides. Hakim Baghdadi said authorities have prepared 100 buses to move 5,000 people out of the Shiite villages of Foua and Kfarya. Baghdadi, a member of the relief committee for the two villages, said they will be bused first to the nearby city of Aleppo, then on to other destinations. The predominantly Shiite villages have remained loyal to the Syrian government while the rest of the surrounding Idlib Province has fallen under the rule of hard-line Sunni rebels. The rebel commander in charge of two opposition-held towns in western Syria says evacuations will also begin from his districts tomorrow. The commander, who goes by the name Abu Adnan al-Zabadani, said residents and fighters electing to leave will be bused out of Madaya and Zabadani on Wednesday, before the towns are returned to government control. An arrangement between the government and rebels has linked the fate of the four besieged towns since 2015. The U.N. has decried the arrangement, saying it has served to obstruct the provision of badly needed assistance. Associated Press writers Nataliya Vasilyeva, Suzan Fraser and Albert Aji contributed to this report. The CEO of United Airlines' parent company, Oscar Munoz, apologized on Tuesday to the passenger dragged off a flight over the weekend, amid a massive backlash that had cut into the company's bottom line. "Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard," Munoz wrote in a memo to his team. "No one should ever be mistreated this way." The passenger has been identified as Dr. David Dao, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. An attorney for the Dao family released a statement Tuesday saying Dao was being treated for injuries in a Chicago hospital, CNBC reported. "The family of Dr. Dao wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received," the statement reads. A passenger recorded a video watched around the world that showed security officers dragging Dao off a sold-out United Express flight at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Sunday. United described the flight to Louisville as overbooked, but on Tuesday said it was sold out, not overbooked, according to USA Today. The passengers were boarded when United tried to make room for four employees of a partner airline, meaning four people had to get off the flight. Another snippet of video showed an even more troubling scene. There stood the passenger who had been dragged, now identified as Dao, on his back to the front of the plane, appearing dazed as he spoke through bloody lips and blood that had spilled onto his chin. "I want to go home, I want to go home," he said. Late Tuesday, 21 senators, including Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), signed a letter of inquiry to Munoz, demanding answers about the incident. Among the many questions are "Has United Airlines implemented any policy changes as a result of this incident?" and "Is it the policy of United Airlines to use taxpayer-funded law enforcement to forcibly remove paying passengers for non-security reasons?" The letter concludes: "Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. Please provide a response no later than April 24, 2017." It was released after Munoz released a memo sent to his team in which he apologizes to Dao. "The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicited many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment. I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened. Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way. "I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right," he wrote. "Its never too late to do the right thing. I have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix whats broken so this never happens again. This will include a thorough review of crew movement, our policies for incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement. Well communicate the results of our review by April 30th. I promise you we will do better." A spokesman for President Donald Trump says it was "troubling" to watch the video. But White House press secretary Sean Spicer said it's unlikely the federal government will launch a separate investigation. Spicer noted that local authorities and United are reviewing the incident and said he's sure Trump has seen the video but that any comment from the president could influence a potential outcome of the investigations. Spicer added that he thinks everyone who has seen the video can agree that the situation could have been handled better. The ranking Democrats on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and House Subcommittee on Aviation also sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao requesting a review of the event, NBC News reported. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that it is reviewing Sunday's events to see if United violated rules on overselling flights. Dao's treatment prompted outrage and scorn on social media, and anger among some of the passengers on the flight as the man was evicted. As passengers threatened to boycott the airline, its shares slid by more than three percent Tuesday. The event stemmed from a common air travel issue a full flight. United was trying to make room for four employees of a partner airline, meaning four people had to get off. At first, the airline asked for volunteers, offering $400 and then when that did not work, $800 per passenger to relinquish a seat. When no one voluntarily came forward, United selected four passengers at random. Three people got off the flight, but the fourth said he was a doctor and needed to get home to treat patients on Monday. He refused to leave. Three Aviation Department police officers got on the plane. Two officers tried to reason with the man before a third came aboard and pointed at the man "basically saying, 'Sir, you have to get off the plane,'" said Tyler Bridges, a passenger whose wife, Audra D. Bridges, posted a video on Facebook. One of the officers could be seen grabbing the screaming man from his window seat, across the armrest and dragging him down the aisle by his arms. Other passengers on Flight 3411 are heard saying, "Please, my God," ''What are you doing?" ''This is wrong," ''Look at what you did to him" and "Busted his lip." "We almost felt like we were being taken hostage," Bridges said. "We were stuck there. You can't do anything as a traveler. You're relying on the airline." With warmer weather now here, more motorcyclists will be on Connecticuts roads and highways and state police are issuing a warning in the hopes that people will stay safe. Unfortunately with more motorcycles come more accidents, Trooper Kelly Grant, of the Connecticut State Police, said. Recently, a motorcycle rider in Torrington was killed after colliding with another vehicle. This weekend, a car struck a motorcycle in West Haven and the motorcyclist was killed while the passenger was seriously injured. State police say its important for motorcyclists to follow the same rules as drivers of cars to avoid danger and possibly death. Its the responsibility of both the motorcycle operator and the motor vehicle motorist to keep motorcycle operators safe. Driving in the shoulder, driving in the median, weaving in and out between traffic is very dangerous, Trooper Grant said. On Sunday, State Police found themselves in a chase after 911 calls came from up and down Interstate 95 about a pack of bikes riding dangerously on the highway. Jakob Ruminski and Evron Trim were the only two riders troopers could catch up with and theyre now facing charges of reckless driving, reckless endangerment and disobeying the signal of an officer. One driver with experience driving both cars and motorcycles, Tyrell Brazier, of Meriden, said its time for the people driving on four wheels to do more to protect the people riding on two. They just dont have any courtesy for the common motorcycle rider, Brazier said. He said drivers need more training in sharing the roads with motorcycles. I think everyone needs a refresher because they seem to forget the rules that they learned when they got their first license, he said. Combating human trafficking in Connecticut may begin within the hospitality industry. Behind closed doors inside hotels is where legal experts believe many of these crimes are being carried out. They are aiming to help hospitality workers help solve the growing problem of trafficking. It's a hidden problem and I think we need to bring it into the light," said Sheila Hayre, a visiting Associate Professor at the Quinnipiac University School of Law. Hayre is one of the legal experts teaching Connecticut's hotel and motel employees to identify the signs of trafficking and how they should respond. I feel like traffickers feel like they can hide their business in hotels," said Hayre, who believes that hotels have become ground zero for victims engaging in commercial sex acts or labor services against their will. Morgan Griffin is a hotel employee who wants to help. We need to know what's going on so that we can prevent it from happening," said Griffin, who works in Fairfield County. "You just have to know certain things to look out for so that you can prevent bad things from happening. Griffin and nine of his coworkers were listening intently on Monday night inside Quinnipiac University's School of Law to what to be watching out for while on the job. Well see young girls, lots of traffic, people trying to stay away from cameras, paying in cash," said Hayre. "There's a lot of stuff that's going on. In October 2016, Connecticut passed a law requiring all employees of the lodging industry to get training on this topic. Candace Levine, who owns a 14 room hotel in Fairfield, said it was heartbreaking curriculum at times. This is sad stuff and it affects me. I'm a parent," Levine said. But experts said it is a necessary lesson for the people just now realizing they are on the front lines. These are the people on the ground who can possibly make the most difference in terms of stopping it dead in its tracks," said Hayre. An Enfield police dispatcher has been charged with possession of child pornography. State police said they arrested Dean Bauer, 63, of Somers, after an investigation that went on for months after a woman filed a complaint last year. According to the arrest warrant application, the investigation began on July 26, 2016, when a female victim reported that her face had been photoshopped onto a naked womans body and posted on Instagram. Other victims came forward claiming the same. All of the victims said they had not given permission for the images. Investigators said they traced the images back to Bauer using the IP address from the Instagram account. Police also uncovered sexually explicit emails written from Bauer's email address. The arrest warrant was redacted so the full context of the emails was not made public, but the warrant does state that the emails described sexual encounters and a possible sexual assault. "Detectives were able to determine that there were a total of five victims with similar incidents where their faces were superimposed on these bodies of naked females," Sgt. Eric Haglund, of Connecticut State Police, said. When police spoke to Bauer, he admitted to writing the sexual emails but said that the content was fictitious. He also admitted to looking at several pornography but denied ever looking at child pornography, according to police. When police searched Bauers computers and cell phone, they found evidence of deleted videos and images that appeared to be child pornography, according to police reports. Bauer has been working as a police dispatcher in Enfield since 1978, according to Enfield Police Chief Carl Sferrazza and has never been the subject of a discipline matter. Enfield Human Resources Director Steve Belinda confirmed to NBC Connecticut that Bauer was placed on administrative leave with pay as of Friday. That same day Bauer gave written notice for his retirement, which be will be effective April 21. Bauer was arrested on Thursday and his bond was set at $50,000. He is out on bond and due in court on April 24. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette was sued Tuesday after his office rejected a public-records request for his and 20 staffers' private emails that a liberal advocacy group said were used to conduct government business over a six-year period. Progress Michigan filed its lawsuit in the Court of Claims, nearly six months after the department largely denied the request by saying it did not possess the records. State employees who use personal email accounts to perform official functions are clearly creating public records subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, according to the suit. When Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, whose office is exempt from Michigan's open-records law, voluntarily released thousands of pages of emails related to the Flint water crisis last year, some emails showed Snyder and his staff using their personal accounts. Progress Michigan said it learned through previous FOIA requests that the Republican attorney general and at least 12 other current or former employees had used their personal email accounts for official work. The suit cites a series of emails between May 2014 and May 2015 in which senior staff meetings, news conferences and media interviews were scheduled. "For the attorney general to come back and say they don't exist and we don't possess them is simply not true," said Mark Brewer, the group's attorney. "We attached examples to the complaint of the fact that they do exist. So the question before the court is, 'Is the attorney general lying about whether they exist or not or were they improperly destroyed or what happened to these emails?'" Schuette spokeswoman Andrea Bitely said the suit was being reviewed. She declined to comment further on pending litigation. The use of private email for government business has become more prominent nationally. Republicans frequently criticized Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state. Vice President Mike Pence more recently has come under scrutiny for using an AOL account to conduct state business when he was Indiana's governor. Brewer said he was unaware of any Michigan court ruling specifically on the issue of government officials' having to disclose private emails that discuss official business. "What's critical under the Freedom of Information Act is, 'Have you created a public record?'" he said. "The medium in which it's created is irrelevant." Dallas city leaders will receive the latest crime statistics as members of an Oak Cliff neighborhood look for ways to find change. According to the latest FBI report, sexual assaults are down 17 percent, but homicides are up 41 percent. Violent crime is a major concern for people living in the southern sector of Dallas. Members of the Kessler Heights Neighborhood Association gather weekly to figure out ways to combat violence and build wealth in their community, near interstates 35W and 30. The Oak Cliff neighborhood is consumed by poverty, but residents continue to combat negative perceptions and strive for change. "We love this area. We love Oak Cliff, and that is why we want to see the area change for the better," Pat Ford said. "We value the people who are here and who grew up here." Ford, who grew up in Oak Cliff, retired from the medical field to go back to south Dallas and help families by founding the non-profit organization Dallas Community Fellowship Inc. "We educate residents, we focus on outreach and meeting their needs," she said. "This community is really lacking resources." Ford has met with all of the city council members, but she says her pleas for resources have fallen on deaf ears. "When peoples lives are at stake, I can't play politics. When we lose our young men, we lose them two at a time," she said. "One to the grave and one to prison, and this is a constant. This is not just one day a week or a once a month. This is a constant. Our kids are immune to gunfire. They don't even run and hide anymore." Members of the Kessler Heights Neighborhood Association believe the high crime is correlated with a lack of resources and city investment. "There are good people that still live here, and its like we are prisoners in our own home," said Isreal Fininen. "I don't understand why we don't deserve some of these same privileges as other neighborhoods, or some of these same opportunities. We don't want the city to give us anything. We are asking for investment. Invest in our neighborhoods. We can work it. We have the manpower, we have the capability," said LaTosha Witherspoon. Residents see a lack of funding in education, housing, transportation, quality grocery stores and employment opportunities. Ford and dozens of other residents continue to fight to restore and rebuild Oak Cliff. She has already started several after school programs, education programs for students and parents and healthy choice food programs. She is also working on a grant for summer school programs and funding for a multi-purpose center. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was in Fort Worth Monday pushing a bill that adds incentives to hire military veterans as police officers. City and county leaders turned out to show their support for the measure, but some Fort Worth police officers who are already serving both their city and country are asking for more backup to make their jobs easier. The road back from war is a hard one, and for an ex-soldier still looking to serve law enforcement can offer a natural band of brothers back home. The American Law Enforcement Heroes Act would make that transition easier, Cornyn said, by encouraging more local and state law enforcement agencies to hire veterans by offering grants of $25,000 per veteran. He has the backing of Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. "This is a military community that we serve in Fort Worth," Price said. And it's a community served by the military. Nearly 30 percent of Fort Worth police officers are veterans. Among them is Cpl. Anthony White. "I know what it takes to balance serving in the United States military and trying to work here as a Fort Worth police officer," said White, who is also the third vice president for the Fort Worth Police Officers Association. When he joined the department, White was still active reserve in the Marines. That meant weekend drills and annual training every summer. The city of Fort Worth gives police officers 120 hours of military leave each year. "We're very appreciative of the 120 hours," White said. But he soon found it wasn't enough. "There would be times when I would burn vacation time and what not, to make ends meet," said White. Now, the FWPOA is pushing for more paid military time to help recruit the veterans city, county and state leaders want, and make life easier for the men and women who've never stopped serving. "The veteran needs to know that the city of Fort Worth has their back and that they support them," White said. The FWPOA asked for more military leave during negotiations for their new contract but couldn't strike a deal with the city. They're hoping this new push to hire veterans could reopen the conversation. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says his new effort to reduce Central American gang violence in Houston won't be affected by what local police say is rising fear among Latinos of being detained by immigration authorities. Abbott on Monday announced that he would direct state grant money and additional Texas Rangers law enforcement resources to monitor and solve gang crimes in Harris County. He singled out MS-13, a gang linked to drug trafficking and violence in the U.S. and Latin America. This recent wave of senseless violence cannot continue, said Abbott. Governments foremost responsibility is to keep our citizens safe and secure. Texas will take action and use all lawful means to put an end to this lawlessness. Houston police said last week that the percentages of Hispanics reporting rape and violent crimes have sharply fallen this year. But Abbott said authorities won't "be relying upon a tip of some person out there who may be here illegally." The Republican is a strong supporter of tougher immigration laws. To help combat this wave of gang-related violence, Abbott is immediately directing state resources to a violent crime reduction operation in Harris County. The White House has accused Russia of trying to "cover up" Syrian president Bashar Assad's role in a chemical weapons attack that left dozens, including children, dead, NBC News reports. Senior administration officials briefed reporters Tuesday on declassified intelligence that knocks down the Russian-pushed narrative that last week's deadly chemical weapons attack could have been carried out by non-state or terrorist actors. One administration official called that effort an absolute cover up of Syrian regime culpability, and reinforced the U.S. narrative that the Assad regime was behind the attack and that the gas used was, in fact, sarin. Russians have a "clear pattern of deflecting blame" from the Assad regime, another administration official said. Authorities say the death of a Southern California man who was known to be at camps protesting the Dakota Access pipeline does not appear suspicious. The Morton County Sheriff's Office says a fisherman found the body of 35-year-old Damjan Nedelkovski of Glendale, floating near the shoreline of the Cannonball River in North Dakota on Sunday. An autopsy found no trauma to the body. The cause of death is pending. Friends and family last had contact with Nedelkovski in late October. His stepbrother filed a missing person report in November. Protesters staged months of demonstrations to try to stop the flow of oil through the four-state pipeline, saying the pipeline will pollute water and damage Native American sacred sites. Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners says the line is safe. A new futuristic transportation system could soon dart passengers between Miami and Orlando in less than 30 minutes. Hyperloop One, a Los Angeles-based startup, has unveiled 11 routes in the United States that are being considered for its new technology including the 257-mile stretch between Miami and Orlando. Five of the proposals Florida, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, and Missouri involve officials from the state Department of Transportation. Miami-Dades Director of the Department of Transportation and Public Works Alice Bravo is leading Floridas proposal. "We think this is a corridor that could serve as a national stimulus," Bravo told Verge, "for this area of innovation and human capital intellect." The routes would significantly reduce passenger and cargo transportation times across some of the countrys most heavily trafficked regions including Los Angeles-San Diego, Seattle-Portland, and Reno-Las Vegas. "This disruptive technology conceived, developed and built in the U.S. will move passengers and cargo faster, cleaner and more efficiently," said Hyperloop CEO Rob Lloyd in a statement. The high-speed transit system uses custom electric motors to accelerate and decelerate a levitated pod through a low pressure tube. The company announced that its test track in the desert north of Las Vegas is now operational, which represents a huge milestone for the company. A group of Florida teens wrangled a 13-foot python they found roaming in a Pembroke Pines neighborhood. The three boys caught the massive snake in Holly Lake, a residential community on the edge of the Everglades, Pembroke Pines police said in a Facebook post. The python had burn marks on its skin and may have been trying to escape a brush fire that ignited in the Everglades Wednesday. The "Holiday Fire" charred 6,800 acres through parts of Broward and Northwest Miami-Dade before it was brought under control Sunday. Police warned residents that brush fires in the Everglades may lead to a rise in wildlife entering nearby residential areas as they try to escape the smoke and flames. The phython was taken to Everglades Holiday Park to be assessed by professionals. Officials warned against approaching pythons or other wild animals and said residents should call 911. A university student is dead after being struck by gunfire at a protest in Venezuela, where thousands have been demonstrating against the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Twenty-year-old Daniel Queliz was killed Monday evening in the central coastal city of Valencia after a friend says he was struck in the neck by gunfire while participating in the protest. The death is the second to take place at protests that erupted April 1 after the Supreme Court stripped congress of its last vestiges of power. Although the decision was later reversed Venezuelans continue to protest what they see as a government steadily sliding toward authoritarianism. The crisis in Venezuela was the topic of discussion at the Latin American Summit For Political Marketing and Governance held at Miami-Dade Wolfson Campus Tuesday. Attendees criticized the Maduro administration. "The crisis is not only political, but it is a humanitarian. There is no food, no medicines, no nothing," said Venezuelan-American Henry Ettorre. Government authorities have been using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, methods being criticized by international groups as an excessive use of force. What to Know John McCain accused Russia of having cooperated with Syrian government forces in a chemical weapons attack that killed more than 80 people Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof was given nine consecutive life sentences after he pleaded guilty to state murder charges Elle Fanning is receiving backlash for her newest movie role playing a transgender teenager who's transitioning from female to male Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here. Russia Cooperated With Syria in Attack, McCain Says U.S. Sen. John McCain accused Russia of having cooperated with Syrian government forces in a chemical weapons attack that has killed more than 80 people, including more than a dozen children. The Republican senator said at a press conference in Belgrade that he believes "the Russians knew about chemical weapons because they were operating exactly from the same base." He said the U.S. launched cruise missile strikes last week against the Syrian base "in a response of a chemical attack." McCain said the U.S. should take out Syria's air force as part of stopping Syrian President Bashar Assad from repeating such attacks in the future. There was no immediate comment from Moscow on McCain's statement. U.S. Aircraft Carrier Dispatch 'Outrageous,' North Korea Says North Korea is vowing tough counteraction to any military moves that might follow the U.S. move to send the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its battle group to waters off the Korean Peninsula. The statement from Pyongyang comes as tensions on the divided peninsula are high because of U.S.-South Korea wargames now underway and recent ballistic missile launches by the North. Pyongyang sees the annual maneuvers as a dress rehearsal for invasion, while the North's missile launches violate U.N. resolutions. The statement comes just after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said U.S. missile strikes against a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack carry a message for any nation operating outside of international norms. The North has long claimed the U.S. is preparing some kind of assault against it and justifies its nuclear weapons as defensive in nature. Charleston Church Shooter Pleads Guilty, Gets 9 Life Sentences Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof was given nine consecutive life sentences in prison after he pleaded guilty to state murder charges, leaving him to await execution in a federal prison and sparing his victims and their families the burden of a second trial. Judge J.C. Nicholson imposed the sentences following a hearing in which church members and Roof's grandfather testified about the personal toll of the case. The self-avowed white supremacist entered his guilty pleas while standing at the defense table with his attorneys, clad in a gray and white striped jail jumpsuit and handcuffed to a chain at his waist. Roof's plea deal with state prosecutors, who also had been pursuing the death penalty, came in exchange for a life prison sentence on the state charges. Investigation of Trump's Charity Wins Pulitzer Prize The biggest U.S. news story of 2016 the tumultuous presidential campaign yielded a Pulitzer Prize for the Washington Post reporter who not only raised doubts about Donald Trump's charitable giving but also revealed that the candidate had been recorded crudely bragging about grabbing women. David A. Fahrenthold won the prize for national reporting, with the judges citing stories that examined Trump's charitable foundation and called into question whether the real estate magnate was as generous as he claimed. Fahrenthold's submission also included his story about Trump's raunchy behind-the-scenes comments during a 2005 taping of "Access Hollywood." His talk about groping women's genitals rocked the White House race and prompted a rare apology from the then-candidate. Elle Fanning Receives Backlash for Role as Transgender Teen Elle Fanning is receiving backlash for her newest movie role. The 19-year-old actress, known for her role in "Super 8," will star as a transgender boy in the upcoming film "3 Generations." The film follows the story of a transgender teenager, Ray, as he transitions from female to male. Critics are saying the role should have gone to a transgender actor. But the movies director, Gaby Dellal, is defending her decision to cast Fanning. Fanning told Teen Vogue in 2015 that she was initially hesitant about the role, but she worked to understand it by speaking with trans kids and doing research on kids in transition. But the actress was still receiving criticism on social media following a recent release of the movie's trailer. No 'Tell-All,' but Prince's Ex Details Their Life in Memoir Love, grief, loss and legacy are just a few of the reasons Mayte Garcia is stepping back into the purple light with a new memoir covering her 11 years with the late music icon Prince. Garcia was just 16, a fan and already a professional belly dancer, when her mother slipped one of Prince's entourage a videotape of her daughter dancing. They were at one of his concerts and Prince watched right away, summoning her backstage. Letters and phone calls followed as a friendship blossomed, regardless of their 15-year age difference. At nearly 18, she became part of his working life; by 19, she was his lover (it's time, he told her, for birth control). They married when she was 22. She was pregnant two months later, but they lost their baby boy to a rare genetic disorder six days after birth. Their grief over the passing of their precious Amiir, which means Prince in Arabic, would contribute to their divorce in 2000, Garcia said while promoting the recently released book "The Most Beautiful Girl: My Life with Prince." Ruby Slippers to Go Off Display at Museum of American History There's no place like home. And there's no place like the Smithsonian National Museum of American History if you want to see the ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz." But you had better hurry down the yellow brick road. Museum officials say April 23 is the last day to see the iconic shoes before they are taken off display through next year for some behind-the-curtain conservation work. Smithsonian officials launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign last year that raised more than $300,000 for the conservation project. The size 5 shoes worn by Judy Garland were donated to the Smithsonian in 1979 and have been one of the museum's most popular artifacts. You're in luck, for one day only you can buy Girl Scout Cookies practically everywhere in New York City. Tuesday marks Corporate Cookie Connection, a one-day event every spring and fall during which businesses open up their lobbies and cafeterias for New York City's Girl Scouts so they can sell cookies. Those interested in buying the treats can head to Midtown, Midtown East, the Upper East Side, Brooklyn and Queens. Girl Scouts will be in some locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while others will be selling from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here for the full list of locations and times. Some of the locations include: Brookfield Properties, Jack Resnick & Sons, Inc., The Yard and Empire State Reality Trust, Eileen Fisher and The Cliffs Climbing + Fitness. For years, a woman named "Mel" mingled with young Muslims in New York, telling them she was a Turkish convert to the faith looking for friends. In reality, she was a cop working for the NYPD. Her true identity and the full nature of her work remain a guarded secret, but, thanks partly to social media, she may be unmasked as part of an upcoming trial of two women accused of plotting a homemade bomb attack. By combing the web, attorneys for the two defendants, Noelle Velentzas and Asia Siddiqui, say they have obtained the agent's photograph and learned her real name. And in recent weeks, they got a judge's permission for a plan to circulate her picture at area mosques in order to build a case that their clients were entrapped by someone fishing for harmless people to lure into a phony plot. The defense has an obligation "to investigate the case fully," defense attorney Charles Swift said, including probing the activities and background of the police department's mole. That plan has dismayed police officials, who have been working to scrub any trace of "Mel" from the web. The NYPD's top counterterrorism official, John Miller, said in a court filing that revealing her identity and widely circulating her picture could jeopardize ongoing undercover investigations. The case could provide a rare glimpse into how the police department uses informants and undercover investigators to smoke out Islamic extremists. The tactic has long troubled civil rights groups and was the subject of an Associated Press investigation in 2012 about how the nation's largest police department systematically catalogued Muslim neighborhoods, infiltrated Muslim student groups and put paid informants in mosques. From a law enforcement perspective, the stakes are high for other reasons. Investigators with blown covers are often pulled off the street for good as a precaution. That's because risks of exposure are real, said a former NYPD undercover in major drug and gun trafficking cases and subject of the recent book "Gunz and God: The Life of an NYPD Undercover" who still uses an alias, Stevie Stryker. "There are people out there who would do anything to take revenge on you," said Stryker, who testified only when courtrooms were closed to the public. "Protecting your identity goes to your house. It's about protecting your wife and family." Police and prosecutors have revealed in court filings that the undercover agent befriended Velentzas, 29, and Siddiqui, 33, in 2013 and sometimes wore a hidden microphone to record their conversations. On some of those recordings, made in 2014, Velentzas ranted against the United States and praised the Islamic State militant group. Prosecutors said the pair studied bomb-making and shopped for bomb components, eventually purchasing propane gas tanks, fertilizer and a pressure cooker. The undercover officer played along, prosecutors said, and talked with them about potential targets. Velentzas, despite taking the woman into confidence, still had suspicions, prosecutors said in court filings. She used her smartphone to search for the fake name the officer was using, as well as sites with titles like "How to Spot Undercover Police," and "Informants, Bombs and Lessons." It's unclear how or why the undercover sought to befriend the defendants in the first place. After news reports on their arrests, several students at Brooklyn College took to Facebook to share their suspicions - later confirmed by a professor - that the same undercover officer, using the name "Melike Ser" or "Mel," had been showing up at student political meetings, former organizer Tom DeAngelis said Monday. Other students told the news site Gothamist that she took a public profession of faith and also circulated at Muslim community centers. DeAngelis, 23, who graduated last year, said that he encountered her twice and recalled how she once had an exchange in Turkish with one of his friends. Otherwise, "I didn't think anything of it," he said. "She was just there. A lot of us were a little bit naive at that point." Using news reports and online searches, defense lawyers said they uncovered photos of the woman, her real name, her alma mater and even the names and pictures of some of her close friends. The police department conceded it was aware of two compromising internet posts: one on Facebook by someone who had a photo of the woman and warned she was an undercover officer, and another on a website with a photo of a wedding she attended in her real life. The department took immediate steps to have them removed. U.S. District Judge Sterling Johnson ruled late last month that, though he has concerns about the undercover's safety, he can't legally prohibit the defense from using information about her that was found in the public domain. He also rejected prosecutors' request to close the courtroom to the public if she ends up testifying at trial that hasn't yet been scheduled. The judge instead came up with another protection he said he considered more appropriate: allowing the undercover officer to wear traditional Muslim dress that covers a woman's face. DeAngelis doesn't remember if she was wearing a hijab or some other covering when he met her. Either way, he said knowing now that "Mel" was a police officer "really messes with you." Warning: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing for some readers. A Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, man is accused of physically abusing his wife and two children over the course of several years through various methods, including dog shock collars, needles, pipes and wooden dowels. Joseph Myhre, 44, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, strangulation and other related offenses. Officials say the investigation began on March 15 after Myhres wife met with police at the Einstein Medical Center Montgomery. The woman told investigators Myhre had punched her several times in the back of her head and fractured her skull inside their home in Collegeville, according to police. The woman said she drove herself to the hospital after Myhre fell asleep. Myhre was arrested and charged with assault. As police continued to investigate, they determined Myhre had also physically abused his 11-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, whom he home schooled over a six-year period, according to a criminal complaint. During an interview with police, Myhre's daughter described the various ways her father abused her over the years, investigators said. Myhre allegedly beat and abused her with several objects, including a lancet that he stuck underneath her fingernails and toenails, a remote controlled electric dog shock collar, needles, various sticks, PVC pipes, a wooden dowel, pliers and a shoehorn. He also allegedly punched her hundreds of times, placed his knees and feet on her stomach and strangled her and banged her head on the floor until she lost consciousness. Myhre's son also told police his father had abused him hundreds of times since he was 5 years old, according to the criminal complaint. As with his sister, the abuse included being punched and kicked, being choked, being beaten with sticks and PVC pipes and being shocked with a dog collar, police said. Both children also told police they had seen their father repeatedly abuse their mother, according to investigators. Investigators also say they obtained a cell phone recording of Myhre beating his children as they screamed in pain and begged for him to stop. Myhre was arraigned Friday night and was placed in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility on $1 million bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 19. If you are experiencing domestic violence, you can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help at 800.799.7233. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected to meet for he first time with his Russian counterpart in Moscow Tuesday evening, NBC News reported. And as the dust settles on the U.S. missile strike on Syria, the meeting won't be the encounter either side had planned. Tillerson hoped to discuss Ukraine, NATO, Iran, Syria and better U.S.-Russia relations, but sarin gas, dead children and missiles are now on the table instead. The top U.S. diplomat and Sergei Lavrov will likely talk about what comes next for the two countries. The Kremlin wants to know if the strike was a one-time intervention or if it signals a deeper involvement by Washington. Moscow has said Washington lacks a strategy in Syria, though Tillerson is expected to propose that Russia change its own strategy and drop support for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. The forcible removal of a man on a United Airlines flight highlights the fact that passengers are largely at the mercy of airlines when flights get overbooked. Overbooking flights then rebooking passengers to free up space is legalthe Department of Transportation has general guidelines about overbooked flights and how to compensate barred passengers. Europe has a different set of rules. U.S. airlines bumped 40,000 passengers last year, not counting those who volunteered to give up their seats. United booted 3,765. "Airline contracts of carriage state that seats are not guaranteed, and are written for the airlines convenience not the passengers," George Hobica, founder and president of Airfarewatchdog.com, said of U.S. guidelines. "In this case the passenger had no 'legal' rights." But Hobica said that "whats so odd about this incident is that even if the flight was oversold to paying passengers, it appears from reports so far that this passenger was evicted from the plane to accommodate non-revenue United Express employees." Travel lawyer Alexander Anolik wrote about involuntary removal for the American Bar Association in 2013 and said that passengers cannot sue an airline, but must rely on the Department of Transportation to enforce consumer protection regulations. According to the Department of Transportation, "the most effective way to reduce the risk of being bumped is to get to the airport early." The department's website explains that bumped passengers are typically those who check in last. Airlines will also usually bump people flying on the cheapest tickets because the required compensation will be lower. Carriers have other rules, too. United says that when deciding who gets bumped, it considers how long it will take for passengers to reach their destination on a later flight, it won't break up a family group, and won't bump minors who are traveling alone. Airlines are most likely to oversell flights during busy travel periods such as spring break and the summer-vacation season, but bumping can happen any time there is bad weather that causes some flights to be canceled. Federal rules spell out how much the airline must pay each passenger and airlines must give bumped passengers a written statement that explains their compensation rights. If the passenger will arrive between one and two hours later than planned or between one and four hours for an international flight the airline must pay the passenger twice the amount of the one-way fare to his destination, up to $675. If the passenger will be delayed more than two hours or four hours for international flights the airline must pay him four times the one-way fare, up to $1,350. Anolik noted that the legality of overbooking flights was established by a U.S. Supreme Court case between Ralph Nader and Allegheny Airlines in 1976. From that case, it established "a precedent allowing them to overbook so long as they give passengers sufficient notice." This again raises questions about the notice the passenger received on Sunday's Chicago flight. Uniteds online "Contract of Carriage" says that if a flight is oversold, no one may be denied boarding against his/her will until UA or other carrier personnel first ask for volunteers who will give up their reservations willingly in exchange for compensation as determined by UA. However, it is unclear if this rule is applicable to passengers onboard who have already been cleared for boarding. NBC has reached out to United for comment. United Airlines spokesman Chris Hobart told The Associated Press airline employees were "following the right procedures" for the flight, which United has described as overbooked, when they called police who then dragged a man off a plane at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. However, the flight was at capacity, and only overbooked when the airline realized employees needed four seats on board, according to the airline's description of the events. Other major airlinesDelta, Southwest and Alaskaoffer similar explanations about their overbooking policies. In the event that a passenger is involuntarily denied boarding, they will be compensated in conjunction with the length of their delay and put on the next possible flight. Deltas site says that if no flight is available, they will even coordinate with another airline. Like United, these policies say that a passenger may be denied boarding, but do not specify if that includes forcing a passenger off a flight once he or she is onboard the plane. United CEO Oscar Munoz said in a statement that the company is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities to conduct a review of what happened. He also said they are reaching out to the removed passenger directly. One officer involved has been placed on leave, the Chicago Aviation Department said Monday. Not everyone gets upset about being bumped. Some savvy travelers see oversold flights as an opportunity. They'll give up their seats if the airline makes a sweet enough offer. Some check their flight's seating chart ahead of time to see if it's sold out. If you aim to be bumped, sit near the gate agent's desk so you can pounce before other passengers take that offer of travel vouchers, gift cards, and sometimes cash. If offered a spot on a later flight, make sure it's a confirmed seat. And don't check a bag. --Shannon Ho contributed to this report A program through which people voluntarily ban themselves from Marylands six casino is being criticized as toothless and unhelpful by local gambling addicts. About 1,400 people have enrolled in the program, which was required under the state law authorizing the opening of the casinos almost a decade ago. It mirrors self-exclusion programs of neighboring states with casinos. The states lottery and gaming commission administers the Maryland Voluntary Exclusion Program, which allows problem gamblers to enroll in an official state database of customers banned from entering the states casinos, including the new MGM National Harbor casino in Prince Georges County. Enrollees who are caught on a casino floor face arrest and a formal trespassing charge from police. An I-Team review of the program found a fast-rising number of enrollees, including 28 in the past few weeks, but also found the self-exclusion lists generally require gamblers to police themselves. State regulators do not require casinos to check IDs of customers and do not utilize facial recognition software or license plate readers to detect excluded gamblers who enter the premises of the six Maryland casinos. National Council on Problem Gambling Director Keith Whyte said self-exclusion lists are used in many states that allow casino gambling but the lists lack strong enforcement. I think it's very difficult for casinos to enforce, Whyte said. They get thousands of customers a day. You're never asked for identification when you start losing. In fact, you're never asked when you start to play. You can lose as much as you want without being identified." A D.C.-area problem gambler told the News4 I-Team he frequently entered and departed casinos undetected in the months after joining the voluntary exclusion program. He said he hoped the program would help him combat his addiction and keep him out of the new MGM National Harbor casino. Im mad at myself for what I've done and I also feel disappointed that the program that I thought was there to help me isn't (helping), he said. There are several safeguards to help police, casino security and state regulators detect voluntary exclusion participants who enter casinos, state officials said. Federal regulations require winners show identification if they win more than $1,200. The voluntary exclusion program also prevents participants from using their players club cards or from cashing checks inside Maryland casinos. Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency Responsible Gambling Coordinator Mary Drexler said participants are warned the voluntary exclusion program requires self-policing. In the application itself it says it straight out: You are really responsible for your own behavior," Drexler said. The agency and Whyte said self-exclusion lists are only one tool to be utilized by addicted gamblers. Hotlines, treatment programs and Gamblers Anonymous are best used to fully combat an addiction, they said. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency provides information for how to obtain treatment and guidance in its enrollment packet for the voluntary exclusion program. Self-exclusion is a good program and can help some people, but unless it's surrounded by a more comprehensive program, it's unlikely to thoroughly help people, especially those with severe gambling problems," Whyte said. The state is researching the use of license plate reader devices to detect the automobiles of gamblers enrolled in the self-exclusion program, Drexler said. It's just in the research stages, she said. There is nothing set in stone at this time, but we do think that may be one more avenue that may be helpful." We take every reasonable opportunity to ensure that people on the Voluntary Exclusion Program list are not on our property engaging in gaming," MGM said in a statement. "We do not ID every person through the door but we provide the photo and description for each person in the program to Surveillance and Security. We also upload it to into our Internal customer databases so as to flag any gaming activity under the person's name. At Live! Casino, we take our responsibility to prevent problem gaming very seriously," a Maryland Live! spokeswoman said. "The States Voluntary Exclusion Program requires casinos to refrain from marketing directly to individuals who sign up for the program. It also places the responsibility for staying out of casinos on the program participants themselves. We support this effort on multiple levels, including using technology and security measures to identify and remove such players from our facility." Anne Arundel County Police records show the agency has cited at least 43 people for violating the self-exlucsion list at Maryland Live! casino since January 2016. While it is the self-excluded individuals responsibility to stay out of casinos, we deploy extensive measures to help ensure those who have entered the voluntary exclusion program are unable to gamble at our casino," a Horseshoe Casino spokesman said. "We maintain a database of self-excluded individuals, utilize information-technology platforms and conduct extensive team member training to help identify those who are violating the programs conditions by visiting the casino. Consistent with the voluntary exclusion programs terms - and to deter future prohibited behavior on the part of self-excluded individuals - we report all known violators to the local authorities to be charged with criminal trespassing. Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones. Courts in Maryland may soon be able to order domestic violence suspects to use GPS systems that alert victims if their abusers are in the area. Lawmakers in the state passed a bill late Monday that would allow judges to order that defendants wear GPS devices connected to "victim stay-away alert technology" as a condition of pretrial release or probation. Amber's Law, also known as House Bill 1163, was named in memory of Amber Schinault. The 36-year-old Prince George's County resident was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Andrew Kugler, in July 2012. Schinault's mother, Angela Zarcone, said Tuesday that she was moved by the passage of the law. "I feel like it's the birth of my first grandchild. It's Amber's legacy," she said. A woman found dead inside a Berwyn Heights, Md., over the weekend knew her killer, police said, and may have feared for her safety. Schinault got a protective order against Kugler after she reported that he assaulted her the previous month. Kugler still was able to break into her home. Schinault was found dead in the basement of her home on 57th Avenue in Berwyn Heights on July 22, 2012. Her ex-boyfriend was convicted in May 2014 and sentenced to life in prison later that year. Prince George's County Councilman Mel Franklin called the passage of the bill a victory for domestic violence survivors. The passage of Ambers Law is an amazing triumph for survivors of domestic violence and will save countless lives by strengthening protections against domestic violence abusers," he said in a statement. The bill would require defendants to wear GPS ankle bracelets. When the defendant is in an area that a court has ordered that he or she stay away from, like the victim's home or workplace, the victim will get a smartphone app alert. NBC Washington Zarcone said the technology would give victims some peace of mind. "The victim just has an app on her phone, with her all the time," she said. "She can go about living her life and would know if the perpetrator became close to her, she has time to take care of her situation." Amber's Law passed unanimously in the last moments of the 2017 legislative session. Del. Aruna Miller (D-Montgomery County) sponsored the legislation. She previously told WBAL-TV that it was created to give victims additional tools to protect themselves. "Amber and her family did everything that they were supposed to do. They got a protective order. They changed the locks on their home. They sat outside of their home keeping careful vigilance and, in fact, the police department was right around the corner from their home. Despite all of this, on July 22, 2012, Amber Shinault was brutally murdered by her attacker. He slashed her throat," Miller said. The bill now goes to Gov. Larry Hogan's desk. Hogan has the option of signing it, vetoing it or letting it become law without his signature. A Metropolitan Police Department officer was taken to a hospital after being injured in Southeast Washington Monday evening. Police said the officer, who was not identified, suffered minor injuries. The call for an officer in need of assistance went out about 9:20 p.m. in the 2600 block of Birney Place SE. It is not known why the officer was at that location at the time of the assistance call. Additional details were not released immediately. This is the same block where two men were killed and seven other were injured when gunmen opened fire at a community party in September 2016. No one is happy about the potential cuts coming to University of Massachusetts Boston. Even though the university has managed to cut about $10 million, it's still not enough. The school is still facing another $15 million of debt, which means it must scale back and make some tough decisions, such as cutting 20 courses this summer. "It means you can't take what you want to major in or it will take longer to graduate," said professor Marlene Kim, president of UMass Boston Faculty and Staff Union. "In my department of economics, they originally cancelled seven classes for the fall and two for the summer. We got three of the seven reinstated." The proposed cuts come as the school just finished constructing a new classroom building and is working to complete new dorms for first year students. "If you don't have the money, don't do it," student Gayane Pogosyan said of the new building construction. "We need these classes. People come here for those classes." "If youre an educational institution, you dont cut classes," added Kim. The university declined an on-camera interview, but issued a statement saying, "We are still in the process of finalizing our summer course offerings. We will continue to work toward providing a broad range of academic offerings that meet the needs of all of our students." The union plans on protesting at the board of trustees meeting on Wednesday morning. A final decision on what will be cut will be made sometime in the next week. It turns out Mitt Romney's "binders full of women" are actual binders after all - filled with the resumes of women who hoped to land jobs in his administration as governor. The Boston Globe reports Tuesday that it was shown the binders by a former Romney aide. The two white three-ring binders contain about 200 cover letters and resumes with some handwritten notes. The former Republican presidential nominee made the awkward reference during a 2012 debate in response to a question about workplace inequality. The women in question were seeking work in Romney's administration when he was governor of Massachusetts. "I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' and they brought us whole binders full of women," Romney said during the debate. The binders - and the resumes - were the result of an effort to get more women into state government in Massachusetts after Romney defeated Democratic nominee and then-state Treasurer Shannon O'Brien for governor in 2002. The comment - which sounded tin-eared to some - became a punchline among Romney foes and late night comics. Ultimately Romney did get credit in Massachusetts for naming women to high positions in his administration and the state courts. Although the "binders full of women" comment quickly became a metaphor of sorts, the actual binders had remained out of sight until now. Romney's name has been floated as a possible candidate for U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch's seat if the seven-term Utah Republican decides against seeking re-election next year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday he'd reached out to Romney about possibly running if there is a vacancy. Romney owns a home in Park City, Utah. A telephony denial of service (TDoS) attack is a specific type of DDoS attack that originates from or is directed towards a telephone system with the intent of bringing down the targeted system. These attacks commonly focus on commercial businesses and may often include ransomware requests. In reality, these attacks can affect anyone, including our nations 911 infrastructure, because even it is not isolated from or immune from these types of attacks. And based on its mission, in many ways, it is more fragile. Unintentional TDoS attack Just last year, 911 centers across the country, including a site in Phoenix, Arizona, were the targets of allegedly unintentional 911 TDoS attacks when some malicious JavaScript code was published on a web page. The code, once loaded on a smartphone browser, would cause some devices to automatically dial 911 repeatedly without user intervention and without the users knowledge. The bug, found in the Apple iOS, was recently corrected in Apples latest 10.3 release. Now, user confirmation is required before the phone will automatically make a call. While this fix should minimize the net effect of this specific type of focused attack by embedding code on a web page, there remains the possibilityif not the likelihoodthat other TDoS attacks, with more nefarious intentions, could trigger similar events, ultimately preventing citizens from reaching 911 centers during dire times. 911 lines go down in Amarillo, Texas Last week Amarillo, Texas, also experienced an outage with its 911 system. Just after 7 a.m on Thursday, April 6, public safety dispatchers at the Amarillo, Texas, Police Department were forced to turn to social media to notify the public that their 911 lines were not working. In some ways similar to the recent outages in Dallas, the root cause of this outage was an overload of inbound 911 calls, spanning a short period of time. Amarillo Police Sgt. Brent Barbee told reporters that while he was familiar with what are termed as "mass call events," he had never witnessed them coming in "from one source" as was being experienced that morning. Typically, these events occur during weather events or if there's a major accident on the highway and a large number of citizens with cell phones call in simultaneously to 911, creating a spike in call volume that is difficult to manage. The subsequent investigation by Amarillo Police revealed that the source of these calls was from a multi-line telephone system at a local business. Once the company was contacted and made aware of the problem, officials disconnected the system and the problem was successfully cleared. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. It was reported that during this uninitiated attack, the Amarillo Emergency Communication Center received about 470 calls over a 90-minute span, averaging to over 11 calls per second. It was not known how many calls may have been missed; however, police officials reported they were not aware of any issues left unresolved. In this instance, the huge volume of this traffic was accidental, although certainly not difficult for anyone with malicious intent to replicate: overloading the inbound call-taking capabilities of a center and staff, effectively taking them out of service. Just how vulnerable are we? Although no official industry statistics exist, most industry experts will agree that approximately 80 percent or more of the nations estimated 6,000-plus Public Safety Answer Points (PSAPs) in the United States are operating with six positions or less. Around the country, many agencies in metropolitan areas are moving or considering moving to consolidated, regionalized models for their public safety centers. In addition to this model providing financial benefits from physical and virtual consolidation, technology advantages are more realistically deployed, and centers can interwork with each other, effectively providing a meshed Next Generation 911 (NG911) safety net for citizens. Using the NENA i3 framework, NG911 offers a modern approach to network security and protection based IP-based architecture and capabilities. In fact, cybersecurity remains the greatest concern. With new multimedia, multimodal methods of communication that will receive not only voice traffic, but also text messages, pictures and video from public sources, network design and implementation must address segmentation, detection and isolation of potential threats in addition to resiliency and reliability. Interim solutions may be possible While next-generation 911 networks are being built and deployed, can something be done to protect us from these attacks? Fortunately, the answer is a simple one, yet complex at the same time. An initial response that would have solved the problem in Amarillo would be for the local exchange carrier to provide the PSAP with the ability to selectively block traffic from a specific source number for a predetermined period of time. To ensure this isn't abused, checks and balances could be put into place that control who and when blockages can be applied, as well as what call routing is applied to blocked numbers. Likely, a happy medium could be reached that would still protect individuals while not denying other legitimate callers access to critical emergency services. One thing to remember is that these problems have mostly been solved in the commercial space. These lessons learned need to be examined and then reshaped for the public safety use cases as we start deploying modern emergency service networks. What will it all cost? Can we afford it? At this point, it probably costs more to keep the legacy system running. An upgrade or replacement is likely to have an overall lower TCO, and, as with most upgrades to technology, the payback may be faster than you think. If the problem is about shoveling money out the window, don't worry so much about the size of the shovel, just close the window! Forty-five per cent fall in under 18s falling pregnant THE under-18 pregnancy rate in West Berkshire has fallen to its lowest level this century, new figures reveal. The statistics, which measure the number of conceptions in young women aged 15 to 17, show that in 2015, 46 fell pregnant in the district, equating to a pregnancy rate of 14.6 in every 1,000 in West Berkshire. According to the figures from the Office for National Statistics, the rate has fallen dramatically since the year 2000, when 83 women in that age group conceived equivalent to 27.6 in every 1,000. The 45-per-cent drop means West Berkshire has the fourth lowest conception rate in under-18s in Berkshire, with Bracknell Forest (7.4), Wokingham (8.1) and Windsor and Maidenhead (9.1) having the lowest. In 2015, both Reading and Slough had a conception rate of 22.2 in every 1,000. Across the wider region, the under-18 pregnancy rate has also continued to fall, with the rate for the South East in 2015 the lowest since records began in 1969, at 17.1. While the news has been welcomed, there are concerns that the continued reduction in public health funding may mean the rate once again will begin to rise. Sexual health charity FPAs chief executive Natika H Halil said: This reduction is thanks to the hard work of health and education professionals, and the legacy of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy a key component of which was improving access to contraception. However, recent dramatic cuts to contraception services could see this improvement reverse. The UK Government has cut public health budgets by a whopping 800m over six years. Research by the Advisory Group on Contraception (AGC) has found that in 2015-2016, more than one in six local authorities decreased their spending on contraception services as a result of this public health cut. While not all local authorities have reduced their spending, many have, and were concerned this trend could increase. West Berkshire Council spokeswoman Peta Stoddart-Crompton confirmed the local authority had not reduced its spending on contraception, but added that demand for the service was decreasing. She continued: We also continue to provide information and advice on contraception though our website and C-CARD scheme. The team also funds a Healthy School co-ordinator who raises awareness on wide range of public health issues including sexual health. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Another near-collision was averted at New Delhis IGI airport when an Air India plane, which was about to land, was asked to abort landing as an Indigo plane was just in front of the Air India flight. The Goa-bound AI 156, carrying 122 passengers, was about to take off at 11.15 am from runway 28 when IndiGos Ranchi-Delhi 6E 398 landed on the same runway minutes later. The Delhi airport's runway 27 and 28 cannot be used at the same time as the two merge towards Dwarka side. ATC, after witnessing another plane on the runway asked the commander of AI flight, Captain Amit Tyagi, to reject take off immediately. Following the incident, the aircraft returned to the terminal for checks on brake assembly and tyres. The Air India aircraft later took off for Goa at 12.50 pm. Later, in the investigation was initiated regarding the incident. So far, ATC is blaming communication gap between agencies. Earlier also, Spicejet and Indigo planes had a face-off at Delhi airport. Later, both the airlines blamed each other and an investigation is going on regarding the incident. NEW DELHI: Another near-collision was averted at New Delhis IGI airport when an Air India plane, which was about to land, was asked to abort landing as an Indigo plane was just in front of the Air India flight. The Goa-bound AI 156, carrying 122 passengers, was about to take off at 11.15 am from runway 28 when IndiGos Ranchi-Delhi 6E 398 landed on the same runway minutes later. The Delhi airport's runway 27 and 28 cannot be used at the same time as the two merge towards Dwarka side. ATC, after witnessing another plane on the runway asked the commander of AI flight, Captain Amit Tyagi, to reject take off immediately. Following the incident, the aircraft returned to the terminal for checks on brake assembly and tyres. The Air India aircraft later took off for Goa at 12.50 pm. Later, in the investigation was initiated regarding the incident. So far, ATC is blaming communication gap between agencies. Earlier also, Spicejet and Indigo planes had a face-off at Delhi airport. Later, both the airlines blamed each other and an investigation is going on regarding the incident. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Two medical officers employed on contract basis at Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Venkatreddy Nagar, Ramanthapur might be terminated from services after Health minister C Laxma Reddy found them to missing from duty during a surprise visit to the centre. Showcause notices were issued to Dr N Ambika Samuel and Dr V Sumedha. The reporting time for medical officers is 9 am but when health minister paid a visit to UPHC at 10.30 am on Monday, they were not found on duty. The ministers surprise visit followed the unveiling of Samuel Hahnemanns statue (founder of Homeopathy) at Government Homeopathy College in Ramanthapur on occasion of World Homeopathy Day. Meanwhile, officials at the UPHC said it was a week-off for one of the doctors while the other had performed a delivery till around 4 am. Two medical officers are appointed to the UPHC. It might be their day-off or they might have worked till night, but at least one of them should have been at the UPHC for Out-Patient services. It is considered gross negligence of duties if they did not report till 10.30 am, said an official, adding that since they are contract doctors and not employed on regular basis, their services might be terminated. The medical officers are instructed to explain within three-days from the date of receipt of this notice as to why the proposed punishment of termination of services should not be awarded, the showcause notice said. An inquiry is underway. Only way to cross-check is by personal visit Medical officers who perform duties as doctors at UPHCs and Primary Health Centres (PHC) have a reporting time of 9 am. However, there have been incidents when the rule was not followed. The question is, how would officials know whether the doctors are reporting on time or not? The only way to cross check this is through personal visit to the health centre. While use of biometric system has been mooted, it has not been implemented yet. Not first incident The Monday incident wherein medical officers were not found to be on duty is not an isolated one in the state. Action was taken against six medical officers in four districts for being absent without taking leave, not reporting to duty on time, not attending official meetings. Four of them have been suspended pending inquiry and one who surrendered was posted to another Health Centre, said Dr Y Lalitha Kumari, director of Public Health and Family Welfare. It is learnt that after district reorganisation, area of the districts has decreased and collectors have been paying visits to PHCs and other health facilities. HYDERABAD: Two medical officers employed on contract basis at Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Venkatreddy Nagar, Ramanthapur might be terminated from services after Health minister C Laxma Reddy found them to missing from duty during a surprise visit to the centre. Showcause notices were issued to Dr N Ambika Samuel and Dr V Sumedha. The reporting time for medical officers is 9 am but when health minister paid a visit to UPHC at 10.30 am on Monday, they were not found on duty. The ministers surprise visit followed the unveiling of Samuel Hahnemanns statue (founder of Homeopathy) at Government Homeopathy College in Ramanthapur on occasion of World Homeopathy Day. Meanwhile, officials at the UPHC said it was a week-off for one of the doctors while the other had performed a delivery till around 4 am. Two medical officers are appointed to the UPHC. It might be their day-off or they might have worked till night, but at least one of them should have been at the UPHC for Out-Patient services. It is considered gross negligence of duties if they did not report till 10.30 am, said an official, adding that since they are contract doctors and not employed on regular basis, their services might be terminated. The medical officers are instructed to explain within three-days from the date of receipt of this notice as to why the proposed punishment of termination of services should not be awarded, the showcause notice said. An inquiry is underway. Only way to cross-check is by personal visit Medical officers who perform duties as doctors at UPHCs and Primary Health Centres (PHC) have a reporting time of 9 am. However, there have been incidents when the rule was not followed. The question is, how would officials know whether the doctors are reporting on time or not? The only way to cross check this is through personal visit to the health centre. While use of biometric system has been mooted, it has not been implemented yet. Not first incident The Monday incident wherein medical officers were not found to be on duty is not an isolated one in the state. Action was taken against six medical officers in four districts for being absent without taking leave, not reporting to duty on time, not attending official meetings. Four of them have been suspended pending inquiry and one who surrendered was posted to another Health Centre, said Dr Y Lalitha Kumari, director of Public Health and Family Welfare. It is learnt that after district reorganisation, area of the districts has decreased and collectors have been paying visits to PHCs and other health facilities. Express News Service KOCHI: A chronic and progressive movement disorder, Parkinsons disease was first described by Dr James Parkinson exactly 200 years ago in his essay The Shaking Palsy. What is Parkinsons disease? Parkinsons disease is the second most common degenerative disease of the brain; it persists throughout the life of the person concerned and worsens over time. The disease occurs because of the destruction of dopamine producing nerve cells in the brain. When the symptoms of Parkinsons disease begin, 70-80 per cent of the dopamine producing cells might already be damaged. What causes Parkinsons disease? The exact cause of Parkinsons disease is unknown. It is suspected that genetic factors and environmental factors like pollution, excessive use of chemicals and pesticides may produce Parkinsons disease. Usually Parkinsons disease occurs in people older than fifty years. It is estimated that 1 per cent of people above the age of 50 years, 1.8 per cent of people above the age of 65 years and 2.6 per cent of people above the age of 85 years develop the disease. What is striking though, is that about 10 per cent of patients develop the disease before 40 years. Symptoms of Parkinsons disease The four cardinal manifestations of the disease are tremor, stiffness, slowness of activities and imbalance while walking. They lose their facial expression and have a vacant look, sometimes with drooling of saliva. They also develop a low volume speech and difficulty in writing. They bend forward and walk en bloc without swinging their hands. Psychiatric symptoms like depression, anxiety, delusions and hallucinations may occur along with memory loss, sleep disorders, urinary problems, sexual problems and constipation. How is Parkinsons disease treated? Medical management remains the mainstay of treatment of Parkinsons disease. The most important drug used for treatment is levo dopa. Levo dopa enters the brain and gets converted to dopamine. Parkinsons patients usually go through 3 stages when they use levo dopa. In the first stage, called honeymoon period, the symptoms are milder and the response to levo dopa is very good. The patient gets round the clock benefit with 3 doses of levo dopa. In the second stage called the stage of motor fluctuations, the benefit of one dose of levo dopa lasts only less than 4 hours. In the third stage, called stage of dyskinesia, the patient develops uncontrolled movements of the body (dyskinesia). Physiotherapy is extremely helpful in improving balance and preventing falls. Selected patients may benefit from an advanced surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation. KOCHI: A chronic and progressive movement disorder, Parkinsons disease was first described by Dr James Parkinson exactly 200 years ago in his essay The Shaking Palsy. What is Parkinsons disease? Parkinsons disease is the second most common degenerative disease of the brain; it persists throughout the life of the person concerned and worsens over time. The disease occurs because of the destruction of dopamine producing nerve cells in the brain. When the symptoms of Parkinsons disease begin, 70-80 per cent of the dopamine producing cells might already be damaged. What causes Parkinsons disease? The exact cause of Parkinsons disease is unknown. It is suspected that genetic factors and environmental factors like pollution, excessive use of chemicals and pesticides may produce Parkinsons disease. Usually Parkinsons disease occurs in people older than fifty years. It is estimated that 1 per cent of people above the age of 50 years, 1.8 per cent of people above the age of 65 years and 2.6 per cent of people above the age of 85 years develop the disease. What is striking though, is that about 10 per cent of patients develop the disease before 40 years. Symptoms of Parkinsons disease The four cardinal manifestations of the disease are tremor, stiffness, slowness of activities and imbalance while walking. They lose their facial expression and have a vacant look, sometimes with drooling of saliva. They also develop a low volume speech and difficulty in writing. They bend forward and walk en bloc without swinging their hands. Psychiatric symptoms like depression, anxiety, delusions and hallucinations may occur along with memory loss, sleep disorders, urinary problems, sexual problems and constipation. How is Parkinsons disease treated? Medical management remains the mainstay of treatment of Parkinsons disease. The most important drug used for treatment is levo dopa. Levo dopa enters the brain and gets converted to dopamine. Parkinsons patients usually go through 3 stages when they use levo dopa. In the first stage, called honeymoon period, the symptoms are milder and the response to levo dopa is very good. The patient gets round the clock benefit with 3 doses of levo dopa. In the second stage called the stage of motor fluctuations, the benefit of one dose of levo dopa lasts only less than 4 hours. In the third stage, called stage of dyskinesia, the patient develops uncontrolled movements of the body (dyskinesia). Physiotherapy is extremely helpful in improving balance and preventing falls. Selected patients may benefit from an advanced surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation. By PTI NEW DELHI: The army was allegedly cheated by revenue officials into paying rent for land parcels which were in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Rajya Sabha was informed today. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told the house that nine such instances have come to light and investigation is on. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said the CBI has already filed FIRs in two cases, while the State Vigilance Organisation registered an FIR in another. He said remaining cases are under confidential verification by the CBI. "There are all together 9 reported cases relating to alleged payment of rent for land in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Out of these cases, the State Vigilance Organisation has filed FIR in one case and CBI has filed FIR in two cases," he said. As per details placed by the defence minister, a total of 265 Karnals and one Marla (local measurements) of land in village Khamba in Rajouri district is "under occupation" since April 1, 1972 and rental has been paid upto march 2003. The state vigilance in its probe has found that documents were forged by the state revenue officials to show it was in India's possession though it was either under occupation of Pakistan or located in no man's land. According to the details provided by Jaitley, the second case involves a plot of land measuring 122 Karnals and 18 Marlas, also in Khamba village. The case is pending in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court after one of the suspects approached it in the wake of the CBI registering an FIR in January. The CBI has also filed an FIR in another alleged cheating case involving a plot of 258 Karnals and 13 Marlas. This piece of land is also in Khamba village in Rajouri district. In three other cases too, the land in question was in Khamba village, while two others were in Sarya village in Nowshera, also in Rajouri district. NEW DELHI: The army was allegedly cheated by revenue officials into paying rent for land parcels which were in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Rajya Sabha was informed today. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told the house that nine such instances have come to light and investigation is on. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said the CBI has already filed FIRs in two cases, while the State Vigilance Organisation registered an FIR in another. He said remaining cases are under confidential verification by the CBI. "There are all together 9 reported cases relating to alleged payment of rent for land in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Out of these cases, the State Vigilance Organisation has filed FIR in one case and CBI has filed FIR in two cases," he said. As per details placed by the defence minister, a total of 265 Karnals and one Marla (local measurements) of land in village Khamba in Rajouri district is "under occupation" since April 1, 1972 and rental has been paid upto march 2003. The state vigilance in its probe has found that documents were forged by the state revenue officials to show it was in India's possession though it was either under occupation of Pakistan or located in no man's land. According to the details provided by Jaitley, the second case involves a plot of land measuring 122 Karnals and 18 Marlas, also in Khamba village. The case is pending in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court after one of the suspects approached it in the wake of the CBI registering an FIR in January. The CBI has also filed an FIR in another alleged cheating case involving a plot of 258 Karnals and 13 Marlas. This piece of land is also in Khamba village in Rajouri district. In three other cases too, the land in question was in Khamba village, while two others were in Sarya village in Nowshera, also in Rajouri district. By Express News Service MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought a non-bailable warrant against controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik on Monday and moved an application in the Special Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Court. The court is likely to hear the argument and pass an order on Wednesday. Zakir Naik, who is currently away in Saudi Arabia, has not responded to multiple summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Naik had been given ample opportunities to cooperate with the agency. He was summoned four times but has failed to appear. This gives a ground for the agency to seek a warrant against him, Advocate Hiten Venegavkar, who represented ED told the New Indian Express. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier rejected Zakir Naiks request to depose through video conferencing, stating that the option could not be granted given the seriousness of the charges. Sources from ED, which is probing the trail of over Rs 200 crore received by Naiks NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and his relatives, said that Naik established dummy companies in India and abroad for the diversion of funds. The probe gathered momentum with the arrest of Naiks close aide Aamir Gazdar. Gazdar played a pivotal role in acquiring and disposing of the cash. Dummy companies were used to camouflage the diversion of funds received by Naik though his illegal activities and provocative speeches, the sources said. Aamir Gazdar was director of at least six companies established by Naik, two of which are in England Universal Broadcasting Corporation Ltd and Lords production Inc Ltd. The rest are based in Mumbai Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, Long-lost constructions Pvt Ltd, Majestic Perfumes Pvt Ltd and Alpha Lubricants Pvt Ltd., sources from ED said. Transactions between Aamir Gazdar and Zakir Naik are under the agencys lens. The ED alleged that Gazdar would file IT returns in his wife and childrens names. ED also revealed that videos of Naiks provocative speeches were produced and exported to be telecast in Dubai. Naik conducted transactions involving large sums through Gazdar, without leaving a trail of where the money came from or what it was used for. The cash was collected and disbursed to employees and officials of the IRF trust, the agency has alleged. ED has recorded the statements of Zakir Naiks sister Nailah Noorani and brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik. The two said they were unaware of Naiks financial dealings. Once the agency gets a non-bailable arrest warrant against Naik, it would seek Letters Rogatory or letters of request from the same court for UK and UAE. These letters would be a formal request for judicial assistance from a foreign court. Sources from the agency said Zaikir Naiks overseas properties were also under the EDs scanner. MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought a non-bailable warrant against controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik on Monday and moved an application in the Special Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Court. The court is likely to hear the argument and pass an order on Wednesday. Zakir Naik, who is currently away in Saudi Arabia, has not responded to multiple summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Naik had been given ample opportunities to cooperate with the agency. He was summoned four times but has failed to appear. This gives a ground for the agency to seek a warrant against him, Advocate Hiten Venegavkar, who represented ED told the New Indian Express. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier rejected Zakir Naiks request to depose through video conferencing, stating that the option could not be granted given the seriousness of the charges. Sources from ED, which is probing the trail of over Rs 200 crore received by Naiks NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and his relatives, said that Naik established dummy companies in India and abroad for the diversion of funds. The probe gathered momentum with the arrest of Naiks close aide Aamir Gazdar. Gazdar played a pivotal role in acquiring and disposing of the cash. Dummy companies were used to camouflage the diversion of funds received by Naik though his illegal activities and provocative speeches, the sources said. Aamir Gazdar was director of at least six companies established by Naik, two of which are in England Universal Broadcasting Corporation Ltd and Lords production Inc Ltd. The rest are based in Mumbai Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, Long-lost constructions Pvt Ltd, Majestic Perfumes Pvt Ltd and Alpha Lubricants Pvt Ltd., sources from ED said. Transactions between Aamir Gazdar and Zakir Naik are under the agencys lens. The ED alleged that Gazdar would file IT returns in his wife and childrens names. ED also revealed that videos of Naiks provocative speeches were produced and exported to be telecast in Dubai. Naik conducted transactions involving large sums through Gazdar, without leaving a trail of where the money came from or what it was used for. The cash was collected and disbursed to employees and officials of the IRF trust, the agency has alleged. ED has recorded the statements of Zakir Naiks sister Nailah Noorani and brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik. The two said they were unaware of Naiks financial dealings. Once the agency gets a non-bailable arrest warrant against Naik, it would seek Letters Rogatory or letters of request from the same court for UK and UAE. These letters would be a formal request for judicial assistance from a foreign court. Sources from the agency said Zaikir Naiks overseas properties were also under the EDs scanner. By ANI NEW DELHI: Dubbing Pakistans announcement of death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav as a heinous act, the Defence Experts on Tuesday said Islamabad is thick-skinned. Speaking to ANI, Defence Expert Ranjeet Rai said Pakistan has denied consular access to India in many such cases, which is a right given to any country under the Geneva Convention article 36 (c) 1. Rai further said the Pakistan military has taken advantage of the statement made by the Home Minister of Balochistan saying that Jadhav created war against Balochistan and have now put him under a death sentence. Rai said after coming to know that Jadhav is an ex-naval officer and had worked in intelligence, Pakistan used this ploy to act against him. It is a very heinous act by Pakistan. Actually, Pakistan doesnt believe in any international conventionThe Home Minister of Balochistan, last year in March said, he (Jadhav) has created war against Balochistan. Now, the military has taken advantage of that very wrongly and tried him under the Army Act, Official Secrets Act and put a death sentence on him without telling the Indian High Commission to come and see the trial. Pakistan is thick-skinned. Pakistan does this with its military and ISI against India, including terrorism, Rai added. Resonating similar views, another Defence Expert Praful Bakshi called out to Indian authorities to take swift action regarding the same. He said it should be confirmed whether complete judicial guarantees were accorded to Jadhav during his trial. Bakshi also suggested approaching the International Court of Justice regarding the matter. The Pakistan Military Accord has held Kulbhushan Jadhav as a criminal and handed him over a death sentence. The Committee of the Nations, right thinking people have to find out whether complete judicial guarantees were accorded to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Even if it is a military court in any country, the person who has been accused is given full rights to defend himself. So, we have to find out this. India has to raise this. Perhaps, the Foreign Minister has to make a straight call to his counterpart in Pakistan. The Pakistan Army behaves quite independently in these matters, Bakshi told ANI. Earlier today, the Pakistan Military sentenced Jadhav to death, its media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. "The spy was tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Today Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," the ISPR said. Strongly reacting to this, India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court. The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. Earlier in March 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the former Indian naval officer was arrested by Pakistan for allegedly engaging in subversive activities was possibly kidnapped from Iran and denied any possibilities of him being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. NEW DELHI: Dubbing Pakistans announcement of death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav as a heinous act, the Defence Experts on Tuesday said Islamabad is thick-skinned. Speaking to ANI, Defence Expert Ranjeet Rai said Pakistan has denied consular access to India in many such cases, which is a right given to any country under the Geneva Convention article 36 (c) 1. Rai further said the Pakistan military has taken advantage of the statement made by the Home Minister of Balochistan saying that Jadhav created war against Balochistan and have now put him under a death sentence. Rai said after coming to know that Jadhav is an ex-naval officer and had worked in intelligence, Pakistan used this ploy to act against him. It is a very heinous act by Pakistan. Actually, Pakistan doesnt believe in any international conventionThe Home Minister of Balochistan, last year in March said, he (Jadhav) has created war against Balochistan. Now, the military has taken advantage of that very wrongly and tried him under the Army Act, Official Secrets Act and put a death sentence on him without telling the Indian High Commission to come and see the trial. Pakistan is thick-skinned. Pakistan does this with its military and ISI against India, including terrorism, Rai added. Resonating similar views, another Defence Expert Praful Bakshi called out to Indian authorities to take swift action regarding the same. He said it should be confirmed whether complete judicial guarantees were accorded to Jadhav during his trial. Bakshi also suggested approaching the International Court of Justice regarding the matter. The Pakistan Military Accord has held Kulbhushan Jadhav as a criminal and handed him over a death sentence. The Committee of the Nations, right thinking people have to find out whether complete judicial guarantees were accorded to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Even if it is a military court in any country, the person who has been accused is given full rights to defend himself. So, we have to find out this. India has to raise this. Perhaps, the Foreign Minister has to make a straight call to his counterpart in Pakistan. The Pakistan Army behaves quite independently in these matters, Bakshi told ANI. Earlier today, the Pakistan Military sentenced Jadhav to death, its media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. "The spy was tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Today Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," the ISPR said. Strongly reacting to this, India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court. The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. Earlier in March 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the former Indian naval officer was arrested by Pakistan for allegedly engaging in subversive activities was possibly kidnapped from Iran and denied any possibilities of him being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. By ANI NEW DELHI: Condemning the death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistani military court, political parties across the nation on Tuesday said India needs to stand up straight in front of Islamabad and maintain a safe distance. I think this is the limit and India should talk straight forward to Pakistan. Earlier it was Sarabjeet now it is Kulbhushan Jhadav, these things remind us to stay at a safe distance from Pakistan and maintain a limited relationship with them, Congress leader P.L. Punia told ANI. Also read: If Pak executes Jadhav, it'll be a premeditated murder: India He further said that Jadhav should have been given the opportunity to present the evidence in the court. Indian embassys councilor was also not given any chance to help him, Punia asserted. Echoing similar sentiments, Janata Dal United (JD (U)) leader Ali Anwar said Pakistan has always dismantled each and every law related to foreign affairs. We condemn such move. India should take a strict move now and tackle this issue wisely, he added. India yesterday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche against Pakistani military court for awarding death sentence to alleged Indian spy Jadhav. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court. The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. "The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. Senior Pakistani figures have themselves cast doubt about the adequacy of the evidence," an official release stated. Statement issued by MEA: Demarche issued by MEA to Pakistan High Commissioner today. Pl see press release at https://t.co/K55zof27it pic.twitter.com/PLZCv5B3gD Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) April 10, 2017 "The claim in the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release that Jadhav was provided with a defending officer during the so-called trial is clearly absurd in the circumstances," it added. The Ministry said the Indian Government, through its High Commission in Islamabad, repeatedly sought consular access to Jadhav, as provided for by the international law. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," it read. Earlier, Jadhav was given the death sentence by the Pakistan Military, it's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016 through an operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, the ISPR said. Earlier in March 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the former Indian naval officer was arrested by Pakistan for allegedly engaging in subversive activities was possibly kidnapped from Iran and denied any possibilities of him being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. The accused, used to run a business in the Iranian port city of Chabahar. He was seen in a video confessing that he was an official of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency. NEW DELHI: Condemning the death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistani military court, political parties across the nation on Tuesday said India needs to stand up straight in front of Islamabad and maintain a safe distance. I think this is the limit and India should talk straight forward to Pakistan. Earlier it was Sarabjeet now it is Kulbhushan Jhadav, these things remind us to stay at a safe distance from Pakistan and maintain a limited relationship with them, Congress leader P.L. Punia told ANI. Also read: If Pak executes Jadhav, it'll be a premeditated murder: India He further said that Jadhav should have been given the opportunity to present the evidence in the court. Indian embassys councilor was also not given any chance to help him, Punia asserted. Echoing similar sentiments, Janata Dal United (JD (U)) leader Ali Anwar said Pakistan has always dismantled each and every law related to foreign affairs. We condemn such move. India should take a strict move now and tackle this issue wisely, he added. India yesterday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche against Pakistani military court for awarding death sentence to alleged Indian spy Jadhav. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court. The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. "The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. Senior Pakistani figures have themselves cast doubt about the adequacy of the evidence," an official release stated. Statement issued by MEA: Demarche issued by MEA to Pakistan High Commissioner today. Pl see press release at https://t.co/K55zof27it pic.twitter.com/PLZCv5B3gD Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) April 10, 2017 "The claim in the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release that Jadhav was provided with a defending officer during the so-called trial is clearly absurd in the circumstances," it added. The Ministry said the Indian Government, through its High Commission in Islamabad, repeatedly sought consular access to Jadhav, as provided for by the international law. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," it read. Earlier, Jadhav was given the death sentence by the Pakistan Military, it's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016 through an operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, the ISPR said. Earlier in March 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the former Indian naval officer was arrested by Pakistan for allegedly engaging in subversive activities was possibly kidnapped from Iran and denied any possibilities of him being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. The accused, used to run a business in the Iranian port city of Chabahar. He was seen in a video confessing that he was an official of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency. YATISH YADAV By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Pakistani army, frontier corps stationed in Balochistan and its wicked intelligence Agency, ISI have kidnapped and killed civilians, who questioned the repressive regime of the state. Pakistan army blames judicial activism for dragging cases of disappearances from the region to the light and thus giving army and ISI bad names, reveals its top-secret publication for Operational commanders. Pakistan, which over the years has nurtured terrorist outfits, is on the backfoot because it believes United States and India have joined hands to execute another dismemberment of Pakistan with the help of Iran. A panic-stricken country has decided to shift the focus and in a hurriedly organized sham military court hearing, decided to handover death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was kidnapped from Iran by ISI and its militant proxies. Pakistani army publication Green Book has also blamed its own media for writing on illegal disappearances. It said the issue of enforced disappearances continues to be the most reported case in media and hence judicial activism is seen questioning the role of state functionaries. This earns bad name to the security forces in general and army and ISI in particular. Civil society in general and media in particular has not been able to play the requisite role. Pak army also admits High handedness of Frontier Corps gives birth to perceptions that security forces are calling the shots in Balochistan. It fears that use of force alone cannot bring sustainable peace in Balochistan and is now looking for a way out fearing the expose on its activities and support to terror groups like Taliban in the region by US-India-Iran axis. The issue of enforced disappearances being an illegal act negates all the efforts to bring order in Balochistan, therefore, it must be put to an end. Three Ds -deterrence by Frontier Corps and detainment and deaths have irked the people of the province most, hence need to be addressed as a prelude to any conflict resolution effort, it further said. United States, Pakistan army believes, is working on the plan to disallow use of Gawadar port to China for economic and military purposes. In the long run, Pakistan army feels that US wants to control the region for exploitation of energy reserves and therefore a docile independent Balochistan serves US interests better. India-Iran-Afghanistan trade cooperation reflects policy of undermining Pakistan in the region. A paranoid Pakistan even sees Putins footprints in Balochistan claiming the country is planning 'to teach Pakistan a lesson for its role in the ouster of erstwhile USSR from Afghanistan. Russian footprints are perceptible in Balochistan insurgency, it said. NEW DELHI: Pakistani army, frontier corps stationed in Balochistan and its wicked intelligence Agency, ISI have kidnapped and killed civilians, who questioned the repressive regime of the state. Pakistan army blames judicial activism for dragging cases of disappearances from the region to the light and thus giving army and ISI bad names, reveals its top-secret publication for Operational commanders. Pakistan, which over the years has nurtured terrorist outfits, is on the backfoot because it believes United States and India have joined hands to execute another dismemberment of Pakistan with the help of Iran. A panic-stricken country has decided to shift the focus and in a hurriedly organized sham military court hearing, decided to handover death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was kidnapped from Iran by ISI and its militant proxies. Pakistani army publication Green Book has also blamed its own media for writing on illegal disappearances. It said the issue of enforced disappearances continues to be the most reported case in media and hence judicial activism is seen questioning the role of state functionaries. This earns bad name to the security forces in general and army and ISI in particular. Civil society in general and media in particular has not been able to play the requisite role. Pak army also admits High handedness of Frontier Corps gives birth to perceptions that security forces are calling the shots in Balochistan. It fears that use of force alone cannot bring sustainable peace in Balochistan and is now looking for a way out fearing the expose on its activities and support to terror groups like Taliban in the region by US-India-Iran axis. The issue of enforced disappearances being an illegal act negates all the efforts to bring order in Balochistan, therefore, it must be put to an end. Three Ds -deterrence by Frontier Corps and detainment and deaths have irked the people of the province most, hence need to be addressed as a prelude to any conflict resolution effort, it further said. United States, Pakistan army believes, is working on the plan to disallow use of Gawadar port to China for economic and military purposes. In the long run, Pakistan army feels that US wants to control the region for exploitation of energy reserves and therefore a docile independent Balochistan serves US interests better. India-Iran-Afghanistan trade cooperation reflects policy of undermining Pakistan in the region. A paranoid Pakistan even sees Putins footprints in Balochistan claiming the country is planning 'to teach Pakistan a lesson for its role in the ouster of erstwhile USSR from Afghanistan. Russian footprints are perceptible in Balochistan insurgency, it said. Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested by Pakistan for alleged espionage, was awarded death penalty by a military court; New Delhi summons envoy, says will consider the move as premeditated murder, cancels release of 12 Pakistanis A Pakistani military court on Monday sentenced an Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Karachi and Balochistan. Jadhav, according to authorities, was kidnapped from Iran before he resurfaced in the custody of Pakistani military. The spy was tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Today Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM, the militarys media wing said. Soon after the announcement, Indias foreign secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over a formal demarche, which rejected the sentence as farcical and warned that if this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder. New Delhi also cancelled release of a dozen Pakistani prisoners who were slated to be repatriated on Wednesday. According to Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistans Mashkel area for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. He was tried by the FGCM under the Official Secret Act of 1923, and had confessed before a magistrate and court that he was tasked by Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities seeking to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan, the ISPR said. Jadhav never worked for R&AW, asserts Roy, who held several senior roles in Indias external intelligence agency before retiring. He was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly. Jadhav had retired, and started a business in Iran in Chabahar, close to the Pakistan border. From all indications, it appears he was kidnapped from there. No intelligence agency will send a retired 48-year-old man to become a Rambo or a James Bond in Pakistan. To pretend that he also had all sources, contacts to raise terror groups over there is ridiculous. Had it been so, Pakistan would have arrested them by now, and paraded them all on TV. A Pakistani handout of an Indian passport reportedly found with Kulbhushan Jadhav when he was arrested Rahul K Bhonsle, director of Security Risks Asia, a consultancy which provides security Information products on South Asia, concurs. It is obvious that Pakistan Army abducted this person from Iran, where he was working, and then put him through a field general court martial. But as per the Army Act of Pakistan, FGCM is only applicable to those who are subject to the Act. Which means you have to be either enrolled or commissioned in the Pakistan Army. Now they have taken the shelter of the military courts, recently extended for two years. With this death sentence, India has to take quick action. Apart from diplomatic and political pressure, the India must also take the legal recourse of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. What could be the motive behind the death sentence handed out on Monday by a military court to Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav, accused of spying in Pakistan? And what are Indias options? This whole thing doesnt make any sense, says Bhaskar Roy, a former intelligence official. It is a very poorly constructed story. Even (Pakistans foreign affairs adviser) Sartaj Aziz had said some ago that there was no conclusive proof against him, though he backtracked later. After this they seem to have moved very fast. This was not a civil court, it was a military court. I dont know whether he had any lawyers on his behalf, but that is immaterial, because the army court would give you an army lawyer. It appears now that they are cornered. All their diplomatic campaigns against India have failed, he says. A scoop by the Dawn newspaper some months ago exposed their own internal dilemma and rift between the government and the military over their positions on India. What now? Will they hang him, will they hold him for some bargaining? Hanging this man is not going to get them very far, because it will make things worse. So perhaps it is an advertising poster to the world, saying look here, India is fomenting terrorism and separatism in Pakistan, and we caught this fellow. But that is not going to sell very well. It doesnt call for a war or something like that, but we need to exert intense diplomatic pressure, Roy adds. Also, after World War II, spies have not really been executed. During the Cold War, between the former Soviet Union and the US, there were instances of spies being caught and then exchanged. But in this case, if it is for an exchange, who do they want? They already have the people they want. And then why sentence him to death so fast? They seem to have gone too far, too fast. What recourse does Jadhav have? Pakistans president? Their President doesnt really have much authority, his hands are tied. So essentially I see this as posturing. Jadhav never worked for R&AW. As for his reported confession, anybody can say anything under torture. Why do you think they kept denying him consular access? Because then the truth would have come out, Roy says. A multi-track approach has to be applied in this case, avers Rahul K Bhonsle, director of Security Risks Asia, a consultancy organisation. Apart from exerting diplomatic and political pressure, we must utilise the legal option. The Pakistan Supreme Court has to be approached, so that cognizance of this trial is taken and full legal perspective is obtained. We have of course given the demarche, and we have always got some political back channels open, which should be used. The point they are trying to prove is that the terrorists in Pakistan are supported heavily by India. Given the series of terrorist attacks in Pakistan last month, possibly they are looking for an alibi. Then the Chinese are questioning them about the lack of security along the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. So, Pakistan can justify the poor security aspect of CPEC by blaming India for it. Major Navdeep Singh, a practicing advocate in the Punjab & Haryana High Court and the Armed Forces Tribunal described the trial as violation of Article 14 of International Convention of Civil and Political Rights. Trial by a sham military court, especially of a civilian, is against Art 14 of International Convention of Civil and Political Rights. Pakistan tries civilians through secret court martial, rather than courts. Spies caught in India are put through trial in regular civil courts. Some are even acquitted, he says. (With inputs from Ritu Sharma in New Delhi) Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested by Pakistan for alleged espionage, was awarded death penalty by a military court; New Delhi summons envoy, says will consider the move as premeditated murder, cancels release of 12 Pakistanis A Pakistani military court on Monday sentenced an Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Karachi and Balochistan. Jadhav, according to authorities, was kidnapped from Iran before he resurfaced in the custody of Pakistani military. The spy was tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Today Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM, the militarys media wing said. Soon after the announcement, Indias foreign secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over a formal demarche, which rejected the sentence as farcical and warned that if this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder. New Delhi also cancelled release of a dozen Pakistani prisoners who were slated to be repatriated on Wednesday. According to Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistans Mashkel area for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. He was tried by the FGCM under the Official Secret Act of 1923, and had confessed before a magistrate and court that he was tasked by Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities seeking to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan, the ISPR said. Jadhav never worked for R&AW, asserts Roy, who held several senior roles in Indias external intelligence agency before retiring. He was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly. Jadhav had retired, and started a business in Iran in Chabahar, close to the Pakistan border. From all indications, it appears he was kidnapped from there. No intelligence agency will send a retired 48-year-old man to become a Rambo or a James Bond in Pakistan. To pretend that he also had all sources, contacts to raise terror groups over there is ridiculous. Had it been so, Pakistan would have arrested them by now, and paraded them all on TV. A Pakistani handout of an Indian passport reportedly found with Kulbhushan Jadhav when he was arrestedRahul K Bhonsle, director of Security Risks Asia, a consultancy which provides security Information products on South Asia, concurs. It is obvious that Pakistan Army abducted this person from Iran, where he was working, and then put him through a field general court martial. But as per the Army Act of Pakistan, FGCM is only applicable to those who are subject to the Act. Which means you have to be either enrolled or commissioned in the Pakistan Army. Now they have taken the shelter of the military courts, recently extended for two years. With this death sentence, India has to take quick action. Apart from diplomatic and political pressure, the India must also take the legal recourse of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. What could be the motive behind the death sentence handed out on Monday by a military court to Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav, accused of spying in Pakistan? And what are Indias options? This whole thing doesnt make any sense, says Bhaskar Roy, a former intelligence official. It is a very poorly constructed story. Even (Pakistans foreign affairs adviser) Sartaj Aziz had said some ago that there was no conclusive proof against him, though he backtracked later. After this they seem to have moved very fast. This was not a civil court, it was a military court. I dont know whether he had any lawyers on his behalf, but that is immaterial, because the army court would give you an army lawyer. It appears now that they are cornered. All their diplomatic campaigns against India have failed, he says. A scoop by the Dawn newspaper some months ago exposed their own internal dilemma and rift between the government and the military over their positions on India. What now? Will they hang him, will they hold him for some bargaining? Hanging this man is not going to get them very far, because it will make things worse. So perhaps it is an advertising poster to the world, saying look here, India is fomenting terrorism and separatism in Pakistan, and we caught this fellow. But that is not going to sell very well. It doesnt call for a war or something like that, but we need to exert intense diplomatic pressure, Roy adds. Also, after World War II, spies have not really been executed. During the Cold War, between the former Soviet Union and the US, there were instances of spies being caught and then exchanged. But in this case, if it is for an exchange, who do they want? They already have the people they want. And then why sentence him to death so fast? They seem to have gone too far, too fast. What recourse does Jadhav have? Pakistans president? Their President doesnt really have much authority, his hands are tied. So essentially I see this as posturing. Jadhav never worked for R&AW. As for his reported confession, anybody can say anything under torture. Why do you think they kept denying him consular access? Because then the truth would have come out, Roy says. A multi-track approach has to be applied in this case, avers Rahul K Bhonsle, director of Security Risks Asia, a consultancy organisation. Apart from exerting diplomatic and political pressure, we must utilise the legal option. The Pakistan Supreme Court has to be approached, so that cognizance of this trial is taken and full legal perspective is obtained. We have of course given the demarche, and we have always got some political back channels open, which should be used. The point they are trying to prove is that the terrorists in Pakistan are supported heavily by India. Given the series of terrorist attacks in Pakistan last month, possibly they are looking for an alibi. Then the Chinese are questioning them about the lack of security along the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. So, Pakistan can justify the poor security aspect of CPEC by blaming India for it. Major Navdeep Singh, a practicing advocate in the Punjab & Haryana High Court and the Armed Forces Tribunal described the trial as violation of Article 14 of International Convention of Civil and Political Rights. Trial by a sham military court, especially of a civilian, is against Art 14 of International Convention of Civil and Political Rights. Pakistan tries civilians through secret court martial, rather than courts. Spies caught in India are put through trial in regular civil courts. Some are even acquitted, he says. (With inputs from Ritu Sharma in New Delhi) Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: Fresh elections will be held in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday, which saw unprecedented poll-day violence on Sunday. The 38 polling stations are spread across five Assembly segments of the parliamentary constituency. The EC has also decided to defer the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat to May 25. While 16 polling stations for Srinagar are located in Chadoora, eight are in Budgam, five in Beerwah, one in Khan Sahib and eight in Chararisharief. The polling stations are based in 30 locations or buildings across Srinagar. Violence had marred the polling in the byelections and eight persons died and several got injured in the firing by security forces on rampaging mobs in various parts of the constituency. The constituency recorded merely 7 per cent voter turnout. The Election Commissions decision to defer the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat in South Kashmir has caused more headache for the PDP-BJP coalition government, which is already facing the heat from Opposition parties. The ECI late on Monday evening postponed the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat scheduled to be held on April 12. Now, the election for the seat would be held on May 25. The ECI deferred the bypolls after ruling PDP candidate from the seat and Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftis brother Tassaduq Mufti sought deferment of polls following unprecedented poll boycott and poll violence in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Sunday. The bypolls were conducted by EC only after the State government expressed its willingness to hold the elections. We did not receive any report from the State government that the situation was not conducive for elections and bypolls for Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary seats should be deferred, J&Ks Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu told New Indian Express. He said the Model of Conduct will remain in force in South Kashmir comprising four districts of Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam till May 25. Adding to the woes of the PDP-BJP government, State Congress chief, G A Mir, who is also joint candidate of NC and Congress for Anantnag bypolls, told reporters in Anantnag on Tuesday that he wont contest elections unless Mehbooba resigns as CM and Governors rule is imposed. Opposition NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said: Postponing of bypolls following request of CMs brother clearly indicates that the ECI is hands-in-glove with the government. He added that the NC demands a judicial probe into the death of eight civilians during polling in Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls. We also demand that Mehbooba step down as CM for failing to provide a secure environment to the people of the State, added Sagar. Ruling PDP chief spokesman Mehboob Beg said it is for the Election Commission to decide whether the situation in the Valley is conducive for polls. He said the ECIs decision to defer polls by one month will not end the uncertainty. On Opposition parties NC and Congress's charge that the government got the polls deferred because it feared a rout in the polls, Beg said, It is an irony that both parties wanted to go ahead with polls despite seeing large-scale poll violence in Srinagar bypolls. (with inputs from agencies) SRINAGAR: Fresh elections will be held in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday, which saw unprecedented poll-day violence on Sunday. The 38 polling stations are spread across five Assembly segments of the parliamentary constituency. The EC has also decided to defer the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat to May 25. While 16 polling stations for Srinagar are located in Chadoora, eight are in Budgam, five in Beerwah, one in Khan Sahib and eight in Chararisharief. The polling stations are based in 30 locations or buildings across Srinagar. Violence had marred the polling in the byelections and eight persons died and several got injured in the firing by security forces on rampaging mobs in various parts of the constituency. The constituency recorded merely 7 per cent voter turnout. The Election Commissions decision to defer the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat in South Kashmir has caused more headache for the PDP-BJP coalition government, which is already facing the heat from Opposition parties. The ECI late on Monday evening postponed the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat scheduled to be held on April 12. Now, the election for the seat would be held on May 25. The ECI deferred the bypolls after ruling PDP candidate from the seat and Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftis brother Tassaduq Mufti sought deferment of polls following unprecedented poll boycott and poll violence in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Sunday. The bypolls were conducted by EC only after the State government expressed its willingness to hold the elections. We did not receive any report from the State government that the situation was not conducive for elections and bypolls for Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary seats should be deferred, J&Ks Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu told New Indian Express. He said the Model of Conduct will remain in force in South Kashmir comprising four districts of Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam till May 25. Adding to the woes of the PDP-BJP government, State Congress chief, G A Mir, who is also joint candidate of NC and Congress for Anantnag bypolls, told reporters in Anantnag on Tuesday that he wont contest elections unless Mehbooba resigns as CM and Governors rule is imposed. Opposition NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said: Postponing of bypolls following request of CMs brother clearly indicates that the ECI is hands-in-glove with the government. He added that the NC demands a judicial probe into the death of eight civilians during polling in Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls. We also demand that Mehbooba step down as CM for failing to provide a secure environment to the people of the State, added Sagar. Ruling PDP chief spokesman Mehboob Beg said it is for the Election Commission to decide whether the situation in the Valley is conducive for polls. He said the ECIs decision to defer polls by one month will not end the uncertainty. On Opposition parties NC and Congress's charge that the government got the polls deferred because it feared a rout in the polls, Beg said, It is an irony that both parties wanted to go ahead with polls despite seeing large-scale poll violence in Srinagar bypolls. (with inputs from agencies) By PTI NEW DELHI: A woman scribe, booked under the stringent Official Secrets Act for carrying out a sting operation inside an army camp in Nasik, today moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the mysterious death of a 33-year-old jawan. Delhi-based journalist Poonam Agarwal, working with a news portal, had entered the camp and carried out the sting operation on the alleged abuse of the "buddy" system in the army by video graphing Roy Mathew, a jawan from Kerala who was found dead last month. Nasik police lodged an FIR against Agarwal and retired army official Deep Chand under IPC provisions and Sections 3 (spying) and 7 (interfering with officers of police or members of the armed forces of the Union) of the Official Secrets Act (OSA). Besides asking for a court-monitored probe, the plea, filed through lawyers Prashant Kumar and Anindita Pujari, has sought issuance of guidelines to prevent "abuse" of the provisions of the OSA. The plea said that the issue was related to "manipulation" of evidence, "hushing up" of criminal offences, the cause of "journalistic freedom" and the "right to freedom of speech and expression". It pleaded for issuance of suitable guidelines or directions giving a strict and controlling interpretation to the provisions of Official Secrets Act, 1923 to prevent its abuse and bring them in line with the scheme of the Constitution. It said that the provisions of the Act were invoked in order to prevent the media and citizens to find out the truth. "The immediate provocation for invoking of the draconian provisions under the OSA against the petitioners is to scuttle and prevent a fair investigation into unnatural death of one of the jawans who figured in the broadcast clip aired on February 24, 2017 with all faces blurred... "His highly decomposed body was found on March 2, 2017 hanging for four days in an abandoned barracks nearly 200 metres from his living quarters in Deolali camp," it said. The plea said Mathew went missing after he made a last call to his wife on February 25, 2017 and two days prior to his body being found, his reporting officer called the family to dissuade them from lodging a missing persons report. The plea also sought a direction to the Centre to conduct an inquiry on "misuse" of sahayak (buddy) system in the army. Deep Chand, who brought the journalist to the the area and got the sting operation done, be protected from physical harm, harassment and retributive action, it said Poonam had allegedly entered Heig Lines in Deolali camp without the permission of the authorities and filmed the premises besides carrying out a sting operation on Mathew and other jawans on February 24 in which she is said to have asked leading questions. Mathew was found hanging from the ceiling of a room on March 2. The police had also recovered a diary from his barracks with some scribblings in his mother tongue fearing possible action from his superiors, the plea said A case of accidental death was then registered by Nashik Police under section 174 (police to inquire and report on suicide) of the CrPC. Mathew went missing on February 25 after he purportedly figured in the expose by the portal with the video showing soldiers walking dogs of senior army officials or taking their children to school. NEW DELHI: A woman scribe, booked under the stringent Official Secrets Act for carrying out a sting operation inside an army camp in Nasik, today moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the mysterious death of a 33-year-old jawan. Delhi-based journalist Poonam Agarwal, working with a news portal, had entered the camp and carried out the sting operation on the alleged abuse of the "buddy" system in the army by video graphing Roy Mathew, a jawan from Kerala who was found dead last month. Nasik police lodged an FIR against Agarwal and retired army official Deep Chand under IPC provisions and Sections 3 (spying) and 7 (interfering with officers of police or members of the armed forces of the Union) of the Official Secrets Act (OSA). Besides asking for a court-monitored probe, the plea, filed through lawyers Prashant Kumar and Anindita Pujari, has sought issuance of guidelines to prevent "abuse" of the provisions of the OSA. The plea said that the issue was related to "manipulation" of evidence, "hushing up" of criminal offences, the cause of "journalistic freedom" and the "right to freedom of speech and expression". It pleaded for issuance of suitable guidelines or directions giving a strict and controlling interpretation to the provisions of Official Secrets Act, 1923 to prevent its abuse and bring them in line with the scheme of the Constitution. It said that the provisions of the Act were invoked in order to prevent the media and citizens to find out the truth. "The immediate provocation for invoking of the draconian provisions under the OSA against the petitioners is to scuttle and prevent a fair investigation into unnatural death of one of the jawans who figured in the broadcast clip aired on February 24, 2017 with all faces blurred... "His highly decomposed body was found on March 2, 2017 hanging for four days in an abandoned barracks nearly 200 metres from his living quarters in Deolali camp," it said. The plea said Mathew went missing after he made a last call to his wife on February 25, 2017 and two days prior to his body being found, his reporting officer called the family to dissuade them from lodging a missing persons report. The plea also sought a direction to the Centre to conduct an inquiry on "misuse" of sahayak (buddy) system in the army. Deep Chand, who brought the journalist to the the area and got the sting operation done, be protected from physical harm, harassment and retributive action, it said Poonam had allegedly entered Heig Lines in Deolali camp without the permission of the authorities and filmed the premises besides carrying out a sting operation on Mathew and other jawans on February 24 in which she is said to have asked leading questions. Mathew was found hanging from the ceiling of a room on March 2. The police had also recovered a diary from his barracks with some scribblings in his mother tongue fearing possible action from his superiors, the plea said A case of accidental death was then registered by Nashik Police under section 174 (police to inquire and report on suicide) of the CrPC. Mathew went missing on February 25 after he purportedly figured in the expose by the portal with the video showing soldiers walking dogs of senior army officials or taking their children to school. By Express News Service BHOPAL: In a move largely aimed at protecting cows in the State, the Madhya Pradesh government decided on Tuesday to ban the use of plastic carry bags from May 1, 2017. The move was among a slew of decisions cleared by the State cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Tuesday. Briefing media persons about the Cabinet decisions, State government official spokesperson and senior minister Dr Narottam Mishra said: Since the consumption of plastic carry bags causes large number of cow deaths, besides being hazardous to the environment as a whole, the State cabinet approved the proposal of banning polythene bags all across the state from May 1, 2017. Mishra added that a detailed plan for finalising necessary modalities to execute the ban on plastic carry bags is being chalked out. He made it clear that ban only applies to plastic carry bags and no other plastic related material or product. The cabinet also decided to celebrate Dr BR Ambedkars birth anniversary on April 14 as Samajik Samrasta Diwas (Social Equality Day) across the state. The same day will mark the start of the Gramuday Abhiyan which will go on across MP till May 31. Among the other decisions taken by the cabinet on Tuesday, the State government approved a proposal for a unique CM Young Professional for Development Program. The new programme is aimed at infusing fresh talent in execution of government schemes. The programme to be personally followed up by the CM himself will entail building of an army of young professionals (up to age of 35 years) each of whom will have at least six years of expertise in varied fields. These young professionals to be dubbed as CM Fellows will be selected by the Board of Governors and will be playing a key role in monitoring and coordinating execution of important government schemes on the lines of similar initiatives in Maharashtra and Haryana. The government also cleared Rs 900 crore for CM Rural Drinking Water Scheme, a new scheme under the 2017-18 state budget. The state cabinet also cleared the proposal for setting up an advanced Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit at Indores MY Hospital. A team of expert doctors has also been selected for the new facility, which will be a major initiative against blood-related disorders in the State, said Mishra. The cabinet also cleared proposal to raise the MBBS seats at the Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal from the present 150 to 250. The State cabinet also cleared the decks for necessary manpower and other infrastructure for six new medical colleges in the state, including Chhindwara, Ratlam, Shahdol, Shivpuri, Khandwa and Vidisha. The cabinet also decided to provide 654 hectare land to the Union ministry of home affairs for setting up support weapon training school for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Damoh district of Bundelkhand. It was also decided to transfer 342 acres of land in North and South TT Nagar area of Bhopal for developing a smart city in the State capital. Further, the State government also decided to extend the Rs 5 per meal Deendayal Rasoi Scheme (started recently in Bhopal) to 49 districts of the State. Only Bhind and Umaria district (where Assembly bypolls were held on April 9) are not yet covered by the scheme which has attracted interests of other state governments also, said Mishra. BHOPAL: In a move largely aimed at protecting cows in the State, the Madhya Pradesh government decided on Tuesday to ban the use of plastic carry bags from May 1, 2017. The move was among a slew of decisions cleared by the State cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Tuesday. Briefing media persons about the Cabinet decisions, State government official spokesperson and senior minister Dr Narottam Mishra said: Since the consumption of plastic carry bags causes large number of cow deaths, besides being hazardous to the environment as a whole, the State cabinet approved the proposal of banning polythene bags all across the state from May 1, 2017. Mishra added that a detailed plan for finalising necessary modalities to execute the ban on plastic carry bags is being chalked out. He made it clear that ban only applies to plastic carry bags and no other plastic related material or product. The cabinet also decided to celebrate Dr BR Ambedkars birth anniversary on April 14 as Samajik Samrasta Diwas (Social Equality Day) across the state. The same day will mark the start of the Gramuday Abhiyan which will go on across MP till May 31. Among the other decisions taken by the cabinet on Tuesday, the State government approved a proposal for a unique CM Young Professional for Development Program. The new programme is aimed at infusing fresh talent in execution of government schemes. The programme to be personally followed up by the CM himself will entail building of an army of young professionals (up to age of 35 years) each of whom will have at least six years of expertise in varied fields. These young professionals to be dubbed as CM Fellows will be selected by the Board of Governors and will be playing a key role in monitoring and coordinating execution of important government schemes on the lines of similar initiatives in Maharashtra and Haryana. The government also cleared Rs 900 crore for CM Rural Drinking Water Scheme, a new scheme under the 2017-18 state budget. The state cabinet also cleared the proposal for setting up an advanced Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit at Indores MY Hospital. A team of expert doctors has also been selected for the new facility, which will be a major initiative against blood-related disorders in the State, said Mishra. The cabinet also cleared proposal to raise the MBBS seats at the Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal from the present 150 to 250. The State cabinet also cleared the decks for necessary manpower and other infrastructure for six new medical colleges in the state, including Chhindwara, Ratlam, Shahdol, Shivpuri, Khandwa and Vidisha. The cabinet also decided to provide 654 hectare land to the Union ministry of home affairs for setting up support weapon training school for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Damoh district of Bundelkhand. It was also decided to transfer 342 acres of land in North and South TT Nagar area of Bhopal for developing a smart city in the State capital. Further, the State government also decided to extend the Rs 5 per meal Deendayal Rasoi Scheme (started recently in Bhopal) to 49 districts of the State. Only Bhind and Umaria district (where Assembly bypolls were held on April 9) are not yet covered by the scheme which has attracted interests of other state governments also, said Mishra. By PTI JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir government has shut 142 bars and wine shops along all highways in the state, complying with a Supreme Court directive which banned liquor vends within 500 metres of state and national highways. "As many as 47 wine shops and 95 bars have been closed on the national highway in Jammu and Kashmir as per the directive of the SC," Excise Commissioner Javed Khan told PTI. The licence of these liquor bars in hotels and restaurants have been suspended and their owners asked to relocate their units 500 metres away from the highway, he said. Excise department has identified a total of 142 bars and wine shops including 47 wine shops and 95 bars located on the national highway from Lakhanpur (entry point to J-K in Kathua district) to Kupwara district of Kashmir valley. Liquor vends within 500 metres of national and state highways were asked to be shut down from April 1 as per the Supreme Court directive, exempting hill states of Sikkim, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh and areas having a population up to 20,000. In a significant order passed on pleas of various states seeking modification of the court's December 15, 2016 verdict, a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also made it clear that the judgement banning liquor vends along highways would also be applicable to bars, pubs and restaurants as drunken driving leads to fatal road accidents. The bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao, had said that "it is suitably modifying" its December 15 verdict as there has been "some substance" in seeking the relief and exempted Sikkim and Meghalaya from the 500-metre cap on liquor vends alongside highways. JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir government has shut 142 bars and wine shops along all highways in the state, complying with a Supreme Court directive which banned liquor vends within 500 metres of state and national highways. "As many as 47 wine shops and 95 bars have been closed on the national highway in Jammu and Kashmir as per the directive of the SC," Excise Commissioner Javed Khan told PTI. The licence of these liquor bars in hotels and restaurants have been suspended and their owners asked to relocate their units 500 metres away from the highway, he said. Excise department has identified a total of 142 bars and wine shops including 47 wine shops and 95 bars located on the national highway from Lakhanpur (entry point to J-K in Kathua district) to Kupwara district of Kashmir valley. Liquor vends within 500 metres of national and state highways were asked to be shut down from April 1 as per the Supreme Court directive, exempting hill states of Sikkim, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh and areas having a population up to 20,000. In a significant order passed on pleas of various states seeking modification of the court's December 15, 2016 verdict, a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also made it clear that the judgement banning liquor vends along highways would also be applicable to bars, pubs and restaurants as drunken driving leads to fatal road accidents. The bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao, had said that "it is suitably modifying" its December 15 verdict as there has been "some substance" in seeking the relief and exempted Sikkim and Meghalaya from the 500-metre cap on liquor vends alongside highways. By PTI SRINAGAR: A wanted Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was arrested while he was planning to hurl a grenade at a bus hired for poll duty in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, the police claimed today. A joint party of Army and police launched an operation after getting an input that militants were planning to carry out an attack in Kulgam, a police official said today. The alleged LeT militant, identified as Shakir Ahmed Itoo, was arrested during the operation and a grenade was recovered from him, he said. "Shakir was involved in a rifle snatching incident in Qazigund and he was arrested when he was planning to hurl a grenade at a polling bus," the police official claimed. A "chinese hand grenade" was recovered from his possession, he said. The Kashmir Valley had earlier seen unprecedented election-day violence when the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat byelection was held on April 9 following which the bypoll for the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was postponed. SRINAGAR: A wanted Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was arrested while he was planning to hurl a grenade at a bus hired for poll duty in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, the police claimed today. A joint party of Army and police launched an operation after getting an input that militants were planning to carry out an attack in Kulgam, a police official said today. The alleged LeT militant, identified as Shakir Ahmed Itoo, was arrested during the operation and a grenade was recovered from him, he said. "Shakir was involved in a rifle snatching incident in Qazigund and he was arrested when he was planning to hurl a grenade at a polling bus," the police official claimed. A "chinese hand grenade" was recovered from his possession, he said. The Kashmir Valley had earlier seen unprecedented election-day violence when the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat byelection was held on April 9 following which the bypoll for the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was postponed. By PTI NEW DELHI: Pakistan will be condemned across the world if it hangs Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today. "We leave their (Pakistan's) people. They are not able to come out of their old habits. It is very unfortunate. The whole world is watching what is happening and it will attract worldwide condemnation," the information and the broadcasting minister told reporters outside Parliament. A Pakistani military court has sentenced Jadhav to death in an alleged espionage case. Naidu also hit out at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his remarks alleging BJP policies were to blame for poor voter turnout and violence in the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls. "Who is responsible for the Jammu and Kashmir problem?... Comments for short political gains are not good for anyone," the minister said. He suggested that one should think carefully and speak in favour of the country on such sensitive issues. "One should keep in mind the country's unity and integrity before speaking...Pakistan is creating problems and separatists are fuelling the fire," Naidu said. Yesterday, Gandhi had said that decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir has been reversed by the BJP government. Eight people were killed on Sunday in firing by security forces during the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll. Only 7.14 per cent of the electorate came out to cast their votes in the constituency. NEW DELHI: Pakistan will be condemned across the world if it hangs Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today. "We leave their (Pakistan's) people. They are not able to come out of their old habits. It is very unfortunate. The whole world is watching what is happening and it will attract worldwide condemnation," the information and the broadcasting minister told reporters outside Parliament. A Pakistani military court has sentenced Jadhav to death in an alleged espionage case. Naidu also hit out at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his remarks alleging BJP policies were to blame for poor voter turnout and violence in the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls. "Who is responsible for the Jammu and Kashmir problem?... Comments for short political gains are not good for anyone," the minister said. He suggested that one should think carefully and speak in favour of the country on such sensitive issues. "One should keep in mind the country's unity and integrity before speaking...Pakistan is creating problems and separatists are fuelling the fire," Naidu said. Yesterday, Gandhi had said that decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir has been reversed by the BJP government. Eight people were killed on Sunday in firing by security forces during the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll. Only 7.14 per cent of the electorate came out to cast their votes in the constituency. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first class judicial magistrate court here on Tuesday granted conditional bail to five persons, arrested in a case related to incidents following the protest Mahija mother of the deceased engineering student, Jishnu Prannoy in front of police headquarters on Wednesday. KM Shajahan, activist and former additional private secretary of CPM leader VS Achuthanandan, SUCI leaders Shajir Khan, his wife Mini, Sreekumar and Himawal Bhadranananda, a controversial monk were granted bail. All of them were arrested last week during the agitation led by Jishnu Prannoy's mother Mahija, along with her relatives in front of the DGP's office. The five persons were arrested alleging a conspiracy behind the agitation. The court on Monday had sent Shajir Khan, Mini, Sreekumar and Himawal Bhadranananda to police custody for four hours. Though KM Shajahan was sent to police custody, the court rejected the plea for his custody. It did, however, permit the investigating officer to interrogate him for an hour in jail. Jishnu Prannoy was a first year engineering student who was found hanging in the college hostel premises following alleged torture by college authorities. His mother Mahija has been demanding the arrest of all the accused in the case. Main accused and chairman of Nehru group of institutions, P Krishnadas was granted bail on April 4, after he was arrested. N K Sakthivel, vice principal of Jishnu Prannoys college was arrested from Coimbatore on Sunday but was also granted bail. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first class judicial magistrate court here on Tuesday granted conditional bail to five persons, arrested in a case related to incidents following the protest Mahija mother of the deceased engineering student, Jishnu Prannoy in front of police headquarters on Wednesday. KM Shajahan, activist and former additional private secretary of CPM leader VS Achuthanandan, SUCI leaders Shajir Khan, his wife Mini, Sreekumar and Himawal Bhadranananda, a controversial monk were granted bail. All of them were arrested last week during the agitation led by Jishnu Prannoy's mother Mahija, along with her relatives in front of the DGP's office. The five persons were arrested alleging a conspiracy behind the agitation. The court on Monday had sent Shajir Khan, Mini, Sreekumar and Himawal Bhadranananda to police custody for four hours. Though KM Shajahan was sent to police custody, the court rejected the plea for his custody. It did, however, permit the investigating officer to interrogate him for an hour in jail. Jishnu Prannoy was a first year engineering student who was found hanging in the college hostel premises following alleged torture by college authorities. His mother Mahija has been demanding the arrest of all the accused in the case. Main accused and chairman of Nehru group of institutions, P Krishnadas was granted bail on April 4, after he was arrested. N K Sakthivel, vice principal of Jishnu Prannoys college was arrested from Coimbatore on Sunday but was also granted bail. By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR:Even though Odisha has 200 Buddhist sites, 15 of which are completely excavated, none has been positioned in the world tourism map unlike those in Bihar, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh. The only attraction is the Buddhist triangle, popularly known as the Diamond Triangle of Odisha comprising Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri, which is about 100 km from the State Capital. The Diamond Triangle in Brahmani-Birupa-Kelua belt has around 50 Buddhist sites that are concentrated within 40 kms radius. Buddhism in Odisha, which dates back to early 6th century BC, continued till 13th to 14th century AD - the longest surviving Buddhist civilisation compared to any other part of the country. In other States, Buddhism lasted for a period of 500 to 750 years. However, the Tourism Department has not been able to market the States rich Buddhism tradition within the country or outside. This was observed by speakers at the inaugural session of the three-day 4th Kalinga International Buddhist conclave which began at Udaygiri here on Monday. So far, Buddhist sites in Odisha have been in the shadow of the popular Puri-Konark Hindu pilgrimage tourism. Even as thousands of tourists from East Asia, Southeast Asia and Nepal visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar every year, a few of them come to Odisha. We came to know about our rich Buddhist heritage only in the last two decades when excavations started. In other States, Buddhist sites were excavated and marketed much before which is why they are drawing so many tourists, said Sunil Patnaik, secretary, Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS). Speaking on the occasion, Secretary of Tourism Department Arti Ahuja said the State Government has started taking up measures to promote the Buddhist circuit. As air connectivity with Kuala Lampur has been established, the focus is now on bringing more Buddhist tourists to the State from South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. This apart, the department has proposed a `100 crore project for developing the Buddhist circuit under Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Centre. As many as 200 international and national Buddhist scholars, tour operators, monks, travel bloggers and writers participated in the event. BHUBANESWAR:Even though Odisha has 200 Buddhist sites, 15 of which are completely excavated, none has been positioned in the world tourism map unlike those in Bihar, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh. The only attraction is the Buddhist triangle, popularly known as the Diamond Triangle of Odisha comprising Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri, which is about 100 km from the State Capital. The Diamond Triangle in Brahmani-Birupa-Kelua belt has around 50 Buddhist sites that are concentrated within 40 kms radius. Buddhism in Odisha, which dates back to early 6th century BC, continued till 13th to 14th century AD - the longest surviving Buddhist civilisation compared to any other part of the country. In other States, Buddhism lasted for a period of 500 to 750 years. However, the Tourism Department has not been able to market the States rich Buddhism tradition within the country or outside. This was observed by speakers at the inaugural session of the three-day 4th Kalinga International Buddhist conclave which began at Udaygiri here on Monday. So far, Buddhist sites in Odisha have been in the shadow of the popular Puri-Konark Hindu pilgrimage tourism. Even as thousands of tourists from East Asia, Southeast Asia and Nepal visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar every year, a few of them come to Odisha. We came to know about our rich Buddhist heritage only in the last two decades when excavations started. In other States, Buddhist sites were excavated and marketed much before which is why they are drawing so many tourists, said Sunil Patnaik, secretary, Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS). Speaking on the occasion, Secretary of Tourism Department Arti Ahuja said the State Government has started taking up measures to promote the Buddhist circuit. As air connectivity with Kuala Lampur has been established, the focus is now on bringing more Buddhist tourists to the State from South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. This apart, the department has proposed a `100 crore project for developing the Buddhist circuit under Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Centre. As many as 200 international and national Buddhist scholars, tour operators, monks, travel bloggers and writers participated in the event. Amarnath Parida By Express News Service JAGATSINGHPUR: Sounds bizarre, but a Dalit man of Jagatsinghpurs Salijanga is facing ostracisation along with his family for last two years because he registered a complaint with police over alleged rape of his daughter without taking the village committee into confidence. The village leaders were unanimous that the unilateral decision of Samarendra Sethy and his family tarnished the image of Salijanga and excommunicated them. However, Sethys is not the only family which has been ostracised, three more Dalit families and an anganwadi worker too are facing the same fate for trying to help him. In the fight between the village leaders and Dalits, an Anganwadi centre in Salijanga has been the casualty and shut down. On August 7, 2014, Samarendras daughter was allegedly raped by Badal Sethy of the same village. The father filed a complaint in Tirtol police station. This, however, did not go down well with the village leaders who accused Samarendra of disrespecting the village rules by not informing the gram sabha about the incident before registering a police complaint. Alleging that the image of the village has been tarnished, the leaders imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. Although Samarendra paid `2,000 and `2,700 on two occasions, he was not able to pay the rest. Subsequently, Samarendra and his family were ostracised. When three other Dalits - Amrendra Sethy, Golekha Sethy, Sarada Das - tried to help him, they too faced the same fate. Neither were they allowed to take water from the community well nor purchase ration from shops and milk from cowherds of the village. An Anganwadi worker of the village, Kalyani Mohanty, was also ostracised for interacting with Samarendras wife Annapurna. As villagers refused to send their children to the Anganwadi centre, it remained closed for five months prompting the district administration to shift it to Kutilo village, 500 metres away, in February 2015. The Anganwadi centre now caters to only seven children from Salijanga and eight from Kutilo. IIC of Tirtol police station, Balaram Nayak said, accused Badal has been arrested but no FIR has been registered by the ostracised families against the village leaders. If a complaint is filed, action would be taken, said Nayak. The district administration, on the other hand, is yet to reach the hapless families. Sub-Collector Narahari Sethy said villagers of Salijanga did not allow the Anganwadi centre to operate which is why the administration was forced to shift it to Kutilo. JAGATSINGHPUR: Sounds bizarre, but a Dalit man of Jagatsinghpurs Salijanga is facing ostracisation along with his family for last two years because he registered a complaint with police over alleged rape of his daughter without taking the village committee into confidence. The village leaders were unanimous that the unilateral decision of Samarendra Sethy and his family tarnished the image of Salijanga and excommunicated them. However, Sethys is not the only family which has been ostracised, three more Dalit families and an anganwadi worker too are facing the same fate for trying to help him. In the fight between the village leaders and Dalits, an Anganwadi centre in Salijanga has been the casualty and shut down. On August 7, 2014, Samarendras daughter was allegedly raped by Badal Sethy of the same village. The father filed a complaint in Tirtol police station. This, however, did not go down well with the village leaders who accused Samarendra of disrespecting the village rules by not informing the gram sabha about the incident before registering a police complaint. Alleging that the image of the village has been tarnished, the leaders imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. Although Samarendra paid `2,000 and `2,700 on two occasions, he was not able to pay the rest. Subsequently, Samarendra and his family were ostracised. When three other Dalits - Amrendra Sethy, Golekha Sethy, Sarada Das - tried to help him, they too faced the same fate. Neither were they allowed to take water from the community well nor purchase ration from shops and milk from cowherds of the village. An Anganwadi worker of the village, Kalyani Mohanty, was also ostracised for interacting with Samarendras wife Annapurna. As villagers refused to send their children to the Anganwadi centre, it remained closed for five months prompting the district administration to shift it to Kutilo village, 500 metres away, in February 2015. The Anganwadi centre now caters to only seven children from Salijanga and eight from Kutilo. IIC of Tirtol police station, Balaram Nayak said, accused Badal has been arrested but no FIR has been registered by the ostracised families against the village leaders. If a complaint is filed, action would be taken, said Nayak. The district administration, on the other hand, is yet to reach the hapless families. Sub-Collector Narahari Sethy said villagers of Salijanga did not allow the Anganwadi centre to operate which is why the administration was forced to shift it to Kutilo. By Associated Press LUCCA: The Group of Seven industrialized nations on Tuesday urged Russia to pressure the Syrian government to end the six-year civil war, but rejected a British call to impose new sanctions on Moscow over its support of President Bashar Assad. Foreign ministers from the seven countries said Moscow can play a constructive role in ending the brutal conflict that has destabilized the Middle East, driven millions to escape Syria and further frayed relations between the West and Russia. "Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. Or, he added, it could maintain its alliance with Syria, Iran and militant group Hezbollah, "which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests' longer term." Tillerson flew straight from the summit in Italy to Moscow, carrying the G-7's strong desire for a new start in Syria, but few concrete proposals to make it happen. The G-7 blames Assad's military for a deadly chemical attack last week. Ministers meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca strongly supported U.S. missile strikes that targeted a Syrian air base believed to have been used to launch the attack. But they were divided about how to deal with Syria, and Moscow. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who hosted the G-7 gathering, said "there is no consensus for further new sanctions." "We must have a dialogue with Russia," he said. "We must not push Russia into a corner." Instead of sanctions, the meeting's final communique called for an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to determine who was responsible for the "war crime." The U.S. and Britain say there is little doubt Assad's forces are culpable. The group's stance was a rebuff to British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who said Monday the G-7 was considering new sanctions on Russian military figures to press Moscow to end military support for the "toxic" Assad government. U.S. officials in Washington have also raised that prospect. Others argued for a more conciliatory approach. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Russia, and Assad ally Iran, must be involved in any peace process to end Syria's six-year civil war. Gabriel said the United States had "sent a clear signal to the Assad regime" by launching cruise missiles at a Syrian air base, but said other nations should "reach out to Russia" rather than seek a military escalation. "Not everyone may like it, but without Moscow and without Tehran there will be no solution for Syria," he said. The other G-7 members Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Japan and current president Italy are also trying to grasp what the U.S. administration's foreign policy is, amid conflicting signals from Washington. Tillerson's trip comes after an American official said the U.S. has drawn a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of the chemical attack an allegation that heightens already acute tensions between Washington and Moscow. Until Trump ordered U.S. missile strikes in response to the nerve gas attack that killed more than 80, the president had focused on defeating the Islamic State group and had shown no appetite for challenging Assad and, by extension, his Russian supporter President Vladimir Putin. Even since the missile strikes, signals have been mixed. After the April 4 chemical attack, Trump said his attitude toward Assad "has changed very much" and Tillerson said "steps are underway" to organize a coalition to remove him from power. But Tillerson also said that the top U.S. priority in the region remains the defeat of Islamic State militants. On Monday Tillerson raised fresh expectations for aggressive U.S. action and not only in Syria as he visited the site of a World War II Nazi massacre in central Italy, saying the U.S. would hold to account "all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world." Though such comments hint at a more activist U.S. foreign policy focused on preventing humanitarian atrocities, Trump has consistently suggested he prefers the opposite approach. His new administration has generallydownplayed human rights concerns while promoting an "America First" strategy de-emphasizing the concerns of foreign nations. Uncertainty about objectives persisted as Tillerson met Tuesday on the sidelines of the Lucca meeting with diplomats from "like-minded" countries on Syria, including Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as well as G-7 members. The U.S. hopes the regional countries can help ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is defeated. The G-7 members broadly agree that Assad should go but not necessarily when, or how. European leaders are especially conscious of the disaster in Libya, where an internationally backed ouster of dictator Moammar Gadhafi was followed by a descent into chaos and factional fighting. Tillerson said Tuesday that "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end." "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria. "That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs," Tillerson added. LUCCA: The Group of Seven industrialized nations on Tuesday urged Russia to pressure the Syrian government to end the six-year civil war, but rejected a British call to impose new sanctions on Moscow over its support of President Bashar Assad. Foreign ministers from the seven countries said Moscow can play a constructive role in ending the brutal conflict that has destabilized the Middle East, driven millions to escape Syria and further frayed relations between the West and Russia. "Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. Or, he added, it could maintain its alliance with Syria, Iran and militant group Hezbollah, "which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests' longer term." Tillerson flew straight from the summit in Italy to Moscow, carrying the G-7's strong desire for a new start in Syria, but few concrete proposals to make it happen. The G-7 blames Assad's military for a deadly chemical attack last week. Ministers meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca strongly supported U.S. missile strikes that targeted a Syrian air base believed to have been used to launch the attack. But they were divided about how to deal with Syria, and Moscow. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who hosted the G-7 gathering, said "there is no consensus for further new sanctions." "We must have a dialogue with Russia," he said. "We must not push Russia into a corner." Instead of sanctions, the meeting's final communique called for an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to determine who was responsible for the "war crime." The U.S. and Britain say there is little doubt Assad's forces are culpable. The group's stance was a rebuff to British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who said Monday the G-7 was considering new sanctions on Russian military figures to press Moscow to end military support for the "toxic" Assad government. U.S. officials in Washington have also raised that prospect. Others argued for a more conciliatory approach. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Russia, and Assad ally Iran, must be involved in any peace process to end Syria's six-year civil war. Gabriel said the United States had "sent a clear signal to the Assad regime" by launching cruise missiles at a Syrian air base, but said other nations should "reach out to Russia" rather than seek a military escalation. "Not everyone may like it, but without Moscow and without Tehran there will be no solution for Syria," he said. The other G-7 members Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Japan and current president Italy are also trying to grasp what the U.S. administration's foreign policy is, amid conflicting signals from Washington. Tillerson's trip comes after an American official said the U.S. has drawn a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of the chemical attack an allegation that heightens already acute tensions between Washington and Moscow. Until Trump ordered U.S. missile strikes in response to the nerve gas attack that killed more than 80, the president had focused on defeating the Islamic State group and had shown no appetite for challenging Assad and, by extension, his Russian supporter President Vladimir Putin. Even since the missile strikes, signals have been mixed. After the April 4 chemical attack, Trump said his attitude toward Assad "has changed very much" and Tillerson said "steps are underway" to organize a coalition to remove him from power. But Tillerson also said that the top U.S. priority in the region remains the defeat of Islamic State militants. On Monday Tillerson raised fresh expectations for aggressive U.S. action and not only in Syria as he visited the site of a World War II Nazi massacre in central Italy, saying the U.S. would hold to account "all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world." Though such comments hint at a more activist U.S. foreign policy focused on preventing humanitarian atrocities, Trump has consistently suggested he prefers the opposite approach. His new administration has generallydownplayed human rights concerns while promoting an "America First" strategy de-emphasizing the concerns of foreign nations. Uncertainty about objectives persisted as Tillerson met Tuesday on the sidelines of the Lucca meeting with diplomats from "like-minded" countries on Syria, including Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as well as G-7 members. The U.S. hopes the regional countries can help ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is defeated. The G-7 members broadly agree that Assad should go but not necessarily when, or how. European leaders are especially conscious of the disaster in Libya, where an internationally backed ouster of dictator Moammar Gadhafi was followed by a descent into chaos and factional fighting. Tillerson said Tuesday that "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end." "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria. "That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs," Tillerson added. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif today said that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. Jadhav, 46, was awarded death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by powerful army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, upper house of parliament, the defence minister today said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence sparked angry reaction from India which said Jadhav's execution would be treated as "premeditated murder." Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. "There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law," he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. "It's not premeditated murder, what's happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder)," he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went for went on "for three months", rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with "iron hands." "Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment," he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif today said that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. Jadhav, 46, was awarded death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by powerful army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, upper house of parliament, the defence minister today said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence sparked angry reaction from India which said Jadhav's execution would be treated as "premeditated murder." Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. "There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law," he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. "It's not premeditated murder, what's happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder)," he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went for went on "for three months", rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with "iron hands." "Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment," he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. By PTI BEIJING: A ruling Communist party official in China's volatile Uygur Muslim majority Xinjiang province was demoted for not "daring" to smoke in front of local religious leaders which is regarded as a sign of timidity in fighting against religious extremism. Jelil Matniyaz, the party chief of a village in Hotan, Xinjiang was demoted from "senior staff member" to "staff member" on March 25 for his "infirm political stands...and for being afraid to smoke in front of religious figures," a notice posted on the Hotan Daily's social media WeChat account said. "Smoking is a personal choice, and religious and ordinary people should respect each other, but his behaviour of 'not daring' to smoke conforms with an extreme religious thought in Xinjiang," the Global Times quoted a Hotan official as saying. "As a party chief, he should lead the fight against extreme religious thought, otherwise, he would fail to confront the threat of extreme regional forces," the official said. "According to local religion customs, smoking is not allowed in front of older or religious people," Turgunjun Tursun, a professor at the Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday. However, some religious people force ordinary citizens also to comply with the requirements, a senior official who had been working in Xinjiang for years, told the Global Times. The official's demotion is an isolated case, Tursun said, adding that the local government should balance de-extremist behaviour and local customs in the crackdown on extremism. The move to demote the official comes as authorities intensified their efforts to curb religious extremism, state-run Global Times reported today. Early this month, the province where the Chinese security forces are battling recurring attacks by Uygur militants enacted a new law banning a wide range of acts, including wearing veils or growing "abnormal" beards. In Xinjiang, the Turkic-speaking Uygurs are restive for several years over increasing settlements of Han population from other provinces. China blames separatist East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliated group for the spate of violent attacks in the province. A number of its members reported joining the Islamic State militant group to fight in Syria. China believes apprehends that they would return to carry out attacks in the country. Xinjiang issued a regional anti-extremism regulation in March which bans supporting extremism and curtailing religious freedom and activities. The anti-extremism campaign also requires officials to inform local residents about some customs that are used by religious extremists, Tursun said. Other 96 Hotan officials were also named and shamed in the notice for violating disciplinary regulations, including lax work styles, dereliction of duty, and bribery. BEIJING: A ruling Communist party official in China's volatile Uygur Muslim majority Xinjiang province was demoted for not "daring" to smoke in front of local religious leaders which is regarded as a sign of timidity in fighting against religious extremism. Jelil Matniyaz, the party chief of a village in Hotan, Xinjiang was demoted from "senior staff member" to "staff member" on March 25 for his "infirm political stands...and for being afraid to smoke in front of religious figures," a notice posted on the Hotan Daily's social media WeChat account said. "Smoking is a personal choice, and religious and ordinary people should respect each other, but his behaviour of 'not daring' to smoke conforms with an extreme religious thought in Xinjiang," the Global Times quoted a Hotan official as saying. "As a party chief, he should lead the fight against extreme religious thought, otherwise, he would fail to confront the threat of extreme regional forces," the official said. "According to local religion customs, smoking is not allowed in front of older or religious people," Turgunjun Tursun, a professor at the Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday. However, some religious people force ordinary citizens also to comply with the requirements, a senior official who had been working in Xinjiang for years, told the Global Times. The official's demotion is an isolated case, Tursun said, adding that the local government should balance de-extremist behaviour and local customs in the crackdown on extremism. The move to demote the official comes as authorities intensified their efforts to curb religious extremism, state-run Global Times reported today. Early this month, the province where the Chinese security forces are battling recurring attacks by Uygur militants enacted a new law banning a wide range of acts, including wearing veils or growing "abnormal" beards. In Xinjiang, the Turkic-speaking Uygurs are restive for several years over increasing settlements of Han population from other provinces. China blames separatist East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliated group for the spate of violent attacks in the province. A number of its members reported joining the Islamic State militant group to fight in Syria. China believes apprehends that they would return to carry out attacks in the country. Xinjiang issued a regional anti-extremism regulation in March which bans supporting extremism and curtailing religious freedom and activities. The anti-extremism campaign also requires officials to inform local residents about some customs that are used by religious extremists, Tursun said. Other 96 Hotan officials were also named and shamed in the notice for violating disciplinary regulations, including lax work styles, dereliction of duty, and bribery. By PTI NEW YORK: A 31-year old Pakistani man has pleaded guilty to his role in a 140 million dollar school and college "diploma mill" fraud run through a Pakistani company that was shut down by the country's law enforcement. Umair Hamid of Karachi plead guilty yesterday before US District Judge Ronnie Abrams to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the international diploma mill scheme that collected tens of millions of dollars from thousands of customers. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and Hamid will be sentenced in July. He was arrested in last December for his role in the scheme that collected approximately USD 140 million from tens of thousands of consumers, the Southern District of New York had said. As alleged in the indictment, Hamid and his co-conspirators made false representations to consumers on websites and over the phone to trick them into enrolling in purported colleges and high schools, and issued fake diplomas upon receipt of upfront fees from consumers. "Operating from Pakistan, Hamid helped fraudulently rake in millions of dollars from unwitting American consumers who paid to enroll in, and get degrees from, high schools and colleges that did not exist. As a result of his fraud, people who thought they were investing in an education received nothing more than worthless diplomas and a harsh lesson in the worldwide reach of deceit," Acting US Attorney Joon Kim said. Hamid, using the aliases "Shah Khan" and the "Shah", and others operated a massive education "diploma mill" through the Pakistani company Axact, which described itself as one of the world's leading information technology providers. Hamid served as Axact's Assistant Vice President of International Relations and made misrepresentations to individuals across the world, including throughout the US and in New York, in order to dupe these individuals into enrolling in supposed high schools, colleges, and other educational institutions. Consumers paid upfront fees to Hamid and his co-conspirators, believing that in return they would be enrolled in real educational courses and, eventually, receive legitimate degrees. Instead, after paying the upfront fees, consumers did not receive any legitimate instruction and were provided fake and worthless diplomas. Axact promoted and claimed to have an affiliation with approximately 350 fictitious high schools and universities, which Axact advertised online to consumers as genuine schools. During certain time periods since 2014, Axact received approximately 5,000 phone calls per day from individuals seeking to purchase Axact products or enroll in educational institutions supposedly affiliated with Axact. Once a consumer paid for a school certificate or diploma that falsely reflected a completed course of study, Axact sales agents were trained to use sales techniques to persuade the consumer to purchase additional "accreditation" or "certifications" for such certificates or diplomas in order to make them appear more legitimate. Axact, through Hamid and his co-conspirators, falsely "accredited" purported colleges and other educational institutions by arranging to have diplomas from these phony educational institutions affixed with fake stamps supposedly bearing the seal and signature of the US Secretary of State, as well as various state agencies and federal and state officials. Hamid controlled websites of purported "schools" that falsely represented that consumers who "enrolled" in the schools by paying tuition fees would receive online instruction and coursework, sold bogus academic "accreditations" in exchange for additional fees and falsely represented that the schools had been certified or accredited by various educational organisations. As a further part of the scheme, Hamid and a co-conspirator opened bank accounts in the US in the names of shell entities that received funds transferred to consumers in exchange for fake diplomas. In May 2015, Axact was shut down by Pakistani law enforcement, and certain individuals associated with Axact were prosecuted in Pakistan. However after May 2015, Hamid resumed his fraudulent business of selling fake diplomas to consumers in the US for upfront fees based upon false and fraudulent representations. Most recently, Hamid traveled to the US in 2016 in order to open a bank account used to collect money from defrauded consumers. NEW YORK: A 31-year old Pakistani man has pleaded guilty to his role in a 140 million dollar school and college "diploma mill" fraud run through a Pakistani company that was shut down by the country's law enforcement. Umair Hamid of Karachi plead guilty yesterday before US District Judge Ronnie Abrams to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the international diploma mill scheme that collected tens of millions of dollars from thousands of customers. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and Hamid will be sentenced in July. He was arrested in last December for his role in the scheme that collected approximately USD 140 million from tens of thousands of consumers, the Southern District of New York had said. As alleged in the indictment, Hamid and his co-conspirators made false representations to consumers on websites and over the phone to trick them into enrolling in purported colleges and high schools, and issued fake diplomas upon receipt of upfront fees from consumers. "Operating from Pakistan, Hamid helped fraudulently rake in millions of dollars from unwitting American consumers who paid to enroll in, and get degrees from, high schools and colleges that did not exist. As a result of his fraud, people who thought they were investing in an education received nothing more than worthless diplomas and a harsh lesson in the worldwide reach of deceit," Acting US Attorney Joon Kim said. Hamid, using the aliases "Shah Khan" and the "Shah", and others operated a massive education "diploma mill" through the Pakistani company Axact, which described itself as one of the world's leading information technology providers. Hamid served as Axact's Assistant Vice President of International Relations and made misrepresentations to individuals across the world, including throughout the US and in New York, in order to dupe these individuals into enrolling in supposed high schools, colleges, and other educational institutions. Consumers paid upfront fees to Hamid and his co-conspirators, believing that in return they would be enrolled in real educational courses and, eventually, receive legitimate degrees. Instead, after paying the upfront fees, consumers did not receive any legitimate instruction and were provided fake and worthless diplomas. Axact promoted and claimed to have an affiliation with approximately 350 fictitious high schools and universities, which Axact advertised online to consumers as genuine schools. During certain time periods since 2014, Axact received approximately 5,000 phone calls per day from individuals seeking to purchase Axact products or enroll in educational institutions supposedly affiliated with Axact. Once a consumer paid for a school certificate or diploma that falsely reflected a completed course of study, Axact sales agents were trained to use sales techniques to persuade the consumer to purchase additional "accreditation" or "certifications" for such certificates or diplomas in order to make them appear more legitimate. Axact, through Hamid and his co-conspirators, falsely "accredited" purported colleges and other educational institutions by arranging to have diplomas from these phony educational institutions affixed with fake stamps supposedly bearing the seal and signature of the US Secretary of State, as well as various state agencies and federal and state officials. Hamid controlled websites of purported "schools" that falsely represented that consumers who "enrolled" in the schools by paying tuition fees would receive online instruction and coursework, sold bogus academic "accreditations" in exchange for additional fees and falsely represented that the schools had been certified or accredited by various educational organisations. As a further part of the scheme, Hamid and a co-conspirator opened bank accounts in the US in the names of shell entities that received funds transferred to consumers in exchange for fake diplomas. In May 2015, Axact was shut down by Pakistani law enforcement, and certain individuals associated with Axact were prosecuted in Pakistan. However after May 2015, Hamid resumed his fraudulent business of selling fake diplomas to consumers in the US for upfront fees based upon false and fraudulent representations. Most recently, Hamid traveled to the US in 2016 in order to open a bank account used to collect money from defrauded consumers. By IANS CAPE TOWN: South African President Jacob Zuma has warned against "a resurgence of racism" in the country where "racists have become more emboldened". "We have sadly not yet succeeded in building the non-racial society that we envisaged," Zuma said at the Chris Hani Wreath Laying Ceremony and handover of the Chris Hani heritage site in Boksburg, Gauteng province, on Monday. The late Hani, South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, was assassinated at his Boksburg home on April 10, 1993. His death almost derailed the reconciliation talks that led to the end of apartheid in 1994. Zuma lauded Hani as a real fighter against racism, who lost his life at the hands of hard-core racists, Xinhua news agency reported. The President linked last week's massive protests to racism, saying it demonstrated that "racism is real and exists in our country". Thousands of South Africans marched in parts of the country to press their demand for the resignation of Zuma last Friday. Although SACP leaders shared the same stage with Zuma in memory of Hani, the SACP said it has not changed its plea for Zuma to resign. Zuma has come under mounting pressure after he reshuffled the cabinet on March 31, sacking or replacing 10 ministers and 10 deputy ministers, notably Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Zuma said many placards and posters carried by the protesters "displayed beliefs that we thought had been buried in 1994". Some posters depicted black people as baboons, Zuma said, adding that "it is clear that some of our white compatriots regard black people as being lesser human beings or sub-human". "The racist onslaught has become more direct and is no longer hidden as was the case in the early years of our constitutional democratic order," said Zuma. "We cannot allow and assist racists to take our country backwards." At a legislative level, the South African government has published the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, according to Zuma. Once it becomes law, the law will criminalise several forms of discrimination including on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and nationality. CAPE TOWN: South African President Jacob Zuma has warned against "a resurgence of racism" in the country where "racists have become more emboldened". "We have sadly not yet succeeded in building the non-racial society that we envisaged," Zuma said at the Chris Hani Wreath Laying Ceremony and handover of the Chris Hani heritage site in Boksburg, Gauteng province, on Monday. The late Hani, South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, was assassinated at his Boksburg home on April 10, 1993. His death almost derailed the reconciliation talks that led to the end of apartheid in 1994. Zuma lauded Hani as a real fighter against racism, who lost his life at the hands of hard-core racists, Xinhua news agency reported. The President linked last week's massive protests to racism, saying it demonstrated that "racism is real and exists in our country". Thousands of South Africans marched in parts of the country to press their demand for the resignation of Zuma last Friday. Although SACP leaders shared the same stage with Zuma in memory of Hani, the SACP said it has not changed its plea for Zuma to resign. Zuma has come under mounting pressure after he reshuffled the cabinet on March 31, sacking or replacing 10 ministers and 10 deputy ministers, notably Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Zuma said many placards and posters carried by the protesters "displayed beliefs that we thought had been buried in 1994". Some posters depicted black people as baboons, Zuma said, adding that "it is clear that some of our white compatriots regard black people as being lesser human beings or sub-human". "The racist onslaught has become more direct and is no longer hidden as was the case in the early years of our constitutional democratic order," said Zuma. "We cannot allow and assist racists to take our country backwards." At a legislative level, the South African government has published the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, according to Zuma. Once it becomes law, the law will criminalise several forms of discrimination including on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and nationality. By AFP SAN BERNARDINO: A man walked into a school in southern California Monday and shot dead his estranged wife in front of her students, killing an eight-year-old boy in the crossfire before turning his gun on himself. Police said local resident Cedric Anderson had checked into the office as a visitor after entering the campus in the city of San Bernardino and going to the special needs classroom, where he opened fire on Karen Elaine Smith, 53, as she was teaching. Officers said Anderson, also 53, had only targeted Smith but two students were caught in the crossfire and one of them, Jonathan Martinez, died later in hospital. "This does appear to have been a murder-suicide with both male adult and female adult victim succumbing to injuries, with the male succumbing to a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Lieutenant Mike Madden of the San Bernardino Police Department told a news conference. Police said initially the two wounded students had been listed as critical but later confirmed Martinez's death. Students at North Park Elementary School -- which has around 500 students between kindergarten and sixth grade -- were transported to a nearby campus, where they were "having snacks, playing games and watching a Disney movie," the police department tweeted. Many panicked parents and relatives who rushed to the school had to endure waits of several agonising hours before they could be certain that their child was not among the victims. "I saw blood splashing on the wall. I ran as fast as I can. I lost a shoe," one student told AFP. An 11-year-old boy told AFP he was in the middle of a math test when he heard the gunfire. "I started feeling really scared from the SWAT team, and people from the police station came through the door to walk us out we had to walk with our hands up," he said. San Bernardino, about an hour's drive east of Los Angeles, was the scene of horrific violence when Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik gunned down 14 people and wounded 22 others in December 2015 before being shot dead by police. At the time, before the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, it was the deadliest attack on US soil since September 11, 2001. Pakistani-born Malik -- who met her future US-born husband on a Muslim dating website and married him in Saudi Arabia -- had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group on Facebook and was instrumental in radicalising him. Monday's shooting will likely reignite the debate on gun violence in the US, where attempts to put in place tougher gun control measures have failed, despite a series of mass killings. In one of the most notorious school shootings in modern US history, 20 children and six staff were massacred in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. In June last year, 49 people were killed in a shooting rampage at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. "School campuses are sacred spaces where children should be free to learn, play and grow without the threat of violence," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. "Today's shooting... is a reminder that deadly weapons can shatter that sense of security, mercilessly and without warning -- leaving parents and educators struggling to address the questions, fears and anxieties that gun violence creates for our young people." More than 33,000 American residents die every year from guns, including suicides, a rate far higher than in other Western countries. While losing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton vowed to fight the gun lobby during last year's election campaign, President Donald Trump promised to defend the right to bear arms and said he sometimes carried a gun. In February, Trump signed a measure into law blocking an Obama-era rule designed to keep guns out of the hands of certain mentally ill people. The rule aimed to prevent an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from being able to buy firearms as part of Obama's efforts to strengthen the federal background check system in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre. Adam Lanza, 20, who shot dead his mother using her guns before killing the students, adults and himself, had Asperger's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Obama administration rule required the Social Security Administration to send in the names of beneficiaries with mental impairments who also have a third party manage their benefits. But the Republican-majority Senate, backed by the National Rifle Association pro-gun lobby and disabled advocacy groups, voted 57-43 to overturn the regulation. SAN BERNARDINO: A man walked into a school in southern California Monday and shot dead his estranged wife in front of her students, killing an eight-year-old boy in the crossfire before turning his gun on himself. Police said local resident Cedric Anderson had checked into the office as a visitor after entering the campus in the city of San Bernardino and going to the special needs classroom, where he opened fire on Karen Elaine Smith, 53, as she was teaching. Officers said Anderson, also 53, had only targeted Smith but two students were caught in the crossfire and one of them, Jonathan Martinez, died later in hospital. "This does appear to have been a murder-suicide with both male adult and female adult victim succumbing to injuries, with the male succumbing to a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Lieutenant Mike Madden of the San Bernardino Police Department told a news conference. Police said initially the two wounded students had been listed as critical but later confirmed Martinez's death. Students at North Park Elementary School -- which has around 500 students between kindergarten and sixth grade -- were transported to a nearby campus, where they were "having snacks, playing games and watching a Disney movie," the police department tweeted. Many panicked parents and relatives who rushed to the school had to endure waits of several agonising hours before they could be certain that their child was not among the victims. "I saw blood splashing on the wall. I ran as fast as I can. I lost a shoe," one student told AFP. An 11-year-old boy told AFP he was in the middle of a math test when he heard the gunfire. "I started feeling really scared from the SWAT team, and people from the police station came through the door to walk us out we had to walk with our hands up," he said. San Bernardino, about an hour's drive east of Los Angeles, was the scene of horrific violence when Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik gunned down 14 people and wounded 22 others in December 2015 before being shot dead by police. At the time, before the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, it was the deadliest attack on US soil since September 11, 2001. Pakistani-born Malik -- who met her future US-born husband on a Muslim dating website and married him in Saudi Arabia -- had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group on Facebook and was instrumental in radicalising him. Monday's shooting will likely reignite the debate on gun violence in the US, where attempts to put in place tougher gun control measures have failed, despite a series of mass killings. In one of the most notorious school shootings in modern US history, 20 children and six staff were massacred in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. In June last year, 49 people were killed in a shooting rampage at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. "School campuses are sacred spaces where children should be free to learn, play and grow without the threat of violence," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. "Today's shooting... is a reminder that deadly weapons can shatter that sense of security, mercilessly and without warning -- leaving parents and educators struggling to address the questions, fears and anxieties that gun violence creates for our young people." More than 33,000 American residents die every year from guns, including suicides, a rate far higher than in other Western countries. While losing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton vowed to fight the gun lobby during last year's election campaign, President Donald Trump promised to defend the right to bear arms and said he sometimes carried a gun. In February, Trump signed a measure into law blocking an Obama-era rule designed to keep guns out of the hands of certain mentally ill people. The rule aimed to prevent an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from being able to buy firearms as part of Obama's efforts to strengthen the federal background check system in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre. Adam Lanza, 20, who shot dead his mother using her guns before killing the students, adults and himself, had Asperger's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Obama administration rule required the Social Security Administration to send in the names of beneficiaries with mental impairments who also have a third party manage their benefits. But the Republican-majority Senate, backed by the National Rifle Association pro-gun lobby and disabled advocacy groups, voted 57-43 to overturn the regulation. By PTI WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May have agreed that a "window of opportunity" exists to convince Russia to end its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Trump made a phone call to May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and they discussed America's response to the suspected chemical attack by the Syrian regime in which 87 people, including 31 children, were killed. May and Merkel, in two separate calls with Trump, expressed support for the action of the US and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable, the White House said. "The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest," May's spokesperson said in London. Trump and his counterparts agreed to stay in touch on Syria and discuss other international issues of mutual concern, it added. Meanwhile, the White House refuted reports that Russia had prior information about the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime last week. "At this time, there is no US Intelligence Community consensus that Russia had foreknowledge of the Syrian chemical attack," a senior administration official said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US and Russia have a common interest in defeating the Islamic State militant group. "We have a shared interest particularly in the area of ISIS. If we can defeat them and if we can work with them on a plan to defeat them, then we're going to do it," he said. "The President came into office to really focus on two fronts: keeping our country safe and growing our economy and putting people back to work," Spicer said. "If Russia or any other country can help us achieve those two goals, either through market access on additional products and services from the US into a major marketplace, but more importantly help to keep our country safe through a combined effort to defeat something like the ISIS, especially in a place like Syria where they're playing so prominently, then I think we want to work with them," Spicer said. "But if we can't get a deal with them, then, the President's not going to be disappointed. But he would like to do what he can to work with these individuals to make it happen," Spicer said. In a letter to Trump, two Republican lawmakers Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Peter Roskam urged him to suspend aircraft sales to Iran arguing that Tehran is using commercial passenger aircraft to supply its worldwide network of terror proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria. "We urge you to suspend current and future licenses for aircraft sales to commercial Iranian airlines until your administration conducts a comprehensive review of their role in supporting Irans illicit activity," they said in a letter to Trump. "The United States should revoke authorisations and re-impose sanctions on Iranian airlines found guilty of such support, and should bar US companies from selling aircraft to Iran until the Iranian regime ceases using commercial airliners for illicit military purposes," the letter said. Senator Jack Reed supported the US move of the missile strike against the Assad regime. "It was important to respond to the despicable behaviour of the Syrian regime, Assad regime, but it hasn't changed the facts on the ground, which is that Assad controls significant territory. There's Russian support," Reed was quoted as saying by CNN. "But in terms of stopping, the chemical weapons attacks against the people of Syria, I hope it succeeds," he said. WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May have agreed that a "window of opportunity" exists to convince Russia to end its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Trump made a phone call to May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and they discussed America's response to the suspected chemical attack by the Syrian regime in which 87 people, including 31 children, were killed. May and Merkel, in two separate calls with Trump, expressed support for the action of the US and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable, the White House said. "The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest," May's spokesperson said in London. Trump and his counterparts agreed to stay in touch on Syria and discuss other international issues of mutual concern, it added. Meanwhile, the White House refuted reports that Russia had prior information about the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime last week. "At this time, there is no US Intelligence Community consensus that Russia had foreknowledge of the Syrian chemical attack," a senior administration official said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US and Russia have a common interest in defeating the Islamic State militant group. "We have a shared interest particularly in the area of ISIS. If we can defeat them and if we can work with them on a plan to defeat them, then we're going to do it," he said. "The President came into office to really focus on two fronts: keeping our country safe and growing our economy and putting people back to work," Spicer said. "If Russia or any other country can help us achieve those two goals, either through market access on additional products and services from the US into a major marketplace, but more importantly help to keep our country safe through a combined effort to defeat something like the ISIS, especially in a place like Syria where they're playing so prominently, then I think we want to work with them," Spicer said. "But if we can't get a deal with them, then, the President's not going to be disappointed. But he would like to do what he can to work with these individuals to make it happen," Spicer said. In a letter to Trump, two Republican lawmakers Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Peter Roskam urged him to suspend aircraft sales to Iran arguing that Tehran is using commercial passenger aircraft to supply its worldwide network of terror proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria. "We urge you to suspend current and future licenses for aircraft sales to commercial Iranian airlines until your administration conducts a comprehensive review of their role in supporting Irans illicit activity," they said in a letter to Trump. "The United States should revoke authorisations and re-impose sanctions on Iranian airlines found guilty of such support, and should bar US companies from selling aircraft to Iran until the Iranian regime ceases using commercial airliners for illicit military purposes," the letter said. Senator Jack Reed supported the US move of the missile strike against the Assad regime. "It was important to respond to the despicable behaviour of the Syrian regime, Assad regime, but it hasn't changed the facts on the ground, which is that Assad controls significant territory. There's Russian support," Reed was quoted as saying by CNN. "But in terms of stopping, the chemical weapons attacks against the people of Syria, I hope it succeeds," he said. By Associated Press MOSCOW: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued an ultimatum to Russia on Tuesday shortly before arriving in Moscow for diplomatic talks: Side with the U.S. and like-minded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, the militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. It wasn't clear what the punishment would be for a Russian government that has used its military might to help Assad and his array of allies score a series of battlefield successes in their six-year war with Syrian opposition groups. And Russian Vladimir Putin immediately showed that he wouldn't back down, saying Russia knew about planned "provocations" to blame Syria's government for using chemical weapons. He said the U.N. should first investigate the attack. Tillerson is in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It is the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet. Before heading to Russia, Tillerson told reporters it was unclear whether Moscow had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or whether it had merely been incompetent. But, he said, the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." His trip follows Monday's claim by a senior U.S. official that Washington has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. The official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity, didn't offer concrete proof and others in the Trump administration cautioned that no final determination of Russia's foreknowledge had been made. "We cannot let this happen again," Tillerson said of the chemical attack. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance" with Syria and Iran. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks." It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the U.S.-Russian relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage." The trade of accusations followed a long-set pattern for Syria's civil war. Under President Barack Obama, the United States accused Russia of supporting Assad in war crimes against civilians and of employing a sophisticated disinformation campaign to protect its ally. Assad and Russia have accused the U.S. of supporting terrorist groups, who've staged atrocities to gain international sympathy for their cause. There was one key difference: After the recent launch of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a Syrian air base, President Donald Trump can now offer each a credible threat that the U.S. will use force in Syria if the stalemate persists. The Trump administration, however, has offered mixed messages about whether Assad must surrender power and when. Tillerson said it was clear the U.S. saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." Such clarity on Assad's future isn't shared by Russia, which insists that Syria's leadership cannot be a matter for outside powers. Tillerson said Russian-sponsored cease-fire talks could generate momentum toward broader talks about a political transition if they create a durable cease-fire. The idea is for political talks to follow, but Tillerson acknowledged the lack of progress so far. Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the "likeminded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialized economies in Italy. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The U.S. and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. That accusation will hang over Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say if Putin would meet Tillerson. The United States has sought to minimize expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the U.S. will leave with any Russian concessions on Syria. Instead, the U.S. is hoping to use the visit the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia to convey expectations to Moscow and allow Russians time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the U.S. strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria. In Italy, diplomats spoke of possible new sanctions on Syria's and Russia's militaries, and additional U.S. military action if Assad's forces continue attacking civilians. MOSCOW: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued an ultimatum to Russia on Tuesday shortly before arriving in Moscow for diplomatic talks: Side with the U.S. and like-minded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, the militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. It wasn't clear what the punishment would be for a Russian government that has used its military might to help Assad and his array of allies score a series of battlefield successes in their six-year war with Syrian opposition groups. And Russian Vladimir Putin immediately showed that he wouldn't back down, saying Russia knew about planned "provocations" to blame Syria's government for using chemical weapons. He said the U.N. should first investigate the attack. Tillerson is in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It is the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet. Before heading to Russia, Tillerson told reporters it was unclear whether Moscow had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or whether it had merely been incompetent. But, he said, the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." His trip follows Monday's claim by a senior U.S. official that Washington has concluded Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. The official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity, didn't offer concrete proof and others in the Trump administration cautioned that no final determination of Russia's foreknowledge had been made. "We cannot let this happen again," Tillerson said of the chemical attack. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance" with Syria and Iran. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks." It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the U.S.-Russian relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage." The trade of accusations followed a long-set pattern for Syria's civil war. Under President Barack Obama, the United States accused Russia of supporting Assad in war crimes against civilians and of employing a sophisticated disinformation campaign to protect its ally. Assad and Russia have accused the U.S. of supporting terrorist groups, who've staged atrocities to gain international sympathy for their cause. There was one key difference: After the recent launch of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a Syrian air base, President Donald Trump can now offer each a credible threat that the U.S. will use force in Syria if the stalemate persists. The Trump administration, however, has offered mixed messages about whether Assad must surrender power and when. Tillerson said it was clear the U.S. saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." Such clarity on Assad's future isn't shared by Russia, which insists that Syria's leadership cannot be a matter for outside powers. Tillerson said Russian-sponsored cease-fire talks could generate momentum toward broader talks about a political transition if they create a durable cease-fire. The idea is for political talks to follow, but Tillerson acknowledged the lack of progress so far. Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the "likeminded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialized economies in Italy. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The U.S. and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. That accusation will hang over Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say if Putin would meet Tillerson. The United States has sought to minimize expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the U.S. will leave with any Russian concessions on Syria. Instead, the U.S. is hoping to use the visit the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia to convey expectations to Moscow and allow Russians time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the U.S. strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria. In Italy, diplomats spoke of possible new sanctions on Syria's and Russia's militaries, and additional U.S. military action if Assad's forces continue attacking civilians. Sorry, that page not found! Please visit our Home Page for latest updates Marks and Spencer appoints James Munson as Managing Director New Delhi, Apr 10 : Marks and Spencer Reliance India on Monday announced the appointment of James Munson as Managing Director. (Posted on 10 April 2017, 1667922674 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 10 April 2017, 1667922674 173O212O198O32) James replaces Venu Nair who is leaving Marks & Spencer on 20th April to pursue a new role as Chief Commercial Officer for Trent Limited.James will be responsible for continuing to grow Marks & Spencer's joint venture business in India with Reliance Retail. With 57 stores across 27 cities, India has the largest number of Marks & Spencer stores outside of the UK.The retailer is also growing its online reach across the country via leading fashion platforms Myntra, AJIO and most recently with Amazon. James will commence his new role in May.James is a seasoned retail professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry, including six years working in India and the Czech region. James joined Marks & Spencer in the UK in 2006 as an experienced manager from BHS.He has held various leadership positions across the business including Store Manager at Camberley and Kingston, two of Marks & Spencer's largest UK stores. In 2011, he was appointed as Marks & Spencer Reliance India's Head of Retail including responsibilities for Supply Chain and Visual Merchandise.In 2014, James was appointed Managing Director of the Czech Group with responsibility for 48 stores in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia."We are delighted to appoint James Munson as our new Managing Director for our India business, one of our fastest growing markets. James has extensive retail experience and solid understanding of our India business," said Marks & Spencer's Regional Director of Europe, India and Greater China, Jonathan Glenister."We would also like to thank Venu for his contribution to Marks & Spencer over the last 14 years. He leaves with our best wishes for the future," added Glenister."I'm thrilled to be returning to India and have the opportunity to put our Indian customers at the heart of everything we do. As one of our key growth markets, this is a really exciting time to be re-joining the team," said James. Parliament passes Constitution (SCs) order (Amendment) Bill 2017 New Delhi, Apr. 10: Parliament has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill 2017 with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. It was passed by Lok Sabha on March 23. (Posted on 10 April 2017, 1667922676 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 10 April 2017, 1667922676 173O212O198O32) The Bill amends the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964.It seeks to modify the list of Scheduled Castes (SCs) for the state of Odisha. The castes Sualgiri, Swalgiri will be introduced as synonyms to the Sabakhia caste in the list of SCs for the state.The name of the Union Territory of Pondicherry was modified to Puducherry by a central Act in 2006.The bill seeks to incorporate this change and replace Pondicherry with Puducherry in the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964. MP CM Chouhan proposes ban on liquor shops Narsinghpur (Madhya Pradesh) Apr. 11: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that the state would go on complete liquor ban in coming days. (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922677 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922677 173O212O198O32) "Alcohol prohibition will be implemented in the entire state by closing all liquor shops in a phased manner," the Chief Minister said while addressing a programme here.He added that the first phase has already been rolled out with the government closing down all the liquor shops situated within a radius of five kilometres from the banks of Narmada."In the next phase, the liquor shops would not be allowed to open in residential localities, near educational institutes or religious places," Chouhan said.The programme was organised during the ongoing river conservation awareness campaign 'Namami Devi Narmade - Narmada Seva Yatra.'Madhya Pradesh has witnessed several protests against liquor shops in the past month.Other parts of the state such as Indore, Burhanpur, Chhatarpur and Satnahave have also faced several protests.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has voiced its support for such protests.Bihar and Gujarat are the only states that currently have a total ban on alcohol in place. Prime Focus scores a hat-trick at 64th National Awards New Delhi, Apr. 11: The 64th National Awards were announced on Friday, 7th April 2017, honoring the best Indian movies of 2016. (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922678 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/bollywood-news.php (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922678 173O212O198O32) Adding yet another feather to its hat, Prime Focus completed a hat-trick of National Award successeswith '24', a Tamil film which bagged the Best Cinematography award this year.For 24, Prime Focus delivered color grading and finishing services, a post-productionprocess crucial to enhancing the overall visual quality of the movieand a vital tool for cinematographers to accurately capture their vision on screen.This is the third year in a row that Prime Focus has delivered its color grading and finishing services for the winner of National Award for Best Cinematography.Prime Focus previously delivered DI services for the Best Cinematography award winners Chotushkone and Bajirao Mastani in 2015 and 2016 respectively. It also marks the third time that Prime Focus' Colorist Ashirwad Hadkar has color corrected a film which went on to win the National Award for Best Cinematography.Prime Focus was also the post production partner for a staggering 12 winners of National Awards this year including Ventilator, Cycle, Rustom, Dhanak, Dashakriya, Abba, The Cinema Travellers, Neerja, Janatha Garage, 24, Dangal and Mukthi Bhavan.Niraj Sanghai, Sr. VP, Film Sales, Prime Focussaid, "Being the post production partner to 12 National Award winning movies this year is indeed a moment of great pride and honor for everyone at Prime Focus. It also reflects the trust and confidence that filmmakers not only from Bollywood but across the country continue to place in our post-production facility and our artists. Prime Focus' legacy is a distinguished one, and it's recognitions like these that inspire and motivate us to keep pushing the envelope and continue to deliver quality work year after year. This is a victory for each and every person associated with Prime Focus." Soon, a blood test to detect shaken baby syndrome Washington D.C. [USA], Apr 11 : A team of scientists has come up with a new medical test that may help identify infants who may have had bleeding of the brain as a result of abusive head trauma, sometimes referred to as shaken baby syndrome. (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922681 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/health-news.php (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922681 173O212O198O32) Developed by the researchers at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the serum-based test, which needs to be validated in a larger population and receive regulatory approval before being used in clinical practice, would be the first of its kind to be used to detect acute intracranial hemorrhage or bleeding of the brain.Infants who test positive would then have further evaluation via brain imaging to determine the source of the bleeding."Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of death from traumatic brain injury in infants and the leading cause of death from physical abuse in the United States," said senior author Rachel Berger.However, approximately 30 percent of AHT diagnoses are missed when caretakers provide inaccurate histories or when infants have nonspecific symptoms such as vomiting or fussiness. Missed diagnoses can be catastrophic as AHT can lead to permanent brain damage and even death.The researchers collaborated with Axela, a Canadian molecular diagnostics company, to develop a sensitive test that could reduce the chances of a missed diagnosis by using a combination of three biomarkers along with a measure of the patient's level of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in blood.Axela's automated testing system allowed the researchers to measure multiple biomarkers simultaneously using an extremely small amount of blood, an important characteristic of a test designed to be used in infants.The test correctly detected acute intracranial hemorrhage because of abusive head trauma approximately 90 percent of the time, a much higher rate than the sensitivity of clinical judgement, which is approximately 70 percent."The test is not intended to replace clinical judgement, which is crucial," said Berger. "Rather, we believe that it can supplement clinical evaluation and in cases where symptoms may be unclear, help physicians make a decision about whether an infant needs brain imaging."The specificity of the test or the ability to correctly identify an infant without bleeding of the brain who would not require further evaluation was 48 percent. The researchers aimed for the test to be highly sensitive rather than maximizing accuracy, since missing a diagnosis has more serious consequences than performing brain imaging in babies without the condition."This study illustrates the benefits of being able to perform highly sensitive tests at the point of care," said co-author Paul Smith.The science behind the test is described in JAMA Pediatrics. Indian Army's recruitment drive attracts Kashmiri youth Budgam (Jammu and Kashmir) Apr. 11 : Around 1500 youths, including 500 from the Kashmir Valley, competed in the Indian Army's recruitment drive here to ensure that they lead a dignified life. (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922682 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922682 173O212O198O32) The recruitment is being done for the Indian Army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) for the Kashmir region.Munnawar Hussain, whose son is participating in the recruitment rally, expressed his delight and said that he would be extremely proud if he is selected."My son is here from the last 20 days. The army's center has been taking care of my son and other young boys like a mother takes care of her child," he told ANI.Hussain, a former JAK LI soldier, said that Kashmiri youth shouldn't fall prey to the 'misinformation' and come at JAK LI centre to know what type of treatment the Indian Army gives to Kashmiris.He thanked his commander and JAK LI regiment for providing him the opportunity to lead a dignified and meaningful life.JAK LI employs only the residents of Jammu and Kashmir and gives additional points in the selection to the children of former JAK LI soldiers.A local Shahid, who has been selected in the JAK LI, told ANI that it would be his pleasure to serve the nation through the coveted Indian Army.Another local Mohammad Shabir, who has been selected, said that he would now be able to live a comfortable and dignified life, adding that he would not be able to cater to the needs of his family.He exhorted the stone-pelters and drug addict Kashmiri youth to desert the devastating path and try to join the Indian Army."These youth should also think about their parents," said Shabir.Another local Mohammad Sadiq, who served in the JAK LI for 17 years, said there is no better job than this.His son also participated in the recruitment rally.An army officer, who monitored the entire recruitment process, said around 30,000 youngsters from Kashmir Valley participated in the Indian Army's recruitment drive in the recent past."This shows patriotism is there in the hearts of Kashmiri youth and the army is also trying to create more vacancies for the Kashmiri youth," he said.When asked about the reason behind so many Kashmiri youths opting to join the Indian Army at a time when the situation in the valley is volatile, the officer said, "Patriotism and attraction for the Indian Army among the Kashmiris is not a new thing.""The common people, who waged an armed resistance to the Pakistani aggression in J&K, were initially called J&K Militia, which was later transformed into JAK LI," said the army officer.He informed that recruitment for the youngsters of Jammu, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, and Leh regions will be held on Wednesday. When Dwayne Johnson surprised Disney's 'Jungle Cruise' riders New Delhi , Apr. 11 : The whole world knows how much of a busy bee Dwayne Johnson is, but that does not keep him from meeting and surprising his fans. (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922683 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/hollywood-news.php (Posted on 11 April 2017, 1667922683 173O212O198O32) The 44-year-old actor took to his Instagram page and shared a picture of himself surprising the Disneyland guests as they were about to set a sail on 'Jungle Cruise.'He captioned the snap, "Surprise! Once I committed to our Disney partners to make JUNGLE CRUISE, I wanted to dive head first into the research. So I headed to Walt Disney World and surprised tourists by commandeering the JUNGLE CRUISE ride."The 'Fate of the Furious' star feels that he "learned a lot" and "had a great day on the river"."It was a GREAT day on the river. Learned a lot.. for example, it takes approximately 12.6 minutes for all the passengers to get over the shock of me jumping on the boat and thinking I'm a DJ look-a-like. One passenger even said, "Oh the real Rock is much smaller than this guy". I threw his ass off the boat."Continuing, "Jokes aside (and yes, with me as the Cruise Skipper there will be an abundance of puns) this is such an amazing, fantastical and cool world to build out. Best part about this surprise research day was knowing how FUN of an experience we're gonna work hard to create for families around the world. That's the part that gets my excited the most. The movie. The ride. The experience. It's the cruise of a lifetime. And trust me, you'll want me as your Skipper. Just don't forget to bring the Skipper's beer. Next step... we find our visionary director. #SurpriseAroundEveryCorner #ResearchDay #DisneyWorld #AllAboard #JungleCruise."Johnson has been attached to star in the theme park-inspired film since 2015.The movie 'Jungle Cruise' has been slotted in for a spring 2018 start of production. Longtime tattoo artist opening new shop in the heart of Middletown Jennifer Beirola has a long history in tattooing and will soon have a place to call her own locally. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). A look inside the Urbana Landmark Hotel that Developers are looking to turn into a Tapestry Collection by Hilton Hotel. Highly effective current treatments for vision loss need to be allied with careful counselling to ensure patients maintain good psychological health as well as good vision, new research recommends. wAMD is the commonest cause of vision loss in the western world, but modern treatments have dramatically improved the level of vision patients can expect to retain. These treatments involve regular injection of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF) into the eye. However, a new study conducted at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, demonstrates high levels of undiagnosed anxiety and depression persisting in patients receiving treatment, despite their improved visual outcomes. Manchester researchers say that the study findings demonstrate the value of human interaction between clinician and patient in offering reassurance around the efficacy and safety associated with anti-VEGF injections. Dr Tariq Aslam, Senior Lecturer in Ophthalmology at The University of Manchester, Consultant Ophthalmologist, at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT), and lead author of the study, said: "There have been amazing scientific achievements in diagnosing and treating serious eye diseases, such as wAMD, which have revolutionised our ability to reverse life-changing vision loss. However, we must not forget the human element when applying all this to ensure all our patients can reap the full benefits of this cutting-edge science. "This study represents one of the largest and most detailed examinations of patients undergoing anti-VEGF therapy to date. It helps us understand how factors such as patients' understanding and building strong relationships with healthcare professionals may help alleviate anxiety around receiving injections." The report suggests that patients may benefit from additional assurances from clinical staff regarding; success rates in halting disease progression with anti-VEGF therapy, how it can reduce the risk of becoming blind in the future, and the low likelihood of serious problems occurring following the injections. Dr Hugo Senra, the Clinical Psychologist who conducted the study, said: "This study also highlights the importance of considering specialised counselling for certain wAMD patients. Literature has shown that tailored psychological and psychosocial interventions can be effective to reduce anxiety and depression in wAMD patients, and contribute to their adjustment to illness and medical treatments." The research found as many as 89% of patients who showed anxiety, and 91% who showed depression were not receiving appropriate psychological and psychiatric treatment. Although levels of depression reduce once anti-VEGF therapy is established, doctors should be vigilant to such symptoms and their potential to impair quality-of-life. Use of standardised tools to screen wAMD patients for symptoms of anxiety and depression in the macular treatment unit could better help identify patients at risk. Further research and controlled trials will be needed to better understand anxiety and depression in wAMD patients and develop new intervention tools at patient and clinical level to reduce symptoms and improve quality-of-life. This study was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It was also funded by a grant from Bayer, in order to support the ophthalmology community in transforming care and supporting people living with retinal conditions. Dr Jackie Napier, Medical Director for Ophthalmology at Bayer, said "At Bayer we are dedicated to working in partnership with the ophthalmology community to help transform lives, and an important element of this is working together to improve the holistic support that is provided to patients, carers and their families. We are proud to support this study, which is one of the first of its kind in the UK to investigate the experience of patients with wet AMD receiving anti-VEGF therapy. This type of research can help shape improvements in patient education and support, and thus enable people with wet AMD to get the most from their treatment." Cholera cases in East Africa increase by roughly 50,000 during El Nino, the cyclical weather occurrence that profoundly changes global weather patterns, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests. The findings, researchers say, could help health ministries anticipate future cholera surges during El Nino years and save lives. The researchers, reporting April 10 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used sophisticated mapping to pinpoint the location of clusters of cholera cases before, during and after El Nino years. Cholera is an infectious and often fatal bacterial disease, typically contracted from infected water supplies and causing severe vomiting and diarrhea. Africa has the most cholera deaths in the world. "We usually know when El Nino is coming six to 12 months before it occurs," says study leader Justin Lessler, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Bloomberg School. "Knowing there is elevated cholera risk in a particular region can help reduce the number of deaths that result. If you have cholera treatment centers available, fast, supportive care can reduce the fatality rate from cholera from as high as 30 percent to next to nothing." The total number of cases of cholera across Africa as a whole were about the same in El Nino years as compared to non-El Nino years, the researchers found, but the geographic distribution of illnesses was fundamentally different. El Nino conditions in the equatorial Pacific region strongly impact weather conditions globally, including increasing rainfall in East Africa and decreasing rainfall in drier areas of northern and southern Africa. During the years classified as El Nino between 2000 and 2014, cholera incidence increased threefold in regions such as East Africa that had the strongest association between El Nino and cholera, with 177 million people living in areas that experienced an increase in cholera cases during a time of additional rainfall. At the same time, there were 30,000 fewer cases in southern Africa during El Nino where there was less rainfall than normal. Parts of central West Africa, however, saw significantly fewer cases of cholera, but with little change in rainfall patterns. While El Nino brings wetter and warmer weather to East Africa, rainfall is not the only variable that appears to impact cholera rates, Lessler says. Cholera is almost always linked to vulnerable water systems. In some areas, massive rainfall can overrun sewer systems and contaminate drinking water. In other locations, however, dry conditions can mean that clean water sources aren't available and people must consume water from sources known to be contaminated. "Countries in East Africa, including Tanzania and Kenya, have experienced several large cholera outbreaks in recent decades," says study author Sean Moore, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the Bloomberg School's Department of Epidemiology. "Linking these outbreaks to El Nino events and increased rainfall improves our understanding of the environmental conditions that promote cholera transmission in the region and will help predict future outbreaks." For the study, Lessler, Moore and their colleagues collected data on cholera cases in Africa from 360 separate data sets, analyzing 17,000 annual observations from 3,710 different locations between 2000 and 2014. The researchers note that there were weak El Nino years from 2004 to 2007, while 2002-2003 and 2009-2010 were classified as moderate-to-strong El Nino years. They say that 2015-2016 was also an El Nino year with the largest cholera outbreak since the 1997-1998 El Nino occurring in Tanzania. Using this knowledge of a link between cholera and El Nino could allow countries to prepare for outbreaks long before they start, Lessler says. Currently, there is an approved vaccine for cholera, but its effects are not lifelong and there are not enough doses for everyone in areas that could be impacted by El Nino. Once there is more vaccine, he says, it can be another tool for health officials to use as they try to prevent deadly cholera in their nations. As climate change continues, disease patterns will continue to change as well, Lessler says. Often, the story is that climate change will put more people at risk for more types of diseases. "But what the link between cholera and El Nino tells us is that changes may be subtler than that," he says. "There will be winners and losers. It's not a one-way street." "El Nino and the Shifting Geography of Cholera in Africa" was written by Sean Moore, Andrew Azman, Benjamin Zaitchik, Eric Mintz, Joan Brunkard, Dominique Legros, Alexandra Hill, Heather McKay, Francisco Luquero, David Olson and Justin Lessler. Source: http://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-releases/2017/el-nino-shift-geographic-distribution-of-cholera-cases-in-africa.html Time and again, fitness enthusiasts have a questionto exercise before or after breakfast. A new study published online in the American Journal of PhysiologyEndocrinology and Metabolism has highlighted the role of fat toward metabolism. This is the first study that reveals the effects of fasting and feed status on human adipose tissue responses to exercise. A research group from the University of Bath, UK, conducted a study on a group of obese males. Under fasting condition, the participants walked for 1 hour consuming a maximum of 60% oxygen, whereas in the fed condition, the walking duration increased to 2 hours after consuming a meal of 648 115 kcal. At regular intervals, blood samples were collected in both fasting and fed conditions. The researchers also obtained adipose tissue samples at baseline and 1 hour after walking. It was found that adipose tissue responded differently under fasting and fed trials. There was a rise in pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isozyme 4 (PDK4) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) with exercise in the fasted trials, and a decline with exercise in the fed trials. The increase in PDK4 indicates the probability of using stored fat for circulation during workouts rather than releasing carbohydrates from the meal. The corresponding author of the study, Dylan Thompson, explained that normally there would be a rise in HSL when adipose tissue uses the energy that is stored while supporting increased activity. Thompson wrote that the study results supported the view that adipose tissue often faces competing challenges. In the fed conditions, adipose tissue is busy responding to the meal; and, exercise sessions at this time will not stimulate the same beneficial changes in the tissues. He concluded that fasting before carrying out exercise might provide positive changes in adipose tissue, benefitting health in the long term. A study among over 7000 women in 11 European countries shows the proportion of women in Europe who drink alcohol when they know they are pregnant is lowest in Norway and highest in the UK. The countries with the highest proportion of women who reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy were the UK (28.5 %), Russia (26.5 %) and Switzerland (20.9 %). This is the first study that compares alcohol consumption during pregnancy across 11 European countries. The study uses the same method for collecting data, thereby making the results comparable between the countries. Results On average, 16% of women in the 11 European countries reported that they drank alcohol after they knew that they were pregnant. The countries with the highest proportion of women who reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy were the UK (28.5 %), Russia (26.5 %) and Switzerland (20.9 %). The countries with the lowest proportion of women who reported alcohol consumption were Norway (4.1 %), Sweden (7.2 %) and Poland (9.7 %). Women who reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy were more likely to be older, more highly educated, in employment, and had smoked before pregnancy than women who did not report this consumption. Why do so few women in Norway drink during pregnancy compared to the UK? Although the British population in general drink more than Norwegians (ref: Report: Drugs in Norway in 2016, FIG. 2.6.2, p. 30), the study found that countries with a comparable drinking culture to the UK - like Poland and France - had relatively low proportions of women drinking during pregnancy. Therefore, the drinking culture in the overall population may not necessarily apply to those who are pregnant. "Differences in pregnant women's drinking behaviour between countries can have many explanations besides variations in willingness of women to provide information about their alcohol consumption during pregnancy. There could be differences in national guidelines or educational campaigns about drinking during pregnancy, differences in prenatal care and attitudes towards alcohol use in pregnancy, or a combination of all these factors," saysProfessor Hedvig Nordeng from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, who is the principal investigator of the study in Norway. Who drinks most? Of those women who said they drank alcohol during pregnancy, 39 % consumed at least one unit of alcohol per month. Those who drank most frequently (more than one to two units per week) were in Italy (7.8 % of the women said they drank during pregnancy) and the UK (2.8 %). Those who drank the least (1-2 units during the whole pregnancy) were in Norway and Sweden (over 80 % of the women who said they drank during pregnancy) and France, Poland, Finland and Russia (70-80 %). Therefore, even though a larger proportion of Russian women continue to drink during pregnancy, compared to the other countries they do not actually drink that much. The women who drink during pregnancy in Italy seem to drink a lot more than the women in the other countries. Again, this may be due to a combination of factors. Post doc Angela Lupattelli from the University of Oslo, who coordinated the study in Norway and Italy, explains: "We can speculate that both social and cultural factors play a role. Women's attitudes on the one hand, and national alcohol-related guidelines and policies on the other, may influence women's drinking behaviour during pregnancy," saysLupattelli. Smokers and highly educated women drink most The association between smoking before pregnancy and alcohol use during pregnancy has been observed in earlier research. A plausible explanation for this association is the underlying risk-taking health behaviour among these women. It seems like a paradox that older and more highly educated women were more likely to drink during pregnancy, which also confirms prior research on the topic. This study did not look at the relationship between education and the amount or frequency of drinking during pregnancy. The study authors speculate whether older, more educated women might be more critical towards guidelines that recommend complete abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy. The authors wonder whether older women are less exposed than younger women to the health campaigns that warn against alcohol use during pregnancy, especially if they drank a little during previous pregnancies and had healthy children. The study authors believe it is important for national campaigns to target all women of childbearing age: "There is no defined safe minimum amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. We therefore recommend that all pregnant women should adhere to the guidelines for total alcohol abstinence during pregnancy," says Nordeng. Data The study consisted of 7905 women, 53 % were pregnant, and 46 % were new mothers (with a child up to one-year-old). The countries included were Croatia, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The women completed an anonymous online questionnaire, which was available on selected websites intended for pregnant women in the respective countries. Since the questionnaire was anonymous, the authors believe that underreporting was minimal. After the launch of its luxury Genesis brand, Hyundai is now turning its attention to revitalising its bread and butter models. The new redesigned Elantra GT has already been revealed at this year's Chicago Auto Show, and now it's time for the unveiling of the new 2018 Sonata.This will take place at this year's New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, April 12 at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time at the Jacob Javits Convention Center inside the Hyundai Booth, and the event will also be live-streamed so media, fans and enthusiasts who can't be at the show can still be part of the whole unveiling experience.So far, we've only seen some teaser sketches and of course the obligatory spy shots of the new model undergoing testing, but everything points to a somewhat sportier new look for the 2018 Sonata along the lines of the recently refreshed Korean Sonata.Unsurprisingly, the designers appear to be adopting the appealing look and stealing some signature design cues from the smaller Elantra and Accent models, such as a redesigned front grille, new LED running lights and redesigned tail lights. There will also be a new trunk badge that cleverly doubles up as the opening handle.Also expect some additional technology upgrades to what we currently see with the Sonata, which should include wireless phone charging, larger touchscreen infotainment displays, extra USB charging ports, and a new leather-wrapped steering wheel.There's been no definite word about new powertrains for the 2018 Sonata, but it's already been revealed that Hyundai's N performance division has been developing a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four, so the 2018 Sonata Turbo/Sonata Sport 2.0T could feature a version of that unit. And with the way many manufacturers are upgrading their automatic transmissions at the moment with more gears, it's likely the current Sonata's six-speed auto will be replaced by a new eight-speed unit for better performance and greater fuel-efficiency. : Just as a CRPF man was retreating from a polling booth in Srinagar, he was kicked on the shin by a civilian. In response, the jawan showed utmost restraint.The video showed that when the Jawan is kicked his helmet toppled over, but he did not show any emotion and simply walked away.There are no reports if some action was taken against the protestor.PM Modi, while inaugurating the Chenani-Nashri tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, appealed to the youth to shun violence."I want to talk to the youngsters of Kashmir. On the one hand, we have some youngsters who pelt stones, on the other hand, we have the youngsters from the same society who are building tunnels," said the PM. With a Pakistani military court sentencing Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death, India is considering various ways to ensure that it does not happen. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Sushma Swaraj assured the Parliament that the government will do whatever it takes to bring Jadhav back. In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18's Shreya Dhoundial, General Syed Ata Hasnain speaks if India will flex military muscle to free arrested alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav from Pak jail. Shreya Dhoundial (SD): Is a military option a possibility as response? General Syed Ata Hasnain (Gen. Hasnain): A military option is always the last resort. It is not something that can be very frivolously pandered about. So, I would say that yes, under the circumstances, with serious developments no doubt, the military would definitely have a warning on its hands. But, to say that thats the first call to be taken and thats the first action to be taken would be incorrect at this moment. SD: The Pakistani media is calling the verdict unprecedented and have warned of a possible retaliation. What could they be talking about? Will the LoC heat up this summer? Gen. Hasnain: In a situation such as this, one looks at the entire spectrum of options and I am sure at this moment this analysis is being done. So you are looking at a political, you are looking at the social, economic, diplomatic, option, everything. From the military angle, I would say start at the bottom end of the spectrum. We need not jump to the highest end of the spectrum. Definitely a symbolic message through an activation of the Line of Control is very much possible under the circumstances. SD: There are also reports of a Pakistani army officer who has gone missing in Nepal near Lumbini and Pakistan looking at a swap using Jadhav as some kind of a bargaining chip. Do you buy that theory? Gen. Hasnain: It is an awkward kind of a situation which has developed there because what I have heard is that this officer was actually looking for a job, some kind of an employment. He had been offered $ 8000 a month or something like that, its something very lucrative and he has gone there and suddenly disappeared. Whether its a quid pro quo happening, whether our own intelligence services are involved, I would not like to speculate on at this particular moment. But, these kinds of games which nations play, it does happen very often that you find that an odd case of a person being apprehended in one nation and you look for a quid pro quo in the other nation and then you have an exchange. Under these circumstances of course it's very clear that Kulbhushan Jadhav's apprehension in Chabahar or wherever he was apprehended was something out of the blue and it was something which was absolutely unexpected. The manner in which the Pakistani government and the army have handled it is cause for a complete review of the kind of handling of the situation by any nation. SD: You think that Jadhav's case is part of a larger strategic game, that he is just being used as a pawn? Gen. Hasnain: If you look at the circumstances, it's almost a year plus, I think the 3rd of March 2016 when it actually happened under very suspicious circumstances. If you remember at that particular time there was a build up on the Indian diplomatic side on the visit of our Prime Minister to Tehran, the Chabahar deal was in the offing. I'm sure that this is something that which Pakistan must have been looking at very carefully, because we all understand that the one thing which Pakistan always denies to India is access to Afghanistan, central Asia. Here, we are looking for a manoeuvre by which through Chabahar, we were looking at access to the central Asian republics and Afghanistan and this agreement would have actually put the Pakistani side on the defensive in a very big way. Was it, therefore, these circumstances, this impending visit to Tehran, which led the Pakistanis to try an action of subterfuge to bring Kulbhushan Jadhav to or apprehend him at that particular time? They were, perhaps, just fortunate that they had an ex-Indian armed forces officer who had left the Navy prematurely and was running his own business in Chabahar. It may have been just circumstantial that they managed to apprehend him and use him to advantage. SD: Why was Jadhav tried under military law? Gen. Hasnain: We know very well that who rules the roost in Pakistan, the military. To say that Pakistan is a full-fledged democracy would be a sham. Under the civil legal process, this case would probably not go anywhere. Therefore, they decided, first of all, to brand Jadhav as a serving naval officer and then apply Pakistan military law to him. Under those circumstances, they carried out what is called a Field General Court Martial, which in the Indian case is what is called a Summary General Court Martial. Now, also, you must understand that while in the case of FGCM in India, you have a court of appeal which is the Armed Forces Tribunal in which you have a civilian Judge and a retired military officer, in the case of Pakistan that is not true. You have an Appellate Tribunal, a Military Appellate Tribunal as the next court. All the people in that are all serving military officers, and once the Pakistan Army chief has given his approval to whatever sentence has been given, there is no way to counter it. Islamabad: The Pakistani media has described the death sentence handed to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav as "unprecedented" and rare. 'The Nation', seen as Right-wing, in its front page headline said: 'Death to spy spikes tensions' and observed that "a military court on Monday sentenced a high-profile Indian spy to death, ratcheting up longstanding tensions between the nuclear-armed states." The paper also quoted defence analyst Dr Hassan Askari as saying that the decision would "further increase tension between the two countries". "The military has given a severe punishment which is according to Pakistani law," Askari said. "But we will have to see if Pakistan can sustain the political and diplomatic fallout." The Express Tribune in the front page headline 'Self- confessed Indian spy awarded death sentence' termed the decision as "unprecedented". It reported that the decision immediately sparked a bitter diplomatic spat between the two "hostile" neighbours. The Dawn newspaper termed the decision as a "rare move". The paper said that the development comes at a time when tensions between Pakistan and India are already running high. It published a full column on what experts feel about the decision. Some feel the reaction from India will be strong, others maintain there will be no dramatic shift in the relationship, it said. "For a long time now Pakistan has struggled to prove India's involvement in Pakistan's destabilisation. Our ambassadors have gone to various countries looking for help in that matter and showed them proof but to no avail. Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for India's retaliation," the paper quoted Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood as saying. "The decision is right, it is by the law and justified in legal terms, however, we should brace ourselves as there will be reaction, on international forums and Pakistan should even be prepared for a spike in Line of Control violations," Masood said. Hamid Mir, senior journalist at Geo News said, "First of all, Pakistan should make the evidence found against the spy public, share it with the country and also internationally." "Secondly, why is everyone talking about an Indian reaction already? My belief is that India should be sensible and not react to the news at all. If people remember when Ajmal Kasab was sentenced, Pakistan had remained silent about the whole thing. Our prerogative was simple, if there is evidence against Kasab then he should be sentenced according to the Indian law. "So India should be sensible, not react to the news, not try to paint Jadhav as a hero, the media should take that same tone," he said. (With PTI inputs) Amid the outrage over the death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistans inhuman treatment of another Indian, soldier Chandu Chavan, has come to light.Chavan had on September 29 last year inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the LoC following which Pakistan had been informed by the DGMO on the hotline. Soon after the news broke, Chavans grandmother Lila Chindha Patil died of shock. Chavan was returned to India on January 21.On Tuesday, a member of Chavans family told CNN News18: We received a call from Kulbhushan Jadhavs family after Chandu came back. They were clueless about his location and condition. The way Kulbhushans video has been made, Chandu was also tortured and then a Pakistani army official used to ask him to say the exact sentences in front of the camera, the member said.Chandu used to be drugged and tortured, to an extent that he went numb. He just used to ask for death as he never uttered a word about the details he had with him.The Pakistani army uses every torture tactic there is, so much so that the captive starts asking for death. Chandu was time and again asked to say sentences in front of the camera, Chandu Chavans family member said, adding that the captors used to cover his face with a black cloth.The assertion further proves that a video of Jadhavs alleged confession released by Pakistan earlier was not authentic. The video has been dismissed by India.When Chandu came back from captivity, he didnt smile for months. He was constantly drugged, tortured and forcefully made to say stories in front of the camera. I told Chandu to tell Kulbhushans family that the Pakistan army does not torture, so that his family members do not panic, but the truth was exactly the opposite, Chavans family member said.Chavan was reportedly made to say on camera that he had crossed the border to trigger bomb blasts in Pakistan.The Pakistani army officials also reportedly abused Prime Minister Narendra Modi in front of him and the moment they got to know that Chavan was from Maharashtra, they started abusing MNS leader Raj Thackeray too. Kolkata: A large number of BJP supporters and members of Hindu Jagran Manch were injured in Suri in Birbhum district on Tuesday after local police allegedly lathi-charged devotees for taking out a procession on Hanuman Jayanti. According to reports, devotees clashed with the police after they were denied permission for the procession. BJP state secretary Sayantan Basu condemned the attack and said, "Tomorrow we are planning to take the matter to Human Rights Commission." "The procession was peaceful but suddenly the police started beating the devotees. In protest we are going to organise a rally on April 22. On April 14, we will also submit a report to union home minister Rajnath Singh in this matter," he said. The district police, however, rubbished BJPs allegation and said, "They took out the procession without any permission. Therefore to maintain the law and order situation we have to take action." Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed and Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident. The police have arrested more than 30 supporters during the clash. VHP's joint general secretary Surendra Jain, who is in Kolkata, said, "West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is targeting Hindus by not allowing them to perform their religious rights." New Delhi: The Election Commission on Tuesday ordered repoll at 38 polling stations in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency which witnessed large-scale violence during the by-election on Sunday. In a letter to the state Chief Electoral Officer, the Commission said it is ordering repoll based on the reports of the returning officers and observers. The repoll will be held on April 13. By-polls in the prestigious constituency witnessed large-scale clashes between the protesters and security forces on Sunday, leaving eight civilians dead and more than 100 security personnel injured. The seat was also a witness to an abysmally low voter turnout of 6.5%, its worst in the past three decades. The Election Commission had on Monday evening deferred by-election in the Anantnag constituency, pre-empting violence. The by-election in Anantnag will now be held on May 25, 2017. "We suspect that my father has been abducted and enemy spy agencies might be responsible for it," a police official quoted Saad as saying. Habib, who retired in October 2014 and belonged to artillery wing of the army, was currently employed with a private firm in Pakistan and had posted his CV online for employment. The family of a retired Pakistan Army officer who went missing in Nepal has told police that he may have been kidnapped by "enemy spy agencies", an apparent reference to Indian intelligence agencies.Lt Col (Rtd) Mohammad Habib went missing soon after he landed in the Nepalese town of Lumbini on Thursday where he was supposed to appear for an interview.Saad Habib, a son of the missing officer, in an FIR lodged late on Monday with Rawat police station near Rawalpindi, said that his father was received by one Javed Ansari in Nepal who took him to Lumbini, a town near the Indian border."Enemy" word is often used for India in Pakistani security circles.Nobody has been named in the FIR as police have started initial investigation.A caller identified as Mark Thompson had reportedly contacted him both via email and telephone for a job interview in Nepal for which he was also provided an air ticket.Initial probe by security agencies showed that the UK number was computer-generated and the emails and website domains were registered in India, creating an alarm that Indian spies might have tricked the officer.Habib last contacted his family on Thursday afternoon and since then his phone numbers have not been reachable. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammed Nafees Zakari said the ministry had asked authorities in Nepal to look into the disappearance of Habib.The last message that Habib sent from Lumbini said he had reached his destination. New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is preparing to fix portion sizes of dishes served by star hotels and restaurants. This comes a fortnight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about wastage of food in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme. It's a proposal based on what PM has said and we hope this will stop food wastage. We will call meeting of industry soon to find a mid way, Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution told CNN-News18. The ministry is drafting a questionnaire for hotels and restaurants to explain what dish sizes they should serve to a customer. If a person can eat only two prawns, why should he or she be served six? If a person eats two idlis, why serve four! Its wastage of food and also money people pay for something that they dont eat, Paswan had told HT on Monday. He, however, clarified the instructions would be applicable to standard hotels and not dhabas that usually serve thalis. In his Mann Ki Baat last month, Modi had flagged the issue of food wastage at feasts and termed it as injustice to the poor. Paswans latest move comes in addition to a slew of consumer-centric proposals that the ministry has incorporated in a new draft bill to amend Consumer Protection Act. The draft bill is at present under law ministrys consideration. In the new bill, the government has dropped the provision for imprisonment of celebrities for misleading advertisements; instead, a jail term has been proposed for producers or manufacturers. As per the new proposal, if the producer is found responsible for misleading ads, the punishment would range from a fine to cancellation of license to a jail term, depending on the frequency of the offence. Lucknow: Several important decisions were taken in the second cabinet meeting by the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government which was chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lok Bhawan on Tuesday in Lucknow. The most important decisions include 24 hour supply of electricity to all the religious places in the state along with 18 hours electricity in the villages. Speaking to media, state Power Minister Shrikant Sharma said, As per the new decision, the electricity department would have to replace non-working transformers within 48 hours, instead of the previous deadline of 72 hours. In urban areas, transformers would be replaced in 24 hours. Farmers of Uttar Pradesh who owe electricity bills over Rs 10,000 to the electricity department, the Yogi Cabinet has allowed them to do so in four installments. The government would also waive-off surcharge of electricity dues. To provide electricity to all residents of the state, the UP government sign a deal with the Centre on April 14. Another major decision was to buy the potato produce of farmers at the rate of Rs 487 per quintal. The potato procurement would start immediately via four different agencies. The government will buy one lakh metric tonnes of potato from the farmers. Taking cognizance of sugarcane farmers woes the government has directed sugar mill owners to pay the farmers dues within 120 days. Also the current dues have to be paid within 14 days else strict action will be taken against the mill owners. Key decisions of the Yogi government: 1) The sugarcane farmers will get their pending dues within 120 days while the present dues will be handed over to them within 14 days. 2) The government has decided to purchase 1 lakh metric ton potatoes from UP farmers at a support price of 487 Rs per quintal. 3) The drinking water scheme for Bundelkhand has also been approved. 4) Faulty transformers will be replaced within 24 hours in the urban while in 48 hours in the rural areas. 5) All power ministry employees have been directed to reach out to the farmers of their districts and get to know the problems and difficulties the latter have been facing. Chennai: Just days after I-T officials conducted a raid at actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumars residence, the department searched properties linked to his wife Radhika Sarathkumars Radaan media network on Tuesday. The celebrity couples residence was raided on April 7 as part of a widespread crackdown to check use of money power in the RK Nagar bypoll. The Income Tax department had also raided multiple properties of Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, including his residence. The searches came days before bypolls were scheduled to be held in RK Nagar constituency, which was held by the late J Jayalalithaa. The bypolls have since been called off after widespread voter bribery. Sarathkumar had voiced his support for TTV Dinakaran, the candidate of the Sasikala faction of the AIADMK. Dinakaran is the nephew of Sasikala, who is jailed in a corruption case. Sources in the I-T department told News18 that on April 7, in all 32 locations in the state, including 21 in Chennai, were raided. Vijayabaskar is seen as a loyalist of Sasikala, the AIADMK leader currently lodged in a Bangalore jail in a disproportionate assets case. Tax officials said there were certain "inputs" that black money is allegedly being pumped in for the by-election to RK Nagar Assembly bypoll. There were also several complaints of alleged money distribution by AIADMK's Amma faction. The officials added that certain leads in the Sekhar Reddy case, the mining baron arrested for alleged financial irregularities post demonetisation, have also prompted the latest action. New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said New Delhi should send a strong message to Pakistan on a bilateral level over the death penalty to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. Tharoor told CNN-News18 in an interview that all political parties in the country stood united on saving Jadhav who was accused of espionage and sentenced to the gallows by a Pakistani military court. However, the Thiruvananthapuram MP also said that Indian government didn't have a concrete strategy to deal with Pakistan on the case, and that the Pakistan military court's decision had caught them by surprise. Denouncing Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif's remarks, Tharoor said that his remarks were tragic and the act of sentencing Jadhav to death was in "violation of Vienna Convention and Geneva Conventions." "We have to drum up support from the international community as it is an assault on the international law, too." Pakistan defence minister on Tuesday attacked India, saying "premeditated murder" - a phrase India used to describe the entire episode - was happening in Kashmir and Gujarat. The 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing was another case he cited. Asif also alleged that Kulbhushan was originally from the Indian Navy. "Espionage case was registered against him three months ago and he was trying to destabilise the political situation in Pakistan," he alleged, adding that Kulbhushan was proven guilty and sentenced to death. Soon after reports of the death sentence on Monday, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Abdul Basit, the Pakistan High Commissioner to India, and gave a strongly-worded demarche, which said the proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav were "farcical" as there were no "credible evidence" against him. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," the foreign secretary said in the demarche. Tuesdays Parliament session is likely to be dominated by the death sentence handed to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan on charges of espionage.New Delhi has said it will regard as "premeditated murder" if Pakistan carries out the death sentence against Jadhav "without observing basic norms of law and justice".Reacting to a press release by Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Jadhav, India said he was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly.India, through its High Commission in Islamabad, has repeatedly sought consular access to him, as provided for by international law and 13 such requests were formally made between 25 March, 2016 and 31 March, 2017, the demarche said. "This was not permitted by the Pakistani authorities," it said.The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are "farcical in the absence of any credible evidence" against him, it said, adding it is significant that Indian High Commission was not even informed that Jadhav was being brought to trial.Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the death sentence handed out to Jadhav should serve as a warning to those "plotting" against the country."Those plotting against Pakistan will not be spared," Asif said after the Pakistani military announced that an army court had sentenced Jadhav to death and the army chief, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, approved his execution.Jadhav's sentencing by a Pakistani military court was according to the law, Asif told Geo TV.The sentence comes months after Pakistani Prime Minister's advisor on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, had reportedly told the Pakistan senate on December 7 that the "dossier" on Jadhav were "mere statements" and that it did not have any "conclusive evidence".He even had said that the material was "insufficient", adding "now it is up to the concerned authorities how long they take to give us more matter on the agent."Jadhav was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistani security forces in the restive Balochistan province after he reportedly entered from Iran. Pakistan has alleged that Jadhav was "a serving officer" in the Indian Navy and deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).The Pakistan Army had released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest.India has acknowledged that Jadhav served with the navy but denied he has any connection with the government.India had issued note verbale to Pakistan Foreign Ministry on March 25, March 30, May 6, June 10, July 11 and December 19 last year, seeking consular access to Jadhav.In 2017, note verbale was issued on January 19, February 2, March 3, March 21 and March 31.Two separate note verbales were sent to Political Wing and Consular Wing of Pakistan Foreign Ministry on February 2 seeking access to Jadhav.A demarche was issued to Pakistan Foreign Ministry by the MEA on February 3, sources said. "The family has moved to Pune and no one lives here. The flat is empty and is generally locked," a neighbour said. (I've known him) Since he was in school, while he was in college and even when he graduated out of NDA we used to keep in touch, Tulsidas Pawar, Jadhavs childhood friend, told CNN-News18. When he was in the Navy, he used to tell us that he would opt for early retirement so he could get into business. "In fact, after taking retirement from the Indian Navy, he was trying to establish his own business. The Indian government must make all efforts to secure his release," one neighbour said. A pall of gloom descended on a quiet suburban housing complex where former naval commander Kulbhushan Jadhav sentenced to death by Pakistan lived with his parents and other family members.People flocked to the house, but found it to be locked. It was later revealed that Jadhav's family members had moved to Pune and no one was staying in the flat.Shortly after the media flashed the news, several friends and close acquaintances living in Silver Oak building in Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, converged at the compound carrying handmade placards.As a precaution, the police deployed around half a dozen constables outside the premises, while some policemen visited the family living on the fifth floor.Speaking with the media, the neighbours and friends said it was absolute nonsense that Jadhav could be involved in spying or any such activity he has been accused of.Pawar said he was shocked to hear about the spying charges against Jadhav. We were shocked to hear about his capture last year because they (the Pakistanis) thought he was an R&AW agent. His only aim was to be a businessman and we were shocked to hear someone call him a R&AW agent. We were sure that this was not true, he said.Jadhav was a big officer in the Navy. They (Pakistani authorities) were bound to make false allegations against him, Pawar told CNN-News18.Another neighbour, Subrato Mukherjee, said Jadhav and his family have always been very helpful to all the society members and he had even taken Marathi lessons from his parents."We could approach him for any problems or issues concerning the society and he was ever ready to help out," he added.Several others demanded that the government must secure his release as soon as possible.The family hails from Sangli and Jadhav's father is Sudhir Jadhav, who retired as a Mumbai Police officer.He has consistently maintained that his son was framed in the case, but none of the family members was seen in public after the Pakistani military court pronounced the verdict.The Indian government has maintained that proceedings leading to the sentence against Jadhav are "farcical in the absence of any credible evidence" against him.Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been "explained credibly".India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the Navy, but denied that he had any connection with the government. New Delhi: Over 93 lakh children have severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the country, the government on Tuesday said, citing data from the latest health survey. Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste told the Rajya Sabha that there are 966 Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) in 25 states and UTs in the country. "It is estimated that around 93.4 lakh children are having severe acute malnutrition (SAM) as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS)4 and out of this, 10 per cent of SAM with medical complications may require admission to NRCs," he said in a written reply. Kulaste said the total number of children enrolled at the NRCs in the year 2015-16 was around 1.7 lakh. During the year 2015-16, out of the 1,72,902 children enrolled in the NRCs, 92,760 were able to successfully recover from the above mentioned conditions. The minister said that under National Health Mission NRCs have been set up at public health facilities to treat and manage the children with SAM admitted with medical complications. Children are admitted as per the defined admission criteria and provided with medical and nutritional therapeutic care, he said. The services and care provided for the in-patient management of SAM children include 24 hour care and monitoring of the child, treatment of medical complications, therapeutic feeding, providing sensory stimulation and emotional care, social assessment of the family to identify and address contributing factors among others, he said. WHO defines severe acute malnutrition as condition in children characterisied by very low weight for height (below-3z scores of the median WHO growth standards), by visible severe wasting, or by the presence of nutritional oedema. She went on to say that charges against Jadhav are "concocted" and "farcical". There is no evidence of wrongdoing by him, she said. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday warned Pakistan of consequences on diplomatic relations if death sentence on Kulbhushan Jadhav is carried out.Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Swaraj said, We will go out of the way to get justice for Jadhav, he is a son of India.Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said India condemns the death sentence by a Pakistani military court to Jadhav.Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Singh assured that government will do everything to get justice for Jadhav.While condemning the action, Singh said that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice."The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said.Jadhav was arrested reportedly from Balochistan after he entered from Iran in March 2016. He was accused by Pakistan of being a "R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent and planning "subversive activities" in the country.The Indian government, on the other hand, believed that he was picked up from Iran.The case took a turn In December 2016, when Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz told the Pakistan Senate that there was not enough evidence against Jadhav.However, in March, Aziz retracted his statement and ruled out any possibility of extraditing Jadhav back to India.Aziz told the Senate that Pakistan never said there was any lack of evidence against him. "We have filed an FIR and prepared a case to prosecute Indian state actor for his subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan," he said.Aziz said Islamabad had shared a dossier with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on New Delhi's involvement in internal affairs of Pakistan, and in subversive and terrorist activities in the country.(with PTI inputs) New Delhi/Islamabad: Pakistan is a peace-loving country which wants good relations with neighbours, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday amid rising tensions over the death sentence handed to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. Pakistan is a peace loving country. It has maintained good relations with its neighbours. We want cooperation, not conflicts. Pakistan will not hesitate to extend a hand of friendship, he said, indicating that the civilian leadership was not fully on board the decision of the military courts to sentence Jadhav to death. Sharif, however, added that Pakistans armed forces were fully capable of and prepared to respond to any threat. The Pakistani military had on Tuesday announced that an army court has sentenced Jadhav to death after finding him guilty of "espionage and sabotage activities" and the army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has approved his execution. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the death sentence should serve as a warning to those "plotting" against the country. The defence minister further said that Jadhav's "confession" was a public document and if India raises the issue of his death sentence, Islamabad will reply to New Delhi. Reacting strongly, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar in New Delhi summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and gave a demarche, which said the proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are "farcical in the absence of any credible evidence" against him. New Delhi has said it will regard as "premeditated murder" if Pakistan carries out the death sentence against Jadhav "without observing basic norms of law and justice". The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) will do away with the practice of triple talaq in a year-and-a-half, said Dr Sayeed Sadiq, vice-president of the body, adding that there was no need for government interference.The statement comes two days after the AIMPLB claimed that it had received 3.50 crore forms from Muslim women around the country favouring Shariyat and triple talaq."We have received 3.50 crore forms in favour of Shariyat and triple talaq from Muslim women in the country and the number of women against these are very less," chief organizer of the AIMPLB's women wing Asma Zohra said while addressing a gathering of around 20,000 women at a workshop in Eidgah on April 9.The board had recently told the Supreme Court that the pleas challenging the practice among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary.The board had also said that the validity of Mohammedan Law, founded essentially on the Holy Quran and sources based on it, cannot be tested on the particular provisions of the Constitution.The Centre had on October 7 last year opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism.The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, had referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court.The apex court had taken suo moto cognizance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or due to other marriages of their husband.The latest to speak out against triple talaq was Salma Ansari, the wife of Vice-President Hamid Ansari. On the sidelines of a function on April 9, Salma had said that uttering 'talaq' thrice does not amount to divorce and asked Muslim women to read the Quran thoroughly instead of relying on clerics."Triple talaq is not an issue. There can be no 'talaq' (divorce) just because someone utters talaq, talaq, talaq," she told reporters. Salma said women can find an answer to their questions in the Quran itself."If you've read the Quran then you can find the solution there itself. There is no such rule in Quran. They have just made it up. There is no such thing. You read the Quran in Arabic and don't read the translation. You accept whatever the Maulana (clerics) or the Mulla says. You must read the Quran and Hadis. Just see what Rasool had said," she had said. Approval has also been given to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with state government for a power to all scheme. The scheme aims at providing electricity to all villages in the state by 2020. The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to provide 18 hours of power supply in villages and 20 hours at Tehsil level and in Bundelkhand.State ministers Srikant Sharma and Siddharth Nath Singh told the media after the second cabinet meeting that the government also decided that all district headquarters will get uninterrupted 24-hour power supply.Till 2018, our aim is to give 24 hours of power to UP, said Sharma, who is also the UP Power Minister.The chief minister directed the officials to ensure uninterrupted supply to the villages from 6 in the evening to 6 in the morning so as to help the students prepare for exams.It is the dream of BJP chief Amit Shah and the Chief Minister that every house, every poor, and every village get power by 2018, Sharma said.The state will also replace transformers in 24 hours in urban areas and 148 hours in rural areas.The chief minister has also directed the power department to ensure that defective or burnt transformers should be replaced expeditiously in rural areas so that agricultural operations do not suffer, Sharma said.For Yogi Government, the VIP is the poor farmer. Roster schedule for power supply will be implemented with full force, he said.The state government has also directed sugar mills to clear pending dues of sugar cane farmers, estimated to be around Rs 6000 crore. If sugar mills will not clear the dues in given time, legal action will be taken against them. Vadodara: A Zambian student allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself inside the hostel room of a private university here today, police said. Zites Kala, a second year student at Parul University, was found hanging from the ceiling fan this evening, Vadodara District Superintendent of Police Saurabh Dolumbia told PTI. "A police team has rushed to the spot. We will inform the High Commissioner of Zambia about the incident," he said. The president of the University, Devanshu Patel, said the varsity will co-operate with police in the probe. I'm a Unique-orn. A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Apr 7, 2017 at 8:29am PDT Loving it in Lucerne ! #mylucerne @ilove_lucerne @myswitzerlandlive #inLOVEwithSWITZERLAND A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Mar 2, 2017 at 8:59am PST Feels like Heaven #Titlis @engelberg.titlis @myswitzerlandlive #inLOVEwithSWITZERLAND A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Mar 12, 2017 at 5:38am PDT Wanderlust #Titlis @engelberg.titlis @myswitzerlandlive #inLOVEwithSWITZERLAND A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Mar 5, 2017 at 9:16pm PST Cool ride #olympiabobrun @engadin.stmoritz @myswitzerlandlive #inLOVEwithSWITZERLAND A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Mar 2, 2017 at 1:49am PST u talkin' money need a hearin' aid, u talkin' bout me I don't see a shade.. A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Apr 7, 2017 at 7:55am PDT Eva since I can remember I been poppin' ma collar A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Apr 7, 2017 at 7:51am PDT I prefer to travel light Viszlat Budapest A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Aug 11, 2016 at 4:38am PDT Our chopper couldn't land into Pune & we had to turn back! Stupid clouds! Hmph! @deepikapadukone #Gajanana #BajiraoMastani A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Sep 15, 2015 at 12:49am PDT Unprecedented.. Electric atmosphere!! #Bhopal #MalhariLaunch A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Nov 28, 2015 at 9:54am PST He's bold, he's different and he's 'unique-orn' - presenting actor Ranveer Singh, the God of quirky fashion.Known for his eccentric dressing sense, Singh's 'unconventional' fashion choices are but an extension of his idiosyncratic personality. He is someone who can show up in the most outrageous of outfits and still manage to pull off the look with a lot of style and comfort.Be it bright colours or quirky prints, Ranveer can not only pull off these but also manage to make them look absolutely chic. Although he has been time and again praised for sporting bold looks, but, in the words of the actor, his dressing is 'not by intent'.The 31-year-old star says he just wears what makes him happy."I just decided to wear and do what I want and make the choices of clothes that I want to wear that make me happy... free and liberated from critiques and judgements. When I finally started dressing for myself is when I started being perceived as one who stands out...," Ranveer was quoted telling IANS.The actor's no-holds-barred approach to fashion and styling is something that has allowed him to experiment with different looks including showing up in a skirt for Bajirao promotions or wearing a purple suit for Durex. Certainly, as it appears, Ranveer's fashion statement isn't about following the trend, instead, it is all about breaking the rules and setting his own trends.And one major aspect of his personal style are his sunglasses. "I'm a self- proclaimed aficionado of eyewear," the 31-year-old told IANS. In fact, recently, Ranveer was roped in by an Italian eyewear brand Carrera, to be there the first ever Indian brand ambassador.Ranveer's love for sunglasses can be interpreted from this that he owns countless number of shades."A staggering amount actually. It's embarrassing for any one particular individual to own so many pairs of sunglasses. Dozens over dozens over dozens. Because I collect all kinds of sunglasses from flea markets to fake plastic ones. I'm a big collector. I'm actually a hoarder. I have all shapes and sizes, so they come and go. I can't say how many pairs exactly, but the count is definitely in triple figures," Ranveer told GQ when asked how many pair of sunglasses did he own.Here are some of Ranveer's pictures that will show you how much he loves wearing and experimenting with sunglasses.His edgy sense of style and the ability to garner attention with his off-screen shenanigans is commendable. Ranveer shows how to pull off a blue suit with bright red multi-coloured slippers and a stylish eyewear with panache.He was all for different shapes, colors and designs of sunglasses for his Switzerland vacation.Ranveer sets millions of hearts racing with his perfect pose and right attitude.Be it at the airport, during movie promotions or while hanging out with friends, shades are Ranveer's go-to fashion accessory. T 2489 - APOLOGIES .. !! You all came to Jalsa, and I could not meet you .. unwell !! Will make up soon .. love you all ! pic.twitter.com/P3oiH8AeDW Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 9, 2017 Waving out to a crowd of fans that gather to greet him every Sunday at his residence is a routine that Amitabh Bachchan has been following for years. This time, the megastar had to miss it due to ill health."Apologies... You all came to Jalsa, and I could not meet you... Unwell. Will make up soon. Love you all," Amitabh posted late on April 9 on Twitter.The 74-year-old actor also updated his blog, saying "the prayers seem to have miraculously worked from all the Ef (extended family)."I recover well and feel much better," added the actor, who had last week even missed a book launch owing to high fever. He was also down due to stomach infection, stiff neck and shoulder pain. New Delhi: Just few weeks before civic polls in Delhi, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government faced a major setback with the CBI registering a preliminary enquiry against Health Minister Satyendra Jain in connection with a money laundering case. Jain was allegedly involved in money laundering to the tune of Rs 4.63 crore while serving as a public servant during 2015-16 through Prayas Info Solutions Private Limited, Akinchand Developers Private Limited and Managalyatan Projects Private Limited. The allegations against Jain also include purported money laundering to the tune of Rs 11.78 crore during 2010-12 through these companies and Indometal Impex Pvt Limited. The matter was referred to the CBI by the Income Tax Department under the new Benami Transactions Prohibitions Act. The minister and the AAP has dismissed the allegation, terming them as political vendetta. New Delhi: A month is long enough in politics to overcome a defeat but the opposition parties are struggling to cope with the Assembly poll results, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, because the Modi juggernaut seems unstoppable, at least not before the 2019 general elections. Attempts are being made to put up a united fight against the BJP. On one hand, serious introspection is likely at Congress President Sonia Gandhis meeting with senior party members over dinner on Tuesday; on the other hand, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Bannerjee warmed up to leaders across party lines during her Delhi visit. In Room No 4, which is TMC office in parliament, several opposition leaders met over chicken cutlet and tea on Monday. In this small room, tucked away in a corner, a recipe for opposition unity was being experimented with. Among her many other talents, Bannerjee is said to be a great cook. This time, she is perhaps working on the most complicated dish. Bannerjee first met Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel. A while later, she met Nationalist Congress Partys Praful Patel, and then Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik. She also met AAPs Arvind Kejriwal and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Uniting Opposition is like cooking a dish which often goes wrong because of contrasting flavors. It would require a master chef to balance the ingredients and make something good out of it. But as Modi moves from one electoral victory to another, the Oppositions survival itself is at stake. Even Congress, which had hoped that the 2014 verdict was a one-off case, has been shaken by the UP results and Tuesdays dinner is being seen as a moment when Sonia Gandhi will again take the lead to save the grand old party from being marginalised. According to sources, Sonia Gandhi had sent Azad and Patel to reach out to Bannerjee, hoping that the bitterness of the West Bengal polls, when the Left and Congress tied up to contest against TMC, would be forgotten. Earlier last week, Rahul Gandhi met Left leaders like D Raja, where they agreed on the need for unity ahead of the 2019 polls. Things are not going to be easy. After demonetisation, the Opposition is trying to flaunt its unity on the issue of alleged tampering with electronic voting machines (EVM). But like demonetisation, the Opposition may lose out in the battle of perception and people may see them as bitter losers questioning the ground or the pitch, even worse, the umpire which in this case is the Election Commission of India, a highly respected institution. On demonetisation, Modi had successfully conveyed this argument to people that only the corrupt were opposing the move, which was against black money. The bigger question now is, can the Opposition ever be united? In the last Lok Sabha polls, the effort to cobble up a united front had collapsed. Individual egos, ambitions, regional contradictions and changing equations make a national grand alliance nearly impossible. Sources close to Mamata say that she is disappointed with Nitish Kumar, whose swearing in ceremony she had attended, because he has not committed to such an alliance at national level. Some political analysts believe that Kumar may stay away from any pre-poll alliance in 2019 polls. One of the biggest points of contention in the Opposition is who gets to be the face of such an alliance? Mamata clearly wants to take the lead. But then why should the Left support her? Why not Mulayam Singh Yadav? Mamata is already aiming for the young boy Akhilesh, who she feels may be more malleable. The other problem is, Congress itself. Why would the national party agree to fight under a regional player? After the UP debacle, many within the Congress feel that the party cannot piggyback on smaller parties without selling its self-esteem. But these are tough times, and tough times often melt hardened egos. As a senior Congress leader puts it, its no longer a matter of choice, but a compulsion. Now, we have to fight Modi together. On Monday, all the allies of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) met at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announced: we all agreed to accept and fight under the leadership of Modi in 2019. This may sound obvious, but rings alarms bells in the Oppositions ears. As Mamata ended her Delhi tour, serving chicken cutlets to her visitors, she and the rest of the opposition leaders have begun work on preparing a winning dish. Will Mamata be the master chef this time? Or will the dish called opposition unity turn cold prematurely? 2nd Cabinet meeting of Sh @myogiadityanath govt's scheduled for tmrw at 11 am in Lucknow . Agenda to serve the common man Sidharth Nath Singh (@sidharthnsingh) April 10, 2017 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath might announce some more decisions in the favour of the common man following his second cabinet meeting on Tuesday.On Monday, Uttar Pradesh health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh tweeted that the agenda of the second cabinet meeting will be to serve the common man.A metro rail project for his hometown Gorakhpur might be announced along with Power for All scheme which is aimed at providing load-shedding free 24-hour electricity supply to the entire state.Another major decision which might be taken to improve the electricity supply in the state will be replacement of all the faulty transformers of the state within 24 hours. This was also promised by the Bharatiya Janta Party in their election manifesto.The second cabinet meeting of Aditanath started at 11 am in Lok Bhawan in Lucknow. Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma will not be present in the meeting as he is out of town.Another thing that might be on the cabinet meeting agenda is the removal of word Samajwadi from all the previous schemes of the Samajwadi Party government.The cabinet may also bring ordinance for farmers and especially sugarcane farmers.A discussion over new mining laws is likely to take place during the meeting.Adityanath had constituted groups of ministers who will be looking after mining and potato production and purchase. The reports of these ministers may also be tabled before the cabinet in the second meeting. Adityanath may also take some key decision to provide cheap meals to the poor people of the state. In a show of rare bipartisan cooperation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday helped the government draft a statement on the death sentence handed to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan.The statement, which may be moved as a resolution in the Lok Sabha later, will be vetted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other major parties.This is not the first time the Thiruvananthapuram MP helped the BJP-led government draft a statement. Being a former United Nations diplomat, Tharoor had lent his expertise to draft a statement on 26/11 attacks mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi.Speaking on the issue, Tharoor said that while India has always preferred not to internationalise its relations with Pakistan, it is time New Delhi tells the world that tomorrow one of their citizens can face a similar fate in Pakistan.Earlier in the day, parliamentarians in both Houses cut across party lines to slam Pakistan over the death sentence, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warning Islamabad to consider bilateral ties before carrying out the sentence.While condemning the action, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said.However, leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wondered why the government remained silent on the issue. His remarks attracted the ire of BJP members who said the government was condemning the incident."Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue," Kharge said referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to visit Pakistan to attend the marriage of Nawaz Sharif's daughter near Lahore. Chennai: Film star turned politician Vijayakanth has expressed "regret" to the Press Council of India (PCI) over his alleged misbehaviour with journalists in 2015 following which a case in this regard has been 'dismissed.' The former leading star of Tamil Films had courted controversy when he allegedly spat before reporters here in December 2015, apparently in a fit of anger while responding to some queries. Vijayakanth's counsel GS Mani said he had made oral submission before a PCI committee in New Delhi on, issuing a "regret statement." "I am his (Vijayakanth) counsel and I gave a regret statement on his behalf, stating that he never intended to insult media persons," he told PTI. "I also said that if that incident had hurt the media persons, then he (Vijayakanth) expresses regret for the same," he said. The statement was recorded and the case, which the PCI took suo motu cognisance of, was 'dismissed', he said. Nicknamed 'Captain', Vijayakanth is the founder of DMDK party and was the Opposition Leader in the Tamil Nadu assembly between 2011-16. He had also questioned the credentials of the concerned scribes and the incident had come under severe criticism from various quarters including media bodies. New Delhi: After allegations of involvement in a soil and mall scam, Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday found himself at the centre of another controversy. Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi accused Lalu and his family of getting free land in lieu of providing licence for setting up a beer factory in Patna. According to Sushil Modi, this deal was stuck between 2000-2005, when Rabri Devi was the Chief Minister and she had issued permission to Katyaal brothers for setting up Iceberg Beer factory. Lalu, allegedly, managed getting both his sons Tejpratap and Tejaswi as directors into a company named AK Infosystems Private Lmited, which was earlier owned by Katyaal brothers, owners of Iceberg. The said company owns several plots of land in patna whose value runs in crores. BJP state secretary Sayantan Basu said, "Our strategy is to hit TMC where it hurts most and Bhowanipore is the best place to start our mission West Bengal because Bhowanipore is a prestige issue for Mamata Banerjee." "There will be a huge public meet either in Kolkata or in Siliguri. The venue is yet to be decided but the rally will be big. During his visit he will interact with booth level workers, state senior leaders and will also present facts about the misruling of TMC government," BJP state secretary said. : The BJP seems to be aggressive on Mission West Bengal. And starting early, it has decided to take on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her home turf in Bhowanipore.Considering Didi's immense popularity in one of South Kolkatas oldest locality (Bhowanipore), BJP has decided to appoint one of its senior and seasoned politician Rajnath Singh to take on Mamata."On April 14, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Kolkata to concentrate only on Bhowanipore. He will interact with the local people and party/booth level workers. He will spread partys message only in Bhowanipore to gather more support for the party," said Basu.Many notable individuals, including Shyama Prasad Mukherjee founder of BJP - used to stay in this locality.The other famous personalities who used to live in Bhowanipore were: Subhas Chandra Bose, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee (father of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee), Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, Uttam Kumar and Satyajit Ray among others.To keep the political momentum high, Rajnath's visit will be adequately backed up by BJP president Amit Shah on April 25.The party president will be in West Bengal on a three-day visit (from April 10 to April 27) to address a series of meetings across the state."Bengal is a border state and it is important in terms of India's security. It needs a serious government and not the one who misleads people. In next Assembly and Lok Sabha election, I am sure people will vote for BJP," he said while adding that union textile minister Smriti Irani will be meeting party workers and local residents in North Kolkata.Smriti is likely to raise Saradha and Narada scam allegedly involving TMC leaders including Bandyopadhyay. Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday launched a new web portal -- Nakshe Portal -- providing free download of Survey of India's topographic maps of the entire country in PDF format to Indian citizens.The topographic maps on the scale of 1:50,000, contain natural and man-made geographical features including terrain or topography. The service was launched to mark the 250th anniversary of the Survey of India."Earlier, these maps were only available after a process of application... Now it's on the fingertip of people... it would be a great help for infrastructure development, science and education," said Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology.The maps would be made available free through Aadhaar-enabled user authentication process in line with the Digital India programme of the government, the minister said."The Survey of India has proposed to re-measure the height of Mount Everest... India was the first country under Sir George Everest's leadership to have declared the height of Mount Everest in 1855...."After Gorkha earthquake (Nepal earthquake) in 2015, to answer various doubts of the scientific community, the Survey of India proposed re-measuring the height of Mount Everest as an Indo-Nepal Joint Scientific Exercise, along with the Survey Department of Nepal," the minister said. New Delhi: Awarding of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan shows how the country's military court system rides "roughshod" over international standards, Amnesty International on Monday said. In a strongly worded statement, the rights body said military courts are an inherently "abusive system" that are best left to deal with issues of military discipline, not any other crime. "The death sentence given to Kulbushan Jadhav shows yet again how Pakistan's military court system rides roughshod over international standards. Stripping defendants of their rights and operating in notorious secrecy, military courts do not dispense justice...," said Biraj Patnaik, South Asia Director of Amnesty International. Amnesty opposes the death penalty at all times and in all circumstances, regardless of who is accused, the crime, guilt or innocence, or the method of execution, he added. The statement came in reaction to the Pakistan army chief approving execution of Jadhav for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" in that country. Pakistan security officials had "arrested" Jadhav on March 3 last year in Balochistan after he reportedly entered from Iran. Pakistan has alleged that Jadhav was a serving officer in the Indian Navy and deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). India has acknowledged Jadhav as a retired Indian Navy officer, but denied the allegation that he was in any way connected to the government. India has said Jadhav's execution would be treated as a "premeditated murder". Beijing: China has reportedly demoted a ruling Communist party official in the Muslim-majority Xinjiang province for not "daring" to smoke in front of local religious leaders, PTI reported. Jelil Matniyaz, the party chief of a village in Hotan, Xinjiang was demoted from "senior staff member" to "staff member" on March 25 for his "infirm political stands...and for being afraid to smoke in front of religious figures," a notice posted on the Hotan Daily's social media WeChat account said. "Smoking is a personal choice, and religious and ordinary people should respect each other, but his behaviour of 'not daring' to smoke conforms with extreme religious thought in Xinjiang," the Global Times quoted a Hotan official as saying. "As a party chief, he should lead the fight against extreme religious thought, otherwise, he would fail to confront the threat of extreme regional forces," the official said. "According to local religion customs, smoking is not allowed in front of older or religious people," Turgunjun Tursun, a professor with the Zhejiang Normal University, said. However, some religious people force ordinary citizens also to comply with the requirements, a senior official who had been working in Xinjiang for years, told the paper. The official's demotion is an isolated case, Tursun said, adding that the local government should balance de-extremist behaviour and local customs in the crackdown on extremism. The move to demote the official comes as authorities intensified their efforts to curb religious extremism, PTI said. Early this month, the province where the Chinese security forces are battling recurring attacks by Uygur militants enacted a new law banning a wide range of acts, including wearing veils or growing "abnormal" beards. (With PTI inputs) Lahore: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday indirectly opposed the death sentence handed out to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for "spying", saying the issue is controversial but his party is against capital punishment "on principle". The issue of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is controversial. He must not have been here in the first place, Bilawal told reporters. Recalling that his maternal grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was also sentenced to death, he said his party is against capital punishment on principle. PPP Punjab president and former federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the India's reaction on Jadhavs death sentence was "natural". "In fact Nawaz Sharif government has failed to tell the world about the charge sheet on Jadhav. Had India arrested such a Pakistani spy it would have propagated a lot in the world, he said. Pakistan's former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan said Jadhav can file a review appeal before the army chief or the Supreme Court against his sentence. "In case of rejection of his petition, he may file mercy plea before the President, he said, adding this is a long process and it may take more than two years. Pakistan sentenced Jadhav to death for carrying out espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Karachi, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said in a statement. According to ISPR, Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage actives" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the US intervention had offered "a window of opportunity to construct a new positive condition for the political process in Syria." Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Masato Ohtaka said that "in terms of dialogue and other political engagement I think a lot of countries think that Russia can play a key role." On Monday Tillerson raised fresh expectations for aggressive US action and not only in Syria as he visited the site of a World War II Nazi massacre in central Italy, saying the US would hold to account "all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world." The G-7 meeting is taking place amid an ongoing terror threat that was underscored by the Palm Sunday bombing of Coptic churches in Egypt claimed by the Islamic State group, and another truck attack on European soil, this time in Stockholm, on Friday. : Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialised nations are expected to call Tuesday for a new international push to end the war in Syria, but are divided on whether to threaten new sanctions or other tough measures to pressure Russia over its support of President Bashar Assad.The G-7 blames Assad's military for a deadly chemical attack last week. Ministers meeting in Lucca, central Italy, have strongly supported US missile strikes that targeted a Syrian air base believed to have been used to launch the attack.But he said a political rather than military process was "the only solution," according to Italian news agency ANSA.His words mask a divide among G-7 countries about how to deal with Syria, and Moscow.British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the G-7 was considering new sanctions on Russian military figures to press Moscow to end military support for the "toxic" Assad government. US officials in Washington have also raised that prospect.But others want a more conciliatory approach. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Russia, and Assad ally Iran, must be involved in any peace process to end Syria's six-year civil war.Gabriel said the United States had "sent a clear signal to the Assad regime" by launching cruise missiles at a Syrian air base, but said other nations should "reach out to Russia" rather than seek a military escalation."Not everyone may like it, but without Moscow and without Tehran there will be no solution for Syria," he said.The G-7 wants to deliver a united message to Russia through US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who heads to Moscow after Tuesday's meeting.The other G-7 members Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Japan and current president Italy are also trying to grasp what the US administration's foreign policy is, amid conflicting signals from Washington.British Prime Minister Theresa May's office said she and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone Monday and agreed there is a "window of opportunity" to persuade Russia that its support for Assad is "no longer in its strategic interest."Tillerson's trip comes after an American official said the US has drawn a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of the chemical attack an allegation that heightens already acute tensions between Washington and Moscow.Until Trump ordered U.S. missile strikes in response to the nerve gas attack that killed more than 80, the president had focused on defeating the Islamic State group and had shown no appetite for challenging Assad and, by extension, his Russian supporter President Vladimir Putin.Even since the missile strikes, signals have been mixed.After the April 4 chemical attack, Trump said his attitude toward Assad "has changed very much" and Tillerson said "steps are underway" to organize a coalition to remove him from power. But Tillerson also said that the top US priority in the region remains the defeat of Islamic State militants.Though such comments hint at a more activist US foreign policy focused on preventing humanitarian atrocities, Trump has consistently suggested he prefers the opposite approach. His new administration has generally downplayed human rights concerns while promoting an "America First" strategy de-emphasizing the concerns of foreign nations.Uncertainty about objectives persisted as Tillerson met Tuesday on the sidelines of the Lucca meeting with diplomats from "like-minded" countries on Syria, including Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as well as G-7 members.The US hopes the regional countries can help ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is defeated.The G-7 members broadly agree that Assad should go but not necessarily when, or how. European leaders are especially conscious of the disaster in Libya, where an internationally backed ouster of dictator Moammar Gadhafi was followed by a descent into chaos and factional fighting.It also comes as the United States is sending a Navy carrier strike group toward the Korean Peninsula in a show of strength following North Korea's persistent ballistic missile tests.Ohtaka, the Japanese foreign ministry spokesman, said Japan hoped the G-7 diplomats would take a firm stand against Pyongyang's "totally unacceptable" missile tests."The situation does not seems to be getting better at all and I think the international community, including Japan and the US, would need to show its determination to resolve the situation and to make a strong commitment to actually get the international community on board on this one as well," he said. Dubai: A member of Qatar's ruling family has paid USD 2 million to a Greek shoe salesman's firm to secure "proof of life" and ultimately free relatives and others kidnapped in Iraq over year ago, presumably by Shia militiamen. The payment, disclosed in US Justice Department documents examined by The Associated Press, shed new light on the opaque world of private hostage negotiation in the Middle East in a case that now involves hackers, encrypted internet communication and promises of millions of dollars in ransom payments. The rare disclosure suggests Qatar could be trying to be more transparent with Washington, its main Western ally. The energy-rich country has long faced allegations of not doing enough to stop money from reaching Islamic extremists, including those fighting alongside the rebels in Syria. "I just wonder if this is some way of twisting Qatar's arm to try to break off its funding, supplies and so on to these sorts of groups," said Christopher Davidson, a professor of Middle East politics at Durham University in Britain. "For them still to be missing all this time indicates it's not just about money." The Qatari, Khalifa bin Fahed bin Mohammed Al Thani, signed a contract dated March 8 with a San Diego-based firm called Global Strategies Council Inc., according to documents filed to the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The contract called for a USD 2 million payment upfront, a large sum that's rare among other organisations filing these disclosures. The contract calls for the group "to obtain proof of life", speak to government agencies and "attempt to negotiate with captors for the release of captive members of the royal family of Qatar". Though not naming the Qataris held, the documents provide the first Qatari acknowledgement that those kidnapped included ruling family members. Al Thani, the chairman of KBF Trading and Contracting Co. in Doha, did not respond to requests for comment. Asked about the USD 2 million payment, Qatar's Government Communications Office issued a statement to the AP saying the US firm was "retained by a Qatari citizen acting in a private capacity". "We consider the hostage issue in Iraq of utmost importance and it remains our top priority," the government said. "We continue to engage in securing their safe release." The December 16, 2015 abduction happened at dawn at a desert camp near the Saudi border in the southern Muthanna province, some 370 kilometres southeast of the capital, Baghdad. Gunmen kidnapped some two dozen Qataris and support staff who were taking part in a falconry hunt. In April 2016, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said one of the hunters and "his Asian companion" were freed, but no word of the hostages has been made public since. The United Nations has said children were among those seized. Iraqi officials say they have no new information about the kidnapping, but suspicion has fallen on Shiite militias. Muthanna is a predominantly Shiite province and is not a region where the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State group are known to operate. New Delhi: As Kulbhushan Jadhav is continuing to dominate headlines, Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit evaded questions from the media on the death sentence to the Indian National. Basit was repeatedly asked by the media persons to react on the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, but he refused to comment. Yesterday, India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit soon after the news of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistan Army Court came in and said it will be regarded a premeditated murder because there was no fair trial in the case. Jadhav was awarded death sentence after a shoddy trial by the Field General Court Martial under the Pakistan Army Act 1952. Pakistan has not answered as to why Jadhav, who was arrested on espionage charges, was denied a civilian court trial, and why did Pakistans Foreign Policy Chief Sartaj Aziz go back on his words that there was insufficient evidence against Jadhav. Ever since Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan in March 2016, India has repeatedly asked for consular access to Jadhav as per the provisions of the bilateral Consular Access Agreement, but the permission was never granted. On the contrary, the whole process was kept a secret against the international norms. Even at the peak of Cold War, the US and Russia conducted open trials of spies. According to Section 105 of the Pakistan Army Act, when a person is awarded death sentence, there must be an absolute majority of votes. If there is a difference of opinion, the decision goes in favour of the accused. However, there was no such clarity in the case of Jadhav. Military courts in Pakistan were allowed to extend their jurisdiction for speedy trial of terror cases after the Peshawar school attack through amendments to the Pakistan Army Act 1952. These amendments were met with much debate, but military courts have already weaved themselves into the fabric of Pakistans criminal justice system. Since February 2015, a total of 274 individuals have been convicted in military courts. So far, the army has sentenced 161 individuals to death, 12 of whom have been executed and 113 have been given jail terms (mostly life sentences). There are roughly 11 military courts that have been set up across Pakistan; three in Khyber Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three in Punjab, two in Sindh and one in Balochistan. "The data we will collect during this expedition is critical for us to be able to forecast how this glacier, as well as others in the region, will respond to climate change," he said. "Understanding what actually happens inside these glaciers is critical to developing a better understanding of how they flow so that we can better predict when dams that form on these glaciers are likely to be breached, releasing vast volumes of water to the valleys below," said Professor Bryn Hubbard from Aberystwyth University in the UK. Drilling will be done with a specially-adapted car wash unit that produces a jet of hot water at a pressure of up to 120 bar. This is enough pressure to penetrate through road tarmac, researchers said. Climate change scientists are heading to the Himalayas in a bid to become the first team to successfully drill through the world's highest glacier located in the foothills of Mount Everest.An international research team will spend up to six weeks working at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres on the Khumbu glacier in Nepal and will be using a specially adapted car wash unit to drill up to 200 metres into the ice.Once the drilling has been completed, the team, led by Duncan Quincey from University of Leeds in the UK, will be able to study the glacier's internal structure, measure its temperature, how quickly it flows and how water drains through it."All the current data collected on these glaciers only just scratches the surface," Quincey said.Glacier melt-water from across the Himalayan range supports the livelihoods of around 40 per cent of the world's population, researchers said.However, dams and lakes that form on the glacier present a significant risk of flash flooding for people living down-stream."This is a real risk in the Himalayas as it is in other regions such as the Andes, and has the potential to endanger the lives of thousands of people," said Hubbard.Located in north-eastern Nepal, the 17 kilometre-long Khumbu glacier is often used by climbers on their way to Everest base-camp and flows from an altitude of 7,600 metres.The team will be working at an altitude of over 5,000 metres and will have to contend with a number of physical and technical challenges.Equipment weighing about 1,500kg will need to be transported to the drill site on the glacier.Half the equipment will be airlifted by helicopter and half will be carried up by locally-hired Sherpa, yaks and the research team.The team will travel to the Khumbu glacier in the foothills of Mount Everest this month. It will be the first of two trips. The team is set to return for a second nine week expedition next year. "An Uzbekistan airways flight (from Tashkent) landed at Dushanbe international airport at 8:03 am (0303 GMT)," the airport spokeswoman told AFP by telephone. Uzbekistan first banned flights from Tajikistan in 1992 after the outbreak of civil war in its smaller neighbour to the east. The ban remained in place after the war's end, as long- reigning autocrats Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan regularly clashed over water and other issues. After a 25-year break, fractious Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have reestablished regular connecting flights, a spokeswoman at Tajikistan's international airport told AFP Tuesday, paving the way for improved relations."The plane and the passengers were very well met."Doubts were cast over an apparent rapprochement between the two countries that have a traditionally fraught relationship when a long-awaited flight from Dushanbe to Tashkent was abruptly cancelled in February.Karimov was buried in his native city of Samarkand after a suspected stroke in September last year and successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev has moved to smooth ties with neighbours in the majority-Muslim ex-Soviet region. Lucca: President Bashar al-Assad should not be part of Syria's future, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday, as G7 allies rejected a call for new sanctions on Damascus and its key ally Moscow. Washington has stepped up the pressure on Russia to rein in Assad after a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held Syrian town that killed at least 87 civilians and triggered retaliatory US missile strikes on a Syrian air base. As G7 foreign ministers urged a diplomatic push to end the six-year conflict and create a lasting peace for a unified Syria, Tillerson said: "Our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that future." With a growing gulf between the US and Assad's main ally Russia, the G7 ministers threw their support behind Tillerson as he headed for vital talks on the Syrian conflict in Moscow. "To be clear, our military action was a direct response to the Assad regime's barbarism," Tillerson said at the G7 meeting in Italy. "The United States' priority in Syria and Iraq remains the defeat of ISIS," he added, referring to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. Moscow said it was hoping to avoid confrontation and engage in "constructive cooperation" with Washington, as Tillerson headed to the Russian capital on the first visit by a senior member of President Donald Trump's administration. The G7 ministers failed to agree on whether fresh sanctions should be imposed on Damascus and Moscow. "At the moment there is no consensus on new sanctions as an effective instrument," Italy's Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said, after his British counterpart Boris Johnson had raised the issue. But after talks in the Tuscan city German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said: "All the G7 states want to avoid a military escalation and want a political solution without a new spiral of violence. "We want to bring Russia around to supporting the political process for a peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict." The German diplomat said Tillerson had "all our support" for his talks in Moscow, where he will meet his counterpart Sergei Lavrov although the Kremlin has not said if there will be a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The US has warned Damascus that further use of chemical weapons could bring fresh retaliation. US warships in the Mediterranean on Friday fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat air base near Homs, destroying an airfield from which Washington believes Assad's jets launched the deadly chemical attack. The strike was the first time Washington had intervened directly against the regime of Assad, who is fighting a six-year civil war with the backing of Russia and Iran. Basking in mindfulness THE concept of mindfulness has been around for many years, but fast-paced levels of co-existence has given it traction in todays environment. Professor emeritus Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder and former director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, USA, assisted in bringing the practice of mindfulness meditation into mainstream media, and he also showed that practising mindfulness can result in tremendous improvements in both the physical and psychological well-being of individuals. Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment, and accepting it without judgement. Though it may appear to be simple, mindfulness brings with it tremendous benefits. Lets start with your well-being and mental health it boosts working memory, reduces stress, creates a broader capacity to treat with adverse events, relieves depression, helps with substance abuse, relieves eating and anxiety disorders. Mindfulness also brings positive outcomes in your body as it treats with heart disease, lowers blood pressure, reduces chronic pain, improves sleep patterns and alleviates gastrointestinal difficulties. Your work environment is not devoid of benefits as you become more efficient, task-focused, communication between your co-workers and yourself is improved, you become a better leader, better listener and better prepared to embrace constructive criticism. Mindfulness is designed to re-configure our minds to experience life as it happens, our energies and thoughts are channelled towards the present moment and we avoid worrying about things that occurred in the past or what might emerge in the future; there is also a purposeful concentration on whats happening around you and you are also non-judgemental about any observations. Being mindful and focused provides clarity in your thoughts, slows down your nervous system, allows you to relax, helps to cope with stress and most importantly, assists in becoming more aware of yourself, your body and the environment. Because of its uniqueness, there is research to suggest that mindfulness helps individuals to accept their experiences, feelings and painful emotions, rather than respond negatively. Begin your new journey of mindfulness by developing a systematic method of focusing your attention on your present circumstances and basic meditation techniques. Professor Kabat-Zinn recommends at least 45 minutes of meditation for six days weekly, but these simple exercises can also help. With eyes closed, sit calmly on a straight-backed chair for at least 30 minutes and focus on your breathing and air flows from your nostrils and mouth. Become aware of sounds, sensations and ideas and embrace each thought with purity and an open mind. These exercises allow your awareness to expand and can lead to a renewed you. Sandrine Rattan is a Communications/ Branding Consultant/ Author and President of the International Womens Resource Network (IWRN) Contact: thecorporatesuitett@ gmail.com or intlwomensresourcenetwork@ gmail.com or contact 283-0318. Coast Guard officer sues In his lawsuit, filed by attorney Chantal Paul, Duntin says he was not given a reason for his non-promotion and when he sought meetings with his commanding officer, there was no response. In September 2014, he first filed for judicial review against the defence council of the CG and the Attorney General. That application was dismissed on the ground that an alternative remedy was available via the Defence Forces defence council. In matters involving public servants, a person must exhaust seeking redress from all bodies established under the Constitution, before filing for judicial review. After the lawsuit was struck down, Duntin wrote to the Defence Forces defence council requesting intervention in relation to his promotion. In another judicial review filed last November, Duntin stated that in July, he received correspondence from the defence council which informed him that a meeting would be held at which his petition on the issue of promotion and non-payment of salary would be discussed. He contacted Yolanda Morris, who was named in the councils correspondence as the person to contact. Duntin stated in his lawsuit that she told him his petition was not considered by the council, when it met. Duntin stated he received no correspondence from the CG regarding his issues of promotion and back pay. Based on that, the November judicial review was filed on the ground that Duntin has petitioned for redress but it is not being considered by the defence council. Yesterday, the lawsuit came up for hearing in the San Fernando High Court before Justice Devendra Rampersad. The matter was heard in Chambers and adjourned to May 26. She Was Swimming in the Ocean. Then, a 'Really Hard Hit' When a complete stranger messaged Joe McGrath on Facebook last week about a free trip to Spain, the 21-year-old in Manchester, England, thought it sounded like a hoax. But he says the invitation kept replaying in his head, and soon he found himself on the phone with a man who sounded quite genuine. A group had planned a surprise trip to Majorca for a friend's 30th birthday, but their friend Joe McGrath wasn't able to go, and they didn't want the plane ticket or hotel room in his name to go to waste. "They messaged 15 other Joe McGraths on Facebook and only one was stupid enough to reply, and that was me," he tells the BBC. But "fake" Joe, as the birthday group reportedly took to calling him, talked it over with his girlfriend and boss, and decided to take the leap and enjoy the three-day trip, reports the Manchester Evening News. He posted to Twitter a now widely-shared photo of himself with the group of strangers living it up on the island with the note, "So this happened." Now that he's back, he says the 10 friends from Bristol, a city about three hours south of him, were an "absolutely lovely group of people," and that he's planning to invite them to Manchester for a thank-you night out. He even thinks he'll meet the "real" Joe McGrath sooner or later, "and it will be a magical moment." (Does this story sound familiar?) United Airlines' treatment of a passenger who was forcibly removed from an overbooked flight is the final straw, writes Adam Clark Estes on Gizmodo: It's time for a boycott. "There are plenty of other airlines out there that dont abuse passengers and refuse to apologize," Estes writes. "Other airlines will gladly take your money and make sure you get to your destination without enlisting a muscleman to slam your head into an armrest and forcibly remove you from the plane so that one of its employees can get a free flight." This, by the way, is "just the latest in an increasingly enraging pattern of bad behavior by the airline"; other reasons to boycott United include, but are not limited to, the time United diverted a flight to kick off an autistic child and the time it refused to give an unopened can of soda to a Muslim chaplain on one of its flights. Estes is far from the only person outragedSasha Lekach at Mashable calls United's attempts at apologizing for the situation "meaningless corporate jargon" that just enraged people more. At the Los Angeles Times, Michael Hiltzik says United's handling of the entire incident was "botched" and shameful, but notes that the real problem is that the law allows airlines to overbook, even at risk of a situation like this. "How many businesses do you know of that can sell you a good or service, accept payment, and then withdraw that good or service unilaterally for their own purposesmuch less by force?" At Slate, Daniel Gross calls the overbooking system airlines use "ridiculous" and "outdated," and notes that lately, more passengers than usual are getting bumped from overbooked flights, a fair number of them involuntarily: It's time for "a better way," he writes. If you find yourself in the same unfortunate situation as the United passenger, Quartz offers up an explainer of what you're legally entitled to. (Read more United Airlines stories.) Stephen King has made millions unleashing a myriad of horrors on Maine towns in fictionand spent millions helping them in real life. In the latest donation from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, the husband-and-wife authors donated $30,000 to help the Bangor Fire Department buy new thermal imaging cameras, WABI reports. According to tax records, the foundation made 150 grants in 2015 totaling around $3 million to libraries, schools, fire departments, health centers, homeless shelters, and many other causes in cities and towns across the state, the Bangor Daily News reports. The Kings have been particularly generous to Bangor, where they have a home: They donated $3 million toward the cost of the public library's renovation in 2013 and gave millions to earlier projects including Mansfield Stadium and a public pool, the Daily News notes. The Kings "are kind people who want to give back to the community and we are appreciative of what they do," says Bangor Fire Chief Tom Higgins. He says the new cameras the Kings are funding, which help firefighters see objects and identify hot spots through heavy smoke, are lighter and deliver images 10 times better than the older models. (In 2009, King donated an odd amount to help troops go home for the holidays.) A 16-year-old from Nevada who apparently really likes Wendy's chicken nuggets is closing in on the record for the most retweets ever thanks to a random idea he decided to act upon, reports the Guardian. Last Wednesday night, Carter Wilkerson took to Twitter to ask: "Yo @Wendys how many retweets for a year of free chicken nuggets?" Wendy's responded that 18 million would do the trick. Wilkerson accepted the challenge with this tweet, which had been retweeted about 2.5 million times as of Tuesday morning. For some perspective, the largest retweet ever came after Ellen DeGeneres took to Twitter during the 2014 Oscars, with hers clocking in at just under 3.3 million retweets. Wilkerson now appears to have the second most popular tweet ever, having edged ahead of one by Louis Tomlinson of One Direction. Still, 18 million is a tall order, and the challenge has turned the teen into "a global hero with a mission" via #NuggsForCarter, notes a post at Twitter itself. The teen spoke to the Reno Gazette-Journal when the tweet first took off, explaining that he sent his original query as a joke. The reaction has been "pretty cool," he says, with his father adding that he hopes they can work out some kind of charitable giveaway with Wendy's when the retweeting subsides. Eater points out that Wilkerson could retweet himself, but he'd have to do so once a second nonstop for about seven months in order to reach the mark that way. Meanwhile, the Guardian predicts that he's sure to show up on DeGeneres' show at some point. (Read more retweet stories.) Natasha Exelby lived out every news anchor's nightmare on live TV over the weekend, and to add to that nightmare, some are saying she's been sanctioned for it, per the New York Daily News. A video circulating online shows the Aussie journalist on ABC24 on Sunday, zoning out and staring at a pen while waiting for a prerecorded portion of the show to end, not knowing at first the camera had cut back to her, per the New York Post. Once Exelby realized she was back on the air, she let out a startled gasp, but quickly composed herself and continued with the broadcast. News outlets reported Exelby, a freelance journalist, was yanked from on-air segments for ABC, with some even framing it as a firing. But ABC's news director insists that's not true and that "slip-ups will happen." "Our presenters are humans, not robots," he says, adding Exelby is simply an occasional contributor (not a full-time employee) who only does on-air segments as needed, even though at the moment she hasn't been rescheduled to do more on-air bits, per the Guardian (which cites sources saying Exelby had been "read the riot act" by management). The Australian notes she's been hired to temporarily read the morning news for a Sydney radio station while the regular host is on break. Exelby, who had supporters such as Russell Crowe rushing to her defense, thanked everyone on Twitter, adding, "Not my finest hour. Myself and my mesmerising pen honourably salute you!" (This news anchor reported on horrible news that hit too close to home.) A Pennsylvania volunteer fire company says it has canceled this year's Easter egg hunt for children because of "unruly" parents in past years. The Norco Fire Company in North Coventry Township says on its Facebook page the annual children's event won't be held this year. Deputy Chief Chuck Hipple says there has been a recurring problem of some parents running onto the field despite having been told not to and posing a danger to children, the AP reports. He says it's not the majority of people but a few people "just can't seem to let the kids have fun." Officials say they hope to try to hold the event in the township another year. (An egg hunt in Connecticut last year was wrecked by parents "acting like locusts.") Secretary of State Rex Tillerson travels to Russia Tuesdaybut, unlike when he visited Moscow as CEO of ExxonMobil, he will not be meeting Vladimir Putin. A Putin spokesman said Monday that they have not announced "any such meetings and right now there is no meeting with Tillerson in the president's diary," Reuters reports. John Kerry, Tillerson's predecessor, often met with Putin and the snub of Tillerson is believed to be the result of Russian anger over the US strike on a Syrian airbase last week. Tillersonwho was awarded Russia's Order of Friendship medal on one of the several occasions he met Putin in his role at Exxonwill fly to Russia from Italy, where he met Monday with foreign ministers from other G7 nations, CNN reports. Britain's Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, who called off his own trip to Moscow over Syria tensions, said Monday that the G7 wants to give "the clearest possible mandate" in talks with Russia over Syria's future. The AP reports that as he left Italy Tuesday, Tillerson said Russia has the choice of helping the US and other countries end suffering in Syria, or siding with Iran, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime, which the US believes "is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." (Read more Rex Tillerson stories.) A judge known for being fair, kind, and tough was killed in front of his Chicago home in an act of violence as senseless as anything that passed through his courtroom. Police say Raymond Myles, a 66-year-old judge in Cook County's criminal division, was shot dead outside his South Side home just before 5am Monday after a female friend leaving to go to the gym encountered an armed man, the Chicago Tribune reports. She was shot in the leg after exchanging words with the man, and the judge was shot dead on his porch after going outside to investigate the noise. Police say Myles spoke to the man before he was shot multiple times. The woman was hospitalized and is expected to survive. Myles dealt with numerous high-profile criminal cases, but police believe the incident was an attempted robbery, not a targeted killing. Police and the FBI say they're following up multiple leads, NBC News reports. The judge is being mourned by colleagues and even defendants. "His ability to control his courtroom with dignity, his ability to transfer that dignity to the accused, people like my client, was amazing," defense attorney Wendelin DeLoach tells ABC7. DeLoach says the judge was known for trying to make sure that every defendant who came into his courtroom obtained a high school diploma or GED. "He ruled his courtroom with an iron fist but with a great amount of kindness, fairness, and justice," she says. (Read more Chicago stories.) Lula and Simba are headed to a new life in Jordan. The bear and lion, respectively, were discovered in February in the war-decimated Montazah al-Morour Zoo in Mosul, Iraq, apparently the only two animal survivors in the facility, the BBC reports. All of the other creatures had starved to death or were killed during clashes between Iraqi forces and ISIS, and Lula and Simba weren't doing so great themselves: They were found dirty, covered in feces, and suffering from various maladies between them, including bad teeth and malnutrition, Four Paws veterinarian Amir Khalil says. But the Four Paws International charity stepped in to tend to them, and after various paperwork issues, Lula and Simba finally had their big day on Monday: They were crated up and put on a plane to Jordan, where they'll be placed in a "species-appropriate home," per Four Paws' Facebook page. "From now on, they won't have to be part of this war," Khalil told AFP Monday, via the BBC. (These elephants were saved from a muddy demise.) A Central Michigan University student accused of spreading peanut butter on the face of a passed out teen with a peanut allergy faces jail time over the stunt. Dale Merza, 20, has been charged with misdemeanor hazing and faces up to 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted, reports the Detroit Free Press. But Merzawho has pleaded not guilty, per WDIVsays the incident targeting 19-year-old Andrew Seely "is simply not hazing." His lawyer, Bruce Leach, contends that the case "has been blown way out of proportion by the individual's family members, who were not present and don't have any of the facts." The incident happened in October, but Seely's mother only learned of it in March and posted on Facebook about it, saying her son "could have been killed." A professor took Seely to a campus health clinic, where he recovered. His parents say members of the university's unofficial Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, where the incident took place, were well aware of the seriousness of Seely's allergy. But frat members disagree and say the action was meant as a harmless prank. They add that Seely's decision to change schools at the end of the fall semester was unrelated, per the Washington Post. According to Leach, Merza and Seely spoke after the incident and "everything seemed to be fine." (At Penn State, a frat pledge sent a final text to his girlfriend on the night he died.) Like 1,500 others, Sante Righini went down with the Titanic on April 15, 1912. But his was a heroic end, his sister explained at his funeral. The 28-year-old Italian-born manwho boarded the ship in France alongside the wealthy widow who employed him as a manservant in Manhattanhad been moments from safety, about to take a seat in a lifeboat, "when a woman behind him appealed to be saved and, stepping aside, he allowed her to take a place in the boat," Righini's sister said at the 1912 service, per the New York Daily News. "When last seen he was standing on the deck, waiting for the ship to sink." His body was pulled from Atlantic days later, but what became of it was lost to historyuntil now. After learning of Righini, British researcher Trevor Baxter received a tip earlier this year that he might've been laid to rest at Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. An entry in a yellowed, century-old log book at Evergreens confirmed his body arrived on May 4, 1912, and was buried at the back of the cemetery. Righini's place of death was given as "Sea. SS Titanic." "It's amazing to know that theres someone here that died on the Titanic," says a cemetery clerk. Baxter adds he's "over the moon" to have tracked Righini down. In other Titanic news, CBS News reports a first-class passenger's gold locket, recently found on the ocean floor, will go on display in Las Vegas this week to mark the 105th anniversary of the disaster. (You'll soon be able to visit the Titanic.) Forget a "ruthless blow." North Korea says the US will face "catastrophic consequences," including possible war, if it continues to provoke the country, reports the Guardian. The message from a foreign ministry spokesman comes days after the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, a missile carrier, and two destroyers were sent to waters off the Korean peninsula "as a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific," according to Adm. Harry Harris. The North Korean rep, however, says the decision to alter the course of the ships, which were headed to Australia, shows that "reckless moves for invading" have "reached a serious phase," per USA Today. In a series of tweets on Tuesday, President Trump didn't seem perturbed. "North Korea is looking for trouble," he wrote. "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the US will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem," he continued. "If not, we will solve the problem without them!" The New York Times explains the president's trouble: Only China has a realistic chance of getting North Korea to change course, but President Xi Jinping did not offer Trump any commitments about making that happen, either in public or private, during their meeting last week. Trump's tweets, however, suggest that he would rather strike a deal with China than act unilaterally against Pyongyang. (Read more North Korea stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Snow showers this morning. Peeks of sunshine later. High 23F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 13F. Winds light and variable. New Delhi: Electronics maker Micromax, which has roped in Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor as its brand ambassador, expects its consumer durables vertical to contribute 25 per cent of total revenue in three years. "Consumer electronics currently contributes about 10 per cent to the overall revenue and the company expects the consumer durables vertical to contribute up to 25 per cent of its revenues by the end of 2019," Micromax said in a statement. ALSO READ: Micromax partners with Intel to integrate security software Micromax said it has invested close to Rs 200 crore to build channel and infrastructure capabilities and has a vision to be a complete consumer electronics brand in next three years. In a statement, Micromax said it has roped in Anil Kapoor as its new brand ambassador. Micromax said it will roll out a campaign with TVC, print, digital and OTH advertisements. In April 2016, Micromax diversified its product portfolio and announced shift to non-mobility segments as well. New Delhi: Qualcomm Inc has accused US tech giant Apple Inc of lying to regulators to divert the attention of investigators probing the chipmaker, and threatening it to cover up the use of inferior parts in some iPhones. The worlds largest maker of phone semiconductors responded to a January lawsuit from Apple with counterclaims for damages late Monday, alleging the iPhone maker breached contractual pledges, mischaracterized their agreements and misrepresented facts. We were really stunned by some of the things that they included in their suit, said Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg,. This is our attempt to respond to some disturbing elements in their complaint. According to Qualcomm, Apple is behind regulatory investigations of its business practices worldwide. Cupertino, California-based Apple has lobbied with false and misleading statements to induce regulators to take action against us because it would be in their commercial interests, Rosenberg said. At the heart of the worsening standoff is a commercial dispute over how much Qualcomm is entitled to charge phone makers to use its patented technology, whether or not they use its chips. The San Diego, California-based company gets the majority of its profit from licensing tech. New Delhi: Bajrangi Bhaijaan's director Kabir Khan has already gained the fame of an established filmmaker in Bollywood. The director has set his goals clear about his forthcoming projects that he may deliver in order to entertain us. After the release of his much awaited Indo-China war film 'Tubelight' Kabir is all set to hit the internet as well. His next project would be a web series which would chronicle the story of Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army. Tentatively titled "The Forgotten Army", which was also the name of a documentary Kabir made in 1996, the international mini-series for Amazon Prime Video will be set during World War II. Also Read: Kabir Khan to release his own web series based on Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army Kabir in a report addressed about his desire to make this feature come true and to make his audience know about the freedom fighter. He says, "Ever since I did that documentary, there was so much I experienced and saw, which was much more than what went into the documentary. I always wanted to make a big feature about this subject. This is the story which made me want to be a filmmaker. This is the one story I have to tell. After every film, I used to bring out the idea of forgotten army, keep writing the screenplay. It's finally happening." The web series is supposed to have eight episodes which shall go on the floor after the release of 'Tubelight'. As the trend of follows, after actress Nimrat Kaur, Kabir as well wants to try his hands on web series. When asked about it, he says, "The medium allows you to do much more than perhaps the mainstream Hindi films, where unfortunately the conditions we are in right now, we are constantly checking ourselves. We have certain characters who would be sitting on our films before we release." Based on true events, "The Forgotten Army" is about people who fought a heroic war for the independence of India as part of the Indian National Army. Kabir also told the reporters he is looking to have international cast for the war-epic series. The shoot shall start from October this year. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Nargis Fakhri is all set to make her fans go crazy with her new Hollywood project "5 weddings". The Rockstar girl has always maintained her name in the limelight now with latest reports she shall be making another hit appearance with this film. The actress shall be working for the first time with Rajkumar Rao and is sharing a great time while shooting for the film. She is delighted by her co-star and shares her feelings about her working with such a great actor. While complimenting Rao, Nargis says she has become a better performer after working with him. In a statement to PTI, Nargis said "If someone says I am not a good actor and if I work with someone who is also not a good actor then I will be a disaster. If I work with a good actor it makes me a better actor as he helps you. When you have a good actor by your side, it rubs on you." Also Read: Rajkumar Rao says he feels complete as an actor Also, Nargis shares the stories about her candid moments with Rao on the sets of their film, "I have worked with different kinds of actors and I had a lot of fun working with Rajkumar. We did a lot of goofy Instagram videos. We were on a similar wavelength and had good matching humour," she adds. 5 Weddings is an upcoming slice of life drama and comedy Indian American film directed by Namrata Singh Gujral. The movie revolves around an American journalist who travels to India for a magazine feature on Bollywood weddings. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Anas Rashid, who was seen in popular daily soap 'Diya Aur Baati Hum', has finally ditched his bachelorhood as he exchanged rings with Hina Iqbal. The engagement ceremony took place on Sunday in Rashid's hometown Lucknow. Interestingly, it is going to be an arrange marriage for the actor, who became a household name with his role of Sooraj in 'Diya Aur Baati Hum'. Anas' engagement was close-knit affair and was attended by family and close friends. Soon, the pictures of the ceremony went viral on social media. Anas looked dapper in his purple and golden sherwani, while his fiance Hina wore an orange and white lehenga with golden embroidery. Engaged with Heena yesterday,,, Happy day and happy memories , aaY A post shared by Anas Rashid (@anasrashid2016) on Apr 10, 2017 at 5:40am PDT YS A post shared by Anas Rashid (@anasrashid2016) on Apr 10, 2017 at 5:57am PDT #anasrashid #engaged #buddiesY #withbride A post shared by Raman Romana (@raman_romana) on Apr 9, 2017 at 11:56pm PDT The couple looked every bit of madly in love with each other as they exchanged the rings. Soon the handsome actor even shared a picture of his engagement ring on Instagram. asas A post shared by Anas Rashid (@anasrashid2016) on Apr 10, 2017 at 6:15am PDT It is indeed a happy moment for Anas who also revealed that he will get married later this year. aThe engagement took place on Sunday in my hometown only. It was lovelya Everyone had been saying we werenat told about you getting married, so, we thought this would be a formal get together where we will exchange rings. Marriage should hopefully happen later this year. I am still in my hometown. I needed this break from work. But I will get started once I come back to Mumbai,a Anas told Indian Express. According to the media reports, Rashid's fiance is 14 year younger to him. Interestingly, Anas had always wanted to have an arranged marriage. aI always wanted to marry a simple girl and Hina is exactly that. I had left the responsibility of choosing my life partner to my mother because no one knows me better than her," the actor had once told in one of his interviews. Heartiest congratulations to the recently engaged couple. New Delhi : Delhi State Election Commission on Tuesday asked the Aam Aadmi Party to file its reply within two days over a complaint of putting up a "distorted" picture of BJP leaderVijender Gupta on its election posters across the city. In a written communication to AAP state convener Dilip Pandey, the commission said that if the party fails to file the reply, the complaint will be decided ex parte. "I am directly to kindly advice you to take remedial action and give comments on this complaint (Gupta's), within 48 hours, to this Commission for its pursual, otherwise compliant will be decided ex parte," Commission's Deputy Secretary Girish Pandey said in a communication to AAP. The SEC's move comes a day after Leader of OppositionGupta had met State Election Commissioner S K Srivastava and lodged a complaint seeking action against the Aam Aadmi Party. The poster, seen in many parts of the city, carries photos of both Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Gupta and asks voters as to who they would prefer to hold the reins of the municipal corporations. Also Read | Defamation case: Arvind Kejriwal gets bailable arrest warrant over tweet against PM Modi Elections to all three civic bodies - North, East andSouth Delhi Municipal Corporations - will be held on April 23.The counting will take place on April 26. "The posters show a smiling face of Kejriwal while depict me in a distorted and villainous way," Gupta had said. Gupta had demanded the Election Commission get the posters removed and take action against the AAP. "These are elections and not a beauty contest to be fought on the photo of leaders," the BJP leader had said, throwing challenge of an open debate to Kejriwal and AAP on issues. Also Read: BJP accuses AAP of spending Rs 11 Lakh on lunches at Arvind Kejriwal's residence For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Food Distribution Ramvilas Paswan is mulling to fix the quantity of food being served in restaurants and hotels in days to come. The minister is going to convene a meeting with the food industry to decide the amount of food on a plate. The attempts are being made to curb food wastage. While talking to media, the minister said that he witnessed that food is being wasted in hotels and restaurants to which his government cannot allow. The minister said as there are a lot of people cannot afford food twice in a day, it has to be stopped. Paswan said he asked the food industry people for a meeting to fix the portions on a plate so it cannot be wasted within the legal framework. Also Read | Nationwide food security law will be implemented by November: Paswan He cited as an example that pieces of chicken can be fixed so a person will not dump it into the trash. Paswan rejected that his initiative is being seen after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the cause through his radio programme Mann Ki Baat. Paswan said that he took the issue after visiting a restaurant. Also Read: Paswan rules out separate law to regulate MRP of bottled water, soft drinks For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: On the ocassion of 130th birth anniversary of Jamini Roy, search engine giant Google honored an image inspired by his Black Horse painting on Google Doodle. Indian famous painter Jamini Roy was born in 1887 in Beliatore village of the Bankura district, West Bengal. He was one of the most significant modernists in the world of Indian fine arts of the 20th century. He was also accorded with the honour of Padma Bhushan award in 1955. Mr Jamini Roy graduated in British academic style of painting from the Government Art School. Roy was inspired in Kalighat pat (Kalighat paintings), traditional kanthas and alpanas. The famous painter Roy, preferred himself to be called a patua. For the first time his paintings were put on the exhibition in the British India Street of Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1938. His paintings even crossed the national boundary in 1946 it was exhibited in London followed by the New York City in 1953. One of the popular work includes Mother and the Child, which is an image of a Santhal woman embracing her child. Jamini Roy died in 1972 and has been honoured with Viceroys gold medal in an all India exhibition in 1934, while in 1976, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Ministry of Culture, declared his works among the Nine Masters whose work considered to be art treasures. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Kulbhushan Jadhav, former Indian Nave officer who was kidnapped by Pakistani authorities in Iran under suspicion of being a spy, has been given death sentence by Pak military court. Kulbhushan Jadhav's trial in Pakistani military court shrouded in the mystery of lack of proof and procedure and has created a stark contrast between judicial procedure in India and Pakistan. Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab who was caught alive during 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks was given a fair and lengthy trial in India. While, Indian citizen Jadhav was not even given consular access to communicate the allegations slapped against him by the Pakistani authorities. Read | Alleged Indian 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav sentenced to death: All you need to know about him The death sentence given to Jadhav shows the difference between the judicial system in the two arch-rivals neighbouring countries - India and Pakistan. The Kasab case is an example that how India provided all legal help to a terrorist who was caught alive after 26/11 attacks, the Jadhav case is an example of how a country failed to provide any help to a person who is being called 'an Indian spy' without any solid evidence shown in court. Here are some points which show the difference between the judicial system in India and Pakistan when it comes to fair trial: Civil vs military court: Pakistani citizen Ajmal Kasab was a terrorist yet he was tried in a civil court owing to the fact that he was not an official part of Pakistani military forces. Jadhav, who is retired Indian Navy personnel and has no links with Indian Armed Forces of Indian intelligence agencies, was labelled a spy and tried in military court in Pakistan. The trials of citizens or even spies in military court during non-war times in not a norm. Fair legal representation: Even when Indian judiciary faced resistance from political parties and common citizens of India, it followed all legal procedure and provided Kasab a senior advocate for fair representation in the Mumbai attack case. Kasab was allowed to pick his own lawyer. However, Kulbhushan Jadhav was represented by a Pakistani military official and the extent to which he received impartial advice or representation is doubtful. Read | Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif says he wants cooperation rather than conflict with India Trial procedure: Kasab was found guilty in 80 charges, including murder and waging war against India during Mumbai terror attacks, slapped on him by the trial court in May 2010, and he was sentenced to death. Later, the Bombay High Court upheld death sentence given to Kasab by the trial court in February 2011. In August 2012, the Supreme Court also upheld the death sentence given to Kasab in the Mumbai terror attacks case. Kasab was hanged to death on 21 November 2012 and his body was buried at Yerwada Jail in Pune. However, Jadhav was tried in Pakistani military court without proper counsel and given death penalty under suspicion of being an Indian spy. The way Jadhav's case was handled by Pakistani authorities and he was given death penalty raises doubts over his admission of guilt. According to Pakistani media report, Jadhav had pleaded guilty to an offence punishable by death and admitted to being an Indian spy. There are many loopholes in the details made public by the Pakistani Army after the military court's decision on Jadhav. Jadhav was carrying a valid Indian passport and visa when he was detained from Iran. Consular access: Pakistan officials refused to give Indian officials consular access to Jadhav, which was in violation of his rights outlined under Article 36(1)(c) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963. Officials of the Indian High Commission have a right under international laws to have access to Jadhav. However, Pakistan denied this access, in turn violating the convention and breaching international law. Whereas, Kasab was allowed to write letter to the Pakistani High Commission in India requesting help and legal aid during the trial in the Mumbai attack case. In the letter, he confirmed he and the nine slain terrorists who attacked major spots in Mumbai on November 26 were Pakistani citizens. Pakistani officials confirmed the receipt of the letter and were reported to be studying it. No further updates were given on his letter. India's warning to Pakistan India on Tuesday warned Pakistan that execution of the death sentence handed down to Kulbhushan Jadhav by a military court would be taken as pre-meditated murder and Islamabad should consider its consequences on bilateral relations. Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing the death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. Read | Kulbhushan Jadhav is India's son, Govt will go out of the way to help him: Sushma in Rajya Sabha I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter, Swaraj said categorically. She said the process adopted by the Pakistani military court to award the death sentence tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to the indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian. This blatant ignorance of the international law by Pakistan will not only further complicate its relationship with India but also invite the wrath of the international community. Read | Amnesty blasts Pak military court system for awarding death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: India will take any possible action to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been handed down death sentence by a Pakistan military court, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament on Tuesday. Rajnath Singh condemned the action and said in the Lok Sabha that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. Responding to concerns expressed by members cutting across party lines, Singh said Pakistan had told the media there that Jadhav was carrying a valid Indian passport. He wondered why a spy would carry a valid passport. "This exposes Pakistan's action," he said. The Home Minister was also critical of Islamabad's decision to deny New Delhi consular access to Jadhav on 13 occasions. As soon as the House met for the day, members cutting across party lines slammed Pakistan for awarding death sentence to Jadhav. Read | Parliament live | Kulbhushan Jadhav is India's son, Govt will go out of the way to help him: Sushma in Rajya Sabha Barbs were frequently exchanged between treasury and opposition benches on the issue with the latter blaming the government for not taking up the matter strongly. Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wondered why the government remained silent on the issue. His remarks attracted the ire of BJP members who said the government was condemning the incident. "Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue," Kharge said referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to visit Pakistan to attend the marriage of Nawaz Sharif's daughter near Lahore. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said "there should be no spat on the issue. We all are equally concerned about the fate of Jadhav." Kharge said while India granted access to Pakistan to visit Pathankot to gather evidence on terror strike, Islamabad denied counsellor access to Jadhav. Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) urged the government to use its influence for the release of the Indian citizen. Shashi Tharoor (Cong) said while India has always preferred not to internationalise its relations with Pakistan, it is time New Delhi tells the world that tomorrow one of their citizens can face a similar fate in Pakistan. N K Premchandran (RSP), Vinayak Raut (Shiv Sena) and Saugata Roy (AITC) expressed similar sentiments. When some members wanted to react to the Home Minister's remarks, Speaker told them that they could express their views after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj gave a statement. "You do not have to go (to Pakistan) with an army of MPs," she said. Read | Alleged Indian 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav sentenced to death: All you need to know about him For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan, former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Tuesday came forward to defend Kulbhushan Jadhavs death sentence, saying even Pakistanis were being tried by military courts. Even many civilians in Pakistan have been tried by military courts, he told reporters on the sidelines of a conference while replying to a barrage of questions on the death sentence to Jadhav. In his address at a conference on Indo-Pak relations, he said relations between the two countries have nosedived but the only way out to check it is to engage in talks. Kasuri said both the sides must not allow things to drift away and that it is in Pakistans interest to have good relations with India. At the same time he admitted that things between the two neighbours are not looking good. Relationships are not normal right now. Rhetoric not particularly good on either side of the border. I must admit I was initially hesitant, but it is these times that we must persist and talk about peace. I found out about him (#KulbhushanJadhav) in India, I don't know anything about that: Former Pakistan Foreign Min Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri pic.twitter.com/lT3r2eHoIZ ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 He said India will not be able to isolate Pakistan internationally as Islamabad will react to it strongly. Also Read | Parliament: Kulbhushan Jadhav is India's son, Govt will go out of the way to help him: Sushma in Rajya Sabha It will never happen as Pakistan will react, he said, adding the idea of cutting off Pakistan from its South Asian moorings will not be in the interest of both sides. Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani were among dignitaries present at the conference. During the talk, Kasuri was constantly asked to respond on the issue of Kubhushan Jadhav, but he remain tight lipped. One former British Secretary had spoken about the policy of benign neglect. But, I do not think that benign neglect on either side will work. It will never be on an even keel, he said, as he emphasised the need for dialogues to resolve outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute. Earlier in the day, India warned Pakistan to consider the consequences on their ties if Jadhav is hanged in the alleged espionage case and vowed to go out of the way to save him amid an outrage in this country. Also Read | Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Sushma Swaraj warns Pakistan of dire consequences, says it will hit bilateral ties For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : The government on Tuesday informed the Upper House that Pakistani security forces violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir 268 times in the last one year. Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said appropriate retaliation to the ceasefire violations was carried out by the Indian Army. All violations of ceasefire are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings as well as weekly talks between the Directorate Generals of Military Operations of the two countries, he said. As per details provided by Bhamre about ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops between April 2016 and March this year, the maximum of 88 violations were witnessed in November followed by 78 in October and 22 last month. Nine fatal casualties were reported during the period. To a separate question, he said a total of 25,472 posts of Junior Commissioned Officers and those of equivalent ranks are lying vacant in the Army, while the number of vacancies for officers is 7,986. The number of posts lying vacant in Navy is 14,041, while that in Indian Air Force is 13,614. Also Read | J&K: Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in Rajouri sector, 3rd violation in 24 hours Replying to another query, the Minister said government has given in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment of some Central Public Sector Enterprises including the BEML Ltd. Disinvestments through strategic sale are being considered based on recommendations of the NITI Aayog after taking into consideration all aspects of the matter. However, after completion of the process, specific approval of government would be sought again, Bhamre said. To a query on defence indigenisation, he said 20 Indian vendors have been introduced to the Russian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to find out the feasibility of transfer of technology for manufacture of spare parts of Su-30 MKI aircraft. Also Read: Pakistan again violates ceasefire along LoC; Army troops give befitting reply As part of artillery modernisation approval (acceptance of necessity) has been accorded for procurement of artillery guns including Ultra-Light Howitzers for which orders have already been placed, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : NCP president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday recalled Hindu Mahasabha leader Vinayak Savarkar's remarks on cow to lash out at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for seeking a complete ban on cow slaughter across the country. Invoking Savarkar, hailed by the Hindu right, Pawar said he had termed cow as "just a useful animal" and would found nothing wrong if bovine animals were killed for meat if they became a "burden" on farmer. Speaking at the release of his autobiography 'ApaniSharton Par' (On My Terms) here in the presence of opposition leaders, Pawar also expressed concern over the "other view"not being tolerated in the country. "One day, the head of an organisation said that cow slaughter should be banned across the country," he said without naming Bhagwat. Referring to the recent lynching of a Muslim man by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan's Alwar, Pawar said, "People are being attacked, killed. It is strange." #WATCH Sharad Pawar says- 'Vir Savarkar said Cows shouldn't become burden on farmers. If anyone eats cow-meat then I don't hold him guilty' pic.twitter.com/UPBWwiuGUx ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 The NCP veteran said there was nothing wrong if some sections of countrymen considered cow as mother, but insisted on respecting those who held a different view. "Savarkar had publicly said that cow is a useful animal.He would say he would not blame anyone if he or she kills and eats its meat when it is not useful, becomes burden on farmer.We cannot ignore his thinking," he said. Bhagwat had on April 9 condemned violence by cow protection groups, saying it "defames" the cause but made it clear that the Hindutva organisation wanted a law banning cow slaughter across the country. Also Read | Mandir-masjid politics may get boost in UP with CM Yogi Adityanath: Sharad Pawar For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A 27-year-old Ukrainian model got a new lease of life on Monday when doctors at a Mumbai-based private hospital gave her a new heart. In what possibly is the first heart transplant case of a foreign citizen in Mumbai, doctors at Fortis Hospital harvested the heart of 22-year-old banker from Surat, Gujarat and transplanted it successfully in the Ukrainian woman. The recipient was suffering from postpartum dilated cardiomyopathy and had been on the waitlist for the past two days. Postpartum dilated cardiomyopathy is an uncommon form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth. The Surat man's family pledged six of his organs for donation after he was declared brain-dead after a road accident. Founder and president of NGO Donate Life Nilesh Mandlewala counselled his family who then agreed to donate his heart, liver, pancreas, corneas and kidneys, a report said. The harvested heart began its journey from Unity Hospital, Surat, at 9.30am on Monday. The heart was brought in a charter flight, which took off from Surat at 9.57am and landed in Mumbai at 10.30am. The ambulance reached Fortis Hospital, Mulund, at 11.32am covering a distance of 317km in one hour and 32 minutes. The coordination between traffic personnel and the police of both cities helped in transporting the heart smoothly. The donors family has saved and enriched lives of seven recipients through their young son, said Dr Anvay Mulay, head of cardiac transplant team, Fortis Hospital, who performed the transplant surgery. Saying that the patient was stable, Mulay added, We will continue to monitor her in the ICU for the next 48 to 72 hours. Talking about the surgery, Dr S Narayani, zonal director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said, We extend our appreciation to the donors family. It is because of them that our clinicians have managed to save this young woman. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: As Board examinations start in Uttar Pradesh, reports of cheating in exam centres have started coming and to curb copying in ongoing board exams govt has initiated action against errant students as well as invigilators and centre in-charges who have been found to be facilitating cheating. So far, 1,500 students using unfair means in the board examination have been nabbed, while 327 exam centre in-charges and 600 invigilators have been replaced, Secretary, UP Board, Shail Yadav told PTI from Allahabad. Cases have been lodged against 178 invigilators and 111 centre in charges and 70 students, Yadav said, adding as many as 54 centres have been cancelled and another 57 blacklisted. Also Read: Mathura mass cheating in board exams; many booked Besides, FIR has been lodged against the management of four exam centres. Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, who is also the minister of the department concerned, has told the officials about the state governments resolve to check copying in the exams. Besides issuing helplines to lodge complaints for checking mass copying, Sharma said he has issued instructions for eradicating nakal mafia from the state. Sharma held a video conference with District Magistrates recently and directed them to ensure there was no copying in the ongoing board examinations. Watch: Video | Mass-level cheating witnessed during class 10 board exam in Haryana He even paid surprise visits to some exam centres in the state capital and neighbouring Barabanki. In a bid to stop cheating in the exams, the board has issued helpline numbers and any person finding any information related to the cheating should WhatsApp on 9454457241 or on landline number 0522-2236760. The UP Board was set up in 1921 in Allahabad by the Act of United Provinces Legislative Council and affiliates most of the schools in the state. At present there are 9,121 secondary schools recognised by the UP Board of High School and Intermediate Education, according to its website. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: Britains Defence Secretary Michael Fallon will arrive in India on Tuesday for a four-day visit during which he will take part in the first Indo-UK strategic dialogue. Fallon will be the third UK Cabinet minister to visit India this month after Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and energy minister Greg Clark. Sir Michael will join his counterpart, Shri Arun Jaitley, for the first India-UK Strategic Dialogue, which was agreed in November 2015 during Prime Minister (Narendra) Modis visit to London as part of the Defence and International Security Partnership, the British High Commission said in a statement. The minister will visit Mumbai and Delhi and hold meetings with senior Indian defence ministry officials, military staff and business leaders. The visit will further cement the Defence and International Security Partnership, which aims to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between India and the UK, including by enhancing mutual capabilities and effectiveness through joint training and doctrine development, the statement said. The India-UK Strategic Dialogue will look at ways of increasing cooperation in science and technology, research and development, and countering violent extremism, it said. On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary will be the special guest at a reception hosted by British high commissioner Dominic Asquith in New Delhi to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth IIwhich falls on April 21. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: People of a small village in western Maharashtra have crossed fingers that despite the odds stacked heavily against their local lad Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan, will return home. People in Jadhavs native Javli village in Satara district on Tuesday condemned Pakistan and demanded the release of Jadhav, the retired Indian Navy officer sentenced to death yesterday by a Pakistan army court on alleged espionage charges. A villager said that Jadhav has built a house in his farm at Javli and used to visit the village two-three times a year. The Indian government should get him released at any cost. It is their responsibility. India should pressurise Pakistan to release Kulbhushan Jadhav, the villager said. Also Read | Kulbhushan Jadhav and Ajmal Kasab: Tale of two trials shows difference between India and Pakistan It is our request that he should be released as early as possible. Indian government should apply twice the pressure and efforts it did while securing the release of armyman Chandu Chavan, he said. 22-year-old Chavan had crossed into Pakistan on September 29 last year, the day India conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, 10 days after an attack by suspected Pakistani militants on a camp in Uri that killed 19 soldiers. He was handed over to India on January 21, after four months in captivity. Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav death penalty: 'Pak ignored all norms of law and justice, India will do everything possible to save him' For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : In an exclusive interview to News Nation, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Dinesh Sharma took several issues ranging from Ram Temple in Ayodhya to Sugar mills in the state. Speaking on the Ram Temple issue, Sharma said that if the issue gets resolved outside, then nothing like it. Sharma told that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that there should electricity during Eid then it does not mean that there should not be electricity during Holi or any other festival. Sharma cleared that electricity should be there on all the festivals. Here are the highlights of exclusive interview- # We want to end the gap between rich and poor # Opposition parties want to give power to 10 percent people so the 90 per cent people go out on street to beg # Why a kid of Muslim community has been forced to repair cycle puncture # Bring development for all is Ram Rajya # If Rajiv Gandhi had wished Ramrajya than he was a secular leader, but a BJP leader wants Ramrajya then, he termed as communal # Our government wants to deliver god governance so people can feel the change # We want to do positive work and media has highlighted our job # Police will act against whoever misconduct at public places barring religion # We would not tolerate the security of women and girls # A few narrow-minded people are opposing Yoga # Private schools will be made accountable # We have brought a code of conduct for teachers to scale up the quality of education # We have made mandatory to run 220 classes in an academic session # People should not treat education as business sector #Modi had said that there should electricity during Eid then it does not mean that there should not be electricity during Holi # Our mandate has shaken the opposition parties # Muslim community too wants to resolve the Ram Mandir issue # Farm loan waiver is a big moment in Indias history # We are committed to provide electricity in all parts of the state # We will do a good job in the state so all section of people praise the government # All the closed sugar mills should function in the state # A few Muslim clerics have welcomed the closure of illegal slaughter houses # We believe that every state has its own circumstances and what we have said in our manifesto, we have fulfilled it # Our focus is to bring focus to the state Deputy CM quoted Rajiv Gandhis statement of creating Ramrajya. He reasoned that if Rajiv Gandhi said this then it is not communal but when BJP says so then it is considered as communal. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will chair his second cabinet meet on Tuesday. The proposal of providing 24-hour electricity in the state may get approved in the meet. Yogi Adityanaths cabinet may also approve proposal to provide potable water in the drought affected area of Bundelkhand. During the cabinet meet, the committee will make proposal for buying potatoes and mines. Cabinet may give nod to it. Earlier, during the first cabinet meet, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday given green signal to the much-awaited waiver of farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh. Delivering on BJPs poll promise to small and marginal farmers, the Yogi Adityanath cabinet on Tuesday decided to waive their crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh, totalling a staggering Rs 36,359 crore, at its very first meeting. Also read: Yogi Adityanath cabinet waives off crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh; decision to benefit 2.15 crore farmers in UP For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A lady in South Africa came across a horrifying situation after she found a 12-foot long python sleeping inside a refrigerator in a supermarket. The incident took place in a Spar store in cape twon, where a woman went on to get some yoghurt. According to the media reports, the lady accidently grabbed the python in her quest to get yoghurt. Reportedly, the creature, which was an African Rock Python, was fast asleep in the fridge of the store. Indeed it was a spine chilling moment for the customer. Reportedly, she was petrified at the moment and screamed 'snake'. The picture of the python sleeping the store has even got viral on social media. A Soon, local snake-charmers were called to catch the python. The snake-charmers had to vacate the entire refrigerator before pulling out the creature. The media reports suggest that the python was rescued safely from the store and will be released in the national park. Talking about the incident, the staff was quoted as saying that the python might have entered the store through the roof and drain. "We have a lot of bush behind the shops and there are lots of snakes in there. We were telling people not to panic and reassuring them that it was safe," the manager of the store reportedly told Daily Mail. For all the Latest Viral News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mogadishu: An Indian-registered boat hijacked by Somali pirates nearly a week ago was recovered by security forces, but nine of the Indian crew are still being held hostage, a Somali official said on Monday. Security forces from the semi-autonomous Galmudug region rescued two crew members in the boat on Sunday night, but pirates escaped to land and have nine of the Indian crew, Abdullahi Ahmed Ali, the mayor of Hobyo, told The Associated Press. Ali said security forces were pursuing the pirates who are believed to have taken the hostages into a forest. Read more: Pakistan apprehends 42 Indian fishermen with 7 boats off Gujarat coast Bile Hussein, a Somali pirate, confirmed that the boat was rescued, saying that the pirates received a tip off of an imminent rescue attempt and abandoned the boat, taking the crew with them to the land. In recent weeks there has been a resurgence of piracy off Somalia's coast after five years of inactivity. Somalia's piracy was once a serious threat to the global shipping industry. It has lessened in recent years after an international effort to patrol near Somalia, whose weak central government has been trying to stabilize the countryafter 25 years of conflict. But frustrations have been rising among Somali fishermen, including former pirates, at what they say are foreign ships illegally fishing in local waters. Read more: Indian, Chinese navies rescue 'hijacked' merchant ship in Gulf of Aden In March, Somali pirates hijacked the Comoros-flagged oil tanker Aris 13, marking the first such seizure of a large commercial vessel since 2012. They later released the vessel and its Sri Lankan crew without conditions, Somali officials said at the time. Pirates in late March also seized a fishing trawler, which police warned could be used for further piracy. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Beijing: Even after China's execution rate fell sharply over the past decade, the nation's use of the death penalty remains shrouded in secrecy and still outpaces the rest of the world combined, human rights activists said on Tuesday. Amnesty International reported 1,032 state-sponsored executions worldwide in 2016, excluding China, where the true number is unknown because the government considers it a state secret. The group said it believes China executed thousands, but it didn't offer a more precise estimate due to a lack of accurate information. The human rights group Dui Hua estimates about 2,000 executions took place in China last year, down from a 6,500 a decade ago, said the group's executive director, John Kamm. The tally was based on research into lower-level court cases and contacts with government officials and Chinese and Western legal scholars, Kamm said. Amnesty said its figure for worldwide executions excluding China represents a 37 per cent drop from 2015. The United States recorded 20 executions, its fewest in 25 years, in part because of court rulings and shortages of chemicals used in lethal injections. Yet as other countries shift away from capital punishment, China increasingly is seen as an outlier, said Amnesty International East Asia Director Nicholas Bequelin. Government officials did not immediately comment on Amnesty's report. But China's chief justice, Zhou Qiang, told the national legislature last month that over the past decade executions were limited to "an extremely small number of criminals for extremely serious offenses." China has faced longstanding pressure from the international community to curb its use of the death penalty, which reached a frenzy in 1983 with 24,000 executions after provincial courts were given powers to mete out capital punishment, according to Dui Hua. The nation also has faced criticism for harvesting organs from executed inmates, including for sale to patients from overseas. China banned the practice in 2015 but Bequelin said it's impossible to know whether organ harvesting for profit has ceased because the legal system operates within a "black box" with little transparency. "China is trying to have it both ways, both getting credit and allaying international pressure over the death penalty in the county, while maintain and enforcing an elaborate system of secrecy," Bequelin said. Oversight of death sentence cases was returned to China's highest court, the Supreme People's Court, in 2007. Since that time, the government has narrowed which crimes can bring capital punishment but still lists more than three dozen eligible offenses, including treason, separatism, spying, arson, murder, rape, robbery and human trafficking. Ninety per cent of executions last year were for homicide cases, said legal scholar Hong Daode. "There has been a long tradition in China that the one that has taken people's lives should pay with his own life," said Hong, a professor of criminal law at China University of Political Science and Law. Hong and others faulted Amnesty for claiming in its report that verdicts on only 85 executions between 2014 and 2016 showed up on a supreme court website, out of at least 931 that the human rights group tallied through public news reports. Among the cases omitted were the executions of foreigners for drug crimes and people accused of terrorism in China's in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, the group said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. San Bernardino: A gunman opened fire at an elementary school in the California city of San Bernardino, killing a teacher and an eight-year-old boy before turning the gun on himself, police said. Another child caught in the crossfire was rushed to a hospital and said to be in critical condition. This does appear to have been a murder-suicide with both male adult and female adult victim succumbing to injuries, with the male succumbing to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Lieutenant Mike Madden of the San Bernardino Police Department told a news conference on Monday. Read | Cincinnati shooting: One killed, 15 injured after two gunmen open fire inside Cameo Club We had two students who were tragically injured and are listed as critical at this stage in area hospitals. Police later confirmed that one of the students, eight-year-old Jonathan Martinez, had died. Police identified the gunman as local resident Cedric Anderson, 53, and said the teacher, Karen Elaine Smith, also 53, was his estranged wife. Students at North Park Elementary Schoolwhich has around 500 students between kindergarten and sixth grade were transported to a nearby campus, where they were being well cared for, having snacks, playing games and watching a Disney movie, the police department tweeted. Police operations are continuing to secure the area. However, we do believe the threat is down, city Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. Read | US: Police officer, 3 others killed in Wisconsin shootings; suspect in custody San Bernardino, about an hours drive east of Los Angeles, became synonymous with gun violence when Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik gunned down 14 people and wounded 22 others in December 2015 before being shot dead by police. At the time, before the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, it was the deadliest attack on US soil since September 11, 2001. Pakistani-born Malikwho met her future US-born husband on a Muslim dating website and married him in Saudi Arabiahad pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group on Facebook and was instrumental in radicalising him. A number of commemorative events, including a memorial mass, a vigil and a remembrance ceremony, were held in December to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack. Monday's shooting will likely reignite the debate on gun violence in the US, where attempts to put in place tougher gun control measures have failed, despite a series of mass killings. In one of the most notorious school shootings in modern US history, 20 children and six staff were massacred in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. In June last year, 49 people were killed in a shooting rampage at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. More than 10 out of every 100,000 Americans die every year from guns, including suicides, a rate far higher than in other Western countries. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mogadishu: Athorities in central Somalia said that Somali security forces have liberated an Indian cargo ship from pirates. However, only two people among the ten-man crew could be rescued. Abdulahi Ahmed Ali, district commissioner for the pirate-hub region of Hobyo, told local press on Monday that the "Al Kauser" ship had been held off the Indian Ocean coast near Yemen after the hijacking on March 31. "We have the boat and two of the crew members but eight other members of the crew are still missing because thepirates took them off the boat," the commissioner said. Ali said the two rescued crew members from India were healthy and that authorities were seeking their colleagues. Their abductors are believed to be holding them near Hobyo. The pirates had "refused a call by the local authorities to release the vessel and local forces forcefully engaged them," local security official Qoje Abdulahi told AFP by phone. Somali security forces exchanged fire with the hijackers who fled to the shore aboard a fast boat, taking eight of their hostages with them, Ali said. The Al Kauser was the third vessel seized by pirates inless than a month off the coast of Somalia, with experts warning that ships have lowered their guard in the five years since the height of the piracy crisis. The Indian ship was carrying cargo including wheat and sugar from Dubai via Yemen to Somalia's Bossaso port when it came under attack, owner Isaak Them told AFP. The president of the Kutch Seafarers Association, Adam Them, from the western state of Gujarat where the vessel originated, told AFP last week that the pirates had made ransom demands. Somali pirates began staging attacks in 2005, seriously disrupting a major international shipping route and costing the global economy billions of dollars. At the peak of the piracy crisis in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 boats were held. Though anti-piracy measures ended attacks on commercial vessels, fishing boats have continued to face attacks sporadically. However on March 13, pirates seized the Aris 13 oil tanker and eight Sri Lankan hostages in the first attack on a large merchant vessel by Somali pirates since 2012. The pirates claimed to be driven by anger over illegal fishing in Somali waters which has long been seen as a keygrievance behind piracy in the country. While some hostages have been held for as long as five years, the pirates released the Aris 13 and its crew just four days after it was seized. A week later a local cargo dhow was hijacked and taken out to sea, with the Oceans Beyond Piracy NGO warning it maybe used as a "mother ship" for further attacks against larger vessels. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: A day after India reacted strongly to Pakistan military courts decision to execute alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Islamabad wants good relations with its neighbours. He said that Pakistan is a peace loving country but this should not be seen as a sign of weakness. Cooperation rather than conflict and shared prosperity instead of suspicion are the hallmark of our policy, Geo TV quoted Sharif as saying. He was addressing cadets at the Asghar Khan Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur. We cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence. Sharifs remarks came a day after Pakistan awarded death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad. India has warned that if Jadhav was hanged, it would have consequences on bilateral ties. It was reported on Monday that a Pakistani military court has found Jadhav guilty of "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" against the country. Amid rising tensions with India, Sharif on Tuesday described Pakistan as a peace-loving country. Pakistan is a peace-loving country. It has maintained good relations with its neighbours. We want cooperation, not conflicts. Pakistan will not hesitate to extend a hand of friendship, Sharif said. The Pakistani PM, however, added that his country's armed forces were fully capable of and prepared to respond to any threat. The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by Pakistani Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) found him guilty of "all the charges", said the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to the ISPR statement, Jadhav, a Commander in the Indian Navy, "confessed" before a Magistrate and the court that he was "tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi." ALSO READ | Jadhav death penalty: 'Pak ignored all norms of law and justice, India will do everything possible to save him' Jadhav was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistani security forces in the restive Balochistan province after he reportedly entered from Iran. Pakistan has alleged that Jadhav was "a serving officer" in the Indian Navy and deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The Pakistan Army had released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. ALSO READ | Death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pak: Who said what India has acknowledged that Jadhav served with the Navy but denied he has any connection with the government. "The individual has no link with the government since his premature retirement from Indian Navy," the External Affairs Ministry had said in a statement in March last year. India had demanded Consular access to Jadhav, but Pakistan repeatedly denied Indian officials access to him. The ISPR statement, however, said Jadhav, alias Hussein Mubarak Patel, was "provided with defending officer as per legal provisions". ALSO READ | Alleged Indian 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav sentenced to death: All you need to know about him (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lahore: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday indirectly opposed the death sentence given to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for spying. He said the issue is controversial but his party is against capital punishment "on principle". The issue of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is controversial. He must not have been here in the first place, Bilawal told reporters. Recalling that his maternal grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was also sentenced to death, he said his party is against capital punishment on principle. PPP Punjab president and former federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the India's reaction on Jadhavs death sentence was "natural". "In fact Nawaz Sharif government has failed to tell the world about the charge sheet on Jadhav. Had India arrested such a Pakistani spy it would have propagated a lot in the world, he said. ALSO READ: Parliament: Kulbhushan Jadhav is India's son, Govt will go out of the way to help him: Sushma in Rajya Sabha Pakistan's former Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan said Jadhav can file a review appeal before the army chief or the Supreme Court against his sentence. "In case of rejection of his petition, he may file mercy plea before the President, he said, adding this is a long process and it may take more than two years. Pakistan sentenced Jadhav to death for carrying out espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Karachi, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said in a statement. According to ISPR, Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his "involvement in espionage and sabotage actives" in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington/London: US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May have shared similar opinion that a window of opportunity exists to convince Russia to end its support for embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Trump made a phone call to May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and they discussed Americas response to the suspected chemical attack by Syrian regime in which 87 people, including 31 children, were killed. May and Merkel, in two separate calls with Trump, expressed support for the action of the US and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable, the White House said. The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest, Mays spokesperson said in London. They agreed that US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement.?They also discussed the broader Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran throughout the region, her spokesperson said. The North Korean nuclear programme also figured on the agenda of the phone call from Downing Street. The Prime Minister and President also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses, the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the White House refuted reports that Russia had prior information about the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime last week. At this time, there is no US Intelligence Community consensus that Russia had foreknowledge of the Syrian chemical attack, a senior administration official said. Also Read: US steps up pressure on Russia to rein in Syrian President White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US and Russia have common interest in defeating the Islamic State militant group. We have a shared interest particularly in the area of ISIS. If we can defeat them and if we can work with them on a plan to defeat them, then were going to do it, he said. The President came into office to really focus on two fronts: keeping our country safe and growing our economy and putting people back to work, Spicer said. If Russia or any other country can help us achieve those two goals, either through market access on additional products and services from the US into a major marketplace, but more importantly help to keep our country safe through a combined effort to defeat something like the ISIS, especially in a place like Syria where theyre playing so prominently, then I think we want to work with them, Spicer said. But if we cant get a deal with them, then, the Presidents not, going to be disappointed. But he would like to do what he can to work with these individuals to make it happen, Spicer said. In a letter to Trump, two Republican lawmakers Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Peter Roskam urged him to suspend aircraft sales to Iran arguing that Tehran is using commercial passenger aircraft to supply its worldwide network of terror proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria. We urge you to suspend current and future licenses for aircraft sales to commercial Iranian airlines until your administration conducts a comprehensive review of their role in supporting Iran?s illicit activity, they said in a letter to Trump. The United States should revoke authorisations and re-impose sanctions on Iranian airlines found guilty of such support, and should bar US companies from selling aircraft to Iran until the Iranian regime ceases using commercial airliners for illicit military purposes, the letter said. Senator Jack Reed supported the US move of missile strike against the Assad regime. Also Read | North Korea blasts US strikes on Syria: State media It was important to respond to the despicable behavior of the Syrian regime, Assad regime, but it hasnt changed the facts on the ground, which is that Assad controls significant territory. Theres Russian support, Reed was quoted as saying by CNN. But in terms of stopping, the chemical weapons attacks against the people of Syria, I hope it succeeds, he said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: United Airlines was lamented across social media on Monday for the inhuman treatment rendered by the US carrier to its passenger, who was physically dragged off a plane the airline had overbooked. One of the security officers involved in the incident was placed on leave pending an investigation. Videos posted online by other passengers showed a man yelling as officers yanked him from his seat on United Flight 3411 before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. #United couldn't find any leggings to drag off so they chose an innocent dr instead. Gonna cost u about 200 million to treat those rug burns a a ansalone (@a_ansalone) April 10, 2017 The man, who appeared to be Asian, was seen being dragged down the aisle on his back by his hands, body limp, bleeding from the mouth, glasses askew and shirt pulled up above his navel. The videos sparked outrage on social media, the second time in less than a month that United was criticised for its treatment of passengers. In a letter circulated to employees and seen by Reuters, United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz did not apologize for the way the passenger was handled, writing that the passenger had "defied" security officers. Munoz said there are lessons the company can learn from this situation, though he impressed that he "emphatically" stands behind his employees. "We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation)," Munoz wrote. "When we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions." For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New York: "The Underground Railroad", a celebrated novel about an escaped slave that combined liberating imagination and brutal reality by Colson Whitehead, has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The announcement confirmed the book as the literary event of 2016, an Oprah Winfrey book club pick and critical favorite which last fall received the National Book Award, the first time in more than 20 years that the same work won the Pulitzer and National Book Award for fiction. Whitehead, known for such explorations of American myth and history as "John Henry Days", conceived his novel with what he calls a "goofy idea": Take the so-called Underground Railroad of history, the network of escape routes to freedom, and make it an actual train. He wove his fantasy together with a too-believable story of a young girl's flight from a plantation. Whitehead finished "The Underground Railroad" well before Donald Trump's election but now finds parallels with the present. "I think the book deals with white supremacy as a foundational error in the country's history and that foundational error is being played out now in the White House", he told The Associated Press. Read more: 100 years of Satyagrah: Govt relaunches 'restored' books on Mahatma Gandhi "When I was writing the book I wasn't thinking about current events, but I think you have to look at it differently now". Other winners announced also touched upon race and class, in the present and in the past. Lynn Nottage's "Sweat", which won for drama, explores how the shutdown of a Pennsylvania factory leads to the breakdown of friendship and family, and a devastating cycle of violence, prejudice, poverty and drugs. The play marks Nottage's Broadway debut and her second Pulitzer Prize. She is the writer of "Intimate Apparel", ''ByThe Way, Meet Vera Stark" and "Ruined", which also won the Pulitzer. "I was looking at how poverty and economic stagnation was beginning to shift our American narrative and how a culture was crying out", Nottage told the AP after her win. "I'm very honored. I'm in a bit of a daze." Read more: Music icon Bob Dylan to receive Nobel prize at Swedish Academy in Stockholm this week The history winner, Heather Ann Thompson's "Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy", examines the events that unfolded starting September 9, 1971, when nearly 1,300 prisoners took over the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York to protest years of mistreatment. The work reveals the crimes committed during the uprising and its aftermath, who committed them, and how they were covered up. The general non-fiction winner was Matthew Desmond's "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City", set in Milwaukee and praised by the Pulitzer board as "a deeply researched expose that showed how mass evictions after the 2008 economic crash were less a consequence than a cause of poverty." Desmond, who last month won a National Book Critics Circle award, said that he hoped his book would illuminate both the severity of the crisis and the role of government. "You look at a public housing tower and a mortgaged suburban home", he told the AP. "Both are government subsidised, but they don't look anything alike. We seem a lot more willing to spend money on tax write-offs than on direct assistance." Hisham Matar's "The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land inBetween" won for biography/autobiography; the Pulitzer boardsaid that Matar's memoir about his native Libya "examines with controlled emotion the past and present of an embattled region." Read more: 64th National Film Awards: Akshay Kumar Best Actor for Rustom, Neerja Best Film; Zaira Wasim Best Supporting Actress Tyehimba Jess' "Oilo" was the poetry winner, cited formelding performance art with poetry "to explore collective memory and challenge contemporary notions of race and identity." The Pulitzer board gave the music award to Du Yun's "Angel's Bone" and called it a "bold" work which "integrates vocal and instrumental elements and a wide range of styles into a harrowing allegory for human trafficking in the modern world." For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: British DJ Dax J is making headlines but this time its not because for playing any remix or any controversy. This time DJ Dax J is doing something which is simply out of the box.A British DJ has reached Mount Everest's base camp the "highest party on earth" from where he is planning to perform a set highest party on earth. Few of the mountaineers heading to highest peaK are likely to be joined by the three-time Grammy nominated artist and his dance beats. Oakenfold's three decade long career has included collaborations with Madonna and U2 is also due to perform a set at base camp on Tuesday morning. British Dj took to twitter to share the timing and place, here is what he wrote "We will attempt to broadcast my set on FB Live from Mt. Everest today at 11AM, Kathmandu time. GMT +5:45, in a little over 3 hours, tune in!" pic.twitter.com/UgGyYgVjLy a Paul Oakenfold (@pauloakenfold) April 11, 2017 Made it! Mt. Everest Base Camp Elevation: 17,600 feet April 8th, 2017 - 2PM#Soundtrek pic.twitter.com/OuntFWnkPL a Paul Oakenfold (@pauloakenfold) April 10, 2017 Packing up and getting ready for the next leg of our journey. pic.twitter.com/Py2pFHz8H6 a Paul Oakenfold (@pauloakenfold) April 7, 2017 Earlier the DJ was sentenced to a year in jail for playing a dance remix of the Muslim call to prayer at a Tunisian festival. However, there's a chance he won't be serving his sentence since he has left the country when the charges were brought on. "We are here now doing sound checks. We are really looking forward to the show tomorrow. Everyone is really excited here," Oakenfold told on Monday. The 53-year-old British artist said that he had no trekking experience before. When footage of Dax Jas Muslim prayer remix surfaced on social media, the governor of Nabeul, Mnaouar Ouertani, shut the club down. Orbit Festival posted a statement on their Facebook page on April 3rd that roughly translates to the following:A aDax J did not intend to provoke your anger or offend you. It is clear, after his apologies, that Dax J is sincere and has no reason to hurt our dear festival-goers. We do not want to interfere in religious debates. Away from us the idea of tarnishing the image of Islam, which remains a religion of peace and forgiveness. So my friends, forgive, and donat forget that the music is the answer.a Here are some of his gig's: For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Hoax or legit? North Korea threatens nuclear war with America saying our weapons are focused on US mainland Korea has warned that its nuclear sights are focused on the US as Donald Trump claims the country is looking for trouble. (Article by Kara ONeill from mirror.co.uk ) According to North Koreas official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the country is prepared to respond to any aggression against the United States. North Korea was angered when a US Navy strike group, including the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, diverted towards the Korean peninsula amid high tension. A statement in the newspaper warned: Our revolutionary army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sights focused on the US invasionary bases, not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre, but also in the US mainland. The statement comes amid concerns that the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. Trump, who held talks in Florida with the Chinese premier last week, tweeted: I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the US will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2017 North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! The billionaire tycoon signed off: U.S.A. Read more at: mirror.co.uk Submit a correction >> Educators are tasked with the necessary burden of preparing today's students to shape tomorrow's world as our next generation of thinkers, leaders and entrepreneurs -- the tireless creators who are at the forefront of innovation and driving the worlds economy. Recently, weve seen the traditional learning models begin to evolve with the meaningful incorporation of technology, as we try to equip students with the digital literacy required of todays employees. But, with technology constantly changing, can we actually predict what skills and knowledge todays students will need to lead the future workforce? This uncertainty about the future is precisely what defines the type of workers well need: flexible and collaborative problem solvers. Where the traditional learning model leans heavily on memorization and discipline to create uniform, self-reliant students, the educational system must shift the focus from what students learn to how well students can apply knowledge to break barriers, chart their own paths and ignite their own career passions and interests. As we redefine the education environment through technology and innovative learning styles, we can prepare students to meet changing workplace expectations by teaching them how to learn, think and lead. Related: These 2 Women Quit Corporate America to Tackle STEM Education Mobility enhanced personalized education: Learning how to learn Listen, cram, forget it: The students of yesteryear studied curriculum in order to regurgitate it for an essay or test, often leading to a one-dimensional understanding of the subject matter. The next generation of students will need the ability to take information one step further by applying it creatively in a number of situations. Mobility has the power to change the learning model from listen and learn to explore, create and learn. At the touch of their fingertips, students now have access to not only the lessons held within their textbooks but the entire knowledge of our species. Most educators already recognize this opportunity, with nearly 71 percent of school districts reporting that at least a quarter of their schools have adopted mobile technology. This type of self-guided learning plays a crucial role in developing troubleshooting and critical thinking abilities students will need down the road. Moreover, it expands learning beyond the classroom to a variety of other environments as students interact with their mobile devices at home, on the bus and in other casual instances where they probably wouldnt have pulled out a textbook. Related: SXSWedu Shows 4 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Impact Education The Maker Movement: Learning how to think: a hands-on approach While mobility creates new learning environments, makerspaces can add flexibility and structure to these environments to harness creativity and help students learn how to think by creating and building. Most people think of makerspaces as high tech, however low-tech versions and fabrication spaces, or fab labs, are just as useful in supporting innovation. The key is simply giving students a physical and/or virtual location to learn through experimentation, be creative and share ideas with one another in a fail forward environment. Makerspaces help students learn how to problem solve by gleaning information and experience from working with tools, collaborating with other students and taking a role in structuring their own learning. At the same time, students remain in a safe, comfortable and organized environment where teachers or other makerspace sponsors can ensure learning is infused into every project. One of the most important benefits of a makerspace is that it forces the students to face obstacles head on as they work to make their projects come to life. Every entrepreneur knows the importance of failing forward; Failure is a learning opportunity and accretive to persistence and success and students who learn this skill early are much better equipped for the challenges of future careers. Related: Should You Go to College If You Want to Be an Entrepreneur? Student-led learning: Learning how to lead Another way students can learn to fail forward and take risks is by fully taking charge of their classroom. While traditional classrooms suit the needs of the teacher, a student-led learning environment is built around the needs of the students, putting them in the drivers seat of their own educational experiences. At the extreme end, experiential and student-led learning enable students to design their school days according to their interests and learning styles. More commonly, teachers enable students to lead individual lessons using their mobile devices and classroom projectors or wide scale monitors. When students take a role in deciding what and how they learn, they are more invested in the curriculum and better understand why the subject matter is important. Most notably, student-led learning environments give students the chance to make mistakes and to view those mistakes as learning opportunities, rather than negative experiences to avoid at all costs. Related: The Impact Big Data Is Having on How We Learn The goal of student-led learning is to inspire the next generation to think like entrepreneurs. For some, this means inspiring them to go on and start their own businesses. But for most, it simply means having an entrepreneurial mindset that will enable them to form and incubate ideas within existing companies. We can already see this trend beginning to take shape in the business world with the growth of the "intrapreneur" role. The idea of intrapreneurs was first suggested in the mid-1980s by Pinchot University founder Gifford Pinchot III, who described these innovative workers as the dreamers who do. Whereas entrepreneurs seek to pave their own paths by creating a new concept or company, intrapreneurs utilize the same creative, boundary-pushing leadership mindset to leverage financial and organizational resources in an existing business and turn risky ideas into profitable products. We may call them intrapreneurs today, but in the future, big thinkers and proactive problem solvers will simply be called employees. Incorporating technology in the classroom is already having an enormous impact on students, but if the lesson doesnt go beyond the classroom, what value does it truly have for students real lives? Educators need to focus not only on how far we can advance learning with tech, but also how to build a culture of challenging outdated models and embracing new solutions; this is critical for our future workforce. For todays students to succeed in the workforce, they must learn to be contributors and innovators, rather than masters of a specific skillset. As technology evens out the playing field for global companies, innovation and differentiation will become even more instrumental in the success of a business. Todays students will carry the burden of taking risks and thinking outside their roles to keep companies competitive and afloat. Future workplaces will not need expert accountants or expert coders, but rather expert problem solvers, thinkers, collaborators and intrapreneurs. The burden doesnt only fall on educators; technology companies also need to continue to provide communities with special STEM programs, focused on areas like data science and engineering. They can also help by supporting organizations like Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in computer science and technology, and Major League Hacking, a student hacking league that supports weekend-long invention competitions. Organizations like these inspire students and foster a drive to learn the skills needed to build a better world. So whether youre an educator or member of the tech community, it is up to us to help students think differently by teaching and supporting them with the world of tomorrow in mind, rather than defaulting to the ways we were taught as children. Its vital we work together to set a precedent for innovation now so the next generation of entrepreneurs and employees can create a positive global impact when we pass the torch. Related: How Edtech Helps Students Get Good Job Opportunities The 3 Education Trends Preparing the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs Why 'Experiential Learning' is the Way Forward for Indian Students? Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved TSX-V Symbol (DMI) KELOWNA, BC, April 10, 2017 /CNW/ - Diamcor Mining Inc. (TSX-V.DMI / OTCQX-DMIFF), (the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to the installation of significant additional operational items and expansions completed as announced on January 18, 2017, the testing, commissioning and calibration of these new facilities at the Company's Krone-Endora at Venetia Project (the "Project") continues to progress in a positive manner. The Company expects the finalization of these efforts to be completed by April 30, 2017. These efforts, initially targeted for completion in the prior fiscal quarter ended March 31st, were delayed due to operational and product delivery issues. However, with the testing, commissioning, and calibration work now substantially completed, the facilities have very recently begun demonstrating an ability to achieve the desired goals of: increased processing volumes; the crushing and treatment of material up to 45mm in size; the processing of material through a dedicated ultra-coarse large diamond recovery circuit; and, an increase in the overall capacity of the Project's final recovery and sorting facilities. This progress was evidenced by the results realized in the April tender, as noted below. Targeted increases in processing volumes approaching 100% over previous months are expected to be achieved in the current quarter, and the Company's primary focus will now shift towards the planned transition to large-scale trial-mining exercises at the Project. Rough Diamond Tender and Sales Update In an initial tender and sale of rough diamonds recovered from the initial processing of material in the +1.0mm to -15.0mm size fractions held in February 2017, the Company sold 1,533.37 carats, for gross proceeds of USD $209,949.02, resulting in an average price of USD $136.92 per carat. In a second tender and sale completed early in April 2017, the Company sold 2,900.62 carats of rough diamonds recovered from the initial processing of crushed material in the +1.0mm to -45.0mm size fractions through the new substantially completed facilities prior to March 13, 2017, for gross proceeds of USD $810,106.26, resulting in an average price of USD $279.29 per carat. This second tender and sale included the sale of four gem quality rough diamonds which were recovered in the specials category (+10.7 carats): a 12.13 carat, a 15.46 carat, a 17.97 carat, and a 29.1 carat rough diamond. The combined efforts currently underway are designed to support the continued advancement of objectives consistent with the recommendations of the updated NI 43-101 Technical Report ("Updated Technical Report") filed by the Company on April 28, 2015, and to aid the Company in arriving at initial production decisions for the Project. The recovery of all rough diamonds to date are incidental to the ongoing commissioning and testing exercises performed at the Project. The above-noted testing exercises and incidental recoveries do not form part of the Updated Technical Report and therefore no general grade, price, or quality determination is intended by the Company at this time due to the nature and purpose of the processing of this material. Appointment of New Managing Director of Operations The Company is pleased to announce that in conjunction with its planned transition from project development to large-scale trial-mining, Mr. Rob De Pretto has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Operations South Africa of the Company's operating subsidiary. Mr. De Pretto, a citizen and resident of South Africa, has an extensive, impressive, and well established 33-year career in the diamond industry. He most recently held senior management, operational, and technical positions with Anglo American and De Beers Consolidated Mines. He has gained extensive experience through his direct involvement in the development of a majority of the De Beers' mines, including four years as the production manager of De Beers Venetia Diamond mine. Mr. De Pretto holds a B.Sc. (Met. Eng.) and M.Sc. (Met. Eng.) from the University of Witwatersrand. He later obtained a Management Advancement Programme certificate through University of Witwatersrand School of Business Administration. Mr. De Pretto is a member of the South African Institute of Mining & Metallurgy, a registered Professional Engineer with Engineering Council of South Africa, and has been educated and trained in a wide array of items directly related to diamond mining and the management of diamond mines over his 30+ year career. The Company's operating subsidiary has accepted the resignation of its former Managing Director of Operations South Africa, Mr. Dean Del Frari. No severance is due to Mr. Del Frari and his previously issued and unexercised options will expire at the close of business on June 29, 2017. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Del Frari for his efforts over the years, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors. Warrant Extension Approval The Company previously announced, on February 23, 2017, its intention, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, to extend the expiry date of 1,073,929 share purchase warrants ("Warrants"), which are exercisable to purchase up to 1,073,929 common shares in the authorized share capital of the Company at an exercise price of $1.80 per share, from March 11, 2017 to March 11, 2018. In addition, the Company announced its intention to extend the expiry date of 169,350 share purchase warrants which are exercisable to purchase up to 169,350 common shares in the authorized share capital of the Company at an exercise price of $1.80 per share, from March 21, 2017 to March 21, 2018. All other terms of the Warrants will remain unchanged. The extension of the expiry date of the Warrants by one year, as previously announced, has received the required TSX Venture Exchange approval. About Diamcor Mining Inc. Diamcor Mining Inc. is a fully reporting publically traded junior diamond mining company which is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol V.DMI, and on the OTC QX International under the symbol DMIFF. The Company has a well-established operational and production history in South Africa and extensive prior experience supplying rough diamonds to the world market. About the Tiffany & Co. The Company has established a long-term strategic alliance and first right of refusal with Tiffany & Co. Canada, a subsidiary of world famous New York based Tiffany & Co., to purchase up to 100% of the future production of rough diamonds from the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project at then current prices to be determined by the parties on an ongoing basis. In conjunction with this first right of refusal, Tiffany & Co. Canada also provided the Company with financing to advance the Project. Tiffany & Co. is a publically traded company which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TIF. For additional information on Tiffany & Co., please visit their website at www.tiffany.com. About Krone-Endora at Venetia In February 2011, Diamcor acquired the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, consisting of the prospecting rights over the farms Krone 104 and Endora 66, which represent a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares directly adjacent to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. On September 11, 2014, the Company announced that the South African Department of Mineral Resources had granted a Mining Right for the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project encompassing 657.71 hectares of the Project's total area of 5,888 hectares. The Company has also submitted an application for a mining right over the remaining areas of the Project. The deposits which occur on the properties of Krone and Endora have been identified as a higher-grade "Alluvial" basal deposit which is covered by a lower-grade upper "Eluvial" deposit. The deposits are proposed to be the result of the direct-shift (in respect to the "Eluvial" deposit) and erosion (in respect to the "Alluvial" deposit) of material from the higher grounds of the adjacent Venetia Kimberlite areas. The deposits on Krone-Endora occur in two layers with a maximum total depth of approximately 15.0 metres from surface to bedrock, allowing for a very low-cost mining operation to be employed with the potential for near-term diamond production from a known high-quality source. Krone-Endora also benefits from the significant development of infrastructure and services already in place due to its location directly adjacent to the Venetia Mine. Qualified Person Statement: Mr. James P. Hawkins (B.Sc., P.Geo.), is Manager of Exploration & Special Projects for Diamcor Mining Inc., and the Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 responsible for overseeing the execution of Diamcor's exploration programmes and a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta ("APEGA"). Mr. Hawkins has reviewed this press release and approved of its contents. On behalf of the Board of Directors Mr. Dean H. Taylor President & CEO Diamcor Mining Inc. [email protected] Tel (250) 864-3326 www.diamcormining.com This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements represent our best current judgement, they are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict and which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Further, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. WE SEEK SAFE HARBOUR Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Diamcor Mining Inc. For further information: Mr. Dean H. Taylor, President & CEO, Diamcor Mining Inc., [email protected], Tel (250) 864-3326, www.diamcormining.com Related Links http://www.diamcormining.com MONTREAL, April 11 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Montreal startup Soul.City Group Inc. announces the launch of Cityzen, a community of world travellers who want to experience city discovery in a completely different way! Starting with the realization that guide books do not take into account the notion of "How I feel right now", the Soul.City app allows visitors and locals alike to discover cities through their feelings. Free walking itineraries of 2, 4, or 6 hours may be selected from a suggested list of moods. Since its launch in February 2016, the application has attracted thousands of users on both sides of the Atlantic. Now expanding into 10 new cities worldwide, Cityzen is a community created to regroup people who like to travel and want to contribute to the Soul.City ecosystem. "We are disrupting the tourism industry by offering a new way of discovering a city to over 168 million people who use a smartphone while traveling. Cityzen asks our users to let us know what they love in their own cities", says CEO Annick Charbonneau. Cityzen is open to anyone who loves to travel and would like to submit urban discovery itineraries in their favourite cities. Bloggers, greeters and tour guides who wish to prolong their experience digitally are welcome to the community! Cityzen already boasts amongst its members famous bloggers and well known influencers. The community is also open to hoteliers and brands who wish to offer content to their own users. "Essentially, we are creating a marketplace where travel aficionados can create content for big brands and be paid for it. We are growing fast and aim to be in 100 cities by 2020", explains CEO Annick Charbonneau. The Cityzen community is now open to all at http://cityzen.soul.city About Soul.City: A Franco-Canadian collaboration, the startup's three co-founders evolve on two continents. Annick Charbonneau, CEO based in Montreal, is a world-travelled entrepreneur. Stephane Hamilton, also in Montreal, is the technical force of the trio. He has accompanied several well-established brands in the digital world. Michael Bechler is a designer specialized in the user experience and consultant in lean startups. He brings his European flair to the project with a vast experience in digital tourism. SOURCE Soul.City Group Inc. For further information: Soul.City Group Inc. ([email protected]) 514-713-8705 Related Links http://www.soul.city OTTAWA, April 10, 2017 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the occasion of Passover: "Tonight at sundown, Jewish communities across Canada and around the world will observe the beginning of Passover. "The eight-day festival celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is a time to reaffirm our commitment to face fear with hope, to choose unity over division, and to have faith in the better days that lie ahead. "The Passover story of redemption of a people's triumph over even the deepest bondage and oppression reminds us to look to each other for strength and hope. "Today, we celebrate the strength and perseverance of the Jewish people, who have survived and triumphed over unspeakable persecution. We reaffirm our commitment to stand against anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred and discrimination, and to work together to make our world a better place for all. "This year, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, let us take the opportunity to honour the many cultures, traditions, and beliefs that make Canada such a wonderful place to live. Jewish Canadians have made enormous contributions to Canada and have helped make it the strong and diverse country it is today. "On behalf of our family, Sophie and I offer our best wishes to all those observing Passover in Canada and around the world. "Chag Pesach Sameach!" This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca SOURCE Prime Minister's Office For further information: PMO Media Relations: 613-957-5555 Related Links http://pm.gc.ca/ The reactor pressure vessel for unit 5 of the Fuqing nuclear power plant has completed hydraulic pressure tests. The unit the first of two demonstration Hualong One units being built at the site in Chinas Fujian province is expected to start up in 2019. In November 2014, CNNC announced that the fifth and sixth units at Fuqing will use the domestically-developed Hualong One pressurised water reactor (PWR) design, marking its first deployment. The company had previously expected to use the ACP1000 design for those units, but plans were revised in line with a re-organisation of the Chinese nuclear industry. Chinas State Council gave final approval for construction of Fuqing units 5 and 6 in mid-April 2015. The pouring of first concrete for Fuqing 5 began in May 2015, marking the official start of construction of the unit. Construction of unit 6 began in December 2015. The units are scheduled to be completed in 2019 and 2020. Construction of two Hualong One units is also under way at China General Nuclears Fangchenggang plant in Guangxi province. Those units are also expected to start up in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Last month, hydraulic pressure testing was completed on the reactor pressure vessel for the demonstration CAP1400 unit to be built at Shidaowan in Chinas Shandong province. That design is an enlarged version of the AP1000 PWR developed from the Westinghouse original by State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, with consulting input from the Toshiba-owned company. In February, 2017, Google reported that Project Loons algorithms can now send small teams of balloons to form a cluster over a specific region where people need internet access. This is a shift from their original model for Loon in which we planned to create rings of balloons sailing around the globe, and balloons would take turns moving through a region to provide service. Machine-learning-powered algorithms now enable us to send small teams of balloons to a specific region. The balloons dance on the winds in small loops to remain where needed. Previously Google Loon would require a global ring of internet balloons. Each balloon would hand off to the next as they circled the earth. Although the navigation algorithms can get even better, Google will need to test them in many other parts of the world. This is a positive sign for Loons economic and operational viability. They will be able to put together a Loon network over a particular region in weeks not months, and it would be a lot less work to launch and manage. They will reduce the number of balloons they need and get greater value out of each one. All of this helps reduce the costs of operating a Loon-powered network, which is good news for the telco partners well work with around the world to make Loon a reality, and critical given that cost has been one key factor keeping reliable Internet from people living in rural and remote regions. Google Loon has switched CEOs several times in the last few months Tom Moore, a satellite veteran brought in to lead Googles Project Loon unit, has stepped down after about six months. Alastair Westgarth, who headed wireless antenna company Quintel, is taking the spot. The transition comes after the company scaled back an ambitious attempt to build a global communications service by circling the earth with high-altitude balloons. X, the research division of Google parent Alphabet Inc., recruited Moore in August after the units earlier leader, Mike Cassidy, stepped down. Moore started in mid-September. on Friday An unexpected passenger showed up on a Turkish Airlines flight when a woman went into labour and gave birth mid-flight.Shortly after takeoff from Guinea's capital, Conakry to Istanbul via Quagadougou, cabin crew on the Boeing 737 helped Nafi Diaby, who was 28 weeks pregnant, give birth to a baby girl.The airline took to Twitterto announce the arrival. "It's a girl" the statement read. "Welcome on board Princess!"The mother had earlier complained of birthing pains while the plane cruised between the Guinean capital Conarky and Ougadougosu in Burkina Faso, according to the airline.The airline added the cabin crew then rushed to help deliver the baby, who was named Kadiju.Pictures showed crew gathered around the mother, Nafi Diaby, as she lay across a row of seats.The airline said that on arrival in the Burkina Faso capital the pair were taken to hospital. Both mother and daughter were in good health, the airline.Turkish Airlines allows expectant mothers to fly up to their 28th week of pregnancy without a doctor's report. The runway of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja is 95 per cent completed, Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika said yest... The runway of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja is 95 per cent completed, Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika said yesterday.Sirika promised that the April 19 date for the completion of the runway will not fail.He spoke in Abuja on a radio programme, tagged: Political platform.Few weeks ago, Sirika and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, inspected the entire stretch from runway 04 to runway 022 and saw the work being done at each point, expressing satisfaction at the pace of work.Yesterday, the minister said: We are now about 95 per cent completion of the Abuja Airport runway. We are finishing the laying of asphalt today. We had about two days of rain, which disturbed the ongoing work. But we are working and we are going to get to the due date, which is on April 19, 2017, God willing. Other works like the lightening, markings among others have been going on simultaneously.There is a new technology, where glass glide is put in the process of constructing the runway to reinforce it, to give it extra strength and prevent cracks and that is what we have done at the Abuja airport runway. This is the first time any Nigerian runway is being treated with such material and that material is a 50 tonner. We had to fly it in to Nigeria to ensure that it comes in time for this job and you have seen samples of it.I am very happy and I thank Nigerians for bearing with us and also thank President Muhammadu Buhari for believing in us that we can do it and he gave us the trust to do it.The runway being reconstructed at the cost of N5.8 billion by Julius Berger was closed on March 8, 2016.The minister pleaded with those doing business in the Abuja airport over their loss.The responsibility is on us to ensure that all is well. You know that we cannot be 100 per cent perfect. But if you are 95 or 96 per cent, that can pass. We apologise to those at the Abuja airport. They must have lost revenue within the period of six weeks.However, some of them were creative enough to move to the Kaduna Airport. I have seen several people who have moved to Kaduna. Many may lose but many also gain. We will provide better service because once the airport is save, many more people will come to them to do business, he said.Sirika added that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed everyone to plan for the construction of the second runway in Abuja airport. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has postponed its mini-convention, which was scheduled to hold April 29. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has postponed its mini-convention, which was scheduled to hold April 29.However, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, will meet on April 25. The NEC will take place after a national caucus meeting, which holds April 24.This was confirmed by APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun while speaking with journalists at the partys headquarters in Abuja.He stated that the new date for the convention will be confirmed at the NEC meeting.Well, the party would hold a caucus meeting on April 24, NEC on April 25 and it is NEC that would decide the date for the convention, Oyegun said.The April 29 date for the mini convention, was set after a consultative meeting with APC Governors at the National Secretariat of the party last month. The first runner-up in the Big Brother Naija reality show, Bisola who found out on Sunday that fellow contestant and her love interest, Thin Tall Tony (TTT) in the house was married jokingly told Ebuka the show's host that she will kill Tony if the wedding band she saw on his finger meant he's married. The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Nigerians would be shocked when President Muhammadu Buhar... The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Nigerians would be shocked when President Muhammadu Buhari rolls out his record of achievements within two years on May 29.The Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, who made the statement when he received the Taraba State chapter of the party at the national secretariat, Abuja.He said regardless of the minor internal wrangling, the APC was strong.On the achievements of the party, he said: I want to urge you to continue to be a little more patient. I want to emphasise that the reward will come in many ways including safety and ability to feed our families. Yes, the reward may not necessarily come into individual pockets, but as general benefits to the entire society. It is not going to come so fast but slowly.The President promised the nation that on the day he would clock two years, tremendous achievements must have been recorded. That even before he opens his mouth, Nigerians would start feeling them themselves. Let us give him that benefit of doubt.Let me reassure that we have started working and before May 29 when we will listen to the presidential broadcast, we would have seen the tangible achievements recorded already, he quipped. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Tuesday, warned Nigerians to desist from being judgmental on the performance of ... The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Tuesday, warned Nigerians to desist from being judgmental on the performance of the judiciary in the ongoing anti-corruption fight.He spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Onnoghen was reacting to recent developments that saw government agencies losing corruption-related cases in court and the allegations of judicial gang-up.The CJN warned that Nigerians who are judging the judiciary are at the risk of becoming prejudice.He said, I have told you that if you are not satisfied, the system is fashioned and designed in such a way that if you lose in the magistrate court and you are not satisfied; because someone must win and another must lose; so the loser has the chance of testing the decision on appeal.When it comes to the judiciary, dont be judgmental. When you are judgmental, you become prejudice.When asked to respond specifically to allegation of judicial gang-up against corruption fight, Onnoghen said, I am not going to speculate. I am lawyer and judicial officer. I operate on facts and the law. So, I cant answer that question because I am not on everybodys mind.You are free to think whatever you want to think but I think you should be guided by facts and the law when it comes to judicial performance or discharge of judicial responsibilities.The CJN said there was no truth in the claim that the corruption war is losing steam.He said if there was steam, it would not have been without the participation of the judiciary, hence, if there is losing of steam, it should not be related only to the judiciary.He said while there are more than one party to an issue, the judicial system is fashioned in such a way that there must be winners and losers Africas richest man Aliko Dangote marked his Diamond Jubilee yesterday, beating the closing gong for the N17 trillion Nigerian stock ma... Africas richest man Aliko Dangote marked his Diamond Jubilee yesterday, beating the closing gong for the N17 trillion Nigerian stock market. He promised to continue sharing his wealth with Nigerians.At a colourful ceremony attended by corporate titans and key stakeholders in the capital market, a visibly emotional Dangote said he would continue to forge ahead with the battle to diversify the economy and spread prosperity.Dangotes companies, including Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Flour Mills and Nascon Allied Industries, are all listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Altogether, the four companies accounted for N2.923 trillion at the close of the market yesterday, representing one-third of the N8.87 trillion total market capitalisation of quoted equities. Dangote Cement is the largest listed company, with market value of N2.805 trillion, 31.6 per cent of total equities value of N8.867 trillion.We will continue to diversify the economy, working with the government to spread prosperity to Nigerians, Dangote said.He promised to ensure listing of his companies at the Stock Exchange to give opportunities to Nigerians and other investors to be part of his wealth.Very soon, we will start having our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in stadium, not halls, due to the large shareholders we will be targeting. We will be having up to two million shareholders in the next 10 years, Dangote said.The Dangote Group is involved in many high profile projects, including an oil refinery and petrochemical complex at the Lekki and Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) Lagos; agricultural projects and a fertiliser plant.What we are building today is more than 100 times bigger than where we are; this is what we are seeing in the next 10 years, Dangote said.He praised the stock market community for its tremendous support to the Dangote Group, stressing that the group will increase its investment in the capital market.The support has been very tremendous. The hard work is not mine alone, it is for all of us and I truly appreciate what the capital market community has done, Dangote said.Capital market chiefs praised Dangote for his immense contributions to the market, Nigerian economy and Africa.Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) President Oluwaseyi Abe said Dangote had continuously demonstrated his love and belief in Africa.Alhaji Dangote is a true African man; he has demonstrated his belief in Nigeria and entire African continent by the way he has structured his businesses, Abe, whose institute regulates stockbroking, said.NSE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oscar Onyema described Dangote as a Nigerian and African pride, who has made significant contributions to the capital market in many ways.He said the Exchange continued to benefit from Dangotes wealth of experience as an important stakeholder in the capital market. Dangote had served as second vice president, first vice president and president of the Council. He is an ex-officio member.President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Patrick Ezeagu, drew inspiration from Dangotes humble beginning and utmost humility even as the richest man in Africa, describing Dangote as a man favoured by God.We consider ourselves lucky in Nigeria to have a man like Dangote; he is not only an asset to Nigeria, but entire Africa and the black race, Ezeagu said.He noted that in spite of his vast wealth and influence, Dangote remained an epitome of humility, who is widely accessible to all, personally and materially.Ezeagu pointed out Dangotes famed philanthropic activities that have helped to lift many out of poverty and redefine communities, including his immense support to the internally displaced persons (IDPs).We pray God will continue to guide him, Ezeagu said.Doyen of stockbrokers and former president of ASHON Rasheed Yussuf said Dangotes decision to celebrate his birthday with the capital market community was a testimony to the mutually beneficially relationship which has been evolving over the years between Dangote, stockbrokers and the capital market.I was the chairman of ASHON when Dangote became the president of the council of NSE; it was the most challenging period for the capital market. On one hand, the NSE was faced with a serious management succession crisis while, on the other hand, the market had to contend with the ravaging margin loans crisis. Dangote worked tirelessly with the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), leveraging on his numerous contacts to make presentation to the various levels of government functionality, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), among others, culminating in the setting up of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and eventual resolution of the margin loan problems. If the margin loan crisis had not been resolved the way it was, the collateral damage on the capital market operators and the market would have been so profound, Yussuf recalled.He also noted that as a strong promoter of local content development in Nigeria, Dangote took the pioneering step of listing most of his companies on the floor of the NSE, thus substantially deepening the market. Delta State has recorded its first case of the rampaging Cerebrospinal Meningitis, which has so far killed about 438 persons across the ... Delta State has recorded its first case of the rampaging Cerebrospinal Meningitis, which has so far killed about 438 persons across the country.Doctors at the Central Hospital, Warri, disclosed this today (Tuesday) in Warri South Local Government Area of the state, sparking fears among residents.A Consultant Physician at the Warri Central Hospital, Dr. Ngozi Chukwubeni, told journalists in Warri that the female patient was diagnosed of classical symptoms of meningitis, headache, vomiting, neck pain and stiffness.According to Chukwubeni said, We have a female patient. She came with classical symptoms of meningitis: headache, vomiting, neck pain and stiffness. There was no history of recent travel to the meningitis belt, or exposure.We did a dumber puncture. We made an assessment, clinical features and laboratory investigations when you are keeping with spinal meningitis. We placed her on antibiotics. The patient is doing very well.She said the case has been reported with the state ministry of health for appropriate action, while taking necessary action to halt further spread of the disease to other patients within the hospital.There is full cooperation. We cannot work in isolation. We work with government. This case has been reported. Action plan will be taken at the state level. We on our own are taking necessary measures to prevent further occurrence and also protect our staff from getting infected by applying basic precautionary measures, Dr. Chukwubeni added.On his part, a Consultant Gynecologist, Dr. Stanley Nnoli, advised parents in Warri and its environs to be very observant and seek proper medical attention instead of personal medication. Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi west senatorial district has advised the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to enrol in a french schoo... Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi west senatorial district has advised the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to enrol in a french school here in Nigeria.Senator Melaye, stated this during Tuesday's plenary at the floor of the Nigerian Senate, while contributing to the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian French village sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Lagos.He said: We must promote the bill instead of using dollars to study to learn French in France, we can learn it here.He suggested that Senate President, Bukola Saraki should enrol in the school and support the bill, stating that General Olusegun Obasanjo lost the seat of the Secretary-General of the United nation because he could speak one internationally recognised language.The Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, 2017 (SB.387) by Sen. Gbenga Ashafa. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has reacted to the publication of security votes by Kaduna state governor, Nasi... The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has reacted to the publication of security votes by Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Governor E-Rufai on Monday, released details of his state's security vote and dared the National Assembly to do same.The House, however, said Mr. El-Rufai has not responded to questions of how the spendings of the funds.The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, told newsmen in a swift reaction on Monday that Dogaras charge to el-Rufai was that he should champion the cause of transparency in all arms of government, beginning with the judiciary, the executive and also to extend it to the governors.Besides, Namdas added that in the presence of el-Rufai, the Speaker directed the bureaucracy of the National Assembly to publish the budget of the legislature, beginning with the 2017 budget, when passed.He also talked about the security votes of local government councils; how are the governors spending funds? That has not been addressed.But, what is important is that the National Assembly bureaucracy has already been directed to publish the details of the budget.Dogara gave this directive right in the presence of el-Rufai. The budget will soon be passed.The Nation's assembly budget has been shredded in secrecy since the return of Democracy in 1999 and senate President, Bukola Saraki had promised to release the details of the NASS budget. Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai yesterday dared House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara by making his salary, allowance... Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai yesterday dared House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara by making his salary, allowances and security votes public.He insisted that the National Assembly budget lacked transparency.El-Rufai, according to his pay slip obtained in Kaduna yesterday, receives a monthly salary of N470,521.74.Dogara last Friday threw a challenge to El-Rufais request to the National Assembly to provide further details on the N115 billion 2016 National Assembly budget.The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, said the 2016 National Assembly budget for its 469 members was larger than the capital budget of Kaduna State, with close to 10 million inhabitants.El-Rufai said his security votes for this year, which he broke down into procurement & installation of CCTV cameras for monitoring and surveillance, procurement of geo-position interceptor and location of GSM UMTS system to check the trends and intercept/locate kidnappers GSM calls and procurement of drones/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is N4.556 billion.He said: Our attention has been drawn to a challenge by the House of Representatives Speaker, calling on Kaduna State to make public its security votes and local government expenditure.Malam Nasir El-Rufai welcomes this challenge as a necessary step to improve and strengthen our democracy and would like to respond as follows:The budgets of all state governments in Nigeria are detailed out and presented at least under the headings of: personnel cost, overhead and capital expenditure.This is unlike the budget of the National Assembly, which is a single line item of over N100 billion that divulges zero information or details.NASS can at least break down its own single line budget into the hundreds of line items that are detailed in every state government budget in Nigeria. It is disingenuous to respond to every request for transparency by casting aspersions.On our part, the Kaduna State Government has consistently made public all its budget details. In 2016, in an unprecedented step, the state published not only its own budget, but also that of all the 23 local government councils online on the www.openkaduna. com.ng websiteEl-Rufai is today making publicly available his pay-slip as Governor of Kaduna State. In February 2017, the Kaduna State Government paid the governor a net salary of N470,521.74, with the following details: Income Basic Salary: N185,308.75, Hardship Allowance: N370,617.50, Gross Pay: N555,926.25, PAYE: N85,404.5, Total Deduction: N85,401.51, Net Pay: N470,521.74.The amount may appear puny, but it reflects what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission approved as the salary and allowances of every state governor adjusted to reflect provision in-kind of accommodation and transportation.El-Rufai would like to reiterate his call for the National Assembly leadership to do the same and disclose the details of the National Assembly budget and the salaries and allowances of its leadership. The Federal Government has described as false information on the social media that under a Ministry of Interior Regulation, phone calls ... The Federal Government has described as false information on the social media that under a Ministry of Interior Regulation, phone calls and social media post by the citizens are to be monitored and recorded.In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the development as another example of disinformation permeating the media space, especially the social media.The minister said the intention of those behind the false news is to give the impression that the Federal Government was stifling freedom of speech, which is not the case.There is no regulation, old or new, from the Ministry of Interior or any Federal Government agency requiring the recording of all calls or the monitoring of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter or Facebook. We are, therefore, using this medium to inform all Nigerians that what is being circulated in this regard is totally false and should be disregarded.We thank all Nigerians, who have reached out to us in an effort to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of this information, which is now being widely circulated on the social media. This is the best way to ensure that the purveyors of false news do not dominate our media space, he said. Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has reaffirmed his desire to contest for the governor of Oyo stat... Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has reaffirmed his desire to contest for the governor of Oyo state at the next elections.Shittu, while featuring on a TV programme explained that he is more of an Ibadan man though he hails from Saki area of Oke-ogun of Oyo State.According to him, "to be asked to agitate to become governor just because I am from Oke-ogun will be demeaning to my personality. I see myself as an Oyo State person. Two of my wives are from Ibadan and I have also lived consistently in Ibadan since 1979. I have done my politics, profession, social life here. In fact, most of my children are half Ibadan and half Saki.Shittu said the votes from Oke-ogun, where he hails, delivered victory for Governor Abiola Ajimobi, adding that the governor acknowledged the fact when he came on a thank-you tour.From the record of the 2015 election, the people of Ibadan didnt vote for our party largely, it is people from my zone- Oke-ogun zone who voted for the governor which translated to his victory, because the people of Ibadan, in their own wisdom, chose to vote for Sen. Rashidi Ladoja. Of the 10 local government areas in Oke-Ogun, it was only in Oorelope LG where APC didnt win. In the remaining 9 LGs, we defeated all other parties. Iseyin LG came with the highest votes, followed by my own Saki West. And in acknowledgement of the fact that the votes of the people of Oke-ogun brought about his victory, the governor said that after him, it will be the turn of Oke-ogun to produce the governor. He said that affirmatively. That is on record.Secondly, as a person, I want to win on the basis of merit because I know there is no standard or criteria which will put down that I am not qualified to be a frontline there. I can easily tell you; there is no political office holder in Oyo State today who is my senior in politics. I have consistently being in active politics since 1979. With due respect to many others who are in political offices, there is none of them who came into politics 10 years after I started. And that should show you that in my own little right, I am a senior. The Chairman, Board of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, says construction of Lagos-Ibadan standard rail gauge will be... The Chairman, Board of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, says construction of Lagos-Ibadan standard rail gauge will be completed in December 2018 and start operation in January 2019.Abubakar said this during his official visit to the Nigeria Railway Corporation Western District, Ibadan on Tuesday.The chairman said the project will not be abandoned this time around as the government have released its counter fund.It is a pity that this present administration met a decaying railway system.President Muhammadu Buharis administration is ready to rejuvenate the railway system that would connect to all state capitals in Nigeria.I solicit the support of the members of staff for us to achieve success in rail transportation, he said.Abubakar assured the staff of improved welfare package.The Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Mr Fidel Okhiria, said the standard rail gauge to be constructed would have two stations in Ibadan.Okhiria said rail transportation was safe.The chairman and his entourage also paid a visit to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state.(NAN) The police in Lagos have arrested a maid, Blessing Paul for allegedly stealing her boss $10,000 in Gbagada. Paul was alleged to have ... The police in Lagos have arrested a maid, Blessing Paul for allegedly stealing her boss $10,000 in Gbagada.Paul was alleged to have forcibly opened the boss room with a knife and collected the money while the woman was at work.It was gathered that the maid, who had been stealing money and other valuables from her victims home, handed over the foreign currencies to the house guard identified as Daniel.The guard, it was gathered, handed the money to a security man at another residence in Gbagada, who in turn took it to a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator for the Naira equivalent.But the operator was said to have told policemen he received only about $5,000 from Amos.Instead of giving them N360/USD, the BDC operator gave the suspects at N86 per dollar, thereby shortchanging the alleged thieves of more than two million naira.According to the commands spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the woman they stole from was one Mrs. Tokunbo.He said the maid confessed that the woman has been very kind to her, adding that she usually bought clothes and gift items for her to take to her family in Benue State.Cole said that the BDC operator gave the suspects N870, 000 as equivalent for $5,000, adding that the police have recovered N400, 000 from there.We also found N400, 000 in the maids bank account but we are following courts procedure to seize the money. The BDC operator was allegedly given $10,000 but he claimed he only received $5,000. Investigation revealed that money and valuables have been missing in the house, but the woman didnt suspect the maid until the theft of foreign currency last week. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, has summoned all the 19 northern governors to a meeting following the outbreak of meni... The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, has summoned all the 19 northern governors to a meeting following the outbreak of meningitis in northern Nigeria.According to a statement issued yesterday by the Kaduna government, the parley is to seek alternative ways of importing vaccines to combat the infection.The meeting is to hold today, Tuesday to find ways of preventing the spread of the killer disease. An official of United Bank for Africa, Christy Ohiri, narrated on Monday how some officials at the Abia State Government House, Umuahia,... An official of United Bank for Africa, Christy Ohiri, narrated on Monday how some officials at the Abia State Government House, Umuahia, in 2005 routinely withdrew money from the account of the state house and subsequently used same to buy bank drafts in favour of Inland Bank Plc.Ohiri appeared on Monday before the Federal High Court in Lagos where Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, who was the Abia State Governor at the time, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for an alleged fraud of N2.9bn.Kalu is facing 34 counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.He is standing trial alongside Udeh Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited.Ohiri is the second prosecution witness.Armed with the statement of account of the Abia State Government House domiciled at the Umuahia branch of UBA and a list of 36 bank drafts, the witness matched several withdrawals from the account with corresponding bank drafts purchased.Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness identified some of the Abia State Government House workers who came to make withdrawals from the account.She listed Jones Udeogu, Mr. R.K. Madu as some of the officials, saying that there would have been one or two others but I cant recall their names.When ask if she knew one M.A. Madu, the witness said, The name is familiar but I honestly cant recall him like I can recall these other two.Ohiri told the court that on August 2, 2005, Madu made two withdrawals of N15m and N26 from the state houses account and subsequently bought bank drafts in the same amounts in favour of Inland Bank Plc.According to the witness, also on June 6, 2005, Madu withdrew N19.5m and N21.5m and used same to purchase bank drafts.On April 7, 2005, Madu withdrew N25m and N15m from the account and subsequently used same to purchase bank drafts.Other state house officials, who purchased drafts, according to her, are Oke Udeh, Oke Nwancukwu, Johnson Okoro, J.O. kanayo and I.D. Okoro.When asked under cross-examination by Kalus lawyer, Mr. Gordy Uche (SAN), whether the ex-governors name featured in the transactions, Ohiri said Kalus name did not feature on the papers.She also said the names of the beneficiaries of the purchased bank drafts did not reflect on the documents.Further proceedings in the case have been adjourned till today. The Army has handed over 593 cleared Boko Haram suspects to the Borno State government for psycho-social rehabilitation. Most of the sus... The Army has handed over 593 cleared Boko Haram suspects to the Borno State government for psycho-social rehabilitation. Most of the suspects were rescued from the Sambisa Forest.Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Kuliya, said the exercise would be a continuous one.He assured the government suspects were cleared of any complicity with Boko Haram, noting that their release was in line with promise of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, that nobody will be kept in military custody if not guilty.According to Kuliya, only 469 were cleared and conveyed to rehabilitation centre in Bulunkutu, Maiduguri, while the remaining 124 will be handed over in a few days. He said the delay was logistics-based as the suspects were fragile and needed to be handled with care due to their psycho-social state.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Amna Abubakar, who received the suspects on behalf of Governor Kashim Shettima, thanked the Army for their efforts. She promised the suspects will be well-catered for as arrangements are on ground for their comfort.Hajiya Abubakar, who was represented by Director of the Rehabilitation Centre, Mrs. Ladi Clark Musa, said necessary facilities for their training and comfort have been provided.Two suicide bombers were found dead behind the perimeter fence of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, the police have said.Spokesman Victor Isuzu, in a statement, said the incident must have occurred prematurely, stressing that only the two bombers were killed.The statement said: In the early hours of yesterday, the bodies of two male suicide bombers were discovered behind the perimeter fence of the University of Maiduguri. Their death is reasonably believed to have been due to a prematurely detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) before they got to their target.The bodies have been evacuated by SEMA to the specialist hospital. Nigeria Senate on Tuesday rejected reports on the Southern Kaduna crisis. Nigeria Senate on Tuesday rejected reports on the Southern Kaduna crisis.The upper legislative arm said it turned down the report for lack of depth .The Senate had in January set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the causes of the crisis which killed hundreds of people and displaced millions in Southern Kaduna.The Senate had condemned the incident that led to the death of many, and the destruction of 53 villages; injuring of 57 people, where farm produce worth about N5.5 billion destroyed and 1,422 houses and 16 churches allegedly razed by herdsmen.Senate set-up the committee following a motion sponsored by Senator Danjuma Laah (PDP, Kaduna South).In his presentation, Senator Laah said: The Senate notes that since 2011, various communities in Southern Kaduna senatorial district of Kaduna State have been consistently attacked by herdsmen, resulting in deaths, injuries, loss of property and displacement of the communities.According to him, since December 23, 2016, communities of Ambam, Gaska, Dangoma, Tsonje, Pasankori, Gidan Waya and Farin Gada of Iamaa and Kaura councils have been under attack by the herdsmen.In the last one year, we have witnessed a harvest of killings by these marauding herdsmen with several cases of massacre in Agatu, Benue State; Uzo Uwani, Enugu State, with several attacks in Taraba, Delta and Edo states, to mention a few.Following a recommendation by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, that the motion should not be debated so as to avoid bad blood, additional contributions were not accommodated.Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said: We condemn in totality the depravity being exhibited on the streets of Kafanchan.This Senate will not pay lip service to it, neither will it sit idly by and watch innocent Nigerians being slaughtered on the basis of their religion, ethnic group or political persuasion. Long queues of anxious motorists outside filling stations resurfaced in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Monday. Long queues of anxious motorists outside filling stations resurfaced in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Monday.The queues were noticed outside the NNPC mega station, Forte Oil and Oando filling stations in the Central Business District as well as the Conoil and Total filling stations opposite the NNPC Towers.The two Total filling stations and Oando outlets along Berger roundabout also witnessed long queues of motorists in search of petrol.In most of the filling stations, except the NNPC mega station and the outlets opposite the NNPC headquarters, customers were not being served.No explanation was forthcoming as to the reason for the latest scarcity.But, NNPC spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu, said consumers have nothing to be afraid of, as the corporation has sufficient stock of petrol in depots across the country.There is no reason to worry, Mr. Ughamadu said in telephone interview. We have at least 30 days sufficiency. What that means, the corporation has a volume of products that can last for a minimum of 30 days. So, there is no cause to worry.Last week, petrol tanker drivers called off an indefinite strike after just a day of strike.The oil workers, who were demanding government redress of some of the lingering issues affecting the effective distribution of petroleum products in the country, had to call off the action after the NNPC management intervened in the problem.The NNPC increased the transport cost allowance payable to marketers in the petroleum products pricing template.The review by N1 per litre from N6.20k to N7.20 per litre was approved by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, warned North Korea, saying the country is looking for trouble. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, warned North Korea, saying the country is looking for trouble.Trump, on his Twitter handle, threatened to solve the North Korean problem alone should China fail to intervene.North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Trump tweeted.The president added: I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!The U.S. had last week, issued what seemed to be its last warning over North Koreas continued launch of ballistic missiles that threaten the country and its allies-Japan and South Korea.The U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, in a statement on Tuesday, said the U.S. had spoken enough about North Korea and would speak no further on the issue.North Korea launched yet another intermediate range ballistic missile. The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment, Tillerson said in the statement.Trump had also warned on Sunday last week in an interview with Financial Times that he could take unilateral action to eliminate North Koreas nuclear threat.China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they wont.If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will, Trump warned.Trump had also said that North Korea was behaving very badly and accused China of doing little to resolve the crisis over the Norths weapons programme.They have been playing the United States for years, he said referring to North Korea. China has done little to help! Trump said in a recent tweet.The comments by the president came weeks after Tillerson had also declared during a visit to Asia that the U.S. policy of strategic patience has ended.Tillerson said that the U.S. would not rule out any option in response to provocations by North Korea.We are exploring a new range of security and diplomatic measures. All options are on the table. Certainly, we do not want for things to get to a military conflict.If they elevate the threat of their weapons programme to a level that we believe requires action, that option is on the table, Tillerson had said. Olunloyo, who had been remanded in Port Harcourt prison for the past one month, was granted bail in the sum of N1 million. The trial Judge, Justice H.I.O Shamah, who delivered ruling, on Tuesday, said the Court exercised discretionary power and, also, because the offence for which she was arraigned was bailable. The court also struck out one of the charges on cyber crime against Kemi Omolulu Olonloyo for lack of jurisdiction to try the matter. Reading the long list of bail conditions, Justice Shamah said the accused must produce a surety in like sum, adding that the surety must be resident in Port Harcourt metropolis and the persons address must be verifiable. Also, the surety, if a civil servant, should not be below Level 12 and must submit his or her letter of employment, as well as staff identity card. The surety would also sign an undertaking to ensure the accused person did not jump bail and to bring her to court on adjourned dates. Former First Lady Patience Jonathan was stranded yesterday following a botched attempt to cash part of her $5.8m deposit, which was un... Mrs. Jonathan was blocked from having access to her account by a stay of execution of the courts order which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained.Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos last Thursday issued an order unfreezing Mrs Jonathans $5.8million in the Skye Bank.The EFCC in November 2016 asked the court for an order freezing the account because it was suspected to harbour proceeds of crime.The judge obliged in December, 2016.Also affected by the said order were the accounts of five companies holding N7.4 billion and the account of Esther Oba holding $429,381.87.The ex-First Lady went to Maitama branch of Skye Bank to withdraw from her account. But she was denied access because of a pending appeal by the EFCC and an application for a stay of execution.A source in the bank said: The former First Lady came to our branch to collect cash from her unfrozen account but we could not honour her.She came at about 11am and left some minutes after 4pm. She had audience with an Executive Director of our bank.Her entry created a scene because she said the cash was her entitlement but we insisted that the account was still in dispute because of a pending appeal.There is still an application for a stay of execution. We do not want to engage in an act of subjudice.A source in EFCC said: We received intelligence report that the ex-First Lady went to Skye Bank Plc to access her account but the bank disallowed her because of a pending appeal.We are determined to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion. Our position is that the account should remain frozen in line with our mandate.Considering our findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering, contrary to Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery, contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have been established against the ex-First Lady and others. The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had warned Ali Modu Sheriff yo stop parading himself as the National Chair... The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had warned Ali Modu Sheriff yo stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the party.The faction said it had appealed the ruling of a Port Harcourt Appeal Court which reaffirmed Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party and that as such he should stop parading himself.In a statement by its spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, the Makarfis faction said it remained in charge of the partys affair until the Supreme affirms the Appeal Court ruling.The faction urged all security agencies and other agencies of government to stop giving the former Borno State governor or members of his team any support or assistance.The statement reads partly, The National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi has appealed the Judgment of February 17, 2017 at the Supreme Court and in the eyes of the law, until the Appeal is set aside by the Supreme Court, the National Caretaker Committee remains in charge of the affairs of the PDP.So, Senator Sheriff and his co-travellers have no power to call for any meeting of party members or supervise the affairs of the PDP forthwith.Senator Ahmed Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee remains the only authentic National Exco of the PDP in line with the Decision of the May 21st and August 17, 2016 National Conventions of our great party. The Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that governors elected on the platform of t... The Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that governors elected on the platform of the party are not thieves.Makarfi was responding to a statement by the camp of the partys national chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff saying that the party would not accept stolen money from the governors to run the party.The statement, which was made by Sheriffs deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh was targeted at Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.In a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the faction accused Ojougboh of being an impostor, saying he was illegally parading himself as Deputy National Chairman.The statement said, For the umpteenth time, we want to re-iterate that Mr. Ojugboh, the former National Vice Chairman of PDP has no locus to speak in the capacity of Deputy National Chairman of the PDP.He is an interloper and an impostor; and as such, any action or statement made by Cairo Ojugboh and other self-appointed members of the Sheriff renegade group is illegal, null and void and should be disregarded by all loyal supporters and members of the PDP.Let these irritants take note that Governors Fayose and Wike, and indeed all governors elected on the platform of our great party, the PDP are men of integrity.Our governors are responsible and trusted party men that are working tirelessly in their various states to deliver the needed dividends of democracy.The people of Rivers State and Ekiti State can testify to the wonderful achievements of our governors in their states and other states governed by the PDP.The faction urged party members nationwide to shun the campaign or mobilisation programme being planned by the Sheriff group in some states in the Southeast.We wish to further state without any ambiguity that these actions are illegal, null and void. Faithful party men and women in the South East and any other zones in Nigeria should disregard such meetings or gathering, the faction added.Stating that Sheriffs position as chairman is being challenged at the Supreme Court, Adeyeye said the Caretaker Committee remained in charge of the partys affairs.The National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi has appealed the judgment of the February 17, 2017 at the Supreme Court and in the eyes of the law, until the appeal is set aside by the Supreme Court, the National Caretaker Committee remains in charge of the affairs of the PDP.So, Senator Sheriff and his co travelers have no power to call for any meeting of party members or supervise the affairs of the PDP forthwith.We therefore want to further call on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).We further call on all security agencies and other agencies of government to stop according him or members of his illegal team any support or assistance.Finally, we urge all our members and teeming supporters nationwide to stop attending any meeting organised by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff or any member of his team.They are illegal and have no place to function as such. Senator Ahmed Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee remains the only authentic National Exco of the PDP in line with the decision of the May 21st and August 17, 2016 National Conventions of our great party, the statement added. The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating alleged 17 billion dollars stolen undeclared oil proceed has summoned Ibrahim ... The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating alleged 17 billion dollars stolen undeclared oil proceed has summoned Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to appear before it on Tuesday.The Chairman of the committee, Abdulrazak Namdas, summoned Mr. Magu on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the investigation where all the invited stakeholders sent their subordinates to represent the committee.The committee has commenced investigation into alleged $17 billion stolen from undeclared crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports to global destinations.Also summoned by the ad-hoc committee to appear before it was the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru; and Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele.Others were Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dakuku Peterside; and Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.The committee also summoned the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, Stephen Sejebor; and Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Modecai Ladan, in connection with the stolen fund.Mr. Namdas, who is the spokesman of the House, noted that since the nation lived by oil proceeds, no fight against corruption could be meaningful without serious search-light on the industry.According to him, this is especially when the perpetrators are high and mighty who inexorably are the models the society look up to.He warned that the House would not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers to compel the invited chief executives to appear, if they default.He therefore turned back directors and other management staff who were sent as representatives of their respective organisations.Earlier in his welcome remarks, Mr. Namdas said that reports had it that over 57 million barrels of crude oil were illegally exported and sold in the U.S. between January 2011 and December 2014.He said that the estimated revenue loss by the government of Nigeria is around 12 billion dollars.At an exchange rate of N196 to a dollar, this translates to over N2 trillion. You could imagine what the value is now.According to him, the corruption in the oil industry distorts public policy, creates misappropriation and misapplication of resources.He added that it vitiates private sector and private sector development and over and above all, it undermines good governance and ultimately hurts the poor most.Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, had said that the incidence of stolen and missing money at the NNPC and the entire oil industry was now an albatross to the development of the nation.Mr. Dogara, who declared the public hearing open, lamented that if not for the constant theft in the oil industry, the nation would not have been in economic recession at the moment.The incidence of money missing in the industry has become a recurrent decimal to the point that news items in the media are incomplete without mention of the ills of the industry.The reports of the media on the ills in oil industry clearly attest to the concern of the government to tackle corruption in the industry head on.The speaker, who was represented by the Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde, said that the country had received disturbing audit reports about the oil industry.He said that the report about the oil industry involving International Oil Companies (IOCs) was that $4.4 billion was trapped somewhere instead of remitting it to the federation account.He cited a report from an anti-corruption organisation, the Action Network for Economic Justice, in which it claimed that NNPC did not remit over $12 billion to the federation account since 2009.The same organisation alleged that the sum of 5.9 billion dollars of the federation accounts were lost to offshore processing agreements and through crude theft in the country.According to the speaker, if loss of revenue to the nation through the oil industry was to be avoided, I can beat my chest that under no circumstances should Nigeria be talking about recession.Therefore, no amount of investigation in the oil industry can be said to be an over kill as the oil industry has become endemic.The investigation of the 17billion dollars therefore remains part of the ongoing process in confronting the hydra headed monster.He therefore urged the committee to complement governments efforts in the fight against corruption. A suicide bomber who attempted to infiltrate University of Maiduguri through the Works Department was on Sunday shot dead by troops stat... A suicide bomber who attempted to infiltrate University of Maiduguri through the Works Department was on Sunday shot dead by troops stationed in the school.The suicide bomber, it was gathered, entered the university through the back gate with the aim of penetrating the school before being gunned down by a vigilant soldier.Confirming the incident, the public relations officer of the school, Mr Tanko Ahmed, said the incident occurred around 11pm on Sunday.He said the Works Department, where the incident occurred, had been cordoned off by security agents to render the area safe.The area has been cordoned off by security agents as the students move about their various activities, Ahmed said.The Sunday incident was the second time suicide bomber targeted University of Maiduguri after the first attack in January that claimed the life of a professor of Veterinary Medicine and four others. Fire incident did not affect operations at Lagos Airport, says FAAN. Fire incident did not affect operations at Lagos Airport, says FAAN.The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, says the fire incident that occurred at its headquarters on Monday did not affect air operations.The cause of the fire incident, which affected some of the agencys offices, is yet to be known.But Henrietta Yakubu, Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, said the incident is being investigated.The incident is being investigated right now to find out the cause of the outbreak, she said in a statement Tuesday Morning.The fire department, in collaboration with the Lagos State Fire Department and other security agencies, however, responded swiftly by curtailing the spread of the fire, as normalcy is being restored already.A staff of the agency who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said the fire affected some important parts of the (headquarters) building.The source, however, said the cause is still unknown.Mrs. Yakubu, on her part, however, assured travellers that operations at the Lagos airport continue without hindrance, adding that investigations are ongoing to uncover the cause of the outbreak.The Authority will like to assure travellers, airport users and the general public that the incident did not affect operations at any airport in any way as normal operations continue unhindered, she said. Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, has claimed that Governor Nyesom Wike survived five ... Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, has claimed that Governor Nyesom Wike survived five assassination attempts in 11 months.He described as callous and insensitive, Sundays denial by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris that the governors life was at risk.Wike, on Sunday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, accused the IGP of posting to the state a new Police Commissioner, Zaki Ahmed, who succeeded the late Francis Odesanya on March 13, to cage and kill him (Wike).But the IGP described the governors allegation as a lie.Tam-George said: It is no secret that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government declared war on the government and people of Rivers State soon after the party lost the governorship litigation at the Supreme Court in 2016. The first attempt to kill the governor was made immediately after the Supreme Court verdict.Rivers governors Chief Security Officer was removed, without any explanation. Six police officers dismissed by the police in January, this year, played a key role in foiling the series of attempts to kill Governor Wike.After several attempts to assassinate Governor Wike failed, an offer of N150 million was made to two of the six dismissed police officers, to directly kill the governor, but the officers declined the offer.We call on the International Police (INTERPOL) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to lead an independent enquiry into why the gallant and patriotic officers were dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force, on spurious charges of misconduct.The commissioner claimed that as part of preparations to seize the state during the 2019 elections, the central APC government was allegedly considering a range of measures against Wike and some key leaders in Rivers State. #Moon-NK dogs Moon returns to state two dogs gifted by N. Korea's Kim Former President Moon Jae-in returned to the state a pair of dogs that he had been in custody of since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gave them as a gift in 2018, Moon's side and ... #taxi Seoul to increase late-night taxi service amid shortage The Seoul city government said Tuesday it will expand the operation of late-night taxis to cope with the growing demand for taxi service during late hours. Currently, an average... 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. Learn how Connecticut calculates the amount of compensation you may receive for a work-related injury or illnessand how workers' comp eligibility rules apply if you were exposed to COVID-19 on the job. Injured workers in Connecticut are eligible for a series of workers' compensation benefits. Your benefits will vary, depending on the nature of your injuries, your ability to work, and other factors. Below is a general outline of how workers' comp benefits are calculated in Connecticut. (To receive these benefits, you will need to file a workers' compensation claim and show that your injury or illness is work related.) Can You Get Workers' Comp Benefits for COVID-19 in Connecticut? During the height of the coronavirus surge in Connecticut in the spring of 2020, the state made it easier for essential employees to qualify for workers' comp for COVID-19. Under an executive order (No. 7JJJ), the state presumed that these employees qualified for workers' comp benefits (unless the employer proved otherwise) if they missed work due to a diagnosis or symptoms of the disease from March 10 to May 20, 2020. While that presumption no longer applies, you can still file a workers' comp claim if you believe that you contracted COVID-19 on the job. But most employees will find it very difficult to qualify for benefits. That's because Connecticut law defines an occupational disease as one that's distinctively associated with a particular occupation and is the result of hazards above and beyond the risks faced by workers in general. First responders and certain healthcare professionals who interact with COVID-19 patients are more likely to meet that standard than most other employees. Temporary Disability Benefits in Connecticut You may be able to receive temporary disability benefits if you can't work or earn as much as you used to while you're recovering from your injury or illness. Connecticut has a three-day waiting period before these benefits begin, unless you're completely or partially unable to work for more than seven days. Temporary disability benefits continue until either you can return to work at your full wages, or your doctor has determined that you've reached "maximum medical improvement" (MMI)which means your condition has stabilized, and you aren't likely to improve even with further medical treatment. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 301-295, 301-307 (2022).) How Temporary Total Disability Benefits Are Calculated While you're unable to perform any type of work during your recovery, you're entitled to receive temporary total disability (TTD) benefits equal to 75% of your pre-injury average weekly wages (after taxes are taken out), up to a maximum that's based on the statewide average weekly wages during the year when you were injured or became ill. (For injuries occurring after October 1, 2020, the maximum is $1,373.) There's also a minimum: 20% of the maximum benefit, as long as it's no more than 75% of your pre-injury wages. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 301-307(a), 301-309 (2022).) Temporary Partial Disability You may also receive some benefits if you're partially incapacitated during your recoveryfor instance, if you can only work part time, or you can't do the same type of work as before your injury. Temporary partial disability benefits are equal to 75% of the difference between the current after-tax wages for the kind of work you did before your injury and your actual take-home pay, up to a maximum that's based on the statewide average for manufacturing workers ($1,373 for injuries after October 1, 2020). (Conn. Gen. Stat. 3-308(a) (2022).) For example, if you used to take home $750 a week but now can earn only $350 after taxes, you would receive $300 per week in temporary partial disability benefits ($750 - $350 = $400 x .75 = $300). Permanent Disability Benefits Once you've reached the MMI stage, your doctor will determine whether you have any permanent disability as a result of your injury or illnessand if so, to what extent. Permanent Partial Disability Benefits You may be eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits if, as a result of your work-related injury or illness, youve lost some use of a part of your body that's listed a schedule in Connecticut law. The schedule is very comprehensive, covering a wide variety of body parts (including organs) and sensory functions (like vision and hearing). The amount of PPD benefits will depend on how much function you've lost, as well as your pre-injury wages. The weekly rate is the same as for TTD (75% of your after-tax, pre-injury earnings), but the maximum is the same as for partial temporary disability. There's also a $50 minimum for PPD benefits. If you've lost all use of the body part (or had an amputation), these PPD benefits will last for the number of weeks shown in the schedule. For partial loss of use, the benefits will last for a number of weeks that's proportional to the percentage of your disability. For instance, if you've completely lost the use of your dominant hand, you'll receive the weekly benefits for 168 weeks. But if you've lost 50% of that hand's function, the benefits will last for 84 weeks. (As part of a workers' comp settlement, you could agree to receive the total amount of these benefits in a lump sum, minus a small discount.) You may also receive up to 208 weeks of compensation (at the same rate) if your injury left you with permanent disfigurement or significant scarring on your face, head, neck, or any part of your body that would hinder your ability to find work. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-308(b), (c) (2022).) Discretionary Benefits for Ongoing Wage Loss Once your PPD payments end, you might be eligible for additional discretionary benefits if that's warranted, given the nature of your injury and its effect on your earning capacity. These benefits are equal to 75% of the difference between the current after-tax pay for the type of job you held before your injury and what you're probably able to earn now. The amount of your current earning capacity will be based on various factors, including your education, training, and experience, as well as the availability of work for people of your physical condition and age. The duration of these additional discretionary benefits will be based on those same factors, but they may not last longer 520 weeks or the duration of your regular PPD benefits, whichever is less. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-308a (2022).) Permanent Total Disability Benefits If your injury or illness has left you completely unable to do any type of work, even after you've reached MMI, you may continue to receive benefits at the same level as TTD benefits, subject to the same maximum and minimum. These benefits will last as long as you're totally disabledpotentially for lifeand will include annual cost-of-living adjustments. Connecticut workers' comp law will consider you to be permanently and totally disabled if you have certain kinds of injuries, such as total blindness and amputation or paralysis in two extremities. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-307, 31-307a (2022).) Other Workers' Comp Benefits in Connecticut Connecticut workers' compensation also pays other benefits, including : Medical benefits. Your employer or its insurer must provide all medical care and prescription drugs that are reasonable and necessary to treat your injury or illness (without any copays or deductibles). Following initial treatment, you have the right to choose your doctor or advanced practice registered nurse from an approved list or group of providers. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-294d.) Your employer or its insurer must provide all medical care and prescription drugs that are reasonable and necessary to treat your injury or illness (without any copays or deductibles). Following initial treatment, you have the right to choose your doctor or advanced practice registered nurse from an approved list or group of providers. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-294d.) Vocational rehabilitation. If you aren't able to return to the type of work you were doing at the time of your injury, you may be eligible for some kind of retraining. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-293a (2022).) If you aren't able to return to the type of work you were doing at the time of your injury, you may be eligible for some kind of retraining. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-293a (2022).) Death benefits and burial expenses. When an employee dies as a result of a work-related accident or occupational disease, workers' compensation pays death benefits to the surviving spouse and other eligible dependents. For eligible survivors who were completely dependent on the deceased employee, death benefits are paid at the same rate as TTD benefits, with the same maximum and minimum, as well as automatic cost-of-living increases. Workers' comp also pays for burial expenses, up to $4,000. (Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-306 (2022).) Getting Help With Your Workers' Comp Claim You might be able to handle your own workers' comp claim if you have a minor injury and your employer's insurance company promptly pays your benefits. Otherwise, you should speak with a workers' compensation lawyer who can evaluate your claim and protect your right to all of the benefits you deserve. (Learn more about when you need a workers' comp attorney.) Learn how Oklahoma calculates the amount of compensation you may receive for a work-related injury or illnessand how workers' comp eligibility rules apply to contagious diseases like COVID-19. If you were injured or got sick because of your job in Oklahoma, you may be eligible to receive a range of benefits through the state workers' compensation system, including medical treatment and payments to cover part of your lost wages. Your eligibility for specific benefitsand the amount you receivewill depend on several factors unique to your case, including the nature of your injuries, your ability to return to work, and the amount you earned before you were hurt. This article explains how the most important workers' comp benefits are calculated in Indiana. (To get these benefits, you'll need to file a workers' comp claim and show that your injury or illness is work related.) Can You Get Workers' Comp in Oklahoma If You Get COVID-19 on the Job? Under Oklahoma law, workers' compensation will cover an infectious illness only if you can prove that the disease resulted from the nature of your workwhich presented a hazard of exposure to the illnessand that you actually contracted the disease while you were working and because of your work. The law also says that workers' comp doesn't cover an "ordinary disease of life to which the general public is exposed." (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 65 (2022).) It's not clear whether workers' comp judges in Oklahoma will consider COVID-19 to be an ordinary disease of life. Still, under the state's requirements, it would be difficult for most employees to qualify for workers' comp benefits for the illness. Some employees, like first responders or medical workers providing direct care to COVID-19 patients, could probably show that the nature of their jobs present a particular risk of exposure to the coronavirus. But they also need evidence proving that, more likely than not, they actually contracted the disease at work rather than during the rest of their lives. In response to the pandemic, some states have enacted measures making it easier for certain frontline employees to get workers' comp benefits for COVID-19 by presuming that the disease is work related unless the employer proves otherwise. Oklahoma has not joined those states. Temporary Disability Benefits in Oklahoma If you aren't able to return to your regular job dutiesor you can't work at allwhile you're recovering from your injuries, you may be eligible for temporary disability benefits. In Oklahoma, these benefits aren't paid for the first three days that you're out of work. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 45(A) (2022).) Temporary Total Disability You'll be entitled to receive temporary total disability (TTD) benefits if your injury or illness prevents you from performing your job or any alternate work that your employer offers you. TTD benefits are calculated as 70% of your average weekly wage (AWW) in the year preceding your injury, up to a maximum based on average statewide wages. For injuries that happened in 2022, the maximum TTD benefit is $953.18. Even though these benefits are lower than your normal earnings, it's worth pointing out that workers' comp benefits are generally not taxable. You will continue to receive TTD benefits until you: return to work reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), which happens when your doctor determines that your condition will no longer improve with treatment; or have received TTD benefits for the maximum amount of time allowed under the law. The time limit on TTD benefits is generally 156 weeks. There are much shorter limits for soft tissue injuries (eight weeks), hernias (six weeks), and psychological problems resulting from the original physical injury (26 weeks). All of these limits may be extended under certain circumstances. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 13, 61, 62, 45(A) (2022).) Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) If you can't perform your normal job duties while you're recovering from your injuries, but you're able to do any alternative work that your employer has offered, you'll be entitled to receive temporary partial disability (TPD) benefitsunless you refuse that alternative work offer. These benefits are calculated as 70% of the difference between your pre-injury average weekly wages and your current earnings. However, the combination of your actual earnings and your TPD benefits may not add up to more than the TTD rate. For example, say you earned $900 per week before your injury, and you're now working at a light-duty job that pays $500. The basic calculation of TPD benefits would come to $280 ($900 $500 = $400 X .7). However, $280 plus your actual earnings would total $780 per week, which is higher than the TTD rate for your pre-injury wages ($900 X .7 = $630). So as not to exceed that TTD rate, your TPD benefits would only be $130 a week ($500 + $130 = $630). You may continue receiving TPD benefits until you reach MMI or return to work at your pre-injury wages, or for a maximum of 52 weeks. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 45(B) (2022).) Permanent Disability Benefits in Oklahoma Once you reach MMI, a doctor will evaluate you to see if your work-related injury or illness has left you with any permanent limitations and, if so, to what extent. Permanent Partial Disability Benefits If you have permanent limitations that don't completely prevent you from working, the doctor will give you a permanent partial disability (PPD) rating, expressed in a percentage. PPD benefits will be 70% of your pre-injury wages, up to a maximum of $360 per week, multiplied by a number of weeks that depends on the percentage of your disability rating and the affected parts of your body. A schedule in Oklahoma law lists the number of weeks for amputation or total lost use of certain body parts (mostly the extremities, ears, and eyes). For less than total loss of use, the PPD formula will use a number of weeks proportional to the percentage of impairment. For example, the schedule shows 220 weeks for loss of a hand. If you lost 50% of the use of a hand, you would receive 70% of your pre-injury wages or $360 (whichever is less) for 110 weeksor a total maximum benefit for that impairment of $39,600. Permanent impairments to other parts of the bodysuch as a back injury, head injury, or damaged kidneyare compensated as a percentage of the whole body, which is worth a total of 360 weeks. So if the doctor gave you a whole body PPI rating of 25% for a back injury, you would receive benefits for 90 weeks (25% of 360), for total maximum benefits of $31,500 ($350 X 90). (In the "Benefits Charts" section on the WCC website, referenced above, you can find "PPD Rate Charts" that show estimated benefit calculations for percentages of disability to the whole body and to scheduled body parts.) If your injury has left you with serious and permanent disfigurement, and you haven't received other PPD benefits for the affected part of your body, you may receive an award for the disfigurement, up to a maximum of $50,000. PPD benefits are paid regardless of whether you return to your pre-injury job. Instead of getting these benefits in weekly payments, you may agree to receive a lump sum for the total amount as part of a workers' comp settlement. (Okla. Stat. tit. 38a, 45(C), 45(F), 46 (2022).) Permanent Total Disability If your injury or illness has left you completely unable to earn wages doing any kind of suitable work, given your experience and training (including training you received through vocational rehabilitation), you'll be entitled to receive permanent total disability benefits at the same rate as TTD benefits. These payments will continue for 15 years or until you reach the full Social Security retirement age, whichever happens later. To keep receiving the payments, however, you must file an affidavit every year confirming that you still aren't capable of gainful employment. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 45(D) (2022).) Other Workers' Comp Benefits in Oklahoma Oklahoma workers' compensation also provides additional benefits, including: Medical care. Workers' comp pays for all medical treatment that's reasonable and necessary for your work-related injury or illness, without any copays or deductibles. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 50, 51 (2020).) Learn more about how to get medical treatment through workers' comp Workers' comp pays for all medical treatment that's reasonable and necessary for your work-related injury or illness, without any copays or deductibles. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 50, 51 (2020).) Learn more about Vocational rehabilitation. If you're entitled to receive PPD benefits, you'll also be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. And even before you reach MMI, the judge may order that you receive these services if your doctor believes you probably won't be able to return to your former job. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 45(C)(10), (E) (2022).) If you're entitled to receive PPD benefits, you'll also be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. And even before you reach MMI, the judge may order that you receive these services if your doctor believes you probably won't be able to return to your former job. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 45(C)(10), (E) (2022).) Death benefits and funeral expenses. When an employee dies as a result of a work injury, the surviving spouse and children may be eligible to receive death benefits. The amount varies, depending on the number of surviving dependents. Workers' comp also pays up to $10,000 for the actual funeral expenses. (Okla. Stat. tit. 85a, 47 (2022).) Getting Help Collecting Workers' Comp Benefits If your employer's insurance company has denied your workers' comp claim, is holding back benefits, or won't authorize needed medical treatment, you should consider speaking with a workers' comp lawyer. A local attorney who's experienced in this area can evaluate your case, discuss the advisability of filing an appeal, make sure your rights are protected in a settlement agreement, and help you get all of the benefits you deserve. (Learn more about how a good workers' comp lawyer can help.) Decades ago, the community of Council Bluffs banded together to build a playground. Now 24 years later a group of volunteers is seeking to give the popular play place a much needed face lift. Dubbed the Dream Playground Reimagined, community organizers want to renovate the existing playground located at Lake Manawa State Park. I really liked the story of how 24 years ago people came together and built this giant playground for the community, said Lori Shields, committee communications chairwoman. But, if you look at the playground now, its getting kind of rundown, and so we started a committee. The Dream Playground was built in 1993 and was the culmination of suggestions of local elementary students who gave their ideas on how the playground should be designed. We are looking at remembering the dream from 24 years ago, but building a new dream based on the children of today, Shields said. The volunteer effort is being led by a five-person core committee which includes Shields, who works for the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, Lynne Branigan, Barry Cleaveland, Council Bluffs Fire Chief Justin James and Pottawattamie County Supervisor Justin Schultz. In partnership with Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Dream Playground Re-Imagined committee is working with Play by Design, a New York-based design firm, to design the new playground. They are going to be reviewing the structure and determining what will stay, Shields said. Wed like to create a structure that resembles the dreams of children today while also preserving the dreams of the children of 24 years ago. On Monday, members of the committee visited College View Elementary and St. Albert Catholic Schools to seek design submissions from students. Students offered ideas from rock climbing, to a walking track and even sharks. If students can learn how to make a difference in their community, then as they get older that thought process will expand and eventually make a difference in the world, Shields said. Teaching them those values on how to pitch in and be apart of a community is important. The effort, first launched last fall, seeks to renovate the existing playground, which continues to draw hundreds of families every year. The committee hopes to host a build week next spring where the community can come together to build the structure. Children of any age living in Council Bluffs can submit their design ideas to be considered for the playground. Drawings need to be posted to the Dream Playground Re-Imagined Facebook page by noon on Wednesday, April 12. Those submitting a drawing are asked to include the first name and age of the artist on the drawing. Committee members will also visit Kreft Primary School and Iowa School for the Deaf today to collect submissions in the morning. On Wednesday morning, members will visit Hoover and Bloomer Elementary Schools, Titan Hill Intermediate School as well as Heartland Family Christian. Families are invited to attend the unveiling of the new playground design at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites at Ameristar, located at 2202 River Road in Council Bluffs. Designs from area children will also be on display. During that time, the core committee will also be recruiting volunteers for different jobs to help with the building process, which include: construction, public relations, food and beverage and childcare, among others. This is perfect timing for our community to come together again over a common cause for something as simple as a playground for our children to play on, Shields said. Its official. Spring has taken over. Magnolia trees have begun shaking off their blossoms. Daffodils nod brightly. Even garage sale signs have begun popping up. The week ahead affirms the change in seasons, said Barbara Mayes, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, Nebraska. Cold fronts, including one that affected temperatures Monday, arent sticking around. As the week goes forward, temperatures will climb. Successive chances for rainy weather are in the forecast. Its starting to get a little more springlike out there, she said. Another indicator of spring? The humidity on Sunday was noticeable. A meteorologist at Iowa State University who tracks weather data noted that dew points in Des Moines reached 60 degrees on Sunday for the first time this year, about 10 days earlier than average. The week will see a gradual warming trend, climbing into the 60s to near 70 degrees, according to KMTV. Theres a chance again for rain midweek and over the weekend. An atmospheric cap limited the ability of storms to become widespread on Sunday, Mayes said. And that was a good thing, because the weather service office that serves Council Bluffs and Omaha was without its own radar system. Mayes said a part broke in the radar and technicians needed a replacement part from Kansas City. The radar broke early Sunday, the part was delivered during the day and the equipment was fixed by Sunday evening. In the meantime, the weather service monitored radar readings from surrounding weather stations, including Des Moines, Sioux City and Hastings, Nebraska. Smoke from Kansas field fires had a modest negative effect on air quality in the region, but for the most part, air quality did not deteriorate this weekend as badly as feared, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The latest area forecast, according to the weather service: Today: Sunny with a high in the low 60s. Tonight: Mostly clear with a low around 45. Wednesday: Rain likely (60 percent) and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 2 p.m., with a high around 65. South-southeast winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Wednesday night: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. with a low around 50. Thursday: Mostly sunny with a high in the upper 60s. Thursday night: A slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. with a low in the lower 50s. Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m., with a high in the low 70s. Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms with a low in the upper 50s. Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high in the low 70s. Saturday night: A slight chance of showers with a low around 50. Sunday: Mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers and a high near 65. President Trumps 2018 federal budget proposal eliminating funds for passenger service from smaller, more rural airports apparently wont have any impact on the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport and others in the area. Its a possible funding cutback in a state program that has at least two airport officials concerned. Recently, Gov. Terry Branstad released a new series of proposed budget cuts for the upcoming fiscal year 2018 budget that included a recommendation to cut $350,000 from the General Aviation Airport Vertical Infrastructure Program. The program provides grant money to assist small airports apply in building various structures. The proposed $350,000 cut would shrink the amount available for this program to $400,000. The Shenandoah Regional Airport has used these funds to help build hangars, according to Randy Wagner, airport manager. It will impact us, Wagner said of the possible cut. The Council Bluffs Municipal Airport plans to apply for a grant to build an above-ground fuel storage building, said Andy Biller, executive director of the Council Bluffs Airport Authority. Its something being discussed (in the Legislature), and were trying to advocate what our needs are, Biller said of the possible cut. Estimated cost for this building is $675,000, with $420,000 expected to come from the federal government, Biller said. In the past, the Council Bluffs airport has used grants from this program to build new hangars and renovate older ones, he added. Airport officials across Iowa, including Biller, have talked with state lawmakers in an effort to keep the funding as is, he said. It is something to watch, Biller said of the lawmakers decision. On the other hand, a possible cut in a federal program shouldnt impact their airports, the two officials said. Trump is calling for the elimination of the $175 million Essential Air Service Program under his proposed 2018 federal budget. The program was put in place to guarantee passenger airline carriers would serve smaller, rural communities. The Council Bluffs airport doesnt offer passenger service. It will have no affect on us, Biller said. Wagner said it wont affect Shenandoah either. I wouldnt guess it would impact us, he said. If we were a larger airport there could be a concern. DES MOINES (AP) The former head of the Iowa Democratic Party says shell run for governor. Andy McGuire said in a video released Monday that shes entered the 2018 gubernatorial race to focus on public schools, small businesses and increased wages. Shes a doctor who served as chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party during 2015 and 2016. Other Democrats who have announced campaigns or are considering running include state Rep. Todd Prichard, who has formed an exploratory committee; Rich Leopold, former Iowa Department of Natural Resources director, who has declared his candidacy; and former Des Moines School Board president Jon Neiderbach, who said hes running. In a release about her candidacy McGuires list of supporters includes Mike Gronstal, the former Iowa Senate majority leader from Council Bluffs, and Linda Nelson, former state representative and current chair of the Pottawattamie County Democratic Party. I think shes a very competent person, very talented, Gronstal said. Ive worked with her on a lot of issues and think shell make a great governor. Asked about his thoughts on how the Democratic primary will play out, Gronstal said, its too early to tell. Im excited about this race, he said. I think (McGuire)has a great shot at becoming our next governor. Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who will become governor if Gov. Terry Branstad is confirmed as U.S. ambassador to China, is expected to seek election to the office. Nonpareil News Editor Mike Brownlee contributed to this story. In a lopsided 57-36 vote, the Iowa House of Representatives last Thursday provided final legislative approval for a sweeping and, in our view, highly questionable gun-rights bill, approving a stand-your-ground provision and the right to carry concealed firearms on state Capitol grounds. The bill would also allow residents to sue a local government for enacting a gun-free zone if an individual felt adversely affected. The GOP-controlled House voted to approve the bill, which cleared the Senate on Tuesday. It now heads to Gov. Terry Branstad, who in the past has supported gun-rights legislation. But Branstads spokesman was noncommittal, offering at least a glimmer of hope the governor might call on lawmakers to further refine and clarify the bill. The final bill represents weeks of back-and-forth between the House and Senate to finesse sweeping changes to the states gun laws and regulations. The GOP, which, for the first time in nearly 20 years, holds control of both houses of the Iowa Legislature as well as the governors office, have tried for years to advance pro-gun legislation, arguing it would expand Second Amendment rights in Iowa. Rep. Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley, the bills floor manager, said, Hundreds of thousands of Iowans feel safer carrying guns. It is the ultimate equalizer. The stand-your-ground provision would allow people in Iowa to use deadly force anywhere if they believe such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to ones life or safety. It also would allow a person to use deadly force even if an alternative course of action is available, and an individual could be wrong in his or her estimation of danger. What is the need for a law condoning the use of deadly force even if an alternative course of action is available? Windschitl pushed back against questions of whether the provision could cause unintended consequences, saying the bill does not eliminate the need for using reason with deadly force. Just because youre afraid of someone doesnt give you the right to shoot them, he said. They would have to actually be attacking you. You would have to be in fear of your life. That seems reasonable, but is that what the law says? Earlier last week, Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, defended the expansion and said the use of any force must be justified. All we are trying to say here in this bill is that you have a right to defend yourself not only in specific areas, but any area you have a lawful right to be, he told the Associated Press. It remains to be seen, assuming Branstad bows to party pressure and signs the legislation into law, if courts and juries will interpret what we consider an ill-advised and flawed bill in the same manner as the legislations proponents. Sheriff believes card-access would benefit courthouse customers and employees The Lincoln County Commissioners voted Monday to accept bids at 10 a.m. May 8 for a card-access security system at the courthouse. Les Green, director of information systems, and Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer talked about the reasons for needing increased security. Weve had a lot of incidents over here and its getting worse all the time, Kramer said. For the protection of the customers and the employees here, I believe theres got to be some changes made. Kramer said he believes everyone agrees on the need for security. Probably the first step is trying to get the place a little more secure so the public cant just walk into every office, Kramer said. The days of just freely roaming through the courthouse has probably got to come to an end. Kramer and Green said they have looked at different options and will put together a proposal before bids are sought. Id say at this point all weve done is define a requirement which doors have to be locked, which doors need to be accessible by employees only, which doors need to be open, Green said. Green said the committee charged with finding the solution is trying to balance security versus cost. Would all the doors have it or would just certain offices? Commissioner Joe Hewgley asked. Kramer said some offices doors need to be open to do business. We went through the entire courthouse and did an assessment on which doors should have the key cards on it, said Tammy White, board assistant. Hewgley said he had a couple of concerns. I know the committee has already talked about it and [my concerns] are its expandability and to make sure its not Smittys Lock Shop that opened up six weeks ago, Hewgley said. Then when we go to get parts in a year and a half we hear Smittys in Mexico. Those are big things because the system is going to be around a lot longer than I am. Commissioner Duane Deterding said there are local vendors that would be qualified to get the county a system. We use several of the local vendors and they do good work, Green said. Another consideration brought up was software compatibility over the long term. In other action: The commissioners discussed an interlocal agreement with McPherson County for joint purchase of supplies and materials and equipment sharing. No action was taken on the agenda item. The Board of Equalization approved the confession of judgment regarding two cases of real estate value in which both owners and the county came to an agreement on the valuations of the properties involved. The commissioners recessed and reconvened for a public hearing in Farnam for a discussion on a circulated petition to form the Farnam Cemetery District in Dawson, Frontier and Lincoln counties. Information on the hearing or any action taken was not available as of press time Monday. A star-studded lineup is in store for the 2017-18 Town Hall Lecture Series. The Town Hall Lecture Series is the only speaker series of its kind between Denver and Omaha, said Heather Johnson, publicity chair for the series. Because of that, the THLS board takes the job of finding and recruiting top-quality speakers very seriously. There was added pressure this year because the series is celebrating its 35th anniversary. The goal is always to find presenters who are both relevant and entertaining to our audience, Johnson said. Not only does the 2017-18 lineup accomplish that goal, it exceeds it, and we couldnt be more excited about that. Next seasons speakers will be: Jenna Bush Hager The daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush, Hager has had the chance to see the best in people through her work as a UNICEF volunteer, inner-city teacher and correspondent for the Today show. She uses a message of compassion for supporting those in need to inspire audiences to make a positive impact on their families, schools and communities. A Morning with Jenna Bush Hager will take place Sept. 13. Amelia Earhart A 28,000-mile flight around the world launched her into the public eye. She set out to recreate the famous 1937 flight of her namesake, and the flight became a symbol of determination, courage and empowerment. Thousands have been affected by her contagious enthusiasm for action and her raw and charming leadership style. She has been named one of the Top 10 Young Americans by the U.S. Jaycees. Around The World with Amelia will be presented Oct. 11. Steve Murphy Pablo Escobar was the worlds first narco-terrorist andMurphy helped bring him down. As a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Murphy and his partner Javier Pena lived and worked in Colombia alongside their Colombian National Police counterparts and elite U.S. military units. The group was tasked with dismantling one of the largest and most violent international trafficking organizations of the time: the Medellin Cartel, founded in part by Escobar. The Netflix series NARCOS is based on their activities. The True Story of Pablo Escobar will be presented on April 4, 2018. Dallas Seavey Only six people have held a title in both of the worlds two longest sled dog races, and Seavey is one of them. He is a third-generation dog musher, four-time Iditarod champion and has won the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest. Seavey holds the record for having the three fastest winning times in Iditarod history. An Iditarod Life will be presented on May 8, 2018. Tickets will not be sold for individual lectures, but the purchase of a $70 season membership guarantees admission to all four. Memberships can be purchased through membership chairwoman Betty Guynan at 308-530-8448 or online at nptownhall.com. All presentations will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the North Platte Community Playhouse. For an additional cost, season ticket holders can attend a luncheon featuring a question-and-answer session with the speaker at the Quality Inn and Suites after the presentation. Luncheon attendees must be season ticket holders, and reservations are required at least one week in advance. For more information, contact Jane Wilkinson, luncheon chairwoman, at 308-534-1375. There is one more speaker left in the 2016-17 season. B. Gentry Lee will take the stage on May 9. Lee is the chief engineer for the Planetary Flight Systems Directorate at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is responsible for the engineering integrity of all robotic planetary missions managed by JPL for NASA, including the Mars exploration program. Three people, including a teacher and a 8-year-old boy, died Monday in an apparent murder-suicide at an elementary school in San Bernardino, Calif., police said, dealing another shock to a community still reeling from a terrorist attack two years ago that claimed the lives of 14 people. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said during a news conference Monday that Karen Elaine Smith, 53, a teacher, was killed inside a classroom at North Park Elementary School by her estranged husband, Cedric Anderson, 53. Anderson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The chief said Jonathan Martinez, 8, was airlifted to a local hospital, where he died. Burguan said a 9-year-old child, whose name has not been released, remains in stable condition at a local hospital. I am told that both the students were behind the teacher when the suspect shot his wife, Burguan said. We have no reason to believe that the students were targeted, not that it makes it any better. A spokesperson for the San Bernardino City Unified School District said the shooting occurred in a special education classroom, which, at the time, was filled with first- through third-grade students. Officials said the school, which enrolls about 530 children, will be closed for two days. The two wounded students were listed in critical condition, Maass said, adding that police do not think the children were targets in the attack. The suspect had come to the classroom to visit the adult female, he said. We think the two children were unfortunate recipients of injuries. The relationship between the suspect and the victim is unclear, but authorities said the students who were wounded were not related to them. Authorities said the suspect had gone to see the victim; there was no indication that the gun was visible when the suspect entered the classroom. Earlier, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said on Twitter that police officers were responding to the school after a shooting inside a classroom that he said was most likely a murder-suicide. The police chief said at the time that there were four victims. The two students were transported to a nearby hospital, he said. Other students were taken to Cajon High School for their safety and were being released to their parents. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos called the shooting a horrible act and extended prayers to the victims and their families. As a mother and grandmother, todays senseless violence is a tragedy no parent should ever have to face, she said in a statement. I ask everyone to join me in keeping all the victims and those impacted in your prayers. The shooting comes 16 months after a terrorist attack left 14 people dead and 22 others wounded, when Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, a married couple, entered a venue hosting a Christmas party for county public health workers and opened fire. The two were killed hours later in a shootout with San Bernardino police. A school district spokeswoman said that the citys schools increased security measures after the 2015 terrorist attack. All our schools, especially post December 2, have tightened up security procedures, said Maria Garcia, the school district spokeswoman. Once the school bell rings, the only entry point into a campus is the main school office, where visitors have to sign in and receive a visitors pass. After the shooting, school district Superintendent Dale Marsden said, Our hearts are broken, as are everyone elses. This is a tragic event, he said during the news conference. Its going to take time for our heads, our hearts, to heal when youre going through this type of horrible event, we need each other to walk hand in hand to heal, to continue to press forward, to not allow what is tragic to halt our lives. There have been 220 school shootings in the United States since 2013, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a group that tracks gun violence in the United States. The group reported that, on an average day in the United States, seven children and teenagers ages 19 or under are killed with guns. There were 48 school shootings in the United States in 2016, an average of just under one incident a week, according to statistics compiled by Everytown for Gun Safety. The shooting in San Bernardino is the 12th in 2017. Today, yet another elementary school community was shaken by gun violence, Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said in a statement. Our thoughts are with the students, faculty and families affected by the shooting. Educators should not have to fear being shot at work. Parents should not have to fear their children not returning home from school. There have been more than 200 school shootings in less than five years, and lockdown drills have become part of standard safety practice. There are solutions out there too often we rely on thoughts and prayers to do the work our politicians refuse to do. Our volunteers and gun violence survivors will not rest until our leaders put our childrens safety first and we change the culture of gun violence in this country. Two men charged with sexual assault of a child in separate cases were sentenced in Lincoln County District Court on Monday, one of them on lesser charges. Sky Durre, 20, was sentenced to a year in jail for third-degree sexual assault of a child. He was given credit for 256 days served. Last July, a 14-year-old girl reported having had sexual relations with Durre, who was 19 at the time. In a clinical evaluation, Dr. Rebecca Schroeder concluded that Durre was not a pedophile, said his attorney, Martin Troshynski. Nebraska law states that a 14-year-old is unable to consent to a sexual relationship, Troshynski acknowledged. But the facts say that she did not only consent, he said, but initiated it. He added that Durre was up front about the relationship and cooperated with the investigation. Durre apologized to both his family and that of the girl. I know its caused a lot of problems since, he said. Given the chance, Id like to make things right. Durre was sentenced to 18 months of post-release supervision. In the second case, Stephen Nielsen, 20, pleaded no contest to two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was arrested after it was discovered that he had inappropriate relations with a 16-year-old girl, Deputy County Attorney Tanya Roberts-Connick said. Nielsens attorney, Robert Lindemeier, told the court that Nielsen had no prior record and was found not to be a risk to society. Lindemeier said that Nielsen had learned that the girl was having a sexual relationship with a man in his 40s, and he reacted by doing things he shouldnt have done, had he thought it through. Nielsen was sentenced to two years of probation. Melbourne centre Will Chambers has pleaded guilty to grade one shoulder charge and will miss this week's clash with Manly. Chambers was charged over his tackle on Cronulla's Wade Graham in the 68th minute of the Storm's 11-2 loss at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon. With the early guilty plea he will miss one match and will have 80 carryover points to his name but will be free to play the Warriors in Round 8. The NRL Fantasy form guide, injury and suspension news and all the key changes for every club heading into the seventh round of the Telstra Premiership season. Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs Bulldogs: The big surprise here is that halfback Matt Frawley has been demoted to the reserves, rather than promoted to the starting side as some expected after scores of 45 and 39 in his first two NRL matches. He got extra game time last week after Brad Abbey was concussed in the first half, and Abbey is out this week along with David Klemmer (ankle). James Graham has hit top form with scores of 71 and 67 in the past fortnight. Rabbitohs: Souths are unchanged. Angus Crichton smashed 78 last week and looks great value at $315,000, although he had only been scoring in the mid-30s before that and could be a risk if he loses his starting spot down the track. Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker and Sam Burgess are all scoring better than 50 points a game and will be popular buys for the bye rounds (unless Reynolds gets picked by NSW - in which case he'll miss a lot of game time over Origin). Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Knights vs Roosters Knights: Newcastle have named the same team they named last Tuesday, meaning Jamie Buhrer is listed in the second row and Luke Yates out of the 17 despite the pair starting at hooker and on the bench respectively last week. Buhrer is back on track for keeper status after last week's 59 while Dane Gagai is in red-hot form after smashing an 80 against the Bulldogs. Yates has a break even of 19 and can be held for another week. Roosters: Latrell Mitchell has been replaced by Joseph Manu this week, and with a break even in the 50s after an error-riddled 7 last week is a possible sell. Sio Siua Taukeiaho is closing in on a return from injury after being included on the extended bench in jersey 23. Mitchell Aubusson hasn't spent a minute on the bench yet this season and is scoring 49 points a game. Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Broncos vs Titans Broncos: Ben Hunt is set to miss 6-8 weeks with a hamstring injury, with Kodi Nikorima starting at halfback this week. Corey Oates returns on the wing with David Mead dropping back to the bench. One upshot of Hunt's injury is that Andrew McCullough's run of 80-minute games should continue. McCullough would have almost certainly spent some time on the bench last week until Nikorima was shifted to the halves to cover Hunt's injury. That's great for McCullough in the short term but his scores could still dip when Hunt eventually returns. Tautau Moga has a couple of weeks of price rises in him. Titans: Nathan Peats is the big inclusion for the Titans at hooker, while Chris McQueen and Ryan Simpkins are back in the starting pack and Karl Lawton, Leivaha Pulu and Max King drop back to the bench. Kane Elgey has peaked in price and will be on the chopping block for a lot of Fantasy teams this week. Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Sea Eagles vs Storm Sea Eagles: Martin Taupau and Nate Myles are out this week, with Addin Fonua-Blake starting for Manly and Jackson Hastings and Lloyd Perrett joining the bench. Akuila Uate also returns after being a late scratching last week. Daly Cherry-Evans' base stats have improved signficiantly in the past couple of weeks. Curtis Sironen and Uate still have some cash to make, but Brian Kelly has peaked. Storm: Jordan McLean moves into the starting side this week, with Nelson Asofa-Solomona named on the bench. Jesse Browmich has been left out of the 17 again but is some chance of returning after being included in the reserves. Cameron Munster is also in the reserves and close to bumping Ryley Jacks out of the side. Billy Slater has been a success story so far at the back and should get another good price rise next week, and the same goes for Felise Kaufusi. Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Raiders vs Warriors Raiders: The Raiders are unchanged after smashing the Titans last round. Joey Leilua has dropped $103,000 in value this season and scored 65 last week, while Elliott Whitehead is $131,000 cheaper than he was at the start of the year after being a 50-point player last season. Jordan Rapana is in crazy form, scoring a stunning 64 points a game, while Josh Papalii is averaging 56. Nick Cotric's price tag should pass $300,000 next week. Warriors: No changes this week. Bodene Thompson's price has bottomed out at $383,000, although he needed a couple of tries to get to 59 points last week. Still, history suggests he'll be a keeper in the long run. Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Dragons vs Cowboys Dragons: No changes. Jack de Belin and Paul Vaughan continue to dominate while Cameron McInnes is coming off a season-low score of 44 due mainly to the fact he didn't have to do too much defending in last week's romp over Manly. Cowboys: Ben Hampton is the man to fill the No.7 jersey with Johnathan Thurston to miss a few weeks with injury, with Blake Leary starting at hooker and Justin O'Neill returning from injury at centre. Coen Hess starts in the second row, while Gideon Gela-Mosby has held onto his spot on the wing with Javid Bowen making way for O'Neill. Kalyn Ponga is officially a successful cash cow after making more than $100,000 in price rises this season, while Hampton exceeded expectations last week with 54 points in 52 minutes. That's more points than the man he replaces Jake Granville has scored in a single game this year, and in fewer minutes than Granville usually plays. Hampton made 40 tackles last week but won't get the same defensive workload at halfback. Jason Taumalolo is averaging 71 points a game - more than any other player - while Coen Hess just keeps crashing over for tries, with two last week. Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Panthers vs Sharks Panthers: The cavalry is back for Penrith, with Matt Moylan, Waqa Blake and James Fisher-Harris named to start and Bryce Cartwright a chance of returning from injury after being included in the reserves. Corey Harawira-Naera has blasted past $100,000 in price rises after a superb start to his career (Fantasy-wise at least) and has been named on the bench this week. Trent Merrin meanwhile is becoming a major headache for his Fantasy owners after scoring 24 and 32 in the past couple of weeks. His record suggests he's still probably a hold but I can understand why you'd jump ship to a more reliable option. Sharks: James Segeyaro has a broken arm and will be out for about six weeks, meaning Jayden Brailey could play 80 minutes and is a hold for now. Kurt Capewell replaces Segeyaro on the bench in Cronulla's only change. Andrew Fifita is coming off a season-best 66 after dropping $90,000 on his starting price. Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Eels vs Wests Tigers Eels: Frank Pritchard is out with Tepai Moeroa returning to the starting side this week and Daniel Alvaro joining the bench. Nathan Brown has been a late inclusion at lock for the past couple of weeks and hit scores of 64 and 60 - suggesting he could become a keeper if that continues. He's been officially named there this week with skipper Beau Scott to again play off the bench. Corey Norman should bounce back from last week's 23 while Clint Gutherson may have a few more quiet scores while he's filling in for Bevan French at fullback. Kaysa Pritchard has made back-to-back 49s at hooker. Wests Tigers: As you'd expect after last week's sensational win over the Cowboys, the Tigers are unchanged. David Nofoaluma has been amazingly consistent by wingers' standards, with scores of 73, 51 and 53 in the last few weeks. Jamal Idris has a negative break even and showed his first signs of being a potential keeper with 46 against the Cowboys. Scans have revealed that Sharks hooker James Segeyaro sustained a broken arm against the Melbourne Storm and is to undergo surgery later on Tuesday. Segeyaro is at this stage set to miss six weeks of NRL action. Having previously broken the same arm, the injury is a setback from Segeyaro who has been impressive off the bench in his three outings in 2017, including scoring the only try in last week's win over Melbourne. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. Steel import market share climbed to 26 percent in March, up from 25 percent in February, according to the Commerce Departments most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis data. The United States imported 3.4 million tons in March, a 25.4 percent increase over February, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Imports of finished steel that requires no further processing in the United States shot up by 19.2 percent as compared to February. In March, imports increased 63 percent from Germany, 53 percent from Turkey, 50 percent from Japan and 14 percent from South Korea. Imports of heavy structural shapes skyrocketed by 66 percent, while imports of reinforcing bar climbed by 55 percent. Hot rolled sheets, oil country goods, wire rods, hot rolled bars and wire drawn all posted double-digit increases last month. So far this year, oil country good imports are up by a staggering 151 percent, while imports of cold rolled sheets, sheets and strip all other metallic coated, standard pipe, mechanical tubing, sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized, line pipe, reinforcing bars, and tin plate also are all up significantly as compared to 2016. Imports have about 26 percent of the market share so far this year, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. The largest offshore suppliers of steel for the first three months of the year have been South Korea, Turkey and Japan. VALPARAISO Valparaiso Community Schools are doing wonderfully, according to the district's Superintendent E. Ric Frataccia. Frataccia gave his annual report to the Valparaiso City Council and attributed the district's success to a "four-legged stool." Parents, teachers, students and the community, said Frataccia are what make the district successful and distinctive. Frataccia said Monday the district has overcome the financial challenges of the past with all funds doing well and the district being able to set aside funds for an emergency. In 2011, he said, when a financial crisis hit the schools, the district had only $63,000 in its savings account. Today, that account is $6.2 million, or just over 17 percent of its general fund budget. "The school corporation is in excellent health," he said. Frataccia said demographics have changed little in the past six years. While there are about 150 fewer students enrolled today than in 2011, he sees the trend reversing with this year's enrollment up 90 over the previous year. He also reported on the multi-year building project, funded by one of two referendums, which includes renovation of all school buildings and constructing the new Heavlin Elementary School. The district is using the construction projects to add gymnasiums which will serve as community centers, improve safety and security at all buildings and make overall improvements to serve students. The second referendum has added $4.5 million to the district's operating budget. That has allowed the district to broaden curriculum and reduce class size in the elementary schools. Frataccia said the district is nearing full 1:1 technology capabilities. The district has also added differentiated instruction, hired social workers and added a section of engineering studies for all elementary students. The challenge ahead, said Frataccia will "remain and always be to keep being the best we can be" and provide continuous improvement for students and the community. CROWN POINT An East Chicago officer described a county councilwoman as "a suspected drunk driver," about the time he stopped her early Friday in a recording obtained by The Times. But East Chicago Policeman Korey Dumas only cited Lake County Councilwoman Christine Cid for driving left of center and failure to use a turn signal after stopping her 1:09 a.m. Friday at Chicago Avenue and Carey Street in East Chicago. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said Monday he is awaiting the results of an East Chicago police internal investigation about why they released Cid early last weekend without charging her with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. East Chicago Police Chief Frank Smith didn't return calls seeking comment. His department issued a statement Friday stating, "While it is within an officer's discretion to detain, arrest or release the subject of a traffic stop when the subject is cited or charged, the East Chicago Police Department has referred this matter to the Indiana State Police for further investigation." Carter said East Chicago has promised that its internal affairs investigators will look into the matter and give him a report. He said he will ask the Indiana State Police to further investigate the matter, if any criminal violations were committed. State police declined to comment on the matter Monday. Cid declined to comment Monday. She has served on the Lake County Council since August 2004. She represents East Chicago, Hammond and Highland on the County Council, which governs all spending by county government departments. Lake County E-911 Director Mark Swiderski released a 74-second audio recording of East Chicago police communications in response to a request by The Times for information regarding Cid's traffic stop. An officer is heard on the recording, "I'm on Chicago Avenue with a suspected drunk driver, failure to yield, as of right now." About 15 seconds of the tape are garbled. Swiderski said portions of the recording have been redacted under his department's policy to redact personal information of anyone stopped by police. Shortly after the redacted/garbled section, the officer states, "I'll be taking her in to the station." Carter said Friday he spoke with Police Chief Frank Smith about the case and learned the existence of "video of her being brought into the station." The Times also has requested from East Chicago police copies of any police reports or video connected with the traffic stop. HAMMOND Police said they are seeking drunken driving charges against a South Bend man who allegedly caused an accident that killed an East Chicago woman last weekend. Lt. Steven A. Kellogg, a spokesman for Hammond police, issued a statement Monday afternoon identifying the driver police arrested in the two-car crash as 69-year-old Denver Brown. Kellogg said Brown was driving eastbound in the 3300 block of Michigan Avenue 11:30 p.m. Saturday when his vehicle crossed the center line into the westbound lane. Police said he struck a car occupied by Maria C. Gonzalez, 55, of East Chicago and three others. Gonzalez died early Sunday of blunt force trauma from the impact. Kellogg said two juvenile females and a 19-year-old female, who were in the car with Gonzalez, are reported in stable condition. Kellogg said Brown received minor injuries. Kellogg said police are seeking charges against Brown of causing death and serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle while intoxicated. CHESTERTON Students walking home from Chesterton High School along 1100 North will soon be able to do so safely, rather than dodging traffic on the narrow road. The Chesterton Town Council unanimously approved Town Engineer Mark ODells request for funds Monday as the Westchester-Liberty Trail prepares for a June start and a September completion. The asphalt bike trail will be eight feet wide and will connect with an existing trail from Rosehill Estates subdivision on the east side of 1100 North to Fifth Street. The trail will cross over to the south side of 1100 North at Woodland Drive, where it will connect to an existing trail at Growing Kids. The town will pay 20 percent of the cost, with the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission funding 80 percent through a grant award. The money from the town has already been set aside in Chestertons economic development income tax fund. ODell said the town is doing wetland banking to compensate for any damage with additional wetland mitigation at the high school and this leg of the Westchester-Liberty Trail will connect Chesterton High School, Westchester Intermediate School and Bailey Elementary School, in addition to connecting parks, residential areas and town sidewalks. In other business, Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg reported Chesterton has received designation as a Tree City USA for 2016. It is the 21st year the town has earned this honor. The council also unanimously approved a resolution to officially designate April 24 through April 29 as Urban Forestry Days with April 29 proclaimed as Arbor Day. Additionally, no one spoke in favor or in opposition during the public hearing for annexation on the Duneland school bus barn, though school attorney Greg Babcock provided the town with an agreement for the 6.2-acre property, which is at 100 East directly across from Voyage Drive on Ind. 49. Babcock provided a fiscal report to the council since the school corporation does not pay property taxes, which is normally a consideration in annexation requests, but he detailed the user and sewer tap on fees paid to the town, as well as a future use map. A resolution establishing a written fiscal plan and policy was adopted later in the meeting, but approval of the ordinance for annexation cannot come until 14 days after the public hearing. The council also unanimously approved the Street Departments crack sealing project for several roads in town to help extend the life of 2014 paving projects through preventative maintenance. INDIANAPOLIS Indiana's existing ban on "sanctuary cities" likely soon will encompass all public and private universities in the state. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 38-10 Tuesday to advance the "sanctuary campus" prohibition in Senate Enrolled Act 423 to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature or veto. It last week passed the Republican-controlled House, 72-26. If signed into law, universities could not enact any regulation or policy that in any way restricts or limits any employee, including university police, from communicating with federal authorities about the immigration status of any person. In addition, a university could not bar the enforcement of federal immigration laws on its property. State Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, the sponsor, said it's important that the law be administered equally throughout the state. "This is a country of laws," Young said. "If we can say the universities don't have to follow it, then we can say somebody else doesn't have to follow the law, and pretty soon the law won't mean anything." The proposed statute would apply to every public or private post-secondary educational institution that receives any state or federal funds. In 2011, Hoosier lawmakers also prohibited local governments from declaring themselves sanctuary cities where federal immigration laws would not be enforced. INDIANAPOLIS Gov. Eric Holcomb is expected to approve changing the state's eminent domain statute to limit why and how railroads can forcibly purchase private property for new or expanded rail service. The Indiana House voted 96-0 Monday to accept Senate revisions to House Enrolled Act 1260, advancing the proposal to the Republican governor. It passed the Senate, 49-0, on March 27. The legislation obligates railroads to abide by the same "public use" mandate and property-appraisal process employed by the federal government when forcing the sale of a home, farm or other land. Current state law gives railroads of just about any size almost unlimited use of eminent domain, including potentially taking land in state parks to build rail lines. State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, the sponsor, said changing to the federal appraisal standard is needed, in part, to secure federal matching funds for double-tracking the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City. Other lawmakers have said the new eminent domain requirements also may deter Great Lakes Basin Transportation from attempting to take a 200-foot wide corridor for its proposed 260-mile freight railroad connecting Northwest Indiana to southeast Wisconsin. The measure was co-sponsored by state Reps. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron; Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster; and Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie; and state Sens. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso; Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell; and Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago. INDIANAPOLIS A small group of representatives and senators, led by state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, started working Monday to devise a compromise road funding package that both the House and Senate can support. House Bill 1002 passed each Republican-controlled chamber with a different mix of fuel tax hikes, new vehicle fees, tolling permissions and other tax-related provisions aimed at raising about $1 billion a year in new money that will go toward ensuring almost all of Indiana's roads and bridges are in fair or better condition by 2037. Members of the House-Senate conference committee appeared to agree that the Senate's plan to charge a $5 tax on new tire purchases should be deleted, since it likely would harm Hoosier retailers as most drivers simply would purchase tires in neighboring states. It was less clear whether senators would get behind a House proposal to dedicate all sales tax revenue from gasoline purchases to road funding, which potentially opens a $300 million annual hole in the state's main spending account. "It's going to take quite a mix because we're trying to raise an enormous amount of money," said state Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville. "We've never tried to raise this much money on any basis for any particular reason, but if Indiana is going to move forward we've got to do it." State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, advocated for a greater share of the money to go toward local road and bridge projects, as opposed to state-maintained infrastructure. "Yes, it may cost more money to do I-65 or I-70, but there's still a lot of local roads that appear to have more road needs and less ability to come up with the money themselves," Tallian said. State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, urged the legislation be revised to require Hoosier workers get first crack at any construction jobs created by the tax hikes. Soliday said he was grateful for all the different ideas and personally is continuing to refine additional elements, such as developing a public-private partnership structure for new semitrailer rest areas. "We've not been afraid to think outside the box and explore new and different ways that we can find to fund roads," Soliday said. "We're making excellent progress toward an agreement." The Senate sponsor, state Sen. Michael Crider, R-Greenfield, concurred: "I don't see this thing falling apart. I think there's a solid commitment." Any compromise road funding plan agreed to by the conference committee must be approved, without amendment, by the House and Senate to advance to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature or veto. CROWN POINT The city is moving forward on becoming more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. Crown Point Safe Pathways, a group of citizens advocating for safe, nonmotorized transportation in the city, wants to implement two initiatives from the Crown Point Bike & Pedestrian Master Plan that was created in 2015. Representing Crown Point Safe Pathways in a recent presentation before the City Council was Mitch Barloga, who is also the nonmotorized transportation and greenways planner for the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. One of the initiatives Barloga presented is a Bicycle Night Ride, an event that occurs in LaPorte, Valparaiso, Hammond and Lansing. Barloga said riding the streets of Crown Point at night would make for an excellent opportunity to showcase the city and encourage people to bike more often. "These are very popular events," Barloga said. "They bring out hundreds of people and are a great community bonding experience. It's increasing in popularity." Crown Point Safe Pathways would also like to see implemented a Complete Streets Policy ordinance. Complete Streets policies formalize the city's intent to plan, design and maintain streets so they are safe for all users and ages. At NIRPC, Barloga has worked with Regional entities on developing complete street plans. Barloga said policies have been enacted in Lowell and LaCrosse, and NIRPC adopted one in 2010. "I've been a resident of Crown Point for 25 years and it would stand that being a resident of this community, I want to make sure this ordinance was adopted here," he said. "It makes a lot of sense." Barloga said about 1,100 policies have been adopted nationwide and the move is growing in popularity. He said Crown Point Safe Pathways would work with the council's ordinance committee on its creation. "Each policy is unique to a community," Barloga said. "It does take time to fashion, but it will stand the test of time." Mayor David Uran told Barloga he's convinced him over the last several years that nonmotorized transportation is key to growing communities. In addition to working on drafting an ordinance for the Complete Streets Policy, Crown Point Safe Pathways will work with the city's Special Events office on planning the Bicycle Night Ride. GARY Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson officially declared April 13 as World Civility Day during a press conference at City Hall Tuesday morning. "You can be on different sides of an issue," she said. "You can argue your point vociferously, but you can always be respectful and civil." Freeman-Wilson held the press conference ahead of the second World Civility Day on Thursday, which is hosted by Community Civility Counts. The event includes a full day of civility-centered workshops at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond and then a dinner gala at Avalon Manor in Hobart. Community Civility Counts was created by the Gary Chamber of Commerce in partnership with The Times Media Co., in an effort to bring civility back into everyday interactions. "That's what this really is about," Freeman-Wilson said. "Respecting your fellow man, treating your neighbor as yourself, being willing to respect the person, whoever that person is." Gary Chamber Executive Director Chuck Hughes thanked the city of Gary and the mayor for supporting the initiative and making the declaration. The workshops Thursday will focus on all aspects of civility in life, from civility in the workplace to race relations to education. Students from two Gary schools that have been piloting a program associated with the initiative spoke about their experience. "Civility Counts is knowing how to interact with your peers, friends and community and have control of your actions," said Steel City ninth-grader Breonna Marshall. The classroom program will be the subject of one of the workshops Thursday during World Civility Day. The students and teachers will be speaking about the program and the possibility to expand to other schools. Martell Walker, a sophomore at Lighthouse, said he thinks Civility in the Classroom should be taught from kindergarten through high school. CROWN POINT Music, prayers and spiritual readings will fill St. Matthias Church on April 30 as the We Remember nondenominational service comforts those who are mourning the loss of child. This is our third We Remember service. We try different times of the year, said Beth Kreke, who is helping organize the service that begins at 1 p.m. at the church, 101 W. Burrell. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by April 17 by calling the parish office at 219-663-2201. Theres no fee to attend. No free-will offering will be taken, she said. Whether you lost a child after conception, or raised a child through adulthood, this ecumenical service invites those of all faiths to come together in support and love in remembrance of their loved one, she said. Everyone is welcome, grandparents, parents, siblings. Irish tenor Paddy Homan of Chicago will perform during the service and candles will be lighted as the name of each child is read. R. Glenn Kelly, noted author and grief support advocate, will be the guest speaker. Kelly, of Memphis, Tennessee, lost his only child during the boys teen years to an undiagnosed heart condition, Kreke said. After his son died, Kelly realized theres not much for fathers in terms of grief support and began his own advocacy, she said. His books will be available for sale during the reception that follows the service. Tears and memories will definitely be part of this service, Kreke said. Children of all ages will be remembered. WASHINGTON The Latest on U.S. meetings with world leaders on the recent chemical weapons attack in Syria (all times local): 2:20 p.m. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says that President Donald Trump's oldest daughter weighed in on his response to the Syrian chemical weapons attack. Spicer says at his daily press briefing that "there is no question that" Ivanka Trump and others "weighed into him" on the decision. The president's son, Eric Trump, told The Daily Telegraph in an interview that the president had been influenced by his sister's reaction to the gas attack that killed dozens last week. Eric Trump said his sister was "heartbroken and outraged" by the attack. Spicer said the feeling was widespread that the attack was "horrific" and "required action." The president's daughter recently began an official role at the White House. ___ 1:40 p.m. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is meeting with staffers who work at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The meeting is taking place privately. Tillerson is in Moscow for talks with Russian officials. He arrived earlier Tuesday to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It's the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet. __ 11:55 a.m. U.S. Senator John McCain says stopping Syrian President Bashar Assad's "murderous rampage" does not preclude America from fighting the Islamic State group. At a press conference in Sarajevo, the Republican senator said the U.S. "is the most powerful nation on earth" and "can do both at the same time." McCain said Assad is "a war criminal and must go." He said the "needless and senseless slaughter of innocent men, women and children is an obligation for all of us," including Russia, to stop. McCain is on a tour of the western Balkans, the war-weary European region where Russia has been vying for increased military, political and economic influence. __ 10:40 a.m. Russia's President Vladimir Putin says Washington's accusations against the Syrian government over a chemical attack resemble the claims made before the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003. Putin, speaking Tuesday after talks in Moscow with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, said the U.S. invaded Iraq based on false allegations that it had chemical weapons. He says the U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian air base following accusations that Syria's government's used chemical weapons that killed dozens of people last week "strongly resembles the developments of 2003." Putin added that some in the West are using Syria to cast Russia as a "common enemy." Russia has argued that civilians in Khan Sheikhoun were exposed to toxic agents from a militants' arsenal hit by a Syrian air strike. Putin says militants are preparing more "provocations" to blame Damascus. ___ 10 a.m. A grass fire that broke out next to the Moscow airport where U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was due to arrive has been extinguished. The emergency situations ministry said on Tuesday about 100 square meters of grass caught fire just outside the Vnukovo airport before Tillerson's plane landed. Live footage from the scene showed tall clouds of black smoke billowing just over the tarmac. Tillerson is in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the civil war in Syria. The airport said in a separate statement that the fire was outside the airport and it didn't affect its operations. ___ 9:40 a.m. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has arrived in Moscow to meet with Russian officials about the Syria civil war. It's the first official trip to Russia by a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet. Russia has been incensed by U.S. allegations of complicity in Syrian President Bashar Assad's use of chemical weapons. The U.S. increased the pressure Monday when a senior official said the U.S. has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week. The visit also comes amid an FBI investigation into whether Russia potentially colluded with Trump's campaign to influence the U.S. election. Tillerson plans to meet Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. It's unclear whether he will also meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. ___ 9:10 a.m. Russia's General Staff says the Syrian government is willing to let international experts to examine its military base for signs of chemical weapons. The United States on Friday carry out an airstrike on the Shayrat air base which is believed to have been used for last week's chemical weapons attack in the Idlib province. Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy of the Russian General Staff said in televised remarks on Tuesday that the Syrian government is ready to let international experts to examine the base and that Russia will provide security for them. ___ 8:50 a.m. President Vladimir Putin says Russia will appeal to the United Nations to investigate last week's chemical attack in Syria. Moscow has dismissed suggestions that the Syrian government that it backs could be behind the attack in Idlib province. Putin told reporters on Tuesday that Russia would appeal to a U.N. agency in the Hague, urging it to hold an official probe. Putin also said Russia has received intelligence about planned "provocations" using chemical weapons that would put the blame on the Syrian government. Russia has defended Bashar Assad's government which has been accused of launching a chemical weapons attack on the Idlib province. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is to meet U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday. ___ 7 a.m. Russia's foreign ministry says it hopes for "productive talks" with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, as Tillerson heads to Moscow in his first visit to Russia as the top U.S. diplomat. The ministry said in a three-page statement issued ahead of Tillerson's arrival later on Tuesday that the outcome of the talks is important not only for the Russia-U.S. ties but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage." Tillerson is traveling to Russia several days after a chemical attack in Syria and a U.S. air strike on a Syrian government base that Moscow on Tuesday dismissed as "an act of aggression." Moscow is a staunch ally of President Bashar Assad whom the United States blamed for the chemical attack. Tillerson said Tuesday that Russia must choose between aligning itself with the U.S. or with Assad and Iran. ___ 6:30 a.m. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says Russia must choose between aligning itself with the U.S. and likeminded countries or embracing Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and the militant group Hezbollah. Tillerson says it's unclear whether Russia failed to take seriously its obligations in Syria or has been incompetent. But he says that distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." He says of the recent chemical attack: "We cannot let this happen again." Tillerson says the U.S. sees no future role for Assad in Syria, but he says the U.S. isn't pre-supposing how Assad's departure will occur. Tillerson traveled Tuesday to Moscow. He says Russia can play a role in Syria's future but that aligning with Assad won't serve Russia's long-term interests. ___ The entry timed 8:50 a.m. has been corrected to say that Tillerson is meeting Lavrov on Wednesday, not Putin. Criminal justice experts are praising passage of the Raise the Age legislation and what it means for juvenile offenders. NY1's Lori Chung talked to one young man who says he knows all too well how critical rehab can be for teens on the wrong path. Jim St. Germaine says he's living, breathing proof that rehabilitation works for teenagers that find themselves in trouble with the law. "If I didn't get sent to the juvenile justice system, I might have been either dead on in jail now," St. Germaine said. "Started out just getting into fights and skipping school. Then, I got involved in more dangerous behaviors and started selling drugs," he added. By 15, he'd been arrested more than a dozen times. His last arrest landed him in a youth detention center, where he says he found the support he needed to turn his life around. "I was just four months shy of my 16th birthday. So if I was just 16, I would have actually went to the adult system and ended up in Rikers Island," St. Germaine said. Now 28, he's among those applauding the new law to raise the age and stop automatically prosecuting 16- and 17-year-olds as adults, teens like Kalief Browder, who took his life after spending three years in Rikers on a charge that was ultimately dropped. "I don't think Kalief Browder was half as of a knucklehead that I was as a kid. The only difference is that he was 16," St. Germaine said. "You're really telling that young person, 'I don't care much about your well-being or your future. Go ahead and survive for yourself.'" Advocates with the Children's Defense Fund say "Raise the Age" is common sense. "It's not just that young people are exposed to harm in the adult system or that young people are saddled with criminal convictions that impact their ability to get jobs, go to college, do a number of things in their lives. It's that young people that go to the adult system are more likely to reoffend," said Elizabeth Powers of the Children's Defense Fund. But attorney Ken Montgomery says there's more work to do in changing how teens are prosecuted overall, and hopes that's the next battle. "This now presents some problems possibly on the juvenile side," Montgomery said. "If you're going to increase the amount of juveniles that the family court system now handles, then that's going to change the culture there as well. So hopefully everyone can keep their thinking caps on." After two recent derailments at Penn Station, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie want their states to be involved in reviewing Amtrak's maintenance of its tracks. Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration are conducting a joint study of maintenance and efficiency issues at Penn Station following last Monday's derailment. But Cuomo and Christie say New York and New Jersey haven't been invited to take part. In a joint letter to Amtrak and the FRA, the two governors are asking for "independent verification" of track safety at the station. They say their states should be involved since the bulk of people using Penn Station ride the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit. The letter says in part, "this comprehensive review should take into account the causes of recent failures at Penn Station and any needed changes to the processes by which routine maintenance and emergency repairs are performed." Even though Amtrak owns the tracks at Penn Station, New Jersey transit and the Long Island Rail Road carry far more passengers through the hub. In response, Amtrak issued a statement saying it will immediately share any findings to develop a plan for safe and efficent service. Auburn University graduate Kay Ivey, twice elected as Alabama's lieutenant governor, was sworn in as the state's second female governor Monday after Robert Bentley resigned ahead of an impeachment hearing. Ivey already has the support of Lee County lawmakers who have pledged support to the transition in the state's highest office. Auburn Rep. Joe Lovvorn attended Ivey's swearing-in as governor to show her Lee County is behind her, he said. "It's a tough day in Alabama, but it's a new beginning in a lot of ways," Lovvorn said. "We've had this cloud over the state ever since the problems began, and I'm optimistic moving forward with the real business of the state." Ivey graduated from Auburn in 1967 and becomes the state's first female governor to rise through the political ranks on her own, as she was the first Republican to hold the office of lieutenant governor for two straight terms. Alabama's first female governor was Lurleen Wallace, wife of four-term Gov. George C. Wallace. She ran as a surrogate for her still-powerful husband in 1966 when he couldn't seek re-election because of term limits. She won, but died in office in 1968. Her husband regained the governor's seat in 1970. Ivey campaigned for Lurleen Wallace as an undergraduate student during her time at Auburn, according to previous Associated Press reports. The 72-year-old Ivey is from Wilcox County, the same rural area where U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions grew up. First elected lieutenant governor in 2010, she was re-elected in 2014. Ivey's biography shows her as an accomplished stateswoman who got her start in Alabama politics as a House clerk and later became the first Republican elected treasurer since Reconstruction. Although her current position carries respect, it wields little constitutional power besides being next in line to the executive office. As the Senate's president and presiding officer, Ivey acts as a moderator who doesn't offer opinions on legislation but instead directs the procedural flow in her signature honey-dripping drawl, cutting off senators whose speeches have gone on too long or namedropping distinguished guests in the gallery. Im very excited to work with Gov. Ivey and looking forward serving out this term, said Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn. And having someone in office that will be a champion for Alabama and economic development here in the state. In private, however, lawmakers say she doesn't spare them tough questions. "She is well in-tune to the issues," said Sen. Cam Ward, an Alabaster Republican who's sponsoring a much debated bill to overhaul the state prison system. "I think she will be a steady hand for state government." Ivey, who immediately assumed the role of the governor after Bentley's resignation, would hold that position until the next general election in 2018. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Democracy Under Threat, but Americans Concerned with Other Things Wed., Oct. 19, 2022 Americans believe that our current form of government is under threat of disappearing, yet most dont think this threat is the biggest problem facing the country, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. 11/04/2017 -Taxes on labour income for the average worker across the OECD continued to decrease for the third consecutive year during 2016, dropping to 36% of labour costs, according to a new OECD report. Taxing Wages 2017 measures the level of personal income tax and social security contributions in each OECD country by calculating the tax wedge - the total taxes on labour income paid by employees and employers, minus family benefits received, as a percentage of the labour costs of the employer. The tax wedge is calculated for a range of different family types and at different income levels. The tax wedge on the income of the average worker decreased slightly, to 36%, in 2016. Last years decline follows a multi-year trend, partially reversing tax wedge increases reported in the years immediately following the global economic crisis. The decrease in the average tax wedge seen since 2013 is partly explained by reforms in some countries to reduce taxes on labour income. For example, in 2016 Belgium and Austria both experienced significant reductions in their tax wedges as a result of labour tax reforms. Although the OECD average tax wedge decreased slightly in 2016 relative to 2015, the tax wedge actually increased slightly in 20 OECD countries, while it declined in 14 others. Most of the changes were driven by changes in personal income tax. Taxing Wages 2017 also finds that taxes on families with children are lower than taxes on single earners without children in all but two countries (Chile and Mexico), where they are the same.. In 2016, the OECD average tax wedge for one-earner families with children was 26.6%, nearly 10 percentage points lower than the tax wedge on the average single worker. On average across OECD countries the gap between the tax wedges of families and single earners increased slightly between 2015 and 2016. Taxing Wages provides unique cross-country comparative data on the amounts of personal income taxes, social security contributions, payroll taxes and cash benefits for eight family-types, which differ by income level and household composition. It also presents the resulting average and marginal tax wedge for these family types. Average tax wedges show the part of gross wage earnings or labour costs which are taken in personal income taxes (before and after cash benefits), social security contributions and payroll taxes. Marginal tax wedges show the part of an increase of gross earnings or labour costs that is paid in these levies. The 2017 edition of Taxing Wages contains a special feature examining the impact of tax on the incentives for workers to invest in their skills. For a typical worker undertaking a short course of training, the combined impact of personal income taxes and employee social security contributions reduces the incentive to invest in skills training, lowering the value of a skills investment by 24.9% on average across the OECD. Taxes on labour income for the average worker across the OECD are still falling slightly, although this decline is partly driven by reforms in a handful of countries, said Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECDs Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. Boosting the work incentives of low and middle income earners by reducing the tax wedge on labour incomes continues to be an important way of encouraging inclusive growth. Key findings The average tax wedge in the OECD decreased in 2016 relative to 2015 Across OECD countries, the average personal income tax (PIT) and social security contributions (SSCs) on employment incomes was 36.0% in 2016, a decrease of 0.07 percentage points relative to 2015. In 2016, the highest average tax wedges for childless single workers earning the average national wage were in Belgium (54.0%), Germany (49.4%), Hungary (48.2%) and France (48.1%). The lowest were in Chile (7%), New Zealand (17.9%) and Mexico (20.1%). Between 2015 and 2016, the tax wedge increased in 20 of 35 countries, fell in 14 and remained unchanged in Chile. Changes to the PIT were the main contributor to an increasing total tax wedge in 16 of the 20 countries. There was an increase of more than one percentage point in the tax wedge in only one country; Greece (1.06 percentage points), which was driven by an increase in both PIT and SSCs. A decline of one percentage point or more was experienced in two countries, which both implemented labour income tax reforms - Austria (2.47 percentage points) and Belgium (1.32 percentage points). The change in Austria was mainly due to lower PIT, whereas in Belgium it was caused by lower PIT and employer SSCs. Changes to PIT were also the primary contributing factor in most countries where the tax wedge fell in 2016. In Iceland and Switzerland, changes in SSCs also contributed. Decreasing employers SSCs were the main factor in France and Italy. Tax wedges for families with children In 2016, the highest tax wedge for one-earner families with two children at the average wage was in France (40.0%). Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy and Sweden had tax wedges of between 38% and 40%. New Zealand had the lowest tax wedge for these families (6.2%), followed by Chile (7%), Ireland (8.3%) and Switzerland (9.1%). The average for OECD countries was 26.6%. Between 2015 and 2016, the largest increase in the tax wedge for one earner families with children was in New Zealand (1.24 percentage points). The largest decreases were in Austria (2.68 percentage points), Portugal (2.50 percentage points), Belgium (1.73 percentage points), Hungary (1.60 percentage points) and Ireland (1.03 percentage points). The tax wedge for families with children is lower than that for single individuals without children in all OECD countries except in Chile and Mexico, where both family types face the same tax levels. No PIT is payable at the average wage level in Chile and no tax provisions for families with children exist in Mexico. The differences are particularly large in Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Slovenia. Further information on Taxing Wages 2017 is available at: http://www.oecd.org/tax/taxing-wages.htm Media enquiries should be directed to Lawrence Speer (+33 1 4524 7970) or the OECD Media Office (+33 1 4524 9700). Related Documents An Offaly man was driving around Mountmellick with 500 of cocaine and weighing scales in his car, selling the drug to people in pubs. That was States evidence in the case of Dean OBrien (24), with an address at Kilcavan, Geashill, Offaly. At last weeks sitting of Portlaoise District Court, Detective Garda Padraic Ryan gave evidence that on June 4, 2016, he was conducting an operation into the sale and supply of drugs in local public houses, when he saw a car pull up outside a pub in Mountmellick, Co. Laois and a number of males bought two bags of cocaine. SEE ALSO: Two men refused bail following serious armed robbery in Offaly When the accused was stopped and searched, the gardai found three bags of cocaine hidden in his underwear and a large bag of the drug in his sock. The total value of the drugs on his person was 500. The accused had no previous convictions. Defence, Ms Josephine Fitzpatrick, said her client had now ceased this activity. She thanked Detective Ryan for doing his duty, as otherwise we could be dealing with a much more serious issue. Defence said that the accused had been offered the drug two years ago and started using it socially, feeling that he couldnt socialise without it. Ms Fitzpatrick said that her client was a sportsperson and handed in a letter from his local club, as well as a letter from his parents. SEE ALSO: Car and window damaged in bad blood dispute Detective Ryan said he accepted that the accused took cocaine himself, but added: He was driving around Mountmellick with five bags of cocaine and weighing scales. He was there that night to sell those drugs. In ruling, Judge Catherine Staines told the accused he had made a decision to sell drugs to young people. You were buying drugs from more serious criminals, people who would put a gun to your head, the judge told him. She said that OBrien should be going to prison for 12 months, but he had no previous convictions, had pleaded guilty, and had suffered with a cocaine addiction. However, she said she had no doubt he was dealing the drug to make money. Saying she wanted proof he was engaging with a drug service for his addiction and had stopped using drugs, Judge Staines put the matter back for a probation report. She warned him she was not making any promises and the report had better be excellent. A priest, a rabbi and an imam no joke walked onto Omahas globally unique tri-faith campus and came away smiling. I think it will be a model for the world, said the Rev. Masud Ibn Syedullah, an Episcopal priest from Hyde Park, New York. Its a time when we especially need an increased appreciation for differences, tolerance and celebration of each other. It was surprising to me at first that this was happening in Omaha, of all places, said Rabbi Shefa Gold of Jemez Springs, New Mexico. I just didnt expect this kind of vision to be happening here. I did not understand the depth of the tri-faith project until I came here and saw it on the ground, said Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat of Baltimore. I was delighted to see that Omaha was a pioneer. The 35-acre site south of 132nd and Pacific Streets is about to achieve another milestone a mosque will open on May 26, the start of the 30-day observance of Ramadan. Temple Israels synagogue opened in August 2013, just before Rosh Hashanah. Countryside Community Church will break ground on June 5, with plans to open in time for Christmas next year. A fourth building, for interfaith gatherings, is planned for later. Ironically, the historical name of a stream running through the religious campus is Hell Creek over which, leaders say, people someday will walk on Heavens Bridge. The overall project, funded by donations, is estimated to cost $60 million. Many cities offer interfaith gatherings, but Omaha has taken a large step beyond that. Although houses of worship from the three great Abrahamic faiths sit in proximity to one another in some other locales, no place else has done what Omaha is doing intentionally locating separate faith buildings on the same plot of land. It began, in a sense, on 9/11. Thats when Aryeh Azriel, then the senior rabbi of Temple Israel, gathered some of his congregants to guard a mosque against possible vandalism. The gesture made an impact and led to interfaith meetings, including Christians and a March 27, 2009, gathering of more than 1,000 people, Dinner at Abrahams Tent: Conversations in Peace. Leaders of the umbrella Tri-Faith Initiative later found the site, helped raise money and moved the project forward. It has faced little public opposition, though Paul Anderson, a City Council candidate who dropped out of the race Monday, criticized the mosque in a radio ad. Anderson later said he regretted his choice of words and is not anti-immigrant or anti-Muslim. The three clerics who recently visited Omaha had been invited to conduct a retreat for members of the initiative. The trio stayed for the April 2 awards brunch of Inclusive Communities, a separate organization formerly known as the Conference of Christians and Jews. The Tri-Faith Initiative received the 2017 humanitarian award. Gene Haynes, principal of Omaha North High, received the Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award. Nate Johnson, a Ralston High graduate and University of Nebraska at Omaha student, received the volunteer of the year award. The speaker was Maria Hinojosa of New York City, an NPR journalist who has worked at CNN, PBS and other networks and founded the nonprofit Futuro Media Group. Afterward, the visiting clerics jointly talked about their enlightening weekend in Omaha. The Rev. Syedullah praised the vision and courage of tri-faith participants and called the Omaha project a hopeful vision for the world. Rabbi Gold said that something really good is happening and that Omahans had opened their minds and hearts. Imam Arafat reflected on how important this visit was, and praised tri-faith leaders for making this dream a reality. A native of Damascus, Syria, Arafat moved to Baltimore in 1989, became a U.S. citizen and has been heavily involved in interfaith work. Since 2005, he has conducted programs in 25 countries on Islam in America through the U.S. State Department. At times overseas, he has been booed by Muslims who charge that hes being used by the U.S. government. An angry mob once blocked his car in Tanzania. In Omaha, Arafat said in an interview: We are in need of a reformation of Islamic mentality, of so many Muslims who do not understand what America stands for. Meanwhile, he said, many Americans are being told the wrong story about the true message of Islam. ... One of my prayers is to be able to take a message of peace, harmony and coexistence around the world with the support of the American people. Arafat was very surprised to learn of Omahas tri-faith project and how far it has advanced. Unfortunately, he said, in Baltimore we dont hear so much about Omaha. But the personality and spirituality of the people of Omaha has really struck my heart. On Monday, yet another school shooting happened. As a parent, I can't understand these mass shootings. What is going on in this world? Two adults, including a teacher and the shooter, and one student died in the murder-suicide shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California, according to news reports. Another student, a 9-year-old boy, was also injured and remained hospitalized Monday night. I especially can't understand why mass shootings happen where there are innocent children. My 3-year-old son, Sam, will be starting school before I know it. Not only am I afraid of that day, because it means my baby is growing up, but Im also afraid of the unknown. A huge part of me wants to homeschool him, to shelter him from anything bad that could happen. But I know thats not realistic. Its impossible to shield him from every difficulty in life. I distinctly recall the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado. Ill never forget watching the news and seeing terrified kids around my age running from school and mourning the abrupt loss of their friends. I was in eighth grade, and it was difficult to understand what was happening. Its something thats stayed with me. Since Columbine, which claimed 13 lives and injured 21 others, theres been more than 250 shootings of any kind in schools in the United States, according to an ABC News review of reported cases from 2016. And, while Sam is too young to understand whats going on in the world around him particularly school shootings and terrorist attacks its good to know how to talk to him when that day comes. Dr. Dan Daly, youth care director emeritus and psychologist with Boys Town in Omaha, said everyone, including kids, is hardwired to recover from crisis events and has built-in coping mechanisms. "Therefore, it is normal for kids to feel upset, sad, confused or afraid after something bad happens, Daly previously told The World-Herald. These feeling allow them to process and start to heal. Its important to let your child know that its OK to have these feelings." He offered these tips to parents: Always be available and listen to your child when they want to talk, but dont force children to talk about their feelings. Give kids the time and space to sort through and process their emotions. Parents, friends and teachers can be great sources of support, caring and understanding for kids. You might be fearful and unsettled yourself. Seek adult comfort. Parents should convey confidence in the future and that things will be OK to their children. Getting kids back to their normal activities and their regular schedule as soon as possible promotes positive coping and healing. Routines are comforting to kids. Monitor kids as the healing process continues, even months after the event. Through this process, you should keep your eyes and ears open for signals of deeper problems, Daly said. These might include changes in eating or sleeping habits or not being able to return to normal activities. If you notice these or other red flags continuing two weeks or longer after the event, seek help from a licensed mental health professional. For more information about helping your child in the aftermath of a crisis, visit the Boys Town website here. *** *** Ashlee Coffey is the editor of momaha.com. She is married with two sons Sam and Elliott. Follow her on Twitter @AshleeCoffeyOWH. The seeds of dispute were everywhere. An 82-year-old Omaha man got so upset over his neighbors silver maple dropping its winged seeds on his driveway that he punched his neighbors adult son, knocking him to the ground, according to a police report. Maple trees are notorious for littering the landscape this time of year with their offspring, the millions of winged seeds that are popularly referred to as whirligigs, whirlybirds and helicopter seeds. Fascinating to children, but annoying to adults who clean up after them, the seeds are a common cause of complaints made to horticulturists, said Kathleen Cue of the University of Nebraska Extension in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. Silver maples are native to this area, and early spring is when they drop their seeds. Scientists say the winged nature of the seeds boosts the species chances of survival by dispersing seeds well beyond the large, leafy canopy of the parent tree. On Friday afternoon, the 82-year-old and his neighbors 54-year-old son got into an altercation when the older man tried to pull down one of the limbs on the tree with a rope, the younger man told police. So on Monday, still smarting from the run-in, the 54-year-old went to the police station and filed a report. He told police that he had been staying at his fathers house near 132nd and Harrison Streets while his father was in the hospital. He said he confronted his fathers neighbor after the older man tied the rope to a branch and tried to pull the branch down. When the older man refused to remove the rope, the 54-year-old cut it, he told officers. That led to the 82-year-old punching the younger man in the face, according to the report. By Monday, all that was visible of the punch was a small red mark on the mans right cheek, according to the police report. Police provided the younger man with the information needed to seek misdemeanor charges against the older man. He couldnt be reached for comment on whether he followed through. In the meantime, Cues got a bit of bad news for the two men. This year, theres a chance for a bumper crop of whirligigs. Warm weather and a lack of late frosts means the number of dropped seeds will be high, she said. GERING, Neb. (AP) Authorities have arrested a Gering woman, accusing her of scamming her 84-year-old grandfather out of more than $250,000 over four years. Court records say Stacia Keener, 33, is charged with one count of felony theft and two felony counts of forgery. Online jail records say Keener remained in custody Tuesday. Her attorney didn't immediately return a call from the Associated Press. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 18. The records say the man reported that Keener had lied to him about needing money to pay back taxes and an attorney, and had forged checks on his account. He also said he was supposed to be a co-signer on a bank loan to her but learned later that he's been made the primary borrower. Health Mello says he would scrap the citys Citizen Complaint Review Board and create a new form of civilian oversight for police if he was elected mayor. Mayor Jean Stothert appointed the review board in 2014. It receives complaints only from people who have filed a formal complaint that the police chief found to be without merit. The first group that Stothert appointed to that board resigned, and the chairman wrote in a letter that it had operated without the level of support from the Mayors Office that it expected. Stothert characterizes the previous boards concerns as a complaint that they didnt have enough work to do, and she has said thats a good thing. Mello, however, said community members feel that the current board doesnt have the level of transparency or accountability that it should. He said he would find consensus among the community, the police union and the police chief for a new system. A decade before the board, Omaha had an independent auditor who oversaw complaints about the police for about five years. The auditor was fired in 2006 by then-Mayor Mike Fahey, and neither Stothert nor Mello say they support bringing back the position. Stothert often says that the police chief is the citys police auditor its his job to discipline officers. Mayoral debate What: Candidates Jean Stothert and Heath Mello face off on the same stage When: Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. Find it: On KMTV channel 3 and Omaha.com Sponsors: 3 News Now and The World-Herald. Moderators will be Craig Nigrelli, a longtime 3 News Now anchor, and Mikel Severe, the host of The World-Heralds The Bottom Line live radio show. 5 things to watch in tonight's Jean Stothert-Heath Mello debate Jean Stothert and Heath Mello will go toe-to-toe on the same stage in Tuesday nights mayoral debate. Stothert, who is running for a second term, narrowly edged Heath Mello, a former state senator, by about 2 percentage points in last weeks primary, paving the way for a red-hot campaign going into the May 9 general election. Here are five things to watch for during the one-hour televised and live-streamed debate: Who will bring the heat? Stothert is not known as a shrinking violet on the debate stage, but Mello also has significant sparring experience on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. Its safe to say both candidates will use those skills to aggressively differentiate themselves from their opponent. If we had to guess, both candidates have already formulated lines of attack that they will pursue at opportune times. Prepared zingers? A debate without a canned zinger would be like ordering movie popcorn sans the butter. Were banking that both candidates will have a few zingers in their pockets, ready to fire off at an appropriate time. The question is whether the candidate with the zinger can get the line off without it looking staged. Its harder to do than people think. Stotherts game plan? Stothert is a relatively known quantity in Omaha. Her job will be to convince voters that she deserves another four years. She will likely come to the debate with a laundry list of accomplishments tucked away in her head, ready to insert into almost every question asked. She needs to tell voters all the good things shes done, what positive impact shes had on the city and why she deserves to be retained, said Paul Landow, a political scientist at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Mellos game plan? Mellos job in the debate will be convincing voters that he can do a better job than Stothert and that he is a viable alternative. He also has to give voters a reason to oust Stothert. Mello will likely try at every chance he gets to point out what he sees as Stotherts weaknesses or faults. In the process, hes also going to talk about his own record in the Nebraska Legislature, touting his claim that he worked effectively with members on both sides of the political aisle. Hes got to tell voters why the incumbent should be removed from office, said Landow. Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump? It would be surprising if this debate ends without either candidate bringing up either Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. Stothert has been critical of Mello for agreeing to appear at a rally next week with Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist and the leader of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. For his part, Mello hasnt been shy about trying to tie Stothert to Trump, questioning where the mayor stands on Obamacare, climate change and Trumps immigration ban. The photograph showed upturned pews, stained by the blood of believers after a Palm Sunday attack. Islamic State suicide bombers killed at least 44 people in separate attacks on Coptic Christian churches Sunday in Alexandria and Tanta. These scenes were the latest reminders of how dangerous it can be to practice ones faith, especially a minority faith. A similar scene unfolded Jan. 29 in Quebec City, Canada, when a zealot opened fire in a mosque, killing six. History offers countless examples of religious minorities being singled out for their beliefs. Thousands are harrassed and intimidated but continue to pray, worship and persevere. The world should treat this evil as beneath our common humanity. Because it is. 14 VIPs in India are guarded by 551 commandos India oi-Vicky By Vicky New Delhi, April 11: There are 551 commandos who guard 14 VIPs who are under the Z-plus security category. There are 14 VIPs including senior BJP leader, L K Advani and former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati who are extended this benefit. The government says that the NSG commandos to each VIP works out to approximately 39:1. It may be recalled that after the Kargil war a report had recommended disengaging the NSG from VIP protection. However this has not been implemented as yet. The government told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that as many as 298 VIPs are accorded central protection. 26 are in the Z-plus category, 58 in Z, 144 in Y-plus, 2 in Y and 68 in X category, it was also informed. Union Ministers, state chief ministers and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are provided positional or statutory security cover. The cover is withdrawn once they step down from office, the government also said. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 19:33 [IST] 142 attacks on journalists in 2014-15: LS told India oi-PTI New Delhi, Apr 11: There were 142 incidents of attacks on journalists in different parts of the country during 2014-15, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said in 2014, there were 114 incidents of attacks on journalists in which 32 people were arrested. In 2015, there were 28 incidents of attacks on scribes in which 41 people were arrested, he said during question hour. The Minister said the existing laws are adequate for protection of citizens, including journalists. The Press Council of India takes prompt action on receipt of specific complaints from affected persons. Representations on providing security are received from or on behalf of individuals, including journalists, and all such representations are examined. Based on inputs received regarding threat assessment, necessary action is taken, he said. Ahir said since police and public order is a state subject, it is the responsibility of the state governments to provide security to journalists. He said as of now, there was no provision for providing compensation by state or central governments to journalists or their family members in cases of attacks. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 15:53 [IST] 6 kg gold concealed in toilet of Bengaluru-bound flight India oi-Anusha Officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence recovered gold concealed onboard a Bengaluru-bound flight. 6 kilos of gold was found concealed in the plane's toilet by officials from New Delhi. With heightened vigil smugglers have been attempting to conceal gold in a variety of places. In February earlier this year officials of the directorate of revenue intelligence had arrested a woman from Mumbai for smuggling gold in silver metallic pieces valued Rs 1.14 crore. Similarly, gold worth Rs 1.21 crore was seized in two cases at the Mumbai airport recently. Gold worth Rs 71.66 lakh was found hidden under one of the seats of a plane that came from Dubai while gold worth Rs 50 lakh was found on another passenger who landed from Dubai. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 16:25 [IST] And this is how India treats a Pakistan spy India oi-Vicky By Vicky On the one hand, Kulbhushan Jadhav and Sarabjit were tortured by Pakistan on the flimsy ground that they were Indian spies. On the other hand here is the case of Sajeed Muneer who has become the responsibility of the Bhopal police after Pakistan refused to seek his extradition. Muneer was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan and even served a 12 year jail term. Following his release India sent a request to Pakistan to take him back. However Pakistan did not respond to the request. Today Muneer is the responsibility of the district special branch of the Bhopal police. He is with them for the past ten months. Today the police feed him and look after him as he has nowhere else to go. He is kept at the Koh-e-Fiza police stations and all his necessities are taken care of. The DBS very often writes to get his deportation process expedited, but there has been no positive response. Unless Pakistan is ready to accept him, it is very difficult to get his deporation done. He was arrested in Bhopal in the year 2004 on charges of spying. He was convicted and served a 12 year term before being released last year. Muneer a murder accused in Karachi was lured by the ISI to spy against India. He was offered a deal by the ISI to spy against India and assured that the murder charges would not be pressed against him. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 18:02 [IST] Arrest warrant against Kejriwal for questioning Modi's qualification India oi-Vicky By Vicky An Assam court has issued an arrest warrant against Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a defamation case. The case was filed after he made remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The court issued the bailable warrant after Kejriwal failed to appear before the court. Kejriwal had tweeted on December 15 2016, "Modiji 12 pass hain. Uske baad ki degree farzi hai". (Modi has studied upto class 12. His degrees after that are fake). The case was filed by BJP leader Surya Rongphar. The court took into account that Kejriwal had failed to appear before it. We have seen the petition submitted by Gurpreet Singh Uppal showing the ground that it is not possible for the accused, namely Arvind Kejriwal, to leave Delhi due to the municipality election in Delhi. On perusal of the record, it reveals that the accused has not appeared before this court on the earlier occasion on 30/1/2017 too, availing adjournment of more than two months. Considering this, the petition of Gurpreet Singh Uppal is rejected and a bailable warrant of arrest of Rs.10,000 has been issued against the said accused. Complainant to take step. The next date for appearance is fixed on May 8, 2017," the court order also read. OneIndia News Chandra Grahan 2022: Check the start and end timing of lunar eclipse in major cities IRCTC update: 136 trains cancelled on Nov 08; here is the complete list 'Kejriwal ji, if my claims true, you'll resign and retire': Sukesh writes a new letter BJP to support Independents in five MCD wards India ians-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, April 11: Following the rejection of nomination papers of five of its candidates for the April 23 civic pols in Delhi, the BJP on Tuesday said it will support Independent candidates in the affected five wards. The Independent candidates extended support by the BJP are Twinkle Kalia in Kishanganj ward, Amrita Rashmi (Bapraula), Rahul Singh (Vinod Nagar), Gulfam (Abul Fazal Enclave) and Lata Soni (Lado Sarai). "The BJP will support these Independent candidates who have expressed desire to join the party and those whose political approach is in line with ours," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Vice President Shyam Jaju told media here. Earlier, the Delhi State Election Commission rejected the nominations of BJP's Monika Chhabra, Ravinder Negi, Sanju Bala, Jamal Haidar and Rinki Kumari from these wards. Jaju said the BJP will repeat its good performance recorded in assembly and municipal elections across the country post-November 8 demonetisation in Delhi also. Jaju welcomed 38 workers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) into the BJP on the occasion. A Youth Congress leader Manoj Aggarwal from Krishna Nagar also joined the BJP along with 10 supporters. IANS Modi not to raise internal matter like J&K during annual UNGA session next month Budget was meaningful, successful session: Modi India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, April 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, addressing BJP MPs, expressed satisfaction on a successful Budget session, which he said had been "very meaningful and useful". "Talking about victory in the UP assembly elections, he said that it was a 'successful session'," Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said, quoting the Prime Minister. "The Prime Minister told the members that there is an environment in the country in favour of the NDA and BJP. This is a golden opportunity to move on the path of development," said Kumar, quoting Modi. This was the last BJP parliamentary party meeting of the Budget session, which ends on Wednesday. IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 17:34 [IST] Coastal Andhra to get heavy rainfall in next 2-3 days: IMD Visakhapatnam: More than half of Jana Sena workers released but situation still tense Chandrababu Naidu: People are suffering due to terrorism India pti-PTI Visakhapatnam, April 11: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said people are suffering due to terrorism. "Human beings are suffering a lot due to terrorism. There are no boundaries, religions and regions for terrorism," Naidu said after inaugurating a 'BRICS conference with Deputy Foreign Ministers' in Visakhapatnam. He said terrorists were utilising the technology for their activities in all the countries. "I request you all to put more efforts on how to end terrorism and how to encourage peace," the Chief Minister added. PTI Congress raises Kulbhushan's issue in Lok Sabha India oi-Gulam Rabbani New Delhi: The Congress leaders on Tuesday passed an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss an issue on Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge that If Kulshubhan is to hanged then we thought and perceived that he is going to murdered. Replying to the Congress leader, Union Minister Ananth Kumar said that the government is Kulbhushan Jadhav and the Home Minister Rajnath Singh will give a reply on the matter. After Pakistan military court on Monday announced to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Congress might create a ruckus in the Lok Sabha. Apart from that, they are likely to raise the Kashmir unrest recently and Srinagar by polls issues which showed turn out of 7 per cent of votes. Who is Kubhushan Jadhav? He is an Indian citizen recognised by the government as a former naval officer. He was arrested by Pakistan on charges of espionage. Pakistan says that he was arrested near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan. India, however, says that he was abducted from Iran by Pakistan. Pakistan accused Jadhav of being an undercover agent working for the Research and Analysis Wing. He was also accused of promoting sectarian violence in Balochistan. A product of the NDA: He joined the Indian National Defence Academy in the year 1987 and in 1991 he joined the Indian Navy. As per the video confession which India has said was doctored, Jadhav says he went undercover after the Parliament attack in 2001. He says that he went undercover as Hussain Mubarak Patel to gather information for India. As per the files in India, he took retirement from the Navy and became a businessman. He was in Iran for business, India also says. His family says that he was a victim of the conspiracy. Kulbhushan's father Sudhir Jadhav retired as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Mumbai and his uncle Subhash Jadhav was in charge of Bandra police station in 2002. Pakistan decided on Monday to go ahead and hang, Kulbhushan Jadhav, an alleged Indian spy. India said repeatedly when Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan in March 2016 that it was a case of mistaken identity. The arrest of Jadhav came at a crucial time when India wanted action on the Pathankot attackers. After the attack at Pathankot, India had sought stringent action against the founder of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Maulana Masood Azhar. India had even allowed a team from Pakistan to visit the air base to investigate into the case. However, Pakistan refused to reciprocate and did not give the NIA a date and time to visit the country and questioned the accused in the case. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Pakistan a week before the attack. It was a well-appreciated gesture by leaders from across the world. It appeared as though the talks between the two countries were being set on the right path. However the Pakistan's ISI and military then under General Raheel Sharif were unhappy about the bonhomie. The first attempt to derail the talks was done in the form of the Pathankot attack. OneIndia News Arunachal BJP MP urges govt for release of youth taken away by China's PLA in 2015 Dalai Lama wraps up week-long Arunachal Pradesh visit India oi-IANS By Ians English Tawang , April 11: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Tuesday wrapped up his week-long tour of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing had strongly objected to. The Dalai Lama left by helicopter for Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, on Tuesday morning from Tawang helipad. Thousands of people lined up along the road to see him off. Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries also saw him off at the helipad, a government official said. "The Chief Minister thanked the Dalai Lama for his visit and requested him to visit Arunachal Pradesh again in the near future," the official said. On Monday, the Nobel Peace laureate, who Beijing has called an "anti-China separatist", described his visit to Arunachal Pradesh as a "memorable one" that he would cherish forever. He also thanked the people, particularly from far off villages, who gathered in large numbers to welcome and listen to him at all the places that he visited. In fact, this is not for the first time that the 81-year-old Tibetan leader is visiting Arunachal or Tawang. In 1959, he escaped from China via Tawang and visited the state in 1983, 1997, 2003 and 2009. IANS For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 17:25 [IST] Delhi MCD election 2017: Manoj Tiwari launches Vijay Vikas Yatra India oi-PTI New Delhi, April 10: Crisscrossing Najafgarh area during the Vijay Vikas Yatra on Monday, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari accused the Congress and the AAP of "betraying" people living in rural areas and unauthorised colonies in the city. He also promised that if his party wins the April 23 civic polls, a special provision would be made in the budget of the three municipal corporations for the allocation of Rs 425 crore for the development of the rural areas in the city. Tiwari covered 27 wards, mostly in the semi-urban areas, during the Yatra that began this morning. "Immediately after winning the MCD elections, we will make a special provision in the budget for the allocation of Rs 200 crore each to South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations and Rs 25 crore to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation for maintenance of rural areas," Tiwari said during his roadshow. The funds will be used for developing community centres, drainage, maintenance of roads and parks in rural areas, he added. Tiwari accused both the Congress and the AAP of "betraying" the hopes of people living in rural parts and unauthorised colonies in the city. "Congress and Kejriwal are the two sides of the same coin, both have betrayed the people of unauthorised colonies and rural areas." The BJP is pitted against the AAP and the Congress in the elections for 272 wards in three municipal corporations that will go for polls on April 23. The BJP has been ruling the three corporations for the last one decade. It has been accused by both the Congress and the AAP of "corruption" and "mismanagement" and it is part of their campaign theme. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 11:39 [IST] Eating spree: Kejriwal now accused of a Rs 1 crore samosa scam India oi-Vicky By Vicky Now the Aam Aadmi Party has been accused of a Rs 1 crore samosa scam. BJP's spokesperson, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga put up posters in Delhi alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government had spent over Rs 1 crore of public money on tea and samosas in the last 18 months. It is said that the information was found out by posting a query to the government under the Right to Information Act. The allegations come a few days after the AAP government was accused of misusing public funds on lunches at Kejriwal's residence. It was alleged the lunches cost Rs 13,000 per person. Vijendra Gupta, the leader of the opposition in the Delhi assembly demanded Kejriwal's resignation over the issue. This was also termed as mind-boggling by union minister Piyush Goyal. The government is a custodian of public funds, but Kejriwal and his party have been misusing the same, he said. The allegations were however denied by Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia. He said that the bills were sent to him for approval, but he never cleared them. It appears as though the files which are with the L-G's office were leaked he also said. OneIndia News From 66 to 7 per cent, why the dip in polling at Srinagar is a worry India oi-Vicky By Vicky Srinagar recorded just 7 per cent polling on Sunday. This was the worst polling percentage ever recorded in Srinagar and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said that he had never seen this level of violence. In the 2014 assembly elections, Srinagar had created a record as the polling percentage stood at 66 per cent. In 2014, Mehbooba Mufti had urged people to come out in large numbers and vote to keep the BJP from crossing Banihal. On Sunday it was a completely different picture. It appeared as though the people had vented their anger out at Mehbooba who formed the the alliance with the BJP. In fact the scenario today is completely different to what she had spoken in 2014. Experts say that this should serve as a wake up call for both the centre and the state government. The postponement of the Anantnag by-poll is also an indication that the state government is clearly not in control of the situation. Security experts who monitored the clashes on Srinagar said that it was clear that the dispensation was not prepared. The protestors went on a frenzy and clearly outnumbered the security personnel. In some quarters, people even asked if the dispensation in J&K intentionally decided to play the role of a mute spectator. While Srinagar is one case, one must also look at the larger picture. Pakistan on one hand continues to fund violence in Kashmir and on the other hand Mehbooba has not managed to break the ice and calm the protestors. The situation in the Valley has gone out of her control. The problem if one were to analyse it began in July after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. What the state government failed to act upon was crucial intelligence that suggested that a major unrest was being planned. Wani's death was only an excuse for the separatists to bring the Valley to a stand-still, officials point out while adding that the unrest was planned much in advance. Govt committed to providing quality care in health services: Nadda India oi-PTI New Delhi, Apr 10: The government is committed to ensuring maternal and child health and providing quality of care in health services, Health Minister J P Nadda said on Monday. Nadda also highlighted the progress that needs to be made towards providing quality care to all women in the rural areas, especially those residing in high priority districts. Nadda was speaking at a national event on the theme 'Quality, Equity and Dignity for Maternal Health' on the eve of National Safe Motherhood Day 2017 organised by White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, India, in collaboration with the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development. "The government is committed towards the goal of ensuring maternal and child health and providing quality of care in health services," he said. "Several initiatives such as the Janani Suraksha Yojana, a direct cash transfer scheme, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, a programme that provides ante-natal services by skilled providers on the 9th day of every month, the birth companion initiative and several others aim to improve the quality of care for maternal health services. "These interventions have resulted in a sharp 40.2 per cent rise in institutional births in ten years," a statement quoting Nadda said. A petition signed by 1,43,556 rural women from across India, highlighting their most critical healthcare needs, was presented to Nadda on the occasion. Later Nadda tweeted, "I congratulate IAPPD, & White Ribbon Alliance for ensuring quality, equity & dignity for maternal & newborn health services. GoI is working towards the reduction of maternal deaths through important schemes like #JSY, #PMSMA & #JSSK." "Urged everyone to encourage greater community participation to raise awareness regarding the need of #safemotherhood," he tweeted. The WRAI had launched national campaign 'Hamara Swasthya, Hamari Awaz', in December 2016. The objective of the campaign is to amplify rural women's voices, needs, and priorities in healthcare. The findings reveal that a sizeable 36 per cent of the women have asked for access to maternal health entitlements, services, and supplies, followed by 23 per cent women who seek health care services provided with dignity and respectful care. Twenty per cent of the women seek availability of health providers while 16 per cent seek clean and hygienic health facilities, the statement said. PTI All victims retrieved in Morbi Bridge collapse, no one missing: Report Who will win Gujarat 2022 polls? Here's what ABP-C-Voter survey says Gujarat prisoners, Tripura students take up colour, brush to highlight social issues India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, April 11: Those who are 'caged' longed most for their 'homes', literally. Perhaps, that is why when a group of female jail inmates from Vadodara, Gujarat, got a chance to take up paint and brush and create their 'dream homes' on canvasses it resulted in some very evocative artworks. The paintings under the theme--Sweet Home-- is currently on display at Sarjan Art Gallery in the city. "Vadodara (Gujarat): Painting exhibition on the theme 'Sweet Home' held by female prisoners of Vadodara Jail at Sarjan Art Gallery," reported ANI. Vadodara(Gujarat): Painting exhibition on the theme 'Sweet Home' held by female prisoners of Vadodara Jail at Sarjan Art Gallery (10.4.17) pic.twitter.com/mZ9mU5y7ha ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 Hundreds of kilometers away from Vadodara, in Agartala, Tripura, a group of students also took up paint and brush to highlight issues like rise in rape and drug abuse cases in the northeastern state. In order to highlight their causes, the students of Art College in Agartala did not use canvasses rather they painted some eye-opening artworks on the streets of the city. "Agartala(Tripura): Students of Art College made road paintings and cartoon drawings protesting rising rape incidents and menace of drug abuse among youth," reported ANI. Agartala(Tripura): Students of Art College made road paintings&cartoon drawings protesting rising rape incidents&menace of drug among youth. pic.twitter.com/c2ktF1am0n ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 The unique and non-violent way of protest by these budding artists have brought a lot of attention to issues like rape and drug abuse, which are pan-Indian problems. Now, we hope the state government does the needful to address the issues raised by these youngsters. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 10:53 [IST] Gujarats pride: Visually-impaired girl, who cracked CAT with big score, wants to work for blind India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Ahmedabad, April 11: She is the pride of Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meet Vadodara girl, Prachi Sukhwani (21), who cracked the Common Admission Test-2016 with a massive score of 98.55 percentile, is all set to join the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Prachi, who is suffering from macular dystrophy, also known as retinal degradation, since she was in class III, has lost over 80% of vision over the years. However, that did not deter the youngster from studying hard and cracking one of the toughest entrance examinations in the world. Prachi, who is a Business Administration student at Maharaja Sayajirao University's Faculty of Commerce in Vadodara, wants to own a start-up and later work for blind people. "My short term goal is to join a company, preferably a multinational. Once I get some experience, I will have my own start-up. But my long term goal is to open an NGO for the blind," Prachi told Times of India. Currently, Prachi is busy appearing for her final semester examinations. Congratulatory notes for Prachi and her alma mater flooded on social media. Her teacher, Sharad Bansal, dean of Faculty of Commerce, said, "I have been associated with the BBA programme since its inception in 1993. But this is one of the proudest moments. Prachi deserves special applause for her success despite all odds. Her success is an inspiration for everybody." Her family is equally proud of Prachi's achievements. "She got calls from all the top three IIMs, IIM-Ahmedabad, IIM-Bangalore and IIM-Kolkata, and appeared for the interviews," said her father Suresh Sukhwani, who runs a garment business. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 8:26 [IST] Health ministry for imposition of tobacco tax India oi-PTI New Delhi, April 10: The health ministry has asked the finance ministry to do away with tax exemptions traditionally given to the bidi industry and impose a uniform 28 per cent tax when the GST regime is rolled out. The health ministry welcomed the step to keep aerated drinks, tobacco products, luxury cars and pan masala in the 'demerit goods' category and placing it in the slab of highest tax - 28 per cent and over and above a cess to be imposed on all these demerit goods, without any exception. "It is therefore suggested that the cess levied under the GST should be high enough to make these demerit products unaffordable over a period of time. "The tiered tax structure for cigarettes needs to be done away with as these slabs are open to manipulation for products substitution and promotion," the ministry said in a letter to the finance ministry. The letter also referred to the suggestion that the proceeds of the health cess be used to fund the Rashtriya Swastha Bima Yojna. The letter highlighted that under the GST it is proposed that the business having an annual turnover below Rs 20 lakh will be exempted from this tax. The health ministry recommended that such exemptions should not apply to those producing demerit goods like tobacco, aerated drinks and pan masala. It argued that such an exemption was earlier given to bidi industry wherein units producing less than 20 lakh bidis were exempted from paying Central Excise Tax. Taking advantage of this exemption, bidi manufacturers closed bigger units and started producing on small scale under different names in a clandestine manner, resulting in huge tax evasions. Further, this policy has shifted the production base to the homes of the poor and disadvantage that are rolling bidis in their homes, at abysmally low wages, devoid of any labour welfare benefits and being at the mercy of middlemen, the letter said. PTI IM and PFI leader came together to kill RSS leader Rudresh: NIA India oi-Vicky By Vicky Bengaluru, April 11: The National Investigation Agency has confirmed that the accused persons who murdered RSS leader Rudresh had Indian Mujahideen links. Rudresh, an RSS worker was murdered in October 2016 in broad daylight at Bengaluru, following which the NIA took over the probe. The NIA says that the five accused were in touch with Syed Ismail Afaaque a leader of the Indian Mujahideen based out of Bhatkal. Afaaque was arrested following the revelations made by Yasin Bhatkal, the chief of the outfit prior to his arrest three years back. In the Rudresh murder case, five persons rfan Pasha, Waseem Ahmed, Mohammed Sadiq, Mujheebulla and Asim Sheriff, who was district president of PFI in Bengaluru city were arrested. It was found during the probe that not only were these persons in touch with the IM leaders, but had also hatched a conspiracy to kill several more BJP and RSS leaders. The NIA is likely to file its chargesheet soon. It was an act of terror, NIA officials say. The intention behind killing Rudresh was to commit an act of terror and also send out a loud message to Hindu leaders, the NIA official also said. NIA officials who took over the probe from the Bengaluru police found that at the time of the killing, the accused persons had called him a 'kaufir.' OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 19:47 [IST] FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K J-K: School set ablaze in Shopian India oi-Vikas By Vikas In a latest attempt to disrupt peace and election process in Kashmir, a school was set ablaze near Shopian on Tuesday ahead of the the Anantnag bypoll. The incident took place at south Kashmir's Padarpora, 12 kms from Shopian, on Monday night by "unidentified persons". Last week, some miscreants tried to set ablaze a government school building, designated as a polling station, in Narbal area of Budgam district. After Srinagar recorded its worst turnout of 6 per cent in the Lok Sabha by-elections on Sunday, violence broke out in Pulwama. A polling booth at the Government High School in Arihal, Pulwama, was set blaze ahead of the by-poll for the Anantnag parliamentary seat. Following the escalation of violence, internet services have been suspended in the Kashmir Valley till the by-polls are held on April 12. Kashmir University exams too have been postponed and a new date is yet to be announced. This is not the first time school buildings have been attacked in the Valley. Soon after militancy began in 1989, hundreds of schools and colleges had been set on fire by unidentified people. They were reconstructed over the years. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 11:22 [IST] Pakistan passes Bill to give right of appeal to Kulbhushan Jadhav Pakistan gives Kulbhushan Jadhav right to appeal against death sentence Jadhav row: Robert Vadra takes a dig at Modi, asks is this all we can do? India oi-Madhuri A day after Pakistani military court sentenced Kulbhushan Jadhav to death, the Congress and Robert Vadra blamed BJP government for remaining silent on the issue. Reacting to Jadhav's death sentence, Robert Vadra, in a Facebook post said the government needs to go all out to save Jadhav's life. Also, Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala said Modi must intervene in this matter. He should also build support for an international diplomatic offensive to free Jadhav. Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, reportedly in Balochistan, for "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan". "He confessed before a Magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage, sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi," the statement said. India on Monday said that if Pakistan hanged alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, it will be considered "a case of premeditated murder". OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 16:22 [IST] Pakistan passes Bill to give right of appeal to Kulbhushan Jadhav Pakistan gives Kulbhushan Jadhav right to appeal against death sentence Kulbhushan Jadhav: What India said on Pak's dirty game? India oi-Vikas By Vikas Pakistan sentencing death to former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav has evoked strong reactions from politicians cutting across party lines. The Ministry of External Affairs has refused to accept that Jadhav was a spy and maintained that he was kidnapped last year from Iran. Pakistan had accused him of being an undercover agent working for the Research and Analysis Wing. He was also accused of promoting sectarian violence in Balochistan. India has cried foul and even pointed out that at the time of his arrest, no consular access was granted. Here is what Parliamentarians had to say about Jadhav's captivity in Pakistan: Kulbhushan is 'India's son' Mincing no words in launching scathing attacks on Pakistan external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj claimed that the trial that Kulbhushan Jadhav faced in Pakistan was a farce. "It is an indefensible verdict against an innocent Indian citizen. We have no option but to deem the sentence a premeditated murder," she said. Will go out of the way to save him, wo poore Hindustan ka beta hai:Sushma Swaraj in Rajya Sabha on Kulbhushan Jadhav pic.twitter.com/2h9ICrtqJm ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 'We will go to any extent' "I would caution Pakistan govt to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," she said. 'We assure justice will be done': Rajnath Kulbhushan Jadhav had a valid Indian visa, how can he be a spy? Consular access also been denied: Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha Congress raises the issue of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, in Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/Xx1BwbzimK ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 Kharge raises Kulbhushan's issue Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge asks what government has done to secure release of Jadhav, Pakistan should be exposed, tit-for-tat should be done for all Pak prisoners in India: Manisha Kayande,Shiv Sena on Kulbhushan Jadhav pic.twitter.com/lcG2Rl2bk6 ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 Shiv Sena's Manisha Kayande demands tit-for-tat India needs to put pressure, take issue to UN & garner the entire world community support in favour of Kulbhushan Jadhav, says Manisha Kayande Pakistan has, however, accused Jadhav of being an undercover agent working for the Research and Analysis Wing. He was also accused of promoting sectarian violence in Balochistan. Pakistan's military court on Monday sentenced Jadhav to death for allegedly waging war against the country. He has been accused of being a spy for India's Research & Analysis Wing. It is alleged that he sabotaged Pakistan's efforts to ensure peace in Gilgit and Baltistan region. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 17:33 [IST] For migrant workers it is extended festival vacation but loss for many businessmen Madras High Court grants bail to Stayzilla co-founder Yogendra Vasupal India oi-Anusha The Madras High court on Tuesday granted bail to Stayzilla founder Yogendra Vasupal. The court asked Vasupal to deposit Rs 40 lakh to establish bonafide intentions. Judge S Bhaskaran termed the case 'purely a dispute between two businessmen' as he granted bail to Vasupal. The founder of Stayzilla has been granted a week's time to make the deposit. Multiple bail petitions filed by Vasupal post his arrest on March 13 had been rejected. Cases under Section 420, 406, and 506(I) were filed against Vasupal after Jigsaw solutions had lodged a complaint of dues worth Rs 1.69 crore owed by StayZilla for a period between March and May 2016. The court asked for Rs 40 lakh to be deposited after counsellors for Jigsaw raised questions over Vasupal's intentions to settle dues. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 16:51 [IST] Malayalam must in every Kerala school: Governor India oi-Gulam Rabbani Kochi: Kerala governor P Sathasivam on Tuesday signed an ordinance making it mandatory for all schools in the state to teach Malayalam. The ordinance also states that any school or teacher disobeying provision will face legal action taken by the government. Earlier in April, the Kerala cabinet has decided to bring in the ordinance to make it Malayalam a must in all schools in the states. According to reports, the ordinance will be applicable to all government, private, aided, unaided etc. In 2013, the government wanted to make the move as a regulation but the schools evaded by an excuse that there are many students who in CBSE and ICSE schools who are from other states will find difficult to learn Malayalam. Way back in September, 2012, the Kerala high court made the CBSE schools to teach Malayalam. "Malayalam language should grow to such an extent that scientific books related to science and technology are written and read in Malayalam," said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Cabinet meeting on April 6 this month. OneIndia News MP: 3 arrested for religious conversion sent to JC India oi-Vicky By Vicky The three persons arrested on charges of religious conversions in Madhya Pradesh have been sent to judicial custody. Three Christians were held from a village in Khandwa district of MP after a villager complained that they were forcibly trying to convert them. Following the arrest the police produced Amarsingh, 35, Kishor Barela, 30, and Prabhakar Barela, 39 before a court which remanded them in judicial custody. The villagers said in their complaint that the three men had said if they believed in Jesus Christ their illness would be cured. The police said that the trio belonged to the Indian Evangelical Team. The police said that one Raju Barela gave a written complaint following which arrests were made around 3 pm on Sunday. They have been booked under the anti-conversion law. A cross and some literature has been seized. OneIndia News Nabard seconds RBI says loan waivers a bad idea India pti-PTI Mumbai, April 11: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday described farm loan waivers as a moral hazard and said such facilities should be targeted only to the needy. "Debt waivers create a moral hazard from a credit repayment perspective and we cannot have omnibus waivers," chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala told reporters here, a week after UP government announced a Rs 36,000-crore farm loan waiver package. With demands for similar measures on in other states like Haryana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, Bhanwala said there is a need to look at the moral hazards which such schemes create and targeting such schemes only to the needy farmers. He said every time a debt waiver is announced, it is taxpayers' money which is used to help bail out the farmers. The comments come days after Reserve Bank Governor Urjit Patel also expressed strong displeasure over such measures. Nabard on Tuesday reported a 4.24 per cent increase in its post tax net for 2016-17 at Rs 2,631 crore, and a 16.27 per cent expansion in its outstanding loans at Rs 3.08 trillion. Bhanwala said the development finance institution, which primarily refinances banks' agri loans, feels that the financial sector is set to surpass the Rs 9 trillion agri loans target for fiscal 2017 set by government and will repeat the performance in fiscal 2018 by exceeding the Rs 10 trillion target. Nabard is laying extra focus on long-term irrigation fund and expects to deploy up to Rs 25,000 crore for this purposes through identified projects (up from Rs 9,000 crore in fiscal 2017) and also to mitigate climate change impact, Bhanwala said, adding the company will also be focusing on micro-irrigation sector this year, and plans to deploy up to Rs 2,000 crore in it. He said share of long-term loans has risen to 24 per cent of its total loanbook now from 19 per cent two years ago, and Nabard will continue to focus on increasing this number. Its outstanding borrowing increased to Rs 80,000 crore from Rs 60,000 crore in the year-ago period and Bhanwala said there would be an increase of Rs 15,000 crore in the outstanding borrowing in fiscal 2018. Nabard was able to recover a few of its bad loans in the just concluded financial year and consecutively the non- performing assets ratio has come down to 0.07 per cent. With the Centre having announced a target to double farmers' incomes in the next five years, Nabard is working with the states to develop action plans to ensure that the targets are met, he said, adding a pilot project of working closely with the communities towards this purpose is being implemented in seven states. As part of the pilot project, it will be working in 10 villages of a district having over 1,000 farmers each in every state and the job will start with identifying the base income structures in each states. On demonetisation, Bhanwala said there was a jump in repayments in the initial days but credit demanded was impacted later. He, however, added despite this, the Rs 9 trillion target has been met. In a first, Nabard has also started operating a financial inclusion fund and sanctioned installation of 2.07 lakh point of sale machines for different banks since February, he said, adding they will be deployed soon. For villages which lack mobile connectivity and also power shortages, it has allocated Rs 308 crore towards this purpose. PTI Need white paper on rot in UP's power sector: Piyush Goyal India pti-PTI New Delhi, April 11: A white paper is needed on the Uttar Pradesh power sector to expose the "deep rot" of past 15 years, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday, claiming he has seen some "mind-boggling and terrible" data on the situation. The state will finally ink this week the 24x7 'Power for All' (PFA) document, which aims to provide round-the-clock affordable electricity. "Uttar Pradesh is the only state which has not signed Power for All (agreement with the Centre). I am delighted to share that on April 14, 2017, on birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambejkarji, we shall be executing power for all document with Uttar Pradesh...in Lucknow," Goyal said at the launch of a Rural Feeder Monitoring Scheme and Urja Mitra application and portal. "Some of the statistics which came out in last two weeks are mind-boggling and terrible. I cannot even share it with you," he said. "Some of the figures and statistics that have come out, have strengthened my feeling that we should come out with a white paper on state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh so that the people know that deep rot that has been set into the system for the past 15 years." He expressed the hope that with the change of guard in Uttar Pradesh, the Power Ministry would be able to make it a model state even in the area of electricity and power supply. Goyal said: "I am glad that my officials and official of UP started working on it (the agreement) on election counting day (March 11) itself. The whole system was activated on the evening of March 11, 2017. "You see the power of good governance and change that the same officials, who until March 10, were unable to enter into that agreement. Now it is clear that they were able to do it but possibly the politically masters were holding them back." Talking about the Rural Feeder Monitoring Scheme, the minister informed that at present around 30,000 rural feeder meters are connected to national power portal and the remaining 75,000 will be connected by December, 2017. The Rural Feeder Monitoring Scheme is to monitor the quality and quantity parameters of power supply in rural areas of the country. The entire data shall also be hosted on National Power Portal on real time basis and may be accessed by various stake holders through web services. The Urja Mitra launched today by the minister, is an application which provides a central platform (web-portal www.urjamitra.com as well as mobile app) for state power distribution utilities to disseminate power outage information to rural as well as urban consumers through SMS/email/push notifications. Consumers can also view real time power outages in any part of the country, lodge complaints. PTI No legal hurdle in constructing Ram temple: VHP India ians-IANS By Ians English Kolkata, April 11: Ruling out any legal hurdle in building the Ram temple at the disputed site in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya town, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday called for enactment of a law to facilitate the construction. "There is a provision where joint session of Parliament is called and bills are passed. I don't think there is any legal hurdle. We have all faith in the present government... There can be a bill on Ram Mandir. It is their commitment also," said Surendra Kumar Jain, VHP's International Joint General Secretary. Addressing the media here, Jain said: "Ayodhya is in Uttar Pradesh and Yogi (Chief Minister Adityanath) is there, who soon after his oath-taking said that building Ram temple is the mission of his life and 'I will fulfil it at any cost'. I think Modi and Yogi will very soon realise that dream." On the Supreme Court's recent suggestion for an out-of-court settlement through dialogue, he said the three top institutions of the Muslim community had ruled out any dialogue. "You need two people to talk. When one person talks to oneself, you can understand what that means. When the apex court said it, immediately the three pillars of Muslim society -- Muslim Personal Law Board, Sunni Waqf Board and Babri Masjid Action Committee -- said 'no dialogue'." "...when it comes to triple Talaq, they say the court should not interfere, but when it comes to Ram Janmabhoomi, they say court should decide... What a joke," he said. "Ultimately, the ball lies in the court of Parliament," he said referring to the VHP's stand on building the temple in Ayodhya similar to the Somnath temple. IANS No plans to grant special category status to any state: Govt India pti-PTI New Delhi, April 11: The government has no plans to grant special category status to any state, Minister of State for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The minister was replying to a calling attention motion of Congress member KVP Ramachandra Rao who wanted convening of a meeting of the National development Council (NDC) to discuss the necessity for continuance of the concept of special category status. Members of the Congress, the Left and Trinamool Congress, however, were not satisfied with the minister's reply and staged a walkout. "There is no proposal for granting special category status to any state," Singh said. Responding to the attack by the opposition parties, he said, "Instead of criticising the government for not giving special category status (to states), I would suggest they should go to their respective states and ensure fiscal discipline and develop their states by virtue of the extra Rs 1.78 lakh crore that we have given from the Planning Commission." The last state to be accorded the special category status was Uttarakhand way back in 2001 and no state has been given the status after that, the minister added. Singh said the basic principle for according the special category status to a state was the approval from the NDC. He said he would not deny that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced that they would give Andhra Pradesh the special category status for five years. The decision to give special category status to 11 states was endorsed by the NDC, Singh said. "As far as Andhra Pradesh is concerned there was no endorsement, approval from the NDC... We are not giving special category status to Andhra," he added. The minister said the last government could have asked the NDC to approve the status for the state but it did not do so even when they were in power. He said after taking over, the BJP government gave 10 per cent extra grant, amounting to Rs 1.78 lakh crore per year, to the states through the Finance Commission to take care of their fiscal requirements. "The present government, over the past three years, has been thinking and acting out-of-box and following this approach, it has done away with the Planning Commission," the minister said. "It used to be a humiliating experience for any state to ask for funds for their own respective states. We have done away with this humiliating experience," Singh said. The NDC was a body for looking after developmental issues of national as well as states including the special category status to states for plan assistance during the regime of Planning Commission. Special category status in the past has been given to 11 states including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur among others. The transfer of resources to states is through Finance Commission. The 14th Finance Commission has, in its recommendations, not made any distinction between general category states and special category states in the horizontal distribution of shareable taxes amongst the states. PTI Pakistan passes Bill to give right of appeal to Kulbhushan Jadhav Pakistan gives Kulbhushan Jadhav right to appeal against death sentence On Jadhav NC leader says India should not poke nose into others legal proceedings India oi-Madhuri National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday made a shocking statement by supporting Pakistan on the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav. He said that India should not point out point fingers at another nation's legal proceedings. Amid cries to free Kulbhushan Jadhav from Pakistan, NC leader spews shocker Read @ANI_news storyhttps://t.co/7W2KwviK3c pic.twitter.com/9x1jxCwT24 ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 11, 2017 While speaking to ANI, Kamal said,"Pakistan has obeyed the law. Not correct for India to point fingers, being the largest democracy.'' Kamal further said that government should introduce a bill to declare Pakistan as a terror state. Not just for India, it is also the biggest threat for South Asia. Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year by Pakistan and accused by the country of spying, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court yesterday. The move has sharply escalated tension between India and Pakistan. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 16:30 [IST] 'Why Cong did not make Meira Kumar president when in power' Opposition criticises amendments to Factories Act India pti-PTI New Delhi, April 11: Opposition on Tuesday criticised the government in the Rajya Sabha for proposing amendments to the Factories Act, saying these are anti-labour and will hit fresh job creation. The opposition members charged that the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016 will help the industrialists. They also questioned the government for bringing this bill in a hasty manner when Factories Amendment Bill 2014 is still alive. Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya moved for consideration and passage the bill that seeks to amend provisions related to overtime hours of work. Initiating a discussion on the bill, Congress leader Ahmed Patel said the changes mooted were not in favour of workers. "This overtime of 125 hours will not lead to rise in production and employment. It just favours capitalists, industrialists and their friends," Patel said. The move would lead to exploitation of workers and is not in favour of workers as well as general public, he added. Attacking the government over its promise to provide 2 crore fresh jobs in the country, Patel said that in 2015-16 employment was given to only 1.03 lakh people. "Over one crore people are entitled for employment. There are no fresh jobs," he said. He said the government claims that the economy is growing and added, "If that is the case, why are there no jobs in the country?" He said the government should try to make policies for the betterment of workers. "Why are you bringing such laws? Why are we thinking only about industrialists? We are not against the industry but why such actions against workers, he said. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on August 10 last year. It seeks to double the overtime working hours to 100 in a quarter for factory workers. Among other changes the bill also allows for overtime of upto 125 hours per quarter in public interest. Ravi Prakash Verma (SP) said the government is trying to make the labourers "insecure" through the bill. The factory owners will exploit labourers if this bill is passed, he added. "If overtime hours are increased, labourers will not be able to give time to their families." Verma said the condition of labourers is already bad after the demonetisation. A Vijayakumar (AIADMK) said the amendment to the factories Act would result in overlapping of powers between the Central and state governments, which is against the principle of co-operation and federalism. Ahamed Hassan of (AITC) asked the government why it is bringing this amendment bill in such a "hasty manner" when Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2014 is still pending. He said the bill is an attempt to interfere with the federal structure and dilutes power of the states. Calling this bill as "anti-worker" and "anti-labour", Hassan said the government is working towards the benefit of industry. He also noted that public interest has not been defined in this Bill and this could lead to arbitrariness. Opposing the Bill, Tapan Kumar Sen of CPI (M) said the permissible overtime hours is being proposed to be increased upto 125 hours per quarter from current 50 hours which is injurious to interest of workers. "You are depriving a big chunk of unemployed workforce," he added. Stating that unemployment is expanding like cancer, Sen said the Bill is a crime proposed to be committed on millions of job seekers. Sen also opposed the government's move to push this bill when the Factories (Amendment) Bill of 2014 is still alive and a parliamentary standing committee has already submitted its report on that. This is "legislative impropriety of the highest order," he said, while noting that the government has put at stake its credibility and trustworthiness. Sen charged that the government, through the bill, is trying to legalise the "ocean of illegality" being committed in factories against the labourers. "12 hours is order of the day in most of private factories," he said, adding that the need of the hour is to reduce working hours and not raise the permissible overtime. The government is not working for labour and instead helping employers in the name of ease of doing business, Sen said, adding that he will move the amendment Bill. Supporting the bill, V Vijaysai Reddy (YSR Congress) said industrial sector growth is being restricted due to stringent laws. "I sincerely feel by bringing these amendments, ease of doing business will improve. That will contribute to the GDP". However, he expressed concern that this bill could have an adverse impact on employment generation as well workers health and productivity. "Even then this bill has to be supported as it contributes to GDP," Reddy said. He asked the government to introduce a comprehensive Bill to amend the law. T K S Elangovan (DMK) said the bill seeks to protect employers instead of workers. He said the increase in overtime hours will "reduce the scope of fresh unemployment" and deprive young fresh graduate seeking employment. Noting that overtime hours are being increased in the name of public interest, the DMK leader asked, "Are labourers not public?" Elangovan also wanted to know what is public interest. PTI Opposition doesn't allow introduction of Motor Vehicles Bill in RS India pti-PTI New Delhi, April 11: The Opposition on Tuesday scuttled an attempt by the government to introduce the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, arguing that it was not listed in the day's business. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari tried to justify the urgency of the bill, saying the proposed legislation is important for preventing road accidents. However, the Opposition members did not relent and even Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there needs to be consensus in the House to take up the matter. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on Monday. "Five lakh accidents happen in the country every year resulting in the deaths of over 1.5 lakh people. The current law has several lacunae. I request the members to take up this matter," Gadkari said. He added that four people die every minute in the country due to road mishaps. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, however, said that since it was not included in today's business list, the bill cannot be taken up. Gadkari said the legislation has been drafted taking into confidence various political parties and therefore the opposition should not oppose it. Sitaram Yechury (CPI) said he was aware of the urgency to introduce the bill but as it has a lot of complications, because of which there is a need to "seriously deliberate" on the matter. Azad said the leaders of the various political parties are likely to meet tomorrow and if there is a consensus, then the bill could be taken up tomorrow for consideration. The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill seeks to bring radical reforms in the transport sector by ensuring 100 per cent e-governance, checking bogus driving licenses and vehicle thefts, slapping heavy penalty on traffic violators. PTI No comment on Pranab Mukherjee book before reading it: Former Union Minister Opposition set to meet President Mukherjee over EVM tampering row India oi-Vikas By Vikas The opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Left parties, are set to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday over the allegations of electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering. The leaders of the major political parties had earlier met the Election Commission regarding this issue. The opposition leaders are demanding that VVPAT (paper trail of voting) be introduced in all future elections. The Congress has also been pushing for use of ballot papers instead of EVMs in upcoming elections in view of the alleged tampering. Politicians from various parties have openly alleged tampering of electronic voting machines in the recently concluded assembly elections in five states with Mayawati and Arvind Kejriwal being at the forefront of such accusations. Kejriwal and Congress have in fact demanded that ballot papers be used fro the upcoming Delhi civic polls. The Congress has also been pushing for use of ballot papers instead of EVMs in coming elections in view of allegations. [SC to hear EVM tampering matter on March 24] Meanwhile, the Election Commission has maintained that that EVMs cannot be tampered with. ECI had said, "Given the effective technical and administrative safeguards, Electronic Voting Machines are tamperproof and the integrity of the electoral process is preserved...If any specific allegation with material facts is presented, it (the allegations) will be looked into with all seriousness on administrative sides." OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 13:13 [IST] Imran Khan discharged from hospital, to resume long march from same point where he was shot Pak is not able to give up its old habits: Venkaiah Naidu on Jadhav's sentence India oi-Gulam Rabbani New Delhi, April 11: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that it is extremely unfortunate that Pakistan is not able to give up its old habit. Naidu said that Pakistan did not conduct a fair trial for Kulbhshan Jadhav. Naidu also told that Pakistan did not submit any evidence but presumed the things and gave the verdict, which shows Pakistan pre-meditated murder. He also said that the world is watching what Pakistan is doing and they will be condemned. Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that Pakistan will face severe consequences in bilateral relations if they hang Kulbhushan Jadhav. She also said that there is no proof of wrongdoing by Jadhav. She said that Jadhav was doing business in Iran where he was kidnapped and was taken to Pakistan. Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested in March last year in Pakistan and was charged with spying by the country. Jadhav was sentenced to death by Pakistan military court on Monday. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 16:57 [IST] Two of 8 cheetahs released in acclimatisation enclosure at MP's Kuno National Park: Official Two cheetahs make their first kill at Kuno National Park Plastic carry bags not allowed in MP after May 1 India oi-Gulam Rabbani Bhopal: The water and Irrigation minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday said the Cabinet has decided to ban plastic bags in Madhya Pradesh from May 1 onwards. On January 26 this year, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced a complete ban on polythene bags in the state from May 1. Use paper or cloth, instead of polythene bags which are harmful to the environment, said the Shivraj Singh after he hoisted the national flag on the occasion of Republic Day. Last year in December, Shivraj Singh had called for the total ban on polythene in tourist destinations and holy cities like Orchha, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Amarkantak, Maheshwar, Khajuraho, Pachmarhi which was enforced with effect from January 1. The state government had also assured of making Madhya Pradesh open-defecation free state. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 18:07 [IST] Politicians to meet Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit today India oi-Madhuri As Kulbhushan Jadhav is continuing to dominate headlines, a delegation of Indian politicians will meet Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit at 5:30 pm in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss peace between India and Pakistan. Basit earlier today evaded questions from media persons over the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav who was sentenced to death by Pakistani military court on Monday. Also, Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri refused to comment on issue of death sentence given to Kulbhushan Jadhav. On Monday, India summoned Basit soon after the news of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistan Army Court came in and said it will be regarded a "premeditated murder" because there was no fair trial in the case. Jadhav was awarded death sentence after a shoddy trial by the Field General Court Martial under the Pakistan Army Act 1952. Pakistan has not answered as to why Jadhav, who was arrested on espionage charges, was denied a civilian court trial, and why did Pakistan's Foreign Policy Chief Sartaj Aziz go back on his words that there was insufficient evidence against Jadhav. Ever since Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan in March 2016, India has repeatedly asked for consular access to Jadhav as per the provisions of the bilateral Consular Access Agreement, but the permission was never granted. Since February 2015, a total of 274 individuals have been convicted in military courts. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 14:13 [IST] Politicos united to condemn Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence India oi-Vikas By Vikas Pakistan sentencing death to former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav has evoked strong reactions from politicians cutting across party lines. Pakistan had accused him of being an undercover agent working for the Research and Analysis Wing. He was also accused of promoting sectarian violence in Balochistan. India has cried foul and even pointed out that at the time of his arrest, no consular access was granted. Congress leader PL Punia said that it was time that India maintained a limited relations with Pakistan. He said that Jadhav was not even given an opportunity to present the evidence in the court. Janata Dal United's Ali Anwar told news agency ANI that Pakistan had violated every law related to foreign affairs and called for strict action against Islamabad. The Ministry of External Affairs has refused to accept that Jadhav was a spy and maintained that he was kidnapped last year from Iran. [Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav, the man Pakistan framed] Pakistan has, however, accused Jadhav of being an undercover agent working for the Research and Analysis Wing. He was also accused of promoting sectarian violence in Balochistan. India has also criticised Pakistan for not having granted consular access to Jadhav, something which New Delhi has demanded time and again. BJP's Nalin Kohli described Pakistan's actions in this matter as a 'Kangaroo court approach', adding that such a move would severly affect Pakistan's credibility in the internationjal community. Kohli further asked how come the cases on Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, who have killed hundreds of people, are roaming free, while Jadhav's case was fast tracked and decision was made within an year. Pakistan's military court on Monday sentenced Jadhav to death for allegedly waging war against the country. He has been accused of being a spy for India's Research & Analysis Wing. It is alleged that he sabotaged Pakistan's efforts to ensure peace in Gilgit and Baltistan region. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 10:25 [IST] Protest outside Pakistan High commission in Delhi India oi-Madhuri Scores of protesters gathered outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday against Pakistan's death sentence given to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Protest near Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi against death sentence given to #KulbhushanJadhav pic.twitter.com/oa9w0iJJ5i ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 Meanwhile, Jadhav's friends in Mumbai have started a campaign to bring him safely back to home. While speaking to ANI, T Pawar said,"We have started a campaign for release of Jadhav. The government of India needs to toughen its stand and push Pakistan to change its decision.'' Earlier on Tuesday, India issued a stern warning after Pakistan sentenced to death an Indian 'spy' caught last year on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad. The Pak ministry, in a press release, said the man identified as Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav, was tried and convicted by a military court martial "for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan." It also said he was arrested in the turbulent province of Balochistan in March 2016 and confessed to having been tasked by Indian intelligence agency RAW "to plan, coordinate and organize espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi." He was said to be based in the Iranian port city of Chabahar and was arrested on March 3, 2016, after crossing into Balochistan. India on Monday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche against Pakistani military court for awarding death sentence to Jadhav, who Islamabad claims was arrested during an anti-terror operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area in March, 2016. OneIndia News Bharat Jodo Yatra will proceed to Srinagar, come what may, says Rahul Gandhi as march enters Maharashtra J&K: Rahul Gandhi blames PDP-BJP govt for violence, poor voter turnout during elections India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, April 11: As Kashmir is once again boiling in the wake of killings of eight civilians by security forces after violence erupted during bypoll in the Srinagar constituency on Sunday, the Congress has targeted the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly mishandling the situation. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said that the elections in Kashmir reflect the total failure of the BJP-PDP alliance and the Centre's Kashmir policy. He added, "Decades of hard work to build trust in the democratic process in Kashmir reversed in less than three years by the BJP government." The Congress has also demanded the resignation of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. "The BJP-PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir should accept that they have failed the people of Kashmir and we demand the CM's resignation. The reason we demand her resignation is not to politicise the issue of Kashmir, but it is her people who by not turning out in the election have issued a vote of no confidence against the government," party spokesperson Sushmita Dev said. Omar Abdullah, the former CM of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the National Conference, also criticised the ruling PDP for failing to conduct smooth elections in the state. Massive violence and a very poor voter turnout marred the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypoll on Sunday, while byelections for 10 assembly constituencies across eight states, including in the national capital, saw average to enthusiastic polling. In Kashmir, eight civilians were killed and scores injured in clashes with security forces as mobs tried to attack polling stations in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency that recorded a poor seven per cent voting -- the lowest in the state in three decades. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has deferred Anantnag bypoll scheduled on Wednesday to May 25, in the wake of violence in the state. OneIndia Bharat Jodo Yatra will proceed to Srinagar, come what may, says Rahul Gandhi as march enters Maharashtra Rahul Gandhi is still introspecting: Will it help Congress? India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, April 11: So, if you are wondering what Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is doing to save the party from getting 'wiped out' from across the country, then the answer is 'introspecting'. Haven't we heard this word often in the last few years, whenever the Congress has lost an election? If reports are to be believed, the Congress is still 'introspecting' after the party faced one of its worst defeats in the recently held assembly polls in five states. However, on the ground the Congress is yet to take a strong position on issues concerning the nation and mobilise public support. The Congress leaders, including Rahul and party president Sonia Gandhi, are regularly attending the ongoing Parliament session, but they are yet to come out as a strong force to counter the ruling National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Apart from one or two statements against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government condemning attacks by gau rakshaks or violence in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress is yet to get its mojo back and looks like a weak opposition. Earlier, after the assembly election results were declared, Rahul told the media, "We have started introspection and a Congress working committee will be held soon." Till date, almost a month after the election results, Rahul, who is currently taking all the major party decisions, is yet to convene a meeting of all the party leaders. Several senior party leaders had openly criticised the party's top leadership for failing to win elections. Moreover, many were upset how in spite of getting maximum seats in Goa and Manipur polls, the Congress failed to cobble up alliance governments in these two states. The abysmal defeat in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand pained the party a lot, but missing the chance to form governments in Goa and Manipur literally rubbed salt into the wounds of the Congress. In recent times, senior leaders like SM Krishna have joined the BJP. These leaders have openly targeted Rahul and his 'lack' of leadership qualities. We have to wait and watch to see what would be the outcome of the current 'introspection' undergoing in the Congress. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 13:32 [IST] Khota sarkar left with egg on their faces: Team Uddhav on Andheri win Rajnath Singh at Lokmat awards: India will raise Jadhav issue at international forum India pti-PTI Mumbai, April 11: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday accused Pakistan of attempting a "pre-planned murder" of former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and asserted India will do "whatever it takes" to ensure his release. "Pakistan is attempting a pre-planned murder of Kulbhushan Jadhav," he said, striking an aggressive posture against Islamabad over the death penalty awarded to the Indian national by a military court in the neighbouring country. "Jadhav is not a spy and should be released," Singh said while speaking at the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Awards here tonight. Jiss hadd tak jaane ki zarurat hogi uss hadd tak jayenge lekin Kulbhushan Jadhav ko hum bachayenge: HM Rajnath Singh at an event in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/KPrY2Z2JCy ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 "He went out of India for business. Pakistan agencies kidnapped him. He was carrying an Indian passport. Do spies carry passports?" he asked, seeking to trash Islamabad's claim that the 46-year-old was involved in "espionage and sabotage activities". Pakistani authorities said Kulbhushan Jadhav has valid Indian passport. I think if he was a spy then he would not have kept it: HM Rajnath pic.twitter.com/KgODWWuaWH ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 "We will do whatever it takes to ensure Jadhav's release. If needed we will take the issue to international fora," the Home Minister asserted. Speaking during an interactive session at the event, Singh maintained India won't hesitate to take "strong steps" to secure Jadhav's release. We will raise this issue on international forum, if required: HM Rajnath Singh on #KulbhushanJadhav pic.twitter.com/k3SF43QshZ ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 However, he did not disclose what "strong steps" New Delhi was contemplating. Jadhav, who hails from Maharashtra, was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistan security officials allegedly in Balochistan which, they said, he entered from Iran. He was sentenced to death by a military court in a secret trial and the Pakistan's army chief on Monday approved his execution. PTI D-Syndicate raises its ugly head again: This time on the target are Hindu leaders Rajnath Singh promises transformed Kashmir in a year India pti-PTI Mumbai, April 11: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that one will see a "transformed" Kashmir in a year "no matter how the change takes place". "You will see a transformed Kashmir in a year. No matter how the change occurs, one thing is certain, that there will be a change in Kashmir in a year's time," he asserted. Jammu & Kashmir is ruled by the BJP-PDP alliance government headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Singh attended the 'Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Awards' function in Mumbai on Tuesday night. Speaking during an interactive session at the event, he said former Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah should not have supported the stone pelters. The National Conference president had recently defended the stone-pelting youth in the Valley, saying they are fighting for the nation and for the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the wishes of its people. Singh said he "fully agrees" with Army chief General Bipin Rawat's remarks about dealing sternly with those trying to hinder security forces from performing their duties in Kashmir. "Those doing such things will have to face the consequences," he said. On Uttar Pradesh, Singh said that he credits Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, workers of the BJP and the NDA for the victory in the Assembly elections in the northern state. "I thought we would get around 250 seats. We didn't expect we will get 325 seats in UP," he said. On the issue of triple talaq, he said the government's stance in this regard is clear. "Such a provision isn't there even in Quran," he added. On construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Home minister said that the issue is sub judice. "If both the sides reach a solution, it will be alright but if not, then all will have to abide by court verdict," he added. Singh observed that there is a need for a consensus on anti-cow slaughter legislation. On fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, the senior BJP leader said, "there is no doubt that he is still in Karachi. In the last 10 years, India has sent a lot of dossiers on him (Dawood) to Pakistan. He is an accused in 31 cases, including the Mumbai serial blasts. PTI SC: Prolonged pendency is a distressful reality India pti-PTI New Delhi, April 11: The Supreme Court has asked the Allahabad High Court to furnish details of criminal appeals pending before it, observing that "the spectre of prolonged pendency for years together is a distressful reality". The apex court also requested two senior advocates -- C U Singh and Shyam Divan -- "to offer their response and recommendation for outlining specific guidelines based on recorded statistics of pending criminal appeals, to start with, as a pilot project, of the High Court of Allahabad". A bench of Justices J Chelameswar, A M Sapre and Amitava Roy passed the direction to the registrar general of the Allahabad High Court while hearing a bail application in a murder case. The apex court, while refusing to grant bail to two convicts in the murder case, directed the high court to decide their appeal against conviction within four months. "Though the delay in disposal of the trials and appeals, in varying degrees, may be traceable to several causes e.g. infrastructural, logistical and otherwise, the spectre of prolonged pendency thereof for years together is a distressful reality," the bench said while seeking the information from the high court within four weeks. It observed that the "phenomenon of mounting pendency and discomfiting delay in disposal of cases, both before the district courts and high courts of the country, has by this time received the attention of this court on umpteen occasions and from time to time in several cases, exhaustive directions of general nature have been issued to ameliorate the situation". This has been done keeping in view the overwhelming perspective of the right to speedy trial and disposal of criminal appeals as ingrained in Article 21 of the Constitution, it said It asked the HC registrar general to furnish details regarding institution and disposal statistics of last 10 years, average disposal time of the appeals, identified causes for the delay, steps already taken and in contemplation for tackling such causes and accelerating disposals. The bench also sought to know what mechanism was in place to oversee the process and the progress recorded. It said, "We are of the view that it is imperative for this court to initiate a target specific exercise and for the purpose obtain and analyse the relevant datas at the first instance, with regard to the pendency of the criminal appeals before the Allahabad High Court." The court also expressed concern over pitiable condition existing in jails across the country due to delay in the redressal process and said that it leads the inmates to face "dehumanising compulsions". "Not only the custodial restraint of those detained has to be sanctioned by law, any undue and unjustified delay in the redressal processes initiated by them would have the potential of their detention being adjudged as violative of their constitutionally secured right to fair and speedy justice," it said. PTI Sharad Pawar invokes Savarkar, takes jibe at Bhagwat on cow slaughter India pti-PTI New Delhi, April 11: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday invoked Hindu Mahasabha leader Vinayak Savarkar's remarks on cow to hit out at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for seeking a complete ban on cow slaughter across the country. Recalling Savarkar, hailed by the Hindu right, Pawar said he had termed cow as "just a useful animal" and would found nothing wrong if bovine animals were killed for meat if they became a "burden" on farmer. Speaking at the release of his autobiography 'Apani Sharton Par' (On My Terms) here in the presence of opposition leaders, Pawar also expressed concern over the "other view" not being tolerated in the country. "One day, the head of an organisation said that cow slaughter should be banned across the country," he said without naming Bhagwat. Referring to the recent lynching of a Muslim man by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan's Alwar, Pawar said, "People are being attacked, killed. It is strange." The NCP veteran said there was nothing wrong if some sections of countrymen considered cow as mother, but insisted on respecting those who held a different view. "Savarkar had publicly said that cow is a useful animal. He would say he would not blame anyone if he or she kills and eats its meat when it is not useful, becomes burden on farmer. We cannot ignore his thinking," he said. Bhagwat had on April 9 condemned violence by cow protection groups, saying it "defames" the cause but made it clear that the Hindutva organisation wanted a law banning cow slaughter across the country. PTI Srinagar: Why did ECI not take centre's advise on postponement India oi-Vicky By Vicky The centre was apprehensive about holding the by-elections in Srinagar on Sunday which recorded just 7 per cent polling. Home Ministry officials said that it would be better to wait for the panchayat polls and then go ahead with the elections in Srinagar. The Election Commission of India was however not convinced with the Home Ministry's suggestion and went ahead with the elections. The EC cited a constitutional obligation to hold the polls before April 16. The ECI can be advised, but not directed by the Home Ministry. The EC relied on a report by the state government which indicated that the panchayat elections could go on as per schedule. The EC felt that if the panchayat polls could be held, then there should be no problem in holding the by-elections in Srinagar. Home Ministry officials however felt that their advise should have been taken. The ECI had sought the deployment of security forces in large numbers. An average of 100 personnel are deployed per parliamentary constituency. However in the case of Srinagar the number was ten times more. This itself suggested that the EC was expecting big trouble in Srinagar. Moreover the deployment of security forces was worked out with the state police and the centre was not consulted on the same. OneIndia News Sushil Modi fires another salvo against Lalu Prasad's family India pti-PTI Patna, April 11: Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday alleged that RJD chief Lalu Prasad's family were involved in a ploy to get prime land transferred in their names in lieu of favours. Prasad's family, he said, had become owners of prime land here worth crores of rupees earlier owned by A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd. Sushil Modi, who presented a set of documents to support his charges, said the company was incoroprated on September 28, 2006 by Amit Katyal and Rajesh Katyal who had had set up a liquor factory called 'Iceberg Industries Pvt Ltd' at Bihta in Patna district in 2003-04 when Rabri Devi was Bihar chief minister. "Lalu Prasad got cent per cent shares of the company transferred in the names of his wife and his son Tejashwi while his two daughters Chanda Yadav and Ragini Lalu were made the directors of the firm in 2014 ... Katyals handed over A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd, which owns land at prime locations in Patna worth crores to Prasad's family for helping them (Katyals) in setting up a liquor factory at Bihta," Sushil Modi claimed. Helping anyone while being in office in order to get benefits in the form of property/land/money comes under the purview of Prevention of Corruption Act, he said. Sushil Modi said Prasad's sons Tej Pratap Yadav, the Bihar health minister and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the deputy chief minister, had resigned from the post of directors of the company on November 9, 2015, a day after the results of Bihar Assembly polls were declared. Now Prasad's two daughters are the directors while all its shares are held by Rabri and Tejashwi. Modi asked Prasad to tell people where A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd has plots/land in Patna and sought to know why the Katyals had made his sons and daughters directors of the company and why all shares were transferred by them to Prasad's family members. He said that Prasad's family had adopted the same modus operandi of getting shares transferred in the names of his family members as in the case of Delight Marketing Pvt Ltd. Sushil Modi had on April 4 alleged that Prasad during his tenure as Railways minister had in February 2005 sold off two hotels in Puri and Ranchi controlled by the Railways to a hospitality chain owned by a person Harsh Kochar. Kochar in turn got two acres registered in the name of Delight Marketing Company Pvt Ltd, in which Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi, sons Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, were made directors. Later, Delight was re-christened as LARA Projects LLP in November 2016 in the name of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi. The BJP leader also demanded that an FIR be lodged for misusing the the chief minister's official residential by Chanda Yadav as her own as as adirector of Delight Marketing Pvt Ltd in 2014 and her brothers had countersigned on the documents submitted to the registrar. Their mother Rabri Devi had quit office as chief minister in 2005. PTI Sushma Swaraj calls Kulbhushan 'India's son', warns Pakistan of consequences India oi-Anusha Mincing no words in launching scathing attacks on Pakistan external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj claimed that the trial that Kulbhushan Jadhav faced in Pakistan was a farce. "It is an indefensible verdict against an innocent Indian citizen. We have no option but to deem the sentence a premeditated murder," she said. Making a statement in Rajya Sabha on the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan, Swaraj claimed that the Indian high commission was informed only three hours after the verdict was pronounced and that Jadhav was not given consular access. Responding to Gulam Nabi Azad's question of government's efforts to help Jadhav, Swaraj said that everything would be done to help him. "He is India's son and we will go out of the way to help him," the minister said deeming the sentence a pre-meditated murder. Sushma Swaraj maintained that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. "I would caution Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," Sushma Swaraj said in the Rajya Sabha. OneIndia News All victims retrieved in Morbi Bridge collapse, no one missing: Report Who will win Gujarat 2022 polls? Here's what ABP-C-Voter survey says Sushma Swaraj says Zambian student in Gujarat committed suicide India ians-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, April 11: A Zambian student, who was found dead in Gujarat last week, had committed suicide, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday. "I have got the report on the death of a Zambian national Zite Shakala from Government of Gujarat." "Police investigations prima facie suggest that this is a case of suicide. A suicide note has been found at the scene of occurrence," she said in a series of tweets. Jeetey Shakala, 21, who was a third year engineering student at Parul University in the Waghodia area of Vadodara, was found dead in his room in the international students' hostel on the campus on Saturday. The incident comes in the wake of attacks on some Nigerian nationals last month in New Delhi's satellite township of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. African envoys described the attack as racist and even threatened to move the UN and other international bodies over the issue. The government has maintained that the attack cannot be dubbed racist pending completion of an investigation into the matter and described the African envoys' statement as unfortunate. IANS Government will decide how much food you will be served India oi-Madhuri In an attempt to stop wastage of food, the government will soon decide the portion of sizes of dishes served by hotels and restaurants. Ram Vilas Paswan, minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, told the Hindustan Times,"If a person can eat only two prawns, why should he or she be served six? If a person eats two idlis, why serve four! It's wastage of food and also money people pay for something that they don't eat.'' He also said that the Dhabas which serve thalis will not come under this rule. The rules will be applicble to only standard hotels and restaurants. The issue was brought up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, on March 26. In March's edition of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concern over the wastage of food in the country. Expressing concern over the issue, he asked, "Have we ever thought about how much food we waste? Ever pondered if we don't waste food, we can feed the poor?" "Even our mothers teach us to take only that much what we can eat. We should understand that ignoring the issue of food wastage is anti social and injustice to poor," he added. Modi had also further asserted that cutting down on food wastage will also lead to personal savings. OneIndia News Why are Sasikala's visitors in jail coming down India oi-Vicky By Vicky The numbers of visitors for Sasikala Natarajan in the Bengaluru jail has gone down considerably. Jail authorities have started to cut down the number of visitors and in the past week even sent back an MP and a minister from Tamil Nadu. The Director General of Prisons, Sathyanarayana Rao said that the jail authorities had not flouted any norms in allowing the stipulated number of visitors to meet Sasikala in jail. According to Chapter 31 guidelines of the Karnataka Prisons Manual, one visitor is allowed to meet a convicted prisoner every fortnight. This however does not hold good for newly admitted prisoners. Usually the rules are a bit relaxed for a new prisoner as time is given to that person to adjust. However over a period of time the rules come into force and the number of visitors too gradually reduce. Since it has been over a month since Sasikala was admitted in jail, prison authorities now feel that she has adjusted. This would mean that the number of visitors too would come down in the days to come. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 12:50 [IST] Will end triple talaq, government need not interfere, says Muslim law board India oi-Anusha Following the massive outrage over triple talaq, the Muslim law board seems to have taken it upon itself to review the draconian practice. Dr Sayeed Sadiq, the vice president of All India Muslim law board has said that measures will be taken to review and do away with triple talaq. Dr Sadiq has even claimed that the board will move to end triple talaq in a year and a half. He, however, added that there was no need for the government to interfere in the same. "Even if I say triple talaq 300 times, it will not materialize into a divorce. In the Shia community, divorce cannot take place instantly by saying talaq thrice. The law is there among Sunnis also but triple talaq at one go is also considered as divorce which is not actually right," " said the Shia scholar at a press conference. The statement to do away with triple talaq comes two days after the board had said that it had received forms from 3.50 crore Muslim women favouring the practice of triple talaq. The board's women's wing chief organiser, Asma Zohra had said that the number of women against triple talaq was 'very less' in the country. The board's statement asking the government to not interfere in the matter of triple talaq comes as no surprise since it had recently told even the Supreme Court that the pleas challenging the practice among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues 'fell outside the realm of the judiciary'. Meanwhile, prominent muslin women including Salma Ansari, the wife of Vice President Ansari claimed that uttering 'talaq' thrice does not amount to divorce and asked Muslim women to read the Quran thoroughly instead of relying on clerics. She claimed that triple talaq found no relevance in the Quran and such a concept did not exist. OneIndia News Power for all, says Yogi Adityanath in second UP cabinet meet India oi-Vikas By Vikas Lucknow, April 11: Several important decisions were taken at the second Uttar Pradesh cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. One of the most important decisions taken by the cabinet was to ensure 18 hours of power supply in the rural areas of the state. Speaking to the media after the cabinet meeting, state minister Shrikant Sharma said that the chief minister wants transformers to be installed in the villages within 48 hours, while in for cities the time limit has been set to 24 hours. He also warned the power department officials of stern action if they fail to adhere to the set time frame. In a bid to address the problems faced by potato farmers, the chief minister has directed district authorities to purchase one lakh metric tons of potatoes from the farmers. Sharma said that Adityanath is committed to working towards the betterment of farmers. He said a 'power for all' initiative would be launched in the state in presence of Power Minister Piyush Goyal. Under this initiative, the aim would be to electrify every village in the state by 2019. The cabinet has also decided to allow those farmers with over Rs 10,000 electricity dues to repay the amount in four installments within a year. Be Honest or Resign, says Piyush Goyal Responding to the high level of corruption in the power department, the Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal warned Uttar Pradesh's power officials to abide by new rules. He said that if anyone who finds it difficult to do so, is free to resign from the job. Goyal reportedly paid a surprise visit to the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) with Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Shrikant Sharma. The video of the minister addressing the media has gone viral on social media. In the video posted by a news agency on YouTube, he is saying, "If any single person will take a bribe of even one rupee, then he will have to face the severest action, and if anyone doesn't want to work in this new system, then he can give his resignation by Monday morning and go back home." He added that accepting even a cup of tea is not acceptable. In his first cabinet meeting last week, Yogi had waived off farmer loans worth Rs 30,729 crores. The formation of Anti-Romeo squad in the state to tackle instances of eve-teasing and harassment of women in the state was another major topic of discussion in the first cabinet meeting. Yogi government has swiftly followed on multiple poll promises ever since it has come to power, such as shutting down illegal meat shops, waiving off farmers' loans and banning gutkha and tobacco products in the state. OneIndia News Be ready to face fallout of Kulbhushan Jadhav's sentence, says Pakistani media International pti-PTI Islamabad, Apr 11: The death sentence handed out to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for "spying" was on Tuesday described as "unprecedented" by the Pakistani media, with experts weighing in the diplomatic fallout of the move. A Pakistan military court sentenced Jadhav to death after he was convicted of "espionage and sabotage activities". Military's media wing said in a statement yesterday that the sentence was passed by a Field General Court Martial and confirmed by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Right-wing English-language newspaper The Nation in its front page lead 'Death to spy spikes tensions' observed that "a military court on Monday sentenced a high-profile Indian spy to death, ratcheting up longstanding tensions between the nuclear-armed states." The paper also quoted political and defence analyst Dr Hassan Askari that the decision to execute Jadhav would "further increase tension between the two countries". "The military has given a severe punishment which is according to Pakistani law," Askari said."But we will have to see if Pakistan can sustain the political and diplomatic fallout." The Nation is owned by Nawa-i-Qawt group, which is traditionally aligned to Pakistani establishment and is known for India bashing. The story was also published by other leading newspapers, mostly focusing on the sentence given to the alleged spy. The Express Tribune in the front page headline 'Self- confessed Indian spy awarded death sentence' termed the decision as "unprecedented". It reported that the decision immediately sparked a bitter diplomatic spat between the two "hostile" neighbours. It further said that Jadhav has been operating in Pakistan disguised as Hussein Mubarak Patel. The influential Dawn newspaper termed the decision as a "rare move" . The paper said that the development comes at a time when tensions between Pakistan and India are already running high. It published a full column on what experts feel about the decision. Some feel the reaction from India will be strong, others maintain there will be no dramatic shift in the relationship, it said. "For a long time now Pakistan has struggled to prove India's involvement in Pakistan's destabilisation. Our ambassadors have gone to various countries looking for help in that matter and showed them proof but to no avail. Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for India's retaliation," the paper quoted Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood as saying. "The decision is right, it is by the law and justified in legal terms, however, we should brace ourselves as there will be reaction, on international forums and Pakistan should even be prepared for a spike in Line of Control violations," Masood said. Political analyst Air Marshal (retired) Shahzad Chaudhry said, "I do not think our ties with India would change as a result of this decision". Hamid Mir, senior journalist at Geo News said, "First of all, Pakistan should make the evidence found against the spy public, share it with the country and also internationally." "Secondly, why is everyone talking about an Indian reaction already? My belief is that India should be sensible and not react to the news at all. If people remember when Ajmal Kasab was sentenced, Pakistan had remained silent about the whole thing. Our prerogative was simple, if there is evidence against Kasab then he should be sentenced according to the Indian law. "So India should be sensible, not react to the news, not try to paint Jadhav as a hero, the media should take that same tone," he said. Senior PPP leader and former interior minister Rehman Malik said, "If the law has found Jadhav guilty then we have the right to sentence him to death and the sentence should be carried out. We should not back down to any pressure, Indian or international and make sure that the sentence is carried out." The News International headlined the spy story as 'Military court awards death sentence to Kulbhushan'. PTI Nine hostages missing from Indian ship freed in Somalia International ians-IANS By Ians English Nairobi, April 11: Somalia security forces have rescued an Indian cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates on April 1 but nine of the 11 crew members are missing, a maritime official said on Tuesday. John Steed, the regional manager of not for profit group Oceans Beyond Piracy, said the hostages are believed to be held between the vicinity of Hobyo and Haradhere in central Somalia. "The Indian ship was released by Somalia security forces on Monday night but nine of the 11 crew members are missing, having been taken ashore by the pirates. The vessel is sailing away," Steed told Xinhua by telephone. The pirating of the Indian dhow came after the fuel tanker, Aris 13, was held for four days by armed pirates. The Indian ship, Al Kausar, was one of three foreign vessels to be hijacked after a five-year lull. "We haven't established where the hostages were taken," said Steed, noting that Somali pirates were holding 17 hostages from Iran and India. "The pirates are holding 17 hostages at the moment. Eight are Iranians while nine are Indians," he said, adding that efforts were on to secure their release. Al Kausar was chartered by a Somali businessman and was carrying commercial goods. The vessel, which was en route from Dubai to Bosasso in Somalia, was hijacked in the vicinity of Socotra (Island). The release of the Indian vessel comes after sailors from Indian and Chinese Navies on Sunday freed a Tuvalu-registered vessel which had been boarded by pirates. The vessel had 19 crew members. Somali pirates tend to be well armed with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade and sometimes use skiffs launched from mother vessels, which may be hijacked fishing vessels or dhows, to conduct attacks far from the Somali coast. Maritime experts said lack of economic opportunities and the prevalence of illegal fishing were pushing more Somalis to turn to piracy. IANS Pakistan's kangaroo courts: How army refused to shut them down International oi-Vicky By Vicky In 2016, the International Commission of Jurists had said that the Pakistan government and military authorities had failed to make information about the trials being conducted. This was in specific reference to the military courts that were set up in 2014 to try cases relating to terrorism. This observation is apt considering the manner in which Pakistan conducted the trial against Kulbhushan Jadhav and sentenced him to death. The commission had said that no information about the place of the trial, specific charges and evidence are made public by these courts. Further it went on to add that the judgments are not made available and also the legal reasoning and evidence on the basis of which the conviction is awarded is also not made public. Lack of transparency: The military courts in Pakistan have a notorious track record. These courts have been accused of conducting trials in secrecy. The Pakistan Army relies on these courts when it is unable to provide sufficient evidence before a civil court. In the past two years, the military courts in Pakistan have handed out 274 convictions of which 161 were sentenced to death. There were 144 confessions in all before these courts. None of these cases are there in public domain for anyone to analyse the evidence that was considered before the sentences were handed out. Ironically the convicts sentenced by these courts also do not have the right to appeal. Where is the sun-set clause? The military courts were set up in Pakistan in 2014. These courts were mainly set up to try cases of terrorism. A constitutional amendment was brought about to empower these courts to try terror accused. When these courts were set up, a sun-set clause too had been introduced. This meant that these courts would be wound up once the government introduced legislative changes to strengthen the civil courts. However the army in Pakistan pressured the government to extend the validity of these courts by another two years. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 15:07 [IST] 4 killed after man goes on shooting spree across Memphis, gunman in custody Teacher, 8 year old student die in San Bernardino shooting International oi-Vicky By Vicky A teacher and an 8 year old student died in an apparent murder-suicide inside an elementary school in San Bernardino, South California. Investigators say that the suspect is down and there is no further threat to the North Park School. A man opened fire with a pistol on Monday before killing himself. Two other students were injured in the incident. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said the shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, about 65 miles east of Los Angeles, was an apparent murder-suicide. Investigators worked to confirm the identities of the gunman and the dead woman to determine their relationship, if any, and whether the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute, police Captain Ron Maas said at a news conference. The wounded students were hospitalized but their medical conditions were not immediately known. Maas said they were not related to either of the dead adults. School district secretary Vicki Wood confirmed the dead woman was the teacher and that she was teaching a special-education class at the time. Police said she and the gunman were the only adults in the classroom. OneIndia News Trump thanks British PM for support over Syria attack International oi-PTI Washington, April 11: President Donald Trump has spoken with British Prime Minister Theresa May about US strikes in Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians. The British Embassy in Washington said Trump thanked the prime minister on Monday "for her support in the wake of last week's US military action against the Assad regime." The statement says there now exists 'a window of opportunity' to convince Russia that its alliance with Syrian President Bashar Assad is no longer in its strategic interest. They both expressed hope that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make progress toward "a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement" when he visits Moscow next week. AP For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 11:00 [IST] UK defence secretary to arrive in India International oi-PTI London, April 11: Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon will arrive in India for a four-day visit during which he will take part in the first Indo-UK strategic dialogue. "Sir Michael will join his counterpart, Arun Jaitley, for the first India-UK Strategic Dialogue, which was agreed in November 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to London as part of the Defence and International Security Partnership," the British High Commission said in a statement. The minister will visit Mumbai and Delhi and hold meetings with senior Indian defence ministry officials, military staff and business leaders. The visit will further cement the Defence and International Security Partnership, which aims to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between India and the UK, including by enhancing mutual capabilities and effectiveness through joint training and doctrine development. The India-UK Strategic Dialogue will look at ways of increasing cooperation in science and technology, research and development, and countering violent extremism. On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary will be the special guest at a reception hosted by British high commissioner Dominic Asquith in New Delhi to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II -- which falls on April 21. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 10:54 [IST] 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Rumble 30 Oct 2022 The young bull Shane Gillis is in the studio to talk about the new Gilly & Keeves Special, the barstool case race, taking.. CBS 2 New York 24 Feb 2020 A New Jersey Transit but driver accused of dragging a passenger who later died will appear in court today. CBSN New York's Jenna.. Yahoo UK 31 Oct 2022 Environment minister Mark Spencer jokes that "some little man in China" is listening to his phone calls with his wife when asked on.. Daily Star 19 Jun 2022 New Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold was filmed speaking to supporters at a pub in Cheshire in footage that was later leaked on.. New Zealand Herald 12 Apr 2022 Western governments say they are "urgently" trying to verify a claim from Ukrainian forces that Russia used chemical weapons in the.. Spiritual leaders are the real messengers who connect the hearts of the people and strengthen reconciliation as wished by every religious philosophy, said President Maithripala Sirisena. President noted that the guidance for reconciliation is witnessed in Thripitaka, Bible, Quran and Bhagavad-Gita. He highlighted that Buddhist monks and all other priests belonging to Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are expected to make use of the norms of the great teachings. President Maithripala Sirisena was speaking at the cultural program, Erabadu Vasantham, dedicated to enhance ethnic and religious reconciliation. The event was held at Singakkuliya, Dankotuwa on 9th April. A program was also organized to remind the service of late Rev. Fr. Marcelline Jayakody in line with the cultural event. Speaking further, President stated that our country was built upon on peace and reconciliation among different communities from the ancient times. Sri Lankan nation should come together as a strong human wall while consolidating peace and harmony among different ethnic communities at the present context, President said. President explained that though some elements would try to insult the term reconciliation, Sri Lankas future will only be fruitful if the term would be given the true meaning and implement it in the society realistically. President also commended the services of legendry artiste Rev. Fr. Marcelline Jayakody, who earned the hearts of people from all walks of the life in Sri Lanka. The President presented a token of appreciation in the memory of Rev. Fr. Marcelline Jayakody to a senior member of his family Winifrida Jayakody. (Government News Portal) Governors Pen Letter to Jeff Sessions Voicing Concern Over States' Online Gambling Rights Published April 10, 2017 by Elana K US governors voiced their concern about the federal governments role in online gambling in a letter sent to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The letter urges Sessions not to take any actions regarding online gambling before considering states' rights. US governors voiced their concern about the federal governments role in online gambling in a letter sent to Attorney General Jeff Sessions last week. The letter, officially signed by Governors Terry McAuliffe and Brian Sandoval of the National Governors Association (NGA), urges Sessions not to take any actions regarding online gambling before considering the rights of individual states. Why the Letter Now? A little background is needed to understand the backdrop against which this letter takes place. During Sessions confirmation hearing in January, he remarked that he didnt agree with the 2011 Department of Justice (DOJ) ruling that made it legal for individual states to allow online gambling. The recent letter sent by the NGA is a (somewhat delayed) response to those remarks. Details of the Letter The letter argues that the legalization and regulation of online gambling and lotteries should be left up to individual states to decide. It also points out that the three states that have currently legalized online gambling - Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware - all implement strict regulations and consumer protection protocols. NGA's History of Supporting States' Rights This is not the first time the NGA has made its collective voice heard in favor of states rights. In 2014, they sent a similar letter to congressional leadership, urging them to vote against RAWA, the proposed legislation at the time that would make online gambling illegal on a federal level. RAWA, they posited, is the essence of trampling on states' rights. Will This Letter Make a Difference? Since Donald Trump was elected as president of the US, letters have been flying back and forth. In December, ten governors wrote to Trump and his administration asking that RAWAbe revived. Democratic representative Dina Titus answered back with a letter of her own citing reasons why RAWA should not be re-enacted. In short, its unclear whether these letters are actually making any impact, or whether they are simply being written to take a stand. At this point, online gambling is not the top priority of the Trump administration, which means that for now, the 2011 DOJ ruling is safe and sound. Omni Slots Inks New Deal with Oryx Gaming Published April 11, 2017 by Brett C Omni Slots Casino signed a new deal with Oryx Gaming. This deal will allow players to enjoy games like Ramses Book and Fancy Fruits. Other games like Wild Rubies will be available in April. Omni Slots Casino and Oryx Gaming have signed a new content deal that will expand the range of Oryx games available to players. Among the many new games available to players are Ramses Book and Fancy Fruits. Later in April, players will be able to enjoy the eagerly awaited slot game, Wild Rubies. Omnislots and Oryx Gaming CEOs excited about the New Deal The CEO of Omni Slots, Robert Peters lauded the deal with Oryx. The GAMOMAT online casino games are recognized among the better providers of mobile slots games. This new deal will help Omni Slots on its growth trajectory in 2017. For his part, Oryx Gaming CEO, Matevz Mazij endorsed the deal with Omni Slots, especially for its European growth and Latin American growth projections. About Omni Slots Omni Slots runs on a multivendor gaming platform comprising Microgaming and NetEnt software providers, among others. The casino was established in 2015, and is licensed and regulated by the government of Curacao. Besides for a formidable selection of online slots including Hitman, Mega Gems and Fruit Zen, Omni Slots feature an impressive selection of card and table games. These include online blackjack games, baccarat games, craps games, and roulette games. Rare Earth Elements (REE) 2017 Global Key Players - China Minmetals Corporation, Ganzhou Rare Earth Group, Great Western Minerals Group, Peak Resources Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Rare Earth Elements (REE) https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1171494-global-rare-earth-elements-ree-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1171494-global-rare-earth-elements-ree-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1171494 www.wiseguyreports.com Rare Earth Elements (REE)Report Details:Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingChina Minmetals CorporationGanzhou Rare Earth GroupGreat Western Minerals GroupPeak ResourcesGreenland Minerals & EnergyIluka ResourcesTantalus Rare EarthsUcore Rare MetalsInternational Ferro MetalsLynas CorporationMolybdenum Corporation of AmericaArafura ResourcesAvalon Rare MetalsMolycorp Metals and AlloysNorthern MineralsOrbite AluminaeAluminum Corporation of ChinaShin-Etsu ChemicalStans EnergyQuest Rare MineralsRare Element ResourcesRising Nonferrous Metals ShareClick here for sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Rare Earth Elements (REE) in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCeriumNeodymiumLanthanumDysprosiumTerbiumYttriumOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Rare Earth Elements (REE) for each application, includingCatalystsCeramicsPhosphorsMetal AlloysMagnetsOtherSome Major Points from Table of content:Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market Research Report 20171 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Rare Earth Elements (REE)1.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Cerium1.2.4 Neodymium1.2.5 Lanthanum1.2.6 Dysprosium1.2.7 Terbium1.2.8 Yttrium1.2.9 Other1.3 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Segment by Application1.3.1 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Catalysts1.3.3 Ceramics1.3.4 Phosphors1.3.5 Metal Alloys1.3.6 Magnets1.3.7 Other1.4 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Rare Earth Elements (REE) (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For Detailed Reading Please visit @7 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 China Minmetals Corporation7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 China Minmetals Corporation Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Ganzhou Rare Earth Group7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Ganzhou Rare Earth Group Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Great Western Minerals Group7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Great Western Minerals Group Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Peak Resources7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Peak Resources Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Greenland Minerals & Energy7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Greenland Minerals & Energy Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Iluka Resources7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Iluka Resources Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Tantalus Rare Earths7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Tantalus Rare Earths Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Ucore Rare Metals7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Ucore Rare Metals Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 International Ferro Metals7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 International Ferro Metals Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Lynas Corporation7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Lynas Corporation Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview..ContinuedBuy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPh: +91 841 198 5042info@wiseguyreports.com Zhang Chenliang focuses a camera to shoot a photo of the Monotropa uniflora Linn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Some people become online celebrities due to good looks, others by good luck. But one young man has gained huge popularity on the internet because of his keen interest in natural history. And his name is Zhang Chenliang. Widely known as the "Man of Natural History", or Bowu Jun in Chinese, the online star now boasts 6 million followers on Sina Weibo, one of the most influential social media platforms in China. Every day, thousands of questions, ranging from entomology, zoology to botany and geography, are submitted to him. In the face of this "question attack", Zhang seems to accept the status quo and handles them in his own way. His fans all know that he has set a series of rules to answering questions. Therefore, if you are not a smart observer, your question may become like a pebble dropped into the sea and never solved, at least from the "walking encyclopedia". Zhang Chenliang [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] What makes him the "Man of Natural History" Born in Beijing, the 29-year-old has fostered a deep love of nature since he was a child. "When I was a child, I was fond of insects. I do not remember how many insects I brought up. As long as I've seen them, I've had a curiosity to know more about these creatures. The magic of nature is beyond description," Zhang recalled. "In my childhood, a fish tank and glass bottles all were transformed into an ecological zone to bring up different kinds of insects. To me, it was fantastic to see their growth. Therefore, I always hold more important firsthand experience than stereotypical book teaching," he said. These childhood memories, to some degree, determined Zhang Chenliang's life. In 2011, he pursued a master's degree in agricultural entomology and pest control at China Agricultural University and made a more detailed study on natural history. During the academic study period, Zhang was selected by Natural History, a Chinese version of National Geography, as an intern. His first assignment was to operate the social media Weibo. At the beginning, he just followed traditional form and issued knowledge-oriented posts. Sometimes he would use humorous online language to appeal to netizens, but that wasn't working well in online promotion. Later, Zhang explored a unique way to run the Weibo account by answering questions from netizens. Crafty as a question might be, Zhang always gave a satisfactory answer. Little by little, more and more people asked him for help and his reputation rose accordingly. Zhang's overnight sensation also stirred up doubts about him. In Zhihu, the Chinese version of Quora, someone said the success of "Bowu Jun" was due to a whole team to support him. "Actually, I still operate the official Weibo account. And all the questions are answered by myself, alone. I tried to find others to share some of the burden but I am still alone at the current stage. I hope some successors will show up one day." In addition to the question-answer method, Zhang is considering releasing several video programs or doing a live broadcast to introduce more knowledge to people. "Video can help promote knowledge in a more direct way. For instance, as spring comes into our lives, many people cannot distinguish the differences between peach flowers and cherry blossoms. Through videos, I can teach people how to spot the difference, and this is highly effective to do," Zhang said. Fruit Wine 2017 Global Key Players Bruntys, Ningxia Hong, 12Ling, Ningxia Xueyan, Malan Mount, Wangshi Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Fruit Wine Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1171505-global-fruit-wine-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1171505-global-fruit-wine-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1171505 https://www.linkedin.com/company/wise-guy-research-consultants-pvt-ltd-?trk=biz-companies-cym Fruit Wine Market 2017Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Fruit Wine Market -Market Size,Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Fruit Wine in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaRequest for Sample report @Global Fruit Wine market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBruntysNingxia HongJiangzhong Qinong12LingZhongbo Green TechnologyNingxia XueyanBeijing Shunxing Halewood Alcoholic BeveragesWangshiWuliangyeMalan MountOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoFermented Fruit WineDistilled Fruit WinePreparation Fruit WineSparkling Fruit WineOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Fruit Wine for each application, includingHouseholdCommercialTo get complete report visit@Key Points in Table of Content:Global Fruit Wine Market Research Report 20171 Fruit Wine Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Fruit Wine1.2 Fruit Wine Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Fruit Wine Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Fruit Wine Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Fermented Fruit Wine1.2.4 Distilled Fruit Wine1.2.5 Preparation Fruit Wine1.2.6 Sparkling Fruit Wine1.3 Global Fruit Wine Segment by Application1.3.1 Fruit Wine Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Household1.3.3 Commercial1.4 Global Fruit Wine Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Fruit Wine Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Fruit Wine (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Fruit Wine Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Fruit Wine Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)7 Global Fruit Wine Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Bruntys7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Bruntys Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Ningxia Hong7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Ningxia Hong Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Jiangzhong Qinong7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Jiangzhong Qinong Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 12Ling7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 12Ling Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Zhongbo Green Technology7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Zhongbo Green Technology Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Ningxia Xueyan7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Ningxia Xueyan Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Beijing Shunxing Halewood Alcoholic Beverages7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Beijing Shunxing Halewood Alcoholic Beverages Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Wangshi7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Wangshi Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Wuliangye7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Wuliangye Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Malan Mount7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Fruit Wine Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Malan Mount Fruit Wine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinued...Buy this report @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Follow on LinkedIn @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Global Baobab Powder Market 2016 Share, Trend, Segmentation and Forecast to 2021 Baobab Powder Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1171527-global-baobab-powder-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/1171527-global-baobab-powder-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1171527 www.wiseguyreports.com Executive SummaryBaobab Powder Market :-WiseGuyReports.com adds Animal Hospitals Market 2017 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2022reports to its database.WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Request a Sample Report @In this report, the global Baobab Powder market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Baobab Powder in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Baobab Powder market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBaobab Fruit Company SenegalBaobab FoodsOrganic Herb TradingEco ProductsTheHealthyTree CompanyBI NutraceuticalsBioessenceTradeOrganic AfricaRawsome FoodsB'AyobaSimpli IngredientsOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoOrganic Baobab PowderOrdinary Baobab PowderOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Baobab Powder for each application, includingPharmaceuticalsCosmeticsFood and BeverageOthersIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Browse Full Report Details@Some Major Points from Table of Content:Table of ContentsGlobal Baobab Powder Market Research Report 20171 Baobab Powder Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Baobab Powder1.2 Baobab Powder Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Baobab Powder Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Baobab Powder Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Organic Baobab Powder1.2.4 Ordinary Baobab Powder1.3 Global Baobab Powder Segment by Application1.3.1 Baobab Powder Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Pharmaceuticals1.3.3 Cosmetics1.3.4 Food and Beverage1.3.5 Others1.4 Global Baobab Powder Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Baobab Powder Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Baobab Powder (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Baobab Powder Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Baobab Powder Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Baobab Powder Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Baobab Powder Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Baobab Powder Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Baobab Powder Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Baobab Powder Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Baobab Powder Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Baobab Powder Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Baobab Powder Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Baobab Powder Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Baobab Powder Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Baobab Powder Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Baobab Powder Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Baobab Powder Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Baobab Powder Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Baobab Powder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Baobab Powder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Baobab Powder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Baobab Powder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Baobab Powder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Baobab Powder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Baobab Powder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5 Global Baobab Powder Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Baobab Powder Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Baobab Powder Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Baobab Powder Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Baobab Powder Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Baobab Powder Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Baobab Powder Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Baobab Powder Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesPurchase a Copy of This Report @CONTINUEDMore about WiseGuyReports:Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune 411028Maharashtra, India On-The-Go Yoghurt 2017 Global Key Players - Origin Food Group, The Nemours Foundation, Materne North America Corp, B&G Foods, Chobani Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 On-The-Go Yoghurt https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1171532-global-on-the-go-yoghurt-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1171532-global-on-the-go-yoghurt-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1171532 www.wiseguyreports.com On-The-Go YoghurtReport Details:Global On-The-Go Yoghurt market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingOrigin Food GroupThe Nemours FoundationMaterne North America CorpB&G FoodsChobaniAlpro UKGo Greek YogurtSprout Organic FoodsClick here for sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of On-The-Go Yoghurt in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoFlavored On-The-Go YoghurtNon-Flavored On-The-Go YoghurtOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of On-The-Go Yoghurt for each application, includingChldrenAdult WomenAdult MenSome Major Points from Table of content:Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market Research Report 20171 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Rare Earth Elements (REE)1.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Cerium1.2.4 Neodymium1.2.5 Lanthanum1.2.6 Dysprosium1.2.7 Terbium1.2.8 Yttrium1.2.9 Other1.3 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Segment by Application1.3.1 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Catalysts1.3.3 Ceramics1.3.4 Phosphors1.3.5 Metal Alloys1.3.6 Magnets1.3.7 Other1.4 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Rare Earth Elements (REE) (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For Detailed Reading Please visit @7 Global Rare Earth Elements (REE) Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 China Minmetals Corporation7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 China Minmetals Corporation Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Ganzhou Rare Earth Group7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Ganzhou Rare Earth Group Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Great Western Minerals Group7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Great Western Minerals Group Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Peak Resources7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Peak Resources Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Greenland Minerals & Energy7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Greenland Minerals & Energy Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Iluka Resources7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Iluka Resources Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Tantalus Rare Earths7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Tantalus Rare Earths Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Ucore Rare Metals7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Ucore Rare Metals Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 International Ferro Metals7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 International Ferro Metals Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Lynas Corporation7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Lynas Corporation Rare Earth Elements (REE) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview..ContinuedBuy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPh: +91 841 198 5042info@wiseguyreports.com Global Chromatography Software Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast 2016 2022 Global Chromatography Software Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1170301-global-chromatography-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-2022 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/1170301-global-chromatography-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-2022 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1170301 www.wiseguyreports.com This report studies the global Chromatography Software market, analyzes and researches the Chromatography Software development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.This report focuses on the top players in global market,likeAxel SemrauBruker BioSpinCecil InstrumentsGE Healthcare Life SciencesGilsonHitachi High-TechnologiesJascoKNAUERSEDERESykamWaters Ges.m.b.HSubmitGet Sample Report @Market segment by Regions/Countriesthis report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type,Chromatography Software can be split intoNormal VersionCustomised VersionMarket segment by ApplicationChromatography Software can be split intoScientific Research InstitutionsTesting InstitutionsOtherIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Leave a Query @Table of ContentsGlobal Chromatography Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Chromatography Software1.1 Chromatography Software Market Overview1.1.1 Chromatography Software Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Chromatography Software 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 Chromatography Software Market by Type1.3.1 Normal Version1.3.2 Customised Version1.4 Chromatography Software Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Scientific Research Institutions1.4.2 Testing Institutions1.4.3 Other3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Axel Semrau3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Bruker BioSpin3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Cecil Instruments3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 GE Healthcare Life Sciences3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Gilson3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Hitachi High-Technologies3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Jasco3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 KNAUER3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 SEDERE3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 Sykam3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Chromatography Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Waters Ges.m.b.H3.12 SubmitBuy Now@CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Pune, India Global Specialty Pressure-Sensitive Tapes Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast up to 2021 Specialty Pressure-Sensitive Tapes Market, Business Strategy, Analysis, Development, Research Report, Forecast http://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=55111 http://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=55111 https://www.researchnreports.com/chemical-materials/Global-Specialty-Pressure-Sensitive-Tapes-Sales-Market-Report-Forecast-2017-2021-55111 http://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=55177 www.researchnreports.com Global Specialty Pressure-Sensitive Tapes Sales Market Report Forecast 2017-2021 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.This New Research Report studies Specialty Pressure-Sensitive Tapes in Global market, focuses on price, sales, revenue of each type in Global. This report also focuses on the sales (consumption), production, import and export of Specialty Pressure-Sensitive Tapes in North America, Japan, Europe, India, Southeast Asia and China, forecast to 2022, from 2017.The report provides definite explanation of the systems used across various regions. It aims at analyzing the market size and future growth potential of this market across different sectors such as products, application, end user and region. Likewise, the report includes a comprehensive competitive analysis of the important players in the market including their company profiles, SWOT analysis, new developments, and decisive market strategies.Global Specialty Pressure-Sensitive Tapes Market Report 2017The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.Get Sample Copy of This Report @:This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report include: United States Europe China JapanTop Companies Profiled in this Report: Franklin International 3M Company Dow Corning Evans Adhesive Avery Dennison Nitto Denko Tesa Bostik Essentra Specialty Tapes And, Many More.The study is a source of reliable data on:1. Evolving market trends and dynamics2. Opportunity mapping in terms of technological breakthroughs3. Tracking current trends/opportunities/challenges4. Key market segments and sub-segments5. Competitive insights6. Quantifying market opportunities through market sizing and market forecastingGet 20-30% Discount on This Report @:Reason to Buy the Specialty Pressure-Sensitive Tapes Market Research Report:This research report gives specific description of the systems used across various regions. It intends to analyze the market size and future growth potential of the market across various sectors such as products, applications, end user and region. Furthermore, the report includes an extensive competitive analysis of the major players in the market including their profiles, SWOT analysis, recent developments and influential market strategies. The report will enable both existing firms and new entrants to clinch the pulse of the market, which sequentially helps firms to congress a greater market share. Companies procuring this report could use any or many of the below listed 5 strategies to extend their market share.Complete Report Available at:A detailed competitive analysis has been included in this report which focuses on the key market developments & strategies followed by the key players in the market. The study talks about the prime supply and demand side factors affecting the growth of the market along with the current and future trends. This report identifies the Market in different segments such as: by its application, its caliber, and revenue generated by different regions.Global Optical Disk Driver Sales Market Report Forecast 2017-2021: This report provides an all-inclusive examination of the market growth drivers, factors influencing and limiting market growth, current market trends, market structure, Market projections for coming years.Get Sample copy of Global Optical Disk Driver Sales Market Research Report @:About Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat Global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Research N Reports10916, Gold Point, Dr.Houston, TX,Pin - 77064.Sunny Denis(Sales Manager)Phone:+1 888-631-6977E-mail: sales@researchnreports.com Market Data Analysis: Global and China Energy Storage Station Research Report to 2022 Global and China Energy Storage Station Research Report to 2022 http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/goods-475108.html http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ This report studies Energy Storage Station in Global and China market, focuses on top manufacturers in global and China market, involving Energy Storage Station price of each type, production, revenue and market share for each manufacturer. This report also displays the production, revenue and market share of Energy Storage Station in USA, EU, China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia, forecast to 2021, from 2012.Split by product types, with production, revenue, market share and price of each type, as well as the types and price of each type price for each manufacturer in 2016 and 2017, through interviewing the key manufacturers, coveringBatteryFlywheelHydroelectricSplit by manufacturers, this report focuses on the production, price of each type, average price of Energy Storage Station, revenue and market share, for each manufacturer in 2016 and 2017. Top players, coveringSmarter Network StorageBlasjoCowesses First Nation Wind and Storage Demonstration ProjectAES Kilroot Power StorageOrkney Storage Park ProjectAndasol Solar Power StationHokkaido Battery Storage Project (provisional name)Yerba Buena Battery Energy Storage System Pilot ProjectFalkenhagen power-to-gas pilot plantClear Creek Flywheel Wind Farm ProjectTamahara Pumped Storage Power StationBath County Pumped Storage StationBC Hydro Battery Energy Storage ProjectSir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating StationTurlough HillEagle Mountain ProjectDinorwig Power StationFfestiniog Power StationLudington Pumped Storage Power PlantSilver Creek Pumped Storage ProjectAdvanced Underground CAES Project With Saline Porous Rock FormationHuntorf CAES PlantSolana Generating StationMcIntosh CAES PlantOlivenhain-Hodges Storage ProjectNational Wind and Solar Energy Storage and Transmission Demonstration Project (IV)Fujian Electric Power Research Institute Mobile Energy Storage Station IFujian Electric Power Research Institute Mobile Energy Storage Station IISplit by applications, this report focuses on consumption and growth rate of Energy Storage Station in each application, can be divided intoCivil UseCommercial UseMilitaryOtherSplit by regions, this report focuses on the production, revenue, consumption and market share of Energy Storage Station in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringChinaUSAEUJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaAsk a professional & complete report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com orTable of Contents1 Energy Storage Station Overview and Price of Each Type2 Global and China Market Competition Analysis by Manufacturers3 Global and China Energy Storage Station Production, Revenue and Growth Rate by Type4 Global and China Energy Storage Station Key Manufacturers Analysis5 Global Energy Storage Station Production by Regions 2012-20216 Global Energy Storage Station Consumption by Regions 2012-20217 Global Energy Storage Station Analysis by Application and Client (Buyers)8 Energy Storage Station Technology and Development Trend9 Research Findings and ConclusionRelated Reports:Europe Energy Storage Station Research Report to 2022China Energy Storage Station Research Report to 2022India Energy Storage Station Research Report to 2022Korea Energy Storage Station Research Report to 2022Japan Energy Storage Station Research Report to 2022USA Energy Storage Station Research Report to 2022Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITEDProfessional Market Research Report PublisherContact Person: Tina NingEmail: tinaning@qyresearch.com or qyresearcheurope@126.comTel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Web:QYResearch focus on Market Survey and ResearchQYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. the company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business.Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe District Market Data Analysis: Global Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017 Global Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017 http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/goods-474369.html http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ This report studies Li-Ion Grid Storage in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringSAFTLG ChemSamsung SDIToshibaSonyPanasonicLishenBYDKokamHitachiBy types, the market can be split intoLithium Manganese OxideLithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt OxideLithium Iron PhosphateLithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum OxideLithium TitanateBy Application, the market can be split intoWind TurbinesPV ArraysDiesel-generatorsFuel cellsBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaAsk a professional & complete report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com orTable of Contents1 Industry Overview of Li-Ion Grid Storage2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Li-Ion Grid Storage3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Li-Ion Grid Storage4 Global Li-Ion Grid Storage Overall Market Overview5 Li-Ion Grid Storage Regional Market Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Li-Ion Grid Storage Segment Market Analysis (by Type)7 Global 2012-2017E Li-Ion Grid Storage Segment Market Analysis (by Application)8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Li-Ion Grid Storage9 Development Trend of Analysis of Li-Ion Grid Storage Market10 Li-Ion Grid Storage Marketing Type Analysis11 Consumers Analysis of Li-Ion Grid Storage12 Conclusion of the Global Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017Related Reports:Europe Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017China Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017India Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017Korea Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017Japan Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017USA Li-Ion Grid Storage Market Professional Survey Report 2017Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITEDProfessional Market Research Report PublisherContact Person: Tina NingEmail: tinaning@qyresearch.com or qyresearcheurope@126.comTel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Web:QYResearch focus on Market Survey and ResearchQYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services.Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe District Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market Shares, Strategies and Forecast Worldwide, 2017 to 2027 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3397 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3397 www.futuremarketinsights.com Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) devices are used to provide combination therapy to COPD patients for indirect removal of mucous by applying positive expiratory pressure with high-frequency oscillation. OPEP devices are piped shaped hand held devices which has a mouthpiece and perforated cover which encases a stainless steel ball resting in a circular cone. OPED devices are basically used for clearance of excess secretion from lungs and improving ventilation of lungs. OPEP devices are generally used to treat the patients suffering from COPD, asthma or bronchitis. OPEP devices create vibration due to its oscillatory motion which results expel of excess mucous from the lungs. A typical session of OPEP devices to treat COPD patient require around 20 minutes. The main advantage of this devices is that it reduces the re-hospitalization of patients. According to a survey, 28% of COPD patient do not require re-hospitalization for 30 days after providing therapy by OPEP devices.Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe primary factors driving the growth of OPEP devices market are increasing the prevalence of COPD and asthmatic patient. A significant rise in post-operative complication is also responsible for the growing demand for OPEP devices. Beside that advancement in technology and increase spending by manufacturers for production of more improved OPED devices will also boost the growth of this market. Decreasing number of re-hospitalization cases of COPD patients after providing therapy by OPEP device will propel the growth of this market. The stringent FDA policies for the approval of OPEP devices will restrain the growth of this market. The rise in some complication in breathing after the user of OPEP devices will hamper the growth of this market.Request Report Sample@Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market: SegmentationThe global Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market is classified on the basis of application and end userBased on application, Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market is segmented into following:BreathingCoughingBased on end user, Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market is segmented into following:HospitalsClinicsOthersOscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market: OverviewOscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) devices market is expected to show significant growth over the forecast period due to rise in the number of COPD and asthmatic patient. World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that around 3 million deaths were caused by COPD in 2015. According to The Global Asthma Report 2014 around 334 million people suffering from asthma worldwide. This rise in number of COPD and asthmatic patient is responsible for significant growth of OPEP devices market. According to a survey, 28% of COPD patient do not require re-hospitalization after the use of OPEP devices. OPEP devices market are classified on the basis of application and end-user. Among end user hospital is expected to gain maximum market share in term of value over the forecast period.Visit for TOC@Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market: Regional OverviewOn the basis of geographical region the Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) devices market is segmented in seven key region viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the global OPEP devices market due to high prevalence of COPD patients. After North America, OPEP devices market is followed by Western Europe and APEJ region. Increase spending by the manufacturer for the development of OPED devices will responsible for the high growth of this market in Western Europe. APEJ region will show the rapid growth for OPEP devices market owing to rise in number of asthmatic patients.Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market: Key PlayersExamples of some of the market participants in Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Devices Market identified across the value chain include Trudell Medical International, PARI GmbH, Smiths Group plc., Allergan, plc., Galamed Corporation.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Educational Software Market Top Manufacturers- Neusoft , Wisedu , Jucheng , Kingsun https://goo.gl/XnizOs https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-educational-software-2017-forecast-to-2022-market https://goo.gl/mr48a4 Educational software is computer software, the primary purpose of which is teaching or self-learning. Educational software is the developmental and non-developmental software which are specifically used for education. It also reflects on the technical and also instructional design for developing the courseware or educational application.Request For Sample Report:Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Educational Software 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.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversNeusoftWiseduJuchengKingsunHongenGuangdong Dongtian Digital TechnologyMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Browse Complete Report:Market Segment by Type, coversK-12 Educational SoftwareUniversity Education SoftwareAdult Education SoftwareElderly Education SoftwareMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoQuality-oriented Education SoftwareExamination-oriented Education SoftwareRequest For Discount on Report:There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Educational Software market.Chapter 1, to describe Educational Software Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Educational Software, with sales, revenue, and price of Educational Software, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Educational Software, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Educational Software market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Educational Software sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.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.With the window of opportunity getting open and shut at a speed of light, it has become very important to survive in the market and only the fittest and competent enough can do so. So, we try and provide with latest changes in the market that can suit your needs and help you take decision accordingly.5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United States Coil Coatings Market: Burgeoning Demand for Precoated Metals in Architectural Sector to Bolster Uptake By 2024 Coil Coatings Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/coil-coating-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3344 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The global coil coatings market is fairly consolidated with the top four players accounting for a combined share of 56% in 2014, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR). These leading players are: Akzo Nobel N. V, Beckers Group, The Valspar Corporation, and PPG Industries Inc. The top companies are focusing on developing their distribution channels to consolidate their presence across major regions. The current marketplace is moderately competitive. However, with the anticipated acquisition of paint giant Valspar Corp. by Sherwin-Williams Co. by the end of second quarter of 2017, the competitive dynamics is expected to change significantly.The global coil coatings market stood at US$4.05 bn in 2014 and is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 5.20% between the period 2015 and 2023. The market is anticipated to attain a value of US$6.2 bn by the end of 2023.Browse Market Research Report @Rising Construction Industry in Asia Pacific to Amplify Demand for Coil CoatingsBased on geography, the major regional markets for coil coatings are Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. Of these, currently, Asia Pacific is the leading market for the consumption of coil coatings and its growth is expected to remain strong throughout the forecast period. The regional market is anticipated to occupy a global share of 44.2% by 2023. The robust growth of the Asia Pacific market is propelled by a continuously expanding construction industry attributable to rapid urbanization, which has in turn spurred the number of non-residential construction projects in various emerging nations.Based on products, the coil coating market is segmented into silicone modified polyester coatings, polyurethane coatings, polyester coatings, plastisol coatings, and polyvinylidene fluoride coatings. Among these, polyester coil coatings segment occupies a major share of the market. Expand at a significant CAGR, the polyester coil coatings segment is expected to occupy 64.2% share by the end of 2023. The substantial demand for polyester coil coating is driven by their ability to provide superior corrosion resistance against different adverse environments and relativity low pricing. In addition, they allow a multitude of attractive surface finishes and have high flexibility and scratch resistance features.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Numerous Inherent Benefits of Coil Coatings to Keep Demand HighThe upsurge in demand for coil coating processes in various applications is driven by the myriad advantages they have over post-finishing. Numerous benefits of coil coating include a consistently high paint finish, optimized use of paint materials, less energy consumption, and better inventory control. The burgeoning demand for coil coatings in the construction and automotive industries is stimulated by substantial benefits of economy and ecology to the manufacturer, operator, and user. Coil coating processes have low ecological impact and are economical. The process leads to less consumables and waste, involves less inflammable materials, no emissions of volatiles, and produces fully recyclable precoated sheets.However, post-recession of 2008 in Europe has led to a slowdown in automotive, construction, and consumer electronics in the region. As a result, there is slackening demand for coated steel and aluminum coils. On the other hand, the recovery in demand from various end-use industries over the last few years augurs well for the market. In addition, the flexibility in shape with metalworking is expected to spur the global demand for coil coatings for making a variety of automotive and home appliances.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 insights for 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, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw (center left) with his wife Su Su Lwin unveils his father's book in Beijing on April 9. [Photo provided to China Daily] A bilingual book Min Thu Wun's Affinity with China in the Chinese and Myanmar languages was launched at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on April 9. The President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw attended the ceremony, where he unveiled the new book during his first state visit to China since he took office in March 2016. The late Min Thu Wun, the president's father, was a renowned poet and literary critic in his country. The new book is a collection of works that Min had translated and written, an important reflection of the cultural exchanges between China and Myanmar. Chinese Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi's poems, ancient folklore and works by the iconic modern writer Lu Xun are among Min's translations. The book launch was organized by China International Publishing Group (CIPG) and hosted by China Report ASEAN. More than 70 guests from government departments, press, media and academia of both countries attended the ceremony. Biopesticides Market: Growing Popularity of Organic Foods and Innovative Product Launches to Boost Market By 2024 Biopesticides Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/biopesticides-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=116 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://globalresearchmarket.blogspot.in/ The global biopesticides market is fairly consolidated with the top five companies accounting for a combined share of over 50% in 2014, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR). Some of the leading players in this market include BASF SE, Valent Biosciences Corp, Arysta LifeSciences, Bayer CropScience AG, Novozymes, and Dow AgroSciences. The top players are actively investing in research and development of new products, particularly microbial and biochemical pesticides. The leading companies are increasingly mobilizing their capital through acquisitions, licensing deals, and partnership agreements to consolidate their shares.Owing to an evolving regulatory environment, a large number of chemical pesticide manufacturers have made a foray into the biopesticides sector. In the past few years, intensifying regulatory pressures have led major agro-chemical companies to diversify their assets from chemicals to biopesticides. The global biopesticides market stood at US$1.72 bn in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$4.17 bn by 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 9.9% during 20152023.Obtain Report Details @Spiraling Investment in Development of Microbial Pesticides to Bolster UptakeBased on the type of active ingredients used in biopesticides, the major types are microbial pesticides, plant-pesticides, and biochemical pesticides; among these, the microbial pesticides dominate the market. In the recent years, several manufacturers have invested heavily in the production and marketing of microbial biopesticides, which has triggered the growth of the segment. The microbial pesticides segment is anticipated to rise at an impressive CAGR of 9.70% during 2015 - 2023.Based on geography, the major regions for the growth of the biopesticides market are Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe; of these, North America dominates the global biopesticides market. The North America market contributed the highest revenue by occupying a share of 41.7% in 2014. The considerable growth of the regional market is driven by the spike in demand for organic food and stringent regulations on the use of chemical pesticides in farming and agriculture.For more information on this report, fill the form @Regulatory Pressures on Use of Toxic Chemicals in Agriculture Trigger Adoption of BiopesticidesThe biopesticides market is primarily driven by the spiraling demand for chemical-free foods, especially organic foods and the growing environmental regulations on the use of chemical pesticides in various regions. The increasing adoption of biopesticides in crop production and pest management programs is fuelled by the numerous benefits they offer over chemical pesticides.Biopesticides are preferred over traditional chemical pesticides to improve the quality of crops and enhance farming yield since they are cost-effective, have high host specificity, and are biodegradable, causing minimal impact to ecology. In addition, a surge in research and development of new products, especially in developed regions such as the North America and Europe is expected to boost the market in the coming years. Furthermore, the advent of innovative farming practices and increasing popularity of genetically modifies crops are encouraging developments in the market.However, the limited awareness on the use of biopesticides, their short shelf life, and the marked reluctance of farmers to use biopesticides are the factors likely to hinder the growth of the market to some extent. Nevertheless, increasing regulatory pressures on the use of toxic agrochemicals in emerging and established markets and new product launches by several agrochemical companies are expected to unlock exciting opportunities for players.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 insights for 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, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog: Asset Tags Market - Key Players, Growth, Analysis, 2017 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22457 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/asset-tags-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global asset tags market: OverviewAsset tags are used as a barcode or a serial number to help keep track of the movements of the asset or the product. Technological boom has resulted in an ever increasing demand for various products that may be required to be transported over long distances or across continents. Asset tags are preferred to help keep the end user updated on the location of the asset or product and prevent any property crime. Attributed to their efficiency, assurance of better customer service and the increased sense of security that they provide, asset tags are used to label many products worldwide. Asset tags are also used to identify, maintain and repair fixed assets, such as, a road sign, building, tunnels, or any system attached to a building. The global asset tags market is anticipated to grow over the forecast period as an efficient, convenient and secure means of protecting and tracking an asset.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Global asset tags market: DynamicsThe demand for asset tags has experienced a steady growth in the past couple of decades. The global asset tags market is expected to be driven by the increasing demand to identify and keep track of the products. Asset tags eliminate the need to stand in long queues for product identification at retail stores. They can be scanned with lasers to identify the products quickly, which increases the convenience of the consumers. A rapid shift towards a fast paced lifestyle, fueled by meteoric growth in urbanization around the world means that consumers prefer to carry out their tasks in the minimum possible time. An increase in E-retail platforms and globalization ensures convenience in purchasing goods from difference places, creating a need to track the movement of the product though the distribution channel. Asset tags therefore, are expected to be preferred by most retail stores and manufacturers. OEMs manufacture goods in millions, increasing the need for quicker identification of products for maintenance and repair. All these factors are expected to give the global asset tags market a push. Despite all the favorable conditions for the growth of the global asset tags market, certain factors are expected to act as restraints. These include an increasing trend among consumers to sell their products after a finite period of usage. Many second-hand buyers hesitate to take products that come with asset tags.Global asset tags market: SegmentationThe global asset tags market is segmented as follows: -On the basis of Raw Materials:Metal Asset TagsFor flat surfacesFor curved surfacesPlastic Asset TagsBrowse Market Research Report @On the basis of Label Type:BarcodeNumberOn the basis of size:75" x 1.5"75" x 2"25" x 2"5" x 1.25"5" x 1.75"625" x 1.75"OthersOn the basis of End Use:Property ID tagsSchool barcodesHospitalsChurchesAnti-theft labelsOthersGlobal asset tags market: Geographical and Competitive dynamicsThe global asset tags market is segmented on the basis of region as: -North AmericaLatin AmericaEastern EuropeWestern EuropeAsia Pacific excluding JapanMiddle East & AfricaJapanNorth America, being a mature market, is expected to lead in the global asset tags market share, over the forecast period, while APEJ region is estimated to register the highest CAGR, owing to a larger consumer base, combined with higher number of retail stores than any other region. Western Europe is estimated to closely follow North America in terms of market share, but is expected to register lesser growth rate than most of the developing regions, owing to a mature consumer base and market. The Middle East and Japan markets are expected to grow over the forecast period, but are forecast to have a lesser growth rate than the APEJ region, owing to a greater number of emerging economies in APEJ. Latin America is also expected to register significant growth over the forecast period.Some of the major players in the global asset tags market include Custom Labels, Alpha Signs, Brother International Corporation, Premier Holotech, Labels China, and AB&RAbout 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: Global Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems Market, Global Industry Status, Growth Prospects, & Global Scenario 2022 https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1056613 https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/1056613 Electric vehicles are gaining importance in modern times because of the rise in global fuel prices and alarming levels of air pollution. There is widespread concern about the negative effects of global warming. In such a scenario the rapid adoption of electric vehicles is seen as the most viable solution. The time taken to charge electric vehicles was one of the major concerns, but with the advent of wireless inductive charging, this issue has been resolved. Inductive wireless charging is considered a major breakthrough as it has made the use of plugs and cords redundant. Inductive charging takes place when an electromagnetic field transfers energy between two coils.The scope of the Report: This report focuses on the Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems 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.Enquire About Report :Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Bosch Qualcomm Texas Instruments WiTricity Fulton Innovation OtherMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (The USA, Canada, and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) The Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers Electromagnetic induction Magnetic resonanceMarket Segment by Applications can be divided into Passenger vehicles Commercial vehiclesThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems market. Chapter 1, to describe Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force; Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems, with sales, revenue, and price of Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems, in 2016 and 2017; Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue, and market share in 2016 and 2017; Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems, for each region, from 2012 to 2017; Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions; Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017; Chapter 12, Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022; Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceAlso, Request For Discount:Table of Contents 1 Market Overviewo Automotive Inductive Wireless Charging Systems Introductiono Market Analysis by Type Electromagnetic induction Magnetic resonanceo Market Analysis by Applications Passenger vehicles Commercial vehicleso Market Analysis by Regions North America (The USA, Canada, and Mexico) USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) The Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) The Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) The Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) The France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) The Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) The Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) The China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) The Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) The Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) The India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022) Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)About Us:With the arsenal of different search reports, Big Market Research helps you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency. With the window of opportunity getting open and shut at a speed of light, it has become very important to survive in the market and only the fittest and competent enough can do so. So, we try and provide with latest changes in the market that can suit your needs and help you take decision accordingly.Contact Us:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect :+ 1-503-894-6022Toll Free : + 1-800-910-6452help@bigmarketresearch.com Global Chlorinated Paraffins Market - Competitive Dynamics and Global Outlook By 2024 Chlorinated Paraffins Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/chlorinated-paraffin-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3970 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://globalresearchmarket.blogspot.in/ The presence of a large number of companies has rendered the vendor landscape of the global chlorinated paraffins market highly fragmented. In the next few years, competition among the large companies is expected to intensify further, says Transparency Market Research (TMR). Numerous companies have been adopting business strategies such as partnerships, collaborations, mergers, product innovations, and acquisitions to strengthen their market position. For instance, in November 2016, Gulf Chlorine, a joint venture between Al Mirqab Capital and Oman Chlorine signed an agreement with KLG Organic Qatar to set up a calcium chloride plant in Doha, Qatar. KLG Organic Qatar, a joint venture between India-based KLG Organic Limited and Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company, intends to manufacture chlorinated paraffin wax via this collaboration.Some of the prominent market players operating in the global market for chlorinated paraffins are Dover Chemicals, JSC Kaustik, Ajinomoto Fine-Tech, and Caffaro Industrie.Browse Market Research Report @According to TMR, the global market for chlorinated paraffins is expected to attain a revenue worth US$1.98 bn by the end of 2023. The market is expected to keep expanding at a CAGR of 3.2% between 2015 and 2023. By application, the largest share was held by metalworking fluids, claiming nearly 35% share in the overall market. Asia Pacific emerged as the leading segment by geography, accounting for a share of 55% in the global market for chlorinated paraffins in 2014.Growing Metalworking Industry in Asia Pacific Incites More DemandAsia Pacific is likely to hold its dominance over the forecast period in the global market, driven by the availability of labor and raw materials, expansion of the metalworking industry, and low costs of chlorinated paraffins. India and China are projected to surface as major contributors of the chlorinated paraffins market in Asia Pacific.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Based on product, metalworking fluids are expected to emerge as the leading segment. The growth of the metalworking fluids segment can be attributed to the flame retardant properties of these products. Chlorinated paraffins are used as extreme pressure lubricants in metal cutting applications by virtue of their flame retardant properties, contributing to this segments growth. The plastic additives application segment has been witnessing rapid growth. Therefore, it is waiting in the wings to replace the metalworking fluids segment.Higher Need for PVC Products Lends a Hand to Markets GrowthOne of the primary growth drivers of the global market for chlorinated paraffins is the high demand for extreme pressure additives used in secondary plasticizers and metalworking fluids in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds. PVC products such as sheets, pipes, tubes, cables, and wires are required in large supplies in industrialized regions. The demand for chlorinated paraffins is increasing owing to their rising deployment across several end-use industries. These include paints, rubber, lubricating additives, and applications in sealant and adhesives such as flame retardants and plasticizers. The low costs and numerous advantageous properties of these products have been responsible for their extensive use. The advancement of metalworking and plastic industries might generate more demand for chlorinated paraffins over the forthcoming period.On the contrary, the environmental hazards associated with the use of these products might limit the growth of the market. Several European and North American nations have imposed restrictions on the use of chlorinated paraffin, leading to the usage of substitute products. However, the robust growth in industrialization in Asia Pacific is likely to make up for the loss resulting from these restraints.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 insights for 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, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog: Sulfuric Acid Market: Greater Demand from Wastewater Treatment and Fertilizer Manufacturing Spirals Growth By 2024 Sulfuric Acid Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sulfuric-acid-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=8911 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://globalresearchmarket.blogspot.in/ The global market for sulfuric acid is characterized by a highly fragmented competitive landscape, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR). As small and medium-sized firms account for a major portion of the market revenue, the degree of rivalry between established market players and them can intensify over the next few years.Mergers, collaborations, and acquisitions are some of the prominent business tactics used by several companies. For instance, Chemrade Logistics Inc. purchased Hydor-Tech Ltd. (HTL)s operating assets. HTL is a leading producer of inorganic coagulants such as polyaluminum chloride (PACl), which is extensively used in municipal and industrial water treatment plants. Some of the leading manufacturers of sulfuric acid are Vale Fertilizantes S/A, The Chemours Company, and The Mosaic Company.Obtain Report Details @According to the findings of TMR, the global market for sulfuric acid will be worth US$85.4 bn by 2023, expanding at a satisfactory CAGR of 2.6%. By end user, the fertilizers segment might surface at the fore, securing a share of 65% in the global market by the end of 2023. Asia Pacific held the largest share in the global market for sulfuric acid in 2014 and is expected to keep expanding at a favorable CAGR, attaining a whopping 48.6% by 2023.Extensive Industrialization to Fortify Demand for Sulfuric Acid in APACAnalysts expect Asia Pacific to retain its dominant position over the forecast period. The rapid growth in industrialization, massive population base, and the presence of leading market players in countries such as China and India are boosting the growth of this region.The growth of the fertilizers segment can be attributed to the increasing deployment of sulfuric acid in wastewater treatment, chemical synthesis, and pharmaceuticals. As the manufacturing of fertilizers such as ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, and superphosphates requires sulfuric acid, this segment might continue to grow, albeit at a gradual pace.For more information on this report, fill the form @Demand for Fertilizers in Emerging Markets to Accrue Balanced GrowthThe shift in the regional market dynamics from the prominence of developed economies such as Europe and North America to the dominance of emerging markets of Asia Pacific can be attributed to the greater exploitation of raw materials, growing environmental awareness, and technological advancement in the region. As the Chinese market flourishes, the global market for sulfuric acid is likely to receive a substantial impetus.Increasing government encouragement for further advancement of industrialization, growing GDPs, unrestrictive environmental regulations on particulate emissions and VOC, increasing disposable incomes of the middle class, easy availability of manual labor, and expanding consumer base due to increasing population have been driving the global market for sulfuric acid. The cultivation of crops such as wheat, soya bean, rice, and cotton in China, India, and South Africa will necessitate a greater supply of fertilizers, further bolstering growth.On the flip side, the fluctuating costs of raw materials such as natural gas, crude oil, and sulfur might prove to be the key obstacles in the growth of the market. Moreover, stringent regulations pertaining to the production and consumption of sulfuric acid in developed regions might also hinder growth. However, the development of alternative methods for obtaining sulfur can ensure that these restraints have minimal impact on the advancement of the market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insights for 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, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog: Europe Medical Radiation Shielding Market 2016-2021- Analysis and Trends https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=29239 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=29239 https://www.researchnreports.com/pharma-healthcare/Europe-Medical-Radiation-Shielding-Market-Report-2016-29239 Europe Medical Radiation Shielding Market Report 2016Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.This market intelligence report is a comprehensive analysis of the situation of Europe Medical Radiation Shielding market. A detailed investigation of the past progress, present market scenario, and future prospects has been offered in the report. It also gives accurate data of the main strategies, market share, and products of the leading companies in this market sector.This report provides a through outline of Europe Medical Radiation Shielding market based on important parameters such as applications end users, products, regions and many more. An estimated volume revenue growth with respect to global market for Europe Medical Radiation Shielding over the forthcoming years has been mentioned in detail.In this report you will also find additional deals into key geographical segments of Europe Medical Radiation Shielding market and delivers details about their current and former share. Ongoing trends, upcoming challenges, future better regional investments and many other have been mentioned with meticulous research done.For sample PDF pages click here @The regions North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America have been studied in depth to gain better market penetration and assure exact analysis. Top manufacturers have been given prime importance to make sure their strategies are understood and their position in this particular market can be elucidated.Get 30% Discount on This Report at:This study provides an evaluation of aspects that are expected to impact growth of market in an undesired or constructive method. The Europe Medical Radiation Shielding market has been consistently examined with respect to the corresponding market segments. Each year within the mentioned forecast period is concisely considered in terms of produce and worth in the regional as well as the global markets respectively.To give a lucid view about Europe Medical Radiation Shielding market, a competitive landscape has been put into view accompanied with the value chain analysis. An evidence on new introduced and current research, development projects and funds for innovation has been delivered in the report.Table of Contents:Europe Medical Radiation Shielding Market Report 20161 Medical Radiation Shielding Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Medical Radiation Shielding1.2 Classification of Medical Radiation Shielding1.2.1 Radiation Therapy Shielding1.2.2 Diagnostic Shielding1.2.3 Type III2 Europe Medical Radiation Shielding by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Europe Medical Radiation Shielding Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)3.2 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Application4 France Medical Radiation Shielding (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 France Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Value (2011-2016)4.1.1 France Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.2 France Medical Radiation Shielding Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.4 France Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)4.2 France Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 France Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 France Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Application5 UK Medical Radiation Shielding (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 UK Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Value (2011-2016)5.1.1 UK Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.2 UK Medical Radiation Shielding Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.5 UK Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)5.2 UK Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 UK Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 UK Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Application6 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Value (2011-2016)6.1.1 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.2 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.6 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)6.2 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers6.3 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Type6.4 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Application7 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7.1 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Value (2011-2016)7.1.1 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)7.1.2 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)7.1.7 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)7.2 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers7.3 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Type7.4 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Application8 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8.1 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Value (2011-2016)8.1.1 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.2 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.8 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)8.2 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers8.3 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Type8.4 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Application9 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9.1 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Value (2011-2016)9.1.1 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)9.1.2 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)9.1.9 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)9.2 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers9.3 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Type9.4 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding Sales and Market Share by Application10 Europe Medical Radiation Shielding Manufacturers Analysis10.1 ETS-Lindgren (US)10.2 Nelco, Inc. (U.S.)10.3 Radiation Protection Products (U.S.)10.4 MarShield, (Canada)10.5 Ray-Bar Engineering Corp (U.S.)10.6 Amray (Ireland)11 Medical Radiation Shielding Manufacturing Cost Analysis11.1 Medical Radiation Shielding Key Raw Materials Analysis11.1.1 Key Raw Materials11.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials11.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials11.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials11.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure11.2.1 Raw Materials11.2.2 Labor Cost11.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses11.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Medical Radiation Shielding12 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12.1 Medical Radiation Shielding Industrial Chain Analysis12.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing12.3 Raw Materials Sources of Medical Radiation Shielding Major Manufacturers in 201512.4 Downstream Buyers13 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13.1 Marketing Channel13.1.1 Direct Marketing13.1.2 Indirect Marketing13.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend13.2 Market Positioning13.2.1 Pricing Strategy13.2.2 Brand Strategy13.2.3 Target Client13.3 Distributors/Traders List14 Europe Medical Radiation Shielding Market Forecast (2016-2021)14.1 Germany Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast (2016-2021)14.2 France Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast (2016-2021)14.3 UK Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast (2016-2021)14.4 Russia Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast (2016-2021)14.5 Italy Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast (2016-2021)14.6 Spain Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast (2016-2021)14.7 Benelux Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast (2016-2021)14.8 Europe Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast by Type (2016-2021)14.9 Europe Medical Radiation Shielding Sales Forecast by Application (2016-2021)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixAuthor ListDisclosure SectionResearch MethodologyData SourceDisclaimerComplete Report Available At:About Research n Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports) Breather Bags Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast For 2016 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22559 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/breather-bags-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Rapid pace of design and technological innovation in the packaging industry has led to the development of packaging products that specifically cater to industry needs. Breather bags are one such innovative packaging product specifically addressing the issue of transporting aquatic livestock among host of other industry requirements. The market for breather bags is characterized by plastic material bags being supplied for the packaging and transportation of pharmaceutical products, aquatic livestock and food for aquatic livestock. Breather bags have wider scope in the pharmaceutical sector as the market is growing at a substantial rate and is expected to face a major transformation.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @Breather bags functions in a respirational manner by aligning inner atmosphere of the packaging as per the air components required by the packaged material. Breather bags are made of special design films that provide micro-porosity characteristics to the bag which allow constant passage of gases such as carbon di oxide and oxygen. These breather bags have the advantage of gas exchange through its walls, and the exit rate of carbon-dioxide compared to the oxygen is four times faster thus making it economical for the aquatic livestock transporters. These micro-porosity properties of breather bags make them an effective substitute for any other packaging material including thermoform and corrugated paperboard.Breather Bags Market- Market DynamicsKey factor supporting the growth of breather bags market is the molecular realignment property of the bags material (ethylene), wherein the molecules realign in such a way that they either reduce the pore size or reseal it. Pressure maintenance is another factor in the growth of breather bags market as when there is a different pressure around the bag it equalizes it without inducing any effect on its inner environment. Second generation breather bags with more resistance, better clarity and better sealing properties also contribute to the growth of breather bags market. The advancement of encasing the embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) inoculate with various viruses also present itself a factor in the growth of breather bags market. However, the problem of quicker fouling of water by fish waste or dead fish and transportation of those aquatic animals like betas, aquatic frog and snails which require direct air, hinders the growth of the breather bags market. Moreover, the seeping of bags and spillage while opening the bag also creates a barrier for the breather bags market. The growing trend of transporting marine life owing to less amount of the water required while transporting makes breather bags an affordable solution.Obtain Report Details @Breather Bags Market- Market Segmentation:The breather bag market is segmented on the basis of product type, material and applications. On the basis of product type, the breather bags market can be segmented into disposable breather bags and reusable breather bags. On the basis of material, the breather bags market can be segmented into high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), vinyl, tyvek, latex, polyester and vegetable produce.On the basis of applications, the breather bags can be segmented into pharmaceuticals, medical devices and aquatic livestock. Pharmaceutical industry can be further sub-segmented into hospital sterilization and cleaning units requiring clean and sterilized supplies, surgical packs, anesthesia machines and medical devices.Breather Bags Market- Regional Outlook:Geographically, the breather bags market is segmented into North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is dominant regarding revenue contribution to the market and expected to grow at the same rate. The growth in the pharmaceutical industry is expected to dominate the market share of breather bags market as the demand is anticipated to increase in the Asia Pacific region over the forecasted period. Manufacturers are also expected to invest in the Latin American region due to economic revolution and rise in standard of living.Breather Bags Market- Key Players:Some of the key players are Bemis Company Inc., Custom Service Laboratories of NJ Inc., Specialty Plastic Fabricators, Amcor Flexibles Inc., BFM Global Ltd, Kordon LLC, KNF Corporation, Fisher Container Corp., Nolato Torekov AB and Precision Dippings Manufacturers Ltd.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: Adsorbents Market Intelligence Report Offers Growth Prospects http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-145 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-145 www.futuremarketinsights.com Adsorption is a process in which ions, atoms or molecules from a liquid, dissolved liquid or gas adheres to a surface. In this process a thin film is created on the adsorbent by the adsorbate. Adsorption is a consequence of surface energy similar to surface tension. Adsorption exists in many natural, biological, chemical and physical systems that have applications in the industrial sector. Adsorbents are usually in the form of rods, spherical pellets and moldings that has 0.5 to 10mm diameter. Adsorbents that are regarded to be effective must have resistance to high abrasion, thermal stability with small pore diameters and must have a distinct pore structure which helps in speedy transport of gaseous vapours. Industrial adsorbents are classified as carbon based compounds that are non-polar and hydrophobic that includes materials such as graphite and activated carbon; oxygen containing compounds that are polar and hydrophilic including material such as zeolites and silica gel; polymer-based compounds which are non-polar or polar functional groups in a polymer matrix.Request For Report Sample@The major applications of adsorbents include drying, air separation, water treatment and oil and gas refining among others. Adsorbents are the major materials are mainly used in industries such as water treatment, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, petrochemical and chemical. Advances in technology to bring in various kinds of adsorbents with new advancements in the market will lead to increase the demand for adsorbents globally. Owing to government and environmental regulations the applications such as air separation and drying in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical devices are expected to grow at a faster rate in comparison with other applications and industries.The key driver for adsorbents industry includes advancements and innovations to create new and advanced adsorbent materials. The industries require adsorbents for a wide range of applications with varied characteristic and requirements. To serve this purpose, major companies are now focused on technological innovations to create new adsorbent materials which will be applicable in varied industrial and commercial areas. The technological developments to manufacture cost effective adsorbents is the major solution to generate revenue in the adsorbent market globally. The current and future projections according to the industrial and economic outlook for adsorbent market are based on the material demand in terms of volume and value.The key segments for adsorbents market include North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and Rest of the World (RoW). North America is expected to capture huge share of the global market. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the top market for adsorbents due to growing demand from China and India. China and Russia are expected to be the largest consumer of adsorbents among others. The developed economies therefore contribute to huge demand for adsorbents from the end user segment globally. Emerging economies are expected to be the potential markets for adsorbent industry with increasing production capacity.Request For TOC@The major players that are included in the adsorbents industry include Axens, Arkema, BASF, Clariant, Calgon Carbon, Cabot, Meadwestvaco, Grace, Graver Technologies, UOP, Zeochem, Zeolyst International and Sorbead India among others. Many companies are now focusing on expansion with increase in production capacity and addition of new plants, to meet the growing demand and to achieve competitive advantage in the market. Axens which is molecular sieves manufacturer increased its presence through a new subsidiary in Malaysia for the adsorbents segment to meet the rising demand from the Asia Pacific region. Companies are now focusing on collaborations and joint ventures with the end user companies to increase its market share.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Aluminum Market Expected to Dominate Worldwide by 2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-301 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-301 www.futuremarketinsights.com Aluminum is one of the most abundant metals found in the earths crust. Aluminums properties such as low metal density and its ability to resist corrosion make it the most favorable metal among the end-users. It is silvery white in color and be molded into very thin sheets having high strength and durability. Aluminum finds its application across many industries such as transportation, construction, packaging, consumer durables, electrical, machinery and equipment among others.Request For Report Sample@One of the key factors that contributes to the growth of aluminum market is the growing automobile industry. Increase in demand for light weight and fuel efficient vehicles is expected to boost the demand of aluminum in the automobile industry. On a global level, in the aluminum market China is the leading producer of aluminum followed by Russia and Canada. The aluminum market has witnessed an overall increase in the production capacity by the major producers across the world. High degree of vertical integration is another major trend witnessed in the aluminum market. Major aluminum manufacturers in the aluminum market are integrating their value chain in order to gain a significant control over the supply chain and offer the product to customers at reduced costs, thereby, increasing their market penetration. Aluminum market exhibits high degree of upstream as well as downstream integration. However, aluminum prices have witnessed an all time low over the recent past owing to oversupply in the aluminum market. Volatility of raw material prices of aluminum coupled with stringent government regulations is expected to restrain the growth of the market. Many efforts are carried out by the vendors in order to comply with the regulations vendors which further leads to higher operating and manufacturing cost of aluminum.Request For TOC@Key participants in the aluminum market include Vedanta Resources plc, Dubai Aluminum Co. Ltd., Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd., Norsk Hydro ASA, BHP Billiton Ltd. and United Co. RUSAL among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Light Aircraft Market to Worth at a CAGR 5.63% to 2021: Growth Factors & Trends https://marketsizeforecasters.com/get-sample/24264 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/enquire-for-discount/24264 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-light-aircraft-market https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-jet-engines-market http://marketsizeforecasters.com/ The market research report Light Aircraft Market Research Report 2021 (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) aims to offer insights into new business opportunities for companies active in Light Aircraft Market as well as for those players that are aiming to get an entry into the industry.A light aircraft is generally a one- to eight-seater aircraft, which has a maximum gross take-off weight of 12,500 lbs.The Report analysts forecast the global light aircraft market to grow at a CAGR of 5.63% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global light aircraft market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the new sales.Request a sample copy of Light Aircraft Market Research Report @The Light Aircraft Market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEAThe report, Global Light Aircraft 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 vendorsCirrus AircraftElectric Aircraft Corporatione-Go AeroplanesICON AircraftJMB AircraftTextron AviationOther prominent vendorsAirbusElectravia - Propellers E-PropsPC-AeroLight Aircraft Market driverReduction in fuel pricesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportThe listed pricing for this Light Aircraft Market report starts at $ 3500. Request Discount for Light Aircraft Market Research Report @Light Aircraft Market challengeUnskilled and amateur pilotsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportLight Aircraft Market trendAdvent of 3D printingFor 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 Light Aircraft Market trends?What is driving this Light Aircraft Market?What are the challenges to Light Aircraft Market growth?Who are the key vendors in this Light Aircraft Market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendorsBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Light Aircraft Market Report @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.Related Reports: -Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Jet Engines Market 2017 Forecast to 2022Jet Engines is a reaction engine discharging a fast-moving jet that generates thrust by jet propulsion. This broad definition includes turbojets, turbofans, rocket engines, ramjets, and pulse jets. In general, jet engines are combustion engines.MarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite: Lily Cole poses for a photo before an interview during Web Summit, in Lisbon, Portugal November 8, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] British model and actress Lily Cole said on Monday she was happy to return to acting in the stage revival of a 1970s comedy about a group of university students. Cole joins British actors Simon Bird, Matt Berry and Charlotte Ritchie in "The Philanthropist," penned by playwright Christopher Hampton and directed by Simon Callow. The show will be at the Trafalgar Studios in London, running through July. Set in a fictional elite university town, "The Philanthropist" follows a group of students wrapped up in their lives over a 24-hour period. Cole, a University of Cambridge graduate and successful model, compared working with Callow to "being in acting school." The play was first performed at London's Royal Court Theatre in 1970, and seen there by Callow. "It's always stuck in the back of my mind as one of the funniest, most elegant, most sparking, brilliant, most assured pieces of writing," he said. AP Global Hand Trucks Market Analysis to 2021 and Forecasts Research N Reports https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=27173 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=27173 https://www.researchnreports.com/automobile/United-States-Hand-Trucks-Market-Report-2016-27173 United States Hand Trucks Market Report 2016 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.Hand Trucks Market research report, the core driving factors of this market were identified and the business partners & end users were elaborated. The structure of the business sector, patterns and challenges affecting the market globally are also a part of this extensive analysis. Various interviews and talks were conducted with the prominent leaders of this industry to obtain reliable and updated information pertaining to the market.This market research report looks into and analyzes the United States Hand Trucks Market and illustrates a comprehensive evaluation of its evolution and its specifications. Another aspect that was considered is the cost analysis of the main products dominant in the United States Hand Trucks industry considering the profit margin of the manufacturers.Get Sample Copy of This Report:This Hand Trucks industry market research report focuses on the major players in this market throughout the world. This section of the report includes the company profiles, specification and product pictures, production, capacity, contact information, cost and revenue. Likewise, equipment & upstream raw materials and downstream demand analysis is also dealt with.In addition, this research is categorized differently considering the various aspects of this market. It also evaluates the current situation and the future of the market by using the forecast horizon. The forecast is analyzed based on the volume and revenue of this market. The tools used for analyzing the Hand Trucks Market research report include the porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis.The best thing about this market research report is that the significance and application scope of this market has been defined. Besides, various market dynamics and buying criteria has been enhanced in the report. Hence, this market research report is a great scope for identifying new investment projects, identifying how to deal with the market trends etc. of the Hand Trucks Market.Get 30% Discount on This Report at:Table of Contents:United States Hand Trucks Market Report 20161 Hand Trucks Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Hand Trucks1.2 Classification of Hand Trucks1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Application of Hand Trucks1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 United States Market Size Sales (Value) and Revenue (Volume) of Hand Trucks (2011-2021)1.4.1 United States Hand Trucks Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.4.2 United States Hand Trucks Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 United States Hand Trucks Competition by Manufacturers2.1 United States Hand Trucks Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 United States Hand Trucks Revenue and Share by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.3 United States Hand Trucks Average Price by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.4 Hand Trucks Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 Hand Trucks Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 Hand Trucks Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 United States Hand Trucks Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2011-2016)3.1 United States Hand Trucks Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)3.2 United States Hand Trucks Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)3.3 United States Hand Trucks Price by Type (2011-2016)3.4 United States Hand Trucks Sales Growth Rate by Type (2011-2016)4 United States Hand Trucks Sales (Volume) by Application (2011-2016)4.1 United States Hand Trucks Sales and Market Share by Application (2011-2016)4.2 United States Hand Trucks Sales Growth Rate by Application (2011-2016)4.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities5 United States Hand Trucks Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis5.1 Dayton5.2 Harper5.3 Milwaukee Hand Trucks5.4 New Age Industrial5.5 ULINE5.6 Vestil6 Hand Trucks Manufacturing Cost Analysis6.1 Hand Trucks Key Raw Materials Analysis6.1.1 Key Raw Materials6.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials6.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials6.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials6.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure6.2.1 Raw Materials6.2.2 Labor Cost6.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses6.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Hand Trucks7 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers7.1 Hand Trucks Industrial Chain Analysis7.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing7.3 Raw Materials Sources of Hand Trucks Major Manufacturers in 20157.4 Downstream Buyers8 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders8.1 Marketing Channel8.1.1 Direct Marketing8.1.2 Indirect Marketing8.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend8.2 Market Positioning8.2.1 Pricing Strategy8.2.2 Brand Strategy8.2.3 Target Client8.3 Distributors/Traders List9 Market Effect Factors Analysis9.1 Technology Progress/Risk9.1.1 Substitutes Threat9.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry9.2 Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change9.3 Economic/Political Environmental Change10 United States Hand Trucks Market Forecast (2016-2021)10.1 United States Hand Trucks Sales, Revenue Forecast (2016-2021)10.2 United States Hand Trucks Sales Forecast by Type (2016-2021)10.3 United States Hand Trucks Sales Forecast by Application (2016-2021)10.4 Hand Trucks Price Forecast (2016-2021)11 Research Findings and ConclusionComplete report available at:About Research n Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports) Prospering Automotive Industry Driving Global Fluid Management Systems Market http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1032967 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressrelease/4092 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Fluid Management Systems Market Research Report 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"MarketResearchReports.biz notifies the addition of a new report to its repository, titled Global Fluid Management Systems Market Research Report 2017. The report has been created with a solitary goal of serving as a dependable business document for the targeted audiences such as the manufacturers of fluid management system and accessories, distributors, research and development companies, healthcare institutes, venture capitalists, and market research and consulting firms. The report studies all the factors that may influence the demand, positively or negatively, in the near future and estimates it to expand at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period of 2016 to 2024. The report evaluates that the global fluid management systems market had opportunities worth US$2.08 bn in 2016, and estimates it to reach a valuation of US$2.68 bn by the end of 2022.The prosperity of the automotive sector, especially in the region of Asia Pacific, is the primary driving factor of this market. The report observes that fluid management systems are essential in order to maintain service applications in a vehicle, such as tracking oil dispense, antifreeze, coolant, and other fluids. With robust fluid management, the cost of manufacturing and maintenance of vehicles and heavy equipment can be achieved, which is escalating the demand in the the global fluid management systems market. With metering of fluid dispense, it is possible to control the precise volumes and thereby avoid costly mistakes.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Based on product, the report segments the global fluid management system market into fluid usage systems, fluid monitor systems, and fluid control systems. Application-wise, the market has been bifurcated into light commercial vehicle, heavy commercial vehicle, electric vehicle, and others. Geographically, the report studies the potential of several regions such as North America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and Europe as well as country-wise markets of China, Japan, and India.In its featured section on company profiles, the report overviews manufacturing base, sales area, product range, revenue, and competitors of several leading companies in the global fluid management systems market including GRACO, Samson, Eastern Lubrication Systems, AssetWorks, Hutchinson, Lincoln Industrial, FleetWatch S.A., and Orange Line Oil. These leading players strategically concentrate on new product launches, partnerships, acquisitions, and expansions in order to to achieve growth. This being a rapidly advancing technology, high growth in emerging markets is expected to open new avenues for these players in new territories with new product launches. These key vendors also actively work towards differentiating themselves in an highly competitive fluid management systems and accessories market via expansion of their product range in-sync with latest industry trends and needs.View Press Release @To present a cost analysis of the manufacturing of fluid management systems, the report studies the key raw materials, leading suppliers, the trend pertaining to the pricing of key raw materials, leading suppliers, and market concentration rate of raw materials. To understand the cost structure, the report explores the raw materials, associated labor cost, and other manufacturing expenses.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Sidra lunches high quality Deluxe Storage Cabinets for storing medical supplies Medical Equipments and Supplies - SidraMedicalSupply.com www.sidramedicalsupply.com Sidra lunches high quality Deluxe Storage Cabinets for storing medical suppliesElmont, NY April 20, 2017, the leading medical supply company in USA has launched a new Deluxe storage cabinet for hospitals, clinics. Soon it would be expanding all over USA. The company always pride itself by providing high quality medical supply equipment brought this unique cabinet for storing important medical related supplies.It has 200lb shelf capacity and can store many items in your inventory. The selves can be adjust 2. Built in with heavy gauge steel and very little chance of breaking in. Also included 3 point locking.Hospital or clinic owners always looking for a reliable cabinet to keeping their material safe and sound and this might be the ideal solution for them.Sidra always look for best product to give its valuable customers and this is one of the best item they brought into the market.If you would look for similar types of products, Please feel free to contact us.Sidra Medical supply, 1554 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003, Telephone: 516-270-2569, Fax: 516-706-6026, Email: customerservice@sidramedicalsupply.com1554 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003, Telephone: 516-270-2569, Fax: 516-706-6026, Email: customerservice@sidramedicalsupply.com Gartner Recognizes Innovaccer as One of the Emerging Companies in Healthcare Data Integration and Exchange Space in its Population Health Market Report Innovaccer Inc., a leading healthcare analytics company offering comprehensive population health management to aid the value-based transition, has been recognized as one of the emerging companies in the healthcare data integration space in a Gartner report entitled, Healthcare Provider CIOs Need to Stay on Course and Procure a Population Health Solution 07 February 2017, Laura Craft.Healthcare is moving towards data-driven operationalization. Solving multiple challenges in healthcare through an analytics backed approach is on every decision makers mind. The number of disparate data sources in healthcare and deriving insights out of this whopping amount of data requires a state-of-the-art data integration and exchange capabilities. Innovaccers Integrated Data Lake is designed to overcome the data integration barriers and accelerate the value-based care initiatives.PHM is dependent on digital technology to enable a set of necessary capabilities, and it is important to the future of healthcare, according to the report. The healthcare industry is in need of industrial-strength integration and exchange capabilities in order to handle the new sources of data, the new types of data, and the incredible volumes of data that are being created, shared, stored and used.The report by Gartner describes the progression of population health management as a discipline healthcare industry requires and reviews Middleware-Type products from new entrants and mentions Innovaccer as one of them.We appreciate the comprehensive research completed by Gartner and welcome the mention of Innovaccer in it, says Abhinav Shashank, Co-founder and CEO. In a very short span of time we have been able to deliver better clinical outcomes for our value-focused customers, and its a matter of great pride that our customers are finding value in our cutting-edge Big Data platform, Datashop, and its ability to quickly ingest and integrate data from multiple disparate sources, he says.Datashop, Innovaccers proprietary product, is backed by a Big Data integrated lake that offers pre-built connectors to 64+ widely used EHR systems and combines advanced analytics and machine learning to provide end-to-end value-based care solutions with holistic patient records, referral management, and care management. Datashops state-of-the-art analytics help providers proactively identify, resolve, and manage population health data and plan timely interventions with a data-centric approach.To learn more about Innovaccer and Datashop, visit the team during Beckers Hospital Review 8th Annual Meeting in Chicago, at Booth#1F.About GartnerGartner, Inc. is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. Gartner is a valuable partner to clients in more than 11,000 distinct enterprises offering to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual roles. Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has almost 9,000 associates, including 1,900 research analysts and consultants, operating in more than 90 countries.About InnovaccerInnovaccer Inc is a Silicon Valley-headquartered, Healthcare analytics company. Innovaccers aim is to simplify complex data from all points of care, streamline the information and help organizations make powerful decisions based on the key insights and predictions from their data. Its proprietary product Datashop enables provider organizations to use data as a source of innovation and has been deployed across 15 countries at academic institutions, governmental organizations, and several corporate enterprises such as Catholic Health Initiatives, El Paso HIE, Sonic Healthsystems, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Wolters Kluwers.For more information, please visit innovaccer.com or follow us on Twitter @innovaccer.Innovaccer Inc.#701, 2120 University Ave2120 University AveSachin Saxena650-479-4891 Market Research Report on Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment 2016 | Researchmoz.us http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=893633 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=893633 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market Research Report 2016" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringImage Stream MedicalOlympusKarl StorzMAQUETSkytronSTERISConMedPentaxNDS Surgical ImagingSONYStrykerSmith & NephewStarkstromDr. Mach GmbHHeineEschmannKLS MartinMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoVideo SystemLighting SystemRecording and information sharing systemSplit by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment in each application, can be divided intoApplication 1Application 2Application 3To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of ContentsGlobal High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market Research Report 20161 High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment1.2 High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment by Type in 20151.2.2 Video System1.2.3 Lighting System1.2.4 Recording and information sharing system1.3 High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Segment by Application1.3.1 High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Application 11.3.3 Application 21.3.4 Application 31.4 High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment (2011-2021)2 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.4 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 North America High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.6 Europe High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.7 China High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.8 Japan High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.9 Southeast Asia High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.10 India High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)4 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 North America High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.3 Europe High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.4 China High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.5 Japan High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.6 Southeast Asia High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.7 India High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)5 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.2 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.3 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Price by Type (2011-2016)5.4 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Production Growth by Type (2011-2016)6 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Consumption and Market Share by Application (2011-2016)6.2 Global High-Tech and Integrated Operating Theatre Equipment Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2011-2016)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Global Low Iron Glass Sales Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2017 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=934597 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=934597 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Low Iron Glass Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies sales (consumption) of Low Iron Glass in Global market, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringAGCGuardianNSGSaint GobainPPGSisecamCardinalCentral GlassTaiwan GlassChina North GlassChina Glass HoldingsJinjing GroupXinyiSYPLuoyang Glass CompanyACWA HoldingSchottMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Low Iron Glass in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product Types, with sales, revenue, price and gross margin, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoCommon Low Iron Glass(Thickness:3~5mm,6~15mm,16~25mm.others)Low Iron Glass For photovoltaic(Thickness:3~5mm,6~8mm,others)Split by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Low Iron Glass in each application, can be divided intoAquarium and zoo enclosuresSpandrel glassAppliancesGreenhousesCeramically decorated glassSolar CollectorsFurnitureBuildingAutomotiveTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of Contents1 Low Iron Glass Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Low Iron Glass1.2 Classification of Low Iron Glass1.2.1 Common Low Iron Glass(Thickness:3~5mm,6~15mm,16~25mm.others)1.2.2 Low Iron Glass For photovoltaic(Thickness:3~5mm,6~8mm,others)1.3 Application of Low Iron Glass1.3.1 Aquarium and zoo enclosures1.3.2 Spandrel glass1.3.3 Appliances1.3.4 Greenhouses1.3.5 Ceramically decorated glass1.3.6 Solar Collectors1.3.7 Furniture1.3.8 Building1.3.9 Automotive1.4 Low Iron Glass Market by Regions1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Low Iron Glass (2011-2021)1.5.1 Global Low Iron Glass Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Global Low Iron Glass Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Global Low Iron Glass Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Low Iron Glass Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.1.2 Global Low Iron Glass Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.2 Global Low Iron Glass (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Global Low Iron Glass Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Global Low Iron Glass (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)2.3.2 Global Low Iron Glass Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)2.4 Global Low Iron Glass (Volume) by Application3 United States Low Iron Glass (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Low Iron Glass Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 United States Low Iron Glass Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 United States Low Iron Glass Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 United States Low Iron Glass Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)3.2 United States Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 United States Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Application4 China Low Iron Glass (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Low Iron Glass Sales and Value (2011-2016)4.1.1 China Low Iron Glass Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.2 China Low Iron Glass Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.3 China Low Iron Glass Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)4.2 China Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Application5 Europe Low Iron Glass (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Low Iron Glass Sales and Value (2011-2016)5.1.1 Europe Low Iron Glass Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.2 Europe Low Iron Glass Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.3 Europe Low Iron Glass Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)5.2 Europe Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Application6 Japan Low Iron Glass (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Low Iron Glass Sales and Value (2011-2016)6.1.1 Japan Low Iron Glass Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.2 Japan Low Iron Glass Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.3 Japan Low Iron Glass Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)6.2 Japan Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers6.3 Japan Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan Low Iron Glass Sales and Market Share by ApplicationMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Global Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size, Status And Forecast 2022 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1057445 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/category/26 This report studies the global Location-Based Services (LBS) System market, analyzes and researches the Location-Based Services (LBS) 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, likeEricssonSyniverseEkahauGaligeoMasternautPitney BowesTomtom InternationalPolaris WirelessTCSRuckusDigitalGlobeCisco SystemsGoogle IncIBM CorpMicrosoft CorpOracle CorpQualcommESRIZebra TechnologiesEricssonTeldioMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Location-Based Services (LBS) System can be split intoIndoor LocationOutdoor LocationMarket segment by Application, Location-Based Services (LBS) System can be split intoBanking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)DefenseGovernment and Public UtilitiesHealthcare and Life SciencesIndustrial ManufacturingRetail and E-CommerceTransportation and LogisticsOthersDownload Sample Copy Of This Report :If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of ContentsGlobal Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Location-Based Services (LBS) System1.1 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Overview1.1.1 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Location-Based Services (LBS) 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 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market by Type1.3.1 Indoor Location1.3.2 Outdoor Location1.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)1.4.2 Defense1.4.3 Government and Public Utilities1.4.4 Healthcare and Life Sciences1.4.5 Industrial Manufacturing1.4.6 Retail and E-Commerce1.4.7 Transportation and Logistics1.4.8 Others2 Global Location-Based Services (LBS) System Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)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 FutureBrowse More Power Market Research Reports: 3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Ericsson3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Syniverse3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Ekahau3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Galigeo3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Masternaut3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Pitney Bowes3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Tomtom International3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 Polaris Wireless3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 TCS3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 Ruckus3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Location-Based Services (LBS) System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 DigitalGlobe3.12 Cisco Systems3.13 Google Inc3.14 IBM Corp3.15 Microsoft Corp3.16 Oracle Corp3.17 Qualcomm3.18 ESRI3.19 Zebra Technologies3.20 Ericsson3.21 Teldio4 Global Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017)4.1 Global Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size by Type (2012-2017)4.2 Global Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Potential Application of Location-Based Services (LBS) System in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Location-Based Services (LBS) System5 United States Location-Based Services (LBS) System Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size (2012-2017)5.2 United States Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)6 EU Location-Based Services (LBS) System Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size (2012-2017)6.2 EU Location-Based Services (LBS) System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)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 Renewable Energy Trends drive Small Hydropower Market installation https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/479 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/middle-east-cable-market https://www.gminsights.com https://gminsights.wordpress.com Global Small Hydropower Market size by installed base was more than 110 GW for 2015 and is predicted to register more than 2.5% growth during the forecast period. Demand for pure and renewable source of energy has resulted in growth of the industry.The reason being that hydropower is purest form of renewable energy and does not pollute the environment by emitting hazardous pollutants like carbon dioxide. Also, small hydropower needs less reservoirs and construction activity it has negligible impact on environment. Further, the industry is rapidly growing owing to favourable government policies and government subsidies, tax benefits & incentives.Request for Sample PDF of the Report @In 2003, Voith Siemens won a $45 million engineering & procurement deal to deploy three small-scale hydropower units with overall deployment capacity of 60MW for Mexican firm comex hidro. These power plants were developed on the reservoirs to control floods and provide irrigation in Mexico.Statkraft penetrated Indian hydropower industry in 2004 and was a first overseas firm to make investment in hydropower sector in India. It is involved in two big hydropower projects in India amounting to total 300 MW. The firm is further exploring new investment avenues within hydropower sector by partnering with Tata Power which is Indias biggest integrated power firm. Together the two firms have a license for new plant Dugar amounting to greater than 400MW in Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.Global small hydropower market is segmented into key geographical regions including North America, APAC, Europe, Latin America and MEA.APAC led the global industry with higher than 80GW deployed capacity for 2014 with Japan, India and China being key contributors for small hydropower installation. Rising demand for off grid power supply, high hydropower capacity and tax benefits were few of the drivers for sall hydropower installations in the region.Europe was the second biggest small hydropower market in 2014. Italy led the regional industry with total installation of more than 3.1GW owing to its structured policies and high investments for industry growth.North America small hydropower market is predicted to register CAGR of more than 2.5% during the forecast period. The region was third largest in terms of industry share in 2014. Canada and USA were dominant nations with many key small hydropower installations.Key industry players profiled in the report include:RusHydroALSTOMLanco GroupAndritz HydroAgder Energi ASSIEMENS AGBrowse Related Reports: Middle East Cable Market Size By Application (Commercial, Industrial), By Product (Medium Voltage, Low Voltage, High Voltage, Extra High Voltage), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2023About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Global Elevators and Escalators Market 2017 - United Technologies, KONE Corporation, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp AG, Hitachi Ltd http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/45819/request-sample https://goo.gl/kt1ZAA www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com Global Elevators and Escalators Market 2017, presents a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Elevators and Escalators market globally, providing basic overview of Elevators and Escalators market including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure, Elevators and Escalators Market report provides development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.In this report, the global Elevators and Escalators market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Download Free Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Elevators and Escalators in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Elevators and Escalators market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingKONE Corporation (Finland)United Technologies (U.S.)Schindler (Switzerland)Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan)ThyssenKrupp AG (Germany)FUJITEC (Japan)Hitachi Ltd. (Japan)Hyundai Elevator Co., Ltd. (South Korea)Toshiba Corporation (Japan)Electra Ltd. (Israel)Access Full Report @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoElevators (passenger, freight, single, and double deck elevators)EscalatorMoving walkwaysOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Elevators and Escalators for each application, includingResidentialCommercialInstitutionalInfrastructureOthersFior 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.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: Global Bleaching Chemicals Market Regional Analysis, Key Players, Industry Segments, Development, Opportunities, Forecast to 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2502 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/bleaching-chemicals-market-2502 Market Overview:Bleaching Chemicals are used in chemical reactions to remove color from the base material on which they are applied or used. The bleaching chemicals are oxidizing agents that make the object bright and colorless. The global bleaching chemicals market is expected to leverage from the demand for bleaching chemicals across various industries such as Cosmetic & personal care, textile industry, household industry, food additive, pulp bleaching, water treatment, Epidemic control, Aquaculture and others.The Bleaching Chemicals are basically chlorine based & peroxide based. Most widely used bleaching chemicals are chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, sodium dithionite and sodium borohydride.Chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and Sodium dithionite bleaches use in pulp and paper and textile industry. Chlorine also used to keep the water in swimming pools clean and for drinking water disinfection in the water treatment industry. Also hydrogen peroxide used in the cosmetic industry in various places such as hair colouring, face bleaching etc. sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate used in household, sanitizing and dishwashing agents. Sulfur dioxide used as food preservation. Bleaching agents makes the pulp free of impurities and appropriate for paper production. Moreover, bleaching chemicals are used in the textile industry for textile treatment. Hence, growth of the pulp and paper and textile industries is expected to drive the demand for bleaching chemicals.Key Players:Key Players of the Global Bleaching Chemicals are Akzo Nobel Eka(Netherlands), Neutron Industries (U.S.), Aditya Birla Chemicals(India), Hansol Chemicals(Korea), Kemira Oyj(Europe), State Industrial Products Corporation (U.S.),Hercules and Hercules Inc(U.S.), 3M Company (U.S.), Arrow-Magnolia International, Inc. (U.S.), Ecolab G.K. (Japan), and others.Sample Copy of Report @Regional Analysis:Asia-Pacific is the leading region in world in bleaching chemical market due to increase in demand of textile industry, cosmetic & personal care industry, pulp bleaching in China followed by India and Indonesia. Among all Asia pacific is the leading country among the all countries so as followed by North America & Europe. In Asia-Pacific China, India, Bangladesh and Thailand have high potential markets demands due to extensive growth of end-user industries.In terms of revenue, Europe and North America were the highest with one third share of the market followed by Asia pacific due to the highest population in this region. The drivers of the market are the consumers preferences in-addition bleaching chemicals can be utilized in various application on the other hand the growing industries such as cosmetic & personal care, textile industry, household industry will drive the market in the developing economies.Access the market data and market information presented through more than 25 market data tables and 25 figures spread over 135 numbers of pages of the project report Bleaching Chemicals Market Research Report- Forecast to 2022Market Segmentation:Global Bleaching Chemicals Market by segments are-by type(Chlorine, Chlorine dioxide, Sodium hypochlorite, Calcium hypochlorite, Sodium dichloroisocyanurate, Hydrogen peroxide, Sodium perborate, Sulfur dioxide, Sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, Sodium dithionite, Sodium borohydride), by Application (Cosmetic & personal care, textile industry, household industry, food additive, pulp bleaching, water treatment, Epidemic control, Aquaculture ) and by Region.Access Report Details @Intended Audience Bleaching chemicals manufacturers Traders and distributors of bleaching chemicals Production Process industries Potential investors Raw material suppliers Nationalized laboratoryAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.ContactAkash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com United Kingdom Fram Project Panorama - Oil and Gas Upstream Analysis Report https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=20956 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/united-kingdom-fram-project-panorama-oil-and-gas-upstream-analysis-report ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title United Kingdom Fram Project Panorama - Oil and Gas Upstream Analysis Report to its growing collection of premium market research reports.United Kingdom Fram Project Panorama, GlobalDatas latest release, presents a comprehensive overview of the asset. This upstream report includes detailed qualitative and quantitative information on the asset, provides a full economic assessment and reflects several parameters including (but not limited to) geological profile, asset development and specific challenges. Based on this analysis, future outlook for the asset is presented with possible trends and related scenarios identifying upside/downside potential.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Scope of the Research Report- Overview of the asset based on an analysis of the economic indicators- Key financial indicators including Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return- Review of factors affecting the economic outcome of the field including development overview, geology, challenges, reserves and production with qualitative perspective on of the overall assets life with GlobalDatas analysis on the assets future outlook- Detailed production profile for the asset, giving annual output rates for each commodity produced- Cash flow statements from our economic analysis of the asset including capital expenditures, operating expenditures and tax liability- Individual valuations for equity holders- Sensitivity analysis for asset value considering a range of factorsTo view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Understand the economic and non-economic factors that affect production of an asset- Benefit from an asset valuation derived from detailed research and modeling by our analysts- Basic view of various scenarios and its effect on the asset for risk or strategy planning- Utilize the quantitative and qualitative evaluation to ascertain trends within the region to inform decision making- Identify economic trends of an asset to determine investment requirementsAbout 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 Innovation Hub Inaugurated at India todays top ranking Birla Science Museum Pilani Innovation Hub Inaugurated at India todays top ranking Birla Science Museum Pilani http://www.birlamuseum.in/ http://www.birlamuseum.in/ A desert in spite of its frightening fascination, throws up incredible surprises mainly natural but sometimes human made and one such at Pilani in the midst of Rajasthan Thar desert is a new generation museum with 70000 square feet of built up area.Birla Science Museum Pilani which is India todays first science and technology museum was the dream of doyen and Ratan of Indian industry Padma Vibhushan Shri GD Birla. Shri LN Birla his eldest son gave shape to the dream in making the institution into a most moden and educational museum of India and his son Shri SK Birla continues the tradition to ensure that the museum keeps pace with the passage of time and invests in modern technologies to make it more educative especially for the students who are the future generation of the country and world at large. Unlike in many traditional Do not Touch emphasis museums, the Birla Science Museum encourages visitors to operate the exhibits.The science and technology museum also has one of the finest art galleries with original canvasses of Daniels Hodges and Hussain as well as paintings of Nandlal Bose, Jamini Roy, Abindranath and Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. The state of the art Pilani gallery presents the 300 years evolutionary highlights of this Rajasthan village which is hometown to the Birlas. Old arms and weapons gallery is yet another jewel in the crown of Birla Science Museum.With the aim of providing facilities to nurture new ideas and help develop inquisitive perspectives in the GenNext, a state of the art Innovation Hub was conceived at Birla Science Museum Pilani in collaboration with NCSM Kolkata and BITM Kolkata. Facilities at the hub include Resource centre, Discovery Hall, Hall of Fame, Computer Zone, Virtual Reality Zone, Sound Studio, Design Studio, 3D & Digital Art Studio, Electronics Zone, Thod Phod Jod (Break and Make Lab), Kabad se Jugad (Build from Scraps), Clay & Fiber work studio, Green Houses and Bonsai, air conditioned auditorium and an idea box.On 11 Apr 2017 in a colourful function attended by who is who of Pilani, the innovation hub was inaugurated in a techno savvy fashion by Chief Guest Prof Souvik Bhattacharyya Vice Chancellor BITS Pilani,BITS Pilani alumnus Mr Samarendra Kumar Director Hqs NCSM Kolkata was the Guest of Honour and the function was presided over by Maj Gen (Retd) S S Nair Director Birla Education Trust BET Pilani. The Proceedings were anchored by Sri Vikramjeet Singh Arora Curator (Exhibits & Programmes) who als proposed vote of thanks. Museum Director Dr VN Dhaulakhandi who is also a BITS Pilani alumnus welcomed the distinguished dignitaries with colorful bouquets and gave an overview of the Innovation hub.Prof Souvik Bhattacharyya in his speech pointed out that for BITS alumni innovation is oxygen and mentioned the great achievements of Proud to be BITSian Vijay Chandru. Mr Samarendra Kumar urged the schools of Pilani to make the best use of the state of art facilities. Maj Gen SS Nair said that the Thod Phod Jod Lb section of the hub would be very popular with present generation of students. The grand lunch after inauguration also became a mini BITS Pilani alumni get together.For more details seeAbout Birla Science Museum Pilani: Today, Indias first technological museum is one of the best science museums in the country. Situated in Pilanis famous educational complex, envisioned by Shri G.D. Birla, it was Shri L.N. Birla who got the idea of setting up a museum in 1954. Real Museums are where time and science is tranformed into SPACE. Materialising some very rare things of science is the biggest achievement of a musuem. The museum has 3 major sections of general interest, i.e. Art, Science and History. The galleries include Energy conversion, transportation, chemical technology, metallurgy, space, coal mine, electronics, textile, agriculture, popular science, art, old arms & weapons, Human biology, GD Birla memorial, Century's Progress, Aerodynamics, Aditya Vikram Birla memorial, etc. The latest addition is Pilani gallery and Innovation Hub. Museum Timings - Morning : 9:15 AM 12:45 PM (Mondays closed) Evening : 3 PM 5:00 PM (Mondays closed).Birla Science MuseumVidya Vihar BITS Pilani CampusPilani 333031 (Rajasthan) IndiaPhone: 91-1596-242158Email: info@birlamuseum.inWebsite: 2017-2022 Water Leak Detection Systems Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1057790&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com This report studies the Water Leak Detection Systems market status and outlook of global and United States, from angles of players, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and United States market, and splits the Water Leak Detection Systems market by product type and applications/end industries.The global Water Leak Detection Systems market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.The Asia-Pacific will occupy for more market share in following years, especially in China, also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions.North America, especially The United States, will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Water Leak Detection Systems . United States plays an important role in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2016 and will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of XX.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Water Leak Detection Systems in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe major players in global and United States Water Leak Detection Systems market, including Water Alert, FloLogic, LeakTronics, Pentair, Waterguard, Envirotech Alarms, TTK Leak Detection, JAM Aqualarm, Aqualeak Detection, Pentair PLC, Honeywell International Inc, PSI AG, Siemens AG, Flir Systems, Inc, Krohne Messtechnik GmbH, Schneider Electric Se, Synodon Inc., Atmos International, Clampon as,The On the basis of product, the Water Leak Detection Systems market is primarily split intoPassive Leak Detection SystemsActive Leak Detection SystemsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversHomeCommercial PlaceOil & GasIndustrialOthersTo Get Free Sample Copy of this Report Visit @Explore Key Points from the Table of Contents1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation2 Water Leak Detection Systems Market Overview2.1 Water Leak Detection Systems Product Overview2.2 Water Leak Detection Systems Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Passive Leak Detection Systems2.2.2 Active Leak Detection Systems3 Water Leak Detection Systems Application/End Users3.1 Water Leak Detection Systems Segment by Application/End Users3.1.1 Home3.1.2 Commercial Place3.1.3 Oil & Gas3.1.4 Industrial3.1.5 Others4 Water Leak Detection Systems Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1 North America4.2 Asia-Pacific4.3 Europe4.4 South America4.5 Middle East and Africa4.6 United StatesQYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com South Korea Ureteroscopes Market Outlook to 2023 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=21011 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/south-korea-ureteroscopes-market-outlook-to-2023 ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title South Korea Ureteroscopes Market Outlook to 2023 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.GlobalDatas new report, "South Korea Ureteroscopes Market Outlook to 2023", provides key market data on the South Korea Ureteroscopes market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, volume (in units) and and average prices (USD) within market segments - Non-Video Ureteroscopes and Flexible Video Ureteroscopes.The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for each of these market segments, and global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants. Based on the availability of data for the particular market and country, information related to pipeline products, news and deals is available in the report.Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the market size, company share and distribution share data and analysis.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Scope of the Research Report- Market size and company share data for Ureteroscopes market segments - Non-Video Ureteroscopes and Flexible Video Ureteroscopes.- Annualized market revenues (USD million) and volume (units) data for each of the market segments. Data is provided from 2009 to 2016 and forecast to 2023.- 2016 company shares and distribution shares data for each of the market segments.- Global corporate-level profiles of key companies operating within the South Korea Ureteroscopes market.- Key players covered include Olympus Corporation, KARL STORZ GmbH & Co KG and Others.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Develop business strategies by identifying the key market segments poised for strong growth in the future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.- Design competition strategies by identifying who-stands-where in the market.- Develop investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- What are the key distribution channels and whats the most preferred mode of product distribution - Identify, understand and capitalize.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 Manufacturing Execution System (MES) & Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI) Market to Exceed $16.29 Billion and $6.20 Billion by 2020 https://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/global-manufacturing-execution-system-market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/requestsample/global-manufacturing-execution-system-market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/ New York, April 11: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Global Manufacturing Execution System (MES) & Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI) Market, By [Enterprise (SMEs & Large), Product (Software, Services, Consulting, Integration, Maintenance), Industries (Process Industries, Discrete Industries), Region] - Trends & Forecast, 20152020.The MES and EMI market revenue is estimated to reach $16.29 billion and $6.20 billion, respectively by 2020,.Browse Full Report:Manufacturing organizations are facing some challenges shortage of skilled labor, increasing cost of the raw materials, volatile customer demands, and regulations to adhere to quality standards. To overcome these hurdles, they are employing information systems such as MES and EMI. Organization, due to global presence, has multiple plants across countries, and they have a better integration level of these plants. The MES and EMI help in standardizing the manufacturing processes across plants and also increase the transparency level, which leads in better informed decisions, and optimize operations.The global MES and EMI market is a very competitive market, but it has immense growth opportunities, especially in Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) as it has set to become a manufacturing hub in the next five years.The MES and EMI product market is divided into Software and Services. The service market is analyzed by consulting, integration and maintenance. The service segment contributes to majority of the market.Download Free Sample Report:The MES and EMI industries market is divided into processed and discrete industries. The process industries are analyzed by Chemical, Food & Beverage, Oil & Gas, Pulp & Paper, Life Sciences & Pharma, Power, Sugar & Bio energy, and Water and Waste Water Management. Discrete industries are analyzed by Automotive, Aerospace, Medical Devices, Aerospace & Defense, FMCG, Modular Construction, Semiconductor & Electronics, and Metal Precision & Fabrication.The global MES and EMI market is divided into North America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Central Eastern Europe (CEE), Middle East & Africa and Latin America. North America has the largest share of the market and these countries are the early adopters of these information systems. Asia-Pacific is set to become a global manufacturing hub and thus holds immense potential for the market.The global MES and EMI market is a very competitive market with several vendors focusing on specific industry segments to tackle industry specific issues. With rising market pressure, manufacturing companies or end users are scrutinizing their operations and are taking pro-active measures to address challenges,.About MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States Photovoltaic Device Market Developing and Exapnding Alternate Sources Of Energy. http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/photovoltaic-device-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=15779 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The main function of a photovoltaic device is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. There are end numbers of benefits associated with these devices which have made their adoption on a large scale across various industries. The solar panels used in photovoltaic devices are comprised of solar cells which result in the generation of electrical power. The various materials used for photovoltaics include polycrystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, monocrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon among others. Photovoltaic installations can be mounted either on rooftop, ground or wall. Initially, the application of photovoltaics was limited to spacecrafts and orbiting satellites, but nowadays its application has been mostly for grid connected power generation. The popularity of photovoltaic device has been on the rise as a result of technological advancements coupled with large scale manufacturing which has led to the reduction in its cost and at the same time increased the efficiency and reliability of these devices.Obtain Report Details @The photovoltaic device market is expected to grow as a result of increasing focus on the part of the governments of various countries towards the issue of climate change and at the same time develop and expand the alternate sources of energy. The governments are more willing to provide funds than ever before for the adoption of solar energy, which is further propelling the demand for photovoltaic devices market. Moreover, factors such as reliability, safety, cost effective and ease of installation have led to the increasing adoption of these devices. Low maintenance cost is another important factor contributing to the growth the photovoltaic devices market. As no fuel costs are associated with these devices, the adoption of photovoltaic devices is considered to be a cost effective option in lieu of the high diesel and electricity prices. The increasing application of photovoltaic devices across segments such as military, power plants, and defense and space among others are further resulting in the increased demand for these devices. Considering these factors the photovoltaic device market is likely to register a healthy growth rate during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024.However, the material availability, production cost and toxicity are some of the major restraints that are hindering the deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells across different industries.As per recent trends it has been observed that, Perovskite, which is a very inexpensive material, is replacing crystalline silicon due to it being expensive. Crystalline silicon forms a part of photovoltaic cell build.The photovoltaic device market can be categorized on the basis of types, components, application and geography. On the basis of type, the market can be segmented into two types; organic PV and inorganic PV.Based on components, the photovoltaic device market can be segmented into two categories; thin film PV cells and crystalline silicon PV cells. Thin film PV is comparatively a newer technology as compared to crystalline silicon PV. The semiconducting layers are comprised of materials such as copper indium diselenide (CIS), amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS).Fill The Form For An Exclusive Sample Of This Report @The application segments of the photovoltaic device market will include military, power plants, industrial, defense and space, residential and non residential among others.Geographically, the market has been categorized into five broad regions; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin AmericaSome of the key players operating in the photovoltaic device market are Kyocera Corporation (Japan), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Kaneka Corporation (Japan), JA solar Co. Ltd (China), Sharp Corporation (Japan), , Jinko Solar (China), Trina Solar (China), Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd (China), Canadian Solar (Canada), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), ReneSola Co. Ltd (China) and Yingli Green (China) among others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing 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: Global In-flight Autopilot Systems Market to reach US$8.4 billion by 2021, Fueled by Rise in Number of Air Passengers http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=506475 http://www.researchmoz.us/semiconductors-market-reports-63.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG http://deep-research-report.blogspot.com/ ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " In-flight Autopilot Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021 " to it's Large Report database.In-flight Autopilot Systems are nowadays finding application in all kinds of aircrafts in order to enhance the operational efficiency during the flight. The major usage of in-flight autopilot systems is to guide and control an aircraft without any direct assistance from the pilot. The global in-flight autopilot systems market has been segmented on the basis of system type, aircraft type, application and geography. A broad cross sectional study of the global in-flight autopilot systems market across geographical segments has also been covered under the scope of the study.The growing focus among various airline companies towards improving upon the operational efficiency of the aircraft is one of the primary factors responsible for fuelling the demand for in-flight autopilot systems market. Autopilot systems enhance the operational efficiency of the aircrafts by not only lowering the fuel consumption of the aircraft but also improving the safety of the aircraft. Moreover, in-flight autopilot systems also lower the fuel consumption of the aircraft which is further contributing to the growth of the market.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:In addition, the demand for in-flight autopilot systems is also expected to be high throughout the forecast period as a result of the growing need of automation of the aircrafts. Improving upon the navigational accuracy of the aircraft is another factor driving the demand for such systems. However, the in-flight autopilot system market is a niche market where only a limited number of manufacturers operate, as a result of which the cost of these systems are high, which in turn acts as a barrier for the growth of the market. Autopilot systems comprise a range of robust and complex equipments and are laden with wide variety of features. As a result of its complexity there is a high cost of maintenance involved which further impacts the market negatively.Recent trends have shown that the various manufacturers of in-flight autopilot systems are constantly engaged in research and development activities in order to improve the performance of the aircraft and also making it fuel efficient by equipping the aircraft with the most advanced versions of autopilot systems. The in-flight autopilot systems market is also witnessing trends such as technological advancements which has enabled its integration with complex systems, and is expected to fuel its demand in the military and commercial aircrafts. Autopilot systems are also used more often in long air routes in order to minimize human intervention and thus reducing the pilots fatigue.Read All Semiconductors Market Research Reports @Table of ContentChapter 1 Preface1.1 Report description1.2 Research scope1.3 Research methodologyChapter 2 Executive SummaryChapter 3 Market Overview3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Dynamics3.2.1 Market Drivers3.2.1.1 Increasing focus towards improving operational efficiency3.2.1.2 Growing need of automation in the aviation industry3.2.2 Market Restraints3.2.2.1 High dependence on the airline companies3.2.2.2 High cost of in-flight autopilot systems3.2.3 Market Opportunities3.2.3.1 Research and Development Activities to ennhance system features3.3 Market trends and outlook3.4 Competitive strategies adopted by key players3.5 Global In-Flight Autopilot Systems Market: Market Attractiveness Analysis3.6 Market Positioning of Key PlayersAbout 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: At a CAGR of 15.92%, Invisible Orthodontics Market in China will grow steadily during 2016-2020: Key Vendors are 3M, Ormco, TC Medical, Angel Align etc. http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=810427 http://www.researchmoz.us/orthopedics-market-reports-51.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG http://healthcare-research-report.blogspot.in/ ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Invisible Orthodontics Market in China 2016-2020 " to it's Large Report database.About Invisible Orthodontic BracesInvisible orthodontic braces such as clear aligners, ceramic braces, and lingual braces are aesthetic products that are replacing the use of traditional devices including unattractive metal wires and braces. Invisible orthodontic braces help enhance self-esteem and physical confidence in people.Technavios analysts forecast the invisible orthodontics market in China to grow at a CAGR of 15.92% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the invisible orthodontics market in China for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales clear aligners, ceramic braces, and lingual braces.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:The market is divided into the following segments based on products:Clear alignersCeramic bracesLingual braces.Technavio's report, Invisible Orthodontics Market in China 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors3MAlign TechnologyAngel AlignClearCorrectOrmcoTC MedicalRead All Orthopedics Market Research Reports @Table of ContentPART 01: Executive summaryHighlightsPART 02: Scope of the reportMarket overviewTop-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodologyResearch methodologyEconomic indicatorsPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsScope of invisible orthodontic devices in ChinaPART 05: Market landscapeMarket overviewMarket size and forecastFive forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by productInvisible orthodontics market in China for clear alignersInvisible orthodontics market in China for ceramic bracesInvisible orthodontics market in China for lingual bracesPART 07: Market segmentation by end-userDental clinicsHospitalsPART 08: Market driversRise in dental laboratories outsourcing orthodontic productsDirect and online sales for expansionUse of CAD/CAM technology to develop high-precision invisible orthodontic devicesPART 09: Impact of driversAbout 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: Quantum Dot Market to Exceed US$ 5.0 Billion Globally by 2020 https://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/quantum-dot-market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/requestsample/quantum-dot-market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/ New York, April 11: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Quantum Dot Market by Product (Display, Medical Devices, Batteries, Solar Cells, Sensors, and Others), Material, Application (Healthcare, Consumer, Defense, and Industry), and Geography- Forecast up to 2022The Quantum dots market is expected to exceed more than US$ 5.0 billion by 2020 growing at around 60% CAGR for the forecast period.Browse Full Report:Quantum dots are used to convert light into color in visible spectrum. These are tiny nanocrystals made of semiconductor material which contains cadmium sulfide, silicon, cadmium selenide, or indium arsenide that glow when stimulated by an external source such as ultraviolet light. The number of atoms in the quantum dot determines their size and the size of the quantum dot indicates the color of light emitted. Small quantum dots will generate light with small wavelengths which produce blue light. While big quantum dots generate light with a long wavelength which produce red light. Different methods are used to create quantum dots such as colloidal synthesis and chemical vapor deposition.The main driving factors for quantum dots market are increasing demand for superior performance and resolution quality for smart TVs, high end cameras, laptops, and smart mobile phones and devices. Another driving factor is quantum dot nonmaterial is used as an energy efficient technology. Silicon dioxide quantum dot based light emitting diode is expected to drive the market. Using of ultra-low power VLSIdesign is increase the use of quantum dots. The quantum dots major restraints for its growth are slower adoption of technology due to lack of awareness among consumers. Quantum dot products are unfeasibly expensive, decrease in price which may impact the launch of QD products and competition from low cost competing technologies.Download Free Sample Report:This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for quantum dots 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 quantum dots.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 quantum dots with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Quantum Dots Market has been segmented as below:By Product Analysis Medical devices LED display Lasers Sensors Chips Lighting devices Solar cellsBy Application Analysis Healthcare Optoelectronics Energy Quantum computing Quantum optics Security and surveillance Consumer DefenseBy Raw Material Analysis Cadmium selenium Cadmium tellurium Non-toxic raw materials Cadmium selenide Cadmium sulfide Indium arsenide Graphene Silicon.About MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States Software Defined Infrastructure (SDI) Market Will Grow at a CAGR of 24 % by 2022 https://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/software-defined-infrastructure-market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/requestsample/software-defined-infrastructure-market https://www.marketresearchengine.com/ Florida, April 11: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Software Defined Infrastructure Market Analysis, By [Solutions (SDS, SDN, SDC), Services (Consulting, Implementation & Maintenance, Integration), Verticals (BFSI, Retail, Manufacturing, Telecom, Healthcare, Education, Transportation, Utilities & Energy) By Regions Global Market Drivers, Opportunities, Trends, and Forecasts, 2016-2022.Browse Full Report:With its recently published study on Global Software Defined Infrastructure Market, Trends & Forecast 20162022, it predicts that Software Defined Compute (SDC) Solution is expected to dominate in SDI market followed by Software Defined Storage (SDS). The increasing demand and adoption rate of cloud, mobile, and big data analytic are few of the key drivers which are driving SDI market. The Global, SDI market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.6% during the period 20162022. The BFSI & Retail industry verticals are expected to outperform for SDI market growth followed by Telecom industry.As per the market study, Americas and Europe regions are the strongest performers for SDI market during the period 20162022. Moreover, Asia-Pacific region is set to be an emerging market for SDI growth followed by MEA. US, Canada, and Brazil countries are expected to outperform for SDI solution market growth in Americas region. In Asia Pacific, India and China are the dominating countries which are supporting for SDI growth.Currently, Software Defined Infrastructure is at an intial stage; service providers also have a huge business opportunity in this market and hybrid cloud is expected to play a key role in this market.Download Free Sample Report:Market DynamicsDrivers Increased Importance and Growth Rate of Cloud Computing Evolving Enterprise Demand for Better Alignment of IT Infrastructure High Growth of Data Creation Leads to Outstrips StorageRestraints Lack of Knowledge and Expertise Multi-player EnvironmentsOpportunities Hybrid Cloud in Demand Demand of Analytics in SDI Demand for Security Vendors-software Defined SecurityKey Insights of Global SDI Market Report 20162022 The Global SDI market is analyzed by Solutions, Services, Verticals and Regions In-depth analysis of the major services in SDI market Vertical industry outlook, IT spending, emerging trends, drivers, trends, and challenges SDI market opportunity in each verticals Latest trends, current market scenario, government initiative for SDI market growth The regions covered in this report are Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. Further the market is analyzed country wise.About MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States North America Micro-Pump Market to Record an Impressive Growth Rate of $3.02 Billion from 2013 to 2027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2197 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/north-america-micro-pump-market-2197 North America Micro-Pump Market, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.0% during the period of 2016-2027. United States commanded the largest share of the North America micro-pump market in 2015 and it is expected to reach $3.02 Billion by the end of 2027.Get Sample Copy @North America has been the largest market for micro pump ever since the technology came into existence. US being the major contributor in the North American Micro-pump Market acquiring the largest market share in 2015.There are several factors for tremendous growth of the Micro-pump market such as wider acceptance of the technology, the micro-pump technology was initially adopted by the North American countries, over the years the use of the micro-pumping systems has increased. The major market players such as Cole Palmer, IDEX Corporation, Bio-Chem Fluidics and World Precision Instruments among others are based in USA, which has led to the development of the state of the art infrastructure required for the micro-pumping technology. The government funding is another crucial factor in the overall market growth. With the rise in overall healthcare expenditure and the applications of these micro pumps in various industries including pharmaceutical, medical, microfluidics, chemical and few others; moreover because of the benefits such as high accuracy, reliability and quick results in the various fluid handling processes, the use of these devices has increased which has led to the growth of the micro-pump market in the North American Region.Browse Report @The North America micro-pump market statistical report published by Market Research future contains a brief overview of micro-pump market in the North America region. United States has majorly dominated the North American market for micro-pumps and is expected to grow continuously during the forecasted period of 2016-2027. The report analyzed the North America micro-pump market and presents systematic data of market share on the basis of segments and countries and its growth rate for 2016 to 2017, along with forecast till 2027.Market Research future through this report aims to provide understanding of the North America micro-pump market on the basis of country, and also assists identification of ongoing trends along with anticipated growth during the forecasted period. For this report, extensive primary research was conducted to gain a deeper insight of the market performance. Various industry experts and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) were contacted and interviewed to get an idea of North America micro-pump market.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comAbout 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.Market Research FutureAmanora Town Centre, Office No. 528,, Amanora Chambers, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411028 Autonomous Vehicles Market: Competitive Outlook, Trends and Opportunities for the Industry by 2027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2477 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/global-autonomous-vehicles-type-market-2477 The Autonomous Vehicles Market statistical report, published by Market Research Future contains succinct information on the autonomous vehicles market, segmented by Types (semi-autonomous, fully autonomous) and forecast from 2016-2027. The various factors driving the autonomous vehicles market are rise in the aging population, technological advancement, ride sharing, and fuel efficiency.Make an enquiry before buying this Report @Semi-autonomous vehicles are not far from the hitting the roads and can be expected by the end of the year 2017. Semi-Autonomous vehicles are equipped with sensors and advanced technology to help the driver keep the car in one lane, cruise control and some more intermediary features of the car. As the arrival of fully autonomous vehicles is little far, companies are equipping their vehicles with advance technology to assist the driver.Global Semi-Autonomous Market is expected to reach USD 55.68 Billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 25.6%Browse report details @Table of Contents1. Info graphics Information1.1 Global Autonomous Vehicles Market, By Type, 2016 VS 2027 (USD Billion)2. Introduction3. Global Autonomous Vehicles Market, By Type, Market DataAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Magnesium Sulphate Market to See Incredible Growth worldwide During, 2014 2027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2211 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/global-magnesium-sulphate-market-2211 The Global Magnesium Sulphate Market Outlook (20162027) statistical report, published by Market Research Future contains brief information on global magnesium sulphate market segmented by region. On a global scenario, the region has been divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and MEA.Geographically, global magnesium sulphate market has very strong hold on Asia-Pacific region and is expected to lead the global market followed by North America and Europe.The magnesium sulfate worldwide is most extreme requested in APAC nations, because of land fragmentation, people farmers are left with little land property. The needs to get greatest yield from the accessible area assets has produced and will promote create the need of magnesium sulfate utilization in farms.Get Sample Copy @Asia-Pacific region comprises of more than 60% of the worlds population and is predicted to increase in coming years, due to which the country is facing issues of food sufficiency. This generated the need of increasing the food production. Use of magnesium sulphate in agriculture sector has proven to be an effective way to increase food productivity.The agribusiness part in Europe is confronting challenges because of the environmental change and, ecological changes. Further, absence of adequate water supplies, expanding dry seasons and vulnerabilities infers that Europe's farming area needs to concentrate on the approaches to build efficiency. Here, the magnesium sulphate can play a vital role in enhancement of the global agriculture sector. The Europe market (includes Western and Eastern Europe) accounts for around 18% share in the global magnesium sulphate market in the year 2015. Additionally, France is claimed to be the only nation in Europe which is self-sufficient for producing the required food produce.The current level of infrastructure facilities in Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America together with government backing, subsidies and credit facilities are creating appropriate conditions for the market players to extend their investments in the global Magnesium Sulphate market.Browse Report @The essential purpose for the relatively little commitment of Middle East & Africa in the magnesium sulphate market is due to the scarce water resources in the area which is the most key prerequisite for leading agribusiness activities. Additionally, a large portion of the area accessible is annihilated by desertification. It gets to be troublesome for the suppliers to offer their products (magnesium sulphate products) in the region.Market Research future through this report aims to provide understanding of the global magnesium sulphate market on the basis of region, and also assists identification of ongoing trends along with anticipated growth during the forecasted period. For this report, extensive primary research was conducted to gain a deeper insight of the market performance. Various industry experts and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) were contacted and interviewed to get an idea of global magnesium sulphate market.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comAbout 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.Market Research FutureAmanora Town Centre, Office No. 528,, Amanora Chambers, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra 411028 2-D Materials Market, Industry analysis Market Requirement- Forecast to 2027 2-D Materials Market, https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1135 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/2-d-materials-market The major growth driver of 2-D Materials Market includes growing technological advancement in electronics market, and growing demand for user-friendly devices, among others.Hence the market for 2-D Materials is expected to grow at CAGR (2016-2027).However, lack of technical expertise is one of the major factors which are hindering the growth of 2-D Materials MarketSegmentsGlobal 2-D Materials Market can be segmented as follows:Segmentation by Materials: Graphene, TMDCs, black phosphorus, and Boron nitride among others.Segmentation by Application: Semiconductor, aerospace, consumer electronics, healthcare, and energy among othersObjective of 2-D Materials Market Study:To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global 2-D Materials market.To provide insights about factors affecting the market growthTo analyze the 2-D Materials 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 prospectiveTo provide country level analysis of the market for segment by material, by application and sub-segmentsTo provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global 2-D Materials marketRequest a Sample @Key Players2-D tech (U.K.)ACS materials (U.S.)Planar Tech (U.S.Garmor (U.S.)Thomas-swan (U.K.)Nitronix (U.S.)AmericasNorth AmericaUSCanadaLatin AmericaEuropeWestern EuropeGermanyFranceU.KRest of Western EuropeEastern EuropeAsia PacificAsiaChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaRest of Asia PacificThe Middle East & AfricaThe report for 2-D Materials market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regionsAccess this report@About Market Research FutureAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questionsIn order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.About Market Research FutureAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questionsIn order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Global In-mold Labels Market Analysis, Key Focus - Forecast to 2022 In-Mold Labels Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1790 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/in-mold-labels-market The key factor contributing to the growth of the global in-mold labels market is the automated nature of the in-mold labeling process. In-mold labeling reduced the traditional processes such as hand finishing, polishing, finishing and changing of stack mold. The raw material used to manufacture in-mold labels is polypropylene. Polypropylene is extremely versatile as a plastic material. Many manufacturers in the market are developing advanced technologies.Food & beverage is the dominant industry due to the increase in demand for packaged food items, branded products and consumer awareness toward authenticity of the product. European region accounted for the largest share in terms of value and volume followed by North America and Asia Pacific. The share is attributed to the increasing demand for in-mold labels, increasing manufacturing output, rising income and consumption level, and growing demand for effective and efficient labeling solutions. The global in-mold labels market is expected to cross a market size of USD 4 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% by the end of 2022.Study Objectives of In-mold Labels MarketTo provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 6 years of various segments and sub-segments of the Global In-mold Labels MarketTo provide insights about factors affecting the market growthTo analyze the Global In-mold Labels Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etcTo provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, APAC, and Rest of the World (ROW)To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveTo provide country level analysis of the market for segment by technology, material, application, and regionsTo provide strategic profiling of the key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global In-mold Labels MarketRequest a Sample @Regional Analysis of Global In-mold Labels MarketEuropean region accounted for the largest share in terms of both value and volume followed by North America and Asia Pacific with APAC being the fastest growing market. The share is attributed to the flourishing food & beverages industries in the region. Furthermore the demand is also augmented by the increased consumption of cosmetics, mark-up products, skin care products, etc. APAC is expected to show similar results with its fastest growing market by the end of the forecasted period.Key PlayersConstantia Flexibles Group GmbHCoveris Holding S.AEVCO PlasticsFuji Seal International IncHuhtamaki GroupInland Label & Marketing ServicesInnovia Films Ltd and Multicolor CorporationTarget AudienceManufacturesRaw Materials SuppliersAftermarket suppliersResearch Institute / Education InstitutePotential InvestorsKey executive (CEO and COO) and strategy growth managerProduct AnalysisProduct matrix which gives a detailed comparison of the market for different recycled product typesAdditional InformationRegulatory LandscapePricing AnalysisMacroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic AnalysisGeographical analysis across 15 countriesCompany InformationProfiling of 10 key market playersIn-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report titleCompetitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesThe report for Global In-mold Labels Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regionsAccess this report@About Market Research FutureAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questionsIn order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questionsIn order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.ContactAkash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Business Analytics Software Market Current trends, Opportunities, Challenges up to 2024 Global Business Analytics Software Market, Business Analytics Software Market Industry http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/business-analytics-software-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=20516 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Business analytics software helps in interpretation and analysis of business data through continuous exploration and investigation of historical business performance to gain decisive insights for business planning. Through the application of statistical methods and tools in business performance data, a business analytics software conducts predictive analysis to derive decision making insights and inputs. A business analytics software thus helps an organization optimize its business operations and facilitates informed and strategic decision making. It also helps uncover patterns and relationships between data streams and leads to automation of tasks and processes for real-time responses in decision making.The outputs are mostly used by managers, security personnel, financial analysts, and key decision makers of organizations. Demand for cloud-based business analytics software is high in small and medium sized enterprises owing to its low cost and enhanced usability. Furthermore, demand for social media analytics, a part of business analytics, is also rising significantly due to the increase in popularity of social media marketing.Organizations are increasingly opting for business analytics software in order to gain strategic and competitive advantage over their competitors. This is one of the major factors driving the global business analytics software market. Additionally, the software aims to help organizations make quick and informed decisions through the analysis of the historical business data. This has been driving the market for business analytics software. Currently, there exists need for quick decision making and immediate actions in response to situations considering the competitive nature of businesses.Obtain Report Details @This highlights the importance of the business analytics software. Furthermore, increase in volume and diversity of data in organizations has given rise to the need for analytical software to derive meaningful patterns, relationships, and insights from unorganized data. The features of business analytics software meet such requirements, thereby boosting the growing demand and adoption of business analytics software across varying scales of companies. However, in order to efficiently operate, business analytics software require sufficient volumes of meaningful data. This requires effective data warehousing, which may be a challenge for small organizations to implement considering the high costs involved. These challenges are likely to hamper the market for business analytics software during the forecast period. Nonetheless, increase in social media marketing by organizations is expected to offer growth opportunities for the business analytics software market during the forecast period.The global business analytics software market has been segmented on the basis of deployment, end-use industry, application, and geography. In terms of deployment, the business analytics software market has been divided into cloud and on premise. Based on end-use industry, the business analytics market has been segregated into BFSI, government, manufacturing, IT and Telecom, retail, health care, capital markets, education, media, utilities, and others. In terms of application, the business analytics software market has been segmented into supply chain analytics, workforce analytics, spatial analytics, behavioral analytics, marketing analytics, risk and credit analytics, pricing analytics, transportation analytics, and others.Make an Enquiry @The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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.Each TMR 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 wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Application Analytics Market Current trends, Opportunities, Challenges up to 2024 Global Application Analytics Market, Application Analytics Market Industry http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/application-analytics-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=20525 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Application analytics refers to the real-time visualization and analysis of automatically correlated and collected data to develop insights into customer experience, IT operations and business outcomes. In other words, application analytics are a type of business intelligence solution, as they use clusters of past data about business operations to provide tools and information to business users. Therefore, it allows them to make enhancements in business functions.Application analytics solutions integrated with the next generation of IT operations analytics platform allows business and IT users to hastily reply more meaningful queries, all in real-time. Application analytics incorporates app-centric analytics software, application usage data and heuristics incorporated into operations and development. Application analytics solution have the capability to improve both operations and development by providing endless vision into user behavior and application adoption within reputable operations and development platforms.Obtain Report Details @Application analytics solutions also have the capability to impose security and privacy policies at both aggregate and client levels. Ensuring real data governance is a predecessor to efficiently evaluating the resulting runtime data. Application analytics comprises distribution and routing services, which offers a great deal of flexibility containing interoperability with other analytics services.Consumers desire to optimize business operations and identify business risk are the major factors which are anticipated to fuel the application analytics market to grow over the forecast period. In addition, current business problems create new opportunities for organizations to become more analytical and data driven, which is consequently expected to impel the growth of the application analytics market during the forecast period. Apart from this, growing demand for predictive analytics by businesses is also a major factor expected to fuel the growth of this market over the forecast period. However, the lack of consumer awareness and software handling is one of the major factors restraining the growth of the application analytics market. Furthermore, the lack of real-time algorithms is also a major factor that hampers the global application analytics markets growth.Make an Enquiry @The global application analytics market can be categorized on the basis of modules and end-users. By module, the global application analytics market is categorized into transaction analytics, log analytics and browser-mobile analytics. Further, the end-user based segmentation includes health care, manufacturing, BFSI, government & defense, energy & utilities, IT & telecommunication, retail and travel & hospitality.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.Each TMR 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 wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Enterprise Report Management Market Current trends, Opportunities, Challenges up to 2025 Global Enterprise Report Management Market, Enterprise Report Management Market Industry http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/enterprise-report-management-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=20546 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Enterprise report management (ERM) is a system or methodology used for handling, storage, and precise and timely distribution of reports & documents and critical information across an enterprise. ERP technology automatically processes reports and documents from all types of systems. ERM combines all end user documents and output content centrally, enabling cost-effective access and distribution for all its customers, partners, and employees. The main motto of the enterprise report management solution is to provide important information to managers in an effective manner, to help managers take effective decisions.Enterprise report management generally take the form of tables, graphs, and text. It facilitates end users to view and access reports online, print what they want (for instance, invoice copy, warranty card, etc.) and package the information for easy and efficient delivery. The ERM helps to reduce the cost of document creation, handling & duplication, and storage. ERM is useful in decreasing traffic across the enterprise network and web portals and reduces cost associated with network traffic. Moreover, ERM supports enriched document preservation by enhancing the document lifecycle to increase data availability, improved user productivity, improved operations efficiency, and increased management control. Many industries, private and government educational institutions, banking, etc. are anticipated to create ample growth opportunity for the enterprise report management system.Obtain Report Details @Exponential growth in the Internet platform and proliferation of online businesses is forcing enterprises to digitize the transactional process. Enterprises need to digitize the transactional process is expected to drive the global enterprise report management market in the near future. Widespread use of mobiles i.e. mobile endpoints, rapid software as a service (SaaS) deployment, and growing digital expectations, which includes customer service and satisfaction is anticipated to boost the global ERM market during the forecast period. Furthermore, tremendous growth among online customers has created the need for highly efficient tools for report management.This is one of the significant factors driving the growth of the global enterprise report management market. However, high operating costs are linked with report organizing, printing, distributing, and storing. Cloud based deployment is expected to create growth opportunity for the enterprise report management market globally. Moreover, increasing end-to-end solutions is anticipated to create growth opportunity for the market.The enterprise report management market is broadly segmented based on component, deployment, and industry. The component segment includes software and services, where software is further classified as consulting, integration, and operation & maintenance. Based on deployment type, the enterprise report management system is categorised based on premise and cloud based deployment.Make an Enquiry @Segmentation based on industry includes banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, government, and others. Based on geography, the global enterprise report management market has been segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. North America is expected to contribute the significant share of the global market. The market in the region is anticipated to witness steady growth during the forecast period. The ERM market in Asia Pacific is expected to show significant growth in the near future owing to increase in government initiatives to digitize transactions.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.Each TMR 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 wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Superconductors Global Market by Application & Data Validation, Analysis and Forecast 2022 Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/superconductors-global-market-outlook-2016-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001583525/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001583525/buying http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001583525/buy/4150 According to Publisher, the Global Superconductor market is accounted for $0.82 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $2.71 billion by 2022 growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.6%. Growing demand from medical industry for MRI, booming market for electric motors are the major factors propelling the market growth. In addition, increasing research & development activities, innovative technological developments are the other factors bolstering the market growth during the forecast period. On the other hand, fluctuating raw material prices is hindering the market growth.The widespread research involved in the development of high temperature superconductors (HTS) will also boost up the demand for superconductors in the power industry. The magnetic resonance imaging sector holds the leading share by consumer applications, and the electronic devices sector is anticipated to experience the fastest growth due to the rising applications of superconductors in this segment. Asia-Pacific is the primary regional market for this industry and is predictable to dominate in the future with the expected positive economic outlook in upcoming markets such as India, China, and Japan.For more information atSome of the key players in global superconductor market include American Superconductor, Evico GmbH, Hitachi, Ltd., Hyper Tech Research, Inc., Metal Oxide Technologies, Inc., Siemens AG, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., Superconductor Technologies, Inc., Toshiba Corporation, Bruker Corporation, Ceraco Ceramic Coating Gmbh, Deutsche Nanoschicht Gmbh, Fujikura Ltd., and Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.Products Covered:- High temperature superconducting materials- Low temperature superconducting materialsApplications Covered:- Electronics- Medical- Research & Development- Other ApplicationsRequest Sample Copy:Regions Covered:- North Americao USo Canadao Mexico- Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe- Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific- Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao Egypt9 Company Profiling9.1 American Superconductor9.2 Evico GmbH9.3 Hitachi, Ltd.9.4 Hyper Tech Research, Inc.9.5 Metal Oxide Technologies, Inc.9.6 Siemens AG9.7 Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.9.8 Superconductor Technologies, Inc.9.9 Toshiba Corporation9.10 Bruker Corporation9.11 Ceraco Ceramic Coating Gmbh9.12 Deutsche Nanoschicht Gmbh9.13 Fujikura Ltd.9.14 Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.Make an enquiry:1 Executive Summary2 Preface3 Market Trend Analysis4 Porters Five Force Analysis5 Global Superconductors Market, By Product6 Global Superconductors Market, By Application7 Global Superconductors Market, By Geography8 Key DevelopmentsPurchase Complete Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Business Process Management Global Market Research Sources & Data Validation, Data Analysis an Forecasts to 2022 Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/business-process-management-bpm-global-market-outlook-2016-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001583415/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001583415/buying According to Publisher, the Global Business Process Management (BPM) market is accounted for $5.51 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $17.96 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 18.4%. The factors that are fueling the market growth include increasing business dexterity, cost efficiency and return on investment from BPM suites. Whereas factors such as impedance to BPM solutions from IT staff, delusion about BPM solutions among end-users and perception of BPM as an IT matter are hindering the market growth.For more information atNorth America is estimated to be the largest market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The US is undeniably the world's biggest market for BPM. Until 2010 North America accounted for more than half of the global BPM market by revenue. The top 3 BPM software vendors, Pega, IBM and Oracle, are headquartered in the United States. With a suite of products that perk up every year, IBM is the global leader in the business process management market. Organizations are starting their digital transformation, which means a shift towards using an intelligent business process management suite (iBPMS) by rethinking their business models and processes to tackle customer expectations.Some of the key players in global market include Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Biz Talk Server, IBM Corporation, Software AG, Fujitsu, Capgemini, Global 360, Opentext, Inc., Appian Corporation, Adobe, BP Logix, Inc., SAP, Pegasystems, Inc., Fabasoft, Hewlett Packard, Red Hat, Inc. and Tibco Software.Organization Size Covered:- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES)- Large EnterpriseDeployment Types Covered:- Cloud- On-PremisesSolutions Covered:- Automation- Content and Document Management- Integration- Monitoring and Optimization- Process Modelling- Other SolutionsServices Covered:- System Integration- Training and EducationBusiness Functions Covered:- Accounting and Finance- Human Resources- Manufacturing- Operations and Support- Sales and Marketing- Supply Chain Management- Other Business FunctionsVerticals Covered:- Defense and Government- Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)- IT and Telecom- Healthcare- Retail- Manufacturing- Transportation and Logistics- Automotive- Other VerticalsRequest Sample Copy:Regions Covered:- North Americao USo Canadao Mexico- Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe- Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific- Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao Egypt13 Company Profiling13.1 Oracle Corporation13.2 Microsoft Biz Talk Server13.3 IBM Corporation13.4 Software AG13.5 Fujitsu13.6 Capgemini13.7 Global 36013.8 Opentext, Inc.13.9 Appian Corporation13.10 Adobe13.11 BP Logix, Inc.13.12 SAP13.13 Pegasystems, Inc.13.14 Fabasoft13.15 Hewlett Packard13.16 Red Hat, Inc.13.17 Tibco SoftwareMake an enquiry:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Antimicrobial Packaging Market Trends To 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=18434 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/antimicrobial-packaging-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=18434 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market: OverviewThe primary purpose of antimicrobial packaging materials and technologies is to prevent the packaged items from spoilage and contamination. The rising concerns about food-related infections have augmented the demand for antimicrobial packaging in the recent years. The research report states that the efforts to reduce food wastage in times of food scarcity are also likely to fuel the rise of the global market.The research report on the global antimicrobial packaging market presents a clear understanding of the various factors governing the market dynamics present in the market. Furthermore, it also studies the nature of the competitive landscape present in the global market and the threat from substitutes and new entrants. The publication provides a holistic outlook of the global antimicrobial packaging market due valuable insights.To Get Sample Of the Reports @Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market: Key TrendsThe growing prevalence of foodborne diseases and infections due to cross-contamination in food items has led a significant demand for antimicrobial packaging. The growing urbanization and rapid rise in the population has also led to a shift toward eating packaged food items instead of fresh items, which, in turn, has augmented the growth of the global market. The growing disposable incomes, lack of time, and hectic lifestyles have collectively contributed to the global antimicrobial packaging market in direct and indirect ways.The trend of storing mixes, beverages, spices, and food in households has also spiked the demand for antimicrobial packaging in recent years. Furthermore, growing number of manufacturers vying for increasing the lifespan of various food items are also likely to opt for high quality antimicrobial packaging, predict analysts.Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market: SegmentationThe various materials used for antimicrobial packaging are plastic, paperboard, biopolymer, tin, and glass. Plastics have been predominantly used for making antimicrobial packaging solutions as they are chemically, physically, and mechanically better than the other types of materials. Additionally, plastics can be molded into desired shapes and are known to provide sufficient protection from tears. The elasticity of plastics and its affordable price has also made plastic an obvious choice amongst leading players of antimicrobial packaging market.However, the rising concerns about waste management and disposal of plastics are shifting the preference of manufacturers toward other materials. The non-biodegradability of plastics is likely to restrain its growth as a material for making antimicrobial packaging in the near future.Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market: Regional OutlookIn terms of geography, the global antimicrobial packaging market is segmented into the Middle East and Asia, Latin America, Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe. Of these, Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global market as the regional market. An exponentially rising population base and rapid urbanization are expected to create a substantial demand for plastic packaging in the coming years. The growing needs of this population base such as convenience meals, packaged food and beverages, and other food items are projected to fuel the demand for antimicrobial packaging in the global market in the coming years.North America too has been a consistent contributor to the global antimicrobial packaging market. The high number of packaged food consumers who demand hygienic packaging quality are expected to be crucial to this regional market. On the other hand, the Middle and Africa and Europe are expected to be slow but steady consumers of antimicrobial packaging as the regions realizes the importance of quality packaging materials.To Get Full Detail of The Reports @Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:Some of the leading players operating in the global antimicrobial packaging market are Sciessent LLC, Takex Labo Co. Ltd, BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Barr Brands International, LINPAC Senior Holdings Limited, Mondi PLC, PolyOne Corporation, BioCote Limited, and Dunmore Corporation.Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Material Plastico Polyethylene (PE)o Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)o Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)o Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)o High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Biopolymer Paperboard Glass Tin OthersGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Technology Controlled Release Packaging Active PackagingGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Antimicrobial Agents Organic Acid Bacteriocins Essential Oils Enzymes Metal Ion & Oxidizers OthersGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Package Type Pouches Bottles & Cans Carton Packages Trays Bags Cups & Lids OthersGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Application Food & Beverage Personal Care Healthcare OthersGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Geography: The market is broadly segmented on the basis of geography into: North Americao U.S.o Rest of North America Europeo U.Ko Germanyo Franceo Italyo Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Chinao Indiao Japano Rest of APAC Middle East and Africao UAEo South Africao Rest of Middle East & Africa Latin Americao Brazilo Rest of Latin AmericaTo Get Discount Of the Report @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Non-lethal Biochemical Weapons Market Size and Trends To 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=20858 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/non-lethal-biochemical-weapons-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=20858 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market - OverviewInterest of military forces and law enforcement agencies in non-lethal biochemical weapons has witnessed tremendous development in the recent past as progress in technology in science has appeared to provide the assurance of innovative non-lethal weapons, used in a wide variety of militarily and politically threatening situations. These weapons, also known as less than lethal biochemical weapons, intend to be less probable for killing living targets than traditional firearms or knives. These devices are specialized munitions which use chemicals calibrated to inflict injury or harm to human beings, and organisms or pathogens to cause disease. These pathogens may include viruses, bacteria, toxins or fungi.To Get Sample Of the Reports @Global Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market Key Trends and OpportunitiesRising defense expenditure by the governments of economies that are considered emerging, such as India, China, Turkey and South Korea, is projected to provide many development opportunities for the stakeholders in the global non-lethal biochemical weapons market space. Besides, the increasing research and development within this field is anticipated to boost the growth prospects of these weapons during the forecast period.However, the development of the non-lethal biochemical weapons can be impacted by certain definite restraining factors in the near future. These restraints include a decline in the defense budget of developed countries, and stringent governmental and environmental regulations.The opportunities of demand in the global non-lethal biochemical weapons market are the result of different incidents of civil conflicts and unrest in South Asia, the Middle East, and the North African regions. These zones have been recognized as highly dynamic markets for non-lethal biochemical weapons, because of the exponential rates of demand growth in the recent past. For instance, the sectarian unrest in Lebanon, the Syrian civil war, and the political viciousness in Jerusalem call for enhanced response by the military as well as law enforcement agencies. As a consequence, the securing of non-lethal biochemical weapons by military forces is expected to rise substantially during the forecast period. Thus the dynamic global market for these weapons has high potential. So the opportunities of the market could be accredited to the transforming political and regional dynamics of the world economy, rising incidences of armed terrorism and violence.Global Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market Key Market SegmentsBased on the various non-lethal biochemical weapons operations, the global market is segmented into defensive, offensive, and genetic attack. Swift growth in demand for genetic attack weapons is a major factor to boost the demand for non-lethal biochemical weapons, globally. On the basis of product type, this market is segmented into directed energy weapons (DEW), and direct contact weapons. Non-lethal biochemical weaponry in the directed energy segment has accounted for an astounding pace of consolidation, because of giant industrial conglomerates taking over smaller organizations rapidly. With respect to end use, the global non-lethal biochemical weapons market can be segmented into law enforcement agencies and military forces.Global Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market Regional OutlookBy geography, the global non-lethal biochemical Weapons market has been classified into five regions namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Currently, the Middle East and Africa segment held the major share of the market, followed by North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. The Asia Pacific region is expected to develop rapidly with rising trade with North America and Europe. Regional players have been focusing on partnerships with players in regions such as Africa.Global Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market Vendor LandscapeThe leading manufacturing companies profiled in this report are BAE Systems, Inc.; Lamperd Less Lethal, Inc., Taser International, Inc.; Raytheon Company; Textron Systems, Corp.; General Dynamics Corporation; Chemring Group PLC.; Moog, Inc; Qinetiq Group, Inc.; and LRAD Corporation. These organizations focus on evolving innovative products after investment of substantial amount of their net sales in research and development for introducing progressive technologies with large range abilities, reduced weight, and relatively higher precision.To Get Full Detail of The Reports @The segments covered in the Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons market are as follows:Global Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market: By Operation Type Defensive Offensive Genetic AttackGlobal Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market: By Product Type Directed Energy Direct ContactGlobal Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market: By End Use Military Forces Law Enforcement AgenciesGlobal Non-Lethal Biochemical Weapons Market: By Geography North Americao U.S.o Canadao Mexico Europeo U.K.o Germanyo Franceo Italyo Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Chinao Japano Indiao South Koreao Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East and Africao UAEo Saudi Arabiao South Africao Rest of MEA Latin Americao Brazilo Argentinao Rest of Latin AmericaTo Get Discount Of the Report @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Baby Diapers Market Size and Trends To 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=13925 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/east-africa-baby-diapers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=13925 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ East Africa Baby Diapers Market: OverviewIn recent years, the demand for baby diapers has grown steadily in various nations of East Africa.Baby diaper forms a key hygiene product required to be worn by infants for the purpose of incontinence. The increasing awareness of urban as well as rural population toward maintaining hygiene of infants to ensure their proper growth have led parents to use diapers for their babies. With constant advances in manufacturing technology, the market has witnessed the launch of super-absorbent diapers containing natural odor-blockers that are gentle and soft on the infants skin. Recent product innovations have stimulated the use of plant-based and sustainable materials in manufacturing baby diapers, which has boosted their use.The report provides an in-depth insight into the key market dynamics, emerging trends, recent design innovations, and competitive landscape. The study offers a thorough statistical analysis related to the market share and size of segments and analyzes the key factors shaping the competitive dynamics. Recent efforts by governments of various countries and private players in East Africa are highlighted and their impact on the pricing strategies of vendors are evaluated. The study takes a closer look at the development of distribution channels in various developing and developed nations which help investors identify lucrative avenues.To Get Sample Of the Reports @East Africa Baby Diapers Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe East Africa baby diapers market is primarily driven by a continuous decline in the infant mortality rate in developing nations, an upsurge in urban population with significant disposable incomes, and increasing awareness related to the hygiene of infants. Coupled with this, intensive and consistent efforts made by several governmental and non-governmental organizations to create awareness among rural population have led to an increasing use of baby diapers to promote the healthy growth of infants.Growing shift toward the use of eco-friendly and sustainable materials in manufacturing baby diapers has resulted in various product innovations. The growing popularity of diapers made with naturally derived and plant-based materials has opened exciting opportunities for manufacturers. Furthermore, the advent of ultra-soft and hypoallergenic diapers made without the use of any additives is expected to propel the market over the forecast period.However, the growing trend of parents preferring longer in-between changing times of diapers has resulted in skin rashes and infections among babies. Various studies reiterating the role of disposable diapers in causing testicular cancer among males are likely to hinder the growth of the market to an extent. On the other hand, the increasing awareness toward proper practices of changing baby diapers among parents is expected to boost the market in the coming years.East Africa Baby Diapers Market: Regional OutlookThe major countries analyzed in the research report are Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Kenya is the most lucrative market for baby diapers in East Africa. The impressive demand for baby diapers in Kenya is propelled by the significant rise in birth rate combined with a substantial decline in the infant mortality rate compared to other developing nations of East Africa. Tanzania is the second largest revenue contributing country in the East Africa diapers market. The Tanzania market is poised to expand at an impressive rate along the forecast period.East Africa Baby Diapers Market:Leading players are also developing sustainable products made with biodegradable materials to attract parents who are conscious of the environmental impact of disposing diapers. Major manufacturers are making product innovations and actively boosting their distribution channels to consolidate their presence across major countries. Key players operating in this market include Procter and Gamble, Unicharm Corporation, Johnson and Johnson, INDEVCO Group, SCA Hygiene Products GmbH, Mega Soft (Fujian) Hygiene Products Co. Ltd., and Interconsumer Products Ltd.To Get Full Detail of The Reports @Major countries analyzed under this research report are: Kenya Uganda Tanzania Rwanda Burundi Rest of East AfricaThis report gives you access to decisive data such as: Market growth drivers Factors limiting market growth Current market trends Market structure Market projections for the coming yearsKey highlights of this report Overview of key market forces propelling and restraining market growth Up-to-date analyses of market trends and technological improvements Pin-point analyses of market competition dynamics to offer you a competitive edge An analysis of strategies of major competitors An array of graphics and SWOT analysis of major industry segments Detailed analyses of industry trends A well-defined technological growth map with an impact-analysis Offers a clear understanding of the competitive landscape and key product segmentsTo Get Discount Of the Report @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Port of Portland finalists Jonathan Daniels (from left) of the Mississippi State Port Authority, Stephanie Dawson of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and Curtis Robinhold of the Port of Portland are the leading candidates to replace Bill Wyatt, the Port of Portland announced Monday, April 10, 2017. (Handout photos) The Port of Portland will interview three finalists looking to replace its high-profile and high-paid executive director, but has no plans to introduce the candidates to the public before selecting its new leader. The Port is a crucial player in economic development throughout the state. It named three finalists Monday to replace Executive Director Bill Wyatt, who will retire in June. They are: Curtis Robinhold, the current deputy executive director of the Port of Portland Jonathan Daniels, executive director and CEO of the Mississippi State Port Authority Stephanie Dawson, chief operating officer at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey The Port manages the airport, marine shipping terminals and industrial properties around the city. Billions of dollars of goods and millions of passengers pass through its facilities annually. Its reach extends from travel and tourism to shipping Oregon-made products throughout the globe. The Port said it would be taking public comments online through April 24, and the nine-member commission will interview candidates in a closed-door executive session on May 10. It's expected to vote on Wyatt's successor during a public hearing later that month. The schedule does not include an opportunity for members of the public to meet and ask questions of the candidates, a fact that critics jumped on Monday as a process failure. "This is one of the highest paid public positions in Oregon with tremendous impacts on the economy, the environment and the community," said Bob Sallinger, conservation director for Portland Chapter of the Audubon Society. "Their challenges are as serious as any public agency in the state of Oregon." The fact that there is no opportunity for the public to meet the candidates, he said, "perpetuates the insular culture at the Port and sends a message to the community and the candidates that public inclusiveness is not a priority." Kelley Bonsall, a port spokeswoman, said the commission's process included two public comment periods to give the community a chance to share feedback, as well as an advisory group to help assess the right set of experiences for this position. Jonathan Daniels joined the Mississippi State Port Authority in 2013 and oversees the operations and development of the Port of Gulfport. It is the third busiest U.S. container port in the Gulf of Mexico, and is in the midst of a $570 million renovation and capacity expansion that will install new intermodal rail capacity, reconstruct the wharves, build new warehouse capacity and acquire new gantry cranes. He previously worked for ports in New York and Maine. Stephanie Dawson has worked at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey since 1995. She is responsible for aviation, tunnels, bridges, and terminals, port commerce, PATH Rail, the port's operations services department and its newly created Office of Storm Mitigation and Resilience. She oversees a staff of 3,500 at 22 facilities with revenue of $4.1 billion. Robinhold was widely seen as Wyatt's heir apparent - with Wyatt's direct blessing. Both Wyatt and Robinhold served as chiefs of staff to former Gov. John Kitzhaber before arriving at the Port. Robinhold was hired in 2014 and oversees all day-to-day aspects of the Port's operations, with 800 employees and annual revenues of about $300 million. One of the immediate challenges facing the next director is what to do with the Port's idled container shipping terminal. The lack of container shipping has been a source of contention around the state since the Port lost its two main carriers, Hanjin Shipping and Hapag-Lloyd, in early 2015. The loss has forced Eastern Oregon agricultural producers to pay as much as $1,000 more per container to truck their goods to Tacoma, Washington. The new director likely will have to find a new model for the terminal, a key service the public agency offers to Oregon exporters -- but one which has long been a financial albatross for the Port. Wyatt's successor will also be responsible for the $1 billion modernization plan for Portland International Airport, which will upgrade the basic infrastructure of the facility over the next decade. Wyatt currently earns $418,419 a year, and the Port previously posted an annual salary range for the new director of $303,000 to $530,000. Kevin Mannix, a Salem attorney and former gubernatorial candidate who has been circulating a proposal to reform the Port's governance, said he was pleased to see that all the candidates have real experience in port management, as opposed to a general business background or political experience. The choice, he said, comes down to whether the commission is looking for fresh thinking, particularly when it comes to serving Oregon agriculture. Mannix is still pushing for the Port to rewrite its mission statement to become responsive to the entire state, and would like to see port commissioners appointed by county commissioners rather than the governor. Sallinger, of the Audubon society, said he didn't want to prejudge the candidates, but saw little evidence in the information released of deep experience in environmental issues or community relations. "There was a heavy emphasis on growth and development," he said. - Staff writer Elliot Njus contributed to this story. - Ted Sickinger 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Public Safety Oregon (The Oregonian/OregonLive) (The Oregonian/File) Just before midnight Monday, a Clark County sheriff's deputy noticed a car parked outside the sheriff's office. The car was parked in a handicap parking spot, and the deputy thought it was suspicious, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Fred Neiman said. When the deputy went over to investigate, he found Aaron Robert Farmer, a 30-year-old from Vancouver, in the car with a few others. The deputy suspected they had been using illegal narcotics, Neiman said. A drug detection dog found drugs in the car. The car was impounded awaiting a search warrant. Farmer told the deputy he did not know he was parked in a sheriff's parking lot, Neiman said. He said he thought the lot belonged to a church. Farmer was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant, Neiman said. The other occupants were not arrested. Farmer was taken to the Clark County Jail. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive 14984992-mmmain.jpg Salt & Straw's 10th location will open in San Francisco this Friday. (Salt & Straw) And the family keeps on growing. On April 14, Salt & Straw will open its tenth West Coast location in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The shop will open in a 2,400-square-foot space at 2201 Fillmore St., in a former Evolution Fresh. A second location in Hayes Valley (580 Hayes St.) is still under design, but could open as early as summer. Co-owners Kim and Tyler Malek are also looking for a commissary kitchen space in the city, a likely sign they're hoping to open more locations in the Bay area. The newest menu will feature six flavors -- two SF-only scoops, two seasonal and two found at all shops -- among others. Those opening flavors will be: roasted strawberry tres leches (S.F. only), Sightglass Coffee and Dandelion Chocolate (S.F. only), strawberry coriander leaf sorbet (seasonal), green apple mayo sherbet (seasonal), freckled Woodblock Chocolate and almond brittle with salted ganache 2201 Fillmore St. -- Samantha Bakall sbakall@oregonian.com Follow @sambakall Portland State University campus Portland State University's campus in southwest Portland on a recent day. (Andrew Theen/The Oregonian) Portland State University trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to raise tuition 9 percent this fall for in-state students. That amounts to an additional $693 for each full-time student, bringing tuition and fees to $9,030 a year. For graduate students, the annual payout jumps to $15,816. The state's second largest university also must find an estimated $9 million in cuts to balance its books, officials said last week. PSU also is trying to grow its emergency reserve fund. Oregon's seven public universities have requested an additional $100 million in state funding for the next biennium to help keep tuition increases down. Schools say rising pension and health care costs, as well as decades of stagnant state operating support, mean schools have little choice but to raise tuition. This year's tuition increase drew small protests compared with last year, when students and Portland activists shut down the board meeting. Trustees eventually convened across campus in an unmarked room and voted to raise tuition by 4 percent. PSU is just the latest Oregon public university to raise its tuition. Last month, the University of Oregon's volunteer board of trustees voted to raise tuition in Eugene by 10.5 percent, or $945 per year for in-state students. Oregon State University's board is expected to meet next week and vote on a 4 percent tuition increase. State lawmakers are grappling with a $1.6 billion revenue shortfall during the legislative session. PSU's tuition request, as well as UO's, must be approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. That volunteer state body, appointed by the governor, must sign off on tuition increases greater than 5 percent. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen pjimage.jpg David Bruce Maxfield Jr. (right) will pay a $7,600 fine for illegally killing a bull elk, as well as surrender hunting privileges for three years. Allen Boal (left) plead no contest but faces similar punishment. (Courtesy of OSP) Two 26-year-old Dallas men are barred from hunting for three years and face one year of unsupervised probation and $7,600 in fines after illegally killing a bull elk last year. David Maxfield Jr. and Allen Boal agreed to a plea deal March 1 in Benton County Circuit Court in connection with the August 2016 incident in the Kings Valley area. Maxfield pled guilty to misdemeanor poaching charges. Boal pled no contest but faces similar punishment. The sentences mark a rare victory for law enforcement in the ongoing challenge to find and prosecute those who illegally kill game animals. The state police agency publicized the plea deals Tuesday. In the past five years, Oregon State Police troopers have averaged 764 poaching investigations a year, most cases involving elk or deer. Officials estimate Oregon's mule deer and elk population to be greater than 360,000, but it's not clear how many animals are illegally killed. The state has just 120 law enforcement officers dedicated to tracking game violations. "Those guys are looking for a needle in a haystack," Sgt. Kaipo Raiser said of the state's wildlife enforcement division. Troopers tracked down the Dallas men because Maxfield posted pictures of the bull elk on the public Oregon Big Game Hunting Facebook page. The page, which has some 6,819 members, includes submitted photos from throughout the state, with hunters sharing their kill and tips of the trade. Maxfield posted three pictures on the Facebook page on Aug. 31. According to Raiser, a trooper saw the pictures and ran Maxfield's name through state fish and wildlife databases. Maxfield Jr. did not have the proper tag to kill the bull elk. A hunting license can run $32 for big game, plus the $46 for an elk tag for Oregon residents. "It was a great catch by our trooper," Raiser said. During a subsequent investigation, Maxfield admitted to killing the animal, Raiser said. "He confessed pretty quickly." The bull elk was killed near Kings Valley on Aug. 31, 2016. Troopers tracked down the poachers via a Facebook page. Under a plea agreement, Maxfield agreed to perform 40 hours of community service and surrender the bow and arrow used in the killing, as well as the elk's head and antlers. The men left the animal to rot, aside from its head and antlers. Boal has a previous wildlife conviction. In a separate case publicized Tuesday, two more men were sentenced in a poaching-related incident. Brandon Yamanaka, 30, pled guilty to illegally killing multiple black tail deer. He was barred from hunting for five years and fined $15,650 and sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation and 80 hours of community service. In the same case, Christopher Martin, 33, was fined $8,150 and banned from hunting for three years, amid other punishment. During the investigation, troopers seized "multiple trophy class black tailed deer taxidermy mounts, turkey parts, bows and a shotgun." The Oregon Hunters Association chips in money each year for tips that lead to poaching citations. Hunters can get as much as a $1,000 reward for information related to the unlawful killing of a bighorn sheep, mountain goat or moose. Some Oregon lawmakers are pushing to up the ante for hunters willing to share information on poachers. The House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources held a work session Tuesday on a bill that would offer incentives to tipsters who help state officials nab and convict elk poachers. That bill would give tipsters a leg up in landing hard-to-get tags for certain big game animals. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen About 700 juniors at Midland and H.H. Dow high schools received a free breakfast before they began taking their SAT tests this morning courtesy of Midland McDonalds. The free breakfast is part of McDonalds Boost Your Brain with Breakfast program, which offers more than 100,000 high school juniors in Michigan access to a free breakfast that includes McDonalds Fruit & Maple Oatmeal or Egg McMuffin Sandwich and Minute Maid orange juice or milk jug. To the editor: In July 2016, representatives of the Trump campaign lobbied for, and received, a single modification to the Republican National Committee Platform. That one platform change was to re-write the platform language regarding support for the Ukraine government. Specifically, the Trump campaign wrote that the Republican Party would support the Ukrainian government against the (Russian-backed) insurgency in the east with appropriate assistance, rather than the original Republican Party position to provide lethal defensive weapons. (Washington Post, July 18, 2016; Forbes July 18, 2016) Throughout 2016, Trump campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, campaign staffer J.D. Gordon, and others strongly denied any campaign involvement in this single rewrite of the Republican Platform. (Business Insider, Jan. 15, 2017) However, in March 2017, this same campaign staffer, J.D. Gordon, in fact admitted that he was the campaign representative that forced the Platform rewrite, at the direction of the candidate, himself. (CNN, March 2, 2017) On April 4, the Syrian government, through the use of a Russian-built aircraft, is alleged to have launched a chemical attack in a rebel-held residential area. (Reuters, April 4, 2017) Later on this date, President Trump condemned the attack, and blamed Syrian President Assad, and former America President Obama. (USA Today, April 4, 2017) Notably absent from his list of responsible parties was Russian President Vladimir Putin. These two seemingly unrelated matters share one thing in common: Russian chess. Clearly, the Trump campaign now admitting to their responsibility for the platform rewrite on the Ukraine issue must have a policy or principle that would support such an insignificant change to the platform. Perhaps the Heritage Foundation or the Council on Foreign Relations published a position paper on this issue. Nope. This request from the Trump campaign to change the platform has never been supported or defended by anyone or any published position, to date. In 2013, on the eve of military intervention within Syria, the United States agreed to a Russian proposal that the Syrian military would inventory and relinquish all of their chemical weapons under a UN resolution. The enforcement mechanism for this proposal was, essentially, that the Russian military would assure compliance by the Syrian military, ongoing, in exchange for a promise from the United States and NATO to not attack the Syrian regime. (The Guardian, Sept. 10, 2013) This deal has worked, until now. The question now is why the Russian government would allow their proxy Syria to breach this agreement? The answer lies in Russian chess. These seemingly unrelated events are simple tests set in play by the Russian government to secure the reaction of the of Trump campaign, and, now, Trump administration, in the face of Russian assertiveness. What chess pieces will Trump unwittingly sacrifice? What could be the rational explanation for requesting an insignificant change to the Republic platform, and then denying you had anything to do with it, then, finally admitting that you did do it, but you have no justification for doing it? Probably because you were asked to do it by someone you wanted to impress, but would rather that no one knew you were doing it. The task itself is not the point, but, rather, it is a simple test by the person asking for the favor, just to see what (stupid thing) they can get you to do. Children call this a double dare, and with children, it often works. In this situation, this writer suggests that the platform rewrite was completed by the Trump campaign at the request of the Russian government, via Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, in Cleveland, to see just how on-board the Trump campaign was with Russian assistance and coordination in the 2016 election. By making this unremarkable change, the Russian government received objective and public confirmation of the Trump campaigns willingness to play ball. With this confirmation, the Russians then released the famous Wikileaks of the DNC emails on July 25, 2016; being after the Republican Convention on July 22, and the start of the Democratic convention on July 25, 2016. (Washington Post, July 25, 2016). Frankly, if there is a better explanation for this peculiar chain of events, we would all like to hear about it. Similarly, in April 2017, the Russian government allowed their proxy Syria to use Russian weaponry to launch a chemical attack. The aircraft used by the Syrian military are based on air fields that are manned and guarded by Russian military personnel. (New York Times, Jan. 20, 2017) It is near-impossible that Syria could, or would, launch such an attack in the absence of Russian knowledge and consent. Why, then? A test of the Trump administrations willingness to allow the Syrian military, and, more importantly, the Russian gatekeepers, to blatantly violate the 2013 UN agreement. Clearly, if any party is responsible for Syrian action, it is the party that proposed themselves as the enforcer of this deal. But, the result: the Trump administration failed to blame, let alone, mention, the Russian enforcers of their own 2013 UN agreement. Donald Trump passed another Russian test. Chess sure can be a fun game, even with people who dont know they are being played. STEVE DURANCE Midland BLOOMINGTON A Normal man will be allowed to leave McLean County jail on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond after being formally charged with reckless discharge of a firearm for allegedly firing shots at glass bottles at a residence in Normal. Eddine Dalton, 21, appeared before Associate Judge Lee Ann Hill on Tuesday via a video link with the McLean County jail. Assistant States Attorney David Rossi told the court that on Sunday evening, witnesses reported hearing four distinct shots fired in the vicinity of the 400 block of West Vernon Avenue. When police arrived, they found four or five people at the location, including Dalton, who was holding a firearm. He had set up five bottles against a brick wall and fired a 9 mm at the bottles, Rossi said. The bullets missed the bottles, but struck the brick. He then threw the casings in the trash. Rossi requested a $5,000 bond for Dalton, who told the judge that he has no family in Illinois and could only pay about $100. Hill agreed to a personal recognizance bond, allowing him to leave jail, but ordered him to report to the McLean County Probation Department upon his release, and to not use any drugs or alcohol or possess any weapons while free. Dalton is scheduled for an arraignment hearing at 9 a.m. on April 21. On April 25, I will be traveling to Springfield with a group of people from Bloomington-Normal for the Illinois Women March on Springfield. We will be lobbying our state representatives and senators on bills and topics that are important to us. One issue that I will be fighting for is the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. This is something that is long overdue, and with the increased engagement and involvement of women in civic issues, the time is now for the ERA to be ratified in Illinois. In March, Nevada became the 36th state in the union to ratify the ERA, and the first to do so in 40 years. Two more states need to ratify the ERA in order for it to become part of the U.S. Constitution and Illinois can be one of those states. Many people already believe that women are protected equally under the law as men, and are surprised to find that it is not the case in our Constitution. The ratification of the ERA is not merely for show, as women's rights do matter. It is unbelievable that in 2017, when a woman can serve her country in the military or run for president, that our Constitution does not recognize that she is equal to a man. On April 25, state Senators Jason Barickman and Bill Brady will be visited by women from Bloomington-Normal about the ERA and we hope they will hear our voices. Sharon Chung, Bloomington A March 1 letter to the editor that bemoaned a Feb. 20 letter discussing elected officials meeting with constituents said the writer had used an indivisibleguide.com strategy. The same strategy was employed by the Tea Party to protest President Obama's policies. When we believe in a representative democracy with free speech and assembly we cannot demean citizens exercising their rights. However, we cannot condone incivility, which limits communication and gives critics fodder to interfere with speech and assembly freedoms. Does anyone recall card-carrying GOP members being critical of Tea Party groups or McConnell's and Boehner's tactics to derail Obama's agenda? There is an old adage that says what goes around comes around. If we want to break the cycle of dysfunction we must end gerrymandering legislative districts and revisit the Citizens United Supreme Court decision allowing unfettered money from wealthy donors and corporations to bankroll political campaigns. Democracy is in grave danger when a president with no governing experience or ethical standards brings advisers into the White House who advocate deconstruction of government agencies and pander to the alt-right and white supremacists. A cabinet of unqualified, wealthy secretaries, generals and an attorney general who opposes civil rights and misleads Congress are red flags when coupled with Trump's unreleased tax returns and Russian and FBI election interference. Americans must persist, resist and vote in 2018, to begin banishing these greedy, old plutocrats from government and save our democracy. Linda L. Doenitz, Bloomington DECATUR If youve been watching TV lately, theres a good chance youve seen Gov. Bruce Rauner on screen with a roll of duct tape and a message of blame for Democrats. Thats because more than $95,115 worth of TV ads have been purchased in television markets that include the Twin City area part of a statewide ad campaign that Rauner says is not connected to his 2018 gubernatorial bid. The ads represent a fraction of more than $1 million worth of TV time that has been purchased by an arm of the Republican Governors Association, the Chicago Sun-Times reported March 30. Records show the organization, called State Solutions, purchased 15- and 30-second ads featuring Rauner in the Chicago, Champaign-Springfield, Rockford, Quad-Cities and Peoria-Bloomington markets. In the ads, Rauner brandishes a roll of duct tape and likens it to Democrats solutions for the state budget impasse. Higher taxes, more spending, no real reforms, he said. After decades of ignoring problems, its time someone fixes them. He then touts his oft-repeated plan to freeze property taxes, cap spending, create jobs and set term limits for state politicians. Rauner and Democrats have been at odds for 21 months, with each side blaming the other for their inability to pass a budget. Last week, the Illinois House voted to tap $817 million to temporarily relieve struggling universities and human service agencies. The ads began airing March 28 and are slated to continue at least through this week, according to Federal Communications Commission documents that describe the ads as non-candidate advertising focusing on the issue of Illinois governmental and fiscal reform, meaning the expenditures are not required to be reported to the state election board. The ads direct viewers to FixIllinois.com. Rauner, who took office in 2015, says the TV spots are not campaign ads. Really, were just trying to communicate with the people of Illinois about whats going on and what were trying to work to change to make things better so we have a better future in Illinois, he said last week during a stop in Decatur. Voters arent likely to make that distinction, said Sarah Brune, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Theyre tired of campaign ads and political messaging from both sides, and she thinks theyre ready for the finger-pointing in Springfield to stop. Its really important that both sides come to the table ready to negotiate and compromise, she said. It doesnt seem like thats the attitude at the moment. After an exhausting presidential election, many residents are apt to tune out political ads as soon as they appear, added Kent Redfield, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The distinction between governing and campaigning seems to get blurrier and blurrier and this is another indication of that, he said. But in addition to reiterating his message and appealing to his base of supporters, Redfield said the ads deliver an important message to Democrats considering their 2018 prospects. Part of it has nothing to do with the reaction of the average citizen, Redfield said. Hes doing it because he can do it and theyre trying to show that theyre in a position of strength vis-a-vis the Democrats. Several Democrats already have announced they plan to seek the partys nomination in the March gubernatorial primary, including state Sen. Daniel Biss, Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar, billionaire J.B. Pritzker and businessman Chris Kennedy, the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy. Some lawmakers are puzzled by the advertisements. State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, said his main focus was on working to get a budget passed before the end of May; he doesn't think the ads will have much effect in the Capitol. (Rauner) has got the money to run the ads, if he wants to run them, he can, Mitchell said. He has a perspective, and hes trying to get that point of view out. Along with a Tweet on Monday criticizing the advertisement, state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said on Friday that the ads struck him as being out of touch with the issues facing Illinois. Its as if he went to Mars to film these things because they come from a completely different reality than what we are facing every single day in Springfield in order to come to a compromise on a budget, said Manar. It contributes to the toxic, hyper-partisan atmosphere that has been injected into Springfield since Bruce Rauner has taken office, he added. He just cannot help himself. He ought to shut off the television, get rid of the phoney baloney, and just govern. On Monday morning, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) held a press conference to express its collective displeasure with Trump's immigration plan and outline steps to reform the "broken system" currently in place. Diane Von Furstenberg spoke about her own experience as an immigrant who first came to the US from Belgium with a suitcase full of "little dresses." "With these dresses I lived an American dream," she said in a statement, adding that immigrants today have it much harder than she did. While the explanation for more stringent immigrant policy is often that foreign-born workers take jobs away from Americans, Steven Kolb, the CEO of the CFDA, said that immigration actually helps grow the economy. "Like Diane, when talented immigrants come to the United States to work in fashion, they bring new businesses and creative ideas that create jobs for native-born Americans in sales, marketing, photography, graphic design, production, cosmetics, and other industries," Kolb said. Democratic Representative Carolyn Maloney (New York), who spoke at the event, introduced the concept of a "fashion visa," which would be specific to immigrants in the field. "There are fashion hubs around our country that are employing a great number of people," she said, "and if we don't reform our immigration laws, we are only hurting our country." The CFDA went one step further than simply expressing their outrage and came up with a two part solution to the immigration debate. In partnership with FWD.us, a bipartisan advocacy group focused on immigration reform, the CFDA recommended 1) increasing the number of skill-based visas allotted to immigrants and create an entrepreneurial visa, which would allow talented workers to come to the US, bringing their innovative ideas with them, and 2) to create a pathway to citizenship for non-criminal undocumented workers who already live here. These are not radical suggestions by any stretch of the imagination, and they would be a great aid to the fashion industry, which the Pew Research center estimates is made up of 20 percent undocumented workers. The CFDA report also called special attention to two bills that are already under review: the Bar Removal of Individuals Who Dream and Grow Our Economy (BRIDGE) Act, and the Recognizing American's Children (RAC) Act, which provide similar solutions to the ones the CFDA recommended. [h/t Cosmopolitan] Image via Neil Rasmus/BFA.com Et tu, Google? According to The Guardian, the US Department of Labor is suing Google for wage inequities and discrimination against female employees in violation federal employment laws. "We found systemic compensation disparities against women pretty much across the entire workforce," says Janette Wipper, a regional director for the Department of Labor. The DoL's regional attorney, Janet Herold added, "The government's analysis at this point indicates that discrimination against women at Google is quite extreme, even in this industry." Google strongly denied the claims, which came about after the DoL lawsuit against Google in January to obtain comprehensive salary and data documents after finding pay disparities in Google's 2015 salary snapshot. Since Google is a federal contractor, they are required to hand over their employment records to the government to ensure they are in compliance with equal opportunity laws, which they refused to do on multiple occasions. This lawsuit comes hot on the heels of Google's claims that they closed the gender and racial pay gaps globally at their company, in a tweet on #EqualPayDay. Google's lawyers are arguing in court that the request for further documentation about their employment practices constitutes a violation of their fourth amendment right to protection against unreasonable searches. Mark Pilotin, an attorney for the DoL said, "For some reason or another, Google wants to hide the pay-related information." [h/t Guardian] Despite the fact that the president has decided to sit out this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner (rather than face being roasted by the fake "losers" of the mainstream media), plans for the annual event are moving forward and a host has been selected. Daily Show contributor and stand up comedian Hasan Minhaj will headline the dinner on April 29th. "It is a tremendous honor to be a part of such a historic event even though the president has chosen not to attend this year. SAD!" Minhaj said in a statement, adding on a more serious note, "Now more than ever, it is vital that we honor the First Amendment and the freedom of the press." Minhaj has made his thoughts on Trump clear in the past, referring to the then-presidential candidate as a "racist Cheeto," and made headlines last year for a speech at the Radio and TV Correspondents Association's annual dinner that expertly called out Congress for failing to make progress on gun control. However, Association President Jeff Mason stressed that the point of the dinner, which raises money for journalism scholarships, is not to simply attack Trump. "We were not looking for someone to roast the president in absentia that's not fair and it's not the message we want to get across," he said today in an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." Instead, Mason hopes that Minhaj will not only entertain guests, but also "speak to" the night's theme of celebrating the press and the First Amendment. "I'm confident he'll be able tostrike the right balance," Mason said. "I'm not there to try to skewer people," Minhaj has said of his comedy in the past. "I'm just trying to come at it with some human empathy. I consider myself to be an angry optimist." Trump and his aides have already said they will not attend the dinner, and as a result the crowd will likely be less star-studded than past years where headliners have included Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers and Jay Leno. Daily Show alum and Full Frontal star Samantha Bee, for example, is hosting her own dinner, aptly named the "Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner," the same night. However, moments from the dinner often go viral, and so the speech Minhaj gives will still have an audience. [h/t Washington Post] Image via Facebook It's been almost two years since the Wachowski sisters re-entered the cultural conversation with the release of their insanely bingeable Netflix series Sense8. The show, which focused on a group of eight telepathically-connected individuals ("sensates," get it?) who all lived in different parts of the world, was an instant hit. Featuring a multi-racial cast and main characters who were trans and gay, many Netflix viewers praised Sense8 for its unapologetic diversity. (Plus, who wasn't obsessed with those polysexual orgy scenes?) Unfortunately, after the release of the first season, many were unsure about the show's fateprompting diehard fans to desperately scour the internet for clues about the possibility of a second season. And even when a second season was confirmed, information about its release was scarce. The best we got was a two-hour-long Christmas special that was gifted to us last December. It looks like it might finally be time to start re-bingeing the amazing show from the beginning though because, as of today, we finally have a release date and a new trailer for the show's imminent return. Get excited by watching the trailer below. Season two of Sense8 returns on May 5th. Splash photo via YouTube screenshot The Tennessee-based couple allegedly sold their infant child on Craigslist. Apparently, the pair reportedly sold their first child on the buy-and-sell website, according to a witness summoned to the court. The authorities nabbed Deanna Greer and John Cain last March for further inquiry and investigators confirmed that they were selling their five-month-old daughter. The infant reportedly had a price of $3,000, according to ABC13. First preliminary hearing for the couple happened last Friday where agent Chris Wilhoit testified to the couple's inhumane act. Wilhold told the jury, "She said she had done this before. She had an 11-year-old daughter who was doing well, that she had given up in the past in this way." The agent disguised as an interested buyer to the pair's unlikely offer. Wilhoit brought his mock wife along and agreed to meet at a variety store in March 24. The 37-year-old mom showed up with a document she touted as "guardianship paperwork." Furthermore, Wilhoit recalled before the jury that Greer shared to her that she is pregnant. The mom also said that she did not expect her current pregnancy and she is ill with a tumor. Despite the infant being posted for interest on Craigslist, the pair's defense attorney argued that the infant was not for sale but was up for adoption. One police officer, whom Greer had a conversation with through text messages, said that the deed can only be considered an adoption. Greer and Cain's asking price, according to them, were only the cost of expenses. In the pair's Craigslist post, Greer and Cain did not specify their child as "for sale" and there was no proof of any intent to harm the child. This built a case for the couple. Both accused are facing charges of criminal attempt to commit aggravated child abuse and neglect, or collectively known as violation to Haley's Law. Per Justia US Law, violation of this law can be considered as Class A felony, given that the infant is below eight years of age. The couple are each facing $150,000 fine for the alleged crime. A 9-year-old girl filed a lawsuit against her government over climate change. Ridhima Pandey claimed India failed to uphold its environmental laws, thus adding to the climate change crisis. Pandey filed via the National Green Tribunal, a special court in India for environmental cases. Pandey said her country's inaction on climate change was unacceptable when India signified its intent to protect the earth via the Paris Agreement among 142 countries. "My Government has failed to take steps to regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing extreme climate conditions," Pandey told Independent exclusively. "This will impact both me and future generations" she said, adding her country had "huge potentials" in helping reduce fossil fuel emissions but did nothing. The 9-year-old is asking India's government to set aside a carbon budget in her petition. She also wants her country to come up with a "national climate recovery plan" to ensure CO2 levels do not exceed scientific recommendations. She wants the government to also come up with alternatives to fossil fuels, plan reforestation, improve its soil and mangroves, and educate locals in proper practices in agriculture and forestry. INSPIRING! Meet the nine-year-old, Ridhima Pandey who is suing the Indian Government over climate change->>https://t.co/tnAMPNDdzB pic.twitter.com/nQkP8u6tmL Greenpeace India (@greenpeaceindia) April 4, 2017 Pandey's parents have her back and it's easy to see where the young girl gets her passion for saving the earth's resources. Her father works as an environmentalist, while her mom is with the forestry department, as per Hello Giggles. Four cities in India ranked as some of most polluted places in the world, according to the World Health Organization 2016 Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database. A study published in January also identified India's toxic air, which led to a public health crisis, as per The Guardian. Lawyer Rahul Choudhary advised Pandey to file a petition to implore her government to act. She's not the first youth to sue the government of India over climate change, however, as six teenagers also challenged its officials last year, as per Reuters. Every high school student attending an Idaho public school receives $1,500 for graduating early. The money is part of the state's Advanced Opportunities Program that others say is a revolutionary approach to fostering learning opportunities. Will other states follow the model? Idaho's Department of Education revamped its Advanced Opportunities Program in 2016. It was based on a Task Force for Education recommendation from 2013. Under the program, the state gives each public school student from the seventh to the 12th grade the amount of $4,125 to spend on their academics, according to the Hechinger Report. Students may then use this money to boost their education on top of a full high school schedule. Students can enroll in extra college credit-bearing classes or enlist in an online course for added learning. They can also use the money for payment for professional certification examinations. If an Idaho student graduates early for taking additional courses, the state grants a "$1,500-per-year-skipped," as per The Blaze. Low-income families who struggle with sending their kids to college benefit from this program as it helps trim down college costs and ensures the students of higher education opportunities. As of July 1, every #Idaho student allocated $4,125 to use for advanced opportunities: overload courses, dual credits, exams. #EducateIdaho Educate Idaho Netwrk (@EducateIdaho) June 7, 2016 Other states have its own advanced courses programs but Idaho's is considered unique. The students are given an online account to self-manage and monitor their $4,125 Advanced Opportunities progress. They can view courses selections in the system, including summer classes and educational camps, as well as receive advice from the school staff on these courses. Data on the program's impact is still unavailable but the assumption is that the system encourages more college-bound students. Idaho's Education department projects 25,000 students are taking part in Advanced Opportunities this school year, up from last year's 10,000 students. Idaho's system, however, isn't free of criticisms. Schools paying students for getting a diploma is a "backward" business concept, according to Conservative Review. It's also the state that essentially directs how funds are spent as it dictates course selections. Thus, students aren't exactly free to manage their academic choices. What do you think of Idaho's Advanced Opportunities Program? Learn more about it in the video below. Over 80 percent of families with children in college will benefit from New York's recently approved law providing free higher education among its residents. The state's feat was the first of its kind in the United States, making college as accessible as lower-school education. New York officials approved the Excelsior Scholar program to all middle-class families earning less than $100,000 annually. State governor Andrew M. Cuomo proposed the law on January and aimed to cover all two-year and four-year college courses, per NBC News. The report further says that the grant will be executed in a staggered manner, starting this fall until it culminates in the next three years. For this year, New York's income cap for eligible families is $100,000; it will increase to $110,000 in 2018 and will finally rest to $125,000 in 2019. "With this budget, New York has the nation's first accessible college program. It's a different model," Cuomo said in a statement. "Today, college is what high school was-it should always be an option even if you can't afford it." Moreover, Cuomo further explained that the program will require students to be enrolled full-time. Students also need to maintain a certain GPA threshold in order to keep the scholarship. Many citizens heralded the Excelsior Scholar program as breakthrough, especially during these times that education is starting to become a privilege rather than a right. However, New Republic reported that a number of progressives criticized the program for its income caps that made it still limited and not entirely free for all. Earlier this year, critics also commented of how the program can still put students in debt if the expenses will not be covered by the state government, given that education costs not only tuition, according to The Atlantic. In aid to this concern, Cuomo's program allotted $8 million for electronic books, on top of the state's $7.5 billion budget, to lessen the burden among students. Cuomo added that the program will benefit what he touted as the state's greatest asset, New York's young people. Excelsior program also required benefactors to work for the in-state for the same number of years they have studied in a New York public institution. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel went through boiling waters after he gathered negative feedback for his plan to update the high school graduation requirements. Parents and other school officials were disappointed with the changes as they mentioned that Emanuel seems to disregard their needs and the problems they face due to institutional discrimination. Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his plans in raising the bar in terms of high school graduation requirements. He mentioned that part of the new graduation plan includes a college acceptance letter; a military acceptance/enlistment letter; acceptance at a job program (e.g. coding boot camp); acceptance into a trades pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship; acceptance into a "gap-year" program; or current job/job offer letter, as per NPR. The new high school graduation requirement plan is tagged as "Learn, Plan, Succeed- A Degree For Life." His plans are said to be rolled out by 2020. Emanuel's plan, however, earned negative feedback, especially among black and Latino communities. Reports claimed that students who belonged to black and Latino families are often deprived of their privileges to enter college. Moreover, these students were often caught struggling as they attend under-resourced and overcrowded high school campuses. Reports explained that the main goal of the new graduation requirement is to challenge the children's mindset. According to the Chicago Tribune, parents were also being encouraged to push their students to effectively perform in school and exert value into their education. "Just like you do with your children, college, post-high school, that is what's expected," Emanuel said at a Wednesday morning news conference. "If you change expectations, it's not hard for kids to adapt." Gaining a college acceptance letter is said to be one of the most difficult things to attain for the high school students belonging to the black and Latino communities as discrimination may be unavoided. His proposal surprises education experts who questioned his motives. It is still uncertain if his plans will be rolled out but the negative feedback for the new requirements can potentially make the implementation challenging. A junior from Sacramento, Calif. got the ultimate promposal from an unexpected individual after a girl dumped him of his offer. "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" star, Kylie Jenner, showed up in the event along with the lucky teenage boy and surprised everyone in attendance. It was, indeed, a night to remember when Jenner stepped into the floors of Rio American High School prom event, tagged along by a lad named Albert Ochoa. As always, the reality star created a big buzz not only in the event's premises, but as well as in social media Saturday night, per Complex. One shocked student who joined the social media frenzy tweeted that her sister turned Ochoa down, hence giving the star a chance to experience high school prom. Jenner completed her highschool diploma in 2015 and never got to experience prom, since she opted to homeschool since 9th grade. proud to say that's my brother pic.twitter.com/zeKj9gf8gF $elena Ochoa (@ssoochoa) April 9, 2017 The beauty behind the bestselling Kylie Cosmetics did not post anything about her little adventure in most of her social media accounts. However, People reported that she once posted a snap of her together with pal, Jordyn Woods, all glammed up for an event. Both girls looked stunning for the night. The 19-year-old Kardashian-Jenner donned a one-shoulder slit dress while Woods dressed elegantly in a red dress. Jenner and her bestfriend sported their corsages while onboard a private jet, as seen in the Snapchat picture. Jenner is one of the few Hollywood names to get involved for this year's prom season. Ochoa may have been lucky enough to go out with the beauty mogul but some people are not just as lucky as the Sacramento-based junior. An Arizona-based highschool teenager invited award-winning actress, Emma Stone, to be his prom date and even made an intricate "La-La-Land" inspired promposal video, E! Online said. As much as she wanted to, Stone said that she was at London and just wished the junior a happy prom day. Who among the Hollywood stars would you love to go to the prom with? Let us know by commenting below! This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions In the video posted by Englands Channel 4 News yesterday (below), the Dalai Lama also discusses the need for a compassionate cultural revolution in China and the possibility of the end of his line of rebirths. Speaking of the Trump policy, he said: I believe, with admiration, America as a leading nation of the free world. So, some new thinking: Only America, First America, right? America First I feel a little bit disagreement. As a leading nation of the free world, America should act with that spirit The India Times also reported on the Dalai Lamas opposition to the policy, writing: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said he was opposed to the US President Donald Trumps America First Policy, which he believed was unbecoming of a country that encouraged free thinking. I disagree with the America First policy. It is unbecoming of a country that encourages free thinking, he told reporters after a discourse at the Yid-Ga-Choezin ground here attended by Buddhist Lamas and common people. Speaking on China and his potential reincarnation, the Dalai Lama continued: Now China needs another cultural revolution movement, under the leadership of the communist party. The previous cultural revolution motivated much hatred and anger. This cultural revolution should be a compassionate cultural revolution. That goes very close with Chinese cultural heritage, and also goes very closely with Buddhism. Whether this very institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not is up to the Tibetan people. Consult people, if people feel now that this institution is no longer relevant, then this institution will automatically cease. The Dalai Lama, who holds no official political role yet regularly meets with heads of state due to his world-renowned religious authority, has said little about the new American President. In September he did joke around about Trumps hair and little mouth and last March, in an interview with neuroscientist Richard Davidson at his side, he said of Trump that personal criticism looks a little cheap. Support independent coverage of Buddhism by joining a community of fellow learners/practitioners at Patreon. Like American Buddhist Perspectives on facebook. Tuesdays Wild Hunt was a feature on Wade Mueller, who leads a Pagan intentional community in Wisconsin. Its spawned an unusual amount of comments: some sympathetic, some critical, and some that make you wonder if the commenter actually read the article. I respect what Wade Mueller is doing. Intentional communities almost always fail this one has been going since 1999. Building a community around a place allows for a deep connection that cannot be duplicated by occasional or virtual meetings. Muellers intentional community flows from a similar vision as my dreams of a Druid college. I hope his community succeeds even beyond his dreams. But there are problems. Its not that he appears to be speaking for all Pagans when thats not his intent (something Ive been accused of doing a time or twenty). Who made you the Pagan pope? is a defensive reaction that rarely addresses a substantive issue. The problem is that some of Muellers comments are flat-out wrong. Were not really Pagans. We have a Pagan veneer over the top of a Christian and secular life. Until we have permanent lands that we live on, are born on, and die on, we wont be Pagans. Ive written plenty about the impact of Christian and secular society on our Paganisms. Its a problem we need to be mindful of. But to say that means we cant really be Pagans is simply wrong. Ultimately, Paganism is about what we do. If we honor Nature, honor our Gods, refine ourselves, and support our communities (or some combination thereof), we are Pagans. Where we live is a secondary consideration, the same as what we believe. We are now a religion of nomads yet all of our traditions are based on place. If we want Paganism to to move past where we are now, a social gathering, we need to do something different. stated Mueller. That something different is to buy land to create Pagan communities, businesses, and worship centers. Humans have always been nomads, or at least, migrants something all Americans (North and South, native and immigrant) should understand very well. We may settle down for a few generations, but then we move on. While rooting ourselves to a particular place can be beneficial, any robust religion must accommodate human movement. Fortunately, Paganism can do this. We carry our ancestors within us There is value in living close to where your ancestors bones are buried. But no matter where you go, you carry them within you. You share their blood. More importantly, you share their lives: the odd saying you picked up from your mother, your grandfathers love of Nature, a song your family brought with them from Ireland so long ago no one remembers when. If you want to connect to them, honor them. Make offerings to them, tell their stories, call their names. Do genealogical research and study the history of their times. Every point of commonality is another connection. Living on the same land is a good thing, but experiencing our ancestral roots does not require a connection of place. Our Gods move with us The spirit of the River Boyne cannot be found outside of Ireland. But Brighid? Shes here. I know Ive experienced Her first hand. The Morrigan? Shes made a strong connection to many people on this continent. Where ever people have gone, their Gods have gone with them. Theres a temple to Athena in Nashville. Yes, it was built as a secular celebration of the centennial of Tennessee statehood, but things that look religious have a habit of becoming religious, regardless of intent. This isnt just a modern thing. The Romans carried the worship of Mithras from Persia and Isis from Egypt as far away as Britain. The stories of the Tuatha De Danann begin with Their arrival in Ireland. The literature is unclear exactly where They came from but it is clear that They moved. Whether on Their own or with Their peoples, Gods move. Our experiences of the Gods may be different from place to place, just as our experiences of our fellow humans are different from place to place. But we can be Pagans where ever we are, because our Gods move with us. We can honor the land where we are Which is better, the excitement of a new lover or the familiarity of a long committed relationship? Theyre not the same thing, but theyre both pretty good. Im envious of Kristoffer Hughes his family has lived on Anglesey for 3000 years. He has a connection to that land I can never have to any land. My family has barely been in America for 200 years, and Ive only been in Texas for 15 years. But that doesnt stop me from walking out into my back yard and pouring offerings to the spirits of the place. It doesnt stop me from listening to the trees. It doesnt stop me from running my fingers through the good black Earth and feeling a connection that goes deep into the ground. Youre renting? Do the same thing. Live in an apartment? Find a nearby park, or be like Jack Sparrow and bring land with you into your house. Ownership has practical advantages mainly that someone else cant sell the land out from under you (most of the time, anyway). But I can promise you the land and the spirits of the land dont care whose name is on the piece of paper in the courthouse. They care that you honor them with your rituals and that you respect them as you go about your ordinary life. We dont have to own the land to honor the land. Paganism is about time as well as place Wade Mueller is right that Paganism is about place, but its also about time. Its about looking backward to our ancestors and their beliefs and practices. Its about reconstructing, recreating, and reimagining those beliefs and practices to fit our lives as they are, here and now. And its about looking forward to our descendants and leaving a better world for them than what we inherited (a very difficult task, but thats another topic for another time). I lived in the same house from the time I was born until I went away for college. Shortly after Cathy and I got married, we built our own house on the back edge of that land. My connection to that land was strong, and I planned to live there forever. Forever turned out to be six and a half years thats when my job went away and we moved to Indiana, then to Georgia, then to Texas. My story is not unique. Perhaps we should settle down and always live in the place where we were born (and accept the limitations that brings) but that is not the reality of our time. In this time, our religions must be as mobile as we are. Paganism can do this. We carry our ancestors within us, our Gods move with us, and we can honor the land where ever we are. Whether we own it or not. Iran's Rohani Defends Policies Ahead Of Presidential Vote 04/10/17 Source: RFE/RL Iranian President Hassan Rohani has defended his policies ahead of the May 19 presidential election, in which the 68-year-old cleric is expected to run for a second term. Iranian President Hassan Rohani at a press conference in Tehran on April 10, 2017 (photo by Mehr News Agency) But at an April 10 press conference in Tehran that was shown on state television, Rohani stopped short of announcing his candidacy. "If we wait for five days, we will see who's entering the vote," Rohani said, referring to the April 11-15 registration period for candidates. (photo by Mehr News Agency) Rohani said that there has been measurable improvement in the economy, energy, health insurance, cultural issues, and Internet access. He said his government has been working to improve life for the poor, the deprived, and marginalized segments of society. Rohani dismissed his conservative critics as a "smoke machine" that disseminates "black smoke." "We shouldn't paint the future as dark," he said. General: Game Changer in Iran-Pakistan Relations? 04/11/17 By Fatemeh Aman (source: LobeLog) Iran and Pakistan have experienced many ups and downs in their relationship dating back to the creation of Pakistan in 1947. Despite Iran's persistent conflict with Pakistan's closest ally Saudi Arabia and broad economic relationship with Pakistan's rivals India and Afghanistan, they have managed to maintain a relatively healthy relationship. Will this relationship be now influenced by the appointment of former army chief (retd) General Raheel Sharif as the leader of the Saudi military alliance? The Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT), consisting of over 40 mainly Sunni-dominated countries and headquartered in Saudi Arabia, was created in 2015. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Yemen, Egypt, and other Muslim nations are members of IMAFT, while Iran and Syria are not. This"Islamic NATO," as it is occasionally called, is aimed at "fighting terrorism in the region." Iran has "reservations" about Sharif leading the coalition even though it was notified about the move in advance during a visit between Iran Ambassador in Islamabad, Mehdi Honardoost, and Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Displeased over the move, Iran argued that "the region, more than ever, needed a coalition of peace." Iran-Pakistan Relations Steady Pakistan has been a hotbed of tensions and conflicts between Shia and Sunnis for decades. The conflict took a turn for the worse since 2007, especially in the Parachinar region where Sunni militants massacred numerous Shiites. Despite Tehran's reputation as a protector and promoter of Shiism, these events did not affect Iran's friendly relations with Pakistan. Instead, Iran limited itself to friendly reminders to Pakistan's officials about the need to improve the life of Shia communities in Pakistan and stayed away from active meddling in the Shia-Sunni conflict in Pakistan. Even numerous terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of many on the border with Iran have not triggered any confrontation between the two countries. Terrorist operations by groups that Iran believes are based in Pakistan but armed by Arab states, are merely blamed on the "inability" of Pakistan's government to effectively prevent terrorism in its common borders with Iran. Iran has never directly accused Pakistan government of being complicit in border incidents. Pakistan has occasionally put its smooth and tension-free relations with some Arab states at risk in order to save its relationship with Iran. In 2015, Pakistani lawmakers rejected Saudi Arabia's push for Pakistan to join the coalition to fight Yemeni Houthi rebels and instead asked their government to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This was a bold move given the importance of remittances from Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to Pakistan's economy. Pakistan needs a solid relationship with Iran to avoid unrest in its common border region predominantly populated by ethnic Baluchis. Heightened tension in this region, if combined with broad ethnic and religious conflicts in the country, could inflame the region. Pakistan, at the same time, expects Iran to have more understanding about Pakistan's position toward its financial supporters. So far, the assignment of General Sharif to lead the anti-terrorism coalition has generated many pros and cons. Opposition parties in Pakistan have expressed skepticism of General Sharif joining the Coalition. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) "strongly" opposed it, although some voices also supported the move. Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua stated that the Alliance is "against terrorism, not any country," adding that "Pakistan will not go against Iran interests." Also Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said on April 4 that Pakistan would play "no role in Yemen." Referring to Pakistan's traditional role in providing military training to Arab armies, he went on to say, "Our role in the Islamic military alliance will be limited to a role inside the Saudi borders." In response to Iran's dissatisfaction with Sharif heading the coalition, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa reminded Iran that Pakistan has always respected Iran's ties with Pakistan's rival India, and expected Iran to respect Pakistan's decisions to join the coalition. Sharif and Iran-Pakistan Relations In his 2016 visit there, General Sharif described Iran "as a very important neighboring Muslim country" and went on to say that "the people of Pakistan have a great affinity with their Iranian brothers." Sharif is very popular and considered one of the most effective and capable generals in Pakistan's history. He served Pakistan's military scandal-free, did not seek to extend his service, and retired in 2016 after three years serving in his last position. Through a massive ground operation in North Waziristan called Zarb-e-Azb that involved 30,000 Pakistani soldiers, he cleared the region of various militant groups and networks. Although Pakistan is accused of selectively targeting certain militant networks and using others against its neighbors Afghanistan and India, the operation did reduce the presence of some terrorist networks and boosted General Sharif's popularity. Should Saudi-Iran rivalries soften or the Yemen conflict take a different and perhaps less violent path or the Islamic State suffer a decisive defeat, Sharif will certainly receive much of the credit and his popularity will be boosted. However, if the Iran-Saudi rift deepens or the Yemen conflict escalates or the Islamic State becomes more powerful, General Sharif's popularity may go south. National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua stated last month that Gen. Sharif, in his new role, will remove "internal misunderstandings among Muslim countries." However, he could be widening those misunderstandings. The gang behind the Dridex computer trojan has adopted an unpatched Microsoft Word exploit and used it to target millions of users. The exploits existence was revealed Friday by security researchers from antivirus vendor McAfee, but targeted attacks using it have been happening since January. After McAfees limited public disclosure, researchers from FireEye confirmed having tracked the attacks for several weeks as well. The exploit takes advantage of a logic bug in the Windows Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) feature of Microsoft Office. It allows attackers to embed malicious code inside of Microsoft Word documents, with the code automatically executed when those files are opened. Even though security researchers have not disclosed specific details about the vulnerability, it seems that mere knowledge of the exploits existence was enough for cybercriminals to track it down and reverse engineer it. On Monday, the Dridex gang launched an email spam campaign that distributed malicious documents exploiting this flaw to millions of users, primarily within organizations in Australia, security vendor Proofpoint reported. This represents a significant level of agility and innovation for Dridex actors who have primarily relied on macro-laden documents attached to emails, the Proofpoint researchers said in a blog post. This is the first campaign we have observed that leverages the newly disclosed Microsoft zero-day. Until now, the Dridex campaigns have relied on rogue documents with malicious macros that required user interaction to actually execute. The new Word exploit makes their infection campaign much more dangerous and more likely to succeed. The use of previously undisclosed, zero-day exploits is typically associated with cyberespionagetargeted attacks against a limited number of victims. This is because such exploits are valuable resources, and attackers try to benefit from them for as long as possible. Using zero-day exploits in widespread campaigns would significantly increase the chance of security companies discovering them and vendors patching the flaws. Dridex first appeared back in 2014 and is currently one of the most prevalent computer trojans targeting online banking accounts. It can steal login credentials and inject content directly into banking websites opened on infected machines. Microsoft plans to patch the vulnerability exploited in this attack on Tuesday, a Microsoft representative said in an emailed statement. Meanwhile, we encourage customers to practice safe computing habits online, including exercising caution before opening unknown files and not downloading content from untrusted sources to avoid this type of issue. Security vendors have also recommended that Microsoft Word users enable the Protected View mode, which can block this exploit from working. Despite international efforts to address food insecurity, around 108 million people in the world were severely food insecure in 2016. This shows a dramatic increase compared with the 80 million in 2015, the Global Report on Food Crises 2017, has said. The report, whose compilation required integrating several measurement methodologies, represents a new and politically innovative collaboration between the European Union, USAIDs Fews.Net, regional food security institutions and UN agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Food Programme and UNICEF. According to the report, which was made available to the Ghana News Agency by the FAO, the dramatic increase reflects the trouble people had in producing and accessing food due to conflict, record-high food prices in local markets in affected countries andextreme weather conditions such drought and erratic rainfall caused by El Nino. Civil conflict is the driving factor in nine of the 10 worst humanitarian crises, underscoring the strong linkage between peace and food security, it said. It said by joining forces to deliver neutral analytical insights drawn from multiple institutions, the report - to be issued annually - enables better-informed planning decisions to respond to food crises in a more timely, global and coordinated manner. "This report highlights the critical need for prompt and targeted action to effectively respond to the food crises and to address their root causes, Neven Mimica, the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, said. The EU has taken leadership in this response. In 2016, we allocated 550 million, followed by another 165 million that we have just mobilised to assist the people affected by famine and drought in the Horn of Africa," he said. "The report is the outcome of a joint effort and a concrete follow-up to the commitments the EU made at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, which identified the urgent need for transparent, independent but consensus-based analysis of crises, Christos Stylianides, the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, said. I hope this document will be a strong tool for the whole international community to improve the coordination of our responses to crises," he said. The report said this year, the demand for humanitarian and resilience building assistance would further escalate as four countries were at risk of famine: South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Northeast Nigeria. It mentioned that other countries that require massive levels of assistance because of widespread food insecurity were Iraq, Syria (including refugees in neighbouring countries) Malawi and Zimbabwe. The cost in human and resource terms only increases if we let situations deteriorate, FAO Director-General, Jose Graziano da Silva, said. We can prevent people dying from famine but if we do not scale up our efforts to save, protect and invest in rural livelihoods, tens of millions will remain severely food insecure, he said. The numbers tell a deeply worrying story with more than 100 million people severely food-insecure, a level of suffering which is driven by conflict and climate change. Hunger exacerbates crisis, creating ever greater instability and insecurity. What is a food security challenge today becomes tomorrows security challenge, said Ertharin Cousin, the Executive Director of WFP. It is a race against time the world must act now to save the lives and livelihoods of the millions at the brink of starvation, she said. The report said the 108 million people reported to be facing severe food insecurity in 2016 represented those suffering from higher-than-usual acute malnutrition and a broad lack of minimally adequate food even with external assistance. 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. Featured Video The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged British Airways, one of the worlds leading airlines, to upgrade the quality of the services it offers on the Accra-London-Accra route, as the airline prepares to commemorate 80 years of flying into Ghana. According to President Akufo-Addo, people complain about the movement (of flights to and from Accra) from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 at Heathrow. Terminal 3 is not so convenient place as Terminal 5. There are also complaints about the quality of the planes (on the route) and the service. In some quarters, there is a feeling that you are taking us a little for granted in the way in which we are receiving your services. I think on an occasion like this, for when friends are speaking, I think we should speak frankly. I think am I am the proper person to let you know what the pre-occupations of our people are. These are matters that will be easy for you to rectify, he added. President Akufo-Addo made this known on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 when the Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales at British Airways, Mr. Paolo De Renzis, paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency, to congratulate him on his election as President of the Republic, and also to reinforce the commitments of the airline to growth of the aviation industry in Ghana. The President noted that the co-operation between British Airways and Ghana has been good, explaining that the patronage you have tells you about the confidence the Ghanaian people have in the airline. I want to congratulate you very warmly. 80 years of service is worth commemorating. In the presence of the Minister for Aviation, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah; and the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company, John Attafuah, President Akufo-Addo stated that the vision of his government is to make Ghana an important aviation hub for the region and the continent. The aviation hub, he added, will ensure that Ghana becomes the place where aviation services will be guaranteed efficiently and competitively, and, that, we will have the infrastructure which will allow us to increase the volume of traffic that we have here, and expand the reach of our facilities at the airport. This is an important priority of our government. To this end, President Akufo-Addo hoped that the long, unbroken period of service between Ghana and British Airways will continue, hoping that the years ahead of us will see the same level of fidelity on both sides. On his part, Mr. Paolo De Renzis stated that Ghana is one of the most important markets for British Airways, especially in Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. We have a longstanding relationship with the country. We are strongly committed to the market, and we appreciate your feedback. We will work very hard to improve the products and services to Ghana all the time, he assured. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghana's new government is looking to fix a crippling power crisis with a complete overhaul of its deficit-ridden energy sector including a boost for solar energy. President Nana Akufo-Addo's New Patriotic Party (NPP) has now begun to develop a new electricity master plan, which also includes possibly listing state-owned power generation and supply companies on the stock exchange. Such asset sales would not only move the under performing utilities off the government's books, but private ownership may well make them more efficient, ex-pert say. Intermitten Power supply issues have dogged the West African states since the 1980s and became particularly acute in the past five years- although there has been some improvement recently. Ghana's energy sector was crushed by an accumulated debt of $2.4n, the president said, as the cost of buying fuel, paying energy suppliers and running insufficient state companies spiraled out of control. Its bad financial situation 'constitutes the single major hurdle to Ghanaians enjoying reliable and affordable electricity supply,' President Akufo-Addo said in January in his first state of the National address. Improvements in the provision of power were seen in the run-up to December's election but Akufo-Addo said the challenges within the sector were far form over and high costs were a major stumbling block. This year's budget included ambitious plans for renewable energy to provide two to 3 percent of supply to the national grid and, in addition, develop 38,000 solar-powered- homes in 'off-grid' communities. Harnessing the power of Africa's most abundant free resource -the sun- to provide electricity has long been a challenge for governments across the continent. In Ghana, there are hopes that more people will sign up to a 500-watt solar panel scheme started under Mahama for homes and businesses. The panels come free, but takers must still foot start-up costs of around $1,500. The Energy Commission wants to see 200,000 such systems installed, but the scheme's coordinator, Kenneth Appiah, says since it was launched in February last year only 400 units have been installed. Among those who have received the panels - each installation is worth about $450 - is accountancy lecturer Daniel Nkrumah Afyeefi. He said the programme was a good starting point to get his home off the grid and he planned to add more panels to lower food refrigeration costs and avoid hot, sleepless night. "When you live in a place like Accra and you need to store food items. When power runs off and on like that soem of teh things get spoiled," he told Agence France Presse (AFP). "You tend to be buying as and when you eat, and that ends up increasing your cost of purchasing food items." Ghana gas seen four different power crisis since 1982 due to low water levels in the country's dams, said Ishmael Ackah, head of policy at the Africa Center for Energy Policy. Source: Business Day Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An amount of GH465 million has been released by government for the commencement of the one-district-one-factory project. The Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Budget at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Padi Adjirakor, who made the announcement in Accra on Monday also revealed that an amount of GH256 million has also been released for the revamping of 100 private commercially viable companies throughout the country. Delivering a speech on behalf of the Trade and Industry Minister Mr. Alan Kyerematen, at the opening of the Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference, Mr Adjirakor said all businesses that qualified for the two programmes must present their proposals to the ministry for the necessary action to be taken. Mr Adjirakor added that the project, which is expected to kick-start any moment from now, would boost the nations economy, create more jobs, as well as make most districts economic giants. The commencement of the one-district-one-factory project in in fulfillment of the NPPs campaign promise. The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo promised to transform Ghanas economy by establishing a factory in each of the 216 districts. The initiative, otherwise known as district enterprises, is to establish medium-to-large-scale factories or industrial enterprises that have the potential to fundamentally affect the economy of the districts. Source: starrfm Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ministry of the Interior on Monday gave the assurance that the Government would not invade the privacy of Ghanaians and would ensure the safety, peace and security of all. A statement issued by the Ministry and signed by Mrs Adelaide Anno-kumi, the Chief Director of the Ministry, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said any invasion of the privacy of the citizenry was an affront to the fundamental human rights of the people. The statement followed a social media report alleging that the Ministry would be enforcing a new Communications Regulation which would entail surveillance of calls and social media platforms by the Ministry. The Ministry, therefore, wishes to state emphatically and unambiguously that the news item is false and should be disregarded by the general public, the statement said. It said there was no such new communication regulation and, thus, called on the general public to disregard the news item. The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that no ones communication device, be it mobile hand device, personal computer or any other device is connected to any system at the Ministry of the Interior, it said. The Ministry wished all Ghanaians a happy Easter celebrations. 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. Featured Video Traditional authorities of the Gonja state have placed a permanent ban on rosewood logging and commercial charcoal burning in the area in a bid to safeguard the environment. Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa, Overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area, who announced this, said the traditional authority of the Gonja jurisdiction is prepared to hand over any person found culpable in the logging and commercial charcoal burning business in any part of Gonja to the appropriate security agency for prosecution. This was contained in a speech read on the behalf of Yagbonwura by Kapori Abutu, Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council (GTC), during an extraordinary meeting of members of GTC at Yapei in the Northern Region. Yagbonwura Bore Essa said indiscriminate logging, commercial charcoal burning and hunting were a danger to the environment and biodiversity. The indiscriminate logging and commercial charcoal burning in the Gonjaland has rendered bare, forests in the area, and many long trucks have invaded the area carting away logs of wood and sacks of charcoal. Yagbonwura Bore Essa called on district assemblies, security agencies, and the Forestry Commission in the area to support the ban to end such activities. With respect to the indiscriminate hunting, the council will hold a stakeholder consultative meeting with appropriate agencies to stop this uncalled for activity, which has also contributed to the environmental degradation in the Gonja state, he said. Yagbonwura Bore Essa appealed to government to help solve the Damongo water crisis saying Gonjas will greatly appreciate it if the protracted water challenge at Damongo becomes a thing of the past. Mr Salifu Saeed, Northern Regional Minister, expressed disappointment at the rising spate of chieftaincy disputes in the region and appealed to Yagbonwura and his subjects to follow laid-down procedures in choosing chiefs in the area to promote peace. He said government was working to solve the Damongo water crisis saying as I speak, the project fund has been sourced and the necessary processes are being worked on to ensure its implementation in the shortest possible time. 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. Featured Video NDCs Emmanuel Victor Smith has questioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's style of leadership and claims the president who is almost 100 days in office will be unsuccessful as the leader of the country. According to him, the president is not even on top of issues concerning his own party with vigilante groups disturbing the peace of the nation. Nana Addo is the president so he must with immediate effect issue directives to stop this behavior from the group [Delta Force]. If he doesnt, we will have a lawless country under his watch. So where are we heading to as a country? he questioned. Speaking on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie, Ghana's former Ambassador to the United Kingdom noted that, If the president cannot do the job then he should step down, its just an advise I am giving him. What is going on in Ghana now is not a joke, its something we must find solutions to before it explodes, he added. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned in no uncertain terms recent attacks by "Delta Force" in the Ashanti Region. The party has petitioned the Police Service to crack the whip on the members of the "Delta Force" and ensure law and order in the Region. Meanwhile, a Circuit Court in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi has refused bail to the eight members of pro-NPP group "Delta Force" who stormed the court last week and freed suspects. This was after counsel for the accused prayed the court to grant them bail. The lawyers said their clients were nowhere near the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Court, therefore, could not have caused the distraction they are being accused. The judge said due to the nature of the case, the bail request cannot be granted. He has directed that the accused be remanded to reappear in court on April, 18, 2017 Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament for North Tongu in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is accusing President Akufo-Addo of throwing dust in the eyes of public with his directive to all Ministries, department and agencies not to purchase new vehicles. According to him, some ministries have already bought the vehicles and wondered why government is now attempting to close the stable when the horse has already bolted. Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, who was speaking on Accra based Joy FM on Monday cited the Fisheries Ministry as one of the government institutions which have flouted the directive. He further alleged that the office of the First and Second Ladies have procured new vehicles, making nonsense of the directive. His comments follow statements made by President Akufo, that his government has banned the practice whereby government officials buy cars that are more than two years old. The president made statements during a media interaction at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region on Monday. Nana Akufo-Addo said: These are difficult times for the Ghanaian people. The policy that has worked so far which is running into a lot of problems because of the way it has been abused, which is that officials can buy official cars. That policy will no longer work. No official is going to buy his official car. So, we put an end to it. Source: atinkaonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was saddened by the attacks on a Kumasi Circuit Court by members of the Delta Force, a private security arm within the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Eugene Arhin, Press Secretary to the President, has said. According to him, following the event, the president has directed the institutions of state to deal effectively with the incident and prevent such acts from recurring as a way of protecting the rule of law. Speaking in an interview with Class 91.3FMs Kwesi Parker-Wilson minutes after the president addressed the press at the Peduase Lodge on Monday April 10, Mr Arhin said: Certainly, as a party that believes in the rule of law, what happened in Kumasi last week was something that should not have happened. The president clearly was not happy at all about it. When it happened he directed the various state agencies to act. This is a country that respects the rule of law, a country that builds on institutions of state. So yes, that [the attack] can be described as a dent on the image but we have the institutions of state working to ensure that the rule of law is enforced in the country. Counsel for the eight accused persons said to have aided the escape of 13 members of the Delta Force from lawful custody have told a Kumasi Circuit Court that the accused persons have nothing to do with last Thursdays incident. Mr Gary Nimako, who led a team of six lawyers to represent the accused persons in court on Monday morning, said they were not members of the Delta Force vigilante group which has links to the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He said the eight were nowhere near the KMA Circuit Court on the day the incident happened and were not arrested at the court premises but were picked up at Fante New Town, which is far away from the KMA Circuit Court where the alleged incident took place. It was his case that the accused persons can, therefore, not be held liable for the offence levelled against them. The eight were arraigned Monday morning on charges of disturbing a court session, resisting arrest, and rescuing persons in lawful custody, Graphic Online's Donald Ato Dapatem reported. They all pleaded not guilty. Mr Nimako said the media had blown the case of the accused persons out of proportion and that he will subsequently prove the innocence of the accused persons in court. He applied for bail but the court refused and remanded them in prison custody until Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Source: Classfmonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Sorry, but just what the fuck is it about Australia and stories about people finding small animals in their vegetables? Are we being punished? A woman in Townsville found a redback spider lurking in her Coles broccoli on Sunday night, which appears to have put her off the vegetable for life. Tamahra Moore, 32, told the Townsville Bulletin that she was doing her veggie meal prep for the week when she saw a flash of black and red, the bloody thing just crawled out. Well, weve all been there. She took placed the broccoli and spider combo in a container and took it back to Coles North Ward, I called the supermarket so they could go check the rest of their stock and they didnt believe me so I took the container in and the ladies on the front counter freaked out, she said. They got the produce manager who said he had heard about it but had never seen it. He asked to keep it so he could show the distribution centre team and I said thats fine, I didnt know what to do with it. The incident appears to have scarred her for life. Moore says shes apprehensive about the entire vegetable now, and she would have probably been better off with takeaway. The Townsville Bulletin also reached out to Queensland Museum principal spider curator Dr Robert Raven for an expert opinion on the female redback. Quite frankly, it probably shouldnt have, because we now know that the spider looked ready to drop eggs. She could have been building a silken nest in the broccoli as it would have provided a warm, moist location for the eggs it may have been ready to lay, he said. Hmmm. And on that note, heres me investigating my fridges produce drawer tonight. Photo: Tamahra Moore. Heres a little tip worth contemplating: if you ever have the inclination to point towards something done by a political leader in 2017 and say Even Hitler wouldnt have done that! its probably much safer to just not say anything at all. Terminally gaffe-prone White House press secretary Sean Spicer found today that injecting his addresses with rhetorical flourish by referencing Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust often doesnt work out so well. Referring to last weeks chemical attack in Syria which has been blamed by many on the government of Bashar al-Assad Spicer tried to make the claim that not even Hitler used chemical weapons. Someone as despicable as Hitler didnt even sink to using chemical weapons, Spicer said. You have to ask yourself if you are Russia, is this a country and a regime you want to align yourself with? Well, thats not really remotely correct no matter which way you look at it. First of all, Hitler obviously used chemical gases including Zyklon-B and cyanide during the Holocaust, leading to the deaths of millions of European Jews. Even if you charitably interpret Spicers remarks as referring exclusively to battlefield deployment of chemical weapons a distintion I dont really see the point in making hes on shaky ground. Some accounts claim that the Nazis used poison gas on Russians who refused to surrender after the Battle of Kerch. Hes right that theres no evidence they ever used them on Western forces, but at that point its really just semantics. Which he obviously realised, as he tried to walk back the unseemly implications of his remarks when it came to the Holocaust. .@MSNBC Spicer tries to clarify Hitler remark. Says this: He was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing.via @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/xdFkhLsaiX Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 11, 2017 Transcript here: When it comes to Sarin gas, [Hitler] was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing. I understand your point. Thank you. I appreciate that. He brought them into the Holocaust centres, I understand that. I was saying in the way that Assad used them where he went into town, dropped them into the middle of town. I appreciate the clarification. That was not the intent. 210,000 German and Austrian jews were murdered in the Holocaust, many with chemical weapons. I dont think one has to be particularly charitable to call that using the gas on your own people. He issued a later statement to NBC further clarifying: .@MSNBC Spicer new stmt to NBC: In no way was I trying to less the horrendous nature of the Holocaust, however, I was trying to draw a contrast pic.twitter.com/08z0PGexXE Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 11, 2017 Well, its about the planes then. Point well made, Sean. Source: Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Getty Images. Over three days, United has learned a very important lesson: the public doesnt really endorse airlines using security details to beat the shit out of their paying customers. @United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Heres how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017 Actually, judging by their CEOs damn-near contemptuous response to the viral footage of a man being thrown into an armrest and dragged off an overbooked flight, you could argue public sentiment isnt really their chief concern. Their companys value, though? Well, if youre willing to risk infamy in order to save a few bucks, you better believe theyre all about that bottom line. And, after 69-year-old David Dao was bloodied aboard that flight, the company took a US $900M hit to its valuation. At their lowest point, shared dropped in value by 4.3%, representing a pretty huge shift in traders perception of the company. While trade has picked back up since that precipitous fall, Uniteds market cap was still US $300M down, demonstrating the companys PR implosion has definitely been felt in the market. via Yahoo! Finance. The long-term ramifications of the incident could be even more financially significant, too. After Chinese media reported the roughing-up of Asian-American Dao, local social media users expressed their outrage, with some calling for a boycott. That could be a serious problem for United, seeing as China is one of the worlds fastest growing markets for airline flights. And, to think: all of this could have been avoided if the airline didnt toss one of its passengers into an armrest for the crime of not wanting to leave a flight he bought a ticket for. Whod have thought? Source: Yahoo! Finance / Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Garry Hershorn / Getty. Bloody hell. Theres ways of dealing with a PR nightmare, and then theres ways of absolutely not dealing with a PR nightmare, and United CEO Oscar Munoz is definitely aiming for the latter. As youve almost definitely seen by now, a United passenger was forcibly removed by Chicago police from an overbooked flight, leaving him bruised and bloodied. @United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Heres how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017 The entire thing is a PR nightmare, and youve got to feel for Uniteds poor social media staff, whove been at the pointy end of a major online backlash for around 12 hours now. But Munoz isnt really doing these guys any favours. In an email circulated to staff, he doubled down on his airlines decision to remove the 69-year-old man, and blamed the passenger for escalating the situation by being disruptive and belligerent. As you will read, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help, he said. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret the situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. Munoz went on to say that United is taking a close look at the circumstances, but reminded staff that treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and that we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation. He then provided staff with a summary of events as he understood them, beginning with crew members needing to board the fully-booked and already-boarded flight. We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation) and when we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions, he said. He was approached a few more times after that in order to gain his compliance to come off the aircraft, and each time he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent. According to reports, the man is a doctor, and was refusing to depart the plane because he had patients in hospital to see the following day. INBOX: @united CEO sends letter to employees about United Express flight. pic.twitter.com/obVdl6G2E0 Ryan Ruggiero (@RyanRuggiero) April 10, 2017 The Chicago Police Department have also defended their involvement in the situation, which can be summed up in two words of the statement: He fell. How To Crisis Manage 101: Dont blame the customer. Photo: Kaylyn Davis / Twitter. The promoter of the final-ever gig at Australian National Universitys bar has spoken about the continuing backlash to the events all-male lineup, saying he still doesnt understand why punters are up in arms. Speaking on ABC Radio this morning, booker Gary Peadon was asked if he understood why someone would ask why are there no women or non-binary performers on the line-up? on the events Facebook page. No, because Ive never heard of non-binary before, Peadon replied, before possibly confusing the terms genre and gender. When I book an act, I dont sit down and think about the genre. The only genre I think about is it punk, is it rock, whatever. I dont sit there and go ah, I need to put a female band on.' Regarding claims of potential gender bias in the line-up, Peadon said Im just not going to respond to any of it. Ive already responded Im not changing the lineup. When I was booking the acts, I already did ask a few local female acts beyond the bill, not because they were female, and it never entered my mind to ask because theyre female, but because I liked their band. Peadon said that anyone is free to book a show with the line-up of their choosing, and that if anything, the response to his bookings may discourage him from throwing more events in the future. If Im going to cop backlash over bringing acts to Canberra and paying out of my own pocket for most of the gigs that I do, then Id prefer not to do them. Ive got better things to do. Those comments follow some inflammatory statements he made on Facebook, in which he asked why do I even have too (sic) think about this shit? The events Facebook page is still being lit up with discussion (read: flame wars) about the issue, with gig-goers genuinely worried about the lack of non-male performers being countered by punters who maintain Peadon can book gigs however he pleases. Regurgitator will headline the 11-act show on Wednesday, June 17. Watch this space to see if the line-up does change between now and then. Source: ABC. Photo: ANU Bar / Facebook. Your dude and mine Ludacris has dropped a fresh music video for his new tune Vitamin D featuring the inimitable talents of Ty Dolla $ign but its not the music or the video that people are talking about, per se. No, people are extremely fixated on Ludas fake-as-hell CGI abs in the first shots of the video. The gag is pretty clear here given the video is about plastic surgery but those are some shitty CGI abs regardless. I mean, I think its a joke. You can see the blurry texture pixels stretching as he moves. Those abs look like a Nintendo 64 game. It has given rise to some exceptional roasts. Ludacris got those WWF No Mercy abs on him CERTIFIED, SMOKIFIED (@RappersRActors) April 10, 2017 Ludacriss CGI chest looks like those rolls i buy at 7/11 when im drunk pic.twitter.com/RqXXfhit4q Ellie Sunakawa (@elliesunakawa) April 10, 2017 Whyd they give my man Luda Fight Night 2004 abs, though?! https://t.co/P6aUKMjkbZ AliasBeats.com (@AliasBeats) April 10, 2017 so. ludacris is just gonna CGI himself with abs using sega dreamcast graphics ??? its rough out here. pic.twitter.com/BnAettIvd3 Ahmed/Rozay Top 5 (@big_business_) April 10, 2017 Why is Ludacris looking like a Sims character? :Ehh: (@OohmTheGoat) April 10, 2017 Go forth Luda. Keep living your best life. Source: YouTube. Remember your 21st? I know I barely do. Mostly what I can piece together is that at the start of the night, I had a bathtub full of ice and XXXX (it was a classy affair), and by the end of the night I had no shirt and a lot of very important things I was desperately and incoherently trying to convey to the few friends that were still conscious. What I can tell you for certain is: unlike in the case of recent Perth birthday girl Chantal, dance legends PNAU did not DJ at my 21st birthday party. Im pretty sure. Pilerats got the inside scoop on a DJ set the act played at a house party after playing Hot Dub Wine Machine on the weekend, which by all appearances was an infeasibly loose time. Originally, they tried to organise the show through the bands booking agent, but to no avail: Basically, we sent a message to their Facebook page asking if they could come and play. The booking agent came back asking about budget and what not and Chantal (whose 21st it was) said she could pay $1k out of her own pocket, obviously they were like, sorry but that is waaaaay short of the price range haha. Then in a last ditch effort, she messaged [PNAU frontman] Nick Littlemores page and he was like, Yeah Im really keen!! We will be in touch. The band was apparently won over by the idea and, true to their word, rocked up: We spoke to Sam Littlemore and Pete Mayes and they were both frothing. So he locked it into their schedule. Then during her speeches they rocked up in their tour van. I frantically rigged up some microphones and stuff and then they jumped on for a DJ set with Nick Littlemore and Kira Divine singing over the top. From the photos, it sure looks like people were having an OK time. _ shot my pals Coachella themed 21st on the w/e, and PNAU decides to rock up after their massive gig at Hot Dub Wine Machine #chanchella2017 A post shared by Perry McLaughlan (@perrywinklephotography) on Apr 10, 2017 at 2:14am PDT What a bloody pack of legends. Have a watch of their single Chameleon while youre here, because why not. Source: Pilerats. Photo: Instagram / Perry McLaughlan. Oscar Munoz United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said about a passenger's forcible removal from a flight that he was committed to "fix what's broken so this never happens again." (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) After two days of conflicting corporate statements, falling stocks and swelling outrage, United Airlines entered full-scale mea culpa mode Tuesday afternoon, as its chief executive announced an internal investigation into a Sunday-evening flight in which a man was dragged violently from his seat so a crew member could have it. "I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight," United chief executive Oscar Munoz wrote in a statement. "I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way." "We are going to fix what's broken so this never happens again," Munoz wrote - promising a report on the beleaguered airline's policies on calling police, transferring crew and "how we handle oversold situations." It was the latest in a flurry of attempts from the airline to defuse a public relations crisis. Hours earlier, according to USA Today, a United spokesperson had backed off the company's initial claims that the flight was "overbooked" - rather than disrupted to transport off-duty crew. And before that, Monday, Munoz had defended his employees, saying the passenger, David Dao, 69, was belligerent. The battered and bloodied Dao, of Elizabethtown, Ky., was dragged back to the terminal at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. One of the officers involved in the incident was placed on leave pending an investigation. But international outrage continued Tuesday, with United's stock price falling, memes exploding and disturbing videos of the incident shared across the world. In China, where United bills itself as a top carrier, tens of millions of people have read or shared a report that Dao claimed he was targeted for being Chinese. Many there are now echoing calls in the United States for a boycott. United's brief initial response to the incident - that Flight 3411 was "overbooked" and police were called after a man "refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily" - has now given way to a more detailed story told by witnesses, police, the Chicago Department of Aviation and Munoz himself. Flight 3411 had finished boarding Sunday evening, according to a summary attached to Munoz's letter, when "gate agents were approached by crew members" who needed seats. Passengers were initially offered money if they gave up their seats, but no one volunteered. If the off-duty crew had not been able to get to Louisville that night, a United spokesman told the Louisville Courier Journal, another flight might have been canceled. So the airline invoked what it describes as its "involuntary denial of boarding process." Which is where the trouble started. When passengers expecting to take off for Louisville learned that some of them would be forced to leave, the mood on the jet quickly soured, Tyler Bridges told The Washington Post. Bridges and his wife were on the last leg of a journey home from Japan, he said. Before takeoff, an airline supervisor brusquely announced: "This flight's not leaving until four people get off." And since no passenger was willing, United chose for them. A young couple "begrudgingly got up and left," Bridges recalled. The third evictee complied, too. This Sunday, April 9, 2017, image made from a video provided by Audra D. Bridges shows a passenger being removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago. But when the crew approached Dao, he refused. "He says, 'Nope. I'm not getting off the flight,'" Bridges said. "'I'm a doctor and have to see patients tomorrow morning.'" United said crew members apologetically told the man to leave, several times, "and each time he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent." "He wasn't cussing, but he was yelling and he was upset," Bridges said. "He said, more or less, 'I'm being selected because I'm Chinese.'" (Another witness on the plane said the man was originally from Vietnam, according to the BBC.) So the airline called the Chicago Department of Aviation, which handles security at O'Hare. An officer boarded. Then a second and a third. By then, Bridges and another passenger were taking video on their cellphones - footage that would soon be seen by millions. As officers leaned over the lone holdout in a window seat, passengers across the aisle sympathized with him. "Can't they rent a car for the pilots?" a woman asks in the videos. Out of frame, the man suddenly screams. One of the officers quickly reaches across two empty seats, yanks him up and pulls him into the aisle. "My God!" someone yells - not for the first time. Dao's face smacked an arm rest as the officer pulled him, according to witnesses and police. "It looked like it knocked him out," Bridges said. "His nose was bloody." In any case, in the video, Dao goes limp after hitting the floor. Blood trickling from his mouth, his glasses nearly knocked off his face, he clutches his cellphone as an officer drags him by both arms down the aisle. "Like a rag doll," as one witness wrote on Twitter. "What are you doing?" someone asks in the video, as the man slides past. "No! This is wrong." When Dao was gone and all four seats were free, Bridges said, the four stranded crew members boarded and took them. They were jeered, he recalled: "People were saying you should be ashamed to work for this company." Had the plane left then, that might still have been enough to spark the fury that would come when Bridge's video went public. But a few minutes later, Dao ran back onto the plane. "He continued to resist," United wrote in its summary, "running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both our crew and security officials." In Bridge's second video, Dao appears frantic. His clothes are still mussed from the dragging, his mouth bloody. "I have to go home," he keeps saying. "I have to go home." A group of high school students stood up and left the plane at that point, Bridges said. "They don't need to see this anymore," their escort explained to other passengers. The airline eventually cleared everyone from the plane, and did not let them back on until the man was removed a second time - in a stretcher. Dao was convicted in late 2004 of several counts of obtaining drugs by fraud or deceit and was placed on five years of supervised probation and surrendered his medical license. His longtime effort to get his license back succeeded in 2015, when the licensing board allowed him to practice medicine again. Airport officials have said little about Sunday's events and nothing about Dao's behavior before he was pulled from the jet. No passengers on the plane have mentioned that Dao did anything but refuse to leave the plane when he was ordered to do so. The Associated Press contributed to this report. United Passenger Removed This Sunday, April 9, 2017, image made from a video provided by Audra D. Bridges shows David Dao of Elizabethtown, Ky., being removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago. (Audra D. Bridges via AP) (AP) The Louisville Courier-Journal and TMZ have identified the passenger dragged off United Express Flight 3411 on Sunday as David Dao, a doctor from Elizabethtown, Ky. The Courier-Journal says that Dao, who got his medical degree in Vietnam, was arrested in 2003 for drug-related offenses that included allegations that he was sexually involved with a patient. Dao was convicted in 2004 and surrendered his medical license upon sentencing in 2005. He resumed practicing medicine in 2015 with restrictions. Dao and his wife were among four passengers that were asked to leave the United flight on Sunday, but Dao refused, resulting in aviation police officers dragging him off the plane. The incident has thrust airlines' practice of overbooking flights and bumping passengers into the spotlight. It comes just a couple weeks after United caught flak for booting two teenagers off a flight because they did not follow the dress code for those flying on an employee travel pass. United's stock has plummeted more than $830 million in the day and a half since the incident took place. The airline has been mocked on social media. Slogans found under the #NewUnitedAirlinesMotto hashtag include references to "The Hunger Games," "Fight Club" and other movies. A Lebanon County couple is charged with forcing their way into a Lebanon apartment and trying to rob a man, police say. (From left) Athena and Shawn Remlinger Shawn Remlinger, 33, of Palmyra, and his wife, Athena Remlinger, 28, of North Lebanon Township, were charged in the incident that occurred at 11:03 p.m. March 30 in the 400 block of New Street. The victim said they struck him in the head and searched his pockets for money. The man suffered a cut that required medical treatment. The Remlingers were arrested at 7:30 p.m. April 6, and are in Lebanon County prison in lieu of $250,000 bail. They are charged with burglary, aggravated assault, criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary and aggravated assault. Interstate 83 south has reopened after a crash closed the highway between the 13th Street and Second street exits in Harrisburg Monday afternoon. As of 5:30 p.m., the incident was cleared, but residual delays remained in the area, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said. For more traffic information, follow live traffic updates, accident reports and road closures below from PennDOT, Total Traffic Network and other Twitter sources. Get a look at conditions on local roads -- via PennDOT traffic cameras -- anytime here on PennLive. For Pennsylvania Turnpike updates and possible travel delays visit the Turnpike website here. Tweet us at @pennlive with any incidents you see on your commute or send a submission to submissions@pennlive.com. The day after Christmas 2016, the headlines were inescapable: "Mall mayhem - Fights break out across the US," read one, while another added, "Mall fights send post-holiday shoppers scrambling for exits." In total, large brawls and disturbances were reported at shopping centers in at least a dozen states on Dec. 26. Many were also captured on cellphone video and widely shared and viewed online. In the aftermath, arrests were made and questions raised about the causes of such conduct, with everything from bad parenting to moral decay cited as likely culprits. But on the heels of another videotaped beating, this one at the King of Prussia mall outside Philadelphia a week ago, experts say it's also worth asking some questions of ourselves: Namely, why we're so drawn to violent videos online and whether our interest helps fuel them. PennLive spoke with a few of those experts and also gathered information from various written sources about the psychology and technology driving this trend. This is what we found: Why do people record acts of violence? "The answer depends on whether the person recording the event is alone or part of a crowd," said S. Shyam Sundar, a distinguished professor and co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory at Penn State's College of Communications. "If they are one among a crowd, then they may be refraining from physically intervening for a number of reasons--they may feel physically incapable of doing so, or they may have decided to outsource that task to others while taking on the responsibility of recording it, or they may have succumbed to the psychological tendency of 'bystander apathy.' That is, when there are others at the scene, individuals sense a diffusion of responsibility and tend not to take action." Sundar added: "If the person is alone at the scene of violence, then their decision to record it rather than intervene may be strategic. Perhaps they are using the smartphone camera as a weapon to remind the perpetrators of the violence that there could be consequences for their actions. Perhaps they are using it to intimidate them. Perhaps the goal is to document a particular atrocity, as we have seen with some Youtube clips of police brutality." There's also the visceral "rush" experienced by the posters of such footage, Sundar explained, a rush he compared to that of "a journalist with a scoop." Why do people publish or share these videos online? Sundar said that answer is a little simpler. "...Violence sells, so it is not surprising that violence is popular in social media as well. Studies in our lab have shown that the metrics on the social media sites, such as number of views and likes, are quite influential in motivating and empowering posters. This means, if a violent video gets a lot of likes, the poster is likely to follow up with more of it." Cheryl Dellasega, a Department of Humanities professor at Penn State Hershey's College of Medicine, said because of this the internet can sometimes be a wellspring of negative reinforcement for young people -- and young females in particular. "Certainly we're seeing girls really intent and reliant on social media and this whole idea that you wanna have things be sensational to get attention. It's sort of been a taboo that girls did not fight -- so getting attention for clips of girls fighting [for example], it doesn't surprise me." Is violence on the rise? Violent crime in the U.S. has fallen sharply over the past quarter century, according to the Pew Research Center. But news media and social media depictions of violence are on the rise, often giving viewers and readers the opposite impression. Add to that the ease of mobile video recording and the ability to broadcast it live to an online audience on platforms like Facebook and many of us are seeing more violence than ever before in our daily lives. According to Pew, the result of that is startling: Opinion surveys regularly find that Americans believe crime is up, even when the data show it is down. In 21 Gallup surveys conducted since 1989, a majority of Americans said there was more crime in the U.S. compared with the year before, despite the generally downward trend in both violent and property crime rates during much of that period. In a Pew Research Center survey in late 2016, 57 percent of registered voters said crime had gotten worse since 2008, even though BJS and FBI data show that violent and property crime rates declined by double-digit percentages during that span. And beyond the broader social implications of popularized online violence-- desensitization, copycats, etc. -- experts also worry about the lingering impacts on victims of such violence and those assaults that have been captured on video and preserved online. But what's behind all these brawl videos that keep emerging online? Short answer: No one knows for sure. But theories abound and include teenage boredom, social media's ability to stoke personal disputes and organize youthful combatants, and also the increasing ease with which many of us are findable thanks to our mobile devices and live, up-to-the-minute social media feeds. "My experience with physical violence is that it's usually not something that arises spontaneously. It's something that's preceded by these word wars or emotional back-and-forths and then it explodes into a physical fight," said Dellasega who wrote a book -- "Girl Wars" -- on this very subject. Dellasega acknowledged that social media is increasingly the venue where these disagreements escalate, sometimes with real and tragic consequences. In Delaware last year, a 16-year-old girl died after she was beaten by a group of students in a high school bathroom. The beating was captured on video and investigators were left to determine what prompted the attack, a process that involved reviewing the social media accounts of all those involved. Authorities were also looking to social media for clues after last year's shopping mall melees. This as law enforcement agencies have found themselves increasingly forced to turn to virtual realms in hopes of thwarting or solving real world crimes. After the Dec. 26 mall melees, officials said some appeared to have been loosely organized online and on social media networks, with the hallmarks of numerous "flash mob" disturbances reported on in recent years. In other cases, online videos of violent confrontations have helped authorities identify some of those involved. What are social media networks doing about such content? Social media companies in recent years have banded together to remove terrorist propaganda and videos depicting violence committed by terrorist groups like ISIS. But while companies like YouTube have a policy against any and all videos showing someone getting hurt, attacked or humiliated, critics say the policies aren't adequately enforced on a number of platforms -- Facebook and Twitter included -- when it comes to everyday assaults and fights being depicted in posts. Meanwhile, school and law enforcement officials are all grappling with social media's role in today's adolescent ecosystem and looking to it as an occasional predictor of violence and more often as the evidence of that violence after the fact. But it remains a needle-in-a-haystack process. Additionally, there have been legislative attempts to penalize those who record and post fight videos online. But others like Dellasega, who works with children to instill good online and interpersonal habits, say stressing the real world implications of online activity and posts to a younger generation is key. "We talk about keeping things real and thinking about things you would do in real time and whether you would do those same things online," Dellasega said of the programs she's part of. "We also talk about trying to get girls to communicate face to face and recognize we're not going to take away social media or negate that -- it's not going to go away. ... We just started a class with a group of 25 third graders who are already on their phones and already interacting [online]." As for the popularity of online videos like the one filmed at King of Prussia mall recently, one that also involved a group of youthful participants, Dellasega called it "unfortunate" and a distraction from the positive things taking place in communities and schools nationwide. "To have it come down to this, that this is what gets recognized, I find it a little bit discouraging and sort of demoralizing," she added. A Bowmansville man has died after being shot in the head Sunday in a Brecknock township home. Timothy Demeritt, 22, is now deceased, said a spokeswoman at Reading Hospital Tuesday. Alexander Murray. Alexander J. Murray, 19, of Mohnton was charged with aggravated assault after the shooting in a house in the 200 block of Orchard Road, state police said. Now that Demeritt has died, charges will be amended at Murray's preliminary hearing, state police said. It will be up to the district attorney what type of homicide charge will be added, police said. After the incident at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Murray initially told police that Demeritt was holding the 9mm pistol when the shot was fired, and that he had tried to push the gun away Demeritt when it went off, police said. But police said Murray changed his story, and said he pointed the pistol at Demeritt during an argument to try to intimidate him, court records state. "Murray related he pulled the trigger and believed the safety was on the firearm and did not expect the firearm to fire," McNally wrote. Murray was charged Monday with aggravated assault, and is in Lancaster County prison in lieu of $750,000 bail. MIKE STACK HEADSHOT ART.jpg Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, shown here during the 2014 campaign, is facing an inquiry into he and his wife's treatment of state staff. (PennLive File) Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mike Stack's office issued a statement Monday evening confirming a state Office of Inspector General's probe into what it called "staffing issues." News outlets had reported earlier Monday that Inspector General Bruce Beemer's staff was looking into potentially verbal abuse by Stack and his wife, Tonya, towards staff at the so-called "State House" at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County, where the lieutenant governor traditionally resides. A source familiar with the probe but not authorized to discuss it publicly also confirmed to PennLive the OIG probe was requested by Stack's boss-by-circumstance, Gov. Tom Wolf. The existence of the probe was first reported by LancasterOnline.com. A report by WHTM-TV also referenced alleged requests made to members of the Stack's Pennsylvania State Police security detail to take extraordinary steps to beat traffic in what troopers' felt were non-emergency situations. Stack, of Philadelphia, was not in his Capitol office Monday, a non-session day for the legislature. The lieutenant governor, among other Constitutional duties, presides over the state Senate. The statement, provided by Stack's Chief of Staff Matt Franchak, states in full: "We are in receipt of a letter from the Inspector General regarding staffing issues. We have no further details on the investigation and have no further comment at this time." Six state employees typically maintain the lieutenant governor's house and grounds, cook and manage the property, which includes a swimming pool with a poolhouse and a five-car garage. Those staffers work for the state Department of General Services. DGS spokesman Troy Thompson said Monday he was unable to comment on the situation because it touched on "personnel issues." Additionally, state troopers provide security to the lieutenant governor and his wife. It was not immediately clear why Wolf's team went to the Inspector General for this probe. The office normally works primarily to ferret out fraud and abuse in Commonwealth entitlement and other programs. Wolf's Press Secretary J.J. Abbott, like many asked about the probe Monday, declined comment. The OIG can also function, however, as a sort of in-house internal affairs agency for the governor, tapped to lead investigations of matters that are perceived to go beyond the ability of a particular agency to handle internally. Just earlier this year, for example, the office's staff completed a lengthy probe of reported cheating and other irregularities at the state police training academy. The inspector general's office does not prosecute cases in criminal courts, but it can ask the governor's general counsel to refer cases to the attorney general for prosecution where warranted. Wolf's request puts into sharp relief an obviously distant relationship between Wolf and his number two, who by Pennsylvania's quirky rules is nominated independently from the governor in party primaries. The winners then run as a unified ticket in the fall. Stack, a 53-year-old former state senator who hails from a family with deep roots in Philly politics, used his base to cruise to the Democratic lieutenant governor's nomination in five-way primary in 2014. In Harrisburg, Stack runs the Senate with self-styled panache, lending an air of importance to even the most mundane items and reveling from the rostrum in his familiarity with his former legislative colleagues. But unlike Wolf's predecessor, Tom Corbett - who routinely gave his Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley significant assignments and often made joint appearances with him - Wolf has never pulled Stack into his inner circle. A review of the governor's schedule this winter shows Stack is not included in senior staff meetings at the Capitol, and the two Democrats only rarely make public appearances together. One example of the distance between the two occurred during last year's race for Attorney General. In a three-way Democratic field, Wolf backed eventual winner Josh Shapiro, a close confidant and chair of Wolf's transition team in 2015. Stack, shortly thereafter, endorsed Shapiro's main rival for the Democratic nomination, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. Tonya Stack, the lieutenant governor's wife, made headlines in a much-publicized altercation with state Rep. Kevin Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat and Stack political rival, in 2015. She allegedly threw soda on the lawmaker. Staff writer Wallace McKelvey contributed to this report. Norby-Vardac.jpg Graham Nicholas Norby-Vardac is escorted from the office of Lycoming County District Judge Gary Whiteman Tuesday after being arraigned on criminal homicide and other charges related to the beating death of Donald Kleese Jr. (John Beauge, for PennLive) WILLIAMSPORT -- A man who rode his bicycle from Virginia is accused of breaking into a Lycoming County home, using a shovel to beat to death the occupant and stealing $8.75 cents in coins, multiple cans of food and his station wagon. Graham Nicholas Norby-Vardac, 23, of Alexandria, Virginia, was arraigned Tuesday and committed to Lycoming County Prison without bail on criminal homicide and other charges related to the death of Donald Kleese Jr., 82, in his Eldred Township home north of Williamsport. Norby-Vardac, wearing a blue jumpsuit with flip-flops and no socks, several times commented he did not kill Kleese, whose body was found Thursday morning by a family member in his bedroom. "I couldn't bring myself to kill anyone," he sai,d interrupting District Judge Gary Whiteman as he was reviewing the charges. "I was trying to survive." Later he said, "I really don't know who killed Mr. Kleese. I was just starving." As Whiteman was reviewing the stolen vehicle charges, Norby-Vardac interrupted exclaiming: "I was only trying to survive. I didn't know the car belonged to anyone." State police said Norby-Vardac told them he was heading to Canada on his bicycle when he got tired and hungry. He used a shovel to break a window in the kitchen door of Kleese's Quaker Hill Road home, was using a flashlight to look for food and went into a bedroom, where heard someone snoring, the arrest affidavit states. When the man started to wake up, he said, he retrieved the shovel and used it to hit him several times while he was in bed and then strangled him on the floor to prevent him from calling police, the document states. An autopsy determined Kleese, a widower who lived alone, died from blows to head and neck and suffered defensive wounds to his arms and hands. Norby-Vardac admitted taking two silver dollars and quarters because he needed money, the affidavit states. He found the keys to Kleese's station wagon parked in the driveway and drove it to the Buffalo, New York area, where he attempted to cross into Canada. Police in the small village of Mount Morris stopped him about 3:10 p.m. Wednesday for a traffic violation but did not detain him. They were not aware the station wagon was stolen because state police had yet to enter into the national database. Norby-Vardac was detained about 11 a.m. Thursday by Canadian authorities on the Fort Erie, Ontario, side of the Peace Bridge over the Niagara River. He had blood on his clothing and had a black eye, and he told them he wanted to enter Canada was he was a refugee, the arrest affidavit states. He voluntarily agreed to return to the United States to face the charges, police said. In response to questions posed by Whiteman during the bail portion of the arraignment, Norby-Vardac said he suffers from autism, has rather poor memory, can't think clearly, is not good at thinking things through and has mental issues. He had difficulty remembering whether he was 23 or 24 and said he could not recall if he had been on bail before. A trooper said his record shows charges of vandalism and domestic assault in Virginia. Norby-Vardac said he is unemployed and relies on his parents for income "because work is hard to find." Charges against him related to the death are criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, possession of an instrument of crime criminal mischief and theft. He also is charged with theft and receiving stolen property in relation to the stolen station wagon. If the charges are held for court, District Attorney Eric R. Linhardt said, he will move to have them consolidated into one case. Eric Barron Penn State President Eric Barron has issued a new set of warnings about fraternity and sorority behavior at Penn State. (Nabil K. Mark) Penn State President Eric Barron signaled Tuesday the university may be ready to penalize a fresh batch of fraternities and sororities for violations of the university's new rules regarding alcohol service at social events. Barron, in an open letter, noted at least nine Greek letter organizations violated at least one of the new rules at recent parents' weekend events. Some Penn State fraternities and sororities schedule their own parents' weekends in the spring, and the university had agreed to lift its current ban on alcohol for some of those events, sources said. As a trial run of the strict alcohol service rules set down for the 2017-18 school year, it was apparently a disappointment in the president's eyes. "Nine of the university's 82 fraternities and sororities ... violated at least one rule, and one fraternity - Sigma Alpha Mu - violated almost every rule that was imposed," Barron noted. "The drinking was excessive and was not restricted to beer and wine. There was no third-party, licensed server. The party was open to anyone and ... those roaming in and out included some who were underage. "Even some parents were visibly intoxicated." Barron suggested the chapters involved will face disciplinary actions for these breaches, though no penalties have been handed down as of yet. Penn State's Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims said those sanctions will be decided soon. "What the consequences for these groups will be, I can't say," Sims said in an email to PennLive. "They depend on the particular circumstances in each case. "However, it should be evident that the university is serious about its impatience with any fraternity or sorority groups that fail to honor our reasonable expectations about their behavior." The spring semester alcohol ban, and the new protocols for the 2017-18 academic year, were imposed in reaction to the Feb. 4 death of Penn State sophomore Timothy Piazza during a pledge night event at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Piazza, a 19-year-old from Lebanon, N.J., fell down a flight of steps and was left without medical attention overnight. He died two days later, at Hershey Medical Center. Piazza's heartbroken parents harshly criticized the university's failure to exercise tougher oversight over Penn State's Greek culture in a recent interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer. Penn State has since closed its Beta chapter. Piazza's death has also triggered a still-pending grand jury investigation in Centre County. Barron also sounded the alarm Tuesday that Penn State is recognizing and preparing for the possibility that its new alcohol rules for fraternities and sororities will simply drive bad behavior underground. Barron noted in his letter the existence of an email from an Interfraternity Council Leader to multiple chapters that provided a tip to help defeat Penn State's planned checks. Barron said the email - which the university would not share with PennLive - encouraged members to keep alcohol in private rooms instead of on the main floors, where it could be found by monitors. That's where the president's latest and strongest warning yet to Penn State's Greek organizations came in. "If new rules can just be ignored, or behavior just goes underground, and if there is no willingness to recognize the adverse impact of excessive drinking, hazing and sexual assault, then is there any hope (for Greek life at Penn State)? "The stories cited above cannot continue," Barron concluded. "If they do, I predict that we will see many empty houses and then the end of Greek Life at Penn State." Penn State's IFC leaders did not immediately respond to messages left by PennLive for this story. Sherri Myers.png Police are searching for Hummelstown resident Sherri Ann Myers, 45, who was charged Tuesday with robbing a male victim numerous times while he lived at a midstate motel. (Lower Swatara Township police) Police are searching for a Hummelstown woman charged Tuesday with robbing a male victim numerous times while he lived at a midstate motel. Sherri Ann Myers, 45, of the first block of Hickory Road, repeatedly robbed the victim of cash and bank cards during the incidents that occurred in Lower Swatara Township between November and March, police said. Myers faces five counts of burglary, three forgery charges, one count of access device fraud and one simple assault charge. An active warrant has been issued for Myers arrest. Anyone with information pertaining to her whereabouts is asked to contact the Lower Swatara Township Police Department at 717-939-0463, or contact police via Dauphin County emergency dispatch at 717-558-6900. The world's youngest Nobel Prize winner was a surprise visitor in Lancaster Tuesday. Malala Yousafzai spoke in the morning at Church World Service Lancaster's annual Community Appreciation Breakfast. Her appearance was kept secret from all but a few people involved in setting up the the visit, lancasteronline reported. Later in the day, she spoke at McCaskey High School, according to TV station WGAL, and she toured Lancaster's Central Market. Yousafzai was named the UN Messenger of Peace Monday. Known today mainly for her advocacy of education for women and girls, Yousafzai was shot by a Taliban gunman near her home in Pakistan in 2012 because the Tailban oppose educating girls. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Yousafzai told the crowd at the breakfast "this place is a clear example to the world of what it means to live together, what is this idea of community." Church World Service of Lancaster serves the refugee and immigrant communities of central Pennsylvania. Others honored at the event included Mustafa Nuur, a leader of the local Somali community and the Church World Service volunteer of the year. The theme chosen for this year's breakfast was honoring refugee youth "for their strength in changing the dialogue around refugees and immigration," because 2017 marks the 30th year of formal Church World Service refugee resettlement efforts in Lancaster, said Stephanie Gromek, Church World Service community resource coordinator, according to the report. The final #LancasterPA stop for #Malala Yousafzai's visit today? Lunch @ Himalayan Curry & Grill, with members of @CWSLancaster and guests. pic.twitter.com/wlaJYnsNqE (@jkopfLNP) April 11, 2017 With seized guns as a visual aid, U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler discusses the take-down of a Lebanon "heroin mill." (Matt Miller/PennLive) U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler called a press conference Tuesday afternoon to highlight two victories and a unmitigated tragedy. The victories, he said, were the convictions of the players in a multi-million dollar heroin ring in Lebanon County and the guilty plea of an upstate man responsible for yet another fatal drug overdose. The tragedy involved that overdose victim, a young addict who was 8 months pregnant and died along with her unborn child. While he applauded the local-federal efforts that led to the convictions, Brandler stressed that they are just episodes in a conflict against a "deadly trade" that his agency will keep fighting, especially since President Donald Trump considers it a high-priority issue. Brandler's press conference occurred hours after a U.S. Middle District Court jury convicted three leaders of the high-volume Lebanon "heroin mill" - Julio Aviles Sr, 48, and Michael Millan-Miranda, 30, both of Lebanon, and Israel Nazario, 61, of Philadelphia. Aviles, a veteran of the drug trade, also was convicted of distributing cocaine. Prosecutors will seek a life prison sentence for Aviles, Brandler said, while Millan-Miranda, Nazario and 10 other people who pleaded guilty to charges connected with the ring face decades behind bars. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl Bloom said the heroin operation operated like a factory. Employees even had shifts, he said, and the heroin packagers, who included a pregnant woman, were paid $500 a week. Testers were employed for quality control, he said, and, in true business fashion, the operation included a network of brokers and sellers. Examples of their output, along with rifles, shotguns and pistols seized when the mill in the 500 block of Arnold Street in Lebanon was raided, covered the large conference table where the news conference was held. Brandler estimated that the operation processed $5 million to $6 million worth of illegal drugs - thousands of doses of heroin a day - and functioned for at least six months. Its downfall came when an addict who was desperate to get clean went to the police begging them to shut it down, Bloom said. "We've seen this before, where addicts are so desperate ... that they turn in their suppliers," Bloom said. Asked if the Lebanon operation might have been a part of something bigger, Brandler replied that investigators "are continuing to move up the ladder. Whether this was a branch of a larger organization is something we're investigating." Others awaiting sentencing after pleading to abetting the drug ring are Julio Aviles Jr., 23; Leandro Nazario, 29; Carlos Nazarrio, 70; Suheidy Soto-Concepcion, 34; Eliezer Soto-Concepcion, 35; Brenda Soto, 34; Geidy Arroyo, 36; Brittany Rivera, 23; and Brent Moyer, 21. One suspect, Kengie Millan-Miranda, 26, remains at large. The investigation that busted the mill involved the DEA, the Lebanon County Drug Task Force, county detectives and probation officers, and police from Cornwall Borough and Lebanon. Luis Antonio Zayas, 47, of Hazleton, was the drug dealer who pleaded guilty for the July 2016 overdose death in Luzerne County. The victim thought she was buying heroin anf that's what Zayas thought he was selling, Brandler said. In fact, he sold the woman pure fentanyl, which is much more powerful and deadly even than heroin, the prosecutor said. He said Zayas pleaded guilty to a charge of drug distribution resulting in death before Judge Malachy E. Mannion. The charge carries minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a possible max of life behind bars. Such cases have become too problem amid the heroin and opioid epidemic ravaging the state and the nation, Brandler said. Meanwhile, he said, addicts are committing crimes every day to feed their habits. Law enforcement must stay on the offensive, but can only win the fight with cooperation from the political, social and medical spheres, Brandler said. "We know we can't arrest our way out of the heroin epidemic," he said. President Trump has made it clear to the Department of Justice that attacking the drug scourge is high on his agenda, so drug dealers should be on notice that operations such as that which smashed the Lebanon ring likely will be ramped up, Brandler said. Jeffrey A. Bielski, resident agent in charge for the DEA, said that while the dismantling of the midstate mill will rock the local drug trade, there are no signs that the heroin crisis, or the trade in the drug, are abating. "It's going to keep happening and we're going to keep hitting them," Bielski said. It was most serene of all scenes: A choir singing hymns on a Palm Sunday morning. It could have been any church, anywhere in the world Then, the unimaginable. The screen goes blank amid the sounds of explosions, as the beauty of that Sunday service is shattered by the unspeakable violence that tore through St. George's Coptic church in Tanta, Egypt. At another church, St. Mark's in Alexandria, a suicide bomber, denied entrance, detonates himself outside the main gate. The Coptic pope was celebrating services inside. The scene is once again captured on video. And when it was done, 44 people between the two sites were dead, and dozens more were injured. In the wake of those savage and unspeakable attacks at these two Egyptian houses of worship, the gathering places for an ancient sect and the Middle East's largest Christian community, much of the world was asking "Why?" But for the Copts, who trace their roots to the Apostle Mark, they were the latest in an escalating cycle of violence that began with the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 -- but, in truth, really goes back centuries. In a pair of Tweets, President Donald Trump said he was "so sad to hear of the terrorist attack in Egypt," which the "U.S. strongly condemns." Trump added that he had confidence that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi "will handle [the] situation properly." So sad to hear of the terrorist attack in Egypt. U.S. strongly condemns. I have great... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 9, 2017 ...confidence that President Al Sisi will handle situation properly. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 9, 2017 The Tweets came just days after an apparent reset in American-Egyptian relations. During an Oval Office meeting last week, Trump said he and el-Sisi "agreed on so many things." "I just want to let everybody know, in case there was any doubt, that we are very much behind President el-Sisi," Trump said. "He's done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation. We are very much behind Egypt and the people of Egypt." El-Sisi on Sunday declared a three-month state of emergency and promised a "long and painful" fight against the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the bombings, the BBC reported. El-Sisi's ISIS hard line is encouraging and the apparent reset in American and Egyptian relations is welcome. But that doesn't mean the United States should give El-Sisi a pat on the head and a cookie and send him on his way. As a 2016 report by The Brookings Institution makes clear, el-Sisi has pretty much contented himself with leaving the plight of the Copts where it has stood since the reign of Anwar Sadat in the 1970s: With nearly non-existent political representation and with violence a fact of daily life. Consider: In 2011, a bomb at a Coptic church in Alexandria claimed the lives of 20 people and wounded nearly 100, CNN reported. Just a few months later 13 people were killed during a fracas between Christians and Muslims in Cairo. Last December, 25 were killed and 50 more were wounded when a suicide bomber attacked a smaller church near St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo. But perhaps the most indelible image (and not the direct fault of Egypt) in the eyes of most of the civilized world, was a 2015 video by ISIS that apparently showed the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians on a beach in Libya. As the Brookings report notes, El-Sisi, has based his claim to legitimacy on a pose of tolerance. He's attended Christmas Eve services at Coptic churches, the first Egyptian president to do so. The president, part of Egypt's Sunni Muslim majority, won plaudits in 2015 for remarking that "It is important that the whole world watch us, the Egyptians...You noticed that I am not using another word than Egyptians...we are the Egyptians." But he has also failed to acknowledge 'de facto' discrimination against Coptic Christians. As of 2016, Egypt's 596-member parliament had just 36 Christian members, two-thirds of whom were elected under the country's first religious-based quota system. And while El-Sisi's "one Egypt" claim appears to suggest that he's a president for all the nation's citizens, the Brookings report also posits that "by refusing to acknowledge the differences between Christians and Muslims, he does not see Copts as a minority in need of protection and is therefore not willing to extend the necessary measures to proactively protect against or respond to attacks." Here, Trump and the United States can lead by moral example - by emphasizing the nation's history of religious pluralism and tolerance. Trump can also tie future American economic and humanitarian assistance to greater political representation for the Copts and - critically - by rolling out the welcome mat for refugees from all nations, regardless of their faith. Trump thankfully appeared to pivot from his "America First" policy with last week's cruise missile strike in Syria. He can continue his education on the world beyond Manhattan Island by putting el-Sisi on notice that American support comes with strings attached. BILL OREILLY.jpg By Dick Polman Fox News, where women work at their own risk in a misogynist culture frozen somewhere in the 1950s, is back in crisis mode. Nine months after chairman and accused sexual harasser Roger Ailes was forced out, we're wondering whether accused sexual harasser Bill O'Reilly will be forced out, too. Dick Polman (PennLive file) Don't hold your breath. I don't write much about O'Reilly, although it was fun two years ago to recount his phony boasts of covering a war that was actually 1,000 miles away from his hotel. But now attention must be paid, because his new flap is for the highest stakes. It's morals versus money. Advertisers are currently fleeing "The O'Reilly Factor," indicating in press releases that they prefer not to be associated with an old-school male chauvinist who has cost his company $13 million to settle sexual harassment claims. The news about O'Reilly - who allegedly made sexual advances to his five female accusers, and when rebuked, hurt the women's careers - broke bigly over the weekend, and more than dozen bailing sponsors have scrambled onto the high road. Mercedes-Benz is patting itself on the back: "The allegations are disturbing and, given the importance of women in every aspect of our business, we don't feel this is a good environment in which to advertise our products right now." Ditto clothing company UNTICKit: "It is important that our corporate partners reflect the same principals of inclusivity and equality upon which we have built our brand." Ditto the pharmaceutical company Bayer, which says it "supports a safe, respectful and non-abusive environment for women." All very noble. But let's not get carried away, because the firms are ultimately beholden to the business of making money. These sponsors are merely shifting their ads to other Fox shows, which means that O'Reilly's notoriety isn't costing Fox News a penny. Plus, the network gets most of its revenue from licensing fees paid by cable and satellite operators, so it's cushioned from any sponsor rebellion. And if the sponsors truly wanted to take a moral stand, they'd bail on Fox News entirely. After all, the network, which claims to have "zero tolerance" for sexual harassment, just renewed its contract with O'Reilly last year after it paid off female accusers. Unfortunately, the sponsors have shown no interest in cutting the cord completely. Granted, ad boycotts have worked on occasion. MSNBC nixed the simulcast of Don Imus' radio show, and Glenn Beck left Fox News after sponsors fled his TV program. But Bill O'Reilly may be too big to fail. To use the mob's terminology, O'Reilly is an earner. He makes $18 million a year, which is dwarfed by the bucks his show brings in: $446 million ad-revenue dollars got pumped into Fox coffers between 2014 and 2016. That's likely deemed to be more important to Fox executives than the sex harassment stuff - like, for instance, the allegation that O'Reilly told one woman to buy a vibrator, and serenaded the same woman by phone with masturbation noises. By the way, O'Reilly says he has never harassed anyone, that he routinely draws accusers just because he's famous, and that he and Fox have paid off the women because "I'm a father who cares deeply for my children...I have put to rest any controversies to spare my children." In February 2016 he lost custody of his children, who said they wanted to live with their mother. Bottom line is, money talks. One Fox source told New York magazine's Gabriel Sherman (the journalist with the best Fox sources), "The impact of these boycotts can be cosmetic. The feeling is, let's keep our heads down and hope this blows over." Which may well happen. Here's another remark, from a different source: "We've seen this many times in the past. Some of the advertisers that left will come back, and some will be replaced. Life will go on." That remark was uttered in 2012 by Michael Harrison, who publishes a talk radio magazine. He was referring to Rush Limbaugh - who, at the time, was hemorrhaging advertisers after he ridiculed a law student, a birth control user, as a "slut" and a "prostitute." You may remember that flap. Scores of big-ticket advertisers, from Capitol One to Quicken Loans, said they would no longer do business with Rush. Critics gleefully tallied the boycotters and awaited Rush's downfall. Last August, Rush inked a new contract with his overlords at Premiere Radio Networks - for another four years. You get my point. Perhaps Peggy Drexler, an author and gender scholar, is right when she says that the O'Reilly scandal will ultimately help women- "the more we hear about...the mistreatment of women in the workplace and anywhere, the more women are likely to band together to hasten that change" - but Rupert Murdoch and his old-boy underlings are fine with Fox's toxic culture if it works for the balance sheet. Dick Polman is the national political columnist at NewsWorks/WHYY in Philadelphia (newsworks.org/polman) and a "Writer in Residence" at the University of Pennsylvania. His work appears frequently on PennLive Opinion. Readers may email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com. In this combination of images, from left to right: Du Jiarui and Wang Haiping, both from Beijing, China; Dennis Shia from Hong Kong; and Lin Fei-fan from Taipei; are interviewed by the Associated Press regarding the meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. After repeatedly bashing China on the campaign trail, Trump met Xi for the first time last week at Trump's Florida estate. (AP Photos) FILE - A police handout picture of a man, later identified as Uzbekistan national Rakhmat Akilov, the suspect in the truck crash on Friday April 7, 2017, that killed four people and wounded 15 others in Stockholm, Sweden. The Swedish lawyer of Akilov said Tuesday April 11, 2017 that he has admitted guilt. (Police / TT via AP) First diesel cargo exports for Sinopec under general trade terms in 13 yrs BEIJING Petroleumworld 04 10 2017 Top Asian refiner Sinopec Crop exported its first refined fuel cargo under so-called general trade terms in 13 years, the company said on Friday, as China's state-owned refiners adapt to tighter government export quotas. Sinopec exported a diesel cargo on April 1 from its Qingdao plant in east China for delivery to Singapore under the rules, it said. Chinese refiners mainly export refined oil products under processing trade terms and the government has set an annual quota on how much each refiner can ship. The government slashed the second round of export quotas under processing trade rules for 2017 by 73 percent versus the first batch. Under the processing scheme, refiners are exempted from taxes on both the crude oil imported and the oil products exported, while under the general trade category plants get tax refunds after exports are completed, said four traders familiar with the rules. Both require quotas, but general trade offers much greater flexibility as refiners have the full authority to decide when and how much refined fuel to export. "For large refiners like Sinopec and PetroChina, the flexibility to market refined barrels in domestic or overseas market as they see fit means good profitability," said a former state oil trading executive. It was not immediately clear how many quotas Beijing is considering or may have issued to state refiners under the general trade rules. The shipments like Sinopec's cargo could be a supplement to the prevailing exports under processing trade, said two Beijing-based oil traders. Under the processing, or so-called "tolling" schemes, refiners have a fixed volume and time slots to export, both under tight scrutiny of Chinese customs, the Beijing-based oil traders said. Beijing has suspended the grant of export quotas under processing trade rules to independent refiners for this year, ending a year-old policy allowing some independents to sell diesel, gasoline and naphtha abroad and dealing a blow to the group. General trade exports are totally off-limits to these independents, executives at these smaller firms have said. U.S. strikes to Syria not seen as gamechanger in complex conflict RIYADH/CAIRO Petroleumworld 04 10 2017 U.S. strikes on Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack marked a sharp escalation in the country's civil war but were not viewed in the Arab world as a gamechanger in a six-year conflict that has divided the region. Two U.S. warships fired cruise missiles at a Syrian air base controlled by President Bashar al-Assad's forces early on Friday in response to the poison gas attack which killed at least 70 people in a rebel-held area. U.S. officials said the strike was a "one-off" intended to deter future chemical weapons attacks, and not part of a wider expansion of the U.S. role in the war. The reactions were predictable from Damascus' ally Iran and foe Saudi Arabia, two regional powers waging proxy wars in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. Saudi Arabia hailed the strike as a "courageous decision" by President Donald Trump, and Saudi ally the UAE, a member of the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamist militants in Syria, also expressed its support. Iran denounced the "unilateral strikes". "Such measures will strengthen terrorists in Syria ... and will complicate the situation in Syria and the region," the Students News Agency ISNA quoted foreign ministry spokesman Bahrem Qasemi as saying. It was the toughest direct U.S. action yet in Syria, but Arab political analysts were skeptical it would make much difference in the direction of the conflict in Syria or in efforts to find a political solution. It did, however, indicate how far Trump was willing to go, possibly with his domestic audience in mind, even if it risked contradicting previous positions as well as confrontation with Assad's other main military backer, Russia. Trump had repeatedly said he wanted better relations with Moscow, including to cooperate with Russia to fight Islamic State, and has so far focused his Syria policy almost exclusively on that effort. But he also criticised his predecessor Barack Obama for setting a "red line" threatening force against Assad if he used chemical weapons, only to pull back from ordering air strikes in 2013 when Assad agreed to give up his chemical arsenal. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the missile strikes as an illegal move that would hurt U.S.-Russia ties. "This kind of strike will not bring down the Syrian regime," said Abdulaziz al-Sager, a Saudi academic and chairman of the Jeddah-based Gulf Research Center. "But it shows a new attitude from the U.S. administration in the region which is to take initiatives individually if needed." Over the past few months, many Western countries have been backing away from long-standing demands that Assad leave power, accepting that rebels no longer had the power to remove him by force. After the chemical weapons attack on Tuesday, however, several countries said Assad must go. Among the countries strongly backing the strikes and calling for Assad to be removed from power was Turkey. Long one of Assad's principal foes, Turkey had in recent months reached a rapprochement with Russia and had been co-sponsoring Syrian peace talks with Moscow. Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid, professor of political science at Cairo University, doubted that the attacks would undermine these kinds of efforts. "I don't consider this a change in the United States policy towards Syria but rather a limited strike, which Trump probably aimed to use in order to strengthen his position inside the United States," he said. Iraq has been put in the difficult position of balancing its interests between its two key allies, the United States and Iran. Officials have so far maintained silence on the strikes. "The Iraqi side will not rush into a reaction that could backfire," said Baghdad-based analyst Fadhel Abu Ragheef. On the streets of the Iraqi capital, Trump's actions were seen as just another sign that the United States wants to dominate the Middle East. "He (Trump) wants to isolate Iran and build American military bases in Iraq," said Qassim, a shopkeeper, giving only his first name. Baker Hughes: U.S. drillers add oil rigs for 12th week in a row HOUSTON Petroleumworld 04 10 2017 U.S. drillers added oil rigs for a 12th week in a row, extending the recovery into an 11th month as energy companies boost spending on new production to take advantage of a recovery in crude prices. Drillers added 10 oil rigs in the week to April 7, bringing the total count up to 672, the most since August 2015, energy services firm Baker Hughes Inc said on Friday. RIG-OL-USA-BHI During the same week a year ago, there were 354 active oil rigs. U.S. crude futures traded at a one-month high just below $53 a barrel on Friday after the United States fired missiles at a Syrian government airbase, putting the contract on track to rise for a second week in a row. Analysts projected U.S. energy firms would boost spending on drilling and pump more oil and natural gas from shale fields in coming years with energy prices expected to climb. Futures for the balance of 2017 and calendar 2018 were both fetching around $53 a barrel. Chevron Corp Chief Executive John Watson said the company was set to boost development of its vast Permian Basin holdings. Analysts at Simmons & Co, energy specialists at U.S. investment bank Piper Jaffray, this week forecast the total oil and gas rig count would average 851 in 2017, 978 in 2018 and 1,089 in 2019. Most wells produce both oil and gas. That compares with an average of 749 so far in 2017, 509 in 2016 and 978 in 2015, according to Baker Hughes data. Analysts at U.S. financial services firm Cowen & Co said in a note this week that its capital expenditure tracking showed 57 exploration and production (E&P) companies planned to increase spending by an average of 50 percent in 2017 over 2016. That expected spending increase in 2017 followed an estimated 48 percent decline in 2016 and a 34 percent decline in 2015, Cowen said according to the 64 E&P companies it tracks. South Korea's Hyundai Oilbank buys 2nd US Southern Green Canyon crude for June SEOUL Petroleumworld 04 11 2017 Hyundai Oilbank, South Korea's smallest refiner by capacity, will receive its second cargo of U.S. Southern Green Canyon crude in June, a company spokesman said on Monday. The South Korean refiner has bought 1 million barrels of the U.S. heavy crude from Shell, the spokesman said, as weaker U.S. oil prices and low freight rates have made the purchase of U.S. crude more economical. Hyundai Oilbank in February made its first purchase of the grade, from an area of the Gulf of Mexico, to arrive in May, according to three trade sources. The spokesman said the company has bought a total of 2 million barrels of Southern Green Canyon crude for arrival in May and in June from Shell for $100 million. No wrongdoing in Nigeria say ENI - spokesman MILAN Petroleumworld 04 11 2017 A spokesman for Italian oil major Eni reiterated on Monday that the group and its personnel had not been involved in any wrongdoing in Nigeria. The comments followed a media report about alleged illicit payments in a case revolving around the purchase of a Nigerian oilfield by Eni and Royal Dutch Shell in 2011 for about $1.3 billion. In emailed comments, an Eni spokesman said the allegations in the report were not supported by the facts, the underlying agreements or the independent investigations conducted to date. "Neither Eni nor Shell paid any monies other than as contemplated and recorded by the Block Resolution Agreement and did not pay to Malabu, to Chief Dan Etete or to any public officer," the spokesman said. Philadelphia is ranked amongst the top 50 most dog-friendly cities in America. This comes as no surprise since the town is home to countless beautifully maintained parks for pets to enjoy. Were breaking down the best dog parks in Philly Philadelphias famously corrupt Democratic machine seems determined to outdo itself. Former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah is in prison. Disgraced Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams faces an impending corruption trial, after taking down a string of city politicians for bribery himself. Former state Rep. Leslie Acosta pleaded guilty to corruption. The citys Traffic Court imploded amid widespread case-fixing accusations and the list goes on. The loss of public faith and political power is enough to leave Democrats wondering if the local party has a future at all: How could a political machine laced with such deep-seated corruption reform itself? But former Gov. Ed Rendell says he has an answer dilute the influence of local ward leaders. Given whats happening, we have to take a deep look at what were doing, Rendell said. We have to get rid of the rule that ward leaders automatically get the party endorsement or that they automatically get to choose whos running for an open seat. Rendell said he and other Democratic leaders were planning to host an intervention with U.S. Rep. Bob Brady about the state of the local party. Bob Brady has done a terrific job holding together one of the last relevant big city organizations, Rendell said. But even hell tell you we have too much corruption and too many ward leaders on the ballot. After this primary a lot of us are going to sit down with Bob about where we have to go. But the former governor may want to bring some protective gear because Brady says hes not in the mood for meddling. The congressman called Rendell a hypocrite. (Rendell) liked the power of the ward leaders when they were endorsing him for governor and mayor, Brady said. Tell him to get over it. Rendell proposed manifold reforms. He suggested that potential candidates should win party endorsements through a simple vote from committee people the more numerous party foot soldiers underpinning the 66 political wards in Philadelphia rather than leave the decision to the ward leader alone. He also suggested putting ward leaders back up for re-election every two years, instead of every four years, to help prevent entrenchment some ward leaders have served for decades. Rendell said the party should also abstain from doling out endorsements to candidates who have failed to win backing from outside groups such as judicial candidates who havent secured a recommendation from the Philadelphia Bar Association. He said it was a matter of survival for local Democrats, who have seen cratering voter turnout in city elections. It is incumbent upon the party to open up beyond the traditional ward leader-dominated system, he said. I think it would bring a lot of younger people, newer people into the system. Some of those committee people slots are vacant right now. He said the petty interests of ward leaders the ranks of which range from former Mayor Michael Nutter to ex-con Carlos Matos contribute to corruption as they use the party organization for their own benefit instead of recruiting better candidates. They all want their little places of control. Its very hard to keep the organization strong given all the corruption, Rendell said. He pointed to the chaotic 197th District special election for a state House seat as a prime example. Acosta, who had previously held the seat, was handpicked by ward leaders and then pleaded guilty to corruption charges. But Acosta still persuaded the same ward leaders to pick her replacement, Freddie Ramirez, a candidate who quickly lost a residency challenge. Eventually, 43rd Ward Leader Emilio Vazquez simply ran as a write-in candidate himself, with no Democrat listed on the ballot. While Vazquez won, it was an embarrassing saga that laid bare the disorganization within the local political machine leaders in the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee mostly watched from the sidelines as the messy race unfolded. Brady weakly pledged that worst case scenario the Democrats would beat a Republican special election victor in 2018. Alison Perelman, who heads dark money political action committee Philadelphia 3.0, concurred. It was an easy win, but they nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, she said. That was probably as close as you can come to losing a race where you have a nine-to-one party registration advantage. It would be a fascinating idea to get all the committee people together at the convention center and see what they say about the direction the party is going. She endorsed many of Rendells suggestions, probably with good reason: Perelmans group wants to channel post-Trump voter outrage by encouraging residents to run for committee person slots to foster bottom-up change to the party structure. I would say that Philly Dems are outraged, she said. Theres a sense people are moving away from the party because of these actors. But it seems highly unlikely that in the absence of new actors that folks are going to start acting differently on their own. But Brady rejected outside interference over corruption issues, saying the former governor had skeletons in his closet and calling Perelman a rich girl with nothing better to do. He savaged their notions of reform as naivety. We choose candidates together. My committee people would pick the exact same candidate as me, he said, of devolving control from ward positions. And theres not a chance well go back to ward elections every two years. Wed have chaos every two years. I changed that rule myself. Of fiascos like the 197th District, Brady said there was little the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee could do. I dont have a crystal ball, he said. You have to go by the ward leaders who live there, since they know the district the best. I didnt know who Freddie Ramirez is. He seemed like a nice man, but how did I know he didnt live there? Im not going to go flush the toilet and find out who lives there. He was doubtful that internal rule changes would or could accomplish anything. The Republicans have the same rules, the Greens have the same rules, he said. We all play by the same rules. Both Brady and Rendell went out of their way to note that corruption was not, despite all appearances, just a problem in Philadelphia or with Democrats, pointing to convictions of former Republican state House Speaker John Perzel, the resignation of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Michael Eakin and the Bonusgate scandal. Rendell said his administration was largely free of corruption during his term as governor the later trials of his chief of staff John Estey and state Treasurer Rob McCord notwithstanding. Yet both were at a loss to explain the recent wave of corruption scandals that had gripped the party and the city as a whole. While Brady was happy to criticize Rendell and Perelmans incremental reforms, he had little to offer when asked how the local party could clean up its act. He supported ranked-choice voting for judicial elections over the current lottery system, but offered few other ideas. He acknowledged that voter turnout had suffered in recent years. Voters are disenchanted and they think they dont count, Brady said. Our turnout is a disgrace, but we do everything we can to get people out. We spend a lot of money. I dont know what else to tell you. Ryan Briggs is a reporter at City & State PA, where this article first appeared. TWITTER: @RW_BRIGGS Federal workplace safety officials have slapped a Philadelphia gun range with more than $15,000 in fines, finding that the owner failed to protect employees from airborne lead dust. Yuri Zalzman, owner of the business on North Percy Street called the Gun Range, did not respond to a request for comment. A message left with an attorney who has represented him in his quest to sell firearms at the facility also was not returned. The citation for exposure to the toxic metal was issued March 23 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The owner has until Monday to contest it if he chooses, agency officials said. Asked what levels of lead were measured in employees' blood, OSHA spokeswoman Leni Fortson said she could not comment because the case was still open. The citation, based on multiple inspections, is broken into four parts: In a Nov. 18 site visit, inspectors determined that the shooting range had not monitored employees for lead exposure. Later that month, they found that the range failed to conduct adequate air monitoring. The range failed to measure the effectiveness of its ventilation system, inspectors wrote after a Jan. 11 visit. The facility also did not properly clean its lunch table, inspectors wrote after wiping the surface during the same visit and testing the cloth for the toxic metal. Finally, the agency said the gun range did not provide employees with detailed information about lead and its health effects as required. Lead exposure is most commonly known for the danger it poses to the developing brains of small children. At higher levels, it also poses risks to adults, potentially damaging the nervous system, kidney, and other organs. OSHA standards require that adults exposed to lead in workplace settings be routinely tested to ensure that levels of the metal remain below 40 micrograms per deciliter of blood. For children, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established a stricter benchmark of five micrograms. Zalzman opened the Gun Range in 2010, according to a December 2015 Daily News article. He said he averaged 12,500 customers a year, each spending an average of $85 a visit, which includes the cost of renting a gun, a lane in the shooting range, and training from staff. The workplace-safety findings prompted dismay from Bryan Miller, head of a nonprofit that has opposed Zalzman's effort to sell guns at the facility. "Zalzman's apparent lack of care for employees is consistent with that towards the neighborhood," said Miller, executive director of Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence. Space research is a human practice, and as such, it carries cultural values within. These are expressed more visibly in examples like the ones that I have been listing in the last few paragraphs. But a deeper and closer reading or appreciation of these and other examples will reveal the philosophical structures and principles that we use to relate to the universe at large. Not only will issues about the boundaries of geopolitics and astropolitics might then be revealed, but also, we may see more philosophical and aesthetic questions about our cosmic agency and role. These questions trouble space scientists as much as they trouble scholars working in the humanities and in the arts. In continental and analytic philosophy, for example, there are long-standing traditions of looking up to the stars as a way to address complicated questions about the meaning of being and knowing. Indeed, the cultural dimension of space research is a bit more complex than outreach and science communication. Yet, why is it important today to think about space in cultural terms? In short: because we are in the cusp of an extraterrestrial cultural revolution. Humankind has practiced outer spacethat is, we have performed itsince time immemorial. Through science, philosophy and the arts, we have practiced extraterrestrial culture since the first time we took a star as a reference to life on EarthPtolemy, Copernicus and Galileo were all already practicing extraterrestrial culture. However, today extraterrestrial culture acquires a much more material potential. In an age of climate change and orbital trash, of planetary stewardship and satellite telecommunication, of interplanetary colonialism and orbital cosmopolitanism, the performativity of our extraterrestrial culture is no longer exclusively a projection for the future, but rather the pressing expression of the material relationality between us, our planet, and with the universe at large. How we enact space now is therefore a determinant factor in the ways in which we will continue to practice space in the future. Today, we might have an ideal moment to reevaluate how space science is practiced, how it percolates into society at large, and how it determines and is determined by the cultures in which it is takes place. Today, thinking extraterrestrial-ly might no longer need to mean breaking the final frontier (arent we tired of breaking things?). Instead, an emphasis on how we, as terrestrial beings, are always in relation and interaction with the extraterrestrial beyond seems much more pressing. Even when human presence in the solar system seems to be an irrevocable tendency, the ways we start to practice that presence today will determine how we envision ourselves as planetary advocates for this Earth now and in the future. The discovery of gravitational waves has already demonstrated just how connected we are with the universe at large. What we do next will have a great impact on the ways we continue to conceive our planetary condition. Meanwhile, we can continue imagining what an extraterrestrial culture might look like. Myself? I want to stage Waiting for Godot in orbit, and have Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye play Vladimir and Estragon. The play is a seminal work in the history of theatre in general, and an exemplary case of a genre called theatre of the absurd. This particular genres main characteristics are that the storyline is often circular and the characters live through a cyclical, almost nonsensical existence. In Waiting for Godot, Vladimir and Estragon spend the entire play waiting for Godot, whose complete identity we never really learn and who actually never shows up. The play has often been interpreted as a poetic representation of humans existential agony, and the search for a meaning in a world that may not have one at all. The end of the play encapsulates this: Lowndes County (AL) Sheriff's Deputy Levy Pettway, 61, was killed Monday in a single-vehicle crash. He served as an SRO at a local high school. (Photo: Lowndes County SO) Lowndes County (AL) Sheriff's Deputy Levy Pettway, 61, was killed Monday in an on-duty vehicle accident. Troopers say the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria Pettway was driving left the roadway just before noon and struck several trees. Alabama State Troopers responded to a single vehicle crash on Alabama 21 in Lowndes County in the Hayneville city limits. It was a one vehicle crash involving a Lowndes County sheriffs deputy and unfortunately, that deputy did succumb to his injuries in the crash, said Sgt. Steve Jarrett with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Pettway had been a reserve deputy for 10 years and for the past two years, worked as a School Resource Officer at The Calhoun School, a local high school. Nicholas Townsend, principal of The Calhoun School, told WSFA the entire student body and staff took the news of Pettways death very hard. He was one of a kind. He cant be replaced. He was kind-hearted, genuine, and honestly loved the students. You can tell by their reactions that they care for him as well. Normally, a security guard or SRO is going to have a separate relationship from his students but he really took time with each student to talk with them each day, Townsend stated. A statewide manhunt remains underway for two men wanted in the shooting of a police officer in eastern Ohio. Newcomerstown village police officer Bryan Eubanks was shot Tuesday morning while investigating a mobile methamphetamine lab. The officer was shot in the chest and arm. He was wearing body armor at the time. He was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released. The two male suspects were last seen in a black Geo Tracker with no plates. The vehicle is blacked out with dark tinted windows. The identity of either of the suspects is unknown at this time. A heavily tattooed man was identified as one of the suspects but that has been proven wrong. Chaz Gillilan, 28, turned himself in to Newcomerstown Police after a Blue Alert was issued. He has been cleared and is not charged with a crime, WCMH TV reports. A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper was killed in an on-duty rollover wreck on Interstate 90 Tuesday morning, officials said. The Sauk County Sheriff's Office told Channel 3000 that first responders were sent to the crash on east I-90 at about 4:30 a.m. near mile marker 89. Trooper Anthony Borostowski was headed east on I-90-94 when he lost control of his patrol car, according to the report. The car entered the south ditch and struck a tree. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Reputation is, or rather should be, something of utmost importance for an organization renowned for using facts to rate whether a politician is telling the truth or not. This week the highly-respected outfit Politifact, a Pulitzer prize-winning group cited by predominantly liberal pundits to prove that Republicans lie as a matter of course, rated a Democratic congressmans statement false when it was patently and verifiably true. Now, no-one wants to say the Politifact is biased or pimping for Trump, so instead one will just say Politifact is wrong on what former Vice President Joe Biden would say is a very big f*cking deal. Dragging Americans into another Middle East war without Congress authorization or any threat to Americas national security. Many pundits not aligned with Republicans, warmongers, Israel or Trump have noted that Trumps launching a few dozen missiles at Syria was an illegal act, and that included one Wisconsin Democrat in Congress, Rep. Mark Pocan. Mr. Pocan earned a false rating by Politifact Wisconsin for his remark that Trumps military attack on Syria had no legal basis and was thus, illegal. Representative Pocan said: There is no legal basis for last nights missile strike against Syrian military assets. Congress must be called back immediately if Trump plans to escalate our military involvement. He must send a new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to Congress, as I have previously called for. (author bold) For some yet unknown reason, Politifact Wisconsin asserted that under the War Powers Resolution (WPR), the president can send in forces without approval from Congress. Either Politifact Wisconsin failed to even peruse the WPR to discover what the justification is for a president to engage in military action legally, or they are part of the warmonger crowd that believes what makes a corrupt and treasonous criminal presidential, or reasserts Americas credibility as a bonafide warmonger, is illegally attacking a sovereign nation that has not attacked America. The War Powers Resolution was a joint Congressional resolution created specifically to prevent an out-of-control president from waging war without a reason, or to distract the public from the investigation into treasonous collusion with a hostile foreign power. There are only three circumstances in which a president can introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities and not one of them are applicable to Trumps illegal war acts against Syria. The War Powers Resolution states: The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces. It is noteworthy that Politifact Wisconsin did, in fact, cite myriad opinions from several conservative warmongers that Trumps violation of the War Powers Resolution was completely legal, and used those opinions to concluded that Representative Pocans statement was false. It is unclear which part of no congressional declaration of war, no Authorization for Use of Military Force (specific statutory authorization), or emergency created by an attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces informed Politifact Wisconsins assessment, but none of those circumstances existed for Trump to legally order the launch of 50 or 60 cruise missiles at a Russian-Syrian airfield; or order the deployment of several hundred more American troops into Syria. One of the things Politifact Wisconsin also failed to acknowledge was that Trump has, in fact, put an ever-increasing number of American troops in harms way by deploying American soldiers to Syria. After that inconvenient fact was revealed, Trumps administration said it would no longer report to the American people or the media when he deployed American soldiers to fight in another Middle East War; he likely will not inform Congress either. Again, Trumps troop deployment actions were taken without congressional approval, without a declaration of war, and without an attack on America, its territories or possessions or its armed forces by the Syrian military. Unless Trump is aware of something no-one else in the worlds is, that Syria is America, an American territory or an American possession, he is in violation of the War Powers Resolution created specifically to prevent a criminal like him from doing what the Republican warmongers want or profits his investment portfolio. It is noteworthy also that Trump is bound by the WPR to notify Congress 48 hours prior to any troop deployment or military attack; something he failed to do making that action patently illegal. He did, however, notify Russian President Vladimir Putin in advance of the attack so the Russian could warn his other puppet, Syrian President Assad, to move his military fighter jets and keep them out of harms way. Even the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) noted: Trump has unilaterally launched strikes against a country that has not attacked us, and without authorization from, [or notification to] Congress. Doing so violates some of the most important legal constraints on the use of forcewe have been steadfast in insistingthat the decision to use military force requires Congress specific, advance authorization. When Representative Pocan said on Friday last that There is no legal basis Trumps missile strike against Syrian military assets, he was making a true statement according to the War Powers Resolution. It is the resolution, and the federal law, that defines exactly what is a legal use of Americas military forces. It is noteworthy that even Republican warmongers opposed President Barack Obamas potential use of Americas military in Syria, even to pursue George W. Bushs confessed creation ISIS. But Trumps use of force was not against ISIS; it was against Syrias military; a military that has not attacked America, its territories or possessions or American troops. Politifact Wisconsin is wrong and if they are to maintain any credibility whatsoever in the future, it would behoove them to retract their faulty assessment of Representative Pocans statement. They also need to start rating the veracity of a politicians statements according to the how they conform to the letter of the law; not opinions of conservative warmongers or members of the military industrial complex like Trump who profit off of Middle East wars. Unless of course, Politifact Wisconsin is desperate to portray Trump as presidential because he violated the law and attacked a sovereign nation or complicit in claiming that what makes America credible is engaging in yet another illegal Middle East war. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Despite cable news talking heads largely fawning over Donald Trumps ineffective and politically motivated airstrike in Syria, Rachel Maddow refused to back down from her dogged commitment to shedding light on the ongoing Trump-Russia scandal. On Monday, she dug back in and connected more dots, this time setting her sights on two new developments in the story: 1. The CIA knew about pro-Trump Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. 2. The recent arrest of an infamous Russian hacker who, according to reporting, developed a virus that helped Trump beat Hillary Clinton. More from Maddow: Maddow said: This new reporting indicates that the CIA last summer somehow came into possession of information that it found sufficiently alarming that the director did one-on-one briefings with the leadership in Congress, not to tell them about Russia interfering with the election, but to tell them about Russia interfering with the election and the distinct possibility that the Trump campaign was helping Russia do that. So the Trump campaign side of that is something that the FBI would have to handle, not the CIA. And because of that, because thats FBI territory, at that point the investigation becomes a black box to us in terms of what we know about it, or at least in terms of what the FBI will say about it. But whether or not they are talking about these things, we can see what theyre doing. And one of the things they have just done is request the arrest of this Russian intelligence-linked, criminal mega hacker whos now sitting in a jail cell in Barcelona presumably about to be extradited to the United States. And the FBI wont say beep about it As this administration continues to enjoy its first real bout of shallow, good press about their bombing 2,000 percent of all the planes in Syria, the one potentially existential scandal of this administration really is still moving. Tonight its moving in Barcelona. Tomorrow, who knows? Once again, we dont really know exactly what is happening behind the scenes in the ongoing probe into Trumps ties to Russia, but its clear that the scandal isnt going away for this White House and the wheels on this investigation are still rapidly moving. As Maddow noted on Monday, the intelligence community continues to show that its hard at work in what many in the media seem to forget is a bleeping investigation into whether the current President of the United States worked with a foreign power to get elected. Once the media stops drooling over Trumps decision to fire some missiles at an empty airfield in Syria, perhaps theyll remember, as Maddow has, that this is still an important story that needs to be told. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Its tough to keep up with all of the investigations surrounding President Trump, but this is a new one and its centered on the conflicts of interest with the Trump transition and taxpayer money. Your money. A government watchdog committee, aka the U.S. Government Accountability Office, announced in a letter that they have initiated an investigation into President Donald Trumps transition. They will address: 1. What laws and federal entities guide the orderly transfer of executive power during a presidential transition and after inauguration, and what ethics-related provisions apply to those involved in a transition? 2. What are GSAs processes to manage funds appropriated for the 2017 post-election incoming presidential transition and what were the types and amounts of expenditures made with these funds as of January 31, 2017? How much in private funds did the transition team report collecting and spending for the 2017 transition? 3. What information and services related to conflicts of interest and financial disclosure did the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) make available during the presidential transition and after inauguration? What is known about the transition teams use of OGEs services and how do the information and services provided for the 2017 transition compare to the 2009 and 2001 transitions? 4. What information and services related to communication with heads of foreign governments were made available to the President- and Vice President-Elect and transition team? What is known about the transition teams use of services and how do the information and services provided for the 2017 transition compare to the 2009 and 2001 transitions? This investigation is the result of a November 2016 request by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. They raised questions about conflicts of interest related to business holdings of Mr. Trump and his family; potential violations of protocol and security precautions related to Mr. Trumps communications with foreign leaders; and transparency related to the use of taxpayer funds in the transition and Has the transition appropriately followed rules, protocol, and precedent for communicating with foreign governments? Have telephonic, electronic, and any other communications by Mr. Trump and other transition members followed appropriate security procedures? Their letter included concerns such as: Taxpayer funds, about which they ask, Has the Trump transition used taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively? Have funds from the transition or associated with the transition (such as reimbursements from the Secret Service) gone to companies owned by Mr. Trump? If so, how much was the total amount paid to Mr. Trumps business entities? Have the payments been fair and reasonable? An example: During the early months ofthe presidential campaign, Mr. Trump charged the Secret Service $1.6 million for flights, with the government effectively paying him because he owned the airline. 17 During the transition, which is based at Trump Tower in New York City, Mr. Trump is traveling back and forth from New York to Washington, DC, using his airline. There is no transparency with regard to transition expenditures, raising additional questions about how taxpayer funds may be flowing into Mr. Trumps pockets. Conflicts of interest and a not so blind blind trust, about which they write, A qualified blind trust, which must be approved by the Office of Government Ethics, would allow Mr. Trump to forgo reporting the details of some assets in his financial disclosures. The Ethics in Government Act explicitly prohibits Mr. Trumps children from managing such a trust. An example: Just last week, we learned that despite claims that Mr. Trump is not interested in his business anymore, the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C. hosted about 100 foreign diplomats, from Brazil to Turkey to sip Trump-branded champagne, dine on sliders and hear a sales pitch about the U.S. [P]resident-[E]lects newest hotel. Diplomats told the press that spending money at Trumps hotel is an easy, friendly gesture to the new president.11 Mr. Trump recently took a break from his preparation for the Presidency to meet in his office at Trump Tower with three Indian business partners and his adult children, who will soon take over his company. 12 New reports this week indicate that when Argentinean President Mauricio Mauri called to congratulate Mr. Trump on his victory, Mr. Trump asked Macri to deal with the permitting issues that are currently holding up a Buenos Aires office building project planned by Mr. Trump and his Argentinean partners.13 At this point, it is not clear ifthe line between Mr. Trumps Presidency and his and business ventures is blurred-or entirely nonexistent. The transition team was granted $9.5 million in taxpayer funds to assist with the transition, as well as other taxpayer funded support such as Secret Service protection. The GOA plans to complete their investigation in June of 2017. This is just covering the Trump transition, which is to say its not even touching the myriad of conflicts of interest that swirl around the president on a daily basis, due to his own refusal to follow guidelines and protocol. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print This morning as tensions heat up on the Korean peninsula, Donald Trump is airing out his grievances against North Korea via Twitter. In what American foreign policy expert Jonathan Beeley calls TWITTER gunboat diplomacy, Trump also warning China that it would be better for them if they played along: I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2017 North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2017 Trumps tweets sound more than a bit like a cautionary heads up from a Mafia don. It is difficult to know what his tweets actually mean because probably, Trump himself doesnt know. As for how effective they will be, national security expert John Schindler not only reminded Trump that China remembers the start of the Korean War in 1950, but reminded him that American success against North Korea triggered Chinas intervention in December of that year: For Beijing, almost any North Korean misconduct is preferable to a unified and US-allied ROK on the Yalu again. This isn't complicated. John Schindler (@20committee) April 11, 2017 Trumps tweets are unusual in that just this weekend Trump bragged of his meeting with Chinese President Xi, tweeting an upbeat, I just want to say that President Xi and all of his representatives have been really interesting to be with. I believe lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away. This was the same Trump, mind you, who said during the campaign that China was raping the United States. It is perhaps no surprise then that as The New York Times reports, as soon as Xi had left the U.S., Xinhua, the state news agency, on Saturday called the strike the act of a weakened politician who needed to flex his muscles. In an analysis, Xinhua also said Mr. Trump had ordered the strike to distance himself from Syrias backers in Moscow, to overcome accusations that he was pro-Russia. According to Xinhau on April 8, Xi and Trump pledge to expand mutually beneficial cooperation, manage differences, but apparently Trump has now decided to do this via Twitter rather than through the normal diplomatic channels. And his decision inexplicable if he told the truth that he and Xi had a tremendous meeting, only a couple of days later to turn around and announce to the whole world that if China doesnt play ball on North Korea, the U.S. will unilaterally resolve the problem to its own satisfaction. With his Syrian missile strike behind him, Donald Trump seems to be in search of another easy win, a public-relations stunt that will make him look strong and decisive and oh, by the way, make people forget his collusion with Russia. If that is Donald Trumps idea of diplomacy, were all in a lot of trouble. Photo: Screen grab Xinhua, Twitter @XHNews Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trumps mangled excuse for a foreign policy is now raising so many eyebrows that his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, is now chiming in, trying to clarify everything Trump hasnt said about Syria by saying Everyone Needs to Get on the Presidents Message. Thats great. But nobody knows what Donald Trumps message is. Including, shockingly, the guy who needs to know most, our Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson: Everyone needs to get on board with the presidents message, whether its Tillerson or Spicer or whoever, they need to get on the presidents message because the American people want to hear a unified message. Watch courtesy of CNN: Trump's personal attorney @MichaelCohen212 on Syria policy: "Everyone needs to get on the President's message" https://t.co/3804JNz4wp New Day (@NewDay) April 11, 2017 Cohen was eager to assure Chris Cuomo and the rest of us that were all in good hands: A smart man will go ahead and listen to many different people and he will then take that information, digest it, and use it in order to make the best case for what he wants to effectuate. According to Cohen, Trump is smart and decisive and a swift-acting individual who listens to people and will eventually tell us what the hell he thinks he is doing. He also promised that Trump will at some point address the nation because hes not shy of the media, not shy of television. It might be a good idea if, before he tells us, he tells his closest advisers what hes thinking. Because Trump cannot just listen to other people. He has to have a few ideas of his own, and those have been little in evidence during the opening months of his administration. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Even as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson carried a message from world powers to Moscow on Tuesday denouncing Russian support for Syrias Bashar al-Assad, President Trump would not respond when asked if his views on Russian President Vladimir Putin have changed. Putin is standing by Assad after Assad attacked his own people in a horrific gas attack, yet Trump still would not respond to question about whether his view has changed about Putin, according a White House pool report sent to PoliticusUSA. During a meeting with CEOs and Trump administration members in the State Department Library, Trump ignored the question about his views on Putin. Trump has defended Putin, even when it was pointed out to him that Putin is widely thought to kill journalists. Trump dismissed that accusation against the dictator, and doubled down later saying it was a great honor to be praised by Putin. When George Stephanopoulos pointed out in December of 2016 that Putin backs our adversaries like Assad, backs Iran, and invades Ukraine, Trump wasnt bothered. Trump replied then, I have been an extremely successful dealmaker. Thats what Ive done over years. And I know people, because deals are people. And I think Ill get along very well, for the good of our country, for the good of our country. This is what I want. Make America great again. Trump displayed a naivete and ignorance so stunning as to be questionable when he declared getting along with Russia a good thing, So if Putin respects me and if Putin wants to call me brilliant and other things that he said which were, frankly, very nice, Ill accept that and Ill accept that on behalf of our country, because if we get along well with Russia, thats a positive thing, George, not a negative thing. Trump had long ago been marked as an easy target for the Kremlin due to his need for praise. Putin is also claiming, without evidence, Russia has information that the U.S. plans to undertake more airstrikes in Syria and predicted there would be faked chemical weapons operations inside the country. So basically Putin is blaming Trump for making up fake news when news hits again that Syria attacked its own people, We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using (chemical weapons). Thats golden, because Putin uses the exact argument that Trump used against President Obama. Evidence he has but wont share. There are also reports that Russia knew about the attacks ahead of time given that they had advisers at the Syrian airfield, but the Trump White House has pushed back on that idea. Another Putin excuse for Assad, Russias defence ministry has argued that Syrian planes were destroying chemical weapons, not deploying them, and said the airstrikes targeted a rebel storage depot for toxins. That claim has been widely dismissed as implausible by experts. The problems with Putins style of brutal dictatorship were widely established long before Trump became president. But he didnt care because Putin flattered him. Now Trump is caught in between his own narratives, on the one hand he claims to care about babies being killed (he sadly added to that by killing four children with his strikes), but he cant quite get to admitting that he was wrong about Putin. President Trump is under FBI investigation for his relationship with the Kremlin, specifically as it relates to exceptional contact during the election when Putin was trying to harm Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump win. The Trump transition team is also under investigation, and already one person has been fired after lying about Russian contacts and another has had to step aside from overseeing an investigation. Make that two former Trump transition team members who have had to step aside from overseeing investigations into Trumps Russian connections. This could explain why Trump cant come out and say what is obvious to everyone else in the world about Putins defense of Assad. So Trump has his Secretary of State saying one thing to Moscow, while Trump wont even voice the same sentiment when asked if his views have changed. But this is to be expected. Weve now been given several different reasons for Trumps attack on Syria and been told there is no plan for further attacks this was just an emotional decision, there is a plan, this wont be tolerated, (this will be tolerated but Trump was upset), this was a one-off And on and on it goes, but Trump has not yet managed to say the words he should have been able to say during the campaign. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print As a natural skeptic and staunch science advocate, it is nearly impossible to be caught up in conspiracy theories no matter how plausible they seem at first blush. However, with a corrupt and treasonous criminal administration running the Executive Branch, a Branch mired in investigations, scandals, and collusion with a hostile foreign power to dismantle Americas democracy, it is getting to the point that no story, no matter how bizarre or absurd sounding, is automatically unbelievable any longer. Directly after Trump ordered the American military to launch 59 cruise missiles at a Russian-Syrian airfield, the conspiracy theorists were positing myriad assessments of what they thought really inspired an attack that boosted a corporations, Raytheon, stock prices and earned the corrupt Oval Office occupant a nice return on his investment. Since Trump exists to make money off of other peoples misfortune, that particular theory was not completely unbelievable. Now, though, with reports from the Associated Press (AP) that Russia knew about the suspected Syrian chemical attack before it occurred, all of the conspiracy theories about what incited Trumps illegal attack on a sovereign nation are beginning to have a level of veracity that the only conspiracy was Trumps attempt to use the incident to distract attention from his Russian scandal. Except for warmongers and media who believe illegally attacking a sovereign nation makes Trump look presidential, it is nearly certain the failed attack was for appearances only and possibly a coordinated effort with the Russians. The AP reported yesterday afternoon that according to more than one anonymous senior U.S. official who were unauthorized to speak, Russia knew in advance of Syrias chemical weapons attack last week. Of course by now everyone in the world knows that Trump alerted Russia in advance that he was going to order an attack on the Syrian-Russian airfield and in turn Russia warned Syrian President Assad to evacuate the Russian-made fighter-bombers, but this revelation puts a new twist and lends credence to the narrative that the entire fiasco was well-planned to help Trump. Why? Chris Matthews shared a fairly popular opinion that Trump needed some kind of means to convince the American people that he is not in bed with Putin. According to the AP reporting, the senior American official said a Russian-operated drone was flying over a hospital as victims of the chemical attack were rushing to get treatment. Within hours of the drones sighting, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital that led some American officials to believe bombing the hospital was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons. The senior official said the U.S. has no proof of Russian involvement in the actual chemical attack, but that the appearance of the Russian surveillance drone over the hospital could not have been a coincidence. The officials concluded, that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming and that victims were seeking treatment. Although the suspected Syrian chemical attack happened last week, U.S. officials apparently were aware of the presence of the surveillance drone long before Monday because they have been saying they werent entirely sure whether Russia or Syria was responsible for operating the drone. The official who demanded anonymity said America is now convinced that the Russians controlled the surveillance drone and that it is not out of bounds to believe they may have bombed the hospital. The official related that the Americans still arent certain who was flying the jet that bombed the hospital because the Syrian air force uses Russian-made aircraft and flies out of the shared air base. What American officials do know is that the Russians routinely work with the Syrian military from the Shayrat air base where the attack is alleged to have originated. Russia has been assisting Syrian President Assad in his battle against rebel forces as well as his conflict with the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh). The U.S. officials also claim that the chemical weapons were stored at the Syrian-Russian air base and that those elements add to the conclusion that Russia was complicit in the attack. At this point, and after the report that Russia likely knew about the chemical attack in advance, no theory is invalid; including the Chinese theory that Trump attacked a sovereign nation because he was weakened. In a mocking slap in Trumps face, the New York Times reported that after his meeting with Trump, the Chinese President Xi was unimpressed and wasnt afraid to say so upon extricating himself from Trumps presence: Xinhua, the state news agency, on Saturday called the strike the act of a weakened politician who needed to flex his muscles. In an analysis, Xinhua also said Trump had ordered the strike to distance himself from Syrias backers in Moscow, to overcome accusations that he was pro-Russia. That Chinese assessment jibes with Chris Matthews assertion that: If there was a way for [Trump] to kill the narrative hes in bed with Putin it would be this. Take on Putins warm freshwater port [in Tartus], take on his satellite, his loyal ally Assad. And that would be a way of saying I was never in bed with this guy, I never planned any kind of coalition in Moscow. Matthews also claimed, like many skeptics of Trumps alleged reason for launching an attack for political reasons, that Trump and Putin might have had a phone-call, and they worked this thing out, and it was a set piece that was not meant to be particularly antagonistic to Moscow. Obviously, no-one knows exactly what Trumps reason for attacking Syria entailed, but it certainly had nothing whatsoever to do with protecting Americas national security and its interests; Syria poses no threat to, and did not attack, the United States to threaten its national security or interests. It also had nothing to do with the deaths of innocent civilians, including women and children, killed by chemical weapons no matter what Trump said. He has had no qualms ordering the bombing of civilian targets in Iraq and Syria that have killed an estimated 1,472 Muslim civilians, including women and children, in the month of March alone, so the death of 80-plus Syrian civilians didnt bother him at all. All of the conspiracy theories being debated regarding why Trump launched a military attack on Syria are becoming increasingly believable. Look, Trump is an accomplished con man, he is corrupt, he is a pathological liar, and he is a swindler; he does absolutely nothing unless it makes him money off of the misery of others or elevates his self-proclaimed greatness. It is believable, but unconfirmed, that Russia had prior knowledge of the chemical attack as part of a coordinated effort to boost Trumps flailing presidency as well as give the appearance that he is not sleeping with the enemy, Russia; something that looks to be much more than his campaign staff, cabinet members, and family coordinating with Putin to win the November election. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High near 75F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Farmers certainly go through a lot to keep our water clean. Amid the debate over buffer strips and clean water, the University of Minnesota Extension is holding a farm field day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Tom Pyfferoen's farm near Pine Island. The learning event, designed for farmers, is a good example of the kinds of issues farmers must consider as they work the land. Jake Overgaard, a UMN Extension educator, said learning about soil health and the practices that contribute to healthy soils can help farmers manage their soil. Those practices include cover crops, no-till planting and water infiltration testing. The program will include Pyfferoen discussing how he's customized a conventional split-row planter to no-till seed his cover crops. Meanwhile, a pair of scientists from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientist Dan Nath and soil health technician Dean Thomas will demonstrate the benefits of cover crops and no-till management through several soil pits. Attendees will also learn how to do a water infiltration test on their own land. A rainfall simulator will show how differently managed soils impact runoff, infiltration and water quality. Overgaard said there are many ways in which cover crops contribute to soil health, including being a benefit to microorganisms that improve soil health. "They add diversity to the crop rotation which increases the diversity of microorganisms active in the soil," he said. With more time to be active in soil with actively growing vegetation, the microorganisms are fed by this vegetation. ADVERTISEMENT But while planting cover crops, with the benefits of reduced compaction, better nutrient levels, and lower pest and disease issues, can be beneficial, the process is made even better by planting that crop using a no-till method. "Tillage, while sometimes necessary, can reduce the organic matter levels of soil," Overgaard said. While tillage has its pluses and minuses it represents an extra field operation at a busy time of year for farmers, but it also can improve how well those cover crops are established the trick is to plant the crops and get the best of both worlds. "If we can get cover crops planted effectively without tillage, we're likely better off," he said. Using a no-till planting method can increase organic mater, improve the soil environment for microorganisms, increase water-holding capacity, and improve water infiltration. All this, he said, leads toward one of the biggest issues of the day: water runoff and buffer strips. There, cover crops help by improved infiltration as the roots of cover crops create small channels where water can pass into the soil rather than running off the surface. "Cover crops can also physically reduce the impact of rainfall, instead of hitting the soil directly, rain drops are slowed by hitting the above-ground vegetation, then the soil, rather than directly hitting the soil," Overgaard said. The crops can also help filter runoff, trapping soil sediment as it's carried across the landscape by running water. "Cover crops can also scavenge and hold nutrients that could be lost to runoff or leaching," Overgaard said. Overall, the program is designed to show farmers how to best use cover crops to achieve many of the same goals that are sought by creating buffer zones better water infiltration, holding the soil, and reduced need for chemicals that can pollute our waters. KENILWORTH, N.J. Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy has been nominated to serve on the board of directors for one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Merck announced Noseworthy's nomination Monday to replace C. Robert Kidder, an investment executive who is retiring after serving in that capacity since 2005. Noseworthy's nomination will be voted on May 23 at Merck's annual meeting of shareholders. "In this role, he will help share the voice of the patient through meaningful dialogue with industry leaders who are focused on finding transformative new medicines and vaccines," said Mayo Clinic spokesman Karl Oestreich. "This new role will provide Mayo Clinic with another lens into a highly complex health care marketplace and help anticipate major trends in the pharmaceutical industry that may affect patients." Merck was formed in 1891 and is the 93rd largest company in the world, according to Forbes Magazine. It was valued at $157.2 billion in 2016 when it had nearly $39 billion in sales, Forbes says. According to Merck's press release, it operates in 140 countries to "deliver innovative health solutions," such as prescription medicines, vaccines, biological therapies and animal health products. Noseworthy would join a group of 12 others who boast impressive credentials, including Paul Rothman, CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine and dean of Johns Hopkins University. ADVERTISEMENT Noseworthy has served as Mayo's president and CEO since 2009, guiding Minnesota's largest private employer to numerous awards and recognitions in the health care field. He's been personally honored by Modern Healthcare Magazine five times as one of 50 Most Influential Physician Executives while pushing the $6.5 billion Destination Medical Center forward to transform Rochester. Though he's a health governor of the World Economic Forum , Noseworthy dropped 22 spots to No. 30 in that magazine's 2016 list of "100 Most Influential People in Healthcare ." He's met twice with Donald Trump since the Nov. 7 presidential election while the national health care debate has ratcheted up. "We are pleased to nominate Dr. John Noseworthy to stand for election to the Merck board and look forward to benefiting from his firsthand insights about patient care and health care delivery as a leader of one of the largest non-profit health systems in the United States," said Kenneth C. Frazier, Merck's chairman and CEO, who earned $24 million in 2015, according to SEC filings. Oestreich said Merck is one of many pharmaceutical companies that sponsors medical research at Mayo Clinic. However, Noseworthy's pending appointment won't impact those existing relationships due to "conflict of interest measures that Mayo Clinic puts in place," Oestreich said. If confirmed next month, Noseworthy would receive a base compensation of $110,000 with the potential to earn $170,000 per year in deferred stock, according to Merck's recent SEC filings. He could earn more by serving on a board committee. Mayo paid him $2.3 million in 2014 . Kidder, the man Noseworthy would replace, was paid $290,000 in 2016, which made him one of the lowest paid members of the board; nine of the 13 made more than $300,000 last year. Kidder also received more than 10,000 shares of Merck stock during his 12-year term on the board of directors. Those shares are currently valued at about $625,000. The directors are expected to attend regular board meetings, committee meetings and annual shareholder meetings. The board is split into four committees that have the following functions: auditing, compensation and benefits, governance, and research. According to SEC filing, the board met eight times in 2016 and all directors attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings. A proposed South Broadway retail development could dramatically reshape Rochester's physical landscape as well its retail one. Twin Cities-based Ryan Cos. has been working on purchasing the former Golden Hill School on the corner of South Broadway and Third Avenue Southeast since 2015. Now the $1.7 million deal is expected to close on April 28. Mid-America Real Estate, working with Ryan Cos., is now marketing the area online with a brochure that shows a significant transformation of the area. A small hill that separates the former school from Walmart to the south is slated to be removed along with the Golden Hill building to create a new commercial area. Mid-America's materials estimate that the proposed project will be completed by fall of this year. It maps out the 8.8 acre site running along the angled Third Avenue and extending just a few feet away from the northwest corner of the nearby Walmart store. A recently installed traffic light will feed cars from Broadway to the new Ryan/Mid-America development. ADVERTISEMENT The plan calls for four commercial buildings, housing 54,500 square feet of space, to be constructed next to each other. Two of the stores are listed as having national retail tenants, Marshalls and Ulta Beauty. Marshalls, marked as occupying the largest of the four buildings, is a corporate sibling of Massachusetts-based TJ Maxx that carries inexpensive clothes, home goods and other items. There are more than 975 Marshalls stores. The Illinois-based Ulta is a national chain that carries cosmetics, skin-care products, fragrances, and hair-care items. The beauty retailer has 974 locations in the U.S. and has plans to open 100 more stores this year. Representatives from Marshalls or Ulta were not able to confirm a commitment to the future center on Monday. No one from Mid-America or Ryans Cos. were available to comment on the project. Ryan Cos. has long marked the site for development, though no details about tenants or size have been released publicly before this. Mark Schoening, Ryan's senior vice president of national retail development, has said previously they plan to build a retail center on the site. In January, the firm filed for a demolition permit to clear away the long-empty 36,000-square-foot school. However, the Rochester Public School District still owns the property, though the school board has been working to sell it to Ryan. The school board decided to sell the unused Golden Hill building in 2014 and signed a purchase agreement with Ryan Cos. in 2015 for $1.8 million. That price was later reduced to $1.7 million. The agreement has been extended a few times as Ryan Cos. worked on plans for the site. Now both sides say they expect the sale happen on April 28. ADVERTISEMENT This isn't the only project the Twin Cities developer has planned for that busy corner. In August 2016, Ryan Cos. paid $580,000 for the nearby property at 2276 S. Broadway, where a former BP gas station is slated to be demolished. The land is directly across Third Avenue Southeast from the proposed retail center. Ryan has filed plans to build a Starbucks coffee shop on that site, which would complement the nearby businesses. ST. PAUL Lawmakers are considering a bill that would close the state's Perpich Center for Arts Education and leave the future of its two schools in doubt. The proposal follows a highly critical legislative audit that found lax oversight by the Perpich board and diminished outreach from its school resource wing, along with falling school enrollment and test scores. It noted Perpich Center staff "strongly supported the mission of the agency" but had low morale and were afraid of speaking out against leadership. A House education bill would close the center in 2018 and create a division for arts outreach at the Minnesota Department of Education. Perpich currently offers arts education resources to school districts and runs a two-year high school in Golden Valley and a middle school in Woodbury. Under the House proposal, students could continue at the Perpich schools through the end of next year. A Senate education bill passed earlier this month takes a different approach. It would keep the center open and require yearly reports on progress addressing audit findings. The underlying question is whether lawmakers believe the Perpich Center's current executives are capable of turning the troubled operation around or if they believe the best solution is to dissolve the organization and move its remaining pieces elsewhere. ADVERTISEMENT "In my opinion it's not fixable in the current structure, the way it is," Rep. Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie said at a House education finance committee hearing last month. New leadership at the Perpich Center, however, says changes are already underway. Most board members are new as of last summer, and a new high school principal started last fall. The center is searching for a new executive director, and board chair Ben Vander Kooi said 36 applicants have been narrowed down to six semifinalists. "We thank the auditor for doing the work they've done because frankly it saved us a lot of time as a board. They identified significant issues that needed to be fixed, and we are committed to fixing them," Vander Kooi said. Vander Kooi said board members have formed a committee to rebuild the center's outreach and agency staff have corrected many of the financial audit findings. High school principal Ahava Silkey-Jones said she's made changes like more strictly enforcing attendance policies and ensuring the vast majority of students participate in state testing. Low participation was an audit concern. Silkey-Jones also said application numbers for the high school have stayed steady. "It's a testament to the quality of the programming that families are still seeking out Perpich as an option for their students," Silkey-Jones said. She added that the school recently hired a new admissions coordinator and that the school hopes to increase enrollment soon. ADVERTISEMENT Parent Faith Busiek has a senior at the Perpich high school. Busiek said she's been impressed with the school's teachers since her son started, when she attended a reading for Perpich students' original compositions. "It was incredible. I was bowled over and I was my plans were like redeemed? I thought, 'I had no idea it would be this good'," Busiek said. But Busiek and her partner Randall Smith also said they had difficulty working with administrators last year to get extra support their son needed. They say those problems haven't all been resolved, but Smith is cautiously optimistic. "You know, you're coming to clean up a train wreck. Has the wreck cleared from the tracks yet? No," he said. As for the future of the agency, "I say double down. You know, fix the problems that are wrong and make it excellent! It has so much potential to be excellent," Busiek said. Bureau De Change Operators in Nigeria were, Monday, warned to desist from sharp practices in the foreign exchange market to avoid losing money. Aminu Gwadabe, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, ABCON, gave the warning at an emergency meeting organised by the association. Mr. Gwadabe also warned his members that their directors have been placed under security watch to check sharp practices. The meeting, held in Lagos, was put together to sensitise members on how to comply with the rules of the association and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBNs regulations in their daily operations. Mr. Gwadabe, who explained that the purpose of the emergency meeting was to address current issues that have emerged in the market, warned members not to keep forex as the CBN is determined to inject liquidity into the system. If you think you are keeping money (forex), you are deceiving yourselves; you are going to lose money. The CBN is going to inject liquidity into the system, the ABCON chief said. Let us not be deceived. No amount of frustration or coercion will stop the CBN as it has agreed to give liquidity and it will be a surprise, he said, adding that BDC directors should endeavour to cooperate with the CBN and security agencies in their efforts to stabilise the foreign market and the exchange rate. Of course, we cannot completely claim some of us are not part of the parallel market operator. We cannot say no to it until we all agree to do it well and comply with all directives, he said. That is when the regulators, security agencies will be willing to at least listen to what we are telling them. The ABCON boss told members that they are expected to comply with the Know-Your-Customer policy, cash transaction report, and association transaction report. Mr. Gwadabe also pointed out that the recent fall in the value of the naira against the United States dollar was completely unacceptable, adding that BDC operators have a role to play for the naira to regain its loss. He, however, warned that security agencies have put the operators under watch, adding that they should operate within the ambit of the law. Again, the security agencies and regulators have put the directors of the BDCs under watch. Dont say you have not been informed. Share this: Twitter Facebook Moscow will request the UN to conduct an investigation into the April 4 chemical weapons incident in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday. According to comments carried by state media, Mr. Putin described the incident as a rebel provocation and said Russia has intelligence that such acts have been planned in other parts of Syria, including the capital Damascus. Russia is the main military backer of Syrias ruling regime, a longtime ally. U.S. forces on April 7, conducted a missile strike on a Syrian military base that Washington alleged was responsible for a recent chemical weapons attack in which numerous civilians were killed. Mr. Putin said the U.S. missile strike was reminiscent of the 2003 attack on Iraq, which led to the rise of the terrorist group Islamic State. Russia and Iran, another military backer of the Syrian government, on Monday jointly condemned the U.S. strike and called for an objective investigation into the chemical weapons incident. U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for a two-day visit to include talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The U.S. has supported some rebel groups seeking to overthrow Syrias ruling regime, but has agreed with Russia on the need to eradicate terrorist groups, particularly Islamic State. Russias Foreign Ministry said in a statement ahead of Mr. Tillersons visit that U.S.-Russian relations are experiencing their most complicated period since the end of the Cold War. The Foreign Ministry threatened retaliatory measures against the U.S. if there is a lack of progress on resolving accumulated problems between the two great powers. (dpa/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook Despite the controversies that trailed the take-off of Jaiz Bank PLC in Nigeria, its Managing Director/Chief Executive, Hassan Usman, said the bank has not only overcome most of its infancy challenges, but has also made tremendous strides within its short period of existence which gives its investors the confidence that its model of banking has come to stay in Nigeria. Mr. Usman spoke with PREMIUM TIMES Bassey Udo in his office in Abuja. Excerpts: PT: Jaiz Bank came a few years ago with a new concept of banking in Nigeria. How is the experience so far? USMAN: So far, so good. Remember, we started with a share capital of about N5billion in 2012. Today, our shareholders are all over the country and cut across all religious divides. When we did our initial public offer, IPO, in 2003, we had more than 20,000 shareholders. So, from N5 billion in 2012, our share capital has grown to about N15 billion today. We had only three branches in 2012. Today, we have about 30 branches. We started with one customer. Today, we have over 100,000 active customers. In our first year of operation, we had a deposit of less than N3.5 billion. Today, we have a deposit of over N60 billion. Our balance sheet has been growing. The major indices of our balance sheet have been growing at an average of about 30 per cent since 2012. We believe that the product has proved itself to be sustainable. As a financial model, we are gaining acceptability. It is clear the model has come to stay. We started as a regional bank. Today, we have national franchise, with branches in south-west and south-south parts of the country. We are opening more branches in other parts of the country away from our traditional locations. On the whole, I think that while there are challenges, like any growing institution, we are very positive about our growth trajectory as well as sustainable operation through the concept. It also confirms what has been happening in other parts of the world with this type of product non-interest banking. PT: What about the fears often expressed that Islamic banking was meant to serve a religious purpose or interest? USMAN: No, thats a wrong notion about Jaiz Bank represents. We are the face of a new concept in banking. One important information we will continue to emphasize is that this product is not a religious product. It is open and available to all, irrespective of their faith or religion. It is a mode of financing that tries to address human needs directly by providing goods and services on a payment basis different from conventional banking that we know. Literarily, that is what non-interest or Islamic banking is doing anywhere in the world. It is about providing financing to people who cannot afford to buy directly with their own resources at a time. So, rather than give money, we provide the services and goods people are looking for to meet their consumption needs or businesses. We have seen from our operations so far that all manner of persons do come to us and we do business with them. This, I believe, is what we have been doing. PT: Jaiz Bank appears to be making so much progress within so short a time in existence. We learnt youve just got listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. What do hope to benefit from that exercise? USMAN: I mentioned earlier that in 2003, we went to the market. Then the regulators were gracious enough to allow us do the initial public offer without a track record. We were new in the market. Part of the promise we made then was that after three, four five years of sustainable operations, we will list in the stock market. Today, we are more than 20,000 shareholders. By any standards, we are making sustainable progress. Many of the people are our retail shareholders who have held our shares for at least ten years. So, we wanted to, first, live up to our promise, and secondly to create a market for them, if they needed liquidity to boost their shares. Again, we are encouraged to go to the market, because we want the bank, at the early stage, to have the discipline that is associated with opening up the institution and being very transparent in our operations. We dont want to be exposed to the bad habits associated with the conventional banks. We know that when we do this we will be creating additional value to our stakeholders. Its to bring our services closer to the people and to ensure that everyone around the globe is able to access our platform to be a shareholder. It will enhance our visibility and marketability, and for everyone around the world to see us as a serious organization that anybody can access our shares, which are open to all Nigerians, both internally and in the Diaspora. PT: The story of Jaiz Bank cannot be all rosy without challenges you had to overcome. What were they? USMAN: There were the start off challenges the bank had to grapple with. They were many. But, the most important was that of lack of awareness, not only among the public about the brand of banking we were practicing, but also among our stakeholders, including the regulators, the investing public, customers and the general public. The good thing is that some of these awareness issues have, to a large extent, been overcome. Now people have come to terms that non-interest or Islamic banking is not about the creed or religion, but just a way of delivering financial services in a different way to accommodate or diversify the financial system. However, there is still the residual issues about the specifics of the product. Even those who were clamouring for non-interest banking did not understand the full import of it. Many thought it was like charity service. A great number of potential customers did not understand how this product was going to operate and how it differed from conventional banking. In fact, those who were thinking that it would be like a charity organisation or semi-charity organisation, when they found out that they have to pay for the service, said they thought otherwise. To some it was a bit of rude shock that they would have to pay for the service. But, the truth is that if customers dont pay for the service, there would not be an organisation that would be sustainable. So, we have a responsibility to always explain to these people that our model of banking is only another vehicle to deliver service, but the delivering channel or purpose of the organization remains the same. The truth is that Islamic bank is an organisation set up to make profit, sustain itself and support such profit for stakeholders, to enable them have value for their investment. The other challenge has to do with the regulatory awareness. This too has largely been overcome. But, there are still few challenges that we are still living with. One of it is the creation of the enabling environment, particularly the provision of the infrastructure for non-interest banking, which is still at its very infancy stage. For instance, we do not have the liquidity instruments to put our excess value, or manage our liquidity growth. Conventional banks take deposits from customers and immediately invest same into treasury bills, bonds, or give it overnight to other counter-parties in the financial system. The non-interest bank does not have that infrastructure yet. Yes, the Minister of Finance promised last year for the first Sukuk in the first quarter of this year. It is still in the works. First quarter ended a few days ago. We have not gotten there yet. We still hope that, God willing, this will happen anytime soon. But, it is a big challenge for a financial institution such as ours. Imagine, if you collect all the deposits, before you invested or given facility in conventional banking, it is not something you do with your eyes closed, just like that. It is a counter-party or individuals who is investing in an instrument that is already known or qualified or graded. If you meet Mr. A, you have to treat him differently from the way you treat Mr. B. You cant give the money like that. This is the challenge we still continue to face. The other challenge, which is still residual to the fact that we are very new to this environment, is that we still do not have many trained practitioners. The quality and quantity of trained manpower is still a big challenge. But, there is no institution without its peculiar challenges. We are grappling with our own. The industry has very high returns on investment because of all these challenges. How successful you are is when you are able to bring those challenges to bear and overcome them. PT: The Nigerian economy generally is grappling with the impact of foreign exchange crisis. The conventional banks are feeling the heat. What impact does this have on the operations of Islamic bank? USMAN: The foreign exchange crisis is a global problem. As a financial institution, foreign exchange is important to us for two reasons: One, to make money from selling it, and two, for our counter-parties and customers who depend heavily on it to pay school fees, medical bills or travelling expenses for holiday, manufacturing or importation of heavy materials and equipment to expand their businesses. In each of these needs, customers are being affected. If they do not get the foreign exchange allocation on time, the banks exposure to them would be affected. So, the foreign exchange problem that we have, especially in 2016, is inter-twined, and has really affected our operations. I hope and pray that with the current interventions of the CBN, we will never see 2016 in our lives again. As a bank, we have our peculiarity, and I believe our age in the financial system was an advantage to us. Some of the products that conventional banks go to get those types of exposures, we do not go into them. So, we do not have any shock positon in dollars, because we are not borrowing in dollars like the conventional banks. We are also not financing our projects in dollars. So, we do not have those exposures like the other of our sister institutions. PT: One problem conventional banks are having has been the high incidence of non-performing loans. Is it the same story with non-interest bank? USMAN: Again, our age is an advantage here. Most of the major problem areas that conventional banks venture into and encounter problems, we do not have such exposures, because of our size. Even though we are part of this economy, we know that if we were in those sectors, we would be having the same problems like the conventional banks. But, because we are not heavily exposed to oil business financing (offshore and downstream). We dont have significant exposure to those very difficult areas. Our balance sheet is heavy with the assets we created in the real estate area. The worst case scenario is, like Nigeria has a deficit of about 17 million houses, most Nigerians are in need of a house. In the short to medium term, I dont see that as a major issue for our bank, looking at the size. In 2016, which was a really bad year, if you were doing business with counter-parties, you would have some delays in debt-servicing. But, we are not doing that in Nigeria. We are not financing businesses. I am sure customers were having issues in debt servicing. But we are within tolerable limits. PT: What is happening with your plans to issue your first Sukuk? USMAN: The history of Sukuk in Nigeria dates back to about 2014 when Osun State issued the first Sukuk. It was a sub-national Sukuk. It did not have the attraction, even though it was very successful, as it is still being traded. Because it is small, it is not available. If one wants to buy 100 million of Osun state Sukuk now, it would be difficult. The rate of return was good. Everyone bought because of the return on investment, and they are paying, in spite of the difficulties the economy is facing. The structure of the Sukuk was excellently made, with all the credit enhancement, which made default almost zero, even though it was sub-national Sukuk. The next Sukuk we are expecting will be like the sub-urban, which will be the benchmark for the national bond or treasury bills. From the Sukuk, the CBN can create a treasury bill that we can invest in. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the Debt Management Office. We have passed the stage of their acceptability. We are working on it. The Ministry of Finance promised us first quarter of this year. You know it is not always the case that these deadlines are met. They are at the stage of appointing parties. They are also looking for projects. Im sure you know that Sukuk is not a paper instrument like bond. It has to be backed with specific asset. So, they are choosing the projects. We keep telling the policy makers that Sukuk is superior to a bond, because there is no way you can divert the money. They would have to go straight to those specific projects, which is basis for which the Sukuk can generate income. So, people would have to invest the money in those projects. As a special purpose vehicle, whose responsibility it is to take care of its investors, it is like a trust, they are responsible to take care of those who invested, to ensure that the project was done. It is from the project that one can generate returns for investors. In this case, one is sure to finish the project, even if, like in a conventional bank situation, the money is not diverted. In a Sukuk, it would be ensured that the project is done, so that Sukuk holders would start to generate revenues therefrom. One can see and feel the project. And those who invest would know it is part of their money. We hope the Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office, DMO, will fast track the process so that before the conclusion of the new quarter we will have the Sukuk in the market. Sukuk is a little different from bond. It is more of an equity than debts. Sukuk holders are mobile shareholders in the project. It is important for the country to have sub-urban Sukuk, so that we can open up the country to investments from countries like the Middle East and all those countries that would not come in and invest in bond, because of their faith or other reasons. PT: You said you hope we will never see 2016 again in our lives. Whats your outlook for 2017? USMAN: I think 2017, from the beginning, looks much better than 2016. We see that 2017 is going to be much better. The activities we have so far recorded show that 2017 will be better than 2016. If some of the policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, are maintained, in terms of availability of foreign exchange, as well as if government is spending on revamping and maintaining infrastructure, and if the power situation is gradually improved upon. Again, if the international price for crude oil improves or is maintained at a minimum of $50 per barrel, I believe 2017 will not only be great, but a good year for the economy. Share this: Twitter Facebook President Donald Trumps administration is pushing forward with plans to sell up to a dozen aircraft to Nigerias air force for the fight against the extremist group Boko Haram. Sources said the deal could be worth up to $600 million (about N184 billion). Sources also said the Super Tucano A-29 aircraft, an agile, propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is made by Brazils Embraer. A second production line is in Florida, in a partnership between Embraer and privately held Sierra Nevada Corp of Sparks, Nevada. Former President Barack Obamas administration originally agreed on the sale, but delayed it after incidents including the Nigerian Air Forces bombing of a refugee camp in January that killed 90 to 170 civilians. The Trump administration wants to push ahead to boost Nigerias efforts to fight Boko Haram and bolster hiring in the United States by defence firms. Weve been told that the administration is going to go forward with that transaction, a congressional aide said. Formal notification of the deal has not yet been sent to Congress but is expected shortly. Mr. Trump has said he plans to go ahead with foreign defence sales delayed under Mr. Obama by human rights concerns. A senior Nigerian military source in Abuja, Nigerias capital, confirmed that the sale would go ahead and said it would also involve training, surveillance and military intelligence to support the ongoing insurgency war. In March, the Trump administration informed Congress of its plans to pursue a $5 billion sale to Bahrain of Lockheed Martin F-16s and related equipment, which had been held up under Obama when Bahrain failed to meet human rights targets. Reuters first reported the Obama administrations plan to sell the Embraer aircraft to Nigeria in May 2016, as a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buharis drive to reform the military. The Super Tucano costs more than $10 million each and the price can go much higher depending on the configuration. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT six engine. Mr. Trumps plan to move ahead with the Nigerian sale was first reported on Monday by the Associated Press. The U.S. congressional source said rights concerns remain, despite support for the sale from some lawmakers. There are also questions about whether Nigeria will be able to pay the full $600 million for the aircraft, equipment, training and support. U.S. officials said Buhari raised frustration with delays in the sale in a phone call with Trump in February. (Reuters/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The House of Representatives plans to summon former President Goodluck Jonathan to explain his role in the controversial award of OPL 245 oil block licence, PREMIUM TIMES learnt Monday. Razak Atunwa, Chairman of the House Committee on Justice who leads an ad-hoc panel investigating the $1.3 billion Malabu oil deal, said efforts have commenced towards summoning the former president to testify. The money was paid by oil giants, Shell and ENI, for the oil block, one of the richest in Africa. About $1.1 billion of the money was paid directly into a Nigerian government account with JP Morgan while about $200 million had been paid by Shell as signature bonus. Most of the $1.1 billion ended up in private accounts with about $801million directly going into the account of Dan Etete, a former petroleum minister who was convicted for money laundering in France. A large part of that sum is believed to have gone to Mr. Jonathan and officials that served under him including Mohammed Adoke, the then attorney general. I can confirm that the former president is now on our radar following new details that were uncovered in latest news reports about the Malabu scandal, Mr. Atunwa, an APC lawmaker from Kwara State, told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Monday afternoon. His comments came a day after PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr. Jonathan might have received up to $200 million in bribes to approve the controversial deal. The report was based on Italian court documents obtained by BuzzFeed and Italian business newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore. In the documents, Italian prosecutors quoted Ednan Agaev, a Russian middleman who helped negotiate the transfer of the oil block to Shell and Eni, as saying that Dan Etete, the former Petroleum Minister at the heart of the oil scandal, said he intended to dole out as much as $400 million in bribes if the deal went through. If Mr. Etete actually paid out such an amount in bribes to Nigerian officials, Agaev stated that he would think President Goodluck Jonathan got at least $200 million of this money, BuzzFeed quoted an excerpt of FBI submissions to Italian authorities as saying. The revelations were made when the FBI interviewed Mr. Agaev, whom prosecutors also said met with Mr. Jonathan on more than one occasion in Nigeria during the OPL 245 negotiations. Mr. Agaev, who was Mr. Etetes representative in the negotiation, said the convicted former petroleum minister told him of the $400 million bribe to Nigerian politicians when he approached him for his payment. The Russian also repeated the claim in a follow-up interview with Italian prosecutors, led by Fabio De Pasquale in Milan. I said that if its true, that he paid, he had to pay 400 million, I assume that at least 200 went to Goodluck (Jonathan). I heard from Chief (Etete), he claims that he had to pay 400 million, so, if this is true, if he paid 400 million, then most probably the President, as the biggest boss, took at least the half of it, BuzzFeed wrote, quoting documents prepared by Italian prosecutors. Last year, Mr. Atunwas committee commenced a new round of inquiry into the controversies surrounding the OPL 245 since its lease was first awarded in 1998. The lawmaker said his committee found the latest allegations against Mr. Jonathan too compelling to ignore. We cannot ignore such weighty allegations knowing fully well that Nigeria has lost billions of dollars as a result of the numerous complications around the OPL 245 oil field, Mr. Atunwa said. Weve summoned several former and present top government functionaries, including the Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, to provide information that could help in our investigation and they honoured us. He said the committee would inform Nigerians after dispatching its invitation letter to the former president. Were still working out the details, he said. Nigerians will know the time and modalities of our summon to the president, including letter of invitation, very soon. Mr. Jonathans spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, could not be reached for comments about the lawmakers moves on Monday afternoon. But he exonerated the former president in a January 10 statement about the Malabu oil deal. We wish to make it clear that former President Jonathan was not accused, indicted or charged for corruptly collecting any monies as kickbacks or bribes from ENI by the Italian authorities or any other law enforcement body the world over, the statement said. While Mr. Jonathan and officials that served under him continue to deny any wrongdoing, Shell, the global oil firm that desperately wanted control of the OPL 245, on Monday admitted it knew the $1.1 billion it paid alongside ENI for the block would be used as kickback for an ex-convict and former petroleum minister, Dan Etete. Share this: Twitter Facebook It was celebration galore at the offices of PREMIUM TIMES in Nigeria and the United States on Monday after the Pulitzer Prizes, the most prestigious awards in US journalism, honoured the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and its partners, including PREMIUM TIMES, for an investigative series on the Panama Papers. The Panama Papers investigation, a series of global investigations into offshore entities, spanning over a year by the ICIJ, German newspaper, Suddeutsche Zeitung, and 100 other media organisations across the world, was awarded The Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting. The Panama Papers investigation exposed offshore companies linked to more than 140 politicians in more than 50 countries including 14 current or former world leaders. It also uncovered offshore hideaways tied to mega-banks, corporate bribery scandals, drug kingpins, Syrias air war on its own citizens and a network of people close to Russian President Vladimir Putin that shuffled as much as $2 billion around the world. PREMIUM TIMES, Nigerias leading investigative platform, was the only Nigerian news organisation granted direct access to the files. In the course of the investigations led by Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, PREMIUM TIMES published more than 30 stories, with damning details revealing the secret offshore asset of many prominent Nigerians. The newspapers explosive investigations revealed the secret offshore asset of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his wife Toyin; as well as Mr. Sarakis predecessor, David Mark. It also revealed how late governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, began looting his state and hiding the funds in offshore structures and how a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, organised the stealing of the oil-rich states fund via offshore companies. The investigations also revealed a network of shell companies in offshore tax havens linked to Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote, and his brother, Sayyu Dantata; as well as the offshore companies of Wale Tinubu, the chief executive of Nigerias biggest indigenous oil company, Oando Plc, among others. Similarly, the stories also exposed the secret offshore company of one of Africas most influential televangelists, Temitope Joshua, popularly called T.B Joshua. Other prominent Nigerians named in the investigations are former Minister of Defence and billionaire businessman, Theophilus Danjuma; Etisalat boss, Hakeem Bello Osaigie; Globacom CEO, Mike Adenuga; Governor Abubakar Sadiq Sani Bello of Niger State; the late Ooni of Ife, Okunade Sijuwade; Arik Chairman, Joseph Arumemi-Johnson and his wife, Mary, as well as two other serving senators Andy Uba (Anambra) and Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto). Other top business persons, politicians, and their family members werealso found in the infamous database, including those currently holding public offices. The revelations by PREMIUM TIMES investigations sparked outrage across the land, with activists, civil society organisations, the Labour movement and the general public calling for extensive probe of the indicted people. Following the public pressure generated by the investigations, the Nigerian government opened a file on all Nigerians whose names were mentioned as operating offshore accounts in the notorious tax havens. Similarly, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, announced it would carry out its independent investigation and involve INTERPOL if necessary. Expectedly, PREMIUM TIMES also received accolades from the Nigerian public and many people lauded the news outfit by commending its editors and reporters for their courage and painstaking investigations. Reacting to the announcement of the award Monday, Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of PREMIUM TIMES, said, We are truly humbled to be part of this ambitious effort to extend the frontiers of transparency and accountability in our complex and ever-evolving world. It is gratifying that this effort is being continuously rewarded. But what we are celebrating here is the power of collaboration. It does appear the era of fierce competition is dying while that of expanding collaboration is gaining ground. I thank our amazing staff who gave their all to the project, and ensured that we provided arguably the best coverage in Africa. We remain committed to serving our readers, and we will ensure that they remain the centerpiece of our reporting. We will continue to defend their rights to know even in the face of hazards we face daily. In his own reaction on Tuesday, Musikilu Mojeed, the newspapers Editor-in-Chief, said, What we are celebrating is not necessarily the opportunity to be part of one of the most impactful journalisms in history. It is the rare opportunity to collaborate with colleagues around the world to contribute to the process of making the world a better place than we met it. We hope that the Nigerian authorities will summon the political will to prosecute all past and present officials identified in the Panama Papers to have violated the countrys laws. Meanwhile, a former Commissioner for Information in Bayelsa, Dan Kikile, has congratulated PREMIUM TIMES and its partners for the Pulitzer prize win. In a message sent in on Monday, Mr. Kikile said, May I congratulate you and the entire PREMIUM TIMES team, and the consortium of journalists who partook in the Panama Papers report that has culminated in the Pulitzer Prize. As the most prestigious award in American journalism, PREMIUM TIMES is now in company of eminent and inspiring institutions and individuals who have written their names in gold. Accept my best wishes always. The Panama Papers reporting team began work in early 2015. Members of the team published and broadcast their first stories in April 2016 and continued producing stories throughout 2016. They pored over millions of confidential emails and corporate documents written in French, English, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin and Arabic and used shoe-leather reporting to track down additional documents and verify facts on six continents. ICIJ entered the race in the International Reporting category, but it was later moved to Explanatory Reporting by the Pulitzer board. The 19-member Pulitzer board is made up of past winners and other distinguished journalists and academics. It chose the winners with the help of 102 jurors. More than 2,500 entries were submitted this year, competing for 21 prizes. Seven of the awards recognize fiction, drama, history, biographies, poetry, general nonfiction and music. The Pulitzers began in 1917 after an endowment by newspaper publisher, Joseph Pulitzer. EDITORS NOTE: This post has been updated with Theophilus Danjumas name. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it has acquired enough vaccines to combat the Cerebro Spinal Meningitis Type C epidemic currently ravaging the country. The Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Kaduna at an emergency meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care Delivery and stakeholders on the CSM outbreak. The outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis has so far affected 130 local government areas in 21 states in Nigeria, with 4,637 suspected cases reported and 489 deaths recorded. Mr. Shuaibs assurance that the government now has enough vaccines comes despite the government admitting that only 500,000 vaccines are currently in the country. Zamfara, the state most affected by the epidemic, had said it needs more than a million vaccines. Mr. Shuaib, however, said Nigeria now has relatively enough vaccines to immunise members of the public, especially in states where there have been severe outbreak of the disease. The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, had said the outbreak of the disease shows that the ministry has to increase its surveillance outlook and preparation on curtailing future epidemic outbreak of diseases in the country. Though the ministry has been preparing for an outbreak of Meningitis in the country, the magnitude of the outbreak and casualties recorded has shown that a lot still needs to be done, the minister said. Mr. Adewole said the vaccines are scare and expensive, as vaccination of 1,296,000 people in epidemic threshold in the five worst affected states will cost $6.5 million. He added that Nigeria will increase its stock of vaccines so that the country can move from reactive emergency vaccination to routine prevention vaccination. Speaking in Kaduna on Tuesday, Mr. Shuaib said that the agency as at 2016 forecasted that there would be an outbreak of meningitis in the country during the dry season and that 634,394 doses of meningococcal A+C vaccine would be needed to respond to the outbreak in 2017. He however lamented that the agency was not able to get the vaccines ready ahead of the outbreak due to lack of funds. At the beginning of the outbreak, there was no vaccine in Nigeria. That was one of the reasons for the slow response in vaccination of people against the disease. But as at today, we already have enough vaccines, he stated. Mr. Shuaib added that the agency, in collaboration with donor partners, the Ministry of Health and National Centre for Disease Control, had already given out 420,000 doses of vaccine in Zamfara, out of the 500,000 it had. We are expecting 823,000 conjugate Type C from the British government and it will be available in the country in a weeks time and there is an ongoing plan on starting vaccination in Sokoto, he stated. Share this: Twitter Facebook No fewer than seven persons died in renewed cult clashes in Ilorin between Friday and Sunday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clashes occurred in different parts of Ilorin such as Ikororo, Baboko, Osere, Olunlande, Egbejila and Coca-Cola road. The clashes, according to a source, involved members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities. The source told NAN that the latest incident was in response to the gruesome killing of a suspected cultist identified as Tobi at Coca-Cola road. NAN had on Thursday reported the killing of one Abiodun Aremu, popularly known as Abbey, at Ikororo area of Niger road in the metropolis. NAN also gathered that an unidentified man was on Saturday killed at Egbejila. A resident of the area, who craved anonymity, said the gunmen trailed the victim to the spot where he was murdered. The man was riding on a motorcycle from Temidire area on Airport-Egbejila road when another motorcycle with three gunmen intercepted him. They pushed him off the motorcycle and shot him at close range, the resident said. The assailants, however, spared the victims friend who was on the motorcycle with him. Some suspected cult members also launched an attack on Friday at Olunlade area of Ilorin where an unidentified man was killed. The incident was said to have occurred at about 4p.m., causing panic in the area. A similar incident also occurred at Olufadi area, off Edun Street, where one Ayo Shuaib was killed. NAN learnt that a teacher with Government Secondary School, Afon, Olatunji Ahmed, popularly known as Itu, was also gunned down at Osere. Mr. Ahmed was said to have gone to pay a visit to a friend in the area when he met his death. He was reportedly shot at close range before his body was evacuated by the police and deposited at the Ilorin General Hospital morgue. The state police spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the death of only two persons. He said although no arrest had been made, the command was on the trail of perpetrators of the crime. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The current meningitis outbreak in Nigeria has so far killed at least 489 people, the health minister, Isaac Adewole, said Tuesday. Mr. Adewole said 4,637 cases of cerebrospinal meningitis were recorded across the country by Monday. The ministry had announced 428 deaths recorded on Friday. The minister gave the latest figure during an emergency meeting of northern state governors and traditional rulers on Tuesday in Kaduna. The meeting was convened by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, to tackle the outbreak of meningitis in the northern region. The minister said among the cases, 171 were confirmed to be the Type C meningitis with Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Niger and Kebbi states most affected. He said so far 823,000 doses of conjugated Type C had been delivered to the Federal Government by the UK government, while UNICEF had delivered over 1 million Type A of the vaccines. Mr. Adewole, a professor of medicine, said the Federal Government would spend over $1 billion to procure vaccines to eradicate meningitis in the five most affected states in the Northern region. Federal needed $1,087 billion to procure vaccines and administer on some 21 million persons against the meningitis in the affected states, he said. He said the federal government had collaborated with the states governments and international development partners to tackle to the outbreak in some 26 states so far affected in the country. The minister said the vaccines were enough to tackle the outbreak in the most affected states. He appealed to the traditional rulers in the region to be more proactive with media and other forms of campaigns to sensitise people on the needed for good hygiene and ventilation as well as avoid overcrowding in their homes. He also appealed to states governments to increase their funding of the health sector to address the health challenges in the region. He urged the governors to invest more funds to revitalize the Health system in the northern states to tackle health challenges. The minister also urged state governments to tackle corruption among state officials. You must stop corruption, when funds are released, utilise the funds properly by tracking and proper monitoring, he said. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Yari, said the state was worse hit by the meningitis due to lack of information for early detection. Mr. Yari had earlier sparked outrage by claiming the disease was Gods punishment to Nigerians for their sins. He said the state had confirmed 216 deaths out of the 2,350 cases recorded in the state since the disease broke out. Mr. Yari said the state had received 45,000 doses of vaccines and so far no new case had been detected in the last three days. Representatives of WHO, UNICEF, DIFD, NEMA are among others attended the event. Share this: Twitter Facebook Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday dismissed reports suggesting he might have received $200 million in bribes to approve the controversial Malabu oil deal. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, the former president said the reports were aimed at rubbishing his name locally and internationally. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr. Jonathan might have received up to $200 million in bribes to approve the deal that has now become subject of international investigation. The report was based on Italian court documents obtained by BuzzFeed and Italian business newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore. In the documents, Italian prosecutors quoted Ednan Agaev, a Russian middleman who helped negotiate the transfer of the oil block to Shell and Eni, as saying that Dan Etete, the former Petroleum Minister at the heart of the oil scandal, said he intended to dole out as much as $400 million in bribes if the deal went through. If Mr. Etete actually paid out such an amount in bribes to Nigerian officials, Agaev stated that he would think President Goodluck Jonathan got at least $200 million of this money, BuzzFeed quoted an excerpt of FBI submissions to Italian authorities as saying. The revelations were made when the FBI interviewed Mr. Agaev, whom prosecutors also said met with Mr. Jonathan on more than one occasion in Nigeria during the OPL 245 negotiations. Mr. Agaev, who was Mr. Etetes representative in the negotiation, said the convicted former petroleum minister told him of the $400 million bribe to Nigerian politicians when he approached him for his payment. The Russian also repeated the claim in a follow-up interview with Italian prosecutors, led by Fabio De Pasquale in Milan. I said that if its true, that he paid, he had to pay 400 million, I assume that at least 200 went to Goodluck (Jonathan). I heard from Chief (Etete), he claims that he had to pay 400 million, so, if this is true, if he paid 400 million, then most probably the President, as the biggest boss, took at least the half of it, BuzzFeed wrote, quoting documents prepared by Italian prosecutors. Mr. Jonathan downplayed the report as hearsay evidence from a man of questionable character who provided no substance to back up his false claim, in reference to Mr. Agaev. Mr. Jonathan also denied he ever tutored Mr. Etetes children in the late 1990s, contrary to what BuzzFeed quoted some Shell officials as saying. Jonathan couldnt have been anybodys private tutor during that period, because he was already in the directorate cadre in Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC (now NDDC), having already left the academia, at the time Etete was a serving minister, the statement said. The former president had earlier reacted to the scandal in a January 10 statement by Mr. Eze. We wish to make it clear that former President Jonathan was not accused, indicted or charged for corruptly collecting any monies as kickbacks or bribes from ENI by the Italian authorities or any other law enforcement body the world over, the statement said. While Mr. Jonathan and officials that served under him continue to deny any wrongdoing, Shell, the global oil firm that desperately wanted control of the OPL 245, on Monday admitted it knew the $1.1 billion it paid alongside ENI for the block would be used as kickback to settle Mr. Etete, a convicted money launderer. On Monday, the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the OPL 245 deal, said it would summon Mr. Jonathan to testify following latest revelations. I can confirm that the former president is now on our radar following new details that were uncovered in latest news reports about the Malabu scandal, Razak Atunwa, the committee chairman, told PREMIUM TIMES. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has deployed 25,000 personnel and 869 vehicles for a special patrol to enhance road safety during the forthcoming Easter celebrations. The deployment includes 267 motorcycles, 106 ambulances and 22 tow trucks for the special patrol exercise scheduled to run from April 13 to April 18. The spokesperson of the FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement on Tuesday that the arrangement was in anticipation of mass movement of people and goods across the country during the period. According to Mr. Kazeem, the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, has directed that adequate measures be put in place to ensure free flow of traffic and reduction in road accidents. He said the measures were also geared toward improved enforcement of traffic laws and improved enlightenment on proper road usage within the period. He stated that the operation would focus on traffic control, excessive speeding, dangerous driving and overtaking, failure to use/install speed limiting device, tyre violation, among other traffic offences. Operational equipment in the categories of radar guns, alcholyzers and all other operational logistics are to be fully deployed for this exercise. The Corps Marshal has equally directed that all Zebras must be active 24/7 and be responsive to calls within the minimum FRSC response time to crashes reported, the FRSC spokesman said. The operation, he said, had been programmed to run in shift as follows: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and that night rescue teams are to be on standby at all operational commands. Mr. Kazeem said the corps would work in collaboration with the military, police, civil defence corps, State Security Services, and other security and traffic management agencies. He quoted the corps marshal as calling on all road users to imbibe the culture of proper road usage to safeguard their lives and those of others. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook Justice D. D. Longji of a Jos High Court in Plateau on Tuesday discharged two armed robbery suspects, Mustapha Mohammed and Amos Emmanuel, over lack of diligent prosecution by the police. I am discharging you and it is with a heavy heart; I am discharging you not based on merit, but because my hands are tied, a visibly miffed Mr. Longji declared, while accusing the police prosecutor of refusing to do his job. He said that he was discharging the duo because of the position of the law on lack of diligent prosecution. I have no reason to hold you because the prosecution has not diligently prosecuted the matter and seem uninterested in it. But, if it is in your character to be a thief, you will come back here again; you will be re-arrested one day and brought back to court to face your charges. There is no peace for the wicked, you are hereby discharged, but not acquitted, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suspects were discharged after their counsel, David Adudu, prayed the court to strike out the case and discharge his clients as the prosecution had not shown any interest in the matter. He also claimed that the prosecution had consistently frustrated hearing on the case since it commenced in June 2016. Mr. Longji, while agreeing with the defence counsel, said that the prosecution was not interested in the case and had been absent at the hearings. Because of the persistent absence of the prosecution, the case suffered series of adjournments. The worst aspect is that no reasons were usually given for the absence, he said. At their arraignment in June 2016, the police prosecutor, E. A. Enegbonoise, had told the court that the accused persons, armed with a knife and a pistol, robbed one Chinyere Onyeabor, at Abattoir, Jos, on April 14, 2016. Mr. Enegbonoise said that the accused persons, in company of a third accused, Kenneth Okafor, currently in Bauchi prisons over another matter, attacked Ms. Onyeabor and dispossessed her of a hand bag, three phones and an undisclosed amount of money. The police prosecutor said that the first accused person, Kenneth Okafor, had told the police, in a confessional statement, that the knife and pistol belonged to the first accused (Mohammed), who brought them to his house and suggested that they should go out to rob. Mr. Enegbonoise quoted the accused as saying that when they went out to rob, they picked a woman at Farin-Gada roundabout in their tricycle, but later pushed her out of the moving vehicle and took her belongings. The prosecutor further quoted the accused as saying that at a military check point at Abattoir, soldiers discovered the arms and apprehended them. The statement also quoted Mr. Mohammed as saying that he bought the gun from one Isiaka Sani, a resident of Congo-Russia area of Jos, at the cost of N5, 000. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 1 (1 and 2), and 27 (1), of the Robbery and Fire Arm special provision Act, CAP R11, of the Federation of Nigeria, and punishable with death and a prison term of up to 14 years. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group continued its Seven-Day Global Week of Action on Tuesday with the Catholic Archbishop for Abuja Diocese, John Onaiyekan, calling on the Nigerian government to do more to free all Nigerians in illegal captivity. The week-long programme is to mark the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls who were seized by Boko Haram insurgents from their school in Borno State in 2014. Mr. Onaiyekan was one of the key figures from the two major religious groups in Nigeria who joined a solidarity march of the BBOG group to the junction of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The cleric and the chief imam of Apo legislatives quarters Jumaat Mosque, Mouhammed Khalid, hoisted a banner with the inscription:I MARCH For ChibokGirls, as they led the about three kilometres trek which began from the Unity Fountain in the Central Business District of Abuja. Addressing reporters at the Federal Secretariat junction of the Presidential Villa, Mr. Onaiyekan said the inscription on the banner was about the life of every Nigerian deprived of freedom. Life is important. We have still almost 200 girls out there missing for about three years. So I feel concerned not only them about the remaining Chibok schoolgirls but also maybe running into hundreds of other Nigerians who are missing, carried away by kidnappers, the Catholic Cardinal stated. Their families are languishing. We came to draw the attention of the whole nation. We are glad that we are able to carry out this simple exercise of walking down the streets from the Unity Fountain to here. And we thank government for making police available to protect us. This is not the first time I am joining in this kind of walking. I was here a year ago. At that time, most of the Sambisa forest was still under the control of Boko Haram and when we were marching, we were hoping that our girls were somewhere in the hands of the Boko Haram within those premises, he added. Today, the situation is different. We have been told that the whole of the Sambisa forest has been completely cleared. The question we are asking now is: Where are our girls? They cannot disappear. Those who are responsible for taking away these girls, whether they are Boko Haram or not, they have the first major responsibility to tell us what has happened to our girls and then whether they are alive or they are dead, whether they are around or they have been sold off. They have the responsibility to tell not only the parents and the family of the girls but the rest of Nigerians. And we believe too that the government ought to step up action in this direction. That is what is bringing us here and I believe the rest of the world has been waiting to hear and they cant understand that we lose people like that and nothing seems to be happening, he said. One of the major reasons why I came too is because this matter concerns me personally, and that is why I brought my brother here. The Holy father was taken away by kidnappers over a year ago and up to now, we have had no information about him. Now that touches me and I am sure there are many Nigerians who are suffering the same thing from the loss of members of their families. And so, this march is not just about Chibok girls, it is about the whole idea that Nigerians can just disappear, missing and we are not able to trace them, either dead or alive, he said. The Islamic cleric, Mr. Khalid, told journalists at the event that he allied himself with the position articulated by Mr. Onaiyekan. I joined this action because I want to equally send the message that His Eminence is sending to Nigerians and to the government that we can never allow the terrorists to win the war. If they get away free with those girls, then they have relatively won the war. That is what we cant afford. And also, we are tired of having Nigerians kidnapped, abducted and just like that. We want more actions from our government. It is true that some clerics like myself have been killed in the course of the insurgence of Boko Haram. We are not saying that the government is doing nothing, we are telling them to do more. Also at the march were the conveners of the BBOG group, Aisha Yesufu and Oby Ezekwezeli. The group began the seven-day global week of action activities Friday last week and vowed it will not give up on the 195 Chibok schoolgirls still under the captivity of Boko Haram. Share this: Twitter Facebook The human rights group, Amnesty International, has called on the Inspector-General of Police to order an investigation into last weekends forced eviction, demolition of properties, and death of a youth at Otodogbame, a waterfront community in Lekki, Lagos. In a statement on Monday, the group said those responsible for the deliberate destruction of properties must be held responsible. The Lagos state government must stop using security threats as an excuse to carry out forced evictions, which are prohibited under international human rights law, said Morayo Adebayo, Amnesty International Nigeria Researcher. We are extremely concerned that despite an existing court order prohibiting the demolition of Otodo Gbame, Lagos State government continues to forcibly evict, assault, and endanger the lives of its residents. The Inspector General of Police must immediately order an investigation into the deaths, deliberate destruction of property, and forced eviction of the fishing community Otodo Gbame along Lagos waterfronts and hold to account those responsible. Armed officials of the Lagos State Task Force, over the weekend, returned to Otodogbame to begin fresh demolition of structures and shanties. One resident was shot in the neck and died before medical help could reach him. Two others one of them shot in the chest were in critical conditions at the Lagos Island General Hospital, witnesses had told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. The latest demolition came three weeks after a wave of demolition, despite a subsisting court order, rendered an estimated 5,000 people homeless. In its statement, Amnesty International called for adequate, alternative housing to be urgently provided for those that were forcibly evicted from the community and who are now at risk of homelessness. That these communities live in such hazardous conditions at all is a failure of the government to meet the demands of rapid urbanization and its human rights obligations to provide adequate housing for everyone. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered the State Security Service to produce former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, in court on May 11 for arraignment on allegations of fraud. Mr. Suswam and two others were accused by the Nigerian government of fraudulently diverting N9.7 billion from funds meant for the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE P. The first defendant is also facing a separate charge for a similar offence. They were to be arraigned on Tuesday following a 32-count charge proffered against them; but Mr. Suswan was absent, thereby necessitating an adjournment of the scheduled arraignment. Although the other defendants, Omadaji Oklobia and Janeth Anuga, were present in court, the prosecution said the first defendant could not be served with the charge when approached for that purpose. The first defendant is on administrative bail granted him by the police. When we went to serve him, we discovered that he is in the custody of the SSS. Efforts to serve him in accordance with section 2 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, failed. Therefore, we served his counsel, in compliance with section 379 (3) of the ACJA, said the prosecution counsel, Aminu Halilu. Mr. Halilu further said a letter to the effect of the charge had been communicated and acknowledged by the SSS, stressing that the first defendant was not served because he refused service. But responding to the claims made by Mr. Halilu, Adedayo Adedeji said the prosecution was wrong in submitting that Mr. Suswan refused to be served. Yesterday at about 2 to 3 p.m., two officers from the police walked into our office, seeking to serve a file on this instant suit. Out of respect for this court, we received it in protest. Our objection is that being an originating process, it ought to be served personally. What the police did is pretentious. The fact that we are representing him in another matter does not mean that we must represent him, also in this one. It cannot now be correct to say that Suswan refused to be served. We admit that in the absence of the first defendant, this matter cannot hold, he said. The presiding judge, Gabriel Kolawole, then adjourned the matter till May 11, after issuing orders for the first defendant to be served with the said notice. Prosecution shall effect service on the legal department of the SSS, which in turn shall produce the first defendant in court, except if he has been released on administrative bail. The second and third defendants shall maintain the administrative bail they are currently enjoying. Mr. Suswam has been in custody of the SSS for over one month. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday refused an application by the son of former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Bello Haliru. Mr. Haliru and his son, Abba Mohammed, alongside their company, Bam Project and Properties Limited, are facing trial, for alleged diversion of N300 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. Mr. Mohammed had asked the court for permission to travel abroad for medical treatment in an application dated March 13. At the opening of session on Tuesday, the counsel to Mr. Mohammed, Emmanuel Ekong, told the court that his client had a previous appointment in March 23 with his doctors abroad, but could not meet up with the said appointment because the application was not decided upon. He added that another appointment with Mr. Mohammeds doctors had been scheduled for May, this year. Mr. Ekong further said his client would also want the passports currently in the custody of the court to be released so that the defendant can travel if the application for the trip is granted. The judge, however, refused to grant the application because the court does not have any notice of further appointment with Mr. Mohammeds doctors, apart from the previous appointment on March 23. There is no evidence brought forth by the defendant that he has another appointment in May in the United Kingdom for treatment, the judge said in refusing the application. Share this: Twitter Facebook Wushishi Local Government in Niger says it has spent N16 million to renovate damaged structures at the Zungeru Primary School attended by prominent Nigerians, including the nations first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe. Bashir Maishanu, its Chairman, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Wushishi that the school had a beautiful history and therefore deserved a special attention. He listed structures fixed by the local government to include classrooms, staff rooms and offices. The chairman, who also attended the school, said that new furniture and other basic learning facilities had also been procured to improve the teaching and learning atmosphere. The council boss also disclosed plans to raise internal revenue, stating that it was targeting N100 million in 2017. The revenue department has been re-organized; holes usually responsible for leakages have been plugged. We expect massive gains, he said. He said that special attention was being paid to water supply, health care delivery, roads, culverts and agricultural inputs, stressing that the efforts were all geared toward a better life for rural dwellers. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention in the still-born Third Republic, Bashir Tofa, has refused to appear before a Sharia Court in Kano over a $200,000 debt. A former Minister of Power and Steel, Bashir Dalhatu, had dragged Mr. Tofa before the court after failing to recover the debt. Because of Mr. Tofas refusal to appear before the court, the presiding judge, Umar Bakinzuwo, on Monday adjourned the matter for the eighth time to May 10. In his claims, Mr. Dahatu said Mr. Tofa has failed to return the $200,000 he lent him while Mr. Tofa was abroad. He said the accused initially claimed that he thought the money was a gift but has failed to fulfil his promise to pay back after being made to realise it was a loan. Mr. Dalhatu said Mr. Tofa requested to pay back the loan in the Nigerian currency, a request to which the complainant did not accept. Following the failure of the two men to reach a settlement on the issue, Mr. Dalhatu, who is a legal practitioner, filed a case before the Goron Dutse Upper Shariah Court. At the resumed hearing on Monday, Mr Tofa again refused to turn up for the matter. He was, however, represented by his lawyer, M.M. Abubakar, who notified the court that his client had filed an appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the court over the matter. The presiding judge then adjourned the case to May 10. Mr. Tofa was the candidate of the NRC in the June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by late Moshood Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party. The election was annulled by the regime of the then military president, Ibrahim Babangida. Share this: Twitter Facebook A prosecution witness in the ongoing criminal trial of former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, on Tuesday told a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court that she doesnt know the names of the Abia state government officials who came to the Umuahia branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) to clear bank drafts to the tune of N200 million. Christiana Ohiri, a manager of a branch of the bank while testifying before the court, said she had not met, personally, all the government officials involved in the transaction because they were liaising with her superiors who are currently not working for the bank. There was no single draft of N200 million issued to the states former Commissioner for Finance, Jones Udeogu; the name of Slok did not feature in the statement of account and I dont know if Slok limited have any contract with the government of Abia, said Mrs. Ohiri. Mr. Kalu, his company Slok Nigeria Limited, and Mr. Udeogu are facing a 34-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud amounting to N3.2 billion. The accused persons, appearing before Justice Mohammed Idris, were alleged to have diverted the money from Abia State governments treasury between 2011 and 2005 while Mr. Kalu was governor. According to the banker, the statement of account in the exhibit B6-B10 was issued by UBA as it had the stamp of the bank and the account number of the Government House bank account. While also agreeing with the counsel to the second defendant, Solomon Akuma, that no one signatory to the Government House account could clear a cheque from the bank without the signature of the other signatories, Mrs. Ohiri said the bank cannot honour any cheque without the signature of Orji Theodore Ahamefula. Mr. Orji, who is the immediate past governor of Abia State, was at the time the Chief of Staff to Mr. Kalu. He, alongside Mr. Udeogu, were signatories to the Government House account. The trial was adjourned to April 12 for continuation of trial. Share this: Twitter Facebook I appeal and beg you for mutual respect, because otherwise you are showing disrespect for the Smolensk victims, President Andrzej Duda said Monday at a ceremony marking the 7th anniversary of a 2010 air crash which among others killed the Polish president. Recalling his 2016 appeal for reconcilement and forgiveness around the Smolensk catastrophe, Duda president stressed that forgiveness in this case was also difficult for him personally, but even harder for the families of the victims. "If anyone thinks this is a light matter for me after what I've seen and experienced (in connection with the Smolensk crash - PAP), then all I can say is that if I find it difficult, just think how hard it must be for those whose emptiness will never be filled again", Andrzej Duda said. Andrzej Duda appealed to respect the disaster victims. Recalling that among them were leading intellectuals, politicians and scientists from both left and right; the president remanded that today "all lay together" and deserved respect in equal measure. Recalling the disaster's aftermath, president Duda reminded about the crowds who turned out to bid farewell to President Kaczynski and his wife, and observed that at the time the Polish people "passed a great historical test". "Seven years ago, in those days after the Smolensk disaster, ordinary citizens, the Polish people, you all, passed a great historical test, you were here, paid homage to those to whom this great tribute was owed", Andrzej Duda declared. Poland with no memory is Poland without a foundation that would help defend it, President Duda said. Commenting the then Polish government's negligence in the Smolensk inquiries, Andrzej Duda said it confirmed one of its politicians' much-publicised statement that the Polish state "only exists in theory". "When we look back to those days, then unfortunately those words come to mind", the president said. Appealing for justice in the Smolensk inquiries, president Duda stressed that they should clear the causes of the crash, also in view of the fact that the disaster machine had reportedly been serviced shortly beforehand. 'The plane was reportedly serviced, wasn't it", Andrzej Duda asked rhetorically. In this context he assured that clearance of the disaster circumstances was his and the Polish government's duty. "It is my and the Polish government's duty to reach the truth", the president said. In his address at the anniversary ceremony Andrzej Duda also expressed his belief that a memorial to the Smolensk disaster victims and a separate one to President Lech Kaczynski, who was killed in the crash, should be erected on Warsaw's central Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street. "Two monuments should be erected on Warsaw's central Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street. One should commemorate all victims of the fatal crash, and the other should be a monument to President Lech Kaczynski", the president said. Later, President Duda accompanied by J.Kaczynski and daughter to late President Kaczynski laid flowers under the plaque commemorating President Lech Kaczynski who perished in the Smolensk crash along with the First Lady and 94 other passengers. President Andrzej Duda Monday, on the 7th anniversary of the Smolensk disaster, laid flowers under the plaque commemorating President Lech Kaczynski, placed on the wing of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. The plaque was unveiled a year ago by President Duda, leader of the ruling party Law and Justice (PiS) and twin brother of the late president Jarosaw Kaczynski, and daughter of the perished presidential couple, Marta Kaczynska. The plaque reads, among others: "The President of the Republic of Poland Professor Lech Kaczynski worked and lived in the years 2005-2010 in this building". (PAP) President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday signed into law an amendment to the Penal Code aggravating penalties for criminal acts against the life, health and freedom of children. In question are such acts as aggravated battery, kidnapping, abandonment or child trafficking. President Duda said that the signed law aims at greater legal and penal protection of minors, especially minors below 15 years of age and helpless persons. He added the law also aims to protect the weakest, those most prone to being harmed and who have difficulties with finding support. I deeply believe that the amendment of the penal law will improve the existing legal protection of all persons below 15 years of age, stressed the president. The president noted that the law was an effect of cooperation of the government commissioner for childrens rights protection and the commissioner for patients' rights. Apart from raising penalties for criminal acts against the life, health and freedom of children, the law also penalises the failure to inform authorities about such crimes. (PAP) ( Read 9947 Times) Source : (vilas janve)SHRIMAD RAJCHANDRA MISSION DHARMPUR presented an ultimate Drama Production, Mahatma ke Mahatma at Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur on April 5 and 6, 2017. This play was studded with outstanding Creativity and Concern.This unique drama has won three prestigious awards for Best of the Best Drama, Best Director and three awards for Best supporting actors. Last three months it has staged 200 house full shows. Thousands of people have seen this drama in 111 cities of India. Entire nation is commemorating 150th birth anniversary of great Indian saint, poet-philosopher luminary and honored as and spiritual guide of Mahatma Gandhi, Shrimad Rajchand.The concept of this Divine and Mega theatre has been given by the founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharmapur who is profound follower of Shrimadji. Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai himself is world known divine personality has done Ph.D. on the best literary creation of Shrimadji Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra. Shrimad Rajchandra Mission, Dharmpur is raising funds for building 200 bed Hospital at Dharmpur, District Valsad of south Gujarat through staging of this Drama. Staging of these two shows at Udaipur brought pleasant surprise to art and culture lovers of the Smart City.Yugpurush, the two act play started with an instance before the last prayer meeting (Prarthna Sabha) of Mahatma Gandhi at Delhi. Gandhi ji while spinning Charkha recited Srimadjis poem Nirkhine Nav Yauvana. Honoring sincere request of followers Gandhiji told them story of Shrimadji with enthusiasm.Through flash back the significant instances of Shrimadjis life and his influence on Gandhi ji were enacted with high proficiency and technology engrossing each and every viewer.Gandhiji met Shrimadji for the first time in Mumbai, upon his return from England as barrister in 1891.Shrimadjis inner equipoise, absorption in spiritual pursuits, enlightening wisdom, knowledge of the scriptures and moral earnestness left deep-rooted impression on Gandhiji. Their relationship blossomed over profound interactions in two years that Gandhiji spent in Mumbai.Upon moving to South Africa, Gandhiji corresponded with Shrimadji through letters. Shrimadjis insightful thoughts ignited the fire of spiritual inquisitiveness in Gandhiji. Shrimadjis inherent adherence to the principles of Satya, Ahimsa and Dharma later crystallized as the fundamental tenets of Gandhism. Although Shrimadji left His mortal body at young age of 33 in 1901, Shrimadjis letters and compositions were Gandhijis dear companions. He contemplated upon them time and time again. Gandhijiwould write about Shrimadji, speak about Him in his speeches and discuss Him with his close associates. He continued to be deeply inspired by his bond with Shrimadji, and his spiritual work.The force that influenced Gandhijis ideas and guided his beliefs, the entity that contributed in the making of the Mahatma-Srhimad Rajchandraji is revered for His great spiritual state, extraordinary personality and literary genius by seekers across the world.The drama was well conceived, designed and presented. The strong script by Uttam Guda played a pivotal role. Description of each instance was so well woven in dialogues that many a time audience gave instant response. Off course the actors did their best to live each and every character on stage. Their natural acting and timely dialogue delivery with perfect voice modulation made every scene significant.Entire drama was flawless and the element of inquisition was sustained till the end. Involvement of slight humor made this two hours drama very lively. Actors used hidden button mikes which helped them to concentrate more on acting. Henish Kharwad as Shrimadji almost stole the show, His tremendous memory, confidence and concerned acting made him outstanding actor. Darshan Mahajan and Indrajit Soni as Young and Senior Gandhiji were very effective and created required impact. Preeta Pandya and Gauri Vishwakarma handled all female characters show casing their multi talented acting. Other actors Bhavya Denisa,Rupesh Makwana,Yash Shah, Kunal Goswami, Twinkle Dave, Nimesh Mehta, Madhur Bhavsar, and Vismay Shah also contributed their share of good acting. Production Director Nilesh Patel did his job well.This Mega drama was skillfully and creatively directed by Rajesh Joshi.Rajsh Joshis tireless efforts were visualized. Handling such a mega production is not an easy game. He kept every spectator engaged till the end. Music by Sachin & Jigar made this production memorable. Ravi Shaladiya operated music with perfection. Set Design and settings were efficiently handled by Subhash Ashar and Praveen Bhosle.Not only the elaborate and sufficing set is praiseworthy but the young team also deserves appreciation who handled set within stipulated time.These were Brijesh,Amit, Dinesh , Jameel,Shokat Khan and Rashid Shekh. Make up by Jitendra Shinde and Bhushan Dutta, Costume by Dinesh and Raju Sharma did their respective jobs well. Light Design and operation by Bhoutesh Vyas,Rishi, Praveen and Kapil Jadhav is also worth appreciating. The back stage work was handled by the volunteers of the Mission. Inspiration by Pujya Gurudevshri and team work made this production an extraordinary theatrical production with noble cause. Father of the Nation Gandhiji rightly said about Shrimadji-I have often declared that I have learnt, and learnt much, from the lives of many persons. But it is from Kavishri (Shrimadjis) life that I have learnt the most. It was from His life that I understood the way of compassion and The more I consider His life and writings, the more I consider Him to have been the Best Indian of HisTimes.Udaipur was lucky to have this Mega drama and those who have witnessed this play will never forget the teachings of Shrimadji and Gandhiji in their life. ( Read 6328 Times) Source : Udaipur, Udai Lal son of Tejpal Meena, Sarpanch of Kukda Angari Village in Salumber tehsil who is accused of rape , despite an order of his arrest by the Additional Superintendent of Police Binja Ram and also denial of anticipatory bail by Salumber Court has not been arrested despite constant reminders by All India Progressive Women's Association and CPI(ML). The accused has raped a woman in the village Sati Ki Chori, Kukda Angari, in Salumber Tehsil of Udaipur district of the state of Rajasthan on 20th February, 2016. It is more than a year now and the accused is scot free due to political patronage of the ruling BJP All India Progressive Women's Association , said Prof. Sudha Chaudhary, State secretary of All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA). In a press conference in which the victim and her husband were present the CPI(ML) district secretary Dr. Chandra Dev Ola and Saurabh Naruka accused the Home Minister of nurturing a breed of Anandpals in his own home district. How is it that the accused is moving freely even one year after incident despite the instruction of the High Court, they asked. AIPWA executive met the IG Police Anand Shrivastav and demanded the arrest of the accused. The organization sent a memorandum to the Governor , Home Minister, Collector , Chief Minister and the Chairperson , State Women's Commission. Megha Ji , husband of the victim accused that the MLA of Dhariyavad, Gotam Lal Meena was supporting the accused and was threatening the Victim and his family. The Victim Chandani ( Changed name) accused that the Sarpanch Udai Lal has been indulging in such crimes but had never been opposed. He thinks it his right to exploit women, particularly those who are poor. Prof. Sudha Chaudhary said that the SP of Udaipur Rajendra Prasad Goyal seems to be under political pressure and is not very keen at arresting the culprit. The leaders of CPI(ML) Dr. Ola and Saurabh stated that the party will launch a massive agitation till the accused is booked. Mangalmayee collection impressed udaipurites ( Read 4894 Times) 11 Apr 17 Share | Print This Page Mangalmayee, a 106 year old legacy and connoisseurs in creating Rajasthani traditional wear along with Jaipur Pink is hosted to exhibit at ShambhuNiwas was really impressive ShambhuNiwas is the beauteous abode of Mrs. Jaya Shaktawat, situated in one of the opulent colonies of Udaipur and done up very tastefully from Sabyasachi wallpapers to silver furniture on the inside. The showcase will be a three day affair, inaugurated byMaharajKunwaraniSahibaNivrittiKumariJiMewarof Udaipur and finishes on seventh with positive mode Mangalmayee, displayed latest collection of intricately handcrafted poshaks on tissue fabrics and new collection of sarees from the handlooms of Benaras. Adding to which there will be Mangalmayees specialty of hand dyed chiffon sarees as well as poshaks in silks and brocades embellished with detailed needlework of zardozi, aari, gotapatti and danka. Jaya Shaktawat, owner of JagatNiwas Palace and the host. Informed that They are masters at not only preserving really old pieces of art that go on apparel but also they have people with the finest skills who use the traditional ways and designs to make products and that quality is something that you don't find in today's times.- in a press meet while shareing the views adds It was an honour and privilege to design and craft the wedding Poshak worn by MaharajSahibaNivrittiKumari Singh of Mewar at her wedding, crafted in specially designed danka embroidered delicately and it took almost 6 months to complete it , Jaipur Pink brought forward varied range of stoles and clothing line in Mughal prints, Ajrakh as well as hand woven Bengal cotton to delicate home linens in prints with embroidered cushions. Mangalmayee, established in 1911, has been catering to the royalties with their finest selection of beautiful sarees and poshaks for centuries now. The present owner and 4th generation of the founder, Sandeep Burad has restored some stunning heirlooms for the royal families of Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Patiala and many more with their special revival technique using transfer work. Jaipur Pink by SunitaBurad, is a designer souvenir store with a range of exclusive customized artifacts, fashion and home with the thought that amalgamation of tradition with the changing times can lead to amazing and distinctive creations. Source : This Article/News is also avaliable in following categories : Business News , English News Your Comments ! Share Your Openion This past summer, their first as the owners of Scarborough Inn, Brandie and Steve Cesari housed inn employees from Serbia, Slovakia, China, Russia, Jamaica and Poland. The Scarborough Inn in Ocean City used a J-1 visa program that allows international students to travel to America during summer vacations to work. Now the federal government is proposing to tighten the programs regulations and requirements for sponsoring employers, affecting the Cesaris and many other employers in the Jersey Shores tourism market. The J-1 visa program started in the 1960s, offering academic opportunities to foreigners and in the early 1990s for work travel, said Daniel Costa, director of immigration law and policy research at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington. He said the programs were meant to promote a cultural exchange. Vicki Clark, president of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce, said many businesses in resort areas in Cape May County participate in the program. Students (from abroad) have the opportunity to experience things that are typically American, Clark said. They must work in a position where they are going to have interactions with the public. Its a wonderful experience for our young people here in Cape May County, as well. On Oct. 6, the U.S. Department of State, which oversees the J-1 visa program, initiated a final rule for new general provisions. The rule allows a 60-day comment period from the public. The J-1 visa Summer Work Travel program has received some scrutiny, especially after students working in a Herseys chocolate plant protested in 2012. The provisions in the final rule address tighter requirements for sponsors. Sponsors help match foreign students with jobs. Improvements also will be made to a database sponsors use to track the whereabouts of exchange visitors. The new rules effective date will be Jan. 5. Written comments will be accepted until Dec. 5. In the case of South Jersey, students typically are a part of the Summer Work Travel program, which allows college and university students to work in the U.S. Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, said temporary work programs are contentious because some participants do not return to their home countries or are mistreated in the workplace. Many of these kids have a great time, make some money, and some are exploited, Vaughan said. I just think its a huge stretch to think it should be called a cultural exchange program. Vaughan said she started following the J-1 visa program when she was a consular officer at the State Department. The most current data for 2012 states 5,914 students traveled to New Jersey in the J-1 visas Summer Work Travel program. Most of those numbers, Clark said, would be concentrated in South Jersey resort areas, such as Avalon, Cape May and Ocean City. Weve been very involved in advocating for the security of this program, which has been unfortunately brought into immigration legislation in the Senate, Clark said. There have been a lot of new regulations and things like that; fees on the program that would be a real threat to employers who will actually be hiring. Clark said that international employees help fill gaps in employment left by local people who dont want or are unable to fill some jobs. Most locals, she said, are looking for permanent jobs, not seasonal work. We have a population year-round of around 90,000, and our summer population swells to about 675,000, Clark said of Cape May County. That creates a lot of job opportunities, and the reason we need the international students to come here and work is we dont have enough people available to work locally. Clark estimates 3,500 to 4,000 international students traveled to New Jersey to participate in the program this summer. Denise Beckson, director of operations and human resources at Moreys Piers, said the amusement park hired just fewer than 600 international students through the J-1 visa program less than in previous summers. Overall, the attraction hired about 1,500 to 1,600 workers. Beckson said Moreys Piers makes sure all available positions are first filled with U.S. workers. Its a requirement to make sure that the job (of an international student) doesnt take the place of an American, Beckson said. They have the same rate of pay as an American worker, and the same types of regulations as an American worker. Costa, of the the Economic Policy Institute, said its possible businesses are unable to recruit enough U.S. workers for some jobs, especially for summer positions that are typically filled by students. However, he said, youth unemployment is high in the U.S. The youth unemployment rate in July was 14.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. One of the reason employers probably like the (J-1 visa) program so much is they dont have to pay a lot of regular taxes: Social Security, Medicare or unemployment taxes, Costa said. They end up saving 7 or 8 percent per worker. A tax calculator at Jobofer.org can figure the employer savings between hiring an American worker versus hiring a J-1 visa worker who gets paid the same wage in this case $8.25 an hour, the states current minimum wage is $2,370. Costa also said that a good recommendation for the work exchange program would be to use a system in which employees would have to prove they first advertised open positions to U.S. workers, giving them a chance to apply. The idea that these are jobs Americans wont do is silly, Vaughan said. In my opinion, these programs are guest-worker programs that should be regulated by the Labor Department, and labor market impacts are being overlooked. Costa and Vaughan agree some aspects of the J-1 visa program, such as the Fulbright Program and other educational opportunities, are more successful than Summer Work Travel. The two also believe that the work exchange aspects of the J-1 visa program would be better handled by the Department of Labor, rather than the State Department. This summer, Moreys Piers hosted Thanksgiving in July for their international employees as a cultural experience. Robin Lerner, State Department deputy assistant secretary, oversees the J-1 visa program. This year, she visited Wildwood during Thanksgiving in July as a stop on her Route J-1 project, which chronicles her travels around the country visiting J-1 participant sites. At Moreys Piers Thanksgiving celebration, I sat with students studying law, journalism, medical engineering, econometrics, finance, marketing and the list goes on and on, Lerner said in a blog post written about her experience. I will always admire their bravery in coming this far to realize a dream, improve their English, or scratch that adventure itch. She has indicated that we have a really strong program and that we are honoring the spirit of the program, Beckson said. Brandie Cesari, who owns the Scarborough Inn, said she understands the concerns of people who dont use the J-1 program. But she said she could not have run her inn this summer without the help of international students. She said American students often are unavailable to work during the times that the inn needs employees, such as in August through October or early May, when U.S. students are in school. The vacation times of students in different countries vary, making them more available. Some people feel (J-1 visa participants) are taking away the American jobs, Cesari said. But all of us that use J-1 say that, No, these are jobs Americans dont want. Contact Devin Loring: 609-272-7022 Foreigners are vital to success at Wildwoods Moreys Piers, and not just because they buy tickets. From spring through fall, the park is one of many Cape May County businesses that rounds out its staff with international students through the U.S. State Departments J-1 student exchange visa program. The Cape May County Chamber of Commerce organized a seminar this week on the program for participating businesses. Denise Beckson, director of operations and human resources for Moreys Piers, was one of many business representatives who attended Tuesday. She said it offered her and others a valuable opportunity to learn more about the program they rely on to meet their staffing needs. It was a great session, Beckson said. Many businesses in the shore towns were there and were able to share some of their concerns, some of their issues, but then also best practices. The J-1 visa program was established by the State Department to promote cultural exchanges by allowing foreign students to visit the United States and work at an American business while on break from school. Students sign up for various jobs, such as au pair or camp counselor, and are placed with a business that fits their area of interest. New Jersey businesses employed about 6,000 students on summer work travel J-1 visas last year, many of them at shore businesses. Moreys Piers employs an average of 600 each year, which constitutes a third of their seasonal work force. J-1 workers are especially valuable during the spring and fall, when many seasonal employees are at school or their permanent jobs, Chamber of Commerce President Vicki Clark said. These foreign students enable businesses to stay open so that we can have great events during the weekend in the spring and in the fall, Clark said. Tuesdays seminar was organized with the Council on International Educational Exchange. A representative from the group presented information to businesses on what they need to know about employing students through the J-1 program. Among the subjects addressed at the seminar were the impact of the federal Affordable Care Act and immigration legislation in Congress on the program. Barbara Suelke, accountant at Cabanas restaurant in Cape May, said she attended the seminar to learn more about how taxes affect J-1 workers. A lot of them have come to me with tax questions, Suelke said. I just want to be able, when they leave this country and they have questions about their taxes, to answer those questions. Businesses in other areas that employ many J-1 students, such as Ocean City, Md., have organized outreach programs to facilitate visa holders cultural experiences, Beckson said. She said she and other business representatives at the meeting discussed offering such a program in South Jersey. Contact Braden Campbell: 609-272-7415 ATLANTIC CITY The project to rebuild the Boardwalks stretch along Absecon Inlet shows signs of progress as Memorial Day weekend 2017 nears. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has contractors at work, using cranes big enough to pick up 38-foot concrete piles as easily as a third-grader picks up a pencil. A second crane is hoisting rocks as heavy as 13 tons apiece to bolster a metal seawall designed to protect the future Boardwalk from the storms that wrecked the old one. That multi-part seawall is set to cost $21.4 million and the new Boardwalk itself another $8 million, federal and local officials say. The Army Corps is paying for the protective wall and the city and state are funding the new Boardwalk behind it, they add. That multi-part seawall is set to cost $21.4 million and the new Boardwalk itself another $8 million, federal and local officials say. The Army Corps is paying for the protective wall and the city and state are funding the new Boardwalk behind it, they add. The first phase of the project will reopen a Boardwalk section thats been firmly closed since Hurricane Sandy slammed South Jersey. That storms floods sent sections of the decking into neighborhood streets and spawned national news reports on the destruction of the Atlantic City Boardwalk, but locals knew that area was badly damaged and mostly closed long before that 2012 storm. Some neighbors say theyve been waiting 15 years or so to take a stroll along their local Boardwalk, but Mayor Don Guardian can trace the trouble back much further than that. The last time the boards along the Inlet were whole was before Atlantic City was hit by a major hurricane in 1944, Guardian says, adding that the wooden walk took another big beating in the famed March 1962 noreaster. So seeing all those decades of damage erased is a dream come true, added the mayor, who lives in the neighborhood himself. Cape May County Republicans have withdrawn support for a state Assembly candidate and former contestant on TVs The Apprentice less than a month after party members voted to endorse him. Paperwork has been filed to remove Brian McDowell, a real estate agent based in North Wildwood, from the county party line, according to a statement posted on the partys Facebook page. County Republican Chairman Marcus Karavan said in a statement that issues and information have surfaced, but he declined to elaborate in an interview Tuesday. But McDowell said the decision was made after two anonymous letters were sent to Karavan one in February alleging McDowell had been convicted of a felony and another in March claiming he had committed a crime in Florida and had been charged with domestic violence, among other allegations. McDowell, a contestant on now-President Donald Trumps reality show The Apprentice in 2005, said the letters were false, and he pledged to run in the Republican primary in June despite the revoked endorsement. I have no idea where the letters came from, he added. McDowell said Karavan and others also presented him with a 10-second video showing him and someone described by McDowell as a friendly acquaintance. Had a few drinks. It was at a bar and I used the F-word, McDowell said in describing the video. They tried to use that video as blackmail to have me withdraw from the race. Karavan told The Press of Atlantic City he did not want to respond to McDowells comments. The statement posted on the county GOP Facebook page cited information that places the candidate in a light that is inconsistent with several of the core principles of the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization. Party members backed McDowell on March 13 at the GOPs annual convention as one of two candidates to challenge incumbent Assemblymen Bruce Land and Bob Andrzejczak, both D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic. The other candidate for Assembly endorsed by the county party was Cumberland County Freeholder James Sauro. Karavan said it has not been decided whether the party will back a new Assembly candidate. In the statement, he said a meeting of the partys executive committee will be scheduled soon to discuss the June 6 primary. McDowell said he still has the support of the Republican organizations in Cumberland and Atlantic counties and is hoping the Cape May County GOP will get behind him if he wins in the primary. They felt that because I had some baggage, they didnt want to be fielding questions and defending it, he said. McDowell said his only baggage is some speeding tickets. Im not running to be the pope, he added. VINELANDCumberland County and state health officials will hold a public health equity forum Tuesday during National Minority Health Month. Health experts will focus on the theme of Bridging Health Equity Across Communities during this month's awareness topic. Cumberland's healthy equity forum is one of three taking place in New Jersey counties that will examine health and wellness and disease prevention. Experts will also discuss how community partners can work together to eliminate health inequality. Eliminating health disparities and addressing health equity is a key priority in keeping healthy New Jerseyans well, preventing those at risk from getting sick, and keeping those with chronic conditions from getting sicker," said Commissioner Cathleen Bennett, of the state Department of Health, in a release. Check in, registration and a continental breakfast will start at 8:30 a.m. at Cumberland County College's Luciano Conference Center, 3322 College Drive, Vineland. Presentations and panel discussions will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Forum speakers will include Bennett as well as experts from the state Department of Health Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, Cumberland County Heath Department, Vineland Health Department, Inspira Health Network Foundation, Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA, The Southwest Council and the N.J. Health Care Quality Institute. Local hospitals, health departments and community groups in all counties will host about 70 events throughout the state during National Minority Health Month. More than 30 percent of the state's population in 2015 comprised of people who are African American or Hispanic, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's County Health Rankings. In Cumberland, it was nearly 50 percent. Cumberland also ranked last in health outcomes in this year's health rankings report. For more information about statewide National Minority Health Month events, visit nj.gov/health/ The widow of a Connecticut man says $300 in fines is not harsh enough punishment for the Cape May County yacht captain convicted in the boat crash that killed her husband. The Westerly Sun reported Peggy Krupinski wants the Coast Guard or the Justice Department to levy more severe penalties against New Jersey yacht captain Cooper Bacon. In 2015, Bacons yacht collided with Walter Krupinkskis smaller boat off the Rhode Island coast. Krupinski, 81, was killed. Bacon, of Middle Township, was found guilty in March of three charges brought by the Rhode Island Department of En-vironmental Management. Each violation carries a maximum $100 fine. He has denied violating U.S. navigation rules. Federal prosecutors and the Coast Guard are reviewing the crash. Bacon was captaining the 60-foot yacht, heading from a boat show in Rhode Island to one in Connecticut, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management previously said. Dawn Kallen, chief of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigations Division, said her divisions investigation is ongoing. She said Bacon refused to speak with Coast Guard officials at the scene and through subsequent requests through his lawyers, making the review difficult and long, The Westerly Sun reported. MILLVILLE A 56-year-old city man was shot and killed Monday night, the second fatal shooting in Cumberland County in two days. According to a report from the Daily Journal, police identified the victim as Charles M. Boozer, of East Broad Street. At 9:30 p.m. Monday, police investigating a report of a shooting found a man shot near a parked car on Dock Street. Boozer was pronounced dead at the scene. The car and house at the same location were both struck by gunfire, police said. Millville police and the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office continue to investigate. Christian Rodgers, 26, of Pine Street, was found dead on the ground in the backyard of a home in the 1000 blcok of East Chestnut Avenue. Police later arrested and charged Jules Black, 30, of West Chestnut Avenue in Vineland, after reviewing video surveillance of a black, four-door Chevrolet Impala with rear tinted windows fleeing the scene. Anyone with information about Mondays killing should contact the Millville Police Department at 856-825-7010, text TIP411 with MillvillePD and your message, or call the tipline at 856-825-2182. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University will host Republican and Democratic gubernatorial debates May 9. The debates will start at 6:30 and 8 p.m. in the Campus Center Theatre on Stocktons main campus. The order in which each party will debate is still being determined. Sharon Schulman, executive director the Hughes Center, will moderate. Holding the primary debates at Stockton University is a way for the people of South Jersey to hear what our future policy makers have to say and enable the candidates to reach the southern region of our state, Schulman said. During the Republican debate, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli will face off. The Democratic debate will feature Phil Murphy, a former ambassador to Germany and a financier; state Sen. Ray Lesniak; Jim Johnson, a former Clinton administration Treasury official; and Assemblyman John Wisniewski. The school has hosted legislative, congressional and senatorial debates. Most recently, the Hughes Center sponsored a 2nd Legislative District debate in 2015 with Republican Assemblyman Chris Brown and running mate Will Pauls and Democratic Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo and running mate Colin Bell. Gorsuch OKd too soon President Obama nominated Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court with almost a year left in his second term. The Republicans said this lifetime appointment should wait until after the election so the new president could make the choice. They left the court with eight justices for a year, and a very qualified centrist judge without the courtesy of a hearing. The Trump administration is under investigation for possible collusion with the Russians to affect the outcome of the 2016 U.S. elections. Surely we should have waited for the outcome of the Senate and FBI investigations before considering the appointment of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Perhaps a new president would want to make their own choice for Supreme Court justice. Dale Colman Linwood Grateful for aviation park Thankfully for everyone, the Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park is off the ground and running, thanks to the hard work and dedication of local representatives and private sector leaders. Now that funding is in place, the first of seven buildings will be open by spring 2018 with multi-billion dollar companies interested in tenancy. This is a gigantic step toward diversifying the Atlantic County economy, which is desperately needed to grow jobs, attract families and increase the ratable base. Id like to thank the board of the aviation park and the Atlantic County Improvement Authority, without whose support this would not have happened. The Atlantic County Economic Alliance has set up shop at the Hamilton Mall and its team of talented professionals will be responsible for implementing the Atlantic County Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, an analysis and 10-year plan to help Atlantic County. One of five target areas outlined in the plan is aerospace/aviation, so gratefully we are on our way. Declining home values, foreclosures and the high cost of living cannot be fixed overnight, but with a well thought out plan to diversify and grow the economy and attract different skilled jobs, we can take control of the countys fate. There are many ways to define wisdom, but to me its the ability to make decisions now that we will be happy with in the future. Making the Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park a reality will pay major dividends in the future. Brenda Taube Margate Candidate for N.J. Assembly, District 2 EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP The first thing you notice is the gunfire. Loud blasts slice through the air with a sharp crack, crack, crack. Over the course of a day, the recruits who come to this tree-studded campus at the Federal Aviation Administrations William J. Hughes Technical Center will shoot hundreds of rounds from every position. Lying, kneeling, standing, sitting on the move and standing still. Then theyll come back the next day and shoot hundreds more. By the time their training is complete, theyll have fired close to 5,000 rounds. Privatizing air traffic control could impact FAA tech center EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP President Donald Trump wants to privatize the countrys air traffic co Thats because when youre a federal air marshal and your work takes place in a 20-foot-wide space, 30,000 feet in the air, precision matters. This year, the first new group of air marshal trainees since 2011 will go through a 16-week course designed to teach them how to spot and thwart potential threats on the thousands of commercial air flights that crisscross the globe each day. Theyll spend eight weeks in New Mexico learning basic police techniques before coming to this special Transportation Security Administration school, where their training takes into account their role as armed, undercover agents who spend the bulk of their time aboard commercial planes. Shooting and shooting with precision is a big part of that, but so is being able to blend in and quietly size up passengers to determine who might be a threat. The Federal Air Marshal Services motto? Invisus, Inauditus, Impavidus (Unseen, Unheard, Unafraid). Their charge is straightforward. Our focus in life is to make sure another 9/11 never happens, said Michael Lafrance, assistant supervisory air marshal in charge at the Transportation Security Administrations training center. President John F. Kennedy created the air marshal program in 1961, after international hijackings raised concerns about the safety of commercial air travel. But it remained relatively small. At the time of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, there were 33 air marshals. The programs total budget: $4 million. But after 9/11, everything changed. The Air Marshal Service underwent a massive expansion, adding thousands of new officers. Though TSA officials decline to discuss specific numbers, citing security concerns, a 2016 report by the Government Accountability Office said the TSA employs thousands of air marshals. In fiscal 2012, its annual budget was $908 million. But in the intervening years, the Air Marshal Service has weathered its share of cuts and questions about how it deploys its people since there are not enough marshals to cover every flight. There have also been concerns about employee morale among marshals, given the rigors of the job and relative low pay; the average salary is $44,000. About 7 percent of the marshals are women. Once the new marshals complete basic police training at a facility in Artesia, New Mexico, they are sent to New Jersey, where the focus shifts to more tailored instruction. They spend time in gyms where they punch, jab and kick body opponent bags large rust-orange-colored dummies mounted on flexible metal stands. They also take part in simulated hijackings staged aboard true-to-life models of the types of aircraft cabins they are likely to fly. The goal, Lafrance said, is to place trainees in real-life situations that will sharpen their instincts for sussing out trouble. Rookie air marshals need to know how to size up a situation quickly but not overthink it, he said. The job also requires them to blend in just another weary traveler trying to get to his or her destination. Even so there are special considerations. Fighting someone on an aircraft is like fighting someone in a phone booth, said Cardo Urso, a former Marine who teaches close combat techniques as part of the schools defensive measures course. There is very little room for error. Standing in a large training room at the campus, Urso outlined the three options air marshals face when confronted with a threat: fight, flight or freeze. Of the three, he said, fight is the only option. His course includes instruction in pressure points to cause pain or induce muscle spasms and other techniques that will disable an attacker quickly and with a minimum of fuss. He showed visitors a rubber knife designed to deliver a small shock, which he described as a pain penalty for negative performance. At the training center, there is a high-ceilinged room designed to look like the waiting area of an airport. Theres a TSA screening area, a Starbucks, a Dunkin Donuts and the familiar black faux-leather seats arranged back-to-back in groups of eight so common in U.S. airports. Recruits will be put through scenarios including hijackings in spaces designed exactly like the cabin of an aircraft. Actors are brought in play passengers. Instructors are able to fill the cabin with smoke or shut off the lights. The encounters are recorded so that teachers can offer feedback. Expert marksmanship is a key requirement for air marshals, who are tested quarterly on their shooting skills. Daniel Kowal, a supervisory section chief for firearms training, said over the course of their training, air marshal candidates may shoot as many as 5,000 rounds more than some police officers fire during their entire career. Back on the floor, an instructor barks out another set of orders. This time were going to start in a kneeling position, he tells the group. When the marshals are ready, he gives them the signal to fire. The sounds is deafening. Their accuracy? Spot on. DUBLIN, Apr 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Proton Therapy Market in Russia & Forecast, Reimbursement Policy, Patients Treated at Proton Therapy Centers" report to their offering. Proton Therapy Market in Russia & Forecast, Reimbursement Policy, Patients Treated at Proton Therapy Centers provides a detailed assessment of the Proton Therapy Market in Russia. In this report we have studied the market in two parts: a) Actual Market and b) Untapped Market. The report also talks about list of all operational and future Proton Therapy centers; Economics of proton therapy including reimbursement policies. IBA, the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, has started installation of the Cyclone 230 in 2016 for a new proton therapy center. The acceptance of the first treatment room is planned for the end of 2017. The proton therapy center in Dimitrovgrad will be IBA's first in the Russian Federation and is expected to treat up to 1,200 patients per year according to IBA. Key Companies Covered: - IBA (Overview, Sales Analysis) - Varian Medical Systems (Overview, Sales Analysis) - Elekta (Overview, Sales Analysis) Proton Therapy Centers: - Dubna (JINR, 2) - Moscow (ITEP) - St. Petersburg Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Russia Proton Therapy Market - Actual & Untapped Market 3. Russia Proton Therapy Patient Number - Actual and Untapped 4. Russia - List of Proton Therapy Centers 5. Russia - Proton Therapy Treated Patients by Centers 6. Proton Therapy - Reimbursement Policies 7. Components of a Standard Proton Therapy Center 8. Global Proton Therapy - Company Analysis (2010-2021) 9. Proton Therapy - Driving Factors 10. Proton Therapy - Challenges For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c5xjpv/proton_therapy 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 http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets STOCKHOLM, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tobii Dynavox, the global leader in Assistive Technology for communication, announced today the launch of Indi, the world's first all-in-one speech tablet for non-verbal communicators, directly targeted to the consumer market. Priced at only $999, the Windows 10 based Indi with its industry leading software Snap represents a disruption in the market for touch-based speech devices. Tobii Dynavox Indi is the ideal communication device for non-verbal or verbally limited users. Its fully integrated and outward facing speakers provide exceptionally loud and clear output, ensuring a powerful voice that is heard in any environment. Indi is primarily accessed through its touch screen but can also be controlled by a switch or a head mouse. The key user groups for the product are individuals with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and intellectual disabilities. Indi comes bundled with Snap, the all new Tobii Dynavox software, designed for intuitive and engaging symbol-based communication. At the heart of Snap is Core First, Tobii Dynavox's systematic delivery of core word vocabulary, which is based on the proven research by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Core First systematically helps users build their vocabulary and communication skills and evolves with them as they grow. "The Indi is a beautifully designed speech tablet that anyone would be proud to carry" said Fredrik Ruben, President of Tobii Dynavox. "We want to deliver a complete solution that is super easy to start using and that grows and adapts with the needs of symbol based communicators." he continued. "Together with the full ecosystem of support like Pathways for Core First, we can now offer an unmatched program to enable verbally limited individuals to gain literacy and life changing independence." Indi comes with everything needed to start right out of the box, including a two-year manufacturer's warranty and 90 days of telephone support. It addresses all communication needs and includes additional features such as environmental controls (ECU), social media, email, music as well as access to thousands of Windows applications. A wide array of customized accessories such as carrying handle and protective casing are also available. Indi can be ordered today in select markets via www.tobiidynavox.com or a network of Tobii Dynavox sales consultants and resellers. To learn more about the Indi speech tablet and Snap software, visit www.tobiidynavox.com/indi This information is information that Tobii AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on April 11, 2017, at 08:00 a.m. CET. Media Contacts Grace Nah, Marketing Director North America, Tobii Dynavox phone: +1-412-209-6633 email: grace.nah@tobiidynavox.com Sara Hyleen, Corporate Communications Director, Tobii AB phone: +46-709-16-16-41 email: sara.hyleen@tobii.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/tobii-dynavox/r/tobii-dynavox-introduces-indi---the-world-s-first-all-in-one-speech-tablet,c2236848 The following files are available for download: Related Links http://www.tobiidynavox.com SOURCE Tobii Dynavox Home appliances Consumer electronics Electronic information products Electronic and electrical products The electronics and home appliances exhibitions will cover the entire industry chain with 2,500 enterprises gathering onsite. More than 200 top-class Chinese brands like Haier, Midea, TCL, Changhong, Galanz, Skyworth, Jezetek, Tigerhead, Sanxin and People Electronics will present their latest technologies and products. The international electronics and appliances exhibitors that will participate at this year's Canton Fair include: Korean new environmental appliance products manufacturer Coway and water flosser manufacturer Aquapick, Indonesia's No.1 appliances brand Polytron and Egypt's top appliances brands Fresh and Universal. To view all exhibitors attending this year's Canton Fair, visit: http://i.cantonfair.org.cn/en/index Home appliances and consumer electronics at Canton Fair: Intelligent and practical products lead the industry In response to the steady expansion of the home appliances and consumer electronics markets, this year Canton Fair exhibitors have incorporated internet and mobile technologies into their product development. The 121st Canton Fair will gather a group of emerging enterprises with strong market potential and brings a more diverse selection of innovative products than that in past exhibitions. Ningbo Yogar Electrical Appliance Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of mobile air conditioners and dehumidifiers, has been participating in the Canton Fair for 16 years. This spring, Yogar will bring its new products that highlight its intelligent and internet-ready technology. "For an industry that requires seeing and inspecting the goods in person, Canton Fair is one of the world's most competitive platforms," said Fang Zhihao, vice president of sales of Yogar. "The Canton Fair can help us to grow stronger and achieve mutual benefits with our business partners." "The Canton Fair is becoming more open and diverse. Here, buyers can also learn from outstanding and leading enterprises while communicating and sharing the latest trends with international experts in the industry," said Maggie Pu, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Canton Fair. About Canton Fair The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is held biannually in Guangzhou every spring and autumn. With a 60-year history, the fair is a comprehensive exhibition with the longest history, highest level, largest scale and largest number of products as well as the broadest distribution of buyer origins and the highest business turnover in China. SOURCE Canton Fair WOOD DALE, Ill., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR (NYSE: AIR) announces it has been awarded a multi-year component support contract from ASL Aviation Holdings. The new contract for power-by-the-hour support for ASL Group's airlines includes component support and repair for approximately 100 passenger and cargo aircraft, including ATR aircraft. AAR will support the contract with inventory purchased from ASL subsidiary ACLAS Global, which will be incorporated into AAR's existing global supply chain network located in Brussels, Hannover and Singapore. A new ATR team will be based in the UK to serve ATR customer parts requirements globally. The ATR is a leading regional aircraft with more than 1,300 delivered to operators across the globe. "This new award, along with the acquisition of the ACLAS ATR inventory, allows our industry-leading supply chain business to expand its reach into the ATR market," said John Holmes, AAR Chief Operating Officer of Aviation Services. "By aggregating PBH support for ASL Group airlines under one provider, we can streamline our maintenance, create efficiencies and focus on operations," said ASL Aviation Holdings Chief Executive Hugh Flynn. "AAR was a good fit because of their global component support structure that will provide the same level of service across all our bases and line stations." About AAR AAR is a global aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 4,500 people in over 20 countries. Based in Wood Dale, Illinois, AAR supports commercial aviation and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include inventory management; parts supply; OEM parts distribution; aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul; and component repair. AAR's Expeditionary Services include airlift operations; mobility systems; and command and control centers in support of military and humanitarian missions. More information can be found at www.aarcorp.com. About ASL Aviation Holdings ASL Aviation Holdings, formerly ASL Aviation Group, currently has operations during every year on all 7 continents and has 2,500 staff from 51 nationalities in 20 countries. A global leader in the provision of ACMI services to the express freight integrator and postal industries, ASL also operates passenger flights on an ACMI basis and under its own brands. The Group has 6 airlines in Europe and both passenger and cargo airlines in South Africa and Asia including the world's largest fleet of commercial Hercules aircraft operating humanitarian services for the United Nations World Food programme and the International Red Cross. Further information at www.aslaviationholdings.com. This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including those factors discussed under Item 1A, entitled "Risk Factors", included in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2016. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. For additional information, see the comments included in AAR's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE AAR Related Links http://www.aarcorp.com This new program, which was jointly announced by Adapt Pharma and President Bill Clinton at the sixth annual Clinton Health Matters Activation Summit in Little Rock, AR, is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI) and Adapt Pharma. As of today, all Title IV-eligible, degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States can apply to receive up to four free cartons (eight 4mg doses) of NARCAN Nasal Spray at www.narcan.com/partnerships . The program builds upon the Free NARCAN Nasal Spray for High Schools Program, which has distributed approximately 3,300 free doses of NARCAN Nasal Spray to high schools in 33 states. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) developed Naloxone in Schools Toolkit which is a non-branded educational program created to increase awareness of opioid-related risks among students, educators, families and communities as well as to provide proper opioid overdose protocols. The school nurse is a leader in student health and has the education and expertise to assist the community and school leadership with a needs assessment for opioid-related risk reduction policies. "The success of the Free NARCAN Nasal Spray for High Schools Program demonstrates the important role academic institutions can play in educating students about opioid misuse and keeping them safe in the face of the current opioid epidemic," said Seamus Mulligan, Chairman and CEO of Adapt Pharma. "Expanding this program to U.S. colleges and universities will continue this education as well as expand access to this potentially life-saving tool." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 90 Americans die every day from opioid overdoses. [3] Now, all institutions of higher learning have the ability to help prevent overdoses from occurring on their campuses. "Colleges and universities are no exception to the opioid and prescription drug epidemic that's been devastating communities throughout the nation," said Gillian Sealy, CEO of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative. "The Clinton Health Matters Initiative brings people together to tackle the most urgent health issues facing Americans today, and we believe that expanding our partnership with Adapt Pharma to help put an end to this epidemic is an important step." For more information about the Clinton Foundation, visit www.clintonfoundation.org/healthmatters. NARCAN Nasal Spray is the first and only FDA-approved naloxone in a nasal spray for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. It is now available as a ready-to-use, needle-free, 4mg dose of naloxone in a single spray. As the first and only FDA-approved naloxone nasal spray, NARCAN Nasal Spray provides a ready-to-use alternative to currently available opioid overdose emergency treatments. NARCAN Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care, and repeat applications may be necessary. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance. Please see Indications and Important Safety Information below. ABOUT NARCAN (naloxone HCl) NASAL SPRAY NARCAN Nasal Spray is indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. NARCAN Nasal Spray is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present. NARCAN Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Always seek emergency medical assistance in the event of a suspected, potentially life-threatening opioid emergency after administration of the first dose of NARCAN nasal spray. If the desired response is not obtained after 2 or 3 minutes, administer an additional dose of NARCAN Nasal Spray in an alternate nostril using a new NARCAN Nasal Spray. If the patient responds to NARCAN Nasal Spray and relapses back into respiratory depression before emergency assistance arrives, administer an additional dose and continue surveillance of the patient. If there is still no response and additional doses are available, administer additional doses of NARCAN Nasal Spray every 2 to 3 minutes using a new NARCAN Nasal Spray in alternate nostrils with each dose until emergency medical assistance arrives. Additional supportive and/or resuscitative measures may be helpful while awaiting emergency medical assistance. Please see Indications and Important Safety Information below. Please see full prescribing information for NARCAN Nasal Spray, available at http://www.narcan.com/pdf/NARCAN-Prescribing-Information.pdf AVAILABILITY OF NARCAN NASAL SPRAY NARCAN Nasal Spray 4mg was launched in February of 2016 and is widely available. NARCAN Nasal Spray 2mg has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Jan. 25, 2017 and Adapt will provide further information on its commercial availably when details are confirmed. Qualifying group purchasers may source NARCAN Nasal Spray 4mg directly from wholesalers and distributors. To place a pre-order immediately or for assistance in sourcing NARCAN Nasal Spray please contact Adapt Pharma's dedicated Customer Service Team at 844-4-NARCAN (844-462-7226) or email [email protected]. NARCAN NASAL SPRAY INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Indications 4mg NARCAN (naloxone hydrochloride) Nasal Spray is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. NARCAN Nasal Spray is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present. NARCAN Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Important Safety Information NARCAN Nasal Spray is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to naloxone hydrochloride. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance. Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and CNS Depression: Due to the duration of action of naloxone relative to the opioid, keep the patient under continued surveillance and administer repeat doses of naloxone using a new nasal spray with each dose, as necessary, while awaiting emergency medical assistance. Risk of Limited Efficacy with Partial Agonists or Mixed Agonists/Antagonists: Reversal of respiratory depression caused by partial agonists or mixed agonists/antagonists, such as buprenorphine and pentazocine, may be incomplete. Larger or repeat doses may be required. Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal: Use in patients who are opioid dependent may precipitate opioid withdrawal characterized by body aches, fever, sweating, runny nose, sneezing, goose bumps (piloerection), yawning, weakness, shivering or trembling, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, increased blood pressure and increased heart rate (tachycardia). In some patients, there may be aggressive behavior upon abrupt reversal of an opioid overdose. In neonates, opioid withdrawal may be life-threatening if not recognized and properly treated and may be characterized by convulsions, excessive crying, and hyperactive reflexes. Monitor for the development of opioid withdrawal. Risk of Cardiovascular (CV) Effects: Abrupt postoperative reversal of opioid depression may result in adverse CV effects. These events have primarily occurred in patients who had pre-existing CV disorders or received other drugs that may have similar adverse CV effects. Monitor these patients closely in an appropriate healthcare setting after use of naloxone hydrochloride. The following adverse reactions were observed in a NARCAN Nasal Spray clinical study: increased blood pressure, constipation, toothache, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal pain, headache, nasal dryness, nasal edema, nasal congestion, nasal inflammation, rhinalgia, and xeroderma. See Instructions for Use and full prescribing information in the use of this product, available here: http://www.narcan.com/pdf/NARCAN-Prescribing-Information.pdf. Additional information, including full prescribing information for NARCAN Nasal Spray, and important safety information and instructions for use, is also available at www.NARCAN.com. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Adapt Pharma, Inc. at 1-844-4NARCAN (1-844-462-7226) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. NARCAN NASAL SPRAY INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Indications 2mg NARCAN (naloxone hydrochloride) Nasal Spray is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. NARCAN Nasal Spray is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present. NARCAN Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Limitations of Use: Restrict prescription of NARCAN Nasal Spray 2 mg to opioid-dependent patients expected to be at risk for severe opioid withdrawal in situations where there is a low risk for accidental or intentional opioid exposure by household contacts. Important Safety Information NARCAN Nasal Spray is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to naloxone hydrochloride. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance. Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and CNS Depression: Due to the duration of action of naloxone relative to the opioid, keep the patient under continued surveillance and administer repeat doses of naloxone using a new nasal spray with each dose, as necessary, while awaiting emergency medical assistance. Risk of Limited Efficacy with Partial Agonists or Mixed Agonists/Antagonists: Reversal of respiratory depression caused by partial agonists or mixed agonists/antagonists, such as buprenorphine and pentazocine, may be incomplete. Larger or repeat doses may be required. Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal: Use in patients who are opioid dependent may precipitate opioid withdrawal characterized by body aches, fever, sweating, runny nose, sneezing, goose bumps (piloerection), yawning, weakness, shivering or trembling, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, increased blood pressure and increased heart rate (tachycardia). In some patients, there may be aggressive behavior upon abrupt reversal of an opioid overdose. In neonates, opioid withdrawal may be life-threatening if not recognized and properly treated and may be characterized by convulsions, excessive crying, and hyperactive reflexes. Monitor for the development of opioid withdrawal. There are limited data to inform if the 2 mg dose of NARCAN Nasal Spray will avoid precipitation of severe opioid withdrawal in the setting of opioid dependence. However, the 2 mg dose may not provide an adequate and timely reversal in persons who may be exposed to an overdose of a potent or very high dose of opioids. Risk of Cardiovascular (CV) Effects: Abrupt postoperative reversal of opioid depression may result in adverse CV effects. These events have primarily occurred in patients who had pre-existing CV disorders or received other drugs that may have similar adverse CV effects. Monitor these patients closely in an appropriate healthcare setting after use of naloxone hydrochloride. The following adverse reactions were observed in a NARCAN Nasal Spray clinical study: increased blood pressure, constipation, toothache, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal pain, headache, nasal dryness, nasal edema, nasal congestion, nasal inflammation, rhinalgia, and xeroderma. See Instructions for Use and full prescribing information in the use of this product, available here: http://www.narcan.com/pdf/NARCAN-Prescribing-Information.pdf. Additional information, including full prescribing information for NARCAN Nasal Spray, and important safety information and instructions for use, is also available at www.NARCAN.com. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Adapt Pharma, Inc. at 1-844-4NARCAN (1-844-462-7226) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. ABOUT ADAPT PHARMA Adapt Pharma is a privately-held pharmaceutical company committed to positively impacting the lives of patients. Adapt Pharma's strategy is to identify, evaluate, selectively acquire and enhance the value of late stage development, and FDA approved, pharmaceutical products. Adapt Pharma's company headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland and its U.S. headquarters is in Radnor, Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.adaptpharma.com. For more information about CHMI and the Clinton Foundation, visit www.clintonfoundation.org/healthmatters. For the latest updates, follow the Clinton Foundation on Facebook (Facebook.com/ClintonFoundation) and on Twitter @ClintonFdn. [1] 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary. U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement. https://www.dea.gov/docs/2015%20NDTA%20Report.pdf [2] Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, Scholl L. Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths United States, 20102015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:14451452 [3] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Drug overdose deaths in the United States continue to increase in 2015." Retrieved from: www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/ SOURCE Adapt Pharma Related Links http://adaptpharma.com/ "Each year, suicide takes more lives in the U.S. than homicide, war and natural disasters combined. In Pennsylvania, about three times as many people die by suicide each year than by homicide. It is critical that we work together with legislators to prevent suicide and help saves lives," said Regine Tilghman , AFSP Advocate . The advocates are 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 share best practices in suicide prevention to state legislators. The Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Staff Member Program and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor Loan Forgiveness Program Act (SB 134) Due to low wages and high turnover, there is a critical shortage of direct care providers of mental health, intellectual disability and drug and alcohol treatment services. SB 134 would provide a loan forgiveness program for qualified college graduates entering the mental health, intellectual disability and drug and alcohol treatment professions. The Protection of Minors from Sexual Orientation Change Counseling Act (SB 44) If passed, this legislation will prohibit mental health professionals from engaging in conversion therapy with individuals under the age of 18. Sexual orientation conversion efforts are based on the belief that homosexuality is a mental illness that needs to be cured, a belief that has been rejected as scientifically invalid by the American Psychiatric Association and all other major mental health organizations. Conversion therapy has not been proven to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Conversion therapy can, however, invoke feelings of rejection, guilt, confusion, and shame and can lead to decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, social withdrawal, depression, anxiety, and increased risk for suicidal behavior; LGBT adolescents are at particular risk for emotional or physical harm. When students do not feel marginalized by governmental policies, such as banning same sex marriage, their suicide attempt rate is lower. On February 20, 2017, there was a study published in the Journal of American Medicine which found that same-sex marriage policies were associated with a 7 percent reduction in the proportion of all high school students reporting a suicide attempt within the past year. The study analyzed pre- and post-policy rates of self-reported suicide attempts and found a decrease by 0.6 percentage points (8.6 percent to 8.0 percent) among the all-student group following policy implementation. For students identifying as sexual minorities, the reduction in suicide attempts was larger (28.5 percent to 24.5 percent). Suicide in Pennsylvania Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death overall in Pennsylvania. For people aged 25-34 in Pennsylvania, it is the second leading cause of death. For those aged 10-24, it is the third leading cause of death. On average one person dies by suicide every five 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, 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, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced that Benjamin Moore has agreed to become an Innovation Partner of the AIA. The new relationship will leverage Benjamin Moore's thought leadership in the design and architecture market through content and education programs, while also providing support to students of architecture who are on the path to licensure. "We are delighted to have the support of Benjamin Moore as an Innovation Partner of the AIA," noted Robert Ivy, FAIA, EVP/Chief Executive Officer of the AIA. "Their knowledge and expertise in paints and stains can help us serve architects and advance good design in the built environment." "Benjamin Moore is proud to partner with the AIA on their efforts to offer continuing education and ongoing support for the architectural community," said Veronica Connallon Arcaroli, Director, Architect and Designer Segment at Benjamin Moore. "We are committed to providing resources and opportunities that help architects and other trade professionals enhance their development and growth within the industry." Learn more about the AIA Corporate Partnership Program here: http://new.aia.org/pages/3706-partner-with-aia About The American Institute of Architects Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org. About Benjamin Moore Founded in 1883, Benjamin Moore is North America's favorite paint, color and coatings brand. A leading manufacturer of premium quality residential and commercial coatings, Benjamin Moore maintains a relentless commitment to innovation and sustainable manufacturing practices. The portfolio spans the brand's flagship paint lines including Aura, Regal Select, Natura and ben. Benjamin Moore is renowned for its expansive color portfolio, offering consumers and designers more than 3,500 colors. Benjamin Moore paints are available exclusively from its more than 5,000 locally owned and operated paint and decorating retailers. Contact: Matt Tinder 202-626-7462 [email protected] SOURCE American Institute of Architects Related Links http://www.aia.org AGOURA HILLS, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company") today announced that S&P Global Ratings ("S&P") has assigned a BBB- investment grade rating to the Company and indicated that the rating outlook is stable. S&P's press release notes that the rating reflects the expectation that the Company will continue to benefit from strong demand for single-family rentals, net operating income (NOI) growth from pricing gains on newly signed leases and expansion of the Company's platform through portfolio acquisitions. "S&P's announcement of an investment grade rating is a transformative event in the evolution of the Company's capital structure," stated David Singelyn, American Homes 4 Rent's Chief Executive Officer. "Receiving an additional investment grade rating is further acknowledgement of our best-in-class balance sheet, which is uniquely positioned to support our continued portfolio growth with access to industry leading cost of capital." Additional information regarding the credit rating assigned can be found in S&P's press release dated April 10, 2017 available on S&P's website. The press release is not incorporated by reference into or otherwise made a part of this press release. The rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by S&P and is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the Company's securities. About American Homes 4 Rent American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is fast becoming a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of December 31, 2016, we owned approximately 48,422 single-family properties, in selected submarkets in 22 states. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements relate to beliefs, expectations or intentions and similar statements concerning matters that are not of historical fact and are generally accompanied by words such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "potential," "plan," "goal" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to access new sources of capital at lower costs and to continue to grow. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Company's management considers these expectations to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. These and other important factors, including "Risk Factors" disclosed in, or incorporated by reference into, the prospectus from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC, may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Contact: American Homes 4 Rent Investor Relations Phone: (855) 794-2447 Email: [email protected] SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent Related Links https://www.americanhomes4rent.com BRIDGEWATER, N.J., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC has launched mometasone furoate nasal spray, the company's first pharmaceutical product in spray form. Mometasone furoate, available in 50 mcg/spray strength, is an AB-rated therapeutic equivalent to Nasonex. Amneal's generic comes packaged in a white, high-density, polyethylene bottle fitted with a white, metered-dose, manual spray pump and turquoise cap. Each 17-gram bottle delivers 120 sprays. Manufactured in Branchburg, NJ, the product began shipping April 4th through wholesalers, distributors and directly to the trade. "This launch marks a new milestone for us," explains Jim Luce, EVP Sales & Marketing. "As the first nasal spray product from Amneal, it stands as yet another example of how we continue to expand into new and more complex dosage forms. Metered dose inhalers, transdermal patches and chewable tablets are just a few of those in the pipeline that we are excited to bring to market, significantly expanding our product offering." Click here to view full prescribing information for mometasone furoate nasal spray. Annual U.S. sales of brand and generic Nasonex were $653 million according to December 2016 IMS market data. About Amneal Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, a privately-held company headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, is one of the largest and fastest growing generic pharmaceutical manufacturers in the United States. Founded in 2002, Amneal now has more than 4,000 employees in its operations in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe, working together to bring high-quality, affordable, medicines to patients worldwide. Amneal has significantly expanded its portfolio of generic products to include complex dosage forms in a broad range of therapeutic areas. For more information, visit www.amneal.com. All trademarks listed in this release are property of their respective owners. CONTACTS: Jim Luce (sales) Cheryl Lechok (media) Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing President, Cheryl Lechok Communications M: 949.432.1389 Dir: 203.961.9280 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC Related Links http://www.amneal.com HOUSTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at 8 a.m. CDT (9 a.m. EDT) to discuss its first-quarter 2017 financial and operating results. Earnings will be released after close of market on Tuesday, May 2. The full text of the release will be available on the company's website at www.anadarko.com. First-Quarter 2017 Results Wednesday, May 3, 2017 8 a.m. CDT (9 a.m. EDT) Dial-in number: 877.883.0383 International dial-in number: 412.902.6506 Participant access code: 3348513 Individuals who would like to participate should dial the applicable dial-in number listed above approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled conference call time, and enter access code 3348513 when prompted. To access the live audio webcast and related presentation materials, please visit the investor relations section of the company's website at www.anadarko.com. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for approximately 30 days following the call. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141103/156201LOGO Anadarko Contacts INVESTORS : Robin Fielder, [email protected] , 832.636.1462 Jim Grant, [email protected] , 832.636.8320 Pete Zagrzecki, [email protected] , 832.636.7727 SOURCE Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Related Links http://www.anadarko.com MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the healthcare data analytics market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Arcadia Healthcare Solutions with the 2016 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Leadership. Arcadia's clinical and claims analytics platform, Arcadia Analytics, is an advanced solution that harmonizes medical and billing records of 20 million patients in the United States. Its new version including Care Management and Patient Outreach functionality has driven significant growth in client acquisition, making the company a name to reckon with in the North American healthcare data analytics market. Click here for the full multimedia experience of this release - http://bit.ly/2nID8bJ Arcadia aids users in developing a shared data asset including EHR, claims, and ancillary data for physicians, care managers, claims executives, and hospital CXOs. The web-based analytics platform sitting on top of this shared data asset helps clients identify cohorts of patients across the continuum of care and allows caregivers to allocate the best possible workflows to at-risk and chronic patients. Such data-driven treatments raise operational efficiency, prevent readmission, and improve pay-for-performance quality metrics. "Arcadia has integrated more than 35 EHR ecosystems in the last 15 years with its remarkable all-round ability to churn EHR and claims data around vendor-agnostic IT interfaces. It supports 40,000 providers in the United States with its comprehensive IT and managed care capabilities," said Frost & Sullivan Senior Analyst Koustav Chatterjee (KC). "Between 2013 and 2015, it expanded its analytics solution client base by five times and patient coverage by 100% to 23 million." Mature providers looking for higher spend visibility and centralized control are receptive to full-fledged platforms that offer data analytics at a community level. They are also keen for pure-play platforms that help them effectively negotiate payments with health plans. Arcadia's Web-based analytics solution addresses both objectives and is a value enabler for a diverse range of healthcare customers, delivering both value- and volume-based payment models. Significantly, Arcadia has additional capabilities such as: Code-free measure creation for quality reporting by non-technical staff Full database access for customers' analysts and business intelligence (BI) personnel Unprecedented integration of claims and EHR data for each patient into a remarkable longitudinal single patient report Modifiable validation algorithm for better IT alignment with customers Web-based access through iPads and smartphones Arcadia's managed care portfolio is positioned as a strategic business unit for health systems that are transitioning from volume to alternate payment models. It is one of the few companies to offer sound, value-based contracting advisory services, including design and deployment methodologies, to leading payers and providers. Its managed care experts advise health systems, outsource in-house BI units, revitalize poor-performing incumbent EHRs, and revamp IT security and infrastructure for cross-continuum health information exchange. "Arcadia's customers value its ability to match patients and their care members across data sources for developing a single patient view with almost 99% specificity and 93% sensitivity," noted KC. "Its unique managed care capability, coupled with agile IT solutions enabling population health management, has ensured exceptional customer value and loyalty." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a comprehensive product line that caters to the breadth of the market it serves. The award recognises the extent to which the product line meets customer base demands, the overall impact it has in terms of customer value as well as increased market share. Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for outstanding achievement in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research. About Arcadia Healthcare Solutions Arcadia Healthcare Solutions is an EHR data aggregation and analytics technology company supporting ambulatory networks taking on risk and transitioning to value-based care. Arcadia specializes in integration of data from over 30 EHR vendors, enriching it with claims and operational data, and using that data to drive improvements in patient care quality, practice efficiency, and financial performance. Trusted by independent provider groups, health plans, and integrated delivery networks nationwide, with expertise in both fee-for-service optimization and value-based performance environments, Arcadia supports providers with the benchmark data, insights, and outsourced services to excel in the evolving landscape of American healthcare. Founded in 2002, Arcadia is headquartered outside Boston in Burlington, MA, with offices in Seattle, Pittsburgh, and outside Chicago in Rockford, IL. 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: [email protected] SOURCE Frost & Sullivan Related Links http://www.frost.com ARLINGTON, Va., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations announced that it has hired Jeremy Kirkpatrick as the Federation's new director of strategic communications. "I am pleased that Jeremy is joining us at ATA, giving us another voice to tell the trucking industry's story," said ATA Executive Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs Sue Hensley. "Jeremy's strong track record of success in the association world and on Capitol Hill will make an excellent addition to our communications team." Kirkpatrick comes to ATA from the National Restaurant Association where he was senior manager of digital and media relations. Prior to NRA, he spent time as a communications staffer for both Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.). "I am excited to come to ATA and to work on behalf of the trucking industry," Kirkpatrick said. "This industry has a tremendous story to tell, and I look forward to helping to advocate on behalf of our members." A native of Connecticut, Kirkpatrick has a Bachelor's Degree from Providence College and currently lives in Washington. American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward SOURCE American Trucking Associations Related Links http://www.trucking.org HACKENSACK, N.J., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- We'd like to congratulate family law attorneys, Carrie S. Schultz and Marc J. Poles, who were recently chosen to be included in this year's editions of Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers' Rising Stars. For Schultz, this is the sixth time she's been honored in the magazine. Only five percent of lawyers throughout New Jersey are selected for inclusion in the widely-read publication. In addition to being named a Super Lawyer, Schultz also was named to the (201) Magazine Top Lawyers in Bergen County list. Carrie Schultz, Attorney at Law Carrie Schultz & Marc Poles were awarded as a Super Lawyer and a Super Lawyer-Rising Star, respectively. "I'm very honored to be featured in both publications for 2017, and I'm grateful to have also been nominated," stated Schultz. "I take my profession very seriously and take enormous pride in helping my clients with their legal matters. To be recognized for my dedication, professionalism, and involvement in family law means a lot." Every year, Super Lawyers selects attorneys like Schultz from all firm sizes and over 70 practice areas throughout the United States. Lawyers enter the candidate pool by being formally nominated by a peer or by the Super Lawyers research department during the research process. Evaluating each lawyer in the candidate pool is based on 12 indicators, plus peer recognition, and professional achievements. "It's a highly competitive selection process, so when I received word that I was chosen, it humbles you," stated Schultz. "I'm very fortunate to have received this honor and couldn't be prouder." For the second time, attorney Marc J. Poles is also featured in this year's Super Lawyers' Rising Stars publication. New Jersey attorneys who are either 40 years of age or younger or who have been practicing law for fewer than 10 years are candidates for the highly coveted title. Attorneys are selected through a multi-phase process that includes a statewide nominations process, an independent research evaluation of the candidates, and peer review. "The fact that only 2.5 percent of New Jersey lawyers are selected for this honor is a testament, I believe, to my work ethic and eagerness to help my clients with their legal matters," stated Poles. "To be featured in the publication inspires me to continue working even harder for my clients' best interest." Super Lawyers Magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. Lawyers are selected to a Super Lawyers list in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. ABOUT THE FIRM: Schultz & Associates, LLC is a boutique law firm with a concentration exclusively in family law matters. As highly respected New Jersey divorce lawyers managed by Certified Matrimonial Law Attorney Carrie S. Schultz, the firm has more than 20 years of combined experience. Media contact: Carrie Schultz [email protected] 201-880-9770 SOURCE Carrie S. Schultz LUND, Sweden, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BONESUPPORT AB, an emerging leader in innovative injectable bioceramic bone scaffolds to treat bone voids caused by trauma, infection, disease or related surgery, announces the appointment of Michael Diefenbeck MD PhD as Chief Medical Officer. Dr Diefenbeck founded Scientific Consulting in Orthopaedic Surgery in 2014 and has worked for BONESUPPORT on a range of clinical projects related to CERAMENT as an independent clinical advisor. He is currently honorary consultant at Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals. Dr Diefenbeck studied medicine at Munich and was trained as an orthopaedic surgeon, specializing in trauma care and bone infections. He has 14 years' clinical experience at different German hospitals (BG Unfallklinik Murnau, BG Kliniken Bergmannstrost Halle/Saale, University Hospital Jena and Schon Klinik Hamburg Eilbek). At University Hospital Jena he finished his PhD in 2011 and has since been involved in surgical education and training programs for students. He is author of 24 Pub-med listed research articles. Dr Diefenbeck said: "I am excited to be joining BONESUPPORT at a particularly exciting time for the Company. I look forward to working with the BONESUPPORT team, to help shape the future development of the Company as it continues to develop and reinforce the clinical benefits that its CERAMENT based products deliver." Richard Davies, CEO of BONESUPPORT, said: "We are pleased to welcome Michael to the BONESUPPORT team. I have no doubt that his extensive medical experience in the orthopaedics field and his knowledge of our CERAMENT platform that he will be a real asset to BONESUPPORT as we look to grow our business and deliver value to all of our stakeholders." Dr Diefenbeck began his new role in April 2017 and reports to the CEO. About BONESUPPORT BONESUPPORT has developed CERAMENT as an innovative range of radiopaque injectable osteoconductive bioceramic products that have a proven ability to heal defects by remodeling to host bone in six to 12 months. Our products are effective in treating patients with fractures and bone voids caused by trauma, infection, disease or related surgery. Our lead product, CERAMENT BONE VOID FILLER (BVF) addresses important issues facing health care providers, such as avoiding hospital readmissions and revision surgery that result from failed bone healing and infection caused by residual bone voids. CERAMENT BVF is commercially available in the U.S., EU, SE Asia and the Middle East. CERAMENT's distinctive properties as a drug eluting material have been validated in clinical practice by CERAMENT G and CERAMENT V, the first CE-marked injectable antibiotic eluting bone graft substitutes. These products provide local sustained delivery of gentamicin and vancomycin, respectively. The local delivery feature enables an initial high concentration of antibiotics to the bone defect and then a longer sustainable dose above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to protect bone healing and promote bone remodeling. CERAMENT G and CERAMENT V have demonstrated good results in patients with problematic bone infections including osteomyelitis. They are also used prophylactically in patients who are at risk for developing infection. CERAMENT G and CERAMENT V are available in the EU. BONESUPPORT was founded in 1999 by Prof. Lars Lidgren, an internationally respected scientist who has been the President of various musculoskeletal societies. BONESUPPORT's mission is to bring people with bone and joint diseases back to an active life. The Company is based in Lund, Sweden. www.bonesupport.com BONESUPPORT is a registered trademark. Contact Information Citigate Dewe Rogerson David Dible, Mark Swallow, Pip Batty +44-(0)-20-7282-2949/2948/1022 [email protected] SOURCE BONESUPPORT BETHESDA, Md., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BroadPoint Technologies, a business technology consulting firm specializing in deploying cloud-based solutions from Microsoft including Dynamics 365 ERP, CRM and business intelligence applications, announces today the launch of its Field Service Practice. The practice will deliver and support Microsoft's world-class Field Service Management solution, enabling businesses to better manage and deliver service to their customers in the field. As an extension of Microsoft's innovative Dynamics 365 business application, the Field Service Management solution allows companies to improve customer satisfaction, first time fix rates, and resource productivity, all within the familiar Microsoft Dynamics platform. With Field Service Management for Microsoft Dynamics 365, users can monitor, and change the schedules and dispatch of service representatives in real time and seamlessly work anywhere from the desktop to mobile tablets and smart phones. A service board assists in the management of automated routing, service agreements, inventory, customer communications, and the complete customer lifecycle. "We are excited to launch our Field Service practice and add Microsoft's field service offering to our suite of solutions," said CEO of BroadPoint, Lee Raesly. "With Dynamics 365 for Field Service capabilities, field service representatives and schedulers can enjoy automated routing, inventory management and mobile data entry so that everyone has a complete view of customer interactions in real-time, from anywhere, on any device." Gartner states that the Field Service Market (FSM) market is growing rapidly in response to proven business results from projects and technology developments in mobility, cloud and machine learning. With the introduction of Dynamics 365 in November, both Microsoft and BroadPoint have invested heavily in these areas for the field service market. "Microsoft Dynamics 365 and FieldOne came together to form Dynamics 365 for Field Service, an industry-focused, end-to-end solution to enable businesses to drive revenue, reduce costs and deliver great customer service. We're excited that partners like BroadPoint understand this vision and show a commitment to serving the field service market," said John O'Donnell, Practice Development Manager for Microsoft. For more information on BroadPoint, see us at www.broadpoint.net on the web. About BroadPoint Since 2001, BroadPoint has helped hundreds of associations, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies and commercial businesses increase member and customer engagement, elevate sales and financial performance, enhance staff productivity and gain mission-critical intelligence. By taking a true One Microsoft approach with integrated CRM, ERP, Office 365 and Business Intelligence solutions, BroadPoint provides the strategic guidance, services and technology solutions necessary to drive your mission, program, and service performance today and in the future. Headquartered just outside Washington, DC, BroadPoint is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for ERP and CRM, a President's Club Award winner, a certified Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) and a member of Microsoft's Partner Advisory Council (PAC). BroadPoint serves over 300 clients across the United States. Contact: Steven LaGow, [email protected], 301-634-2479 SOURCE BroadPoint MIAMI BEACH, Fla., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This location was opened to service the real estate, title insurance and closing needs of the Miami market with an emphasis on international business. The Company has put together a team of multi-lingual Account Managers with expertise in title insurance ready to assist real estate professionals and consumers. Now clients can work with an agent that speaks their language. Thomas Streda Languages Spoken: Czech & English [email protected] Michele Streda -- Languages Spoken: English [email protected] Maria Iglesias -- Languages Spoken: Spanish & English [email protected] Bernadett Ferro -- Languages Spoken: French, Hungarian & English [email protected] Jian "Faye" Zhao -- Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese & English [email protected] Alexandre Ferrari Languages Spoken: Portuguese & English [email protected] Real estate professionals are invited to come and network with the Company and other professionals on Wednesday, April 19, 2019 from 6:00-9:00pm at 400 S. Pointe Dr., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Lobby Level. Interested parties are requested to RSVP to Michele Streda at 954-683-6887 or [email protected]. Consumers First Title Company Inc., a Florida corporation, is a full-service escrow, title and settlement company with locations in West Palm Beach, Coral Springs and Miami Beach. The Company was founded in 2007 and is underwritten by Fidelity National Title Insurance Company and Old Republic National Title Company. Thomas Streda, President of Consumers First Title said, "It has been a real dream of mine to own my own title company. Since 2007 the Company has maintained an A+ Rating with the BBB, was named amongst South Florida's Top 10 Title Company 2 years-in-a-row by title premiums (2015, 2016 South Florida Business Journal) and The Best of Coral Springs, 2016 & 2017; for Real Estate Services. We are proud of the team we have put together for the Miami Beach office and look forward to bringing our expertise and excellent customer service to professionals and consumers in the area". If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Michele Streda at 786-607-9985 or email at [email protected]. Contact Michele Streda Telephone 786-607-9985 Cell 954-683-6887 Email [email protected] Website www.cftitleco.com SOURCE Consumers First Title Company, Inc. Related Links http://cftitleco.com BOSTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Burns & Levinson today announced the expansion of its newly named Cannabis Business Advisory Group, which helps clients navigate the complex legal and business framework that surrounds the rapidly growing marijuana industry in the United States. Burns was the first major Boston corporate law firm to develop a cannabis business practice three years ago initially started as a medical marijuana practice and is considered among the top law firms in the country with expertise handling high-level corporate and financing deals in the cannabis market. The firm will also launch a new blog called "CannaBusiness Advisory," which will provide practical, hands-on information on a wide range of business topics from financing a cannabis operation to negotiating real estate hurdles to navigating complex employment challenges. The blog's lead editors are Frank A. Segall and Scott Moskol, who chair Burns' Cannabis Business Advisory Group. Burns' team has unrivaled experience in cannabis business formation, licensure, legal and regulatory compliance; corporate structuring, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, fund formation, debt and equity financing; real estate acquisitions and leasing; labor and employment issues; intellectual property protection; 280E taxation issues; and the burgeoning field of cannabis litigation. The blog will cover all of these topics in addition to important news and regulatory updates. "There are few, if any, law firms with more experience advising clients who are looking to create and expand their opportunities in this fast emerging area," said Segall. "We have built a team of highly skilled attorneys who understand the constantly shifting maze of rules and regulations, and can provide cannabis growers, distributors, processors, and investors with the legal advice and contacts they need to succeed." Burns has an impressive roster of cannabis related clients across New England and the U.S. including license holders, dispensaries and cultivation centers, and investors. Current projects include initiatives and capital raises to open cannabis operations in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and the formation of large private equity funds to invest in new cannabis technologies. While cannabis usage is currently prohibited at the federal level, eight states, including Massachusetts, have legalized the sale and possession of cannabis for both medical and recreational use. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use. "This is the birth of a new industry, which makes it very exciting for Burns to be considered both a visionary and a leader," added Moskol. "We are fortunate to have been at the forefront from the very beginning. Since 2013, we have helped our clients overcome many challenges and achieve many successes. We developed our cannabis practice while many law firms stayed on the sidelines, and are very proud of our reputation as the go-to firm in the industry." About Burns & Levinson LLP At Burns & Levinson, we provide high-level, client-centric and results-oriented legal services to our regional, national and international clients. We are a full-service law firm with over 125 lawyers in Boston, Providence and other regional offices. Our areas of expertise include: business/finance, business litigation/dispute resolution, divorce/family law, venture capital/emerging companies, employment, estate planning, government investigations, intellectual property, M&A/private equity, probate/trust litigation, and real estate. We partner with our clients to solve their business and personal legal issues in a collaborative, creative, and cost-effective way. For more information, visit Burns & Levinson at www.burnslev.com. Contact: Amy Blumenthal Kristen Weller Blumenthal & Associates Director of Marketing & Business Development 617.879.1511 617.345.3555 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Burns & Levinson LLP Related Links http://www.burnslev.com NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Business-Management-Degree.net, has released a list of some of the best online DBA programs. These schools were chosen for several factors that put them ahead of other online programs, due to the: nature of the coursework, degree of thoroughness and complexity of the curriculum, 100% online availability, sufficient financial aid availability, and an education that gives students more than just classroom experience. In developing this list, Business-Management-Degree.net, chose not to list the schools in an ordered way, but instead highlighted twenty of the very best programs, all of which have their own unique strengths. The ranking can be viewed here: http://www.business-management-degree.net/top-online-dba-programs/ A Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) makes a person a great asset in any institution, whether it be private, government, for profit or non-profit. The DBA program gives its graduates the knowledge and skills for business research, analysis, critical thinking and decision making, all to the end of helping institutions be successful. The curricula of DBA programs focus on business theory and practice, law and ethics, financial and personnel management. With a DBA, graduates are able to take on top level business leadership roles such as top executives or university professors, among many others. According to researcher, Jared Goff, "As business has become more complex and internationalized the demands upon business administrators have increased. Earning an online DBA is an effective way in which working business professionals can get the education they need to be more effective leaders and earn better pay. Now advanced, high quality DBA degree programs are offered totally online and according to the needs of individual students, greatly expanding the learning opportunities for those who can't engage in a more traditional degree program." The list of degree programs includes: Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota Anaheim University, Anaheim, California Apollos University, Helena, Montana University of Management and Technology, Arlington, Virginia Baker College, Flint, Michigan Wilmington University, New Castle, Delaware LIGS University, Honolulu, Hawaii Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada American University of Leadership, Orlando, Florida Colorado Technical University, Colorado Springs, Colorado William Howard Taft University, Denver, Colorado California Intercontinental University, Irvine, California City University of Seattle, Seattle, Washington California Southern University, Irvine, California Felician University, Rutherford, New Jersey Liberty University Online, Lynchburg, Virginia Westcliff University, Irvine California Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida George Fox University, Newburg, Oregon University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida Business-management-degree.net reviews publicly available data and then produces independent ranking assessments of various educational programs and college facilities as well as student guides and resources. The mission of Business-Management Degree.net is to be a vital resource for potential students making one of the most important decisions of their lives. Business-Management-Degree.net recognizes that no ranking system is perfect, and recommends that their ratings be used only as a general guide for choosing a quality school. Contact: Jared Goff Phone: 314-873-1866 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Business-Management-Degree.net Related Links http://www.business-management-degree.net LONDON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle NetSuite Global Business Unit, one of the industry's leading providers of cloud financials / ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oracle, today announced that Bynder, a Dutch provider of marketing software, has implemented NetSuite OneWorld in just two months to support its rapid growth across the globe. Now, Bynder is running NetSuite to manage mission critical business processes including financials, reporting and global financial consolidation for seven subsidiaries spread across Dubai, Barcelona, London, Boston, Amsterdam and Rotterdam and multi-currency transactions for 20 currencies. With NetSuite OneWorld, Bynder is able to expand rapidly into new countries and get real-time, up-to-the minute data to manage mission critical business processes. Founded in Amsterdam in 2013, Bynder underwent rapid growth as demand surged for its software that maintains brand consistency through collaborative portals that allow brand managers and marketers to produce, review and approve new marketing collateral, and circulate company content at the click of a button. It now counts more than 350 customers globally including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Logitech and AkzoNobel. Seeking a purely cloud-based financial system, Bynder quickly determined NetSuite OneWorld was the only solution that could meet its needs. Selected in late 2015, Bynder was live on NetSuite OneWorld with a rapid two-month implementation. With support for 190 currencies, 20 languages, and automated tax compliance in over 100 countries, NetSuite OneWorld provides Bynder with: Better business forecasting . Real-time data enables Bynder to pinpoint business opportunities. . Real-time data enables Bynder to pinpoint business opportunities. A flexible and powerful platform . NetSuite's powerful SuiteCloud development platform enables Bynder to add custom fields and build customized templates for legacy customers with complex contracts, while allowing front line workers to quickly and easily adapt to changes as the business evolves. . NetSuite's powerful SuiteCloud development platform enables Bynder to add custom fields and build customized templates for legacy customers with complex contracts, while allowing front line workers to quickly and easily adapt to changes as the business evolves. Sophisticated financial automation . Despite growing over 300 percent since it implemented NetSuite OneWorld and bringing its finance in house, Bynder has been able to keep finance staff to just six personnel, while automation allows the company to bill customers automatically in the appropriate currency. . Despite growing over 300 percent since it implemented NetSuite OneWorld and bringing its finance in house, Bynder has been able to keep finance staff to just six personnel, while automation allows the company to bill customers automatically in the appropriate currency. Significant savings in IT costs and complexity . NetSuite's proven, secure cloud solution eliminates the hassles of managing, maintaining and upgrading business applications, while allowing the company to quickly and easily set up new subsidiaries as it grows. . NetSuite's proven, secure cloud solution eliminates the hassles of managing, maintaining and upgrading business applications, while allowing the company to quickly and easily set up new subsidiaries as it grows. Built-in business intelligence. Bynder now has real-time access to its business performance for better decision making, and advanced reporting lets Bynder provide detailed financial reports to investors with the click of a button. "NetSuite is a robust ERP platform you can set up easily and quickly," said Tim Lorijn, Bynder Controller. "As long as you're open to new developments, you can keep improving, customising and automating as much as you want. NetSuite is an enabler, not an impediment to growth." Learn about NetSuite's customer and partner success at SuiteWorld17. SuiteWorld17 is one of the industry's leading Cloud ERP conferences, being held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. on April 24-27. For more information and to register, please visit www.netsuitesuiteworld.com. About Bynder Bynder is award-winning digital asset management software that allows brands to easily create, find and use content, such as documents, graphics and videos. More than 150,000 brand managers, marketers and creatives use Bynder's brand portals every day to collaborate globally, produce, review and approve new marketing collateral, and circulate company content at the click of a button. Brands using Bynder go to market faster and achieve end-to-end brand consistency across all channels and regions, with simplified collaboration across the organization. Bynder delivers the most advanced branding automation solution, empowering over 350 companies globally including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, innocent drinks and PUMA. Founded in 2013 by CEO Chris Hall, Bynder is established globally with headquarters in Amsterdam and offices across the Netherlands, UK, US, Spain and UAE. About Oracle NetSuite Global Business Unit Oracle NetSuite Global Business Unit, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oracle, pioneered the Cloud Computing revolution in 1998, establishing the world's first company dedicated to delivering business applications over the Internet. Today, Oracle NetSuite Global Business Unit provides a suite of cloud-based financials / Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and omnichannel commerce software that runs the business of companies in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.netsuite.com. Follow Oracle NetSuite Global Business Unit's Cloud blog, Facebook page and @NetSuite Twitter handle for real-time updates. About Oracle Oracle offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications and platform services. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), visit www.oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Oracle Related Links http://www.oracle.com GLENDALE, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- California Credit Union has awarded 10 scholarships of $1,000 each to college-bound students in Los Angeles County through its annual College Scholarship Program. Through the program, California Credit Union recognizes exceptional students throughout the greater Los Angeles area who are active in both their schools and the communities, giving back to others through service and volunteer work. The 2017 California Credit Union scholarship recipients are: Claudia Alvarado / Bell Senior High School / Los Angeles Unified School District / Bell Senior High School / Los Angeles Unified School District Juan Barajas / Hawthorne Math and Science Academy / Hawthorne Unified School District / Hawthorne Math and Science Academy / Hawthorne Unified School District Alyssa Espinoza / Warren High School / Downey Unified School District / / Downey Unified School District Tamela Harris / Narbonne High School / Los Angeles Unified School District / Narbonne High School / Los Angeles Unified School District Devin Lewis / Golden Valley High School / William S. Hart Union High School District / / William S. Hart Union High School District Casey Longstreet / Palisades Charter High School / Los Angeles Unified School District / Palisades Charter High School / Los Angeles Unified School District Caleigh Paster / John Burroughs High School / Burbank Unified School District / / Burbank Unified School District Kimberly Reynaga / Montebello High School / Montebello Unified School District / / Montebello Unified School District Gurbir Singh / Granada Hills Charter High School / Los Angeles Unified School District / Granada Hills Charter High School / Los Angeles Unified School District Michael Young / View Park Prep Accelerated Charter High School / Los Angeles Unified School District "We were excited to see so many promising students participate in our program this year, and hope these scholarships will make the road to a college education just a little bit easier," said California Credit Union CEO Steve O'Connell. "We are proud to recognize these students not just for their hard work in school, but also for their commitment to supporting their local communities. We wish all these inspiring students the very best of luck in their future education, and look forward to expanding the program to the San Diego area next year." College-bound high school seniors, community college students transferring to a four-year university, and adult students returning to college who maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and plan to attend an accredited college or university in the coming year are eligible to participate. Selection criteria included academic performance, school or community involvement, a letter of recommendation, and an essay submission. This year, California Credit Union's Scholarship Program received over 425 applications, which were reviewed by a Scholarship Committee consisting of credit union staff who selected the award recipients. Since the creation of the Scholarship Program in 2005, California Credit Union has awarded more than $275,000 to Los Angeles area students. California Credit Union will begin accepting applications for next year's program in January, 2018. About California Credit Union California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 that serves public or private school employees, community members and businesses across California. With more than 165,000 members and assets of $2.8 billion, California Credit Union has 24 branches throughout Los Angeles and San Diego counties. The credit union operates in San Diego County as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. California Credit Union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Please visit CaliforniaCU.org for more information. SOURCE California Credit Union Related Links http://CaliforniaCU.org MIAMI, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Billions of dollars and many thousands of man-hours of some of the best minds have been expended on the problems in Haiti by the Members of United Nations. Thirteen years later, it is yet to be determined why Haiti cannot put an election together, or even why about 9,800 elected officials are required for a country as economically underdeveloped as Haiti. Laws still on the books that were enacted as far back as 1978 to support a then crumbling dictatorship made it impossible for the 44th, 45th, 46th , 47th, 48th, 49th, and 50th Parliaments to avoid gridlock, or even to complete their constitutionally stipulated terms. The Present and Future Haitian Legislative, Judicial and Executive Branches will have the same problems, until the conflict between these outdated laws and Haiti's current/revised Constitution is resolved as proposed on the June 22, 2004 by the Organization of American States. American Republican Network Inc. It cannot be disputed that Haiti currently has a major problem of decentralization. But, it is also evident that lack of UN understanding, OAS participation, civic education, Haiti would have already made greater progress toward the 2004 proposed "OAS' Proximity and Decentralized-democracy. Development of Haiti's fledgling Municipal, Provincial and Regional-democracy now requires an agreement among all parties involved to establish new parameters and eliminate any conflict between the way "Financial or Administrative Assistance is conducted in Haiti". With Haiti as the Western Hemisphere Prototype, a proposed International Committee made of OAS, Caricom, IADB, BWHA and the Armed Forces of Haiti can take charge of the $5.3billion dollars and 2.5 million Jobs from the Reconstruction's Master Plan for the New Republic of Haiti. For additional information about Haiti's Sustainable Development Goals visit portrepublican.com SPECIAL NOTE: OAS: Is the Organization of American States CARICOM: Caribbean Community IADB: Inter-American Development Bank BWHA: Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Media Contact: Garry Philippe 754.248.5965 [email protected] This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE American Republican Network Inc. Related Links http://portrepublican.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian Web Hosting (www.canadianwebhosting.com), one of the leading providers of web hosting, cloud hosting and infrastructure services in Canada, has made Imunify360 publicly available to customers and integrated into their security products to protect their customers' VPS, dedicated, and shared servers. Imunify360 is a next-generation security solution built for Linux VPS, Dedicated, and Shared servers. It uses herd immunity and the six-layer approach to provide total protection against attacks. Canadian Web Hosting offers Shared Web Hosting, VPS, and Dedicated Server products including our 60-day money back guarantee with every plan. With Imunify360, Canadian Web Hosting customers will immediately benefit from Imunify360's enhanced threat detection capabilities, including an advanced self-learning firewall, as well as integrated malware scanning engine for detecting and removing malware from websites before they get blacklisted. Once enabled, customers get immediate protection from most types of attacks, such as Brute Force attacks, as well as malware detection, intrusion detection and protection. For Canadian Web Hosting customers, this provides another security tool to protect their business and users and is a powerful all-in-one security platform for a very low monthly cost. By adding Imunify360, Canadian Web Hosting adds another cutting-edge technology that utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and furthers their initiative to give customers tools and services that can automatically and dynamically learn and update against new types of attacks. "Our goal is to help our customers be more productive and make managing their online business easier than ever. By adding Imunify360 we have given our customers a one stop shop to protect their online business easily and affordably," said Matt McKinney, Chief Strategy Officer at Canadian Web Hosting. "More importantly, we are working extensively to bring artificial intelligence to our entire service platform and to help customers benefit from the same technologies used by IBM and Google and Imunify360 does just that." "As the attacks on web servers become more frequent and dangerous, web hosting providers must help their customers protect their servers and not let hackers profit off them," said Igor Seletskiy, CloudLinux CEO. "Imunify360 is a sophisticated security solution designed solely for one purpose - to protect Linux web servers. It can already eliminate 85% of false positives and we anticipate to reach 95% and even more soon." Seletskiy added, "When a leading company like Canadian Web Hosting offers solid security to their customers, they pave the way for a better and more secure web overall." Starting today, all Shared Hosting plans will include integrated Imunify360 protection, while customers on Dedicated Servers and Virtual Private Servers are able to add Imunify360 to their servers for a low monthly fee. Learn more by emailing [email protected] or calling 1.888.821.7888 for more information. About Canadian Web Hosting Since 1998, Canadian Web Hosting has been providing on-demand hosting solutions that include Shared hosting, Virtual Private Servers (VPS), Cloud Hosting, Dedicated Servers, and IT as a Service for Canadian companies of all sizes. Canadian Web Hosting is AT 101 SOC 2 Type 2 certified, ensuring that their processes and business practices are thoroughly audited against industry standards. Canadian Web Hosting guarantees a 100% network uptime and a total money back guarantee that backs everything they do. Customers can get help by calling 1.888.821.7888 to get 24/7 support. For more information, visit them at www.canadianwebhosting.com, or get the latest news by following them on Twitter at @cawebhosting or by liking their Facebook page. Media Contact: Sheila Wong [email protected] 1-888-821-7888 SOURCE Canadian Web Hosting "Jason's real estate experience working in entrepreneurial settings and growing teams provides the strong foundation for this leadership position," said Russ Laggan, Southeast regional vice president for Carrington Real Estate Services. "I am very pleased to have Jason in this role. His success in building his career will be valuable and inspirational as he leads our agents in further developing their business and careers." Demers brings to Carrington Real Estate Services nearly 20 years of residential real estate experience that includes working for leading regional brokerages including Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, Century21 and National Realty of Reston, Virginia. Most recently, he was named Portfolio Asset Manager with Patriot Properties, Inc., which manages more than 360 residential properties. Prior to this, Demers was with National Realty, LLC, which he co-founded with two broker-owners and helped lead from 2002 to 2014, hiring more than 140 new agents. During his tenure, he managed direct contact with all the major U.S. banks to facilitate short-sale negotiations and approvals for distressed home owners. Carrington Real Estate Services was recently named to RISMedia's 2017 Top 500 Power Broker list, and ranked the 37th most productive real estate company in the U.S. in the 2016 REAL Trends 500 report. The McLean, Virginia, office can be reached at 703-556-8602. The Carrington Companies Carrington is a holding company whose primary businesses include asset management, mortgages, real estate transactions and real estate logistics. Collectively, the businesses are vertically and horizontally integrated, and provide a broad range of real estate services encompassing nearly all aspects of single family residential real estate transactions in the United States. Carrington's international presence includes operations in the United Kingdom and Italy. To read more visit: www.carringtonhc.com. Through its collective associates made up of Carrington leaders and employees, the company's nonprofit organization, Carrington Charitable Foundation, contributes to the community through causes that reflect the interests of Carrington Associates. For more information about Carrington Charitable Foundation, and the organizations and programs it supports through specific fundraising efforts, please visit: carringtoncf.org. Media Contact Patty Sullivan 866.289.4147 [email protected] SOURCE Carrington Real Estate Services, LLC Related Links http://www.carringtonrealestate.com PEORIA, Ill., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) will release first-quarter 2017 financial results at 6:30 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 25. The release will be available at caterpillar.com/earnings and the full text of the news release will also be available on PR Newswire at about 6:30 a.m. CDT. The news release will be furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) via a Current Report on Form 8-K in compliance with applicable SEC rules. Teleconference and webcast access: A real-time, listen-only teleconference and webcast of the quarterly results call that Caterpillar conducts with security analysts and institutional investors will begin at 10 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 25. Supporting materials will be available before the webcast at caterpillar.com/investors/events-and-presentations. In addition to the webcast, the one-hour conference call can also be accessed by telephone from both domestic and international locations, with a listen-only entry code provided below: Conference Call Number: 877-216-8554 (domestic) 973-528-0009 (international) Listen-Only Entry Code: 5621 The call can be accessed in real-time at caterpillar.com/irwebcast. Listeners should go to the website at least 15 minutes before the live event to download and install any necessary audio software. The transcript from the conference call will be made available at caterpillar.com/irwebcast following the webcast. For those unable to participate in the live broadcast, the replay will be available at caterpillar.com/irwebcast shortly after the live event. There is no charge to access the webcast. A telephone replay of the call will not be available. Those without access to the Internet may listen to an audio summary of Caterpillar's press release by calling 800-228-7717 (for U.S. and Canada) or 858-764-9492 (for all other regions). About Caterpillar For more than 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2016 sales and revenues of $38.537 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media. SOURCE Caterpillar Inc. Related Links http://www.caterpillar.com GREENSBORO, N.C., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recently released figures show a huge jump of 10.4-percent in youth aging out of foster care in North Carolina in 2016 compared to 2015. These are the highest numbers since data compilation began 16-years ago in mid-2000. Joni Morris with son Scott, adopted at 18 - North Carolina Press Release The Morris Family - Front (LR): Scott, Elise, Casey, Hunter, Back (LR): Ashton, Tim, Joni, Zach - North Carolina Press Release "I'm a firm believer that people should consider adopting older children," said Joni Morris of Lexington, NC. "They want to be loved and accepted. That's what everybody wants. They deserve a chance in life, an opportunity to have a future and a forever family. I believe that with my whole heart. It's so sad they were thrown a curve ball." Already with four biological children, Tim and Joni Morris were inspired to adopt Scott, at age 18, and Scott's sister Casey, at age 16. "I felt like the world was going to turn its back on me," said Scott, describing the feeling as a young man aging out of a group home without a family. "I felt like the people that I knew were just going to throw me out." Youth aging out of foster care without the support structure of a safe, permanent, and loving family, face tremendous odds transitioning successfully into adulthood. Challenges frequently include an absence of mentorship, homelessness or inadequate housing, incomplete education, a cycle of low paying or no jobs, early parenthood, health issues, hopelessness, substance abuse, and sometimes, incarceration. In and out of foster care and group homes since age 11, Scott "didn't think about dreaming," and could not see a future. "I would most likely be living on the street, and that's a scary thought. It was very difficult to deal with. Actually, I didn't know how to deal with it." Following his adoption by the Morris family, Scott completed high school and is now in his third-year apprenticeship with Salem Electric. After one more year, Scott will take his test and become a certified electrician. With a permanent family, an education, and bright career prospects, Scott is now able to dream. "Hopefully, I will get a house on my own and focus on making a family," said Scott. "The help of a family who has been through a lot in the world is helping me a lot. It's a lot of wisdom poured into me." "They're good, solid human beings and are going to add so much to society," said Joni. "I love them. I love them like they're my very own children. Adoption has completed our family." "I can't say enough good things about Children's Home Society of North Carolina," said Joni. "They loved my kids, they loved Scott and Casey and wanted to make sure this was a fit for all. With the social workers from DSS, they all came together to help us in this process and make this adoption happen." To learn more about the foster care and adoption crisis in North Carolina and how you can help, Children's Home Society will host the annual A Place to Call Home banquets in Raleigh on April 27, Charlotte on May 11, and Greensboro on May 18. The featured speaker will be Steve Pemberton, mentally and physically abused for eleven years, aged out of foster care, and now a Fortune 500 executive with Walgreen's. Pemberton will share his incredible story from despair to success, and the tremendous impact of small acts of kindness by other people in his life. For more information, https://www.chsnc.org/donate-today/a-place-to-call-home/ "Foster care and adoption are in a state of crisis," said Brian Maness, President and CEO of Children's Home Society of North Carolina, the state's largest private provider of foster care and adoption services. "Foster care has been growing at an alarming rate with a shortage of permanent, safe, and loving homes for adoptable children." Founded in 1902, Children's Home Society serves over 20,000 children and families in all 100 counties in North Carolina. Click for information about Children's Home Society Click for media photos, data sources, press materials Contact: Dillard Spring Children's Home Society of North Carolina [email protected] 800-632-1400 ext. 550 Robert B Butler Communications | Public Relations www.NCPressRelease.org www.RBButler.com Permission granted for reprint and redistribution #FosterCare #Adoption #StevePemberton #Walgreens #ChildrensHomeSocietyNC #APlacetoCallHome #BrianManess #ScottMorris #JoniMorris #AgingOut SOURCE Children's Home Society of North Carolina Related Links https://www.chsnc.org During the award ceremony at the AAPOS national meeting on Thursday, April 6, Dr. Binenbaum spoke about how physicians can use their own patient electronic medical records to conduct research. He encouraged other clinicians to harness the power of this type of data to efficiently answer clinically relevant questions in managing common eye diseases in children. "At CHOP, we are driven to make meaningful advancements in research while providing excellent care," says Monte Mills, MD, chief of the Division of Ophthalmology at CHOP. "Dr. Binenbaum exemplifies this mission in its entirety and has made significant contributions to pediatric ophthalmology research. It's with great appreciation that I congratulate him on his latest achievement." Dr. Binenbaum attended the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he now serves as Associate Professor of Ophthalmology. He is the leader of a multicenter research group on retinopathy of prematurity, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. He has also conducted extensive research in retinal hemorrhage related to child abuse. Dr. Binenbaum completed his ophthalmology residency at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, pursued a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at CHOP, and received a masters degree in Clinical Epidemiology, also at the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored over 42 peer-reviewed publications and published more than 118 scientific abstracts at national and international meetings. He has also contributed to an extensive number of editorials, policy statements, chapters and alternative media works. In addition to seeing patients and operating, Dr. Binenbaum serves as Director of Research in the Division of Ophthalmology at CHOP, as well as Chair of the Research Committee of AAPOS. Dr. Binenbaum resides in Center City Philadelphia and has two teenage children. About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 546-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu Contact: Kaila Conti Children's Hospital of Philadelphia [email protected] Cell: 610-457-5916 SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Related Links http://www.chop.edu DENVER, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC) today announced that it plans to report first quarter 2017 financial results on Monday, May 8, 2017, before market open. The company will host its quarterly conference call at 11:00 AM EDT that same day. The call will be webcast and is accessible via the Cimarex website at www.cimarex.com. To join the live, interactive call, please dial 866-367-3053 ten minutes before the scheduled start time (callers in Canada dial 855-669-9657 and international callers dial 412-902-4216). A replay will be available on the company's website and via the Cimarex App. About Cimarex Energy Denver-based Cimarex Energy Co. is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with principal operations in the Anadarko and Permian Basins of the U.S. SOURCE Cimarex Energy Co. Related Links http://www.cimarex.com LONDON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading experts meet to discuss how Artificial Intelligence will transform the future of Transport, Finance, Insurance, Cyber Security, Healthcare, Education, Human Rights and more at the inaugural CogX London 2017 CognitionX, the Market Intelligence Platform which brings clarity to All Things AI, today announced CogX London 2017, an Innovation Exchange focused on the impact that AI will have across all industries, government and society as a whole. The event which will take place in London from 19th-21st June and will attract over 1,500 attendees to explore how we should navigate the new and complex landscape which is rapidly reshaping the world around us. This unique gathering will play host to over 100 expert speakers including: MC Srivas, Chief Data Architect at Uber and Alex van Someren, Co-founder of Cyber London (CyLon), and Managing Partner, Early Stage at Amadeus Capital Partners, as well as Calum Chace, AI expert and author of "The Economic Singularity", and Kenneth Cukier, co-author of NYT Bestseller "Big Data" and Senior Editor for Digital at The Economist. CogX is being hosted in association with the Alan Turing Institute, the UK's national institute of data science, members of which will be speaking on topics across the event. CogX will also include the inaugural AI Innovation Awards. These will recognise and celebrate the best use of AI in specific industry sectors and technology domains as well as applications in Social Good, Public Services and Ethics Leadership. Further information on the awards and a nomination form can be found at cogx.co/awards. London's historic venue, The Brewery, will play host to 18 separate sessions focused on understand the scale of AI's impact on our industries, government and society, as well as the social implications of automation, and human rights issues around privacy, representation and the challenge of unconscious biases when designing systems. The event is the first of its kind to deal with the understanding the wider impact of AI, addressing the potential threats posed, as well as the opportunities it creates. CogX will cover 18 topics, each will be opened by a keynote speech followed by a panel discussion and then a separate breakout session to raise the open issues share best practice and discuss solutions. This will result in 18 published reports which will capture the critical issues and provide recommendations from the panel and breakout session participants. CognitionX Founder and CEO, Charlie Muirhead, said, "Artificial Intelligence is changing everything, and the pace of change is unprecedented. CogX is an Innovation Exchange that will host detailed conversations about the critical issues and choices that lie ahead, and celebrate the incredible AI work that is already being done globally across every sector. "The UK's contribution to AI has already been substantial, and with the right support from the startups, corporates, investors, government, academia and the public, it could be the single biggest driver of productivity and growth for the UK economy." Global Client Services Director EY, James Bennet MBE, said, "All companies need to be disruption-ready, and AI will be the greatest source of disruption our society and economy have ever experienced. CogX will be an opportunity to debate and discuss the exciting opportunities that this technological shift will bring." Professor of Communications Systems at Cambridge and Faculty Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute, Jon Crowcroft, said, "We've wired the planet's nervous system - now's the time to install the brains. I'm looking forward to being part of CogX and the discussions around how we design, build and start to use all the different components in the most safe and ethical way." Chief Product Strategy and Innovation Officer, Paysafe Group, B D Goel, said, "We're seeing unprecedented change in fintech as the digitisation of commerce has created entirely new business models and transformed the expectations and behaviours of both consumers and business. That's why Paysafe's focus is on building for the future of payments - a platform to become the preferred destination for businesses and consumers around the world. Now more than ever is a fascinating time for Paysafe to explore new capabilities, new technologies and new thinking at events such as CogX that bring talent, innovation and curiosity together under one roof." Satalia Founder and CEO, Daniel Hulme, said, "From my experience in the US and elsewhere, I have seen the international reputation that the UK has built as a pioneer in the analytics and AI space, but we need to be shouting louder about it. CogX is a great opportunity to showcase these strengths at scale. CognitionX is growing an ecosystem that makes advanced AI innovations accessible, and I'm excited to be a part of this event which demonstrates the impact AI focused start-ups can have on industry the and the economy as a whole." To register and find out more information, please visit cogx.co. ABOUT COGNITIONX: CognitionX is a Market Intelligence Platform that brings clarity to the complex and fast-paced world of All Things Artificial Intelligence. Our mission is to democratise access to the information and research on the products and resources required to build AI solutions. By organising all the information from the industry and making it universally accessible and useful we empower everyone from enterprise to startups and governments - even individuals - to access and rapidly deploy AI. ABOUT THE ALAN TURING INSTITUTE: The Alan Turing Institute is the national institute for data science, with headquarters at the British Library. The group will work in collaboration with the broader data science community to undertake research and understanding the societal implications of Big Data. The Institute is named in honour of Alan Turing, whose pioneering work in theoretical and applied mathematics, engineering and computing are considered to be the key disciplines comprising the emerging field of data science. SOURCE CognitionX NESS ZIONA, Israel, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CollPlant (TASE: CLPT), a regenerative medicine company utilizing its proprietary plant-based rhCollagen technology for tissue repair products (recombinant human, "rhCollagen"), announce positive results from post-marketing surveillance of the Company's advanced wound care product, Vergenix FG, for the treatment of patients with chronic, hard to heal wounds in Europe. As part of the surveillance, the Company monitored ten patients following a single treatment with VergenixFG in hospitals in Italy and Switzerland. Five weeks post- treatment, patients displayed an average wound closure rate of 80%, with no observed safety or tolerability issues. "VergenixFG is the most effective wound filler I have used so far," noted Prof. Alberto Piaggesi, MD, Director of the Diabetic Foot Section at Pisa University Hospital, Italy. "It is easy to use and in my surgical practice helps me to address the challenges of loss of substance after debridement or bone and joint removal resulting from osteomyelitis. In a word: it works." "We are very pleased with the results of the observed treatments, which demonstrate the efficacy of this novel wound care product, consistent with the positive results of the study that we conducted in Israel in 2015," commented Yehiel Tal, chief executive officer of CollPlant. "We continue to expand our sales and operations with hospitals in Italy and Switzerland, with the aim of establishing VergenixFG as a best-in-class option for patients afflicted with these difficult-to-treat wounds." VergenixFG received CE Mark approval in February 2016. The Company has signed distribution agreements covering Italy and Switzerland, and initial product shipments have commenced. About CollPlant CollPlant is a regenerative medicine company leveraging its proprietary, plant-based recombinant human collagen (rhCollagen) technology for the development and commercialization of tissue repair products, initially for the orthobiologics and advanced wound care markets. The Company's cutting-edge technology is designed to generate and process proprietary rhCollagen, among other patent-protected recombinant proteins. Given that CollPlant's rhCollagen is identical to the type I collagen produced by the human body, it offers significant advantages compared to currently marketed tissue-derived collagen, including improved biofunctionality, superior homogeneity and reduced risk of immune response. The Company's broad development pipeline includes biomaterials indicated for orthopedics and advanced wound healing. Lead products include: VergenixSTR (Soft Tissue Repair Matrix), for the treatment of tendinopathy; and VergenixFG (Flowable Gel) wound filler, for treatment of acute and chronic wounds. CollPlant's business strategy includes proprietary development and manufacture of tissue repair products and their commercialization and distribution, together with leading third parties, alongside alliances with leading companies for joint development, manufacture and marketing of additional products. For more information about CollPlant, visit http://www.collplant.com Contact at CollPlant: Eran Rotem Chief Financial Officer Tel: +972-73-2325600/612 Email: [email protected] Contact at Rx Communications Group, LLC Paula Schwartz (for US Investors) Senior Vice President Tel: +1-917-322-2216 Email: [email protected] SOURCE CollPlant IRVINE, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Netwrix Corporation, provider of a visibility platform for user behavior analysis and risk mitigation in hybrid environments, today announced that Cayuga Community College leverages Netwrix Auditor to gain full control over activity in its IT environment for more efficient IT operations, faster troubleshooting, better user support, and robust security of systems and data. Cayuga Community College is a unit of the State University of New York with two campuses in the cities of Auburn and Fulton, NY, U.S. The college's IT team faced a challenge typical for government-sponsored educational institutions: They had to perform a wide variety of duties with a tight budget and few staff. Wade Lambert, IT manager, and his team of only two people are responsible for the entire IT infrastructure of the Fulton campus and manage auditing for the entire college. To perform their duties efficiently, they needed a visibility solution. The IT team chose Netwrix Auditor based on the recommendations of their peers from another college. The solution provides visibility into who did what, when and where across the IT environment. Given that there are 1,200 employee and 4,000 active student accounts in the two Cayuga Community College campuses, having complete visibility into user activity was critical for troubleshooting incidents and securing data. The IT team has achieved the following results thanks to Netwrix Auditor: Simplified daily routine. Keeping a close watch on all activity in Active Directory and Exchange is simple with Netwrix Auditor. Daily summary reports are automatically emailed to both the network administrator and the helpdesk administrator, enabling them to easily track what happened in these critical IT systems. Fast investigations and easy troubleshooting. The team can now find the root cause of each IT issue in a matter of minutes, enabling quick resolution to minimize disruption for users. The complete audit trail and Google-like search enable the team to easily investigate incidents even if they happened in the distant past. Better security of the IT environment. As soon as Netwrix Auditor was deployed, the team uncovered changes they were previously unaware of. The software also helps them understand which cyber-security controls need to be tightened and what policies need to be implemented. Alerts on critical changes enable the team to act fast and prevent unwanted changes from becoming a serious security issue. "Netwrix Auditor has been one of the most important solutions in my toolbox. It improved us in ways I didn't even know we needed to be improved. It saves us trouble keeping track of what is happening in the environment, empowers us with visibility needed for security and troubleshooting, and adds efficiency and proactivity to our daily work," said Wade Lambert, IT Manager at Cayuga Community College. "Mitigating security risks and beating potential threats, be it a risk of disruption of business operations or a data breach, is a challenge even for big companies with large budgets. IT departments in government-sponsored educational institutions often have to operate with limited resources, while at the same time supporting a great number of users, ensuring business continuity and maintaining the security of confidential information," said Michael Fimin, CEO and co-founder of Netwrix. "Complete visibility into user activity will greatly increase the efficiency of these small IT teams by making daily routines faster and less stressful, and enabling better detection and remediation of cyber threats." To read the complete case study, please visit: http://www.netwrix.com/go/cayugacommunitycollege About Netwrix Corporation Netwrix Corporation was the first vendor to introduce a visibility and governance platform for hybrid cloud security. More than 160,000 IT departments worldwide rely on Netwrix to detect insider threats on premises and in the cloud, pass compliance audits with less effort and expense, and increase productivity of IT security and operations teams. Founded in 2006, Netwrix has earned more than 100 industry awards and been named to both the Inc. 5000 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500 lists of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. For more information, visit www.netwrix.com. CONTACT: Erin Jones Avista PR for Netwrix P: 704.664.2170 E: [email protected] SOURCE Netwrix Corporation Related Links http://www.netwrix.com RESTON, Va., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- comScore, Inc. today released data from comScore MobiLens, reporting market share trends in the U.S. smartphone industry for February 2017. Top Smartphone OEMs 3 Month Avg. Ending February 2017 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Age 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens Top Smartphone OEMs Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers Total Smartphone Subscribers 100.0% Apple 44.6% Samsung 28.3% LG 10.0% Motorola 4.3% HTC 2.2% Top Smartphone Platforms 3 Month Avg. Ending February 2017 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Age 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens Top Smartphone Platforms Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers Total Smartphone Subscribers 100.0% Android 53.3% Apple 44.6% Microsoft 1.5% BlackBerry 0.6% For more market rankings from comScore, visit our Rankings page here. About comScore comScore is a leading cross-platform measurement company that measures audiences, brands and consumer behavior everywhere. comScore completed its merger with Rentrak Corporation in January 2016, to create the new model for a dynamic, cross-platform world. Built on precision and innovation, our data footprint combines proprietary digital, TV and movie intelligence with vast demographic details to quantify consumers' multiscreen behavior at massive scale. This approach helps media companies monetize their complete audiences and allows marketers to reach these audiences more effectively. With more than 3,200 clients and global footprint in more than 75 countries, comScore is delivering the future of measurement. Shares of comScore stock are currently traded on the OTC Market (OTC:SCOR). For more information on comScore, please visit comscore.com. SOURCE comScore Related Links http://www.comscore.com WABAN, Mass., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Every organization makes some mistakes, so an important area of loyalty is the willingness of customers to forgive them. That's why Temkin Groupa leading customer experience research, consulting, and training companyhas been measuring forgiveness for seven years. Temkin Group: When Experience Matters (TemkinGroup.com) Temkin Ratings: Large-Scale Consumer Feedback (TemkinRatings.com) Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, Advantage Rent-A-Car and ACE Rent A Car took the top spots in the 2017 Temkin Forgiveness Ratings, which rates how willing consumers are to forgive 329 companies across 20 industries. Navy Federal Credit Union, Fujitsu, Fox Rent A Car, AmazonFresh, Rent-a-Wreck, Alabama Power Company, Fairfield Inn, and USAA fill out the top 10 spots. At the other end of the spectrum, consumers are least likely to forgive Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Anthem, Aetna, Cablevision, Travelers, Citigroup, Fifth Third, Bright House Networks, Spirit Airlines, and Dish Network. "Every organization makes mistakes, so forgiveness is a critical element of loyalty. It's a shame to see how little forgiveness has been earned by TV/Internet service providers," states Bruce Temkin, managing partner of Temkin Group. Other highlights from the 2017 Temkin Forgiveness Ratings include: Supermarkets and auto dealers earned the highest average ratings, while TV/Internet service providers and TV service providers, health plans, and wireless carriers earned the lowest ratings. Navy Federal Credit Union, Advantage Rent-A-Car, ACE Rent A Car, Fujitsu, Fox Rent A Car, USAA (for banking, credit cards, and insurance), Rent-a-Wreck , and Alabama Power Company earned ratings that are more than 20 points above their industry averages. (for banking, credit cards, and insurance), , and earned ratings that are more than 20 points above their industry averages. Spirit Airlines, Avis, Lyft, Commonwealth Edison, Starz, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and SiriusXM earned scores that are 15 or more points below their industry averages. and earned scores that are 15 or more points below their industry averages. Fujitsu, Motel 6, Gateway, GM, Advantage Rent-A-Car, Health Net, MetLife, Fox Rent A Car, HSBC, ACE Rent A Car, Activision , and Ameren Illinois Company improved the most between 2016 and 2017. , and improved the most between 2016 and 2017. Domino's, Avis, RadioShack, Fifth Third, ShopRite, Aetna, Ace Hardware, and JCPenney declined the most between 2016 and 2017. In its seventh year of publication, the 2017 Temkin Forgiveness Ratings examines the likelihood of consumers to forgive companies after they make a mistake. It evaluates 329 companies across 20 industries: Computers & Tablets, Insurance, Investments, Credit Cards, Health Plans, TV/Internet Service, Streaming Media, Wireless, Airlines, Hotels & Rooms, Retailers, Fast Food, Rental Cars & Transport, Supermarkets, Parcel Delivery, TV & Appliances, Auto Dealers, Software Firms, and Utilities. The 2017 Temkin Forgiveness Ratings along with other ratings can be accessed at the Temkin Ratings website, www.TemkinRatings.com. Detailed datasets for the 2017 Temkin Forgiveness Ratings can be downloaded from the Customer Experience Matters blog, at ExperienceMatters.wordpress.com as well as from the Temkin Group website, www.TemkinGroup.com. About Temkin Group: Temkin Group is widely recognized as a leading customer experience research and consulting firm. Many of the world's largest brands rely on its insights and advice to steer their transformational journeys. Temkin Group combines customer experience thought leadership with a deep understanding of the dynamics of organizations to help accelerate results. Rather than layering on cosmetic changes, Temkin Group helps companies embed practices within their culture by building four critical competencies: Purposeful Leadership, Employee Engagement, Compelling Brand Values, and Customer Connectedness. The firm's ongoing research identifies leading and emerging best practices across a wide range of activities for engaging the hearts and minds of customers, employees, and partners. For more information, contact Bruce Temkin at 617-916-2075 or send an email to [email protected]. About Bruce Temkin: Bruce Temkin is widely recognized as a customer experience visionary, and is Managing Partner of Temkin Group. He is also the co-founder and Emeritus Chair of the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA.org), a global non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of customer experience management. Bruce is also the author of a very popular blog, Customer Experience Matters. Prior to forming Temkin Group, he was a Vice President at Forrester Research for 12 years where he ran the customer experience, eBusiness, financial services, and B2B sectors and was the most-read analyst for 13 consecutive quarters. Customer Experience Matters is a registered trademark of Temkin Group. SOURCE Temkin Group Related Links http://www.TemkinGroup.com TYSONS CORNER, Va., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cordia Partners & Cordia Resources ("Cordia"), leaders in the accounting, finance, human resources, and contract administration services market, providing outsourcing, consulting, recruiting, professional staffing and executive search services throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area, announced the formation of the company's advisory board. The advisory board consists of senior industry executives including Pat Herrity, former Chief Financial Officer at Delex Systems; Lenn Kurtzman, Chief Financial Officer at ThreatQuotient; Bill Mutryn, counsel at Holland & Knight and former co-leader of the firm's Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions Group, and Chief Strategy Officer of Bluestone Capital Partners; and Jim Russo, managing director of Potomac Consultants Group. "We are delighted to have such an outstanding group of industry leaders and C-level executives to serve on our advisory board and assist with our strategy for growth in the Washington DC market," noted Mitch Weintraub, Cordia Partners' Managing Partner. "Our advisory board is a reflection of Cordia's diverse and deep understanding of the DC business community. With expertise in high tech, government contacting, mergers & acquisitions, law, finance & accounting, government & public policy, we are fortunate to be able to leverage their knowledge and incorporate it into our growth strategy," added Joe Greeves, Cordia Resources' Managing Partner. "I'm excited to serve on Cordia's Advisory Board and look forward to sharing knowledge and experience to help fuel their tremendous growth," added Advisory Board member Bill Mutryn. The Advisory Board will meet periodically to provide advice and guidance to Cordia on its growth strategy, potential customers, and organizational structure. About Cordia Resources Cordia Resources (www.cordiaresources.com) is a leading recruiting, professional staffing and executive search firm specializing in placing accounting, finance, human resources and contract administration professionals throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area. As part of the Cordia Partners services platform with access to an unmatched pool of talented accounting professionals, we provide expert financial recruiting and staffing solutions to our clients in the commercial and not-for-profit markets, including government contacting, technology, professional services, hospitality, real estate, and more. About Cordia Partners Cordia Partners (www.cordiapartners.com) is a leading provider of outsourced accounting solutions, business advisory, recruiting & staffing, and executive search services in the DC Metro area. Our proactive, client-centered approach allows you to focus on your core competencies and overall success of your business. With offices in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC, we are here to support the growth of your business. Contact: Kristin Conrad, +1-703-962-9041 [email protected] SOURCE Cordia Resources Related Links https://cordiaresources.com ATLANTA, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), a leading medical device and tissue processing company focused on cardiac surgery, announced today that 2017 first quarter financial results will be released on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 after the market closes. On Thursday, April 27, 2017 the Company will hold a teleconference call and live webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results, followed by a question and answer session hosted by Pat Mackin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CryoLife, Inc. To listen to the live teleconference, please dial 201-689-8261 a few minutes prior to 8:00 a.m. A replay of the teleconference will be available April 27 through May 3 and can be accessed by calling (toll free) 877-660-6853 or 201-612-7415. The conference number for the replay is 13659245. The live webcast and replay can be accessed by going to the Investor Relations section of the CryoLife website at www.cryolife.com and selecting the heading Webcasts & Presentations. In addition, a copy of the earnings press release, which will contain financial and statistical information for the completed quarter, can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of the CryoLife website. About CryoLife, Inc. Headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, CryoLife is a leader in the manufacturing, processing, and distribution of implantable tissues and medical devices used in cardiac surgical procedures. CryoLife markets and sells products in more than 80 countries worldwide. For additional information about CryoLife, visit our website, www.cryolife.com. Contacts: CryoLife The Ruth Group D. Ashley Lee Nick Laudico / Zack Kubow Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer 646-536-7030 / 7020 and Chief Operating Officer [email protected] Phone: 770-419-3355 [email protected] SOURCE CryoLife, Inc. Related Links http://www.cryolife.com "We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Vera Manoukian as our President and COO," said Patrick Denihan. "She is a seasoned and accomplished leader that will help us achieve improved results through superior performance, expand our portfolio and take us to the next level." "As a family business that has been in existence for over 50 years, we are very aware of the need to continually strive for excellence in everything we do. Vera comes with the breadth and depth of experience to lead Denihan forward," said Brooke Barrett. "I am honored to be given this opportunity to join Denihan at this exciting time in the business. Denihan has a quality portfolio of hotels that is poised to grow and exceed customer expectations," said Vera Manoukian. Ms. Manoukian is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, primarily with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President of Operations leading Starwood's largest geographic region with 68 properties, delivering over $3.4 billion in revenue with 7 brands and 35,000 rooms in both full service and luxury hotels. During her tenure at Starwood, Vera was recognized for her operational excellence and maximizing performance, while also successfully managing her region's growth and development pipeline. Manoukian holds an MBA from the University of Southern New Hampshire, specializing in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Rivier University of New Hampshire. About Denihan Hospitality Denihan is a privately-held, full service management and development company. The company owns and/or operates boutique hotels in major urban markets throughout the U.S. For over 50 years, Denihan has built a world-class lodging investment platform within the boutique/lifestyle hotel space, creating value by acquiring, repositioning and managing independent assets. The Denihan portfolio includes properties operating under The James and Affinia Hotel Collection brands, as well as several Manhattan independent boutique hotels, including The Surrey, voted the #1 hotel in New York City in the Conde Nast Traveler 2016 'Readers' Choice Awards' and #1 hotel in New York City in Travel + Leisure's 2016 'World's Best Awards'. The Denihan portfolio also includes an impressive list of chef-driven restaurants and bars. The company's uniquely guest-centric approach, refined through three generations of Denihan leadership, has made it an industry leader in hospitality, property and restaurant development, as well as hotel operations, management and marketing. More details can be found at www.denihan.com. Media Contact: Will Davis, 212-463-7245 SOURCE Denihan Hospitality Related Links http://www.denihan.com FLINT, Mich., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (NYSE: DPLO), the nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy, has appointed Atul Kavthekar as chief financial officer and treasurer, effective May 1, 2017. Mr. Kavthekar has extensive experience and has demonstrated financial and strategic leadership in his previous roles in the technology, health care, and investment banking industries. Mr. Kavthekar will lead Diplomat's financial operations and investor relations efforts. Mr. Kavthekar will also be responsible for managing liquidity, balance sheet risk, and capital market transactions to ensure Diplomat remains well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities. He will report directly to Phil Hagerman, CEO and chairman. "I couldn't be more excited to welcome Atul to the Diplomat team," Hagerman said. "He is highly qualified to lead our finance and accounting teams. In addition to his previous CFO experience, Atul has a deep background in financial management, operational improvement, and company leadership, as well as strategic corporate and business development." Mr. Hagerman continued, "Atul is an exceptional choice to take on the CFO role. I am confident his addition to the Diplomat leadership will position us well for the future, and I am so pleased to have him on board." Mr. Kavthekar, 49, has over two decades of financial experience. Prior to Diplomat, he served as the CFO of LivingSocial, Inc., an e-commerce retailer, from June 2015 to December 2016, and was responsible for overall financial and operational improvement of the business. He previously held executive roles at Walgreens, from December 2009 to December 2013, and at Sears Holdings Corporation's health & wellness division, which includes the Kmart Pharmacy chain, from December 2013 to May 2015. Mr. Kavthekar also has extensive mergers and acquisitions and capital markets experience as an investment banker. "I have long been an admirer of the company and look forward to adding to the company's strong reputation as a leader in the specialty pharmacy industry," Mr. Kavthekar said. "As the leading independent specialty pharmacy, Diplomat has tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to its success." Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information. These statements are qualified by important risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those forecasted or indicated by such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, you should review Diplomat's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Risk Factors" in Diplomat's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by any applicable laws, Diplomat assumes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date hereof or the earlier date specified herein, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. 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] MEDIA CONTACT: Jenny Cretu, Diplomat 810.768.9863 | [email protected] SOURCE Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. Related Links http://www.diplomat.is The study evaluated 18 patients for radiographic evidence of fusion at 12 and 24 months following SI joint fusion with decortication and bone grafting. A systematic Computed Tomography (CT) review was predefined and performed by independent radiologists blinded to each other's assessments. Previously-reported results demonstrated a 72 percent reduction in average pain and evidence of bridging bone in 79 percent of patients at 12 months. The evidence will be presented by Dr. William W. Cross III, an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The Company will also release results of another study: Biomechanical Evaluation of Trans-ilium Sacroiliac Joint Decortication and Fixation with Threaded Implants. This study analyzed the contribution of threaded implants to stability of the SI joint following SI joint fixation and quantified resulting rigidity in the presence of joint decortication. The study was led by Dr. Jonathan Sembrano, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Minnesota Fairview in Minneapolis, Minn. "Clinical evidence is the bedrock of market development for innovative surgical technology," stated Jim Bullock, president and CEO of Zyga Technology. "While studies have shown that fixation of the SI joint can provide relief for SI joint disorders, there is little data today showing the ability of many SI joint fusion technologies to achieve long-term, solid bony fusion across the joint. Zyga is committed to building the evidence needed to expand access for patients to a minimally invasive procedure built on proven orthopedic principles of fusion. Our 250 patient, prospective, multi-center EVoluSIon study will build on the findings in this study to demonstrate the benefit of a true fusion for long-term relief for patients." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists back problems as the second most common cause of disability in U.S. adults[i]. It has been reported that approximately 20 percent of all chronic low back pain derives from the sacroiliac joint[ii]. About Zyga Technology, Inc. Zyga Technology, Inc. is dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of solutions that provide empirical clinical and economic value in the treatment of underserved conditions of the spine. In addition to marketing the SImmetry System, the company is conducting a U.S. multicenter clinical study of the Glyder Facet Restoration Device, an investigational, non-fusion, minimally invasive technology intended to provide relief from lumbar facet pain. For more information, visit zyga.com. i Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of disabilities and associated health conditions among adultsUnited States, 1999. JAMA. 2001; 285(12):1571-1572. ii Cohen SP et al. Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Comprehensive Review of Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment . Expert Rev Neurother. 2013; 13(1):99-116 CONTACT: Erin Morrison Tel 952 698 9956 [email protected] SOURCE Zyga Technology, Inc. Related Links www.zyga.com CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Compliance Corp. (OTC PINK: ENCC), signed an agreement that allows them to provide compliance services to DATIA members. On 16th-18th May, DATIA has its annual conference and Encompass Compliance Corp. will be a featured speaker focusing on the challenges and nuances for drug testing rules in the workplace. The Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) was founded in 1995 and has grown to represent over 1,500 member companies. DATIA now represents the entire spectrum of drug and alcohol service providers including collection sites, laboratories, consortiums/TPAs, MROs, and testing equipment manufacturers. DATIA provides a critical function to its members in the following areas: They serve as the coordinated voice for the industry on regulatory and legislative matters of drug and alcohol testing and collection issues, as well as drug-free workplace regulatory issues. They inform members, of issues affecting their businesses through newsletters, legislative alerts and meetings. They collect and disseminate information on drug and alcohol service and product providers through a national directory distributed to businesses and the general public. DATIA's members provide drug testing products and services to over 1,000,000 (million) corporations throughout the U.S. These members provide products that test for: THC, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates, benzodiazepines, propoxyphene, PCP, oxycodone, morphine, ecstasy, methadone, buprenorphine, barbiturates, ketamine, K2, tramadol, ETG. "Many of the major service and product suppliers to corporate America are members of DATIA. Therefore, we have a great audience to provide our Risk Shield Compliance services in support of our partner, DATIA," says Encompass CEO, Richard Sharp. Encompass Compliance Corp. is the most comprehensive provider of workplace drug and alcohol testing compliance services, with over 30 years of experience. We are dedicated to providing employers with the tools necessary to mitigate regulatory and compliance risk. Our solutions provide organizations with up to date policies, a comprehensive resource center and real-time monitoring for drug and alcohol testing orders. Safe Harbor Statement: This press release may include predictions, estimates, opinions or statements that might be considered "forward-looking" under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements generally identified by phrases such as the Company or its management "believes," "expects," "forecasts," "estimates," or other words or phrases are forward-looking. For further information, contact: Richard Sharp +1-866-328-7487 [email protected] URL: https://www.encompinc.com SOURCE Encompass Compliance Corp DALLAS, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The GPA Midstream Association honored the EnLink Midstream companies (EnLink), EnLink Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: ENLK) and EnLink Midstream, LLC (NYSE: ENLC), with its Impact Award during the annual GPA Midstream Convention in San Antonio, Texas, on Monday, April 10. "The Impact Award is not an annual award, but rather, it is presented only when a company has made major improvements to the midstream industry," said GPA Midstream Chairman Wouter van Kempen, who presented the award to EnLink. EnLink Chairman and CEO Barry Davis accepted the award on behalf of EnLink. "EnLink has always strived to make an impact in the lives of our employees and our partners," Davis said. "Receiving the Impact Award, which is one of our industry's most prestigious, is a great honor for EnLink. "Our employees are the true recipients of this award. We have 1,500 employees who wake up every day devoted to doing their jobs with ethics and excellence, forming valuable partnerships with our customers, and delivering results, all while staying safe. These are our values, and they are ultimately what helped us to earn this honor. Thank you to the GPA Midstream Association and Chairman van Kempen for bestowing EnLink with the Impact Award." About the EnLink Midstream Companies EnLink provides integrated midstream services across natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and NGL commodities. EnLink operates in several top U.S. basins and is strategically focused on the core growth areas of the Permian's Midland and Delaware basins, Oklahoma's Midcontinent, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. Headquartered in Dallas, EnLink is publicly traded through EnLink Midstream, LLC (NYSE: ENLC), the General Partner, and EnLink Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: ENLK), the Master Limited Partnership. Visit www.EnLink.com for more information on how EnLink connects energy to life. Investor Relations: Kate Walsh, Vice President of Investor Relations, 214-721-9696, [email protected] Media Relations: Jill McMillan, Vice President of Public & Industry Affairs, 214-721-9271, [email protected] SOURCE EnLink Midstream Related Links http://www.enlink.com WASHINGTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Congress weighs in on the possibly of designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), Iranian American Community of Arkansas, member of the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) hosted a briefing in the U.S. Senate to discuss the issue. Dr. Majid Sadeghpour, Political Director of OIAC, welcomed the participants, and asked former U.S. ambassador to Bahrain Adam Ereli, to moderate the event. Briefly reviewing the IRGC's activities that meet the criteria for FTO listing, Ambassador John Bolton noted in particular, "the IRGC's prominent indeed dispositive role in Iran's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programsthe IRGC is overqualified to be designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization." In a PowerPoint presentation on the IRGC's malign role in the Middle East, Alireza Jafarzadeh, the Deputy Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI-US), talked about 15 of the IRGC's dozens of terrorist training centers across Iran, where "they bring hundreds of forces from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and Lebanon, train them in these bases, and send them back to those countries." Jafarzadeh pointed out that the Iranian regime provides Hamas with $1.3 billion and Hezbollah with $1 billion per year. Drawing on the newly released book, The Rise of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Financial Empire, he discussed how the Iranian regime plunders the people's wealth to fund terrorism, and made the legal case for the IRGC's FTO designation. Dr. Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, laid out what he described as "the case for IRGC's (FTO) designation on political grounds," underscoring, "the blacklisting of the IRGC will have immediate material economic effects on the Revolutionary Guard and on the Islamic Republic as a whole." Referring to his experience in Iraq, where he spent five years working directly to counter IRGC operations, Michael Pregent, an adjunct fellow at Hudson Institute, said the Qods Force, as part of the IRGC, funds Kata'eb Hozbollah, Asaeb Ahl Al-Haq in Iraq, and Lebanese Hozbollah. It operates outside of the law and answers directly to the supreme leader, he said. The panelists argued the upcoming Iranian elections would not change anything as far as the Iranian regime's behaviors are concerned. Experts urged Congress not to wait for the outcome of the elections in proceeding with legislative measures. SOURCE OIAC Related Links http://www.oiac.org LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Extraordinary Families, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in child welfare, hosts its second annual Awards Gala on April 26, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills. The evening honors award-winning director, writer and producer Lee Daniels with the Visionary Award; NBC's hit show "This Is Us" executive producer Jess Rosenthal and creator and executive producer Dan Fogelman with the Luminary Award; thelate legendary music manager and philanthropist Howard Kaufman with the Champion Award; and foster parents Kim Kopp and Lisa McFann with the Sylvia Fogelman Founder's Award. Brooke Kaufman Halsband chairs. Lee Daniels is best known for Lee Daniels' The Butler and Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire. In 2015, Daniels co-created Fox's mega hit series Empire and STAR. Daniels will be honored for his contributions to bringing a voice to foster youth and the realities of foster care. NBC's hit series "This Is Us" executive producer Jess Rosenthal and creator and executive producer Dan Fogelman will be honored for their show which poignantly elevates the complexities of adoption in a realistic and profound way. Legendary music manager Howard Kaufman shaped the careers of some of the most iconic bands and performers in America. For more than 45 years, Kaufman guided talent such as the Eagles, Aerosmith, Stevie Nicks, Jimmy Buffett, Steely Dan, Boston, Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz and Chris Isaak and many others. He was a generous philanthropist and dedicated supporter of Extraordinary Families. Kim Kopp and Lisa McFann have fostered four children, adopting two of them into their forever home. Kim and Lisa have truly been exemplary parents, always putting the needs of the children and their wellbeing above all else. Extraordinary Families was formed in 2015 following the merger of two robust nonprofits: Southern California Foster Family and Adoption Agency (SCFFAA) and Child Welfare Initiative (CWI). Both organizations were well-established, innovative nonprofits in Southern California that shared the vision of improving the daily lives and long-term outcomes of children impacted by the child welfare system. The merger of the two organizations resulted in gained synergies, improved efficiencies, reduced costs, and complementary services that significantly leveraged resources and greatly increased the organization's impact on the community. Visit www.ExtraordinaryFamilies.org. SOURCE Extraordinary Families Related Links http://www.extraordinaryfamilies.org PARIS, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Eyevensys, a private biotechnology company developing its proprietary EyeCET platform, the first non-viral gene expression technology that enables the safe, local, sustained production of therapeutic proteins in the eye to address a wide range of ophthalmic diseases, announces it has received approval from the French product security regulatory agency 'Agence Nationale de Securite du Medicament' (ANSM) to advance its technology into clinical development. The EyeCET platform uses Eyevensys' proprietary electro-transfection injection system (ETIS) to deliver plasmids that encode for the production of disease-specific therapeutic proteins in the ciliary muscle of the eye. Eyevensys' lead product, EYS606 uses a plasmid encoding for the production of anti-TNF for the treatment of Non-infectious Uveitis (NIU). EYS606 has been granted an Orphan drug designation by the EMA for the treatment of NIU. Raffy Kazandjian, CEO of Eyevensys , said: "This clearance from the ANSM is a landmark achievement for Eyevensys given the unique features of EYS606, which combines an anti-TNF plasmid with a novel and unique medical device, designed to carry out an electroporation procedure. We are now in a position to demonstrate that our EyeCET technology can provide ophthalmology patients with much needed and improved treatment options. We plan to start our first Phase I trial with EYS606 shortly." About Eyevensys Eyevensys is a private biotechnology company developing its innovative EyeCET platform to enable the sustained intraocular production of therapeutic proteins to treat a broad range of ophthalmic diseases. Eyevensys' EyeCET technology uses electroporation to deliver protein coding plasmids, which are safe and non-viral, into the ciliary muscle of the eye. This approach facilitates the sustained production of therapeutic proteins, localized within the ciliary muscle cells. Eyevensys believes its EyeCET technology can improve both short and long-term therapeutic outcomes by greatly enhancing patient compliance and significantly improving the tolerability of treatment. Eyevensys' lead product EYS606, which uses a non-viral plasmid encoding anti-TNF, is a potential new treatment for patients with Non-infectious Uveitis (NIU). EYS606 consists of Eyevensys' proprietary electro-transfection injection system (ETIS) in combination with a plasmid encoding for the production of an anti-TNF, a cytokine that has been shown to play a pivotal role in mediating intraocular inflammation in NIU. EYS606 has been granted an Orphan drug designation by the EMA for the treatment of NIU. Eyevensys was founded in 2008. It is headquartered in Paris, France, and is funded by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, BPIFrance, CapDecisif, Inserm Transfert and Pontifax. For more information about Eyevensys please visit http://www.eyevensys.com For more information, please contact: Eyevensys Raffy Kazandjian, CEO [email protected] Tel: +33-184-791-060 Media Relations: Citigate Dewe Rogerson David Dible, Sylvie Berrebi, Marine Perrier [email protected] Tel: +44(0)20-7638-9571 SOURCE Eyevensys VANCOUVER, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Fineqia International Inc. (the "Company" or "Fineqia") (CSE: FNQ) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Canada's JOI Media Inc. ("JOI") to use its technology platform to start Fineqia's U.K. business that brings crowd investors some of the most lucrative and riskmitigated opportunities that have been mostly the privy of large financial institutions. Fineqia will use JOI's proprietary crowdfunding software product Katipult, named as one of Canada's most innovative financial technology enterprises by the Royal Bank of Canada. Katipult's whitelabel platform is transforming how equity and debt private placements are funded by giving crowdfunding platforms the tools to grow and efficiently manage investor networks as well as streamline deal flow administration. The crowdfunding software facilitates the entire investment process from deal origination to investor tax reporting. "Katipult helps us get into the market quickly and cost effectively," said CEO Bundeep Singh Rangar. "We can focus on our core debt and equity placement activities while Katipult ensures we are always on the cutting edge of compliant technology innovation." Katipult recently introduced BlockChain into its product offering that will support Secondary Market Crowdfunding that is unforgeable and inherently trustworthy. When an offering is closed that will be secondary market eligible, a blockchain token will be created that represents this security. "We are proud to be working with Fineqia as their technology provider. Private capital markets are changing and there is a massive opportunity for firms that recognize the industry is shifting online," said Brock Murray, CEO of Katipult. "Through our partnership, Fineqia is leveraging innovation to provide risk mitigated investment opportunities to investors and that is a very encouraging mandate to be a part of." Katipult has developed crowdfunding platforms for more than 20 countries to date that are multilingual and compliant for local jurisdictions in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Europe and Asia. Its clients include MaRS Discovery District, Qatar Development Bank, US Debt Ventures, and The Formax Group. Fineqia's minibond platform matches quality debt and equity investment opportunities with high-net worth, institutional investors and family offices. It gives investors information advantage, and most importantly, a way-in into institutional debt deals, highlighting the risks and objectively outlining opportunities involved. The platform applies high selectivity to the offerings displayed, with only a few of the highest quality deals being shown at any given time. About Fineqia International Inc. Fineqia's business model is to provide an online platform and associated services for the placement of debt and equity securities, initially in the UK. The platform will transparently highlight the risks and objectively outline opportunities involved. For more information, visit www.fineqia.com. About JOI Media Inc. Headquartered in Calgary, Canada with locations across three continents, JOI Media is a global leader in enterprise software and software related services. They work with reputable organizations across the private, public and social sectors. For more information, visit www.joimedia.com. About Katipult Katipult is a crowdfunding software solution for private capital markets for private placements, investment crowdfunding, investor management, and listings. Katipult allows companies to design, setup, and manage an investment crowdfunding platform across multiple distribution channels including web, mobile, and social media. For more information, visit www.katipult.com NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATORY SERVICE PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. SOURCE Fineqia International Inc. Related Links www.fineqia.com GAINESVILLE, Fla. and BOCA RATON, Fla., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research (the Florida Institute) announced today that it has finalized a funding agreement with VetCV, a Pensacola-based company with technology developed at the Florida Institute for Human Machine and Cognition (IHMC). The Florida Institute supports new company creation based on publicly-funded research, and bridges early funding gaps for companies spinning out of Florida-based universities and research institutions. VetCV is an app where Veterans and their families can track and manage their healthcare activities, make appointments, request status data, track important life events, and manage their careers. Users will also be able to safely store valuable medical, military, personal records, and store precious memories. VetCV provides a platform for Veterans to build personal support networks with other VetCV members. "Ninety-five percent of Veteran records are in paper format and while many Veteran Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) are transitioning to electronic records and have converted over 500,000 Veteran records, many Veterans cannot access these records," said Niels K. Andersen, VetCV Chief Executive Officer. "VetCV puts control of information back in the Veterans' hands by giving Veterans and/or their caregivers a secure platform to capture and store vital information." "VetCV addresses the current gap in service delivery to our nation's Veterans," saidJackson Streeter, MD, Florida Institute Chief Executive Officer. "By putting Veterans in charge of their records, VetCV is supporting the VA's efforts to ensure efficiency and accuracy, and the Institute is pleased to support these important efforts." About the Florida Institute Formed by the Florida Legislature in 2007, the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research is a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with the technology licensing and commercialization offices of Florida's state universities and private research institutions to leverage a $2.5B+ research base and form investable companies that create clean jobs in new industries that are driving the global economy. With funding from the State of Florida through the Department of Economic Opportunity, and through the generosity of mentors, advisors and donors, the Institute provides company building services, and seed funding through the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund, to promising Florida startups. Sixty-eight companies have been funded to date, and the Institute's economic impact through June 30, 2016 in the State of Florida was $630 million. About VetCV VetCV provides a secure vault (Web App) where our Nation's heroes can regain control of life events. This solution will provide the ability for Veterans to track and rate their interactions with the VA and other providers. The aggregate data collected from these interactions will provide the Veterans a collective voice backed up by empirical evidence. VetCV provides Veterans and caregivers the ability to update, access, and share their vital information from anywhere at any time. It is the personal account for all the most important things for the next steps in life: career, education, medical support, reintegration, and employment. CONTACT: Jane Teague Chief Operating Officer Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research 561-368-8889 [email protected] SOURCE Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research Related Links http://www.florida-institute.com TAMPA, Fla., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan & Morgan, one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the country and the largest in Florida, is happy to announce the opening of its new West Tampa office. The firm has joined forces with Prieto, Prieto, & Goan, P.A., a homegrown West Tampa law firm that has built a successful Spanish-speaking Personal Injury and First Party practice. Together, they will utilize Morgan & Morgan's extensive resources to help those who have been injured and who are facing challenges getting the compensation they deserve from insurance companies. Morgan & Morgan attorney James Arnold Jr. will be West Tampa's managing partner. Arnold is a Tampa native and longtime attorney at the firm's downtown office. Working out of the West Tampa office, located adjacent to the stadium on Himes Ave., are attorneys Anthony Prieto, Keith Goan, Amy Sullivan, and Andrew Bragg. "Keith Goan and Anthony Prieto have built an impeccable reputation in the Tampa legal community as excellent trial lawyers who simply will not back down from insurance companies," Arnold said. "They are an amazing addition to the Morgan family and will continue to assist our clients in the Tampa Bay Latin community. I am honored to call them my partners." With the opening of the West Tampa office, Morgan & Morgan now has nearly 40 offices across the country to help people who need justice for the violation of their rights and safety. ABOUT MORGAN & MORGAN Morgan & Morgan, a national plaintiff's law firm fighting for the people, not the powerful, has recovered more than $4 billion for more than 200,000 clients. The firm has more than 300 attorneys in 39 offices in 10 states. With the support of nearly 2,000 employees, the firm's attorneys represent clients in a wide range of practice areas from personal injury, workers' compensation, and medical malpractice cases to labor and employment, mesothelioma, and product liability lawsuits to national mass torts and class actions. For more information, contact: James Arnold Morgan & Morgan - West Tampa 3705 N Himes Ave West Tampa, FL 33607 (813) 877-8600 Or Karine Lim / Erika Nedwell [email protected] / [email protected] (212) 738-6265 SOURCE Morgan & Morgan Related Links http://www.classaction.com FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington State's former Attorney General Rob McKenna, Washington State's former Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Moran, and Maryland's former Chief Deputy Attorney General Kay Winfree have gone on record with a legal memo asserting, "It is our opinion that the BioTrackTHC seed to sale inventory system is fully compliant with the requirements of the Cole Memorandum." "This legal opinion makes BioTrackTHC the first cannabis activity tracking software system in the industry to receive independent third-party validation regarding compliance with federal guidelines, and from former attorneys general no less," said Patrick Vo, CEO of BioTrackTHC. "We have worked tirelessly to ensure that every state in which BioTrackTHC has implemented its traceability system is Cole Memo compliant from inception. This protects the industry from federal interference and minimizes the risk to states of losing billions of dollars in cannabis tax revenues due to federal forfeiture." On August 29, 2013, then-Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memorandum to all United States Attorneys concerning states that endeavor to authorize marijuana production, distribution, and possession. The memo details the obligations of those states in regulating marijuana-related conduct so that federal intervention and enforcement in those states' marijuana industries are not necessary or appropriate. After an extensive review of the the Cole Memo, relevant Washington State statutes and codes, and a thorough examination of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board's ("WSLCB") BioTrackTHC Traceability System and documentation, the former attorney general and chief deputy attorneys general published the following conclusions: "The key to meeting the requirements of the Cole Memorandum is 'both the existence of a strong and effective state regulatory system, and an operation's compliance with that system.' As described above, Washington State has a robust, comprehensive regulatory scheme that controls the entire marijuana supply chain. The flagship component of this regulatory scheme is the WSLCB's seed to sale inventory system, the BioTrackTHC Traceability System. The BioTrackTHC system has both significant security and enforcement features, including many that are automatic, which facilitate real-time enforcement by the WSLCB and Washington State Police. As such, it is not a passive monitoring system but rather a proactive and preventative system. It is our opinion that the BioTrackTHC seed to sale inventory system is fully compliant with the requirements of the Cole Memorandum." Furthermore, they assert within the cover letter of their memo, "Indeed, the BioTrackTHC system appears to be the gold standard of marijuana traceability systems." "In light of the recent BioTrackTHC-Amazon announcement, in addition to this legal opinion, we are confident that the BioTrackTHC traceability system is the most data-secure and legally-secure seed-to-sale system in the nation," said Daniel McMahon, BioTrackTHC Vice President of Government Solutions. About BioTrackTHC Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc., through its BioTrackTHC division, develops and provides effective, cutting-edge technology solutions for the emerging medical and recreational cannabis industry. Visit www.biotrack.com/ for more information, email [email protected] or call 1-800-797-4711 to order software. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for important updates and relevant industry news. BioTrackTHC currently holds 6 government contracts and operates in over 2000 locations across 24 states, D.C., Canada and Puerto Rico. Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. is a privately-held company, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. CONTACT: Jeff Gonring BioTrackTHC (303) 324-1022 [email protected] https://www.biotrack.com Cynthia Salarizadeh Salar Media Group (856) 425-6160 [email protected] SOURCE BioTrackTHC CLEVELAND, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pesticides are one of the most hotly debated topics among environmental and agricultural scientists today, and the EPA's March 29 2017 decision to continue to allow the use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos in agriculture is proving to be controversial. Under the leadership of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the EPA is permitting the continued use of chlorpyrifos in agriculture because it believes the science linking the insecticide to neurologic and developmental disorders is not sound. The EPA's decision means that the use of chlorpyrifos will not be back up for review until 2022. The decision arrived a decade after the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) sued the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos in agriculture and commercial uses, and 16 years after chlorpyrifos was banned in household applications. Following the petition filed by PANNA and NRDC in 2007, the EPA opened a scientific inquiry into the possible health effects of chlorpyrifos. PANNA and NRDC filed an appeal on April 5, 2017 that would force the EPA to follow through with the Obama administration's 2015 recommendation that chlorpyrifos be banned for use on all food products. Chlorpyrifos, a member of the organophosphate family of insecticides has been one of the most commonly used insecticides in agriculture since the 1960s, and is most commonly known by its brand names Dursban and Lorsban, marketed by Dow Agrosciences. The insecticide is registered for use on more than 50 different crops in the US. Although use of organophosphate insecticides in agricultural uses is expected to slowly decline going forward, chlorpyrifos use is now projected to remain flat through 2021. "Despite the possible health effects of chlorpyrifos, it is still a trusted and effective weapon against insect pests," says Freedonia Group industry analyst Emily Park. "Additionally, because chlorpyrifos is classified as a Restricted Use Pesticide by the EPA, it can only be applied by licensed pesticide applicators, which should limit risks of unnecessary exposure. As long as it's still registered for use in the US, chlorpyrifos will remain an important product for suppliers of agricultural insecticides." Park adds that although the EPA has declined to ban chlorpyrifos for the time being, negative public perception may encourage some farmers to transition to newer insecticides that are proven to be less hazardous to human and environmental health. Regardless of chlorpyrifos' registration status going forward, safer insecticides such as pyrethroids are expected to show the strongest growth prospects through 2021 and beyond. Emily Park is an Industry Analyst at The Freedonia Group and recently authored industry studies Agricultural Pesticide Market in the US and Pesticide Adjuvant Market in the US. The studies can be accessed here: http://www.freedoniagroup.com/industry-study/agricultural-pesticide-market-in-the-us-by-type-and-crop-3484.htm http://www.freedoniagroup.com/industry-study/pesticide-adjuvant-market-in-the-us-by-product-pesticide-and-market-3504.htm About The Freedonia Group The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is a leading international industrial research company publishing more than 100 studies annually. Since 1985 we have provided research to customers ranging in size from global conglomerates to one-person consulting firms. More than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia Group research to help with their strategic planning. Each study includes product and market analyses and forecasts, in-depth discussions of important industry trends, and market share information. Chemical studies can be purchased at www.freedoniagroup.com and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com. Press Contact: Corinne Gangloff +1 440.684.9600 [email protected] SOURCE The Freedonia Group Related Links http://www.freedoniagroup.com/ ORLANDO, Fla., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Technical College Kissimmee campus, home to the school's Culinary Arts program, has been designated as Regional Chef Training Facility by the Chaine des Rotisseurs, the world's oldest gastronomic society founded in Paris in 1248. FTC is one of only five schools in the United States to currently hold the coveted designation, which will enable students and food preparation professionals to learn from nationally and internationally recognized chefs. "The facilities that have the designation will collaborate with Chaine des Rotisseurs in the process of developing young culinarians as they hone their skills and knowledge to enter the professional culinary world," said Orlando Chef Reimund Pitz, a certified world master who is a Chaine official. "Florida Technical College and the handful of other schools selected, will also have a tremendous impact on the entire Chaine's culinary program by hosting regional educational seminars, and Chaine des Rotisseurs' dinners, which are a gastronomic feasts." The important designation also enables FTC to apply for scholarship funds for its students from the Chaine des Rotisseurs Foundation. "It is a tremendous honor for our school to be part of such an exclusive group of educational facilities working hand in hand with Chaine des Rotisseurs to develop the culinary stars of the future," said FTC President, Dr. James Burkett. "This designation is a testament to the high standards of our program and to the excellence of our faculty. No one will benefit more from this alliance than our students." Earlier this month, the school was also selected as the site for the America's semifinals for the World Association of Chefs Society's (WACS) prestigious Global Chef Challenge. The competition is held in three different categories: Global Chefs, Global Pastry Chefs and Young Chefs Challenge for chefs 25 and under. The winners will go on to represent the continent Canada, U.S.A. and Mexico- in the finals, to be held in Greece later this year. WACS is the largest organization of professional chefs in the world with more than 10 million members all over the globe. "The magnitude and importance of this competition, especially for a student, is enormous," Pitz said. "It can provide a tremendous boost to their professional career. Many competitors have gone on to be members of their country's culinary Olympic teams, and to be respected chefs serving royalty and heads of state." Additionally, FTC Kissimmee campus was recently designated the official headquarter of The American Culinary Federation Central Florida Chapter. The college will be the local venue where the federation will conduct meetings, educational seminars and other official events. "These are powerful alliances with the who-is-who of the culinary world," said Chef Peter Vossenberg, Director of FTC's Hospitality programs. "They will open a world of possibilities for our students and give them an important educational advantage." Florida Technical College Culinary Arts and Baking and Pasteleria training programs helps develop food preparation, baking and management skills for a future career in food and beverage industry. FTC's commercial kitchens are equipped with all the essentials to learn and practice fundamental cooking techniques. For additional information call 888-906-5730 or visit www.FTCcollege.edu . VNR: https://vimeo.com/211531318 About Florida Technical College: FTC offers associate and bachelor's degrees and diploma programs in a range of professions, including healthcare, computer networking, graphic design, criminal justice, culinary arts and cosmetology. FTC campuses are located in Orlando, Lakeland, Deland, Kissimmee, Pembroke Pines and Cutler Bay. Founded in 1982 to provide private, post-secondary education in specialized fields. Program Availability varies by location. Important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program is available at www.ftccollege.edu/disclosures.html. Contact: Maria Isabel Sanquirico Eleven 11 Communications Mobile: 813-420-2922 SOURCE Florida Technical College Global VC deals down, investment up, primarily driven by corporates US$17.3 billion in US VC investment accounts for over 60 percent of global VC funding in Q1 TORONTO, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Venture capital (VC) deal volume continued to fall in Q1' 2017 with only 2,716 deals completed globally during the period compared to 3,201 in Q4'16, according to Venture Pulse Q1 2017 the quarterly global VC trends report published by KPMG Enterprise.* Despite the fourth straight quarter of declining deal activity, VC investment grew to US$26.8 billion in Q1'17. The increase in funding was strongly affected by a resurgence in mega-deals, including Airbnb's $1 billion+ Series F round, and Grail's $914 million Series B tranche. Globally, the Americas led VC investment, accounting for $17.8 billion. The US made up the lion's share, with $17.3 billion invested. In Asia, VC investment grew slightly quarter over quarter to $5.6 billion, while in Europe investment remained relatively flat at $3.4 billion. While VC deal activity in Q1 continued to decline globally, we may have reached a turning point," said Brian Hughes, National Co-Lead Partner, KPMG Venture Capital Practice, and a partner for KPMG in the US. "Market conditions and valuations are stabilizing. In addition public markets have been relatively strong and there have been a number of solid tech IPOs late in the quarter that indicate that the IPO market, particularly in the US, is opening. With the amount of dry powder in the market, the likelihood of deals activity accelerating over the remainder of the year is quite high." Key Q1'17 highlights Global VC investment rose from $23.8 billion in Q4'17 to $26.8 billion in Q1'17, a solid increase buoyed by a number of $100 million+ mega deals. in Q4'17 to in Q1'17, a solid increase buoyed by a number of $100 million+ mega deals. Global median deal size at early VC financing stages continued to increase, with median Series B funding hitting $14 million , Series A $5.7 million , and seed stage $1.4 million . , Series A , and seed stage . Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology saw an explosion in the percentage of overall VC investment in Q1'17, with companies raising $3.9 billion during the quarter across 188 financings, compared to the $11.4 billion raised throughout 2016. during the quarter across 188 financings, compared to the raised throughout 2016. The number of deals with corporate venture participation slid for 2 consecutive quarters but given the overall decline in venture financing volume, the percentage of overall financings in which they've participated hit its highest level since early 2007. After reaching a 12 quarter low in Q4'16, the number of global unicorn financings rose slightly in Q1'17 to 14. California -based companies (i.e. Airbnb, Grail, SoFi, and Instacart), and China -based companies (i.e. NIO, Ofo, Hive Box Technology and Kuaishou Technology) dominated the top 10 global VC deals rankings during the quarter. Ola in Bangalore, India and Mobike in Singapore rounded out the list. VC deals in US remain stable as investment buoyed by large deals VC investment in the US rose quarter over quarter buoyed by a number of $250 million+ megadeals. Meanwhile, deal activity remained relatively steady quarter over quarter, suggesting that investors remained cautious as Q1'17 brought with it a change in the US administration. Looking ahead, solid IPOs by Snap the company behind Snapchat, and software-as-a-service companies MuleSoft and Alteryx suggest the US IPO market may be opening. If this trend continues, there could be a renewal in US-based IPO activity. In the Americas more broadly, VC investment in Canada was down, likely a result of a natural reversion to the mean following a record 2016. Mexico also experienced a slide as a result of investor anxiety around US trade and immigration policies. Brazil, however, held steady in terms of VC invested, helped by a $100 million raise by 99Taxis. Investment in Europe holds steady as deals numbers plummet Deals activity in Europe slumped to a five-quarter low, leading to a 45 percent drop between Q1'16 and Q1'17. Despite this decline in deal activity, VC investment remained relatively robust in the region, with $3.4 billion invested only a marginal decrease compared to Q4'16. Corporates participated in 22 percent of all venture deals in Europe the highest percentage seen over the last 7 years. Unicorns emerge in Asia despite slow quarter Investors in Asia remained cautious in Q1'17, with the number of VC deals plunging for the second straight quarter. Despite the declining number of deals, investment in the region grew slightly, helped by six $250 million+ mega deals. A number of unicorns also appeared during the quarter, with China's Ofo and URWork, as well as Paytm in India, each surpassing the billion dollar valuation mark during Q1'17. Corporate VC continued to be a strong component of VC investment in Asia during the quarter, as more and more traditional corporates recognized the growing imperative to innovate. Expected clarity on government policies and activities could renew VC interest Looking ahead to Q2'17 and beyond, investor caution is expected to linger across most regions. However, positive signs indicate that the VC market may be poised for a more substantial rebound as government positions in the US and Europe become clearer. "2016 was rife with uncertainty," said Arik Speier, Head of Technology, KPMG Somekh Chaikin in Israel. "With the new US administration in place and the UK having triggered Article 50 to initiate Brexit, we expect to see more clearly defined government policies in those jurisdictions in the coming year. This, combined with the amount of cash reserves in the market, will likely lead to increasing VC activity over the course of the year." About Venture Pulse The Q1 2017 edition of the Venture Pulse report produced by KPMG Enterprise's Global Network for Innovative Startup, analyzes the latest global trends in venture capital investment data and provides insights from both a global and regional perspective. KPMG Enterprise has expanded the scope of Venture Pulse; this edition of the quarterly series provides in-depth analysis on the lifecycle of venture capital investments across the Americas, EMA and ASPAC, including a look at investment activity such as valuations, financing, deal sizes, mergers & acquisitions, exits, corporate investment and industry highlights. *Note: all figures cited are in USD, data for the report provided by PitchBook. About KPMG Enterprise You know KPMG, you might not know KPMG Enterprise. KPMG Enterprise advisers in member firms around the world are dedicated to working with businesses like yours. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to get started, an innovative, fast growing company, or an established company looking to an exit, KPMG Enterprise advisers understand what is important to you and can help you navigate your challenges no matter the size or stage of your business. The KPMG Enterprise global network for Innovative Startups has extensive knowledge and experience working with the startup ecosystem. From seed to speed, we're here throughout your journey. You gain access to KPMG's global resources through a single point of contacta trusted adviser to your company. It's a local touch with a global reach. About KPMG International KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. We operate in 152 countries and have 189,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. SOURCE KPMG International TARZANA, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The month of April is a time of chaos and stress for many taxpayers. April 15th is just around the corner; it is essential to make contributions to your IRA before its deadline. With stock market volatility and fear of the market bubble that is expected to burst, an increasing number investors are steering away from paper backed assets and moving towards precious metals like gold and silver to provide a hedge against inevitable economic crisis. If you act today: Goldco is providing an exclusive offer to those who invest in a new Gold IRA before April 15. This exclusive offer will not be available for long. The deadline is April 15. Qualifying members will receive up to $3,000 in free silver coins for rolling over their IRA or 401(k) into gold or silver. It is important to open a Gold IRA before this deadline. By doing so, qualified investors maximize their potential for success by making a contribution of up to $6,500 (depending on age) for the prior year. "We are getting so many phone calls from investors who are wary of the market's volatility levels. Our goal is to get as many people as possible on the safe side before it's too late," says Trevor Gerszt, CEO of Goldco. Rolling over a current IRA or 401(k) into a safe haven asset is the smartest decision investors could make, especially with the situation the markets are in today. The volatile stock markets are a continual concern for investors. More Americans are looking to protect their financial future by investing in a Gold IRA. There's no better time to act than today while this limited time offer still lasts. About Goldco Goldco is ranked as the nation's top retirement service company for Gold and Silver IRA. In 2015, they ranked number 30 on the Los Angeles Business Journal's list of 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Los Angeles County. This exceptional expansion greatly reflects the increasing desire among Americans for retirement options that offer a high degree of protection from market instability. To learn more information on how to protect retirement accounts, please visit www.goldco.com or call (855) 465-3472. Related Links Website Facebook Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyufeO6f3EU This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Goldco VANCOUVER, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Golden Peak Minerals Inc. (TSX-V: GP; US: GPKMF) ("Golden Peak" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Wesley C. Hanson as President, Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company. Mr. Todd Hanas has resigned as Interim President, CEO and director. The Company would like to thank Mr. Hanas for his contribution to the Company and wish him success in his future endeavors. Wesley C. Hanson P.Geo., brings over 35 years of extensive mining and geological experience to the Company. Mr. Hanson's early career focused on exploration for Archean lode gold deposits, where he was a member of the exploration teams that discovered and advanced the Shear Lake (NWT), Tartan Lake (MB), Tangiers (NS), Rosebud (US) and Brewery Creek (YT) discoveries to commercial production. With SNC-Lavalin, Mr. Hanson provided technical input on numerous global mining projects including the Dukat Silver (Russia) and Diavik Diamond (NWT) projects. As VP Technical Services for Kinross Gold and VP Mine Development for Western Goldfields, Mr. Hanson supervised technical teams rehabilitating the Refugio Mine (Chile) and the Mesquite Mine (US), as well as the expansion of gold production at the Round Mountain and Fort Knox mines (US), and the Paracatu mine (Brazil). Mr. Hanson is a graduate of Mount Allison University (B.Sc. Geology 1982). Mr. Hanson was the President and CEO of Noront Resources Ltd. from 2009 through 2013, tripling the mineral resource for that company and completing the pre-feasibility study for the Eagles Nest nickel/ PGM deposit. He also established multiple initiatives to engage and educate local First Nations affected by mineral exploration and development. Mr. Hanson has served as a director of Cobrizza Metals and St. Eugene Mining and is currently the Chief Operating Officer with Unigold Inc. "We would like to welcome Wes to the Golden Peak team and we are very confident in his leadership and proven track record as a team and company builder. Wes brings extensive industry experience in the advancement of exploration and development projects and this expertise will be key to the success of Golden Peak's future development. Wes' input as a new director of Golden Peak will also round out and complement our existing board," commented Peter A. Ball, director of Golden Peak. The Company also advises that it has granted under its stock option plan, incentive stock options to directors, officers and consultants for the purchase of up to 1,300,000 common shares at a price of $0.40 per share for a period of three years, subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Golden Peak Minerals Golden Peak Minerals Inc. (TSX.V:GP) is a well-financed Canadian junior precious metals company, focused on the exploration of its strategic land position assembled in the prolific Hemlo Gold Mining Camp. The Company is comprised of a proven management group of experienced technical, geological, engineering, and market/finance professionals, tasked with building new strategic partnerships to maximize the exploration activity and discovery potential of its land holdings. On Behalf of the Board, Peter A. Ball, 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. SOURCE Golden Peak Minerals Inc. TSX: GPR NYSE MKT: GPL VANCOUVER, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - GREAT PANTHER SILVER LIMITED (TSX: GPR; NYSE MKT: GPL) ("Great Panther"; the "Company") announces production results for the first quarter ("Q1") 2017 from its two wholly-owned Mexican silver mining operations: the Topia Mine in Durango and the Guanajuato Mine Complex ("GMC"), which includes the San Ignacio Mine. First Quarter 2017 Production Highlights (Compared to First Quarter 2016) Topia processing plant was suspended for the quarter to facilitate planned plant upgrades and the transition to new tailings handling and storage facilities. processing plant was suspended for the quarter to facilitate planned plant upgrades and the transition to new tailings handling and storage facilities. This primarily accounted for a 28% decrease in metal production to 727,372 silver equivalent ounces ("Ag eq oz") Silver production decreased 32% to 364,995 silver ounces ("Ag oz") Gold production decreased 8% to 5,177 gold ounces ("Au oz") Ore processed decreased 7%, with 82,456 tonnes milled "The planned suspension of milling operations at Topia was in effect throughout the entire first quarter and had an obvious impact on our overall metal production," stated Robert Archer, President & CEO. "However, we continued mining at Topia throughout this period, and with the commissioning of the upgraded plant and the new tailings handling facility now underway, we have commenced the processing of ore stockpiled during the shutdown. This will continue through the balance of the year, such that we anticipate meeting our annual guidance." Consolidated Operations Summary Q1 2017 Q1 2016 Change Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Change Ore processed (tonnes milled) 82,456 88,683 -7% 82,456 92,869 -11% Silver equivalent ounce production1, 2 727,372 1,009,828 -28% 727,372 883,772 -18% Silver ounce production 364,995 539,472 -32% 364,995 460,571 -21% Gold ounce production 5,177 5,599 -8% 5,177 5,206 -1% Lead production (tonnes) - 282 - - 213 - Zinc production (tonnes) - 424 - - 315 - (1) Silver equivalent ounces for 2017 were calculated using a 70:1 Ag:Au ratio, and ratios of 1:0.0559 and 1:0.0676 for the price/ounce of silver to price/pound of lead and zinc, respectively. (2) Silver equivalent ounces for 2016 were calculated using a 70:1 Ag:Au ratio, and ratios of 1:0.0504 and 1:0.0504 for the price/ounce of silver to price/pound of lead and zinc, respectively. Guanajuato Mine Complex In Q1 2017, metal production at the GMC increased 4% compared to the previous quarter, but decreased by 4%, to 727,372 Ag eq oz, when compared to the same quarter in the previous year. Ore processed in the first quarter of 2017 increased by 12%, compared to the first quarter of 2016, partly offsetting the lower head grades and gold recovery. GMC Operations Summary Q1 2017 Q1 2016 Change Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Change Ore processed (tonnes milled) 82,456 73,649 12% 82,456 81,518 1% Silver equivalent ounce production 1 727,372 755,555 -4% 727,372 702,351 4% Silver ounce production 364,995 375,273 -3% 364,995 347,415 5% Gold ounce production 5,177 5,433 -5% 5,177 5,071 2% Ag grade (g/t) 155 179 -13% 155 149 4% Au grade (g/t) 2.30 2.58 -11% 2.30 2.25 2% Ag recovery (%) 88.8% 88.5% 0% 88.8% 88.7% 0% Au recovery (%) 85.0% 89.0% -4% 85.0% 85.9% -1% (1) Silver equivalent ounces for 2017 and 2016 were calculated using a 70:1 Ag:Au ratio. San Ignacio accounted for 57% of the total ore processed at the GMC in Q1 2017, compared to 53% in Q1 2016. Lower grades at both the San Ignacio and Guanajuato mines continued through January and February but returned to projected levels for the month of March. During the first quarter of 2017, exploration drilling continued from both surface and underground. The emphasis of underground drilling has been on increasing definition in the mineral resource, mainly in the areas currently being mined, while surface drilling at San Ignacio has focused on expanding the resource through step-out drilling along strike of the current mine workings. An updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the GMC was announced on February 21, 2017 that reported a 15% increase in Measured and Indicated Resources, after replacing what was mined in the previous year. Topia Mine The suspension of milling operations to facilitate plant upgrades and the transition to dry stack tailings storage continued through the first quarter of 2017. The majority of the upgrades and installation of the tailings handling equipment has now been completed, under budget. Commissioning of the plant is presently underway, with temporary use of the old Phase I tailings storage facility ("TSF"). The Company has submitted all of the technical information required by the Mexican Federal Environmental Authority (Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, or SEMARNAT) for the Phase II TSF permit. SEMARNAT's response is expected before the end of the month. In February 2017, in connection with test work related to the plant upgrades, Topia processed 200 tonnes of lower grade ore (282 Ag eq g/t), yielding 2,814 Ag eq oz of metal production. Mining has continued since the mill was shut down in early December 2016, with a greater focus on increasing head grades through selective mining and dilution control measures. The Company expects to process all of the ore stockpiled during the shutdown, through the balance of 2017. Surface drilling at Topia commenced in February, testing the strike extension of the more productive veins. OUTLOOK The Company is maintaining its guidance of 4.0 4.1 million Ag eq oz (based on a 70:1 silver:gold ratio) for 2017. The lower production for the first quarter was largely as planned, and expected higher rates of throughput at Topia will allow for the processing of ore stockpiles within the year. The Company is also maintaining its previously issued cash cost and all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") guidance for 2017 of US$5 6 per payable silver ounce, and US$14 16 per payable silver ounce, respectively1. It is expected that cash cost and AISC for the first quarter of 2017 will be high due to the lower production and higher sustaining capital costs incurred in connection with the Topia plant upgrades and tailings facility expansion. Although there may not be a basis for computing Topia's costs due to the shutdown during Q1 2017, sustaining capital expenditures associated with the plant upgrades and tailings facility expansion will be accounted for in the computation of the Company's consolidated unit costs. Completion of the previously announced acquisition of the Coricancha Mine in Peru is now anticipated to take place before the end of the second quarter 2017 (originally expected to take place closer to the end of the first quarter). The delay in closing is primarily due to local legal and regulatory processes and requirements to complete the transaction between Great Panther and Nyrstar NV. Once the transaction is complete, the Company's plans include further evaluations of the current mine and processing infrastructure, approximately 7,800 metres of underground drilling, environmental studies and initiation of a preliminary feasibility study (PFS). Depending upon the outcome of the PFS, development in support of operations could commence in 2018. A resource update is underway and is now expected to be completed in the second quarter. In addition to finalizing the acquisition of the Coricancha Mine in Peru, the Company continues to seek and evaluate additional acquisition opportunities to meet the Company's growth objectives. The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Robert F. Brown, P. Eng., who is the Qualified Person (QP) for the Guanajuato Mine Complex and the Topia Mine under the meaning of NI 43-101. Aspects relating to mining and metallurgy are overseen by Ali Soltani, Chief Operating Officer for Great Panther. ____________________________ 1 Cash cost and AISC are non-IFRS measures. Refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section of the Company's MD&A for an explanation of these measures and reconciliation to the Company's reported financial results in accordance with IFRS. As these are not standardized measures, they may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by others. ABOUT GREAT PANTHER Great Panther Silver Limited is a primary silver mining and exploration company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol GPR, and on the NYSE MKT trading under the symbol GPL. Great Panther's current activities are focused on the mining of precious metals from its two wholly-owned operating mines in Mexico: the Guanajuato Mine Complex, which includes the San Ignacio Mine, and the Topia Mine in Durango. In addition, the Company has signed an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Coricancha Mine Complex in the central Andes of Peru and is pursuing additional mining opportunities in the Americas. Robert Archer President & CEO CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans for production at its Guanajuato Mine Complex and Topia Mine in Mexico, expectations of cash cost and AISC, the completion of the acquisition of the Coricancha Mine in Peru and initial activities post acquisition, the commissioning of the new tailings facility and resumption of processing at the Topia Mine, the Company`s plans for drilling and resource delineation, and the statements made under the heading "Outlook" above. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements to be materially different. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to potential political risks involving the Company's operations in a foreign jurisdiction, uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, uncertainty in mineral resource estimation, physical risks inherent in mining operations, currency fluctuations, fluctuations in the price of silver, gold and base metals, completion of economic evaluations or resource estimates, exploration results being indicative of future production of its properties, the expected timing of the completion of upgrades at Topia and the receipt of permits therefor, expectations regarding the timing of conditions for the closing of the Coricancha acquisition, changes in project parameters, and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016 and Material Change Reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.com and reports on Form 40-F and Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. There is no assurance that such forward looking statements will prove accurate; results may vary materially from such forward-looking statements; and there is no assurance that the Company will be able to identify and acquire additional projects or that any projects acquired will be successfully developed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. The Company has no intention to update forward looking statements except as required by law. SOURCE Great Panther Silver Limited Related Links http://www.greatpanther.com NEW YORK, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Happy Family, one of the largest and fastest growing premium, organic baby food brands, was founded in 2006 on a mission to change the trajectory of children's health. They launched with just five items and the knowledge that nutrition during the first few years of a baby's life helps establish the foundation of life-long health and wellness. Today, as a company of moms that know breastfeeding is best, they also recognize it's not always an exclusive option for all families. Staying authentic to their "parents and babies first" approach to innovation, Happy Family announces that it's now arming parents with nutrition experts, lactation consultants, and trustworthy products to help achieve exceptional, tailored nutrition for their infants. Happy Family knows that having access to and utilizing great products is only a portion of the journey, and is passionate about supporting families in a more personal way. Their new online resource center offers new parents direct and free access to Cornell-Certified nutritionists and lactation consultants, the Happy Mama Milk Mentors, as well as educational materials on a variety of feeding topics. There's a video that offers support to all types of families, featuring Happy Family's own CEO and Founder Shazi Visram, company employees, and other real parents on their own authentic individual journeys with their babies. Through these resources, Happy Family aims to provide the vital information parents crave to help them make the best nutritional decisions for their families. Company-wide, they are incredibly proud to help support and nourish families during a time of newness, uncertainty and vulnerability. Access the resource center at https://happyfamilybrands.com. "We're always for pushing the boundaries of innovation whether that be introducing probiotics in first foods, gluten-free snacks, prioritizing important ingredients like choline, chia and prebiotic fibers, or expanding our business to offer parents objective professional support and advice," said Visram. "No matter what, we believe we need to be there for parents at every turn with products and tools to support the individual choices that work for their very individual families." Happy Family knows that breast milk offers ideal nutrition and encourages breastfeeding as the best option, but also knows that mom can use extra support to keep up the hard work and continue her breastfeeding journey. To further expand their existing Happy Mama product offerings, Happy Family now provides support for moms on their postpartum journey with Happy Mama Breastfeeding Support products. The line of Lactation Oat bars blends gluten-free whole grain oats, flax and fenugreek with organic fruits and nuts, to support breastfeeding and provide a boost of extra nutrition. The Happy Mama Breastfeeding Support Probiotic Supplement contains a unique, patented strain that supports breast health to help maintain breastfeeding ability. As a company that is inclusive and supportive of all families, Happy Family knows that exclusively breastfeeding is not a possibility or reality for many, which is why they are also proud to announce their launch of Happy Baby Organic Infant Formula. The journey to find the perfect formulation started many years ago. Happy Family conducted exhaustive research over the course of five years and tapped into the wealth of scientific knowledge and resources provided by their parent company Groupe Danone, a global leader in early life nutrition. The result is an organic infant formula that is modeled after breast milk and meets the nutritional levels recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Happy Family handpicked extremely high-quality ingredients based on their ability to positively affect the long-term health of babies. In fact, the company proactively chose to use expensive, but essential, ingredients in their formulation. It contains key vitamins and nutrients that are naturally found in breast milk, including Calcium, Vitamin D, Iron, Zinc, Choline and DHA/ARA. More notably, the Happy Baby Organic Infant Formula has up to four times more prebiotics than any other organic infant formula on the U.S. market. Prebiotics, fibers found naturally in abundance in breast milk, promote healthy bacteria in infants. This important ingredient has been overlooked by other formula brands. "With my 8-month old daughter Asha, I simply could not produce as much milk as I would've liked, and had to supplement with formula around three months," said Visram. "I'm so proud to feed her our formula now and even more thrilled that I don't have to import a German alternative to feel confident that she's getting extremely clean, complete nutrition for her incredibly sweet little body." All new products are now available online at Amazon.com, and nationwide at Babies-R-Us, Whole Foods, Buy Buy Baby and select grocery retailers. They are slated to be available at Target in early May. Happy Baby Organic Infant Formula, Stage 1 and Stage 2, retails for $29.99 Organic Infant Formula, Stage 1 and Stage 2, retails for Happy Mama Breastfeeding Support Lactation Oat Bars retail for $1.99 each Breastfeeding Support Lactation Oat Bars retail for each Happy Mama Breastfeeding Support Probiotic Supplement retails for $17.49 (21-pack) Happy Family maintains rigorous quality standards for all products that go beyond USDA Organic certification. The company also regularly audits its partners to ensure standards of safety, quality, sustainability and traceability are met. About Happy Family Launched on Mother's Day 2006, Happy Family is one of the largest and fastest growing organic food brands to offer a comprehensive line of nutritious foods for babies, toddlers, kids and their mothers. Beginning with baby's first few years of life, Happy Family provides an enlightened assortment of organic meals and snacks to help support a lifetime of wellness. Constantly innovating, Happy Family strives to offer families the right nutrition for every stage of development. From five SKUs in five stores in 2006 to over 100 SKUs in national distribution, Happy Family continues to earn its place as one of the fastest growing baby food companies in the baby food aisle, as awarded by Fast Company in 2012 and 2013. Happy Family is headed up by founder, CEO and Chief Mom, Shazi Visram, who was honored as one of Babble's 100 Moms who are changing the world and lauded by President Obama as "a rockstar of the new economy and a leader we can all emulate." Happy to Help, the brand's social initiative, most recently partnered with The Small Things, an organization that helps orphans in Tanzania live a happy, healthy life, to build the Happy Family Children's Village. For additional information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.happyfamilybrands.com. For Press Inquiries: Jonesworks [email protected] or 646-455-1722 SOURCE Happy Family Related Links http://www.happyfamilybrands.com LINCOLN, Neb., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Z3 Technology, a leading provider of embedded video compression systems announces ONVIF Profile S compliant video encoder modules that integrate with the Sony FCB-ER8300, EV7100, EV7300 and EV7500 families of block cameras. HE4K-DCK-10 and HE2K-DCK-10 H.265 Encoder Modules are Compliant with ONVIF Profile S. "We are pleased to join ONVIF by providing IP-based products that are interoperable with others in the security and surveillance industry," Aaron Caldwell, CEO, Z3 Technology, LLC said. "ONVIF Profile S compliance for the HE4K-DCK-10 and HE2K-DCK-10 will benefit our customers and provide simple integration of these IP camera solutions in existing infrastructures." The HE4K-DCK-10 and HE2K-DCK-10 OEM H.265 encoders both feature Z3 Technology's video encoding expertise paired with Sony's proven block camera technologies. These innovative systems are the first video systems capable of encoding and streaming both H.265/HEVC and H.264 video over IP in multiple resolutions simultaneously. ONVIF compliance provides simple camera management and quick adaption into the marketplace. "The new H.265 Encoder modules from Z3 Technologies are a real example of a 3rd party development which adds value to Sony camera modules enabling our customers to create and propose solutions for application challenges in markets such as security and broadcast," said Matthew Swinney, Senior Marketing Manager, Image Sensing Solutions, Sony Europe. Z3 Technology will be demonstrating its camera solutions at the NAB Show 2017 (April 24-27) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Schedule a private meeting with Z3 by contacting [email protected]. Availability The HE4K-DCK-10 and HE2K-DCK-10 are readily available for order through Z3's distribution network. For information please contact [email protected] or visit www.Z3technology.com/camera-solutions/. About Z3 Technology Z3 Technology, LLC is a leader in the embedded video market. Z3 is a User Member of ONVIF and a Sony Authorized Integrator. Contact Z3 through a world-wide partner network or: 100 N. 8th Street, Suite 250, Lincoln, NE 68508 USA +1.402.323.0702 www.Z3technology.com All product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Z3 Technology Related Links http://www.Z3technology.com SALT LAKE CITY, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Catalyst, a leader in healthcare data analytics, decision support and outcomes improvement, today announced the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of Chief Medical Informatics Officer Carolyn Wong Simpkins MD, PhD, and Vice President of Patient Safety Products Stanley Pestotnik MS, RPh. The hires of Dr. Simpkins and Mr. Pestotnik, a pharmacist, underscore Health Catalyst's commitment to improving patient outcomes as healthcare organizations shift towards value-based care models. "We are thrilled that Carolyn and Stan have agreed to join the Health Catalyst team," said Dan Burton, CEO of Health Catalyst. "Their presence brings considerable clinical and research expertise to our ongoing effort to develop innovative products that our customers can depend on to improve patient safety and outcomes." Pestotnik is a clinical pharmacist and medical informaticist with over 25 years' experience in health IT focused on patient safety and infectious diseases. He is the founding CEO of TheraDoc, Inc., a health care informatics company specializing in real-time clinical surveillance and decision support technology. TheraDoc was acquired by Hospira in December 2009. Prior to TheraDoc he was the Director of LDS Hospital Drug Surveillance and Safety Program for Intermountain Health Care's Infectious Diseases Informatics Group. Pestotnik holds four patents in the area of clinical decision support and electronic surveillance. He has authored over 75 peer-reviewed articles on the clinical use of health IT in top-tier publications including JAMA and New England Journal of Medicine. Pestotnik holds both an RPh in pharmacy and an MS in medical informatics from the University of Utah. Pestotnik will lead Health Catalyst's efforts to reduce patient harm. He will drive innovation to deliver solutions that go beyond identifying and measuring harm, to alerting clinicians early and even predicting harm events before they happen. "Avoidable harm is an urgent problem affecting more than one million patients per year in this country," Pestotnik said. "What excites me about Health Catalyst is their commitment to developing the next generation of patient harm measurement and prevention tools to enhance current clinical practice." Also new to Health Catalyst's leadership team, Dr. Simpkins is a physician, health information executive, and health system transformation leader. She combines frontline clinical experience in diverse settings with an insider's big picture view of federal health policy and its systemic implications, gleaned from her time serving on the staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Health subcommittee. She has led the design and development of digital health products and health system transformation programs, leveraging data and technology to drive better outcomes for patients. She is passionate about data, technology, design and disrupting healthcare paradigms to improve health outcomes for all. Dr. Simpkins previously held the position of the North American Clinical Director and Global Lead for Patient-Centered Outcomes at the British Medical Journal. She also served as founding medical director for the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic, a retiree volunteer-staffed health clinic for the under-insured working poor on Johns Island, South Carolina. Dr. Simpkins holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences, with honors, from Stanford University and a M.D. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Cancer Biology from Duke University. At Health Catalyst, Dr. Simpkins will lead the development of medical content for its next-generation suite of products. She will also help shape machine learning algorithms so they can best be used to influence important care decisions. "I jumped at the chance to join Health Catalyst, which is at the forefront of deploying data analytics for meaningful clinical decision support," Dr. Simpkins said. "Hospitals and health systems are just beginning to realize the benefits of their own internal data, and Health Catalyst stands ready to partner with them for better, more efficient patient care." About Health Catalyst Health Catalyst is a next-generation data, analytics, and decision support company committed to being a catalyst for massive, sustained improvements in healthcare outcomes. We are the leaders in a new era of advanced predictive analytics for population health and value-based care with a suite of machine learning-driven solutions, decades of outcomes-improvement expertise, and an unparalleled ability to integrate data from across the healthcare ecosystem. Our proven data warehousing and analytics platform helps improve quality, add efficiency and lower costs in support of more than 85 million patients for organizations ranging from the largest US health system to forward-thinking physician practices. Health Catalyst's technology and professional services help to keep patients engaged and healthy in their homes and workplaces, and to optimize their care when it becomes necessary. We are grateful to be recognized by Fortune, Gallup, Glassdoor, Modern Healthcare and a host of others as a Best Place to Work in technology and healthcare. Visit www.healthcatalyst.com, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Media Contact: Jenna Warner Amendola Communications 480.664.8412 x 19 [email protected] SOURCE Health Catalyst Related Links http://www.healthcatalyst.com BOSTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Her Campus, the No. 1 new media brand for the empowered college woman, has signed on as official media partner of Desert Oasis, an exclusive party kicking off festival season April 14th. Presented by Foray Collective and Vampped and hosted by Emily Ratajkowski, Desert Oasis will bring top style influencers such as Thrifts and Threads and celebrities like Brody Jenner and Becca Tilley to Indian Wells for the ultimate festival experience. Known for its fashion game just as much as its music, festival season presents a prime opportunity for brands to connect with young women nationwide on the premise of style a concept not lost on top LA blogger Kaitlynn Carter, co-founder of Foray Collective, the next generation shopping destination for the modern woman. Carter's forward-thinking platform merges content and commerce through curating collections of shoppable outfits worn by top influencers and allowing consumers to seamlessly shop by their favorite style authority. Joining Foray at Desert Oasis is Her Campus, the college marketing powerhouse and media partner charged with amplifying the festival experience to its vast audience of millennials who can't attend. "Festival content is in such high demand among our readers right now and this partnership provides the perfect platform for Her Campus to truly bring festival season to life," said Windsor Hanger Western, president and co-founder of Her Campus. "From celebrity interviews and great music to our amazing sponsor activations - our audience gets to experience the festival scene first-hand through all of our content channels." Her Campus has also built a custom festival content hub on HerCampus.com packed with need-to-know festival editorials, exclusive interviews with celebrities, and live coverage of the high-end party. Headlining sponsor L'Oreal Paris will offer glam touch-ups to guests featuring their Infallible Paints makeup collection and Colorista hair color line. L'Oreal Paris will also be providing full glam throughout the weekend to influencers staying at the estate. Also onsite at the exclusive party will be official apparel and swimwear sponsor boohoo who will allow guests the experience to snag additional festival apparel in its pop-up shop. ABOUT HER CAMPUS Her Campus Media is the #1 new media brand for the empowered college woman and 360-degree college marketing agency, reaching over 20 million users monthly. Major platforms include flagship site HerCampus.com, on-campus network of 330+ campus chapters, InfluenceHer Collective of 2,000+ millennial & Gen Z female influencers, annual proprietary tentpole programs College Fashion Week and Her Conference bestselling book The Her Campus Guide to College Life, and more. Leveraging its digital, social, experiential, influencer and on-campus reach, Her Campus Media provides award-winning integrated marketing programs for leading brands. Her Campus has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, PR Week, CNN Money, & more, and has been named to Entrepreneur magazine's Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America, Forbes 100 Best Websites for Women and 10 Best Websites for Millennial Women among other accolades. ABOUT FORAY COLLECTIVE Foray Collective is the next generation shopping destination for the modern woman. The platform, co-founded by top LA blogger Kaitlynn Carter, merges content and commerce, allowing consumers to shop by influencer seamlessly and easily. Foray is a curated collection of shoppable outfits worn by top style influencers, and is the No. 1 #shopbyinfluencer marketplace for the modern woman. Contact: Elaina Featherstone 1-339-203-5065 [email protected] SOURCE Her Campus Media Related Links http://www.hercampus.com Home values continued the upward movement of the last few months and maintained its positive trend which began in early 2012. Appraisals rose 0.63 percent from February to March, but showed strong growth of 3.30 percent year-over-year, according to Quicken Loans' National Home Value Index (HVI). Home Price Perception Index (HPPI) While home value perception varies across the country, The National HPPI shows a widening gap between what homeowners think their home is worth and the value appraisers assign. March is the fourth consecutive month of this growing trend, with appraisals 1.77 percent lower than homeowners' estimates. On the other hand, appraisals are showing higher values than homeowners expected in some of the hottest housing markets, many of those on the West Coast. "The national average shows appraisals lower than homeowner expectations, but some cities are bucking that trend," said Quicken Loans Vice President of Capital Markets, Bill Banfield. "With prices sprinting forward in many of the booming housing markets in the West, it can be difficult for homeowners to keep up with appraisers, who are on the ground, examining real estate price changes every day. This study is one more reminder for consumers to keep an eye on their local market before selling or refinancing. The state of their local market could affect their home's value on either end of the spectrum." Home Value Index (HVI) Quicken Loans' HVI, the only measure of home value change based solely on appraisal data, showed another month of growth in March. Nationally, home values rose 0.63 percent from the previous month. When viewed annually, appraised values increase an average of 3.30 percent. The study showed the strongest monthly growth in the Northeast, with a 1.78 percent increase. However, the South had the fastest annual increase with a 4.67 percent rise in home values. "Real estate signs are beginning to pop up, even before leaves appear on the neighborhood trees. As home selling season gets started across the country, enthusiastic buyers are battling for available homes," said Banfield. "The increased attention to home sales has led to more competition for a relatively small inventory of homes, continuing to fuel the rising prices." HVI March 2017 January 2005 = 100 HVI March 2017 vs. February 2017 % Change HVI March 2017 vs. March 2016 % Change HPPI March 2017 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* HPPI March 2016 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* National Composite 100.46 +0.63% +3.30% -1.77% -2.17% *A positive value represents appraiser opinions that are higher than homeowner perceptions. A negative value represents appraiser opinions that are lower than homeowner perceptions. Geographic Regions HVI March 2017 January 2005 = 100 HVI March 2017 vs. February 2017 % Change HVI March 2017 vs. March 2016 % Change HPPI March 2017 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* HPPI March 2016 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* West 120.79 +0.71% +3.61% -1.46% -1.92% South 103.1 +0.84% +4.67% -1.75% -2.14% Northeast 83.43 +1.78% +3.85% -1.94% -2.20% Midwest 95.4 +0.86% +2.11% -1.96% -2.36% *A positive value represents appraiser opinions that are higher than homeowner perceptions. A negative value represents appraiser opinions that are lower than homeowner perceptions. Metropolitan Areas HPPI March 2017 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* HPPI February 2017 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* HPPI March 2016 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* Denver, CO +2.69% +2.70% +3.52% Dallas, TX +2.25% +2.05% +2.37% Portland, OR +1.77% +1.81% +1.76% San Francisco, CA +1.31% +1.30% +2.88% Seattle, WA +1.31% +1.31% -0.39% Los Angeles, CA +1.17% +1.10% +0.46% Boston, MA +1.10% +1.05% +0.82% Charlotte, NC +0.99% +0.85% -1.59% San Jose, CA +0.70% +0.64% +3.93% Sacramento, CA +0.59% +0.82% +1.05% Houston, TX +0.53% +0.52% +2.05% Kansas City, MO +0.47% +0.49% -1.79% Minneapolis, MN +0.43% +0.73% -0.75% Miami, FL +0.33% +0.32% -0.10% San Diego, CA +0.30% +0.38% +0.13% Riverside, CA -0.04% -0.05% +0.46% Las Vegas, NV -0.41% -0.39% +0.05% Phoenix, AZ -0.57% -0.59% -0.73% Washington, D.C. -0.70% -0.44% +0.09% Atlanta, GA -1.01% -0.94% -1.34% Detroit, MI -1.26% -1.36% -3.01% Tampa, FL -1.40% -1.33% -0.93% New York, NY -1.65% -1.55% -2.11% Chicago, IL -2.14% -1.96% -3.04% Cleveland, OH -2.41% -2.17% -1.91% Baltimore, MD -3.18% -3.01% -3.24% Philadelphia, PA -3.20% -3.09% -3.62% *A positive value represents appraiser opinions that are higher than homeowner perceptions. A negative value represents appraiser opinions that are lower than homeowner perceptions. About the HPPI & HVI The Quicken Loans HPPI represents the difference between appraisers' and homeowners' opinions of home values. The index compares the estimate that the homeowner supplies on a refinance mortgage application to the appraisal that is performed later in the mortgage process. This is an unprecedented report that gives a never-before-seen analysis of how homeowners are viewing the housing market. The HPPI national composite is determined by analyzing appraisal and homeowner estimates throughout the entire country, including data points from both inside and outside the metro areas specifically called out in the above report. The Quicken Loans HVI is the only view of home value trends based solely on appraisal data from home purchases and mortgage refinances. This produces a wide data set and is focused on appraisals, one of the most important pieces of information to the mortgage process. The HPPI and HVI are released on the second Tuesday of every month. Both of the reports are created with Quicken Loans' propriety mortgage data from the 50-state lenders' mortgage activity across all 3,000+ counties. The indexes are examined nationally, in four geographic regions and the HPPI is reported for 27 major metropolitan areas. All indexes, along with downloadable tables and graphs can be found at QuickenLoans.com/Indexes. About Quicken Loans Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation's second largest retail home mortgage lender. The company has closed more than $300 billion of mortgage volume across all 50 states between 2013 and 2016. Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010, and now more than 13,500 of its 16,000 team members work in the city's urban core. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Primary Mortgage Origination" in the United States by J.D. Power for the past seven consecutive years, 2010 2016, and highest in customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers the past three years, 2014 2016. Quicken Loans was ranked #10 on FORTUNE magazine's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list in 2017, and has been among the top-30 companies for the last 14 years. It has been recognized as one of Computerworld magazine's '100 Best Places to Work in IT' the past 12 years, ranking #1 for seven of the past eleven years including 2016. For more information, please visit QuickenLoans.com. Twitter: @QLnews Facebook.com/QuickenLoans SOURCE Quicken Loans Related Links https://www.quickenloans.com PHOENIX, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Better Business Bureau serving Central, Northern, and Western Arizona (BBB) names Howard Air one of 15 Arizona companies selected as finalists for the 2017 Torch Awards for Ethics. Five of the 15 companies will be named winners in their category during the awards dinner and ceremony Wednesday, April 12 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. "We are so humbled by this recognition and proud of the culture we have created at Howard Air. It is truly a reflection of the great work our team does." Kevin Howard, President of Howard Air The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics were established in 2002 to recognize outstanding businesses that maintain a solid commitment to ethics and trust in the marketplace. Companies are selected by an independent panel of volunteer community leaders based on criteria established by the Council of Better Business Bureau's International Torch Award. All finalists were first nominated and after meeting minimum criteria, and proceeded to complete an evaluation where they had to demonstrate their commitment to ethics in six categories: Leadership's Commitment to Ethics Communication of Ethical Practices Organizational Commitment to Ethical Practices Organizational Commitment to Performance Management Practices Organizational Commitment to the Community "Known for upholding high ethical standards, this year's finalists join over 200 local businesses part of BBB's community of trustworthy businesses," said Dory Gosar, BBB Foundation Director. "Doing the right thing is not always easy and these companies have demonstrated a commitment to ethical practices even in the most difficult times." View a complete list of this year's BBB Torch Awards for Ethics Finalists at torchawards.arizonabbb.org. -TORCHAWARDS.ARIZONABBB.ORG- About Howard Air Founded in 1977 on the principles of trust, quality and superior customer service. Howard Air is a family owned and operated heating and air conditioning contractor servicing the Phoenix metropolitan areas. Winner of over 100 awards and recognitions, Howard Air has delivered on its founding principles by becoming one of Arizona's first choices for high quality heating and air conditioning products, services and installations. For more information please visit http://howardair.com. About Better Business Bureau Serving Central, Northern & Western Arizona For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2015, people turned to BBB more than 172 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 5.3 million businesses and 11,000 charities, all available free at bbb.org. Incorporated locally in 1938, BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona serves 10 counties through its campuses in Phoenix, Lake Havasu City, Prescott and Yuma, supported by over 11,500 BBB Accredited Businesses. Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to high standards of ethical business practices. BBB provides objective advice, free business and charity profiles, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Media Contact: Justin Hathaway [email protected] 602-953-2766 SOURCE Howard Air Related Links http://howardair.com HONG KONG, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Out Leadership today announced that HSBC Chief Executive, Global Commercial Banking, and Group Managing Director, Noel Quinn has joined its Global Advisory Board. For many years, Quinn has established himself as one of Out Leadership's most prominent and effective supporters, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. In November 2016, he hosted Out Leadership's fifth annual LGBT+ Leadership Summit in London. "I am honoured to join the Global Advisory Board of Out Leadership, an organisation which has done so much important work to build the global community of LGBT+ and ally business leaders," Quinn said. "HSBC and Out Leadership have built a strong partnership across the world, and I look forward to working as a member of the Global Advisory Board as Out Leadership helps other companies build more sustainable and successful businesses through diversity and inclusion." Out Leadership Founder and Principal Todd Sears said: "Noel has long been one of our most valued champions, and we're so grateful that he's decided to join our board. His heartfelt and steadfast allyship has been a pleasure to watch ever since we first met, at our inaugural Summit in Europe in 2012. We look forward to having more opportunities to benefit from his wise counsel, as we continue to build our already strong collaboration." Quinn joins 10 other influential LGBT+ and Ally global leaders who currently or previously sat on Out Leadership's Global Advisory Board, including: About Out Leadership Out Leadership is the global LGBT+ business advisory company, partnering with the world's most influential firms to build business opportunity, cultivate talent, and drive equality forward. Including LGBT+ people at all levels powerfully benefits bottom lines. We help companies realize their Return on Equality. Out Leadership is a certified B Corp. For more information about our global initiatives or to learn about our advisory work, please visit www.outleadership.com SOURCE Out Leadership Related Links http://www.outleadership.com/ LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- i-Comm Connect, a leading WebRTC Developer and Software as a Service Provider, today announced the launch of their North American Partner Program at this year's Channel Partners Conference and Expo. The program is built around the Company's flagship product, TACTAL, a patent protected, WebRTC | VoIP calling solution that enables secure, instant communications within any website session. Key product features include web-based toll-free calling, app integration, visual IVR menu, call wait queue, powerful analytics and integrations with CRM/Contact Center solutions to elevate and manage the customer experience. According to Chandler Mahaney, Head of Sales, "almost all aspects of business are now done through digital touch points. Although self-service technology is on the rise, there is a clear demand for communication enabled, customer focused websites and mobile apps. The ability to connect a call to the right representative and leverage more contextual data in real-time, equates to faster service, more satisfaction, and enhances the overall customer experience." The Company's channel program is targeted at partners seeking a viable real-time communications solution to deliver a differentiated and secure cloud-based voice service to fortify their margins and customer base. Businesses can embed a toll-free call button in websites and mobile apps, making it possible for customers to call in for free, from anywhere in the world with internet access. Unlike traditional toll-free services, TACTAL is a feature rich, cost-saving service, and turn-up is fast, since there is no number porting or switching of carriers. i-Comm Connect's Partner Program consists of two models - an Agent Program and a White Label Program. The Agent Program allows independent consultants to expand their market position by offering an innovative web-based calling solution at the forefront of the customer service industry. This model is a great fit for agents who want to own and manage the sales process, have knowledge of their client's business and want to provide a greater value to the customer. For solution sales consultants, the pay-off is one of highest residual commissions in the industry. The White Label Program allows Communication Service Providers to grow their business, brand, and profits by introducing new revenue generating, patent protected WebRTC | VoIP services. Service Providers own the customer relationship, set their own margins, handle support and billing, and have the option to terminate SIP-to-SIP or SIP-to-PSTN calls on their network. The company provides all partners with the technical tools, training, and go-to-market resources necessary to give them a jump start into the rapidly growing WebRTC market. "The program will be a game changer," says Kent Terpe, Director Int'l Business & Partnerships. "1-800 numbers revolutionized the way consumers connected decades ago, and today, TACTAL is reinventing the way people engage online. As the channel looks to differentiate their product and increase ARPU, TACTAL is the solution that empowers any business to fully leverage their Internet presence by adding real-time, cost-saving communication services." About i-Comm Connect was founded in 2009 in Portland, ME with a mission to transform the customer service industry. As a market leader, our focus is on developing cutting-edge technology (Patents: USA, Japan, & Canada) and driving the shift to innovative online customer engagement solutions. Contacts Meredith Schmidt-Fellner Director of Marketing [email protected] Kent Terpe Director Int'l Business & Partnerships [email protected] This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com. SOURCE i-Comm Connect Related Links http://www.icommconnect.com WASHINGTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The housing and neighborhood location choices of immigrants will have a significant impact on urban growth in the U.S. for decades to come, particularly as more foreign-born residents seek to own homes in suburban communities, according to new research from the Urban Land Institute's Terwilliger Center for Housing. Homebuilders and developers who can deliver the housing options immigrants want and need stand to benefit in the years to come. Home in America: Immigrants and Housing Demand examines the influence of immigrants in shaping urban growth patterns, particularly those who have entered the U.S. since the Great Recession (since 2010, the number of immigrants from Asia has surpassed those from Latin America). "Immigrants have helped stabilize and strengthen the housing market throughout the recovery," said Terwilliger Center Executive Director Stockton Williams. "Immigrants' housing purchasing power and preferences are significant economic assets for metropolitan regions across the country. This suggests the potential for much more growth attributable to foreign-born residents in the years ahead," he added. Among the key findings from the report: Without growth of the foreign-population, regions with strong housing markets such as San Francisco would not have recovered as quickly following the recession; and markets that continue to struggle in the recession's aftermath such as Buffalo would have experienced even weaker growth. would not have recovered as quickly following the recession; and markets that continue to struggle in the recession's aftermath such as would have experienced even weaker growth. Immigrants have strong aspirations for single-family homeownership, and homeownership rates for immigrants rise with their length of time in the U.S. This suggests that immigrants will be a key driver for owner-occupied housing for years to come. Immigrants seeking to own homes as well as those renting homes are increasingly drawn to the suburbs in search of employment opportunities, lower-cost housing and a higher quality of life. Suburbs are home to high-income, high-skilled immigrants as well as lower-income, lesser-skilled immigrants. While immigrants represent a key source of demand for new housing, a substantial share of immigrant housing demand will be met through purchases of existing homes. Sellers of these homes many of whom will be baby boomers seeking to downsize will create a strong market for smaller units. Urban areas experiencing significant immigrant population growth should explore how to best accommodate immigrants and leverage the positive effect they have on the housing industry and economy. Investments in housing, retail, recreational and cultural amenities, as well as social assistance and education programs can help forge a strong connection between immigrants, neighborhoods, and the greater community. Just as housing demand by immigrants was a key factor in tempering the worst impacts of the housing collapse, this demand is now helping to build housing market momentum. Demand for homeownership and for single-family housing, as well as the continued growth of both urban and suburban communities throughout the country, will depend on the trajectory of U.S. immigration policy. The findings in Home in America are drawn in part from analyses of the housing and neighborhood preferences of immigrants in five metropolitan areas that represent different types of immigrant gateways: San Francisco a major continuous gateway, with a large and sustained immigrant population throughout the 20 th century and into the 21 st century (other examples are New York City , Chicago , Boston ) a major continuous gateway, with a large and sustained immigrant population throughout the 20 century and into the 21 century (other examples are , , ) Houston a post-World War II gateway that has attracted large numbers of immigrants since the mid-20 th century (other examples: Los Angeles , Miami , Washington, D.C. ) a post-World War II gateway that has attracted large numbers of immigrants since the mid-20 century (other examples: , , ) Buffalo -- a former gateway that was a major entry point in the early-to-mid-20 th century due to its strong manufacturing economy (other examples: Cleveland , Detroit , St. Louis) -- a former gateway that was a major entry point in the early-to-mid-20 century due to its strong manufacturing economy (other examples: , , St. Louis) Minneapolis-St. Paul -- a re-emerging gateway marked by a renewal of immigrants at the end of the 20 th century into the 21 st century (other examples: Baltimore , Denver , Seattle ); and -- a re-emerging gateway marked by a renewal of immigrants at the end of the 20 century into the 21 century (other examples: , , ); and Charlotte a major emerging gateway that started experiencing a wave of immigrants at the beginning of the 21st century (other examples: Atlanta , Las Vegas , Orlando ) Home in America notes that foreign-born population growth in most of gateways outpaced overall population growth between 2006 and 2014 (the time period from just prior to the housing market collapse through the housing rally). Emerging gateways, which experienced strong overall population growth, were the only exception. The report also looks at the neighborhood choices of immigrants within the five metro areas, focusing on five categories of suburbs (typologies developed for ULI by RCLCO): Economically challenged suburb characterized by lower home values and little population growth Stable middle-income suburb having a wide range of home values, usually more centrally located Established high-end suburb having high home values, established development patterns, often near employment centers Greenfield lifestyle suburb close to the edge of metro areas, developed mainly in the past 15 years, typically adjacent to established high-end suburbs; and Greenfield value suburb -- close to the edge of metro areas, often adjacent to stable or economically challenged suburbs, more affordable than greenfield lifestyle suburbs. The differences in where immigrants are locating in the five cities is an indicator of how they could influence future growth within these markets, the report says. In San Francisco, immigrants are spread across nearly all types of suburban communities, with the highest percentage, 35 percent, living in economically challenged neighborhoods. In Houston, the largest share of immigrants, 39 percent, live in stable middle-income suburbs, followed by 29 percent in economically challenged suburbs. In Buffalo, 30 percent live in established high-end suburbs (a greater share than the native-born population) and 27 percent live in urban neighborhoods. In Minneapolis, the highest percentage, 32 percent, live in economically challenged suburbs, followed by 27 percent in stable middle-income suburbs. In Charlotte, 27 percent live in economically challenged suburbs. Nineteen percent live in stable-income suburbs and an additional 19 percent live in established high-end suburbs. Home in America points out that the presence of immigrants could help boost revitalization in economically challenged suburbs; sustain the success of stable middle-income suburbs; and contribute to the growth and diversity of established high-end suburbs. "If recent shifts in immigration flows continue, an increase in higher-income immigrants including rising numbers from China and India could accelerate the demand for homeownership among the foreign-born population," the report says. "Without sustained immigration, the housing market could weaken and in many markets the impact could be dramatic." About the Urban Land Institute The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has more than 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. SOURCE Urban Land Institute Related Links http://www.uli.org SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Socius Insurance Services, Inc., a management liability and property/casualty insurance wholesaler, is celebrating its 20th anniversary on April 11, 2017. Socius was started in 1997 with five total employees and originally called ECM Insurance Services. Since then, the company has grown to over 85 employees and seven locations, and even changed its name"socius" is Latin for partnershipto reflect its focus on relationships with retail and underwriting partners. Socius works with both admitted and specialty markets to place coverage including casualty, property, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, professional liability, and cyber liability. The company markets to carriers with a unique risk appetite to find coverage not available in the standard market, presenting exclusive solutions for brokers to offer their clients. "I'm incredibly proud of our people and what we've managed to accomplish together," said Patrick Hanley, President of Socius Insurance Services Inc., and one of the company's founders along with Paul Lefcourt, Management Liability Practice Leader. "Our consistent growth is a testament to our employees' commitment to our clients. Our relationships with retail brokers and underwriters is the foundation of our business. We would like to thank our retail brokerage and underwriting partnersall our success is a direct result of their faith and confidence in us." As the company grows, so do its offerings. In 2015, in response to the uptick in cyber attacks and privacy breaches, Socius added a cyber insurance program specific to the needs of small to medium-sized businesses. The next year, the company launched another new program designed for plaintiff attorneys and their clients to protect against litigation losses. Socius continues to expand their business through new programs and office locations and looks forward to a bright future of continued growth. About Socius Insurance Services, Inc. Socius Insurance Services, Inc. is a property/casualty and management liability wholesale broker based in San Francisco, with regional offices in Los Angeles, CA; Elgin, IL; Birmingham, AL; and Tampa and Miami, FL. Socius specializes in D&O, E&O, EPL, property & casualty and umbrella coverages. Founded in 1997, the company currently has approximately 50 employees, and is privately held. For more information, please visit Socius online at www.sociusinsurance.com. License #0D60776 SOURCE Socius Insurance Services, Inc. Related Links http://www.sociusinsurance.com CHICAGO, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (NYSE: JLL) will release its first quarter 2017 results Friday, May 5, 2017, at approximately 7:30 a.m. Eastern time, followed by a live webcast and teleconference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. The link to the webcast and audio replay can be accessed at the Investor Relations website, ir.jll.com. The teleconference is available by dialing into one of the following phone numbers: United States callers: +1 844 231 9804 callers: +1 844 231 9804 International callers: +1 402 858 7998 Passcode: 5241242 For further information, please contact JLL's Investor Relations department at: [email protected] About JLL JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2016, JLL had revenue of $6.8 billion and fee revenue of $5.8 billion and, on behalf of clients, managed 4.4 billion square feet, or 409 million square meters, and completed sales acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $136 billion. At year-end 2016, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 77,000. As of December 31, 2016, LaSalle Investment Management has $60.1 billion of real estate under asset management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit http://www.jll.com/. SOURCE JLL Related Links http://www.jll.com "KEPServerEX Version 6.1 puts a bow on the IoT-friendly and enterprise-ready connectivity solutions provided in Version 6.0," said Tony Paine, Platform President, Kepware. "Our goal with this release was to balance the productivity demands of our traditional industrial operations customers while developing new features and functionalities that enable customers to bridge the gap between Operations and ITand prepare them for emerging industry needs and opportunities. In Version 6.1, we've added critical performance enhancements that further support this goal." Building upon the global connectivity, usability, and performance enhancements provided in Version 6, KEPServerEX Version 6.1 includes the following: OPC UA Client driver updates and new Siemens Plus Suite: Customers now have full access to controllers with embedded OPC UA Servers. For example, customers with S7-1500 controllers or next generation B&R devices can now access their data using high-performance OPC UA connectivity. Updates to the OPC UA Client driver include support for OPC UA Nano profile servers as well as complex data types. As packaged with our new Siemens Plus Suite, these enhancements provide the only Siemens-approved method for third-party communication to S7-1500 PLCs using optimized data blocks. Customers now have full access to controllers with embedded OPC UA Servers. For example, customers with S7-1500 controllers or next generation B&R devices can now access their data using high-performance OPC UA connectivity. Updates to the OPC UA Client driver include support for OPC UA Nano profile servers as well as complex data types. As packaged with our new Siemens Plus Suite, these enhancements provide the only Siemens-approved method for third-party communication to S7-1500 PLCs using optimized data blocks. Configuration API updates: Customers using the Configuration API to remotely Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) configuration objects in KEPServerEX can now perform these actions on the IoT Gateway advanced plug-in. The Configuration API has also been enhanced to support access to Event Log messages without the KEPServerEX configuration client. Customers using the Configuration API to remotely Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) configuration objects in KEPServerEX can now perform these actions on the IoT Gateway advanced plug-in. The Configuration API has also been enhanced to support access to Event Log messages without the KEPServerEX configuration client. Enhanced KEPServerEX integration with the ThingWorx Industrial IoT Platform: Enables customers with smart, connected manufacturing applications or products that leverage industrial controllers to seamlessly map tags within KEPServerEX to properties on devices connected to ThingWorx. In addition, the KEPServerEX V6.1 release introduces the new CODESYS Ethernet driver for connectivity to devices running CODESYS V2.3. It also features enhancements to 34 key drivers and advanced plug-ins, including improved performance for the Mitsubishi Ethernet and Omron NJ Ethernet drivers and connectivity to Amazon Web Services IoT Platform via the IoT Gateway's MQTT Agent. The major release of KEPServerEX V6 was designed to address the industry's need to produce and analyze greater types of data to supply a wider, more diverse set of client applications. KEPServerEX V6 is enterprise-ready, IT-friendly and secure software that enables remote configuration, support for critical industrial automation markets in Asia and Europe, and a simplified user and licensing experience. Additional Resources About Kepware @Kepware is a software development business of PTC Inc. located in Portland, Maine. Kepware provides a portfolio of software solutions to help businesses connect diverse automation devices and software applications and enable the Industrial Internet of Things. From plant floor to wellsite to windfarm, Kepware serves a wide range of customers in a variety of vertical markets including Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Building Automation, Power & Utilities, and more. Established in 1995 and now distributed in more than 100 countries, Kepware software solutions help thousands of businesses improve operations and decision making. Learn more at https://www.kepware.com/. About PTC PTC has the most robust Internet of Things technology in the world. In 1986 we revolutionized digital 3D design. Now our leading IoT and AR platform and field-proven solutions bring together the physical and digital worlds to reinvent the way you create, operate, and service products. With PTC, global manufacturers and an ecosystem of partners and developers can capitalize on the promise of the IoT today and drive the future of innovation. PTC.com @PTC Blogs Kepware, the Kepware logo, KEPServerEX and ThingWorx are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Media Contact Torey Penrod-Cambra VP Marketing Programs +1 (207) 775-1660 [email protected] SOURCE Kepware Technologies Related Links http://www.kepware.com HORSHAM, Pa., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite current uncertainty about how the political battles raging in Washington will ultimately shape sectors including healthcare and education, Greater Philadelphia's manufacturing leaders remain optimistic about the economy. This optimism stems in part from a belief that the new presidential administration will lessen regulations and that recent positive market trends will continue, Kreischer Miller's 2017 Greater Philadelphia Manufacturing Survey finds. Sixty-six percent of the 101 manufacturers who responded to the survey felt some level of optimism, up from 60 percent last year. Pessimism dipped from 16 percent to 5 percent. The source of this optimism mostly comes from outside the plant walls: Nearly two-thirds indicated the Trump administration will have a positive impact on the overall economy and on their business. The mood locally lines up with national and regional trends. While the manufacturers predict growth, they also report hurdles in the way of achieving it. These industry leaders, from middle market companies across many sectors, are on the frontlines of a manufacturing renaissance fueled by innovations in automation and technology. This new type of manufacturing requires a new type of labor force, and there is increasing concern about the lack of qualified workers - 41 percent versus 28 percent in last year's survey. New advantages, new risks The 2017 survey spotted a modern manufacturing challenge to which survey respondents may want to pay more attention: Cyber security. The machines on the plant floor are more and more often connected to the internet. While nearly half of respondents' companies provided data security training for employees last year, a majority did not conduct any type of vulnerability assessments of their information security capabilities. And 80 percent did not conduct any disaster recovery or business continuity reviews or testing. "We are in a period of great change in manufacturing, and that comes with previously unconceivable possibilities and opportunities, but also significant unanticipated challenges," said Kreischer Miller Audit & Accounting Director and Manufacturing Industry Group Leader Michael A. Coakley. Modern manufacturers would be wise to make cyber security plan review a routine part of doing business, said Kreischer Miller Technology Solutions Director Sassan S. Hejazi, PhD. "Joining a shop floor to the Internet of Things can yield tremendous gains in efficiency without human guidance," he said. "Unfortunately, there are human beings who are ready to exploit that internet connection to steal data." Reasons for the qualified worker problem, and possible solutions The lack of qualified workers is an ongoing problem that the region's manufacturers have consistently identified in the Kreischer Miller survey. "False but persistent negative imagery about manufacturing keeps some young people away from choosing to pursue a career in the industry," Coakley said. "Add to that technological advances in equipment and processes, as well as an aging workforce, and the result is more skilled labor positions available than there are workers to fill them." In an effort to reverse this trend, local companies are increasing their efforts to educate students in the region about manufacturing careers. One such initiative is the student video contests sponsored by the region's manufacturing alliances through the "Dream It. Do It. PA" partnership, pairing manufacturers with middle schools and high schools to answer the question "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" Other key findings Growth: Sixty-six percent of respondents said their main growth opportunity over the next 12 to 18 months is increasing market share or organic growth. Fifteen percent hope to grow by adding new products. Notably, the number of local manufacturers planning on growing via merger, acquisition or alliance was down 11 points, from 23 percent last year to 12 percent this year. International business: About 75 percent of respondents have some export sales, but for nearly two-thirds, international sales account for 10 percent or less of total sales. 75 percent say they do no manufacturing outside the U.S. Methodology A 33-question survey was distributed electronically to middle market manufacturers in Greater Philadelphia - southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and northern Delaware. The survey was conducted from mid-November 2016 through early-January 2017. The 101 respondents included privately-held (90 percent) and public companies (10 percent). Kreischer Miller is one of the leading accounting firms serving manufacturers in the Greater Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas. Our experience with a diverse range of organizationsfrom smaller, local manufacturers to large, Fortune 500 companies with national and international operations gives us the background and depth to understand the challenges and opportunities that face the industry. Kreischer Miller is also a member of the Manufacturing CPAs, a nationwide network of independent accounting firms specializing in serving the manufacturing industry. Learn more at www.kmco.com. Note to editors: For a copy of the survey or to interview participants, contact Leza Raffel at [email protected] or 215-884-6499. SOURCE Kreischer Miller Related Links http://www.kmco.com ATLANTA, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Landis+Gyr, a global leader in transforming the way energy is delivered and managed, has released its next-generation prepay metering solution as part of an industry-leading portfolio of energy and capacity optimization solutions. Landis+Gyr Prepay is designed to help utilities manage resources utilizing edge intelligence to support a more balanced, efficient and flexible distribution network. "The edge computing capabilities built into our prepay solution automate communication and decision making at the premise and provide a future-proof technology to solve resource management challenges across the grid," said Lisa Washburn, Director of Software Product Management at Landis+Gyr. "Our prepay solution is a leading example of intelligence at the grid edge." Landis+Gyr Prepay integrates with a utility's existing CIS and payment infrastructure. Energy usage and account balances are tracked in the meter, with real-time account and usage information delivered to the consumer via a robust in-home digital display unit, as well as a consumer engagement platform. The solution is supported on the FOCUS AX-SD Meter and within Command Center 7.1. "Customers on prepay are among the most satisfied of all our customers. They typically reduce energy consumption by 12 percent," said Michael Mendonca, Senior Director of Customer Services at Salt River Project. "Our customers have cited 'control' as their primary reason for moving to the program. They prefer the empowerment and flexibility of being able to react to energy costs in real-time, and to pay on their own terms." Landis+Gyr Prepay extends the benefits of AMI to consumers by providing real-time access to energy data for greater control of energy usage. The solution provides flexible payment options to enhance customer satisfaction and provide a greater level of engagement. This, in turn, lowers utility costs associated with call center support, collections and write-offs. About Landis+Gyr Landis+Gyr is the leading global provider of integrated energy management solutions for the utility sector. Offering the broadest portfolio of products and services to address complex industry challenges, the company delivers comprehensive solutions for the foundation of a smarter grid including; smart metering, distribution network sensing and automation tools, load control, analytics and energy storage. Landis+Gyr operates in 31 countries across five continents as an independent growth platform of the Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502) and is also 40% owned by the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ). With annualized sales of more than US$1.5 billion, the company employs 5,700 people with the sole mission of helping the world manage energy better. More information is available at landisgyr.com. SOURCE Landis+Gyr Related Links http://landisgyr.com NEW BERLIN, Wis., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Landmark Credit Union today shared news of an April 7 visit by Wisconsin's First District congressman and speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. "We were honored to host Speaker Ryan," said Jay Magulski, President and Chief Executive Officer. "His visit provided a wonderful opportunity to share Landmark's success story and discuss legislative topics of importance to us." NEW ORLEANS, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Audience platform, Lucid Holdings, LLC, today announced a $60 million minority investment led by North Bridge Growth Equity, a Boston area based private equity firm. Lucid, based in the US with local offices in London and Delhi, is a software company delivering the power of human answers on a massive scale. Originally launched as Federated Sample, the Company rebranded in 2015 as Lucid to support its robust and full product suite Federated Sample, Fulcrum and Proof representing a substantially differentiated solution that has redefined how market research sample is transacted within the industry. Building on the success of Federated Sample, Lucid pioneered programmatic buying and selling within the market research space with the launch of Fulcrum, which is the first highly automated sample marketplace. More than 500 enterprises in 92 countries actively use a Lucid product, and over 14 billion questions have been asked and answered on the Lucid's global platform. Lucid's customer list continues to expand, having increased nearly 57% over the last 12 months alone, as clients turn to Lucid's technology and services to solve complex needs. "Lucid has tripled in size and revenue since the beginning of 2015, and we continue to see phenomenal momentum and growth since we started the company seven years ago. I have continued to be impressed with the caliber of the team that we have built and their ability to build disruptive, market-leading products and deliver exceptional service," said Patrick Comer, CEO and Founder of Lucid. "This financing allows Lucid to further invest in our team, build solutions and provide support to our clients at a pace the supersedes our competitors and lead the industry." The capital raised builds upon a successful pattern established by Lucid's leadership, and will be used to accelerate growth by advancing product development, design and to expand Lucid's world-class team, both in the US and internationally. "The need to deliver market research sample and consumer insights quickly and efficiently affects businesses of all sizes. Lucid has done an impressive job of building a solution that leapfrogs the cumbersome methods that came before it," commented Russ Pyle, Managing Partner at North Bridge Growth Equity. "We wanted to invest in a category defining company, focused on solving the complex needs of market research buyers and we are incredibly excited to be partnering with Patrick and the Lucid team as they begin the next chapter of growth and innovation." Lucid has experienced accelerating growth increasing YoY revenue at 70% consistently over the past three years. This continued success has helped Lucid serve an instrumental role in the advancement of the New Orleans technology community and overall economy while defining what is possible in technology in the Southeast, the country and beyond. Investment bank Petsky Prunier represented Lucid in the transaction. More at luc.id/press About Lucid Lucid is the world's largest audience platform for sourcing and understanding "human answers" -- real, deterministic data about human behavior at scale. The company has built the largest and most powerful programmatic survey marketplace, and has enabled brands, agencies, and partners to ask and answer more than 14 billion questions worldwide. With a pool of 80M+ unique respondents, Lucid delivers unprecedented access to consumers for data-driven decision making -- about everything from marketing to product development -- in real-time. Lucid is headquartered in New Orleans with offices in London and New Delhi. About North Bridge Growth Equity North Bridge Growth Equity is a leading growth equity firm that partners with successful technology companies addressing large, dynamic markets including tech-enabled services, software, healthcare IT, communications & infrastructure. North Bridge Growth Equity provides capital and expertise to help to grow into strategic assets. North Bridge Growth Equity has over $1 billion of capital under management and has backed industry-defining companies such as Dyn (acquired by Oracle), IngeniousMed, OutSystems, Proto Labs, RuffaloCody (acquired by financial sponsor), SmartPak (acquired by Henry Schein) and WPEngine. Please visit our website at www.nbge.com. SOURCE Lucid Related Links http://www.luc.id GM recognized 118 of its best suppliers, representing 15 countries, that have consistently exceeded GM's expectations, created outstanding value or brought new innovations to the company. The announcement represented the most suppliers GM has recognized since debuting the Supplier of the Year event in 1992. "We are focused on building positive supplier relationships, bringing new, customer-centric innovations to GM and being the OEM of choice among suppliers," said Steve Kiefer, GM vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. "The companies we recognize tonight have brought innovation, and delivered it with the quality our customers deserve." Winning suppliers were chosen by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives and selected based on performance criteria in Product Purchasing, Indirect Purchasing, Customer Care and Aftersales, and Logistics. More than half of the suppliers are repeat winners from 2015. Duncan MacLean, MacLean-Fogg president, stated, "We are honored to receive this recognition from such a strong company as General Motors. MacLean-Fogg employees have been focusing diligently on LEAN manufacturing, innovation, and quality work, which has allowed us to be recognized with such a high honor for the second year in a row. We look forward to continuing our valued relationship with General Motors." About General Motors General Motors Co. and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries. The company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. Visit www.gm.com for more information on GM and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. About MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions, a MacLean-Fogg Company division, is a leading supplier of innovative fasteners, engineered components, and engineered plastics serving many diverse industries. Visit www.macleanfoggcs.com for information on MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions' offerings and industries served. About MacLean-Fogg Company MacLean-Fogg Company is a worldwide enterprise currently operating 40 global manufacturing facilities across 5 continents with annual sales over one billion (USD) and a workforce of over 4,000. MacLean-Fogg Company provides engineered metal and plastic components to diverse markets including automotive, heavy duty truck and electrical power transmission and distribution. Visit www.macleanfogg.com or contact [email protected]. SOURCE MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions (MFCS) Related Links http://www.macleanfogg.com ASHBURN, Va., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Author Mitch Carr has changed the billboard on Rt. 40 in Greensboro, NC and accused the Winston-Salem Journal and Spectrum News Triad of creating fake news by deliberately leaving out material facts about a breast cancer charity that would change their narrative. He believes their actions are so egregious that the public needs to know. New billboard on Rt 40 in Greensboro, North Carolina calling out Fake News Billboard promoting launch of two new books replacing "Real Men Provide, Real Women Appreciate It," located on Rt 40 in Greensboro, North Carolina. On March 24th, the author released a billboard and press release with the slogan "Real Men Don't Use Coupons" to promote his new book by the same title and to raise money for a Florida charity that buys breast reconstruction surgery for uninsured breast cancer survivors (myhopechest.org). Both of the accused news outlets, The Winston-Salem Journal and Spectrum News Triad, did extensive interviews with the author and then wrote stories never mentioning that the author was donating profits to the charity, but they did use a local feminist activist, and a Wake Forest University Gender Studies Professor to create their narrative of sexism and misogyny. The Wake Forest professor went so far as to call his Real Men credo "dangerous." His contention is that these outlets are so focused on a politically correct agenda that they sacrificed a charity's donation stream just to control their narrative that men who provide are oppressing women. The author's contention is that even if they disliked his cartoon books, not reporting on the charitable aspect is in fact denying the readers of all the relevant information they deserve to be able to judge the article in proper context, and violates the most basic of ethical journalistic standards. The billboard was originally leased in February with the slogan "Real Men Provide, Real Women Appreciate It" and went viral. Mitch Carr followed it up to take advantage of the slogan for his upcoming works. His belief is that the press in America is attempting to control the national conversation rather than reflect it. The author has launched a website ( www.mitchcarr.net ) with his version of the facts and allows for an uncensored comment section so that all voices can be heard. He looks forward to a spirited debate. He also challenges Spectrum News to release the full unedited recording of his interview so that the readers can hear for themselves whether their news source is trustworthy or not, and for both organizations to do feature articles on the charity. Maria Waksmunski Mascot Books Phone: 703-376-8243 Email: [email protected] My Hope Chest Media Contacts: Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. Phone: (408) 871-0377, [email protected] Myhopechest.org Author Mitch Carr, 434-326-7583, www.mitchcarr.net SOURCE Mascot Books WILSONVILLE, Ore., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mentor, a Siemens business, today announced the call-for-entries of its 27th annual Technology Leadership Awards (TLA) competition, continuing its tradition of recognizing excellence in printed circuit board (PCB) design. Started in 1988, this program is the longest running competition of its kind in the electronic design automation (EDA) industry. It recognizes engineers and CAD designers who use the innovative technology provided by Mentor Graphics Corporation to address today's complex PCB systems design challenges and produce industry-leading products. Prominent experts in the PCB industry will judge the contest, including: Michael R. Creeden, San Diego PCB CEO and founder; Gary Ferrari, FTG Circuits technical support director; Rick Hartley, RHartley Enterprises principal engineer; Steve Herbstman, founder and lead designer, SHLC; Happy Holden, Gentex Corporation (retired); Andy Kowalewski, Metamelko LP senior interconnect designer; Pete Waddell, president of UP Media and publisher of Printed Circuit Design & Fab/Circuits Assembly Magazine; and Susy Webb, Fairfield Nodal senior PCB designer. "Mentor continues to be in the forefront of recognizing and rewarding excellent designs. The TLA awards allow designers who are using innovative ideas and design practices to be rewarded for their outside-the-box thinking in a way that nothing else in the industry does," stated Michael R. Creeden, San Diego PCB Design. "These new practices will add to the general knowledge and creativity of the whole community of designers by inspiring them to try new and different concepts themselves." This year, entrants will be able to submit their design accomplishments in any of seven categories representing a wide variety of industries: Computers, blade and servers, memory systems Consumer electronics and handheld Industrial control, instrumentation, security and medical Military and aerospace Semiconductor packaging Telecom, network controllers, line cards Transportation and automotive "Our annual PCB Technology Leadership Awards contest provides a worldwide opportunity for talented designers to showcase innovative designs. Each year we see ever increasing challenges and the use of new technologies implemented," said A.J. Incorvaia, vice president and general manager of the Mentor Board Systems Division. "The submissions for this contest are really quite impressive. We are expecting this year's competition to be bigger than ever, with entries from many major electronics companies, as well as from smaller teams." Winners will be named for each category, plus a "Best Overall Design" recipient. The time frame for submitting entries is from April 17 through May 29, 2017. Entrants can apply online at https://mentor-tla.secure-platform.com/. About the Technology Leadership Awards Contest The Mentor TLA contest is open to any designs created with the Mentor PCB solutions, including the Xpedition, PADS and Board Station design flows. Judging will be based on overcoming complexity challenges, such as small form factor, high-speed content, design team collaboration, advanced PCB fabrication technologies and design-cycle time reduction. Winners will be announced September 19, 2017 on a worldwide web broadcast. Contact for journalists Larry Toda Phone: 503-685-1664; E-mail: [email protected] Mentor Graphics Corporation, a Siemens business, is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services, and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronic, semiconductor, and systems companies. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. Web site: http://www.mentor.com. Mentor Graphics, Mentor, Xpedition, PADS and Board Station are registered trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owner. SOURCE Mentor Related Links http://www.mentor.com "Miami-Dade County proudly welcomes WOW air and its passengers to our community," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. "Our residents now have nonstop service to the beautiful, historic city of Reykjavik, as well as to all the connecting flights that city's strategic location provides. Congratulations to WOW air and also to MIA, for landing another key international route and for adding to its roster of 105 airlines the most of any U.S. airport." After arriving from Reykjavik at close to midnight on April 5, WOW air celebrated its first departure from Miami on April 6 with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting with MIA officials, commemorative cake and refreshments with passengers, and a water-cannon salute from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. "We proudly welcome WOW air and their historic Reykjavik-Miami service," said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. "Aside from being MIA's first-ever service to Iceland, WOW's launch into the Miami market also marks our fourth Nordic destination and 23rd route to Europe the most in the 88-year history of our airport. As a rapidly growing hub to numerous destinations throughout Europe and beyond, Reykjavik also fits perfectly within our strategic plan to expand MIA's route network to points across the globe. Congratulations to WOW air on their successful launch, and for making Miami its first route to Florida and the Southeast U.S." WOW air will operate three weekly flights from Miami to Reykjavik, with the option for connections to six other European destinations, on A330-300 aircraft that seat up to 350 passengers. "Im thrilled to launch our service to and from Miami and be able to deliver on our promise of bringing the lowest possible fares across the Atlantic on brand new aircraft," said Skuli Mogensen, CEO and Founder of WOW air. MIA will next welcome the Miami launch of Avianca Brazil, which will begin daily passenger service to Sao Paulo on June 23, followed by first-ever thrice-weekly service to Dublin, Ireland in September by Aer Lingus. Hi-res images available upon request MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Chin 305.876.7017 [email protected] SOURCE Miami International Airport LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Milken Institute today announced the appointment of William Lee as Executive Director and Chief Economist, based in Santa Monica, CA. In this role, Lee will be responsible for analyzing U.S. and global macroeconomic developments and policy risks. Prior to joining the Milken Institute, Lee was Managing Director and Head of North America Economics at Citibank's Institutional Clients Group in New York. Earlier in his career, he spent 19 years at the International Monetary Fund in a variety of roles in Washington, D.C., Asia and Europe, and was senior economist and division chief of the financial markets division at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. From its founding 25 years ago, the Milken Institute has focused on broadening access to capital, creating jobs and ensuring financial stability. Lee's knowledge of, and experience in the capital markets and with funding and regulatory organizations make him ideally suited to support the Institute's mission. As Chief Economist, Lee will help shape the Institute's recommendations for changes to capital market practices and policies that have restrained economic growth. "Bill's experience will be invaluable for developing and communicating our views on how markets may react to monetary policy, tax and regulatory reform, fiscal stimulus, and rising geopolitical uncertainty," said Richard Ditizio, President and Chief Operating Officer, Milken Institute. "Lee has arrived at the right time to expand the Institute's analysis into issues that may threaten the soundness and integrity of global markets and institutions." About the Milken Institute The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank determined to increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs and improve health. It does this through independent, data-driven research, action-oriented meetings and meaningful policy initiatives. Contact Jill Posnick Executive Director, Communications (310) 570-4661; [email protected] Tania Pantoja (714) 883-6555; [email protected] SOURCE Milken Institute Related Links http://www.milkeninstitute.org TAMPA, Fla., April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Funding for contractors and suppliers is at an all-time low with banks not lending money as freely. The Murkin Group has continued to find more creative ways to minimize the overall cost to its clients, and have truly been changing the scope of the debt collection industry for the past four years. With their rapid growth across the United States and now with three offices, they are poised to infuse more working capital back into their client's bottom lines and increase the overall working cash flow. Without the need for predatory lending options to equipment dealers, building material suppliers, and sub-contractors this agency has been able to provide over 10 Million dollars' worth of new working capital into First Quarter reporting for small businesses and large corporations. Heavy equipment dealers such as Texas First Rentals a subsidiary of Holt Cat, Ohio Cat, Altorfer Cat & Louisiana Cat. The Murkin Group continues to build relationships with the largest equipment dealers across the USA & Canada. Concrete & Ready Mix Companies such as Manatts Concrete, Bleigh Ready Mix & Croell Redi-Mix continue to allow the team at The Murkin Group to help lower their bad debt write-offs they had historically faced. The Collection Industry Just Got a Real Makeover & The Murkin Group Is Leading The Race With the most proactive and interactive website in the industry of debt collection, The Murkin Group assists their client's with far more than just collection services. Their technology allows a level of transparency foreign to their competitors, who seem to prefer keeping client's in the dark. Clients of The Murkin Group are provided all the tools they need internally and externally to minimize the credit risk from day one. Companies that utilize the services of The Murkin Group are comfortable referring their own customers for assistance and do so quite commonly. By treating client customers (former and current) with respect and assisting them with outstanding receivable issues, The Murkin Group places great emphasis on putting the customer/debtor relationship back on the correct path to continued success. There is no need to alienate customers and hinder future opportunities just to collect money that is owed today - let one of the highly trained and skilled professionals show you the right way to liquidate your receivables into working capital today. ASK MURKIN will help answer some of the basic questions you may be faced with at this very moment. The Murkin Group was established in 2013. It has already started to build alliances with organizations such as the Illinois Lumber-Material Dealers Association which voted unanimously to The Murkin Group now being the sole and preferred supplier for Lumber Yards across the State of Illinois and neighboring States. The Murkin Group has built its foundation of the backbone of the construction industry. The Murkin group prides itself on being able to supply jobs and change lives in the communities of Largo Florida, Clinton Illinois, and Rapid City South Dakota. The Murkin Group's mission statement is "To exceed client expectations by providing outstanding service and solutions to credit and collection professionals throughout the World, and truly change the perception of our industry one client at a time." Contact: Curtis Fort President ILMDA Preferred Vendor NRMCA BAC Committee Member American Rental Association (ARA)-Associate Member www.murkingroup.com The Murkin Group, LLC 203 East Side Square Clinton, IL 61727 Toll: 866-447-7044 x 261 Direct: 217-686-4242 Fax: 217-570-0068 Email: [email protected] Related Files Manatts Letter of Recommendation.pdf Texas First Rentals Letter of Recomendation.pdf Related Links American Rental Association - Vendor National Ready Mixed Concrete Assocation - Vendor Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0bQ917U92Q This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE The Murkin Group Related Links http://www.murkingroup.com EMMITSBURG, Md., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mount St. Mary's University Interim President Tim Trainor announced today that successful alumni Paul Palmieri and Diane Loiello Palmieri will donate $1 million to establish the Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship - an innovative student resource that will provide students with skills, mentorship and experiences vital to entrepreneurship. The center will open later this year after hiring a director and will provide students with co-curricular experiences such as workshops, exclusive networking and mentorship, innovative startup immersion, and business plan competitions. "Diane and I are grateful for the educational experiences Mount St. Mary's has provided our family for three generations," said Paul Palmieri, class of '92, who is also a member of the university's board of trustees. "We believe the Mount is the perfect place to establish the center because it has a rich history of graduates who have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs - it's in the university's DNA." The center seeks to integrate real-world entrepreneurial skills across all disciplines. "Individuals who take risk to find new horizons - for industry, the arts, the sciences - are all entrepreneurs," said Diane Loiello Palmieri, class of '83. "All students can benefit from the risk-taking skills, activities and design thinking that lead to entrepreneurial accomplishment." "We are extremely excited about the Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship and grateful for the generosity and innovative ideas of the Palmieris," said Trainor. "Through the center, students will have access to hands-on, experiential learning opportunities, testing their ideas and gathering feedback in real situations. It's truly a program for those interested in changing the world." "Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Maryland's economy," said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. "Through the Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship, generations of Mount St. Mary's students those with an idea, a dream, a goal will learn the skills and gain the expertise they need to succeed. Paul and Diane Palmieri's generous donation is indeed an investment in the future of these students and ultimately, in the future of our state." The Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship will provide interdisciplinary, co-curricular programs focused on entrepreneurship. The university is developing both a major and minor in entrepreneurship that will provide novel programming and a practical approach to venture development, innovation and design thinking. The center will challenge and embolden all students regardless of their major to develop the skills and resources necessary to achieve their goals. The Palmieris have had an entrepreneurial mindset for decades. Diane Loiello Palmieri has held positions across the fields of marketing and advertising, and currently sits on the board of the American Red Cross. Paul Palmieri is credited with helping to develop and establish the beginnings of the mobile internet, as well as the app economy. He was the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Millennial Media, the leading independent mobile advertising platform, which he grew from startup through its public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. He is currently a general partner at Grit Capital, an early stage venture capital firm that he co-founded. About Mount St. Mary's University Mount St. Mary's University is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near historic Emmitsburg, Maryland, with a satellite campus in Frederick, Maryland's second largest city. The university offers more than 40 majors, minors, concentrations and special programs for traditional undergraduate students, and 17 adult undergraduate and graduate level programs. SOURCE Mount St. Marys University Related Links http://www.msmary.edu HORSHAM, Pa., April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MRA Group announced that it acquired the former Rohm & Haas Research & Development campus located at 727 Norristown Road, in Spring House, Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, PA. Rebranded as the Spring House Technology Park, there currently exists 591,000 square feet in eleven buildings. The bucolic campus, which totals 133 acres situated at a full interchange with the Rt. 309 expressway, is less than three minutes north of the Ft. Washington exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Mike Wojewodka, Senior Vice President of MRA Group, states "we are transforming Spring House Technology Park into the premier, multi-use technology enhanced campus in the region. Plans include, in addition to first class office and laboratory facilities, a campus environment with a university-affiliated regional center of excellence for innovation and advanced production, a laboratory incubation and commercialization center, a boutique hotel with full amenities, co-working space with on-demand offices and shared office/conference facilities, on-site child daycare, a health/fitness center, and a retail village containing approximately 40,000 square feet of restaurants and other amenities. Our focus is in attracting companies that can best utilize the robust existing laboratory infrastructure at one of the best locations in the Philadelphia region." According to Hank Merrill, Vice President of Facility Engineering at MRA Group, "the in-place laboratory infrastructure is invaluable for laboratory users and technology companies. The cost to replicate what we already have in place would be immense, and certainly will be a significant benefit to any forward-thinking company that prefers to direct capital to other needs besides building improvements. Our utility infrastructure alone will translate to measurable operating savings over what space users will typically find available on the market today." Heather DeFreytas, MRA Group Vice President for Project Design and Management, plans to embrace and enhance unique architectural features of the campus, along with including an outdoor amphitheater and meeting spaces, nature trails for use by tenants and the community, and the conversion of an existing barn into a coffee shop and restaurant. Heather observed, "the opportunities presented on this campus are complex. Design and construction for each building will reflect a balance between technology, innovation, sustainability and the neighboring environment. Though some of the buildings appear tired now, they in fact possess features that are very much desired by space users today. It will not take much to bring them up to MRA standards." Larry Stuardi, CEO of MRA Group, states that "the development of Spring House Technology Park is a collaborative endeavor with Lower Gwynedd Township. There is a shared vision for the redevelopment of the campus, and though there are details to be worked out, we generally are on the same page when it comes to the overall development of the site. We are all aware that we have the opportunity to do something special and unique, and we are collaborating so as to get it right." Background Summary The property was acquired in 1962 by Rohm & Haas Company and developed into their Spring House Technical Center, an advanced research and development campus. The existing buildings were constructed between 1963 and 1995, with approximately 75% dedicated to laboratory use, with the remainder used primarily for corporate and administrative offices and related uses. The Dow Company acquired Rohm & Haas in 2012, and by 2015 Dow relocated its employees to a new facility in Collegeville, PA. In 2015 MRA Group entered into discussions with Dow to acquire the property in its entirety, with closing occurring late March 2017. For More Information contact: www.springhousetech.net About MRA Group MRA Group is a privately-held, multi-disciplined real estate development and services company that focuses in two specific areas; first as a provider of specialized, robust, hands on real estate centric solutions for many of the region's health care and institutional organizations, and second; as a re-developer of large, technologically complex, multi-building properties. Founded in 1991 by President and CEO Lawrence J. Stuardi, MRA continues to maintain the high level of integrity and excellence that has led to its recognition as one of the most experienced, knowledgeable and comprehensive privately held providers of real estate advisory and development services in the mid-Atlantic region. Based in Horsham, Pennsylvania, MRA's corporate office is located in the Homestead Building, a former dilapidated farmhouse built circa 1737, acquired by an MRA partnership and renovated and restored by MRA in 2010. MRA received a BOMA Outstanding Renovation Award for the property redevelopment in 2011. In 2016 MRA celebrated its 25th anniversary of its founding, and continues to enjoy ever greater success in its relationships and accomplishments. The driving individuals behind MRA Group are Lawrence J. Stuardi, F. Michael Wojewodka, Jr. and Heather DeFreytas. CONTACT: Mike Wojewodka Senior Vice President [email protected] 215-449-2447 www.mragroup.net SOURCE MRA Group Related Links http://www.mragroup.net LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital health innovator myLAB Box, the first nationwide at-home STD testing-to-treatment service, today announced availability of its suite of screening kits through Target.com, Walmart.com, and Amazon.com. The company's expanded distribution comes as access to affordable healthcare grows increasingly unclear and nationally reported STD cases reach record levels according to the CDC costing the U.S. $16 billion a year. "Our partnerships with these leading retailers are essential to our mission of ensuring broader access to much-needed health screening kits and will provide us with the market penetration needed to realize this mission," said myLAB Box co-founder and CMO, Lora Ivanova. "The reputation and leadership of these retailers both locally and nationally will help us leverage our position and provide much wider access to innovative, effective, affordable STD screening products that deliver valuable and timely results and treatment options." The myLAB Box tests, available now on all three retailer sites, screen for 10 STD risks using FDA-approved technology and are sold individually or in combo kits, including: Safe Box - a 4 Panel Home STD Test Pack - screens for the four most common STDs that comprise 71% of all new cases in the U.S. (excluding HPV), including Chlamydia (2nd), Trich (3rd) and Gonorrhea (4th) and HIV. Uber Box - a 7 Panel Home STD Test Pack - screens for 7 of the most common STDs similar to what is administered by a doctor's visit, including Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis C, Herpes Simplex 2, HIV, Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis Total Box - a 10 Panel Home STD Test Pack - the most comprehensive pack which screens for all STD risks in the Uber Box plus HPV, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Each myLAB Box test can be completed in less than five minutes with comparable accuracy to those one would receive as part of an in-person lab or doctor visit returned within a week or less without needing to leave home. Included with the service is a physician consultation by phone that can also include a prescription called into the local pharmacy if results come back positive for most infections. "With STD rates rising to their highest levels, and less than half of Americans ever being tested beyond HIV, it's clear traditional strategies are not working," Ivanova commented. " We quickly realized the current process surrounding our sexual health was ripe for a reinvention so we designed the experience to be as seamless, accurate and quick from first to click to test result in a way that empowers all of us to take control of our health choices regardless of the political climate." For more information or to order a test, visit www.mylabbox.com, or target.com, walmart.com or amazon.com. Photos: https://www.prlog.org/12631888 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE myLAB Box Related Links http://www.mylabbox.com That's according to a recent study included in the new access publication from NHA. The study was conducted by Hanover Research and funded by NHA, a company that has certified more than 500,000 allied health professionals. In the first annual publication of access , allied health employers and educators identify trends and explore a wide range of topics, including the evolving role of medical assistants, Medicare payment reform also known as the Medicare Access to Care and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and pharmacy technician trends. "Our vision is for access to be a go-to resource that allied health educators, employers and those working in the professions look to for expert insights and quantitative data to learn and benchmark trends in our industry," said Mike Dahir, NHA general manager. "This issue of access will be the first of what will become an annual publication dedicated to the evolving and increasing role of allied health professionals. This year's publication is particularly focused on the medical assistant, pharmacy technician and phlebotomy fields. We are excited to bring the perspectives of educators and employers together about the future of certification and the important role these professions play in healthcare," said Dahir. Subject matter experts from across the country came together to contribute content to access, resulting in a wholly unbiased and informative perspective on healthcare. Though the majority of employers and educators surveyed believe relationships and ongoing collaboration with allied health professionals are critical, employers often find their entry-level employees deficient in some areas. They cited soft skills as those that newly certified professionals most commonly lacked, with critical thinking, attention to detail and written/oral communication also rising to the top of the list. "In healthcare, soft skills are even more essential because they involve 'people skills' or the ability to empathize professionally without losing sight of the task at hand," said Jeremy Sasser, pharmacy market strategist at NHA and author of access article, "Soft Skills Inherent or Learned?" Sasser went on to explain, "While these skills are not based on acquired knowledge, they can be nurtured and developed by both employers and educators through mentorship and real-world experience." The access study also found that more than two thirds of employers surveyed indicated they are under at least moderate pressure to raise salaries. The majority of those same employers anticipate that salaries will increase over the next five years, with 72 percent believing that salaries will "substantially increase" (18 percent) or "slightly increase" (54 percent) for medical assistants. "Many of the trends identified in access speak to the increasing importance of allied health professionals, specifically in identifying their ability to provide greater access to care, an expanded scope of services and a more coordinated patient care team," said Lindsay Gainer, RSN, MSN, and access contributing author. Survey Methodology The NHA Allied Health research study, conducted by Hanover, assessed the opinions of employers and educators concerning the future of medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomists and allied health certification. Researchers surveyed professionals who are either employers of allied health professionals or educators involved in medical assistant, pharmacy technician or phlebotomy programs. Visit nhanow.com to see additional survey results and the full issue of access. About National Healthcareer Association Since 1989, NHA has been partnering with allied health education programs, organizations and employers across the nation to award more than 500,000 allied health certifications. The organization offers eight nationally accredited exams, certification preparation and study materials, industry-leading outcomes-based data analytics, as well as ongoing professional development and continuing education for its certification holders. NHA is a division of Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC, a leader in providing technology-based educational, assessment, testing and certification solutions for healthcare and other vocational fields. Its family of companies includes NHA, ATI Nursing, NASM and MedHub. To learn more about access, certification and NHA, visit www.nhanow.com. SOURCE National Healthcareer Association Related Links http://www.nhanow.com LA JOLLA, Calif., April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found a way to tether HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells, creating a cell population resistant to the virus. Their experiments under lab conditions show that these resistant cells can quickly replace diseased cells, potentially curing the disease in a person with HIV. "This protection would be long term," said Jia Xie, senior staff scientist at TSRI and first author of the study published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers, led by study senior author Richard Lerner, M.D., Lita Annenberg Hazen Professor of Immunochemistry at TSRI, plan to collaborate with investigators at City of Hope's Center for Gene Therapy to evaluate this new therapy in efficacy and safety tests, as required by federal regulations, prior to testing in patients. "City of Hope currently has active clinical trials of gene therapy for AIDS using blood stem cell transplantation, and this experience will be applied to the task of bringing this discovery to the clinic," said John A. Zaia, M.D., director of the Center for Gene Therapy in the Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute at City of Hope. "The ultimate goal will be the control of HIV in patients with AIDS without the need for other medications." "We at TSRI are honored to be able to collaborate with physicians and scientists at City of Hope, whose expertise in transplantation in HIV patients should hopefully allow this therapy to be used in people," added Lerner. The new TSRI technique offers a significant advantage over therapies where antibodies float freely in the bloodstream at a relatively low concentration. Instead, antibodies in the new study hang on to a cell's surface, blocking HIV from accessing a crucial cell receptor and spreading infection. Xie called it the "neighbor effect." An antibody stuck nearby is more effective than having many antibodies floating throughout the bloodstream. Before testing their system against HIV, the scientists used rhinovirus (responsible for many cases of the common cold) as a model. They used a vector called lentivirus to deliver a new gene to cultured human cells. This gene instructed cells to synthesize antibodies that bind with the human cell receptor (ICAM-1) that rhinovirus needs. With the antibodies monopolizing that site, the virus cannot enter the cell to spread infection. Because the delivery system can't reach exactly 100 percent of cells, the finished product was a mix of engineered and unengineered cells. The researchers then added rhinovirus to these cell populations and waited to see what would happen. The vast majority of cells died in about two days. In dishes with only unengineered cells, the population never recovered. There was an initial die-off in the mixed engineered/unengineered populations, too, but their numbers quickly bounced back. After 125 hours, these cell populations were back up to around the same levels as cells in an undiseased control group. In essence, the researchers had forced the cells to compete in Darwinian, "survival-of-the-fittest" selection in a lab dish. Cells without antibody protection died off, leaving protected cells to survive and multiply, passing on the protective gene to new cells. This success led the researchers to test the same technique against HIV. To infect a person, all strains of HIV need to bind with a cell surface receptor called CD4. So the scientists tested antibodies that could potentially protect this receptor on the very immune cells normally killed by HIV. "This research is possible because of the ability to select specialized antibodies from combinatorial antibody libraries," said Lerner. Again, their technique worked. After introducing cells to the virus, the researchers ended up with an HIV-resistant population. The antibodies recognized the CD4 binding site, blocking HIV from getting to the receptor. The scientists further confirmed that these tethered antibodies blocked HIV more effectively than free-floating, soluble antibodies in experiments led by study co-authors Devin Sok of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and TSRI Professor Dennis R. Burton, who is also scientific director of the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center and of the National Institutes of Health's Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery (CHAVI-ID) at TSRI. Joseph Alvarnas, M.D., director of Value-Based Analytics at City of Hope, explained how the TSRI technique could help patients, whodespite treatment with anti-retroviral drugsstill suffer from higher rates of diseases, such as cancers. "HIV is treatable but not curablethis remains a disease that causes a lot of suffering. That makes the case for why these technologies are so important," he said. In addition to potentially collaborating with City of Hope, Xie said the next step in this research is to try engineering antibodies to protect a different receptor on the cell surface. Additional authors of the study, "Immunochemical Engineering of Cell Surfaces to Generate Virus Resistance," were Nicholas Wu and Tianqing Zheng of TSRI. The study was supported by Zebra Biologics and the JPB Foundation. About The Scripps Research Institute The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) is one of the world's largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. TSRI is internationally recognized for its contributions to science and health, including its role in laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. The institute's graduate program ranks among the top ten of its kind in the nation. In October 2016, TSRI announced a strategic affiliation with the California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), representing a renewed commitment to the discovery and development of new medicines to address unmet medical needs. For more information, see www.scripps.edu. About City of Hope City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 47 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram. SOURCE The Scripps Research Institute Related Links http://www.scripps.edu According to Joel Ray, CEO of New Benefits, "The beauty of BonusDrive Advantage in addition to the $500 rebate is the simplicity of the program. Make your best deal with a Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat or Hyundai dealer, submit an application from the sponsoring organization within 60 days of purchase or lease, and receive a check in the mail for $500. It's that simple!" BonusDrive Advantage is available to sponsoring organizations such as insurance companies, credit unions, consulting firms, non-profits, banks, associations, employers, etc. Please call 844-529-5785 or email [email protected] information on how to get started. Visit https://bonusdriveadvantage.com/ for Terms of Service About New Benefits Since 1990, New Benefits is a privately held company headquartered in Dallas, TX servicing associations, insurance companies, banks, credit unions, brokerage/consulting firms, insurance agencies, TPAs, and employer groups throughout the United States. Our services include aggregating more than 30 medical and lifestyle products, print services, regulatory compliance, marketer training, administration and managing a bilingual customer service center. www.newbenefits.com Media Contact: Angelia Pinaga Tel.: 972.404.8192, Ext. 1840 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bonusdriveadvantage.com SOURCE New Benefits Related Links http://www.newbenefits.com "Giving back to the local community is something we feel very strongly about at WorkWave and volunteering with our community is a great way to do that," said Chris Sullens, president and CEO, WorkWave. "We strive to make a difference by supporting the local charities that do so much for those in need." Currently, WorkWave is supporting The Jersey Shore Dream Center's RunAPalooza which takes place on April 22, 2017. The Jersey Shore Dream Center's mission is to provide sustainability through restoration of men, women, children, seniors, and veterans who are overcome by life controlling issues. The funds benefit its 20 mobile food truck sights, feeding over 3,000 families each week, providing 10,000 diapers for families in need, supporting the Beauty for Ashes women's home, and the Family Restoration Home. WorkWave also showed support at the 4th Annual Zucker Family Foundation Gala at Bell Works, which benefited the new Library and Learning Center in Holmdel Township. The new center is equipped with an 80-seat lecture hall, a dedicated children's area, and the latest computing technology, which is designed to serve the county for generations. Additionally, WorkWave continuously supports the local FoodBank, sponsoring the Humanitarian Gala which took place on March 24, donating funds and volunteering at their facility in Monmouth County. In the summer of 2016, WorkWave employees donated their 'free lunch', a perk that WorkWave provides for its employees daily, to the FoodBank. These donated lunches provided close to 15,000 meals for FoodBank recipients. For more information about WorkWave, visit workwave.com and for information on WorkWave careers, visit careers.workwave.com. About WorkWave WorkWave is a fast-growing leader in field service and "last mile" delivery software a $45+ billion market worldwide. The company connects all aspects of its clients' businesses through its tightly integrated, mobile-first suite of software solutions, which include PestPac, WorkWave Service, ServiceCEO, WorkWave Route Manager, WorkWave GPS, WorkWave Marketing and ContactUs. WorkWave's solutions provide its 9,000+ clients with an unprecedented level of business insight and information, enabling them to increase revenue per employee and provide a five-star customer experience. Founded in 1984, WorkWave has been recognized with multiple awards for its outstanding growth and culture, including the Inc. 5000, SmartCEO Future 50, and Best Places to Work in New Jersey. For more information, visit www.workwave.com. Contact Danielle Panichi Email [email protected] Phone 800-792-6067 Website https://www.workwave.com Agency Liz Pandzich Contact [email protected] 248-304-1444 SOURCE WorkWave Related Links http://workwave.com ORANGE, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NextAce today announced the addition of David Daley to its management team. David's career spans several decades offering solutions combining innovative technology and services to the banking, finance and title industries. As Vice President, Sales and Account Management at NextAce, David brings his experience to the title industry's premier provider of automated title search, examination and report building services. David will work closely with current and prospective clients to implement and execute customer-focused title and real property data solutions. "David and I have offered competing solutions to the title industry for over a decade. It is an honor to have him join our team to elevate our presence in the market. His honest and transparent nature and approach at business have served him well in his career and are a perfect fit with the NextAce culture, product offerings, and go-to-market strategy," said NextAce President and CEO Don Cantral. "We look forward to the new and enhanced customer relationships that will come as a result of Dave's addition to the team." Prior to joining NextAce, David was Executive Vice President of Realty Data Company responsible for sales, marketing and business development. He was the President and Co-Founder of DataChek, LLC., the title data and technology company that preceded the establishment of RDC. Early in his career, David designed and implemented several programs and platforms as a developer and business analyst. About NextAce NextAce is the premier provider of automated title search and examination solutions and data extraction services. With unmatched integration across multiple production platforms, NextAce connects a vast network of data resources to accurately produce a single, or thousands of title reports across the nation in a matter of minutes. NextAce technology automates the search, exam, and report building processes that were previously done manually, transforming the way the title industry performs title production. Learn more about NextAce at www.nextace.com SOURCE NextAce Related Links http://www.nextace.com NEW YORK, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Oink Ink is pleased to announce the winner of its 18th annual Dead Radio Contest. Cundari's Emmanuel Torres' 60-second spot called PUSH for client fixauto.com earned the first-place award in a crowded field of entries. Torres, an art director in Cundari's Toronto office, had the idea for the script seven years ago in his first advertising class in college. Through the years, he has pitched it numerous times but was never able to convince a client to take such an edgy approach. Dan Price, Oink Ink Radio co-founder, voice actor Kate Simses, voice actor Randall McFadden and Dead Radio Contest winner Emmanuel Torres, celebrate the making of Torres' winning script, which won the 18th annual Dead Radio Contest. As part of his prize, Oink Ink flew him and a guest to New York and produced his once-dead idea for a great radio spot. Visit the website to hear the spot: http://www.oinkcreative.com/deadradio/. Emmanuel Torres, winner of the 18th annual Dead Radio Contest, hosted by Oink Ink Radio, a boutique advertising agency specializing in the creation and production of award-winning radio commercials. Torres, director in Cundari's Toronto office, had the idea for the script seven years ago in his first advertising class in college. Through the years, he has pitched it numerous times but was never able to convince a client to take such an edgy approach. "This script was born in one assignment. When I presented it to class, they laughed. It was pretty out there, but everybody got the joke," Torres said. "I've tried to bring it to other clients when it would work under their category, but the opportunity to run with it never happened until now." Over the years, numerous Dead Radio winners, all of which were initially rejected by clients, went on to air. In fact, several have been recognized by some of the industry's biggest award shows including Cannes and the Radio Mercury Awards. The Dead Radio Contest, now in its 18th year, aims to give a second chance to great radio scripts that clients deemed too risque, too zany or were simply overlooked. "Emmanuel's story how he actually wrote his script while at ad school is exactly what this contest is all about," said Dan Price, Oink Ink co-founder. "We're thrilled to have been able to rescue 18 spots that belonged on the air but for various reasons hadn't been given the chance." Each year, Oink Ink takes submissions from writers worldwide for the contest, and a panel of industry professionals selects the top spots. This year's entries were reviewed and judged by an international panel including Tony Hertz, CEO of Tony Hertz: Radio & Brand Sound, Philippines and Ralph van Dijk, Founder & Creative Director, Eardrum, Sydney, Australia. Torres spent last weekend at Audio Engine, Oink's New York-based studio and enjoying the city. He was able to witness the resurrection of his shelved script as the spot was recorded and brought to life. "The talent was first class," Torres said. "The script has a lot of screaming. They were really good ad libbing. Dan knew how to direct it all and what would make this spot the best and I learned a lot watching him in action." Rick Ardito, a New York-based freelancer, won second place for a spot he wrote for Starz' television show Ash vs. Evil Dead called "Casting". Daniel Jordan, of OKRP/Chicago, won third place for a spot he wrote for Groupon. To listen to Torres' winning spot produced by Oink Ink, click here: http://www.oinkcreative.com/deadradio/. ABOUT OINK INK Oink Ink is an award-winning, creative agency founded by veteran managing director and president Dan Price and brother, executive creative director Jim Price. Oink Ink writes, produces, directs and manages radio and television advertising for ad agencies, client-direct accounts, cable network promos and special projects. Headquartered in New York, Oink Ink has been providing high-end creative for 25 years, for such notable clients as Google, AT&T, CBS Television, Coors Light, Ford, IBM, Southwest Airlines and Staples and ad agency leaders Goodby, BBDO, Crispin Porter, Ogilvy, JWT and hundreds more. For more information, contact Joelle Polisky at 615-516-0358 SOURCE Oink Ink Related Links http://www.oinkcreative.com Why's that? Consumers want to take care of beauty needs at home, on their terms, on their time. They don't want the hassle of booking recurring appointments and they don't want to pay to have someone do for them what they can do for themselves. These consumers want the facts without the fluff. PROFESSIONAL HERITAGE, MODERN ATTITUDE Iluminage Beauty is a joint venture between powerhouse global consumer products company, Unilever, and Syneron Medical, an expert in aesthetic-medical appliances. This unique partnership brings together deep consumer knowledge plus cutting-edge aesthetic technology to Iluminage Beauty, a pacesetter in beauty devices. Iluminage Beauty's me brand recently underwent a full redesign, modernizing the look, tone and feel, while targeting an untapped segment of the beauty tool marketthe young, educated and beauty-obsessed. me speaks with consumers, rather than talking at them. Easy-to-understand, fun, light-hearted language breaks the barrier between the brand and the personwithout losing the message of efficacy and professional technology. Joyful photography featuring multi-cultural models brings to life the idea that beauty unites people instead of driving them apart. "me has evolved into a full service beauty device line that targets all skin care concerns, from acne to aging," says Andrea DiNunzio, Chief Marketing Officer & General Manager of North America, Iluminage Beauty. "Millennials are always looking for what's new and fresh; they demand products that truly do what they promise. We saw the opportunity to listen to this consumer, put them in the center of the brand and deliver on their needs." Each well-considered product has a true reason for inclusion in the portfolio rather than being just another player in the field. Plus, "Syneron's 15 years of experience makes consumers confident that these are safe alternatives to use at-home," Andrea says. Iluminage Beauty's at-home permanent hair reduction technology stands out above the rest. This patented, proprietary technology, a combination of Intense Pulse Light (IPL) and Radio Frequency (RF), is the first and only at-home hair removal technology clinically proven and FDA-cleared to be safe and effective for all skin tones and the widest range of hair colors. Clinical studies show that users see up to 94% hair reduction painlessly! The me product line includes the smooth permanent hair reduction system, which is ideal for treating the full body and smooth's little sister, chic, which is just as effective, but small enough to fit in the palm of the hand. That makes it perfect for use on targeted treatment areas including the upper lip, underarms and bikini area. In early 2017, me will launch a brand new permanent hair removal system, the sleek, twice as fast as the smooth in treating the whole body in just minutes. And did we mention it has unlimited treatments? So it's yours for life. Then there's clear. The anti-blemish device that harnesses the power of blue light technology to banish breakouts. About 87% of users saw their blemish fade or disappear after only three uses per day. Just launched last month is the bright eye illuminating device, which reverses the first signs of aging in just one weekthanks to the unique combination of red light and radio frequency. It delivers professional-level treatments and clinical-level results at home. And that looks pretty great from any angle. Not all technology is electronic. The new glow beauty boosting pillowcase and eye mask promise to reduce bedhead, sleep wrinkles and fine lines. Each thread is infused with patented copper technology, bringing new meaning to beauty sleep. Sound amazing? It is. What's more, they're all backed by clinical studies. Price points range from $25 to $299. Q & A WITH ANDREA DINUNZIO, CMO, GM ILUMINAGE CEW: Can you talk about Iluminage Beauty's distribution strategy? Andrea DiNunzio: Our mission is to put the power to be beautiful in everyone's hands. We are retail agnostic and think about the business from the consumer's mindset. When we put the consumer at the center of our wheel we're able to give them a great product at a great price. By bringing unique and innovative solutions to the market, we feel we can be equally successful at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, CVS and our digital retail partners. CEW: How important is education for your line, whether through service in-store or other avenues? AD: While it is incredibly helpful to have high-touch service in the store, consumers have access to on-line education and are making decisions on their own. They're doing more research: looking for product information or how-to videos. We have invested in tools to provide a fun and informative way to get to know our brands online, on a mobile phone or in a store. CEW: What will be the hero products? AD: Our heritage is in permanent hair removal technology. But we expect over the next two years our portfolio will become more balanced as we expand into acne and anti-aging. We have a variety of products in the pipeline and are in a privileged position to be working with both the Unilever and Syneron R&D departments. We have some incredible products planned for 2017, and exciting ideas for 2018 and beyond. About CEW Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc. (CEW) is a global, nonprofit professional organization with 8,000 global members, both men and women, from over 2,250 companies in the beauty and related industries. CEW brings the beauty community together, at every stage of their careers, from every facet of the industry. CEW leads the conversation in beauty, addressing topics that are shaping the future of the industry and provides unparalleled access to industry influencers and thought leaders. CEW provides the connections, tools and leadership development resources to move careers forward. CEW recognizes professional achievement and innovation in the industry to inspire the next generation of leaders. CEW is based in New York City, and also hosts events for the beauty community in Los Angeles. Additionally, CEW has associated organizations in France and the United Kingdom. The CEW Foundation supports Cancer and Careers, a comprehensive program for people balancing work and cancer. For more information, log on to cew.org. For more information on Iluminage Beauty and me, contact Andrea DiNunzio, CMO, GM at [email protected]. SOURCE CEW Related Links http://www.cew.org VANCOUVER, Wash., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Onboard Systems International, Inc., a leading provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, today announced that it has been awarded a contract from Leonardo Helicopters to provide backup HEC (Human External Cargo) hook systems for the Agusta Westland AW169 and AW101 aircraft. The backup hooks can be added onto the primary cargo hook system for new and existing AW169 and AW101 aircraft to enable HEC operations in utility, search and rescue, personnel insertion and extraction, and other missions. TALON LC Hydraulic Hook (left) and Keeperless Hook (right) "We are very excited for the opportunity to partner with Leonardo to add HEC capabilities for these aircraft," said Karsten Lemmon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Onboard Systems. "Many operators have expressed an interest in using Onboard's equipment for HEC missions, so we are pleased to be able to be working with Leonardo to add HEC-certified cargo hook equipment to these aircraft." For the AW169, the backup cargo hook system will feature Onboard's TALON LC Hydraulic Cargo Hook, which will allow for flexible rigging of the release line around the primary hook system while effectively reducing inadvertent cargo releases. The AW101 backup cargo hook system will feature the fast-rope version of Onboard's TALON LC Cargo Hook, which is currently in use on the AW101. About Onboard Systems Onboard Systems International, Inc. designs and manufactures a complete line of helicopter cargo hook equipment under its TALON brand, including belly hooks, cargo hook suspension systems, load weigh systems, and remote hooks. Its low-weight, high-quality products provide helicopter operators with increased cost efficiencies and safety through customer-driven designs, responsive service and support, and low ongoing maintenance costs. Onboard Systems maintains a rigorous quality management system (QMS) designed to meet or exceed the strict requirements of AS9100 Revision C, ISO 9001:2008, helicopter airframe manufacturers, and the FAA. Founded in 1975, Onboard Systems is a privately held US corporation located in Vancouver, Washington. About Leonardo Leonardo is among the top ten global players in Aerospace, Defense, and Security and is Italy's main industrial company. As a single entity from January 2016, organized into seven business divisions (Helicopters; Aircraft; Aero-structures; Airborne & Space Systems; Land & Naval Defense Electronics; Defense Systems; Security & Information Systems), Leonardo operates in the most competitive international markets by leveraging its areas of technology and product leadership. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, at 31 December 2016 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of 12 billion Euros and has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the UK and the U.S. Contact: Karsten Lemmon [email protected] Tel: 360.546.3072, x 215 SOURCE Onboard Systems HAMILTON, Bermuda, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- If you, your friends, business colleagues or clients are looking to travel to Bermuda in May or June for summer vacation, business trips or specifically for the America's Cup, bookings are still available at various island hotel properties during that period. "While some dates are sold out, Bermuda still has hotel rooms available to welcome more visitors," said Victoria Isley, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for the Bermuda Tourism Authority. In order to accommodate as many visitors that want to experience Bermuda, the Tourism Authority worked with hotel partners and Travel Places (the official Travel Package provider for the America's Cup) to create a one-stop shop for hotel availability by day." Below are top 10 tips from the Bermuda Tourism Authority to make it easier to find accommodations and save time so you and your guests can focus on experiencing island life in Bermuda: Tip #1 Bermuda Tourism Authority Clearing House If you are challenged in finding preferable dates, number of hotel rooms or availability, contact the Bermuda Tourism Authority at [email protected]. A team member will research and respond to your request directly. Based upon availability, you will then be connected to a hotel partner or Travel Places for pricing options and booking. Note: For new reservations only. Tip #2 - Official Spectator Hotel Packages At www.americascuptravel.com travelers will receive personalized attention and recommendations for date patterns and race schedules from Travel Places, the official travel package provider for the America's Cup. Representing just under 30 percent of hotel inventory on the island, Official Spectator Hotel Packages include five and seven-night hotel stays, airport transfers and spectator boat experiences starting at $1,820 per person for the Qualifier Races. Tip #3 Book with Hotels Directly and Check for Minimum Night Stays Consider booking directly with Bermuda's hotels. Many consumers use online travel agencies to do research and scope availability, but during major world events, many properties choose to sell their inventory direct to consumers via their own website and reservations systems. Take advantage of this room inventory and book as soon as you see availability. There is very little inventory remaining for the finals weekend. Be sure to check each hotel for minimum night stay requirements. You may need to alter your check-in and check-out dates slightly due to some stay restrictions or rate requirements. Find a comprehensive list of Bermuda's properties at http://www.gotobermuda.com/places-to-stay. Tip #4 See All Six Teams in the First Two Weeks Celebrate Bermuda Day, American Memorial Day (the start of the summer vacation season) and opt for the first two weeks of sailing. It's the only time to catch all six America's Cup teams in action on the Great Sound, Bermuda's natural amphitheater. It's a great introduction to the world of America's Cup racing and there will be plenty of excitement to go around. You may even be able to find room blocks for small groups during these dates. Tip #5 Look for Open Race Day Patterns With Bermuda named as one top places to travel in 2017 by the likes of Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet and Frommer's, the island is worth discovering even for those visitors who aren't into sailing. Avoid the crowds and experience Bermuda's every day beauty on days without official America's Cup sailing on the schedule. Here are a few to consider: Monday, June 12 Friday, June 16 Superyacht Regatta & Red Bull Youth America's Cup Qualifiers Superyacht Regatta & Red Bull Youth America's Cup Qualifiers Monday, June 19 Friday June 23 J Class Regatta, Red Bull Youth America's Cup Finals & Free Days Tip #6 Book Stylish Catamaran Packages for On-the-Water Accommodations Experience the America's Cup and Bermuda on a spacious and stylish catamaran with a private skipper through Helm Events, and The Moorings, both are America's Cup official charter yacht suppliers. Each company offers up to seven night packages that include accommodations, breakfast, lunch and on-water access to race viewing. Other packages include a personal captain, gourmet chef and fully stocked bar. Go to: www.moorings.com/regattas-and-events/americas-cup-bermuda-yacht-charter and www.helmevents.com/the-experience. Tip #7 Visit www.gotobermuda.com for America's Cup Information An informative America's Cup Hub was launched on gotobermuda.com, the official travel resource for Bermuda. It features fun facts, maps, where to buy tickets, a race calendar and the most up to date information that will assist in navigating the island before and during your trip. Tip #8 Use a Travel Professional Confer with a travel professional or travel agent for assistance. Bermuda is a preferred destination by Virtuoso and Signature travel networks. A travel advisor can help do a lot of the heavy lifting and research on your behalf and can provide additional services and recommendations as well. Tip #9 Support Conquer Cancer Foundation The Conquer Cancer Foundation (CCF) of the American Society of Clinical Oncology is the "Official Cancer Charity" of the America's Cup. It is offering CCF VIP Experience Packages over America's Cup that will support the foundation and help und grants to researchers worldwide. The per package donation amount is $40,000 which includes roundtrip business class airfare for two, a five-day, four-night trip with preferred access to the America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton on June 24 and 25, first-class accommodations at Hamilton Princess and Beach Club and much more. For more information: www.conquer.org/AmericasCup Tip #10 Discover All Bermuda Has to Offer There are plenty of opportunities to soak up events and happenings across the island. Consider these other events taking place throughout May & June: About Bermuda: Out here is closer than you think. Located in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina's coast, the island of Bermuda is just a two-hour nonstop flight from most eastern U.S. airports. Attracting thrill seekers, explorers, romantics and originals, Bermuda is where people, cultures, and an alluring mystique swirl together, connecting visitors to a place far from everyday life. The island's legendary pink-sand beaches, frozen-in-time historic towns, and pastel-coloured buildings stand out at first. But it's Bermuda's original, ever evolving take on island life that brings travelers out here again and again. The Bermuda experience is elegantly relaxed and genuinely warm, celebrating culture, reveling in nature and staying open to whatever is around the bend. The 35th America's Cup, coming to Bermuda for the first time in May and June 2017, has brought a fresh energy to the destination, with new and redeveloped hotels, must-visit attractions and restaurants adding to the island spirit. Visit www.gotobermuda.com, www.facebook.com/bermudatourism and www.twitter.com/bermuda. Media Contacts: Adel Grobler [email protected] | (212) 889 1700 SOURCE Bermuda Related Links http://www.gotobermuda.com HELENA, Mont., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "The vision was really simple for First Descents, and that was just to teach young adults with cancer how to kayak," said Brad Ludden. First Descents founder Brad Ludden kayaking Clark Fork River in Montana In Changing Currents, the first episode in Discover Your #MontanaMoment video series from Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development, kayaker and outdoor adventurer Brad Ludden leads a group of extraordinary young adults on a challenging ride on the rushing rapids of Montana. Ludden is the founder of First Descents, a charitable non-profit which offers cancer fighters and survivors an outdoor adventure experience and support for the challenges ahead. Using the whirling rapids of Clark Fork River in Missoula, participants are empowered to kayak the most challenging waters, defy their diagnosis, and reclaim their lives. Changing Currents is the 12th episode in the Discover Your #MontanaMoment video series and can be viewed on VISITMT.COM. http://www.visitmt.com/campaign/montana-tv/episode-12.html "At First Descents we look for a beautiful setting, a great adventure, and inspiring people," said Ludden. "Montana has an abundance of all those things." Brad's story highlights one of the many ways adventure seekers can find new challenges to conquer during a day on the water in Montana. Travelers looking other ways to spend a day on the water will find Montana's lakes and rivers offer a variety of water activities for travelers of all ages here: http://www.visitmt.com/things-to-do/water-recreation.html About The Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development (MOTBD) MOTBD markets Montana's spectacular unspoiled nature, vibrant and charming small towns, breathtaking experiences, relaxing hospitality and competitive business climate to promote the state as a place to visit and do business. For more information, go to VISITMT.COM. SOURCE Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development Related Links http://www.visitmt.com HOUSTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PAS, the leading provider of industrial control system (ICS) cybersecurity, process safety, and asset reliability solutions for the energy, power, and process industries, today announced a $40 million growth investment by Tinicum, L.P. and certain affiliated funds managed by Tinicum Incorporated ("Tinicum"). Tinicum is a private investment partnership focused on late stage investments in manufacturing, energy, technology, media, and infrastructure. This funding round will expand PAS sales and marketing across its global offices as well as increase research and development for Cyber Integrity, its flagship cybersecurity software product. Cyber Integrity protects critical infrastructure from risks associated with rising industrial internet of things (IoT) adoption, malicious cyber attacks, and insider threats. "Critical infrastructure is vulnerable to outsider cyber attacks and to malicious or unintended insider actions," says Trip Zedlitz, partner at Tinicum. "The cyber assets that matter mostthe ones primarily responsible for safety and production in power generation plants, chemical facilities, and refineriesare some of the most insecure systems in the industry today. We invested in PAS because they secure this class of endpoints in a way that no other ICS cybersecurity software solution in the market can do, and they help companies comply with a growing regulatory and standards landscape that includes NERC CIP, NIST, and IEC 62443. With a strong management team and the rising global demand for critical infrastructure cybersecurity, we are excited about our investment in PAS." Industrial control systems have a responsibility for running critical infrastructure safely and reliably. These systems have traditionally relied on complexity, air gapping, and perimeter-based defenses to remain secure. Such strategies have proven largely unreliable and porous. PAS Cyber Integrity deciphers the complex, proprietary configurations of control systems giving companies complete visibility into critical cyber assets. It also identifies unauthorized changes, exposes vulnerabilities, drives compliance, and helps facilities recover rapidly in the event of a worst-case scenario. Cyber Integrity works across the heterogeneous automation environment, providing enterprise scalability, performance, and platform independence. "PAS has a 23-year tradition of making industrial process facilities safer and more reliable," says Eddie Habibi, founder and CEO at PAS. "Our deep expertise in control systems and production-centric approach to securing ICS give us a formidable competitive advantage. The investment from Tinicum enables us to expand our security solutions portfolio, strategically increase our global reach, and continue protecting our customers from an ever-evolving threat landscape." Signal Hill served as the exclusive financial advisor to PAS on the transaction. In conjunction with the investment, Plant Automation Services, Inc. ("PAS") has reorganized under the new name PAS Global, LLC. About PAS PAS is the leading provider of software solutions for ICS cybersecurity, process safety, and asset reliability to the energy, process, and power industries worldwide. PAS solutions include industrial control system cybersecurity, automation asset management, IPL assurance, alarm management, high performance HMI, boundary management, and control loop performance optimization. PAS solutions are installed in over 1,100 facilities worldwide in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.pas.com. Connect with PAS on Twitter @PASGlobal or LinkedIn. About Tinicum Tinicum is a private investment firm with more than 25 years of experience investing in public and private companies. For more information, visit www.tinicum.com. SOURCE PAS Related Links http://www.pas.com HARRISBURG, Pa., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy today urged the medical community to provide feedback on proposed temporary regulations for physicians interested in participating in the Medical Marijuana Program under Act 16. "The process for a patient to obtain medical marijuana will begin with the physician, so it's vital to ensure that our regulatory process for those physicians is open and transparent," said Secretary Murphy. "Our focus remains to implement a patient-focused medical marijuana program that gives help to those who need it, and these temporary regulations mark an important step forward in achieving that goal." The Practitioner Temporary Regulations outline the process for a physician with an active Pennsylvania license to register as a practitioner in the Medical Marijuana Program. Registration allows a practitioner to certify a patient's serious medical condition and offer his or her recommendations on a course of treatment for the patient that includes obtaining medical marijuana at a permitted commonwealth dispensary. Comments will be accepted on the temporary regulations until April 20, 2017. The Medical Marijuana Program was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on April 17, 2016. Since that time, the department has: Completed the Safe Harbor temporary guidelines and Safe Harbor Letter application process, as well as approved 224 applications; Completed temporary regulations for growers/processors, dispensaries and laboratories which have appeared in the Pennsylvania Bulletin; Released Phase 1 permit applications for grower/processors and dispensaries; Developed the Medical Marijuana Physician Workgroup; and Released a Request for Quotations for Electronic Tracking IT solutions for the tracking of medical marijuana. The Medical Marijuana Program became effective on May 17, 2016, and is expected to be fully implemented by 2018. The program will offer medical marijuana to patients who are residents of Pennsylvania and under a physician's care for the treatment of a serious medical condition as defined by Act 16. Questions about the Medical Marijuana Program can be emailed to [email protected]. Information is also available on the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook and Twitter. MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1783 or [email protected] SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health Related Links http://www.health.pa.gov Designed with traveling patient needs in mind, DreamStation Go is the product of over 30 years of sleep therapy innovation. The discreet, slim-profile device weighs less than two pounds and features a built-in power supply that helps to limit the number of components to pack. Philips' innovative, new 12mm micro-flexible tubing continues the compact trend across the holistic system, minimizing bulk while improving mobility and comfort. DreamStation Go meets FAA standards for in-flight use, so users can keep up with therapy even when taking an extended or red-eye flight. "Traveling with a sleep therapy device can be a cumbersome experience for patients with obstructive sleep apnea," said Mark D'Angelo, OSA patient and Sleep Therapy Business Leader at Philips. "While we have made strides to reduce the size and weight of our machines in recent years, most are still carried as a separate piece of luggagea fact that has led many users to resent and even forego therapy during travel. We designed the DreamStation Go as a holistic system with compact features and proven performance to help eliminate the need to sacrifice reliable therapy for convenience when traveling and vice versa allowing for the best possible night's sleep no matter where it happens." OSA affects more than 100 million people worldwidei, many of whom rely heavily on PAP therapy to improve their quality of life. DreamStation Go is available in either a fixed-pressure continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or auto-titrated APAP model. Both options are Bluetooth-enabled for seamless data transmission to Philips' EncoreAnywhere and Care Orchestrator cloud-based patient management systems for clinicians. Integration with Philip's DreamMapper application enables users to easily monitor therapy adherence across multiple devices from one consolidated dashboard. DreamStation Go is the latest addition to Philips' award-winning Dream Family of sleep apnea products focused on connecting and supporting the patient, clinician, and homecare provider to enhance patient care and quality of life. Dream Family has impacted more than one million patient lives since launched in 2015. DreamStation Go is now available for direct purchase in the United States through select online retailers found at SleepApnea.com/DreamStationGo. It will expand to additional global markets in summer 2017. For additional information on Philips' solutions for sleep and respiratory care, follow @PhilipsResp or visit www.sleepapnea.com. For further information, please contact: Meredith Amoroso Philips Sleep and Respiratory Care Mobile: +1 724-584-8991 E-mail: [email protected] Elena Calamo Specchia Philips Group Press Office Mobile: +31 6 25004735 E-mail: [email protected] About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2016 sales of EUR 17.4 billion and employs approximately 71,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. i"Prevalence and Incidence," STOP-Bang, accessed February 9, 2017, http://www.stopbang.ca/osa/prevalence.php SOURCE Royal Philips Related Links http://www.philips.com MONTREAL, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Planbox, the pioneering provider of cloud-based Agile Work Innovation solutions, today announced the availability of the first game changing patent-pending AI powered Innovation Management Solution (AIMS). AI for Innovation Management Self-Driving Innovation Management AIMS' AI-powered auto-ideation module, called self-driving Ideas, creates a real time connection with internal and external data sources, allowing organizations to tap into the wisdom of the crowd instantly and on an ongoing basis to identify and help develop brilliant ideas through pattern analysis and machine learning. This disruptive platform allows organizations to automatically create ideas and supporting information from all information sources the organization has access to including: Public/Social: Social network content such as Facebook and Twitter feeds RSS feeds and searchable content such as TechCrunch, Mashable, and Google News Business networking content such as LinkedIn and Facebook group feeds Patent databases in USA (USPTO), Canada and other jurisdictions and other jurisdictions Private: Chat and collaboration applications such as Yammer, Jive, Slack, Hipchat, Skype, and Office 365 Customer relationship management (CRM) leads, opportunities, chats, and comments Document storage and management systems such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Box.com, Amazon Drive, SharePoint, and Microsoft OneDrive Secure filtering and import of support emails and discussions stored in Outlook, Gmail, and other IMAP compatible email systems. AIMS information helps shape and better define the challenge. Great ideas come from working on the right problem. Using state of the art search technology and natural language processing, self-driven ideas are auto-created and published as ideas or idea fragments in Planbox where they can be further shared, discussed, reviewed, merged, evaluated, and developed by your team members as well as subject matter experts. Automatic information discovery, idea creation and article linking functions serve dual purposes. First, they snapshot and capture the existing body of knowledge which is helpful in IP creation and defence. Second, auto-curated articles and ideas provide participants with relevant content to collaborate and build on, increasing engagement and serving as a spark to finding new solutions and possibilities. "With the realization of self-driving ideation technology, Planbox offers an event driven SaaS architecture that consumes events from all of our customer's data sources like social media, news, conversations, support, marketing and sales data. All this information is processed and committed to the customer database. Planbox's system of record for innovation makes a stream of actionable data available for innovation teams and participants to explore and collaborate on," said Karell Ste-Marie, CTO of Planbox. Data deluge is now the norm, 90% of world's data was generated over the last two years (Src1) and less than 1% of all customer data is analyzed (Src2). With an ever faster growing of 1B+ websites and the incredible number of posts, conversations and comments that are happening every hour on Facebook with over 250 million posts per hour and on Twitter with over 21 million Tweets per hour as just two examples, there is a lot of information up for grabs. Now Planbox provides the technology to help organizations turn their data into a sustainable competitive advantage and proactively survey the market for key emerging insights, discussions, concepts and trends. "Planbox is the breakthrough leader in the next generation of innovation management platforms powered by AI, event-driven automation and smart workflows," said Ludwig Melik, CEO of Planbox. "Our customer's innovation activity now starts and stays on path with valuable and structured information from all data sources available on day one and on an ongoing basis without requiring manual data entry". "Innovation loses out to our own limited human experiences. What Planbox has developed is a way to remove our blind spots by adding machines to the mix and leveraging all of our combined experiences. These blind spots are where machines can add insight and help develop transformative ideas," stated Sangu, an Innovation Manager at a Global 2000 petrochemicals company. AI-Powered Innovation Management is a patent pending multi-faceted technology and a set of algorithms that will be enhanced in future phases through machine learning and natural language processing, ultimately helping clients fully leverage AI to completely streamline, automate and drive the entire innovation management, agile work, experimentation and solution implementation lifecycle. Self-Driving features will be available at an additional charge. For pricing information please contact Planbox . To schedule a presentation of Planbox Self-Driving Innovation and to apply AI to your innovation strategy, please visit: https://planbox.com/demo-request. Sources Src1: Petter Bae Brandtzg of SINTEF ICT Src2: IDC Src3: How Much Data Is Generated Every Minute On Social Media? https://planbox.com/demo-request/ About Planbox Planbox is the pioneering provider of cloud-based Agile Work Innovation solutions - from creative ideas to winning projects. Our mission is to help organizations thrive by transforming the culture of agile work, continuous innovation and creativity across the entire organization. Our family of products include Collaborative Innovation Management, Team Decision Making, and Work Management applications. Planbox is designed to be the agile work innovation tool for everyone, built for companies and teams of all sizes and trusted by some of the world's most recognized brands including Bridgestone, Great-West Insurance, Honeywell, Panama Canal Authority, Sealed Air, Sun Life Financial, Willis Towers Watson and Verizon with millions of internal and external users. To learn more, visit: www.planbox.com and unleash your innovation butterfly. Additional Links Planbox on Twitter - www.twitter.com/planbox Planbox on Facebook - www.facebook.com/planbox Planbox on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/companies/planbox Media Contact information Amanda Sarafian [email protected] 514-788-4703 extension 1 SOURCE Planbox Those are just two areas of public service where women's voices, experience and leadership are lacking and needed. That's why, on April 8, Mount Saint Mary's University hosted Ready to Run , a nonpartisan campaign-training program designed to prepare women to run for office, get appointed to leadership positions, work on political campaigns or otherwise get involved in public service. "No amount of leaning in or marching will bring about the direct, substantive changes that put women on a path to equality like running for office and being elected to serve," said Mount Saint Mary's associate professor Jackie Filla, PhD, a moderator and organizer of Ready to Run. "We know that when women run, they win at equal rates to men. But, too often, women's percentages in the legislature match their percentages on ballots. Changing these statistics is doable. We just need more women running." To that aim, Ready to Run featured local and national politicians, strategists, advocates and campaign professionals who provided practical advice from their careers in the political arena. Speakers included well-known public servants such as retired U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, retired U.S. Rep. Yvonne B. Burke, L.A. County Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Kathryn Barger, L.A. City Councilmember Nury Martinez and California Appointments Sec. Mona Pasquil. Ready to Run's opening keynote was delivered by Burke, the first African-American woman to represent California in the U.S. Congress. Burke reminded emerging political leaders to remember the big picture during what can be a grueling political process: "Be ready to run, but you must also be ready to serve," she said. "The issues that you care about and work on are going to affect lives that you might never know." Boxer, the recently retired U.S. senator from California who served 33 years in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, echoed that sentiment in her closing keynote talk. "The only honest way to get into politics is to have a reason," Boxer said. "Not to be something, but to do something." Mount Saint Mary's University the only women's university in Los Angeles and a member of the Women in Public Service Project, offers this campaign training annually thanks to its partnership with the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Programming is created by Mount Saint Mary's Department of History and Political Science. Ready to Run speakers, programming info and resources are available at www.msmu.edu/R2R. SOURCE Mount Saint Mary's University Related Links http://www.msmu.edu ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "Columns of enemy accompanied by artillery and wagons passing for hours today to our left. Also, two trains crowded with troops in same direction be on the alert," wrote Robert E. Lee in a telegram dated November 29, 1864, to General James Longstreet, his principal subordinate. Longstreet had just rejoined the campaign after being accidentally shot by one of his own men, and President Abraham Lincoln had just won his reelection by a landslide. The sense of urgency in the telegram was more than a warning from Lee. It was a realization that the Civil War would soon end in a Southern defeat. This document, along with other wartime telegrams, orders, battle reports from subordinates and correspondence (including personal letters to his wife) comprise the Robert E. Lee Papers, curated in a new addition to ProQuest History Vault: Confederate Military Manuscripts and Records of Union Generals and the Union Army. By collaborating with the Virginia Historical Society, ProQuest unlocks rare documents from their print and microfilm formats, making them broadly accessible online. Researchers will find new insight into Lee's career and life as head of the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederacy's principal field command, military adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and as general-in-chief of all Confederate forces, as well as a husband and father. The Civil War continues to inspire research as a trigger of pivotal social, cultural and political change in the United States. The materials in this new History Vault module made available online for the first time address researchers' thirst for what they've never seen. "The Virginia Historical Society is greatly pleased to see this release of digital versions of collections long held by this institution and appreciated by onsite researchers," said Lee Shepard, Vice President for Collections, Virginia Historical Society. "Making these rich and still underused resources available broadly to a diverse audience promises to fuel fresh analyses of a period of American history that continues to fascinate and instruct." ProQuest has also collaborated with the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Virginia and Louisiana State University to include their collections in this History Vault module. Researchers will discover soldiers' letters and diaries from the war along the Mississippi River, eyewitness accounts of the combat at Shiloh, Port Hudson and Vicksburg, and papers from civilians who endured battles around their homes. "These primary sources provide access to unique collections and enable exploration into fresh avenues of scholarship," said Susan Bokern, ProQuest Vice-President, Product Management. "We've curated a collection that offers a combination of the records and papers of those in high command as well as the documents that capture experiences of everyday enlisted men." Launched in 2011, ProQuest History Vault enables better research and learning about the most important and widely studied topics in 18th through 20th-century American history. The program curates rare, previously inaccessible content that provides insights into the triggers of social, political and cultural changes, bringing it online for simplified access. Continually expanding, History Vault encompasses primary sources that enrich coursework in African-American studies, women's studies, history, political science, military and diplomatic history, immigration, workers and labor unions, American Indians, and other subjects. Institutions can build their collections over time to provide students and faculty with the means to achieve extraordinary research outcomes. About ProQuest (http://www.proquest.com) ProQuest connects people with vetted, reliable information. Key to serious research, the company's products are a gateway to the world's knowledge including dissertations, governmental and cultural archives, news, historical collections and ebooks. ProQuest technologies serve users across the critical points in research, helping them discover, access, share, create and manage information. The company's cloud-based technologies offer flexible solutions for librarians, students and researchers through the ProQuest, Alexander Street, Bowker, Dialog, Ex Libris and SIPX businesses and notable research tools such as the RefWorks citation and reference management platform, the Pivot research development tool and the Ebook Central, ebrary, EBL and MyiLibrary ebook platforms. The company is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with offices around the world. SOURCE ProQuest Related Links http://www.proquest.com HALIFAX, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Metamaterial Technologies Inc. ("MTI"), a smart materials and photonics company, announced today it has closed its institutional "Series A" equity financing worth $8.3 million led by Radar Capital Inc., with participation from Innovacorp, and other investors. This capital was raised to support the commercialization of MTI's aerospace laser protection product, metaAIRTM and the development of production tools for its smart material platform technology. "MTI is a world leader in metamaterials and is at a stage of development where Radar's investment can propel MTI to commercialization," said Mark Lerohl, President and CEO of Radar Capital Inc. "We invest in companies looking for growth equity to access international markets while building towards a liquidity event for investors." "We look forward to working with our new institutional investors to accelerate the commercialization of metaAIRTM, expand our team and move MTI from pilot production to scaled-up manufacturing" said George Palikaras, Founder and CEO of Metamaterial Technologies Inc. "We are pleased to make a follow-on investment in MTI and have Radar Capital as a co-investor," said Charles Baxter, vice president of investment at Innovacorp. "MTI continues to demonstrate the world-class capabilities of its technology platform as it commercializes its laser-protection solution for the aviation industry. We are confident in MTI's ability to address significant challenges in many other verticals." MTI's platform technology is gaining international attention for its ability to manipulate light in unprecedented ways. In 2014, MTI's Lamda Guard division signed a partnership agreement with Airbus to test and tailor metaAIR, which is a flexible metamaterial optical filter engineered to protect vision against harmful laser beams aimed at aircraft. In 2016, MTI acquired Rolith Inc's business, a Silicon Valley based nanofabrication company to accelerate its ability to develop large-scale optical metamaterial products. In 2017, MTI entered into a new agreement with Airbus to co-develop, certify, and commercialize metaAIRTM. metaAIRTM will provide laser protection to pilots in the aviation industry and can offer solutions in other industries including the military, transportation and glass manufacturers. About Metamaterial Technologies Inc. Metamaterial Technologies Inc. ("MTI") is a smart materials and photonics company specializing in metamaterial research, nanofabrication, and computational electromagnetics. The company has developed a new class of optical smart materials, changing the way we use, interact and benefit from light. MTI is headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has offices in London, England and Pleasanton, California. To learn more visit www.metamaterial.com About Radar Capital Radar Capital is a private capital firm that focuses on investing in pre-IPO companies. Radar Capital Inc. concentrates on non-control growth investments in private Canadian companies that offer a commercialized product or service, outside of real estate and natural resources. To learn more visit www.radarcapital.ca About Innovacorp Innovacorp is Nova Scotia's early stage venture capital organization. It works to find, fund and foster innovative Nova Scotia start-ups that strive to change the world. Early stage investment is at the core of Innovacorp's business model. It also gives entrepreneurs access to world-class incubation facilities, expert advice and other support to help them accelerate their companies. Learn more at www.innovacorp.ca SOURCE Metamaterial Technologies Inc. Related Links www.metamaterial.com SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/-- "In Your Right Mind," a weekly behavioral health radio program that features in-depth roundtable discussions of today's behavioral health headlines, aired an informative show, "The Dis-ease of Being Busy" on Sunday, April 9 at 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Talk Radio 790 AM KABC in Los Angeles. The broadcast discussed the cause of busyness, the negative and positive impacts on the body and brain, and how a person can overcome this problem. The show was hosted by Dr. Tonmoy Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Health, who provided in-depth medical and clinical expertise and Program Producer and co-host Kristina Kuestner. The broadcast featured panelist Ian M. McDonough, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of Alabama. Dr. McDonough's expertise includes the episodic memory, aging, structural and functional neuroimaging, dynamic fluctuations of brain activity, biomarkers of preclinical Alzheimer's disease and health disparities. Another panelist was Keerthy Sunder, M.D., a medical director for the Mind and Body Treatment and Research Institute in California and a consulting psychiatrist at Sovereign Health of Palm Desert. Mr. Sunder's research is based in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and substance use disorders. "Busyness is a type of quality, habit or mindset that adversely affects the person or group of people resulting in a negative health outcome," said Dr. McDonough. "Being busy has become very emotional in our society, which might serve as a sense of pride. People may admire someone else being busy but after some time, busyness forms urgency that tends to develop stress and essentially it becomes counterproductive." For those who would like to follow the broadcast, the show is available on demand at www.InYourRightMind.com. For questions, contact [email protected]. One factor that differentiates Sovereign Health from other treatment providers is its ability to offer separate mental health and addiction/dual diagnosis treatment programs at its facilities. For more information, visit www.sovhealth.com. About "In Your Right Mind" "In Your Right Mind" is a weekly behavioral health radio show that covers various topics each week, including mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and addiction/dual diagnosis disorders. Dr. Tonmoy Sharma and Kristina Kuestner are the hosts of the show. In addition, each program will feature guest speakers throughout the United States participating in a roundtable discussion about headlines in behavioral health. The mission of "In Your Right Mind" is to raise awareness about behavioral health issues that get people talking. The hour-long show airs every Sunday at 5 p.m. PST on Talk Radio 790 KABC Los Angeles. "In Your Right Mind" is produced in conjunction with Sovereign Health, a leading national provider of behavioral health treatment services. For more information, visit www.inyourrightmind.com. SOURCE In Your Right Mind Related Links http://www.inyourrightmind.com LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "While kids are in the hospital, to have this escape from the day-to-day routine of taking vital signs, getting blood drawn, chemotherapy - it's such an amazing opportunity for them," said Dr. Mark Mogul, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology specialist at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa, Florida during a recent interview on the television show Positively Tampa Bay. The Infusionarium - ready for patients. The Infusionarium transports young patients to immersive healing environments. Dr. Mogul was talking about the Infusionarium, an immersive virtual reality system designed for young patients receiving hours of chemotherapy infusion and other treatments. "Every month we go out and ask our patients, if you could heal anywhere in the universe, and there were absolutely no rules, what place would best promote your healing? " said Reimagine Well co-founder Roger Holzberg, a former award-winning Disney Imagineer. Cancer treatment often leaves patients feeling depressed and anxious, which negatively impacts their road to recovery. Laguna Beach, California-based Reimagine Well, developer of the Infusionarium, is solving this problem by creating what the company calls immersive healing environments that enable patients to be treated in the place they believe will best promote their healing. Dr. Mogul can barely contain his enthusiasm about what many consider to be a game changer. "This Infusionarium we're excited for the kids, but the docs are just as excited for the other docs. It's an incredible experience!" Reimagine Well provides a proprietary platform and programs that are designed for chemotherapy, dialysis, physical therapy, assisted living, radiation therapy and more; and has compiled an extensive library of patient-requested immersive healing experiences and disease specific 'Survival Guides' hosted by clinicians, scientists, and medical experts. Each guide provides segmented instructions and resources for patients designed to educate and support them through the patient journey. About Reimagine Well Roger Holzberg and Leonard Sender, MD, founded Reimagine Well. Dr. Sender is a specialist with the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children's Hospital in Orange County, California, and is board certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and is both a clinician and a researcher. Roger Holzberg is a founder of My Bridge 4 Life, a former award-winning Disney Imagineer, the first consulting Creative Director of the National Cancer Institute and a 13-year cancer survivor. Learn more at ReimagineWell.com. Contact: Pam Carstens Phone: 805-990-1965 Email: [email protected] Website: reimaginewell.com SOURCE Reimagine Well Related Links http://reimaginewell.com GRANVILLE, Ohio, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RevLocal recently earned the top spot on CrowdReviews.com's list of best online reputation management companies based on client reviews. The list consists of 100 businesses that specialize in digital marketing and online reputation management. CrowdReviews.com evaluated businesses based on review score, sentiment score, engagement and more. RevLocal made the top spot with a score of 66.1. Aaron Boggs, RevLocal CEO, said the company earned the number one spot on this list because of the relationship RevLocal offers clients. "It is essential that a local business protects the equity of its brand by having an online reputation strategy. More than 90% of local consumers say that they read local business reviews," Boggs said. "RevLocal has focused on providing local businesses with a platform that helps them generate more positive reviews, monitor incoming reviews and execute a review strategy. Our customers love working with RevLocal because we offer a real relationship that does the work for them and with them," Boggs went on to say. To view RevLocal's CrowdReviews.com profile, click one of the links below. Best Online Reputation Management Company Read all 25 Reviews / Write A Review RevLocal is a digital marketing agency that specializes in local search marketing, reputation management, paid advertising and social content marketing for local businesses and franchises of all types and sizes. As the leader in digital marketing, RevLocal makes digital marketing efficient, effective and affordable for all. RevLocal is a Premier Google Partner and was named one of the top 50 best places to work by Inc. Magazine. For more information on the company, visit www.RevLocal.com. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE RevLocal Related Links http://www.RevLocal.com BOSTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhythm, a biopharmaceutical company developing peptide therapeutics for rare genetic deficiencies that result in life-threatening metabolic disorders, today announced that the company has named David Meeker, M.D., Chairman of the company's board of directors. Dr. Meeker has served as a member of Rhythm's board of directors since November 2015. "It is a privilege to welcome Dr. Meeker to a new role as chairman of our board of directors as we advance toward the commercialization of therapies for rare genetic disorders of obesity," said Keith Gottesdiener, Chief Executive Officer of Rhythm. "Dr. Meeker is renowned for his ability to optimize commercial opportunities for rare disease products while building strong relationships with patient and clinician communities. As we continue to work toward our goal of commercializing peptide therapies for a range of rare genetic disorders of obesity, Dr. Meeker's insight will be a vital resource for us at every stage." "This is an exciting time at Rhythm as the company seeks to address some of the genetic causes of obesity, an area where there is significant unmet medical need and our understanding of the science is beginning to emerge," said Dr. Meeker. Dr. Meeker is Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Genzyme, the specialty-care global business unit of Sanofi that focuses on rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, and immunology. Dr. Meeker joined Genzyme in 1994 as Medical Director and has also served the company as Vice President of Medical Affairs, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Executive Officer. He has led Genzyme's commercial organization and global market access functions and managed the launch of several treatments for rare genetic diseases including Aldurazyme, Fabrazyme, and Myozyme. Prior to his tenure with Genzyme, Dr. Meeker was Director of the Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Ohio State University. Dr. Meeker earned his M.D. from the University of Vermont Medical School and completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School. About Rhythm (www.rhythmtx.com) Rhythm is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing peptide therapeutics for the treatment of rare genetic deficiencies that result in life-threatening metabolic disorders. Rhythm's lead peptide product candidate is setmelanotide, a first-in-class melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptor agonist for the treatment of rare genetic disorders of obesity. Rhythm supports The Genetic Obesity Project (www.GeneticObesity.com), which is dedicated to improving the understanding of severe obesity that is caused by specific genetic defects. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts. MEDIA CONTACTS: Adam Daley Bart Henderson Berry & Company Public Relations Rhythm, President & Founder 212-253-8881 857-264-4281 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Rhythm Related Links http://www.rhythmtx.com MONTEREY, Calif., April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard MacDonald Studios (www.richardmacdonald.com), home to the world renowned sculpture artist Richard MacDonald, has filed a lawsuit against former Chief Operating Officer Julia Cominos. The company has uncovered a series of fraudulent activities and embezzlement schemes by the former Chief Operating Officer, Julia Cominos. Cominos is currently under criminal investigation by the Monterey police department and the District Attorney. According to court documents, 14 actions have been filed and validated to move forward by the presiding judge in the civil action case against the former Chief Operating Officer, Julia Cominos. The alleged embezzlement that took place from 2009-2015 has resulted in millions of dollars that was taken from Richard MacDonald studios, Cirque de Soliel, the Royal Ballet scholarship fund and Joie de Vie, LLC. As the investigation continues to unfold, it has been alleged that various schemes were used to extract millions of dollars from Richard MacDonald's companies. According to court documents, forensic evidence shows: Fraudulent expense reports Siphoning of cash through the petty cash account to the tune of $80,000 in a single year in a single year Falsifying sales orders to inflate revenue reporting to Cirque de Soliel Using company funds for personal covert investments Paying key company accounting and shipping staff from Ms. Cominos personal account Over 90 new bank accounts and 30 new credit cards were opened Funds were traced to investments in the Caymen Islands, Luxembourg and Ms. Cominos trust account at The Law Offices of Ted Cominos, Sr. , and more According to court documents, the forensic evidence has also uncovered five employees that were involved in the embezzlement - Katya Sanchez, Jessica Danniken, Lewis Lovett, Evelyn Amador and Michelle Lisenby. All of these employees held key positions in the accounting or shipping department. Depositions and subpoenas have been served to Ted Cominos, Sr., Katya Sanchez and Sue Robey with more scheduled. Depositions are scheduled to begin in April. Case #16CV000320 is currently under review with Judge Thomas Wills of Monterey County along with the District Attorney's office in Monterey, CA. The Monterey based company is home to the world renowned sculpture artist, Richard MacDonald. He is best known for his "Flair Across America" for the US Olympics in 1996 and the 100th US Open at Pebble Beach in 2000. He is also known for his commissioned work for the Royal Ballet. With studios in London, Monterey and Las Vegas, the art that has been created by the world's leading figurative sculpture artist is also a philanthropist supporting many charities such as the Boys and Girls Club, abused children, ballet scholarships in Monterey and Carmel, CA as well as the dancers of the Royal Ballet. He also devotes his personal time to teach and lecture students on art. In a recent interview after reviewing court documents and the forensic evidence, Richard MacDonald expressed his deep disappointment in his former employees and the misappropriation of company funds. "Embezzlement and fraud, effects all employees in the company and the community. For years, Richard MacDonald Studios has been able to provide jobs and scholarships thereby enriching and elevating the living standards of many. Embezzlement forces companies to contract and restructure which in turn affects employment for many in the company and community which ultimately affects the lives of their children," said Mr. MacDonald. As the case continues to unfold, the 70 year old Richard MacDonald suffers mentally, physically and financially. SOURCE Richard MacDonald Studios Related Links http://www.richardmacdonald.com SUNNYVALE, Calif. and ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RiskSense Inc., the pioneer and market leader in pro-active cyber risk management, today announced that its RiskSense Platform was selected as Gold winner for Security and Risk Intelligence in the Govies 2017 Government Security Awards administered by 1105 Media, publishers of Security Today. These coveted annual awards honor outstanding products in government security. 1105 Media launched its Government Security Awards program in 2009. In 2011, the annual program became known as 'The Govies'. This year, the program is re-named for 1105 Media's newly relaunched Security Today magazine (formerly Security Products). According to the editors and judges, nominations were especially strong this year as government security continues to be an ongoing concern. Winners within each award category were announced during last week's ISC West Expo at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Just like it has for enterprises, government exposure to cyber risk has increased with the expansion of the attack surface created by the cloud, mobile, and the Internet of Things," said Torsten George, vice president of global marketing and products at RiskSense. "The RiskSense Platform provides a pro-active means to continuously monitor for threats, prioritize them based on criticality, and centrally orchestrate timely remediation in a closed-loop process that reduces cyber risk. RiskSense is deployed across local, state, and federal government agencies in the U.S." Like their counterparts in the enterprise, cyber security professionals in government still grapple with how to implement a continuous diagnostics program that improves their information security posture. In government, security professionals are also concerned about compliance with NIST and other guidance, including FISMA and FedRAMP. The RiskSense Platform provides government agencies with continuous diagnostic and mitigation capabilities by unifying and contextualizing vast volumes of internal security intelligence with external threat data, and correlating the findings with mission criticality to continuously reveal cyber risk exposure across a growing attack surface - including the network, servers, endpoints, applications, and databases. With RiskSense, both enterprises and governments minimize cyber risk by closing the most critical security gaps first, and gain valuable situational awareness to keep cyber adversaries at bay. About RiskSense RiskSense, Inc., is the pioneer and market leader in pro-active cyber risk management. The company enables enterprises and governments to reveal cyber risk, quickly orchestrate remediation, and monitor the results. This is done by unifying and contextualizing internal security intelligence, external threat data, and business criticality across a growing attack surface. The company's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform transforms cyber risk management into a more pro-active, collaborative, and real-time discipline. The RiskSense Platform embodies the expertise and intimate knowledge gained from real world experience in defending critical networks from the world's most dangerous cyber adversaries. By leveraging RiskSense cyber risk management solutions, organizations can significantly shorten time-to-remediation, increase operational efficiency, strengthen their security programs, heighten response readiness, reduce costs, and ultimately minimize cyber risks. For more information, please visit www.risksense.com or follow us on Twitter at @RiskSense. Media Contacts Marc Gendron Marc Gendron Public Relations +1 781.237.0341 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE RiskSense Related Links http://www.risksense.com DALLAS, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryan, a leading global tax services firm with the largest indirect and property tax practices in North America, has been selected to the 2017 Best Companies to Work for in Texas list for the seventh consecutive year. This program, sponsored by Texas Monthly, the Texas Association of Business (TAB), Texas SHRM, and Best Companies Group, was designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best employee-centric workforces benefiting the Texas economy. "We are honored to be recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas for the seventh consecutive year," said G. Brint Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Ryan. "I sincerely thank all of our Texas associates for demonstrating that work-life success through a flexible work environment leads directly to improved business performance, superior client service, and outstanding financial results." The Firm's pioneering flexible work environment, myRyan, changed the measurement of work performance from hours worked to results achieved. Since its inception in 2008, myRyan has delivered tremendous dividends for the Firm, its clients, and its employees. Ryan has dramatically improved employee retention and satisfaction, while sustaining revenue growth, profitability, and the highest client satisfaction ratings in Firm history. Ryan was one of only 100 Texas companies honored after a rigorous two-part evaluation of workplace policies, practices, and demographics, combined with a comprehensive employee survey measuring work environment, culture, and employee pride and satisfaction. For more information on the Best Companies to Work for in Texas program, visit www.BestCompaniesTX.com. 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 nearly 14,000 clients in more than 45 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com. PRESS INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Vieira Senior Manager, Public Relations and Communications Ryan 401.871.7676 [email protected] SOURCE Ryan Related Links http://www.ryan.com MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the landmark television debut of Julia, a new Sesame Street Muppet with autism, Beaches Resorts is proud to announce the walkaround character's arrival to its resorts in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos beginning this fall. With a new exciting activity in tow, Julia's debut also continues Beaches Resorts' partnership with Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, and expands the resort company's exclusive Beaches Resorts Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street program, now in its 13th year of partnership. "We created Beaches Resorts as a concept for everyone and it's our privilege, particularly during Autism Awareness Month, to announce the addition of Julia this fall as part of our exclusive relationship with Sesame Workshop," said Adam Stewart, CEO of Beaches Resorts. "As a resort company that also celebrates that children have a remarkable ability to see amazing in all people, we are excited to introduce more inclusive programming for families with children on the spectrum of which Julia will play a part in," he concluded. As a proud sponsor of Sesame Street, Beaches Resorts is the only Caribbean resort company to offer engaging activities with a colorful cast of walkaround characters including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Super Grover, Zoe, Bert and Ernie, Abby Cadabby, The Count, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird and, soon, Julia. With an already exciting roster of hands-on activities available at Beaches Resorts, from Baking with Cookie Monster to Story Time with Elmo, Julia will bring forth a new activity, Amazing Art with Julia, just in time for the fall season. In this activity, children will be greeted by Julia a 4-year-old girl character who has autism. Julia, who loves to paint, will highlight how people can express themselves through art. Using a range of materials, children will have the opportunity to explore, experiment and create in this open-ended art activity. Afterwards, children will talk about how they created their piece (colors, lines, shapes, etc.) and how their artwork is a celebration of who they are and their unique self! "We launched our autism initiative, 'See Amazing in All Children' to promote awareness and acceptance and to combat the stigma and isolation so often experienced by children with autism and their families," said Steve Youngwood, COO, Sesame Workshop. "Initially a digital character, Julia has come to life on Sesame Street, and now as a walkaround character who is sure to bring joy to children. We're thrilled to work with our long-time partner, Beaches Resorts, to extend our work around diversity, acceptance, and kindness." Sesame Workshop debuted Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children in 2015 to help increase awareness and understanding of autism. Julia, introduced last year in digital form, now comes to life as a Muppet on a special Sesame Street episode. Other Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children resources include digital videos, books, and e-books, available in both English and Spanish. For more information, please visit sesamestreet.org/autism. As part of Beaches Resorts' brand-wide efforts to increase awareness of autism, staff underwent initial training with "Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children" resources. Complementing these efforts and continuing its commitment to create memorable experiences for all families, Beaches Resorts has partnered with The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a global leader in training and certification programs, created to meet the training needs of professionals who work with individuals with special needs and cognitive disorders. Through the partnership, which is ongoing and provides intensive training for team members, each of the resorts' Kids Camps and its early childcare staff have earned the distinction of Certified Autism Centers, ensuring team members have the requisite knowledge, skills, temperament and expertise to cater to all children. As the first Caribbean resort company to complete the rigorous IBCCES training and certification, Beaches Resorts has demonstrated it provides a safe, fun and comfortable experience for families with children with autism and other special needs so that all families may enjoy the resort company's award-winning experience. For more information on the Beaches Resorts Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street or Beaches Resorts autism-certified kids camps, please visit www.beaches.com/autism-friendly-resorts or call 1-844-360-9380 to speak with the Special Services department. Contact: The Decker/Royal Agency Stacy Royal / [email protected] SOURCE Beaches Resorts Related Links http://www.beaches.com MINNEAPOLIS, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentera today announced the availability of its precision agriculture solutions at over 350 retail locations across North America. By broadening the reach of Sentera's precision agriculture offering, agronomists, crop consultants, and growers can leverage critical normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data starting day one of the 2017 growing season. Early adopters immediately see the benefits of Sentera's solutions, accurately collecting and driving in-field decisions while helping manage and interpret crop health data, and, ultimately, profitability. Sentera Builds Reseller Network to Over 350 North American Agriculture Store Fronts Sentera's complete precision agriculture data solutions include AgVault web, desktop, and mobile applications that accurately collect, interpret, and analyze crop health data gathered by the company's ultra-precise TrueNDVI sensors integrated on easy-to-fly drone platforms. Sentera and its distribution partner, Dynamic UAV Solutions, deliver these solutions throughout the industry. "We are excited to offer our solutions through a strong and rapidly-growing dealer network, where end users find Sentera's precision ag solutions technologically robust and simple to operate," remarked Kris Poulson, vice president of agriculture for Sentera. "Users find immediate value in our turnkey solution, that deliver maps and streaming NDVI at the field, and high-accuracy data to cloud-based tools." Poulson continued, "Our integrated solution helps dealerships offer their customers a frictionless, painless precision agriculture experience. Users can be confident that data products are compatible, precise, and flow seamlessly from the sensor to analytics software and/or the cab of a tractor. No other provider delivers such a completely-integrated product." "This is a great milestone for Sentera and Dynamic UAV," added Dan O'Reilly, general manager for Dynamic UAV Solutions. "We were pleased to have been chosen as the exclusive North American Distributor for Sentera's integrated hardware solutions. By seamlessly managing drones and sensor data, then making it sharable and searchable, a commercial UAV user will increase operational efficiencies while driving additional profits to their bottom lines." Every User, Every Operation Poulson explains why Sentera is uniquely positioned to help dealers help their customers: "Sentera offers entry-level drones with True NDVI sensors, filling the need for precision agriculture customers who are just entering the market and want a simple yet effective tool that still provides a high-quality near-infrared sensing product. For customers familiar with remote sensing technology and looking to employ the latest advancements, the Phoenix 2 fixed-wing or Omni quadrotor drone is available, both capable of live-streaming NDVI video. All offerings interoperate with AgVault and all leading analytics tools. Our dealers offer solutions for every type of user, no matter the scale of operation." Any Crop Sentera's solutions help growers improve the performance across a variety of fields, from specialty crops like fruits, nuts, and grapes to commodities like corn, soybeans and sorghum. Many agronomists and crop consultants need to analyze data from diverse fields and different growers. Universally capturing NDVI data from any crop, and using AgVault to analyze, interpret, and share the exact same data with relevant stakeholders off the farm improves the decision making process, increasing efficiencies between the advisor and grower. Complete Dealer Program As the exclusive distributor of Sentera's remote sensing technology, Dynamic UAV Solutions works directly with dealers to ensure success. The Dynamic UAV Solutions dealer program includes dealer pricing, dealer training, sales tools, sales support, digital sales collateral, access to training videos, and the option to white-label AgVault software. If you are interested in becoming a dealer of Sentera's precision Ag solutions, please contact Dynamic UAV Solutions at www.dynamicuav.com, or call 330-818-2868. Would you like to find a Sentera-authorized dealer near you? Please visit our dealer-finder web page: https://sentera.com/find-sentera-dealer/ About Sentera With over 220 years of combined experience with sensors, software, and drone system development, Sentera is a leading supplier of complete data solutions to the agriculture industry, making it easy for users to bring in-field data off the farm for further analysis. In a single growing season, Sentera's equipment gathered over 175 terabytes of data from 8,000 flights. The company achieved a milestone of collecting more than 25,000,000 acres of images. For more information, visit www.sentera.com. About Dynamic UAV Solutions Dynamic UAV Solutions is an industry leading distributor in the commercial UAV space, specializing in the Mapping, Agricultural, Public Safety and the exclusive North American distribution partner for Sentera. Dynamic UAV Solutions offers world-class customer support with its training and support programs, knowing the customer relationship does not end after the sale, and that a well-trained UAV operator is a more productive and safer UAV operator. Media contact information: Sarah Ritzen, 952-242-9245, [email protected] SOURCE Sentera Related Links https://sentera.com TORONTO, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX: SMT) (BVL: SMT) ("Sierra Metals" or "the Company") has updated its Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimate at the Company's Bolivar Mine, located in Chihuahua State, Mexico. The updated Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimate disclosed herein is the result of drilling programs completed between January 2013 and September 2016, as well as production data of September 2016. Subsequent to the cut-off date of September 2016 the updated Resource and Reserve statement does not include approximately 20,000 metres of drilling some of which is in the process of being drilled with an aim to further expand the resources and reserves at the Bolivar mine. This information will be included in an update addendum which will occur in the second half of this year. The Company's decision to file this updated technical report at this time is based on the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). As noted in previous releases, the Company is aggressively pursuing this NYSE MKT listing which will allow the Company to access a larger pool of Investors and enhance the Company's Investor visibility and share trading liquidity. The Company expects the NYSE listing to take place in the near future. A Technical Report prepared by SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc. in accordance with NI 43-101 standards of disclosure has been completed and will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release. Press Release Highlights: Total Indicated Mineral Resources for Bolivar are 9,335,000 tonnes averaging 18.1 g/t silver, 0.90% copper and 0.30 g/t gold, 1.23% CuEq Total Inferred Mineral Resources for Bolivar are 9,055,000 tonnes averaging 17.9 g/t silver, 0.86% copper and 0.33 g/t gold, 1.20% CuEq Total Probable Mineral Reserves for Bolivar are 4,327,000 tonnes averaging 17.5 g/t silver, 0.85% copper and 0.31g/t gold, 1.18% Cu Eq The updated Resource and Reserve Estimate varies from the 2012 Technical Report due to a variety of factors, including: an increase in the Net Smelter Return (NSR) cut off grades resulting in higher value material, reduction in commodity prices* and depletion by production since the Report was completed The updated Resource and Reserve Estimate has incorporated new exploration drilling, sampling, and face mapping information into the geologic interpretation and grade estimations providing more refined resource models * Metal price assumptions considered for the calculation of unit values are: Silver (US$/oz 18.30), Copper (US$/lb 2.43), Gold (US$/oz 1,283.00) Gordon Babcock, Chief Operating Officer of Sierra Metals Inc. commented: "We are satisfied with the updated Resource and Reserve report for the Bolivar mine and the quality of the defined areas within the Report. At Bolivar, a 20,000-meter drill program has been in execution since the latter part of 2016 with a significant portion already completed. Drilling is taking place at the Bolivar West, Bolivar Northwest and will continue at the La Sidra area. Also, a recently completed geophysical program utilizing Titan 24 techniques has targeted near-surface, coincident strong chargeability (IP) and resistivity anomalies in the Southwestern sector of the property near Bolivar West. These targets are being drilled with a diamond drilling program and subsequent exploration programs are targeted to increase tonnage and grade at Bolivar." He continued, "4 years have passed since the last technical report was filed and the Company is confident that with this review, as well as the inclusion of the ongoing drilling, we will continue to define mineral resources and reserves in a short time frame. Recently, some important changes have occurred at the Bolivar mine including the addition of a new Mine Operations Manager, Mine Superintendent as well as a new exploration group headed up by Alonso Lujan, VP Exploration. These new additions to the Bolivar team will play an important role in the Company achieving its operational goals for 2017 and with future production increases. Alberto Arias, Chairman, commented: "This report fulfills a critical requirement for our US Listing in the NYSE and provides a solid base upon which future updates could add further reserves and resources later this year. Our current drilling programs at key targets are already having positive results and we are encouraged by our plans to drill some geophysical anomalies identified recently in our Titan 24 geophysical survey. We believe this will be an exciting year for exploration results at Bolivar." The incorporation of new exploration drilling, lower commodity price assumptions, sampling, face mapping information into the geologic interpretations, and grade estimations which have resulted in a further refinement of the ore body. As commodity prices improve, certain areas which have been excluded because of lower metal prices could be included in future reserve and resource updates. It is Management's view that the resulting Resource and Reserve Estimate reflects the ongoing efforts by the Company to achieve good value from the Bolivar asset while focusing on quality over quantity, given the current operating and metal price environment. Mineral Resource Estimate Mineral Resource Estimations have been conducted by Matthew Hastings of SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, using Maptek Vulcan and Leapfrog Geo software. Mineral Reserve Estimations have been conducted by Jon Larson of SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, using Maptek Vulcan and Minemax iGantt software. This release features mineral resources and reserves reported from models developed and estimated by SRK using criteria determined by Dia Bras and SRK to be reasonable for reporting of these resources and reserves. SRK has worked with Dia Bras personnel to develop the geology models, estimations, and reporting criteria for mineral resources at Bolivar. Geology models were developed by Sierra Metals and were modified and reviewed by SRK. In all, there are seventeen individual mineralized bodies identified through drilling and mine development. These were used as hard boundaries for the purposes of the estimation. Although the majority of the estimated resource is supported by drilling, limited channel samples support estimation within vertical pillars in mined areas. The block models were created by SRK, and have been estimated using a combination of inverse distance and ordinary kriging methods. The mineral resources have been estimated in conformity with generally accepted CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices" guidelines. The procedures and methods supporting the mineral reserve estimation have been developed by SRK in conjunction with Dia Bras mine planning personnel. The reserve estimations presented herein have been conducted by independent consultants using supporting data generated by the site. In general, each mining area is evaluated using reasonable mining block shapes based on the mining method applicable to the zone. Mineral Reserves estimated by the independent consultants are categorized in a manner consistent with industry best practice. Data and information supporting the mining recovery, mining dilution, metallurgical recoveries, consensus commodity pricing, and treatment and refining charges have been provided by Dia Bras and reviewed by SRK. These factors are used to calculate Net Smelter Return (NSR) for the blocks in the models. Historic and expected direct and indirect mining, processing and general and administrative costs were provided by Dia Bras. To be considered economic, the Net Smelter Return (NSR) value of the mining block must be greater than the economic cutoff. Blocks below the economic cutoff but above the marginal cutoff are, in some cases, included in the reserve where they are in between or immediately adjacent to an economic block and it is reasonable to expect that no significant additional development would be required to extract the marginal block. Isolated blocks, defined as blocks with no defined access or blocks that do not pay for the required development, have been excluded. Only material classified as Measured and Indicated Resources contribute to the grade values in a mining block. Material inside a block and not classified as Measured or Indicated is assumed to have 0 grade. Mined out areas were provided by Sierra Metals personnel, and represent development and production up to September 30, 2016. SRK is of the opinion that the resource and reserve estimations are suitable for public reporting and are a fair representation of the mill feed tonnes, grade, and metal for the Bolivar deposit. The September 30, 2016, consolidated mineral resource statement for the Bolivar Mine area is presented in Table 1. These resources have been stated in unmined areas of the deposits as well as within surveyed pillar shapes in the existing mined out areas, using a lower COG to reflect the fact that they have been exposed through previous mining. SRK has prepared an NI 43-101 Technical Report which supports this disclosure. Table 1: Consolidated Bolivar Mineral Resource Estimate as of September 30, 2016 SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc. Resources - Indicated Contained Metal Tonnes Ag Cu Au CuEq Ag Cu Au CuEq (000's) g/t % g/t % M oz M lb K oz M lb Bolivar Indicated 9,335 18.1 0.90 0.30 1.23 5.4 184.9 91.0 252.9 Resources - Inferred Contained Metal Tonnes Ag Cu Au CuEq Ag Cu Au CuEq (000's) g/t % g/t % M oz M lb K oz M lb Bolivar Inferred 9,055 17.9 0.86 0.33 1.20 5.2 171.6 97.0 239.8 (1) Mineral resources are reported inclusive of ore reserves. Mineral resources are not ore reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. All gures rounded to reect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Copper, gold, and silver assays were capped where appropriate. (2) Mineral resources are reported at variable metal value cut-off grades based on metal price assumptions*, metallurgical recovery assumptions**, mining/transport costs (US$13.59/t), processing costs (US$10.00/t), and general and administrative costs (US$3.40/t). (3) The metal value cut-off grade for the unmined portions of the Bolivar Mine is US$27 and is US$20 for the remaining vertical pillars in the mined areas. The mineral resources within the remaining vertical pillars comprise less than 1% of the Indicated Mineral 9,335 * Metal price assumptions considered for the calculation of metal value are: Copper (Cu): US$/lb 2.43, Silver (Ag): US$/oz 18.30, and Gold (Au): US$/oz 1,283.00. ** Metallurgical recovery assumptions are 81% Cu, 77% Ag, and 49% Au. The consolidated mineral reserve statement for the Bolivar Mine area is presented in Table 2. The effective date for the reserves estimated herein is September 30, 2016. SRK has prepared an NI 43-101 Technical Report which supports this disclosure. Table 2: Consolidated Bolivar Mineral Reserve Estimate as of September 30, 2016 SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc. Reserves - Probable Contained Metal Tonnes Ag Cu Au CuEq Ag Cu Au CuEq (000's) g/t % g/t % M oz M lb K oz M lb Bolivar Probable 4,327 17.5 0.85 0.31 1.18 2.4 80.7 44.0 112.1 All gures rounded to reect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Ore reserves are reported at NSR cutoffs (CoG) based on metal price assumptions*, metallurgical recovery assumptions**, mining costs, processing costs, general and administrative (G&A) costs, and treatment and refining charges. * Metal price assumptions considered for the calculation of NSR are: Copper (Cu): US$/lb 2.43, Silver (Ag): US$/oz 18.30, and Gold (Au): US$/oz 1,283.00. ** Metallurgical recovery assumptions are 81% Cu, 77% Ag, and 49% Au. * Metal price assumptions considered for the calculation of NSR are: Copper (Cu): US$/lb 2.43, Silver (Ag): US$/oz 18.30, and Gold (Au): US$/oz 1,283.00. ** Metallurgical recovery assumptions are 81% Cu, 77% Ag, and 49% Au. The NSR CoG is variable by mining method: US$30.50 = Room and Pillar; and = Room and Pillar; and US$32.50 = Longhole Stoping. = Longhole Stoping. Ore reserves have been stated on the basis of a mine design, mine plan, and cash-flow model: Mining recovery applied is 85%. Mining dilution (internal and external), applied with a zero grade, ranges from 12% to 36% and averaged 16%. Quality Control All technical data contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gordon Babcock, P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Sierra Metals Sierra Metals Inc. is Canadian based growing polymetallic mining company with production from its Yauricocha Mine in Peru, and its Bolivar and Cusi Mines in Mexico. The company recently completed a very successful operational improvements program at it Yauricocha mine and is now focused on completing a similar program at its Mexican operations to increase production volume, recoveries and modernize operations. Sierra Metals continues to grow its mineral resources with several exciting brownfield opportunities such as the Esperanza Zone at the Yauricocha Mine which went from first discovery to mining in less than one year. The Company has several other brownfield exploration opportunities at all three Mines in Peru and Mexico within or very close to the existing mines which its actively exploring and hopes to daylight in the short-term. The company has large land packages at all three Mines with several regional highly prospective targets providing longer term exploration upside and mineral resource growth potential. The Company's shares trade on the Lima Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores de Lima) and on the TSX under the symbol "SMT". Forward-Looking Statements This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address estimated resource quantities, grades and contained metals, possible future mining, exploration and development activities, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices for metals, the conclusions of detailed technical analyses, lower than expected grades and quantities of resources, mining rates and recovery rates and the lack of availability of necessary capital, which may not be available to the Company on terms acceptable to it or at all. The Company is subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general. Continue to watch our progress at: Web: www.sierrametals.com Twitter: sierrametals Facebook: SierraMetalsInc LinkedIn: Sierra Metals Inc SOURCE Sierra Metals Inc. Related Links www.sierrametals.com TSX:SLW NYSE:SLW VANCOUVER, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Silver Wheaton Corp. (TSX:SLW) (NYSE:SLW) will release 2017 first quarter results on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, after market close. A conference call will be held Wednesday, May 10, 2017, starting at 11:00 am (Eastern Time) to discuss these results. To participate in the live call please use one of the following methods: Dial toll free from Canada or the US: 1-888-231-8191 Dial from outside Canada or the US: 1-647-427-7450 Pass code: 3204939 Live audio webcast: www.silverwheaton.com Participants should dial in five to ten minutes before the call. The conference call will be recorded and available until May 17, 2017 at 11:59 pm ET. The webcast will be available for one year. You can listen to an archive of the call by one of the following methods: Dial toll free from Canada or the US: 1-855-859-2056 Dial from outside Canada or the US: 1-416-849-0833 Pass code: 3204939 Archived audio webcast: www.silverwheaton.com SOURCE Silver Wheaton Corp. Related Links http://www.silverwheaton.com/ GAINESVILLE, Ga., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Skyline International Film Festival (SIFF), sponsored by the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Department of Communication, Media and Journalism, returns to the Gainesville Campus May 19-21 and features films from UNG students and filmmakers from across the world. SIFF is a student-run festival, and aims to educate, enhance and support filmmakers and students. For students in UNG's film program, the event also provides important hands-on experience in hosting a festival. Those attending will get a behind-the-scenes perspective of film production and the opportunity to meet up-and-coming filmmakers through media panels and screenings. "This part of the festival planning is a great opportunity for students, because it allows them to participate in the festival selection process from the other side," said Dr. Jeff Marker, head of the Department of Communication, Media and Journalism at UNG. "When they submit films to other festivals, they will have a sense of the quality of their competition and what selection committees are looking for." Of the more than 3,000 films submitted, 53 were selected for viewing during the three-day festival. All the films were viewed and rated by students, faculty and working filmmakers for selection. The festival kicks off May 19 with a premier screening of "American Zealot," a film directed by James Mackenzie, who will also participate in a question-and-answer session. "After Fire," directed and produced by Britanny Huckabee, will be featured on May 20. Huckabee has more than 15 years of experience producing and directing documentaries that have been broadcast nationally, including an Emmy-nominated film. The festival will close on May 21 with premier screenings of UNG student films and the premier of "Dead Thirsty," a film by Jason Winn and Jonathan Hickman, as well as a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers. In fall 2015, UNG launched a bachelor's degree in film and digital media designed to prepare students to work in the film and television industry. That December, the first six degrees of this major were awarded and have already opened doors and developed new contacts in Georgia's exploding film industry. "After volunteering for the festival last year, I knew that I wanted to take more of a leadership role in the planning process for 2017. We have been in planning mode for this year's event since October," said Melissa Simpson, a senior at UNG and an executive director for SIFF. "As a film and digital media major, I knew this event would allow me the opportunity to make great connections in the Georgia film community, as well as in the Georgia film festival scene. Working on this event has given me valuable experience in planning such a large-scale event." There are also five panels scheduled, including a post-production workshop led by Drew Sawyer and his team at Moonshine Post Production, film festival panels with representatives from six of the major film festivals in Georgia, and a crowdfunding panel with Christina Raia from Seed & Spark. SIFF will be held at the Ed Cabell Theatre and is open to the public. Weekend passes are $45 for the public and $30 for students, and day passes are $25 for the public and $18 for students. There also passes available only for workshops (for the whole weekend), which are $15 for the public and $10 for students. Passes can be purchased on the festival's EventBrite page. The page will also be updated soon with a complete calendar of events, including a list of films, panels, workshops, and times and locations for each. SOURCE University of North Georgia Related Links http://www.ung.edu DEARBORN, Mich., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SME, committed to the manufacturing industry through promoting advanced manufacturing technology and workforce development, has selected 17 Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineers to be honored for exceptional contributions and accomplishments in the manufacturing industry. All are age 35 or younger and represent both industry and academia. SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineers are selected based on work in emerging manufacturing applications, technical publications, patents, and academic or industry leadership. "Manufacturing engineering and the manufacturing industry offer young people incredible opportunity for exploration and achievement," said Jeff Krause, SME CEO. "These creative and energetic young professionals are inspiring proof of both the strength and the promise of manufacturing." Each year, the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer award is named to honor a specific individual's lifelong contributions to manufacturing and SME. The 2017 award is named after Yoram Koren, DSc, HSME, FSME, James J. Duderstadt Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Manufacturing and Paul G. Goebel Professor Emeritus of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. "These young professionals represent the future of manufacturing, and I'm honored that my name will be associated with their ability, energy and vision," said Koren. "SME chose these 17 from a rich variety of disciplines and backgrounds from around the world and they chose well." 2017 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineers: Rohit Bhapkar, Research Specialist, Innovation and Technology Development Division Caterpillar Inc., Mossville, Illinois Debejyo Chakraborty, PhD, Senior Researcher in Manufacturing Systems Research Laboratory General Motors Global Research and Development, Warren, Michigan Neil Dasgupta, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan Alaa Elwany, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Wentao Fu, PhD, Additive Manufacturing Engineer Siemens Energy Inc., Orlando, Florida Brian T. Gibson, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee Helga Hamm, Production Section Manager Caterpillar Energy Solutions, Mannheim, Germany Tao Jia, PhD, Mechanical Engineer, Model Based Manufacturing Laboratory GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, New York Rajiv Malhotra, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering; Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon Guha Prasanna Manogharan, PhD, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania Yayue Pan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago Vikas Patel, PhD, Research Engineer in the Global Research and Development Department ArcelorMittal, Chicago Prahalad Rao, PhD, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska Stefanie Robinson, PhD, Associate Director, Lab for Manufacturing and Sustainability University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California Ashish Kumar Singh, PhD, Metallurgical Engineer, Welspun Pipes Inc. Little Rock, Arkansas Bruce L. Tai, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Tao Wang, PhD, Lead Metallurgical Engineer and Research Lab Supervisor Nucor Steel, Manila, Arkansas Since 1980, SME's Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineers Award has recognized the careers and achievements of more than 370 manufacturing engineers. Nominations are accepted annually on or before Aug. 1. Visit sme.org/oyme to learn more about the award and the nominating process. About SME SME connects all those who are passionate about making things that improve our world. As a nonprofit organization, SME has served practitioners, companies, educators, government and communities across the manufacturing spectrum for more than 80 years. Through its strategic areas of events, media, membership, training and development, and the SME Education Foundation, SME is uniquely dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing by addressing both knowledge and skills needed for the industry. Follow @SME_MFG on Twitter or facebook.com/SMEmfg. SOURCE SME Related Links http://www.sme.org LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SpotMe, a global technology provider of mobile event platform solutions, has been selected as a finalist for Red Herring's Top 100 Europe award, a prestigious list honoring the year's most promising private technology ventures from the European business region. Launched in 2001 as a proprietary mobile device enhancing networking at events, SpotMe pivoted in 2011 into a mobile application technology and service provider to become today the number one trusted event app platform for Fortune 500 global organizations. SpotMe CEO Pierre Metrailler says: "We are delighted Red Herring selected us as a finalist for this distinguished award. Throughout our 16 years of existence, SpotMe has navigated several technology cycles and this selection is a recognition of our ability to continuously reinvent ourselves." The company has grown into a global technology and service provider with a team of over 100 talents based in EMEA, Americas and Asia-Pacific. The Red Herring editorial team selected the most innovative companies from a pool of hundreds from across Europe. The nominees are evaluated on 20 main quantitative and qualitative criterion, which include disruptive impact, market footprint, proof of concept, financial performance, technology innovation, social value, quality of management, execution of strategy, and integration into their respective industries. "This year was rewarding, beyond all expectations," said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. "There are many great companies generating really innovative and disruptive products in Europe. We had a very difficult time narrowing the pool and selecting the finalists. SpotMe shows great promise and therefore deserves to be among the finalists. Now we're faced with the difficult task of selecting the Top 100 winners of Red Herring Europe. We know that the 2017 crop will grow into some amazing companies that are sure to make an impact." The finalists are invited to present their winning strategies at the Red Herring Europe Forum in Amsterdam, April 24- 26, 2017. The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony. About Red Herring Click Here to learn more about Red Herring About SpotMe Click Here to learn more about SpotMe CONTACT: Alexandra Tamashiro, [email protected] SOURCE SpotMe Related Links https://www.spotme.com MIDDLETON, Wis., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Springs Window Fashions, LLC ("Springs" or the "Company") today announced that Eric Jungbluth has been named Chief Executive Officer. His appointment was effective April 10, 2017. Concurrent with the appointment, Scott A. Fawcett, who has served as CEO of Springs since 2008, will become Executive Chairman of Springs. Rajeev Amara, a Springs Board member and Managing Director of Springs' majority shareholder Golden Gate Capital, commented: "Scott has been an outstanding leader and a driving force of Springs' growth, expanding its brands and channels and fostering strong relationships with its community of customers and partners. We thank him for his many contributions to Springs during his 22 years at the Company and look forward to continuing to benefit from his leadership as he takes on the Executive Chairman role." Under Mr. Fawcett's leadership as CEO, Springs has meaningfully scaled its business through a focus on accelerating sales and investing in marketing resources, expanded its offerings in patio awnings, commercial solar shades and other highly complementary areas, and integrated five successful acquisitions. As Executive Chairman, Mr. Fawcett will provide counsel to the Company's senior leadership to support its strategic decision making. Mr. Fawcett said: "I am fortunate to have worked with an exceptionally dedicated and talented team, and today our company is stronger than ever. For that reason, the Board and I have decided that now is the right time to initiate this change and position our Company for continued success, and we are confident that Eric is the right person to lead our Company into an exciting new phase of growth. Eric shares Springs' passion of delivering the 'Best Experience' for our customers, partners and employees, and he brings tremendous experience growing businesses in residential and commercial markets. I look forward to working with Eric and continuing to provide strategic counsel in my capacity as Executive Chairman." Mr. Jungbluth brings to Springs over 16 years of experience in the consumer building products and industrials sectors, most recently serving as CEO and President of CPG International, a manufacturer of market-leading brands of highly engineered, premium, low-maintenance building products for residential, commercial and industrial markets. During his tenure as CEO from 2008-2016, CPG's revenue more than doubled and profitability outpaced sales growth. This period of rapid growth was achieved through entering adjacent categories via new product development and acquisitions, transforming CPG into a market-leading manufacturer of highly engineered, premium building materials. Today, CPG's residential brands, AZEK and Timbertech, are highly regarded for providing best-in-class quality and innovation. Mr. Amara continued: "We are extremely pleased to bring on an executive of Eric's caliber to lead the Springs management team. He has significant experience in the space and a demonstrated track record of building businesses and forging strong relationships with key stakeholders. We look forward to working with Eric as Springs embarks on its next chapter of growth." Mr. Jungbluth said: "It is a rare opportunity to join a company like Springs that has already achieved remarkable success, and I admire the Company's dedication to constantly improving the value that it delivers to customers and partners. I am excited to work with Scott, the rest of the Board and Springs' excellent management team to build upon Springs' stellar track record as we continue to grow the business." Prior to CPG, Mr. Jungbluth served as Executive Vice President of HNI Corporation and President of The HON Company, a well-recognized developer of workplace furniture, as well as President of Allsteel Inc. Earlier in his career, he held several senior roles at Moen Inc., a division of Fortune Brands, served as Vice President of Sales at Kirsch, a division of Newell, and spent ten years at Warner Lambert working in sales, marketing and brand management. Mr. Jungbluth has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse in Finance. About Springs Window Fashions Springs Window Fashions, the Best Experience Company, supplies leading retailers and distributors with a complete line of blinds, shades, specialty treatments and window hardware. Bali, Graber SWFcontract, MechoSystems, Horizons, Mariak and SunSetter are brands of Springs Window Fashions. Based in Middleton, Wis., the company has facilities in nine locations in the United States and Mexico and employs approximately 8,000 associates. For more information, visit www.springswindowfashions.com. About Golden Gate Capital Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with over $15 billion of capital under management. The principals of Golden Gate Capital have a long and successful history of investing across a wide range of industries and transaction types, including going-privates, corporate divestitures, and recapitalizations, as well as debt and public equity investments. Notable investments sponsored by Golden Gate Capital include Springs Window Fashions, Phillips-Medisize, ANGUS, Humanetics Innovative Solutions, EP Minerals, and U.S. Silica. For more information, visit www.goldengatecap.com. SOURCE Springs Window Fashions, LLC Related Links http://www.springswindowfashions.com BALDWIN PARK, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- StemCyte and Save the Cord Foundation are pleased to announce their joint participation in the upcoming International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) to be held in Los Angeles, California, May 14-19, 2017. Recognized as the world's largest international pre-collegiate science competition, millions of students compete worldwide in local and school-sponsored science fairs for an opportunity to showcase their independent research and compete for approximately $4 million in prizes at the prestigious Intel ISEF event. Nearly 5000 students from more than 75 different countries attend this event annually. Despite the treatment of 80+ diseases in more than 35,000 transplants worldwide, the topic of sourcing stem cells from cord blood has never been formally presented at Intel ISEF. Thus, Intel ISEF 2017 presents an opportunity for StemCyte and Save the Cord Foundation to break new ground by introducing this topic to tomorrow's leading scientists, doctors and community leaders. In addition, the team will be hosting a symposium featuring one of the world's leading neuroscientists, Wise Young, M.D., Ph.D. The Global Medical Director for StemCyte, Dr. Young, is a distinguished professor and founding director of the W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience. He will speak about cord blood's critical role in regenerative medicine and potential treatments for spinal cord injuries. For more information, visit: www.savethecordfoundation.org/intel-isef-stem-students-cord-blood-stemcyte-savethecord/ About StemCyte StemCyte's history started with a mission of being dedicated to helping the world's physicians save more lives by providing high quality, safe and effective stem cell transplantation and therapy to all patients in need. Located in the US, India and Taiwan, StemCyte has supplied over 2100 cord blood products for over 40 life-threatening diseases to over 300 leading worldwide transplant centers. StemCyte is actively involved in the development of stem cell therapies. StemCyte is chosen by the US Department of Health and Human Services to help establishing a public National Cord Blood Inventory. About Save the Cord Foundation (501c3 non-profit) Save the Cord Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, was established to promote awareness of the life-saving benefits of cord blood based on unbiased and factual information. The Foundation educates parents, health professionals and the general public about the need to preserve this valuable medical resource while providing information on both public cord blood donation programs and family cord blood banks worldwide. StemCyte 626-646-2500 StemCyte [email protected] 626-646-2500 SOURCE StemCyte LAFAYETTE, La., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) today announced that its Board of Directors has retained Petrie Partners LLC to assist the Board in its determination of the Company's strategic direction, including assessing its various strategic alternatives. The Board's decision to retain Petrie follows the successful completion of the Company's financial restructuring and emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization. "We are committed to increasing stockholder value," said Neal Goldman, Chairman of the Board of the Company, "and, as a newly appointed board of directors, we believe that engaging a financial advisor to help us assess the Company and its strategic alternatives will best enable us to establish an appropriate course." The Board intends to explore all potential avenues to increase stockholder value, which may include the acquisition of additional assets, accessing external capital, a business combination, or another strategic transaction. No decision has been made with regard to any alternatives, and there can be no assurance that this assessment will result in any transaction. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and are based upon Stone's current belief as to the outcome and timing of future events. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities or results that Stone plans, expects, believes, projects, estimates or anticipates will, should or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, the timing, extent and volatility of changes in commodity prices for oil and gas, operating risks, liquidity risks, our ability to access capital markets, political and regulatory developments and legislation, including developments and legislation relating to our operations in the Gulf of Mexico, and other risk factors and known trends and uncertainties as described in Stone's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For a more detailed discussion of risk factors, please see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, Stone's actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Stone assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update the information contained herein except as required by law. Stone Energy is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana with additional offices in New Orleans and Houston. Stone is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of properties in the Gulf of Mexico basin. Contact: Kenneth H. Beer Chief Financial Officer 337-521-2210 SOURCE Stone Energy Corporation Related Links http://www.stoneenergy.com NEW YORK, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has agreed to centralize all federally-filed product liability claims related to Stryker's recent recall for certain LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 Femoral Heads. According to an Order dated April 5th, the federal docket will be transferred to the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, in order to undergo coordinated pretrial proceedings. (In RE: Stryker Orthopaedics LFIT V40 Femoral Head Product Liability Litigation, MDL NO. 2768) "The JPML found that Stryker hip replacement claims stemming from the LFIT V40 femoral head recall shared enough in common to warrant centralization. These cases will now be subject to coordinated discovery and other pretrial proceedings, which will promote judicial efficiency and preserve the resources of the courts, parties and witnesses involved in this litigation," says Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is now offering free, no-obligation legal reviews to individuals who may have been harmed by Stryker's LFIT Anatomic Cobalt Chromium V40 femoral heads. Stryker LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 Femoral Head Recall Stryker issued an "Urgent Medical Device Recall Notification" to surgeons in August 2016, warning that certain LFIT V40 Femoral Heads had been associated with a higher-than-expected number of complaints involving taper lock failure. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) later designated Stryker's notification a Class II medical device recall, which indicates that the affected hip replacement components could cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Patients who experience taper lock failure are at risk for serious complications that may necessitate revision of their hip implant, including: Loss of mobility Pain Inflammation Adverse local tissue reaction Dislocation Joint instability Bone fractures around the components Leg length discrepancy Need for revision surgery The JPML initially transferred six Stryker hip replacement lawsuits to the District of Massachusetts. However, the Panel's April 5th Order notes that 27 potentially related actions are pending in various federal courts at this time. Those cases, as well as any future federal filings, may also be eligible for transfer to the new multidistrict litigation. Court documents indicate that dozens of additional product liability claims involving recalled LFIT V40 femoral heads are pending in New Jersey's Bergen County Superior Court. Plaintiffs pursuing those cases have petitioned for Multicounty Litigation designation, which would enable the state's docket to undergo coordinated proceedings before a single judge. Compensation may be available to individuals who suffered serious complications allegedly associated with defective LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 Femoral Head components. To learn more about filing a Stryker hip lawsuit, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP's website, or call 800-511-5092 to arrange for a free, no obligation case review. About Bernstein Liebhard LLP Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to once again be named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List," recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country. This year's nomination marks the thirteenth year the firm has been named to this prestigious annual list. Bernstein Liebhard LLP 10 East 40th Street New York, New York 10016 800-511-5092 ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. 2017 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, 800-511-5092. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. Contact Information: Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq. Bernstein Liebhard LLP info (at)consumerinjurylawyers(dot)com http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/ https://plus.google.com/115936073311125306742?rel=author SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP Related Links http://www.bernlieb.com PHOENIX, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking program designed to raise academic achievement at Arizona schools, Grand Canyon University will award 100 inner-city high school seniors full-tuition scholarships at a special ceremony at 5 p.m. April 19 on its west Phoenix campus. The Students Inspiring Students Scholarship program is a collaboration among Grand Canyon University, the GCU Scholarship Foundation, schools, and business and philanthropic leaders to improve K-12 education. "But at its core, it's about students helping students and the impact it can have at inner-city schools in our state," said Joe Veres, the university's director of K-12 outreach. The 100 scholarship recipients received academic assistance while in high school at GCU's Learning Lounge, a free after-school tutoring program designed to improve the skills and confidence of underperforming students as well as those taking advanced-level classes. Now, the scholarship recipients will pay it forward as college students by providing 100 hours per year of mentoring and academic support at a Learning Lounge site to assist the next group of high school students behind them. The result is a grass-roots, self-funded initiative that is both sustainable and scalable in which students are inspiring students, according to Brian Mueller, GCU's president. "We have seen the tremendous impact that a successful college student can have on a high school student with just a few extra hours of instruction per week," Mueller said. "They're getting one-on-one help and mentoring from students who have been in their shoes." Now in its second year, the Students Inspiring Students initiative is an expansion of GCU's four-year-old Learning Lounge project with nearby Alhambra High School, which has achieved remarkable results. Alhambra High, located in a diverse neighborhood of refugees from around the world, is a school where more than 40 languages are spoken and more than 90 percent of students fall below the federal poverty level. When the Learning Lounge opened, Alhambra was rated a D-rated school by the Arizona Department of Education based on its students' showing on the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS). Most recently, Alhambra was nine points away from being a "B" school. Further, the Learning Lounge program is now benefitting students from 55 K-12 schools in the Phoenix area. "There is a lot of discussion about what needs to be done to improve academic achievement in K-12 schools, but very few projects that are actually doing something about it," Mueller said. "We believe this will be truly transformational and could become a model that will be emulated nationally." The Students Inspiring Students full-tuition scholarships are made possible by a fundraising campaign between the Grand Canyon University Scholarship Foundation which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit -- and local business and philanthropic leaders. At a fundraising event in December, $350,000 was pledged to the Foundation's Students Inspiring Students Scholarship Fund. The university matches all Students Inspiring Students donations to the Foundation, bringing the total amount to be awarded this year to $700,000. The goal is to raise enough in donations to award 800 full-tuition scholarships (200 per year) to qualified high school seniors and create an education-minded inner-city community with students who are passionate, motivated and capable of succeeding in college and the workplace. "K-12 schools in this neighborhood are assets, not liabilities. And the kids in those schools are assets, not problems to be solved," Mueller said. "By investing in them, the trajectory of the entire neighborhood will change. "The good news is that this initiative requires no government help or intervention and no tax increase. It's a way for business and philanthropic leaders to partner with inner-city schools, give back to their community and make a significant impact on education in Arizona." About Grand Canyon University: Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona's premier private Christian university. GCU is regionally accredited and offers more than 160 academic programs for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University's curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu. About Grand Canyon University Scholarship Foundation: The Grand Canyon University Scholarship Foundation was established in 2006 and is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing scholarships to full-time ground traditional students attending Grand Canyon University. For more information, visit gcuscholarshipfoundation.org. SOURCE Grand Canyon University Related Links https://www.gcu.edu "Sun Country Airlines is Minnesota's Hometown Airline and in Minnesota, our lakes are part of our DNA. We want to honor the bodies of water synonymous with the Minnesota lifestyle, and are thrilled to unveil the Hometown Lakes Project," said Zarir Erani, Sun Country Airlines President and CEO. "From Lake of the Woods and Lake Superior upstate to Lake Nokomis and Lake Phalen in the Twin Cities to Lake Winona and Lake Washington downstate, Sun Country passengers will be able to explore Minnesota through our fleet's unique artwork and discover new reasons to love our hometown." Sun Country commissioned Minneapolis-based, nationally renowned artist Mark Herman to create the custom illustrations for each plane. For inspiration, he embarked with his dad on a trip across Minnesota to scout out lakes and landmarks. The trip resulted in incredible, custom lake and topography illustrations. During an event hosted today at Sun Country's hangar at Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport Terminal 2, Sun Country unveiled the first completed aircraft Lake Bemidji. The aircraft features its new Lake Bemidji name on the exterior of the aircraft, under either side of the cockpit, as well as outside the front boarding door. On the inside of the aircraft, the iconic Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox's lakeside attraction is the art inside the aircraft. All Hometown Lakes Project artwork will be rolled out to the rest of the fleet over the next several months. To learn more about Sun Country Airlines' Hometown Lakes Project and to book travel, visit suncountry.com. The artwork collection is available for purchase as a set of stationary notecards and playing cards on the Sun Country Store. To follow the project on social media, use #HometownLakesProject. Any use of the hashtag today, April 11, 2017, will trigger a $1 donation to Conservation Minnesota, up to $1,000*, donated by Sun Country Airlines. *Terms and conditions apply. Visit: www.suncountry.com/tweetforcharity for details. About Sun Country Sun Country Airlines (MN Airlines, LLC d.b.a. Sun Country Airlines) is based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. The award-winning airline, which flies to popular destinations across the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean, has earned a reputation for offering world-class service at an affordable price. The airline offers vacation packages through Sun Country Vacations, a program that allows travelers to book airfare, hotel, rental cars and more in a single, convenient transaction. Minnesota's Hometown Airline also offers Sun Country Charterstaking your private charter group virtually anywhere with a commitment to reliable and customized service. For more information, visit suncountry.com. Sun Country, Sun Country Airlines, Sun Country Vacations, Minnesota's Hometown Airline and the Compass logo are registered trademarks of MN Airlines, LLC d/b/a Sun Country Airlines. For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] SOURCE Sun Country Airlines Related Links http://www.suncountry.com LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Learning House, Inc., an academic program manager (APM) for colleges and universities in the United States, has acquired two businesses to expand its service offerings. Learning House is building upon its foundation in online program management to include outreach services for international students and professional development course offerings for teachers. The company also provides tailored solutions to companies looking to develop a more skilled workforce. New services offered include: Learning House International (LHI) , which was created through the acquisition of Education for Advancement. LHI helps connect international students with colleges and universities in the United States and the United Kingdom . LHI provides support throughout the enrollment process, including document collection and assistance with navigating the complicated visa process, and plays an important role in helping partner institutions build their brands overseas. , which was created through the acquisition of Education for Advancement. LHI helps connect international students with colleges and universities in and the . LHI provides support throughout the enrollment process, including document collection and assistance with navigating the complicated visa process, and plays an important role in helping partner institutions build their brands overseas. Advancement Courses, which offers graduate-level professional development courses to working K-12 teachers who want to improve their salary potential and better serve their students. More than 200 courses are offered in a variety of subjects, all designed to provide teachers with relevant knowledge that can be applied immediately to the classroom. "Higher education is evolving, and Learning House is at the forefront of the new frontier," said Todd Zipper, president and CEO of Learning House. "Our current businesses remain robust, and we wanted to take our commitment to quality and our innovative approach to new sectors of the education space. These acquisitions will allow us to more fully serve our current and future university partners by providing them with an enriched suite of services." These acquisitions represent a refinement in strategy for Learning House, which has been partnering with colleges and universities to offer online programs since 2001. Learning House will continue to evaluate additional opportunities, including working with enterprise and further development of just-in-time education models to build upon its coding bootcamp offering, The Software Guild. The goal is to help colleges and universities diversify their program portfolios and remain nimble in the rapidly changing world of education. Currently, Learning House has almost 50 partners and offers customized solutions from its full suite of services. To learn more, visit www.learninghouse.com. About Learning House The Learning House, Inc. helps people improve their lives through education. The academic program manager offers a full suite of education services, including: Online Program Management (OPM), Corporate Solutions, The Software Guild, Learning House International and Advancement Courses. Built on a foundation of data-driven decision making, thorough market research and robust technology services, Learning House is focused on delivering high-quality, relevant just-in-time education services to meet the needs of a dynamic, global market. Through its partnerships, Learning House helps universities acquire more students, produce more graduates and deliver better outcomes and helps companies attract, develop and retain a happier, more skilled workforce. SOURCE The Learning House, Inc. Related Links http://www.learninghouse.com NEW YORK, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- REX is changing the way people buy and sell homes. The interaction between the buyer and seller needs to be mobile first. REX has lived this since May 2015. Now with the partnership with The Momentum Group, the leading WeChat marketing agency in the U.S, REX will be extending this experience to the fastest growing luxury property buying market in the world. "REX is committed to helping our sellers market to audiences across the world," says Elizabeth Reams Director of Digital Marketing at Rex. "We're pleased to partner with The Momentum Group to strategically enter the China Market on WeChat." The Momentum Group has launched the REX account on WeChatify. WeChatify enables marketers to access WeChat specific information like user attributes and location to refine and optimize their social marketing strategies. "The marriage of luxury and technology has been converging for years. This partnership between TMG & REX unleashes the power of WeChatify to the Chinese luxury buying market on WeChat," says Jeff Fish, Head of Client Strategy at TMG. REX is utilizing next generation VR technology to provide an immersive property search experience to potential buyers who could be thousands of miles away. The luxury buyer no longer needs to fly to the US to look at the home as they can now experience it first hand on their phone on WeChat. The buyer can then schedule a meeting with a REX associate directly on WeChat. The Official Account will be the key communication channel between China's luxury property buying community and REX associates. Follow REX to get up to date information on some of the most premium property listings in the world! The WeChat account ID is LuxuryRealEstateUSA About The Momentum Group: The Momentum Group is a WeChat Marketing Agency that is redefining how global brands connect with customers on WeChat. WeChatify is the WeChat marketing platform created by TMG and is used by some of the top brands in retail, hospitality and tourism like Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, The Met, Saks 5th Ave, Tanger Outlets and many more. About REX REAL ESTATE: REX is changing the way people buy and sell homes. Residential real estate has gone virtually unchanged for 50 years. And that's why we set out to create a better experience. REX was founded by a team of business leaders from the tech, finance and real estate industries. And in May 2015, we launched REX - a platform and live, in-person service where homeowners list, discover and purchase homes from any device, anytime, anywhere - all without outrageous fees. Jeff Fish The Momentum Group +1 646 503 1171 [email protected] SOURCE The Momentum Group JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TrialScope, the global leader in clinical trial transparency and compliance solutions, today announced the launch of ATLAS Global Compliance, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that ensures clinical trial sponsors are tracking and managing global clinical trial disclosure compliance appropriately. ATLAS enables sponsors to quickly ensure that their trials are compliant by combining key information from all sites in the trial into one, easily accessible view. ATLAS addresses the issues within global disclosure and compliance that pose the greatest challenges to trial sponsors, including: Identifying and managing local or regional disclosure requirements Ensuring the sponsor's disclosure policies are in effect Tracking disclosure performance against requirements and policies ATLAS is designed to support sponsors of all sizes, providing critical compliance and disclosure oversight through an easy-to-implement SaaS solution. For sponsors who are managing multiple sites in multiple geographies, ATLAS ensures all compliance and disclosure requirements are met, eliminating potential costs and delays in the trial. Mark Heinold, TrialScope CEO, noted, "ATLAS and the expansion of TrialScope's portfolio of transparency and compliance solutions, reflect two shifts in the marketplace: increased complexity and risk and a growing need for broader, more meaningful views of global transparency initiatives. We are committed to supporting disclosure and transparency efforts that ultimately provide a better understanding of clinical research around the world." Clinical trial sponsors seeking more information about TrialScope's ATLAS Global Compliance can register for a complimentary webinar on April 26, 2017. About TrialScope TrialScope simplifies the complexities of clinical trial transparency. TrialScope's award-winning, proven solutions have been implemented successfully and rigorously tested in the most complex environments and are managing disclosures for roughly 35% of industry sponsored clinical trials. The company's market-driven solutions and expertise enable sponsors to improve performance, mitigate compliance risk, and ultimately optimize efficiencies with clinical content lifecycle management tools, expertise and processes. TrialScope technologies are offered via a validation-ready SaaS platform hosted in a private cloud. Media Contact: Alyson Kuritz for TrialScope [email protected] (908) 892-7149 SOURCE TrialScope Related Links http://www.trialscope.com WASHINGTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG), an advertising industry initiative to fight criminal activity in the digital advertising supply chain, today announced that more than 200 companies in the digital advertising industry from more than 20 countries have now applied for TAG Registration, a prerequisite for participation in TAG certification seal programs. TAG Registered companies have been verified as legitimate participants in the digital advertising industry through a proprietary background check and review process powered by Dun & Bradstreet and subsequent approval by TAG. Following their approval, companies can be searched by name or by their unique, persistent TAG-IDs through the TAG Registry. In another sign of the broad and deep industry support for its efforts, TAG also announced the companies that have been awarded certification seals so far in 2017 through the Certified Against Fraud, Certified Against Piracy, and Inventory Quality Guidelines (IQG) programs. (The inaugural seal recipients for the TAG Certified Against Malware Program, the fourth of TAG's program areas, will be announced later this year.) "Our industry's efforts to fight fraud, combat malware, stop piracy, and improve transparency are building overwhelming momentum, as hundreds of companies agree to join TAG and take part in our certification programs," said Mike Zaneis, CEO of TAG. "Over the coming months, we plan to extend TAG's efforts to include even more advertisers, brands, and agencies, as TAG participation becomes a mandatory baseline requirement for every legitimate company doing business in the digital advertising ecosystem. We commend the companies who have applied for TAG Registration and been awarded TAG certification seals for 2017 as they help us create a safe and trustworthy framework for the continued growth and success of digital advertising." New TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal Recipients TAG today named the second group of companies to be awarded the TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal, including Forensiq*, LKQD*, Publicis Groupe, Publishers Clearing House*, Receptiv (formerly MediaBrix), Sociomantic Labs*, and Verta Media, all of whom have completed the review process around TAG's rigorous set of anti-fraud requirements. (Starred companies (*) were independently validated by an external auditor, BPA Worldwide, while the other companies self-attested to their compliance.) Those companies bring the total to 23 companies that have received the TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal, joining the first group of companies named in December 2016. The initial group of TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal recipients included Amobee, comScore, DoubleVerify, Dstillery, Google, WPP's GroupM, Horizon Media, Integral Ad Science, Interpublic Group, Moat, Omnicom Media Group, OpenX Technologies, Inc.*, ProData Media, Rocket Fuel Inc., Sovrn*, and White Ops, Inc. Additional information about the TAG Certified Against Fraud Program can be found here. 2017 TAG Certified Against Piracy Seal Recipients TAG also announced the 2017 Seal recipients for the Certified Against Piracy Program, validating those companies as TAG-approved providers of anti-piracy services. The 2017 Certified Against Piracy Seal recipients are Amobee, AppNexus*, comScore*, DataXu, DoubleVerify*, Forensiq*, Google, WPP's GroupM, Integral Ad Science*, LKQD*, OpenX*, Sovrn*, SpotX, Veri-Site SIPI*, and WhiteBULLET*. (Starred companies (*) were independently validated by external auditors, BPA Worldwide or Ernst & Young, while the other companies self-attested to their compliance.) Additional information about the TAG Certified Against Piracy Program can be found here. 2017 TAG Inventory Quality Guidelines Seal Recipients TAG also announced the 2017 Seal recipients for the Inventory Quality Guidelines (IQG) 2.2 Program, which provides a set of common disclosures relating to the quality of the inventory for publishers and platforms to inform their clients and partners on the buy-side. Those guidelines increase transparency in the ecosystem by giving companies a common framework to describe and disclose the characteristics of advertising inventory and creative content before and during transactions. The 2017 IQG Seal recipients are AppNexus*, Conversant Media, DataXu, Goodway Group, GumGum*, LKQD*, OpenX*, RhythmOne, RocketFuel, Sovrn*, SpotX, Tremor Video, Unruly*, Viant, Vibrant Media, Yahoo, and Ziff Davis. (Starred companies (*) were independently validated by an external auditor, BPA Worldwide, to achieve Tier One status, while the other companies self-attested to their audit and compliance.) Additional information about the TAG IQG Program can be found here. Future Seal Recipients In addition to the 2017 seal recipients named today, additional companies will be recognized over coming months as they complete the TAG Registration and TAG certification processes. About the Trustworthy Accountability Group The Trustworthy Accountability Group was created to foster transformational improvement at scale across the digital advertising ecosystem, focusing on four core areas: eliminating fraudulent traffic, combating malware, fighting ad-supported Internet piracy to promote brand integrity, and promoting brand safety through greater transparency. For more information on TAG, please visit tagtoday.net. Contact: Andrew Weinstein 202-667-4967 [email protected] SOURCE Trustworthy Accountability Group Related Links https://tagtoday.net SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TSSP, a global credit and credit-related investment firm affiliated with TPG Holdings, announced today that TSSP has signed definitive agreements with Dyal Capital Partners ("Dyal"), a division of Neuberger Berman Group, for Dyal to take a passive, non-voting minority interest in TSSP. All proceeds from the transaction will be retained in TSSP to expand the platform's capabilities and further strengthen alignment with its investors. Since being founded by its management team and TPG in 2009, TSSP has grown to become a leading investment platform with approximately $20 billion in assets under management. TSSP has established a global reach with offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Dallas, Houston, Boston, Luxembourg and Melbourne. Alan Waxman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of TSSP, commented: "This partnership will broaden both our network and our resources available to pursue the strategic initiatives of our business with the goal of continuously sourcing new credit and credit-related investment opportunities. It will also further strengthen our alignment of interest with our limited partners. Dyal has a terrific, well-earned reputation for supporting management teams and we are excited to welcome them as partners." Michael Rees, Head of Dyal Capital Partners, added: "We are excited to partner with TSSP, which in our opinion is going to continue to be one of the leaders in the credit space for many years to come. TSSP's long-term oriented, highly-flexible capital base that allows it to selectively invest across industries, geographies, capital structures and asset classes sets it apart. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with the TSSP team." Jon Winkelried, Co-Chief Executive Officer of TPG, said: "Since our investment in its founding in 2009, TSSP has been an important and highly successful part of the TPG family. With this transaction, we are excited about the TSSP team's future and look forward to our continued partnership." Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and closing is anticipated to occur upon the satisfaction of customary conditions. About TSSP TSSP is the global credit and credit-related investment platform partnered with TPG. Co-founded in 2009 by Managing Partner Alan Waxman, TSSP has approximately $20 billion in assets under management. TSSP has a long-term oriented, highly flexible capital base that allows it to invest across industries, geographies, capital structures and asset classes, in distressed assets but also healthy and growth companies. TSSP's investments are typically complex to source, analyze and execute. For more information, please visit www.tpg.com/platforms/tssp. About Dyal Capital Partners Dyal Capital Partners, a division of Neuberger Berman Group, seeks to acquire minority equity interests in institutional alternative asset management businesses worldwide. Dyal Capital Partners was established in 2011 and currently has 22 minority partnerships. For more information, please visit www.dyalcapital.com. About TPG TPG is a leading global alternative asset firm founded in 1992 with approximately $72 billion of assets under management. TPG's investment platforms are across a wide range of asset classes, including private equity, growth venture, real estate, credit, and public equity. TPG aims to build dynamic products and options for its investors while also instituting discipline and operational excellence across the investment strategy and performance of its portfolio. For more information please visit www.tpg.com. SOURCE TSSP BOSTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What: An informational picket by hundreds of Tufts Medical Center nurses When: Wednesday, April 12; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Where: Outside Tufts Medical Center; 800 Washington St., Boston Who: Tufts Medical Center RNs and their friends, families, neighbors, and supporters Why: The MNA nurses of Tufts Medical Center will hold an informational picket to educate the public about their ongoing struggles with management to resolve several urgent issues affecting patient care, including: Constant understaffing of RNs throughout the hospital The need for the hospital to end the use of reassignment the practice of requiring RNs to move to floor/units where they are not experienced or trained to care for those types of patients as a staffing mechanism Ongoing problems with turnover and recruiting/retaining new nurses due to uncompetitive wages And efforts by management to cut nurses' benefits, which will lead to an additional increase in nurse turnover "We will be outside the hospital Wednesday evening because we want the public to know we are completely dedicated to keeping Tufts patients safe and healthy," said Barbara Tiller, RN and co-chair of the MNA bargaining unit at Tufts. "But management's decisions around staffing, as well as how they hire, train, and treat their staff nurses, negatively affect our ability to deliver top-quality care to our patients." The informational picket follows a vote by nurses on March 29 that authorizes their union negotiating committee to call a one-day strike if and when they feel it is necessary. The RNs have been in talks with management for a new contract since April of 2016. 24 sessions have been held in total, but little headway has been made on the key issues (outlined above). A federal mediator joined the negotiations following the March 29 vote. "The purpose of our strike authorization vote was to tell management how serious we are about resolving these issues as part of our contract talks," said Mary Havlicek Cornacchia, RN and bargaining unit co-chair. "The purpose of our informational picket is to inform the public about what is at stake if these issues continue to go unresolved. It's a matter of people's health and safety." For full details on the nurses' contract talks, as well as information on their strike authorization vote, visit http://bit.ly/Tufts3_29_17. MassNurses.org Facebook.com/MassNurses Twitter.com/MassNurses Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association Related Links http://www.massnurses.org H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum : the United Arab Emirates is now a world-class destination for innovators to come and work with our government institutions to shape the future of vital sectors. The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) concluded the second round of the Dubai Future Accelerators (DFA) with 28 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) signed between Dubai government departments and innovative companies from around the world. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/489225/Crown_Prince_of_Dubai.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/489226/DFA_s_closing_ceremony.jpg ) Twelve entities took part in the successful second round of the DFA program, which connects emerging technology companies with Dubai government bodies to test new approaches at the city- scale. The Road and Transport Authority and Uber agreed to explore what regulations would be required to test autonomous flying vehicles in Dubai. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) signed four MoUs with Funzi, Proversity, Zspace, and iMake, who will launch an e-training program for schools in Dubai and train Emirati nationals in 21st century skills. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) signed an MoU with Desolinator to test a household desalination plant that uses solar energy to turn seawater into drinking water; other MoU's were signed with Mulk holding and SolarBanks. Moreover, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) signed agreements with ASG Medical Equipment, ArcSecond and Photothera Labs to develop advanced health solutions, including a new technology to treat the eye retina for diabetic patients. du signed an MoU with Ultimate AI to use artificial intelligence to dramatically improve customer service in both Arabic and English. The Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai (DNRD) will work with ObjectTech and Luther Systems to streamline the process for becoming resident in Dubai using biometric and blockchain technology. Dubai Economy (formally DED) signed MoUs with Otonomos and MarketIQ to create new and innovative licensing procedures, reducing processing time for applications by 80%. Dubai Police (DP) signed three agreements with Papilon, Velours, and Parabon, to deploy facial recognition glasses, a DNA-image database, and indoor mapping technologies that increase efficiency by 90%. Etisalat will work with Mobile Doctors, AlTibbi, and Made of Genes in order to bring the latest telemedicine technologies to the large medical institutions in the region, as well as to pilot a "geno-bank" to Dubai. "The United Arab Emirates is now a world-class destination for innovators to come and work with our government institutions to shape the future of vital sectors," said H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), as he attended the closing ceremony. "The UAE is offering technology companies an ideal platform to test global technologies and future solutions, which cements its leading position in the future industry and in the global charge to shape the future of the most vital sectors today." The list of MoUs included agreements between Smart Dubai, Avanza Solutions, and Consensys to standardize government services payment gateways using blockchain technology in Dubai. The Dubai Municipality signed an MoU with Renca to legalize 3D printing building material, as a way to promote 3D printing in construction. They also signed with Winnow to encourage the deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) to reduce food waste across the hospitality sector. "The Dubai Future Accelerators program sets an example and a business model where various sectors - public and private - can come together to draw up scenarios to face the challenges of the future, and benefit from the opportunities to secure sustainable development and prosperity for future generations," H.H. Sheikh Hamdan added. "The second edition of the program witnessed seismic shifts in the field of future technologies. This reiterates the fact that UAE is now a global hub for exporting advanced technologies and a platform to exchange experience and learn about the latest developments. Furthermore, the initiatives launched today will enhance the program's reputation as the world's best platform to connect the private and public sectors to build the future." DFA Future Team Heroes Award DFA's second round also launched the DFA Future Team Heroes Award. This was given to the government team that came up with innovative solutions, added significant value to the program and boosted efforts to realise the forward-thinking vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has called for increased cross-sectoral cooperation. The winning teams were: Dubai Police in first place, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in second and the Department of Naturalisation and Residency Dubai in third place. An Ideal Opportunity to Find Solutions for Future Challenges The Dubai Future Accelerators program offers an ideal opportunity to work towards finding solutions for the challenges that are expected to arise in vital sectors of the economy. Over the course of 9 weeks, the program pairs top companies and cutting-edge entrepreneurs with powerful partners in the Dubai Government to create breakthrough solutions together. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) LONDON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Growing focus on expansion of gas pipeline infrastructure, along with increasing utilization of natural gas for re-injection into oilfields to enhance oil production, declining LNG prices and implementation of favorable government policies is expected to boost demand for LNG in the UAE. In order to address the growing domestic demand for LNG, the country imports natural gas and LNG from Qatar through Jebel Ali LNG Terminal and Dolphin Energy operated pipeline. Jebel Ali (OFFSHORE) LNG Terminal was commissioned in 2010 in Dubai, with an initial LNG handling capacity of 3 mmtpa, which increased to 6 mmtpa in 2015. Power generation sector was the largest consumer of LNG in the UAE as of 2015, however, with commissioning of four nuclear plants with 5.6 GW capacity, demand for LNG from power sector in the country is expected to decline during the forecast period, thereby impacting demand for LNG in the region. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4518430/ According to "UAE LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025", UAE LNG market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% during 2016-2021. UAE is the third largest importer of LNG in Middle East & Africa region in 2015. The country mainly imports LNG from Qatar, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago and Indonesia. Various upcoming LNG terminal projects, surging demand for natural gas and cost-effectiveness of LNG in comparison with other alternative fuels are major factors anticipated to positively influence the LNG market scenario in UAE, over next ten years."UAE LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025" discussesthe following aspects of LNG market in the UAE: - UAE LNG Demand & Supply Analysis - UAE LNG Potential Demand & Supply Gap - Regional Market Analysis (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Others) Why You Should Buy This Report? - To gain an in-depth understanding of LNG market in the UAE. - To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next ten years - To help LNG terminal operators, aggregators, suppliers, marketers and consultants in aligning their market-centric strategies - 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. 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/4518430/ 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 http://www.reportbuyer.com LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- UbiQD, LLC, a New Mexico-based quantum dot manufacturer, announced today that it has achieved greater than 80% quantum yield, or optical efficiency, for its quantum dots over a broad spectrum from the visible to the near infra-red (550 nm to 1000 nm peak emission). For some colors between orange (600 nm) and deep red (800 nm), the company manufactured optimized quantum dots with near 100% quantum yield. With this milestone, UbiQD's materials now have the highest reported photon conversion efficiency for quantum dots that do not contain cadmium, an element known for its toxicity and which is widely used by many quantum dot manufacturers. At the same time, the new quantum yield reported by the company is also comparable to the best cadmium-containing nanomaterials that currently exist. Prototype electricity-producing quantum dot window developed by UbiQD, one square foot in size, sits on a rock outcropping near the company's headquarters in Los Alamos, New Mexico. "We pride ourselves in being leading authorities on characterizing the optical performance of nanomaterials, and are very confident in these results," said Dr. Matt Bergren, Vice President of UbiQD. "We are making this announcement today after having independently verified the results with several third parties, including accredited research institutions such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory." The benefit of high quantum yield positively impacts all quantum dot applications including lighting, displays, security, biotechnology, and design. While there are many potential markets for UbiQD's patented technology, the company's primary focus is enabling windows to generate electricity using products known as "luminescent solar concentrators." In July 2016, the National Science Foundation awarded UbiQD a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to develop luminescent solar concentrating glass windows incorporating its near-infrared quantum dots. As part of the expanded effort, Dr. Nikolay Makarov joined UbiQD in late 2016 after a postdoc at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Physical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Group. "This cadmium-free quantum dot efficiency milestone takes us one step closer to achieving our vision of powering cities with ubiquitous quantum dot window tints," said Dr. Hunter McDaniel, founder and CEO of UbiQD. "Coupled with our low-toxicity solution and superior stability compared to other cadmium-free quantum dot materials, we offer a compelling value proposition and fast return on investment." UbiQD has recently been testing prototype luminescent solar concentrator windows on the square foot scale using its high-performance glass quantum dot composites and has plans to start pilot projects to validate the technology in the marketplace later this year. About UbiQD, LLC UbiQD is a nanotechnology development company based in Los Alamos, New Mexico that manufactures low-hazard quantum dots and nanocomposites. While the company's primary focus is in enabling windows to generate electricity, UbiQD also currently sells its materials for R&D purposes and provides materials technology development services. Licensing technology developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UbiQD envisions a future where quantum dots are ubiquitous in a wide spectrum of applications. For more information or to purchase high quantum yield cadmium-free quantum dots, visit www.UbiQD.com. SOURCE UbiQD, LLC Related Links http://ubiqd.com SAN DIEGO, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson & Weaver, LLP (J&W) launched an investigation into whether the board members of UCP, Inc. (NYSE: UCP) breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed sale of the Company to Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS). On April 11, 2017, UCP announced it had signed a definitive merger agreement with Century. Under the terms of the agreement, each outstanding share of UCP common stock will be converted into the right to receive $5.32 in cash and 0.2309 of a newly issued share of Century common stock. Based on April 10, 2017, closing sale price of Century's common stock the implied value of the total stock and cash consideration to be received by UCP's stockholders in the merger is only $11.35 per share. The investigation concerns whether the UCP board failed to satisfy their duties to the Company shareholders, including whether the board adequately pursued alternatives to the acquisition and whether the board obtained the best price possible for UCP shares of common stock. Given the Company's outlook for future revenue and earnings growth, Johnson & Weaver is investigating whether the proposed deal price represents adequate consideration; moreover, according to Yahoo! Finance, at least one Wall Street analyst's estimated price target is $14.00 per share. If you are a shareholder of UCP and believe the proposed buyout price is too low and you're interested in learning more about the investigation or your legal rights and remedies, please contact lead analyst Jim Baker ([email protected]ver.com) at 619-814-4471. About Johnson & Weaver, LLP: Johnson & Weaver, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonandweaver.com. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact: Johnson & Weaver, LLP Jim Baker, 619-814-4471 [email protected] SOURCE Johnson & Weaver, LLP Related Links http://johnsonandweaver.com Having already united twenty countries across five continents since embarking upon its global journey in Brasil, the world's most international, independent music festival brand is adding Australia, China and India to its unmatched international repertoire. On September 9-10, 2017, ULTRA will land in Shanghai for the first ever edition of ULTRA China. A full-blown two-day festival, this will mark the first time an independent and international festival brand produces an event of this magnitude in the region. Details regarding the venue, tickets and lineup will be released soon at umfchina.com. In addition to ULTRA China, brand new Road To ULTRA events will be landing in New Delhi, India at the India Exposition Mart, Greater Noida this year, and Mumbai, India and Melbourne, Australia in February, 2018. Following the first event in Melbourne in 2018, organizers can also reveal that full-scale festivals will then be touching down in both Sydney and Melbourne for 2019. More details will be released over the coming months. This huge announcement comes off the back of the recent news that ULTRA WORLDWIDE's burgeoning house and techno brand RESISTANCE will be heading to Ibiza for an eight week residency at the world's biggest club, Privilege, this summer, with an exclusive six-week residency spearheaded by Sasha & John Digweed. The brand's first official foray onto the island, RESISTANCE will run every Tuesday from July 25 until the official closing party on September 12. More details and artists will be revealed in the coming weeks. For tickets and further info head to www.resistanceibiza.com WATCH THE RESISTANCE IBIZA TRAILER ULTRA WORLDWIDE CALENDAR: ULTRA South Africa (Cape Town): February 24 @ Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town ULTRA South Africa (Johannesburg): February 25 @ Nasrec Expo Centre, Johannesburg ULTRA Music Festival Miami: March 24-26 @ Bayfront Park, Downtown Miami ULTRA Korea: June 10-11 @ Olympic Stadium, Seoul ULTRA Singapore: June 10-11 @ ULTRA Park, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore ULTRA Europe: July 14-16 @ Poljud Stadium, Split Croatia ULTRA China: September 9-10, Shanghai Road to ULTRA Taiwan: September 2017 Road to ULTRA Hong Kong: September 2017 Road to ULTRA Philippines: September 2017 Road to ULTRA India (New Delhi): September 2017 @ India Exposition Mart, Greater Noida ULTRA Beach Bali: September 2017 ULTRA Japan: September 16-18 @ Tokyo Odaiba Ultra Park, Tokyo Road to ULTRA Buenos Aires: October 2017 Road to ULTRA Peru: October 2017 Road to ULTRA Chile: October 2017 ULTRA Brasil: October 12-14 @ Sambodromo, Rio de Janeiro Road to ULTRA Australia (Melbourne): February 2018 Road to ULTRA India (Mumbai): February 2018 For full details on all ULTRA Worldwide events, visit www.umfworldwide.com RESISTANCE CALENDAR: RESISTANCE Cape Town: February 24 @ Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town RESISTANCE Johannesburg: February 25 @ Nasrec Expo Centre, Johannesburg RESISTANCE Miami: March 24-26 @ Bayfront Park, Downtown Miami RESISTANCE Singapore: June 10-11 @ ULTRA Park, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore RESISTANCE Seoul: June 10-11 @ Olympic Stadium, Seoul RESISTANCE Croatia: July 14-16 @ Poljud Stadium, Split RESISTANCE Ibiza Residency: Tuesdays July 25 September 12 @ Privilege Ibiza RESISTANCE Shanghai: September 9-10, Shanghai RESISTANCE Bali: September 2017 RESISTANCE Tokyo: September 16-18 @ Tokyo Odaiba Ultra Park, Tokyo RESISTANCE Rio de Janeiro: October 12-14 @ Sambodromo, Rio de Janeiro RESISTANCE Lima: October 2017 RESISTANCE Santiago: October 2017 RESISTANCE Buenos Aires: October 2017 For full details on all RESISTANCE events, visit www.resistancemusic.com About ULTRA Worldwide ULTRA WORLDWIDE IS THE GLOBAL EDITION OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER ELECTRONIC MUSIC EVENT, ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL. The ULTRA brand in relation to live events was founded in 1997 in Miami by Executive Producer, President & CEO, Russell Faibisch, who began by producing electronic music events which led to the inaugural Ultra Music Festival in 1999 on the sands of Miami Beach. The internationally renowned festival, which has taken place every March since its inception, celebrated its nineteenth anniversary on March 24-26, 2017 by bringing over 165,000 music enthusiasts to the sold out waterfront event in the heart of the City of Miami. Ultra Music Festival, recently voted the world's #1 Festival by DJ Mag, returns to Bayfront Park for its twentieth annual edition on March 23-25, 2018. Choosing to follow a unique and creative vision and a wholly organic growth focused on its true love for music, artists and fans alike, the ULTRA and ULTRA Worldwide brands represent not only the world's biggest and most successful remaining INDEPENDENT electronic music festival brand, but also the most international festival brand in the world. Event organizers continue to transport the unrivaled experience from the Miami flagship festival to an ever-growing number of destinations and Ultranauts all over the globe. Over the past nineteen years, thousands of the world's most iconic DJs, producers and live acts have mesmerized audiences with awe-inspiring sets at ULTRA festivals in ARGENTINA, BALI, BRASIL, CHILE, CROATIA, IBIZA, JAPAN, KOREA, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA and of course MIAMI, as well as ROAD TO ULTRA events in BOLIVIA, CHILE, COLOMBIA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, KOREA, MACAU, PARAGUAY, PERU, THE PHILIPPINES, PUERTO RICO, SINGAPORE, TAIWAN, THAILAND and the USA. Each new global edition has been founded on the same successful recipe that has been perfected over nineteen years in Miami, combining the most diverse electronic talent with the most technologically advanced, large-scale festival productions in the world. The ULTRA brands have pioneered the live stream experience with 'ULTRA LIVE' (with over 650 million live stream and recorded set views from Ultra Music Festival Miami since 2013) and the audio broadcasting platform 'UMF RADIO' (syndicated to FM Radio in over 62 countries and reaching more than 22 million listeners weekly). Also UMF FILMS' collaboration with FINAL KID has seen some of the most visually breathtaking festival aftermovies in the music space, including a feature-length documentary exploring the explosion of dance music, entitled CAN U FEEL IT, which was premiered on the red carpet at the Klipsch Amphitheater in Miami in 2012 and was exhibited in over 500 theaters across the Unites States. 2016 and 2017 have seen the ULTRA and ULTRA WORLDWIDE brands continue to push the boundaries even further, bringing an unparalleled combination of cutting edge productions and the world's best electronic acts back to previous strongholds and new frontiers across the globe. With the SOLD-OUT edition of ULTRA Brasil, ULTRA Singapore having become a full scale two-day festival, RESISTANCE's debut standalone South America Tour, and the debut of ROAD TO ULTRA's Hong Kong, 2016 was the brand's most successful year to date. A RESISTANCE summer residency at Privilege Ibiza is confirmed for 2017, while ULTRA China will debut in Shanghai on September 9-10, 2017. Also in 2017, two ROAD TO ULTRA events will take place in New Delhi and India. ULTRA have revealed further expansion into Australia for 2018. The ULTRA brand will be present in at least TWENTY-THREE COUNTRIES across SIX CONTINENTS worldwide by the end of 2018. SOURCE ULTRA Worldwide Related Links http://www.umfworldwide.com RED BANK, N.J., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Omnichannel data powerhouse V12 Data announced today the appointment of Karen Mascott as Chief Marketing Officer. "As V12 Data continues to grow, Karen will help us build our brand, drive demand for our products, and evolve our value proposition," said Anders Ekman, CEO of V12 Data. "We couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Karen to the team as we continue to build our momentum as the leading omnichannel data provider." Karen has a proven track record in driving strategic marketing initiatives, including customer retention, engagement, analytics and new customer acquisition. Prior to joining V12 Data, Karen was VP Group Marketing Director at Digitas. There she led Proctor and Gamble's digital marketing efforts for their fem care brands. She was also responsible for overseeing omnichannel marketing programs for global brands such as The Home Depot and General Motors. Prior to her marketing career, Karen worked for several years in politics, including for Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts. Karen has an MBA from Boston College and a BA from Syracuse University. "Marketers are increasingly seeking to create constantly optimized omnichannel audiences to solve business problems," said Karen. "V12 Data has developed a truly unique and robust set of solutions that bridge the right data across channels to power right time omnichannel engagement when, where, and how a brand's customers and prospects prefer. I'm thrilled to be part of such a dynamic team and to apply my experience in driving V12 Data forward." About V12 Data As an omnichannel data powerhouse, V12 Data combines rich data assets with robust technology to provide brands with a seamless and connected customer view. Our solutions bridge the right data across channels to power right time omnichannel engagement when, where, and how a brand's customers and prospects prefer. SOURCE V12 Data SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Vitamin Angels, a 501c3 public charity, has begun providing eLearning services to its network of 1,000 NGO field partners that offer nutrition services to over 52 million beneficiaries around the world. The innovative approach to system design meets a critical need for the organization to provide technical training to tens of thousands of health care providers, many of which reside in remote settings with intermittent or no internet access. The xAPI-ready LMS-lite system courseware, built in collaboration with TorranceLearning, a custom learning design and development firm, can be accessed via the internet, or through a simple 8GB USB flash drive. The eLearning system dramatically increases efficiencies for the organization which leverages NGO partnerships to reach underserved and at-risk populations in 60 countries. "Vitamin Angels' challenge is to provide more opportunities to more health care providers each year to learn how to implement nutrition services consistent with best practice," stated Dr. Clayton Ajello, Senior Technical Advisor to Vitamin Angels. "With expert assistance from TorranceLearning, we have developed a unique learning solution." Until now, the organization has relied on in-person instructor-led trainings, reaching approximately 1,000 health care providers per year. With the introduction of this new eLearning solution, the organization anticipates reaching at least 6,000 health care providers in just the first year. Course-specific software applications are delivered via a USB flash drive, which also provides a web server and browser so users can access courses on any computer, irrespective of browser type or version, and even if the learner is not connected to the internet. Course activity for multiple learners can be stored on the USB flash drive and uploaded to the LMS for access by Vitamin Angels when an internet connection is available. Learners who successfully complete the training can print a certificate of completion from the USB flash drive. The eLearning courses are presented in multiple languages and include video demonstrations of appropriate distribution/administration methods for each nutrition intervention covered, performance tools that can be viewed or printed, and voice and animated graphics to aid low-literacy learners. "What we're offering is pretty standard fare for those in the developed world with reliable internet connections, modern internet browsers, and access to cloud-based tools," said Megan Torrance, Chief Energy Officer of TorranceLearning. "We met the challenge to deliver modern eLearning to any computer in the world, and get the usage data back to Vitamin Angels, by delivering the entire platform on a lowly USB stick." TorranceLearning was recognized for their innovation with the "Best of Show" award at Demofest, part of the eLearning Guild's Learning Solutions Conference in Orlando, Florida. This exceptional achievement represents back to back "Best of Show" awards for the learning software company. To learn more about Vitamin Angels' work, visit www.vitaminangels.org. About Vitamin Angels Vitamin Angels helps at-risk populations in needspecifically pregnant women, new mothers, and children under fivegain access to lifesaving and life changing vitamins and minerals. Vitamin Angels works to reach underserved communities across the U.S. and in nearly 60 countries around the world. Vitamin Angels has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for Financial Health, Accountability and Transparency. To learn more, visit vitaminangels.org. About Torrance Learning TorranceLearning helps clients build individual and organizational success by crafting custom learning experiences. By combining performance-based instructional design with software development and engaging media, TorranceLearning improves on-the-job results for people working in corporate, association and non-profit roles. TorranceLearning is based in Chelsea, Michigan. To learn more, visit www.torrancelearning.com. Press Contact Natalie Hernandez 805.456.5129 [email protected] SOURCE Vitamin Angels Related Links http://www.vitaminangels.org Especially significant is that winners are selected by Hedgeweek's readership across the entire scope of professionals in the hedge fund space, including investors and managers as well as fund administrators, custodians, accountants and auditors, law firms, consultants and fund distributors. Hedge funds and traditional asset managers have come to recognize the necessity for shadow accounting, and Viteos has redefined shadow across managers and funds. Viteos provides investment management operations outsourcing capability backed by advanced reporting and analytics to alternative and traditional managers. The firm's services are especially matched to those growing managers with a need for scalability, and for customized and automated shadow, reconciliation and trade support processes. Viteos seamlessly integrates its offering into virtually all existing platforms in the US and Europe. Said Shankar Iyer, Viteos CEO: "Viteos continues to garner recognition for our solutions to the challenges face by fund firms in the middle office. As shadow has becomes increasingly important, our approach, focused on operational efficiency, is unique. We are grateful for this Award. Its global scope confirms that we have delivered to meet the specific issues that fund managers face in shadow accounting. Viteos serves the middle office, shadow accounting, and regulatory needs of our clients worldwide. We are committed to providing leading middle office thought and practice as our clients' global environment becomes more complex." About Viteos Fund Services At Viteos, our best thinking and best practices help investment managers grow. We provide the efficient services and knowledgeable people to enable this growth, incorporating processes and technologies that are fully integrated with our clients' businesses. Using our capability, traditional asset managers and hedge funds have the scalability and flexibility they need to add new clients, gather new assets, develop new strategies and enter new markets. Across virtually any asset class, currency, exchange, border, fund structure, or commission rate, Viteos creates efficiencies by customizing processes and technologies tied to client strategies, and by seamlessly integrating our middle office, accounting, and regulatory services with client operations, systems, and platforms. For additional information, contact Terrence Mulry Mulry Consulting LLC 917.860.8137 [email protected] SOURCE Viteos Fund Services Related Links https://www.viteos.com NAMUR, Belgium, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE MKT: VNRX), is delighted to announce that David Vanston (FCCA, MBA) joined Volition as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective 10th April 2017. Mr. Vanston joins Volition from Octo Telematics, a high-growth technology company based in Boston, where he was the Senior Controller for the U.S. business. Mr. Vanston will be responsible for leading Volition's finances and will play a key role in Volition's increased global activity. Mr. Vanston succeeds David Kratochvil who tendered his resignation in November 2016, but kindly agreed to continue in the role during his notice period until his successor was found. Mr Vanston brings with him a strong background as an international finance executive and a senior controller, including extensive experience in Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and implementation of successful change programs. He has worked in a variety of sectors from manufacturing and technology to life sciences, with globally-listed companies whose revenues range from $20 million to $700 million. Volition's Chief Executive Officer Cameron Reynolds commented: "I am delighted that David is joining Volition. I am confident that given his background and experience, David will add value as we become a revenue-generating company." Mr. Reynolds added, "We would also like to thank Mr. Kratochvil for his contributions to Volition during his tenure with us and we wish him well in his future endeavours." Mr. Vanston has 20 years of financial management experience. Prior to Volition and Octo Telematics, Mr. Vanston held positions as Vice President of Excorp Medical, Inc., an early-stage company, Chief Financial Officer for GrowHow Ltd and Vice President Europe, Finance for Monster Worldwide, Inc. Mr Vanston managed and oversaw the accounting, finance, tax, treasury, financial planning and analysis of the business. Mr Vanston is a certified chartered accountant and holds an MBA from Warwick Business School. About Volition Volition is a multi-national life sciences company developing simple, easy to use blood-based cancer tests to accurately diagnose a range of cancers. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid -- an indication that disease is present. As cancer screening programs become more and more widespread, our products aim to help to diagnose a range of cancers quickly, simply, accurately and cost effectively. Early diagnosis has the potential to not only prolong the life of patients, but also to improve their quality of life. Volition's research and development activities are currently centered in Belgium, with additional offices in London, New York, Texas and Singapore, as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market first in Europe, then in the U.S. and ultimately, worldwide. For more information about Volition, visit Volition's website (http://www.volitionrx.com) or connect with us via: Twitter: https://twitter.com/volitionrx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volitionrx Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolitionRx/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VolitionRx The contents found at Volition's website address, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The addresses for Volition's website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are included in this document as inactive textual references only. Media / Investor Contacts Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this press release may be "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 concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the effectiveness of Volition's bodily-fluid-based diagnostic tests as well as Volition's ability to develop and successfully commercialize such test platforms for early detection of cancer. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. For instance, if we fail to develop and commercialize diagnostic products, we may be unable to execute our plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products in the clinical IVD market; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in Volition's development pipeline or any other diagnostic products Volition might develop; Volition will face fierce competition and Volition's intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics market and its rapid technological change; and other risks identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. Nucleosomics, NuQ, Nu.QTM and HyperGenomics and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE VolitionRx Ltd Related Links http://www.volitionrx.com HOLMDEL, N.J., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage (NYSE: VG), a leading provider of cloud communications for business, has appointed Johan Hybinette as the Company's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). In this role, Mr. Hybinette will oversee Vonage's information and cyber security management programs to meet the growth expectations of the Company, particularly as Vonage continues to focus on providing business communications services to enterprise companies. With more than 20 years of experience in information security, Mr. Hybinette brings to Vonage deep knowledge of the cloud communications industry and information security in the cloud. Most recently, he served as CISO at Hosting.com, a major international managed cloud provider, where he managed the company's vast portfolio of compliance certifications and led the organization's risk and compliance transformation to improve overall efficiency and communications. "As our focus on the enterprise segment continues to grow, Johan will be integral to Vonage's ability to efficiently and securely serve our customers," said Vonage CEO Alan Masarek. "I am excited to welcome Johan to the Vonage team and know that he will make a positive impact on our business as we continue on our path to being the clear leader in cloud communications for business." Prior to Hosting.com, Mr. Hybinette held both Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Technology Officer roles at Schryver Medical, Inc., where he built a fully HIPAA compliant IT and security environment from the ground up, with an IT infrastructure designed to be a fully redundant 24/7 operation. He has also served in various security and technology leadership roles in the healthcare, data and information security services industries, where a profound understanding of and ability to navigate compliance and regulatory standards are essential. Mr. Masarek continued, "As Vonage continues its global expansion, the need for Johan's experience in global markets, from a security leadership perspective and his knowledge of foreign compliance and regulatory issues, will reinforce the continued development of our information security roadmap and protection of company and customer assets and data." "Joining Vonage at a time when the Company is experiencing such tremendous and positive growth in the cloud communications space is very exciting," said Mr. Hybinette. "I look forward to being a part of the Company's continued evolution and focus on transforming the way businesses communicate and operate through cloud communications." A graduate of Georgia Tech University with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mr. Hybinette also holds numerous professional Information Security certifications. About Vonage Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a leading provider of cloud communications services for business. Vonage transforms the way people work and businesses operate through a portfolio of cloud-based communications solutions that enable internal collaboration among employees, while also keeping companies closely connected with their customers, across any mode of communication, on any device. Nexmo, the Vonage API Platform, provides tools for voice, messaging and phone verification services, allowing developers to embed contextual, programmable communications into mobile apps, websites and business systems, enabling enterprises to easily communicate relevant information to their customers in real time, anywhere in the world, through text messaging, chat, social media and voice. The Company also provides a robust suite of feature-rich residential communication solutions. In 2015 and 2016, Vonage was named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as-a-Service, Worldwide. Vonage has also earned Frost & Sullivan's 2015 Growth Excellence Leadership Award for Hosted IP and Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) Services and the 2016 North American Cloud Communications Product Line Strategy Leadership Award. For more information, visit www.vonage.com. Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing LLC, owned by Vonage America Inc. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage. To become a fan on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/vonage. (vg-a) SOURCE Vonage Related Links http://www.vonage.com WASHINGTON, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wall Street Fraud Watchdog says, "We are urging EB-5 investors to include us in their investment decision if they are dealing with a regional center, or a regional center's representatives-especially in China. Why spend $50,000+ US dollars for a regional center's finder fee-when it is their investment property they are trying to sell? EB-5 Visa Investors "As an example, we have heard about Chinese EB-5 Visa applicants who care more about getting their US Visa than ever seeing a return on their investment. As we would like to discuss anytime at 866-714-6466 we think EB-5 investors should get their Visa and receive a fair rate of return on their investment." http://WallStreetFraudWatchdog.Com The Wall Street Fraud Watchdog wants to emphasize they are extremely concerned Chinese or European EB-5 Visa applicants will be over impressed with 'location, location, location' when it comes to US residential apartment markets. They are especially referring to the overbuilt luxury apartment markets in Southern California, Seattle, Portland, Dallas, Chicago. They are also warning EB-5 Visa investors to be very cautious about hotel or resort type properties as they would like to explain anytime at 866-714-6466. http://WallStreetFraudWatchdog.Com Recent EB-5 News: According to a report on CNBC on March 8, 2017, "The visa program has come under criticism in the recent years as there have been multiple cases of scam and misuse. A special report by Reuters in 2010 identified many real estate firms misleading foreign investors by 'selling the American Dream' and looking for a quick way to receive investments to fund real estate projects. "More recently, a Chicago hotel developer was sentenced earlier last month in the largest EB-5 visa fraud scheme of $912 million for misleading 290 Chinese investors, according to Associated Press." For attribution please refer to the CNBC news story: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/08/another-us-visa-program-under-fire.html The Wall Street Fraud Watchdog is also urging EB-5 Visa investors to read a recent news article titled, "America is building more apartments than renters want." http://www.businessinsider.com/apartment-rent-occupancy-realpage-2017-3. The Wall Street Fraud Watchdog is very worried international law firms with offices in China, Central America, the Middle East or in Europe could be more interested in legal fee generation for the law firm-than a high quality outcome for a EB-5 Visa applicant. At the same time-they are not confident all regional centers have a make sense investment product for the applicant. Their initiative is all about protecting the EB-5 Visa program applicant and their money. "Why settle for less?" For more information related to investment due diligence for a potential EB-5 Visa investor, please contact the Wall Street Fraud Watchdog at 866-714-6466. http://WallStreetFraudWatchdog.Com Media Contact: Thomas Martin [email protected] 866-714-6466 SOURCE Wall Street Fraud Watchdog Related Links http://wallstreetfraudwatchdog.com BROOMFIELD, Colo., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Webroot, the market leader in endpoint security, network security, and threat intelligence, received a 5-star rating in the 2017 Partner Program Guide of CRN , a brand of The Channel Company. This annual guide recognizes an elite group of companies that offer solution providers the best partner tools in their channel programs. To determine the 2017 5-star ratings, The Channel Company's research team assessed each vendor's breadth of program offerings; focus on partner profitability; quality of partner training, education and support; strength of marketing programs and sales support; and depth of communication. Webroot's partner program enables managed service providers (MSPs) to leverage Webroot's endpoint and network threat protection to grow scalable, profitable services offerings that secure customers against the most advanced cyber threats. Security providers also can integrate Webroot BrightCloud Threat Intelligence into their solutions to protect against malicious URLs, IPs, files and mobile applications. Through security partners and a network of more than 8,000 MSPs, Webroot protects over 160,000 businesses. "At Webroot, we focus on providing our partners with a next-generation security service to combat today's evolving threats and a toolkit that is easy to implement and automate so our MSPs can grow a profitable business," said Charlie Tomeo, Webroot's vice president of worldwide business sales. "For solution providers, finding the right technology vendors to partner with is crucial to the health of their business, and the vast array of choices can be overwhelming," The Channel Company CEO Robert Faletra said. "Our annual Partner Program Guide and 5-star ratings help them narrow the field, identifying the most rewarding partner programs and outlining their strengths and benefits." Also, Webroot was recognized recently on CRN's 2017 Security 100 List. This project recognizes the coolest security vendors in each of five categories: Endpoint Security; Identity Management and Data Protection; Network Security; SIEM and Security Analytics; and Web, Email and Application Security. Webroot was named to the Security 100 list for demonstrating creativity and innovation in product development, as well as a strong commitment to delivering those offerings through a vibrant channel of solution providers. The 2017 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/ppg. Click to tweet: [email protected] given 5-star rating on @CRN's 2017 Partner Program Guide! #CRNPartnerProgram www.CRN.com/ppg About the Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com About Webroot Webroot delivers next-generation endpoint security and network security and threat intelligence services to protect businesses and individuals around the globe. Our smarter approach harnesses the power of cloud-based collective threat intelligence derived from millions of real-world devices to stop threats in real time and help secure the connected world. Our award-winning SecureAnywhere endpoint solutions, BrightCloud Threat Intelligence Services, and FlowScape solution protect millions of devices across businesses, home users, and the Internet of Things. Webroot is trusted and integrated by market-leading companies, including Cisco, F5 Networks, Aruba, Palo Alto Networks, A10 Networks, and more. Headquartered in Colorado, Webroot operates globally across North America, Europe, and Asia. Discover Smarter Cybersecurity solutions at www.webroot.com. 2017 Webroot Inc. All rights reserved. Webroot, SecureAnywhere, Webroot SecureAnywhere, Webroot BrightCloud, BrightCloud, and Smarter Cybersecurity are trademarks or registered trademarks of Webroot Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners. SOURCE Webroot The story is one of transformation and perseverance. It touches on themes such as education, faith-based activism, healthcare, housing, immigration, jobs and the future of the neighborhood's youth. All topics are addressed head on by those who live, breathe and work to find solutions for these local and national issues: Pilsen's own Mexican-American residents. The documentary will air locally on WTTW11 April 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm CT. It will also be streamed live on wttw.com, and available nationally on demand through the PBS app, on pbs.org and on PBS station websites throughout the country. The documentary will be followed by a live town hall, produced in collaboration with Univision Chicago. Digital Hub: A Community, United Beyond the documentary, the project continues in digital format at wttw.com/myneighborhood. The online platform will dive deeper into the history of Pilsen's tight knit community and how the neighborhood has changed, from the shipping era propelled by the devastating Chicago Fire and convenient access to the river, to the bustling and vibrant Pilsen of today. Community Screenings, Conversation and Events WTTW will host a community and partnership event in Pilsen on Thursday, April 20 at 5:30 pm CT at Benito Juarez Community Academy. The event will be a Pilsen community celebration and premiere of the documentary. After the premiere night, a series of community conversations and events will be held across Chicago neighborhoods to generate dialogue about community development. In addition, WTTW has partnered with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and buildOn's Chicago Service Learning Program on a video production workshop created for high school students. The My Neighborhood: Pilsen community engagement initiative is led by WTTW, in partnership with The Resurrection Project. Broadcast Schedule Thursday, April 27 7:00 pm on WTTW HD Thursday, April 27 10:00 pm on WTTW Prime Friday, April 28 6:00 am on WTTW Prime Friday, April 28 12:00 pm on WTTW Prime Sunday, April 30 1:00 am on WTTW HD Sunday, April 30 3:00 pm on WTTW HD Digital wttw.com/myneighborhood SOURCE WTTW Chicago Public Media Related Links http://www.wttw.com PLANO, Texas, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ZeOmega Inc. has released the annual update of its integrated patient assessments for the Jiva population health management solution. The release features new rules and assessments for care transitions and post-discharge monitoring, along with updated and consolidated clinical content. It also now reflects clinical and guideline references to National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) guidelines for health plan, case management, and disease management, along with long-term support services (LTSS), quality indicators, patient-centered medical home (PCMH), and managed behavioral health organizations. The 2017 release enables healthcare organizations to strengthen their care management efforts by ensuring that they reflect the most current and relevant evidence-based best practices for patient-centered care. It includes updated content for over 50 chronic conditions and health-related topics, along with new content and care planning for Alzheimer's disease and pediatric depression management. The update was developed by ZeOmega's internal clinical team of registered nurses, physicians, and other clinical professionals. Combined, this group has amassed more than 600 years of related experience. "Our team takes great pride in the quality, breadth, and effectiveness of the clinical content it develops," said Christopher Mathews, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at ZeOmega. "The group has carefully crafted the 2017 update leveraging its vast experience and best practice guidelines from NCQA, the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), the World Healthcare Organization (WHO), and numerous chronic condition associations. These robust protocols and related content will empower our clients to achieve Triple Aim goals by holistically addressing the specific needs of each individual." Through Jiva, ZeOmega's integrated clinical protocols transcend episodic patient care, with content and capabilities that facilitate a whole-person approach across care teams and delivery settings. They incorporate the seven domains of healthintellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual, social/cultural, occupational, and environmentalto consider the individual's biopsychosocial context. Branching logic and care coordination triggers then deliver event-driven workflows to multidisciplinary care teams. This enables them to collaboratively create and implement personalized care plans based on each person's unique needs and circumstances to improve outcomes, control costs, and increase patient satisfaction. About ZeOmega Jiva, the HIE-enabled and powerful population health platform from ZeOmega, delivers high-value, strategic solutions enabling payers and care-delivery organizations to improve individual health and provider performance. With deep domain expertise and a comprehensive understanding of complex population health challenges, ZeOmega serves as a true partner for clients, offering flexible deployment and delivery models that leverage an innovative platform designed to integrate workflow, analytics, content, and communication capabilities. By consistently meeting customer expectations and project benchmarks, ZeOmega has earned a reputation for responsiveness and reliability. For more information, visit www.zeomega.com or call 214-618-9880. Follow ZeOmega on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. SOURCE ZeOmega Related Links http://www.zeomega.com SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Zultys, a premier provider of innovative unified communications solutions that empower businesses to collaborate effectively, announced today that TMC, a global, integrated media company helping clients build communities in print, in person and online, has named Zultys Cloud Services, Enterprise-grade Hosted Communication Solution, as a 2017 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award winner. Zultys Cloud Services is the fully-hosted version of the company's communication and collaboration MX platform that combines features like: integrated voice, fax, voice mail, presence, instant messaging, automatic call recording, contact center and mobile applications for iPhone and Android, a UC desktop client, and built-in conferencing bridge. Zultys Cloud Services enables businesses to collaborate, communicate and serve customers more efficiently "We are honored to have our products recognized by such a reputable publication. Zultys aims to create a universal experience for all of our users regardless of whether they are utilizing a premise-based MX system or hosting their phone system in the cloud," said Steven Francis, chief sales and marketing officer at Zultys. "It gives me great pleasure to honor Zultys as a 2017 recipient of TMC's Unified Communications Product of the Year Award for their innovative product, Zultys Cloud Services," said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. "Our judges were very impressed with the ingenuity and excellence displayed by Zultys in their groundbreaking work on their Cloud Services product." Winners of the 2017 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award will be announced online and highlighted in INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. About Zultys: Zultys is a global provider of a true all-in-one unified communications solutions. Innovative, reliable, and scalable, Zultys IP phone systems integrate voice, video, data and mobility in a single premise based appliance or in the cloud to optimize collaboration for businesses of all sizes. Zultys delivers a powerful, feature-rich communications system that is easy to use, deploy and maintain. Zultys is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices around the world. To learn more, visit www.zultys.com. About INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine INTERNET TELEPHONY has been the IP Communications Authority since 1998. Beginning with the first issue, INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has been providing unbiased views of the complicated converged communications space. For more information, please visit www.itmag.com. Follow INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine on Twitter or join our LinkedIn group. Subscribe or visit www.itmag.com. About TMC Global buyers rely on TMC's content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. This presents branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities for vendors/sellers. TMC's Marketplaces: Unique, turnkey Online Communities boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking. boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking. Custom Lead Programs uncover sales opportunities and build databases. uncover sales opportunities and build databases. In-Person and Online Events boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads. and boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads. Publications, Display Advertising and Newsletters bolster brand reputations. and bolster brand reputations. Custom Content provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. Comprehensive Event and Road Show Management Services help companies meet potential clients and generate leads face-to-face. For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com. SOURCE Zultys Related Links http://www.zultys.com New Delhi, April 7 : Aiming to unravel and interpret the fascinating bond between people and places, a "Festival of Places" kicked off here on Friday to explore the cultural legacies of cities -- Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata. The festival is about understanding the idea of "Space as a Place" -- about exploring places that form an integral part of cities and towns. It is expected to offer experiences about celebrated places in the three cities as meaningful connected spaces through which urban life throbs. It will rediscover the lost art of creating vibrant Places that nurture culture and creativity. "Festival of Places" has been organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) and has been conceptualized by CATTS a non-profit working in the area of heritage conservation and management. "We are featuring talk sessions on Indian and International Placemaking and Placecentered Initiatives that have helped revitalize public and community spaces in cities," Urvashi Shrivastava of CATTS told IANS. Architectural and photographic exhibitions, presentations and short films, cultural performances by renowned artists will highlight the uniqueness of each city and prove how culture, conservation and creativity can drive development. "The festival explores the invaluable cultural fabric and a memory associated with places and provides an opportunity to people for sharing their personal narratives," Shrivastava said. "It has been envisaged as a convergence of people from all walks of life and disciplines who seek a deeper understanding of our culture through the places we live in as well as share an eagerness to rejuvenate them," she added. She further explained that the festival encourages participation of people of all ages, youth and experience for developing an in-depth understanding of places and spaces we live in. "It seeks people to play an active role both in the creation of new places and the preservation and sustenance of existing ones," Shrivastava said. New Delhi, April 7 : Air India on Friday lifted its ban on flying Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, whose flight bookings had been repeatedly cancelled after he assaulted an officer of the national carrier last month. According to Air India, the ban was lifted after the Civil Aviation Ministry wrote to the airline, a day after Gaikwad expressed "regrets" in the Lok Sabha over the March 23 incident. "Ministry of Civil Aviation has today directed us to lift the ban in view of the apology tendered by Mr. Gaikwad to the Hon'ble Minister of Civil Aviation. The ban placed by Air India on Mr. Gaikwad has, therefore, been lifted with immediate effect," the airline said in a statement. "Air India, however, remains committed to ensure that its employees are not assaulted and neither misbehaved with by any passenger and would always take strong action to preserve the dignity of its employees at all times." The national passenger carrier placed the ban on the movement of the Sena MP aboard its flights after Gaikwad assaulted an Air India senior manager. Subsequently, two FIRs were filed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport police station at Delhi for assault and delaying of the aircraft -- as the MP refused to disembark from the plane. The Delhi Police Crime Branch is currently investigating the cases. Since the ban, Gaikwad has been compelled to travel by train or by road depending on his engagements, keeping away from the media glare. The airline's unions too supported the company and its Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani. On late Thursday, the All India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA) said, "We, as cabin crew, must only point out that Gaikwad is and will continue to be a risk to flight safety and flight operations and to cabin crew safety on board, and hence government must think long and hard about letting him back on." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation took the decision after the MP assured that such incidents would not be repeated. The ministry's letter to Air India said: "In view of the apology tendered by Shri Gaikwad and the undertaking of good conduct given by him, Air India and other airlines are advised to lift the ban imposed on him for air travel." Besides, the letter detailed that in order to deal with unruly passengers in the future, an amendment to CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) is being drafted by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in consultation with the ministry for establishment of a national "No Fly List". Currently, rules only allow airlines to refuse boarding or off-loading of a passenger whose behaviour is deemed as unruly or disruptive to the safety of flight operations. Earlier in the day, the national passenger carrier again cancelled flight tickets allegedly booked by Gaikwad. However, the MP denied making any such bookings. Airlines sources said that Gaikwad had booked tickets for travelling between Delhi and Mumbai on April 17 and a return trip on April 24, both of which have been cancelled. Cancelling his tickets, the national carrier referred to it as a "possible passenger match with Blacklist entry" and it would be treated as 'No Valid Ticket'. However, the MP in a letter said: "I would like to make it clear that I have neither booked a ticket for 17th nor 24th April, 2017, for any airline... as the session will adjourn sine die on April 13, 2017." The development came a day after Gaikwad wrote a letter to Civil Aviation Minister A. Gajapathi Raju expressing 'regrets' over the March 23 fracas on Pune-Delhi flight AI 852. Gaikwad had also raised the issue of flying ban on him during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and demanded that it be lifted. Gaikwad's party colleagues in the Lok Sabha also demanded the flying ban against him be revoked and the party threatened to boycott an April 10 National Democratic Alliance meeting in case the matter was not sorted out at the earliest. New Delhi, April 8 : A 19-year-old German tourist was robbed and injured in a knife attack here, police said on Saturday. The suspects have been identified. The incident took place around 11.30 p.m. on Friday when Benjamin Scolt hired an e-rickshaw from the New Delhi railway station to the Red Fort, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jatin Narwal told IANS. Narwal, citing Scolt, said a man other than the driver was already seated in the rickshaw when the German boarded it. Police believe the man was known to the driver. After Scolt boarded it, the rickshaw was taken to an isolated place behind the 17th-century Red Fort, Narwal said. The two men then asked him to hand over his belongings. The tourist may have resisted. The men then pulled out a knife and threatened him, the officer said. "He refused to hand over his belongings and they attacked him with the weapon and left him injured after taking away his bag and cash," he added. Scolt, Narwal said, cried for help as a police patrol van passed by. The tourist was taken to the nearby Hedgewar Hospital. The German embassy was notified. A police officer who refused to be named said the two suspects had been identified after police questioned at least 25 e-rickshaw drivers in the area. "We should be able to arrest them soon," the officer said. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj sought a report on the attack and asked the Delhi government to provide best medical treatment to the German. New Delhi, April 8 : The central government on Saturday said that it is strengthening the rules to stop unruly air passengers from misbehaving, even as all the private airlines lifted a ban on flying Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad. According to the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, his ministry is tightening the rules so that a national "No-Fly List" can be implemented. Referring to the incident in which Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad assaulted an Air India senior manager on March 23, Sinha said in a series of tweets: "MoCA (Ministry of Civil Aviation) is strengthening rules so that a national no-fly list can be implemented, such incidents can be prevented, and safety improved. "Air travellers should note that safety and security for passengers and crew is our paramount priority. Unruly/disruptive behaviour will result in severe consequences. This includes police action for a specific incident as well as being placed on a no-fly list." Currently, rules only allow airlines to refuse boarding or off-loading of a passenger whose behaviour is deemed as unruly or disruptive to the safety of flight operations. On Friday, a letter from the ministry to Air India detailed that in order to deal with unruly passengers in the future, an amendment to CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) is being drafted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in consultation with the ministry for establishment of a national "No Fly List". Sinha further said that Gaikwad apologised and gave an undertaking that such incidents will not recur. It was only after that assurance that Air India was advised to revoke the ban. "Police investigations regarding Shri Gaikwad's conduct during the March 23 incident are underway and the law will take its own course," the minister tweeted. Air India had revoked the ban on Friday after it was advised by the ministry to do so in a letter. The ban was lifted a day after Gaikwad had expressed "regrets" in the Lok Sabha over the March 23 incident. The national passenger carrier imposed the ban on flying the Shiv Sena MP aboard its flights after Gaikwad assaulted an Air India senior manager. Subsequently, two FIRs were filed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport police station in Delhi for assault and delaying the aircraft -- as the MP refused to disembark from the plane. The Delhi Police Crime Branch is currently investigating the cases. Since the ban, Gaikwad has been compelled to travel by train or by road depending on his engagements, keeping away from the media glare. Meanwhile, all six private airlines on Saturday lifted their ban on flying Gaikwad. The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) announced that it was lifting the ban imposed on Gaikwad on March 24, a day after he assaulted an Air India staffer at Delhi airport. The members of FIA are SpiceJet, IndiGo, GoAir and Jet Airways. FIA Associate Director Ujjwal Dey said the decision was taken following Gaikwad's assurance "that our assets and colleagues shall be accorded the respect that they deserve for the hard work they put in every day". Vistara and budget carrier AirAsia India also lifted the ban. "We support the decisions of our industry peers taken in the interest of the safety of air passengers and flight operations and in upholding the dignity of airline staff. We stood in solidarity with Air India and members of the FIA during this recent episode that challenged both these critical aspects," a Vistara spokesperson said. "We continue to stand by them today in their decision to revoke the ban. Unruly and disruptive passengers are a serious safety and security threat, and we are hopeful this incident results in specific regulations and actions to address this important issue." Srinagar, April 9 : Opposition National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and his son, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, cast their votes for the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-poll here on Sunday, that has been marred by violence. Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, the joint candidate of his party and the Congress, and his son cast their vote at Burnhall School in the high-security Sonawar area of Srinagar. Speaking to media, Farooq Abdullah said: "I have faith in God and people. Whatever happens will be known on April 15 (the day of counting)." "We have done our best. If I was not hopeful I would not be standing here in front of your. God willing I will win," he said, and added "There is evidence of the government trying to obstruct voting." Omar Abdullah also hit out at the Jammu and Kashmir government over the by-poll violence. He said people want to go and vote but the environment created was "such that people are not stepping out". He charged the state with failing to provide a conducive atmosphere for voting. "Mehbooba Mufti is responsible for this situation. There is mismanagement," he said. "I have been a politician for 20 years, but I never saw such a bad situation for elections and campaigning," Omar Abdullah said. The comments of the NC leaders came as three persons were killed and several injured in firing and clashes between security forces and anti-poll protesters in Budgam district. Poor voting has been reported in the constituency, with Amira Kadal assembly segment recording just over 2 per cent till noon, Sonawar 1.78 per cent, Batamaloo 1.47 per cent, Zadibal 2.27 per cent, Ganderbal - 4.77 per cent and Kangan 11.26 per cent voting. Protesters damaged EVMs and prevented voters from exercising franchise in the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary seat by-poll. Mobs torched a bus and damaged EVMs at some polling stations in Badgam. At least 2,61,397 voters are eligible to cast vote in the Srinagar/Budgam seat where 1,559 polling stations have been set up. Bhubaneswar, April 9 : The Crime Branch of the Odisha Police has begun an investigation into an incidence of communal violence last week in Bhadrak town where the curfew was reimposed till Monday morning. The prohibitory orders in the town were initially relaxed from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sunday. The hours were extended until 12 noon to facilitate people to purchase essential commodities. The curfew was reimposed later and will remain in force till 7 a.m. on Monday, said a police officer. Around 35 platoons of police forces have been deployed across the town to avoid any untoward incident. Chief Minister Patnaik said two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) would be sent to Bhadrak. Patnaik, who attended the Inter-State Council Standing Committee meeting in New Delhi, said that he discussed the Bhadrak issue with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and he has assured the state two companies of the RAF would be sent. Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has begun the probe into the alleged offensive remarks on Hindu deities on social media that led to unrest in the town on Thursday and Friday. "The crime branch probe has started into the alleged offensive remarks and rumours on social media. The Crime Branch cyber cell is investigating the WhatsApp data. The group admins have been asked for providing the data," told Crime Branch Special Director General B.K. Sharma. He also said stringent action would be taken against the persons behind it. On Saturday, the police detained 35 people in connection with the clashes. Srinagar, April 9 : In one of the worst incidents of poll-violence in the state, at least six persons were killed on Sunday when security forces opened fire to disperse protestors in central Kashmir's Budgam district, where polling in by-election for the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary seat is being held. Three protestors died in Beerwah, two in Dalwan village of the Charar-e-Sharif assembly segment and one in Wathura area, police said. The security forces opened fire reportedly after a mob attacked the polling station in Dalwan village, damaged the EVMs and prevented voters from exercising their franchise. "Security forces opened fire to protect the polling staff," a police official said. A mob torched a bus and also damaged the EVMs at a polling station in Beerwah as also in Wathura area of Budgam district, the police official said. The voting turnout was a poor five per cent till noon after polling commenced at 7.00 a.m in Budgam, Srinagar and Ganderbal districts that fall within the parliamentary constituency. At least 261,397 voters are eligible to cast vote in the Srinagar-Budgam seat where 1,559 polling stations have been set up. The stakes are high for National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting against Peoples' Democratic Party's Nazir Khan. Altogether, nine candidates are in fray for the seat that fell vacant after PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra resigned in the aftermath of the protests following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani last year. New York, April 10 : A former NATO commander described as "souring" the relations between US President Donald Trump's administration and Russia amid a series of foreign policy collisions between the two countries, the media reportd. "That relationship between the Trump administration and Russia is gradually going downhill, because I think the senior members of the Trump administration are beginning to realise that Russia is not a force for good in the world," retired Admiral James Stavridis told a radio station here on Sunday. "I think reality is setting in about how difficult a partner (Russian President) Vladimir Putin will be, and I think events in Syria have underlined that for the administration," he added. Stavridis's comments came days after the US launched a missile strike on a Syrian military air base on April 6, The Hill magazine reported. The attack was in response to a chemical weapons strike in northern Syria on April 4 allegedly carried out by the regime of President Bashar Assad. The attack killed over 80 civilians including children. While the US retaliation was largely hailed by world leaders, it drew a bitter response from Russia, a staunch backer of the Assad regime. A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin called the strike an "aggression" and said the U.S. had violated international law. The attack led the Kremlin to suspend an agreement between the two countries meant to lower the risk of in-flight collisions of US and Russian aircraft in the region. On the campaign trail, Trump spoke fondly of Putin and expressed a willingness to increase cooperation between the US and Russia, the magazine added. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and congressional investigators are currently conducting separate probes into Russian meddling in the US presidential election and possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Taipei, April 10 : The wife of a Taiwanese human rights activist arrested in China could not travel to Beijing on Monday after her entry permit into the country was revoked. Lee Ching-yu, whose husband Lee Ming-che has been detained since March 19 at an undisclosed location in China for alleged acts against national security, told the media at Taipei airport that she will not allow herself to be manipulated, Efe news reported. "My husband needs freedom, but also dignity, because without it he would live like a dog," she said. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council announced Sunday that it had put an organisation, which it did not name, in charge of messages from Lee Ming-che to his wife and parents. In a statement on Sunday, Lee Ching-yu revealed that an intermediary from China had warned her that if she flew to Beijing, a confession by her husband would be aired on television, and had ordered her to maintain a low profile and cooperate. She said she would not recognise any confession or statement by her husband before seeing him personally, adding that she had been passed a photocopy of an alleged confession on April 7. Lee Ming-che, a human rights activist and former worker for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, was arrested after entering China through the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong province during a private visit. Copenhagen, April 10 : Sweden on Monday observed a minute's silence in memory of the victims of a terror attack in central Stockholm that claimed four lives and left 15 injured. A remembrance ceremony was held outside the City Hall in Stockholm, with flags at half-mast, in honour of those who died last week when a man rammed a hijacked truck into a crowd of pedestrians in central Stockholm. Two people have been arrested over the attack, including 39-year-old main suspect Rakhmat Akilov from Uzbekistan, BBC reported. His asylum request had been rejected last summer and a deportation order was pending since late February. "You are not alone. We are thinking of you. All of Sweden stands with you," Swedish Prime Minister Stefan LAfven told family members and survivors of Friday's attack. "Democracy would triumph over fundamentalism," he added. Stockholm's Mayor Karin WanngArd promised the capital would remain "an open and tolerant" place. "We will never give in to violence. We will never let terror prevail," he said. The country's top authorities were in attendance, including representatives from the police, health and rescue personnel, Efe news reported. The ceremony was presided over by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, who were flanked by Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and her husband, Prince Daniel, as well as Prince Carl Philip and his wife, Princess Sofia. Also in attendance were Swedish Parliament Speaker Urban Ahlin, several lawmakers, regional and local authorities and the mayors of Copenhagen and Oslo. Four people died in Friday's attack, among them two Swedes, one Belgian and a Briton. Nine people remained hospitalised, two of them in serious condition. Stockholm, April 11 : The hearing of Rakhmat Akilov, the main suspect of Friday's truck attack here, will be held on Tuesday, the Stockholm district court said on Monday. Akilov, 39, is the man who is believed to be responsible for the attack in central Stockholm on Friday afternoon, Xinhua quoted Swedish Television (SVT) which cited police, as saying. "I am confident that our chief suspect is the perpetrator who was driving the truck. It is based on police premises and must then be examined by the prosecutors and the courts," Dan Eliasson, National Police Chief, was quoted as saying. Besides Akilov, one more person was arrested on suspicion of terrorism on Sunday. Police said there were connections between the two arrested. Washington, April 11 : Dylann Roof, who shot nine people to death in a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, pleaded guilty on Monday to state charges in the killings, a media report said. Roof was sentenced to death in January by a federal jury for the June 2015 massacre at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, CNN reported. Roof became the 63rd person on federal death row. He is expected to be transferred to a facility in Terre Haute, Indiana, the report said. Roof told investigators in a recorded interview that he committed the crime because "black people are killing white people every day." At the federal trial, Assistant US Attorney Jay Richardson said the admitted white supremacist scouted out his target multiple times, and sat with the church group in a Bible study class for 40 minutes before shooting. Richardson said Roof pulled the trigger "more than 75 times ... reloading seven times" as he stood over his victims, shooting them repeatedly. London, April 11 : Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge will be in aunt Pippa Middleton's May wedding, a statement from the Kensington Palace said on Monday. "Miss Pippa Middleton and Mr. James Matthews are pleased to confirm their wedding will take place at St Mark's Church, Englefield, on the morning of 20th May," USA Today quoted the statement as saying. "Prince George (who is 3) will be a page boy, and Princess Charlotte (2 on May 2) will be a bridesmaid," the statement added. Kensington Palace has avoided commenting on other details of the nuptials because Pippa Middleton is not a royal, the report said. Washington, April 11 : The White House on Monday said that the US was open to further action on Syria if Damascus continued to use chemical weapons. "The sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action," Xinhua quoted White House spokesman Sean Spicer as saying. The US on Thursday launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at Syria to neutralise its chemical weapon arsenal, two days after reports of a chemical weapons attack emerged from the battleground in Syria, which the West said the Syrian government should be to blame. "The resulting action of what happened ensured that their fueling operation is gone from this air facility, 20 per cent of their fixed-wing aircraft were destroyed and knocked out," Spicer said of the US missile attacks on Thursday. US President Donald Trump told Congress that his decision to attack Syria was in the interest of the US, adding that further actions are being considered. New York, April 11 : A Bhutanese businessman is the victim of a false flag assault in Charlotte by an African-American man who made the attack on the man's store appear to be the work of white supremacists. North Carolina police arrested on Sunday the man allegedly seen on a surveillance video setting fire to the store on Thursday and leaving a note threatening to torture immigrants and refugees and signing it "White America", The Charlotte Observer newspaper reported. The Central Market, described as Nepali-Indian establishment that sells South Asian food and gifts, is owned by Kamal Dhimel, a refugee from Bhutan. On Thursday night, the store's front door was set on fire, a glass pane on the door was smashed with a stone and the note signed "White America" and warning that refugees and immigrant business owners would face torture "if they did not leave and go back to where they came from" was left there, according to police quoted by the newspaper. Investigators said a video surveillance of the incident showed a "black male suspect", the Observer reported. African-American man Curtis Flournoy, 32, has been arrested and charged with ethnic intimidation, sending threatening letters, burning a business building and using incendiary material, according to the newspaper. Charlotte City Council member Dimple Ajmera told the Observer that she was frustrated to see the hate crime take place. "I'll continue to work around the clock to make sure that all businesses and all the residences feel safe," she added. Last month, Harnish Patel, an Indian-American businessman in Lancaster in neighbouring South Carolina state, was shot dead outside his home. There have been no arrests in the case. While attacks and threats against ethnic and religious minorities have always been a feature of America, activists and Democratic Party leaders have attributed recent incidents to President Donald Trump. In some cases they have proved to be false flag attacks carried out by others and made to look like they were committed by white supremacists. In the most notorious of those cases, a series of threats against Jewish institutions were sought to be linked by activists to the election of Trump, whose daughter is a convert to Judaism, and he was criticised for not acting on them. However, an African-American man in the US and a Jewish man in Israel were arrested in connection with the threats. In some places, including New York, false reports have been spread about raids on illegal immigrants to spook immigrant communities. In February, an Indian-American woman, Ekta Desai, was harassed on a New York-New Jersey metro train by an African-American man who threatened her using foul language and said she should "get out of here". She uploaded the video of the harassment, but the Democratic New York city or state officials have not come forward to condemn it or take action against the man. US human rights organisations have not reacted to it either. In February, in a case directly attributed to white racism, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchsbhotla was shot dead and Alok Madsani was injured in Kansas, after they were mistaken for Middle Easterners or Iranians. The alleged shooter, a white man, has been arrested and awaiting trial. Last month, a Sikh in Kent, Washington State, was shot and injured by a man who shouted at him, "Go back to your country". Authorities are still looking for the shooter. In another case last month, an Indian woman Sasikala Narra, 38, and her six-year-old son, Anish, were stabbed to death in New Jersey. That case has not been solved either. Cape Town, April 11 : South African President Jacob Zuma has warned against "a resurgence of racism" in the country where "racists have become more emboldened". "We have sadly not yet succeeded in building the non-racial society that we envisaged," Zuma said at the Chris Hani Wreath Laying Ceremony and handover of the Chris Hani heritage site in Boksburg, Gauteng province, on Monday. The late Hani, South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, was assassinated at his Boksburg home on April 10, 1993. His death almost derailed the reconciliation talks that led to the end of apartheid in 1994. Zuma lauded Hani as a real fighter against racism, who lost his life at the hands of hard-core racists, Xinhua news agency reported. The President linked last week's massive protests to racism, saying it demonstrated that "racism is real and exists in our country". Thousands of South Africans marched in parts of the country to press their demand for the resignation of Zuma last Friday. Although SACP leaders shared the same stage with Zuma in memory of Hani, the SACP said it has not changed its plea for Zuma to resign. Zuma has come under mounting pressure after he reshuffled the cabinet on March 31, sacking or replacing 10 ministers and 10 deputy ministers, notably Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Zuma said many placards and posters carried by the protesters "displayed beliefs that we thought had been buried in 1994". Some posters depicted black people as baboons, Zuma said, adding that "it is clear that some of our white compatriots regard black people as being lesser human beings or sub-human". "The racist onslaught has become more direct and is no longer hidden as was the case in the early years of our constitutional democratic order," said Zuma. "We cannot allow and assist racists to take our country backwards." At a legislative level, the South African government has published the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, according to Zuma. Once it becomes law, the law will criminalise several forms of discrimination including on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and nationality. Guwahati, April 11 : An Assam court has issued a bailable arrest warrant against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he failed to appear before it in a defamation case, officials said on Tuesday. The development took place after Bharatiya Janata Party leader and executive member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Surjya Rongphar filed a defamation suit against Kejriwal last December for questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications. The Diphu district court had earlier asked Kejriwal to appear before it on January 30. Justice Naba Kumar Deka Barua issued the bailable warrant of Rs 10,000. He also fixed May 8 as the next date for hearing, requiring Kejriwal to personally appear in the court. The court said it had seen the petition by Kejriwal's counsel Gurpreet Singh Uppal, saying he could not leave Delhi due to the capital's municipal polls. The court said the accused, Kejriwal, had not appeared before it earlier too, seeking a two-month long adjournment. New Delhi, April 11 : India on Tuesday warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it went ahead with the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. "The government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha. The minister added that the Indian government "will go out of the way to save him (Jadhav)". "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter." She reiterated India's stand that Jadhav, arrested in March 2016 from the restive Balochistan province and accused of espionage and waging war against Pakistan, has been framed under false charges. She said Pakistan was doing all that to divert global attention from its activities of sponsoring terrorism in India. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. He is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. "We have no choice but to regard this sentence if carried out as an act of premeditated murder," the minister said. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, appealed to the government to appoint a strong lawyer who can fight Jadhav's case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. "This is a matter of the entire nation. I appeal to the government to appoint a competent lawyer to fight his case in Pakistan's Supreme Court. So that his case is won in the apex court," said Azad. The minister assured the House that the government would appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and would petition the President of the country to save "the son of the nation". "Not just the Supreme Court... We will do everything possible to save him. Appealing in the Supreme Court or appointing a lawyer for him is a very small thing. We will even approach the President of Pakistan to save him," said Sushma Swaraj. The matter was raised in the house with opposition and the treasury benches jointly expressing solidarity with Jadhav, who was awarded the capital punishment by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial. Army chief General Qamar Javed has confirmed the sentencing. The issue was raised by Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agrawal, who said Pakistan has challenged India by sentencing Jadhav to death. He said New Delhi's "Pakistan policy is weak". "It's a challenge to the country," he said. Agrawal was supported by former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who termed the issue "very serious" and said India "must convey it to Pakistan in strongest terms". London, April 11 : British Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump have agreed there is a "window of opportunity" to persuade Russia to abandon its support for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, the media reported. According to a Downing Street spokesman, the two leaders spoke about the crisis on the phone on Monday, days after a US air strike against a Syrian airbase on April 6. The air strike came as a retaliation to a chemical attack in which over 80 civilians, including children, were killed, reports the BBC. The spokesman said Trump thanked May for her support in the wake of the US air strike. "They agreed that US Secretary of State (Rex) Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement," he said. "They also discussed the broader Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran throughout the region." The spokesman added, "The Prime Minister and the President also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses." Meanwhile, Syria has denied using any chemical agents and Russia says the US has failed to provide evidence that the country has chemical weapons, the BBC reported. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said on Monday that further action would be considered in certain circumstances. But Russia and Iran -- Assad's two principal international backers -- have warned that they would respond "with force" to any fresh attack on their ally. Islamabad, April 11 : Pakistan is a peace loving country but this should not be seen as a sign of weakness, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday. "Cooperation rather than conflict and shared prosperity instead of suspicion are the hallmark of our policy," Geo TV quoted Sharif as saying. He was addressing cadets at the Asghar Khan Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur. Sharif said maintaining friendly relations with neighbouring countries was Islamabad's policy. But this should not be mistaken for weakness. "We cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence." Sharif's remarks came a day after Pakistan awarded death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad. India has warned that if Jadhav was hanged, it would have consequences on bilateral ties. Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), April 11 : Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Tuesday wrapped up his week-long tour of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing had strongly objected to. The Dalai Lama left by helicopter for Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, on Tuesday morning from Tawang helipad. Thousands of people lined up along the road to see him off. Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other dignitaries also saw him off at the helipad, a government official told IANS. "The Chief Minister thanked the Dalai Lama for his visit and requested him to visit Arunachal Pradesh again in the near future," the official said. On Monday, the Nobel Peace laureate, who Beijing has called an "anti-China separatist", described his visit to Arunachal Pradesh as a "memorable one" that he would cherish forever. He also thanked the people, particularly from far off villages, who gathered in large numbers to welcome and listen to him at all the places that he visited. In fact, this is not for the first time that the 81-year-old Tibetan leader is visiting Arunachal or Tawang. In 1959, he escaped from China via Tawang and visited the state in 1983, 1997, 2003 and 2009. The Dalai Lama was to start his week-long religious visit to Arunachal Pradesh from Tawang on April 4. But bad weather forced him to travel by road as his helicopter couldn't take off from Dibrugarh airport in Assam. The Tibetan spiritual leader reached Tawang - the high point of his visit to this mountainous state -- on April 7 after traversing over 550 km from Assam's Dibrugarh and crossed the 13,700 feet Sela Pass. The Dalai Lama stayed at the Tawang monastery belonging to the Gelugpa school of Mahayana Buddhism, which had a religious connection with Lhasa's Drepung monastery that continued during the British rule. Beijing refers to this connection to claim Tawang as part of China after invading and taking over Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama had stayed in the Tawang monastery for some days before he reached Assam after fleeing his homeland in 1959. During his religious tour to Arunachal Pradesh, the spiritual leader consecrated the Thupsung Dhargyeling monastery at Dirang on April 6. On Sunday, he also consecrated the Tara Temple 'Dolma Lhagang', Guru Padhmasambhava Statue cum Temple (Lumpo), and laid the foundation stone of Gyalwa Jamba (Kuber) statue to be built at Buri near the India-Bhutan border. He gave the name Jamtseling for the Jamba (Kuber) statue besides donating Rs 50,000 from his side for its construction. Manila, April 11 : Four Abu Sayyaf militants and a Filipino soldier were killed on Tuesday in a clash in the tourist island of Bohol. The clash between the army, who have now received reinforcements from the Philippine Marines and Air Force, and the armed group was still underway, and the casualty might rise, said the Armed Forces in a statement. The army had launched the operation after receiving reports about the presence of a dozen gunmen aboard three boats in a river near Inanbanga, north of Bohol, Efe news reported. Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa confirmed the death of the soldier while Armed Forces spokesperson Restituto Padilla confirmed the death of the four militants. The US Embassy in Manila this week had advised Americans living in the Philippines to refrain from travelling to Bohol, a popular tourist destination, where no terrorist activities had been reported so far. Chandigarh, April 11 : Tension prevailed on the Panjab University campus on Tuesday as students, protesting the fee hike for various courses, clashed with the police. Police sources said that a few students were injured after a baton charge and use of water cannons and tear-gas to disperse the agitatators who had gathered near the Vice Chancellor's office complex. The protesting students pelted stones at the police and broke window panes of the offices and damaged other university property. Later, a few students, who were being chased by the police, entered a gurdwara on the campus and took refugee there. Police officials were reported to be negotiating with them to come out. Teaching was affected in several departments on the Sector 14 campus of the university due to the protest shutdown called by the students. The fee hike was being opposed by the Students for Society (SFS) and other student organisations. Beijing, April 11 : Enraged Chinese netizens are calling for a boycott of US carrier United Airlines after footage of an Asian passenger being dragged off an "overbooked" flight went viral online. A Sina Weibo microblogging website tag "United Airlines forcibly bumps a passenger" was viewed over 150 million times and garnered more than 90,000 comments, making it the top trending topic of the day on the platform, reported Global Times daily on Tuesday. The elderly doctor was manhandled after he refused to give up his seat on the flight before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport on its journey to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. Videos posted online showed police dragging him from his seat, injuring his face, throwing him on the floor and dragging him along the aisle by his arms, while his glasses slid down his face and his shirt rode up his chest. The doctor, who had identified himself as Chinese according to passenger accounts in the media, returned to the aircraft with his face bleeding. He collapsed and was taken away on a stretcher, according to a passenger. The incident sparked outrage on the Chinese Internet with many Net users condemning the airline for being brutal or even accusing it of being racist. "The company may think that Asian Americans are always obedient but this incident has crossed the line too much," a Weibo user commented. "Although it is legal to sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane, violently forcing a passenger to leave the plane regardless of his dignity and rights is horrible. Is this the way United Airlines boasts the spirit of contract and human rights?" another user wrote. A Chinese aviation industry insider told the Global Times on Tuesday that it was routine for airlines to oversell flights to avoid empty seats and compensation is often offered to passengers who voluntarily give up their place on the plane. The outrage over the incident was not reduced by a letter written by the United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz, which was circulated to employees and later leaked on the social media and translated into Chinese. Munoz made no apology for the way the passenger was treated and just emphasized that he had "refused to comply" with staff. Ankara, April 11 : One person was killed and four others were injured in an explosion on Tuesday at a police building in Turkey's southeastern city of Diyarbakir, the authorities said. The blast occurred during a repair of an armoured vehicle in the Diyarbakir Provincial Security Directorate compound in Baglar district. Parts of the roof of the building collapsed, Dogan News Agency reported. Earlier, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu was quoted by CNN as saying: "The blast was in a part of the building for riot police where maintenance is carried out on vehicles." New Delhi, April 11 : Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for the death sentence on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, terming it an "assault" on international laws and conventions. "What Pakistan is doing is not only an assault on India, it is an assault on international laws, international conventions that affect everybody. "There are certain countries that finance and arm the Pakistani military. Those countries must be told by us that if this can be done to an Indian today, it can be done to one of their nationals tomorrow," Tharoor said in the Lok Sabha. "The extremely important thing for us is to uphold the principles. Thirteen times this gentleman was denied consular access, which is a basic right. "Geneva conventions have been violated by Pakistan... This is an extremely serious matter," he added. The opposition and the treasury benches in Parliament on Tuesday jointly expressed solidarity with Jadhav, who was awarded capital punishment by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial on Monday. India has warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it goes ahead with the death sentence. Islamabad, April 11 : The US National Security Agency (NSA) has been spying on Pakistan's mobile networks, whistleblowing organisation WikiLeaks has tweeted. "Hundreds of NSA cyber weapons variants publicly released including code showing hacking of Pakistan mobile system," @wikileaks tweeted. According to a report in Express Tribune on Monday, the hacker group "Shadow Brokers" released a new cache of information detailing how the NSA accessed private and public networks in other countries. A researcher on Twitter who identifies himself as 'x0rz' decrypted the files and uploaded them on Github, a web-based repository and internet hosting service. "The researcher confirmed that the archives include evidence of NSA operators' access inside the GSM network of Mobilink -- one of the Pakistan's most popular mobile services provider," the report noted. The hacker group had previously released data suggesting the US agency may have been monitoring hundreds of IP addresses in Pakistan. The encrypted files were being decrypted by security researchers around the world. "Shadow Brokers" had initially wanted to auction its data cache in exchange for Bitcoin but as no buyer turned up, they released the data online. This is not the first time that reports have surfaced claiming that the US NSA is snooping on other countries. According to a Daily Mail report in 2014, WikiLeaks disclosed documents that suggested the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was among six political parties from around the world the NSA was authorised to conduct surveillance on for gathering foreign intelligence. The authorisation was given by a secret American court, it said. The leak was planned months ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, the report claimed. Another report in the Washington Post that also came in 2014 said the US has long had broad no-spying arrangements with four countries -- Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand -- in a group known collectively as the "Five Eyes". "But a classified 2010 legal certification -- approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and included among a set of documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden -- lists 193 countries [including India], that would be of valid interest for US intelligence," the Post said. Mumbai, April 11 : The Indian equity markets made healthy gains on Tuesday as value buying re-emerged after consecutive sessions of consolidation. However, gains were capped due to caution over the rising tensions in the Middle East and political uncertainty in Europe. The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged up by 55.55 points or 0.61 per cent to close at 9,237 points. The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE gained 212.61 points or 0.72 per cent during the day's trade session. The S&P BSE Sensex, which opened at 29,630.06 points, closed at 29,788.35 points from its previous day's close at 29,575.74 points. The barometer index touched a high of 29,804.51 points and a low of 29,570.58 points during the intra-day trade. The BSE market breadth was bullish -- with 1,715 advances and 1,173 declines. Similarly, broader markets ended the day's trade on a high note. The S&P BSE mid-cap index rose by 0.39 per cent, while the small-cap index closed higher by 1.01 per cent. "Markets rallied strongly on Tuesday after the weakness seen in the last few sessions," Deepak Jasani, Head - Retail Research, HDFC Securities, told IANS. "Gains were led by index heavyweights ITC, ICICI Bank, Infosys and L&T. Major Asian markets however have ended on a negative note, barring the Shanghai index. European indices like FTSE 100 and CAC 40 were trading higher." According to Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services, value buying re-emerged after last couple of day's consolidation had rendered prices attractive. "Rupee reversing some of its losses and approaching Infosys Q4 results propped up IT stocks. Banks continue to look forward to NPA resolution measures shortly, and the strength was visible today," James said. "India's IIP and CPI releases tomorrow will keep market interested, but may not make a strong move until Q4 numbers start flowing in." On the currency front, the Indian rupee strengthened by seven paise to 64.49-50 against a US dollar from its previous close of 64.56 to a greenback. In terms of investments, provisional data with the exchanges showed that the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold scrip worth Rs 750.52 crore, while the domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased scrip worth Rs 826.66 crore. Major Sensex gainers on Tuesday were: ITC, up 3.16 per cent at Rs 282.15; PowerGrid, up 2.23 per cent at Rs 199.45; ICICI Bank, up 1.89 per cent at Rs 282.90; Larsen and Toubro (LT), up 1.80 per cent at Rs 1,704.80; and State Bank of India (SBI), up 1.63 per cent at Rs 293.70. Major Sensex losers were: Adani Ports, down 4.78 per cent at Rs 334.45; Cipla, down 1.66 per cent at Rs 578.80; Tata Steel, down 1.44 per cent at Rs 488.30; Bajaj Auto, down 0.54 per cent at Rs 2,822.45; and Reliance Industries, down 0.50 per cent at Rs 1,374.10. New Delhi, April 11 : Pakistan's 268 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 12 months led to nine deaths, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the Indian Army retaliated appropriately to the ceasefire violations. According to data given by the minister, a majority of these violations happened in just two months -- 78 in October 2016 in which two persons died, and 88 in November that killed five others. "All ceasefire violations are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate levels through established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings and weekly exchanges between the Director Generals of Military Operations of the two countries," Bhamre said. Ranchi, April 11 : BJP legislator Sanjiv Singh surrendered to police on Tuesday in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand after an arrest warrant was issued against him, the police said. The Dhanbad police on Tuesday procured an arrest warrant against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Sanjiv Singh in connection with the murder of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation's former Deputy Mayor Neeraj Singh. Neeraj Singh was killed along with two others when he was returning home in his vehicle on March 20. The killers had fired indiscriminately on Neeraj Singh's vehicle and pumped more than 20 bullets in his body. Six persons, including four close associates of the BJP legislator, were arrested. The Jharkhand government has constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the murder. New Delhi, April 11 : BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said if Pakistan hangs alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav then India must recognise Balochistan as an independent country. "If Pakistan hangs Jadhav then India must recognise Balochistan as an independent country," Swamy said on his official Twitter account. India on Tuesday warned Pakistan that bilateral ties will be hit if it goes ahead with the death sentence on Jadhav. Kolkata, April 11 : Terming the opposition parties' allegations of EVM tampering in the recent Uttar Pradesh elections, as "petty excuses", BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday said they should look at their shortcomings instead of finding flaw in a good system. "We suggest the opposition look at their own shortcomings for the loss instead of finding flaws in the EVMs," Hussain, the Bharatiya Janata Party's national spokesperson, said at a press conference here. "When (Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind) Kejriwal won the election in Delhi or when the opposition won in Bihar, everything was good about the EVM then. They only started finding its flaws when they lost the election in UP These are nothing but excuses," he said. Hussain said the result of the Uttar Pradesh polls reflect people's stern response against the opposition's policy of hampering the nation's progress. "They opposed demonetisation and tried to hinder the economic progress of the nation. The people gave them such a strong reply which got reflected in the election results,"he added. New Delhi, April 11 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said it has registered a preliminary inquiry against Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and others in an alleged money laundering case worth Rs 4.63 crore in 2015-16. The probe agency registered the case on Monday on the basis of several evidences it has collected against the minister, saying he was involved in money laundering despite being a public servant. "Jain is accused of being involved in the crime through Kolkata-based companies -- Prayas Info Pvt Ltd, Akichand Developers and Mangalyatan Project Pvt Ltd -- during 2015-16," an official said. Jain, who is a close confidant of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is also accused of purported money laundering worth Rs 11.78 crore during 2010-12 through these companies and another Delhi-based Indo-Metal Index Pvt Ltd. It was alleged that the money was given in cash by Jain through his employees and public associates to Kolkata-based entry operators and various shell companies for providing accommodation entries in his favour, the official said. "Thereafter, entry operators routed the black money in the form of investment in shares of Prayas Info Pvt Ltd, Akichand Developers, Mangalyatan Project Pvt Ltd and Indo-Metal Index Pvt Ltd, which were controlled by Jain," the official said. They said that interestingly, the shares were bought at a premium of 60 times the unit price. "Jain technically resigned from the directorship of the companies in view of the 2013 Delhi assembly elections. The money received back in the form of investment in shares was used by him for purchasing agriculture land worth Rs 27.69 crore in Delhi in the name of companies controlled by him." It was also alleged that Jain used his power as minister to get the agricultural land declared as residential area by the Delhi government in order to gain huge financial benefits, he added. The matter was referred to the CBI by Income Tax Department against the new Benami Transactions Prohibitions Act. The IT Department in September 2016 summoned Jain for his alleged links with three firms which were under scanner over allegations of hawala transactions of nearly Rs 17 crore. The Delhi Health Minister then said that he had made investments in these companies as an investor four years back but separated himself since 2013 and that he had done nothing wrong. IT officials received records of certain financial transactions connected to Jain after their counterparts in Kolkata recently searched a firm in connection with a tax evasion and alleged illegal financial remittances case. Rome, April 11 : The G7 group of nations on Tuesday failed to reach an agreement on new sanctions on Russia and Syria over last week's chemical attack that killed at least 89 people. A meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers in the Italian city of Lucca rejected a British plan to impose targeted sanctions on military personnel in Russia and Syria who had been "contaminated by the appalling actions of the Assad regime", CNN reported. Britain had hoped to strengthen the hand of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ahead of his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday. Instead, the plan was shelved until after the results of an investigation into the attack on Syria's rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, which prompted the US to launch a barrage of missiles on a Syrian airbase on last Friday. The group agreed to delay implementing sanctions until there was "hard and irrefutable evidence" over the alleged chemical attack, said the report. "There is no consensus on additional new sanctions," Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said. He said the group did not want to back Russia "into a corner" and preferred dialogue. Speaking after the meeting, Tillerson denounced Russia's "failure" to ensure the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria and said it had not made enough progress in peace talks. Tillerson said that Russia had failed to uphold commitments it made in 2013 to guarantee the Syrian regime got rid of chemical weapons. "These agreements stipulated Russia, as the guarantor of a Syria free of chemical weapons, would locate, secure, and destroy all such armaments in Syria. Stockpiles and continued use, demonstrate that Russia has failed in its responsibility to deliver on its 2013 commitment," he said. "It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously or Russia has been simply incompetent in its ability to deliver on its end of that agreement," CNN quoted Tillerson as saying. But he also laid down an ultimatum for Russia, saying that Moscow must think about whether to remain an ally with the Assad regime, the Iranians and Hezbollah. "Is that a long term alliance that serves Russia's interests? Or would Russia prefer to realign with the US, with other Western countries and Middle East countries that are seeking to resolve the Syrian crisis?" He also said that Russian-brokered talks in Astana had "not produced much progress," adding that he had hope that a process underway in Geneva over Syria's political future would be fruitful. "And our hope is Bashar al-Assad will not be part of that future," he said, without explicitly calling for Assad's removal. Syria denied it carried out any chemical attack. The meeting brought together Foreign Ministers from the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Alfano said the G7 had broadened consultations in Italy on Tuesday morning, with key regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey. Kolkata, April 11 : China's ruling Communist Party has extended an invitation to West Bengal's ruling Trinamool party and its supremo Mamata Banerjee to visit Beijing. "It is likely that we will go to China for 4-5 days in June," the West Bengal Chief Minister said on Tuesday. She has been invited for discussions on possible investments in sectors like agro-industry and manufacturing. "We have got a lot of requests from many countries including Poland, Russia and Australia. The Communist Party of China has invited my party to visit China and invited me to Beijing and has talked about potential investments in agricultural and manufacturing sector," she said. "China is helping Bangladesh and India as well. They have requested me several times. They want to invest and that is why we will go," she told the media here at the airport on her arrival from Delhi. Banerjee had earlier scouted for investments in Singapore, London and Bhutan. Srinagar, April 11 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday ridiculed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's claim that only five per cent Kashmiris were involved in anti-India protests. Commenting on the record low voter turnout in Srinagar parliamentary constituency on April 9, Omar tweeted: "Does anyone remember Mehbooba Mufti telling the rest of us that the protestors are only fiver per cent of the population. Today '5%' defeated '95%'". Mufti last year said only five per cent people were involved in protests that erupted after killing of Hizbul Mujahdeen militant Burhan Wani in the Valley and lasted for over five months. It must be recalled that only poor seven per cent voter turnout was recorded in Srinagar parliamentary by-poll on April 9. Eight civilians died in clashes with the security forces and dozens were injured. It was the lowest ever voter turnout and unprecedented poll-violence, prompting the Election Commission to defer the April 12 by-poll in Anantnag constituency to May 25. Dhaka, April 11 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Tuesday that her India visit was a success and that she had gone to seek friendship, which she got from her neighbour. Answering queries about her April 7-10 state visit to India, Hasina also said there was nothing to hide in the agreements and MoUs signed with India and everything was open to the public. "I did not return empty-handed. I got something. Sometimes I jokingly say -- I wanted water, but got electricity," Hasina told journalists at her official residence Ganabhaban. "I went there to seek friendship. And I got that friendship," Hasina replied when a newsman asked her what Bangladesh got from her India visit. The Prime Minister said nothing happened during her India visit that could make people pessimists. "I am satisfied with the visit. The visit is a success. It's a matter of satisfaction that India has treated Bangladesh as a sovereign state. We have got the honour of a sovereign state," Hasina said. On the sharing of Teesta's river waters, she said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "has pledged to sign the agreement. We can wait with patience for signing it". "They have to release the water, they'll have no option during rainy days, so they'll have to. And we have to find methods to retain it," she said, bdnews24 quoted her as saying. She also spoke about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's alternative proposal on giving Bangladesh water from four smaller rivers instead of Teesta. She said she was 'pleasantly surprised' that Narendra Modi came to receive her at the airport in New Delhi. Hasina said 11 deals and 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed between the neighbours during the visit. Hasina said all agreements with foreign countries are signed after approval of the cabinet. "So, these are open documents," she said. "There is no hide and seek regarding the agreements and MoUs," she said. Asked about the defence deal, Hasina said there is no scope to raise a question over the deal signed with India. "No anti-state agreement will be signed as long as I am alive," she said. She slammed the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party for alleging that Bangladesh was being "sold out" to India through her visit. "I am a daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. All will have to understand that I am not a person who can sell out the country to anyone," she declared. To a question on her government's policy to maintain relations with both India and China, Hasina said the policy of Bangabandhu - 'Friendship with all, Malice to None,' is the "guiding factor of our foreign policy". "I'm trying to comply with the policy word by word and establish good relations with every country," she said, Prothom Alo quoted her as saying. She said that India and China might have problems in their bilateral relations but Bangladesh would maintain good ties with every country. This was Hasina's first tour to India after the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014. She also stayed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in a sign of the importance India attached to her visit. Hasina said: "The trip was hugely satisfying. There's no frustration. There's nothing frustrating." Her comments come as Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon on Tuesday blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "spoiling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit". Referring to Mamata's refusal to change her stance on Teesta water sharing, Menon said "Teesta is an international river. Its water is our right. It is not up to anyone's pity to give us the water. It is our right," he told the Daily Star. "Mamata has besmirched the Prime Minister's otherwise successful tour to India," the Minister said. New Delhi, April 11 : Ahead of the civic polls in the national capital, the Congress will launch "Dilli Ki Bath, Dil Ke Saath" programme to woo the voters. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken said: "Nearly 90 national Congress leaders from across the country will campaign in the MCD (municipal corporations of Delhi) elections." "The party leaders will speak about making the corporations financially self-reliant by raising their own resources, solid waste management, primary education and primary health, as part of the party's 'Dilli Ki Bath, Dil Ke Saath' campaign," Maken said. He said top leaders of the party -- Jairam Ramesh, Shashi Tharoor and Salman Khurshid -- too will join the morning walkers in city parks to talk about its plans for the improvement of the civic bodies. Maken said a control room has been set up in party office to co-ordinate the election campaigns of the senior leaders. "We will talk about different issues like the problems of street vendors, education, environment, health and other issues affecting the people," Maken elaborated. He said the Congress party, instead of holding big rallies and giving big speeches, will find solutions to the problems of the people of Delhi. Maken said Tharoor will visit the Jahanpanah City Forest on Wednesday at 7 a.m. to talk about education in the MCD schools while Jairam Ramesh will visit the Bhalswa landfill on Thursday and the Ghazipur landfill on Sunday. He said Salman Khurshid will visit Tahirpur on Saturday at 7.30 a.m. to talk to people about health, while Girija Vyas will meet the street vendors at Meena Bazar, Jama Masjid and Peeli Kothi on next Monday at 5 p.m. The Congress leader said he will meet the street vendors at Badarpur on Tuesday against the non-implementation of the Street Vendors Act, passed by the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government at the Centre in 2014. Patna, April 11 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday ordered a Special Investigation Team-probe into the death of a sugar factory worker in a self-immolation bid to protest against unpaid wages, officials said. "A Special Investigation Team has been formed after Nitish Kumar asked a probe in the incident," an official from the Chief Minister's office said here. Two workers, Naresh Srivastava and Suraj Baitha of a closed sugar factory at Motihari in East Champaran district, on Monday attempted self-immolation by jumping into a fire which was ignited using firewood and rubber tyres during a protest demanding payment of salaries due since 2002. Both suffered severe burn injuries and were later shifted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for treatment where Srivastava died, while Baitha was in serious condition. However, officials of district administration in Motihari said the two workers were forced to jump into the fire under a conspiracy. "We will look into this aspect," Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said. This incident has come as a major embarrassment for the state government, which is busy celebrating the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Satyagraha, which changed the face of India's freedom struggle. Mumbai, April 11 : Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited the sprawling headquarters of Tata Consultancy Services at Banyan Park here on Tuesday afternoon. Turnbull was accorded a welcome at the TCS state-of-the-art Executive Briefing Centre at Banyan Park, Andheri (East) by top officials including Managing Director and CEO Rajesh Gopinathan. He was taken around and shown the innovative solutions developed by TCS from banking to the retail sectors, besides a glimpse of all the work the software giant is doing for the people of India. "We also showcased how we are able to leverage technology for innovation and global competitiveness of Australian clients. Turnbull evinced keen interest in the work of TCS to promote STEM education, especially amongst women and the leverage of technology by government departments. "It was great to have the Australian PM with us. TCS works with six of the top 10 companies on the ASX (Australian Securities Exchange)," Gopinathan said. Later tonight, Turnbull will address a meeting of top Indian corporate bigwigs from different sectors. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to meet Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao before returning to Australia at the end of his four-day visit to India. New Delhi, April 11 : Australia will collaborate with India to build capacity of four lakh trainers and assessors over the next few years, Australian Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said on Tuesday. "We believe we can help because you recognise and acknowledge our experience in a very successful vocational education system," Birmingham said at the 4th Australia-India Skill Conference, 2017, held in conjunction with the visit of Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull to India. Birmingham said Australia is well placed to help India in reaching its target in training, and added that the programme would also look at scaling up the number of apprentices in India. Speaking on the occasion, Rajeev Pratap Rudy, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said: "For very long, in India, education did not carry the skills along. Skills never got the focus that it should have." Rudy said India need to train 400 million people in organised and unorganised sector. Talking on training Junior commissioned officers of armed forces as trainers and assessors to fill the shortage of trainers, Rudy said: "The young trained junior commissioned officers who have long trained in many technical aspects of Indian armed forces... generally they retire young after 20 years of service. "So, we have partnered with Indian armed forces... we have established mechanism where these youngsters, who are to retire, within six months of their retirement they are put to certain courses where they can be trained as assessors or entrepreneurs or trainers," he said. "I think this programme is going very successfully now and we have launched several batches of such youngsters," he added. Rudy said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to make India a hub for international work force. The two ministers also launched 'International Trainers and Assessors Training Courses', a joint initiative between the Government of Australia and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). The conference was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Department of Education and Training, Government of Australia, under the ambit of the Australia-India Education Council, on Tuesday. The conference focused on how technology and automation will impact jobs in future. New Delhi, April 11 : A Zambian student, who was found dead in Gujarat last week, had committed suicide, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday. "I have got the report on the death of a Zambian national Zite Shakala from Government of Gujarat. "Police investigations prima facie suggest that this is a case of suicide. A suicide note has been found at the scene of occurrence," she said in a series of tweets. Jeetey Shakala, 21, who was a third year engineering student at Parul University in the Waghodia area of Vadodara, was found dead in his room in the international students' hostel on the campus on Saturday. The incident comes in the wake of attacks on some Nigerian nationals last month in New Delhi's satellite township of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. African envoys described the attack as "racist" and even threatened to move the UN and other international bodies over the issue. The government has maintained that the attack cannot be dubbed racist pending completion of an investigation into the matter and described the African envoys' statement as "unfortunate". New Delhi, April 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday unveiled a book by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan here. "Matoshree" -- a play based on the life of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, the Queen of Malwa Region from 1767 to 1795 -- was written by Mahajan decades ago. "I have written the book but I am not a writer," Mahajan said while welcoming the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament at a function here. "I wrote the play and it was staged in Indore and other places but I never wanted it to be published as it could have had discrepancies," she said, adding that her friends insisted on its publication and a historian friend from Indore checked it and got it printed. Modi, his Cabinet Ministers and MPs including L.K. Advani, sat in an auditorium at Parliament premises to enjoy the play on the life of Holkar after the book was released. New Delhi, April 11 : They bite rats, snakes and even stripped naked outside the Prime Minister's office; however farmers from Tamil Nadu, some even protesting with the skulls of their kin, continue facing apathy, they say. On Tuesday, after 29 days of protest, a delegation of six farmers lead by P. Ayyakannu met the Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. "The minister said that our demands will be met but the protest will continue till the demands are actually met," said one protester. The farmers say that due to the drought for last 10 years which became more severe since last four years, they could hardly cultivate any crops. They have been demanding loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve the irrigation issues faced by the farmers. Farmers say that due to the drought their crops failed for thr last four years and they are unable to repay the loan they had taken. "The water availability started reducing annually ten years back and for past four years there were no rains. All the lakes and ponds dried up, there is hardly any water now," B.K Murti, a farmer from Velangani village of Nagapattinam district, told IANS. He added that a lot of farmers in his and neighbouring villages has been committing suicide since the past ten years, while the number jumped in the last four years. According to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), between 2000 and 2014 a staggering 12,373 farmers committed suicide in Tamil Nadu while the agriculture department claimed the number was only 13. While the NCRB says 238,659 farmers committed suicide in India between 2000-2014, the Agriculture Ministry says the number is 18,271. Facing a language barrier, a Chennai-based techie named Pradeep helped this IANS corespondent in translating the ordeal of the Tamil-speaking farmers. Pradeep joined the protest five days back after resigning from a corporate job in Mumbai against his family's will. "When I reached here 24 days had already passed, no one from government, either the state or centre bothered to came and listen them out," said Pradeep. Pointing towards a farmer named Damodaran, who wears a garland of three human skulls in protest, Pradeep claims that the centre was that of his wife, while other two were of his kin who committed suicide two years ago. "He exhumed it and had been since keeping them... he hardly talks," a farmer claimed. Farmers claim that since all the lakes and ponds in the village dried three to four years back, they could only manage water for drinking. "I have six acres and there had been hardly any crop since the last four years. We grow corn, rice, chilies and brinjals. I grew corn two years back which dried... Two years back I took a loan of Rs one lakh to support my family and to dig a borewell for water. It was an unsuccessful attempt," Kamaraj, a farmer from Amangudi village in Tiruchirappalli district, said. Kamaraj, along with many other farmers, claimed that they also had to sell off their livestock because of the lack of water. "I had two cows and I had to sell one... I am here so as to save my family as this is our last option," Kamaraj added. Mumbai, April 11 : Natural resources major Vedanta Ltd. said on Tuesday that its merger with subsidiary energy firm Cairn India has become effective. "Vedanta Limited (Vedanta) and Cairn India Limited (Cairn India) today (Tuesday) announced that the merger of Cairn India with Vedanta pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement has become effective," said both firms in a joint statement. "This merger consolidates Vedanta's position and the merged company will have a larger pro forma market cap of $15.6 billion and higher free float of 49.9 per cent. Vedanta will have one of the strongest balance sheets in the Indian corporate sector," it said. A statement last month had said Vedanta had received all approvals for the merger, except the Reserve Bank of India's permission for issuing redeemable preference shares to Cairn India's non-resident shareholders. Shareholders of both Vedanta Ltd. and Cairn India had in separate meetings held last year approved the merger. Under the merger scheme, a Cairn India shareholder will get one Vedanta equity share and 7.5 preference shares for every Cairn India share. The Anil Agarwal led-Vedanta Ltd received approvals in September 2016 from both the Bombay Stock Exchange and the NSE on the company's proposal to merge with Cairn India. Merging Cairn India with itself provides Vedanta access to the oil explorer's cash and help reduce its debt burden. Vedanta took majority control of Cairn India for $8.67 billion in 2011 and holds 59.9 per cent in it through its various units. "We are pleased to have completed the Vedanta Ltd - Cairn India merger and are very excited about the future of the combined company," Vedanta Chairman Navin Agarwal said in a statement. Gurugram, April 11 : Australian minister Simon Birmingham on Tuesday awarded a three-year scholarship worth AU$1.1 million (Rs. 53,315,968.06) to 11 Indian students while leading a high-level delegation visit to the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC) here. The visit marked the celebration of the Indo-Australian academic and research alliance. The TERI Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, the most advanced in the world, was inaugurated by the Indian and Australian Prime Ministers on Monday. The scholarships are awarded to Ph.D students engaged in research programmes at the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre. These students are currently enrolled at Deakin University under the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), which was launched in India in 2009. DIRI builds on Deakin University's world-leading expertise in material sciences, nanotechnology and biotechnology. While addressing the gathering, Education and Training Minister Birmingham said: "The TERI Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre facility is not incredible because we are commissioning bricks and mortar, it's incredible because of the brains, the students, the knowledge that is embedded within the facility, and the potential that they (students) are going to realise in so many different ways." Under the program, each student is provided with a full tuition fee waiver from Deakin University up to an amount of approximately AU$100,000 for a period of three years. During the program, the students travel to Deakin University in Australia for a period of six to eight months during their Ph.D to work closely with their Deakin supervisor. Elaborating on the scholarship programme, Vice Chancellor of Deakin University Jane den Hollander AO said, "The three-year scholarship programme is predominantly designed to equip the best of the talent with advanced research facilities. Under this programme, Deakin University and TERI will provide joint supervision to the students. TDNBC envisions meeting the demand for a global, skilled workforce in nanobiotechnology." TERI Director General Ajay Mathur further added, "Within five years, the Centre aims to have a number of researchers, including Ph.D students, enrolled at Deakin. With its cutting edge technology at the disposal of these bright minds, this Centre will help India make a mark on the global map for building new capabilities and bringing new innovations in the field of science and technology." Besides this, researcher's residences at TDNBC with an accommodation for 50 residents, was also inaugurated by the minister on Tuesday. New Delhi, April 11 : Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for awarding death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, terming it a "kangaroo trial" and "sham justice". "I recall a statement by Sartaj Aziz in December 2016 where he said that there is not enough evidence against Kulbhushan. I think we should dig out the statement and carry that statement," said Chidambaram briefing mediapersons. "Now, from a statement which says that there is not evidence to legally proceed against Kulbhushan to a death penalty given by military tribunal whose jurisdiction to try a foreigner is seriously in doubt, is a huge leap," he added. Chidambaram slammed Pakistan saying: "I think the world knows that this was a kangaroo trial. His (Jadhav) trial never took place at all. And the so-called justice meted out to Kulbhushan is a sham justice. "The whole nation condemns Pakistan for conducting this mock or kangaroo trial and inflicting the maximum penalty upon an admitted citizen, who according to reports, was perhaps kidnapped from a third country and not arrested in territory controlled by Pakistan," he added. Chidambaram said: "We hope that good sense will prevail and that the death penalty imposed by this sham tribunal will not be carried out. This I am saying in the fervent hope and prayer that Kulbhushan is still alive." Asked if this reflected a failure on the part of the central government, Chidambaram said: "That would be too strong a statement. I am sure they must have made efforts. I do not know. But if they have made efforts, I am sure they will tell Parliament what efforts they made. "They should tell the Parliament what efforts they made," he added. Palermo (Italy), April 11 : Supporters of a conservative Sicilian priest who called the Catholic Church "false" and "a prostitute" will meet Palermo's Archbishop Corrado Lorefice to try and prevent his dismissal. In a recent letter, Lorefice ordered Alessandro Minutella to leave Palermo's San Giovanni Bosco parish by Friday "for a period of rest" following a series of inflammatory attacks Minutella made against the Catholic Church under Pope Francis, who he views as overly progressive. In response to Lorefice's letter, Minutella on March 31 streamed live on social media a mass in he celebrated in his parish church. "To this Church which does not want me I say: farewell false Church, the pointless edifices will remain, farewell shameful multinational, unworthy prostitute who has sold herself to the world's powerful," Minutella stated during the mass, cited by local daily Il Giornale della Sicila. Minutella earlier this month complained he was being treated "like a mafia boss" and vowed he would "continue to preach, if necessary in cellars - even if I am defrocked." Parishioners who support Minutella on Monday demonstrated outside Palermo Cathedral, touting banners asking for the priest to keep his job. Chandigarh, April 11 : Around 50 people, including students, police personnel and even journalists, were injured as students, protesting a massive fee hike for various courses, clashed with police on the Panjab University campus here on Tuesday. Police took over 50 students into custody and slapped sedition charge on those indulging in violence. Tension prevails on the campus following the clashes. Some of the nearly half-a-dozen media persons injured in the clashes had to be rushed to hospitals here with serious injuries. Police resorted to baton charge, use of water cannons and tear-gas to disperse the agitatators who had gathered near the Vice Chancellor's Office complex. The protesting students pelted stones at the police and broke window panes and flower-pots and damaged other university property. Later, a few students, who were being chased by the police, entered a gurdwara on the campus and took refuge there. Police officials surrounded the shrine to get the students out. Teaching was affected in several departments on the Sector 14 campus of the university due to the protest shutdown called by the students. The fee hike was being opposed by the Students for Society (SFS) and other student organisations, including Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), Students of Panjab University (SOPU) and Students Organisation of India (SOI). The fee hike, to be applicable from the coming (2017-18) academic session, is over 1,000 per cent in some courses. University authorities said that they were forced to hike the fees for various courses following directions from the Union Human Resource Development Ministry and the University Grants Commission. The university has been grappling with financial crisis for the last two-three years with grants from the Centre and the Punjab government not coming regularly. Islamabad, April 11 : Pakistan on Tuesday justified the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and said it was capable of protecting itself against external threats. Refuting Indian claims that the sentence was "premeditated murder", Defence Minister Khwaja Asif told the Senate that the law of the land had been applied and the trial of Jadhav went on for three months. Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days according to the country's law. He can appeal for mercy to the Army Chief, and failing that to the President of Pakistan. "We have done absolutely nothing that is against the rules and regulations," he said. He hit out at India's warning that if Jadhav is hanged it will be considered "premeditated murder". "There is premeditated murder going on even today in Kashmir," the Defence Minister said. "It was premeditated murder in Gujarat (referring to the 2002 riots). It was premeditated murder (when the) Samjhota Express (was attacked)," he said, adding that Pakistan has tried time and again to reconcile differences with India, but New Delhi has failed to cooperate. In a reference to Indian warnings of consequences if Jadhav was hanged, he added: "We will defend our country at all costs" and that Pakistan was "fully equipped" to deal with all such "elements with an iron fist". Asif also said Pakistan will not make any concessions for elements working against the security and the stability of the country, "whether they're operating from inside Pakistan or from outside it". "No other country has been a target of terrorism the way Pakistan has," Asif said, adding that there are no parallels to the successes Pakistan has made against terrorism. India has warned Pakistan that bilateral ties would be hit if it went ahead with the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, who Islamabad says was arrested in Balochistan in March 2016. India denies he was a spy and says he was abducted from Iran. On Tuesday, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reiterated that if Jadhav was hanged, it would amount to premeditated murder. Moscow, April 11 : Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed sensationally on Tuesday that "further provocations" by the US are being planned in other locations in Syria including its capital. "We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared in the suburbs of Damascus where they are planning to plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using chemical weapons," Putin said. Putin made the claim when asked whether he expected more US missile strikes on Syria at a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella who is on an official visit. The remarks came ahead of a meeting between US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow amid mounting tensions over the US missile strikes against a Syrian air base on Friday, days after a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in northern Syria that killed over 80 people. The US launched cruise missiles against a Syrian air base in Homs province on Friday after a suspected chemical attack that killed over 80 civilians including 20 children in Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province on April 4. Putin reaffirmed during talks with Mattarella on Tuesday that Moscow will ask the United Nations to open an investigation into the Khan Sheikhoun attack, which drew widespread international condemnation. "The use of chemical weapons is banned by the Geneva Conventions and is unacceptable," Mattarella said in remarks after his meeting with Putin. "We hope that Moscow, like all countries, can use its influence to prevent further attacks taking place," he added. Italy considers it of "fundamental" importance to identify the perpetrators of such heinous crimes and "to bring them to justice," Mattarella said. Damascus and Moscow deny their jets dropped chemicals on Khan Sheikhoun and claim the atrocity occurred when a rebel depot containing chemical weapons was hit during an air strike. The Syrian and Russian governments have condemned the US attack on Shayrat airfield near Homs, which the Syrian army said killed six people and caused "extensive material damage". The missile strikes against Shayrat damaged or destroyed 20 percent of Syria's operational aircraft, the US has said. Lucknow, April 11 : A month after the vote count for the February-March assembly elections, the BSP held demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday to protest alleged tampering with EVMs in the state polls. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati called the "electoral fraud" through electronic voting machines (EVMs) a "grave threat" to democracy and announced that party's protests against their use would continue from "parliament to streets to the courts". The four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, ever since the election results was announced on March 11, has been alleging that the voting machines were tampered with to help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BSP could manage only 19 seats in the 403-member House. She also alleged similar electoral fraud in the hill state of Uttarakhand, where the BSP drew a blank and the BJP stormed to power with a three-fourth majority. Mayawati also alleged that the "blind pursuit of BJP President Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get power murdered democracy not only in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand but also in Goa and Manipur". Shillong, April 11 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday criticised the BJP-led NDA government for observing Digital India on Good Friday. "Is it that they selectively identifying these dates to marginalise the minorities with a complete disregard to the Constitutional obligation of ensuring personal liberty?" the Congress leader told journalists here. Sangma said that people should be given space including government employees to engage themselves in their respective culture, or religious activities. He said that the Central government had already communicated to the states that they wanted to have a digital India day on Good Friday, but said that the Meghalaya government will not participate. "We will articulate our concern to the Union government particularly to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Secretary (K.S. Kropha) has been asked to inform the Union Cabinet Secretary and it is also necessary for me (Chief Minister) to express my concern on behalf of the people of the state and people belonging to minority communities with special reference to sentiments of people of the Northeast which has major chunk of Christian minorities," Sangma said. Ankara, April 11 : Nerve agent Sarin was definitely used in a deadly attack on a rebel-held town in northern Syrias Idlib province on April 4, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said on Tuesday, as per a media report. "As a result of blood and urine samples taken from the victims subjected to the use of chemical war material in Idlib, Isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, the metabolite of sarin gas, was confirmed," Akdag said, as per Turkish daily Hurriyet. Around 30 victims were brought to Turkey for treatment following the attack on Khan Sheikhoun in which Syrian activists cited doctors as saying victims fainted, vomited, choked and foamed at the mouth. The Syrian pro-opposition Edlib Media Centre and the opposition Local Co-ordination Committees network said after the attack the substance dropped was believed to be Sarin, which is highly toxic and is considered 20 times as deadly as cyanide. Over 80 civilians including 20 children died in the atrocity, which drew international outrage. Syria and Russia deny they carried out a chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun. Initial findings collected from the autopsies of three Syrians who died after being brought to Turkey for treatment suggested the use of sarin gas, said Turkey's Health Ministry. The autopsies were attended by representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Hurriyet said. Add your own unique style to fire pit decor to make the space feel like a room in your home. Its tough to beat the appeal of a fire pit in a beautiful back yard. No matter the time of year, everyone loves the warmth and communal gathering space only a fire pit can provide. According to landscape designer Doug Scott, of Redeem Your Ground in Atlanta, Georgia, theres a fire pit to suit homeowners on virtually any budget. From full installs designed to match a homes look and materials, to simpler stacked-stone or paver versions, there are a ton of options and budget ranges to choose from he said. A portable fire pit is a simple, cost-effective option that can help create a cozy gathering space. It can be utilized in a specially prepared place that reflects you and the vibe you want your fire pit to exude. Its all about beautifying and complementing the fire pits surrounding area, and turning the heat up on your outdoor living space Scott said. The first step is to select a location for the fire pit. Its best if the location is at least 10-feet away from a home, fence or other man-made structure. Be sure to ensure there is plenty of room for seating, and for family and guests to move about freely. Scott recommends a space thats about 15- to 18-feet in diameter, including five- to six-feet for the fire pit, and at least five- to six-feet around the perimeter for seating and ease of mobility. Next, mark the space, which is easy to do by driving a stake at the center of the fire pit. Then, tie a string around the stake and stretch the string to the perimeter. Use the string to walk around the perimeter of the pit, marking it with landscape paint as you go. Prepare the general area by raking away any debris and leveling the area as best you can. To keep the marked perimeter in place and for an added finished touch, youll want to install ruble strips or other type of stone for a border. You can sink them in about an inch to better keep them in-place over time. Once the area has been prepared, create the base or floor of the fire pit, where youll place the fire pit, chair, table and other items. Scott said while there are a wide variety of possible floor materials, from wood chips to cyprus mulch, he prefers more fire-resistant materials such as stone, brick, concrete, or mini slate chips. To summarize, the main elements of the fire pit include: the pit itself; seating; a table/drink stands; and potted plants. Now its time to place the fire pit and get onto the fun part of the project, which is making it look and feel like a room inside the home. There are no rules when it comes to fire pit decor. You can either purchase new seating and accessories to achieve the desired look and feel, or repurpose existing items that have sentimental value. Visit WeAreExmark.com/diy to see how Scotts fire pit project turned out, and view more Done in a Weekend videos with project ideas to increase the appeal of your outdoor living space. About Exmark Exmark Manufacturing was incorporated in May 1982 as an independent manufacturer of professional turf care equipment. Today, it is the leading manufacturer of commercial mowers and equipment for the landscape professional. Exmark mowers are purchased 2-to-1 over the next best-selling brand by landscape maintenance professionals. In addition to designing, building and marketing quality turf care equipment, Exmarks goal is total customer satisfaction. All Exmark products are designed to help customers increase productivity while delivering unmatched quality. Products are sold to distributors and dealers who share the companys commitment to customer service and quality products. Learn more at Exmark.com. Note to Editors: All media inquiries, image or interview requests should be directed to Matt Gersib at (402) 314-2150 or mattgersib(at)gmail.com. For other inquiries, please contact Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc., Industrial Park N.W., P.O. Box 808, Beatrice, NE 68310-0808; (402) 223-6300. Michele D'Onofrio, Amy Shimalla, Amy Wechsler, and Heidi Lepp Each year less than 2.5% of all lawyers in the state are selected to appear on the Super Lawyer list. New Jersey-based family law firm Shimalla, Wechsler, Lepp & D'Onofrio, LLP, is proud to announce that all four partners, Amy Zylman Shimalla, Amy Wechsler, Heidi Ann Lepp, and Michele DOnofrio, have again been named Super Lawyers in the April 2017 issue of NJ Monthly magazine. Each year, less than 2.5% of all lawyers in the state are selected to appear on the Super Lawyer list. One of the firms associates, Sarah Mahony, was also again named to the list of Rising Stars. Additionally, Amy Zylman Shimalla has achieved distinction on the Super Lawyers Ten Year Top List, as one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers, and as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in New Jersey. Amy Wechsler has also been recognized as a Top 50 Women Lawyer in New Jersey. Shimalla, Wechsler, Lepp & D'Onofrio prides itself on its 110+ years of collective experience with divorce and family law. Their highly knowledgeable attorneys guide their clients through the challenges of separation, child custody, parenting schedules, child support, alimony, as well as property and asset division. Located in Warren, New Jersey, Shimalla, Wechsler, Lepp & D'Onofrio has focused on providing clients with personalized and compassionate legal counsel. Super Lawyers is a highly regarded rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas, all of whom have achieved exceptional recognition from their peers. Selections are made through extensive state-wide surveys, independent research, and peer reviews. Candidates are considered with 12 different elements of peer recognition, along with professional accomplishments on a yearly basis. The list is created as a resource for fellow attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. ___________________________________________ The law firm of Shimalla, Wechsler, Lepp & DOnofrio, LLP, is based in Warren, New Jersey. With more than 110 years of combined experience, these family lawyers practice traditional litigation as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) including mediation, arbitration, and collaborative divorce. Practicing exclusively family law, the firm's attorneys represent clients across Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren, Middlesex, Union, Morris, Monmouth, Mercer, and Essex counties. Villa Rhakotis in Kefalonia, Greece. Villa Rhakotis, a villa rental in Kefalonia, launched a newly designed website to bring online booking capabilities and a highly responsive design to guests living all around the world. The updated website is located at: http://www.rhakotisvilla.com/ The new website was designed to bring more information, villa photos, and added convenience to online travelers. Prospective guests can view rates, see open availability to book their upcoming vacations, and read reviews from past guests. Plus, those interested in learning more about travel to Greece can find insiders guides to the Greek islands. Villa Rhakotis sleeps up to six people at a time. It is overlooking Lourdas Beach, which has become a very popular destination in Kefalonia. From outside the villa, on the patio or terrace, guests can enjoy the spectacular panoramic sea view as well as a stunning view of the Aenos Mount. Inside the rental villa, there are three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, a private sun terrace and an outdoor pool. Each bedroom features its own private balcony. The entire villa is furnished with high quality, modern furniture thats been carefully selected for the villa. Theres also a secluded BBQ area and patio for fun and relaxing outdoor activities. The villa is located in Kefalonia, Greece, which is the largest island in the Ionian Sea. The island features expansive and exotic beaches, mountains, iconic marinas, and stunning architecture. It has become a go-to destination for family vacations and romantic getaways. While in Kefalonia, travelers can explore beautiful caves including the Drogarati and Melissani Caves, post-Byzantine monasteries and historic castles. Nearby villages are home to some of the worlds most delicious restaurants. Ferries are available to transport travelers to nearby Grecian islands, such as Patras, Ithaki, and Zakynthos. About Villa Rhakotis Villa Rhakotis is a luxury rental villa on the popular island of Kefalonia, Greece, near Lourdas Beach. The villa overlooks the beautiful Ionian Sea. For more information about the villa or to book an upcoming stay, go to: http://www.rhakotisvilla.com/ With Grid Elite, weve merged the best of both worlds, bringing together the simplicity of shared hosting with the power of dedicated resources," said Brendan Fortune, Senior Director of Product at Media Temple. April 11, 2017 (PRWEB) April 11, 2017 -- Media Temple, a Los Angeles-based company that provides premium web and cloud hosting solutions, today announced that it has added a new tier to Grid, its managed shared hosting solution. The new plan, Grid Elite, builds on the companys always up, always fast, always easy and always human approach by meeting the exacting hosting needs of high-traffic, database-intensive site and app owners and making it simple for them to manage their growth. Set up for continuous operation, Grid Elite offers all the scalability and benefits of a managed shared platform, as well as: Greater performance and reliability: Grid Elite uniquely offers dedicated resources for users databases, ensuring that said databases never compete for RAM and storage, and removing the risk of traffic bottlenecks. Grid Elites dedicated database container also provides users with enhanced customization options; Enhanced speed and security: Grid Elite also features web application firewall (WAF), malware monitoring and removal for up to five sites, and global Content Delivery Network (CDN); Extra peace of mind: Grid Elite is backed by Media Temples 24/7 live, U.S.-based customer support. With Grid Elite, weve merged the best of both worlds, bringing together the simplicity of shared hosting with the power of dedicated resources. Customers who prefer not to take on the additional responsibility of a VPS for their business-critical sites no longer have to, said Brendan Fortune, Senior Director of Product at Media Temple. Especially for sites involving e-commerce or membership subscriptions, having a dedicated MySQL database container to themselves really makes Grid Elite one of the industrys most powerful managed shared hosting offerings. Grid Elite offers 250GB SSD storage, dedicated database container, 5TB scalable bandwidth and 500 sites for $60 per month. More information about its features and benefits can be found at https://mediatemple.net/webhosting/shared/. # # # ABOUT MEDIA TEMPLE From its inception in 1998, Media Temple has helped web designers, developers, app publishers, digital agencies and enterprises focus on running their business while we take care of all their hosting needs. Over 125,000 people and businesses in 100 countries rely on our web and cloud hosting services to power over one million websites. Our premium service model combined with our scalable technology allows us to focus on delivering only exceptional quality solutions and best-in-class, award-winning 24/7 customer support. Our clients range from top tier web designers, popular blogs and online creative communities, to global advertising agencies and major brands. With 230 dedicated, U.S.-based employees, Media Temple has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best places to work in Los Angeles. Find us anytime at http://www.mediatemple.net, on Twitter @MediaTemple or on Facebook. Student Coco Kazadi training at NTI's manufacturing shop in Scarborough. Coco was placed for full-time employment at New England Tech Air. NTIs response to the needs of employers is innovative and encouraging. We have hired several graduates and we're looking for more! - Cindy Caplice, SIGCO, Inc. With the unemployment rate at a nine year low, manufacturers are struggling to fill open positions for semi-skilled production workers. The labor pool is shrinking at a time when demand for production capacity is at its highest point. Northeast Technical Institute in Scarborough, Maine is working with Maine Career Centers in Portland to bridge the gap in workforce development for entry level workers. NTIs Manufacturing Technician (Man Tech) program provides value for the student by keeping them focused on the basic employment needs of industry. In a span of eleven weeks, students learn industry fundamentals, blueprint reading, shop math, lean manufacturing, precision measurement, workplace safety, and workplace effectiveness. This 280-hour program combines classroom lecture, e-learning, and bench work to assimilate students into an agile workforce. This curriculum was conceived by employers from many industry sectors, says Peter Weymouth, NTIs Training Coordinator. The magic happens when employers exploit the consistent output of work-ready talent entering the workforce every eleven weeks. Utilizing a high-velocity training model, the Man Tech program provides the job seeker with multiple options for employment in higher wage positions. Human Resource Director Cincy Caplice of SIGCO, Inc. in Westbrook, Maine says, NTI has been a positive partner for SIGCO. Employers in Maine need employees with the very skills that are being taught in this Manufacturing Tech class. NTIs response to the needs of employers is innovative and encouraging. We have hired several graduates from NTI and were looking for more! In response to the shortage of skilled workers in all manufacturing sectors, Northeast Technical Institute is taking a coalition approach as a service provider for the Maine Department of Labor Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP). CSSP is intended to provide individuals with access to education, training and support leading to skilled, well-compensated jobs with anticipated high employment demand, and to improve the economic well-being of the participants in the program. About Northeast Technical Institute Northeast Technical Institute (NTI) is Maines only locally owned and operated accredited career training school with campuses in Bangor, Scarborough and an extension campus in Lewiston. NTI is VA approved and offers Federal Financial Aid, grants and scholarships for many of its programs and for those who qualify. With its short-term, hands-on approach to training, NTI graduates are job-ready, may earn national certification, and are prepared to meet the industrys staffing needs for qualified professionals. The school offers in-demand training for a range of medical programs, including Medical Assistant, Medical Lab Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing and Phlebotomy. HVAC/R and CDL Truck Driving are offered at the schools Scarborough and Bangor campuses, Manufacturing Technician is offered in Scarborough, with plans to launch the program in Lewiston in 2017. Most programs at NTI start each month. For more information, contact 207.805.8000 or visit http://www.ntinow.edu. The birth of this product relates to a simple but heartwarming story, one that many pet owners may have dealt with or are certainly concerned about. The owner of Woof Woof Castle LLC, Peggy Sue Souter, runs a business taking care of other peoples pets. Fortunately, the story doesnt involve those pets, but two of her pets. One day, the dog got into the cats litter box and starting consuming the cats waste. The next day the dog became very ill but luckily survived. Peggy Sue decided she needed to come up with a solution of preventing this in the future. There are other products on the market but are expensive, some in the hundreds of dollars. Thats when she came up with the simple idea of finding a way to prevent her dog from entering into the cats room. Peek a Boo Pet Latch was born. When mounted properly per the instructional CD and hardware included, this unit is designed to simply keep the door open wide enough to allow the cat through, but not the dog or other larger animals. If your dog happens to be smaller than the cat, the company suggests contacting them directly, through their website, for some ideas in this situation. Once installed, the only thing left for the pets to do, is play peek-a-boo. Litterboy Pet Products is located in the beautiful state of Washington. There business has been active and thriving since 1998. When Greg and Steve noticed that the market didnt have many cat products at a fair price, they decided to launch their website sales at http://www.litterboy.com. The products are all new and not manufactured or refurbished seconds. National University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Alfred Ntoko as dean of the School of Business and Management, effective March 31. Dr. Ntoko comes to the private, nonprofit National University from Empire State College of State University of New York, where he served as provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ntoko to National University as we identify new opportunities locally and nationally to build on the successes of our business school programs," said National University provost, Dr. Gangaram Singh. "Dr. Ntoko brings an extensive background in academic leadership and business school management to his new position, along with an impressive body of scholarship in international finance, all areas that will clearly benefit our students and wider university community." Dr. Ntoko developed his educational leadership skills by overseeing all online and on-campus academic programs, and assisting veteran and active military students at Empire State College. His background fits well with National University's strong commitment to serving adult learners, including those with military backgrounds. Dr. Ntoko also has a strong background in fundraising and shared governance, as well as global programs. Prior to working at Empire State College, Dr. Ntoko served as the dean for 13 years of the following business schools: the School of Business and Information Systems at City University of New York in New York City; the College of Business and Public Administration at Kean University in Union, New Jersey; and the College of Business at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Dr. Ntoko's administrative experience includes positions as accounting department chair, graduate program director, academic advising director, and developer of a Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management program. He also brings a strong background in international education, as Empire State College maintains sites in Athens, Greece; Beirut; Tirana, Albania; and Prague. Dr. Ntoko earned a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts in Economics from State University of New York at Binghamton and a Bachelor of Science in Management Science and Economics from State University of New York at Geneseo. He is fluent in both English and French. "I'm honored to join National University," said Dr. Ntoko. "The School of Business and Management has outstanding faculty, a strong alumni base, and extremely accessible curricula. I look forward to building upon that foundation and expanding relations with business and industry in the various communities we serve." A leader in online business schools, and with more than two dozen campus locations, National University offers a flexible MBA program through its School of Business and Management with the option to specialize in supply chain management, organizational leadership or integrated marketing communication. Other business degree programs include undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting, business, management, human resources and leadership. National University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). http://www.nu.edu/OurPrograms/SchoolOfBusinessAndManagement.html About National University Founded in 1971, National University is one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in California. With more than 150,000 alumni, National University is the flagship institution of the National University System. National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging and relevant to a diverse population of students. Four schools and two colleges the College of Letters and Sciences; the Sanford College of Education; the School of Business and Management; the School of Engineering and Computing; the School of Health and Human Services; and the School of Professional Studies offer more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degrees and 13 teacher credentials and licences. Programs are offered at locations throughout California and across the nation, and are also available online. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California. http://www.nu.edu/ Wellness Compass Revolutionizes Corporate Wellness Programs The Wellness Compass gives employees choice and control in a different way than most traditional wellness programs do today. Past News Releases RSS Artificial Intelligence,... CoreHealth Technologies Elected to... CoreHealth Technologies Partners... CoreHealth Technologies announced today it has launched the Wellness Compass - a new technology for organizations to engage employees in their path to achieving health and well-being, enabling employees to choose a personalized health journey with the ability to track and celebrate their progress and success at critical milestones. CoreHealth is constantly innovating and evolving their corporate wellness technology to meet the ever-changing needs of their customers. Employees no longer want a one-size-fits-all approach they want the flexibility and choice to control their journey to health rather than prescribed approaches, a method common in wellness programs today. Since our customers are corporate wellness companies delivering wellness programs to workforces around the world, we receive valuable insight about what employees like and dont like in wellness programs. We consistently hear that an employees health journey must be personal, flexible, and trackable so they can see and celebrate their progress. If this doesnt happen, then employees and employers dont see the results or realize the ROI they are looking for. The Wellness Compass gives employees choice and control in a different way than most traditional wellness programs do today, said Anne Marie Kirby, Founder and CEO of CoreHealth Technologies. Wellness Compass new functionality is part of the 2017.1 product release and allows organizations to give employees choice and control in a simple, fun and engaging interactive format. Features of the Wellness Compass: Users can learn about themselves via lifestyle surveys and biometrics to identify areas for improvement. Users then decide the key health areas they wish to focus. The technology presents available tools including: health coaching, content, reminders, activity challenges, biometrics screenings and so on. Users choose tools that are tailored to their focus areas to support them with long-term behavior and lifestyle changes. At each step in the process, users track progress and are rewarded along the way. The feedback from CoreHealth customers was instrumental to the Wellness Compass development process to ensure the workflows, tools and capabilities were exactly what employers and employees wanted - a personal, flexible, and trackable experience. The talented team at CoreHealth has come up with an individualized way for people to achieve their own wellness goals at their own speed. I love the personalized concept and cant wait to integrate this feature with our clients. Finally, a tool that will help us to meet employees where they are in respect to their readiness to change, said Amy Cohen, President of Inspired Perspectives. CoreHealth, in conjunction with their customers and wellness network of third-party, best-in-class wellness vendors, continue to work together to revolutionize todays corporate wellness programs to deliver new concepts in a different format than what is currently available with todays wellness technology, giving customers a competitive advantage in the marketplace. ABOUT COREHEALTH TECHNOLOGIES CoreHealth Technologies Inc. is the leading corporate wellness platform trusted by more than 1000 organizations, ranging from medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises. At CoreHealth, we believe that developing the best employee wellness programs is all about giving wellness companies the right code, design and access to the latest innovations. With the most customization, integrations and reliability of any software in its class, CoreHealths powerful platform lets users focus on growing great companies. For more information, visit the CoreHealth website. This summer, high school students across Utah will participate in a coding boot camp with the ability to pursue additional education and work opportunities. Success in Education: Code to Success partners with Bottega, a local company offering online and on-location coding curriculum for students and professionals, to offer the 9-week summer boot camp. The focus will be on exploring the fundamentals of software development that could help students land a coveted tech job in the future. "We recognize that not every student will choose development as a career, says Rick Folkerson, President of Success in Education and the creator of Keys to Success, a statewide program that gives recognition and scholarship opportunities to K-12 students as they achieve academic goals alongside their teachers. However, Folkerson says, we hope this opens doors for early learning and understanding of this growing field. We knew we could make a difference and that we had a solution that could work for students. Recent trends in Utah and across the nation will lead to a projected shortage of 1 million qualified applicants for development jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Currently, the technology sector is the fastest growing industry in the country, with no signs of slowing. The ultimate goal of the Code to Success boot camps is to meet this demand and help young Utahns be better prepared for a high-tech future. So many young people could be happy and successful doing development, but they dont necessarily think of themselves as fitting the developer stereotype. Tech has changed for good. Today theres an app for everybody, and we need a workforce just as diverse, said Bottega CEO Eric Wold. Once students have been accepted into the program, they will receive licenses generously provided by Pluralsight. They will also be connected with mentors in local colleges and the tech business community who will help them develop their coding skills. Bottega is known for exceptional curriculum and favorable delivery models that meet the students where they are. We chose Bottega based on their delivery strategy and outcome driven results. We look forward to providing value to the students with clear paths towards further education and work opportunities, said Rick Folkerson. In 2016, 93 students from Granite and Alpine school districts successfully graduated from the boot camp. This years boot camp will expand to 10 school districts and 14 campuses statewide, serving over 550 students. Interested students, parents, educators, and business professionals are encouraged to visit the Code to Success website to learn more about applying or getting involved. IUCN-US Logo Now, more than ever, we, especially in the United States, need to recognize our responsibility to protect the natural world and the ecosystem services on which our survival and prosperity depends. The Board of Directors of the International Union for Conservation of NatureUnited States (IUCN-US) voted Thomas E. Lovejoy its new president at their March 24, 2017, Board Meeting. Lovejoy assumes the post previously held by John G. Robinson, Chief Conservation Officer, Wildlife Conservation Society. The IUCN-US is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that implements a variety of science and education projects aimed at improving conservation science, policy, and practice in the United States. IUCN-US is the partner to the Gland, Switzerland-based IUCN, the worlds oldest and largest environmental organization. It is an honor to assume the role of IUCN-US President at this critical time, said Lovejoy. Together with the Board, I hope to elevate the visibility of the IUCN and the vital work it does through efforts such as #NatureForAll, Coalition for Private Investment in Conservation, and, of course, the newly-established US National Committee. Following the IUCN World Conservation Congress, which was held in Honolulu, Hawaii last September, and recognized as the largest international environmental conference ever held on US soil, the IUCN-US is pursuing numerous initiatives and recommendations from its more than 100 IUCN members that include such organizations as Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund, and the National Geographic Society. Now, more than ever, we, especially in the United States, need to recognize our responsibility to protect the natural world and the ecosystem services on which our survival and prosperity depends. The conservation community has a role in society to communicate and promote that understanding, and Tom, in his new role in the IUCN family, has the skills and network necessary to do just that, stated Robinson. Lovejoy currently is a University Professor at George Mason University, specializing in the application of ecological science in conservation policy. He may be best known for coining the phrase biological diversity and has served in numerous leadership positions, including President of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment and Senior Advisor to the President of the United Nations Foundation. He is joined on the Board by: Barbara J. Bramble, IUCN-US Vice President; and Vice President for International Conservation and Corporate Strategies, National Wildlife Federation Helen Crowley, Head of Sustainable Sourcing Innovation, Kering Nancy Colleton, President, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Christopher Dunn, The Elizabeth Newman Wilds Executive Director, Cornell Botanic Gardens, Cornell University Frank Hawkins, IUCN-US CEO and Secretary; and Executive Director, IUCN Washington, DC Jessica McGlyn, Founder and President, Catalynics, LLC Michael A. Mehling, Deputy Director, MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research Sabine Miltner, Program Director, Conservation Markets Initiatives at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation John G. Robinson, IUCN Vice President and Councilor for North America and the Caribbean; and Chief Conservation Officer, Wildlife Conservation Society Paul Salaman, CEO, Rainforest Trust About IUCN-US The International Union for Conservation of Nature United States (IUCN-US) is a partner organization of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an organization that has celebrated over 60 years of helping the world find real solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges, and with which we share a common mission. IUCN-US works closely with and supports a number of projects administered by IUCN and other partner organizations with similar missions. IUCN-US has been supporting IUCN and its network of members and partners for over 25 years. We provide financial support for scientific and educational activities, field projects and efforts to develop and implement policy, laws and best practices to advance conservation initiatives around the world. As the worlds oldest and largest global environmental organization, IUCN has an unparalleled leadership position to influence the direction of conservation and sustainable development. The Hearthstone BUILDER Award honors those in our industry who invest their time, energy and resources to helping others, said Frank Anton, Vice Chairman Emeritus of Hanley Wood. Hanley Wood, the premier information, media, event, and strategic marketing services company serving the residential, commercial design and construction industries, has announced that Dave and Lori Sanson, CEO and executive vice president of DeNova Homes, are the recipients of the 2017 Hearthstone Humanitarian Award, presented annually by BUILDER magazine and Hearthstone, a leader in financing single family development. The Hearthstone BUILDER Award honors those in our industry who invest their time, energy and resources to helping others, said Frank Anton, Vice Chairman Emeritus of Hanley Wood. Dave and Lori are a true example of community altruism, which is directly reflected in their company culture and their generous contributions to HomeAid. Hearthstone and BUILDER, together with founding sponsor Kohler Company, joined forces to recognize builders who go the extra mile to help others. Now in its 18th year, the Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award has given nearly $6 million to charity, making it the largest philanthropic award in the home building industry, to honor builders who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to making their communities a better place to work and live. There is so much pride behind honoring these individuals, year after year, who represent the best of the best in the builder industry, said Mark Porath, CEO of Hearthstone. And, what also makes me equally proud is that there are so many great submissions every year. I am always humbled by the self-sacrifice of the leaders in our industry, which inevitably makes it a difficult decision." The Sansons and DeNova Homes, a San Francisco-area builder, started working with HomeAid Northern California, a group that focuses on rebuilding the lives of local homeless individuals and families, more than 10 years ago. The Sansons have active roles with HomeAid Dave serves as Chairman of the Board and Lori has chaired the PR committee and the Hope for the Homeless annual fundraiser for the last seven years. Their local impact translates to housing for more than 500 homeless individuals with five large HomeAid projects. Their passion for the organization has been ingrained in their 60 employees at DeNova and with their two sons. The couple led the construction of a home for a sick child in cooperation with Extreme Home Makeover last December to build a two-story, $700,000 home in just four and a half days. In addition, the Hope for the Homeless event that they inaugurated raised a total of $1 million in seven years. They also led project management and construction of the Mission Solano Bridge to Life campus ten years ago that provides housing to 200 homeless to the tune of $800,000 in in-kind donations. In addition, they renovated the STAND! For Families Free of Violence domestic violence shelter in Contra Costa County with another $250,000 in in-kind donations. The Sansons work for HomeAid has been overwhelming and just the most recent in a long history of builders working through HomeAid to give back to the community, said Peter Simons, CEO, HomeAid America. Past Hearthstone Humanitarian Award winners such as Bert Selva, Larry Webb, Mike McGee, David Hill and Bob Macleod have all done incredible work with HomeAid to fight homelessness in their communities and across the nation. The Sansons were selected by a panel of top industry leaders with experience in humanitarian outreach: Frank Anton, Vice Chairman Emeritus of Hanley Wood; John McManus, Vice President and Editorial Director, Residential Group, Hanley Wood; Mark Porath, CEO of Hearthstone; Bert Selva, CEO of Shea Homes; Larry Webb, CEO of The New Home Co. Dan Ryan, CEO of Dan Ryan Homes Chris Gaffney, Group President, Toll Brothers John Wieland, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods The Sansons will be honored at the 2017 Housing Leadership Summit, taking place May 8-10 at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel at Dana Point, Cal. Our work with HomeAid is something we are extremely passionate about and take great joy in, said Lori Sanson. We are always thrilled when we can educate and inspire people about the cause, and the recognition that sometimes comes with that is actually a little outside our comfort zone. About Hearthstone Hearthstone was the first, and today is the largest institutional investor solely focused on for-sale residential development in the United States, with over $12.5 billion committed to the home building industry since 1992. This commitment represents the financing of over 475 communities and 100,000 homes and lots. To learn more visit, hearthstone.com. About Hanley Wood Hanley Wood is the premier company serving the information, media, and marketing needs of the residential, commercial design and construction industry. Utilizing the largest analytics and editorially driven Construction Industry Database, the company provides business intelligence and data-driven services. The company produces award-winning media, high-profile executive events, and strategic marketing solutions. To learn more, visit hanleywood.com. Nancy Wu, Head of Sales and Support for SkyStem I am delighted to share our capabilities and learnings with the global market. SkyStem LLC, a provider of automated month-end close and account reconciliation software, today announced that its Head of Sales and Support, Nancy Wu, will deliver a featured presentation at the upcoming CFO Executive Summit, April 27-28 in Prague. While there, both Ms. Wu and Founder Shagun Malhotra will share industry best practices with CFOs from a range of international industries. Organized by the European Business Conferences Group, the two-day conference is one of the largest gatherings of Chief Financial Officers in Europe. This year, SkyStem will act as its Gold Partner as part of the companys commitment to connecting with the international community. As well as being the host of SkyStems webinar series, which draws hundreds of registrations each month, Wu has a wealth of experience in working in, consulting for, and auditing various accounting departments financial close process for public and private organizations. A recognized thought leader in the industry, she will be drawing upon her expertise to highlight the success of SkyStems flagship account reconciliation platform, ART. As part of her presentation, Wu will share insights into how SkyStem helped a customers accounting team transform the month-end close without the help of outside consultants or any internal IT involvement; demonstrating what modernizing the close process means to both staff and management. I am delighted to share our capabilities and learnings with the global market, said Nancy Wu. Our reconciliation software solution has transformed the close process for companies across many industries, and we look forward to sharing what these benefits could mean with the conferences participants. In addition to the CFO Executive Summit, SkyStem will be represented at several other key industry events throughout the first half of the year, including: About Nancy Wu, Head of Sales and Support at SkyStem Nancy Wu currently leads sales and customer success for SkyStem, a technology company that offers month-end close and reconciliation automation for mid-market companies in banking, healthcare, retail and various other industries. Ms. Wu has spent most of her career working in, consulting for, and auditing various accounting departments financial close process for public and private organizations. Her published work around leveraging user behavior to design internal controls is archived in the Cornell University Library. Ms. Wu is also the author of a whitepaper that discusses management standards around balance sheet reconciliation process. She is the subject matter expert on a webinar program that draws hundreds of registrations each month on topics ranging from internal controls over financial reporting, to month-end close infrastructure, to Finance tone at the top. About SkyStem LLC Headquartered in the heart of New York City, SkyStem delivers a powerful close and account reconciliation application for organizations seeking to streamline their financial processes. The companys flagship solution, ART, is an enterprise technology that helps CFOs and Controllers shorten the month-end close and the time to issue financials by automating balance sheet reconciliations, managing month-end tasks, and providing insightful reporting. The web-based solution streamlines and eliminates up to 90% of manual activities while strengthening internal controls and corporate governance. Pub Room Left Bank at K Station recently completed a 4-month renovation of its lobby and resident common spaces. This renovation was designed to enhance the warmth and functionality of these amenity spaces to support modern residents and how they prefer to live and work. To showcase these renovations, a grand opening event is slated for April 13 at 6:00 pm. Food, beverage, music and prizes will be paired along with tours of the amenity spaces. Left Bank is a 36-story, 451-unit, luxury apartment building featuring stunning views down the Chicago River to Lake Michigan. This LEED Silver certified building is located at 300 N Canal: just minutes from the train station, close to the L, a short walk to the loop, and close to the Randolph Street and Fulton Market award winning restaurant district. Left Bank at K Station offers studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments with condominium-quality appointments, such as granite counters, walk-in closets, floor-to-ceiling windows, gourmet kitchens and in-home washers and dryers. Originally a small, restrictive space for resident gatherings, the updated lobby space now features an open floor plan with a variety of seating areas and work spaces. The openness of these spaces allows extensive natural light throughout. A new modern fire place spreads warmth throughout the spaces. A sound system and greater technology access creates a more flexible space to meet the needs of residents and their guests. With the completion of this renovation, Left Bank now offers residents a pub room, a party room, a conference room and a business center all of which help build community and increase socialization. Some of the areas that were under-utilized are now activated, especially the second-floor walkway where glass top work stations have been added, overlooking the lobby. The renovations were completed by Kaufman and ONeil Architecture, Eleni Interiors, and Norcon, Inc. Laramar Management Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Chicago-based, real estate and management company The Laramar Group, has handled the on-site management of Left Bank at K Station since 2008. ImageSoft is a shining example of the value our partners bring to market, and their exemplary delivery and support of industry-leading technology solutions is deserving of Platinum and Diamond partner status recognition ImageSoft, Inc., provider of the JusticeTech suite of solutions for a paperless court, today announced it has achieved Platinum and Diamond partner status as an authorized OnBase by Hyland Solution Provider. This is the 13th consecutive year ImageSoft has received the Platinum Award which is based on the reseller companys strength in the marketplace and the 15th consecutive year to achieve Diamond partner status which is an indication of excellence in supporting customers. OnBase is an information platform for managing content, processes and cases. OnBase has transformed thousands of organizations worldwide by empowering them to become more agile, efficient and effective. It provides enterprise content management (ECM), case management, business process management (BPM), records management and capture all on a single platform. The Platinum and Diamond partner award status emphasizes the advantages that ImageSoft and OnBase provide in helping courts and other organizations achieve a more efficient and less costly paperless environment. We are delighted to again achieve the highly sought status of Platinum and Diamond partner with Hyland, said ImageSoft President Scott Bade. Our companies combine to offer the best technology and process management solutions that are available to the government, healthcare and insurance industries. Because of Hylands commitment to our customers, we only partner with the best solution providers in the industry, said Eric Miller, director of channel sales at Hyland. ImageSoft is a shining example of the value our partners bring to market, and their exemplary delivery and support of industry-leading technology solutions is deserving of Platinum and Diamond partner status recognition. JusticeTech solution suite. The Paperless Court People. About ImageSoft, Inc. ImageSoft, Inc. provides document and process management solutions to automate, streamline and improve workplace operations. Specializing with courts and government, ImageSoft has developed a tightly integrated suite of technologies called JusticeTech that provide eFiling, CMS, eBench and ECM (enterprise content management) to courts to streamline case flow processing for both civil and criminal cases. Since 1996, ImageSofts technology and workflow solutions have increased productivity, reduced operating costs and saved time and money for customers in government, and the healthcare and insurance industries. ImageSoft serves customers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information about JusticeTech, visit the website at http://www.justicetech.com. About Hyland Hyland is a leader in providing software solutions for managing content, processes and cases for organizations across the globe. For 25 years, Hyland has enabled more than 15,500 organizations to digitalize their workplaces and fundamentally transform their operations. Named one of Fortunes Best Companies to Work For since 2014, Hyland is widely known as both a great company to work for and a great company to do business with. For more information, please visit OnBase.com. new Essence Series wood swing door We are excited to expand our offerings in the Essence product line, said Chad Martinez, product manager at Milgard. The swing doors have a similar look and feel to our recently launched Essence French Sliding Glass Door. Milgard Windows & Doors has added to the innovative Essence Series product line with the introduction of in-swing and out-swing French patio doors, combining the beauty of wood with the durability of fiberglass. The highly anticipated door style is the newest addition to the product line and comes in 2-4 panel configurations with optional operable and non-operable sidelites. It features three new handle design options with seven finishes to choose from. We are excited to expand our offerings in the Essence product line, said Chad Martinez, product manager at Milgard. The swing doors have a similar look and feel to our recently launched Essence French Sliding Glass Door so its easy to mix and match door styles throughout a house in new home construction or remodeling projects. Essence Series patio doors and windows come in three wood interior options including Douglas Fir, Pine, and Primed Pine as well as 16 powder coated exterior finishes including Espresso, Bronze, and Frost. The hinges have been updated for improved performance with nine finish options, Martinez went on to say. The door offers ADA accessibility options and either top hung or retractable screens are also available. Essence Series comes with the Milgard Full Lifetime Warranty that includes parts, labor, and glass breakage coverage. Learn more at: milgard.com/EssenceSwingDoors About Milgard Windows & Doors Corporation Milgard Windows & Doors, a Masco company based in Tacoma, Washington, offers a full line of vinyl, wood, fiberglass and aluminum windows and patio doors for builders, dealers and homeowners, all backed by a Full Lifetime Warranty, including parts and labor. The company has been recognized for manufacturing the nations highest quality vinyl windows eight times in a yearly survey sponsored by Hanley-Wood Inc., publishers of BUILDER Magazine. Milgard has approximately 3,800 dealer locations nationwide. For more information, visit milgard.com or call 1.800.MILGARD. About Masco Corporation Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), parent company of Milgard Windows & Doors, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded home improvement and building products. Our portfolio of industry-leading brands includes Behr paint; Delta and Hansgrohe faucets, bath and shower fixtures; KraftMaid and Merillat cabinets; Milgard windows and doors; and HotSpring spas. We leverage our powerful brands across product categories, sales channels and geographies to create value for our customers and shareholders. For more information about Masco Corporation, visit Masco.com. Lombard Global, Inc. http://www.lombardglobal.com, a global corporate finance and management advisory firm, today announced a key alliance with Glendale Capital Partners http://www.glendalecapitalpartners.com in to its flagship Corporate Finance practice. This strategic alliance will add depth and breadth to both firms by adding an international, technology and Texas focus to a strong traditional industry footprint with roots in the Midwest. It will extend client relationships with transaction advisory and other management consulting offerings. According to William Billeaud, Managing Partner of Lombard Global, Inc., In business, especially in corporate finance, its critical that your closest partners have both competence and high business integrity. The regulatory environment in the U.S. is probably the most stringent in the world. "I have personally known and have done business with the leaders of Glendale Capital Partners since the 1970s. Our families were close friends and we grew up together. I watched them succeed at life and in business. As a result, I am delighted to be able to work with Glendale closely on all aspects of our corporate finance practice. It will be rewarding and a lot of fun. Mike Rami, a founding partner at Glendale Capital Partners added, Were pleased to have this opportunity to align with Lombard. Weve known Bill for many years and welcome his firms international and technology focus, as well as a footprint in Texas, a huge market for us. Their management consulting practice, particularly in advanced analytics, creates opportunities to extend our corporate finance relationships. About Glendale Capital Partners Glendale Capital Partners is a St. Louis-based investment banking firm serving the capital sourcing, and merger and acquisition needs of entrepreneurs, particularly in the areas of craft brewing and distilling, beverage distribution and equipment, water treatment, professional services and aerospace/defense products. Mike Rami has more than 20 years of banking and corporate finance experience serving middle-market companies. He began his career with American National Bank in Chicago and then joined Mark Twain Bank in St. Louis. He later served as senior vice president of commercial lending for Triad Bank, a denovo bank specializing in middle-market commercial banking. In 2010, Rami joined a local investment banking firm as a director, where he led sell-side and buy-side engagements in the craft brewing and distilling, and water treatment industries. Dan Pizzini has more than 30 years of experience in the beverage sector, starting as a warehouse associate and working his way up to co-owner, vice president and marketing director for Pizzini Distributing Company, which was later acquired by Donnewald Distributing Company. With Donnewald, he successfully integrated a complex merger of two local markets while overseeing day-to-day operations. He has in-depth working knowledge of beverage sales, marketing, general management, route accounting software, warehousing, leading and staffing, and understands the complexities of running a successful beverage distribution business. Dan Kreher is a CPA with 30 years of broad financial and M&A experience including investment banking, financial management, corporate development and public accounting. He has worked for the past decade in middle-market investment banking with several firms in the St. Louis area. During that time, he led a number of successful sell-side engagements representing privately owned businesses in aerospace/defense, professional services and craft brewing. Prior to his investment banking career, Kreher served as senior vice president with Engineered Support Systems, a St. Louis-based defense contractor, where he directed M&A activities and managed investor relations for this high-growth public company. Kreher started his business career as an auditor in the middle-market practice group of PricewaterhouseCoopers. To learn more, visit http://www.glendalecapitalpartners.com About Lombard Global Inc. Lombard Global, Incorporated is a global corporate finance and management advisory headquartered in Dallas, TX USA. Lombard executes across borders and function by leveraging capital, technology and best practices with the right people. Since 2004, one point of contact. From market entry to exit In Corporate Finance, Lombard Global specializes in the business technology vertical, particularly in sell-side, buy-side and capital raise assignments. We also work regularly in traditional verticals including manufacturing, retail, distribution and consumer products, particularly when there is a global component to the project. Please visit us and learn more at http://www.lombardglobal.com Katy Slade, Area Vice President of Investments, Gables Residential Gables Residential Area Vice President of Investments, Katy Slade, has been recognized among her peers in the 40 Under 40 class of 2017, sponsored by the Dallas Business Journal. The Dallas Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Awards celebrate the people that the North Texas community should watch as the leaders, executives, and influencers in the Dallas-Fort Worth business community and beyond. These individuals, selected from over 500 nominations, make a difference in the community while also excelling in their workplaces. Katy joined Gables Residential 10 years ago and was recently promoted to Area Vice President of Investments. In her role with Gables and as the current CEO and Chairman of the Board of Uptowns public improvement district, Uptown Dallas, Inc., Katy has proven to be an urban visionary helping shape Dallas. Katy, a Dallas native, spends countless hours working to build relationships and proactively make her hometown more vibrant, including her involvement on the boards of Uptown Dallas, McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, Preservation Dallas, and The Real Estate Council. Most recently, Katy and the Gables team developed Gables McKinney Ave, which brought a Whole Foods Market to anchor the high-end community of 239 residences in Uptown Dallas. This project was awarded the Outstanding Multifamily Development Award by D Magazine in 2015; was nominated as a finalist for the Best Mixed Use Development Award by the Dallas Business Journal in 2016; and recently received the Preservation Dallas Achievement Award. In addition, Katys commitment to live, work, and play developments is demonstrated in Gables Water Street, a new transit-oriented development in Las Colinas. The community, set to open in the fall of 2017, will boast 316 residential units and 60,000 square feet of retail showcasing best in class regional restaurants such as Cafe Herrera, Olivellas, and Main Street Bistro. It will also include a new transit station that will connect to the DART light rail and then to the DFW airport. She also worked closely with neighbors and Dallas City Hall to re-zone Gables Turtle Creek City Place development across from the West Village development to create a form based zoning district. This is the first Uptown project to pioneer the Citys form based zoning code, as well as workforce housing, which sets a standard for dense development in transit corridors such as this one. I am privileged and humbled to have been nominated to be part of the 2017 40 under 40 by the Dallas Business Journal, stated Katy Slade. We are fortunate to have an amazing group of young professionals in the Metroplex with so much talent and commitment to Dallas. Gables has afforded me the opportunity to excel at my job, develop as a professional, and participate in my community, all as part of a talented professional team. It is amazing how we have been able to positively influence urban living in Dallas over the last 20 years. I look forward to continued success in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market. Katy and the Gables team are responsible for more than 2000 apartment homes and 600,000 square feet of retail in mixed-use space in nearly a dozen communities, both existing and underway. She is a contributing member to the community-at-large and passionate about her work creating cohesiveness within a neighborhood and the surrounding area, while ensuring the delivery of a first-in-class product. About Gables Residential Gables Residential is an award-winning, vertically integrated, real estate company and privately held REIT specializing in the development, construction, ownership, acquisition, financing and management of multifamily and mixed-use communities. Gables Residential owns, develops and manages communities in high-growth U.S. markets such as Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, South Florida, Southern California and metropolitan Washington, D.C. Gables also provides third party management services in the New York, Baltimore, Frederick, Tampa, Phoenix, Seattle, Charlotte, Central and North Florida markets. Gables manages over 31,000 apartment homes and approximately 550,000 square feet of retail space and has received national recognition for excellence in development, construction, management, sales, marketing, learning and development, benefits and corporate accommodations. These achievements reflect the impact of our experienced and dedicated team members, our superior knowledge of the markets served, and our expertise in development and management. Hospitality Technology (HT) magazine has announced the winners of the 2017 Hotel Visionary Awards. The Visionary Awards, being underwritten by Datatrend as part of the HT-NEXT Awards program also including the TechOvation awards, seek to honor hotel companies for outstanding achievement, vision and leadership in technological innovation. Every year, HT honors a select group of lodging companies for outstanding achievement in delivering technological excellence. This years presentation took place at the inaugural HT-NEXT (April 1013 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla.). HT-NEXT is the first industry-leading event uniting HTs Hotel Technology Forum and HTNG North America into one immersive networking and educational event for hotel executives and solution providers. The Hotel Visionary Awards, now celebrating 13 years, are presented in two categories: enterprise innovation and customer-facing innovation. In order to ensure that companies from across the industry are recognized for their efforts, consideration is given to size, resources and individual market segment benchmarks. Winners are selected by HT editorial staff and members of the HT advisory board on a basis of thought leadership, execution and forward-thinking vision. This years Visionary Award winners exemplify innovation in the name of efficiency and service, said Dorothy Creamer, editor, Hospitality Technology. Each of this years honorees identified specific areas where friction could be eradicated from operations and the guest experience. The needs they addressed speak to the larger trends happening in the industry as all companies seek to offer seamless, personalized experiences for todays digital, always-connected guest. HT is privileged to recognize these companies for their outstanding achievements. The 2017 Visionary Award Winners Hyatt was selected as an Enterprise Innovator for its development of Colleague Advantage, a single web-based screen that integrates tools and tasks from a vast number of internal systems. With Colleague Advantage, Hyatt colleagues no longer need to toggle between screens and tasks are streamlined, whether its searching a guest name (even if the guest arrived at a different property than where they booked their reservation), identifying if the guest is a return guest or a frequent guest, enrolling guests in the World of Hyatt loyalty program, confirming the status of all room requests, finding the best room based on the guests room preferences, letting guests know where their next meeting is if they are attending an event, and more. The tight level of integration into a single application reduces the complexity of training new colleagues from days to hours, and it allows them to focus less on the technology and more on making human connections. It has created a "heads up" experience instead of heads down experience, turning a transaction into an interaction. Different technologies and too many steps for our front desk colleagues often resulted in an unnatural, almost scripted guest conversation, said Jeff Bzdawka, senior vice president global hotel technology, Hyatt. Colleague Advantage has enabled us to transform the front desk experience, using technology to facilitate an environment where our colleagues dont have to be heads down in countless keystrokes and can instead do what they do best: connect with people in a human, personal way. NH Hotel Group received Enterprise Innovator honors for its Digital Core Platform. In 2014, NHs IT structure was a non-integrated system with high maintenance and evolution costs; unable to provide the company with a sole vision of its clientele, to generate efficiencies in its support processes or to maximize the full potential of the economies of scale present in a company of its size. Furthermore, the Groups IT structures were not in line with technological evolution. Its then functioning systems were not open, which made the integration with other systems impossible and seriously hindered its capacity to develop collaborative models with the third parties involved in its value chain. NH set out to create a digital core platform, which it accomplished through the creation of an open, above-property system that offers a single view of data and modular design. Due to the transformational nature of this plan, NH has been able to innovate in all areas of its value chain. This includes offering a web service that allows guests to choose their own room and implements a pre-identification algorithm of guests. This provides hotels with updated information and preferences of all repeat customers (regardless of whether they belong to NHs loyalty program or what channel they used to make their booking). NH is now also able to modify its hotel prices up to 48 times a day for each of its channels. The service also empowers the company to re-evaluate its forecast and pricing strategy every 30 minutes. Overall, by the end of 2016, NHs achievement of the targets set at hotel level was 93.8%. I would like to thank Hospitality Technology for this amazing recognition which has been possible thanks to the commitment and the enormous effort made by each of our hotel and central teams to transform our companys systems, said Rufino Perez, executive managing director resources, NH Hotel Group. We are proud of having been able to successfully implement something which is not a common practice in our industry, and that has allowed us to move from the 'single data view' paradigm to a 'single view of data' in all processes through the use of a unique platform common to all NH Hotel Group hotels. La Quinta Inns and Suites was chosen as a Customer-Facing Innovator for its "Redeem Away!" addition to its loyalty program called La Quinta Returns. Redeem Away allows its Returns members to redeem La Quinta Returns points any time for everyday purchases with their linked Visa credit card and mobile phone. To activate, a Returns member links an eligible Visa credit card and mobile phone number to the member's La Quinta Returns account. After the member makes a qualifying in-store or online purchase with the linked Visa credit card, a text notification is immediately sent to the member's mobile phone, inviting the member to redeem La Quinta Returns points for that purchase. By responding "yes," points are deducted from the member's La Quinta Returns account and a credit for the purchase amount is received on the linked Visa credit card statement in approximately 10 days. The solution is powered by a set of services developed on La Quintas new RESTful Web services based API framework. These are used as the integration and communication framework to deliver the completely mobile text-based customer interaction experience. The services also serve as the integration channel to VISA systems and La Quintas Loyalty platform. The system was deployed in pilot mode during September 2016 and full deployment began in November 2016. As of January 20, almost 1,800 customers have signed up for the service and more than 5 million points have been redeemed through the system. We are very proud that La Quinta continues to be recognized as an industry leader when it comes to innovation. With Redeem Away! we are encouraging our La Quinta Returns members to engage with the brand more often, while on the go. The enhanced La Quinta Returns program offers a wider array of benefits that appeal to all types of travelers, said Keith Cline, president and chief executive officer at La Quinta. In addition, our data shows that members who engage with the loyalty program by redeeming their points for stays or every day purchases, have a higher propensity to come back and stay with La Quinta again. Building that kind of loyalty is especially important in our highly competitive industry. Watermark Luxe Waterfront Cottages was chosen as a Customer-Facing Innovator for implementing technology that allows an unstaffed property to operate seamlessly. From keyless entry to offering personalized experiences, Watermark created a technology ecosystem to maintain efficient operations while servicing guests all without a staff present and did so all within a year. To establish its program, Watermark identified the needs and wants of its guests including safety and access; required guest/management interaction; bookings & payment; and add-on services. Starting with mobile keys, Watermark also addressed its booking system, selecting a cloud-based PMS that provided a unique customer web location where unique codes for each reservation could be included. "Our goal was to use technology to help engage the guest, provide the highest level of service, but also meet our needs from a business standpoint. The results have been positive from both sides of the equation. It is a great honor to be recognized for this, said David Barton, president, Waterfront Luxe Waterfront Cottages. Past Visionary Award Winners Include: Grand View Lodge (2016) Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (2016) Hilton Worldwide (2015) Fontainebleau Hotel (2015) SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts (2015) Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (2014) La Quinta Inns & Suites (2014) Red Lion Hotels (2014) Hyatt Hotels (2013) Red Roof Inns (2013) Choice Hotels (2013) Conrad Hotels & Resorts (2013) Hilton Worldwide (2012) LaQuinta Inns & Suites (2012) Gaylord Entertainment (2012) Flamigo Las Vegas (2012) Choice Hotels International (2011) Morgans Hotel Group (2011) Galt House Hotel (2011) Royal Caribbean (2011) CityCenter (2010) Courtyard by Marriott (2010) JHM Hotels Group (2010) InterContinental Hotels Group (2009) Harrahs Entertainment (2009) Hyatt Place (2009) Thayer Lodging Group (2009) MTM Luxury Lodging (2008) The Peninsula Hotels (2008) Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (2008) Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (2007) Ginn Resorts (2007) Hilton Hotels Corporation (2007) Rosewood Hotels & Resorts (2006) Harrahs Entertainment (2006) MGM Mirage (2006) Wyndham International (2005) Sea Island Company (2005) Marriott International (2005) Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (2005) Hyatt International (2005) About Hospitality Technology Hospitality Technology (HT) is the only publication dedicated to covering the role of information technology in improving business performance for hotel and restaurant operators. The Hospitality Technology editorial portfolio includes: a print publication that publishes nine times annually and reaches more than 16,000 hospitality industry executives, three networking and educational events (MURTEC, HT-NEXT and MURTEC Executive Summit), a comprehensive website, e-newsletters, web seminars, and several exclusive annual reports and studies. Visit Hospitality Technology online at http://www.hospitalitytech.com. Hospitality Technology is published by Chicago-based EnsembleIQ. About EnsembleIQ: EnsembleIQ is a premier business intelligence resource that exists to help people and their organizations succeed. It is structured to serve the business-to-business needs of retailers, consumer goods manufacturers, technology vendors, marketing agencies and retail service providers by using its integrated network of media and information resources designed to inform, connect and provide actionable marketplace intelligence. Learn more about EnsembleIQ at http://www.ensembleiq.com. Contact: Michal Christine Escobar Managing Editor Hospitality Technology magazine 224-632-8204 VertexOne Logo Vertexs exceptional services and advanced technology have been instrumental in helping GNG achieve this. We look forward to our continued relationship, and extending our ongoing excellence in customer experience. Vertex Business Services announces that its client, Georgia Natural Gas, has been recognized for contact center operations customer satisfaction excellence in the live phone channel under the J.D. Power Certified Contact Center Program. The Certified Contact Center Program distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by GNGs contact center operations to provide An Outstanding Customer Service Experience. Operating in the very competitive Georgia retail market, GNG has teamed with Vertex for business process outsourcing, including call center management, for 9 years. For Certification Status: To become certified, the contact centers successfully passed an evaluation of dozens of best practices that encompass their integration of Voice of the Customer and Voice of the Employee insights into their business operations. As part of its evaluation, J.D. Power conducted a random survey of GNG customers who recently contacted the companys contact centers in Kennesaw, Ga., and Richardson, Texas. A contact center must perform within the top 20% of customer service scores, which are based on benchmarks established in J.D. Powers cross-industry customer satisfaction research. The research criteria includes the customer service representatives courtesy, knowledge and concern for the customer; promptness in speaking to a person; and timely resolution of the problem or request. To ensure integration of Voice of the Customer and Voice of the Employee insights into their business operations, GNG implemented the VertexOne Speech Analytics solution. GNG had determined that greater insight into their call center interactions could positively impact their customer experience. After their decision was made in June, 2015, Vertex implemented the solution in just 3 months. With it, GNG is able to listen even more intently to the voice of its customers, gaining insight into emerging customer issues to increase first-call resolution. Further, by listening to the voice of the agent, GNG can identify opportunities that arise during customer interactions. GNG sets itself apart in the markets we serve by exceeding our customers expectations of service, said Michael Braswell, president of GNG. Vertexs exceptional services and advanced technology have been instrumental in helping GNG achieve this. We look forward to our continued relationship, and extending our ongoing excellence in customer experience. Said Andrew Jornod, chief executive officer of Vertex, We are very proud of the GNG contact call center J.D. Power certification. As a provider of services and technology that enable an outstanding customer experience, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing our clients succeed. About Vertex Dedicated solely to the utility industry, Vertex Business Services is a recognized leader in customer experience solutions. Vertex serves nearly 10 million customers for more than 30 electric, gas and water clients across North America. Through a wide range of innovative services and solutions from the VertexOne Cloud CIS platform to consulting and analytics to BPO and customer experience outsourcing Vertex helps utilities more efficiently deliver a compelling customer experience. For more information, visit http://www.vertexone.net. About Georgia Natural Gas Georgia Natural Gas is a leading provider of natural gas to homes and businesses in Georgia. Georgia Natural Gas is part of SouthStar Energy Services, a preeminent retail natural gas marketing company operating in nine states. Based in Atlanta, SouthStar manages a portfolio of brands across its retail footprint including Georgia Natural Gas in the state of Georgia, Nicor Advanced Energy and Nicor Solutions in Illinois, and in other states, Ohio Natural Gas, Florida Natural Gas, Maryland Energy and Grand Rapids Energy (Michigan). SouthStar also does business in Tennessee and the Carolinas and in other parts of the southeast as SouthStar Energy Services. For more information visit: http://www.GNG.com. Execute to Win ETW forces you to think critically about the business and set tangible goals for what good performance management looks like... Implementing the ETW system has contributed to the success and sustainable growth of OpenWorks since 2012. As a company in growth-mode, OpenWorks has utilized ETW to help to maintain consistent, continued and significant performance improvements. Key areas impacted by ETW include: Goal-setting: ETW forces users to think critically about the business and set tangible goals for what good performance looks like in the organization. Total strategic alignment: ETW helps distill the OpenWorks vision throughout the entire organization so that everyone from the CEO to front-line employees are on the same page. Performance management: OpenWorks conducts all reviews through ETW whether as a weekly scheduled interaction or formal quarterly or year-end reviews. By keeping all this information in one place, ETW helps OpenWorks manage their business better. From a business standpoint, ETW has paid for itself many times over, says OpenWorks Executive Vice President David Bosley. He continues by speaking to the effectiveness ETW has even had on creating a consistent company culture, If growth is the enemy of culture, ETW has allowed us to create a like culture in each of the offices weve opened. I can walk into our farthest office and know what to expect culture-wise. Due to the uncovered capacity and efficiency created by ETW, OpenWorks employees increased outbound contacts by nearly 900%, thereby increasing appointment numbers by over 150%. Additionally, OpenWorks submitted more than 3X the amount of proposals in 2016 versus 2012, resulting in more than a 300% increase in revenue. Read the full case study here. ETW CEO Lee Benson comments, OpenWorks is a perfect example of how ETW can impact multiple areas of your business. Theyve grown substantially over the past four years, all while creating a consistent company culture. This is no easy feat, and ETW is proud to have assisted in achieving that success. About ETW: ETW provides a platform to track, evaluate and measure employee performance against the major objectives of the organization. Easily execute and translate long-term strategy into clear, actionable goals. With ETW you can effectively communicate the company's roadmap to success and engage everyone throughout the organization with that roadmap. Using ETW your organization can connect employees to strategy and culture to drive sustainable winning results. Learn more at http://www.etw.com. About OpenWorks: OpenWorks is a leading national commercial cleaning and facility services company established in Phoenix, Arizona in 1983. With an enduring commitment to providing our customers with the best in class janitorial and facility services, OpenWorks is focused on initiatives that improve our customer's results by consistently making their facilities cleaner, safer and healthier creating a more productive workplace for our customers. We believe this new space will serve as the perfect location to attract new employees, further contribute to the DTSP tech community, and continue to push the boundaries of global to local innovation. PowerChord, Inc. is pleased to announce their expansion into a new state-of-the-art headquarters, accommodating the companys progressive growth and enhancing support for their 10,000+ local client sites worldwide. On March 1st, the SaaS company officially relocated its global headquarters into the newly renovated First Center Tower in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. PowerChord occupies the buildings fifth floor with more than 15,000 square feet and a 360 degree view of the waterfront and downtown area. With 2016 yielding an unprecedented 30% growth in employees, PowerChord has more than 60 people on staff and plans to accelerate recruitment as they continue to expand across the United States and Europe. PowerChord provides customers such as STIHL, Inc., Club Car and Kohler with a SaaS platform to increase brand control, engage customers, and drive revenue online and specifically through local dealer networks. A native St. Petersburg business, PowerChord recently hosted clients from around the world for a three-day Digital Innovation Summit at local landmarks like The Vinoy and the St. Petersburg Museum of History. "Were thrilled to have a brand new home in the middle of downtown St. Pete, said PowerChord CEO, Lanny Tucker. We believe this new space will serve as the perfect location to attract new employees, further contribute to the DTSP tech community, and continue to push the boundaries of global to local innovation." # # # About PowerChord PowerChord is a leading SaaS company that transforms how brands drive local sales. Their multi-location, customer engagement platform provides businesses with an integrated suite of products and services to control their brand, engage customers, and drive revenue through local sales channels. With the PowerChord Platform, brands can create a consistent and immersive customer experience, power brand loyalty and optimize every touchpoint along the consumer path to purchase. PowerChord is a 2015 BIA/Kelsey GOLOCAL award winner and has been recognized as a Deloitte Technology Fast 500 company and a Inc. 5000 company. They currently operate in 28 countries and service over 10,000 local sites worldwide, with employees based across the United States and Europe. Learn more about PowerChords multi-location, customer engagement solutions at https://www.powerchord.com We constantly strive to provide superior service for the varied needs of our hospital Clients, says Long. Staffyourhospital.com speaks to those needs. Medical Solutions, one of the nations top travel nurse staffing companies, is excited to announce the launch of its new hospital Client website at staffyourhospital.com. Among other features, the site offers hospital leaders and healthcare professionals a comprehensive guide to Medical Solutions services, including traditional travel staffing, a managed service provider program called Medical Solutions Plus, strike solutions for hospitals, and a rapid response program for hospitals with urgent, flexible staffing needs. The new Client website also provides access to several resources covering a range of current healthcare industry topics, such as nurse burnout prevention, top nurse recruitment strategies for hospitals, and current trends reshaping the healthcare field. Medical Solutions Director of Marketing & Customer Experience, Jeff Long, says the website will benefit both potential and current Medical Solutions Clients. We constantly strive to provide superior service for the varied needs of our hospital Clients, says Long. Staffyourhospital.com speaks to those needs. In addition, the site highlights testimonials from current Clients and showcases Medical Solutions Client Management team bios. Pat Barry, Vice President of Sales at Medical Solutions, believes the new site reflects the companys commitment to customer service. This new website will improve the customer experience for both our potential and current Clients, says Barry. Now they have the opportunity to gain more insight into our companys services and our experienced team members. To learn more about Medical Solutions healthcare staffing services, visit staffyourhospital.com. ABOUT MEDICAL SOLUTIONS: Medical Solutions L.L.C. is a healthcare staffing firm that specializes in placing registered nurses in temporary travel assignments throughout the nation. The company is one of the largest Travel Nurse staffing agencies in the United States, with locations in Omaha, San Diego, Cincinnati, and Tupelo, MS. Medical Solutions was one of the first Travel Nursing and Allied Healthcare staffing companies to be certified by the Joint Commission and has been continuously certified since January 2005. Medical Solutions was named one of Modern Healthcares 2016 Best Places to Work in Healthcare, named among Staffing Industry Analysts 2016 Best Staffing Firms to Work For, has been named nine times to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, and its flagship Omaha office won the 2014 Better Business Bureau Integrity Award. A nationwide network of qualified healthcare providers allows Medical Solutions to help its client hospitals continue to provide excellent patient care amidst a nursing shortage. Medical Solutions has contracts with 2,200+ client hospitals nationwide and is one of the fastest-growing companies in the Travel Nursing industry. Visit staffyourhospital.com to learn more. International internship provider The Intern Group (TIG) is pleased to announce its four 2017 scholarship winners. A total of US$9,500 in program expenses will be covered by the company in order to facilitate international internships for these four outstanding young professionals seeking global experiences. Of the four scholarships offered in 2017, The Intern Groups 2017 Global Leadership Grant to Australia will go to Daniel Coleman. This US$2,500 scholarship will cover half of the international internship program fee for Coleman to spend six weeks in Melbourne, Australia. Coleman is in the process of earning his Masters of Studies in British and European History at Oxford University. With his sights set on earning his Ph.D. in the United States, Coleman is eager to earn real-world work experience outside of Europe. It is cliche, but in an increasingly globalized world international experience is very important in certain fields of business, research or professional work, said Coleman, who will be working in either Journalism and Media or Law during his six weeks in Melbourne. According to Coleman, the Global Leadership Grant was crucial in realizing this unique professional and cultural opportunity. Im very pleased (and surprised) that I was awarded the Australia grant, as the competition was fierce. Funding is usually the most important obstacle for most people seeking to work or study abroad, and Im no different. Scholarships like these help those who dont have immediate access to it, said Coleman. Im hoping I can make the very best of all the opportunities available to me to help me get a clearer idea of how to achieve my aims. The networks offered by The Intern Group and the number of people who can offer me advice while on an internship is the most important factor for me. In addition to networking opportunities and professional international experience, Coleman is looking forward to learning about business culture in Melbourne, better understanding Australian politics and meeting like-minded people from different parts of the world. I hope to meet a lot of people on the program who are in the same position as me, with strong ideas of what they want to achieve, but still unsure as to the best means of achieving them. This is the first major step Ive taken in my life completely outside of anything I know. No one I know has applied for an Intern Group position before, for example, and I only know a few people my age who have worked abroad for any significant period of time. Skills required, the culture of work, structures of arguments and market details vary around the world and Im looking forward to familiarizing myself with these new approaches in my chosen fields. About The Intern Group: The Intern Group is an award-winning international internship program provider that facilitates career-changing opportunities abroad. The Intern Groups programs focus strongly on personal and professional development. Many alumni have improved their employability through these internships. The global team at The Intern Group understands the importance of international professional experience and how it can transform a person into a more globally-minded and competent professional. The Intern Group provides professional internships within the following career fields: Architecture, Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Engineering, Finance, Hospitality, Information Technology, Journalism, PR & Marketing, NGOs, Science, Art & Photography, Engineering, Fashion, International Business, Law, Medical Electives, Real Estate and Theatre & Music. We are very excited to welcome both attorneys to the firm whose skills and backgrounds will complement and enhance our ever-growing business team Structure Law Group, LLP, is pleased to announce two new attorneys; Brett T. Bunnell and Gokalp Y. Gurer have joined the firms transactional and litigation teams. We are very excited to welcome both attorneys to the firm whose skills and backgrounds will complement and enhance our ever-growing business team, said SLG attorney Katya Mezek. Brett T. Bunnell counsels a wide variety of companies for general business representation, including business transactional and business litigation matters. Mr. Bunnells practice focuses on advising startup companies through all stages of development, including formation, stock option plans, equity compensation, seed funding, venture capital, and exit transactions. Mr. Bunnell also drafts and reviews business and commercial contracts, including but not limited to operating agreements, non-disclosure and non-competition agreements, buy-sell agreements, seed financing agreements, offer letters, employment handbooks, and protection of intellectual property. Mr. Bunnell also represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of corporate/business disputes, as well as litigation involving breach of contract claims, breach of fiduciary duty, theft of trade secrets, trademark issues, and business torts. Prior to joining Structure Law Group, LLP, Mr. Bunnell was the co-founder and CEO of a tech start-up company. SLG has a prominent reputation in the legal industry for its innovative, creative, and practical approach to helping businesses. SLG is the perfect firm for me to flourish and to enable entrepreneurs and startups to grow and scale their business, said Mr. Bunnell. Gokalp Y. Gurer divides his practice between complex business litigation and corporate transactional matters. Mr. Gurer represents corporations and business owners in a wide variety of business and real estate disputes, including breach of contract, mechanics liens, creditors rights, and shareholder, member and partnership disputes. Mr. Gurer handles all aspects of the litigation process, from advising clients on pre-lawsuit issues to drafting pleadings, handling discovery, law and motion matters, settlement negotiations and, if necessary, trial. Mr. Gurer also advises companies on general business matters, including corporate governance and entity formations. Mr. Gurer drafts a wide variety of corporate contracts, such as operating agreements, purchase agreements, non-competition agreements and licensing agreements. Mr. Gurer received his Juris Doctorate from UC Davis School of Law. While in law school, he served as Senior Articles Editor on the UC Davis Law Review and competed in the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition. He also worked for the United States Attorneys Office and a prominent litigation firm. I joined Structure Law Group, LLP, because I wanted to be challenged, entrusted with a high level of responsibility, and presented with opportunity to work directly with our clients inside and outside of the courtroom. I get all of that, and more - SLG is a family, said Mr. Gurer. Brett Bunnell can be reached at: bbunnell(at)structurelaw(dot)com or 408-441-7500 Gokalp Gurer can be reached at: ggurer(at)structurelaw(dot)com or 408-441-7500 About Structure Law Group, LLP Structure Law Group, LLP is a business law firm with a national and international practice that provides legal services to companies of all sizes as well as individual entrepreneurs. SLG assists clients in all areas of business law including start-ups and financing, business litigation, merger and acquisitions, employment law, intellectual property, debtor and creditor rights and commercial real estate. SLG is a dedicated team of legal professionals who have a solid understanding of companies of all sizes as well as businesses and entrepreneurs. SLG is committed to providing exceptional client experiences through innovative and cost-effective legal services and solutions. For more information about the firm please go to http://www.structurelaw.com, visit our blog at http://www.sanjosebusinesslawyersblog.com or contact us as shown below: Krystle Warren Structure Law Group, LLP (408) 441-7500 kwarren(at)structurelaw(dot)com http://www.structurelaw.com "Willis College is pleased to be the first postsecondary Veteran Friendly institution in Canada to focus on a sector specific program such as Cyber Security with the MET Program," stated Rima Aristocrat, VFTP Founder and President & CEO of Willis College, Every year, the Canadian Armed Forces releases about 5000 men and women from service. Although a number choose retirement, many more want to transition to a civilian career, putting their skills and talents to work in a different way. That transition, however, is not always easy for Canada's Veterans as they face varying social, academic, and financial challenges in finding employment and establishing a new career. Today, Canada Company - Military Employment Transition (MET) Program and the Veteran Friendly Transition Program (VFTP) announced a national partnership. The partnership aims to support Veterans during and following their educational and training programs to find meaningful and gainful employment. "Canada Company MET program is pleased to partner with VFTP and Willis College, offering a direct connection to employment services and job opportunities for Veterans studying at Willis College. Reducing time-to-employment and speeding up access to viable second careers is one of our missions, says Angela Mondou, President of Canada Company. This unique partnership where Willis College provides sought-after educational programs in sectors like Cyber Security and MET connects our Veterans to best-in-class employers which will definitely create a clear path for our Vets. This is a program we will want to replicate with all of our partners! Finding employment is difficult for our Veterans and we are proud to do whatever we can to help them as they transition from service. Combining peer support, a state of the art learning facility, and then access to the robust tools, videos, our Military Friendly Certified Employers, and additional resources on the MET site will reduce the difficulty substantially. said Dwayne Cormier, Director of Transition Services Canada Company. "Leaving the military and finding employment in the public and private sectors can be very overwhelming at times," explained Master Corporal (ret'd) Michael McBride, National VFTP Ambassador, who was released after 13 years with the military and three tours in Afghanistan. "There are so many complicated things that you have to learn to do as you go through the stages of transition, when all you really want is to find a job and provide for your family. Having an organization like the MET Program ready to support Veterans in a time of need to find employment will go far to assist our Veterans with a more seamless transition." The new VFTP combines career counselling, personal and professional support, and transition training, all under one roof, simplifying the transition process for Veteran students. Willis College, Canada's oldest college, is proud to join the band of educational institutions partnering with Canada Company - MET. "Willis College is pleased to be the first postsecondary Veteran Friendly institution in Canada to focus on a sector specific program such as Cyber Security with the MET Program," stated Rima Aristocrat, VFTP Founder and President & CEO of Willis College, Canada. "Willis College has a long and proud tradition of supporting Canada's Veterans and is pleased that MET will help to support our Veterans in finding employment. As part of a national sectoral initiative, Canada Company recently received a $1 milllion dollar contribution from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to enable the connection of remarkable military talent to industry sectors seeking strong employees. Many industry leaders are supporters of the initiative, as they already know the benefit of hiring Veterans who have trained for a new career. The program was announced on Parliament Hill on 23 March, 2017 and registrations will begin in late April. Veterans released from the regular or reserve Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Provincial Police Forces are eligible to apply and register. About Veteran Friendly Transition Program The Veteran Friendly Transition Program (VFTP) is a transition program for Veterans that provides a flexible and supportive Veteran-friendly career and learning environment that will help enable Veterans to find gainful and meaningful employment following their service to Canada. Developed by and for Veterans, the program includes three components: a career and employment support program; a personal support program; and a training support program. The VFTP helps to ensure that Veterans have the skills and abilities to effectively transition from military to civilian life. More information is available on the new website: http://www.vftp.ca SOURCE Willis College About Canada Company - the MET Program Canada Company is a federally registered charity created in 2006 by Canadian businessman and Honorary Colonel, Blake Goldring M.S.M., LL.D., CFA. Canada Company takes pride in serving our country in many ways, celebrating our Military heroes, and their families, and fostering a mutually beneficial exchange between Canada's remarkable military tested resources and our innovative Canadian business community helping create a Better Canada. A trusted Program Builder, Canada Company offers the Military Employment Transition - MET Program; hosts the National Transition Symposium and Strategic Knowledge Exchange; and funds Scholarships for children of military members killed while serving on an active mission with the Canadian Armed Forces. To learn more visit: CanadaCompany.ca -30- For more information or to schedule interviews: Dan Planetta E: dan.planetta(at)williscollege(dot)com P: 613-890-1896 "Our products are totally off the grid" Vendomax President Rob Creswell explained. "We are so happy to be working with Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union to further their green initiatives, we just appreciate the opportunity." VendoMax unveiled a new Solar Z charging station at the Pinnacle at Turkey Creek shopping center in Knoxville. Commissioned by the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union to provide a Rest and Recharge solar station for Turkey Creek shoppers, the installation provides a welcome marketing vehicle for the credit union by providing marketing collateral, a shaded rest area, and a phone/tablet charging station for the public that is even lighted for night use. We are extremely pleased with what VendoMax was able to provide the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, said Rob Creswell, President of VendoMax, a Chattanooga-based solar marketing provider. The VendoMax Solar Z is not only able to provide the public a place to rest and recharge, but it also allows the credit union a great marketing platform in a grid-free sustainable environment. The new VendoMax Rest and Recharge installation was unveiled at a ceremony on Friday, April 7, attended by Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union staff, VendoMax owners, and the public. This is a great partnership between the credit union, VendoMax, and the Pinnacle at Turkey Creek shopping center, said Glenn Siler, President and CEO of the credit union. It is the first of its kind in Tennessee and we are very proud. About VendoMax: VendoMax, LLC, located in Chattanooga, TN, is an innovator and provider of marketing and vending products that are solar powered and grid-free. The company pairs its solar solution to the marketing needs of the client in the form of lighted marketing collateral, solar powered charging stations, solar vending machines, and a myriad of other marketing offerings. VendoMax products allow its clients to make a statement towards a commitment to energy-saving sustainable marketing and services to their customers. More information may be obtained through info(at)VendoMaxSolar(dot)com Corra Group has always offered extensive background checks for the Caribbean, Latin America and the rest of the world.. But as we conduct more searches in the region we gain a comprehensive understanding of the searches in the different countries." Corra Group has ramped up employment screening background checks for the Caribbean and Latin America to provide more comprehensive service to its Puerto Rican and South American clients. The El Segundo based company has been acquiring an increased number of clients from Puerto Rico, especially where their employment candidates have lived, worked, and were educated in different countries in Latin America as well as the United States. We have had a surge in business from Puerto Rico, said Corra Group Co-Founder, Nick Gustavson. Some of the new business originates from obvious referrals while others, we assume, comes through word of mouth. Corra Group has always offered extensive international background checks to the Caribbean and South America, as well as the rest of the world. But as we conduct more searches in the region we gain a comprehensive knowledge of criminal and civil searches in the different countries, as well as the requirements for education and employment verification. Gustavson pointed out that Corra Group retains an extensive database devoted to international background checks, describing what searches are accessible internationally, what documentation is required, possible turnaround times, and contingencies. He noted how the turnaround times can sometimes be disrupted by world events. Usually, the turnaround times for international background checks are pretty consistent, or within a range of days, said Gustavson. But in some places of the world, given all the volatility, you never know what we may encounter. Where certain countries are concerned, we sometimes tell our clients, turnaround time is six to eight business days, depending on what national crisis should occur between now and then. Gustavson explained the uptick in queries for employment screening is a good sign for Puerto Rico, in general. He referred to the economic difficulties Puerto Rico experienced in the last years, and saw the increased business from the American Territory as a possible sign of recovery. It is a pleasure engaging with people from Puerto Rico and Latin America, at large, said Gustavson. We find the recruiters and human resource managers there to be professional, polite, and really on top of their game. We have Spanish speaking staff at our company and believe our personal service is conducive for people in this region to want to do business with us. BACKGROUND: Corra operates as Corra Group and Corra Global Research and specializes in employment screening, corporate research, and investigation. It is one of the few companies that will answer the phone. You can review the website at http://www.corragroup.com. Our preferred carrier, Swiss Re, provides members access to a financially secure A+ (XV) carrier who has been writing Lawyers' Professional Liability for more than 40 years. Gallagher Affinity and Member Benefits, the administrator of several key benefit programs for the State Bar of Georgia, have formed a strategic partnership to offer Lawyers' Professional Liability insurance to bar members in Georgia. The recently launched program is designed to meet the needs of todays attorneys. A simplified online indication form makes shopping easy and an experienced staff is available to provide expert consultative support. The multi-carrier platform can provide tailored solutions for firms of all sizes, complexities and area of practice concentrations. Our preferred carrier, Swiss Re, provides members access to a financially secure A+ (XV) carrier who has been writing Lawyers' Professional Liability for more than 40 years. We are very excited about the opportunity to offer professional liability to State Bar of Georgia members. Member Benefits has done a tremendous job meeting the member needs for the State Bar of Georgia. We hope that our Professional Liability offering will be another helpful benefit resource for State Bar of Georgia members, comments Jason Rogers of Gallagher Affinity. Over the years we have built a very successful member benefits platform for the State Bar of Georgia and adding Professional Liability capabilities was a key area of focus for us. Our partnership with Gallagher Affinity provides us with necessary resources and expertise to help us satisfy this important need of the membership. We are looking forward to a successful launch and believe the members will find tremendous value in this program," added Nicklaus Trefry, Chief Operating Officer of Member Benefits. Learn more about this program by visiting http://gabar.memberbenefits.com/lawyers-professional-liability/ Beef Loving Texans Logo Whats been most inspiring is seeing the passion these professionals have for their work, and how proud they are to serve their communities by bringing food to their tables, said Linda Bebee, vice president, domestic marketing for Texas Beef Council. After over a month of regional semifinal competitions throughout the state, Texas Beef Council introduces the three top butchers in the state of Texas, who will compete in a final test of skill for the title of Beef Loving Texans Best Butcher in Texas. Houston winner Michael Majkszak, owner of Majkszaks Meat Market in Conroe, Dallas winner Shawn Knowles, owner of Old Town Market in Lewisville, and San Antonio winner Bryan Butler, co-owner of Salt & Time Butcher Shop in Austin, will compete in a final round of competition, concluding with the announcement of the winner on April 29 at the Austin Food + Wine Festival. A little bit of background on each finalist follows: Michael Majkszak: At the age of 16, Majkszak started his first grocery store job, where he developed a passion for butchery, which led him to open his own retail butcher shop in 2002. Shawn Knowles: Knowles began working at Old Town Market when his father opened the market in 1977, and eventually rose through the ranks to own the shop himself. Bryan Butler: Butler has a lifetime of experience as a butcher, and in 2010 he partnered with Ben Runkle to make Salt & Time Austins first whole carcass Butcher Shop, Salumeria and Restaurant. In addition to being heralded as the rarest of them all, the Best Butcher in Texas will receive a $5,000 grand prize, a knife set courtesy of Victorinox Swiss Army from their Fibrox Pro Cutlery line as well as inclusion in a one full-page co-branded ad in Texas Monthly. These butchers will also represent Beef Loving Texans as the Best Butcher Council, meaning they will educate consumers on what to look for in the market for their beef needs. Each finalist received $2,500 for winning their respective semifinal round. Butchery is truly both a skill and an art form, and its been incredible to watch the states top talent showcase their craft during the semifinal competitions, said Linda Bebee, vice president, domestic marketing for Texas Beef Council. Whats been most inspiring is seeing the passion these professionals have for their work, and how proud they are to serve their communities by bringing food to their tables. Each of these butchers is so talented, and were excited for the final round to see who comes out on top as the Best Butcher in Texas! The challenge has brought some of the states most skilled butchers together to celebrate an art form that remains a key element in Texas cultural heritage. During the finals, competitors will go knife-to-knife by fabricating beef and merchandising it in ways that meet their customers needs. Finalists will be awarded top marks based on their technique, creativity, presentation/visual display and ability to interact with the consumers and answer questions. Culinary influencer/personality Jess Pryles will emcee the finals, while top industry professionals and culinary experts deliberate, culminating in the announcement of the Best Butcher in Texas. During the past month, competitions were held in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, to distinguish the best butchers from the many great ones in the state. Each competition yielded over 190 pounds of beef, which were donated to local organizations in each city; by the time the Best Butcher in Texas has been named, these donations will result in over 2,400 meals being served to those in need across Texas. In each regional semifinal city, the Texas Beef Council partnered with culinary schools to host the events, including The Art Institute of Houston, El Centro College in Dallas and St. Philips College in San Antonio, providing an educational opportunity for interested students. For more information, visit BeefLovingTexans.com/best-butcher-in-texas/. About Beef Loving Texans Beef Loving Texans is Texas Beef Councils consumer brand created to share unique recipes, stories, cooking and shopping tips and expert nutrition information. The Beef Loving Texans brand celebrates the pride and values deeply rooted in Texans through family, community and tradition. More information on the mission of Beef Loving Texans can be found at BeefLovingTexans.com. About Texas Beef Council The Texas Beef Council (TBC) conducts the $1 per head national checkoff program for Texas beef producers and is also the contractor for the Beef Promotion Research Council of Texas (BPRCT), which administers the $1 per head Texas state checkoff program. TBCs mission is to increase beef demand in the state through programs of beef promotion, research and education. TBC also helps fund national and international beef checkoff programs to increase marketing opportunities around the globe. The BPRCTs mission is to improve Texas producer profitability by strengthening and expanding beef demand. The TBC and the BPRCT are directed by a 20-member board of cattlemen and women representing the states beef producers. New team members in Arizona We are very pleased to welcome these new hires and transfers to the Arizona team, our volume of work is increasing and adding these experienced veterans will ensure we meet client expectations. John Clays, Arizona Team Leader Gilbane Building Company is proud to welcome Fred Lindenmuth, Jonathan Lien, and Brad Murawsky to its Phoenix, Arizona team. Fred Lindenmuth has joined in the role of Project Executive. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the team with a strong background in the healthcare sector. He is a graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Jonathan Lien has joined the team as Senior Project Manager. He brings more than 17 years of experience ranging from estimating to project management, and has worked in various international locations. Jonathan has extensive experience in the education, military, government, commercial, and civic market sectors. Brad Murawsky has joined the team as General Superintendent. He is a transfer from our Gilbane Midwest operations. Brad brings more than 30 years of experience to the team and has extensive experience in the educational, residential, commercial and civic project sectors. We are very pleased to welcome these new hires and transfers to the Arizona team, says John Clays, Arizona Team Leader, our volume of work is increasing and adding these experienced veterans will ensure we meet client expectations. About Gilbane Building Company Gilbane Building Company provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related servicesfrom preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities, to comprehensive construction management, close-out and facility management servicesfor clients across various markets. Founded in 1873 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 50 office locations around the world. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com. Innovation to change the conversation about food. We are honored and thrilled to be a part of the Terra Food and Ag Accelerator. We believe the application of blockchain technology will have a profound impact within the ag and food industry. ripe.io announced that it has been selected into the inaugural cohort of startups for Terra, the Food + Ag Tech Accelerator. Founded by Rabobank and RocketSpace, Terra is a first of its kind accelerator program bringing together the industrys most disruptive startups and progressive corporations to fuel cross-industry innovation and set a new standard for food and agriculture. The cohort - with global representation from across five countries (Canada, Spain, Thailand, UK, USA) and industry sectors - kicks off today on RocketSpaces tech campus in San Francisco. Unlike traditional accelerators, Terras unique consortium model brings together a diverse group of industry leaders - both big and small - to explore and experiment with potential partnerships through a dedicated product validation program. Rabobank and RocketSpace, along with Terras corporate collaborators - AgroFresh, Beta San Miguel, Givaudan, Griffith Foods, Grupo Azucarero Mexico/CULTIBA and OSI Group selected ripe.io from a competitive applicant pool of hundreds of startups from around the world. Among other benefits, ripe.io will gain brand exposure and be able to validate its product in collaboration with multiple industry corporations. This non-traditional accelerator model includes pilot testing and is structured to progress beyond a proof of concept to a commercially viable product. ripe.io joins a cohort that has the potential to define the future of food and agriculture and its our goal to provide the velocity speed and direction to help them scale their solutions, said Ron Yerkes, vice-president of Industry Tech Accelerators at RocketSpace. Its going to be an exciting adventure working directly with some of the worlds most progressive corporations. There are many unique attributes that set Terra apart from other accelerators, one being that the pilot program will allow us to really observe how the participating start-ups can scale, and how the partnership with our collaborators can help companies like ripe.io in that process, says Manuel Gonzalez, Head of Startup Innovation at Rabobank. Terra is about both the future and the here and now what the industry needs, what consumers want, what the earth requires and how startups can respond to the needs of society. We are honored and thrilled to be a part of the Terra Food and Ag Accelerator. We are looking forward to working with such a strong group of corporate collaborators and driving positive changes in the food supply chain. We believe the application of blockchain technology will have a profound impact within the ag and food industry, said Raja Ramachandran, Founder and CEO. Located in San Francisco, CA, ripe.io introduces the Blockchain of Food that consists of an infrastructure of distributed ledgers, IOT, sensors, and APIs to a connected food supply chain workflow. Our technology is a distributed, shared system of trust for the food supply chain improving industry collaboration for smarter contracting, transparency for food knowledge, improving food quality and safety for customers. For more information please contact: Phil Harris 312-752-8180 phil(at)ripe(dot)io The Crowley Maritime Corp. crew aboard the company-managed USNS Invincible release a turtle they freed from fishing lines and nets. Rescuing a life, even a turtles, gave us the opportunity to practice our Man Overboard drill and demonstrate outstanding character, as well as our commitment to being good stewards of the marine environment. On March 29, the Crowley Maritime Corp. crew aboard the company-managed USNS Invincible demonstrated their commitment to environmental stewardship by saving a distressed sea turtle, which had become entangled in nets and fishing lines in offshore waters near Southwest Asia. The at-sea rescue, which the crew dubbed Turtle Ops, was performed when the crew had no pending operations, and could be executed safely and efficiently. To aid the entangled turtle, the crew used the USNS Invincibles bow thruster to maneuver the ship into position to bring the sea creature alongside and onboard. The Crowley crew, along with U.S. military personnel onboard, then cut away the nets and fishing lines, and released the turtle back into the ocean. Theres a well-known unwritten maritime law that a sailor should always help another seafarer in need on the high seas and, for Crowley, that mentality extends to all forms of ocean life, said Crowleys Ira Douglas, director, marine personnel. Rescuing a life, even a turtles, gave us the opportunity to practice our Man Overboard drill and demonstrate outstanding character, as well as our commitment to being good stewards of the marine environment. The diligent crew and teams responded beautifully as a cohesive unit, said USNS Invincible Master Bradford Collins. The USNS Invincible is part of the T-AGOS/T-AGM fleet and is operated for Military Sealift Command by Crowley's government services group. The ship is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers (AMO) and unlicensed positions by Seafarers International Union (SIU). # # # About Crowley Maritime Over the past 125 years, Crowley has developed a portfolio of services to support the U.S. governments operations both domestically and abroad. The team is led by industry and military-veterans who combine the technical and professional capabilities of the company to offer best-in-class operations, engineering, and contract management support. Crowley provides bundled vessel management solutions for Military Sealift Command; the Maritime Administration, as part of the Government's Ready Reserve Force (RRF) Program; and Naval Sea Systems Command. The group also provides other services including custodial services for vessels seized by U.S. government agencies; naval architecture and marine engineering; project management; specialized towing operations; specialty cargo moves; full transportation logistics; and a host of other offerings tailored specifically for the diverse needs of the government. For more information, visitCrowley.com/government. For information on parent company, Crowley Maritime Corporation, its subsidiaries and business, visit http://www.crowley.com. Stacy Statkus, senior vice president at MPI Stacy's expertise and leadership will further accelerate the growth of MPIs litigation support practice. MPI, a 75 year old firm specializing in business valuations, M&A advisory and litigation support services, is proud to announce that Stacy Statkus has joined the firm as a Senior Vice President. Ms. Statkus brings a unique skillset to MPI after more than 16 years of experience in the litigation consulting, forensic accounting and business valuation realm. Her areas of expertise include matrimonial litigation involving high net worth individuals, celebrities, professional athletes, CEOs and other C-suite executives, as well as other business owners and their spouses. Ms. Statkus is routinely engaged to conduct tracing analyses of separate and marital property and to identify and quantify living expenses and income available for spousal and child support. Ms. Statkus has provided expert consulting for cases in New York, New Jersey, Florida and other states as well as testimony in New York Supreme Court. She has assisted counsel at numerous financial depositions and participated in many settlement negotiations. We are thrilled to welcome Stacy to our firm, said Dan Kerrigan, President of MPI. Stacy is held in extremely high regard by those in the matrimonial litigation community and has a demonstrated history of delivering outstanding work to her clients. Her expertise and leadership will further accelerate the growth of MPIs litigation support practice. Prior to joining MPI, Ms. Statkus was Director of Litigation and Matrimonial Services for Baker Tilly Virchow Krause in New York City. Her previous work included positions at two large regional accounting firms and a boutique valuation and consulting firm. Ms. Statkus is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). She is a member of the New York Womens Bar Association, the Womens Bar Association of the State of New York, as well as the Sanctuary for Families Legal Advisory Council and Matrimonial Sub-Committee. Ms. Statkus received a B.A. in Policy Studies and Economics from Dickinson College, an M.B.A. in Finance and M.S. in International Business from Seton Hall University, (both with honors), and her J.D. degree from Louisiana State University. She was previously an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Business and has also completed specialized divorce mediation training. About MPI Founded in 1939, MPI (Management Planning, Inc.) provides tax-based business valuations, business appraisals, financial reporting valuations, fairness opinions, sell-side and corporate advisory services and litigation support. MPI's senior professionals have extensive experience presenting and defending work product in front of financial statement auditors, management teams, corporate boards and fiduciaries, the IRS, other government agencies and in various courts. MPI is based in Princeton, NJ, with offices in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Hartford and Orlando. Lisa Munoz will be responsible for expanding the Gilsbar footprint within the Southwest Central region Gilsbar is strategically positioned as one of the largest privately-held health and benefit management entities in the country. Gilsbar is pleased to announce the addition of a new Regional Sales Manager, Lisa Munoz. Working through brokers and consultants, she will lead Gilsbar's sales efforts with mid to large market employers. Based out of Houston, Texas, Lisa will be responsible for expanding the Gilsbar footprint within the Southwest Central region, consisting of key markets in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Ms. Munoz brings 17 years of experience in the employee benefits industry to the Gilsbar team. Prior to joining Gilsbar, Ms. Munoz was in a sales role with wellness company Vitality, worked as an Account Executive at Pacific Life, and served as the Director of Sales for Memorial Hermann Health Insurance Company. Stephen Cali, Gilsbars Director of Sales, stated Lisa has an unwavering commitment to be a market-driven thought leader, and were excited to have her on our team. With existing sales professionals located in the west, central, eastern and now south-central region, Gilsbar is strategically positioned as one of the largest privately-held health and benefit management entities in the country. Ms. Munoz attended the University of Texas in San Antonio and has been a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Health Underwriters Association, and has volunteered for 16 years for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where she is currently a member of the International Committee. ### About Gilsbar, LLC Established in 1959, Gilsbar, LLC is one of the largest privately-held insurance services organizations in the country. Recognized as a catalyst for creating healthy businesses, Gilsbar, LLC offers self-funded and fully-insured benefit plan management services, along with Wellness, Advocacy, and overall Population Health Management. Gilsbar, LLCs integrated delivery model improves the health and well-being of its members, resulting in significant health plan savings for its clients. Gilsbar, LLC has been honored by Inc. magazine for its sustained growth, Modern Healthcare and Business Insurance magazines as a Best Place to Work, and WELCOA and the American Heart Association for its proven wellness methodology. For more information, visit http://www.Gilsbar.com. StartUp Health, which is organizing and supporting a global army of Health Transformers, today announced that Michael Horton, CPA, former Managing Director at GE Capital, has joined StartUp Health as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Horton brings more than 30 years of enterprise experience to the company, where he will be responsible for overseeing and leading all finance and accounting efforts, helping the company scale and expand globally, and play a crucial role in supporting and developing business models with StartUp Healths nearly 400 entrepreneurial Health Transformers as they work to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in the world. Over the last 15 years, Mike Horton has held prestigious senior executive roles within GE Capital, the financial services unit of General Electric. Most recently, he served as Managing Director of a joint venture between GE Capital and the Abu Dhabi government, where he oversaw the creation of the company and closed over $10B in assets. Prior to GE Capital, Horton was with JER Partners, a $2B real estate opportunity fund, where he held both Controller and CFO roles. Throughout his career, Mike has forged new pathways with wisdom, vision and boundless energy, said Steven Krein, CEO of StartUp Health. His unstoppable energy, batteries-included attitude and get-it-done-right mindset is an enormous asset for StartUp Healths entire army of Health Transformers and every enterprise in our growing network. We are enormously excited to have him join our leadership team. It wasnt a singular idea like finding a cure for cancer that grabbed my attention when I first met Steven Krein and heard about StartUp Health, said Michael Horton, the Companys new Chief Financial Officer. It was the big picture, the StartUp Health Mindseta truly unprecedented worldview that has the potential to change the way the world thinks about and experiences health. StartUp Health is building a platform to tackle major challenges including curing cancer, longevity, and womens health by empowering entrepreneurs to achieve 10 Health Moonshots that touch billions of lives around the worldand theyre doing it now at lightning speed. Mr. Horton is based at the StartUp Health Village in New York City and resides in Connecticut, where he is involved in a variety of philanthropic endeavors and works to support the community around him. He is actively involved and volunteers with the renowned Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, CT, an organization that is dedicated to providing a different kind of healing to seriously ill children and their families. About StartUp Health In 2011, StartUp Health introduced a revolutionary new model for transforming health by organizing and supporting a global army of entrepreneurs called Health TransformersTM. The Company has identified and is investing in 10 Health Moonshots, with the long-term goal of improving the health and wellbeing of everyone in the world. These include: Access to Care; Cost to Zero; Cure Disease, Cancer; Womens Health; Longevity; Mental Health; Brain Health; Nutrition, and Childrens Health. With the worlds largest digital health portfolio (nearly 200 companies spanning 5 continents, 18 countries and 60+ cities), StartUp Healths long-term platform for entrepreneurs includes the StartUp Health Academy, StartUp Health Network, StartUp Health Media and StartUp Health Ventures. Founded by Steven Krein and Unity Stoakes, StartUp Health is chaired by former Time Warner CEO Jerry Levin. Its notable strategic partners and investors include AARP; Aurora Health Care; California Health Care Foundation; Childrens Hospital Colorado; University of Colorado; UCHealth; Steve Case; Mark Cuban; Esther Dyson; Brad Feld; Genentech; GE Ventures; Janssen Research & Development, LLC.; Kaiser Permanente Ventures; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and SeventySix Capital. To learn more, please visit http://www.startuphealth.com. Mike Jenner, CEO at NexusTek. Their focus on future goals and a willingness to work hard to make their own dreams come true is exactly why we match funds for our Tech Scholars program. NexusTek, a leading Denver-based managed IT services and business IT consulting services firm, launches the fund-matching program in partnership with the BBB Foundation for NexusTeks Tech Scholarship awards. NexusTek Tech Scholarship candidates are students in financial need that are seeking a degree in science, technology, and engineering. In 2014, the $10,000 Technology Scholarship award was presented to Walker Sanchez of Denver, Colorado. Walker is now a sophomore at CU Boulder in the Architectural Engineering program. Having grown up with significant financial struggle, Walker is now on an educational journey as a first-generation college student. Walkers goal is to design and build housing for low income communities. Meet Walker and Juno: https://www.nexustek.com/tech-scholars/ Walker had this to say of his journey; For prospective college students, I would let them know to keep working hard, never give up but always remember where you come from and the struggles your parents had to go through to make sure you got a good education -- and make the most out of every single day of your life. Each year NexusTek matches funds, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 to the Tech Scholarship program. In 2015, fundraising was so successful that adding a second award was made possible thanks to generous donors. The 2015 Tech Scholar, Juno Padilla, received the second award of $5,000 and is now a freshman at his dream college, Colorado School of Mines. Juno, son to a single mother and a first generation college student, is no stranger to struggle. His dedication to family and community, along with clearly defined future goals helped him to stand out as a candidate. In an interview this year, he expressed his gratitude to the donors who made it possible for him to attend one of the nations top schools and says this is what motivates him every day to meet the challenges at Mines. Walker and Juno exemplify student achievement in the face of adversity, said Mike Jenner, CEO of NexusTek. Their focus on future goals and a willingness to work hard to make their own dreams come true is exactly why we match funds for our Tech Scholars program. It makes it easy to ask donors to contribute support for some amazing kids who will be the next Walker and Juno. NexusTek Tech Scholars The scholarship applicants submit a comprehensive application and finalists undergo a stringent interview process from members of the selection committee. Each student will be honored and formally presented with their scholarships at the Elevating Ethics Scholarship Award Ceremony and Panel event on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at Regis University, Denver. Learn more about the program here: https://www.nexustek.com/tech-scholars/ About NexusTek NexusTek, an award-winning Microsoft Gold Partner provides small and medium-sized businesses a trusted resource to optimize and manage their IT environments, ensuring business continuity and driving productivity. From managed IT services and cloud solutions to customized business software implementations and VoIP, NexusTek employs top talent, offers personalized attention, and brings more than 20 years experience implementing technology best practices for companies across Colorado and the region. For more information, visit http://www.nexustek.com/ About the BBB Foundation The Denver/Boulder BBB Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting tomorrows marketplace and the future of the Denver/Boulder business community. It is the philanthropic arm of the Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau and provides ethics education and opportunities for students and youth. Alison Cooper, Vice President for the American Insurance Association (AIA), issued the following statement in response to the passage of the 2017-2018 New York State Budget. The budget brings some needed reforms to the states workers compensation system including the establishment of a drug formulary by the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) to be implemented no later than December 31. In November 2016, AIA advocated for the creation of a drug formulary in comments to the WCB. Also included in the final budget is language that regulates and permits the operation of transportation network companies (TNCs) in New York State. Currently, TNCs are only authorized to operate in New York City and are not permitted in other areas of the state. The enacted legislation sets forth the necessary insurance and other requirements to allow for the operation of ridesharing services throughout the entire state. Ms. Coopers statement follows: The establishment of a workers compensation drug formulary and legislation governing the use of TNCs were among AIAs top legislative and regulatory priorities for New York this year. AIA thanks Governor Cuomo and the Legislature for their hard work passing the 2017-2018 budget and commend the inclusion of language to establish a drug formulary and to regulate ridesharing in the state. Drug formularies have proven effective in reducing costs to the system while at the same time ensuring that injured workers continue to receive care. In particular, a formulary can help address the problem of opioid use and abuse, which unfortunately remains one of the most pressing issues facing workers compensation systems nationwide, including in New York. We were also pleased to see the passage of long-awaited legislation to regulate the use and operation of transportation network companies. Finally, consumers will now be able to use ridesharing services throughout New York State. This legislation not only expands the availability of TNCs outside of New York City, but also sets forth the appropriate automobile insurance coverage requirements to ensure that TNC drivers, passengers and the public at large are adequately protected. New York State will now join 45 other states across the country in enacting this important legislation, which will take effect in ninety days. Our latest TitanXR release provides a consistent user interface, task automation, reports and alerts for network traffic visibility in complex, distributed and virtual environments. APCON, a leading provider of intelligent network monitoring and security solutions, announced the latest release of its TitanXR multi-switch management software. TitanXR now provides easy access for centralized and remote management, status and alerts of the companys recently announced EdgeSwitch, a high-density 1RU white-box packet aggregation switch. Todays 24/7 responsibility to protect networks, detect threats earlier and resolve performance issues quicker means complete network visibility is critical, said Richard Rauch, president and CEO of APCON. Recognizing the need for customers to have a global view of all APCON deployments across multiple sites, our latest TitanXR release provides a consistent user interface, task automation, reports and alerts for network traffic visibility in complex, distributed and virtual environments. TitanXR Launched in 2015, TitanXR is an easy-to-use, streamlined user interface for global dashboards to show operational status of an entire APCON network visibility ecosystem. Users can view all APCON switches, including APCONs white-box device, in either a map or list format and quickly assess device status using visual indicators. TitanXR provides a customizable summary of events, allowing users to sort by date and time, event type, system name and other indicators to quickly find and resolve issues. TitanXR makes it easy to schedule backups, updates and future reports, as well as switch software updates. It features TACACS+ and Radius for secure user administration with AAA authentication, secure HTTPS/SSH transmission and session time-out enforcement. Administrators can track login, logout, failed attempts and activity times, keeping an eye on current and recent user activity. EdgeSwitch The EdgeSwitch, with 48 ports of 1/10G and 6 ports of 40G Ethernet connectivity, integrates APCONs industry leading WebXR aggregation and filtering technology for data visibility of enterprise data center and cloud environments. The EdgeSwitch can be deployed as stand-alone or in top-of-rack environments and can provide access to APCON IntellaFlex XR systems for advanced packet processing to optimize traffic for security and performance analysis tools. Any media representative who wants to schedule a TitanXR 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. TVision Insights, the leader in measuring eyes on screen attention to every second of programming and advertising on television, today announced the hiring of Mark Green as Chief Strategy Officer. Mark brings 30 years of experience in TV measurement and was previously the Chief Operating Officer at 4C Insights, a TV and social media data science and media technology company. TVision Insights is a great example of whats next for TV. Their data is powerful and they're solving the real problems for multiple industry players, said Ryan Moore, Co-Founder of Accomplice. Bringing Mark Green onto the team is a fantastic addition, and yet another example of why the company is headed to the primetime. Mark Green joins the TVision team following a period of significant growth for the company, including: The launch of the Quarterly Attention Report 6X growth in revenue, Q1 2016 to Q1 2017 8X growth in the number of clients, Q1 2016 to Q1 2017 Tripling of full-time employees in the past twelve months Im thrilled to welcome Mark to our growing team. Mark brings a proven track record of innovation in TV measurement from his time at 4C, Simulmedia, and Nielsen, said Dan Schiffman, CRO and co-founder of TVision Insights. Over the past 12 months, leading brands, agencies and networks have acknowledged the pressing need for attention measurement. Mark brings a unique combination of TV research expertise and startup growth experience that will enable us to scale during a period of rapid growth at TVision. TVision measures attention to every second of TV and OTT programs and commercials. Its patented, privacy safe technology measures person-level attention to video content via an opt-in panel. In a world full of distractions, this attention data enables advertisers and media sellers to evaluate the effectiveness of messaging, media plans, programming and advertising inventory. The TV industry talks about reach constantly, but the dimension of attention must become part of measuring quality and effectiveness. I began my career in TV almost 30 years ago, and am excited for the opportunity to apply that experience to growing and developing strategy and product development at TVision Insights, said Mark Green, Chief Strategy Officer at TVision Insights. About TVision Insights TVision Insights is a television attention measurement company pioneering the way brands, their agencies, TV networks and OTT platforms determine the true value of their video content and advertising. The companys core technology uses data science and motion capture technology to passively assess eyes on screen, the single most accurate way to measure person-level engagement with video content. Founded by two MIT alumni, TVision Insights is a venture-backed company headquartered in Boston, MA with offices in New York and Tokyo. We take pride in honoring Trial By Fire Solutions as one of the Top 10 companies specialized in providing eClinical Trial Management solutions. SimpleTrials, the latest Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS) from Trial By Fire Solutions, has been recognized as one of the Top 10 eClinical Trial Management Solution Providers for 2017 by Pharma Tech Outlook Magazine. SimpleTrials and Trial By Fire Solutions are featured as the cover story for the Top 10 issue in March 2017. We take pride in honoring Trial By Fire Solutions as one of the Top 10 companies specialized in providing eClinical Trial Management solutions, said Stacey Smith, Managing Editor of Pharma Tech Outlook. The SimpleTrials team gains this recognition for putting their efforts into building a smart and affordable clinical study management solution for todays market. Pharma Tech Outlook's evaluation process included nominations by the publication's readership and editorial board, as well as research by a selection panel consisting of top IT decision makers, CIOs and CTOs from the pharma and life sciences industry. In all, over 300 solution companies were evaluated for their ability to deliver cost-effective and flexible solutions that add value to the complex pharmaceutical landscape. Read the full article online. We are delighted to be recognized by the eClinical industry for putting customers first, with the most transparent and affordable CTMS solution on the market, said Jon Cecchettini, Co-Founder and CTO. As the first on-demand CTMS, SimpleTrials allows customers to get full pricing, product and legal information online, as well as sign up directly, on their schedule. With plans starting at $35/month, SimpleTrials offers a secure, feature-rich and cost effective CTMS solution to sponsors, clinical research organizations (CROs), research sites and other clinical stakeholders. SimpleTrials will also be featured in the Innovators Hub at the Drug Industry Association (DIA) annual meeting in June. Stop by Booth 310 in Chicago to get a first hand look at SimpleTrials. To see how SimpleTrials is revolutionizing clinical study management, visit http://www.simpletrials.com. About Trial By Fire Solutions Trial By Fire Solutions is an experienced, global leader in web-based clinical trial management solutions, and has developed innovative, web-based applications to improve planning, execution and tracking of clinical trials and studies. Since the release of their flagship CTMS product in 2010 (SimpleCTMS), Trial By Fire Solutions has been providing affordable and effective eClinical solutions to teams of all sizes. About SimpleTrials SimpleTrials is an on-demand Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS) from Trial By Fire Solutions. With plans starting at $35 per month, SimpleTrials is a cost effective subscription based system, built to support sponsors, sites & vendors in the life science industry. Features include study-based management of milestones, sites, teams, startup tracking, documents & eTMF, screening & enrollment, site visit tracking and action items as well as insights from dashboards, ad hoc & standard reports. For more information, please visit http://www.simpletrials.com About Pharma Tech Outlook Published in Fremont, California, Pharma Tech Outlook is a print magazine that covers most important and latest developments in pharmaceutical industry. A panel of experts and members of Pharma Tech Outlooks editorial board selected and finalized the Top 10 eClinical Trial Management Solution Providers 2017 and shortlisted the best vendors and consultants. For more info visit http://www.pharmatechoutlook.com. A screenshot exemplifies results from CMake in a dashboard. The release increased support for common programming languages to allow more projects to engage CMake as their build system. Kitware released version 3.8 of CMake, an open-source solution that builds, tests and packages software. The release increased support for common programming languages to allow more projects to engage CMake as their build system. In particular, CMake gained first-class support for CUDA and CSharp (C#). The support allows developers to capture all of the features of CMake, when they build projects with these languages. Over the past few months, Kitware has worked with NVIDIA to fully support the CUDA language in CMake, said Bill Hoffman, the creator of CMake and the Chief Technical Officer at Kitware. This is an exciting new development that will enable seamless cross-platform CUDA development. Another new development made it easier to build projects through functionality that helps to compile targets. The functionality uses meta-features to automatically determine the appropriate compiler modes for given clients. New functionality lowers the level of expertise developers need to write code in CMake, Hoffman said. Developers no longer have to manually attach flags for different language standards to compile commands. In addition, CMake gained recognition for more standards of C++ and other languages, including C++11, C++14 and C++17. To read more release notes on CMake 3.8 and to stay up-to-date on CMake development, please go to the Kitware blog. To download the software, please visit the CMake download page. Version 3.8 served as the first major CMake release in 2017. Development on the open-source solution dates back to August 2000. Today, projects around the world rely on CMake such as the Visualization Toolkit (VTK) and ParaView. To learn how to benefit from these and other solutions that Kitware develops, please contact kitware(at)kitware(dot)com. About Kitware Kitware is an advanced technology, research and open-source solutions provider for research facilities, government institutions and corporations worldwide. Founded in 1998, Kitware specializes in research and development in the areas of HPC and visualization, medical imaging, computer vision, data and analytics and quality software process. Among its services, Kitware offers consulting and support for high-quality software solutions. Kitware is headquartered in Clifton Park, NY, with offices in Carrboro, NC; Santa Fe, NM; and Lyon, France. More information can be found on kitware.com. Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2017, a three-part report released today by the National Education Policy Center, provides a detailed inventory of full-time virtual schools in the U.S. and their performance, an exhaustive review of the literature on virtual education and its implications for virtual school practices, and a detailed review and analysis of state-level policymaking related to virtual schools. The growth of full-time virtual schools is fueled, in part, by policies that expand school choice and that provide market incentives attractive to for-profit companies. Indeed, large virtual schools operated by for-profit education management organizations (EMOs) now dominate this sector and are increasing their market share. Although virtual schools benefit from the common but largely unsupported assumption that the approach is cost-effective and educationally superior to brick and mortar schools, there are numerous problems associated with virtual schools. School performance measures, for both full-time entirely virtual and full-time blended virtual schools, suggest that they are not as successful as traditional public schools. The virtual education research base is not adequate to support many current virtual school practices. More than twenty years after the first virtual schools began, there continues to be a deficit of empirical, longitudinal research to guide the practice and policy of virtual schooling. State policymaking in several key areas such as accountability, teacher preparation, and school governance continues to lag. An analysis of state policies suggests that policymakers continue to struggle to reconcile traditional funding structures, governance and accountability systems, instructional quality, and staffing demands with the unique organizational models and instructional methods associated with virtual schooling. Accountability challenges linked to virtual schools include designing and implementing governance structures capable of accounting for expenditures and practices that directly benefit students. The reports policy recommendations include: The specification and enforcement of sanctions for virtual schools and blended schools if they fail to improve student performance. The creation of long-term programs to support independent research on and evaluation of virtual schooling, particularly full-time virtual schooling. The development of new funding formulas based on the actual costs of operating virtual schools. Find Virtual Schools Report 2017, Alex Molnar, Editor, on the web at: http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/virtual-schools-annual-2017 Find Documents: Press Release: http://nepc.info/node/8564 NEPC Publication: http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/virtual-schools-annual-2017 This research brief was made possible in part by support provided by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice: http://www.greatlakescenter.org The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: http://nepc.colorado.edu Festo, one of the worlds premier automation companies, and Allied Electronics, a leading distributor of industrial automation products with North American headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, inaugurated today a national distribution agreement covering Festo actuators, fittings, solenoids, valves, and filters. Festo is recognized for its engineering, product quality, and support, said Frank Cantwell, Vice President of Product and Supplier Management at Allied Electronics. With the new Festo North American Regional Service Center in Mason, Ohio, Festo gains forward product deployment. This helps lower distributor inventory requirements and makes a North American distributor like Allied more productive, competitive, and responsive to its customers. I am proud to say today we are distributing Festo products. Every Allied Electronics local branch, and they have 43, has an outstanding relationship with its customers and knows the needs of its local market, said Mark Snyder, Channel Director, Festo. Once Allied sales people experience the satisfaction their customers have with Festo products, sales will steadily climb. The new national distribution agreement is a win for customers, Allied Electronics, and Festo. For more information on obtaining Festo actuators, fittings, solenoids, valves, and filters visit http://www.alliedelec.com or call the local Allied Electronics office at 800.433.5700. For more information on Festo, visit http://www.festo.us. ### About Festo Festo is a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and controls for process and industrial automation. For more than 40 years, Festo Corporation has continuously elevated the state of manufacturing with innovations and optimized motion control solutions that deliver higher performing, more profitable automated manufacturing and processing equipment. Connect with Festo: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. About Allied Electronics Allied Electronics is a high-service level, authorized distributor of industrial automation, interconnect, cabling, and electromechanical products with sales offices serving the Americas. With more than 3.5 million parts online, engineers and purchasers often look to Allied for a broad range of product solutions from more than 300 world-class suppliers. Connect with Allied: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, http://www.thinkallied.com Root Logo Root should be available to as many good drivers as possible. Today marks a major milestone for the company. Im really proud of our team for building a great app that that puts our service in the hands of more good drivers with Android devices. Root, the first insurance company founded on the principle of fundamental fairness, announced a new app for Android devices today. The app is free and now available for download in the Google Play store. Support for Android was the most popular request from customers. Android is the worlds most prevalent smartphone operating system, controlling 86.2 percent of the market according to a report by Gartner analysts. Collectively, Roots iOS and Android apps now cover the vast majority of the smartphone market. Current policyholders switching to Android can download the app with no lapse in coverage. Root is a mobile-only car insurance carrier which uses an app and artificial intelligence to determine driving habitsand give good drivers lower rates. To sign up for Root, users download the app and take it for a test drive before receiving a quote. New Android users will have access to all of Roots popular perks, including the recently launched Tesla discount and the Lyft on Us program, which gives policyholders complimentary rides on three of the most dangerous driving days of the year. Root should be available to as many good drivers as possible. Today marks a major milestone for the company. Im really proud of our team for building a great app that that puts our service in the hands of more good drivers with Android devices, said Alex Timm, CEO of Root Insurance. Support for Android was a major goal of the company since inception. Next up, were eager to expand our footprint and take our mobile-first model to the rest of the nation. Both of Roots iOS and Android apps enable customers to personalize their quotes, purchase policies, and manage their plansall on their phones. The Android user interface has been optimized for Android devices, and Roots proprietary machine learning algorithms have been optimized for the respective motion and sensor technology of each device. Root currently supports 20 Android devices, including the most widely used phones manufactured by Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola and HTC. We pride ourselves on being the first mobile-only insurance carrier, and that means reaching the widest population of mobile device holders possible, said Dan Manges, Chief Technology Officer of Root. Were excited to open our door to Android users. Weve worked hard to provide them a stellar user experience. To join Root, drivers simply need to download the app and take a test drive, which takes approximately two to three weeks. Once complete, Root provides a quote (which heavily considers driving score) and allows customers to switch their policyall through mobile phone. To become a Root policyholder and join other good drivers, sign up at: http://www.joinroot.com. About Root Root is the first insurance company founded on the principle of fundamental fairness. We create personalized products that give good drivers the protection they deserve. At Root we only insure good drivers, and that is why our rates are always fair. Unlike other insurance companies, we do not bundle good drivers with bad drivers. Instead, we use data science to find and reward good drivers with the best rates. Root is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company is an official carrier licensed by Ohio Department of Insurance, a member of the Ohio Guarantee Fund, and backed by the largest reinsurance company in the world. Get the rate you deserve at http://www.joinroot.com. The Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association, (PRSM), the authority on retail, multi-site facilities management is set to kick off PRSM2017 National Conference, Tuesday, April 18, at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, TX. PRSM2017 will provide retail facilities executives from across North America three jam-packed days of unparalleled opportunities to hear from industry leaders, learn about hot new trends in retail facilities management and share best practices. Richard Rawlings, founder of Gas Monkey Garage, which is featured on the wildly popular Fast N Loud on the Discovery Channel, will be the keynote speaker at Wednesdays opening session. Rawlings power-packed message launches undefined three action-packed days that provide retail facilities leaders the latest in industry information, unique tools to solve problems, opportunities to meet and network with retail industry leaders and suppliers from across North America, and the inspiration to tackle any obstacle. The conference includes more than 30 educational sessions that range from an up-close sustainability tour of AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, advanced sessions on energy efficiency, active shooter management, and a session on how facilities pros are using mobile apps to boost productivity. PRSM2017 is the premier conference for retail facilities management professionals in North America, explains Bill Yanek, PRSMs CEO. This is the perfect venue for our members to gather and share their real-world experience with each other and participate in world-class educational programs that are not available anywhere else. More than 2,000 PRSM members are expected to attend this years conference. About the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association (PRSM) PRSM Association, the authority on Retail and Multi-site Facilities Management, is the leading membership organization for retail facilities and supplier professionals. PRSM empowers the Retail Industry facilities management with best practices, benchmarking, education, discussion forums, and trusted partnerships. Chartered in 1995, and with almost 1,000 member companies, the PRSM community values are founded on a spirit of innovation, resourcefulness, the quest for knowledge and ethical business relationships. Members depend on PRSM to help them achieve greater success and a competitive advantage through quality programs and resources. Visit prsm.com for more information. WireCo WorldGroup (WireCo) today announced that Interim Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, James (Jim) OLeary, has assumed the role of Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. OLeary will continue to serve as a member of the WireCo Board of Directors, as its Chairman, and his appointment concludes the Boards search for a permanent leader. Mr. OLeary previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kaydon Corporation, a leading designer and manufacturer of custom-engineered products, supplying a broad and diverse group of industrial, aerospace, medical, military, alternative energy and aftermarket customers. Prior to joining Kaydon, Mr. OLeary held leadership roles at Beazer Homes, USA, Inc., U.S. Industries and Hanson PLC. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pace University. About Mr. OLearys appointment, Kosty Gilis, a Managing Director of Onex said, We are thrilled that Jim will be joining WireCo as its new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. We have known and worked with Jim for a number of years and believe that his experience running a leading global industrial products company, which served a diverse range of end-markets, makes him superbly qualified to lead and grow WireCo in the coming years. Dexter Paine, Chairman and founding Partner of Paine Schwartz Partners added: Jim has hit the ground running at WireCo and I believe under his operational direction, the company will provide its world-class service to customers with enhanced efficiency. I have been impressed with Jims leadership style. Mr. OLeary added, I have long admired WireCo and its portfolio of market-leading, branded industrial products. The companys expertise in providing highly engineered solutions to world-class customers around the world is unparalleled in the industry. I am excited to be its CEO and look forward to working with the thousands of committed, talented WireCo associates across the globe. I appreciate the opportunity to work with both Onex and Paine Schwartz Partners in helping WireCo realize its fullest potential. About WireCo WorldGroup WireCo WorldGroup's highly engineered products are recognized throughout the world and are used in a wide range of mission critical applications. Globally, WireCo WorldGroup possesses a portfolio of many of the industrys most powerful brands including Union, Casar, Lankhorst, Camesa, Oliveira and Drumet. WireCo WorldGroup, headquartered in Prairie Village, Kansas, employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide with manufacturing plants, research and development centers and distribution facilities located around the world. For more information: http://www.wirecoworldgroup.com. The Just Desserts deduction program is one that has fans on both sides of the aisle and is our way of showing guests that we care, because we know that filing your taxes can be a stressful time for everyone. Romacorp Inc., the parent company of Tony Romas, is writing off a signature dessert for guests to sweeten their weekend in anticipation of the always dreaded Tax Day on April 17th. Its deliciously easy, does not require any forms or paperwork to qualify, provides a great rate of return, and is a special deduction for any guest who orders an entree from April 15th April 17th at a participating Tony Romas restaurant. Qualifying guests receive a coupon for a free Tony Romas signature dessert, their sweet way to enjoy Americas new Just Desserts deduction. The Just Desserts deduction program is one that has fans on both sides of the aisle and is our way of showing guests that we care, because we know that filing your taxes can be a stressful time for everyone, said Jim Rogers, Chief Marketing Officer for Romacorp, Inc. Tax Day has been pushed back this year, so it seems right for us to give fans the whole weekend to satisfy their sweet tooth. Its one more sweet deduction that Americans can look forward to this year! Dine-in guests who visit participating Tony Romas April 15th 17th will receive a coupon for a free Brownie Royale Dessert or a free Crispy Brownie Bite Sundae (dessert varies by location) valid for their next visit. Pair either one of these fan favorites with Tony Romas world-famous Baby Back Ribs and signature Romarita, and guests will be in 1040 heaven. Its a return you wont want to miss. About Romacorp, Inc. Romacorp, Inc., is the parent company of Tony Roma's restaurants, the world's largest casual dining concept specializing in ribs. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Romacorp, Inc. has more than 150 restaurant locations in more than 30 countries and is one of the most globally recognizable names in the industry. The first Tony Roma's restaurant opened 45 years ago in North Miami, Florida. Tony Roma's is also proud to partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation (http://www.cnfl.wish.org), one of the world's leading children's charities, in an effort to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses across Central and Northern Florida. For more information about Romacorp, Inc. and Tony Roma's, visit http://www.tonyromas.com. Please visit http://www.tonyromasfranchise.com or call (866) 981-0586 for information about Tony Roma's franchising opportunities. Civicom ThoughtLight is a flexible mobile ethnography solution designed to help researchers get key insights via genuine in-the-moment feedback. Civicom Marketing Research Services is a long-time advocate of leveraging technology and innovating marketing research solutions to bridge the gap between researchers and respondents in order to maximize key insight discovery. ThoughtLight, Civicoms internally developed mobile insights app, is a lightweight and flexible tool for researchers who want to maximize engagement with respondents using smart phones. ThoughtLights rich features enable researchers to capture real-time respondent insights. ThoughtLight is useful for gathering data and feedback for shopper insights, audio diaries and patient journeys, and for B-to-B studies as well. Researchers can design respondent activities that include in-the-moment responses via text, videos, audio and photos. ThoughtLight provides the option for collecting geolocation on every activity, plus off line accessibility for places where there is no data connection. Researchers can also promote respondent participation through push notifications and engage in probing. The Civicom ThoughtLight Mobile app works with both iOS and Android. The Civicom ThoughtLight app fully eliminates the need for costly and time consuming travel without losing quality in discovery of valuable insights. The app also has the capability to be combined with Civicoms other platform capabilities, such as the Civicom online community platform, Civicom Chatterbox and Civicoms virtual IDI and Focus Group capability, Civicom CyberFacility. The Civicom ThoughtLight webinar will focus on several case studies that will illustrate how researchers used ThoughtLight to better understand the thoughts and feelings of respondents. Special attention will be paid to how to make the most of ThoughtLights ample feature set. The webinar entitled Civicom ThoughtLight: Capture In-The-Moment Insights: Making the Most of the Features Available to You will be presented by Andrea Lostaunau, Manager, Client Technology Services, on the following dates and times: TUESDAY, April 18 @ 2:00 pm ET WEDNESDAY, April 19 @ 3:00 pm UK THURSDAY, April 20 @ 9:00 pm ET FRIDAY, April 21, @ 9:00 am SGT Click here to register for this webinar. About Civicom Marketing Research Services Civicom Marketing Research Services offers many options to enhance the research process for marketing research professionals. Civicom is the global leader in facilitating telephone and web-enabled IDIs and Focus Groups using Civicom CyberFacility. Civicom also offers Civicom Chatterbox, an asynchronous research platform for online communities and bulletin boards. Civicom operates in over 96 countries and offers extensive translation services for marketing researchers, as well as transcription services through TranscriptionWing, plus respondent recruiting through CiviSelect. All of these services are available in Spanish, as well as English, and multiple other languages. Civicom Marketing Research Services continues to be at the forefront of innovation and new strategies in marketing research, actively participating in various conferences and networks that engage in developing new techniques with the latest technologies globally. Civicom recently served as a panel expert alongside other influencers discussing the findings of GreenBooks latest edition of the GRIT report discussing emerging methods, technology, and trends in market research. Civicom Marketing Research chooses to be as dynamic as it is innovative; always listening to and acting on clients ideas and requests as they see fit. This kind of relationship has paved the way for the development and rollout of new services. To learn more, email Civicom at inquire(at)civi(dot)com or call +1-203-413-2423. "Walking away with several awards in this prestigious competition really speaks to the consistently high quality of work that Virid produces. We will continue to raise the bar for eCommerce solutions," said Steve Deller, CEO of Virid Virid, a leading provider of eCommerce solutions for growing retail brands, has been honored with seven eCommerce website awards and was recognized as a Distinguished Agency by the Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition. Virid received the following awards in this years competition: Gold Award: Ron Herman Silver Award: Bakers Shoes, Carolyn Pollack, and Windsor Bronze Award: Journeys, Lovers Lane, and Simon Says Stamp Virids award-winning websites are built on a robust framework that is packed with best practices designed to increase conversions, including a mobile-first, fully responsive focus. Virid enables retailers to drive growth by using a single-source model, which includes in house development, an expansive partner network, 24/7 website monitoring, PCI Level 1 compliance, and personalized support from a team of eCommerce experts. All of Virids websites are hosted in the cloud through Microsoft Azure. During the past year, Virids clients have enjoyed 99.99% uptime, including scheduled downtime, as reported by a third-party monitoring system. Virid is honored to receive multiple Horizon Awards, in addition to being recognized as a Distinguished Agency, said Steve Deller, CEO of Virid. Our websites were judged on a blend of creativity, design and user experience, communication of brand messaging, technical merit, and overall effectiveness. Walking away with several awards in this prestigious competition really speaks to the consistently high quality of work that Virid produces. A big thank you to our team for their work on these websites, and congratulations to our fellow award winners. The 15th annual, international competition saw over 1,200 entries from around the world, including 40 out of 50 U.S. states and 20 countries. An international panel of judges consisting of industry professionals with diverse backgrounds evaluated competition entries. The winning entries showcase the industrys best interactive media solutions including websites, mobile applications, print media, interactive displays, public exhibits, online advertising, video, email and more. The 2016 competition represents an outstanding execution of industry trends in terms of strategic online solutions and integrated campaigns through multiple media, Said, Mike Sauce, Founder of the Horizon Interactive Awards. Many of our top award winners have continued to stay on the cutting edge of technology while maintaining the high bar for visual design. Were continuing to see websites that harness the power of the immersive online experience while coordinating across multiple delivery channels. About Virid: Virid is a leading provider of eCommerce solutions for growing retail brands. Since 1999, Virid has provided retailers with a trusted, stable eCommerce package including software, cloud-based hosting, integration support, and ongoing technology consulting. Virid prides itself on knowing retailers and their businesses and gives them the tools they need to competitively sell in the ever-changing digital space. For more information, please visit http://www.virid.com. About the Horizon Interactive Awards In its 15th year, the Horizon Interactive Awards was created to recognize excellence in interactive media production worldwide. Since 2001, the competition has received tens of thousands of entries from many countries around the world and nearly all 50 US States. For more information, please visit http://www.horizoninteractiveawards.com. Our team is focused on field service solution innovation developing and implementing the cloud-based solutions organizations need for seamlessly connecting front office and field staff, and delivering service excellence every time. Hitachi Solutions America, Ltd., a leading provider of global industry solutions based on the Microsoft Cloud, is pleased to be an exhibitor at Field Service USA in Palm Springs, April 19-20, at Booth #812. The Field Service USA event is a one-stop shop for all things service and support, featuring discussions and presentations that cover every area and pain point that impacts field service business operations. Performance workshops, evening receptions, interactive working groups, and group meet-ups also provide important networking opportunities for field service peers. As the role of service continues to evolve to meet new customer expectations, service channels, and industry pressures, field service organizations are moving toward a connected field service model to keep pace with change. Connected field service empowers agents with a single, unified experience for delivering outstanding customer service thats tailored to customer needs. Nowhere is the connected field service shift more evident than in the rise and impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) on field service management. IoT has facilitated the ability of field technicians to collect, receive, and transmit data in real time. Microsoft has led the charge on IoT-based field service technologies, leveraging Azure IoT and Machine Learning to deliver more targeted, actionable guidance to the workforce. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is Microsofts next generation of cloud-based, purpose-built business applications that break down traditional ERP and CRM silos, helping businesses to grow and evolve with industry changes. Dynamics 365 allows companies to compare, analyze, and apply IoT data gathered through various workstreams, including operations (ERP), sales, marketing, customer service, field service, and project service automation. Hitachi Solutions America is leveraging the power and choice of the connected field service model and Microsoft technologies through its cloud-based, mobile field service solution development and deployment. Powerful mobile capabilities, advanced analytics, and ERP integration ensure service teams have the tools they need to optimize operations both in the office and on the field using IoT and hosted in the cloud. At Field Service USA, Hitachi Solutions Americas field service experts at Booth #812 will share how our solutions reduce response times, lower costs, and improve first-time fix ratios. In addition, on main conference day one, Hitachi Solutions America will moderate the panel discussions in Track B: Connected Products, from 2:30pm-4:20pm. Rachael Mott, Hitachi Solutions America Vice President, Field Service Solutions, will kick-off the track with an opening address. Hitachi Solutions America has a long history of success in Field Service Automation (FSA). Our services team has extensive experience building and implementing FSA systems for clients in many different vertical industries. Our portfolio of solutions for FSA include Microsoft Dynamics and our proprietary Hitachi Solutions FSA product. The following functionality is included in Hitachi Solutions FSA products: Call Center, Scheduling, and Dispatch Management Service Order Life-Cycle Management Contract and SLA Management Asset and Warranty Management Resource Tracking and Performance Management Customer Portal Inventory Management Bing Maps Integration Mobile Experience From a mobile field workers perspective, FSA Mobile offers individual- and crew-based roles for field generated work orders. With 26 point bi-directional ERP integration capabilities, customers can extend ERP to the field with FSA to support time and expense capture, skill-based HCM, payment capture, inventory management, and quoting in the field. FSA also delivers powerful, in-depth reporting and analytics capabilities that provide actionable insights across operations. This analytics functionality is powered by Lumada, Hitachi Insights Groups IoT core platform; and Power BI, Microsofts suite of data analysis tools that deliver rich, interactive data visualizations. Field service teams are able to access this real-time analysis at all times, from any device. Our team is focused on field service solution innovation developing and implementing the cloud-based solutions organizations need for seamlessly connecting front office and field staff, and delivering service excellence every time, said Michael Strand, Senior Vice President at Hitachi Solutions America. We look forward to connecting with Field Service USA attendees and discussing how our solutions offer new opportunities for organization, collaboration, and growth. Please stop by Booth #812 at the Field Service USA to speak with field service solution professionals. To learn more about Hitachi Solutions global capabilities, contact NA.Marketing(at)hitachi-solutions(dot)com, call 1-888-254-7242, or visit http://www.hitachisolutions.com. -3- About Hitachi Solutions America, Ltd. Hitachi Solutions America, Ltd. helps its customers to successfully compete with the largest global enterprises using powerful, easy-to-use, and affordable industry solutions built on Microsoft Dynamics AX and Microsoft Dynamics CRM enhanced with world class Business Analytics, and Portals and Collaboration. Recognized as the Microsoft 2014 CRM Global Partner of the Year and the 2014 Dynamics Global Outstanding Reseller of the Year, Hitachi Solutions America provides global capabilities with regional offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Japan, China, and Asia Pacific. For more information, call + 1 949.242.1300 or visit: http://us.hitachi-solutions.com. About Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. Hitachi Solutions, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a core member of Information & Telecommunication Systems Company of Hitachi Group and a recognized leader in delivering proven business and IT strategies and solutions to companies across many industries. The company provides value-driven services throughout the IT life cycle from systems planning to systems integration, operation and maintenance. Hitachi Solutions delivers products and services of superior value to customers worldwide through key subsidiaries in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, China, and Asia Pacific. For more information on Hitachi Solutions, please visit: http://www.hitachi-solutions.com. About Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer societys challenges with our talented team and proven experience in global markets. The companys consolidated revenues for fiscal 2014 (ended March 31, 2015) totaled 9,761 billion yen ($81.3 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes power & infrastructure systems, information & telecommunication systems, construction machinery, high functional materials & components, automotive systems, healthcare and others. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the companys website at http://www.hitachi.com. Sanford Harmony at National University announced today the launch of a mobile application called Sanford SEL that offers a new way for teachers to incorporate social emotional learning practices into daily classroom activities. The app provides a dynamic, easily-accessible interface to the Sanford Harmony program, allowing the research-based program to reach even more students with its suite of lesson plans, activities and resources developed to strengthen classroom relationships between students into adulthood. Based on the vision of philanthropist and entrepreneur T. Denny Sanford, the PreK-6 Sanford Harmony program helps students improve interpersonal skills in areas such as communication, cooperation and conflict resolution. It is in various stages of adoption in more than 21,000 classrooms around the country which represents over 480,000 students. The expansion effort is led by the National University System and its anchor institution National University, which has a long tradition of preparing and supporting the professional development needs of teachers. Until now, the Sanford Harmony classroom resources were only available through a physical toolbox of story books, activity cards and lesson plans. The new app, currently available for iPads and Android tablets, allows for teachers and students to readily access these Sanford Harmony resources through the specially formatted interface. The app launched with a focus on the PreK-2 levels, with plans to roll out resources to additional grade levels through 6th grade and in Spanish for PreK-6. To learn more about using the Sanford SEL app, a free webinar will be held April 19. To register: http://www.sanfordharmony.org/sanford-harmony-webinar-calendar/ We are excited to introduce the Sanford SEL app to the educator community, as it offers an innovative approach to integrating the proven Sanford Harmony programs social emotional learning resources into the classroom, said Scott Page, Director of the Sanford Harmony program. Studies show that students who develop skills in social emotional learning at an early age perform better in school and work throughout their lives, and we believe these skills also lay the foundation for healthier relationships and communities. The Sanford Harmony programs storybooks and activity cards have been redesigned for the app format, which also integrates prompts for the programs Meet Up and Buddy Up activities two key components of the Sanford Harmony program, which was originally developed through Arizona State University. Meet Up activities help build supportive classroom communities where students feel connected, comfortable and ready to learn. Buddy Up is a peer buddy system designed to bring together diverse students who might not otherwise might not interact with one another. While the programs roots are in the classroom, the app can also be used by parents, students and organizations that are seeking team-building activities and other opportunities to strengthen positive peer relations and interpersonal communications. The Sanford SEL app, which is developed by Mobomo, includes no advertising or in-app purchases and does not collect any data from the children who use it. The program is aligned with Common Core state standards, national, and district learning initiatives. It can be downloaded from the Apple iTunes Store for Apple devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices. About the Sanford Education Programs at National University The National University System is leading the expansion of three initiatives inspired by philanthropist and entrepreneur T. Denny Sanford to address critical needs in the education and nonprofit sectors. Sanford Harmony and Sanford Inspire, which are supported by the Universitys Sanford College of Education, provide innovative resources for the PreK-12 education sector: The Sanford Harmony is a social emotional learning program that promotes positive peer interactions and communication amongPreK-6 children into adulthood; Sanford Inspire supports inspiring PreK-12 teaching through teacher education resources and video modules. The Sanford Institute of Philanthropy offers educational programs to help nonprofits become more effective at fundraising. The three programs were launched nationally in 2014 with the creation of the Sanford Education Center at National University and they are being disseminated in coordination with National University, the anchor institution of the National University System. To learn more: http://www.nu.edu/SanfordEducationCenter. The Villa Portofino community is truly a great addition to the Renters Warehouse portfolio, shared Jon Ortner, Vice President of Portfolio Services. Renters Warehouse, one of the largest and highest reviewed property management companies in America, is announcing yet another exciting investor takeover out of its South Florida office. As of April 1st, Market Leader Rick Drew and his team at Renters Warehouse Miami will now manage 45 townhomes in Villa Portofino, a luxury townhome community in Homestead. The community features a mix of large three- and four-bedroom townhomes with luxury units and many of the homes are situated on oversized, cul-de-sac or lake front home sites. The Villa Portofino community is truly a great addition to the Renters Warehouse portfolio, shared Jon Ortner, Vice President of Portfolio Services. Its owners were looking for more in-depth institutional reporting and we were happy to provide customized reporting offerings that fit their needs. Its just another way that our Portfolio Services Division is offering Rent Estate investors an incomparable centralized offering. The Homestead area is a promising new market for Renters Warehouse, as its experiencing significant long term rent growth, and occupancy rates remain healthy due to the decline in homeownership across the state. In fact, the areas five-year average occupancy rate is 95.7%. In addition to being an attractive market, the Villa Portofino takeover will also help Renters Warehouse establish a strong foothold in the Homestead Area. Though only 45 minutes from Miami, Renters Warehouse chose to hire and build a local team to manage the new Homestead properties. With new Rent Estate Advisors joining the team, it will allow for even stronger service coverage for South Florida. Renters Warehouse exists to help homeowners and investors create wealth and financial freedom through Rent Estate. To learn more about Renters Warehouse or to find out how much your home will rent for, visit http://www.renterswarehouse.com today! -30- About Renters Warehouse Renters Warehouse is one of the fastest growing and highest reviewed residential property management companies in America. Backed by growth equity investor and majority stakeholder Northern Pacific Group, and under the leadership of President and CEO Kevin Ortner, Renters Warehouse now manages more than $3 billion in residential real estate, servicing 13,000+ investors across 18,000+ residential homes over 35 markets and 24 states. NPG Managing Partner Scott Honour, who in 1999 was a founder of YapStone, a leading online rental property payment service provider, serves as Chairman. Renters Warehouse expertly serves everyday single-property homeowners as well as real estate investors. In 2015, the company officially trademarked the term Rent Estate to redefine the entire SFR (Single Family Rental) industry as more traditional real estate gives way to this new lucrative asset. Through their dedicated Portfolio Services Division led by Chief Investment Officer Anthony Cazazian, the company also brings professional, scalable and efficient single property management solutions to investment portfolios with both centralized services and local market expertise and staff. Not only has Renters Warehouse received the prestigious honor of being included on the Inc. 500 | 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in America seven consecutive years in a row, it was also named one of the Best Places to Work in Minnesota (where they are headquartered) by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The company was also honored as a best place to work in Arizona (a centralized corporate services center) by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2013 and 2014, and achieved a spot on the prestigious 2016 Top Companies to Work for in AZ list. Nationwide, Renters Warehouse has been honored as one of America's "Best Places to Work" in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 by Outside Magazine. Recognized as pioneers in real estate, business management and innovation, Renters Warehouse has been awarded 22 Business Stevie Awards both internationally and stateside. In 2017, Renters Warehouse received an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) after meeting the BBBs eight Standards of Trust and earning BBB Accreditation. In 2016, Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) offering a wide array of services including operational risk assessments, assigned its MOR RV2 residential-vendor ranking to Renters Warehouse as a residential property manager, indicating that the company demonstrates proficiency in managing key areas of operational risk. In May 2017, Renters Warehouse will be publishing its first book - Rent Estate Revolution. Authored by CEO Kevin Ortner, the book will share the Renters Warehouse philosophy and business expertise around single-family rentals and the power of Rent Estate to drive long-term wealth creation, retirement security and financial freedom for the everyday person. Media Inquiries / Interviews: Crystal Richard Public Relations crystal(at)renterswarehouse(dot)com The agriculture and agribusiness sector is a driver of growth and a vehicle for poverty reduction in Moldova, but there are constraints of access to financial services and to climate-resilient infrastructure, said Tarek Kotb, IFAD The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Moldova today signed an agreement to fund a new project aimed at driving the transformation of the country's rural economy and helping to generate employment for over 44,000 poor rural people. Through improved access to irrigation, productive agricultural lands and business planning, the Rural Resilience Project will create full time and seasonal employment for agricultural workers, especially women, in cultivation of high value crops as well as jobs in construction and agribusiness. The total cost of the project is US$38.7 million of which IFAD is providing an $18.2 million loan, a $500,000 grant and an additional grant of $5 million financed through IFADs Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme. The project is co-financed by the Government of Moldova ($2.9 million), the beneficiaries themselves ($9.5 million) and other participating financial institutions ($2.6 million). The agreement was signed by Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD, and, Iurie Usurelu, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Governor of Moldova. Moldova is a small country where more than 61 per cent of the people live in rural areas. Although it is one of the poorest countries in Europe, poverty is steadily decreasing thanks to the country's economic growth, increased remittances and modernization of agriculture. The agriculture and agribusiness sector is a driver of growth and a vehicle for poverty reduction in Moldova, but there are constraints of access to financial services and to climate-resilient infrastructure, said Tarek Kotb, IFAD Country Programme Manager for Moldova. By strengthening resilience, improving economic opportunities and upgrading rural peoples skills, IFAD is aiming to improve the well-being of the population and contribute to poverty reduction, he added. The project will cover the country's rural areas, giving priority to climate-vulnerable farmers to help them gain ground in commercial agriculture. It will also focus on agribusinesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises to drive this group towards more productive and profitable business practices. Young entrepreneurs will be targeted with tailor-made strategies to address their unique challenges and opportunities, and at least 30 per cent of the recipients will be smallholder women farmers. Since 2000, IFAD has extended loans to Moldova for seven programmes and projects totalling $109.2 million reaching over 134,808 of the poorest rural households. IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided about US$18.5 billion in grants and low-interest loans to projects that have reached some 464 million people. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency based in Rome the UNs food and agriculture hub. Dr. Gregory Toback Publishes Research Study on Cutting-Edge Bone Grafting Techniques Dr. Gregory Toback, a respected periodontist in Westerly and New London, CT, recently published a landmark study with a team of leading dental clinicians in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. This study discovered optimal techniques for bone grafting procedures and ridge augmentation after tooth extractions, specifically testing the ideal strategy to repair bone defects caused by oral infections. As a skilled board-certified periodontist, Dr. Toback offers leading periodontal care and specializes in dental implant placement at his practice, Shoreline Periodontics. The alveolar ridge of the jaw is the area of the bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth. After a tooth is extracted, or removed, this bone may heal, or in many cases, the socket breaks and is unable to heal on its own. In other cases, bacteria caused by an oral infection, such as periodontal disease, can lead to bone loss and eventually additional tooth loss. Before a dental implant can be placed, a periodontist may recommend rebuilding this area in order to support the implant post and see long-term dental implant success. One of ten surgical investigators, Dr. Toback, and his associates, treated a total of 40 patients involved in this study. Their objective was to determine the most successful treatment strategies of bone grafting areas affected by severe dental infections. Using two bone grafting approaches, patients were treated while monitoring bone healing with advanced dental microscopes. The results of the study showed the benefits of a collagen matrix bone graft material in repairing large defects. This study represents one of the largest histologic studies of its kind and is just one of the many research endeavors Dr. Toback is committed to. As a periodontist in Westerly, RI and New London, CT dedicated to providing leading dental care, Dr. Toback offers experienced bone grafting treatment, tooth extractions, dental implant placement and periodontal care at Shoreline Periodontics. To learn more about effective bone grafting techniques or schedule a consultation, call 860-333-1531 for the New London, CT practice, or 401-622-4661 for the Westerly, RI location. About the Doctor 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 board-certified 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 860-333-1531 for the New London, CT location, or 401-622-4661 for the Westerly, RI office. Featuring live music, great food, a lineup of craft vendors, and activities for all ages, the Festival of Good will transform a single street in Goodnight into a celebration of all things Austin. Austin Goodnight Ranch announced today that Goodnight, a new mixed-use community in southeast Austin, will host the inaugural Festival of Good & Grand Opening later this month. Featuring live music, great food, a lineup of craft vendors, and activities for all ages, the Festival of Good will transform a single street in Goodnight into a celebration of all things Austin. The family-friendly event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017. We are excited to welcome such an eclectic mix of Austinites to Goodnight with the Festival of Good, said Myra Goepp, Vice President of Development. With the first residents moving into the neighborhood this year, we wanted to celebrate the coming to life of our vision for Goodnight, and all the good things that make Austin the city we know and love. What to expect at The Festival of Good: Music and entertainment from Fragile Rock, the worlds only emo puppet band, as well as LeeAnne Atherton and Media Fix. Concessions from Wholly Cow Burgers, SoCo Ginger Beer, Lone Star Kettle Corn, gourmet ice-cream sandwich maker Moojo, and Seed Catering Co., a boutique plant-based catering company. Home and beauty products, jewelry, and more from Settle Ceramics, Beks Soap Co., and Colourwitch Jewelry. Kid-friendly activities ranging from face painting, games, or story time with the Austin Public Librarys bookmobile. Giveaways, information sharing and pet adoptions from a curated selection of local organizations, including Austin Parks Foundation, Parks and Recreation Department, Emancipet and Austin Humane Society. Fun physical challenges and activities from Mylo Obstacle Fitness and Neighborhood Sports youth programs. The Austin Fire Department will bring a fire truck by the festival from 1-3 p.m. Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for sale. Planned amid the construction of Goodnights first 104 single-family homes, the Festival of Good is uniquely primed to establish the dynamic Austin-based culture that will soon define the community. While exploring Goodnight, visitors can stop by the first model homes from Centerra Homes and M/I Homes, and learn more about the 700-acre communitys expansive outdoor green spaces. Work has already begun on a pocket park that will create the first leg of a three-mile hike and bike trail system throughout the neighborhood, with an amenity center planned for completion over the coming years. About Goodnight Goodnight is a mixed-use neighborhood set to transform a former ranch in southeast Austin into a vibrant, walkable, tree-lined urban hub. The 700-acre site will be developed over 10 to 15 years and is expected to include up to 3,500 homes; a mixed-use town center; sites for two Austin Independent School District schools; 226,000 square feet of retail space; more than 120 acres of open space; and landscaped streets designed to integrate a safe network of bike paths, trails and sidewalks. The first phase of the project, the northeast quadrant, is adjacent to Slaughter Lane and includes a mixture of single-family homes and condominiums, a community park, and Blazier Elementary School. For more information, visit http://www.liveatgoodnight.com. ### The theme of the event is to celebrate cultural diversity while promoting racial healing for the city and the nation. The Multi-church, non-profit organization ServeOurCity today announced that the April 14th Good Friday 2017 event taking place at the 16,000 seat Frank Erwin Center in Austin has officially sold out. A number of local companies in Austin are sponsoring the event, including H.E.B, Texas Disposal Systems, and Charles Maund Toyota. Show producers have created a Facebook Ticket Exchange so that ticketholders with extra tickets can connect with those looking for tickets. Sponsorship opportunities which include tickets are still available at: http://www.GoodFridayATX.com. The theme of the event is to celebrate cultural diversity while promoting racial healing for the city and the nation. Worship teams and pastors from more than 300 Churches in the greater Austin area will be in attendance. Seventeen different faith leaders are speaking at the event, and the service culminates with a full concert by multiple Dove Award and Grammy Award winning gospel superstar, Kirk Franklin. Numerous Churches and corporate sponsors are helping to fund the event, which is free to attendees. Donations from attendees will also be accepted on site. This year, funds raised will benefit Be the Bridge, an Austin-based organization that seeks to transform racial division by fostering vision, skills and the heart for racial unity. Be the Bridge creates partnerships with nation-wide and global organizations that have a heart for justice and diversity. Were honored and humbled to be part of the Good Friday 2017 event, and the support we receive will help us extend our mission to create the conversations and the opportunities needed to remove racial barriers that divide us, said Be the Bridge Founder Latasha Morrison. Were looking forward to a fun night of learning, celebrating and giving back to our community. Doors open at 4:30, The Good Friday 2017 service starts at 6:00 PM on Friday, April 14th. Members of the media interested in reserving media credentials should contact Todd Keefe at For Immediate Release Public Relations. About ServeOurCity: ServeOurCity is a multi-church, non-profit organization that gathers and gives. We gather churches together all over Austin every year on Good Friday for a citywide worship experience and giving to local charities. To date, the organization has given more than one million dollars to well vetted non-profit organizations throughout the community. Anyone interested in joining ServeOurCity is invited to call (512) 220-6383, or email info(at)serverourcity(dot)com for more information. Event Contact Information: Jill Warren Director of Outreach ServeOurCity jill(at)serveourcity(dot)com With the celebration of Earth Day on April 22 each year, spring seems the ideal time to reach out to more of the planetand perhaps spare a few trees in the process! Outskirts Press, the #1-rated self-publishing company according to Top Consumer Reviews, is celebrating Mother Earth by extending a discount of 10 percent off its popular Elite e-Book Bundle throughout the month of April. The already value-priced package includes electronic books formatted for all the most popular e-reader formats. While paperback and hardcover books remain readers reigning choice, environmentally conscious bookworms spend approximately $3 billion a year on digital versions. In fact, e-books are projected to account for 25 percent of all book sales in 2018thats a lot of opportunity! Outskirts Press is extending the 10 percent discount on the Elite e-Book Bundle to any author, regardless of where they published their paperback or hardcover book. The Elite e-Book Bundle makes a book available to e-book consumers, no matter what device they use. The package includes formatting and distribution of a book in all of the most popular digital formats: Amazon Kindle E-book Edition with distribution on Amazon Apple iPad/iPhone E-book Edition with distribution through iTunes and the iBooks bookstore Barnes & Noble NOOK E-book Edition with distribution through the NOOK bookstore on Barnes & Noble's website Once an e-book is released, readers can purchase and download it instantly from anywhere in the world. For more information about Outskirts Press and its self-publishing and book marketing options, visit the companys website, OutskirtsPress.com. About Outskirts Press, Inc.: Outskirts Press helps authors develop and publish high-quality books by offering exceptional design, printing, publishing, distribution, and book marketing services. Top Consumer Reviews ranks Outskirts Press #1 because they are passionate about delivering outstanding customer service, affordable pricing, industry-leading royalties, and a team of hands-on, US-based publishing experts. At http://www.outskirtspress.com you can publish your book, your way, today. # # # Outskirts Press, Inc., 10940 S. Parker Road - 515, Parker, Colorado 80134 https://outskirtspress.com 1-888-OP-BOOKS PriceAdvantage Fuel Pricing Software The addition of Euro Garages, along with our global growth, prompted us expand our world-class support with the addition of a U.K.-based support team. PriceAdvantage, a fuel price management software company and division of Skyline Products, announced today a strategic alliance with TLM Group Technology of Bedford, United Kingdom. TLM will provide world-class service and support to PriceAdvantage customers located throughout Western Europe and will also focus on the sale of PriceAdvantage fuel pricing software to U.K. customers that utilize the Oracle Retail Fuel Station POS (formerly known as Iridium POS). The alliance follows the addition of one the U.K.s most progressive forecourt retailers Euro Garages to the PriceAdvantage customer portfolio. The addition of Euro Garages, along with our global growth, prompted us expand our world-class support with the addition of a U.K.-based support team, stated Chip Stadjuhar, President and CEO of Skyline Products. We found the ideal match in TLM Group Technology. They share our philosophy that it takes more than just a great product to create a satisfied customer it also requires a great overall customer experience. TLM will also specialize in the sales and support of PriceAdvantage to U.K. forecourt retailers that utilize the Oracle Retail Fuel Station POS. The unique integration between PriceAdvantage and TLM allows U.K. forecourt operators to push new prices from headquarters to the EPOS, pumps and electronic price signs. PriceAdvantage has really challenged the market in terms of what fuel pricing software can do, shared Bob Laidlaw, TLM Business Development Director. This software is easy to install, easy to use, and offers functionality never before seen within our market. Its a real game-changer for forecourt operators. PriceAdvantage software allows fuel marketers to easily gather competitor prices, replacement costs, historical data, store specific/market insight as well as leverage economic modeling to determine and push new fuel prices to the street faster and more accurately. As a SaaS solution, PriceAdvantage can be installed in just weeks allowing retailers a rapid ROI. About PriceAdvantage PriceAdvantage creates Software to Fuel Your Pricing StrategyTM. Our easy-to-use, highly configurable, patented solution allows fuel marketers to execute their unique fuel pricing strategy faster and more accurately by reducing manual processes and human errors. PriceAdvantage enables customers to make rapid, informed fuel pricing decisions based on their unique business rules, then automatically post new prices to their POS systems, fuel pumps and price signs, and then receive price change confirmation all in just minutes. PriceAdvantage is singularly focused on fuel pricing software and is a division of a privately held company, Skyline Products, which produces software solutions and thousands of electronic price and transportation signs annually. Learn more at http://www.PriceAdvantage.com. About TLM Group Technology TLM Group Technology provide critical services and support to the convenience and fuel sector. As Oracle's preferred referral partner, TLM supply and support all Oracle EPOS and back office convenience & fuel systems. TLM offer service oriented end to end solutions; from forecourt maintenance, EPOS and back office through to our innovative head office solution for convenience and fuel groups. Learn more at http://www.tlmgt.co.uk. Catapult Learning, Inc. announced the hiring of the Reverend Ronald Nuzzi, Ph.D., as Executive Director of Equitable Access and Excellence. Nuzzi most recently served as a Senior Director in the University of Notre Dames Alliance for Catholic Education. In his new role, Nuzzi will lead a national effort to ensure equitable services for all students attending Catholic schools. He will also work with the Catapult Learning professional development team to develop and deliver specialized programs for Catholic school leaders across the country. Fr. Ron Nuzzi has built a career dedicated to high quality Catholic education, as well as access to equitable services for all students, said Steve Quattrociocchi, President of Catapult Learnings Education Solutions Group. His depth of knowledge and experience will further strengthen Catapult Learnings instruction and professional development. Working together will also enable us to expand the services and support we provide to non-public school students and communities. We are excited to have Fr. Nuzzi join our executive team. Ordained in 1984, Nuzzi has served as a parish priest, teacher, school administrator, university professor, and retreat leader. Through nationally-held workshops, Nuzzi has provided guidance and education to leaders of Catholic schools in 49 states, and his work in the private, faith-based sector has given him a unique perspective on the moral, ethical, and religious dimensions of education. Nuzzi has also conducted studies of seminary education for bishops and consulted regularly for strategic planning, personnel, and governance issues. As Executive Director of Equitable Access and Excellence, Nuzzi will continue this path toward improving the education of children in non-public schools. I am delighted to be joining the team at Catapult Learning and look forward to contributing to the highly impactful work already going on across the country, explained Reverend Nuzzi. I share Catapult's passion for equality of educational opportunity; I am both enthusiastic and hopeful about our mission to support Catholic school leaders as they strive to respond to the needs of our nation's children. Nuzzi will join Catapult Learning on July 1, 2017. For more information, please contact Meg Roe, VP of Marketing for Catapult Learning, at 856-831-7956 or meg.roe(at)catapultlearning(dot)com. About Catapult Learning: Catapult Learning, Inc. has dedicated the past four decades to providing outstanding education solutions that generate demonstrable academic achievement and better life outcomes for students, regardless of their learning barriers or other challenges they may face. The companys team of 5,600 educators works to achieve sustained academic gains and build teacher and leadership capacity through research-based programs that include intervention, special education, dropout recovery, alternative school education, and professional development solutions. Architectural rendering of AHN Outpatient Center - Westmoreland Our new services in Westmoreland County reflect the commitment AHN and Highmark Health have made to provide patients with convenient access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services. Allegheny Health Network (AHN) today announced plans to open a 23,000-square-foot multispecialty facility in Greensburg just east of Westmoreland Mall. Located adjacent to Pool City on Nature Park Road, Allegheny Health Network Outpatient CenterWestmoreland will offer access to a range of medical specialists as well as a state-of-the-art endoscopy center for gastrointestinal procedures. Physicians will start seeing patients at the new AHN facility in early June, with the endoscopy center expected to begin operation in September. Among the planned physician practices at the site are specialists in neurosurgery, orthopaedics, esophageal and lung disease, cardiology, colon and rectal surgery, bariatric surgery, physical medicine, rehabilitation, and primary care. The facility also will feature physical and occupational therapy services, a lab for blood draws, a radiography room for X-ray imaging, and an onsite mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service. AHNs new endoscopy center at the site will offer a range of diagnostic and therapeutic care to patients, including colonoscopy and upper endoscopy procedures. The facility will be equipped with two procedure rooms and the latest in technological innovation to assure that patients are afforded effective screening and treatment for disorders of the digestive system. Our new services in Westmoreland County reflect the commitment AHN and Highmark Health have made to provide patients with convenient access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services, said Tony Farah, MD, Chief Medical Officer for AHN. We believe keeping care in the community whenever possible is essential to offering a high-value, patient-centered model of care, so we are investing in programs that will allow more of our patients to get the right care in the right settings close to home. The opening of AHN Outpatient CenterWestmoreland follows AHNs recently expanded presence at 660 Pellis Road in Greensburg. AHN Westmoreland OBGYN, a busy obstetrical practice that joined AHN in 2015, started seeing patients five days a week at the Pellis Road medical building last year. The womens health practice joined a handful of additional AHN specialists at the site, including physicians specializing in arthritis and rheumatic disease, neurology and cardiovascular medicine. The new AHN site on Nature Park Road will be immediately integrated into the Networks EPIC electronic medical record (EMR) system, offering patients a more seamless, effective, and efficient care experience. AHN is currently implementing the EPIC EMR across all of its provider sites. The system already has been launched at Allegheny General, West Penn and Forbes hospitals, as well as at Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion and in most of the Networks employed physician practices. When completed, AHN will be one of the countrys largest health systems to be integrated by a single EMR. With 355,458 residents according to the 2016 U.S. Census, Westmoreland County has the largest population of any county in southwestern Pennsylvania outside of Allegheny County. The countys population, however, is spread out over an area of land nearly 20 percent larger than any other county in the region. ### About Allegheny Health Network Allegheny Health Network, part of Highmark Health, is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is comprised of eight hospitals, including its flagship academic medical center Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Valley Hospital, Canonsburg Hospital, Forbes Hospital, Jefferson Hospital, Saint Vincent Hospital, Westfield Memorial Hospital and West Penn Hospital; a research institute; Health + Wellness Pavilions; an employed physician organization, home and community based health services and a group purchasing organization. The Network employs approximately 17,000 people and has more than 2,800 physicians on its medical staff. The Network also serves as a clinical campus for Temple University School of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Carolyn B. Crowell, DMD & Associates, Welcomes New Patients for Skilled Oral Cancer Screenings in Avon, OH As pediatric dentists in Avon, OH, Drs. Carolyn B. Crowell, Charissa McCune and Maria Ramirez are supporting Oral Cancer Awareness Month by raising awareness of the importance of receiving regular oral cancer screenings at every age. To facilitate this, the doctors now welcome new pediatric patients for both cancer screenings and regular hygiene cleanings. Oral cancer is a dangerous condition that claims the lives of almost 10,000 people each year. Nearly 50,000 patients will receive a diagnosis annually. Men are twice as likely to develop oral cancer as women, and while the death rate continues to decrease, it is still frequently undetected without a qualified screening. Although the condition usually affects patients over the age of 55, younger people are not immune. Pediatric patients are also affected, so as pediatric dentists in Avon, OH, the doctors feel it is important to screen patients at every visit and develop a health habit for their future. Adults and teens may be involved in practices that can increase their chances of developing the disease, such as chewing tobacco, which can cause precancerous lesions in the mouth in just a few months. One of the major concerns with this type of cancer is its tendency to go unnoticed. Sores that do not heal, persistent pain and a lump or thickening in the cheek are common symptoms. White or red patches on soft tissues like the gums, tongue, cheeks or tonsils may also be signs of cancer. Unfortunately, many of these symptoms can be caused by much less serious conditions, so patients may go undiagnosed for an extended period of time. Catching oral cancer early can help patients have a fighting chance. Those who would like to learn more from skilled pediatric dentists in Avon, OH, are invited to contact Drs. Crowell, McCune and Ramirez by calling 440-934-0149. About the Practice Dr. Carolyn B. Crowell, DMD & Associates is a dental practice offering pediatric dentistry and orthodontics to patients in Avon, Ohio. Dr. Carolyn B. Crowell is a pediatric dentist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry as well as a Fellow of numerous organizations including the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Charissa McCune is an experienced orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, among other prestigious dental organizations. Dr. Maria Ramirez is a pediatric dentist who specialized in Childrens Dentistry at MetroHealth Medical Center Pediatric Dental Clinic in Cleveland. Drs. Crowell, McCune and Ramirez offer the latest in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics including laser dentistry in order to provide each patient experienced, comfortable and trusted care. To learn more about the doctors or the services they offer, visit their website at http://www.drcrowell.com or call 440-934-0149 to schedule an appointment. We take on only a few projects which we feel are true 'game changers' with disruptive models... Provia Laboratories LLC (Provia) recently added Mr. Scott Wolf (Wolf), President of Grace Century FZ LLC (Grace) to its Business Advisory Board in preparation for international expansion. Wolf, and his firm Grace have played numerous roles for Provia over the last three years. In addition to assisting Provia with a prior capital raise, Wolf provided the company with investor relations services, business development services, strategic advisory and planning consulting as well as participated as a major investor. Most recently, Wolf began assisting Provias Board of Managers plan for its latest growth capital raise. With Wolfs assistance, Provia subsequently engaged an Investment Bank, US Capital Partners, Inc. for a $2M capital raise. US Capital completed an in-depth market review and due diligence evaluation of Provia, prepared the offering documents, and has recently begun raising capital from its large network of investors. Details available at http://www.provialabs.com/investor-relations. Provia focuses on working with stem cells for autologous use (cells from you, for you). Under the brand Store-A-Tooth, Provia offers a service for families to preserve the valuable mesenchymal stem cells found in their childrens baby teeth and wisdom teeth for their future stem cell therapy needs. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), like those found in teeth, are different than those collected from umbilical cord blood as they can differentiate into cells for repair and regeneration of bone, cartilage, tendon, nerve, and heart tissue making them relevant to the rapidly growing field of regenerative medicine. In addition to the Store-A-Tooth service, Provias state-of-the-art cGMP stem cell laboratory provides the research community with cell and tissue related products and services and has a pipeline of products in development to serve the personalized/autologous cell and tissue therapeutics space. Scott has been an incredible member of the Provia team over the last three years. He immersed his group from the very beginning and learned our business, our space, and our needs. Scott, Grace, and Graces members helped Provia close nearly $10M in early stage funding. Scott represented those investors interests as a strategic voice to our Board of Managers, and continues to provide consistent and meaningful advice to the company, says Howard Greenman, CEO of Provia. He adds Scotts international network is exceptionally strong. Adding Scott to the Provia advisory board is really just a formality as he has been advising this company for so long. Now that we begin planning for our aggressive international expansion efforts, its the right time to make it formal. Provia has been one of our portfolio projects for the last few years. We take on only a few projects which we feel are true 'game changers' with disruptive models or emerging technologies in new industries. We invest considerable efforts in helping them succeed. What we saw in Provia from the very beginning was an outstanding team throughout, one with the technical, business, and entrepreneurial skills to navigate the challenges of creating a new space. I am delighted to become a formal member of their advisory board as I see nothing but success in their future and I want to continue to be an active part of it, says Mr. Wolf. Provia is currently raising capital. Interested investors can learn more and inquire about their eligibility here. About Provia Provia is a revenue-generating stem cell processing, manufacturing, and bio-storage company with a leading position in dental stem cell storage and related services. Provias primary service, Store-A-Tooth, provides private storage of stem cells from childrens teeth for future use in the childs personalized regenerative medicine. Store-A-Tooth is a similar service to cord blood stem cell banks like ViaCord (purchased by PerkinElmer) and Cord Blood Registry (purchased by AMAG Pharma). Provia has a proprietary set of protocols for cell processing, expansion, validation, and cryopreservation. Provias laboratory provides these services under FDA guidelines for current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) for human cell and tissue products. http://www.provialabs.com or http://www.store-a-tooth.com. About Grace Century. Grace Century FZ LLC is an International research and private equity consultancy located in Ras Al Khaimah, (north of Dubai) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Grace Century specializes in "game-changing" life science and health related private equity projects. For portfolio or company information please email info(at)gracecentury.com or call +971 (0)7 206 8851 Please direct all media enquiries to info(at)bigwheel.me or call +971 (0)52 712 1777 Website http://www.gracecentury.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GraceCentury LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grace-century-holdings-fzc-llc Twitter https://twitter.com/GraceCentury Blog http://www.thegracecenturyblog.com The forcible removal of an airline passenger en route from Chicago to Louisivlle has gone viral and become a public relations nightmare for United Airlines. Two notable experts are available to offer analysis of the problem and what the airline should do next. Who: Kristen Lucas, UofL associate professor of management, College of Business Karen Freberg, UofL assistant professor of communication, College of Arts and Sciences What: Both are available to discuss how United Airlines has handled the passenger incident from the standpoint of crisis management and crisis communication; Freberg is an expert on social media and public relations, as well. Where: On camera, by telephone or via email Background: Kristen Lucas, who teaches an MBA course in crisis management at the University of Louisville, says United Airlines failed the crisis management test by taking a local incident and letting it become a multi-day incident. She is also the author of "Communicating at Work: Strategies for Success in Business and the Professions" Karen Freberg wrote a blog post that can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/united-airlines-passenger-crisis-pr-takeaways-social-media-freberg?published=t Contact: Lucas at Kristen.lucas(at)louisville(dot)edu or (502) 852-4786 (office) or (502) 991-7403 (cell). Freberg at Karen.freberg(at)louisville(dot)edu or (502) 852-4668 (office) or (352) 219-7915. Further questions: Contact Janet Cappiello, (502) 852-1104. Hyperwallet, a leading global payouts provider to millions of small businesses and individual freelancers, announced today a partnership with SoftBank Payment Service (SBPS). SBPS is a subsidiary of SoftBank, a top Japanese conglomerate with operations ranging from telecommunications and finance to media and marketing. Hyperwallet, through its subsidiary Hyperwallet Japan, will tap into SBPS existing payment infrastructure to improve payout speed and optionality for Japan-based payees. SBPS ranks as one of the largest online payment service providers in the country, offering a range of services including payment processing and acquiring, outbound payments, and credit card distribution. Recently, SBPS launched a payment service intended to support Japanese businesses that need to distribute funds to large numbers of payees domestically. Incorporating this functionality, Hyperwallet will be able to provide same-day bank transfers to clients paying within Japan. Hyperwallets partnership with SBPS will help position us for our continued growth within the Asia Pacific region, said Brent Warrington, Hyperwallets CEO. Along with the other additions weve recently made to our global financial network, I can say confidently that Hyperwallet is one of, if not the most extensive payout solution in the market, and well continue to expand our reach in the future. For more information, please contact press(at)hyperwallet(dot)com. About Hyperwallet Hyperwallets payout platform provides growing organizations with a frictionless, transparent, and reliable way to manage payments and enhance the payees experience almost anywhere in the world. Trusted by enterprise, ecommerce, and on-demand platforms, Hyperwallet makes it easy to pay up to 7 billion people in a singular payment environment. Put your payees in control with enhanced financial management tools, integrated payment tracking technology, and user-friendly compliance and identity verification. Hyperwallet has offices in San Francisco, Austin, London, and Vancouver. You can learn more at http://hyperwallet.com. 2016 Digital Postal Innovation of the Year Award We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the 2017 World Post and Parcel Awards, and especially humbled to be in the finals alongside two well-regarded postal services; An Post and Deutsche Post Canadian Internet of Postal Things Company Snaile Inc. has been shortlisted with two other companies in the Innovation category for the 2017 World Post and Parcel Awards. The company received the nomination for its proprietary postal box (check and notify-the-Cloud) IoT devices used in first and last mile postal applications. This same technology, which secures automated parcel lockers and turns street letter boxes, P.O. Boxes and traditional parcel lockers into smart devices, has already been awarded the 2016 Digital Innovation of the Year Award by Postal Technology International. Sponsored by global eCommerce solutions, shipping and mail products company Pitney Bowes, the Innovation category award will be presented as part of the World Post & Parcel Awards 2017 at the prestigious World Mail and Express (WMX) 2017 Europe Conference and Exhibition. The event will be held in Paris June 6th through the 8th and is hosted by La Poste and Triangle Management. We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the 2017 World Post and Parcel Awards, and especially humbled to be in the finals alongside two well-regarded postal services; An Post and Deutsche Post, said Patrick Armstrong, CEO of Snaile. He added that he was looking forward to being a speaker and discussing further the IoT devices at WMX Europe 2017. Snailes technology can be implemented in a number of postal applications. In the collection of mail (known as first mile) Snailes Internet of Postal Things devices can sit inside street letter boxes or courier drop boxes, retrofitting them to monitor whether or not there is outgoing mail. The device will also monitor each boxs usage rates. This data helps postal operators and couriers decide which street letter boxes require a visit on any given day, saving them having to check the entire network. This saves unnecessary operational expenses, eliminates pointless fuel emissions and larger than necessary fleet sizes. Instead, the usage data generated by these smart street letter boxes can help postal operators assess its overall network with real data, as opposed to the current anecdotal data. This allows the operator to reduce the number of boxes as letter mail volumes fall without affecting their Universal Service Obligation. This real-time data can also help deliver intelligence that will help postal operators and legislators alter the Universal Service Obligation (USO) allowing for electronic checking of boxes without affecting service levels. In last mile applications, where the mail and parcels are completing their final journey to the delivery point, Snailes technology can reside in conventional parcel lockers, P.O. Boxes and Community (Cluster) mailboxes. Adding this technology upgrades these to become smart mailboxes. In consumer mailbox applications, they can notify people by electronic means when they have mail, instead of having to physically visit them to check. This helps mail compete with digital means of communication, creates convenience, helps those with mobility issues, reduces carbon emissions and helps postal operators offer a new service, bridging the box-home delivery service gap while increasing P.O. Box utilization rates. The rapid growth of eCommerce has boosted the need for end-delivery point parcel lockers. Snaile has two applications that cater to this. The first is to upgrade dumb parcel lockers to allow postal operators to check the availability of parcel lockers for new items. This creates more efficient parcel throughput. The same technology also allows operators to check which parcels have not been picked up by customers and how long they have been sitting in the parcel locker. This application would also be a contender for an efficient end-delivery point parcel locker solution for postal operators. The deployment and maintenance costs would be far less than that of an automated parcel lockers, allowing for a denser parcel locker network at a fraction of the cost. From a security standpoint, Snailes technology can upgrade the popular automated parcel locker to know when it has content. Automated parcel lockers rely on door-open, door-close sensors which assumes it is empty or not without actually knowing. For example, consider a would-be terrorist who purchases an article online with a stolen credit card and then legitimately gains access to a parcel locker in a train station. Efficient monitoring of the parcel locker using Snaile's device would help law enforcement officials to be aware of whether the suspect has placed an article in the locker, possibly helping to foil a serious crime. Concepts, videos and discussions available here About Snaile Inc. Winner of the 2016 DIGITAL INNOVATION OF THE YEAR award by Postal Technology International, Snaile (pronounced Snail.ee), a Canadian company, manufacturers and markets postal Internet of Things (IoT) technology for first and last mile postal applications. In first mile applications Snailes technology is designed to reduce first mile operational costs, fleet size & carbon emissions. In last mile applications, the technology creates new service revenues for last mile mailboxes and enhances parcel lockers; conventional parcel locker available inventory management for increased throughput & upgraded security for automated parcel lockers. Contact Info Snaile, Inc. http://www.snaile.com info(at)snaile(dot)com AMGtime and Evolution Integration Organizations are always seeking great solutions for their employee management needs, and this integration with AMGtime and Evolution will provide them with the right tools, saving them both time and money. AMGtime announces today, a new seamless integration with iSystems Evolution HCM, allowing customers to quickly and effortlessly sync their time and attendance and employee data back and forth between both systems. Users of this integration will be able to eliminate any gaps in the process, ensuring the accuracy of employee and payroll records, while regulating compliance with labor laws which is vital for any organization. We are excited about this partnership, and look forward to providing Evolutions customers with a seamless and robust choice for time and attendance, said Tony Galstyan, founder of AMG Employee Management Inc. Organizations are always seeking great solutions for their employee management needs, and this integration with AMGtime and Evolution will provide them with the right tools, saving them both time and money. With AMGtime and Evolution Payroll, companies will ensure the accuracy and compliance of workforce data, while simplifying the process for administration staff. We are pleased to partner with AMGtime and offer customers a seamless integration between AMGtime and Evolution, stated Kathey Palmer, SVP Sales and Marketing for iSystems. Companies today are seeking best of breed integrated solutions that streamline essential business and workforce processes. AMGtime is a leading provider of innovative and cost-efficient time and attendance solutions including both cloud-based and PC-based software, top-of-the-line biometric devices, mobile applications, specialized industry solutions, and more. Specialized modules such as ACA Compliance, Benefit Accrual, Mandatory Paid Sick Leave, to name a few, are also available as add-ons. Evolution HCM provides cloud-based solutions for payroll and HR service organizations. It provides flexible solutions for HR, payroll and tax management. Its SaaS-based payroll and tax management system is capable of handling practically every type of payroll function, regardless of difficulty. AMGtime has released their open API over two years ago, allowing for full integration with other software applications. With many companies requiring several software systems to run their organization, such as payroll, CRM, HR, production control, POS systems and more, providing the power of integration has become more important for both efficiency and accuracy. Learn more about AMGtimes current integrations here: https://amgtime.com/payroll-integration. About AMGtime Los Angeles-based AMGtime has made its mark as a national leader in providing time and attendance solutions. The company is dedicated to helping organizations better manage their workforce and simplify the process of employee time tracking. AMGtime provides easy to use and flexible time and attendance products and services, including software available on both the cloud and PC, top of the line biometric hardware, mobile applications, specialized industry solutions, and much more. AMGtimes solutions are customizable and adaptable for basic to complex configurations, simple to implement, and inexpensive, providing organizations with the highest level of efficiency and ROI. About iSystems iSystems, LLC, the company behind Evolution HCM, provides payroll, tax management, and Human Capital Management (HCM) software for platform service providers across the U.S. The company values and understands the importance of innovation and perseverance to provide its clients secure, scalable, competitive and reliable technology. iSystems sets itself apart by providing market leading products, maintaining the highest level of product and technical support, offering ongoing training programs, supplying marketing and sales support, and ensuring a never-ending commitment to the research and development of new products and services. The Evolution HCM software was recognized by CIO Review and its independent board of advisors as one of the top 20 Most Promising HR Technology Solution Providers for 2016. Crowd at 2016 Breakaway Music Festival exceeded 20,000. Photo by Emad Rashidi Breakaway is a fast-growth event in a fast-growth market and the Columbus summer music scene will close with a strong two-day lineup over Labor Day weekend. -Andy Loughnane, president of business operations for Columbus Crew SC Breakaway Music Festival organizers call its return to MAPFRE Stadium, home of the Columbus Crew SC, a blessing. The two-day, outdoor music event will take place Sept. 1-2, 2017. Coming off the heels of the highly-hyped performance by headliner Chance The Rapper in 2016, the festival was attended by over 20,000 and received accolades on its well-balanced bill which included Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug, Dillon Francis, RL Grime and 21 additional acts (not including the 20+ Silent Disco performers). Breakaway in 2016 exceeded our expectations and we felt it was only fitting to bring it back to MAPFRE Stadium (where the event was birthed in 2013), said Zach Ruben, co-founder of Prime Social Group. This allows for enhanced amenities including easy parking, quality restroom facilities and on-brand food and beverage options. The options for production enhancements are almost limitless as well. MAPFRE Stadium is proud to host the festivals return, said Andy Loughnane, president of business operations for Columbus Crew SC. Breakaway is a fast-growth event in a fast-growth market and the Columbus summer music scene will close with a strong two-day lineup over Labor Day weekend. Breakaway Music Festival made its debut in 2013 at MAPFRE, then re-emerged in 2016 at the adjacent Ohio Expo Center Fairgrounds. In addition to todays announcement of Breakaway Columbus, festival organizers are proud to expand the brand to Grand Rapids for the first ever Breakaway Michigan. Early bird ticketing begins Friday, April 14, at 12 PM EST. Two-day early bird tickets start at $70 for GA, $130 for VIP. To become a part of the Breakaway Music Festival fan club and receive offers on club shows and festivals throughout the year, visit http://www.primesocial.com/newsletter. Visit http://www.breakawayfestival.com and follow @breakawayfest on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates! Goar designs power and lighting systems for commercial customers, government agencies, and utilities. As an experienced project engineer, she works directly with customers to value engineer projects. We are pleased to bring Mirandas experience in managing solar interconnections to our complex solar design projects. She can easily navigate utility requirements and interconnections at the front end of projects," said Brian Dersch Past News Releases RSS Dersch Design & Engineering... Nick Lovgren P.E. Electrical... Dersch Design & Engineering (DDE) has named Miranda Goar P.E. Electrical Engineer. The San Diego-based engineering firm specializes in electrical engineering, building construction / renovation, renewable energy, and microgrids. Goar received her designation as a Professional Engineer in Electrical Power December 2016. She is licensed in the State of California. In her position, Goar designs power and lighting systems for commercial customers, government agencies, and utilities. Goars strength is in renewable energy and utility scale solar power systems. As an experienced project engineer, she works directly with the customer to value engineer projects for the clients specific goals. She addresses each stage of design with a high degree of detail and is constantly looking for ways to improve. She serves as DDEs utility interconnection liaison and is a great asset when navigating interconnection challenges. Prior to joining Dersch Design in November 2015 as an Electrical Designer, Goar held the position of Energy Services Engineer III at Tucson Electrical Power in Tucson, Arizona. She project-managed distributed generation interconnections while serving as a renewable energy technical expert for multiple utility scale photovoltaic installations. Goar was responsible for managing designs and design reviews, interconnection studies, permission to operate, and acted as a key customer interface. Goar attended University of Arizona where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management with a minor in Material Science and Engineering, focused on renewable energy. During this time, she served as both president and vice president of the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM). At Dersch Design we pride ourselves in being engineers you can hold a conversation with. Miranda does just that she is personable and positive. Her knowledge, drive, and enthusiasm supports our goals for continued growth, said Dersch Design & Engineering Founder and President, Brian Dersch, P.E., LEED AP. We are pleased to bring Mirandas experience in managing solar interconnections to our complex solar design projects. She can easily navigate utility requirements and interconnections at the front end of projects due to her prior utility company work experience. To learn more about Dersch Design & Engineering, visit http://www.derschdesign.com. About Dersch Design & Engineering Founded in 2013 by electrical engineer Brian Dersch, P.E., LEED AP, Dersch Design & Engineering, Inc. is a professional, proactive, and approachable Small Business S-Corporation, certified Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) in San Diego, California. The engineering firm teams up with structural engineers, general contractors, and architects to solve complex engineering design challenges for commercial, higher education, government, and renewable energy / microgrid projects. As licensed professional engineers, DDE has a broad range of experience in many engineering disciplines, with specialization in electrical engineering, building construction / renovation, lighting, renewable energy, and microgrids. DDE is licensed to perform engineering services in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, and New York. For more information, visit http://www.derschdesign.com. Join New Energy Works at their Design Week Portland Event where traditional timber framing meets modern solar technology. We like this timber frame project as an energy producer, gathering spot, and outdoor storage space New Energy Works Timberframers is hosting a Design Week Portland Event to share and celebrate the craft of timber framing in combination with modern solar technology. The event will take place on April 26, 2017 from 2pm to 4pm at the companys Portland Design Studio on SE 6th Ave. They will craft a multi-purpose, modern timber frame structure, which will be topped with solar panels by Synchro Solar. New Energy Works craftsmen will hand-craft Douglas fir timbers live at the event. The resulting timber shelter can be capped with solar panels, recycled metal, and more. We like this project as an energy producer, gathering spot, and outdoor storage space. The uses are nearly limitless, explains Jonathan Orpin, Founder and President of New Energy Works. While steeped in tradition, timber framing is a highly versatile construction method in which modern technology plays a large role at New Energy Works. Their timber frame craftsmen, timber engineers, and designers will be on-hand to share their knowledge along with local solar energy solutions company, Synchro Solar, during the event. A community talk on working with heavy timber as a structural and design element in the sustainable building industry Im in! confirmed Orpin. All registration fees the company receives will be added to a lump sum donated in full to Community Energy Project in Portland, OR. The New Energy Works Design Studio is located at 2609 SE 6th Ave in Portland. The event will be held in an outdoor lot adjacent to the Design Studio (look for signs/activity) with access to the studio space as well. Street parking is available. Visit the DWP Open House page for more details. About DWP: Design Week Portland is a week-long, city-wide series of programs exploring the process, craft, and practice of design across all disciplines. Our mission is to increase appreciation and awareness about design and its far-reaching effects on matters of cultural and social relevance, including community development, education systems, and the economy. About Community Energy Project: Community Energy Project empowers people, one home at a time. With hundreds of trained volunteers, they reach low-income households, providing life-changing services to thousands of diverse clients. They offer free community workshops that teach practical skills to make homes safer and more energy efficient as well as in-home services to weatherize and repair homes for people in need. About Synchro Solar: Synchro Solar is a locally-owned, full service solar energy contractor serving Oregon and Southwest Washington that specializes in the design and installation of completely custom solar electric and solar water heating systems. At Synchro Solar, they're in the business of honesty, accuracy, and sustainability. They are built on experience and lead with change. Create Positive Energy. About New Energy Works Timberframers: New Energy Works Timberframers have been designing and building environmentally responsible timber frames across the USA for more than 30 years from their facilities in Oregon and New York. Offerings include: Timber Framing (design, engineering, manufacturing, and build), Enclosure Systems, Fine Woodworking, and Recycled and Sustainable wood products. New Energy Works has LEED AP staff members, is a member of the US Green Building Council, and is FSC-certified The renowned healthcare marketing and medical website design agency is preparing to connect with and educate many of the worlds top board-certified plastic surgeons at The Aesthetic Meeting 2017. The team at Etna Interactive (http://www.etnainteractive.com) is excitedly preparing for the Super Bowl of the aesthetics industry: The Aesthetic Meeting 2017 in San Diego, California. The event, held April 27 May 2, marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and is heralded as a celebration of 50 Years of the Art of Aesthetics. Etna Interactive, one of the industrys top healthcare marketing and medical website design agencies, has long been a presence at the annual event. Representatives from the company enjoy the opportunity to meet with existing clients and reach out to new and prospective ones. According to company founder and president, Ryan Miller, this year promises to be especially exciting. This meeting is always a high point for Etna, he says, but this year we anticipate will be one of the best yet. Weve planned some fun promotions, and are excited to connect with new partners with whom we might be a great fit. Miller and his team will set up camp and greet guests in the Aesthetic Marketplace from Saturday, April 29, through Monday, May 1. No trade show would be complete without enticing swag, and Miller claims that Etnas booth, #842, will not disappoint. We have a really cool, exclusive gift something weve designed and had custom made for our first 400 visitors on Saturday, Miller says. We think its going to generate a lot of buzz. On Sunday, well be running a unique promotion, where participants can enter to win $2,000 in made-to-measure clothing. Miller adds that, while the promotions are fun and designed to garner attention, the goal is to educate plastic surgeons about the opportunities that exist to grow their practices with strategic marketing from an experienced firm. Ideally, we want to reach out to aesthetics professionals who may be looking for a better fit from their marketing company, he says, but we want everyone we meet to walk away feeling like theyve learned something, whether they partner with us or not. Miller also typically presents multiple educational talks at the event. At this years event, Miller will speak on topics including managing your online reputation and cultivating authority online. Speaking at the ASAPS Aesthetic Meeting is always a great honor for me, says Miller. I got into this business to help aesthetics professionals grow their businesses. Delivering valuable advice and insights directly to some of the countrys top plastic surgeons is one of the most rewarding things I do professionally. ### Founded in 2002 and based in San Luis Obispo, California, Etna Interactive (http://www.etnainteractive.com) is a full-service healthcare marketing agency. The company offers medical website design, SEO, PPC & paid search, social media marketing, email marketing, strategic consulting, content strategy, and reputation management services to hundreds of the world's most prominent names in the aesthetic field. These include cosmetic and plastic surgeons, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, medical device manufacturers, facial plastic surgeons, and medical day spas. International law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has been recognized with the North American Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year award at the annual IJGlobal Americas Awards ceremony held in New York on March 15, 2017. IJGlobal is an online intelligence service that tracks global infrastructure finance market activity. The IJGlobal Americas Awards recognize the best energy and infrastructure deals, based on performance, innovation and excellence. The Greenberg Traurig team, which included Shareholders Charles J. Kolin, David J. LaSota, Michael D. Robson, Lorraine M. Tyson, and Of Counsel Lea K. Rosenthal, won the award for their work on the University of Californias Merced Redevelopment project. The team represented a consortium of nine private placement investors, who provided $660 million for the Merceds campus expansion at the University of California. This was the first ever higher education availability payment Public-Private Partnership (P3) project to be awarded in the United States. These awards recognize the breadth and depth of our P3 projects experience across North America and highlight the remarkable talent and expertise of our team, said Kolin. We look forward to continuing to build on our success and collaborating on future social initiatives. We are proud of our continued recognition by IJGlobal as a leader in the infrastructure space across North and South America, added Patricia Menendez-Cambo, vice chair of Greenberg Traurig. Given the projected increase in infrastructure investment in the U.S. and Latin America, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support infrastructure development across the region and ensure solutions for our clients. In addition to this years award, recent recognitions by IJGlobal in 2014 have included the coveted North American Transport Deal of the Year and the Latin American Project Bond Deal of the Year awards. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Global Energy and Infrastructure Practice Greenberg Traurig's Global Energy and Infrastructure Practice is known for its broad-ranging representation of upstream and midstream energy companies as well as renewable energy companies and traditional power generation companies. The firm's energy practice is further distinguished by lawyers with broad FERC experience and multifaceted energy finance representations. Several of Greenberg Traurigs energy attorneys are former General Counsel at energy industry companies and provide a valuable business perspective for our energy clients across the globe. Greenberg Traurig's Global Energy and Infrastructure Practice expanded significantly in Latin America and Europe with the establishment of Mexico City and Warsaw offices. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. The panel will include representatives from the Geaghan Brothers Brewing Company, the Nocturnem Draft Haus and The Growler Bus, the Maine Malt House, the City of Brewer. and the Maine Brewers' Guild. The craft beer industry in Maine is helping to grow jobs, keep young people here after college, and make our state an even more desirable vacation destination. An elite panel of five area business and economic leaders with insight into Maines growing craft beer industry will participate in, More Than Just Beer: How the Brewing Industry Impacts the State of Maine, a panel discussion at the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business on Thursday, April 27 at 3:00 p.m. Following the event, attendees are encouraged to stop by Nocturnem for a "Networking Happy Hour" with available members of the panel. The panel discussion will focus on the craft beer industrys significant contributions to our states economy. According to a recent economic impact study released by the Maine Brewers Guild, the Maine brewing industry employed 1,632 people directly, and helped support the creation of 545 additional jobs in other industries. In addition, the study estimated that Maines brewing industry had an economic impact of nearly $228 million in 2016. Over the past six years, this industry has seen significant growth. During this time, the number of independent breweries in Maine has gone from a couple dozen to more than 60. "The craft beer industry in Maine is helping to grow jobs, keep young people here after college, and make our state an even more desirable vacation destination, said Husson University College of Business Dean Dr. Marie Hansen. In addition to creating new jobs in brewing and beer manufacturing, local businesses that focus on agriculture, hospitality, and tourism have been positively impacted by the growth of craft beer. As an industry, craft beer is part of the "support local" movement. Maine craft beer brewers use Maine resources. They support agriculture by purchasing brewing ingredients locally, and supplying local farms with spent grain bi-products. These bi-products, derived from the brewing process, are used to feed livestock. This event embraces the spirit and culture of the craft brewing industry, said Andrew Geaghan, owner and head brewer at Geaghan Brothers Brewing Company in Bangor. Craft brewers enjoy sharing information with each other about the brewing process. Sharing information with students about our industry is a natural extension of what were all about. This panel discussion will expand students understanding of breweries and stimulate ideas about possible career options after graduation. The craft beer industry in Maine is growing and creating jobs here in our state. The panel, moderated by Dean Hansen, will include: Gene Beck, owner of the Nocturnem Draft Haus and The Growler Bus Jacob Buck, co-founder of the Maine Malt House Andrew Geaghan, owner and head brewer at Geaghan Brothers Brewing Company D'arcy Main-Boyington, director of economic development for the City of Brewer Sean Sullivan, executive director of the Maine Brewers' Guild Husson University is a champion of professional education and regional economic development. Presentations like this benefit both the students and the panel participants, said William Watson, director of the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business. Panel discussions with members of the local business community give students the opportunity to better understand professional careers and leadership positions, continued Watson. They also allow the business community to share information about the positive contributions they are making to our regions economic development. This panel discussion presentation is free and open to the public. It is being organized by Husson Universitys College of Business and the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business. For more information or to attend the panel discussion, please call the Center for Family Business at 207-973-1053 or email Caroline Snow at cfb(at)husson(dot)edu. For more than 100 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in Southern Maine, Wells, and Northern Maine provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies; science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu. The International Cake Exploration Societe (ICES) announces that registration is open for their 42nd annual convention, to be held at the Spokane Convention Center in Spokane, Washington from August 3rd to August 6th, 2017. ICES is a long-running organization dedicated to educating cake decorators and sugar artists with the mission to preserve, advance and encourage exploration of the sugar arts. The annual convention is the highlight of the year for many ICES members, attracting sugar artists from all over the world, featuring learning opportunities and cake and sugar showcases. The convention will offer hands-on classes and demonstrations by experts and celebrities in the field. This years convention will feature a Live Cake Challenge on Saturday, August 5, 2017 from 10am to 3pm in the Cake Room at the Spokane Convention Center. Three teams will compete for prizes and bragging rights by designing cakes to fit the theme Spokane Riverfront Park Applications to compete in the challenge will be accepted through April 29th. For more details and to apply, click here. Sugar art displays from around the world will be on display at the Sugar Art Gallery. Sugar artists of all levels bring cakes, pulled sugar pieces, pastillage and more for visitors to peruse throughout the convention. Pre-registered displays will be eligible for prize drawings. This year, the Vendor Hall will feature booths from a wide variety of sugar art suppliers who will provide free demonstrations, many by renowned cake decorators. Cake decorators excitedly look forward to new product debuts at the yearly ICES Convention Interested parties can visit the Convention's information and registration page here. About the ICES Convention: Founded in 1976, the International Cake Exploration Societe (ICES) pursues a mission to preserve, advance and encourage exploration of the sugar arts. ICES promotes and provides opportunities for continuing education, development of future sugar artists, and enjoyment of the art form in a caring and sharing environment. Meetings, Cake Shows, and Days of Sharing are held throughout the year across America and around the world. Each year ICES holds its annual Convention and Sugar Art Show in a different location in the United States. The ICES convention offers the perfect opportunity to gather with cake decorators and sugar artists from around the world to learn from and share with each other. We all can remember our first time at an ICES Convention. Whether you are a first timer or a seasoned conventioneer, we predict you will be amazed by the energy and excitement you see and feel as you participate in this celebration. Please visit us at ICES.org to learn more about becoming a member, and ICESconvention.org to learn more about this year's convention. ...neighbors helping neighbors is what were all about here, and I cant think of any circumstances more life-altering than the death of a child. Mlynarek Insurance Agencies unveils the latest campaign in their celebrated Agents of Change movement benefitting the families and businesses of Lake Orion, MI. The newest initiative supports The Compassionate Friends (TCF), a nonprofit organization that has been providing support to bereaved families after the death of a child for 40 years. Readers who would like to make donations to this worthy cause may visit https://www.crowdrise.com/showing-compassion-toward-families-experiencing-loss. TCFs vision statement, 'That everyone who needs us will find us and everyone who finds us will be helped is carried through almost 700 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam. Whether it is a family who has had a child (of any age) die, or friends reaching out to help those who have, TCF provides friendship, understanding and hope to those going through the grieving process. Time has proven that in caring and sharing comes healing, and those who have gone through this singular experience need exactly that. Supporting local families going through difficult circumstances is exactly why we created our community involvement program, said Kevin Mlynarek, owner of Mlynarek Insurance Agencies. After all, neighbors helping neighbors is what were all about here, and I cant think of any circumstances more life-altering than the death of a child. From their two offices in Lake Orion, the Mlynarek team is hard at work promoting the initiative through social media channels and an email and text message outreach campaign. They have also dedicated a full page of their vibrant community magazine, Our Hometown, to feature all the details. Current and archived issues of the monthly publication, which is delivered to thousands of households in surrounding areas, may be enjoyed at http://www.mlynarekinsuranceagencies.com/Our-Hometown-Magazine_39. The agency has made it simple for one and all to throw support behind The Compassionate Friends by pledging to donate $10 to the cause for every person referred to them for a quotation, with no purchase necessary. Readers who wish to have Mlynarek Insurance make a donation on their behalf may submit recommendations of friends and family members for no-obligation quotes here. Mlynarek Insurance Agencies has made an ongoing commitment to positively impact the communities it serves by vigorously seeking out and supporting local worthy causes as part of the celebrated Agents of Change movement. Concerned community members are invited to submit ideas of groups, families or individuals in need of a helping hand to be considered for future initiatives at http://www.mlynarekinsuranceagencies.com/Submit-A-Community-Cause-Idea_54. To keep tabs on whats happening in the community, readers are encouraged to visit and bookmark http://www.mlynarekinsuranceagencies.com/community-cause for future reference. About Mlynarek Insurance Agencies A full-service, award-winning, family owned and operated insurance and financial services firm serving families and businesses from offices in Lake Orion, Kevin Mlynarek and his team of caring professionals have one simple mission: to provide the finest insurance and financial products in the industry while delivering consistently superior service. Their focus is on helping families to protect the things which are most important to them (their families, homes, businesses, cars and more) while developing strategies to achieve long-term financial goals. Their dedicated agents may be reached by calling 248-393-1300. More information on the agency may be found at http://www.mlynarekinsuranceagencies.com/ Andrea Davidson, owner of MaidPro Antioch Everyone deserves to return to a clean, stress-free home. My goal is to help our clients save time so they can focus on enjoying the things they love. MaidPro Franchising is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Antioch, CA. Situated northeast of San Francisco, the MaidPro Antioch services the communities of Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, and Oakley. I'm excited to bring the MaidPro experience to my hometown, says franchise owner Andrea Davidson. Having grown up in Antioch, Davidson looks forward to running her own business in a community she loves. My goal is to be the premier cleaning company of the East Bay and to provide my neighbors with customized, professional cleaning services at competitive rates. Davidson particularly looks forward helping local families and young professionals spend less time cleaning and more time having fun. A busy mom to three boys, she cherishes quality time with her husband and sons. Everyone deserves to return to a clean, stress-free home. My goal is to help our clients save time so they can focus on enjoying the things they love. In addition to extra time, Davidson is proud to give clients peace of mind. We offer a 24 Hour Re-Cleaning Guarantee, so your satisfaction is always guaranteed period, she says. Our cleaning PROs are trained to deliver consistent, top quality cleans which Antioch customers will love. All MaidPro cleaners are bonded, insured, and thoroughly trained at MaidPro University. Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and one-time services are available, as are move-in and move-out cleanings. To get a complimentary estimate for housecleaning services from MaidPro Antioch, please call (925) 237-3660 or visit http://www.maidpro.com/antioch-ca. ABOUT MAIDPRO MaidPro is a Boston-based franchisor of house cleaning services with over 225 locations in 38 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1997, takes pride in its strong owner community, cutting-edge technology and creative marketing. It has been honored with the Franchise Business Reviews Four-Star Rating and Franchise 50 awards every year from 2006 to 2017 for owner satisfaction. MaidPro was honored by Entrepreneur as a Top 500 Franchise and has been awarded by Forbes as a Best Franchise to Buy in 2015 and 2016. The company can be found online at http://www.maidprofranchise.com. To get a free estimate for housecleaning services from MaidPro please visit http://www.maidpro.com. Superior Controls, Inc., (Superior Controls) a leading control system integrator of custom industrial automation and IT solutions, is pleased to announce it has merged with Banks Integration Group (Banks Integration), a leading systems integrator headquartered in Vacaville, CA outside San Francisco. The combination, which is the first investment of its kind for Superior Controls, closed on March 31, 2017. Financial terms were not disclosed. Banks Integration will retain its name as it becomes a subsidiary of Superior Controls and will continue supporting its clients seamlessly through this transition. Banks Integrations founder, Greg Banks, will continue his role as President and remains a significant investor in the company. The transaction combines the talents of two of the most experienced and respected integration companies serving biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Customers will have unparalleled access and support of value-added engineering services, nationwide, to configure, implement and maintain highly automated, technically advanced and tightly controlled manufacturing processes under difficult regulated environments. We are very excited to be joining forces with the leading West Coast systems integrator for the biotech industry, said Rick Pierro, Co-Founder and President of Superior Controls. Greg and I have enjoyed working together for many years dating back to when I was president of the Boston Chapter of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE); and he was president of the San Francisco ISPE chapter. This is a wonderful opportunity to formally collaborate to better serve our customers with multiple offices from coast to coast." As of March 31, 2017, Banks Integration has 36 employees in the Bay Area which will be added to Superior Controls 77 employees. With over 100 experienced engineers, the combined company will be among the largest control system integrators in the country. Each of the companies has over two decades of experience in the biotech industry and extensive expertise in other industries, such as food and beverage. "We are delighted to be combining with Superior Controls. This merger will enable us to better serve our customers throughout the country, said Greg Banks. We anticipate a smooth and exciting transition - this is a win-win for both companies, our employees as well as our clients. About Superior Controls, Inc. Since 1993, Superior Controls, Inc. has reliably delivered professionally executed automation and control systems integration services to leading companies in 30 separate states and 15 countries. In addition to being six-time certified by the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA), Superior Controls has passed over fifty management and validation audits performed by industry leaders such as Pfizer, Biogen, GE Healthcare, and more. As Superior Controls now undergoes expansion, it will exhibit the same commitment to innovation and quality that customers have come to expect over the last 24 years. For more information, visit http://www.superiorcontrols.com About Banks Integration Group Since being established in 1994, Banks Integration Group has always focused on the customers needs, using technology and creative solutions that best fit their operation. Focusing on the Life Science Industry, Banks has developed an excellent reputation for executing GMP projects on the West Coast. In 2010, Banks Integration Group became the only Life Science focused Rockwell Automation Solution Partner in California, and has since doubled in size to meet customer demand. For more information, visit http://www.banksintegration.com Populate Leading EHRs with ZyDoc's Mobile App Physician frustration with the amount of time and effort spent on EHR data entry will no longer be a battle. We will make our aching health systems great again. - James Maisel, MD Past News Releases RSS ZyDoc Launches MediSapien Telephone... ZyDoc Medical Transcription... ZyDoc Medical Transcription... ZyDoc, a New York-based medical informatics company, has just announced public rollout of the new TrackDoc Connect cloud transcription platform featuring a smartphone dictation app for efficient EHR documentation. For a limited time, new customers can test drive the TrackDoc Connect mobile app and transcription platform for a two-week free trial. TrackDoc Connect is a HIPAA-secure cloud transcription platform and service with a plethora of new features, enhanced security, and numerous upgrades over ZyDocs award-winning original TrackDoc platform. The TrackDoc Connect mobile app for iPhone and iPad allows doctors to see their schedule, select the patient and job type, and dictate. The text automatically appears in the appropriate EHR sections. While migration to TrackDoc Connect has been completed for a majority of existing customers, ZyDoc has now opened availability to all healthcare providers, ambulatory surgery centers, large medical groups and hospitals. ZyDocs new transcription platform was totally rebuilt to improve physician productivity with EHR data entry via smartphone dictation, explains ZyDoc Chairman James M. Maisel, MD. It also incorporates the most robust security features and is designed to ensure high accuracy, fast job turnaround time, and coding and document improvement activities with EHR integration. TrackDoc Connect represents a long-awaited solution for doctors who urgently need a more efficient way to get HIPAA-protected patient health information into their EHR, Maisel continues. Physician frustration with the amount of time and effort spent on EHR data entry will no longer be a battle. This is a next generation documentation solution with interfaces to leading EHRs such as athenahealth and eClinicalworks, and allows hybrid documentation solutions for Practice Fusion users. We will make our aching health systems great again. TrackDoc Connect Features TrackDoc Connect is a HIPAA-compliant cloud-based transcription platform that solves the clinical documentation bottleneck related to EHR population (aka data entry), payer coding requirements, and government healthcare reporting regulations. Physicians can securely dictate notes and reports for transcription and insertion into their EHR using the TrackDoc Connect mobile app, telephone dial-in, or USB recorder. Referrals can be shared securely electronically or by fax. Although there is no paper involved in the workflow steps performed by ZyDoc, clients may choose to print completed transcriptions at their own locations making use of available printing or downloading capabilities provided by the ZyDoc website. TrackDoc Connect has been rebuilt from the ground up to deliver an efficient documentation workflow with fastest available turnaround times (TATs), highest security levels, accuracy exceeding industry standards, custom letterhead and template implementation, flexible work assignment, real-time job tracking, e-signature, and EHR section-level interface. Enhanced workflow options allow rapid implementation and flexible solutions for blending in-house or outsourced work, including the ability to delegate review to coders and document improvement specialists prior to finalization in the EHR. In addition, the platform can measure accuracy of transcriptionists and medical language specialty editors and provide feedback, ensuring delivery of highly accurate documents. Expanding beyond the EHR, ZyDocs MediSapien natural language processing (NLP) technology also allows advanced clinical data management including automated computer-assisted coding, structured data reporting, and health information data mining Security According to ZyDoc CIO Matt Bouchard, Digital healthcare information transmission and storage require an agile, hyper-vigilant approach to security. TrackDoc Connect is a next generation platform that does not use vulnerable FTP servers and prevents contractors from exporting audios, PHI metadata and transcribed documents out of our secure platform. PHI is accessed via web-browser over the internet using the highest available internet security protocol with https. All work is performed on our encrypted cloud servers. There is no software to install or corrupt, and no permissions required to use FTP servers or move audio or documents during the workflow steps performed by ZyDoc typists and editors. TrackDoc Connects updated security features employ stringent safeguards to protect clients data, with no off-site storage of patient health information (PHI) outside of the ZyDoc platform. TrackDoc Connect uses Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), the secure version of HTTP, the protocol over which data is sent between the browser and the connected website, meaning all communications between the browser and the website are encrypted. From the original dictation recordings to the completed transcribed documents, all TrackDoc Connect processes are performed on protected servers within the ZyDoc data center, which is independently certified to meet SOC I Type II requirements through 2016, and SOC II Type II requirements in 2017. The documents themselves in every phase of their life cycle are stored in encrypted fashion in the database in the data center. The cloud platform requires no software installation, facilitates fast implementation and elimination of IT burdens, allows for tighter security and user tracking, accuracy measurement tools, and flexible workflow optimization to allow faster turnaround times. TrackDoc Connect Mobile The TrackDoc Mobile app, currently available for iOS, has built-in connectivity to most major EHRs, allowing practitioners remote access to patient schedules that are transmitted to the smartphone app. After receiving secure login credentials, physicians can immediately start dictating. Setup of a basic account without custom templates is painless. ZyDocs free trial offer includes the TrackDoc Connect Mobile app and basic template, for one physician. Following the trial, enhanced options and multiple users can be added, including other providers and authorized administrators. About ZyDoc and MediSapien Since its inception in 1993, ZyDocs mission has been to increase the efficiency of physicians through the use of software technology and services to improve patient care and outcomes, lower malpractice risk, and maximize reimbursement. Based in Islandia, New York, ZyDoc has developed award-winning, HIPAA-secure, cloud-based e-transcription infrastructure and medical informatics technologies, serving medical practices, hospitals, public health agencies, and other entities in the medico-legal, academic, and pharmacology sectors. Augmenting ZyDocs transcription business, MediSapien is a web-based, knowledge management platform that uses disruptive natural language processing and AI technologies to convert unstructured text to fully coded structured data for EHRs, PACS, RIS, analytics, and reporting. For clinician end-users, MediSapien can be utilized in conjunction with EHR installations, and can facilitate analytic applications for individual or population disease management for ACOs, hospitals or large groups. ZyDoc is a certified Philips Reseller and a VMWare Professional Solution Provider Partner. More information about ZyDoc and MediSapien is available online at http://www.zydoc.com. The free trial for TrackDoc Connect Mobile may be accessed here. Cookies What are cookies ? How do we use cookies? How to control cookies? Managing cookies in your browser see what cookies you have got and delete them on an individual basis block third party cookies block cookies from particular sites block all cookies from being set delete all cookies when you close your browser X A cookie is a small text file that a website saves on your computer or mobile device when you visit the site. 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The Childrens Book Committee and the Bank Street College of Education honored their Best Childrens Books of the Year at an awards presentation held at the college on April 6. In addition to celebrating the more than 600 titles that are presented in The Best Childrens Books of the Year: 2017 Edition (given to each attendee), Bank Street College and the Childrens Book Committee also presented awards to five 2016 titles in the categories of nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. The ceremonies offered a morning full of emotional, timely, and illuminating speeches. Opening speakers were Linda Greengrass and Mollie Welsh Kruger, co-chairs, Childrens Book Committee; Shael Polakow-Suransky, president, Bank Street College; Jed Lippard, dean of childrens programs, Bank Street School for Children; Todd Jackson, co-director, Young Reviewers Program, Childrens Book Committee; and Cynthia Weill, director, Bank Street Center for Childrens Literature. Lippard spoke about the enormous and sometimes contentious work involved with selecting the best books of the year. He noted that his husband is a member of the Childrens Book Committee and jokingly said, We havent had a conversation for the last four months. Jackson praised the efforts of the children who contributed to the selection process by reading and reviewing the books. Weill added that she marvels at the efforts of the committee and noted the dozens of boxes of books that were submitted from publishers on a daily basis. She commented that the work done by the committee represents Bank Streets commitment to championing high-quality childrens literature. Polakow-Suransky shared that there were some 6,000 submissions this year and that the more than 600 books compiled in the guide will be valued by booksellers, librarians, and teachers. Accepting the first 2017 Flora Stieglitz Straus Award for nonfiction was Susan Hood for Adas Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay (Simon & Schuster). The book takes place in the real-life village of Cateura, Paraguay, which is located on the grounds of a garbage dump. Inspired by his own love of music, Favio Chavez decided that the garbage could be reused to make musical instruments. With the help of a talented carpenter, Chavez began teaching children of Ceteura to make music using the instrumentseventually creating an orchestra. Rather than create a fictional character, Hood based the story on an actual member of the orchestra, musician Ada Rios: the orchestra story is astounding because its true, she said, adding that, if the story was presented as fiction, who would believe anyone could make a clarinet from drain pipes, buttons, and house keys? Following Hood, illustrator of Adas Violin, Sally Wern Comport, spoke briefly. She discussed how she used the collages in the book to mimic the mounds of trash that would be made into instruments. Describing how choreographing the book was like a dance, she remained inspired throughout the creative process by the playing of instruments amidst awfulness. Leigh Walton, the editor of March: Book Three, the final book in a trilogy, also accepted the books Flora Stieglitz Straus Award on behalf of the authors, Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, and illustrator, Nate Powell. Walton spoke about how, in the process of writing the series, they came across an archived recording of speeches made during the 1965 rally held on the steps of the Alabama Capitol. The recording, which included a speech by John Lewis, was surreptitiously made by the Alabama Department of Public Safetypart of the organizations efforts to gather dirt on the Civil Rights Movement. Ironically, this surveillance by an organization attempting to disrupt the Civil Rights Movement, gave [John Lewiss] words back to him, said Walton. Walton went on to speak about how we live in a world with a very complicated relationship to history. Today, there is an abundance of readily available information, yet with the deaths of individuals who witnessed moments of history, including its horrors, he said: We are losing living memory. He believes in the importance of finding the emotional truth behind historical events and crafting narratives that are irresistible to readers. Walton concluded by saying, This is not a story about super heroes; its a story about heroes. Lets all keep marching together. Also accepting an award for nonfiction was Caren Stelson for her book Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivors Story (Lerner/Carolrhoda). Stelson talked about the process of writing the book with the help of the St. Paul-Nagasaki Sister City, which enabled her to meet the subject of her book, Sachiko Yasui, several timesmeetings that changed her life. Stelson reflected on her own brief brushes with the impact of war, notably the nightmare screams of her father, who fought in World War II. Yet, she often wondered: How do people truly survive war? How do children survive war? She didnt know the answer until [she] met Sachiko. Sachiko, who was six when the atomic bomb dropped, agreed to tell Stelson her story only if she could look into my eyes. In addition to Sachikos story of surviving the bombing of Nagasaki, Stelson spoke of the strength Sachiko gained from an unexpected source: Helen Keller, whom she met in Japan at the age of nine. She channeled Kellers fortitude when she lost her voice from thyroid cancer in her 20s. Recovering her speaking voice enabled her to ask, Now that I have a voice, what will I use it for? The experience of writing the book and meeting Sachiko fact-to-face not only gave a voice to Stelsons book, but ultimately solidified for Stelson the words of philosopher Martin Buber: All real living is meeting. Julie Fogliano accepted the Claudia Lewis Award for poetry. Before When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons (Roaring Brook/Porter), Fogliano was struggling through what felt like an insurmountable writers block. Married with two children and living in upstate New York, Fogliano found it was easier for her to make excuses not to write than it was to sit down and put words on the page: I felt I had entire universes inside me, yet I couldnt seem to unleash them. At the urging of a friend, she vowed to write one thought a day for a year and to practice the art of watching, listening, and paying attention. On or about thought 125, Fogliano explained, something took seed. That seed would eventually grow into When Green Becomes Tomatoes. Fogliano didnt think that what she was writing was poetry, but when editor Neal Porter read it, he told her thats what it was. Foglianos reaction was: I dont write poetry. These are just my tiny thoughts. She realized that she held a deeply ingrained sense that poetry was something sacred and serious, a puzzle and a code, and if she didnt correctly decipher it, she was left feeling like a failure. Despite her resistance to calling herself a poet, she learned from Porter that the dreaded word would appear on the cover. Today, she hopes that when children first encounter poetry that they listen to the sounds of words, and in doing so, learn to connect to poems before deconstructing them. Finally, Wendelin Van Draanen took the stage to accept the 2017 Josette Frank Award for her novel The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones (Knopf). Van Draanen spoke about the deceptive nature of appearances, and how each person contains a story that is readable only by looking below the surface. Such is the case with her protagonist, Lincoln Jones. And such is the case with Van Draanen herself. She shared a slide show that featured photographs of her parents, who emigrated from the Netherlands and took a ship to the U.S. with nothing but big dreams. Another slide showed the result of an arsonists hate crime against her family, burning their business to the ground and leaving nothing but rubble and ash where their dreams had been. After Van Draanens father died of brain cancer, she took on the highly physical task of rebuilding the family business: That is a pipe wrench in my hand and I know how to use it, she commented about one slide. Learning, by necessity, to be a roofer, accountant, and plumber, becoming a writer didnt seem to be in the cards. Yet, while living with her husband in a 400-square-foot house in a less-than savory neighborhood, she began writing and putting hope in the mail, a.k.a, submitting her manuscripts to agents and publishers. Ten years passed before she received an acceptance. Van Draanen discussed more defining life experiences, including witnessing her mothers struggle with dementia and learning about the histories of the other residents at her mothers dementia facilityeach with a unique history of pain. Such encounters would lead her to explore the secret life of a character who finds refuge in his own private world of storytelling. In closing, she suggested that its through open hearts that we find compassion, understanding, and common ground. Knopf will publish The Girl Who Takes An Eye for An Eye, the fifth installment in the late Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series, on September 12. The novel, the fourth sequel to Larsson's bestseller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, will be written David Lagercrantz and translated from the Swedish by George Goulding, and will again feature protagonists Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. Sonny Mehta, editor-in-chief of Knopf, will, as he has with all other books in the series, edit the title in the U.S. "Revenge is not a fantasy for Lisbeth," Mehta said in a press release, "and in this new book, she exacts it with a vengeance." The novel will be published in concert with its various international editions. It will be available in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook simultaneously. The announced first printing is 500,000 copies. The Millennium series has, according to the publisher, sold 85 million copies in 50 territories worldwide and 24 million copies in the U.S alone. Prior titles in the series include The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, and The Girl in the Spiders Web. Syrian Refugee's Memoir Sells in Romania Last month, Allary Editions (France) published Im From Aleppo: The Itinerary of an Ordinary Refugee by Joude Jassouma with Laurence de Cambronne. The book recently sold to Niculescu in Romania. Represented by 2 Seas Agency on behalf of Allary, the book is a first-person narrative about the author's escape from Syria. The author, a teacher, crossed the Mediterranean with his wife and daughter and settled in France. Finnish Lifestyle Book Draws Suitors The Nordic Kiss by Katja Pantzar, represented by Elina Ahlback of Elina Ahlback Literary Agency, has now sold in several foreign deals, including to Hodder UK, Roca (Spain) and Bastei Lubbe (Germany). Coming on the heels of a global interest in (and the publication of many books about) the Danish concept of "hygge," which is centered on the notion of taking pleasure in ordinary moments, this book helps readers discover the Nordic concept of "sisu." The author described sisu as "a unique type of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Spanish Novel Collects Sales Kanada by Juan Gomez Barcena, has sold to Secession Verlag (Germany) and Wereldbibliotheek (the Netherlands) in two-book deals. Sexto Piso published the novel in Spain last month, and Ella Sher of the Ella Sher Literary Agency controls all rights. The book, which opens in 1945, follows the return home of millions of Holocaust survivors after the liberation of Auschwitz. An English language sample of the book is available. Dutch Debut Sells in Germany Dutch publisher De Bezige Bij sold German rights to the novel Its Monday, Today by Sytske van Koeveringe to btb Verlag. The book, slated to be released in the Netherlands next month, is about a cleaning woman named Julia, who does not like human contact but is forced to interact with her clients. ROCK ISLAND James C. Cecil, of rural Rock Island, finished third in the 2016 National Corn Yield Contest's division for non-irrigated field with a yield of 307.0903 bushels per acre. The variety was a Pioneer hybrid. Mr. Cecil was one of 400 winners nationwide in the contest, which drew 7,979 entries from 46 states. The contest's top yield was 421.3968 bushels per acre achieved by Randy Dowdy, of Valdosta, Ga. The average yield among national winners was 374.7 bushels per acre, with five recording yields of more than 400 bushels per acre. The average corn yield projected last year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture was 175.3 bushels per acre. "This harvest, the world witnessed the incredible bounty U.S. corn farmers can provide to meet the growing need for food, fuel and fiber both in our nation and around the world, said NCGA President Wesley Spurlock, a corn grower from Stratford, Texas. Our contest participants demonstrated that Americas farmers continue to strive for excellence while adopting state-of-the-art tools which help them meet those goals. Little Lillian King surprised her parents 14 weeks early, at only 1 pound, 9 ounces. On June 5, 2016, her mom, Christy King, of Bettendorf, was rushed to the University of Iowa Hospitals after suffering a subchorionic hemorrhage, which, according to webmd.com, is bleeding under one of the membranes that surrounds the embryo. After an emergency cesarean section, baby Lilly was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit where doctors began working on her small body. She quickly earned the nickname name Tiger Lilly from the nurses for her strength and will to live. She immediately had a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation to close the opening between two major blood vessels leading from the heart, which usually closes shortly after birth, according to the Mayo Clinic. If it fails to close, according to the Mayo Clinic, a large PDA can allow poorly oxygenated blood to flow in the wrong direction, weakening the heart muscle and causing heart failure and other complications. The condition is common among preemies. She was a strong baby, Ms. King said. Ms. King and her husband, Jason, were hopeful, but for four and half months, Lilly had more complications, including pulmonary hypertension (or high blood pressure in the heart-to-lung system that delivers fresh oxygenated blood to the heart while returning used, oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs, according to the American Heart Association), and pulmonary valve stenosis, which is a progressive condition where the heart is deprived of oxygen. Her lungs were weak, and one collapsed. She continued to fight in the NICU. It was hard to be in the NICU for so long, "and you dont realize it until it is all over," Ms. King said. You get through it and the nurses and doctors help you. You stay strong. On Oct. 14, Lilly needed a heart catheter procedure. Three stents were put in, and two of her tiny veins were ballooned. Her body could no longer withstand the ongoing procedures, and she passed away Oct. 16. Our experience did not end the way we planned, but we learned that preemies can be super strong, said Ms. King. We were given four months with our Lilly. The Kings, along with their 2-year-old daughter, Addy, will honor Lilly's memory as the 2017 Quad Cities March for Babies Ambassador Family at the March of Dimes Run/Walk on April 22. Check in begins at 8 a.m., and the walk/run at 9 a.m. at the Rock Island Arsenal Memorial Pavilion. The Kings hope to bring awareness to the importance of the March of Dimes with their story. They do a lot of research for birth defects and preemies, Ms. King said. Everyones story is different, she said. You go through a lot of the same things in different ways. You become a family once you meet all the moms that have gone through it. We want to get the word out with our experience so that people know what the March of Dimes does with their funding, research and saving babies. Speeding and improper mudflaps led to 100 pounds of cannabis, according to the Illinois State Police. Gregory D. Foote, 51, of Park City Utah, was stopped March 9 on Interstate 80 in Henry County. State police said Mr. Foote was driving a Nissan truck clocked at 73 miles per hour as he passed a semi. In a preliminary hearing Monday in Henry County Circuit Court, Trooper Matt McFall testified he was near milepost 17 or 18 on I-80 near Geneseo when he noticed the Nissan's mud flaps did not cover the width of the tires as required. The trooper said that, during a traffic stop, he thought he smelled a faint odor of alcohol from the driver's breath. He administered a horizontal gaze test, but there were no positive indicators so he didn't proceed with further tests. Trooper McFall said he was writing a warning ticket when Trooper Sean Veryzer arrived and led his K-9 on a free-air sniff of the truck. The dog alerted on the vehicle and troopers found 100 pounds of marijuana in a black duffel bag and eight black plastic garbage bags in the bed of the truck. Trooper McFall said Mr. Foote acknowledged the cannabis and said he was returning to the Boston, Mass., area from "out west." Mr. Foote is charged with Class X cannabis trafficking, Class X possession with intent to deliver and Class 1 possession. Judge Terry Patton found probable cause to believe a felony was committed and set a June 15 pre-trial hearing. Mr. Foote remains free on $1,000 bond posted March 13. Today is Tuesday, April 11, the 101st day of 2017. There are 264 days left in the year. 1867 150 years ago: Mitchell & Lynde have United States bonds for sale, known as six percent gold bearing bonds, at the bank. 1892 125 years ago: Mr. and Mrs. George Wagner left on a several months trip to Europe. 1917 100 years ago: The Rev. M.L. Neill, pastor of Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, was elected moderator of the Rock Island Presbytery. 1942 75 years ago: Harry Denecke, of Rock Island, was re-elected to the Rock Island Board of Education. 1967 50 years ago: Skeletal remains of what are believed to be Indians who lived in the Quad-Cities area 1,000 to 1,800 years ago were discovered yesterday near Lock and Dam No. 14 at Hampton. Three skeletons were found in a rectangular pattern in a single grave, two with heads facing west and one facing east. Five skeletons were found in all with the other two about 100 feet apart in separate graves. The area where the remains were found is normally covered by water. 1992 25 years ago: Police are asking residents to stay out of a ravine where a cougar reportedly was spotted nearly two weeks ago. Police Capt. Tom Marxen said authorities are trying to trap the cat, which may have been seen by a police officer. LUCCA, Italy (AP) The United States struggled Monday to explain a Syria strategy that has yet to clarify key questions: Whether President Bashar Assad must go, how displaced Syrians will be protected and when America will feel compelled to take action. Successive attempts by top Trump administration officials to articulate the plan have only furthered the appearance of a policy still evolving, even after the U.S. broke with precedent last week by attacking Assad's forces. In the absence of answers, other countries seem to be moving ahead on their own terms. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, after a meeting in Italy with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, floated the possibility of new sanctions on both the Syrian and Russian militaries a step the U.S. hadn't yet proposed publicly. In an unusual announcement for a foreign government to make, Johnson also said the U.S. could launch more cruise missiles into Syria like the ones President Donald Trump ordered to punish Assad for using chemical weapons. r Assad must go, how displaced Syrians will be protected and when America might feel compelled to take more action. The Trump administration is seeking support from abroad. But attempts by U.S. officials to articulate the plan have only furthered the appearance of a policy still evolving. That's even after the U.S. broke with precedent last week by attacking Assad's forces. In the absence of answers, other countries seem to be moving ahead on their own. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, after a meeting in Italy with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, floated the possibility of new sanctions on both the Syrian and Russian militaries. Go To The Polls And Pull The Lever We hope everyone turns out to pull the lever next Tuesday (Nov. 8). Actually, new voters wont know what we are talking about, as the... Letters To The Editor Street Closure Dangers Neighbors, Friends, Citizens of NYC/QUEENS: Many may not know that NYC has decided to close off miles of streets to cars in... 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! Alaska Air Group Inc. ALK reported its March traffic numbers on Apr 10. The carrier witnessed a 5.5% increase in consolidated traffic (measured in revenue passenger miles, RPMs). RPMs came in at 4.4 billion, up from 4.1 billion recorded in Mar 2016. On a year-over-year basis, consolidated capacity (or available seat miles/ASMs) rose 5.7% to 5.1 billion. Meanwhile, the load factor or percentage of seats filled by passengers decreased to 85.4% from 85.6% recorded in Mar 2016, as capacity expansion outpaced traffic growth. At the end of the first three months of 2017, Alaska Air Group generated RPMs of 11.7 billion (up 4.7% year over year) and ASMs of 14.4 billion (up 4.9% year over year). Load factor was 81.3% compared with 81.5% in the first three months of 2016. Alaska Air recently unveiled a bullish long-term view on its Investor Day presentation. The carrier, which acquired Virgin America late last year, said that the integration process is progressing well with major milestones expected to be attained in 2018. Price Performance Shares of Alaska Air gained 26.42% in the last six months, outperforming the Zacks categorized Transportation-Airline industrys gain of 23.6% over the same period. The impressive traffic report is a further positive for the stock. Zacks Rank & Key Picks Alaska Air currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the broader transportation sector are Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes GOL, Aegean Marine Petroleum Network ANW and Deutsche Lufthansa DLAKY. Gol Linhas and Aegean Marine Petroleum sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Deutsche Lufthansa carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Shares of Gol Linhas, Aegean Marine Petroleum and Deutsche Lufthansa gained over 125%, 27% and 25%, respectively, on a year-to-date basis. Looking for Ideas with Even Greater Upside? Today's investment ideas are short-term, directly based on our proven 1 to 3 month indicator. In addition, I invite you to consider our long-term opportunities. These rare trades look to start fast with strong Zacks Ranks, but carry through with double and triple-digit profit potential. Starting now, you can look inside our home run, value, and stocks under $10 portfolios, plus more. Click here for a peek at this private information >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (GOL): Free Stock Analysis Report Deutsche Lufthansa AG (DLAKY): Free Stock Analysis Report Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK): Free Stock Analysis Report Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. (ANW): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research VTM will provide consultation on technical operation and human resources. Tokyo Metro has also partnered with Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in the project to strengthen regulatory capacity in Hanoi City, and establish an agency to manage, operate and maintain metro lines in the city. Test running is underway on the 13.1km elevated Line 2 linking Cat Linh in the city centre with Ha Dong. The line is due to open in September. An Alstom-led consortium won the contract to supply electrical and mechanical systems to Hanoi Line 3 in January. The 12.5km line will run from Hanoi station in Cat Linh to Nhon and is due to open in 2021. For data on metro projects around the world, subscribe to IRJ Pro. As United Airlines is learning, the grabbing by the arms of a fare-paying, law-abiding 69-year-old passenger, and forcibly dragging him through the aisle for removal from an aircraft for no reason other than United having overbooked the Chicago-Louisville flight and wishing to put a more favored fanny in the seat, is a public relations nightmareand not to be treated as any less offensive than the preferred method of body-part grabbing by the current President of the United States. That Uniteds CEO, Oscar Munoz, who is defending his employees actions, previously was president and chief operating officer of railroad giant CSX, reminds us that such horrific treatment of passengers is not restricted to United, or even to airlines. Three railroad episodestwo involving U.S. congressmen, and two for no other reason than racial discriminationremain stains on the rail industry. In August 1969, shortly after receiving from the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) authority to discontinue a money-losing passenger train, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (now part of BNSF) halted that train in a Nebraska cornfield, ordered all passengers off the train, and escorted them through a corn field to waiting buses the railroad had procured. Among the rousted passengers was seven-term Nebraska Republican Congressman Glenn Cunningham, a member of the House Commerce Committee that then held regulatory oversight of the ICC. What otherwise would have been a rude inconvenience, owing then to the lack of instant-video via social media, turned into front page news because of Cunninghams involvement. An enraged Cunningham eventually gained access to a telephoneand the call wasnt to family members. Within hours of the railroads abrupt halting of the train and forced disgorgement of its fare-paying passengers, the ICC issued a press release: Yesterdays action was taken without the knowledge of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The ICC will not condone such treatment of the traveling public. Contemporaneously, Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black signed an order restoring the annulled train pending outcome of further litigation. The brutally man-handled and humiliated United Airlines passenger, whose crime was not wishing to relinquish a seat for which he reserved and paid, may not have such friends in high places as did Congressman Cunningham, but he does have something more powerful in his cornersocial media, as we are witnessing. Social media, however, wasnt yet available to halt, correct or assuage two instances of blatant discrimination on passenger trains. The same year the ICC was created in 1887, African-American clergyman William H. Councill, principal of the Alabama State Normal School in Huntsville, complained that after purchasing a first-class ticket in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Western & Atlantic Railroad (now owned by the State of Georgia and leased to CSX), for a trip to Atlanta, he was beaten on the head with a lantern and evicted from the first-class passenger car. Councills subsequent complaint to the ICC of forcible removal was rejected in a decision written by Commissioner William R. Morrison that held, in part, Colored people may be assigned separate cars on equal terms without disadvantage to either race and with increased comfort to both. Commissioner Morrison, who had fought for the Union Army in the Civil War, was a former Democratic speaker of the Illinois (Land of Lincoln) House of Representatives, an eight-term U.S. congressman and served on the ICC from 1887 to 1897. Then in 1937, Arthur W. Mitchell, a Tuskegee Institute and Ivy League (Columbia and Harvard) educated Chicago attorney and four-term Congressman from Illinois, suffered a similar ICC setback. He complained of being denied by Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway (subsequently liquidated) of first-class passenger accommodations between Memphis and Hot Springs, Ark., solely because of his skin color. The ICC dismissed the complaint, ruling it must recognize state law permitting segregation, and that there was not sufficient demand for first-class travel by people of color to warrant separate facilities. Commissioners Clyde B. Aitchison, William E. Lee and Claude R. Porter dissented, jointly writing: If the action complained of does not constitute undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage under the Interstate Commerce Act, as those terms are understood, then [we are] at a loss to understand their meaning. Congressman Mitchells appeal reached the Supreme Court, which reversed the ICC, holding that denial of equality of accommodations because of race is an invasion of a fundamental individual right guaranteed against state action by the Fourteenth Amendment. But the Court also upheld the separate but equal delusion not struck down until 1954 in the case of Brown vs. Board of Education. In 1937, however, the Court meekly surrendered to bigotry, saying only that colored persons who buy first-class tickets must be furnished with accommodations equal in comforts and conveniences to those afforded to first class white passengers. In 1955, a year following the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, the ICC held, in a case involving St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (now part of BNSF), that the very practice of segregation in interstate commerce subjects Negro passengers to undue and unreasonable prejudice and disadvantage in violation [of the Interstate Commerce Act]. Dissenting was Commissioner J. Monroe Johnson of South Carolina, who wrote, It is my opinion that the ICC should not become a pioneer in the sociological field. Johnson was hired by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (now part of CSX) following his ICC service. More bizarre with the United Airlines unpleasantness of April 10 is that the roughed-up passenger, appearing more than slightly disheveled and certainly muddled, is seen in a video returning to his seat following his reeducation by the United employees later praised by Munoz for enforcing airline policy. Following that curious praise of his foot soldiers, Munoz, in his best impression of Donald J. Trumps thumbs-before-brains use of Twitter, distributed an official statement allegedly apologizing for having to re-accommodate the passenger. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel likened the re-accommodation of the passenger by United to the re-accommodation of Mexico drug kingpin El Chapo to a U.S. prison. The assertion of re-accommodation is also remindful of the court-examination by attorney William Kunstler of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley following the 1968 Democratic National Convention, where Chicago police were accused of brutally attacking demonstrators. After Mayor Daley asserted his police had given every courtesy and hospitality to demonstrators, Kunstler asked, Did you consider that the use of nightsticks on the heads of demonstrators was hospitable? For transmission to the public of that apology from Mr. Munoz, we present to Charlie Hobart, the United Airlines public relations employee so humbled, the Sean Spicer Award for The Best Straight-Faced Delivery of a Bosss Inanity. Editors note: The man dragged off the United plane is a Chinese doctor. He was one of four passengers United claims it randomly selected for an involuntary de-boarding situation because four crew members needed to get to a flight departing from Louisville, otherwise it would be canceled. According to CNN, the man said he was a doctor and needed to see patients. The airline said it then followed U.S. Department of Transportation protocol in calling local law enforcement to forcibly remove the man from the plane after he refused to disembark. The Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement that the incident was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the department. Uniteds cruel treatment of the man went viral on social media and has sparked an international incident. It was the number one trending topic April 11 on Weibo (Chinas Twitter), attracting more than 100 million views. United denied accusations the man was chosen based on his ethnicity. Joe Wong, a Chinese-born comedian who has performed multiple times on the Late Show with David Letterman, said on Weibo, Many Chinese people feel theyve been subject to discrimination. They stay silent because they fear losing face. Thats why the Western mainstream media and public dont take discrimination against Asians seriously. China is the second-largest aviation market in the world and an important one for United, which advertises that it operates more nonstop U.S.-China flights, and to more cities in China, than any other airline. #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos was the number one trending topic on Twitter in the U.S., and the third trending topic worldwide, with commenters suggesting new United slogans such as Not enough seating, prepare for a beating. Ive been a United customer (and before the merger, a Continental customer) for 30 years. Id change airlines if I thought Id get better service elsewhere, but whats the point? With the exception of Porter Airlines (at least for now) and possibly a few other small, regional carriers, they all are pretty bad. William C. Vantuono IWPR, April 5, 2017 By Yaqub Azorda Shir Ahmad, 12, spends all day working in the pitch darkness of a coalmine in the Dara-e Suf district of northern Samangan province. His face black with dust, he said he spent his time loading a donkey with coal to then transport to the surface. The work was dangerous, Ahmad explained, continuing, "Once a big piece of coal fell on my head and I was in bed for ten days." But the money was good - 400 afghanis (six US dollars) a day, well above the average wage in Afghanistan. Leading three donkeys out of the mine, Najibullah, a 13-year-old from Tor village in Dara-e Suf, also said that he needed the wages to support his family. "I was in fifth grade at school when my father died. I had to drop out of school and work in the mine," he said, adding, I wake up at one o'clock in the morning and remain inside the mine until 2pm the next day so as to fill two lorries full of coal." Child labour is rife in the more than 500 coalmines spread across the Dara-e Suf district of Samangan province, one of Afghanistans largest seams. According to Khair Mohammad Akhtarzada, the deputy governor of Samangan, more than 1,000 of some 5,000 people working in these mines are underage. He said that the government only controlled four out of the hundreds of mines currently operational in the region. The others were unlicensed and did not maintain even minimal safety standards. This meant that accidents were common and often fatal. Akhtarzada said that his office had written hundreds of letters to the ministry of mines and industries on the subject, but no action had been taken. He said that he understood that the scale of the problem was beyond the governments capacity to deal with. "There are over 560 coal mines in Dara-e Suf district, he said. The government cannot place a guard in front of every mine to prevent employers recruiting children." Akhtarzada said that the ministry had promised to approve a 200-member security force to monitor the mines in Dara-e Suf, but had apparently not yet been able to reach an agreement over the issue with the ministry of interior. Ahmad Ali Hassani, the governor of Dara-e Suf Bala - the districts upper valley - called for the ministry of mines to dispatch mobile teams to halt work at pits deemed too dangerous to function as well as preventing child labour. But he agreed that government lacked the resources to monitor such a large number of collieries. "The mines are spread across an extensive area. There are limited numbers of employees from the ministry of mines to regulate them. So if workers are killed in the mines, the owner asks the family to stay silent and not inform anyone officially by paying them some money." Hassani said that the ministry had only two offices, in the coal-rich areas of Shab Bashak and Sheikha, but claimed that neither outpost was functioning. Hassan Kargar, the chairman of the labour union of the northern provinces, based in Mazar-e Sharif, said that Afghan law clearly precluded the use of children or even young teenagers for hard physical tasks. "According to article 13 of the labour law, those who perform heavy labour should be aged at least age 18, he said, adding that the mine owners were enacting a form of violence against children which the Afghan government must act to prevent". Kargar said that he had a letter from the ministry of labour, social affairs, martyrs and the disabled dating from 2014 that confirmed it was illegal to employ children in heavy labour and which had been sent to mine owners. However, there had been no further attempts to hold them to account. Human rights defenders say that allowing this situation to continue clearly violates international agreements signed by the Afghan government. Qazi Sayyid Mohammad Samay, head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights' Commission (AIHRC) in the northern province of Balkh, said, "The use of children in heavy or forced labour is against all accepted conventions on childrens rights and amount to a form of violence against children." He said that as a signatory to the international convention on childrens rights, Afghanistan should keep to its commitments. The convention states that members shall defend the rights of abused children and shall prevent any work that is heavy and/or prevents children from education or causes harm to their physical, mental, spiritual, moral, and social growth". Ministry of mining spokesman Zabihullah Sarwari agreed that child labour was against the law and acknowledged that a number of mines were operating illegally in Samangan province. However, he said that there was nothing his ministry could do. They were limited to making policy, he explained. Sarwari added that his department had written to the ministry of the interior a number of times asking them to act over illegal extraction, but no action had been taken. We are now working on a strategy to bring the mines out of control of abusive owners, he said. Najibullah Danish, the deputy spokesman of the ministry of interior, confirmed that the police were considering developing a plan to increase government scrutiny of the mines, but gave no details as to when this might be ready. ACCIDENTS ARE COMMON Mine workers young and old routinely endure hot, dusty and dangerous conditions. Faiz Mohammad, 50, works alongside his 15-year-old son in a Dara-e Suf coalmine. Child labourer in a coal mine in western Afghanistan. (Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images) Child labourer in a coal mine in western Afghanistan. (Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images) He said that each day they walked up to 300 metres inside the mine to dig, with no safety equipment beyond a small headlamp. "There are eight children working alongside my son, he told IWPR. Each of them uses two donkeys to take coal out of the mine." Under these circumstances, mishaps are common, and many locals say that they have lost family members to workplace accidents. Sayyid Ghulam Hussein, 25, who works at the Shab Bashak mine, said: "My 12-year-old brother was killed due to gas inside the tunnel a month ago." He continued, "I went to the Dara-e Suf market to buy groceries one day. When I returned, I noticed that people had gathered near our house and my brother was lying on the ground unconscious. The family tried desperately to find oxygen equipment to revive the boy, but in vain. Finally, we found a car and took my brother towards the hospital in Dara-e Suf. The hospital is one-and-a-half hours away from our village. My brother lost his life on the way." Ghafoor, 45, another worker at the Shab Bashak mine, also lost a younger sibling in a pit accident. "My brother was 13 years old. He would go to work on his donkey and return home [to their nearby village] every day. One day, it was around noon when someone called my name and asked me to go to the mine. I ran. I saw that they had taken my brother out of the mine, but he was no longer alive. He had already died inside the mine." Ghafoor said that his brother had been found 200 metres inside the mine and it was thought that gas had killed him. Sometimes, tunnels simply collapse on the workers inside. "There were two sons from a family from Qaram Qul village who worked in one mine a year-and-a-half ago, said Hajji Saifuddin, 75. The entrance to the mine collapsed. Both boys, 14 and 15 years of age, were buried under piles of coal and died." Saifuddin, a resident of Dara-e Sufs Sheikh village, said he had spent decades working in the coal mines. "Based on my experience, around 100 people are killed each year inside the tunnels when parts of the mine collapses, big chunks of coal are displaced, or when the tunnel ceiling caves in," he said, adding that injuries were also common. "There are many wounded people, he continued. One or two people are sent home with broken arms or legs each week." Saifuddin said that the local environment had also been badly contaminated, adding that countless numbers of people suffered from asthma or allergies in the area. Medical workers confirm his assessment. Eid Mohammad Ramazani runs a dispensary in the market of Dahana-e Tor in Dara-e Suf district and estimated that 70 per cent of residents of areas around the mine also suffered from asthma and respiratory diseases. More than 10 people, including children, came to him for treatment each day, he said, adding that he also saw four of five children each month with fractures he believed were sustained in the mines. Gul Ahmad Quraishi, the director of a 30-bed hospital in the centre of Dara-e Suf district, also said that he believed that the mines had had a devastating impact on the health of local people. "Over 200 patients visit the centre each day for treatment, most of them from areas near the mines. The majority suffer from respiratory diseases and asthma," Quraishi said, adding that even the water in the canals near the mines was contaminated with coal dust. Quraishi said that he also regularly treated children with limbs broken from injuries he believed they had sustained in the mines. IWPR managed to contact one private mine-owner, Amanullah, who runs a pit in Dahan-e Tor. "Nobody has been killed in my mine, but one or two people get killed or wounded in other mines every two or three months," he said. The Killid Group, April 11, 2017 By Azizullah Popal Security officials in Kunduz reported that 11 children were killed or injured in a mortar explosion yesterday evening. Mahfozullah Akbari, spokesman for Spenghar 808 Zone, said that the incident happened in Chardara district in which four children were killed and seven others were injured. He added that the explosion happened when the children were playing in Qasab area of the district. Yesterday the State Minister for Natural Disaster Management Wais Barmak said that nearly 140 individuals suffered casualties on a monthly basis due to landmine explosions across the country. He said about 3,600 kms square land had been planted with landmines in the past and current conflicts. Over the past 27 years, about 2,500 kms square of land had been cleared of landmines, but in recent years landmines were again planted on more than 400 kms square of land. Deputy Foreign Minister Naseer Ahmad Andisha also called upon the international community to increase their aid to Afghanistan for demining operations. During last years presidential campaign, Donald Trump advocated for a more disengaged U.S. foreign policy in which involvement in the world would be limited to actions in the interest of the United States. On the surface, this was not an irrational argument. American involvement particularly militarily has not yielded the outcomes the U.S. had hoped for in recent years. Nevertheless, there is a difference between advocating for a new course and executing one. The U.S. president must balance the reality of the world, the complexity of U.S. interests and political forces in all countries. In other words, what a president wants and what he must do are two different things. It was a fascinating week for Trump. On Thursday, he had dinner with Chinas president. Given Trumps campaign statements, this dinner was meant to be a showdown. Instead, by all indications, it was a calm even routine conversation between two leaders of major powers. During the dinner, the United States struck a Syrian air base in response to a Syrian chemical attack on a village. On Saturday, Trump ordered a carrier battle group toward North Korea, in response to evidence that the North Koreans were nearing completion of a deliverable nuclear weapon. So much for disengagement. However much a president intends to transform Americas foreign policy, the reality is that he inherits both a reality and an existing foreign policy. The reality doesnt change for his convenience, nor is foreign policy rapidly transformed. U.S.-Chinese trade relations developed over decades and have intricately woven the two countries together. Redefining that relationship is, of course, possible, but the consequences of doing so are complex and often painful. There are American interests in that relationship as well as very real costs. Both sides hold cards, and both sides can play them. There is no option for unilateral action that does not impose costs on significant sectors of the American economy. There are constraints on what can be done over a certain period of time. The United States is currently involved in Syria as part of a 15-year war in the Middle East. The U.S. opposes Syrian President Bashar al-Assads Alawite-led regime and Sunni radicals like the Islamic State. The U.S. also opposes Russias intervention in Syria. Politically, Trump was critical of his predecessors consideration in 2013 of attacks on Assad regime targets, and of President Barack Obamas general indecisiveness on foreign policy. Last Thursdays U.S. airstrikes against Syria contradict Trumps first position. But choosing not to act would have meant emulating Obamas decision, and Trump would lose credibility as a result. In addition, he would be signaling that he is indifferent to the actions of Assad, who is now a Russian client. Add to this the ongoing issue of Russian influence on Trumps administration, and powerful constraints dictated a response. North Koreas potential acquisition of nuclear weapons opens the possibility however small of nuclear strikes on its neighboring countries and the United States. If Trump does nothing and the unlikely becomes real, Trump would face political disaster, in addition to obvious catastrophe. Therefore, he has taken the conventional and prudent step of deploying a carrier battle group. Aside from putting force in place that might be able to deal with a sudden need to strike North Korea, Trump signals to the North Koreans that he is no less hostile to a North Korean weapons program than any of his predecessors. Trump may wish the United States to be less involved in the world, but the reality is that the U.S. is deeply involved. He may wish to be involved only to the extent that it is in the interest of the United States, but the interests of the United States are vast and frequently evident only on examination. A president may wish to follow a different path, and sometimes as reality shifts, he may be able to. But the president enters the Oval Office with a hand thats already been dealt and must be played. The difference between what a president wishes, what he said to get elected, and the reality at hand is far from unique to Trump. Obama came to office seemingly believing that the wars against the jihadists were the result of hostility the U.S. projected toward the Muslim world. That hostility, he thought, could be reversed by demonstrating American goodwill. Obamas famous speech to the Muslim world from Cairo was intended as a major step in changing Muslims perception of the United States. It didnt work. Not only did Obama fail to fully disengage from Iraq, but he also initiated new involvement in Libya. He genuinely wanted a new relationship with the Muslim world. However, what Obama wanted and the objective reality of the interests of the United States and the groups it was battling were very different things. Obamas intent to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp was limited by the constraints imposed by American politics. All political leaders operate in a morass of constraints that, to a great extent, render their desires meaningless and compel the direction in which they go. Indeed, the American president is among the institutionally weakest national leaders in the world, and among the most deeply entangled. He also is among the least likely to decide on his foreign policy, and the most likely to be compelled by political and geopolitical reality. All of our lives are caught in a web of reality not easy to escape or change. The reality of a nation-state is far more difficult to elude. Reality evolves in its own time and in its own way. Leaders preside over the shifts far more than they create them. They are constrained by the reality they find themselves in and craft solutions that in retrospect change far less than they might have wished. A presidential term is four years, and American history is far longer. Presidencies are a moment in that torrent of history, and for the most part, presidents are caught up in the deluge as soon as they take the oath of office. Great changes in American history are real, and presidents take credit for them. But it is more a matter of reality shifting under its own massive weight than a presidential decision. President Franklin D. Roosevelt confronted the Great Depression, and his task was to appear in control of an event that was far beyond him. Trump, like any president, is the creation of history far more than its author. The presidency is, as Theodore Roosevelt said, a bully pulpit. The president can set a cultural tone and decide on lesser things. But changing U.S.-Chinese relations, transforming the U.S. Middle East policy, or dealing with North Korea in a radically new way are not things that are easily done. All presidents discover the limits of their office. Many are surprised and embittered, and many are crushed. Some flourish. Those who flourish understand that history makes the president, not the other way around. When the first images of a sarin gas attack streamed into the White House Situation Room, President Donald Trump ordered his National Security Council to come back to him the next day with some concrete options. Defense Secretary James Mattis, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford did just that; after rounds of meetings with national-security principles, President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to launch fifty-nine cruise missiles on an Assad regime airbase where the gas attack originated. At the same time, the NSC was putting the final touches on a North Korea policy review that has been an ongoing project for months. Unlike the administrations deliberations on the Syrian chemical weapons attack, President Trump is giving his national security advisers far more time and a wider degree of flexibility. Before the policy review began, the Wall Street Journal reported in March that Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland directed aides to include ideas that one official described as well outside the mainstream. We now know just how unconventional some of these options are: they apparently include everything from reintroducing nuclear weapons to South Korea as a show of force and deterrence to assassinating Kim Jong-un and his top commanders. We have 20 years of diplomacy and sanctions under our belt that has failed to stop the North Korean program, a senior intelligence official involved with the review told NBC News. Read between the lines and its obvious what the overall message from the Trump administration is: North Korea is a problem that has been on Washingtons hot-plate for way too long, so its time to shake up the establishment and look for new alternatives. There was a time when assassinating a foreign leader was an integral component of Americas national-security toolkit. During the Cold War, leaders who were either insufficiently supportive of U.S. policy goals or in bed with the Soviets were targets for removal. Cubas Fidel Castro, Congos Patrice Lumumba the Dominican Republic's Rafael Trujillo and Guatemala's Jacobo Arbenz were all on the CIAs hit-list at one point in time, and Libyas Muammar el-Qaddafi was a frequent target due to his sponsorship of international terrorism. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan authorized an air strike on Qaddafis compound in the hope that he would be in the building. After three months of interviews across the national-security bureaucracy, the New York Times Magazine concluded that the assassination of Qaddafi was the primary goal of the Libyan bombing in 1986. The Cold War, however, has been over for twenty-five years. Killing foreign political officials, an option that was once always on the table, is now generally discouraged and frowned upon. In fact, Its been U.S. policy since the Gerald Ford presidency to stay far away from anything that would suggest that the United States is a participant, involved in some way or complicit in an assassination attempt. President Fords executive order on this is quite clear: No employee of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, political assassination. President Reagan restatedand some would say expandedthat restriction in executive order 12333, which says that [n]o person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination. Pursuing a policy that would lead to the assassination of Kim Jong-un and the decapitating of the North Korean leadership would therefore be a big reversal from a U.S. policy that has persisted for forty-one years. Policies, of course, can change and presidential directives and executive orders can be modified or rewritten. And there is no statutory prohibition that would prohibit the president of the United States to order a hit on a foreign leader. Although 18 U.S. Code, Section 1116 could be used to prosecute a U.S. person who attempts to kill a foreign leader, this statute only applies if the crime is committed in the United States or the leader is targeted in a country other than his own. If President Trump were willing to amend current executive orders on the books, his administration would presumably target Kim Jong-un and not be penalized under the criminal code. A question that is just as important is whether assassinating Kim or the generals in charge of North Koreas nuclear program, ballistic missile program, military or intelligence services would be a good policy. We tend to believe that if we just took out the top, bad guy in the regime, all of the other bad guys in that regime will be scared straight, change their behavior and suddenly turn their governments into bastions of human rights and democracy. Weve had experience with his belief before: several days prior to major military operations in Iraq, Washington lobbed cruise missiles at Saddam and the Iraqi political leadership in the belief that perhaps further war could be avoided. Whether that hypothesis would have played out is unknown because Saddam survived those attacksits comfortable to assume that the Baathist leadership would surrender to coalition forces the next day, but its just as likely that the war would go on. North Korea is an entirely different situation than Iraq was in 2003. Kim Jong-un is solidly in power, having killed or marginalized anyone (including his uncle and half-brother) perceived to be even a minimal threat to his control. Unlike Iraq, whose military was demoralized and degraded by the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and by a sanctions regime over the next decade, North Korea is a nuclear-weapons state with ballistic missiles that have the capability to level Seoul quickly and target U.S. bases in the region. Killing Kim and banking on the idea that the regime would change how it does business after seven decades would be a high price to pay if that untested theory proved to be wrong. Because North Korea is such a black-hole in terms of human intelligence, the U.S. intelligence community wouldnt be able to confidently assess that the man or woman (Kims sister, for instance) who replaces Kim wouldnt be just as vicious or unpredictable. Assassinating a head-of-state is the definition of an act of war, and nobody can accurately guess whether cooler heads in Pyongyang would prevail over those who would be itching to demonstrate strength through retaliation. Putting Kim six feet underground is only one choice in a set of options that the National Security Council will present to President Trump for his consideration. It may even be a policy option that is so far outside the mainstream that Trumps national-security aides would disabuse him of studying it further. Reaction from Beijing would be swift and unyielding, and as much as the South Korean and Japanese governments would like North Korea to behave more predictably, its not at all certain that Seoul and Tokyo would believe that assassinating the men at the top would achieve that objective. One hopes that all of this talk is more of political gamesmanship to goad the Chinese into cooperating with the United States, and nothing more. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Property details: Here is your chance to buy a 6,000 annual credit Worldmark/Trendwest membership! 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ZAGREB (Reuters) - Indebted Croatian food group Agrokor [AGROK.UL] said a 150 million euro (128.72 million pounds) liquidity boost expected within days will help it operate normally for up to 45 days. Most of it will be used to partially repay local suppliers, Agrokor's crisis manager Ante Ramljak, appointed by the government, told reporters on Tuesday. Agrokor, Croatia's largest private company and the biggest employer in the Balkan region, handed control to the state under an emergency law last week after almost collapsing under debt. "I expect we will complete documentation for the loan by Wednesday," Ramljak said. "Thus we will secure liquidity for the next 30 to 45 days as our companies, which have continued to operate, also produce liquid funds." At the same time, the company will negotiate another 300 million euro liquidity boost, he said. "Thus we would secure funds for the next nine months and it would give us time to focus on restructuring efforts," Ramljak said. Six banks, including Agrokor's biggest creditors Russianlenders Sberbank and VTB , said on Mondaythey would provide a quick initial cash injection of 150 million euros. Agrokor, which employs around 60,000 people in the Balkan region, piled up debts during a rapid expansion, notablyin Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Serbia. It owns several retail chains and a number of food producing firms. Its debts totalled around 45 billion kuna ($6.43 billion), or six times its equity, according to data from last September, although sources familiar with the situation believe debt has risen further in the last six months. Ramljak said he would invite three or four international consultancies for talks on a restructuring plan in the next few days before deciding on one to take on the task. (Reporting by Igor Ilic; editing by Susan Thomas) Smokey, a Labrador/pit bull terrier mix, smiles for a picture at the Oconee County Animal Shelter in Bishop, Ga., on Monday, March 31, 2014. The foster care program seeks to put pets in good homes for a short duration of time until they are ready to be adopted. Photo 2014/Diondra Powers, diondrap@uga.edu Most Indian start-ups and e-commerce are largely funded by foreign investors Carpet bombers, aggressors, barbarians at the gate - these are among the names by which global e-commerce majors Amazon, Uber and Alibaba were referred to on India Internet Day, hosting domestic new-economy companies. The event, organised by TiE Delhi NCR, witnessed a high-pitched demand for a level-playing field as well. Prominent speakers included Ola co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal, MakeMyTrips Deep Kalra and Flipkart Chief Executive Officer Kalyan Krishnamurthy. While most Indian start-ups and e-commerce companies are funded largely by foreign investors, international firms in the space were missing at the event. US-based Amazon and Uber were part of the previous editions. Organisers, however, said that invites were sent to Uber and Amazon as well. Pointing at his companys ongoing battle with Uber, Olas Aggarwal said while Americans were carpet bombing India with capital, he and his company were fighting a guerrilla war with them. Reiterating his earlier analogy with the Vietnam War, he said, We are the local guerrillas. We have the Americans carpet bombing us but we will go into every nook and corner of the country and find those opportunities in the niche areas and in the large area. Ola has in the past raised funds from Japanese telecom giant SoftBank and Tiger Global Management based out of the Silicon Valley. Introducing Krishnamurthy to the crowd, Rajat Garg, founder of myUpchar.com, said he was fighting in an environment where barbarians are at the gate, in a veiled reference to Amazon and Alibaba. To that, Krishnamurthy said, Before I begin, I just want to first thank the person who did the intros because he started by saying barbarians at the gates. I want to appreciate that somebody is recognising people very well. I think heavy capital is being brought in by foreign companies. I think a lot of our GDP in time would go overseas. It is about digital independence. Companies like Flipkart have to be very careful, Garg, a TiE member, said. Kalra said, I want my level-playing field. I do not believe in protectionism, but I want a level-playing field for everyone. A senior investor, who has successfully managed to run several Internet companies without much help from foreign investors, said Indian companies should either bootstrap and slog it out or not complain about foreign funding. Agreed there is a need for a level-playing field, but these players who have taken billions of dollars in foreign investments have no right to complain about foreign players, he said. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters 'The Modi government will be wasting its time talking to Nawaz Sharif.' 'It would be better if it were to open a direct channel with the Pakistan army,' says Rajeev Sharma. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com The death sentence for former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav in an alleged espionage case by a Pakistan military kangaroo court is a signature case of the modus operandi of the powerful Pakistan army which traditionally keeps the civilian government out of the loop. It shows that the Pakistani military establishment cares two hoots for the elected government in office. It proves yet again what the world knows: That in other countries the State has an army but in Pakistan the army has got a State. It's also a signal of things to come in the India-Pakistan bilateral context as the timing of Jadhav's death sentence is hugely important. The development comes close on the heels of the two sides holding talks under the rubric of the Indus River Waters Commission and an Indian parliamentary delegation just concluding a visit to Pakistan -- both events decidedly a forward-looking step. More importantly, the development comes just about ten days before the two countries' Coast Guard were to hold talks in New Delhi. Now this event is as good as cancelled because it is highly unlikely that the Modi government will go ahead with these talks after this extreme provocation. The latest turn in the Jadhav saga points to many more important things in diverse areas: The Nawaz Sharif government as well as Pakistan's national assembly have been systematically shut out of the Jadhav case. Pakistani parliamentary committees on defence and foreign affairs have zilch information on the alleged espionage episode. Sartaj Aziz, the Pakistan prime minister's foreign affairs advisor, told the Pakistan senate in December that the civilian government had no evidence of Jadhav being an Indian spy. Thus, the Pakistani military's kangaroo court has wilfully and blatantly gone contrary to what a top official like Sartaj Aziz told the Pakistan parliament on record. It reconfirms the Pakistan army's 'My way or highway' approach. It also confirms that when it comes to Pakistan's civilian government trying to smoke the peace pipe it is the Pakistan army which is actually the super government. Pakistan's government proposes; Pakistan's army disposes! in December that the civilian government had no evidence of Jadhav being an Indian spy. Thus, the Pakistani military's kangaroo court has wilfully and blatantly gone contrary to what a top official like Sartaj Aziz told the Pakistan parliament on record. It reconfirms the Pakistan army's 'My way or highway' approach. It also confirms that when it comes to Pakistan's civilian government trying to smoke the peace pipe it is the Pakistan army which is actually the super government. Pakistan's government proposes; Pakistan's army disposes! While Jadhav was ensnared from Iran last year -- though the Pakistan army wants the world to believe he was arrested in its Balochistan province -- during the then army chief General Raheel Sharif's tenure, his death sentence has been confirmed by current army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. It shows that the Jadhav case is being choreographed solely by the Pakistan army. All this indicates that the Modi government will be wasting its time and effort negotiating peace with the Nawaz Sharif government. It would be better off if it were to open a direct channel with the Pakistan army. India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval clearly has his task cut out in this regard. Perhaps most importantly, the Jadhav case may well be linked to a retired Pakistani army officer's disappearance. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Habib went missing from Lumbini in Nepal close to the Indian border a few days ago. The Pakistani media is awash with inspired stories that Habib has been 'kidnapped' by the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency. There is a possibility that the haste shown by the Pakistani military court in sentencing Jadhav to death may be a pre-emptive move to tell its domestic constituency that the military establishment made the first move and the Indian action (of 'kidnapping' Habib) is a retaliatory action. Pakistan is back on the front burner of the Indian strategic establishment. The Jadhav case will have a loud echo in India-Pakistan bilateral diplomacy. Rajeev Sharma, an independent journalist and strategic analyst, tweets @Kishkindha MUST READ features on the KULBHUSHAN JADHAV case in the RELATED LINKS below... 'The BJP has failed to protect cows.' Why doesn't the government say it is a government for cows, mandir and the Ganga?' 'Why don't they declare the cow as a national animal? On March 31, Pehlu Khan, 55, and four others, ferrying cows and calves in two vehicles, were on their way to Haryana from Jaipur when they were stopped by gau rakshaks or cow vigilantes near Alwar. The men were beaten up, their vehicles trashed. Khan succumbed to his injuries two days later. According to reports, Khan and the other four men were dairy farmers, and not cattle smugglers, and had the requisite permits to transport cattle. However, on April 8, Alwar Superintendent of Police Rahul Prakash told Rediff.com that "Pehlu Khan and the others were 100% cow smugglers." Following the national outrage over the Alwar incident, Congress politician Tehseen Poonawala moved the Supreme Court to ban gau rakshak groups across the country. On April 7, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Rajasthan government and five other Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states on the ban plea. Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf spoke to Pawan Pandit, chairman, Bharatiya Gau Raksha Dal, about the Alwar incident, gau rakshaks and the BJP's failure to protect cows. The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre and five state governments on gau rakshaks. How would you react? First, we will have to see the grounds on which the Supreme Court has sent this notice. Second, is to see how the Congress party will gain political mileage from this. The gau rakshak movement is not new -- it is a 400-year-old movement. We raised the issue of cow slaughter in India, but today the goal post has moved. Today, questions are being raised on gau rakshaks. The Una incident was made out to be an anti-Dalit issue by them (the Congress party), while the Dadri issue was made out to be an anti-Muslim issue. People have died and gau rakshaks are responsible. I will give you 50 examples in the last five years where gau rakshaks have died because of cow smugglers. They shot gau rakshaks and killed them, but there are no debates in India when that happens. The gau rakshak movement is not related to Hindus. The Arya Samaj initiated gau raksha. Namdhari Sikhs do it to simply protect cows. Even the Mughal emperor Babur spoke about cow protection though he was anti-Hindu. There is a history of cow protection in India and therefore cow smuggling and cow slaughter have to be stopped. In Alwar, the man who was killed, Pehlu Khan, was transporting cows, but he was killed. Do you have the inquiry report? The home minister of Rajasthan (Gulab Chand Kataria) said these people were cattle smugglers. More importantly, transporting cows in Rajasthan is not allowed without a permit from the district magistrate. I am not defending the killing of Pehlu Khan. Such incidents must not take place, but you cannot blame gau rakshaks. The issue here is about gau hatya (cow slaughter), not gau rakshaks. The police can stop cow smuggling. Why do you take the law in your hands? Take the example of Una. It was showcased as gau rakshaks versus Dalits. Till this day, no one has proved that the accused belonged to a gau rakshak organisation. So how does one know who is a gau rakshak and who is not? Our organisation is registered like any non-governmental organisation. It is a national body. We make members sign a declaration on an affidavit that they will not commit any illegal activities. We also tell them that wherever cow smuggling is taking place they should take the help of the police. For instance, a woman's purse is stolen in a market. The mob runs after the thief and beats him. The mob beats the thief without any weapons. Sometimes the thief dies because of the beating. So let me clarify, gau rakshaks do not carry weapons with them, but cow smugglers do. But intellectuals do not want to get into these details. In Alwar, a man called Arjun, the driver of the vehicle with Pehlu Khan's cattle, was told to leave, but Khan and the others were beaten up because they were Muslim. Is this not communal? That's what the news is made out to be because politics is involved. If that's the angle of a news report, the gau hatya issue will die and gau taskar (cow smugglers) will become heroes. Except for West Bengal, Kerala, Goa and the north-east, cow slaughter is not allowed in most states. There is a law in most states that bans cow slaughter, yet it happens. How? Pehlu Khan was transporting cows for milk. There were more than 20 cows in the Alwar case. There were three vehicles. If you are transporting these many cows, then you must know the law that is applicable in Rajasthan. You have to take a permit from the district magistrate. Pehlu Khan did not have the permit. But you can call the police. Why assault and kill? Today, there is a unified voice from every corner of India that wants cow slaughter banned. Why are some people not listening to this voice? Why is the media not representing the voice of the people? The media portrays these gau rakshaks as terrorists. Why is a doctor becoming a gau rakshak? Why is a software engineer becoming a gau rakshak? They are risking their lives for this cause. They inform the police regularly and we have documented evidence to show that we follow rules and regulations. Isn't human life more important than a cow's life? The life of a cow is more precious than the life of a human being. This is according to Indian culture. Cows help reduce global warming -- it's the only animal which delivers (exhales) oxygen. Is there any scientific proof for what you are saying? You prove it. This has been proved. Why has the USA patented cow urine? Name any animal in world whose poop is useful. Only cow dung can be used. You can use it to make gas, generate electricity, even build homes. Our saints have said all this centuries ago. They have said cow slaughter is the biggest sin on Earth. I also challenge you (to disprove) that you can make mosquito repellent with cow urine. But your organisation is feeding on fear and rumours. Like in Jaipur, a restaurant was shut down on misinformation that it was serving beef. How long can this go on? First, there has to be a centralised law against cow slaughter. Second, why doesn't the government which is in power, say that it is a government for cows, mandir and the Ganga? Why don't they declare the cow as a national animal? Once you do that, cow smuggling will stop automatically. But gau rakshaks are creating law and order problems. The government has to speak in favour of the cow protection movement, which will not work if you represent cow smugglers. So why is the controversy happening? It is because cow smuggling is still going on. The failure of law and order is the responsibility of the government, not ours. There is a BJP government in Rajasthan and yet cow smuggling is happening in the state. So are you saying the BJP has failed to protect cows? Yes, the BJP has failed to protect cows. I am not defending the BJP. The BJP has never been as powerful as it is now. They have a majority in the Lok Sabha and (very soon) in the Rajya Sabha too. The country's sentiment too is with them. They are winning election after election, be it state or municipal. Now they must enact a centralised law to protect cows. Cows are eating plastic and need to be protected. The government must help people who run cow shelters. They must give subsidies to set up business units using cow dung, cow urine and milk. The BJP has always claimed that they are for the cow, the mandir and the Ganga. Let them complete their first task -- the cow. Why do you feel that the BJP has done nothing for cows? They have done nothing for the cow. They are changing names of every city and town. They have changed the name of Gurgaon to Gurugram. I have to change my stationery and it adds to my cost. So there is no economic benefit for me from the name change, in fact it is a loss. They must declare the cow as a national animal. Cow smuggling is happening because in many states cow slaughter is still not banned. 'This generation has seen no communication.' 'You have not given them any stake.' 'They don't have a feeling of belonging.' 'They have only seen a man in uniform with a gun.' 'That is why it is taking a more vicious form today -- the attacks on the security forces and the retaliation is causing heavy loss of lives.' IMAGE: A youth injured in the April 9 violence shouts slogans as he is taken to hospital in Srinagar. Photographs: Umar Ganie Even though the situation in the Kashmir valley has deteriorated after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani died in a shootout with the security forces last July, the anarchy that prevailed in Srinagar on Sunday, April 9, during polling in a Lok Sabha by-election rattled even the most optimistic of Kashmir-watchers. The Election Commission recorded polling between 6.14% and 7% -- the lowest in the valley in almost 30 years. Several young people were killed when the security forces opened fire at mobs hurling stones at them. On Monday, April 10, the Election Commission decided it was inadvisable to conduct the Lok Sabha by-election in Anantnag, south Kashmir, on April 12 and postponed polling to May 25. Rediff.com's Archana Masih spoke to Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir for more than half a century, to find out what the central and state governments can do to end unrest in the valley. Kashmir has never seen such a dismal and tumultuous election, even during the height of militancy. Is this the point of no return in Kashmir? I won't use the term 'no return.' This is nothing new. This situation has been developing from 1953 (when Jawaharlal Nehru's government dismissed Sheikh Abdullah's government in Jammu and Kashmir) onwards. If it was a point of no return, it would have been right from 1953 when Sheikh Abdullah was dismissed from power undemocratically. He was the elected, most popular, leader of Kashmir, acknowledged nationally and internationally. It didn't happen then, it won't happen now. There has been an estrangement and alienation at the people's level. The integration (of Kashmir with the Indian Union) is technically and legally complete, but it is not so emotionally. The closer the technical integration, the farther it has been on the emotional front. The impression here -- which is substantially correct -- is that we are being disempowered, but the State is empowering itself for the sake of integration. Integration is seen in a different shade here than there (in New Delhi). How is it seen differently? One, the state's powers that were given were an act of faith. That's why Kashmir has a special constitution, a different flag. This was so because there was something different to it. That difference that was mutually agreed upon and respected now appears to be an eye-sore when looked at by Delhi. The root cause is that -- and everything stems from that. It also gives space and leeway to Pakistan to step in. Otherwise if Pakistan had any hold in the minds of the Kashmiris, they (Pakistan) were here in 1947, they (the Kashmiris) only had to embrace them. They (the Kashmiris) resisted and delayed their response till the Indian troops responded. That sentiment was not responded to properly (by Delhi). Today also, the same thing is happening. The PDP-BJP government in the state has not been able to give the sense that it is in control. The PDP-BJP government has been in power for three years. It has a very 'ugly' image in Kashmir. Its elected representative (the late chief minister) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that if they ( the PDP) don't take the BJP along, they would be alienating the other two regions of Jammu and Ladakh, where the BJP had won the popular vote (in the assembly election). In the interest of regional integration, they ( the PDP) joined in and it wasn't a very happy bargain when seen from Kashmir. The basis of the alliance was the agenda of the PDP-BJP which accommodates to a large extent the aspirations of the Kashmiris. It accommodates demands, old grievances were addressed -- it would not take Kashmir away from India, it would not breed secessionism -- all this was agreed upon by both sides, but not an inch of progress has been made on the 'agenda of the alliance'. Why is there such resentment among Kashmiris? There is a limit to testing the people's patience. They thought Delhi does not mean to honour it (the agenda of alliance), they just have put it on paper, so it is beginning to tell upon in different ways. This alienation is costing both the nation and the state, particularly Kashmiris. Everything has become a big liability today. It will increase liability, alienation, estrangement and that naturally leaves place for Pakistan to exploit the situation clandestinely, or through infiltration or subversion. There is a misconception in Delhi that Kashmir is a security and military problem. It certainly is not. If it was so, it would have been settled long back. If it was an economic problem, it would have been settled with packages of thousands of crores which doesn't mean much here. IMAGE: Kashmiri youth pelt stones at the security forces in Srinagar in September 2016. Why did this by-election have the lowest voter turnout and this level of violence? There has been violence, but not intense. But you should not be surprised. After Burhan Wani's killing a new facet of Kashmir anger has come to the fore. This violence is part of that. Now the face of the violence is the youth of Kashmir. They are teenagers -- not more than 15 or 16 years old. Earlier generations -- in their 30s, 40s, 50s -- would travel to India, had seen the dialogue process take place. This generation has seen no communication. You have not given them any stake. They don't have a feeling of belonging. They have only seen a man in uniform with a gun. That is why it is taking a more vicious form today -- the attacks on the security forces and the retaliation is causing heavy loss of lives. Who is behind these stone pelters? There is no 'behind'. When you let a fire burn, anyone can put in pieces of wood. But you have allowed the fire to grow. You don't address the accumulated grievances, fulfill promises that were the agenda of the government. Then you alienate people who had hoped for some give and take. How can they be brought back into the mainstream? The 'agenda of alliance', which is a commitment, a common minimum programme, you should implement that. But not an inch has been proceeded upon. Political or military measures are not going to sort out this problem. Pakistan has always been there creating mischief and this provides leeway to Pakistan to send terrorists, incite violence. It could be sending money for the stone pelters -- I am not sure -- but I don't think such a huge movement can be paid for by Pakistan. Is there a possibility of groups owing allegiance to ISIS emerging in Kashmir? The problem has become malignant because of inattention. Anything can grow on it now. Temperamentally and culturally, Kashmir is totally unsuited for movements like ISIS. Otherwise, the Jamaat-e-Islami should have been the most powerful political party in Kashmir. But in any election it does not get more than 4,5 seats. Kashmir temperamentally has the Rishi, Sufi culture. Kashmiris go to Sufi shrines which clashes with the ideology of ISIS. Anybody speaking negatively about Sufi shrines is inimical to Kashmiris. Is the democratic space shrinking in Kashmir? It is. When the PDP contested a parliamentary poll, the turnout was good. In the assembly and panchayat election it (the turnout) was good. The participation of the people in elections has gone down steadily in the last 2, 3 years. It is as if Kashmiris are saying thus far and no more. The voter turnout was held by the Government of India as a badge of pride that the people of Kashmir believe in Indias democratic process. Has that been dashed this time? Sheikh Abdullah was in power till 1953. Then he was removed from power. 1953 onwards, all the elections in Kashmir were rigged, it has been acknowledged universally. People were alienated then like they are alienated today. Arms were not available so freely then as they are today. After 22 years the Centre brought Sheikh Abdullah back in 1975. Immediately, the whole scenario changed. It gave legitimacy to local aspiration. The 1977 election was massive -- the first-ever legitimate, clean election (in Jammu and Kashmir). After he (Sheikh Abdullah, Dr Farooq Abdullah's father and Omar Abdullah's grandfather) died in 1982, slowly his successors started facing the consequences of illegitimacy. They lost the people's confidence because the Government of India didn't oblige them about the state's autonomy within the Indian Constitution. They (the Centre) will talk of devolution of power to other states, but they are not ready to give it to Kashmir which is already entitled to it. People are suspicious here because Afzal Guru who was 28th in the list to be hanged was hanged because elections were coming. They (the Manmohan Singh government) thought they would get votes. You need a Kashmiri dead body hanging from the post to get votes -- then what message do you send the Kashmiris? After 1977 there were legitimate elections. Even during militancy people came out in large numbers to vote. When you don't fulfil any promises, elections were also robbed of legitimacy. You said the young are alienated. How many young people know Gandhi, Nehru? What do they know what their forefathers committed? They (young Kashmiris) say they have only seen the ugly face of India. They oppress us. Anything we say they kill us. They (young Kashmiris) have an ugly image of the central government, mostly the central government, not the people of India. You said Kashmiri alienation can be addressed by working on the PDP-BJP state government's 'agenda of alliance'. Give some autonomy which is not dangerous. India is not so weak that by giving autonomy as defined in the Constitution, Kashmiris will lift Kashmir on their shoulders and go away to Pakistan. DON'T MISS the features in the RELATED LINKS below... Cutting across party lines, all members slammed Pakistan for awarding death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Amid an outrage in Parliament, India on Tuesday said it will go "out of way" to ensure justice to Kulbhushan Jadhav and warned Pakistan that his execution will have consequences on bilateral ties. The death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court after declaring him a "spy" resonated in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, where all parties came together to condemn the development and pressed the government to take every step to help him. The government as well as the opposition saw the sentence as an attempt to defame India and to deflect the attention of the international community from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in both the Houses, asserting that India will go "out of way" to ensure justice to Jadhav who is an "innocent kidnapped Indian". Jadhav's execution will be taken by India as a "pre-meditated murder" and Pakistan should consider its consequences on bilateral relations, if it proceeds on this matter, Swaraj warned. She said the charges against Jadhav, who was doing business in Iran and was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan, are "concocted" and the trial against him was "farcical", leading to an "indefensible verdict". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," she said. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Questioning the trial, she said Pakistan had sought India's assistance to obtain evidence for its investigation and levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue. Thereafter, Pakistan linked providing consular access to India's acceptance of its position and and Indian response was constructivein the hope that some forward movement could be made, Swaraj said. "We pointed out that consular access to Shri Jadhav would be an essential pre-requisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan. "Given this exchange, it is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence" she said. "To make matters even more absurd, three hours after the death sentence was announced, the Indian high commission received an official communication from the foreign ministry of Pakistan, reiterating the Pakistani proposal for conditional consular access. "That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian," she asserted. In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, while expressing outrage over the development, said the Indian government should provide Jadhav the best of the lawyers to ensure that the truth prevails. Responding to this, the external affairs minister said the government will not only ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan but will also take it up with the President of Pakistan. "Whatever is necessary, we will do. We will go out of the way...," she said, adding that Jadhav was now "not only the son of his parents, but is the son of India." Swaraj said the exact circumstances under which Jadhav reached Pakistan are unclear and can only be ascertained if India has consular access to him, which has been denied by the Pakistani authorities, she said. Such access is provided for by international law and is deemed a norm in international relations but the government of Pakistan did not permit it, she said. She also informed Parliament that a senior Pakistani leader has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in the case. She said she has been in touch with Jadhav's parents and the government was extending its fullest support to them in this difficult situation. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. While condemning the action, Singh said that Pakistan had ignored all norms of law and justice. "The government strongly condemns it. All norms of law and justice were ignored. I want to assure the House that the government will do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. He will get justice," he said. As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, members cutting across party lines slammed Pakistan for awarding death sentence to Jadhav. Barbs were frequently exchanged between treasury and opposition benches on the issue with the latter blaming the government for not taking up the matter strongly. Leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge wondered why the government remained silent on the issue. His remarks attracted the ire of BJP members who said the government was condemning the incident. "Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue," Kharge said referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pakistan to attend the marriage of Nawaz Sharif's daughter in Lahore. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said "There should be no spat on the issue. We all are equally concerned about the fate of Jadhav." Kharge said while India granted access to Pakistan to visit Pathankot to gather evidence on terror strike, Islamabad denied counsellor access to Jadhav. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi urged the government to use its influence for the release of the Indian citizen. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said while India has always preferred not to internationalise its relations with Pakistan, it is time New Delhi tells the world that tomorrow one of their citizens can face a similar fate in Pakistan. N K Premchandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party, Vinayak Raut of the Shiv Sena and Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress expressed similar sentiments. When some members wanted to react to the Home Minister's remarks, Speaker told them that they could express their views after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj gave a statement. "You do not have to go (to Pakistan) with an army of MPs," she said. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national. Jadhav, 46, was awarded death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by powerful army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, upper house of parliament, the defence minister said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days. The sentence sparked an angry reaction from India which said Jadhavs execution would be treated as premeditated murder. Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law, he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder. Its not premeditated murder, whats happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder), he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went for went on for three months, rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with iron hands. Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment, he said. He said that Jadhav had confessed his crime in the confessional statement, which is available on record. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was a serving officer in the Indian Navy. The Pakistan Army had also released a confessional video of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year. Image: Congress workers in Mumbai protest against Pakistan's decision to sentence Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for espionage. Photograph: Sandeep Salvi It's a month today, April 11, since the BJP's historic victory in Uttar Pradesh. Could a grand alliance between the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress -- built along the lines of the successful Bihar mahagatbandhan of 2015 -- have changed the outcome of the UP polls? Rediff.com's Aslam Hunani finds out. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com The Bharatiya Janata Party's decisive win in the Uttar Pradesh elections -- despite the alliance between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress -- has given currency to the idea that halting the saffron march will now require a mahagatbandhan or a grand alliance of all the Opposition parties. The elections gave a clear mandate to the BJP, with the party winning 312 seats on its own. Its alliances with the Apna Dal (Sonelal), which won 9 seats, and the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), which won 4 seats, took the BJP's tally to 325 seats in a 403-member assembly. In comparison, the SP-Congress-alliance together won just 54 seats, while the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party trailed with a dismal 19 seats. From Rediff Labs: Constituency-wise results of the UP assembly election, 2017 Data analysts believe that a mahagathbandhan between the SP, BSP and Congress -- cast in the mould of the Bihar grand alliance of 2015 -- would have changed the outcome of the UP elections. The mahagathbandhan in Bihar between the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United, the Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress had united the biggest parties in the state against the BJP, thus consolidating their respective vote banks and getting them a clear mandate. In UP, however, the pre-poll alliance only brought together the Congress and SP, resulting in fractured vote banks and a triangular race between the BJP, the SP-Congress combine and the BSP, all of which worked in the BJP's favour. An analysis of the voting pattern in the state indicates that a grand alliance could have won as many as 280 seats and limited the BJP to about 116 seats. Also, the SP could have retained its position as the party with the highest number of seats. From Rediff Labs: Constituency-wise results of the UP elections in case of a grand alliance. A grand alliance in UP would have also boosted the Muslim representation in the state assembly, which is now at its lowest since 1991. The fight between the SP and BSP's Muslim candidates proved beneficial for the BJP which did not field a single Muslim candidate. In 28 of the constituencies that the BJP and its allies won, the first and second runner-ups were Muslim candidates who lost as a result of the community's divided voting. The highest representation of Muslims is from the SP, which sent 17 Muslims to the assembly. The BSP, which fielded 100 Muslim candidates, sent only 5 Muslims to the assembly. The newly-elected assembly of 403 MLAs now has only 24 Muslims, a 5.9 per cent representation for a community that makes up 19 per cent of the state's population. The previous assembly had 69 Muslim members, which gave the community 17 per cent representation in the House. The question of a grand alliance gains further importance as UP prepares for seven by-elections, two for Lok Sabha seats and five for assembly seats. Please scroll down for more exclusive features.... North Korea is looking for trouble, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said, asserting that America will solve the North Korean problem unilaterally even if China does not help. North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! USA, Trump tweeted, toughening his stance on North Korea. In another tweet, Trump also gave an insight into his talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, whom he met last week at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the US will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! Trump wrote in an earlier tweet. The US last week sent a naval strike group to the region in a show of force against Pyongyangs nuclear weapons programme. China is North Koreas sole major ally and economic lifeline. The tweet indicated that the meeting might not have been as successful as is being claimed by senior White House officials. I think we had an unbelievably helpful and productive meeting with the Chinese, the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer had told reporters at his daily news conference on Monday. Trumps tweets on North Korea came as Pyongyang said it is ready for war with the US. Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies in Washington, said that there might be another provocative behaviour from North Korea. April 15th is Grandpa Kim Il Sung 105th birth anniversary; April 25th is Korean Peoples Armys 85th founding anniversary. So North Korea likes to test and blast during this month, he said. However, he said Trump and Xi managed to set a constructive tone to their relationship. This, he said, will be necessary because the issues that divide China and the US are deep-seated. But in no way did the meeting signal a G2 approach to managing regional issues, much less multilateral issues, he said. In no way either did Trump signal that he would work over the heads of his allies in Asia to secure favourable outcomes for the US, although there is some consternation in Seoul over the relative paucity of consultation over North Korea policy, Gupta said. Here's a collection of stories that prove we live in a truly mad, mad world. 1) Bald Men Club of Japan hold competition -- to celebrate baldness More than 30 bald men gathered at a hot spring facility in Tsuruta City, Japan, on Wednesday to show off their hairless heads and have fun. Members of the citys Bald Men Club took turns competing in a unique game of tug-of-war by sticking a suction cup, which is attached to a single red rope, to each of their heads. Both sides then attempt to pull the cup off of their opponents head. My head still hurts, Toshiyuki Ogasawara, 43, said with a smile. I think I need to ice it! Masatomo Sasaki, 64, a first-time participant at the tournament, said he used to feel insecure about his baldness but now feels differently. I feel proud. Or maybe I should say, I feel good about being a bald man, Sasaki said, adding that he started losing his hair when he was 40. And that is thanks to this bald mens club. The club, which has attracted roughly 65 members from all over the country since its founding in 1989, encourages people to view baldness in a positive manner, to have fun, and to brighten the world with our shiny heads, according to its website. 2) French artist lives 7 days inside a rock French artist Abraham Poincheval was freed from a block of stone in a Paris museum on Wednesday after spending seven days enclosed in it. He entombed himself in a body-shaped slot carved in a limestone boulder on Feb 22 at Paris Palais de Tokyo contemporary art museum. Poincheval, 44, ate stewed fruit and purees while breathing through an air vent. He had some personal items such as a log book and an emergency phone line. Im a little dazed, which I imagine is totally normal after one week living in a rock ...which hosted me well. I thank it very much for having been so enthusiastic about welcoming me, he told reporters minutes after his release. Yes, there were very long moments of loss of self, where suddenly you no longer know where you are, but you are there, and that is what was great (about it), he said. 3) Soon, real-life Hunger Games where rape, murder will be allowed Just when you thought reality shows couldnt get any weirder and crazier, Russia came up with a real-life Hunger Games, wherein rape and murder will be allowed. The series Game2: Winter, which will be filmed on a remote Siberian island, will see 30 participants, armed with knives, face nine months of hell as they tackle bears, wolves and vicious gnats on the Ob River and its surrounding wilderness. Organisers of the show said that they will not intervene with the contestants if any should horrific scenes like rape and murder play out, claiming not even the birth of a baby would make them halt the play. However, they stressed that the participants will be liable to the full force of the Russian law for criminal offences. 4) Move over cat cafes -- the pop up pug eatery is here! If you thought cat cafes were the cutest thing to hit the street, then we have some good news for you. Now, theres an even sweeter way to enjoy your morning coffee -- the Pop Up Pug Cafe. Pug lovers are invited to bring along their pug pooches to enjoy a some quality time with their pooches, who will even be given their own, free puppacino. 5) Meet the man who lives in a Boeing 727 in the middle of the woods There arent too many people they live in a plane, but Bruce Campbell calls a Boeing 727 his home. Bruce Campbell is an inventive engineer who bought the retired aircraft fuselage and upcycled it into an unusual and innovative home. The huge 3-engine commercial airliner is propped up on concrete pillars in a suburban wooded area outside of Portland, Oregon, and even has its own driveway. The aircraft features a makeshift shower, but he is still working to install a working lavatory and to restore some of the planes original interior elements, like seating and lights. Campbell lives in this plane 6 months every year, and spends the other part of the year in Japan, where he is also looking to buy and similarly re-use a retired Boeing 747 fuselage. 6) At US contest, may the smelliest sneaker win Seven young contestants from around the United States put their best and smelliest shoe forward at the 42nd National Rotten Sneaker Contest in New York City. Twelve-year-old Connor Slocombe claimed the first place title for having the worst-smelling sneaker after three prior attempts to win the contest in years past. The four judges of the contest, which was held at Ripleys Believe It or Not! Times Square, all cringed at the smell of Slocombes beat-up shoe. 7) And the winner of the Quidditch British cup is With poles instead of broomsticks between their legs, competitors battle it out in a sport usually reserved for witches and wizards and described by one enthusiastic participant as organised chaos. They are competing for the British Quidditch Cup, in a tournament which draws its inspiration from the magical Harry Potter universe created by author JK Rowling but which has had to be modified to allow for the limitations of ordinary mortals, known in her books as Muggles. Instead of flying through the air on magical broomsticks, these competitors run around the pitch holding on tightly to their poles. Some 32 teams from across Britain took part in the weekend event, organized by QuidditchUK. The death sentence handed out to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav for "spying" was on Tuesday described as "unprecedented" by the Pakistani media, with experts weighing in the diplomatic fallout of the move. A Pakistan military court sentenced Jadhav to death after he was convicted of "espionage and sabotage activities". Military's media wing said in a statement on Monday that the sentence was passed by a Field General Court Martial and confirmed by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Right-wing English-language newspaper The Nation in its front page lead 'Death to spy spikes tensions' observed that "a military court on Monday sentenced a high-profile Indian spy to death, ratcheting up longstanding tensions between the nuclear-armed states." The paper also quoted political and defence analyst Dr Hassan Askari that the decision to execute Jadhav would "further increase tension between the two countries". "The military has given a severe punishment which is according to Pakistani law," Askari said. "But we will have to see if Pakistan can sustain the political and diplomatic fallout." The Nation is owned by Nawa-i-Qawt group, which is traditionally aligned to Pakistani establishment and is known for India bashing. The story was also published by other leading newspapers, mostly focusing on the sentence given to the alleged spy. The Express Tribune in the front page headline 'Self-confessed Indian spy awarded death sentence' termed the decision as "unprecedented". It reported that the decision immediately sparked a bitter diplomatic spat between the two "hostile" neighbours. It further said that Jadhav has been operating in Pakistan disguised as Hussein Mubarak Patel. The influential Dawn newspaper termed the decision as a "rare move". The paper said that the development comes at a time when tensions between Pakistan and India are already running high. It published a full column on what experts feel about the decision. Some feel the reaction from India will be strong, others maintain there will be no dramatic shift in the relationship, it said. "For a long time now Pakistan has struggled to prove India's involvement in Pakistan's destabilisation. Our ambassadors have gone to various countries looking for help in that matter and showed them proof but to no avail. Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for India's retaliation," the paper quoted Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood as saying. "The decision is right, it is by the law and justified in legal terms, however, we should brace ourselves as there will be reaction, on international forums and Pakistan should even be prepared for a spike in Line of Control violations," Masood said. Political analyst Air Marshal (retired) Shahzad Chaudhry said, "I do not think our ties with India would change as a result of this decision". Hamid Mir, senior journalist at Geo News said, "First of all, Pakistan should make the evidence found against the spy public, share it with the country and also internationally." "Secondly, why is everyone talking about an Indian reaction already? My belief is that India should be sensible and not react to the news at all. If people remember when Ajmal Kasab was sentenced, Pakistan had remained silent about the whole thing. Our prerogative was simple, if there is evidence against Kassab then he should be sentenced according to the Indian law. "So India should be sensible, not react to the news, not try to paint Jadhav as a hero, the media should take that same tone," he said. Senior PPP leader and former interior minister Rehman Malik said, "If the law has found Jadhav guilty then we have the right to sentence him to death and the sentence should be carried out. We should not back down to any pressure, Indian or international and make sure that the sentence is carried out." The News International headlined the spy story as 'Military court awards death sentence to Kulbhushan'. Terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have come down by around 25 per cent after the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last year. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said in the Lok Sabha that 193 terrorist incidents took place in Jammu and Kashmir between April 1 and September 30, 2016. But between October 1, 2016 and March 31 this year the state reported 155 terror attacks, he said while replying to a written question. The Indian Army had carried out surgical strikes against terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir on September 29 last year. Also, there was a drastic reduction in the number of stone-pelting incidents in Jammu and Kashmir after the surgical strikes, the minister said. 411 Number of stone-pelting incidents from Oct '16-Mar '17 There were 2,325 incidents of stone-pelting reported in six months -- from April to September 2016. However, the number has come down to 411 in the next six months from October 2016 to March 2017. Ahir said there were 371 attempts of infiltration made last year and 118 militants were able to infiltrate, while 217 had to return. As many as 35 militants were killed and three were arrested during their infiltration bids last year. In 2017, till February 43 attempts of infiltration were made. Nine militants could sneak into the Indian side, four were killed and 30 others returned. In 2016, 20 terrorist attacks took place along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir in which 11 security personnel and one civilian were killed. In 2017, four terrorist attacks took place along the India-Pakistan border till March in which three civilians were killed, he said. Pakistan's military courts have gained a disrepute for not being transparent and violating all provisions of a fair trial. On Monday, April 10, Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Public Relations in a press release informed that Kulbhushan Jadhav, the so called 'R&AW' agent, had been awarded the death sentence by a military court. As per the release, Jadhav was tried by the Field General Court Martial under the Pakistan Army Act, and awarded the death sentence after he supposedly confessed before the court that he has been 'tasked by India's intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing, to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage a war against Pakistan'. This death sentence has been confirmed by Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. As per the ISPR, Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was arrested from Balochistan on March 3, 2016. However, this claim has been challenged not only by India, but also by other countries. German Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Gunter Mulack, while speaking at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs within a month of Jadhav's arrest, informed the gathering that the Indian had been actually caught by the Taliban in Iran and sold to Pakistani intelligence. Over the last one year that he has been under arrest, the Pakistani authorities refused to act on multiple requests made by the Indian high commission in Islamabad seeking consular access to Jadhav. This is in clear violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention that makes it mandatory on every government to provide access to an arrested foreign national by officials of his/her embassy or consulate. Oddly, all that the outside world got to see of Jadhav after his arrest was a heavily edited video, released through the Pakistani media, of his so-called confession of being a R&AW agent. Jadhav was not tried and sentenced by an ordinary Pakistani court but by a military court. These courts were established soon after the December 2014 terror attack on the army-run school in Peshawar, with the objective of providing speedy trials in cases linked with terrorism. Through a constitutional amendment, the Pakistan parliament had then voted to empower these courts to try civilians accused of terrorism. However, it also built in a two-year 'sunset clause' during which time the government was meant to introduce legislative changes to strengthen the civilian justice system. However, even after the end of two year period in January 2017, the army pushed the ruling government to extend the validity of these courts for another two years despite stiff opposition from other political parties. So what was the need for Jadhav to be tried by a military court? It goes without saying that the Pakistani government did not have enough evidence to prove their claims about Jadhav being an Indian spy. This fact was also revealed by none other than Sartaz Aziz, advisor to the Pakistani prime minister who, while addressing a full senate chamber in December 2016, had categorically stated that the dossier prepared by the Pakistan government on Jadhav contained "mere statements" and did not have any conclusive evidence. Over the last two years, Pakistan's military courts have gained a disrepute for not being transparent and violating all provisions of a fair trial. For instance, out of the 274 convictions since February 2015, 161 were sentenced to death, out of whom 144 "confessed" to their crimes. Not only were these trials kept under wraps, the accused also did not have the right to appeal, an essential component of a free and fair trial. This blatant disregard for rule of law in Pakistan, also attracted the attention of the International Commission of Jurists, which in a strongly worded paper published in 2016 stated that the Pakistani "government and military authorities have failed to make public, information about the time and place of their trials; the specific charges and evidence against the convicts; as well as the judgments of the military courts including the essential findings, legal reasoning, and evidence on which the convictions were based." 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Costa Rica Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Costa Rica, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a4e13.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Costa Rica is a constitutional republic governed by a president and a unicameral legislative assembly directly elected in multiparty elections every four years. In April 2014 voters elected Luis Guillermo Solis of the Citizen Action Party (PAC) during a second round of elections. In simultaneous legislative elections in 2014, the PAC, Broad Front, and Social Christian Unity Party gained seats and formed a coalition that gave them control of the legislature. The National Liberation Party (PLN) gained the largest number of seats but did not achieve the required majority. In May the PLN and other opposition parties formed a bloc that gave them control of the legislature. All elections were generally considered free and fair. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Principal human rights abuses included overcrowded prisons, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and infringement on the rights of indigenous people. Other human rights concerns included trafficking in persons, particularly sex trafficking of children. Domestic violence against women and children was also an area of societal concern. The government investigated and prosecuted officials who committed abuses. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. The Inspection Tribunal of the Judicial Branch acquitted nine Judicial Investigative Organization (OIJ) officers of responsibility for the death of an OIJ officer who died during an unauthorized training exercise in May 2015. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution prohibits such practices. The Ombudsman's Office received 107 complaints of police abuse, arbitrary detention, torture, and other inhuman or degrading treatment during the first six months of the year. Abuse by prison police was a recurring complaint, according to the Ombudsman's Office, but very few of the accusers followed through and registered their complaints with the authorities. The government investigated, prosecuted, and punished police responsible for confirmed cases of abuse. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison conditions were harsh due to gross overcrowding, inadequate sanitary conditions, difficulties obtaining medical care, and violence among prisoners. Physical Conditions: The prison population exceeded the designed capacity of prisons by 41 percent as of June. Prison overcrowding made security and control difficult and contributed to health problems. Poor conditions included inadequate space for resting, deteriorated mattresses on the floor, and inadequate access to health services. Illegal narcotics were readily available in the prisons, and drug abuse was common. The Ombudsman's Office recorded 76 complaints of deficient conditions in prisons, including the migrant detention centers, during the first six months of the year. The Ministry of Justice was responsible for the prison system, while the Immigration Office ran the facility holding illegal migrants until they were deported or regularized their immigration status. As of June 30, the San Sebastian, Gerardo Rodriguez, La Reforma, San Rafael, San Carlos, Pococi, Puntarenas, Liberia, Perez Zeledon, Cartago, and Centro Adulto Joven (at La Reforma) prisons remained overcrowded, with the population in pretrial detention experiencing the most overcrowding. Authorities held male pretrial detainees with convicted prisoners on occasion. In San Sebastian, where most prisoners in pretrial detention were held, 1,281 prisoners lived in unsanitary conditions in a facility with a planned capacity of 668. On April 5, the Ministry of Justice freed 380 prisoners from the Gerardo Rodriguez prison and included them in a prison alternative program after a judge on March 17 ordered the ministry to relocate prisoners to reduce overcrowding. On July 20, also to reduce overcrowding, a judge issued a resolution ordering authorities to close the San Sebastian prison over a period of 18 months. On August 4, to reduce overcrowding a judge ordered authorities either to transfer 200 prisoners from La Reforma prison to other prisons or to include them in an alternative program where they are required to spend only some nights in prison. The detention center for undocumented migrants in Hatillo, a suburb of San Jose, was poorly ventilated and overcrowded at times, and it had no recreation area. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the government ombudsman monitored detention conditions, with UNHCR visiting monthly and the ombudsman preparing annual reports. Security and administrative staffing were insufficient to care for the needs of prisoners, including ensuring their personal safety. The Ministry of Justice's Social Adaptation Division reported 17 deaths in closed regime centers from January to April. Four of these deaths were homicides and two were suicides; the remainder were from natural causes. Administration: Authorities permitted prisoners and detainees to submit complaints to authorities without censorship and request investigation of credible allegations of inhuman conditions. If complaints were not processed, prisoners could submit them to the Ombudsman's Office, which investigated all complaints at an administrative level. The Ombudsman's Office, through the national prevention mechanism against torture, periodically inspected all detention centers. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted independent monitoring of prison conditions by international and local human rights observers, including representatives from the Ombudsman's Office. Human rights observers could speak to prisoners and prison employees in confidence and without the presence of prison staff or other third parties. Improvements: On April 29, the Ministry of Justice inaugurated a new prison module at the Pococi prison, a Quonset-type steel-framed building with tin roofing and siding; however, prisoners complained of high temperature conditions in the facility. In August the Ministry of Justice reported maintenance and minor repairs in all of the country's prison centers. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The country has no military forces. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the 13 agencies that have law enforcement components, including the judicial branch's Judicial Investigative Organization. The Ministry of Public Security is responsible for the uniformed police force, drug control police, border police, air wing, and coast guard. The Immigration Office of the Ministry of Interior is responsible for the immigration police. The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation supervises the traffic police, the Ministry of Environment supervises park police, and the Ministry of Justice manages the penitentiary police. Several municipalities manage municipal police forces. The government has effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. There were no reports of impunity involving the security forces during the year. The number of licensed private security services was significantly greater than the number of police (27,625 agents compared to 13,459 uniformed police officers). There were no reports of impunity involving the private security forces during the year. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees The law requires issuance of judicial warrants before making arrests, except where probable cause is evident to the arresting officer. The law entitles a detainee to a judicial determination of the legality of detention during arraignment before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. The law provides for the right to post bail and prompt access to an attorney and family members. Authorities generally observed these rights. Indigent persons have access to a public attorney at government expense. Those without sufficient personal funds are also able to use the services of a public defender. With judicial authorization, authorities may hold a suspect incommunicado for 48 hours after arrest or, under special circumstances, for up to 10 days. Special circumstances include cases in which pretrial detention previously was ordered and there is reason to believe a suspect may reach an agreement with accomplices or may obstruct the investigation. Suspects were allowed access to attorneys immediately before submitting statements before a judge. Authorities promptly informed suspects of any offenses under investigation. Habeas corpus provides legal protection for citizens against threats from police; it also requires judges to give a clear explanation of the legal basis for detention of and evidence against a suspect. Pretrial Detention: A criminal court may hold suspects in pretrial detention for up to one year, and the court of appeals may extend this period to two years in especially complex cases. The law requires a court review every three months of cases of suspects in pretrial detention to determine the appropriateness of continued detention. If a judge declares a case is related to organized crime, special procedural rules require that the period of pretrial detention not exceed 24 months (although the court of appeals may grant one extension not to exceed an additional 12 months). Authorities frequently used pretrial detention. According to the Ministry of Justice, as of March 31, persons in pretrial detention constituted approximately 18 percent of the prison population. In some cases delays were due to pending criminal investigations and lengthy legal procedures. In other cases the delays were a result of court backlogs. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Persons arrested or detained, regardless of whether on criminal or other grounds, are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention and obtain prompt release and compensation if found to have been unlawfully detained. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. The legal system faced many challenges, including significant delays in the adjudication of criminal cases and civil disputes and a growing workload. Trial Procedures The constitution and law provide for the right to a fair public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. All defendants have the right to the presumption of innocence, to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges, and to trial without undue delay. All trials, except those that include juvenile defendants, are public. Trials that involve victims or witnesses who are minors are closed during the portion of the trial in which the minor is called to testify. Defendants have the right to be present during trial and communicate with an attorney of choice in a timely manner, or to have one provided at public expense. Defendants enjoy the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense and free interpretation as necessary from the moment charged through all appeals. The law provides detainees and attorneys access to government-held evidence, and during the trial defendants can confront prosecution or plaintiff witnesses and present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Defendants have the right not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt. Defendants, if convicted, have the right to appeal. The law extends these rights to all defendants, citizens and noncitizens alike. Fast-track courts, which prosecute cases when suspects are arrested on the spot for alleged transgressions, provide the same protections and rights as other courts. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies An independent and impartial judiciary presides over lawsuits in civil matters, including human rights violations. Administrative and judicial remedies for alleged wrongs are available to the public. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to regional human rights bodies. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution prohibits such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respected these rights. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of speech and press. Censorship or Content Restrictions: On July 11, a daily newspaper complained of pressures from a state-owned bank for publishing critical articles. The bank withdrew official advertising from the newspaper allegedly to influence the newspaper's content. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private communications without appropriate legal authority. The International Telecommunication Union reported that in 2015, 60 percent of individuals used the internet and 60 percent of households had internet access. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association The constitution provides for the freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights in practice. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, or other persons of concern. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has an established system for providing protection to refugees. The law requires authorities to process the claims within three months of receipt, but decisions took an average of 10 months. The number of persons seeking asylum increased nearly 300 percent over previous years. The refugee unit received 2,075 asylum applications from January to June, mainly from El Salvador and Colombia, compared with 2,198 in all of 2015 and 1,373 in all of 2014. Employment: Refugee regulations provide asylum seekers an opportunity to obtain work permits if they have to wait beyond the three months the law allows for a decision on their asylum claim. Few asylum seekers took advantage of this right, largely because they were unaware of their eligibility. The refugee unit failed to process claims in a timely manner or effectively educate employers about this right. The Appeals Tribunal, which adjudicates all migration appeals, as of August had a backlog of 1,000 cases. The tribunal estimated it could resolve these cases by December by significantly increasing staff with additional funding from UNHCR, but since it anticipated hundreds of new cases in coming months, it expected a reduced backlog to remain. Access to Basic Services: By law asylum seekers and refugees have access to public services and social welfare programs, but access was often hampered by lack of knowledge about their status in the country and feelings of xenophobia among some service providers. For example, asylum seekers without employers (who constituted the majority of asylum seekers) faced restrictions when enrolling voluntarily as independent workers in the public health system. Asylum seekers received provisional refugee status documents legalizing their status after appearing for an interview with the General Directorate of Immigration, for which the estimated wait time was approximately two months. Provisional refugee ID cards do not resemble other Costa Rican identity documents, so while government authorities generally accepted them, many Costa Rican citizens did not. Upon receiving refugee status, which typically took another nine months, refugees could obtain an identity document similar to those used by nationals at a cost of 37,400 colones ($68), renewable every two years. Durable Solutions: In July the government agreed to a "Protection Transfer Arrangement" in coordination with UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration for refugee resettlement in third countries. The government was committed to local integration of refugees both legally and socially and to facilitating their naturalization process. In the September Leaders' Summit on Refugees at the United Nations, President Solis highlighted commitments by the government to improve processing and conditions for refugees. Temporary Protection: There were no programs for temporary protection beyond refugee status. Due to low recognition rates (approximately 26 percent of applicants received asylum during the first six months of the year), UNHCR had to consider a number of rejected asylum seekers as persons in need of international protection. UNHCR provided support and access to integration programs to individuals still pursuing adjudication and appeals. The individuals requesting refugee status were mainly from El Salvador, Colombia, and Venezuela; the majority were male adults and extended families. Stateless Persons The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperated with UNHCR efforts on statelessness with indigenous populations and reported no cases of the recognition of one person's status as stateless during the first six months of the year. There were no reports of stateless persons who were also refugees. There continued to be problems of statelessness of indigenous children and children of seasonal workers in the border areas with Panama and Nicaragua derived from the difficulties linked to birth registrations. Members of the Ngobe-Bugle indigenous group from Panama often worked on Costa Rican plantations and occasionally gave birth there. In these cases parents did not register Ngobe-Bugle children as Costa Rican citizens at birth because they did not think it necessary, although the children lacked registration in Panama as well. Approximately 1,200 children were affected. Government authorities worked together with UNHCR on a program of birth registration and provision of identification documents to stateless persons known as "Chiriticos." Mobile teams went to remote coffee-growing areas for case identification and registration. As of June authorities identified 1,783 individuals, confirmed the nationality of 748, registered 79, and began the registration process for 119 individuals. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and laws provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In April 2014 voters elected PAC's Luis Guillermo Solis president during a second round of elections, after no candidate achieved 40 percent of the first-round vote. Presidential and legislative elections are simultaneous. In legislative elections the National Liberation Party gained the most seats, but three parties the PAC, Broad Front, and Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) gained enough seats in the 57-member legislative assembly to form a coalition that gave them control of the legislature in 2014. On May 1, PLN and other opposition parties formed a bloc that gave them control of the legislature. In municipal elections on February 7, PLN and PUSC parties gained control of 62 of 81 municipalities. Observers considered the elections generally free and fair. The Organization of American States team that observed the elections noted that for the first time the election process included citizens voting from abroad. Participation of Women and Minorities: Women and persons of African descent were represented in government, but indigenous people were not. On May 23, the supreme elections tribunal imposed strict gender quotas for political parties, reaffirming existing regulations that all political parties must guarantee gender parity across their electoral slates and confirming that gender parity has to extend vertically. The electoral code requires that a minimum of 50 percent of candidates for elective office be women, with their names placed alternately with men on the ballots by party slate. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively. There were numerous reports of government corruption during the year. Corruption: On March 15, the labor minister resigned for violating a code of ethics that he had helped to promote, after he hired his niece at the ministry. On August 10, a former OIJ secretary general was sentenced to 12 years in prison for embezzlement charges from 2009. Financial Disclosure: Public officials are subject to financial disclosure laws that require senior officials to submit sworn declarations of income, assets, and liabilities. The law requires income and asset disclosure by appointed and elected officials. The content of the declarations is not made available to the public. The law stipulates administrative sanctions for noncompliance and identifies which assets, liabilities, and interests public officials must declare. Officials are required to file a declaration annually and upon entering and leaving office. Public Access to Information: The law provides for public access to government information, and the government generally implemented the law effectively, providing access for citizens and noncitizens, including foreign media. Authorities have 10 days to disclose or respond to a request for access. There are no processing fees or sanctions for noncompliance, although requesters can file a petition if their request is denied. Government institutions published reports that detailed their activities during the year. The Public Ethics Solicitor's Office provided regular training to public employees on public access to information. The Ombudsman's Office operated a webpage dedicated to enhancing transparency by improving citizens' access to public information. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials were often cooperative and responsive to their views. Government Human Rights Bodies: The Ombudsman's Office reviews government action or inaction that affects citizens' rights and interests. The ombudsman is accountable to the legislative assembly, which appoints the person to a four-year term and funds office operations. The ombudsman participates in the drafting and approval of legislation, promotes good administration and transparency, and reports annually to the legislative assembly with nonbinding recommendations. A special committee of the legislative assembly studies and reports on problems relating to the violation of human rights, and it also reviews bills relating to human rights and international humanitarian law. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape, including spousal rape and domestic violence, and provides penalties from 10 to 18 years in prison for rape. The length of the sentence depends on the victim's age and other factors, such as the assailant's use of violence or position of influence over the victim. The judicial branch generally enforced the law. According to a local nongovernmental organization, rape was underreported due to fear of retribution, further violence, social stigma, or lack of trust in the judicial system. According to the National Institute of Women (INAMU), the rape law applies to spousal rape, although such cases were much more difficult to prove. The judicial branch and the social security system continued to implement a program for collecting physical evidence in cases of rape so that victims could receive immediate attention. The program also provided training to emergency services staff. Four locations in the country, besides the judicial forensic clinic, had rape kits to collect and analyze physical evidence for use in prosecutions. In May the judicial branch and the social security system organized a weeklong training event focusing on capacity building for officials responding to victims of sexual violence; the audience consisted of judges, prosecutors, investigators, medical professionals, and social workers from across the country. The government continued to identify domestic violence against women and children as a serious and growing societal problem. The judicial branch reported that 39 women died from gender-based violence (including 28 femicides) during 2015. INAMU reported that 12 women were killed (including seven femicides) during the first six months of the year. The law prohibits domestic violence and provides measures for the protection of domestic violence victims. Criminal penalties range from 10 to 100 days in prison for aggravated threats and up to 35 years in prison for aggravated homicide, including a sentence of 20 to 35 years for persons who kill their partners. If a domestic violence offender has no violent criminal record and is sentenced to fewer than three years' imprisonment, the law also provides for alternative sanctions, such as weekend detentions and assistance, including referrals for social services and rehabilitation. In 2015, according to the judicial branch's statistics office, authorities opened 18,693 cases of domestic violence throughout the country, but only 859 cases were tried and 517 persons sentenced for crimes of violence against women, including six homicides. According to the Attorney General's Office, not all cases originated from a report from a victim, and frequently victims refused to continue with the legal process. INAMU assisted women and their children who were victims of domestic violence in its regional office in San Jose and in three other specialized centers and temporary shelters. INAMU maintained a domestic abuse hotline connected to the 911 emergency telephone system and provided counseling and protection to women and their children. The public prosecutor, police, and ombudsman have offices dedicated to addressing domestic violence. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace and educational institutions, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security generally enforced this prohibition. The law imposes penalties ranging from a letter of reprimand to dismissal, with more serious incidents subject to criminal prosecution. The Ombudsman's Office received 116 complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace between January and June. INAMU reported and assisted in investigating 18 cases of sexual harassment. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of children; to manage their reproductive health; and to have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. In 2015 the president signed an executive order legalizing in-vitro fertilization to comply with the 2012 Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) order to reinstate women's right to undergo the procedure. In February the Supreme Court struck down the executive order, but in March the IACHR upheld it, and the order went into effect legalizing in-vitro fertilization. Discrimination: Women enjoy the same legal status and rights as men. The law prohibits discrimination against women and obligates the government to promote political, economic, social, and cultural equality. The government maintained offices for gender-related problems in most ministries. The Ministry of Labor is responsible for investigating allegations of gender discrimination. The law requires women and men receive equal pay for equal work. In 2014 the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) estimated earnings for women were 92 percent of earned income for men. INAMU enhanced women's economic empowerment through programs on employment quality, support networks, seed capital, and entrepreneurship. Children Birth Registration: Citizenship is obtained from birth within the country's territory or can be derived if either parent is Costa Rican. There were occasional problems encountered in the registration at birth of children born of migrant parents. Birth registration was not always automatic, and migrant children were especially at risk of statelessness since they did not have access to legal documents to establish their identity if their parents did not seek birth registration for them. Child Abuse: Abuse of children continued to be a problem. The autonomous National Institute for Children (PANI) reported violence against children and adolescents continued to be a concern, with 10,889 cases from January to June. Traditional attitudes and the inclination to treat sexual and psychological abuse as misdemeanors hampered legal proceedings against persons accused of committing crimes against children. PANI implemented awareness campaigns to prevent abuse, humiliating treatment, neglect, and commercial sexual exploitation. The Ombudsman's Office considered efforts by public institutions to prevent violence and promote positive parenting were unsuccessful or insufficient. Early and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage is 18, or 15 with parental consent. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The minimum age of consensual sex is 15 years. The law criminalizes the commercial sexual exploitation of children and provides sentences of up to 16 years in prison for violations. The law provides for sentences of two to 10 years in prison for statutory rape and three to eight years in prison for child pornography. Sentences are lengthier in aggravated circumstances; for example, rape involving physical violence or a victim under the age of 13 is punishable by 10 to 16 years' imprisonment. The government, security officials, and child advocacy organizations acknowledged that commercial sexual exploitation of children was a serious problem. From January to June, PANI reported 21 cases of commercial sexual exploitation of minors. PANI belongs to the executive branch and works with a different database, which includes all complaints filed of alleged cases, than the one for the judicial branch, which includes prosecuted cases only. The government identified child sex tourism as a serious problem. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism The Jewish Zionist Center estimated there were 3,000 Jews in the country. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The constitution and law prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities in employment, education, air travel and other transportation, access to health care, the judicial system, or the provision of other state services; however, the government did not effectively enforce the law. Discriminatory practices were reported in access to education, employment, information, public buildings, and transportation. The law establishes a clear right to employment for persons with disabilities and sets a hiring quota of 5 percent of vacant positions in the public sector. The government began registering eligible candidates in May, according to the National Council of Disabled Persons. Although the law mandates access to buildings for persons with disabilities, the government did not enforce this provision, and many buildings remained inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Both the government policy on education and the national plan for higher education establish the right to education for students with special needs. The Ministry of Education operated a program for persons with disabilities that provided support services to students with disabilities in both mainstream and special education systems. A political party, Accessibility without Exclusion, represented the interests of persons with disabilities and held one seat in the legislative assembly. The Supreme Elections Tribunal took measures (voting procedures, facilities, materials, and trained personnel) to provide for fully accessible elections for all persons with disabilities. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities In 2015 INEC reported that 38 percent of inhabitants in the heavily Afro-descendant Atlantic region lived in poverty, compared with the national average of 22 percent. The Atlantic region had one of the country's highest rates of unemployment (12 percent in 2015) and crime (22.4 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015, or double the national average of 11.5 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants). Lack of government investment in infrastructure contributed to Limon, a province with twice the national average of Afro-descendant population, being one of the least developed areas of the country. The constitution establishes that the country is a multiethnic and multicultural nation. According to the Ombudsman's Office, however, the country lacked an adequate legal framework to ensure the right mechanisms to combat discrimination, facilitate the adoption of affirmative action for individuals who suffer discrimination, and establish sanctions for those who commit discriminatory acts. There were sporadic reports of discrimination, including racial/ethnic discrimination, as well as labor discrimination, usually directed against Nicaraguans. The Ombudsman's Office recorded five complaints of racial/ethnic discrimination, including denial, deficiency, or mistreatment in health-care services as well as restriction of freedom of association, during the first six months of the year. Two cases against judicial prosecutors accused of racial slurs against coworkers were first made public in February; one prosecutor was sentenced to a one-month suspension, while the other case remained under investigation. Indigenous People Land ownership continued to be a problem in most indigenous territories. Violent incidents at the Bribri Salitre and Cabagra reservations over land disputes between indigenous inhabitants and nonindigenous reemerged during the year. The law protects reserve land as the collective, nontransferable property in 24 indigenous territories; however, 38 percent of that land was in nonindigenous hands. On April 10, during an official visit to the reservations, government authorities stated they were committed to improving security and streamlining the provision of assistance from public institutions. On March 15, the government issued an executive directive to begin the process of establishing a consultative mechanism with the indigenous peoples, and on April 13, the government announced it would conduct a series of workshops with leaders of the 24 indigenous territories. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The constitution establishes that all persons are equal before the law and no discrimination contrary to human dignity shall be practiced. Discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by a series of executive orders and workplace policies but not by national laws. Transgender persons were able to change their gender on their identity documents through an administrative law judge's decision and later registration in the Civil Registry Office. There were cases of discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation, ranging from employment, police abuse, and education to access to health-care services. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) organizations operated freely and lobbied for legal reforms. In 2015 a family court recognized the first "gay common-law marriage," basing the decision on the 2013 youth law that includes a provision legalizing domestic partnership benefits only for persons between 18 and 35 years of age. The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court was studying a constitutional challenge against that provision of the youth law but as of August had not issued a ruling. A 2010 Supreme Court ruling stated that the decision on same-sex civil unions is a legislative one; at year's end, however, the legislative assembly had not passed legislation addressing that issue. On March 3, two women who married filed a constitutionality complaint before the Supreme Court to prevent the annulment of their marriage, alleging a provision of the family law that prohibits same-sex unions is unconstitutional. The Civil Registry Office in 2015 filed a complaint against the two women, alleging this was an unlawful marriage because the registry had listed one of them as a man. The judicial inspection tribunal was investigating a judge who issued a ruling recognizing the first "gay common-law marriage." In May the government reformed regulations applying to government employees and students to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and to extend bereavement leave benefits to include same-sex partners. In June the social security system approved a survivor pension for same-sex couples, complementing the 2014 regulation that extends insurance benefits to same-sex couples. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma Although the law prohibits discrimination based on HIV/AIDS in health care, housing, employment, and education, discrimination occurred. The Ombudsman's Office reported seven complaints of service denial, deficiencies, or mistreatment in health care toward HIV-positive patients during the first six months of the year. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes, and the government respected these rights. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and provides for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. Restrictions on the minimum number of employees (12) needed to form a union may have hampered freedom of association in small enterprises. The law permits foreign workers to join unions but prohibits them from holding positions of authority within the unions, except for foreign workers who are married to citizens of the country and have legally resided in the country for at least five years. Unions must register, and the law provides a deadline of 15 days for authorities to reply to a registration request. The legislative assembly established a minimum of 50 percent of employees in an enterprise in support of a strike for it to be legal; however, this law had not been implemented as of the end the year, and the minimum remained 60 percent. The law restricts the right to strike of workers in services designated as essential by the government, including in sectors such as oil refineries and ports that are not recognized as essential services under international standards. On January 25, President Solis signed into law a new labor procedural code (Law No. 9343) intended to streamline labor procedures in the courts, including those related to antiunion discrimination, and to reform provisions regarding freedom of association and trade union freedom in the courts. The new law enters into force 18 months after its publication (July 2017). The law requires employers to initiate the bargaining process with a trade union if more than one-third of the total workforce, including union and nonunion members, requests collective bargaining, but the law also permits direct bargaining agreements with nonunionized workers. The law also permits the formation of "solidarity associations," which were often organized by employers and have legal status under the constitution. The law prohibits such associations from representing workers in collective bargaining negotiations or in any other way that assumes the functions or inhibits the formation of trade unions. Although public-sector employees are permitted to bargain collectively, the Supreme Court held that some fringe benefits received by certain public employees were disproportionate and unreasonable, and it repealed sections of collective bargaining agreements between public-sector unions and government agencies, thus restricting this right in practice. The government generally enforced applicable laws, although procedures were subject to lengthy delays and appeals. The law establishes administrative sanctions (fines and fees) for infractions. The amount of fines and fees is determined by the severity of the infraction and based on the minimum wage. Penalties were not sufficient to deter violations, since cases were resolved by a labor court through a lengthy process, not by the labor inspectorate. Labor inspectors are not allowed to impose fines directly because by law it is the exclusive competence of the judiciary. Concerns about slow proceedings in cases of antiunion discrimination continued to be a problem. The International Trade Union Confederation noted the reinstatement process for workers who were unfairly dismissed lasted approximately 2.5 years. Such delays in cases of antiunion discrimination were often due to numerous appeals. Freedom of association and collective bargaining were generally respected. Labor unions asserted solidarity associations conducted negotiations, and employers sometimes required membership in a solidarity association as a condition for employment. Such associations, to the extent that they displaced trade unions, affected the independence of workers' organizations from employers' influence and infringed on the right to organize and bargain collectively. In recent years the International Labor Organization (ILO) reported an expansion of direct bargaining agreements between employers and nonunionized workers and noted its concern that the number of collective bargaining agreements in the private sector continued to be low when compared with a high number of direct agreements with nonunionized workers. The Labor Ministry conducted 10 working/mediation sessions to discuss complaints related to collective bargaining during the first six months of the year. There were some instances of employers firing employees who attempted to unionize. The Ministry of Labor reported seven complaints of antiunion discrimination from January to July. There were reports some employers also preferred to use "flexible," or short-term, contracts, making it difficult for workers to organize and collectively bargain. Migrant workers in agriculture frequently were hired on short-term contracts (five months) through intermediaries, faced antiunion discrimination and challenges in organizing, and were often more vulnerable to labor exploitation. The ILO noted there were no trade unions operating in the country's export-processing zones and identified the zones as a hostile environment for organizing. Labor unions asserted that efforts by workers in export-processing zones to organize were met with illegal employment termination, threats, and intimidation and that some employers maintained blacklists of workers identified as activists. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits forced or compulsory labor in cases that involve movement of the victim. The law establishes criminal penalties for trafficking in persons crimes, including forced labor when they involve movement with sentences of between six and 10 years in prison. The penalty is increased to between eight and 16 years if the crime involves aggravating circumstances. The Trafficking in Persons Prosecutor's Unit reported two investigations of trafficking in persons during the first six months of the year. One case was dismissed, and the second was under investigation. Penalties were generally sufficient to deter violations. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The child and adolescence code prohibits labor of all children under the age of 15 without exceptions; it supersedes the minimum working age of 12 established in the labor code, which by year's end had not been amended to reflect this change. Adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18 may work a maximum of six hours daily and 36 hours weekly. The law prohibits night work and overtime for minors. The law prohibits children under the age of 18 from engaging in hazardous or unhealthy activities and specifies a list of hazardous occupations. The government generally enforced laws against child labor effectively in the formal sector but not in the informal sector. Child labor occurred primarily in the informal economy, especially in the agricultural, commercial, and industrial sectors. The worst forms of child labor occurred in agriculture on small third-party farms in the formal sector and on family farms in the informal sector. In 2015 international organizations published an analysis of the government's 2011 National Household Survey, which indicated 8.8 percent of child laborers, or approximately 1,400 children ages 5-14, worked in coffee and 13.8 percent were engaged in cattle raising, including dairy. More recent national surveys showed a 65 percent decrease in the number of children ages 12 to 17 working in agriculture from 2011 to 2015 but did not provide the number of children in child labor in coffee and cattle. Forced child labor reportedly occurred in some service sectors, such as construction, fishing, street vending, and domestic service, and some children were subject to commercial sexual exploitation (see section 6, Children). While the Ministry of Labor is responsible for enforcing and taking administrative actions (fines and fees) against possible violations of, or lack of compliance with, child labor laws, the Prosecutor's Office intervenes in cases regarding the worst forms of child labor. The amount of fines and fees is determined by the severity of the infraction and based on an equation derived from the minimum wage. Penalties were generally sufficient to deter violations. The government continued to implement programming to eliminate illegal child labor and the worst forms of child labor by providing individual assistance through visits, interviews, and inspections to schools and workplaces. During the first six months of the year, the Labor Ministry detected and removed from employment 315 minors, 42 under 15, in hazardous jobs, referring them to government agencies for inclusion in social programs. The ministry reported that in the overwhelming majority of cases employers received warnings, and in the 42 cases that involved minors under 15, two employers were fined and one was referred to a labor court. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment or Occupation The laws and regulations prohibit discrimination regarding race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national origin or citizenship, social origin, disability, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, age, language, HIV-positive status, or other communicable diseases status. The government effectively enforced these laws and regulations, and penalties were sufficient to deter violations. The Labor Ministry reported 27 cases of discrimination during the first six months of the year. The ministry began incorporating a gender equality perspective into labor inspections to identify areas of vulnerability. Discrimination in employment and occupation occurred with respect to persons with disabilities and the LGBTI population. Discrimination against migrant workers occurred. With regard to discrimination in employment or occupation, the Ombudsman's Office considered the most vulnerable sectors to be migrants, women with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and foreign domestic workers. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The wage council of the Ministry of Labor sets the minimum wage scale for the public and private sectors twice a year. Monthly minimum wages for the private sector ranged from 172,610 colones ($314) for domestic workers to 619,204 colones ($1,126) for university graduates since January 1. According to INEC, in 2014 the poverty line was 105,976 colones ($193) in urban areas and 81,344 colones ($148) in rural areas. The national minimum wage applied to both Costa Rican and migrant workers. The law sets workday hours, overtime remuneration, days of rest, and annual vacation rights. Workers generally may work a maximum of eight hours a day or 48 hours weekly. All workers are entitled to one day of rest after six consecutive days of work and annual paid vacations. The law provides that workers be paid for overtime work at a rate 50 percent above their stipulated wage or salary. Although there is no statutory prohibition against compulsory overtime, the labor code stipulates the workday may not exceed 12 hours. Law 9095 covers labor exploitation as part of antitrafficking law and imposes penalties upon employers who exploit workers in conditions that are a "detriment to [a worker's] fundamental human rights" but that may not rise to the level of forced labor. The government maintains a dedicated authority to enforce occupational safety and health (OSH) standards. The Labor Ministry's National Council of Occupational Health and Safety is a tripartite OSH regulatory authority with government, employer, and employee representation. According to labor organizations, the government did not enforce these standards effectively in either the formal or the informal sectors. Workers can remove themselves from situations that endanger health or safety without jeopardizing their employment. According to the Labor Ministry, this is a responsibility shared by the employer and employee. The law assigns responsibility to the employer, including granting OSH officers access to workplaces, but it also authorizes workers to seek assistance from appropriate authorities (OSH or labor inspectors) for noncompliance with OSH workplace standards, including risks at work. The Ministry of Labor's Inspection Directorate (DNI) is responsible for labor inspection, in collaboration with the Social Security Agency and the National Insurance Institute. The DNI employed 93 labor inspectors who investigated all types of labor violations. The number of inspectors was not sufficient to enforce compliance. According to the Ministry of Labor, inspections occurred both in response to complaints and at the initiative of inspectors. The DNI stated it could visit any employer, formal or informal, and inspections are always unannounced. The Labor Ministry generally addressed complaints by sending inspection teams to investigate and coordinate with each other on follow-up actions. Inspectors cannot fine or sanction employers who do not comply with labor laws; rather, they investigate and refer noncompliance results to labor courts. The process of fining companies or compelling employers to pay back wages or overtime could take years. The Ministry of Labor generally enforced minimum wages effectively in the San Jose area but was not as effective in enforcing the minimum wage laws in rural areas, particularly where large numbers of migrants were employed, and in the large informal sector, which comprises 41 percent of employment. The ministry publicly recognized that many workers, including in the formal sector, received less than the minimum wage. During the first six months of the year, the ministry conducted 1,405 visits to priority cantons with low levels of development in an attempt to assess and address their situation through DNI intervention. The government continued to implement the campaign for minimum wage compliance. According to the ministry, 33 percent of the economically active population in the nonagricultural sector was in the informal economy. The Ministry of Labor, through the National Program in Support of the Microenterprise, provided technical assistance and access to credit for informal microentrepreneurs to improve productive and labor conditions in the informal economy. Observers expressed concern about exploitative working conditions in fisheries, small businesses, and agricultural activities. Unions also reported systematic violations of labor rights and provisions concerning working conditions, overtime, and wages in the export-processing zones. Labor unions reported overtime pay violations, such as nonpayment of wages and mandatory overtime, were common in the private sector and particularly in export-processing zones. There were reports agricultural workers, particularly migrant laborers in the pineapple industry, worked in unsafe conditions, including exposure to hazardous chemicals without proper training. The national insurance company reported 61,203 cases of workplace-related illnesses and injuries and 19 workplace fatalities from January to June. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Congo, Republic of the Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Congo, Republic of the, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a4f25.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Republic of the Congo is a parliamentary republic in which the constitution, promulgated in November 2015, vests most decision-making authority and political power in the president and prime minister. In October 2015 citizens adopted the new constitution by a 94 percent vote, but the opposition and international community questioned the credibility of the referendum process and results. The new constitution changed previous maximum presidential term limits from two terms of seven years to three terms of five years and provided complete immunity to former presidents. On April 4, the Constitutional Court proclaimed the incumbent, Denis Sassou N'Guesso, winner of the March 20 presidential election with 60 percent of the vote and almost 69 percent voter turnout. Domestic nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), opposition candidates, foreign governments, and international organizations questioned the validity of the results and cited electoral irregularities. The government held the most recent legislative elections in 2012 for 137 of the national assembly's 139 seats. The African Union declared those elections free, fair, and credible, despite numerous irregularities. While the country has a multiparty political system, members of the president's Congolese Labor Party (PCT) and its allies held almost 90 percent of legislative seats, and PCT members occupied almost all senior government positions. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over the security forces. On April 4, gunfire and explosions in Brazzaville killed 17 persons, including three police officers, two civilians, and 12 attackers, according to the government. The violence displaced more than 17,000 persons, who fled their southern Brazzaville neighborhoods for safer parts of the city. The government blamed the Ninja/Nsiloulou, a former rebel group from the 1997-2003 civil war. Frederic Bintsamou, also known as Pastor Ntumi, the group's leader, denied responsibility. Many observers suggested the government coordinated the entire operation as a political distraction from the Constitutional Court's impending declaration of the presidential election results and to instill a climate of fear and intimidation. On April 5, the government launched security operations in the Pool region outside of Brazzaville to locate the Ninja/Nsiloulou and Pastor Ntumi. During the operation, thousands more in the Pool region were displaced from their homes. According to a June joint UN-Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action humanitarian assessment report, hundreds of civilian homes were burned, with one documented death. The government initially denied access to the region to several international and local humanitarian assessment teams but later granted access with government escorts. A UN-led humanitarian assessment reported in June that more than 1,200 persons remained displaced in the Pool region, including 598 children. According to a December 9 statement by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at least 13,000 persons, including thousands of children, remained internally displaced. Periodic violent roadside attacks persisted in the Pool region following the initial operation, during which time rape and physical assaults were committed. The national government-affiliated newspaper reported approximately 100 deaths in the affected area since April 1. While the government blamed Ninja/Nsiloulou for these attacks, the identity and affiliation of the perpetrators were unconfirmed. The most significant human rights problems included arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces, arbitrary arrests and the holding of political prisoners, and torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of detainees by police. Other major human rights abuses included: politically motivated disappearances; harsh detention conditions; lack of due judicial process; infringement of citizens' privacy rights; restrictions on freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and association; harsh treatment of undocumented immigrants; restrictions on the ability of citizens to change their government peacefully; restrictions on the activities of opposition political groups; corruption on the part of officials and lack of transparency; discrimination against women; sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic violence, child abuse, and early marriage; trafficking in persons; lack of access for persons with disabilities; societal discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, particularly toward indigenous persons; discrimination based on nationality, particularly toward individuals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), and Rwanda; discrimination based on sexual orientation and HIV/AIDS status; and child labor. The government seldom took steps to prosecute or punish officials who committed abuses, whether in the security services or elsewhere in the government, and official impunity was a problem. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. Journalists and local human rights activists presented evidence of four deaths resulting from torture. According to a joint report from three local human rights organizations, on February 26, police arrested Olgane Nioko Ngambou for an alleged robbery in Owando, in the central Cuvette region. Sergeant Cedric Akoul severely beat Ngambou while in custody at the Owando Police Station, and he died from internal hemorrhaging of the liver and kidneys on February 27 after officials transferred him to the Central Hospital in Brazzaville for urgent medical treatment. Other deaths reported included Steve Malonga, arrested March 25 and detained at the Chacona Police Station; Yeutcheu Faustin Aime, a Cameroonian citizen arrested in June in Pointe-Noire and detained at the Tie Tie Police Station; and Fabrice Oyakou, arrested June 15 and detained at the Poto Poto Police Station in Brazzaville. According to multiple NGO reports, on July 21, police shot and killed Mankou Albert, Aikon Apollinaire, and Nsihou Paul, civilians belonging to a community night watch patrol in the Raffinerie neighborhood of Pointe-Noire. Police intercepted the men, who were armed with machetes and whistles, and according to eyewitnesses, questioned the men at gunpoint about their activities and moments later shot and killed them. On July 21, Itoua Poto, police chief of Pointe-Noire, stated the victims belonged to a militia and that police who shot them had committed no error. Vigilante justice and abuse of power by police were problems. For example, on April 26, Police Brigadier General Mba Ferdinand, in the southern town of Madingou, shot Ngembo Olombi Mignon, age 15, at his house, after learning that Mignon had harmed a young neighbor girl. Mignon died later that night in a hospital. In response to his death, youth set fire to the police station in Madingou. Human rights NGOs reported at least seven deaths resulting from abuse in prisons and pretrial detention centers (see sections 1.c. and 1.g.). b. Disappearance There were numerous credible reports of politically motivated disappearances. For example, independent media and local human rights NGOs reported the disappearance of political opposition members Marien Michel Ehouango Madzimba, arrested on April 30, and Rodiguez Bazembe, arrested on June 17. Additionally, there were several reports of night raids and daytime state-sponsored kidnappings of opposition supporters, after which family members were unable to find any information about the victims' welfare and whereabouts. Police detained minor children, who subsequently disappeared (see section 1.c.). c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution prohibits torture, and the law contains a general prohibition against assault and battery, but there is no legal framework specifically banning torture under the criminal code. There were widespread reports of cases of government-led torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. A human rights NGO reported that in December 2015 sergeants Sabin Assima Atsouama and Morgan Atsouama allegedly tortured Rigobert Okuya. According to Okuya, he was strapped down on a table for hours, severely beaten, temporarily paralyzed by a stun gun, and sodomized with a metal rod. In September, NGOs and media reported the arrest and torture of Augustin Kala Kala, a campaign official belonging to the Convention for Action, Democracy, and Development, an opposition political group. According to Kala Kala's wife, more than a dozen armed and hooded men belonging to government security forces arrested Kala Kala at his residence in Brazzaville during the middle of the night on September 28. Police took him to a local intelligence police station where intelligence police subjected him to electric shock and beatings over a period of two weeks. On October 15, Kala Kala was found barely conscious in front of a morgue in Brazzaville and given medical attention. According to human rights NGOs and social media reports, on November 12, armed and hooded men belonging to government security forces abducted Jugal Mayangui, a sergeant in the military, from his home in Brazzaville. According to Mayangui, he was muzzled, burned, molested, and subjected to severe beatings and accused of being an accomplice to Pastor Ntumi. The abductors released him on November 20, and he was taken to a hospital for treatment. On December 21, prison authorities brought Roland Gambou, the younger brother of opposition candidate Okombi Salissa, to the hospital where he died of unspecified causes after more than four months of detention. Other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment regularly took place. Human rights NGOs reported authorities regularly beat numerous detainees while in custody. On July 28, Jean Ngouabi, detained in the Brazzaville Prison, reported to a human rights NGO that police arrested him on March 25 and subsequently subjected him to severe beatings over the next 27 days. Because of the blows to his head, he developed blood clots, and according to medical records provided by his lawyer, lost all vision in his right eye and some vision in his left eye. The government denied responsibility, claiming a pre-existing health condition caused his vision loss. According to human rights NGOs, many detainees developed chronic medical problems such as organ damage and paralysis due to lack of proper medical care. Police frequently required detainees to pay for protection or risk beatings. NGOs reported authorities generally ignored allegations of prisoner mistreatment. Rape and sexual abuse by government agents occurred. In June a joint UN-Congolese government report cited indications that sexual violence toward women and teenage girls corresponded to the timing of security operations in the southern Pool region. Human rights NGOs reported multiple instances of rape and sexual abuse by police, particularly of prostitutes and gay men. Although prostitution is legal, there were reports of police arresting prostitutes, including gay men, for alleged illegal activity; police then threatened or committed rape if the detainees did not pay a bribe for release. The United Nations reported that during the year (through December 20), it received nine allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against Republic of the Congo peacekeepers deployed to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR. These include three alleged incidents occurring in 2016, five in 2015, and one for which the date of the alleged incident was unknown. Investigations into these nine allegations by the United Nations and the Government of the Republic of the Congo were pending at year's end. Conflict abuses during international peacekeeping missions allegedly took place. On June 7, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Congolese peacekeepers in Boali, CAR, killed 18 civilians between December 2013 and June 2015. HRW made these allegations based on a grave exhumed near a peacekeeping base on February 16, in which the remains of 12 bodies matched the identities of missing persons from March 2014. On June 8, Minister of Justice Pierre Mabiala, responded that the soldiers in question would face justice by the end of the year. At year's end the investigation was still pending. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions were harsh and life threatening due to inadequate sanitary conditions, gross overcrowding, and a severe deficit of medical and psychological care. Authorities generally maintained separate areas within facilities for minors, women, and men in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, however, there were times when 16-17-year-old males were held in the same area as women in Pointe Noire. In Brazzaville, while these areas were separate, they were sometimes easily accessible with no locked entryways. In the other 10 prisons, authorities sometimes held juvenile detainees with adult prisoners. Physical Conditions: As of September 8, there were approximately 1,200 inmates in the country's two largest prisons Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire prisons. A government source estimated 60 percent of inmates awaited trial, but according to an NGO, that total was closer to 75 percent. As of November 30, the Brazzaville Prison, built in 1943 to accommodate 150 prisoners, held more than 800 inmates, including women and minors. It had only 110 beds and 24 showers and toilets. The Pointe-Noire Prison, built in 1934 to hold up to 75 inmates, held an estimated 400, including 60 foreign nationals, more than half of whom were from the DRC. Police stations regularly housed individuals in their limited incarceration facilities beyond the maximum statutory holding period of 72 hours. In addition to these official prisons, the government's intelligence and security services operated several secret detention centers and security prisons, which were inaccessible for inspection. Prison conditions for women were better than those for men in all 12 prisons. There was less crowding in the women's cells than in those for men. Authorities held pretrial detainees with convicted prisoners. In Brazzaville authorities housed and treated prisoners with illnesses in one area but allowed them to interact with other inmates. In Brazzaville prison conditions for wealthy or well connected prisoners generally were better than conditions for others. There were several reported deaths resulting from abuse, neglect, and overcrowding in prisons and pretrial detention centers (see section 1.a.). For example, an NGO reported that in February Michel Nganda Manenga, incarcerated since 2013, died from malnutrition in the Ouesso Jail in Sangha Department. According to the same NGO, six inmates died in the Brazzaville Prison in July for reasons prison administrators did not disclose. On June 11, NGOs reported the forced disappearance of Mayama Saint Etude, age 11. Police arrested Etude for alleged theft and detained him in a special unit called the Banditry Repression Group at the Ouenze Mandzandza Police Station in Brazzaville. They denied his parents' repeated requests for access to visit him in detention. On June 29, the parents received an anonymous tip that their son had died in detention shortly after his arrest. On July 4, Etude's parents met with the police commissioner of the police station, who denied Etude had ever been arrested or detained. On December 29, an attempted prison break in Brazzaville led to the death of three individuals a gendarme, a prisoner, and a passerby, according to the government. In Brazzaville most inmates slept on the floor on cardboard or thin mattresses in small, overcrowded cells that exposed them to disease. The prisons lacked ventilation and had poorly maintained lighting with wiring protruding from the walls. In Brazzaville stagnant water with trash lined the interior space of one holding area. In Pointe-Noire water regularly backed into prisoners' cells. Basic and emergency medical care was limited. Medical personnel at a Brazzaville prison cited tuberculosis, dysentery, malaria, and HIV as the most common maladies affecting prisoners. Authorities did not provide prisoners with HIV/AIDS with specialized medical care, nor were HIV tests available in prisons. Authorities took pregnant women to hospitals to give birth, and authorities sometimes allowed them to breastfeed their infants in prison. Access to social services personnel was severely limited due to insufficient staffing, overcrowding, and stigmatization of mental health issues. Prison inmates reportedly received, on average, two daily meals consisting of rice, bread, and fish or meat. Authorities permitted women to cook over small fires built on the ground in a shared recreational space. The Pointe-Noire Prison occasionally had running water. All of the prisons supplied potable water to inmates in buckets. Administration: Recordkeeping in the penitentiary system was inadequate. Despite having the necessary computer equipment in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, prison officials continued to rely mostly on a noncomputerized system, citing a lack of internet access, resources, and training. Access to prisoners generally required a communication permit from a judge. The permit allowed visitors to spend five to 15 minutes with a prisoner, although authorities usually did not strictly enforce this limit. In most cases visits took place either in a crowded open area or in a small room with one extended table where approximately 10 detainees sat at a time. A new permit is technically required for each visit, but families were often able to return for multiple visits on one permit. Since many prisoners' families lived far away, visits often were infrequent because of the financial hardship of travel. Prison rules provide for prisoners and detainees to submit complaints to judicial authorities without censorship, but officials did not respect this right. Authorities did not investigate credible allegations of inhuman conditions brought to them by NGOs and detainees' families. Independent Monitoring: The government provided domestic and international human rights groups with limited access to prisons and detention centers. Observers generally considered the primary local NGO focused on prison conditions independent; authorities, however, denied it access to the interior of several different prisons on multiple occasions throughout the year. Throughout the year human rights NGOs that monitored detention conditions requested letters of permission from the Ministry of Justice to visit prisons. Their repeated requests went unanswered, so prisons in Djambala and Brazzaville, and police detention stations in Sembe and Sangha, continued to refuse these NGOs access. Representatives of religiously affiliated charitable organizations visited prisons and detention centers for charitable work and religious counseling. Authorities granted diplomatic missions access to both prisons and police jails to provide consular assistance to their citizens and for general inspection. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention. Nevertheless, arbitrary arrest continued to be a widespread problem. Local NGOs reported hundreds of arbitrary detentions in the period leading up to and after the March 20 presidential election, although more-definitive evidence was available for only 88 cases during the year. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus Security forces consist of the police, gendarmerie, and military. Police and the gendarmerie are responsible for maintaining internal order, with police primarily operating in cities and the gendarmerie mainly in other areas. Military forces are responsible for territorial security, but some units also have domestic security responsibilities. For example, the specialized Republican Guard battalion is charged with the protection of the president, government buildings, and diplomatic missions. The Ministry of Defense oversees the military and gendarmerie, and the Ministry of the Interior and Decentralization oversees the police. A civilian police unit under the Ministry of Interior and Decentralization is responsible for patrolling the borders. Separately, a military police unit reports to the Ministry of Defense and is composed of military and police officers responsible for investigating professional misconduct by members of any of the security forces. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over the security forces; however, there were members of the security forces who acted independently of civilian authority, committed abuses, and engaged in malfeasance. The law charges both the military police and the Office of the Inspector General of Police with investigating reports of misconduct by security forces. In March a Brazzaville court sentenced police officer Dany Mayala to five years in prison for committing "intentional injury" to a detainee at the Diata Police Station in 2013. The government-established Human Rights Commission (HRC) receives reports from the public of security force abuses, but it was ineffective and did not meet during the year. Impunity for members of the security forces remained widespread. On April 4, security forces were mostly professional and restrained during the aftermath of gunfire in Brazzaville that displaced thousands of persons. There were, however, several reports of security force members robbing displaced persons of their valuable possessions, such as cell phones, and demanding bribes at checkpoints within the city. Additionally, their commanders and other government officials often ordered them to commit human rights abuses, such as preventing freedom of movement throughout the country during the presidential campaign period in March. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees The constitution and law require that a duly authorized official issue warrants before making arrests, a person be apprehended openly, a lawyer be present during initial questioning, and detainees be brought before a judge within three days and either charged or released within four months. The government habitually violated these provisions. There is a bail system, but with 70 percent of the population living in poverty, most detainees could not afford to post bail. There is an option for provisional release, but officials usually denied these requests, even for detainees with serious medical conditions. Authorities sometimes informed detainees of charges against them at the time of arrest, but filing of formal charges often took at least one week. Authorities often arrested detainees secretly and without judicial authorization and sometimes detained suspects incommunicado or put them under de facto house arrest. Police at times held persons for six months or longer before filing charges due to the political nature of the cases or administrative errors. Observers attributed most administrative delays to lack of staff in the Ministry of Justice and the court system. Family members sometimes received prompt access to detainees but often only after payment of bribes. The law requires authorities to provide lawyers to indigent detainees facing criminal charges at government expense, but this usually did not occur. The penal code states authorities may hold a detainee for a maximum of 48 to 72 hours in a police jail before an attorney general reviews the case. Thereafter, a decision must be made either to release or to transfer the individual to a prison for pretrial detention. Authorities generally did not observe the 72-hour maximum and frequently held detainees for several weeks before an attorney general freed or transferred them to a prison to await trial. The criminal code states that a defendant or accused person may apply for provisional release at any point during his or her detention, from either an investigating judge or a trial court, depending on the type of case. The law states that provisional release should generally be granted, provided that the judicial investigation is sufficiently advanced, that the accused does not pose a risk of subornation of witnesses, and does not pose a threat of disturbance to public order caused by the offense initially alleged; however, this law was not respected in practice. Arbitrary Arrest: Arbitrary and false arrests continued to occur. Authorities arrested more than eight persons belonging to opposition political parties or suspected of supporting the opposition. According to eyewitnesses and local human rights NGOs, police conducted secret arrests, often at night, at the homes of opposition supporters. Independent media and local NGOS published lists of hundreds of names of individuals arrested between January and July. Pretrial Detention: The penal code sets a maximum of four months in pretrial detention, which may be extended an additional two months with judicial approval; thereafter detainees must be released pending their court hearings. Authorities did not respect this limit, arguing that the two-month extension is renewable. Between 60 and 75 percent of detainees in the prisons were pretrial detainees. Prison authorities stated the average provisional detention for noncriminal cases lasted one to three months and for criminal cases at least 12 months. Human rights activists, however, stated the average was much longer, commonly exceeding a year, and sometimes exceeding the maximum sentence for the alleged crime. For example, in November 2015 authorities arrested Paulin Makaya, president of the opposition United for Congo Party for "incitement to public disorder" for organizing and participating in an unauthorized demonstration in October 2015 against the constitutional referendum. Makaya remained in pretrial detention for six months before his trial began on June 13. Lengthy pretrial detentions were primarily due to the judicial system's lack of capacity and political will. The penal code defines three levels of crime: the misdemeanor (punishable by less than one year in jail), the delict (punishable by one to five years in jail), and the felony (punishable by more than five years in jail). Criminal courts try misdemeanor and delict cases regularly. The judicial system, however, suffered from a serious backlog of felony cases. By law criminal courts must hear felony cases four times per year. This was not possible because the ministry received funding irregularly for processing the more expensive and legally complex felony cases. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest, arbitrary detention, and false arrest, and provide detainees the right to challenge the legal basis of their detention before a competent judge or authority. If an investigating judge determines a detainee to be innocent, his or her release is promptly ordered, and he or she is entitled to file suit against the government for miscarriage of justice with the Administrative Court. The government generally did not observe the law. Local human rights NGOs reported numerous occasions when officials denied detainees in Brazzaville the right to challenge their detention. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial Although the constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, the judiciary continued to be overburdened, underfunded, and subject to political influence and corruption. Authorities generally abided by court orders; however, judges did not always issue direct court orders against accused authorities. In rural areas traditional courts continued to handle many local disputes, particularly property, inheritance, and witchcraft cases, and domestic conflicts that could not be resolved within the family. Trial Procedures The constitution provides for the right to a fair trial presided over by an independent judiciary, but authorities did not always respect this right. In 2011 the Ministry of Justice began to decentralize the trial process. Appeals courts existed in five departments Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Dolisie, Owando, and Ouesso and each had authority to try felony cases brought within its jurisdiction. Defendants have the right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges, with free interpretation as necessary. Defendants have a right to a fair and public trial in all criminal cases and felony cases. Defendants in all criminal trials have the right to be present at their trials and to consult with an attorney in a timely manner, although this did not always occur. The law obligates the government to provide legal assistance to any indigent defendant facing serious criminal charges, but such legal assistance was not always available because the government did not generally pay for public defenders. Defendants have the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense. The defense has the right to access government-held evidence. Defendants also have the right to confront or question accusers and witnesses against them and present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Defendants have the right not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt and have the right to appeal. The law extends these rights to all citizens, and the government generally abided by these provisions, except in highly politicized cases. Political Prisoners and Detainees During the year NGOs reported authorities held 131 political prisoners, who had publicly opposed another term for the incumbent president; some cases dated back to August 2015. A total of 88 others were detained since January. For example, authorities arrested senior campaign officials of opposition presidential candidates the week following the March 20 presidential election, including Jean Ngouabi, Jacques Banagandzala, Anatole Limbongo Ngoka, Christine Moyen, Dieudonne Dhird, Raymond Ebonga, and Serge Blanchard Oba. In addition, the government put several opposition figures under house arrest or had their houses surrounded by security forces. On April 6, Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas, the declared runner-up in the presidential election, reported his house was under police surveillance for several weeks. Security forces reportedly surrounded the house of opposition candidate Okombi Salissa; the candidate's actual whereabouts were unknown. From April 13 until April 20, security forces surrounded the private residence of candidate Claudine Munari. Security forces also surrounded the residence of retired general Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko, the candidate who came in third officially with 14 percent of vote. On June 14, authorities arrested Mokoko on charges of posing a threat to national security and possession of weapons of war. He faced an additional charge on August 17 of disturbing public order. On August 18, authorities denied him provisional release and as of year's end, he remained in detention in Brazzaville. The government permitted limited access to political prisoners by international human rights and humanitarian organizations, and diplomatic missions. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies In contrast to felony courts, civil courts reviewed cases on a regular basis throughout the year. Civil courts experienced long delays although shorter than felony courts but were considered functional. Individuals may file a lawsuit in court on civil matters related to human rights, including seeking damages for or cessation of a human rights violation. The public, however, generally lacked confidence in the judicial system's ability to address human rights problems. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution and law prohibit such actions; the government, however, did not always respect these prohibitions. There were reports government authorities entered homes without judicial or other appropriate authorization; monitored private communications without appropriate legal authority, including e-mail, text messaging, or other digital communications intended to remain private; monitored private movements; accessed personal data and employed informer systems. For example, on March 31, police issued fines of 500,000 CFA francs, ($856) under threat of permanent closure to shop owners who had closed during a March 29 general stay-at-home strike called by the opposition to protest the provisional results of the presidential election, announced on March 22. Between January and June, there were dozens of reports police entered homes without judicial authorization, often in the middle of the night, to conduct searches and arrests. g. Abuses in Internal Conflict Killings: Multiple sources reported at least one death resulting from violence on April 4 in Brazzaville; in October the government asserted that militiamen called Ninja/Nsiloulou killed 17 persons. A UN report cited one civilian death resulting from a security force operation launched on April 5 in the southern Pool region as well as multiple injuries to civilians fleeing their homes. The government reported that 14 persons, including 11 civilians, died during a September 30 attack on a freight train by Ninja militia in the southern Pool region. Physical Abuse, Punishment, and Torture: A joint UN-Congolese government report cited an increase in indicators of sexual violence toward women and teenage girls corresponding to security operations in the southern Pool region. Other Conflict-related Abuse: From April 5 to May 6, the government deliberately restricted the passage of relief supplies, food, drinking water, and medical aid by impartial international humanitarian organizations like the United Nations. On April 6, a government helicopter strafed an empty elementary school in the village of Vindza and medical centers in Mayama in the southern Pool region. The government-led security operation forcibly displaced thousands of civilians for reasons other than military necessity. A UN humanitarian report said the government systematically burned and destroyed approximately half of homes in some villages in the region. According to NGOs, authorities ordered villagers in the region to flee the area, obligating them to walk many miles to larger urban areas. NGOs also reported a series of lootings by security forces in the region. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, but authorities often restricted these rights for those supporting political opponents. The government increased its media restrictions and journalist intimidation by closing one newspaper and radio station, disrupting the local retransmission signals of international media, and arresting three journalists. Freedom of Speech and Expression: Individuals could criticize the government publicly or privately on relatively minor issues but risked reprisal, including arrest and prolonged detention, if they named high-level officials while criticizing government policies. The constitution provides for freedom of expression in all forms of communication and prohibits censorship. The constitution, however, criminalizes speech that incites ethnic hatred, violence, or civil war and makes it punishable by no less than five years in jail. It also criminalizes any act or event that promotes racism or xenophobia. Authorities cited this law at least once during the year in the context of closing the satirical newspaper Sel Piment. Press and Media Freedoms: There was one official state-owned newspaper, La Nouvelle Republique, which published irregularly, and approximately 100 private publications, most of which were closely aligned with the government; others occasionally criticized the government. One daily newspaper that received government funding and a semiweekly newspaper founded by the Catholic Church were the only publications with circulation outside Brazzaville. Most citizens obtained their news from local retransmission of international media and local radio or television stations. Approximately 95 radio stations, three of which were government-owned, and 26 television stations, two of which were government-owned, operated with limited coverage throughout the country. Tele-Congo and Radio Congo, both government-owned, were the only stations with nationwide coverage. Tele-Congo did not cover many events that took a critical view of the government. The majority of radio and television stations not owned by the government had low bandwidth, did not reach large parts of the country, and were owned by politicians or members of the government. Satellite television services were available for the few who could afford them. By law media outlets are required to register with the Superior Council for Liberty of Communication (CSLC), the independent media regulatory body whose director is selected by the president. According to its charter, the CSLC is authorized to impose financial sanctions on any media outlet that violates media regulations. The law requires journalists to have a press card issued by the CSLC. To get a press card, journalists must provide evidence of their training or degree in journalism, a criminal background check, and a residency card and also have their names submitted by their former employer. Freelance journalists must apply through a CSLC-registered entity. Authorities may subject journalists without press cards to arrest and imprisonment, although according to freelance journalists, authorities did not enforce the law, and many journalists operated freely without a press card. Government journalists generally were not independent, and the majority of journalists and editors practiced self-censorship and promoted the editorial views of media owners, most of whom were current or former government officials. Newspapers occasionally published open letters written by government opponents. Violence and Harassment: There were multiple reports of direct and indirect intimidation by the government. For example, on February 9, Alphonse Ndongo, a journalist with the online news website Congo Jeune Afrique Economy, reported several men in civilian clothes beat him at Maya Maya airport in Brazzaville while waiting for presidential candidate General Jean Michel Mokoko (ret.) to arrive. Reporters from DRTV, a local private television station, also reported that police stripped them of their property while they attempted to cover the same event. Eyewitnesses reported police fired tear gas and used physical force to disperse the remaining crowd of journalists and onlookers. Thugs from busses with no license plates threw large rocks at the candidate and the crowd. On March 23, following the presidential election, unknown assailants attacked and robbed three international journalists who were departing a press conference at the campaign headquarters of Mokoko in Brazzaville. On March 30, police arrested Franck Mboungou, managing editor of local newspaper Pole Pole, a publication critical of the government. On April 11, police arrested journalist Guy Milex Mboundzi, reportedly for his attempted coverage of the opposition. The director of the Talassa Media Group alleged that on July 22, authorities searched his house without judicial authorization under the pretext of searching for weapons and ammunition. Additional reports of alleged intimidation included the following: police use of nonlethal force against journalists attempting to report on sensitive events; attempts to prevent journalists sympathetic to the opposition from traveling internationally; telephone calls from official and anonymous persons warning journalists not to use footage of politically sensitive events; removing journalists from positions of leadership for covering opposition candidates and platforms during the campaign period; administrative closures and withdrawal of operating licenses of private news organizations; and pressure on news outlets not to run certain stories or footage. Censorship or Content Restrictions: On January 22, the CSLC suspended Sel Piment for inciting tribal hatred and undermining national cohesion. Several newspaper suspensions imposed since 2013 continued, including those of Le Nouveau Regard, La Verite, and La Voix du Peuple. Private newspapers and websites affiliated with government officials received no sanctions for falsehoods they published. Most independent and government-employed journalists continued to practice self-censorship. There were no reports the government revoked journalists' accreditations if their reporting reflected adversely on the government's image, but journalists reported a fear of termination from their government positions for doing so. Libel/Slander Laws: The press law provides for monetary penalties and suspension of a publication's permission to print for defamation and incitement to violence. National Security: On several occasions throughout the year, journalists reported authorities cited laws protecting national security to restrict media distribution of material that criticized government policies or public officials. For example, on April 10, citing national security concerns, police blocked journalists from Radio France International from travelling to Kinkala to cover government-initiated security operations in the southern Pool region. Internet Freedom The government disrupted communication networks and internet access used to enable persons to assemble peacefully prior to elections or planned demonstrations during the year. For example, on March 20, the government cut most internet links, fiber optic networks, Short Message Service (SMS) services, and cellular voice service, effectively preventing the transmission of parallel vote counts by candidate representatives throughout the country. Authorities intermittently restored voice service on March 24, but internet and SMS services remained almost completely unavailable until March 26. According to the International Telecommunication Union, approximately 7 percent of individuals used the internet in 2015. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events In December 2015 authorities banned actor, director, and playwright Dieudonne Niangouna from participating in an international theater festival in Brazzaville after he published an open letter criticizing the president for having held a referendum on a new constitution that allowed him to run for president again. Self-censorship was common in academia and at cultural events, especially in universities, where there was little room for public discourse on politically sensitive topics. University-level professors were not always intellectually independent, since many held second jobs as close advisors to government officials. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly; however, the government did not respect this right during the campaign period prior to the March 20 presidential election. For example, officials temporarily blocked at least two opposition candidates from visiting the northern region of Likouala during the official campaign period. The government required groups that wished to hold public assemblies to seek authorization from the Ministry of Interior and Decentralization and appropriate local officials. Both the ministry and local officials sometimes withheld authorization for meetings they claimed might threaten public order. They also created unnecessary obstacles to gaining authorization and called police to disperse meetings they claimed had not received proper authorization. On June 16, authorities stopped the Initiative for Democracy in Congo-Republican Front for the Respect of Constitutional Order and Democratic Change (IDC-FROCAD), a coalition regrouping most major opposition figures, from holding a press conference in Brazzaville to condemn the incarceration of opposition leader and candidate General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko. Freedom of Association The constitution and law provide for freedom of association, and the government sometimes respected this right. Political, social, or economic groups or associations were required to register with the Ministry of Interior and Decentralization. Authorities sometimes subjected registration to political influence. According to a local NGO, groups that spoke openly against the government encountered overt or veiled threats and found the registration process more time-consuming. Between February and April, members of Ras-le-Bol ("enough is enough") a political youth activist group whose members had been arrested for politically oriented activities in the past reported numerous direct threats from police to stop their activities. Police officially summoned two of the group's members. Other members reported police harassed their families and friends to ascertain their whereabouts. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The government generally respected these rights for refugees and asylum seekers, but not for undocumented immigrants from the DRC in the country's larger cities. The government usually cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons, refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. Abuse of Migrants, Refugees, and Stateless Persons: Authorities harassed and arbitrarily arrested refugees on a regular basis, forcing them to pay small bribes to avoid arrest or obtain release. Police, specifically the intelligence police, arrested at least 145 refugees during the year, including 105 in Brazzaville and 40 in the northern town of Betou. In 27 cases police cited irregular immigration as the cause for arrest, despite the refugees carrying valid identification cards indicating refugee status. For example, police regularly arrested CAR refugees, claiming they no longer had refugee status since the war in CAR had ended. Dozens of refugees reported that police used physical violence against them during their arrest and detention. On three separate occasions, refugees reported violent physical harassment by police and military members who demanded money from them outside a detention center. On March 11, intelligence police arrested without charge Rwandan refugee Bonfiface Uzaribara; as of October 20, he remained in detention. Authorities denied human rights organizations, UNHCR, and Uzaribara's family and lawyer access to visit him in detention. UNHCR reported 28 cases of rape from January through September, 19 of which involved rape of a minor and 15 of which occurred frequently at a refugee camp in Betou. Soldiers allegedly committed two of the rapes in the northern Likuala region. Rape and sexual abuse commonly occurred during the initial flight; many women and girls engaged in survival sex in exchange for protection, material goods, or money. Women often remained with abusive partners who offered protection during the flight and subsequently reported domestic abuse and marital rape. The vast majority of gender-based violence incidents went unreported because complaints could take three or more years before courts examined them. Families of victims often preferred settlements through traditional justice mechanisms of negotiating directly with the perpetrators. UNHCR's protection officers and medical partners provided medical, psychosocial, and legal assistance to victims of gender-based violence, including rape. During the year there was a national shortage of rape kits and HIV testing to respond to victims. Refugees had equal access to community health centers and hospitals but reported discriminatory treatment at some hospitals, including insults by medical personnel and not being treated in priority order relative to their medical condition. Refugees had equal legal recourse for criminal complaints (for example, rape) and civil disputes. Foreign Travel: The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, but the government repeatedly violated these rights, especially for opposition politicians and supporters attempting to depart the country. By law all citizens are eligible for a national passport. The government, however, lacked the capacity to produce passports in sufficient numbers to meet demand and prioritized providing passports to those individuals who could demonstrate imminent need to travel or who had strong government connections. Obtaining a passport was a time-consuming and difficult process for most persons. Internally Displaced Persons The April 4 gunfire and explosions in Brazzaville displaced more than 17,000 persons, who fled their neighborhoods for safer parts of the city. The government blamed the Ninja/Nsiloulou, a former rebel group from the 1997-2003 civil war. Their leader, Pastor Ntumi, denied responsibility, and many suspected that the entire operation may have been coordinated by elements of the government as a political distraction prior the Constitutional Court's declaration of final presidential election results and to perpetuate a climate of fear and intimidation to prevent protests. Churches in the neighborhood of Plateau de 15 Ans in Brazzaville hosted approximately 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) for approximately one week. There were reports of military personnel robbing IDPs as they passed through checkpoints. Two women reportedly gave birth while displaced. On April 5, the government launched security operations in the Pool region outside of Brazzaville to search for Ntumi. During the operation thousands more in the Pool region were displaced from their homes (see section 1.g.). Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has a system for providing protection to refugees but not asylum seekers. There are no laws recognizing asylum seekers nor any laws implementing the protections afforded in the 1951 Refugee Convention, to which the government is a signatory. During the year the country hosted 46,049 refugees, 4,134 asylum seekers, and 3,087 persons of concern. The National Refugee Assistance Committee (CNAR), a joint committee under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, handled applications for refugee status. The CNAR received most of its operating budget from UNHCR. According to UNHCR, the CNAR eligibility board processed 129 asylum cases during the year; seven cases were granted refugee status, three cases were put on hold for further processing, and 119 cases were denied refugee status. There were no cases processed by the appeal board during the year. The country saw an influx of persons fleeing violence in the CAR beginning in 2012. According to UNHCR, as of October 1, the country hosted 29,304 CAR refugees and asylum seekers. As of July 2015, the government stopped granting prima facie status to refugees fleeing from the CAR. During the year UNHCR registered 2,078 CAR asylum seekers, but the government did not register the asylum claims until August. With the support of UNHCR, the CNAR adopted an expedited procedure to process asylum requests. Since August 29, the government registered 240 asylum-seeking families from the CAR (560 individuals), none of which were processed by the government's eligibility board for refugee status. Local integration for refugees in the country was particularly difficult due to the cost of acquiring a residence permit, 350,000 CFA francs ($600). UNHCR was not aware of any refugees who obtained a residency card or alternative status as of October 20. Employment: The law does not address employment for refugees, but various government decrees prohibit foreigners, including refugees, from practicing small trade activities and working in the public transportation sector. Following the operation to expel undocumented migrants in 2014, police aggressively implemented these laws, resulting in sudden and mass unemployment of refugees. According to UNHCR, on multiple occasions during the year, refugees in Brazzaville reported police arbitrarily confiscated items they were selling, such as eggs and fruit, under threat of arrest or demand for a bribe. Several rural localities banned foreigners from continuing their farming activities. According to customary laws, property owners may require foreigners to pay an extra licensing fee to lease property or land. In recent years anecdotal evidence suggested quotas and excessive work permit fees limited refugee employment opportunities in the formal sector. Authorities required refugees to obtain two-year work permits that cost approximately 150,000 CFA francs ($260), approximately equivalent to three months' salary. Many refugees worked informally in the agriculture sector to obtain food. Some refugees farmed land that belonged to local nationals in exchange for a percentage of the harvest or a cash payment. Access to Basic Services: In July UNHCR received reports from refugees that a local government authority in Likuala started a registration operation for all foreigners in the region, including refugees, requiring a payment of 500 CFA francs ($0.85) for documents that under law are free of charge. In July local authorities ceased the registration operation after complaints from the international community. UNHCR-funded primary schooling was accessible to most refugees. During the academic year, primary schools enrolled 9,226 refugee children, including 4,489 girls. Authorities severely limited access to secondary and vocational education for refugees. Most secondary education teachers at such schools were refugees who either volunteered to teach or were paid by the parents of refugee children. There were 2,713 refugee children enrolled in secondary school, of whom 1,123 were girls. Durable Solutions: As of September 27, the country hosted 9,030 Rwandan refugees, 53 percent of whom were born in the Republic of the Congo, including 753 children unable to obtain birth certificates. According to UNHCR, in 2004-15 the government repatriated 445 Rwandan refugees. Since January the government repatriated seven additional Rwandan refugees. At a tripartite meeting in 2012, the governments of the Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, with UNHCR, agreed to invoke a cessation clause that would revoke the refugee status of Rwandans in the country beginning on June 30, 2013. As of that date, the agreement required Rwandan refugees to return to Rwanda, formalize their legal status in the Congo, or apply for refugee status based on individual claims due to particular circumstances. UNHCR reported that 4,029 Rwandans subject to the cessation clause filed exemption requests with the government. During the year the government completed determination interviews for all Rwandan refugees living in Brazzaville and Kintele, an estimated 1,400, but as of December, it had not made a decision on their status. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and law provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Nevertheless, irregularities restricting this ability occurred in the 2009 presidential, 2012 legislative and 2014 local elections, October 2015 referendum, and the March 2016 presidential elections. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: Long-serving incumbent President Denis Sassou N'Guesso was declared winner of the March 20 presidential election in the first round with 60.29 percent of the vote, according to official figures published by the Constitutional Court on April 4. The court cited a 68.92 percent voter turnout among the more than two million eligible voters, with a 100 percent voter turnout in at least three regions. The Constitutional Court rejected a challenge filed by second-place candidate Parfait Kolelas on technical grounds. Throughout the election period, local and international observer groups and diplomatic missions reported widespread fraud and irregularities. Some observer groups deemed the elections free and fair, but observers from these groups later admitted the government underwrote their work. On February 1, the interior minister issued a decree scheduling the official presidential campaign period to run from March 4 to March 18. Candidates were able to submit applications to run as president from February 5 to 25. Applicants were required to submit a medical certificate, and prospective candidates were required to pay a nonrefundable deposit of 25,000 CFA francs ($43). The government enacted a few electoral reforms, such as an electoral commission with an independent budget and the use of a single ballot. On March 4, candidate Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko called for a delay of the vote, complaining that the electoral register was inadequate and the new electoral commission was not truly independent. In advance of the election, the government limited international observation credentials for diplomatic mission to three staff per mission, in stark contrast to previous elections. On March 20, election day, authorities banned the use of motor vehicles and cut internet, SMS, and cell phone service for 48 hours, with few exceptions. While authorities restored some services, a partial communication blackout lasted until March 26. Also on election day, international observers witnessed a number of irregularities including: incorrect voter lists; inconsistency in ballot boxes; prefilled voting tally sheets for voter stations in Brazzaville; polling officials allowing and encouraging underage and multiple voting, and instructing voters to vote only for the incumbent; polling stations opening late, and without adequate supplies; polling officials refusing entry to accredited international observers; payments provided to voters to vote for certain candidates; lack of uniform enforcement of voter ID requirements; polling officials, at separate locations, loyal to either the incumbent president or opposition candidates, blocking entry to voters supporting opposing candidates; ruling party loyalists impersonating representatives of other candidates; not posting final vote tally sheets on the exterior wall of polling stations as required; burning ballots after the polling station count; and prohibiting observation at regional and national vote compilation centers. The electoral law specified the deadline for filing any challenge as five days after the date of the announcement of provisional results. The legal texts did not specify calendar days or working days for filing challenges, resulting in confusion among opposition candidates over the actual deadline, particularly during a period when some communications means were still blocked, making it difficult to relay results outside the capital. Thousands of persons were paid to attend and transported to propresidential rallies and voting stations using government resources, while opposition supporters faced intimidation and security restrictions on attending their rallies or in trying to vote, according to numerous eyewitness and media accounts. Political Parties and Political Participation: Many of the opposition parties aligned with two major coalitions during the year, FROCAD and the IDC, to create a unified IDC-FROCAD coalition. Remaining parties allied with the presidential majority. There were attempts to impede criticism of the government through arrests and routine disruption of political meetings. For example, on March 8, police used tear gas to disperse a crowd supporting presidential candidate Claudine Munari in Pointe-Noire. On March 10, police blocked presidential candidate Andre Okombi Salissa and opposition platform president Charles Zacharie Bowao from leaving Brazzaville to travel to the northern city of Impfondo for campaign purposes. On the same day, police used tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered to see presidential candidate Parfait Kolelas in the St. Paul Parish in Dolisie. On March 17, police blocked Kolelas supporters in Brazzaville from attending a large campaign rally, despite the law not requiring permits for rallies during official political campaign seasons. In the weeks leading up to, and after the March 20 election, police and other internal security service personnel arrested dozens of opposition candidates, their campaign officials, and supporters. For example, from March 25 to 31, police arrested several campaign officials of presidential candidates Mokoko and Okombi Salissa. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit women's or minorities' political participation as voters or candidates. Observers suggested cultural constraints might limit the number of women in government. Sexual harassment discouraged women's participation in political activities. There were 10 women in the 72-seat senate and 13 women in the 139-seat national assembly. There were eight women in the 38-member cabinet appointed on April 30. In 2014 the president signed a law requiring that women make up 30 percent of each party's slate of candidates for local or legislative elections. The 2015 constitution granted parity for women in political positions and mandated the creation of a national advisory council for women, but it did not specify whether the promotion of parity related to pay, benefits, appointment to political positions, or other issues. The political process excludes many indigenous persons. Reasons included their isolation in remote areas, lack of registration, cultural barriers, and stigmatization by the majority Bantu population (see section 6). For example, a local government official reported that during the October 2015 referendum, the voting booth in Sibiti, a rural city with many indigenous persons, was open for only 30 minutes, from 7:30-8:00 a.m. Because indigenous communities in outer villages must travel several hours to reach Sibiti, no one reportedly voted. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides for criminal penalties for corruption by officials; however, the government did not implement the law effectively, and many officials engaged in corrupt practices with impunity, despite the president's call for an end to corruption in his inauguration speech April 16. According to the World Bank's most recent Worldwide Governance Indicators, government corruption was a severe problem, although the bank and the International Monetary Fund noted the government continued anticorruption reforms. There was a widespread perception of corruption throughout government, including misuse of revenues from the oil and forestry sectors. Some local and international organizations claimed some government officials, through bribes or other fraud, regularly diverted revenues from these sectors into private overseas accounts before officially declaring the remaining revenues. Corruption: On April 22, French authorities seized two luxury apartments in Paris owned by First Lady Antoinette Sassou N'Guesso, the result of an investigation of ill-gotten gains first started in 2010. In February French authorities seized 15 luxury vehicles belonging to members of the Sassou family and in September 2015 seized a luxury property in France titled in the name of President Sassou's nephew. In August international media reported the president's son Denis-Christel N'Guesso sold exclusive mining rights to Australian mining company Sundance in exchange for 30 percent of profits, according to leaked internal company documents. Denis-Christel Sassou N'Guesso denied involvement. Financial Disclosure: The constitution mandates that senior elected or appointed officials disclose their financial interests and holdings both before taking office and upon leaving office. Failure to do so is legal grounds for dismissal from a senior position. The Constitutional Court is tasked with enforcement of this constitutional provision; however, authorities did not enforce this provision, and no financial disclosure statements were made public during the year. One official noted that disclosure of assets could lead to attacks on personal property of elected officials by opposition supporters as occurred prior to the referendum. The autonomous agency National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF) is tasked with investigating suspicious financial transactions and, if necessary, forwarding the information to competent judicial authorities. Its mandate is primarily related to the fight against money laundering and transnational criminal groups; however, ANIF's mandate extends to transactions by government officials as well. Public Access to Information: The constitution and law provide for public access to government information for citizens, noncitizens, and the foreign media; however, authorities did not effectively implement the law. Processing fees were nominal for requests for information, although there were generally lengthy delays before the government released information, if at all. Individuals may appeal denials of access to information to the Constitutional Court, but the court did not hear denial appeals. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A number of domestic and international human rights groups occasionally operated without government restriction during their investigations and when publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials were no more cooperative with and responsive to international groups than with domestic human rights groups. Some domestic human rights groups tended not to report on specific incidents due to fear of reprisal by the government, while others were denied access or permission to perform assessments. For example, several local human rights organizations were denied access to conduct humanitarian assessment missions in the Pool region after the government initiated security operations in response to April 4 violence in Brazzaville. Following election-related violence, authorities refused human rights NGOs and journalists' entry to morgues normally open to the public. On February 26, security officials refused entry to Amnesty International's deputy regional director for West and Central Africa despite his having a valid visa, invitation letter, and confirmations of meetings with authorities. Officials confiscated his passport and held him overnight at the airport in Brazzaville before expelling him the following day to Dakar. Other international human rights organizations that requested access to the region, such as U.K.-based Amnesty International, and French-based International Federation for Human Rights, were denied. On April 19, the minister of communication and a government spokesperson told reporters that access to the Pool region had been denied to organizations whose aim was to "criticize national authorities and conduct biased and one-sided investigations." The United Nations or Other International Bodies: In April the government initially delayed approval of a request for access to the Pool region by a UN humanitarian assessment team. In May, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urged President Sassou to "ensure that humanitarian and other relevant actors are granted access to the affected areas." From June 7 to 11, the government permitted access to the UN assessment team, arranging for it to work with a team from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action. Government Human Rights Bodies: The government-sponsored HRC is charged with acting as a government watchdog and addressing public concerns on human rights problems. Some civil society members claimed the commission was completely ineffective, lacked independence, was primarily composed of persons who had no expertise in human rights, and was created to appease the international community. The president appointed most, if not all, of its members. The president of the commission, Jean Martin Mbemba, was the subject of a long-running political crime trial, but authorities permitted him to leave the country in 2014 to undergo medical treatment in France. The vice president of the commission, Maurice Massengo Tiasse, fled into hiding for several days in October 2015 after police raided his independent radio station, and he subsequently fled the country. On October 12, following his filing a human rights report with the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the government issued an international arrest warrant for Tiasse for illegal possession of state weapons and ammunition and endangering the security of the state. The HRC did not undertake any activities directly responding to human rights problems in the country during the year. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape is illegal, but the government did not effectively enforce the law. The law prescribes five to 10 years in prison for violators. According to a local women's group, however, penalties actually imposed for rape ranged from as few as several months' imprisonment to rarely more than three years. NGOs and women's advocacy groups reported rape, especially spousal rape, was common. A local NGO noted 332 rapes reported in the first nine months of the year, adding that this figure likely represented only a small fraction of rapes actually committed. The cost to obtain a police report verifying rape was 30,000 CFA francs ($50). Authorities prosecuted fewer than 25 percent of reported rapes, according to local and international NGOs. According to the Association for Progressive Communications, a regional NGO, medical rape kits were available only in Brazzaville. In Pointe-Noire, only HIV tests were free for rape victims; all other laboratory tests were at the expense of the patient. Domestic violence against women, including rape and beatings, was widespread but rarely reported. There were no specific provisions in the law outlawing spousal battery other than general statutes prohibiting assault. The extended family or village traditionally dealt with domestic violence matters, and victims reported only more extreme incidents to police because of victims' fears of social stigma and retaliation and a lack of confidence in the courts. Local NGOs sponsored domestic violence awareness campaigns and workshops. Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is illegal. Generally, the penalty is two to five years in prison. In particularly egregious cases, the penalty may equal the 10-year prison sentence maximum for rape. The government did not effectively enforce these laws. No official statistics were available, but according to local NGOs, sexual harassment was very common but rarely reported. Sexual harassment discouraged women's participation in political, economic, and social activities. According to women's rights activists and students at Marien Ngouabi University, professors systematically sexually harassed female students, demanding sexual favors in return for good grades and recommendations. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence, but often lacked the information and means to do so. Emergency health care normally was not provided for abortion, since most of the population believed it to be illegal, and abortion is not allowed in public hospitals (there are no private hospitals). There are no restrictions on the right to access contraceptives. NGOs and individuals reported that a previously funded government program to make available male and female contraceptives free of charge as part of anti-HIV and AIDS efforts had received no funding and was discontinued. The UN Population Division estimated 20.7 percent of girls and women ages 15 to 45 used a modern method of contraception in 2015. In 2015 a joint assessment by the World Bank and several UN organizations, including the World Health Organization, estimated there were 442 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (up from 410 per 100,000 in 2013). During the year NGOs reported local health clinics and public hospitals were generally in poor condition and lacked experienced health-care staff. For example, in the rural villages outside Sibiti, there were five medical clinics serving five villages, none of which had a doctor on staff. Women desiring to give birth at a hospital with skilled attendants had to travel three hours to the closest hospital located in Sibiti. According to a local government official, women sometimes died in labor on the way to the hospital. Women from both the indigenous and other rural communities suffered disproportionate rates of fistula due to unattended childbirth and rape. Despite the law mandating free emergency obstetric care and Caesarian sections, women had to provide their own medical equipment for doctors to use during the operations, which cost 100,000 CFA francs ($170). Discrimination: Both customary marriage and family laws and civil laws enacted by the government govern the rights of women, children, and extended families. Adultery is illegal for both women and men, although the penalty differs. Under civil law the husband can receive only a fine for adultery, while the wife can receive a prison sentence. A man committing adultery with a married woman can receive the same prison sentence as the adulterous woman in addition to a fine. For marriages celebrated under local custom, the penalties do not apply except in cases where customary polygyny is specifically renounced or by a subsequent civil marriage. Polygyny is legal, while polyandry is not. The family code divides a husband's estate among a surviving spouse, children, and extended family. Women experienced discrimination in divorce settlements, especially in regard to retaining property and financial assets. According to a local NGO, widows often were not accorded their legal rights of land and property inheritance. The law limits bride wealth to a symbolic amount of 50,000 CFA francs ($85), although families negotiated much higher amounts. By law men are considered the head of the household, unless the father becomes incapacitated or abandons the family. The law dictates that in the absence of an agreement between spouses, men shall choose the residence of the family. Women experienced economic discrimination with respect to employment, credit, equal pay, and owning or managing businesses. Access to education and wage employment continued to improve slowly for women, particularly in urban areas. A few local and international NGOs had microcredit programs for women, and government ministries, including those of social affairs and agriculture, helped women create small income-producing businesses. Children Birth Registration: Children acquire citizenship from their parents. Birth within the territory of the country does not automatically confer citizenship, although exceptions exist for children born of missing or stateless parents, or children born of foreign parents, at least one of whom was also born in the Congo. The government does not require registration of births; it is up to parents to request birth registration for a child. A birth certificate is necessary, however, for school enrollment and other services. Indigenous people, particularly those living in remote villages, had difficulty registering, since registration offices were located only in district and provincial capitals. Education: Education is compulsory, tuition-free, and universal until age 16, but families are required to pay for books, uniforms, and health insurance fees. School enrollment was generally higher in urban areas. Specific data were lacking, but most indigenous children could not attend school because they did not have birth certificates or could not afford the 1,200 CFA francs ($2) per month insurance fee. School facilities were overcrowded and poorly maintained, especially in rural areas. Girls and boys attended primary school in approximately equal numbers; however, boys were five times more likely than girls to go to high school and four times more likely than girls in high school to go to a university. Child Abuse: Child abuse was not commonly reported to authorities, but NGOs reported it was prevalent. Early and Forced Marriage: The law prohibits child marriage, and the legal age for marriage is 18 years for women and 21 for men. Underage marriage is possible with a judge's permission and with the permission of both sets of parents; the law does not specify a minimum age in such a case. In practice many couples engaged in an informal common-law marriage not legally recognized, while grooms saved for a legally recognized traditional, court, or church wedding. According to the UN Population Fund, 33 percent of women 20 to 24 years old were married by the age of 18 in 2009, although the government expressed skepticism that the percentage was so high. There was no government program focused on preventing early or forced marriage. The penalty for forced marriage between an adult and child is a prison sentence of three months to two years and a fine of 150,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs ($255 to $2,555). Sexual Exploitation of Children: A child protection code provides penalties for crimes against children such as trafficking, pornography, neglect, and abuse. Penalties for these crimes range from forced labor to fines of up to 10 million CFA francs ($17,123) and prison sentences of several years. The penalty for child pornography includes a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine up to 500,000 CFA francs ($856). The minimum age for consensual sex is 18. The maximum penalty for sex with a minor is five years' imprisonment and a fine of 10 million CFA francs ($17,035). The government appointed special judges to hear cases pertaining to children at the Court of Appeals, but the court heard no cases during the year. A lack of specificity in the child protection code was an obstacle to successful prosecution. There were cases of children, particularly those who lived on the streets in the larger cities, subjected to sexual exploitation. Authorities increasingly enforced laws that prohibit the exploitation of children, including sexual exploitation. A 2013 study by the International Organization for Migration indicated the majority of children subjected to commercial sexual exploitation originated in the DRC. The extent of sex trafficking and exploitation of children in rural areas remained unclear. Displaced Children: During April there were large numbers of internally displaced children in Brazzaville as well as the southern Pool region due to insecurity from attacks and security operations (see section 1 g.). International organizations assisted with programs to feed and shelter street children, the majority of whom lived in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire and were believed to be from the DRC. Many begged, while others sold cheap or stolen goods to support themselves. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism There was a very small Jewish community. There were no known reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law specifically prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or in the provision of other state services, including the justice system. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action is the lead ministry responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. In 2009 the ministry introduced a national plan to provide access for persons with disabilities, and the ministry's 2013-16 Social Plan of Action includes an eight-point plan for improving the lives of such persons. There are no laws, however, mandating access for persons with disabilities. The government did not take action during the year to provide equal access for persons with disabilities to public spaces or transportation. The government provides special schools for students with hearing disabilities in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. The government mainstreamed children with vision disabilities and children with physical disabilities into regular public schools. In 2014 the government started a school to train social workers, teachers for children with disabilities, and sign language instructors. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities The law prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity. Regional ethnic discrimination existed, but it was not as prevalent as in the years following the civil war that ended in 2003, which divided the country largely along regional and ethnic lines. Discrimination was not evident in private-sector hiring and buying patterns or in the provision of government services such as education, health, or housing. There were no episodes of regional or ethnic violence reported during the year. The perception of regional and ethnic bias was most acute in the upper echelons of government. Although the relationships among ethnic, regional, and political equities could be difficult to discern due to substantial intermarriage and increased geographic mobility over recent generations, a large portion of the general officer corps consisted of individuals from the northern departments. Indigenous People According to UN Children's Fund and local NGOs, indigenous people throughout the country, in both remote and urban areas, were severely marginalized with regard to employment, health services, housing, and education, in part due to their geographic isolation and different cultural norms. Many indigenous people in remote areas were not aware of the concept of voting and had minimal ability to influence government decisions affecting their interests, despite government claims of high voter registration and participation in the presidential election. Other indigenous communities living in more-urban areas understood the concept of political participation but feared harassment by members of the Bantu population for participation and lacked access to travel to voting booths. Indigenous communities living among the majority Bantu populations lived in substandard housing on the perimeters of villages. A community activist reported that beatings and killings of indigenous people by Bantus were common in rural areas. Bantus often forced indigenous people to work in their fields for little to no pay and refused to purchase food from indigenous vendors. A government official reported that indigenous women and girls suffered from gender-based violence, and teenage pregnancy among indigenous girls was common. Bantu men often impregnated indigenous girls and later denied paternity, offering no child support. Indigenous women suffered from a disproportionate rate of fistulas resulting from unattended childbirth and rape. A local authority reported that logging activity had displaced both forest dwelling communities and wildlife on which they depended. A 2011 law provides special status and recognition for indigenous populations. Additionally, Article 16 of the 2015 constitution stipulates the state shall provide promotion and protection of indigenous peoples' rights. The government did not implement these laws. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity There is no law that specifically prohibits consensual same-sex sexual conduct. The penal code prescribes imprisonment of three months to two years and a fine for those who commit a "public outrage against decency." The law prescribes a punishment of six months to three years and a fine for anyone who "commits a shameless act or an act against nature with an individual of the same sex under the age of 21." Authorities did not invoke the law to arrest or prosecute lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) persons. On occasion, however, police officers harassed gay men and claimed the law prohibited same-sex sexual activity to elicit a small bribe. There are no laws that limit freedom of speech or assembly specifically for LGBTI persons. The Association in Support of Vulnerable Groups, a gay rights NGO, sits on the National HIV/AIDS Committee, whose meetings the president or the minister of health chairs. A second organization, Arc de Ciel, represents the interests of gay homeless youth in Brazzaville. There was no known advocacy group to represent the interests of LGBTI individuals in the country. There were no known cases of violence against LGBTI individuals during the year. Although at the official level authorities did not discriminate against LGBTI persons, gay men, particularly the young and the poor, reportedly were vulnerable. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma Public opinion polls conducted by the World Bank in 2012 showed significant societal discrimination against individuals with HIV/AIDS. The law provides penalties for unlawful divulgence of medical records by practitioners, negligence in treatment by health-care professionals, family abandonment, and unwarranted termination of employment. Civil society organizations advocating for the rights of persons with HIV/AIDS were fairly well organized and sought fair treatment, especially regarding employment. Other Societal Violence or Discrimination After the government launched security operations in the Pool region in April, there were more than 20 incidents of highway robbery and carjacking in the region, largely populated by Lari people. Many of these incidents involved violence, and there were confirmed cases of rape, shooting, beating, and stabbing. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the right of workers except members of the security forces and other services "essential for protecting the general interest," including members of the armed forces, police, gendarmerie, and some personnel at ports and airports to form and join unions of their choice without previous authorization or excessive requirements. The law allows unions to conduct their activities without interference. Workers have the right to strike, provided they have exhausted all lengthy and complex conciliation and nonbinding arbitration procedures and given due notice. Participation in an unlawful strike constitutes serious misconduct and can result in criminal prosecution. The law requires the continuation of a minimum service in all public services as essential to protect the general interest. A minimum service requirement binds workers in essential services to a limit on the length of time they may strike. The employer determines the extent of the minimum service without negotiating with the parties to the dispute. Refusal to take part in providing the minimum service during strikes is considered gross misconduct. There were no known cases of workers in these essential services being terminated for violating the minimum service rule, likely due to the cumbersome termination process for civil servants. Instead, employers either transferred some workers who violated the rule to another service or denied them some job privileges. The law provides for the right to bargain collectively. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and requires the reinstatement of workers dismissed for union activity. The government generally did not effectively enforce applicable laws. Resources, inspections, and remediation were inadequate. There are no penalties for violations. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining were not always respected. Most unions were reportedly weak and subject to government influence due to corruption. As a result, in cases where demonstrations would run counter to the government's interest, the government persuaded union leaders to prevent workers from demonstrating. A dialogue continued between unions and the government on labor problems, such as basic salary scales and bonus structures. Salary increases for unionized state workers promised by the government as part of the dialogue in 2013 had yet to materialize for some categories of government employees. There were reports employers used hiring practices such as subcontracting and short-term contracts to circumvent laws prohibiting antiunion discrimination. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The constitution prohibits forced or compulsory labor unless imposed pursuant to a criminal penalty lawfully mandated by a court. The law, however, allows persons to be requisitioned for work of public interest and provides for their possible imprisonment if they refuse. The law prohibits the forcible or fraudulent abduction of persons, including young persons under 18, and imposes penalties for these criminal offenses. The government took steps to prevent and eliminate forced labor, but only relating to trafficked persons. Beginning in 2012 the government worked with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and a foreign partner to initiate a three-year program to train personnel on and draft complete trafficking-in-persons legislation that would include both adults and children. The bill awaited cabinet and parliamentary review before promulgation. The indigenous population was especially vulnerable to forced labor in the agricultural sector. In September indigenous rights activists in the southern cities of Sibiti and Dolisie reported that the majority population, called Bantus, often forced indigenous people to harvest manioc and other crops without pay and under the threat of physical abuse or death. Also see the Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment By law children under age 16 may not be employed, even as apprentices, without a waiver from the minister of national education. The law prohibits the following crimes against all children up to age 18: forced labor, trafficking and all forms of slavery; child soldiering and forced recruitment for child soldiering; prostitution; the use, procuring, or offering of a child for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances; and the use of children by an adult for illegal activities. The law includes specific ranges of penalties for violators of the worst forms of child labor. The maximum penalties for many of the most serious violations are 1.16 million CFA francs ($1,975) or five years in prison. According to a local antihuman-trafficking NGO and representatives from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action, the lack of capacity to prosecute offenders in the judicial system made possible penalties even less of a deterrent. Violators did not fear prosecution. The Ministry of Labor, which is responsible for enforcing child labor laws, concentrated its limited resources on the formal wage sector. Data on the number of children removed from child labor were not available, although the ministry reported authorities aided an NGO's efforts to rescue 10 children from trafficking. International aid groups reported little change in child labor conditions. Although there are laws and policies designed to protect children from exploitation in the workplace, child labor was a problem in the informal sector. Children, including children from Benin and the DRC, were subjected to domestic servitude, market vending, and forced agricultural and fishing work. Child victims experienced harsh treatment, long work hours, and almost no access to education or health services. Additionally, they received little or no remuneration for their work. There were no official government statistics on general child labor. Children as young as six, especially indigenous children in rural areas, often worked long hours in the fields harvesting cassava and carrying heavy loads of firewood. A local authority reported this was considered culturally acceptable, although not officially legal. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The constitution and law prohibit discrimination based on family background, ethnicity, social condition, age, political or philosophical beliefs, gender, religion, region of origin within the country, place of residence in the country, language, HIV-positive status, or disability. The constitution and law do not specifically prohibit discrimination against persons based on national origin or citizenship, sexual orientation or gender identity, or having communicable diseases other than HIV. The government did not effectively enforce these prohibitions. Labor law does not specifically reiterate these antidiscrimination provisions. Discrimination in employment and occupation sometimes occurred with respect to women, refugees, and indigenous people. While the law prohibits discrimination based on gender and stipulates women have the right to equal pay for equal work, women were underrepresented in the formal sector of the economy. Most women worked in the informal sector and thus had little or no access to employment benefits. Women in rural areas were especially disadvantaged in terms of education and wage employment, and they were confined largely to family farming, small-scale commerce, and child-rearing responsibilities. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The national minimum wage was 90,000 CFA francs ($153) per month in the formal sector. There was no official minimum wage for the agricultural and other informal sectors. High urban prices and dependent extended families obliged many workers, including teachers and health-care workers, to seek secondary employment, mainly in the informal sector. The law provides for a standard workweek of seven hours per day with a one-hour lunch break, five days a week. There was no legal limit on the number of hours worked per week, and the law provides for paid annual holidays and four months of maternity leave. The law stipulates overtime pay for all work in excess of regular working hours. For public-sector workers, this is 35 hours per week. In private companies, overtime is any work beyond the business' normal working hours (usually 40 to 42 hours per week). There is no legal prohibition of excessive compulsory overtime. Overtime is subject to agreement between employer and employee. Employers generally observed these standards, and employers usually paid workers in cash for overtime work. Although health and safety regulations require biannual visits to businesses by inspectors from the Ministry of Labor, such visits occurred much less frequently, and enforcement of findings was uneven. The Ministry of Labor employed 12 full-time inspectors responsible only for inspecting the formal sector, which was insufficient to enforce compliance with labor laws. Unions generally were vigilant in calling attention to dangerous working conditions; however, the observance of safety standards often was lax in both the private and public sectors. Workers have no specific right to remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing their employment. There were no exceptions for foreign or migrant workers. According to NGOs, labor violations were common in commercial fishing and logging operations, rock quarries, and private construction sites. Authorities did not effectively protect employees in these situations. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Comoros Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Comoros, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a52a.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Union of the Comoros is a constitutional, multiparty republic. The country consists of three islands Grande Comore (also called Ngazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuani), and Moheli (Mwali) and claims a fourth, Mayotte (Maore), which France administers. In February 2015 successful legislative elections were held. On April 10, voters elected a new union president, Azali Assoumani, as well as governors for each of the three islands. Despite a third round of voting on Anjouan because of ballot box thefts Arab League, African Union, and EU observer missions considered the elections generally free and fair. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Pervasive official corruption, particularly bribery, poor prison conditions including long pretrial detention, and child abuse from violence to trafficking in persons were the most important human rights problem in the country. Other human rights problems included police misconduct and impunity, especially during arrest procedures and including providing access to an attorney; restrictions on press freedom and freedom of assembly; the lack of laws to address refugee and asylum issues; early marriage, criminalization of consensual same-sex sexual activity; and ineffective enforcement of laws protecting workers' rights. Impunity for violations of human rights was widespread. The government discouraged officials from committing human rights violations and sometimes arrested or dismissed officials implicated in such violations but rarely took steps to prosecute them. Authorities arrested several officials on corruption-related charges in the second half of the year; however, most of their cases had yet to be tried at year's end. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution and laws prohibit such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions remained poor. The national prison in Moroni is the largest of three prisons in the country. The other two are in Anjouan and Moheli. Military personnel were detained in military facilities. National or individual island authorities used various detention facilities as deemed appropriate, and detainees could be transferred from either Anjouan or Moheli to the national prison in Moroni, depending upon the nature of their offenses. Physical Conditions: Overcrowding was a problem. According to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) standards, the Moroni prison had an inmate capacity of 60 persons, but as of October it held 148 inmates. The law on child protection provides for juveniles between ages 15 to 18 to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system. According to the governmental National Commission for Human Rights and Liberties (CNDHL), however, authorities routinely released juveniles ages 15 to 18 to the custody of their parents if they were not recidivists. Juveniles and adult prisoners were held together. As of October there were seven juvenile male inmates in the Moroni prison, and they were held with adults. That prison also held two female prisoners, neither of whom was a juvenile, in a separate cellblock. Detainees and prisoners normally received a single meal per day. Those who did not receive additional food from family members suffered. Other common problems included limited access to potable water, inadequate sanitation, insufficient ventilation and lighting, and inadequate medical facilities. Administration: Prison recordkeeping was inadequate. Although prison administrators have a database for recordkeeping, they lacked the trained personnel to operate and maintain it. Authorities did not use alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders. Prisoners could submit complaints without censorship, but investigations or follow-up actions almost never occurred. Independent Monitoring: The government signed an agreement in 2014 with the ICRC to permit regular monitoring of prisons. The law provides for regular and unannounced prison visits by CNDHL, and its representatives visited prisons during the year without interference. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) must request a visit permit from the prosecutor general. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus Six separate security forces report to five different authorities. Union government forces include the Army of National Development and the gendarmerie, both of which normally report to the president's cabinet director for defense. The National Directorate of Territorial Safety, which oversees police, immigration, and customs, reports to the minister of interior, information, and decentralization. When the gendarmerie serves as the judicial police, it reports to the minister of justice. Each of the three islands has a local police force under the authority of its own minister of interior. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over the civilian police, and the government has mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. Impunity was a problem, however, and the ability of the army to investigate abuses by its personnel was uncertain. In February 2015 soldiers opened fire on protesters in the village of Mitsoudje on Grande Comore when the latter blocked a road as part of the "Dead Island" protest movement against the lack of electricity and potable water. Eight individuals were injured, two severely. Army authorities opened an investigation, but at year's end no one had been charged or prosecuted for the shootings. The officer who led the unit responsible for the shootings was promoted a few months afterward. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees The law requires judicial arrest warrants as well as prosecutorial approval to detain persons longer than 24 hours, although authorities did not always respect these provisions. A magistrate informs detainees of their rights, including the right to legal representation. The law provides for the prompt judicial determination of the legality of detention, and detainees must be informed promptly of the charges against them, but these rights were inconsistently respected. The law prescribes a bail system under which those who post bail may not leave the country. Some detainees did not have prompt access to attorneys or their families. The law also requires the state to provide an attorney for indigent defendants, but this rarely occurred. Rules of criminal procedure, codified as a legacy of French colonial rule, often were not followed. According to the CNDHL, police generally respected arrest procedures for minor crimes but not always in high-profile cases. Pretrial Detention: Lengthy pretrial detention was a problem. By law pretrial detainees may be held for no more than four months, although many were held longer. A magistrate or prosecutor may extend this period. Detainees routinely awaited trial for extended periods for reasons including administrative delay, case backlog, and time-consuming collection of evidence. Some extensions lasted several years. Defense attorneys occasionally protested such judicial inefficiencies. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: A person arrested or detained may challenge the legal basis of their detention and the law provides for monetary damages if a court finds a detention improper. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Judicial inconsistency, unpredictability, and corruption were problems. Trial Procedures The law provides all defendants with the right to a fair public trial, but lengthy delays were common. The legal system incorporates French legal codes and sharia (Islamic law). Trials are open to the public and defendants are presumed innocent. Trials are by jury in criminal cases. Defendants have the right to consult an attorney, and indigent defendants have the right to counsel provided at public expense, although the latter was rarely observed. Defendants have the right to be present at their trials, access government-held evidence, question witnesses, and present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. There is an appellate process. Defendants have the right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges against them (with free interpretation from the moment charged through all appeals) to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense, and not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Individuals and organizations may seek civil remedies for human rights violations through an independent, but not impartial, court system. By law individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to regional human rights bodies. Court orders were inconsistently enforced. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution and law prohibit such actions, and the government generally respected these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and expression, but there were some limitations on press freedom. Press and Media Freedoms: Unlike in prior years, there were no reports of the newly elected and installed government hampering press freedom. Nevertheless, some journalists on all three islands continued to practice self-censorship. On May 18, the director general of the government newspaper al-Watwan, Ahmed Ali Amir, was dismissed by former president Ikililou a week before he left office. Amir had published the results of the Anjouan presidential election's third round of voting prior to official confirmation by the National Independent Commission for Elections, and in violation of a prohibition issued by the Ministry of Interior. On June 21, Amir was reappointed after President Azali Assoumani assumed office. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. According to the International Telecommunication Union, 7.5 percent of individuals used the internet in 2015. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association The constitution and law provide for the freedoms of assembly and association, and, unlike the previous government, the Azali Assoumani government generally respected these rights. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement and foreign travel, and the government generally respected these rights. No specific constitutional or legal provisions deal with emigration and repatriation. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, there were no registered refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, or other persons of concern in the country. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and law provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage, and citizens exercised that ability. Elections and Political Participation The constitution provides for a rotating union government presidency once every five years, in which each of the country's three islands takes a turn at holding a primary to select three presidential candidates for national election. The constitution thus restricts those eligible to run for the union presidency to those residing on a particular island in an election year. Aside from the rotation principle, anyone meeting constitutional requirements of age, residency, citizenship, and good moral character may run for office. Recent Elections: In April presidential and gubernatorial elections were held. Incumbent candidates claimed some irregularities, including the theft of ballots on Anjouan. They filed complaints at the Constitutional Court requesting the vote be repeated for both presidential and gubernatorial candidates by the approximately 3,000 voters in Anjouan whose ballots were allegedly destroyed by the opposition. The Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, and a third round of voting was successfully conducted at 13 polling stations in Anjouan. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws or cultural/traditional practices prevent women or members of minorities from voting, running for office, serving as electoral monitors, or otherwise participating in political life on the same basis as men or nonminority citizens. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for conviction of corruption by officials, but the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. The National Commission for Preventing and Fighting Corruption (CNPLC) was an independent administrative authority established to combat corruption, including through education and mobilization of the public. On September 8, the president repealed the provisions of the law that created the commission, citing its failure to produce any results. The High Constitutional Court subsequently invalidated this decision, noting that a presidential decree may not overturn a law. Corruption: Resident diplomatic, UN, and humanitarian agency workers reported petty corruption was commonplace at all levels of the civil service and security forces. Businesspersons reported corruption and a lack of transparency, while the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators reflected that corruption was a significant problem. Citizens paid bribes to evade customs regulations, to avoid arrest, and for falsified police reports. There were numerous reported abuses similar to the following example. On June 30, the former director general and four other employees of Comoros Telecom, the state telecommunications operator, were arrested and jailed for embezzlement and forgery. Financial Disclosure: The law requires high-level officials at national and island levels to declare their assets prior to entering office. Officials subject to the law did so upon taking office. Conviction of failure to comply is punishable by fines and up to two years in prison. The CNPLC reported all officials subject to the law filed financial disclosures. The submission of a disclosure is made public, but the disclosure itself is not. The CNPLC does not verify the accuracy of the disclosures. Public Access to Information: No laws prevent general public access to government information, but such information was difficult to obtain. Those who had personal or working relationships with government officials could generally access such information. Budget documents are available to the public through the Finance Ministry's website as well as on the website of the Journal Officiel that publishes government decrees and other official information. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A few domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to their views. Government Human Rights Bodies: Domestic NGOs largely supplanted government ministries on human rights issues. By law the governmental CNDHL is mandated to investigate human rights abuses and to make recommendations to concerned authorities. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape is illegal and punishable if convicted by imprisonment of five to 10 years or up to 15 years if the victim is younger than age 15. A 2014 law strengthened the punishment of violence against women, including by criminalizing spousal rape. The government enforced the laws on rape if victims filed charges. From January to September, the NGO Service d'Ecoute (listening and counseling service) branch in Grande Comore recorded 84 incidents of sexual aggression against minors; statistics were unavailable regarding convictions. The NGO recorded 24 cases of sexual abuse on Anjouan and 27 cases of sexual violence against minors and the arrest of 18 alleged perpetrators on Moheli. There were reports that families or village elders settled many allegations of sexual violence informally through traditional means and without recourse to the formal court system. The law prohibits domestic violence, but courts rarely fined or ordered the imprisonment of convicted perpetrators. No reliable data were available on the extent of the problem. The government took action to combat violence against women, but women rarely filed official complaints. While women may seek protection from domestic violence through the courts, the extended family or village elders addressed most cases. Although officials took action (usually the arrest of the spouse) when reported, domestic violence cases rarely entered the court system. Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is illegal and conviction is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment. Although rarely reported due to societal pressure, such harassment was nevertheless a common problem, and authorities did not effectively enforce the laws against it. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. The prevalence of modern contraceptive use among married women and girls ages 15 to 49 was approximately 16 percent in 2014, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Existing health-care resources (including personnel, facilities, equipment, and drugs) were inadequate, making it difficult for the government to respond to the health needs of the population. According to the international NGO Population Reference Bureau, skilled personnel attended approximately 62 percent of births. The UNFPA estimated maternal mortality in 2013 to be 350 deaths per 100,000 live births. A general lack of adolescent reproductive health information and services contributed to unwanted pregnancies and increased morbidity and mortality among adolescent girls. These incidents generally were not reported for social and cultural reasons. No legal barriers prevent women from receiving treatment for sexually transmitted infections, but many hesitated to do so because of social and cultural stigma. Discrimination: The law provides for equality of persons and, in general, inheritance and property rights practices do not discriminate against, but rather favor, women. The Ministry of Health, Solidarity, and Gender Promotion is responsible for promoting women's rights. The local cultures on Grande Comore and Moheli are traditionally matrilineal, and all inheritable property is in the legal possession of women. This cultural practice leads, at times, to what might be seen as discrimination against men in the inheritance of homes and land. Men retain the head-of-household role in society, however. Throughout the country, including on the nonmatrilineal island of Anjouan, land and homes were usually awarded to women in case of divorce or separation. Societal discrimination against women was most apparent in rural areas, where women were mostly limited to farming and child-rearing duties, with fewer opportunities for education and wage employment. In urban areas growing numbers of women were employed and generally earned wages comparable with those of men engaged in similar work. Few women held positions of responsibility in business, however, outside of elite families. Children Birth Registration: Any child having at least one Comorian parent is considered a citizen, regardless of where the birth takes place. Any child born in the country is considered a citizen unless both parents are foreigners, although these children may apply for citizenship if they had lived in the country for at least five years at the time they apply. An estimated 15 percent of children were not officially registered at birth, although many of these situations were regularized subsequently. No public services were withheld from children who were not officially registered. Education: Universal education is compulsory until age 12, but no child may be prevented from attending school before age 14. Tuition-free education was not always available. The public education system suffered from lack of physical infrastructure, shortage of teachers, and inadequate funding for instruction. An approximately equal number of girls and boys attended public schools at the primary and secondary levels, but fewer girls graduated. Private schools supplemented public education. When families paid private school tuition, boys generally were more likely to attend school than girls. Child Abuse: Official statistics revealed cases of abuse when impoverished families sent their children to work for relatives or wealthy families, usually in the hope of their obtaining a better education. Service d'Ecoute, funded by the government and the UN Children's Fund, had offices on all three islands to provide support and counseling for abused children and their families. The NGO routinely referred child abuse cases to police for investigation. Police conducted initial investigations of child abuse and referred cases to the Morals and Minors Brigade, which investigates further, and when appropriate, submits cases for prosecution. Through July the brigade investigated 84 child abuse cases. If evidence was sufficient, authorities routinely prosecuted cases. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age of marriage is 18 years for both boys and girls. According to a 2012 government survey, 31 percent of women ages 20 to 49 married before age 18. Of women ages 20 to 24, 31.6 percent married before age 18, and 10 percent married before age 15. The Service d'Ecoute in Anjouan estimated more than 50 percent of girls under age 18 on the island were married. In the sole reported case of attempted forced marriage involving a minor, the Morals and Minors Brigade investigated the case and intervened to stop the marriage before it took place. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law considers unmarried persons under age 18 to be minors and prohibits their sexual exploitation, prostitution, and involvement in pornography. Consensual sex outside of marriage is illegal. Anyone convicted of facilitating child prostitution is subject to a prison term of two to five years and a fine of 150,000 to one million Comorian francs ($344 to $2,290). Conviction of child pornography is punishable by fines or imprisonment. There were no official statistics regarding these matters and no reports in local media of cases, prosecutions, or convictions relating to either child prostitution or child pornography. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism There was no known Jewish population, and there were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The constitution and applicable laws, particularly the labor code, prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities. A 2014 law mandated improved access to buildings, information, communication, education, air travel, and other transportation for persons with disabilities. The government did not effectively enforce that law. Despite the absence of appropriate accommodation for children with disabilities, such children attended mainstream schools, both public and private. On June 16, the National Assembly ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and approved a government policy on persons with disabilities for integration into the National Action Plan. Handicap Comores, the country's nongovernmental center for persons with disabilities, on Grande Comore, was run by local NGO Shiwe, or Pillar. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Consensual same-sex sexual activity is illegal and conviction is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 to one million Comorian francs ($115 to $2,290). Authorities reported no arrests or prosecutions for same-sex sexual activity during the year. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons generally did not publicly reveal their sexual orientation due to societal pressure. There were no local LGBTI organizations. On August 11, the media reported on the humiliation, beating, and shaving of the head of a man in Domoni on Anjouan by gendarmes because they believed he was gay. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions of their choice without previous authorization or excessive requirements. It provides for the right to strike but requires an eight-day notification period and a declaration of the reason for the strike and its duration. The law includes a system for resolving labor disputes. Unions have the right to bargain collectively. The government, especially the Ministries of Finance and Labor, sets wages in the large public sector and imposes a minimum wage in the small, formal private sector. The law allows unions to conduct their activities without government interference. The law does not prohibit antiunion discrimination by employers in hiring practices or other employment functions. There are no laws protecting strikers from retribution. There are no groups of workers excluded from legal protections. The law was not applied in the settlement of private sector disputes, but it was invoked unpredictably and inconsistently in labor disputes in the public sector. Worker organizations are independent of the government and political parties. Resources, inspections, and remediation were inadequate. Penalties for violations, including ordering employers to pay indemnities and damages to the employee, were sufficient to deter violations. Labor disputes may be brought to the attention of the Labor Tribunal. Workers exercised their labor rights. There were no reports of retribution against strikers. Common problems included failure to pay salaries regularly or on time, mostly in the government sector, and unfair and abusive dismissal practices, such as dismissing employees without giving proper notice or paying the required severance pay. There were no reported incidents of antiunion discrimination during the year. All labor NGOs were designated as labor organizations. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor, with certain exceptions for obligatory military service, community service, and during accidents, fires, and disasters. During times of national emergency, the government's civil protection unit may compel persons to assist in disaster recovery or comparable efforts if it is unable to obtain sufficient voluntary assistance. In 2012 the country adopted a comprehensive labor code that prohibits forced child labor, with specific antitrafficking provisions. The code came into force in 2014. Resources, inspections, and remediation were inadequate. Financial penalties, however, for those who violated the law served as an effective deterrent. Penalties for conviction include from one to six months in prison, a fine of from 50,000 to 200,000 Comorian francs ($115 to $458) for those who abuse their authority to compel someone to work for them or for someone else, or both imprisonment and a fine. The penal code classifies forced labor as a form of human trafficking for which conviction is punishable by five to 10 years in prison and a fine of 30 million Comorian francs ($68,713). For conviction of trafficking involving a minor, a stiffer penalty of from 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of 30 million Comorian francs ($68,713) are prescribed. The government did not make tangible efforts to prosecute traffickers and protect victims. Forced child labor occurred, particularly in family-based agriculture (planting, weeding, harvesting), fishing, and domestic service (see section 7.c.). Adult forced labor did not occur. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The law establishes age 15 as the minimum age for employment, with a minimum age for hazardous work of 18 years. Labor inspectors were responsible for monitoring all potential violations of labor law and did not focus only on child labor cases. Penalties for violations were not sufficient to deter violations. Regulations permit light apprentice work by children under age 15 if it does not hinder the child's schooling or physical or moral development. In accordance with the labor code, labor inspectors may require the medical examination of a child by an accredited physician to determine if the work assigned to a child is beyond his or her physical capacity. Children may not be kept in employment deemed beyond their capacity. If suitable work cannot be assigned, the contract must be nullified and all indemnities paid to the employee. The labor code also identifies hazardous work where child labor is prohibited. Child labor infractions are punishable by a fine of 30,000 to 150,000 Comorian francs ($69 to $344). Conviction of employing children under age 15 is punishable by a fine of from 30,000 to 50,000 Comorian francs ($69 to $115) and, in cases of repeated offenses, by a fine of from 75,000 to 150,000 Comorian francs ($172 to $344) and a prison sentence of from five days to one month. The penal code provides for a two-month to 12-month prison term and a fine of from 50,000 to one million Comorian francs ($115 to $2,290) for conviction of employing children for work defined as hazardous or dangerous. The penal code also provides for a fine of from 100,000 to five million Comorian francs ($229 to $11,452) and a prison sentence of five months to 10 years for conviction of employing children in one of the worst forms of child labor as defined by the labor code. The government did not enforce the law. The Ministry of Labor is responsible for enforcing child labor laws but did not actively or effectively do so. Children worked in subsistence farming, fishing, and extracting and selling marine sand. Children worked in growing food crops such as manioc and beans and on cash crops such as vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang (a flower used to make perfume). Some children worked under forced labor conditions, primarily in domestic service, as well as family-based agriculture and fishing. Additionally, some Quranic schools arranged for indigent students to receive lessons in exchange for labor, which sometimes was forced. Some families placed their children in the homes of wealthier families where they worked in exchange for food, shelter, or educational opportunities. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The preamble to the constitution provides for equality regardless of sex, origin, religion, or race. Article 2 of the Labor Law forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national ancestry or social origin, or actual or presumed state of health (such as HIV/AIDS). The law does not address sexual orientation. In rural areas women tend to be relegated to certain types of work, and the United Nations Development Program reported women were underrepresented in leadership roles. There have been no recent reports of discrimination, however. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work A committee called the Collectif de Travail consisting of representatives of unions, employers, and the Ministry of Labor met periodically to propose enforcing a national minimum wage, as the existing minimum wage of 55,000 Comorian francs ($126) per month is only a guideline. The law provides for a 40-hour workweek, except in the agriculture sector, where the maximum is set at 2,400 hours per year (equivalent to 46 hours per week). The minimum weekly rest period is set at 24 consecutive hours. The law provides for paid annual leave accumulated at the rate of 2.5 days per month of service. There are no provisions to prohibit compulsory overtime, which is left to collective bargaining. Negotiations with the banking and pharmacy sectors, however, did not yield a collective bargaining agreement. There are no sectors or groups of workers specified as excluded from these laws. There were three labor inspectors (one for each island). The official estimate for the poverty income level is 250,000 Comorian francs ($573) per year. Although the unions, national government, and local governments did not enforce the minimum wage law and workweek standards, unions had adequate influence to negotiate minimum wage rates for different skill levels for unionized jobs. These provisions applied to all workers, regardless of sector or country of origin. Unions promoted this de facto minimum wage via their ability to strike against employers. The labor code includes a chapter on occupational safety and health requirements, but standards were seldom enforced. Fishing was considered the most hazardous work. Most fishermen were self-employed, working from their often-unsafe canoes. There was no credible datum on the number of occupational accidents. Workers may remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities effectively protected employees in this situation. By John Ruwitch and Meng Meng SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A fleet of North Korean cargo ships is heading home to the port of Nampo, the majority of it fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return coal from the isolated country, shipping data shows. Following repeated missile tests that drew international criticism, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26, cutting off the country's most important export product. To curb coal traffic between the two countries, China's customs department issued an official order on April 7 telling trading companies to return their North Korean coal cargoes, said three trading sources with direct knowledge of the order. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were discussing North Korea at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on April 7. Shipping data on Thomson Reuters Eikon, a financial information and analytics platform, shows a dozen cargo ships on their way to North Korea's main west coast port of Nampo, almost all carrying cargoes from China. Chinese authorities did not respond to requests for official comment. The Trump administration has been pressuring China to do more to rein in North Korea, which sends the vast majority of its exports to its giant neighbour across the Yellow Sea. But U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said last week's U.S. military strike against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons was a warning to other countries, including North Korea, that "a response is likely" if they pose a danger. As a U.S. Navy strike group headed to the region in a show of force, China and South Korea agreed on Monday to slap tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carries out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. North Korea marks several major anniversaries this month and often marks the occasions with major tests of military hardware. TWO MILLION TONNES A source at Dandong Chengtai, one of China's biggest buyers of North Korean coal, said the company had 600,000 tonnes of North Korean coal sitting at various ports, and a total of 2 million tonnes was stranded at Chinese ports. Story continues Eikon data shows that most of these ships have recently left Chinese coal ports, including Weihai and Peng Lai, returning to North Korea full or mostly filled with cargo. Last month, Reuters reported that Malaysia briefly prevented a North Korean ship carrying coal from China from entering its port in Penang because of a suspected breach in sanctions. The ship was eventually allowed to unload its 6,300 metric tonnes of anthracite coal. North Korea is a significant supplier of coal to China, especially of the type used for steel making, known as coking coal. To make up for the shortfall from North Korea, China has ramped up imports from the United States in an unexpected boon for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has declared he wants to revive his country's struggling coal sector. Eikon data shows no U.S. coking coal was exported to China between late 2014 and 2016, but shipments soared to over 400,000 tonnes by late February. This trend was exacerbated after cyclone Debbie knocked out supplies from the world's top coking coal region in Australia's state of Queensland, forcing Chinese steel makers to buy even more U.S. cargoes. The other big coking coal supplier that has ramped up exports to China since the ban on North Korean cargoes is Russia.. (Writing by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Bill Tarrant) 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Colombia Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Colombia, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a53a.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Colombia is a constitutional, multiparty republic. In June 2014 voters re-elected Juan Manuel Santos president in elections that observers considered free and fair. On August 24, the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest guerrilla insurgency group, reached agreement on a final peace accord covering rural reform; political participation; illicit drugs; victims (including transitional justice); end of conflict; and implementation, verification, and public approval. The parties signed the accord September 26. In an October 2 plebiscite, however, the public narrowly rejected the agreement, resulting in the initiation of an inclusive national dialogue aimed at reaching a revised accord. The government and the FARC announced November 12 a revised peace accord, which drew from a national dialogue convoked by President Juan Manuel Santos following the October 2 vote. The Colombian congress approved the revised peace accord November 30. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over security forces. The three most prevalent human rights problems in the country were impunity, forced displacement, and societal discrimination. An inefficient justice system, with a judiciary in which officials were subjected to threats and intimidation, limited the government's ability to prosecute effectively many individuals accused of human rights abuses, including high-level state agents and former members of paramilitary groups. The presence of drug traffickers, guerrilla fighters, and other illegal armed groups continued to displace predominantly poor and rural populations. Violence and societal discrimination against women; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons; indigenous persons; and Afro-Colombians often restricted the ability of these groups to exercise their rights. Other significant human rights problems continued, including extrajudicial and unlawful killings; unauthorized military collaboration with members of illegal armed groups; forced disappearances; overcrowded and insecure prisons; harassment and attacks against human rights groups and activists, including death threats and killings; violence against women and girls; trafficking in persons; and illegal child labor. The government continued efforts to prosecute and punish perpetrators of abuses, including members of the security services. It increased resources for the Attorney General's Office, devoted significant resources to human rights cases, and employed a contextual analysis strategy to analyze human rights and other cases systematically. Nonetheless, the system struggled to close out cases quickly and efficiently. Despite peace negotiations with the FARC, illegal armed groups including the National Liberation Army (ELN), as well as organized crime groups (some of which contained former paramilitary members) continued to commit numerous human rights abuses, including the following: political killings; killings of members of the public security forces and local officials; widespread use of land mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs); kidnappings and forced disappearances; sexual and gender-based violence; subornation and intimidation of judges, prosecutors, and witnesses; infringement on citizens' privacy rights; restrictions on freedom of movement; widespread recruitment and use of child soldiers; and killings, harassment, and intimidation of human rights activists, teachers, and trade unionists. Illegal armed groups continued to be responsible for most instances of forced displacement in the country. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, and related investigations and prosecutions proceeded slowly (see section 1.g.). There was a reduction in violence due to progress in the peace process between the government and the FARC, including the implementation of a bilateral ceasefire August 29. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 2015 annual report stated the peace negotiations "prevented many human rights violations." During the year the Conflict Analysis Research Center (CERAC) reported levels of violence in the country fell to their lowest in 52 years in terms of the number of victims, combatants killed and injured, and the number of violent acts. According to CERAC, offensive actions against the FARC fell 98 percent, combat between the armed forces and the FARC dropped by 91 percent, overall civilian casualties fell by 98 percent, and overall combatant deaths dropped by 94 percent. The OHCHR and CERAC attributed these trends to confidence-building measures, such as the unilateral ceasefire by the FARC, and the high level of compliance with the bilateral ceasefire. In February members of the army allegedly killed Gilberto de Jesus Quintero in the department of Antioquia. Security forces claimed that Quintero was a suspected member of the ELN, according to media. As of October 20, the government had failed to investigate the case. From January 1 through July, the Attorney General's Office registered 291 new cases of alleged aggravated homicides by state agents. During the same period, authorities formally accused 393 members of the security forces and arrested 445 for aggravated homicide or homicide of a civilian, 45 of them for crimes that occurred prior to 2015. There were developments in efforts to hold officials accountable in false positive cases, in which thousands of civilians were allegedly killed and falsely presented as guerrilla combatants in the late 1990s to mid-2000s. In February Colonel Robinson Gonzalez del Rio, convicted and sentenced in 2015 to a total of 67 years in prison and a fine of more than 1.8 billion Colombian Pesos (COP) ($6 million) for the unlawful killing of 34 civilians presented as "false positives," was sentenced to an additional 37 years and six months in prison for the deaths of Javier Moreno and Janio Sepulveda in 2007 in Caldas Department. Investigations of generals allegedly implicated in false positive cases continued. In April 2015 the former attorney general stated publicly that his office was investigating 22 generals for alleged involvement in false positives cases. In August the Attorney General's Office subsequently clarified that the number of investigations against generals (including retired generals) involving homicides was actually 15, rather than 22. As of August the Attorney General's Office stated 12 cases involving generals were in the preliminary investigation phase, and investigations against three generals had been closed. On March 28, the Attorney General's Office announced General Henry William Torres Escalante and former army commander general Mario Montoya Uribe would be formally charged for their alleged connections to false positive cases. The attorney general found that General Torres Escalante was pivotal in the homicide of Daniel Torres Arciniegas and his son Roque Julio Torres, who were falsely presented as FARC members killed in combat in 2007. On March 28, authorities arrested Torres Escalante, which marked the first instance an active-duty general faced criminal charges related to the false positives scandal. He was called to trial in August. General Montoya faced charges in connection with his alleged involvement in seven false positive cases and awaited arraignment as of mid-October. He was accused of supporting paramilitary groups and actions in operations such as Operation Orion, a 2002 military offensive against guerrillas in Medellin. On June 1, Commander of the Armed Forces General Mejia and Minister of Defense Villegas publicly honored Sergeant Carlos Mora, a whistleblower in the false positives scandal. Mejia urged the army's leadership to hold themselves and their units to the highest standards of transparency and to respect human rights and international humanitarian law. The OHCHR reported it registered seven possible cases of "illegal deprivation of the right to life" alleged to have been committed by security force members from January 1 through July 31. In several cases military officials stated they believed an individual was fighting on behalf of the FARC, while community members claimed the victim was not a combatant. In other cases military officials stated the killings were military mistakes. Human rights organizations, victims, and government investigators accused some members of government security forces, including enlisted personnel, noncommissioned officers, and officers, of collaborating with or tolerating the activities of organized criminal gangs, which included some former paramilitary members. According to the Attorney General's Office, during the year through September 30, authorities arrested and charged 24 government employees, including 23 members of the National Police, with having links to illegal armed groups, mainly the group known as Gulf Clan, previously known as Clan Usuga or the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia. On January 17, in Caceres, Antioquia Department, Melisa Espitia Mazo, a pregnant 14-year-old, was killed during a military operation against criminal groups. The army recognized its responsibility in Espitia's death and apologized for what it stated was a military error. The Antioquia branch of the Attorney General's Office launched an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the death; as of October, there were no arrests or charges related to the case. Investigations of past killings proceeded, albeit slowly. The Attorney General's Office reported that during the year through July, it obtained 117 new convictions of security force members in cases involving homicide of a "protected person" (i.e., civilians and others accorded such status under international humanitarian law), 161 new convictions in cases involving aggravated homicide, and 191 new convictions in cases involving "simple homicide" committed by security force members. On March 16, two former paramilitary members, Dalson Lopez Simanca and Jose Luis Conrado Perez, were sentenced to 40 years' imprisonment for their involvement in the 1995 El Aracatazzo massacre, in the municipality of Chigorodo, in which members of the military, along with members of paramilitary groups, allegedly tortured and killed 18 civilians. On March 1, the Justice and Peace Tribunal, following an investigation begun in 2014, forwarded evidence to the Attorney General's Office to initiate investigations against retired generals Oscar Botero Cardona and German Morantes Hernandez for human rights violations. The Colombia-Europe-United States Coordination Group and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) considered organized criminal bands to be a continuation of former paramilitary groups and in some cases accused elements of the government of collaborating with those groups to commit human rights violations. The government acknowledged that some former paramilitary members were active in organized criminal gangs but noted the gangs lacked the national, unified command structure and explicit ideological agenda that defined past paramilitary groups, including the disbanded United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). The NGOs also included killings by these groups in their definition of "unlawful killings" (see section 1.g.). According to the NGO Landmine Monitor, nonstate actors, particularly the ELN, planted IEDs and land mines (see section 1.g.). Guerrillas, notably the ELN, committed unlawful killings. Organized criminal groups (some of which included former members of paramilitary groups) committed numerous political and unlawful killings, primarily in areas under dispute with guerrillas or without a strong government presence (see section 1.g.). The investigation into the killing in 2012 of land restitution leader Manuel Ruiz and his son, Samir, continued under the direction of the Office of the Attorney General's National Directorate for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. On May 4, Manuel's and Samir's bodies were exhumed in coordination with the Justice and Peace Commission, international observers, and local leaders. b. Disappearance Forced disappearances, many of them politically motivated, continued to occur. Although the exact number of people disappeared remained unknown, there were at least 100,000 cases of disappearances during the half-century of conflict, according to the National Search Commission. From January 1 through the end of July, 48 victims of forced disappearances were found alive and 20 were found dead. The government did not provide information on the number of disappearances and forced disappearances registered. The Attorney General's Office did not provide information on the number of new convictions in forced disappearance cases involving members of the security forces. There were developments in efforts to provide reparations to families of disappeared victims of the 1985 military occupation of the Justice Palace in Bogota. In October the Attorney General's Office returned the remains of William Arturo Almonacid and Cristina del Pilar Guarin, two of the disappeared victims, to their families. The State Council ordered the Ministry of Defense to pay compensation to the family of disappeared victim Gloria Anzola de Lanao, in the amount of nearly COP 1.6 billion ($5,500,000). Lanao's body remained missing. As part of a peace process confidence-building measure, the FARC agreed in October 2015 to search for those missing in the conflict. The government agreed to accelerate the identification of anonymous victims killed in security operations and extrajudicial killings, and to turn over their remains to family members. The parties also agreed to create a new search unit for the missing, with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ELN, organized criminal gangs, and common criminals continued to kidnap persons, both for ransom and for political reasons (see section 1.g.). On February 4, the ELN kidnapped Jair de Jesus Villar, a military official, at a power plant in Antioquia Department. Villar was released in March, along with civilian Ramon Jose Cabrales, who was kidnapped in September 2015. In April former representative Odin Sanchez offered himself as a hostage to the ELN in exchange for the release of his brother, former Choco governor Patrocino Sanchez, who had been in ELN custody since 2014; however, as of November 7, Sanchez remained in custody. Between May 21 and May 24, the ELN abducted three journalists in Catatumbo. They were released May 27. The Unified Action Groups for Personal Liberty military and police entities formed to combat kidnapping and extortion and other security force elements freed 33 hostages in the first seven months of the year. The government reported that two kidnapping victims died in captivity during the year through July. During that period nine kidnapping victims escaped from their captors, and 70 were released by their captors. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Although the law prohibits such practices, there were reports that police, military personnel, and prison guards sometimes committed abuses. Members of the military and police accused of torture generally were tried in civilian rather than military courts. The NGO Center for Research and Education of the Populace (CINEP) reported that during the year through September 9, security forces were allegedly involved in 13 cases of torture. From January through July, the Attorney General's Office charged 25 members of the security forces (23 police and two military members) with torture; 14 of the cases occurred prior to 2016. The Attorney General's Office reported 12 convictions of members of the armed forces and no convictions of members of illegal armed groups in cases of torture during the year through June. CINEP reported criminal bands were responsible for eight documented cases of torture through September 9. In nine other documented cases, CINEP was not able to identify the party responsible for the abuses. According to NGOs working with the prison community, there were numerous allegations of sexual and physical violence committed by guards and other inmates. Prison and Detention Center Conditions With the exception of new facilities, prisons and detention centers were overcrowded, lacked adequate sanitation, and provided poor health care and other basic facilities. Poor training of officials remained a problem throughout the prison system. Physical Conditions: The national prisons had a design capacity of 78,055 prisoners but held 121,157 inmates (112,927 men and 8,230 women). Overcrowding existed in men's as well as women's prisons. The National Prison Institute (INPEC) operated the national prisons and oversaw the jails. On August 23, the Constitutional Court ordered the Bogota Metropolitan Police to cease using buses, parks, and other public spaces as temporary detention centers. The court also ordered INPEC to treat inmates and detainees in a dignified manner. The law prohibits holding pretrial detainees with convicted prisoners, although this sometimes occurred. The Superior Judiciary Council stated that the maximum time that a person may remain in judicial detention facilities is three days. The same rules apply to jails located inside police stations. These regulations were often not carried out. The practice of preventive detention, in combination with inefficiencies in the judicial system, continued to exacerbate overcrowding. In April the Constitutional Court ruled all suspects jailed longer than the legally allowed period without being tried should be released on July 7. In June Congress approved a provisional bill extending the legal time a crime suspect could be held in jail, preventing the release from prison of approximately 20,000 crime suspects. The Inspector General's Office continued to investigate allegations that some prison guards routinely used excessive force and treated inmates brutally. Through September it conducted 125 investigations, 71 of which concluded and 54 of which remained in the investigation phase. Many prisoners continued to face difficulties receiving adequate medical care. Nutrition and water quality were deficient and contributed to the overall poor health of many inmates. Inmates claimed authorities routinely rationed water in many facilities. In May, INPEC and Justice Minister Jorge Londono declared an emergency in the country's prisons due to the deterioration of health-care conditions. The ministry explained that the state of emergency would enable the implementation of an action plan to address deficiencies in health care for prisoners, to include the creation of health brigades and the prompt execution of maintenance projects related to health-care provision. INPEC's physical structures were in generally poor repair. The Inspector General's Office noted some facilities had poor ventilation and overtaxed sanitary systems. Prisoners in some high-altitude facilities complained of inadequate blankets and clothing, while prisoners in tropical facilities complained that overcrowding and insufficient ventilation contributed to high temperatures in prison cells. Some prisoners slept on floors without mattresses, while others shared cots in overcrowded cells. Administration: INPEC used a centrally managed electronic database with regular updates, and each prison also had its own local database. Foreign diplomatic observers, however, found that the information in both systems often was not well coordinated, resulting in delays in locating foreign detainees, especially dual nationals who had both Colombian and foreign citizenships. Prisoners generally could submit complaints to judicial authorities, request investigations of inhuman conditions, and request that third parties from local NGOs or government entities, such as the Ombudsman's Office, represent them in legal matters and aid them in seeking an investigation of prison conditions. Authorities investigated prisoner complaints of inhuman conditions, including complaints of prison guards soliciting bribes from inmates, but some prisoners asserted the investigations were slow and the results were not accessible to the public. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted independent monitoring of prison conditions by local and international human rights groups that exercised a high degree of independence. INPEC required a three-day notice before granting consular access. Some NGOs complained that authorities, without adequate explanation, denied them access to visit prisoners. Improvements: INPEC launched a new 2016 Anticorruption and Citizen Services Plan with the goal of creating a culture of legality and transparency and promoting new institutional practices, such as the concept of shared responsibility and self-regulation among public servants, citizens, and prison stakeholder groups. INPEC continued a campaign to raise awareness and strengthen a culture of human rights within the institution. Through August 12, a total of 221 prison officials received human rights training. The government also continued a pilot program with local universities and other organizations to provide distance learning for inmates. More than 1,000 inmates participated in the program through July. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention Although the law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, there were allegations that authorities detained citizens arbitrarily. CINEP reported 176 cases of arbitrary detention committed by state security forces during the year through September 9 (six committed by the attorney general's Corps of Technical Investigators (CTI), 22 by the armed forces, and 148 by police). Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The Colombian National Police (CNP) is responsible for internal law enforcement and is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense. The Migration Directorate, part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the immigration authority. The CNP shares law enforcement investigatory duties with the CTI. In addition to its responsibility to defend the country against external threats, the army shares limited responsibility for law enforcement and maintenance of order within the country. For example, military units sometimes provided logistical support and security for criminal investigators to collect evidence in high-conflict or remote areas. The government continued to expand education and training of the armed forces in human rights and international humanitarian law. By law the Attorney General's Office is the main entity responsible for investigating allegations of human rights abuses by security forces. Of these alleged abuses, extrajudicial killings were the highest profile and most controversial. The CTI, which consists of civilian authorities under the Attorney General's Office, typically investigated deaths resulting from action by security forces when there were allegations of foul play. In some cases the first responders were CNP members, who then investigated the death. Some NGOs complained that military investigators, not members of the Attorney General's Office, were sometimes the first responders in cases of deaths resulting from actions of security forces and might make decisions about possible foul play. The government made improvements in investigating and trying abuses, but NGO claims continued of impunity for security force members. This was due in some cases to obstruction of justice, opacity in the process by which cases are investigated and prosecuted in the military justice system, and a lack of resources for investigations. Inadequate protection of witnesses and investigators, delay tactics by defense attorneys, the judiciary's failure to exert appropriate controls over dockets and case progress, and inadequate coordination among government entities that sometimes allowed statutes of limitations to expire, resulting in a defendant's release from jail before trial were also significant obstacles. The military functions under both the old inquisitorial and a newer accusatory system. The military had not trained its criminal justice actors to operate under the accusatory system, which they were to begin to implement during the year. The military also had not developed an interinstitutional strategy for the recruiting, hiring, or training investigators, crime scene technicians, or forensic specialists, which is required under the accusatory system. As such, the military justice system did not exercise criminal investigative authority; all new criminal investigations duties are conducted by CNP judicial police investigators. The Attorney General's Office continued investigations into numerous generals and field-grade officers for involvement in alleged false positive cases and other abuses (see section 1.a.). Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Authorities must bring detained persons before a judge within 36 hours to determine the validity of the detention, bring formal charges within 30 days, and start a trial within 90 days of the initial detention. Bail is generally available except for serious accusations, such as murder, rebellion, or narcotics trafficking. Public defenders contracted by the Office of the Ombudsman assisted indigent defendants. Detainees received prompt access to legal counsel and family members as provided for by law. Authorities generally respected these rights. Arbitrary Arrest: The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention; however, this requirement was not always respected. NGOs characterized some arrests as arbitrary detention: arrests allegedly based on tips from informants about persons linked to guerrilla activities, detentions by members of the security forces without a judicial order, detentions based on administrative authority, detentions during military operations or at roadblocks, large-scale detentions, and detentions of persons while they were "exercising their fundamental rights." Pretrial Detention: The judicial process moved slowly, and the civilian judicial system suffered from a significant backlog of cases, which led to large numbers of pretrial detainees. The failure of many local military commanders and jail supervisors to keep mandatory detention records or follow notification procedures made accounting for all detainees difficult. No information was available on the percent of detainees in pretrial detention or the average length of time detainees spent in pretrial detention. In some cases detainees were released without a trial because they already served more than one-third of the maximum sentence that corresponded to their charges. Civil society groups complained that authorities subjected some community leaders to extended pretrial detention. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Article 30 of the constitution guarantees habeas corpus review for all detainees. Such reviews must be completed within 36 hours. In the case of an illegal deprivation of freedom or illegal detention, Article 90 of the constitution provides for the government to compensate the victim. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Much of the judicial system was overburdened and inefficient, and subornation and intimidation of judges, prosecutors, and witnesses hindered judicial functioning. The Attorney General's Office had a witness protection program for criminal cases, but some of those who did not enter the program allegedly remained vulnerable to intimidation, and many refused to testify. The military justice system may investigate and prosecute active-duty military and police personnel for crimes "related to acts of military service." According to the Ministry of Defense, human rights abuses are not considered acts related to military service. The military penal code specifically excludes civilians from military jurisdiction, and civilian courts must try retired military and police personnel, but military courts are responsible for service-related acts committed prior to retirement. According to domestic NGOs, more than 10 initiatives for military justice reform were presented in the previous five years, but few were enacted, due to removal from the legislative process because of procedural problems or rejection by the Constitutional Court. In 2015 the government dropped proposed jurisdictional adjustments from its proposed military justice reform legislation to address concerns that the legislation could lead to some human rights cases being heard by military courts. Despite explicit declarations from officials to the contrary, some NGOs remained concerned that military justice reform efforts may allow certain human rights cases to fall within the military justice system's jurisdiction. According to the Supreme Judicial Council, a body that settles jurisdictional questions between the military and civilian justice systems, from January 1 to July, authorities assigned to the civilian justice system 61 of 74 homicide cases reviewed for jurisdiction. During the same period, they assigned four cases to the military justice system. The magistrates abstained from ruling on the proper jurisdiction in the remaining nine cases, in which they determined that they either did not have enough information to rule or that a conflict of interest with the case prevented them from ruling. The military penal code denies commanders the power to impose military justice discipline on, and extends legal protection to, service members who refuse to obey orders to commit human rights abuses. The army also has discretionary authority to dismiss personnel implicated in human rights abuses. The Inspector General's Office investigates allegations of misconduct by public employees, including members of government security forces. In addition to conducting its own investigations, the Inspector General's Office referred all cases of human rights violations it received to the attorney general's Human Rights Unit for separate criminal proceedings. As of July 31, the Inspector General's Office opened 21 disciplinary processes against members of the armed forces and police for human rights offenses, resulting in 12 preliminary investigations and nine disciplinary investigations, to which 59 members of the army and one member of the National Police were linked. Additionally, the Office of Delegated Disciplinary Inspector General for the Armed Forces reported that through August, it initiated 13 disciplinary investigations for alleged offenses. Thirty-four individuals were linked to these cases. Trial Procedures While the government began implementing an accusatory system of justice in 2008, the use of delay tactics by defense lawyers to slow or impede proceedings, prosecutors' heavy caseloads, and other factors diminished the anticipated increased efficiencies and other benefits of adopting the adversarial model. Under the existing criminal procedure code, the prosecutor presents an accusation and evidence before an impartial judge at an oral, public trial. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and has the right to confront the trial evidence and witnesses against him, present his own evidence, and communicate with an attorney of choice (or have one provided at public expense). Defendants have adequate time and facilities to prepare their defense and may access government-held evidence during the trial stage. Defendants are not compelled to testify or confess guilt and have the right to appeal their proceedings. Although defendants have the right to an interpreter, the court system lacked interpreters for less-commonly encountered languages. Crimes committed before 2008 are processed under the prior written inquisitorial system in which the prosecutor is an investigating magistrate who investigates, determines evidence, and makes a finding of guilt or innocence. In those cases the trial consists of the presentation of evidence and finding of guilt or innocence to a judge for ratification or rejection. In the military justice system, military judges preside over courts-martial. Counsel may represent the accused and call witnesses, but most fact-finding takes place during the investigative stage. Military trial judges issue rulings within eight days of a court-martial hearing. Representatives of the civilian Inspector General's Office are required to be present at courts-martial. Criminal procedure within the military justice system includes elements of the inquisitorial and accusatory systems. Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty and have the right to timely consultation with counsel. The law provides for the right to a fair trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. Political Prisoners and Detainees The government declared that it did not hold political prisoners. Authorities did hold some members of human rights advocacy groups on charges of conspiracy, rebellion, or terrorism, which the groups described as government harassment tactics against human rights advocates. The government did not provide information on the number of detainees in prisons, jails, or under house arrest who were accused or convicted of rebellion or aiding and abetting the insurgency. The government provided the ICRC regular access to these prisoners. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Citizens may sue a government agent or entity in the Administrative Court of Litigation for damages resulting from a human rights violation. Although critics complained of delays in the process, the court generally was considered impartial and effective. Cases involving violations of an individual's human rights may be submitted through petitions by individuals or organizations to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, which in turn may submit the case to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights. The court may order civil remedies, including fair compensation to the individual injured. Property Restitution The 2011 Victims' and Land Restitution Law (Victims' Law) continues to provide a legal basis for assistance and reparations to persons, including victims of the government, but the government admitted that the pace of restitution was slow. The Administrative Department for Social Prosperity (DPS) handles problems related to victims, poverty, consolidation, historical memory, and protection of children and adolescents. The Victims' Unit of the DPS has the governmental lead on attention to victims. From 2011 through August 1, 2016, a total of 7,844,527 victims registered with the Victims' Unit. Of these, 6,883,513 were victims of forced displacement, with 17,976 registered during the year through August 1. The government did not provide information on the number of those registered who received some form of assistance. There were 340 registered cases of collective reparations. Both individual and collective reparations are mandated by the Victims' Law, however, the original budget for implementation of the law contemplated only 4.5 million victims. The Land Restitution Unit, a semiautonomous entity in the Ministry of Agriculture, is responsible for returning land to displaced victims of conflict. As of August 19, the government received 93,686 land restitution claims, of which more than 50,903 claims fell within the government's target areas for restitution and went into active review. The government reported as of the same date, courts handed down 1,948 decisions on land restitution, corresponding to affirmative decisions in 3,980 cases with 23,085 beneficiaries. The Inspector General's Office intervened to support land claimants in 679 cases through July, providing support in the administrative, judicial, and post-ruling phases in order to ensure the effective implementation of victims' right to integral reparation. Through July the Land Restitution Unit approved three requests for collective restitution of ethnic territories or individual restitution claims, corresponding to 130,972 acres benefitting 2,473 families and 12,365 persons. Of the 93,686 individual cases received through July, 2,888 belonged to individuals self-identified as Afro-Colombian, 1,624 to individuals self-identified as indigenous, and 638 to individuals self-identified as pertaining to other ethnic groups. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits such actions, but there were allegations that the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Government authorities generally need a judicial order to intercept mail or e-mail, or monitor telephone conversations, including in prisons. Government intelligence agencies investigating terrorist organizations sometimes monitored telephone conversations without judicial authorization, but evidence obtained in such a manner may not be used in court. During the year through July, the Attorney General's Office initiated three new criminal investigations of government agents for illegal monitoring activities. During the year through September, the Inspector General's Office reported it had not initiated any disciplinary investigations of public servants accused of illegal monitoring activities. In February the Inspector General's Office opened an investigation into journalist Vicky Davila's accusations that police had been monitoring her communications, including trailing and wiretapping her and her reporting team, since 2014. An investigation continued into abuses by the Army Intelligence Unit, known by its code name "Andromeda." Semana magazine alleged that the unit illegally wiretapped personal telephones of peace negotiators belonging to both the government and FARC negotiating teams. General Mauricio Forero, former head of the military's intelligence center, left the army on April 1 for alleged connections to Andromeda. As of October he had not been charged or arrested in connection with these allegations. On March 10, the Attorney General's Office pressed charges against David Parra Amin, a police sergeant assigned to the Section of Criminal Investigations in Bogota, for his alleged role as the liaison between Andres Sepulveda, convicted in 2015 for tapping into communications of peace negotiating teams and government officials, and the Bogota Metropolitan Police. On August 29, attorneys for Martha Ines Leal, former director of operations of the dismantled Administrative Department of Security (DAS); Jorge Lagos, former DAS intelligence director; and Fernando Tabares, former DAS counterintelligence director, submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights allegations that the Attorney General's Office placed undue pressure on them in order to coerce them into testifying in the DAS illegal surveillance case. The DAS allegedly engaged in illegal surveillance of high court magistrates, journalists, human rights organizations and activists, opposition leaders, and the vice presidency. In its annual report published in March, the OHCHR registered 80 complaints of illegal surveillance of human rights defenders and social activists in 2015. While statistics for 2016 were unavailable as of October, NGOs continued to accuse domestic intelligence or security entities of spying on lawyers and human rights defenders, threatening them, and breaking into their homes or offices to steal information. The government continued to use voluntary civilian informants to identify terrorists, report terrorist activities, and gather information on criminal gangs. Some national and international human rights groups criticized this practice as subject to abuse and a threat to privacy and other civil liberties. The government maintained that the practice was in accordance with the "principle of solidarity" outlined in the constitution and that the Comptroller General's Office strictly regulated payments to such informants. g. Abuses in Internal Conflict Following the rejection of the initial accord between the government and the FARC in an October 2 plebiscite, the government, leaders of the plebiscite "No" campaign, and the FARC engaged in a national dialogue that led to a revised accord announced November 12. The government and the FARC signed the revised peace accord November 24, and the congress ratified the agreement November 30. President Santos and the FARC leadership announced December 1 was "D-Day," triggering a 180-day deadline for the FARC to begin demobilization and disarmament in UN-monitored concentration zones throughout Colombia. A UN mission was monitoring, as of December 15, the bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities the parties established August 29. The country's internal armed conflict with the ELN, organized criminal groups, and narcotics traffickers continued. On May 30, the government announced an agenda for formal peace negotiations with the ELN. They had not yet begun as of the end of the year. During the year reports of human rights abuses occurred in the context of the conflict and narcotics trafficking. Guerrilla group members continued to demobilize on an individual basis. In the first eight months of the year, according to the Ministry of Defense, 559 members of guerrilla groups demobilized, reflecting a 32 percent reduction in FARC demobilizations but a 52 percent increase in ELN demobilizations over the same period in 2015 (375 from the FARC, 179 from the ELN, and five from other dissident groups). The Organization of American States verified all stages of demobilization and reintegration into society of former combatants from the guerrilla and former paramilitary groups. Through August 22, the Human Rights Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, in conjunction with the ICRC, conducted 16 human rights training sessions for 980 ministry personnel. In September the International Defense Institute for Legal Studies conducted training for 25 military and police officials, as well as nonmilitary personnel, with the objective of strengthening the working relationships between unit leaders and their operational legal advisers. Implementation of the 2005 Justice and Peace Law (JPL) continued. The Justice and Peace Unit in the Attorney General's Office is responsible for the required investigation and prosecution of demobilized persons, and an interagency commission on justice and peace coordinates implementation. Participants in the justice and peace process may receive reduced sentences of five to eight years in prison if they comply with the terms of the JPL. Information provided in voluntary confessions as part of the JPL also initiated investigations of politicians, military members, major agricultural producers, and government officials' past ties to paramilitary forces. Some of the investigations resulted in prosecutions and convictions. As of June 2015, the government reported a total of 5,024 former paramilitary and guerrilla defendants participated in confession hearings. During these sessions the defendants confessed to 57,207 crimes, and information was obtained that resulted in the exhumation of 978 victims. As of the same date, 813 defendants were formally charged in presentations before the courts by the Office of the Attorney General's Justice and Peace Unit. During 2015 through June, 1,106 defendants reached their eight-year maximum incarceration dates under the agreed arrangement, and authorities released 39 for reintegration into society. The Justice and Peace Unit moved to expel from the JPL process those defendants who do not fully comply by confessing crimes, turning over illegally acquired assets, and ceasing their criminal activity. Updated information for 2016 was not available by November. Application of the JPL continued to face many challenges. Thousands of former paramilitary members remained in legal limbo due to resource and capacity constraints at the Attorney General's Office. There was also little land or money confiscated from former paramilitary leaders to be used for required victim reparations. The creation of a truth-seeking mechanism in Law 1424 of 2010 (the Legal Status for Former Combatants Law) requires demobilized paramilitary fighters who did not commit crimes against humanity to provide testimony on the actions and structures of illegal armed groups to the Center for Historical Memory as a requirement for being granted legal status and suspended sentences for lesser crimes. The law also provides for establishing and institutionalizing formal archives, creating a Center for Historical Memory for collecting oral testimony and material documentation concerning violations of international human rights norms and law, and constructing the National Museum of Memory in consultation with victims. In a report published in 2013, the Center for Historical Memory documented the killing of at least 220,000 citizens in the context of the armed conflict from 1958 to 2012, 80 percent of whom were unarmed civilians. Civil society groups also accused all sides of the armed conflict of having engaged in activities that targeted noncombatant civilians, including women and children. Killings: Security forces were implicated in alleged unlawful killings. CINEP reported there were 19 such killings during the year through September 9 (eight committed by police, five by the army, one by the navy, and five by INPEC). Guerrilla groups and criminal organizations were also implicated in unlawful killings during the year, but precise numbers were not provided by the government. On August 26, media reported that ELN members in Barbacoas, Narino, killed Camilo Roberto Taicus Bisbucus, an indigenous member of the Awa community. According to the human rights advocacy NGO Minga, no progress had been made in the 2008 Soacha extrajudicial killings scandal, and all five cases remained in the initial investigation stage at the Attorney General's Office. The cases of three more victims were in the evidentiary stage, that of another victim was pending plea bargain agreements with four soldiers who accepted their responsibility in the crimes, and the cases of five additional victims were in final allegation hearings. As of August 29, there were no convictions. Abductions: Criminal and illegal armed elements engaged in abductions. According to the NGO Fundacion Pais Libre, between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, criminals and illegal armed groups kidnapped 320 persons, including 179 for extortion. Pais Libre also reported that authorities rescued 91 kidnapping victims; captors released 179, 20 were presumed to remain in captivity, three were released due to pressure by authorities, 22 escaped, and five died in captivity. ELN guerrillas continued to take hostages for ransom and for political reasons. The government reported that the ELN kidnapped 12 persons during the first seven months of the year. As of November 7, at least one civilian remained in ELN captivity. The ICRC reported that from January 1 through November 16, it participated in 10 operations to release persons in the hands of nonstate actors, eight held by the ELN, and two held by the FARC. Through July 21, the Attorney General's Office reported one conviction for abductions committed by members of the FARC and no convictions for abductions committed by members of the ELN. Physical Abuse, Punishment, and Torture: The Presidential Directorate for Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines (DAICMA) reported that antipersonnel mines and IEDs, deployed primarily by the FARC and the ELN, caused 11 deaths and 63 injuries from January 1 through the end of October, including four minors. Members of the Colombian military suffered the majority of injuries. During the year the Joint Improvised Threat Defeat Agency found that the FARC's use of IEDs fell below the number of incidents attributed to the ELN. CERAC reported that as of July 19, 228 days had passed since the last land mine or unexploded ordinance incident involving the FARC. The army's humanitarian demining brigade cleared more than 18 acres, destroyed 49 IEDs, and destroyed two unexploded munitions through October 2016. Halo Trust continued to engage in demining activities, and from January 1 through July 28 cleared more than 44 acres, destroyed 176 land mines, and destroyed five unexploded munitions. In a pilot project in Santa Helena, where Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) performed nontechnical studies and the army's brigade performed land clearance, the organizations cleared more than five acres, destroyed 19 land mines, and destroyed one unexploded munition. In addition the four humanitarian demining NGOs accredited to operate in the country during the year began work in Vista Hermosa, Meta Department. More broadly, during the year the government strengthened the oversight role of its civilian-led demining authority, DAICMA, and showcased a five-year strategy to become mine-free at the Forum of Experts in May. The plan includes targeting high-risk municipalities, establishing immediate action areas, and developing interagency rapid response teams to address the mine removal process. The army began establishing a 5,000-person Humanitarian Demining Brigade to deepen and focus military capacity for demining. In addition four NGOs supported humanitarian demining: Halo Trust, Handicap International, NPA, and the Colombian Campaign Against Mines. There were numerous reports that ELN guerrillas mistreated civilians and prisoners, including injured and sick persons. International organizations reported that systemic sexual violence against women and girls by some armed actors persisted (see section 6, Women). Human rights NGOs Sisma Mujer, Amnesty International, and others reported that sexual violence remained one of the main tools used by illegal armed groups to instill fear and force displacement. The government continued to employ an interagency investigative unit in Bogota, the Elite Sexual Assault Investigative Unit (GEDES), which was dedicated to the investigation of sexual assault cases (see section 6, Women). Child Soldiers: The ELN routinely engaged in forced recruitment of persons under age 18. According to the United Nations, illegal armed groups killed or threatened children with death on suspicion of being informants for the military. The Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) estimated the average age of recruitment was 12 years. Having admitted to a practice of recruiting minors in the context of the peace talks, the FARC announced February 9 that it would stop recruiting all minors under the age of 18. On May 15, the government and the FARC issued a joint communique announcing the FARC would release all children under age 15 within its ranks and develop a process for the release of all minors under 18. On September 10, media reported the FARC released 13 minors to the ICRC. The ICBF stated that it was impossible to know how many FARC child soldiers existed but reported that more than 6,027 children were demobilized from illegal armed groups between 1999 and July 2016. Of the children demobilized through July, 10 percent were of indigenous descent, and 7 percent were Afro-Colombian. During the year through July, 451 children were demobilized. The FARC and other illegal armed groups reportedly used children as combatants and recruiters of other children to act as spies, gather intelligence, cultivate narcotics, and provide logistical support. The children were also reportedly exploited in sex trafficking. The ICBF provided demobilized children extensive assistance, including education, health care, and psychological support. The ICBF continued its educational outreach program, which included a component on prevention of forced recruitment by illegal armed groups. The program maintained teen and preteen clubs and other avenues for educational outreach in all departments of the country. The Interagency Committee for the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Children by Illegal Armed Groups continued activities to prevent recruitment, use, and sexual violence against children. The committee supported cases in the Attorney General's Office and constructed a communication strategy with a focus on the rights of children and guidelines for the prevention of sexual violence. The committee also formed immediate action teams in several departments. The Attorney General's Office prioritized key cases for processing under the JPL. Cases in which former paramilitary forces were accused of recruiting child soldiers were included in the prioritized cases. Under the criminal code, the penalty for leaders of armed groups who use child soldiers is six to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of 600 to 1,000 times the minimum wage. International organizations continued to identify recruitment of indigenous youth by illegal armed groups as a serious concern. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Other Conflict-related Abuse: Guerrilla groups and organized criminal groups prevented or limited the delivery of food and medicines to towns and regions in contested drug-trafficking corridors, including efforts of international relief and humanitarian organizations. These actions strained local economies and increased forced displacement. The ELN bombed the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline in Boyaca Department on February 9 and damaged infrastructure, including oil pipelines and energy transmission towers, on February 15. Oil spills resulting from these attacks on oil pipelines also resulted in substantial environmental damage, including harming fish and wildlife, and contaminating rivers and aqueducts carrying potable water. The ELN also held an armed strike in which they threatened anyone who went to work or left their homes in Arauca, Norte de Santander, Casanare, Boyaca, Choco, Cauca, and Bajo Cauca regions on February 14-17, and another in Arauca, Boyaca, Casanare, Santander, Norte de Santander, and Vichada Departments in September. ELN attacks on security forces, energy infrastructure, and civilians continued sporadically through May and June. The Gulf Clan held an armed strike March 31 in Antioquia, Choco, Sucre, Cordoba, and Cesar Departments that paralyzed transportation and commerce, forced school closures, and led to violence, including the deaths of three police members and one army official. Guerrillas routinely used civilians to shield combatant forces and forcibly displaced peasants to clear key drug and weapon transit routes in strategic zones. Guerrillas also imposed de facto blockades of communities in regions where they had significant influence. For example, international organizations reported many incidents in which illegal armed groups forcibly recruited indigenous persons or forced them to collaborate, restricted their freedom of movement, and blockaded their communities. The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues received reports of rape, forced recruitment, use of minors as informants, and other abuses in the context of conflict. Organized criminal gangs, as well as illegal armed groups, such as ELN guerrillas, forcibly entered private homes, monitored private communications, and engaged in forced displacement and conscription. Organized criminal groups also continued to displace civilians residing along key drug and weapon transit corridors (see section 2.d.). There were reports that the FARC, the ELN, and other armed actors engaged in the extraction of, and cross-border trade in, conflict minerals, which contributed to abuses by providing funding for weapons and by prompting rebels to displace residents forcibly in order to clear mining areas. As a confidence-building measure for the peace process, the FARC announced on July 4 an immediate suspension of the levying of extortion "taxes" on civilians engaged in legal economic activity. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The law provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respected these rights. Violence and harassment, as well as the criminalization of libel, inhibited freedom of the press, and the government frequently influenced the press, in part through its large advertising budgets. The independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction. Violence and Harassment: According to the domestic NGO Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP), during the year through August 29, there were 144 incidents of violence and harassment against journalists, although FLIP noted many other incidents might have gone unreported in the most dangerous areas of the country. FLIP reported 52 threats, some aimed simultaneously at more than one journalist. FLIP also reported that one journalist was detained, 33 journalists were physically attacked, and 17 were stigmatized due to their work; however, no journalists had been killed as of September. According to FLIP, the government did not bring a single case to trial for violence against journalists, although investigations continued. As of July the Human Rights Unit of the Attorney General's Office was investigating 37 active cases of crimes against journalists and had convicted 43 persons for such crimes. On May 21, the ELN kidnapped RCN journalists Salud Hernandez, Diego D'Pablos, and Carlos Melo. They were released on May 27. The investigation into the case of journalist Flor Alba Nunez Vargas, shot and killed in 2015, proceeded despite some delays. The accused material author of the crime, Juan Camilo Ortiz, arrested in September 2015, remained in detention, while Ortiz's alleged accomplice, Jaumeth Albeiro Florez, known by the alias "Chori," remained at large. After the preliminary hearing was suspended three times, the prosecution in a September 2 preliminary hearing presented evidence against Ortiz, including 93 elements of proof and legal evidence. The preliminary hearing was suspended again and resumed September 19, according to media reports. Oral proceedings in the case were scheduled for November. On May 10, the Attorney General's Office called three former DAS employees former DAS director in Antioquia Emiro Rojas Granados, existing CTI telematics director William Alberto Merchan, and former DAS intelligence group detective Juan Carlos Sastoque to testify in the case regarding threats and harassment against journalist Claudia Julieta Duque. In September the Council of the State, the highest court for legal processes involving the state, ruled the state was responsible for the death of Jaime Garzon, a journalist and satirist shot and killed by motorcycle gunmen in Bogota in 1999. The court sentenced the state, represented by the Ministry of Defense, the army, and the National Police, noting the responsibility of DAS agents. According to the Council of the State, Jose Miguel Narvaez, the former deputy director of intelligence of the DAS, and the former chief of intelligence of Brigade 13 of the army, colonel Jorge Eliecer Plazas Acevedo, carried out illegal wiretaps on Garzon and shared the information with the former commander of the AUC, Carlos Castano, to whom they suggested the murder. The court ordered the state to pay more than COP 700 million ($235,000) to Garzon's family for damages. Plazas Acevedo and Narvaez were being prosecuted for the crime of aggravated homicide. There was only one conviction to date in Garzon's murder; in 2004 Carlos Castano was convicted in absentia of being the mastermind of the murder, and sentenced to 38 years in prison. As of July the National Protection Unit (NPU) provided protection services to 132 journalists. On September 23, the NPU presented a new Protocol for Attention to Cases of Journalists and/or Social Communicators, established with the stated goal of meeting the particular needs of this group and providing more robust risk studies. Censorship or Content Restrictions: FLIP alleged that some journalists practiced self-censorship due to fear of being sued under libel laws or of being physically attacked, mostly by nongovernment actors. FLIP argued that the high degree of impunity for those who committed aggressions against journalists was also a factor. Libel/Slander Laws: By law slander and libel are crimes. There is no specific legislation for slander against public officials. The government did not use prosecution to prevent media from criticizing government policies or public officials. Political candidates, businesspersons, and others, however, sued journalists for expressing their opinions, alleging defamation or libel. FLIP reported three new cases against journalists for libel or slander were filed from January 1 to August 26. FLIP also noted as of August 26, four cases of journalists being prosecuted for libel or slander continued from previous years. Nongovernmental Impact: Members of illegal armed groups sought to inhibit freedom of expression by intimidating, threatening, kidnapping, and killing journalists. National and international NGOs reported that local media representatives regularly practiced self-censorship because of threats of violence from these groups. In March a judge sentenced Mario Jaime Mejia to 28 years and Alejandro Cardenas to 11 years in prison for their roles in the aggravated kidnapping, torture, and rape of journalist Jineth Bedoya in 2000. In August the Superior Court of Bogota ruled that neither man was eligible for the alternative benefits provided by the Justice and Peace law because they lied about their participation in and knowledge of the facts in the case. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet and has no onerous legislation or policies censoring online content. The investigation continued into past abuses by the Army Intelligence Unit known as "Andromeda" (see also section 1.f.). The International Telecommunication Union estimated 53 percent of the population used the internet in 2015. In view of the general climate of violence and impunity, self-censorship occurred both online and offline, particularly within communities at risk in rural areas. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. There was evidence, however, that guerrillas maintained a presence on many university campuses to generate political support for their respective causes and undermine support for their enemies through both violent and nonviolent means. Organized criminal gangs and guerrilla groups killed, threatened, and displaced educators and their families for political and financial reasons, often because teachers represented the only government presence in the remote areas where the killings occurred. According to the Colombian Federation of Educators, three educators were killed during the year through August 29. Threats and harassment caused many educators and students to adopt lower profiles and avoid discussing controversial topics. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly The law provides for the freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected this right. Freedom of Association The law provides for the freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right. Freedom of association was limited by threats and acts of violence committed by illegal armed groups against NGOs, indigenous groups, and labor unions (see section 1.g.). Some NGOs alleged that riot police used excessive force to break up demonstrations. During a two-week national agrarian strike that began May 30 and concluded with the signing of an accord with the government June 12, local social and human rights organizations accused the armed forces and National Police Anti-Riot Squad of using excessive force and alleged that at least 179 demonstrators were injured and three killed. The government stated the protests had not remained peaceful and noted 54 members of the security forces were also injured. Although the government does not prohibit membership in most political organizations, membership in organizations that engaged in rebellion against the government, espoused violence, or carried out acts of violence, such as the FARC, the ELN, and illegal armed groups, was illegal. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The government generally respected these rights, although there were exceptions. Military operations and armed conflict in certain rural areas restricted freedom of movement. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. In-country Movement: There were no government restrictions on movement within the country. Organized criminal gangs and ELN guerrillas continued to establish illegal checkpoints on rural roads, particularly in the departments of Putumayo, Arauca, Antioquia, and Norte de Santander. International organizations also reported that illegal armed groups confined rural communities through roadblocks, curfews, car bombs at egress routes, and IEDs in areas where narcotics cultivation and trafficking persisted. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, monitoring in the departments where it operated, between January 2015 and August 15, 2016, more than 5.35 million persons faced mobility restrictions that limited their access to essential goods and services due to armed incidents, protests, and geographical factors. The departments most affected were Cordoba, Caqueta, Cauca, and Narino. Of the more than five million persons in those areas, 4.1 million suffered mobility restrictions due to events related to armed violence. The restrictions were generally limited in duration. On April 1, the Gulf Clan illegal armed group conducted an armed strike in 36 municipalities, killing five persons, blocking five roads, and burning eight trucks. CERAC reported that while four of the killings targeted members of the CNP and army, the majority of the strike activities targeted the civilian population. Exile: The law prohibits forced exile, and the government did not employ it. Historically, many persons went into self-imposed exile because of threats from organized criminal gangs and FARC and ELN guerrillas. Internally Displaced Persons The armed conflict, especially in remote areas, was the major cause of internal displacement. The government, international organizations, and civil society identified various factors driving displacement, including threats, extortion, and physical, psychological, and sexual violence by illegal armed groups against civilian populations, particularly women and girls. Competition and armed confrontation between and within illegal armed groups for resources and territorial control and confrontations between security forces, guerrillas, and organized criminal gangs, and forced recruitment of children or threats of forced recruitment were also drivers of displacement. Some NGOs asserted that counternarcotics efforts, illegal mining, and large-scale commercial ventures in rural areas also contributed to displacement. The NGO Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES) reported 8,669 persons displaced in mass displacement events (displacement of 50 or more persons) from January through August and indicated the departments with the highest numbers of IDPs from mass displacements in the year were Choco (5,407 displacements), Antioquia (1,250 displacements), Norte de Santander (923 displacements), and Narino (347 displacements). CODHES also reported that eight land-rights leaders were killed from January 1 through August, one land-rights claimant and two employees of the land restitution unit were killed, 10 land rights leaders received individual or collective threats, and eight members of a land rights and human rights organizations were threatened. As of July the NPU was providing protection services to 300 land restitution leaders. As of August 1, the government reported the Victims' Unit listed 6,883,513 displaced in the Single Victims Registry, with registrants dating back since 1985. Of those, 17,976 were due to displacements that occurred during the year. Victims' Unit statistics showed that new displacements occurred primarily in areas where narcotics cultivation and trafficking persisted, especially where guerrilla groups and organized criminal gangs were present. The Victims' Unit maintained the Single Victims Registry as mandated by law. Despite improvements in the government registration system, IDPs experienced delays in receiving responses to their displacement claims because of a large backlog of claims built up during several months. International organizations and NGOs remained concerned about the slow and insufficient institutional response to displacement. Government policy provides for an appeals process in the case of refusals. The ELN and organized criminal gangs continued to use force, intimidation, and disinformation to discourage IDPs from registering with the government. Guerrilla agents sometimes forced local leaders and community members to demonstrate against government efforts to eradicate illicit crops and forced communities to displace as a form of coerced protest against eradication. International organizations and civil society expressed concern over urban displacement caused by violence stemming from territorial disputes between criminal gangs, some of which had links to larger criminal and narcotics trafficking groups. The Victims' Unit cited extortion, recruitment by illegal armed groups, homicides, and physical and sexual violence as the primary causes of intra-urban displacement. The ICRC and UNHCR reported that in some departments displacement disproportionately affected indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups. Through August 1, the government registered 171,634 IDPs (including those displaced during years before 2014) who identified themselves as indigenous and 698,642 who identified themselves as Afro-Colombian. Of those displaced in 2016, 1,025 persons self-identified as indigenous and 2,869 self-identified as Afro-Colombian. The National Indigenous Organization of Colombia estimated the number of displaced indigenous persons to be much higher than indicated by government reports, since many indigenous persons did not have adequate access to registration locations due to geographic remoteness, language barriers, or unfamiliarity with the national registration system. The local NGO Association of Internally Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES) stated that threats and violence against Afro-Colombian leaders and communities continued to cause high levels of forced displacement, especially in the Pacific Coast region. AFRODES and other local NGOs repeatedly expressed concern that large-scale economic projects, such as agriculture and mining, contributed to displacement in their communities. Fifty-two government agencies are responsible by law for assisting registered IDPs. International organizations and NGOs maintained that the quality of programs providing emergency assistance, housing, and income generation need strengthening. Emergency response capacity at the local level was weak, and IDPs continued to experience prolonged periods of vulnerability while waiting for assistance. A specialized unit of the Attorney General's Office established through an agreement with the government's former social agency, Social Action (which the DPS replaced), the Attorney General's Office, and the CNP investigated and prosecuted cases of forced displacement and disappearances. Dozens of international organizations, international NGOs, and domestic nonprofit groups, including UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration, the World Food Program, the ICRC, and the Colombian Red Cross, coordinated with the government to provide emergency relief and long-term assistance to displaced populations. The Victims' Unit and other government agencies improved their response to mass displacement events throughout the year and were assisted by international organizations such as UNHCR and the ICRC. International organizations and civil society reported that a continuing lack of local capacity to accept registrations in high-displacement areas often delayed by several weeks or months assistance to persons displaced individually or in smaller groups. Humanitarian organizations attributed the delays to a variety of factors, including the lack of personnel, funding, declaration forms, and training. Intense fighting and insecurity in conflict zones, including areas in the departments of Antioquia, Cauca, Choco, and Narino, sometimes delayed national and international aid organizations from reaching newly displaced populations. Despite several government initiatives to enhance IDP access to services and awareness of their rights, in many parts of the country, municipalities did not have the resources or capacity to respond to new displacements and provide humanitarian assistance to IDPs. Local elections in October 2015 resulted in new mayors and municipal officials, many of whom were inexperienced in displacement issues. Many IDPs continued to live in poverty in unhygienic conditions and with limited access to health care, education, and employment. Displaced persons also sought protection across international borders due to the internal armed conflict. UNHCR stated that Colombia was the country of origin for 360,000 refugees and persons in a refugee-like situation, the majority in Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Panama. UNHCR estimated that between 400 and 500 Colombians crossed into Ecuador every month. The governments of Colombia and Ecuador continued to meet throughout the year regarding the situation of Colombian refugees in Ecuador, and the Colombian government offered a program to assist Colombian refugees in Ecuador who returned to Colombia. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. According to the government, it approved 77 of the 1,263 applications for refugee status received since 2009. Between January 1 and August 19, the government reported it received 334 new applications for refugee status, of which it approved eight and rejected 55. As of August 19, the government reported it had not received any complaints of discrimination against the civil rights of refugees. The government reported a continuing rise in the smuggling of migrants from outside the region through Colombia en route to the United States and Canada. According to UNHCR and Colombian migration officials, most of the undocumented migrants were Cubans and Haitians, followed by Africans and Asians, and most entered through Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil. While the government generally provided access to the asylum process for such persons who requested international protection, many abandoned their applications and continued on the migration route. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government through free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on nearly universal suffrage. Active-duty members of the armed forces and police may neither vote nor participate in the political process. Civilian public employees are eligible to vote, although they may participate in partisan politics only during the four months immediately preceding a national election. As part of the peace accord announced on August 24, the government and the FARC agreed to take steps formally to register former FARC members as a political party or political movement after the FARC fully disarm. These features were maintained in the revised accord announced November 12 and approved by the Colombian congress November 30. The revised accord included guaranteed seats for FARC representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives in the 2018 and 2022 elections. It also included security guarantees for the new political party or political movement, guaranteed state financing for the new party or movement's 2018 and 2022 Senate and presidential campaigns, and guarantees regarding access to media under the same conditions as other political parties and movements. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In 2015 the country held departmental and local elections, involving 110,000 candidates running to be one of the country's 32 governors, 1,100 mayors, and more than 12,000 local council-seat holders. According to the NGO Foundation of Peace and Reconciliation, during the election period, seven candidates were killed, four were attacked, and 28 were threatened. In October the country voted in a national plebiscite on the peace accord announced by the government and FARC in a contest both the Foundation of Peace and Reconciliation and the Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) reported was generally free, fair, and violence free. According to MOE, electoral fraud remained a serious concern. The NGO reported that parties paid voters to register and vote in municipalities in which they were not resident. In advance of the 2015 elections, NGOs estimated this occurred in more than 600 municipalities. According to the Foundation of Peace and Reconciliation, the areas with the highest proportion of irregular voters were the departments of Boyaca, Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Narino, and Bolivar. The government continued the use of a new finance tool to provide transparency of campaign funds, disqualified candidates with pending criminal investigations, and canceled the national identification cards of voters who could not demonstrate residence or employment in the municipality where they were registered to vote. The Foundation of Peace and Reconciliation claimed 11 parties' rosters for elections included candidates with financial ties to illegal groups. Former La Guajira governor Juan Francisco "Kiko" Gomez Cerchar was tried for his alleged involvement in death threats made in 2014 against four persons investigating political party corruption and ties to illegal armed groups, for links to former paramilitary groups, and for involvement in various killings. On November 17, he was convicted of crimes including aggravated homicide, attempted murder, and trafficking of weapons in connection with the killings of political leader Yandra Brito, her husband Henry Ustariz, and driver Wilfredo Fonseca. Political Parties and Political Participation: Organized criminal gangs and the ELN threatened and killed government officials (see section 1.g.). Some local officials resigned because of threats from the FARC. As of August 22, the NPU, under the Ministry of Interior, provided protection to 282 mayors, 22 governors, and 2,581 other persons, including members of departmental assemblies, council members, judges, municipal human rights officers, and other officials related to national human rights policies. By decree the CNP's protection program and the NPU assume shared responsibility for protecting municipal and district mayors. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit participation of women and members of minorities in the political process, and they did participate. During the 2014 legislative elections, two persons who were allegedly not of Afro-Colombian descent, Maria del Socorro Bustamante and Moises Orozco Vicuna, were elected to the two seats in the House of Representatives reserved for representatives of Afro-Colombian communities. Legal challenges following the election kept the individuals from assuming their seats. One of the candidates, Bustamante, died of natural causes in 2015. In October the Superior Court of Cundinamarca validated the appointment of Heriberto Arrechea to fill Orozco Vicuna's seat. The number of women elected to public office increased in general in the October 2015 elections, according to UN Women's 2014-15 report. As a result of the elections, the percentage of women holding local public office rose from 13 percent to 15.5 percent. Five of 32 elected governors and 133 of 1,109 mayors were women. Additionally, women constitute 20 percent of the House of Representatives and 23 percent of the Senate, compared with 12.7 percent of the House and 16.7 percent of the Senate in 2010. In the plenary chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, three of the 22 justices were women. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively, although officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices without punishment. The World Bank's worldwide governance indicators reflected that government corruption was a serious problem. Revenues from transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, exacerbated corruption. Corruption: In January media reported 12 persons were arrested for alleged corruption related to ICBF contracts, including the former ICBF regional director in Barranquilla Department and an active CNP officer. According to media reporting, an estimated COP 1.755 trillion ($600 million) was embezzled. Additionally, two ICBF officials were arrested in August for their alleged involvement in a corruption scandal related to contracts worth millions of dollars for the care of minors and pregnant women within the ICBF's "Cero a Siempre" strategy. The two officials faced charges for crimes, including embezzlement, procedural fraud, forgery of private documents, falsifying a public document, and malfeasance. A special investigative unit of the Supreme Court of Justice, charged with investigating members of congress and senior government officials, reported that since January 1, it opened one investigation against a former senator; the investigation. During the same period, the unit opened 59 investigations against former governors and 28 against sitting governors but won no convictions in the cases. The Attorney General's Office reported that for the year through September, it had investigated 19 attorneys, one comptroller, and 16 other senior government officials. In addition, as of August 25, the Attorney General's Office was investigating 75 cases of corruption, of which 71 were in the preliminary investigation phase and four had been brought to trial. Financial Disclosure: By law public officials must file annual financial disclosure forms with the tax authority. The information is not made public. The law states that persons who intend to hold public office or work as contractors for the government for more than three months shall submit a statement of assets and income, as well as information on their private economic activity. The Administrative Department of Public Service is in charge of preparing the required forms, and the human resources chief in each entity is responsible for verifying the information submitted. Congress maintained a website on which members could voluntarily post their financial information. Public Access to Information: The law provides for public access to government information, and the government generally provided this access. There were reports that some low-level officials insisted on bribes to expedite access to information. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Although the government and local human rights groups often differed in their evaluations and analyses of the human rights situation, government officials were typically cooperative and willing to listen to the groups' concerns. International NGOs and institutions warned of possible increased violence against civil society leaders and human rights defenders and its potential to undermine peace accord implementation. According to the NGO Somos Defensores (We Are Defenders), 35 human rights activists were killed and 279 threatened, arbitrarily detained, robbed, or disappeared during the first half of the year. Of the killings, 85 percent were committed by hired killers, while 84 percent of the threats were attributable to former paramilitary groups and 13 percent to organized crime, with the rest unknown. Somos Defensores reported that the departments most affected by the attacks were Cauca, Antioquia, Valle de Cauca, Norte de Santander, and Cundinamarca. The minister of interior continued to make public statements in support of human rights defenders and called on the Attorney General's Office to investigate crimes committed against them. In 2015 the Attorney General's Office issued Resolutions 249 and 1783 to investigate cybercrimes, threats, and violence committed against human rights defenders. Somos Defensores reported that in the cases of human rights defenders killed in 2015 and the first six months of 2016, eight cases were in the sentencing stage and eight were in the trial stage as of June. Several NGOs reported receiving threats in the form of e-mails, mail, telephone calls, false obituaries, and objects related to death, such as coffins and funeral bouquets. The government condemned the threats and called on the Attorney General's Office to investigate them. Some activists claimed the government did not take the threats seriously. Through July 31, the Attorney General's Office reported 663 active investigations and no convictions in cases of threats against human rights defenders. As of June the NPU's protection program provided protection to a total of 6,198 individuals. Among the NPU's protected persons were 478 human rights activists. Government Human Rights Bodies: The ombudsman is independent, submits an annual report to the House of Representatives, and has responsibility for providing for the promotion and exercise of human rights. Ombudsman Jorge Armando Otalora resigned on January 27 due to labor and sexual harassment allegations. The new ombudsman, Carlos Alfonso Negret Mosquera, was elected on August 16 for the period of September 2016 through August 2020. According to human rights groups, underfunding of the Ombudsman's Office limited its ability to monitor violations effectively. Members of the ombudsman's regional offices reported threats from illegal armed groups through pamphlets, e-mails, and violent actions. The National System for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law led by a commission of 11 senior government officials coordinates and the vice president designs, implements, and evaluates the government's human rights and international humanitarian law policies. The Office of the Presidential Advisor for Human Rights coordinates national human rights policy and actions taken by government entities to promote or protect human rights. The program publishes regional, national, and thematic reports on human rights topics. The program continued to host public forums with civil society groups, local and national government groups, and the international community. The program continued to advocate for implementation of the public policy recommendations from 32 regional forums conducted in 2012 and 2013. Both the Senate and House of Representatives had human rights committees that served as forums for discussion of human rights problems. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: Although prohibited by law, rape, including spousal rape, remained a serious problem. The law provides for sentences ranging from eight to 30 years' imprisonment for violent sexual assault. For acts of spousal sexual violence, the law mandates prison sentences of six months to two years and denies probation or bail to offenders who disobey restraining orders. By law femicide is punishable with penalties of 21 to 50 years in prison, without the possibility of suspensions or reductions, and longer than the minimum sentence of 13 years for homicide. Femicide is defined as the killing of a woman either for being a woman, because of her gender identity, or as a part of a cycle of sexual, physical, or psychological violence. There was no comprehensive or consolidated database on the incidence of sexual violence, but NGO groups claimed that rape continued to be underreported. The Attorney General's Office indicated that many cases went unreported. Members of illegal groups, including former paramilitary members, and guerrillas also continued to rape and abuse women and children sexually. Prosecution rates for rape continued to be low. Women's groups, such as Sisma Mujer, assessed the extent of rape and domestic violence to be widespread and the law enforcement response to be generally ineffective. The Attorney General's Office had teams in each of its 35 regional directorates that specialize in providing technical assistance and other support in cases of sexual violence, including sexual violence within the context of the internal armed conflict. The government continued to employ the GEDES interagency unit in Bogota, which is dedicated to the investigation of sexual assault cases. The unit uses a multidisciplinary task force approach that includes prosecutors, investigators, and forensic specialists from the CNP and the Attorney General's Office, working together under a common investigative and prosecutorial model. Through the end of August, the Attorney General's Office opened 21,848 investigations for sexual abuses. The Attorney General's Office reported that between January and the end of July, there were 56 new convictions obtained for sexual abuse, including sexual assault, with 12,841 more cases in the trial stage. In addition, during the year through July, the Inspector General's Office reported no open disciplinary investigations into members of the security forces for sex crimes. Through July the Attorney General's Office reported 62,186 new investigations had been opened for cases of domestic violence. Of the victims, 53,596 of the victims were women, and 2,607 of the cases involved minors. The law allows authorities to prosecute domestic violence offenders when the victim does not testify, if there is another witness. Judicial authorities may remove an abuser from a household and require the abuser to undergo therapy. The law provides for both fines and prison time if an abuser causes grave harm or the abuse is recurrent, but authorities reportedly did not impose fines. The law requires the government to provide victims of domestic violence immediate protection from further physical or psychological abuse. The ICBF provided safe houses and counseling for some women and children who were victims of domestic violence, but its services could not meet total demand. In addition to fulfilling traditional family counseling functions, the ICBF family ombudsmen handled domestic violence cases. The Ministry of Defense continued implementing its protocol for managing cases of sexual violence and harassment involving members of the military. The law augments both jail time and fines if the crime causes "transitory or permanent physical disfigurement," such as acid attacks, in which an attacker throws acid onto the victim's face. A law passed on January 6 defines acid attacks as a specific crime, punishing the possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of dangerous substances with prison sentences of 12.5 to 40 years and a wage-based fine. The law also stipulates that the National Institute of Legal Medicine must provide hospitals with training on care for acid-attack victims. In Bogota on August 9, Maria Helena Pena, a 50-year-old female acid-attack victim, had only 5 percent of her face damaged because of the quick action of informed neighbors and hospital workers. In 2014, also in Bogota, Natalia Ponce de Leon was the victim of an acid attack that caused serious burns to her face and body. In August the courts upheld her attacker's conviction and sentence of 20-25 years in prison and rejected the attacker's insanity defense. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): The law prohibits FGM/C, but isolated incidents were reported in several indigenous communities. No accurate statistics existed regarding the practice, which generally includes types I and IV, according to the World Health Organization's classification system. Government efforts to prevent FGM/C included achieving in 2011 a continuing commitment from the sizable Embera-Chami indigenous group to renounce the practice. The tribe's commitment continued, but on March 3, according to media reports, two indigenous children, each under one month old, of the Embera-Chami community of Antioquia died after an ablation surgery. The UN Population Fund continued to support a consulting project on FGM/C with indigenous peoples. The project's goal is to eradicate practices harmful to the life and health of indigenous girls and women nationwide, with an emphasis on the departments of Risaralda and Choco. Sexual Harassment: The law provides measures to deter and punish harassment in the workplace, such as sexual harassment, verbal abuse or derision, aggression, and discrimination. Nonetheless, NGOs reported that sexual harassment remained a pervasive and underreported problem. No information was available as to whether the government implemented the law effectively. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. During the year there were reports of forced abortions. Through July 31, the Attorney General's Office reported it opened 20 investigations related to cases of forced abortion, 18 of which had occurred during the year. Discrimination: Although women enjoy the same legal rights as men, serious discrimination against women persisted (see section 7.d.). The Office of the Advisor for the Equality of Women has primary responsibility for combating discrimination against women, but advocacy groups reported that the office remained seriously underfunded. The government continued its national public policy for gender equity. The policy includes directives for affording women access to economic autonomy, decision-making positions, health and reproductive rights, and a life free of violence, as well as incorporating a gender focus into education. Children Birth Registration: Citizenship is derived by birth within the country's territory. Most births were registered immediately. If a birth is not registered within one month, parents may be fined and denied public services. Child Abuse: Child abuse was a serious problem. The ICBF reported 6,024 cases of child abuse and 5,643 cases of sexual abuse against children during the year through July 31. Through July 30, ICBF reported it provided assistance, including legal and psychological support, to 5,885 minors who were victims of sexual violence, including cases of sexual exploitation. The Attorney General's Office reported that 91 percent of the investigations it opened during the year involving sexual abuse of minors involved children under age 14 (the minimum age of consent). A two-year investigation carried out by the Attorney General's Office and concluded during the year documented 214 cases of girls who were subjected to rape, forced sterilization, forced abortion, and other forms of sexual violence by the FARC. According to then acting attorney general Perdomo, the results revealed the FARC instituted a policy of sexual violence against women at least since 1997. Early and Forced Marriage: Marriage is legal at age 18. Boys older than 14 and girls more than 12 may marry with the consent of their parents. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): See information for girls under 18 in women's section above. Sexual Exploitation of Children: Sexual exploitation of children remained a problem. The law defines demand for the sexual exploitation of a minor as "directly or through a third party requesting or demanding performance of carnal or sexual acts with a person under 18 years of age, through payment or promise of payment in cash, kind, or compensation of any nature." Sexual exploitation of a minor or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a minor carries a penalty of 14 to 25 years in prison, with aggravated penalties for perpetrators who are family members of the victim and for cases of sexual tourism, forced marriage, or sexual exploitation by illegal armed groups. The law prohibits pornography using children under age 18 and stipulates a penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine. The minimum age for consensual sex is 14. The penalty for sexual activity with a child under 14 ranges from nine to 13 years in prison. According to the ICBF, during the year through July 31, there were 206 reported cases of commercial sexual exploitation of children. Since 2009 the NGO Renacer Foundation certified 278 tourism-related businesses as committed to the fight against the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. In cooperation with the government, Renacer trained 18,426 employees of these businesses in how to identify and fight sexual exploitation. Displaced Children: The NGO Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement estimated that 31 percent of persons registered as displaced since 1985 were minors at the time they were displaced (see also section 2.d., IDPs). International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. For information see the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism The Jewish community, which had an estimated 4,200 members, reported instances of anti-Israel rhetoric that emerged around events in the Middle East and were accompanied by anti-Semitic graffiti near synagogues and demonstrations in front of the Israeli Embassy that were sometimes accompanied by anti-Semitic comments on social media. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - China - Macau Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - China - Macau, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a5513.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and enjoys a high degree of autonomy, except in defense and foreign affairs, under the SAR's constitution (the Basic Law). A 400-member Election Committee reelected Chief Executive, Fernando Chui Sai-On, in 2014. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Prominent human rights problems reported during the year were limits on citizens' ability to change their government, constraints on press and academic freedom, and concerns regarding extradition of criminals to jurisdictions with harsher criminal punishments. Trafficking in persons remained a problem, although authorities were building capacity to pursue trafficking cases. While there were continuing concerns that national security legislation passed in accordance with article 23 of the Basic Law in 2009 could compromise various civil liberties, from July 2015-June, the Macao SAR Government filed no cases against individuals or organizations in relation to this article. The government took steps to prosecute and punish officials who committed abuses. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The law prohibits such practices, and there were no reports government officials employed them. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions generally met international standards, and the government permitted monitoring visits by independent human rights observers. Physical Conditions: The Macau Prison, the SAR's only prison, has a maximum capacity of 1,565 persons, and the occupancy rate as of June was approximately 84 percent of capacity. As of June there were 1,317 inmates who were 16 years old (the age of criminal responsibility) and older; of these 1,116 were men and 201 were women. Offenders between the ages of 12 and 16 years old were subject to an "education regime" that, depending on the offense, could include incarceration. Between July 2015 and June, authorities held 16 juveniles at the Youth Correctional Institution, 15 male and one female. Administration: The government's recordkeeping procedures were adequate. The government continued to use alternative sentencing for nonviolent offenders. Ombudsmen were able to serve prisoners and detainees. Authorities allowed prisoners and detainees reasonable access to visitors. Inmates are eligible for a weekly one-hour visit, with video visits arranged when necessary. Inmates with children may apply for weekend visits in a designated family room. Authorities permitted religious observance, including organized activities held within the prison. The law allows prisoners and detainees to submit complaints to judicial authorities without censorship and to request investigation of alleged deficiencies, and judges and prosecutors made monthly visits to prisons to hear prisoner complaints. Independent Monitoring: According to the government, no independent human rights observers requested or made any visit to the Macau Prison. Judges and prosecutors visited the prison at least monthly. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Activists expressed concern that the Macau Government abused prosecutorial procedures to target political dissidents, while police said they charged those they arrested with violations of the law. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the Public Security Police (general law enforcement) and the Judiciary Police (criminal investigations), and the government had effective mechanisms to investigate and punish official abuse and corruption. There were no reports of impunity involving the security forces. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Authorities detained persons openly with warrants issued by a duly authorized official based on sufficient evidence. Detainees had access to a lawyer of their choice or, if indigent, to one provided by the government. Detainees had prompt access to family members. Police must present persons in custody to an examining judge within 48 hours of detention. Detainees were promptly informed of charges against them. The examining judge, who conducts a pretrial inquiry in criminal cases, has wide powers to collect evidence, order or dismiss indictments, and determine whether to release detained persons. According to the government, courts should try defendants within the "shortest period of time." Investigations by the prosecuting attorney should end with charges or dismissal within eight months, or six months when the defendant is in detention. The pretrial inquiry stage must conclude within four months, or two months if the defendant is detained. By law the maximum limits for pretrial detention range from six months to three years, depending on the charges and progress of the judicial process; there were no reported cases of lengthy pretrial detentions. There is a functioning bail system; however, judges often refused bail in cases where sentences could exceed three years. From June 2015-July, there were five complaints of police mistreatment reported to the Commission for Disciplinary Control of the Security Forces and Services of the Macao SAR and two complaints lodged with the Commission Against Corruption. All complaints were dismissed for lack of evidence. Authorities reported there was one case of death while in police custody during the second half of 2015. According to police the case concerned a Filipino man who was brought to a police station after illegally consuming narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Police said during their investigation, the man reported feeling ill, and police accompanied him to Conde S. Januario Hospital for treatment where he died of suspected myocardial infarction despite efforts to resuscitate him. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Macau's unique, civil-code law judicial system, which is derived from the judicial framework of the Portuguese legal system, operates within the PRC. The courts may rule on matters that are the responsibility of the PRC government or concern the relationship between central authorities and the SAR, but before making their final judgment, which is not subject to appeal, the courts must seek an interpretation of the relevant provisions from the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC). Macau's Basic Law requires that courts follow the NPCSC's interpretations when cases intersect with central government jurisdiction, although judgments previously rendered are not affected, and when the Standing Committee makes an interpretation of the provisions concerned, the courts, in applying those provisions, "shall follow the interpretation of the Standing Committee." As the final interpreter of the Basic Law, the NPCSC also has the power to initiate interpretations of the Basic Law. Trial Procedures The law provides for the right to a fair public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. A case may be presided over by one judge or a group of judges, depending on the type of crime and the maximum penalty involved. Under the law defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence, have access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases, and have a right to appeal. The law provides that trials be public except when the court rules otherwise to "safeguard the dignity of persons, public morality, or to provide for the normal functioning of the court." Defendants have the right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges (with free interpretation), be present at their trials, confront witnesses, have adequate time to prepare a defense, not be compelled to testify or confess guilt, and consult with an attorney in a timely manner. The government provides public attorneys for those financially incapable of engaging lawyers or paying expenses of proceedings. The law extends these rights to all residents. The judiciary provided citizens with a fair and efficient judicial process. Under the provisions of the civil procedural law, courts schedule hearings in civil cases after a series of procedural acts have been met to provide for the parties' rights at different stages of the judicial process. According to the government, as of June 30, the longest average waiting time for civil cases to be heard by a collegial panel of the Court of First Instance was 86 working days, while the average waiting time for cases to be heard officially by a sole judge was 29 working days. The average waiting time for criminal cases was less than one year, 84 working days involving someone on remand, and 210 working days in cases without remand. The average waiting time for cases to be heard by a sole judge was 56 working days. Activists said a lack of administrative capacity delayed the adjudication of both civil and criminal cases during the year. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies There is an independent and impartial judiciary for civil matters, and citizens have access to a court to bring lawsuits seeking damages for, or cessation of, a human rights violation. Due to an overloaded court system, a period of up to a year often passed between the filing of a civil case and its scheduled hearing. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits such actions, and the government generally respected these prohibitions. The Office for Personal Data Protection acknowledged a continuing increase in complaints and inquiries regarding data protection. Activists critical of the government reported the government monitored their telephone conversations and internet usage. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Expression The law provides for freedom of speech and expression, and the government generally respected these rights. The law criminalizes treason, secession, subversion of the PRC government, and theft of "state secrets," as well as "acts in preparation" to commit these offenses. The crimes of treason, secession, and subversion specifically require the use of violence, and the government stated it would not use the law to infringe on peaceful political activism or media freedom. The Macau Penal Code states that anyone who initiates or organizes, or develops propaganda that incites or encourages, discrimination, hatred, or racial violence, will be liable to imprisonment for one to eight years. The law also states that anyone who, in a public meeting or in writing intended for dissemination by any means or media, causes acts of violence against a person, or group of persons on the grounds of their race, color, or ethnic origin, or defames, or insults a person, or group of persons on those grounds with the intention of inciting or encouraging racial discrimination, will be liable to imprisonment for between six months and five years. During the year there were no arrests or convictions under this article. Press and Media Freedoms: Independent media were active and expressed a wide range of views, and international media operated freely. The government heavily subsidized major newspapers, which tended to follow closely the PRC government's policy on sensitive political issues, such as Taiwan; however, they generally reported freely on the SAR, including criticism of the SAR government. Two independent media websites known to be critical of the Macau government alleged cyberattacks and intrusions prior to PRC Premier Li Keqiang's October visit to the Macau SAR. Violence and Harassment: Activists alleged that authorities misused criminal proceedings to target government critics. There were no significant instances of violence or harassment directed at journalists. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Activists raised concerns of media self-censorship, particularly because news outlets and journalists worried certain types of coverage critical of the government might limit government funding. Activists also reported the government had co-opted senior media managers to serve in various consultative committees, which also resulted in self-censorship. Journalists expressed concern the government's limitation on news releases about its own activities and its publishing of legal notices only in preferred media outlets influenced editorial content. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. According to the Statistics and Census Service, as of July there were 317,981 internet subscribers of a population of 646,800. This total did not take into account multiple internet users for one subscription, nor did it include those who accessed the internet through mobile devices. The law criminalizes a range of cybercrimes and empowers police, with a court warrant, to order internet service providers to retain and provide authorities with a range of data. Some legislators expressed concern the law granted police authority to take these actions without a court order under some circumstances. Twitter, which the PRC banned on the mainland, was available on the government-provided free Wi-Fi service. Activists reported they freely used Facebook and Twitter to communicate. Activists also reported the government had installed enterprise-grade software capable of censoring, decrypting, and scanning secured transmissions on its free Wi-Fi service without notifying users. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events Academics reported self-censorship and also reported that they were deterred from studying or speaking on controversial topics concerning China. Scholars also reported that they were warned not to speak at politically sensitive events or on behalf of certain political organizations. University professors reported the SAR's universities lacked a tenure system, which left professors vulnerable to dismissal for political reasons. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly The law provides for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected this right. The law requires prior notification, but not approval, of demonstrations involving public roads, public places, or places open to the public. In cases where authorities tried to restrict access to public venues for demonstrations or other public events, the courts generally ruled in favor of the applicants. Police may redirect demonstration marching routes, but organizers have the right to challenge such decisions in court. Activists alleged authorities were making a concerted effort to use both intimidation and criminal proceedings against participants in peaceful demonstrations to discourage their involvement. Activists reported police routinely attempted to intimidate demonstrators by ostentatiously taking videos of them and advising bystanders not to participate in protests. Activists also stated authorities gave orders to demonstrators verbally rather than through written communication, which made it difficult to challenge their decisions in court. Activists reported the use of internal circulars and "rumors" threatening civil servants not to join politically sensitive events and demonstrations. Further, activists alleged the Macau High Court had begun to adjudicate against defendants in freedom of assembly cases. In March, Macau police shrank the area requested by an antigovernment political organization to host an assembly in the Senado Square. The court upheld the restriction and dismissed the applicant's citation of law that "any restriction on the exercise of the right of peaceful assembly must conform to the strict tests of necessity and proportionality." In June approximately 400 persons participated in a vigil at Senado Square to mark the 27th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Freedom of Association The law provides for freedom of association, and the government generally respected it. No authorization is required to form an association, and the only restrictions on forming an organization are that it not promote racial discrimination, violence, crime, or disruption of public order, or be military or paramilitary in nature. The SAR registered 570 new organizations from July 2015 to June. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation and the government generally respected these rights. The Immigration Department cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons, refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. The Internal Security Law grants police the authority to deport or deny entry to nonresidents whom they regard under the law as unwelcome, as a threat to internal security and stability, or as possibly implicated in transnational crimes. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status under the UN Convention Against Torture, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. Persons granted refugee status ultimately enjoy the same rights as other SAR residents. The head of the SAR's Refugee Commission made clear that resource shortages and other priorities meant resolution of the cases would likely take several years. Pending final decisions on their asylum claims, the government registered asylum seekers and provided protection against their expulsion or return to their countries of origin. Persons with pending applications were eligible to receive government support, including basic needs such as housing, medical care, and education for children. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The law limits citizens' ability to change their government through free and fair periodic elections, and citizens did not have universal suffrage. Only a small fraction of citizens played a role in the selection of the Chief Executive, who was chosen in August 2014 by a 400-member Election Committee consisting of 344 members elected from four broad societal sectors (which themselves have a limited franchise) and 56 members chosen from among the SAR's legislators and representatives to the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In 2014 a 400-member selection committee reelected Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-On. Chui ran unopposed and won 97 percent of the vote. The most recent general election for the 14 directly elected seats in the 33-member Legislative Assembly occurred in 2013. A total of 145 candidates on 20 electoral lists competed for the seats. The election for these seats was generally free and fair. There are limits on the types of bills legislators may introduce. The law stipulates that legislators may not initiate legislation related to public expenditure, the SAR's political structure, or the operation of the government. Proposed legislation related to government policies must receive the chief executive's written approval before it is introduced. The Legislative Assembly also has no power of confirmation over executive or judicial appointments. A 10-member Executive Council functions as an unofficial cabinet, approving draft legislation before it is presented in the Legislative Assembly. The Basic Law stipulates that the chief executive appoint members of the Executive Council from among the principal officials of the executive authorities, members of the legislature, and public figures. Political Parties and Political Participation: The SAR has no laws on political parties. Politically active groups registered as societies or limited liability companies were active in promoting their political agendas. Those critical of the government generally did not face restrictions. Such groups participated in protests over government policies or proposed legislation without restriction. Participation of Women and Minorities: There were no laws or practices preventing women or members of minorities from voting, running for office, serving as election monitors, or otherwise participating in political life on the same basis as men or nonminority citizens, and women and minorities did so. According to the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, as of June, there were 12,619 women working for the Macao SAR Government, 389 at the judicial organs and 60 at the Legislative Assembly. Women also held a number of senior positions throughout the government, including the secretary for justice and administration, the second-highest official in the SAR government. The Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau stated women were 43 percent of the SAR government, 56 percent of the judiciary, and 48 percent of the senior staff of the Legislative Assembly. One Executive Council member was from an ethnic minority, as was the police commissioner general. As of June, 38 female judges worked in the judiciary. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and there were few reported cases of officials engaging in corrupt acts. Corruption: The government's Commission Against Corruption (CAC) investigated the public and private sectors and had the power to arrest and detain suspects. The Ombudsman Bureau within the CAC reviewed complaints of mismanagement or abuse by the CAC. There was also an independent committee outside the CAC entitled the Monitoring Committee on Discipline of CAC Personnel, which accepted and reviewed complaints about CAC personnel. According to Macau government statistics, in the second half of 2015 there were two complaints lodged at the CAC; however, no illegality was found. No complaints were lodged in the first half of the year. Financial Disclosure: By law the chief executive, cabinet, judges, members of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council, and executive agency directors must disclose their financial interests upon appointment, promotion, retirement, and at five-year intervals while in the same position. The information is available to the public on the website of the Macau Courts. The law states that if the information contained in the declaration is intentionally incorrect, the declarant shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine, the amount of which shall not be less than 6 months of the remuneration of the position held. Additionally the declarant may be prohibited from being appointed to public office or performing public duties for up to 10 years. Public Access to Information: The law does not provide for public access to government information. Nevertheless, the executive branch published online, in both Portuguese and Chinese, extensive information on laws, regulations, ordinances, government policies and procedures, and biographies of principal government officials. The government also issued a daily press release on topics of public concern. The information provided by the legislature was less extensive. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights Domestic and international groups monitoring human rights generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to their views. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape, including spousal rape, and the government effectively enforced the law. From July 2015-June, police received 25 complaints of rape and made 17 arrests. In May, Macau's Legislative Assembly adopted the Law on Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence, but same-sex couples are not under its purview. Under the new law, a victim can decide whether to pursue charges if the consequences of the violence are "mild." The new law provides avenues for victims of domestic violence to leave dangerous environments as soon as possible and provides them with social services. Under the new law, the Social Welfare Bureau (SWB) is responsible for coordinating the application of protective and assistance measures to victims, such as temporary shelters, access to legal aid, financial assistance, health care, individual and family counseling, and assistance in access to education or employment. The law stipulates that a judge may order urgent coercive measures imposed upon the defendant individually or cumulatively, which can include: removing the offender from the victim's family residence; forbidding the offender to contact, harass, or pursue the victim; barring the offender from owning weapons, objects, or tools that can be used for perpetrating acts of domestic violence; or other measures aimed at preventing the reoccurrence of domestic violence. According to the government, the application of these measures does not preclude the possibility of prosecuting the perpetrators for criminal responsibilities as stipulated in the criminal code. From June 2015-July, police received 322 reports of domestic violence. Various NGOs and government officials considered domestic violence against women to be a growing problem. The government made referrals for victims to receive medical treatment, and medical social workers counseled victims and informed them of social welfare services. During the first half of the year, the SWB handled 90 domestic violence cases. The government funded NGOs to provide victim support services, including medical services, family counseling, and housing, until their complaints were resolved. The government also supported two 24-hour hotlines, one for counseling and the other for reporting domestic violence cases. NGOs and religious groups sponsored programs for victims of domestic violence, and the government supported and helped fund these organizations and programs. The Bureau for Family Action, a government organization subordinate to the Department of Family and Community of the SWB, helped female victims of domestic violence by providing a safe place for them and their children and by providing advice regarding legal actions against perpetrators. A range of counseling services was available to persons who requested them at social service centers. Two government-supported religious programs also offered rehabilitation programs for female victims of violence. Sexual Harassment: There is no law specifically addressing sexual harassment, unless it involves the use of a position of authority to coerce the performance of physical acts. Harassment in general is prohibited under laws governing equal opportunity, employment and labor rights, and labor relations. From July 2015-June, authorities received 13 complaints of sexual coercion and made 13 arrests. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children and the right to both fertility and contraceptive treatment, free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. Access to information on family planning, contraception, and prenatal care was widely available, as was skilled attendance at delivery and postpartum care. Discrimination: Equal opportunity legislation mandates that women receive equal pay for equal work. Discrimination in hiring practices based on gender or physical ability is prohibited by law, and penalties exist for employers who violate these guidelines. The law allows for civil suits, but few women took cases to the Labor Affairs Bureau (LAB) or other entities. Gender differences in occupation existed, with women concentrated in lower-paid sectors and lower-level jobs. Observers estimated there was a significant difference in salaries between men and women, particularly in unskilled jobs. The CAC received no complaints of gender discrimination during the first six months of the year. Children Birth Registration: According to the Basic Law, children of Chinese national residents of Macau who were born in or outside the SAR and children born to non-Chinese national permanent residents inside the SAR are regarded as permanent residents. There is no differentiation between these categories in terms of access to registration of birth. Most births were registered immediately. Child Abuse: Four cases of child abuse were reported to the authorities from June 2015-July. The SAR's Health Bureau handled 15 suspected child abuse cases during the year, all of which were transferred to appropriate governmental or nongovernmental institutions for follow up after hospitalization. In addition to providing measures to combat abuse, neglect, and violence against children by criminal law, the law establishes relief measures for children at risk. In this regard the SWB reported it handled 27 cases of abuse or neglect during the year. Early and Forced Marriage: The minimum age of marriage is 16 years old. Children between ages 16 and 18 years old who wish to marry must get approval from their parents or guardians. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law specifically provides for criminal punishment for sexual abuse of children and students, statutory rape, and procurement involving minors. The criminal code sets 14 years as the age of sexual consent and 16 years old as the age for participation in the legal sex trade. The law prohibits child pornography. From July 2015-June, there were nine reported cases of child sexual abuse and five reported cases of rape of a minor. Police arrested seven suspects in reported cases of child sexual abuse and three suspects in cases of rape of a minor. Police received eight complaints and arrested seven in cases of sex with a minor during the same period. International Child Abductions: The SAR is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism The Jewish population was extremely small. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or the provision of other state services, and the government generally enforced these provisions. The law mandates access to buildings, public facilities, information, and communications for persons with disabilities. The government enforced the law effectively. The government provides a variety of services to persons with disabilities, including discounted fares on wheelchair-accessible public transportation. The SWB was primarily responsible for coordinating and funding public assistance programs to persons with disabilities. There was a governmental commission to rehabilitate persons with disabilities, with part of the commission's scope of work addressing employment. There were no reports of children with disabilities encountering obstacles to attending school. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities Although the government has made efforts to address the complaints of individuals of Portuguese descent and the Macanese (Macau's Eurasian minority), members of these two groups continued to claim that they were not treated equally by the Chinese majority. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity There are no laws criminalizing sexual orientation or same-sex sexual contact and no prohibition against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) persons forming organizations or associations. There were no reports of violence against persons based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTI groups openly held several public events, and one registered LGBTI group openly lobbied the government and international organizations for an extension of protections to same-sex couples in a draft law on domestic violence. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma The law prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS and limits the number of required disclosures of an individual's HIV status. Employees outside medical fields are not required to declare their status to employers. There were no reported incidents of violence or discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides workers the right to form and join unions or "labor associations" of their choice. The law does not provide that workers can collectively bargain, and, while workers have the right to strike, there is no specific protection in the law from retribution if workers exercise this right. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination, stating employees or job seekers shall not be prejudiced, deprived of any rights, or exempted from any duties based on their membership in an association. The law does not require reinstatement of workers dismissed for union activity. Workers in certain professions, such as the security forces, are forbidden to form unions, take part in protests, or to strike. Such groups had organizations that provided welfare and other services to members and could speak to the government on behalf of members. Vulnerable groups of workers, including domestic workers and migrant workers, could freely associate and form and join unions, as could public servants. In order to register as an official union, the government requires an organization to provide the names and personal information of its leadership structure. There is no law specifically defining the status and function of labor unions, nor are employers compelled to negotiate with them. The law provides that agreements between employers and workers shall be valid, but there is no specific statutory provision giving workers, resident or foreign, the right to collective bargaining. The government asserted striking employees are protected from retaliation by provisions of the law requiring an employer to have justified cause to dismiss an employee. The government generally enforced the relevant legislation. The law imposes penalties ranging from MOP 20,000 to 50,000 ($2,500 to $6,300) for antiunion discrimination. Observers noted this may not be sufficient to deter discriminatory activity. Workers who believed they were dismissed unlawfully could bring a case to court or lodge a complaint with the LAB or the CAC, which also has an Ombudsman Bureau to handle complaints over administrative violations. The bureau makes recommendations to the relevant government departments after its investigation. Even in the absence of formal collective bargaining rights, companies often negotiated with unions, although the government regularly acted as an intermediary. There were no indications that disputes or appeals were subjected to lengthy delays. Pro-PRC unions traditionally have not attempted to engage in collective bargaining. The Macau Federation of Trade Unions acts as an adviser and assistant to those filing complaints to the LAB, which is responsible for adjudicating labor disputes. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits forced or compulsory labor. Penalties range from three to 12 years' imprisonment with the minimum and maximum sentences increased by one-third if the victim is under the age of 14 years old. Observers noted these penalties generally were considered sufficient to deter the use of forced labor. The government has a special, interagency unit to fight human trafficking, the Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee. In addition to holding seminars to raise awareness about human trafficking, the committee operates two 24-hour telephone hotlines, one for reporting trafficking and another to assist trafficking victims. There were reports forced labor occurred in conjunction with commercial sexual exploitation of migrant women. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment A chief executive order prohibits minors under the age of 16 years old from working, although minors between ages 14 and 16 years old may work in "exceptional circumstances" if they obtain a health certificate to prove they have the "necessary robust physique to engage in a professional activity." Under the Labor Relations Law, "exceptional circumstances" are defined as: the minor (under the age of 16) has completed compulsory education and has the authorization of the Labor Affairs Bureau after hearing the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau's opinions; minors between 14 and 16 years of age may work for public or private entities during school summer holidays; minors of any age may be employed for cultural, artistic or advertising activities upon authorization of the Labor Affairs Bureau after hearing the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau's opinions and when such employment does not adversely affect their school attendance. Local laws do not establish specific regulations governing the number of hours children under 16 can work. The law governing the number of working hours (eight hours a day, 40 hours a week) was equally applicable to adults and legal working minors, but the law prohibits minors from working overtime hours. According to the civil code, minors 16 years old can acquire full legal capacity by emancipation if they get married, so they can deal with their personal matters and dispose their properties by themselves. Minors below 16 years old are forbidden from certain types of work, including but not limited to domestic work, employment between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and employment at places where admission of minors is forbidden, such as casinos. The government requires employers to conduct an assessment of the nature, extent, and duration of risk exposure at work before recruiting or employing a minor. These regulations are intended to protect children from physically hazardous work, including exposure to dangerous chemicals, and jobs deemed inappropriate due to the child's age. The LAB enforced the law through periodic and targeted inspections, and prosecuted violators. Regulations stipulate LAB inspectors shall be trained to look for child labor in order to carry out their responsibilities. Information on the penalties for violations was not available. Employers are obligated to provide professional training and working conditions appropriate to a minor's age to prevent situations that undermine his/her education and could endanger health, safety, and physical and mental development. Child labor occurred, with some children reportedly working in family-operated or small businesses, while others were subject to commercial sexual exploitation (see section 6, Children). d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The Basic Law and the Labor Relations Law provides that all residents shall be equal before the law and shall be free from discrimination, irrespective of their nationality descent, race, sex, language, religion, political persuasion or ideological belief, educational level, economic status, or social conditions. The Labor Relations Law expands on this list to include discrimination based on national or social origin, descent, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, membership of associations, education, or economic background (see section 6, Women). The law also states that all residents have a right to privacy as it relates to access to and disclosure of information related to their family life, emotional and sexual life, state of health, and their political and religious convictions. Local law requires employers to provide equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender. Between July 2015 and June, there were no cases of termination of employment due to HIV/AIDS infection. There were no reports of the government failing to enforce the relevant laws but some discrimination occurred. For example, under the law migrant workers enjoy treatment equal to that of local workers, including the same rights, obligations, and remuneration. According to official statistics, at the end of July, there were 182,459 nonresident workers who accounted for approximately 28 percent of the population. They frequently complained of discrimination in the workplace. Most worked in the restaurant and hotel industry, but others are employed as domestic servants, in the hotel and hospitality industry, or in construction and retail trade. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work Local labor laws establish the general principle of fair wages and mandate compliance with wage agreements. Effective January 1, the mandatory minimum wage for security guards and cleaners was raised to MOP 30 ($3.75). The SAR does not calculate an official poverty line, and its median monthly income is MOP 13,000 ($1,625). The law provides for a 48-hour workweek (many businesses operated on a 40-hour workweek), an eight-hour workday, paid overtime, annual leave, and medical and maternity care. The law provides for a 24-hour rest period each week. The law does not define "temporary contract" or "short-term contract." It states only that a labor contract may be either for a defined term or of indefinite duration. All workers employed in the SAR, whether under a term contract or an indefinite contract, are entitled to such benefits as specified working hours, weekly leave, statutory holidays, annual leave, and sick leave. At the end of September, there were 10,822 part-time workers, accounting for 5.5 percent of total worker population. No data on the number temporary contract workers is available. The law does not apply to part-time workers and workers on temporary contracts. The law includes a requirement that employers provide a safe working environment, and the LAB sets occupational safety and health standards. The law prohibits excessive overtime but permits legal overtime (up to eight hours, and irrespective of workers' consent) in force majeure cases or as a response to external shocks, at the discretion of the employer. All workers, including migrants, have access to the courts in cases in which an employee is unlawfully dismissed, an employer fails to pay compensation, or a worker believes his/her legitimate interests were violated. Employers can dismiss staff "without just cause" if they provide economic compensation indexed to an employee's length of service. The LAB provides assistance and legal advice to workers upon request, and cases of labor-related malpractices are referred to the LAB. From July 2015-June, the LAB provided assistance for 6,417 cases. Additionally, the LAB could charge the worker or union a fee to process such complaints. The LAB enforced occupational safety and health regulations, and failure to correct infractions could lead to prosecution. There were approximately 140 labor inspectors in the country, which was adequate to enforce compliance; almost all inspectors held university degrees and most had more than five years' experience. Health Bureau guidelines protect pregnant workers and those with heart and lung diseases from exposure to secondhand smoke by exempting them from work in smoking areas, such as casinos. Local employers favored unwritten labor contracts of indefinite duration, except in the case of migrant workers, who were issued written contracts for specified terms. Labor groups reported employers increasingly used temporary contracts to circumvent obligations to pay for worker benefits such as pensions, sick leave, and paid holidays. The short-term nature of written contracts made it easier to dismiss workers through nonrenewal. The law provides for workers to remove themselves from hazardous conditions without jeopardy to their employment, but some workers reported being dismissed for refusing to work in unhealthy environments. The SAR recorded 7,499 workplace accidents from July 2015-June. Authorities recorded 17 workplace fatalities, of which seven were judged to have possible links to the individuals' preexisting health conditions. Most workplace injuries reported were minor, with one in seven injured workers returning to their duties the same day. Workplace injuries permanently incapacitated 22 persons. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Canada Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Canada, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a5ca.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a federal parliamentary government. In a free and fair multiparty federal election held in October 2015, the Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau, won a majority of seats in the federal parliament and formed a government. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The principal human rights problems included violence against women, disparities in living conditions between indigenous and nonindigenous peoples, and trafficking in persons. The government took steps to investigate, prosecute, and punish all officials who committed violations, whether in the security forces or elsewhere in the government. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The law prohibits such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them. Prison and Detention Center Conditions There were no significant reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns. Physical Conditions: According to the governmental statistical agency's most recent figures, in 2014-15 there were on average approximately 39,625 inmates, pretrial detainees, and remand prisoners in federal and provincial correctional institutions, which had an official capacity of 38,771. The remand population exceeded the sentenced population. The national double-bunking rate (the practice of confining two inmates in a cell designed for one) in federal facilities was 19 percent in 2013-14. The federal correctional investigator's report for 2014-15 identified recourse to "administrative segregation" or solitary confinement by federal correctional services to manage crowded institutions and high-needs inmates as a concern. The correctional investigator, an independent prison ombudsman, urged authorities to cap the time inmates spend in segregation and to develop a policy framework to guide the use of segregation, including prohibiting the use of long-term segregation (beyond 15 days) for inmates with mental disabilities. Correctional Services Canada reported that the number of federal inmates held in solitary confinement for 120 days or more fell from 498 to 247 (a 51 percent drop) from March 2015 to March 2016, in part due to diversion of inmates with mental disabilities to treatment programs as an alternative to segregation. In May the Ontario ombudsman recommended the government end the practice of extended solitary confinement in provincial prisons. The ombudsman's report also recommended prison personnel receive training on the mental health effects of long-term solitary confinement and legislated maximums for periods of solitary confinement. In October the Ontario provincial government transferred an indigenous prisoner out of solitary confinement after he spent more than 1,500 consecutive days in a cell under continuous artificial light for 23 hours each day while awaiting trial. Ontario's Human Rights Commissioner flagged this case to prison authorities who then moved the man to a different cell. In October the Ontario Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services announced a 15-day limit on the number of consecutive days inmates can be held in solitary confinement (down from the present 30-day guideline), effective immediately. The minister also announced that each detention facility would establish segregation committees that would meet weekly and review the cases of prisoners in solitary confinement. The minister said jails should use solitary confinement as a measure of last resort under the least restrictive conditions available and ordered an independent review of policies and practices in Ontario jails. Advocates for prisoners said the changes were insufficient. The Correctional Investigator's Office reported 10 nonnatural deaths (including suicide) in federal custody in 2014-15, the latest available figures. In July the government of New Brunswick announced it would advise the public when a prisoner dies but would not publish details on the inmate's death. The change came after media reported 13 persons had died in New Brunswick prisons since 2004, but the coroner reviewed only four of the deaths. In August the families of two female inmates who died in a Nova Scotia prison filed suit against the federal government for wrongful death. The families alleged prison authorities were negligent in addressing mental health needs of the inmates, both of whom committed suicide in 2015 after stints in solitary confinement. Administration: Independent authorities investigated credible allegations of inhuman behavior and documented the results of such investigations in a publicly accessible manner. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted visits by independent nongovernmental human rights observers. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus National, provincial, and municipal police forces maintain internal security. The armed forces are responsible for external security but in exceptional cases may exercise some domestic security responsibility at the formal request of civilian provincial authorities. The federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reports to the Department of Public Safety, and the armed forces report to the Department of National Defense. Provincial and municipal police report to their respective provincial authorities. The Canada Border Services Agency reports to the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and is responsible for enforcing immigration law. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the RCMP and provincial and municipal police forces, and the government has effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. There were no reports of impunity involving the security forces during the year. Authorities investigated and publicly reported all fatalities that resulted from police action or in police custody. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Authorities generally apprehended persons openly with warrants. A judge can issue a warrant after being satisfied a criminal offense might have been committed. A person arrested for a criminal offense has the right to a prompt, independent judicial determination of the legality of the detention. Authorities respected this right in practice. Authorities provided detainees with timely information of the reason for the arrest and ensured prompt access to a lawyer of the detainee's choice or, if the detainee was indigent, a lawyer provided by the state without restriction. Bail generally was available. Suspects were not detained incommunicado or held under house arrest. Judges may issue preemptive peace bonds and apprehend individuals who authorities reasonably believe may carry out terrorist activities. Judges may also issue recognizances to detain persons and impose bail conditions if authorities deem the restrictions likely to prevent terrorist activity. Authorities may hold persons under preventive detention under recognizance for up to seven days, subject to periodic judicial review. Restrictions may include limits on travel and surrender of passports. Use of peace bonds and recognizance for counterterrorism purposes is subject to annual reporting requirements to the federal parliament. Pretrial Detention: Authorities released detainees immediately after they were charged, unless a judge deemed continued detention necessary to ensure the detainee's attendance in court, for the protection or safety of the public, or due to the gravity of the offense. Persons subject to continued detention have the right to judicial review of their status at regular intervals. The government may detain or deport noncitizens on national security grounds with an immigration security certificate. The government issues certificates based on confidential evidence presented to two cabinet ministers by intelligence or police agencies and reviewed by a federal court judge who determines "reasonableness" and upholds or revokes the certificate. A judge may order an individual detained during the security certificate determination process if the government believes the individual presents a danger to national security or is unlikely to appear at the proceeding for removal. The judge may impose conditions on release into the community, including monitoring. Individuals subject to a security certificate may see a summary of confidential evidence against them. Authorities must provide full disclosure to court-appointed, security-cleared lawyers (special advocates), who can review and challenge the evidence on behalf of these individuals but not share or discuss the material with them. The law establishes strict rules on the disclosure and use of secret evidence, prohibits the use of evidence if there are reasonable grounds to believe authorities obtained the evidence as a result of torture, and provides mechanisms for review and appeal. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Persons arrested or detained are entitled to challenge in court the validity of the detention and to obtain prompt release and compensation if the detention is found to be unlawful. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Trial Procedures The law provides for the right to a fair public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. Trials are held without undue delay before a judge alone or, for more serious cases, before a judge and jury. Defendants have the right to be present at trial and to consult with an attorney of their choice in a timely manner. The government provides an attorney at public expense if needed when defendants face serious criminal charges, and defendants may confront or question witnesses against them and present witnesses and evidence on their behalf. Defendants and their attorneys generally have access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases and adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense. Defendants also enjoy a presumption of innocence, a right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges against them (with free interpretation as necessary from the moment charged through all appeals), a right not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt, and a right of appeal. The law extends these rights to all citizens. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies There is an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters and access to a court to bring a suit seeking damages for, or cessation of, a human rights violation. Remedies can be monetary, declaratory, or injunctive. Federal or provincial human rights commissions may also hear alleged human rights violations. Individuals may also bring human rights complaints to the UN or the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respected these rights. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of speech and press. Freedom of Speech and Expression: The Supreme Court has ruled that the government may limit free speech in the name of goals such as ending discrimination, ensuring social harmony, or promoting gender equality. The court has also ruled that the benefits of limiting hate speech and promoting equality are sufficient to outweigh the freedom of speech clause in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the country's constitutional bill of rights. The criminal code prohibits public incitement and willful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group in any medium. Inciting hatred (in certain cases) or genocide is a criminal offense, but the Supreme Court sets a high threshold for such cases, specifying that these acts must be proven to be willful and public. Provincial-level film censorship, broadcast licensing procedures, broadcasters' voluntary codes curbing graphic violence, and laws against hate literature and pornography impose some restrictions on the media. In November media reported that municipal and provincial police in Quebec had electronically monitored seven journalists in the province on multiple occasions between 2008 and 2016. In each case the police had a warrant from a Quebec court authorizing the surveillance. The most recent case started in 2016 as police investigated an internal leak suggesting police officers may have fabricated evidence. The electronic monitoring allowed police authorities to track the journalists' movements and telephone logs. Federal, Quebec, and Montreal politicians condemned the electronic surveillance. The provincial government of Quebec committed to make it more difficult for police to obtain warrants to monitor journalists, and it launched a public commission to investigate the incidents. The commission's investigation had not started as of November 8. In July the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal ordered a comedian to pay C$42,000 ($32,400) to the family of a child whose appearance he mocked during a stand-up routine. The judge determined the comedian's joke did not qualify as protected speech and violated the child's right to protection against discriminatory comments. In October the Quebec Court of Appeals granted the comedian permission to file an appeal. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. Approximately 99 percent of households could access broadband services. According to the World Bank, 87 percent of the population used the internet in 2014. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association The law provides for the freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons, refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The government offered alternatives to refugee claimants whose cases the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) refused. The option for judicial review through the federal courts exists. Two other remedies of last resort are available through the Department of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship: a "preremoval risk assessment" and an appeal to the minister of immigration, refugees, and citizenship for a waiver based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. In January the government dropped its appeal of a 2015 court ruling that found authorities' denial of access to appeal by refugee claimants from designated countries of origin (DCOs) was unconstitutional. DCOs include countries that do not normally produce refugees but respect human rights and offer state protection, or countries whose nationals have a high rate of rejection by the IRB and regularly abandon or withdraw asylum claims in Canada. Claimants who arrive in the country in a manner designated by the minister as a mass or irregular arrival (in cases of suspected human smuggling) may be subject to detention (subject to review at legislated intervals) pending verification of their identity and admissibility. They face restrictions on access to appeal and remedies of last resort if the IRB refuses their claims. Durable Solutions: The government accepted refugees for resettlement from third countries and facilitated local integration (including naturalization), particularly of refugees in protracted situations. The government assisted the safe, voluntary return of refugees to their homes. Temporary Protection: The government also provided temporary protection (in the form of temporary residence permits) to persons who may not qualify as refugees. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In October 2015 the Liberal Party won a majority of seats in the federal parliament and formed a national government following a free and fair election. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit the participation of women or minorities in the political process, and they did participate. In November 2015 Prime Minister Trudeau named his cabinet, which, for the first time in the country's history, included an equal number of men and women. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively. There were isolated reports of government corruption during the year. Corruption: In December former Laval Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, breach of trust, and conspiracy to commit fraud, after running one of Quebec's largest cities for 23 years. He agreed to repay illicit gains and forfeit assets worth C$8.5 million ($6.5 million). Vaillancourt could face up to six years in prison. Prosecutors dropped fraud and related charges against Senator Patrick Brazeau and a judge dismissed charges against Senator Mike Duffy; the Senate reinstated both members. Prosecutors also dropped charges against former Senator Mac Harb and police terminated the investigation into official expenses claimed by Senator Pamela Wallin. In November 2015 Quebec's Charbonneau Commission released its final report of its investigation into the awarding of public construction projects. The report concluded corruption in the province's construction sector was widespread and made 60 recommendations for major reforms to Quebec's public contracts system. Financial Disclosure: By law public officeholders, including elected members of the executive branch and their staff and designated senior nonelected officials, must disclose information about their personal financial assets. These declarations, as well as an annual report, are available to the public through regular reports from a commissioner for conflict of interest and ethics. The commissioner may impose an administrative monetary penalty for noncompliance, but the law does not provide for criminal sanctions. Members of the legislative branch are not required to disclose financial holdings but must recuse themselves from voting or conducting hearings on matters in which they have a pecuniary interest. Provincial governments provide independent audits of government business and ombudsman services. Public Access to Information: The law permits public access to government information, and the government granted access for citizens and noncitizens, including foreign media. The law provides for the denial of legal requests for information on limited and specific grounds given and cited in law, a reasonably short timeline to disclose or respond, reasonable processing fees, and a mechanism to appeal denials, including appeal to the federal courts. The law does not impose criminal or administrative sanctions for noncompliance. The government released quarterly information on the public expenditures of senior government officials and published expense information on individual ministerial websites and a centralized website. In May the government announced it would charge only a nominal C$5.00 ($3.80) application fee to request federal records and eliminate all other fees. The government also announced reforms to allow requesters to specify the format for data, making it easier for users to sort and analyze government data. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A wide variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials were cooperative and responsive to their views. Government Human Rights Bodies: Federal and provincial human rights commissions enjoyed government cooperation, operated without government or party interference, and had adequate resources. Observers considered the commissions effective. Parliamentary human rights committees operated in the House of Commons and the Senate. The committees acted independently of government, conducted public hearings, and issued reports and recommendations to which the government provided written, public, and timely responses. Most federal departments and some federal agencies employed ombudsmen. Nine provinces and one territory also employed ombudsmen. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on Indian Residential Schools released its full report in November 2015 (see section 6, Indigenous People), and the federal government launched a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women (see section 6, Women). Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape, including spousal rape, as sexual assault, and the government enforced the law effectively. Penalties for sexual assault carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison, up to 14 years for sexual assault with a restricted or prohibited firearm, and between four years and life for aggravated sexual assault with a firearm or committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organization. According to the government's statistical agency, in 2015 police received approximately 21,500 reports of sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm, and aggravated sexual assault (up from 20,735 in 2014). Most victims were women. Government studies indicated victims of sexual assault reported approximately one in 20 incidents to police. The federal government does not publish statistics on the number of abusers prosecuted, convicted, and punished. The law prohibits domestic violence. Although the criminal code does not define specific domestic violence offenses, an abuser can be charged with an applicable offense, such as assault, aggravated assault, intimidation, mischief, or sexual assault. Persons convicted of assault receive up to five years in prison. Assaults involving weapons, threats, or injuries carry terms of up to 10 years. Aggravated assault or endangerment of life carry prison sentences of up to 14 years. The government enforced the law effectively. Studies indicated that victims of domestic violence and spousal abuse underreported incidents, likely due to social stigma or fear of further violence or retribution. According to the government's statistical agency, indigenous women were three times more likely than nonindigenous women to experience violent abuse and, according to the RCMP, were four times more likely to be victims of homicide. In June 2015 the RCMP reported indigenous women were disproportionately represented as victims of homicide and in missing persons cases. The report found there were 204 unresolved cases involving the disappearance or homicide of indigenous women, a decrease from 225 in 2014. A 2014 RCMP report concluded 1,017 indigenous women had been killed between 1980 and 2012 and that another 164 were missing. Civil society representatives and government officials said the number of cases may be much higher and alleged there were irregularities in investigations of the disappearances and killings of indigenous women. Civil society groups also claimed the government failed to allocate adequate resources to address these cases. In August the federal government launched a national inquiry into the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women. Five independent commissioners were directed to investigate and produce a public report of their findings by the end of 2018. The government conducted preinquiry consultations with indigenous stakeholders throughout the country and defined the inquiry's terms of reference. The government provided C$53.8 million ($41.3 million) to fund the inquiry. In November the Quebec provincial government, citing insufficient evidence, announced it would not lay charges against nine provincial police officers related to allegations in 2015 by indigenous women in the northwestern Quebec community of Val d'Or that the officers sexually assaulted them, gave them money and drugs for sexual services, physically abused them, or drove them out of town in the winter and forced them to walk home in the cold. An independent observer appointed by the government concluded the investigation was fair and impartial but called for consultations between indigenous communities and the province. The government's statistical agency reported there were 627 shelters and transition homes providing services to abused women. Shelters provided emergency care, transition housing, counseling, and referrals to legal and social service agencies. Some shelters were located on reserves and served an exclusively indigenous population. Shelters in rural and remote areas generally offered a narrower range of services than urban facilities, and a greater proportion focused on short-stay crisis intervention. Reports indicated shortages of shelter spaces, trained staff, counseling, and access to affordable second-stage housing. These shortages impeded women from leaving abusive relationships. Police received training in treating domestic violence victims, and agencies provided hotlines to report abuse. The government's Family Violence Initiative involved 15 federal departments, agencies, and crown corporations, including Status of Women Canada, Health Canada, and Justice Canada. These entities worked with civil society organizations to eliminate violence against women and advance women's human rights. Provincial and municipal governments also sought to address violence against women, often in partnership with civil society, including funding public education programs and services, hotlines, and shelters. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): The law prohibits FGM/C for women and girls and prosecutes the offense as aggravated assault with a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. Persons committing or aiding another person to commit the offense may be charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm (maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment) or criminal negligence causing death (maximum penalty of life imprisonment). Persons convicted of removing or assisting the removal of a child who is ordinarily a resident in Canada for the purpose of having FGM/C performed on the child face a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. Refugee status may be granted on the grounds of threatened FGM/C that may be considered gender-related persecution. Provincial child protection authorities may intervene to remove children from their homes if they are suspected to be at risk of FGM/C. Although reliable statistics were not available, anecdotal evidence suggested some families from immigrant communities in which FGM/C is culturally accepted send their daughters abroad to have the procedure performed. Other Harmful Traditional Practices: The criminal code does not specifically refer to "honor" killings, but it prosecutes such cases as murder. Murder convictions in the first or second degree carry minimum penalties of life imprisonment with eligibility for parole. The law limits the defense of "provocation" to prevent its application to cases of "honor" killing and cases of spousal homicide. The government enforced the law effectively. The government's citizenship guide for new immigrants explicitly states "honor" killings and gender-based violence carry severe legal penalties. The government trains law enforcement officials on issues of "honor"-based violence and maintains an interdepartmental working group focusing on forced marriage and "honor"-based violence. In February, British Columbia's Supreme Court rejected the government's request to extradite a man and woman wanted in India on charges they allegedly ordered the "honor" killing of the woman's daughter there in 2000. The court found the relatives' human rights could be abused in India and urged the government to consider trying the couple in Canada. In August the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear an appeal of the case. Sexual Harassment: The law does not contain a specific offense of "sexual harassment" but criminalizes harassment (defined as stalking), punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment, and sexual assault, with penalties ranging from 10 years for nonaggravated sexual assault to life imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault. The government generally enforced these prohibitions. Federal and provincial labor standards laws provide some protection against harassment, and federal, provincial, and territorial human rights commissions have responsibility for investigating and resolving harassment complaints. Employers, companies, unions, educational facilities, professional bodies, and other institutions have internal policies against sexual harassment, and federal and provincial governments provide public education and advice. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. Discrimination: Women have the same legal status and rights in the judicial system as men, and the government enforced the rights effectively. Women were well represented in the labor force, including business and the professions. Credible sources reported women experienced some economic discrimination in terms of employment, credit, or pay equity for substantially similar work, or in owning or managing businesses, education, and housing. Labor groups reported women were underrepresented in executive positions in the private sector. A 2014 study by the Peterson Institute found women accounted for 7 percent of corporate board members, 14 percent of executives, 3 percent of chief executive officers, and 2 percent of board chairpersons at 2,074 Canadian companies surveyed. Seven provinces and two territories require private-sector companies to report annually on their efforts to increase the number of women appointed to executive corporate boards. The government's statistical agency reported that hourly wages for women were, on average, lower than for men but that the wage gap had narrowed over the past two decades. Indigenous women living on reserves (where land is held communally) have matrimonial property rights. First Nations may choose to follow federal law or enact their own rules related to matrimonial real property rights and interests that respect their customs. Although these laws provide some legal protection, civil society organizations argued First Nations communities needed more resources for policing, shelters, family support, training, and capacity building to implement the laws effectively and enable better access to the justice system. Indigenous women and men living on reserves are subject to the Indian Act, which defines status for the purposes of determining entitlement to a range of legislated rights and eligibility for federal programs and services. Indigenous women do not enjoy equal rights with indigenous men to transmit officially recognized status to their descendants. Children Birth Registration: Citizenship is derived both by birth within the country's territory and from one's parents. Births are registered immediately, and there were no reports of the government denying public services, such as education or health care, to those who failed to register. Child Abuse: In 2014 (the latest available figures), the government's statistical agency recorded that 53,600 children and youth were victims of police-reported violent crime. The law criminalizes violence and abuse against children, including assault, sexual exploitation, child pornography, abandonment, emotional maltreatment, and neglect. Provincial and territorial child welfare services investigate cases of suspected child abuse and may provide counseling and other support services to families, or place children in child welfare care, where warranted. The federal Family Violence Initiative promotes awareness of family violence; works with research and community organizations to strengthen the capacity of criminal justice, housing, and health systems to respond to family violence; and supports data collection and research. Provincial and territorial governments also provide public education and prevention services, often in partnership with civil society. Early and Forced Marriage: The law establishes 16 years as the legal minimum age of marriage. Data on the rate of marriage for individuals younger than 18 were unavailable, but early marriages were not known to be a major problem. The law criminalizes the removal of a child from the country for the purpose of early and forced marriage and provides for court-ordered peace bonds, which may include surrendering of a passport, to disrupt an attempt to remove a child for that purpose. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): See Women above. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits the commercial sexual exploitation of children, the sale of children, and offering or procuring a child for child prostitution. Authorities enforced the law effectively. The minimum age of consensual sex is 16 years. Persons convicted of living off the proceeds of prostitution of a child younger than 18 face between two and 14 years' imprisonment. Persons who aid, counsel, compel, use, or threaten to use violence, intimidation, or coercion in relation to a child younger than 18 engaging in prostitution face between five and 14 years' imprisonment. Persons who solicit or obtain the sexual services of a child younger than 18 face between six months' and five years' imprisonment. Children, principally teenage females, were exploited in sex trafficking. The law prohibits accessing, producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. Maximum penalties range from 18 months' imprisonment for summary offenses to 10 years' imprisonment for indictable offenses. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction report on compliance at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism Approximately 1 percent of the population is Jewish. The B'nai Brith Canada League for Human Rights received 1,277 reports of anti-Semitic incidents in 2015, down 22 percent from 2014. More than half of the reports (914) came from the province of Ontario. Reports in 2015 included harassment (1,123 incidents, a decrease); vandalism, including graffiti; attacks on synagogues, private homes, community centers and property and desecration of cemeteries (136 incidents, a decrease); and violence against persons (10 incidents, a decrease). Some university students reported anti-Semitic attacks on campus. For example, in March unknown vandals painted graffiti in a bathroom at York University's Keele Campus. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The constitution and law prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, air travel and other transportation, access to health care, the judicial system, or the provision of other state services, and the government effectively enforced these prohibitions. The federal minister of families, children, and social development, supported by the minister of persons with disabilities, provides federal leadership on protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, and provincial governments also have ministerial-level representation. Federal and provincial governments effectively implemented laws and programs mandating access to buildings, information, and communications for persons with disabilities, but regulation varies by jurisdiction, and there is no comprehensive federal legislation that protects the rights of persons with disabilities. Children with disabilities attended primary, secondary, and higher education, and the majority attended classes with nondisabled peers or a combination of nondisabled and special education classes with parental consent. Disparities in educational access for students with disabilities existed between provinces and among school boards within provinces. Policy differences included types of services, criteria to determine eligibility, allocation of resources, access to inclusive versus segregated classes or facilities, and the number of teachers, teacher's aides, and therapists. Disability rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported that persons with disabilities experienced higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, lower rates of job retention, and higher rates of poverty and economic marginalization than the broader population. Federal and provincial human rights commissions protected and promoted respect for the rights of persons with disabilities. The government provided services and monetary benefits, but disability groups noted a lack of coordination among services. Facilities existed to provide support for persons with mental health disabilities, but mental disability advocates asserted that the prison system was not sufficiently equipped or staffed to provide the care necessary for those in the criminal justice system, resulting in cases of segregation and self-harm. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities According to the government statistical agency, 1,295 incidents of hate crimes were reported to police in 2014, of which 611 were motivated by race or ethnic bias. Blacks constituted the most commonly targeted racial group, accounting for 238 incidents, and Jews 213. A detailed breakdown of victims of hate crime incidents by ethnic origin (except black and Jewish) was not available. The proportion of hate crimes involving violence, including assault and uttering threats, totaled 304 incidents. The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race. Federal, provincial, and territorial human rights commissions investigate complaints and raise public awareness. The federal Canadian Race Relations Foundation coordinates and facilitates public education and research and develops recommendations to eliminate racism and promote harmonious race relations. Throughout the year activists led protests and sit-ins to denounce what they claimed was systemic racism by police forces. The protests followed police shootings of civilians and other events, including the July death in custody of a Somali Canadian in Ottawa. Police opened an investigation into the fatality. Indigenous People Indigenous people constituted approximately 4 percent of the national population and higher percentages in the country's three territories: Yukon, 23 percent; Northwest Territories, 52 percent; and Nunavut, 86 percent. Disputes over land claims, self-government, treaty rights, taxation, duty-free imports, fishing and hunting rights, and alleged police harassment were sources of tension. Indigenous people remained underrepresented in the workforce; overrepresented on welfare rolls and in prison populations; and more susceptible than other groups to suicide, poverty, chronic health conditions, and sexual violence. According to the government statistical agency, the overall violent victimization rate (which includes sexual assault, assault, and robbery) for indigenous persons in 2014 was 163 incidents per 1,000 people, more than double the rate of 74 incidents per 1,000 among nonindigenous persons. The rates of sexual assault and of spousal violence were almost three times higher than those of nonindigenous persons, and 51 percent of indigenous victims of spousal violence reported more severe forms of violence, compared with 23 percent of nonindigenous victims of spousal violence. The law recognizes individuals registered under the Indian Act based on indigenous lineage and membership in a recognized First Nation as Status Indians, which confers eligibility to a range of federal services and programs. Status and services are withheld from unregistered or non-Status indigenous persons who do not meet eligibility criteria for official recognition or who may have lost status through marriage to a nonindigenous person or other disenfranchisement. According to the government statistical agency, indigenous children accounted for almost 50 percent of the approximately 30,000 children younger than 14 in foster care in 2011. The law recognizes and specifically protects indigenous rights, including rights established by historical land claims settlements. Treaties with indigenous groups form the basis for the government's policies in the eastern part of the country, but there were legal challenges to the government's interpretation and implementation of treaty rights. Indigenous groups in the western part of the country that had never signed treaties continued to claim land and resources, and many continued to seek legal resolution of outstanding issues. As a result, the evolution of the government's policy toward indigenous rights, particularly land claims, depended on negotiation or legal challenges. As of 2014, the latest year for which statistics are available, approximately 385 unresolved specific claims or grievances filed by indigenous people regarding the implementation of treaties remained under assessment or in negotiation (not including claims in litigation or before the Specific Claims Tribunal, which is a judicial panel), according to government reports. As of 2014 the government reported that negotiations for 100 self-government and comprehensive land claims were active. Indigenous groups who cannot settle specific claims through negotiation within three years may refer the claim to the Specific Claims Tribunal or the courts for a decision. The law imposes statutory, contractual, and common-law obligations to consult with indigenous peoples in the development and exploitation of natural resources on land covered by treaty or subject to land claims. According to a Supreme Court ruling, the federal government has the constitutional duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate indigenous peoples when the government contemplates actions that may adversely affect potential or established indigenous and treaty rights. The Supreme Court has affirmed that indigenous title extends to territory used by indigenous peoples for hunting, fishing, and other activities prior to contact with Europeans, as well as to settlement sites. Provincial and federal governments may develop natural resources on land subject to indigenous title but are obliged to obtain consent of the indigenous titleholders in addition to existing constitutional duties to consult, and where necessary, accommodate indigenous peoples in matters that affect their rights. If governments cannot obtain consent, they may proceed with resource development only on the basis of a "compelling and substantial objective" in the public interest, in which the public interest is proportionate to any adverse effect on indigenous interests. The court has established that indigenous titles are collective in nature. In 2015 the federally commissioned TRC on Indian Residential Schools released its full report and recommendations regarding allegations of abuse of indigenous children in residential schools. In May the federal government implemented one of the TRC's recommendations and settled a lawsuit for C$50 million ($38.4 million) with students the government placed at residential schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. In January the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled the federal government discriminated against indigenous children when it failed to fund welfare services for children living on reserves at the same level of services for off-reserve populations. In September the tribunal issued its second of two subsequent rulings ordering the government to comply and to provide information on how it was implementing the ruling. In April the Supreme Court ruled unanimously the Metis (descendants of historical unions between indigenous and European persons) and non-Status Indians are Indians under the Constitution Act and fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Nearly 600,000 Canadians identify as Metis. Lack of clarity in law as to whether federal or provincial governments had jurisdiction with regard to Metis persons had inhibited negotiations, but the ruling clears the way for Metis and non-Status Indians to negotiate with the federal government on issues that could include land claims, government services, and hunting and trapping rights. In July the government committed C$9 million ($6.9 million) to support implementation of the country's first national Inuit suicide-prevention strategy. The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national advocacy organization, drafted the plan. In August an Ontario judge heard plaintiffs' arguments on a suit filed in 2009 by indigenous children involved in the "Sixties Scoop." The Scoop involved an estimated 20,000 indigenous children, 16,000 of them in Ontario, whom child welfare services removed from their parents' custody and placed with nonindigenous foster families in Canada and the United States. A separate group of plaintiffs filed a suit in Saskatchewan during the year on the same issue. Plaintiffs demanded compensation for emotional trauma and loss of culture. The government argued it acted in the best interests of the children and within social norms of the time. The trial on the Ontario suit was set to resume in December. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the criminal code provides penalties for crimes motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate based on personal characteristics, including sexual orientation. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. New Brunswick, Quebec, and the Nunavut and Yukon territories prohibit such discrimination implicitly on the basis of "sex" or "gender." Birth certificates issued by provinces and territories provide the basis of identification for legal documents, and procedures vary for changing legal gender markers to match an individual's outward appearance or chosen gender expression. Provinces and territories have different requirements for persons to change their legal gender marker in documents such as birth certificates and identifications. Some provinces require one or more physicians to certify the applicant has completed gender reassignment surgery before an applicant may change the legal gender marker. The provincial governments of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta allow residents to change their gender marker with a personal and/or physician's declaration indicating the individual's gender identity. There were occasions of violence and abuse against individuals based on sexual orientation, but in general the government effectively implemented the law criminalizing such behavior. NGOs reported that stigma or intimidation was a known or likely factor in the underreporting of incidents of abuse. Some police forces employed liaison officers to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and intersex communities. In 2014, the last year for which data was available, the government's statistical agency reported that 155 of 1,295 police-reported hate crime incidents nationally were motivated by sexual orientation. In May an arsonist attempted to burn down Montreal's Metropolitan Surgery Center, the only clinic in the country that offers surgery to create male or female genitals for transgendered patients. Montreal police were investigating the arson as a hate crime. In June the government of Ontario announced it would no longer include gender designation on provincial health cards. The government also announced that in 2017 driver's license holders would be allowed the option of displaying an "X" on their card if they do not exclusively identify as male or female. Other Societal Violence or Discrimination There were reports of societal violence and discrimination against members of other minority, racial, and religious groups, but the government generally implemented the law criminalizing such behavior effectively. In January an assailant attacked a group of Syrian refugees who had attended an event organized by an Islamic group in Vancouver. The assailant pepper-sprayed a group of migrants who were standing outside the venue. Police were investigating the incident as a hate crime. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining Federal and some provincial laws, including related regulations and statutory instruments, provide for the right of workers in both the public and the private sectors to form and join independent unions, conduct legal strikes, and bargain collectively. Workers in the public sector who provide essential services, including police and armed forces, do not have the right to strike but have mechanisms to provide for due process and to protect workers' rights. Workers in essential services had recourse to binding arbitration if labor negotiations failed. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and provides for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. There were no reports of antiunion discrimination or other forms of employer interference in union functions. Federal labor law applies in federally regulated sectors, which include industries of extra-provincial or international character, transportation and transportation infrastructure that crosses provincial and international borders, marine shipping, port and ferry services, air transportation and airports, pipelines, telecommunications, banks, grain elevators, uranium mining and processing, works designated by the federal parliament affecting two or more provinces, protection of fisheries as a natural resource, many First Nation activities, and most crown corporations. These industries employed approximately 10 percent of workers. The law grants the government exclusive authority to designate which federal employees provide an essential service and do not have the right to strike. The law also makes it illegal for an entire bargaining unit to strike if the government deems 80 percent or more of the employees of the unit essential. Provincial and territorial governments regulate and are responsible for enforcing their own labor laws in all occupations and workplaces that are not federally regulated, leaving categories of workers excluded from statutory protection of freedom of association in several provinces. Some provinces restrict the right to strike. For example, agricultural workers in Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick do not have the right to organize or bargain collectively under provincial law. The government effectively enforced applicable laws and regulations in a timely fashion, including with effective remedies and penalties such as corrective workplace practices and criminal prosecution for noncompliance and willful violations, and generally respected freedom of association and the right of collective bargaining in practice. Penalties were sufficient to deter violations. Administrative and judicial procedures were not subject to lengthy delays and appeals. In 2014 public-service unions initiated legal action claiming the government's decision to limit the number of federal workers who can strike, contravened International Labor Organization conventions. In June the unions paused the suit after the government announced it planned to repeal the legislation. The public-service unions suspended a suit challenging the government's decision to impose a rule allowing it to override contracts and impose changes to negotiated sick leave plans for the federal public service without negotiation. Federal public-service unions had filed suit against the government and sought an injunction to prevent unilateral imposition of a new sick leave plan but agreed to suspend the injunction application pending changes to the law. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor, and the government effectively enforced the law. The law prescribes penalties for violations of up to 14 years' imprisonment, or life imprisonment in the case of certain aggravating factors, such as kidnapping or sexual assault. Such penalties were sufficiently stringent. During the year the government investigated and prosecuted cases of forced labor and domestic servitude. The federal government held employers of foreign workers accountable by verifying employers' ability to pay wages and provide accommodation and, through periodic inspections and mandatory compliance reviews, ensuring that employers provided substantially the same wages, living conditions, and occupation specified in the employers' original job offer. The government can deny noncompliant employers permits to recruit foreign workers for two years and impose fines of up to C$100,000 ($76,400) per violation for employer abuses of the program. Some provincial governments imposed licensing and registration requirements on recruiters or employers of foreign workers and prohibited the charging of recruitment fees to workers. There were reports that employers subjected noncitizen or foreign-born men and women to forced labor in the agricultural sector, food processing, cleaning services, hospitality, construction industries, and in domestic service. NGOs reported that bonded labor, particularly in the construction industry, and domestic servitude constituted the majority of cases of forced labor. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment There is no federal minimum age for employment. In federally regulated sectors, children younger than 17 may work only when they are not required to attend school under provincial legislation, provided the work does not fall under excluded categories (such as work underground in a mine, on a vessel, or in the vicinity of explosives), and the work does not endanger health and safety. Children may not work in any federally regulated sector between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The provinces and territories have primary responsibility for regulation of child labor, and minimum age restrictions vary by province. Regulation occurs across a range of laws including employment standards, occupational health and safety, education laws, and in regulations for vocational training, child welfare, and licensing of establishments for the sale of alcohol. Most provinces restrict the number of hours of work to two or three hours on a school day and eight hours on a nonschool day and prohibit children ages 12 to 16 from working without parental consent, after 11 p.m., or in any hazardous employment. Authorities effectively enforced child labor laws and policies, and federal and provincial labor ministries carried out child labor inspections either proactively or in response to formal complaints. There were reports that limited resources hampered inspection and enforcement efforts. Penalties were pecuniary and varied according to the gravity of the offense. There were reports that child labor occurred, particularly in the agricultural sector. There were also reports that children, principally teenage females, were subjected to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation (see section 6, Children). d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The law and regulations prohibit discrimination with respect to employment or occupation on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or citizenship, disability, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, age, language, HIV-positive status, or other communicable diseases. Some provinces, including Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the Northwest Territories, prohibit employment discrimination on the grounds of social origin, "social condition," or political opinion. Federal law requires equal pay for equal work for four designated groups in federally regulated industries enforced through the Canadian Human Rights Commission on a complaint basis: women, persons with disabilities, indigenous persons, and visible minorities. Ontario and Quebec have pay equity laws that cover both the public and private sectors, and other provinces require pay equity only in the public sector. Authorities encouraged individuals to resolve employment-related discrimination complaints through internal workplace dispute resolution processes as a first recourse, but federal and provincial human rights commissions investigated and mediated complaints and enforced the law and regulations. The government enforced the law effectively, but some critics complained that the process was complex and failed to issue rulings in a timely manner. Foreign migrant workers have the same labor rights as citizens and permanent residents, although NGOs alleged that discrimination occurred against migrant workers. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work Provincial and territorial minimum wage rates ranged from C$10.45 to C$13.00 ($7.91 to $9.84) per hour as of May. There is no official poverty income level. Some provinces exempt agricultural, hospitality, and other specific categories of workers from minimum wage rates. For example, Ontario has a minimum wage for persons younger than 18 who work less than 28 hours per week when school is in session, at a rate lower than the respective minimum for adult workers. Standard work hours vary by province, but in each the limit is 40 or 48 hours per week, with at least 24 hours of rest. The law requires payment of a premium for work above the standard workweek. Entitlement to paid annual leave varies by province, but the law requires a minimum of 10 days' paid annual leave per year (or payment of 4 percent of wages in lieu) after one year of continuous employment. Some provinces mandate an additional week of paid leave to employees who have completed a specified length of service. There is no specific prohibition on excessive compulsory overtime, which is regulated by means of the required rest periods in the labor code that differ by industry. Some categories of workers have specific employment rights that differ from the standard, including commercial fishermen, oil field workers, loggers, home caregivers, professionals, managers, and some sales staff. Federal law provides safety and health standards for employees under federal jurisdiction. Provincial and territorial legislation provides for all other employees, including foreign and migrant workers. Standards were current and appropriate for the industries they covered. Federal, provincial, and territorial laws protect the right of workers with "reasonable cause" to refuse dangerous work and remove themselves from hazardous work conditions, and authorities effectively enforced this right. The government also promoted safe working practices and provided training, education, and resources through the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, a federal agency composed of representatives of government, employers, and labor. Minimum wage, hours of work, and occupational health and safety standards were effectively enforced. Federal and provincial labor departments monitored and effectively enforced labor standards by conducting inspections through scheduled and unscheduled visits, in direct response to reported complaints, and at random. Penalties were pecuniary and varied according to the gravity of the offense. Under the federal labor code, maximum penalties for criminal offenses, including criminal negligence causing death or bodily harm, or willful breach of labor standards in which the person in breach knew that serious injury or death was likely to occur, could include imprisonment. Enforcement measures include a graduated response, with a preference for resolution via voluntary compliance, negotiation, and education; prosecution and fines serve as a last resort. Some trade unions continued to note that limited resources hampered the government's inspection and enforcement efforts. NGOs reported migrants, new immigrants, young workers, and the unskilled were vulnerable to violations of the law on minimum wage, overtime pay, unpaid wages, and excessive hours of work. NGOs also alleged that restrictions on the types of labor complaints accepted for investigation and delays in processing cases discouraged the filing of complaints. According to the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada, during 2014, the most recent year for which data were available, there were 919 workplace fatalities. During the year there were some reports of workplace accidents. In January the Ontario Court of Appeal sentenced a Toronto project manager to three and one-half years in prison after a scaffolding collapse in 2009 killed four workers. The court also levied fines against the employer for failing to ensure the equipment was safe. In September, Ontario's Ministry of Labor issued six health and safety violation orders against Toronto-based Fiera Foods following the death of a temporary worker crushed by machinery when her clothing became caught in a conveyer belt. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Cameroon Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Cameroon, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a5da.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Cameroon is a republic dominated by a strong presidency. The country has a multiparty system of government, but the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) has remained in power since it was created in 1985. In practice the president retains the power to control legislation. In April 2013 the country conducted the first Senate elections in its history, which were peaceful and considered generally free and fair. In September 2013 simultaneous legislative and municipal elections were held, and most observers considered them to be free and fair. In 2011 citizens re-elected CPDM leader Paul Biya president, a position he has held since 1982, in a flawed election marked by irregularities, but observers did not believe these had a significant impact on the outcome. Civilian authorities maintained some control over security forces, including police and gendarmerie. President Biya is the commander in chief of security forces. Ministers-Delegate lead security and defense forces on a day-to-day basis but do not exercise total authority. The most significant human rights violations continued to be killings and other abuses by Boko Haram in the Far North Region. These included child soldiering, abductions, beheadings, and burnings of persons and property. Other major concerns included involvement of security force members in torture and abuse; prolonged and sometimes incommunicado arbitrary detentions, often of suspected Boko Haram members; and denials of fair and speedy public trials. Additional human rights abuses included disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, life-threatening prison conditions, use of unofficial detention facilities, restrictions on freedom of expression, including detention and harassment of and violence against journalists, and restrictions on movement. Corruption continued to be a severe challenge at all levels of government. Opposition and civil society activists were harassed, detained, and denied the right to assemble or operate by the government. Gender-based violence and discrimination, child abuse, and trafficking in persons remained problems, and harassment of and discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community, as well as the Baka and Mbororo minorities, continued. Violations of workers' rights were recurrent, and child labor remained a problem, especially in the informal sector. Although the government took some steps to punish and prosecute officials who committed abuses in the security forces and in the public service, it did not often make public actual sanctions, and offenders often continued acting with impunity. The antiterrorism law was often used as justification by security forces to act with greater autonomy and less oversight by civilian authorities, at times leading to abuses with impunity. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were several reports security force members committed arbitrary and unlawful killings through excessive use of force in the execution of official duties, as a result of personal grievances, or through torture or other abuse of detainees. A June report by Amnesty International (AI) documented the deaths of six persons in custody following torture or mistreatment and the deaths of an additional four individuals in custody whose cause of death was unknown. Civil society organizations and newspapers generally blamed members of the three primary security forces the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), the Motorized Infantry Battalion, and the gendarmerie as being responsible for the deaths. On March 25, Moupen Moussa, a motorbike rider, allegedly died at a Secretary of State for Defense (SED) detention facility after gendarmes severely beat him for failing to produce his national identity card. According to reports, Moussa and another motorbike rider were returning from work late at night when a gendarme from the joint control unit stopped them and asked for identification. The officer physically abused Moupen and took the two to an SED facility, where gendarmes allegedly stripped them and beat them with a belt and baton. The gendarmes eventually released the second man after Moupen died. As of April 5, the responsible gendarmerie officer was allegedly in custody awaiting trial. The terrorist network Boko Haram continued killing civilians, including members of vigilance committees and members of defense and security forces in the Far North Region. As of September 30, Boko Haram carried out at least 113 attacks in the Far North Region, which killed at least 262 civilians, 30 vigilance committee members, and at least six soldiers. There were numerous examples of abuses, such as the following: on January 13, a suicide bomber killed 13 during prayers at the Kouyape mosque, Kolofata subdivision, in the Far North Region. Some abuses committed in 2014 and 2015 became public during the year. According to AI's June report, at least five of the 15 men arrested and brought to the Salak military base following a raid in Bornori in November 2014 died in custody, some as a result of torture inflicted by the BIR. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. Nevertheless, there continued to be reports of arrests and disappearances of individuals by security forces in the Far North Region. In its June report, AI reconfirmed earlier reporting that since December 2014 at least 130 individuals arrested in Magdeme and Double remained unaccounted for. As of September 30, there was no news of the whereabouts of most of them. In its 2016 report, AI stated it had documented 17 additional cases of suspected enforced disappearances of persons accused of supporting Boko Haram committed by security forces in the Far North Region between April 2015 and February. As of June AI had not received a response to requests submitted to authorities about their whereabouts. Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped civilians, including women and children, during numerous attacks in the Far North Region. Some of the victims remained unaccounted for. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Although the constitution and law prohibit such practices, there were reports that security force members tortured, beat, harassed, or otherwise abused citizens. According to credible nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), soldiers, police, and gendarmes tortured persons inside and outside detention facilities. Police, gendarmerie, and BIR officials reportedly detained and tortured persons in temporary holding cells in police, gendarmerie, and BIR facilities, and in cells located at the Directorate General for External Research (DGRE). Police reportedly tortured detainees. For example, on February 4, Eyebe Levodo died while in detention at the legal department of the court of first instance in Yaounde. According to newspaper and NGO reporting, members of the regional delegation of judicial police arrested Eyebe on January 30 in the Yaounde neighborhood of Tongolo on suspicion of membership in a criminal gang. Police officers detained Eyebe on February 4 and referred him to the public prosecutor, a few hours prior to his death. At the mortuary of Yaounde central hospital, observers reported seeing bruises on his neck, wrists, shoulders, arms, ankles, and legs. In addition, they noticed Eyebe's mouth was swollen and there were other injuries to the head and other parts of the body, in addition to many other signs of trauma. The victim's sister allegedly told a journalist from Kalara weekly newspaper she received a telephone call from her brother who claimed that he had suffered horrific violence and that police used force to extort information from him. The public prosecutor opened an investigation shortly after the death. As of year's end, there was no publicly available update on the investigation. On May 28, in Nom-Kandi, Ngan-Ha subdivision, Adamawa Region, four members of the fifth BIR tortured to death two young men named Abdou and Moussa. According to reports, villagers witnessed the torture but did not intervene because the soldiers were armed. The incident occurred after a woman accused Moussa of stealing 5,000 CFA francs ($9). Four BIR soldiers rushed to the suspect's residence, where they found him and Abdou. Moussa allegedly acknowledged the theft but pointed out that Abdou was not involved. The soldiers ordered both of them to get down on their knees and beat them. After Abdou and Moussa died, regional authorities, including the governor, confirmed the incident and claimed they had ordered an investigation. No information was released as of year's end. AI's July report documented 29 cases of torture at the BIR military bases in Salak and Mora and at the headquarters of the DGRE in Yaounde. For example, Radio France International journalist Ahmed Abba was stripped and beaten while detained at the DGRE. Fifteen men arrested in Bornori were brought to Salak, where many of them were tortured and one died; four others later died in custody in Maroua prison. Other torture victims documented by AI described being beaten for long periods with sticks, whips, and machetes and stomped with boots, often with their hands tied behind their backs, as well as being slapped and kicked. AI documented the cases of six persons who died in custody following such torture. Other government employees, including one teacher, abused children with disabilities placed under their custody (see section 6). During the year Mbuaye Manga Emmanuel, a staff member of the Bulu Rehabilitation Institute for the Blind in Buea, allegedly raped a dozen children with vision disabilities at the center. According to credible organizations, both public and nongovernmental, the victims were boys and girls ages seven to 17. They told police on May 28 Mbouehe had been sexually abusing them since 2014 and on several occasions he had forceful anal intercourse with them. Children said they had informed the director of the center, Jerome Nkwelle Ewang, but he did not act to help them. According to reports, barrister Mfontem Ozongashu eventually uncovered the abuses and filed a criminal complaint against the perpetrator with consent of the victims' parents. Preliminary investigations suggested the director helped the offender escape. The prosecutor remanded the director in custody for alleged complicity but granted him bail a few days later, and Ewang was able to resume work. As of September 10, the case was still open. The United Nations announced in March that in 2015 there were 69 allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeepers in 10 peacekeeping missions around the world. At least one of these was committed by a Cameroonian peacekeeper in the Central African Republic (CAR). Reportedly new Cameroonian peacekeepers are required to sign individual commitment forms not to engage in sexual abuse as proof of the government's resolve in ensuring missions are carried out in good conditions, but their binding nature under the law remained unclear. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison conditions remained harsh and potentially life threatening due to gross overcrowding, inadequate food and medical care, and poor sanitary conditions. Physical Conditions: Overcrowding was pervasive in most prisons, especially in major urban centers. Officials held prisoners in dilapidated, colonial-era prisons, where the number of inmates was as much as four to five times the intended capacity. Sanitation, food, and medical care were wholly inadequate. Authorities stated sick persons were detained separately from the general population; this was often not the case. In January the country's prisons, which had an intended capacity of 17,000, held 27,997 inmates, according to the Ministry of Justice. Prisons in the Centre Region, with an intended capacity of 4,270, held 7,304 inmates. Those in the Littoral Region with a designed capacity for 1,550 held 4,250, while prisons in the North Region with a combined capacity of 1,300 held 2,776 inmates. At the individual prison level, for example, the Yaounde Kondengui Central Prison, with an intended capacity of 1,500, held 4,210 inmates; Maroua Central Prison, with an intended capacity of 400 inmates, held 1,486; and the Garoua Central Prison, with an intended capacity of 500, held 1,758 inmates. Prisons generally had separate wards for men, women, and children. Unlike in previous years, there were no reported cases of officials routinely holding women in police and gendarmerie facilities with men. As in 2015 physical abuse by prison guards and prisoner-on-prisoner violence were problems. In addition, "disciplinary cells" were often used to enforce discipline. Prison overcrowding led to a riot in one prison. According to media outlets and NGOs, on March 12-13, inmates of Garoua Central Prison launched a protest that developed into a mutiny. The prisoners were reportedly protesting life-threatening overcrowding, as there were nearly 2,000 inmates in the 500-capacity prison. Prisoners denounced lack of potable water and other inhuman conditions. Some detainees besieged the main prison courtyard and refused to return to their cells because of excessive heat and poor ventilation. The protest allegedly became violent when security force members attempted to return forcibly the prisoners to their cells. Three inmates died, according to official sources, and more than 40 wounded. Overall, the quantity and quality of medical care, hygiene, and medicines was inadequate. Disease and illness were widespread, and sick inmates were not systematically and promptly separated from the general population due to lack of facilities. Malnutrition, tuberculosis, bronchitis, malaria, hepatitis, scabies, and numerous other untreated conditions, including infections, parasites, dehydration, and diarrhea, were rampant. In the Buea Central Prison, for instance, the infirmary contained four beds and a staff of four, including a doctor, a nurse, an assistant nurse, and a lab technician, some of whom were also expected to provide services to other prisons. Potable water and food were inadequate. Prisoners generally had one meal a day, and officials expected prisoners' families to provide additional food. There were reports of detainees using buckets as latrines in some temporary holding cells within police or gendarme facilities. Corruption among prison personnel was reportedly widespread. Visitors were forced to bribe wardens to access inmates, and prisoners bribed wardens for special favors or treatment, including temporary freedom, beds, and transfers to less crowded areas of the prisons. Due to inability to pay fines, some prisoners remained imprisoned after completing their sentences or receiving court orders of release. Many citizens in the North and Far North Regions turned to traditional chiefs for dispute resolution. In contrast with previous years, there were no reports of persons held in private detention facilities. There were, however, reports of the use of unofficial military detention facilities in the Far North Region, including on the BIR bases at Salak and Mora. Administration: Recordkeeping on prisoners remained inadequate, especially in holding cells at police and gendarmerie premises where detainees often were not registered. Independent authorities often investigated credible allegations of inhuman conditions. Visitors needed formal authorization from the state counsel, failing which they had to bribe prison staff to communicate with inmates. In addition visits to Boko Haram suspects were highly restricted. Some detainees were held far from their families, reducing the possibility of visits. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted international humanitarian organizations access to prisoners in official prisons; observers did not have access to prisoners held in unofficial military detention facilities. The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms and NGOs, including the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Archdiocese, made infrequent unannounced prison visits. The government continued to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to make more regular prison visits. As in 2015 there were no reports human rights activists attempting to visit prisoners were required to pay bribes to prison officials. Improvements: On July 12, the president enacted a law to amend the existing penal code, providing for alternatives to detention, including community service and reparative sentences to reduce prison overcrowding. Under the amended penal code, a person convicted of an offense punishable by a maximum of two years or a fine may be allowed to work for a public entity or compensate victims as alternatives to incarceration. Human IS Right, a Buea-based civil society organization, in partnership with Operation Total Impact, implemented a formal education and reformation education program in Buea and Kumba principal prisons. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention. The law states that, except in the case of an individual discovered in the act of committing a felony or misdemeanor, the officials making the arrest shall disclose their identity and inform the person arrested of the reason. The law also provides that persons arrested on a warrant shall be brought immediately before the examining magistrate or the president of the trial court who issued the warrant, and that the accused persons shall be given reasonable access to contact their family, obtain legal advice, and arrange for their defense. The government occasionally did not respect these provisions. There were several reports the government arbitrarily arrested and detained innocent citizens. In April, 63 individuals, including leading members of the opposition, were detained until late into the evening without charge, and at least one senior member of an opposition party sustained injuries from police handling. Government officials unofficially accused them of rebellion and inciting revolt, reportedly for organizing a campaign to wear black and distributing pamphlets. In October, 54 opposition members were again arrested at a political party meeting and detained for more than eight hours without being informed of the reason for their detention. AI's July report indicated arbitrary arrests and detentions continued on a large scale in the Far North Region, and even the basic legal safeguards concerning arrest and detention were rarely respected. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The national police, DGRE, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Territorial Administration, and, to a lesser extent, Presidential Guard, are responsible for internal security. The Ministry of Defense which includes the gendarmerie, army, and the army's military security unit reports to an office of the Presidency, resulting in strong presidential control of security forces. The army is responsible for external security; the national police and gendarmerie have primary responsibility for law enforcement. The gendarmerie alone has responsibility in rural areas. The national police which includes the public security force, judicial police, territorial security forces, and frontier police report to the General Delegation of National Security (DGSN), which is under the direct authority of the presidency. The government took some steps to hold police accountable for abuses of power. Police remained ineffective, poorly trained, and corrupt. Impunity continued to be a problem. Civilian authorities maintained some control over the police and gendarmerie, and the government had somewhat effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. The DGSN and gendarmerie investigate reports of abuse and forward cases to the courts. Lesser sanctions are handled internally. The DGSN, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Justice claimed members of security forces were sanctioned during the year for committing abuses, but the government provided few details. On August 26, Captain Hamadjam Hamadjida Rene, commander of the Mokolo gendarmerie, Mayo-Tsanaga Division, Far North Region, was allegedly remanded in custody at the Kaele prison on a warrant issued by the government commissioner at the Maroua military tribunal. Captain Hamadjam allegedly played a role in a series of armed robberies targeting traders. He was relieved of his duties and immediately replaced. The National Gendarmerie and the army have special offices to investigate abuse. The secretary of state for defense and the minister-delegate at the presidency are in charge of defense of sanctioned abusers. The minister-delegate of defense refers cases involving aggravated theft, criminal complicity, murder, and other major offenses to the military courts for trial. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees The law requires police obtain a warrant before making an arrest, except when a person is caught in the act of committing a crime, but police often did not respect this requirement. The law provides that detainees be brought promptly before a magistrate, although this often did not occur. Police may legally detain a person in connection with a common crime for up to 48 hours, renewable once. This period may, with the written approval of the state counsel, be exceptionally extended twice before charges are brought. Nevertheless, police and gendarmes reportedly often exceeded these detention periods. The law permits detention without charge for renewable periods of 15 days by administrative authorities such as governors and civilian government officials serving in territorial command. The law also provides for access to legal counsel and family members, although police frequently denied detainees access to both. The law prohibits incommunicado detention, but it occurred, especially in connection with the fight against Boko Haram. The law permits bail, allows citizens the right to appeal, and provides the right to sue for unlawful arrest, but these rights were seldom respected. Arbitrary Arrest: Police, gendarmerie, and government authorities reportedly continued to arrest and detain persons arbitrarily, often holding them for prolonged periods without charge or trial and at times incommunicado. "Friday arrests," a practice whereby individuals arrested on a Friday typically remained in detention until at least Monday unless they paid a bribe to be released earlier, continued. There were several reports police or gendarmes arrested persons, without warrants, on circumstantial evidence alone, often following instructions from influential persons to settle personal scores. There were also reports police or gendarmes arbitrarily arrested persons during neighborhood sweeps for criminals and stolen goods or arrested persons lacking identification cards, especially in connection with the fight against growing insecurity, including the Boko Haram threat. On April 22, in Esu, Mentchum Division, Northwest Region, at approximately 2 a.m., four gendarmes allegedly forced open the door to the home of Redemption Godlove, a high school teacher, seized him without warrant, and secretly detained him in Bamenda at the gendarmerie. On May 2, the gendarmerie referred Godlove to the state counsel of Mezam, who prepared a holding charge accusing him of "depredation by band" along with eight others and sent the accused to the examining magistrate of Mezam, who remanded Godlove in custody while conducting preliminary inquiries. The arrest was allegedly orchestrated by Baba Ahmadou Danpullo, owner of the Elba Ranch, who claimed the accused committed the alleged offenses. Godlove had served as spokesperson for Esu during a meeting with administrative authorities over a protracted land conflict with Danpullo. On May 31, the magistrate declined jurisdiction, claiming the state counsel of Mezam could not have jurisdiction since the alleged offense was committed in Mentchum Division, which has a high court, state counsel, and examining magistrate. The magistrate of Mezam canceled the remand warrant. The state counsel, however, kept Godlove in detention until July 14 when he complied, allegedly following the intervention of the attorney general of the Northwest Region. Pretrial Detention: The law provides for a maximum of 18 months' detention before trial, but many detainees waited years for a date in court. In January the Ministry of Justice indicated that of a prison population of 27,977 inmates, 15,616 were in pretrial detention. Some pretrial detainees had been waiting for trial for more than two years. The increase in prison population was attributed to staff shortages, lengthy legal procedures, and administrative and judicial bottlenecks, including procedural trial delays and corruption. For example, Oben Maxwell, an activist, remained in pretrial detention in Buea Central Prison, Southwest Region, as of August 31, where he had been detained since his arrest in 2014. The cited reason for his detention was holding an illegal meeting. The military tribunal initially handled the case; it was then assigned to the Buea court of first instance. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: By law persons arrested or detained, whether on criminal or other grounds, are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis of their detention and obtain prompt release and compensation if found to have been unlawfully detained. There were no reported cases of challenges. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary. While the judiciary demonstrated impartiality and independence at times, it was often corrupt and subject to political influences. Individuals reportedly accused innocent persons of crimes or caused trial delays to solve personal disputes. As in 2015 there were no reliable reports that authorities disregarded court orders. Over the past several years, Alhadji Baba Danpullo, a politically influential businessperson, used the judicial system to harass Musa Usman Ndamba, the senior vice president of the Mbororo Social and Development Association. The most recent episode of harassment was on April 27, when the examining magistrate at the Bamenda court of first instance committed Usman Ndamba and two others for trial over an issue that the court earlier dismissed in 2014. The magistrate charged them with propagation of false information and defamation of character, despite irrefutable evidence that he was not linked to the alleged offense. The court system is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice. The constitution designates the president as "first magistrate," thus "chief" of the judiciary, making him the legal arbiter of any sanctions against the judiciary, although he has not played this role publicly. The constitution specifies the president is the guarantor of the legal system's independence. He appoints all judges, with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council. While judges hearing a case should be governed only by the law and their conscience as provided for by the constitution, in some matters they are subordinate to the minister of justice. For example, the Special Criminal Court must have approval from the minister of justice before it may drop charges against a defendant who offers to pay back the money he/she was accused of having embezzled. Despite the judiciary's partial independence vis-a-vis the executive and legislative powers, the president appoints all members of the bench and legal department of the judicial branch, including the president of the Supreme Court, and may dismiss them at will. The legal system includes statutory and customary law, and many criminal and civil cases may be tried using either one. Criminal cases generally were tried in statutory courts. Customary courts served as a primary means for settling domestic cases, including succession, inheritance, and child custody cases. Customary courts may exercise jurisdiction in a civil case only with the consent of both parties. Either party has the right to have a case heard by a statutory court and to appeal an adverse decision by a customary court to the statutory courts. Customary court convictions involving alleged witchcraft are automatically transferred to the statutory courts, which act as the courts of first instance. The law provides for sentences of between two and 10 years' imprisonment and fines of between 5,000 and 100,000 CFA francs ($9-$170). There were no arrests or trials for alleged witchcraft reported during the year. Customary law is deemed valid only when it is not "repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience," but many citizens in rural areas remained unaware of their rights under civil law and were taught they must abide by customary law. Customary law partially provides for equal rights and status; men may limit women's rights regarding inheritance and employment. Customary law practiced in rural areas is based on the traditions of the predominant ethnic group and is adjudicated by traditional authorities of that group. Some traditional legal systems regard wives as the legal property of their husbands. Military tribunals may exercise jurisdiction over civilians when the president declares martial law and in cases involving civil unrest or organized armed violence. Military tribunals also have jurisdiction over gang crimes, banditry, and highway robbery if such crimes are committed with firearms. Trial Procedures The constitution and law provide for the right to a fair public hearing, without undue delay, in which the defendant is presumed innocent, but authorities did not always respect the law. For instance, trials of Boko Haram suspects were sometimes not public. Defendants have the right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges, with free interpretation as necessary from the moment they are charged through all appeals. They have the right to a presumption of innocence, but the government often did not respect that right, resulting in many pretrial suspects being treated as if they were convicted. Defendants have the right to be present and to consult with an attorney of their choice or have one provided at public expense, and the government generally respected this right, especially in criminal matters. Authorities generally allowed defendants to question witnesses and to present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Defendants have the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense and not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt. Defendants have access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases, although in some cases the government did not make the evidence available in timely fashion. Defendants may appeal a conviction. The law extends these rights to all citizens, although they were not always extended in the cases of suspected Boko Haram affiliates. On August 24, barrister Mohamad Al Amine of Maroua stated persons suspected of complicity with Boko Haram or being likely to compromise the security of the state were consistently tried by military court. He said the accused typically had no legal counsel and noted that, while the government commissioner assigned lawyers to defend them, the lawyers in turn assigned the cases to trainee lawyers, who received 5,000 CFA francs ($9) for legal fees. Often these designated lawyers were not allowed to access case files or visit their clients, which contributed to the poor quality of legal assistance. There were more than one hundred capital punishment sentences issued by the courts in the Far North Region between July 2015 and July 2016. Political Prisoners and Detainees No statistics were available on the precise number of political prisoners. Political prisoners were detained under heightened security, often in the SED. Some were allegedly held in the DGRE and at the Yaounde central and principal prisons, and the government did not permit access to such persons on a regular basis, or at all, depending on the case. Former minister of state for territorial administration Marafa Hamidou Yaya, convicted in 2012 on corruption charges and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment, remained in detention. On May 18, the Supreme Court reduced the sentence to 20 years. On June 2, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a decision qualifying Marafa's detention "a violation of international laws" and asked the government to immediately free and compensate him for damages suffered. The United Nations made it clear there were multiple irregularities in the judicial procedure. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Citizens and organizations have the right to seek civil remedies for human rights violations through administrative procedures or the legal system; both options involved lengthy delays. There were a few reports the government failed to comply with a court decision on labor issues. For example, despite a court order, the government continued to work with the Cameroon Confederation of Trade Unions' former leader, who no longer represented the organization, to the detriment of newly elected officials. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to regional human rights bodies. In 2012, for example, Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara, former secretary general at the presidency, filed a complaint against the government with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. Mebara complained the government was keeping him imprisoned on the basis of the Operation Sparrow Hawk Affair even though the Mfoundi High Court ordered his release. The commission delivered its verdict in April in Banjul, The Gambia. The commission directed the government of Cameroon to release Mebara immediately, compensate him 400 million CFA francs ($681,000) for damages, and punish all officials involved in the violations perpetrated on Mebara. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has no ability to compel a state to comply with its decisions. Property Restitution Over the past few years, to implement infrastructure projects, the government seized land occupied or used by civilians. The government failed to resettle or compensate those displaced in a prompt manner, leading them to protest in the streets on several occasions. In a few cases, corrupt officials misappropriated the money the government had earmarked for compensation. The government identified some offenders and opened cases against them. No particular group was reported to have been intentionally targeted for discriminatory treatment. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence Although the constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, these rights were subject to restriction for the "higher interests of the state," and there were credible reports police and gendarmes harassed citizens and conducted searches without warrants. The law permits a police officer to enter a private home during daylight hours without a warrant if he is pursuing a criminal suspect. Police and gendarmes often did not comply with this provision. A police officer may enter a private home at any time in pursuit of a person observed committing a crime. An administrative authority, including a governor or senior divisional officer (SDO), may authorize police to conduct neighborhood sweeps without warrants, and this occurred. Police and gendarmes sometimes sealed off a neighborhood, systematically searched homes, arrested persons, sometimes arbitrarily, and seized suspicious or illegal articles. In Wum, Northwest Region, on February 17, during an early morning raid following arson at the military barracks a few days earlier, police detained citizens without identification cards until identity could be established. There were several complaints police arbitrarily confiscated motorbikes and electronic devices. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The law provides for freedom of speech and press but also criminalizes media offenses, and the government restricted speech and press. Freedom of Speech and Expression: Government officials penalized individuals or organizations that criticized or expressed views at odds with government policy. Individuals who criticized the government publicly or privately sometimes faced reprisals. The government occasionally used the law requiring permits or government notification of public protests to stifle discourse, and many civil society and political organizations reported increased difficulty in obtaining approval to organize public gatherings. The government attempted to impede criticism by monitoring political meetings. Antiterrorism legislation was also used to exercise government control over public and private expression. In November the military court of Yaounde sentenced three men to 10 years in prison for exchanging private text messages that joked about Boko Haram. The three individuals were not military personnel and were not accused of any terrorist involvement or support, but they were tried and convicted of "nondenunciation of terrorist acts." Press and Media Freedoms: Independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views, although there were restrictions, especially on editorial independence, in part due to terrorism concerns and the fight against Boko Haram. Journalists reported practicing self-censorship to avoid repercussions for criticizing the government, especially on security matters. Violence and Harassment: Police, gendarmes, and other government agents subjected journalists to arrest, detention, physical attack, and intimidation due to their reporting. On May 17, a Voice of America (VOA) correspondent and state media Cameroon Radio and Television reporter, Moki Edwin Kindzeka, reported he was detained for four hours over a story he published on VOA speaking about crackdowns on corruption and some politicians' beliefs that President Biya was eliminating his political opponents. Unknown individuals forced Kindzeka into a car and interrogated, threatened, and offered him money for "favorable" reporting. Censorship or Content Restrictions: The National Communication Council (NCC) is empowered to ensure all printed media comply with the legal requirement that editors in chief deposit two signed copies of each newspaper edition with the Prosecutor's Office for scrutiny within two hours after publication. Journalists and media outlets practiced self-censorship, especially if the NCC had suspended them. The NCC issued fewer warnings and suspensions than in 2015. On July 14, the NCC issued sanctions ranging from warnings to temporary suspensions for up to six months. The weekly newspaper L'Epervier and its publisher received two suspensions of six and three months, respectively, for publishing unsubstantiated statements deemed likely to impair the reputation of persons, including Martin Belinga Eboutou, director of the civil cabinet of the presidency, and Eletana Ayinda Rene, another staff member of the presidency. Weekly newspapers Ades-info and Le Regard received three-month suspensions. Weekly newspaper La Tornade received a two-month suspension, while weekly newspaper Canard Libre received a one-month suspension. The daily newspaper The Guardian Post, weekly newspaper Essingan, and Roger Kiyek, Royal FM director each received a warning for unethical conduct, following complaints by some staff members of the presidency and the CPDM. Libel/Slander Laws: Press freedom is constrained by strict libel laws. Any citizen may file a lawsuit against media organs for defamation of character. These laws authorize the government, at its discretion and the request of the plaintiff, to criminalize a civil libel suit or to initiate a criminal libel suit in cases of alleged libel against the president or other high government officials. Such crimes are punishable by prison terms and heavy fines. The libel law places the burden of proof on the defendant. The government contended libel laws are aimed at safeguarding citizens whose reputations can be permanently damaged by defamation. The government and public figures reportedly used laws against libel or slander to restrict public discussion. While government officials and individuals filed libel complaints against media outlets with the NCC, none of the complaints was sanctioned with prison terms. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. According to the International Telecommunication Union, approximately 11 percent of the population used the internet in 2014. Other studies stated the usage rate remained the same during the year. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events Although there were no legal restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events, state security informants reportedly continued to operate on university campuses. There were no reports the government censored curricula; sanctioned academic personnel for their teachings, writing, or research; restricted academic travel or contacts; intimidated academics into self-censoring; or attempted to influence academic appointments based on political affiliation. There were a few reports, however, of security personnel disrupting student activities. Further, the penal code adopted in July bans "political processions in any public establishment, school, or university"; it was criticized by some observers as isolating youth from the political process. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly Although the law provides for freedom of assembly, the government restricted this right. The law requires organizers of public meetings, demonstrations, and processions to notify officials in advance but does not require prior government approval of public assemblies and does not authorize the government to suppress public assemblies that it has not approved in advance. Nevertheless, officials routinely asserted the law implicitly authorizes the government to grant or deny permission for public assembly. The government often refused to grant permits for assemblies and used force to suppress assemblies for which it had not issued permits. The government also prevented civil society organizations and political parties from holding press conferences. Police and gendarmes forcibly disrupted meetings and demonstrations of citizens, trade unions, and political activists throughout the year. In the early hours of April 8 in Yaounde, the police Mobile Intervention Unit (GMI) detained 12 political activists at the judicial police headquarters for hours. GMI agents initially arrested the activists at the Biyem Assi neighborhood for wearing black, as they prepared for a distribution of pamphlets calling on Yaounde residents to observe a Black Friday, and took them to the GMI office in the Tsinga neighborhood. Edith Kah Walla of Cameroon People's Party (CPP) and Alain Fogue of Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) went to the GMI to inquire about the others, and police detained them. Police subsequently transferred the detainees to the judicial police headquarters at Elig-Essono neighborhood and allegedly subjected them to humiliation for hours. Police took detainees' pictures, fingerprints, height, and shoe sizes before releasing them later in the day. Kah Walla and 53 CPP party members were again detained in October for more than eight hours, during which they were questioned without being informed of the reason for their detention. Speaking to media following their release, Kah Walla indicated the police arrested them with claims they were holding an illegal meeting. Freedom of Association The constitution and law provide for freedom of association, but the law also places limits on this right. The minister of territorial administration may, on the recommendation of the SDO, suspend the activities of an association for three months on grounds the association is disrupting public order. The minister may also dissolve an association if it is deemed a threat to state security. National associations may acquire legal status by declaring themselves in writing to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, but the ministry must explicitly register foreign associations and religious groups; if they do not, the law imposes heavy fines for individuals who form and operate any such association. The law prohibits organizations that advocate a goal contrary to the constitution, laws, and morality, as well as those that aim to challenge the security, territorial integrity, national unity, national integration, or republican form of the state. Conditions for government recognition of political parties, NGOs, or associations were complicated, involved long delays, and were unevenly enforced. This resulted in associations operating in legal uncertainty, their activities tolerated but not formally approved. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons Although the constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, these rights sometimes were impeded. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. In-country Movement: Police and gendarmes at roadblocks and checkpoints in cities and on most highways often extorted bribes and harassed travelers. Male refugees in Gado, for example, reported they were often required to pay between 2,000 and 4,000 CFA francs ($3.40-$6.80) when they traveled to Meiganga, even when they carried UNHCR-issued identification cards. Police frequently stopped travelers to check identification documents, vehicle registrations, and tax receipts as security and immigration control measures. Exile: The law prohibits forced exile, and the government did not use it. Some citizens remained in self-imposed exile because they feared the government. Internally Displaced Persons Several thousand persons abandoned their homes in some villages on the border with Nigeria and fled to cities in the Far North Region because of frequent attacks by Boko Haram (83 percent of IDPs), while others left their homes as a result of natural disasters (13 percent of IDPs), mainly flooding. The July International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix 4 for the Far North Region indicated the number of IDPs due to the conflict increased from 81,693 to 157,657 between April 2015 and July 2016. The total number of IDPs reported by UNHCR, including populations affected by natural disasters, was estimated at 192,912 as of September 30. Thirty percent of IDPs were children of school age, according to estimates by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). While IDPs were within communities spread across the entire Far North Region, Logone and Chari, with an estimated 91,131 IDPs (40 percent); Mayo Tsanaga with 24,258 (11 percent); and Mayo Sava with 45,386 (20 percent) were the three divisions that hosted most IDPs. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The laws provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system of providing protection to refugees. UNHCR continued to play an important role in providing documentation and assistance to the refugee population. UNHCR and the government conducted biometric verification and registration of all refugees and asylum seekers in the Adamawa, East, and North Regions. As of September 30, 83,273 individuals, including 43,522 women and 39,751 men, had been registered. The country hosted at least 574,704 persons of concern to UNHCR as of September 30. Refoulement: Following security measures taken by authorities in the Far North Region to counter Boko Haram, civil society organizations reported cases of forced returns, including individuals of Nigerian descent who spoke Kanuri. According to NGOs, persons speaking Kanuri were considered Boko Haram members or sympathizers and were systematically returned to Nigeria. UNHCR and government sources, however, did not confirm these allegations. Furthermore, 338 Nigerian asylum seekers arrived in early June in Kolofata, where UNHCR processed them for assistance. Cameroonian military authorities, however, unilaterally returned them to Nigeria. Durable Solutions: The Cameroonian and Nigerian governments agreed in principle with UNHCR on the safe return of refugees who wish to be repatriated. Cameroon signed the agreement but awaited Nigeria's signature. Temporary Protection: The government provided temporary protection to individuals who may not qualify as refugees, extending this protection to approximately 100,000 individuals during the year, including third-country nationals who had fled violence in the CAR. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. President Biya and CPDM members, however, controlled key elements of the political process, including the judiciary. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In April 2013 the country held its first Senate elections. The ruling CPDM won 54 of the 70 elected seats; an additional 30 senators were appointed by the president, in accordance with the constitution. The elections were peaceful and generally free and fair. In September 2013 the country held simultaneous legislative and municipal elections, with 29 parties participating in the legislative elections and 35 in the municipal elections. The CPDM won 148 of 180 parliamentary seats and 305 of 360 municipal council positions, representing slight gains for opposition parties, compared with the parliament elected in 2007. In preparation for the 2013 legislative and municipal polls, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), whose members were appointed by the president, recompiled voter rolls using biometric technology and issued biometric voter identification cards that were required at polling booths. Despite irregularities, such as the inconsistent use of identification cards due to lack of expertise of local polling officials, opposition parties generally accepted the results. The high voter turnout (70 percent) and ELECAM's administration of the election were viewed as major improvements over previous elections. In October 2011 President Biya was re-elected in a poll marked by irregularities, but one that most observers believed reflected popular sentiment. Political Parties and Political Participation: The country had 300 registered political parties. Membership in the ruling political party conferred significant advantages, including in the allocation of key jobs in state-owned entities and the civil service. The president appoints all ministers, including the prime minister, and directly appoints the governors of each of the 10 regions, who generally represented CPDM interests. The president has the power to appoint important lower-level members of the 58 regional administrative structures. The government pays the salaries of (primarily nonelected) traditional leaders, which supports a system of patronage. In the three elections held in 2013, the CPDM was the most popular party except in the Northwest, where it faced strong competition from the Social Democratic Front. The CPDM remained dominant in state institutions, partially due to unfair drawing of voter districts, use of government resources for campaign purposes, interference with the right to organize and publicize views during electoral campaigns, and privileges associated with belonging to the ruling party. Authorities sometimes refused to grant opposition parties permission to hold rallies and meetings. Participation of Women and Minorities: There are no laws preventing women or members of minority groups from voting, running for office, and serving as electoral monitors, or otherwise participating in political life on the same basis as men or nonminority citizens. Cultural and traditional factors, however, reduced women's political participation compared to that of men. The law provides that lists of candidates for legislative and municipal elections should consider the sociological components of the constituency, including gender. Women remained underrepresented at all levels of government, but their political participation continued to improve. For the 2013-18 electoral period, women occupied 26 council mayor positions, in comparison with 23 in 2007-13, 10 in 2002-07, two in 1992-97, and one in 1987-92. Women occupied 10 cabinet positions, 76 of 280 parliamentary seats, and other senior level offices, including territorial command and security/defense positions. The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family and civil society organizations such as More Women in Politics continued to promote women's political participation. The minority Baka people took part as candidates in municipal and legislative elections but were not represented in the Senate, National Assembly, or higher offices of government. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, although these were not always enforced in cases involving high-profile ruling party officials. The government increased anticorruption activities, including through integrating the UN Convention Against Corruption into the penal code enacted in July. Under the new code, different offenses are identified as corruption, including insider trading, involvement in a prohibited employment, and nondeclaration of conflict of interest. Reporting of corruption is encouraged through exempting those who report corruption to judicial authorities from criminal proceedings. Furthermore, corruption in official examinations is punished with imprisonment of up to five years, fines up to two million CFA francs ($3,390), or both. Nevertheless, corruption remained pervasive at all levels of government. The government did not always effectively address high-profile cases, and officials continued to engage in corrupt practices with impunity. The judiciary was not always free to independently investigate and prosecute corruption cases. In the context of the fight against Boko Haram, local sources indicated that corruption-related inefficiencies and diversion of resources from their intended purposes continued to represent a fundamental national security vulnerability. Corruption: During the year the government sanctioned government employees for corruption, embezzlement, and mismanagement. Operation Sparrow Hawk, which was launched in previous years to fight corruption, including embezzlement of public funds, continued. The court opened new corruption cases and issued verdicts on some pending cases. Human rights activists and media reports, however, indicated many former officials ostensibly arrested for corruption had not been formally charged and that several had died in detention after not receiving proper medical attention. They claimed the government was using its crackdown on corruption as a pretext to target potential political rivals of the president. In May authorities arrested a number of current and former government officials who allegedly played a role in diverting resources allocated for the compensation of Lolabe, Mboro, and Bongale populations in connection with the construction of the Kribi deep sea port. The officials included Jean Francois Vilon, former SDO for the Ocean division, now retired; Joseph Andre Edyebe, former assistant SDO for the Ocean division and currently divisional officer (DO) for Bagante; Hubert Bessala, former DO for Kribi I subdivision; and Ngoum, Ocean divisional delegate for agriculture, among others. As of September 30, the suspects remained in pretrial detention. Although police were reportedly sanctioned for corruption, some officers convicted of corruption were relieved of their duties but retained their jobs due to weak oversight, accountability, and enforcement mechanisms for internal disciplining. Individuals reportedly paid bribes to police and the judiciary to secure their freedom. Police demanded bribes at checkpoints, and influential citizens reportedly paid police to make arrests or abuse individuals with whom they had personal disputes. There were reports some police associated with the issuance of emigration and identification documents collected additional fees from applicants. During the year the delegate general for national security, according to anecdotal reports, implemented measures to deter police officers from corrupt practices. Police officers found taking bribes were allegedly required to work without uniforms for a certain period, during which they had to serve as informants to denounce their colleagues as necessary. Judicial corruption was a problem. According to press reports, judicial authorities accepted illegal payments from detainees' families in exchange for a reduced sentence or the outright release of their relatives. Judges were susceptible to executive influence and often delayed judicial proceedings in response to governmental pressure. In a few instances, the court avoided handling cases for politically motivated reasons. Many powerful political or business interests had virtual immunity from prosecution. For example, after the DO for Bertoua I in East Region banned the meeting the MRC opposition party planned to hold on April 23, the party's lawyer, on April 20, filed a motion requesting the court cancel the DO's decision so that the MRC could meet on April 30. The law provides that in such circumstances, the court must issue a decision within eight days, but the court did not issue a decision until April 30. The court kept requiring additional paperwork until the MRC could no longer hold its meeting. Overall, national anticorruption agencies helped recover an estimated 20 billion CFA francs ($34 million) of ill-gotten funds as of June 30. Corruption in the education sector continued to be a major problem. Officials of major national training schools continued to be cited for corruption. Financial Disclosure: The constitution and law require senior government officials, including members of the cabinet, to declare their assets, although the president had not issued the requisite decree to implement the law by year's end. Public Access to Information: There are no laws providing citizens with access to government information, and such access was difficult to obtain. The National Institute of Statistics and other government agencies have websites that provide some level of information. Most government documents, however, remained unavailable to the public and media. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A number of domestic and international human rights groups investigated and published findings on human rights cases. Government officials, however, impeded the effectiveness of many local human rights NGOs by harassing their members, limiting access to prisoners, refusing to share information, and threatening violence against NGO personnel. Human rights defenders and activists received anonymous threats by telephone, text message, and e-mail. The government took no action to investigate or prevent such occurrences. The government criticized reports from international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, accusing the organizations of being biased and of intervening in security matters in a sovereign state without soliciting the government's point of view. Despite these restrictions, numerous independent domestic human rights NGOs continued operations. There were several reports of intimidation of, threats against, and attacks on human rights activists, including members of the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa (REDHAC), OS-Civile Droits de l'Homme, and Front Line Fighters for Citizens' Interests (FFCI), amongst others. For example, the intimidation of Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, executive director of REDHAC, continued. In February her landlord expelled her without notice from the house she had occupied for five years in Douala. The landlord claimed he was designated to become a traditional ruler and that authorities insisted his official coronation take place in Ngo Mbe's residence. As of August 31, however, the house remained unoccupied. In addition, on September 28 in Bafoussam, West Region, an unidentified person attacked FFCI member Nouayou Edy Michel and stabbed him in his left shoulder. The victim was returning to a hotel where he had an FFCI working session. The assailant did not take anything from Michel, who had two telephones and an important sum of money with him. Also, Mey Ali, president of OS-Civil Droits de l'Homme, continued to receive anonymous telephone and text-message threats, which compelled him to abandon his Kousseri residence and seek refuge elsewhere in the country. Government Human Rights Bodies: The country has a national Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF), an independent institution for consultation, monitoring, evaluation, dialogue, concerted action, promotion, and protection of human rights. The NCHRF was established by a 1990 presidential decree and subsequently given more powers by a 2004 law. NCHRF powers are limited, however. It can only make recommendations to competent authorities. The commission publishes yearly reports on the human rights environment and may engage in research, provide education, coordinate actions with NGOs, and visit prisons and detention sites. As of September 30, the NCHRF had not released its 2015 human rights report. NGOs, civil society, and the general population considered the NCHRF to be a dedicated and effective organization, albeit inadequately resourced and with insufficient ability to effectively hold human rights violators to account. Its budget was far smaller than that of most other agencies with comparable status, such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (CONAC) and ELECAM. The National Assembly's Constitutional Laws, Human Rights and Freedoms, Justice, Legislation, Regulations, and Administration Committee was adequately resourced and effective in reviewing the constitutionality of proposed legislation. It approved most ruling party legislation, however, and was not an effective check on ruling party initiatives. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape and provides penalties of between five and 10 years' imprisonment for convicted rapists. Police and courts, however, rarely investigated or prosecuted rape cases, especially since victims often did not report their cases. The law does not address spousal rape. In the National Gender Policy Document for the period 2011-20 adopted in 2014 and released in 2015, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family asserted 52 percent of women experienced domestic violence at least once and that 53 percent experienced violence by the age of 15. The ministries further indicated, based on a 2008 study on rape and incest, 5.2 percent of women were victims of sexual violence. Of those, 33 percent became pregnant and 16 percent contracted sexually transmitted infections. The report indicated more than one million girls and women were reported to have suffered an attempted rape and that rape was becoming widespread in all regions of the country. Included in this figure was incest, which applied to 18 percent of raped women. The law does not specifically prohibit domestic violence, although assault is prohibited and punishable by imprisonment and fines. The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family, in conjunction with local NGOs, continued their campaign to raise awareness of rape and educate citizens on penal provisions against rape, including through educative talks and sociolegal clinics. Activities were mostly centered on women commemorative days, such as the International Women's Day, African Women's Day, Rural Women's Day, and other fora involving mass mobilization of women. The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family reportedly trained 150 police officers on how to address violence against women. During the year the Littoral branch of the NCHRF, in collaboration with Douala-based LFM Radio, implemented a program against gender-based violence. The interactive program broadcast every Saturday offered women the opportunity to share their concerns with, and seek advice from, a lawyer. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): The law protects physical and bodily integrity of persons, and the penal code enacted on July 12 has specific provisions on genital mutilation/cutting. The law prohibits genital mutilation of all persons. Whoever mutilates the genitals of a person, by any means whatsoever, on conviction is subject to imprisonment from 10 to 20 years, and imprisonment for life if the offender habitually carries out this practice, does so for commercial purposes, or if the practice causes death. Children were reportedly subjected to FGM/C in isolated areas of the Far North, East, and Southwest Regions, in the Choa and Ejagham tribes, although the practice was reported to be decreasing. In 2015 The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family estimated the prevalence of FGM/C at 1.4 percent nationwide and 20 percent in the most affected communities. According to UNICEF's Global Databases 2016, FGM/C among girls and women ages 15 to 49 was 1 percent in urban centers and 2 percent in rural areas. In 2011 the government adopted a national action plan, and The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family established local FGM/C committees in areas where FGM/C was most prevalent, particularly in the Far North Region. The committees networked with former excision practitioners and traditional and religious leaders to reduce the practice. During the year the ministries and some civil society organizations conducted education programs against gender-based violence, including FGM/C. Other Harmful Traditional Practices: The practice of widow rites remained a problem in some areas, especially in the south. The practices varied from area to area but generally entailed new widows having to remove all hair using a razor blade, spend the night sleeping on the floor, and forgo bathing and other hygiene practices for extended periods. Widows were sometimes forcibly married to one of the deceased husband's relatives as a condition for them to secure continued enjoyment of the property left by the deceased, including the marital home. In an attempt to better protect women, including widows, the government included in the new penal code provisions addressing the eviction of a spouse from the marital home by any person other than the spouse of the victim. As in 2015, there were no credible reports of breast ironing, a procedure to flatten a girl's growing breasts with hot stones, cast-iron pans, or bricks. The procedure was considered a way to delay a girl's physical development, thus limiting the risk of sexual assault and teenage pregnancy. The procedure has harmful physical and psychological consequences, which include pain, cysts, abscesses, and physical and psychological scarring. During the year the government further discouraged the practice by including a relevant provision in the new penal code. Although the code does not specifically refer to breast ironing, it provides that whoever, in any manner whatsoever, interferes with an organ in order to inhibit its normal growth shall be punished with imprisonment from six months to five years, fines from 100,000 to one million CFA francs ($170-$1,700), or both. As formulated, the provision adequately covers breast ironing. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment. The new penal code provides punishment with imprisonment from six months to one year and with fines from 100,000 to one million CFA francs ($170-$1,700) for whoever takes advantage of the authority conferred on them by their position to harass another using orders, threats, constraints, or pressure in order to obtain sexual favors. The penalty is imprisonment for one to three years if the victim is a minor and from three to five years if the offender is in charge of the education of the victim. Despite these legal provisions, sexual harassment was widespread. Anecdotal reports suggest immigrant or refugee widows coming from the CAR were very susceptible to sexual harassment in the domestic work sector. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. Many often lacked the information and means to do so, however, and societal pressures continued to reinforce taboos on discussing all sex-related issues, particularly in northern rural areas. Women's dependence on their husbands' consent was also a barrier to contraceptive decisions. The UN 2014 Multiple Index Cluster Survey (MICS) indicated 82.8 percent of pregnant women had at least one antenatal care visit by a qualified health worker, 64.7 percent delivered with assistance from qualified birth attendants, and 61.3 percent of the deliveries occurred in a health facility. Prenatal care, skilled attendance during childbirth, emergency obstetric, neonatal, and postpartum care remained inadequate, particularly in rural areas. Maternal mortality remained high. According to the World Health Organization's 2015 estimates, maternal mortality stood at 690 deaths per 100,000 live births. The high mortality rate was attributed to lack of access to medical care; lack of trained medical personnel; the high cost of prenatal care, hospital delivery, and postpartum care; and negligence by hospital staff. For example, on March 12, the bloody and naked corpse of Monique Koumate and her twin babies were found on the ground at the Douala Laquintinie hospital yard; a relative had used a razor blade to open her womb in an attempt to rescue the unborn twins. Authorities claimed Koumate died hours before arrival at the hospital and blamed the sister who cut open her womb. The sister insisted she performed the surgery hoping to save the babies, who were still alive, because the nurses on duty refused to help. The UN Population Division estimated only 20.2 percent of women and girls ages 15 to 49 used a modern method of contraception in 2015. The low rate of contraception use was largely due to the lack of skilled personnel and lack of adequate infrastructure and contraceptives. The Ministry of Public Health provided counseling services to women during prenatal visits, promoting the concept of responsible parenthood and encouraging couples to use contraception to space the timing of their children. The Ministry of Social Affairs also had an educational program on responsible parenthood, which was broadcast twice weekly. Couples were encouraged to get HIV/AIDS testing prior to conception, and efforts continued to increase HIV/AIDS testing for pregnant women at health clinics. Discrimination: The law provides for the same legal status and rights for women as for men, including in terms of family, labor, property, nationality, and inheritance. Despite constitutional and legal provisions recognizing women's rights, women did not enjoy the same rights and privileges as men. For example, the law allows a husband to deny his wife the ability to work outside the home, and a husband may also forbid his wife to engage in commercial activity by notifying the clerk of the commerce tribunal. Also, while polygamy is authorized, polyandry is illegal. Customary law imposes further strictures on women, since in many regions a woman is regarded as the property of her husband. Because of custom and tradition, civil laws protecting women often were not respected. For example, in some ethnic groups women were precluded from inheriting from their husbands. Although local government officials including mayors claimed women had access to land in their constituencies, the overall sociocultural practice of depriving women of land ownership, especially through inheritance, was prevalent in most regions. The provision on adultery in the new penal code was revised to apply evenly to men and women. Under the previous law, a married man could be punished only if he had sexual intercourse in the marital home or habitually had sexual intercourse elsewhere with a woman other than his wife or wives. Under the new law, a husband who has sexual intercourse with a woman other than his wife or wives may be subject to punishment. During the year the prime minister launched the UN Women initiative to involve men and boys in the advocacy against gender discrimination. The UN HeForShe campaign began on August 11 and aimed to engage men and boys as advocates and agents for change to achieve gender equality and women's rights. Children Birth Registration: Citizenship is derived from parents, and it is the parents' responsibility to register births. Parents must obtain a birth declaration from the hospital or health facility in which the child was born and complete the application. The mayor's office issues the birth certificate once the file is completed and approved. Because many children were not born in formal health facilities and many parents were unable to reach local government offices, many births were unregistered. According to the 2014 MICS, birth registration rate for children below the age of five was 66.1 percent. Social workers attributed the low level to negligence, poverty, and poor education. Parents often registered children only when the children were about to enroll for the first school leading to a certificate. A 2011 law brought innovations in the national civil status system, including creation in 2013 of a national civil status office that became operational with the appointment of its management staff in September 2015, but more especially the extension of deadlines for birth registration from 30 to 90 days, thus increasing the probability for parents to register new births. Education: The law provides that primary education is compulsory but does not set an age limit. Children were generally expected to complete primary education at age 12, or at ages 13-14 if they had to repeat classes. In July the government criminalized interference with the right to education or training. Under the new penal code, any parent with sufficient means who refuses to send his child to school is subject to a fine of from 50,000 to 500,000 CFA francs ($85-$850), and imprisonment from one to two years if the offense is repeated. Public primary school was tuition-free, but children had to pay for uniforms, books, and sometimes extra fees. Secondary school students had to pay tuition and other fees in addition to buying uniforms and books. This rendered education unaffordable for many children. According to estimates from the 2014 MICS, the primary school attendance rate was 85.4 percent, with a primary school completion rate of 81 percent. According to a 2015 report from UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and the National Institute of Statistics, 87 percent of boys attended primary school, compared with 84 percent of girls; and 55 percent of boys attended secondary school, compared with 50 percent of girls. According to the same report, 83 percent of boys completed primary school, compared with 78 percent of girls. During the year Boko Haram destroyed hundreds of classrooms, and the government reportedly shut down entire schools due to security concerns. This aggravated lack of access to education in the Far North Region; the 2016-17 academic year was largely lost for many children. Child Abuse: Child abuse remained a problem. Children continued to suffer corporal punishment, both within families and in the school environment. According to a 2011 survey, 76 percent of children reported being hit frequently at home, and 10 percent of those between the ages of six and 15 reported sexual abuse. Newspaper reports often cited cases of children abandoned, thrown in the trash, or being victims of kidnapping and mutilation. Also, Boko Haram abducted children and, in some instances, used them as suicide bombers. For example, on February 16, in Buea, 14-year-old Nkeih Lizette reported her father Nkeih Ernest had been sexually abusing her since she was 10 years old. Nkeih claimed she had been pregnant four times and aborted three times using medications she bought on the streets. At the time she was suffering from severe hemorrhage, allegedly because of a failed abortion. The judicial police in Buea arrested the offender. There were no reported developments on the case as of September 30. These allegations were consistent with findings of the International Center for the Promotion of Creation (CIPCRE), an international NGO. CIPCRE recorded 475 cases of sexual abuse of children from January 2015 to June 2016, including 36 children under age seven and 100 under 14. One hundred and nine children had contracted pregnancies, six died, 144 had severe injuries, and 49 were infected, all because of sexual abuse. In most cases CIPCRE stated the perpetrator was a relative. On March 11, in Bamenda, Northwest Region, a four-year-old nursery pupil was discovered with serious scars on her face and body. NGO officials concluded the scars were a result of mistreatment the child received from her mother and a domestic helper. Early and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age for marriage is 15 for girls and 18 for men, although some families reportedly tried to marry their girls earlier. According to the 2014 MICS, 11.4 percent of women and girls ages 15 to 49 were married or in union by age 15, 36 percent of women and girls ages 20 to 49 were married or in union by age 18, and 22.3 percent of youths ages 15 to 19 were currently married or in union. Early marriage was prevalent in the Adamawa, North, and particularly Far North Regions. The government conducted education campaigns to combat early marriages and provided medical support and reintegration services to victims. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: See information for girls under 18 in the Women's section above. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits the commercial sexual exploitation of children. A conviction, however, requires there to have been the use of threat, fraud, deception, force, or other forms of coercion. Penalties include imprisonment of 10 to 20 years and a fine of 100,000 to 10 million CFA francs ($170-$17,000). Penalties are increased to 15 to 20 years' imprisonment if the victim is 15 or younger, if a weapon is used, or if the victim sustains serious injuries as a result of trafficking. The law does not specifically provide a minimum age for consensual sex. The law prohibits the use of children for the production of pornography and provides for prison terms from five to 10 years and fines of five million to 10 million CFA francs ($8,500-$17,000) for perpetrators who use any electronic system to forward child pornography or any document that could harm the dignity of a child. Children under the age of 18 were exploited in prostitution, especially by promoters of restaurants and bars, although no statistics were available. Child Soldiers: The government did not recruit or use child soldiers, but Boko Haram utilized child soldiers, including girls, in their attacks on civilian and military targets. Infanticide or Infanticide of Children with Disabilities: Unlike in 2015, there were no credible reports of infanticide nor of mothers abandoning their newborns in streets, latrines, or garbage cans. The law criminalizes infanticide and provides penalties ranging from five years' imprisonment to capital punishment. Displaced Children: The country hosted a large population of refugees and IDPs, most of whom were children. According to IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix for August, there were 125,038 internally displaced children. This number excluded refugees. As in previous years, many children lived on the streets of major urban centers, although their number apparently declined as a result of stringent security measures against Boko Haram and the amended penal code that criminalizes vagrancy. The Project to Fight the Phenomenon of Street Children, a governmental project established in partnership with NGOs, continued to gather information on street children and offer health care, education, and psychological care but was hardly active. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism The Jewish community was very small, and there were no known reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law does not specifically address discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, air travel and other transportation, access to health care, the judicial system, or the provision of other state services. The constitution, however, explicitly forbids all forms of discrimination, providing that "everyone has equal rights and obligations." In 2010 the government enacted a law on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, but the president had not issued its instrument of implementation. In addition the country had not ratified international instruments such as the UN Convention on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities. The law requires new government and private buildings be designed to facilitate access by persons with disabilities and that existing buildings be modified to do so. Secondary public education is tuition free for persons with disabilities and children born of parents with disabilities, and initial vocational training, medical treatment, and employment must be provided "when possible," and public assistance "when needed." The majority of children with disabilities attended schools. Some of these children attended mainstream schools, others attended specialized schools, including for children with vision, hearing, or physical disabilities. The Ministry of Basic Education started the 2016/17 school year by selecting 68 primary schools as pilot sites to implement inclusive education. A private training institution, Shilo Special Education and Inclusive Bilingual Teacher Training Institute, which opened in 2014, continued training activities. As in 2015, the school accepted students with vision and other disabilities. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs has successfully partnered with NGOs, including Nicky's Foundation, a Baptist organization that works with persons with hearing disabilities and provides sign language training to teachers. The ministry also partnered with Sightsavers, an international organization, which worked in the Far North, South, and Southwest Regions. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities The population consists of an estimated 286 ethnic groups, among which there were frequent and credible allegations of discrimination. Ethnic groups commonly gave preferential treatment to fellow ethnic group members in business and social practices. Members of the president's Beti/Bulu ethnic group from the south held key positions and were disproportionately represented in the government, state-owned businesses, security forces, and the CPDM. Indigenous People An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 Baka, including Bakola and Bagyeli, resided primarily in (and were the earliest known inhabitants of) the forested areas of the South and East. No legal discrimination existed, but other groups often treated the Baka as inferior and sometimes subjected them to unfair and exploitative labor practices. There were credible reports the Mbororos, itinerant pastoralists mostly present in the North, East, Adamawa, and Northwest Regions, were subject to harassment, sometimes with the complicity of administrative or judicial authorities, and were involved in conflicts over ownership of land and access to water. The government did not effectively protect the civil or political rights of either group, but it implemented initiatives to promote the rights of the Baka, including the National Plan for the Empowerment of the Baka, and the Mbororo. Programs included training Baka and Mbororo in agricultural and animal husbandry techniques, including follow-on support for projects initiated after training, and recruiting Baka and Mbororo to attend teacher-training colleges. Baka and Mbororo communities complained about being marginalized, forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, and denied access to water. The government continued efforts begun in 2005 to provide birth certificates and national identity cards to Baka. Most Baka did not have these documents, and efforts to reach them were impeded by the difficulty in accessing their homes deep in the forest. To improve access for Baka children to education, UNICEF and the Ministry of Basic Education introduced an education model that takes into account the sociocultural specifics of minorities. They selected 12 schools to experiment with intercultural and multilingual education, in which the language of instruction is the mother tongue up to a certain level and then changes to the normal curriculum. The project was planned to run until 2017. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Homosexuality remained a crime. Consensual same-sex sexual activity is illegal and punishable by a prison sentence of six months to five years and a fine ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 CFA francs ($34-$340). Although reports of arrests dropped dramatically, homophobia remained a major concern. Members of the LGBTI community continued to receive anonymous threats by telephone, text message, and e-mail, as well as social stigmatization, harassment, and discrimination, including threats of corrective rape, although they were increasingly reluctant to speak out. Both police and civilians reportedly continued to extort money from presumed LGBTI individuals by threatening to expose them. For example, on June 1, human rights organizations reported management of the Real Estate Company of Cameroon ordered Franz Mananga, the executive director of Alternatives Cameroon, to vacate his apartment rented from the real estate company because his neighbors had brought a complaint against him for homosexuality. Members of the LGBTI community allegedly suffered discriminatory treatment during a workshop held in Ambam, South Region, on September 1-4. The workshop was intended to train representatives of grassroots grantee organizations on the new funding model under the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. During the happy hour on the second day, hotel staff members discovered that gay men were involved. Thereafter, hotel staff members stopped replacing towels in all hotel rooms and reduced the quality of meals. Despite the cultural environment, human rights and health organizations continued to advocate for the LGBTI community by defending LGBTI individuals being prosecuted, promoting HIV/AIDS initiatives, and working to change laws prohibiting consensual same-sex activity. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma Persons afflicted with HIV or AIDS often suffered social discrimination and were isolated from their families and society due to social stigma and lack of education about the disease. In the 2011 Demographic and Health Survey, 88 percent of women and 81.3 percent of men reported having discriminatory attitudes towards those with HIV. Between October 2010 and February 2011, Reseau Camerounais des Associations de Personnes Vivant avec le VIH (ReCAP+), a network of persons with HIV, conducted a survey of 1,284 persons with HIV. The survey indicated that in the 12 months preceding the study, 68.7 percent of respondents experienced at least one form of stigma and discrimination; 25.9 percent had been forced to change residence or were unable to secure rental accommodation; 22.6 percent of respondents who were employed lost their job or other income source; 6.7 percent were refused employment because of their HIV status; and 9.8 percent reported changes in their job responsibilities or being refused a career promotion due to their HIV-positive status. Two percent of respondents reported being denied health services, including dental care; 3.3 percent reported having been refused family planning services; and 5 percent reported being refused sexual and reproductive health services. During the preceding 12 months, 2.3 percent of respondents had been dismissed, suspended, or prevented from attending an educational institution because of their HIV status. During the year there were a few reports of discrimination in employment. For instance, according to a credible NGO, the director of Societe de Production des Legumes (PROLEG), an agribusiness entity based in Bandjoun, West Region, terminated one of his employees because of his HIV status. Every year the director of PROLEG requires staff members to produce their HIV-status report. He allegedly terminated the worker after 27 years of service when the worker tested positive. Other Societal Violence or Discrimination There were a few reports of security forces failing to prevent or to respond immediately to societal violence. Several cases of vigilante action were recorded. For example, on May 4, according to newspaper reports, a bicycle rider and his colleagues entered Njo Njo cemetery in Bonapriso, Douala, where three suspects attempted to steal his bicycle. They caught one of the suspects and beat him to death. In another case, on May 7, in Bamenda, Northwest Region, residents discovered a burned body. Beside it they found a stone that was used to stun the victim and ash and debris from a tire the assailants used to burn him. According to reports, the incident occurred on the night of May 6-7, when the unidentified victim was caught attempting to steal a motorcycle. On July 1, in Kumbo, Northwest Region, persons burned the feet of Ndzenyuy Ziawou and Nfor Arunna, two 13-year-old pupils of Islamic primary school Taakov, for allegedly stealing a woman's cell phone battery. Asana, the owner of the battery, allegedly called her husband and friends to discipline the children. They put the children on chairs with hands tied behind their backs and their feet tied to sticks fastened by the fireside. Using grass and firewood, they roasted the children's feet and abandoned them by a vacant building, where the children spent the night unattended. Hours after the severe abuse, Asana found the battery in her bedroom. The Justice and Peace Commission in Kumbo filed a complaint with the gendarmerie, which arrested five suspects and referred the matter to the Bui high court in Kumbo. The investigating magistrate opened preliminary proceedings on September 15, and the court delivered its verdict early December, sentencing two of the accused to one-year prison terms each. The other three suspects were expected in court on January 9, 2017. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the rights of workers to form and join independent unions, conduct legal strikes, and bargain collectively. The law also prohibits antiunion discrimination and requires reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. Statutory limitations and other practices substantially restricted these rights. The law does not permit the creation of a union that includes both public- and private-sector workers or the creation of a union that includes different or closely related sectors. The law requires that unions register with the government, permitting groups of no fewer than 20 workers to organize a union by submitting a constitution and bylaws, as well as nonconviction certifications for each founding member. The law provides for heavy fines for workers who form a union and carry out union activities without registration. Trade unions or associations of public servants may not join a foreign occupational or labor organization without prior authorization from the minister responsible for "supervising public freedoms." The constitution and law provide for collective bargaining between workers and management as well as between labor federations and business associations in each sector of the economy. The law does not apply to the agricultural or other informal sectors, which included the majority of the workforce. Legal strikes or lockouts may be called only after conciliation and arbitration procedures have been exhausted. Workers who ignore procedures to conduct a legal strike may be dismissed or fined. Before striking, workers must seek mediation from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security at the local, regional, and ministerial levels. Only if mediation fails at all three levels can workers formally issue a strike notice and subsequently strike. The provision of law allowing persons to strike does not apply to civil servants, employees of the penitentiary system, or workers responsible for national security, including police, gendarmerie, and army personnel. Instead of strikes, civil servants are required to negotiate grievances directly with the minister of the appropriate department in addition to the minister of labor and social security. Arbitration decisions are legally binding but were often unenforceable when parties refused to cooperate. The constitution and law prohibit antiunion discrimination, and employers guilty of such discrimination are subject to fines of up to approximately one million CFA francs ($1,700). Nevertheless, employers found guilty are not required to compensate workers for discrimination or reinstate dismissed workers. Industrial free zones are subject to labor law, except for the following provisions: the employers' right to determine salaries according to productivity, the free negotiation of work contracts, and the automatic issuance of work permits for foreign workers. In practice the government and employers did not effectively enforce the applicable legislation on freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. Although there were ministries tasked with upholding the labor laws, resources were inadequate to support their mission. For example, the city of Douala, which has six subdivisions, hundreds of companies, and thousands of employees, is part of the Wouri division with only one labor inspectorate, which was generally poorly staffed. Penalties for violations were rarely enforced and useless as a deterrent. Administrative judicial procedures were infrequent and subject to lengthy delays and appeals. The government and employers often interfered in the functioning of workers' organizations. The government occasionally worked with nonrepresentative union leaders to the detriment of elected leaders, while employers frequently used hiring practices such as subcontracting to avoid hiring workers with bargaining rights. Blacklisting of union members, unfair dismissal, promotion of employer-controlled unions, and threatening workers trying to unionize were common practices. The Confederation of Workers' Syndicates of Cameroon (CSTC) held a congress in Douala on November 12-13, 2015, during which the organization elected new executive members, including Andre Moussi Nolla as president, to replace Zambo Amougou. CSTC officials immediately notified relevant authorities of the leadership change. In addition, a decision by the court of first instance in Yaounde suspended a parallel CSTC congress that Zambo Amougou convened on November 4-5, 2015. As of September 10, CSTC leaders claimed the government continued to consider Zambo as the official representative of the CSTC, inviting him to meetings and sending all CSTC correspondence to him, to the detriment of Andre Moussi Nolla and other new team members, despite multiple complaints by the CSTC. There were reports of company officials prohibiting the establishment of trade unions in their businesses. For instance, officials of Union des Syndicats Libres du Cameroun (Free Syndicate Union of Cameroon or USLC), allegedly visited Dangote Cement Cameroon and Ciments d'Afrique, two companies established in Bonaberi-Douala, Littoral Region. USLC leadership claimed the managers were hostile to the idea of unionizing their employees and threatened retaliation against any employee who attempted to join the USLC. There were reports of other companies with no workers' representatives. FME-GAZ and COMETAL, for instance, reportedly sponsored only independent candidates during the March 30 social elections. Some trade unions refused to acknowledge resignation of their members, in apparent collusion with their employers. For example, some employees of CRAFON, a Douala-based plastic manufacturing company, decided to leave the Confederation Syndicale Autonome du Cameroun (Autonomous Trade Union Confederation of Cameroon or CSA) to join the USLC. CRAFON management required them to have their letters of resignation endorsed by the president of the CSA, who refused to do so. CRAFON continued to pay the amount deducted from the salaries of these employees into the CSA accounts. In another case a trade union leader resigned from USLC and carried with him all of the USLC's documentation to join the Cameroon Confederation of Workers (CCT). The employer allegedly required all members of the USLC to follow their former president to the CCT. Despite their refusal, the employer reportedly transferred the amount deducted from their salaries to the CCT, thus forcibly transferring workers from one trade union to another. Employers frequently used hiring practices such as subcontracting to avoid hiring workers with bargaining rights. Workers' representatives stated that most major companies engaged i 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Cabo Verde Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Cabo Verde, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a5f13.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The government of Cabo Verde is a parliamentary representative democratic republic, largely modeled on the Portuguese system. Constitutional powers are shared between the head of state, President Jorge Carlos Fonseca, and head of government, Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva. The Supreme Court, the National Electoral Commission, and international observers declared the 2016 nationwide legislative elections generally free and fair. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. The most serious human rights problems occurred in the following areas: overcrowding of prisons, child abuse, and violence and discrimination against women. Other human rights problems included excessive force and aggression against persons arrested and detained by police; trafficking in persons, including some instances of child sexual exploitation; and forced child labor. Although the government took steps to prosecute and punish public officials who committed human rights abuses, the process was lengthy. The National Police took disciplinary action against officers who acted outside the law. The government sometimes downplayed or disregarded police abuses. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution and law prohibit such practices. Media, however, continued to cite instances of physical violence. The most common types of abuses were excessive force and aggression against persons arrested and detained by police. In most cases the National Police Council took action against abusers. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison conditions were harsh and potentially life threatening due to gross overcrowding and inadequate housing and sanitation, mainly at the Central Prison of Praia. Physical Conditions: There are five prisons in the country; the two largest had populations that substantially exceeded capacity (indicated in parentheses). The Central Prison of Praia (CCP) had 1,110 inmates (880), the Central Prison of Sao Vicente 286 (180), the regional prison of Santo Antao 34 (50), the prison on Sal Island 90 (250), and Fogo 49 (50). Prisoners also complained about inadequate sanitation, ventilation, lighting, and heating. Conditions in general were inadequate for inmates with mental disabilities or substance addictions. There were too few corrections officers to deal with the growing number of such prisoners. Conditions were markedly better for female prisoners, who generally had significantly more space and better sanitary conditions than male prisoners. During the year there was one death reported in prison. The government sent some prisoners to the CCP to separate inmates based on trial status, gender, and age, but there were cases of youths sharing cells with adults. Administration: The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Cabo Verdean Institute for Gender Equality and Equity a government agency and the National Statistics Institute (INE) worked together to establish uniform standards for data collection and recordkeeping. There were no prison ombudsmen to respond to complaints. Prisoners' relatives reported complaints, but corrections officials claimed all had been investigated and disproven. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted formal visits by international human rights monitors to the prisons and individual prisoners. Local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and members of the press made frequent visits to prisons to record conditions. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The National Police, under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is responsible for law enforcement. The Judiciary Police, under the Ministry of Justice, is responsible for major investigations. The armed forces, under the Ministry of Defense, are responsible for protecting the national territory (maritime and terrestrial) and sovereignty of the country. Logistical constraints, including a shortage of vehicles and communications equipment, and poor forensic capacity continued to limit police effectiveness. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the armed forces and police (including the Coast Guard, National Guard, National Police, and Judiciary Police), and the government had somewhat effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. There were no reports of impunity involving the security forces during the year. Authorities investigated abuses by police, and most investigations resulted in legal action against those responsible. During the first eight months of the year, the National Police Council received 16 reports of police violence; most cases concerned physical abuse. The National Police Disciplinary Board reviewed the cases. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees The National Police may not make arrests without a warrant issued by the Attorney General's Office, unless police apprehend the person in the act of committing a felony. Neither the National Police nor Judiciary Police have the authority to conduct investigations unless mandated by the Attorney General's Office. Even if there is incriminating evidence, suspected criminals are not arrested until a decision is made by the Attorney General's Office. The law stipulates a suspect must be brought before a judge within 48 hours of arrest. In most cases, however, detainees waited more than 48 hours for their hearings. The law provides a detainee the right to prompt judicial determination of the legality of the detention, and authorities respected this right. Attorneys inform detainees of the charges against them. There is a functioning bail system. Authorities allowed detainees prompt access to family members and to a lawyer of the detainee's choice if the detainee could afford it. For a detainee or family unable to pay, the Cabo Verdean Bar Association appoints a lawyer. The judicial system was overburdened and understaffed, and criminal cases frequently ended when charges were dropped before a determination of guilt or innocence was made. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Persons are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention and obtain prompt release and compensation if found to have been unlawfully detained. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. The judicial system, however, lacked sufficient staffing and was inefficient. There is a military court, which cannot try civilians. The military court provides the same protections as civil criminal courts. Trial Procedures The constitution and law provide for the right to a fair public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. Defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence. They have the right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges, with free interpretation as necessary from the moment charged through all appeals. The law provides for the right to a fair and public nonjury trial without undue delay, but cases often continued for years. Defendants have the right to be present at their trial and to consult with an attorney in a timely manner. Free counsel is provided for the indigent in all types of cases. Defendants have adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense. Defendants and their attorneys have access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases. Defendants have the right to confront or question witnesses against them and to present witnesses and evidence in their defense; the right not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt; and the right to appeal regional court decisions to the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ). The law extends the above rights to all citizens. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Courts are impartial and independent and handle civil matters including lawsuits seeking damages for, or an injunction ordering the cessation of, a human rights violation. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to regional human right bodies. Both administrative and judicial remedies are available. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution and law prohibit such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respected these rights. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of speech and press. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. According to the Cabo Verdean National Communications Authority's 2016 Second Quarter Report, 59 percent of the population used the internet. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association The constitution and law provide for the freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. The country has not established national legislation or an institutional body for granting asylum or refugee status. While very few asylum applications were registered (UNHCR reported only two cases in total in 2011 and 2012 and none since), the actual number of asylum seekers was unknown, since there is no systematic procedure in place to register and process asylum claims. Because UNHCR does not have an established presence in the country, asylum seekers who request protection and assistance are referred by the International Organization for Migration to UNHCR's regional representation for West Africa in Dakar, Senegal, which conducts refugee status determinations. Temporary protection mechanisms and access to basic services are in place for asylum seekers while they await a decision. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Residents who are not Cabo Verdean citizens are able to vote in municipal elections. Any foreigner residing in Cabo Verde for more than three years can vote in municipal elections. Any resident from a member country of the Community of Countries of Portuguese Language (CPLP) which includes Angola, Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and Timor-Leste can vote in municipal elections regardless of how long they have resided in Cabo Verde. Only Cabo Verdean citizens, including those living outside the country, can vote in legislative and presidential elections. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In the 2016 legislative elections, individuals and parties were free to declare their candidacies and candidates for a total of 72 seats. The main opposition party, Movement for Democracy (MpD), won 40 seats in the National Assembly with approximately 53 percent of the vote, returning the party to power for the first time in 15 years. The ruling party, African Party for the Independence of Cabo Verde (PAICV), won 29 seats with 37 percent, and the Union for a Democratic and Independent Cabo Verde (UCID) won the remaining three seats with 6 percent. International observers characterized these elections as generally free and fair. The most recent presidential election took place on October 2. Jorge Carlos Fonseca, the candidate supported by the MpD, won the election with approximately 74 percent of the vote. Election observers from the African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) characterized these elections as free, transparent, and credible. Observers noted some irregularities, however, including voters being pressured near polling stations to vote for certain candidates and allegations of vote buying. Participation of Women and Minorities: Male dominance in positions of power continued despite efforts to promote women's advancement. Women's participation fell in positions within the central government but remained particularly high on the SCJ, and especially in prosecutorial positions. At the local level, however, in community associations and on city councils, women had less representation. Women held 17 of the 72 National Assembly seats and occupied three of the 11 cabinet-level positions in government ministries. Women filled three of the eight seats on the SCJ, including the presidency, and one female mayor was elected in the 2012 municipal elections. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides penalties of up to 15 years' imprisonment for corruption by officials, and the government implemented the law effectively. Officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices with impunity, especially at the municipal level, although there were no new reports of government corruption during the year. Corruption: Polling released by Afrobarometer in September 2015 showed citizens' perceptions of corruption in the country had risen in comparison with 2013. The study revealed these perceptions of increased corruption extended beyond the National Assembly and other elected bodies to the National Police, which 19 percent of citizens considered corrupt. Financial Disclosure: The law sets parameters for public officials to submit declarations of interest, income, and family wealth, and regulates public discussion of this information. These declarations should include any asset worth more than 500,000 escudos ($5,043). Failure to submit a declaration may lead to a prohibition on public officials holding office for a period of one to five years. The SCJ must approve public disclosure of the declarations. When involved in criminal cases of alleged corruption, public officials must declare or prove the source of their income or wealth. The SCJ is in charge of monitoring the law and enforcing compliance, but enforcement was poor. Public Access to Information: The law provides for public access to government information without restriction, provided privacy rights are respected. The government frequently granted access. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape is a crime punishable by eight to 16 years in prison, and domestic violence is punishable by one to five years in prison. Spousal rape is implicitly covered by the gender-based violence law; penalties range from one to five years' imprisonment. This 2001 law focuses on increasing protection of victims, strengthening penalties for offenders, and raising awareness about gender-based violence. The law calls for establishing several care centers, with financial and management autonomy, but implementation lagged due to inadequate staffing and financial resources. Violence and discrimination against women remained significant problems. Rede Sol (a network that connects civil society organizations, the National Police, health centers, hospitals, and community law centers) covered 56 percent of the national territory and had representation on seven islands and in 12 of the 22 municipalities. The Ministry of Justice created "casas do direito" (civil rights houses), which serve as public spaces that provide citizens with access to justice and promote civic participation. In 2015 they received reports of 241 cases of gender-based violence nationwide. As of July, 61 cases were reported to the casas do direito. The government enforced the law against rape and domestic violence effectively. Sexual Harassment: The criminal code and the law criminalize sexual harassment. Penalties include up to one year in prison and a fine equal to up to two years of the perpetrator's salary. Although authorities generally enforced the law, statistics on prosecutions, convictions, and punishments for sexual harassment were not available. There was no data on the number of cases of sexual harassment during the year. Sexual harassment was common and widely accepted in the culture. Reproductive Rights: The civil code grants all citizens the freedom to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. All citizens had access to contraception. Family planning centers throughout the country distributed some contraceptives freely to the public. These centers provided skilled assistance and counseling, both before and after childbirth and in cases of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Postnatal services included family planning and free oral/injectable contraceptives. No government policies adversely affect emergency health care, including complications arising from abortion. Discrimination: The law provides for the same legal status and rights for women as for men. Cultural norms and traditions, however, imposed gender roles that hindered the eradication of gender-based discrimination. Women had less representation in local politics, community associations, and in parliament. In the private sector, women held fewer management and leadership positions and often received lower salaries than men for equal work. Indicators showed women faring better than men in terms of educational achievement, life expectancy, and access to sexual and reproductive health services. The government enforced the law in providing for the same legal status and rights for women as for men. Children Birth Registration: Citizenship can be derived by birth within the country or from one's parents. The government has a network of services, such as notary and civil identification records offices in all municipalities, and the Birth Registration Project located in hospitals and health centers. Failure to register births did not result in denial of public services. The government attributed the nonregistration of births to uncertainty as to the identity of fathers, parental neglect, and a lack of information on registration in the poorest communities. Education: The government provided tuition-free and universal education for all children between the ages of six and 12. Education is compulsory until the age of 15. Secondary education was free only to children whose families had an annual income below 147,000 escudos ($1,482). Child Abuse: Violence against children remained a problem. The government tried to combat it through a national network that included the Cabo Verdean Institute of Childhood and Adolescence (ICCA), various police forces, the Attorney General's Office, hospitals, and health centers. The government attempted to reduce sexual abuse and violence against children through several programs such as Dial a Complaint, the Children's Emergency Program, Project Our House, Welcome Centers for Street Children, Project Safe Space, Project Substitute Family, and the creation during 2014 of five ICCA offices. Data from the Children's Emergency Program and the Local Social Service programs indicated that during the first six months of the year, there were 126 reported cases of violence and aggression and 72 reported cases of sexual abuse of children. Actual prevalence was higher; not every case was reported because perpetrators were often relatives of the child. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age of marriage is 18 years. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law punishes those that foment, promote, or facilitate prostitution or sexual exploitation of children age 16 and under with a penalty of four to 10 years in prison. If the victim is age 17 to 18, the penalty is two to six years in prison, which is inconsistent with international law on trafficking in persons. The law punishes those that induce, transport, or provide housing or create the conditions for sexual exploitation and prostitution of children age 16 and under in a foreign country with a penalty of five to 12 years in prison. If the victim is age 17 to 18, the penalty is two to eight years in prison. The law prohibits the use of children under 18 in pornography, with penalties of up to three years in prison. The minimum age for consensual sex is 14. The law also prohibits pedophilia. During the year there were no reported cases of child pornography, but there were cases of children in prostitution. Sex tourism, at times involving children in prostitution, was a problem, particularly on the tourism-focused islands of Sal and Boa Vista. Sexual abuse was more common in the poorest neighborhoods. Children were exploited in sex trafficking in Santa Maria, Praia, and Mindelo. New amendments to the penal code, published in November 2015, increase penalties for those who engage in the sexual abuse and exploitation of minors or promote the prostitution of minors. These amendments also strengthen penalties for sexual assault, with imprisonment of two to eight years; sexual abuse of children, with penalties from two to eight years; and sexual abuse of minors between 14 and 16 years old, with penalties from two to eight years. Prison sentences increased for the crimes of pimping and the exploitation of minors for pornographic purposes. The new amendments also focus on crimes related to trafficking in persons, penalizing those who offer, deliver, accept, carry, or accommodate a child or other person for the purpose of sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, or extraction of organs. The amendments mandate several penalties, ranging from one to 12 years in prison for such crimes. Despite the amendments, there were no confirmed cases, prosecutions, or arrests related to trafficking in persons during the year. The government also continued efforts to prevent the sexual exploitation of children through the creation of a national coordinating committee and the development of a code of ethics for the tourism industry. Institutionalized Children: During the year there were reports of physical abuse of children in a foster care facility managed by the Reformed Congregation of Seventh-day Adventists in Praia. Eight children who spent time at this orphanage were transferred to ICCA's Children Emergency Center in Praia. The eight minors, six male and two female, were between ages seven and 17. All children were expected to remain at the ICCA center until an investigation was completed. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism There is a very small Jewish community in the country, and there were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, the judicial system, or in the provision of other state services. The law does not prohibit discrimination in air travel or other transportation services. The government generally enforced these provisions, with problems remaining in a number of areas. For example, persons with disabilities faced daily obstacles that hindered their integration. Physical accessibility, communication means, and public transport appropriate for persons with disabilities often were lacking. The government worked with civil society organizations to implement programs to provide access for wheelchair users, including building ramps to enhance access to transportation and buildings. According to the Ministry of Education, Family, Equality, and Inclusion, the ministry had enrolled an estimated 1,200 children and youth with special educational needs in primary, secondary, and higher education through the years. There was no information available regarding abuse of persons with intellectual or mental disabilities in prisons or psychiatric hospitals. Persons with physical disabilities had difficulties in accessing facilities in prisons such as bathrooms and other services. Inmates with mental disabilities did not have access to psychiatric care or specific therapy. The government did not legally restrict the right of persons with physical disabilities to vote or otherwise participate in civic affairs and public life, unless the person was deemed not to have the mental capacity to exercise that right. Persons with intellectual or mental disabilities, as determined by the Ministry of Health, are not allowed to vote, according to the National Commission for Elections. According to the electoral code, blind persons or those with other physical disabilities that are not otherwise accommodated can be escorted by a citizen of their choice to cast their vote. The government has a quota system for granting scholarships and tax benefits to companies that employ individuals with disabilities. NGOs recognized these measures as partially effective in better integrating these citizens into society but also noted nonenforcement and inadequate regulations continued to be obstacles. Several NGOs worked to protect the interests of persons with disabilities. A Law on Mobility sets technical standards for accessibility for persons with disabilities for a variety of public facilities and services. The Ministry of Education, Family, Equality, and Inclusion is the government organization responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. The National Council on the Status of Disabled Persons works in partnership with the ministry as a consultative body responsible for proposing, coordinating, and monitoring the implementation of a national policy. Public television station TCV, through a partnership with the National Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship, Handicap International, and the Cabo Verdean Federation of Associations of People with Disabilities, included in its nightly news a sign-language interpreter for deaf persons able to sign. The law stipulates a quota of 5 percent of educational scholarships be allocated to persons with disabilities, but this percentage had not been reached. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Antidiscrimination laws exist, and state employers may not discriminate based on sexual orientation. There was no information available on official or private discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals in employment, occupation, housing, statelessness, or access to education or health care. There were no reported incidents of violence against LGBTI persons during the year. In June the Arco Iris Association, in partnership with the Fundacion Triangulo of Spain, organized the country's fourth consecutive Cabo Verdean Gay Week ("Mindelo Pride"). The event again occurred in the city of Mindelo, on Sao Vicente Island, to promote equality and respect for sexual diversity. In June a smaller pride week event also took place in Praia, the first time an organized pride event had been held in the capital. In December 2015 the United Nations launched in Cabo Verde the "Free and Equal" campaign to promote educational programs to shape public attitudes about LGBTI equality and increase awareness about homophobic violence and discrimination. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the rights of workers to form or join unions of their choice without previous authorization or excessive requirements, to engage in collective bargaining, and to conduct legal strikes. The labor code provides for protection against antiunion discrimination and for the reinstatement of workers. Although government enforcement generally was effective, cases could continue for years, with further delay for appeals. The Directorate General for Labor (DGT) has a conciliation mechanism to promote dialogue. The labor code designates certain jobs essential and limits workers' ability to strike in those industries. Services provided by telecommunications, justice, meteorology, health, firefighting, postal service, funeral services, water and sanitation services, transportation, ports and airports, private security, and the banking and credit sectors are considered indispensable. The Civil Need Law states the government can force the end of a strike when there is an emergency or "to ensure the smooth operation of businesses or essential services of public interest." The law allows unions to carry out their activities without interference. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining were respected, and the government effectively enforced applicable laws. The government protected the right to carry out union activities without interference. Worker organizations were independent of the government and political parties. There were no reports of violence, threats, or other abuses during the year by the government against union members or leaders. Penalties were adequate to deter violations of freedom of association. There was no reported evidence of antiunion discrimination. Nonetheless, public projects were contracted to private companies who hired workers directly. Workers who do not have a labor contract have no legal protection. Labor unions complained the government sporadically restricted the right to strike for certain critical job categories. Other observers stated the government cooperated with the unions and did not discriminate against certain job categories. There were no reported violations related to collective bargaining. According to the local press, few companies had adopted collective bargaining, but the International Labor Organization worked with local unions and government bodies to provide guidance on conducting a dialogue between parties. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor, including by children, and the government effectively enforced applicable laws. According to the Inspectorate General of Labor (IGT) 2015 Report, the IGT carried out 904 inspections and did not identify any forced labor violations. Article 14 of the labor code prohibits forced labor, and Article 271 of the penal code outlaws slavery, both of which prescribe penalties of six to 12 years of imprisonment, which was usually sufficiently stringent to deter violations. Nevertheless, there were reports such practices occurred during the year. Migrants from China, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Nigeria, and Guinea may receive low wages and work without contracts, creating vulnerabilities to forced labor in the construction sector. Children labored in domestic service, often working long hours and at times experiencing physical and sexual abuse, indicators of forced labor (see also section 7.c.). Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The legal minimum age for work is 15 years. The labor code does not allow children ages 15 to 18 to work more than 38 hours a week or more than seven hours a day. The constitution provides that underage children may work only on small household tasks, in apprenticeship or training programs, or to help support the family. Children ages 16 to 18 are allowed to work overtime in an emergency but may not work more than two overtime hours a day, and these extra hours may not exceed 30 hours a year. The law defines work to be abolished or the worst forms of child labor as work engaged in by children under the age of 15 and/or dangerous work performed by children between the ages of 15 and 17. Several laws prohibit child labor, and the penalties they impose are adequate, but enforcement was neither consistent nor effective. Barriers, mostly cultural, remained to the effective implementation of these laws. For example, not all citizens considered children working to help support their families as a negative thing, especially in small remote communities. The ICCA, DGT, and IGT worked on matters pertaining to child labor. The ICCA works on the promotion and defense of the rights of children and adolescents. The DGT creates labor market policy and drafts labor legislation to ensure the promotion of social dialogue and reconciliation between social partners. The IGT has the responsibility to monitor and enforce labor laws and enforces rules relating to labor relations. The agencies stated they had adequate resources. During the year the government (through the three agencies) continued to carry out training activities for local staff and awareness campaigns to combat child labor, particularly in its worst forms, and consulted with local businesses. The IGT did not identify any child labor violations. The first survey conducted by INE on child labor in the country, published in 2013, revealed that 7.1 percent of children were engaged in the worst forms of child labor (the study was conducted between October and December 2012). The worst forms of child labor were more common in rural areas (91 percent) than urban areas (84 percent). Child labor was also higher for boys (8.8 percent) than girls (5.3 percent). Children engaged in street work, including in water and food sales, car washing, and begging, and were vulnerable to trafficking. The worst forms of child labor included street work, domestic service, agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry, trash picking, garbage and human waste transport, and peddling drugs for adults. Cabo Verde is a source and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking within the country and in Guinea and a destination country for women in forced prostitution. Boys and girls, some of whom may be foreign nationals, were exploited in sex trafficking in Santa Maria, Praia, and Mindelo. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The labor law prohibits discrimination in employment and occupation based on race, color, sex, gender, disability, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, political opinion, ethnic origin, age, HIV-positive status or having other communicable diseases, or social status, and the government in general effectively enforced the law. Gender-based discrimination in employment and occupation, however, occurred (see section 6). Women generally had lower economic status and less access to management positions in public- and private-sector organizations. Women experienced inequality in areas such as politics and the economy. For instance, housework is not officially recognized, since national statistics consider homemakers inactive members of the labor force. Reportedly, in some sectors of the formal economy, women received lower salaries than men for equal work. According to a study conducted by the INE in 2010, more than eight in 10 immigrants were active in the local economy, with a rate of 91 percent among Africans. African immigrants worked mainly in retail, services, and construction. Immigrants generally had low education and professional qualifications and little work experience; as a consequence, their wages tended to be lower. Most of these immigrants did not have a legal contract with the employer, and thus they did not enjoy many legal protections and often worked in unacceptable conditions. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The law stipulates a minimum monthly wage of 11,000 escudos ($110.95). The government defines the poverty income level as 105 escudos ($1.05) a day. The law stipulates a maximum of eight hours of work per day and 44 hours per week. The law requires rest periods, the length depending on the work sector. The minimum rest period is 12 hours between workdays. The law also provides for daily and annual overtime hours granted in exceptional circumstances. The law states a worker is entitled to 22 business days of paid vacation. Overtime must be compensated with at least time and a half pay. The worker, however, can replace up to half of his/her holidays through an agreement with the employer. The law sets minimum occupational and safety standards and gives workers the right to decline to work if working conditions pose serious risks to health or physical integrity. In specific high-risk sectors, such as fishing or construction, the government can and often does provide, in consultation with unions and employers, specific current and appropriate occupational safety and health rules. In general it is the employer's responsibility to ensure the workplace is secure, healthy, and hygienic. The employer must also develop a training program for workers. Workers can remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment. Authorities effectively protected employees in these situations. Standards were enforced in all sectors, including the informal sector, although no penalties for violations that included fines or imprisonment were imposed during the year. The government made efforts to reduce work accidents and illness at work by carrying out more inspections and awareness campaigns to promote a culture of prevention and safety at work. The DGT and IGT are charged with implementing labor laws. Seven technicians worked for the DGT and 14 worked for the IGT, covering three islands (Santiago, Sao Vicente, and Sal). Both agencies agreed with trade unions these numbers were inadequate, and there remained a need for tighter enforcement of labor standards, especially on the more sparsely populated islands where monitoring was more difficult. Even though companies tended to respect laws on working hours, many employees, such as domestic workers, health professionals, farmers, fishermen, and commercial workers, commonly worked for longer periods of time than the law allows. Penalties for labor violations depend on the number of workers employed; the minimum is 10,000 escudos ($100) going up to 180,000 escudos ($1,815). According to the IGT, there were no penalties for violations during the year. According to the IGT's 2015 report, most irregularities detected during labor inspections related to nonsubscription to Social Security, nonsubscription to Mandatory Insurance for Job Injury, and some irregularities in complying with health and safety standards. Inspections revealed the most common work violations concerned the right to vacation time and the right to rest periods between work periods. Specific data, however, on wages and hours of work was not available. Nonetheless, the report indicated the IGT made 904 inspections, and inspectors identified 1,622 irregularities across the nine islands in all sectors, of which 358 required intervention. Although there were no official studies available, some sources speculated foreign migrant workers were more likely to be exploited than others. Between 17,000 and 22,000 immigrants, mostly from the Economic Community of West African States, were working in the country. Most were men, but the number of immigrant women recently increased. No official data existed, but most immigrants were between the ages of 20 and 40 and lacked higher job qualifications but played important roles in the economy. Generally they worked in civil construction, security services, hospitality, and tourism. It was common for companies not to honor migrant workers' rights regarding contracts, especially concerning deductions for social security. No official data was available on the number of work-related accidents and workplace deaths during the reporting period. The restaurant business/food services, steel industry, and the construction sector had the most work accidents reported during the year. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Burundi Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Burundi, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a6013.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Republic of Burundi is a constitutional, multiparty republic with an elected government. The 2005 constitution provides for an executive branch that reports to the president, a bicameral parliament, and an independent judiciary. In June, July, and August 2015 voters re-elected President Pierre Nkurunziza and chose a new National Assembly (lower house) in elections boycotted by independent opposition parties, who claimed Nkurunziza's election violated legal term limits. International and domestic observers characterized the elections as largely peaceful but deeply flawed and not free, fair, transparent, or credible. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain control over the security forces. Observers considered the military generally professional and apolitical, but the National Intelligence Service (SNR) and police tended to be influenced directly by, and responsive to, the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party. Members of the CNDD-FDD's youth group, the Imbonerakure, sometimes operated in cooperation with police, but often acted independently of any identifiable oversight. Imbonerakure members arrested persons with impunity, despite having no legal powers of arrest. The most important human rights abuses in the country were extrajudicial killings, including reports of mass graves; arbitrary and politicized detention; and widespread government infringement of the freedoms of speech, press and media, assembly, and association. Other human rights abuses included disappearances; harsh and sometimes life-threatening prison conditions; a highly politicized judicial system that lacked independence from the executive branch; and prolonged pretrial detention, often without formal charges. Authorities harassed and intimidated journalists and ordered the closure of civil society and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that criticized the government and the CNDD-FDD. Government corruption was a serious problem. Security forces reportedly raped women and girls, and widespread sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination against women and girls were serious problems. Human trafficking occurred. Discrimination occurred against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community, persons with disabilities, and persons with albinism. Authorities did not respect labor rights, and forced child labor existed. The reluctance of police and public prosecutors to investigate and prosecute and of judges to hear cases of government corruption and human rights abuse in a timely manner resulted in widespread impunity for government and CNDD-FDD officials. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were numerous reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, although the number declined from 2015. As of October 5, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented more than 150 killings of individuals, many of them extrajudicial killings committed by police, the SNR, or military personnel, sometimes with involvement of local government officials. By comparison, the OHCHR documented more than 400 cases of arbitrary or unlawful killings in 2015. In December 2015 police responded to an armed attack on three military installations by conducting house-to-house searches in several neighborhoods of Bujumbura perceived as opposed to the president serving a third term. Numerous civilian victims were found dead with their hands bound behind their back and shot in the head. The official death toll from the fighting was 87, but the nongovernmental organizations SOS-Torture Burundi and Ligue Iteka estimated that between 150 and 200 persons died in the fighting and subsequent searches. On January 15, the OHCHR released a statement calling for an immediate investigation into the events of December 2015, citing reports, including eyewitness accounts, of mass graves containing the bodies of those killed. The high commissioner stated, "We've received numerous allegations that during the initial search operations on 11 and 12 December in the Musaga, Nyakabiga, Ngagara, Cibitoke, and Mutakura neighborhoods of Bujumbura, police and army forces arrested considerable numbers of young men, many of whom were later tortured, killed, or taken to unknown destinations." On January 28, Amnesty International (AI) released a report citing satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts indicating that victims from the fighting were buried in mass graves. On March 10, an investigation commissioned by the prosecutor general asserted that "no mass graves had been found in the locations cited by certain NGOs" and added that, on February 29, it had discovered a common grave dug for the victims of insurgents that had not been included in previous reports. There were also reports of killings targeting security force personnel and individuals associated with the CNDD-FDD. Unidentified gunmen killed a senior CNDD-FDD member, Darius Ikurakure, on March 22; army General Athanase Kararuza on April 25; and an East African Legislative Assembly member, Hafsa Mossi, on July 13. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), a high-ranking Imbonerakure member reported the killings of more than 50 Imbonerakure since April 2015, including at least four killed in grenade attacks in Bujumbura in May. According to a UN Independent Investigation on Burundi (UNIIB) report published in September, armed opposition groups were believed to be behind grenade attacks that killed civilians. The Republican Forces of Burundi and Resistance for a State of Law in Burundi (RED-Tabara) claimed responsibility for two attacks in Cibitoke and Musaga neighborhoods on February 6. Medecins Sans Frontieres reported that its trauma center in Bujumbura treated 55 persons injured in a grenade attack on February 11 and another 61 injured in an attack on February 15. The frequency of grenade attacks in Bujumbura declined in the second half of the year. b. Disappearance There were reports that individuals were victims of politically motivated disappearances after they had been detained by elements of the security forces. As of October 5, the OHCHR documented at least 30 cases of enforced disappearances. Ligue Iteka, a local human rights NGO, alleged 331 disappearances during the period between December 2015 and November. After meeting with the relatives of many individuals who had disappeared, UNIIB concluded that agents affiliated with the SNR, police, and the military were responsible for many disappearances. The OHCHR documented either members of police, the SNR, the Burundian National Defense Forces (BNDF), or Imbonerakure as the presumed perpetrators of 96 percent of enforced disappearances it recorded. Ligue Iteka documented at least 15 alleged disappearances during the year in which the missing individual was a member of the security forces, specifically a member of the preintegration, Tutsi-dominated army. HRW released a report in February that alleged "an alarming new pattern of abductions and possible disappearances" that began after the December 2015 attacks on three government military facilities. According to the report, abductions sometimes targeted security forces suspected of involvement in the attacks. Jean Bigirimana, a journalist for independent newspaper Iwacu, was abducted from his car on July 22. Bigirimana's spouse was present at the abduction and stated publicly that SNR officers were responsible. Despite cooperation from the Independent National Commission for Human Rights (CNIDH) in searching for the journalist, his whereabouts remained unknown at year's end. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution and penal code prohibit cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, but there were reports government officials employed them. As of October 5, the OHCHR documented 558 cases of torture and mistreatment of persons that the government accused as participating in the failed 2015 coup attempt or subsequent efforts to remove it from power. UNIIB cited the SNR, Imbonerakure, and to a lesser extent the BNDF as being "consistently identified as the perpetrators." In a July 13 report, HRW stated that members of the security services or the intelligence services "had hit people repeatedly and slammed gun butts into detainees' faces or limbs, in some cases breaking their bones or smashing their jaws until their teeth fell out. SNR agents beat detainees with steel construction bars, drove sharpened steel rods into their legs, tied cords to detainees' genitals and pulled, used electric shock, and poured liquid on detainees, which burned them." Both HRW and UNIIB cited information that senior figures in the security apparatus were aware of, or were personally involved in, torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. In June Minister of Public Security Alain Guillaume Bunyoni wrote to HRW that police could not have tortured or mistreated detainees and denied that police collaborated with the Imbonerakure. In response to observations by the UN Committee against Torture adopted in August, the government asserted that all agents of the National Police as well as the SNR are subject to the penal code and that, "in cases [of alleged torture or mistreatment] known by the competent authorities, criminal and administrative cases are regularly opened to charge police officers involved." The director of penitentiary administration stated that during the year no police officer was arrested for torture or abuse of prisoners or suspects in their custody and no officer was prosecuted for abusing detainees. Many police officers, however, were jailed for other crimes, including banditry, stealing, rape, unlawful use of a weapon, or losing a weapon. On July 27, HRW released a report based on testimony from more than 70 rape victims who had fled to the Nduta refugee camp in western Tanzania. According to the report, "(members of) Imbonerakure known to victims, men in police uniforms, and unidentified armed men, some of whom accused the victims of supporting an opposition party or being married to an opposition supporter, were among those responsible for rapes or gang-rapes of 38 women interviewed by HRW." The report suggested the more than 170 rape cases reported to UNHCR might have been only a fraction of the total, as medical staff of aid organizations believed many women did not report rape unless they sought treatment for medical problems related to their assault. The government, in response to similar statements in the UNIIB report in September, denied any of the rape cases pending before courts were related to political dissent. It claimed that neither the Humura Center nor the Seruka Center, two centers that treat victims of sexual violence, had reported rape cases linked to political repression. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prisons were overcrowded, and conditions remained harsh and sometimes life threatening. Conditions in detention centers managed by the SNR and in local "lock-ups" managed by police generally were worse than in prisons. There were reports of physical abuse, lack of adequate medical treatment, and prolonged solitary confinement. Prisons did not have adequate sanitation systems (toilets, bathing facilities), drinking water, ventilation, and lighting. Prisons and detention centers did not have special facilities for persons with disabilities. Prisons did not meet the standards established by the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela rules). Physical Conditions: The Office of Penitentiary Affairs reported that, at year's end, there were 10,049 inmates, including 5,065 pretrial detainees, in 11 prisons, the majority of which were built before 1965, to accommodate 4,194 inmates in all. Of the 10,049 inmates, 457 were women and 106 were juveniles. Authorities held 129 juveniles in two juvenile detention facilities that opened in November 2015. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) stated that fully implementing an ordinance that no children were to be held in adult prisons "remained challenging." In addition, there were 78 children living with their incarcerated mothers. The most crowded prisons were Muramvya (30 miles from Bujumbura), where the inmate population was at 533 percent of capacity, and Mpimba (in Bujumbura) which was at 409 percent of capacity. No information was available on the number of persons held in detention centers managed by the SNR or in communal jails operated by police. There was a prison for women in Kayanza. Authorities commonly held pretrial detainees with convicted prisoners. No data were available on the number of deaths in detention, reports of abuse by guards, or prisoner-on-prisoner violence. According to government officials and international human rights observers, many prisoners suffered from intestinal illnesses and malaria. An unknown number died from disease. Each inmate received 12 ounces of manioc and 12 ounces of beans daily; rations also included oil and salt on some days. Authorities expected family and friends to provide funds for all other expenses. Each prison had at least one qualified nurse and received at least one weekly visit by a doctor, but prisoners did not always receive prompt access to medical care; inmates with serious medical conditions were sent to local hospitals. Radio Bonesha reported that in November Jean Claude Nduwayezu, an imprisoned member of the opposition Democratic Solidarity Movement (MSD) party, died after the director of the Mpimba prison did not give timely authorization for him to receive medical treatment. According to Nduwayezu's family, the director allowed him to go to the hospital only after two previous requests were refused. Conditions for political prisoners were sometimes worse than for ordinary prisoners. In September 2015 officials transported 28 high-profile prisoners accused of participating in the failed May 2015 coup attempt to the Central Prison in Gitega. They reportedly were incarcerated four to a cell in isolation cells intended to hold one person. Independent human rights observers noted the cells did not have windows or toilet facilities. According to one of the detainees' lawyers, as of October, conditions of detention remained the same. Administration: Prison authorities allowed prisoners to submit complaints to judicial authorities without censorship, but they rarely investigated prisoners' complaints. There were credible reports of mistreatment of prisoners, but no record that abusers were punished. Visitors were authorized to see prisoners in most cases, and religious observance was allowed. Independent Monitoring: Until October 10, the government permitted all visits requested by international and local human rights monitors, including monitors from the OHCHR and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Monitors visited all prisons, communal jails, and SNR detention centers regularly. Monitoring groups had complete and unhindered access to those prisoners held in known detention facilities. On October 10, however, the government suspended official cooperation with the OHCHR in the wake of the UNIIB report, although the government continued to allow some access to and monitoring of prisoners. As of October, the ICRC still had unhampered monitoring access to known detention facilities. On April 18, UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein expressed deep concern over emerging reports of "secret detention facilities across the country." The September UNIIB report concluded there were "reasonable grounds to believe" security forces and Imbonerakure had established 13 places of detention unacknowledged by the prosecutor general, according to alleged victims the UNIIB had interviewed. In its response to the UNIIB report, the government challenged UNIIB's "reasonable grounds to believe" there were unacknowledged detention centers by asserting there was no tangible evidence to support the allegations. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, but the government often did not observe these prohibitions. The law provides for a fine of 10,000 Burundian francs ($6) and imprisonment of 15 days to one year for any member of the security forces implicated in arbitrary arrest. Police arrested persons on accusations of "undermining state security, participation in armed banditry, holding illegal meetings, illegal detention of weapons, or simply because they were traveling to or from other provinces or neighboring countries," according to the OHCHR. As of October 5, the OHCHR documented 5,209 arrests it deemed arbitrary, since the individuals involved were arrested without charge, without arrest warrants, or for "investigation purposes." Of the arrests, 2,467 eventually resulted in subsequent release for lack of evidence. As of October, UNICEF documented more than 100 cases of children who had been detained for "participation in armed groups, participation in an insurrectional movement, or illegal possession of arms." UNICEF stated these children were not recruited or used in armed groups, nor had they been in possession of arms. The children told UNICEF personnel they were arrested while traveling, walking in neighborhoods, or during searches and arrest operations by police, the military, or the SNR. In May, June, and July, 440 students were suspended and 73 detained for defacing pictures of the president in school textbooks. The 73 detainees were charged with contempt for the head of state, a charge that normally carries a penalty of six months to five years in prison. Following advocacy by the OHCHR, UNICEF, and other international actors, the minister of education pardoned and released the detainees and lifted the suspensions of the other students. UNICEF reported a new case of a student detained for "scribbling" in October. SOS-Torture Burundi alleged numerous instances of police arresting large groups of persons in raids; those arrested allegedly had to pay bribes to be released. The September UNIIB report stated that persons arrested by security forces were often subject to extortion and asked to pay "ransoms" of four to five million francs ($2,400 to $3,000) to middlemen to secure their release. Minister of Public Security Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, in a June letter to HRW, wrote that allegations of police demanding money from detainees or their families in exchange for their release were "a lie" and that any police involved in extortion would face "severe administrative sanctions and penalties." Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The National Police, which is under the Ministry of Public Security's authority, is responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order. The armed forces, which are under the Ministry of Defense's authority, are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities. The SNR, which reports directly to the president, has arrest and detention authority. Members of the Imbonerakure were involved in numerous arrests, according to the OHCHR, although they have no arrest authority. Police, the SNR, the armed forces, and local officials committed human rights abuses, usually with impunity. The constitution provides for equal numbers of Hutu and Tutsi in the military, police, and the SNR to prevent either of these ethnic groups from having disproportionate power that might be used against the other. The integration of police and the SNR did not achieve equilibrium between Hutu and Tutsi members, as a large majority remained Hutu. Police generally were poorly trained, underequipped, underpaid, and unprofessional. Local citizens widely perceived them as corrupt, including demanding bribes and engaging in criminal activity. The Anticorruption Brigade, which reports to the Office of the President, is responsible for investigating police corruption. Approximately 75 percent of police were former rebels. Eighty-five percent of police received minimal entry-level training but had no refresher training in the past five years, while 15 percent received no training. Wages were low, and petty corruption widespread. Police were heavily politicized and responsive to the CNDD-FDD. Police officials complained that militant youth loyal to the CNDD-FDD and President Nkurunziza infiltrated their ranks. Civil society organizations (CSOs) claimed the weaponry carried by some supposed police officers was not in the official arsenal. Some police officers prevented citizens from exercising their civil rights and were implicated in torture, killing, and extrajudicial execution. The government was slow to investigate and prosecute these cases, which resulted in a widespread perception of police impunity and politicization. AI cited the case of a police officer, Desire Uwamahoro, as "an emblematic example" of the ineffective criminal investigations and prosecutions that had allowed impunity to flourish. According to AI's 2016 submission to the UN Committee against Torture, Uwamahoro was convicted of torture in 2010 and sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of 10 million francs ($6,000), but the sentence was never carried out, and he remained a police force member. In October 2015 he was appointed head of a new police unit, the Antiriot Brigade. In October the SNR arrested him on charges related to gold smuggling, and the government replaced him as head of the Antiriot Brigade. The Appeals Court of Bujumbura sentenced him to three months in prison. On March 22, Human Rights Minister Nivyabandi told the Human Rights Council that "today's Burundi is not a land where impunity exists." He cited the incarceration as of that date of 139 police officers and 84 members of the military convicted of various crimes, including assassination, assault, rape, and torture. In August, Minister of Security Alain Guillaume Bunyoni announced the dismissal of 20 police officers for improper conduct. The international community provided instruction at the police academy on human rights, the code of conduct, and community-oriented policing. Due to suspension of cooperation by international donors and the government's suspension of the OHCHR's activities, many, but not all, of these programs were suspended or canceled. Mixed security committees, whose members came from local government, regular security services, and the citizenry, operated in towns and villages throughout the country. Local government authorities designed the committees to play an advisory role for local policymakers and to flag new threats and incidents of criminality for local administration. SOS-Torture and Ligue Iteka alleged the committees allowed the Imbonerakure a strong role in local policing, which permitted the ruling party to harass and intimidate opposition members on the local level. The mixed security committees remained controversial because lines increasingly blurred between Imbonerakure members and police. Imbonerakure members reportedly detained individuals for political or personal reasons. Independent observers generally regarded the BNDF as professional and politically neutral. The BNDF's Office of the Inspector General investigates allegations of military abuse. The country has contributed peacekeepers to the AU Mission in Somalia since 2008 and to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA) in the Central African Republic since 2014. On March 28, the United Nations stated that it had received allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation against MINUSCA peacekeepers from Burundi. On June 3, the United Nations announced that the Burundi police units serving in the Central African Republic would not be replaced at the end of their tour, which ended in July. As of October, 850 BNDF soldiers remained in MINUSCA. The SNR's mandate is to provide both external and internal security. Independent observers asserted that the SNR's ranks grew during the year with the inclusion of youth loyal to the CNDD-FDD. It investigated certain opposition political party leaders and their supporters. Many citizens perceived the SNR as heavily politicized and responsive to the CNDD-FDD. NGOs, including AI and HRW, asserted SNR officials colluded with the Imbonerakure in torture and extrajudicial killings. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Arrests require warrants issued by a presiding magistrate, although police may arrest a person without a warrant by notifying a supervisor in advance. Police have seven days to finish their investigation and transfer suspects to appear before a magistrate but may request a seven-day extension if they require additional investigation time. Police rarely respected these provisions and routinely violated the requirement that detainees be charged and appear before a magistrate within seven days of arrest. A magistrate must either order the release of suspects or confirm the charges and continue detention, initially for 14 days, and for an additional seven days if necessary to prepare the case for trial. Magistrates routinely failed to convene preliminary hearings, often citing their heavy case backlog or improper documentation by police. A UN human rights team that visited SNR facilities in Bujumbura in April reported that 25 of the 67 detainees they saw had been kept in custody beyond the prescribed maximum. Lack of transportation for suspects, police, and magistrates was the most frequently cited reason for the failure to convene preliminary hearings. This was a particular problem in the six provinces without prisons, where lack of transport prevented the transfer of suspects from the site of detention to the provincial court with jurisdiction over the case. Judges have authority to release suspects on bail but rarely used it. They may also release suspects on their personal recognizance and often did so. Suspects may hire lawyers at their own expense in criminal cases, but the law does not require legal representation, and the government did not provide attorneys for those unable to afford one. Prisons have solitary confinement facilities, and detainees were sometimes held in them for long periods. Authorities on occasion denied family members prompt access to detainees, particularly those detainees accused of opposing the government. The law provides for prisoners access to medical care and legal assistance. The SNR denied lawyers access to detainees held at its headquarters in Bujumbura. The ICRC stated that it had "full access" to prisons and detention centers. Several credible organizations, however, concluded that the SNR maintained clandestine holding cells unknown to the ICRC or human rights organizations. The UN Committee against Torture alleged that cases of torture and mistreatment occurred in unofficial detention centers where national and international observers had no access. Arbitrary Arrest: The law provides for a fine of 10,000 francs ($6) and imprisonment of 15 days to one year for arbitrary arrest by security forces. There was no evidence that this law has ever been applied. According to the OHCHR, police, the SNR, and local administrative authorities had arrested 5,209 persons as of October 5; of whom 2,467 were released without charge. Authorities released many within a day or two of their detention. Pretrial Detention: Prolonged pretrial detention remained a serious problem. The law specifies authorities may not hold a person longer than 14 days without charge. As of October, according to the director of prison administration, 50.4 percent of inmates in prisons and detention centers were pretrial detainees. The average time in pretrial detention was one year, according to the Office of Penitentiary Affairs, and authorities held some without charge. Some persons reportedly remained in pretrial detention for nearly five years. In some cases the length of detention equaled or exceeded the sentence for the alleged crime. Inefficiency and corruption among police, prosecutors, and judicial officials contributed to the problem. For example, authorities deprived many persons of their legal right to be released on their personal recognizance, because public prosecutors failed to open case files or files were lost. Others remained incarcerated without proper arrest warrants, either because police failed to complete the initial investigation and transfer the case to the appropriate magistrate or because the magistrate failed to convene the required hearing to rule on the charges. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Persons arrested or detained, regardless of whether on criminal or other grounds, are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention and obtain prompt release if found to have been unlawfully detained. There was no record that any person challenged their arrest on these grounds during the year. Amnesty: During the February visit of the UN Secretary-General, the president reportedly agreed to release up to 2,000 detainees. On February 23, the government granted an amnesty to some prisoners by presidential decree, freeing some who were serving sentences of less than five years and halving the sentences of others. The decree specifically excluded those imprisoned for the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, threatening the internal and external security of the state, voluntary homicide, being a mercenary, cannibalism, and all other crimes committed in association with organized gangs. As a result of a presidential decree, 1,370 prisoners were released from prisons. According to Human Rights Minister Martin Nivyabandi during his remarks to the Human Rights Council on March 22, the amnesty reduced the incarcerated population by one quarter. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial Although the constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, there were instances when authorities subjected members of the judiciary to political influence or bribery to drop investigations and prosecutions, predetermine the outcome of trials, or avoid enforcing court orders. There were allegations the public prosecutor willfully ignored calls to investigate senior figures within the security services and national police. Serious irregularities undermined the fairness and credibility of trials, and the failure to prosecute members of the security forces accused of abuse created an atmosphere of impunity. Trial Procedures The law presumes defendants innocent. Panels of judges conduct all trials publicly. Defendants have the right to prompt and detailed information of the charges and free interpretation from the moment charged through all appeals, if necessary, although these rights were not always respected. Defendants have the right to a fair trial without undue delay and to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense, although this did not always occur. Defendants have a right to counsel but not at the government's expense, even in cases involving serious criminal charges. Few defendants had legal representation because few could afford the services of a lawyer. Some local and international NGOs provided legal assistance to some. Defendants have a right to defend themselves, including questioning prosecution or plaintiff witnesses, calling their own witnesses, and examining evidence against them. Defendants also may present evidence on their own behalf and did so in the majority of cases. Defendants have the right not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt. The law extends the above rights to all citizens. The right to a fair trial was often violated, especially in cases related to the May 2015 failed coup attempt. For example, persons convicted of participating in the failed coup were sentenced by the Supreme Court on January 15. Defense lawyers stated they were not allowed to speak to their clients during the trial or have access to case files before the hearing in eight cases. Seven lawyers were suspended for complaining about the inaccessibility of case files, and the court refused to hear certain witnesses presented by the defendants. The prosecution objected to the perceived leniency of the sentences and appealed the case. On May 9, an appeals court handed down tougher sentences to the defendants. During the appeal, the OHCHR reported that two defendants were denied the assistance of a lawyer, that some witnesses for the defense were not heard by the court, and that the court did not disclose the motivation for its judgment. All defendants, except those in military courts, have the right to appeal their cases to the Supreme Court. The inefficiency of the court system extended the appeals process for long periods, in many cases for more than a year. Procedures for civilian and military courts are similar, but military courts typically reached decisions more quickly. The government does not provide military defendants with attorneys to assist in their defense, although NGOs provided some defendants with attorneys in cases involving serious charges. Military trials generally are open to the public but may be closed for reasons such as national security or when publicity might harm the victim or a third party; for example, cases involving rape or child abuse. Defendants in military courts are entitled to only one appeal. While many of the above rights were violated, no rights were systematically denied to persons from specific groups. Political Prisoners and Detainees The OHCHR estimated there were more than 500 political prisoners or detainees as of year's end. The government denied it held persons for political reasons, citing instead threats made against the state, participation in a rebellion, or inciting insurrection. The director of prison affairs said he could not identify political prisoners, as they were incarcerated on charges just like ordinary criminals. In some cases, however, political prisoners were housed in separate cells. In its September submission to the UN Human Rights Council, AI also reported instances in which political prisoners did not receive access to adequate, timely, medical care. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Individuals and organizations may seek civil remedies for human rights violations and may appeal decisions to an international or regional court. In May 2015, for example, independent journalists contested the 2013 media law in the East African Court of Justice and won their appeal. The decision obliged Burundi's parliament to review the law and make changes to it, which it did. These changes, adopted in May 2015, effectively repealed parts of the 2013 law that provided for specific punishments for journalistic crimes and required journalists to reveal their sources to the government. Property Restitution In the wake of fears and severe economic hardship following the 2015 political crisis, more than 300,000 Burundians fled to neighboring states, primarily Tanzania. Radio Bonesha reported in February that government agents and private citizens seized land that had been owned or otherwise legally occupied by these refugees. The National Commission for the Land and Other Properties (CNTB) was established in 2006 to resolve land ownership conflicts. In March 2015 the president suspended the implementation of all decisions to expropriate taken by the CNTB due to violence associated with land disputes in Makamba Province. He lifted the suspension in January, and the CNTB continued its work to resolve land ownership conflicts. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution and law provide for the right to privacy and require search warrants, but authorities did not always respect these rights. Police, SNR agents, and Imbonerakure members sometimes acting as mixed security committees set up roadblocks and searched vehicles for weapons. They conducted search-and-seizure operations in contested neighborhoods of Bujumbura throughout the year. During these searches security agents seized weapons and household items they claimed could be used to supply an insurgency, including large cooking pots and mosquito nets. Individuals often needed membership in, or perceived loyalty to, a registered political party to obtain or retain employment in the civil service and the benefits that accrued from such positions, such as transportation allowances, free housing, electricity, water, exemption from personal income taxes, and interest-free loans. g. Abuses in Internal Conflict In 2015 protesters opposed to a third term for the president, led by civil society groups and opposition parties, engaged in peaceful protests allegedly infiltrated by armed opposition elements. Police, the SNR, and members of the irregular security forces, including Imbonerakure members, responded with live bullets, water cannons, and tear gas. The use of violence escalated on both sides in 2015 and continued through the year with targeted killings and grenade attacks. The government accused opposition supporters of targeted killings of several senior government officials during the year, including Colonel Darius Ikurakure on March 22, Brigadier General Athanase Kararuza with his wife and daughter on April 25, and East African Community Legislative Assembly member Hafsa Mossi, on July 13. Security forces accused residents in neighborhoods viewed as pro-opposition of throwing grenades at them. In at least two cases, opposition organizations claimed responsibility for grenade attacks against government forces. The population generally feared police, the SNR, and irregular security forces. By year's end, more than 100,000 persons had fled the instability in the country, joining the 230,000 refugees that had fled the country in 2015 in refugee camps or settling elsewhere in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Killings: As of October 5, the OHCHR had documented 157 killings associated with the political unrest during the year. Abductions: Security forces abducted individuals, particularly young men, from neighborhoods perceived as supportive of the opposition. The OHCHR observed that local human rights defenders labeled many arbitrary detentions as abductions. Some abductions, particularly those for which the SNR was responsible, resulted in the death of the person detained. The OHCHR did not have an estimate of the number of persons authorities had abducted. Physical Abuse, Punishment, and Torture: Detained individuals reported mistreatment by police and the SNR after their detention. HRW issued several reports citing hundreds of cases of torture, rape, abductions, and incarceration without charge, in which the victims were noncombatants whom the SNR, police, and Imbonerakure perceived to be disloyal to the Nkurunziza administration. Child Soldiers: According to the OHCHR, the structure of the BNDF prevents the widespread use of child soldiers. Two isolated cases of recruitment by the armed opposition force RED-Tabara were documented. Other Conflict-related Abuses: Some detainees were denied health care or had treatment for injuries and illnesses interrupted. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press but ban "defamatory" speech about the president and other officials, material deemed to endanger national security, and racial or ethnic hate speech. Restrictions on freedom of speech and press increased significantly following dissent against the president's 2015 announcement that he would seek a third term in office and government accusations of media complicity in the 2015 failed coup. Forces allied to the CNDD-FDD repressed media perceived as sympathetic to the opposition, including print and radio journalists, through harassment, intimidation, and violence. Freedom of Speech and Expression: The law protects public servants and the president against "words, gestures, threats, or writing of any kind" that is "abusive or defamatory" or would "impair the dignity of or respect for their office." The law also prohibits racially or ethnically motivated hate speech. The law mandates a penalty of six months to five years in prison and a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 francs ($6 to $30) for insulting the head of state. Some journalists, lawyers, NGO personnel, and leaders of political parties and civil society alleged the government used the law to intimidate and harass them (see section 3). Press and Media Freedoms: Government-owned and operated Le Renouveau, the only daily newspaper, and Burundi National Television and Radio (RTNB), the sole television and radio station with national coverage, were among the few outlets that were allowed to operate without interruption during the year. The country's last independent newspaper, the French-language Iwacu, whose editor in chief fled the country in 2015, saw one of its journalists disappear in July. Iwacu was allowed to stay open and continued to report information critical of the government. Three radio stations forcibly closed in the aftermath of the May 2015 failed coup remained closed. The law prohibits political parties, labor unions, and foreign NGOs from owning media outlets. In 2013 the government passed a media law that required journalists to reveal sources in some circumstances and prohibited the publication of articles deemed to undermine national security. Penalties for failing to observe the law were severe. In 2014 parliament revised the law following journalists' successful appeal to the East African Court of Justice. The court's decision caused parliament to remove from media law some of its more draconian elements. Following the failed coup of May 2015, the government invoked the law to intimidate and detain journalists. Reporters who were able to continue working complained that government agents harassed and threatened media that criticized the government and the CNDD-FDD. Journalists had difficulty corroborating stories, as local sources were intimidated. Violence and Harassment: Several media outlets alleged they received explicit threats that they would be closed if they published or broadcast unflattering stories about the government. The government detained or summoned for questioning several local and international journalists investigating subjects such as human rights violations, corruption, or the movement opposing a third term for the incumbent president. Journalists experienced violence and harassment. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 100 journalists had fled the country since the April 2015 protests and the May 2015 failed coup attempt and remained abroad at year's end. In April 2015 the RTNB cut access to its broadcasting towers by radio stations it accused of supporting antigovernment protests, effectively preventing the interior of the country from receiving radio broadcasts overtly critical of the government's actions. In May 2015 supporters of the failed coup attempt burned the offices and destroyed the equipment of the progovernment station, Radio REMA FM. The next day unidentified persons attacked the offices and destroyed the equipment of four radio stations Radio Television Renaissance, Radio Isanganiro, Bonesha FM, and Radio Publique Africaine accused by the government of broadcasting messages inciting persons to support the coup. Radio REMA FM reopened in October 2015. Radio Isanganiro was allowed to reopen in March following an agreement with the government. No prosecutions for the destruction of the stations had occurred by year's end. On January 4, the Ministry of Public Security issued a press release criticizing the reporting of a Radio France Internationale journalist. The release concluded, "The authorized government services will take the necessary measures to deal with this journalist's disruptive activities," a phrase that Reporters without Borders described as a "barely veiled threat." As widely reported in media, on January 28, security forces detained two international journalists on assignment for Le Monde on suspicion of fraternizing with an armed opposition group. After 24 hours in custody, they were released without any formal charges being brought. According to Reporters without Borders, Bonesha FM journalist Boaz Ntaconayigize fled to Uganda after receiving death threats and being attacked and badly injured by four men wielding knives on July 3. Ntaconayigize had reportedly investigated reports that SNR agents were infiltrating the Burundian refugee community in Uganda. He alleged he recognized two of his assailants as Burundians posing as refugees. According to Radio Bonesha, another of its journalists, Leon Ntakiyiruta, was attacked on August 8 in Kampala, Uganda, by two men wielding machetes; his attackers fled when a passerby intervened. On July 22, Iwacu reporter Jean Bigirimana was abducted by unknown men. Police and the SNR denied that he was in their custody. Presidential spokesperson Willy Nyamitwe stated that the government was investigating the disappearance and tweeted that the opposition might be behind Bigirimana's disappearance. Reporters without Borders and local media outlets estimated that, by year's end, 75 to 80 percent of the independent journalists who were working in early 2015 had fled the country due to growing threats from progovernment groups. Censorship or Content Restrictions: The government censored media and penalized outlets that violated its standards of acceptable content. Broadly interpreted laws against libel, hate speech, endangering state security, and treason also fostered self-censorship, including by journalists working for the national broadcaster. Those who did not self-censor reportedly faced "reassignment" to jobs where they did not have access to the public or were fired. The National Communications Council (CNC) regulates both print and broadcast media, controls the accreditation of journalists, and enforces compliance with media laws. The president appoints all 15 members, who were mainly government representatives and journalists from the state broadcaster. According to Freedom House, observers regarded the CNC as a tool of the executive branch, as it regularly issued politicized rulings and sanctions against journalists and outlets. On October 25, the CNC suspended the radio program KARADIRIDIMBA on Radio Isanganiro for one month after the program aired a song about human rights abuses in Burundi. The CNC determined the airing of the song violated the agreement Radio Isanganiro signed which prohibited certain topics from being broadcast. Libel/Slander Laws: Libel laws prohibit the public distribution of information that exposes a person to "public contempt" and carry penalties of prison terms and fines. The crime of treason, which includes knowingly demoralizing the military or the country in a manner that endangers national defense during a time of war, carries a criminal penalty of life imprisonment. It is a crime for anyone knowingly to disseminate or publicize rumors likely to alarm or excite the public against the government or to promote civil war. It is illegal for anyone to display drawings, posters, photographs, or other items that may "disturb the public peace." Penalties range from two months' to three years' imprisonment and fines. Some journalists, lawyers, and leaders of political parties, civil society groups, and NGOs alleged the government used these laws to intimidate and harass them. In 2014 opposition politician Leonce Ngendakumana sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General to alert him to concerns about violence during Burundi's election cycle that year. Ngendakumana's letter warned that the ruling party might be preparing a "political genocide." Authorities charged Ngendakumana with "false accusations and inciting ethnic strife." He was acquitted on appeal during the year. Nongovernmental Impact: Many members of the governing party's youth militia, Imbonerakure, collaborated closely with government security forces. In some cases they were official members of mixed security councils, which comprise police, local administration officials, and civilians. Journalists and human rights defenders accused Imbonerakure of acting as irregular security forces, using government resources to follow, threaten, and attack individuals they perceived as opposition supporters. Actions to Expand Press Freedom: In February the government announced it would allow two radio stations to resume broadcasting after their closure and destruction in 2015. As a condition to reopening, REMA FM (which supported the ruling party) and Radio Isanganiro (which was critical of the ruling party) were obliged to sign an agreement stating they would be "balanced and objective" and not threaten the country's security. Internet Freedom According to the International Telecommunication Union, only 5 percent of individuals used the internet. In the absence of independent radio, some citizens relied heavily on the social media platforms WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook on both internet and mobile telephone networks to get information about current events. The government blocked the use of two or three social media applications on mobile networks for several days following the May 2015 failed coup. There were no verifiable reports the government monitored e-mail or internet chat rooms. Several radio stations that were closed after the failed coup continued to publish radio segments and articles online. On August 20, police arrested 54 persons attending a private event in a downtown Bujumbura bar. Relatives of the detainees claimed they were arrested for exchanging messages critical of the government on the WhatsApp messaging platform. On August 21, most detainees were released, but eight remained in custody and were later prosecuted for defamation. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events On July 23, independent Radio Bonesha reported that Jerome Nzokirantevye, the head of the national radio and television company, the RTNB, had forbidden the playing of all Rwandan music including religious music. Nzokirantevye denied the report, stating he had only directed the station to "favor Burundian music." b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly, but the government severely restricted this right (see section 1.d.). The law requires political parties and large groups to notify the government with details at least four days prior to a meeting, but even when notified, authorities in most cases denied permission for opposition members to meet and dispersed meetings already underway. Many opposition political parties said their decision to boycott the 2015 elections was a response to consistent denials of permission by authorities to hold campaign rallies. Freedom of assembly was further restricted following the failed coup attempt in May 2015, and these restrictions remained in place at year's end. Freedom of Association The constitution provides for freedom of association within the confines of the law, but the government severely restricted this right. The law requires registration of CSOs with the Ministry of Interior, a complex process with unclear criteria. There is no recourse when authorities deny registration. Registration must be renewed annually. On October 19, the government permanently banned five CSOs, led by those opposed to the president's run for a third term. On December 22, in the wake of an internet video accusing the president of planning genocide, the government permanently banned Ligue Iteka, the country's oldest human rights organization, for being "recidivist in its actions to tarnish the image of the country and sow hate and division among the Burundian population." The government allowed 14 previously suspended organizations to restart activities after investigating their involvement in the 2015 protests and subsequent violence. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, but the government severely restricted these rights. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. In-country Movement: According to several news sources, the government enforced the use of "cahiers de menage," booklets that listed the residents and domestic workers of each household in some neighborhoods of the capital. Police arrested persons during neighborhood searches in numerous instances for not being registered in household booklets. Persons who attempted to cross the border to flee violence and reach refugee camps were sometimes stopped by police, the SNR, or Imbonerakure members at border crossings and turned back. Other persons feared being arrested if they attempted to cross and remained in hiding inside the country as internally displaced persons (IDPs). The government strongly encouraged citizens to participate in community-level work projects every Saturday morning and imposed travel restrictions on citizens from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Authorities required permits for movement outside of one's community during those hours, and police enforced the restrictions through roadblocks. Persons could obtain waivers in advance. Foreign residents were exempt. Foreign Travel: Many middle and upper class citizens fled the country during the political unrest. The price of passports fluctuated from 50,000 francs to 235,000 francs ($30 to $142). In 2015 the opposition group known as CNARED (Council for the Observance of the Constitution, Human Rights, and the Arusha Peace Accord) accused the government of using Interpol to harass its members. The government confirmed that it had sent a list of "putchists" and others implicated in violence to Interpol because they were being pursued by Burundian police. Authorities required exit visas for foreign nationals who held nonofficial passports; these visas cost 48,000 francs ($29) per month to maintain. Exile: The law does not provide for forced exile, and the government did not practice it. Many political opposition members, civil society leaders, and journalists have reportedly gone into voluntary exile to escape threats and violence. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) The International Organization for Migration (IOM) counted approximately 60,000 IDPs displaced as of September, concentrated mainly in Rumonge and Makamba provinces. These IDPs were in addition to a preexisting population of IDPs in the country. Some IDPs reported feeling threatened because of their perceived political sympathies. Some IDPs attempted to return to their homes, but the majority returned to the IDP sites or relocated to urban centers. The government generally permitted IDPs to be included in programs provided by UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations, such as shelter and legal assistance programs. During the political unrest that began in late April 2015, many citizens sent family members out of neighborhoods in Bujumbura that were the scenes of violent clashes. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has a system for providing protection to refugees. As of October, approximately 55,000 Congolese refugees remained in the country, prevented from returning to the DRC by continuing violence there. Efforts to resettle Congolese refugees in third countries, begun in 2015, continued. Employment: Refugees have the right to work except in the army, police, judiciary, or any political position. Access to Basic Services: Refugees residing in camps administered by the government and the United Nations and its partners received basic services. The large percentage of refugees residing in urban areas also accessed services, such as education and health care. Stateless Persons Citizenship generally derives from the citizenship of parents. According to UNHCR, an estimated 1,500 stateless persons lived in the country at the end of 2015. The National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons stated that, at year's end, these numbers remained unchanged. All were from Oman, were awaiting proof of citizenship from the government of Oman, and had lived in Burundi for decades. The government offered the stateless Omanis citizenship if they could not get Omani citizenship. There was no evidence that stateless persons experienced discrimination. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. The country held legislative, communal, and presidential elections during 2015, but the international community and independent domestic organizations widely condemned the process as deeply flawed. Several progovernment CSOs observed and validated the elections. The UN Electoral Mission in Burundi was the sole international observer of the voting; the AU and the EU declined to participate in the process. Intimidation, threats, and bureaucratic hurdles colored the campaigning and voting period, resulting in low voter turnout and a boycott by most opposition parties. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: During 2015 the government held four separate elections, including for communal councils and the National Assembly (June), president (July), the Senate (July), and village councils (August). Citing their inability to campaign fairly and freely, most major opposition parties called on their adherents to boycott the elections. The CNDD-FDD won absolute majorities in the National Assembly and Senate. The EU's election observation mission departed in May 2015 after judging that sufficient conditions for credible elections were not met. The AU also declined to send observers. According to the International Crisis Group, the National Independent Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Interior created bureaucratic obstacles to opposition parties, including failing to recognize party leadership, refusing to permit legal party meetings, and favoring CNDD-FDD loyalists for positions on provincial and communal election committees. Political Parties and Political Participation: According to the law, to qualify for public campaign funding and compete in the legislative and presidential elections, parties needed to be "nationally based" (ethnically and regionally diverse) and demonstrate in writing they were organized and had membership in all provinces. The Ministry of Interior recognized 38 political parties. Two other parties FNL (Forces for National Liberation)-Rwasa and UPRONA-Nditije were officially unrecognized. Other parties, such as MSD and Union for Peace and Development, were recognized by the Ministry of Interior but were nevertheless unable to operate due to the government's intimidation and suppression. Ministry of Interior interference in opposition party leadership and management kept opposition political parties weak and fractured. The government stated the law allows only legally constituted political parties, coalitions of political parties, and independent candidates to run for office and that unrecognized leaders of parties and political actors not associated with a party could play no role in the political process. This stance effectively disenfranchised parties not recognized by the government and prevented their leaders from developing platforms and running campaigns in the months before the 2015 elections. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit the participation of women and members of minorities in the political process, and women and minorities did participate. The constitution provides for 30 percent of seats in government for women, and government institutions hired persons after the elections to meet gender, as well as ethnic, quota requirements. Women were not well represented in political parties and held very few leadership positions. The constitution provides for representation in all elected and appointed government positions for the two largest ethnic groups. The Hutu majority is entitled to no more than 60 percent of government positions and the Tutsi minority to no less than 40 percent. The law designates three seats in each chamber of parliament for the Twa ethnic group, which makes up approximately 1 percent of the population. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, but corruption remained a very serious problem. The government did not fully implement the law, and some high-level government officials engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. There were numerous reports of government corruption during the year. Although the 2005 constitution provides for the creation of a High Court of Justice to review accusations of corruption against high-ranking defendants, including the president, the two vice presidents, ministers, the speakers of parliament, members of parliament, and judges, the government had not established the court by year's end. The anticorruption law applies to all other citizens, but no high-ranking person has stood trial for corruption. Corruption: The public widely viewed police to be corrupt, and petty corruption involving police was commonplace. There were also allegations of corruption related to lack of transparency of budget revenue related to gasoline importation. A discrepancy between estimated revenues based on the amount of fuel consumed in the country and the amount of revenue reported in the government budget suggested that approximately 49 billion francs ($29.7 million) in revenue was not accounted for. Lower world oil prices drove up the discrepancy. The Tax and Customs Revenue Authority (OBR) has an internal antifraud unit, but observers have accused OBR officials of fraud. The state inspector general and the Anticorruption Brigade of the Ministry of Good Governance and Privatization were responsible for investigating government corruption. There is also a designated anticorruption general prosecutor and an anticorruption court. The Anticorruption Brigade has the authority to investigate, arrest, and refer offenders to the anticorruption general prosecutor. In view of the lengthy backlog of cases in the anticorruption court and the difficulty of obtaining convictions, the Anticorruption Brigade often resorted to enforcing the law through out-of-court settlements in which the government agreed not to prosecute if the offending official agreed to reimburse the money stolen. The government also exercised its power to freeze and seize property and bank assets of officials to compel reimbursement, although in most cases authorities permitted officials convicted of corruption to retain their positions. Financial Disclosure: The law requires financial disclosure by elected officials and senior appointed officials once every five years, but it does not require public disclosure. The Supreme Court receives the financial disclosures. By law the president, two vice presidents, and cabinet ministers are obligated to disclose assets upon taking office, but the nonpublic nature of the disclosure means this provision could not be confirmed. No other officials are required to disclose assets. Public Access to Information: The law does not provide for public access to government information. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights Domestic and international human rights groups struggled to operate without government restriction. Many human rights defenders who had fled the country in 2015 remained outside the country at year's end. In October the government banned five CSOs led by opponents to the president's third term and, in December, banned the country's oldest human rights organization, League Iteka. During the year the government allowed 14 organizations suspended for their involvement in the 2015 protests to resume operations after an investigation (see section 2.b.). Many suspended organizations continued to function and post newsletters online, often from abroad. During the year progovernment local NGOs grew stronger and more vocal. They tailored their messages to weaken the effectiveness of antigovernment NGOs and opposition organizations. The progovernment Collective of Associations of People Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS and the Integrated Platform for Civil Society issued a statement in October praising the permanent ban of five NGOs. The United Nations or Other International Bodies: On February 27, the AU announced it would send 100 human rights monitors and 100 military monitors to the country and stated that the president supported the deployment. As of year's end, however, procedural issues related to the possible deployment had not been resolved. On June 28, a government delegation led by Justice Minister Aimee Laurentine Kanyana attended the first part of a UN Committee against Torture review to address concerns including torture, extrajudicial executions, disappearances, and rape. The minister dismissed the review as not credible. The country's delegation issued a statement saying the government needed time to investigate the reports and did not attend the second day of the review. On July 29, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2303 expressing grave concern over human rights violations and welcomed the government's professed cooperation in the deployment of UN and AU human rights monitors. The resolution also authorized a force of up to 228 UN police to be deployed throughout the country. On August 2, the government issued a communique signed by government spokesperson Philippe Nzobonariba stating that the government rejected the deployment of 228 police and that "the government agreed to the deployment of a team of 20 to 50 unarmed police to build the capacity of the Burundian police in the fight against terrorism." The communique asserted that security forces were not necessary because the country's defense and security forces fully controlled the situation within the national territory. The communique stated the government was ready to welcome the 200 observers and experts from the AU, as agreed in October 2015. The government organized nonviolent protests against France, the sponsor of the resolution. According to the AU, fewer than 50 monitors had been granted permission to enter the country as of year's end, and the monitors were limited in what they could do because the government had yet to agree on a memorandum of understanding for the monitors. In September, UNIIB published a report on the human rights situation in the country. The government challenged many of the UNIIB's allegations in a report published later that month. The Senate, National Assembly, and minister of human rights also rejected the report's findings, and the government organized countrywide protests against both the report and the United Nations. In October the government declared the authors of the report officially unwelcome in the country and suspended the activities of OHCHR Burundi. On April 26, the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched a preliminary examination to investigate reports of killing, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and enforced disappearances. In October the government passed a law withdrawing the country from the ICC, the first country to do so. Government Human Rights Bodies: The Prosecutor General's Office set up a commission of inquiry to "shed light on the deaths of 11 and 12 December 2015 and on the allegations of mass graves." The commission's findings, announced on March 10, that "no mass graves had been found in the locations cited by certain NGOs." The prosecutor general stated the investigation had found on February 29 a previously unreported common grave dug for the victims of (see section 1.a.). On March 4, the president officially launched the operational phase of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC has a mandate to document events from Burundi's 1962 independence to 2008, when the last opposition combatant group (the FNL) laid down its arms. Impunity Watch, an international NGO, asserted in a March report that conditions for the TRC's operation were not conducive "in the current climate of fear and intimidation, lack of genuine free speech, and a ruling party that maintains a tight grip on power." Based on interviews with 60 persons and a series of focus group discussions in 2015 and 2016 in four provinces, Impunity Watch reported that citizens believed the investigations would lead to criminal prosecutions and payment of compensation, which is not within the TRC mandate. Many expressed fear of retribution if they described events. The Forum for the Reinforcement of Civil Society, a local NGO banned by the government in October, criticized the composition of the TRC, asserting its members were too close to the ruling party to be impartial. The TRC president, Jean-Louis Maimane, responded publicly, "One can belong to a political group and yet still be honest." A lack of funding adversely affected the TRC's ability to operate. As of October, the 150 investigators called for by the end of March had not been recruited, and international donors had not provided adequate funding to finance a pilot project intended to monitor progress and provide feedback to donors and the TRC. Ombudsman Mohamed Rukara, whose functions included monitoring prison conditions and encouraging interreligious dialogue, was out of the country for the first half of the year. He left the country abruptly in September 2015 after speaking out against the president seeking a third term, returning to Burundi in July. The National Assembly replaced Rukara with Edouard Nduwimana in November when the previous ombudsman's mandate expired. The CNIDH, a quasi-governmental body charged with investigating human rights abuses, exercised its power to summon senior officials, demand information, and order corrective action. The CNIDH was generally independent, but its effectiveness was limited in part by inadequate resources. The CNIDH, which also monitored the government's progress on human rights investigations, did not always release its findings to the public. Human rights committees in the National Assembly and the Senate worked on a range of issues, including human rights and antitrafficking legislation. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law prohibits rape, including spousal rape, with penalties of up to 30 years' imprisonment. The law prohibits domestic abuse of a spouse, with punishment ranging from fines to three to five years' imprisonment. The government did not enforce the law uniformly, and rape and other domestic and sexual violence continued to be serious problems. On September 22, the government adopted a law that provides for the creation of a special gender-based crimes court, makes gender-based violence crimes unpardonable, and provides stricter punishment for police officers and judges who conceal violent crimes against women and girls. As of year's end, the special court had not been created and no police or judges had been prosecuted under the new law. Seruka Center, an organization working in Bujumbura to help victims of sexual violence, received 1,288 reported cases of sexual assault during the year. Victims stated that men in uniform committed 20 of the assaults and armed men committed 58. Seruka Center noted that the number of rapes was likely higher, but distance from Bujumbura, personal and cultural impediments, and a general climate of insecurity prevented many women and girls from seeking medical care. The Brigade for the Protection of Women and Children in the Burundian National Police is responsible for investigating cases of sexual violence and rape, as well as trafficking of girls and women. The government, with financial support from international NGOs and the United Nations, continued civic awareness training throughout the country on domestic and gender-based violence and on the role of police assistance. Those trained included police, local administrators, and grassroots community organizers. The government-operated Humura Center in Gitega provided a full range of services, including legal, medical, and psychosocial services, to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. During the year the center received 160 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The IOM and UNHCR reported that, in two camps in Tanzania that were home to more than 100,000 refugees, seven women reported surviving SGBV in Burundi, while 19 reported attacks during their flight from the country. Credible observers stated many women were reluctant to report rape, in part due to fear of reprisal. Husbands often abandoned wives who had been raped, and survivors experienced ostracism by their families and communities. In some cases police and magistrates reportedly required rape victims to provide food for and pay the costs of pretrial incarceration of those they accused of rape. CSOs worked to overcome the cultural stigma of rape to help victims reintegrate into families that rejected them. The organizations also encouraged rape victims to press charges and seek medical care. Seruka Center and Nturengaho Center provided shelter and counseling to victims of rape and domestic violence. Several international NGOs provided free medical care, mostly in urban areas. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment, including the use of threats of physical violence or psychological pressure to obtain sexual favors. Punishment for sexual harassment may range from a fine to a prison sentence of one month to two years. The sentence for sexual harassment doubles if the victim is younger than 18. The government did not actively enforce the law. There were reports of sexual harassment but no data on its frequency or extent. Reproductive Rights: The government recognized the right of couples and individuals to decide freely the number, spacing, and timing of their children, manage their reproductive health, and have access to the information and means to do so free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. Husbands often made the final decisions about family planning. Health clinics and local health NGOs disseminated information on family planning freely under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Health. The government provided free childbirth services and most women used nurses or midwives during childbirth and for prenatal and postnatal care, unless the mother or child suffered serious health complications. According to the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey, skilled attendants were present at 60 percent of births, but lack of access to the limited number of doctors, especially outside the capital, remained a problem. According to the World Bank, the 2015 maternal mortality rate was 712 per 100,000 live births. The main factors influencing maternal mortality were inadequate medical care and low use of family planning services. There were no restrictions on access to contraceptives, and the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS reported the contraceptive prevalence rate was 37 percent, part of a steady increase in the rate since 2006. According to a 2014 survey by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, many sexually active young people did not use contraceptives for a variety of reasons, including wanting more children, worries about side effects, religious beliefs, disapproval of a partner, a lack of knowledge about contraceptives, or unavailability of contraceptives. Men and women had equal access to diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Discrimination: The law provides for equal status for women and men, including under family, labor, property, nationality, and inheritance laws. While 30 percent of elected positions are reserved for women under the constitution, women faced barriers to effective participation, including the low number of women in party leadership positions, financial and time constraints, and lower average levels of education. Women continued to face legal, economic, and societal discrimination, including with regard to inheritance and marital property laws. The Ministry of National Solidarity, Human Rights, and Gender is responsible for combating discrimination against women. By law women must receive the same pay as men for the same work, but they did not (see section 7.d.). Some employers suspended the salaries of women on maternity leave, and others refused medical coverage to married female employees. Women were less likely to hold mid- or high-level positions in the workforce, although some owned businesses, particularly in Bujumbura. Children Birth Registration: The constitution states that citizenship derives from the parents. The government registers, without charge, the births of all children if registered within a few days of birth. The government fines parents who do not register a birth within the time limit. An unregistered child may not have access to some public services, such as free public schooling and medical care for children under the age of five. Education: Education is free, compulsory, and universal through the secondary level, but students are responsible for paying for books and uniforms. Throughout the country, provincial officials charged parents fees for schooling. Child Abuse: The law prohibits violence against or abuse of children, with punishment ranging from fines to three to five years' imprisonment, but child abuse was a widespread problem. The penalty for rape of a minor is 10 to 30 years' imprisonment. The UN Development Fund for Women reported that in many instances rapists wrongly believed the rape of minors would prevent or cure sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. The traditional practice of removing a newborn child's uvula (the flesh that hangs down at the rear of the mouth) continued to cause numerous infections and deaths of infants. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal age for marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. No statistics were available on the rate of early marriage. Forced marriages are illegal and were rare, although they reportedly occurred in southern, more heavily Muslim, areas. The Ministry of Interior continued an effort to convince imams not to officiate over illegal marriages. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The minimum age for consensual sex is 18. The penalty for commercial sexual exploitation of children is five to 10 years in prison and a fine of between 20,000 and 50,000 francs ($12 and $30). The law punishes child pornography by fines and three to five years in prison. There were no prosecutions during the year. While there does not appear to be large-scale child prostitution, older women reportedly offered vulnerable girls room and board in their homes under the guise of benevolence and in some cases forced them into prostitution to pay for living expenses. Brothels were located in poorer areas of Bujumbura, along the lake, and on trucking routes. Extended family members sometimes also financially profited from the prostitution of young relatives residing with them. Businesses recruited local girls for prostitution in Bujumbura and nearby countries. Women and girls were trafficked to countries in the Middle East, sometimes using falsified documents, putting them at high risk of exploitation. Following international media reports, the government investigated, and seven persons were arrested in June. Media reports accused approximately one dozen companies in Middle Eastern countries, Kenya, and Burundi of being involved in the trafficking scheme. Displaced Children: Thousands of children lived on the streets throughout the country, some of them HIV/AIDS orphans. The government provided street children with minimal educational support and relied on NGOs for basic services, such as medical care and economic support. Family poverty and parents' inability to provide for them was a major factor causing children to leave home. The number of children living on the streets in Bujumbura reportedly increased as a result of increasing poverty, but no study has been conducted to verify this claim. UNICEF reported that children living on the streets faced brutality and theft by police and judged that police were more violent toward them during the 2015 political unrest than previously. Starting in June a government campaign to "clean the streets" resulted in the detention of hundreds of persons living or working on the streets, including more than 130 children. According to UNICEF, after being arrested the children were detained in adult prisons before being released. UNHCR and the IOM reported that as many as 6,000 Burundian children arrived in refugee camps in neighboring countries without their parents between March and October. Some children arrived in camps in Rwanda, and their parents went to camps in Tanzania, and vice versa. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism No estimate was available on the size of the Jewish community. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The constitution prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, mental, sensory, or intellectual disabilities. The government, nevertheless, did not promote or protect the rights of persons with disabilities with regard to employment, education, or access to health care (see section 7.d.). Although persons with disabilities are eligible for free health care through social programs targeting vulnerable groups, authorities did not widely publicize or provide benefits. Employers often required job applicants to present a health certificate from the Ministry of Public Health stating they did not have a contagious disease and were fit to work, a practice that sometimes resulted in discrimination against persons with disabilities. The Ministry of National Solidarity, Human Rights, and Gender coordinates assistance and protects the rights of persons with disabilities. The government has not enacted legislation or otherwise mandated access to buildings, information, or government services for persons with disabilities. The government supported a center for physical therapy in Gitega and a center for social and professional inclusion in Ngozi for persons with physical disabilities. Indigenous People The Twa, the original hunter-gatherer inhabitants of the country, numbered approximately 80,000, or approximately 1 percent of the population, according to the OHCHR. They generally remained economically, politically, and socially marginalized. Lack of education, employment, and access to land were among their major problems. By law local administrations must provide free schoolbooks and health care for all Twa children. Local administrations largely fulfilled these requirements. The constitution provides for three appointed seats for Twa in each of the houses of parliament, and Twa parliamentarians (including one woman) took their seats in August 2015. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The law criminalizes same-sex sexual acts with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment of three months to two years. According to Burundi Africa Generation News, on November 2, the High Court of Cibitoke Province sentenced a 15-year-old boy who admitted to the rape of a seven-year-old boy to one year in prison. The adolescent was charged with rape of a minor and homosexuality. There were no other reports of prosecution for homosexuality during the year. The Remuruka Center in Bujumbura offered urgent services to the LGBTI community. The government neither supported nor hindered the activities of local LGBTI organizations or the center. Other Societal Violence or Discrimination Criminals sometimes murdered persons with albinism, particularly children, for their body parts, used for ritual purposes. Most perpetrators were reportedly citizens of other countries who came to kill and then departed the country with the body parts, impeding government efforts to arrest them. According to the Albino Women's Hope Association chairperson, society did not accept persons with albinism and they were often unemployed and isolated. Women with albinism often were "chased out by their families because they are considered as evil beings." Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions. A union must have at least 50 members. Most civil servants may unionize, but they must register with the Ministry of Civil Service, Labor, and Social Security, which has the authority to deny registration. Police, the armed forces, magistrates, and foreigners working in the public sector may not form or join unions. Workers under the age of 18 must have the consent of their parents or guardians to join a union. The law provides workers with a conditional right to strike after meeting strict conditions. It bans solidarity strikes. The parties must exhaust all other means of resolution (dialogue, conciliation, and arbitration) prior to a strike. Intending strikers must give six days' notice to the employer and the Labor Ministry, and negotiations mediated by a mutually agreed party or by the government must continue during the action. The ministry must determine whether the sides have met strike conditions, giving it, in effect, veto power over strikes. The law permits requisition of essential employees in the event of strike action. The law prohibits retribution against workers participating in a legal strike. The law recognizes the right to collective bargaining, excluding measures regarding public sector wages, which are set according to fixed scales following consultation with unions. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination. The law does not specifically provide for reinstatement of workers dismissed for union activity. The government did not effectively enforce applicable laws. Resources for inspection and remediation were inadequate, and penalties which ranged from 5,000 to 20,000 francs ($3 to $12) were insufficient to deter violations. Administrative and judicial procedures were subject to lengthy delays and appeals. The government placed excessive restrictions on freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining and sometimes interfered in union activities. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported police arrested the president of the Burundi Confederation of Unions, Tharcisse Gahungu, and three other union officials who were discussing unionization with tea growers on December 28. AFP reported that a letter from the Burundi Tea Company urged the minister of public security to prevent the planned unionization meeting. Ombudsman Edouard Nduwimana successfully intervened to have Gahungu released two days later without charge. Most unions were public-employee unions, and virtually no private-sector workers were unionized. Since most salaried workers were civil servants, government entities were involved in almost every phase of labor negotiations. The principal trade union centers represented labor interests in collective bargaining negotiations, in cooperation with individual labor unions. The minister of labor has the authority to designate the most representative trade union in each sector. Most laborers worked in the unregulated informal economy and were not protected by other than minimum wage labor laws. According to the Confederation of Burundian Labor Unions, virtually no informal sector workers had written employment contracts. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits most forms of forced or compulsory labor, including by children. The government did not effectively enforce applicable laws. Resources for inspections and remediation were inadequate, and the penal code did not specify penalties. Workplace inspectors had authority to impose fines at their own discretion. Children and young adults were coerced into forced labor on plantations or small farms in the south, small-scale menial labor in gold mines in Cibitoke, carrying river stones for construction in Bujumbura, or engaging in informal commerce in the streets of larger cities (see section 7.c.). The government encouraged citizens to participate in community work each Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Governors of various provinces sporadically fined residents who failed to participate. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The law states that enterprises may not employ children younger than 16, with exceptions permitted by the Labor Ministry. These exceptions include light work or apprenticeships that do not damage children's health, interfere with their normal development, or prejudice their schooling. The minister of labor permitted children who are 12 years old and above to be employed in "light labor," such as selling newspapers, herding cattle, or preparing food. The legal minimum age for most types of "nondangerous" labor varies between 16 and 18. The law prohibits children from working at night and limits them to 40 hours' work per week. The law makes no distinction between the formal and informal sectors. The Ministry of Labor is responsible for the enforcement of laws on child labor and had many instruments for this purpose, including criminal sanctions, fines, and court orders. The ministry, however, did not effectively enforce the law, primarily due to a dearth of inspectors and inadequate resources, such as insufficient fuel for vehicles. As a result, the ministry enforced the law only when a complaint was filed. In cases of violations, fines ranged from 5,000 to 20,000 francs ($3 to $12) which was not sufficient to deter violations. During the year authorities did not report any cases of child labor in the formal sector, nor did they conduct surveys on child labor in the informal sector. Given the prevalence of extreme poverty in a majority of households, child labor was an economic necessity for many families. In rural areas, children under 16 years of age were regularly employed in heavy manual labor during the day, including during the school year, especially in agriculture. Children working in agriculture could be forced to carry heavy loads and use machines and tools that could be dangerous. They also herded cattle and goats, which exposed them to harsh weather conditions and forced them to work with large or dangerous animals. Many children worked in the informal sector, such as in family businesses, selling in the streets, and working in small local brickworks. In urban areas, child domestic servants were often isolated from the public. Some were only housed and fed instead of given pay for their work. Some employers who did not pay the salaries of children they employed as domestic servants accused them of stealing, and children were sometimes imprisoned on false charges. Child domestic workers could be forced to work long hours; some employers exploited them sexually. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The constitution recognizes workers' right to decent work and equal pay for equal work. The constitution does not specifically prohibit discrimination against a particular group but rather provides for equal rights. Authorities reported no violations concerning discrimination. Much of the country's economic activity took place in the informal sector, where protection was generally not provided. Penalties ranged from 5,000 to 20,000 francs ($3 to $12) and were not sufficient to deter violations. Some persons claimed that membership in the ruling party was a prerequisite to formal employment in the public and private sectors. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work In Bujumbura, the informal minimum wage for unskilled workers was 3,000 francs ($1.82) per day. In rural areas, the daily minimum wage was 1,000 francs ($0.61), plus lunch. According to the government, 62 percent of the population lived below the poverty line, defined by the World Bank as the equivalent of $0.50 per day in urban areas and $0.38 per day in rural areas. More than 90 percent of the working population worked in the informal economy. Wages in the informal sector were on average 2,500 to 3,000 francs per day ($1.52 to $1.82) in Bujumbura and from 1,000 to 1,500 francs per day (from $0.61 to $0.91) in the rest of the country. The labor code limited working hours to eight hours per day and 40 hours per week, but there are many exceptions, including national security, guarding residential areas, and road transport. A surcharge of 35 percent for the first two hours and 60 percent thereafter must be paid for overtime. Workers are supposed to receive 200 percent of their base salary for working weekends and holidays. There is no legislation on mandatory overtime. Breaks include 30 minutes for lunch as a generally observed practice, but there is no legal obligation. Foreign or migrant workers are subject to the same conditions as Burundians. The labor code establishes occupational safety and health standards for the workplace. Many buildings under construction in Bujumbura, however, had workforces without proper protective equipment, such as closed-toe shoes, and scaffolding built of wooden poles of irregular length and width. The Labor Inspectorate at the Ministry of Labor is responsible for enforcing the laws on minimum wages and working hours as well as safety standards and worker health regulations. In cases of violations, fines ranged from 5,000 to 20,000 francs ($3 to $12). The government has not provided for the effective implementation of these laws and regulations. Despite the fact that workplaces rarely met safety standards or protected the health of workers sufficiently, there were no cases of employers reported for violating safety standards or complaint reports filed with the Labor Inspectorate during the year. There were no data on deaths in the workplace. Workers were allowed to leave the work site in case of imminent danger without fear of sanctions. According to the Ministry of Labor, employees reportedly did not complain because they did not want to lose their jobs or because they did not know their rights. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Botswana Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Botswana, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a6713.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Botswana has been a constitutional, multiparty republican democracy since independence in 1966. Its constitution provides for the indirect election of a president and the popular election of a National Assembly. In October 2014 the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won the majority of parliamentary seats in an election deemed generally free and fair. President Ian Khama, who has held the presidency since the resignation of former president Festus Mogae in 2008, retained his position. The BDP has held the presidency and a majority of National Assembly seats since independence. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Principal human rights abuses included violence, particularly sexual violence against women and children; discrimination against the Basarwa (San) people; and child labor in cattle herding, agriculture, and other work. Other significant human rights problems included occasional excessive use of force and abuse by security personnel; shortcomings in the judicial process, including lengthy delays and failure to inform defendants of their pretrial rights; government attempts to limit freedoms of the press and assembly; mistreatment of asylum seekers and refugees; corruption; and government curtailments of the right to strike. Societal problems included trafficking in persons and discrimination against women; those with HIV/AIDS; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. The government took steps to prosecute officials who committed abuses. Impunity was generally not a problem. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. A local human rights nongovernmental organization (NGO) criticized the May 25 execution of a death row inmate, stating that the clemency process had not been fully completed nor the victim's family given advance notice of his execution. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution and law prohibit such practices, but there were reports of police using such tactics. Some laws prescribe corporal punishment for offenders. Although some human rights groups viewed these provisions as cruel and degrading, the Court of Appeals ruled these provisions do not violate the constitution's provisions on torture or inhuman treatment. Survival International, a UK-based NGO, claimed that on July 30, police on an antipoaching operation shot from a helicopter at a group of Basarwa (San) hunting in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Survival International stated nine of the men were later stripped and beaten while in police custody. The Botswana Police Service (BPS) denied the claims. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions generally met international standards and continued to improve with further reduction of inmate overcrowding. Physical Conditions: Authorities occasionally held juveniles with adults, although only for a few days while awaiting transport. The Center for Illegal Immigrants (CII) in Francistown is a dedicated facility for processing asylum and other immigration claims by individuals who entered the country illegally. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), conditions in the CII deteriorated considerably and no longer met minimum standards. UNHCR reported authorities housed some women and children asylum seekers in tents that were prone to leaking during rains. There were inadequate sanitary conditions, increasing the risk of communicable diseases. Administration: Prison recordkeeping was adequate but utilized mostly paper records, and there was no plan to upgrade to computerized systems. Authorities investigated credible allegations of inhuman conditions brought by inmates against prison officials and took disciplinary or judicial action against persons responsible for abuses. The law requires visits to prisons on a quarterly basis. Independent Monitoring: The government allowed access to citizen and noncitizen prisoners by international and local NGOs and permitted independent human rights observers to visits prisons. The International Committee of the Red Cross visited prisons, and representatives of UNHCR visited the CII in Francistown. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The BPS, under the Ministry of Defense, Justice, and Security in the Office of the President, has primary responsibility for internal security. The Botswana Defense Force (BDF), which reports to the president through the minister of defense, justice, and security, is responsible for external security and has some domestic security responsibilities. The Directorate for Intelligence and Security (DIS), under the Office of the President, collects and evaluates external and internal intelligence, provides personal protection to high-level government officials, and advises the presidency and government on matters of national security. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the BPS, BDF, and DIS, and the government had effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. There were no reports of impunity involving security forces. During the year BPS officers received human rights training at the country's International Law Enforcement Academy. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Police must produce an arrest warrant issued by a duly authorized magistrate upon the presentation of compelling evidence, except in certain cases, such as when an officer witnesses a crime being committed or discovers a suspect is in possession of a controlled substance. DIS personnel have the power to enter premises and make arrests without warrants if the agency suspects a person has committed or is about to commit a crime. Elements of civil society continued to criticize the DIS, claiming it did not receive sufficient independent oversight and posed a potential threat to civil liberties. The law requires authorities to inform suspects of their rights upon arrest, including the right to remain silent, and to file charges before a magistrate within 48 hours. Authorities generally respected these rights. There were no reports of denial of a suspect's right to an attorney during the first 48 hours after arrest and arraignment before a magistrate. A magistrate may order a suspect held for 14 days through a writ of detention, which may be renewed every 14 days. The law provides for a prompt judicial determination of the legality of a person's detention. Heavy court caseloads occasionally delayed this determination. Authorities generally informed detainees of the reason for their detention, although there were some complaints this did not always occur. There is a functioning bail system, and detention without bail was unusual except in murder cases, where it is mandatory. Detainees have the right to contact a family member and hire attorneys of their choice but most could not afford legal counsel. There were no reports authorities held suspects incommunicado or under house arrest. Pretrial Detention: A writ of pretrial detention is valid for 14 days and is renewable every 14 days. Some detainees, however, waited several weeks or months between the filing of charges and the start of their trials. Pretrial detention in murder, rape, livestock theft, and robbery cases sometimes lasted beyond one year, but there were no reports of instances in which the length of detention equaled or exceeded the sentences later actually imposed. Such delays were largely due to judicial staffing shortages. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Detainees are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention and obtain prompt release and compensation if found to have been unlawfully detained. Protracted Detention of Rejected Asylum Seekers or Stateless Persons: The government applies the principle of first country asylum; on that basis it detained more than 400 individuals in 2015, many of whom had received refugee status in a third country and then entered Botswana illegally and claimed asylum. UNHCR worked with the government to resolve their situation. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. The civil courts remained unable to provide timely trials due to severe staffing shortages and a backlog of pending cases. Trial Procedures The constitution and law provide for the right to a fair and public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. Defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence, and authorities generally informed them promptly and in detail of the charges against them, with free interpretation from the moment charged through all appeals if he or she cannot understand the language of the court. Trials in the civil courts are public, although trials under the National Security Act may be secret. Defendants have the right to be present and consult with an attorney in a timely manner. In capital cases the government provides legal counsel, or private attorneys work pro bono for indigent clients. Courts tried those charged with noncapital crimes without legal representation if they could not afford an attorney. As a result, many defendants were not aware of their procedural rights as they relate to pretrial or trial proceedings. Defendants may question witnesses against them and have access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases. Defendants may present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Defendants have the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare their defense and to appeal. Defendants are not compelled to testify or confess guilt. The constitution states these rights extend to all citizens. Some NGOs provided limited, free legal assistance. In addition to the civil court system, a customary or traditional court system also exists. According to traditional practice, a tribal chief presides over most small villages. While customary (traditional) courts enjoyed widespread citizen support and respect, they often did not afford the same due process protections as the formal court system. Although defendants may confront, question, and present witnesses in customary court proceedings, they do not have legal counsel, and there are no standardized rules of evidence. Customary trials are open to the public, and defendants may present evidence on their own behalf. Tribal judges, appointed by the tribal leader or elected by the community, determine sentences. Many tribal judges were poorly trained. The quality of decisions reached in the customary courts varied considerably, and defendants often lacked a presumption of innocence. Tribal judges applied corporal punishment, such as lashings on the buttocks, more often than did civil courts. Those convicted in customary courts may file appeals through the civil court system. Small-claims courts were established in 2009 in Francistown and Gaborone. There were reports of heavy caseloads and new procedures limiting the courts' effectiveness. Many cases remained delayed for several months, and the National Legal Association criticized judges who did not deliver rulings in a timely manner. There is a separate military court system that does not try civilians. Military courts have separate procedures from civil courts. Defendants in military courts are able to retain private attorneys at their own expense and see evidence to be used against them. Defendants in military court can have their cases transferred to the civilian judicial system. Additionally, military personnel can take other military personnel to civilian civil court. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies In the formal judicial system, there is an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including for human rights cases, which includes a separate industrial court for most labor-related cases. Administrative remedies were not widely available. By mutual agreement of the parties involved, customary courts, which handle land, marital, and property disputes, tried most civil cases; they often did not afford the same due process protections as the formal judicial system. The country has not ratified the protocol that established the African Court of Human and People's Rights, although individuals and organizations may file complaints regarding domestic decisions with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution and law prohibit such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions. The government's continued narrow interpretation of a 2006 High Court ruling resulted in a few hundred indigenous Basarwa people (also called the San) being prohibited from living or hunting in their tribal homeland, the CKGR). The Basarwa filed an appeal, and a decision was pending at year' end (see section 6, Indigenous People). Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press Freedom of Speech and Expression: The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, however the law restricts the speech of some government officials and fines persons found guilty of insulting public officials or national symbols. The law states, "Any person in a public place or at a public gathering (who) uses abusive, obscene, or insulting language in relation to the President, any other member of the National Assembly, or any public officer" is guilty of an offense and may be fined up to 400 pula ($39). The penal code also states that any person who insults the country's coat of arms, flag, presidential standard, or national anthem is guilty of an offense and may be fined up to 500 pula ($48). On September 13, security services arrested a man in Maun for allegedly producing and disseminating a satirical digitally manipulated image of President Khama. The INK Center for Investigative Journalism, a nonprofit organization based in Gaborone, condemned the arrest as a violation of freedom of expression. Press and Media Freedoms: NGOs reported the government attempted to limit press freedom and continued to dominate domestic broadcasting. The INK Center for Investigative Journalism said the environment for journalists was one of "intimidation" by officials. The government owned and operated the Botswana Press Agency, which dominated the print media through its free, nationally distributed newspaper, Daily News, and two state-operated FM radio stations. State-owned media generally featured reporting favorable to the government and, according to some observers, were susceptible to political interference. Opposition political parties claimed state media coverage heavily favored the ruling party. The independent media were active and generally expressed a wide variety of views, which frequently included strong criticism of the government; however, members of the media complained they were sometimes subject to government pressure to portray the government and the country in a positive light. Private media organizations had more difficulty than government-owned media obtaining access to government-held information. Violence and Harassment: On March 17, police detained overnight a journalist who wrote a series of articles exposing corruption by government officials. Initially charging the journalist with receiving stolen property, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions later dropped all charges. The INK Center for Investigative Journalism called the arrest a government "scare tactic." On August 8, the BPS arrested and detained for several hours two print media journalists as well as a radio talk show host and his producer who were covering a protest outside the National Assembly. One of the journalists arrested was the president of the Botswana Media and Allied Workers Union, which condemned the incident. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Some members of civil society organizations alleged the government occasionally censored stories in the government-run media it deemed undesirable. Government journalists sometimes practiced self-censorship. One civil society organization asserted self-censorship among journalists was growing. Libel/Slander Laws: In 2014 police arrested Sunday Standard editor Outsa Mokone and charged him with sedition for publishing articles about an automobile accident allegedly involving President Khama. Observers noted the use of the penal code's sedition clause for a newspaper article was unprecedented and further noted the Sunday Standard had recently published several articles exposing corruption allegations within the DIS. Lawyers for Mokone sought to have the charges dropped based on the penal code's infringement of the defendant's constitutional right to freedom of expression. On August 30, the High Court ruled the penal code's sedition clause was constitutional and charges of sedition against Mokone could proceed. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. According to the International Telecommunication Union, in 2015 approximately 27 percent of individuals used the internet. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association The constitution and law provide for the freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Freedom of Assembly The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected these rights. On August 8, police dispersed a group outside the National Assembly protesting youth unemployment. Police took five protesters into custody and held three overnight. Police released all five without charge within 24 hours. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The system for granting refugee status was accessible but slow. The government generally provided protection against the expulsion or return of persons to countries where their lives or freedom would be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The government generally cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in assisting more than 2,800 refugees, asylum seekers, and others of concern. The government held refugees and asylum seekers in CII in Francistown until the Refugee Advisory Committee (RAC), a governmental body, made a status recommendation. The committee met once during the year. UNHCR representatives participated in advisory committee meetings as observers and technical advisers. During the year RAC authorities approved refugee status for one minor, and the case awaited final government approval at year's end. More than 400 persons, including more than 200 children, sought asylum during 2015; the majority were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Composed mainly of families that had transited Zambia and Tanzania, the RAC refused their claims based on "first country of asylum" policy, and held the families at the CII while they awaited deportation. UNHCR urged the government to review its decision to deny asylum and to keep the asylum seekers at the CII, where authorities separated families, and women and children lived in tents in substandard conditions. Employment: As of September most of the country's 2,123 registered refugees and 725 registered asylum seekers were living in Dukwi Camp without the right to work outside the camp. As a general policy, all registered refugees must reside in Dukwi, although the government may issue a residence permit to remain outside the camp in exceptional cases, such as for refugees enrolled at a university, in need of specialized medical care, or with unique skills. Access to Basic Services: Refugees in Dukwi had access to education and basic health care. They were unable to access government programs for HIV/AIDS medication, but the government allowed an international donor-funded parallel program to provide such medication. UNHCR facilitated refugee and asylum seekers' exit permit applications for medical referrals as necessary through their implementing partner, the Botswana Red Cross. Officials typically granted exit permits for three days; refugees found outside the camp without a permit were subject to arrest. According to UNHCR there was no access to education in the CII. The center hosts a clinic, and a specialized nurse provides basic health care, while critical cases were referred to Francistown city hospital. Durable Solutions: Since 2000 an estimated 2,000 Namibian refugees previously living in Botswana have voluntarily returned to Namibia. During the year five Namibian refugees applied to return voluntarily to Namibia, and at year's end they were awaiting clearance from the Namibian government. Temporary Protection: Since 2012 the government has provided temporary protection at Dukwi to approximately 50 individuals who may not qualify as refugees under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol. UNHCR provided food and other provisions to individuals under temporary protection. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and law provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In 2014 the ruling BDP won a majority of National Assembly seats in a general election deemed by international and domestic observers to be generally free and fair. President Ian Khama retained the presidency, which he had held since 2008. Participation of Women and Minorities: There are no laws limiting the participation of women and minorities in the political process, and women and minorities participated. Nevertheless, observers suggested cultural constraints may limit the number of women in government. There were six women in the expanded 65-seat National Assembly, one of whom was the speaker and four of whom served in the 24-member cabinet. There was one female opposition member of parliament; however, she died in November and will be replaced after a by-election in 2017. There were also two women in the expanded 34-seat House of Chiefs. While the constitution formally recognizes eight principal tribes of the Tswana nation, amendments to the constitution also allow minority tribes to be represented in the expanded House of Chiefs. The law provides that members from all groups enjoy equal rights, and minority tribes have representation in the House of Chiefs in equal standing to that of the eight principal tribes. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally sought to implement these laws effectively. Officials tasked with enforcement lacked adequate training and resources, however. Media reports of government corruption increased during the year. Corruption: In past years police officials acknowledged corruption was a problem in the lower ranks, and some officers took advantage of irregular immigrants and traffic violators by exacting bribes. The press continued to publish information leaked from a Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) investigation of the director of the DIS, a story first reported in 2014. The documents allegedly demonstrated substantive links to corruption and money laundering. At year's end the director retained his position, and the DCEC had not initiated any action against him. Financial Disclosure: There are no formal financial disclosure laws; however, a 2009 presidential directive requires all cabinet ministers to declare their interests, assets, and liabilities to the president. Critics contended this policy did not go far enough to promote transparency and asserted financial declarations by senior government officials should be available to the public. Public Access to Information: The law does not provide public access to government information, and the government generally restricted such access. The Government Printing Office releases information made available to the public for a fee. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights The small number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials were generally cooperative and responsive to domestic NGO views on most subjects. The government interacted with and provided financial support to some domestic organizations. Government Human Rights Bodies: An autonomous ombudsman handled complaints of maladministration, including some human rights abuses in the public sector, and the government generally cooperated with the ombudsman. The Office of the Ombudsman had inadequate staff, however, and some criticized its effectiveness. Public awareness of the office and its services was low. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape but does not recognize spousal rape as a crime. Authorities effectively enforced laws against rape when victims pressed charges; however, police noted victims often declined to press charges against perpetrators, and the extent of the problem was likely underreported. In some cases of domestic nonspousal rape, victims were afraid of losing financial support if perpetrators were found guilty and imprisoned. By law the minimum sentence for rape is 10 years in prison, increasing to 15 years with corporal punishment if the offender is HIV-positive and unaware, and 20 years with corporal punishment if the offender is HIV-positive and aware. By law formal courts try all rape cases. A person convicted of rape is required to undergo an HIV test before sentencing. The BPS did not have a specific unit dedicated to rape investigation, but trained crime scene investigators and a forensics unit to respond to cases of rape and domestic violence. NGOs continued efforts to improve awareness of rape. The law prohibits domestic and other violence, whether against women or men, but it remained a serious problem. Greater public awareness resulted in increased reporting of domestic violence and sexual assault. According to a 2012 study of gender-based violence funded by the Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs' Department of Women's Affairs, 67 percent of women had experienced gender-based violence (GBV) at least once in their life, while 29 percent experienced it in the previous year. Approximately 44 percent of men admitted perpetrating violence against women. A 2016 report by an international donor agency stated that most GBV cases went unreported due to fear of further violence or loss of economic support from the perpetrator. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment in both the private and public sectors. Sexual harassment committed by a public officer is considered misconduct and punishable by termination, potentially with forfeiture of all retirement benefits; suspension with loss of pay and benefits for up to three months; reduction in rank or pay; deferment or stoppage of a pay raise; or reprimand. Nonetheless, sexual harassment continued to be a widespread problem, particularly by men in positions of authority, including teachers and supervisors. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and have the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. The UN Population Division reported 53 percent of girls and women ages 15-49 used a modern method of contraception in 2013. According to World Bank data, the maternal mortality ratio was 129 deaths per 100,000 live births, although skilled health personnel attended 99 percent of births in the country as a whole, with lower rates in rural areas. The leading causes of maternal mortality included postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and HIV/AIDS-related infections. The major factors hindering greater contraceptive prevalence rates included a shortage of supplies, provider biases, inadequately skilled health-care workers, HIV status, culture, religion, and popularly accepted myths and misconceptions. Discrimination: By law women have the same civil rights and legal status under the constitution as men, but societal discrimination persisted. The country has a dual legal system consisting of formal law derived from the constitution and customary law based on tribal practice. A number of traditional laws enforced by tribal structures and customary courts restricted women's property rights and economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas. Marriages may occur under one of three systems, each with its own implications for women's property rights. A woman married under traditional law or in "common property" is held to be a legal minor and required to have her husband's consent to buy or sell property, apply for credit, and enter into legally binding contracts. Under an intermediate system referred to as "in community of property," married women may own real estate and other property in their own names, and the law stipulates neither spouse may dispose of joint property without the written consent of the other. Women increasingly exercised the right to marriage "out of common property," in which they retained their full legal rights as adults. Polygyny is legal under traditional law with the consent of the first wife but was not common. Skilled urban women had increasing access to entry- and mid-level white-collar jobs. Women occupied many senior-level positions in government, including speaker of the National Assembly, governor of the Bank of Botswana, attorney general, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, minister of education, and minister of health. The Gender Affairs Department in the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration, and Gender Affairs has responsibility for promoting and protecting women's rights and welfare. The department provided grants to NGOs working on women's issues. A Southern Africa Development Community study in 2012 found women owned and operated the majority of informal-sector businesses, but the proportion of women in salaried formal employment was lower than that of men. There is no legal requirement that women receive equal pay for equal work. Children Birth Registration: In general citizenship is derived from one's parents, although there are limited circumstances in which citizenship may be derived from birth within the country's territory. The government generally registered births promptly; however, there were some delays in remote locations. Unregistered children may be denied some government services. Education: Primary education was tuition-free for the first 10 years of school but not compulsory. Parents must cover school fees as well as the cost of uniforms and books. These costs could be waived for children whose family income fell below a certain level. All school-age children have a right to the first 10 years of schooling. Thereafter, to access further education, they must pass the Junior Certificate Examination to get into senior secondary school. Child Abuse: Child abuse occurred and often was reported to police in cases of physical harm to a child. Police referred the children and, depending on the level of abuse, their alleged abuser(s) to counseling in the Department of Social Services within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, as well as to local NGOs. Police referred some cases to the Attorney General's Office for prosecution. Local human rights groups raised concerns about the use and administration of corporal punishment by traditional courts and in schools, which many believed to be excessive. Early and Forced Marriage: Child marriage occurred infrequently and was largely limited to certain tribes. The government does not recognize marriages that occur when either party is under the minimum legal age of 18. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits the prostitution and sexual abuse of children. Sex with a child younger than age 16 constitutes defilement and is punishable by a minimum of 10 years' incarceration. There were defilement investigations and convictions during the year. There were reports teachers sexually abused students. Other school officials and members of victims' extended family with whom they resided also reportedly sexually abused children. By law child prostitution is an act of defilement punishable by a minimum of 10 years' imprisonment. Child pornography is a criminal offense punishable by five to 15 years in prison. Media and NGO reports claimed most incidents of child trafficking occurred in villages, where children were used for forced labor and sexual exploitation. Displaced Children: In 2013 the UN Children's Fund, which defines an orphan as a child with one or both parents deceased, estimated there were 130,000 orphans in the country, of whom approximately 96,000 had lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS. The government, which defines an orphan as a child both of whose parents are dead, registered 38,596 children as orphans and 32,068 as vulnerable in 2013. Once registered as an orphan, a child receives school uniforms, shelter, a monthly food basket worth between 216 pula ($21) and 600 pula ($57), depending upon location, and counseling as needed. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism There was a very small Jewish population, and there were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities in education, employment, access to health care and the judicial system, or the provision of other state services. The law does not prohibit discrimination by private persons or entities. The law does not specifically prohibit discrimination against persons with sensory or intellectual disabilities. The government has a policy that provides for integrating the needs of persons with disabilities into all aspects of government policymaking. The government mandates access to public buildings or transportation for persons with disabilities, but civil society sources reported access for persons with disabilities was limited. The law does not specifically include air travel with other modes of transportation, but in general persons with disabilities were provided access to air transportation. Although new government buildings were being constructed in such a way as to provide access for persons with disabilities, older government office buildings remained largely inaccessible. Most new privately owned commercial and apartment buildings provided access for persons with disabilities. Children with disabilities attended school; there was no information available regarding patterns of abuse in educational and mental health facilities. The government did not restrict persons with disabilities from voting or otherwise participating in civil affairs and made some accommodations during elections to allow for persons with disabilities to vote. There was a Department of Disability Coordination in the Office of the President to assist persons with disabilities. The Department of Labor in the Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity, and Skills Development is responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in the labor force and investigating claims of discrimination. Individuals may also bring cases directly to the Industrial Court. The government funded NGOs that provided rehabilitation services and supported small-scale projects for workers with disabilities. Indigenous People The government does not recognize any particular group or tribe as indigenous. The eight tribes of the Tswana group, which speak a mutually intelligible dialect of Setswana, have been politically dominant since independence and officially recognized by law, granting them permanent membership in the House of Chiefs. Former president Festus Mogae established a commission of inquiry in 2000 in response to complaints from minority tribes that the constitution was discriminatory. The resulting constitutional amendments enabled the recognition of tribes other than the eight Tswana tribes; however, the United Nations expressed concern the changes merely put in place new discriminatory rules and the constitution continues to accord preferred status to the Tswana tribes. On May 26, the government formally recognized as a tribe the Wayeyi, which had first applied for recognition in 2008. English and Setswana are the only officially recognized languages, a policy human rights organizations and minority tribes criticized particularly with regard to education, where some children were forced to learn in their nonnative language. In a January report from a 2014 visit, the UN special rapporteur in the field of cultural rights noted that this policy disadvantaged children in remote areas with limited exposure to Setswana. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 persons belong to one of the many scattered, diverse tribal groups known collectively as Basarwa or San. The Basarwa constituted approximately 3 percent of the population and are culturally and linguistically distinct from most other residents. The law prohibits discrimination against the Basarwa with respect to employment, housing, health services, and cultural practices; however, the Basarwa remained marginalized economically and politically and generally did not have access to their traditional land. The Basarwa continued to be geographically isolated, had limited access to education, lacked adequate political representation, and some members were not fully aware of their civil rights. NGOs have previously reported forced labor of Basarwa including adults and children on private farms and cattle posts. While the government respected the 2006 High Court ruling on a suit filed by 189 Basarwa regarding their forced relocation, it continued to interpret the ruling narrowly, allowing only the 189 actual applicants and their spouses and minor children to return to the CKGR. Many of the Basarwa and their supporters continued to object to the government's interpretation of the court's ruling. Negotiations between Basarwa representatives and the government regarding residency and hunting rights stalled after a separate court ruling provided the right to access water through boreholes. Government officials maintained the resettlement program was voluntary and necessary to facilitate the delivery of public services, provide socioeconomic development opportunities to the Basarwa, and minimize human impact on wildlife. In 2012 the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues approved a set of nine draft recommendations addressing the impact of land seizures and disenfranchisement of indigenous people. In 2013 attorneys for the Basarwa filed a High Court case in which the original complainants from the 2006 CKGR case appealed to the government for unrestricted access (i.e., without permits) to the CKGR for their children and relatives. A British citizen affiliated with NGO Survival International, who serves as an attorney for some Basarwa groups, was on a list of individuals from visa waiver countries who must apply for a visa to enter the country, impeding the group's ability to respond to legal and advocacy matters involving the Basarwa. There were no government programs directly addressing discrimination against the Basarwa. With the exception of the 2006 court ruling, there were no demarcated cultural lands. A number of NGOs made efforts to promote the rights of the Basarwa or to help provide economic opportunities, but such programs had limited impact. Survival International, along with other independent organizations, continued to criticize the government decision to allow mining exploration in the CKGR; mining operations in the area expanded during the year. The NGOs argued diamond exploration in the CKGR would have a significant negative impact on the lives and environment of the Basarwa. The government previously charged Basarwa with unlawful possession of hunted carcasses. In 2014 five Basarwa filed a lawsuit against the minister of environment, natural resource conservation, and tourism over the hunting ban in the CKGR; the case was pending at year's end. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The law does not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, but it includes language criminalizing some aspects of same-sex sexual activity. What the law describes as "unnatural acts" are criminalized with a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment, and there was widespread belief this was directed toward LGBTI persons. On August 31, the Gaborone Magistrate Court sentenced a man to three and one-half years' imprisonment, two of them suspended, for committing "unnatural acts." The man was among 580 prisoners pardoned by President Khama as part of the 50th Independence Day celebrations in September. There were no reports police targeted persons suspected of same-sex sexual activity. LGBTI-rights organizations claimed there were incidents of violence, societal harassment, and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The victims of such incidents seldom filed police reports, primarily due to stigma but occasionally as a result of overt intimidation. Public meetings of LGBTI advocacy groups and debates on LGBTI issues occurred without disruption or interference. In March the Court of Appeals upheld a 2014 High Court ruling ordering the government to formally register LeGaBiBo (Lesbian, Gays, and Bisexuals of Botswana), a group that advocates for LGBTI rights. LeGaBiBo has since participated in government-sponsored events. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma Discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS continued to be a problem, including in the workplace. The government funded community organizations that ran antidiscrimination and public awareness programs. The Botswana Network of Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS continued to advocate for an HIV employment law to curb discrimination in the workplace. A 2016 report by an international donor noted that HIV-related stigma and discrimination had increased according to statistical surveys completed between 2008 and 2013, with women particularly susceptible to stigmatization. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the rights of workers, except police, military, and prison personnel, to form and join independent unions, to bargain collectively, and to strike, provided certain restrictions are observed. Employee associations, which serve as a means to communicate collective needs and concerns to their government employer, represent police, military, and prison personnel. Union representatives reported that employee associations were generally not as effective as unions in resolving labor disputes. The law provides for certain restrictions that limit the right to organize. Trade unions that fail to meet the formal registration requirements are automatically dissolved and banned from carrying out union activities. The law does not afford protection to members of unregistered trade unions and does not fully protect union members from discrimination. The law also authorizes the registrar to inspect accounts, books, and documents of a trade union at "any reasonable time" and provides the minister of defense, justice, and security with the authority to inspect a trade union "whenever he considers it necessary in the public interest." Employers have the right to apply to the registrar for withdrawal of recognition of a union, and the Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity, and Skills Development has the right to suspend a union if it is "in the public interest," although the former practice is uncommon and the latter has never been employed. The law provides for collective bargaining only for unions that have enrolled one-third of a sector workforce. The law does not prohibit acts of interference by employers or employers' organizations in the establishment, functioning, or administration of trade unions. The law provides a framework for either employers or unions to nullify bargaining agreements, and provides a mechanism for the other party to dispute the nullification. The law also permits an employer or employers' organization to apply to the government to withdraw the recognition granted to a trade union if it establishes that the trade union refuses to negotiate in good faith with the employer. There were no such cases during the year. The law severely restricts the right to strike. All strikes are illegal unless arbitration procedures are first exhausted. Compulsory arbitration was rare and only applied in cases involving a group dispute of workers in essential services. Strikes were rare. The law prohibits sympathy strikes. Striking workers participating in an illegal strike may face dismissal. Employees categorized as those in the "essential services" including the Bank of Botswana, railway services, health care, firefighting, military, transport services, telecommunications infrastructure, electricity, water, and sewage workers are not allowed to strike. Parliament passed and President Khama signed the amended Trade Disputes Act into law, codifying and expanding this list to include teachers, veterinarians, and diamond cutters, occupations that fall outside the International Labor Organization's (ILO's) definition of essential services. The act went into force on November 1. In December the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) challenged the act in court. The case remained pending at year's end. The law empowers two officials within the Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity, and Skills Development (the minister and the commissioner of labor) to refer a dispute in essential services to arbitration or to the Industrial Court for determination. Civil service disputes are referred to an ombudsman for resolution, and in general, the ombudsman's decisions are made independently without government interference. Labor commissioners mediate private labor disputes, and if not resolved within 21 days as required by the amended Trades Disputes Act, they are sent to the Industrial Court. A case brought to the Industrial Court took two years to resolve, and as of October there was a backlog of 311 pending cases. While the law allows formally registered unions to conduct their activities without interference and with protection from antiunion discrimination, members of unregistered trade unions are not protected against antiunion discrimination. Workers may not be terminated for legal union-related activities. Dismissals may be appealed to civil courts or labor officers, which rarely ordered more than two months' severance pay. The law does not provide for reinstatement of workers, but a judge may order reinstatement if the termination is deemed to be related to union activities. The law does not provide protection to public employees' organizations from acts of interference by public authorities in their establishment or administration. The government generally respected freedom of association, although there were some restrictions on the right to collective bargaining. Workers exercised the right to form and join unions, and in general, employers did not use hiring practices to avoid hiring workers with bargaining rights. The government, while seeking to expand the definition of essential services, generally protected the right to conduct union activities. In 2012 unions appealed to the ILO with complaints that included constitutional restrictions on freedom of assembly, unlawful deregistration of the BOFEPUSU, onerous balloting and meeting requirements for unions, improper categorization of "essential workers" to prohibit striking, and a lack of impartial mediation machinery. The ILO made some informal recommendations for resolving the issue. When unions followed legal requirements of exhausting arbitration and notifying the government in advance of a planned strike, the government permitted strikes and did not use force on strikers. Due to strike requirements, however, many strikes were ruled illegal, and striking workers often risked dismissal. The government had an insufficient number of labor commissioners, resulting in an estimated two-year backlog of unresolved labor disputes at year's end. The government informed the ILO it recognized the need to have an independent dispute resolution mechanism and that the mechanism was to be included in the National Development Plan 10 (2009-2016). At year's end no independent dispute resolution mechanism was in place. In September 2015 the High Court ruled that President Khama and the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) must use the Public Service Bargaining Council when negotiating salary structures for unionized public employees. BOFEPUSU previously sued the president and DPSM after a 2014 wage hike they claimed undercut ongoing negotiations in the Bargaining Council. The ruling also stated the Bargaining Council would not cover nonunionized employees, an aspect BOFEPUSU stated it would appeal. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The constitution and law prohibit all forms of forced and compulsory labor, including by children. In 2014 parliament passed the Anti-Human Trafficking Act that prohibits trafficking of children and forced labor of both children and adults. Civil society representatives, however, reported the government did not effectively enforce existing relevant laws, particularly in remote areas, mainly because a lack of staff and funding made it difficult for the government to send labor officers to remote areas. Labor inspectors refer cases to the BPS for prosecution. There were reports of forced child labor in cattle herding and in domestic servitude, including using the labor of migrant children from Zimbabwe (see section 7.c.). There were also anecdotal reports that members of the Basarwa (San) community were subjected to forced labor conditions on cattle farms in the Ghanzi district. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The minimum age for work is 15, but children 14 years or older may be employed in light work that is "not harmful to [their] health and development" and is approved by a parent or guardian. The law provides that work shall not exceed six hours per day when a child is not in school and five hours when a child is in school. The law prohibits children from engaging in hazardous work, including moving heavy objects that could endanger physical development, working underground or at night, or engaging in anything dangerous or immoral. The law prohibits the exploitation for labor or coercion into prostitution of adopted children. The Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity, and Skills Development is responsible for enforcing child labor laws and policies in all sectors; however, resources were too limited for effective oversight in remote areas. District and municipal councils have child welfare divisions, which are also responsible for enforcing child labor laws. Other involved government entities included offices within the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The Advisory Committee on Child Labor facilitated the oversight of child labor issues. It included representatives of various NGOs, government agencies, workers' federations, and employers' organizations and advised the government on the state of children three or four times during the year. The government supported and worked with partners to conduct workshops to raise awareness of child labor. The Department of Labor within the Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity, and Skills Development collaborated with the Department of Social Services within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to advocate against and raise awareness of exploitative child labor. Ministers continued to address public gatherings (referred to locally as "kgotla"), cautioning against child labor. Penalties for violations of child labor laws range from a fine to up to 12 months' imprisonment in most cases, with stricter penalties for cases involving the worst forms of child labor. Despite laws and policies designed to protect children from exploitation in the workplace, there were reports of child labor, mostly on subsistence-level cattle posts or farms. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation Labor laws prohibit discrimination regarding race, color, tribe, place of origin, social origin, sex, disability, language, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, HIV-positive status, marital status, creed, or social status. The government effectively enforced these regulations. After reports of harassment, the then minister of Labor and Home Affairs Edwin Batshu in August threatened expatriate tourist operators with deportation if found guilty of discrimination, racism, abusive language, and harassment of their employees. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work According to the Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity, and Skills Development, the minimum hourly wage for full-time labor in the private sector was determined by sector. The minimum wage for domestic workers was raised in June to approximately three pula ($0.29) per hour, or approximately 24 pula ($2.30) per day. The minimum wage for workers in the agricultural sector was also raised to 620 pula ($60) per month. According to a 2011 survey of formal sector employment by Statistics Botswana, monthly average earnings were 4,339 pula ($420) for citizens, 13,055 pula ($1,270) for noncitizens, and 4,731 pula ($459) for all employees. The cabinet determined wage policy based on recommendations from the National Economic, Manpower, and Incomes Committee, which consisted of representatives of the government, private sector, and Botswana Federation of Trade Unions. The Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity, and Skills Development is responsible for enforcing the minimum wage, and each of the country's districts had at least one labor inspector. The law permits a maximum 48-hour workweek, exclusive of overtime, which is payable at time-and-a-half. The law does not specifically outline rest periods or prohibit excessive compulsory overtime. The law prescribes a 40-hour workweek for most modern private sector jobs and a 40-hour workweek for the public sector. The labor law also applies to farm and migrant workers. The Department of Labor within the Ministry of Employment, Labor Productivity, and Skills Development employed inspectors to oversee and enforce labor regulations. There are limited requirements for occupational safety and health (OSH), but the government's ability to enforce OSH legislation also remained limited due to inadequate staffing and lack of clarity among ministries regarding jurisdictional responsibilities. The law provides that workers who complain about hazardous conditions may not be terminated. The government generally enforced wage, hour, and OSH requirements, but the number of labor inspectors was insufficient to inspect all workplaces. During the year the government conducted 4,999 labor inspections and referred 32 cases to the BPS for prosecution. Formal-sector jobs generally paid well above minimum wage levels. The primary forms of compensation for labor in the informal sector were housing and food, particularly in the agricultural and domestic service areas. Pay in the informal sector was frequently below the minimum wage. Informal-sector workers generally were covered by the same legal protections available to formal-sector workers. Foreign migrant workers were vulnerable to exploitative working conditions, mainly in domestic labor. Employers in the formal sector generally provided for worker safety. There are no specific provisions in the law allowing workers to remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing their employment; however, no abuses were reported. Four miners died and six were seriously injured at a nickel-copper mine in Selebi Phikwe when a cable supporting a transportation cage snapped at the end of a shift. There have been nine fatalities at the same mine since 2015. A December 2015 UN Development Program report stated that between 2005 and 2013 there were 1,200 nonfatal workplace injuries and 24 fatalities. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Bosnia and Herzegovina Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a6849.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a democratic republic with a bicameral parliament. Many governmental functions are the responsibility of two entities within the state, the Federation and the Republika Srpska (RS), as well as the Brcko District, an autonomous administrative unit under BiH sovereignty. The 1995 General Framework Agreement for Peace (the Dayton Accords), which ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war, provides the constitutional framework for governmental structures, while other parts of the agreement specify the government's obligations to protect human rights, such as the right of wartime refugees and displaced persons to return to their prewar homes. The country held general elections in 2014. In its final report, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) stated that the elections took place in a fair and democratic atmosphere but noted numerous reports of irregularities during the counting process. While civilian authorities maintained effective control and coordination over law enforcement agencies and security forces, a lack of clear division of jurisdiction and responsibilities between the country's 16 law enforcement agencies resulted in occasional confusion and overlapping responsibilities. Government corruption remained among the country's most serious problems, contributing to continued political and economic stagnation. Some political leaders manipulated deep-seated ethnic divisions, weakening democracy and governance, undermining the rule of law, fostering discrimination in most aspects of daily life, distorting public discourse in the media, and obstructing the return of persons displaced by the 1992-95 conflict. Harassment and intimidation of journalists and civil society limited the public's access to accurate information and the accountability of political leaders. Other human rights problems included failure of national authorities to complete investigation and prosecution of war crimes that occurred in the 1992-95 conflict; the presence of large numbers of active land mines from the conflict; police mistreatment of detainees, particularly suspects during questioning; harsh conditions in prisons and detention centers; physical abuse of prisoners and detainees; police failure to inform detainees of their rights or allow effective access to legal counsel prior to questioning; governmental failure to return properties to religious communities; societal religious hostility, including vandalism; underrepresentation of minorities in political life; discrimination and violence against women and minorities; trafficking in persons for sex and forced labor; discrimination against persons with disabilities; discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons; and limits on employment rights. Units in both entities and the Brcko District investigated allegations of police abuse, meted out administrative penalties, and referred cases of criminal misconduct to prosecutors. These units generally operated effectively, and there were no reports of impunity during the first nine months of the year. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. While national authorities made significant progress prior to 2016 in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes that occurred in the 1992-95 conflict, many problems remained. According to the OSCE, in 2015 the completion of war crimes cases before courts in the country reached an all-time high, raising to 621 the number of cases concluded with a final and binding decision since 2004. Despite this progress, the national justice system has not investigated and brought to trial many lower-ranking perpetrators and mid-level commanders responsible for atrocities during the war. At the end of 2015, approximately 1,000 cases awaited investigation and indictment around the country, including some linked to the killing of approximately 8,000 persons in the Srebrenica genocide and those responsible for thousands of other cases of disappearances during the war, with those missing presumed dead. According to the OSCE, obstacles to processing war crimes in 2015 and 2016 related in part to the delay of allocated EU funding for operations and additional personnel in addition to general operational inefficiencies and a failure of the national judiciary to prioritize high-level cases as envisioned by the National War Crimes Strategy. Other problems included the unavailability of witnesses and suspects and the closure of cases due to lack of evidence. As of December, landmine accidents killed two deminers, while two other deminers were injured. Overall, there were six mine-related fatalities and six mine-related injuries during the year. The country had a demining strategy, but it remained largely unfunded. According to the country's Mine Action Center, as of August more than 8,970 active minefields (with an estimated 82,000 devices) remained, endangering an estimated 545,000 residents. In many cases, the presence of land mines slowed the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the exhumation of mass graves. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The law prohibits such practices. While there were no reports during the first nine months of the year that government officials employed such tactics, there were no concrete indications that security forces had ended the practice of severely mistreating detainees and prisoners reported in previous years. On July 5, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) released a report on its visit in September-October 2015 to detention facilities, prisons, and psychiatric establishments in the country. The report cited a considerable number of allegations of widespread physical abuse of detainees by police in Sarajevo, Trebinje, Banja Luka, Turski Lukavac, and Bijeljina. The reported abuse of detainees included slaps, punches, truncheon blows, prolonged handcuffing in stress positions, mock executions, and use of a hand-held electro-shock device. The report stated that the CPT delegation gained the impression from multiple interviews with detainees in Bijeljina and Sarajevo that mistreatment (kicks, punches, and slaps) was a routine occurrence and almost considered "normal" practice. In some instances, authorities allegedly abused detainees in order to extort confessions. The CPT found that prosecutors and judges routinely failed to take action regarding allegations of mistreatment. In its July 5 report, the CPT noted it also received several credible allegations of physical mistreatment (slaps, kicks, and punches to various parts of the body) of inmates by staff at Mostar Prison. In one case, an inmate alleged that, in response to his repeated banging on his cell door, prison officials handcuffed him behind his back with his wrists hyperflexed, ankle-cuffed him with a walking chain, and placed him in an empty cell for two days without food or the opportunity to use sanitary facilities. The CPT reported that the findings observed by its delegation's doctor were compatible with the inmate's allegation. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Physical and sanitary conditions in the country's prisons and detention facilities varied depending on the location but were generally considered substandard and occasionally life threatening. Conditions in Sarajevo Prison were noteworthy due to dilapidated facilities and overcrowding, with as many as four prisoners living in eight square meters of common living space. Prison and detention facilities provided adequate basic medical care and routine arrangements for more complex medical interventions as needed. Ventilation and lighting, however, were lacking in many facilities, particularly Sarajevo Prison. There were no prison facilities suitable for prisoners with disabilities. Physical Conditions: The CPT reported overcrowding at Sarajevo Prison and inter-prisoner violence at Zenica Prison. The CPT also found that remand prisoners spent 22 hours or more a day confined to their cells and were offered no purposeful activities. Authorities continued to hold prisoners with mental illnesses in a prison in Zenica under conditions international observers described as very poor. As of December three prisoner deaths had been recorded, all of which occurred in Mostar Prison. According to officials, two inmates died of natural causes, while the third committed suicide. The CPT reported that material conditions in most police holding facilities visited by its delegation were unfit for holding persons overnight due to lack of natural light, poor ventilation, deplorable hygienic conditions, and an absence of mattresses and bedding. The condition and number of holding facilities at most police agencies generally were well below EU standards. Administration: According to the July 5 CPT report, authorities throughout the country generally failed to investigate allegations of abuse and mistreatment of detainees and prisoners, particularly those reported to have occurred while in police custody. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted independent human rights observers to visit and gave international community representatives widespread and unhindered access to detention facilities and prisoners. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the CPT, the BiH ombudsmen, and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) continued to have access to detention facilities under the jurisdiction of the ministries of justice at both the state and entity levels. Improvements: Courts throughout the country employed alternative sentencing, including community service, probation, increased fines in lieu of detention, and house arrest under electronic surveillance, to alleviate some prison overcrowding during the year. Authorities reported a moderate decrease in inter-prisoner violence in prisons throughout the country. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus By law state-level police agencies include the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), the Border Police, the Foreigners Affairs Service (FAS) (partial police competencies), and the Directorate for Police Bodies Coordination (DPBC). Police agencies in the two entities (the RS Ministry of Interior and the Federation Police Directorate), the Brcko District, and 10 cantonal interior ministries also exercise police powers. SIPA investigates cases of organized crime, human trafficking, war crimes, financial crimes, and international terrorism and provides protection to witnesses before the BiH State Court. The Border Police are responsible for monitoring the borders and detaining illegal migrants until the FAS takes custody. The Border Police also investigate other crimes related to the border in accordance with the state criminal code, with the exception of corruption cases. The FAS is responsible for tracking and monitoring legal and illegal migration. The DPBC provides physical security for government and diplomatic buildings and personal protection for state-level officials and visiting dignitaries. The DPBC also has an office for coordination with Interpol for state-level police agencies. The Federation Police Directorate investigates cases of intercantonal crimes, domestic terrorism in the Federation, and narcotics smuggling. The RS Ministry of Interior investigates domestic terrorism and all other general crimes in the RS. Brcko police and cantonal police agencies investigate general crimes and public peace and order. The laws outlining the mandates of respective law enforcement agencies of the state, entity, cantonal and district governments contain significant similarities but do not overlap. The competencies of each police agency are established by law. An EU military force continued to support the country's government in maintaining a safe and secure environment for the population. The NATO headquarters in Sarajevo continued to assist the country's authorities in the implementation of defense reform. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over security forces, but their complex structure at times resulted in lack of effective coordination and no clear practical division of jurisdictions and responsibilities. Impunity for war crimes continued to be a problem. Many lower-ranking perpetrators of crimes committed during the 1992-95 conflict remained unpunished, including those responsible for the approximately 8,000 persons killed in the Srebrenica genocide and for approximately 8,000 other persons who remained missing and presumed killed during the conflict. Authorities also failed to prosecute more than a very small fraction of the more than 20,000 instances of sexual violence alleged to have occurred during the conflict. In the course of its 2015 visit to prisons and remand detention centers, the CPT reported interviewing many persons who stated they had complained about mistreatment by law enforcement officials to the prosecutor or to the judge before whom they appeared. Such complaints met with no response. The CPT noted that, even when detainees displayed visible injuries or made a statement alleging mistreatment, there was usually no apparent follow-up by the prosecutor or judge other than, at times, to order a medical examination, which often took place in the presence of the law enforcement officer whom the detainee had accused of mistreatment. There were reports of police corruption (see section 4). The government has mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption, but political pressure often prevented the application of these mechanisms. Observers considered police impunity to be widespread, and there were continued reports of corruption within the state and entity security services. There are internal affairs investigative units within all police agencies. Throughout the year, mostly with assistance from the international community, the government provided training to police and security forces designed to combat abuse and corruption and promote respect for human rights. During 2015 police agencies in the country reported 723 criminal cases of corruption. Most cases of corruption were commercial in nature (277 cases). SIPA conducted 13 police operations (7 percent fewer than the previous year) and arrested 61 persons (compared with 66 in 2014). Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Police generally arrested persons based on court orders and sufficient evidence, or in conformity with rules prescribed by law. The law requires authorities to inform detainees of the charges against them immediately upon their arrest and obliges police to bring suspects before a prosecutor within 24 hours of detention (48 hours for terrorism charges). During this period, police may detain individuals for investigative purposes and processing. The prosecutor has an additional 24 hours to release the person or to request a court order extending pretrial detention. The court has a subsequent 24 hours to make a decision. The law limits duration of the interrogation up to six hours. The law also limits pretrial detention to 12 months, but there were reports of individuals held longer. There is a functioning bail system. The law allows detainees to request a lawyer of their own choosing, and if they are unable to afford a lawyer, the authorities are to provide one. The law also requires the presence of a lawyer during the pretrial and trial hearings. Detainees are free to select their lawyer from a list of registered lawyers. In its July 5 report, the CPT noted that, in the vast majority of cases, authorities did not grant detainees access to a lawyer at the outset of their detention. Instead, such access only occurred when the detainee was brought before a prosecutor to give a statement or at the hearing before a judge. It was usually not possible for a detainee to consult with his or her lawyer in private prior to appearing before a prosecutor or judge. Juveniles met by the CPT also alleged that they were interviewed without a lawyer or person of trust present. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: According to the state criminal code, as well as criminal procedures for the entities and Brcko district, detainees have the right to appeal their detainment before a court. In addition, courts can extend custody only after the detainee is brought before a panel of three judges to explain the circumstances leading to their detainment, or the court legally decides the detainee is a flight risk. Detainees or defense attorneys also may submit requests for the termination of custody based on the discovery of new facts in a case. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The state constitution provides the right to a fair hearing in civil and criminal matters while the entity constitutions provide for an independent judiciary, but political parties and organized crime figures sometimes influenced the judiciary at both the state and entity levels in politically sensitive cases. Authorities at times failed to enforce court decisions. Trial Procedures The law provides that defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence, the right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges against them, with free interpretation if necessary, and the right to a fair and public trial without undue delay. The law provides for the right to counsel at public expense if the prosecutor charges the defendant with a serious crime. Courts did not always appoint defense attorneys where the maximum prison sentence was less than five years. Authorities generally gave defense attorneys adequate time and facilities to prepare their clients defense. The law provides defendants the right to confront witnesses, to present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf, to access government-held evidence relevant to their case, and to appeal verdicts. Authorities generally respected most of these rights, which extend to all defendants. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies The law provides for individuals and organizations to seek civil remedies for human rights violations and provides for the appeal of decisions to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The government failed to comply with many decisions pertaining to human rights by the country's courts. The court system suffered from large backlogs of cases and the lack of an effective mechanism to enforce court orders. Inefficiency in the courts undermined the rule of law by making recourse to civil judgments less effective. The government's failure to comply with court decisions led plaintiffs to bring cases before the ECHR. Property Restitution The four "traditional" religious communities (Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Jewish) had extensive claims for restitution of property nationalized during and after World War II. In the absence of a state restitution law governing the return of nationalized properties, many government officials used such properties as tools for ethnic and political manipulation. In a few cases, government officials refused to return properties legally recognized as belonging to religious institutions. Roma displaced during the 1992-95 conflict had difficulty repossessing their property because of discrimination and because they lacked documents proving ownership or had never registered their property with local authorities. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The law provides for freedom of speech and press, but governmental respect for these rights continued to deteriorate during the year. Intimidation, harassment, and threats against journalists and media outlets intensified, while media coverage continued to reflect ethnic and political allegiances. Deterioration of the political situation further encouraged reporting that incited political and ethnic intolerance. Absence of transparency in media ownership remained a problem. In the RS, authorities sporadically implemented a law enacted in 2015 restricting internet speech critical of officials and other individuals. Freedom of Speech and Expression: The law prohibits expression that provokes racial, ethnic, or other forms of intolerance, to include "hate speech," but authorities did not enforce these restrictions. There were no new legal or administrative measures restricting freedom of speech adopted during the first nine months of the year. According to data from the BiH Journalists' Association covering 2006 to 2015, authorities prosecuted only 15 percent of reported criminal acts committed against journalists and investigated less than one-third of all cases alleging violation of journalists' rights. In response, the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees and relevant state-level parliamentary committees began documenting violations of freedom of expression. The BiH Journalists' Association subsequently noted increased readiness on the part of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices to address violations of press freedom. Independent analysts noted the continuing tendency of politicians and other leaders to label unwanted criticism as hate speech or national treason. As of August, the official Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) registered one complaint alleging hate speech, which it rejected. By the end of August, the self-regulatory BiH Press Council received 118 complaints related to hate speech. The council determined that, in the first eight months of the year, there were 39 cases of incitement and speech spreading hate. Most instances occurred in online media. Press and Media Freedoms: The law prohibiting expression that provokes racial, ethnic, or other forms of intolerance applies to print and broadcast media, the publication of books, and online newspapers and journals but was not enforced. Laws delegate responsibility for safeguarding freedom of the press in most instances to the cantons in the Federation and to the entity-level authorities in the RS. Numerous outlets continued to express a wide variety of views, but coverage diverged along political and ethnic lines, and media outlets continued to be subject to excessive influence from governments, political parties, and private interest groups. A number of independent print-media outlets continued to encounter financial problems that endangered their operations. Authorities continued to exert pressure on media outlets to discourage some forms of expression, and party and governmental control over the major information outlets narrowed the range of opinions represented in both entities. Public broadcasters remained under strong pressure from government and political forces due to a lack of long-term financial stability and dependence on politically controlled funding sources. These factors limited their independence and resulted in news that was consistently subjective and politically biased. The public broadcasters Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), Radio and Television of the Republika Srpska (RTRS), and Federation Radio and Television (FTV) faced continued financial instability due to the loss of dedicated tax revenue. The nationwide public broadcaster BHRT, whose content was assessed as being the most balanced and politically neutral, announced on May 30 that it may be forced to suspend programming due to lack of funds. Institutional instability within the governing structures of the FTV continued, leaving the Federation entity public broadcaster vulnerable to political pressure. While the FTV continued to demonstrate layers of political bias, the RS government directly controlled the RTRS, using it as a mouthpiece for the RS political establishment. The entity governments further undercut the independence of their respective broadcasters by excluding the CRA from the process of appointing governing boards for the broadcasters. Remaining subject to competing political interests, the various authorities failed to establish a public broadcasting service corporation to oversee the operations of all public broadcasters in the country as the law requires. Violence and Harassment: Intimidation and threats against journalists continued during the year. There were instances of intimidation and politically motivated litigation against journalists for unfavorable reporting on government leaders and authorities. As of December, the Free Media Help Line recorded 58 cases involving violations of journalists' rights and freedoms or pressure from government and law enforcement officials. On March 13, several participants of a Serbian ultranationalist rally in Ravna Gora near the city of Visegrad verbally and physically assaulted an N1 television news crew and forced an FTV crew to cease filming. The N1 crew notified police, who arrested one assailant several hours later. The vice president of the Federation, the Sarajevo Canton prime minister, the chairman of the state-level Council of Ministers, the Association of BiH Journalists, the FTV and N1 editorial boards, and many political parties and NGOs condemned the attack. On May 14, while reporting on simultaneous opposition and ruling party political rallies in Banja Luka, a BNTV crew was verbally assaulted by a group that called them traitors and demanded they leave the site of the rally. At the same event, an unidentified assailant physically assaulted RTL Croatia reporter Petar Panjikota, punching him in the head during a live broadcast. BNTV journalist Vladimir Kovacevic later received written threats via Facebook from Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) activist Brane Covickovic, who was dissatisfied with Kovacevic's coverage of the event. The Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the OSCE, the Association of BiH Journalists, the Banja Luka Club of Journalists, and the Croatian Journalists' Association, among others, condemned the attacks and urged authorities to investigate. On May 25, Luka Petrovic, the general secretary of the SNSD and member of the RS National Assembly, allegedly threatened Dragisa Sikimic, the editor in chief of the web portal MojaHercegovina.info. Dissatisfied with the portal's reporting, Pertrovic reportedly told Sikimic that "those who play with fire would get burned" and threatened a lawsuit intended to bankrupt the online daily. He allegedly also insulted Sikimic because of a physical disability. In response the Association of BiH Journalists sent a written warning to Petrovic and demanded a public apology. The OSCE representative for freedom of the media also condemned the incident. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Some political parties attempted to influence editorial policies and media content through legal and financial measures. As a result, some media outlets practiced self-censorship. In some instances, media sources reported that officials threatened outlets with loss of advertising or limited their access to official information. Prevailing practices indicated that close connections between major advertisers and political circles allowed for biased distribution of advertising time. Public companies, most of which were under the control of political parties, remained the key advertisers. Outlets critical of ruling parties claimed they faced difficulties in obtaining advertising. Internet Freedom The state government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that it monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. The law prohibits expression provoking racial, ethnic, or other intolerance, to include hate speech. Authorities did not enforce these prohibitions for online media. In the RS, authorities sporadically implemented a controversial 2015 law that declared that internet-based social networks were part of the public domain and provided fines for "insulting or disturbing" content, not clearly defined, published on the internet. In April 2015 authorities detained Sanel Menzil from Kotor Varos for a comment posted on his Facebook account regarding an attack on a police station in Zvornik several days earlier. According to media reports, Menzil condemned the attack but criticized the decision by Federation authorities to declare a day of mourning. In May 2015 Adis Kusmic from Banja Luka was among 31 arrested in a RS Police operation after posting a Facebook comment critical of the RS president, Milorad Dodik. Both Menzil and Kusmic were interviewed by police but never arrested. Media reports in August asserted that authorities had invoked the RS law on 11 different occasions in the preceding 18 months, mostly for insults and threats posted on Facebook; in most instances, the perpetrators reportedly were fined. Adoption of the law initially met negative and strong reaction from journalists, NGOs, opposition political parties, and the international community in the country. In late June, the RS Constitutional Court rejected as unfounded an appeal submitted jointly by Transparency International, the BiH Journalists' Association, and the Banja Luka Club of Journalists that challenged the legality and constitutionality of the legislation. According to the CRA's annual report for 2015, approximately 72 percent of the population used the internet that year. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no major government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. The country's eight public universities remained segregated along ethnic lines, including their curriculums, diplomas, and relevant school activities. Professors sometimes used prejudicial language in their lectures. The selection of textbooks and school materials reinforced discrimination and prejudice. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly The law provides for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected this right. In the RS, assembly in front of public institutions is prohibited. According to an October 2015 law in the Tuzla Canton drafted in response to previous violent protests, police were permitted to limit access to public buildings and facilities as they deemed necessary. Freedom of Association The law provides for freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right, although some NGOs reported difficulties registering as official entities with the government. Several NGOs expressed frustration over the lengthy bureaucratic procedures required for registration at the state level. Cooperation between the government and civil society organizations at the state and entity levels remained weak or nonexistent, while government support for civil society organizations remained nontransparent, particularly regarding the allocation of funds. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation and includes measures to avoid statelessness. The government generally respected these rights, but some restrictions remained. Abuse of Migrants, Refugees, and Stateless Persons: Authorities routinely placed asylum seekers in the immigration detention center without documenting their asylum requests and frequently issued expulsion and detention orders to would-be asylum seekers without giving them an opportunity to present asylum applications. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), authorities held five individuals seeking asylum from Serbia and one from Turkey at the immigration detention center during the first six months of the year. Information on the right to seek asylum appeared not to be readily available to potential asylum seekers in the detention center. UNHCR expressed concern foreigners in detention may not have access to asylum procedures and authorities may prematurely return some potential asylum seekers under readmission agreements. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance for IDPs, refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) During the 1992-95 conflict, approximately one million individuals became IDPs. Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees statistics indicated that 98,324 persons still held IDP status. The majority of Bosniaks and Croats fled the RS, while Serbs fled the Federation. At the beginning of the year, UNHCR was providing protection and/or assistance to 84,500 IDPs. According to UNHCR, 20 years after the war, an estimated 7,000 persons, including IDPs, continued to live in collective accommodations, located throughout the country and meant to be temporary. A substantial number of IDPs and returnees lived in substandard conditions that affected their livelihoods. The Dayton Peace Accords provide for the right of persons displaced by the conflict to return to their homes. The country's constitution and laws provide for the voluntary return or resettlement of IDPs consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. While the rate of physical violence against minority returnees subsided significantly after the war, isolated attacks continued. These attacks were generally not investigated or prosecuted adequately. Minority returnees continued to face obstacles in exercising their rights in places of return. There were no formal restrictions on IDP access to humanitarian organizations and assistance, but procedures for applying were complicated, and IDPs often could not afford to pay the associated costs. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The country adopted a new Law on Asylum, which entered into force in February. The law provides for the granting of asylum (refugee or subsidiary protection status), and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. Asylum seekers with pending claims have a right to accommodation at the asylum center until the Ministry of Security adjudicates their claims, a process that normally took three months or longer. Asylum seekers have the right to appeal a negative decision within 15 days in regular procedure cases and within eight days in urgent cases. In urgent cases a court must render a decision within 30 days. The system for providing protection to refugees continued to suffer from a lack of transparency. UNHCR reported that applicants for refugee status did not have legal assistance, that there were no clear standards of proof or methods of assessing the credibility of claims, and that guidelines for determining whether there was a risk of persecution were unduly strict. UNHCR also expressed concern regarding the detention of potential asylum seekers who may be denied access to asylum procedures and returned under readmission agreements. Safe Country of Origin/Transit: The law provides for the application of the concept of "safe country of origin or safe third country." Under this provision, authorities may deny asylum to applicants who cannot prove they were unable to return to their country of origin or to any country of transit without risking refoulement. Durable Solutions: The laws provide a program for integration, resettlement, and return. The country was party to a regional housing program facilitated by UNHCR and the OSCE to provide durable solutions for up to 74,000 refugees and displaced persons from four countries in the region, including 14,000 of the most vulnerable refugees, returnees, and IDPs from the BiH. A protracted process of selecting beneficiaries due to capacity and management problems resulted in extended delays in the reconstruction of homes for the beneficiaries. As of December, 100 families received housing assistance. A continuing problem was the fragmented institutional setup that added layers of administrative delays in implementing durable solutions. Another was a political imperative in the country to select beneficiaries proportionally among its constituent peoples for a program designed to select beneficiaries based on vulnerability criteria. Amendments to the country's citizenship law, enacted in 2013 and adopted by the RS in 2014 and by the Federation in May, allow for naturalization of refugees after five years' residence. Authorities naturalized 16 refugees residing in the RS during the first six months of the year. Temporary Protection: The government provided subsidiary protection status to individuals who may not qualify as refugees. In the first six months of the year, authorities provided subsidiary protection to four individuals and extended existing protection to eight individuals. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and the law provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections based on universal and equal suffrage. Citizens generally exercised this right, but observers noted a number of shortcomings. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: General elections held in 2014 were competitive with candidates and political parties freely campaigning and presenting their programs. According to ODIHR, the Central Election Commission (CEC) administered the elections efficiently, but other international observers provided numerous, credible descriptions of political parties manipulating the makeup of the polling station committees, which endangered the integrity of the election process. There were also reports of problems with the counting process due to inadequate knowledge of appropriate procedures among polling station committee members. According to ODIHR, the campaign finance regulatory system was not adequate to assure the transparency, integrity, and accountability of election processes. Municipal elections held in October 2016 were assessed by election monitors from a coalition of local NGOs as having been conducted overall in accordance with electoral law. Political Parties and Political Participation: Some leaders of smaller political parties complained that the larger parties enjoyed a virtual monopoly over government ministries, public services, and media outlets, where membership in a dominant party was a prerequisite for advancement. Participation of Women and Minorities: Although no laws limit the participation of women in the political process, the country's patriarchal culture tended to restrict active women's participation in political affairs. While the law requires that at least 40 percent of a political party's candidates be women, women held only 23 of 152 ministerial seats at the state level. Women won election to 13 percent (two out of 15) of the positions in the country's House of Peoples and two of the nine ministerial positions in the country's Council of Ministers. The law provides that Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, whom the constitution considers the "constituent peoples" of the country, as well as undefined "others," must be adequately represented at all levels. The government did not respect this requirement. Apart from the three constituent peoples, the country's 16 recognized national minority groups remained significantly underrepresented in government. There were no members of a minority group in the state-level parliament. The government made no effort to implement changes required by ECHR rulings dating back to 2009 that the country's constitution discriminates against "others," such as Jews and Roma, by preventing them from running for the presidency and seats in the parliament's upper house. On June 10, the ECHR ruled in favor of Ilijaz Pilav, a Bosniak surgeon from Srebrenica, who sued the state when the CEC denied him certification as a candidate for the country's presidency in both 2006 and 2010. The ECHR unanimously ruled that the state violated the European Convention on Human Rights by discriminating against Pilav and ordered it to pay him 6,600 euros ($7,300). The government also failed to implement a 2014 ECHR ruling in favor of Azra Zornic, who had been found ineligible to run for the country's presidency and the House of Peoples because she refused to declare affiliation with any particular ethnic group. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government did not implement the law effectively nor prioritize public corruption as a serious problem. Officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity, and corruption remained prevalent in many political and economic institutions. Corruption: While the public viewed corruption as endemic in the public sphere, there was little public demand for the prosecution of corrupt officials. The multitude of state, entity, cantonal, and municipal administrations, each with the power to establish laws and regulations affecting business, created a system that lacked transparency and provided opportunities for corruption. The multilevel government structure gave corrupt officials multiple opportunities to demand "service fees." According to professors and students, corruption continued at all levels of the higher education system. Professors at a number of universities reported that bribery was common and that they experienced pressure from colleagues and superiors to give higher grades to students with family or political connections. There were credible allegations of corruption in public procurement, public employment, and health-care services. Financial Disclosure: Candidates for high-level public office, including for parliament at the state and entity levels and for the Council of Ministers and entity government positions, are subject to financial disclosure laws, although observers noted the laws fell short of standards established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and other international organizations. The Central Election Commission is responsible for overseeing compliance with the laws. Authorities generally failed to make financial disclosure declarations public, ostensibly because of conflicts between the laws on financial disclosure and protection of personal information. Financial disclosure laws do not provide adequate investigative authority and enforcement mechanisms. As a result, public officials and their relatives often declared only a fraction of their total assets and liabilities. The law provides criminal sanctions for failure to comply with financial disclosure requirements, but authorities did not apply those sanctions during the first 10 months of the year. Public Access to Information: The law provides for citizen access to government records, and government agencies generally complied with the law. Citizen groups rarely took advantage of the law, due in part to provisions that give government authorities the discretionary right to withhold information if deemed in the institution's interest. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A variety of human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials in both the Federation and the RS attempted at times to limit NGO activities, particularly in the RS. Many groups complained that the NGO registration process, which could last up to a year, remained overly complex and protracted. NGOs reported weak cooperation with the government, and both entities lacked official mechanisms for cooperation between NGOs and government. While the Council of Ministers could return draft legislation that had not undergone consultation with NGOs, it did not employ this mechanism. The Council of Ministers largely excluded NGOs from politically important or sensitive decisions. NGOs nevertheless continued to expand cooperation with the government at lower levels. Due to inefficiency, procedures to register an NGO or change its organizational statute took significantly longer than prescribed by law. The most difficult problem for civil society organizations, however, was lack of adequate funding. Most were dependent on either governmental or international assistance. Local governments generally extended support to NGOs, provided the governing parties did not consider them threats. There were no mechanisms to insulate NGOs from the political, religious, and ethnic considerations that affected the support they received from state and entity governments. The United Nations or Other International Bodies: The RS government was less responsive and cooperative than the state and Federation governments in dealing with the Office of the High Representative, which was created by the Dayton Accords and given special executive powers in the country. Government Human Rights Bodies: A state-level ombudsman has authority to investigate violations of the country's human rights laws on behalf of individual citizens and to submit legally nonbinding recommendations to the government for remedy. The Office of the Ombudsman reported that in 2015 it reviewed more than 340 cases and issued 324 recommendations, of which approximately 50 percent were implemented. The largest number of cases pertained to harassment in the work place (37), discrimination based on ethnicity (13), discrimination based on ethnic or social origin (eight), and discrimination based on education (eight). Members of the international community noted that the ombudsman lacked the resources to function effectively and had to contend with disagreement between representatives of the country's three constituent peoples over what constitutes a human rights violation. A Bosniak, a Croat, and a Serb shared leadership of the ombudsman institution. The state-level parliament has a Joint Commission for Human Rights. The 12-member commission participated in human rights-related activities with the governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The maximum penalty for rape, including spousal rape, is 15 years in prison. A sense of shame among rape victims and the failure of police to treat spousal rape as a serious offense inhibited the effective enforcement of the law. Rape, particularly spousal rape, was often unreported by victims and underreported by authorities. According to Federation Gender Center statistics, 53 percent of women above the age of 15 had experienced some form of violence or abuse. A separate study sampling 3,300 households in the country indicated that one in every four women was a survivor of violence and that, for one in every 10 women, the violence had occurred within the previous year. The most frequent victims were women between the ages of 18 and 24. The study also revealed that only 5.5 percent of women experiencing violence sought help. Violence against women, including sexual assault and domestic violence, remained widespread and underreported. While laws in both entities empower authorities to remove the perpetrator from the home, officials rarely, if ever, made use of these provisions. Law enforcement officials were frequently under the mistaken impression that they needed to concern themselves with where the perpetrator would live. As a result, women in danger were compelled to go to safe houses. NGOs reported that authorities, especially in the RS, where domestic violence is a misdemeanor, often returned offenders to their family homes less than 24 hours after a violent event. In the Federation, authorities had discretion to prosecute domestic violence as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Experts estimated that only 10 percent of domestic violence victims reported the crime. The country undertook several initiatives to combat rape and domestic violence. In July 2015 the government adopted an official strategy for 2015-19 to combat domestic violence and violence against women. In August the BiH Gender Equality Agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the country's nine safe houses run by NGOs, which could collectively accommodate up to 200 victims at a time. Financing the safe houses, some of which doubled as shelters for trafficking victims, remained problematic. NGO representatives asserted there was a need for at least double the existing capacity. Despite government efforts, women did not fully use available legal remedies because they either lacked knowledge of the laws or were concerned about the possible consequences of revealing such violence. In addition, although police received specialized training in handling cases of domestic violence, NGOs reported widespread reluctance among police officers in both entities to break up families by arresting offenders. Social service agencies experienced inadequate funding, staff, and training in helping victims effectively. A multitude of NGOs dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence sought to fill this void. Nine of them formed a strong cooperative arrangement called Safe Network. The network developed two hotlines one for each entity that women could call when they needed services but were reluctant to contact police. The hotlines had received an estimated 2,500 calls by the end of July. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment, but it was a serious problem. NGOs reported that those who experienced sexual harassment almost never filed complaints because they did not know the treatment they experienced was illegal or that they had a right to legal protection against it. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; to manage their reproductive health; and to have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. Discrimination: The law provides for the same legal status and rights for women as for men, and authorities generally treated women equally. The law does not explicitly require equal pay for equal work, but it forbids gender discrimination. Women and men generally received equal pay for equal work at government-owned enterprises but not at all private businesses. A special report published by the human rights ombudsmen in 2015 regarding protections for mothers revealed widespread discrimination against women in the workplace, including the regular unwarranted dismissal of women because they were pregnant or new mothers. Many job announcements openly advertised discriminatory criteria, such as age and physical appearance, for employment of female applicants. Women remained underrepresented in law enforcement agencies. Children Birth registration: By law a child born to at least one citizen parent is a citizen regardless of the child's place of birth. A child born on the territory of the country to parents who are unknown or stateless is entitled to BiH citizenship. Parents generally registered their children immediately after they were born, but there were exceptions, particularly in the Romani community. One Romani NGO, Be My Friend, reported discovering between 10 and 15 unregistered Romani children annually. The NGO Vasa Prava estimated there were slightly fewer than 80 unregistered children in the country. UNHCR, with the legal assistance of a domestic NGO, registered the births of children, mainly Roma, whose parents failed to register them. Unregistered children experienced significant obstacles in accessing government social, educational, and health benefits. Education: Education was free through the secondary level but compulsory only from age six through 15. Child Abuse: Family violence against children was a problem. Police investigated and prosecuted individual cases of child abuse. The country's Agency for Gender Equality estimated that one in five families experienced domestic violence. Municipal centers for social work are responsible for protecting children's rights but lacked resources and the ability to provide housing for children who fled abuse or who required removal from abusive homes. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage is 18 but may be as young as 16 with parental consent. In certain Romani communities, girls married between the ages of 12 and 14. Children's rights and antitrafficking activists noted that prosecutors were reluctant to investigate and prosecute arranged marriages involving Romani minors on the grounds that such marriages were "their way." The government did not have any programs specifically designed to reduce the incidence of child marriage. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The state-level penalty for sexual exploitation of children is imprisonment for up to 10 years but may rise to 20 years under certain aggravating circumstances. At the entity level, penalties range from three to 15 years' imprisonment. On June 16, the Federation adopted long-anticipated amendments to its criminal code criminalizing sex trafficking, forced labor, and organized human trafficking. Prior to June, police in the Federation often categorized minors 14 and older as "juvenile prostitutes" rather than victims of rape or trafficking in persons. Women's and children's rights NGOs complained that the law previously allowed police to subject children between the ages of 14 and 17 to interrogation and criminal proceedings. Under entity criminal codes, the abuse of a child or juvenile for pornography is a crime that carries a sentence of one to five years in prison. Authorities generally enforced these laws. The law prohibits sexual acts with a child and defines a child as a person younger than 18. Girls were subjected to commercial sexual exploitation, and there were reports that Romani girls as young as 12 endured early and forced marriage and domestic servitude. Children were used in the production of pornography. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism There were no reports of anti-Semitic violence against members of the Jewish community, which authorities estimated to number fewer than 1,000 persons. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law in both entities and at the state level prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, air travel and other transportation, the judicial system, and the provision of other state services. In July the BiH parliament adopted revised amendments to the BiH Antidiscrimination Law that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on disability. Nevertheless, discrimination in these areas continued. The laws of both entities require increased accessibility to buildings for persons with disabilities, but authorities rarely enforced the requirement. Human rights NGOs complained that the construction of public buildings without access for persons with disabilities continued. The law enables children with disabilities to attend regular classes when feasible. Due to lack of financial and physical resources, schools often reported that they were unable to accommodate them. Children with disabilities either attended classes using regular curricula in regular schools or attended special schools. Parents of children with disabilities, especially of those with extensive disabilities, faced many obstacles, and authorities generally left them on their own to provide education for their children, although a growing number of programs for children with disabilities were available in schools and through NGOs. Parents of children with significant disabilities reported receiving limited to no financial support from the government, despite the fact that many of them were unemployed because of the round-the-clock care required for their dependents. NGOs also complained that the government did not effectively implement laws and programs to help persons with disabilities. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities Minorities experienced discrimination in employment and education in both the government and private sectors. While the law prohibits discrimination, human rights activists frequently complained that authorities did not adequately enforce the law. Harassment and discrimination against minorities continued throughout the country. Examples included desecration of graves, graffiti, arson, and vandalism of houses of worship and other religious sites, verbal harassment, dismissal from work, threats, and physical assaults. In some cases, incidents were related to property disputes. Violence and acts of intimidation against ethnic minorities often focused on symbols and buildings of that minority's predominant religion. For more information, see the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. For the fourth year in a row, parents of more than 500 Bosniak children in returnee communities throughout the RS continued to boycott public schools in favor of sending their children to alternative schooling financed and organized by the Federation Ministry of Education, with support from the Sarajevo Canton municipal government and the Islamic community. The grounds for the boycott remained the refusal by the RS Ministry of Education to approve a group of national subjects and its insistence on formally calling the language children learn in their respective public schools the "language of Bosniak people" instead of the "Bosnian language," as described in the country's national constitution. Parents accused RS authorities of denying them their constitutional right to study their language, provided for under their country's international obligations, while RS authorities continued to insist they were abiding by the RS constitution. Human rights activists noted that many textbooks reinforced stereotypes of the country's ethnic groups and others missed opportunities to dispel stereotypes by excluding any mention of some ethnic groups, particularly Jews and Roma. State and entity officials generally did not act to prevent such discrimination. Human Rights Watch asserted that ethnic quotas used by the Federation and the RS to allocate civil service jobs disproportionately excluded Roma and other minorities. The quotas were based on the 1991 census, which undercounted these minorities. On June 30, the BiH Statistics Agency released long-overdue 2013 census results but failed to distinguish the size of the Romani population. Estimates of the Romani population in the country ranged from 25,000, as recorded by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, to 60-80,000, as reported by several Roma advocacy NGOs. Roma experienced discrimination in access to housing, health care, education, and employment opportunities. Romani leaders reported that discrimination in access to social benefits and employment led to a significant increase in the number of Roma who emigrated and sought asylum broad. While there were no official statistics available, it was estimated that at least 1,500 Romani families had left the country during the previous two years seeking asylum in either Germany or Sweden. Many were thought to have been seeking improved access to health care for chronically ill family members. Roma continued to experience more discrimination than any other segment of the population. Almost 97 percent of them remained unemployed. A significant percentage were homeless or without water or electricity in their homes. Many dwellings were overcrowded, and residents lacked proof of property ownership. Approximately three-fourths lived in openly segregated neighborhoods. Roma had significantly less access to health insurance than other groups, and infant mortality among Roma was four times greater than among the rest of the population. Authorities frequent discriminated against Roma, which contributed to their exclusion by society. Many human rights NGOs criticized law enforcement and government authorities for widespread indifference toward Romani victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, even though the majority of registered trafficking victims in recent years were members of the Romani community. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity While law at the state level prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, authorities did not fully enforce it. In April the Federation parliament amended the criminal code to include laws criminalizing hate crimes. As a result, both entities and the Brcko District have laws that criminalize any form of hate crime committed on the basis of the race, skin color, religious belief, national or ethnic origin, language, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity of the victim. According to the criminal codes, the commission of a hate crime may also be considered a motive or aggravating circumstance and therefore require harsher punishment for qualified criminal acts. Despite improved legislation, LGBTI persons faced frequent harassment and discrimination, including termination of employment. In some cases, dismissal letters explicitly stated that sexual orientation was the cause of termination, making it extremely difficult for those dismissed to find another job. In the face of such risks, LGBTI persons rarely reported discrimination to police. During the year both entity governments for the first time adopted public policies intended to address LGBTI issues by creating official gender action plans. The prosecution of cases for crimes including assault committed against members of the LGBTI community remained delayed and generally inadequate. Two years following an attack that injured several organizers and participants in the Merlinka LGBTI Film Festival in Sarajevo, criminal proceedings continued. In March, four individuals assaulted patrons and staff of a known LGBTI-friendly establishment while shouting homophobic epithets. Police detained, interviewed, and promptly released the perpetrators in what was officially classified a misdemeanor offense. In 2015 the Sarajevo Open Center documented 103 cases of hate speech and incitement to violence as well as 20 criminal offenses motivated by prejudices based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma Significant social stigma and employment discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS remained among members of the public as well as health workers, due largely to a lack of public understanding of the nature of the infection. A Sarajevo-based NGO that provides support to individuals with HIV/AIDS reported that infected persons experienced the greatest stigma and discrimination when seeking dental treatment. Other Societal Violence or Discrimination Societal discrimination and occasional violence against ethnic minorities at times took the form of attacks on places symbolic of those minorities, including on religious buildings. According to the Interreligious Council, an NGO that promotes interreligious dialogue among the four "traditional" religious communities (Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Jewish), attacks against religious symbols, clerics, and property decreased in the first eight months of the year, compared with the same period in 2015. Promotion of Acts of Discrimination There were widespread instances of media coverage and public discourse designed to portray members of other ethnic groups in negative terms, usually in relation to the 1992-95 war. During the year the RS president and senior officials in his political party as well as other officials and leaders in the RS repeatedly denied that Serb forces committed genocide at Srebrenica in 1995, despite the opposite findings of multiple local and international courts. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The new Federation and the RS labor laws provide for the right of workers in both entities to form and join independent unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. Employers in the private sector did not always respect these rights. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination but does not provide adequately for enforcement of these protections. The labor inspectorates and courts did not deal effectively with employees' complaints of antiunion discrimination. The law prescribes reinstatement of dismissed workers in cases where there is evidence of discrimination, whether for union activity or other reasons. Entity-level laws in the Federation and the RS prohibit the firing of union leaders without prior approval of their respective labor ministries. The law in both entities and in the Brcko District provides for the right to strike. The law in the Federation contains burdensome requirements for workers who wish to conduct a strike. Trade unions may not officially announce a strike without first reaching an agreement with the employer on which "essential" personnel would remain at work. Authorities may declare the strike illegal if no agreement is reached. This provision effectively allowed employers to prevent strikes. Laws governing the registration of unions give the minister of justice powers to accept or reject trade union registration on ambiguous grounds. According to informal estimates, approximately 40 percent of the work force was unregistered and working in the informal economy. Approximately 20 percent of the labor force in the informal economy worked without legal protections, such as contracts, access to health insurance, and eventual retirement benefits. In August 2015 the Federation adopted a new labor law that entered into force in April. The delay in implementation was due to a Constitutional Court ruling stating that there was a procedural error in passing the legislation, so the House of Peoples had to reapprove it. As a result, trade unions, employers, and the government had to agree on new collective bargaining agreements that regulate matters such as minimum wages and various allowances. The RS also passed a new labor law, which entered into force in January. Negotiations between unions, employers, and the government on new collective bargaining agreements that will regulate minimum wage, wage increases based on experience, and other benefits and nontaxable allowances were still in progress there. The government did not effectively enforce all applicable laws. Authorities did not impose sanctions against employers who prevented workers from organizing. Inspections related to worker rights were limited. Ministry inspectors gave low priority to violations of worker rights; state officials focused instead on bolstering state revenues by cracking down on unregistered employees and employers who did not pay taxes. Some unions reported that employers threatened employees with dismissal if they joined a union and in some cases fired union leaders for their activities. The Federation penalty for discriminating acts against unions or their members was 1,000 to 3,000 convertible marks ($540 to $1,620) and 5,000 to 10,000 convertible marks ($2,7 to $5,400) for repeated violations, while the RS penalty was 2,000 to 12,000 convertible marks ($1,080 to $6,480) and a minimum of 5,000 convertible marks ($2,700) for repeated violations. Entity-level penalties for violations included monetary fines that were not sufficient to deter violations. Judicial procedures were subject to lengthy delays and appeals. Authorities and employers sometimes failed to respect freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. The governments and organizations of employers and workers in both entities negotiated general collective agreements establishing conditions of work, including in particular private employers. It was not confirmed that all employers recognized these agreements. Trade union representatives alleged that antiunion discrimination was widespread in all districts. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. Federation laws do not criminalize trafficking activities, but adequate legislation exists at the state level and in the RS and the Brcko District. The government did not enforce these laws effectively, but there was little verified evidence that forced labor occurred in the country. Penalties for violations range from three to 10 years in prison and were generally sufficient to deter violations, but resources, inspections, and remediation were inadequate. The prosecution of 13 BiH nationals for collusion in forced labor involving 672 victims of forced labor who were trafficked to Azerbaijan in 2015 continued in BiH court. There were reports that individuals and organized crime syndicates trafficked men, women, and children for begging and forced labor (see section 7.c.). Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The minimum age for employment of children in both entities is 15; minors between the ages of 15 and 18 must provide a valid health certificate to work. RS and Brcko District laws penalize employers for hiring persons younger than 15. The labor codes of the Federation, the RS, and the Brcko District also prohibit minors between the ages of 15 and 18 from working at night or performing hazardous labor, although the Federation's labor code does not define hazardous labor. Entity governments are responsible for enforcing child labor laws, and both entities and the Brcko District enforced them. Boys and girls were subjected to forced begging and involuntary domestic servitude in forced marriages. Sometimes forced begging was linked to other forms of human trafficking. In the case of Romani children, family members or organized criminal groups were responsible for both subjecting girls and boys to forced begging and domestic servitude in forced marriages. Several of the worst forms of child labor occurring in the country included the use of children for illicit activities, commercial sexual exploitation of children, and the use of children for the production of pornography (see section 6, Children). During the year the government did not receive reports of child labor at places of employment. Neither entity had inspectors dedicated to child labor inspections; authorities investigated violations of child labor laws as part of a general labor inspection. The labor inspectorates of both entities reported that they found no violations of child labor laws, although they did not conduct reviews of children working on family farms. The government did not collect data on child labor. The general perception among officials and civil society was that exploitation of child labor was rare. RS law imposes fines for employing children younger than 16, but the law does not specify the exact monetary amount. Penalties were usually sufficient to deter violations. During 2015 NGOs running day centers in Banja Luka, Tuzla, Mostar, Bijeljina, Bihac, and Sarajevo in cooperation with the country's antitrafficking coordinator provided services to 129 at-risk children, many of whom were involved in forced begging on the streets. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation Labor laws and regulations related to employment or occupation prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, gender, disability, language, sexual orientation or gender identity, HIV-positive status, other communicable diseases, social status, religion, and national origin. The government generally enforced these laws and regulations effectively. Discrimination in employment and occupation occurred with respect to race, gender, disability, language, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, HIV-positive status, and social status (see section 6). e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The monthly minimum wage in the Federation was 410 convertible marks ($221). In the RS, the monthly minimum wage was 370 convertible marks ($200), except in the textile and footwear sectors, where it was 320 convertible marks ($172). Brcko District did not have a separate minimum wage or an independent pension fund, and employers typically used the minimum wage rate of the entity to which its workers decided to direct their pension funds. The legal workweek in both entities and the Brcko District is 40 hours, although seasonal workers may work up to 60 hours. The law limits overtime to 10 hours per week in both entities. An employee in the RS may legally volunteer for an additional 10 hours of overtime in exceptional circumstances. The Federation has no provision for premium pay, while the RS requires a 30 percent premium. Laws in both entities require a minimum rest period of 30 minutes during the workday. Employers in each entity and the Brcko District must provide a minimum of nine paid annual holidays. Employees may choose which holidays to observe depending on ethnic or religious affiliation. Entity labor laws prohibit excessive compulsory overtime. The entities and the Brcko District did little to enforce regulations on working hours, daily and weekly rest, or annual leave. The Federation Market Inspectorate, the RS Inspectorate, and the Brcko District Inspectorate are responsible for enforcement of labor laws in the formal economy. There were 110 market inspectors in the Federation, 61 in the RS, and 11 in the Brcko District. Authorities in the two entities and the Brcko District did not adequately enforce labor regulations. Penalties for violations of the law are 1,000 to 7,000 convertible marks ($540 to $3,780) in the Federation and 5,000 to 20,000 convertible marks ($2,700 to $10,800) in the RS. The penalties for wage and safety violations were generally sufficient to deter violations. The Federation and the RS set mandatory occupational health and safety standards, especially for those industry sectors in which there were working conditions were hazardous. Worker rights extended to all official (i.e., registered) workers, including migrant and temporary workers. Governments in both entities made only limited efforts to improve occupational safety and health at government-owned coalmines; such efforts were inadequate for the safety and security of workers. Workers in certain industries, particularly metal and steel processing and coal mining, often worked in hazardous conditions. A collapse at the Zenica coalmine in 2014 resulted in five deaths and 29 injuries to coalmine workers. There were no official social protections for workers in the informal economy. Workers could not remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing their employment. Authorities provided no protection to employees in this situation. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Bhutan Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Bhutan, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a6ba.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Bhutan is a democratic, constitutional monarchy. King Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the head of state, with executive power vested in the cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. In July 2013 the country held its second general elections, in which the former opposition People's Democratic Party gained a majority of the seats in the National Assembly, resulting in the country's first democratic transfer of power to the opposition. International election observers reported the elections were generally free and fair. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Principal human rights problems included discriminatory treatment of religious and ethnic minorities and the government's refusal to readmit certain refugees that asserted claims to Bhutanese citizenship. Other human rights problems included continued incarceration of Nepali-speaking political prisoners arrested for alleged participation in antigovernment protests in the early 1990s, domestic violence, restrictions on freedom of assembly and association, social stigma against persons with disabilities, laws prohibiting consensual same-sex sexual activity, and reports of abuse of domestic workers. There were no reports of impunity by government security forces. There have been cases of police personnel charged under civil and criminal procedures. There have been no reports of criminal charges against military personnel. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution prohibits such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions generally met international standards. Physical Conditions: According to police, there were no separate prisons designated for women and children. Administration: Police administer the prison system; there was no available information regarding recordkeeping on prisoners. Independent Monitoring: No international human rights groups sought access to monitor prisons during the year. The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) has not renewed its memorandum of understanding with the Government of Bhutan since 2012 and did not request access to prisons during the reporting period. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest or detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) is responsible for internal security. The Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) is responsible for defending against external threats but also has responsibility for some internal security functions, including counterinsurgency operations, protection of forests, and security for prominent persons. The RBP reports to the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, and the king is the supreme commander in chief of the RBA. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the army and police, and the government has effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. There were no reports of impunity involving security forces during the year. The army and police have procedures to conduct internal investigations of alleged personnel misconduct. Official courts of inquiry adjudicate the allegations. The king or a senior official makes the final determination on the outcome of a case. By law the Police Service Board, made up of senior police personnel and a Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs representative, investigates cases of abuse. Police officers can face criminal prosecution for human rights violations. The RBP has institutional reviews, human rights training, and accountability procedures for its personnel. The Civil and Criminal Procedure Code (CCPC) also provides an avenue to check on any abuse of power in criminal investigations by an investigating officer of the RBP. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Under the law, police may only arrest a person with a court-issued warrant or probable cause. Police generally respected the law. Police may perform "stop and frisk" searches only with a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed. Arresting authorities must issue an immediate statement of charges and engage in reasonable efforts to inform the family of the accused. The law requires authorities to bring an arrested person before a court within 24 hours, exclusive of travel time from the place of arrest. The law provides for prompt access to a lawyer and government provision of an attorney for indigent clients. Bail is available depending on the severity of charges and the suspect's criminal record, flight risk, and potential threat to the public. In addition, bail can be granted after the execution of the bail bond agreement. Remanded suspects can be held in police custody for 10 days pending investigation, which the court can extend to 49 days, and then again to 108 days in cases involving "heinous" crimes, should the investigating officer show adequate grounds. The law expressly prohibits pretrial detention beyond 108 days. Detainees may pursue a writ of habeas corpus to obtain a court-ordered release. Under the Anticorruption Act of Bhutan, an Anticorruption Commission is empowered to arrest without a warrant any person upon reasonable suspicion of the person having committed or about to commit an offense. The arrested individual must make a court appearance within 24 hours. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Trial Procedures The law stipulates that defendants must receive fair, speedy, and public trials, and the government generally respected this right. A preliminary hearing must be convened within 10 days of registration of a criminal matter with the appropriate court. Before registering any plea, courts must determine whether the accused is mentally sound and understands the consequences of entering a plea. Defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence, have the right to confront witnesses, and cannot be compelled to testify; cases must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt to obtain convictions. The government has prescribed a standing rule for all courts to clear all cases within a year of the case filing. The country has an inquisitorial judicial system, and there is no trial by jury. Defendants have the right to appeal to the High Court and may make a final appeal to the king, who traditionally delegates the decision to the Royal Advisory Council. Trials are conducted publicly although a court can order that press and the public be removed from the courtroom for part or all of the trial in the interest of justice. The law grants defendants and their attorneys access to state evidence. The court must provide the opportunity for the parties to present relevant evidence, including witness testimony. Prosecutors and defendants are allowed to conduct direct and cross-examination. Cases are tried pursuant to the CCPC. State-appointed prosecutors for the attorney general generally are responsible for filing charges and prosecuting cases for offenses against the state. In some cases other government departments, such as the Anticorruption Commission (ACC), file charges and conduct prosecutions. The law provides for the right to representation. Although this occurred frequently in criminal cases, in civil cases most defendants and plaintiffs represented themselves. The law states that criminal defendants may choose legal representation from a list of licensed advocates. The government promoted the use of judiciary websites for legal information as a means of self-help for defendants. There were no reports that the courts denied any groups the right to trial. Political Prisoners and Detainees Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) claimed that 28 political prisoners remained in Chamgang Central Jail in Thimphu. Most political prisoners were Nepali-speaking persons associated with protests in the early 1990s. Bhutanese officials claim those remaining in prison were convicted of violent crimes during demonstrations. The government reported that as of December 2016, there were 57 prisoners serving sentences resulting from convictions under the National Security Act or its related penal code provisions. No international monitors sought access to these prisoners. Since 2010 the government has released 47 political prisoners, including one granted amnesty by the king. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies The CCPC governs the resolution of criminal trials and civil litigation and states that a suit may be initiated by a litigant or a member of the litigant's family. The CCPC also provides for compensation to those detained or subjected to unlawful detention but later acquitted. Often local or community leaders assisted in resolving minor disputes. As plaintiffs and defendants often represented themselves in civil matters, judges typically took an active role in investigating and mediating civil disputes. The CCPC does not include a provision for appeal to regional human rights bodies. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution states that a person "shall not be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home, or correspondence, or to unlawful attacks on the person's honor and reputation." The government generally respected these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The law provides for freedom of speech and press. Citizens could publicly and privately criticize the government without reprisal. Freedom of Speech and Expression: The constitution provides for freedom of speech including for members of the press. Defamation can carry criminal penalties, and citizens were cautious in their expression, especially as it related to criticism of the royal family or government practices. Press and Media Freedoms: The media law does not provide specific protections for journalists or guarantee freedom of information. The media law also prohibits media outlets from supporting political parties. Media sources suggested that while there was commitment to media freedom at the highest levels, some media professionals continued to find bureaucrats unwilling to share information, especially on issues of corruption and violations of the law. Independent media outlets relied heavily on government advertisements for revenue, and most news outlets struggled to generate sufficient revenue to operate. Censorship or Content Restrictions: In its Freedom in the World 2016 report, Freedom House reported that a 2015 survey of 119 current and former Bhutanese journalists revealed general concerns about press freedom and access to information. Local contacts reported increased use of social media to raise complaints of official misconduct or abuse. Internet Freedom The government generally permitted individuals and groups to engage in peaceful expression of views via the internet. Government officials stated the government did not block access, restrict content, or censor websites. Freedom House reported the government occasionally blocked access to websites containing pornography or information deemed offensive to the state. Such blocked information typically did not extend to political content. The Annual Statistics 2015 of the Ministry of Information and Communications estimated the number of internet users at 61.15 percent of the population. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom and cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly While the constitution provides for the right to assemble peacefully, the government restricted this right. The 1992 National Security Act permits the government to control the public's right to assembly "to avoid breaches of the peace" by requiring licenses, prohibiting assembly in designated areas, and declaring curfew. The penal code prohibits "promotion of civil unrest" as an act that is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony among different nationalities, racial groups, castes, or religious groups. Freedom of Association The constitution provides for freedom of association, and the government permitted the registration of some political parties and organizations that were deemed "not harmful to the peace and unity of the country." Many of the NGOs in the country maintained formal or informal connections to members of the royal family. In its Freedom in the World 2016 report, Freedom House stated the government did not permit the operation of NGOs working on the status of Nepali-speaking refugees. Under the law, all NGOs must register with the government. In order to register an NGO, an individual must be a Bhutanese citizen, disclose his or her family income and assets, disclose his or her educational qualifications, and disclose any criminal records. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, but the government limited freedom of movement and repatriation. Freedom of movement often was restricted along ethnic lines. Rules established differences in citizenship categories and determined whether a person may be granted a "route permit" to travel internally or obtain a passport for international travel. (Bhutanese citizens are required to obtain a security clearance certificate to obtain a passport.) Foreign Travel: The law establishes different categories of citizenship under which foreign travel is restricted. NGOs reported these restrictions primarily affected ethnic Nepalis although children of single mothers who could not establish citizenship through a Bhutanese father were also affected. Exile: The law does not address forced exile, and there were no reported cases of forced exile during the year. In the early 1990s, the government reportedly forced between 80,000 and 100,000 Nepali-speaking residents to leave the country, following a series of decisions taken during the 1970s and 1980s establishing legal requirements for Bhutanese citizenship. As of September after years of international resettlement efforts, approximately 10,000 Nepali-speaking refugees remained in two refugee camps in Nepal administered by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In its Freedom in the World 2016 report, Freedom House stated, 18,000 Nepali-speaking refugees remain in Nepal as of late 2015. The Bhutanese government claimed UNHCR failed to screen individuals who originally entered these camps to determine whether they had any ties to Bhutan. Emigration and Repatriation: There continued to be delays in government consideration of claims to Bhutanese citizenship by refugees in Nepal. Citizenship: Under the constitution, only children whose parents can both be proven to be citizens of Bhutan can apply for citizenship up to their first birthday, after which a petition must be filed with the king to be granted citizenship. NGOs reported that approximately 9,000 applicants have received citizenship since 2006. In May, 163 persons from Tashichhodzong and in August, 93 from Mongar were granted citizenship by the king. The law provides for revocation of the citizenship of any naturalized citizen who "has shown by act or speech to be disloyal in any manner whatsoever to the king, country, and people." The law permits reapplication for citizenship after a two-year probationary period. The government can restore citizenship after successful completion of the probation and a finding that the individual was not responsible for any act against the government. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) reported that since the 1960s the country had sheltered Tibetan refugees who were initially located in seven settlements. The government reported that the Tibetans were integrated into society and that approximately 1,600 had applied for and received citizenship. As of July, there were 2,583 Tibetan refugees as per records maintained by the Department of Immigration. There are no current records of these refugees holding work permits. The CTA did not have an official presence in the country and did not provide social and economic assistance to Tibetans in Bhutan. The country's border with China was closed, and Tibetans generally did not transit the country en route to India. The Tibetan population in the country appears stable. It is decreasing as Tibetan refugees adopt Bhutanese citizenship according to the Department of Immigration. Employment: There were unconfirmed reports that some Tibetan refugees and some Nepali-speaking Bhutanese citizens could not obtain security clearances for government jobs, enroll in higher education, or obtain licenses to run private businesses. According to the government, all Bhutanese citizens are eligible for security clearances provided they do not have criminal records. Access to Basic Services: The government stated that Tibetan refugees have the same access to government-provided health care and education as citizens, and access was given routinely. According to the CTA, 13 Tibetan refugees have received licenses to run businesses. The CTA also said that while Tibetan refugees are not eligible for government employment, a few Tibetan refugees worked as teachers and health-care providers under temporary government contracts. They reportedly have difficulties traveling within and outside the country. Durable Solutions: Tibetan refugees could travel to India although many faced obstacles in obtaining travel permits. There were also reports the government did not provide the travel documents necessary for Tibetan refugees to travel beyond India. The government continued to delay implementing a process to identify and repatriate refugees with claims to Bhutanese residency or citizenship. Stateless Persons A nationwide census in 1985 resulted in a determination that many Nepali-speaking persons in Bhutan were not citizens, effectively rendering them stateless. The government alleged that they were not citizens because they could not prove they had been resident in the country in 1958. The census was repeated in 1988-89 in the southern districts. During the second round of the census, those who were deemed not to be citizens in 1985 could apply for citizenship provided they met certain conditions. Those who did not meet the new criteria were categorized by the government as illegal immigrants and expelled. According to NGOs, an unknown number of Nepali-speaking stateless persons remained in the country, mainly in the south. NGOs and media sources also highlighted the existence of stateless children born to unwed mothers who were unable to prove the identity of the father of the child. According to 2014 NGO reports, more than 700 children born in the country were not recognized as Bhutanese citizens because the nationality of their fathers was undocumented. Nonetheless, the Bhutanese government claimed that 20 children in the kingdom fell into this category. Stateless persons cannot obtain "no objection certificates" and security clearance certificates, which are often necessary for access to public healthcare, employment, access to primary and secondary education, enrollment at institutions of higher education, travel documents, and business ownership. According to contacts, approximately 1,000 families are stateless. The National Commission for Women and Children stated children without citizenship were eligible for public educational and health services. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution provides citizens the right to choose their government peacefully, and citizens exercised this right through periodic, free, and fair elections based on universal and equal suffrage. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: The government successfully held national elections in July 2013. Voters elected the country's second National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. The opposition People's Democratic Party won 32 of 47 seats, ousting the former ruling party, the Druk Phensum Tshogpa. International observers generally considered the elections free and fair; there were no reports of significant irregularities during the election process. Political Parties and Political Participation: The constitution states that political parties shall promote national unity and shall not resort to regionalism, ethnicity, or religion to incite voters for electoral gain. Political parties are required to be broad-based, have a national membership, not be limited to a particular regional or other demographic constituency, and not receive money or other assistance from foreign sources. To run for office, party candidates must possess a university degree and resign from a civil service job if held. Individuals who resign from the civil service cannot re-enter the service. While only two political parties contested the 2008 national elections, five parties contested the 2013 elections. The government provided funding only for general elections and maintained rigid guidelines on party financing. Participation of Women and Minorities: As part of the country's strict separation of religion from politics, the law barred ordained members of the clergy, including Buddhist monks and nuns, from participating in politics, including voting and running for office. There were no other laws limiting the participation of women and members of minorities in the political process. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively. There were isolated reports of government corruption during the year. The 2011 Anticorruption Act, which is based on the UN Convention against Corruption, expands the mandate of the ACC to cover the private sector and enhances the ACC's investigatory powers and functions. Corruption: The government took an active role in addressing official corruption through the Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly and the Royal Audit Authority, which monitored the use of government funds. The ACC is authorized to investigate cases of official corruption and allows citizens to post information on its website regarding corrupt practices. The ACC reportedly faced resource constraints. The constitution enables the ACC to act as an independent body although its investigative staff was primarily civil servants answerable to the Royal Civil Service Commission. In July 2015, the prime minister removed the foreign minister from his post due to a corruption scandal related to a charge of embezzlement of public property during Foreign Minister's Rinzin Dorje past tenure as governor of Haa Province. Freedom House stated that Dorje was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison on September 2015. He was acquitted on July 28 of all charges by the Supreme Court. Financial Disclosure: The law requires public servants, and persons working for NGOs using public resources, their spouses, and dependents to declare their income, assets, and liabilities. Public Access to Information: The constitution mandates a right to information; however, no law provides for public access to government information. Several ministries publish laws, regulations, budgets, and other relevant information on websites to enhance transparency. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights According to international NGOs, local civil society organizations practiced self-censorship to avoid issues perceived as sensitive by the government. Sensitive issues included women's rights and environmental issues. The government reportedly did not permit human rights groups established by the Nepali-speaking community to operate, categorizing them as political organizations that did not promote national unity. The United Nations or Other International Bodies: An agreement between the government and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) allowing the ICRC to make prison visits to persons detained for crimes against the security of the state expired in 2013 and was not renewed. The ICRC continued to engage with the government to facilitate prison visits for Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal. The UN has a resident coordinator in Bhutan, and UN organizations, including the UN Development Program and UN Children's Fund, have a strong presence. Government Human Rights Bodies: The National Assembly Human Rights Committee (NAHRC) conducted human rights research on behalf of the National Assembly. The Civil Society Organization (CSO) Authority has the legal authority to regulate civil society operations. Forty-seven CSOs were registered, of which 35 were categorized as Public Benefit Organizations and 12 Mutual Benefit Organizations. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law defines criminal sexual assault and specifies penalties. In cases of rape involving minors, sentences range from five to 15 years in prison. In extreme cases a person convicted of rape may be imprisoned for life. According to NGOs, cultural taboos and a lack of rights awareness among survivors resulted in underreporting of rapes. Spousal rape is illegal and prosecuted as a misdemeanor. The government criminalized the traditional practice of "night hunting" (bomena), practiced mainly in the eastern parts of country, in which a man climbs into a single woman's window to have sex with her. According to the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), through the efforts of the Royal Police of Bhutan, and the NGO Respect, Educate, Nurture, and Empower Women ( RENEW), the prevalence of night hunting incidents declined significantly. There were no reported incidents of the practice during the reporting period. The law prohibits domestic violence. Penalties for perpetrators of domestic violence range from a prison sentence of one month to three years. Offenders are also fined the daily national minimum wage for 90 days. Police stated that they encouraged women to reconcile with their allegedly abusive husbands and couples to pursue mediation before they file criminal charges for domestic violence. Three police stations across the country housed women and child protection units to address crimes involving women and children and eight police stations housed desks with officers specifically devoted to women and children's issues. The government passed rules and regulations clarifying the Domestic Violence Act, trained police on gender issues, and allowed civil society groups to undertake further efforts, including operation of a crisis and rehabilitation center. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) expressed concern about reports of violence against women by their spouses or other family members and at work. According to the 2010 Bhutan Multiple Indicator Survey (BMIS), 68 percent of women believed certain behavior justified domestic violence. RENEW operated a domestic violence center in the capital. The Domestic Violence Prevention Act authorized the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) to develop and implement programs to prevent domestic violence, rehabilitate survivors, and conduct studies. Sexual Harassment: The Labor Employment Act has specific provisions to address sexual harassment in the workplace. NGOs reported that these provisions were generally enforced. Reproductive Rights: The country has no legal restrictions regarding the number, spacing, or timing of children, and there were no reports of coercion regarding reproduction. Modern contraception was available and legal. The UN Population Division estimated that 66 percent of women of reproductive age used a modern method of contraception in 2015. Women's rights NGOs noted that there were generally no prohibitions against women accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare. The World Bank reported that access and equity to medical care for pregnant women was a challenge because of difficult terrain, leading to disparities in access to skilled birth attendants linked to geography and wealth. According to the World Bank, World Health Organization, and other UN agencies, the maternal mortality ratio in 2015 was 148 and increased from 120 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013. According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), 75 percent of births were attended by skilled health personnel. Discrimination: The law provides for equal inheritance for sons and daughters. Traditional inheritance laws stipulate that inheritance is matrilineal and that daughters inherit family land and daughters do not assume their father's name at birth or their husband's name upon marriage. According to NGO and government sources, within the household, men and women enjoyed relatively equal status. The law mandates the government take appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and exploitation of women, including trafficking, abuse, violence, harassment, and intimidation, at work and at home, and the government generally enforced the law. CEDAW expressed concern that the constitution does not include prohibitions on both "direct and indirect" forms of discrimination. CEDAW also noted that the government failed to adopt implementing legislation for its international treaty obligations related to women's rights. The government said that provisions had been made in already existing legislation. The NGO National Women's Association worked to improve women's living standards and socioeconomic status. RENEW, another NGO, also promoted and advocated for women's rights and political participation. The NCWC actively defended the rights of women and children during the year, working closely with the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, the judiciary, and the police. Children Birth Registration: Under the constitution, only children whose parents are both citizens of Bhutan acquire Bhutanese citizenship at birth. The birth must be registered before the child turns one year old. According to the Bhutanese Refugee Support Group, existing citizenship laws caused certain children to be categorized as "non-nationals" (see section 2.d.). Births in remote areas were less likely to be registered. Children who do not acquire citizenship before turning one year old are able to petition the king for citizenship. The government provides health and education services for children without citizenship. However, children in this situation are not able to acquire nonobjection certifications, citizenship identification cards, and passports. Education: The government provides 11 years of universal free education to children although education is not compulsory. While gender parity at the primary level has been achieved, distances to the country's secondary and tertiary schools, lack of adequate sanitation, and transportation difficulties contributed to girls' unequal access to secondary and higher education. The law requires proof of birth registration for children to attend school. Children of non-Bhutanese residents may enroll with a copy of a parent's work permit, employer letter, and documentation from the Department of Immigration. Child Abuse: The law prohibits child abuse and provides for a minimum penalty of one year's imprisonment for perpetrators. Corporal punishment is banned in schools, and there were no reported incidents in monasteries. Reports of child abuse were rare. Early and Forced Marriage: The statutory minimum age of marriage for both men and women is 18. Statistics from the 2010 BMIS (the latest available) indicated that 31 percent of marriages occurred before age of 18 and 7 percent before age of 15. In 2010, 15 percent of girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 19 were either married or in a civil union. The National Health Survey of 2012 found that 24 percent of girls and young women between the ages of 10 and 24 were married or in a civil union, of which 3.7 percent were adolescents (age 10-19). The average age for a first pregnancy was reported between the ages of 20 and 22. While child marriage has become less common in urban areas, in remote villages there were reports of secret marriage ceremonies involving girls younger than 15. Child marriage took place in all regions, but the incidence was higher in the western and central areas of the country. The government initiative Youth Friendly Health Services sought to prevent child marriage. It conducted community outreach and awareness campaigns to alert communities to the dangers of child marriage. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits sexual exploitation, including child pornography, child prostitution, the sale of children, and child trafficking. The legal age of consent is 16 for both boys and girls. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at www.travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism The country does not have a Jewish population, and there were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The constitution specifically protects the rights of citizens with disabilities. Legislation directs the government to attend to the security of all citizens in the "event of sickness and disability." The law stipulates that new buildings be constructed to allow access for persons with disabilities, but the government did not enforce this legislation consistently. There were reports that hospitals were generally accessible to persons with disabilities, but residential and office buildings were not. Under the Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Program, the government seeks to provide medical and vocational rehabilitation for persons with all types of disabilities, promote integration of children with disabilities in schools, and foster community awareness and social integration. There was no government agency specifically responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. There were special-education institutes for students with disabilities, including the National Institute for the Disabled in Khaling, which educates children with vision disabilities, and an education resource unit in Paro for persons with hearing disabilities. Children with disabilities often attended mainstream schools although the resources needed to accommodate them varied among school districts. There also were special education facilities in Thimphu designed to meet the needs of children with physical and mental disabilities. Although there were no government-sponsored social welfare services available for persons with disabilities, the National Pension and Provident Fund granted benefits to such persons. Three NGOs, the Disabled Persons' Association of Bhutan, Ability Bhutan Society, and Drakstsho Vocational Center for Special Children and Youth, seek to change the public perception of disability and assisting persons with disabilities and their families. According to the Bhutan Observer, in rural areas there was widespread discrimination against persons with disabilities, and some parents did not send children with disabilities to school. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities Organizations in Nepal claimed that employers discriminated against Nepali-speaking Bhutanese seeking employment (see section 7.d.). The government claimed Nepali speakers were proportionally represented in civil service and government jobs. English was the medium of instruction in all government schools. Dzongkha, the national language, was taught as an additional subject. Sharchopkha, Bumpthapkha, Khenkha, Nepali, and Tibetan were also spoken in the country. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the ability of minority children, specifically the Nepali-speaking minority, to maintain their cultural practices, observe their religion, or use their language. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The constitution guarantees equal protection of the laws and application of rights but does not explicitly protect individuals from discrimination for sexual orientation or gender identity. Laws against "sodomy or any other sexual conduct that is against the order of nature" exist. The penal code imposes penalties of up to one year in prison for engaging in prohibited sexual conduct. In response to recommendations to decriminalize same-sex sexual conduct during the country's Universal Periodic Review, the government stated the law "has never been evoked since its enactment for same-sex acts between two consenting adults. These provisions can be reviewed when there is a felt need for it by the general population." The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) population has historically remained out of public view without an organized advocacy community. In 2014 several LGBTI groups established a public presence via social media. There were no NGOs in the country explicitly associated with LGBTI issues. There were no reports of violence directed against members of the LGBTI community although social bias occurred. In May, 13 LGBTI community members observed the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) and discussed their issues. An LGBTI community coordinator noted LGBTI Bhutanese continued to face stigmatization and discrimination. However, RENEW observed there had been a reduction in social stigma over the years. A small transgender community existed, and transgender individuals faced social stigma although the community is gradually increasing its public visibility. The law does not provide any distinct legal status to transgender individuals, nor does it provide explicit protections. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma While NGOs claimed that there was no widespread HIV/AIDS-related stigma, observers noted that persons with HIV/AIDS did suffer from self-stigmatization and feared being open about their condition. One NGO, Lhak-Sam, was formed in 2010 and provides a network for persons with HIV/AIDS while working to reduce social stigma. Youth Development Fund, RENEW, and Chithuen Phendey Association work on this issue in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Persons with HIV/AIDS received free medical and counseling services, and the government maintained programs meant to prevent discrimination. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions. Workers can form a union with the participation of at least 12 employees from a single workplace. There is no national trade union. The law does not mention the right to conduct legal strikes. Most of the country's workforce engages in agriculture, a sector that is not unionized. The law provides for the right of workers to bargain collectively with employers. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and requires reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. Violators may face misdemeanor charges and be compelled to pay damages. The government effectively enforced applicable laws. Resources, inspections, and remediation were adequate, and penalties for violations were sufficient to deter violations. The law grants workers the right to pursue litigation. Freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively were respected although there were few employee unions. No unions were formed during the year. The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources encouraged employee organization by conducting awareness-raising activities about employee rights during routine labor inspections. The government stated that associations of professional taxi drivers, truck drivers, and tour guides existed. The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources, in its Annual Report 2015-2016, noted the areas of improvement on working conditions included an increase in the number of and conditions for labor inspectors. The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources, in its Annual Report 2015-2016, noted that 24 labor inspectors conducted 2,434 inspections, issued 418 improvement and prohibition notices, and imposed 40 penalties. A total of 190 complaints were received, of which 185 resolved and five were pending at year's end. Nature of complaints received ranged from nonpayment of wages, termination without notice, resignation without notice, nonpayment of benefits, and other issues. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits most forms of forced or compulsory labor, and the government effectively enforced applicable laws. The law makes exceptions with regard to prison labor, work that might be required during an emergency, and work required for "important local and public" celebrations. The penal code criminalizes trafficking for illegal, but not exploitative, purposes. Violations of the labor law with respect to worst forms of child labor, forced and compulsory labor, improvement notice, prohibition notice, nonpayment of compensation, minimum age of admission into employment, employing foreigners without permit, and not complying with permits issued by the government are felonies subject to three to five years' imprisonment. Resources, inspections, and remediation were adequate, and penalties were sufficient to deter violations. Government officials acknowledged there may be forced labor among domestic servants working in private homes where the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources has no jurisdiction. Officials relied on citizens to report forced labor of domestics directly to the police. Government officials acknowledged the rise of cross border human smuggling through illegal agents. Migrant workers from India who worked in the country's construction and hydropower sectors and Indian women and girls who worked in domestic service or as caregivers were vulnerable to forced labor. Ministry of Labor and Human Resources noted there are approximately 54,000 migrant workers in the country, mostly from India. Young, rural citizens were transported to urban areas, generally by relatives, for domestic work, and some of these individuals were subjected to domestic servitude. There were unconfirmed reports that girls who worked as domestic servants and entertainers in "drayungs" (karaoke bars), were subjected to labor trafficking through debt and threats of physical abuse. The NAHRC conducted an investigation into "drayungs" and found no evidence of trafficking or forced labor. Also see the Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The minimum age for employment is 13 and the minimum age for hazardous work is 18. Children under the age of 18 are prohibited from working in dangerous occupations, including mining, construction, sanitary services, carpet weaving, or serving in bars. Under the Labor and Employment Act 2007, Section 9, on the prohibition of worst forms of child labor, violations are a felony offense with penalties ranging from with five to nine years' imprisonment. Labor inspectors operating under the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources generally enforced child labor laws effectively. Resources, inspections, and remediation were adequate, and penalties were sufficient to deter violations. Under the Labor and Employment Act 2007, Section 9 on the prohibition of worst forms of child labor, a person guilty of that offense would be punished with five to nine years of non-bailable imprisonment. Children performed agricultural and construction work, completed chores on family farms, or worked in shops and restaurants after school and during holidays. Child labor also occurred in hotels and automobile workshops. Girls were employed primarily as domestic workers, where they were vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. An estimated 19.6 percent of children between the ages of five and 14 were engaged in some form of child labor in 2011, which are the most current statistics. The BMIS established that 18.4 percent of the labor force in 2010 consisted of children under the age of 18. The 2013 Labor Force Survey undertaken by the Ministry of Labor and Employment counted 53,436 children between the ages of five and 17 employed in some form of labor. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The law prohibits employment discrimination for employees and job applicants with respect to recruitment, dismissal, transfer, training, and demotion, but there were no distinctions of protected classes. The law also prescribes equal pay for equal work. In most cases, the government enforced these provisions. Employers who are convicted of discrimination are liable to pay a fine ranging from 360 to 1,080 times the daily national minimum wage (approximately $568 to $2,138). These penalties were generally sufficient to deter violations. Nepal-based organizations representing refugees claimed that Nepali-speaking Bhutanese were subject to discrimination with respect to employment and occupation (see section 6). e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The national minimum wage ranged from Nu 100 to Nu 125 ($1.58 to $1.98) per day. According to the government, all workers were above the minimum wage. The law defined the workday as eight hours per day with a one-hour lunch break, and employers were required to grant regular rest days. Work in excess of the legal workday must be paid at 1.5 times the normal rate. The official national poverty level was Nu 1,705 ($28) per month. Occupational safety and health (OSH) standards are current and appropriate. Labor regulations grant workers the right to leave work situations that endanger their health and safety without jeopardy to their employment. All citizens are entitled to free medical care. At its expense the government transported persons who could not receive adequate care in the country to other countries (usually India) for treatment. Workers are eligible for compensation in the case of partial or total disability. Upon the death of a citizen, family members are entitled to compensation. The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources, in its Annual Report 2015-2016, noted monitoring of seven Health and Safety Committees was conducted and training on OSH imparted to 19 OSH Committees. An assessment of good OSH best practices was held for 55 committees of which 27 did not meet the standards. The government generally enforced minimum wage, work hours, and occupational health and safety standards effectively in the formal sector. The law states that employers who fail to pay employees the correct amount of wages will be fined 90 times the national minimum wage for each violation (approximately $157). Employers who do not comply with work hours regulations will be fined 30 times the national minimum wage for the first violation (approximately $52), 90 times for the second violation (approximately $157), and 360 times for the third and each subsequent violation (approximately $630). Noncompliance with OSH standards is a felony and punishable by three to five years' imprisonment. These penalties were generally sufficient to deter violations. The lack of sufficient labor inspectors was a problem. The government employed 25 labor inspectors appointed to posts in Thimphu and four permanent regional offices that were assisted by technical experts. The government also posted labor inspectors to field offices located at major construction sites such as hydropower plant projects. According to a 2012 Ministry of Labor and Human Resources report compiled with the assistance of the World Health Organization, there were insufficient labor inspectors to cover the country's industries. In August five workers were buried in a landslide at the Mangdechu hydropower project when one side of the construction pit for the dam collapsed. The Ministry of Labor and Human Resources, in its Annual Report 2015-2016, noted a total of 60 accidents took place during the period, of which 24 were fatal, four led to complete disability, and 32 partial disability. Work place of accidents took place in the construction, hydropower, manufacturing and production, mining, and trading services sectors. Compensation was fully recovered in two cases, paid in three, under process in seven, partially done in one, partial payment in five, and there was no progress in three cases at year's end. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Belarus Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Belarus, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a6f11.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Belarus is an authoritarian state. The country's constitution provides for a directly elected president who is head of state, and a bicameral parliament, the national assembly. A prime minister appointed by the president is the nominal head of government, but power is concentrated in the presidency, both in fact and in law. Since his election as president in 1994, Aliaksandr Lukashenka has consolidated his rule over all institutions and undermined the rule of law through authoritarian means, including manipulated elections and arbitrary decrees. All subsequent presidential elections fell well short of international standards. The 2016 parliamentary elections also failed to meet international standards. Civilian authorities, President Lukashenka in particular, maintained effective control over security forces. The most significant human rights problems continued to be: citizens were unable to choose their government through elections; in a system bereft of checks and balances, authorities committed abuses; and former political prisoners' political rights remained largely restricted while the government failed to account for longstanding cases of politically motivated disappearances. Other human rights problems included abuses by the security forces, which reportedly mistreated suspects during investigations and in prisons. Prison conditions remained poor. Authorities arbitrarily arrested, detained, and imprisoned citizens for criticizing officials, participating in demonstrations, and other political reasons. The judiciary experienced political interference and a lack of independence; trial outcomes often appeared predetermined, and trials occurred behind closed doors or in the absence of the accused. Authorities infringed on the right of privacy. The government restricted civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion. The government continued to hinder or prevent the activities of some religious groups, at times fining them or restricting their services. Official corruption in all branches of government remained a problem. Authorities harassed human rights groups, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and political parties, refusing to register many and then threatening them with criminal prosecution for operating without registration. Violence and discrimination against women were problems, as was violence against children. Trafficking in persons, including state-sponsored forced labor, remained a problem, although victim identification and protection slightly improved. There was discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons; those with disabilities; Roma and other ethnic minorities; persons with HIV/AIDS; and those who sought to use the Belarusian language. Authorities harassed and at times dismissed from their jobs members of independent unions in state-owned enterprises, severely limiting the ability of workers to form and join independent trade unions and to organize and bargain collectively. Authorities also employed various means of forced labor. Authorities at all levels operated with impunity and failed to take steps to prosecute or punish officials in the government or security forces who committed human rights abuses. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings During the year there were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings and no reports of deaths from torture. b. Disappearance There were no developments in the reportedly continuing investigations into the 2000 disappearance of journalist Zmitser Zavadski and the 1999 disappearances of former deputy prime minister Viktar Hanchar, businessman Anatol Krasouski, and former interior minister Yuri Zakharanka. There was evidence of government involvement in the disappearances, but authorities continued to deny any connection with them. In 2014 a senior Investigations Committee officer informed Zakharanka's mother that by law it was impossible to apply the statute of limitations in the case unless a suspect was identified and charged, and thus the case of her son could not be closed as she had requested. The committee also refused the mother's request to study case materials, citing that it was only possible upon completion of the preliminary investigation. In May a Minsk court suspended the civil suit of Zakharanka's mother asking for the court to recognize Zakharanka's death until the criminal case about his disappearance was closed. The lawyer for Zakharanka's mother told the court, "given the fact that for 16 years the investigation has produced no results, it deprives the citizen the opportunity to realize her rights. In fact, it is a denial of justice." On August 1, a Minsk city court refused the request of Zakharanka's mother to declare her son deceased. Zakharanka's mother repeatedly has asked the authorities to declare him dead and/or suspend the investigation, which would allow her access to the case materials and his property. In October authorities again extended the investigation into Zakharanka's disappearance until December 24. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The law prohibits such practices. Nevertheless, the Committee for State Security (KGB), riot police, and other security forces, often unidentified and in plain clothes, continued to beat detainees occasionally. Security forces also reportedly mistreated individuals during investigations. During arrests police occasionally beat criminal suspects and citizens. Human rights advocates, opposition leaders, and activists released from detention facilities continued to report maltreatment and other forms of physical and psychological abuse of suspects during criminal and administrative investigations. On January 12, various media reported that a Hrodna district court sentenced in closed hearings two senior police officers to four years and six years in jail, respectively, for "committing crimes related to violence, torture or abuse of suspects." Authorities also banned the two from holding any positions in law enforcement agencies for five years after their release from prison. On January 25, during the opening of the trial in a Minsk district court of three individuals in the so-called graffiti case, authorities detained and then allegedly beat two youth activists, Paval Siarhei and Maksim Shytsik, after they unfolded a banner that read, "No to Political Persecution" and shouted, "Art is No Crime." Security officers removed the two activists from the courtroom. Paval Dabravolski, a journalist from the news portal tut.by, followed the activists and police from the courtroom. According to accounts from the activists and Dabravolski, police knocked the three to the ground, and punched and kicked them for some 20 minutes. Individuals standing outside the room could reportedly hear the assault. Security officers also removed all the footage from Dabravolski's media files. Police charged the three with resisting police orders, minor hooliganism, and contempt of court. Ultimately, the court fined the three. One of the unidentified officers who reportedly beat the three testified against them in court. On February 19, Minister of Information Liliya Ananich claimed that Dabravolski had prevented police officers from performing their duties. The minister added that while the media law affords journalists certain rights, it also requires them to respect the rights and legitimate interests of other individuals and observe regulations. She referred to the Interior Ministry's claim that Dabravolski interfered with the police officers' conduct of their professional duties and was subsequently fined for that. The minister urged journalists to comply with the media law, the criminal code, and the norms of professional ethics. On April 29, the Investigations Committee informed Dabravolski that it had denied his appeal to open a criminal investigation into alleged misuse of force by police officers against him and two opposition activists in the January 25th incident. The committee explained that the police officers' actions did not constitute elements of a crime and were aimed at "stopping Dabravolski's illegal actions." According to the committee, injuries inflicted on Dabravolski and the two activists and the traces of blood on their clothes "objectively fit" the policemen's testimony of their actions, and the committee's inquiry did not register any evidence of officers mistreating or using excessive force against the three individuals, who were not subjected "to brutal and inappropriate" treatment. The committee also accused Dabravolski of attacking an officer, refusing to identify himself as a journalist, illegally recording the detention of the two activists on a cell phone camera, and insulting police and threatening them with trouble at work by publishing defamatory information. As in the previous year, observers reported a few isolated cases of new recruit hazing that included beatings and other forms of physical and psychological abuse. Observers believed there might have been fewer cases because of the government's increased prosecution of offenders. For example, on August 17, a district court in Brest sentenced a senior army servant to a 18 months of khimiya, a form of internal exile, for extorting money and personal belongings from new recruits, beating, and threatening to kill them. Authorities denied all appeals in this case in October. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions remained poor and in many cases posed threats to life and health. Physical Conditions: According to local activists and human rights lawyers, there were shortages of food, medicine, warm clothing, and bedding as well as inadequate access to basic or emergency medical care and clean drinking water. Ventilation in cells and overall sanitation were poor, and authorities failed to provide conditions necessary for maintaining proper personal hygiene. Prisoners frequently complained of malnutrition and low-quality uniforms and bedding. Some former political prisoners reported psychological abuse and sharing cells with violent criminals. The law permits family and friends to bring detainees food and hygiene products and to send them parcels by mail, but authorities did not always allow this. Overcrowding of holding facilities and prisons continued to be a problem, although an amnesty, which began in June 2015, reduced the number of inmates. Ministry of Internal Affairs officials dismissed reports of overcrowding. Authorities allowed persons sentenced to a form of internal exile (khimiya) to work outside detention facilities; these individuals were required to return at night to prison barracks, where they lived under strict conditions and supervision. Although there were isolated reports that police placed underage suspects in pretrial detention facility cells with adult suspects and convicts, authorities generally held juvenile prisoners separately from adults at juvenile penal colonies, arrest houses, and pretrial holding facilities. In general, conditions for female and juvenile prisoners were slightly better than for male prisoners. According to human rights NGOs and former prisoners, authorities routinely abused prisoners. In cases of death of suspects or inmates resulting from alleged abuse or torture by prison officials, authorities continued to deny families of suspects or inmates a fair and transparent investigation and prosecution of reported incidents. After an outcry in independent media, for example, authorities in Zhodzina opened an investigation and a criminal case into the death from a reported heart failure of Ihar Barbaschynski, a 37-year-old retired army major, in a local jail on September 20. Barbaschynski's mother told the press that police originally arrested Ihar and his brother in Slutsk in March while they were walking home from a nightclub. Authorities reportedly accused the brothers of drinking in a public place. The following morning an ambulance took the two men from detention facilities to a hospital with multiple rib fractures and bruises, but they were neither charged nor detained in March. The brothers subsequently filed a complaint about police brutality to the local police department. In May police rearrested them on charges of allegedly using violence against police officers, and Barbaschynski remained in detention until his death in September. On September 16, a Minsk district court started hearing a criminal case against a doctor, Aliaksandr Krylou, charged with negligence for the 2013 death of 21-year-old prisoner Ihar Ptichkin, who suffered a heart attack after an alleged beating. On October 21, the court sentenced Krylou to three years in jail. In the period 2013-16, Ptichkin's family filed numerous appeals to bring criminal charges against the prison's doctors, as well as to challenge multiple denials to investigate the case and bring it to prosecution. Credible sources maintained that prison administrators employed inmates to intimidate political prisoners and compel confessions. They also reported that authorities neither explained nor protected political prisoners' legal rights and excessively penalized them for minor violations of the prison rules. Given the poor medical care, observers believed tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, and other communicable diseases were widespread in prisons. In 2014 a senior tuberculosis control officer reported that tuberculosis infection in prisons was quadruple the national average but claimed that only up to 4 percent of the 7,400 tuberculosis patients across the country were in prisons. Human rights NGOs reported that prison inmates and individuals held in internal exile often complained of lack of employment opportunities or low pay. On August 18, the head of the Interior Ministry's Corrections Department, Siarhei Daroshka, stated that of the average 510-ruble ($205) salary, inmates would get only 10 percent and the rest would go to fund the costs of their imprisonment and to repay any debts or damages ordered by the court. Administration: As in the previous year, authorities claimed to have conducted annual or more frequent investigations and monitoring of prison and detention center conditions. Human rights groups, however, asserted that such inspections, even if they did occur, lacked credibility given the absence of an ombudsman and the inability of reliable independent human rights advocates to visit prisons or provide consultations to prisoners. Prisoners and detainees had limited access to visitors, and denial of meetings with families was a common punishment for disciplinary violations. Authorities often denied or delayed political prisoners' meetings with family as a means of pressure and intimidation. Although the law provides for freedom of religion, and there were no reports of egregious infringements, authorities generally prevented prisoners from holding religious services and performing ceremonies that did not comply with prison regulations. Former prisoners reported that prison officials often censored or did not forward their complaints to higher authorities and that prison administrators either ignored or selectively considered requests for investigation of alleged abuses. Prisoners also reported that prison administration frequently refused to provide them with copies of responses to their complaints, which further complicated their defense. Complaints could result in retaliation against prisoners who spoke out, including humiliation, death threats, or other forms of punishment and harassment. Corruption in prisons was a serious problem, and observers noted that parole often depended on bribes to prison personnel or a prisoner's political affiliation. Independent Monitoring: Despite numerous requests to the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Justice, government officials continued to refuse to meet with human rights advocates or approve requests from NGOs to visit detention and prison facilities. In its 2015 response to Paval Sapelka of the human rights NGO Vyasna, the Interior Ministry's Corrections Department claimed it would be "inexpedient" for him to visit detention facilities and monitor their conditions. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law limits arbitrary detention, but the government did not respect these limits. Authorities continued to arrest or detain individuals for political reasons and to use administrative measures to detain political activists before, during, and after protests and other major public events. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The Ministry of Internal Affairs exercises authority over police, but other bodies outside of its control, for example, the KGB, the Financial Investigations Department of the State Control Committee, the Investigation Committee, and presidential security services exercise police functions. The president has the authority to subordinate all security bodies to his personal command. Impunity among law enforcement personnel remained a serious problem. Individuals have the right to report police abuse to a prosecutor, although the government often did not investigate reported abuses or hold perpetrators accountable. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees By law police must request permission from a prosecutor to detain a person for more than three hours, but police usually ignored this procedure and routinely detained and arrested individuals without warrants. Authorities may hold a criminal suspect for up to 10 days without filing formal charges and for up to 18 months after filing charges. Under the law prosecutors, investigators, and security service agencies have the authority to extend detention without consulting a judge. Detainees have the right to petition the court system regarding the legality of their detention, but authorities frequently suppressed or ignored such appeals. Arbitrary Arrest: Authorities detained opposition and civil society activists for reasons widely considered politically motivated. In isolated cases, authorities used administrative measures to detain political activists before, during, and after planned demonstrations and protests, as well as other public events. From January through March, scores of market vendors, opposition leaders, activists, and their supporters held unsanctioned demonstrations in Minsk to protest a presidential edict that banned the selling of clothing and footwear without certification of compliance with the Customs Union's safety requirements. While police did not interfere with the demonstrations, authorities routinely detained various regional activists en route to Minsk to prevent their participation in the demonstrations. On September 11, the day of the parliamentary elections, authorities arrested Leanid Kulakou after the polls closed and on the next day sentenced him to three days in jail on minor hooliganism charges. Kulakou had monitored voting and tabulation on the day of the election. Pretrial Detention: Authorities may hold a criminal suspect for up to 10 days without filing formal charges. Prior to being charged, the law provides detainees with no access to their families or to outside food and medical supplies, both of which are vital given poor conditions in detention facilities. Police routinely held persons for the full 10-day period before charging them. Police often detained individuals for several hours, ostensibly to confirm their identity; fingerprinted them; and then released them without charge. Police and security forces frequently used this tactic to detain members of the democratic opposition and demonstrators, to prevent the distribution of leaflets and newspapers, or to break up civil society meetings and events. For example, on September 8, police detained four opposition activists, including Malady Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich, Volha Mikalaichyk, and Uladzimir Yaromenak, ahead of a planned protest in front of the Russian Embassy to mark the 502nd anniversary of the Battle of Orsha. Dashkevich was reportedly grabbed and beaten by plainclothes police officers in the courtyard of his apartment, while Mikalaichyk was forcefully detained when she approached the Russian embassy. Police released the four activists after several hours without filing charges. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Detainees have the right to petition the court system regarding the legality of their detention, but authorities frequently suppressed or ignored such appeals. By law courts have 24 hours to issue a ruling on a detention and 72 hours on an arrest. Courts hold closed hearings in these cases, which the suspect, a defense lawyer, and other legal representatives may attend. Prosecutors, suspects, and defense lawyers can appeal to higher courts the decision of the lower court within 24 hours of the ruling. Higher courts have three days to rule on appeals, and their rulings cannot be challenged. Further appeals can only be filed when investigators extend the period of detention. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, but authorities did not respect judicial independence. Observers believed corruption, inefficiency, and political interference with judicial decisions were widespread. Courts convicted individuals on false and politically motivated charges brought by prosecutors, and observers believed that senior government leaders and local authorities dictated the outcomes of trials. As in previous years, according to human rights groups, prosecutors wielded excessive and imbalanced authority because they may extend detention periods without the permission of judges. They also noted a power imbalance between the prosecution and the defense. Defense lawyers were unable to examine investigation files, be present during investigations and interrogations, or examine evidence against defendants until a prosecutor formally brought the case to court. Lawyers found it difficult to challenge some evidence because the Prosecutor's Office controlled all technical expertise. According to many defense attorneys, this power imbalance persisted throughout the year, especially in politically motivated criminal and administrative cases. Courts did not exonerate criminal defendants except in rare circumstances during the year. By law bar associations are independent, and licensed lawyers are permitted to establish private practices or bureaus. All lawyers, however, must be licensed by the Ministry of Justice and must renew their licenses every five years. In the past the justice ministry used disbarment as a tool in political cases; the ministry accused the disbarred lawyers of distorting information about the investigations of their clients, their state of health, and their conditions of detention. During the year there were no new disbarments, but no disbarred lawyers had their licenses restored. Trial Procedures The law provides for the presumption of innocence. Nevertheless, the lack of judicial independence, the state media practice of reporting on high-profile cases as if guilt were already certain, and widespread limits on defense rights frequently placed the burden of proving innocence on the defendant. The law also provides for public trials, but authorities occasionally closed trials and frequently held them in judges' offices, where attendance was limited. Judges adjudicate all trials. For the most serious cases, two civilian advisers assist the judge. The law provides defendants the right to attend proceedings, confront witnesses, and present evidence on their own behalf, but authorities did not always respect these rights. The law provides for access to legal counsel for detainees and requires that courts appoint a lawyer for those who cannot afford one. Although by law defendants can ask for their trials to be conducted in Belarusian, most judges and prosecutors were not fluent in Belarusian, rejected motions for interpreters, and proceeded in Russian. The law provides for the right to choose legal representation freely; however, a presidential decree prohibits NGO members who are lawyers from representing individuals other than members of their organizations in court. The government's disbarment of attorneys who represented political opponents of the regime further limited defendants' choice of counsel. The government also required defense attorneys to sign non-disclosure statements that limited their ability to release any information about the case to the public, media, and even defendants' family members. Courts often allowed statements obtained by force and threats of bodily harm during interrogations to be used against defendants. Some defendants were tried in absentia. For example, on January 19, a district court in Minsk fined in absentia Paval Sevyarynets, co-chair of the unregistered Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, 525 rubles ($250) for participating in an unsanctioned demonstration in November 2015. During the demonstration, up to 110 individuals marched from a department store to the Central Election Committee's building in Minsk to mark the 1996 referendum that stripped the powers of the parliament and expanded the powers of the president. Defendants have the right to appeal convictions, and most defendants did so. Nevertheless, appeals courts upheld the verdicts of the lower courts in the vast majority of cases. Political Prisoners and Detainees Local human rights organizations reported several different lists of political prisoners in the country. These included individuals who were facing criminal charges and others who were already incarcerated. Leading local human rights groups, including Vyasna and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, either recognized these individuals as prisoners of conscience or noted serious due process violations that they suggested required, at the very least, a retrial. On October 12, for example, a Minsk district court convicted Dzmitry Palienka, an opposition and anarchist movement activist and participant of the "Critical Mass" ride on April 29, of using violence against a traffic police officer during his detention and of distributing pornographic images in social media. The judge sentenced Palienka to a two-year-suspended sentence, as well as forced rehabilitation for alcoholism. The activist was released in court. Human rights advocates welcomed the "government's restraint" in not imprisoning Palienka but recognized him as a political prisoner when he was in pretrial detention. Eduard Palchys, blogger and editor of the 1863x.com website, was detained in January and charged in June with inciting racial, ethnic, or religious hatred and producing and distributing pornographic materials. The prosecution against Palchys focused on nine articles published on his website that were highly critical of Russia and the "Russkiy Mir" concept. Palchys was also accused of distributing pornographic materials for reposting a Russian-website's post critical of Belarusian culture and independence, which included a photo of a nude woman. Palchys claimed the post was to demonstrate the amount of anti-Belarusian sentiment in Russia and was not meant to be seen as pornography. His trial was closed to the press and observers. Several domestic human rights groups recognized Palchys as a political prisoner on October 5. On October 28, Palchys was found guilty of inciting racial, ethnic, or religious hatred and distributing pornographic materials, but he was given a suspended 21-month sentence and was subject to a travel ban. Prior to his trial, some human rights groups recognized him as a political prisoner. Human rights groups welcomed his release but noted that the government continued to restrict the freedom of speech. On August 10, human rights advocates, including the human rights center Vyasna and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, recognized Uladzimir Kondrus as a political prisoner. Authorities arrested Kondrus on June 14 and charged him under the Criminal Code's provision dealing with mass protests, which has a 10-year statute of limitations. Kondrus was alleged to have been involved in the postelection demonstrations in December 2010, when he was allegedly seen holding a large piece of wood and breaking windows at the parliament building, as well as attacking riot police officers during the protests. Human rights groups called for his immediate release and the suspension of the criminal prosecution against him, claiming that his actions in 2010 could only qualify as hooliganism, which carries a five-year statute of limitations, and not as a violation of the Criminal Code's prohibition on mass protests, which has a 10-year statute of limitations. On November 16, the first day of his trial, Kondrus purported to attempt to slit his writs, and the judge ordered him to undergo a psychiatric assessment. On December 26, the court sentenced Kondrus to 18 months of "restricted freedom"; he was released from detention following the hearing. The psychiatric assessment reportedly alleged that Kondrus had a psychiatric condition, and the court ordered him to undergo mandatory psychiatric treatment during his period of restricted freedom. In August 2015 President Lukashenka released six individuals considered political prisoners by human rights organizations, including 2010 presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich. During their court hearings, defendants in politically motivated cases reported threats against associates and family members to compel testimony against the defendants, as well as pressure to sign confessions. Prison authorities often confiscated and censored mail of political prisoners, reportedly to exert pressure by further isolating prisoners and limiting their contacts with families and associates. Former political prisoners who had been pardoned continued to be unable to exercise some civil and political rights at year's end. For example, on July 9, the Central Electoral Commission refused to register the initiative group supporting the candidacy for parliament of former political prisoner and 2010 presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich because any individual in prison or with a criminal record is prohibited by law from being a candidate. Authorities removed restrictions against several prominent former political prisoners. For example, on February 4, police in Vaukavysk lifted preventive supervision limitations against anticorruption activist Mikalai Autukhovich, who previously was not permitted to travel outside the city without official permission. In a separate case, on March 9, investigators dropped all criminal charges and a subsequent travel ban against former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich in connection with 2010 postelection demonstrations. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies The law provides that individuals can file lawsuits seeking damages for a human rights violation, but the civil judiciary was not independent and was rarely impartial in such matters. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits such actions, but the government did not respect these prohibitions. Authorities used wiretapping, video surveillance, and a network of informers that deprived persons of privacy. By law persons who obstruct law enforcement personnel in the performance of their duties can be penalized or charged with an administrative offense, even if the "duties" are inconsistent with the law. "Obstruction" could include any effort to prevent KGB or law enforcement officers from entering the premises of a company, establishment, or organization; refusing to allow KGB audits; or denying or restricting KGB access to information systems and databases. The law requires a warrant before, or immediately after, conducting a search. Nevertheless, some democratic activists believed the KGB entered their homes unannounced. The KGB has the authority to enter any building at any time, as long as it applies for a warrant within 24 hours after the entry. Security forces continued to target prominent opposition and civil society leaders with arbitrary searches and interrogations at border crossings and airports. For example, on September 8, border officials detained co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Vital Rymasheuski and leader of the United Civic Party Anatol Lyabedzka for about an hour at the Belarus-Lithuania border. The two were on their way to a conference in Vilnius, and the border guards seized several dozen election campaign leaflets that Lyabedzka had with him, but eventually authorities let the two proceed and apologized for the delay. On November 8, customs officers confiscated five copies of a book authored by Andrei Sannikau, 2010 presidential candidate and former political prisoner who lives in the United Kingdom, from his spouse and prominent journalist Iryna Khalip. She was returning to Belarus from Poland with their son and carrying copies of the book My Story: Belarusian Amerikanka or Elections Under Dictatorship inscribed by the author to various friends and supporters. Officials told her the books would be examined by experts for at least a month before they could be returned to her. The book tells the story of Sannikau's arrest for participating in the December 2010 postelection demonstration in Minsk, his experiences in prison, his release in 2012, as well as international media coverage of his imprisonment. While the law prohibits authorities from intercepting telephone and other communications without a prosecutor's order, authorities routinely monitored residences, telephones, and computers. Nearly all opposition political figures and many prominent members of civil society groups claimed that authorities monitored their conversations and activities. The government continued to collect and obtain personally identifiable information on independent journalists and democratic activists during raids and by confiscating computer equipment. The law allows the KGB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, special security services, financial intelligence personnel, and certain border guard detachments to use wiretaps. Wiretaps require the permission of a prosecutor, but the lack of prosecutorial independence rendered this requirement meaningless. The Ministry of Communications has the authority to terminate the telephone service of persons who violate their telephone contracts, which prohibit the use of telephone services for purposes contrary to state interests and public order. Cell phone providers are banned from selling cell phone cards to customers who do not produce their passports or to foreigners who are not registered with local immigration services. Authorities continued to harass family members of NGO leaders and civil society and opposition activists through selective application of the law. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution provides for freedom of speech and the press. The government did not respect these rights and enforced numerous laws to control and censor the public and the media. Moreover, the state press propagated views in support of President Lukashenka and official policies, without giving room for critical voices. Freedom of Speech and Expression: Individuals could not criticize President Lukashenka and the government publicly or discuss matters of general public interest without fear of reprisal. Authorities videotaped political meetings, conducted frequent identity checks, and used other forms of intimidation. Authorities also prohibited wearing facemasks, displaying unregistered or opposition flags and symbols, and displaying placards bearing messages deemed threatening to the government or public order. On January 29, a Minsk district court fined three men, Maksim Pekarski, Viachaslau Kasinerau, and Vadzim Zheromski, in the so-called graffiti case; the fines ranged from 630 rubles ($300) to 1,050 rubles ($500) on the charges of property damage. While the judge dropped the criminal charges of hooliganism and vandalism, the three were convicted of painting graffiti with patriotic slogans, such as, "Belarus should be Belarusian," that police deemed to be "promoting violence in society and disregard of universally accepted rules of conduct." Police brutally detained the three men and their two associates, who were later released without charge, in August 2015, and Kasinerau told the press in September 2015 that during his detention, police bundled him into a bus, and an officer hit him in the face, fracturing his jaw. When they arrived at the police precinct, investigators pressured him to plead guilty and showed him records of his private phone conversations with his spouse, which were reportedly wiretapped months before the arrest. Although authorities opened an investigation into his reported beating, there were no developments during the year in bringing any charges related to police brutality. The law also limits free speech by criminalizing actions such as giving information to a foreigner about the political, economic, social, military, or international situation of the country that authorities deem false or derogatory. Press and Media Freedoms: Government restrictions limited access to information and often resulted in media self-censorship. State-controlled media did not provide balanced coverage and overwhelmingly presented the official version of events. Appearances by opposition politicians on state media were limited, primarily to those required by law during election campaigns. Authorities warned, fined, detained, and interrogated members of media. Under the law, the government may close a publication, printed or online, after two warnings in one year for violating a range of restrictions on the press. Additionally, regulations give authorities arbitrary power to prohibit or censor reporting. The Information Ministry can suspend periodicals or newspapers for three months without a court ruling. The law also prohibits the media from disseminating information on behalf of unregistered political parties, trade unions, and NGOs. On March 2, the Information Ministry announced that it issued warnings to two independent, internet publications: the online newspaper Yezhednevnik and the online version of the print newspaper Nasha Niva. The former purportedly violated the media law by using images of World War II German military equipment in an article about the armed forces' readiness checks, which, according to the ministry "discredited the army." Nasha Niva was warned for violating the law by publishing an article about the demographic situation in the country, which reportedly did not comply with figures released by the National Statistics Committee, and discredited the "successful" demographic policies of the government. The independent Belarusian Association of Journalists condemned the warnings as far-fetched penalties, violations of media freedom, and an unacceptable measure to censor publications. Limited information was available in the state-run press about the September parliamentary election, including about independent candidates. Although authorities did not generally censor the publication of candidates' programs in print media, some opposition candidates complained that local television channels refused to televise their addresses. For example, in Hrodna Mikalai Ulasevich, a United Civic Party member and antinuclear activist, accused authorities of not broadcasting his speech, which included criticism of the country's nuclear power plant project and discussion of corruption and lack of local governance. In another case, Siarhei Kalyakin, leader of the Just World Belarusian Party of the Left, complained to the regional election commission that the text of his biography was edited without his authorization on the official poster listing the biographies of all candidates in the Orsha district. The printed text of Kalyakin's biography was missing a sentence referring to Kalyakin's efforts as an MP to impeach President Lukashenka in 1996. State media otherwise provided only limited coverage of the campaign, focusing largely on the activities of the president and other state officials as well as political statements of the Central Election Commission chairperson. On February 7, Information Minister Liliya Ananich warned media about criticizing the government and against publicizing inaccurate information, in particular taking remarks or statements out of a broader context, and fomenting negative sentiments, which she described as "destructive." She committed to continue tight monitoring of the internet and printed media, so "they serve [the cause of] consolidation of society." Ananich stated that any media violating the country's laws would receive official warnings and subsequently be blocked. The Information Ministry continued to deny registration to independent media outlets. In spite of the lack of registration, independent media, including newspapers, magazines, and internet news websites, sought to provide coverage of events. They operated, however, under repressive media laws, and most faced discriminatory publishing and distribution policies, including limiting access to government officials and press briefings, controlling the size of press runs of papers, and raising the cost of printing. State-owned media dominated the information field and maintained the highest circulation through generous subsidies and preferences. There was no countrywide private television. The state-owned postal system, Belposhta, and the state-owned kiosk system, Belsayuzdruk, continued to refuse to deliver or sell numerous independent newspapers that covered politics. For example, on September 14, Aksana Kolb, an editor of the Novy Chas independent weekly newspaper, told the press that Belposhta and Belsayuzdruk had refused to distribute the newspaper through their subscription and retail chains, respectively. Novy Chas is a Belarusian-language weekly that publishes materials about national culture, history, identity, and information related to reinforcing the country's sovereignty. The exclusion of the independent printed press from the state distribution system and the requirement that private stores secure registration to sell printed media effectively limited the ability of the independent press to distribute their publications. Although authorities continued to allow the circulation of Narodnaya Volya and Nasha Niva, two independent national newspapers, through state distribution systems, they remained subject to restrictions on the number of copies allowed to circulate. Several independent newspapers, including Vitsyebski Kuryer, Salidarnasc, BDG, and Bobruysky Kuryer, disseminated internet-only versions due to printing and distribution restrictions. International media continued to operate in the country but not without interference and prior censorship. Euronews and the Russian channels First Channel, NTV, and RTR were generally available, although only through paid cable services in many parts of the country and then with a lag time that allowed the removal of news deemed undesirable by authorities. At times authorities blocked, censored, or replaced their international news programs with local programming. Violence and Harassment: Authorities continued to harass and detain local and foreign journalists routinely. Security forces continually hampered efforts of independent journalists to cover demonstrations and protests in Minsk and across the country. The independent Belarusian Association of Journalists reported that, as of November 11, police detained at least six journalists while performing their professional duties. The government routinely denied accreditation to journalists who work with foreign media. As of November 1, at least two journalists had been fined in 10 cases for not having government accreditation or cooperating with a foreign media outlet. Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy, director of the Warsaw-based Belarusian-language channel Belsat, told media on June 1 that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to its application to accredit 10 local journalists. The ministry was supposed to respond to the accreditation application by May 21. She pledged that the unregistered Minsk-based office and journalists across the country would continue their operations and would "not adjust our reporting to meet the Belarusian authorities' wishes because we represent free journalism." Independent journalist and military expert Aliaksandr Alesin was detained in November 2014 and faced charges of cooperating with foreign intelligence sources, which carry a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment. He was released in December 2014, although he was banned from leaving the country. On January 20, he told the press that authorities suspended the criminal charges brought against him for allegedly "establishing cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign security or intelligence service." Censorship or Content Restrictions: The government exerted pressure on the vast majority of independent publications to exercise self-censorship, warning them not to report on certain topics or criticize the government. The government tightly and directly controlled the content of state broadcast and print media. Local independent television stations operated in some areas and reported local news, although most were under government pressure to forgo reporting on national and sensitive issues or risk censorship. Authorities allowed only state-run radio and television networks to broadcast nationwide. The government used this national monopoly to disseminate its version of events and minimize alternative or opposing viewpoints. Authorities banned state media from citing works and broadcasting music by independent local and well-known foreign musicians, artists, writers, and painters who were named on an alleged, unofficial nationwide blacklist for speaking in support of political prisoners and opposition or democratic activists. Authorities warned businesses not to advertise in newspapers that criticized the government. As a result, independent media outlets operated under severe budgetary constraints. Journalists reporting for international media that gave extensive coverage to the country, such as the Warsaw-based independent satellite channel Belsat TV and Radio Racyja, were denied press accreditation and received warnings from the Prosecutor's Office and heavy fines. Libel/Slander Laws: Libel is a criminal offense. There are large fines and prison sentences of up to four years for defaming or insulting the president. Penalties for defamation of character make no distinction between private and public persons. A public figure who is criticized for poor performance while in office may sue both the journalist and the media outlet that disseminated the critical report. On September 23, a Minsk city court declined an appeal in the case of Aliaksandr Lapitski, who was convicted on April 12 of "committing socially dangerous acts" and violating Article 368 ("insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus"), Article 369 ("insulting the authorities"), Article 391 ("insulting a judge or a lay judge") of the Criminal Code of Belarus. The charges against Lapitski stem from e-mails and blog posts he wrote that, according to the authorities, insulted the president. Authorities alleged that Lapitski suffered from mental illness and sentenced him to a period of compulsory psychiatric treatment. Human rights group Vyasna called on authorities to end prosecution for defamation offenses and claimed that Lapitski's involuntary hospitalization infringed on his personal freedom. National Security: Authorities frequently cited national security as grounds for censorship of media. Internet Freedom The government interfered with internet freedom by reportedly monitoring e-mail and internet chat rooms. While individuals, groups, and publications were generally able to engage in the peaceful expression of views via the internet, including by e-mail, all who did so risked possible legal and personal repercussions, and at times were believed to practice self-censorship. Opposition activists' e-mails and other web-based communications were likely to be monitored. In January 2015 authorities introduced media law amendments making news websites and any internet information sources subject to the same regulations as print media. Under the amended law, online news providers must remove content and publish corrections if ordered to do so by the authorities and must adhere to a prohibition against "extremist" information. Amendments also restricted access to websites whose content includes promotion of violence, wars, "extremist activities"; materials related to illicit weapons, explosives, and drugs; trafficking in persons; pornography; and information that can harm the national interests of the country. Authorities may block access to sites that fail to obey government orders, including because of a single violation of distributing prohibited information, without a prosecutor or court's mandate. In addition, owners of internet sites may be held liable for users' comments that carry any prohibited information, and these sites may be blocked. The amended law also mandates the creation of a database of news websites. If a news website receives two or more formal warnings from the authorities, it may be removed from the database and lose its right to distribute information. Amendments also prohibit foreign states and foreign individuals from holding more than a 20 percent stake in local media companies. While the list of blocked internet resources remained unavailable to the public, from January 2015 to March 2016 the Ministry of Information reportedly blocked access to 46 internet sites for drug trafficking, for distributing extremist materials, for illicit promotion of medications, for child pornography or for other content violations. Independent online media outlets were not generally blocked during the year, however, the election monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) stated in a postelection press conference that its observers monitoring online news noted at least four online news sources, including popular news portal tut.by, had unexplained outages on election day, September 11. The authorities reportedly monitored internet traffic. By law the telecommunications monopoly, Beltelekam, and other organizations authorized by the government have the exclusive right to maintain internet domains. A presidential edict requires registration of service providers and internet websites, and requires the collection of information on users at internet cafes. It requires service providers to store data on individuals' internet use for a year and provide that information to law enforcement agencies upon request. Violations of the edict are punishable by prison sentences. State companies and organizations, which included the workplaces of up to 70 percent of the country's workers, reportedly had internet filters. In response to the government's interference and internet restrictions, many opposition groups and independent newspapers switched to internet domains operating outside the country. Observers said the few remaining independent media sites with domestic ".BY" (Belarus) domain suffixes practiced self-censorship at times. On several occasions, cyberattacks of unknown origin temporarily disabled independent news portals and social networking sites. According to various media sources, the number of internet users reached more than seven million persons, of which approximately 90 percent used the internet daily or numerous times a month. Internet penetration was approximately 83 percent among users 15 to 50 years of age. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events The government restricted academic freedom and cultural events. Educational institutions were required to teach an official state ideology that combined reverence for the achievements of the former Soviet Union and of Belarus under the leadership of Lukashenka. Government-mandated textbooks contained a heavily propagandized version of history and other subjects. Authorities obligated all schools, including private institutions, to follow state directives to inculcate the official ideology and prohibited schools from being led by opposition members. The education minister has the right to appoint and dismiss the heads of private educational institutions. Use of the word "academic" was restricted, and NGOs were prohibited from including the word "academy" in their titles. Opportunities to receive a higher education in the Belarusian language (vice Russian) in the majority of fields of study were scarce. The administrations of higher educational institutions made no effort to accommodate students wishing to study in Belarusian-language classes. The Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRYU), an official organization modeled on the Soviet-era KOMSOMOL, urged university students to join the BRYU to receive benefits and dormitory rooms. Local authorities also pressured BRYU members to campaign on behalf of government parliamentary candidates and to vote early. Students from various universities and colleges reported to an independent election-monitoring group that their faculties were pressuring students into early voting by threatening them with eviction from their dormitories. Additionally, authorities at times reportedly pressured students to act as informants for the country's security services. According to an Education Ministry directive, educational institutions may expel students who engage in anti-government or unsanctioned political activity and must ensure the proper ideological education of students. School officials, however, cited poor academic performance or absence from classes as the official reason for expulsions. On January 20, Hleb Vaykul, a second-year student of the philology department, received final orders of his expulsion from the Belarusian State University. Earlier in January Vaykul announced he had been expelled, at which time the university stated the expulsion orders had not been signed. The student called his expulsion politically motivated as he was one of the organizers of a December 2015 student protest against the university's decision to impose fees to retake exams. Authorities fined Vaykul 324 rubles ($175) for organizing through the "Students Against" community on the social networking website VKontakte and participating in the unsanctioned demonstration. The university administration stated Vaykul was expelled for failing to pass an examination on the psychology of literary works three times and not attending classes for the course during the fall semester. The government continued to discourage and prevent teachers and activists from advancing the wider use of the Belarusian language and the preservation of Belarusian culture. A number of universities across the country continued not to enroll students in their undergraduate Belarusian linguistic programs for teachers of the Belarusian language and literature, citing low demand and a low number of applications in recent years. The government also restricted cultural events, selectively approving performances of what they deemed opposition music groups at small concert halls. Approvals required groups to go through cumbersome and time-consuming procedures to receive permissions. The procedures continued to force some opposition theater and music groups out of public venues and into bars and private apartments by banning their performances. Organizers of Theater Ch, an independent theater troupe, announced on January 20 that their two scheduled performances at the Modern Arts Center in Minsk were cancelled with short notice by the center's administration. Opposition leaders, 2010 presidential candidates, and former political prisoners Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and Mikalai Statkevich attended the premier of their play What to do with the Tiger? and took pictures with the cast after the performance. The administration of the Modern Arts Center claimed they cancelled the performances after only four tickets were sold, while Theater Ch's managers reported that the two shows in January were sold out. The Polish Institute in Minsk sponsored the production of the play. The government also restricted the activities of a nonofficial writers union, the independent Union of Belarusian Writers, and extensively supported the progovernment Union of Writers of Belarus. Authorities harassed distributors of books authored by critical and independent writers or written in the Belarusian language. Although sold at bookstores and online across the country, authorities did not allow printing houses and publishers to print copies of books by Sviatlana Aleksievich, winner of the Nobel prize for literature. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly The constitution provides for freedom of peaceful assembly; however, the government severely restricted this right. Authorities employed a variety of means to discourage demonstrations, disperse them, minimize their effect, and punish the participants. Only registered political parties, trade unions, and NGOs could request permission to hold a demonstration of more than 1,000 persons. Authorities usually denied requests by independent and opposition groups. A general atmosphere of repression and the threat of imprisonment or large fines exercised a chilling effect on potential protest organizers. This appeared to have resulted in fewer and smaller demonstrations. The law criminalizes the announcement of demonstrations via the internet or social media before official approval, the participation in the activities of unregistered NGOs, the training of persons to demonstrate, the financing of public demonstrations, or the solicitation of foreign assistance "to the detriment" of the country. Violations are punishable by up to three years in prison. Organizers must apply at least 15 days in advance for permission to conduct a public demonstration, rally, or meeting, and government officials are required to respond no later than five days prior to the scheduled event. Authorities, however, generally granted permits only for opposition demonstrations if held far from city centers. Authorities used intimidation and threats to discourage persons from participating in demonstrations, openly videotaped participants, and imposed heavy fines or jail sentences on participants in unsanctioned demonstrations. In addition, authorities required organizers to conclude contracts with police, fire department, health, and sanitary authorities for their services during and after a mass event. In some localities, local officials told permit applicants that they must first secure these contracts before a permit could be issued. When the applicants asked the police, fire department, health, and sanitary authorities to sign contracts, however, they were told they first must have an approved permit. Any individual found guilty of violating the law on mass events may not apply for another permit for a year following the conviction. From January through March, local authorities across the country rejected a number of applications for permission for market vendors to stage small demonstrations to protest new regulations that ban vendors from selling clothing and footwear without documents certifying their compliance with the Customs Union's safety requirements. Opposition activists held dozens of unsanctioned rallies during the year and faced administrative charges and fines for allegedly violating the Law on Mass Events. Those who refused to pay fines, calling them politically motivated, potentially faced property confiscation and travel bans. Authorities regularly fined the same activists for their continuous political activity during the year. For example, on March 24, a Minsk district court fined approximately 11 opposition leaders and activists for participating in an unsanctioned February 28 demonstration in Minsk. Mikalai Statkevich, 2010 presidential candidate and former political prisoner, European Belarus campaign activist Maksim Vinyarski, and independent filmmaker Volha Mikalaichyk were tried in absentia and fined 105 rubles ($520) each. The court imposed similar fines on United Civic Party leader Anatol Lyabedzka and member Mikalai Kazlou, Belarusian Christian Democracy co-chair Vital Rymasheuski, market vendor Ales Makayeu, and European Belarus campaign activist Leanid Kulakou. Mikalai Autukhovich, a businessman from Vaukavysk and former political prisoner, and opposition activist Mikalai Kolas were fined 420 rubles ($210) each. Authorities took various measures to limit how prodemocracy activists celebrated Freedom Day, the March 25 anniversary of the country's 1918 declaration of independence (an event the government does not recognize), although Minsk city authorities authorized a demonstration. In the permit issued by Minsk authorities, the route requested by activists from central Minsk was changed to a remote park. While approximately 2,000 opposition and civil society activists participated in the sanctioned rally, approximately 600 defied the permit by marching to the central part of Minsk, laying flowers at the Yanka Kupala monument, and holding a demonstration with political speeches at the monument. For their activities during the unsanctioned-route march, authorities fined a number of activists. opposition leaders Paval Sevyarynets, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, Mikalai Statkevich, Anatol Lyabedzka, and several activists, including Leanid Kulakou, Maksim Vinyarski, Zmitser Dashkevich, and others received fines for their activities on March 25. In spite of providing a permit to the opposition to demonstrate, authorities also fined a number of opposition leaders and activists for participating in the sanctioned rally and speaking at the assembly point of the March 25 sanctioned demonstration. Police alleged that activists, who addressed the crowd at the gathering point, violated the permit, which allowed participants to gather but not demonstrate at the assembly point and speak only at the venue of the actual demonstration at a remote park. For example, Ryhor Kastuseu, a Belarusian Popular Front deputy chair, told the press that he received a notice that on May 5 a district court fined him in absentia 630 rubles ($320) also for violating the Law on Mass Events, when he spoke at the assembly point of the March 25 Freedom Day sanctioned demonstration. Though Kastuseu was only at locations sanctioned by the city authorities, police claimed that since he spoke at the gathering point, it violated the permit. On May 16, a court in Maladzechna convicted activist Paval Siarhei for holding an unsanctioned rally in front of the local government building on May 12 and sentenced him to seven days in jail. He was detained on May 14 and was kept in holding facilities pending trial. Siarhei and other activists protested the continuing construction of two large hog farms near the city on May 12. Freedom of Association The law provides for freedom of association, but the government restricted it and selectively enforced laws and registration regulations to restrict the operation of independent associations that might criticize the government. Particularly since 2010, authorities have sought to close any legal loopholes they considered beneficial to NGOs. All NGOs, political parties, and trade unions must receive Ministry of Justice approval to become registered. A government commission reviews and approves all registration applications; it based its decisions largely on political and ideological compatibility with official views and practices. Actual registration procedures required applicants to provide the number and names of founders, along with a physical address in a nonresidential building for an office, an extraordinary burden in view of the tight financial straits of most NGOs, and individual property owners' fears of renting space to independent groups. Individuals listed as members were vulnerable to reprisal. The government's refusal to rent office space to unregistered organizations and the expense of renting private space reportedly forced most organizations to use residential addresses, which authorities could use as a reason to deny registration or to deregister. The law criminalizes activities conducted on behalf of unregistered groups and subjects group members to penalties ranging from large fines to two years in prison (also see section 7.a.). Following the 2010 repression, authorities sought to close any legal loopholes they considered beneficial to NGOs. For example, the law on public associations prohibits NGOs from keeping funds for local activities at foreign financial institutions. The law also prohibits NGOs from facilitating provision of any support or benefits from foreign states to civil servants based on their political or religious views or ethnicity, a provision widely believed to be aimed at the Polish minority. Only registered NGOs can legally accept foreign grants and technical aid and only for a limited set of approved activities. NGOs must receive approval from the Department for Humanitarian Affairs of the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of the Economy for technical aid before they can accept such funds or register the grants. The government continued to deny registration to NGOs and political parties, which President Lukashenka frequently labeled as "the fifth column," on a variety of pretexts, including "technical" problems with applications. Authorities frequently harassed and intimidated individuals who identified themselves as founding members of organizations in an effort to induce them to abandon their membership and thus deprive groups of the number of petitioners necessary for registration. Many of the rejected groups previously had been denied registration on multiple occasions. On January 5, authorities in Hrodna refused to register an NGO called Mothers' Movement 328, consisting of a group of mothers and wives who seek to defend the rights of their children and spouses, who were convicted under Article 328 of the Criminal Code for illegal drug trafficking and who, according to their families, received incommensurately long prison sentences. Larysa Zhygar, the leader of the NGO, said that authorities noted questions about the name of the group and its stated goals, which included charitable activities and assisting former prisoners and drug addicts, in their decision to reject the NGO's application for registration. The Supreme Court upheld the Justice Ministry's decisions to deny registration to the Christian Democratic Movement, a nascent NGO affiliated with the unregistered Belarusian Christian Democracy party, and the Campaign for Fair Elections. On March 10, the Court denied an appeal filed by the campaign on the grounds that a letter of guarantee from an individual providing the organization with an office had not been notarized and that the banker's order contained abbreviations. This was the campaign's fourth registration denial. Separately, on March 14, the court also turned down an appeal from the Christian Movement to challenge the Justice Ministry's denial, citing the lack of an office number in the organization's legal address, among other grounds as a reason for the denial. On April 18, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal from the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party to challenge the Justice Ministry's March 3 decision not to register the party, citing "gross violations" of procedures to establish a party. According to the ministry's press release, a number of individuals, who were stated as founders of the party on the registration application, denied any connection to the party and claimed they did not participate in the party's founding convention after they were reportedly pressured to withdraw and threatened to be dismissed from jobs or expelled from universities. Additionally, "certain individuals on the founders' list were duplicated, and some of the personal information listed for founders was not valid," the ministry explained. The ministry also claimed that some of the founders the party listed on its application were not citizens of Belarus This was the sixth time that the party has been denied registration. On July 31, a show on the main state television channel, Belarus1, claimed that the Vilnius-registered Independent Institute for Social, Economic, and Political Studies (IISEPS) did not actually conduct polls in the country, but rather it put together falsified data. IISEPS announced on August 9 that it would suspend all polling in the country due to "authorities destroying the polling network." c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of movement, including the right to emigrate, but the government at times restricted the right of citizens, former political prisoners in particular to foreign travel. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons, refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. In-country Movement: Passports serve as a form of identity and authorities required them for permanent housing, work, and hotel registration. Police continued to harass selectively individuals who lived at a location other than their legal place of residence indicated in mandatory stamps in their passports. The law also requires persons who travel to areas within 15 miles of the border (aside from authorized crossing points) to obtain an entrance pass. Foreign Travel: The government's database of persons banned from traveling abroad contained the names of individuals who possessed state secrets, faced criminal prosecution or civil suits, or had outstanding financial obligations. Authorities informed some persons by letter that their names were in the database; others learned only at border crossings. The Internal Affairs Ministry and security agencies, border and customs services, and financial investigation departments have a right to place persons on "preventive" surveillance lists. Students required permission from the head of their educational institution to study abroad. Ostensibly intended to counter trafficking in persons, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also required to track citizens working abroad, and employment agencies must report individuals who do not return from abroad as scheduled. Exile: The law does not allow forced exile, but sources asserted that security forces continued to threaten some opposition members with bodily harm or prosecution if they did not leave the country, and many were in self-imposed exile. Many university students who had been expelled or believed themselves to be under the threat of expulsion for their political activities opted for self-imposed exile and continued their studies abroad. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for granting asylum or refugee status, complementary and temporary protection to foreign citizens and stateless persons. The government has established a procedure for determining refugee status and a system for providing protection to refugees. Additionally, the law provides for protection against refoulement, which is granted to foreigners who are denied refugee status or temporary protection, but cannot be returned to their countries of origin. All foreigners except Russians have the right to apply for asylum. Under the terms of the Union Treaty with Russia, Russians can legally settle and obtain residence permits in the country based on their Russian citizenship and therefore do not need asylum. Overall, as of October 1, immigration authorities accepted 596 applications for asylum compared with more than 1,000 in 2015, including from 443 Ukrainians, 13 Syrians, 22 Afghans, and 20 Tajiks. In addition to refugee status, the country's asylum law provides for complementary protection and protection against refoulement (in the form of temporary residence for a one-year term). In the period January-September, 428 foreigners were granted complementary protection (395 Ukrainians, seven Syrians, one Libyan, 18 Yemenis, six Iraqi, and one Kyrgyz). Freedom of Movement: Asylum seekers have freedom of movement within the country but must reside in the region where they filed their applications for refugee status and in a place known to authorities while their applications are being considered, including during appeals. Authorities reportedly often encouraged asylum seekers to settle in rural areas; however, the majority settled in cities and towns. Change of residence was possible with a notification to authorities. Authorities issue registered asylum seekers certificates that serve as documents to confirm their status of asylum-seekers and identity and protect them from expulsion. In accordance with the law, they also must register with local authorities at their place of residence. Temporary Protection: Although the government may provide temporary protection (for up to one year) to individuals who may not qualify as refugees, it did not do so during the year. Stateless Persons As of January 1, the Ministry of the Interior and UNHCR listed 5,635 stateless persons in the country; all had permanent residence according to authorities. Permanently resident stateless persons held residence permits and were treated comparably to citizens in terms of access to employment, with the exception of a limited number of positions in the public sector and law enforcement that were available only to citizens. There were reports that stateless persons occasionally faced discrimination in employment, since authorities often encouraged them to settle in rural areas where the range of employment opportunities was limited. According to UNHCR, stateless persons could freely change their region of residence. There is a path towards nationality or citizenship for this stateless population. The main requirement is at least seven years' permanent residence. Authorities have a procedure for expedited naturalization procedures but mostly for individuals born or permanently residing in the country prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, ethnic Belarusians, their spouses, and descendants. If a child is born into a family of stateless persons permanently residing in the country, the child is entitled to Belarusian citizenship. The decrease of the number of stateless individuals in the country was attributed to their naturalization. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections based on universal and equal suffrage, but the government consistently denied citizens this ability by not conducting elections according to international standards. Since his election in 1994 to a four-year term as the country's first president, Lukashenka steadily consolidated power in the executive branch to dominate all branches of government, effectively ending any separation of powers among the branches. Flawed referenda in 1996 and 2004 amended the constitution to broaden his powers, extend his term in office, and remove presidential term limits. Subsequent elections, including the presidential elections held in 2015 and parliamentary elections held in September, continued to deny citizens the right to express their will in an honest and transparent process including fair access to media and to resources. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: The September 11, 2016 parliamentary elections failed to meet international standards. However, for the first time in 12 years, alternative voices were seated in parliament. The elections were marred by a number of long-standing systemic shortcomings, according to the OSCE/ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe international election observation mission intermediate report. While the observer missions and the international community welcomed visible efforts by authorities to make some procedural improvements, a number of key long-standing recommendations by the OSCE/ODIHR and Council of Europe Venice Commission remained unaddressed, underscoring the need for comprehensive electoral reform as part of the broader democratization process. The OSCE report found that the legal framework restricts political rights and fundamental freedoms and was interpreted in an overly restrictive manner. While there was an overall increase in the number of candidates, including from the opposition, media coverage did not enable voters to make an informed choice and the campaign lacked visibility. As in past years, only a negligible number of election commission members were appointed from opposition nominees, which undermined confidence in their independence. The early voting, counting, and tabulation procedures continued to be marred by a significant number of procedural irregularities and a lack of transparency. Out of the 630 nominated candidates, 484 eventually stood for election, including a significant number from the opposition. No candidate was elected unopposed Despite an overall increase in the number of candidates, the legal provisions for candidate registration allowed for selective implementation. Ninety-three prospective candidates were not permitted to register, mostly due to inaccuracies in asset and income declarations, an insufficient number of valid signatures in support of their candidacy, or the failure to submit supporting documentation. This approach was overly restrictive, posing disproportionate and unreasonable barriers to candidacy, the OSCE report read. According to the OSCE report, restrictions on fundamental freedoms of association, expression, and assembly narrowed the public space and negatively affected the environment in which the elections were held. Although a high number of candidates chose not to campaign actively, contributing to broad voter apathy, most were generally able to campaign freely within the restrictive confines of the law. Unequal access to institutions and resources skewed the playing field for candidates, the OSCE assessed. Several candidates stated that the abolishment of government campaign financing in 2013 reduced their outreach capacities, which limited the choice available to voters and their ability to make an informed decision. The majority of observers at local polling places appeared to be from government-sponsored NGOs. Many of them reportedly received instructions in advance to report to foreign observers that the proceedings were "in order" or to harass independent observers. These government-sponsored groups did not release any reports on their observation efforts or recommendations on how to improve the process. The OSCE observation mission reported that during the five-day early voting period, "in 8 percent of the cases the ballot box was not sealed securely and in 45 percent it was not secured in a safe or metal box." Contrary to the law, 16 percent of the observed precinct electoral commissions recorded the aggregated rather than the daily turnout figure in the daily protocols, in 17 percent the daily protocols were not posted publicly, and in some 7 percent of precinct electoral commissions observers were not allowed to make photos of them. At the close of early voting, authorities announced a turnout of 31 percent. The report read that turnout was significantly higher in precinct commissions assigned to voters in state enterprises and public institutions, including student dormitories, where there were credible allegations and observation of voters being coerced to vote. They also noted complaints made by independent domestic observers in a number of polling stations alleging discrepancies between reported turnout and the number of signatures in the voter lists, and inconsistent completion of daily protocols. According to the OSCE observation mission report, observers assessed the counting process negatively in 24 percent of polling stations observed despite authorities' resolution to enhance observer access to the count. In 27 percent of precinct election commissions, observers were not allowed close to the counting table and to observe without restrictions, and in 8 percent they were not allowed to make photographs of protocols. In many instances international observers reported that the count was hasty and lacked transparency, and in one-quarter of cases observers could not follow the procedures and see voters' marks on the ballots. In approximately 20 percent of polling stations observed, the final result protocols were presigned, the validity of ballots was not determined in a consistent and reasonable manner, and spoiled ballots were not packed up and sealed. The tabulation process was observed in all 110 district electoral commissions and assessed negatively in about one-quarter of observations. In 12 percent of precincts there was a delay in transporting precinct protocols to district commissions. In 16 percent of precincts the data from precinct protocols were not entered in electronic summarized tables, and in 60 percent the data were not entered in ink. In one-half of the district electoral commissions, observers were not close enough to see data being entered and in one-third of cases were not able to observe the entire process. The government did not permit independent organizations to conduct exit polls. Local human rights groups Vyasna and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee stated at a postelection press conference that based on their observation, the election fell short of international standards and did not fully abide by the country's legislation. They especially noted their concern with early voting procedures, the lack of transparency in the vote-count process, and the domination of election commissions by progovernment organizations. Amendments in 2013 to the electoral code introduced a simple majority system in the first round of elections for the National Assembly and ended government funding of campaigns while increasing the allowable amount of private funding. Some members of the democratic opposition alleged that the amendments disproportionately targeted the opposition, which had little access to private funds given President Lukashenka's public statements that businesses should not finance the opposition or they would face punishment. Additionally, the amendments prohibit citizens from campaigning to disrupt elections and referenda or to have them cancelled, postponed, or boycotted. Other changes included regulations on who can appeal for a vote recount and what type of questions can be put to public referendum. Political Parties and Political Participation: Authorities routinely harassed and impeded the activities of opposition political parties and activists. Some opposition parties lacked legal status because authorities refused to register them, and the government routinely interfered with the right to organize, run for election, seek votes, and publicize views. The government allowed approximately half a dozen largely inactive, but officially registered pro-Lukashenka political parties to operate freely. On May 6, a Minsk district court fined United Civic Party Chair Anatol Lyabedzka 1,050 rubles ($525) and party members Volha Mayorava and Dzianis Krasochka 630 rubles ($315) each for violating the Law on Mass Events. Police charged the three with holding a picket while illegally distributing printed materials that allegedly contained information against the government, at the entrance of the Minsk Automobile Factory on April 14. Lyabedzka noted during the trial that under the Law on Political Parties registered parties are "from the moment of registration entitled to freely spread the information on their activities, advocate their ideas, aims and decisions." The law allows authorities to suspend parties for six months after one warning and close them after two. During the year political parties did not receive any formal warnings, but members of parties that authorities refused to register, such as the Belarus Christian Democracy Party, continued to be subjected to harassment and arbitrary checks. The law also prohibits political parties from receiving support from abroad and requires all political groups and coalitions to register with the Ministry of Justice. Authorities continued to limit activities of the unrecognized Union of Poles of Belarus and harass its members. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws prevent women or minorities from voting or participating in political life on the same basis as men or nonminority citizens. In 2015 Tatsiana Karatkevich was the first woman to run for president, and on election day President Lukashenka told the press, "our president has numerous functions, from security to the economy. A person in a skirt is unlikely to be able to cope with them now." He added that even if this were not the case, society was not ready for a female president. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government regularly jailed officials alleged to be corrupt; however, reports indicated officials continued to engage in corrupt practices. The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators reflected that corruption was a serious problem in the country. On September 1, the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) released a summary of the interim compliance report, which said that the government partially implemented only one of the 20 recommendations made by the Council of Europe's anticorruption monitoring body in June 2015. The one recommendation was reportedly related to the introduction of administrative liability of legal persons for money-laundering offenses. GRECO noted the "lack of an evidence-based comprehensive strategy and plan of action for the fight against corruption, and of a mechanism that does not only involve the law enforcement agencies to monitor its implementation independently, comprehensively and objectively." GRECO expressed disappointment regarding the significant volume of information submitted by the government, which was not relevant for the purpose of assessing the country's compliance with the anti-corruption recommendations. The summary also noted that no concrete projects, which could significantly contribute to the elimination of corruption in the country, seemed to be under way and that "it looks as if the process of implementation of improvements has been halted." The full report was not available because the government did not consent to its publication. In July 2015 the president signed into law anticorruption legislation, which came into force on January 24 and reportedly strengthened existing anticorruption regulations. Under the amended law, individuals dismissed for lower-level corruption face a five-year ban on public-service employment, while those found to have committed more serious abuses are banned indefinitely from government employment. The law also allows seizure of property worth more than 25 percent of a public servant's yearly income for those found guilty of corrupt practices. The amendments also introduced provisions for public monitoring of the government's anticorruption efforts. Corruption: According to official sources, most corruption cases involved soliciting and accepting bribes, fraud, and abuse of power, although anecdotal evidence indicated such corruption usually did not occur as part of day-to-day interaction between citizens and minor state officials. The absence of an independent judicial system and law enforcement, the lack of separation of powers, and a harried independent press largely barred from interaction with a nontransparent state bureaucracy made it virtually impossible to gauge the scale of corruption or combat it effectively. The Prosecutor General's Office is responsible for organizing and coordinating activities to combat corruption, including monitoring law enforcement operations, analyzing the efficacy of implemented measures, supervising engaged parties, and drafting further legislation. The Prosecutor General's Office reported that from January to May courts heard 451 corruption cases compared with 533 cases in the same period in 2015. Of these, 50 related to offering or accepting bribes. The most corrupt sectors were state administration and procurement, the industrial sector, the construction industry, health care, and education. The Prosecutor General's Office reported that authorities investigated 1,603 corruption-related crimes in 2015. Of those, 673 were cases related to bribery, 572 cases of embezzlement, and 346 cases related to abuse of powers. There were numerous corruption prosecutions during the year, but prosecutions remained selective, nontransparent, and in some cases appeared politically motivated, according to independent observers and human rights advocates. On March 1, authorities sentenced Vyachaslau Pakholchyk, a former head of the local executive authorities in the town of Uzda, to seven years in prison and forfeiture of his property on a charge of accepting a bribe of approximately 31,500 rubles ($15,000). Pakholchyk was also banned from serving in administrative positions for a period of five years. Financial Disclosure: Anticorruption laws require income and asset disclosure by appointed and elected officials, their spouses, and members of households who have reached legal age and continue to live with them in the same household. According to the law, specialized anticorruption departments within the Prosecutor General's Office, the KGB, and the Internal Affairs Ministry monitor and verify anticorruption practices, and the prosecutor general and all other prosecutors are mandated to oversee the enforcement of anticorruption law. These declarations were not made available to the public. An exception applies to candidates running in presidential, parliamentary, and municipal elections. There are administrative sanctions and disciplinary penalties for noncompliance. Public Access to Information: The law, government policies, and a presidential decree severely restricted public access to government information. Citizens had some access to certain categories of information on government databases and websites, but much of the information was neither current nor complete. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights There were a number of active domestic human rights NGOs, although authorities were often hostile to their efforts, selectively cooperated with them, and were not responsive to their views. Two prominent human rights NGOs the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Center for Legal Transformations were registered. The government refused to register others, placing them at risk under the criminal code, which criminalizes organizing, or participating in any activity by, an unregistered organization. The law also prohibits persons from acting on behalf of unregistered NGOs. Nonetheless, a variety of unregistered NGOs, including Vyasna, the Solidarity Committee for the Protection of the Repressed, and Legal Assistance to the Population, continued to operate. Authorities harassed both registered and unregistered human rights organizations, subjected them to frequent inspections and threats of deregistration, reportedly monitored their correspondence and telephone conversations, and harassed family members of group leaders and activists. The government ignored reports issued by human rights NGOs and rarely met with them. State-run media did not report on human rights NGOs and their actions. In February 2015 authorities expelled Alena Tankachova, a Russian citizen, from the country and stated she would not be permitted to return for three years. Tankachova, the chair of the Legal Transformation Center (also called Lawtrend), had been a permanent resident for 30 years. Authorities accused her of traffic violations and stated she posed a threat to national security. Local human rights organizations asserted the case was politically motivated and that she was expelled for her human rights work. On October 24, the Interior Ministry denied Tankachova's October 5 appeal to remove the entry ban against her. During the year the Belarusian Helsinki Committee's bank accounts remained blocked due to long-standing tax arrears related to foreign funding in the early 2000s, but the government allowed the committee to operate without other interference. Authorities were reluctant to engage on human rights problems with international human rights NGOs or other human rights officials, and international NGO representatives often had difficulty gaining admission to the country. Authorities routinely ignored local and international groups' recommendations on improving human rights in the country and requests to stop harassing the human rights community. Authorities can close an NGO after issuing only one warning that it violated the law. The most common pretexts prompting a warning or closure were failure to obtain a legal address and technical discrepancies in application documents. The law allows authorities to close an NGO for accepting what it considered illegal forms of foreign assistance and permits the Ministry of Justice to participate in any NGO activity and to review all NGO documents. NGOs also must submit detailed reports annually to the ministry about their activities, office locations, officers, and total number of members. The United Nations or Other International Bodies: In July the UN Human Rights Council extended the mandate of Miklos Haraszti as the special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus. During the year Haraszti released three reports on the situation of human rights in the country. Senior foreign ministry officials continued to assert Haraszti's mandate was "politically motivated" and that his appointment was made "without consultations and approval from Belarusian authorities." The government continued to refuse any cooperation with his mission, and he was not permitted to enter the country. Government Human Rights Bodies: On October 24, Deputy Foreign Minister Alena Kupchyna announced that the government adopted a national human rights action plan and described it as, "a political document and a kind of a road map to outline main activities for us to implement our international obligations" on human rights. The government published, "the interagency plan to implement the 2016-2019 Universal Periodic Review recommendations" on October 25. While independent human rights groups, including the human rights center Vyasna and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC), welcomed the plan's adoption, they also noted with concern that the documents lacks specific target goals or results assessment mechanisms. They noted that the government failed to include any of the concrete suggestions civil society groups offered during the drafting of the plan, which they believe would have made the plan more substantial. A standing commission on human rights in the lower chamber of parliament was ineffective. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape in general but does not include separate provisions on marital rape. Rape was a problem, but most victims did not report it due to shame or fear that police would blame the victim. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there were 145 registered cases of rape or attempted rape in 2015. Domestic violence was a significant problem, and the government took measures to prevent it during the year, although it yet again postponed adoption of a comprehensive law on domestic violence. The government directed efforts to combat gender-based violence mainly by preventing such crimes and not by protecting or assisting victims, although crisis rooms provided limited psychological and medical assistance to victims. As of January the state operated 109 shelter-type crisis rooms for victims, including domestic violence victims; NGOs operated at least three more shelters for victims of domestic violence. Authorities reported that in 2015 crisis rooms assisted 237 individuals, including 178 domestic violence victims; however, observers noted a lack of adequate staff training, short-term sheltering, limited working hours, and unsafe locations. A 2014 law on preventing crimes establishes a separate definition of domestic violence and provides for implementation of protective orders. Such orders, ranging from three to 30 days' duration, are issued to abusers who have been charged with two counts of violence within one year. The law requires authorities to provide victims and abusers with temporary accommodation until the protection orders expire. In addition to the newly adopted law, the code on administrative offenses, amended in 2013, prescribes a large fine or detention for up to 15 days for battery, intended infliction of pain, and psychological or physical suffering committed against a close family member. The criminal code does not contain a separate article dealing specifically with domestic violence. Police reported that, from January to October 2015, they identified 1,984 victims of domestic violence; of those 1,509 were female, 475 were male, and 120 were older than age 70. Ninety-six victims of domestic violence died, and 169 suffered severe bodily injuries in 2015. In the majority of these cases, women said they had been previously threatened with violence. Additionally, police investigated more than 42,000 allegations of domestic violence from January to October 2015. The police official reported that women were the aggressors in at least 10 percent of all domestic violence cases and were responsible for approximately 35 percent of all murders and incidents of severe bodily harm connected to domestic violence. According to a 2014 UN Population Fund study, three out of four women and men between the ages of 18 and 60 claimed they had been subject to some form of domestic violence. Of this number, 76 percent of women and 76 percent of men had been su 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Barbados Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Barbados, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a7013.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Barbados is a multiparty parliamentary democracy. In the 2013 national elections, voters re-elected Prime Minister Freundel Stuart of the Democratic Labour Party. Observers considered the vote generally in accordance with international standards, despite allegations of small-scale vote buying. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The most serious human rights problems were unprofessional conduct by police and violence against women and children. Other human rights problems included child abuse; trafficking in persons; discrimination against persons with disabilities and against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals. The government took steps to investigate and prosecute officials who committed abuses. Impunity for security force members did not appear to be a problem. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There was one report that the government or its agents allegedly committed an arbitrary or unlawful killing. According to media reports, on July 26, police shot and killed Romario Lashley while executing an arrest warrant. As of October the matter was under investigation. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution prohibits such practices, but there continued to be complaints against the police alleging assault, intimidation, and other unprofessional conduct. According to human rights activists, suspects occasionally accused police of beating them to obtain confessions, and suspects often recanted their confessions during trial. In many cases the only evidence against the accused was a confession. Suspects and their family members continued to allege coercion by police, but there was no evidence of systematic police abuse. Activists reported that police brutality cases received coverage in the news only when the victim had some form of evidence, such as a photograph. As of October only one case had received media coverage, and it was under investigation. Prison and Detention Center Conditions There were no significant reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns. Administration: Two agencies the Office of the Ombudsman and the Prison Advisory Board are responsible for investigating credible allegations of inhuman conditions. There were no such allegations during the year. Independent Monitoring: Although prison officials reported there was no monitoring by either governmental or nongovernmental agencies, human rights organizations stated they were allowed access and monitored prison conditions. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) is responsible for internal law enforcement, including migration and border enforcement. The Barbados Defense Force (BDF) protects national security and may be called upon to maintain public order in times of crisis, emergency, or other specific needs. The RBPF reports to the attorney general, and the BDF reports to the minister of defense and security. Although police were largely unarmed, special RBPF foot patrols in high-crime areas carried firearms. An armed special rapid response unit continued to operate. The law provides that police may request BDF assistance with special joint patrols. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the RBPF and BDF, and the government has effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. Allegations against police were investigated and brought to the Police Complaints Authority, a civilian body in the Office of Professional Responsibility. Two police officers were awaiting trial for indecent assault and misconduct in public office for assaulting tourists and demanding money. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees The law authorizes police to arrest persons suspected of criminal activity; a warrant issued by a judge or justice of the peace based on evidence is typically required. Police procedure permits authorities to hold detainees without charge for up to five days, but once persons are charged, police must bring them before a court within 24 hours, or the next working day if the arrest occurred during the weekend. There was a functioning bail system. Criminal detainees received prompt access to counsel and were advised of that right immediately after arrest. Authorities generally permitted family members access to detainees. Police procedures provide for police to question suspects and other persons only at a police station, except when expressly permitted by a senior divisional officer to do otherwise. An officer must visit detainees at least once every three hours to inquire about their condition. After 24 hours the detaining authority must submit a written report to the deputy commissioner. Authorities must approve and record all movements of detainees between stations. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: By law detainees or arrested persons, regardless of whether on criminal or other grounds, are entitled to challenge in court the legal or arbitrary nature of their detention. If the court finds persons to have been detained unlawfully, they are entitled to prompt release, compensation, or both. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Trial Procedures The constitution provides that persons charged with criminal offenses receive a fair public hearing without unnecessary delay by an independent, impartial court and a trial by jury. The government generally respected these rights, although prosecutors expressed concerns about the increasing delays before a defendant is tried. Civil society representatives reported that wait times could be as long as five or six years before trial. Defendants have the right to be present and to consult with an attorney of their choice in a timely manner. The government provided free legal aid to the indigent in family matters (excluding divorce), child support cases, serious criminal cases such as rape or murder, and all cases involving minors. The constitution prescribes that defendants have adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense. These timelines may be set by the court on arraignment. In court defendants may confront and question witnesses and present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Defendants and their attorneys have access to government-held evidence relevant to their case. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, have the right of appeal, and cannot be compelled to testify or confess guilt. Defendants have the right to free interpretation as necessary from the moment charged through all appeals. The law extends these rights to all defendants. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Magistrates' courts have civil and criminal jurisdiction, but the civil judicial system experienced heavy backlogs. Citizens primarily sought redress for human rights or other abuses through the civil system, although human rights cases were sometimes decided in the criminal court. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to regional human rights bodies. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution prohibits such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respected these rights. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of speech and press. Press and Media Freedoms: Independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views. Civil society representatives, however, reported that journalists who were overly critical of the government would be denied access to press conferences or denied the opportunity to ask questions of government officials. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Civil society representatives reported media practiced self-censorship in matters relating to corruption due to fear that making allegations could invite a defamation lawsuit. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. According to the International Telecommunication Union, 76 percent of citizens used the internet in 2015. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association The constitution provides for freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. The government was prepared to cooperate with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees, asylum seekers, or other persons of concern. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. The Immigration Department was responsible for considering refugee or asylum claims. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In the 2013 general elections, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) won 16 of the 30 seats in Parliament's House of Assembly, and DLP leader Freundel Stuart retained his post as prime minister. Observers considered the elections to be in accordance with international standards. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit the participation of women and members of minorities in the political process, and women and minorities did participate. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively. As of October, however, the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2012 had not been proclaimed by the governor general and consequently was not in force. According to a civil rights activist, the existing legislation was outdated. Corruption: There were no formal reports of government corruption during the year. Nevertheless, two civil society activists reported corruption was a major concern and noted specific allegations of corruption were scant because persons were afraid to make accusations due to fear of facing a slander or defamation lawsuit. Financial Disclosure: No law requires public officials to disclose income or assets. Public Access to Information: No law provides citizens access to government-held information. While government websites provided access to information, responses often were slow to requests for specific government information by citizens, media, and other interested parties. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to their views. Government Human Rights Bodies: The Ombudsman's Office hears complaints against government offices for alleged injuries or injustices resulting from administrative conduct. The governor general appoints the ombudsman on the recommendation of the prime minister and in consultation with the opposition. Parliament must approve the appointment. The ombudsman submits annual reports to Parliament, which contain recommendations on changes to laws and descriptions of actions taken by the Ombudsman's Office. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape, and the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. There are legal protections against spousal rape for women holding a court-issued divorce decree, separation order, or nonmolestation order. Rape was underreported due to fear of further violence, retribution, and societal stigma. In addition, sources reported survivors were at times reluctant to report crimes to police because of perceived ineffectiveness of the police and delays in investigating complaints. Violence and abuse against women continued to be significant social problems. The law prohibits domestic violence and provides protection to all members of the family, including men and children. The law applies equally to marriages and to common-law relationships. Amendments to the law provide for easier issuance of protective orders and mandatory investigation into any claims. The new amendments empower police to make an arrest after receiving a complaint, visiting the premises, and having some assurance that a crime was committed. Penalties depend on the severity of the charges and range from a fine for first-time offenders (unless the injury is serious) up to the death penalty for cases resulting in death of a victim. Victims may request restraining orders, which the courts often issued. The courts may sentence an offender to jail for breaching such an order. The police have a Victim Support Unit, consisting of civilian volunteers, that offers assistance primarily to female victims of violent crimes, but reports indicated the services provided were inadequate. There is also a Family Conflict Unit. Victims reporting a sexual assault were subject to lengthy waits at the police station and for examinations at the hospital, staffed primarily by male doctors. There were public and private counseling services for victims of domestic violence, rape, and child abuse. The Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, and Community Development maintained a Partnership for Peace program, a psychosocial rehabilitation program for perpetrators of domestic abuse. The nongovernmental organization (NGO) Business and Professional Women's Club of Barbados (BPW) operated a crisis center staffed by trained counselors and provided advocacy, crisis and police intervention, and referral services to community resources including legal, medical, addiction, and substance abuse. The BPW also operated a walk-in crisis center to provide psychological, social, and legal services, and to serve as a conduit for other responders to gender-based violence. The government provided funding for a shelter, also operated by the BPW, for women who had faced violence. The shelter offered the services of trained psychological counselors to survivors of domestic violence and other crisis intervention services. The shelter also served victims of human trafficking and others forms of gender-based violence. The Bureau of Gender Affairs cited a lack of specific information and inadequate mechanisms for collecting and evaluating data on incidents of domestic violence as major impediments to dealing with gender-based violence. Human rights activists noted a decrease in the number of reported cases of rape in those cases where the victim did not know the perpetrator. They also praised the bureau's programs, including the victim shelter and the public awareness campaign, and noted a marked improvement in societal attitudes and efforts to improve reporting. Sexual Harassment: No law contains penalties specifically for sexual harassment. Common law, however, may be used to provide remedies to persons who are victims of sexual harassment in the workplace by reliance on the relevant law of torts. Human rights activists reported that sexual harassment continued to be of serious concern. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. Discrimination: The law provides for the same legal status and rights for women as for men. Women actively participated in all aspects of national life and were well represented at all levels of the public and private sectors, although some discrimination persisted. The law does not mandate equal pay for equal work, and reports indicated that women earned significantly less than men for comparable work. Under nationality laws Barbadian women not born in Barbados do not transfer citizenship to their children. Children Birth Registration: Citizenship is obtained by birth in the country, from a citizen father or from a citizen mother if she was born in Barbados. There was universal birth registration. Child Abuse: Violence and abuse against children remained serious problems and appeared to be on the rise. As reasons for the increase, NGOs cited a heightened social awareness of child abuse and encouragement to report cases, rather than a rise in the incidence of abuse. The Child Care Board has a mandate for the care and protection of children, which involved investigating daycare centers and allegations of child abuse or child labor, as well as providing counseling services, residential placement, and foster care. The Welfare Department also offered counseling on a broad range of family-related issues. The Child Care Board advocated stricter regulations to protect children; however, a grave shortfall of staffing and finances impeded the board's efforts to respond appropriately to each report. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage is 18 years. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The government does not have a policy framework to combat the sexual exploitation of children. The minimum age for consensual sex is 16 years. The Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports, and Youth acknowledged child prostitution occurred; however, there were no official statistics to document the problem. Newspaper reports suggested the number of young teenage girls engaged in transactional sex was increasing. Pornography, including child pornography, is illegal. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism The Jewish community was very small. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities Other than constitutional provisions asserting equality for all, no laws specifically prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, or the provision of other state services. Legislation to implement obligations arising from 2013 ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities had yet to be enacted. Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination. Although the Ministry of Social Care operated a National Disabilities Unit to address these concerns, the Barbados Council for the Disabled stated that without legislation the impact of the unit was limited. The government and the council offered free bus services for children with disabilities; nonetheless, transportation difficulties at public schools continued to be a serious concern. The Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Human Resource Development conducted workshops to address discrimination in hiring. Although persons with disabilities continued to face social stigma, attitudes continued to evolve with positive developments noted in hiring practices and general awareness. Individual government agencies were reportedly working on regulations to include persons with disabilities. The Barbados Council for the Disabled, the Barbados National Organization for the Disabled, and other NGOs indicated that transportation remained the primary challenge facing persons with disabilities. Although many public areas lacked the necessary ramps, railings, parking, and bathroom adjustments to accommodate persons with disabilities, the council implemented the Fully Accessible Barbados initiative, which had some success in improving accessibility. Affordable, reliable transportation remained elusive; private transportation providers addressed some transportation concerns. While no legislation mandates provision of accessibility to public thoroughfares or public or private buildings, the Town and Country Planning Department set provisions for all public buildings to include accessibility for persons with disabilities. As a result most new buildings had ramps, reserved parking, and accessible bathrooms for persons with disabilities. The council and other NGOs conducted sensitization and accessibility programs designed to improve inclusion and services for persons with disabilities. The disabilities unit and NGOs continued numerous programs for persons with disabilities, including Call-a-Ride and Dial-a-Ride public transportation programs, sensitization workshops for public transportation operators, inspections of public transportation vehicles, sign language education programs, integrated summer camps, and accessibility programs. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The law criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity between adults, with penalties up to life imprisonment, but there were no reports of the law being enforced during the year. The law does not prohibit discrimination against a person based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, education, or health care. Activists reported that stigma against LGBTI persons persisted. Activists reported few violent incidents based on sexual orientation or gender identity but suggested that social stigma and fear of retribution or reprisal led LGBTI persons to underreport the problem. Anecdotal evidence suggested that LGBTI persons faced discrimination in employment, housing, and access to education and health care. Activists claimed that while many individuals lived open LGBTI lifestyles, disapprobation by police officers and societal discrimination against LGBTI persons occurred. Anecdotal evidence indicated that LGBTI persons were vulnerable to crime, specifically destruction of property, and that LGBTI persons received threats. Activists reported that many LGBTI persons were homeless, as families often were not accepting of LGBTI children, some of whom became involved in the commercial sex trade. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma The government continued a countrywide media campaign to discourage discrimination against HIV/AIDS-infected persons and others living with them, and it reported that the campaign had decreased social stigma against HIV/AIDS. While there was no systematic discrimination, HIV/AIDS-infected persons did not commonly disclose the condition due to lack of social acceptance. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law, including related regulations and statutes, provides for the right of workers to form and join unions and conduct legal strikes but does not specifically recognize the right to bargain collectively. Moreover, the law does not obligate companies to recognize unions or to accept collective bargaining, and no specific law prohibits antiunion discrimination or requires reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. A tribunal may order reinstatement, re-engagement, or compensation under the Employment Rights Act, although no cases of antiunion discrimination were reported during the year. All private-sector employees are permitted to strike, but the law prohibits workers in essential services, such as police, firefighters, and electricity and water company employees, from engaging in strikes. In general the government effectively enforced the law in the formal sector, but there was no information as to the adequacy of resources or inspections. Penalties for violations include fines up to $1,000 Barbados dollars (BBD) ($500), imprisonment up to six months, or both. The penalties were sufficient to deter violations. The Employment Rights Act of 2013 gives persons the right to have unfair dismissals tried before the Employment Rights Tribunal. As of October the tribunal had concluded three cases. One case involved a class action suit in which the tribunal determined that 140 persons were severed without due process. The process was often subject to lengthy delays. A tripartite group of labor, management, and government representatives met regularly. The group dealt with social and economic issues as they arose, worked to formulate legislative policy, and played a significant role in setting and maintaining harmonious workplace relations. With a few exceptions, workers' rights generally were respected. Unions received complaints of collective bargaining agreement violations, but most were resolved through established mechanisms. Although employers were under no legal obligation to recognize unions, most major employers did so when more than 50 percent of the employees made a request. Although companies were sometimes hesitant to engage in collective bargaining with a recognized union, in most instances they would eventually do so. Smaller companies often were not unionized. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The constitution prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. The government generally enforced such laws. Although there were no official reports of forced labor during the year, foreigners remained at risk for forced labor, especially in the domestic service, agriculture, and construction sectors. The law provides maximum penalties for forced labor, including life imprisonment if the victim was under 18 years old and a fine of $1.5 million BBD ($750,000), 15 years in prison, or both if the victim was over 18 years old. There were no prosecutions in recent years. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The law provides for a minimum working age of 16 years for certain sectors but does not cover sectors such as agriculture. The law prohibits children under the age of 18 from engaging in work likely to harm their health, safety, or morals, but it does not specify which occupations fall under this prohibition. The law prohibits the employment of children of compulsory school age (through age 16) during school hours. The law also prohibits young persons from work after 6 p.m. The law was effectively enforced, and child labor laws were generally observed. Parents are culpable under the law if they have children under 16 years old who are not in school. Under the Recruiting of Workers Act, children between the ages of 14 and 16 years could engage in light work with parental consent. There was no list of occupations constituting light work. The Ministry of Labor had a small cadre of labor inspectors who conducted spot investigations of enterprises and checked records to verify compliance with the law. These inspectors may initiate legal action against an employer found employing underage workers. Employers found guilty of violating the Employment Act may be fined or imprisoned for up to 12 months. It was unclear whether these penalties were sufficient to deter violations. According to the chief labor inspector, no underage employment cases were filed during the past few years. Although documentation was not available, some children may be engaged in the worst forms of child labor, namely in drug trafficking and as victims of commercial sexual exploitation (see section 6, Children). Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation Labor laws do not prohibit discrimination on grounds of race, sex, gender, or sexual orientation. The Employment Rights Act prohibits discrimination on grounds of known or perceived HIV/AIDS status or on account of disability. Nevertheless, employment discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients persisted. Foreign workers in high-risk sectors, such as domestic service, agriculture, or construction, were sometimes not aware of their rights and protections under the law, and unions expressed concern that domestic workers were occasionally forced to work in unacceptable conditions. Persons with disabilities generally experienced hiring discrimination, as well as difficulty in achieving economic independence (see section 6, Persons with Disabilities). e. Acceptable Conditions of Work While there is no national minimum wage, there is a minimum wage for "Shop Assistants" of $6.25 BBD ($3.10) per hour. While there is no official poverty income level, the most recent country assessment (2012) estimated that 19 percent of the population lived in poverty. The standard legal workweek is 40 hours in five days, and the law provides employees with three weeks of paid holiday for persons with less than five years of service and four weeks' holiday after five years of service. The law requires overtime payment of time and a half for hours worked in excess and prescribes all overtime must be voluntary. The law does not provide a maximum number of overtime hours. The government set occupational safety and health standards that were current and appropriate for its industries. The Ministry of Labor is charged with enforcing the minimum wage as well as work hours and did so effectively. It also enforced health and safety standards and, in most cases, followed up to ensure management corrected problems cited. A group of nine safety and health inspectors helped enforce regulations, and nine labor officers handled labor law violations. The ministry used routine inspections, accident investigations, and union membership surveys to prevent labor violations and verify that wages and working conditions met national standards. Penalties include fines of up to $500 BBD ($250) per offense, imprisonment of up to three months, or both. The ministry reported that it historically relied on education, consensus building, and moral persuasion rather than penalties to correct labor law violations. The ministry delivered presentations to workers to inform them of their rights and provided education and awareness workshops for employers. The ministry's Health and Safety Inspection Unit conducted several routine annual inspections of government-operated corporations and manufacturing plants, with no serious problems noted. The department mentioned those engaged in child or elderly care, security guards, and factory workers as vulnerable to lower wages and hazardous or exploitive working conditions. Office environments received additional attention from the Ministry of Labor due to indoor air quality concerns. Trade union monitors identified safety problems for government health and safety inspectors to ensure the enforcement of safety and health regulations and effective correction by management. As of October the ministry reported one occupational fatality, which was under investigation. The law provides for the right of workers to refuse dangerous work without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities generally protected employees in this situation. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Bahamas, The Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Bahamas, The, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a744.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a constitutional, parliamentary democracy. Prime Minister Perry Christie's Progressive Liberal Party won control of the government in May 2012 elections that international observers found generally free and fair. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The most serious human rights problems included mistreatment of irregular migrants, an inefficient judicial system, and the perception of impunity on the part of law enforcement and immigration officials accused of using excessive force. Other human rights problems included: violence against prisoners in detention facilities; substandard detention conditions, including poor nutrition; corruption; inhibition of free speech through criminal libel laws; government intimidation of nongovernmental organizations; violence and discrimination against women; sexual abuse of children; and discrimination based on ethnic descent, sexual orientation, or HIV status. The government took action in some cases against police officers and other officials accused of abuse of power. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, although there were occasional reports of fatal shootings and questionable deaths of suspects in police custody. Bystanders at some shootings claimed that police were too quick to use their firearms and declared that in some instances police officers acted unprofessionally. Authorities reported seven fatalities in police operations during the year; in each case the government reported the suspect was armed. In August 2015 family members and some other witnesses reported that police officers shot and killed a suspect who was lying on the ground with his hands in the air. Police officials promised a full investigation of the allegations but stated they did not believe the allegations were credible. The case remained pending as of December. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. At times citizens and visitors alleged instances of police abuse of criminal suspects. On July 8, a foreign citizen reported he had been beaten by two or more corrections officers at the Bahamas Department of Corrections (BDOC). He said that following an altercation with an inmate, prison guards placed him in handcuffs, bent him over a cart, beat him with a PVC plumbing pipe wrapped in duct tape, and then took him back to his cell without providing any medical attention. A migrant held in the immigration detention center in Freeport alleged unprompted, regular beatings from the guards, as well as inappropriate sexual behavior toward female detainees. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions failed to meet international standards in some areas, and conditions at the government's only prison remained harsh due to overcrowding. Physical Conditions: Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to medical care remained problems in the men's maximum-security block. In October 2015 the commissioner of corrections reported the maximum-security block of the prison held 625 inmates in spaces designed to hold approximately 375 inmates when constructed in 1953. The minister of national security reported that the BDOC, which was originally built to hold 1,000 prisoners, held 1,727 inmates as of October 2016. Inmates reported receiving only two meals per day, and often only one, with a meal sometimes consisting only of bread and tea. Fresh fruit and vegetables were rare to nonexistent. Prisoners also reported infrequent access to drinking water and inability to save potable water due to lack of storage containers for the prisoners. A few cells also lacked running water, and in those cells, inmates removed human waste by bucket. Prison guards complained about the lack of a full-time dentist and a failure to appoint a staff psychiatrist. There were four inmate deaths through October 2015, reportedly due to HIV infection, natural causes, an apparent suicide, and injuries resulting from fighting. Reports from the coroner's court were pending on the latter two deaths. The government did not provide updated statistics in 2016. In August 2016, upon the conclusion of a Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) hearing that was closed to the public, the Bahamian government cleared five RBDF marines accused of beating five Cuban detainees at the CRDC in 2013. Administration: The BDOC stated that prisoner complaints generally related to pretrial detention duration, heat in cells, untimely medical care, food quality, and untimely cleaning of bedding materials and/or clothing. Through October 1, authorities reported 717 preliminary inquiries and investigations of staff and inmates. An independent authority does not exist to investigate credible allegations of inhuman conditions. Migrant detainees did not have access to an ombudsman or other means of submitting uncensored complaints, except through their national embassy or consulate. Independent Monitoring: Human rights organizations complained that the government did not consistently grant requests by independent human rights observers for access to the BDOC facility, the CRDC, and the two juvenile centers. The government maintained additional bureaucratic procedures for some civil society organizations to gain access to the detention center, making it difficult to visit detainees on a regular basis. The government denied multiple official requests for consular access to the CRDC to assess conditions. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions, with the exception of immigration raids. Numerous Haitian migrants reported being detained by immigration officials and solicited for bribes of one thousand to three thousand Bahamian dollars (B$) ($1,000-$3,000) (one B$=one U.S. dollar), with the CRDC front office functioning as a clearinghouse. Many claimed that immigration officers targeted their dwellings once their undocumented status was discovered, demanding multiple bribes. Haitian migrants and civil society organizations complained of frequent warrantless searches of Haitian homes without probable cause. Government officials reported that immigrant detainees who presented a security risk were held at the BDOC facility. In February the Supreme Court ordered the release of two Cuban men who had been detained for almost three years without criminal charges. The government had stated that release of the individuals posed a potential security risk and that it had actively sought a third country for resettlement, as their country of nationality refused to accept their return. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) maintains internal security. The small RBDF is primarily responsible for external security but also provides security at the CRDC and performs some domestic security functions such as guarding foreign embassies. The Ministry of National Security oversees both the RBPF and the RBDF. The RBDF augments the RBPF in administrative and support roles. Authorities automatically placed under investigation police officers involved in shooting or killing a suspect. Police investigated all cases of police shootings and deaths in police custody and referred them to a coroner's court for further evaluation. The Police Complaints and Corruption Branch, which reports directly to the deputy commissioner, is responsible for investigating allegations of police brutality or other abuse. In addition to the Complaints and Corruption Branch, the independent Police Complaints Inspectorate Office investigated complaints against police, but the government did not provide updated statistics in 2016. From January to October 2015, 157 complaints were lodged with the Complaints and Corruption Branch, with assault, damage, and unlawful arrest the most frequent categories of grievance. The government did not provide updated statistics in 2016. According to the Ministry of National Security, authorities resolved 103 of these through investigation "that may result in internal discipline, counseling with complainant and accused, compensation, or advisement." The ministry reported referring no cases to the Magistrate's Court for prosecution. The RBPF took action against police misconduct, firing multiple officers during the year for illegal activities, including two officers convicted of stealing $22,000 during a traffic stop. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Authorities generally conducted arrests openly and, when required, obtained judicially issued warrants. Serious cases, including suspected narcotics or firearms offenses, do not require warrants where probable cause exists. The law provides that authorities must charge a suspect within 48 hours of arrest. Arrested persons must appear before a magistrate within 48 hours (or by the next business day for cases arising on weekends and holidays) to hear the charges against them, although some persons on remand claimed they were not brought before a magistrate within the 48-hour period. Police may apply for a 48-hour extension upon simple request to the court and for longer extensions with sufficient showing of need. The government generally respected the right to a judicial determination of the legality of arrests. The constitution provides the right for those arrested or detained to retain an attorney at their own expense; volunteer legal aides were sometimes available. Minors under age 18 are provided legal assistance only when they are charged under offenses before the Supreme Court; otherwise, there is no official representation of minors before the courts. There is a functioning bail system, although arrestees often waited up to two years before receiving bail. Individuals who could not post bail were held on remand until they faced trial. Judges sometimes authorized cash bail for foreigners arrested on minor charges; however, foreign suspects generally preferred to plead guilty and pay a fine rather than pursue their right to defend themselves, in view of possible delays in court cases and harsh conditions in prison. Pretrial Detention: Attorneys and other prisoner advocates continued to complain of excessive pretrial detention due to the failure of the criminal justice system to try even the most serious cases in a timely manner. The constitution provides that authorities may hold suspects in pretrial detention for a "reasonable period of time," which was defined as two years. As of October 2015, 411 prisoners, including 27 non-Bahamian citizens, were awaiting trial. The government did not provide updated statistics in 2016. Authorities used an electronic ankle-bracelet surveillance system in which they released selected suspects awaiting trial with an ankle bracelet on the understanding that the person would adhere to strict and person-specific guidelines defining allowable movement within the country. Authorities detained irregular immigrants, primarily Haitians, until arrangements could be made for them to leave the country or they obtained legal status. The average length of detention varied significantly by nationality, willingness of governments to accept their nationals back in a timely manner, and availability of funds to pay for repatriation. Authorities usually repatriated Haitians within one to two weeks. In a 2014 agreement between the governments of the Bahamas and Haiti, the government of Haiti agreed to accept the return of its nationals without undue delay, and both governments agreed that Haitian migrants found on vessels illegally in Bahamian territorial waters would be subject to immediate repatriation. In return the Bahamian government agreed to continue reviewing the status of Haitian nationals with no legal status and without criminal records who either had arrived in the Bahamas before January 1985 or had resided continuously in the Bahamas since that time. Authorities held irregular immigrants convicted of crimes other than immigration violations at the BDOC facility where, after serving their sentences, they often remained for weeks or months pending deportation. The government continued to enforce the 2014 immigration policy that clarified requirements for non-Bahamian citizens to carry the passport of their nationality and proof of legal status in the country. Some international organizations alleged that enforcement focused primarily on individuals of Haitian origin, that rights of children were not respected, and that expedited deportations did not allow time for due process. There were also widespread, credible reports that immigration officials physically abused persons as they were being detained and that officials solicited and accepted bribes to avoid detention or secure release. Activists for the Haitian community acknowledged that few formal complaints were filed with government authorities because of these allegations, which they attributed to a widespread perception of impunity for police and immigration authorities and fear of reprisal among minority communities. The government denied these allegations and publicly committed to carry out immigration operations with due respect for internationally accepted human rights standards, including the involvement of the Ministry of Social Services, where warranted, in cases involving children, scaled enforcement based on the ability to provide adequate housing for detainees, and full investigations of any allegations of abuse. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Persons arrested or detained, whether on criminal or other grounds, are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention, although this process sometimes took several years. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial Although the constitution provides for an independent judiciary, sitting judges are not granted tenure, and some law professionals asserted that judges were incapable of rendering completely independent decisions due to lack of job security. Procedural shortcomings and trial delays were a problem. The courts were unable to keep pace with the rise in criminal cases, and there was a growing backlog. Trial Procedures Defendants enjoy the right to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges, to a fair and free public trial without undue delay, to be present at their trial, to have adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense, to receive free interpretation as necessary from the moment charged through all appeals, and to present their own witnesses and evidence. Although defendants generally have the right to access government-held evidence and confront adverse witnesses, in some cases the law allows witnesses to testify anonymously against accused perpetrators in order to protect themselves from intimidation or retribution. Authorities frequently dismissed serious charges because witnesses either refused to testify or could not be located. Defendants also have a right not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt and to appeal. The law extends these rights to all defendants. Defendants may hire an attorney of their choice. The government provided legal representation only to destitute suspects charged with capital crimes, leaving large numbers of defendants without adequate legal representation. Lack of representation contributed to excessive pretrial detention, as some accused lacked the means to pursue their cases toward trial. A large number of juvenile offenders appear in court with court-appointed guardians ad litem. A conflict arises when the magistrate requests "information" about a child's background and requests that the same social worker prepare a probation report. The Department of Social Services prepares the report, which includes a recommendation on the eventual sentence for the child. In essence the government-assigned social worker tasked with protecting and safeguarding the welfare of the child is the same individual tasked with writing the report to the judge recommending the appropriate punishment for the child. A significant backlog of cases awaiting trial remained a problem. Delays reportedly lasted five years or more, although the government increased the number of criminal courts and continued working to clear the backlog. Once cases went to trial, they were often further delayed due to poor case and court management, such as inaccurate handling or presentation of evidence and inaccurate scheduling of witnesses, jury members, and accused criminals for testimony. Local legal professionals also attributed delays to a variety of longstanding systemic problems, such as slow and limited police investigations, inefficient prosecution strategies, limited forensic capacity, lengthy legal procedures, and staff shortages in the Prosecutor's Office and the courts. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies There is an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, and there is access to a court to bring lawsuits seeking damages for, or cessation of, human rights violations. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution prohibits such actions, and the government generally respected these prohibitions; however, in migrant villages witnesses reported immigration officers' habitual warrantless entry of homes without probable cause. While the law usually requires a court order for entry into or search of a private residence, a police inspector or more senior police official may authorize a search without a court order where probable cause to suspect a weapons violation or drug possession exists. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respected these rights. An independent press; a relatively effective albeit extremely backlogged judiciary; and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of speech and press. Independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without significant restriction. Freedom of Speech and Expression: In response to criticism of the government's immigration policy that took effect in 2014, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration reminded citizens that the Bahamas Nationality Act allows the foreign minister, who is the minister responsible for nationality and citizenship, to revoke citizenship from a person who "has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards the Bahamas." In August 2015 the foreign minister threatened to revoke the permanent residency status of a critic of the government. Libel/Slander Laws: The law criminalizes both negligent and intentional libel, with a penalty of six months' imprisonment for the former and two years for the latter. Although the International Press Institute called on the government to begin reform and elimination of criminal defamation laws, the government increased its use of libel laws during the year. In August the government arrested two men for a rap song that attacked Prime Minister Christie in explicit language, held them for 36 hours before release, and continued to investigate them for criminal libel. One of the detainees was an outspoken activist frequently critical of the Christie administration. In September authorities arrested a lawyer on criminal libel charges for "defamatory statements" intended "to injure and expose" senior police officials to "general hatred, contempt, or ridicule." Internet Freedom The government did not restrict access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authorization. The internet was widely available on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands, and the International Telecommunication Union estimated that 78 percent of the population used the internet during the year. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. The Plays and Films Control Board rated and censored plays and films for public viewing. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Association The constitution provides for freedom of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights, although the climate for civil society groups appeared to be worsening. Civil rights organizations protesting the government's immigration enforcement policy and an environmental organization credibly alleged that some government officials sought to constrain their freedom of speech and association rights by publicly labeling the groups as traitors and refusing to conduct adequate investigations of or provide police protection from threats. Cabinet members also sought to intimidate a local environmental group by reading its hacked e-mails and financial information from the floor of Parliament, accusing the group of attempting to overthrow the ruling political party. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights requested the government to undertake precautionary measures to protect six members of the environmental group following reported threats against their lives and personal integrity "as a result of their work as human rights defenders." An activist with a reform-oriented organization claimed police questioned him for his activities. He also stated that the government warned clients away from his business. Police reportedly investigated the background of a judge who ruled in favor of a human rights nongovernmental organization (NGO). c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. The government generally cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: According to the government, trained individuals screened applicants for asylum and referred them to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration for further review. Government procedure requires that the ministry forward approved applications to the cabinet for a final decision on granting or denying asylum. Throughout the year the government worked to develop institutionalized asylum procedures to enhance the processing of asylum seekers and refugees. Authorities did not systematically involve UNHCR in asylum proceedings, but they did seek advice on specific cases during the year and granted UNHCR access to interview some detained asylum seekers awaiting deportation. Refoulement: In 2013 the government signed an agreement with the government of Cuba to expedite removal of detainees. The announced intent of this agreement was to reduce the amount of time Cuban migrants spent in detention; however, concerns persisted that it also allowed for information sharing that heightened the risk of persecution of detainees and their families. Stateless Persons The government did not effectively implement laws and policies to provide certain habitual residents the opportunity to gain nationality in a timely manner and on a nondiscriminatory basis. Children born in the country to non-Bahamian parents, to an unwed Bahamian father and a non-Bahamian mother, or outside the country to a Bahamian mother and a non-Bahamian father do not acquire citizenship at birth. Bahamian-born persons of foreign heritage must apply for citizenship during a 12-month window following their 18th birthday, sometimes waiting many years for a government response. The narrow window for application, difficult documentary requirements, and long waiting times left multiple generations without a confirmed nationality. These restrictions primarily affected those of Haitian descent. There were no reliable estimates of the number of persons without a confirmed nationality. The government asserted that a number of "stateless" individuals had a legitimate claim to Haitian citizenship but refused to pursue it due to fear of deportation or loss of future claim to Bahamian citizenship. Such persons often faced waiting periods of several years for the government to decide on their nationality applications and, as a result, lacked proper documentation to secure employment, housing, access to health services, and other public facilities. Individuals born in the country to non-Bahamian parents were eligible to apply for "Belonger" status that entitled them to work, access to public high school-level education, and a fee-for-service health-care insurance program. After significant delay, hundreds of Belonger permits were issued during the year. Human rights advocates criticized the health insurance program as having unrealistic payment requirements that limited widespread access. Authorities allowed individuals born in the country to non-Bahamian parents to pay the tuition rate for Bahamian students when enrolled in college and while waiting for their request for citizenship to be processed. To attend government primary and secondary schools, the Ministry of Education requires students to have a student permit or a passport with residency stamp. Community leaders reported that many irregular migrant children, as well as children born in the Bahamas to irregular migrant parents, were barred from attending classes. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and laws provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: Prime Minister Perry Christie took office after his opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) defeated the Free National Movement (FNM) in a general election in 2012. The PLP won 29 of the 38 parliamentary seats, with 48 percent of the popular vote. The FNM won the remaining nine seats. Election observers from the Organization of American States and foreign embassies found the elections to be generally free and fair. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit the participation of women and minorities in the political process, and women and minorities did participate. Seven members of parliament and the governor general were women. Four members of parliament were minorities, but minorities were unrepresented in the cabinet. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials; however, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. There were frequent reports of government corruption during the year. Corruption: The procurement process was particularly susceptible to corruption, as it is opaque, contains no requirement to engage in open public tenders, and does not allow review of award decisions. In May a former state energy-company board member was convicted under the Prevention of Bribery Act, the first significant case brought under the act since 1989. In July he was sentenced to pay a fine of $14,000 and to make a payment of $221,000, equal to the amount of the bribe, within nine months to the electric company; the court determined that the noncustodial sentence was appropriate due to his ill health. Financial Disclosure: The Public Disclosure Act requires senior public officials, including senators and members of parliament, to declare their assets, income, and liabilities on an annual basis. The government publishes a summary of the individual declarations. There is no independent verification of the submitted data, and the rate of annual submission was weak, except in election years. Public Access to Information: As of October the government, which had not issued implementing regulations to bring the 2012 Freedom of Information Act into force, announced plans to repeal and replace the act. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A number of international human rights organizations operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases, although the government was less cooperative with domestic organizations. Government Human Rights Bodies: A governmental commissioner with ombudsman-like duties enjoyed the government's cooperation and was considered effective. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape is illegal, but the law does not protect against spousal rape, except if the couple is separated, in the process of divorce, or if there is a restraining order in place. The maximum penalty for an initial rape conviction is seven years; the maximum for subsequent rape convictions is life imprisonment. In practice, however, the maximum sentence was 14 years' imprisonment. Violence against women continued to be a serious, widespread problem. The 2015 Strategic Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence reported a total of 2,390 incidences of sexual offenses, including rape, attempted rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, incest, and other sexual offenses, between 2003 and 2013. The law recognizes domestic violence as a crime separate from assault and battery, and the government generally enforced the law, although women's rights groups cited some reluctance on the part of law enforcement authorities to intervene in domestic disputes. The Bahamas Crisis Center (BCC) worked with police by providing them with a counselor referral service when encountering rape victims. The BCC operated a toll-free hotline in New Providence and Grand Bahama, run by trained volunteers to respond to emergency calls 24 hours a day. Governmental and private women's organizations continued public awareness campaigns, highlighting the problems of abuse and domestic violence. The Ministry of Social Services and Community Development's Department of Social Services, in partnership with a private organization, operated a safe house to assist female survivors. In November the Bureau of Women's Affairs became the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and increased its staffing. The department was reasonably well funded and received grant funding from UN Women for special projects. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits criminal "quid pro quo" sexual harassment and authorizes penalties of up to $5,000 and a maximum of two years' imprisonment. There were no official reports of workplace sexual harassment during the year. Civil rights advocates complained that criminal prohibitions were not enforced effectively and asserted that civil remedies were needed, including a prohibition on "hostile environment" sexual harassment. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals generally have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. Discrimination: The law does not prohibit discrimination based on gender, and a constitutional referendum on gender equality, including prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex, was soundly defeated in June. Women with foreign-born spouses do not have the same right as men to transmit citizenship to their spouse or children (see section 2.d., Statelessness). Women were generally free of economic discrimination, and the law provides for equal pay for equal work. The law also provides for the same legal status and rights for women as for men; however, women reported that it was more difficult for them to qualify for credit and to own a business. Children Birth Registration: Children born in the country to married parents, one of whom is Bahamian, acquire citizenship at birth. Those born to non-Bahamian parents, to an unwed Bahamian father and a non-Bahamian mother, or outside the country to a Bahamian mother and a non-Bahamian father do not automatically acquire citizenship. In the case of unwed parents, the child takes the citizenship of the mother. A constitutional referendum to equalize citizenship transmission for men and women was defeated in June. All children born in the country may apply for citizenship upon reaching their 18th birthday. There is universal birth registration, and all births must be registered within 21 days of delivery. Child Abuse: Child abuse and neglect remained serious problems. The RBPF operated a hotline regarding missing or exploited children. The law provides severe penalties for child abuse and requires all persons having contact with a child they believe has been physically or sexually abused to report their suspicions to the police. The penalties for rape of a minor are the same as those for rape of an adult. While a victim's consent is insufficient defense against allegations of statutory rape, it is sufficient defense if an individual can demonstrate that the accused had "reasonable cause to believe that the victim was above 16 years of age," provided the accused was under age 18. Sexual exploitation of children through incestuous relationships occasionally occurred, and anecdotal reports continued to suggest that this was a particular problem outside Nassau. The Ministry of Social Services may remove children from abusive situations if a court deems it necessary. The ministry provided services to abused and neglected children through a public-private center for children, the public hospital family-violence program, and the BCC. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage is 18, although minors may marry at 15 with parental permission. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The minimum age for consensual sex is 16 years. The law considers any association or exposure of a child to prostitution or a prostitution house as cruelty, neglect, or mistreatment of a child. Additionally, the offense of having sex with a minor carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Child pornography is against the law. A person who produces it is liable to life imprisonment; dissemination or possession of it calls for a penalty of 20 years' imprisonment. Institutionalized Children: Children as young as 10 years old can be charged as an adult or a juvenile before a criminal court. First-time juvenile offenders charged with nonviolent or lesser offenses faced detention and custodial sentences at the Simpson Penn School for Boys, Willie Mae Pratt Center for Girls, or the BDOC facility. When a juvenile is arrested and taken into custody, if authorities are unable to contact a parent or guardian, police call in a social worker as a de facto parent. There was no protection to prevent juveniles from being shackled to, or transported with, adult offenders. The BDOC maintained a juvenile area at the prison facility; however, there was no strict enforcement of the sight/sound separation of juvenile and adult inmates. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism The local Jewish community numbered approximately 300 persons. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities In 2015 the government passed the implementing legislation for the 2014 Persons with Disabilities Act. The law prohibits discrimination in employment, education, the judicial system, health care, and access, and it gives businesses and public buildings two years to make needed access improvements. Although the previous law mandated access for persons with physical disabilities in new public buildings, authorities rarely enforced this requirement, and very few buildings and public facilities were accessible to persons with disabilities. The Education Act affords equal access for students, but only as resources permit, with this decision made by individual schools. On less-populated islands, children with learning disabilities often sat disengaged in the back of classrooms because resources were not available. Other legislation prohibits discrimination based on disability. A mix of government and private residential and nonresidential institutions provided education, training, counseling, and job placement services for adults and children with disabilities. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities The country's racial and ethnic groups generally coexisted peacefully, but anti-Haitian prejudice and resentment regarding Haitian immigration was widespread. According to unofficial estimates, between 40,000 and 80,000 residents were Haitians or persons of Haitian descent, making them the largest ethnic minority. Many persons of Haitian origin lived in shantytowns with limited sewage and garbage services, law enforcement, or other infrastructure. For example, a number of shantytowns on New Providence and other islands consisted of houses built from trash and discarded building materials, with few organizational, infrastructure, or sanitation measures in place. The government occasionally evicted residents and demolished some settlements due to health and safety concerns. Fires frequently broke out in Haitian shantytowns in Nassau, at least some of which were deliberately set, according to human rights organizations. Authorities generally granted Haitian children access to education and social services, but interethnic tensions and inequities persisted. Haitians generally had difficulty in securing citizenship, residence, or work permits. In 2014 the government began conducting large-scale immigration raids in Haitian neighborhoods and increased deportations of Haitian immigrants. Members of the community, as well as human rights NGOs, argued that the raids were conducted without probable cause and were marked by verbal and physical abuse. An elderly, bedridden woman claimed that immigration officers stomped and kicked her in October, hospitalizing her for 15 days and rendering her permanently unable to walk. Witnesses also claimed that warrantless searches of homes were common during these raids. Members of the Haitian community complained of discrimination in the job market, specifically employers seeking advantage by threat of deportation controlled identity and work-permit documents. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Activists reported that societal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals occurred, with some persons claiming job and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation. Victims had no legal recourse, as the law provides no protection from such discrimination. Although sexual activity between same-sex consenting adults is legal, the law defines the age of consent for same-sex couples as 18, compared with 16 for heterosexual couples. Activists reported that LGBTI individuals rarely reported abuse to authorities, often because of reluctance to reveal their sexual orientation rather than from fear of police harassment. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma Stigma and employment discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS were high, but there were no reports of violence against persons with HIV/AIDS. The law prohibits discrimination in employment based on HIV/AIDS status. Children with HIV/AIDS also faced discrimination, and authorities often did not tell teachers that a child was HIV positive due to fear of verbal abuse from both educators and peers. The government maintained a home for orphaned children infected with HIV/AIDS. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, participate in collective bargaining, and conduct legal strikes. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination. By law employers can be compelled to reinstate workers illegally fired for union activity. Members of the police force, defense force, fire brigade, and prison guards may not organize or join unions. Enforcement of labor laws was weak. There was no information on the adequacy of enforcement resources. Fines varied widely by case and were not sufficient to deter violations. Administrative and judicial procedures were subject to lengthy delays and appeals. The government did not provide updated statistics during the year. By law labor disputes must first be filed with the Ministry of Labor and National Insurance, and if not resolved, they are transferred to an industrial tribunal, which determines penalties (fines) and remedies, up to a maximum of 26 weeks of an employee's pay. The tribunal's decision is final and can be appealed in court only on a strict question of law. Authorities reported a case backlog of up to three years at the tribunal. The government generally respected freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, and most employers in the private sector did as well. There were reports that some employers utilized individual contracts instead of collective bargaining. Workers occasionally filed disputes with the authorities involving "union-busting" charges, specifically in the financial services sector. During the year two such cases arose and were resolved in a timely manner through conciliation. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. The government did not always effectively enforce applicable law. Although the Ministry of Labor and National Insurance received no reports of forced labor during the year, local NGOs noted that exploited workers often did not report their circumstances to government officials due to fear of deportation and lack of education about available resources. There was no information on the adequacy of resources, inspections, and remediation. Penalties for forced labor range from three to 10 years' imprisonment and were sufficiently stringent to deter violations. Undocumented migrants were vulnerable to forced labor, especially in domestic servitude and in the agriculture sector. There were reports that noncitizen laborers, often of Haitian origin, were vulnerable to forced labor and suffered abuses at the hands of their employers, who were responsible for endorsing their work permits on an annual basis. Specifically, local sources indicated that employers reportedly obtained $1,000 work permits for noncitizen employees and then required them to "work off" the permit fee over the course of their employment or otherwise risk losing the permit and their ability to work legally within the country. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The law prohibits the employment of children under age 14 for industrial work or work during school hours. Children under age 16 may not work at night. Children between the ages 14 and 18 may work outside of school hours under the following conditions: in a school day, for not more than three hours; in a school week, for not more than 24 hours; in a nonschool day, for not more than eight hours; in a nonschool week, for not more than 40 hours. The law prohibits persons younger than age 18 from engaging in dangerous work, including construction, mining, and road building. There was no legal minimum age for employment in other sectors. Occupational health and safety restrictions apply to all younger workers. Grocery stores frequently violated labor laws by employing "package boys," some as young as 13, outside of legal working hours. The government made efforts to enforce the law, with labor inspectors proactively sent to stores and businesses on a regular basis, but resource constraints limited their effectiveness. The Ministry of Labor and National Insurance reported no severe violations of child labor laws, although inspectors reported several instances of children working in small merchant businesses or excess hours in grocery stores. The penalty for violations of child labor law is a fine between $1,000 and $1,500. This punitive action was sufficient to deter violations. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The law prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, national origin, creed, sex, marital status, political opinion, age, HIV status, or disability, but not in regard to language, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, religion, or social status. The government did not effectively enforce the law, and while the law allows victims to sue for damages, many citizens were unable to avail themselves of this remedy due to poor availability of legal representation and the ability of wealthy defendants to drag out the process in courts. Discrimination in employment and occupation occurred with respect to persons with HIV/AIDS (see section 6). Foreign migrant workers consistently received legal protections. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work In July 2015 the Ministry of Labor and National Insurance raised the minimum wage from $4.00 to $5.25 per hour. In 2013 the official poverty level was adjusted to $4,247 a year. In June 2015 the government appointed a National Tripartite Council to implement the statutory provisions of International Labor Organization Convention 144 and ensure effective consultation among employers, government, and workers. The law provides for a 40-hour workweek, a 24-hour rest period, and time-and-a-half payment for hours worked beyond the standard workweek. The law stipulates paid annual holidays and prohibits compulsory overtime. The law does not place a cap on overtime. The government set health and safety standards appropriate to the industries. According to the Ministry of Labor and National Insurance, the law protects all workers, including migrant workers, in areas including wages, working hours, working conditions, and occupational and safety standards. Workers do not have the right to refuse to work under hazardous conditions, and legal standards do not cover undocumented and informal economy workers. The ministry is responsible for enforcing labor laws, including the minimum wage, and fielded a team of 16 inspectors that conducted onsite visits to enforce occupational health and safety standards and investigate employee concerns and complaints, although inspections occurred infrequently. The ministry generally announced inspection visits in advance, and employers generally cooperated with inspectors to implement safety standards. It was uncertain whether these inspections were effective in enforcing health and safety standards. The government did not levy fines for noncompliance but occasionally forced a work stoppage. Such penalties were not sufficiently stringent to deter violations. Working conditions varied, and mold was a problem in schools and government facilities. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Azerbaijan Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Azerbaijan, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a753.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Azerbaijani constitution provides for a republic with a presidential form of government. Legislative authority is vested in the Milli Mejlis. The president dominated the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. On September 26, constitutional amendments were approved that, inter alia, increased the president's term in office from five to seven years and expanded the powers of the president. Other amendments included a provision permitting the further restriction of freedom of assembly. The constitutional referendum was marked by widespread credible complaints of irregularities. Legislative elections in November 2015 could not be fully assessed due to the absence of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) election observation mission; independent observers alleged irregularities throughout the country. The 2013 presidential election did not meet a number of key OSCE standards for democratic elections. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Separatists, with Armenia's support, continued to control most of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven other Azerbaijani territories. The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh remained the subject of international mediation by the OSCE Minsk Group, cochaired by France, Russia, and the United States. There was an increase in violence along the Line of Contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border April 1-5. The heavy clashes led to the highest death toll since the signing of the 1994 cease-fire agreement. There were allegations of atrocities committed by the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during an April 1-5 outbreak of violence. The sides in the conflict also submitted to the European Court of Human Rights complaints accusing each other of committing atrocities during this period. The most significant human rights problems during the year included: Increased government restrictions on fundamental freedoms: Authorities limited the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association through intimidation, incarceration on questionable charges, and harsh abuse of selected activists and secular and religious opposition figures. The operating space for activists and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) remained severely constrained. There was a continuing crackdown on civil society, including intimidation, arrest, and conviction on charges widely considered politically motivated; criminal investigations into NGO activities; restrictive laws; and the freezing of bank accounts that rendered many groups unable to function. Authorities also restricted freedom of expression by closing a semi-independent television station that had been the country's sole independent broadcaster until late 2006, when its independence began to decline, and by taking actions that resulted in the end of the print edition of a leading opposition newspaper. Government use of the judicial system to punish dissent: Authorities arbitrarily arrested and detained activists, engaged in politically motivated imprisonment, conducted trials that lacked due process, and subjected activists to lengthy pretrial detention with impunity. Authorities used different pretexts to decrease the number of defense lawyers willing and able to defend the rights of peaceful activists. While authorities released 17 individuals widely considered to be incarcerated for exercising their fundamental freedoms, they held an even larger number of others. Government restrictions continued on the ability of citizens to choose their government in free and fair elections. Other problems reported included physical abuse in the military; alleged torture and abuse of detainees, at times leading to death; police violence against peaceful citizens; abuse of inmates in prisons; harsh and sometimes life-threatening prison conditions; detentions without warrants; and incommunicado detention. Authorities often failed to provide due process, including with regard to property rights. There were reports of arbitrary government invasions of privacy, incarceration of religious figures, and restrictions on the religious freedom of some unregistered groups. Authorities restricted freedom of movement for a growing number of journalists and activists. Constraints on political participation persisted. While the government took continued measures towards reducing low-level corruption in government services, allegations of systemic corruption at all levels of government continued. Violence against women, gender-biased sex selection, and trafficking in persons were reported. Societal intolerance, violence, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity remained problems, as did societal stigma against persons with HIV/AIDS. Authorities did not effectively enforce laws prohibiting discrimination in employment or occupation. The government did not prosecute or punish most officials who committed human rights abuses; impunity remained a problem. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings Separatists, with Armenia's support, continued to control most of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven other Azerbaijani territories. The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh remained the subject of international mediation by the OSCE Minsk Group, cochaired by France, Russia, and the United States. There was an increase in violence along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan international border April 1-5. The heavy clashes led to the highest death toll since the signing of the 1994 cease-fire agreement. There were allegations of atrocities committed by the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during an April 1-5 outbreak of violence. The sides in the conflict also submitted to the European Court of Human Rights complaints accusing each other of committing atrocities during this period. Both the government and human rights monitors reported a drop in harmful hazing practices in the military. As of November 20, local human rights organizations reported at least 36 noncombat-related deaths in security forces, including suicides and soldiers killed by fellow service members. On February 20, for example, another conscript shot and killed State Border Service (SBS) member Sanan Mehdizade. The SBS refused to comment on the death to media outlets. No further details were available. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. As of July 5, the State Committee on the Captive and Missing reported that 3,866 citizens were registered as missing persons because of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) processed cases of persons missing in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and worked with the government to develop a consolidated list of missing persons. According to the ICRC, more than 4,496 persons remained unaccounted for because of the conflict. The ICRC assisted prisoners of war and civilian internees and conducted regular visits throughout the year to ensure protection of prisoners under international humanitarian law. The ICRC regularly facilitated the exchange of messages between them and their families to help them re-establish and maintain contact. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment While the constitution and criminal code prohibit such practices and provide for penalties for conviction of up to 10 years' imprisonment, credible allegations of torture and other abuse continued. In 2014, the most recent year for which data was available, domestic human rights monitors reported receiving 324 complaints of such abuse by security forces. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention reported receiving a large number of statements during its May 16-25 visit to the country from current and former juvenile, female, and male detainees it interviewed alleging that they had been subjected to torture and mistreatment. According to the working group, interviewees "described having a gun pointed at their head, severe beatings, sometimes lasting several hours, verbal abuse and psychological pressure, practices such as standing on one's knees for long hours, threats of physical and sexual abuse as well as threats to arrest family members." Human rights defenders and media outlets reported at least four cases of torture or other physical abuse during the year that led to death. There was no single source to confirm the exact number of such cases. On April 27, for example, Sumgayit City police detained 37-year-old Rashad Mehdiyev, who died two days later, reportedly from abusive treatment at the police station. Police claimed Mehdiyev died due to a head injury incurred when he accidentally fell. Mehdiyev's family refuted the claims and released photographs of him with multiple bruises on his body, which they alleged indicated torture. There were no reports on the results of a subsequent investigation. Reports from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and human rights activists indicated that most mistreatment took place while detainees were in police custody, where authorities reportedly used abusive methods to coerce confessions. In one prominent example, on August 12, police arrested N!DA youth activist Elgiz Gahraman for alleged drug possession after he disparaged a proposed constitutional change that would remove the age limit for presidential candidates. Gahraman was held incommunicado for six days at the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Organized Crime Department. Gahraman later stated that during his detention he was subjected to torture and forced to sign a confession. In November 2015 law enforcement forces arrested a large group of religious individuals in Nardaran, including the head of the Muslim Unity Movement, Taleh Baghirzada, on charges of alleged involvement in an effort to overthrow the government and put in place an Islamic state. During the trial of 17 of the individuals, Baghizada and 16 other Nardaran residents charged in the case informed the court they were tortured while police interrogated them at the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Organized Crime Department. The defendants specifically claimed that police officer Shahlar Jafarov beat detainee Farahim Bunyadov to death in custody and subjected them to physical abuse. Authorities did not investigate the claims. Authorities reportedly maintained a de facto ban on independent forensic examinations of detainees who claimed mistreatment and delayed their access to an attorney, practices that made it easier for officers to mistreat detainees with impunity. For example, imprisoned Muslim Unity Movement leader Taleh Baghirzada and his lawyers stated that police tortured him for days in an attempt to force him to renounce his beliefs and provide false accusations against secular opposition leaders Dr. Jamil Hasanli and Ali Kerimli. The Ministry of Internal Affairs' Organized Crime Unit reportedly denied him access to his attorney for more than a month. In another prominent case, imprisoned N!DA youth movement activists Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov stated during their trial that police subjected them to torture while in custody. The two youths claimed that officers beat them, forced them to disrobe, and threatened to rape them with truncheons and bottles if they did not confess to charges of drug possession after closed-circuit television footage showed them painting graffiti on a statue of former president Heydar Aliyev. Their attorney reportedly was only able to meet with them after they had signed the coerced drug possession confessions. Despite physical evidence of abuse displayed by Mammadov and Ibrahimov during the trial and appeals to the Prosecutor General's Office and Ombudsman's Office in Baku, authorities failed to investigate their allegations. There were media reports of police violence against citizens not involved in political activity. For example, Bakhtiyar Ismayilov reported that police from the Barda Police Department detained and subjected him to inhumane treatment on the night of September 16 for mistakenly stopping a police car instead of a taxi. He showed numerous bodily injuries after allegedly being beaten at the police department and claimed that police employees warned him not to report the incident. After his public statements, media outlets reported additional allegations of abuse at the same police department from individuals who previously were afraid to speak. According to official data, the Prison Service investigated 334 complaints against prison system officials for torture or mistreatment between 2009 and 2013. The Ministry of Internal Affairs received 984 such complaints between 2010 and 2013, and the Office of the Prosecutor General received 678 similar complaints between 2010 and 2013. According to the UN Committee against Torture, this was a strong indication that torture investigations were not conducted in a prompt, efficient, and impartial manner. Although there were reports of a decrease in abusive hazing practices, local observers reported bullying and abuse in military units during the year. The Ministry of Defense set up a telephone hotline for soldiers to report incidents of mistreatment in order to hold unit commanders responsible, which reportedly resulted in improved conditions throughout the armed forces. Prison and Detention Center Conditions According to a reputable prison-monitoring organization, prison conditions were sometimes harsh and potentially life threatening due to overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, deficient heating and ventilation, and poor medical care. While the government continued to construct facilities, some Soviet-era facilities still in use did not meet international standards. Gobustan Prison, Prisons 3 and 14, and the penitentiary tuberculosis-treatment center reportedly had the worst conditions. Former prisoners and family members of imprisoned activists reported that prisoners often had to pay bribes to use toilets or shower rooms or to receive food. Detainees also complained of inhumane conditions in the crowded basement detention facilities of local courts where they awaited trial. They reported those facilities lacked ventilation and proper sanitary conditions. Physical Conditions: Authorities held men and women together in pretrial detention facilities in separate blocks, but housed women in separate prison facilities after sentencing. Local NGO observers reported that female prisoners typically lived in better conditions than male prisoners, were monitored more frequently, and had greater access to training and other activities, but that women's prisoners suffered from many of the same problems as prisons for men. Human rights monitors reported four cases of children under the age of seven living in adult prison facilities with their incarcerated mothers. Convicted juvenile offenders may be held in juvenile institutions until they are 20. During the year the Ministry of Justice reported 122 deaths in ministry facilities, 81 of which occurred in medical treatment facilities. The ministry reported the majority of death cases occurred from various illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular pathology, and tuberculosis. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported one death by suicide in its detention facilities in 2016. According to the ministry, as a result of an internal investigation, two police officers were dismissed for neglect of their official duties and one person was subjected to disciplinary action. Prisoners at times claimed they endured lengthy confinement periods without opportunity for physical exercise. They also reported instances of cramped, overcrowded conditions; inadequate ventilation; poor sanitary facilities; and insufficient access to medical care. Although the law permits detainees to receive daily packages of food to supplement the food officially provided, authorities at times reportedly restricted access of prisoners and detainees to family-provided food parcels. Some prisons and detention centers did not provide access to potable water. Human rights advocates reported that guards punished prisoners with beatings or by holding them in isolation cells. Local and international monitors reported markedly poorer conditions at the maximum security Gobustan Prison. Administration: While most prisoners reported that they could submit complaints to judicial authorities and the Ombudsman's Office without censorship, prison authorities regularly read prisoners' correspondence, and domestic NGOs reported some prisoners in high-security facilities experienced difficulty submitting complaints. While the Ombudsman's Office reported conducting systematic visits and investigations into complaints, NGOs reported that the office was insufficiently active in addressing prisoner complaints by, for example, failing to investigate allegations of torture by N!DA activists Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov. Authorities at times limited visits by attorneys and family members, especially to prisoners widely considered to be incarcerated for political reasons. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted some prison visits by international and local organizations, including the ICRC, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and parliamentarians and diplomats from European countries. Authorities generally permitted the ICRC access to prisoners of war and civilian internees held in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as well as to detainees held in facilities under the authority of the Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, and the National Security Services. A joint government-human rights community prison-monitoring group known as the Public Committee was allowed access to prisons without prior notification to the Penitentiary Service. On some occasions, however, other groups that reportedly gave prior notification experienced difficulty obtaining access. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention Although the law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, the government generally did not observe these prohibitions, and impunity remained a problem. On May 25, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Arrests expressed concern about the conditions in the special facilities for persons with disabilities and over the ongoing prosecution of human rights defenders, journalists, and political opposition. In one of the more prominent examples of arbitrary arrest during the year, according to activists, authorities detained 185 individuals prior to, during, and after authorized rallies held on September 11, 17, and 18 in opposition to the September 26 referendum on amending the constitution. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service are responsible for security within the country and report directly to the president. The Ministry of Internal Affairs oversees local police forces and maintains internal civil defense troops. In December 2015 the Ministry of National Security, which oversaw intelligence and counterintelligence activities and had a separate internal security force, was dissolved by presidential order. Its functions were split between the State Security Service, dealing with domestic matters, and the Foreign Intelligence Service, focused on foreign intelligence and counterintelligence issues. NGOs reported that both services detained individuals who exercised their rights to fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression. The State Migration Service and the State Border Service are responsible for migration and border enforcement. Police crowd-control tactics varied during the year. In some cases police detained peaceful protesters and used excessive force against them. While security forces generally acted with impunity, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that in the first nine months of the year, it took administrative disciplinary action against 259 employees for violation of human rights and freedoms(197 cases), unjustified detentions (12 cases), and rude treatment (62 cases). Corruption among law enforcement officers was a problem. Low wages contributed to police corruption. In the first nine months of the year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported it took disciplinary action against 16 employees in connection with eight cases of corruption, dismissing seven from their institutions, and reassigning nine others. It did not hold any of the employees criminally liable, however. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees The law provides that persons detained, arrested, or accused of a crime be accorded due process, including being advised immediately of their rights and the reason for their arrest. The government did not always respect these provisions. According to the law, detainees are to be brought before a judge within 48 hours of arrest and the judge may issue a warrant placing the detainee in pretrial detention, place the detainee under house arrest, or release the detainee. The initial 48-hour arrest period may be extended to 96 hours under extenuating circumstances. During pretrial detention or house arrest, the Prosecutor General's Office is to complete its investigation. Pretrial detention is limited to three months but may be extended by a judge up to 18 months, depending on the alleged crime and the needs of the investigation. Authorities at times detained individuals for several days without warrants, and legal experts asserted that judges sometimes issued warrants after a person was detained. There were reports of detainees not being promptly informed of the charges against them. On March 22, Sumgayit city police mistakenly detained Rashad Abbasov and used physical force against him until he falsely confessed to stabbing another person. Police later identified the true perpetrator of the crime and released Abbasov, who was immediately hospitalized due to numerous bodily injuries. Abbasov's family stated that police also used electric shock to force him to admit to the crime. Authorities did not investigate the mistreatment. The law provides for access to a lawyer from the time of detention, but there were reports that authorities frequently denied lawyers' access to clients in both politically motivated and routine cases. Access to counsel was poor, particularly outside Baku. Although entitled to legal counsel by law, indigent detainees often did not have such access. In one case, attorneys for arrested youth activists Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov reported they were denied access to their clients for two days, from their May 10 detention until minutes before their May 12 trial. During this period police held the two activists incommunicado. Police at times held politically sensitive and other suspects incommunicado for periods that ranged from several hours to several days. On August 18, for example, authorities detained opposition Popular Front Party (PFP) youth activist Fuad Ahmadli and held him incommunicado for approximately 10 days. In another notable example, in November 2015 law enforcement forces arrested a large group of religious individuals, including the head of the Muslim Unity Movement, Taleh Baghirzada, (see section 1.c.). Following Baghirzada's arrest, authorities detained more than 70 persons in different parts of the country. As of November 25, a working group of 24 activists considered 52 of those detained to have been arrested arbitrarily due to lack of evidence provided during court proceedings and were reviewing an additional 20 cases as possible arbitrary arrests. Prisoners' family members reported that authorities occasionally restricted visits, especially to persons in pretrial detention, and withheld information about detainees. Days sometimes passed before families could obtain information about detained relatives. Authorities sometimes used family members as leverage to put pressure on individuals to turn themselves in to police or to stop them from reporting police abuse. A formal bail system existed, but judges did not utilize it during the year. Arbitrary Arrest: Authorities often made arrests based on spurious charges such as resisting police, illegal possession of drugs or weapons, tax evasion, illegal entrepreneurship, abuse of authority, or inciting public disorder. Local NGOs and international groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticized the government for arresting individuals exercising their fundamental rights and noted that authorities frequently fabricated the charges against them. In particular, police detained individuals who peacefully sought to exercise freedom of expression. For example, on November 7, police in Agstafa District detained PFP youth activist Vusal Zeynalov and charged him with resisting police. The local court sentenced Zeynalov to 30 days of administrative detention. The party headquarters reported that Zeynalov's critical posts on social networking sites prompted authorities to detain him. Pretrial Detention: According to the Ministry of Justice, the prison population numbered 23,311 persons, including 730 women. Of these, 3,102 were in pretrial detention. Authorities held persons in pretrial detention for up to 18 months. The Prosecutor General's Office routinely extended the initial three-month pretrial detention period permitted by law in successive increments of several months until the government completed an investigation. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: By law, persons arrested or detained, regardless of whether on criminal or other grounds, are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention and obtain prompt release and compensation if found to have been unlawfully detained. Amnesty: On March 18, the president pardoned 148 prisoners. NGOs considered 14 to have been political prisoners, including Anar Mammadli, chairman of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center; N!DA activists Rashadat Akhundov, Rashad Hasanov, Mammad Azizov, and Omar Mammadov; journalists Hilal Mammadov and Parviz Hashimli; human rights activist Rasul Jafarov; and the deputy chairman of Musavat Party, Tofig Yagublu. Also released were activists Taleh Khasmammadov, Nemat Panahli, Yadigar Sadigov, and Siraj Karimov. There were reports that authorities pressed some of the released prisoners to write letters seeking forgiveness for past "mistakes" as a condition of their pardon. Several prisoners, such as the chair of the opposition REAL movement, Ilgar Mammadov, reported that authorities used physical abuse, placement into isolation cells, assaults by other prisoners, and threats to family members to extract such letters. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial Although the constitution provides for an independent judiciary, judges did not function independently of the executive branch. The judiciary remained largely corrupt and inefficient. Many verdicts were legally insupportable and largely unrelated to the evidence presented during the trial. Outcomes frequently appeared predetermined. Courts often failed to investigate allegations of torture and inhumane treatment of detainees in police custody. The Ministry of Justice controlled the Judicial Legal Council. The council appoints a judicial selection committee (six judges, a prosecutor, a lawyer, a council representative, a Ministry of Justice representative, and a legal scholar) that administers the judicial selection examination and oversees the long-term judicial training and selection process. Credible reports indicated that judges and prosecutors took instruction from the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Justice, particularly in cases of interest to international observers. There were credible allegations that judges routinely accepted bribes. Trial Procedures The law provides for public trials except in cases involving state, commercial, or professional secrets or confidential, personal, or family matters. The law provides for: the presumption of innocence in criminal cases; the right to be informed promptly of charges; the right to free interpretation as necessary from the moment charged through all appeals; the right to review evidence, confront witnesses, and present evidence at trial; the right of indigent defendants to a court-approved attorney; the rights to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense; the right not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt; and the right of both defendants and prosecutors to appeal. Authorities did not always respect these provisions. Judges at times failed to read verdicts publicly or to give the reasoning behind their decisions, leaving defendants without knowledge of the reasoning behind the judgment. Judges also limited the defendant's right to speak. In the trial of Bayram Mammadov, for example, judges ordered Mammadov to stop speaking and left the chamber when Mammadov asserted his right to make a final statement. The courts often limited independent observation of trials. Civil society activists and defendants asserted that authorities filled the courtroom with paid agents to occupy more seats. Information regarding trial times and locations was generally available, although there were some exceptions, particularly in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. Although the constitution prescribes equal status for prosecutors and defense attorneys, judges often favored prosecutors when assessing motions, oral statements, and evidence submitted by defense counsel, without regard to the merits of their respective arguments. Lawyers for the accused in the Nardaran case noted that judges and prosecutors left the courtroom together to discuss a defense motion before it was denied. Judges also reserved the right to remove defense lawyers in civil cases for "good cause." In criminal proceedings, judges may remove defense lawyers because of a conflict of interest, such as the placement of defense lawyers onto the witness list, or if a defendant requests a change of counsel. The law limits representation in criminal cases to members of the country's government-influenced Collegium (bar association). The number of defense lawyers willing and able to accept sensitive cases reportedly declined during the year due to various measures taken by authorities, including by the Collegium's presidium, its managing body. Such measures included disbarment or threats of disbarment. For example, the Collegium disbarred lawyer Muzaffar Bakhishov after he criticized Supreme Court chairman Ramiz Rzayev. There were reports of Collegium pressure on lawyers. On April 1, the Collegium strongly reprimanded lawyers Bahruz Bayramov and Elchin Sadigov for "disrespect" when they objected to the court hearing the case of their client, Parviz Hashimli, in his absence. There were also reports of police physically intimidating lawyers, pressure from prosecutors and police, and occasional harassment of family members. Most of the country's human rights defense lawyers practiced in Baku, which made it difficult for people living outside of Baku to receive timely and quality legal service. The constitution prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence. Despite some defendants' claims that authorities obtained testimony through torture or abuse, courts did not dismiss cases based on claims of abuse, and there was no independent forensic investigator to substantiate allegations of abuse. Human rights monitors reported judges often ignored claims of police mistreatment. Examples during the year of judges ignoring such claims included the "Nardaran case" and the case against N!DA activists Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov (see section 1.c.). According to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, whereas it received "a large number of testimonies" of torture and mistreatment during its May visit to the country, none of the country's officials or detainees with whom the group met indicated that a judge had questioned a detainee on his/her treatment in custody. Investigations often focused on obtaining confessions rather than gathering physical evidence against suspects. Serious crimes brought before the courts most often ended in conviction, since judges generally sought only a minimal level of proof and collaborated closely with prosecutors. With the exception of the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, human rights advocates also reported courts often failed to provide interpreters despite the constitutional right of an accused person to interpretation. Courts are entitled to contract interpreters during hearings, with expenses covered by the state budget. There were no verbatim transcripts of judicial proceedings. Although some of the newer courts in Baku made audio recordings of proceedings, courts did not record most court testimonies, oral arguments, and judicial decisions. Instead, the court recording officer generally decided the content of notes, which tended to be sparse. The country has a military court system with civilian judges. The Military Court retains original jurisdiction over any case related to war or military service. Political Prisoners and Detainees In addition to the presidential pardons of 14 individuals widely considered political prisoners (see section 1.d.), authorities released three others in the spring: journalists Rauf Mirkadirov and Khadija Ismayilova, and defense lawyer Intigam Aliyev. Despite the release of these 17 individuals, local NGO activists estimated the number of political prisoners and detainees to range from 119 to 160. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 25 government critics remained incarcerated for politically motivated reasons at year's end. NGO lists included the following incarcerated individuals, many of whom Amnesty International considered prisoners of conscience (also see sections 1.f., 2.a., 2.c., 3, 4, and 5). On June 28, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Rufat Zahidov and Rovshan Zahidov to six years in prison on charges of alleged possession of illegal drugs. Human rights activists and their lawyer stated that both defendants were imprisoned for being relatives of exiled opposition journalist and former political prisoner Ganimat Zahid. Editor in chief of Azadliq newspaper Zahid resided in France and published articles critical of Azerbaijani authorities on his online news outlet, Azerbaycan saati (Azerbaijan hour). On April 19, authorities allowed prominent activists Leyla and Arif Yunus to leave the country for medical treatment after a number of court appeals. In August 2015 the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Leyla Yunus to eight and one-half years in prison for fraud, tax evasion, illegal entrepreneurship, and forging official documents, and her husband, Arif Yunus, to seven years in prison for fraud. On October 25, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced N!DA youth activist Giyas Ibrahimov to 10 years' imprisonment for alleged drug possession. Authorities had arrested him and fellow youth activist Bayram Mammadov in May, after closed-circuit television footage showed them defacing a monument of former president Heydar Aliyev with graffiti. NGOs reported that, while in custody, they were tortured into confessing to drug possession charges (see section 1.c.). On December 9, the Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Mammadov to 10 years on similar charges. Individuals considered by activists to be political detainees included Muslim Unity Movement leader Taleh Baghirzada (see section 1.c. and the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report) and deputy chairman of the opposition Popular Front party Fuad Gahramanli (see section 3). NGO lists also included individuals convicted in previous years, including REAL movement chair Ilgar Mammadov, who remained incarcerated despite a 2014 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights calling for his release; N!DA activist Ilkin Rustamzade; and journalist Seymur Hazi. By law political prisoners are entitled to the same rights as other prisoners, although restrictions on them varied. Authorities provided international humanitarian organizations access to political prisoners. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Citizens have the right to file lawsuits seeking damages for, or cessation of, human rights violations. The law does not provide for a jury trial in civil matters; a judge decides all civil cases. District courts have jurisdiction over civil matters in their first hearing; the Court of Appeals and then the Supreme Court address appeals. As with criminal trials, all citizens have the right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) within six months of exhausting all domestic legal options, including an appeal to and ruling by the Supreme Court. Citizens exercised the right to appeal local court rulings to the ECHR and brought claims of government violations of commitments under the European Convention on Human Rights. The government's compliance with ECHR decisions was mixed. For example, it implemented the part of one 2014 ECHR judgment requiring it to pay 22,000 euros ($24,200) in compensation to Ilgar Mammadov for violating his rights but failed to release Mammadov as stipulated by the judgment. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits arbitrary invasions of privacy and monitoring of correspondence and other private communications. The government generally did not respect these legal prohibitions. While the constitution allows for searches of residences only with a court order or in cases specifically provided for by law, authorities often conducted searches without warrants. It was widely reported that the State Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs monitored telephone and internet communications, particularly those of foreigners, youth figures active online, some political and business figures, and persons engaged in international communication. There were indications the postal service monitored certain politically sensitive mail. For example, the postal service reportedly twice "lost" Popular Front deputy chairman Fuad Gahramanli's appeal of his case to the European Court of Human Rights. Police continued to intimidate, harass, and sometimes arrest family members of suspected criminals, independent journalists, political opposition members and leaders, as well as employees and leaders of certain NGOs. For example, Elnur Seyidov, opposition Popular Front Party chairman Ali Kerimli's brother-in-law, remained incarcerated since 2012 on charges widely viewed as politically motivated. In February the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic threatened to arrest the family members of exiled businessman Mammad Gurbanov if he did not stop criticizing authorities. Gurbanov left Nakhchivan after reportedly experiencing long-standing harassment and physical abuse by police. There were several examples of the use of politically motivated incarceration of relatives as a means of pressuring exiles. In the summer of 2015, authorities arrested Rufat and Rovshan Zahidov, relatives of the exiled editor of the opposition newspaper Azadliq, Ganimat Zahidov. In November the two incarcerated relatives publicly denounced Ganimat Zahidov, but he had not been released as of year's end. In July 2015 authorities also incarcerated Nazim Aghabeyov, the brother-in-law of well-known journalist in exile Emin Milli. Aghabeyov was conditionally released on April 22. On September 29, opposition leader Jamil Hasanli's daughter, Gunel Hasanli, was released from prison after serving nine months on charges that activists considered were politically motivated. In September, prior, during, and after rallies against the referendum on constitutional amendments, police interrogated and reportedly intimidated family members of political and human rights activists as well as of independent journalists. There were also reports that authorities fired individuals from their jobs or had individuals fired in retaliation for the political or civic activities of family members. NGOs reported that authorities did not respect the laws governing eminent domain and expropriation of property. Homeowners often received compensation well below market value for expropriated property and had little legal recourse. NGOs also reported that many citizens did not trust the court system and were therefore reluctant to pursue compensation claims. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press While the law provides for freedom of speech and press and specifically prohibits press censorship, the government habitually violated these rights. The government limited freedom of speech and media independence. Journalists faced intimidation and at times were beaten and imprisoned. NGOs considered at least six journalists and bloggers to be political prisoners or detainees as of year's end. During the year authorities continued pressure on media, journalists in exile, and their relatives. Freedom of Speech and Expression: The constitution provides for freedom of speech, but the government continued to repress subjects considered politically sensitive. For example, in the period leading up to the September constitutional referendum, authorities arrested selected activists who criticized the referendum. Arrests included that of opposition activist and economist Natig Jafarli, the executive secretary of the opposition REAL Movement, on August 12. Activists who were arrested were secular democratic opposition figures, although authorities cited alleged ties to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who was accused by Turkey of having organized the failed July 15 coup attempt there, to justify some of the arrests. Activists whose arrests were based on such alleged ties included Fuad Ahmadli of the opposition Popular Front Party, and Faiq Amirov, the financial director of opposition newspaper Azadliq, who was also the assistant to Popular Front Party chair Ali Karimli. In October Human Rights Watch reported the government continued to crack down on critics and dissenting voices, including through the politically motivated arrests of at least 20 political and youth activists during the year. The incarceration of persons who attempted to exercise freedom of speech raised concerns about authorities' use of the judicial system to punish dissent. In addition, the government attempted to impede criticism by threatening some peaceful activists who spoke out against politically motivated imprisonments including those in the Nardaran case (see section 1.c.) and by monitoring political and civil society meetings. The constitution prohibits hate speech, defined as "propaganda provoking racial, national, religious and social discord and animosity." Under the September constitutional referendum, "hostility based on any other criteria" also is prohibited. Press and Media Freedoms: A number of opposition and independent print and online media outlets expressed a wide variety of views on government policies. Newspaper circulation rates remained low, not surpassing 5,000 in most cases. Beginning in 2014 the government blocked the sale of newspapers in the metro and on the street, limiting sales to government-approved kiosks. During the year the government restricted the sale of opposition newspapers at such kiosks. Credible reports indicated opposition newspapers were available outside Baku only in limited numbers due to the refusal of a number of distributors to carry them. In September the opposition newspaper Azadlig discontinued its print edition when it was unable to conduct banking operations following the arrest of its financial director, who was also an active member of the Popular Front Party. Authorities then prevented the newspaper from continuing payment on loans. The law allows authorities to close media outlets deemed to be broadcasting extremist propaganda or discriminating on ethnic grounds, among other offenses. On July 29, the Baku Court of Appeals revoked the license of the semi-independent privately owned ANS television station based on a lawsuit filed by the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC). The lawsuit was initiated after ANS announced its intention to air an interview with exiled Turkish religious figure Fethullah Gulen and Turkish authorities protested the planned broadcast after accusing Gulen of plotting the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey. The NTRC accused ANS of propagating terrorism and violating the law. ANS appealed; on September 21, the Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeals verdict, resulting in the closure of what had been the country's sole independent television station until late 2006, when its independence began to decline. It had operated for 25 years. Foreign services, including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and the BBC, remained prohibited from broadcasting on FM radio frequencies, although the Russian service Sputnik was allowed to broadcast news on a local radio network. While authorities released six journalists and bloggers during the year, local NGOs considered at least seven journalists and bloggers and two writers/poets to be political prisoners or detainees as of year's end. For example, on January 29, the Absheron District Court sentenced opposition Azadlig newspaper journalist Seymur Hazi to five years in prison. Authorities continued exerting pressure on leading media rights organizations similar to that applied to other NGOs in the country. During the year authorities continued pressure on independent media outlets outside the country and those associated with them in the country. For example, authorities continued the criminal case against Meydan TV initiated in August 2015. The Prosecutor General's Office investigated more than 15 individuals in the case for alleged illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and abuse of power. Official pressure on journalists also included the incarceration of relatives of journalists in exile, including Azadliq editor in chief Ganimat Zahidov's nephew and cousin, and bans on an increasing number of journalists and some relatives of journalists in exile from traveling outside the country (see section 2.d.). Violence and Harassment: Local observers reported 33 physical assaults on at least 21 journalists during the year. The attacks mainly targeted journalists from Radio Liberty, Azadliq and other newspapers, Meydan TV, and Obyektiv Television. For example, on November 26, police detained journalist Teymur Karimov from internet-based TV Kanal 13 after an unknown person attacked Karimov while he was preparing a video report on water supply problems in the Barda District. Police threatened the journalist with filing a criminal case on charges of assault if he did not erase all his recordings. Impunity for assaults against journalists remained a problem. The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) reported in August that more than nine out of every 10 cases of physical attacks on journalists remained unsolved. There were no indications authorities held police officers accountable for physical assaults on journalists in prior years. Journalists and media rights leaders continued to call for full accountability for the August 2015 beating and death of journalist and IRFS chairman Rasim Aliyev, who reported receiving threatening messages three weeks earlier; the 2011 killing of journalist Rafiq Tagi, against whom Iranian cleric Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani issued a fatwa; and the 2005 killing of independent editor and journalist Elmar Huseynov. Lawsuits suspected of being politically motivated were used also to intimidate journalists and media outlets. During the year approximately 29 court cases were initiated against journalists or media outlets, with plaintiffs demanding 1.3 million manat ($720,000) in compensation; courts ultimately imposed 95,000 manat ($53,000) in fines. The majority of independent and opposition newspapers remained in a precarious financial situation and experienced problems paying wages, taxes, and periodic court fines. Most relied on political parties, influential sponsors, or the State Media Fund for financing. The government prohibited some state libraries from subscribing to opposition and independent newspapers, prevented state businesses from buying advertising in opposition newspapers, and put pressure on private businesses not to advertise in them. As a result, paid advertising was largely absent in opposition media. Political commentators noted these practices reduced the wages that opposition and independent outlets could pay to their journalists, which allowed progovernment outlets to hire away quality staff. In addition, international media monitoring reports indicated that intimidation by Ministry of Taxes authorities further limited the independence of media. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Most media practiced self-censorship and avoided topics considered politically sensitive due to fear of government retaliation. The NTRC required that local, privately owned television and radio stations not rebroadcast complete news programs of foreign origin. On June 12, police seized the work of the Ganun Publishing House in Baku under the pretext of having received a bomb threat to the building. Civil society activists reported that authorities raided the publishing house after it printed posters advocating the release of imprisoned head of the REAL democratic movement, Ilgar Mammadov. The director of the publishing house, Shahbaz Khuduoghlu, reported that police took some published materials and printing molds from the office. Libel/Slander Laws: Libel is a criminal offense and covers written and verbal statements. The law provides for large fines and up to three years' imprisonment for persons convicted of libel. Conviction of defamation is punishable by fines ranging from 100 to 1,000 manat ($55.60 to $556) and imprisonment for six months to three years. Internet Freedom The websites of Voice of America, RFE/RL, and Germany-based opposition media outlet Meydan TV were intermittently blocked during the year. Radio Liberty and the opposition newspaper Azadlig reported denial of access to their Internet-based resources on November 28 and December 2 for publicizing critical online articles on proposed legislative amendments in the parliament. These outages became chronic by mid-December, with Voice of America and RFE/RL becoming only sporadically available inside Azerbaijan. Although the government denied involvement, the outages originated from within Delta Telecom, a company with close ties to the government that controlled over 90 percent of Internet traffic in Azerbaijan. The government also required internet service providers to be licensed and have formal agreements with the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies. According to International Telecommunication Union statistics, approximately 77 percent of the country's population used the internet in 2015. The law imposes criminal penalties for conviction of libel and insult on the internet. On November 29, the Milli Mejlis passed new articles to the criminal code that expand those penalties. Article 148-1, stipulates fines of from 1,000 to 1,500 manat ($556 to $833), or public works from 360 to 480 hours, or corrective work up to two years or one year imprisonment for insults and slander through using fake web nicknames or Internet profiles. A second new provision, Article 323, stipulates fines from 1,000 up to 1,500 manat ($556 to $833) or imprisonment up to three years for insulting the honor and dignity of the president. There were strong indications that the government monitored the internet communications of democracy activists. For example, after detaining Popular Front deputy chairman Fuad Gahramanli in December 2015, authorities prosecuted him on charges related to his exercise of freedom of expression on Facebook (see section 1.e.). In addition, many youth activists who were questioned, detained, or jailed frequently had posted criticism of alleged government corruption and human rights abuses online. The activists included video blogger Husseyn Azizoghlu, who had posted videos online that mocked police officers for planting drugs and falsifying evidence and was detained for 15 days on January. Other cases involved Popular Front Party member Fizuli Huseynov, who received 30 days' detention on January 27 after having criticized the government on Facebook, and blogger Mehman Huseynov, who was briefly detained in September and threatened with physical abuse if he did not stop posting video and images of police violence. The Freedom House annual Freedom on the Net report, covering the period June 2015 through May, stated that the government "demonstrated its willingness to shutdown connectivity in times of civil unrest, disconnecting the entire village of Nardaran from the internet for several days following police clashes." The report acknowledged that the government did not extensively block online content, while noting that "netizens" (citizens of the net) and their families faced arrest and intimidation. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events The government on occasion restricted academic freedom. Opposition party members continued to report difficulties finding jobs teaching at schools and universities. Authorities fired most known opposition party members teaching in state educational institutions in previous years. NGOs reported local executive authorities occasionally prevented the expression of minority cultures, for example, by prohibiting cultural events at local community centers and the teaching of local dialects. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly While the law provides for freedom of assembly, the government severely restricted the right. Authorities at times responded to peaceful protests and assemblies by using force and detaining protesters. While the constitution stipulates that groups may peacefully assemble after notifying the relevant government body in advance, the government continued to interpret this provision as a requirement for prior permission. Local authorities required all rallies to be preapproved and held at designated locations, often at inconvenient sites, although a site often used in the outskirts of Baku was easily accessible by metro and bus. Most political parties and NGOs found the requirements unacceptable and believed them to be unconstitutional. Authorities throughout the country routinely refused to acknowledge notifications of planned public rallies, thereby effectively denying the freedom to assemble. As modified by the September 26 referendum, the constitution provides that public gatherings not disrupt "public order and public morals." The Venice Commission's September 20 preliminary opinion on the proposed constitutional amendments noted that it is "almost inevitable" that peaceful gatherings may disrupt public order (for example, by disturbing traffic) or disturb someone's views on morality and yet be permissible under the European Convention on Human Rights. The commission concluded, "The State should allow such gatherings and even facilitate them provided that those disturbances are not excessive and help convey the message of the public event." Early in the year, the devaluation of the local currency (manat) and worsening economic conditions sparked protests in different parts of the country, beginning on January 6 in the town of Saatli. On January 12, after dispersing a protest in Lankaran, police detained opposition Popular Front Party activist Nazim Hasanov and Musavat Party activist Imanverdi Aliyev. Both were sentenced to 30 days' detention on charges of inciting people to public disorder. On January 13, Interior Ministry security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters in Siyazan. Police later reported that 55 persons were detained for participation in the various protests. Activists reported that police harassed and/or detained 185 persons before, during, and after authorized rallies on September 11, 17, and 18 against the referendum on constitutional amendments. The courts subsequently sentenced 12 opposition activists to administrative detention that ranged from eight to 30 days, allegedly for resisting police, and fined one opposition activist 200 manat ($111) for violating public order. The law permits administrative detention for up to three months for misdemeanors and up to one month for resisting police. Punishment for those who fail to follow a court order (including failure to pay a fine) may include fines of 500 to 1,000 manat ($278 to $556) and punishment of up to one month of administrative detention. Freedom of Association The constitution provides for freedom of association, but the law places some restrictions on this right, and amendments enacted during 2014 severely constrained NGO activities. Citing these amended laws, authorities conducted numerous criminal investigations into the activities of independent organizations, froze bank accounts, and harassed local staff, including incarcerating and placing travel bans on some NGO leaders. Consequently, a number of NGOs were unable to operate. A number of legal provisions allow the government to regulate the activities of political parties, religious groups, businesses, and NGOs, including requiring NGOs to register with the Ministry of Justice if they seek "legal personality" status. Although the law requires the government to act on NGO registration applications within 30 days of receipt (or within an additional 30 days, if further investigation is required), vague, onerous, and nontransparent registration procedures continued to result in long delays that limited citizens' right to associate. Other laws restrict freedom of association, for example, by requiring deputy heads of NGO branches to be citizens if the branch head is a foreigner. Authorities routinely rejected the registration applications of NGOs whose names contained the words "human rights," "democracy," "institute," and "society." Laws affecting grants and donations imposed a de facto prohibition on NGOs receiving cash donations and made it nearly impossible for NGOs to receive anonymous donations or to solicit contributions from the public. In 2014 the president approved a number of amendments to the administrative code and the laws on NGOs, grants, and registration of legal entities that imposed additional restrictions on NGO activities and closed several loopholes for the operations of unregistered, independent, and foreign organizations. The laws make unregistered and foreign NGOs vulnerable to involuntary dissolution, intimidated and dissuaded potential activists and donors from joining and supporting civil society organizations, and restricted their ability to provide grants to unregistered local groups or individual heads of such organizations. A resolution detailing new grant registration implementing regulations, enacted by the Council of Ministers in June 2015, sets a 15-day limit for NGOs to register their grants with the appropriate ministry, 15 days for the ministry to approve or deny the registration, and an extension of 15 days if further investigation by the ministry is needed. Based on extensive authority provided in the 2014 amendments, the Ministry of Justice put into effect new rules on monitoring NGO activities in February. The rules empower the ministry to conduct intrusive inspections of NGOs, with few provisions protecting the rights of NGOs and the potential of harsh fines if they do not cooperate. A far-reaching criminal investigation opened in 2014 into the activities of numerous domestic and international NGOs and local leadership continued during the year. The investigation covered prominent independent organizations focused on human rights and transparency in natural resource governance, as well as international organizations providing assistance to citizens. As a result of the investigation, at least 32 organizations closed rather than subject their staff to continued pressure and the prospect of incarceration. Authorities froze dozens of NGO bank accounts as well as the personal accounts of a number of organization heads. Domestic and international NGOs described the criminal investigations, arrests, bank account closures, and other pressure as a crackdown on civil society unprecedented for the country (see section 5). A few activists affiliated with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (a civil society coalition) reported that the government lifted the freeze on their bank accounts. Others affiliated with the coalition reported government constraints on their ability to operate. The government continued to implement rules pursuant to a law that requires foreign NGOs wishing to operate in the country to sign an agreement and register with the Ministry of Justice. Foreign NGOs wishing to register a branch in the country are required to demonstrate they support "the Azerbaijani people's national and cultural values" and commit not to be involved in religious and political propaganda. The decree does not specify any time limit for the registration procedure and effectively allows for unlimited discretion of the government to decide whether to register a foreign NGO. As of year's end, no foreign NGOs had been able to register under these rules. The Ministry of Justice reported it registered 99 NGOs and did not observe the practice of nonacceptance of applications during the year. The Ministry of Justice registered the human rights-focused NGO of Oktay Gulaliyev immediately before the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative board meeting in October, but it changed its name and removed all references to human rights. Some experts estimated 1,000 NGOs remained unregistered. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights; however, the government limited freedom of movement for an increasing number of activists and journalists. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. Foreign Travel: The number of activists and journalists whom the authorities prevented from traveling outside the country increased compared to the previous year. Examples included Popular Front Party chairman Ali Kerimli (since 2006), blogger Mehman Huseynov, investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, lawyers Intigam Aliyev and Asabali Mustafayev, opposition REAL members Natig Jafarli and Azer Gasimli, Emin Milli's brother-in-law Nazim Agabeyov, and at least 15 freelance journalists who filed material with Meydan TV. The law requires men of draft age to register with military authorities before traveling abroad. Authorities placed some travel restrictions on military personnel with access to national security information. Citizens charged with or convicted of criminal offenses but given suspended sentences were also not permitted to travel abroad. Internally Displaced Persons UNHCR reported 613,129 registered IDPs in the country as of December 31, including persons in IDP-like situations. The vast majority fled their homes between 1988 and 1993 as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The IDPs were initially required to register their places of residence with authorities and could live only in approved areas. This "propiska" registration system, which formally ceased to exist after the breakup of the Soviet Union, was enforced mainly against persons who were forced from their homes after separatists, with Armenia's support, took control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. The government asserted that registration was needed to keep track of IDPs to assist them. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, many IDPs who resided in Baku were unable to register their residences or gain access to formal employment, government assistance, health care, education, or pensions and had difficulty buying property. Significant numbers of IDPs remained in overcrowded collective centers, where they were socially marginalized with limited employment opportunities and high rates of poverty. The law requires IDPs to register in the districts where they reside, and registration is necessary to obtain IDP status. Temporary registration where IDPs reside does not restrict migration within the country. According to the government, it allocated 290 million manat ($161 million) to the State Committee for IDPs during the year. UNHCR reported that during the year the government rehoused 1,620 families, representing approximately 7,000 individuals, primarily in Fizuli, Sabirabad, Baku, Gazakh, and Zagatala. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for providing protection to some refugees through the Refugee Status Determination Department at the State Migration Service, which is responsible for all refugee matters. Although UNHCR noted some improvements, the country's refugee-status determination system did not meet international standards. International NGOs continued to report that the service remained inefficient and did not operate transparently. Safe Country of Origin/Transit: According to UNHCR, the country did not allow Russian citizens fleeing the conflict in Chechnya access to the national asylum procedure. UNHCR noted, however, that the country tolerated the presence of Chechen asylum seekers and accepted UNHCR's role in providing for their protection and humanitarian needs. Access to Basic Services: The estimated 1,193 refugees in the country lacked access to social services. Stateless Persons Amendments to the constitution adopted by referendum on September 26 allow Azerbaijani citizenship to be removed "as provided by law." Previously, the constitution explicitly prohibited the loss of citizenship. According to UNHCR statistics, there were 3,585 persons in the country under UNHCR's statelessness mandate at the end of the year. According to the State Migration Service, 245 foreigners and stateless persons were granted citizenship during the year, and citizenship was restored to two persons. The vast majority of stateless persons were ethnic Azeris from Georgia or Iran. NGOs stated there were many other undocumented stateless persons, with estimates ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands. While the law provides for the right to apply for stateless status, some persons could not obtain the documentation required for the application and therefore remained formally unrecognized. The law on citizenship makes it difficult for foreigners and stateless persons to obtain citizenship. For the most part, stateless persons enjoyed freedom of movement. The law permits stateless persons access to basic rights, such as access to health care and employment. Nevertheless, their lack of legal status at times hindered stateless persons' access to these rights. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process Although the constitution provides citizens the ability to choose their government through free and fair elections based on universal and equal suffrage, held by secret ballot, the government continued to restrict this ability by interfering in the electoral process. While the law provides for an independent legislative branch, the Milli Mejlis exercised little initiative independent of the executive branch. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) cancelled its observation of the November 2015 legislative elections when the government refused to accept ODIHR's recommended number of election observers. Without ODIHR participation, it was impossible to assess properly the fairness of the elections. Independent local and international monitors who observed the election alleged a wide range of irregularities throughout the country, including blocking observers from entering polling stations, ballot stuffing, carousel voting, and voting by unregistered individuals; opposition monitors also alleged such irregularities. The country's main opposition parties boycotted the election. The 2013 presidential election fell short of international standards. In their joint statement of preliminary findings and conclusions on the election, ODIHR and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly highlighted serious shortcomings that needed to be addressed for the country to meet its OSCE commitments fully. On election day, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and ODIHR observers noted procedural irregularities, including ballot box stuffing, serious problems with vote counting in 58 percent of observed polling stations, and failure to record the number of ballots received. The ODIHR report noted that, prior to election day, the government maintained a repressive political environment that did not provide the fundamental freedoms of assembly, association, and expression necessary for a free and fair electoral competition. Authorities interfered with the media and civil society routinely, sometimes violently interrupted peaceful rallies and meetings before and occasionally during the 23-day campaign period, and jailed a number of opposition and youth activists. Neither the election administration nor the judiciary provided effective redress for appeals. Credible NGOs reported similar shortcomings. On September 26, the government conducted a referendum on 29 proposed constitutional amendments, with voters having the option to vote on each proposed amendment separately. Amendments included provisions extending the presidential term from five to seven years, permitting the president to call early elections if twice in one-year legislators pass no-confidence measures in the government or reject presidential nominees to key government posts. The amendments also authorized the president to appoint one or more vice presidents, designating the senior vice president as first in the line of presidential succession in place of the prime minister, who is approved by parliament. After polls closed, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced that all 29 amendments were approved by 69.8 percent of registered voters. While observers from the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly reported the referendum was well executed, independent election observers who were unaccredited identified numerous instances of ballot stuffing, carousel voting, and other irregularities, many of which were captured on video. They also observed significantly lower turnout than was officially reported by the CEC. Political Parties and Political Participation: While there were 50 registered political parties, the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party dominated the political system. Domestic observers reported that membership in the ruling party conferred advantages, such as preference for public positions. The Milli Mejlis has not included representatives of the country's main opposition parties since 2010. Opposition members were more likely than other citizens to experience official harassment and arbitrary arrest and detention. Members of the N!DA youth movement and the Youth Committee of the Popular Front Party were arrested and sentenced to administrative detention after making social media posts critical of the government. Authorities also attempted to smear the Popular Front Party by insinuating that the PFP was connected to extreme Shiism during the prosecution of the party's deputy chairman, Fuad Gahramanli, for his support of the rights of Muslim Unity Movement members. Authorities similarly alleged ties to Sunni Gulenism when they arrested PFP chairman Ali Karimli's assistant, Faig Amirli. According to domestic NGOs' joint list of political prisoners, several political detainees or prisoners were opposition party or movement members. At least 12 opposition members were considered to be political prisoners, such as REAL movement chairman Ilgar Mammadov, who was convicted in 2015 and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for allegedly inciting civil unrest (see section 5). At least 10 opposition figures were considered to be political detainees, including Popular Front deputy chairman Fuad Gahramanli, who was detained in December 2015 on charges that appeared connected with his exercise of freedom of expression (see section 2.a.). Regional party members often had to conceal the purpose of their gatherings and held them in remote locations. Opposition party members reported police often dispersed small gatherings at teahouses and detained participants for questioning. Opposition parties continued to have difficulty renting office space, reportedly because landlords feared official retaliation; some parties operated from their leaders' apartments. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit the participation of women and members of minorities in the political process, and women and minorities did participate. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for conviction of corruption by officials, but the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials often engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. While the government made some progress combatting low-level corruption in provision of government services, high-level corruption remained a problem. Transparency International and other observers described corruption as widespread during the year. There were continued reports that authorities targeted some whistleblowers seeking to combat government corruption. For example, activists stated former Zardab district prosecutor Rufat Safarov was framed for extortion after speaking out against corruption in the prosecution service. On September 8, he was convicted in the Lankaran Grave Crimes Court and sentenced to nine years in prison. Local NGOs considered him a political prisoner. Corruption: There continued to be reports that the families of several high-level officials were beneficiaries of monopolies. Authorities initiated some criminal cases related to bribery and other forms of government corruption during the year, although few senior officials were prosecuted. Following the October 2015 dismissal of the national security minister Eldar Mahmudov and other ministry officials, in December 2016 the Baku Court of Grave Crimes began a criminal trial against several former high-ranking officials of the now defunct National Security Ministry, accusing them of abuse of power, illegal inspection of businesses, extortion, bribery, and blackmail. The case's investigation had led to the removal of officials from other ministries on related charges of corruption, including the former communications minister Ali Abbasov and nine ministry and public telecommunications employees. There was widespread belief that a bribe could obtain a waiver of the military service obligation, which is universal for men between the ages of 18 and 35. Citizens also reported military personnel could buy assignments to easier military duties for a smaller bribe. The president and Presidential Administration continued a well-publicized program to decrease corruption at lower levels of public administration. The State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations (ASAN) service centers functioned as a one-stop location for government services, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses, from nine ministries. The Prosecutor General's Office includes an Anticorruption Department that took 201 cases involving 313 persons to court during 2016. The department also sought recovery of proceeds from crime, made recommendations, and issued mandatory instructions to eliminate conditions conducive to corruption. Financial Disclosure: The law requires officials to submit reports on their financial situation, and the electoral code requires all candidates to submit financial statements. The process of submitting reports was complex and nontransparent, with several agencies and bodies designated as recipients, including the Anticorruption Commission, the Milli Mejlis, the Ministry of Justice, and the Central Election Commission, although their monitoring roles were not well understood. The public did not have access to the reports. The law contemplates administrative sanctions for noncompliance, but the sanctions were not imposed. The law prohibits the public release of the names and capital investments of business owners. Critics claimed the amendments were an attempt to curb investigative journalism into government officials' business interests and could decrease public access to information. Public Access to Information: The law provides for public access to government information by individuals and organizations, but the government often did not allow it. Various ministries routinely denied requests, claiming not to possess information, although the ministries also claimed to have separate procedures on how to request information. Individuals have the right to appeal denials in court, but the courts generally upheld ministry decisions. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights The government continued to limit severely the operations of domestic and international human rights groups during the year. Application of restrictive laws to constrain NGO activities, and other pressure continued at the high level of recent years. Leading human rights NGOs faced a hostile environment for investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. As a result, some activists left, others stayed outside the country, and a number of NGOs remained unable to operate. While authorities released at least four human rights defenders, their ability to work was constrained by the overall restrictions on NGO activities. Prominent human rights defender Aliabbas Rustamov remained incarcerated and was widely considered a political prisoner. In addition, authorities imposed restrictions such as travel bans on some of the defenders, including on prominent human rights lawyer Intigam Aliyev, and had not returned Aliyev's case files or his organization's office equipment as of year's end. While the government maintained ties with some human rights NGOs and responded to their inquiries, on numerous occasions it criticized and intimidated other human rights NGOs and activists. The Ministry of Justice continued to deny registration or placed burdensome administrative restrictions on human rights NGOs on arbitrary grounds. Activists also reported that authorities refused to register their organizations or grants, continued investigations into organizations' activities, froze their personal and organizational bank accounts, and did not return previously seized office equipment. Some NGO representatives also reported that they or a family member suffered physical assault with impunity. Many representatives reported difficulty locating office or event space, particularly in hotels and especially for events occurring outside Baku. Senior government officials engaged in ad hominem attacks on human rights activists. State-run media outlets accused Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, and Reporters without Borders of supporting "antinational elements." On multiple occasions, Presidential Administration officials accused local and foreign NGOs of representing foreign interests seeking to destabilize the country and, therefore, of subversive activity, naming specific democracy and human rights groups and activists who had been incarcerated. During the year a government council provided 5.25 million manat ($2.9 million) to 520 NGOs. While observers considered many of the NGOs to be progovernment or politically neutral, some NGOs that criticized the government also received grants. The United Nations or Other International Bodies: The government viewed with suspicion statements from such organizations, claiming these international bodies had no right to act in ways authorities saw as interfering in the country's internal affairs. On September 22, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, stated, "civil society of Azerbaijan faces the worst situation since the independence of the country" and called on authorities to rethink their "punitive approach to civil society." He also noted arrests and detentions of individuals prior to a peaceful protest on September 17 as well as administrative and legal pressure being applied to NGOs and called on the government to establish a dialogue with human rights defenders. Following the government's July 2015 closure of the OSCE's Baku office, the OSCE remained unable to re-establish operations in the country. Government Human Rights Bodies: Citizens may appeal violations committed by the state or by individuals to the Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan for human rights, Elmira Suleymanova, or the ombudsman for human rights for the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Ulkar Bayramova. The ombudsman may refuse to accept cases of abuse that are more than a year old, anonymous, or already being handled by the judiciary. Human rights NGOs criticized the Ombudsman's Office as lacking independence and effectiveness in cases considered politically motivated. The Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan reported receiving 18,740 complaints in 2016, an increase of 22.3 percent from 2014. The majority of complaints involved alleged violations of property rights, court provisions for the protection of rights and freedoms, social benefits, and labor rights. The Ombudsman's Office reportedly resolved 63.6 percent of complaints accepted for consideration. The Ombudsman's Office of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic reported receiving 37 complaints in 2016. The main subjects of the complaints were on labor and social protection rights. The Ombudsman's Office stated that 10 complaints were resolved successfully and violations of the law were not identified in 27 cases. Human rights offices in the Milli Mejlis and the Ministry of Justice also heard complaints, conducted investigations, and made recommendations to relevant government bodies. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape is illegal and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. During the year the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported 31 cases of rape and 62 cases of violence of a sexual nature. The ministry stated that 54 persons had been brought to trial for these offenses. The law establishes a framework for the investigation of domestic violence complaints, defines a process to issue restraining orders, and calls for the establishment of a shelter and rehabilitation center for survivors. Some critics of the domestic violence law asserted that a lack of clear implementing guidelines reduced its effectiveness. Female members of the Milli Mejlis and the head of the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs (SCFWCA) continued their activities against domestic violence. The committee conducted public awareness campaigns and worked to improve the socioeconomic situation of domestic violence survivors. Women had limited recourse against assaults by their husbands or others, particularly in rural areas. The government and an independent NGO each ran a shelter providing assistance and counseling to victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Sexual Harassment: The government rarely enforced the prohibition of sexual harassment. The SCFWCA worked extensively on women's problems, including organizing and hosting several conferences that raised awareness of sexual harassment and domestic violence. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and had access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. Contraception was widely available, but demographic surveys showed low levels of use. Patriarchal norms based on cultural, historical, and socioeconomic factors in some cases limited women's reproductive rights. Discrimination: Although women nominally enjoyed the same legal rights as men, societal discrimination was a problem. Traditional social norms and lagging economic development in rural regions restricted women's roles in the economy, and there were reports women had difficulty exercising their legal rights due to gender discrimination. There was discrimination against women in employment (see section 7.d.). The SCFWCA conducted public-media campaigns to raise awareness of women's rights. Gender-biased Sex Selection: The gender ratio of children born in the country was 114 boys for 100 girls, according to the UN Population Fund. Local experts reported that gender-biased sex selection was widespread, predominantly in rural regions. The SCFWCA conducted seminars and public media campaigns to raise awareness of the problem. Children Birth Registration: Children derive citizenship by birth within the country or from their parents. Registration at birth was routine for births in hospitals or clinics. Some children born at home (for example, to Romani or impoverished families) were not registered, and statelessness for those children was a problem. The Ministries of Internal Affairs and Justice registered undocumented children after identifying them as a population vulnerable to trafficking. Education: While education was compulsory, free, and universal until the age of 17, large families in impoverished rural areas sometimes placed a higher priority on the education of boys and kept girls in the home to work. Some poor families forced their children to work or beg rather than attend school. Although the country scored well in adult literacy and achieving gender parity indexes in the UNESCO Education for All Global Monitoring Report, it fell either "very far from target" or "far from target" in preprimary, primary, and lower secondary education enrollment projections for the year. Child Abuse: During the year the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported 179 cases of violence against minors, including six cases of rape involving underage victims, 47 cases of minors subjected to sexual acts, and two cases of forced prostitution. According to the ministry, 139 persons were brought to trial in connection with these cases. Early and Forced Marriage: The law provides that a girl may marry at the age of 18 or at 17 with local authorities' permission. The law further states that a boy may marry at the age of 18. The Caucasus Muslim Board defines 18 as the marriage age, but the fatwa failed to have much effect on religious marriage contracts (kabin or kabin-nama). The criminal code establishes fines of 3,000 to 4,000 manat ($1,670 to $2,220) or imprisonment of up to four years for conviction of the crime of forced marriage with underage children. According to the UN special rapporteur, in 2014 forced marriages of underage girls remained a problem and continued to endanger their lives. A 2014 UN Population Fund report stated that 12 percent of girls were married by the age of 18. NGOs reported that the number of early marriages continued to increase. Girls who married under the terms of religious marriage contracts were of particular concern, since these were not subject to government oversight and do not entitle the wife to recognition of her status in case of divorce. The Social Union of Solidarity among Women reported numerous instances in which men moved to Russia for work, leaving their underage wives in the country. The SCFWCA conducted activities in IDP and refugee communities to prevent early marriage. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits pornography; its production, distribution, or advertisement is punishable by three years ' imprisonment. Statutory rape is defined as "the sexual relations or other actions of a sexual nature, committed by a person who has reached 18, with a person who has not reached 16" and is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment. Recruitment of minors for prostitution (involving a minor in immoral acts) is punishable by three to five years in prison, although the presence of aggravating factors, such as violence, could increase the potential sentence to five to eight years. A Baku group working with street children reported that boys and girls at times engaged in prostitution and street begging. Displaced Children: A large number of refugee and internally displaced children lived in substandard conditions. In some cases, these children were unable to attend school. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. . See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism The country's Jewish community was estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, air travel and other transportation, access to health care, or the provision of other state services, but the government did not enforce these provisions effectively. Employment discrimination remained a problem (see section 7.d.). A common belief persisted that children with disabilities were ill and needed to be separated from other children and institutionalized, but specific educational facilities were available to children with some disabilities, for example, those with vision disabilities. Children with certain disabilities, including autism, received no education benefits or allowances. A local NGO reported there were approximately 60,000 children with disabilities in the country, of whom 6,000 to 10,000 had access to specialized educational facilities, while the rest were educated at home or not at all. The ability of children with disabilities to attend school was based on several factors, such as an evaluation by a medical committee, the type of disability, and the resources and physical structure of the family and the desired school. No laws mandate access to public or other buildings, information, or communications for persons with disabilities, and most buildings were not accessible. Conditions in facilities for persons with mental and other disabilities varied. Qualified staff, equipment, and supplies at times were lacking. The Ministries of Health and of Labor and Social Welfare are responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities Citizens of Armenian descent reported discrimination in employment (see section 7.d.). Some groups reported sporadic incidents of discrimination, restrictions on their ability to teach in their native languages, and harassment by local authorities. These groups included Talysh in the south, Lezghi in the north, and Meskhetians and Kurds. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Antidiscrimination laws exist but do not specifically cover lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals. Societal intolerance, violence, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity remained a problem. A local NGO reported that there were numerous incidents of police brutality against individuals based on sexual orientation and noted that authorities did not investigate or punish those responsible. There were also reports of family-based violence against LGBTI individuals and hostile Facebook postings on personal online accounts. A local organization reported that in the first eight months of the year, one gay and two transgender persons were killed and one transvestite committed suicide. In October media reported an attack on a group of LGBTI persons in the Baku City metro. LGBTI individuals refused to file formal complaints of discrimination or mistreatment with law enforcement bodies due to fear of social stigma or retaliation. An NGO reported police indifference to investigating crimes committed against the LGBTI community. There was societal prejudice and employment discrimination (see section 7.d.) against LGBTI persons. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma In the country's most recent demographic and health survey (2006), 80 percent of women and 92 percent of men reported discriminatory attitudes towards persons with HIV. The World Health Organization's Review of the HIV Program in Azerbaijan (2014) noted that discriminatory attitudes and overall lack of information about HIV/AIDS remained high. The issue was addressed in the Azerbaijan National Strategic Plan for HIV 2016-2020. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for freedom of association, including the right to form and join independent labor unions. Uniformed military and police and managerial staff are prohibited from joining unions. While the law provides workers the right to bargain collectively, unions could not effectively negotiate wage levels and working conditions because government-appointed boards ran major state-owned firms and set wages for government employees. The law provides most workers the right to conduct legal strikes. Categories of workers prohibited from striking include high-ranking executive and legislative officials; law enforcement officers; court employees; fire fighters; and health, electric power, water supply, telephone, railroad, and air traffic control workers. The law prohibits discrimination against trade unions and labor activists and requires the reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. The law also prohibits retribution against strikers, such as dismissal or replacement. Striking workers who disrupt public transportation, however, could be sentenced to up to three years in prison. The Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation (ATUC) was the only trade union confederation in the country. The trade union registration process was cumbersome and time consuming. Although ATUC registered as an independent organization, some workers considered it closely aligned with the government. ATUC reported that it represented 1.6 million members in 27 sectors at the start of the year. Regardless of whether a company was a member of ATUC, a labor inspector appointed under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection could investigate labor-related grievances. The government did not effectively enforce laws regarding freedom of association and collective bargaining. Administrative penalties were not sufficient to deter violations. Administrative and judicial procedures were subject to lengthy delays and appeals. There were some restrictions, such as increased bureaucratic scrutiny on the right to form unions and conduct union activities. Most unions were not independent, and the overwhelming majority remained tightly linked to the government, with the exception of some journalists' unions. Both local and international NGOs claimed that workers in most industries were largely unaware of their rights and afraid of retribution if they initiated complaints. This was especially true for workers in the public sector. Collective bargaining agreements were often treated as formalities and not enforced. Although the labor law applies to all workers and enterprises, the government may negotiate bilateral agreements that effectively exempt multi-national enterprises from it. For example, production-sharing agreements between the government and multi-national energy enterprises did not provide for employee participation in a trade union. While the law prohibits employers from impeding the collective bargaining process, employers engaged in activities that undercut the effectiveness of collective bargaining, such as subcontracting and using short-term employment agreements. The state oil company's 65,200 workers were required to belong to the Union of Oil and Gas Industry Workers, and authorities automatically deducted union dues (2 percent of each worker's salary) from paychecks. Many of the state-owned enterprises that dominated the formal economy withheld union dues from workers' pay but did not deliver the dues to the unions. Employers officially withheld a quarter of the dues collected for the oil workers' union for "administrative costs" associated with running the union. A complete lack of transparency made it impossible to determine exactly how the union spent the dues. Unions and their members had no means of investigating the matter. On April 2, a group of laborers of the Baku-based Azimport company protested the nonpayment of salaries. Protesters reported that the company employed them for more than a year to overhaul buildings and facilities in the city and failed to pay salaries. Sporadic complaints of nonpayment of salaries often became impromptu small-scale protests throughout the country. For example, employees of Azerinsaatservis LLC frequently complained to media about nonpayment of salaries. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor, except in circumstances of war or in the execution of a court decision under the supervision of a government agency. The government did not effectively enforce applicable laws. Resources and inspections were inadequate. Penalties for violations, including imprisonment, were generally sufficient to deter violations. A report of the International Labor Organization on the application of international labor standards urged the government to stop the use of compulsory labor as punishment against those expressing their political or ideological views. During the year authorities directed many government employees outside of the capital to participate in the autumn cotton harvest. Migrant workers were at times subjected to conditions of forced labor in the construction industry. Forced begging by children was a problem, and domestic servitude was an emerging problem. Men and boys at 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Austria Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Austria, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a764.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Republic of Austria is a parliamentary democracy with constitutional power shared between a popularly elected president and a bicameral parliament (federal assembly). The multiparty parliament and the coalition government it elects exercise most day-to-day governmental powers. National parliamentary elections in 2013 and presidential elections in 2016 were considered free and fair. In July the Constitutional Court found procedural irregularities in the second-round runoff vote of the presidential election held in May but no evidence of manipulation of ballots; in December there was a repeat of the runoff vote. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The most significant human rights problem in the country remained societal discrimination against ethnic minorities, including Muslims, immigrants, Roma, Jews, and foreigners of African origin. The law limits freedom of speech by forbidding both denial of Nazi genocide and hate speech based on race, nationality, religion, or ethnicity. There were some anti-Semitic incidents, including physical attacks, taunting, property damage, and vilifying or threatening letters and telephone calls. Laws mandating access for persons with disabilities were not fully enforced. The government investigated public officials for suspected wrongdoing and punished those who committed abuses. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The law prohibits such practices, but there were some reports that police used excessive force with detainees and psychiatric patients. In November 2015 the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) released a report on its 2014 visit to police establishments, prisons, and a psychiatric establishment in the country. While the vast majority of detainees interviewed by the CPT had been treated correctly by police, the CPT also received a few allegations of excessive use of force. The government investigated allegations of such practices and prosecuted cases in which credible evidence existed. In March a Vienna court acquitted a police officer charged with bodily injury when he apprehended a suspected pickpocket in July 2015. The officer asserted that he had attempted to prevent an attack on his colleague. The Human Rights Advisory Council and the federal ombudsmen monitored police respect for human rights and made recommendations to the minister of the interior. Prison and Detention Center Conditions There were no significant reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns. Physical Conditions: The reported incidence of death in prisons and pretrial detention centers was low, although specific numbers were not available. In its November 2015 report, the CPT expressed "serious concern" about the almost total lack of medical confidentiality in all the establishments visited and the fact that prison officers with only basic health care training performed health-related tasks normally reserved for qualified nurses. In the course of a restructuring of the prison system administration in 2015, a unit in the justice ministry took over the overall management and supervision. Administration: The government investigated and monitored prison and detention center conditions. The federal ombudsman's office may investigate allegations of inhuman conditions on behalf of prisoners and detainees. Independent Monitoring: Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) monitored detainees on a regular basis. Human rights groups continued to criticize the incarceration of nonviolent offenders, including persons awaiting deportation, in single cells or inadequate facilities designed for temporary detention. The CPT conducted periodic visits to the country, most recently in September-October 2014, to examine the treatment of persons in police custody and prison as well as detention center conditions for migrants. The CPT also visited a psychiatric hospital to examine the use of physical restraints. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the police and army, and the government had effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. The federal police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of the Interior. The army is responsible for external security but also has some domestic security responsibilities and reports to the Defense Ministry. The criminal courts are responsible for investigating police violations of the law. NGOs continued to criticize the police for allegedly targeting minorities for frequent identity checks. Racial sensitivity training for police and other officials continued with NGO assistance. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Authorities base arrests on sufficient evidence and legal warrants issued by a duly authorized official. Authorities bring the arrested person before an independent judiciary. In criminal cases the law allows investigative or pretrial detention for no more than 48 hours, during which time a judge may decide to grant a prosecution request for extended detention. The law specifies the grounds for investigative detention and conditions for bail. There were strict checks on the enforcement of pretrial detention restrictions and bail provisions, and a judge is required to evaluate investigative detention cases periodically. The maximum duration for investigative detention is two years. There is a functioning bail system. Police and judicial authorities generally respected these laws and procedures. There were isolated reports of police abuse, which authorities investigated and, where warranted, prosecuted. Detainees have the right to a lawyer. Although indigent criminal suspects have the right to an attorney at government expense, the law requires appointment of an attorney only after a court decision to remand such suspects into custody (96 hours after apprehension). Criminal suspects are not legally required to answer questions without an attorney present. Laws providing for compensation for persons unlawfully detained were enforced. In its November 2015 report, the CPT found it unacceptable that authorities were continuing the practice of subjecting juveniles, some as young as 14, to police questioning and asking them to sign statements without a lawyer or a trusted person present. The report also noted that indigent persons could not usually benefit from the presence of a lawyer during police questioning. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Persons arrested on criminal charges are entitled to challenge the arrest in court and can obtain prompt release and compensation if found to have been unlawfully detained. Protracted Detention of Rejected Asylum Seekers or Stateless Persons: In rare cases authorities detained unsuccessful applicants for asylum pending deportation. Some NGOs criticized the government for protracted detention in such cases. The government provided free legal counsel for persons awaiting deportation. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Trial Procedures The law provides for the right to a fair public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. The law presumes persons charged with criminal offenses are innocent until proven guilty; authorities inform them promptly and in detail of the charges. Trials must be public and conducted orally; defendants have the right to be present at their trial. Attorneys are not mandatory in cases of minor offenses, but legal counsel is available at no charge for needy persons in cases where attorneys are mandatory. The law grants defendants and their attorneys adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense and access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases. Defendants can confront or question witnesses against them and present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Free interpretation is available from the moment a defendant is charged, through all appeals. Suspects cannot be compelled to testify or confess guilt. A system of judicial review provides multiple opportunities for appeal. The law extends the above rights to all defendants regardless of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, or mental or physical disability. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies There is an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including an appellate system. These institutions are accessible to plaintiffs seeking damages for human rights violations. Administrative and judicial remedies were available for redressing alleged wrongs. Individuals and organizations may appeal domestic decisions to regional human rights bodies. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respected these rights. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of speech and the press. Freedom of Speech and Expression: The law prohibits incitement, insult, or contempt against a group because of its members' race, nationality, religion, or ethnicity if the statement violates human dignity, and imposes criminal penalties for violations. The government strictly enforced these laws (see section 6, Anti-Semitism). Press and Media Freedoms: The law prohibits public denial, belittlement, approval, or justification of the Nazi genocide or other Nazi crimes against humanity in print media, broadcast media, the publication of books, and online newspapers or journals, and provides criminal penalties for violations. The government strictly enforced these laws (see section 6, Anti-Semitism). Libel/Slander Laws: Strict libel and slander laws created conditions that discouraged reporting of governmental abuse. For example, many observers believed the ability and willingness of police to sue for libel or slander discouraged individuals from reporting police abuses. Internet Freedom With limited exceptions, the government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. Authorities continued to restrict access to websites containing information that violated the law, such as neo-Nazi sites. The law barring neo-Nazi activity provides for one- to 10-year prison sentences for public denial, belittlement, approval, or justification of National Socialist crimes. The criminal code provision on incitement provides for prison sentences of up to five years. Authorities restricted access to prohibited websites by trying to shut them down and by forbidding the country's internet service providers from carrying them. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association The law provides for the freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, or other persons of concern. In-country Movement: Asylum seekers' freedom of movement was restricted to the district of the reception center where authorities assigned them for the duration of their initial application process until the country's responsibility for examining the application was determined. By law asylum seekers must be physically present in the centers of first reception for up to 120 hours during the initial application process. Authorities have 20 days in which to determine the country's responsibility and jurisdiction and whether they have purview. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government established a system for providing protection to refugees. The law gives the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) responsibility for handling asylum applications. The BFA operated nine regional directorates (one in each federal state) and three reception centers. In addition to processing asylum applications, the BFA is responsible for alien police matters (return decisions and custody pending deportation) and certain decisions on humanitarian stays. The Federal Administrative Court in Vienna is the appeals body for decisions of the BFA and had branches in Linz, Graz, and Innsbruck. Access to the administrative high court is limited to cases involving principal legal policy questions. Following the filing of a record of more than 88,000 asylum applications in 2015, administrative proceedings on the requests of asylum seekers from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries were often lengthy. The number of applications dropped significantly during the year, with approximately 28,800 applications filed between January and July. In April the parliament passed a law that limits the number of asylum requests accepted for routine processing at 37,500 applications a year; the law entered into force in May. Once the cap is reached, authorities may grant asylum at the border only on the basis of specific criteria. Under this procedure authorities may accept asylum applications only from persons who argue successfully that their lives would be in danger or that they would face a real risk of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment in a neighboring country or who have a nuclear family member already in Austria. Appeals against returns would be possible only after deportation has taken place. The UN high commissioner for human rights expressed concern that asylum applicants could be rejected under the expedited procedure without having had sufficient assessment of possible grounds for asylum. NGOs and some legal experts within the country also questioned whether such measures complied with international human rights standards. Safe Country of Origin/Transit: EU regulations provide that asylum seekers who transited a country determined to be "safe" on their way to Austria be returned to that country to apply for refugee status. Authorities considered signatories to the 1951 refugee convention and its 1967 protocol to be safe countries of transit. In response to a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights and recommendations of the UN special rapporteur on torture, the government in 2011 effectively halted the return of asylum seekers to Greece. This practice remained in effect during the year. The Federal Administrative Court ruled that deportations to Hungary would also have to be examined on an individual basis, due to the possibility of human rights violations in Hungary. Employment: While asylum seekers are legally restricted from seeking regular employment, they are eligible for seasonal employment, low-paying community service jobs, or professional training in sectors that require additional apprentices. A work permit is required for seasonal employment but not for professional training. An employer must request the work permit for the employee. Durable Solutions: There are provisions for integration, resettlement, and returns, which the country was cooperating with UNHCR and other organizations to improve. The integration section in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Integration, together with the Integration Fund and provincial and local integration offices, coordinate measures for integration of refugees. The country has a resettlement program in place for Syrian refugees. The country has bilateral agreements with several countries on implementing the return of rejected asylum seekers. Temporary Protection: According to the Interior Ministry, in 2015 the government provided temporary protection to 6,803 individuals who might not qualify as refugees. Stateless Persons According to UNHCR there were 570 persons in the country under its statelessness mandate at the end of 2014. Stateless persons in the country were largely Austrian-born children of foreign nationals who are unable to acquire citizenship through their parents due to the laws in their parents' country of origin. Authorities did not deport them because they lacked a home country. The law allows some stateless persons to gain nationality. A stateless person born in the country may be granted citizenship within two years of reaching age 18 if he or she has lived in the country for a total of 10 years, including five years continuously before application, and are able to demonstrate sufficient income. Stateless persons could receive temporary residence and work permits that must be renewed annually. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: The country held national parliamentary elections in 2013 and presidential elections in 2016. There were no reports of serious abuse or irregularities in the 2013 election, and credible observers considered both the 2013 and the 2016 election free and fair. In July the Constitutional Court found procedural irregularities in the May runoff vote of the presidential election that resulted in the improper counting of more than 77,900 absentee ballots. The court found no evidence of manipulation of ballots. Authorities set a repeat of the runoff election for October 2, but technical problems later discovered in voting envelopes caused authorities to delay the vote to December 4. The December repeat second round of the presidential election was generally considered to be properly administered, free, and fair. On the invitation of the government, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights deployed an election expert team for the December 4 election, but their report was not available at the end of the year. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit the participation of women and members of minorities in the political process, and women and minorities did so. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and anticorruption laws and regulations extend to civil servants, public officials, governors, members of parliament, and employees or representatives of state-owned companies. The government generally implemented the law effectively. The law criminalizes corrupt practices by citizens outside the country. The penalty for bribery is up to 10 years in prison. Corruption: On July 21, the Office of the Public Prosecutor for Economic Matters and Corruption filed an indictment on embezzlement and corruption charges against former finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser and 15 other persons in connection with the 2.45 billion euro ($2.7 million) auction sale of 62,000 state-owned apartments in 2004. Prosecutors alleged that information from the Finance Ministry under Grasser's leadership helped the eventual auction winner by signaling the size of the bid that would be needed to acquire the properties. The indictment had not yet entered into force since Grasser filed several complaints against it. As a result, at year's end the trial had not started. Financial Disclosure: Public officials are subject to financial disclosure laws, and there were no reports officials failed to comply with disclosure requirements. Politicians must and do publicly disclose biannually when they earn more than 1,142 euros ($1,260) for certain activities, but they are not required to disclose the amounts earned. The law does not require public officials to file disclosure reports upon leaving office. There are no sanctions for noncompliance with financial disclosure laws. Public Access to Information: The law provides for full public access to government information, and the government generally respected this provision. Authorities may deny access only to information that would violate personal data protection rights by disclosing sensitive personal data on racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, health, or personal life or would involve national security information. Petitioners could challenge denials of access to information before the administrative court. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials generally were cooperative and responsive to their views. Government Human Rights Bodies: A human rights ombudsman's office consisting of three independent commissioners examines complaints against the government. The ombudsman's office is completely independent, has its own budget, and parliament appoints its members. The ombudsman's office effectively monitors the administration. There is a parliamentary human rights committee. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape, including spousal rape, is punishable by up to 15 years' imprisonment. The government generally enforced the law. Law enforcement response to rape and domestic violence was effective. Women's NGOs estimated charges were filed in 10 percent of rape cases and only 13 percent of those led to convictions, due to lack of credible evidence. Domestic violence is punishable under the criminal code provisions for murder, rape, sexual abuse, and bodily injury. There were reports of violence against women, including spousal abuse. Police can issue a two-week order barring abusive family members from contact with survivors. The order can be extended to four weeks, and a court may further extend the order. Under the law the government provided psychosocial care in addition to legal aid and support throughout the judicial process to survivors of gender-based violence. Police training programs addressed sexual or gender-based violence and domestic abuse. The government funded privately operated intervention centers and hotlines for victims of domestic abuse. The centers provided for victims' safety, assessed the threat posed by perpetrators, helped victims develop plans to stop the abuse, and provided legal counseling and other social services. NGOs reported these centers were generally effective in providing shelter for victims of abuse. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment, and the government generally enforced the law. Labor courts may order employers to compensate victims of sexual harassment based on the Federal Equality Commission's finding in a case. The law entitles a victim to a minimum of 1,000 euros ($1,100) in compensation. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. Discrimination: Women enjoy the same legal rights as men. Discrimination in employment and occupation occurred with respect to women. Children Birth Registration: By law children derive citizenship from one or both parents. Officials register births immediately. Child Abuse: Child abuse is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment, which may be extended to 10 years if the victim dies because of negligence. Severe sexual abuse or rape of a minor is punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment, which may be increased to life imprisonment if the victim dies because of the abuse. The government continued its efforts to monitor child abuse and prosecute offenders. The Ministry for Economics, Family, and Youth estimated close family members or family friends committed 90 percent of child abuse. Officials noted a growing readiness to report cases of such abuse. Early and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age for marriage is 18. Adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 may legally contract a marriage if they obtain a special permit for this purpose. NGOs estimated there were approximately 200 cases of early marriage annually, primarily in the Muslim and Romani communities. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law provides up to 10 years' imprisonment for an adult convicted of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 14, the minimum age for consensual sex. If the victim becomes pregnant, the sentence may be extended to 15 years. It is a crime to possess, trade, or privately view child pornography. Exchanging pornographic videos of children is illegal. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment, while trading in child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism According to figures compiled by the Austrian Jewish Community (AJC), there are between 12,000 and 15,000 Jews in Austria, of whom an estimated 8,000 persons are members of the AJC. The NGO Forum against Anti-Semitism reported 465 anti-Semitic incidents during 2015. These included two physical assaults in addition to name calling, graffiti and defacement, threatening letters, dissemination of anti-Semitic writings, property damage, and vilifying letters and telephone calls. Of these, 205 cases of anti-Semitic internet postings were reported, more than double the previous year's number. The government provided protection to the AJC's offices and other Jewish community institutions in the country, such as schools and museums. The AJC noted rising fears that increasing anti-Islamic activities by the extreme right would increase anti-Semitism, with the extreme right targeting both groups as religious minorities. They also reported increasing fears of anti-Semitic activity from Muslim refugees. In March the Vienna prosecutor's office investigated an individual who had posted anti-Semitic messages at the Vienna Jewish Museum and other Jewish institutions. There were several cases of neo-Nazi-related vandalism and hate speech, including death threats and hate speech on the internet. School curricula included discussion of the Holocaust, the tenets of different religious groups, and advocacy of religious tolerance. The Education Ministry offered special teacher training seminars on Holocaust education and conducted training projects with the Anti-Defamation League. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in housing, employment, education, air travel and other transportation, access to health care, the judicial system, and other government services. The government did not effectively enforce these provisions. Employment discrimination against persons with disabilities occurred. While federal law mandates access to public buildings for persons with physical disabilities, NGOs complained many public buildings lacked such access due to insufficient enforcement of the law and low penalties for noncompliance. The Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Consumer Protection handled disability-related problems. The government funded a wide range of programs for persons with disabilities, including transportation and other assistance to help integrate schoolchildren with disabilities into regular classes and employees with disabilities into the workplace. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities Interior Ministry statistics released in March cited 523 neo-Nazi, right-wing extremist, xenophobic, or anti-Semitic incidents in 2015. The government continued to express concern over the activities of extreme right-wing and neo-Nazi groups, many with links to organizations in other countries. An NGO operating a hotline for victims of racist incidents reported receiving 927 complaints in 2015. It reported that racist internet postings had nearly doubled from 2014 and had, in particular, been directed against migrants and asylum seekers, refugee shelters, and NGOs assisting them. The Islamic Faith Community's documentation center for reporting Islamophobic incidents noted that such incidents increased markedly from only a few cases in April and May to 20 in June and July, following terrorist incidents in Western Europe. Federal law recognizes Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Roma, Slovaks, and Slovenes as national minorities. Human rights groups continued to report that Roma faced discrimination in employment and housing. The Austrian Romani Cultural Association estimated the Romani community consisted of more than 6,200 indigenous and between 15,000 and 20,000 nonindigenous individuals. The head of the association reported the situation of Roma continued to improve. Government programs, including financing for tutors, helped school-age Romani children move out of "special needs" programs and into mainstream classes. NGOs reported that Africans living in the country were verbally harassed or subjected to violence in public. In some cases citizens stigmatized black Africans for perceived involvement in the drug trade or other illegal activities. The government continued training programs to combat racism and educate police in cultural sensitivity. The Interior Ministry renewed an annual agreement with a Jewish group to teach police officers cultural sensitivity, religious tolerance, and the acceptance of minorities. Poor German-language skills were a major factor preventing members of minorities, particularly refugees, from entering the workforce. The Labor and Integration Ministries continued efforts to improve the situation by providing German-language instruction and skilled-labor training to young persons with immigrant backgrounds. Compulsory preschool programs, including some one- and two-year pilot programs, sought to remedy language deficiencies for nonnative German speakers. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Antidiscrimination laws apply to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. There was some societal prejudice against LGBTI persons but no reports of violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Hate crime laws prohibit incitement, including incitement based on sexual orientation. LGBTI organizations generally operated freely. Civil society groups, however, criticized the lack of a mechanism to prevent service providers from discriminating against LGBTI individuals. A 2015 Constitutional Court ruling provided for the possibility for adoption by same-sex couples as of January. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides the right of workers to form and join independent unions, conduct legal strikes, and bargain collectively. It prohibits antiunion discrimination or retaliation against strikers and provides for the reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. It allows unions to conduct their activities without interference. The Austrian Trade Union Federation was the exclusive entity representing workers in collective bargaining. Unions were technically independent of government and political parties, although some sectors had unions closely associated with parties. The government effectively enforced applicable laws that covered all categories of workers. Resources, inspections, and remediation were adequate. Penalties for violations were of civil nature, with fines imposed. Administrative, registration, and judicial procedures were not overly lengthy. There were few reports of antiunion discrimination or other forms of employer interference in union functions. The government and employers recognized the right to strike and respected freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. Authorities enforced laws providing for collective bargaining and protecting unions from interference and workers from retaliation for union activities. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. Forced labor occurred in several sectors, such as prostitution, but also in agriculture, construction, and the catering business. Most victims were women forced into prostitution. The government effectively enforced the law, and resources, inspections, and remediation were adequate. Labor inspectors and revenue authorities conducted routine site visits to identify forced labor. The government initiated forced labor awareness campaigns and workshops. Depending on the specific offense, penalties ranged from three to 20 years' imprisonment and were sufficient to deter most violations. There were some trafficked migrants, both men and women, working in the agriculture, construction, and catering sectors. There were also some traffickers who subjected Romani children and persons with physical and mental disabilities to forced begging. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The minimum legal working age is 15, with the exception that children who are at least 13 may engage in certain forms of light work on family farms or businesses. Children who are 15 and older are subject to the same regulations on hours, rest periods, overtime wages, and occupational health and safety restrictions as adults but are subject to additional restrictions on hazardous forms of work or for ethical reasons. Restrictions for hazardous jobs include work with materials considered dangerous for teenagers, work in the sawmill business, on high-voltage pylons, and specified jobs in the construction business. Laws and policies protect children from exploitation in the workplace and prohibit forced or compulsory labor, and the government generally enforced these laws and policies effectively. The labor inspectorate of the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Consumer Protection is responsible for enforcing child labor laws and policies in the workplace, and did so effectively. Penalties in the form of fines ranged from 70 to 1,090 euros ($77 to $1,200); these fines may be doubled in cases of repeated violations of the child labor code. Penalties were sufficient to deter violations. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation Labor laws and regulations related to employment or occupation prohibit discrimination regarding race, sex, gender, disability, language, sexual orientation or gender identity, HIV-positive (or other communicable disease) status, religion, age or world view (Weltanschauung). The government effectively enforced these laws and regulations. Discrimination in employment and occupation occurred with respect to women, persons with disabilities, and members of certain minorities. A Muslim community office focused on reporting anti-Islamic acts reported discriminatory hiring practices against Muslim women wearing headscarves when trying to obtain a retail or customer service position. Companies sometimes preferred to pay a fine rather than hire a person with a disability. The law requires equal pay for equal work. To establish greater transparency and reduce the pay gap between men and women, the government required reporting on salaries by position and gender for companies with more than 250 employees. The participation rate for women between the ages of 15 and 64 in the labor force was 67 percent, compared with 75 percent for men. Approximately 47 percent of employed women worked part time, compared with 32 percent in 2000. Female employees in the private sector may invoke laws prohibiting discrimination against women. Depending on the Federal Equality Commission's findings, labor courts may award the equivalent of up to four months' salary to women found to have experienced gender discrimination in promotion, despite being better qualified than their competitors. The courts may also order compensation for women denied a post despite having equal qualifications. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work There is no legislated national minimum wage. Instead, nationwide collective bargaining agreements covered between 98 and 99 percent of the workforce and set minimum wages by job classification for each industry. The lowest bargaining agreement provided for 1,100 euros ($1,210) per month for full-time jobs. Where no such collective agreements existed, such as for domestic workers, custodial staff, and au pairs, wages were generally lower than those covered by collective bargaining agreements. The official poverty risk level was 1,163 euros ($1,280) per month. The law provides for a maximum workweek of 40 hours, although collective bargaining agreements established 38- or 38.5-hour workweeks for more than half of all employees. Regulations to increase workhour flexibility allowed companies to increase the maximum regular time from 40 hours to 50 hours per week with overtime. In special cases work hours may be increased to a maximum of 60 hours per week, including overtime, for a maximum of 24 weeks annually. These 24 weeks, however, can only be in eight-week segments, with at least a two-week break between each eight-week period. Overtime is officially limited to five hours per week and 60 hours per year. Authorities did not enforce these laws and regulations effectively, and some employers, particularly in the construction, manufacturing, and information technology sectors, exceeded legal limits on compulsory overtime. Sectors with immigrant workers were particularly affected. Collective bargaining agreements can specify higher limits. The law stipulates premium pay of 50 percent for overtime and requires time off for work on weekends and official holidays. An employee must have at least 11 hours off between workdays. Wage and hour violations can be brought before the labor courts that can impose fines on employers who committed the violation. Foreign workers in both the formal and informal sectors made up approximately 13 percent of the country's workforce. Authorities did not enforce wage and hour regulations effectively in the informal sector. The labor inspectorate regularly enforced mandatory occupational health and safety standards, which were appropriate for the main industries. Its approximately 300 inspectors routinely checked the country's nearly 210,000 worksites. Resources and remediation remained adequate. Penalties for violations range from 166 to 16,648 euros ($183 to $18,300). In the case of violations resulting in serious injury or death, the employer faces prosecution under the penal code. The government extended its Occupational Safety and Health Strategy 2007-12 initiative until 2020. The initiative focused on educational and preventive measures, including strengthening public awareness of danger and risk assessment (plus evaluation); preventing work-related illnesses and occupational diseases; training as well as information on occupational safety and health; and improving the training of prevention experts. Workers could file complaints anonymously with the labor inspectorate, which could in turn sue the employer on behalf of the employee. Workers rarely exercised this option and normally relied instead on the nongovernmental workers' advocacy group and the Chamber of Labor, which filed suits on their behalf. Workers in the informal economy generally did not benefit from social protections. To receive health-care benefits, unemployment insurance, and pensions, workers generally had to pay into the system, although nonworkers could qualify for coverage in certain cases. Workers can remove themselves from situations that endanger health or safety without jeopardy to their employment. The Employment and Labor Relations Federal Public Service protected employees in this situation. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Australia Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Australia, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a774.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Australia is a constitutional democracy with a freely elected federal parliamentary government. In a free and fair federal parliamentary election held in July, the Liberal Party and National Party coalition won a majority in the 150-seat House of Representatives and formed a government with Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The main human rights problems were domestic violence against women and children, particularly in indigenous communities; indigenous disadvantage; and policies affecting asylum seekers, including detention and detention center conditions for some attempting to reach the country by sea. The government took steps to prosecute officials accused of abuses, and ombudsmen, human rights bodies, and internal government mechanisms responded effectively to complaints. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The law prohibits such practices, and the government generally respected these provisions. There were occasional claims police and prison officials mistreated suspects in custody. In July an investigative news program revealed that from 2010 until 2015, some juveniles at the Don Dale Detention Center in the Northern Territory were tear-gassed, physically assaulted, stripped naked, shackled, and hooded. A spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated the mistreatment at the detention center may breach two human rights conventions, and could amount to torture. Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles removed the Corrections Minister, brought responsibility for the detention center under the Chief Minister's Office, and vowed to build a new youth detention center. In July, Prime Minister Turnbull announced a joint royal commission into juvenile detention in the Northern Territory, and the reports have prompted calls for the commission to look into alleged abuses in other states. In November 2015 the government investigated the death of an indigenous woman in police custody in Western Australia. The coroner investigated claims of mistreatment and neglect of the woman in custody and the "failure to respond with sufficient urgency" by police to the woman's deteriorating health. A Western Australian Police senior detective told the inquest that police did not directly cause the woman's death; however, their neglect "may have contributed to her demise." The senior constable responsible for the woman while in custody received an administrative warning from the assistant police commissioner and an internal police investigation found 11 police officers failed to comply with appropriate police regulations. The government did not conclude its official inquiry by year's end. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions generally met international standards. Physical Conditions: In June 2015 the Australian Institute of Criminology reported 53 deaths in prison in 2012-13. Of the 53 deaths, 32 were from natural causes, nine from hanging, five from external/multiple trauma, one from head injury, one from drugs, and one from other/multiple causes. The report excluded four cases due to missing data. In November 2015 media reported that a New South Wales Auditor-General's report found the state's prisons held an average of 11,011 inmates a day, while there was capacity for only 9,829. In June the Queensland Corrective Services Minister said an increase in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults was "partly due to overcrowding in the state's prison system." In July the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services in Western Australia released findings into its 2015 inspection of Hakea Prison. The acting inspector reported overcrowding resulted in violence within the prison and "inadequate appreciation of human rights," particularly for pretrial detainees. As of May 31, there were 1,254 persons in immigration detention facilities in the country, including 177 on Christmas Island. As part of the government's Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB), a multi-agency initiative launched in 2013 aimed at preventing the arrival of asylum seekers by boat, the governments of Papua New Guinea and Nauru operated immigration detention centers on behalf of the Australian government where the respective host governments processed applications for intercepted asylum seekers. As of July 31, there were 411 asylum seekers on Nauru and 833 on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island. On April 28, a 23-year-old Iranian male asylum seeker died in a Brisbane hospital after setting himself on fire at the Nauru detention center. On May 2, a Somali female asylum seeker set herself on fire at the Nauru detention center and authorities transferred her to a Brisbane hospital where she remained in a critical condition. Administration: Authorities investigated allegations of inhuman conditions and documented the results of such investigations in a publicly accessible manner. The government investigated and monitored prison and detention center conditions. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted visits by independent human rights observers. There were no reports of intimidation by authorities. A number of domestic and international human rights groups expressed concerns about conditions at immigration detention centers (see section 2.d.). d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The armed forces, under the minister for defense, are responsible for external security. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) under the minister for justice and state and territorial police forces are responsible for internal security. The AFP enforces national laws, and state and territorial police forces enforce state and territorial laws. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Australian Border Force are responsible for migration and border enforcement. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the armed forces and police, and the government had effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. There were no reports of impunity involving the security forces during the year. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees Police officers may seek an arrest warrant from a magistrate when a suspect cannot be located or fails to appear, but they also may arrest a person without a warrant if there are reasonable grounds to believe the person committed an offense. Police must inform arrested persons immediately of their legal rights and the grounds for their arrest, and must bring arrested persons before a magistrate for a bail hearing at the next session of the court. The law permits police to hold individuals in preventive detention without charge for up to 48 hours under federal law and up to 14 days under state and territory laws if a senior police official finds it is "reasonably necessary to prevent a terrorist act or preserve evidence of such an act." Police may detain individuals for an additional 24 hours under court order. The law states that 24 hours is the maximum investigation period police may hold and question a person without charge, unless extended by court order. In the case of a terrorism suspect, however, police may detain a person for up to seven continuous days and police can question the suspect for a maximum period of 24 hours, or 48 hours if an interpreter is needed. A separate provision of law permits the attorney general to grant the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) authority to detain a person for a continuous period of up to 168 hours (seven days) in special circumstances, such as "reasonable grounds for believing that issuing the warrant to be requested will substantially assist the collection of intelligence that is important in relation to a terrorism offense." The ASIO, however, reportedly has not used this authority. The law permits a judge to authorize "control orders" on persons suspected of involvement with terrorism-related activities. These orders may include a range of measures, such as monitoring of suspects and house arrest, and may be in effect for up to one year without filing criminal charges. Authorities can renew a control order after one year with a new court order. In February police arrested a Sydney man for accessing terrorist propaganda videos in violation of his control order stemming from a previous arrest in August 2014 at Sydney Airport for allegedly seeking to fight for the Islamic State. In June the court denied him bail. By law the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor helps provide that counterterrorism laws strike an appropriate balance between protecting the community and protecting human rights. The AFP, the Australian Crime Commission, and intelligence agencies are subject to parliamentary oversight. The inspector-general of intelligence and security is an independent statutory officer who provides oversight of the country's six intelligence agencies. Bail generally is available to persons facing criminal charges unless authorities consider the person a flight risk or the charges carrying a penalty of 12 months' imprisonment or more. Authorities granted attorneys and families prompt access to detainees. Government-provided attorneys are available to give legal advice to detainees who cannot afford counsel. Arrested persons enjoy additional legal protections, such as the ability to challenge the lawfulness of their detention and to apply for compensation if unlawfully detained. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Persons arrested or detained, regardless of whether on criminal or other grounds, are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention and obtain prompt release and compensation if found to have been unlawfully detained. Protracted Detention of Rejected Asylum Seekers or Stateless Persons: A small number of asylum seekers remained in long-term detention despite having exhausted the appeal process. Authorities could not return them to their home country because they lacked travel documents or could not obtain necessary transit visas. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the government respected judicial independence. Trial Procedures The law provides for the right to a fair public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. In state district and county courts, and in state and territorial supreme courts, a judge and jury try serious offenses. Defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence and cannot be compelled to testify or confess guilt. They have the right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges, with free interpretation as necessary from the moment charged through all appeals, the right to an attorney, and adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense. Government-funded attorneys are available to low-income persons. The defendant's attorney can question witnesses, present witnesses and evidence, access relevant government-held evidence, and appeal the court's decision or the sentence imposed. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies There is an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, and individuals or organizations may seek civil judicial remedies for human rights violations. There is also an administrative process at the state and federal levels to seek redress for alleged wrongs by government departments. Administrative tribunals may review a government decision only if the decision is in a category specified under a law, regulation, or other legislative instrument as subject to a tribunal's review. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Police have authority to enter premises without a warrant in emergency circumstances. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press Although the constitution does not explicitly provide for freedom of speech or press, the High Court has held that the constitution implies a right to freedom of expression, and the government generally respected these rights. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of speech and press. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. The internet was widely available to and used by citizens. In February the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that 86 percent of households had access to the internet at home in 2014-15. Law enforcement agencies require a warrant to intercept telecommunications, including internet communications. In emergencies the director general of the ASIO may issue a warrant for this purpose without prior judicial authorization, but the attorney general must be informed. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) maintained a list of "refused classification" website content, primarily pertaining to child pornography, sexual violence, and other activities illegal in the country, compiled because of a consumer complaints process. The ACMA may issue a notice to the internet service provider to remove domestically hosted "refused classification" material, or links to such material, that is the subject of a complaint if an investigation concludes the complaint is justified. The list is available to providers of filtering software. An owner or operator of such a website can appeal an ACMA decision to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), an executive body that reviews administrative decisions by government entities. Since 2010 three major telecommunications providers voluntarily blocked websites on Interpol's list of child-abuse links. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Although the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association are not codified in law, the government generally respected these rights. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. Abuse of Migrants, Refugees, and Stateless Persons: In August, The Guardian leaked 2,000 reports of abuse of asylum seekers on Nauru, some involving accusations of assault, sexual abuse, and abuse of children. The government cooperated with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons, refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, or other persons of concern. Protection of Refugees The government maintains a humanitarian refugee program that includes several types of visas available to refugees for resettlement in the country. UNHCR identifies and refers the majority of applicants considered under the program. For the fiscal year that began on July 1, the intake remained at 13,750. In 2015-16 authorities reserved at least 1,000 places for women at risk and at least 1,500 for Syrians. In September 2015 the government announced it would accept an additional 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq for permanent resettlement, in addition to the annual refugee intake of 13,750. Access to Asylum: The law provides for granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has a system for providing protection to refugees. The number of asylum seekers arriving by sea significantly increased between 2008 and 2013, putting pressure on detention center capacity, processing times, and the capacity of the humanitarian refugee program. In the 2012-13 fiscal year, the government recorded 25,750 such arrivals. As of May 31, 28,329 asylum seekers were living in the community while authorities processed their cases. The country retained third party processing of asylum seekers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea for asylum seekers who arrived after July 19, 2013. Authorities continued their policy of not settling those arrivals in the country and forced intercepted boats carrying smuggled persons back into the territorial waters of their country of embarkation when safe to do so. Since the inception of OSB in 2013, authorities have transferred 2,125 asylum seekers to Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island as of May 31, and there were 537 voluntary returns to country of origin during this period. In June the immigration minister reported that authorities had turned back 28 boats transporting asylum seekers since 2013. The law authorizes the immigration minister to designate a country as a regional offshore processing center, if the minister determines it is in the national interest to do so, and requires the minister to notify parliament, which may then disapprove the proposed designation within five working days of notification. The law states that such a designation "need not be limited by reference to the international obligations or domestic law of that country." Under the government's policy on asylum processing for unauthorized maritime arrivals, asylum seekers transferred to third countries for regional processing have their asylum claims assessed by the country in which the claim is processed. In 2013 the previous Labor government entered into a Regional Resettlement Arrangement with Papua New Guinea to send all unauthorized maritime arrivals to Papua New Guinea for assessment and to resettle those found to be refugees in Papua New Guinea. In 2013 Nauru became part of the arrangement. The government then began transferring all unauthorized maritime asylum seeker arrivals to Papua New Guinea and Nauru for processing. As of September Papua New Guinea had not approved any permanent resettlement arrangements but had granted refugee status to at least 50 individuals for release into the local community to receive support services at an open facility, including language training, cultural orientation, and case support. In 2014 the government reached agreement with Cambodia to resettle refugees on a voluntary basis from the processing center in Nauru. Of the five refugees settled in Cambodia, four voluntarily returned to their country of origin. In October 2015 the Nauruan government announced it would expedite processing for the 600 outstanding refugee claims and claimants would be able to move freely around the island, while maintaining access to assistance from the regional processing center. In 2014 parliament passed a law that the government stated, "fundamentally changes Australia's approach to managing asylum seekers" and was partly aimed at addressing a backlog of approximately 30,000 asylum applications. The legislation provided additional clarity and consistency in the powers to detain and move vessels and persons; introduced three-year temporary protection visas (TPV) for those who arrived between August 13, 2012 and December 31, 2013; and introduced a "fast-track" assessment process for those who arrived during this period. It also established a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) that enabled TPV holders to apply for five-year visas to work in non-metropolitan areas. After holding a SHEV for three and a half years, an applicant would be eligible to apply for other onshore visas, such as a permanent skilled visa. There is a statutory obligation for the government to facilitate access to legal representation for persons in immigration detention. In March 2014 the federal government tightened access to government-funded legal assistance to only those that arrived through authorized channels. In May there were 399 persons in immigration detention for longer than 730 days and the average duration authorities held them in detention facilities was 459 days. There were no children (younger than 18 years) in immigration detention in the country as of May 31, compared with 118 in 2014. There were 50 children on Nauru and none on Manus Island. In 2014 the government announced arrangements to enable more minors to reside in the community while authorities processed their applications. On May 2, UNHCR stated, "There is no doubt that the current policy of offshore processing and prolonged detention is immensely harmful ... Despite efforts by the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Nauru, arrangements in both countries have proved completely untenable ... .The situation of these people has deteriorated progressively over time, as UNHCR has witnessed firsthand over numerous visits since the opening of the centers." In February the Australian High Court threw out a challenge to the existence of the country's offshore immigration detention center on Nauru. In March protests occurred in major cities after authorities prepared to return a one-year-old girl to Nauru 24 hours after her transfer to a Brisbane hospital for severe burns. Doctors refused to release the infant and the Victorian government issued a public letter to the prime minister criticizing the federal government's stance on children in detention, and offered to resettle the refugees in Victoria. More than 1,800 academics urged the prime minister to call a summit to create a more "just and humane approach" to handling asylum seekers arriving by sea. The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea ruled in April that the detention of asylum seekers at the Manus Island processing center was illegal. The Australian government stated in August it intended to close the Manus Island Center, but did not reveal a specific date. Durable Solutions: The government accepted refugees for resettlement from third countries and funded refugee resettlement services. The Humanitarian Settlement Services program provided case-specific assistance that included finding accommodation, employment programs, language training, registering for income support and health care, and connecting with community and recreational programs. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and law provide citizens the ability to change their government through free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Voting is mandatory. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: The country held a free and fair federal parliamentary election in July. Voters re-elected the Liberal-National Party Coalition government and Malcolm Turnbull remained prime minister. The coalition won 76 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, the Labor Party 69, and others five. Participation of Women and Minorities: There are no legal impediments to voting or holding public office for women or minorities. Indigenous persons and other minorities generally were underrepresented relative to their share of the population. In 2010 voters elected an indigenous person to the federal House of Representatives for the first time; voters elected the first indigenous woman to the Senate in 2013; and voters elected the first indigenous woman to the House of Representatives in the recent election. An indigenous woman succeeded another indigenous woman as senator for the Northern Territory and voters elected an indigenous man as senator for Western Australia. Five indigenous persons served in the federal parliament. In September 2015 the prime minister named an indigenous member of parliament as the assistant minister for health, making him the first indigenous person on the parliamentary front bench; he retained this portfolio after the election. There were two indigenous persons in the Western Australia state parliament and six in the Northern Territory legislative assembly, which included the Northern Territory's chief minister and the first indigenous state-level head of government. The Tasmania and New South Wales state parliaments and the Australian Capital Territory legislative assembly each had one indigenous member. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively. Corruption: Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales states have anticorruption bodies that investigate alleged government corruption, and every jurisdiction has an ombudsperson who investigates and makes recommendations in response to complaints about government decisions. These bodies actively collaborated with civil society, operated independently and effectively, and had adequate resources. The Northern Territory does not have an independent watchdog with sufficient power to investigate politicians and their staffers for corruption and misconduct, according to the territory's police and investigative bodies. In a joint statement to the territory's parliament in July, the Northern Territory Police Commissioner, Public Interest Disclosures Commissioner, Public Employment Commissioner, Auditor-General, and Ombudsman called for new powers to close the loophole on investigating politicians and staffers. The group also demanded greater transparency regarding travel expenses, allowances, appointments, and tenders for work not publicly advertised. Financial Disclosure: The law requires all federal, state, and territory elected officials to report their financial interests. Failure to do so could result in a finding of contempt of parliament and a possible fine or jail sentence. Federal officeholders must report their financial interests to a Register of Pecuniary Interests, and the report made public within 28 days of the individual's assumption of office. Public Access to Information: Federal, state, and territorial governments have freedom-of-information (FOI) laws that provide the public access to government information. The federal government does not charge application fees, but some state and territorial governments charge application and processing fees. The government may exempt information from disclosure to protect essential public interests or the private or business affairs of others. An applicant, including foreign media, may appeal a government decision to deny a request for information to the quasi-legal AAT. An applicant may appeal an adverse AAT decision to the Federal Court. FOI laws, including appeal mechanisms, generally functioned effectively. A FOI commissioner is responsible for promoting and protecting information rights. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to their views. Government Human Rights Bodies: The Human Rights Commission (HRC), an independent organization established by parliament and adequately funded by the federal government, investigates complaints of discrimination or breaches of human rights under the federal laws that implement the country's human rights treaty obligations. The HRC reports to parliament through the attorney general. The media and nongovernmental organizations deemed its reports accurate and reported them widely. Parliament has a Joint Committee on Human Rights, and federal law requires that a statement of compatibility with international human rights obligations accompany each new bill. In addition to the HRC at the federal level, each state and territory has a human rights ombudsperson. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape, including spousal rape, and the government enforced the law effectively. The laws of individual states and territories provide the penalties for rape. Maximum penalties range from 12 years' to life imprisonment, depending on the jurisdiction and aggravating factors. The law prohibits violence against women, including domestic abuse, and the government enforced the law. Violence against women remained a problem, particularly in indigenous communities. According to the government, approximately one in three women experienced physical violence, and nearly one in five experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 years. In July the ABS reported that in 2015 police recorded 21,380 cases of sexual assault, of which 82 percent of the victims were women. Two-thirds of sexual assaults occurred in a residential location. In 2015, there were 158 homicides linked to family and domestic violence; 103 of the victims were female. In September 2015, in its first major policy initiative, the government under Prime Minister Turnbull announced a policy package of A$100 million ($75 million) to address the threat of domestic violence, particularly against women. Federal and state governments funded programs to combat domestic violence and provide support for victims, including funding for numerous women's shelters. Police received training in responding to domestic violence. Federal, state, and territorial governments collaborated on the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-22, the first effort to coordinate action at all levels of government to reduce violence against women. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): FGM/C is a criminal act in all states and territories of the country, and these laws apply extraterritoriality to protect citizens or residents from being subjected to FGM/C overseas. In June a court sentenced a Muslim leader to at least 11 months in jail for covering up FGM/C offenses against two sisters in Wollongong and Sydney between 2009 and 2012. The court sentenced the girls' mother, and the woman who carried out the procedure, to 11 months home detention. It was the country's first FGM/C trial. In 2013 the government held a national summit on FGM/C and subsequently announced a National Compact on Female Genital Mutilation. In 2013 the government announced it would provide A$1 million ($750,000) for 15 new projects aimed at ending FGM/C among citizens whether they lived domestically or abroad. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment. Complaints of sexual harassment can lead to criminal proceedings or disciplinary action against the defendant and compensation claims by the plaintiff. The HRC receives complaints of sexual harassment as well as sex discrimination. The HRC received 212 complaints of sexual harassment during 2014-15; however, separate statistics on resolution of harassment complaints were not available. An independent review of the Victoria Police Department released in December 2015 found workplace sexual harassment to be an endemic problem despite more than 30 years of legislation prohibiting sex based discrimination. The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission found evidence that of more than 5,000 participants surveyed, 40 percent of women and 7 percent of men had experienced sexual harassment. The review found evidence of chronic underreporting with victims afraid of negative professional and personal consequences resulting from making a complaint. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide freely the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and to have the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. State and territorial governments provided comprehensive sex education and sexual health and family planning services. Women had access to contraception and skilled medical care, including essential prenatal, obstetric, and postpartum care. Indigenous persons in isolated communities had more difficulty accessing such services than the population in general. Cultural factors and language barriers also inhibited use of sexual health and family planning services by indigenous persons, and rates of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy among the indigenous population were higher than among the general population. Discrimination: The law provided for the same legal status and rights for women as for men, including under laws related to family, religion, personal status, labor, property, nationality, and inheritance, as well as employment, credit, pay, owning and/or managing businesses, education, and housing. Employment discrimination against women occurred, and there was a much-publicized "gender pay gap" (see section 7.d.). The HRC received 453 complaints under the Sex Discrimination Act from 2014-15, including 358 from women. There were well-organized and effective public and private women's rights organizations at the federal, state, and local levels. The federal sex discrimination commissioner of the HRC undertakes research, formulates policy, and conducts educational work designed to eliminate gender discrimination. The Office for Women, under the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, focuses on reducing violence against women, promoting women's economic security, and enhancing the status of women. Children Birth Registration: Children are citizens if at least one parent is a citizen or permanent resident at the time of the child's birth; however, being physically born within the country does not confer citizenship on a child. Children born in the country to parents who are not citizens or permanent residents acquire citizenship on their 10th birthday, if they lived the majority of their life within the country. In general births were registered promptly. Child Abuse: State and territorial child protection agencies investigate and initiate prosecutions of persons for child neglect or abuse. All states and territories have laws or guidelines that require members of certain designated professions to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The federal government's role in the prevention of child abuse includes funding for research, carrying out education campaigns, developing action plans against commercial exploitation of children, and funding community-based parenting programs. The federal government's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse released an interim report in 2014, which included the personal stories of 150 abused persons. In August 2015 the commission released recommendations on background checks for persons working with children and, in September 2015 released recommendations on redress and civil litigation. It continued to conduct hearings during the year. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, a national agency that maintains health statistics and information, there were 42,457 children in substantiated abuse or neglect cases during 2014-15. The rate remained unchanged between 2012-13 and 2014-15 at approximately eight per 1,000 children. The rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children on care and protection orders was approximately seven times greater than the nonindigenous rate. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age of marriage is 18 for both boys and girls. A person between 16 and 18 years may apply to a judge or magistrate in a state or territory for an order authorizing marriage to a person who has attained 18 years, but the marriage of the minor still requires parental or guardian consent. Two persons younger than 18 years may not marry each other. Although no statistics were available, reports of marriages involving a person younger than 18 years were rare. There were reports forced marriage sometimes occurred. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law provides for a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment for commercial sexual exploitation of children. There were documented cases of children younger than 18 years subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. The law prohibits citizens and residents from engaging in, facilitating, or benefiting from sexual activity with children overseas who are younger than 16 years and provides for a maximum sentence of 17 years' imprisonment for violations. The government continued its awareness campaign to deter child sex tourism through distribution of pamphlets to citizens and residents traveling overseas. The legal age for consensual sex is 16 years in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Victoria, and Western Australia and 17 years in Tasmania and South Australia. In Queensland the age of consent for anal sex is 18 years, while the age of consent for all other sexual acts is 16 years. Maximum penalties for violations vary across jurisdictions. Defenses include reasonable grounds for believing the alleged victim was older than the legal age of consent and situations in which the two persons are close in age. All states and territories criminalize the possession, production, and distribution of child pornography. In New South Wales; however, the law prohibiting child abuse material, including child pornography applies only to children younger than 16 years, and in South Australia the law prohibiting child exploitation material, including child pornography, only applies to children younger than 17 years. Maximum penalties for these offenses range from four to 21 years' imprisonment. Federal laws criminalize using a "carriage service" (for example, the internet) for the purpose of possessing, producing, and supplying child pornography. The maximum penalty for these offenses is 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of A$275,000 ($206,000), or both. Under federal law suspected pedophiles can be tried in the country regardless of where the crime was committed. The AFP worked with its international partners to identify and charge persons involved in online exploitation of children. The government largely continued federal emergency intervention measures initiated in 2007 to combat child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. These measures included emergency bans on sales of alcohol and pornography, restrictions on the payment of welfare benefits in cash, linkage of support payments to school attendance, and medical examinations for all indigenous children younger than 16 years in the Northern Territory. In 2012 parliament extended most of these interventions through 2022. While public reaction to the interventions remained generally positive, some Aboriginal activists asserted there was inadequate consultation and the measures were racially discriminatory, since nonindigenous persons in the Northern Territory were not initially subject to such restrictions. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. For information see the Department of State's report on compliance at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism According to the 2011 census, the country's Jewish community numbered 97,300 persons. During the 12-month period ending in September 2015, the nongovernmental Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported 190 anti-Semitic incidents logged by the council, Jewish community umbrella groups in each state, and the Australian Capital Territory, and community security groups. These incidents included vandalism, harassment, and physical and verbal assaults. In early April vandals spray-painted several swastikas on Marouba Synagogue in Sydney and on nearby bus stop signs. The synagogue's Rabbi Friedman described the incident as "an assault against Jewish people and directed towards those in my community." Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment; education; access to premises; access to air travel and other forms of transport; provision of goods, services (including health services), and facilities; accommodation; purchase of land; activities of clubs and associations; sport; the judicial system; and the administration of federal laws and programs. The government effectively enforced the law. The disability discrimination commissioner of the HRC promotes compliance with federal laws that prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities. The commissioner also promotes implementation and enforcement of state laws that require equal access to buildings and otherwise protect the rights of persons with disabilities, including providing equal access to communications and information. The law also provides for mediation by the HRC of discrimination complaints, authorizes fines against violators, and awards damages to victims of discrimination. Schools are required to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, and children with disabilities generally attended school. The federal government's Better Start for Children with Disability initiative provided up to A$12,000 ($9,000) per person for early intervention services and treatment for eligible children with disabilities. The government also cooperated with state and territorial governments that ran programs to assist students with disabilities. The 2015 budget increased federal funding for students with disabilities to a record A$1.3 billion ($974 million) for 2015-16 and more than A$5 billion ($3.75 billion) over 2014-17. The government announced a National Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability so that all students with disability receive funding on the same basis. The HRC's annual report stated that 740 complaints, citing 846 alleged grounds of discrimination, were filed under the Disability Discrimination Act during 2014-15. Of these, 34 percent related to employment, and 37 percent involved the provision of goods and services (see section 7.d.). The HRC resolved 772 complaints during the period, including 376 through conciliation. In 2013 the government launched the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a national disability insurance program and allocated a budget of A$14.3 billion ($10.7 billion) to the program. On June 30, the NDIS began across the country following a trial involving 30,000 people. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities According to its annual report, the HRC received 561 complaints under the Racial Discrimination Act during 2014-15, citing 1,070 alleged grounds of discrimination. Of these, 18 percent involved employment, 15 percent involved provision of goods and services, and 18 percent alleged "racial hatred." The HRC reported resolution of 405 complaints, including 202 through conciliation (see section 7.d.). Indigenous People According to the 2011 census, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders constituted 2.5 percent of the total population. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders hold special collective native title rights in limited areas of the country. Aboriginal Land Rights and Native Title Acts at the federal and state levels enable indigenous groups to claim unused government land. Indigenous ownership of land was predominantly in nonurban areas. Indigenous-owned or -controlled land constituted approximately 20 percent of the country's area (excluding native title lands) and nearly 50 percent of the land in the Northern Territory. The National Native Title Tribunal resolves native land title applications through mediation and acts as an arbitrator in cases where the parties cannot reach agreement about proposed mining or other development of land. Under a 2002 High Court ruling, native title rights do not extend to mineral or petroleum resources and, in cases where leaseholder rights and native title rights are in conflict, leaseholder rights prevail but do not extinguish native title rights. The Indigenous Land Corporation, established in 1995, provides a continuing source of funds for indigenous persons to acquire or manage land for the benefit of indigenous persons. It has acquired 250 properties and added more than 5.8 million hectares to the indigenous estate. It receives a minimum annual payment of A$45 million ($34 million) from the Land Account, which had a balance of A$2.014 billion ($1.5 billion) at the end of June 2015. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet administer the Land Account. It is separate from the National Native Title Tribunal and is not for payment of compensation to indigenous persons for loss of land or to titleholders for return of land to indigenous persons. As part of the intervention to address child sexual abuse in Northern Territory indigenous communities (see section 6, Children), in 2007 the government took control of 64 indigenous communities through five-year land leases. The federal government's Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory plan begun in 2012 repealed the emergency response and provided for negotiation of voluntary long-term leases. The Indigenous Advancement Strategy administered by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, which began in 2014, allocated indigenous-specific federal funding of A$4.9 billion ($3.7 billion) for a period of four years. Additionally, authorities allocated A$3.7 billion ($2.8 billion) through National Partnership Agreements, Special Accounts, and Special Appropriations. Funding was also available through indigenous-specific and mainstream programs delivered by other agencies. In 2013 parliament unanimously passed an act of recognition intended to build momentum for a future referendum for constitutional recognition of indigenous people. The new government supported constitutional recognition of indigenous people and was working toward a referendum to achieve this aim. The portfolio of indigenous affairs had cabinet-level status, and indigenous policy coordination shifted to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Since 2008 the prime minister has reported annually to parliament on the government's progress on eliminating indigenous inequalities. In February the prime minister reported mixed results in the eight years since the government set Closing the Gap targets, with advancements in education and child mortality, but slower progress in employment and life expectancy. According to the ABS, as of March the rate of imprisonment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals was 11.4 times higher than the national imprisonment rate, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners represented 27 percent of the full-time adult prisoner population. The Ministry for Indigenous Affairs reported in October indigenous children and teenagers were 24 times more likely to be imprisoned than the nonindigenous population, while indigenous women are 30 times more likely to be incarcerated. Nearly half of the imprisoned indigenous persons were serving sentences for violent offenses. The ABS reported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals experienced disproportionately high levels of domestic violence, with hospitalization for family-related assault 28 times more likely for indigenous men and 34 times more likely for indigenous women than the rest of the country's population. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, life expectancy for indigenous men was an estimated 69.1 years, compared to 79.7 years for nonindigenous men; life expectancy for indigenous women was an estimated 73.7 years, compared to 83.1 years for nonindigenous women; and the indigenous unemployment rate was 17 percent, compared to approximately 5 percent for the nonindigenous population. The Productivity Commission's 2012 Indigenous Expenditure Report estimated that total direct indigenous expenditure in 2010-11 was A$25.4 billion ($19 billion). This resulted in expenditures of A$44,128 ($33,100) per indigenous citizen, compared to A$19,589 ($14,700) for other citizens. The report found the difference was due to "greater intensity of service use" and "additional costs of providing services." The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, established in 2012, is the national representative body for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. Government funding for it ceased in 2014. The HRC has an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity There are no laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults. Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by law in a wide range of areas, including in employment, housing, family law, taxes, child support, immigration, pensions, care of elderly persons, and social security. The law provides protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status. The HRC received 34 complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation during 2014-15. In 2014 Victoria and New South Wales passed laws to expunge convictions related to consensual sex between men. In May, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews apologized to citizens convicted of homosexual acts. Following the federal election, the opposition Australian Labor Party announced its first federal "shadow minister" for equality. Other Societal Violence or Discrimination In June media reported vandals set a car on fire and sprayed anti-Muslim graffiti on a wall outside a Perth mosque. Earlier that month, someone left a pig's head near the entrance of another mosque in Perth and parts of a pig in a nearby Islamic school. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the right of workers to form and join unions and associate freely domestically and internationally, to bargain collectively and to conduct legal strikes. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and provides for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. A union may represent an employee only if the employee is eligible to become a member of that union under the eligibility rules of that union. Union officials have the right to enter workplaces if they hold right-of-entry permits granted by the Fair Work Commission (FWC). Written notice is generally required to enter a workplace and should be provided no less than 24 hours and no more than 14 days before the proposed visit. Eligibility to enter premises is dependent on whether a union covers the work of a particular employee. The law requires that employers act in "good faith" when a majority of employees want a collective agreement, although it places some restrictions on the scope of collective bargaining. Prohibited terms include requiring payment of a bargaining services fee, enabling an employee or employer to "opt out" of coverage of the agreement, and anything that breaches the law. Furthermore the law prohibits multi-enterprise agreements or "pattern bargaining," although low-paid workers can apply for a "low-paid bargaining stream" to conduct multi-enterprise bargaining. When deciding whether to grant a low-paid authorization, the FWC looks at factors including the current terms and conditions of employment, the bargaining strength of employees, and whether employers and employees are bargaining for the first time. There is no definition of low-paid worker in the law; however, the explanatory memorandum to the Fair Work Act suggests that workers in the cleaning and childcare sectors are eligible. A bargaining agent may represent either side in the process. The law designates collective agreements as being between employers and employees directly; trade unions are the default representatives of their members but, with some exceptions, are not official parties to collective agreements. The law restricts strikes to the period when unions are negotiating a new enterprise agreement and specifies that strikes must concern matters under negotiation, known as "protected action." Protected action provides employers, employees, and unions with legal immunity from claims of losses incurred by industrial action. The deadline to file an unfair dismissal claim is 21 days, and the time to file a general protections claim is 21 days. Industrial action must be authorized by a secret ballot of employees; unions continued to raise concerns this requirement was unduly time consuming and expensive to implement. The law subjects strikers to penalties for taking industrial action during the life of an agreement and prohibits secondary action (e.g., a sympathy strike). The law permits the government to stop strikes judged to have "significant economic harm" to the employer or third parties. Some provinces have further restrictions. For example in New South Wales, the state government may cancel a union's registration if the government makes a proclamation or calls a state of emergency concerning an essential service and the "industrial organization whose members are engaged in providing the essential service has, by its executive, members, or otherwise, engaged in activities which are contrary to the public interest." The government effectively enforced applicable laws, including federal, state, and territorial laws, regulations, and statutory instruments. Penalties for violations of freedom of association and collective bargaining protections include fines of up to A$10,800 ($8,100) for an individual and A$54,000 ($40,500) for a corporation and were generally sufficient to deter violations. The FWC is the national independent industrial relations management institution. Its functions include facilitating dispute resolution. If there is a dispute, the FWC convenes a conference between parties to facilitate a resolution. If the conference is unsuccessful, the parties may elect the FWC to arbitrate the dispute, or the applicant may pursue a ruling by a federal court. An applicant may also pursue a court ruling if one or both parties do not agree to participate in the FWC conference. The government and employers generally respected freedom of association and collective bargaining. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. The government effectively enforced applicable labor laws, but did not obtain any successful prosecutions of criminal laws prohibiting forced labor. The law provides for sufficiently stringent penalties against forced labor commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes. Federal law includes specific prohibitions of forced labor and prescribed a maximum penalty of nine years' imprisonment for the offense. The law prohibits exploiting migrant employees through forced labor or slavery, and prescribes a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and various fines. The majority of forced labor cases, however, were addressed through civil law. In May 2015, following a media report of labor exploitation in the agricultural sector, the assistant immigration minister announced that the department was investigating the employment of Working Holiday visa holders by on-hire labor firms. There were reports some foreign nationals who came to the country for temporary work were subjected to forced labor in such sectors as agriculture, cleaning, construction, hospitality, and domestic service. Also see the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment There is no federally mandated minimum age of employment. The Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Western Australia established 15 years as the minimum age for work. Queensland established the minimum age as 13 years, and New South Wales, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Tasmania have no established minimum age for work. With the exception of Victoria, all states and territories have established 18 years as the minimum age for hazardous work. There are laws and regulations pertaining to hazardous work across sectors. For example under the 1994 Western Australia Mines Safety and Inspection Act an underground employee must not be younger than 18 years unless he or she is an apprentice or a cadet who is working underground to gain required experience in the course of training for a profession or trade; a person handling, charging or firing explosives must not be younger than 18 years; a person must be at least age 21 years to obtain a winding engine driver's certificate. Victoria prohibits employment of a person younger than 15 years in door-to-door selling, in a fishing boat, on a building or construction site or in any other prohibited work; it prohibits the employment of children younger than 14 years in a mine and younger than 17 years from working underground in any mine. Federal, state, and territorial governments effectively monitored and enforced laws, which varied among jurisdictions, governing the minimum age for leaving school and engaging in specified occupations. Penalties for violations of related laws included fines, and were sufficient to deter violations. For example in Western Australia penalties can be imposed on the employer and parent if they allow a child to: perform work that is not allowed or work outside the allowed hours for their age (maximum fine of A$24,000 ($18,000), or a maximum of A$120,000 ($90,000) for an incorporated employer); perform in an indecent or pornographic manner (maximum of 10 years' imprisonment); continue to work after the Department for Child Protection and Family Support has issued a notice for the employment to cease because the work is harmful to the child (maximum imprisonment of three years and a maximum fine of A$36,000 ($27,000), or A$180,000 ($135,000) for an incorporated employer). The Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) actively sought to educate young workers about their rights and responsibilities. State-imposed compulsory educational requirements, enforced by state educational authorities, effectively prevented most children from joining the workforce full time until they were 17 years old. Although some violations of these laws occurred, there was no indication of a child labor problem in any specific sector. There were some reports of commercial sexual exploitation of children (see section 6, Children). Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor for information on the Australian territories of Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Island, and Norfolk Island. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation Federal and state and territory laws provide for protections against employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national origin or citizenship, social origin, disability, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, age, language, HIV-positive status, or other communicable diseases. The HRC reviews complaints of discrimination on the ground of HIV/AIDS status under the category of disability-related complaints. The law requires organizations with 100 or more employees to establish a workplace program to remove barriers to women entering and advancing in their organization. The law also prohibits discrimination against employees based on family responsibilities, including breastfeeding, and requires equal pay for equal work. The government continued efforts to encourage persons under the Disability Support Pension (DSP) program to enter the workforce when they have a capacity to do so, including by requiring compulsory workforce activities for DSP recipients younger than 35 years who can work for more than eight hours per week. The government effectively enforced laws prohibiting employment discrimination, and penalties were sufficient to deter violations. Under the law the maximum penalty for contravention of the unlawful discrimination protections is A$54,000 ($40,500) per contravention for a corporation and A$10,800 ($8,100) per contravention for an individual. Employment discrimination against women, indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities occurred. According to the government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency, the full-time gender pay gap was 17.3 percent in March and has fluctuated between 15 percent and 19 percent for the past two decades. Persons with disabilities also faced employment discrimination. In 2014-15, the latest year for which such data were available, the HRC received 742 complaints about disability discrimination, with 304 in the area of employment. Of the employment discrimination complaints brought to the FWO in 2012-15, 82.8 percent were not sustained. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work Effective July 1, the FWC increased the national minimum wage for adults working full time (38 hours per week) by 2.4 percent to A$672.70 ($500), based on a minimum hourly rate of A$17.70 ($13.30). There was no official poverty-level income figure, but the minimum wage, combined with welfare payments, was intended to provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Above-minimum-wage classifications apply to certain trades and professions. By law maximum weekly hours are 38 plus "reasonable" additional hours (determined according to the law, taking into account factors such as an employee's health, family responsibilities, ability to claim overtime, pattern of hours in the industry, and amount of notice given). The law provides for paid annual holidays and premium pay for overtime. Industry standards or awards mandate rest periods and overtime pay. An employee may refuse to work overtime if the request is "unreasonable" considering the aforementioned factors. Federal or state occupational health and safety laws apply to every workplace, including in the informal economy. New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, and the federal government have "harmonized" occupational health and safety laws with an aim to make it easier for workers and businesses to understand requirements across different states and territories. Workers can remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities effectively protected employees in this situation. The law includes an antibullying provision that enables workers bullied at work to apply to the FWC for an order to stop the bullying. The law also enables workers who are pregnant to transfer to a safe job regardless of their time in employment. The government effectively enforced laws related to minimum wage, hours of work, and occupational safety and health. The FWO provides employers and employees advice on their rights and has authority to investigate employers alleged to have exploited employees unlawfully. The ombudsperson also has authority to prosecute employers who do not meet their obligations to workers. FWO inspectors may enter work sites if they reasonably believe it is necessary to ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act. The number of FWO inspectors, 300, was sufficient to enforce compliance. Inspectors can order employers to compensate employees and sometimes assess fines. Between July 2014 and June 2015, the latest year for which such data was available, the FWO levied fines of more than A$22.3 million ($16.7 million) on behalf of 11,613 employees. Workers exercised their right to a safe workplace and had recourse to state health and safety commissions, which investigate complaints and order remedial action. Each state and territory effectively enforced its occupational health and safety laws through dedicated bodies that have powers to obtain and initiate prosecutions, and unions used right-of-entry permits to investigate concerns. In New South Wales, for example, an individual can be sentenced a maximum of five years' imprisonment and/or receive a maximum fine of A$300,000 ($225,000), and a business can be fined up to A$3 million ($2.25 million) for exposing an individual to serious injury or illness. In 2013 one worker was fatally injured and another worker suffered serious injuries when they were moving a cabinet from the back of a truck onto a forklift. After a SafeWork NSW investigation, the District Court convicted the employer in September 2015 and fined the employer A$225,000 ($169,000). Most workers received higher compensation than the minimum hourly rate of A$17.70 ($13.30) through enterprise agreements or individual contracts. As of June the ABS reported approximately 3.74 million persons (31.3 percent of the workforce) were employed as part-time workers, of whom 68.5 percent were women. Temporary workers include both part-time and casual employees. Part-time employees have set hours and the same entitlements as full-time employees. Casual employees are employed on a daily or hourly wage basis. They do not receive paid annual or sick leave, but the law mandates they receive additional pay to compensate for this, which employers generally respected. Migrant worker visas require that employers respect employer contributions to retirement funds and provide bonds to cover health insurance, worker's compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, and other benefits. There continued to be reports employers underpaid seasonal farm workers, including international students and other international migrant workers. As of June 2015, the FWO had recovered A$254,924 ($191,000) for 870 workers as part of its "Harvest Trail" inquiry, a program to increase monitoring of the agriculture industry and help employers and employees working on the Harvest trail to understand their rights and obligations at work. For example the Ombudsperson ordered one labor recruitment firm to pay back wages to more than 100 seasonal workers in the fruit and vegetable industry that were underpaid. There were reports some individuals under "457" employer-sponsored, skilled-worker visas received less pay than the market rate and used as less expensive substitutes for citizen workers. The government improved monitoring of "457" sponsors and information sharing among government agencies, particularly the Australian Tax Office. Employers must undertake "labor market testing" before attempting to sponsor "457" visas; government policy prohibits positions from being nominated under the "457" program when the market rate annual salary is less than A$53,900 ($40,400). According to Safe Work Australia, the government agency responsible to develop and coordinate national workplace health and safety policy, a preliminary estimate was that 86 workers died while working, as of July 26. Of these 27 fatalities were in the transport, postal, and warehousing sector; 25 in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector; and 10 in construction. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Angola Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Angola, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a7b4.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Angola is a constitutional republic. The ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has been in power since independence in 1975. In August 2012, the government held the first presidential and legislative elections following the promulgation of the 2010 constitution. The MPLA received 71.8 percent of the vote, and in September 2012, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos began a five-year term as president under the new constitution. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over the security forces. The three most important human rights abuses were cruel, excessive, and degrading punishment, including reported cases of torture and beatings; limits on freedoms of assembly, association, speech, and press; and official corruption and impunity. Other human rights abuses included arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life; harsh and potentially life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; lengthy pretrial detention; impunity for human rights abusers; lack of due process and judicial inefficiency; forced evictions without compensation; restrictions on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); harassment of and violence against women and children; child labor; trafficking in persons; limits on workers' rights; and forced labor. The government took some steps to prosecute or punish officials who committed abuses; however, accountability was weak due to a lack of checks and balances, lack of institutional capacity, a culture of impunity, and widespread government corruption. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings In carrying out law enforcement activities, the government or its agents used excessive and sometimes deadly force. For example, on August 6, security force members reportedly shot and killed a 14-year-old boy, Rufino Antonio, after they demolished his family's and other allegedly illegally built homes in a suburban Luanda zone, according to media sources and several NGOs (see section 1.e.). The government and the national ombudsman launched separate investigations into the shooting death, both of which remained ongoing at year's end. On April 5, the Huambo provincial court sentenced Jose Kalupeteka, the leader of the Light of the World religious sect, to 28 years in prison for the 2015 clashes between members of his group and police that left 13 civilians and nine police officers dead, according to official figures, although opposition parties continued to allege a higher casualty rate. On August 9, new clashes between police and Light of the World followers in Kwanza Sul Province reportedly resulted in the deaths of five church members and three police officers, and a similar confrontation on August 13 resulted in an unknown number of casualties. The government stated the Attorney General's Office (PGR) was investigating. On August 21, media reported that an officer of Alfa 5 Security Services, a private security company affiliated with the government's diamond enterprise, Endiama, allegedly killed 17-year-old Gabriel Mufugueno, in Lucapa, Lunda Norte Province. According to a relative of the victim, police detained the Alfa 5 officer allegedly responsible for the shooting. The incident elicited protests from artisanal miners in the area. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution and law prohibit all forms of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, but the government did not always enforce these prohibitions. Periodic reports of beatings and other abuses of persons on the way to and in police stations during interrogations continued. The government acknowledged that at times members of the security forces used excessive force when apprehending individuals. Police authorities openly condemned some acts of violence or excessive force against individuals and asked that victims report abuses to the national police or the Office of the Public Defender (Ombudsman). On September 1, Jose Padrao Loureiro, suspected of belonging to a gang, was beaten and killed by police inside Rangel Police Station, following his arrest on August 31, according to press reports. During the one-day detention, Loureiro was allegedly tortured and killed. National Police Spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues said an autopsy revealed the victim was severely beaten. Authorities opened an investigation on September 5 and detained five police officers. Security forces reacted harshly and sometimes violently to public demonstrations against the government. Several media and NGO accounts reported police around the country, in particular in the provinces of Luanda, Malanje, Benguela, and the city of Lobito, beat protesters. The visible presence of security forces was enough to deter significantly what were deemed by the government to be unlawful demonstrations. Authorities claimed known agitators who sought only to create social instability organized many of the public demonstrations. The media reported that, on August 20, during a protest in Luanda calling for the resignation of President dos Santos and for the release of activist Dago Nivel, police allegedly beat several protesters and used the police canine brigade to disrupt the protest; dogs wounded three protesters. The media provided photographs of the incident, including of men with visible bite wounds. Police reportedly later drove a group of protesters, including the men wounded by the canine brigade, to the outskirts of the city and left them there. The General Command of the National Police denied any knowledge of the case. There were reports of abuses by private security companies in diamond producing regions. For example, on April 21, in the Cafunfo diamond area, in Lunda-Norte province, private security guards working for a private company allegedly severely beat 10 artisanal miners with machetes, according to a media report that included a video of the incident. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions were harsh and potentially life threatening. Domestic NGOs, activists, and the media continued to highlight corruption, violence, overcrowding, a lack of medical care, and generally poor conditions. Physical Conditions: In April Antonio Fortunato, director general of penitentiary services, acknowledged overcrowding in prisons was a serious problem. Authorities frequently held pretrial detainees with sentenced inmates, and short-term detainees with those serving long-term sentences for violent crimes, especially in provincial prisons. Prison conditions varied widely between urban and rural areas. Prisons in rural areas were less crowded and reportedly had better rehabilitation, training, and reintegration services. Prisons did not always provide adequate medical care, sanitation, potable water, or food, and it was customary for families to bring food to prisoners. Local NGOs stated prison services were insufficient. In 2015 Fortunato acknowledged that approximately five prisoners died each month in the country's prisons from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. In April, Fortunato acknowledged that Viana Jail (on the outskirts of Luanda) lacked adequate potable water and food for inmates. On September 14, activist Nuno Dala published photos allegedly taken inside Viana Jail depicting severely overcrowded conditions and several inmates suffering from malnutrition and tuberculosis due to a lack of food and potable water. On September 16, the newspaper Novo Jornal published a report on the allegedly deplorable conditions; the report included photographs of prisoners who appeared to be malnourished. Novo Jornal also reported that the Rapid Intervention Police (PIR) and the Special Prison Services Detachment (DESP) tortured one of the prisoners allegedly for his role in sharing photos with persons outside the jail. Observers generally regard the newspaper as credible; however, its reporting on conditions inside Viana Jail could not be independently verified. According to a press report, female inmates accused two officials from the Human Resources and Penal Control Units of the Kwanza Sul Jail of coercing them to have sex in order to be released from prison under the new Amnesty Law. Authorities launched an investigation, and on September 26, the PGR announced the investigation concluded the claims of sexual abuse were false and there were no irregularities in the prison's inmate release procedures. Administration: The Ministry of Interior claimed that adequate statistics were available in each facility and that authorities were able to locate every prisoner. The government investigated and monitored prison and detention center conditions. There was no prison ombudsperson. Some offenders, including violent offenders, reported paying fines and bribes to secure their freedom but it was unclear how prevalent this practice was. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted visits to prisons by independent local and international human rights observers and foreign diplomats. For example, the government permitted foreign diplomats to visit the "15 + 2" activists during their imprisonment (section 1.d.). Nevertheless, civil society organizations faced difficulties in contacting detainees, and prison authorities undermined civil society work in the prisons. Members of opposition parties visited prisons around the country on a regular basis and reported uneven improvements in living conditions and rehabilitation programs. A local NGO that provides pro bono legal services to inmates said prison officials were trying to improve conditions but overcrowding limited results. According to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the ministry made monthly visits to detention centers with representatives of the Office of the Public Defender, the PGR, and members of the National Assembly to assess prisoners' living conditions. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention; however, security forces did not always respect these prohibitions. According to several NGO and civil society sources, police arbitrarily arrested individuals without due process and routinely detained persons who participated, or were about to participate, in antigovernment protests, despite this right being protected by the constitution. They often released the detainees after a few hours. For example, on August 21, in Lobito, police beat and arrested activists Paulo Vinte-Cinco and Francisco Catraio of the Revolutionary Movement while they participated in a weekly meeting with other youth to discuss politics. More than 20 police officers broke up the meeting and dispersed the participants. Police released the two activists the next day. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The national police, controlled by the Ministry of Interior, are responsible for internal security and law enforcement. The Expatriate and Migration Services (SME), also in the Ministry of Interior, is responsible for migration law enforcement. The state intelligence and security service reports to the presidency and investigates sensitive state security matters. The Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) are responsible for external security but also had domestic security responsibilities, including border security, expulsion of irregular migrants, and small-scale actions against Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda separatists in Cabinda. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the FAA and the national police, and the government has mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. The security forces generally were effective, although sometimes brutal, at maintaining stability. The national police and FAA have internal mechanisms to investigate security force abuses, and the government provided some training to reform the security forces. Impunity for security force abuses remained a problem, however. Local population generally welcomed police presence in neighborhoods and on streets as enhancing general safety and security. Police officers, however, were believed routinely to extort civilians to supplement their income. Corruption and impunity remained serious problems. The national police handled most complaints internally through opaque disciplinary procedures, which sometimes led to formal punishment including dismissal. The national police participated in a television series designed to show a gamut of interactions between police and civilians. The goal of the show was to encourage the population to collaborate with police while discouraging security force members' procurement of bribes or their payment. The PGR has an anticorruption unit, charged with oversight of police wrongdoing. The government disclosed publicly the results of some investigations that led to disciplinary action. On September 17, authorities terminated two police officers for extorting money from drivers during traffic stops, according to a press report. On September 13, the government announced the deployment of 400 newly trained police officers as part of an effort to eliminate corruption from the police force. Police participated in professional training with law enforcement officials from several countries in the region. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees In December 2015 a new law on pretrial procedures (Law 25/15) entered into force. The law requires a magistrate or judge to issue a warrant before an arrest may be made, although a person caught committing an offense may be arrested immediately without a warrant. Authorities, however, did not always procure warrants before making an arrest. By law the public prosecutor must inform the detainee of the legal basis for his or her detention within 48 hours; however, NGO sources reported authorities often did not respect this requirement. If the public prosecutor is unable to determine whether there is a legal basis for the detention within 48 hours, the prosecutor has the authority to release the person or, depending on the seriousness of the case, require the person to submit to one or more pretrial procedures prescribed by law such as posting bail, periodic appearance before authorities, or house arrest. If the public prosecutor determines a legal basis exists for the detention, a person can be held in pretrial detention for up to four months without charge and up to 12 months before a judge is required to rule on the case. Cases of special complexity regarding crimes punishable by eight or more years allow for pretrial detention without charge for up to six months and up to 14 months before a judge is required to rule on the case. Under the law, the period of pretrial detention counts toward the total amount of time served. The law states that all detainees have the right to a lawyer, either chosen by them or appointed by the government on a pro-bono basis. The lack of lawyers in certain provinces at times impeded this right. On September 24, the head of the Angolan Bar Association (ABA) stated there were 1,700 lawyers in the country, an insufficient number to handle the volume of criminal cases, and the geographical distribution of lawyers throughout the country was a problem, as most lawyers were concentrated in Luanda. In 2015 the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights reported that all municipal courts were staffed with licensed lawyers, but at the same time recognized access to a lawyer, especially in the provinces and in rural areas, remained a problem. Several lawyers and NGOs noted that even in Luanda most poor defendants do not have access to lawyers during their first appearance before a judicial authority or during their trial. The law allows family members prompt access to detainees, but prison officials occasionally ignored this right or made it conditional upon payment of a bribe. The law requires detainees be held incommunicado for up to 48 hours until being presented to a public prosecutor, except they may communicate with their lawyer or a family member. A functioning but ineffective bail system, widely used for minor crimes, existed. Prisoners and their families reported that prison officials demanded bribes to release prisoners. Arbitrary Arrest: Unlawful arrest and detention remained serious problems. According to the PGR, allegations of government wrongdoing on arrest practices made by local and international NGOs were due to a lack of understanding of national laws. Pretrial Detention: Excessively long pretrial detention continued to be a serious problem. An inadequate number of judges and poor communication among authorities contributed to the problem. In some cases, authorities held inmates in prison for up to two years before their trials began. The Ministry of Interior reported during the year that 11,000 inmates were pretrial detainees, approximately 45 percent of the total inmate population. The government often did not release detainees confined beyond the legal time limit, claiming previous releases of pretrial detainees had resulted in an increase in crime. Detainees' Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: The constitution provides the right of habeas corpus to citizens to challenge their detention before a court. On June 29, the Supreme Court granted the group of activists known as the "15+2" a writ of habeas corpus, ruling that following their March conviction and sentencing to between two and eight years in prison by the Luanda Provincial Court the appeal lodged by their lawyers had a suspensive effect and required their release pending the outcome of their appeal. Judge Domingos Januario, the judge of first instance for the Luanda Provincial Court, was later accused of concealing the activists' petition for habeas corpus from the Supreme Court. The attorney general launched an investigation of the judge's handling of the case, which remained ongoing as of September. The case against the "15+2" began in June 2015 in Luanda, when 15 activists were arrested by security forces during a book discussion. In September 2015, after 102 days of pretrial detention, they and two other individuals were charged with engaging in "preparatory acts to incite rebellion and for planning the overthrow of the president and other institutions of the state." The activists are collectively referred to as the "15+2." The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the PGR claimed the legal process to detain and charge the activists had been conducted within the law. Amnesty: On July 20, the National Assembly passed the Amnesty Law (11/16), providing a general amnesty to criminals convicted prior to November 11, 2015, of nonviolent crimes whose sentences were 12 or fewer years in prison. Government representatives stated that the law, proposed by the president in honor of the country's fortieth anniversary of independence in 2015, was also intended to ease overcrowding in prisons. As of September 23, more than 2,500 prisoners were released under the new law. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The constitution and law provide for an independent and impartial judiciary. Institutional weaknesses in the judicial system, however, such as political influence in the decision-making process, were problems. The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the PGR worked to improve the independence of prosecutors and judges. The National Institute for Judicial Studies conducted capacity-building programs on the importance of an independent judicial system. There were long trial delays at the Supreme Court. Criminal courts also had a large backlog of cases, which resulted in major delays in hearings. There were only 22 municipal courts for 163 municipalities. To increase access to justice, the PGR in 2014 established offices of legal counsel in most municipalities. Informal courts remained the principal institutions through which citizens resolved civil conflicts in rural areas, such as disputes over a bartering deal. Each community in which informal courts were located established local rules, creating disparities in how similar cases were resolved from one community to the next. Traditional leaders (known as "sobas") also heard and decided local civil cases. Sobas do not have the authority to resolve criminal cases; only courts can hear criminal cases. Both the national police and the FAA have internal court systems that generally remained closed to outside scrutiny. Although members of these organizations can be tried under their internal regulations, cases that include violations of criminal or civil laws can also fall under the jurisdiction of provincial courts. Both the PGR and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights have civilian oversight responsibilities over military courts. In November 2015 the judge presiding over the case of the "15+2" activists charged with "preparatory acts to incite rebellion and for planning the overthrow of the president and other institutions of the state" ordered closure of the public trial to independent observers such as members of the diplomatic corps and local NGOs due to the high level of interest in the proceedings and space constraints. Attendance by the public was limited to two family members per defendant. He made special accommodations for reporters to follow the trial in a separate room via closed circuit television. Independent observers were present in other high-profile and sensitive trials such as the 2015 libel and defamation case of Rafael Marques and the 2015 rebellion case against Marcos Mavungo. Trial Procedures Although the law provides all citizens the right to a fair trial, authorities did not always respect this right. Defendants enjoy the right to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Authorities must inform defendants of the charges levied against them in detail within 48 hours of their detention. Defendants have the right to free language interpretation during all legal proceedings from the moment charged through all appeals. By law trials are usually public, although each court has the right to close proceedings. Defendants have the right to be present and consult with an attorney, either chosen by them or appointed by the state, in a timely manner. According to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, all public defenders are licensed lawyers. Defendants do not have the right to confront their accusers. They may question witnesses against them and present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Defendants have the right to sufficient time and facilities to prepare a defense. The law protects defendants from providing self-incriminating testimony. Individuals have the right to appeal their convictions. Authorities did not always respect these trial procedure rights. Defendants and their attorneys have the right to access government-held evidence relevant to their cases, but authorities did not always uphold this right. For example, in March 2015 political activist Marcos Mavungo was arrested on suspicion of plotting an act of violence against the provincial government of Cabinda. In September 2015, more than 200 days after his arrest, Mavungo was convicted of charges of rebellion against the state and sentenced to six years in prison. His lawyers complained publicly they did not have access to the evidence the government claimed it had to prove guilt; however, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the PGR stated that Mavungo's case was conducted within appropriate parameters for a case involving national security and that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the crime. Mavungo appealed his sentence. On May 20, the Supreme Court ruled in his favor, acquitting the activist of the charge of rebellion against the state. The Supreme Court cited in its ruling a lack of sufficient evidence to uphold the charge. A separate juvenile court is designated for children's affairs. The juvenile court hears cases of minors between the ages of 12 and 16 accused of committing a criminal offense. Minors over age 16 accused of committing a criminal offense are tried in regular courts. In many rural municipalities, there is no provision for juvenile courts, so offenders as young as 12 can be tried as adults. In many cases traditional leaders have state authority to resolve disputes and determine punishments for civil offenses, including offenses committed by juveniles. Traditional authorities are defined in the constitution as ad hoc units of the state. The president appoints Supreme Court justices for life terms without confirmation by the National Assembly. The Supreme Court generally hears cases concerning alleged political and security crimes. Political Prisoners and Detainees The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights denied there were political prisoners in the country. Opposition political parties, however, often claimed their members were detained because of their political affiliations. Media reports of opposition parties' members being harassed and detained for up to 48 hours were common but difficult to confirm. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Damages for human rights violations may be sought in municipal or provincial courts and appealed to the Supreme Court. Property Restitution The constitution recognizes the right to housing and quality of life, and the law states that persons relocated should receive fair compensation. Under the constitution all untitled land belongs to the state. Throughout the year the government used eminent domain laws to raze housing settlements and other buildings to carry out urban redevelopment projects. According to NGO sources and multiple press reports, security forces demolished hundreds of allegedly illegal, privately built homes in Zango, a suburban Luanda zone that falls within the restrictive perimeter of the Luanda-Bengo Economic zone. These demolitions reportedly displaced thousands of persons and resulted in several deaths during the year. In addition to the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy in August (section 1.a.), the demolitions resulted in the accidental decapitation of an infant in April and the deaths of two individuals with medical conditions in August. Some persons forced to move did not receive fair compensation, at times due to lack of clear title or permits for the destroyed property. Relocated persons who received new housing units often complained their units were located far from their jobs or places of business, or were of substandard quality. There was no new information on the status of a 2015 investigation into reports security forces harassed activists working for SOS Habitat, an NGO dealing with land rights. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution and law prohibit such actions, but the government did not always respect these prohibitions. Civil organizations and politically active individuals, including government critics, members of opposition parties, and journalists, complained the government maintained surveillance of their activities and membership. These groups also frequently complained of threats and harassment based on their affiliations with groups that were purportedly or explicitly antigovernment. On July 29, Monica Almeida, the wife of "15+2" activist Luaty Beirao, was stopped by two police vehicles while driving in Luanda. Almeida alleged that police blocked her cell phone to prevent her from calling for help and ordered her to drive with the police vehicles for three hours as they proceeded aimlessly around the city, according to press reports. The police responsible later claimed they had mistaken Almeida for a suspected criminal and announced an investigation into the incident. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press; however, state dominance of most media outlets and self-censorship by journalists limited the practical application of these rights. Most private media organizations were located in the capital. Freedom of Speech and Expression: Individuals reported practicing self-censorship but generally were able to criticize government policies without fear of direct reprisal. Social media was widely used in the larger cities and provided an open forum for discussion. There are no laws restricting the use or content of social media. Press and Media Freedoms: Private radio and print media criticized the government openly and harshly. Authorities occasionally threatened journalists and publishers with harassment and arrest for covering sensitive stories. Journalists routinely complained of lack of transparency and communication from government press offices and other government officials. This often led to one-sided reporting, with opposition and civil society figures frequently voicing their opinions in privately owned media outlets while government officials kept silent even on noncontroversial issues. During the year, the government created a senior-level department to coordinate government communication with the media and established the practice of weekly briefings during which journalists could question a government minister. The briefings were broadcast on television and radio. Official news outlets, including Angolan Public Television, Radio Nacional, and the Jornal de Angola newspaper, favored the ruling party and gave only limited coverage to opposition political parties. Opposition parties received only limited coverage of their legislative participation in the National Assembly. During the year, however, official news outlets made a noticeable effort to include opposition party members and other commentators in nationally televised debates on issues such as politics, the rule of law, and the economy. Violence and Harassment: Authorities arrested, harassed, and intimidated journalists. For example, on August 30, security forces stopped a team of journalists from the newspaper Novo Jornal driving within the Zango demolition site (section 1.e.), according to an article published in the newspaper September 2. Security force members allegedly searched the journalists' vehicle and confiscated their belongings. They then allegedly transported the journalists in a military vehicle and threatened to beat and try them in court. One journalist allegedly was beaten. The security force members released the journalists after six hours and returned their belongings, with the exception of a video camera and 20,000 kwanza ($118). Censorship or Content Restrictions: Journalists practiced self-censorship. Security force members at times did not allow journalists to digitally record police violence against civilians. For example, on May 24, journalist and foreign news service stringer Coque Mukuta was beaten and detained by local police outside of Luanda, after witnessing an altercation between street vendors (zungeiras), police, and Criminal Investigation Service agents and trying to interview one of the street vendors involved in the incident. Mukuta alleged that police forced him into a police vehicle, beat him, confiscated his possessions, and detained him for 12 hours. Mukuta filed a formal complaint against the policeman who beat him. The minister of social communication, spokesperson of the presidency, and the national director of information maintained significant decision-making authority over the media. It was commonly understood these individuals actively vetted news stories in the state-controlled print, television, and radio media and exercised considerable authority over some privately owned outlets. State-controlled media and private media outlets owned by those close to the government rarely published or broadcast stories critical of the ruling party, government officials, or government policies. Libel/Slander Laws: Defamation is a crime punishable by imprisonment or a fine, and unlike in most cases in which defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty (see section 1.e.), defendants in defamation cases have the burden of proving their innocence by providing evidence of the validity of the allegedly damaging material. Several journalists in print media, radio, and political blogs faced libel and defamation lawsuits. Journalists complained the government used libel laws to limit their ability to report on corruption and nepotistic practices. According to the PGR, some journalists abused their positions and published inaccurate stories about government officials without verifying the facts or providing the accused the right of reply. In May 2015, a judge found journalist and human rights activist Rafael Marques guilty of criminal libel and gave him a six-month suspended sentence, which could be reinstated at any point up to two years from the date of sentencing if Marques committed another crime. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal oversight. According to the International Telecommunication Union, in 2015 approximately 12 percent of residents had access to the internet. In 2014 the government started the program Angola On-line, a free Wi-Fi service. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly The constitution and law provide for the right of assembly, but the government regularly restricted this right. The law requires written notification to the local administrator and police three days before public assemblies are to be held. For public assemblies during a workday, the law requires the events to start after 7 p.m. The law, however, does not require government permission for such events. The government at times prohibited events based on perceived or claimed security considerations. Police and administrators did not interfere with progovernment gatherings. Nonpartisan groups intending to criticize the government or government leaders, however, often met a heavy police presence and government excuses preventing them from holding the event. Usually authorities claimed the timing or venue requested was problematic or that the proper authorities had not received notification. According to press reports and NGO sources, on July 23, police detained 35 members of the protest movement "Revolutionary Movement" or "Revus" in Benguela as they traveled to a demonstration to protest the rising price of food in the province. The governor of Benguela denied the request to organize the protest, but the organizers decided to proceed, and police set up checkpoints on main roads to intercept and detain protesters. Police released the protesters the same day. The government at times arbitrarily restricted the activities of associations it considered subversive by refusing to grant permits for organized activities. Opposition parties generally were permitted to organize and hold meetings; nevertheless, opposition officials continued to report obstructions to the free exercise of their parties' right to meet. Freedom of Association The constitution and law provide for the right of association, but the government did not always respect this right (see also section 7.a.). Extensive delays in the NGO registration process continued to be a problem. NGOs that had not yet received registration were nevertheless allowed to operate. The government published a new NGO regulation in March 2015 that civil society criticized as potentially restrictive and intrusive. For example, the new regulation requires NGOs to obtain approval from the government before the implementation of any project, imposes local authorities as the supervisors of NGO projects within their municipalities, and requires frequent financial reports of NGO activities to the government. The government stated this regulation is part of its strategy to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation; however, the government at times restricted these rights. Abuse of Migrants, Refugees, and Stateless Persons: The government sometimes cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration, and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, or other persons of concern. UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Francois Crepeau, visited the country at the invitation of the government from May 3-10. Crepeau's report, issued subsequent to his visit, criticized the government for its lack of adequate protections for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants and cited government failure to implement key elements of the 2015 Asylum Law, which had the effect of impeding refugee and asylum seekers' access to basic services and documents such as birth certificates for children of foreign-born parents. Several NGOs that work with refugee populations also cited security force harassment of the refugee and asylum seeker community. In diamond-rich Lunda Norte Province, NGOs and the media reported several acts of violence and degrading treatment, including rape and sexual abuse of Congolese migrants. In response to the allegations of sexual violence, President dos Santos created a commission that included UN representatives to improve the situation around the borders. The commission performed regular verification missions to assess progress at the border crossing points. In-country Movement: Police maintained roadside checkpoints throughout the country. Reports by local NGOs suggested some police officers extorted money from civilians at checkpoints and during regular traffic stops. Reports from the diamond mining provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul indicated some government agents restricted the movements of local communities. In 2013 the Angolan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) governments agreed on a special laissez-passer program for their nationals that allows for increased legal movement of persons and products between Lunda Norte and the DRC province then known as Katanga. Emigration and Repatriation: In 2012 UNHCR and regional governments agreed to a cessation of prima facie refugee status for Angolans on the grounds that asylum and protection for most Angolans was no longer required. On September 30, the Ministry of Assistance and Social Integration stated the government would no longer acknowledge refugee status for citizens living outside of the country, citing the completion of its voluntary repatriation program, which allowed 525,871 citizens to return between 2003 and 2015. During the year Angolan former refugees returned spontaneously from Zambia and the DRC. Protection of Refugees The government did not provide adequate protection to refugees and asylum seekers. Access to Asylum: The Asylum Law provides specific procedures for the submission of an asylum application and guidance on the determination of asylum and refugee cases. UNHCR and several NGOs reported that the law did not function in practice during the year and asylum seekers and refugees did not have a mechanism to apply for or resolve their status. The law changed the role of the Committee for the Recognition of the Right to Asylum (COREDA), the former implementing mechanism to identify, verify, and legalize asylum seekers, to that of an advisory board; however, by September the government had not put into practice an alternative mechanism to adjudicate asylum and refugee cases in COREDA's place. The law also established the creation of reception centers for refugees and asylum seekers where they are supposed to receive assistance until the government makes a decision on their cases. There were three reception centers. Employment: Formal restrictions on a refugee's ability to seek employment existed. Regulation 273/13 restricted refugees from obtaining the mandatory business license, "Alvara commercial," required to own and operate a business. Refugees often faced difficulty obtaining employment due inability to obtain legal documents required to work in the formal sector. These difficulties were compounded by a general lack of acceptance of the refugee card and lack of knowledge about the rights it was intended to safeguard. Access to Basic Services: Persons with recognized refugee status could at times obtain public services; however, UNHCR, NGOs, and refugees reported that refugees were unable to obtain legal documents following passage of the Asylum Law and at times faced difficulty accessing public services such as health care and education. Corruption by officials compounded these difficulties. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and law provide citizens the ability to choose their government through free and fair periodic elections based on universal and equal suffrage and conducted by secret ballot guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the people. Citizens exercised this ability at the national level, but did not have that ability at the provincial or municipal levels. According to the 2010 constitution, presidential and legislative elections should be held every five years. In 2012 citizens elected legislative representatives and the president. The constitution calls for the first-ever local elections; however, the right to elect local leaders remained restricted, and local elections did not occur. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In 2012 the government held legislative elections and the country's first postwar presidential election. The ruling MPLA won 71.8 percent of the vote in the legislative elections. Domestic and international observers reported polling throughout the country was peaceful and generally credible, although the ruling party enjoyed advantages due to state control of major media and other resources. Opposition parties contested aspects of the electoral process and the results but accepted their seats in the National Assembly. In 2012 the constitutional court rejected opposition appeals and certified the election results as free and fair. The central government appoints the provincial governors, and the constitution does not specify a timeline for implementing municipal-level elections. By year's end, government and ruling party officials had not announced a target date for the municipal elections postponed in 2015. Opposition parties and some members of civil society were dissatisfied with the slow pace and claimed the ruling party lacked the political will to organize municipal elections. Political Parties and Political Participation: The ruling MPLA party dominated all political institutions. Political power was concentrated in the presidency and the Council of Ministers, through which the president exercised executive power. The council can enact laws, decrees, and resolutions, assuming most functions normally associated with the legislative branch. The National Assembly consists of 220 deputies elected under a party list proportional representation system. This body has the authority to draft, debate, and pass legislation, but the executive branch often proposed and drafted legislation for the assembly's approval. After the 2012 legislative elections, opposition deputies held 20 percent of parliamentary seats, up from 13 percent in 2008. Political parties must be represented in all 18 provinces, but only the MPLA, UNITA, and the Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola, to a lesser extent, had truly national constituencies. By law no political party could limit party membership based on ethnicity, race, or gender. Several altercations between MPLA and opposition parties' supporters reportedly occurred during the year. On May 25, a delegation comprising UNITA parliamentarians and local party representatives was attacked in Benguela Province, allegedly by MPLA supporters and local residents, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including two MPLA supporters and one UNITA supporter. UNITA initiated a parliamentary inquiry into the incident. The Ministry of the Interior referred the case to the PGR, which launched an investigation. On July 1-2, a UNITA party office in the Ramiros neighborhood of Luanda was vandalized and the party flag burned. UNITA party officials and several press reports alleged the vandals responsible were MPLA supporters. On July 1, President dos Santos publicly called on political parties, citizens, and associations to avoid engaging in political intolerance and report incidents of intolerance to appropriate authorities. Opposition politicians alleged a lack of interest by the national police, especially in the provinces, to investigate alleged violence against opposition political parties. The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights stated many of the complaints by opposition parties were under investigation. Participation of Women and Minorities: There are no laws limiting the participation of women and minorities in the political process and women and minorities did participate. Of the 220 deputies in the national assembly, 79 were women. Two women served as governors (out of 18 nationwide), and five women were cabinet ministers (out of 35). The country has multiple linguistic groups, many of which were represented in government. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government Although the law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, the government did not implement these laws effectively, and local and international NGOs and media sources reported officials engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Corruption: Government corruption at all levels was widespread, and accountability was limited due to a lack of checks and balances, lack of institutional capacity, and a culture of impunity, although there were some institutions working to improve transparency and accountability within the government. The judiciary was subject to political influence and conflict of interest. Public prosecutions of corruption cases were rare. On March 1, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Global Fund, an international organization focused on fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, published the findings from a corruption investigation related to a 2013 malaria grant to the government. The OIG reported that senior Ministry of Health officials committed fraud and collusion by diverting several million dollars of Global Fund grant money into their own private investments. The Ministry of Health required that the officials repay the funds, which the Global Fund reported were later repaid, and referred the case for prosecution. There was no public information on the status of the case at year's end. The Ministry of Finance published the national budget including information on national expenditures and debt obligations, on its website. Accountability of public funds expenditure, however, remained poor. During the year the Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund collaborated on financial transparency initiatives. In June 2015 the National Assembly passed the Mutual Legal Assistance Law, which allows government agencies and private companies to share information with international law enforcement agencies to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In 2012 the government decided to pursue structural anti-money-laundering (AML) reforms. In support of this strategy, the country joined the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) established by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental "policy-making" body responsible for setting standards and implementing necessary measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The government worked with ICRG as well as the regional FATF group to which it belongs, the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), to conform its laws, regulations, and organizations to FATF's recommendations, and adopted a mutual evaluation report (MER) on antimoney laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) deficiencies to be addressed. For its efforts in addressing these deficiencies, the country was removed from the FATF/ICRG gray list in February, with the goal to continue working with the ESAAMLG to address the full range of AML/CFT deficiencies. In August, however, the ESAAMLG Task Force of Senior Officials reported the country had not made significant progress and had failed to implement the MER recommendations since August 2015. While the National Bank of Angola (BNA) announced a series of actions to implement stronger AML/CFT measures, many local and international financial sector commentators noted that the BNA lacked sufficient oversight on AML/CFT issues. Experts point to the persistent lack of coordination across the country's financial and law enforcement agencies on identifying and ultimately prosecuting financial sector crimes. Despite the ESAAMLG's recommendation to the government to increase the role, independence, and visibility of the country's five-year-old Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the FIU largely continued to operate in the shadow of the BNA and relied on the BNA for its budget. The Anti-Corruption Group, formed in 2013 and chaired by the Ministry of Justice, met infrequently and did not make public its findings during the year. As in previous years there were credible reports government officials used their political positions to profit from business deals. The business environment continued to favor those connected to the government, including members of the president's family. Government ministers and other high-level officials commonly and openly owned interests in public and private companies regulated by, or doing business with, their respective ministries. There are laws and regulations regarding conflict of interest, but they were not enforced. Petty corruption among police, teachers, and other government employees was widespread. Police extorted money from citizens and refugees, and prison officials extorted money from family members of inmates. Financial Disclosure: The law on public probity requires senior government officials to declare their assets to the attorney general. According to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the financial information of government officials was provided to the appropriate government office. The law treats these reports as confidential. The president, vice president, and president of the National Assembly are exempt from these public probity requirements. Nonexempt government officials are to make a new declaration within 30 days of assuming a new post and every two years thereafter. The law does not stipulate a new declaration be made upon leaving office but states that officials must return all government property within 60 days. Penalties for noncompliance vary depending on which section of the law was violated but include removal from office, a bar from government employment for three to five years, a ban on contracting with the government for three years, repayment of the illicitly gained assets, and a fine of up to 100 times the value of the accepted bribe. The National Office of Economic Police is responsible for investigating violations of this law, as well as other financial and economic crimes, and then referring them to the Financial Court for prosecution. There were no known cases related to this law during the year. Transparency problems remained in the diamond industry, particularly regarding allocations of exploration, production, and purchasing rights. Public Access to Information: The law provides for public access to government information. While the amount of information posted on government websites gradually increased, it remained limited. Laws are made public by being published in the official gazette. The gazette can be purchased for a small fee but was not available online in its entirety. In general the government was not responsive to routine requests for information, and it was sometimes unclear what information the government considered public versus private. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A variety of domestic and international human rights groups operated throughout the country. Some of those investigating government corruption and human rights abuses alleged government interference in their activities. Civil society organizations faced difficulties in contacting detainees, and prison authorities undermined civil society work in the prisons. The Law of Associations requires NGOs to specify their mandate and areas of activity. The government used this provision to prevent or discourage established NGOs from engaging in certain activities, especially those that the government deemed politically sensitive. In March 2015 a presidential decree meant to regulate NGO operations formalized many of the unenforced requirements of the Law of Associations and restructured the government agency in charge of implementing the law. NGOs cited concern regarding new reporting requirements concerning their activities, financial accounts, and foreign and domestic employees. They also expressed concern about the burden of proving to the government that their activities have a tangible "public benefit." NGOs doing work on political rights and human rights defenders argued the new regulation, and particularly the "public benefit" clause, is specifically meant to limit their work. The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights stated the new regulation was necessary to comply with international financial transparency and anti-money-laundering standards, and that the regulation was not meant to restrict NGO activities. Even before the new regulation, the government allowed local NGOs to carry out human rights-related work, but many NGOs reported they were forced to limit the scope of their work because they faced problems registering, were subject to subtle forms of intimidation, and risked more serious forms of harassment and closure. Unlike in previous years, there were no reports that the government arrested and harassed NGO workers. Government Human Rights Bodies: The state-funded Inter-Ministerial Commission for the Writing of Human Rights Reports includes only representatives from various government ministries. Leading civil society members decided not to participate on the commission because they did not believe it was independent or effective. The 10th Commission on Human Rights of the National Assembly is charged with investigating citizen complaints of alleged human rights violations and makes recommendations to the National Assembly. An independent Office of the Ombudsman existed to mediate between an aggrieved public, including prisoners, and an offending public office or institution. The office had no decision-making or adjudicative powers but it helped citizens obtain access to justice and advised government entities on citizen rights. The office also published reports and educated the public about human rights and the role of the ombudsman. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal and punishable by up to eight years' imprisonment. Limited investigative resources, poor forensic capabilities, and an ineffective judicial system prevented prosecution of most cases. The government continued a public media campaign highlighting violence against women. The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights worked with the Ministry of Interior to increase the number of female police officers and to improve police response to rape allegations. On July 26, the newspaper O Pais reported, citing statistics from a Luanda hospital, there were 574 reported cases of sexual violence during the first six months of the year at that hospital alone, as compared with 419 cases reported by the Ministries of Family and Protection of Women, Interior, and Social Assistance and Reintegration in 2015. The ministry reported 25,414 incidents of domestic violence in 2015, an increase of 57 percent from 2014. The Zero Tolerance for Gender and Sexual Based Violence campaign continued. The campaign increased awareness of sexual violence and encouraged women to file police reports. The law criminalizes domestic violence and penalizes offenders with prison sentences and fines depending on the severity of their crime. In 2015 the government reported it had 27 domestic violence counseling centers, seven other shelters, and various treatment centers throughout the country. It called for more studies into the causes of domestic violence as well as more shelters to help victims. The ministry maintained a program with the Angolan Bar Association to give free legal assistance to abused women and established counseling centers to help families cope with domestic abuse. Statistics on prosecutions for violence against women were not available. The Organization of Angolan Women (OMA), a political association affiliated with the ruling MPLA, held a series of seminars across the country to increase awareness of the dangers of domestic violence. Other Harmful Traditional Practices: During the year sporadic news reports of children being accused of witchcraft were published. The National Institute for Religious Affairs acknowledged that belief in, and accusations of, witchcraft continued, particularly in Zaire and Uige provinces, but stated that cases of abusive practices diminished significantly due to campaigns and government directives aimed at reducing indigenous religious practices such as shamanism, animal sacrifices, and witchcraft. There were anecdotal reports of women and children being abused by their communities because of accusations they practiced witchcraft. The Ministry of Culture and the National Institute for Children (INAC) had educational initiatives and emergency programs to assist children accused of witchcraft. Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment was common and not illegal. Such cases may be prosecuted under assault and battery and defamation statutes, but no prosecutions were reported during the year. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of their children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. According to the UN Population Division, 12 percent of married women used a modern method of contraception. In 2015 the government issued its first-ever national family planning strategy. According to the UN Population Fund's "Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 2015", the maternal mortality ratio in 2015 was 477 deaths per 100,000 live births. High maternal mortality was likely due to inadequate access to health facilities before, during, and after giving birth, lack of skilled obstetric care, and early pregnancy. According to UN sources, 55 percent of women were 18 or younger when they gave birth to their first child. There were no legal barriers that limit access to reproductive health services, but some cultural views, such as the responsibility of women to have children, and religious objections to using contraception, limited access. Comprehensive information on government provisions for reproductive health services or diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, improved with the assistance of international partners. Discrimination: Under the constitution and law, women enjoy the same rights and legal status as men, but societal discrimination against women remained a problem, particularly in rural areas (see section 7.d.). There were no effective mechanisms to enforce child support laws, and women generally bore the major responsibility for raising children. There were no known cases of official or private sector discrimination in employment or occupation, credit, pay, owning and/or managing a business, or housing. Gender discrimination was more prevalent in terms of household responsibilities than in access to goods or services. The law provides for equal pay for equal work (see section 7.d.), although women generally held low-level positions. In an interministerial effort led by the Ministry of Family and Protection of Women, the government undertook multiple information campaigns on women's rights and domestic abuse and hosted national, provincial, and municipal workshops and training sessions. Children Birth Registration: Citizenship is derived by birth within the country or from one's parents. The government does not register all births immediately, and activists reported many urban and rural children remained undocumented. According to the UN Children's Fund, as of mid-2013, as many as 69 percent of children under age five did not have birth certificates. The government permitted undocumented children to attend school but only through the fourth grade. Pursuant to a 2013 plan, the government waived birth registration fees for all persons, including adults, through the end of 2016. In previous years parents could register their children under five for no fee, but parents with older children found the registration costs prohibitive. Education: Education is tuition-free and compulsory for documented children through the sixth grade, but students often faced significant additional expenses such as books or fees paid to education officials. These fees sometimes were payments to help with school operation and maintenance costs that were not covered by the national budget. At other times, however, the fees were bribes paid by families to ensure their child got a place in a classroom. When parents were unable to pay the fees, their children were often unable to attend school. Children of any age in an urban area were more likely to attend school than children in a rural area. Children in rural areas generally lacked access to secondary education and often primary level also. Children of refugees and asylum seekers reportedly experienced difficulty enrolling in school due to an inability to procure identification documents. Even in provincial capitals, there were not enough classroom spaces for all children. There were reports that parents, especially in more rural areas, were more likely to send boys to school than girls. According to UNESCO, enrollment rates were higher for boys than for girls, especially at the secondary level. Child Abuse: Child abuse was widespread. Reports of physical abuse within the family were commonplace, and local officials largely tolerated abuse. Particularly vulnerable children, such as orphans or those without access to health care or education, were more likely to be abused by their caretakers. A 2012 law significantly improved the legal framework protecting children, but problems remained in its implementation and enforcement. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal age for marriage with parental consent is 15 years. The government did not enforce this restriction effectively, and the traditional age of marriage in lower income groups coincided with the onset of puberty. In September the Ministry of Family and Protection of Women reported that four in 10 children in the country between the ages of 12 and 17 entered annually into legal or common-law marriages, citing rural areas within the provinces of Lunda Sul, Moxico, Huambo, Bie, and Malange as places where early marriage was most prevalent. Data on the rate of marriage for boys and girls under age 18 was not available Common-law marriage was widely practiced. Sexual Exploitation of Children: All forms of prostitution, including child prostitution, are illegal. Police did not actively enforce laws against prostitution, and local NGOs expressed concern over child prostitution, especially in Luanda, Benguela, and Cunene provinces. Penalties for sexual exploitation of children are defined in a 2014 antitrafficking law that includes protections against child pornography, prostitution, and sexual and labor abuse. The law does not prohibit the use, procurement, offering, and financial benefit of a child for the production of pornography and pornographic performances. The law does not criminally prohibit the distribution and possession of child pornography. Sexual relations between an adult and a child under the age of 12 are considered rape and carry a potential legal penalty of eight to 12 years' imprisonment. Sexual relations with a child between the ages of 12 and 17 is considered sexual abuse, and convicted offenders may receive sentences from two to eight years in prison. Limited investigative resources and an inadequate judicial system prevented prosecution of most cases. There were no known prosecutions during the year. The legal age for consensual sex is 18 years. A 2012 law codified the "11 Commitments to Children" campaign. The law defines priorities and coordinates the government's policies to combat all forms of abuse against children, including unlawful child labor, trafficking, and sexual exploitation. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism There is a Jewish community of approximately 350 persons, primarily expatriate Israelis. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities, including persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities, in employment (see also section 7.d.), education, and access to health care and the judicial system or other state services, but the government did not effectively enforce these prohibitions. The constitution grants persons with disabilities full rights without restriction and calls on the government to adopt national policies to prevent, treat, rehabilitate, and integrate persons with disabilities to support their families; remove obstacles to their mobility; educate society about disability; and encourage special learning and training opportunities for persons with disabilities. It does not specifically mention the rights of persons with disabilities with regard to transportation, including air travel. Persons with disabilities included more than 80,000 victims of land mines and other explosive remnants of war. The NGO Handicap International estimated that as many as 500,000 persons had disabilities. Because of limited government resources and uneven availability, only 30 percent of such persons were able to take advantage of state-provided services such as physical rehabilitation, schooling, training, or counseling. The National Council for Persons with Disabilities is responsible for verifying that all such persons are protected from discrimination and have access to the same rights and privileges as citizens without disabilities. Persons with disabilities, nevertheless, found it difficult to access public or private facilities, and it was difficult for such persons to find employment or participate in the education system (see also section 7.d.). Women with disabilities were reported to be vulnerable to sexual abuse and abandonment when pregnant. The antitrafficking law specifically punishes sexual abuse of vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Assistance and Social Reintegration sought to address problems facing persons with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities, and several government entities supported programs to assist individuals disabled by landmine incidents. During the 2012 election, the government provided voting assistance to persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities were allowed to select someone of their own choosing to accompany them into the voting booth to fill out the ballot and were allowed to move ahead of others waiting in line to vote. Indigenous People An estimated 14,000 San persons lived in small dispersed communities in Huila, Cunene, and Cuando Cubango provinces. The San are traditional hunter-gatherers who are linguistically and ethnically distinct from the majority of the population. The constitution does not make specific reference to the rights of indigenous persons, and the San lacked adequate access to basic government services, including medical care, education, and identification cards, according to a credible NGO. The government reportedly permitted businesses and well-connected elites to take traditional land from the San. During the year NGO sources reported that security guards killed several San individuals who were allegedly hunting on lands that the San had traditionally occupied, but were now occupied by the government or businesses. Many San reportedly turned to begging because other options were not available. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination but does not specifically address sexual orientation or gender identity. According to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the law does not criminalize sexual relations between persons of the same sex. Sections of the 1886 penal code could be viewed as criminalizing homosexual activity, but they are no longer used by the judicial system. The constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman, however. Local and international NGOs reported that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals faced discrimination and harassment, but reports of violence against the LGBTI community based on sexual orientation were rare. The government, through its health agencies, instituted a series of initiatives to decrease discrimination against LGBTI individuals. For example, the National Institute to Fight HIV/AIDS worked with local NGOs and LGBTI activists to promote antidiscriminatory practices by health practitioners and communities across the country. Discrimination against LGBTI individuals often went unreported. LGBTI individuals asserted that sometimes police refused to register their grievances. In 2014 a group of LGBTI individuals formed the first openly gay association in civil society. The association was created to help LGBTI youth facing harassment or social alienation. During the year the association partnered with the Ministry of Health and the National Institute to Fight HIV/AIDS to improve access to health services and sexual education for the LGBTI community. HIV and AIDS Social Stigma Discrimination against those with HIV/AIDS is illegal, but lack of enforcement allowed employers to discriminate against persons with the condition or disease. There were no news reports of violence against persons with HIV/AIDS. Reports from local and international health NGOs suggested discrimination against individuals with HIV/AIDS was common. The government's National Institute to Fight HIV/AIDS includes sensitivity and antidiscrimination training for its employees when they are testing and counseling HIV patients. Local NGOs worked with the government to combat stigmatization and discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides for the right of workers, except members of the armed forces and police, to form and join independent unions. To establish a trade union, at least 30 percent of workers in an economic sector in a province must follow a registration process and obtain authorization from government officials. The law provides for the right to collective bargaining except in the civil service. The law prohibits strikes by members of the armed forces, police, prosecutors and magistrates of the PGR, prison staff, fire fighters, public sector employees providing "essential services," and oil workers. While the law allows unions to conduct their activities without government interference, it also places some restrictions on their ability to strike. Before engaging in a strike, workers must make a good-faith effort to negotiate their grievances with their employer. Should they fail to negotiate the government can deny the right to strike. The government may intervene in labor disputes that affect national security and energy sectors. Essential services are broadly defined, including the transport sector, communications, waste management and treatment, and fuel distribution. In exceptional circumstances involving national interests, authorities have the power to requisition workers in the essential services sector. Collective labor disputes are to be settled through compulsory arbitration by the Ministry of Public Administration, Employment, and Social Security. The law does not prohibit employer retribution against strikers, and it permits the government to force workers back to work for "breaches of worker discipline" or participation in unauthorized strikes. Nonetheless, the law prohibits antiunion discrimination and stipulates that worker complaints should be adjudicated in the labor court. By law employers are required to reinstate workers who have been dismissed for union activities. There were no known cases of retribution against strikers during the year. The government generally did not effectively enforce applicable laws. The Ministry of Public Administration, Employment, and Social Security had a hotline for workers who believed their rights had been violated, and the leader of the Confederation of Free and Independent Labor Unions of Angola, an independent labor confederation, stated in 2014 that the labor courts functioned, albeit slowly. Enforcement efforts were hampered by an insufficient number of adequately trained labor inspectors. In 2015 there were 187 labor inspectors for the country. Some companies were reportedly tipped off on impending labor inspections, making government efforts ineffective. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining were not generally respected. Government approval is required to form and join unions, which were hampered by membership and legalization issues. Labor unions, independent of those run by the government, worked to increase their influence, but the ruling MPLA continued to dominate the labor movement due to historical connections between the party and labor, and also the superior financial base of the country's largest labor union (which also constitutes the labor wing of the MPLA). The government is the country's largest employer, and the Ministry of Public Administration, Employment, and Social Security mandated government worker wages with no negotiation with the unions. Various worker strikes occurred in different parts of the country during the year. For example, according to press reports, on August 25, more than 2,000 employees went on strike at the port of Lobito, the country's second largest port, to demand payment of four months of salary arrears. Port authorities and the workers union reportedly resolved the strike after one week on the condition of immediate payment of one month of salary arrears followed by the remaining salary arrears two months later. On September 22, workers at the port initiated a second strike after the authorities failed to deliver on the payment of the salary arrears. Workers reportedly suspended the strike on September 28 after a new plan to pay their salary arrears was implemented. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. The government did not effectively enforce the law due in part to an insufficient number of inspectors. Penalties for violations are the same as those for trafficking in persons, ranging from eight to 12 years in prison, and may be insufficient to deter violations. Forced labor occurred among men and women in agriculture, construction, domestic service, and artisanal diamond-mining sectors, particularly in Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul provinces. Migrant workers were subject to seizure of passports, threats, denial of food, and confinement. The government continued to make use of a training video for law enforcement and immigration officials that included a short segment on how to identify victims of trafficking, although this was not the sole objective of the film. INAC continued working to reduce the number of children traveling to agricultural areas in the country's southern regions to work on farms, mostly through community outreach about the importance of an education. Forced child labor also occurred. See also the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The law prohibits children under 14 from working. To obtain an employment contract, the law requires youth to submit evidence they are 14 years of age or older. Children could work from age 14 to 16 with parental permission or without parental consent if they are married and the work did not interfere with schooling or harm the physical, mental, and moral development of the minor. The law also allows orphan children that want to work to get official permission in the form of a letter from "an appropriate institution" but does not specify the type of institution. The Ministries of Public Administration, Employment, and Social Security; Social Assistance and Reintegration; and Interior; INAC; and the national police are the entities responsible for enforcement of child labor laws. A new interministerial commission to combat trafficking in persons was created in 2014 to coordinate enforcement actions. The commission generally effectively enforced child labor standards in the formal sector, but the government had difficulty monitoring the large informal sector, where most children worked. Inspectors are authorized to conduct surprise inspections whenever they see fit. Penalties for violations were generally sufficient to deter violations. Penalties for not signing a written contract for children ages 14 and over is a fine of two to five times the median monthly salary offered by the company. Children over age 14 who are employed as part of an apprenticeship are also required to have a written contract. The penalty for not having this contract is three to six times the average monthly salary of the company. For children found to be working in jobs categorized as hazardous (which is illegal under the law), the fines are five to 10 times the average monthly salary of the company. Nonpayment of any of these fines results in the accrual of additional fines. Child labor, especially in the informal sector, remained a problem. The Ministry of Public Administration, Employment, and Social Security had oversight of formal work sites in all 18 provinces, but it was unknown if inspectors checked on the age of workers or conditions of work sites. If the ministry determined a business was using child labor, it transferred the case to the Ministry of Interior to investigate and possibly press charges. It was not known if the government fined any businesses for using child labor. The Ministry of Public Administration, Employment, and Social Security, other government agencies, and labor unions developed a national plan to limit child labor. In June the deputy attorney general reported that authorities interdicted one bus with 20 children on board in Bie Province as the bus traveled toward Luanda Province, reportedly to supply child laborers to a farm. Authorities arrested the driver, and the case was under investigation at year's end. Generally, work done by children was in the informal sector. Children engaged in economic activities such as agricultural labor on family farms and commercial plantations particularly in orchards as well as in fishing, brick making, charcoal production, domestic labor, and street vending. Exploitive labor practices included involvement in the sale, transport, and offloading of goods in ports and across border posts. Children were reportedly forced to act as couriers in the illegal cross-border trade with Namibia. Adult criminals sometimes used children for forced criminal activity, since the justice system prohibits youths under 12 from being tried in court. There were no credible reports of the use of child labor and forced child labor in informal diamond mining. Street work among children was common, especially in the provinces of Luanda, Benguela, Huambo, Huila, and Kwanza Sul. Investigators found children working in the streets of Luanda, but many returned during the weekends to some form of dwelling in Luanda or outlying cities. Most of these children shined shoes, washed cars, carried water and other goods, or engaged in other informal labor, but some resorted to petty crime and begging. Commercial sexual exploitation of children occurred as well. The government, through INAC, worked to create, train, and strengthen child protection networks at the provincial and municipal levels in all 18 provinces. No central mechanism existed to track cases or provide statistics. In 2015, in Benguela, Lunda Sul, and Bengo provinces, local authorities uncovered 68 cases of child labor, but there were no reported prosecutions. The government also dedicated resources to the expansion of educational and livelihood opportunities for children and their families. Also see the Department of Labor's Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation The labor law prohibits discrimination in employment and occupation based on race, sex, religion, disability, or language, and the government in general effectively enforced the law in the formal sector. The constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination, although it does not specifically address political opinion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity (see section 6). The law provides for equal pay for equal work, and many women held high-level positions in state-run industries and in the private sector or worked in the informal sector. There were no known prosecutions of official or private sector gender-based discrimination in employment or occupation. Women have held and continued to hold ministerial posts. Despite the law, persons with disabilities found it difficult to gain access to public or private facilities, and it was difficult for such persons to participate in the education system and thus find employment. There were no known reports of discrimination in employment or occupation. Discrimination against migrant workers also occurred. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The minimum wage in the trade and extractive industries sectors is 22,495 kwanza ($132) per month, 18,750 kwanza ($110) in the transportation, services and manufacturing sectors, and 15,003 kwanza ($88) in the agriculture sector. The minimum wage law does not cover workers in informal sectors, such as street vendors, subsistence farmers, and domestic servants. The country had not established a poverty income level; however, the UN Development Program estimated the poverty level to be 165 kwanzas ($1) per day, or 4,950 kwanzas ($29) per month. The standard workweek is 44 hours with at least one unbroken period of 24 hours of rest per week. When employees engage in shift work or a variable weekly schedule, they may work up to 54 hours per week before the employer must pay overtime. In the formal sector, there is a prohibition on excessive compulsory overtime, defined as more than two hours a day, 40 hours a month, or 200 hours a year. The law also provides for paid annual holidays. By law employers must provide, at a minimum, a 50 percent of monthly salary bonus to employees in December and an annual vacation. Workweek standards were not enforced unless employees lodged a formal complaint with the Ministry of Public Administration, Employment, and Social Security (MAPTSS). Foreign workers with permanent legal status or a temporary work visa were protected under the labor law. MAPTSS effectively enforced the minimum wage law within the formal labor sector. An estimated 60 percent of the economy derives from the informal sector and most wage earners held second jobs or depended on the agricultural or other informal sectors to augment their incomes. Most workers in the informal sector were not covered by wage or occupational safety standards. On August 9, Presidential Decree 15/16 entered into force establishing minimum employment standards for domestic workers, including national minimum wage protection; an eight-hour work day for domestic workers living outside of their employer's home; a 10-hour work day for domestic workers living inside their employer's home; compulsory employer contributions to a domestic worker's social security protection; and maternity and holiday allowances. MAPTSS is charged with implementing and enforcing the law. The labor law guarantees a safe work environment in all sectors of the economy. Employees have the right to remove themselves from hazardous working conditions and may file a formal complaint with MAPTSS if employers insist they perform hazardous tasks. The government enforced occupational safety and health standards and investigated private company operations based on complaints made by NGOs. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Andorra Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Andorra, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a7c4.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Principality of Andorra is a constitutional parliamentary democracy. Two co-princes the president of France and the Spanish bishop of Urgell serve with joint authority as heads of state. In March 2015 the country held free and fair multiparty elections for the 28 seats in parliament (the General Council of the Valleys), which selects the head of government. Having won a majority in parliament, the Democrats for Andorra re-elected Antoni Marti Petit head of government. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The country's main human rights problem was the lack of legal protection for the constitutional rights of workers to bargain collectively or strike. The law does not protect workers from antiunion discrimination. Other problems included domestic violence, including spousal abuse and child abuse. Gender discrimination persisted, especially related to unequal salaries for comparable work. Although the law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities, discrimination existed in the form of physical, social, and cultural barriers. There were no reports that government officials or the national police committed violations. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution and law prohibit such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them. Prison and Detention Center Conditions There were no significant reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns. Physical Conditions: There were no reports of deaths in prison or in the pretrial detention center. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted visits by independent human rights observers. Improvements: As of May inmates had internet access, which allowed them to communicate with their families periodically. Inmates could also register to study online courses. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The country's only security forces are the police, prison officers, traffic police, and forestry officials. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Justice, and Interior maintained effective civilian control over the security forces, and the government has effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. There were no reports of impunity involving security forces during the year. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees The law requires warrants for arrest. Police legally may detain persons for 48 hours without a hearing, and police generally observed this time limit. The judge has up to 24 hours to charge the detainee with a crime or to release him or her. Police promptly informed detainees of charges against them. A bail system exists. The law provides detainees the right to legal counsel from the moment of arrest. Persons charged with a crime may choose their own lawyers or accept one designated by the government. Detainees generally had prompt access to family members. Detainee's Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: Persons arrested and detained are entitled to challenge in court the legal basis or arbitrary nature of their detention and to obtain prompt release and compensation if found to have been unlawfully detained. They may also seek to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Trial Procedures The constitution and law provide for the right to a fair public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. Defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence and receive prompt, detailed notification of the charges against them. The government provides an interpreter, if needed, from the moment charged through all appeals. Trials are fair and public and for the most part without delay. Defendants have the right to be present and consult in a timely manner with an attorney of their choice. If a defendant cannot afford an attorney, the government must appoint a public attorney. Defendants and their attorneys have adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense. Defendants and attorneys have access to government-held evidence in their cases. Defendants can confront or question witnesses against them and present witnesses and evidence on their behalf. Defendants cannot be compelled to testify or confess guilt, and they have the right to appeal. The law extends the above rights to all defendants. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies The judiciary is independent and impartial in all jurisdictions, including civil matters. Plaintiffs may bring lawsuits seeking damages for, or cessation of, a human rights violation. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to the ECHR. The national ombudsman also serves to protect and defend basic rights and public freedom on behalf of citizens. f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The constitution and law prohibit such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respected these rights. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of speech and press. Actions to Expand Press Freedom: In February the Barcelona hate crimes prosecutor gave the first-ever training on hate crimes and discrimination to Andorran judges, prosecutors, and attorneys. In July the Andorran prosecutor's office delivered a similar training to justice staff members. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. According to the International Telecommunication Union, 38 percent of the population had a fixed broadband subscription to the internet, and 97 percent of the population used the internet in 2015. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association The constitution and law provide for the freedoms of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights. The country has cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other international refugee relief organizations. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees, preferring to deal with them on an ad hoc basis. There is a lack of domestic legislation on asylum seekers and refugees, and in particular on measures to protect unaccompanied and refugee children. According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Justice, and Interior, no requests were received during the year. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution and the law provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: Observers considered parliamentary elections held in March 2015 to be free and fair. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit the participation of women in the political process, and they did participate. Citizens were ethnically and linguistically homogeneous but as of 2015 represented only 46 percent of the country's population. The majority of the population consisted of immigrants, largely from Spain, Portugal, and France. The law requires 15 to 20 years of residency for naturalization. Because only citizens have the right to hold official positions, there were no members of minorities in government. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively. Officials infrequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. There were no reports of government corruption during the year. Financial Disclosure: The constitution and the law do not require disclosure of income or assets by elected or appointed officials, except for the declaration of earned income to the social security agency required of all employees. The government does not publish the declarations. Public Access to Information: No specific law provides for public access to government information. The government publishes a weekly compilation of laws, dispositions, and administrative acts in its official bulletin, which is available online or via e-mail. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials were cooperative and responsive to their views. Government Human Rights Bodies: The ombudsman's main function is to defend and oversee the fulfillment and application of the rights and liberties included in the constitution and to ensure the public sector adheres to constitutional principles. The ombudsman is independent from other institutions and provides its functions free of charge to interested persons. The ombudsman enjoyed the government's cooperation and operated without government interference. The ombudsman had adequate resources, published an annual report to parliament with recommendations, and was considered effective. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The law prohibits rape, including spousal rape, both of which are punishable by up to 15 years' imprisonment. It penalizes domestic physical or psychological violence with a prison sentence of up to three years. Authorities enforced the law effectively. To implement the law on the Elimination of Gender-Based and Domestic Violence that entered into effect in February 2015, the government in March established a national commission for the prevention of domestic and gender-based violence with the participation of members of the Ministries of Social Affairs, Justice, and Interior; Health; and Education and Higher Instruction, as well as the judiciary and the prosecutor's office. As of June 30, the Prosecutor's Office initiated 67 criminal proceedings related to gender violence and 19 related to domestic violence. The Prosecutor's Office concluded 33 cases of gender violence and four cases of domestic violence. Almost all the cases involved elements of psychological abuse and mistreatment. Some cases also involved injuries, sexual aggression, and threats. The government's Interdisciplinary Team on Gender Violence (EAID) provided medical and psychological services (including a hotline) as well as legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. In addition the government placed abused women and their children in a shelter, in a hotel, or with foster families who agreed to provide shelter. As of August, EAID had assisted 127 cases of domestic violence against women of which 42 were new. These cases involved psychological, physical, and sexual violence, as well as social and economic mistreatment. Caritas, a religious nongovernmental organization (NGO), worked closely with the government and other NGOs in providing support to the victims in their integration into society. Victims of domestic violence could also request help from the NGO Andorran Women's Association (ADA), which works for women's rights. According to the ADA, victims were reluctant to file a complaint with police due to fear of reprisal. The government established a department on equality policies in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Justice, and Interior to promote and develop programs to prevent and fight against gender and domestic violence as well as any other forms of inequality. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits sexual harassment under the provisions for other sexual aggressions, punishable by three months' to three years' imprisonment. As of June 30, four cases of sexual harassment were reported. Reproductive Rights: Couples and individuals have the right to decide freely the number, spacing, and timing of children; manage their reproductive health; and have access to the information and means to do so free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. Discrimination: The law prohibits discrimination against women privately or professionally with fines up to 24,000 euros ($26,400). As of June 30, two cases were processed. In a press statement at the conclusion of his visit to the country on May 10-11, Nils Muiznieks, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, called upon the government to adopt a comprehensive antidiscrimination law, providing effective protection against discrimination, including gender. He also called to engage the authorities with the private sector, in particular the banking sector, to find ways of remedying reported inequalities and discrimination facing many women employed in this sector. In February the government organized a training session on nondiscrimination, for journalists and another course for labor inspectors. The courses provided indicators and highlighted strategies on how to identify hidden or invisible discrimination. Children Birth Registration: According to the law, citizenship is acquired at birth in the following circumstances: a child is born in the country to an Andorran parent or born abroad to an Andorran parent born in the country; a child is born in the country if either parent was born in the country and is living there at the time of birth, or if both parents are stateless or of unknown identity. A child of foreign parents may acquire Andorran nationality by birth in the country if at the time of birth one of the parents has completed 10 years' permanent residence in the country. Otherwise, the child may become a citizen before attaining the age of majority or a year after reaching the age of majority if his/her parents have been permanently resident in the country for 10 years or if the person can prove that he/she has lived in the country permanently and uninterruptedly for the last five years. In the meantime the child has a provisional passport. Children are registered at birth. Child Abuse: Through the end of June, the Prosecutor's Office initiated 52 criminal proceedings related to child abuse, of which nine related to domestic violence against children and 43 related to violence against children. As of the end of June, the Prosecutor's Office concluded one case of violence against children. The government's Specialized Child Protection Team consisted of two social workers, two social educators, and two psychologists. The team, which intervened in situations where children and young persons were at risk or lacked protection, collected data on cases of child abuse. As of June 30, authorities assisted 185 minors at risk, of which 58 were new cases. As of the end of July, 23 minors lived in a shelter designated for them. Early and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage is 16 years for both girls and boys and as early as 14 years with judicial authority. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law against rape also covers statutory rape. Child pornography is illegal and carries a prison sentence of up to four years. The minimum age of sexual consent is 14 years. The penalty for statutory rape is 15 years' imprisonment, the same as for rape in general. International Child Abductions: The country is a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. See the Department of State's Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction at travel.state.gov/content/childabduction/en/legal/compliance.html. Anti-Semitism Unofficial estimates placed the size of the Jewish community at approximately 100 persons. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons There were no confirmed reports during the year that Andorra was a source, destination, or transit country for victims of human trafficking. Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, air travel and other transportation, access to health care, and the provision of other government services. The law mandates access to public buildings, information, and communications for persons with disabilities, and the government generally enforced this provision. According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Justice, and Interior, schools continued to implement the law requiring them to adapt their infrastructure to the needs of children with disabilities. The majority of children with disabilities attended regular schools. Additionally one separate school for children with disabilities existed in the country. The Andorran Federation of Associations for Persons with Disabilities represented most of the organizations in the country that worked with persons with disabilities. The federation's priorities are accessibility for persons with disabilities and their entry into the workforce, two areas in which the country was not fully compliant with international standards. The lack of sufficient adapted public transportation remained a concern. National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities Although the government effectively enforced the provisions of the constitution and the law against discrimination for the most part, in its latest report in 2015, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance noted that the country's laws do not apply the principle of the sharing of the burden of proof. The law relating to hearing complaints on the grounds of race, color, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or language in civil and administrative courts does not provide that, when persons establish before the court facts of alleged direct or indirect discrimination, the respondent should prove that there has been no discrimination, racism, or intolerance. Acts of Violence, Discrimination, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity According to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and intersexual associations, the number of bullying cases at school has increased. As of June, 10 cases were registered, one of which was in court. Many of these cases were due to sexual orientation. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The constitution and law provide for workers to form and join independent trade unions. The law does not provide for collective bargaining or the right to strike. Alternate dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration exist. The law does not prohibit antiunion discrimination. No laws require the reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. The government effectively enforced the law; however, unions continued to criticize the lack of laws effectively protecting workers. Administrative and judicial procedures were not subject to lengthy delays and appeals. The government and employers respected freedom of association. Neither collective bargaining nor strikes occurred during the year. There were no official reports of or investigations into any antiunion discrimination. Workers continued to be reluctant to admit to union membership due to fear of retaliation by their employers and arbitrary dismissal. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. The government effectively enforced applicable laws. Slavery and trafficking for labor exploitation are punishable by a minimum of four years and a maximum of 12 years in prison. Penalties were sufficient to deter violations. Resources were limited, and no formal structure for action against forced labor existed. There were no reports of such practices. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The law prohibits children younger than 14 years old from working. Children 14 or 15 years old may work up to two months per year during school holidays following strict regulations contained in the law. The law limits work by children 14 or 15 years old to no more than six hours per day, limits work by children 16 or 17 years old to eight hours per day, provides for safety restrictions, restricts the types of work children may perform, and outlines other conditions. According to the law, children cannot work overtime, work overnight, or can carry out dangerous occupations, especially in the construction sector. The law protects children from exploitation in the workplace. The Labor Inspection Office in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Justice, and Interior effectively enforced child labor laws and regulations. Penalties are adequate to deter violations. Economic fines range from 50 euros ($55) for minor violations to 24,000 euros ($26,400) for severe violations. There were no reports of child labor. d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation Labor laws and regulations prohibit discrimination regarding race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national origin or citizenship, social origin, disability, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, age, language, and HIV-positive status or other communicable diseases. The government effectively enforced these laws and regulations. The law permits fines of up to 24,000 euros ($26,400) for a violation. The penalties are sufficient to deter violations. Some cases of discrimination against persons with disabilities, persons based on sexual orientation, and women occurred with respect to employment or occupation. Discrimination against persons with disabilities existed in the form of social and cultural barriers, as well as disadvantages in the labor market. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Justice, and Interior's Department for Social Affairs and Labor approved a four-year (2016-19) strategic plan to favor labor insertion of persons with disabilities. While women represent 49 percent of the workforce, the law does not require equal pay for equal work. Although no cases were filed during the year, the ADA and trade union representatives from the Andorran Trade Union reported cases of gender discrimination especially related to unequal salaries for the same work and workplace bullying. Victims were reluctant to file a complaint due to fear of reprisal from employers. The Andorran Social Security and the Department of Statistics estimated that women earned 24 percent less than men for comparable work. In the finance sector this percentage increases to 47 percent. The government made an effort to combat pay discrimination in general, and it applied pay equality within the government. The law permits fines from 3,001 euros ($3,301) to 24,000 euros ($26,400). These fines were sufficient to deter violations. There were no limitations on women's participation in the labor market, and the government encouraged women to participate in politics. Employment rates among men and women were equal, although women held fewer senior management positions than men. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The national minimum wage was 5.63 euros ($6.19) per hour and 975.87 euros ($1,073.46) per month. The most recent poverty income level was 886 euros ($974.60). The minimum wage did not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The law limits the standard workweek to five eight-hour days for a total of 40 hours per week and provides for paid annual holidays. Workers may work up to two overtime hours per day or 15 hours per week, 50 hours per month, and 426 hours per year. The law provides for premium pay of time plus 25 percent for the first four hours per week, time plus 50 percent for the following four hours, and time plus 75 percent for the remaining hours. There is a required rest period of 12 hours between work shifts. The Labor Inspection Office sets occupational health and safety standards. Workers had the right to remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment. Authorities effectively protected such employees. The law covers agricultural, domestic, and migrant workers. The Labor Inspection Office has the authority to levy sanctions and fines against companies violating standards and enforced compliance. The office consisted of nine persons, including seven labor inspectors. The law permits fines of up to 24,000 euros ($26,400) for a violation. Penalties were sufficient to deter violations. As of the end of July, the Labor Inspection Office received 55 complaints. The majority of reported accidents came from the hotel, construction, motor, and machinery sectors. 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Afghanistan Publisher United States Department of State Publication Date 3 March 2017 Cite as United States Department of State, 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Afghanistan, 3 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58ec8a7fa.html [accessed 8 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic with a directly elected president, a bicameral legislative branch, and a judicial branch. Based on the electoral calendar specified in the constitution, parliamentary elections should have taken place in 2015; however, they did not take place in either 2015 or 2016. Civilian authorities generally maintained control over the security forces, although there were occasions when security forces acted independently. The most significant human rights problems were widespread violence, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians by armed insurgent groups; armed insurgent groups' killings of persons affiliated with the government; torture and abuse of detainees by government forces; widespread disregard for the rule of law and little accountability for those who committed human rights abuses; and targeted violence and endemic societal discrimination against women and girls. Other human rights problems included extrajudicial killings by security forces; ineffective government investigations of abuse and torture by local security forces; poor prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention, including of women accused of so-called moral crimes; prolonged pretrial detentions; judicial corruption and ineffectiveness; violations of privacy rights; restrictions on freedom of speech, press, religion, and movement; pervasive governmental corruption; underage and forced marriages; abuse of children, including sexual abuse; trafficking in persons, including forced labor; discrimination against persons with disabilities; discrimination and abuses against ethnic minorities; societal discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and HIV/AIDS status; and abuse of workers' rights, including child labor. Widespread disregard for the rule of law and official impunity for those who committed human rights abuses were serious problems. The government did not consistently or effectively prosecute abuses by officials, including security forces. The Taliban and other insurgents continued to kill security force personnel and civilians, including journalists, using indiscriminate tactics such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), car bombs, suicide attacks, rocket attacks, and armed attacks. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) attributed 61 percent of civilian casualties (1,569 deaths and 3,574 injured) to nonstate actors. The Taliban used children as suicide bombers, soldiers, and weapons carriers. Other antigovernment elements threatened, robbed, kidnapped, and attacked villagers, foreigners, civil servants, and medical and nongovernmental organization (NGO) workers. Authorities did not effectively investigate or prosecute most of these abuses. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and other Unlawful Politically Motivated Killings There were credible reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. For example, in February UNAMA received a report of Afghan Local Police (ALP) members detaining, torturing, and executing a shepherd after an IED killed two ALP members. NGOs, UNAMA, and media throughout the year charged progovernment forces with extrajudicial killings. Although the government investigated and prosecuted some cases of extrajudicial killing, an overall lack of accountability for security force abuses remained a problem. There were numerous reports of politically motivated killings or injuries by the Taliban and other insurgent groups. According to UNAMA's October 19 report, there were 8,397 conflict-related civilian casualties (2,562 deaths and 5,835 injured) between January 1 and September 30, representing a 1 percent decrease from the same period in 2015. The conflict continued to affect the most vulnerable, including women and children. In this same period, UNAMA documented 2,461 child casualties (639 deaths and 1,822 injured), an increase of 15 percent compared with 2015. UNAMA attributed 61 percent of all civilian casualties to nongovernmental elements and 23 percent to progovernment forces. In July, Human Rights Watch and UNAMA reported that the Afghan army and Junbesh militia forces carried out an operation against the Taliban in Northern Faryab in June in which militia forces killed 13 civilians and wounded 32 others. Human Rights Watch interviewed villagers who said Junbesh fighters entered the villages and targeted those they believed sided with the Taliban. b. Disappearance There were reports of disappearances attributed to security forces, and insurgent groups were reportedly also responsible for disappearances and abductions (see section 1.g.). On November 25, First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum allegedly kidnapped Uzbek tribal elder and political rival Ahmad Ishchi. Before detaining Ishchi, Dostum let his bodyguards brutally beat him during a traditional "buzkashi" match in Jowzan Province. After being held for a number of days, Ishchi later publicized allegations that he was beaten and tortured by Dostum and his men during his detention. The Attorney General's Office opened an investigation into the allegations. On June 1, Taliban militants kidnapped 17 members of the Hazara Shiite minority community in Sar-e-Pul Province. Although all were subsequently freed, the Taliban continued to target and kidnap members of the Hazara ethnic community, executing Hazara hostages in certain instances. On September 1, Taliban members stopped a car in Dawlat Abad district of Ghor Province and kidnapped five Hazara university students. They killed one of the students and released the other four weeks later. On August 7, two professors, working for the American University of Afghanistan were kidnapped; at year's end they were still in captivity. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Although the constitution prohibits such practices, there were reports government officials, security forces, detention center authorities, and police committed abuses. NGOs reported security forces continued to use excessive force, including torturing and beating civilians. According to local media reports, on July 30, Afghan National Police (ANP) personnel beat civilians in the Speen Ghebarga area of Qalat district in Zabul Province on the site of a recent explosion. The Ministry of Interior suspended three police personnel for the offense. According to reports, some security officials and persons connected to the ANP raped children with impunity. NGOs reported incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation of children by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF); however, cultural taboos against reporting such crimes made it difficult to determine the extent of the problem. UNAMA reported it continued to receive allegations of sexual violence against children. In the first half of the year, UNAMA verified two incidents in which ALP used boys for sexual purposes in Baghlan and Kunduz. In one of the cases, an ALP commander in Kunduz kidnapped a 16-year-old boy from his home, brought him to his ALP checkpoint, and raped him for three days. In another case an ALP unit in Baghlan used at least one boy as a bodyguard and for sexual exploitation. There were reports of other boys being abused in the same unit. There were reports of abuses of power by "arbakai" (untrained local militia) commanders and their followers. According to UNAMA many communities used the terms ALP and arbakai interchangeably, making it difficult to attribute reports of abuses to one group or the other. Nevertheless, credible accounts of killing, rape, assault, the forcible levy of informal taxes, and the traditional practice of "baad" (the transfer of a girl or woman to another family to settle a debt or grievance) were attributed to the ALP. There were numerous reports of torture and other abuses by the Taliban and other insurgent groups. In March the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) reported the Taliban killed a woman in Jowzjan Province for committing adultery, after her husband and his family accused her of having an extramarital affair. Due to security concerns, neither the AIHCRC nor the government was able to investigate the case. In May a video appeared in social media of a woman in Jowzjan Province being tried in an informal Taliban court and later shot in the back of the head and killed. Prison and Detention Center Conditions The General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Centers (GDPDC), part of the Ministry of Interior, has responsibility for all civilian-run prisons (for both men and women) and civilian detention centers, including the large national prison complex at Pul-e Charkhi. The Ministry of Justice's Juvenile Rehabilitation Directorate (JRD) is responsible for all juvenile rehabilitation centers. The ANP, which is under the Ministry of Interior, and the National Directorate for Security (NDS), under the ANDSF, also operated short-term detention facilities at the provincial and district levels, usually collocated with their headquarters facilities. The Ministry of Defense runs the Afghan National Detention Facilities at Parwan. There were reports of private prisons run by members of the ANDSF and used for abuse of detainees. Physical Conditions: Media and other sources continued to report common inadequacies in food and water and poor sanitation facilities in prisons. Some observers, however, found food and water to be sufficient throughout the GDPDC prisons. The GDPDC's nationwide program to feed prisoners faced a severely limited budget. Many prisoners' families provided food supplements and other necessary items. Authorities generally lacked the facilities to separate pretrial and convicted inmates, or to separate juveniles according to the seriousness of the charges against them, with the exception of some juvenile facilities that separately housed juveniles imprisoned for national security reasons. According to the UN April 20 Report on Children in Armed Conflict, security forces detained hundreds of children on suspicion of being Taliban fighters, attempting suicide attacks, manufacturing or placing IEDs, or assisting insurgent armed groups. In the same report, the United Nations stated the Ministry of Justice reported 214 boys detained in juvenile rehabilitation centers on national security-related charges as of December 2015. There were reports the Parwan detention facility, operated by the Ministry of Defense, held 145 children for security-related offenses ay year's end, a threefold increase compared with the previous year. Overcrowding in prisons continued to be a serious, widespread problem; 28 of 34 provincial prisons for men were severely overcrowded, based on standards recommended by the International Committee of the Red Cross. As of July men's prison facilities were at approximately 190 percent of capacity across the country. The Kapisa provincial prison for men was the most overcrowded, housing 340 inmates, more than 10 times the 29 prisoners for which it was designed. The country's largest prison, Pul-e Charkhi, held 12,398 prisoners as of September, which was more than double the number it was designed to house. In a March assessment on the country's prison health services, UNAMA reported that few prisoners had access to medical check-ups or psychiatric services. The report also suggested the 26 provincial prisons did not have the female medical staff necessary to treat female prisoners. As a result, many children, up to the age of seven, accompanied their mothers to prison. In the same assessment, UNAMA reported that 336 children were accompanying female prisoners held in provincial prisons. While many women opted to keep their children with them in prison (ages seven and under), many others enrolled their children in Child Support Centers (CSCs). There were three CSCs: in Kabul, Mazar, and Herat. In March, after authorities moved the Kabul Female Prison and Detention Center from a renovated building in the city to an allegedly subpar facility in the Pul-e Charkhi prison complex, a group of female prisoners set the facility on fire to protest their new living conditions. Administration: The law provides prisoners with the right to leave prison for up to 20 days for family visits. Most prisons did not implement this provision, and the law is unclear in its application to different classes of prisoners. Independent Monitoring: The AIHRC, UNAMA, and International Committee of the Red Cross continued to have access to detention facilities of the NDS and the Ministries of Interior, Justice, and Defense, and NATO Mission Resolute Support had access to NDS, ANP, and Ministry of Defense facilities. Security constraints and obstruction by authorities occasionally prevented visits to some places of detention. UNAMA and the AIHRC reported difficulty accessing NDS places of detention when unannounced. While Resolute Support did not experience the same level of difficulty, authorities denied unannounced access on several occasions at NDS and ANP facilities. The AIHRC reported NDS officials usually required the AIHRC to submit a formal letter requesting access at least one to two days in advance of a visit. NDS officials continued to prohibit AIHRC and UNAMA monitors from bringing cameras, mobile phones, recording devices, or computers into NDS facilities, thereby preventing AIHRC monitors from properly documenting physical evidence of abuse, such as bruises, scars, and other injuries. The NDS assigned a colonel to monitor human rights conditions in its facilities. In February and May, members of parliament visited GDPDC prison facilities to conduct monitoring and oversight of prison conditions, with a focus on conditions for women. The Justice Ministry's JRD also produced an annual report in March on juvenile justice problems, drafted by the JRD's Monitoring and Evaluation Office. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest or detention, but both remained serious problems. Authorities detained many citizens without respecting essential procedural protections. According to NGOs, law enforcement officers continued to detain citizens arbitrarily without clear legal authority or due process. Local law enforcement officials reportedly detained persons illegally on charges not provided for in the penal code. In 2012 the Attorney General's Office (AGO) ordered a halt to the prosecution of women for "running away," which is not a crime under the law. Reports indicated that prosecutors instead charged women who had left home with "attempted zina" (extramarital sexual relations) for being outside the home in the presence of nonrelated men, which is also not a crime under the law. In some cases authorities wrongfully imprisoned women because they deemed it unsafe for the women to return home or because women's shelters were not available to provide protection in the provinces or districts at issue (see section 6, Women). Role of the Police and Security Apparatus Three ministries have responsibility for providing security in the country, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense, and the NDS. The ANP, under the Interior Ministry, has primary responsibility for internal order and also has responsibility for the ALP, a community-based self-defense force. The Afghan National Army (ANA), under the Ministry of Defense, is responsible for external security, but its primary activity is fighting the insurgency internally. The NDS functions as an intelligence agency and has responsibility for investigating criminal cases concerning national security. The investigative branch of the NDS operated a facility in Kabul, where it held national security prisoners awaiting trial until their cases were transferred to prosecutors. In some areas insurgents, rather than the ANP or ANA, maintained control. There were reports of impunity and lack of accountability by security forces throughout the year. According to observers, ALP and ANP personnel were largely unaware of their responsibilities and defendants' rights under the law. Accountability of NDS and ANP officials for torture and abuse was weak, not transparent, and rarely enforced. Independent judicial or external oversight of the NDS and ANP in the investigation and prosecution of crimes or misconduct, including torture and abuse, was limited. Police corruption remained a serious problem (see section 4). NGOs and human rights activists reported widespread societal violence, especially against women (see section 6). In many cases police did not prevent or respond to violence and, in some cases, arrested women who reported crimes committed against them, such as rape. Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees UNAMA, the AIHRC, and other observers reported arbitrary and prolonged detention frequently occurred throughout the country. Authorities often did not inform detainees of the charges against them. The law provides for access to legal counsel and the use of warrants, and it limits how long authorities may hold detainees without charge. Police have the right to detain a suspect for 72 hours to complete a preliminary investigation. If police decide to pursue a case, they transfer the file to the AGO. With court approval the investigating prosecutor may continue to detain a suspect while continuing the investigation, with the length of continued detention depending on the severity of the offense. The investigating prosecutor may detain a suspect for a maximum of 10 additional days for a petty crime, 27 days for a misdemeanor, and 75 days for a felony. The prosecutor must file an indictment or release the suspect within those deadlines, and no further extension of the investigatory period is permitted if the defendant is in detention. Prosecutors often ignored these limits. Incommunicado imprisonment remained a problem, and prompt access to a lawyer was rare. Prisoners generally were allowed access to their families, but there were exceptions, and access was frequently delayed. The criminal procedure code does provide for release on bail; however, in practice, the bond system was not always used. Authorities at times continued to detain defendants who had been acquitted by the courts on the grounds that defendants who were released pending the prosecution's appeal often disappeared. In many cases authorities did not rearrest defendants they released pending the outcome of an appeal, even after the appellate court convicted them in absentia. According to international monitors, prosecutors filed indictments in cases transferred to them by police, even where there was a reasonable belief no crime was actually committed. According to the juvenile code, the arrest of a child "should be a matter of last resort and should last for the shortest possible period." Reports indicated children in juvenile rehabilitation centers across the country lacked access to adequate food, health care, and education. Like adult detainees, detained children frequently were denied basic rights and many aspects of due process, including the presumption of innocence, the right to be informed of charges, access to defense lawyers, and protection from self-incrimination. The law provides for the creation of special juvenile police, prosecution offices, and courts. Due to limited resources, special juvenile courts functioned in only six provinces (Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Kandahar, Nangarhar, and Kunduz). Elsewhere, children's cases fall under the ordinary courts. The law mandates that authorities handle children's cases confidentially and, as with all criminal cases, may involve three stages: primary, appeals, and the final stage at the Supreme Court. Some children in the criminal justice system were victims rather than perpetrators of crime. In some instances authorities chose to punish victims because they brought shame on the family by reporting an abuse. In the absence of sufficient shelters for boys, authorities detained abused boys and placed them in juvenile rehabilitation centers because they could not be returned to their families and shelter elsewhere was unavailable. There were also allegations that authorities allegedly treated children related to a perpetrator as proxies and imprisoned them. Police and legal officials often charged women with intent to commit zina to justify their arrest and incarceration for social offenses, such as running away from home, rejecting a spouse chosen by her family, fleeing domestic violence or rape, or eloping. Article 130 of the constitution provides that in cases not explicitly covered by the provisions of the constitution or other laws, courts may, in accordance with Hanafi jurisprudence (a school of sharia, or Islamic law) and within the limits set by the constitution, rule in a manner that best attains justice in the case. Although observers stated this provision was widely understood to apply only to civil cases, many judges and prosecutors applied Article 130 to criminal matters. Observers reported officials used this article to charge women and men with "immorality" or "running away from home," neither of which is a crime. Police often detained women for zina at the request of family members. Authorities imprisoned some women for reporting crimes perpetrated against them and detained some as proxies for a husband or male relative convicted of a crime on the assumption the suspect would turn himself in to free the family member. Authorities placed some women in protective custody to prevent violence by family members. They also employed protective custody (including placement in a detention center) for women who had experienced domestic violence, if no shelters were available to protect them from further abuse. The presidential decree on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) commonly referred to as the EVAW law obliges police to arrest persons who abuse women. Implementation and awareness of the EVAW law was limited, however. Arbitrary Arrest: Arbitrary arrest and detention remained a problem in most provinces. Observers reported some prosecutors and police detained individuals without charge for actions that were not crimes under the law, in part because the judicial system was inadequate to process detainees in a timely fashion. UNAMA reported police detained individuals for moral crimes, breach of contract, family disputes, and to extract confessions. Observers continued to report those detained for moral crimes were almost exclusively women. Pretrial Detention: The law provides a defendant the right to object to his or her pretrial detention and receive a court hearing on the matter. Nevertheless, lengthy pretrial detention remained a problem. Many detainees did not benefit from any or all of the provisions of the criminal procedure code, largely due to a lack of resources, limited numbers of defense attorneys, unskilled legal practitioners, and corruption. The law provides that, if the investigation cannot be completed or an indictment is not filed, within the code's 10-, 27-, or 75-day deadlines, the defendant must be released. Many detainees, however, were held beyond those periods, despite the lack of an indictment. Amnesty: The Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program, which existed between 2010 and 2016, was a mechanism for bringing combatants off the battlefield. The program document stated the program "is not a framework for pardoning all crimes and providing blanket amnesty," and reintegration candidates were informed prior to enrollment that entry into the program did not amount to blanket immunity from prosecution. In September the government concluded a peace accord with the Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin group. As part of the agreement, the government pledged to release certain prisoners in its custody. At year's end the government was vetting prisoners for possible release. As of September 2015, prison industries offered more jobs and vocational training to enhance employment opportunities after release. In December 2015 President Ghani visited Badam Bagh prison in Kabul to inquire about the situation of female inmates. Ghani said he personally oversaw the drafting of pardon and parole decrees and ordered the creation of an impartial delegation composed of female representatives from civil society to look into female prisoners' cases. The delegation, comprising nine women, was reviewing female inmate cases to ensure those eligible were released. By year's end, 235 women had been released, and 307 had their sentences reduced. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary, but the judiciary continued to be underfunded, understaffed, inadequately trained, largely ineffective, and subject to threats, bias, political influence, and pervasive corruption. Bribery, corruption, and pressure from public officials, tribal leaders, families of accused persons, and individuals associated with the insurgency continued to impair judicial impartiality. Most courts administered justice unevenly, employing a mixture of codified law, sharia, and local custom. Traditional justice mechanisms remained the main recourse for many, especially in rural areas. There was varying adherence to codified law, with courts often disregarding applicable statutory law in favor of sharia or local custom. Corruption was common within the judiciary, and often criminals paid bribes to obtain their release or a reduction in sentence (see section 4). The formal justice system was relatively strong in urban centers, where the central government was strongest, and weaker in rural areas, where approximately 76 percent of the population lived. Courts and police forces continued to operate at less than full strength nationwide. The judicial system continued to lack the capacity to absorb and implement the large volume of new and amended legislation. A lack of qualified judicial personnel hindered the courts. Some municipal and provincial authorities, including judges, had minimal training and often based their judgments on their personal understanding of sharia without appropriate reference to statutory law, tribal codes of honor, or local custom. The number of judges who were graduates of law school, many from universities with sharia faculties, continued to increase. Access to legal codes and statutes increased, but their limited availability continued to hinder some judges and prosecutors. In March 2015 a mob killed Farkhunda Malikzada after a local religious cleric falsely accused her of burning a copy of the Quran. Following protests after Farkhunda's death, the government promised swift and exemplary justice but showed little progress in holding the attackers accountable. A court prosecuted some of the attackers and sentenced some to the death penalty. In March 2016, however, the Supreme Court voted to reduce the sentences of those convicted. The reasoning was that the death penalty can be imposed only where the accused are found to be the "main perpetrators" of the death. The Supreme Court held it could not find sufficient evidence that any of the four men were the direct cause of Farkhunda's death. Following the Supreme Court decision to uphold the reduced sentences, President Ghani established an investigatory committee to look into Farkhunda's case. More than 40 civil society and women's organizations formed an alliance to demand that the Supreme Court decision be investigated and revisited. As an example, the Women's Political Participation Committee, a civil society organization, held a press conference on March 19 to call on the government to reassess the Supreme Court's decision and ensure more transparency in the process. There was a widespread shortage of judges, primarily in insecure areas. UNAMA reported Taliban attacks against judicial authorities and prosecutors significantly increased following the government's execution on May 8 of six Taliban prisoners. Following the executions, the Taliban carried out major attacks against judicial officials. On May 25, a Taliban suicide bomber attacked a government shuttle bus transporting Maidan Wardak provincial court staff members, killing 12 civilians, including two judges, and injuring nine others. On June 1, the Taliban attacked Ghazni's provincial appellate court and killed four civilians, including two court staff, and injured 15 others, including the head of the court. In major cities, courts continued to decide criminal cases as mandated by law. Civil cases continued to be frequently resolved using the informal system or, in some cases, through negotiations between the parties facilitated by judicial personnel or private lawyers. Because the formal legal system often was not present in rural areas, local elders and shuras (consultative gatherings, usually of men selected by the community) were the primary means of settling both criminal matters and civil disputes. They also imposed punishments without regard to the formal legal system. In some areas the Taliban enforced a parallel judicial system based on a strict interpretation of sharia. Punishments could include execution or mutilation. For example, in August in Kapisa Province, the Taliban accused a 20-year-old student of spying, kidnapped him, and killed him a week later. UNAMA reported death sentences, lashings, and beatings resulted in 29 civilian casualties (24 deaths and five injuries) in the first half of the year, a 28 percent increase over the same period in the previous year. Trial Procedures The constitution provides the right to a fair and public trial, but the judiciary rarely enforced this provision. The administration and implementation of justice varied in different areas of the country. The government formally uses an inquisitorial legal system. By law all citizens are entitled to a presumption of innocence, and those accused have the right to be present at trial and to appeal, although these rights were not always respected. In some provinces public trials were held, but this was not the norm. Three-judge panels decide criminal trials, and there is no right to a jury trial under the constitution. Prosecutors rarely informed defendants promptly and in detail of the charges brought against them. An indigent defendant has the right to consult with an advocate or counsel at public expense when resources allow. This right was applied inconsistently, in large part due to a severe shortage of defense lawyers. Citizens often were unaware of their constitutional rights. Defendants and attorneys were entitled to examine physical evidence and documents related to a case before trial, although observers noted court documents often were not available for review before cases went to trial, despite defense lawyers' requests. Criminal defense attorneys reported justice system officials were slowly demonstrating increased respect and tolerance for the role of defense lawyers in criminal trials, but at times defendants' attorneys experienced abuse and threats from prosecutors and other law enforcement officials. The criminal procedure code establishes time limits for the completion of each stage of a criminal case, from investigation through final appeal, when an accused is in custody. The code also allows for the accused persons to be released temporarily on bail, but this was rarely used. An addendum to the code provides for extended custodial limits in cases involving crimes committed against the internal and external security of the country. Courts at the Justice Center in Parwan elected to utilize the extended time periods. If the deadlines are not met, the law requires the accused be released from custody. In many cases courts did not meet these deadlines, but detainees nevertheless remained in custody. In cases where no clearly defined legal statute applied, or where judges, prosecutors, or elders were unaware of the statutory law, judges and informal shuras enforced customary law. This practice often resulted in outcomes that discriminated against women. Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports the government held political prisoners or detainees. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies Citizens had limited access to justice for constitutional and human rights violations. The state judiciary did not play a significant or effective role in adjudicating civil matters due to corruption and lack of capacity, although the judiciary frequently adjudicated family law matters. f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law prohibits arbitrary interference in matters of privacy, but authorities did not always respect its provisions. The criminal procedure code contains additional safeguards for the privacy of the home, prohibiting night arrests and strengthening requirements for body searches. The government did not always respect these prohibitions. Government officials continued to enter homes and businesses of civilians forcibly and without legal authorization. There were reports that government officials monitored private communications, including telephone calls and other digital communications, without legal authority or judicial warrant. Authorities imprisoned relatives, male and female, of criminal suspects and escaped convicts in order to induce the persons being sought to surrender (see section 1.d.). Insurgents continued to intimidate cell phone operators to shut down operations. Reports of destruction of mobile telephone towers, bribing of guards, and disconnecting of networks at night were particularly common in the southwestern, southern, and eastern provinces. g. Abuses in Internal Conflict Continuing internal conflict resulted in civilian deaths, abductions, prisoner abuse, property damage, displacement of residents, and other abuses. The security situation remained a problem due to insurgent attacks. Civilians, particularly women and children, continued to bear the brunt of intensified armed conflict, according to UNAMA. Overall civilian casualties continued at approximately the same rates as in 2015, but with a 1 percent decrease in deaths. Terrorist groups caused the vast majority of civilian deaths. Killings: For the first nine months of the year, UNAMA documented 8,397 civilian casualties (2,562 deaths and 5,835 injured). UNAMA attributed 23 percent of civilian casualties to progovernment forces, while it attributed 61 percent of all civilian casualties to antigovernment elements. According to UNAMA, ground engagements and crossfire incidents involving the parties to the conflict remained the largest cause of civilian casualties (dead and injured), followed by suicide and complex attacks and IEDs. UNAMA reported that the number of casualties among children in the first nine months of the year increased by 15 percent over the same period in 2015. Antigovernment elements continued to use suicide and complex attacks to target civilians and government officials, a practice that became the most harmful tactic by antigovernment forces. In the first nine months of the year, suicide and complex attacks represented 20 percent of all civilian casualties, while IEDs caused 18 percent of casualties. The increase in complex and suicide attacks was evidenced by the attack in Kabul in July, when a twin bombing occurred near Deh Mazang Square in Kabul during a peaceful demonstration. More than 80 demonstrators, predominantly Shiite Hazara, were killed by the blasts, and more than 230 were injured. Antigovernment elements continued to attack religious leaders whom they concluded spoke against the insurgency or the Taliban. Antigovernment elements also continued to target government officials. The majority of Taliban attacks targeted security forces, in particular ANP and ALP forces, notably in volatile areas. Antigovernment elements continued to use civilian residences to attack government forces, such as those that occurred in February in Dand E Ghori, according to local media. The Taliban and antigovernment elements continued to engage in indiscriminate use of force, attacking and killing villagers, foreigners, and NGO workers in armed attacks and with vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and suicide bombs. Through the first six months of the year, UNAMA documented 2,509 civilian casualties (531 civilian deaths and 1,528 injuries) because of combined IED tactics, or 67 percent of all civilian casualties caused by antigovernment forces. Abductions: UNAMA documented 195 incidents of conflict-related abductions in the first six months of the year that resulted in 85 civilian casualties (46 deaths and 39 injured) and the abduction of 1,141 persons. This showed a 67 percent increase in the number of civilians abducted, albeit with a 2 percent decrease in the overall number of abductions, compared with the same period in 2015. On May 30, the Taliban stopped three civilian buses carrying passengers from Kabul to Takhar and Badakhshan Provinces in Ali Abad district of Kunduz Province. Taliban abducted 185 passengers, including 30 women and children. The abductors identified 28 men as Afghan Security Personnel and released 157 passengers. They executed 12 of the kidnapped passengers and released eight others. The last eight were released a month and a half later, after local elders mediated their release. Physical Abuse, Punishment, and Torture: According to some reports, on June 26, security forces launched a combined operation with progovernment armed groups against the Taliban in Faryab Province. While the Taliban fled the area, progovernment armed groups led by six commanders conducted operations in four villages that resulted in 17 casualties (five deaths and 12 injured). The forces loyal to these six commanders shot and killed three civilian men in Sheshpar village and severely beat 14 other men in the same village on accusation of supporting the Taliban; two of the 14 beaten men died of their wounds. There were reports that these forces looted and burned civilian houses in Shordarya area, and UNAMA was investigating the allegations. President Ghani ordered the arrest of individuals responsible for the abuse, and the NDS arrested one commander and seven men while the investigation continued. Antigovernment elements continued to target civilians. The following are illustrative examples. In February, Taliban members killed four civilians at a wedding party in the Sar Hakwza district of Paktika Province, accusing them of cooperating with government officials. On March 5, the Taliban shot and killed a mosque custodian/imam in front of his mosque in Kandahar Province. The group claimed that the imam was working for the government's intelligence service. Land mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive remnants of war (ERW) continued to cause deaths and injuries, restrict areas available for farming, and impede the return of refugees. UNAMA reported the number of deaths and injuries from land mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive remnants of war was 35 percent higher than in previous years. The Mine Action Program of Afghanistan reported that during the 12 months ending in March, there were 155 reported casualties from ERW, seven casualties due to land mines, and 1,051 casualties from pressure-plate improvised explosive devices (PPIEDs). In addition to these casualties from traditional antitank and antipersonnel mines and PPIEDs, there continued to be thousands of civilian casualties from other IEDs. According to the Mine Action Coordination Center, land mines, unexploded ordnance, and ERW imperiled 1,577 communities across 256 districts, covering approximately 230 square miles. The Ministry of Education and NGOs continued to conduct educational programs and mine awareness campaigns throughout the country. Between January 1 and June 30, child casualties from ERW increased by 53 percent, accounting for 85 percent of all civilian casualties caused by ERW, compared with the same period in 2015. ERW caused 264 child casualties (83 deaths and 181 injured), making it the second leading cause of child casualties in the first half of the year. In the same period, UNAMA documented 136 incidents of ERW detonation resulting in 312 civilian casualties (95 deaths and 217 injured, a 49 percent increase compared with the first half of 2015. Mine-risk education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, was conducted in schools to raise awareness. According to the Mine Action Program Coordination Center of Afghanistan, there were 1,620 mine-contaminated communities, covering an area of approximately 210 square miles. Child Soldiers: There were reports the ANDSF and progovernment militias, particularly the ANP and ALP, recruited and used children for military purposes. In an effort to prevent the recruitment of children, the government continued to work towards the expansion of Child Protection Units (CPUs) to all 34 provinces. As of November there were 17 active CPUs 12 of them established during the year. According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), CPUs prevented 315 children from being recruited during the year. The AIHRC reported 21 cases of child recruitment by the Ministry of Interior security forces. Under a government action plan, the ANP took steps that included training staff on age-assessment procedures, launching an awareness campaign on underage recruitment, investigating alleged cases of underage recruitment, and establishing centers in some provincial recruitment centers to document cases of attempted enlistment by children. Recruits undergo an identity check, including a requirement that at least two community elders vouch that a recruit is 18 years old and is eligible to join the ANDSF. The Ministries of Interior and Defense also issued directives meant to prevent the recruitment and sexual abuse of children by the ANDSF. Media reported in some cases ANDSF units used children as personal servants, support staff, or for sexual purposes. UNAMA also documented the recruitment of children by the Taliban and other antigovernment elements, although figures were unreliable and difficult to obtain. In some cases the Taliban and other antigovernment elements used children as suicide bombers and human shields and in other cases to assist with their work, such as placing IEDs, particularly in southern provinces. Media, NGOs, and UN agencies reported the Taliban tricked children, promised them money, used false religious pretexts, or forced them to become suicide bombers. During the year the United Nations recorded 35 cases of child recruitment by armed opposition groups and 13 cases by the ANDSF. In February the Taliban killed Wasil Ahmad, an 11-year-old boy who had been praised for fighting in an ALP unit for 43 days in 2015 when Taliban forces laid siege to his hometown of Khas Uruzgan. Although the ALP claimed the boy was not recruited and volunteered to defend his family, he was armed and in uniform. The boy was killed six months after the siege; he was no longer engaged in combat. Also see the Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Other Conflict-related Abuse: The security environment continued to have a negative effect on the ability of humanitarian organizations to operate freely in many parts of the country. Insurgents deliberately targeted government employees and aid workers. Suspected Taliban members attacked NGO offices, vehicles, guesthouses, restaurants, and hotels frequented by NGO employees. Violence and instability hampered development, relief, and reconstruction efforts. NGOs reported insurgents, powerful local individuals, and militia leaders demanded bribes to allow groups to bring relief supplies into the country and distribute them. In April unidentified armed men abducted 15 members of a mine removal team from HALO Trust, a mine-clearing agency, in Herat Province. The men were released the next day during a military operation. The Taliban continued to distribute threatening messages in attempts to curtail government and development activities. Insurgents used civilians, including children, as human shields, either by forcing them into the line of fire or by conducting operations in civilian settings. In the south and east, the Taliban and other antigovernment elements frequently forced local residents to provide food and shelter for their fighters. The Taliban also continued to attack schools, radio stations, and government offices. On September 5, Taliban forces carried out two large bombing operations in Kabul, targeting the Ministry of Defense and the humanitarian agency CARE International. At least 30 were killed and more than 90 injured at the ministry. The majority of casualties at the ministry attack were ANDSF, and an ANA general and two senior police officials were among the dead. The Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. At CARE International unidentified attackers detonated a VBIED at the agency's headquarters. One civilian was killed, while one ANP person and seven civilians were injured. On October 25, militants killed 24 civilians including women and children who had been captured the day before near the Ghor provincial capital of Firezkoh city (formerly Chaghcharan). The Taliban denied involvement, and the provincial governor's spokesperson told one journalist that Islamic State in Khorasan Province carried out the attack. Other reports indicated the civilians were executed in response to the death of local Taliban commander Faroq on October 24 during an attack on an Afghan National Civil Order Police checkpoint. Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, but the government sometimes restricted these rights to varying degrees. Freedom of Speech and Expression: While the law provides for freedom of speech, which was widely exercised, there were reports authorities at times used pressure, regulations, and threats to silence critics. Freedom of speech was also considerably more constrained at the provincial level, where local power brokers, such as former mujahedin-era military leaders, exerted significant influence and authority to intimidate or threaten their critics, both private citizens and journalists. Press and Media Freedoms: While media reported independently throughout the year, often openly criticizing the government, full press freedoms were lacking. At times authorities used pressure, regulations, and threats to silence critics. Politicians, security officials, and others in positions of power arrested, threatened, or harassed journalists because of their coverage. Freedom of speech and an independent media were even more constrained at the provincial level, where many media outlets had links to specific personalities or political parties, to include former mujahedin military leaders who owned many of the broadcasting stations and print media and influenced their content. Print media continued to publish independent magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. A wide range of editorials and dailies openly criticized the government. There were concerns, however, that media independence and safety remained at high risk in light of increased attacks. Due to high levels of illiteracy, television and radio were the preferred information source for most citizens. Radio remained more widespread due to its relative accessibility, with approximately 75 percent radio penetration, compared with approximately 50 percent for television. The Ministry of Information and Culture has authority to regulate the press and media. In 2015 the ministry dissolved the Media Violations Investigation Commission, whose evaluations of complaints against journalists were criticized as biased and not based on the law. Human Rights Watch reported the ministry routinely ignored officials who threatened, intimidated, or even physically attacked members of the press. While the ministry has legal responsibility for regulating media, the council of religious scholars (the Ulema Council) had considerable influence over media affairs. In January the information ministry created the Independent Mass Media Commission. The commission is responsible for reregistering all media outlets in the country. Media activists condemned the new reregistration process, citing the high fees to undergo the process would hurt media outlets, particularly the smaller radio and television stations in the provinces. As of September media advocates had been able to delay the implementation of the new reregistration regulation. In February, after the president issued a decree to implement current media laws and strengthen freedom of expression, the executive created a committee to investigate cases of violence against journalists. The committee met multiple times in the first half of the year and identified 432 cases eligible for investigation. The committee sent the cases to the appropriate government institutions associated with the violations for investigation, including the Ministry of Interior and NDS forces. As of September none of the government institutions had started an investigation or provided a response to the committee. In May parliament members criticized the lack of full implementation of the 2014 Access to Information law. The Commission on Monitoring Access to Information stated a lack of budget and lack of government support resulted in weak implementation of the law. Violence and Harassment: Government used threats, violence, and intimidation to silence opposition journalists, particularly those who spoke out about impunity, war crimes, government officials, and powerful local figures. The AJSC reported that 50 percent of 101 incidents of attacks against journalists, including 13 cases of killings, 30 cases of beatings, 35 cases of intimidation, 17 cases of abuse, and six cases of injury, were attributed to government officials. In an October 30 press conference, Nai, an NGO supporting media freedom, reported that violence against media workers had increased to approximately 370 cases, in comparison with 95 cases in 2015. According to Nai, nearly 300 journalists left their jobs during the year due to threats. For example, according to reports, on June 5, police beat a reporter from Kawoon Ghag Radio while he reporting on an event where donations were distributed to poor families. On August 29, while the president visited Bamyan Province to inaugurate the refurbished provincial airport, progovernment forces, including the president's protective detail, allegedly harassed and beat protesters and journalists. Some journalists reported government security forces used violence against them and removed film or digital photographs from their equipment. Human Rights Watch received reports of NDS forces detaining journalists and activists for 24 hours. The Presidential Palace first rejected claims of journalists being beaten or detained during the August Bamyan visit, but later the president ordered an investigation. On August 28, the leading independent daily newspaper, Hasht-e-Subh, intentionally left an entire page empty of content in all Herat city editions to highlight censorship of a news feature detailing corruption and smuggling allegations against Herat provincial council chief Kamran Alizai. The newspaper's editor in chief, Parwiz Kawa, publicly stated the blank page demonstrated what he termed was a "preventive and protective" protest against an unnamed "powerful official." He said editors were responding to threats against their regional offices by Alizai, who also maintained an illegal private militia. On the following day, Hasht-e-Subh published an article claiming the AGO assured editors that Alizai was under investigation, had been suspended from his duties, and had been banned from leaving the country. In the meantime the president's deputy spokesperson, Shah Hussain Murtazawi, told Hasht-e-Subh, "Anyone who challenges independent media would be harshly confronted by the government." Prevailing security conditions created a dangerous environment for journalists, even when they were not specific targets. Media organizations and journalists operating in remote areas were more vulnerable to violence and intimidation because of the increased level of insecurity and pronounced fear from insurgents, warlords, and organized criminals. They also reported local governmental authorities were less cooperative in facilitating access to information. On August 24, the National Security Council approved a new set of guidelines to address cases of violence against journalists. The new initiative entails the creation of a joint national committee in Kabul and separate committees in provincial capitals, a coordination center to investigate and identify perpetrators of violence against journalists, and a support committee to be run by the NDS to identify threats against journalists. The joint committee, to be chaired by the second vice president, was expected to register new cases, call for support from judicial bodies to prosecute perpetrators, and publicly share statistics on cases. Activists welcomed the government's initiative. An independent organization focused on the safety of journalists continued to operate a safe house for journalists facing threats. It reported law enforcement officials generally cooperated in assisting journalists who faced credible threats, although limited investigative capacity meant many cases remained unresolved. The Afghan Independent Bar Association established a media law committee to provide legal support, expertise, and services to media organizations. Women constituted approximately 20 percent of media workers, compared with 30 percent in 2015. Some women oversaw radio stations across the country, and some radio stations emphasized almost exclusively female concerns. Nevertheless, female reporters found it difficult to practice their profession. Poor security, lack of training, and unsafe working conditions limited the participation of women in the media. The AJSC released a special report in March on the situation of female journalists, noting that sexual harassment continued to be wide spread in the media industry. If not subjected to sexual harassment and abuse at work, female journalists often faced pressure by their families to leave the media profession or at least not to show their faces on television. Censorship or Content Restrictions: The government reportedly sought to restrict reporting on topics deemed contrary to the government's messaging. Some media observers claimed journalists reporting on administrative corruption, land embezzlement, and local officials' involvement in narcotics trafficking engaged in self-censorship due to fear of violent retribution by provincial police officials and powerful families. Fearing retribution by government officials, media outlets sometimes preferred to quote from foreign media reports on sensitive topics and in some cases fed stories to foreign journalists. Nai conducted a survey in Kabul and five different provinces that revealed 94 percent of local social media users practiced self-censorship, fearing security threats and intimidation, Libel Laws: The penal code and the mass media law prescribe jail sentences and fines for defamation. Authorities sometime used defamation as a pretext to suppress criticism of government officials. National Security: Journalists complained government officials frequently invoked the national interest exception in the Access to Information law to avoid disclosing certain information. Nongovernmental Impact: Journalists continued to face threats from the Taliban and other insurgents. Some reporters acknowledged they avoided criticizing the insurgency and some neighboring countries in their reporting because they feared Taliban retribution. In February, two Afghan Adib radio workers in Pol-e Khomri in Baghlan Province were brutally attacked, leaving one in a coma. Taliban forces reportedly were behind the attack, although no group claimed responsibility. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported local and foreign reporters continued to be at risk of kidnapping. The Taliban continued to threaten journalists associated with two privately owned Afghan television outlets, ToloNews TV, and 1TV. The Taliban's military commission designated both outlets as "military objectives" due to their perceived disrespectful coverage and claims that they broadcast propaganda, ridiculed religion, and injected the minds of youth with immorality. The Taliban for the first time openly threatened ToloNews in 2015, after the news channel reported allegations of executions, rape, kidnappings, and other abuses by the Taliban when Kunduz fell to the antigovernment group. On January 20, a Taliban suicide bomber in Kabul targeted and struck a minibus carrying Kaboora production staff, an affiliate of ToloNews, killing seven. On June 8, unknown gunmen launched a grenade attack on Enikas Radio in Jalalabad, just three days after an American journalist and a translator embedded in a local security forces convoy were killed by an ambush in Helmand Province on June 5. Internet Freedom The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. Media outlets and activists routinely used social media to discuss political developments, and Facebook was widely used in urban areas. The Taliban used the internet and social media (for example, Twitter) to spread its messages. Internet usage remained relatively low due to high prices, inadequate local content, and illiteracy. Academic Freedom and Cultural Events There were no reports that the government imposed restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events during the year. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Freedom of Assembly The government generally respected citizens' right to demonstrate peacefully. Numerous public gatherings and protests took place during the year. In May a mass demonstration took place in Kabul over the government's decision on routing of an electricity line from Turkmenistan to Kabul. Although government forces placed shipping containers to provide security and limited the areas in which the demonstration took place, protesters were allowed to march on the streets of Kabul. On July 23, protesters gathered again to protest the same electricity line but were attacked by insurgents with a bomb that killed 80 and injured an additional 250 protesters. After Da'esh claimed responsibility, the Ministry of Interior banned street protests for 10 days. In September, Tajik supporters assembled to rebury the remains of a former king on a hill important to the Uzbek community in Kabul, leading to a standoff. After an agreement was reached, the reburial took place, although some criticized the government for not handling the issue properly. Freedom of Association The right to freedom of association is provided in the constitution, and the government generally respected it. The 2009 law on political parties obliges them to register with the Ministry of Justice and to pursue objectives consistent with Islam. By law a political party must have 10,000 registered members to register with the ministry. In 2012 the Council of Ministers approved a regulation requiring political parties to open offices in at least 20 provinces within one year of registration. The regulation provides for removal of parties failing to do so from the Justice Ministry's official list. In 2015 the ministry conducted a nationwide review of provincial political party offices. It found 10 political parties not in compliance with the regulation and deregistered all 10 of them. There were a total of 57 political parties registered with the ministry. c. Freedom of Religion See the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, which the government generally respected, although it sometimes limited citizens' movement for security reasons. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration, and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, returning refugees, and other persons of concern. Government ability to assist vulnerable persons, including returnees from Pakistan and Iran, remained limited, and it continued to rely on the international community for assistance. In-country Movement: Taxi, truck, and bus drivers reported security forces or insurgents sometimes operated illegal checkpoints and extorted money and goods from travelers. The greatest barrier to movement in some parts of the country was the lack of security. In many areas insurgent violence, banditry, land mines, and IEDs made travel extremely dangerous, especially at night. Armed insurgents operated illegal checkpoints and extorted money and goods. The Taliban imposed nightly curfews on the local populace in regions where it exercised authority, mostly in the southeast. Social custom limited women's freedom of movement without male consent or a male chaperone. Emigration and Repatriation: Refugee returns to the country rose in the last half of the year. As of mid-November UNHCR had assisted the return of more than 370,000 registered refugees (99 percent of whom returned from Pakistan), greatly surpassing the 58,460 returns in 2015. According to UNHCR surveys of returnees at arrival centers, many returnees claimed they left Pakistan due to increased rates of harassment and extortion and because they no longer believed they could stay in their homes safely or find jobs. Other reasons they cited included maintaining family unity with undocumented Afghans following their deportation, enhanced border controls, and uncertainty about legal status. Former refugees constituted more than 20 percent of the total country population, yet the government lacked the capacity to integrate large numbers of new arrivals due to continuing insecurity, limited employment opportunities, poor development, and budgetary constraints. Undocumented Afghan refugees also returned in large numbers. The International Organization for Migration reported that about 230,000 had returned from Pakistan as of mid-November and projected that approximately 300,000 undocumented Afghans would return by the end of 2016. Approximately 391,000 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran during the same period; most of these returns resulted from deportation by Iranian authorities. Internally Displaced Persons Internal population movements increased, mainly triggered by increasing armed conflict. The United Nations estimated there were 1.2 million IDPs in the country. According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 486,000 new IDPs fled their homes from January to November. Most IDPs left insecure rural areas and small towns seeking relatively greater safety and government services in larger towns and cities in the same province. All 34 provinces hosted IDP populations. Limited humanitarian access caused delays in identifying, assessing, and providing timely assistance to IDPs and led to estimates of the total number of IDPs that were significantly larger than official figures. IDPs continued to lack access to basic protection, including personal and physical security and shelter. Many IDPs, especially in households with a female head, faced difficulty obtaining basic services because they did not have identity documents. Many IDPs in urban areas reportedly faced discrimination, lacked adequate sanitation and other basic services, and lived in constant risk of eviction from illegally occupied displacement sites, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. Women in IDP camps reported high levels of domestic violence. Limited opportunities to earn a livelihood following the initial displacement often led to secondary displacement, making tracking of vulnerable persons difficult. Even IDPs who had access to local social services sometimes had less access than their non-IDP neighbors, due to distance from the services or other factors. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: Laws do not provide for granting asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees from other countries. Nonetheless, the government worked closely with the international community to protect and respond to the needs of Pakistani refugees, including an estimated 100,000 refugees who remained in UNHCR camps in Khost and Paktika Provinces after being displaced in 2014 following Pakistani military operations against insurgents across the border. Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process The constitution provides citizens the opportunity to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Citizens exercised this ability in the 2014 presidential and provincial elections and the 2010 parliamentary elections. The Taliban and political actors attempted to use violence to intimidate voters during the 2014 presidential elections, which were also marred by allegations of widespread fraud and corruption. Parliamentary elections are mandated by the constitution to be held every five years; however, the regularly scheduled elections were not held in 2015, as the government had yet to complete promised electoral reforms. As a result members of the Wolesi Jirga (lower house of parliament) remained in office past the June 2015 expiration of their five-year terms by virtue of a presidential decree. In November the government replaced the members of its main electoral bodies the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission a necessary first step in completing the anticipated reforms and proposing a new electoral calendar. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: According to the IEC, more than 6.8 million voters cast votes in the first round of the April 2014 presidential election. Although security incidents occurred throughout the country, they reportedly had only a modest impact on turnout, and there were no mass-casualty events. Of the eight presidential candidates who competed in the first round, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai received the most votes, 45 percent and 31.6 percent, respectively. Neither achieved the majority necessary, and a runoff election between the two was held in June 2014. Allegations of fraud led to a dispute over the accuracy of the preliminary results announced by the IEC following the June 2014 runoff. Those results showed Ghani leading with 56.4 percent, compared with Abdullah's 43.5 percent. Following a protracted standoff, the two candidates agreed to a 100 percent audit of the ballot boxes and committed to forming a National Unity Government, with the runner-up assuming a newly created chief executive officer (CEO) position in the government. According to media reporting of leaked IEC data, the audit invalidated more than 850,000 fraudulent ballots of an estimated eight million. The IEC completed the election audit and named Ghani the winner in September 2014. In accordance with the National Unity Government agreement, Ghani then created the CEO position by presidential decree and named Abdullah to the position. The audit results were released publicly in February. Political Parties and Political Participation: Negative associations of past political activity with violent militia groups and the former communist regime, as well as allegations of persistent corruption and inefficiency among political elites, led many citizens to view political parties with suspicion. The Political Party Law granted parties the right to exist as formal institutions for the first time in the country's history. The law requires parties to have at least 10,000 members from the country's 34 provinces. Parties were not always able to conduct activities throughout the country; in some regions antigovernment violence reduced security. As of November, 57 political parties were registered with the Ministry of Justice, and no party was deregistered during the year. According to the ministry, a deregistered party could meet and continue "informal" political activities, but candidates for political office could not run for office under the party's name until it met the registration criteria. Provincial party members continued to assert the ministry's monitoring process was inconsistent. Some parties reported regular interactions with ministry officials and others had none at all. Political parties played a greater role in the 2014 presidential elections than in previous elections, and the organization, networks, and public support of the parties that supported Abdullah and Ghani contributed to their success as presidential candidates. Participation of Women and Minorities: The constitution specifies a minimum number of seats for women and minorities in the two houses of parliament. For the Wolesi Jirga (lower house), the constitution mandates that at least two women shall be elected from each province (for a total of 68). In 2010 voters elected 69 women to the Wolesi Jirga. In the Meshrano Jirga (upper house), the constitution empowers the president to appoint one-third of the members. One-half of the presidential appointees must be women. Ten seats are also set aside in the Wolesi Jirga for members of the Kuchi minority (nomads). In the Meshrano Jirga, the president's appointees must include two Kuchis and two members with physical disabilities. In practice, one seat in the Meshrano Jirga is reserved for the appointment of a Sikh or Hindu representative, although this is not mandated by the constitution. Traditional societal practices continued to limit women's participation in politics and activities outside the home and community, including the need to have a male escort or permission to work. These factors, in addition to an education and experience gap, likely continued to influence the central government's male-dominated composition. The 2013 electoral law reduced quotas for women on provincial councils from 25 percent to 20 percent and eliminated women's quotas entirely for district and village councils. Neither district nor village councils had been established by year's end. As did their male counterparts, women active in government and politics continued to face threats and violence and were the targets of attacks by the Taliban and other insurgent groups. In July the director of women's affairs in Ghazni Province was attacked. She escaped unharmed, but another government employee was killed. Most female parliamentarians reportedly experienced some kind of threat or intimidation, and many believed the state could not or would not protect them. No laws prevent minorities from participating in political life, although different ethnic groups complained they did not have equal access to local government jobs in provinces where they were in the minority. Individuals from the majority Pashtun ethnic group had more seats than any other ethnic group in both houses of parliament but did not have more than 50 percent of the seats. There was no evidence specific societal groups were excluded. Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials. The government did not implement the law effectively or evenly, and there were reports officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Reports indicated corruption remained endemic throughout society, and flows of money from the military, international donors, and the drug trade continued to exacerbate the problem. According to public opinion surveys, many citizens believed the government had not been effective in combating corruption. Corruption and uneven governance continued to play a significant role in allowing the Taliban to exert influence and control some areas in the southern, eastern, and some northern provinces, particularly in remote areas. According to prisoners and local NGOs, corruption was widespread across the justice system, particularly in connection with the prosecution of criminal cases and in arranging release from prison. There were also reports that officials received unauthorized payments in exchange for reducing prison sentences, halting an investigation, or dismissing charges outright. The practice of filing criminal complaints in what would ordinarily be civil matters was commonly used to settle business disputes or extort money from wealthy international investors. During the year there were reports of "land grabbing" by both private and public actors. The most common type occurred when businesses illegally obtained property deeds from corrupt officials and sold the deeds to unsuspecting "homeowners," who would then be caught up in criminal prosecutions. Other reports indicated government officials grabbed land without compensation to exchange it for contracts or political favors. Occasionally provincial governments illegally confiscated land without due process or compensation to build public facilities. Corruption: In June the president signed a decree establishing an independent Anti-Corruption Justice Center with responsibility for prosecuting high-level corruption cases. With collaboration from the Supreme Court, AGO, and Major Crimes Task Force, prosecutors and primary and appellate court judges were assigned to the court, and work began on a permanent facility at Camp Heath. The anticorruption center began trying its first cases on November 12 in temporary facilities. In its first case, a senior-level AGO Military Department prosecutor was convicted for accepting a 43,500 Afghani ($750) bribe and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and a 43,500 Afghani ($750) fine. In a second case, the deputy branch manager of Azizi Bank in Kandahar was convicted on four separate counts of embezzlement and forgery totaling 8.8 million Afghanis ($152,000), and he was sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years and four months. International media and observers attended the proceedings and reported the trials were procedurally fair, orderly, and professional. Provincial police sometimes engaged in corruption at police checkpoints and from the narcotics industry. ANP officers reportedly paid higher-level Ministry of Interior officials for their positions and promotions. The justice system rarely pursued corruption cases, especially if they involved police. The ministry continued to be affected by allegations of widespread corruption, poor performance, and abuse of power by officers. In addition to impunity, low salaries in the public sector and security forces exacerbated corruption by officials. The international community worked with the national and provincial governance structures to address the problem of low salaries, but implementation of grade reform remained slow. Police reportedly demanded bribes from civilians to gain release from prison or avoid arrest. Citizens bribed corrections and detention officials to obtain release of prisoners who were not discharged at the end of their sentences. Governors with reported involvement in corruption, the drug trade, or records of human rights violations reportedly continued to receive executive appointments and served with relative impunity. Financial Disclosure: The High Office of Oversight is responsible for collecting information from senior government officials on all sources and levels of personal income. The office verifies and publishes online and in mass media the personal asset declarations of the most senior officials when they assume office and when they leave. While collection and publication occurred, some officials failed to submit the required reports, and there was only limited progress on the verification of such declarations by independent experts. The absence of legal penalties for omissions or misrepresentations tended to undermine this key tool for identifying wrongdoing. Public Access to Information: The constitution and law provide citizens the right to access government information, except when access might violate the rights of others. Access to information from official sources continued to be limited due to a lack of clarity regarding citizens' rights and a lack of transparency among government institutions. NGOs and human rights organizations said the 2014 law on access to information had not yet been fully implemented, and some government officials reportedly failed to disclose information of public interest in an adequate manner. Observers noted concern about some provisions of the law authorities can use to withhold information for national security reasons. NGOs continued to point out that the lack of clear definitions for terms such as national security and national interest could seriously affect and limit access to information. On October 16, President Ghani issued a decree asking government officials not to delay access to information to media and to categorize information properly. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights Domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. While government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, there were cases in which government officials intimidated human rights groups. Human rights activists continued to express concern that war criminals and human rights abusers remained in positions of power within the government. Government Human Rights Bodies: The constitutionally mandated AIHRC continued to address human rights problems, but it received minimal government funding and relied almost exclusively on international donor funds. Three Wolesi Jirga committees deal with human rights: the Gender, Civil Society, and Human Rights Committee; the Counternarcotics, Intoxicating Items, and Ethical Abuse Committee; and the Judicial, Administrative Reform, and Anticorruption Committee. In the Meshrano Jirga, the Committee for Gender and Civil Society addresses human rights concerns. Section 6. Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons Women Rape and Domestic Violence: The EVAW law criminalizes violence against women, including rape, battery, or beating; forced marriage; humiliation; intimidation; and deprivation of inheritance, although its implementation remained limited. The law provides for a sentence of 16 to 20 years' imprisonment for rape. If the act results in the death of the victim, the law provides for a death sentence for the perpetrator. The law provides for imprisonment of up to seven years for the "violation of chastity of a woman ... that does not result in adultery (such as sexual touching)." Under the law, rape does not include spousal rape. The law was not widely understood, and some in the public and the religious communities deemed the law un-Islamic. Many authorities lacked the political will to implement the law and failed to enforce it fully. The AIHRC reported 2,621 cases of violence against women from January through August, including nine killings, 79 cases of sexual violence, 34 sexual harassment cases, 733 beatings, and 44 forced engagements or marriages. Because of the security situation in the country, large numbers of violent crimes committed against women were unreported. In addition to AIHRC's report, the Ministry of Women's Affairs also reported 1,465 cases of violence against women within the first six months of the year, with Ghor, Baghlan, Badakshan, Nargarhar, Takhar, and Balkh Provinces showing the highest numbers. The AGO operated 33 EVAW prosecution units in 33 provinces. In March the AGO held its second national meeting of EVAW prosecutors to facilitate communication between different provincial EVAW units and identify common issues. According to a January report by the Research Institute for Women Peace and Security, a domestic NGO, and the Chr. Michelsen Institute, of 2,958 cases registered with EVAW units in eight provinces studied, 792 or 27 percent resulted in indictments, and of these, 59 percent led to convictions. Among indicted cases, the conviction rate was highest for rape, with 73 percent of indictments leading to a conviction (41 percent of all registered rape cases resulted in convictions). From March 2014 to March 2015, the government reported 4,541 registered cases of violence against women, with 3,038 registered under the EVAW law. The Ministry of Women's Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and AGO also registered 1,179 cases of divorce, separation, annulment of engagements, alimony, and child custody, which may or may not have stemmed from domestic violence, bringing the total number of registered cases to 5,720. Pajhwork News released a report on the role of mediation outside the formal justice system in cases of violence against women. Because mediation takes place at the community level, the male-driven process restricted the reporting of violence against women cases. The same report showed a compilation of data of more than 21,000 of cases of violence against women over the last six years alone. Nearly 70 percent of the cases were registered with the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the police, but only an estimated 5 percent made it to the courts. Prosecutors and judges in some remote provinces were unaware of the EVAW law, and others were subject to community pressure to release defendants due to familial loyalties, threat of harm, or bribes. Reports indicated men accused of rape often claimed the victim agreed to consensual sex, leading to zina charges against the victim, or perpetrators made false claims of marriage to the victim. Rapes were difficult to document due to social stigma. Male victims seldom came forward due to fear of retribution or additional exploitation by authorities, but peer sexual abuse was reportedly common. Female victims faced stringent societal reprisal, ranging from being deemed unfit for marriage to being imprisoned for sexual conduct outside of marriage, or became victims of extrajudicial killing. According to the 2016 Asia Foundation's Annual Survey of the Afghan People, only 23.8 percent of women surveyed knew of an organization, institution, or authority in their area where women could go to have their problems resolved. Forced virginity testing remains legal, and police, prosecutors, and judges frequently ordered virginity tests in cases where women or girls were accused of "moral crimes" such as zina. Women who sought assistance in cases of rape often became subjects of virginity tests and in some instances had their cases converted into adultery cases. According to a September 2015 AIHRC report on forced gynecological exams, 48 of 53 female prisoners interviewed had been subjected to virginity tests, and of these, 20 said they had been tested more than once. The AIHRC publicly condemned virginity testing, citing that the practice had no scientific basis and that performing medical tests without the patient's consent is a violation of the right to freedom and human dignity. Interpretations of sharia also impeded successful prosecution of rape cases. In February media reported a group of armed kidnappers in Kapisa Province took a 10-year-old from her family's home and married her to one of the group leaders' son, a 30-year-old man. In July media reported that family members of a 15-year-old girl in Baghlan Province killed her and a 17-year-old male after accusing them of committing zina. In April a group of armed men gang-raped an 18-year-old in her home in Balkh Province. The penal code criminalizes assault, and courts convicted domestic abusers under this provision, as well as the beating provision in the EVAW law. According to NGO reports, hundreds of thousands of women continued to suffer abuse at the hands of their husbands, fathers, brothers, in-laws, armed individuals, parallel legal systems, and institutions of state, such as the police and justice systems. Police response to domestic violence was limited, in part due to low reporting, sympathy toward perpetrators, and limited protection for victims. Some police and judicial officials were unaware or unconvinced that rape was a serious criminal offense, and investigating rape cases was generally not a priority. Even in instances in which justice officials took rape seriously, some cases reportedly did not proceed due to bribery, family or tribal pressure, or other interference during the process. The AIHRC's 2013 report on rape and honor killing asserted that one-third of cases on rape and honor killings were addressed in accordance with the law. In its study the AIHRC found that 35 percent of rape and honors killings were not appropriately prosecuted. The AIHRC and NGOs contended that due to societal acceptance of the practice, most cases were unreported and never reached prosecutors. According to the AIHRC, more than 2,579 cases of violence against women were reported between March and September 2015. The AIHRC noted that the majority of reports concerned verbal and psychological violence and noted an increase in the number of reported cases from the same period the previous year. The Ministry of Women's Affairs reported that up to 600 cases of violence against women were registered in the first three months of the year, the majority of which involved physical violence. Accurate statistics on the extent of violence against women, however, were difficult to obtain. The most recent research done on the prevalence of violence against women (as opposed to reported cases) was conducted by Global Rights and published in 2008. According to that report, 87 percent of women had experienced some form of physical, sexual, or psychological violence in their lives, and 62 percent had experienced more than one type of violence. Most women did not seek legal assistance for domestic or sexual abuse because they did not know their rights or because they feared prosecution or return to their family or the perpetrator. Women sometimes practiced self-immolation, and the Ministry of Women's Affairs reported there continued to be cases of suicide as a result of domestic violence. Women continued to turn to NGO-run women's protection centers (women's shelters) and associated family guidance centers for assistance, and according to UNAMA's April 2015 report on women's access to justice, victims particularly valued the physical protection afforded by these centers, which often represented the only safe refuge for women. According to NGOs that ran women's protection centers countrywide, police continued to make up the most significant source of referrals, likely reflecting improved ANP training and awareness. Space at the 28 women's protection centers across the country was sometimes insufficient, particularly in major urban centers, and shelters remained concentrated in the western, northern, and central regions of the country. Women who could not be reunited with their families or who were unmarried were generally compelled to remain in protection centers indefinitely, because "unaccompanied" women were not commonly accepted in society. The difficulty of finding durable solutions for women compelled to stay in protection centers was compounded by societal attitudes toward the shelters as centers of prostitution, the belief that "running away from home" was a serious violation of social mores, and the continued victimization of women who were raped but perceived by society as adulterers. Women in need of protection who could not find it often ended up in prison, either due to a lack of a protection center in their province or district, or based on local interpretation of "running away" as a moral crime. Adultery, fornication, and kidnapping are crimes under the law. Women often were convicted of those crimes in situations of abuse, rape, or forced marriage, or on the basis of invalid evidence, including virginity tests. Running away is not a crime under the law, and both the Supreme Court and AGO issued directives to this effect, but women and girls continued to be detained for running away from home or "attempted zina." As of November 30, approximately 51 percent of female prisoners were incarcerated for moral crimes, according to GDPDC records. The Ministry of Women's Affairs, as well as nongovernmental entities, sometimes arranged marriages for women who could not return to their families. Police units charged with addressing violence against women, children, and families, included female officers. Although trained to help victims of domestic violence, the officers were hindered by instructions to wait for victims to take the initiative and reach out to them. Other Harmful Traditional Practices: The EVAW law criminalizes forced, underage, and "baad" marriages (the practice of settling disputes in which the culprit's family trades a girl to the victim's family to settle a dispute) and interference with a woman's right to choose her spouse. According to the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, an estimated 70 percent of marriages were forced. Despite laws banning the practice, many brides continued to be younger than the legal marriage age of 16 (or 15 with a guardian's and a court's approval). Some local media reported an increase in child marriages during the year, although it was unclear whether this reflected an actual increase in the practice or rather an increase in reports. A 2014 AIHRC survey found more than 7 percent of respondents reported their daughters were married before the age of 16. Very few marriages were legally registered with the state, leaving forced marriages outside of legal control. Violence against women is also often a driving factor in cases of suicide and self-immolation. Under the penal code, a man convicted of honor killing after finding his wife committing adultery cannot be sentenced to more than two years' imprisonment. Honor killings continued, although accurate statistics were difficult to obtain. In July a 14-year-old pregnant girl in Ghor Province died in a local hospital after being burned alive in an honor killing by her husband and his family. When the girl's father reported the harassment and violence his daughter had suffered to the police, local authorities dismissed him and suggested he should settle the differences with the girl's in-laws. There were reports of summary justice by the Taliban and other antigovernment elements that resulted in extrajudicial executions. In June a woman in Ghor Province was abducted and shot after cancelling her engagement, and in July the Taliban publicly executed a 19-year-old woman in Sar-e-Pul Province for running away from home after a domestic dispute. UNAMA reported that the Taliban lashed a woman in the Sha Joy district of Zabul Province, citing adultery. Sexual Harassment: The EVAW law criminalizes harassment and persecution of women but does not define these terms. A Regulation on Prohibition of Women's Sexual Harassment entered into effect in October 2015, when it was published in the official gazette. The regulation, which was adopted pursuant to the EVAW law, defines harassment against women and establishes and identifies mechanisms for complaint and redress. Women who walked outside alone or who worked outside the home often experienced abuse or harassment, including groping, or they were followed on the streets in urban areas. Women who took on public roles that challenged gender stereotypes (such as lawmakers, political leaders, NGO leaders, police officers, and news broadcasters) continued to be intimidated by conservative elements and received death threats directed at them or their families. NGOs reported violence, including killings, against women working in the public and nonprofit sectors and initiated awareness-raising campaigns to mobilize groups against harassment. Female members of the ANP reported harassment by their male counterparts, and there were reports that female ANP members and their families experienced intimidation and discrimination within their communities. In May a group of female social activists launched a website to help women register and report incidents of violence and seek advice on how to resolve their issues. Reproductive Rights: Women generally exercised little decision-making authority regarding marriage, the timing, and number of pregnancies, birthing practices, and child education. Couples were free from government discrimination, coercion, and violence to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children, although family and community pressures to reproduce, the high prevalence of child and early marriages, and lack of accurate biological knowledge limited their ability to do so. Women could expect to bear on average 5.1 children in their lifetimes. Oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectable contraceptives, and condoms were available commercially and were provided at no cost in public health facilities and at subsidized rates in private health facilities and through community health workers. The UN Population Fund estimated that 23 percent of women of reproductive age used a modern method of contraception. Between January and August, the AIHRC registered eight cases of forced abortion from women and girls. According to the World Health Organization's, UN's, and World Bank's Trends in Maternal Mortality Report: 1990-2013, the maternal mortality rate in 2013 was 400 deaths per 100,000 live births. This represented a two-thirds reduction in maternal mortality since 1995. Early marriage and pregnancy put girls at greater risk for premature labor, complications during delivery, and death in childbirth. Postpartum hemorrhage and obstructed labor were key causes of maternal mortality. Only 34 percent of births were attended by a skilled health practitioner, and only 21 percent of girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49 used a modern form of contraception. Discrimination: Women who reported cases of abuse or who sought legal redress for other matters reported they experienced discrimination within the judicial system. Some observers, including female judges, asserted that discrimination was a result of faulty implementation of law and cultural nuances, rather than the law itself. A woman's limited access to money and other resources to pay fines (or bribes) and the social requirement for women to have a male guardian affected their access to and participation in the justice system. Local practices were discriminatory against women in some areas, particularly in parts of the country where courts were not functional or knowledge of the law was minimal. Judges in some remote districts acknowledged wide influence by tribal authorities in preempting cases from the formal justice system. In August 2015 a man beheaded his wife in Baghlan Province after she sought a divorce from a local court. In the informal system, elders relied on interpretations of sharia and tribal customs, which generally discriminated against women. Many women reported limited access to justice in male-dominated tribal shuras, where proceedings focused on reconciliation with the community and family rather than the rights of the individual. Women in some villages were not allowed any access to dispute resolution mechanisms. Lack of awareness of their legal rights and illiteracy also limited women's ability to access justice. Women's advocacy groups reported in some cases that the government intervened informally with local courts to encourage them to interpret laws in ways favorable to women. Many cases in remote districts, however, reportedly were resolved according to the local police officer's or prosecutor's discretion or interpretation of the law. When legal authorities were aware of the EVAW law and its implementation, women were in some cases able to get appropriate assistance. Prosecutors in some provinces, however, continued to be reluctant to use the EVAW law. Moreover, in cases in which prosecutors brought charges under the EVAW law, judges would sometimes replace those charges with others based on the penal code. Police, prosecutors, and judges discriminated against women in criminal and civil legal proceedings stemming from violence and forced marriages. Enhanced availability of legal aid, including through female attorneys, provided some relief in formal justice system proceedings. Cultural prohibitions limiting women's movement prevented many women from working outside the home and reduced their access to education, health care, police protection, and other social services. In December the head of the council of religious scholars (Ulema Council) in Takhar Province declared women were the "most shameful" persons. He was fired immediately after his statement. The law provides for equal work without discrimination, but there are no provisions for equal pay for equal work. The EVAW law criminalizes interference with a woman's right to work. Women faced discrimination in access to employment and terms of occupation. Some educated urban women found substantive work, but many were relegated to menial tasks in the workplace, regardless of qualification. There were 2,834 female police officers as of September 2015, including those in training, constituting less than 2 percent of the total police force. While the government made efforts to recruit additional female police officers, cultural customs and discrimination rendered recruitment and retention difficult. Women in high-profile positions of government service continued to be subjected to threats and violence. The Ministry of Women's Affairs and NGOs promoted women's rights and freedoms. According to the AIHRC, many women in the civil service did not meet the minimum qualification of a bachelor's degree imposed by the priority reform and restructuring system. The women's ministry, the primary government agency responsible for addressing gender policy and the needs of women, had offices in all provinces and established gender units in all ministries. Gender units at lower ranks, however, lacked major influence, and men typically dominated their leadership positions. Although the ministry's provincial offices assisted hundreds of women by providing legal and family counseling and referring women, they could not directly assist relevant organizations. The ministry and provincial line directorates suffered from a lack Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/11/2017 --Latin American construction powerhouse, Grupo Zagalo will launch the Caribbean's first yoo branded boutique residences in Santo Domingo. Grupo Zagalo, LINKS WorldGroup, an international marketing and communications agency, and ItalKraft, an Italian design kitchen, bathroom, custom closet firm, signed the exclusive branding contract with London's yoo Studio in early 2017, marking the first project of its kind to be developed in the Dominican Republic. yoo is an award winning international design and branding company, and yoo Residences Santo Domingo will be designed under the creative direction of yoo Head of Design; Mark Davidson. yoo was co-founded by entrepreneur John Hitchcox and acclaimed designer Philippe Starck in 1999 to create homes that enhance lives through original design and generate communities. yoo Residences Santo Domingo, a 121-unit project is ideally located at the intersection of Calle Gustavo Mejias Ricart and Calle Freddy Prestol Castillo, just steps away from the prestigious Blue Mall area, where Santo Domingo's elite enjoy the finest shopping and culinary experiences, such as, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Cafe SBG among them. "In the past few years, Santo Domingo has become a regional leader in business and commerce with a growing social scene to match. There was a need for a truly innovative residential opportunity commensurate with the status Santo Domingo has gained as an epicenter for business, culture, and lifestyle," Grupo Zagalo partner, Marco Garcia Van Veldhoven, stated, on behalf of himself and his two business partners, Eduardo Lopez and Eduardo Zambrano. "We are delighted to be working with such a strong team in one of the most beautiful environments in the world," said Mark Davison, yoo Head of Design, "It is important to us that we take inspiration from the local community and weave this into our international experience to create the ultimate home and a truly desirable place to live." LINKS WorldGroup Chairman said: "According to recent data from the Central Bank, GDP expanded 6.6% in 2016, registering the fastest growth rate in Latin America for the third year in a row. We are currently experiencing the safest and smartest time to invest in Santo Domingo's real estate market." Antonio Segundo Imbert, co-founder of Simples Arquitectura, is the lead architect responsible for design of the tower; a stylized 14-story building with commercial spaces, that will be home to Santo Domingo's only private landscaped rooftop. Antonio Segundo Imbert design incorporates "one-bedroom units that will range from 753 to 914 square feet and be delivered fully-furnished with a yoo Studio design. The buyer only needs to move-in to enjoy their investment in the city's only branded, five-star condo-hotel." Italkraft Partner Raul Gutierrez believes that for those: "Dominicans and international buyers who know about architecture, design, and art, the opportunity to own a part of a project such as this, is a dream come true." Pricing and timing for sales has yet to be released, but the launch of the friends and family sales is expected no later than April 2017. About yoo yoo was co-founded in 1999 by international property entrepreneur John Hitchcox, and world-renowned designer Philippe Starck. yoo is a thoroughly international lifestyle brand and one of the world's most imaginative design, development and branding companies, behind some of the most extraordinary and innovative residential, hotel and leisure developments, as well as consumer retail furnishings, that improve people's lives through original design. The mission of the YOO Studio and Creative Directors Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Jade Jagger, Kelly Hoppen and Steve Leung is to design spaces that enable like-minded individuals to live, work and play better. yoo's experience spans 75 projects in 32 countries and 54 cities, throughout Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, North and South America and the Middle East - the only continent YOO has not operated in is Antarctica! Headed by Head of Design Mark Davison and Design Director Michael Delaney, yoo Studio's experience is enhanced by its diversity of over 20 architects, interior and product designers with big imaginations, providing a choice of looks and styles to suit the lifestyles of today's modern dwellers. www.yoo.com About LINKS WorldGroup LINKS WorldGroup, a marketing communications agency headquartered in Miami. We have rapidly grown to become an industry leader in the Caribbean and Latin America with a robust portfolio of travel and hospitality, tech, real estate and consumer goods clients. In addition to four U.S. offices, LINKS has locations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America with offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Puerto Rico. As a member of Tribe Global, an expanding network of independent, member-owned communications agencies, we have additional offices in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. www.linksworldgroup.com About ITALKRAFT Headquartered in Miami, Florida, ITALKRAFT a global company offers elegant and functional solutions coupled with exceptional customer service at competitive rates. Since 2005, ITALKRAFT has provided developers and their customers throughout the United States, Caribbean, and Latin America full-service kitchens, bathrooms, closets, furnishings and cabinetry of the highest standard and style. ITALKRAFT services include being hands-on every step of the way from design consultation, shop drawing provision, and installation. In 2016, ITALKRAFT was awarded an exclusive license to create, manufacture and market yoo Studio Design kitchens, bathrooms, and closets. www.italkraft.com Voting on Tuesday? Check here to get the information you need Cambodias government on Tuesday slammed what it said is an ongoing campaign of disinformation led by Western governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) against Prime Minister Hun Sens ruling party as part of a bid to unseat it. In an 11-page report entitled To Tell The Truth, the government detailed what it suggested were concerted efforts to undermine the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) by foreign powers and the media, which it said heavily favor the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). For years, Cambodia was the subject of disinformation led by some foreign governments and organizations, which twisted historical facts and events in an attempt to portray a negative image of Cambodia and to lay the blame on the government, the report said. The Royal Government of Cambodia [is] issuing this paper with the aim of clarifying and setting the records straight on various controversial issues. Among the most controversial issues at the heart of the smear campaign, the government said, were criticism over recent amendments to Cambodias political party law and an NGO law passed in 2015both seen as restricting the activities of the groups they concern. Amendments to the political party law were approved by the National Assembly, or parliament, on Feb. 20, despite an opposition boycott. They include articles that put parties at risk of dissolution for jeopardizing the security of the state and provoking incitement that critics say are intentionally vaguely worded. Cambodias Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO) was passed with unanimous approval by ruling-party lawmakers, also amid a boycott by the opposition. The law requires the 5,000 domestic and international NGOs that work in the developing country to register with the government and report their activities and finances or risk fines, criminal prosecution and shut downs. Other issues cited in the report included allegations that Cambodias judiciary lacks independence and that the government is seeking to limit freedom of expression by using the courts to level defamation charges at reporters and critics of the ruling party. The government also expressed concerns that NGOs and foreign journalists are biased against the CPP and that Western countries hold Cambodia to unreasonable standards of human rights protections despite its extremely short history of modern state-building. Allegations rejected Observers, however, roundly rejected the report as groundless and an attempt by the ruling party to whitewash political machinations and poor governance ahead of local elections scheduled for June and general elections in 2018. Political commentator Meas Ny told RFAs Khmer Service he was unsurprised by allegations in the report. This is simply a routine of denial by the government and nothing but an attempt to keep its skeletons in the closetits just a facade, he said. The government has the right to give the public its own version of an event. However, in this age of advanced technology, its hard for the government to conceal the facts about what is actually happening on the ground. CNRP senior lawmaker Son Chhay agreed that the report was nothing new and dismissed it for what he called a lack of supporting evidence. It is groundless to allege that Western countries are favoring the opposition party, while NGOs are helping Cambodians in general, not the opposite, he said. Not only does the paper fail to reflect the truth, but its exaggerated concerns are unsubstantiated. Residents of Trapeang Pring commune in Tboung Khmum province call for the release of ADHOC workers, NEC deputy secretary-general Ny Chakrya and Tep Vanny, Feb. 23, 2017. ADHOC Call for release Meanwhile, residents of several communities in Cambodias southeastern Tboung Khmum province held protests Tuesday, calling for the release of a land rights campaigner, four jailed rights group officials and the deputy of the National Election Committee (NEC), the countrys electoral body. The protesters from Memot and Dambae districts urged the government to free land activist Tep Vanny, ADHOC officials Ny Sokha, Yi Soksan, Nay Vanda and Lim Mony, and NEC deputy secretary-general Ny Chakrya ahead of the April 14-16 Khmer New Year so they can be reunited with their families. A community representative from Chambak village in Dambaes Trapeang Pring commune named Yaim Veng told RFA that the protesters hoped to secure a royal pardon for the six detainees, who he said were innocent and unjustly imprisoned. May we humbly ask the royal government led by Samdech [honorific] Hun Sen and King [Norodom] Sihamoni to release the activists, he said. In February, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court handed Tep Vanny a 30-month sentence for aggravated intentional violence, based on a plaintiffs testimony that she ordered marchers to attack security forces during a 2013 protest near Hun Sens home. Other witnesses said the security forces initiated the attack. A wide-ranging probe into a purported affair by CNRP president Kem Sokha led authorities to charge the ADHOC officials with bribery and the NEC official with accessory to bribery for attempting to keep the opposition leaders alleged mistress quiet. All five have been held in pre-trial detention for nearly 350 days. Another resident of Trapeang Pring named Pheng Samoeun said that every villager knows who the bad guys and good guys are, adding that if the courts continue to detain innocent people, the impartiality of the judicial system will be questioned and support for the government will be eroded ahead of commune elections set for June 4. We do not agree with what the government is doing to themeven ordinary citizens are fully aware of this injustice, he said. The government should stop burying its head in the sand. Ny Chakryas attorney Som Sokong told RFA his clients detention had left him in a poor state of mental and physical health, and also affected his family and work with the NEC ahead of the commune elections. There are abundant procedures that allow for his release, he said, adding that the court should consider freeing him by next week. Ho Vann speaks to reporters at Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh, April 11, 2017. RFA Jailed CNRP lawmakers Also on Tuesday, a group of opposition lawmakers traveled to Prey Sar prison in the capital Phnom Penh to visit jailed CNRP parliamentarians Hong Sok Hour and Um Sam An. After the visit, senior opposition lawmaker Ho Vann told reporters that the two men remain strong and determined, and called on the CNRP to remain united so that it can secure a victory in the June commune elections. Ho Vann said the government has not indicated it is willing to resume discussions about releasing the lawmakers. In November last year, Hong Sok Hour was found guilty of forging and publishing public documents and of incitement to cause instability, when he posted a disputed copy of a 1979 Cambodia-Vietnam treaty on Facebook that said the two countries had agreed to dissolve their mutual border. Um Sam An was handed a two-and-a half year sentence in October 2016 for inciting discrimination and inciting social instability for posts on the lawmakers Facebook page accusing the CPP of failing to stop land encroachment by Vietnam and using improper maps to demarcate the border between the two former colonies of France. Months earlier, Hun Sen had ordered police to arrest anyone accusing the government of using fake maps to cede national territory to Vietnam, which invaded and occupied Cambodia in 1979 to overthrow the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Reported by Sovannarith Keo, Sokheng Saut and Samnang Rann for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Dozens of ethnic Mongolian protesters gathered on Monday outside Chinese government offices in the northern region of Inner Mongolia, demanding the release of detainees after mass protests erupted over a land dispute. Farmers and herders from more than a dozen villages in Horchin Right Front Banner, to the northwest of Ulanhot city, then faced off with police outside government buildings on Tuesday, herders told RFA. "About 3,000 people went there yesterday, but the banner government called in the riot police to suppress us ... and they detained between around 10 and 20 people," a herder who asked to remain anonymous said. "The police used an electric baton to shock one woman and set off a heart attack, and she had to be taken to hospital by ambulance," he said. "Then they started arresting the men, and the riot police moved in [and attacked us]." "There are still some people receiving treatment in hospital," he said. "Quite a lot of people went to the banner government today, too, calling for the people to be released." Video of one standoff seen by RFA showed a uniformed police officer shouting at a crowd outside government buildings: "I'm not letting you through! I'm not letting you through!" before protesters and police tussled with each other, shouting and screaming. And footage shot by a passing motorist showed several uniformed police officers gathering round and beating someone with batons after the person fell to the floor amid a fleeing crowd. Dispute over payouts The protests come after a dispute with a major insurer over payouts following the drought of 2016. Herders and farmers had been expecting compensation of 500 yuan per mu (0.06 hectares) of land, and 300 per mu for corn maize crops blighted by the drought. But the insurance company had paid out only 40 yuan per mu, and the government refused to get involved, sources told RFA, adding that the payout didn't cover investment made in seeds and fertilizer for the crops, leaving local people sustaining serious losses. "People have been going to the government about the 2016 insurance situation since March 7," a Horchin Right Front Banner herder said. "To start with, they wanted nothing to do with it, neither the banner government, nor the [higher-level] league government." "So the local people demanded a response from the banner government, who refused to tell us when we'd get our money," he said, adding, "But the missing money was embezzled by the leaders in our townships and at the banner level." "We can shout about this injustice, but it doesn't do any good." An employee who answered the phone at the Horchin Right Front Banner government on Tuesday hung up the phone immediately when contacted by RFA. Call for unconditional release Veteran ethnic Mongolian dissident Hada called on the local government to release the protesters unconditionally. "The farmers' demands are justified, but the authorities refuse to do anything about it," Hada told RFA. "Instead, they mobilize large numbers of police to beat people up and detain them." "I heard that they have detained more than a dozen people, and I strongly condemn this violent incident," he said. "I call on the authorities to release all detainees ... and to address the fundamental problem." Germany-based ethnic Mongolian activist Xi Haiming said local people rely on insurance to make it through the leaner years. "When times are hard, they can't survive," Xi said. "When the farmers get into difficulties, the state should guarantee them a basic subsistence-level income." He said the ruling Chinese Communist Party has a number of policies that look good on paper, but that are rarely implemented on the ground. "What the party says sounds great, but they don't deliver on it," Xi said. "The local-level officials are just siphoning off that money, embezzling it." Second protest in weeks Monday's clashes were the second major protest in recent weeks, with more than 1,000 local people gathering outside government offices on March 27. The protests prompted the government to send officials out to meet with herders and farmers and to persuade them to disperse, sources said. China's 5.8 million-strong ethnic Mongolian community have long complained of widespread environmental destruction, violent evictions from traditional grazing lands, and unfair development policies in the region. Hada and his wife Xinna, both veteran activists on behalf of ethnic Mongolians in China, have said the routine eviction of herders from their traditional grazing lands, often in the name of ecological protection, is part of a calculated program of ethnic cleansing by the Communist Party in Inner Mongolia. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. This screen grab from a news report by China Central Television (CCTV) shows a passenger on a United Airlines flight who was forced off the plane by security personnel, April 11, 2017. The violent removal of a United Airlines passenger who refused to leave after being bumped off an overbooked flight in Chicago on Monday has sparked widespread outrage on Chinese social media after state media said the man was a 69-year-old Chinese-American originally from Beijing. Hashtags linked to the incident were viewed by more than 150 million people and racked up tens of thousands of comments and retweets by Tuesday evening local time, amid widespread calls for a boycott of the U.S. airline after a viral video shot by a fellow passenger showed security personnel removing the man, injuring him in the process. The man had refused to give up his seat on the flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport on its journey to Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday, saying he is a doctor who had patients to see on Monday morning. Video showing him being dragged down the plane, screaming and with blood pouring from his mouth sparked global outrage, but in China, public anger was further fueled by suspicions of racist discrimination after fellow passenger Tyler Brides, who posted video of the incident to his Twitter account, told the Washington Post the man yelled: "I'm being selected because I'm Chinese." On Tuesday, reports emerged that the man is a Vietnamese-American doctor named David Dao who specializes in internal medicine and lives in the U.S. state of Kentucky with his wife who is a pediatrician. A photoshopped image of a United aircraft bearing the slogan: "If we can't beat our competitors, we'll beat our customers!" was widely circulated on Sina's Twitter-like Weibo platform. "Rise up, people who refuse to be slaves!" commented user @yikoushaomai, quoting the lyrics of China's national anthem. "This is over-the-top bullying!" user @zuobengua agreed, while @Mm-wenwen added: "This behavior is incompatible with humanity." Many users commented "Boycott United!" while others homed in on the passenger's ethnicity. "I've never understood on what basis those people in America think they get to discriminate against us ... I'm never going to set foot in that country as long as I live," @favoritezhangjiayuan wrote, while @wobushizhongyimengfoik commented: "Laughable human rights." @Vienna-Feiyang added: "Against racial discrimination, and strongly oppose any discrimination against Chinese people!" while @xiaoyangyangyangyangjiang wrote: "I just want to know if this old guy is OK. It made me so sad to see this." Is he Chinese? Some of the comments hit out at the violent treatment of an elderly man, while others were unsure of the man's origin. "Is he Chinese?" @SOMNUS wrote. "He could also be Japanese or Korean, by the look of him. This is about what happened, not about who it happened to. It is an unacceptable way to treat a customer," to which @huanghuanghuangxiuhua replied: "It said on the news he's a Chinese guy from Beijing." "There are no human rights in America ... and yet they criticize our country," added @xiaoxiancaojun-meirenbiwogengkeai. United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz "made no apology for the way the passenger was treated and just emphasized that he had 'refused to comply' with staff," the Global Times newspaper, a sister paper of ruling Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily, reported on Tuesday. Munoz wrote in a leaked internal email: "While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you [the employees] When we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions." "The situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago aviation security officers to help," Munoz wrote in the letter obtained by CNBC and other news outlets. One of the security officers who dragged the passenger off the plane is currently on leave pending a review, the Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement, adding that the officer did not follow protocol. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Transportation said it would investigate whether United complied with overbooking rules that require airlines to set guidelines on how passengers are denied boarding if they do not volunteer to give up their seats. United is contractually allowed to turn passengers with tickets away if a flight is overbooked, but bumped off passengers are entitled to cash compensation or a similar flight. Passengers who "fail to comply with or interfere with the duties of the members of the flight crew" can also be removed for security reasons. Reported by RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Amnesty International is calling on Kazakh authorities to immediately and unconditionally release labor union activist Nurbek Qushaqbaev from prison and stop their "attack" on independent trade union movements. Qushaqbaev was sentenced earlier this month to 2 1/2 years in prison on what the London-based group described in an April 11 statement as trumped up, far-fetched charges. A court in Astana on April 7 found Qushaqbaev guilty of instigating an illegal strike by workers and sentenced him the same day. Qushaqbaev pleaded not guilty. Qushaqbaevs conviction is just one link in a long chain of events that will lead to the eventual destruction of the independent trade union movement in Kazakhstan, Amnesty said. Qushaqbaev, a member of the union at the Oil Construction Company (OCC) in the western Manghystau region, was arrested in January after hundreds of OCC workers struck for two weeks to protest the closure of a trade union alliance. The strike was stopped after a local court declared it illegal. Around 8,000 refugees, most of them from the Middle East, remain stuck in Serbia long after the European Union closed its eastern border to newcomers in an attempt to close off migrants' so-called Balkan route to Western Europe. And while their hardship does not appear to have diminished, the major reduction in migrant numbers from two years ago and our short attention spans have led to fewer headlines on the topic these days. But Doctors Without Borders has registered more than 70 migrant deaths on the Balkan route between Greece and Hungary in the past year. Most died of hypothermia or as a result of drowning, road accidents, or suicide. And after initially winning international praise for its reception and treatment of migrants, it looks like sympathy and respect for refugees is running low in Serbia. Just two years ago, grassroots groups were providing meals and clothing for migrants who were escaping conflict or poverty. Some Belgrade residents even opened their homes to refugees during the harsh winter of 2015. Many Serbs were proud that their country -- still outside the European Union -- arguably had a record of caring for refugees and migrants that was at least as favorable as that of EU neighbors Hungary or Bulgaria. Yet Serbia and Macedonia are prominent among the countries criticized for violations of humanitarian law in a recent Oxfam report based on aid workers' interviews with refugees. The report is based on data collected by the Belgrade Center for Human Rights and the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association, supported by Oxfam. It catalogues a long list of incidents of abuse of refugees and migrants (including children) by police in Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. RFE/RL's Balkan Service in Belgrade reports that some Serbian (and Croatian) bus companies are refusing to transport migrants or refugees even when they have valid tickets and documents provided by Serbian authorities. Employees of a Belgrade refugee center called Info Park say that despite valid tickets and assurances from ticket sellers, there is no guarantee that refugees will be taken to their destination. "It has often happened to us that when refugees are assigned to the Presevo camp, we have no way of getting them there because the bus company...has refused to take them on board," says Info Park's Branislava Djonin, who routinely helps migrants buy their bus tickets and find their way to their assigned camps. (On the day she spoke to RFE/RL, she was accompanying three young Afghan men who had registered with Serbian police and been given a 72-hour deadline to appear at a refugee reception center in Presevo.) "We would buy the tickets for them and someone from the [refugee] commission would accompany them to the station, carrying a certificate of their good health, but they would not be allowed on the bus," Djonin says. RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports that the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is aware of such discrimination not only by bus companies but by railway service providers as well. These don't appear to be isolated instances. At the height of the refugee crisis, an RFE/RL correspondent on his way to Subotica, in the northern Vojvodina region on the border with Hungary, witnessed a bus driver directing refugees to the back of the bus, even though the tickets were for assigned seats. "Unfortunately that is a reflection of our society: ignorance and the lack of a desire to understand other people and other cultures," Djonin says. "I think we all have to fight against prejudice together, and to help change the image of people [refugees] who are no different from us." Meanwhile, on a more positive note, the first school for child refugees in the Balkan region has opened its doors at the Presevo refugee camp. Some 220 7-to-15-year-olds from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Kurdish region are currently being taught there, attending classes in the Serbian and English languages, as well as math, geography, art, and physical education. The school's stated goal is to ensure that the children of adult asylum seekers are more easily integrated into Serbian society and the country's education system. So despite the lack of headlines, the ongoing refugee crisis remains a stern test of the ability of Balkan societies -- a source even in very recent memory of their own war refugees -- to feel the pain of others. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL MINSK -- State media in Belarus report that 20 Belarusian citizens have been charged with organizing an illegal armed group. The reports said the 20 suspects were among a group of 35 people who were accused of plotting disorder in Belarus amid discontent over an unpopular tax on the unemployed. Belarusian police arrested members of the White Legion and Patriot activist groups, along with members of the opposition movement Malady Front (Youth Front), in March. Their arrests came after President Alyaksandr Lukashenka announced that "armed militants" had been apprehended on suspicion of planning "armed provocations" nationwide. Lukashenka's claim came amid a series of angry mass demonstrations across the country against the tax on unemployed citizens. With reporting by Sovetskaya Belorussia San Bernardino school shooting A special-education teacher was fatally shot by her estranged husband at an elementary school on Monday. It happened at North Park Elementary in San Bernardino, California. An 8-year-old student was also killed in the gunfire, and a second student was wounded but is listed in stable condition at a local hospital. The police have said they think the two students were unintentionally caught in the gunfire and were not related to the teacher or the shooter. San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said the teacher, identified as Karen Elaine Smith, and the shooter, Cedric Anderson, had been married briefly and were separated for a month and a half, Reuters reported. The police did not engage the shooter, who appeared to have killed himself, the local news affiliate CBS Los Angeles reported. "We believe this to be a murder-suicide," Burguan said on Twitter. A nearby California state university was ordered to shelter-in-place for a time while police canvassed the area and firefighters treated the wounded, NBC LA reported. Parents of students were sent to nearby Cajon High School to reunite with their children. North Park Elementary School was founded in 1968 and teaches kids from kindergarten to sixth grade. The shooting happened fewer than 10 miles from the Inland Regional Center, where 14 people were killed in a mass shooting in December 2015. More From Business Insider Kyiv's forces have repelled several waves of Russian attacks in the Donbas, the Ukrainian military says, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the heavy losses sustained by the Russians on a daily basis highlighted the "madness" of Moscow's strategy of attack. In the southern city of Kherson, Ukraine accused Russia of looting empty homes and occupying them with troops in civilian clothes in expectation of a Ukrainian offensive to retake the city that was the first to fall to Moscow's forces at the start of its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The Ukrainian military's General Staff said in its daily update that Russian troops in the east continued their attacks on Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Novopavlivka, the focal points of Moscow's offensive in Donetsk in recent weeks. At the same time, the military said, Russian troops continue to shell critical infrastructure and civilian objectives in various regions of Ukraine. In his regular video address, Zelenskiy on November 7 called the intense combat in the Donetsk region "the epicenter of the biggest madness of the occupiers." "They are dying in hundreds every day," Zelenskiy said. "The ground in front of the Ukrainian positions is literally littered with the bodies of the occupiers." Zelenskiy also said that Russian soldiers in the Pavlivka area had complained to the governor of their region in the Russian Far East. CNN reported on November 7 that in a letter purportedly sent from the front lines to Primorsky region Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, the men of the 155th Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet Marines say they were thrown into an "incomprehensible battle" in the Donetsk and had lost about 300 men, dead and wounded, in four days, while also losing 50 percent of their equipment. Zelenskiy said that in response to the letter, Kozhemyako had said that the losses were "not that big" and they were "exaggerated." In Kherson, the only pocket of Russian-held territory on the west bank of the Dnieper River that bisects Ukraine, Moscow has ordered civilians out of the city in anticipation of a Ukrainian assault to recapture the city. Kherson, with a prewar population of nearly 300,000, has no power or running water, both sides said. Russian-installed officials blamed Ukrainian "sabotage," while Ukrainian officials said the Russians had dismantled 1 1/2 kilometers of power lines. Ukraine's military said Russian forces, "disguised in civilian clothes, occupy the premises of civilians and strengthen positions inside for conducting street battles." Russian forces were "involved in looting and theft from residents and from infrastructure sites and are taking away equipment, food, and vehicles to the Russian Federation," it said in an update late on November 7. The Ukrainian military reported hits on a Russian antiaircraft facility, ammunition dump, and the destruction of Russian armor in the Beryslav district of the Kherson region, in its November 8 statement. It said 32 Russian military personnel were killed. The information could not be independently confirmed. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy said the escalation of Russian missile strikes against critical infrastructure in his country has only resulted in the world responding with new aid to Ukraine. Ukraine has received "new systems that significantly strengthen our air defense," Zelenskiy said on November 7 in his nightly address. Kyiv will do everything "to ensure that as many countries as possible join this aid," he said. He added that the protection of the Ukrainian sky was "not 100 percent, but we are gradually moving toward our goal." Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov announced earlier on November 7 that Ukraine had received a shipment of NASAMS and Apside air defense systems to help it defend against Russian missile and drone attacks across the country. "These weapons will significantly strengthen #UAarmy and will make our skies safer," he said on Twitter. Reznikov did not specify which countries the systems were from, but in the tweet he thanked "our partners: Norway, Spain and the U.S." With reporting by Reuters and CNN Tension between Russia and the West over the civil war in Syria have escalated further, as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew to Moscow on the highest-level visit since President Donald Trump took office. Before boarding a plane for Moscow following a meeting with Western allies in the Group of Seven (G7) in Italy, Tillerson urged Russia to abandon its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after what he called a "barbaric" toxic-gas attack that killed dozens of civilians. With Russian President Vladimir Putin giving no sign he intends to do that, the White House said Moscow was "isolated" and "getting on the wrong side of history." "They have aligned themselves with North Korea, Syria, Iran," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters in Washington. "Thats not exactly a group of countries you're looking to hang out with. With the exception of Russia, they are all failed states." Speaking earlier in the Italian city of Lucca after G7 foreign ministers met with Middle Eastern allies to discuss the conflict in Syria, Tillerson said Russia must choose whether it will join the United States in seeking a peaceful future for Syria or continue to be aligned with Assad, Iran, and the Lebanese militant group Hizballah. "Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson told reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar Al-Assad," Tillerson added, calling last week"s alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held Syrian town an act of "barbarism." Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons or if has merely been incompetent. But he said the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." "We cannot let this happen again," he said, referring to allegations that Assad ordered a nerve-gas attack last week on a rebel-held town. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people." WATCH: Putin Claims Chemical 'Provocation' Planned In Syria Putin Lashes Out Tillerson later landed in Moscow, where he is to meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on April 12. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said before Tillerson's arrival that a meeting with him was not on the presidents schedule "yet." Russia has given Assad crucial diplomatic and military backing throughout the six-year-old war in Syria, which has killed more than 300,000 people and uprooted many more. Moscow and Damascus have claimed that the toxic gas that killed dozens of civilians in the Idlib Province town on April 4 was released when government bombs struck a rebel-controlled chemical-weapons depot -- an assertion that Western governments reject and Tillerson has said was neither "plausible" nor "credible." The United States on April 7 fired dozens of cruise missiles at a Syrian air base that Washington says was the launch site for the attack. That has drawn condemnation from Russia and Iran, another key Assad ally. Lashing out at the West in his first public comments on Syria since the U.S. missiles strikes, Putin suggested the United States was looking for a pretext to push Assad from power. Putin told a televised press conference just before Tillerson's arrival that Moscow will formally call for an international investigation into the Khan Sheikhoun incident. He said Russia would appeal to UN agencies in The Hague to "thoroughly investigate" and make "balanced decisions based on the investigation's outcome." He was apparently referring to the global chemical-weapons watchdog, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Putin also claimed Russia had received intelligence about planned "provocations" using chemical weapons that would put the blame on the Syrian government. He offered no evidence to back up the assertion. "We have information from various sources that such provocations -- I cannot call them otherwise -- are being prepared in other regions of Syria, including in the southern outskirts of Damascus, where they are again planning to throw some kind of substance and accuse Syrian official authorities of using it," Putin said. Putin also said the Western accusations against Assad reminded him of claims ahead of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 that Saddam Hussein had stockpiled chemical weapons. Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow was hoping to engage in "constructive cooperation" with Washington. "We hope that this is also what the American side wants," it added. The ministry also announced that Lavrov would meet with the foreign ministers of Syria and Iran in Moscow later this week. Western Condemnation At the G7 talks on April 11, the ministers were divided on tougher measures to pressure Russia over its support of Assad. Tillerson said after the meeting that the priority in Syria and Iraq remained the defeat of Islamic State extremists. But he said Moscow should realign with the United States and others toward that goal. Britain and Canada have both said sanctions could be tightened against Russia if the Kremlin continues to support Assads government. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the time has come for Russia to end the "hypocrisy" of its support for Assad. "We say to the Russians," Ayrault said. "Grab this opportunity to distance yourselves from the horror of the regime of Bashar al-Assad and finally show with sincerity that you want peace." Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said after chairing the G7 meeting that the ministers agreed there could be no military solution for Syria, and Russia must "insofar as possible" be involved in peace efforts. "We do not believe that the military solution is the right one," Alfano said. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Russia and Iran must both be involved in Syria's peace process. "Not everyone may like it, but without Moscow and without Tehran there will be no solution for Syria," he said. Gabriel also said that Tillerson had focused on diplomatic initiatives during the April 11 talks in Lucca. "Tillerson explicitly said they are seeking a nonviolent, nonmilitary way," he said, praising Tillerson for taking "a very realistic and clear stance." The need to engage with Russia also was echoed by Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Masato Ohtaka, who said Russia "can play a key role." Also attending the G7 meeting on April 11 were the foreign ministers from five countries near Syria that oppose Assads rule -- Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Qatar. Diplomatic pressure on Russia has been growing since April 4, when the alleged chemical air strike by Russian-backed Syrian forces killed more than 80 people in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib Province. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa Protesters took to the streets of Skopje for a 43rd day of protests on April 10 holding shields made of cardboard to symbolize their proclaimed goal to protect the country from being ruled by a coalition of Social Democrats and ethnic Albanians. Led by a line of women, children, and older people holding the paper shields painted with the national colors red and yellow, the protesters marched from the Government building to the parliament demanding new elections and rejecting the coalition partners' plans to institute Albanian as the country's second language. The ruling VMRO-DPMNE party for weeks has successfully blocked the coalition from forming a new government and electing a speaker of parliament. The protesters have lionized as a hero President Gjorge Ivanov for having refused to give the coalition a mandate to form a new government, even though it holds a majority in parliament. The United States and European Union have called on the VMRO to stop its obstruction tactics, which have prolonged the country's longrunning political crisis. European Commission spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic said on April 10 that a new Macedonian government "must be established without further delay based on the parliamentary majority that is there." Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service and Balkan Insight.com Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has become the youngest United Nations Messenger of Peace, the highest honor given by the global body. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed the 19-year-old to the role, with a special focus on girls' education, at an April 10 ceremony at UN headquarters in New York. You are not only a hero, but you are a very committed and generous person," Guterres told Malala. "Once we educate girls we change the whole community and the whole society," Malala said. "I am hopeful and I encourage all young girls there -- you need to stand up and believe in yourselves." Malala rose to international fame after being shot in the head on her school bus in Pakistan in 2012 by a Taliban gunman because she campaigned for the education of girls. Malala was severely wounded but survived after receiving medical treatment in Britain, where she now lives and goes to school. In the years since, she has traveled the world promoting girls' education as a solution to violence like that promoted by the militant Islamic group. She became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was 17. Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa U.S. Senator John McCain said he was concerned about Russian meddling in the internal affairs of Bosnia-Herzegovina. During a visit to the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, on April 11, McCain said the majority of the U.S. Congress supported the country's ongoing implementation of the 1995 Dayton accords that ended the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. McCain is on a tour of the western Balkans, a region where Russia has been vying for increased military, political, and economic influence. (RFE/RL's Balkan Service) President Donald Trump has signed the U.S. instrument of ratification for Montenegro's accession to NATO, the White House says. A statement said Trump signed off on Montenegro's accession to the Western military alliance on April 11, congratulating the Montenegrin people for "their resilience and their demonstrated commitment to NATO's democratic values." Last month, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly backed the expansion of NATO to allow Montenegro to become the alliance's 29th member. Russia, which strongly opposes NATO's expansion, has described Montenegro's upcoming accession as a "provocation." "The door to membership in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations remains open," the White House said, adding that countries in the Western Balkans were "free to choose their own future and select their own partners without outside interference or intimidation." With reporting by AFP and Reuters MOSCOW -- Local authorities in Chechnya are alleged to be out for blood when it comes to homosexuality. Human rights groups and a major Russian newspaper say that in recent months gay Chechens have been rounded up because of their sexual orientation, beaten, blackmailed, and even killed. RFE/RL's Russian Service spoke to three gay Chechen men who gave their personal accounts of their escapes from the abuse they faced in the southern Russian republic, where homosexuality is stigmatized and so-called honor killings carried out by family members are not uncommon. The men's identities have been concealed for security reasons. From Blackmail To Exile In October, one man says, he was set up by friends he had known for 1 1/2 years. They had been regular guests at his home in the Chechen capital, Grozny, and they had spoken openly about various topics. Then came the blackmail -- one day they demanded 2.5 million rubles ($44,000) from him, threatening to publish audio and video evidence of his homosexuality if he didn't pay up. He decided not to. He sold his car and fled Chechnya -- first for Krasnodar and then for Moscow, telling everyone he had emigrated to Europe. In January, however, he returned to Grozny for family reasons. He promptly left, he says, but not before he was seen by police acquainted with his blackmailers. "Mom called and told me officers were asking for me. Then they took the phone from her and [a man called and] asked where I was," he says. "I replied that I was in Krasnodar. He said, 'Let me send a car for you, come here.'" He says he knew exactly why they were contacting him and declined to travel to meet them. Then, he alleges, police officers took his brother hostage and threatened not to release him until he returned to Grozny. That evening, he says, he received a call from his sister and other relatives; they were trying to persuade him to return. "Mom didn't know anything about me and what had happened. At the beginning, I couldn't tell her, but then I admitted that I'm gay. She said: 'That's not a problem, just come here. We know you didn't do anything bad, and they're saying that if everything they say about you is untrue then they will apologize before every member of the family.' But I realized that they wanted to lure me in to obtain information from me and then simply kill me." One of his relatives, an officer, called him. "I knew that he knew and I told him: 'I'm gay.' He replied, 'I know, there is nothing left but to kill you.' I told him, 'OK I'll come, but promise that you will kill me without coming near me.' He wouldn't make that promise because he knew that they needed my acquaintances' contact details." He never returned home, and today he is in a European country. He has ceased all contact with his family. He says he used to hear news of his family through an acquaintance from Grozny. He was told that the police had, in fact, detained his brother, and that every day police and officers of the Interior Ministry's SOBR special-police unit would come to the house and pressure his relatives, demanding that they persuade him to return. Unfortunately, he says, he has since lost his connection home, and has no idea what is happening with his family. He can't phone his relatives, he says, because he is afraid their phones are tapped. He says that many of his homosexual acquaintances disappeared from social networks in February and March -- around the time that Novaya Gazeta and human rights groups say that a new wave of persecution against homosexuals began. Some, he suggests, must be lying low. Others, he fears, might have fallen victim to the antigay campaign. "One of my friends was arrested in December. Then they let him go, and he gave up all his friends," he says. "The last time I spoke to him two weeks ago, he cried that they had again come for him and were looking for him. I don't know where he is now." Another acquaintance was returned to his family by officers on the condition they kill him. "His uncle killed him. I know this for sure. He was 20 or 21 years old," he says. Jailed And Tortured Although the first man who spoke to us got away without being tortured, the next one wasn't so lucky. He was detained in March after messaging a gay acquaintance, he says, and spent 10 days in a secret jail. "We lived in a big barracks -- there were 15 gays and another 20 drug addicts," he says. "But when we arrived, the status of the drug addicts rose significantly. They were allowed to torment us." Every day in the prison, he says, he and the other gay inmates were beaten and humiliated. They were given women's names and forced to dance in front of each other, and were individually led away to another building where they were tortured. He says he was kicked and beaten with sticks, tortured by electric shock through clamps attached to his toes and fingers. He was asked to hand over the contact details of other homosexuals, but he had had time to delete all such information from his phone and gave up no names. "They constantly threatened to kill us," he says. "I knew that I might not get out alive, but I would rather die myself than ruin someone else's life." He and the other gay inmates slept on a bare floor with no covers, unlike the drug addicts, who slept on beds. "They were hot and opened the windows, but they had taken even our coats away," he recalls. "There was nothing for us to cover ourselves with." They were allowed to go to the toilet three times a day: morning, afternoon, evening. He was offered the chance to buy his freedom for 1 million rubles (about $17,500) -- money he didn't have. Nonetheless, he does not believe his captors' primary objective was extortion. "They were discussing among themselves how they must fight against people like us, and they told us not to do this ever again," he says. "It was a preventive action to stop [homosexuality]." Ten days later, he says, the homosexual inmates were lined up in a row in the barracks and humiliated, one by one, in front of their relatives. Then they were handed over. He was taken home and hid in his room. His father came to his room with a metal pipe in hand. "I told him to wait. I took off my T-shirt and showed him that I was already entirely blue [with bruising] -- what's left to beat? He left and didn't talk to me again." He waited for his bruises to heal and then fled Grozny. He says he doesn't know what happened to the others. All of them, he says, have deleted their accounts from VKontakte (VK), the popular Russian social network. He learned on VK that the relatives of one were being offered condolences. He believes that person may have been killed by his relatives. Fleeing After Police Beating Our third man, who is 23, left his home as he always did, carrying a small backpack. But instead of going to work, he went to the airport and flew away, leaving Grozny -- and Chechnya -- forever. Looking back at his situation, he says he had read about mass arrests of gays that reportedly took place in the beginning of March, but didn't take it seriously. He says he thought they were probably talking about past, isolated, cases of homosexuals being set up. "Then, at the end of March, a woman called, crying, sobbing, and saying that her son [a friend of his] had disappeared," he says. "[She] asked if he wasn't at my place. He wasn't at mine. He's 19 years old. He's also...in the know," he adds, a euphemism he uses because he considers the word "gay" to be taboo. Other acquaintances began to disappear, he says. "I didn't sleep for several days, I stood by the window at night, waiting for them [the police] to come for me," he says. "I didn't eat a thing all day.... I had been writing to a friend on WhatsApp -- he had my number. They could have come at any moment." He had already been caught in a setup. Last fall he met a man on VK, messaged him over the course of a month, and arranged to meet with him. When he finally saw him, he realized that the man had not been sending photos of himself, he says. But the man gave assurances, saying that he sent false pictures out of fear. "He said, 'Let's go to my place.' He said he had an apartment in Grozny but it was not empty, and that he had a dacha out of town." "I said, 'OK, let's go.' I got in the car. We drove. We were chatting normally. There was nothing to suggest I was being set up," he recalls. "And then he turned into a forest and I saw three people. I immediately understood that this was a setup, I was shocked. I said, 'Please, you don't need to do this.' He said, 'We will discuss this now.'" He says the three men in the woods were dressed in black military uniform with insignia and stripes -- he recognized them as the officers of the SOBR special-police unit of the Interior Ministry. "They stripped me naked. One filmed me on his telephone. Three of them beat me. They kicked me, broke my jaw. They said that this is a gay and that there shouldn't be defects like this in Chechnya." They took his telephone, which had the contacts of friends and relatives. They threatened to post the video of him on the Internet and asked for 300,000 rubles ($5,260) in exchange for their silence. When he got home, he says, no one saw the bruising on his body. He says he told his family that his broken jaw was from a fight. He had two months to raise the money. He sold his computer and borrowed from his relatives under various pretexts. Translated by Tom Balmforth in Moscow, based on reporting by RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Sergei Khasov-Cassia IRKUTSK, Russia -- An anticorruption protest in the Siberian city of Irkutsk on March 26 passed peacefully. The authorities had given permission for the event, and about 1,000 people listened to a few young organizers give impassioned speeches calling for an investigation into allegations of corruption leveled against Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev before heading home. There were no reports of arrests or violence. The drama came later, in the early morning hours of April 6. "On Saturday at 6 a.m., I was awakened by the doorbell. They said that we were leaking water on the downstairs neighbor. When I opened the door, men in masks pushed me against the wall," says Natalya Maksianovich, the mother of 24-year-old Igor Martynenko, an organizer of the Irkutsk protest. "I am still in shock.... After a few minutes, they took Igor and [his girlfriend and fellow protest organizer] Sofia [Miktinyuk] out." She says nobody knew anything about her son for two days. "I didn't even know where he was. I was afraid they were beating him or worse," Maksianovich says. "Why else would they hide him from us?" The men refused to identify themselves and wore no insignia. But that wasn't the end of the story. After Martynenko was driven off, the masked men spent more than an hour searching the apartment. They ignored requests for a court order as they packed up virtually all the electronics on the scene into plastic bags. They left without leaving a written protocol of what had been seized. At the same time, officials were busy at the home of activist Dmitry Litvin. He, too, was hustled off without communication and disappeared into the web of Russian law enforcement for more than 48 hours. A fourth protest organizer, Valeria Altaryova, was also detained. The detentions came the day before the four organizers planned to get together and discuss their next steps after the March 26 rally. "The four of us were the organizers of the protest," Miktinyuk tells RFE/RL. "And it was completely legal, by the way. All our opposition activity is completely legal. All the protests or other actions that we organized were always conducted with the permission of the authorities and kept within the limits of the law." "Yes, we are unhappy with the current government and the direction it is taking the country," she continues. "I am certain that our detention was connected with our active opposition to the leadership of the country." Sending A Message While their concerned relatives were making the rounds of Irkutsk police stations and courtrooms, the detainees were being held at the city's Center for Combating Terrorism. The masked men who detained them, it turned out, were soldiers of Russia's newly formed National Guard. The National Guard is a force of some 400,000 officers that was created in 2016 by President Vladimir Putin and placed under the command of Viktor Zolotov, who formerly headed Putin's personal protection service. Although the official mission of the National Guard is to combat terrorism, many in Russia believe its true purpose is to protect the Putin government and to ensure his smooth reelection to a fourth term in March 2018. During the debate about the force in the State Duma, Communist Party lawmakers openly associated its creation with "the forthcoming election," while nationalist firebrand Vladimir Zhirinovsky said the force was essential to deal with "any mutineers, revolutionaries, and extremists." In the end, only 19-year-old Litvin is facing criminal charges. He was released pending trial on charges of "insulting the feelings of believers" for posting allegedly antireligious images on social media. One photograph of someone making a rude gesture in the direction of a church, which Litvin reposted in 2015, particularly attracted the attention of prosecutors. The other detainees were released, having been told officially that they had been detained in the capacity as witnesses in the developing case against Litvin. Except for Martynenko. He was sentenced to 10 days of administrative custody for allegedly resisting a police officer, although his relatives were not allowed to testify as witnesses to his detention and a video showing some of the incident was not taken into consideration. Defense lawyer Svyatoslav Khromenkov tells RFE/RL that he believes the court "was guided by an a priori presumption of Martynenko's guilt." Khromenkov says he has no doubt that the whole matter was drummed up as a means "for the current regime to let everyone understand that it has muscles." "As far as I understand, the Irkutsk protest against corruption on March 26 passed relatively peacefully, without arrests like they had in other regions," Khromenkov adds. "The police were reproached for this. So [the authorities] retroactively went after the standouts -- in particular, the young people who particularly attracted attention with their opposition activities and their liberal views." Robert Coalson contributed to this report Russia's Defense Ministry said on April 11 that two of its soldiers had been killed in a mortar attack in Syria while a third was seriously wounded, Russian news agencies reported. "Russian professional servicemen who were in a unit of Syrian forces as instructors...came under a mortar attack from a group of rebel fighters," the ministry was quoted as saying in a statement. "As a result of a mortar explosion, two Russian servicemen were killed," it said, adding that the wounded serviceman was being treated by military doctors. The statement did not say when or where in Syria the attack occurred. The latest deaths bring the number of Russian combat deaths in Syria officially acknowledged by the Defense Ministry to 29. Russian authorities say another soldier committed suicide during the first month of the operation. Russia has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces throughout the six-year-old war in Syria and stepped up its involvement in 2015. Based on reporting by AFP, Interfax, TASS, Reuters U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Russia must reconsider whether aligning itself with President Bashar al-Assad is the best way to solve the Syrian crisis. In comments on April 11 after a G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Italy, Tillerson said he thinks the reign of Assad is "coming to an end." Tillerson spoke just hours before he was scheduled to land in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Tensions between the United States and Russia have grown after U.S. missiles hit a Syrian air base in response to a chemical attack last week that killed dozens, including many children. (AP Video) Acclaimed Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, who died in the United States on April 1, has been laid to rest outside Moscow. Yevtushenko, who was 84, was buried on April 11 at a cemetery in Peredelkino, a Soviet-era writers community, in a grave near that of Nobel laureate Boris Pasternak. Hundreds of people paid their last respects to Yevtushenko before the burial, filing past his coffin at Moscow's Central House of Writers. Natalia Solzhenitsyna, the widow of late Russian writer and Novel laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, was among them, as were Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky. Yevtushenko's 1961 poem Babi Yar lambasted Soviet distortions of history and was the first open challenge to Soviet anti-Semitism. A member of the outspoken "shestidesyatniki" (60s) generation, the Siberia-born poet criticized Soviet actions such as the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia. But he was criticized by fellow poet Joseph Brodsky, who said in 1987 that Yevtushenko "throws stones only in directions that are officially sanctioned and approved." Yevtushenko moved to the United States in 1991, where he taught at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. With reporting by TASS and Interfax With most but not all ballots counted, parliament speaker Anatoly Bibilov has formally claimed victory in the April 9 presidential election in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, which is recognized as an independent state only by Russia and three other countries. According to the Central Election Commission's preliminary figures, Bibilov garnered 57.98 percent of the vote, incumbent Leonid Tibilov 30 percent, and KGB staffer Alan Gagloyev 11.1 percent. Voter turnout was over 80 percent of the estimated 33,00040,000 voters. Final figures will be released later this week. In a referendum held concurrently with the election, more than 80 percent of voters registered approval of appending to the region's official designation "Republic of South Ossetia" the formulation "the State of Alania." That initiative originated with Tibilov and was intended to serve two purposes. First, to underscore the strong ethnic and historic ties between the region and the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. And second, to counter rival claims from representatives of other North Caucasus republics (primarily the Ingush and the Balkars) to be the location of the kingdom ruled by, and/or direct descendants of, the medieval Alans. Bibilov's win is significant for several reasons. On a personal level, it compensates for his humiliating failed presidential bid in late 2011, when the Supreme Court annulled the results of a second-round runoff ballot between himself and Alla Dzhioyeva, who emerged the winner. It also represents a victory over a rival whom he clearly resented and despised. Relations between Bibilov and Tibilov were so strained that on one occasion last year they engaged in a public shouting match in parliament. The two men have been at odds for the past three years over whether, when, and on what terms South Ossetia should relinquish its hard-won quasi-independent status and be subsumed into the Russian Federation. Bibilov has lobbied obsessively since 2014 for holding at the earliest possible opportunity a referendum on South Ossetia's accession to Russia, his proposed current time frame being before the end of 2017. Tibilov, whose bid for reelection Moscow openly supported, favored a more nuanced approach of gradual rapprochement with Russia, cognizant of the need to avoid compounding the international opprobrium Russia incurred by its annexation of Crimea. Bibilov's election thus creates an uncomfortable dilemma for Russia, given the assurances President Vladimir Putin gave Tibilov that if the people of South Ossetia voted in a referendum to become part of Russia, their wishes would not be ignored. On the other hand, such assurances are not binding, and Russia has a most powerful lever with which to pressure Bibilov to postpone holding his planned referendum, given that South Ossetia is almost totally dependent on Russian financial aid. The threat of a reduction in that funding could induce him to soft-pedal and postpone the referendum for an indefinite period. Congratulating Bibilov on his election as de facto president, Putin characterized relations between the two polities as "based on the principles of union relations and integration." He added that Russia "will continue to render all possible assistance to South Ossetia in resolving pressing problems of socioeconomic development, and also in ensuring national security." Those formulations imply the Kremlin envisages South Ossetia remaining a separate geopolitical entity, at least for now. St. Petersburg-based pundit Igor Sopov was quoted by the daily Kommersant as predicting that the Kremlin will play for time in order to avoid accusations of illegally annexing South Ossetia in the run-up to the 2018 Russian presidential ballot. Finally, Bibilov's win may reflect the influence of Tibilov's predecessor as president, Eduard Kokoity. Kokoity was denied registration as a presidential candidate on the grounds that he failed to meet the requirement (which he himself had been instrumental in introducing) that candidates must have lived in South Ossetia for at least nine months of the year for the 10 years prior to the ballot. Piqued by that rejection, Kokoity first demanded Tibilov's resignation, then on March 30 publicly called on his supporters to vote for Bibilov. Whether Bibilov's victory was due to voters' espousal of the idea of becoming part of the Russian Federation (with all that implies in terms of security and economic benefits); to Kokoity's backing; to disenchantment and disappointment at Tibilov's failure to deliver more in the way of galvanizing the region's stagnating economy and creating jobs (South Ossetia's former ambassador to Moscow, Dmitry Medoyev, told the Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta that Tibilov fulfilled just 10 percent of his 2012 election campaign promises); to Bibilov's vilification of Tibilov as corrupt; or to a combination of all those factors, is not clear. Nor is it clear whether, as Russian analyst Vladimir Novikov has surmised, Kokoity may have extracted from Bibilov the promise of a senior government post (prime minister or defense minister) in return for his support -- even though Kokoity publicly pays lip service to the cause of preserving South Ossetia's status as a sovereign entity. Whatever the reasons, the news portal Caucasian Knot reported jubilation on April 10 on the streets of Tskhinvali, the regional capital. In his first public statement, Bibilov pledged to do what he can to justify voters' faith in him, affirming that "I realize that tomorrow things should start getting better." The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow will formally call for an international investigation into what Western governments say was a deadly chemical-weapons attack by the Syrian government on civilians last week. Putin lashed out on April 11, in his first public comments on Syria since the United States fired missiles at an air base in the Middle Eastern country to punish President Bashar al-Assad. His remarks add to already heightened tension between Russia and the West just before a visit to Moscow by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who arrived shortly after Putin spoke and is due to meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on April 12. Putin said Russia would appeal to UN agencies in The Hague to investigate, apparently referring to the global chemical-weapons watchdog, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). "We believe that any incident of this kind should be officially investigated," Putin said. "We plan to turn to the United Nations bodies in The Hague and call on the global community to thoroughly investigate into this incident and make balanced decisions based on the investigation's outcome." Russia and Syria have claimed that the toxic gas that killed dozens of civilians in an Idlib province town on April 4 was released when government bombs struck a rebel-controlled chemical-weapons depot -- an assertion that Western governments reject and Tillerson has said was neither "plausible" nor "credible." Putin also claimed that Russia has received intelligence about planned "provocations" using chemical weapons that would put the blame on the Syrian government. He offered no evidence to back up the assertion. "We have information from various sources that such provocations -- I cannot call them otherwise -- are being prepared in other regions of Syria, including in the southern outskirts of Damascus, where they are again planning to throw some kind of substance and accuse Syrian official authorities of using it," Putin said after during a televised press conference. Putin alleged that Russia has heard that the United States is planning strikes on the southern Damascus suburbs -- also without any evidence. Russia has given Assad crucial diplomatic backing throughout the war in Syria, which has killed more than 300,000 people and uprooted many more. Putin said that the Western accusations against Assad reminded him of claims, ahead of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, that Saddam Hussein had stockpiled chemical weapons. Suggesting that he was quoting from a Soviet-era satirical novel, he said such claims were "boring" and added, "We've seen this all before." WATCH: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Russia must reconsider whether aligning itself with President Bashar al-Assad is the best way to solve the Syrian crisis. Tillerson: U.S. Or Assad Before departing Italy for Moscow on April 11, Tillerson urged Russia to abandon its support for Assad after his repeated use of chemical weapons and join the United States in seeking a peaceful future for Syria. "We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad," Tillerson told reporters, calling the alleged use of a nerve agent an act of "barbarism." Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said before Tillerson's expected arrival that a meeting with Tillerson was not on Putin's schedule "yet." Russian media reports have quoted unnamed sources as saying there are plans for a meeting between Putin and Tillerson, the highest official in President Donald Trump's administration to visit Russia. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Lavrov will meet with the foreign ministers of Syria and Iran in Moscow later this week. With reporting by AP, Reuters, Interfax, and Lifenews, and TASS Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman says his government will continue to implement reforms in 2017. Addressing a press conference in Kyiv on April 11, five days before the first anniversary since his appointment to the post, Hroysman said he and his team were now focused on reforms in the pensions system, education, and medical-services sector. In the field of energy security, he said Kyiv was seeking opportunities to buy coal from different countries to get rid of Ukraine's dependence on Russian coal. Kyiv is also looking at ways to increase production of electricity by the countrys nuclear plants and hydropower stations, Hroysman said. Calling Russia "a country-aggressor," the prime minister noted that Ukraine was no longer dependent on Russian natural gas. Hroysman said he supported the acceleration of the unbundling of the state-owned Naftogaz oil and natural-gas company and reforms in the gas market. He also announced he did not plan to take part in the 2019 presidential election. Based on reporting by UNIAN, Ukraiynska Pravda, and Interfax British Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to try to persuade Russia to break ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a phone conservation on April 10, May's office said. A spokeswoman for May said the two leaders expressed hope that progress towards a solution in Syria could come this week when U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visits Moscow. "A window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest,"the spokeswoman said. "Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement." Russia has shown little inclination to split with its longtime ally Syria, which provides Moscow with some of its only air and sea bases in the Mediterranean region. Although the Kremlin has said it can't control everything Damascus does, it so far has stood by Assad and expressed anger over last week's U.S. missile strikes on the Syrian airfield allegedly used to launch a deadly chemical attack on civilians in Syria. Moscow maintains that the U.S. strikes caused little damage on the ground but inflicted "considerable damage" to the already "lamentable" state of U.S.-Russia relations. Earlier on April 10, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson warned that the United States may launch more missile strikes against Syria, echoing a warning from the Pentagon. "The United States will not passively stand by while Assad murders innocent people with chemical weapons, which are prohibited by international law and which were declared destroyed," U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, noting that 20 percent of Assad's "operational" aircraft were destroyed by last week's cruise missile strikes on Syria's Shayrat airfield. "The Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons," he said. Johnson said the Group of Seven foreign ministers will discuss the possibility of placing sanctions on Syrian and Russian military officials over the incident at a meeting this week in Italy. He said sanctions could target "figures who have been involved in coordinating the Syrian military efforts and are thereby contaminated by the appalling behavior of [Assads] regime." Johnson suggested the new sanctions would be aimed at pressuring Russia to split with Assad for the first time in six years of civil war, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin has a choice: to continue backing the "toxic" Assad government "or to work with the rest of the world to find a solution for Syria, a political solution." It is "time for Vladimir Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is propping up," Johnson said. Russia has so far stood strongly behind the Syrian government, which denies that it launched the April 4 nerve gas attack in the town of Khan Sheikhun, which killed at least 87 people. . Russia and Syria contend that Syrian planes bombarding the town set off nerve gas canisters which were being stored on the ground by Syrian rebel forces -- a contention that Western allies say is far-fetched. Russia showed its displeasure with the U.S. attack by threatening to suspend a vital hotline to the Pentagon that was established to avoid mid-air collisions or clashes with a U.S.-led coalition targeting the Islamic State group in Syria. Moscow did not cancel the Kremlin's previously scheduled meeting with Tillerson over the incident, however, though it said on April 10 that the U.S. diplomat will not be meeting Putin. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old man from Uzbekistan accused of killing four people in Stockholm last week by driving a hijacked truck into a crowd of people, has admitted committing an act of terrorism, according to his lawyer. "Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention," his lawyer Johan Eriksson told a court custody hearing in Stockholm aimed at determining whether he should remain in custody before facing trial. Court documents identified Akilov as a citizen of Uzbekistan. Deputy chief prosecutor Hans Ihrman confirmed that Akilov was accused of committing a terrorist act. The court said in a statement that Akilov should be remanded in custody until May 11. The prosecutor may ask for an extension if there is need for more time which the court will consider, the statement added. Akilov allegedly drove the truck into a crowd outside an upscale department store in central Stockholm on April 7, killing four people and wounding 15. Those killed included two Swedes, a British man and a Belgian woman. Akilov, a construction worker who had been refused permanent residency in Sweden, was arrested detained in a suburb north of Stockholm, several hours after the attack. Police said Akilov had gone underground after his application for Swedish residency. At the date of the attack, he was being sought by officials for deportation. Swedish authorities say Akilov was known to have expressed sympathies with extremist organizations, including Islamic state (IS). A second person arrested in connection with the attack was no longer suspected of involvement, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said on April 11. The suspect was arrested on April 9. Police would only say the suspect was male. The Prosecution Authority statement said he was, however, to remain in detention because of a "previous deportation order." With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - April 11, 2017) - THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Macarthur Minerals Limited (TSX VENTURE: MMS) (the "Company" or "Macarthur Minerals") is pleased to announce that it has commenced its second soil sampling program at its Stonewall Lithium Project ("Stonewall Project") located in Lida Valley, Nevada. The Lida Valley basin is adjacent to Clayton Valley, which hosts North America's only producing lithium mine, Albemarle's Silver Peak Lithium Mine. David Taplin, President, CEO and Director of Macarthur Minerals commented: "Further soil sampling and deeper drilling into the basin and the brines is a priority to ascertain if the same lithium brine potential exists in the Lida Valley as has been discovered and extracted in the adjacent Clayton Valley. We are excited about commencing further extensive sampling to move this project forward." Soil Sampling Program A shallow auger drilling program was conducted as part of due diligence in October 2016 where all nine shallow auger drill holes reported lithium, with grades up to 145.5 parts per million ("ppm") lithium ("Li") from near surface sediment, confirming that lithium is present in the Lida Valley (refer to press release dated October 21, 2016). The Company has commenced an extensive sampling program across the full extent of the placer claims of the Stonewall Project to provide the Company a property wide view of lithium distribution contained in the basin fill sediments. This sampling will also allow for a partial indication of the lithium content of the deeper sediments. At present, the exact depth and composition of the sediments in the basin are unknown. Macarthur Mineral's geological team expects sediments to be at least 92 meters (300 feet) deep, most likely considerably deeper. A stock watering well located approximately 500 meters (a quarter mile) to the south of the claim block was drilled to a depth of approximately 92 meters (300 feet). Story continues Once the property wide soil sampling program is completed, the Company will define areas of interest to be further explored through the use of geophysical methods. A detailed gravity survey may be conducted over areas of interest to determine the depth to a potential brine aquifer. The integration of soil assays with a geophysical interpretation will allow drill sites to be selected for detailed subsurface investigation of the project. It is expected, that potential aquifers similar in composition and thickness to the upper and lower ash aquifers in the nearby Clayton Valley will be encountered at depth. The ash aquifers in the Clayton Valley were deposited by continental scale volcanic eruptions from calderas located 150 kilometers to the West (90 miles) and 790 kilometers North West (475 miles) of the Stonewall Project area. Ash fall from these volcanoes was deposited in the nearby Clayton Valley 52 kilometers to the North West (31 miles) and most likely also in the basins of the Lida Valley, where the Stonewall Project is located. The ash aquifers are both a host for and a possible source for lithium brines in the Clayton Valley. Stonewall Project The Stonewall Project covers an area of approximately 5,460 acres (22.1 square kilometers) and the majority of a playa in Nevada's Lida Valley Basin, a nearby and geologically similar basin to the Clayton Valley Basin, which hosts the United States' only producing lithium mine. As indicated in Figure 1, the Stonewall Project is strategically located in the Nevada lithium supply hub, 306 kilometers (191 miles) southeast of Tesla's new Gigafactory, which has a planned production capacity of 35 gigawatt-hours per year by 20201. Figure 2 shows the location of the Stonewall Project claims over the majority of the playa consisting of 615 Placer Mine Claims, located in the Lida Valley, Nevada. The Stonewall Project is located in an intermontane basin and is surrounded by tertiary volcanic rhyolitic rock units, which are anomalously high in lithium. These rhyolitic units are thought to act as a potential source rock for lithium in the Clayton Valley brines. The potential lithium source rock includes flows and tuffs that likely extend below the alluvial cover. The Stonewall Project is located in the mining friendly Nye and Esmeralda Counties of Nevada and is serviced by excellent infrastructure with access to power, water, labour and is bisected by the Veterans Memorial Highway Number 95. The regional climate also favours natural and inexpensive evaporation for brine concentration and allows year-round work. ASX IPO of Macarthur Australia Limited Update The Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") Initial Public Offering ("IPO") of Macarthur Australia Limited ("Macarthur Australia") to raise up to A$10 million is progressing and due to close as scheduled on 2 May 2017. A copy of the prospectus and application form is available to qualified investors at www.macarthuraustralia.com. Macarthur Australia has released a video and interactive presentation on the ASX IPO which is available to view here. The board of Macarthur Minerals believes that the ASX IPO of Macarthur Australia, which now owns its Australian iron ore and lithium projects, will provide improved price realisation for those projects more consistent with its ASX listed peers. Macarthur Minerals' wholly owned subsidiary, Macarthur Lithium Nevada Limited, will continue to advance the Stonewall Project. QUALIFIED PERSONS Mr Randy Henkle, a Registered Member of the Society of Mining and Exploration and a Professional Geologist licensed in British Columbia, Canada, is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. Mr Henkle has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. ABOUT MACARTHUR MINERALS LIMITED (TSX VENTURE: MMS) Macarthur Minerals Limited is an exploration and development company that is focused on developing its Western Australian iron ore projects and its lithium exploration interests in Australia and Nevada. On behalf of the Board of Directors, MACARTHUR MINERALS LIMITED Cameron McCall, Chairman 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. Caution Regarding the IPO and Forward Looking Statements All offers of securities in regards to the IPO of Macarthur Australia Limited will be made in Australia pursuant to a Prospectus prepared in accordance with the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Anyone who wishes to acquire securities as part of the IPO will only be able to do so by completing an application form which will be in or accompany the Prospectus. Certain of the statements made and information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current expectations, assumptions or beliefs of the Company based upon information currently available to the Company. With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this press release, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the timely receipt of required approvals, the reliability of information, including historical mineral resource or mineral reserve estimates, prepared and/or published by third parties that are referenced in this press release or was otherwise relied upon by the Company in preparing this press release. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct as actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in exchange rates and certain commodity prices, uncertainties related to mineral title in the project, unforeseen technology changes that results in a reduction in iron ore demand or substitution by other metals or materials, the discovery of new large low cost deposits of iron ore, uncertainty in successfully returning the project into full operation, and the general level of global economic activity. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and, as such, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and except as may otherwise be required pursuant to applicable laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 1 https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/blog_attachments/gigafactory.pdf Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/11/11G135587/Images/G135587figure1-e91be5135b79bd71a8e499d1921918d2.jpg Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/11/11G135587/Images/G135587figure2-be45b66f7739a00db0a5f13b6118757a.jpg An Albemarle County man was arrested Monday after he tried to snatch a child from a Charlottesville preschool playground, police said. Charlottesville police responded to St. Mark Lutheran Preschool at about 4:10 p.m. for a report of an attempted abduction from the schools playground in the 100 block of Alderman Road. A man attempted to grab one of the children from the playground but ran off toward Ivy Road when a preschool employee yelled at him, according to a news release. Staff members gave officers a description of the man and police began searching the surrounding area. Police found a man matching the description of the suspect at the 7-Eleven convenience store in the 2000 block of Ivy Road. Police identified the suspect as 46-year-old David Antonio Munoz-Perez. He faces a felony charge of attempted abduction, as well as a charge of public swearing or intoxication. Former Rep. Tom Perriello's upstart campaign has edged ahead of Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam about two months ahead of the Democratic primary for governor and either Democrat tops GOP front-runner Ed Gillespie by double-digits in a new survey by Quinnipiac University. More than half of the voters remain undecided ahead of each party's June 13 primary and most voters do not know enough about the candidates to form an opinion. In the Democratic primary, Perriello, the former 5th District congressman, received 25 percent to Northam's 20 percent, with 51 percent undecided. In the Republican primary, Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, maintains a comfortable lead, with 28 percent to 12 percent for Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, and 7 percent for Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach. In potential head to head match-ups, Perriello tops Gillespie 46 percent to 33 percent and Northam tops Gillespie by 44 percent to 33 percent. Both Perriello and Northam run basically even against Gillespie among men, but the Democrats hold leads of more than 20 percentage points among women. Republicans have not won a statewide race in Virginia since 2009. Gillespie nearly knocked off U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in 2014, but the GOP continues to face headwinds in Virginia, where 36 percent approve of how President Donald Trump is handling his job, and 57 percent disapprove, according to the poll. Perriello's January entry into the nomination fight scrambled the Democratic contest. The former one-term congressman hopes to ride a wave of opposition to Trump to victory in the primary and the general election. "Two months before Virginia Democrats and Republicans pick their candidates for governor, the heavy front-runner in each primary is 'undecided,' " said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Although the race for the Republican nomination is far from over, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie is solidly ahead among those who name a candidate. "Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam originally had been expected to coast to the nomination, but former Congressman Tom Perriello is inching ahead." Two other recent surveys showed the Democratic contest neck and neck while Gillespie held large leads among the Republican contenders. In a Christopher Newport University poll released March 28, Northam and Perriello each had 26 percent support among Democratic-leaning respondents, with 45 percent undecided. In Quinnipiac's Feb. 16 survey, Perriello matched Northam at 19 percent, with 61 percent undecided. Northam and Perriello are holding high-profile events in Richmond this week - the lieutenant governor courted African-American constituents at a series of events today. On Thursday Perriello campaigns for college students' votes at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond. Northam has the backing of Virginia's Democratic establishment, including Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Attorney General Mark Herring and U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Warner. Perriello's college tour this week seeks to build on the momentum from his recently endorsement by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who built a following among young progressives in his 2016 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. The Republican contenders for governor will debate Thursday evening at Liberty University in Lynchburg. The Quinnipiac survey also took an early look at potential match-ups in Virginia's 2018 U.S. Senate contest in which Democrat Tim Kaine is seeking a second term. Kaine, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2016, led conservative commentator Laura Ingraham by 56 percent to 35 percent. He topped former Hewlett-Packard CEO and ex-GOP presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina by 57 percent to 33 percent. The survey did not include potential match-ups between Kaine and Reps. Barbara Comstock, R-10th, or Robert J. Wittman, R-1st. Quinnipiac surveyed a total of 1,115 Virginia voters between April 6 and April 10. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The survey sample includes 435 Republicans and 483 Democrats. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. DailyFX.com - Talking Points Asian stocks lacked confidence as geopolitical worries swirl about the Middle East and North Korea The US Dollar also slipped back Australian and Chinese indexes managed gains, but only modest ones. The rest were in the red .Would you like to know more about trading the financial markets? DailyFXs trading guide is a great first stop. Asian stocks were mostly lower in Tuesdays Asian trade. Geopolitical worries continue to build and Wall Streets lead was lackluster so gains were always a big ask. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen struck her usual cautiously upbeat note on the US economy in a speech on Monday, but failed to move the dial for markets either way. The Nikkei ended down 0.3%, setting the general tone although Australia's ASX 200 managed gains following some generally upbeat local data and a better run for commodity prices. Shanghai stocks also rose, if only just, but mainboards in Hong Kong and Seoul were in the red as investors avoided assets perceived as riskier. A weaker US Dollar also had its usual doleful effect on many local exporter stocks. The greenback slipped against the Yen in Asian trading as markets continue to digest Fridays US missile strike on Syria, and look with increasing concern to North Korea and the US Navy carrier group which is now in the area. In less beligerent news, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda told the Upper House of Japans parliament that he believed the BoJ would be able to exit its vast quantitative easing program smoothly when the time comes. The Australian Dollar meandered following early data showing that domestic consumers were feeling pretty good, but that business sentiment was more mixed. Crude oil prices eased a little through the Asia-Pacific session but didnt stray far from this weeks five-week highs. Rising worries about Syria have been somewhat offset by news of still-rising US shale oil production in a market still wondering whether traditional producers will extend output cuts agreed last year. Both international bellwether Brent and US crude were down less than ten cents a barrel. Brent has risen for six straight sessions. Story continues Gold moved higher again, propped up by those same geopolitical concerns. Spot prices edged up about 0.2%. The rest of Tuesday's Asian session offers plentiful UK economic data and may therefore offer some risk to sterling bulls. There's also Germany's ZEW sentiment survey and the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) from the US. --- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research Contact and follow David on Twitter:@DavidCottleFX original source DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets. Learn forex trading with a free practice account and trading charts from IG. An environmental law firm contends that a West Virginia state agency acted prematurely, relied on incomplete information and otherwise erred last month when granting a water quality permit for the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline. Appalachian Mountain Advocates, headquartered in Lewisburg, West Virginia, last week notified the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection that the nonprofit law firm seeks a hearing to dispute the departments issuance in March of an individual 401 water quality certification for the natural gas pipeline project. The permit allows the pipeline and related access roads to cross streams and wetlands in the project area in West Virginia, where the pipeline would be about 195 miles long. A nine-page letter from lawyer Derek Teaney to Scott Mandirola, director of the West Virginia agencys division of water and waste management, detailed a host of objections about the departments decision to grant the water quality permit. Among other concerns, Appalachian Mountain Advocates alleged: The department had not established current water quality baseline data for streams that the pipeline would cross. The department had failed to adequately consider impacts to water quality from land disturbance and subsequent erosion and sediment unrelated to stream crossings. Because the pipelines route is not yet final and property surveys are incomplete, the locations and effects of discharges associated with the construction and operation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline [are] ill-defined and impossible to fully evaluate. The department had not adequately evaluated the effects on public drinking water supplies of the pipelines construction and operation. The letter advised Mandirola that Appalachian Mountain Advocates requested the hearing on behalf of 14 individuals whose properties are either on a current route of the 42-inch diameter buried pipeline or otherwise at risk of being directly affected by the project and three organizations. One of the organizations was the West Virginia Rivers Coalition. In an email, Angie Rosser, its executive director, described the outcome sought by the request for a hearing. First, WVDEP must go back and require the applicant to submit a complete application, Rosser said. That will make it even more obvious that a project of this scale cannot avoid causing or contributing to water quality standards violations. She said water quality certification for the pipeline cannot be justified. This pipeline threatens some of the most sensitive and ecologically valuable headwaters streams in the state, Rosser said. The WVDEP cant get this wrong. Natalie Cox, a spokeswoman for Mountain Valley Pipeline, said the companys project team and department of environmental protection staff worked diligently to develop comprehensive plans for constructing the pipeline with the least possible impact on streams and wetlands in West Virginia. We respect the various opinions of those who may not support the MVP project and remain confident that MVP construction plans, as submitted to the WVDEP for evaluation and public comment, will protect wetlands and streams and meet water quality standards as outlined in the 401 certification process, Cox said in an email. The letter from Teaney describes the concerns of three landowners whose two properties in Summers County, West Virginia, are adjacent to the Greenbrier River, which the pipeline will cross. The landowners worry that the project will increase sedimentation and be a source of other pollution in the river. Separately, the letter reports that landowner Landcey Ragland in Monroe County worries the pipeline would pollute Slate Run, described as the sole source of drinking water for his livestock. Maury Johnson, a Monroe County farmer, also fears the pipeline could affect Slate Run and, ultimately, the well for his home, the letter says. Teaney declined to talk about the request for a hearing, citing Appalachian Mountain Advocates policy restricting comment about pending legal cases. Under West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection regulations, the agency is not obligated to hold the administrative hearing sought by the organization and its clients. If the department declines the request, Appalachian Mountain Advocates could decide to file a lawsuit and ask a judge to weigh in. Spokesman Jake Glance said Tuesday that the department is still determining if a public hearing will be held. The route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline would travel through 11 counties in West Virginia before crossing into Virginia in Giles County. The 303-mile pipeline requires the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC recently said it plans to release on June 23 a final environmental impact statement for the $3.5 billion project. Last week, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality announced it will require that the Mountain Valley Pipeline as well as the separate but similar Atlantic Coast Pipeline apply in Virginia for the individual 401 water quality certification permit. That approach would compel the two projects to provide more details about stream and wetlands crossings than a more general permit might have required. Pipeline opponents applauded that news. They had feared that Gov. Terry McAuliffes emphatic support for both pipelines might enfeeble DEQs review of the projects impacts on the environment, including streams and wetlands. Yet, like Rosser, some environmental watchdogs in Virginia insist the Mountain Valley Pipeline should never leave the drawing board. If, by requiring 401 individual permitting, the commonwealth intends to ensure that MVP will be built the right way, there are many who doubt that can be realistically achieved, said Roberta Bondurant, a member of Preserve Roanoke County, in an email. Our expectation is that permit denial by our Department of Environmental Quality will be seriously considered as a viable and necessary option, she said. Carilion Clinic and Roanoke police used pepper foam to subdue a man after he threatened officers in front of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release from Carilion. The man, who was not identified, injured himself with a knife when officers responded to the scene at 3:17 p.m. Police said he threatened officers when he was told to drop the knife, according to the release. Carilion spokesman Chris Turnbull said the man was walking back and forth near Belleview Avenue and Old South Jefferson Street when police arrived. Those roads were closed for about 20 minutes while officers dealt with the incident. After he was sprayed with pepper foam, the man was taken to the hospital for treatment, according to the release. Former Rep. Tom Perriellos upstart campaign has edged ahead of Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam about two months ahead of the Democratic primary for governor and either Democrat tops GOP front-runner Ed Gillespie by double-digits in a new survey by Quinnipiac University. More than half of the voters remain undecided ahead of each partys June 13 primary and most voters do not know enough about the candidates to form an opinion. In the Democratic primary, Perriello, the former 5th District congressman, received 25 percent to Northams 20 percent, with 51 percent undecided. In the Republican primary, Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, maintains a comfortable lead, with 28 percent to 12 percent for Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, and 7 percent for Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach. In potential head-to-head matchups, Perriello tops Gillespie 46 percent to 33 percent and Northam tops Gillespie by 44 percent to 33 percent. Both Perriello and Northam run basically even against Gillespie among men, but the Democrats hold leads of more than 20 percentage points among women. Republicans have not won a statewide race in Virginia since 2009. Gillespie nearly knocked off U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in 2014, but the GOP continues to face headwinds in Virginia, where 36 percent approve of how President Donald Trump is handling his job, and 57 percent disapprove, according to the poll. Perriellos January entry into the nomination fight scrambled the Democratic contest. The former one-term congressman hopes to ride a wave of opposition to Trump to victory in the primary and the general election. Two months before Virginia Democrats and Republicans pick their candidates for governor, the heavy front-runner in each primary is undecided, said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. Although the race for the Republican nomination is far from over, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie is solidly ahead among those who name a candidate. Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam originally had been expected to coast to the nomination, but former Congressman Tom Perriello is inching ahead. Two other recent surveys showed the Democratic contest neck and neck while Gillespie held large leads among the Republican contenders. In a Christopher Newport University poll released March 28, Northam and Perriello each had 26 percent support among Democratic-leaning respondents, with 45 percent undecided. In Quinnipiacs Feb. 16 survey, Perriello matched Northam at 19 percent, with 61 percent undecided. Northam and Perriello are holding high-profile events in Richmond this week the lieutenant governor courted African-American constituents at a series of events Tuesday. On Thursday Perriello campaigns for college students votes at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond. Northam has the backing of Virginias Democratic establishment, including Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Attorney General Mark Herring and U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Warner. Perriellos college tour this week seeks to build on the momentum from his recent endorsement by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who built a following among young progressives in his 2016 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. The Republican contenders for governor will debate Thursday at Liberty University in Lynchburg. The Quinnipiac survey also took an early look at potential matchups in Virginias 2018 U.S. Senate contest in which Democrat Tim Kaine is seeking a second term. Kaine, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2016, led conservative commentator Laura Ingraham by 56 percent to 35 percent. He topped former Hewlett-Packard CEO and ex-GOP presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina by 57 percent to 33 percent. The survey did not include potential match-ups between Kaine and Reps. Barbara Comstock, R-Fairfax, or Robert Wittman, R-Westmoreland. Quinnipiac surveyed a total of 1,115 Virginia voters between April 6 and April 10. The surveys margin of error is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The survey sample includes 435 Republicans and 483 Democrats. Business News Malaysia Feb Factory Output Up 4 7 Pct Y Y Below Forecast | RobinsPost News & Noticias That compares with a forecast rise of 6.4 per cent in factory output for September in a Reuters poll, and after August's revised 14.92 per cent rise from a year earlier. Content is loading ... Read More Malaysia's manufacturing sector has registered further loss of momentum during October. Reports read that sector slowdown was slightly stronger than in September and reportedly stemmed from ... Read More Japans factory output fell ... median forecast for a 1.0% decline. It marked the first month-on-month fall in four months in industrial production and followed a 2.7% rise in August. Read More Asia's factory output weakened in October as global recession fears and China's zero-COVID policy hurt demand, business ... 2 in October, up from 48.1 in September but remaining below the 50 ... Read More TOKYO Japans factory output ... median forecast for a 1-percent decline. It marked the first month-on-month fall in four months in industrial production and followed a 2.7 percent rise ... Read More Japan's factory output fell 1.6% in September from the previous month, government data showed on Monday, slightly more than the median market forecast for a 1.0% decline. Read More TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Japan's factory output ... forecast of a 1.0% decline. That marked the first month-on-month fall in four months and followed a 2.7% rise in August. A 12.4% decline ... Read More compared with a forecast rise of 4.20 per cent year on year in a Reuters poll, and against Augusts 7.5 per cent increase. In the first nine months of 2022, exports rose 10.6 per cent from the same ... Read More TOKYO Japans factory output ... forecast of a 1 per cent decline. That marked the first month-on-month fall in four months and followed a 2.7 per cent rise in August. A 12.4 per cent ... Read More TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan's factory output ... median forecast for a 1.0% decline. It marked the first month-on-month fall in four months in industrial production and followed a 2.7% rise in ... Read More nordic flags In a world first, Iceland recently proposed a bill to mandate equal pay in both the public and private sectors, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, or nationality. If it passes and many officials believe it will the law would require companies to issue regular staff surveys to reveal any lingering disparities between people's salaries. The most talked-about aspect of the law is its proposed effects on Iceland's gender wage gap. Unlike the other Nordic nations, Iceland's gap of 17% (the same as the US) falls above the OECD average of 15%. Most Nordic countries sit comfortably below. The country hopes its policy will have the same effect that similar, albeit less thorough, versions have had in the surrounding Nordic countries. In some form or another, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway all require companies to issue surveys that root out discrepancies in men and women's pay. Corporate auditing has proven to be been a successful method for Nordic nations hoping to promote equality. According to the 2016 Global Gender Gap Index, the four highest-performing countries were Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. (Denmark, due to low rates of women in senior management roles, fell at 19th.) Many of the countries either fall below the average wage gap of 15%, according to the OECD, or they are taking steps to ensure the numbers keep declining. Asa Regner, Sweden's minister for gender equality, told Business Insider that the country's 2008 Swedish Discrimination Act helped provide a strong system of accountability for equal pay. Like Iceland's new law, Sweden's policy requires all companies of 25 or more employees to collect data once per year, which the government reviews. Companies with big pay gaps between genders and which don't take steps to close those gaps risk paying fines. Story continues Thorstein Viglundsson, Iceland's minister of social affairs and equality, says the country is fully capable of closing its pay gap. "The gender pay gap is unfortunately a fact in the Icelandic labor market and it's time take radical measures," he told The Guardian. "We have the knowledge and the processes to eliminate it." As Nordic gender-equality ministers discussed at a recent UN summit, one lingering challenge for these nations is agreeing whether "equal pay" is defined by men and women doing the same exact jobs, and receiving equal pay for them, or receiving equal opportunities to fill jobs that may pay more or less depending on the labor market. Swedish Minister Regner, for her part, says the goal should be to guide more men toward traditionally "female" roles and vice versa for women. Her government has directed money toward those industries, such as nursing and elderly care, to help roles often filled by women gain greater standing in society. NOW WATCH: A group of guys from Finland put a chainsaw on a drone and cut icicles off houses More From Business Insider Business News Potential Grows For Reserves Offshore Norway | RobinsPost News & Noticias This spring, the Norwegian government announced its ambition to licensei30 GW of new offshore wind capacity ... There is great potential for streamlining the licensing processes, without ... Read More A city in southern China is planning an offshore wind farm bigger than all of the power plants in Norway combined. Chaozhou, in Guangdong province, intends to start work on the 43.3-gigawatt ... Read More Norwegian oil and gas workers normally dont see anything more threatening than North Sea waves crashing against the steel legs of their offshore platforms. But lately they have noticed a more ... Read More STAVANGER, Norway (AP) Norwegian oil and gas workers normally dont see anything more threatening than North Sea waves crashing against the steel legs of their offshore platforms. Read More News of unidentified drones ... concerned that the Kremlin might target its offshore facilities in a bid to intimidate its competition. With Norway replacing Russia as Europe's main source of ... Read More The slated offshore wind installations could easily overwhelm and congest the existing land-based grid, damaging the industrys reputation and short-changing its growth potential. And that ... Read More The market ignored the company because it thought Golar's business ... a potential yearly dividend yield of >22% (12% to market cap). Given these figures, it is fair to say that my current valuation ... Read More According to Fortune Business Insights, the global Offshore Drilling market size is projected to grow from USD 31.26 billion in 2018 to USD 56.97 billion in 2026, at CAGR of 7.9% during forecast ... Read More Most notably, the announcement includes the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the nation's stockpile -- known as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve -- in December. The release accounts for ... Read More Foxconn on Monday announced plans to invest up to $170mn in electric truck company Lordstown Motors as the Taiwanese manufacturer pursues its goal to supply half the worlds EVs. Best known for making ... Read More News of unidentified drones buzzing in the skies above the North Sea in recent days has made Oslo increasingly concerned that the Kremlin might target its offshore facilities in a bid to intimidate ... Read More Health News Hawaii Sees Spike In Brain Infecting Parasite | RobinsPost News & Noticias 14Hospital emergency rooms across Hawaii are seeing an increase in rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus cases. Hawaii health ... see an increase in these types of viruses around December, ... Read More Meanwhile, Department of Health data shows ... fentanyl-related overdoses in Hawaii. Twenty-four of those happened last month alone. That is definitely a spike, Galanis said. Read More HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii hospitals are seeing a spike in kids coming in with respiratory ... division chief for pediatric hospitalists at Hawaii Pacific Health. Like the rest of ... Read More A recent survey from CNN and the Kaiser Family Foundation found 90% of people in the U.S. think the country is experiencing a mental health crisis. But some health care providers in Hawaii think ... Read More Doctors and hospitals are continuing to see ... Hawaii Pacific Health. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The number of patients with viral ... Read More HONOLULU (KHON2) October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month and Hawaii ... news DOH reported almost half of the people with hepatitis C are unaware of their infection. If you or your health ... Read More The Hawaii Department of Health says it is partnering with local laboratories to expand testing for hepatitis C, a liver infection caused ... Coordinator, in a news release. Hepatitis C is spread ... Read More Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed an executive order Tuesday that aims to prevent other states from punishing their residents who get an abortion in the islands and stop other states from sanctioning ... Read More One of my goals is to see more of America. I've been to six or seven states, and that's far too few. My hope is to get to all 50 states eventually. That, of course, includes Hawaii, and I'm not alone. Read More And we will not cooperate with any other state that tries to sanction medical professionals who provide abortions in Hawaii, Ige, a Democrat, said at a news conference. Ige is the latest ... Read More Hawaii joins 14 other states in issuing executive orders that protect health care providers and women ... But Soon said she doubts Hawaii will see a huge influx in women flying to the islands ... Read More Politics News A Blue Wave Begins Republicans May Be In Trouble In Kansas Montana And Georgia Elections | RobinsPost News & Noticias With four days to go, Democrats are seeing the limits of their focus on abortion. Republicans have a chance to win veto-proof supermajorities in Wisconsins State Legislature. Read More Voters in five states are deciding on Election Day whether to approve recreational marijuana , a move that could signal a major shift toward legalization in even the most conservative parts of the ... Read More Politics News Florida County Mulls Special Tax For Trump S Visits To Mar A Lago | RobinsPost News & Noticias An aide to former President Donald Trump who has claimed that he was present as Trump declassified broad categories of materials has appeared before a federal grand jury after being ... Read More Politics News Oklahoma Official Draws Fire For Cross Dressers Warning Email | RobinsPost News & Noticias OKLAHOMA CITY ... producer/writer with Fox News Digital Originals. Election season is here! Get the latest race updates, exclusive interviews, and more Fox News politics content. Read More ADA, Okla. (AP) Many of the 39 Native American tribes based in Oklahoma have played roles in state politics for decades, often behind the scenes. They became bigger, more outspoken players ... Read More OKLAHOMA CITY Financial companies that boycott the energy industry are pushing "anti-American" political agenda, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt told Fox News. "ESG is kind of rewriting how you invest. Read More The Monday announcement comes on Indigenous Peoples Day in the U.S. Cook Political Report rates the Oklahoma governor race as likely Republican. For the latest news, weather, sports ... Read More OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday set a statewide election for March 7 for voters to decide whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, a question Democrats had ... Read More Freeze Watches are up for all of central Oklahoma Monday Night and Tuesday Night. Freeze Warnings for areas north and east of OKC for the same time period! I think the best chance for a light ... Read More Kyler Alvord leads PEOPLE's digital politics ... news editor for the brand. He joined the publication in 2021 on the crime beat. Democrat Joy Hofmeister appears to have a shot at unseating ... Read More Four Oklahoma men who disappeared on a bicycle ride were shot and their dismembered bodies were discarded into a river, police said Monday. Mark Chastain, 32, Billy Chastain, 30, Mike Sparks ... Read More (AP) Many of the 39 Native American tribes based in Oklahoma have played roles in state politics for decades ... public view as the midterm elections draw closer. Tribal leaders have publicly ... Read More Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has set a special ... 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events ... Read More Politics News New York Lawmakers Approve Gov Andrew Cuomo S Free Middle Class College Tuition Plan | RobinsPost News & Noticias Fights over crime, abortion and the deadly U.S. Capitol insurrection took center stage as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul faced her Republican challenger, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, in their only ... Read More Lawmakers around the country pledged to seek reforms in response to a sweeping Hearst Newspapers investigation into the use of restraint and seclusion in schools, including crafting new state ... Read More Politics News Kansas Democrats Are About To Show Just How Big The Anti Trump Wave Actually Is | RobinsPost News & Noticias Control of Congress will be decided, with Democrats hoping to keep control of the Senate, and Republicans poised to seize the House by stoking voter concerns over inflation, immigration and crime. Read More Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, and Stacey Abrams, a Democrat, are in a rematch of their 2018 race. Catch up on what happened during their last debate before Election Day. Read More Elections News What Can The Special Elections In Kansas And Georgia Tell Us About Trump A Guide To Punditing Like A Pro | RobinsPost News & Noticias Polls close in the state at 7 p.m. local time. Given the state has multiple timezones, the first polls close at 8 p.m. EST and the last polls close at 9 p.m. EST. Read More Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is looking to hold on to the seat he won for Democrats two years ago, but he faces a vastly different political environment against Republican venture ... Read More Search RobinsPost News & Noticias Potus News Syria Fight Upends Perception Of Trump As Russia Ally But Some Dems Won T Let Go Of Tinfoil Hat Conspiracy Theories | RobinsPost News & Noticias North Korea's parliament convenes Tuesday for an annual meeting that's expected to commemorate Kim Jong-un's leadership amid increasing pressure from the U.S. Known as the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the parliament is made up of hundreds of members and is the country's highest body of power, according to the constitution. In reality, experts say the SPA is actually just a rubber-stamp institution that confirms decisions on official appointments, the state budget, and legal amendments that are typically made by more powerful organisations such as the ruling Worker's Party of Korea. Among potential new designations, senior party official Jo Yong-won could become the new minister of state security while a new spy chief may also be named, according to Yonhap News. Key themes "The fact that this meeting is timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of Kim's accession to power may mean that it will seek to underline his achievements and supremacy," said Kevin Gray, senior lecturer at the University of Sussex. The SPA is typically used as a means for Pyongyang to emphasize its dual pursuits of economic development and nuclear weapons, known as the byungjin policy. And given Washington's tough attitude toward the rogue nation's string of missile launches , this strategy has likely taken on new significance. "The byungjin policy will be reemphasized as crucial to regime and North Korean survival, especially in the backdrop of the U.S aircraft carrier group in the region and President Trump's strike on Syria ," said Stephen Nagy, senior associate professor at International Christian University. The isolated nation has made significant advancements in its nuclear technology over the years, particularly its ability to fire weapons from both land and sea. There is a chance Kim will use the SPA to reiterate his plans to make North Korea a recognized nuclear state and continue to protect the country against foreign aggression, noted Scott Seaman, an Asia director at Eurasia Group. Story continues But because the SPA isn't a forum for discussion or policy debates, it's difficult to say whether any new direction on the country's nuclear program will be revealed, Gray noted. "My guess is that it will probably not tell us anything we do not already know." North Korea remains one of the world's most isolated countries and accurate information about domestic politics or the economy is notoriously hard to come by as local media remains under state control. Another nuclear test? On Tuesday, acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned that the parliamentary meeting could invite yet another North Korean nuclear test. Two annual events around this time of year joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington and the birthday of North Korea's founding father Kim Il-sung on April 15 typically incite demonstrations of Pyongyang's military capabilities. But no such provocations are expected on Tuesday. "The conditions are not positive for missile testing while the U.S. aircraft carrier group is in the vicinity and with so many eyes focused on North Korea," said Nagy. "To engage in provocative behavior with so many moving parts would be unwise and I don't think they would miscalculate in that way." Beijing and Seoul agreed to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang if it carried out further nuclear or long-range missile tests, Reuters reported on Monday. More From CNBC Potus News Frayed U S Mexico Ties Mend As Trump Refrains From Attacks | RobinsPost News & Noticias MEXICO CITY, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday said his government was working to keep a lid on undocumented immigration ahead of U.S. elections so that ... Read More the U.S. military defense readiness system. Instagram and Twitter removed posts by the artist, who had been featured on conservative Fox News host Tucker Carlson's show. Trump has long been ... Read More Former President Donald Trump wrote that "U.S. Jews have to get their act together" on his social media platform Truth Social Sunday morning, saying "no President has done more for Israel than I have. Read More Former President Donald Trump attacked Jews in the U.S. on his Truth Social platform Sunday ... Trump also told Ami Magazine, an Orthodox Jewish news publication, last year that Jewish people ... Read More Doug Ducey had placed to fill gaps in the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border PHOENIX -- The ... The border wall promoted by former President Donald Trump remains a potent issue for Republican ... Read More MEXICO CITY The Mexican government filed another U.S. gun lawsuit Monday, this time against five U.S. gun shops and distributors it claims are responsible for the flow of illegal weapons into ... Read More MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -U.S. and Mexican officials have agreed a plan for Venezuelan migrants that will enable thousands of people from the South American country to enter the United States by air ... Read More Any Venezuelan who illegally enters Mexico or Panama after Wednesday will also be ineligible to come to the U.S. under the offer. The U.S. offer of parole for up to 24,000 Venezuelans is modeled ... Read More U.S. to Expel Venezuelan Migrants to Mexico Under Joint Plan By Dave Graham and Ted Hesson MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. and Mexican officials have agreed to a plan to curb rising numbers ... Read More Former President Donald Trump attacked Jews in the U.S. on his Truth Social platform Sunday ... Trump also told Ami Magazine, an Orthodox Jewish news publication, last year that Jewish people who ... Read More Mexico Says Tackling Migration, Does Not Want to Be in U.S. Election Debate MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday said his government was working to ... Read More REUTERS/Jose Torres/File Photo MEXICO ... s request, and they would enter U.S. territory by air, the statement said. World Canada announces new military package for Ukraine after Russian missile ... Read More Potus News Trump Warns China On North Korea Help Solve The Problem Or We Will | RobinsPost News & Noticias North Koreas Foreign Ministry has criticized the United States for expanding combined military exercises with South Korea that it claims are practice for an invasion. Pyongyang warned of more powerf ... Read More Potus News Malala Yousafzai Urges Donald Trump To Go And Visit The Refugee Camps | RobinsPost News & Noticias Over the weekend, former US president and current de facto leader of the the Republican Party Donald Trump logged onto the social media network he founded to unload on Jews, warning them that they ... Read More Say this for Donald Trump ... Court didnt side with Trump, refusing to even hear a challenge to the results. Just fyi. POTUS is pissed breaking news Supreme Court denied his law ... Read More UPDATE, 7:10 AM Friday: Donald Trump ... fomented by Trump. Related Story Joe Biden Warns Of MAGA Republican Efforts To "Subvert The Electoral System" In Midterm Elections; Fox News Chyron Refers ... Read More More info A committee made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans is investigating the January 6 riots from 2021 in which supporters of ex-President Donald Trump ... day the ex-POTUS gave ... Read More If former President Donald Trump really has nothing to hide, he should comply with the recently issued subpoena from the special House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, siege of the U.S ... Read More John Orona More:Ahead of Donald Trump's visit, Democratic candidates ... Past visits:Trump's past Wilmington visits: From viral news clips to 'the proudest day of my life' The crowd gathering ... Read More revealed a Secret Service memo from Dec. 11, 2020, detailing then-President Donald Trumps reaction ... that day shows how angry President Trump was about the outcome. Quote, "Just FYI, POTUS is ... Read More Former President Donald ... to do is go through years more of legal nonsense in order to clear my name of her and her lawyers phony attacks on me. This can only happen to Trump! ... Read More Former President Donald Trump will have to decide how to handle the subpoena that the House Jan. 6 committee voted to issue to him Thursday though as vice chair of the committee Rep. Read More For years, Arizona has been one of former President Donald Trump's favorite ... Oct. 9: In his third Arizona visit of the year, Trump is expected to urge Republicans to support Kari Lake, Blake ... Read More On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that Donald Trump must sit for a deposition in a defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll, a woman who says Trump raped her in the 1990s. The defendant ... Read More Four past presidents received such demands. The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill unanimously voted on Thursday to subpoena former President Donald Trump ... Read More Product Reviews Us Targets Kelihos Botnet After Russian S Arrest In Spain | RobinsPost News & Noticias In Spain, where six vessels have been frozen following sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in ... is the place to discover the latest US maritime policies for ... Read More LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles International Airport website was inaccessible Monday morning after a pro-Russia hacking group listed LAXs site as one of its targets. A statement from LAX ... Read More The deliveries were expedited after this week's barrage, a retaliatory ... Griner, who plays basketball in Russia during the WNBA offseason, was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport outside Moscow ... Read More The U.S. Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on Russian national Yury Yuryevich Orekhov, whom it accused of being a procurement agent, and two of his companies - Nord-Deutsche ... Read More "MPD officers used excessive force to make an arrest," a ... excessive force after video of a brutal arrest of two men went viral and the Metropolitan Police Departments Internal Affairs ... Read More "Indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on civilian targets is a war crime in the international rules of war," said Milley. US Army Gen. Mark Milley said Wednesday that Russia's latest deadly missile . Read More The US has told OPEC that a proposed cap on Russian ... target the cartel, a Treasury official told Reuters. The official also said that the price cap plan isn't the beginning of a buyers' cartel ... Read More MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's Federal Security Service said on Wednesday that it had detained five Russians and three citizens of Ukraine and Armenia in connection with the bombing of a vital bridge ... Read More The United States on Wednesday imposed fresh sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, targeting a network that Washington accused of procuring military and dual-use technologies from U.S ... Read More A lawyer for Sulberg declined to comment. In Spain, where six vessels have been frozen following sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, the running costs of a frozen ... Read More Product Reviews Uber Returns To Taiwan Two Months After Service Halt | RobinsPost News & Noticias Uber Eats offers ... when you change the tip after your order arrives, you can't change it again it's locked in. 1. Open the app and tap Grocery at the bottom of the screen. 2. Read More Shares of Uber are surging before the market open Tuesday after the ride-hailing company gave a fourth-quarter forecast indicating that consumers are growing increasingly more comfortable using the ... Read More Uber's chief product officer, Sundeep Jain, shines on the company's global tech days. Every month, engineering and ... role in 2018 on an interim basis after the company rescinded an offer to ... Read More Uber's stock price jumped after it reported third-quarter earnings. Read More Wall Street analysts expect Uber to post revenues of $8.13 billion in the quarter, a YoY rise of 68%. The companys revenues more than doubled on a yearly basis in the previous two quarters. Read More Officers said they responded just before 6 a.m. to Novant Health Matthews Medical Center ... killing USC student who mistook his car for Uber After detectives investigated and collected evidence ... Read More More than 34 billion trips later, were building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that ... Read More DALLAS An Uber driver is off the job after being accused of sexually assaulting ... The campus sent out an email notification that around 2:30 a.m. last Friday there was a sexual assault ... Read More Uber Eats now delivers safe, legal cannabis directly to homes in Toronto. In partnership with online marketplace Leafly, residents aged 19 and older can place orders from local licensed weed ... Read More Uber will launch its Comfort Electric service ... after that, famed activist investor Carl Icahn sold his entire 39 per cent stake in Hertz for a mere 72 cents per share, taking a $2 billion ... Read More This push to electrify the NSW Uber fleet comes four months after the company announced a ... benefit from a 50 per cent reduction in the Uber service fee (up to $6,000 per year) and Splend ... Read More TODAY: Lynnwood is testing the first on-demand ride service in Snohomish County similar to Uber but with the price of a bus ticket. $2.50 or less ... doctor's appointment and after-school ... Read More Science News Luxembourg Sets Its Sights On Space Resources With Seattle As Launch Pad | RobinsPost News & Noticias Journalism like this takes time and resources ... was set to send its prototype KuiperSat-1 and 2 satellites to space early next year with ABL Space Systems after announcing a multi-launch ... Read More Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a ... Read More Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. NASA has set a date ... Read More 12 (UPI) --After a string of setbacks, the U.S. space agency, NASA, said Wednesday it would try again to conduct its ... Science News // 3 days ago NASA rolls Artemis I mission rocket back to ... Read More NASA has set a date for their next try at launching the Artemis I rocket. On Wednesday, the agency announced that it could roll the rocket to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center as soon as ... Read More NASA has booked a date for yet another attempt at launching the Artemis I mission, following Hurricane Ian lashing Florida last month and forcing the space ... its return to the launch pad. Read More The most recent attempt was scrapped due to Hurricane Ian, which forced the space agency to bring the rocket inside from the launch pad. NASA said on Wednesday that the agency plans to roll the ... Read More NASA has set a date ... Ian forced the space agency to roll back its massive rocket into its hangar at Kennedy Space Center in Florida late last month. The 69-minute launch window for the Space ... Read More Science News China Solar Wind To Attract 780 Billion Investment By 2030 Research Report | RobinsPost News & Noticias China is a big investor in wind and solar ... faster through 2030, when they government says they should peak. The ruling party aims for annual coal production to rise to 4.6 billion tons in ... Read More The war in Ukraine has incentivized the European continent to install more solar, but as the momentum for solar energy grows, so grows Chinas power position in this market ... Read More The ruling party aims for annual coal production to rise to 4.6 billion tons in 2025, a deputy director of the Cabinets National Energy Administration, Ren Jingdong, said at a news ... China ... Read More Technology News Us Takes Down Huge Botnet As Spain Arrests Notorious Russian Hacker | RobinsPost News & Noticias Two Russian nationals were arrested and several other people charged in a broad sanctions-evasion scheme to smuggle US military technology some of which was used in Ukraine and Venezuelan oil. Read More Russian hackers claimed responsibility for taking down the websites of over a dozen ... hacks did not affect their daily operations. The hacker group claimed responsibility for hacking several ... Read More "Our diplomatic missions will naturally take ... US military technology to Russia. It said some of these had "been discovered on the battlefields in Ukraine." Another Russian citizen was also ... Read More Moscow on Thursday confirmed the arrest in Italy of the son of a senior Russian official at Washington's request for alleged sanctions evasion and illegal sale of US technologies to Russian arms ... Read More Some of the equipment was recovered on battlefields in Ukraine, the Justice Department said, and other nuclear proliferation technology was intercepted ... charged in New York are Russian nationals, ... Read More Some of the equipment was recovered on battlefields in Ukraine, the Justice Department said, and other nuclear proliferation technology ... are Russian nationals, and two have been arrested. Read More Technology News Britain S Next Fintech Hubs Are Leeds Manchester Edinburgh And Glasgow | RobinsPost News & Noticias The British leader announced her resignation on Thursday after just 44 days in charge, making her the countrys ... news of her resignation. Investors are assuming that, whatever happens next ... Read More BRITAIN'S best ... at 89 a night. Leeds was awarded third place for its market which boasts more than 6,000 searches a month and hash 4,000 tags on Instagram. Birmingham's Christmas market ... Read More Former finance minister Rishi Sunak will be the United Kingdoms next prime minister after seeing ... Sunaks rise is a historic moment for Britains South Asian community, said Sanjay ... Read More LONDON Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak won the race to be leader of the Conservative Party on Monday and will become Britains next prime minister the third this year. The former ... Read More And the Conservative Party, despite having suffered a series of recent by-election defeats, still maintains a working parliamentary majority of 71, meaning that Britains next general election ... Read More Rishi Sunak to Become Britain's Next PM After Months of Turmoil By Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout and William James LONDON (Reuters) -Rishi Sunak will become Britain's first prime minister of ... Read More During her tenure Ms Truss fractured Britains reputation for ... will be completed in the course of the next week. The winner will be the partys fifth prime minister since taking office ... Read More LONDON (AP) Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is set to become Britains next prime minister after winning the Conservative leadership race Monday and now faces the huge task of ... Read More He will not only be Britains first non-white leader, but its first Asian and Hindu Prime Minister tooan achievement that is especially meaningful as it coincides with Diwali. His victory ... Read More Travel News Arizona History Serves As Key Legal Argument In States Court Brief Supporting Trump Travel Ban | RobinsPost News & Noticias The appeal of Donald Trumps movement will be put to the test Tuesday in the race for governor of Arizona. Republican Kari Lake says she would not have certified the ... Read More The Justice Department says reports of people watching ballot boxes in Arizona, sometimes armed or wearing ballistic vests, raise serious concerns about voter intimidation as it stepped into a lawsuit ... Read More Latinos in Arizona responded to a tough crackdown on immigrants by building a turnout machine that helped propel Democrats to power, turning a longtime Republican stronghold into one of the most ... Read More * North Korea media warns of nuclear strike on U.S. if provoked * U.S. warships head for Korean peninsula * Trump says North Korea "looking for trouble" * Russia "really worried" about possible U.S. attack on North (Adds Trump Tweet) By Sue-Lin Wong PYONGYANG, April 11 (Reuters) - North Korean state media on Tuesday warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of U.S. aggression as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed towards the western Pacific. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has urged China to do more to rein in its impoverished neighbour, said in a Tweet North Korea was "looking for trouble" and the United States would "solve the problem" with or without China's help. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States. "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland," it said. South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea and ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States. "It is possible the North may wage greater provocations such as a nuclear test timed with various anniversaries including the Supreme People's Assembly," said Hwang, acting leader since former president Park Geun-hye was removed amid a graft scandal. Trump said in a Tweet a trade deal between China and the United States would be "far better for them if they solved the North Korea problem". Story continues "If China decides to help, that would be great," he said. "If not, we will solve the problem without them!" Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in Florida last week and Trump pressed Xi to do more to rein in North Korea. The North convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of its twice-yearly sessions in which major appointments are announced and national policy goals are formally approved. It did not immediately release details. But South Korean officials took pains to quell talk in social media of an impending security crisis or outbreak of war. "We'd like to ask precaution so as not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation on the Korean peninsula," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's founding father and grandfather of current ruler, Kim Jong Un. A military parade is expected in the North's capital, Pyongyang, to mark the day. North Korea often also marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on the streets of Pyongyang, illuminated by better lighting than that seen in previous years, apparently practising for the parade planned. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of congratulations to mark the event, lambasting "big powers" for their "expansionist" policy. "The friendly two countries are celebrating this anniversary and, at the same time, conducting a war against big powers' wild ambition to subject all countries to their expansionist and dominationist policy and deprive them of their rights to self-determination," the North's KCNA news agency quoted the message as saying. The North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by KCNA, said the U.S. navy strike group's approach showed America's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase". "We never beg for peace but we will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said. North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States. RUSSIAN WORRIES North Korea is emerging as one of the most pressing foreign policy problems facing the Trump administration. The North has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States. The Trump administration is reviewing its policy towards North Korea and has said all options are on the table, including military strikes, but U.S. officials said non-military action appeared to be at the top of the list. Russia's foreign ministry, in a statement ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said it was concerned about many aspects of U.S. foreign policy, particularly on North Korea. "We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario," the ministry said. "It's important to understand how that would tally with collective obligations on de-nuclearising the Korean peninsula, something that is underpinned in U.N. Security Council resolutions." Russia condemned U.S. cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base on Friday, calling them an illegal attack on a sovereign state. The U.S. Navy strike group Carl Vinson was diverted from port calls to Australia and would move towards the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a U.S. official told Reuters on the weekend. U.S. officials said the strike group would take more than a week to reach waters near the Korean peninsula. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. On Tuesday, a fleet of North Korean cargo ships was heading home, most of the vessels fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return the coal to curb the trade, sources with direct knowledge of the trade said. The order was given on April 7, just as Trump and Xi were set for the summit where they agreed the North Korean nuclear advances had reached a "very serious stage", Tillerson said. Following repeated missile tests that drew international criticism, China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26, cutting off the country's most important export product. The North is seen ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellite at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. (Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul, Idrees Ali in Washington and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel and Nick Macfie) Travel News Naturo Travel Fair In Gornja Radgona Is A Must Next Week | RobinsPost News & Noticias Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments. (CNN) This week in travel ... Read More Good news for Festival! Big time front looks to arrive on Monday and that will usher in some much cooler temperatures for the middle parts of next week. We're talking lows in the 40s (some upper ... Read More Can I see this week ... next few years, including the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, and the long-awaited total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Both will be visible in North America ... Read More Cases rose by 104 percent in Portugal and 42 percent in Switzerland over the past week ... all nonessential travel to Europe, especially for those at high risk. If you must travel, she said ... Read More (CNN) In travel news this week, the Italian village whose residents boast of a "fat-killing gene," the man who built a plane for his family in his garden and the woman who asked a stranger for ... Read More A gallon of regular gasoline could hit $4 in most of the country this week. It's already there in a number of states. However, there is some good news ... drop back down by next week. Read More There are plenty of reasons to buy travel insurance but saving money and potential headaches are top of mind. And inflation certainly doesn't help. The price of plane tickets is expected to spike ... Read More Travel agencies take care of travel arrangements such as airfare, lodging, transportation, and activities in one convenient location. Thankfully, there are many excellent travel sites to choose from ... Read More Next week will be a big one for the season ... They're scheduled to report results on Oct. 26. Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. Sign up for free newsletters and get more ... Read More This week in travel: some of the destinations in Asia with the most strict Covid policies are finally reopening, an annual ranking of the world's coolest neighborhoods provides inspiration for ... Read More Us News Pulitzer Prizes New York Times Wins 3 Daily News And Propublica Share Public Service Award | RobinsPost News & Noticias Fox News Digital obtained a follow-up letter sent by Trumps legal team to the Pulitzer Board notifying that a "defamatory statement" justifying the 2018 award ... prizes awarded to The New York ... Read More Photojournalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo, 28, was stopped at the Delhi Airport from travelling to the US to receive Pulitzer Prize at a ceremony in New York ... then told a news agency that Mattoo ... Read More NEW DELHI (AP) A Pulitzer Prize-winning Kashmiri photojournalist said Wednesday that Indian immigration authorities prevented her from flying to the United States to receive the award even ... Read More Mr Trump then suggested who should get Pulitzer prizes instead, naming Fox News hosts Sean Hannity ... the Pulitzer Prize was awarded to The New York Times and The Washington Post for a series ... Read More On Thursday, journalists from different parts of the world will attend the 2022 Pulitzer Prize ceremony in New York, but one female award winner ... holding a valid US visa and ticket," Mattoo ... Read More Srinigar, Indian-administered Kashmir Sanna Irshad Mattoo, a Pulitzer Prize-winning ... authorities in New Delhi from boarding a flight to New York to receive her award. Read More A photojournalist who was awarded a Pulitzer prize ... award in New York but I was stopped at immigration at Delhi airport and barred from travelling internationally despite holding a valid US ... Read More children of the late Danish Siddiqui received the award in a moving ceremony in New York. Danish Siddiqui- who extensively covered conflicts around the world- had won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 ... Read More NEW DELHI A Pulitzer Prize-winning Kashmiri photojournalist said Wednesday that Indian immigration authorities prevented her from flying to the United States to receive the award even though ... Read More A Pulitzer Prize-winning Kashmiri photojournalist says Indian immigration authorities prevented her from flying to the United States to receive the award NEW DELHI -- A Pulitzer Prize-winning ... Read More Us News Utah Doctor Convicted Of Drugging And Killing Beauty Queen Wife Found Dead In Prison In Possible Suicide | RobinsPost News & Noticias Investigators learned that the babysitter reportedly had no training necessary for looking over children and was unlicensed. Read More A man convicted of killing his wife in front of her children in Knoxville in 2021 will spend a life sentence in prison without the ... This case was possible because of the hard work and ... Read More A doctor was found dead on the floor of a hospital ... police have now ruled out suicide and currently believe Dr Bento died of accidental drug use. The Civil Police of Goias (PCGO) stated ... Read More AUSTIN (KXAN) A man who was charged with murder after his girlfriend was found dead in her bathtub in 2019 has been convicted in the case. A Travis County jury convicted Sergio Jose Gomez ... Read More (KRON) The Santa Rosa Police Department announced a gruesome discovery Oct. 13 a possible murder-suicide involving ... mentioned in the call, they found two people lying on a bed ... Read More WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah ... was found by construction workers near St. George Monday morning. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said it received a report around 6:40 a.m. of a possible ... Read More KINGSTON -- A husband and wife were found dead Sunday in an apparent murder-suicide in Kingston. They were identified by police Monday as Colin Canham and Sara Emerick. Plymouth County District ... Read More A man found ... in the 2015 killing of an Indianapolis pastors wife during a break-in was sentenced Friday to 86 years in prison. Larry Jo Taylor Jr. in September also was convicted after ... Read More Officers said Townson confessed to killing Little when he was transferred to Tomoka Correctional in 2020 after he found God in prison. Little was last seen Oct. 11, 1991. Officers said ... Read More While Powerball tickets are hot, so are tickets to the UT vs. UGA football game Saturday. While many have Vol fans have traveled to Athens, Tennessee fans in Knoxville are patiently awaiting the ... Read More (KTXL) A Sacramento man was convicted of second-degree murder after killing his wife at a gas ... Miguel Romo is now facing a possible maximum sentence of life in prison for shooting and ... Read More A Willow man has been convicted by a jury on charges of first- and second-degree murder for the 2018 killing of his wife. Michael James ... Troopers found Labuff-Kilgos body in August 2018. Read More World News Indonesia Delays Blasphemy Trial Of Jakarta S Christian Governor | RobinsPost News & Noticias Following the aftermath of the December 2 protests, observers inside and outside Indonesia predicted that Jakarta Governor ... s political Islam, lamented the prospects of the trial. Read More The trial of a former Indonesian police general accused of orchestrating the murder of his bodyguard started at a Jakarta ... s lawyer declined to say how his client would plead but in a news ... Read More Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Jakarta's new interim governor ... The project was initially pursued in 2017 by the then Chinese-born Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok. Read More JAKARTA (Reuters ... clear what her motive was or how she had obtained the weapon. Indonesia, which is the world's biggest Muslim-majority country, has previously suffered attacks carried ... Read More Widodo Says JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesias president said the country will not face sanctions from soccers world governing body after the firing of tear gas inside a half-locked ... Read More JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesia has found contaminated medicines that are suspected of being linked to the deaths of 99 children this year due to acute kidney injury, officials said Thursday. Read More JAKARTA, Oct 25 (Reuters ... a minister said on Tuesday. Indonesia is one of the world's biggest carbon emitters, with much of its pollution coming from forest and peatland clearance. Read More Indonesia will coordinate with investigators from the World Health ... Indonesia's drug regulator (BPOM) said in a statement the syrups were not registered in the country. The Jakarta health ... Read More JAKARTA, Indonesia Indonesia will ... and as the country prepares to host the Under-20 World Cup next year. Speaking alongside Jokowi, Infantino said FIFAs first priority was to ensure ... Read More 20 (UPI) --Indonesia has banned sales of ... that paints a grim picture concerning the world's fight to curb climbing temperatures. World News // 9 hours ago 35 adult migrants denied entry to ... Read More World News Tillerson S Tough Russia Visit Is Not The Meeting Either Side Planned Analysis | RobinsPost News & Noticias The United States had conversations about "risk reduction in the U.S.-Russia relationship as Biden officials are increasingly worried about nuclear threats. Read More The biggest foreign threat to the Unites States is not Russia and it's not China. It's the European Union and its member states. Read More Tigran Keosayan told NTV that if there was British involvement in leaks of the Nord Stream pipelines, Russians would want a "retaliatory response." ... Read More This week, NATO is conducting its regular, long-planned nuclear strike exercise ... As is the case in the US and among other world nuclear powers, Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles ... Read More Russia and the United States are discussing holding talks on strategic nuclear weapons for the first time since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, Russian newspaper Kommersant said on Tuesday, citing ... Read More The world is reacting to the ... which are more than 700 miles apart in a meeting with Russia's foreign minister. A diplomatic source in Moscow had told ITV News that the meeting "was embarrassing." ... Read More Russia is experiencing a rise in temperatures at a faster rate than the world as a whole, Russian climate scientists said. It is well known that global temperatures are increasing due to climate ... Read More However, because there are still countries willing to purchase Russias petroleum products, sanctions are increasing Russias revenue, not decreasing ... reducing the worlds access to ... Read More LONDON (AP) It's not a war, Vladimir Putin said then and says now. It's a special military operation. In most every sense of the term, though, Russia's war in Ukraine is precisely that. Read More It's a special military operation. In most every sense of the term, though, Russia's war in Ukraine is precisely that. And when a nation is at war, even if it claims it is not, the ... Read More World News Nine Dead In Clash Between Abu Sayyaf Philippine Security | RobinsPost News & Noticias Government security ... The Philippine military has frequently accused the MILF of violating the ceasefire with the government by supporting outlawed groups like the Abu Sayyaf, who are not ... Read More At least 26 Abu Sayyaf Muslim gunmen and one soldier were killed Sunday while nine other government troops were wounded in fierce clashes in the southern Philippines, an army official said. Read More KOTA KINABALU: A notorious Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Indang Susukan, who was behind at least six kidnappings in Sabah, was killed during a scuffle at a high-security Philippine National Police ... Read More COTABATO CITY, Philippines An alleged Abu Sayyaf bandit wanted for a string of criminal cases was shot dead by police officers out to serve a warrant for his arrest in Parang, Sulu over the ... Read More ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur A former Abu Sayyaf bandit who had surrendered to the military ran amok inside an Army detachment in Basilan on Tuesday afternoon, killing a soldier and two ... Read More Three Abu Sayyaf fighters with links to foreign terrorists surrendered to the Philippine Navy in the southern province of Basilan. The Navy said the trio, known only by their aliases Abu Bero, Abu ... Read More KOTA KINABALU: A notorious Abu Sayyaf ... security military camp in Zamboanga City. Indang and two other cellmates Arnel Cabintoy and Feliciano Sulayao were killed at about 6.20am on Sunday (Oct 9 ... Read More An ambush by Abu Sayyaf rebels in which at least seven Philippine ... dead. President Benigno Aquino condemned the killings, saying they were designed to put pressure on current peace talks ... Read More MANILA, Philippines (AP ... In 2005, detained Abu Sayyaf Muslim militants led a siege of a maximum-security jail in another Metro-Manila police camp where special forces were based in another ... Read More ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines Two ... where he was declared dead on arrival. Encinareal said Dahim and Jupakkal were followers of the late Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad, who was tagged in ... Read More World News China S Detention Of Taiwan Rights Activist Strains Relations | RobinsPost News & Noticias Once known as the Jing-Mei Detention Center, the site has found new appeal in Taiwan after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and pro-democracy activists ... rights abuses in China today. In the detention ... Read More Taiwan Chinas threat to absorb Taiwan through possible military action if necessary has sent nerves soaring in this city while sparking debate half a world away in Washington about ... Read More This was an address to the conference on PRCs Power Shift and Governance sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and organized by the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy ... Read More Reunification of China and Taiwan meets the interests of all, including Taiwan compatriots, Sun Yeli told a news conference in Beijing. President Xi Jinping is poised to win a third five-year term ... Read More There is almost no other country whose bilateral relation with China ... U.S bilateral relations. President Nixon has said on the occasion, then that this was the week that changed the world ... Read More Some analysts speculate that China will try to ... in their assessments of Xis intentions. Chang Wu-yue, director of Taiwans Tamkang University Cross-Strait Relations Research Center ... Read More Musk's recommendation was, however, praised by China's ambassador to the U.S. Elon Musk has weighed in on China-Taiwan relations ... China and Taiwan. "The world's wealthiest man obviously ... Read More In August, as China captured the world's attention with its large-scale ... an instant messaging app popular in Taiwan. "Fake news on social media is a way for [China] to pave the way for their ... Read More War between Taiwan and China ... the world and Beijing. "Standing firm on the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the main axis of Tsai's comments on cross-strait relations ... Read More China-Taiwan Conflict: Flags of China and Taiwan flutter next to each other during a rally in Taipei, Taiwan.(Reuters) Taiwans navy plans to update its aging fleet of warships, a move intended ... Read More China's Communist Party enshrined its opposition to Taiwanese independence in its constitution on Saturday, according to a resolution released at the end of its twice-a-decade congress. Read More Russias war on Ukraine has refocused attention on China and on ways Taiwan can resist a much larger and more powerful foe equipped with the world ... formal diplomatic relations a ... Read More World News Iom African Migrants Traded In Libya S Slave Markets | RobinsPost News & Noticias UN migration agency says selling of people is rife in African ... of slave markets for migrants can be added to a long list of outrages [in Libya], said Mohammed Abdiker, IOMs head ... Read More Hundreds of young sub-Saharan African men have been caught up in the so-called slave markets, according to the IOM report. A Senegalese migrant ... world. It is Nigerias most authoritative news ... Read More The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration ... were irregular migrants and mostly victims of human trafficking As a result of Libyas strategic location on the ... Read More More than 40,000 African migrants have arrived in war-torn Yemen since the start of this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM ... of the world's worst man ... Read More "We hope we can continue to ensure that migrants who would like to go home can do so in the months ahead." According to figures from IOM ... markets, mainly with an aim to find informal jobs in ... Read More Marina Manke, the Chief of IOM's Global Migration Data Analysis Center, said that Horn of African governments should come up with policy and regulatory frameworks geared toward transforming human ... Read More Many Venezuelans are forced to resort to sex, begging or indebtedness, to make ends meet, the IOM ... migrants have left their home country, fleeing poverty and violence and relocating around the ... Read More Aside from this, the DMW and the IOM will be studying the impact of climate change on foreign workers and their families, the aging population and the worlds labor shortages, the UN-backed ... Read More THE International Organisation for Migration (IOM) yesterday launched the United Nations Network on Migration in Trinidad and Tobago aimed at improving the lives of migrants. Two years after the ... Read More The IOM and the U.N. refugee agency ... and 17 are not enrolled in school. Colombia's human rights ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, said the influx of migrants often from Haiti or Venezuela ... Read More World News Topics North Korea Calls Us Aircraft Carrier Dispatch Outrageous | RobinsPost News & Noticias SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea warned Saturday the U.S. redeployment of an aircraft carrier near the Korean Peninsula is causing a considerably huge negative splash in regional ... Read More North Korea regards US-South Korean military exercises as an invasion rehearsal and is especially sensitive if such drills involve US strategic assets such as an aircraft carrier. North Korea has ... Read More North Korea said the weapons tests were meant as a warning to Seoul and Washington for staging dangerous joint naval exercises involving a U.S. aircraft carrier. The North Korean launches ... Read More More info A US aircraft carrier is likely to be deployed to South Koreas east coast after Pyongyangs ballistic missile test on Tuesday, a news report ... condemned North Korea's test in ... Read More In a statement released by the reclusive nations foreign ministry, North Korea also condemned Washington for repositioning a US aircraft carrier in the waters off the Korean peninsula ... Read More The South Korean government on Tuesday called on the North ... Korea but the whole world," he lamented. In this regard, he clarified that Seoul is "prepared to respond" together with the United ... Read More North Korea on Friday fired a short-range ballistic ... including deploying a nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier to the area twice, infuriating Pyongyang, which sees such drills as rehearsals ... Read More A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier launched a new round of naval drills with South Korea Friday, one day after North Korea ... at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news. Read More North Korea fired two ballistic missiles early on Sunday, officials in Seoul and Tokyo said, making it the seventh such launch since Sept. 25. For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google ... Read More North Korea warned Saturday, Oct. 8, the U.S. redeployment of an aircraft carrier near the Korean Peninsula is causing a considerably huge negative splash in regional security, as it ... Read More World News Topics North Korean Ships Head Home After China Orders Coal Returned | RobinsPost News & Noticias South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said its navy fired warning shots to repel a North Korean merchant ship that it says violated ... Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering ... Read More North Korea: The firing order comes after the North launched some 100 shells into the sea off its west coast. North Korea: A TV screen showing a news programme reporting about North Korea's ... Read More Xi expressed willingness to strengthen the relationship between China and North Korea ... in the region and the rest of the world, North Korea state news agency KCNA said. Read More SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Friday launched a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters and flew warplanes near the border with South Korea, the Souths military said, further ... Read More The drills involved the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group, which returned to the area after ... brief news conference. Earlier this week, 12 North Korean ... Read More SEOUL, Oct. 13 (UPI) --North Korea ... Britain's Home Office said. World News // 19 hours ago Martin to aim at northwestern Europe as a large, powerful storm Nov. 5 (UPI) -- After becoming the ... Read More South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a message to reporters that a navy ship broadcast ... World News // 13 hours ago South Korea scrambles fighter jets after spotting North Korean ... Read More His office said it also was seeking to ensure the safety of all aircraft and ships in waters around ... its battle group, which returned to the area after North Korea fired a powerful missile ... Read More Pic: South Korea Defence Ministry The Reagan and its battle group returned to the area after North Korea fired a powerful missile over Japan earlier this week to protest the carrier group's ... Read More The warning by an unnamed spokesman of the North's Korean People's Army (KPA) came a day after it fired a short ... carried by the North's official KCNA news agency. "In the future, too, our ... Read More For all latest news ... threat to Japan if North Korean descriptions about their range are true. The tests were the first known weapons demonstrations by North Korea after it launched 12 ballistic ... Read More Xi expressed willingness to strengthen the relationship between China and North Korea ... in the region and the rest of the world," North Korea state news agency KCNA said. The reported expression ... Read More An offshore oil platform is seen at the Bouri Oil Field off the coast of Libya August 3, 2015. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/Files By Catherine Ngai NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil rose towards $56 a barrel on Monday, supported by another shutdown at Libya's largest oilfield over the weekend and geopolitical tensions following last week's U.S. missile strike on Syria. Libya's Sharara oilfield was shut on Sunday after a group blocked a pipeline linking it to an oil terminal, a Libyan oil source said. The field had only just returned to production, after a week-long stoppage ending in early April. The outage adds fuel to a rally that started late last week after the United States fired missiles at a Syrian government air base. While analysts point out that Syria produces only small volumes of oil, the Middle East is home to more than a quarter of the world's oil output. Rising tensions in the region has the potential to produce knee-jerk rallies in oil, even if major producing countries nearby like Iran, Iraq or Saudi Arabia, are not affected. "There are a few geopolitical problems at the moment. On top of that, Libya isn't producing oil, so that's adding to the bullish side of the market," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. Brent crude (LCOc1), the global benchmark, rose 74 cents to settle at $55.98, not far from the one-month high of $56.08 reached on Friday. U.S. crude (CLc1) was up 84 cents to settle at $53.08. Oil prices have also been supported by a deal led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day for the first six months of 2017, to get rid of excess supply. Libya and fellow OPEC member Nigeria are exempt from cuts. In a sign of OPEC confidence that the deal is working, Kuwait's oil minister said he expected producers' adherence in March to their supply cut pledges to "be higher than the previous couple of months." The minister, Essam al-Marzouq, also said he saw "positive indications" in the decline of global oil stocks. However, that price rally has also encouraged production in other countries such as the United States, filling some of the gap left by OPEC-led cuts. Story continues U.S. crude inventories touched record highs both at the U.S. storage hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, and in the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent weeks, according to U.S. government data. Traders say the stubbornly high stockpiles and production growth have limited the upside to any rally, though stock draws may finally appear in coming weeks as summer driving season kicks in. "U.S. shale is going to continue to weigh on market. With refineries coming out of maintenance season, maybe we'll see some real strength around here soon," said Tariq Zahir, an analyst at Tyche Capital Advisors. (Additional reporting by Alex Lawler in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Alistair Bell) GENEROUS carvery staff and customers have collected nearly 80 Easter eggs for poorly children and there is still time to join in. Staff at the Toby Carvery at Mushroom roundabout in Dalton will be handing over the treats to the children's ward at Rotherham Hospital on Good Friday. The assortment, which was only started in March, already numbers 78 eggs by the start of this week and staff said the branch would continue accepting donations at the Sycamore drive restaurant throughout this week. Team leader Tanya Oldham (33), of Stag Crescent, and other team members will present the eggs to the hospitals childrens ward. David Munroe (53) general manager said: "We are always happy as a team to support local charities. "Even though we are a nationwide brand, my team are all from Rotherham and we want to do stuff for the town. "It is a novel way to help a great cause. It is not the first time that the pub, which was opened in 2015, has donated to charities in the area. Over 300 was raised for Rotherham Hospice in an event celebrating the carverys first birthday last October. So once again, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad unleashed chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. And once again, the president of the United States took the podium to declare the chemical attack unacceptablea breach of a moral line separating weapons of mass destruction from the more conventional atrocities to which Syrians have sadly grown accustomed. We'd seen this little morality play unfold before. It might all have had a deja vu quality, had November 8, 2016 not intervened. Whereas President Obama spent weeks agonizing over the implications of the "red line" he had drawn in the Syrian sand, President Trump took prompt action. The Ghouta chemical attacks occurred on August 21, 2013. President Obama decried them immediately. Secretary Kerry joined his saber rattling, promising a military responsealbeit an "unbelievably small" one. They then turned first to the United Nations, then to Congress, seeking a way to back downbut to no avail. At the eleventh hour, a savior arose: Vladimir Putin offered Russia's services to oversee the removal of all chemical weapons from Syria. Assad and Obama agreed immediately; by mid-September the deal was done. The following year, Kerry certified that Russia had delivered fully: Assad possessed no more chemical weapons. Of course, Kerry got it wrong. Last Tuesday, Assad was at it again. News and agonizing photos of a deadly gas attack surfaced quickly. President Trump, following his predecessor, decried it quickly and unequivocally. He then turned first to the United Nations, then to the American people, then to his military advisors. Within seventy-two hours of Assad's gas attack, U.S. missiles had taken out a key Syrian air base directly connected to the attack. The message to Assad, Putin, and the world was clear: There's a new Sheriff in town. Syria is a propitious place for President Trump to have sent that message, because President Obama's own Syrian message reverberated around the world. Story continues The feckless American response to the 2013 Ghouta attacks prolonged and intensified the Syrian civil war, needlessly raising both death tolls and refugee flows. Russia's arrival laid the groundwork for a shift in the balance of power; a losing regime that "had to go" five years ago has become today's smart-money favorite. Russia predictably parlayed its limited invitation into permanent residence. Over the past four years, it has become the key power in Syria and a significant player throughout the region. Iran pocketed Obama's support for its Syrian ally while squeezing him for concessions on all other points. And the world learned an important lesson: though the American military might remained fierce, it would stay both chained and muzzled as long as Obama remained in the White House. China in particular learned that there was no reason to consider an American response when contemplating provocative action. Obama's inaction in Syria was one of the clearest demonstrations of his entire approach to foreign policy. He put allies and enemies alike on notice: acceding to American demands brought contempt and further demands; standing strong against the U.S. brought concessions. What inferences is the world likely to draw from President Trump's very different Syria message? First, our new Commander in Chief is a man of decisiveness and action, rather than of debate and recrimination. Allies, enemies and fence-sitters alike know that he means what he says. Second, the U.S. military is completely capable of targeted, limited, proportionate responses. Third, the U.S. recognizes objective morality, and will punish moral outrages at its own sole discretion, with or without the approval of the "international community." Fourth, a single bombing raid is unlikely to shift the direction of Syria's civil war, but it will put the players on notice to constrain their atrocities. And that is fine, because the anti-Assad forces may or may not be less barbaric than he is, but they certainly cannot be classified as either allies or good guys. Fifth, no one in either Washington or Moscow wants to see a shooting war between the U.S. and Russia. Both countries recognize that their interests conflict as least as often as they overlap. That means they need to develop a new modus vivendi to ensure that miscalculations do not begin an accidental war that no one desires. Sixth, the full might of the American military is now unleashed. We have returned to the combination of fierceness and discipline that has brought so many benefits to so many parts of the world for so long. Seventh, and most importantly, the U.S. is reengaged with the world. American interests and values - matter again. Ignore them at your own peril. With one decisive action, President Trump not only reinstated America as the unipolar superpower, he restored morality to the morality play. Commentary by Bruce Abramson, Ph.D., J.D. and Jeff Ballabon. Abramson is a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, and director of policy at the Iron Dome Alliance. Ballabon is CEO of B2 Strategic where he advises and represents corporate and political clients on interacting with the government and media. He previously headed the communications and public policy departments of major media corporations including CBS News and Court TV. Follow them on Twitter @bdabramson and @ballabon. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion onTwitter. More From CNBC The Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Rungsung Masakui has implored the southern African country to establish a diamond cutting and polishing centre in partnership with other countries. This, he said, was the only way that would help Harare benefit from value-addition of its gemstones. "Structural deficiencies affecting gemstone mining and processing in Zimbabwe is due to the fact that the country has not yet established a gemstone cutting and processing centre," Masakui was quoted as saying by NewsDay. "In this light, it is imperative for Zimbabwe to partner with friendly countries in order to establish a gemstone cutting and processing centre, while also embarking on innovative marketing of lesser-known gemstones." He said the establishment of diamond processing facilities in India had turned the Asian country into a global leader processing at least 60% of the worlds diamonds. Zimbabwes mines minister Walter Chidhakwa told Rough & Polished recently that the state of diamond beneficiation in the country was not very good. He said Harare was not in a position to supply local companies with the 10 percent they require, as a result of a significant drop in production. We were also not able to supply the company that we went into agreement with the necessary diamonds for the training of our students, said Chidhakwa. Our students continue to train using diamonds from other countries, which is not desirable because we are training them to deal with Zimbabwean diamonds, but we hope that we can move forward. Diamond output in Zimbabwe fell sharply following the consolidation of mining operations in Marange. Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), a company that was established last year to takeover operations in Marange and Chimanimani, only produced 900 000 carats in 2016 from peak figures of 12 million carats annually. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Online diamond retailer James Allen has announced that equity investment company Francisco Partners has bought its major stake for $140 million. The companies did not disclose the terms of the deal or how the money would be used, except to say the investment would accelerate the companys rapid expansion. The investment gives Francisco Partners almost a 50% stake in the New York-based R2Net, which owns James Allen, valuing the e-commerce company at just under $300 million, Israeli newspaper Globes reported Sunday. The investment from Francisco Partners underscores the success [James Allen] has achieved, as well as confidence in the companys ability to drive further disruption of the traditionally brick-and-mortar industry by offering better selection and value, the companies said in a statement last week. James Allen has tripled in size in the last two years, according to the company. Its website currently lists almost 150,000 loose diamonds and hundreds of ring settings, enabling consumers to customize their jewelry purchases, the retailer said. The site also features 360-degree Diamond Display Technology, letting visitors view images of actual diamonds close up. The Indian capital will host the second edition of the India-SAARC-ME Buyer-Seller meet, reports say. The event is being organized by GJEPC between May 14-16. The meet is expected to attract over 60 buyers from SAARC, Middle East and South East Asia including jewellery retailers, chain store retailers, wholesalers, traders, and 40 leading Indian manufacturers of plain gold and diamond studded jewellery, reports add. The purpose is to enhance bilateral trade. Jewellery studded with synthetic diamonds will not be permitted at the event, reports say. There would be an interactive format to the meet for the first two days and a mini-exhibition on the third day. Buyers and sellers will be grouped into three groups with a mix of companies from each region. Every group will have one-to-one meetings over the first two days. On the third day, each group can interact with buyers and sellers from other groups. GJEPC notes the platform holds encouragement for the trade to promote bilateral trade and investment, as the selected regions share similar jewellery preferences in addition to the growing healthy trade relations between the regions and the various efforts taken by the Council to promote Indian jewellery in the regions. Villagers in Penhalonga, Zimbabwe are worried following reports that there could be deposits of kimberlite diamonds in the area, Daily News reports. Officials from the State-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) visited Penhalonga recently and convened a meeting with residents to discuss their intention to carry out exploration work. However, Daily News reported that villagers were dreading that the experiences at Marange could be repeated in their community. "We are still in panic mode after we were told that there are diamonds in our community. What happened in Marange is still fresh in our minds, said a villager Max Bwawo. "Most people lost their sources of live livelihood and we feel this can also happen to us." Thousands of people were said to have lost their lives when government unleashed the army to drive out illegal diamond miners in 2006. Harare, however, denied the charges, but that did not stop the Kimberley Process from suspending trade in Marange diamonds until November 2011. Marange villagers were also later re-located to Arda Transau in Odzi to pave way for mining operations, but the majority of them never received full compensation. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished The antique Stotesbury Emerald will be among flagship jewellery pieces offered at the Sothebys Magnificent Jewels auction on April 25. The 34.40-carat emerald was named for Eva Stotesbury, who came into possession of the stone in the early 1900s. The stone has been in the hands of three well-known jewelry collectors, with its setting changing based on owners desires and current styles for more than a century. It could sell for as much as $1.2 million later this month. The emerald has been coveted and cherished for more than a century, and the exceptional quality of the stone makes it as appealing today as it was when it first appeared in 1908, said Frank Everett, sales director of the jewelry department at Sothebys New York. In addition to the Stotesbury Emerald, there are a number of other jewels with distinguished provenances in Sothebys April 25 sale. This includes a Cartier sapphire and diamond brooch which features two emerald-cut sapphires weighing 10.40 carats and 7.75 carats, accented with round, baguette, old European cut, pear and marquise-shaped diamonds weighing a total of 13.95 carats. Its expected to sell for between $200,000 and $300,000. Theodor Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow Amtrak Three East Coast senators are highlighting the need for increased funding of Amtrak following two derailments at New York Penn Station. While Amtrak cited track issues as the cause of the derailments and pledged to evaluate and change maintenance practices to prevent further issues at the hub, the senators say adequate funding of the railroad could have supported critical maintenance programs. Senators Bob Mendez and Cory Booker (both D-NJ) sent a letter to Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Committee on Appropriations Chairman Susan Collins and Ranking Member Jack Reed, calling for $2.3 billion for the Federal Transit Administrations New Starts capital grant program and $1.6 billion to support Amtrak. The New Starts grant program funding was slashed and Amtraks funding for long distance service was eliminated in President Donald Trumps proposed Fiscal Year 2018 budget. Recognizing the urgent threat to our state and the dire need for infrastructure investment around the country, we urge you to reject President Trumps dangerous proposed cuts and follow the bipartisan congressional commitment to provide robust funding for the CIG and Amtrak, the lawmakers wrote in the letter. These critical programs will create jobs, provide a significant return on investment, improve reliability and safety, and improve quality of life for the American people. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said that Amtrak is facing more than a $28-billion state-of-good repair backlog, which could have contributed to the maintenance issues that caused the derailments at Penn Station. Sen. Schumer attributed what he labeled widespread maintenance issues plaguing the Northeast Corridor to a lack of funding, and called for a major increase in rail and transit maintenance funding to help address the issue. In a speech in late March, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao said it was the administrations belief that regulations, not a lack of funding, contributed to many infrastructure-related issues. Sen. Schumer said, Even the smallest of maintenance issues, left unchecked, can become the reason for the next big delay, or worse, disaster. For far too long, Amtrak has been tremendously under capitalized to the point that they now have an over $28-billion state-of-good-repair backlog. In addition, transit systems across the region lack the necessary funding to make much needed repairs. So, simply put, no matter how hard Amtrak, or other rail systems, work to prioritize safety, because of a lack of funding, some projects and improvements are just not getting done. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) joined representatives from the Illinois rail industry for a public policy discussion and a tour of Industry-Railway Suppliers, Inc., (IRS) at its Elmhurst, Ill., headquarters on April 10. Rep. Quigley is a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) and industry stakeholders discussed the importance of the shortline tax credit and the effort to make it permanent through the Building Rail Access for customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act. Additionally, the discussion touched on opposing any effort to increase truck sizes and weights, as well as opposing any federal reregulation of the industry. Following the discussion, IRS President Scott Commo led a tour of the IRS facility, which the company moved into in September 2016. The new facility houses the headquarters of IRS, as well as other members of the Railway Supply Group, including IRECO, LLC and Unity Railway Supply Co., Inc. Railway Supply Group also has a Canadian division, Davanac Inc. The event was coordinated by the Railway Engineering-Maintenance and Suppliers Association, which has 30 members operating in Illinois. We are honored to host Congressman Quigley, a leader on transportation issues affecting the Chicago region, and to demonstrate to him our commitment to growing our business in Elmhurst, said Commo. Railroads invest tens of billions of dollars annually into their networks, supporting rail supply jobs across our country. It is critical our policy makers do not upset the delicate regulatory balance that enables this sustained private investment. We thank the congressman for his continued support of Chicagos rail community. New Zealand will on Tuesday release March figures for credit card spending, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Overall card spending is expected to add 0.2 percent on month after sliding 1.0 percent in February. Retail card spending is tipped to rise 0.5 percent after falling 0.6 percent in the previous month. Australia will see March results for the indexes of conditions and confidence from National Australia Bank; in February, the index scores were +9 and +7, respectively. Japan will provide preliminary March numbers for machine tool orders; in February, orders were up 9.1 percent on year. Malaysia will release February figures for industrial and manufacturing production; in January, they were up an annual 3.5 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively. 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. Indian shares opened a tad higher on Tuesday, shrugging off geopolitical tensions and Fed rate hike worries. The benchmark BSE Sensex was up 130 points or 0.43 percent at 29,702, snapping a three-session losing streak. The broader Nifty index was up 25 points or 0.27 percent at 9,205. Infosys climbed nearly 2 percent ahead of its quarterly earnings due on Thursday. Heritage Foods rallied nearly 3 percent. The Competition Commission of India has approved the acquisition of Reliance Retail's dairy by Heritage foods. Aditya Birla Nuvo rose marginally on receiving shareholder approval for its merger with Grasim. ITC was marginally lower after the Union ministry reportedly recommended the ministry of finance to tax all tobacco products at 28 percent plus higher cess under the new GST. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com The New Zealand dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday. The NZ dollar fell to a 4-day low of 76.80 against the yen, from yesterday's closing value of 77.19. Against the euro and the U.S. dollar, the kiwi dropped to 1.5246 and 0.6941 from an early 1-week high of 1.5204 and a 4-day high of 0.6969, respectively. Against the Australian dollar, the kiwi edged down to 1.0801 from yesterday's closing value of 1.0777. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 75.00 against the yen, 1.54 against the euro, 0.68 against the greenback and 1.09 against the aussie. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Forex News Mastercard Inc. (MA), a company, on Tuesday said it has gained regulatory approval from the UK's Competition & Markets Authority for its planned acquisition of VocaLink Holdings Limited. The CMA gave final approval for the proposed set of remedies that address the competition concerns the CMA identified earlier this year. The deal is now expected to close in the coming weeks. Upon closing, David Yates will join the Mastercard management committee and become executive chair of VocaLink. Paul Stoddart will be promoted to CEO of VocaLink. VocaLink's technology powers immediate payments, also known as fast ACH, in the world's largest financial .The acquisition will enable Mastercard to play a more strategic role in the UK as well as in other markets around the world. Michael Miebach, chief product officer, Mastercard, said, "Adding bank account-based payments alongside our card network extends what we can do and how we can do it. Together, we'll be one partner to meet all payment needs of businesses, governments and consumers." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Provoked by U.S. navy strike group's movement towards the Korean Peninsula, North Korea warned that it was ready for "war" with the United States. Under order of U.S. Pacific Command, the Carl Vinson Strike Group, consisting of an aircraft carrier and missile destroyers, is sailing north to be stationed in the Western Pacific Ocean changing previously planned port visits to Australia. US President Donald Trump had vowed that the United States will single-handedly handle the nuclear threat from North Korea if China is not going to solve it. Terming it as Washington's "reckless move for invading the DPRK," North Korean foreign ministry said it is "ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US." "We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms," state news agency KCNA quoted a spokesman for the North's foreign ministry as saying Tuesday. "We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions," he added. The White House had made it clear that the United States is exploring new diplomatic, security and economic options targeting North Korea, which claims to be developing a long-range missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland with an atomic warhead. White House national security adviser H.R. McMaster said the Trump administration has asked him to be prepared to give the President "a full range of options to remove that threat to the American people and to our allies and partners in the region". For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News PPG (PPG) announced it has acquired a 40 percent ownership interest in Taiwan Chlorine Industries Ltd. from China Petrochemical Development Corp. PPG funded the acquisition, which represents a minority interest related to one of PPG's legacy businesses, using cash on hand. Taiwan Chlorine Industries was established in 1986 as a joint venture between PPG and CPDC to produce chlorine-based products in Taiwan. In connection with the sale of PPG's original 60 percent ownership interest in Taiwan Chlorine Industries to Axiall, CPDC was granted an option to sell its 40 percent ownership interest in TCI to Axiall for $100 million following the three-year anniversary of PPG's commodity chemical separation. Axiall was concurrently granted the right to name PPG as its designee to purchase CPDC's 40 percent ownership interest. In April 2016, CPDC elected to sell its 40 percent TCI ownership interest to Axiall, and in June, Axiall designated PPG to purchase this ownership interest. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Former President Barack Obama will travel to Germany next month to engage in a conversation about democracy at an event to commemorate the launch of the Reformation Summer. Obama is scheduled to hold a discussion with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the topic of "Being Involved in Democracy: Taking on Responsibility Locally and Globally" on May 25th. Kirchentag President Christina Aus der Au and Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, EKD Council chair, will moderate the discussion at the Brandenburg Gate. "President Barack Obama's attending the Kirchentag in Berlin, which will ring in the Reformation Summer, underlines the international character of our 500th anniversary celebrations," said Bedford-Strohm. "Together, as people of faith, we live from the firm hope for a better world," he added. "Anyone who is pious also has to be politically minded. I am looking forward to enthusiastic debates during the Reformation Summer 2017." Bedford-Strohm noted he invited Obama to visit Germany for the Reformation anniversary in May of last year. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News SANA'A, April 11. (Saba) - Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf met on Tuesday with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Yemen Jamie McGoldrick. The Minister delivered the UN Coordinator an urgent letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and to the President and members of the Security Council. The letter refuted the allegations of Saudi Arabia in the port of Hodeida, and the escalation by the countries of aggression off the west coast of Yemen. The port of Hodeida is the main lifeline for food and medicines for nearly 80% of the Yemeni people, as well as the entry of humanitarian aid from international organizations working in Yemen. The letter confirmed that any targeting of the port will lead to a worsening of the humanitarian crisis the country experiences. In addition, a famine is increasing because of the siege imposed on the Yemeni people. The port closure represents an intention to commit a genocide crime against the entire Yemeni people. He warned of Saudi Arabia- led coalition against civilians on the west coast of Yemen which represents a violation of all international conventions and humanitarian norms, especially international humanitarian law. He also denied the allegations of the coalition on Iranian arms trafficking in Yemen and called on the Security Council to inform all members of this, called on the United States to prove these allegations. Sharaf requested the Secretary-General and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. He urged the United Nations Security Council to stop the military operations against Yemen. The minister stressed the firm and clear position of Yemen calling for a just peace, welcoming the continued efforts of the UN Secretary-General to stop the military aggression, and open a Yemeni - Saudi dialogue in parallel with the Yemeni - Yemeni dialogue for a peaceful political settlement. HA Saba The logo of Raiffeisen Bank International is seen at a branch office in Vienna, Austria March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader VIENNA (Reuters) - Raiffeisen Bank International (RBIV.VI), which recently decided to restructure its Polish division rather than sell it, said on Monday it would lay off a fifth of its staff in Poland by the end of 2019. Poland's Alior Bank (ALRR.WA) in December pulled out of exclusive talks to buy Raiffeisen Bank Polska (IPO-RBP.WA), after which Raiffeisen said it would hold onto the bank while also floating 15 percent on the Warsaw bourse, as required by Poland. The Polish government has been pushing to reduce foreign ownership of the country's banks to gain more control over the economy. In December, for example, Italian bank UniCredit (CRDI.MI) agreed to sell a stake in Polish bank Pekao (PEO.WA) to Polish insurer PZU (PZU.WA) and development fund PFR. Outlining its restructuring plans, Raiffeisen said in a statement it planned to close 60-70 branches in Poland by 2018 as well as launch "cost-saving initiatives" of around 50 million euros (42.61 million pounds) and cut 850-950 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs by the end of 2019, it said in a statement. The Polish business, which is also known as Polbank, had 4,242 employees and 299 branches at the end of last year. Based on those figures, the layoffs represent roughly 20-22 percent of the workforce, and at least a fifth of branches will close. "Up to 90 branches will be converted to cost-efficient formats by the end of 2019," the company said. A spokeswoman said that mainly meant being downsized. The project's restructuring costs were estimated at 10 million euros and would be booked in the first half of this year, the company added. (Reporting by Francois Murphy and Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich; Editing by Shadia Nasralla and Jane Merriman) United Airlines man dragged off plane A fellow passenger on United Airlines flight 3411 told CNN the customer dragged from the flight was pleasant before the ordeal. "He was a really sweet man," John Klaassen, a teacher who was traveling on a school trip in Chicago, told CNN's Don Lemon in an interview Monday. Klaassen told Lemon the 69-year-old man, who has not been identified, chatted with some of Klaassen's students before being told his seat was given to an airline worker. At that point, the man became inconsolable and repeatedly refused to leave. He was forcibly removed by the police and then taken to a hospital with injuries from the confrontation. Video of the incident has ignited a firestorm online and led to criticism and threats to boycott United. The officer shown in the video has been placed on leave as the government reviews the case. The airline has since apologized. "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United," CEO Oscar Munoz said in a statement. "I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers." Here's the full CNN interview: NOW WATCH: People are outraged by this shocking video showing a passenger forcibly dragged off a United Airlines plane More From Business Insider Tension prevailed on the Panjab University campus on Tuesday as students, protesting the fee hike for various courses, clashed with the police. Police sources said that a few students were injured after a baton charge and use of water cannons and tear-gas to disperse the agitatators who had gathered near the Vice Chancellor's office complex. The protesting students pelted stones at the police and broke window panes of the offices and damaged other university property. Later, a few students, who were being chased by the police, entered a gurdwara on the campus and took refugee there. Police officials were reported to be negotiating with them to come out. Teaching was affected in several departments on the Sector 14 campus of the university due to the protest shutdown called by the students. The fee hike was being opposed by the Students for Society (SFS) and other student organisations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed satisfaction on a successful budget session, which he said had been "very meaningful and useful", and advised BJP MPs to work like Lord Hanuman to publicise the government's achievements. Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party MPs here, Modi told them not to wait for his instructions before carrying out government work among the people. "When Lakshman went into coma, Hanumanji went to find a cure without any prodding. Similarly, MPs must go ahead without waiting for instructions. They need to carry forward the government's work among the masses," a BJP MP who attended the meeting quoted Modi as saying. Modi's remarks came after he greeted people and MPs on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. Modi urged the MPs to get inspiration from Hanuman. "Take inspiration from Hanuman. He never took anything from anyone but he kept giving. You also need to give to people like him," Modi said. Asking MPs to go their parliamentary constituencies, Modi they too needed to establish their own identity despite banking on him (Modi). Later, talking to reporters, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said the Prime Minister dubbed the budget session as 'Vijay Prapti Satra' (Winner Session) for the government. "Modiji said the budget session was very meaningful and useful. It was a 'Vijay Prapti Satra'," Kumar quoted the Prime Minister as saying. BJP sources said Modi also spoke about the positive mood among people reflected in the sweeping win for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the just held assembly elections. "This is a golden opportunity for us to lift the lives of the poor, the deprived. This is the time for doing more development and reforms," Modi said. He congratulated the MPs for the passage of 21 bills in the Lok Sabha and 14 in the Rajya Sabha including the Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST). The Prime Minister said there was an environment in the country in favour of the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) it leads. "This is a golden opportunity to move on the path of development." Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu also addressed the MPs and hailed Modi for providing the country a tranformative leadership. Naidu said in just three years, Modi had emerged as the messiah of the poor. Naidu also gave tasks to MPs for the third anniversary celebration of the Modi government. This was the last BJP parliamentary party meeting of the budget session which ends on Wednesday. Find out final information before heading to the polls Tuesday As the 2022 midterm election day is finally upon us, here's where Saline County citizens can find out where to vote. Lawyer, Lauaki Jason Annandale, is the new President of the Samoa Cancer Society (S.C.S). Lauaki was elected when the Samoa Cancer Society held its Annual General Meeting. He is joined by the following members who were elected to serve on the Executive Board for 2017: Vice President- Rev Siaosi Salesulu, Treasurer- Lemauga Hobart Vaai, Secretary- Kilisitina Best, and Executive members: Taupau Bruce Leiataua, Tautalatasi Dr John Adams, Papalii Viopapa Annandale-Atherton, Susie Poort, & Audrey Brown-Pereira. The Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr. Leao Tuitama, was voted by the members to continue as Patron of the Society. Kilisitina Best presented the Members with the 2016 Annual Report and reflected on the many achievements and challenges of the societys work. She reported that last year S.C.S continued to focus on its Strategic Plan goals and both the Board and Staff worked hard to ensure the continuation of its Outreach and Patient services. Executive Officer Shelley Burich maintained the organizations high visibility through the implementation of its programs, services and fundraising activities. It was emphasized that the work of the Society in 2016 had largely been funded through the generous support from the community and Government of Samoa. Acknowledgement was given to all the many organizations, individuals and volunteers who had helped the Society throughout 2016 which allowed us to collectively achieve our goals and try to make a difference in our community, to effect change, to improve health standards, and to provide support for those who suffer from this illness (cancer) Noteworthy points from the Annual Report include: the global cancer burden is growing and cancer is now responsible for almost one in six deaths globally. Early diagnosis can help detect cancer patients at an earlier stage, enabling treatment that is more effective, less complex and less expensive and in 2016, the society focused on developing a way to reinforce the early detection messages through a media-centred approach and face to face awareness campaigns. The report also stated that patient support has developed both locally and in New Zealand for our cancer patients on the government funded overseas medical scheme. This has been made possible through the patient support volunteers and key relationships with the Auckland Cancer Society, Child Cancer Foundation N.Z., Auckland Starship Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. As more people living with cancer and their families look to the society for assistance with information, advocacy, to help navigate the health system and address their needs, more effort will be made to increase the patient support services through local and overseas collaborations. The incoming Executive Committee, led by newly elected President Lauaki Jason Annandale will focus on strengthening the organization and its capacity to deal with the cancer-related issues affecting our Samoan community. S.C.S. is keen to further build on its relationships in 2017, improve patient services and advocacy work as well as promote its early detection media campaign funded by the Civil Society Support Programme. A poster for the Ohio State University event. Last November, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden was beamed in from somewhere in Russia to address a crowd of Ohio State University students. Democracy only works for all of us when we all work to uphold the system, Snowden, appearing on a giant video screen, told the sold-out crowd of about 1,700. The letters of the constitution are not going to jump off the page and protect your rights. People give those letters strength. The university paid $30,000 through an American speakers bureau to digitally host Snowden, one of his largest known contracts to date, according to documents obtained by Yahoo Finance. The Ohio State event was one of a series of speeches that have netted Snowden who is still a fugitive in the eyes of the U.S. government well over $200,000 in the past two years, as Yahoo News first reported last year. He has continued to give paid speeches, including at U.S. colleges, in 2017. The ongoing speaking contracts come at a time when Snowdens fate and influence are more uncertain than ever. A campaign by Snowdens supporters to win him a pardon was rebuffed by the outgoing Obama White House, and new President Donald Trump previously labeled him a terrible traitor. Moreover, Snowdens efforts to present himself as an Internet privacy pioneer are now complicated by an American political environment colored by increasing wariness and hostility toward Snowdens host since June 2013: Russian President Vladimir Putin. The July 31, 2013, document granting Snowden asylum in Russia for one year. It definitely looks bad In January, U.S. intelligence agencies publicly asserted that the Kremlin executed an elaborate influence campaign aimed at hurting the candidacy of Putin foe Hillary Clinton and boosting the candidacy of Putin admirer Donald Trump. (U.S. agencies are also investigating contacts between Trump campaign aides and Russian officials.) There is no question that there has been a dramatic shift in the surveillance debate in the U.S. since the Russian hacking of the 2016 presidential election, Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University, told Yahoo Finance in an email. Story continues EPIC is currently attempting to compel the office of the director of national intelligence to release its complete assessment on Russias election interference. Rotenberg noted that the debate ignited by Snowdens advocacy has given way to considerations of Russian meddling. Snowden raised important questions about the scope of U.S. government surveillance, Rotenberg said. And his efforts led to reforms, including passage of the Freedom Act. And he continues to make good arguments for legal control of surveillance authority. But now the focus is on understanding and preventing cyberattacks on democratic institutions. Without democratic institutions, it is not possible to enforce the rule of law. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Barack Obama at the G-20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, China, in September 2016. (Alexei Druzhinin/AFP/Getty Images) Snowdens speaking events highlight his peculiar situation as a 33-year-old former U.S. intelligence contractor being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars from speaking contracts some from public American colleges while living under guard at an undisclosed location in the territory of a resurgent adversary. It definitely looks bad that hes over there in Russia, Chris Weber, a cybersecurity expert who co-authored the 2002 book Privacy Defended and supports more transparency about government surveillance, told Yahoo Finance. It could be damaging to privacy advocates and to all of the progress that has been made since his original revelations, because he is still in Russia and theres a lot of tension. Weber, who has been writing about U.S. government surveillance since before the 2001 passage of the Patriot Act, which expanded the governments authority to conduct the kind of surveillance Snowden exposed, noted that its reasonable to wonder whether Snowden could be manipulated as part of a larger game. He turned the lens around for a brief period so that we could look in the mirror, Weber said. Now that lens has been turned back around, Weber added, noting that Snowdens mysterious living situation kind of invalidates things for a lot of people. Foreign interference is a common thing Snowden, for his part, has given mixed messages about his view of political tensions between Moscow and Washington. He has sometimes been publicly critical of the Kremlins invasions of Internet privacy and its crackdowns on dissidents through tweets sent out to more than 3 million Twitter followers. Snowden and his supporters contend that these comments show he is not a Russian tool, as some critics claim. Days ago, I criticized the Russian governments oppressive new Big Brother law. Now, threatening rumors. But I wont stop. https://t.co/UFkIR1Rx8N Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 11, 2017 Sanctioned or unsanctioned, meeting peaceful protesters with force is clear injustice. 850+ arrests in Moscow, including journalist @ASLuhn. pic.twitter.com/aNb5yJDtYM Edward Snowden (@Snowden) March 26, 2017 But he has also downplayed Russias election meddling, taking a so-what-if-they-did attitude toward the Russian activities. All countries are doing this, Snowden told the CeBIT technology conference in Germany on March 21. The Russians are interfering in our elections. The Chinese are interfering in our elections. The Germans are interfering in our elections! In a very light, very polite way in their case. Foreign interference is a common thing. Snowden later asked: If elections have been interfered with throughout history, why did it actually matter this time? Snowdens CeBIT talk also included praise of WikiLeaks, which published emails during the US presidential campaign that were stolen by Russian hackers and published CIA hacking tools in early March 2017. Russian state media outlets such as RT and Sputnik used Snowdens comments to argue that the U.S. lacked evidence of Russian election tampering and to promote WikiLeaks actions. Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, which has been investigating the Russian activities connected to the election, called them an assault on our democratic institutions. The House intelligence committee released an unclassified report on Snowden in December that called him a serial exaggerator and fabricator and alleged: Since Snowdens arrival in Moscow, he has had, and continues to have, contact with Russian intelligence services. ,/p> On March 22, Snowden signaled support for claims by the Trump White House that incidental collection of Trump transition staffers communications amounted to spying by the U.S. government under former President Barack Obama. Ironically, one of Snowdens tweets on the subject was retweeted by Michael Cohen, Trumps personal lawyer. Trump's personal lawyer retweets Snowden. Compelled to support his livelihood Ohio State University paid Gotham Artists $30,000 to host Snowden via video chat for 90 minutes on Nov. 30, 2016. Emails obtained by Yahoo Finance do not show exactly how the event came about. The Ohio Union Activities Board brainstorms ideas and receives suggested speakers, events and activities from a number of agencies that they work with regularly, Ohio State Public Relations Director Benjamin Johnson told Yahoo Finance. Our students became interested in Snowden in connection with the movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The money came from the student activity fee, a fund that charges $37.50 each semester to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled at Ohio States Columbus campus. At least one Ohio State student disagreed with the arrangement. What bothers me the most is having no choice but to be put in the unethical position of paying someone with criminal charges pending against him, fourth-year student Robin Smith wrote in a letter to the school paper. OSU students, whether you agree or disagree with Snowdens actions, we all have been compelled to support his livelihood. Nowadays citizens surveillance is greater than Democratic control #SnowdenUncovered pic.twitter.com/4JsJrqELt0 Adrien Lac (@LacAdrien) December 1, 2016 On June 14, 2013, Snowden was charged in a Justice Department criminal complaint with theft of government property and two violations of the U.S. Espionage Act for disclosing classified communications. Thus far, the U.S. has chosen to refrain from targeting his financial livelihood through actions such as sanctions by the U.S. Treasury, executive orders, or specific law enforcement mechanisms. It appears that so far the U.S. governments approach has been one of diplomacy and a focus on extradition as opposed to traditional legal weapons that might be used against criminals in other cases, Jonathan Schanzer, a former U.S. Treasury analyst and current vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Yahoo Finance. Social engineering the next generation Snowden began speaking at U.S. colleges with a video chat at Harvard in January 2015. Promotional material from Open Mic Productions, an events production company that promotes Snowden speeches exclusively on YouTube and Twitter, touts the positive receptions he has received on college campuses. At campuses across North America, including Harvard, University of Chicago, McGill, University of Arizona, Columbia, University of Iowa, Stanford and others, he has received rave reviews and standing ovations, the brochure states. Snowden is the only speaker that Open Mic Productions lists as a client. A person close to Snowden previously told Yahoo News last year that the American made more than $200,000 between September 2015 and August 2016 through digital appearances organized by the American Program Bureau. Three contracts during that time were signed with public U.S. colleges the universities of Iowa, Colorado, and Arizona totaling $79,000. There is nothing remotely improper about Edward Snowden making a living by speaking to global audiences about surveillance and democracy, Snowdens primary US lawyer Ben Wizner, who coordinates the appearances, told Yahoo last fall. Jeremiah Talamantes, president of the cybersecurity company RedTeam Security, sees a clear strategy in Snowden speaking to colleges (beyond the lucrative contracts). Theres a reason hes speaking at universities, Talamantes told Yahoo Finance. Its almost as if hes social engineering the next generation. Talamantes, an expert on social engineering to target specific people with influence operations, said American students are an ideal audience for Snowden. Who are you targeting? Hes talking to these very impressionable folks, Talamantes said. If I were to inspire a movement, the first place I would go to is universities and start from the grassroots. Its pretty clear to me in terms of what hes trying to do. Snowden appearing with writer Ron Suskind at the University of Colorado on Feb. 16, 2016. (Patrick Campbell/University of Colorado) So far in 2017, Snowden has spoken to three colleges the University of Waterloo in Canada, the University of Pittsburgh, and Middlebury College in Vermont in addition to addressing several tech conferences. Amid the geopolitical tensions, Snowdens statements about U.S. surveillance are especially provocative to Washington. These programs were never about terrorism, Snowden told Middlebury students on March 16, repeating a line he first used in December 2013, referring to the mass surveillance programs he exposed. They are about economic espionage, diplomatic manipulation and social control. We should never permit them to say they are saving our lives if they cant show evidence that they are. The University of Pittsburgh paid an unspecified amount to host Snowden, emphasizing that payment was provided to the agency representing Snowden rather than directly to the speaker. The Middlebury Student Government Association, which invited Snowden, told Yahoo Finance that the organization is obligated by contract [to] not share any information about our agreement with Mr. Snowden. Michael Isikoff contributed to this report. Michael B. Kelley is on Twitter and can be reached at mbkelley@protonmail.com OSU Edward Snowden Contract by Michael Kelley on Scribd Read more: In exile, Edward Snowden rakes in speaking fees while hoping for a pardon Inside the bizarre $1 million Russian novel behind Oliver Stones Snowden Taunese Misa Lene is the winner of 1Touch Ministrys 13th Bootcamp which ended last week. The Weight loss Challenge which promotes healthy living celebrated its successful ending on Friday night at the Orators Hotel. It was a special night as the Directors of 1Touch Ministry, Pastor Lenny and Tai Solomona, paid special tribute to the late Tuliaupupu Pala Lima, whose vision was for them to bring the 1Touch Bootcamp to Samoa. Since the concept was introduced several years ago, the number of people participating has been consistently growing. This was my first full season with 1Touch bootcamp and I can tell you, it was extremely difficult at first but the support I had from closed ones and the fantastic 1Touch team made everything possible for me, she wrote. I knew I was making a huge change in my life at Bootcamp, but I wasnt expecting to end up at first place for this season, that was the least of my concerns. I was more concerned with myself, I wanted to make a life change. But ill gladly accept this Tuliaupupu Pala Limas trophy as a reward for our many sacrifices, for everyone who did. Taunese acknowledged the late Tuliaupupu Pala Lima. We owe this to you and your family. Faafetai to our amazing PT team and 1Touch Admin, True professionals malo a team for the great job. I met some amazing people along the road; this is for all of you. Thank you S.L.R.C family and our Shakers netball team Pale Fuimaono and S.L.R.C family And last, I want to thank my two biggest supporters, my two boys my husband Louis J O Lene and my son Misiafa Nathaniel Fealofai Lene. Youre my true champions. List of Winners: 1st Taunese Misa Lene 2nd = Eric Poe and Moefaauo Moananu 3rd Pastor Sefo Kone 4th Angela Lafaialii 5th Vaaelua Aloi Alesana 6th William Lene 7th Peneuets Faafouina 8th Donald Kerslake 9th Mareta Asuao 10th Visceta Meredith Local business owner, Moe Lei Sam has scoffed at the notion from the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fio Purcell, saying our local businesses should learn from Chinese business owners. The Ministers comments were published in Thursday edition of the Samoa Observer newspaper, in an article titled Learn from Chinese, says Minister. Moe said she was very angry and disappointed when she read the Ministers comment. What is this man trying to say? Is he implying that we (local businesses) are not good enough? We dont need Chinese to come and tell us what to do. I was very disappointed when I saw the story to be honest. I am a local business owner and I know there are other local businesses out there who were offended with the comments made by the Minister. What do we need to learn from the Chinese? Moe said Lautafi should have explained exactly what our local businesses need to learn from the Chinese. According to the disappointed local business owner, there is a big difference between local businesses and Chinese businesses. The first thing is, these Chinese business owners dont have are families here in Samoa. They dont spend money on faalavelave and they dont make any contributions to church like most of us . They make a lot of profit because they are not the same. The other thing, it is really hard to compete with the Chinese businesses because they sell their goods at a very, very low price. To them, they dont care if they make a profit of just $1 but as long as they get customers. Thats their way of attracting customers which is not good for us. These people are not business experts. If they were experts back in their country, why are they here then? Said Moe, the comments from the Minister are like slap in the face for local businesses. I find his comments very insulting, said Moe. Its like he is saying we are not as smart as the Chinese. That we should look up to the Chinese. He is Samoan, he should be supporting and encouraging our local businesses instead of saying insulting things like that. It just makes me angry. Having said that, Moe said it wouldve been better if the government came up with an initiative to teach our local businesses how to improve their work. I would have supported him if he said that there is now a course available for our local businesses to come and learn about how to operate businesses. That wouldve been a better idea than asking us to go and observe how the Chinese do things. No way! I am never going to do that. Moreover, Moe who is also half-Chinese strongly believes that local businesses can succeed if they all work together in unity. We (local businesses) need to stand together and help one another. I dont want the Chinese to come here and take over our country. This is our country and we should be taking the lead in everything not them. Our businesses were doing fine until these (new) Chinese businesses came into the country. Now I am half-Chinese, I dont blame the Chinese, I blame the government. If the government did not allow these new Chinese businesses to be established in Samoa, there wouldnt be a problem at all. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries with funding from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (D.A.W.R), Australia held a stakeholders awareness session for the implementation of the electronic phytosanitary system (ePhyto) in Samoa last week. Held at Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel, the event was attended by various government ministries, exporters, importers and border agencies. According to a press release, Samoa is planning to implement ePhyto with the aim of regulating and facilitating international trade of plants and plant products that would provide substantial benefits to business processes associated with Samoa Quarantine Services (S.Q.S) and its stakeholders. The ePhyto project is an initiative of the International Plant Protection Convention (I.P.P.C) to assist developing countries to implement Generic ePhyto National System (GeNS) for the exchange of phytosanitary certificates. GeNS will connect to a single-point exchange mechanism called the Hub to allow countries without a National system to exchange certificates in a secure platform. Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Director for Business Systems Programme, Plant Export Operations in Australias Department of Agriculture, Peter Neimanis said the awareness session was about electronic certification. Its the way that we exchange certificates from country to country, from governments to governments and when we send products, when Samoa sends coconut or Australia sends oranges overseas, we have to produce a certificate that says its free of peasants and diseases, he said. So its about making sure that the products we export to other countries dont spread peasant diseases. If you send coconuts to Australia or we send oranges to China, the importing country would have rules and import conditions about how those goods should be traded or controlled before they export those goods and that goes on to a certificate. This is where we are engaging with industries, even though the Quarantine service does the inspection, the industries have an important role in the trade of the goods so they have a responsibility to make sure the goods are treated or free of pests before they are exported, they have a responsibility as well so this is about communicating with industries about this project, that will be sending certification information electronically between countries. Weve spoken to the Quarantine service a couple of times during last years workshop in August, where we continue to work with them. Now this is the first time were talking to industries about these changes that are going to come and we will just let them know what the system is about and when we come back, maybe early next year, the system will be ready to test and the industries will be involved more directly. All the people in Quarantine know about it because they do these certificates everyday. These certificates happened without a lot of people knowing about it. Most people in Australia know about health quarantine rules when you come into Australia but they dont think about the rules of when you export. You got to make the rules with another country but a lot of people dont know about it. At the moment, we do a lot of paperwork and you know certificates get lost, theres issues like certificates could be wrong and might have put wrong information on the certificates so by sending the message electronically, you cut down on fraud and the certificates arrive before the goods are due and they can check that the information is correct. So this can help speed up the import process. One of the presenters whos also the Senior Project Scientist for Department of Agriculture in Australia, Dr. Chin Karunaratne added on by saying: This will help these people to regulate their business processes and it will be cost saving for the industries and for the Quarantine service because they are sending certificates electronically and they will also have access to all the sectors development goals of the certificates they had sent and that will help them regulate their business processes. The press release also stated that the pilot stage will determine the potential of Samoa to move on to GeNS using a paperless system, which would facilitate global electronic Phytosanitary exchange. As Samoa is the only country in the Pacific selected for ePhyto implementation, this would be a major milestone for trade facilitation in the region. There are many things that are required in this life when it comes to taking care of a family but the most important requirements are water and electricity. So says Ainamaua Koiti, a 72-year-old father from the village of Saoluafata. Speaking to the Village Voice yesterday, Ainamaua said that without water, its hard to go by each day because in other words, thats basically no life. Any human being needs water. In our village, we are living each day by using our own villages water but its kind of hard because we have to pay $5 every month for it, he says to the Village Voice. I think the worst part is when it goes off. It takes about 3 weeks for it to be back on, sometimes its close to two months. He said the reason being is that the pipelines have been blocked and its really hard for the water to go through. That puts families like his who are far away inland to get water. Since the pipelines have been blocked, it has caused our taps to be off, and its not just our family, that goes for all the families in this area. Ainamaua also said that this goes for the power as well. If the waters off then the power shuts down too. For us and some other families, we sometimes rely on the power lines from Sauniatu. Ainamaua humbly requests help with this matter, all he needs is a water tank so they can store their own water in times the electricity gets cut off. We all need water everyday and its hard to survive without it. We need water for drinking, for food and doing laundry as well. A water tank would be a huge help because if it rains, we will use it to save that water from the rain. At the moment, Ainamaua and his family are using gallons to save and store water. Samoa, if you want to help out Ainamaua Koiti with this issue, you can contact him on 7629270 or 7657435. This life is not just about changes, its about challenges as well. Samoa has changed in so many ways and thats a real challenge. So believes Sam Naoa from the village of Saoluafata. Aged 42, Sam is a father of five and his work right now is developing his family with what he already has in hand. I know the government are not going around Samoa and checking on how its people are doing but thats okay because I know our people are fine, he said. Our people are not crying over food because when they are hungry, they know we have the lands to get food from. Every family is doing the best they can to work the lands to get what they need and to make money, he told the Village Voice. Mr. Naoa said that what hes working on, is trying to develop his familys living situation. I am trying to develop my family and we havent been here long. We used to stay at Laulii where my family was but now, we are here in this village because this is where my wife is from and ever since we moved here, Ive been doing my best to develop my familys living situation. Mr. Naoa said that his vision for the future is being able to afford building a new house. Hes been planning this with his wife. That is my hope and I am praying and working in whatever way to make this happen. Right now, we just appreciate the fact that we have a roof over our heads and that the children have a place to stay. Thats whats important is being able to provide the basics of living to my children because they are still young and still in school. This father went on to say that he and his wife are responsible for most of the duties in the family including making their meals everyday. I prefer staying in the village where we are surrounded by huge lands because we can get whatever we need. Even with the water, its in good condition and our tap is where some people of the village come to get water from. But I think the other thing that we need help with is a restroom (fale-le-taua) because at the moment, we are still using the kind that Samoa started with. Mr. Naoa believes that everything is peaceful and joyful if you depend on the land for your basic needs. We have a good area here, so peaceful and quiet. I dont think anyone is ever hungry here because we have a lot of plantations for food. We dont have anyone that works in the family but thats okay because we have most of the things provided to us by nature. Right now, our only focus is to help these children have better futures. If you want to lend a helping hand to Sam Naoa and his family to build their house, contact him on 7788751 or 7696080. Heres the good news. According to the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, the government is not broke. In setting the record straight during an interview with the Sunday Samoan last week, the Minister said the raft of plans by the government to review taxation laws with the view of increasing them including that menacing V.A.G.S.T - is not because the government does not have any money. Rather it is in response to demands from members of the public about improved infrastructure. Of course wed like to believe Sili. Who wants to live in a country with a government thats broke anyway? The obvious question is; how did we reach the level we are at today in terms of our public finances? Sili offered one explanation. There is so much demand for roads and water supply, he said. If you have been listening to Parliament then there is a high demand for water supply, road access. We understand that. But there is more. As you know we are also now increasing the funding of free education which New Zealand had provided money for, he added. Over time the shares of that funding, has decreased so the government has to pick up from there. So really, if we dont raise taxes, or borrow, where is that going to get us? Its just going to take our economic development back but we are not broke. Well thats good, isnt it? Its reassuring especially coming at a time when fears are obvious about the foreign debt creeping past the $2billion tala mark, which each and everyone of us will have to pay somehow. Now the Minister would not confirm or deny the figure. But he confirmed that is now about 52-53 percent of our G.D.P which is something we should be worried about. I think we need to make a point that historically our public debt as the percentage of our G.D.P is much lower than that, maybe 30 per cent, said Sili. But you know when we have natural disasters like the tsunami, flooding, and cyclones and obviously we need to borrow from the World Bank, A.D.B to rebuild our infrastructure because if we dont, then it obviously it going to impact on the growth of the economy. Sili went on to say that nobody could plan when natural disasters strike. We cant leave our infrastructure in a damaged state. We need to make sure that businesses will be restored very quickly, he said. As the consequence of that, our public debt had increase in recent times. Obviously we had to borrow money for the airport terminal development. Theres always a question of whether we allow our key infrastructure to deteriorate and not do anything. The Minister added that the government has made a very wise decision to invest in facilities and infrastructure. Obviously the government is always wanting for grant financing but given the cost involved, its not very easy to have it all totally funded. Its one of the reasons why we are looking at the budget to try and consolidate, keep a close eye on how we manage our expenditures. We want to make sure that we create surpluses that will help us to rehabilitate our infrastructure in the event of natural disasters. Not only that but we also need to look at a situation that we will be able to fund a lot of our ongoing maintenance from our own budget. A lot of work is going into climate proofing our infrastructure, so we need to raise the level. And unfortunately we cant fund it from our budget, we have had to borrow that from the World Bank and A.D.B. although the terms are fairly contentious; I wish we only had to build the infrastructure and not to worry about maintenance and rebuilding. But thats the reason why we are where we are today. We are quite confident that we can bring that down to 50 per cent, which is to me it will be quite good. If we are too ambitious, then obviously its nice to say that oh, our debt is gone down to thirty percent forty percent but the question is; is that practical? Is that realistic? I dont think so. Lastly Sili said the government has sufficient monies for its plans. We need to review our expenditures. We did promise that we will be reviewing our expenditures in health and education sectors. We just have to make sure that we are spending them on the right areas and we are getting value for that money. Its the same with all of our expenditures. Well thats good to know. Keep in mind this is what Minister Sili said. Its the official line. There is always the official line, the unofficial line and then there is the truth! Stay tuned! Dear Editor, Re: Government and deja vu This story at Vaitele is said to have begun with good intentions. How many disastrous situations can be attributed to such beginnings? Unfortunately, as many experienced business people will testify, good intentions is never enough. Because of the statements above I asked myself this question, Are there or were there any projects that were done with bad intention. because I thought these statements were kind of stupid excuses. But I actually found one that was done with terribly and truly bad intention. THE LTR2008 Leasing of customary land and Land Registration bill was truly done with bad intention But overall, it should have been about the fact that the money being used to fund the project, came from the people of Samoa, the taxpayers - the same people who are exhorted to live within their means. Why is it that many government people are cautious and realistic when it is their own personal money but then turn into a dont care, billionaire when it comes to other peoples money? Is it because these people can be reasonably sure that when it all turns to custard, there will be no accountability as there hasnt been for so many examples of corruption and mismanagement in government for years? This is a very well written article, and some great pointed questions with valid concerns that still need to be addressed. Great read. Segale A Cabinet Minister has downplayed his connection with family-owned businesses despite having assured the public last year he had stepped away from them. The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupai, de-emphasised his involvement in response to questions raised by a concerned member of the public that Skylite Productions Limited is still registered under his name. It is one of two family-owned businesses that remain registered under the Ministers name. The other one is Starsignz Limited. According to business registration documents from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, both companies are hundred percent owned by the Minister. The Directors are the Ministers wife, Asenati Tupai, and the Minister himself. Asked for a comment, Minister Afamasaga told the Samoa Observer through a text message that his initial intention was to remove his name. However, legally he said he couldnt. Yes that was the intention, he said. However I cant legally do that as I have company loans under my name. But the Minister insisted that he is no longer involved in running the businesses. An industry source disputed this, claiming that the Ministers businesses have been utilised by the Ministry under the watch of the Minister. For example, the source told the Samoa Observer that the signs on vehicles belonging to projects under the Ministers portfolio have been printed by Starsignz.These include the signs and other works for the Submarine Cable Company, the source said. As for Skylite Productions, the source claimed the company continues to be involved in a number of government-funded projects including some of the biggest production projects. This is a small country, the source said. Skylite is in the process of doing a project with the Office of the Regulator. These are government projects. Were they tendered and how transparent was the tendering process?" You do the Maths, the Office of the Regulator is under his portfolio so its conflict of interest." After all he is still a Director of the companies." I know its not going to change the world but the reason why I am raising this is because the truth matters." This is a Minister who went on the record saying he is no longer involved with all his companies and yet the documents say otherwise. What does that say? Its been more than a year since he became a Minister. Last year after the election, the Minister had publicly announced he had pulled out from any involvement with his businesses. There is really no conflict at all in this, Afamasagatold the Samoa Obsererat the time about SkyliteProductions. Its a production company that does work for media companies, but through my office it has informed all sectors and everybody they do work for that I am no longer involved with the work (of Skylite). According to Afamasaga there are Managers running the company and assured that I have pulled out completely in terms of position and involvement. Afamsaga added that he takes his oath seriously. I have made my oath to prioritise (and work) for interest of the government and general public, he pointed out. That is what I focus on. You can have your own interests and Skylite can have their own but individual interest is not my main concern as my decision is based on the general needs of the public. A young Samoan female has returned from New York with a spring in her step, empowered to share her experience to make a difference in Samoa. Fusi Masina Tietie, who is a Board member of the Young Women Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.) of Samoa, had won the Yvonne M.T. Herbert Scholarships which allowed her to travel to the Commission on the Status of Women (C.S.W), in New York in March. C.S.W. is one of the largest annual gatherings for global leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations, United Nation partners to focus on the empowerment of women and girls. The theme of this years meeting was Womens Economic Empowerment in the Changing World of Work. Speaking during a press conference at The Travellers Point, Malifa, Ms. Tietie said she would never forget the experience. I was able to represent the young women from our country that were not able to be there, she said. One of the important aspects discussed was the importance of social media and how we, young women, can use social media to reach out to share information, not only with people who are involved within C.S.W. but people in our own countries." Not only was that but a Youth Forum also conducted and there were 2,000 young men and women have participated and a lot of issues were being discussed." A Youth Forum Declaration was later adopted. The main focus of this Declaration will be a guide to all member states that will be negotiating the issues C.S.W." We had the opportunity to sit down and have breakfast with the Australian Minister of Employment and Women. Ms. Tietie has not only learnt a lot from her experience, she also had the opportunity to talk about some issues the young women of Samoa are struggling with. We shared personal stories on how Y.W.C.A. is affecting our lives. We shared about what our journey was like before joining the Y.W.C.A. and how the work were doing back home is affecting the lives of the young women." There was a film and photography Festival by U.N. Women in which 21 young women from around the world got to showcase their films, videos and photos based on the theme Personal is Political." It was such a great experience to just be there and listened to what all these member states were on about. Ms. Tietie is among 32 Y.W.C.A trained peer educators through its RISE UP training programme. The programme focuses on leadership, sexual and reproductive health rights, economic empowerment and human rights. During her presentation in New York, she highlighted some of the lessons they have learnt. Among them is the pay gap between men and women, the importance of Intergenerational Leadership and the importance of partnership among countries and young women as the driving force for change. Ms. Tietie is a Gender Studies Graduate employed by Samoas Ministry of Health, who is a keen photographer in her spare time. It was her photography skill that qualified her to apply for the scholarship, as a member of the Y.W.C.A. of Samoa. Ms. Tietie hails from the villages of Falefa and Falelatai and Fusi Safata where her parents, Pastor Taei and Taiti Tietie serve the Assembly of God Church. A technical cooperation programme project to help Samoan youth to gain employment in the agriculture sector was yesterday launched at Matautu-tai. The Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations (F.A.O), Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development Division for Youth are partnering to build the technical capacity of young farmers in various aspects of agriculture. The project called, Strengthening capacity of Youth for employment and livelihood in Agriculture aims to improve production and value addition practices to supply food to the domestic market by young people. F.A.O Sub-regional Coordinator, Eriko Hibi, said F.A.O strongly believes that the future of the Agriculture Sector lies in the hands of our young people, and therefore it is essential to build their skills in agriculture-based livelihoods. F.A.O recognizes that by involving young people in the agriculture sector, we are not only providing them with livelihood and employment opportunities, but we are also training the next generation of farmers and agriculturalists to ensure a sustained future for the sector and the countrys food and nutrition security, said Ms. Hibi. The project aims to increase local fruit production and value addition for agricultural crops to satisfy local demand by increasing employment of young people in the sector. The project will also target young peoples knowledge and involvement in agribusiness management and marketing to gain access to markets and potential buyers. Agriculture as a livelihood option will be strongly promoted through the duration of the project through different methods or awareness and campaigns. Lizbeth Cullity, UN Resident Coordinator, who attended the launch congratulated the government of Samoa, in particular the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development for their achievement in designing opportunities for youth employment in the field of agriculture. She also acknowledged the critical support of the private sector, N.G.Os and all other key partners who have demonstrated their continued motivation and commitment to assisting the UN deliver better together in the interest of youth and other vulnerable groups. Furthermore, outcomes through this project will contribute to the broader One United Nations Youth Employment Programme of Samoa, which looks at securing productive employment and decent work for young people (inclusive of those who are marginalised from mainstream economic activities) and empowering young people to contribute to sustainable and resilient economic growth. kim jong un congress After a Chinese envoy arrived in South Korea, the two sides have agreed to take "strong action" against North Korea if the North continues to test nuclear and ballistic missiles, according to VOA News. Joel Witt, the cofounder of 38 North, a website that brings together experts on North Korea, told Business Insider that the country's progress in developing nuclear and ballistic missiles had appeared to rapidly increase over the past year. With each test, North Korea gets closer to its goal of creating an intercontinental ballistic missile that could threaten the US mainland. US President Donald Trump's administration has been clear it is open to taking military action to try to prevent this. Trump, in an interview with the Financial Times before his meeting last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said "if China is not going to solve North Korea, we will." It remains to be seen whether South Korea and China's vision of unacceptable behavior matches the US's, as the US has signaled growing impatience with the North's nuclear posturing. Now, with the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and strike group redirected to the Korean Peninsula, South Korea and Chinese diplomats seem to have struck an agreement on handling the North Korean missile threat that does not involve a US strike. North Korea called the Vinson's deployment an "outrageous act" and said it was "ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US." While the US certainly sent a message with a recent salvo of 59 cruise missiles directed at a Syrian air base, it faces far more limited options in striking North Korea, which has an array of missile launchers and artillery that could effectively level Seoul, South Korea's capital of 10 million people. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises a ballistic rocket launching drill of Hwasong artillery units of the Strategic Force of the KPA in an undated photo. KCNA/via REUTERS Story continues Experts have told Business Insider that while China disapproves of North Korea's nuclear threats, it has a much deeper interest in preserving a North Korean state as a buffer against Western influences, fearing a strong, united Korea complete with democracy and US military installations. Furthermore, the Chinese appear to have been spooked by a recent deployment of advanced missile defenses to South Korea, which the US put in place after a particularly provocative missile test from the North. Trump reportedly discussed the north Korean issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, with the two reaffirming their commitment to denuclearizing the peninsula and adhering to all UN sanctions against the Hermit Kingdom. NOW WATCH: Here's footage of the US military's new helicopter that'll cost as much as an F-35 More From Business Insider Tapping into San Diegos biotech talent pool, a Michigan-based developer of an experimental therapy for liver disease is moving its administrative headquarters here. Cirius Therapeutics of Kalamazoo also has hired three experienced biomedical executives in San Diego to lead the company in connection with the opening. It will use $40 million of newly raised money to complete a mid-stage clinical trial of an experimental liver drug, said Bob Baltera, the companys new CEO. Advertisement Also hired were Dr. Howard Dittrich as chief medical officer and Brian Farner as chief business officer. Both worked with Baltera at a previous business, Laguna Pharmaceuticals, which closed in December 2015. Cirius will retain its Kalamazoo location for research and development, Baltera said. San Diegos administrative headquarters will have a small team, he said, and Dittrich will oversee clinical trials. The company is in the process of leasing space for its San Diego operations, Baltera said. It will probably be located in the High Bluff Drive area of Carmel Valley. Cirius raised the $40 million from venture capital firms led by Frazier Healthcare Partners and Novo A/S. Frazier had hired Baltera, Dittrich and Farmer in January 2016 to scout for a new company to invest in, and they identified Cirius. The company is now in Phase 2b testing of a drug for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, and liver fibrosis. The drug resensitizes patients to insulin. Resistance to insulin is a major factor in NASH and liver fibrosis, as well as Type 2 diabetes. NASH is a major health threat to the United States, Baltera said. While the liver has great regenerative powers, beyond a certain point the damage becomes irreversible, leading ultimately to cirrhosis. Bob Baltera (David Harrison / Harrison Photographic) At the end stage, the only alternative is a liver transplant. If the disease process can be interrupted, the liver has a chance to recover, averting the need for a liver transplant. Conatus Pharmaceuticals, another San Diego-based biotech, has been testing its own drug, emricasan, to fight cirrhosis and NASH fibrosis by reducing inflammation. In December, the company signed a worldwide commercialization deal with Swiss drug giant Novartis. The Cirius drug, now called MSDC-0602K, was previously intended to treat Type 2 diabetes, Baltera said. However, the need and market opportunity in NASH and related liver diseases were considered greater. Insulin resistance is a root cause that begins fatty liver disease, down the way to NASH, and eventually cirrhosis, Baltera said. What we think we have here is a different approach than the majority of the approaches out there. For more information about Cirius Therapeutics, visit ciriustx.com. Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1020 U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ended an alliance between the Justice Department and independent scientists to raise standards of forensic science, prompting criticism from researchers including a brain specialist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla. Sessions said in a statement Monday that he wont renew the National Commission on Forensic Science, a roughly 30-member advisory panel of scientists, judges, crime lab leaders, prosecutors and defense lawyers chartered in 2013 by the administration of then-President Barack Obama. Sessions, newly appointed by President Donald Trump, pledged in the statement to increase the reliability of forensic evidence and fight violent crime while meeting the needs of overburdened crime labs. Advertisement But disbanding the commission deprives the government of an important error-correcting tool, said commission member Thomas Albright, an internationally recognized neuroscientist who focus on vision and the brain at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. This was the first time that a federal commission has been put together to look at the problem of forensics that incorporated not just forensic service providers and not just people from law enforcement and prosecutors, but actually included independent scientists, said Albright, who was appointed to the commission in 2015. Im a biologist, theres a physicist on the committee, a chemist, a psychologist, so we bring a new perspective, he said. Eliminating this commission is, in effect, eliminating the opportunity for scientists to bring that new perspective to weigh in on the problem. Albright added: One of the conclusions that we reached in work in my laboratory is that your visual system can easily be fooled. This has been known for a long time by others outside the scientific community, he said, such as stage magicians. What we discovered is the mechanisms by which this happens, which provides greater understanding and predictability about what conditions might lead to that kind of problem, Albright said. Avoiding contamination The accuracy of forensic evidence is vital not only to convicting criminals, but also exonerating the innocent. Separately on Monday, the national commission heard from Keith Harward, a former Navy sailor exonerated last year after serving 33 years of a life sentence for rape and murder in Newport News, Va. Harward was convicted after six experts, including a leader in the field, concurred that bite marks on a victim matched his teeth to a medical certainty. Yet later on, DNA testing identified a different sailor as the perpetrator. And tainted forensic evidence from a drug lab chemist has prompted Massachusetts prosecutors to ask for voiding nearly 24,000 drug convictions. In 2014, Albright co-led a report from the National Research Council that outlined precautions to avoid biasing the testimony of eyewitnesses. For example, during interviews of eyewitnesses, neither the witness nor the questioner should know the suspects identity. This double blind method is considered the gold standard in biomedical research. Likewise, Albright said, forensic examiners looking to match a suspects fingerprints should not be told the suspects identity to prevent any extraneous factors from contaminating the examiners professional judgment. The 2014 report can be obtained at j.mp/nrcwitness. In a letter Thursday, Albright led a group of six of the commissions scientists who urged renewing the panel for two more years, saying: For too long, decisions regarding forensic science have been made without the input of the research science community. They also wrote: Limiting the relevant scientific community to forensic practitioners is a disservice to that field and to the criminal justice system. The announcement came as the commission began its last, two-day meeting before its term ends on April 23, and as some of its most far-reaching final recommendations remained hanging before the department. Justice officials said, for instance, that no decision has been made on a call for new, department-wide standards for examining and reporting forensic evidence in criminal courts across the country. But the department has decided to suspend work on setting uniform standards for forensic testimony. Some reforms in place The wider review has been suspended pending review by the incoming administration and a strategy to be devised by the internal task force with input through public comments, Office of Legal Policy senior counsel Kira Antell said. at the start of Mondays commission meeting in Washington. We plan to consider all options, Associate Deputy Attorney General Andrew Goldsmith said, including using a different commission, a Justice Department office or a group composed of representatives from many agencies. The commission, jointly led by Justice and the Commerce Departments National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, has already prompted several changes. Following one recommendation, NIST launched a $20 million research effort to solidify understanding of whether techniques used more than 100,000 times a year in U.S. crime labs work as advertised starting with the question of how often claimed matches of pattern-based evidence such as complex DNA profile mixtures may be in error, followed by studies of firearms and bite-mark tracing. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff of New York, the only federal judge on the commission, said, It is unrealistic to expect that truly objective, scientifically sound standards for the use of forensic science . . . can be arrived at by entities centered solely within the Department of Justice. In suspending reviews of past testimony and the development of standards for future reporting, the department has literally decided to suspend the search for the truth, said Peter S. Neufeld, co-founder of the Innocence Project, which has reported that nearly half of 349 DNA exonerations involved misapplications of forensic science. As a consequence innocent people will languish in prison or, God forbid, could be executed, he said. However, the National District Attorneys Association, which represents prosecutors, applauded the end of the commission and called for it to be replaced by an Office of Forensic Science inside the Justice Department. Disagreements between crime lab practitioners and defense community representatives on the commission had reduced it to a think tank, yielding few accomplishments and wasted tax dollars, the association said. Work to do Albright said the commissions finished work will remain available, so its findings wont be lost. The problem is that theres a lot of unfinished business, he said. The big problem with the forensic sciences is that many of the techniques used have not been proven to be scientifically valid. Bite-mark analysis is a good example of such a scientifically unverified forensic technology, Albright said. Theres no scientific study that shows people can reliably identify somebody from the bite mark, he said. And thats true with many forensic techniques. Until theyre demonstrated to be scientifically valid, theres questions about whether they should actually be used. It might be possible to continue some of the commissions work through NIST, which is testing some of the forensic techniques for validity, Albright said. I think that government funding for this scientific validity research to demonstrate that some of these methods are actually valid would be a significant step in the right direction, but I dont see this happening with this administration, he said. The bigger message is, we cant let this go. There are innocent people that are in jail now. The Washington Post contributed to this story. Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1020 Qualcomm fired back late Monday against Apples legal attack on its patent licensing business -- accusing the worlds largest tech company of egging on anti-trust regulators with misleading information and meddling with Qualcomms long-standing patent agreements with contract manufacturers that build iPhones. Qualcomm also claims Apple violated Californias unfair competition law by throttling the performance of Qualcomms modems and then claiming there was no discernible difference in performance between iPhone 7s using Qualcomms cellular modems and iPhone 7s with Intel chips. Apple threatened to retaliate if Qualcomm publicly made a case that its chips were better. The San Diego wireless giant filed its counter-claims in response to Apples lawsuit in January in a San Diego federal court. Apple alleges that Qualcomm uses its market dominance in cellular modems to squeeze excessive patent royalties out of smartphone makers. Advertisement Apple also says Qualcomm is withholding nearly $1 billion it owes Apple in retaliation for its cooperation with anti-monopoly regulators investigating Qualcomm. In its court filing, Qualcomm denies Apples charges. The San Diego company also contends that Apple is refusing to make payments it owes to Qualcomm. Apples lawsuit attacks the foundation of Qualcomms patent licensing business model by challenging the value of its patents and the practice of charging royalties based on the wholesale price of the smartphone instead of the modem chip itself. Patents are a key part of Qualcomms business. While it makes most of its revenue selling chips used in mobile devices, it earns the bulk of its profit from patent licensing. In court filings, Qualcomm takes pains to paint Apple as a Goliath with immense power over suppliers, saying the company has more money and influence than many countries. Qualcomm contends Apples aim is to pay less for the Qualcomm intellectual property that allowed Apple to prosper in smartphones with little or no investment in the core cellular technology. Apple could not have built the incredible iPhone franchise that has made it the most profitable company in the world capturing over 90 percent of smartphone profits without relying upon Qualcomms fundamental cellular technologies, said Don Rosenberg, Qualcomms general counsel. Now it has launched a global attack on Qualcomm and is attempting to use its enormous market power to coerce unfair and unreasonable license terms from Qualcomm. Qualcomms technology is in nearly all 3G and 4G smartphones, powering the connection between the handset and cellular towers that enables services ranging from mobile emails to social media photo sharing to streaming video. For more than two decades, the company has licensed its cellular know-how to smartphone makers. But recently its licensing business has come under attack. South Koreas anti-monopoly regulator fined Qualcomm more than $850 million and seeks to upend the way it licenses technology. (Qualcomm has appealed in court.) The U.S. Federal Trade Commission also has sued Qualcomm over patent licensing. Investigations are under way in Japan, Taiwan and elsewhere. In its court filing, Qualcomm claims Apple played a role in this recent regulatory scrutiny by intentionally giving government agencies false and misleading information and testimony about Qualcomm. Qualcomm also claims that Apple has interfered with Qualcomms patent contracts with third party contract manufacturers that build iPhones mostly in China. Apple previously reimbursed these companies for patent royalties paid to Qualcomm but has stopped in recent months, according to Qualcomms court filing. That has led contract manufacturers in some cases to stop paying Qualcomm. The company wants the court to find that its patent deals with Apples contract manufacturers comply with the rules for licensing standard essential patents and dont violate competition law. It also wants the court to find that it has dealt fairly with Apple with regards to licensing patents. Over the past decade, Apple has rung up $760 billion in iPhone sales, according to court filings. Yet Qualcomms per-device royalty for its vast portfolio of cellular patents is less than what Apple charges consumers for a basic plastic iPhone case. Apple can sue Samsung, for example, and claim all kinds of value on a few patents that they sue them on, but somehow claim that our tens of thousands of core technology patents are not worth what the market has said theyre worth, said Rosenberg. That is what they are trying to take from us here. That is why we have to fight as hard as we can to prove the continuing value of our contributions. ALSO: Apples lawsuit against Qualcomm signals escalating war on business model Under Trump administration, FTC lawsuit against Qualcomm could disappear Qualcomm faces FTC lawsuit over patent licensing Qualcomm slapped with $865 million fine from S. Korea regulator Qualcomm to pay $975 million in China probe Business mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 Camp Pendletons historic Santa Margarita Ranch House and chapel will be the focus of a talk April 13 in Fallbrook as part of a tribute to the bases 75th anniversary. Faye Jonason, Camp Pendleton museum director, will talk about the 8,500-foot ranch house and nearby chapel, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The adobe dates back to the 1840s and was home to Pio Pico, Mexicos last governor of Alta California, and other early pioneer families such as the ONeills and Forsters. Advertisement After the land was acquired by the Marine Corps in 1942, the ranch house served partly as a museum and partly as the living quarters of commanding generals stationed at the base. Thirty-five generals lived there for 60 years beginning in 1947 with Maj. Gen. Graves Erskine and concluding in 2007 with Maj. Gen. Michael R. Lehnert. The presentation is slated to start with an overview of the first people in the region, their village and how the area came under Pio Picos management as part of the Mission San Luis Rey. The talk will address how the customs of the Californios influenced the ownership of huge tracts of land, which led to a successful cattle industry and created the setting for the new state. It took a politician, a young ships captain, a butcher and a silver mine king and a little over a hundred years to build one of the largest cattle ranches, Jonason said. The presentation will introduce some of the famous people associated with what was the largest Mexican land grant in California in the 1840s until it became the largest contiguous amphibious Marine Corps Base in 1942 because of a World War I generals efforts and vision, Jonason said. The presentation is at 9:30 a.m. at the Fallbrook Newcomers Club monthly meeting in the Fallbrook Methodist Church at 1844 Winterhaven Road. The Newcomers group plans to tour Camp Pendletons Santa Margarita Ranch House historic site April 20. Visit fallbrooknewcomers.com or email fallbrooknewcomers@hotmail.com. Two well-intentioned brothers are disappointed that their dream of installing a triumphal Holocaust memorial was rejected by the Port of San Diegos art advisory committee. In my view, the dismissal was in itself a triumph of taste, a makeup call for a monumental failure of taste in 2013. As well-reported by the Union-Tribunes John Wilkens, Frank and Mark Powell wanted to honor both the memories of their Italian-Jewish ancestors and the heroism of the American Army in liberating German death camps. Advertisement Moreover, theres a local connection to the Powell proposal. Though San Diego is a Navy town, it wasnt always. The Army is part of our military heritage, too. The Powell brothers reportedly spent $20,000 to get the privately funded million-dollar concept before the Port panel. Unswayed by the generosity and sincerity of the brothers, the arts committee unanimously ruled that the memorial, which included a span of barbed wire (symbol of oppression) and life-size statues of soldiers and camp survivors, didnt belong in the crowd-pleasing Tuna Harbor Park. Visualize this: A bronze replica of Bob Hope entertaining the troops near a Holocaust memorial? More distastefully, the now-iconic Unconditional Surrender, a 25-foot statue of a sailor kissing a nurse on V-J Day, a reproduction of the famous New York photograph, within a confetti toss from the Holocaust installation? Youll recall that the so-called Kiss was rejected by the same arts committee a few years ago but was later approved by the Port Commission. (Two arts committee members resigned in protest against what one art critic aptly called a gewgaw.) The Port Commissions justification for overriding the judgment of art experts? They really liked the Kiss. And they knew others did, too. Well, thats logical reasoning for a theme park or a carnival midway. But for the citys absurd Statue of Liberty? Clearly, the Powell brothers chose the wrong place for their installation, a blithe junction of tourist attractions like Seaport Village and the Star of India. That discordant juxtaposition gave the arts committee an easy out. Harder to talk about is how morally imperative it is to treat the Holocaust, including the liberation by the Allies, with the insight and rigor it deserves. Great art is hard to make and often to like. To those who spend their lives looking at and thinking about art, visceral personal response, what people like, is irrelevant to the question of whats illuminating and enduring. At a recent gathering, I overheard the following remark: I know a lot about art, but I dont know what I like. It was a joke worthy of a New Yorker cartoon. But truth is spoken in jest, were often told. For far too long in San Diego, says Hugh Davies, director emeritus of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, artists of international reputation Ellsworth Kelly, Vito Acconci, Jonathan Borofsky have been rejected by Union-Tribune editorials and Port commissioners who admit they know nothing about art but know what they like. Conversely, these same Port commissioners have violated their own process to approve schmaltzy, kitsch works like the Tuna Mans Memorial and the Navy rape kiss piece because they think people will like them. The inability to commission work from great artists and respect the process is symptomatic of an unsophisticated city that lacks cultural courage. Its a harsh indictment from a decorated veteran of the public-art wars but one that San Diego has earned. The task of public art judges is not to decide what they like. Its to determine what ennobles, not agreeably decorates, a public place. Think back to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Maya Lin, arguably the most important piece of American public art in the 20th century. Predictably, there was an immediate backlash against The Wall from veterans and many others. As a concession, a flagpole and representative statues of soldiers were installed nearby. Today, most visitors are not even aware the statues are there. The Wall, a gash in the ground, has not so much grown on us, its helped heal the wound within the nation. Only art experts could have discerned the transcendent power of the memorial inscribed with the names of the fallen. No one could have liked it. They had to be awestruck by it. They had to have spent their lives being open to arts power to shock the senses and shake sense into us. By focusing on the upbeat liberation, the Powell project aspired to fit into the Greatest Generation Collection near the wonderful USS Midway Museum. But the narrative glossed over a terribly complicated story, one that many Americans would be troubled to read. The truth is, the United States focused on winning the war, not saving lives within the slave camps. The lives of Jews were not a priority until the German resistance had been vaporized. Even after the liberation, anti-Semitism was to be a feature of American life. The Holocaust shouldnt be turned into a self-congratulating tableau of liberation. It demands better, starting with a sense of history. Im not sure anybody could have brought these things together, arts committee member Charles Reilly told me Monday as my wife, Renee, and I drove to Los Angeles to celebrate Passover with our children. Seventy-two years ago, my wifes parents, who had fallen in love in a transit camp called Westerbork, were freed after spending four years in their Egypt, if you will. (As it turns out, my late father-in-law was liberated by Canadians.) The Jewish survivors, barely 20, were reunited in Amsterdam, got married and soon had a child they named Renee, a French name meaning rebirth. A memorial to what they endured? It would take a genius to do the subject justice. And even then, a big sloppy Kiss would make it look silly. logan.jenkins@sduniontribune.com A San Diego man who led a double life as the boyfriend of a wealthy Texas man and the fiance of a woman carrying his child went on trial for murder in San Diego federal court Tuesday. David Enrique Meza is charged with traveling to Mexico nearly two years ago and brutally killing Jake Clyde Merendino in May 2015, a Texan with whom he was having a romantic relationship. He is also charged with covering up the crime with the help of his girlfriend, Taylor Marie Langston. She was pregnant with their child at the time of the slaying. Advertisement During opening statements to the jury in U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Millers courtroom, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Foster said Meza planned to kill Merendino for money Merendino had named him as the sole beneficiary of his estate in a one-page handwritten will written on hotel stationery. Merendino and Meza had been romantically involved since June 2013, when they connected through an online advertisement Meza had placed. Merendino was living in Houston at the time. Eventually, he bought Meza two cars and a motorcycle, paid for his clothing and trips, and gave Meza access to his bank account. In October 2014, Merendino bought a condominium at Palacio del Mar, a toney Rosarito high-rise with sweeping ocean views. Then, in December, Merendino dashed off the one-page will that left his entire estate to Meza. For the defendant to get that money, Foster said, Jake had to die. At the time, Meza was also involved with Langston, though neither she nor Merendino knew Meza was leading a double life. Langston pleaded guilty in February to obstruction of justice for her role in the cover-up. On May 1, 2015, Merendino and Meza checked into a Rosarito hotel. Foster said that night Meza went back to his apartment in San Diego, then returned to Rosarito just after 12:30 a.m., with Langston following in the couples SUV. Cellphone GPS data from Mezas phone and border-crossing records tracked his movements, Foster said. The GPS data showed that just before 2 a.m. his phone pinged off a cell tower in Rosarito. The government said he lured Merendino from his hotel room around 1 a.m. by saying his motorcycle had broken down on a highway outside town. Merendinos silver Range Rover was found at a turnout off the highway around 3 a.m. by Mexican police, who then spotted his body dumped down a ravine. An autopsy showed he had been stabbed 22 times and had his throat slashed twice. Eleven days after the killing, Meza mailed the handwritten will to the probate court in Texas. In interviews with FBI agents, Meza and Langston said they were in Mexico visiting a friend the night of the killing but the friend did not back up the alibi. Meza has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, federal public defender Reuben Cahn, told jurors that the governments case did not add up. He said it would require Meza to pull off a brutal crime and leave no physical evidence behind. At the same time, he left a trail of other evidence that instantly made him a suspect: He did not disable the GPS on his phone or use a disposable burner phone, and he mailed the will shortly after the killing. Cahn said there is no physical evidence such as fingerprints, blood or DNA matches that ties Meza to the crime, nor witnesses. He said after such a violent attack there would be some sort of evidence in Merendinos car or on Mezas motorcycle or clothes. None was found. Foster, the prosecutor, noted that security camera video from the border crossing shows Meza wearing two different sets of clothing when he crossed back and forth that night. But Cahn showed an extended portion of the video where agents carefully examine his clothing and motorcycle and find nothing suspicious. The trial is expected to last about two weeks. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com Eleven Grossmont Union High School District teachers have been selected by their peers as Teacher of the Year nominees, with two district instructors chosen to represent Grossmont in San Diego County competition this year. A panel of previously honored Teachers of the Year and Grossmont district personnel interviewed and then chose this years honorees. The district board announced the winners on April 8. West Hills High teacher Kathryn Worley and Grossmont High teacher Daemein Patterson were picked to represent the Grossmont district at the county level. Advertisement A teacher selected to represent the county will be part of the California Teacher of the Year competition. Worley teaches industrial technology and manufacturing at West Hills where she has been since 2010. She has worked in the Grossmont district since 1988. With warmth, kindness, a get-to-work attitude and humor, Kathy leads students to multiple levels of success, said West Hills Principal Robin Ballarin. She cares deeply about their learning. Patterson is an English teacher who began teaching at Grossmont in 2005. He is involved with the English Learner program at the school. The districts Site Teachers of the Year are: The Colorado River which supplies about two-thirds of San Diego Countys drinkable water on Tuesday was named the most endangered river in the U.S. by a leading conservation group. American Rivers annual report, published since 1984, ranks the 10 most threatened rivers nationwide. The group said it tries to spotlight rivers that are subject to influential policy decisions, not necessarily the most polluted. This year, it chose the lower portion of the Colorado River for greatest attention based on ongoing concerns about dwindling flows due to increasing water consumption and adverse impacts from global warming. Advertisement Its unclear what effect, if any, the spotlighting will have. For decades, all manner of people federal and state officials, scientists, environmentalists, recreational organizations have sounded the alarm about drought and excess user demand causing the Colorados water levels to keep dropping. Yet relatively little has been done to change those dynamics. Were using more water than the river can provide, and at the same time, the supplies are declining because of climate change, said Matt Rice, Colorado director at American Rivers. The lower portion of the river provides drinking water to 30 million people in several rapidly growing metropolitan areas, including in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson and Los Angeles. In the past five years, water from the Colorado River has provided about 68 percent of the San Diego regions water, according to the San Diego County Water Authority. The rivers lower section has an estimated economic impact valued at $900 billion annually, including about $600 million in agricultural productivity, according to the report. The river is also habitat to several threatened and endangered species, including the razorback sucker, bonytail chub, humpback chub, southwestern willow flycatcher, the Yuma clapper rail and the desert tortoise. In recent years, the federal government has helped convene water managers from California, Nevada and Arizona to hammer out a deal for voluntary usage cuts aimed at improving the health of the river. Late last year, the so-called drought contingency plan looked within reach but never came together. Tuesdays report raised concerns that future efforts to achieve a breakthrough among the three states could be threatened by President Donald Trumps budget proposal, which could cut funding for programs associated with the river. He also hasnt named a commissioner or filled key positions within the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which has been convening negotiations for a Colorado River contingency plan and has authority to manage flows on the waterway if levels drop too low. We almost got it done at the end of 2016, Rice said. Theres a concern that the new administrations priorities are not going to be sustainability on the Colorado River. Were hopeful that this listing will help turn their eyes back to the river and encourage them to continue to provide leadership, support and funding that the river needs at this critical time. Other rivers named as endangered this year include Bear River in California, South Fork Skykomish River in Washington, Mobile Bay Basin in Alabama and Rappahannock River in Virginia. Threats to the listed rivers range from concerns about habitat and endangered species to fracking, mining, agricultural waste and the transportation of oil by rail. American Rivers has hailed a number of past outcomes related to mining and other extraction projects on or near rivers that received attention from its previous reports. For example, the Obama administration banned new mining projects on 100,000 acres in southwest Oregon that include the watersheds of several major rivers. The move followed efforts by conservationists to protect the Rogue and Smith rivers, including the waterways being spotlighted in American Rivers 2015 report. In the past decade, American Rivers has named sections of the Colorado and its tributaries as among the most endangered. On the Colorado, years of drought linked to climate change have brought the water line at Lake Mead situated outside of Las Vegas to precariously low levels. The lake, the largest reservoir in the United States, serves Arizona, Nevada and California. If the reservoir drops down to 1,075 feet above sea level, the U.S. secretary of the interior can declare a shortage. In this situation, under a 2007 agreement, Arizona and Nevada would take cuts to their water supply. Additional curtailments in water deliveries are triggered if the water level in the reaches 1,050 feet and 1,025 feet. California would be the last to face curtailments, if at all, because it has senior water rights. The drought contingency plan continues to be actively discussed, said Jeanette Davis, spokeswoman for the lower Colorado region of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. There has been no pen to paper at this point, partially all the partners havent quite come to an agreement as to whos going to be doing what. Even California, with senior water rights, understands how important it is to keep the lake up and keep the water in the river system to avoid triggering a shortage, she added. The Colorado Rivers water level is expected to drop by as much as 8 percent for every rise of one degree Celsius in temperature, said David Pierce, a climate researcher at UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography who has studied the waterway. When you have warmer conditions, the snow in the snowpack (that feeds the river) can simply turn to water vapor, Pierce said. Its a very arid region, so theres not a lot of other options to take advantage of. Twitter: @jemersmith Phone: (619) 293-2234 Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com By Sue-Lin Wong, David Brunnstrom PYONGYANG/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korean state media warned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of American aggression, as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed toward the western Pacific - a force U.S. President Donald Trump described as an "armada". Trump, who has urged China to do more to rein in its impoverished ally and neighbour, said in a tweet that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and the United States would "solve the problem" with or without Beijing's help. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula amid concerns that reclusive North Korea may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test and after Washington said at the weekend it was diverting the aircraft carrier strike group Carl Vinson toward the Korean peninsula in a show of force. "We are sending an armada. Very powerful," Trump told Fox Business Network. "We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. That I can tell you. Referring to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Trump said: He is doing the wrong thing. Asked if he thought Kim was mentally fit, Trump replied: I dont know. I dont know him. RELATED: North Korea said earlier it was prepared to respond to any U.S. aggression. "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland," its official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said. In spite of the military rhetoric, U.S. officials have previously stressed that stronger sanctions are the most likely U.S. course to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. At the same time, Washington has said all options - including military ones - are on the table and that a U.S. strike last week against Syria should serve as a warning to Pyongyang. The strike group heading towards Korea includes the nuclear-powered flagship aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, two destroyers and a cruiser. Such a strike group is generally accompanied by submarines, although the Pentagon does not normally publicise this. Story continues "PRUDENT" MOVE U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the deployment was not tied to a specific event but a matter of prudence. "She is just on her way up there because that is where we thought it was most prudent to have her at this time," he said at a Pentagon news conference. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump had put North Korea "clearly on notice" that he would not tolerate certain actions but dismissed Pyongyang's nuclear attack threat. "I think there is no evidence that North Korea has that capability at this time," he said. "Threatening something that you don't have the capability of isn't really a threat." North Korea remains technically at war with the United States and its ally South Korea after the 1950-1953 Korean conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. It regularly threatens to destroy both countries. However, North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States, presenting Trump with perhaps his most pressing security headache. South Korea's acting president, Hwang Kyo-ahn, warned of "greater provocations" by North Korea, including a possible nuclear test, given a meeting of the country's Supreme People's Assembly and upcoming national anniversaries. He ordered the military to intensify monitoring and ensure close communication with Washington. North Korea convened a Supreme People's Assembly session on Tuesday, one of twice-yearly sessions attended by leader Kim Jong-un, and reported a successful national budget execution and personnel appointments, the official KCNA news agency said. The agency made no mention of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme or being under threat from the United States. Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, North Korea's founding father and grandfather of the current ruler. A military parade is expected in Pyongyang to mark the day and North Korea often marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities. Men and women in colourful outfits were singing and dancing on the streets of Pyongyang, illuminated by better lighting than seen in previous years, apparently practising for the parade. TRUMP PRESSES CHINA Trump said a trade deal between China and the United States would be "far better for them if they solved the North Korea problem". "If China decides to help, that would be great," he tweeted. "If not, we will solve the problem without them!" Trump pressed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to do more on North Korea at a meeting in Florida last week. China's U.N. ambassador, Liu Jieyi, called the Korean situation "tense" and repeated China's call for a return to dialogue with North Korea. We believe that it is highly important to move toward denuclearization, to maintain peace and stability, and its time that different sides sit down to talk about achieving these objectives, he told Reuters. Asked about Trump linking a trade deal to Chinas help with North Korea: We need to look at the situation on the Korean Peninsula as something that we should work together on. South Korean officials sought to quell social media talk of an impending crisis, and Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun urged people "not to get blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation". North Korea's foreign ministry said the approach of the U.S. Navy strike group showed Washington's "reckless moves for invading had reached a serious phase". "We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms and keep to the road chosen by ourselves," an unidentified ministry spokesman said. U.S. officials said at the weekend the carrier group would take more than a week to reach waters near the Korean peninsula. A statement from U.S. forces in South Korea on Tuesday said General Vincent Brooks, commander of United States Forces Korea, would not attend a Congressional hearing expected this month because of the "security situation on the Korean Peninsula." The statement said the step was not unprecedented. Russia's Foreign Ministry, ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said it was concerned about many aspects of U.S. foreign policy, particularly North Korea. "We are really worried about what Washington has in mind for North Korea after it hinted at the possibility of a unilateral military scenario," the ministry said in a statement. China and South Korea agreed on Monday to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said. On Tuesday, a fleet of North Korean cargo ships headed home, mostly fully laden, after China ordered its trading companies to return coal, sources with direct knowledge of the trade said. China banned all imports of North Korean coal, the country's most important export, on Feb. 26, but Washington has questioned how well the sanction was being implemented (For a graphic on 'The Carl Vinson strike group' click here: http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/rngs/USA-NAVY-NORTHKOREA/010040LK1BH/USA-NAVY-NORTHKOREA.jpg) (Additional reporting by Ju-min Park and Jack Kim in Seoul, Idrees Ali, David Brunnstrom, Ayesha Rascoe and Eric Beech in Washington, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; Editing by Tom Heneghan and James Dalgleish) A streak of light reportedly shot across the sky in Southern California Monday night. Witnesses took to social media around 9 p.m. to report seeing at least one flash of light that many said was green. It was unconfirmed to be a meteor as people presumed. Leticia Odanga, of Oak Park, said her homes security camera captured the sight. She uploaded the footage to Twitter: Advertisement Faye Heddings captured the trail of light while she was using the live broadcasting app YouNow. The Eastlake resident also uploaded the video to Twitter: Similar sightings were reported in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to social media posts and news reports. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez A state appeals court on Tuesday vindicated San Diegos five-year-old aggressive pension cutbacks, potentially saving the city millions it could have been forced to spend creating retroactive pensions for more than 3,000 workers hired since 2012. Californias Fourth District Court of Appeal unanimously overturned a 2015 state labor board ruling that said the cutbacks were illegal because of then-Mayor Jerry Sanders involvement in the successful citizens initiative that made the changes. RELATED: Ruling threatens San Diego pension overhaul Advertisement The initiative, Proposition B on the June 2012 ballot, replaced guaranteed pensions with 401(k)-style retirement plans for all newly-hired city employees except police officers. San Diego is the only jurisdiction in California not to offer traditional pensions to new employees. Mayor Kevin Faulconer hailed Tuesdays 66-page ruling as a win for taxpayers. Today the court protected the clear will of the voters, reaffirming our ability to carry out the reforms in Proposition B, Faulconer said. This citizens initiative gave City Hall new tools to bring stability to San Diegos financial problems, and this ruling means we dont have to turn back the clock on pension reform. Former City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, who steadfastly insisted Proposition B was legal despite a lawsuit brought by labor unions and the 2015 ruling by the Public Employment Relations Board, also praised the appeals court decision on Tuesday. It has taken four long years of litigation with PERB to win, he said. As I said repeatedly during those four years, once we get to the judicial system the law will be applied and the city will win. We stood firm against PERB over the years because we were right on the law and we werent going to be bullied. Goldsmith said the ruling will reverberate across California by vindicating the power of people to use citizens initiatives to solve problems created by elected leaders. When governments fail to act on problems such as with pension liabilities, the people have a constitutional right to pursue a citizens initiative by obtaining signatures on a petition and presenting solutions directly to the voters, bypassing the legislative body, he said. The court held that there is no requirement that citizens initiatives be negotiated with labor unions. Tuesdays ruling could be appealed to the state Supreme Court by the labor unions who filed the lawsuit, and the leader of one of those unions called that a near certainty on Tuesday. I think the California Supreme Court reviewing this is where its headed next, said Michael Zucchet, general manager of the Municipal Employees Association. There are some statewide interests that we would assume the Supreme Court would be interested in. If the Supreme Court chooses not to review the case or upholds the appeals court ruling, Zucchet said the city will struggle to hire quality employees without offering pensions. This means San Diego will remain the only jurisdiction in California without defined benefit pensions for new employees, he said. That will further exacerbate the citys competitive disadvantage to recruit and retain the best workers. And now they will have to figure out how to address these challenges by some means other than restoring pensions. City Attorney Mara Elliott, who succeeded Goldsmith in December, agreed with her former boss about the significance of the ruling. This case has statewide significance in affirming Californians constitutional right to direct democracy, she said. In defending Proposition B, we protect the power of our citizens to participate in and guide their government. City Councilwoman Barbara Bry said the ruling provides the city with certainty on a major legal issue and allows officials to move forward. Former City Councilman Carl DeMaio, an author of Proposition B, said the ruling is a triumph for the city over special interests. Today the California courts have upheld the right of the voters to impose reform on outrageous government pensions using the citizens initiative process, he said. The labor unions who brought this frivolous lawsuit must learn one simple thing: government belongs to the people, not the special interests. Zucchet said it was important to note that no other city has followed San Diegos lead in shifting away from pensions, despite DeMaios predictions five years ago that the move would have a domino effect across the state. There hasnt even been a breath about it nobody has followed and nobody is talking about following, Zucchet said. The lawsuit filed by MEA and three other unions representing city employees says Sanders illegally circumvented state labor law by describing Proposition B as a citizens initiative but using the power and influence of his office to gather 116,000 signatures on its behalf. City employee involvement with the measure would require negotiation with labor unions under state law, the suit says. Sanders has said he acted as a private citizen, not as the mayor, when he helped create the measure and worked to help get it passed. The appeals court ruled that the states requirement that city officials confer with labor groups about ballot measures applies only to measures placed on the ballot by leaders of a government agency, not by a citizens initiative such as Proposition B. The judges said it was undisputed that Sanders and others in the city government provided support to the proponents of Proposition B and the subsequent campaign, but that such involvement didnt require those city employees to confer with labor leaders. San Diegos move away from guaranteed pension for new employees shifted the risk of investment losses and the risk that employees would live longer than expected from the city to its employees, but only for new hires. As of last summer, about 70 percent of the citys roughly 11,000 employees still have pensions because they were hired before Proposition B. Despite the shift, San Diego still faces a $2.5 billion pension debt caused by underfunding of the citys pension system in the early 2000s, poor investment returns and increases in how long employees are living. To begin shrinking that debt, the citys retirement system increased the annual pension payment from $261 million in fiscal 2017 to $325 million in fiscal 2018, requiring Mayor Faulconer to include cuts in the proposed budget for next year he plans to unveil on Thursday. After the PERB ruling in December 2015 that Sanders involvement constituted an unfair labor practice, the union leaders who filed the lawsuit urged city officials to accept defeat so they could rein in the potentially spiraling costs of the litigation. The PERB ruling said the city would have to backfill pensions for workers hired after Proposition B, pay them 7 percent interest as a penalty and cover their attorneys fees. But the City Council unanimously voted in February 2016 to appeal that ruling. Councilman David Alvarez, typically a strong ally of labor groups, said then that he voted to appeal for the purpose of legal clarity. It is critical that the city receive clarity from the appellate court on the implementation of Proposition B and how retirement programs must be administered for its employees, he said. This clarification can only be provided by the court, thats why I voted to move forward in appealing the ruling. Estimates of how much it would cost the city to reverse Proposition B have ranged from $100 million down to less than $20 million, but even the people making such guesses have always qualified them based on a wide number of variables. An analysis by an actuarial firm hired by the city said it would cost $20.1 million to retroactively create pensions on Dec. 31, 2015 for 1,635 employees hired since July 20, 2012. But those costs would be significantly higher now because many more employees without pensions have been hired since then. In addition to MEA, the unions who filed the lawsuit were the citys firefighters union, Deputy City Attorneys Association and Local 127 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The three-judge appeals court panel that made Tuesdays ruling includes Judith McConnell, Richard Huffman and Gilbert Nares. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick A long-shot Assembly candidate who ran a on a shoestring budget is facing one of the largest fines in recent years for filing late and incomplete financial reports. The Fair Political Practices Commission is considering a $17,000 penalty against Republican Ralph Denney of San Diego for submitting five late campaign finance reports, and for only filing electronic version not paper copies of the documents required for the 2012 election. If the suggested penalty is eventually levied, it will be by far the single-largest fine for a late or missed campaign finance report since at least 2014. The current largest was an $11,500 penalty against a political committee in Vallejo in the Bay Area that missed a deadline to file a late independent expenditure report. Advertisement Denney could not be reached for comment. His Twitter account has not been used in four years, his campaign website is down, as is his political Facebook page. Publicly listed numbers for his campaign and home had either been disconnected or did not work. In FPPC files, a process server who attempted to deliver legal documents to Denney in November noted that the former candidate said that he is bedridden. The process server and Denney talked through a call box outside of the former candidates home, according to documents. Denney ran for the 78th Assembly District in San Diego in 2012. In a three-way primary, he received 27.9 percent of the vote, behind Democrat Toni Atkins who received 59.7, and ahead of fellow Republican Robert Williams, who received 12.3 percent. In the general election, Denney received 37.6 percent to Atkins 62.4 percent. Through the election cycle, Denney didnt file required campaign finance reports between July 1, 2012, and July 31, 2013, the FPPC says. Five reports had problems, including two pre-election campaign statements, and three semi-annual campaign statements. The campaign did submit electronic versions of the documents, but didnt also provide paper versions, as required. All five reports were late, the FPPC said. Electronic records show that Denneys campaign raised $9,667 and spent $8,867 in that campaign. Its unclear if his campaign hired a treasurer to manage his financial reports. Atkins raised $478,612 and spent $532,804. The $17,000 penalty proposed by FPPC staff, revealed on Monday, was based on fines levied in comparable cases and mitigating factors. The FPPCs board will need to approve the fine for it to take effect. They meet on April 20. Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 Most people have the same philosophy about taxes, said Russell B. Long, the Louisiana senator who spent 15 years wrestling with tax policy as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Dont tax you. Dont tax me. Tax that fellow behind the tree. His little rhyme has entered the popular lexicon because of its basic truth: Most people seem to be OK with higher taxes provided someone else pays for most of them. Thats one lens with which to view the latest Public Policy Institute of California public-opinion poll, which found strong optimism over the states budget situation following the 2012 approval of Proposition 30, which raised income taxes on the wealthy and slightly boosted sales taxes on everybody. Fifty-two percent of likely voters are inclined to extend those temporary tax hikes and 54 percent like raising commercial property taxes. Advertisement During 1978s tax revolt, Californians approved Proposition 13, which puts a cap on property taxes for residential and commercial buildings. A large percentage of Californians own homes, so its no surprise they want to keep the residential cap, but fewer own commercial properties and tend to favor a split roll that ties commercial rates to market values. When asked about the Proposition 30 extension and split-roll issue at a Sacramento Press Club talk on Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon said they deserve discussion. Thats not a no. Legislators are floating tax-hike (and new spending) trial balloons and some public-sector unions are eyeing tax-raising measures for the 2016 ballot. The left-leaning Calbuzz blog was heartened by the PPIC findings and argued it will be fascinating to see if Californians baffle the Beltway crowd yet again by voting to tax themselves. Certainly, most California taxpayers boosted taxes on themselves through Proposition 30s hike in sales taxes, but the quarter-cent increase was barely perceptible to consumers and the preponderance of new state revenue comes from the income-tax hike. They mainly voted to tax other, wealthier people given Californias steeply progressive income-tax system. The nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office makes support for higher taxes a bit less baffling: The top 1 percent of California resident income tax filers paid just over 50 percent of overall (personal income tax) revenues in 2012, which appears to be an all-time high. The percentage ebbs and flows, but the passage of Proposition 30 is part of the reason that disparity is so high, according to LAO. People will debate whether this tax approach is the right one, with liberals saying its only fair and conservatives pointing to its harm to job creation. But theres little debate that many Californians who say they support higher taxes mean higher taxes on wealthier people. The key is they want other people to pay taxes, said Richard Rider, chairman of San Diego Tax Fighters. Thats why they love Proposition 30. Soak the oil companies more? Yes. Soak businesses? Yes. Tax me more? Wait a minute. Rider said hed love to see PPIC include this question on its next poll: Do you think you should pay 10 percent more in taxes? Then again, why bother? No one seriously has to wonder how most poll respondents would answer that question (No, no, no, Rider chuckles.) A lot of the optimistic results to PPIC poll questions have less cynical explanations. The economy is improving and massive budget deficits are gone even if the current balanced budget masks the states unfunded liabilities for public-employee pensions and retiree health care plans. The governor gets high ratings, and even the Legislatures typically low ratings are going up even if (or maybe because) most Californians dont pay careful attention to the latest goings-on in the Capitol. If you throw a bunch of taxes up against the wall, then when one sticks, everyone says, Oh, it could have been way worse, said Sen. Joel Anderson, R-El Cajon. Theyre preparing people for a tax increase. The way you get someone to move in the middle is you propose outrageous things and then dial it back to just crazy things. But its not so crazy for California politicians to seek higher taxes when they know everyone supports them except maybe for that rich guy hiding behind the tree. A driver led Escondido police on a brief pursuit before he ditched the car and escaped Monday night, police said. An officer tried to make a traffic stop near Centre City Parkway and 13th Avenue about 8:15 p.m. The driver, however, did not stop, police said. He led the officer through a strip mall parking lot off Felicita Avenue at Centre City, then onto Escondido Boulevard. He then pulled into an apartment building, near 15th Avenue, where he got out of the gray Honda Accord and ran, police said. Advertisement The officer ran after him but lost sight of him after the man began jumping over fences, police said. Officers set up a perimeter and looked for the driver, but they didnt find him. A sheriffs helicopter crew helped in the search. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez A downtown shoplifting suspect threatened workers at three stores with a 5-inch meat cleaver Monday before getting arrested, San Diego police said. The man hit Rite Aid and CVS drug stores and Fed Ex along the C Street trolley tracks near Fifth Avenue, where employees all recognized him as having stolen items on previous occasions, police said. His mini crime spree, as police called it, started at the CVS store about 3:50 p.m. He tried to walk out with a 30-pack of Budweiser beer, but one clerk grabbed it away from him, police robbery unit Lt. Eric Hays said. Two other workers confronted the man outside, where he pulled out the cleaver and challenged them to fight. Advertisement Almost 20 minutes later at the east end of the block, the man was in a Fed Ex shop where an employee asked him to leave. The man threatened to stab him with the cleaver, and on his way out grabbed several display item cellphone cords, Hays said. Hays said that just after 4 p.m. the man was back at the west end of the block and took a bottle of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey Whiskey from Rite Aid. He took out the cleaver again and lunged at a security guard. The guard pepper sprayed him and grabbed the whiskey bottle. The man dropped the cleaver and ran off. Officers found the 53-year-old suspect about two blocks away on A Street, Hays said. The store clerks identified the man before he was booked on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree robbery, burglary, and misdemeanor brandishing a weapon. A green streak of light that briefly lit up the Southern California sky Tuesday night had people wondering what they had seen. The American Meteor Society had 68 reports of the fireball that was spotted blazing across the sky at 9:39 p.m. Sightings were recorded in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties and as far away as Bakersfield. Here is what the person there said it looked like. "Very large, very bright, fast moving vivid green ball followed by a shockingly orange/yellow fire tail. I've never seen anything that large, that fast, or that close explode out of the sky. We almost crashed while driving, we were in such disbelief." Take a look. Here's what it looked like from two viewpoints. Mysterious light Meteor in So Cal On Reddit, many people said they thought the object looked like fireworks, and that it was quite the sight to see. Seleucian: Saw it from Point Loma. It was pretty big! JoshieKona: I also saw, can confirm, was spectacular. gear9242: Yeah, it lit up the sky real good!" RidiculousSN: Saw it from the roof of my condo building downtown. Brightest and most consistent trail I've ever seen. You expect some sort of an explosion part way through but this one seemed like a sideways "comet tail" firework." matty_c: Saw it in ob. Initially thought it was a firework. Blue. Streaked downward and broke apart. SeahawkTJ: Saw it just as I pulled into Playas. The way the tail sparkled I thought it was really big fireworks. Very cool. According to KTLA, the director of the Griffith Observatory said the shining object was likely a piece of space junk that heated up and burned as it hurtled into the Earths atmosphere. Dr. Ed Krupp told the television station that the phenomenon is a common but rarely witnessed occurrence. Its quite astounding that Californias water officials werent better prepared for the four-year long drought they are currently in. The Golden State is well-known for being dry, and scientists familiar with the regions history will tell you that over the past 1,000 years the area that is now California has faced several hundred-year long megadroughts. Despite the well-documented reality of Californias climate, every year, even in drought years, state officials waste millions of gallons of precious water to protect a fish and they prevent markets from efficiently allocating one of Californias most desired and vital resources. State officials waste millions of gallons of precious water to protect a fish and they prevent markets from efficiently allocating one of Californias most desired and vital resources. Californias drought has been devastating to the states environment, economy and its residents. This year, it will cost California about $2.7 billion and over 10,000 agricultural jobs. Nearly 600,000 acres of farmland in the state lay fallow because of the drought. The Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is responsible for one-third of Californias water supply, is also at record-low levels. Advertisement The water shortage has led to severe water restrictions in the state. Before the summer, Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a reduction of water use by residents and businesses of 25 percent. Californians did their part, responding to the governors dictates by exceeding the reduction target and reducing water use by 31 percent. Much of the blame for Californias water crisis has been put on farmers. You may have heard some of the misleading statistics being thrown around, like that 80 percent of Californias water supply is being used by farmers. But it is unfair to point fingers at Californias farmers considering that they are simply playing by the rules that Californias policymakers have given them. The fact is, the state wastes much more water on environmental conservation than farmers use on thirsty crops. The 80 percent figure is deceptive because it omits environmental uses of water, which account for more than 50 percent of the states flows. Since 2008, 1.4 trillion gallons of water has been flushed into the San Francisco Bay to protect the Delta smelt, an endangered species of fish, from water pumps. Thats enough water to sustain over 6 million people for six years. In April, Californias bizarre water priorities led state officials to demand that the Oakdale Irrigation District, near Modesto, release pulse flows of water from a small reservoir to help 12 fish swim out from the reservoir and down the Stanislaus River into the Pacific Ocean. Year after year, trillions of gallons of water are wasted like this in California, even in drought times, to save a few fish. Dont blame the fish, blame the politicians. State and federal officials claim their hands are tied by the federal Endangered Species Act, but laws can be changed especially in dire situations. California policymakers have had years to come up with a more common-sense approach to dealing with trapped endangered fish, but they havent. The state is also holding up ways of making water more readily available for all residents. Environmental concerns have held up the development of a privately planned water desalination plant in Orange County. The California Coastal Commission, a powerful agency with control of development along the shoreline, is holding up the desalination plant over concerns about its impact on plankton. Its not just fish over people in California; its also plankton over people. In its current state, Californias water market is extremely inefficient at allocating resources. Water for farmers is heavily subsidized, which is why you have farmers growing water-intensive crops even in times of drought. With a more active water market in place, if the cost of water were to go up when times were tough we would see water used more efficiently. Decisions on water flows in California are left to bureaucrats when they should actually be left to consumers and businesses. In the 1990s, reforms were undertaken in Australia that among other things created an electronic trading platform, like a stock exchange, for buying and selling water in the country. Water is treated as a commodity that farmers buy and sell to meet their economic needs. The reforms in Australia have been considered successful by many and shouldve been considered in California a long time ago. Californians have responded to Gov. Browns calls for water conservation, but the state needs to do its part, too. Instead of subsidizing farmers and saving a few fish, the state should focus on empowering farmers, businesses and citizens to buy and sell water on the open market, like Australia has, in order to ensure more efficient water use. Californias water policy has long favored fish and farmers, now its time for the Golden State to put the average citizen first. One of the most stirring lines in President Donald Trumps Jan. 20 inaugural address was this: We are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people. Its a good line, summarizing his populist appeal in about a dozen words. But it also means that any time Trump freezes out the American public by discarding a predecessors open-government policy, hell be called out for hypocrisy. Advertisement Consider the Trump administrations handling of White House visitor logs. Upon a legal challenge in 2009, President Barack Obama reached a compromise with a government watchdog group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington to make White House visitor logs public with some exceptions. Through Trump press secretary Sean Spicer, the new administration has said only that it is evaluating our procedures. Monday, CREW and other ethics watchdogs filed a lawsuit to compel the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, the agency that maintains the visitor logs, to release records of visits to the White House and to President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower residences. Obama had the worst record of any president in terms of stonewalling or rejecting Freedom of Information Act requests, but he did release nearly 6 million names of White House visitors while in office. After deciding to release the names, Obama said in a statement, Americans have a right to know whose voices are being heard in the policymaking process. Its hardly a perfect way to keep tabs on lobbyists looking to influence the president or his administration. Indeed, the Sunlight Foundation said the visitor-log system is easily (and quite often) evaded. But it also said the logs offer a window into the work and influence of the White House. Trump, after being elected while embracing such a drain-the-swamp populist philosophy, should not close that window. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: UTOpinion Dont trust those who raise our gas taxes Regarding California Legislature votes to raise gas taxes, vehicle fees (April 6): If you believe the exorbitant 12-cents-per-gallon tax is going for infrastructure, you are a Democratic sap. The money is to pay for all that has been squandered, for the past 20 years, by the liberal philosophy of giving things to some liberal friends. We now have state-sponsored retirement schemes that we cannot afford, state-sponsored salaries that we cannot afford, state-sponsored health programs that we cannot afford and a futuristic railroad system that we cannot afford. We will be lucky if one cent of every 12 collected actually goes to repairing any of the states infrastructure. The current state gas tax never has. Advertisement Charles Sanders Bay Park Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. California must fix its gas price problem We topped up for the drive home April 6 at Costco in Gilbert, Arizona. The price for regular was $2.07 per gallon. Just more than six hours later I checked the price at Costco on Carmel Mountain Road in San Diego. The price here was $2.74 per gallon. Taxes and California-required custom mix cost me 67 cents per gallon. Id like to add that in 320 miles of driving around the Phoenix metropolitan area we saw not one pothole we had to dodge. Are the people we elected to run our state really such incompetent money managers that they need to increase the tax even more? Count on me to vote against any new taxes. Dan Harmer Rancho Bernardo Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. Much to consider with Trumps action in Syria Regarding Syrian attack necessary but now what? (April 8): U.S. intelligence reported that Bashar Assad ordered this chemical attack. What I would like to know is, are these the same people who guaranteed the Senate that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Who decides what is a humane way to slaughter ones own citizens? Bullets and bombs are fine, just dont use chemicals? Which survivors suffer more, is that the guide? During the campaign it was asked if we really wanted someone with Donald Trumps temperament to have the nuclear codes. Trump ordered an attack on the Syrian airfield with no congressional vote. It only makes matters worse since he has received praise from some allies and some politicians (Democrats and Republicans). In his mind he finally got a big win. What happens if he thinks using nuclear weapons, say against North Korea, will be another win for him. Last time we had a businessman as commander in chief, the Iraq War commenced. Advertisement Robert Stewart Oceanside Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Steve Aldridge (Hollow threat comes back to haunt the U.S., April 9) feels many lives would have been saved if Barack Obama had acted on his red line in 2012. The same question arises if he had done so then, as Trump has done now: What comes next? Will this be a one-off shot across the bow for Trump? Will American troops eventually be drawn into Syrias civil war with the defiant continuation of attacks by Assad? Will Congress secure its demand to be part of the decision and what will be the outcome of that? It seems to me Obama was looking ahead and weighing exactly these kinds of outcomes, and he and his advisers saw the quagmire we would be caught up in. The human cost has been horrific, but we are not part of the solution. I have no idea what that solution would be. Judy Mayberry Serra Mesa * * * The more I learn about the Syrian attack, the more I question whether or not this is theatrics. Im sad that I live in a country where I have to question a politicians motivation. Could these dramatics be internal conflict between Kushner & Bannon? Trump & Putin? Or Assad? Its unwise to bomb a country without fully understanding what happened and whats at stake. Bianca Lara Amann San Diego Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. Fresno State University is in the national spotlight this month over tweets one of its professors has sent about President Donald Trump, most specifically, that to save American democracy, Trump must hang. History professor Lars Maischak sent that tweet in February. Advertisement It has been amplified in the past few weeks by far right websites such as Breitbart News.The Breitbart News site describes Maischaks Twitter account as demonstrating stark disagreement with capitalism, Christianity and the GOP. The man does indeed send out plenty of anti-Trump tweets, like this one. Maischak told The Fresno Bee that since the blog post on him was published, he has received 500 emails and more than 5,000 tweets wishing him fired, deported or killed. The outrage has been strong enough that Fresno States president has made statements saying the university is reviewing the situation and that the professors personal views do not reflect those of the university. The review of these and any other statements will be conducted in the context of rights of free expression, but also for potential direct threats of violence that may violate the law, President Joseph I. Castro wrote. "He is a lecturer at Fresno State. Statements on his social media accounts are his alone and do not reflect the position of the University." https://t.co/txmDsQ414C Joseph I. Castro (@JosephICastro) April 8, 2017 Statement from President @JosephICastro regarding our commitment to the safety of our students: pic.twitter.com/653ow1meih Fresno State (@Fresno_State) April 10, 2017 Maischak has also come out on Twitter in defense of his tweets. He told The Fresno Bee that the tweet saying Trump must hang should be read from the context of the entirety of his tweets, which he said would make it more clear that the tweet was in good faith. The function of articles like the one produced by Breitbart and affiliates is to whip up a digital lynch-mob of people sending threats and insults to my email and Twitter accounts, with the ultimate goal of silencing dissenters, he said. The tweets about Maischak continued into this week. Fresno State has said it would fully cooperate with any investigations by federal officials that might occur. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin New York officially became the first U.S. state to cover public college tuition for middle-class students on Sunday. Could California follow suit? The two states on opposite coasts are known for pushing progressive policies into action so often that it seems like they are in competition to beat the other to be the first state to enact some major new policy first. That was true, for example, when California raised its minimum wage to $15 just hours before New York in 2016. But int terms of free college tuition, New York is far ahead of California. Advertisement A national first. New York will proudly be 1st in nation to offer free college tuition for families who make up to $125K/year. pic.twitter.com/kGNgp3YnNn Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 8, 2017 The idea of free tuition was thrust into the national conversation by recent presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and as the amount of student loan debt nation wide reached $1.31 trillion in December of 2016. Heres how New York plans to make it happen. This fall, students attending State University of New York or City University of New York whose families earn no more than $100,000 per year can apply for the Excelsior Scholarship. The scholarship means students wont pay anything for tuition. There are a few terms and conditions, like the requirement that students have to take 30 credits per year and have to live and work in New York for the same number of years they received the aid after graduation. New York is paying for it through its state budget with the new program expected to cost $163 million for the first year alone. The news had New Yorkers arguing over the merits of the proposal while others brought California into the conversation. It's 70 degrees and 4 year college tuition is free starting next semester, don't talk to New York right now we too activated at the moment lani (@kailaniskye) April 10, 2017 1st State to tax people to death to pay for "free" college tuition so they can brainwash masses with Liberal Bull****. Welcome to New York. Matt Hartmann (@MattHartmann9) April 10, 2017 New York giving families that make less than 100k a year free college tuition?! Dope af. California next?! P-Rod (@paydro_24) April 10, 2017 Heres all the latest on how close (or not) California is to free tuition. Democrats in the state Assembly have introduced a plan called the Degrees Not Debt scholarship program. The scholarship would be open to California State University and University of California students and for the first year of community colleges. It would fill in the gap between what students already receive in financial aid, contribute from a part time job or receive in contributions from family members. The legislation was just introduced last month, and theres no indication yet that Gov. Jerry Brown would support the proposal. Lawmakers behind the proposed program, such as Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, hope their plan makes it into the states upcoming budget. However, editorial boards from both The Sacramento Bee and The San Diego Union-Tribune are quick to point out the state already has seemingly endless spending responsibilities that include pensions and other debt obligations. Does the Degrees Not Debt scholarship sound like a good idea to you? Tell us via email or on Twitter at @sdutideas. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin ALSO California plan to ease student debt well-intended but wrong Appliance maker Electrolux announced Friday that it would close two Iowa plants by spring 2011, putting 850 people out of work as operations are moved to Mexico. Electrolux Major Appliances North America said it would close the Webster City plant by early 2011 and a smaller facility in Jefferson by late 2010. The Webster City plant employs about 880 people and produces top-loading washing machines. About 50 people work in Jefferson, a plant about 50 miles southwest from Webster City that builds components for the washing machines. Advertisement The company says about 75 jobs will remain at a technology center in Iowa. This is a very difficult decision, and certainly a last resort, Electrolux spokeswoman Blythe Reiss said. The moves come amid a drop in U.S. and global demand, Reiss said. The company is consolidating its North American laundry manufacturing at a plant in Juarez, Mexico, that opened last year, Reiss said. That plant now has about 330 employees. Industry sales of laundry products have been impacted by the global economic crisis, and weve basically seen the continued decrease in consumer demand, Reiss said. Weve got too much capacity, and weve had to make the decision the tough decision that is necessary given the economy and the competition to consolidate. Catherine Bergman, director of the Hamilton County economic development group, said the Webster City layoffs would ripple throughout the regions economy. Its going to have a domino effect, Bergman said. Certainly with the large number of people unemployed, its going to affect the businesses, the grocery stores, the hardware stores, the restaurants, because people arent going to have income that theyre used to having. Guy Richardson, chairman of the Greene County Board of Supervisors, said the layoffs in Jefferson also would hurt. Were a sparsely populated county, one of the smaller counties in the state of Iowa, Richardson said. Any time we lose jobs, it certainly has an impact. Richardson said its important to keep the laid-off workers in the county. All those people are lifetime or longtime residents here, Richardson said. Certainly you never want to see those people have to leave to find employment. Electroluxs North American major appliance operations are based in Augusta, Ga. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. The company had 55,000 employees in 2008, of which 8,000 were in the U.S. Associated Press reporter Nigel Duara in Iowa City, Iowa, contributed to this report. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2017 / Tasca Resources Ltd. ("Tasca", "TAC" or the "Company") (TAC.V) (3TA.F) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Montaningenieurgemeinschaft Consulting Engineers OEG ("MCE") of Austria to initiate the permitting process for the further exploration of the Bleiberg zinc-lead-germanium-fluorite project, located in southern Austria. About MCE Montaningenieurgemeinschaft Consulting Engineers OEG provides engineering and consulting services for development, design and planning of industrial and infrastructure projects including special services in the areas of geology and hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering and urban and environmental planning and permit application design. Bleiberg Project The Bleiberg Property consists of 116 mining concessions in the land registry municipalities of Bad Bleiberg, Notsch im Gailtal, St. Stefan im Gailtal and Paternion in southwestern Austria. The Bleiberg Property hosts an extensive mining infrastructure with more than 1150 kilometres of tunnels and 3 mine shafts. Historic production was about 500,000 tons per year, and it was one of the 6 largest Germanium producers in the world while it was in production. Mineralization consists of stratabound galena and sphalerite within Triassic limestones and intercalated carbonates. The sphalerite also carries average values of 200 parts per million germanium and 2000 parts per million cadmium. The historically mined mineralized bodies were stratiform zones ranging from 1 metre thick and 100 metres in diameter to 5 metres thick and several hundred metres in diameter. MCE has been engaged to design and permit the Phase I exploration program at Bleiberg. In order to minimize the permitting timeline, MCE has determined exploration should be focussed from the underground workings, rather than surface. MCE is proposing geophysical surveys consisting of IP and seismic surveys within the workings, focussing primarily on the crosscut access drifts to search for additional footwall and hanging wall structures within the structural zone and also new structures along strike to the northwest. The surveys will be followed up with a Phase II underground diamond drilling program. Story continues About Tasca Tasca Resources Ltd. is a Canadian based mining company that is focused on acquiring properties through strategic joint ventures and property acquisitions. Tasca has signed a Property Option Agreement to acquire the Bleiberg zinc-lead-germanium-fluorite project, located in southern Austria, west of the city of Villach. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P.Geo., an independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). For additional information regarding the above noted property and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at www.tascaresources.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Clive Massey" Clive H. Massey President & CEO For further information, please contact: Tasca Investor Relations Phone: (604) 644-6794 Email: tascaresources@gmail.com 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 certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Tasca Resources Ltd. 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 may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Tasca Resources Ltd. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Tasca Resources Ltd. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE: Tasca Resources Ltd. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join The difference between a career and a calling, according to John Guy LaPlante, is that a career occupies your time until you retire. It can be satisfactory and pleasant, but after you retire, you never do it again and you never think about it again. When you have a calling, you do it until your last breath, LaPlante says. Johns calling is effecting change for the better, and he continues to strive for a better world as his 88th birthday approaches. When John was 77, he felt a calling to join the Peace Corps. It began when John saw a concert given by a Coast Guard Academy band. After seeing so many servicemen in the audience, he felt bad having never served in the armed forces. Afterward, John said he read an article about a Peace Corps initiative to recruit senior volunteers for their wisdom, experience, and desire to give back. He met with a recruiter in Los Angeles, and after telling his family about his somewhat zany plan he started the yearlong process of completing the necessary paperwork and medical exams. Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today John speaks with a thick New England accent from spending most of his life in Massachusetts and Connecticut, but his first language was French, taught to him by his Quebecois parents. John figured the Peace Corps would send him to a country where his bilingualism would be valuable Haiti, Vietnam, maybe Northern Africa. These locations also suited his aversion to the cold; John was escaping to Southern California each winter to avoid Connecticuts harsh weather. He was surprised to learn he was being sent to Ukraine and needed to learn Russian. John attended daily Russian classes, and he even began waking at 4 a.m. to study before his lessons. I was the worst Russian student the Peace Corps has ever had, he said. I would study at night and forget the words in the morning because I was so damn old. He was admitted to the program nonetheless. Just 50 miles east of Chernobyl lies Chernihiv, Ukraine, where John was assigned to teach English at a state language school. Chernihiv was no Newport Beach; the winter chill was cruel and the living standards dissimilar. He was perturbed by a young boy in his first host family who seemed to suffer a disability that rendered him unable to attend school. John connected with him and lamented that his situation was not a rare one. John was stirred to improve the lives of Chernihivs citizenry in any way he could. John became a regular at the local Korolenko Library. After sensing the enthusiasm of his English students at the school, he took it upon himself to lead an English Club soon followed by a French Club at the library on Sunday evenings. He tutored young people one-on-one and became invested in a mission to foster their interest in reading. This proved difficult, however, in a library with no digital catalogue of its contents. Each Peace Corps volunteer is responsible for creating and leading a project of some significance apart from their service responsibilities, and it was at the library that John got an idea for his personal project: He developed a system to digitally organize the materials of the multi-building library campus. His ambitious plan was met with some resistance by nervous librarians who feared losing their positions to such a database, but John assured them their jobs were safe. If reorganizing the librarys database wasnt enough, John also noticed that the complicated, multi-tiered system of buses, trains, and trolleys lacked an inclusive guide, so he made it his mission to develop one. He worked with the municipality to establish a self-sustaining directory with keys, schedules, and a visual map that still exists today in print and online. Johns successes in the program were considerable, but he noted usually with the phrase jeepers creepers! that he experienced hardships and setbacks as well. One winter night, as he walked to a marshrutka (small bus) station in Chernihiv, LaPlante was inadvertently caught up in a drunken couples argument over their last bottle of beer, and he was knocked off the sidewalk and into the road. As he lay there, dazed, a police car pulled up and the Chernihiv Militsiya approached him. They thought I was drunk! he said. Probably because of my terrible Russian. It was imperative for John to convince the officers of his sobriety since excessive drinking can be cause for disciplinary action in the Peace Corps. Only after he could produce the necessary paperwork did they believe his story and offer him a ride home. In another instance, Johns passion for teaching his students landed him in the Deans office when he went off-book for his lessons. He devised exercises to teach his students American English when he felt the required textbooks British English was inappropriate. I thought I was doing a superior job! he offered. His supervisor, however, urged him to follow the text more closely. Despite his troublemaker tendencies and atrocious Russian, LaPlante was never ousted from the program as he feared he would be. In fact, he received a call from the director of Peace Corps, who informed him that, at 80 years old, he was currently the oldest Peace Corps volunteer in the world. I asked what had happened to my predecessor, John said, and she said, Oh, that guy had to be medically evacuated. As Johns Peace Corps service neared its end, he wished to leave a final, lasting impression on the program that would rouse unity and morale in its members: an anthem. John recalled the galvanizing tunes of the military service branches that stirred in him a desire to be involved in such an institution, and he envisioned a similar song for the Peace Corps. Despite his efforts to coordinate lyricists and composers including a plan for a selection jury Johns call for an anthem fell on deaf ears at the Peace Corps. They just couldnt understand the beauty of it, he said. John still sings the praises of the Peace Corps, if not literally. In 2011, adding to his other travel books, he self-published 27 Months in the Peace Corps: My Story, Unvarnished, a book about his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer. When John speaks with others about his experience, people often tell him they contemplate serving, and he always responds, Its not too late. John blogs about his life and travels on his website, www.johnguylaplante.com. LUCCA, Italy (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued an ultimatum to Russia on Tuesday: Side with the U.S. and likeminded countries on Syria, or embrace Iran, militant group Hezbollah and embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. As he embarked on a trip to Moscow following urgent meetings in Italy with top diplomats, Tillerson said it was unclear whether Russia had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had merely been incompetent. But he said the distinction "doesn't much matter to the dead." "We cannot let this happen again," the secretary of state said. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Tillerson added in remarks to reporters. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for "productive talks." It said the outcome of the discussions is important not only for the Russia-U.S. relationship, but "for the overall atmosphere on the world stage." Tillerson is traveling to Russia several days after a chemical attack in Syria and a U.S. air strike on a Syrian government base that Moscow on Tuesday dismissed as "an act of aggression." Moscow is a staunch ally of President Bashar Assad whom the United States blamed for the chemical attack. Since the U.S. launched airstrikes against Assad's forces in retaliation for a chemical attack on civilians last week, Trump administration officials have offered mixed messages about whether Washington believes Assad definitely must surrender power and when. Tillerson said it was clear the U.S. saw no role for Assad in Syria's future, given that he had lost legitimacy. "It is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he said. "But the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important in our view to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria." Story continues "That's why we are not presupposing how that occurs," Tillerson added. He said the cease-fire talks that Russia and Iran have helped broker in the Kazakh capital, Astana, could generate momentum toward broader talks about a political transition if the Astana talks succeed in creating a durable cease-fire. The resulting political talks would take place under the auspices of the United Nations process in Geneva. "To date, Astana has not achieved much progress," Tillerson said. Tillerson spoke after a meeting of the "likeminded" countries was hastily arranged on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven industrialized economies in Italy, days after the U.S. for the first time launched airstrikes against Assad's forces. A key focus since the chemical attack has been on increasing pressure on Russia, Assad's strongest ally, which has used its own military to keep Assad in power. The U.S. and others have said that Russia bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians at the hands of Assad given Moscow's role in guaranteeing the 2013 deal in which Assad was supposed to have given up his chemical weapons arsenal. The U.S. raised the stakes significantly on Monday when a senior U.S. official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack. Yet the U.S. has no proof of Moscow's involvement, said the official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters and demanded anonymity. That accusation will hang over Tillerson's visit to Moscow, where he plans with meet with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and possibly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin declined to say whether Putin would meet with Tillerson, in line with its usual practice of not announcing such meetings ahead of time. The United States has sought to minimize expectations for the trip or the likelihood that the U.S. will leave with any concessions from Russia regarding its support for Assad. Instead, the U.S. is hoping to use the visit the first by a Trump Cabinet official to Russia to convey its expectations to Moscow and then allow the Russians a period of time to respond. Though intended to punish Assad for a chemical weapons attack, the U.S. strikes last week served to refocus the world's attention on the bloody war in Syria, now in its seventh year. Diplomats gathered in Italy as U.S. officials in Washington floated the possibility of new sanctions on the Syrian and Russian military, plus the threat of additional U.S. military action if Assad's government continues attacking civilians. At Tuesday's meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca, the G-7 countries were joined by diplomats from Muslim-majority nations including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The inclusion of those countries is important because the U.S. strategy for Syria involves enlisting help from Mideast nations to ensure security and stability in Syria after the Islamic State group is vanquished. ___ Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2017 -- The latest report, with a prime focus on the Chinese market, titled "China LNG Market Research Report 2017" has been recently broadcasted to the wide database of Market Research Hub (MRH). This study evaluates the future growth potential of LNG market across China and provides statistics and facts on market structure, demand & supply analysis and trends during the forecast period of 2016 to 2021. Besides, the report also analyzes emerging trends along with important drivers, challenges and opportunities currently available in LNG market in China. Request Free Sample Report@ http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1037844 Initially, the report starts by describing the market overview of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) along with its scope and market segmentation. China stands among top 15 largest proved natural gas reserves, universally. Also, China is still in the driving seat when it comes to global gas demand growth. The study further analyzes that from the past few years, increasing natural gas consumption and limited natural gas production is boosting demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the country. The prime factors behind this include- China's rising incomes, urbanization and concerns over the toxic smoke that shields many of its cities had pushed the country away from coal and oil towards natural gas and cleaner fuels. The next section of the report presents detailed market segmentation, which is based on several regions, product types and application. Some of the major applications of LNG described in the report, include Oil industry, Gas industry and others. Based on type, the Chinese market of LNG has been segregated into: Intermodals Tank wagons Freight cars According to the findings, in the coming years, the government is planning to replace all coal-based power plants in the country with natural gas based power plants. This shift towards natural gas based power plants is predicted to push growth in natural gas exploration and production, as well as expand China's LNG imports in the coming years. Some of the key consumers for LNG in China include industrial, power, residential and transportation sectors. Among these, the residential segment has shown rapid increase, due to increasing peak saving demand from customers for space heating requirements and rising demand for integrated LNG power plants. Moreover, the report focuses on top manufactures in China, together with deep insights into its capacity, price, production, revenue and market share for each manufacturer. At present, leading players available in the China market are: Chilean Central El Campesino Excelerate Petrobangla PTT Plc PV Gas TokyoGas Browse Full Report with TOC@ http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/china-lng-market-research-report-2017-report.html At the end, manufacturing cost analysis, marketing strategy, marketing effect factors and industrial analysis are also discussed in the report. RELATED REPORTS: 1: Global and Chinese Third Generation Solar Cell Industry, 2017 Market Research Report:- http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-and-chinese-third-generation-solar-cell-industry-2017-market-research-report-report.html 2: Global Emergency Power System Sales Market Report 2017:- http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-emergency-power-system-sales-market-report-2017-report.html About Market Research Hub: Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRH's 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 Details: 90 State Street, Albany, NY 12207, United States Toll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada) Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Email: press@marketresearchhub.com Website: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Follow Us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/market-research-hub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarketResearchHub/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MktResearchHub Jefferson City, MO -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley. http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/ Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles. Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region. Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child. Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children. BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins. FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604. SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England. CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles. CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth. DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269 Contact Adam Green! c: 801-809-7766 e: g3president@comcast.net Jefferson City Missouri General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Reveals New Geneology Support Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.mychocolatepod.com/ Master Christopher Jones and several business partners purchased the ship Mayflower about 1607. Its origins prior to that remain uncertain. Its first documented voyage of record was to Trondheim, Norway, in 1609. Andrew Pawling hired the ship to take a cargo of London goods to Norway, sell them off, and buy Norway goods (lumber, tar, and fish) to return back to England. Unfortunately on the return voyage, the Mayflower encountered a severe North Sea storm and the master and crew were forced to toss most of Pawlings goods overboard to lighten the ship. The home of Master Christopher Jones: Harwich, co. Essex, England. http://mayflowerhistory.com/ Following that, Christopher Jones seems to have stuck with safer trading routes. The Mayflower made numerous trips primarily to Bordeaux, France, returning to London with cargoes of French wine, Cognac, vinegar, and salt. The Mayflower could freight about 180 tons of cargo. The Mayflower also made occasional voyages to other ports, including once to Malaga, Spain, and twice to Hamburg, Germany. Upon returning from a voyage to Bordeaux, France, in May 1620, the Mayflower and master Christopher Jones were hired to take the Pilgrims to Northern Virginia. This was the first recorded trans-Atlantic voyage for both ship and master, though Christopher Jones had several crewmembers, including pilot and master's mates John Clarke and Robert Coppin, who had been to the New World before. The Mayflower was supposed to accompany another ship, the Speedwell, to America, but the Speedwell proved too leaky for the voyage so the Mayflower proceeded alone. Departing on 6 September 1620, the ship was at sea for 66 days, arriving November 9. The ship and crew overwintered with the Pilgrims and departed back for England on 5 April 1621, arriving back to England on May 6. Christopher Jones took the ship out for a few more trading runs, but he died a couple of years later in March 1621/2. The ship was appraised for probate purposes in May 1624, and was referred to as being "in ruins." It was only valued at 128 pounds sterling, and was almost certainly broken up and sold off as scrap. The Mayflower was hired in London, and sailed from London to Southampton in July 1620 to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage--much of which was purchased at Southampton. The Pilgrims were mostly still living in the city of Leiden, in the Netherlands. They hired a ship called the Speedwell to take them from Delfshaven, the Netherlands, to Southampton, England, to meet up with the Mayflower. The two ships planned to sail together to Northern Virginia. The Speedwell departed Delfthaven on July 22, and arrived at Southampton, where they found the Mayflower waiting for them. The Speedwell had been leaking on her voyage from the Netherlands to England, though, so they spent the next week patching her up. On August 5, the two ships finally set sail for America. But the Speedwell began leaking again, so they pulled into the town of Dartmouth for repairs, arriving there about August 12. The Speedwell was patched up again, and the two ships again set sail for America about August 21. After the two ships had sailed about 300 miles out to sea, the Speedwell again began to leak. Frustrated with the enormous amount of time lost, and their inability to fix the Speedwell so that it could be sea-worthy, they returned to Plymouth, England, and made the decision to leave the Speedwell behind. The Mayflower would go to America alone. The cargo on the Speedwell was transferred over to the Mayflower; some of the passengers were so tired and disappointed with all the problems that they quit and went home. Others crammed themselves onto the already very crowded Mayflower. Finally, on September 6, the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, and headed for America. By the time the Pilgrims had left England, they had already been living onboard the ships for nearly a month and a half. The voyage itself across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days, from their departure on September 6, until Cape Cod was sighted on 9 November 1620. The first half of the voyage went fairly smoothly, the only major problem was sea-sickness. But by October, they began encountering a number of Atlantic storms that made the voyage treacherous. Several times, the wind was so strong they had to just drift where the weather took them; it was not safe to use the ship's sails. The Pilgrims intended to land in Northern Virginia, which at the time included the region as far north as the Hudson River in the modern State of New York. The Hudson River, in fact, was their originally intended destination. They had received good reports on this region while in the Netherlands. All things considered, the Mayflower was almost right on target, missing the Hudson River by just a few degrees. As the Mayflower approached land, the crew spotted Cape Cod just as the sun rose on November 9. The Pilgrims decided to head south, to the mouth of the Hudson River in New York, where they intended to make their plantation. However, as the Mayflower headed south, it encountered some very rough seas, and nearly shipwrecked. The Pilgrims then decided, rather than risk another attempt to go south they would just stay and explore Cape Cod. They turned back north, rounded the tip, and anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor. The Pilgrims would spend the next month and a half exploring Cape Cod, trying to decide where they would build their plantation. On December 25, 1620, they had finally decided upon Plymouth, and began construction of their first buildings. Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism. http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com , http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company. http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam's hard work and creativity helped him land this job of a lifetime. He obtained incredible business experience there and spent years innovating, improving processes and setting sales records. Although this dream job in Traditional Corporate America was a fun challenge for him, and something he truly enjoyed mastering, Adam's natural entrepreneurial spirit kept nudging him to do something more significant with his time and talents. http://www.MyChocolatePod.com , http://www.Facebook.com/AdamPaulGreen Since 2001, Adam has been involved in the Health and Wellness Industry as a successful Entrepreneur, Broker, Product Developer and Manufacturer of Cosmeceutical products. During his career, he has worked with some of the most recognizable Fortune 500 businesses along with many top international Network Marketing companies. Adam has consistently proven his unique ability to help his clients achieve their goals through creative Distribution-Channel Placement, innovative Product Development and custom Manufacturing. Adam currently owns three profitable businesses. http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Admittedly, Adam was not initially a fan of Network Marketing. He did not understand the business model because it was new to him. However, once he learned that the REAL focus of Direct Sales is to help average people get a taste of entrepreneurialism --- with minimal risk and at a low cost --- Adam was absolutely convinced of the potential with Multi-Level Marketing. http://www.ImAdamGreen.com About MayflowerHistory.com MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material. http://mayflowerhistory.com Kaysville, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley. http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/ Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles. Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region. Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child. Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children. BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins. FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604. SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England. CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles. CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth. DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269 Contact Adam Green! c: 801-809-7766 e: g3president@comcast.net The Mayflower was hired in London, and sailed from London to Southampton in July 1620 to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage--much of which was purchased at Southampton. The Pilgrims were mostly still living in the city of Leiden, in the Netherlands. They hired a ship called the Speedwell to take them from Delfshaven, the Netherlands, to Southampton, England, to meet up with the Mayflower. The two ships planned to sail together to Northern Virginia. The Speedwell departed Delfthaven on July 22, and arrived at Southampton, where they found the Mayflower waiting for them. The Speedwell had been leaking on her voyage from the Netherlands to England, though, so they spent the next week patching her up. On August 5, the two ships finally set sail for America. But the Speedwell began leaking again, so they pulled into the town of Dartmouth for repairs, arriving there about August 12. The Speedwell was patched up again, and the two ships again set sail for America about August 21. After the two ships had sailed about 300 miles out to sea, the Speedwell again began to leak. Frustrated with the enormous amount of time lost, and their inability to fix the Speedwell so that it could be sea-worthy, they returned to Plymouth, England, and made the decision to leave the Speedwell behind. The Mayflower would go to America alone. The cargo on the Speedwell was transferred over to the Mayflower; some of the passengers were so tired and disappointed with all the problems that they quit and went home. Others crammed themselves onto the already very crowded Mayflower. Finally, on September 6, the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, and headed for America. By the time the Pilgrims had left England, they had already been living onboard the ships for nearly a month and a half. The voyage itself across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days, from their departure on September 6, until Cape Cod was sighted on 9 November 1620. The first half of the voyage went fairly smoothly, the only major problem was sea-sickness. But by October, they began encountering a number of Atlantic storms that made the voyage treacherous. Several times, the wind was so strong they had to just drift where the weather took them; it was not safe to use the ship's sails. The Pilgrims intended to land in Northern Virginia, which at the time included the region as far north as the Hudson River in the modern State of New York. The Hudson River, in fact, was their originally intended destination. They had received good reports on this region while in the Netherlands. All things considered, the Mayflower was almost right on target, missing the Hudson River by just a few degrees. As the Mayflower approached land, the crew spotted Cape Cod just as the sun rose on November 9. The Pilgrims decided to head south, to the mouth of the Hudson River in New York, where they intended to make their plantation. However, as the Mayflower headed south, it encountered some very rough seas, and nearly shipwrecked. The Pilgrims then decided, rather than risk another attempt to go south they would just stay and explore Cape Cod. They turned back north, rounded the tip, and anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor. The Pilgrims would spend the next month and a half exploring Cape Cod, trying to decide where they would build their plantation. On December 25, 1620, they had finally decided upon Plymouth, and began construction of their first buildings. The End of the Mayflower: "Mayflower's End," by Mike Haywood. The Mayflower returned to England from Plymouth Colony, arriving back on 9 May 1621. Christopher Jones took the ship out on a trading voyage to Rochelle, France, in October 1621, returning with a cargo of Bay salt. Christopher Jones, master and quarter-owner of the Mayflower, died and was buried at Rotherhithe, co. Surrey, England, on 5 March 1621/2. No further record of the Mayflower is found until May 1624, when it was appraised for the purposes of probate and was described as being in ruins. The ship was almost certainly sold off as scrap. The claim, first originating from J. Rendel Harris' book The Finding of the Mayflower (1920), that the Mayflower ended up as a barn in Jordans, England, is now widely discredited as being a figment of an overzealous imagination on the tercentenary anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage, combined with a tainted oral history. None of the evidence has withstood subsequent investigation. Regardless of the lack of evidence for its authenticity, it has been featured in National Geographic on several occasions and is a tourist destination. It is important to realize that in 1624, when the ship was scrapped, it was not at all famous, and nobody would have thought twice about letting it rot away. The Pilgrims did not leave behind any lists of the items they brought with them on the Mayflower, but historians have used a provision list put together by Captain John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) to take an educated guess. However, in 2012, Caleb Johnson, Simon Neal, and Jeremy Bangs started transcribing and studying a rare manuscript (a page of which is here illustrated) in the possession of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, that was written by one of the investors in the Pilgrims' joint-stock company. This manuscript actually contains several lists of suggested provisions the colonists should bring with them. It is the closest thing we can get to a list of what the Pilgrims would have actually brought. A summary of some of the key items on the provision lists: http://mayflowerhistory.com/pilgrim-history/ -Food and Drink: Biscuit, beer, salt, (dried) beef, salt pork, oats, peas, wheat, butter, sweet oil, mustard seed, ling or cod fish, "good cheese", vinegar, aqua-vitae, rice, bacon, cider. -Clothing: Monmouth cap, falling bands, shirts, waistcoat, suit of canvas, suit of cloth, Irish stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, garters. Slippers, plain shoes, little shoes, French soles, sewing needles. -Bedding: Canvas sheets, bolster "filled with good straw", rug and blankets. -Arms: Light armor (complete), fowling piece, snaphance, sword, belt, bandoleer, powder horn, 20 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of shot. -Household: Iron pot, kettle, frying pan, gridiron, two skillets, spit, platters, dishes, spoons of wood, napkins, towels, soap, hand mill, mortar and pestle. -Tools: Broad hoes, narrow hoes, broad axe, felling axe, steel handsaw, whipsaw, hammers, shovels, spades, augers, chisels, gimlets, hatchets, grinding stone, nails, locks for doors. Kaysville, UTAH General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Introduces New Geneology Resource Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.mychocolatepod.com/ Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism. http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com , http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company. http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam's hard work and creativity helped him land this job of a lifetime. He obtained incredible business experience there and spent years innovating, improving processes and setting sales records. Although this dream job in Traditional Corporate America was a fun challenge for him, and something he truly enjoyed mastering, Adam's natural entrepreneurial spirit kept nudging him to do something more significant with his time and talents. http://www.MyChocolatePod.com , http://www.Facebook.com/AdamPaulGreen Since 2001, Adam has been involved in the Health and Wellness Industry as a successful Entrepreneur, Broker, Product Developer and Manufacturer of Cosmeceutical products. During his career, he has worked with some of the most recognizable Fortune 500 businesses along with many top international Network Marketing companies. Adam has consistently proven his unique ability to help his clients achieve their goals through creative Distribution-Channel Placement, innovative Product Development and custom Manufacturing. Adam currently owns three profitable businesses. Admittedly, Adam was not initially a fan of Network Marketing. He did not understand the business model because it was new to him. However, once he learned that the REAL focus of Direct Sales is to help average people get a taste of entrepreneurialism --- with minimal risk and at a low cost --- Adam was absolutely convinced of the potential with Multi-Level Marketing. About MayflowerHistory.com MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material. http://mayflowerhistory.com Lansing, MI -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley. http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/ Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles. Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region. Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child. Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children. BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins. FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604. SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England. CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles. CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth. DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269 Contact Adam Green! c: 801-809-7766 e: g3president@comcast.net Lansing Michigan General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Reveals New Geneology Resource Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.mychocolatepod.com/ The Pilgrims did not leave behind any lists of the items they brought with them on the Mayflower, but historians have used a provision list put together by Captain John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) to take an educated guess. However, in 2012, Caleb Johnson, Simon Neal, and Jeremy Bangs started transcribing and studying a rare manuscript (a page of which is here illustrated) in the possession of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, that was written by one of the investors in the Pilgrims' joint-stock company. This manuscript actually contains several lists of suggested provisions the colonists should bring with them. It is the closest thing we can get to a list of what the Pilgrims would have actually brought. A summary of some of the key items on the provision lists: http://mayflowerhistory.com/pilgrim-history/ -Food and Drink: Biscuit, beer, salt, (dried) beef, salt pork, oats, peas, wheat, butter, sweet oil, mustard seed, ling or cod fish, "good cheese", vinegar, aqua-vitae, rice, bacon, cider. -Clothing: Monmouth cap, falling bands, shirts, waistcoat, suit of canvas, suit of cloth, Irish stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, garters. Slippers, plain shoes, little shoes, French soles, sewing needles. -Bedding: Canvas sheets, bolster "filled with good straw", rug and blankets. -Arms: Light armor (complete), fowling piece, snaphance, sword, belt, bandoleer, powder horn, 20 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of shot. -Household: Iron pot, kettle, frying pan, gridiron, two skillets, spit, platters, dishes, spoons of wood, napkins, towels, soap, hand mill, mortar and pestle. -Tools: Broad hoes, narrow hoes, broad axe, felling axe, steel handsaw, whipsaw, hammers, shovels, spades, augers, chisels, gimlets, hatchets, grinding stone, nails, locks for doors. The Mayflower was hired in London, and sailed from London to Southampton in July 1620 to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage--much of which was purchased at Southampton. The Pilgrims were mostly still living in the city of Leiden, in the Netherlands. They hired a ship called the Speedwell to take them from Delfshaven, the Netherlands, to Southampton, England, to meet up with the Mayflower. The two ships planned to sail together to Northern Virginia. The Speedwell departed Delfthaven on July 22, and arrived at Southampton, where they found the Mayflower waiting for them. The Speedwell had been leaking on her voyage from the Netherlands to England, though, so they spent the next week patching her up. On August 5, the two ships finally set sail for America. But the Speedwell began leaking again, so they pulled into the town of Dartmouth for repairs, arriving there about August 12. The Speedwell was patched up again, and the two ships again set sail for America about August 21. After the two ships had sailed about 300 miles out to sea, the Speedwell again began to leak. Frustrated with the enormous amount of time lost, and their inability to fix the Speedwell so that it could be sea-worthy, they returned to Plymouth, England, and made the decision to leave the Speedwell behind. The Mayflower would go to America alone. The cargo on the Speedwell was transferred over to the Mayflower; some of the passengers were so tired and disappointed with all the problems that they quit and went home. Others crammed themselves onto the already very crowded Mayflower. Finally, on September 6, the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, and headed for America. By the time the Pilgrims had left England, they had already been living onboard the ships for nearly a month and a half. The voyage itself across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days, from their departure on September 6, until Cape Cod was sighted on 9 November 1620. The first half of the voyage went fairly smoothly, the only major problem was sea-sickness. But by October, they began encountering a number of Atlantic storms that made the voyage treacherous. Several times, the wind was so strong they had to just drift where the weather took them; it was not safe to use the ship's sails. The Pilgrims intended to land in Northern Virginia, which at the time included the region as far north as the Hudson River in the modern State of New York. The Hudson River, in fact, was their originally intended destination. They had received good reports on this region while in the Netherlands. All things considered, the Mayflower was almost right on target, missing the Hudson River by just a few degrees. As the Mayflower approached land, the crew spotted Cape Cod just as the sun rose on November 9. The Pilgrims decided to head south, to the mouth of the Hudson River in New York, where they intended to make their plantation. However, as the Mayflower headed south, it encountered some very rough seas, and nearly shipwrecked. The Pilgrims then decided, rather than risk another attempt to go south they would just stay and explore Cape Cod. They turned back north, rounded the tip, and anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor. The Pilgrims would spend the next month and a half exploring Cape Cod, trying to decide where they would build their plantation. On December 25, 1620, they had finally decided upon Plymouth, and began construction of their first buildings. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/10/2017 -- Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently published a latest market study to its online portal, which is titled as "Future of the Moroccan Defense Industry - Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2022" This study offers professional analysis of the current state of Moroccan Defense Industry. Request Free Sample Report@ http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=976687 The Future of the Moroccan Defense Industry - Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2022, published by Strategic Defence Intelligence, provides readers with detailed analysis of both historic and forecast defense industry values, factors influencing demand, the challenges faced by industry participants, analysis of industry leading companies, and key news. Key Findings - Morocco's defense expenditure decreased from US$3.8 billion in 2013 to US$3.4 billion in 2017, at a CAGR of -2.80%. The decline in defense spending is primarily attributed to the drop-in exchange rates of Moroccan Dirham's (MAD) with respect to US dollars. The country consistently imports advanced arms and ammunitions such as fighter and training aircraft, ships, missiles, tanks, and frigates to strengthen its armed forces; a trend expected to continue over the forecast period. The defense budget is expected to increase from US$3.5 billion in 2018 to US$3.9 billion by 2022, reflecting a CAGR of 2.80%. Morocco's future procurement plan includes warplanes, helicopters, submarines, radar systems, and naval vessels. - On a cumulative basis, the country is expected to invest US$18.6 billion for defense purposes, of which US$5.7 billion is earmarked for capital expenditure to fund defense procurements. The government's well-defined military modernization plans to counter influence of Algeria are expected to corner significant part of investment. - The MoD is expected to invest in fighters & Diesel Electric Submarine, Military-IT & Networking and Anti-Tank Missiles over the coming years. Synopsis This report offers detailed analysis of the Moroccan defense industry with market size forecasts covering the next five years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for the industry, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants. In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following: - The Moroccan defense industry market size and drivers: detailed analysis of the Moroccan defense industry during 20182022, including highlights of the demand drivers and growth stimulators for the industry. It also provides a snapshot of the country's expenditure and modernization patterns - Budget allocation and key challenges: insights into procurement schedules formulated within the country and a breakdown of the defense budget. It also details the key challenges faced by defense market participants within the country - Porter's Five Force analysis of the Moroccan defense industry: analysis of the market characteristics by determining the bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitution, intensity of rivalry, and barriers to entry - Import and Export Dynamics: analysis of prevalent trends in the country's imports and exports over the last five years - Market opportunities: details of the top five defense investment opportunities over the next 10 years - Competitive landscape and strategic insights: analysis of the competitive landscape of the Moroccan defense industry. It provides an overview of key players, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives, and a brief financial analysis Browse Full Report with TOC@ http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/future-of-the-moroccan-defense-industry-market-attractiveness-competitive-landscape-and-forecasts-to-2022-report.html Reasons to Buy: - This report will give the user confidence to make the correct business decisions based on a detailed analysis of the Moroccan defense industry market trends for the coming five years - The market opportunity section will inform the user about the various military requirements that are expected to generate revenues during the forecast period. The description includes technical specifications, recent orders, and the expected investment pattern by the country during the forecast period - Detailed profiles of the top domestic and foreign defense manufacturers with information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins, and financial analysis wherever available. This will provide the user with a total competitive landscape of the sector - A deep qualitative analysis of the Moroccan defense industry covering sections including demand drivers, Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Key Trends and Growth Stimulators, and latest industry contracts RELATED REPORTS: 1: United States Advanced Combat Helmets Market Report 2017:- http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/united-states-advanced-combat-helmets-market-report-2017-report.html 2: Defense and Security Market Research Reports:- http://www.marketresearchhub.com/defense-and-security-market-reports.html About Market Research Hub: Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRH's 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 Details: 90 State Street, Albany, NY 12207, United States Toll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada) Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Email: press@marketresearchhub.com Website: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Follow Us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/market-research-hub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarketResearchHub/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MktResearchHub Miami, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2017 -- Cuba's collection of classic and contemporary architecture is unique in our hemisphere. Cameras and drones will present the best representations of this unique grouping of architectural examples. Cuba is the only Caribbean island showcasing every example of traditional classical architecture, a collection that has been called the most beautiful and significant in all the Americas. Dr. Michael Connors, a celebrated authority on Cuba's art, culture, and history, hosts the documentary which is based on his book The Splendor of Cuba. Partnering with a Canadian production company for the drone footage, the video images recorded throughout the island and on the ground, will allow viewers to experience over 500 years of historic settlement and events that have influenced the architectural and interior design. Only the most significant homes and building will be featured as Dr. Connors points out their interior and exterior features. Along the way, artists, historians, Cuban exiles, and other prominent citizens as well as a new and growing group of young entrepreneurs will be interviewed. English and Spanish language versions will be produced along with original recorded music on-location with supplemental archive and modern recordings. Designed to be entertaining, educational, and informal, one program consultant put it best, "It could prove to be one of the most significant documentaries produced about Cuba with a shelf life of years to come." Interest from WPBT (PBS-Miami) to air and distribute the program nationally has been received. Opportunities for streaming video along with traditional and cable networks are currently being explored. The project cost, including on-location video shooting and post-production, is estimated to be $160,000. The Kickstarter campaign, located on the web at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1711572897/450-years-of-cuban-architecture-and-interior-desig, offers pledge levels from $10 to $9900, with rewards including a Facebook shout out, links to in-progress video clips and the completed program, on-screen contributor credit, customized messenger bag, benefactor credit, and a signed copy of Dr. Connor's book The Splendor of Cuba. For more information, visit the Kickstarter page. About The Splendor of Cuba The Splendor of Cuba is a documentary on the rich architecture of Cuba from the 1500s to modern day. Contact: Contact Person: Jay Arnold Company: The Arnold Creative Group Address: 3775 stewart ave, Miami, FL - US Phone: 305-992-2744 Email: jarnold@arnoldcreativegroup.com Website: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1711572897/450-years-of-cuban-architecture-and-interior-desig Colorado Springs, CO -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2017 -- Western Fireplace Supply, a well-known supplier of fireplaces and inserts, offers gas fire pit inserts in Colorado at reasonable prices. These inserts are an ideal way of transforming obsolete fireplaces. The company stocks various gas fireplaces including Heat & Glo COSMO Gas Insert, Heat & Glo Escape FireBrick Inserts, and Heat & Glo Grand-I35 Gas Insert, just to name a few. These inserts set a comfortable traditional atmosphere and warmness and are said to be a classic upgrade to the outdated wood fireplaces. They come equipped with 17,000 to 40,000 BTUs, 30 and 35-inch viewing areas, Patented FireBrick material construction and feature an illuminated ember bed, accent lighting, and other unconventional features. Western Fireplace has secured a prominent position in the marketing of affordable fireplaces and inserts. Homeowners can now rid themselves of the fuss of cleaning soot and venting smoke. Gas fireplace inserts are one of the most modern ways to upgrade a house. Besides gas fire pit inserts, they also offer wood fireplace inserts, pellet burning, and fireplace inserts. Those who wish to buy smoke-free fire pit inserts can rely on premium-quality heating without pollution. Speaking more about gas fire pit inserts, one of the representatives of the company stated, "Old-fashioned fireplaces lose more heat from your home than they generate. The solution? A high-efficiency, clean-burning gas insert. It will install easily into your old fireplace and, with the addition of new aluminum liners, use your existing chimney. Gas fireplace inserts are one of the most economical ways to transform a smelly, drafty, smoky, old wood burning fireplace into a beautiful, cost-effective source of warmth. We can help you decide whether you want a metal box or a ceramic box." About Western Fireplace Supply Since 1983, Western Fireplace Supply has helped more people find heating solutions for their homes than any other fireplace store in Colorado Springs or in Colorado. Visit any of their Colorado fireplace showrooms in Avon, Colorado Springs or Ft. Collins to see today's remarkable new fireplace and stove technology. They also offer the finest outdoor furniture, fire pits, premium barbecue grills, even complete outdoor kitchens to help buyers make the most of Colorado's delightful summers. Everything they sell is of the highest-quality, from the nation's most respected manufacturers. To find out more, please visit: http://www.westernfireplace.com/ Contact Details: Avon Showroom Colorado Fireplace & Fireplace Supplies Western Fireplace Supply 910 Nottingham Road Avon, CO 81620 970-827-9623 Colorado Springs Showroom Colorado Fireplace & Fireplace Supplies Western Fireplace Supply 1685 Paonia Street Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-591-0020 Fort Collins Showroom Colorado Fireplace & Fireplace Supplies Western Fireplace Supply 1408 Riverside Ave. Ft. Collins, CO 80524 970-498-9679 Researchers from Austria and the United States have identified a group of giant viruses Klosneuviruses that harbor components of many other viruses and proteins, and their analyses suggest that Klosneuviruses acquired the various components in an evolutionarily recent time frame, likely from, and as an adaptation to, their hosts. A paper describing this discovery was published in the April 7 issue of the journal Science. Biologists have been fascinated by giant viruses since 2003, when a research team led by CNRS scientist Didier Raoult discovered and characterized Mimiviruses. Since then, a handful of other giant virus groups, such as Pandoraviruses and Pithoviruses, have been found. The unique ability among them to encode proteins involved in translation piqued researchers interests as to the origin of giant viruses. Since then, two evolutionary hypotheses have emerged: (i) one posits that giant viruses evolved from an ancient cell, perhaps one from an extinct fourth domain of cellular life; (ii) another presents the idea that giant viruses arose from smaller viruses. The discovery of Klosneuvirus supports the latter idea, said lead co-author Dr. Tanja Woyke, Microbial Genomics Program lead at the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute. In this scenario, a smaller virus infected different eukaryote hosts and picked up genes encoding translational machinery components from independent sources over long periods of time through piecemeal acquisition. Dr. Woyke and co-authors found Klosneuvirus in the wastewater of a treatment plant in Austria. Analysis of low-complexity metagenomes from a wastewater treatment plant in Klosterneuburg, Austria, revealed clearly separated genomic bins comprising many genes typically found in giant viruses, they explained. From these data, a 1.57-Mb genome of a putative virus, which we named Klosneuvirus, was assembled. To detect viruses related to Klosneuvirus, the team screened nearly 7,000 environmental metagenomes and discovered three metagenomics bins with high assembly quality and strong overlap in gene content. All three bins were identified as giant virus genomes, ranging from 0.86 Mb (Indivirus) to 1.33 Mb (Hokovirus) to 1.53 Mb (Catovirus), the scientists said. At first glance, the suite of cellular genes in Klosneuviruses seemed to have a common origin, but when analyzing them in detail, the authors observed they came from different hosts. From the evolutionary trees the scientists built, they noticed that they were acquired by the viruses bit by bit, at different stages in their evolution. The Klosneuvirus genes contained aminoacyl-tRNA (transfer ribonucleic acid) enzymes with specificity for 19 out of 20 amino acids, along with more than 20 tRNAs and an array of translation factors and tRNA modifying enzymes an unprecedented finding among all viruses, including the previously known giant viruses. The predicted hosts for Klosneuviruses are protists and while their direct impacts on protists are not yet worked out, these giant viruses are thought to have a large impact on these protists that help regulate the planets biogeochemical cycles. The team also determined that Klosneuviruses belong to a family called Mimiviridae. The discovery presents virus evolution for us in new ways, vastly expanding our understanding of how many essential host genes viruses can capture during their evolution, said co-author Dr. Eugene Koonin, an evolutionary and computational biologist at the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Institutes of Health. Since protein synthesis is one of the most prominent hallmarks of cellular life, it shows that these new viruses are more cell-like than any virus anyone has ever seen before. _____ Frederik Schulz et al. 2017. Giant viruses with an expanded complement of translation system components. Science 356 (6333): 82-85; doi: 10.1126/science.aal4657 The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum is adopting solar energy. Yes, the small town Benham, Kentucky, is famous for coal mining industry and now wants to embrace the renewable energy. The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum in Benham, Kentucky, is preparing to embrace the solar energy. The key reason behind using the solar panels is to lower the energy costs, Mashable stated. Benham is a very small place with a small population. The owners of the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum have decided to build an array of solar panels on the top of the museum. Brandom Robinson, the owner of the museum, opines that the renewable energy can cut the annual cost of this museum by between $8,000 and $10,000. Robinson is also the spokesman for the Southeast Community and Technical College. Even a few years ago availing solar energy was a costly matter, but now with the introduction of modern technology, it is an easy task. The use of renewable energy or electricity is increasing rapidly. Even last year, investors took initiatives to enhance this process globally. In a word, the world is acquiring a huge amount of energy by investing less amount of money like the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum. Increasing awareness among the people enhances the choice of using clean and renewable energy. Solar energy is one of them as it produces no pollution at all. The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum is a good example that indicates the increasing trend of using renewable energy in future times. Surprisingly, when the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum is ready to fit with the solar energy, then the U.S. President Donald Trump is advocating fossil fuels. In a recent order, the President is trying to boost up the American coal industry, which is quite a hard job to become real. Currently, a stiff competition exists between the renewable energy and the fossil fuel energy. Angus McCrone, the chief editor of the Bloomberg New Energy Finance, utters significant words about the recent changes by the new U.S. administration on energy. He opines that though the new order is surfacing, but still solar energy should be expanded. Interestingly, two scientists have recently built an electrode similar to the existing pattern of an American fern to store solar energy, The Science Times reported. The switching from fossil fuel energy to solar energy for the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum reveals the increasing acceptance of the renewable energy. The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum came into existence in 1994. The museum stores evidence of the state's coal mining history. The evidence includes photographs, previous mining tools and a block of two-ton coal. The coal industry is one of the key sources of the economy in Benham, Kentucky. The use of solar energy for the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum doesn't mean the small town is resisting the traditional source of energy. But, the advent of the renewable energy surely indicates the effort to acquire a clean environment. Environmentalists always advocate the clean energy in order to slash the level of carbon dioxide emissions in the air. Fossil fuel is still the major source of energy, but it is the need of the hour to decrease that trend. Use of solar energy in the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum can expand that awareness. Ethiopian wolves, one of the threatened mammals in the world, are standing on the verge of extinction. The national park of the state relocates the settlers to save the animals. A few years ago visitors could experience the existence of the Ethiopian wolves, but it is a distant dream now. The mountain region of Ethiopia is considered the best habitat of these animals. But, constant encroaching by the farmers reduces their existence, according to the Phys.org. Domestic dogs that have rabies also aggravated the grim situation. Not a long time ago when more than thousands of Ethiopian wolves roamed the mountainous areas. Now the country's national park counts 120 only. These animals are very elusive and appear only after the sunrise and before the dusk. Getachew Assefa, the coordinator of the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program, reveals that his current focus is to save the creatures from the verge of extinction. He is trying every step to increase the number of these Ethiopian wolves. These amazing mammals need extra care for survivability. Farmers of Ethiopia always search for fertile land in the country's highlands and this creates difficulty for the national park. According to the Britain-based Born free Foundation, the country has a limited number of Ethiopian wolves in a small number of mountain enclaves. The foundation so far counted less than 500 creatures of the said species. BBC reported that Ethiopian wolves are the only wolf species alive in Africa. These animals maintain a strong social bond and live together. Senior members among them locate the territory of their habitat. Initiatives are on to relocate the major portion of the settlers from the national park to protect the Ethiopian wolves. The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority reported that almost two-thirds area of the national park is in the possession of the local community. The community uses the area for agriculture and settlement. According to the wildlife authority, total thirty-eight villages with 3,000 people are currently the inhabitants of the national park. The authority introduced the resettlement program three years ago. Gichi village that consisted of 418 households was first relocated by the authority. It is very necessary to save the Ethiopian wolves before they became the object of oblivion. The state government is now focusing on the other settlers. Maru Biadgelegn, the chief warden of the park, says the relocated settlers are experiencing a better condition, though some settlers opine negatively. A proper balance between the habitat of the settlers and the Ethiopian wolves is the need of the hour. A whole hearted effort around the world can bring the best outcome to maintain the survivability of the Ethiopian wolves. Animals are also the integral part of the society and their existence balances the ecosystem. An utmost effort only can maintain that balance. barack obama When Syrian President Bashar al-Assad crossed former US President Barack Obama's "red line" by using chemical weapons, instead of responding with military force, Obama made a deal but now former Obama administrations are saying it may not have worked. If the Syrian government carried out the attack and the agent was sarin, then clearly the 2013 agreement didnt succeed" in eliminationg Assad's chemical weapons, Robert Einhorn, the State Department special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control under Obama told the New York Times. Either he didnt declare all his C.W. [chemical weapons] and kept some hidden in reserve, or he illegally produced some sarin after his stock was eliminated most likely the former. Obama's deal relied on the Russians to carry out inspections and remove Assad's chemical weapons in 2013, before Russian troops and warplanes officially entered the conflict in October 2015. For me, this tragedy underscores the dangers of trying to do deals with dictators without a comprehensive, invasive and permanent inspection regime, Michael McFaul, Obamas ambassador to Russia told The Times. It also shows the limits of doing deals with Putin. Surely, the Russians must have known about these C.W. The assessment of the former diplomats under Obama fits with more recent statements from current President Donald Trump's Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who said that Russia was either complicit or incompetent in removing Assad's chemical weapons. While Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry have defended their move to seek a deal instead of using force against Syria by saying Congress denied them the authorization to act, Obama's administration did not seek congressional authorization for strikes in Libya and Yemen, as it is not required by the law in practice. NOW WATCH: Watch the Navy's LOCUST launcher fire a swarm of drones More From Business Insider A new study indicates that men with more gray hair could be at greater risk of heart disease. The study involved 545 adult men. The findings of the study were presented at Euro Prevent 2017, an annual congress of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC). It was held at Malaga in Spain on April 6 to April 8, 2017. In the study, the scientists examined the occurrence of gray hair in men diagnosed with coronary artery disease that is caused by atherosclerosis. Irini Samuel, a cardiologist from Cairo University in Egypt, said that the graying of hair and atherosclerosis take place in the same biological pathways, and the frequency of both heightens with age. The team graded the quantity of gray hair using the hair whitening score. This includes one denoting pure black hair, two to black more than white, three stating black equals white, four meaning white more than black and five signifying purely white. The researchers also gathered data on cardiovascular risk factors that include diabetes, hypertension, family history of coronary artery disease, dyslipidemia and smoking. The results showed that the hair whitening score graded three or more was linked to an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Those with coronary artery disease had a higher hair whitening score and higher coronary artery calcification compared to those that did not have coronary artery disease, according to News 18. The graying of hair was linked to heart disease in this new study. Meanwhile, Samuel said that a larger study is needed to confirm the links between hair graying and cardiovascular disease in people without other known cardiovascular risk factors. In the previous study, in 2011, it suggests a link between stress and the gray hairs. It showed that long-term exposure to stress that affects the DNA could modify the genes that give the hair its color. Meanwhile, in 2009 study, it suggests that losing the color of hair as humans get older is due to the creation of less and less of a special protective protein, which shields the hair in opposition to a natural process of bleaching from the inside, according to Science Alert. A rare parasitic infection referred to as a rat lungworm is spreading across the United States. The experts blamed climate change and globalization on its proliferation. Rat lungworm also called Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasitic nematode that causes eosinophilic meningitis particularly in the Pacific Basin and Southeast Asia. Its nematode is found in the pulmonary arteries of rats and its chief intermediate hosts are the snails, in which the larvae develop until they become infectious. Once the rats defecated worm larvae, they might spread to other animals such as slugs, freshwater shrimp and snails. People may catch this infection through ingestion of larvae in raw snails or from soiled water and vegetables. Then, the larvae are transmitted in the blood to the central nervous system. This causes the eosinophilic meningitis that could lead to death or brain and nerve damage. There were nine cases of the rat lungworm infections reported in Hawaii in the past months, according to CNN. The health officials issued warning not to touch snails or slugs with their bare hands because of the infectious larvae. The infections spread now to Alabama, California, Florida and Louisiana. There are also cases that have been documented in more than 30 countries, as Gizmodo reported. According to 2004 World Health Organization, most new infections may appear to be triggered by pathogens that are visible in the environment. This have been taken out of unimportance or given selective advantage through altered ecological and social conditions. Experts theorized that this is another effect of climate change. There is no treatment on the disease and it is difficult to diagnose, too. To relieve its symptoms such as headaches and hyperesthesia, the analgesics and sedatives are provided. The process of removing the cerebrospinal fluid at regular three- to seven-day intervals could also lessen the intracranial pressure and treat headaches as well. OnePlus 5 is probably one of the most anticipated smartphones to arrive this year. The Chinese company OnePlus is well known to produce products with a very affordable price. Several fans are impressed not only with its affordability but its products are also advanced. The company can fairly compete with other tech giants. The upcoming OnePlus 5 is going to be the successor of the previous models, OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T. Several fans are wondering why would the company jump to the number 5 instead of the number 4. OnePlus is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, and rumors claim that the number 4 is bad luck in China. According to a BGR report, the specs of the flagship phone OnePlus 5 might have been leaked through the internet. Report claims that the OnePlus 5 will be having an all screen design with small bezels. The OnePlus 5 is also expected to have no physical Home button just like the Samsung Galaxy S8. The fingerprint sensor of OnePlus 5 will be located at the back of the device. The fingerprint sensor will be located beneath the rear camera to minimize the chance of the user to accidentally smudge the lens trying to use the fingerprint sensor. According to Android Headlines, the OnePlus 5 would also sport a 5.5-inch display that comes with a 2K resolution. Users who love to take pictures will also love the 23MP dual lens rear camera with optical image stabilization and optical zoom. OnePlus 5 will also last long because of its 3,000 mAh battery. Report claims that the device might also feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 64-bit octa-core processor that is also used on Samsung Galaxy S8. Users would not have any problem multi-tasking thanks to its 8GB RAM. The OnePlus 5 is expected to become the company's first smartphone to sport a QHD (2,560 x 1,440) display. Other potential features of the OnePlus 5 phone might also include IP68 water and dust resistance, wireless charging and micro SD support expandable up to 256GB. NASA is celebrating Earth Day this year by sectioning off 64,000 individual pieces of our planet to be adopted by supporters. The American space agency has invited people to adopt a piece of Earth and make it their own, in a virtual sense. According to NASAs Adopt the Planet page, each piece of Earth up for adoption is approximately 55 miles wide and is backed with science data collected by the space agency. The information includes the relative humidity, temperature, etc. of each of the sectioned pieces. The space agency hopes to have every piece adopted by Earth Day, April 22 2017. Once a person adopts their piece of Earth, they can explore an interactive world map and print certificates of the same from any location on the planet. The certificate features NASA Earth science data collected for that location, which provides a view of the planet in a way never seen before. A person can also go on to share their adopted location socially on Facebook and Twitter. The whole process is easy and really fun to do. To get started, a person just has to visit go.nasa.gov/adopt and put in their name -- and they are allotted a little piece of Earth, which is assigned at random. However, it should be noted that in no way does adopting the piece of Earth mean that a person actually owns it. NASA has stated that once all the 64,000 sectioned pieces are adopted, they will be starting from scratch so that everyone who wants to participate will be able to. Apart from adopting Earth, a person can also go through the data of any place on the planet at NASA's Worldview. The website allows a person to view air quality measurements or images that highlight the amount of vegetation on land. One can also see the distance that air pollution or soot from volcanoes or fires has traveled from the land to the ocean. Moreover, a person can also have a clearer understanding about the amount of sea ice present in the Antarctic or Arctic regions -- and various other such interesting and informative data and imageries, which are actually used by scientists to study the changing planet. However, for now, people should go ahead and adopt Earth. Yours truly did as well and was assigned a place in the Caribbean Sea near Jamaica. The annual egg hunt of the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is so far a success this year. Each year, a team of scientists from both organizations go on an egg hunt for one of the rarest reptiles on the planet. Less than five female Burmese roofed turtles remain in the wild today, which is why it is imperative that fertile eggs be found. It is a feat equal to winning the ultimate Easter egg hunt. Steven Platt, a herpetologist for the WCS Myanmar program, shared that this even is "a real nail biter," as they do not usually know whether or not the eggs are fertile or not. He told Seeker, "When we see the first sign of banding, it's an overwhelming relief. Everything depends on finding that handful of fertile eggs." "Banding" is the chalky white blotch or stripe in the middle of the eggs, which forms when an embryo attaches itself to the inner wall of the shell. Eggs that have banding have been incredibly rare, with only a single viable egg found in 2014 and none in 2015. This year, so far, had been great. Platt and his colleagues discovered 44, which are already considered a baby boom, as far as these species are concerned. Due to their rarity, the eggs have now been placed in an incubation site along the established sand bars along the Chindwin River in Myanmar, with fences surrounding the eggs and round-the-clock security from villagers living nearby. Once the hatchlings become adults, they will be released back to the river, where scientists hoped they will continue to grow and increase in population. The Burmese roofed turtles (Batagur trivittata) were first listed as endangered by the IUCN in 1996. But with help from the locals, overharvesting of the eggs has dropped in an effort to raise their numbers. The species are expected to live very long lives, but their reproductive rates are very slow. This means that restoring their numbers in the wild could take many years of work. When the first Xiaomi Mi VR Play headset came out, the primary aspect of the device was its affordable price. However, the wearable was not that successful as it was not that comfortable to wear. It seems like the Chinese tech firm has implemented this idea and revamped the device to bring the Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2. According to user feedback on the first VR headset model, discomfort was reported due to the material used for the device. Luckily, the Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2 features new material that will let users wear the device for a longer duration, reducing irritation. Furthermore, the next-gen variant of the wearable is expected to offer a lighter material with user-friendly holes in it that allow convenient cooling for users, Wareable reported. Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2 Features Update May Offer A New Curved Design Unlike the previous model, the Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2 is also expected to offer a more curved design so that there is a little gap for reflects from the sides. Most cheap VR headsets ignore this feature that makes the VR quality non-immersive. Hopefully, the new VR headset by Xiaomi will remove this frustrating design that was there in the first model. As far as the Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2 price is concerned, the device is placed in the category of affordable VR headgears like the Google Cardboard. Expected price for the device is set at $14. Hopefully, the new headset is capable of implementing a standard that users can admire as there are other headsets within the same category as well. Xiaomi needs to deliver a product that ensures improved features. Ubergizmo reported that the Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2 release date is set for April 19 in China. Whether the company will release the headgear in other countries as well is still a mystery. Japanese scientists have recently announced a plan to drill into the Earths mantle and reach it for the first time through the ocean floor. Japan's Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) aims to drill through 6 kilometers of oceanic crust. Researchers from JAMSTEC will conduct a preliminary study in the waters off the coast of Hawaii in September as preparatory steps for the plan. Estimated to cost $540 million, the project will be carried out by flagship Japanese deep sea drilling vessel Chikyu. IFL Science has reported that the research team hopes to start the mission in the early 2020s or at the latest by 2030s. Apart from sites around Hawaii, a site off the coast of Costa Rica and another site off the coast of Mexico are also being considered for the project. Incidentally, only deep sea floor sites are being taken into consideration because the oceanic crust is a lot more thinner than the continental crust. According to a Huffington Post report, the project has been part funded by the government of Japan as a step to refine earthquake prediction. In Japan we have some volcanoes, earthquakes and such kind of natural hazards, JAMSTEC researcher Natsue Abe said. So we need to know the natural system more clearly or precisely we have to observe the Earth more precisely. It is thought that Earths molten interiors could hold clues that can help predict earthquakes, apart from revealing how the planet formed more than 4 billion years ago. Everything scientists know about the interior of the Earth is learned indirectly through earthquakes. In fact, even the magma from volcanoes does not offer pure samples of the mantle due to being mixed up with molten crust. Drilling into the Earths mantle will provide a unique opportunity to study the mantles composition as it actually is. In addition, another objective of the project is to find how deep microbial life can exist inside the Earth. The Trump administration is closing a $600 million deal to permit the sale of a dozen highly sophisticated turboprop fighter planes to Nigeria to combat the Boko Haram Islamic terrorists despite the Nigerian air forces repeated bombing of civilian targets. Within the next few weeks, the White House is expected to formally notify Congress of its controversial decision to sell as many as 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft equipped with special targeting and surveillance equipment. Related: Trumps Hard Power Budget Gives Billions to Defense, Guts Domestic Programs Nigeria a strong African ally of the U.S. -- has been attempting to purchase the highly versatile aircraft since 2015. President Obama had given preliminary approval of the sale shortly before he left office, but the deal was then put on hold. The turboprop light attack airplane which costs as little as $10 million per copy or as much as nearly $50 million, depending on the specs -- is particularly effective for counter-insurgency, close aerial reconnaissance and close air support. In skirmishes in remote areas, the Super Tucano can be a game changer. It functions and navigates well in rugged terrain with high temperatures and high humidity. The plane is equipped with a wide array of armaments, including precision-guided munitions. It boasts advanced avionics, communications, and sensors and can operate from remote, unpaved airstrips. It has a maximum speed of 367 mph and a flight ceiling of 6.6 miles. Related: Trump Could Face His First Fiscal Crisis Over Raising the Debt Ceiling Although Nigeria is considered an important ally and economic partner for the U.S., its tactics in fighting Boko Haram have generated sharp criticism within the international community -- and raised questions about the wisdom of the proposed sale of the Super Tucanos. The Nigerian air force has bombed civilian targets at least three times in recent years. Most recently, as many as 236 civilians and aid workers were killed on January 17 when a Nigerian fighter jet repeatedly bombed a camp at Rann, near the border with Cameroon, where civilians had fled to escape Boko Haram. Story continues Amnesty International has also accused Nigeria's military of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the killings of an estimated 8,000 Boko Haram suspects. Trump nevertheless indicated in February that he would approve the plane deal during a call with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, according to reports. Related: Newsmaker: Pressure Grows on Nigeria's Central Bank Governor The aircraft sales to Nigeria which boasts the largest economy in Africa -- are many military sales to other countries that are undergoing a final review before being submitted to Congress for approval. Currently, there are more than 200 Super Tucanos operating in 10 countries in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. With the help of the U.S., the highly lethal aircraft was added to the Afghan air force in the spring of 2016 for use in that countrys long-standing war with the Taliban. The attack aircraft is manned by Afghan pilots who were trained in the U.S. before deployment. The plane is manufactured by Embraer S.A., a Brazilian conglomerate and one of the largest aerospace companies in the world. Embraer operates a Super Tucanos production line in Jacksonville, Florida, in partnership with the privately held Sierra Nevada Corp. of Sparks, Nevada. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: DAY 54 / MARCH 14: President Donald Trump paid $38 million in taxes on more than $150 million in income in 2005, the White House said, responding to an MSNBC report that the network had obtained two pages of the returns.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque The Trump administration has in recent days sent highly conflicting signals about what its red line would be for taking further military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and whether it supports regime change. The mixed messaging comes after President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to launch 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at an airfield believed to have been used by Assad's military to launch a deadly chemical-weapons attack last week. Now, the adminstration seems to be getting closer to drawing a new red line in Syria the use of chlorine-filled barrel bombs that are frequently dropped by the Assad regime with impunity but won't clarify what kind of military action will be taken, if any, if that red line is crossed. On Monday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer seemed to convey two separate policies in one briefing. "Were not just going to become the worlds policeman running around the country running around the world," Spicer told reporters. "Its our national security first and foremost." He said later, however, that "the sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action." While he quickly walked back that claim, telling Business Insider in a statement that "nothing has changed" in the administration's policy, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis declined to comment on Tuesday about whether the use of chlorine bombs would prompt a further military response from the US. "Chemical weapons are chemical weapons," he said. He would not elaborate further, but reassured reporters that the situation would "not spiral out of control." The lack of clarity extends to the Trump administration's position on regime change. The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and national security adviser H.R. McMaster took to the Sunday talk shows to defend Trump's decision to strike Assad's airfield. But they could not seem to agree on whether Trump supported removing Assad from power a policy the Obama administration touted but never acted upon. Story continues In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Haley said "getting Assad out is not the only priority." But she added that "we don't see a peaceful Syria with Assad in there" and that "regime change is something that we think is going to happen." McMaster, meanwhile, said on Fox News that while he supported removing Assad, the US was "not going to be the ones who effect that change." Tillerson told ABC that that the administration opposed "violent change at the top," which would make it "very difficult to create the conditions for stability longer term." But he appeared to reverse that comment on Monday, telling reporters that the US will "rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world." Further confusion ensued after the White House disputed the accuracy of an Associated Press report that said the US had concluded that Russia knew about the chemical-weapons attack in advance. "There is no consensus within the American intelligence community that Russia had foreknowledge of the attack," a senior administration official said in a statement on Monday night. 'Discipline is essential' Robert Ford, the former US ambassador to Syria who is now a fellow at the Middle East Institute, said that the Trump White House "is still new," and simply needs more practice coordinating its messaging. He added that the administration "still has many top foreign policy and defense jobs unfilled, and only in the past 10 days has had to focus time from the busy top-level officials on Syria." "One thing new administrations have to learn to do is tightly coordinate talking points among top officials," Ford said. "It's not a surprise that the Trump administration also has to learn to do this. People like McMaster, Tillerson and Haley are pros, and they will learn how to do it too." Fred Hof, a former special adviser on the Syria transition under President Barack Obama, argued that "the cacophony of views reflects the fact that the [Syria] policy itself the objectives and the strategy for achieving them is not yet set." He echoed Ford's point, however, in saying the messaging would likely become more cohesive as the White House gets its footing. "I'm confident that H.R. McMaster will get control of the interagency process and orchestrate a coherent approach for the president to examine, modify if necessary, and ultimately approve and implement," he said. "This will take time," he added. "Meanwhile, it's important for the president, Gen. McMaster, and Secretaries Tillerson and Mattis to agree on basic talking points to be used publicly by the administration across the board. Discipline in this area is essential." One voice has been conspicuously absent, however, from discussions of the administration's goals in Syria and broader foreign policy doctrine: Trump's. Nearly three months into his presidency and less than two weeks after both Tillerson and Haley said that removing Assad was no longer a priority for the US Trump's decision to wade into an extraordinarily crowded and complex battlefield has shifted to the side the "America First" platform on which he campaigned. Trump has not commented on Syria apart from a brief statement the night he ordered the cruise missile strike and a tweet defending the US military's decision not to crater the airfield's runways. He also congratulated the US military on Twitter for "representing the US and the world so well in the Syria attack." Trump has remained quiet, however, even as the war of words between Tillerson and Russian President Vladimir Putin has heated up. Tillerson said on Tuesday morning that Russia is either "incompetent" or has "failed" to hold up its end of the deal to destroy Assad's chemical weapons and needed to choose whether to abandon or "maintain its alliance" with Assad. Putin, who has slammed the US' strike on Assad as an "aggressive" act," continued to deny that the Syrian army had chemical weapons and was responsible for the attack last week. "This reminds me strongly of the events in 2003, when the US representatives demonstrated at the UN Security Council session the presumed chemical weapons found in Iraq," Putin told reporters during a joint press conference with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday. Tillerson is due to meet today with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow. But Ford cautioned against expectations that the US will wade deeper into the war in an attempt to oust Assad. "The Syrian opposition and its friends would be making a terrible mistake thinking that Trump's team is going to shift to regime-change mode," Ford said. NOW WATCH: 'Stop shaking your head again': Watch Spicer's tense exchange with a reporter over alleged White House scandals More From Business Insider After a week of political back-biting, an uneasy calm has descended over the White House as President Trump makes clear hes inclined, for now, to keep his senior management team in place even as he downgrades the status of one key adviser, and continues to hold in limbo the future of another, FOX Business has learned. After a week of political back-biting, an uneasy calm has descended over the White House as President Trump makes clear hes inclined, for now, to keep his senior management team in place even as he downgrades the status of one key adviser, and continues to hold in limbo the future of another, FOX Business has learned. White House officials this weekend confirmed that senior adviser Steve Bannon, the populist firebrand and former head of Breitbart News, will remain in the administration, at least for now. But, they say, his power with the president was severely eroded late last week after clashing with Jared Kushner, the presidents 36-year-old son-in-law, who has now emerged as the most powerful adviser within the presidents inner circle. People close to Bannon say if his power recedes further he could resign from the administration. Bannon is no longer on the National Security Council but even worse, the president has signaled that he is not the top White House adviser, a position he has enjoyed, albeit unofficially, through the transition and into the first two months of the administration. These same officials say another adviser who had come under considerable pressure, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, will also remain in the administration for the time being. In recent weeks, Trump had begun to ask friends and associates if they felt he was being served well by Priebus, particularly after the administrations failed attempt to reform health care. But White House officials tell FOX Business that the president recognizes the difficult task Priebus has in pushing through his ambitious agenda that includes not just a health care overhaul, but major changes in economic policy and tax reform, and has decided he should stay even if his power, like Bannons, has been watered down. What is clear is that Kushner, regarded as a Liberal Democrat, and his close associate National Economic Council chief Gary Cohna former supporter of President Obamaare now heading the most powerful faction inside the already fractious White House and at least a subtle shift in policy has begun, these officials confirm to FOX Business. Trump has signaled Kushners expanded role by granting him numerous responsibilities inside the White House, a sign hes both growing tired of internal bickering and is losing faith in Bannon and Priebus. Story continues As evidence, people close to the White House point to the softening of the presidents populist rhetoric on trade, where he no longer is calling for trade wars with China, even as he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, or to completely rewrite trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Kushner and Cohn support trade deals and are said to be wary about isolating China. They also point to the recent bombing of Syria, something Trump once attacked President Obama for considering back in 2013, as further proof the president is embracing foreign interventionism, rather than the so-called America First isolationism that Bannon would prefer and that Trump ran on during the 2016 presidential campaign. Big question marks loom over Trumps plans to slash tax rates for individuals and businesses, and a big infrastructure spending plan. If Kushner and Cohn have their way, corporate taxes might be cut, but not those for individuals, keeping in line with their progressive ideology. They may also push Trump to scale back on tax cuts in order to spend more on infrastructure, a move that would garner support from Democrats in Congress. It's too early to tell if Trump will do a complete shift in policy, said Hank Sheinkopf, a political consultant who works mainly with Democratic candidates. But hes got to find ways to govern and obviously Bannon and Priebus have caused problems. You need someone who can bring unity. Kushner may be that in Trumps mind." Of course all administrations have internal turf wars, and presidents often jettison advisers as they seek out the best people to translate their agenda into legislation. But Trump has had a particularly unproductive first two months in office from a legislative standpoint as his health care overhaul stalled, and administration officials have been signaling that his proposed tax cuts may be put off until the end of the year. Meanwhile, the internal feud nearly overshadowed some rare victories for Trump, including the confirmation of his Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, and the bi-partisan support he received for his bombing of Syria following the Assad regimes use of chemical weapons in its bloody civil war. The White House would not comment publicly on the contretemps other than to say, Once again this is a completely false story driven by people who want to distract from the success taking place in this administration. The President's pick for the Supreme Court (a decision that has generational impact) was confirmed today, we hosted multiple foreign leaders this week and the President took bold and decisive military action against Syria last night. The only thing we are shaking up is the way Washington operates as we push the President's aggressive agenda forward. Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Monday, during his daily briefing, confirmed reports of infighting among the administration but characterized them as overblown. "Our battles and our policy differences need to be behind closed doors," Spicer said. "We need to focus and ultimately all come out committed to his [Trumps] agenda. Its also unclear if the past weeks White House battle will result in the president ditching all of his Bannon-inspired campaign promises such as the construction of a wall along the Mexican border to stem the tide of illegal immigration, and not pursuing major tax cuts for individuals and businesses. Indeed, one major wild card in trying to predict the direction of policy of the Trump White House is the president himself, a temperamentally volatile man whose ideology has vacillated over the years. Trump is said to favor a degree of internal bickering as long as advisers are loyal to him, and he has cobbled together maybe the most ideologically diverse White House in recent times. Some of his advisers like Kushner and Cohn, the former No 2 at Wall Streets Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), could have easily worked in the Obama White House. Both are liberal corporatists who favor free trade and global intervention, but also more liberal economic policies such as expansive government, and are not anti-immigration. Others like Bannon favor less government, lower taxes and an America First policy where the country refrains from global intervention, enacts trade barriers and cuts back on immigration. During most of his long career as a businessman, Trump was at times in the Kushner-Cohn camp; he supported the presidency of Bill Clinton, the husband of his Democratic challenger in the 2016 election. But Trump started to embrace populist and isolationist right-wing politics relatively recently as he began to consider a run for the White House; he became a harsh critic of President Obama, at one point questioning whether he was born in the U.S. and thus not qualified to be president. During the presidential campaign, Trump channeled the ideological theories espoused by Bannon and his political website Breitbart News, making Bannons recent demotion all the more startling. Even as he loses power, Bannon has no immediate plans to leave the White House, people close to him say, but they concede his stroke with Trump is waning and he might leave if he is overpowered by the Kushner-Cohn team. These people close to Bannon also say he knows full well that Trump is apt to change his mind again, and Bannon could find himself back in the inner circle. Steve is staying put because he knows the best way to get the policies he wants the president to pursue is to stay in the White House, said one White House staffer. Its either that or selling ads for Breitbart News, so at least for now he isnt going anywhere. Related Articles A souvenir license plate is seen outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., December 21, 2016. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly By Jeff Mason and Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump told a group of chief executives on Tuesday that his administration was revamping the Wall Street reform law known as Dodd-Frank and might eliminate the rules and replace them with "something else." At the beginning of his administration, Trump ordered reviews of the major banking rules put in place after the 2008 financial crisis, and last week he said officials were planning a "major haircut" for them. "For the bankers in the room, they'll be very happy because we're really doing a major streamlining and, perhaps, elimination, and replacing it with something else," Trump said on Tuesday. "That will be the minimum. But we're doing a major elimination of the horrendous Dodd-Frank regulations, keeping some obviously, but getting rid of many," he said. The White House is not unilaterally able to upend Dodd-Franks rules, almost all of which are implemented by independent regulatory agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve. A sweeping change to the law would require congressional action, though in some cases regulators may also have wiggle room to make changes through a formal rule-making process. In February, Trump issued an executive order requiring Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to consult with U.S. regulators and submit a report outlining a proposal for possible regulatory and legislative changes that would help fuel economic growth and promote American business interests. That report, due to be released in June, will likely serve as a blueprint for possible changes down the road. Congressional action on a Wall Street bill is not expected in the near term, as Congress focuses primarily on healthcare and tax reform. On Tuesday, House of Representatives Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling announced that he was planning to introduce a new draft by month's end of sweeping legislation known as the "Financial CHOICE Act" that would give Dodd-Frank a major overhaul. Story continues The new draft of the bill would largely defang the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's supervisory powers and make the director removable at will. It would also revamp bank stress-testing rules and loosen securities regulations to help companies raise cash. The bill is likely to face an uphill battle in the Senate, where Democrats are expected to be resistant and a 60-vote threshold is needed to pass legislation. Participants in Tuesday's meeting included Rich Lesser, chief executive of Boston Consulting Group; Doug McMillon, chief executive of Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N); Indra Nooyi, chief executive of PepsiCo (PEP.N); Jim McNerney, former chief executive of Boeing Co (BA.N); Ginni Rometty, chief executive of IBM (IBM.N); and Jack Welch, former chairman of General Electric Co (GE.N). The business leaders are part of Trump's "Strategy and Policy Forum" that last met with him in February. Trump also reiterated his criticism of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico. "NAFTA is a disaster. It's been a disaster from the day it was devised. And we're going to have some very pleasant surprises for you on NAFTA, that I can tell you," he said. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Sarah N Lynch; additional reporting by Patrick Rucker; Editing by Alistair Bell and Jonathan Oatis) If you run a big American company and you havent yet visited President Trump at the White House, you must be doing something wrong. Trump hosts high-profile CEOs at the White House virtually every week, for strategy and policy discussions on how to turbocharge the US economy. This weeks guests included the CEOs of General Motors (GM), Boeing (BA), PepsiCo (PEP), BlackRock (BLK), IBM (IBM) and nearly two dozen other business leaders. Presiding over them was Steve Schwarzman, who runs the Blackstone Group (BX) investing firm and is Trumps informal liaison to the business community. Trump has gotten quite chummy with CEOs, after starting his presidency by picking Twitter feuds with companies such as Carrier (UTX), GM and Ford (F). He seems to have shifted strategy by embracing the business community and forming alliances with business people like himself, who in theory ought to be natural allies. At this weeks meeting, for instance, he addressed his guests as an incredible group of world-class business leaders while also claiming credit for just about every bit of good economic news since he took office in January. A new format for CEO meetings Trumps early CEO roundtables were mostly photo ops in which the president sat at the middle of an oval table, flanked by CEOs all around. The new format is different. The White House now separates CEOs into working groups headed by Cabinet secretaries such as Wilbur Ross at Commerce, Elaine Chao at Transportation and budget director Mick Mulvaney. Then they work on policy matters relating to Trump priorities such as tax reform, regulatory relief and new infrastructure spending. Trump seems to be moderating some of his economic views, and these meetings with CEOs might be contributing to that. Consider, for instance, a few of the things Trump the candidate vowed to do within his first 100 days as president: label China a currency manipulator; withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement, or renegotiate it; and impose tariffs on companies that move jobs offshore. Story continues Trump has done none of those things, which is a relief to business leaders, because tariffs and other protectionist measures are widely viewed as the most dangerous moves Trump could make on the economy. The fact that Trump has so far spoken loudly on trade, but carried a small stick, is one reason stock markets have been buoyant during Trumps first couple of months. The real prospect of punitive tariffs would end the Trump rally, as numerous CEOs have undoubtedly warned the president. How Trump might be using his corporate friends Trump seems to be using his corporate pals in two ways. First, hes soliciting real advice from them about how best to structure tax cuts, streamline regulations and efficiently spend whatever money hes able to raise for new roads and bridges. And second, hes lining up corporate support for legislative battles likely to be tougher than Trump probably expected, giving his stinging setback on a health care bill that couldnt even make it to a vote. Asking CEOs and 1 percenters to help rewrite policy is not exactly the populist, swamp-draining crusade Trump promised his most ardent followers. But they dont seem to mind, instead siding with Trumps claim that unleashing businesses is the way to raise up a struggling middle class. For now, Trumps promises on that seem to be good enough. At some point, Trump will need real wins to demonstrate that hobnobbing with potentates somehow helps ordinary people through stronger wage growth, better opportunities and more optimism. But for now, hes actually enjoying a sort of mini-honeymoon: Supporters are giving him time to produce results, while some of the worlds most powerful business leaders sit in obeisance while Trump holds court. It may be the only place in Washington, DC where everybody gets along. Read more: Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman The addition of Subic to Evergreens KTP service will open the port to direct trade links with South Korea and Taiwan. The trade will also include transhipment service for overseas cargo. The first Evergreen containership is scheduled to make its maiden call at Subic on 19 April. The weekly KTP service port rotation is Koreas Incheon and Kwangyang, Taiwans Kaohsiung, the Philippines Batangas, Manila and Subic, and back to Kaohsiung. Roberto R. Locsin, general manager of ICTSI subsidiary Subic Bay International Terminal Corp, commented: Our inclusion in the KTP service is a clear indication that the markets of central and northern Luzon are growing, and will benefit from another large global carrier participating in this growth. In December 2016, the Taiwan Maritime and Port Bureau (TMPB) expressed interest to partner with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to increase container transhipment traffic between the ports of Taiwan and Subic. The Philippines has been able to capitalise on Taiwans Southbound Policy which aims to strengthen trade and investment relationship between Taiwan and countries south of the latters territory. Taiwan is the Philippines sixth biggest trading partner, facilitating around $7.85bn worth of bilateral trade in 2015. South Korea, on the other hand, is the Philippines fifth largest trading partner in 2015 with bilateral trade reaching $13.4bn in 2014. Recently, SBMA has urged local government units around the Subic Freeport Zone to start developing industrial parks to accommodate the growing number of investors. Were now seeing the results of our campaign to promote Subic. We are doubling our efforts to sustain the current momentum to ensure we dont lose on the gains we have achieved in putting Subic at the center of economic growth in central and northern Luzon, said ICTSIs Locsin. The management transfer process of the four ports, Labuan Bajo and Reo in Flores island and Atapupu and Wini in Timor island, is expected to be completed in the middle of this year, said Pelindo III Kupang general manager Boy Rubyanto. The Transportation Ministry and the Finance Ministry are still talking about the transfer pattern, whether it will be an endowment from the government to the state-owned enterprise or a joint operation, he said. Once the transfer is completed, Pelindo III will upgrade the infrastructure of the ports before operating them as supporting hubs for the governments sea toll road programme, Boy added. We will focus on repairing the docks, passenger terminals and road infrastructure at those ports, he said. The company currently operates 43 ports in seven provinces mostly in eastern Indonesia, including Central Java, East Java and NTT. The train will make the 7,500 mile, three-week-long journey bound for Yiwu in the Zhe Jiang province in eastern China. This inaugural export train bound for China departed just under three months after the first ever import train from China arrived in the UK. The service is part of China's One Belt, One Road programme - reviving the ancient Silk Road trading routes to the West. After passing through the channel tunnel into France and Belgium, the DB Cargo locomotive will call in Duisburg, Germany before InterRail pull the cargo through Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan before the train crosses to Yiwu, China. Container operator OneTwoThree Logistics is overseeing the transportation and booking of cargo for the UK/China rail freight trains, in conjunction with Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co., which is running the service with China Railway Container. While unlikely to challenge ocean shipping or air freight, the new route will offer an alternative to shippers looking for a speedy or cost effective method of delivery. Greg Hands, Minister of State in the Department for International Trade, said: This new rail link with China is another boost for Global Britain, following the ancient Silk Road trade route to carry British products around the world. It shows the huge global demand for quality UK goods and is a great step for DP Worlds 1.5bn London Gateway Port as it also welcomes its first regular container ships from Asia. Xubin Feng, chairman, Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co., said: We are proud to be able to offer the first ever UK to China export train. Restoring the ancient Silk Road as a means by which China, North Europe and now the UK can exchange goods is an important and exciting initiative. Oscar Munoz United Airlines United CEO Oscar Munoz has shared the airline's official recap of an incident in which law-enforcement officials on Sunday forcibly removed a passenger from one of the company's flights. The sequence of events is based on preliminary reports submitted by the airline's employees: "Summary of Flight 3411 On Sunday, April 9, after United Express Flight 3411 was fully boarded, United's gate agents were approached by crew members that were told they needed to board the flight. We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation) and when we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions. He was approached a few more times after that in order to gain his compliance to come off the aircraft, and each time he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent. Our agents were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight. He repeatedly declined to leave. Chicago Aviation Security Officers were unable to gain his cooperation and physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both our crew and security officials." This account of Flight 3411 is purely from the perspective of the airline. While we do not yet have a first-hand account from the unidentified passenger at the center of the incident, witnesses aboard the flight have criticized law-enforcement and United for what they viewed as unnecessarily brutal tactics. The US Department of Transportation is reviewing the events that occurred on the flight with a focus on potential rules violations. In addition, one of the officers involved in the removal of the passenger has been placed on leave. Story continues united dragging Munoz commends employees for going 'above and beyond' Munoz wrote an open letter to the airline's 82,000 employees following the ordeal. In the letter, Munoz reaffirmed his support for United's employees while saying there were lessons to be gleaned from the incident. The CEO, however, stopped short of apologizing to the 69-year-old customer. Reaction to the disturbing footage of the incident has been immediate and visceral, with United taking the brunt of the public's anger. The situation was not helped by a poorly executed statement from Munoz earlier Monday that seemed to add fuel to the fire. Here's the letter to employees from Munoz: "Dear Team, Like you, I was upset to see and hear about what happened last night aboard United Express Flight 3411 headed from Chicago to Louisville. While the facts and circumstances are still evolving, especially with respect to why this customer defied Chicago Aviation Security Officers the way he did, to give you a clearer picture of what transpired, I've included below a recap from the preliminary reports filed by our employees. "As you will read, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. "While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. I do, however, believe there are lessons we can learn from this experience, and we are taking a close look at the circumstances surrounding this incident. "Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation. "Oscar" NOW WATCH: People are outraged by this shocking video showing a passenger forcibly dragged off a United Airlines plane More From Business Insider United Airlines Shares of United Continental are under pressure ahead of Tuesday's opening bell, down 3% at $69.41 a share, amid the fallout from an incident where a passenger was forcibly removed from a plane by airport police. The passenger suffered injuries to his face, and was taken to the hospital for treatment, after refusing to give up his seat on an overbooked flight from Chicago to Louisville. United's stock didn't react negatively to the news on Monday, ending the session higher by 0.9% at $71.52, but anger and coverage of the incident has blown up on social media, and people are threatening to boycott United. United CEO Oscar Munoz also released a statement after the incident: "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation." Despite Tuesday's selling, United shares remain just off their all-time high of $74.09 set back on February 28. They're down about 4.7% so far in 2017. United NOW WATCH: Here's footage of the US military's new helicopter that'll cost as much as an F-35 More From Business Insider Press Release April 9, 2017 De Lima celebrates Palm Sunday with family and supporters On Palm Sunday, a Mass was celebrated with over 50 guests inside the detention quarters of Sen. Leila M. de Lima in Camp Crame. Among those present were former President Benigno S. Aquino III, Sen. Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino, Sen. De Lima's family, supporters and staff. "Many of us are here to express solidarity with you and thank you for your courage," Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J. said to De Lima. In his homily, the Jesuit priest told the parable of the prison where music is prohibited. There, a prisoner played guitar while singing songs about freedom, peace and solidarity. The other prisoners gathered to hear the music. For this, the prisoner's fingers were cut off by jail guards. Though punished each time--tongue cut off, guitar smashed--the prisoner, who cannot be stopped from playing music, just moaned the songs. Finally, when the prisoner was killed, it was the other prisoners who continued to sing the songs they have learned. "Many have heard your song of justice that Jesus wants us to sing with you," Fr. Francisco said to the Senator, who is seen by many as a political prisoner detained since February 24 on false and trumped-up charges. Fr. Francisco said that many visit De Lima to console her. "But I'm sure it is them who are inspired and consoled by your joy, resilience and faith," he told her. With their right hands extended toward the direction of De Lima, everyone prayed over the Senator, that she continues to have the strength to never be silenced and stifled amid all the attacks and persecution against her. After the Mass, De Lima was happy as she talked to her visitors over lunch, thanking them for their prayers and continued support which she said is making her stronger. Press Release April 10, 2017 Avoid last-minute rush on April 17 tax filing deadline ANGARA TO BIR: HELP PINOYS PAY TAXES CORRECTLY A week before the deadline of tax filing, Senator Sonny Angara has called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to make it easier for Filipinos, especially for small taxpayers, to pay their taxes correctly. "Matagal na nating panawagan, kasabay ng pagbaba ng buwis, na gawing simple ang forms and procedures ng pagbabayad ng buwis. The BIR should always be ready, equipped and accommodating in offering assistance to both large and small taxpayers so they can properly comply with our tax process," said Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee. The BIR has moved the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) to April 17 from April 15, which falls on a Black Saturday. Late filing would incur a 20-percent interest per annum penalty, and a 25-percent surcharge on the tax due. Angara urged taxpayers to avoid the rush on the 17th so they have ample time to rectify incorrect ITRs within the deadline to avoid penalties. He cited a report by the World Bank and PwC called "Paying Taxes 2017" which placed the Philippines 115th of 180 countries in a global ranking of ease of tax compliance for businesses. In the 2016 study, the Philippines was 126th out of 189 countries, climbing 11 spots this year. The study showed that it takes an average of 186 hours or nearly eight days for Philippine medium-sized companies to comply with their respective tax obligations--an improvement from the 193 hours recorded last year, and is faster than the Asia Pacific average of 212 hours. The study further showed that Philippine companies need to make 28 payments to fully comply--an improvement from 36 payments last year, but still more than the Asia Pacific average of 23.5 payments. The top countries in the region are Hong Kong (3rd globally) which only requires three payments in 74 hours to pay taxes, and Singapore (8th globally) which requires five payments in 67 hours. To help address the difficulties faced by Filipinos in paying taxes, Angara has filed Senate Bill 132 that seeks to establish a Taxpayer Assistance Service within the BIR to answer queries and guide taxpayers on how to efficiently deal with their tax-related problems and concerns. "Tax collection would increase if we improve tax compliance. Tax compliance would improve if we reduce the tax rates, and lessen the complexity and intricacy of our tax code," the senator said. The BIR sets its collection target this year at P1.83 trillion to fund the administration's massive infrastructure projects. Last year, the agency collected P1.57 trillion, performing 97 percent against its P1.62-trillion target. According to a recent BIR data on personal income tax compliance rates, only 41 percent of professionals and 30 percent of self-employed pay their taxes, as compared to the 99-percent compliance rate of salaried workers given that their taxes are automatically withheld from their paycheck. "We should encourage Filipinos contribute in building the country through their taxes. Instead of making tax payment cumbersome, we must provide taxpayers with free and accessible professional assistance. The Taxpayer Assistance Service would render the first layer of services that every Filipino taxpayer needs and deserves," Angara said. Under the proposed measure, the Taxpayer Assistance Service is mandated to prepare, publicize and circulate policies, programs, standards, guidelines and procedures relative to public information and education programs on taxation. He has also filed Senate Bill 308 that will put in place a charter on taxpayer rights, and create a National Taxpayer Advocate Office that will protect taxpayers against harassment and corrupt practices of some officers and employees of the BIR. "These measures aim to reduce bureaucratic red tape, and to safeguard the rights of taxpayers who are entrusting a significant share of their hard-earned money to the hands of the government. In return, it is our hope that all taxpayers will be more truthful and timely in the filing and payment of tax dues," the lawmaker said. Bam: Support our Filipino scientists, tech startups CABANATUAN CITY -- As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam Aquino wants to prioritize measure that will provide support for Filipino scientists and innovative startups. During a media interview here, Sen. Bam said the committee will focus on other priority bills after the approval of Senate Bill No. 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act on third and final reading via 18-0 vote. "Ngayong naipasa na ng kumite ang libreng internet sa mga pampublikong lugar, sunod naman nating tututukan ang Balik-Scientist Bill upang makatulong sa paglago ng siyensiya at teknolohiya sa bansa," said Sen. Bam, who pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1277 as principal sponsor and co-author. "Sa batas na ito, hinihikayat natin ang mga Pilipinong scientist na bumalik sa bansa. Sa ngayon, dahil kulang-kulang ang ating scientists dahil sa brain drain, hindi talaga uunlad ang ating siyensiya at teknolohiya," explained Sen. Bam. Senate Bill 1183 or the Balik Scientist Bill seeks to provide overseas Filipino scientist with financial benefits and incentives to encourage to return to the Philippines and help boost the country's research and development. The measure aims to institutionalize the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which successfully encouraged some of our scientists to return and contribute to research that will address development gaps in the Philippines. In addition, Sen. Bam said the committee will also push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act. "Maraming startup sa ating bansa na magagaling. They have very good ideas pero nasasayang dahil nahihirapan magsimula ng negosyo at nahihirapan sa mga regulasyon," said Sen. Bam. The Innovative Startup Act seeks to provide necessary support for business startups to help them thrive and compete in the market. If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said the Innovative Startup Act will make it easier for tech startups to set up and build successful businesses in our country. Press Release April 10, 2017 Legarda Encourages Carbon Fasting In observance of the Holy Week, Senator Loren Legarda encouraged Filipinos to "carbon fast"--a kind of fasting that is environment-friendly. "As stewards of God's creation, it is beneficial to everyone--humans and other species alike--if we become more aware of our actions' effects on the environment. As we observe Holy Week, it may be good to reflect on this and it would be best if we can take action against environmental degradation and promote the sustainable use of our natural resources," said Legarda. "To carbon fast is to reduce our individual carbon emissions, which is a concrete action on climate change and will ultimately help in saving our ailing ecosystems. It would be best if we adopt a low-carbon lifestyle, even beyond the Lenten season," said the Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change. Legarda explained that a low-carbon lifestyle is the conscious effort by individuals and communities to change their daily routine and practices to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to create carbon dioxide sinks. The aggregate of these individual and community efforts will considerably mitigate climate change. "These actions can be as simple as bringing eco-bags or reusable containers when going to market to avoid using plastic bags, using energy-efficient lights such as LED, or going meatless," said Legarda. The following are ways to carbon fast: Opt for food that is local, plant-based, and in-season because food from distant places utilizes more energy for transportation and preservation, resulting to greater carbon emission; Venture into modes of transportation that are energy-efficient, such as walking, biking, taking public transport, and carpooling whenever possible; Economize on energy consumption and shift to indigenous and renewable energy sources, use low-wattage appliances, unplug electronics when not in use, and other similar practices; Practice solid waste management by segregating at the source, composting biodegradable wastes and recycling; Consume water wisely like gathering and storing rainwater for daily chores; and, Plant trees, create forest parks, protect natural forests and undertake reforestation. "These are just some ways by which we can make environmental protection and climate mitigation part of our daily life. These practices do not demand much from us. Ultimately, our aim is to manage our ecological assets more judiciously so that humanity can live within the Earth's limitations," Legarda concluded. Jacom Stephens/Getty Images A man died after being shot about a block from Lake Merritt in Oakland early Tuesday, police said. The man was identified as 42-year-old Tyrone Jordan by the Alameda County Coroners Bureau. Former Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher was cleared Monday of bias and favoritism in his management of one of the countrys premier national parks, but federal officials said he may have fostered hostile working conditions at the California landmark. In a report released by the Department of Interiors inspector general, several past employees of the seven-year Yosemite administrator criticized the veteran park official as often dismissive and overly critical for example, calling their work stupid or bozo. The 42-page report stopped short of labeling Neubachers conduct harassment. It found that although employees said he treated some subordinates better than others, at times undermining those he didnt like, there was no conclusive evidence of gender bias or discrimination. The probe follows a push by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to address workplace issues, not only at Yosemite but across the National Park Service. ALSO Yosemite website tracks bears to cut killings by cars The Park Service on Monday acknowledged Yosemites problems and said it was taking steps system-wide to improve employee conditions, including enacting antiharassment training and providing confidential resources for workers. The Office of the Inspector Generals investigation served as a valuable catalyst for organizational self-reflection, said Park Service spokesman Andrew Munoz in an email to The Chronicle. We recognize we can and must do better to cultivate a workplace environment where everyone can thrive. The report did not include a formal response from Neubacher and referred to him only as a senior official. However, Neubachers identity has been made public in related testimony. Federal officials said the administrator acknowledged a tendency of micromanaging and being critical, though he did not consider his behavior hostile or harassing. He said no employees brought concerns to him about his management. Last year, shortly after the investigation began, Neubacher emailed park employees an apology, referring to serious staff concerns related to Yosemites workplace environment. Among several allegations investigated by the inspector generals office was one from a part-time female worker at Yosemite who was approved for a full-time job but said her hiring was delayed because of Neubacher. She said he had several problems with her, including that she was a strong, vocal woman. Another female employee complained she did not get promoted to a top firefighting position because of her gender. While most of the accusations against Neubacher came from women, not all did. One male employee also complained about hiring selections. In the report, Neubacher denied the allegations, generally saying that all employment decisions were based on skills and experience. Chip Jenkins, one of the three deputy regional directors for the National Park Services Pacific West Region, is the acting superintendent at Yosemite. Other parks have seen complaints as well. Employees at Yellowstone have complained about sexual harassment, while similar charges prompted resignation of the Grand Canyons superintendent. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander The grisly murder and dismemberment of a San Bruno man, allegedly by his neighbor, stemmed from a dispute over the price of a used space heater, officials said. The victim was identified by prosecutors as Benjamin Roybal, who was in his 70s and lived down the street from 50-year-old David Stubblefield, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held in jail on $10 million bail. Investigators searching for Roybal, who was reported missing March 29, went to Stubblefields home on Thursday and discovered human body parts inside his house and in the backyard. The dispute arose over the price of the space heater the victim had agreed to buy, said San Mateo County Assistant District Attorney Albert Serrato. Officers visited Stubblefields home on the 3700 block of Pacific Heights Boulevard in the course of searching for Roybal, San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said Friday. While at this residence, detectives located what appeared to be a dismembered human corpse in the rear yard, Barberini said. He added that a portion of the body was outdoors and a portion was in a structure. According to San Mateo County district attorney Steve Wagstaffe, the suspect used pepper spray on the victim, then shot him with a handgun, then dismembered him, then used chemicals in an initial attempt to hide the body. Investigators found chemicals around the room, the district attorney said. "It was a very inartful attempt to get the body to decompose like what you see on TV, when they throw the body in acid, Wagstaffe said. That's what he tried to do." According to Wagstaffe, the suspect was convicted two decades ago of possession of methamphetamine for sale. Roybals remains were found about a week after he was reported missing. As of Tuesday morning, the San Mateo County coroners office has not yet positively identified the remains as belonging to Roybal, and the San Bruno Police Department has said that until they do, the investigation into his disappearance will remain open. Stubblefield was interviewed by police and booked into San Mateo County Jail late Thursday night. 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. He made his first appearance in San Mateo County Superior Court on Monday and was appointed an attorney to represent him. Stubblefield is scheduled to be arraigned on April 24 on charges of murder, unlawful possession and use of teargas, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chronicle staff writer Michael Bodley contributed to this report. Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi Evan Sernoffsky A female UC Berkeley student was sexually assaulted at an off-campus fraternity party over the weekend, police said Monday. The assault occurred Saturday evening under the City of Berkeley Police Departments jurisdiction, according to Berkeley campus police. The SFFilm Festivals bash at YBCA on Friday, April 7, provided filmmakers and film fans with a kind of recreational respite. It was like gathering around a campfire with fancier-than-camping vittles by McCalls the break in the middle of the cinephiles traditional festival trek from comedy to tragedy to documentary to panel conversation. There was talk of movies and stars and distributors, of course, but there was also pleasant random conversation. Fred Levin, son of Irving Levin, the movie house owner who 60 years ago founded the festival, told Sheila Ortona, wife of Italian consul general Lorenzo Ortona, that 61 years ago, the Italian consul general had approached his dad, telling him that high-end department stores were going to be featuring Italian wares and clothing for a week. Could Levin schedule a week of Italian movies to be shown at the same time? He agreed, and the event was so successful that the next year, at the suggestion of Arts Commission president Harold Zellerbach, Levin decided to expand from Italy to the rest of the world, and to make the festival an annual occasion. This party was particularly loose because the traditional formal awards gala has been postponed until winter. But the festival, of course, is still giving awards. On Sunday, April 9, friends and admirers (and he has many) gathered at the Castro to pay tribute to Tom Luddy, winner of this years Mel Novikoff Award, which is given to an individual or institution whose work has enhanced the film-going publics appreciation of world cinema. Luddys cultural interests go beyond filmmaking notably, to music and art and food, particularly Bay Area passions but the award paid tribute most of all to him as a deeply human bridge-builder, said SFFilm Executive Director Noah Cowan. Luddy was cited for personal generosity his appreciation of filmmaking masters and his championing of filmmaking newcomers and for his wizardry at connecting them. Luddys influence, said Sony Pictures Classics CEO Michael Barker, is vast. ... Tom Luddy is the connector ... with the most impressive address book of all time. The audience included an array of local boldfaced names who consider Luddy a treasured friend: Alice Waters, Jeannette Etheredge, director Phil Kaufman, as well as filmmaker Eleanor Coppola and film scholar David Thomson. (The next day, Coppolas Paris Can Wait was shown when she received the George Gund III Craft of Cinema Award; Thomson was to speak about Vertigo on Sunday, April 16.) Waters said Luddy had made Chez Panisse famous, by bringing film people there; afterward, Etheredge said the same of Tosca. Peter Becker of the Criterion Collection of movies described a summer afternoon (presumably in the Wine Country) when Luddy, Wim Wenders, Akira Kurosawa and Francis Coppola attended a county fair together, and Coppolas vehicle broke down. Filmmaker Les Blank came to the rescue in his truck. It was a hot day, they saw a pond, and the filmmakers stopped to take a dip. The intimacy of that moment, said Becker, was something like paradise. Ive been attending too many memorial services. But too many is an injustice; they shouldnt be considered together. Every gathering is for one woman who spoke with her own voice, one man who shook hands with his own grip, one listener who laughed at one joke and not another. On Thursday, April 6, every seat in every pew at Grace Cathedral was filled with people mourning the sudden death of Charlot Malin, 48. She was a businesswoman, an ardent supporter of the arts the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts Neal Benezra and the San Francisco Operas Matthew Shilvock spoke of her dedication to their institutions and a beloved wife and mother of twins. The crowd was so big that more than a hundred stood in the rear of the church, listening to the prayers, homily and music. When Ennio Morricones Gabriels Oboe was played by members of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra with soloist Mingjia Liu, that groups principal oboe, the plaintive sound wafted to the vaulted ceiling. I looked behind me, and there stood those who hadnt been able to find seats, parallel trees in a forest, each standing a few feet away from the closest person. Afterward, the crowd spilled out into the plaza, reassured on this cloudy but warm afternoon to find old friends and share good thoughts about Charlot. So nice to see the sun, one woman said, and I nodded but I couldnt see it. Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik Public Eavesdropping He thinks he knows all about girls because he has two moms. He doesnt know. For the second year in a row, California officials are likely to shorten the chinook salmon season, making the local specialty costly and hard to find throughout the summer and possibly beyond. With chinook salmon at its lowest population in years, West Coast fishery managers are considering a proposal to strictly limit the commercial season and to delay its start around the San Francisco Bay from its usual May date to August. A final decision will be made on Tuesday. Youre probably going to find it only in your upscale grocery stores and upscale restaurants, and its not going to be always available. Its probably not going to be cheap, said Dave Bitts, a Eureka fisherman and adviser to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages fisheries in the federal waters off California, Oregon and Washington. When announced, the decision will be compounded by the councils decision on Monday to close the Pacific sardine fishery for the third year in a row, a move that had been anticipated because of the sardines low population count. Salmon, along with Dungeness crab, is one of the largest fisheries in the region, worth $8 million in California in 2015, though often much more. The Pacific Fishery Management Council bases its recommendations on population estimates, which this year could be as low as 230,700 adult salmon for the Bay Area coast. In a good year, the population should be around 1 million. The low numbers are due to lingering effects of the drought, because impacts on the population are felt about three or four years behind years with little rain. The most likely outcome of the councils meeting is that Californias commercial salmon season will start on May 1 in areas south of Pigeon Point in San Mateo County and last only from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30 in the area between Pigeon Point and Point Arena in Mendocino County. Boats would be able to fish in the area between Point Arena and Horse Mountain (Humboldt County) only during September, further limiting the availability of the fish. Plus, parts of Oregons commercial fishery are also set to be delayed or closed. However, the recreational salmon season did open April 1. David Budworth of Marina Meats, a butcher shop and seafood retailer in San Francisco, said his contacts in the fishing industry have an even gloomier outlook. The word on the street is it is probably not going to open, said Budworth, echoing a bit of recent fishery gossip, often called dock talk. Regardless of what actually happens, hes not planning on buying any this spring or summer, because he predicts he would have to sell it at $35 to $40 a pound. As much as I would love to deal with the local fish, at that price its not even worth it, said Budworth, who sells frozen-at-sea wild Alaska salmon year-round not a bargain either, at $30.99 a pound currently. Last years commercial salmon season in California was also limited, but not as much, and many in the salmon fleet are having to regroup in preparation for another bad season. Its going to be pretty poor, said fisherman Mike Dvorak, while crabbing Monday just off Montara. Its going to make making a living in the fishing industry harder. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. That said, Dvorak knew that the drought would take its toll on his ability to fish salmon, and he has been diversifying his business with charter-boat fishing and crabbing to stay in the industry. Over the last few years, Ive definitely come to the conclusion that I cannot count on salmon. Ive had a great time and made some money, but Ive found I cant count on it, he said. It used to be really consistent. Between 2013 and 2015, the chinook salmon harvest dropped by two-thirds, falling in value from $22.7 million to $8 million. For home cooks who dont fish and want to get their hands on local salmon this spring and summer, Eurekas Bitts has some advice. If you see it and you like it and you can afford it, I say grab it, said Bitts. It might not be here next week. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan A man dragged off his overbooked United Airlines flight and bloodied by a security officer in a disturbing scene caught on video by other passengers was obligated to follow orders to leave his seat, travel and airline experts said on Monday. But even though airlines can legally eject passengers who dont volunteer to leave, customers and industry observers said they were astonished that the Chicago-based airline took such an extreme measure on Sunday night. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Associated Press Show More Show Less I imagine they could have emptied that seat with something other than force, said Larry Kamer of the Kamer Group, a Bay Area crisis management company. Maybe up the value of the voucher. Offer a free trip. If its that important, its going to cost you less in the long run than the egg on their collective faces from these videos. The videos capture the passenger screaming as a security officer at Chicagos OHare International Airport grabs him from his window seat, banging and bloodying his head on an armrest. Passengers can be heard gasping in horror as the officer drags the limp man up the aisle for refusing to be bumped from the flight. Oh my god! Look what you did to him! a blonde woman shouts. This is horrible, another passenger says in the video that went viral Monday, raising questions about airline tactics and passengers rights. United says it is reviewing the incident, and Oscar Munoz, the airlines chief executive, released a statement calling it upsetting and apologized for having to bump passengers. Munoz did not apologize for the passengers treatment. He said employees approached the man several times and he refused each time. A spokesman said it was an unarmed Chicago Department of Aviation security officer who removed the passenger. That department did not respond to a request for comment. The Associated Press reported Monday that the department has placed the officer on leave. The identity of the man dragged from the flight has not been made public. But Tyler Bridges, 29, was aboard the packed United Airlines Express flight 3411 and expecting to fly home to Louisville with his wife after a trip to Japan to see the cherry blossoms. At 5:40 p.m., a flight attendant requested four volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for $400 each. No one wanted to take the voucher because they told us the next flight would be at 2 p.m. the next day, Bridges, a civil engineer, told The Chronicle. United doubled the offer to $800 and no one budged. United said it had to get four crew members to Louisville for a connecting flight but didnt offer more than $800 before announcing that passengers would be chosen to leave. A young couple was the first selected, said Bridges. The next was a man in a window seat about five rows behind Bridges. He said he was a doctor and that he had patients to see and had to get home, Bridges said. He was getting upset, saying Why am I picked? He told the United worker he thought he was was being singled out because he was a Chinese man. What the man may not have known was that passengers have no right to keep their seat, even if its paid for, when airline personnel order them to leave. United explains that in 46 pages of fine print that airlines call a contract of carriage. At that point, the United manager threatened to call security, Bridges said and did. Soon, two officers arrived from the Chicago Department of Aviation and spoke calmly to the man, who remained steadfast. A third officer arrived and told the man he had to get off. Hes the one you see in the video grabbing the man, who is flailing, yelling and doing everything he can to resist, said Bridges who by this time like several other passengers had taken out his phone and begun videoing the scene. In another video, a woman says: Cant they just run a car for the pilots to Louisville? It was just a surreal experience, recalled Bridges, who posted his video to Twitter within two minutes. Equally surreal, perhaps, is that about 10 minutes after the man was dragged off the plane, blood streaming from his mouth, he returned. Another video shows him leaning against a wall, muttering: Theyll kill me, over and over. By now, passengers had had enough. A group of high school students was ushered off the plane by their chaperone, and other passengers got off, as well. Sometime after 8 p.m., 2 hours late, the plane took off. United Airlines spokesman Jonathan Guerin said, Were reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him. We know that this is upsetting to all of our customers. Chris McGinnis, a travel writer who writes the TravelSkills blog, called the matter a PR nightmare. Its shocking and appalling and abhorrent to anyone seeing the video. At the same time, he said, Everyone will be all up in arms and say theyre going to boycott United but travelers have very short memories. So the next time United has a flight for $139, and everyone else is selling it for $189, theyll forget about the boycott. The incident happened just two weeks after another public-relations nightmare for United, when it kept a family from boarding a plane in Denver because two teenage girls wore leggings. The airline said the family had to follow a dress code because it was flying for free on United employee passes. The issue blew up on social media as critics accused United of maintaining a sexist policy and noted that the airline had no problem with the fathers above-the-knee shorts. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, United Airlines bumped 3,765 passengers in 2016, or less than half a percent involuntarily. The department reported that 40,629 passengers on 12 airlines were bumped involuntarily last year. Douglas Kidd, president of the National Association of Airline Passengers, a lobbying group, said that in the most recent debacle, United should have taken a step back when the man said he was a doctor. He and Bridges agreed on one thing: United should have addressed the matter before passengers boarded the plane. Id be hesitant to take United again. Overall, there was a sense of no loyalty to the customers, said Bridges. He and his wife couldnt help but compare the incident to the exceptional customer service they experienced in Japan. We were just kind of disappointed in how awful it was, he said. We were shaken. This was shocking to see. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov International film festivals are always glorious ways to escape our grounded existence. But this years San Francisco festival with its invitation to see the world through the eyes of many nationalities, races and personal identities seems particularly liberating these days. The festival screenings seem charged with the anticipation of not just discovering something new, but defying something old. There are no barriers in the global circus of the 60th San Francisco International Film Festival. The Sunday evening screening of Dolores, the new documentary about the life of United Farm Workers union co-founder Dolores Huerta, was particularly thrilling after a week of grim and grimmer news from Washington. Huerta is one of the great heroes of our time a leader who, despite being eclipsed by her fellow warrior Cesar Chavez, deserves to be in the national pantheon alongside such legends as Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, with whom she made common cause. When Huerta walked onstage after the film, a bolt shot through the sold-out Castro Theatre audience, as if an iconic figure had just stepped out of a history book. But as director Peter Bratt reminded the audience after leading a rousing version of Happy Birthday in honor of Huerta, who turned 87 the next day there is nothing past tense about Dolores. This became immediately clear when I spoke with Huerta in the upstairs theater lounge before the film. She was eager to talk about the latest burning issues, including the battle to protect sanctuary cities. San Franciscos pioneering role as a protector of immigrants is very important, she told me. The city continues to send a message to the most vulnerable people that they are not alone. I want to thank the leaders and the people of San Francisco for setting a national example. Huerta doesnt harbor resentment against the city where she nearly lost her life during a 1988 demonstration against presidential candidate George Bush after her spleen was ruptured by baton-jabbing riot police outside the St. Francis Hotel. Thanks to the legal settlement she made with San Francisco, Huerta continues to receive $2,000 a month from the city. Thats what I live on, along with my Social Security you dont get rich from being a union organizer, she said, smiling. So thanks to San Francisco, I can still do my political work. Luis Valdez, playwright and El Teatro Campesino founder, told me Huerta was roughed up more than once during her long service on the farmworker battlegrounds. Valdez recalled the time she was confronted by anti-UFW thugs at a Los Angeles produce market where she and other union activists had gone to block the unloading of scab-picked grapes. They picked her up and threw her off a loading dock onto a concrete floor several feet below. She landed on her back. We were furious and ready to fight. But she picked herself up and said, No, Im all right, dont do anything. And then she got right back into the supervisors face. That sort of example gave all of us in the farmworkers movement the courage to be nonviolent. She will go down in our nations history as one of our greatest leaders. The only way to move history forward, Huerta says in the film, is to have total commitment to the cause. But her passionate dedication to La Causa came with a heavy personal price for Huerta and her 11 children, who often felt abandoned by their mother. The interviews with several of her grown sons and daughters give the film some of its most emotionally raw moments. The movement became her most important child, says one of her daughters. I realize the importance of the work, but I was also very jealous of it. So theres scars there. But Huerta has lived long enough to reconcile with her children, several of whom have followed her path of activism. Camila Chavez, her daughter by Cesars brother Richard, is executive director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which trains community organizers. And Dolores son Emilio Huerta is running for Congress as a Democratic candidate in a Central Valley district. Many relatives, friends and fellow activists poured into the Castro for the screening of Dolores, which had the feeling of a homecoming celebration. Director Bratt who has the lean good looks and charismatic smile of his brother, actor Benjamin Bratt is a hometown boy. The Mission District was an epicenter of the farmworker struggle when I grew up here, said Bratt, the son of a Peruvian immigrant mother who was a nurse and community activist. We have a particular pride that this film came out of San Francisco. 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. Dolores was the brainchild of another local hero, Carlos Santana, who financed the film out of his own pocket. He came to me and said, Dolores is not getting any younger its now or never, said Bratt. Carlos calls the film the greatest song hes ever written. In fact, Dolores is packed with more music including salsa, jazz and protest songs than youd expect from a political documentary, since Huerta adores music and wanted to be a dancer when she was a girl. But it was one more thing she gave up for La Causa. I decided that I loved people more than I loved to dance, she said. The exuberantly inspiring Dolores makes you want to march and dance. We need to do both these days. The film opens in theaters in September after making the festival circuit. San Francisco Chronicle columnist David Talbot appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Email: dtalbot@sfchronicle.com Chronicle Chats Launching in 2017, the San Francisco Chronicle presents Chronicle Chats a series of events, featuring thought leaders, influencers, newsmakers and trend setters. First in the series is The Future of the Left: Can the Trump Resistance Grow Beyond Protest? moderated by New York Times bestselling author and Chronicle columnist David Talbot on April 19 at the Herbst Theater. For ticket information go to http://tinyurl.com/kn9jcgc. Earthquakes are an unavoidable fact of life in the Bay Area. But their ability to do devastating damage to life and property is potentially avoidable, thanks to advancements in seismic safety. So its deeply alarming that the owners of nearly 2,000 apartment buildings in San Francisco have yet to bring their properties up to the standards required by a 2013 law. Owners of nearly 52 percent of tier three buildings in San Francisco wood-framed, soft-story structures of between five and 15 units havent submitted permit applications for retrofitting their properties. There is a looming Sept. 15 deadline to pull permits. There also are a limited number of local vendors who are capable of performing the work. Public officials are right to be concerned about the slow rate of compliance, especially since San Francisco took steps to ensure the retrofitting program was more than just a costly regulation for property owners. Another law, passed in 2015, allows the owners to add housing units when they do soft-story retrofits. Early reports from local engineering companies suggest that owners who have already pulled permits are eagerly taking advantage of the program. The potential for adding rental income especially during a time with historically high rents should be enough of a carrot for property owners to do the right thing for their own properties and the publics safety. Perhaps the owners foot-dragging is due to simple human procrastination. No one enjoys spending money on necessities, and retrofitting is an expensive proposition. Depending on the location and condition of the building, these kinds of seismic upgrades can cost from $100,000 to $1 million. We urge the city of San Francisco to work with property owners to bring their buildings up to code as quickly as possible. The failure to upgrade these wood-framed buildings doesnt just endanger the tens of thousands of residents who live in them. It endangers the entire city. San Francisco kids face plenty of challenges growing up in a place famous for having the smallest percentage of children of any major city in the country. Not enough housing suitable for them. Nail-biting lotteries to vie for the best public schools. Public transit with that smell of eau de BART, a scent that assaults riders every day. Now, it turns out, theres another roadblock for San Francisco kids. In a new decision from a California Court of Appeal, kids living in rented apartments with their families are deemed occupants, but not tenants. That means they dont count in the calculation of what their family is owed in relocation payments if evicted under the Ellis Act. A minor is not a tenant under the rent ordinance provisions that pertain to Ellis Act evictions, the courts decision reads, reversing a lower courts order. In other words? Youre not important, kiddos. Supervisor Hillary Ronen, a renter and mom, is determined to change that. On Tuesday, shell introduce legislation clarifying that kids living in rental units are, indeed, tenants. The decision is really a slap in the face to families who are struggling so hard to stay in this city, Ronen said. Its another thing showing how unfriendly San Francisco is to families and children. We need to fix it and fix it fast. The case stemmed from an Ellis Act eviction, which is used by landlords to clear buildings before taking them off the rental market, at 308 Bartlett St. in the Mission in March 2014. Everybody in the building has cleared out except Nancy Launiu, her adult son, Donn; his wife, Olga; and their teenage son, David. A maximum of three people per unit can receive relocation assistance, about $5,000 per person. If there are more than three people in the household, the total is supposed to be divided among them. At issue is whether the landlord correctly doled out the total by dividing it between the grandmother and parents or whether a quarter of the money should have been given to the teenage boy. Steve Collier, an attorney with the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, is representing the Launiu family in their attempt to remain in the unit and argued the teenage son should have been included in dividingthe relocation payments. Frankly, it sounds like this was a stalling tactic to help the family stay in their unit longer. But Collier said he has represented families of three where landlords just gave relocation money to the adults and nothing to the kids. That means the family gets relocation payments for only two people and has to find a unit big enough to hold everybody with less money than they would have received as three adults. Heres betting Ronens proposal becomes law. Which supervisor is going to argue that kids shouldnt be considered tenants? If one does, Ill certainly let you know about it. San Francisco politicos are considering an income tax on residents bringing in at least $1 million a year as a way to deal with the citys huge income inequality gap. Nothing demonstrates that gap better than the controllers income tax charts. The 4,954 households that could see a 0.5 percent city income tax increase i.e. those making at least $1 million a year cumulatively made $17 billion in 2014, the most recent year available. They paid $1.9 billion in income taxes and would owe another $62 million if the city income tax passes. The 176,642 San Francisco households making less than $40,000 made a total of $2.3 billion and paid $25 million in taxes. The income tax increase is far from becoming a reality. The Board of Supervisors recently voted 8-3 to approve of it in theory, but its against state law. Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, within the next month or two will introduce a measure allowing San Francisco to adopt its own tax. He said itll be a tough climb, considering Los Angeles last year failed in its attempt to persuade Sacramento to allow it to levy a millionaires tax to pay for homeless services. What would be different with San Franciscos attempt? I mean, besides it being the far superior city? In a word: Trump. Ting said that with the federal government likely to cut money going to San Francisco, the city should have the right to choose self-sufficiency. The concern is, as a state and as a city, we may have to become more and more self-sufficient, Ting said. Even if Ting is successful, the supervisors would again have to summon a majority to place the tax on a future city ballot. It would likely need two-thirds voter support to pass. Already lining up in opposition are Supervisors London Breed, Jeff Sheehy and Mark Farrell, Mayor Ed Lee and the tech-based civic action group sf.citi, formed by Lee supporter and angel investor Ron Conway. Asked whether hes heard from any city millionaires about the plan, Ting said, One or two. Theyre not happy. Theyre probably shedding tears into their Dom Perignon right now. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack and find me somewhere to live? The Giants celebrated Opening Day on Monday by teaming with Airbnb to announce theyll give $1,000 for every Giants run scored at home this season to Mayor Ed Lees Heading Home campaign. The campaign was announced in December with the goal of housing 800 homeless families within three years. The campaign started with a commitment of $20 million: $4.5 million from the city and the rest from private donors. The biggest chunk, $10 million, came from Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and his wife, Lynne. The goal was to raise $30 million. Heres hoping the Giants offense comes up big this year. For more reasons than one. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Tuesdays and Fridays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SANTA CRUZ, Calif. A necropsy was completed Monday on a great white shark that startled swam onto shore and startled surfers and residents in the Pleasure Point neighborhood of Santa Cruz. The shark beached itself and was turning up-side-down in the hours before it died because it was brain dead, Sean van Sommeran of the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation in Santa Cruz said. The top ocean predator's demise was caused by an organism that is as small as a few micrometers in length, according to a necropsy was performed by Dr. Mark Okihiro of the California Fish and Wildlife Department. Its brain lesions were caused by an undetermined pathogen. Van Sommeran said the pathogen is unlike any kind of bacteria that has been widely noted in sharks before. "Necropsy results show severe necrotic brain lesions, as a result of this infection the specimen also showed some inflammation around the heart and liver indicating the shark's immune systems were crashing. The brain infection has yet to be identified, but histology work continues," Van Sommeran said. The 10-foot-long male juvenile shark appeared in the surf line Friday afternoon while big, stormy waves pounded Pleasure Point. Some wondered if stormy ocean conditions had caused the shark to be "caught on the inside," as surfers say, against the reef. Van Sommeran and others attempted to save the shark by pulling it back into the water by its tail. But the shark kept rolling onto its back, swimming in circles, and returning to shore. Would-be rescuers determined that the shark was "moribund," in a state of dying, because it did not react when poked in the eyes. A crowd of more than 100 onlookers watched with curiosity from East Cliff Drive as the shark thrashed in the water, and a few felt bold enough to take up-close photos with their cellphones, until sunset. The shark was found dead the next morning next to the Capitola Wharf, and it was collected by marine scientists for research. This article originally appeared on KSBW.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mayor Ed Lee was a target in the federal corruption investigation into the Raymond Shrimp Boy Chow racketeering case that led to a prison sentence for former state Sen. Leland Yee and criminal charges against some of Lees campaign staff, an FBI agent testified in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday. While no criminal charges were filed against Lee, FBI Special Agent Ethan Quinn said under questioning that Lee and his 2011 campaign for mayor were targets of a bribery investigation that eventually led to charges against three local officials. An affidavit of the case filed by prosecutors last year indicated the mayor was no longer a focus. Quinn was asked whether he was authorized to target Lee, but court was sent into recess before he could answer. His testimony came on the fourth day of a preliminary hearing for former Human Rights Commissioner Nazly Mohajer; Zula Jones, a former commission staffer; and former San Francisco school board President Keith Jackson. Jones and Mohajer are accused of conspiring with Jackson to solicit bribes from an FBI agent posing as a corrupt businessman who sought access and favorable treatment from Lee. Transcripts of secretly taped conversations quoted them as arranging and accepting more than $20,000 in campaign contributions from the agent in an alleged pay-to-play scheme. The 61-page affidavit filed last year in Superior Court showed investigators putting most of the blame on Jackson, who pushed the idea that the agent should give money to help the newly elected Lee repay his campaign debts. He brought in Mohajer and Jones, who acted as fundraisers for Lee, to help, the affidavit said. The affidavit said Lee made no promises and gave no indication he was aware that the agent had already contributed money to his campaign. Lee has denied wrongdoing. Jones, Mohajer and Jackson were charged with four counts of bribery and one count of money laundering for their roles in the alleged scheme. Jackson, who was sentenced to nine years in federal prison in connection to the federal racketeering case involving Chow, is also charged in the current case with grand theft of public money and campaign finance fraud. The mayor has been thoroughly vindicated and this, once again, proves the mayor did nothing wrong, said Lee spokeswoman Deirdre Hussey. Judge (Charles) Breyer has previously stated that there was no evidence whatsoever of wrongdoing. The Ethics Commission even conducted a comprehensive audit of the campaigns finances and determined there was full compliance. Lee has since relinquished $1,500 in questionable contributions and turned them over to the citys general fund. Jones attorney, John Keker, spent much of his cross-examination of Quinn on Tuesday questioning the ethics behind some of the FBI undercover work that led to his clients arrest. Did you see anything wrong with it? Keker asked, regarding a conversation in which an undercover agent represented himself as someone looking to build senior housing. What do you mean by wrong? Quinn said. Is there anything immoral about it? Im not a philosophy major, Quinn said. Keker asked, Are you aware that Judge Breyer found that Mayor Lee had done nothing wrong? When Assistant District Attorney Kelly Burke objected to that question, Keker rephrased it: Do you believe the evidence in this case shows that Mayor Lee has done anything wrong? Judge Tracie Brown sustained Burkes objections, and Quinn never answered the questions. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo An unlicensed massage therapist was arrested in East Palo Alto after at least three women told police he sexually assaulted them during appointments, officials said Monday. Jose Garcia Plascencia, 55, was arrested Thursday after the alleged victims contacted police, said Cmdr. Jeff Liu of the East Palo Alto Police Department. CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) said on Tuesday it is eliminating more U.S. corporate jobs this month, even as it invests in improving its e-commerce operations and in regaining its low-cost pricing advantage in the U.S. retail sector. Wal-Mart confirmed the latest round of job cuts, which will involve "hundreds" of positions in its international and technology businesses, along with its Sam's Club warehouse chain. "As we said in January, to fuel our growth and our investments we have to manage our costs and our capital decisions with discipline," Wal-Mart spokesman Randy Hargrove said. "This means we will continue to find ways to operate more efficiently and effectively." He gave no details on the number of positions to be eliminated. The Wall Street Journal first reported the move on Tuesday. Wal-Mart's job cuts started in 2016 when the retailer said it was eliminating 7,000 back-office positions and moving more of its workforce to the sales floor. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart cut more than a 1,000 corporate positions, mostly in its human resources department. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Chicago; editing by Steve Orlofsky and Dan Grebler) Matt Moore pitches a great eight innings and leaves with a three-run lead. What could possibly go wrong? In Game 4 of the 2016 Division Series against the Cubs, a lot happened in the ninth, namely four runs that ended the Giants season. On Monday, Moores exit after allowing three hits was a prelude to Mark Melancons first save in front of the home crowd. Marks a beast. Ill take him every day, Moore said. Melancon allowed a leadoff double by A.J. Pollock, then retired Arizonas 3-4-5 hitters, Paul Goldschmidt, Jake Lamb and Yasmany Tomas (who had homered off Moore) to secure Moores victory. Manager Bruce Bochy took some heat in October for not letting Moore continue after 120 pitches. Moores 93-pitch start Monday was clearly different, beyond having a trusted closer. This is his second start of the year, Bochy said. I know I pushed Johnny (Cueto) yesterday, but second start of the year, thats enough. Weve got Mark down there to help out and take some of the load off these starters. Thats the luxury of having an elite closer. Emotional visit: The Giants heard an emotional talk from Carryn Owens. Her husband, Ryan, was the Navy SEAL killed in a January raid in Yemen and a close friend of former Giants reliever Javier Lopez and Lopezs wife, Renee. Ryan Owens had visited the Giants in spring training several times. Brandon Crawford said Carryn Owens told him how much her husband enjoyed getting to know them and seeing how they were just normal guys who happened to be great athletes. The Owens children, Luke, Brooke and Taryn, took part in pregame ceremonies. The Giants also observed a moment of silence for former major-league executive Katy Feeney, who died on Opening Day, and Giants employees who died over the offseason. It was nice to play well and get a win for the team and all the visitors we had also, Crawford said. Briefly: Bochy said Aaron Hill was his emergency catcher, news that Hill learned mid-game. Pitchers Ian Gardeck and Ray Black, whom the Giants removed from the 40-man roster before Opening Day to clear space for newcomers, cleared waivers and re-signed with the Giants on minor-league deals. A day after Chris Marreros first hit of the year, left field platoon mate Jarrett Parker singled for his first hit. Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Leading off Bullpen swap: Left-hander Steven Okert went back to Triple-A after three games and no appearances, as Hunter Strickland returned from paternity leave. Henry Schulman On deck Tuesday vs. Diamondbacks 7:15 p.m. NBCSBA Ray (0-0) vs. Samardzija (0-1) Wednesday vs. Diamondbacks 7:15 p.m. NBCSBA Miller (1-0) vs. Cain (0-0) Thursday vs. Rockies 7:15 p.m. NBCSBA Gray (0-0) vs. Bumgarner (0-1) 1 Deportation order: A Mexican mother of four U.S.-born children faced imminent deportation Tuesday after a federal appeals court refused to block her removal. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati granted the Justice Departments request to dismiss the appeal by Maribel Trujillo Diaz. The courts terse ruling says her bid for court intervention wasnt timely, noting she had been subject to a final order of removal since 2014. Immigration officials have contended Trujillo Diaz entered the United States illegally in 2002 and had exhausted her appeals. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati has called for mercy, saying she has made positive contributions to her community in Butler County. 2 Victims jailed: New Orleans prosecutors jailed at least six crime victims to make them testify last year, including a rape victim who was held for eight days, according to a new report. Judges approved at least nine other material witness warrants for victims, but those people couldnt be found, Court Watch NOLA, which advocates for change in New Orleans judicial system, said in its annual report. The report noted that Houston District Attorney Kimberly Ogg promised never to jail a victim for refusing to cooperate with prosecutors. The nonprofit wants District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro to limit requests for such warrants and to drop them entirely for sexual assault or domestic violence victims. SAN BERNARDINO A husband opened fire on his wife Monday in a San Bernardino elementary school classroom, killing her and a student in a murder-suicide that spread panic across a city still recovering from a terrorist attack at a community center just 15 months ago. The shooter also died, and a second student was critically wounded at North Park School. The children we do not believe were targeted, said police Capt. Ron Maass. The gunman was identified as Cedric Anderson, 53, of Riverside, who shot his wife, Elaine Smith, also 53. She was a teacher in the special-needs classroom for students in first through fourth grades. Anderson said nothing as he began firing a large-caliber revolver, according to police. Both of the children who were hit were standing behind Smith. An 8-year-old later died. The other student was hospitalized in stable condition. The gunman had a history of weapons, domestic violence and possible drug charges that predated the marriage, which lasted only a few months, authorities said. The boy who died was identified as Jonathan Martinez. The 600 other students at the school were bused to safety at California State Universitys San Bernardino campus, several miles away. Television news footage showed students, escorted by police officers, walking off campus hand-in-hand. As word of the shooting spread, panicked parents raced to the school, some in tears, some praying as they anxiously sought information about their children. They were told to go to a nearby high school where they would be reunited. Four hours later, the children began to arrive at the high school, getting hugs from emotional parents. As the students got off the buses, police officers applauded and high-fived them. When the buses first pulled away, some parents ran alongside, waving and trying to recognize their children inside. Many said their children were too young to have cell phones. Others said the phones rang unanswered. San Bernardino, a city of 216,000 people, was the site of a December 2015 terror attack that killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at a meeting of San Bernardino County employees. Husband-and-wife shooters Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik were later killed in a gunbattle with authorities. Mondays shooting was the latest tragedy for a city that has struggled in recent years with more than its share of them. San Bernardino filed for bankruptcy in 2012. Christopher Weber is an Associated Press writer. A fourth person killed in a fire at a West Oakland halfway house was identified Monday as a gifted mathematician from Nigeria who chased dreams of higher education even as he battled mental illness. The Alameda County coroner identified the 36-year-old man as Olatunde Adejumobi, who died March 27 in a blaze blamed on an unattended candle that ripped through a three-story building at 2551 San Pablo Ave. More than a decade earlier, Adejumobi had studied for an undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati. He was a senior-to-be in 2004 when he came to UC Berkeley for a summer to research under a National Science Foundation program, said Luca Trevisan, a professor at UC Berkeley who mentored Adejumobi. He was interested in doing research at the intersection of mathematics and computer science, Trevisan said in an email. The professor said Adejumobi contacted him in 2009, telling him he hadnt yet graduated from the University of Cincinnati, but still harbored dreams of obtaining a doctorate. Trevisan said he was surprised to hear Adejumobi had recently been living in Oakland, adding he was greatly shocked and saddened about his death. The three others who died in the fire were Ashantikee Wilson, 41; Edwarn Anderson, 64; and Cassandra Robertson, 50. The building had failed a fire inspection just three days earlier, with inspectors noting a lack of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers and a fire sprinkler system that needed servicing. The owner was given 30 days to fix the problems. Adejumobi had lived at the building under the care of Urojas Community Services, the master tenant that took in people with mental health and substance issues, for about three years, said Urojas co-director Rev. Aurea Lewis. There, he was in his own world, painting waterfalls and nature scenes around Lake Merritt and wandering through stretches of nearby Oakland, Lewis said. He would get a little bit more irritated than most if he ran out of colored pencils, she said. She said Adejumobi was a quiet man who was whip-smart, but who struggled to talk with others, much less form friendships. In a very studied, very educated voice tinged with a Nigerian accent, Adejumobi wouldnt hesitate to tell workers at Urojas when something wasnt quite right, either. His life just didnt give him what it was looking for, Lewis said. I just never understood quite what happened. Louis Peerless, Adejumobis landlord for about two years when he lived in a 15-unit building near the University of Cincinnati, recalled an interesting fellow and really nice guy who would keep to himself. He would scrawl math formulas on notebooks and kept a collection of prized family photographs along with a large wardrobe, including many shirts and pants that still had tags attached, Peerless said. But as the months went on, Adejumobis struggles with mental illness became more apparent, Peerless said. On at least two occasions, he said he had to call authorities after Adejumobi could be seen motionless for hours through the window of his first-floor apartment. He was hospitalized at least once. One day, Adejumobi packed his bags with no notice, Peerless said, telling others he was bound for San Francisco to search for his wife. He left behind many of his belongings. Peerless wrote Adejumobi a letter, which was returned unopened, and kept his former tenants belongings in storage for about three years before giving up. It was heartbreaking, Peerless said, but I pitched them because I figured hes not coming back, and now I know hes not coming back. Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley robert bentley When a former Alabama governor started sending suggestive texts to a member of his staff, he probably didn't expect them to sync with the state-issued iPad he had given his wife. Robert Bentley resigned on Monday after an ethics report concluded he used state resources to conceal an affair with his adviser, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. But the scandal began in 2013, when his wife, Dianne Bentley, became suspicious of the budding relationship. For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. In March 2014, according to the report, Dianne placed a recorder inside her purse and discovered that her husband had called Mason and declared his love for her a minute after Dianne left the room. Robert's efforts to dispose of the recordings led to many of the accusations that he misused funds. He later pleaded guilty to them. On the night of his reelection in the 2014 gubernatorial race, Robert was convinced that his opponent had a copy of the recording and told Alabama Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier to travel to Greenville to retrieve it, according to the report. Dianne's chief of staff, Heather Hannah, claimed Robert told her she would "never work in the state of Alabama again" if she told anyone about the affair, the report says. After finding Robert's inappropriate text messages, Dianne filed for divorce from her husband of 50 years in 2015. Some of the text messages Robert sent Mason included: "You look beautiful and feel so soft." "Bless our hearts. And other parts." "I love you, Rebekah " bentley investigation After Robert discovered that Dianne was reading his text messages, he started using burner phones to communicate with Mason, according to the report. He fired Collier in 2016, when the administration was investigating his misuse of state funds. The next day, Collier confirmed the existence of the affair to the press. Story continues Rebekah Mason alabama governor scandal Dianne gave the ethics committee pages of phone logs and text messages to help the investigation. Robert had denied doing anything illegal or improper up until his resignation. "I have decided it is time for me to step down as governor," he said at a press conference Monday evening. "The time has come for me to look for new ways to serve the people of our great state." State lawmakers were deciding whether to impeach the governor when he agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges, repay the misused funds, and never hold public office again. NOW WATCH: Trump appears to ignore requests for a handshake with Angela Merkel during their first meeting More From Business Insider A serial killer who said he is haunted in prison by the ghosts of his victims admitted to slaying a woman at Beer Can Beach in Aptos and killing a man in San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz, prosecutors announced Monday. Terry Childs, 61, pleaded guilty Friday to committing two murders that had remained unsolved for more than three decades: Joan Mack and Christopher Hall. Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell said the confessions will help bring closure for Mack and Hall's families. On October 11, 1984, Mack's body was found at Beer Can Beach. She had been stabbed to death. On February 3, 1985, Hall was found shot to death in San Lorenzo Park. Childs was sentenced by Judge Timothy Volkmann Friday to two terms of life without possibility of parole, to be served consecutive to each other. Mack's daughter Alexis, who was 5-years-old at the time of her mother's death, spoke about resulting trauma she has dealt with. "I want to extend my sincerest gratitude for everyone involved with this case at the District Attorney's Office and all else involved in contributing to making it possible for the defendant to step forward to do this. The events that took place today have been tremendously helpful in my healing process while also giving me the opportunity to be heard," she said. Childs will serve the two new sentences consecutive to murder sentences he is already serving for murder convictions in Santa Cruz in 1987, Nevada in 1998, and Santa Clara in 2007. He is an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad. Childs, the son of a bail bondsman, had studied police techniques to cover up his tracks while carrying out an unknown number of homicides. In past confessions to police detectives, the inmate said some of his victims were haunting him in his cell, staring at him, and "eating up his brain." A decade ago, he admitted to committing the brutal murder of Linda Ann Jozovich in 1979. The 19-year-old woman was taking a break from her job at Mervyn's in Santa Clara when she was abducted, beaten, strangled, stabbed, and dumped in the Santa Cruz mountains. Police did not find her body for 15 years. Childs said he murdered Jozovich because he was in a rage from fighting with his mother earlier that day. Childs said Jozovich was one of the victims who haunted him until he confessed to the crime. The best wildflower blooms in California are across the flats of the Carrizo Plain and the nearby foothills of the Temblor Range. Even a man who is there all the time, Bob Wick of the Bureau of Land Management, wrote, I have never seen such a spectacular array of blooms. Ever. Another good spot is in the foothills of the central Sierra, where fiddlenecks have brought vast fields to color. If you drive to Yosemite Valley to see the waterfall spectacle, take one of the remote country roads winding past ranches in the foothills. In the Bay Area, there are pockets of good blooms in many areas. They include Grass Valley from the Bort Meadow Staging Area at Chabot Regional Park (blue-eyed grass, wild radish, poppies), Limantour (Douglas iris) at Point Reyes National Seashore, and many others. You might have read reports of a pending super bloom at Death Valley. In the first week of March, I wrote it would be a mistake to expect blooms there; sure enough, it has been a dud. We did not see even one flower, field scout Amelia Stovall reported after returning from Death Valley. There also have been reports of spectacular blooms at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve near Lancaster (Los Angeles County). Reality is that it has been a good spring, very pretty, not great. The poppies on the east side of the park are beginning to fade, a ranger said Sunday, with decent blooms starting on the west side of the park. The wildflower blooms of the Carrizo Plain, on the other hand, have been beyond comprehension. The Carrizo Plain National Monument is located in southwestern San Joaquin Valley, roughly halfway between San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield. Its a vast, remote area where, at times, Ive had the entire place to myself. What first drew me there was ephemeral Soda Lake, which draws rafts of sandhill cranes in wet years, and the primitive campsites. The valley floor, Wick wrote, is covered by endless yellows and purples. The Temblor Range, which runs through the monument along the San Andreas Fault, looks like something out of a storybook, Wick wrote, with continuous swaths of orange, yellow and purple. Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicles outdoors writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom Bill Hutchinson / The Chronicle The victim of a fatal shooting on Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of a Newark grocery store has been identified as a 29-year-old Union City man, officials said Monday. Roque Leonel Valencia was shot dead in broad daylight in front of the Grocery Outlet at 36601 Newark Blvd. No arrests have been made in the killing. A group of volunteers is searching Vallejo this afternoon for a San Jose State University student who went missing last week. Kevin Redrico, 23, left his home in Vallejo on Thursday morning without telling anyone, his brother said. Around 9 a.m. that day, a worker at 1898 Park Road in Benicia said he saw Redrico getting out of his dark red 2014 Honda Accord and walking south toward the Benicia-Martinez Bridge. After his car was found in that location, Benicia police launched a search Thursday by helicopter, boat and on foot with K-9 units, Lt. Scott Przekurat said. The police search was called off after a few hours. Redrico's family believes he crossed the bridge toward Martinez but are searching parks, hiking trails, waterfronts, and downtown and industrial areas of Benicia, Martinez and Vallejo. Several people have reported seeing Redrico in Vallejo and Benicia, including at the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, on Madison and Hayes streets in Benicia and on Shoal Drive East in Vallejo. Redrico is described as Filipino with black hair, brown eyes and a full mustache and goatee, standing 5 foot 6 inches tall and weighing 125 pounds. Redrico's family believes he has with him a red Herschel bi-fold wallet, a purple Pokemon keychain, prescription bottles with his name on them and keys to his Accord. The Redrico family held a briefing for search volunteers at 11 a.m. today and plan to continue searching until 6 p.m. Volunteers are monitoring specific locations, distributing flyers, asking locals if they have seen Redrico and searching the areas, which have become more focused as many locations have been eliminated as possibilities. On Saturday, a family friend set up a GoFundMe page to raise $10,000 to hire private investigators and professional search and rescue crews, copy more flyers and buy tents, ponchos, flashlights, food and water for search volunteers. As of this afternoon, 127 people had donated $7,065. The page can be seen at https://www.gofundme.com/bring-kevin-redrico-home. According to his Facebook profile, Redrico attended Diablo Valley College from 2011 to 2014. He is a third-year undergraduate in the music education department at SJSU, his brother said. Anyone who thinks they may have seen Redrico has been asked to call 911 and then to call or text his brother, Jonathan Redrico, at (707) 344-7690. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN -- Legislation that would allow county clerks in Texas to decline to issue same-sex marriage licenses if it conflicts with their religious beliefs was tentatively approved Tuesday by the Texas Senate. State Sen. Brian Birdwell, a Granbury Republican who authored the measure, said the Senate Bill 522 would allow clerks to recuse themselves from issuing a same-sex license and would instead assign their duties to other clerks, a judge or even a special clerk. The vote was 21-10, mostly along party lines. A final vote is expected within a few days. "This provides a way for clerks to exercise their profoundly held religious beliefs under the First Amendment, and at the same time protect the rights of couples who are coming in for a marriage license," Birdwell said. "Right now, there is not an alternate mechanism for a clerk who is not willing to issue a license because of their sincerely held beliefs." PASTRY PRAYER: Pastor claims prayer over cake stopped bar owner from being gay Several Democrats questioned whether the law was necessary -- or could perhaps trigger new discrimination. They questioned whether the change could make it more difficult for same-sex couples to get licenses in some counties. "I'm afraid we're opening up a box of unintended consequences," said Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio. "If we don't do this we are discriminating against those people of faith," Birdwell replied. "This bill protects the constitutional issues for both sides." Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, questioned who the bill was supposed to protect. SURVEY SAYS: These are the most, least friendly LGBT cities in Texas "My main concern here is that all the clerks and judges know about the law and are following the law," Garcia said. Birdwell responded: "Without this, we're saying that if you have strongly held religious beliefs, you are not welcome in public office." The issuance of same-sex marriage licenses became a hot-button issue two years ago for the conservative Republicans who control the Texas Legislature, after a Kentucky clerk was jailed for refusing to issue a license because it was against her religious beliefs. Since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, many county clerks in Texas have adopted procedures in which clerks who object to same-sex licenses can hand off that duty to other employees. While courts since have made clear that Texas clerks cannot refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Republican primary voters who oppose gay marriage have supported changes in state law to protect the religious beliefs of local officials -- and to keep pastors and businesses from being penalized if they disagree with same-sex marriages. Scroll through the gallery above to see a timeline of the same-sex marriage debate in Texas MANILA Philippine soldiers clashed Tuesday with members of a militant group known for beheading foreign hostages, leaving five rebels and four members of the security forces dead at a popular tourist destination in the central Philippines, the police and military said. Soldiers and the provincial police clashed with rebels on the island of Bohol, about 400 miles south of Manila, after spotting 10 armed members of Abu Sayyaf on three boats, the military said in a statement. The firefight came a day after the American and Australian embassies warned their citizens against traveling to areas in the central Philippine region of Visayas, particularly the islands of Cebu and Bohol. They said they received unsubstantiated yet credible information that terrorist groups may attempt to conduct kidnapping. The embassies did not identify the source of the information, nor did they cite Abu Sayyaf, a small group of Islamic militants that once was an affiliate of al Qeida but has since pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, according to Philippine intelligence officials. Col. Edgard Arevalo, a spokesman of the armed forces, said the troops cornered the militants in an isolated section of the coastal town of Inabanga, prompting the clashes. The rebels, who were heavily armed, he said, were believed to be members of Abu Sayyaf. As of this time, five were killed on the enemy side, Arevalo said, adding that troops had recovered four firearms and a homemade bomb from the militants. He said three soldiers and one police officer also died. They arrived here last night, and we immediately dispatched our troops, Arevalo said, leading to the confrontation early Tuesday. Numbering around 400, Abu Sayyaf is known for abducting foreign and local tourists, then ransoming them off. In 2004, the militants bombed a passenger ferry off Manila Bay, killing more than 100 in the countrys worst terrorist attack. In February, the group beheaded Juergen Kantner, 70, a yachtsman from Germany, after his government did not pay a $600,000 ransom. They did so after seizing his boat in November as he and his partner sailed in southern Philippine waters. News reports at the time said that the militants shot her. Last year, Abu Sayyaf beheaded two Canadian hostages they had seized from a beach resort on Samal Island, also in the south. The group operates in mostly poor areas on the southern islands of Basilan and Sulu. Despite its small size, it has rebuffed countless military offensives and remains a serious threat, often using abductions to raise funds and killing hostages when ransoms are not paid. Rommel Banlaoi, director of the Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies, based in Manila, said Abu Sayyaf had survived by working with other criminal groups around the archipelago. It remains highly capable, because it has followers in Visayas, he said. The core of the Abu Sayyaf group remains small, but its network with criminal groups nationwide is huge. Felipe Villamor is a New York Times writer. 1 Venezuela unrest: Thousands of protesters demanding new elections faced off with security forces who launched tear gas and stood shoulder-to-shoulder blocking roadways in the capital of Caracas on Monday. Now in their second week, the protests initially erupted April 1 after the Supreme Court stripped congress of its last vestiges of power, a decision it later reversed. Demonstrators and opposition leaders are angered at what they see as a government that no longer respects democratic institutions and is sliding toward authoritarianism. Authorities squashed an opposition campaign to hold a recall referendum on President Nicolas Maduro last year. 2 Britain attack: Several thousand police officers lined the streets of London on Monday for the funeral procession of a fellow officer killed in an extremist attack last month. Constable Keith Palmer was stabbed to death by Khalid Masood on March 22 in the forecourt of Parliament. Two minutes of silence were observed by police throughout the country and by many others to pay respects to the 48-year-old husband and father killed in the line of duty. Masood killed four other people as he rammed pedestrians on Westminster Bridge with a rented truck. He was shot dead by police after stabbing Palmer. JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images STOCKHOLM A 39-year-old Uzbek man who has been held after Swedens worst terrorist attack in decades intends to plead guilty, his lawyer said in court Tuesday. Appearing in public for the first time since his capture, the man, Rakhmat Akilov, entered Swedens largest secured courtroom, a subterranean space at Stockholm District Court. It was only three-quarters of a mile from Drottninggatan, the street where Akilov steered a stolen beer truck into a crowd of pedestrians Friday afternoon, killing four people and injuring 15 others. He was arrested about five hours later in a suburb north of Stockholm. WASHINGTON President Trump, plainly frustrated by Chinas inaction on North Korea, aimed his Twitter feed at Beijing on Tuesday, telling the Chinese government that the United States would exchange trade concessions for support in pressuring Pyongyang. I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! Trump declared on Twitter around 8 a.m. That was followed by a more impatient post in which he said: North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Trumps message captures his quandary in dealing with the nuclear threat from North Korea: Only China, with its economic leverage over its neighbor, can realistically force a change in the behavior of North Koreas dictator, Kim Jong Un. But despite its own deepening frustration with Kim, China has so far been unwilling to tighten the vise on him. President Xi Jinping of China did not offer Trump any public commitments when they met last week in Palm Beach, Fla. Even in private conversations, officials said, the Chinese leader was circumspect. Though U.S. officials said the two leaders got along, the meeting was overshadowed by Trumps missile strike on a Syrian airfield, which U.S. officials hoped would send a message of resolve about the presidents readiness to use military force to defend U.S. interests, in this case to deter the use of chemical weapons. Trump followed that up by ordering a Navy carrier strike group into the waters off the Korean Peninsula a show of force that previous presidents have used but that fanned fears in the region that the United States would consider a preemptive military strike on North Korea. Still, Trumps explicit linkage of North Korea and trade suggested that the president was more likely to seek a bargain with China than to proceed unilaterally. Mark Landler is a New York Times writer. Opus International Consultants is already seeing benefits from its new business strategy and that momentum has continued into 2017, shareholders were told today. At today's annual meeting in Wellington, chairman Kerry McDonald, who also announced his retirement in the next few months, said while the 2016 result was disappointing there were key elements that were "positive and encouraging," including in Australia and Canada which have been the two areas of "greatest difficulty". The Wellington-based company reported a loss of $29.9 million, or 20 cents per share, in calendar 2016, compared to a profit of $16.7 million, or 11 cents, a year earlier. Opus's Australian and Canadian units were hit hard by the collapse in oil prices, helping spur a restructure of its business last year along sector lines of buildings, water and transportation instead of country-based divisions. McDonald said the changes were essential to ensure a viable future for the business and included a complete revamp of things like the company's project management system. The new strategy isn't a simple tweak, but is a "completely different way of doing business," he said. Among other things, it takes into account fast moving technology and innovation and is beginning to bear fruit. Opus Stewart Weir, its Canadian geomatics business, moved from a trading loss of about $5.1 million in the first half to a profitable second half of $2 million. However, "with continued activity in OSW at record low levels, we continue to monitor the situation closely," chief executive David Prentice told the meeting. He also noted opportunities in Australia remain patchy and highly competitive. Against that backdrop, the company reassessed the value of its operations and impaired the carrying value of its Canadian asset by $33.2 million and its Australian asset by $4.4 million, he said. However, as the "strategy starts to bed in, and the benefits of the improvement initiatives take hold, early trends are positive and encouraging." said Prentice. Gross Margin improved in the first quarter of 2017 and is ahead of the same comparable period over the last four years, he said. "We are also seeing improvement in net revenue per FTE (full-time equivalent) especially marked in the first quarter of 2017 driven by both consolidation of FTEs and relative net revenue increases," Prentice said. Still, not everyone was satisfied. Former chief executive Kevin Thompson told the meeting: "I am no longer disappointed in Opus' performance, I am concerned." He noted the market value of the company has fallen by half over the past five years and "as a consequence I have offered myself as a candidate for the board." Thompson retired in 2010 as chief executive. McDonald agreed that while everyone is right to be disappointed in the company's performance and while the environment is difficult "I would say we are performing, almost certainly, well ahead of our peers." McDonald acknowledged Thompson's bid to be elected to the board and said if elected he would qualify as an independent but while the board has "great respect" for him, it didn't support his election as it requires a different skill set. For his part, Thompson said his aim is to hold the board members accountable. Shareholders also voted on the re-election of two directors, Keith Watson and Azmir Merican and the election of two directors who were appointed Sam Knowles and Shahazwan Harris. The election results will be published later this afternoon. McDonald said that while there is no specific date for his own retirement, "I will be retiring in the not too distant future, within the next few months probably." The shares rose 1 percent to 97 cents and have gained 7.9 percent so far this year. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: FSF - Results announced for the 2022 Fonterra Elections Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting a2MC commences on-market buy-back of up to NZ$150 million TradeWindow enters trial agreement with GSBN November 8th Morning Report OCA - Notice of Half Year Result Announcement Westpac 2022 Full Year Financial Results Announcement David Mair Announced as Newest Board Member for Sanford HFL - Financial results for the year ended 31 August 2022 November 7th Morning Report The government's Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert NZ) officially opened today to act as a one-stop shop for all New Zealanders and local entities to find information on how to deal with cyber-security issues. Communications Minister Simon Bridges launched the opening of the unit at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in Wellington, which will sit at the centre of the nation's cyber-security response, acting as a coordinating entity to identify threats and help users respond to them. The government set aside $22.2 million over a four-year period in last year's budget, and the unit is operational as of today after a 10-month period setting it up. Cert NZ will act as a go-between for individuals, government agencies and businesses both big and small and will be responsible for monitoring, tracking and advising on cyber security incidents, which rose to 338 in the June 2016 year from 190 in 2015. Speaking to media after the launch, Cert NZ director Rob Pope said the unit is focused on creating a more coordinated approach to addressing cyber-threats in New Zealand, which has been fragmented in the past. "From that, we should gain a better understanding of what sorts of cyber events and cyber-security type issues are, over and above what we understand exist today," Pope said. User satisfaction is "really important" for the unit and it will be closely watching where the demand for its services is coming from, he said. The New Zealand entity differs from other Certs in other nations by having such a broad remit, however, operations manager Declan Ingram said that's useful for a country of New Zealand's size as the information for IT specialists and less-informed consumers and businesses feeds back into each other. That information will also loop back into government agencies to help them identify areas that may be of concern to them, he said. The new website - cert.govt.nz - gives users an avenue to report real or suspected cyber-security issues and provides advice or guidance on how to address that. Users will also be able to have the option to refer to an appropriate agency, such as police, the Department of Internal Affairs or Netsafe. As the unit's database grows it will analyse the information to create proactive guidance and advice for users. Industry lobby Internet NZ welcomed the launch of Cert NZ, describing it as a critical piece of security infrastructure for the country. "Trust on the internet is something we think is very important," chief executive Jordan Carter said in a statement. "We are very pleased to see that a goal of Cert NZ is to improve cyber security in New Zealand by gaining a deeper understanding of the cyber threat landscape, avoiding incidents and reducing the impact of incidents that do happen." (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: FSF - Results announced for the 2022 Fonterra Elections Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting a2MC commences on-market buy-back of up to NZ$150 million TradeWindow enters trial agreement with GSBN November 8th Morning Report OCA - Notice of Half Year Result Announcement Westpac 2022 Full Year Financial Results Announcement David Mair Announced as Newest Board Member for Sanford HFL - Financial results for the year ended 31 August 2022 November 7th Morning Report Intueri Education Group says the Serious Fraud Office has ended its investigation into the unprofitable company's defunct Quantum Education Group and won't take further action. The SFO had been looking into enrolments at Quantum, which is still under investigation by the Tertiary Education Commission. Intueri said it has until May 12 to respond to the TEC's draft investigation report. Intueri's 2014 initial public offering at $2.35 a share allowed vendor Arowana International to net about $102 million while selling its stake down to 24.9 percent and provided $60 million to pay for the acquisition of Quantum, which at the time it boasted had "a course completion rate above 90 percent, one of the highest rankings of any PTE provider in New Zealand." The shares last traded at 1.3 cents In its 2015 year, Intueri wrote down the value of Quantum by $53.1 million, including wiping $27 million off the value of the school's brand and goodwill to take it down to zero, which it said reflected stricter enrolment criteria imposed by the TEC. Some of Quantum's courses have since been absorbed into Intueri's other colleges. "Intueri is very pleased that the SFO enquiry has been closed," chair Chris Kelly said. "We are focused on providing a response to the draft TEC report, and look forward to a conclusion of that investigation shortly. We are continuing to focus on delivery of quality vocational learning opportunities for both domestic and international students in New Zealand through our three PTE groups. Last month Intueri said it had reached a standstill agreement over some $70.7 million of bank debt with ANZ Bank New Zealand after breaching a lending covenant. It hired High St Capital Partners to drum up interest in the private training establishment company, as a sale proposition either as a whole or in parts. The company closed its Australian operations on March 29, having failed to convince education authorities to re-register its colleges across the Tasman or renew funding. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: FSF - Results announced for the 2022 Fonterra Elections Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting a2MC commences on-market buy-back of up to NZ$150 million TradeWindow enters trial agreement with GSBN November 8th Morning Report OCA - Notice of Half Year Result Announcement Westpac 2022 Full Year Financial Results Announcement David Mair Announced as Newest Board Member for Sanford HFL - Financial results for the year ended 31 August 2022 November 7th Morning Report Greenpeace New Zealand executive director Russel Norman and two other activists have been charged by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment under the Crown Minerals Act over a protest against deepwater seismic testing off the Wairarapa coast. The three have been summoned to appear in the Napier District Court. An MBIE spokesman declined to comment on the charges but Greenpeace confirmed they involved Norman and two others. The Crown Minerals Act, which governs the allocation of the Crowns petroleum and mineral resources, was amended in 2013 to add new offences covering damage or interference with structures or ships being used offshore in prospecting, exploration and mining activities. One of the new provisions sets a non-interference zone around a petroleum or minerals operation at sea that can extend up to 500 metres. Breaches carry a fine of up to $10,000. The environmental group was protesting against the work of the Amazon Warrior vessel, which is using seismic tests to gather data for potential oil reserves. It says extracting oil from such deepwater risks a repeat of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and that new sources of fossil fuel were only adding to the problems of global warming. The testing was also a hazard to marine mammals, it said. Energy Minister Judith Collins said an oil spill on that that scale "is an extremely low probability event." "Internationally, there have been significant learnings taken from the Horizon spill," she said. "In New Zealand, we strengthened our regulatory regime - including regulating the environmental impacts of activities in our EEZ for the first time (marine consent process through the Environmental Protection Authority). Further oil and gas discoveries would provide real benefits for New Zealand, Collins said. "The Pegasus Basin, where the Amazon is currently surveying off the Wairarapa coast, is particularly prospective for natural gas. If there were a discovery, there is potential for gas to be exported to India and Asia where it could be used to displace coal for electricity generation." Chevron and Norwegian oil company Statoil teamed up in 2014 to take an interest in three blocks in the little-explored Pegasus Basin off the Wairarapa, taking advantage of a little-known scheme that encourages seismic data collection by entrepreneurial private firms which can then market the information to oil companies and can keep the information for 15 years before it becomes public property. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: FSF - Results announced for the 2022 Fonterra Elections Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting a2MC commences on-market buy-back of up to NZ$150 million TradeWindow enters trial agreement with GSBN November 8th Morning Report OCA - Notice of Half Year Result Announcement Westpac 2022 Full Year Financial Results Announcement David Mair Announced as Newest Board Member for Sanford HFL - Financial results for the year ended 31 August 2022 November 7th Morning Report We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. NEW DELHI: The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) today announced phased roll out of its digital measurement service EKAM. The agency also launched logo of its digital measurement products, which will measure video ad campaigns, BARC said a statement. "The ecosystem needs Measurement of both Video Ads and Content, whatever the pipe and device maybe. As the brand name suggests, BARC India is working towards its goal of integrating TV and Digital measurement," BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta said. "Our EKAM suite of products will be rolled out over the next 18-24 months. It will provide the industry with independent third party measurement, verification of audience and eventually viewability of video ads and content". Read Also: India Needs Young Entrepreneurs To Create More Jobs: Nirmala Sitharaman 3-Day India Mobile Congress To Take Place From Sept 27 In Delhi India, UK To Strengthen Tie-Up In Green Energy, Climate Change Samsung India's R&D Unit Tops Chart Of IT Patent Applicants Indian-Origin Educationist Dame Asha Khemka Wins 'Businesswoman Of Year' Award NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that cooperation in the fields of education and research is "one of the most important aspects" of India-Australia ties as the two countries signed six agreements, including on cooperation in fighting international terrorism and civil aviation security. "Both India and Australia recognise the central value of education and innovation in the prosperity of our societies," Modi said while jointly addressing the media here with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull following their delegation-level bilateral talks. "It is no surprise, therefore, that cooperation in the field of education and research is one of the most important aspects of our engagement," he said. Modi said that the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC) that he jointly inaugurated with Turnbull following the talks was "a classic example of the kind of cutting-edge science and technology cooperation that is happening between our two countries". TDNBC at TERI's Green Campus in Gurugram, Haryana, is a pioneer research centre in the field of nanobiotechnology research in India. The centre offers joint Ph.D. programme by TDNBC, India, and Deakin University (DU), Australia, where selected students are provided fellowships, jointly supervised by both TDNBC and DU, and receive degree from Deakin University. Modi said that the Australia-India Research Fund of nearly $100 million has focused on collaborative research projects in the areas such as nanotechnology, smart cities, infrastructure, agriculture and disease control. "Our joint development of bananas fortified with Vitamin A has entered the phase of field trials. Our scientists are also collaborating on developing more nutritious and hardy varieties of pulses," he said. Laying stress on students exchanges between the two countries, Modi said that while Australia was home to over 60,000 Indian students, an increasing number of Australian students was coming to study in India. "Responding to the aspirations of India's youth, building world class institutions in India is one of the objectives of my government," he said, adding that he and Turnbull discussed ways by which Australian universities could connect and contribute to this goal. On energy cooperation, the indian Prime Minister said that he was happy "that our dialogue and cooperation in other forms of energy including renewable energy is on the up-swing". "I would also like to thank Prime Minister for Australia's decision to join the (India-initiated) International Solar Alliance (ISA)," he said. Read Also: Samsung, Intex Top Original Equipment Manufacturers In India Symantec Says CIA Tools Found Across 16 Countries NEW DELHI: Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday launched a new web portal -- Nakshe Portal -- providing free download of Survey of India's topographic maps of the entire country in PDF format to Indian citizens. The topographic maps on the scale of 1:50,000, contain natural and man-made geographical features including terrain or topography. The service was launched to mark the 250th anniversary of the Survey of India. "Earlier, these maps were only available after a process of application... Now it's on the fingertip of people... it would be a great help for infrastructure development, science and education," said Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology. The maps would be made available free through Aadhaar-enabled user authentication process in line with the Digital India programme of the government, the minister said. "The Survey of India has proposed to re-measure the height of Mount Everest... India was the first country under Sir George Everest's leadership to have declared the height of Mount Everest in 1855.... "After Gorkha earthquake (Nepal earthquake) in 2015, to answer various doubts of scientific community, the Survey of India proposed re-measuring the height of Mount Everest as an Indo-Nepal Joint Scientific Exercise, along with the Survey Department of Nepal," the minister said. Read Also: India, Australia Sign 6 Pacts India Needs Young Entrepreneurs To Create More Jobs: Nirmala Sitharaman By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f042f950)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0394040)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f042f950)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0394040)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0453868)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0394040)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0394040)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e63cc640)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0465338)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0465338)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0352558)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f035f568)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0352558)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f035f568)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f035b270)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f035f568)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f035f568)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e63ccf20)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0341240)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0341240)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Canberra's petrol prices are on the way down and should not backflip in the lead up to Easter, according to the NRMA. While consumers may be concerned about the potential for price gouging as they fill up in time for the holidays, Kate Lundy from NRMA ACT said she would keep a close eye on bowsers. Canberra's petrol prices are on the way down according to the NRMA. "We have been seeing a slow decline in petrol prices in the ACT and there shouldn't be a change in that pattern over the next week," Ms Lundy said. "There have been incidents of price gouging in the past and the NRMA will be watching to ensure there is responsible behaviour from retailiers." Port Adelaide have suspended the membership of one of their fans who was evicted from Adelaide Oval on Saturday night for racially abusing Adelaide's Eddie Betts during the game between the South Australian clubs. The move comes as the AFL admits it can do more to stop racism and saddened Indigenous players say they're fed up with vilification in the sport. Just eight months after a Port fan threw a banana at him during a game in a racist act, Betts was again targeted by racial abuse. A Power fan has admitted to calling him an ape. Port say their Indigenous ruckman Paddy Ryder was also racially vilified during the game by an Adelaide supporter, who ran away before security were alerted. On Sunday (US time), law enforcement officials forcibly removed a passenger from a United Airlines flight in Chicago. The incident stemmed from the passenger's refusal to deplane after being bumped from Flight 3411 to Louisville. The incident once again shines the spotlight on the practice of bumping ticketed passengers from flights. "What happened with United was exceedingly rare," aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt told Business Insider. In response to a New York Times report this month of payouts to women who had accused Fox news host Bill O'Reilly of sexual harassment, Twenty-First Century Fox, Fox News' parent company, said: "No current or former Fox News employee ever took advantage of the 21st Century Fox hotline to raise a concern about Bill O'Reilly, even anonymously." An analysis of 55 representative surveys found that about 25 per cent of women report having experienced sexual harassment, but when they are asked about specific behaviours, like inappropriate touching or pressure for sexual favours, the share roughly doubles. Credit:Nic Walker In interviews, women who worked at Fox said they didn't complain to human resources because they feared they would be fired. Some women who experience harassment confront the perpetrator or confide in friends or family, the meta-analysis found. But the most common response is to avoid the person, play down what happened or ignore the behaviour. Some don't report a problem because they don't think their experience qualifies as illegal harassment. Disbelief, inaction, blame An analysis of 55 representative surveys found that about 25 per cent of women report having experienced sexual harassment, but when they are asked about specific behaviours, like inappropriate touching or pressure for sexual favours, the share roughly doubles. Those numbers are broadly consistent with other survey findings. Many victims, who are most often women, fear they will face disbelief, inaction, blame or societal and professional retaliation. That could be hostility from supervisors, a bad reference to future employers or the loss of job opportunities. Their fears are grounded in reality, researchers have concluded. In one study of public-sector employees, two-thirds of workers who had complained about mistreatment described some form of retaliation in a follow-up survey. "They become troublemakers - nobody wants to hire them or work with them anymore," Berdahl said. Paradoxically, official harassment policies and grievance procedures often end up creating obstacles to women's ability to assert their rights, according to research by Anna-Maria Marshall, a sociologist at the University of Illinois. "That is in part because companies put them into place as mini litigation defence centres," Marshall said. "The way employers deal with it is to prepare to show a court or jury that they did everything they could, rather than to protect women in the workplace." Superstars There are many ways that company cultures discourage people who are harassed from reporting it. Sometimes the harasser is a superstar - someone who makes the company so much money that he feels powerful and uninhibited in his behaviour because the company has considerable incentive to look the other way. The more someone has a reputation for harassing, the less likely a woman is to complain, Berdahl said: "It's natural to conclude that if he's been getting away with this for a long time, then the organisation tolerates it, so why become the problem yourself by going to HR?" Other times the human resources department has no interest in helping the employee - or there is no such department at all. This is common in Silicon Valley, where companies grow so fast - and where disdain for slow-moving bureaucracy runs so deep - that human resources officials often serve only to recruit employees. In February, a former Uber engineer, Susan Fowler, wrote that when she reported to the Uber human resources department that her manager had tried persuading her to have sex with him on her first official day on her new team, the department declined to take action. It said she could change teams or accept what would probably be a poor performance review from the manager. Uber has a new human resources executive and is doing an internal investigation. Hierarchical or masculine Organisations that are very hierarchical or masculine can breed more harassment, and less reporting of it, according to studies, because gendered power dynamics are a big driver. That's one reason that harassment has been rampant - and underreported - in the military. Most sizeable companies have policies banning sexual harassment and require some sort of training in what it is and how to report it. But much of the training has been shown to be ineffective, and at worst can backfire. The best way to avoid sexual harassment and ensure that it's reported when it happens is to bake it into company culture, from the top leaders on down, executives and researchers say. "When you have an effective HR department that is supported by leadership, people feel safe about reporting harassment," said Bettina Deynes, vice president for HR at the Society for Human Resource Management, a professional association. "It has a lot to do with the type of HR department: the motive is not the legal liability, but the culture you want." Culture is a squishy concept, but companies can do concrete things. One counterintuitive idea is to reward managers when complaints of harassment increase in their department, because it means they're creating an environment where people are comfortable reporting it, according to a frank report published in June by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Here are some other ideas from the commission and researchers in the field: I love living in my suburb. I shop locally, just so I can run across friends and neighbours on a Saturday morning, and be greeted with a smile even a name by shopkeepers who know me. I figure the best ways to get to know people in your suburb are to own a dog you get to talk to other dog owners as you stand around in the local park and send your kids to the local school. You can't help getting to know the other parents in your kids' classes. But all that was some years ago, and times change. The local school isn't the institution it used to be. Perhaps it won't surprise you to be told that, over the years, our capital cities have become more stratified, with a greater tendency for better-off people to live in better-off suburbs the ones with water and views and, these days, those closest to the centre and for the less well-off to live in less well-off suburbs far from the centre. Communities in regional Labor-held seats are among those lining up to attract public servants relocated from Canberra. Most of the 199 submissions to a Labor-controlled Senate inquiry endorse decentralisation. Joel Fitzgibbon is Labor's shadow minister for agriculture and regional Australia. What began as a political exercise to scrutinise the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority move to Armidale has opened the door for towns and cities across the country to seek an injection of federal stimulus. Wishful submissions were made from local governments in key Labor seats including Ballarat, Bendigo, Corio, Cunningham, Eden Monaro, Lingiari and Paterson. 1. Syria/Russia US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has landed in Moscow issuing what amounted to an ultimatum for Russian President Vladmir Putin - it's Syria/Iran/Hezbollah or the US. [Fairfax] President Putin does not appear in the mood for threats, or retreat. He's claims to have data on what he says are new "provocations" the US is planning for Syria to try to frame Assad. Putin also likened last week's air strikes to the Iraq war, suggesting they were also launched on a false pretext - in the latter case, Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction. [Tass] Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed Syria has no chemical weapons and any in the country belong to the rebels opposing Assad. "There is no one way to skin a cat," he says. "But what they have in common is stability of quality investment processes." They don't chop and change the way they invest to try and chase some trend in the market, which more often than not comes unstuck. "For example, some that don't have quality filters in their investment process invested heavily into smaller mining stocks," he says. That can lead to some good performances for a while, but can quickly turn the other way, he says. Of course, a good track record, even if over 10 years, is no guarantee of continuing success, but Morningstar has also screened the managers in a way that gives the researcher a reasonably high level of confidence the good performances will continue. The best performers tend to be the ones who can stand fast with the market running against them and maintain the same investment philosophy and process year after year. Ethical fund The best-performing of the 10 funds is Perpetual Wholesale Ethical SRI fund, which has produced an average annual return over the 10 years to February 28, this year, of 8.58 after fees. That's more than twice the 4.17 per cent return of the Australian sharemarket over the same period. As an ethical fund, it screens out companies deriving more than 5 per cent of their revenue from, among other things, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, uranium and coal-seam gas. One outcome of the ethical screening is that the fund has a bias to smaller Australian-listed companies, which has helped its performance over the long term. Second place-getter, Perpetual's Wholesale Share Plus Long Short Fund, produced a return of 8.02 per cent. The fund takes "short" positions along with the usual "long" positions. Short positions, when correctly called, are a way to make money on shares whose prices fall. Perpetual is a "value" manager. It buys the shares of good-quality companies when their share prices dip. Anna Shelley, acting group executive for Perpetual Investments, says the results come from time, patience and discipline. "We have had a strong, multi-faceted leadership team over a very long time," she says. "It sounds simple, but we are looking for quality management of a business and look into not ony the business itself but the industry in which it operates," Shelley says. Low debt Perpetual favours companies that have recurrent earnings and conservative debt levels. Murphy says some other managers among the top-performing funds are "growth" managers. These include Platypus and Hyperion, whose Australian Growth Companies Funds listed among the top-10 performers is open only to investments of more than $100,000. Growth-style managers are prepared to pay more for shares in quality companies they believe will experience strong earnings growth. On the whole, growth managers tend to do better in strongly rising markets and strong economic conditions, when companies are increasing their profits. Another top-performing manager, Fidelity International, manages money with a "blend" of value and growth styles. Its flagship Australian Equities Fund produced an average annual return of just over 6.5 per cent over the 10 years compared with the market return of 4.17 per cent. Portfolio manager Paul Taylor has been leading the fund since its inception in 2003. In its latest report on the fund, Morningstar says the investment strategy has outperformed the index through all the cycles of the market. It puts the fund's success down to Taylor's distinctive investment style and the "impressive" investment team. "We have a high level of conviction that Fidelity Australian Equities fund will continue to reward investors into the future," Morningstar says in a report on the fund. Fidelity is a global fund manager and that helps analyse listed Australian companies in a global context, Taylor says. "We meet the management teams and meet their competitors and suppliers," he says. "For example, if you want to understand Woolworths and Coles [owned by Wesfarmers] you have to understand their competitors, like German company Aldi and US company Costco," Taylor says. "Having that global network of analysts overing those companies is highly advantageous," he says. Stock picker The outperformance comes from individual stock selection rather than from sector or following investment themes. "It's not from being overweight or underweight to the banks or to resources it comes from picking the right banks and the right resources companies," he says. Taylor nominates the best calls as oil and gas exploration and development company Oil Search, which the fund bought about 10 years ago when it was out of favour at about 65c. Today Oil Search shares trade at about $7. Online jobs website Seek has been another good performer for the fund. Taylor bought Seek shares in at its initial public offering (IPO) at about $2 in 2005. Its shares are now trading at about $15. As for stocks that Taylor thinks will do well, he points to WiseTech Global, whose shares the fund bought about a year ago. The state government has rejected the recommendations of an independent report into scripture teaching in NSW schools that would have forced providers to track student enrolment numbers and let students who opt out get on with their regular class work during scripture class time. Less than one-third of high school students are enrolled in scripture, according to a $300,000 review of Special Religious Education (SRE) released by the NSW Department of Education. "More transparency" in SRE: Education Minister Rob Stokes. Credit:Brook Mitchell But the department has rejected making substantial changes to the teaching of scripture after sitting on the review by ARTD consultants for almost 18 months. A recommendation to permit the majority of students who do not take scripture to get on with their class work was rejected on the basis it was against the current Religious Education Policy; along with a recommendation to give high school principals the power to opt in to SRE, which was rejected because parents currently have the right to withdraw their child from SRE in writing. Year 12 students who fail to meet the state government's new literacy and numeracy standard and do not receive their HSC will still be able to get an ATAR and go to university, the body responsible for admissions has confirmed. Students can sit HSC exams and receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, which is calculated by the Universities Admissions Centre independently of the government, without qualifying for their HSC. There are no plans to change this once the minimum standard is put in place in 2020, according to a spokeswoman for UAC. Only nine students of nearly 68,000 HSC candidates received an ATAR without getting their HSC last year, but this number could balloon once the new standard is in place, she said. "We haven't had any direct instructions for change so as of now students can receive an ATAR and not be eligible for the HSC," UAC's spokeswoman said. A profile of Harry Mayr describes him as "an innocent dreamer" whose fictional character Ilsa "helps them make sense of life's many journeys and challenges". However, Mr Mayr, a psychologist and author of children's books, has been found guilty of professional misconduct for having a sexual relationship with a patient he was treating for past sexual traumas. Psychologist Harry Mayr's children's book Ilsa, the funny looking hippopotamus. Credit:ilsathefunnylookinghippopotamus.com.au The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal detailed a series of transgressions, which included Mr Mayr licking the patient's face during therapy and engaging in "inappropriate sexual contact" at the end of other sessions. He subsequently had what the tribunal called an "inappropriate sexual relationship" with the patient for almost two years, including having sex with the patient on his desk at his clinic in Penrith. The NSW public housing system faces a billion-dollar annual funding gap, according to the state's independent economic adviser. Former premier Mike Baird last year asked the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal to examine rents paid by public housing tenants. In a draft report released on Tuesday, IPART found that public housing residents could not afford to pay more than they already do, which is about 25 per cent of their income. As a result, IPART identified a gap of $950 million a year that needed to be filled to prevent the state's existing public housing system from eroding further. Tech giant Google has pulled out of plans to base its headquarters at a repurposed White Bay power station in Sydney's inner west, delivering a major blow to the state government's aim to convert the area into a technology hub. The failure to provide public transport upgrades to the Bays Precinct in Rozelle was cited as a reason for Google's decision to withdraw from negotiations. "Ultimately, the complexity of the project and the timing of associated transport infrastructure could not meet Google's requirements at this time," the NSW government said on Tuesday. A Google spokesman said the company had "mutually agreed" with government developer UrbanGrowth NSW to abandon talks of relocating its operations from Pyrmont to Rozelle, but said it remained committed to finding "an alternative long-term home here in Sydney". A raft of candidates are considering nominating to replace former police minister Mike Gallacher in the NSW upper house, including former federal MP Karen McNamara and businesswoman Karen Howard. The Liberal Party needs to select Mr Gallacher's replacement before Parliament resumes on May 2 in order to retain the status quo whereby it only needs the votes of either the Christian Democrats or the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party to pass legislation. The Liberal party is preparing to choose a replacement for Mike Gallacher in the NSW upper house. But it may have avoided a "nightmare" scenario of three preselections instead of one, should parliamentary secretary Scot Macdonald decide to contest the vacant position. The Liberal upper house members are either responsible for individual "provinces" or deemed "at large". PHP: =Danbones;2443296]Seymour Hersh Says Hillary Approved Sending Libyas Sarin to Syrian Rebels The great investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, in two previous articles in the London Review of Books (Whose Sarin? and The Red Line and the Rat Line) has reported that the Obama Administration falsely blamed the government of Syrias Bashar al-Assad for the sarin gas attack that Obama was trying to use as an excuse to invade Syria; and Hersh pointed to a report from British intelligence saying that the sarin that was used didnt come from Assads stockpiles. Hersh also said that a secret agreement in 2012 was reached between the Obama Administration and the leaders of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, to set up a sarin gas attack and blame it on Assad so that the US could invade and overthrow Assad. By the terms of the agreement, funding came from Turkey, as well as Saudi Arabia and Qatar; the CIA, with the support of MI6, was responsible for getting arms from Gaddafis arsenals into Syria. [url=http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/04/28/seymour-hersh-hillary-approved-sending-libya-sarin-syrian-rebels.html]Seymour Hersh Says Hillary Approved Sending Libya[/url] Hillary Clinton Approved Delivering Libyas Sarin Gas to Syrian Rebels: Seymour Hersh [url]http://www.globalresearch.ca/hillary-clinton-approved-delivering-libyas-sarin-gas-to-syrian-rebels-seymour-hersh/5522647[/url] Russia blames Syrian rebels for gas attack Russia blamed Syrian rebels Wednesday for the chemical weapons attack that killed 72 people including 20 children as activists and rescue workers found more terrified survivors, and the targeted town came under renewed airstrikes. The attack Tuesday in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun has been widely attributed to the Syrian regime and drew international condemnation as horrifying images emerged of convulsing children and people gasping for air and foaming at the mouth. The Syrian government has denied any involvement in the attacks, or using chemical weapons. [url=http://nypost.com/2017/04/05/russia-blames-syrian-rebels-for-gas-attack/]Russia blames Syrian rebels for gas attack | New York Post[/url] There you have it: HITLARY and her supporters as some of us have always said, is the lowest it can get. She and Bill and Rumsfeld also set up the Dicktatoe[sic] in North Korea with the nuclear technology to build HIS nuclear weapons too. we all know Rumsfeld supplied the Iraqis with the poison gas they blamed on Saddam that likely was applied by US special forces. "FLASHBACK: BILL CLINTON: US WILL BE SAFER BECAUSE OF MY NORTH KOREA DEAL As North Korea continues developing its nuclear weapons program, credit should be given to the man who helped make that program possible. The standardization of the nuclear warhead will enable (North Korea) to produce at will and as many as it wants a variety of smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear warheads of higher strike power, North Korea said. This has definitely put on a higher level (the Norths) technology of mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic rockets. Here's a flashback to Bill Clinton explaining how his fake deal with North Korea that let it go nuclear will keep America safe." ( VIDEO and TRANSCRIPT) [url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/point/264124/flashback-bill-clinton-us-will-be-safer-because-my-daniel-greenfield]FLASHBACK: Bill Clinton: US Will Be Safer Because of My North Korea Deal | Frontpage Mag[/url] ...and then HILLARY SAYS: "Clinton, the former secretary of State under President Obama, released a detailed statement on Friday, calling the action by North Korea "outrageous and unacceptable." "I strongly condemn this reckless action, which coupled with its recent series of missile launches makes clear Pyongyangs determination to develop a deliverable nuclear weapon," she said, alluding to four prior nuclear tests. The nuclear launch this week was North Korea's second in less than a year. "This constitutes a direct threat to the United States, and we cannot and will never accept this," she said. " [url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-1473449257-htmlstory.html]When it comes to North Korea, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump offer differing views - LA Times[/url] Seymour Hersh: Awards Polk Award (1969, 1973, 1974, 1981, 2004) Pulitzer Prize (1970) George Orwell Award (2004) Seymour Myron "Sy" Hersh (born April 8, 1937) is an American investigative journalist and political writer based in Washington, D.C. He is a longtime contributor to The New Yorker magazine on national security matters and has also written for the London Review of Books since 2013. Hersh first gained recognition in 1969 for exposing the My Lai Massacre and its cover-up during the Vietnam War, for which he received the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. In 2004, he notably reported on the US military's mistreatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison. He has also won two National Magazine Awards and five George Polk Awards. In 2004, he received the George Orwell Award. [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Hersh[/url] You journalism guys will appreciate the awards I am sure. ;) ( I bet you'd like to have some of them yourselves) So you Hillary Clinton supporters and Assad haters really: Go ahead and cheer all you want IN addition: "Hersh isnt the only reporter who has been covering this. Indeed, the investigative journalist Christoph Lehmann headlined on 7 October 2013, "Top US and Saudi Officials responsible for Chemical Weapons in Syria" and reported, on the basis of very different sources than Hersh used, that: "Evidence leads directly to the White House, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, CIA Director John Brennan, Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Bandar, and Saudi Arabias Interior Ministry." And, as if that werent enough, even the definitive analysis of the evidence that was performed by two leading US analysts, the Lloyd-Postal report, concluded that: "The US Governments Interpretation of the Technical Intelligence It Gathered Prior to and After the August 21 Attack CANNOT POSSIBLY BE CORRECT." Obama has clearly been lying. However, now, for the first time, Hersh has implicated Hillary Clinton directly in this 'rat line'. In an interview with Alternet.org, Hersh was asked about the then-US-Secretary-of-States role in the Benghazi Libya US consulates operation to collect weapons from Libyan stockpiles and send them through Turkey into Syria for a set-up sarin-gas attack, to be blamed on Assad in order to justify the US invading Syria, as the US had invaded Libya to eliminate Gaddafi. Hersh said:" [url=http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-01/seymour-hersh-says-hillary-approved-sending-libyas-sarin-syrian-rebels]Seymour Hersh Says Hillary Approved Sending Libya's Sarin To Syrian Rebels | Zero Hedge[/url] so dig up your WAPO and NBC fake news stories and Lets dance!!!! White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer sought to clarify his comments on Monday after telling reporters that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's use of barrel bombs against his own people could prompt further U.S. military action. "If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you will see a response from this president," Spicer said at the White House during his daily press briefing. [url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/spicer-seeks-clarify-barrel-bomb-remarks-syria-n744906]Spicer Seeks to Clarify 'Barrel Bomb' Remarks on Syria - NBC News[/url] Well STOP SELLING YOUR LEFTOVERS TO TERRORIST ISUS DIMWIT!!!! A Queensland hoarder will spend nine months behind bars after pleading guilty to downloading thousands of images of child pornography, including a toddler in bondage. Adam George Rutherford was arrested in February 2016 after covert detectives investigating the file-sharing network Shareaza tracked him through an IP address. The 51-year-old was a "hoarder" who compulsively downloaded lots of material - not just child pornography. A raid on his Ningi home, north of Brisbane, revealed the illegal material was stored on eight separate electronic devices including a laptop, hard drives and CDs. The Brisbane District Court heard on Tuesday that Rutherford downloaded a total of 16,770 images and 334 videos over a two-year period. A Brisbane man charged with raping a Korean woman in broad daylight has been let off after the victim left the country. The 24-year-old was alleged to have randomly attacked the foreign national as she was walking on the pathway near the Morayfield shopping centre, north of Brisbane, on July 22 last year. The man charged with raping a woman was let off after the victim left the country. Credit:Louie Douvis Witnesses came to the 20-year-old victim's aid after allegedly hearing her screaming. Police arrested the man at a nearby creek while the woman was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital for treatment. "Products should be designed to suit the market, it's not a hunch," Murray Hunter of Design+Industry says. "You start with what the market wants and you go backwards. You don't get dressed and say 'where are we going', you find out where you're going and then get dressed." Hunter, who founded his company 30 years ago and now employs 50 designers and engineers in his Sydney and Melbourne offices, believes business owners should consult an industrial designer early in the product development process but not until after they've done their homework. The Pod Tracker is design-led. Credit:Melissa Adams "The intelligent and qualified entrepreneur will have a lot of the problems solved, they'll have done research, they'll have knowledge of the market, they'll know the segments it's aimed at and quite often they'll have route to market realised." A design mindset Mark Bergin, the founder of industry group DRIVENxDESIGN, which boasts over 75,000 members and runs award competitions around the world, agrees with Hunter that good design is an important foundation. He does caution good design is only one part of getting a successful product to market although business founders shouldn't underestimate the cultural value of having a design mindset. Katherine Pace is the co-founder of Elanation, which has developed a smart watch for kids. "Good designers are only part of the story," Bergin says. "Around 40 per cent of design projects stumble at the hand of the business that commissions the project. The organisations we see not choking projects have a great design culture their management are driven by design, focused on the empathy and intangible values of the project. After all the largest component of most companies market cap is intangible value, so working to grow that brings the highest return to the organisation." Real-world experience Katherine Pace, chief executive and co-founder of Sydney start-up Elanation, had the advantage of being an industrial designer including a stint of managing a design studio in Denmark before returning to Australia two years ago. This proved invaluable when developing the company's ETURBO Smart Watch for kids. Products should be designed to suit the market, it's not a hunch. Murray Hunter "As an industrial designer I have been trained for years to understand and quantify consumer problems, communicate them effectively to different audiences, assess proposed solutions through an objective lens and then apply foundations in form and function to mock up solutions. But real-world experience is key," she says. "I have worked in established companies with engineers and designers ever since I started university it trains you to appreciate the business dimension of a successful design." Like Pod's Langton, Pace worked hard to find the right suppliers. "I got on a plane and visited 15 different manufacturing houses. I took an Australian expert with me and we quickly vetted who was a reliable partner by visiting various offices, manufacturing plants and machinery." Advice for entrepreneurs For those without a design background, Pace has some straightforward advice in finding professional advice, "just put an ad out". In a major privacy breach, the Victorian Education Department has published confidential information which identifies children who have self-harmed, bullying victims and students' medical conditions. Up to 115 families have been affected by the blunder, which occurred when hundreds of submissions were uploaded to the department's website on Friday without personal details being redacted. The confidential information related to children who had faced difficulties at school. Credit:Leah-Anne Thompson This included parents' names and, in a few instances, their home addresses and mobile numbers. The submissions, which were in response to proposed new regulations for Victorian schools, detailed how home-schooling families had pulled their children out of school because they were tormented by other students, had mental health issues and received inadequate support for disabilities. The West Gate and Bolte bridges will need to be strengthened and the western end of the scrapped East West Link needs to be built to cope with a fivefold increase in container traffic at the privatised port of Melbourne, its new operators say. The port's new owner, the Lonsdale Consortium, says the port could grow to handle between 12 and 15 million containers a year, up from 2.5 million now, ensuring that Melbourne remains Australia's busiest container port for the next 50 years. Webb Dock when under redevelopment in 2015. Credit:Joe Armao After paying $9.7 billion last year for a 50-year lease, the consortium wants big changes to Melbourne's roads and rail lines to help deal with a huge jump in freight traffic. The changes would help grow the port's capacity and maximise the consortium's return on its investment, but it wants the Andrews government to make a series of tough political calls to help it achieve this ambitious target. Lloyd Rayney's family liaison officer told detectives the barrister's arrest for phone tapping "should leave no doubt in the public's mind" that he was being examined as a suspect in his wife's murder, a Perth court has heard. Mr Rayney is suing the state of WA for defamation after he was named in September 2007 as the prime and only suspect in the murder of Supreme Court registrar Corryn Rayney, who was found buried in Kings Park a month earlier. Mr Rayney is suing the West Australian government for being named as the prime and only suspect in the murder of his wife Corryn. Credit:AAP Detective Sergeant Mark McKenzie testified in the WA Supreme Court on Tuesday he was aware that during a search on September 20, Mr Rayney would be arrested. "I said words to the effect that we should leave no doubt in the public's mind that by his arrest for the telephone intercept charges, that Mr Rayney was being looked at as a suspect in Corryn's murder," he said in his statement. In the red dirt of central Australia, what looks to be nothing more remarkable than a rusty steel cable looped across the ground is central to a global effort to monitor North Korea's budding nuclear arsenal. This jumble of wires is actually a high-tech monitoring station designed to measure shockwaves deep within the earth. Last September, it became one of six seismic monitoring stations across Australia and its territories that sounded the alarm when North Korea last exploded an atomic bomb underground. As tensions spike on the Korean peninsula amid speculation that Kim Jong-un will soon test another nuclear weapon, the monitoring stations are again listening carefully. They are key to understanding the nuclear games played by a notoriously secretive regime. Amnesty International East Asia Director Nicholas Bequelin, left, and Deputy Director of Global Issues James Lynch hold the copies of reports. Credit:AP Amnesty accused the Chinese government of enforcing "an elaborate secrecy system to obscure the shocking scale of executions in the country, despite repeated claims it is making progress towards judicial transparency." Hundreds of documented death penalty cases are missing from the Supreme People's Court's online database that was initially touted as a "crucial step towards openness" and is regularly heralded as evidence that the country's judicial system has nothing to hide, the report alleged. Copies of reports on the death penalty are displayed during a press conference of Amnesty International in Hong Kong. Credit:AP Amnesty found public news reports of at least 931 individuals executed between 2014 and 2016, which it said was only a fraction of the total executions. Just 85 of them are recorded in the state database, which also omits foreign nationals given death sentences for drug-related crimes and numerous cases related to "terrorism." Media reports cite at least 11 executions of foreign nationals over that period, Amnesty said. Experts believe there has been a significant reduction in the number of death sentences handed out in China each year since Supreme Court review of all capital cases was mandated in 2007. Indeed, Chinese scholars were quoted by the Beijing-based Caixin media, a financial news media group, as telling a conference last September that the annual tally has fallen by 60 per cent in the past decade, from a five-figure number to a four-figure one. But it is not only the scale of the executions that disturbs activists, it is the lack of judicial process involved in the trials. "Given the lack of an independent judiciary in China, the dominant role of the police, and the systematic over-reliance on confessions - often extracted through torture - and the fact that thousands of cases are processed every year, there is a very real risk of miscarriages of justice," said William Nee, lead author of the report. Last December China overturned the conviction of a man, Nie Shubin, who had been killed by firing squad for rape and murder 21 years before: another man had confessed to the crime more than a decade before, but it took a tireless campaign by Nie's family before his name was finally cleared. In late 2014, another man, known as Huugjilt or Hujilit, was also cleared of rape and murder 18 years after he had been put to death as an 18-year-old. After 48 hours of interrogation, he had confessed to the crime and was executed two months later. But doubt was cast on the verdict in 2005 when an alleged serial killer confessed to murdering the woman. Both cases attracted significant public outrage against the authorities, and sympathy for the unjustly executed men. "There have been a few high-profile exonerations in recent years - of Hujilit and Nie Shubin - but without greater transparency, the Chinese public will have no idea how many cases like Nie Shubin's there really are," Nee said. Until 2015, China admits, it used organs from executed prisoners as the mainstay of its organ transplant industry but now says it relies exclusively on a voluntary donation system. Teng Biao, a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School and co-founder of China Against the Death Penalty, says miscarriages of justice are common, citing the lack of judicial independence, political interference, judicial corruption, police powers and limited lawyers' rights. "Judges need to listen to the orders of the party committee," he said. "Then there's the public security bureau. In most cases judges dare not go against the will of the police chief." "Lawyers' rights are limited and courtroom trials are mere formalities: judges do not need to listen to lawyers since they have already written their verdicts before the trial," he added. Outside China, Amnesty said, the number of executions fell to 1032 people in 2016, down from 1634 in 2015. Iran executed the second highest number of people, at least 567, in 2016, while reports in Vietnamese media showed that country had secretly been the world's third biggest executioner in the past three years, killing 429 people between August 2013 and June 2016. The United States fell out of the top five for the first time since 2006, with the number of executions, 20, the lowest for any year since 1991. That is half of what it was in 1996 and five times lower than 1999. Jakarta: A court hearing the blasphemy trial of Jakarta's Christian governor has been accused of succumbing to political interference after it agreed to delay proceedings until one day after the gubernatorial election. Jakarta's police chief wrote to the North Jakarta District Court last week requesting the trial be postponed "considering the increasing vulnerability of the security situation in Jakarta". Tensions have continued to ratchet up ahead of the April 19 election, when Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who is ethnically Chinese and Christian, will face off against his Muslim rival, Anies Baswedan. Both had failed to win an outright majority in an earlier election in February, which knocked out Agus Yudhoyono, the son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, a nationally famous champion of gay rights and progressive causes, has been accused by three men of having sex with them as children.An unnamed man filed a child sex abuse lawsuit against the mayor on Thursday, alleging Murray repeatedly criminally raped and molested him when he was a homeless 15-year-old in the 1980s.The unnamed plaintiff and two other men gave interviews to the Seattle Times all telling similar stories about a politico in his late 20s and 30s, who befriended street kids, paid them and had his way with them.I don't necessarily think that he destroyed my life, Jeff Simpson told the newspaper after describing years of molestation from age 13 on. But I believe a lot of the problems I have stemmed from this.Murray, a gay rights pioneer-turned-leading opponent of President Trump's immigration policies, canceled a planned event after news of the lawsuit broke Thursday and held a brief news conference the next day.The mayor, 61, took no questions, but dismissed the suit as accusations from a troubled man.These allegations, dating back to a period of more than 30 years, are simply not true, he said, noting that he still plans to run for reelection later this year.Raised in Seattle, Murray was a campaign manager for Washington's first openly gay state senator in the 1980s, according to the Associated Press.Toward the end of the decade, according to the lawsuit, he met a homeless, drug-addicted 15-year-old on a bus.Young and curious, D.H. encountered Ed Murray upon the bus and developed a friendly interaction, reads the lawsuit.This quickly turned into a regular negotiation, it reads, with the teen willing to do whatever Mr. Murray asked for as little as $10 to $20.The plaintiff, now 46, was named only by initials in the lawsuit. But he gave an interview to the Times, recalling: He'd be doing certain things, and I'd tell him to stop, and he wouldn't stop.Moral of the story: Be careful who you make your heroes. Thoroughly-investigated dead guys are usually best. Beijing: China and South Korea have agreed to take new measures against North Korea if the rogue state conducts another nuclear or intercontinental missile test, Chinese media has reported. As concern mounts that North Korea will use a national commemoration on Saturday to conduct its sixth nuclear test, claims the Chinese army has amassed 150,000 troops including medical teams on the border with North Korea have been repeated on the front page of China's state-owned Global Times newspaper. North Korea's Supreme People's Congress began its annual sitting on Tuesday, and there is speculation a nuclear plan will be unveiled ahead of April 15, the birthday anniversary of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung. North Korea's daily newspaper warned on Tuesday: "Pre-emptive strike is not an American monopoly". Russia must abandon its support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime if it wants an "important role" in discussions about Syria's future, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday, setting up a clash with Russian leaders just before he met them in Moscow. President Vladimir Putin's government has chosen to ally itself with an "unreliable partner" in Mr Assad, whose reign is coming to an end, as well as Iran and Hezbollah, Mr Tillerson told reporters in Lucca, Italy, where he was attending a Group of Seven meeting. "We want to create a future for Syria that is stable and secure," Mr Tillerson said "Russia can be part of that future and play an important role or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interest longer term." But tough talk on Syria from its closest ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, made it clear that Mr Tillerson was in for negotiations that would be difficult, if not impossible. Thirteen years after she was caught smuggling cannabis into Bali in her boogie board bag, Schapelle Corby must be able to taste freedom. Corby, who was arrested at Denpasar airport in October 2004 after getting off a flight from Brisbane, has just weeks left of her parole before her deportation to Australia. Mercedes Corby, Todd Carney and Schapelle Corby in Bali following Schapelle Corby's release from jail. Her Balinese parole officer, Ketut Sukiati, revealed on Tuesday that the former Gold Coast beauty therapy student was not expected to report to her again before her deportation to Australia on May 27. "We expect her to be busy this month because of her preparation to go home next month, so I am not expecting her to report this month," Ms Ketut said. Bangkok: The United States has put a 26-year-old Malaysian man on a list of most wanted terrorists as Philippine troops intensify an offensive against violent jihadists in the southern Philippines. Malaysian police say that from an Islamic State base in Syria, Muhammad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi has been using social media to recruit Malaysians and plot terrorist attacks. Malaysian police say Muhammad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi (right) has been using social media to recruit Malaysians and plot terrorist attacks. Credit:Facebook/Star On his public Facebook page under the name Abu Hamzah al-Fateh, Wanndy ridiculed his listing by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, saying it would only make him more cautious about his movements and communications. The US says Wanndy is a senior leader of a group of hundreds of Malay-speaking fighters in a unit called Katibah Nusantara who are under Islamic State's control in the Middle East. Brussels:--- An international conference in Ponta Delgada, Azores, 12-13th April, will gather representatives of the European Unions Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)*, the government of the Azores, the European Commission and innovation experts to look at how innovation is spurring sustainable development in both groups of small islands and the scope for future initiatives. Mr. Jude Houston, Innovation Manager for St Maarten, will take part. The event taking place at NONAGON - Sao Miguel Science and Technology Park is being organized by OCTA Innovation in cooperation with the Government of the Azores. OCTA innovation is propelling innovation in the OCTs. It is assisting the implementation of Territorial Strategies for Innovation, including technical, demand-driven support to OCT governments and the financing of a number of pilot projects. The aim is to propel growth and economic diversification in the OCTs and improve their competitiveness. Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the Government of the Azores, will open the conference with Janice Panton MBE, Montserrats representative to the United Kingdom and Chair of OCTA Innovations Steering Committee. Milan Jezic von Gesseneck, Team Leader of OCTA Innovation will chair the conference. Mr. Jezic von Gesseneck will highlight the relevance of innovation for sustainable growth of islands and OCTA Innovations work to root innovation eco-systems in OCT societies. Governments must take the lead in systemic innovation across all sectors; fostering partnerships between public and private entities and building capacity and knowledge. The ambition is to grow a number of thematic centers of excellence among OCTs with a focus on those sectors where individual OCTs are already leading the way and to share expertise among OCTs, says Milan Jezic von Gesseneck. The centers will share their expertise with other OCTs. As mostly small islands distanced from the EU mainland, the OCTs face similar challenges to the diversification of their economies as the EUs Outermost islands which include the Azores, a group of Portuguese islands in the Atlantic. The conference is an opportunity for OCT Innovation Managers - government appointees who are leading the way on innovation in the OCTs - to learn about the Azores approaches to innovation. Yet, they have in common unique innovation potential including renewable energy and niche tourism. Panels will take a closer look at innovation initiatives in different sectors in both the OCTs and the Azores: renewable energies; the digital economies; the green and blue economies and the cultural sector. The already initiated cooperation between the OCTs and the Azores should be taken a step further with a view to drafting a Memorandum of Understanding between the OCT Association and the Azores. The aim is to forge closer cooperation such as through sharing best research and innovation practice and know-how. Key speakers at the event include: Pedro De Sampaio Nunes, Entrepreneur, former Secretary of State of Science and Innovation and former Head of the EUREKA Secretariat; Robert Burmanjer, Head of Unit for "Knowledge Management" in the European Commissions Directorate General for International Cooperation, Giles Garel, Full Chair Professor of Innovation Management at the Conservatoire national des arts et metiers in Paris and Paulo Carreiro, Director for Business Development in the Azores. GREAT BAY(DCOMM):--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that there will be a temporary road closure on Back Street on Tuesday, April 11 and Wednesday, April 12. The closure is scheduled to take place from 8.00pm to 10.00pm on both days. The temporary closure is limited to the area of Super Plaza Department Store. Pedestrians are urged to walk with caution in the area of the aforementioned store during the aforementioned hours as improvements to the store will be undertaken. The remainder of Back Street will be accessible to motorized traffic. Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconveniences this may cause. PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the past weeks, The Customs Department confiscated approximately 40 kilos of cocaine and 320 kilos of marijuana. On Thursday, March 30th Custom Officers at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) confiscated approximately 35 kilos of cocaine hidden in two separate handbags in the service panel compartment onboard the AirFrance outbound flight. The investigation is still ongoing. No arrests have been at the moment. On Saturday, April 8th Custom Officers at the Princes Juliana airport again confiscated four (4) packages of cocaine weighing approximately 5 kilos on board the AirCanada flight. The packages were hidden in one of the toilet cabinets onboard the AirCanada outbound flight. Two suspects with the initials S.L.B and C.A.D. both Canadian nationals have been arrested. Both persons have been taken into custody as the investigation proceeds. During a routine control on Monday, April 10th Customs at the Point Blanche Harbour confiscated approximately 320 kilos of marijuana packed in 14 boxes in a container. Upon opening the container which originated from Jamaica, the officers did a thorough search of the container. The assistance of the Justice K-9 was called in to confirm that there were no more drugs hidden in other areas in the container. Due to the ongoing investigations, further information cannot be released at this moment. Customs will intensify their controls at the airport and harbor facilities during the carnival season. Head of Customs Sint Maarten A.J.G. Doran Claim: Robbers in shopping mall parking lots are using ether-filled perfume bottles to render their victims unconscious. Rating: About this rating False Advertisment: For nearly twenty years now, Internet users have been immersed in warnings advising them to be wary of persons attempting to sell perfume in store parking lots: PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO YOUR WOMEN FRIENDS!!! I was approached yesterday afternoon around 3:30pm in the Wal-Mart parking lot at Forest Drive, by two males, asking what kind of perfume I was wearing. Then they asked if Id like to sample some fabulous scent they were willing to sell me at a very reasonable rate. I probably would have agreed had I not received an email some weeks ago, warning of a wanna smell this neat perfume? scam. The men continued to stand between parked cars, I guess to wait for someone else to hit on. I stopped a lady going towards them, pointed at them, and told her about how I was sent an e-mail at work about someone walking up to you at the malls or in parking lots, and asking you to SNIFF PERFUME that they are selling at a cheap price. THIS IS NOT PERFUME IT IS ETHER! When you sniff it, youll pass out. And theyll take your wallet, your valuables, and heaven knows what else. If it were not for this e-mail, I probably would have sniffed the perfume. But thanks to the generosity of an emailing friend, I was spared whatever might have happened to me. I wanted to do the same for you. PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL YOUR WOMEN FRIENDS, AND PLEASE BE ALERT, AND AWARE!! The scenario described above isn't a real danger. No one has reported having been robbed in this manner, save for one woman in 1999 whose claim was suspect (for reasons we discuss below). This legend doesn't even describe a plausible scenario because, despite what books and television shows may depict, rendering a person unconscious from a mere sniff or two of some substance is not easy to do. Ether is nasty, volatile stuff that requires a great deal more than a few brief inhalations to knock a person out. In fact, it's hard to think of any substance that could produce the instant unconsciousness described here. This legend appears to have begun in late 1999 with a widely-circulated Internet message that used one specific news report as a basis for implying that ether-wielding robbers were a potentially widespread menace: Watch out-this is for real! I just heard on the radio about a lady that was asked to sniff a bottle of perfume that another woman was selling for $8.00 (In a mall parking lot). She told the story that it was her last bottle of perfume that regularly sells for $49.00 but she was getting rid of it for only $8.00, sound legitimate? That's what the victim thought, but when she awoke she found out that her car had been moved to another parking area and she was missing all her money that was in her wallet (total of $800.00). Pretty steep for a sniff of perfume! Anyway, the perfume wasn't perfume at all, it was some kind of ether or strong substance to cause anyone who breathes the fumes to black out. SO, Please beware ... Christmas time is coming and we will be going to malls shopping and we will have cash on us. Ladies, please don't be so trusting of others and beware of your surroundings-ALWAYS! Obey your instincts! The incident described above was "real" in the sense that a Mobile, Alabama, woman claimed it happened to her on 8 November 1999 and reported the alleged robbery to the police, but it's false in that no evidence ever surfaced to verify her story. Bertha Johnson, a 54-year-old Mobile woman, maintained that at about 2:00 PM on Monday, 8 November, she had pulled into the parking lot of a bank when a woman approached her car and offered to sell her bottles of cologne that ordinarily retail for $45 for the low price of $8. Ms. Johnson says she sniffed a sample of the cologne, and the next thing she knew it was around half an hour later, she was standing with her keys in her hand at a wicker store two miles away from the bank, her head was throbbing, and $800 she had been carrying ($500 of her own money plus $300 of her employer's) was missing. However, her claim had some surface implausibilities: Ms. Johnson was allegedly robbed on her way into a bank. How did the robber know she had a significant amount of money on her? Not everybody walks into a bank with a wad of cash was the robber simply choosing random victims in the hopes of hitting on one who did? If so, how come no one else has reported being the victim of such a robbery attempt? We have to assume that this is a brand new crime scheme, and that the perpetrator hit the jackpot on the very first try (and apparently hasn't used it since). a bank. How did the robber know she had a significant amount of money on her? Not everybody walks into a bank with a wad of cash was the robber simply choosing random victims in the hopes of hitting on one who did? If so, how come no one else has reported being the victim of such a robbery attempt? We have to assume that this is a brand new crime scheme, and that the perpetrator hit the jackpot on the very first try (and apparently hasn't used it since). As Dr. Matthew Barnhill, a toxicologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences noted, it's difficult to imagine what substance could have been used to cause someone to pass out so quickly from a single sniff. Any drug or chemical that could immediately knock a victim out merely through his inhaling it (rather than ingesting or injecting it) would have to be quite potent indeed. We might also consider that Ms. Johnson was carrying money belonging to her employer at the time of the alleged robbery, and that pretending to be robbed while carrying someone else's money is a classic theft scheme. As well, when she allegedly "came to" following the assault, she was not sitting in her car, but "standing up" with her "keys in her hand." Maybe she did regain consciousness in stages, passing through a state similar to sleepwalking before becoming fully aware again. On the other hand, waking up in a car isn't likely to draw much attention, but showing up in a parking lot, wandering around in a dazed state, will almost certainly create a few believable witnesses who will remember having "found" a crime victim. Sure enough, several weeks later the toxicology reports concerning tests run on blood and urine samples taken from Ms. Johnson immediately after the alleged attack did not indicate the presence of any unusual or abnormal substance in her system. The case remained officially open, but this one smelled like a scam cooked up by Ms. Johnson to abscond with her employer's money. Now, in true urban legend fashion, this tale has gone from a news report of an alleged victim's unsubstantiated story to a general warning that this sort of thing might happen to you to a specific warning that this type of robbery is actually happening. It isn't happening though, and it probably never did, not even once. It's interesting to see how little occurrences that aren't even part of the scenario described are now being reported as evidence of narrow brushes with these non-existent robbers. For example, the following was prefaced to one e-mailed example: Some of you got this email some weeks ago like me. I just wanted to pass along that I was approached yesterday afternoon at around 3:30 p.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot at Forest Drive by 2 males asking what kind of perfume I was wearing. I didn't stop to answer them and kept walking toward the store. At the same time I remembered this email. The men continued to stand between parked cars I guess to wait on someone else to hit on. I stopped a lady going toward them, pointed at them, and told her what they might ask and NOT to let them get near her. When that happened, the men and a lady (I don't know where she came from!) started walking the other way toward their car parked in far corner of the parking lot. I thank Jane Shirey for passing this along it might have saved me from a robbery. I'm passing this along to you'all so you can warn the women in your life to watch out for this ... Now, men asking passing women about the perfume they're wearing isn't at all the same thing as crooks using rigged perfume bottles to knock out their victims. The fact is, some companies (such as Scentura) do hire people to sell perfume door-to-door or in parking lots, and some of these salespeople do indeed work in pairs, pitch their wares from cars, and employ aggressive sales tactics (which include approaching women and asking them what kind of perfume they have on). But now that this legend is circulating, people dutifully report any sighting of perfume-selling strangers in parking lots as "proof" of this fictional crime wave of ether-bearing robbers being real. Indeed, we routinely receive e-mails from women who have had encounters with folks vending perfume in parking lots and who have concluded (based on nothing but spurious rumor) that they were about to be robbed. They write to report we're all wrong about this sort of robbery not taking place because hadn't they themselves almost had it happen to them? That no "knockout potions" were offered to them and no robberies (completed or attempted) took place does little to dissuade them from their certainty that they came within a hair's breadth of harm at the hands of some innocent freelance perfume sellers. We wrote the original article about this rumor in 2000. As far along as April 2006, Alabama police were still having to field reports on this non-existent form of crime and inform the public that it's a hoax: Police are debunking as a hoax reports of a man trying to use ether to abduct a young girl outside Eastdale Mall. Capt. Huey Thornton said the report, generated in an e-mail circulating throughout Montgomery, is false. Thornton said the people named in the e-mail asserted their daughter was approached by a man outside the mall, but that details of the e-mail have been "significantly embellished." The e-mail states that investigators told the couple a man posing as a perfume salesman had asked other young girls to "smell the perfume on his hand," which turned out to be ether. "The Montgomery Police Department is not familiar with any cases in the city where a subject matching the description in the e-mail has approached anyone posing as a perfume salesman or any cases where ether has been involved." Since 2000 (when we wrote our original article), we've been keeping our ears and eyes open for news of any instances of this sort of robbery happening in real life. So far, the closest thing to arise is a July 2008 case in a town in Louisiana. In Houma, Louisiana, a woman named Patches Wegmann was arrested after two men she plied with cologne claimed to have suffered ill effects from what she'd had them breathe in. The first said she accosted him, sprayed a cologne sample on a piece of paper, and waved it under his nose. Subsequently, after he returned to work, he passed out, his symptoms including dizziness, shortness of breath, and numbness in his extremities. The second said the cologne's fumes left him feeling light-headed, and it irritated his skin. Wegmann was charged with second-degree battery and unlawful solicitation, but the battery charge has to do with forcing perfume samples upon unwilling parties, not because there was anything necessarily noxious in the substance she forced upon them. The incident remains under investigation, and authorities say its not clear that anything other than perfume was sprayed on either man. In 2001 a false Internet rumor about seven women having died after sniffing perfume samples sent to them in the mail spread in the wake of the September 11 attacks. This newer rumor was a combination of two older and equally baseless scares: the 1999 "perfume robbers" tale (which is the topic of the article above) and the 2000 Klingerman Virus warning about blue virus-laden sponges mailed in envelopes marked "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation" which supposedly caused 23 deaths. The 2001 "deadly perfume samples" rumor brought into play the specter of lurking terrorists using the U.S. mail system to murder the innocent in a women-targeted replay of the anthrax mailings horror. The "deadly perfume samples" rumor is distinct and indeed far removed from the "perfume robbers" one, yet folks are prone to confuse the two because they both use the word 'perfume.' SugarCRM Given 5-Star Rating in CRNs 2017 Partner Program Guide CUPERTINO, CA (Marketwired) 04/10/17 ., the company that enables businesses to create extraordinary customer relationships with the most empowering, adaptable and affordable CRM solution on the market, announced today that , a brand of , has given SugarCRM a 5-Star rating in its 2017 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide is the definitive listing of partner programs from technology vendors that provide products and services through the IT channel. The 5-Star Partner Program Guide rating recognizes an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. To determine the 2017 5-Star ratings, The Channel Companys research team assessed each vendors partner program based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support and communication. As a pure-play CRM vendor with an unconventional approach, SugarCRM appeals to solution providers that understand building a better business means choosing to be different. The companys core partners are CRM mavericks that arent afraid to challenge the status quo and leverage the Sugar platform to help their clients build a superior customer experience to enhance their businesses. In 2016, this message helped the SugarCRM partner program grow into an ecosystem capable of closing enterprise-level CRM deals and handling sophisticated global implementations. For solution providers, finding the right technology vendors to partner with is crucial to the health of their business, and the vast array of choices can be overwhelming, said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. Our annual Partner Program Guide and 5-Star ratings help them narrow the field, identifying the most rewarding partner programs and outlining their strengths and benefits. SugarCRM partners understand that selling modern CRM isnt about pushing more and more unnecessary features that fall outside of core CRM to their customer base. Rather, its about helping businesses and employees create meaningful and valuable relationships built around topics that matter to everybody involved, said Patrick Pahl, vice president of partnerships at SugarCRM. SugarCRM is honored to be recognized by CRN once again with a 5-star rating in their Partner Program Guide. It validates our channel program and the 200+ partners who have chosen to join us. The 2017 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at . SugarCRM enables businesses to create extraordinary customer relationships with the most empowering, adaptable and affordable customer relationship management (CRM) solution on the market. Unlike traditional CRM solutions that focus primarily on management and reporting, Sugar empowers the individual, coordinating the actions of customer-facing employees and equipping them with the right information at the right time to transform the customer experience. Based in Silicon Valley, SugarCRM is backed by Goldman Sachs, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, NEA and Walden International. More than 2 million individuals in over 120 countries rely on SugarCRM. To learn more visit or follow @SugarCRM. NOTE: SugarCRM and the SugarCRM logo are registered trademarks of SugarCRM Inc. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. Copyright 2017. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. Melanie Turpin The Channel Company (508) 416-1195 Andrew Staples SugarCRM 408-913-2395 Unitas Global Collaborates with Equinix and Microsoft Azure(TM) to Deliver End-to-End Enterprise Hybrid Cloud Solution LOS ANGELES, CA (Marketwired) 04/10/17 the leading enterprise cloud solutions provider, today announced a strategic partnership with and to deliver an end-to-end hybrid cloud solution that enables enterprises to consume public and private cloud services with full transparency and ease. Combining Unitas Globals expertise in designing, deploying, and managing hybrid cloud solutions, Equinixs data center and interconnection services, and Microsofts Azure public cloud, the enterprise solution delivers application enablement and multi-cloud orchestration capabilities, as well as extensive global reach enabling connectivity into any market. In a recent survey, found hybrid cloud to be the preferred enterprise strategy in 2017. Of the enterprises they surveyed who have a strategy to use multiple clouds, the majority plan to use hybrid this year. The partnership between Unitas Global, Equinix, and Microsoft Azure eliminates the common challenges the enterprises face associated with designing, deploying, and managing hybrid cloud solutions, including security, connectivity, scale, and management of multiple cloud and infrastructure providers, simplifying the process for the enterprise customers. The partnership between Unitas, Equinix, and Microsoft Azure creates the optimal trifecta for a successful enterprise hybrid cloud solution: global reach, multi-cloud orchestration, and end-to-end management and provisioning, says Patrick Shutt, CEO, Unitas Global. Unitas works hand-in-hand with customers to design secure, easy-to-consume hybrid cloud solutions that are fully managed and monitored 24x7x365. The enterprise hybrid cloud solution leverages Equinixs global footprint of 150 International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers and interconnection capabilities to enable end users to deploy performance-driven, mission-critical applications in any market around the world. As a longtime partner of Unitas Global and one of the first data center providers to offer direct and private interconnection to Microsoft Azure via Microsoft ExpressRoute on Equinix Cloud Exchange, Equinix is an ideal partner for end-to-end hybrid cloud solutions, says Greg Adgate, vice president of global technology partners and alliances. Our real-time interconnection capabilities and global footprint of best-in-class data centers spanning 21 countries and 41 business metros enable enterprise customers to accelerate their hybrid cloud strategies on a global scale. The Unitas Global, Equinix, and Microsoft Azure teams will be available to discuss the enterprise hybrid cloud solution during the taking place April 10-13, 2017 in Las Vegas. To learn more, email to request an on-site briefing at the conference. Unitas Global is a leading provider of enterprise cloud solutions. Each solution provides clients with custom, highly secure and dedicated cloud-based IT environments that are easy-to-consume, fully managed and backed by an end-to-end SLA, guaranteeing application uptime. By offloading day-to-day infrastructure operations to Unitas Global, our clients are able to refocus and optimize their internal IT resources toward their business-centric initiatives. Unitas is headquartered in Los Angeles, with clients and locations spanning the globe. For more information, please visit . Image Available: Tinkerine Signs Agreement with MyClassNeeds VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA (Marketwired) 04/11/17 Tinkerine Studios Ltd. (Tinkerine or the Company) (TSX VENTURE: TTD)(FRANKFURT: WB6B)(OTC PINK: TKSTF) is pleased to announce the signing of a partnership agreement (Agreement) with MyClassNeeds, an affiliate of Curriculum Services Canada (CSC) to provide 3D printing solutions for K-12 schools located in British Columbia and Ontario. Under this Agreement, the Company will provide the Tinkerine DittoPro 3D Printer Starter Bundle for qualified teachers seeking to expand on projects related to 3D printing and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) education. Under this Agreement, Schools must be K-12 schools located in British Columbia or Ontario, Canada and must receive majority of their operational funding from public sources to be eligible to participate. This includes Catholic (and other faith-based) schools and independent schools as long as they receive the majority of their operational funding through the public system. First Nations schools funded by the federal government through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada are also eligible. Projects from all disciplines will considered, and each project must clearly identify a potential benefit to student learning. President and CEO Eugene Suyu states; We look forward to expanding our user base with the partnership agreement with MyClassNeeds, and continue to identify and evaluate strategic relationships for the expansion of Tinkerine product sales and services in education institutions. Additional information on this program can be viewed at: ABOUT TINKERINE STUDIOS LTD. Tinkerine Studios designs and manufactures user-friendly award winning 3D printers and software, with a focus on STEAM based educational content and online training tools. Tinkerine also manufactures its own line of high purity filament for 3D printers. Tinkerine and Ditto are registered trademarks of Tinkerine Studios Ltd., all rights reserved. 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: Dean Stuart Investor Relations 403 617 7609 Gopher Protocol Announces Completion of Field Test of the Guardian Orb Prototypes SAN DIEGO, CA (Marketwired) 04/11/17 Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) (Gopher and the Company), a development-stage company, which specializes in the development of real-time, heuristic-based mobile technologies, and its partner Guardian Patch, LLC (Guardian Orb) announced today that they completed a two-day field test mainly in the San Francisco area. Danny Rittman, the Company CTO, stated, We welcome the opportunity to test our product on third party network as it proved for us the diversity of our core technology, which in simple words, means it can comply and work on other networks. The Guardian Orb prototypes are working with the Companys mobile app, which can be downloaded for free at the Apple Store and on Google Play under the name Guardian Pet Tracker. As a courtesy to the public, the Company previously released the Guardian Patch app to provide users with live views of the Guardian Orb units during testing. Guardian Orb will post images as well as short videos documenting the field test. For the purpose of this field test, the Company SOWs vendor programmed the Guardian Orbs to comply with the third party infrastructure platform. The Company is evaluating the results of the field test, including comparing and verifying the results to a third-party data base and will announce the results in the near future. The Guardian Orb Pet Tracker (Sphere Internal name the Sphere) system is a derivative technology of Gophers Guardian Patch technology. The Sphere is designed to provide its users with local tracking capability using a re-chargeable/replaceable battery source. The objective of Gophers current efforts, is to deliver for testing in a pre-designated area, a few mobile units of the Guardian pet devices along with a base station, test results and eventual manufacturing capability for both the mobile and the base unit. Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) (Gopher and the Company) () is a development-stage company developing a real-time, heuristic-based mobile technology. Upon development, the technology will consist of a smart microchip, mobile application software and supporting software that will run on a server. The system contemplates the creation of a global network. Gopher believes this will be the first system that is developed using a human, heuristic-based analysis engine. Since the core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology that will be capable of being installed in any mobile device worldwide, Gopher expects that this will result in an internal, private network between all mobile devices utilizing the microchip by providing mobile technology for computing power enhancement, advanced mobile database management/sharing and other additional mobile features. Corporate Site: Press page/ press kit Consumer and product website for Guardian Patch: . Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Companys views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Companys views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release. Contact: Dr. Danny Rittman CTO Gopher Protocol Inc. VM Only 888-685-7336 Media: NGINX Announces CFP for nginx.conf 2017 SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Marketwired) 04/11/17 , the engine delivering sites and applications for the modern web, today announced the call for proposals (CFP) for nginx.conf 2017, its fourth annual user conference which will be held September 6-8, 2017 in Portland, OR. Last years event was attended by more than 400 community members, customers, and partners, who gathered to share and learn best practices for flawless application delivery, including tools and techniques like microservices, DevOps, cloud, containers, and more. This year, attendees will come together to discuss the overall theme of Architect the Future, including how to build and deliver next-generation applications with performance, reliability, security, and scale. Many of the technologies, processes, and skills required to succeed with tomorrows applications continue to evolve, and success depends on the ability to innovate, adapt, and build extraordinary new products and experiences faster than the competition, said Gus Robertson, CEO of NGINX, Inc. NGINX is truly the heart of this modern web, powering more than 300 million sites worldwide, and empowering enterprises to meet and exceed consumer expectations. nginx.conf represents a unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with the industrys most forward-thinking minds, and to shape how applications of the future are built and delivered. Speaking sessions during the show will provide compelling content about all aspects of application development and delivery across all technical levels. Submissions are being accepted now until 11:59 PM PDT on May 8, 2017. Conference tracks for this years event include: Architecture & Development Microservices-based applications Migrating to NGINX from hardware or other software solutions Auto-scaling systems and infrastructure IoT and embedded systems High-Performance Web Architecture of high-performance web apps Tuning of operating systems and network Caching, sharding, and replication Storage and filesystems Reducing app latency Operations & Deployment Adopting continuous integration and deployment Monitoring and observability of modern applications Configuration management Custom tooling/wiring examples built around NGINX to support CI/CD Case Studies Insights and best practices from real-world deployments Running hybrid cloud and on-premises systems Organizational changes when adopting microservices Adopting containerization Last years event included more than 40 keynotes and sessions from organizations like: Time Warner Cable on building your own CDN Etsy on options for invalidating the NGINX cache Expedia on using NGINX for cloud migration at scale Mozilla on the future of a fully encrypted web Shopify on scripting NGINX for overload protection To submit a speaking proposal, visit: [] For more information on nginx.conf, or to register, visit and join the conversation by following on Twitter. NGINX is the heart of the modern web helping the worlds most innovative companies deliver their sites and applications with performance, reliability, security, and scale. The company offers an award-winning, comprehensive application delivery platform in use on more than 300 million sites worldwide. Companies around the world rely on NGINX to ensure flawless digital experiences through features such as advanced load balancing, web and mobile acceleration, security controls, application monitoring, and management. More than half of the Internets busiest websites rely on NGINX, including Airbnb, Box, Instagram, Netflix, Pinterest, SoundCloud, and Zappos. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with its EMEA headquarters in Cork, Ireland, and additional offices in the US and Europe. Learn more at . U.S. Press Contact Chad Torbin 415.548.6536 Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter A man labelled Britain's worst "hospital hopper" has been remanded in custody after breaching an ASBO that bans him from using the NHS. Christopher Dearlove, 61, turned up at Yeovil District Hospital in February and told staff he was suffering from a range of symptoms and illnesses and had been getting treatment in another hospital. He had been made the subject of an Anti-social Behaviour Order in 2010, banning from entering any hospital or other NHS building unless genuinely in need of medical attention. This came after the courts heard he had cost the NHS tens of thousands of pounds by faking illnesses - even claiming to be a haemophiliac with AIDS and coughing up fake blood to get a room to himself. Appearing at Taunton Crown Court via video link from HMP Exeter, Dearlove admitted a charge of breaching his ASBO by entering Yeovil Hospital, giving staff a fake name and date of birth, and providing them with details of false symptoms and illnesses, as well as providing them with the name of another hospital he claimed had been treating him. The court heard Dearlove was known by 98 other aliases and had given hospitals across the country 47 different dates of birth. Recorder Martin Meek adjourned the hearing until May 26, to allow defence barrister Joseph Wright to present details of psychological assessments ahead of sentencing. Until then, he was remanded in custody. I once met a young man who had escaped from the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. He shared his harrowing tale of fleeing, capture, jail, and, ultimately, freedom. He is grateful for his new life and shares the enthusiasm of liberation. To this day, for reasons of safety, he has to keep his identity and whereabouts quiet. He lives with the fear of retaliation. His plight is indicative of an entire nation. The people of North Korea live in a harsh and insular climate marked by fear, desperation, and depravity. The country is defined by a psychological construct of belligerent nationalism, marked by the cult of leadership worship. North Korea has the fourth largest army in the world, and its leader, Kim Jong-un, has repeatedly threatened us. He is paranoid, young, and he has nuclear weapons. The world has a very serious problem. While the Korean War is an increasingly distant memory for our nation, perhaps there is no more vivid example of the gift of American leadership than on the Korean Peninsula. The sacrifice of American troops enabled the people of South Korea to build a flourishing economy, a governing system that adheres to democratic values, and a population that enjoy the general liberties we have in America. That sacrifice continues today as we have 28,500 troops remaining as a guardian force. While to the North it is a dark scene. The key to understanding North Korea's power revolves around its neighbor China. The Peoples Republic of China claims to be troubled by North Korea's behavior, yet, in many ways, it plays a double game. China likely cooperates with the North Korean regime in subtle ways below the public radar, possibly lending technology that North Korea could not advance on its own. North Koreas wild and provocative actions also further Chinese interests by keeping the international eye off of Chinese transgressions: Chinas contradictory capitalistic-communistic model, its militarization of the South China Sea, its belligerent attitude toward transportation in the East China Sea, and its mercantilist maneuvering throughout the world in the name of progress. From China's viewpoint, it has a legitimate worry about a destabilized North Korea, lest a refugee crisis appear on its doorstep. Moreover, China has a long history of victimization by its neighbors. And it has a long memory. United States troops nearby trouble them. China has plowed its newfound economic largesse into a large military buildup. Days before a high-profile United States visit by Chinese President Xi, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile, an entirely predictable response to the Trump-Xi meeting. What is less predictable is where the situation goes from here. As the Administration has stated, the time for "strategic patience" has ended. A central goal of the United States has been to encourage stable and just economic, governing, and social systems around the world in the interest of international stability. It is the right thing to do and it is smart public policy. Strategic patience allows time for next-generation leaders to understand and seek a new direction. When necessary, enhanced economic pressure and a robust defensive posture are used to incentivize new directions. However, with North Korea accelerating its destructive technology and threats, strategic patience has reached its limits. In foreign affairs, we optimally assume that others will behave rationally and according to commonly accepted values. The case of North Korea sadly illustrates the danger when lethal technology is combined with reckless motivation. China's leverage could help deescalate this situation, and we need them to do so. Just as we saw in a missile strike on Syria for gassing children, now we enter into a new phase of strategic impatience. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter A care worker has appeared in court accused of stealing thousands of pounds from an elderly woman with Alzheimer's. Kisella Hillman was alleged to have committed the offences over the course of about three months while she was being paid to look after the victim, who lived in Frome. The 27-year-old defendant, of Archway Close, London, denied stealing 4,000 cash belonging to Kathleen Brindle at Frome between November 27, 2013, and December 17, 2013. She also denied stealing 2,000 on February 3, 2014 and draining the woman's bank account of 32,000 in cash, claiming the money had been given to her as a gift. Prosecuting, Nikki Coombe told Taunton Crown Court Hillman had been employed to look after Mrs Brindle when she moved to live with her family in Mells, following the death of her son. With her mental health deteriorating, Hillman had been supposed to help insure her quality of life, making sure she was eating and drinking and taking her out for shopping, lunch and social occassions. But Hillman had been syphoning off money from the woman's bank account, Mrs Coombe said, before progressing to help herself to 32,000. The court heard that members of staff at her bank had become concerned when Hillman bought Mrs Brindle to the bank saying she wanted to withdraw the money and move it to another one. "Staff were worried," Mrs Coombe said. "They said she seemed less confident, less aware of her financial situation and they were concerned she was being taken advantage of. "They asked her why she was taking out the money, why she wanted to close the account, and she turned her head to the defendant and said 'why are we doing this?' "The defendant - who is no relation to Mrs Brindle - replied 'It's OK, Grandma. It's written down at home.'" Staff at the bank had been so upset by what was happening that one member of staff cried when the transfer was approved. The money was withdrawn and transferred to an account with a building society, before it was withdrawn via cheques made payable to Mrs Brindle. Hillman then took her to the Money Shop in Bath with her passport and utility bill to cash the cheques. When staff at that shop became concerned, Mrs Brindle told them she wanted the money to put in safety deposit boxes for her grandchildren. The money was handed over in 50 notes and put into a rucksack carried by Hillman, who told staff there was a bodyguard waiting outside to escort them home. The transactions and withdrawals were spotted by an employee of the Brindle family after Hillman had been dismissed from her role for poor timekeeping. When arrested and interviewed by police, Hillman told them the money had been given to her as a gift. "We do not accept that she gave this money to the defendant as a gift," Mrs Coombe said. "This was a lady who had been quite frugal and it is unthinkable that she would suddenly give someone she had known for only a few months gifts of 2,000 or 4,000, let alone 32,000." The trial continues. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter CCTV images have been released of a man police want to speak to in connection with a sexual assault on a disabled woman. The assault took place at around 5.20pm to 6pm on March 18 on the train travelling from Bristol. The 24-year-old victim was standing by the luggage rack on the train and a man who was stood next to her touched her inappropriately. She moved to sit down and he followed her, sat down next to the victim and sexually assaulted her again. The victim confronted the man and he left the train at Westbury. The British Transport Police is now appealing for help to trace this man who is wanted in connection with the incident. Investigating officer, Det Con Amy Perry, said: "The victim was very upset and in shock as a result of this incident. She has a disability which affects her mobility and meant she felt even more vulnerable in the situation. "There were other people on the train at the time of the assault, including a female passenger who kindly checked if the victim was ok after the incident. "I would like to speak to the man shown in the CCTV images as he may have information which could help with the investigation. If you know who he is, please contact me as soon as possible." Anyone with information about the is asked to call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text information to 61016 quoting reference number 343 07/04/17. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. A drug addict who stabbed a man on Valentine's Day before throwing him naked out of his car has been jailed for 18 months. Glen Squire, 25, of Canal Road in Taunton appeared before Recorder Martin Meeke at Taunton Crown Court this morning via a video link from prison. Prosecuting, William Hunter said the victim had invited his dealer to come and live with him, but he had bought with him six other men from London, who had refused to leave his flat. "The men were dealing drugs, and the defendant and the victim had an argument," he said. "The defendant went and picked up a knife with a six inch blade." He added that Squire had been driving the victim towards Bridgwater when he attacked him, stabbing him in the car, before forcing him to remove his clothes and dumping him in the village of Spaxon. The victim sustained injuries to his biceps, thigh and nipple and his face was swollen, Mr Hunter said. When arrested and interviewed by police, Squire - who has previous convictions for assault, battery and robbery - told them he had been under the influence of cocaine and had believed he was going to be attacked. Defending, Harry Ahuja, said the victim had not co-operated with the police and had given a fake name and date of birth. "There were between six and 10 men in the defendant's flat," he said. "I'm sure your honour is aware of the problems with drug gangs coming down from London and invading people's homes - something that is known as 'cuckooing'. "This is a very unusual case, and there was a degree of provocation, although Mr Squires admits he used excessive force in the circumstances. "These people had forced him out of his flat and he was trying to do something about it." He added that Squire had a long history of drug use and had been given hospital treatment for drug induced psychosis in 2012. Sentencing Squire, Recorder Meek told him: "There were unusual circumstances in this case. It is clear you allowed your supplier to move into your flat, and that he had bought others with him in an attempt to cuckoo you. "This concerned and frustrated you, and you armed yourself with a knife, drove one of the men to Bridgwater and began to attack him. "After you stabbed him, you made him take off his clothes. When he went to a house to help he was naked, save for his socks, and bleeding excessively. Drugs are a great concern in society and drug-related crime must be dealt with severely." He was sentenced to 18 months for ABH. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. THE BIGGEST STORIES ACROSS TAUNTON IN YOUR INBOX A 27-year-old Yeovil man who launched a violent attack on his friend after a night out and left him unconscious in an alleyway has avoided a jail sentence, despite being branded a "menace". Luke Bruce, who lives in Beer Street, had been drinking with his friend on a night out when he repeatedly kicked and punched him, fracturing his skull. Prosecuting, William Hunter told Taunton Crown Court pair had been in the town's Wetherspoon pub on September 29, 2016, when Bruce became agitated and aggressive towards another man. "The victim restrained him, preventing him from lashing out and the incident came to nothing," Mr Hunter said. "The defendant asked the victim if he wanted to go for a walk with him, and they walked through an alley, when the defendant suddenly lashed out at him." The victim was punched on the head, with kicks and punches raining down on him as he tried to fend off his friend. "This was a kung fu style attack, with punches and kicks being thrown at him. He lost consciousness, and while he was waiting for an ambulance suffered severe vomiting," Mr Hunter continued. "He was taken to Yeovil District Hospital and was discovered to have a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain. He spent six days in hospital. "This was a severe injury and the attack was completely unprovoked." The court also heard that Bruce had three previous convictions for battery. Defending, Joseph Wright said Bruce was "genuinely remorseful" about his actions, adding that he had no memory of what had happened that night. "He recognises that he has a problem with alcohol and the way he acted that night was as a result of those problems," he said. "He is appalled by his actions and he know he has to be punished." Sentencing him to a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, Recorder Martin Meek told Bruce: "Your friend stopped you from attacking an innocent member of the public and moments later you attacked him. "I am concerned about the gravity of your offence and I am glad the young man went on to make a full recovery. "You are a menace when you are drunk and you are drunk far too often." Bruce was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, a 25-day rehabilitation requirement and pay 2,000 compensation to his victim. "You have come within a whisker of going inside," the Recorder told him. "Make sure you take the chance that you have been given." New Portage Manor may go at current site or near Clay Township Park Jeff Bezos, founder of the private spaceflight company Blue Origin, inside a replica of the New Shepard human capsule that the company plans to use to fly tourists into space. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Blue Origin founder and CEO Jeff Bezos says people who buy a ticket to fly on his company's space tourism vehicle New Shepard will need to use the bathroom before flight, and they'd better not get sick during the trip the company has no plans to install systems to deal with human waste. New Shepard is the reusable, suborbital vehicle produced by Bezos' private spaceflight company Blue Origin. Bezos, who is also founder and CEO of Amazon.com, said that after years of test flights, he is hopeful that Blue Origin will fly customers in 2018. He emphasized, however, that the company will only start flying humans on New Shepard "when it's ready." On Wednesday April 5, at the 33rd annual Space Symposium, Bezos and Blue Origin revealed new details about the experience that space tourists will have on New Shepard. Bezos also discussed the company's efforts to anticipate customer demand for space tourism, and a possible lottery for anyone who can't afford a trip aboard New Shepard. [Jeff Bezos Reveals 'Sneak Peek' of Blue Origin's Space Tourism Capsule] A digital representation of the inside of Blue Origin's New Shepard passenger capsule. (Image credit: Blue Origin) A trip to space Passengers who buy a ticket on a New Shepard will travel above the Karman line, 62 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface of the planet, which is considered the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space. From that altitude, passengers will experience weightlessness, and see the curve of the planet and the darkness of space. Each New Shepard flight will last about 11 minutes. Six passengers will be strapped into soft, black-leather seats lined up around the perimeter of the capsule, according to Ariane Cornell, head of astronaut strategy and sales for Blue Origin. Though the seats will be reclined to about a 70-degree angle (in other words, nearly facing the ceiling), each passenger will be positioned to have a clear view out one of the capsule's massive windows. Once the capsule reaches space, the passengers will be able to unbuckle from their seats and enjoy about 4 minutes of weightlessness. The capsule is equipped with handrails and soft walls to make the capsule ideal for customers as they float around inside, Cornell said during the Space Symposium event. The crewmembers will board the vehicle only about 30 minutes before takeoff, Bezos said, which is part of the reason the company is not planning to have any kind of system in place for the passengers to urinate or defecate. "Go to the bathroom in advance," Bezos said. "The whole thing, from boarding until you're back on the ground, is probably 40 or 41 minutes. So you're going to be fine. You could dehydrate ever so slightly if you have a weak bladder." Many people get sick when they experience weightlessness. In fact, it's so common that the nickname "Vomit Comet" has been given to an airplane that flies in parabolic arcs so that passengers experience 30-second bouts of weightlessness. But Bezos said vomiting doesnt usually occur until about 3 hours into a flight. "[People] don't throw up right away," he said. "We're not going to worry about it. It's a delayed effect, and this journey takes 10 or 11 minutes. So you're going to be fine." The New Shepard vehicle is fully autonomous, which means the company can run tests of the system without having to put a human pilot on board, Bezos said. It also means that the paying passengers won't have an onboard escort. Passengers will arrive at the Blue Origin facility in Van Horn, Texas, two days before launch, and they'll begin with a brief half day of training and introductions. They'll meet their fellow crewmembers, as well as "Crew Member 7," the Blue Origin employee who will train them. Crew Member 7 will remain on the ground during the flight but will be available to talk to the passengers during flight, Cornell said at the Space Symposium. Passengers' second day at the Blue Origin facility will be full of training, which will include "etiquette" for the weightless environment, Cornell said. Rob Meyerson, president of Blue Origin, told reporters that much of the training will be dedicated to helping the crewmembers become comfortable with one another before the trip. "The system has been designed from the very beginning so that the training can be minimal," Bezos said. "You have to know how to strap yourself in and a few other things. But it's not a significant amount of training.": [How Blue Origin's New Shepard Spacecraft Works] A digital representation of a passenger inside a Blue Origin New Shepard vehicle during flight. (Image credit: Blue Origin) Ticket to ride While the cost of a trip aboard New Shepard has not yet been announced, it will assuredly be beyond the budget of most people. For comparison, private spaceflight company Virgin Galactic has been selling tickets to suborbital space aboard its SpaceShipTwo space plane for between $200,000 and $250,000 apiece. (However, Bezos and other space tourism experts believe the cost of such trips will go down over time.) At the symposium, Bezos was asked whether he had considered some kind of raffle that would bestow a free ticket on some lucky winner. "That's a fascinating idea," Bezos said. "We have not spent a lot of time thinking about that. But I kind of like that idea So yeah, maybe we should do something like that." Regarding the price of those first tickets, Bezos said the company is "working on that, and we'll figure something out but it's not an urgent thing." He said the company won't begin selling tickets until it has completed a series of human test flights with Blue Origin astronauts. The level of customer demand may deeply influence those ticket prices, but Bezos said it's still difficult to anticipate that interest. "You can do research and surveys, and ask people if they want to go, but it's really hard to know," he said. "We're really close to finding out what the customer demand will be, but I think nobody knows that for sure yet. "You know, I've thrown parties that nobody came to," he added. "And I don't think that's going to be the case here. I'm superoptimistic. But the customers get to decide what the flight rates are. I hope they decide they want to fly." Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Copenhagen (Denmark), April 11, 2017- In the response of the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Anders Samuelsen on Monday to various questions related to Western Sahara in the Danish Parliament mainly about the trial of 24 activists from Gdeim Izik, in Sale near Rabat in Morocco and the holding of the Crans Montana Forum for the third time its annual session in the city of Dakhla in the Moroccan-occupied territories of Western Sahara from 16-21 March 2017. Related to the Gdeim Izik group trial, Mr. Samuelsen Said: The government is aware of the case against the 24 prisoners from Gdeim Izik, and we follow the case via the EU delegation in Morocco, who has been present during the trials. The Danish government general believe that civilians should be tried at civilian courts. The Danish Embassy in Rabat participates in visits to Western Sahara together with the other Nordic countries on a regular basis, most recently in February 2017. Denmark raises questions in regard to human rights also with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat. With regard to the issue of Crans Montana forums third session in occupied Western Sahara, the Danish Minister Said:Yes, I am familiar with the meeting of the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla. Neither I nor any other member of the Danish government took part in the meeting. It is generally accepted that the UN supervises the international efforts to achieve a political solution to the Western Sahara conflict. The best way in which Denmark can contribute to a solution is therefore to continue to support the efforts of the UN. (SPS) 062/090 24 Harbor Point Road: Zona Roastery and Cafe, a new high-end coffee shop, will open up in Harbor Point this summer. Nestled on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Harbor Point Road, the coffee shop will offer about 50 seats on the main floor, which will resemble a traditional coffee shop. On the mezzanine level, there will be private conference rooms and media rooms available to customers. In addition to locally sourced and high-end coffee and tea, all ground and brewed on site, Zona will offer breakfast, lunch and light dinner menus. The Harbor Point cafe will be the first Zona location, and owner JP Gagne said he hopes to expand to neighboring cities and Miami after the first location gets off the ground. Its no surprise that sleep and memory have a strong relationship. However, in a recent study, researchers from the University of Michigan discovered further information about the critical role sleep plays in learning and memory formation. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveal the negative impact that sleep deprivation has on the region of the brains hippocampus called the CA1. The hippocampus is responsible for forming long-term memories. Related: Not Getting Enough Sleep? Blame Your Job. Although its long been known that sleep has a direct connection to memory formation and other brain functions, what makes this new research stand out from previous studies is that it points to the exact location in the brain that sleep deprivation affects. By conducting a series of experiments on mice, the researchers made a number of discoveries about how a lack of sleep interferes with the rhythm of neuronal firing, also called oscillations, which inhibits long-term memory formation. To better understand and assess the brain activities of a group of mice, researchers moved the mice from their home environments to a foreign setting, then issued them mild foot shocks as they explored the new area. When they returned the mice to their home cages to rest, the researchers observed that the mice that got an adequate amount of sleep after the experience had stronger oscillations in the CA1, compared to sleep-deprived mice. Related: 18 Science-Backed Sleep Tips to Make You More Productive That showed the researchers that adequate sleep is correlated with strong oscillations in the CA1. Their next step was to uncover the extent to which oscillations in this area of the brain relate to memory formation. They gave a new group of mice a small dose of a drug that prevents neurons in the CA1 from expressing the protein parvalbumin, a process that naturally occurs with sleep deprivation and weakens CA1 oscillations. Then, when they put the mice back in an environment where they had received foot shocks previously, the mice did not demonstrate that they had any memory of having been in that environment before. They didnt act fearful of being shocked again. These findings challenge scientists current understanding of memory formation. Memories, these researchers found, are not stored in single cells, but in a neural network. It also indicated a direct relationship between sleep and learning or memory formation. Related: 12 Gadgets to Help You Sleep Better "It seems like this population of neurons that is generating rhythms in the brain during sleep is providing some informational content for reinforcing memories, said senior study author Sara Aton, an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan, in an interview with Medical News Today. The rhythm itself seems to be the most critical part, and possibly why you need to have sleep in order to form these memories." Related: New Study Reveals Why Sleep Deprivation Makes People More Forgetful Not Getting Enough Sleep? Blame Your Job. New Study Reveals That 'Night Owls' May Have a Special Genetic Variant Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved B HP Billitons refusal to act on activist hedge fund Elliotts shopping list of demands has failed to dent investor hopes for a Unilever-esque shake-up of the group. The miners London shares rose by another 1% today, up 12.5p to 1328p, adding to a 4% gain yesterday, suggesting investors are banking on chief executive Andrew Mackenzie taking action despite giving Elliott the cold shoulder yesterday. He has reportedly hired Goldman Sachs to help fend off Elliott. The US hedge fund wants BHP to spin off its US oil trading arm and move to a single corporate structure, with a holding company in Australia instead of a dual structure in London and Sydney, to make it more tax efficient and improve shareholder returns. BHP yesterday said the costs would outweigh the benefits. But parallels with Unilever, which is reviewing its dual-headed legal structure after fending off a takeover bid from 3G Capital and Warren Buffett, have seen investors pile in on hopes Mackenzie will be forced to do something. Elliott said BHPs dual structure was one of only five left globally. T he former owner of Jaeger has criticised Jon Moultons Better Capital over its running of the fashion chain a day after the company collapsed into administration. Harold Tillman, who owned the company between 2003 and 2012, said Better Capital failed to hire anyone who understood the DNA of Jaeger to lead the business since myself and [current Marks & Spencer style director] Belinda Earl departed. The most recent chief executive [Chris Horobin] started to make improvements, but obviously Better Capital couldnt support him, Tillman added, noting it made profits for eight years under his stewardship. Better Capital did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jaeger has appointed AlixPartners as administrators, putting around 700 jobs at risk. Horobin is understood to have left the business. AlixPartners said Jaeger was unable to attract suitable offers despite a lengthy and well-publicised sales process. Last month Better Capital sold Jaegers debt to a mystery buyer, believed to be Peacocks owner Edinburgh Woollen Mill, for 7 million. Better Capital, which bought Jaeger for 19.5 million and invested more, made a loss of around 62 million on the business. L ets be clear: the Libor rigging done by Alex Pabon, Tom Hayes and other jailed traders is very different from what the Bank of England is alleged to have ordered. Pabon, Hayes and co were colluding to shift the benchmark up or down to boost their bonus prospects. Simple fraud, which they must, or should have, known was wrong. The Bank, on the other hand, is suspected of trying to get lenders to lower the rate to make it look like the financial crisis was not as disastrous as it actually was. Give the impression banks are still lending to each other and you might prevent them collapsing like dominoes. A confidence trick, sure, but with the noble aim of saving the world. As it happened, the plan didnt work: a lick of fake Libor paint couldnt disguise the gaping cracks in the banking system. But, for all the new, and not-so-new, revelations about their actions on the BBC last night, deputy Bank governor Sir Paul Tucker, Sir Jeremy Heywood, the civil service chief, and their minions, were acting with the interests of the country at heart. Not trying to bag themselves a Porsche. That said, despite his dishonest reasons for rigging Libor, Pabon makes a good point today. The easy manner in which Libor was ordered to be manipulated, either by senior bankers or top regulators, suggests it was widely known and accepted that this key benchmark was utterly fakeable. That makes it increasingly unlikely that the junior bankers who have been dragged through the courts were acting without the knowledge or blessing of their superiors. Im not keen on endlessly digging over events in the City a decade and more ago. Particularly when Libor was such a tiny part of the wider dishonesty going on in the global banking system. But, while relatively junior bankers are languishing in jail, including Hayes on an 11-year stretch, it seems only just that we have a proper investigation, led by a QC with proper investigatory powers, into who knew what about this shabby affair. Europe exports vital It would be churlish not to cheer for a 13% increase in Heathrows freight growth, particularly when so much was driven by non-EU destinations like Mexico, Brazil and India. But, although the direction of travel is positive for Brexit, air cargo makes up a fraction of total freight volumes. And, while China and India exports were up 9%, Heathrow exports to the EU were still growing stronger by 13% and from a bigger base. With 44% of our exports heading to the EU, Britains economy will always rely on Europe more than anywhere else. T he City rolled out the red carpet for AIM-listed Victoria earlier, judging that what is good enough for the Duchess of Cambridge is good enough for the Square Mile. The flooring specialist, which made the carpet laid on the steps of Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding in 2011, revealed that underlying pre-tax profits will be comfortably ahead of what analysts had pencilled in for the year ending April 1. The firm added that it has spent a significant amount of time and energy on identifying acquisition opportunities in existing markets, which include Ireland and Australia. Shares in the business rose 1.6p, or more than 2%, to 78.85p. Also rising on the junior market today was Majestic Wine, despite the booze retailer announcing the departure of John Colley, managing director of its stores arm, who will leave at the end of May. He has decided to step down to take a new role closer to his young children in the South of England. Wayne Brown, analyst at Liberum Capital, called the departure disappointing. But he added: One should not see this as a strategic step back. John has put in place systems, processes and a team in the retail business that had not previously existed. The heavy-lifting has been done and the business is in a much stronger position. The City continued to drink up shares in the retailer, up 5.75p to 367.5p. Investors were also keen on Zinc Media Group which said it has appointed Roy Ackerman as managing director of its TV subsidiary Films of Record. The production company, whose subsidiary Reef Television is behind shows such as Sarah Beenys Selling Houses, said he will help the business to grow. The shares rose 0.07p, or more than 5%, to 1.27p. The FTSE 100 was buoyed by miners, as the rising gold price encouraged investors to buy into Randgold Resources, Fresnillo and Rio Tinto. The blue-chip index advanced 19.15 points to 7368.09. On the FTSE 250, Balfour Beatty got a boost as Bank of America Merrill Lynch upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral, citing improved confidence in US, UK and Hong Kong margin recovery. Shares jumped 13.8p to 284.4p. O nly 24 hours after claiming it had no knowledge of improper payments to a convicted money-launderer over a $1.3 billion (1.1 billion) oil field acquisition in Nigeria, Shell has admitted it had known it was dealing with the controversial figure but doing so was the only way to resolve [an] impasse. The oil scandal involves former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete, whose company Malabu bought the nine-billion-barrel OPL 245 field off the coast of Nigeria for just $2 million while he was in his government post. Shell and its Italian partner ENI then bought the field from the Nigerian government in 2011 for $1.3 billion, with more than $1 billion being passed onto a company controlled by Etete, according to Italian prosecutors. Etete who was convicted of money-laundering in an unrelated case denies wrongdoing. Emails revealed Shells executives were negotiating directly with Etete for a year before the deal was finalised with the oil majors then-chief executive Peter Voser included in some correspondence. Shell yesterday said: If improper payments were made to then-government officials in exchange for improper conduct relating to the 2011 settlement of the long-standing legal disputes none of those payments were made with [Shells] knowledge, authorisation or on its behalf. Today, however, Shell said it had made repeated attempts to fully establish and understand Malabus ownership structure, including the exact role of Mr Etete, over several years, until it became clear to us that Etete was involved in Malabu and that the only way to resolve the impasse was to engage with Etete and Malabu. We knew the [Nigerian government] would compensate Malabu to settle its claim on the block. We believe that the settlement was a fully legal transaction. T oshiba has plunged to a loss of $4.8 billion (3.9 billion) and warned its future is in jeopardy. The Japanese electronics giant is embroiled in an accounting scandal and at risk of being removed from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The reported loss, for the nine months from last April to December, had been long delayed. The company missed deadlines in February and March to produce the figures, an embarrassment to Toshiba president Satoshi Tsunakawa. Even these figures have not been approved by the firms auditors. According to local media, Toshiba is close to selling its memory-chip business to Taiwans Foxconn for $27 billion. Financial regulators have given the company more time to assess the impact of huge losses at its US nuclear unit Westinghouse Electric, which filed for bankruptcy protection last month. There are events and circumstances that may bring about significant questions about the idea of [carrying on] as a going concern, the firm said. Shares fell 2% before the results were released. T he disclosure that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will use his meeting in Moscow tomorrow to spell out Americas ambition to have President Assad prosecuted as a war criminal marks a further intensification of the diplomatic pressure being exerted on Russias Vladimir Putin to end his support for the Syrian dictator. It follows Mr Tillersons even more far-reaching pledge yesterday that his country will hold to account all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world and indicates his country is now determined to follow up its missile strike against Assads Shayrat airbase with an intensive effort to achieve a regime change in Syria, which until last week had seemed off its agenda. All this is commendable and a welcome indication that the Trump administration, catapulted into action by the horrors of chemical weapons, is now willing to exert a positive role in addressing the worlds troubles, rather than standing aside in America First isolationism. The question now is how much Mr Putin will listen? At first sight, the Russian Presidents apparent decision to leave his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to handle discussions with Mr Tillerson rather than meeting the US foreign policy chief himself appears less than encouraging. So too does the dismissive rhetoric being directed at Russias critics from the Kremlin and its supporters, while reports from the G7 summit in Lucca that Boris Johnson is facing opposition to the robust sanctions against Russia that he seeks, is deeply disappointing and unhelpful. America must not be deterred, however, and can still achieve its goal by convincing Mr Putin that President Assad has become not just a liability but an obstacle to US and Russian co-operation in the fight against Islamic State, which both agree remains a priority, and constructive relations between the two superpowers on other issues. Some of this will require subtlety and a change in tone from the diplomatic blasts of the past few days, which will allow Mr Putin to change tack without appearing to be following US edicts. Time will be needed too if President Assad is to be eased out without creating a dangerous void. But though the stakes are high, this is a battle that must be won. More knowledge, please The news today of a multi-million-pound scheme in which the architect Richard Rogers will help to transform Londons Knowledge Quarter around St Pancras is exciting further testimony to this citys continuing ability to push forward amid the backdrop of Brexit. The revamp will include an extension to the British Library and a new bespoke headquarters for the Alan Turing Institute, the national centre for data science research, as well as new space for businesses that want to base themselves close to these institutions and other cultural and scientific organisations, such as the Francis Crick Institute and Google. All this is excellent news. Innovation is already critical to this citys success and will be even more vital in future, not least in the digital and scientific fields. Enhancing existing facilities and creating new ones at which the worlds best brains can generate new ideas can only help. The Bush in the desert The search for new British export ideas in the wake of the Brexit vote has taken an unusual twist with the revelation that an Omani sheikh is building a replica of Shepherds Bush and the Westfield centre in his own country. Sheikh Fahad Abdullah Al Araimi, who has been inspired by his trips to west London, promises water features, fine dining, English landscaping and roads to the new complex. We can only hope he takes the traffic jams too. T he columnist Rachel Johnson, among others, has some advice for me in the New Statesman before I begin my new job as editor of Radio 4s Today programme. She says Today cannot not be improved upon. Nobody welcomes change to national institutions which speak for us and yet change must come. I have been reading with intense interest the new professional memoir by Nicholas Hytner, Balancing Acts, about his time running the National Theatre. He publishes his application for the job, which is a good template for those wanting to make a splash in the creative industries. As a nation we think we know who we were but we need to find out what were becoming, he says. We talk passionately about renewing our audience: we wonder how we can attract a more heterogeneous crowd. We worry about marketing, ticketing prices, image. It all matters, but in the end its only on our stages that we can galvanise new audiences. He ends with an insight on how to get it right. The self-confidence of the Elizabethan theatres was nothing to do with their official status they were daring, disreputable and sceptical of authority. We share with them an audience thirsty for adventure, anxious to discuss what it means to be part of a society thats in a state of permanent reinvention and looking for a really good time. Hytner wears the burden of institutional office lightly. His first showcase production was Mother Claps Molly House. He also directed definitive productions of Shakespeare. Its all in the mix. But the hallmarks are intelligence, showmanship and ambition. The demands of staging Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials almost wreck Hytner but it is a triumph on the night. You have to take imaginative risks. The commercial hits during Hytners tenure included a horse puppet and a reworking of an 18th-century Venetian comedy called Servant of Two Masters. No commercial algorithm could have produced these hits. As Hytner says, the audience knows what they like but not until they see it. The only common theme between the hits, The History Boys, War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and One Man Two Guvnors, is that they were set outside London. The National Theatre spoke for the nation. There is a wistful anecdote that Hytner tells of being locked out of his own backstage celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre because he had borrowed a pass that does not work. He uses this to plant an image of himself as an outsider. Nothing makes me happier than to throw a party and choose to sit on the edge of it. It may be that creative figures need a degree of separation in order to freshly observe and evaluate. But more than that, it is a model of leadership. I am suspicious of heads who need to be the centre of attention. Power should not be showy. The final wisdom from this book is reconciling ambition with realism. You start with a vision and you deliver a compromise, writes Hytner. In a time of national reinvention, we should look to the arts for inspiration. Its showtime. Forget the furore, Hirsts underwater show is a wonder Thats deep: Damien Hirst walks around Sphinx at his Venice exhibition Treasures From The Wreck Of The Unbelievable / Getty Images The great showman of the art world is Damien Hirst and he has annoyed some of the critics. In a sense, Hirst is the fourth Brexiteer, going out to claim the world. His exhibition in Venice is pure chutzpah. The works take up two major galleries. Everyone is talking about it. Hirsts determination to colonise the whole of antiquity and mythology is painful to some scholars. Who does he think he is, the British Museum? The idiotic story that his collection was found at the bottom of the sea is distracting. But do not underestimate how spirit-reviving this exhibition is. To arrive by boat in Venice and find it packed with the worlds art critics, weeks before the Biennale is a giddy experience. Thats our boy! What a crowd-puller. And some of the work is lovely as well as witty. The more modest works are especially pretty. I predict that the show will be an enormously popular success and the critical controversy only makes punters more curious. Lib-Dems need a name change Richard Dawkins suggests that the Liberal Democrats should change their name to the European Party. The Lib-Dems are sensitive about identity politics, having just come out of coalition. Plus, Limehouse at the Donmar Warehouse is too sharp a reminder of what happened when the Social Democratic Party was born. But the Liberal Democrats lack a grand purpose at the moment. What distinguishes them from the main parties is a united position on Europe. Everyone would know what they are for and it would be a rallying cause of the 48 per cent. Suddenly, there would be a structure to opposition. See how effective Europe was as a vote winner for the Lib-Dems in Richmond. If I were them, I would do it. * At the final of University Challenge, Stephen Hawking praised the survival of human intelligence. I spent last weekend with some scientists, including one working on artificial intelligence. The race is on to improve intelligence and performance. Frankly, a machine brain would be an advance because wed learn from our mistakes. Once perfected, the idea is we colonise the rest of space with intelligence. In the meantime, University Challenge is a gallant attempt by humans to keep the upper hand. I ts quite an irony that the US missile strikes on Syria, justified by President Trump because children were among the victims of the recent chemical attack, killed four more children. Typically, our Government considers the US response to be appropriate. How many times must we go here? Tony Blair took us to war in Iraq where hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives while David Cameron is considered to be responsible for the rise of Islamic State with regards to Libya. The hypocrisy of pro-war MPs is sickening. For two years, British-made bombs have been falling as part of a Saudi-led coalition at war in Yemen. The same coalition is blocking aid into the country, where four out of five people need emergency assistance and children are being starved to death. The chemical attack was a terrible war crime and the perpetrators should be held to account. But how can the Government justify bringing President Assad to account when it supplies arms to repressive regimes? Our intervention in the Middle East has not made the region safer, nor will it bring about peace. Julie Partridge When diplomacy fails we have to resort to military intervention so said the Lib-Dems Tim Farron last week. But we have had little attempt at diplomacy in Syria. When the conflict was about six months old, the Government declared that President Assad had lost his legitimacy. It never explicitly called for regime change in Damascus but that is what it meant by political transition. Its claim to be working for negotiations with Assad was a complete fraud, given that he could not be involved in negotiations until he had agreed to step down. That is why this catastrophe has lasted six years, with no end in sight. Brendan OBrien I agree with Patrick Cockburn [Syria air strikes are good for Trump but wont win the war, April 7] that the American cruise missile attack on the airbase in Syria will not in itself alter the balance of power in the country. It will, however, certainly make Assad think twice before unleashing chemical weapons on his own people again. Air power is also Assads strongest suit. This is the first sensible decision Trump has made since becoming President. Stan Labovitch We still do not know for certain who was behind the gas attack in Syria and it was therefore naive of the US to use its rockets to attack the nearby airbase. All this will do is strengthen opposition forces, including the so-called Islamic State, and result in more deaths among the countrys innocent citizens. I weep for the Syrian people. David Reed In response to Sir Simon Jenkins The Met Police is up for a debate about policing, and welcomes the views of "critical friends" like the Evening Standard. But Sir Simon Jenkins piece on Tuesday was based on a number of inaccuracies. Sir Simon suggests the Met has to choose whether its boss is the Home Secretary or the people of London. In fact, most of our accountability is to the Mayor of London, as Police and Crime Commissioner. Thats why the Met has been working closely with Sadiq Khan on the Police and Crime Plan, which sets out priorities for the years ahead. Sir Simon says the Mets "pay and archaic practices are protected". Hes obviously missed the major changes to police pensions in April 2015, the pay freezes and then one per cent increase for officers. The Met championed direct entry for people from other professions as senior officers and we created Police Now which allows new graduates to come in for two years into community policing. Mr Jenkins says "police demanded more money" after Westminster. The Met did no such thing and nor did policing nationally. He says there is "no sense of priorities for gang violence and computer fraud". Not only is this referenced in the plan, your own reporting has covered the gang-busting tactics from our Trident unit which has ensured that more than 1,000 gang members are currently in prison. And we have a whole unit dedicated to combatting cyber-crime. We didnt "exonerate our own staff in the 'Plebgate' affair", we dismissed four of them and one went to prison based on our evidence. We didnt spend 30 million on Operation Midland. We dont have 107 "multifarious specialist units" and we dont have a "para-military outfit called Operation Hercules". We have, however, doubled the amount of police officers dedicated to neighbourhood policing. We have brought down the number of crimes affecting most people like burglary and theft and we have worked hard with the security services to protect London from terrorists. Sir Simon is right raise concerns about a recent rise in knife crime, as indeed have we. Hes right to recognise the limitations of law enforcement in tackling the roots of gang violence and terrorism. But the Met would have been derelict in our duty had we not responded to the Paris attack by strengthening our ability to protect Londoners from attackers with automatic weapons. Martin Fewell, director of media for Met Police Join the conversation: #esnewsviews Emissions zone is all about money As a first-time diesel car buyer who thought I was doing the right thing after Gordon Brown lowered car tax for diesels, I am now suspicious that the Mayors Ultra Low Emission Zone is not just about cleaner air but also about raising revenue. There are innovative products which can significantly reduce nitrogen dioxide at a low cost but these are being conveniently ignored. Does the Mayor want to tackle diesel or not? Jason Mochine It is unacceptable that taxpayers have been subsidising diesel car usage for many years. But it will compound the iniquity if they are expected to pay even more money because it turns out that they have been polluting the environment. If there is any compensation to be paid, it should be given to those who breathed in the noxious fumes. Julien Hofer I concur with Fred McBrowns comments [Letters, April 7] concerning the exemption of black cabs from planned pollution charges. However, I would go further and ban all cabs from the Royal Parks. My observation is that taxis and private hire vehicles make up a huge proportion of traffic and the parks should not be used as rat runs by commercial vehicles. Stephen Dunkin Join the conversation: #escleancityviews Garcia triumph was simply wonderful Even though we had an Englishman, Justin Rose, in the Masters play-off on Sunday night, I must confess that I cheered on Sergio Garcia and was delighted when he won. Those who persevere deserve to be rewarded, so after playing in 74 Majors and appearing for the 19th time at the Masters, it was great to see Garcia finally win that elusive green jacket. It was a fitting tribute to the late Seve Ballesteros that on his 60th birthday a fellow Spaniard would win at Augusta. He would have been proud of the way Garcia rallied after appearing to lose his way in the final round. Im just sad it is over. L Beardwell Join the conversation: #essportviews The news that Edward Enninful, one of the fashion industrys most exciting stylists, is to take the reins at Vogue has lit a fuse under Britains magazine industry. The appointment, confirmed yesterday, ended weeks of speculation as those who crave a major shake-up from the publishing world wondered if Conde Nast could be brave enough to place a gay, working-class black man at the helm of its most important and blue-blooded magazine title. It marks a turning point for the Conde Nast empire, with the magazine looking to a stylist and image maker to lead it into the 21st century. Championed by Anna Wintour, editorial director across all of the publishing houses titles as well as editor-in-chief of US Vogue, Enninful is the first choice for a magazine entering a more commercial phase. Edward Enninful - in pictures 1 /21 Edward Enninful - in pictures Edward Enninful with Naomi Campbell after he received his Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) at Buckingham Palace on October 27, 2016 Getty Images Edward Enninful and Jourdan Dunn at a Diane von Furstenberg dinner Rex Features Naomi Campbell, Steven Klein, Edward Enninful, Laverne Cox, Stefano Tonchi at The Daily Front Row awards on September 5, 2014 Getty Images for the Daily Front Row Lewis Hamilton and Edward Enninful at the Balmain Aftershow Dinner on March 5, 2015 Getty Images For Balmain Stefano Tonchi, Edward Enninful and Giovanna Battaglia at the Brandon Maxwell show during New York Fashion Week on February 14, 2017 Getty Images for New York Fashion Week: The Shows Venetia Scott and Edward Enninful at Edward Enninful's OBE dinner at Mark's Club on October 27, 2016 Dave Benett Edward Enninful, Coco Rocha, Seslie Lopez and Raquel Zimmerman watch the photos that were taken to create a flipbook during the screening of Coco Rocha: She's A Genius on September 10, 2009 Courtney Love and Edward Enninful at the Prada Resort show on May 7, 2017 Getty Images for Prada Edward Enninful and Creative Director of La Perla Julia Haart backstage during New York Fashion Week on February 9, 2017 Getty Images Edward Enninful and Naomi Campbell attend the British Fashion Awards on December 1, 2014 Getty Images Stefano Tonchi, Claire Danes and Edward Enninful attend The Daily Front Row awards on September 5, 2014 Getty Images for the Daily Front Derek Blasberg and Edward Enninful arrive at the Fenty x Puma by Rihanna show during Paris Fashion Week on September 28, 2016 Getty Images for Fenty x Puma Edward Enninful and Anna Ewers at the 2015 CLIO Awards at The Plaza Hotel on May 5, 2015 Getty Images Naomi Campbell and Edward Enninful at the Met Gala on May 1, 2017 Getty Images For Entertainment Weekly Kerry Washington and Edward Enninful at the Accessories Council ACE Awards on November 3, 2014 Getty Images for ACE Awards Edward Enninful at the Prada Iconoclasts by Edward Enninful during Milan Fashion Week on February 20, 2014 Getty Images The news comes a week after Elle chose stylist Anne-Marie Curtis, formerly fashion director at the publication as editor-in-chief, marking a shift for the Hearst publishing house which has long placed journalists in its top jobs. The changes are the latest in a line of recent strategic manoeuvres at both of the UKs key publishing houses. Queen of Hearst The departure of Lorraine Candy at Elle and imminent exit of Alexandra Shulman at Vogue (shes leaving after 25 years) meant two huge vacancies. Alexandra Shulman - in pictures 1 /13 Alexandra Shulman - in pictures Alexandra Shulman and Model Kate Moss at the Business of Fashion Gala Dinner on September 19, 2016 Dave Benett The Duchess of Cambridge with Alexandra Shulman and Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Nicholas Cullinan at the "Vogue 100: A Century of Style" exhibition on 4 May 2016 Ian Gavan/AFP/Getty Images Kim Kardashian West and Alexandra Shulman at British Vogue's Centenary gala dinner at Kensington Gardens on 23 May 2016 Dave Benett Alexandra Shulman, Victoria Beckham and Anna Wintour attend the launch of "Vogue: Voice Of A Century" on 18 September 2016 Dave Benett Alexandra Shulman signing copies of her latest book 'Inside Vogue: A Diary of my 100th year' at Selfridges on 28 November 2016 Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images Alexandra Shulman and Mario Testino in the winners room after winning the award for 100 Years of British Vogue at The Fashion Awards 2016 on 5 December Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images Jasmine Guinness, Alexandra Shulman and Laura Bailey at the launch of the new Design Museum on 22 November 2016 Dave Benett/Getty Images Alexandra Shulman and Valentino at the preview of The Glamour of Italian Fashion exhibition at Victoria & Albert Museum on 1 April 2014 Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Alexandra Shulman at the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on 1 December 2014 Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Christopher Bailey and Alexandra Shulman at Vogue and Burberry's cocktail reception as part of 'Fashion's Night Out' on 10 September 2009 Chris Jackson/Getty Images Hearst was first to fill the gap, last week promoting Curtis, who has been at the fashion title for 12 years, to replace Candy. Curtis, who helped launch Wallpaper*, was the very first appointment of Hearsts new CEO, James Wildman. Elle magazines new editor, Anne-Marie Curtis / Joe Schildhorn/BFA/Rex Elle itself hailed the appointment of Curtis as one bold and brilliant leap for womankind - word is Curtis was backed by Hearsts US queen, the former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief and recently promoted chief content officer Joanna Coles. CEO Wildman tells the Standard, the calibre of applicants for the role was strong but Anne-Marie was the outstanding candidate. Everyones Edward Enninful, currently style director at W Magazine, was scouted as a model before becoming fashion director of i-D mag at 18, scooping up contributing editorships at Italian Vogue and an OBE last October. Edward is an inspired choice, says Susannah Frankel, editor-in-chief of Another magazine. He will make a very beautiful magazine. Hes great with writers, great with everyone in fact. Fashion photographer Nick Knight has known him since he was 16. Jonathan Newhouse [Conde Nast Internationals CEO] would have pushed for Edward, he respects what he does. Hes a charmer with a rebellious streak: He certainly doesnt blend into the background, Knight laughs. Hes a very big character but very caring too. On a human level, hes a very lovely man, and thats part of his success. Edward Enninful and model Jourdan Dunn / Billy Farrell/BFA/Rex Fashion PR supremo Daniel Marks, chief creative officer at The Communications Store, is in awe on a creative front: With Edward we are in the hands of an incredible visual magician, he says. Antony Miles, chief creative officer of agency Creative and Partners, adds: Everyone said a man would never edit British Vogue. [Enninful] will make it iconic again. Among his achievements is Vogue Italias globally renowned Black Issue - an edition printed in 2008 and so successful Conde Nast was forced to print another 40,000 copies - and it is his ability to rid fashion publishing of its elitism. The more diversity we see in fashion the better, agrees Knight, but hell bring that without having to think about it. Show me the money Just a few days before the news of Shulmans Vogue exit Nicholas Coleridge, Conde Nast Internationals president of 26 years, announced hes becoming chairman. From August, Wolfgang Blau, currently Conde Nast Internationals chief digital officer, becomes president; at Hearst, the appointment of former Trinity Mirror numbers man Wildman was notable not for the fact that the 50-year-old hadnt worked in magazines but for his digital and broadcast experience. As Wildman tells the Standard, digital is a 10 billion industry in the UK and we feel there is a huge opportunity for bold growth. With concerns about brand safety, ad fraud and transparency, our brands can be seen as beacons of trust in the digital landscape. The digital strategies for both Hearst and Conde Nast are already well established, believes Anna Jones, Wildmans predecessor who stepped down in February after three years to co-found all-female investment business, All Bright. She points out Hearsts digital footprint is extensive in the UK, with a wider reach than big players such as Channel 4 and Pinterest, and reckons Wildman, a leader with strong digital credentials, will ensure further development and growth. At Conde Nast, Enninfuls ability to speak to the Instagram crowd was part of his allure. Vogue realised online has more power than its print sales figures, says Knight. Edward doesnt fear social media. Enninful with former American Vogue creative director Grace Coddington / Matteo Prandoni/BFA/Rex For Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou, owner and editor-in-chief of 10 Magazine, the emergence of stylists as editor-in-chiefs is not the revolutionary act many think it is. Its important to remember Anna Wintour was a fashion editor not a journalist before taking up her editorship, Franca Sozzani was also a visual person. Its about striking a balance. Neophitou-Apostolou, a huge supporter of Enninful, counts his appointment as a milestone in the history of British Vogue. The ad world will be super-excited about both new editors. Brands are connected to stylists that understand the process of image-making because they trust their ability to communicate their message. At W, Enninful boosted the titles commercial value - ads pages went up a record 16 per cent in his first year. Pictures vs words Curtis and Enninful come from styling backgrounds. The move from journos to editors is nothing more than a reflection of our time, notes Sharmadean Reid, former sportswear editor at Arena Homme Plus. Image is stronger than text. But that shouldnt mean quality journalism falls by the wayside. Enniful brings with him experience gained in the hard-hitting world of the US glossy. Reid adds: I hope his celebration of powerful women will stop us seeing the usual blonde, privileged stick-thin daughters of famous people who have vanity projects. When we look back in 20 years time at his issues, I hope theyre a true snapshot of the cultural world we live in. Friends in high places Among Enninfuls close friends is Naomi Campbell - the pair have known each other since teenage years, and was with him at Buckingham Palace to receive his OBE in October, and Kate Moss, who celebrated via the Instagram account of her talent agency. A host of major photographers, casting agents and respected industry super forces also expressed excitement at the appointment. Curtis is more low-key but no less loved. Shes dressed endless celebs, from Lupita Nyongo to Kylie Jenner and has the support of a host of British designers - see Erdem and Roksanda - who appreciate her for her astute understanding of their aesthetics. The A teams Curtis isnt worried about mass exits: she inherits an established team which includes deputy editor Lotte Jeffs (who was also in the running for the job) and fashion director Kenya Hunt, a New Yorker. Charlotte Dellal, Arizona Muse, winner of the Fashion Directors Woman of the Year award, and Anne-Marie Curtis at last years Elle Style Awards / Nick Harvey/Rex Vogue promises to be a completely different proposition - Edward embodies all that London should be in the future. The magazine has more possibilities in his hands, says Neophitou-Apostolou. Drastic change will undoubtedly spell the end for members of the team created to fit Shulmans mould and, the fashion industry hopes, some exciting new appointments. Carole White adds: Hell modernise things. Why does it always have to be posh girls working [at Vogue?] This will break down the class barriers. Theres also the hope that hell address the lack of diversity in British fashion. While fashion brands have long been criticised for their inability to represent a host of ethnicities, the lack of diversity in the publishing side of the industry is an open secret thats rarely discussed. Glossy HQs After months of uncertainty - and fear of being relocated from Soho to outer city suburbia - Hearsts staffers were delighted to learn that a new home in Leicester Square awaits them next year. The office block, strolling distance from Dover Street Market, the British Fashion Council HQ at Somerset House, will bring all the Hearst titles under one roof, ending the struggle for space that has long plagued the publishing house. Hopes are high for Hearsts new London base to take notes from its glossy New York HQ. I t was the first sculpture to grace the fourth plinth but Mark Wallingers work Ecce Homo has now found a new home on the steps of St Pauls. The work showing Christ with his hands bound behind his back and with a crown of barbed wire was installed in front of the cathedral this morning. The move, 18 years after it was seen in Trafalgar Square, is a collaboration between the artist, the cathedral and campaign group Amnesty International to highlight the plight of prisoners of conscience around the world. Wallinger, who won the Turner Prize in 2007 for his recreation of a peace protest camp in Parliament Square, said: This vulnerable figure stands at the top of the steps outside the entrance to St Pauls Cathedral as we approach Easter to highlight the plight of people around the world who are imprisoned and whose lives are threatened for speaking the truth, for what they believe. Mark Wallinger with the Ecce Homo statue at St Paul's Cathedral / Jeremy Selwyn It is an enormous privilege to work with St Pauls and Amnesty International to shine a light on human rights abuses. It will remain in place on the steps until May 22. Kate Allen, director of Amnesty, said: The story of Christ arrested, tortured and executed for peacefully expressing his opinions and for challenging the authorities of the time still resonates around the world today. The sculpture is a strikingly vulnerable figure and is representative of the type of cases that we at Amnesty still work on the oppressed individual caused to suffer simply for their beliefs. E verybody judges. Within a few seconds of seeing someone whether on a date or at the grocery store we decide on numerous things about them, from how smart they are to how likely they are to commit a crime. Surprisingly, our first impressions can be remarkably accurate in some instances. In others, they can be wildly off base. Here are a few of the things we determine about people based on how they look. If you're attractive, people assume you have other positive traits as well. Thanks to a phenomenon that social psychologists call "the halo effect," we tend to assume that good-looking people possess other positive qualities aside from their looks, such as intelligence and commitment. Daniel Hamermesh, a University of Texas at Austin psychologist who studies beauty in the workplace, found that, among other things, this cognitive bias means good-looking people tend to get paid more. Similarly, in a study of male undergrads who were asked to evaluate an essay written by an unnamed female peer, the participants judged the writer and her work more favourably when they were shown a photo of an attractive woman whom they believed to be the writer, as opposed to when they were shown a photo of an unattractive woman or no photo at all. People can also get a surprisingly accurate read of your personality from a photo. In a 2009 study, researchers showed participants the photos of 123 undergrads from the University of Texas at Austin in which the undergrads either were told to have a neutral expression or were allowed to pose however they wanted. No matter which position the people took, the viewers were better than chance at judging how extroverted the photographed people were, how high their self-esteem was, how religious they were, how agreeable they were, and how conscientious they were. People use facial clues about your height to judge your leadership abilities. In 2013, a group of psychologists, neuroscientists, and computer scientists from Europe and the US had a small group of participants look at portraits of 47 white men and 83 white women and evaluate them first on their height and next on their ability to lead. The researchers found that people used factors in the photos like gender and face length to make guesses about people's height and then used these same factors when they judged their leadership qualities. Faces that appeared to belong to taller people were rated as belonging to better leaders. Your facial structure can give people clues about how aggressive you are. A small recent study by researchers at the Center for Behavior Change at the University College London suggested that men with higher testosterone levels were (not surprisingly) more likely to have wider faces and larger cheekbones. Men with these facial features also tended to have more aggressive or status-driven personalities. Tinder's most attractive users - in pictures 1 /20 Tinder's most attractive users - in pictures These are Tinder's most popular singletons Tinder/Cosmpolitan Tom, 27, Events company owner Time on Tinder: 1 year, 2 months Matches a day: 10 Number of first dates: 5 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Stephen, 27, Business consultant Time on Tinder: 18 months Matches a day: 15 Number of first dates: 10 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Stefan, 26, Model and TV presenter Time on Tinder: 2 years Matches a day: 20 Number of first dates: 5 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Ryan, 27, Financial consultant Time on Tinder: 3 years, 7 months Matches a day: 4 Number of first dates: 18 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Rodney, 22, Sports student Time on Tinder: 3 years Matches a day: 15 Number of first dates: 3 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Rich, 28, Singer/songwriter Time on Tinder: 2 years Matches a day: 6 Number of first dates: 10 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Loui, 26, Entrepreneur Time on Tinder: 2 years Matches a day: 1 Number of first dates: 8 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Jay, 30, Model and personal trainer Time on Tinder: 4 years Matches a day: 5 Number of first dates: 6 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Jade, 24, Internal recruiter Time on Tinder: 2 years Matches a day: 5 Number of first dates: 13 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Holly, 21, Film student and model Time on Tinder: 8 months Matches a day: 10 Number of first dates: 1 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Daniel, 34, Gaming company director Time on Tinder: 6 months Matches a day: 5 Number of first dates: 15 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Arthur, 19, Musician Time on Tinder: 1 year, 6 months Matches a day: 6 Number of first dates: 3 Tinder/Cosmopolitan Cressida, 23, Fashion marketeer Time on Tinder: 1 year, 6 months Matches a day: 6 Number of first dates: 4 Tinder/Cosmopolitan The full feature appears in the February 2017 issue of Cosmopolitan People also use your facial structure to make judgments about how strong you are. In a 2015 study, scientists showed people photos of 10 different people with five different facial expressions and then asked them to rate how friendly, trustworthy, or strong the photographed person appeared. Not surprisingly, viewers tended to rank people with a happy expression as more friendly and trustworthy than those with angry expressions. They also tended to rate people with broad faces as stronger. If you look "untrustworthy," you're more likely to be seen as a criminal. It's unclear why some of us appear more trustworthy than others, but this quality may have life-changing consequences. Researchers from Israel and the UK had volunteers look at photos of men and women that had been randomly selected from two photo databases and rate the emotional state, personality traits, and criminal appearance of the people pictured. The first set of photos came from a police mugshot database; the second were controlled photos in which actors had been told to look happy, neutral, or angry. Regardless of where the photos had come from, people who were rated less trustworthy and more dominant also tended to be seen as criminals. In the controlled photos, angry faces were seen as the most criminal. How people perceive your face could be a life-and-death matter. A pair of University of Toronto psychologists recently collected photos of real inmates incarcerated after having been sentenced for first-degree murder for a study. Roughly half were serving life sentences; the other half were awaiting execution. Then the researchers had a group of participants look at the photos and rate the trustworthiness of the faces pictured on a scale from 1 (not at all trustworthy) to 8 (very trustworthy). Those who were rated as less trustworthy were more likely to be sentenced to death than those who looked more trustworthy. In the second part of that study, participants looked at photos of people previously convicted of murder but subsequently exonerated, usually on the basis of DNA evidence. In a disturbing twist, people who were rated less trustworthy were still more likely to have been sentenced to death, even though they were later found not guilty. Cognitive biases aside, how you look can sometimes indicate things about your health. Wrinkles, for example, can suggest heart problems. Pruney skin can reveal more than just age it may also tell us something about how our hearts are doing. A 2012 study compared the number of wrinkles on the faces and upper inner arms of a group of 261 people with long-lived parents to a random group of 253 people the same age. Women with the lowest risk of heart disease were described as looking more than two years younger than their age compared with those with the highest risk of heart disease. Other underlying health issues may be seen first in the eyes. Doctors can diagnose numerous conditions just from looking at your eyes. Red spots in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, can be a sign of diabetes. When blood-sugar levels get too high, this can block the blood vessels in the retina, causing them to swell and burst. Your face might not tell the whole story. For men, finger length has been tied with cancer risk. Scientists studied the finger lengths of 1,500 patients with prostate cancer and 3,000 healthy men over a period of 15 years by asking them to look at pictures of hands and choose one that resembled their own. Men who said their index fingers were the same length or longer than their ring fingers were one-third as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer over the course of the study as men whose index fingers were relatively shorter, and the effect was even larger for men under the age of 60. Keep in mind that the study was based on the men's reported finger length, not actual measurements, so further studies are likely needed to confirm the findings. And your height could reveal your risk of certain diseases. Studies suggest that taller people have a lower risk of heart disease, while shorter people may have lower rates of cancer. The effects are believed to do with the amount of growth hormone produced, which can protect against some diseases but increase the risk of others. The findings, however, do not necessarily mean that being tall or short will prevent you from getting either disease. Tanya Lewis contributed reporting to an earlier version of this story. T his morning, you may have heard talk about something called a 'Pink Moon', even though the colour looked perfectly normal. The full moon made an appearance at around 7am this morning and it looked like ... well ... a moon. So what is a Pink Moon? The moon does not actually look pink, but it's a name deriving from the Native American practice of naming each full moon to keep track of time. It happens when the moon is on the exact opposite side of the Earth as the sun. This particular April moon is named after wild ground phlox flowers, which bloom in the early spring across North America. What makes the Pink Moon special? This moon marks the start of festivals and holidays around the world. At this stage in the month, Hindus celebrate the Hanuman Jayanti festival, Jews celebrate Passover and one week later, Easter falls on the Spring Equinox. April Pink Moon 2017 - In pictures 1 /12 April Pink Moon 2017 - In pictures A plane flies over the 'Pink Moon' in London Jeremy Selwyn The 'Pink Moon' above Westminster Jeremy Selwyn A plane flies by a 'Pink Moon' above Westminster Jeremy Selwyn The 'Pink Moon' seen against the backdrop of Westminster Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn The moon at 99 per cent seen from Northumberland on Monday April, one day before today's full moon, also known as a Pink Moon Owen Humphreys/PA The Pink Moon sets just before dawn above the towers of the Second Severn Crossing between England and Wales over the Bristol Channel Ben Birchall/PA The Pink Moon is seen near Emley Moor transmitting station in Kirklees, West Yorkshire Danny Lawson/PA The Pink moon is seen through cherry blossom in Dublin PA What are the other full moons called? Wolf Moon (January), Snow Moon (February), Worm Moon (March), Flower Moon (May), Strawberry Moon (June), Buck Moon (July), Sturgeon Moon (August), Harvest Moon (September), Hunters Moon (October), Beaver Moon (November), Cold Moon (December). T he Galapagos Islands are world-renowned for their exceptional wildlife and landscapes that offer a time warp through natural history. Home to species only found on the islands, the evolutional variations of finches and tortoises were the starting point of Darwins legacy. By the very nature of the islands, they are not set up, nor should they be, for mass tourism - so you can be one of the lucky few to get to the islands. Here are my top 10 activities to do while you're there: 1. Go on a multi-day cruise The Beagle sail motorboat (Exerk.com) A week spent aboard a boat is the best way to access the islands and make the most of your time in the Galapagos. Cruises come in all shapes and sizes so research to suit your tastes and budget. A motor sailboat, like the 14-person Beagle sail motorboat, has excellent itineraries and makes for an authentic Darwin-esque journey. Pick the right itinerary and a cruise will tick off the items below and more. 2. Snorkel the coastlines A turtle off the Galapagos coast / Academy Bay Diving While some snorkel spots have a higher chance of seeing certain species, anywhere in The Galapagos will make for an action-packed insight into marine life. Rays, turtles, Galapagos sharks and a huge variety of fish are common around the islands. The lava tunnels in Isabela are one of the only places you can see seahorses these days. Keep your eyes out for penguins off the northwest of Isabela and hammerheads at Kicker Rock and Isla Genovesa. 3. Hike Volcan Sierra Negra The Sierra Negra caldera Sierra Negra, with its 10km diameter has the largest volcanic crater (caldera) in the Galapagos. It is one of the more active volcanoes in the Archipelago, its most recent eruption happening in 2005, and you can visit the fumarole area (opening in the earths crust). There are several hiking options, the shortest being to the rim for the panoramic view, the others longer and seeing more of the volcano. 4. Go birdwatching You will have no difficulty in spotting birds on the Galapagos. With no predators, many nest on the National Park pathways and will not bat an eyelid as you sneak by, camera clicking. Witnessing the courting and nesting rituals of frigates, flightless cormorants, penguins and the three species of boobies (seabirds) red-footed, blue-footed and nazca is a highlight of any Galapagos trip. Time your trip right (May to December) and you will coincide with the nesting season of the worlds population of waved albatross. 5. Walk to Tortuga Bay Tortuga Bay / eXerK.com Following the path for a pleasant 2.5km from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, youll stumble upon Tortuga Bay, a long stretch of pristine white sand. There are two beaches in the area, the larger first one where marine life gets priority and swimming is not allowed, and a peaceful cove around the corner which is ideal for bathing. Watch out for marine iguanas basking on the beach next to you and white tip reef sharks swimming by. 6. Visit the lava fields The pahoehoe lava rock at Punta Moreno / eXerK.com The Galapagos is a hot spot for tectonic and volcanic activity, with land being dramatically shifted as recently as 30 years ago - as is the case at Punta Espinoza on Isla Fernandina. At Punta Moreno on Isla Isabela, you stroll atop the vast lava field landscape, learning about the pahoehoe and aa (hurt) rock flows, as well as the role the flora plays in allowing life to begin. Breaking up the lava field, flamingos and Galapagos mullet frequent the salty pools left by the tide and porous rock. 7. Scuba dive or snorkel with hammerheads Scalloped hammerhead sharks / Academy Bay Diving The underwater walls at Genovesa, Gordon Rocks and Kicker Rock are a highway for scalloped hammerhead sharks. Even when the hammerheads remain evasive, you can expect to see sea lions, turtles, schools of rays and plenty of colourful fish. 8. Get your head around nature conservation and history A giant tortoise on Santa Isabela / eXerK.com The Galapagos is an ideal place to reinstate your appreciation of nature and the importance of conservation. There are several centres spread across the islands. On Isabela you have the Breeding Center for Giant Tortoises, on Santa Cruz the Darwin Research Centre and on San Cristobal the Centre for Interpretation. All contribute to give insights into the dynamics between sea and land, flora and fauna and importantly, humans influence. The book: A Natural History The Galapagos by Henry Nicholls is an accessible and informative read during or after your trip. 9. Explore by bicycle Cycle to El Garrapatero beach on Santa Cruz Going for a spin on Santa Cruz or San Cristobal will allow you to explore for yourself, keeping to the roads of course. You can rent bicycles in town, or hotels like Hotel Ninfa have them available for guests. From Puerto Ayora, head a hilly 21km east to El Garrapatero beach to sunbathe and swim next to marine iguanas. A portion is on pristine cycle paths, and the rest on quieter undulating roads. Take water, snacks, swimming kit and a lock for your bike. 10. Get the island town vibe Al fresco seafood in San Cristobal Any visitor to the Galapagos will find themselves strolling along the promenade of at least one of the archipelagos three towns and browsing the Galapagos emblazoned merchandise. While Puerto Ayora has more of a buzz and a longer strip of souvenir shops, San Cristobals smaller sea lion inhabited water front is a bit calmer, with Casa Blanca Art Gallery being my favourite for tasteful Galapagos attire. Puerto Villamil is a relaxed town on Santa Isabela, the smallest tourist town, with a great collection of hotels and beach bars. The Beagle cruise through the Galapagos- in pictures 1 /10 The Beagle cruise through the Galapagos- in pictures The Beagle was constructed in England in 1971 and is family owned by Augusto Cruz & Sons Ltd of Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador. eXerK.com The natural history of these islands is eminently curious, and well deserves attention. Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle eXerK.com The Beagle with the sails raised. eXerK.com Enrique, the on-board naturalist, explaining geology of the islands eXerK.com Miguel on the Zodiac dinghy eXerK.com Nazca boobies on Isla Genovesa eXerK.com Turtle in Punta Vincente Roca eXerK.com Dolphins from aboard the Beagle eXerK.com Getting there: Airlines Tame, Avianca and Latam fly to the Galapagos. All flights leave from Quito or Guayajil in Ecuador. There are two airports in The Galapagos: Baltras and San Cristobal. It can be worth flying into one, and out of the other so you see different parts of the Archipelago. To design your bucket list trip to Ecuador & The Galapagos, contact Pure! Ecuador, part of the Latin America specialist Pure! Travel Group. Annie Ross is the founder of exerk.com and a freelance fitness and travel writer. Follow her on Instagram here. A star ballet dancer who was thrown from his motorbike and killed in a horror crash was on a cocaine comedown at the time he was killed, a court heard today. The minicab driver accused of causing the dancer's death today broke down on the witness stand as he made an emotional direct plea to the victim's family, telling them: "It was a pure accident". Mercedes driver Abdul Qayyum, 45, denies killing dancer Jonathan Ollivier, 38, by careless driving in August 2015. Critically-acclaimed dancer Mr Ollivier was knocked off his motorbike on Farringdon Road in Clerkenwell just hours before he was due to give his final performance in Matthew Bourne's production The Car Man at Sadlers Wells Theatre. Ballet star: Jonathan Ollivier died hours before he was due to give his final performance in Matthew Bourne's production The Car Man (Chris Mann/The Matthew Bourne Co/PA ) / Chris Mann/The Matthew Bourne Co/PA Mr Ollivier died almost instantly after suffering fatal head injuries, the prosecution said. The court heard a statement from senior toxicologist Dr Rebecca Andrews from Imperial College London, who said Mr Olliviers body had traces of a by-product produced when the system breaks down cocaine. Although no cocaine was found in his body, the presence of the breakdown product means Mr Ollivier had recently taken the drug - although not in the last three hours - and was in a comedown stage. Qayyum was ferrying a passenger from Hackney to Heathrow Airport in his black Mercedes saloon on August 9 when he pulled out of a side street and tried to cross Farringdon Road onto another side street. The court heard how Qayyum, of Bath Road in Slough, pulled out slowly and was in the middle of the road when his car collided with Mr Ollivier's motorcycle, causing the bike to spin out of control. Floral tributes left at the scene of the crash / Yui Mok/PA But driver Qayyum maintains he looked both ways and the entire road was clear as he crossed the junction. He said the motorbike was "coming too fast" and he first knew Mr Ollivier was there when there was a "bang" Prosecutor Mark Gadsden alleges Qayyum, who has been a minicab driver for 13 years, was distracted because he was talking hands-free on his mobile phone. Mr Gadsden told the Old Bailey jury that Qayyum did not check whether the road to his left was clear "until it was too late". Qayyum today broke down in tears as he said: "It was a pure accident. "I want to say to this court, his family is here, I know you lost your family member. "It's been one year and eight months, not a single day me and my family don't sit and talk about it. "It's not easy for me, believe me." Married father-of-four Qayyum told his defence barrister Andrew Nuttall: "I looked to my left and it was all clear. It appeared to me it was all clear. "I was travelling at a very slow speed. "Being a driver I honestly and truly say I did whatever I could. "That was my best. During my five years driving in a city, there was nothing I could do. "I did my best. I looked on my right and my left." The trial continues. A dangerous drug dealer has been jailed for nearly 13 years after armed police found a loaded gun during a south London raid. Kyle Kiffin was snared after Met officers swooped on a home in Field Way, New Addington, on September 5 last year, discovering a .22 calibre pistol. The 21-year-old was stopped by armed police as he tried to flee with four rounds of ammunition, 25 cannabis wraps and a quantity of Class A drugs. Police later discovered the ammunition rounds were the same calibre as the gun and the bullets inside it. On Monday at Kingston Crown Court, Kiffin, of Hermitage Road, Upper Norwood, was jailed for 12 years and eight months. He had previously been convicted of possessing ammunition, the supply of Class B drugs and possession of Class A drugs. Detective Sergeant Mark Gavin, from the London Crime Squad, said: "Kiffin was fully aware that possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition is a criminal offence and he clearly had the intention of using it should the need arise. "He was also involved in the supply of Class A and B drugs and it is clear that the firearm was insurance should he have had problems with rival criminals or anyone else for that matter, he is clearly a dangerous criminal. A former teacher who raped a 13-year-old schoolgirl and sexually abused another girl in south-west London has been jailed for 17 years. Stephen Thomas, 30, a former teacher at a school in Hounslow, subjected two teenage girls to horrendous ordeals over nine years, including raping a 13-year-old in summer 2015. He was only caught when the girls father, having become suspicious after seeing messages on his daughter's Facebook account, caught him sexually assaulting the teenager in June that year and called the police. Having arrested Thomas, officers discovered during their investigations that there was another victim to his sick abuse. While teaching in Hounslow in 2008, Thomas started a relationship with a 15-year-old girl who was studying at the school. He was no longer teaching when he began abusing his second victim in January 2015. Thomas was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of rape of a female under 16 and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity following a two week trial at Isleworth Crown Court. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Monday. Detective constable Phil Cotter, investigating officer from the Metropolitan Police's sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, said: "These offences committed by Thomas are of an extremely serious nature and have had a significant impact on the lives of the victims and their family. "He committed these offences whilst in a position of trust and manipulated the victims to satisfy his own means. I hope the sentence gives the victims and their family some sort of closure for what has been a horrendous ordeal." A minicab driver accused of causing the death of a star ballet dancer in a horror crash has walked free from court. Critically-acclaimed dancer Jonathan Ollivier was knocked off his motorbike on Farringdon Road in Clerkenwell just hours before he was due to give his final performance in Matthew Bourne's production The Car Man at Sadlers Wells Theatre in August 2015. Mercedes driver Abdul Qayyum, 45, was cleared of killing the 38-year-old by careless driving on Tuesday following a trial at the Old Bailey. Mr Qayyum was ferrying a passenger from Hackney to Heathrow Airport in his black Mercedes saloon on August 9 when he pulled out of a side street and tried to cross Farringdon Road onto another side street. Ballet star: Jonathan Ollivier died hours before he was due to give his final performance in Matthew Bourne's production The Car Man(Chris Mann/The Matthew Bourne Co/PA ) / Chris Mann/The Matthew Bourne Co/PA The court heard how Mr Qayyum, of Bath Road in Slough, pulled out slowly and was in the middle of the road when his car collided with Mr Ollivier's motorcycle, causing the bike to spin out of control. Jonathan Ollivier in Swan Lake / Alastair Muir/Rex Mr Ollivier died almost instantly after suffering fatal head injuries, the prosecution said. Mr Qayyum broke down on the witness stand as he made an emotional direct plea to the victim's family, telling them: "It was a pure accident". The court heard a statement from senior toxicologist Dr Rebecca Andrews from Imperial College London, who said Mr Olliviers body had traces of a by-product produced when the system breaks down cocaine. Although no cocaine was found in his body, the presence of the breakdown product means Mr Ollivier had recently taken the drug - although not in the last three hours - and was in a comedown stage. A young man is the second to be fatally stabbed on the streets of the capital within 24 hours. The 19-year-old was found suffering stab wounds by paramedics from London Ambulance Service in a cul-de-sac in Northolt, north-west London, around 3.20pm on Tuesday. He was rushed to hospital from the scene in Newnham Close where he was pronounced dead just after 5.35pm. Four men have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently being held at police stations across London. Forensic investigation: Officers comb the scene after a young man became the second to be fatally stabbed on the streets of the capital within 24 hours. / Lucy Young Scotland Yard confirmed the victims next of kin had been contacted. A spokesman added: The Homicide and Major Crime Command has been informed and will be investigating. Police cordon: Forensic officers at the scene of a killing in Northolt / Lucy Young The victim is the second young man to be stabbed to death in the capital in the space of just 24 hours. On Monday, a man, thought to be in his 20s, was fatally knifed in Plumstead, south-east London. Witnesses said the victim's family "screamed with grief" after the attack. Police said they were called with paramedics to Bournewood Road, a quiet suburban cul-de-sac, at about 4.30pm and found the man in the street suffering fatal stab wounds. The air ambulance was scrambled but medics were unable to save the man. Resident Caroline Juby said: There were police everywhere. There were some youths at the scene in distress and the family of the boy. They were screaming with grief, it was horrible to see and hear. Witnesses are asked to contact Ealing police on 101 or tweet @MetCC. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. A teenage boy was stabbed repeatedly at a birthday party in Plumstead in a suspected gang-related crime. Detectives from Greenwich Gangs Unit are investigating after the 16-year-old boy was found with multiple stab wounds outside the church on St Nicholas' Road on the night of Saturday, April 1. He was rushed to a central London hospital for urgent treatment and has since been discharged. Officers believe the victim had been attending a birthday party in the Greenwich area before he was stabbed. They are appealing for anyone who may have mobile phone footage of the stabbing, believed to have happened just before 11pm, to come forward. Murder: A second man, in his 20s, was killed with a machete on Monday night / Facebook A second teenage boy aged 17 was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident. The police appeal comes as another man aged in his 20s - was stabbed to death with a machete in a brutal suspected murder in Plumstead on Monday. Police officers rushed to Bournewood Road just a mile down the road from St Nicholas Church following reports of a knife attack at around 4.30pm. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and witness described how the man was found inside an address close to the junction with Wickham Lane after being attacked with a machete. Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Andrew Payne from the Greenwich Gangs Unit on 020 8284 7755 or to give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. P olice were called to break-up a fully-fledged rave on board a packed Tube train, featuring flashing lights, a sound system and an MC. A video uploaded to YouTube showed laughing revellers dancing to booming drum 'n' bass in the Bakerloo line carriage. Award-winning MC Harry Shotta told the passengers: Real live drum n bass on the Underground right now. Dancers were seen laughing with their hands aloft as they turned the carriage into a nightclub. Not your normal Monday night on the Bakerloo line, wrote YouTuber Svenskier who took the footage. Traveller Iain Souttar told the Standard: "I just stumbled across it. "I was on my way back to university on the Bakerloo line to Marylebone. I got on and there was multicoloured lights and a sound system on the carriage. Rave: Police had to break up the event / YouTube "Everyone was enjoying it and only took up part of one carriage so I didn't see any real disruption. It was only on it fo two or three stops but everyone seemed to be enjoying it." "It was very different to any Tube I've been on before," he said. But one impatient commuter complained: Can you please let me know why there's some live rap performance holding up trains and keeping me from my PJs? British Transport Police said they were called to the event after reports of raucous scenes on the train on Monday night. They tweeted: "We've just removed a fully-fledged rave from a Bakerloo Line tube! All light hearted and very co-operative. #Bakerloo running normally." The strange sight appeared to be the work of internet pranksters Trollstation, who achieved notoriety last year for crashing an X-Factor performance by Honey G. Group member DiscoBoy tweeted: Put a full sound & light system on the London Underground tonight it looked mental featuring a very well known Dnb mc. A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "At 10.40pm yesterday evening, BTP officers were called to the northbound Bakerloo platform at Paddington station after reports of a party on board a Tube. "Officers attended and spoke with a man who agreed to turn off the speakers and the light systems, they then left the station. "Whilst officers relish any opportunity to experience underground drum and bass, wed kindly ask DJs to refrain from using the Tube as a pop-up club. "It may be the Easter holiday but there is a time and a place and wed ask everyone to consider other passengers using the network." P olice are hunting a woman who allegedly racially abused and threatened to punch a WHSmith cashier after rowing over a 50 note. British Transport Police (BTP) said an argument broke out at the Victoria station store after a woman tried to pay with the large note. When the staff member said they did not have enough change, they were threatened with violence, it is claimed. A BTP spokesman said: The woman became irate and threatened to punch the member of staff in the face. Row: A worker was allegedly racially abused in a row over a 50 note / British Transport Police She then racially abused him. She returned to the shop several times to continue shouting at the victim. Police have now released a CCTV image of a woman carrying a McDonalds bag who they want to trace. Anyone with information should call police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference number 297-020417. P olice have launched an investigation into the death of a four-month-old baby in a south-west London suburb. The Met said the death was being treated as "unexplained" and is being investigated by specialist child abuse officers. The baby boy was taken ill at an address in Tolworth on Monday morning and was rushed to a south London hospital. He was pronounced dead just before 9am. Police were called to the scene by paramedics and released a statement saying: At this early stage, the death is being treated as unexplained pending a post mortem examination. Officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command have been informed and are carrying out enquiries into the circumstances of the death. No one has been arrested. A mother-of-three who was accused of trying to poison her husband with drugs in his chilli con carne walked free from court after insisting she was the victim of a plot to frame her. Roberta Maasdorp, 46, was said to have mixed three types of medication into husband Peters evening meal as their relationship crumbled and he threatened to file for divorce. But she insisted to police she had only added mint and mango chutney to the dish, accusing her husband of putting drugs in the meal himself so she would be blamed. At Croydon Crown Court yesterday, jurors took less than 40 minutes to find Mrs Maasdorp not guilty of administering a poison with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy following a trial. Tests showed the meal, pictured, contained an anti-histamine called promethazine, anti-psychotic drug quetiapine, and insomnia medication zopiclone The couples 23-year marriage had been on the rocks for several years, the court heard, and by August 2015 Mr Maasdorp, a senior psychiatric nurse at Princess Royal University Hospital, had decided to get a divorce. He claimed he was poisoned by his wife, who was alleged to have mixed insomnia and anti-psychotic medication as well as an anti-histamine, into the sauce, served with minced beef, peppers, onions, and a bed of baby potatoes. Mr Maasdorp told jurors she left the meal in the microwave for him when he returned to the family home, in Framlingham Crescent, Mottingham, on August 11, 2015, but he spat out the first mouthful when it tasted acidic. He also claimed his wife had, who has mental health problems and had been drinking rum and coke that night, and said she had confessed to lacing his food with drugs. But when arrested, Mrs Maasdorp denied any knowledge of a poisoning plot, insisting: I only put in mint and mango chutney. During the trial, her barrister Derek Barry accused Mr Maasdorp of putting a very small amount of medication into your own chilli to make a false allegation against Roberta. Mrs Maasdorp claimed her husband was angry because she had reported him to the police the day before for assaulting her. After being questioned and cleared by police, she said her husband was angry and told her: You will pay for this. He had the motive revenge for having to go to the police station, said Mr Barry. And he would have had access to his wifes drugs. I dont trust my husband, Mrs Maasdorp later told police. Ive been away for a few days because I am scared for my safety. Forensic tests of the food showed it did contain 7.3mgs of the drugs, though Mr Maasdorp did not feel any ill effects. The couple met in 1990 while they were both training to be nurses in South Africa, they married in 1994 and moved to the UK in 1999. Their eldest daughter, 19, was due to be a prosecution witness in the case, but refused to come to court to give evidence. Following the acquittal, Recorder Simon Sterling refused to make a restraining order preventing Mrs Maasdorp from going to the family home unless he was given more evidence that it was necessary. She has now moved out to Forest Hill and her husband has custody of their two younger daughters, the court heard. Mrs Maasdorp denied and was found not guilty of administering a poison with intent. A mother-of-three laced her husbands chilli con carne with drugs as he threatened to divorce her and fight for custody of their children, a court heard. Roberta Maasdorp, 46, is accused of slipping insomnia and anti-psychotic medication as well as an anti-histamine into husband Peters evening meal. Croydon crown court heard their 23-year marriage was crumbling, with Mr Maasdorp insisting he wanted a divorce and custody of their children. He said his wife did not usually make him dinner but had left the dish of chilli con carne with baby potatoes in the microwave for him when he got home from work. However when he took a mouthful of the meal, it tasted acidic and he spat out the food immediately before dashing to the bathroom to wash his mouth out, it is said. Tests showed the meal, pictured, contained an anti-histamine called promethazine, anti-psychotic drug quetiapine, and insomnia medication zopiclone Mr Maasdorp, a mental health nurse, said he initially feared the food had been spiked with weed killer from a bottle that was out on the kitchen surface. But tests showed the meal contained an anti-histamine called promethazine, anti-psychotic drug quetiapine, and insomnia medication zopiclone, as well as traces of nicotine, but no sign of any weed killer. An expert said the drugs could lead to side effects including drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and blurred vision. Mr Maasdorp told jurors he met his wife in 1990 while they were both training to be nurses in South Africa, marrying in 1994 and moving to the UK in 1999. However by 2013 their union had crumbled and he made a failed attempt to divorce her. Two years later, after a doomed bid for reconciliation, he had resolved to end the marriage for good. I had made it quite clear I would proceed with the divorce and I would fight for custody of the children, he said. The relationship had broken down. Mr Maasdorp said he returned to their family home in Mottingham, south London, from a shift at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington, where he worked as a psychiatric nurse, at around 10pm on August 11, 2015. His wife told him she had left a plate of food in the microwave, which he switched on to heat up while he was in the bathroom. When I took a mouthful of the food, there was quite a distinct chemical taste to the food, it was chilli con carne that evening that was prepared by Roberta, he said. It had a very acidic taste to it, very chemical. I spat the food out on to the plate that I had with me, then went to the bathroom to go and wash my mouth out. Mr Maasdorp confronted his wife, who initially denied doing anything to the food before admitted she had laced the food, he told jurors. She was quite agitated and she had quite clearly been drinking that evening, he said. He told jurors that Maasdorp, also a nurse, had to give up work due to mental health problems, which meant she struggled to motivate herself and he would do most of the household chores. I generally did most of the things in the house, so it was unusual for her to prepare food but I accepted it, he said. He added that his wife had become quite paranoid towards me in the weeks before the alleged poisoning, and had started storing her medication at a friends house. The court also heard Mr Maasdorp had been questioned by police for assaulting his wife the day before the alleged poisoning, but the investigation ended when he said he had been on a training course on the day of the alleged attack. Prosecutor John Evison said when questioned over the alleged poisoning, Maasdorp suggested her husband had sprinkled drugs into his own food in order to frame her. She accepted she had made the chilli con carne and bought the ingredients, but denied lacing the food with drugs, he said. In a police interview, Maasdorp suggested her husband drugged his own food in revenge after he was quizzed by police over the assault complaint. When tested by a forensic expert, Mr Maasdorps chilli con carne dish contained 1.4mgs of promethazine, 4.8mgs of quetiapine, and 1.1mgs of zopiclone. Matthew Wade, who tested the liquid from the meal, said the drugs found were all in low doses but could lead to side effects including drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and blurred vision. Maasdorp told the police she knew nothing was amiss until she heard her husband coughing and complaining that the food tasted funny. The next thing I knew the police were there, she said. Quizzed on possible substances that could have got into the food accidentally, Maasdorp said she had cleaned the chopping board with Mr Muscle but could not think of anything else. Maasdorp, of Forest Hill, south east London, denies administering a poison with intent. The trial continues. M inisters spent five times the going rate on sites for four new free schools in London, the Evening Standard reveals today. Official figures obtained under Freedom of Information show that 120 million was splurged on just four old buildings to be turned into new schools. The purchases which were old university buildings, office blocks and a former Thames Water site cost over five times the average price of a school site which is 4.9 million. The Government was accused of displaying warped priorities by the Liberal Democrats who said Londoners were paying through the nose for the new breed of the schools while the traditional state sector faced cuts. Tom Brake MP said: These figures show free schools are far from being free. Londoners are paying through the nose for this Governments pet projects, while the majority of schools are seeing their funding cut. Data released following a Freedom of Information request shows the DfE spent more than 30 million acquiring land and buildings for four new schools at Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Islington and Waltham Forest. The request was made after the National Audit Office said the Government was paying a premium to secure land as the average school site costs 4.9 million. It also found that the DfE has paid 60 per cent more than the official valuation in 20 of the 175 sites it has bought for free schools so far. Mr Brake said: This money could be pay for 400 extra teachers across the capital over the next decade. It is a completely warped sense of priorities. Last month the DfE set up new firm LocatED with a 2 billion budget to acquire land and buildings nationwide to help the Government build 500 new free schools by 2020 and create 600,000 new school places by 2021. A Department for Education spokesperson said: Free schools are playing a vital role in creating new school places where they are needed. "The majority have been approved in areas with recognised need for places and nearly half of all open free schools are in the most deprived areas. "We do not pay more than a site is worth or purchase expensive sites if there are better value alternatives in the area. C ressida Dick has assumed command of the Metropolitan Police, becoming the first female commissioner in the forces 188-year history. Refuge runs 42 services across London, supporting more than 2,400 clients on any given day. But regardless of the help we can provide, the fact is that for too long women in London have been let down by an inadequate police response to violence against women and girls. We hope that Ms Dicks appointment will mark a turning point in how the Met investigates domestic abuse. In his foreword to the mayors new police and crime strategy, Sadiq Khan identifies violence against women and girls as one of three priority issues for the Met, writing that it is at shocking levels in our city. Freedom of information request by the Evening Standard newspaper show that more than a quarter of all violent crimes committed in London some 60,000 offences a year are linked to domestic abuse. But given the insidious nature of these kinds of offences - the fact that they are mainly committed behind closed doors against victims who are often reluctant to come forward - Londoners will be unaware of the true scale of domestic violence blighting the city. The mayors new policing strategy, released last month, shows that around one in ten of all offences recorded by police in London is related to domestic abuse. The report should serve as a wake-up call for all of those responsible for public protection, as it conclude that perpetrators of violence against women and girls are not being effectively dealt with in the capital. What is frustrating is that at the highest levels, we know that the leadership is there. Theresa May has shown commitment to combating violence against women, and will directly oversee the drafting of a new domestic abuse bill, and we welcome the appointment of Ms Dick. But for some reason, the goodwill at the top does not seem to filter through to the front line. Time and time again, we hear the same story from women who find themselves using refuges services. They say they do not feel supported, and that there often appears to be a slapdash approach to evidence collection, hampering efforts to build a case. One victim whose experience is by no means unique - told us: I was upset the first time the police officer called me after the incident. When he rang again he said, Good, youve stopped crying now. I dont do crying. No wonder, then, that the mayors office admits in its new policing plan that one of the reasons domestic abuse is so chronically under-reported is that too many women do not believe that they will be taken seriously by the Met. And why would they? The evidence suggests that London is the worst place in the country to be a victim of domestic abuse. Conviction rates in our capital are lower than in any other area of England and Wales. In London, fewer than 65 per cent of prosecutions involving violence against women and girls end up in a conviction, set against a national average of 74 per cent. In other parts of the country, some police forces secure a conviction in more than 80 per cent of cases. The new policing strategy provides grounds for hope. The mayor has committed to ensuring that officers receive enhanced training to ensure they get the first contact with a survivor right. Basic procedures such as removing the perpetrator from the scene and interviewing the victim separately must become standard practice across the capital. We welcome the pledge to scrutinise the workload of officers involved in domestic abuse cases, and the promise to co-fund advocacy services to support sexual violence survivors throughout the court process. It may also be time to consider removing police discretion in cases of domestic violence. Discretion lies at the heart of British policing but, if it is putting women in danger, we should at least think about other options. We could, for example, consider trials of policies like mandatory arrest and charge in domestic violence cases where there are reasonable grounds that an assault has occurred, or may do so. Other countries such as Canada have already introduced this approach. But the real test for Ms Dick will come in changing attitudes amongst her staff on the ground, to ensure that victims feel believed and supported. Too many officers still lack proper understanding of the complex nature of domestic violence and are not equipped with the skills to handle such cases properly. The women of London deserve better. T he family of murdered cop PC Keith Palmer have asked for donations to be made in the former soldier's name to Help for Heroes charity for servicemen and women. The funeral of the Met officer, killed in the Westminster terror attack, took place on Monday. He was taken from Westminster to Southwark Cathedral in a service watched by the nation. Thousands of police officers from all over the country, as well as members of the public, lined the route to pay tribute to their fallen brother. During the funeral the congregation heard readings from some of PC Palmers fellow officers including new Commissioner Cressida Dick who read a poem during the service. PC Keith Palmer Funeral - In pictures 1 /57 PC Keith Palmer Funeral - In pictures The coffin of Pc Keith Palmer is removed from Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in London before it makes its way to Southwark Cathedral Alex Lentati The funeral of Pc Keith Palmer Sky News Pall bearers carry the coffin of PC Keith Palmer into the Southwark Cathedral in London Frank Augstein/AP A police officer reacts outside Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Hannah McKay/Reuters The funeral cortege of PC Keith Palmer makes its way from The Palace of Westminster to Southwark Cathedral Chris Jackson/Getty Images The coffin of Pc Keith Palmer is removed from Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft Yui Mok/PA The coffin of Pc Keith Palmer is removed from Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in London before it makes its way to Southwark Cathedral Yui Mok/PA A couple hug as a Police officer lowers his head as the hearse carrying the coffin of PC Keith Palmer Daniel Leal-OlivasAFP/Getty Images The coffin of Pc Keith Palmer is removed from Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in London before it makes its way to Southwark Cathedral Alex Lentati A man lays a single red rose in front of the police helmet of PC Keith Palmer Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images The coffin of Pc Keith Palmer is removed from Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft Sky News Police officers march towards Southwark Cathedral in London Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images London Metropolitan Police Officers (MPS) on duty outside Parliament in London Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA The names of fallen officers Pc Keith Palmer and Pc Gareth Browning are added to the National Police Officers Roll of Honour & Remembrance during a Police Roll of Honour Trust ceremony in London Rick Findler/PA Cressida Dick (right) the new Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police arrives on her first day in the job, at Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Stefan Wermuth/Reuters Police officers arrive in Southwark for the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Floral tributes at Parliament Square ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Chris Jackson/Getty Images Security in Parliament Square before the Funeral of PC Keith Palmer Alex Lentati Security in Parliament Square before the Funeral of PC Keith Palmer Jeremy Selwyn London Metropolitan Police Officers (MPS) prepare to line the route of the funeral procession for PC Keith Palmer to the police funeral service at Southwark Cathedral Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA Flowers at Carriage Gate Parliament Square before the Funeral of PC Keith Palmer Jeremy Selwyn Floral tributes at Parliament Square ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Chris Jackson/Getty Images Police officers arrive near Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Stefan Wermuth/Reuters Police officers arrive near Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Jeremy Selwyn Flowers at Westminster today Jeremy Selwyn Police officers and well-wishers line the route in Southwark as the funeral procession of PC Keith Palmer makes its way to Southwark Cathedral Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Police at a ceremony by the Police Roll of Honour Trust to add the names of fallen officers Pc Keith Palmer and Pc Gareth Browning to the National Police Officers Roll of Honour & Remembrance in London Rick Findler/PA Security in Parliament Sq before the Funeral of PC Keith Palmer Jeremy Selwyn Police officers arrive near Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Stefan Wermuth/Reuters Flowers at Westminster today Jeremy Selwyn Security and flowers in Parliament Square before the Funeral of PC Palmer Jeremy Selwyn Police officers march towards Southwark Cathedral in London Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images Police officers arrive near Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Stefan Wermuth/Reuters London Metropolitan Police Officers (MPS) keep watch over the route of the funeral procession for PC Keith Palmer to the police funeral service at Southwark Cathedra Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA Floral tributes at the Palace of Westminster ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Getty Images Police officers arrive in Southwark for the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Dan Kitwood/Getty Images A police officer rubs his eye outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the funeral of Pc Keith Palmer Jeremy Selwyn Police officers arrive near Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Hannah McKay/Reuters A young girl looks at floral tributes at Paliament Square ahead of the funeral of PC Keith Palmer Chris Jackson/Getty Images Police officers march towards Southwark Cathedral in London Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images A couple watch as the coffin of PC Keith Palmer, who was killed in the recent Westminster attack, is transported from the Palace of Westminster Stefan Wermuth/Reuters The coffin of Pc Keith Baker is removed from Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in London Jeremy Selwyn Police officers line the route in Southwark as the funeral procession of PC Keith Palmer makes its way to Southwark Cathedral Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Songs were sung by the Metropolitan Police Choir, The Police Consort choir and Southwark choir as PC Palmers coffin draped in the Metropolitan Police Forces blue flag was carried into the cathedral. Reading: Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick on her way to Southwark Cathedral / PA On the order of service the family of 48-year-old PC Palmer - a former soldier - requested that funeral donations were made to Help for Heroes. They wrote: Help for Heroes supports those with injuries and illnesses sustained while serving in the British Armed Forces, giving them the support they need to lead active, independent and fulfilling lives. Funeral: The order of service / Southwark Cathedral PC Palmer was one of five innocent people killed by terrorist Khalid Masood during his bloody attack on March 22. Procession: His coffin was shrouded in the Met Police flag (Yui Mok/PA ) / Yui Mok/PA Masood ploughed through pedestrians on Westminster Bridge killing four people before launching a knife attack on PC Palmer who stood guarding the Carriage Gates near the Houses of Parliament. Tribute: Thousands of officers and members of the public lined the streets / Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images His funeral procession led by the Metropolitan Police Colour Party and a Black Guard of mounted officers - travelled from the Palace of Westminster along Millbank before crossing Lambeth Bridge. Tributes: murdered policeman Keith Palmer pictured with his wife Michelle As the procession made its way over the bridge, boats from the Marine Policing Unit led river emergency services and lifeboats in a ten-second horn salute. And NPAS helicopters flying above created the missing man formation salute commonly done at funerals and memorials before performing the bow manoeuvre over the cathedral. Tragic: The photo shows PC Keith Palmer stationed in front of the Houses of Parliament / Will Robins/Tyler Chatterley-Russell From there, the procession travelled along Borough High Street and onto Cathedral Palace before stopping outside Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral at 2pm. Funeral: PC Palmer's police hat, with a single red rose (Ben Stansall/PA ) / Ben Stansall/PA Up to 50 members of PC Palmers heartbroken family including his wife, five-year-old daughter, mother and father, brother and sisters attended the private service. The Queen had granted permission for PC Palmer's body to rest in Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, an honour normally reserved for senior figures. 'Last picture': Poignant picture of Keith Palmer thought to be last taken before he was killed And PC Palmer's name was added to the roll of honour and remembrance at a ceremony at the National Police Memorial on The Mall, in central London, complete with a guard of honour. W omen and girls in London are being let down by the Metropolitan police over the handling of domestic violence cases, a charity warns today. New figures show the capital has the worst domestic abuse conviction rate in the country and there are calls for the Mets new commissioner, Cressida Dick, to overhaul the way crimes are investigated. Only 64 per cent of domestic abuse prosecutions led to a conviction in the capital in 2015/16 compared with 74 per cent in the South-East and 80 per cent in Merseyside and Cheshire. Londons rate is 10 per cent lower than the national average. Sandra Horley CBE, chief executive of charity Refuge, said: For too long women in London have been let down by an inadequate police response to violence against women and girls. We hope Ms Dicks appointment will mark a turning point in how the Met investigates domestic abuse. Refuge runs 42 services in London and helps about 4,600 people a day across the country. Ms Horley said it regularly hears from women who feel the police did not take their report of abuse seriously enough: What is frustrating is that at the highest levels we know the leadership is there. "Theresa May has shown commitment to combating violence against women and will directly oversee the drafting of a domestic abuse Bill, and we welcome the appointment of Ms Dick. "But for some reason the goodwill at the top does not seem to filter through to the front line. [Victims] say they do not feel supported and there often appears to be a slapdash approach to evidence collection. There were 14,579 domestic abuse prosecutions in London in 2015/16, according to the Crown Prosecution Services Violence Against Women and Girls report. Of these 9,400 cases resulted in a conviction. London-based Solace Womens Aid, which supports over 11,000 women and children a year, said many service users had experienced poor and unacceptable treatment in the courts and criminal justice system. It said this could lead to victims feeling retraumatised and it urged Ms Dick to work with charities. The Met said it was collaborating with the CPS and the London Criminal Justice Board Delivery Group, which is tasked with improving the conviction rate. The force also re-views cases that did not lead to conviction. Sadly the majority of these are because victims withdraw support before or during the court case, a Met spokeswoman said. Mayor Sadiq Khans policing and crime office spent 9.3 million on services to help women and girls in 2016/17. It is recruiting the capitals first Victims Commissioner. Deputy mayor for policing Sophie Linden said: Tackling violence against women and girls is at the heart of the Mayors new Police and crime Plan. A sick nine-year-old girl at the centre of a major police search after leaving hospital without being treated has been found. The child visited St Mary's Hospital, in Paddington, west London, accompanied by her parents and a younger brother at around 5.40pm on Sunday after she fell ill. But the family left two hours later before the girl, who police believe is diabetic, could receive treatment. A missing persons hunt was launched by police. On Tuesday, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The family has been located by police and the child is safe and well." Doctors had warned that the girl could fall into a coma if she was not treated urgently. P ietro Boselli, the UCL maths lecturer who hit the big time when his second job as an international model was discovered by his students, has long been the ultimate example of brains meets beauty. But his newest attempt at staying in shape has led to cries of poor taste. Boselli, who has modelled for brands including Armani and Abercrombie & Fitch and been on the cover of Attitude magazine, is currently on holiday in the Phillipines. Despite the hot weather, hes had something of a brain-freeze. In a video posted on his public Facebook page, Boselli takes drastic measures to keep fit. Im left here alone with no way to exercise, so I need to work it out, he says. I need something I can actually lift repeatedly. In what we can assume is a pre-scripted skit, Boselli spots a local Filipino man on the shore. I need to be careful in case he sees me, because he may get scared and start running, he says. Boselli then chases the man and uses him as a weight for a set of lifts, referring to him throughout as that and my weight. Facebook and YouTube users have not reacted well. Is it just me or is this a little (extremely) racist? one writes. Hold up, another adds, you did not just go to an island in the Philippines and pretend to catch a person of color in the wild to use as a tool for your workout so that you can exploit it for monetisation on your YouTube channel? Others responded positively, advising critics to lighten up. The Londoner tried to contact Boselli today to ask what he thinks of the criticism, but were yet to hear back. Hes probably at the gym. ----- The Londoners Diary is getting meta. Dear Diary, a celebration of diaries, opens at Somerset House in May, and will explore personal journals of every type from 1400BC to 2017. Theres a sneaky peep at more than just Pepys: highlights include thoughts of a cross-dressing lesbian from Jane Austens era, a day in the life of a dolphin-eating Cornish tin miner and diaries of druids. Make a note in your... diary? FOs new comms chief gets catty welcome Starting a new job is always tricky so we applaud Helen Bower-Easton, the Foreign Offices new head of communications, for her swift attempt to ingratiate herself with colleagues. Friendlier welcome from DiploMog this morning than I used to get from Larry, the No 10 cat, she tweeted yesterday, with a photo of Palmerston, chief mouser at the Foreign Office. Bower-Easton was previously chief spokesperson for the Prime Minister after being appointed during the Cameron era. In December it was announced that she was leaving Theresa May to move across the street for a potentially more challenging role in Boris Johnsons Foreign Office. But at a tricky time for international diplomacy, will she play as well with poodles as she does with cats? ----- Getty Images Quote of the day: 'I hope you love Vogue as much as I have' Outgoing Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman hands over t new fashion high priest Edward Enninful. The Londoner's Diary tipped him last month. ----- (GC Images) / Ray Tamarra/GC Images Be afraid, be very afraid. Samantha Grant, the half-sister of actress and potential princess-in-waiting Meghan Markle, has a tell-all book out soon. But she has loftier aspirations. Writing on Twitter this morning, she reacted to unsubstantiated accusations from other members of the family and suggested they set the record straight. Lets do a reality show called Keeping Up With the Markles, she wrote. Im all over it. Were sure the royals cant wait to tune in. Will Helen rule again? Dave Benett/ Getty Images for L' Somebody get Dame Helen Mirren on the phone: actress Claire Foy may be celebrating her Bafta nomination this morning but she will soon be hanging up her sceptre. Foy plays Elizabeth II in Netflix series The Crown but the next series will be her last. She told guests at the BFI and Radio Times Television Festival at the weekend that she and Matt Smith, who plays Prince Philip, will be recast before a time-jump in series three. We always knew when we signed up to it, Foy said. Its also a real plus. As an actor, theres nothing worse than the sound of seven years. Im sure to some people it sounds amazing, but to us its like, seven years of playing the same person. Mirren won an Oscar for The Queen and played the monarch again in The Audience, both with The Crowns creator Peter Morgan, so may wish to try again for future series set in HMs later years. But who will take the role in the meantime? Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown... ----- Tweet of the day: After losing my job as head of ad content for Pepsi, I have to say my first day running customer services for United Airlines has been lively After yesterdays violent video from a United Airlines flight, actor David Schneider surveys a week of big brand nightmares. ----- Poppy gets a little snappy Yesterday was National Siblings Day, apparently, so model Poppy Delevingne marked it with a family portrait on Instagram. Pictured at the back are Poppy, left, and Cara, and, at the front, left to right, half-brother Alexander Jaffe, father Charles, and sister Chloe. That cover girl smile must be hereditary. Iceberg of the day: a theme park in China has pulled plans for a ride recreating the sinking of the Titanic after protests from relatives. At least they listened to the warnings this time... ----- Iceberg of the day: a theme park in China has pulled plans for a ride recreating the sinking of the Titanic after protests from relatives. At least they listened to the warnings this time... Follow The Londoner on Twitter and Facebook here. T he parents of Charlie Gard want to appeal after a judge ruled that doctors could withdraw life-support treatment for their sick baby against their wishes, their lawyer has said. Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London say eight-month-old Charlie, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, should move to a palliative care regime. But his parents, postman Chris Gard and Connie Yates, from Bedfont, west London, who are both in their early 30s, want to be allowed to take him to a hospital in the US for treatment. Solicitor Laura Hobey-Hamsher said outside court that the couple would have three weeks to launch a challenge. Parents Connie Yates and Chris Gard with Charlie / PA She said: "Connie and Chris are devastated by today's decision." She added: "They are struggling to understand why the court has not at least given Charlie the chance of treatment in America." Mr Justice Francis ruled with the "heaviest of hearts" that life-support treatment should stop after analysing evidence at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court and visiting Charlie in hospital. Chris Gard and Connie Yates, the parents of eight-month-old Charlie Gard, arrive at The Royal Courts of Justice in London / PA Charlie, who was born on August 4, 2016, has a form of mitochondrial disease, a condition which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage. His parents launched an appeal on the GoFundMe website two months ago, saying they needed 1.2 million to fund the US treatment. They reached their target on Sunday after more than 80,000 people donated. After hearing the decision, barrister Pravin Fernando told the judge that the couple wanted to challenge his ruling in the Court of Appeal. Lawyers representing Great Ormond Street said treatment would continue until appeal decisions had been made. U niversity Challenge sensation Eric Monkman was left grinning from ear to ear after meeting childhood hero Professor Stephen Hawking. The Canadian, captain of the Wolfson College Cambridge team, became an online hit during this years series thanks to his intense facial expression and quick-fire answers. But the economics student, who inspired the hashtag #Monkmania, could not help his team secure victory in Monday nights final which saw his team lose to Oxfords Balliol College by 190 points to 140. For only the second time in the programme's 55-year history, the trophy was presented outside the studio, this time at Cambridge University, where Prof Hawking is based. Monkman triumphant on University Challenge Mr Monkman was shown with a huge smile across this face, despite the trophy being handed to a rival team. The renowned physicist told the competitors: "I have said in the past that it is not clear whether intelligence has any long-term survival value - bacteria multiply and flourish without it. Award: Prof Hawking with the finalists / BBC Two/PA Wire "But it is one of the most admirable qualities, especially when displayed by such young minds. "Many congratulations to both teams but especially to Balliol College Oxford on becoming series champions on University Challenge, a programme I have long enjoyed." Afterwards, Mr Monkman tweeted: Thank you as well to Professor Stephen Hawking. It was a great honour to meet one of my childhood (and current) heroes. Monkman fans responded with a series of tweets, one writing: Nice end to #UniversityChallenge there: a special appearance of one of the smartest brains on earth, and Stephen Hawking as well.. #Monkman Another tweeted: What an honour for Stephen Hawking to get to meet Monkman. B oris Johnsons call for new sanctions on Russian and Syrian military leaders was rejected by the G7 group of powerful nations today. Germany and France led opposition to the British Foreign Secretarys proposal to punish senior individuals of both countries after last weeks apparent gas attack on civilians. Mr Johnson hoped sanctions, such as carefully targeted travel bans and asset freezing, would open cracks in the regime of Bashar Assad and weaken Russian support. But Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who hosted the talks, said there proved to be "no consensus" for the plan, which was sidelined although not formally ruled out. The summit united on a call for Assad to step down and to send a message to Russian president Vladimir Putin that he must choose between aligning with the west or being tied to the dictator. But there was no sign of a big stick approach towards Moscow. Mr Alfano said attempting to push Russia into a corner "would be wrong" and the aim must be to encourage Mr Putin to engage in a new peace plan leading to elections. Italy Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano / AFP/Getty Images Mr Johnson emerged from the talks saying that there was complete agreement that the Syrian president should lose power. The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, he said. The question is how we structure that. He added: I think there is ample opportunity for Russia to be part of the solution. War crime claims: Bashar al-Assad / Reuters Mr Johnson suggested last weeks apparent attack gave Mr Putin a face-saving excuse to drop support for Assad, saying: It may be they have been simply betrayed by their client, by the guy they have been backing. US Secretary of State Mr Tillerson said Russia had failed in its 2013 pledge to ensure Syria was rid of chemical weapons. He said it was unclear whether the Kremlin had not taken the role seriously or had been incompetent, but added: This distinction doesn't much matter to the dead". "We cannot let this happen again," he said. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role," Mr Tillerson added. "Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia's interests longer term." A UK source said the summit had decided to keep sanctions on the table if firm evidence emerged of Syrian guilt and Russian involvement in an illegal chemical attack. Yes, we will need more evidence to impose sanctions but we are confident, said the source. The source said that Mr Johnson had achieved all his key aims, which were to gain unanimity that Assad needs to go; that Russia could play a part in defeating Islamic State and rebuilding Syria; and that targeted sanctions could be imposed in future. The ultimatum was being taken directly to Vlaldimir Putin / EPA It comes as America was today set to warn Russia that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad will face trial for war crimes if he tries to cling to power. Donald Trumps administration says it is determined to see the Syrian president arrested and tried at the international court in The Hague. The blunt ultimatum was being taken directly to Russian president Vladimir Putin, Assads key ally, by US secretary of state Rex Tillerson this evening. He will tell the Kremlin to either stop protecting Assad or risk being tied to an international pariah convicted of gassing his own people. But Russia appeared to be bent on maintaining its support for Assad, which has helped increase its influence in the Middle East. In a riposte to the US and Britain, retired Russian general Evgeny Buzhinskiy, who runs a Moscow think tank, mocked US claims of intelligence linking Assads regime to last weeks apparent chemical attack on civilians. He suggested reports of babies being killed by gas were fake. Mr Tillerson, according to diplomatic sources, was not mincing his words during private talks in Lucca in Italy. The American view is that Assad can go the nice way, which is that the Russians drop him, or the bad way, which is the Libyan example, said a source, referring to the death of Libyan despot Muammar Gaddafi at the hands of a mob in 2011. Sources were unclear how an arrest of Assad would be carried out, unless he were forced to flee Syria. However, they believed the language used by US officials confirmed that Mr Trump is committed to ending Assads rule. Mr Tillerson was given strong support at the G7 meeting for Mr Trumps decision last week to bombard a Syrian airbase from which the suspected chemical attack was launched. Canadian foreign minister Chrystia Freeland echoed the US stance by saying Assad was guilty of truly horrific war crimes. After the war crime we have seen, that peaceful solution cannot include keeping Assad in power, she told BBC Radio 4. She said the G7 were not ruling out further sanctions. Sanctions blow: Boris Johnson / REUTERS In a telephone call last night, Theresa May and Mr Trump agreed an opportunity had opened after the atrocity to try to convince Mr Putin to rethink his position on Syria. The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest, a No 10 spokesman said. The White House meanwhile made clear that it could mount further missile strikes against Assads regime if there were any fresh use of chemical weapons, despite a threat of retaliation from Russia and Iran. Spokesman Sean Spicer said: When you watch babies and children being gassed, and suffer under barrel bombs, you are instantaneously moved to action. This president has made it very clear that if those actions were to continue, further action will definitely be considered. Mr Buzhinskiy said he did not believe nerve gas was used in Syria. He claimed any poisoning of babies had been caused by chlorine leaks or by the rupture of historic chemical weapons held by Islamic State. However, sources familiar with intelligence briefings told the Standard that the attack appeared to have used weapons dropped from altitude, not stored on the ground. They were also thought to be chemicals that had to be mixed immediately before being deployed, which ruled out an accidental leak. US Republican senator Marco Rubio, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committees subcommittee on human rights, and Democrat Ben Cardin jointly announced they were filing legislation that would make Assad, 51, accountable for war crimes. British officials said there should be a thorough investigation by the United Nations or another independent body to establish what was used in the attack and who ordered it. However, Peter Ford, a former British ambassador to Damascus, said there would be a bloodbath if Assad were ousted. The country will really implode and it will be a bloodbath. There is no moderate opposition waiting to take over, he told BBC2s Newsnight. You only have to look at the opposition-held areas to see what life would be like. Asked if Mr Putin could be persuaded, he said: I am sure that Russia will not drop its support for President Assad. The plan emerged at the G7 summit in Italy this morning where foreign ministers from the Wests most powerful nations were joined by envoys from Middle Eastern countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, whose backing will be critical in any push to oust Assad and stabilise Syria. A broadcaster has received an outpouring of support after footage emerged of her gasping in horror when she realised she was live on air. Natasha Exelby, a casual journalist at Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC), had been gazing at a pen in her hands when a broadcast cut back to her in the studio. In the blooper clip which was widely shared online, Ms Exelby can be seen gasping in alarm when she realises the error before quickly reading out the next story. Ms Exelby, from Queensland, was inundated with support after Sydneys Daily Telegraph reported that the journalist had been taken off air for missing her cue. She wrote on Twitter: "Thank you for all your generous support. Not my finest hour. Myself and my mesmerising pen honourably salute you." Hilarious reaction: Natasha Exelby nearly jumped out of her seat when she realised she was on air / ABC But the ABC director of news, Gaven Morris, denied that she was being punished and said reports she had been fired or banned were untrue. He said: Live television is a demanding art and slip-ups will happen our presenters are humans, not robots. We take on-air standards extremely seriously, but we dont expect perfection. No one would ever be punished for a blooper and, while it isnt appropriate to publicly discuss confidential details of peoples personal work arrangements, this has not happened to Natasha. Mr Morris added that ABC wanted her to continue working casual shifts and regretted that the incident had attracted such attention. Ms Exelby received a message of support from actor Russell Crowe who wrote: Come on ABC - Australian Broadcasting Commission talk about an overreaction to an overreaction. Other journalists began telling their own embarrassing stories in solidarity with Ms Exelby after the footage emerged. Lisa Barnes tweeted: I danced in my seat in the news booth in between audio grabs, not realising we were live streaming the news bulletin. Latika M Bourke: My career would have ended with my first country radio job if Id been punished like this for a much worse but still innocent blooper. Malcolm Farr: I once broke down in childish giggling on Sky News after Tony Abbot said he was between two stools. T housands of pounds have been raised in memory of a British victim killed in a terror attack in Sweden. Chris Bevington was one of four people who died when a lorry mowed down pedestrians in a busy shopping district of the Swedish capital on Friday. The 41-year-old father lived in Stockholm with his family and worked as a director with music streaming service Spotify. A JustGiving fundraising page, launched by his closest friends on Tuesday, aims to raise 50,000 to "provide support for his young family and to create a legacy that is as meaningful as his life was". Briton killed in Stockholm lorry attack named as Chris Bevington Jez Felwick and James Hunt, who were best men at Mr Bevington's wedding, wrote on the page: "Chris would be overwhelmed by the outpouring of love we have seen in the UK, Sweden and across the world for him and the other victims of this horrendous attack. "People are asking how they might be able to donate, or show their love and support, so a few of his closest friends have set up this page." The aftermath of the attack in Stockholm / TT News Agency/Press Association They said: "Chris was passionate about everything: his family, his friends and his music. "Music was his lifeblood and led him to meet the girl who became the love of his life and the mother of his children. As his lasting legacy, we want to find a way to bring his passion for music to people who would not otherwise experience its life-shaping benefits. Sweden truck crash - In pictures 1 /20 Sweden truck crash - In pictures Terror: People flee the scene of the crash in Stockholm Emergency servies work at the scene where a truck crashed into the Ahlens department store at Drottninggatan in central Stockholm Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images Rex The smoking truck was shown embedded in the shopping centre TT News Agency/Andreas Schyman/via Reuters Ambulance in a street near the site were a truck was driven into a crowd in central Stockholm Per Haljestam/Reuters Police are treating the incident as a terror attack Jessica Gow/TT News Agency via Reuters Witnesses were shown sobbing near the Ahlens department store Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images Emergency services treated people at the scene Rex Special police forces work at the crash site Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images People walk away fro the scene after a truck crashed into a department store injuring several people in central Stockholm, Sweden Noella Johansson TT News Agency via AP The scene of an incident in Drottninggatan, a street in the centre of Stockholm, Sweden Arash Pendari/PA The truck left a trail of devastation in its wake TT News Agency/Andreas Schyman/via Reuters People were killed when a truck crashed into department store Ahlens on Drottninggatan, in central Stockholm Reuters The area around the shopping precinct was locked off TT News Agency/Noella Johansson/via Reuters Police officers work at the scene Noella Johansson/AFP/Getty Images "Although no amount of money will bring Chris back it will help support his family now he's gone and be the foundation of a positive legacy." A registered charity will be set up to further a cause, or causes, close to Mr Bevington with the funds raised distributed between his family and charity, according to the page. So-far generous donors have pledged 4,500 to the cause. Of the other three people who died two were Swedish, and one was a 31-year-old woman who had been living in Halle, Belgium. On Tuesday, a 39-year-old Uzbek man - Rakhmat Akilov - confessed to ramming the stolen beer truck into the crowd. D onald Trump has claimed North Korea is looking for trouble in a series of extraordinary tweets following the countrys declaration that it is ready for war with the US. The claim came after a US Navy strike group bound for Australia was rerouted to waters off the Korean Peninsula. The US president tweeted to reveal he had promised Chinese leader Xi Jinping a better trade deal if the country helped solve the North Korean problem. He wrote: I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem! In further rant, he added: North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Earlier on Tuesday, Pyongyang warned of catastrophic consequences to Washingtons outrageous actions after the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was diverted from a planned visit to Australia to the western Pacific. The decision by the US came as tensions increased over ongoing military drills involving American and South Korean forces that North Korea regards as a dress rehearsal for an invasion. Washington said it was sending the 97,000-ton USS Carl Vinson with an escort of a guided-missile cruiser and two destroyers following another ballistic missile test by North Korea last week. North Korea and US We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions, North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying. North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US. The spokesman cited Washingtons refusal to rule out a pre-emptive strike against North Korean missile sites. Last weeks US strike against a Syrian military base has also been seen as a warning to North Korea. B russels began talks today on whether it will redistribute Britains 73 MEP seats after Brexit to other countries. The European Parliaments Committee on Constitutional Affairs met for initial discussions on reallocating the seats at the 2019 election. It is understood that some in the EU want to keep the size of the parliament intact at 751 MEPs. Ukip today warned against handing out Britains seats as it would only create more Europe. MEP Margot Parker said: The EUs reaction to Brexit has been grimly predictable. Whilst it is clear millions upon millions of Europeans want to see the EU fundamentally reform they are showing no signs of this. "There is only one solution for the Brussels bureaucrats: more Europe. Increasing the number of MEPs for countries will solve nothing. Labour MEP for London Seb Dance said some in Brussels could use Brexit to push for new seats in urban areas. He said the current system means London and Malta are both represented by eight MEPs despite one having a population of nine million, and the other 450,000. He said: Its too early to say what the balance of play is between the two decisions but if youre a smaller member state you get a disproportionate benefit. "Theres a strong case in urban areas and big cities. If I was the MEP for Paris I would be arguing to keep the number of seats and up our representation. Another London MEP Mary Honeyball said the seats could be redistributed initially but then the overall number could be reviewed. She said: It will be interesting to see what the committee comes up with. G ay men are being held in "concentration camp-style" prisons after being arrested in a "purge" in Chechnya, according to reports. Newspaper Novaya Gazeta has claimed that groups of gay men in the Russian region have been detained in connection with their non-traditional sexual orientation, or suspicion of such. The paper has reported that the men are being held in a former military headquarters where they are regularly subjected to beatings and electric shock torture. The accusations arose after the same newspaper reported that three people were murdered when gay men were rounded up in the town - claims denied by the spokesman for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov who argued that no one in Chechnya is homosexual. Camp: The former military commander in Argun where the camp is believed to have been set up You cannot arrest or repress people who just dont exist in the republic, spokesman Alvi Karimov told Interfax news agency. "If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them since their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return." The men who have not managed to escape are believed to be held in the town of Argun. The Russian LGBT Network confirmed the reports with activist Svetlana Zakharova saying: Those who have escaped said they are detained in the same room and people are kept altogether, around 30 or 40. They are tortured with electric currents and heavily beaten, sometimes to death. And Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch wrote in a blog post: Law enforcement and security agency officials under control of the ruthless head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, have rounded up dozens of men on suspicion of being gay, torturing and humiliating the victims. Some of the men have forcibly disappeared. Others were returned to their families barely alive from beatings. At least three men apparently have died since this brutal campaign began. She added: It is difficult to overstate just how vulnerable LGBT people are in Chechnya, where homophobia is intense and rampant. LGBT people are in danger not only of persecution by the authorities but also of falling victim to honour killings by their own relatives for tarnishing family honour. The Russian LGBT network has said it had set up a hotline for people seeking help or trying to flee. Chechnya is an autonomous republic in southern Russia. It is controlled by Russian-appointed leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and has seen jihadist groups including so-called Islamic State operating in the area. N orth Korea has declared it is ready for war after a US Navy strike group was sent to waters off the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang warned of catastrophic consequences to Washingtons outrageous actions after the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was diverted from a planned visit to Australia to the western Pacific. The decision by the US came as tensions increased over ongoing military drills involving American and South Korean forces that North Korea regards as a dress rehearsal for an invasion. Washington said it was sending the 97,000-ton USS Carl Vinson with an escort of a guided-missile cruiser and two destroyers following another ballistic missile test by North Korea last week. We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions, North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying. An F/A-18 fighter prepares to take off from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson / AP North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US. The spokesman cited Washingtons refusal to rule out a pre-emptive strike against North Korean missile sites. "We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms," the foreign ministry spokesman said, according to KCNA. Last weeks US strike against a Syrian military base has also been seen as a warning to North Korea, after Donald Trump said Washington was prepared to act alone if China failed to exert more pressure on its neighbour to halt its missile and nuclear weapons programmes. Syria: What led to the US airstrikes? At least six people were reported to have been killed in the US missile strikes early on Friday. US officials said the base was used to launch a chemical weapons attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun that killed more than 80 civilians, including women and children, on Tuesday. Syria has denied using nerve gas. A senior US official said Washington has made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week but has no proof of Moscow's involvement. Sailors conduct flight operations on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson / REUTERS The official said that a drone operated by Russians was flying over a hospital as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment. Hours after the drone left, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the usage of chemical weapons. The US official said the presence of the surveillance drone over the hospital could not have been a coincidence, and that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming and that victims were seeking treatment. The official did not give precise timing for when the drone was in the area. He also did not provide details for the military and intelligence information that form the basis of what Washington now believes. Another US official cautioned that no final American determination has been made that Russia knew ahead of time that chemical weapons would be used. Neither official was authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. There has been no Syrian retaliation so far for the cruise missile attack, which destroyed or rendered inoperable more than 20 Syria air force planes. A gunman who shot dead his teacher wife and an eight-year-old boy inside a Californian primary school classroom had professed his love for her on social media weeks earlier. Cedric Anderson, 53, walked into the school in San Bernardino at 10.25am yesterday and shot Karen Smith, a special needs teacher, with a .357 Magnum. The bullet also hit two pupils. He then reloaded the gun and shot himself. Eight-year-old Jonathan Martinez, who was standing behind Ms Smith, was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Centre, where he died of his injuries. A second injured student, aged nine, who has not been named, was in stable condition this morning. Police said Anderson had a criminal history that included weapons charges, domestic violence and possible drug charges. Killer: Cedric Anderson and his wife Karen Smith, whom he shot dead in a classroom Ms Smith, also 53, was seeking a divorce, her mother Irma Sykes said. She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all. He had other motives. She left him and thats where the trouble began. Just weeks earlier the killer had posted videos on social media professing his love for the teacher. According to Andersons Facebook page, the couple tied the knot in late January but police said they had been separated for the past month and a half. The gunman posted several photos of him and Ms Smith following their wedding ceremony, including videos of them kissing while hiking in Arizona for their honeymoon and a post calling her an angel. Some of his other messages quoted Bible verses. School shooting: There are believed to have been 'several victims' during a shooting at North Park Elementary School, California / Google maps He posted a video in February saying his wife was making me really happy. In the 12-second clip, he also said She knows when to ignore me as he laughed and flashed a smile, adding: That makes a happy marriage. Anderson was allowed entry to North Park Elementary School school at about 10.25am yesterday morning after signing in at the front desk and telling staff that he had something to drop off for his wife. Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said the shooter went to his wifes classroom and without saying anything shot her with a large-calibre revolver. The entire incident is limited to a single classroom. The suspect had come to visit the female victim, added Captain Ron Maas of the San Bernardino Police Department. The children, we do not believe were targeted. They were the unfortunate recipients of injuries by being in proximity to the female at the time. Colleagues remembered Ms Smith as a dedicated educator who loved her job. It takes a very, very special person to be a special education teacher, said Maria Garcia, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. We want her to be remembered for the amazing teacher that she was. Police do not yet know how many shots exactly were fired. All of the 520 other children in the school were immediately evacuated afterwards. They were seen making their way across the playground holding hands before being put on buses to leave the scene. C ritics have called for White House spokesman Sean Spicer to be sacked over outrageous claims that not even Hitler used chemical weapons seen in an attack on Syria. Mr Spicer made the comments at a daily news briefing about the April 4 chemical weapons attack in Syria that killed 87 people. Washington has blamed the attack on the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He said: "You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons." The Nazis murdered six million Jews during World War Two. Many were killed in gas chambers in European concentration camps. When asked by a reporter to clarify his comments, he said: "I think when you come to sarin gas, there was no, he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing." The comments, made during the Jewish holiday of Passover, sparked outrage on social media and from some Holocaust memorial groups who accused him of minimising Hitler's crimes. "Sean Spicer now lacks the integrity to serve as White House press secretary, and President Trump must fire him at once," said Steven Goldstein, executive director of the Anne Frank Centre for Mutual Respect. Mr Spicer later emailed a statement to reporters who were asking for more explanation. It read: "In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust. I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable. The U.S. Holocaust Museum did not mention Spicer's comments directly, but sent out a tweet shortly after the briefing that showed graphic footage of dead bodies U.S. forces found while liberating the Buchenwald concentration camp. T he boss of United Airlines has apologised for the truly horrific removal of a passenger dragged screaming from an overbooked flight. A shocking video emerged on Monday showing the passenger being pulled from his seat and down the aisle in front of shocked travellers on a United Airlines plane from Chicago to Louisville. The incident, which the airline said took place because the flight was overbooked and the passenger refused to leave his seat, caused an outcry on social media. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said in a statement on Tuesday he continues to be disturbed by the incident". He said the company would "fix what's broken so it never happens again". He added: "I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right. "I promise you we will do better." The man was left bleeding from the mouth after being dragged from the plane Earlier on Tuesday, Munoz had lauded the behavior of the flight crew in dealing with a "disruptive and belligerent" passenger, crediting employees with following established procedures on the flight. In a letter written to employees he said: "This situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused, and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help. "While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right." Munoz conceded, however, that "there are lessons we can learn from this experience," and he promised an investigation. Oscar Munoz accused the passenger of behaving in a "belligerent way" in a letter to his employees Chicago aviation officials placed a security officer on leave, saying the incident "was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure." Meanwhile United's parent company's share price plummeted on Tuesday after a video of the incident went viral on Twitter. The value of the carriers holding company, United Continental Holdings, had fallen over 4 per cent before noon, knocking almost a billion dollars off its value. People around the world have also been cutting up their United Airlines loyalty cards in a mass boycott. More than 50,000 people have so far signed a petition entitled Chinese Lives Matter calling for a US federal investigation into the airline following accusations of racism. P eople around the world are cutting up their United Airlines loyalty cards in a mass boycott after a shocking video clip emerged showing a passenger being dragged down the aisle. More than 50,000 people have so far signed a petition entitled Chinese Lives Matter calling for a US federal investigation into the airline following accusations of racism. The passenger, who is thought to be a doctor, was pulled from his seat and hauled down the aisle by security staff after a flight from Chicago to Louisville had been overbooked. An onlooker caught the whole incident on camera and the video has since gone viral with tens of thousands of people slamming the airline. Passengers are boycotting the airline / David McNew/Getty Images The footage especially caused outcry among Chinese people, who called the airline staff racist after a witness reported the man was targeted because he was Chinese. More than 50,000 people have since signed a petition which reads: The passenger was shouting that he was chosen to leave the flight only because he is Chinese, according to the news report by the New York Times. "We are calling the federal government to launch an investigation into this incident." Racism accusations: A petition has been launched calling for an investigation into the United Airlines incident. / petitions.whitehouse.gov The hashtag #ChineseLivesMatter started being shared on Twitter and thousands more people in China expressed their outrage via social media site Weibo. Some people shared photographs of their United Airlines card which they had cut into pieces. Steven Reichert, who lives in Washington, said: Cutting up my United frequent flyer card, and will NEVER EVER fly them again. Alexis Roos said on Twitter: Dear #UnitedAirlines I just re-accommodated my credit card. One Twitter user, who is based in Myanmar in south east Asia, said: Just cancelled my credit card with United. Peace out. Another user CocoFu said on the social media site: #BoycottUnitedAirlines Injured, blood on his face, this is what you called re-accommodate hah? Someone else added: I see you dont want Asian passengers thank you so much for letting me know you are full of racists. In a letter to his employees leaked on Tuesday, the airline boss defended his staffs action. Boss Oscar Munoz blamed the passenger for becoming more and more disruptive and belligerent. He said: Our agents were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight. He repeatedly declined to leave. J amie Bell and Mark Strong have teamed up to take on a group of activists in a retelling of the 1980 hostage crisis at the Iranian Embassy in London. 6 Days tells the story of a six-man terrorist team who captured the building in Knightsbridge, taking twenty-six hostages over a six-day ordeal. The film documents the crisis from the perspective of Firmin (Bell), hostage negotiator Max Vernon (Strong) and journalist Kate Adie (Abbie Cornish). The first look trailer shows Strong planning to stop violence before Bell and his team of SAS soldiers are given the command to storm the building. In action: Jamie Bell as SAS soldier Firmin Bell spoke previously about joining the film, and said he wanted to be involved because the event has burnt itself onto the retina of the British consciousness. He had SAS training for the role in New Zealand which involved using explosives and capturing hostages. Negotiator: Mark Strong as Max Vernon Speaking to the Standard he said: A lot of it was carrying your own kit, being in kit all day long, doing multi-room clearances, handling weapons, being in situations where you would be out of breath and they would make you do it again. Wed do 11-minute runs of multi-room clearances which would involve capturing hostages, bringing them out, using explosives, putting them in rooms, running into rooms that are literally exploding, people shooting blanks at you, us firing blanks at targets, very much the training that you go through once you have kind of already got into the SAS. Although the truth is we missed the selection process, which is the tricky part. 6 Days is set for UK cinema release on August 4. H elen Skelton has welcomed her second child with Richie Myler. The TV presenter, 33, broke the news on Instagram by posting a black and white photo of herself, Myler and one-year-old son Ernie holding on to the newborns hand. Skelton captioned the shot: Family of four. Myler also posted the image alongside the caption: Blessed #3becomes4. The couple who have yet to reveal the babys sex or name announced they were expecting their second child in November with an adorable picture of Ernie holding a sign reading: Ready for my partner in crime. Due Spring 2017. Skelton captioned the shot: Three getting set to become four. In January the former Blue Peter presenter documented her worst day of parenting life as her son had a meltdown at nursery. Skelton who lives in Perpignan, France claimed she had to leave the premises after Ernie failed to settle. She shared a picture of her son on Instagram walking into the playground and told fans she felt sick and nervous. Moments later she was back in the car with Ernie after he screamed the place down.